The Glory of Charity (Dana Mahatmya)

Verse 1 (padma.4.24.1)

शौनक उवाच । विदुषांवर तत्त्वज्ञ कथयस्व महामते । इदानीं मम दानानां माहात्म्यं क्रमतो मुने ।

śaunaka uvāca viduṣāṁvara tattvajña kathayasva mahāmate idānīṁ mama dānānāṁ māhātmyaṁ kramato mune

Shaunaka said: O best of the learned, knower of truth, O great sage — tell me now, in order, the glory of gifts.

Verse 2 (padma.4.24.2)

सूत उवाच । क्षितिदानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ दानानामुत्तमं मतम् । येन कृतं वै तद्दानं सर्वदानफलं मतम् ।

sūta uvāca kṣitidānaṁ muniśreṣṭha dānānāmuttamaṁ matam yena kṛtaṁ vai taddānaṁ sarvadānaphalaṁ matam

Suta said: O foremost of sages, the gift of land is held to be the best of all gifts; whoever performs it is held to gain the fruit of every gift.

Verse 3 (padma.4.24.3)

क्षितिं ससस्यां यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय द्विजोत्तम । विष्णुलोके सुखं भुंक्ते यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ।

kṣitiṁ sasasyāṁ yo dadyādbrāhmaṇāya dvijottama viṣṇuloke sukhaṁ bhuṁkte yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa

O best of the twice-born, whoever gives land together with its crops to a Brahmin enjoys happiness in Vishnu's world for as long as fourteen Indras reign.

Verse 4 (padma.4.24.4)

पृथिव्यां जन्म चासाद्य सार्वभौमस्ततो नृपः । महीं सर्वां चिरं भुक्त्वा व्रजेद्वै श्रीहरेर्गृहम् ।

pṛthivyāṁ janma cāsādya sārvabhaumastato nṛpaḥ mahīṁ sarvāṁ ciraṁ bhuktvā vrajedvai śrīharergṛham

Taking birth thereafter on earth as a universal emperor, having long enjoyed the whole earth, he goes to the abode of Shri Hari.

Verse 5 (padma.4.24.5)

गोचर्ममात्रां भूमिं यः प्रयच्छति द्विजातये । स गच्छति हरेर्गेहं सर्वपापविवर्जितः ।

gocarmamātrāṁ bhūmiṁ yaḥ prayacchati dvijātaye sa gacchati harergehaṁ sarvapāpavivarjitaḥ

Whoever gives to a Brahmin even land the size of a cow-hide goes to the house of Hari, freed of every sin.

Verse 6 (padma.4.24.6)

शतं गावो वृषश्चैको यत्र तिष्ठंत्ययंत्रिताः । गोचर्ममात्रां तां भूमिं प्रवदंति महर्षयः ।

śataṁ gāvo vṛṣaścaiko yatra tiṣṭhaṁtyayaṁtritāḥ gocarmamātrāṁ tāṁ bhūmiṁ pravadaṁti maharṣayaḥ

Where a hundred cows and a single bull can stand unconfined — that much land the great sages declare to be the measure of "land the size of a cow-hide."

Verse 7 (padma.4.24.7)

भूमिनेता भूमिदाता द्वौ चापि स्वर्गगामिनौ । ग्राह्या भूमिर्द्विजैः प्राज्ञैस्त्यक्त्वा दानशतान्यपि ।

bhūminetā bhūmidātā dvau cāpi svargagāminau grāhyā bhūmirdvijaiḥ prājñaistyaktvā dānaśatānyapi

Both the giver of land and the one who oversees its gift go to heaven. Wise Brahmins should accept land even over a hundred other gifts.

Verse 8 (padma.4.24.8)

अज्ञानी भूसुरो यस्तु त्यजेद्भूमिं विमोहितः । प्रतिजन्मन्यसौ विप्रो भवेच्चात्यंत दुःखभाक् ।

ajñānī bhūsuro yastu tyajedbhūmiṁ vimohitaḥ pratijanmanyasau vipro bhaveccātyaṁta duḥkhabhāk

Whatever ignorant, deluded Brahmin refuses land given to him — that Brahmin suffers extreme misery in every birth.

Verse 9 (padma.4.24.9)

अन्यतो यः समासाद्य दद्याद्भूमिं द्विजातये । तस्मै विप्र जगन्नाथो ददाति परमं पदम् ।

anyato yaḥ samāsādya dadyādbhūmiṁ dvijātaye tasmai vipra jagannātho dadāti paramaṁ padam

Whoever, obtaining land from another, gives it in turn to a Brahmin, O Brahmin, to him the Lord of the universe grants the supreme state.

Verse 10 (padma.4.24.10)

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां च मेदिनीं यो हरेद्द्विज । युक्तः कोटिकुलैर्याति नरकं चातिदारुणम् ।

svadattāṁ paradattāṁ ca medinīṁ yo hareddvija yuktaḥ koṭikulairyāti narakaṁ cātidāruṇam

Whatever Brahmin seizes back land given by himself, or given by another, O Brahmin, goes, together with a hundred million of his family, to a most terrible hell.

Verse 11 (padma.4.24.11)

हरेद्यो वै महीं विप्र देवब्राह्मणयोरपि । न दृष्टा निष्कृतिस्तस्य कोटिकल्पशतैर्मुने ।

haredyo vai mahīṁ vipra devabrāhmaṇayorapi na dṛṣṭā niṣkṛtistasya koṭikalpaśatairmune

O Brahmin, whoever seizes land belonging to gods or Brahmins — for him no release has ever been seen, even after hundreds of millions of kalpas, O sage.

Verse 12 (padma.4.24.12)

भूमिं यो परदत्तां च रक्षति क्ष्मापतिर्द्विज । पुण्यं कोटिगुणं स्याद्वै तस्य दानं जनादपि ।

bhūmiṁ yo paradattāṁ ca rakṣati kṣmāpatirdvija puṇyaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ syādvai tasya dānaṁ janādapi

O Brahmin, whatever king protects land given away by another gains merit a hundred million times greater than that of the original giver.

Verse 13 (padma.4.24.13)

सप्तद्वीपां महीं दत्त्वा यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते द्विज । तत्पुण्यं प्राप्नुयान्मर्त्यो धेनुं यच्छन्द्विजातये ।

saptadvīpāṁ mahīṁ dattvā yatpuṇyaṁ prāpyate dvija tatpuṇyaṁ prāpnuyānmartyo dhenuṁ yacchandvijātaye

O Brahmin, whatever merit is obtained by giving away the seven-continented earth, that same merit is obtained by a man who gives a milch-cow to a Brahmin.

Verse 14 (padma.4.24.14)

ददाति वृषभं यस्तु दरिद्राय कुटुंबिने । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो शिवलोकं स गच्छति ।

dadāti vṛṣabhaṁ yastu daridrāya kuṭuṁbine sarvapāpavinirmukto śivalokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever gives a bull to a poor householder is freed from every sin and goes to the world of Shiva.

Verse 15 (padma.4.24.15)

तिलप्रमाणं स्वर्णं यो ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छति । हरेर्निकेतनं याति युक्तः कोटिकुलैरपि ।

tilapramāṇaṁ svarṇaṁ yo brāhmaṇāya prayacchati harerniketanaṁ yāti yuktaḥ koṭikulairapi

Whoever gives to a Brahmin gold even the size of a sesame seed goes, together with a hundred million of his family, to the abode of Hari.

Verse 16 (padma.4.24.16)

यो दद्याद्रजतं विप्र साधवे भूसुराय वै । प्राप्नोति चंद्रलोकं च पिबेत्तत्रामृतं सदा ।

yo dadyādrajataṁ vipra sādhave bhūsurāya vai prāpnoti caṁdralokaṁ ca pibettatrāmṛtaṁ sadā

O Brahmin, whatever virtuous man gives silver to a Brahmin attains the world of the moon, and there drinks nectar forever.

Verse 17 (padma.4.24.17)

प्रवालं मौक्तिकं चैव हीरकं च मणिं तथा । यो ददाति द्विजश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति ।

pravālaṁ mauktikaṁ caiva hīrakaṁ ca maṇiṁ tathā yo dadāti dvijaśreṣṭha svargalokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever gives coral, pearls, diamonds, or gems to an excellent Brahmin goes to the world of heaven.

Verse 18 (padma.4.24.18)

तुलापुरुषदानेन यत्पुण्यं लभते जनः । शालग्रामशिलां दत्त्वा तस्मात्कोटिगुणं लभेत् ।

tulāpuruṣadānena yatpuṇyaṁ labhate janaḥ śālagrāmaśilāṁ dattvā tasmātkoṭiguṇaṁ labhet

Whatever merit a man gains through the Tulapurusha gift, he gains a hundred million times that merit by giving a Shaligram stone.

Verse 19 (padma.4.24.19)

सप्तद्वीपां क्षितिं दत्वा सशैलवनकाननाम् । यत्पुण्यं लभते तद्वै शालग्रामशिलाप्रदः ।

saptadvīpāṁ kṣitiṁ datvā saśailavanakānanām yatpuṇyaṁ labhate tadvai śālagrāmaśilāpradaḥ

Whatever merit is gained by giving away the seven-continented earth with its mountains, forests, and groves, that same merit belongs to the giver of a Shaligram stone.

Verse 20 (padma.4.24.20)

शालग्रामशिलां यो वै दद्याद्भूमिसुराय च । तेन विप्र प्रदत्तानि भुवनानि चतुर्दश ।

śālagrāmaśilāṁ yo vai dadyādbhūmisurāya ca tena vipra pradattāni bhuvanāni caturdaśa

O Brahmin, whoever gives a Shaligram stone to a Brahmin has, in effect, given away the fourteen worlds themselves.

Verse 21 (padma.4.24.21)

तुलापुरुषदानं यः करोति द्विजपुंगव । जनन्याश्चोदरे तस्य पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ।

tulāpuruṣadānaṁ yaḥ karoti dvijapuṁgava jananyāścodare tasya punarjanma na vidyate

O bull among Brahmins, whoever performs the Tulapurusha gift is not born again from a mother's womb.

Verse 22 (padma.4.24.22)

सालंकारां द्विजश्रेष्ठ कन्यां यच्छति यो नरः । स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मसदनं पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ।

sālaṁkārāṁ dvijaśreṣṭha kanyāṁ yacchati yo naraḥ sa gacchedbrahmasadanaṁ punarjanma na vidyate

O best of Brahmins, whatever man gives away a maiden adorned with ornaments goes to the abode of Brahma; for him there is no rebirth.

Verse 23 (padma.4.24.23)

कन्याविक्रयिणो नास्ति नरकान्निष्कृतिः पुनः । कन्यादानकृतो नास्ति स्वर्गादागमनं पुनः ।

kanyāvikrayiṇo nāsti narakānniṣkṛtiḥ punaḥ kanyādānakṛto nāsti svargādāgamanaṁ punaḥ

For one who sells a daughter, there is no release from hell; for one who truly performs the gift of a daughter, there is no falling back from heaven.

Verse 24 (padma.4.24.24)

उपानहौ वातपत्रं यो ददाति द्विजातये । प्रेत्य चेंद्रपुरं गत्वा वसेत्कल्पचतुष्टयम् ।

upānahau vātapatraṁ yo dadāti dvijātaye pretya ceṁdrapuraṁ gatvā vasetkalpacatuṣṭayam

Whoever gives sandals and an umbrella to a Brahmin, after death goes to Indra's city and dwells there for four kalpas.

Verse 25 (padma.4.24.25)

वस्त्रं यच्छति यो दिव्यं साधवे वै द्विजायते । स्वर्गे दिव्यांबरधरश्चिरं तिष्ठेद्द्विजोत्तम ।

vastraṁ yacchati yo divyaṁ sādhave vai dvijāyate svarge divyāṁbaradharaściraṁ tiṣṭheddvijottama

Whoever gives a fine garment to a virtuous Brahmin, O best of the twice-born, dwells long in heaven clothed in celestial garments.

Verse 26 (padma.4.24.26)

धेनुं पुरातनीं यच्छेद्वस्त्रं च जरितं द्विज । नूत्नां रजोवतीं कन्यां स गच्छेन्निरयं तथा ।

dhenuṁ purātanīṁ yacchedvastraṁ ca jaritaṁ dvija nūtnāṁ rajovatīṁ kanyāṁ sa gacchennirayaṁ tathā

O Brahmin, whoever gives an old milch-cow, or a worn garment, or, out of self-interest, a young, newly-menstruating girl, likewise goes to hell.

Verse 27 (padma.4.24.27)

कन्याविक्रयिणो ब्रह्मन्न पश्येल्लपनं बुधः । दृष्ट्वा चाज्ञानतो वापि कुर्य्यान्मार्तंड दर्शनम् ।

kanyāvikrayiṇo brahmanna paśyellapanaṁ budhaḥ dṛṣṭvā cājñānato vāpi kuryyānmārtaṁḍa darśanam

O Brahmin, a wise man should not even look upon the face of one who sells a daughter; if it is seen unknowingly, one should then gaze upon the sun.

Verse 28 (padma.4.24.28)

फलदाता नरो गच्छेत्त्रिदिवं च द्विजोत्तम । भुंक्ते कल्पसहस्राणि फलं तत्रामृतोपमम् ।

phaladātā naro gacchettridivaṁ ca dvijottama bhuṁkte kalpasahasrāṇi phalaṁ tatrāmṛtopamam

O best of Brahmins, whoever gives fruit as a gift goes to the three heavens, and enjoys there, for a thousand kalpas, fruit equal to nectar.

Verse 29 (padma.4.24.29)

शाकं यच्छति यो मर्त्यो शिवस्यभवनं द्विज । याति कल्पद्वयं भुंक्ते दुर्ल्लभं पायसं सुरैः ।

śākaṁ yacchati yo martyo śivasyabhavanaṁ dvija yāti kalpadvayaṁ bhuṁkte durllabhaṁ pāyasaṁ suraiḥ

O Brahmin, whatever mortal gives vegetables goes to the abode of Shiva, and enjoys for two kalpas a rice-pudding rare even for the gods.

Verse 30 (padma.4.24.30)

घृतदो दधिदश्चैव तक्रदो दुग्धदस्तथा । विष्णोर्निकेतनं गत्वा सुधापानं करोति सः ।

ghṛtado dadhidaścaiva takrado dugdhadastathā viṣṇorniketanaṁ gatvā sudhāpānaṁ karoti saḥ

The giver of ghee, the giver of curd, the giver of buttermilk, and the giver of milk — all of them go to the abode of Vishnu and drink nectar there.

Verse 31 (padma.4.24.31)

गंधदः पुष्पदश्चैव मर्त्यो याति सुरालयम् । तिष्ठेद्युगसहस्राणि गंधपुष्पविभूषितः ।

gaṁdhadaḥ puṣpadaścaiva martyo yāti surālayam tiṣṭhedyugasahasrāṇi gaṁdhapuṣpavibhūṣitaḥ

The mortal who gives fragrance and flowers goes to the world of the gods, and dwells there for a thousand ages, adorned with fragrance and flowers.

Verse 32 (padma.4.24.32)

शय्यादानं दानसारं ब्राह्मणाय ददाति यः । स याति ब्रह्मसदनं पर्य्यंके शेरते चिरम् ।

śayyādānaṁ dānasāraṁ brāhmaṇāya dadāti yaḥ sa yāti brahmasadanaṁ paryyaṁke śerate ciram

Whoever gives to a Brahmin the gift of a bed, the very essence of gifts, goes to the abode of Brahma and reclines long upon a couch.

Verse 33 (padma.4.24.33)

पीठदाता दीपदाता सर्वदुष्कृतवर्जितः । स्वर्गे सिंहासने तिष्ठेज्ज्वलद्दीपावलीवृतः ।

pīṭhadātā dīpadātā sarvaduṣkṛtavarjitaḥ svarge siṁhāsane tiṣṭhejjvaladdīpāvalīvṛtaḥ

The giver of a seat and the giver of a lamp, freed from every evil deed, sit in heaven upon a throne, surrounded by rows of burning lamps.

Verse 34 (padma.4.24.34)

तांबूलं यो नरो दद्याद्भूमिं भुंक्तेऽखिलां सुखम् । स्वर्गे देवांगनाक्रोडे सुप्तस्तांबूलमत्ति वै ।

tāṁbūlaṁ yo naro dadyādbhūmiṁ bhuṁkte'khilāṁ sukham svarge devāṁganākroḍe suptastāṁbūlamatti vai

Whatever man gives betel-leaf enjoys the comfort of the entire earth; in heaven, resting in the embrace of celestial maidens, he chews betel there.

Verse 35 (padma.4.24.35)

विद्यादानं दानवरं करोति यो नरोत्तमः । प्रेत्य स सन्निधिं विष्णोस्तिष्ठेद्युगशतत्रयम् ।

vidyādānaṁ dānavaraṁ karoti yo narottamaḥ pretya sa sannidhiṁ viṣṇostiṣṭhedyugaśatatrayam

Whatever excellent man performs the gift of knowledge, the best of gifts, dwells after death in the presence of Vishnu for three hundred ages.

Verse 36 (padma.4.24.36)

प्राप्य ज्ञानं ततस्तत्र दुर्ल्लभं वै द्विजर्षभ । दुर्ल्लभं मोक्षमाप्नोति श्रीहरेः कृपया द्विज ।

prāpya jñānaṁ tatastatra durllabhaṁ vai dvijarṣabha durllabhaṁ mokṣamāpnoti śrīhareḥ kṛpayā dvija

Attaining there knowledge that is difficult to obtain, O bull among Brahmins, he attains, by the grace of Shri Hari, a liberation just as difficult to attain, O Brahmin.

Verse 37 (padma.4.24.37)

अनाथं दुःखितं विप्रं पाठयेद्वै नरोत्तमः । श्रीहरेर्भवनं याति पुनर्जन्मविवर्जितः ।

anāthaṁ duḥkhitaṁ vipraṁ pāṭhayedvai narottamaḥ śrīharerbhavanaṁ yāti punarjanmavivarjitaḥ

Whatever excellent man teaches a helpless, suffering Brahmin goes to the abode of Shri Hari, freed from further birth.

Verse 38 (padma.4.24.38)

यो नरः पुस्तकं दद्याद्भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । प्रतिवर्णं लभेत्पुण्यं कपिलाकोटिदानजम् ।

yo naraḥ pustakaṁ dadyādbhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ prativarṇaṁ labhetpuṇyaṁ kapilākoṭidānajam

Whatever man gives a book, filled with devotion and faith, obtains, for every syllable, merit equal to the gift of a hundred million Kapila cows.

Verse 39 (padma.4.24.39)

मधुदो गुडदश्चैव मर्त्यो यातीक्षुसागरम् । लवणप्रदो नरो याति वारुणं लोकमेव च ।

madhudo guḍadaścaiva martyo yātīkṣusāgaram lavaṇaprado naro yāti vāruṇaṁ lokameva ca

The mortal who gives honey or molasses goes to the ocean of sugarcane juice; the man who gives salt goes to the world of Varuna.

Verse 40 (padma.4.24.40)

सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नं वारि द्विजोत्तम । तत्त्वज्ञैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैः प्रवरं वै प्रकीर्त्तितम् ।

sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannaṁ vāri dvijottama tattvajñairmunibhiḥ sarvaiḥ pravaraṁ vai prakīrttitam

O best of Brahmins, of all gifts, food and water have been declared foremost by all the sages who know the truth.

Verse 41 (padma.4.24.41)

अन्नं वारि द्विजश्रेष्ठ येन दत्तं महीतले । तेन दत्तानि दानानि सर्वाणि च द्विजर्षभ ।

annaṁ vāri dvijaśreṣṭha yena dattaṁ mahītale tena dattāni dānāni sarvāṇi ca dvijarṣabha

O best of Brahmins, whoever has given food and water upon this earth has, in effect, O bull among Brahmins, given every other gift as well.

Verse 42 (padma.4.24.42)

अन्नदो यो नरो विप्र प्राणदश्च प्रकीर्त्तितः । तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो लभते फलम् ।

annado yo naro vipra prāṇadaśca prakīrttitaḥ tasmātsamastadānānāmannado labhate phalam

O Brahmin, whatever man gives food is declared a giver of life itself; therefore, of all gifts, the giver of food obtains the greatest fruit.

Verse 43 (padma.4.24.43)

यथाचान्नं तथा वारि द्वे तुल्ये च प्रकीर्त्तिते । वारिणा च विना चान्नं सिद्धं न स्याद्द्विजोत्तम ।

yathācānnaṁ tathā vāri dve tulye ca prakīrttite vāriṇā ca vinā cānnaṁ siddhaṁ na syāddvijottama

As food is, so is water — both are declared equal; O best of Brahmins, without water, food alone is never complete.

Verse 44 (padma.4.24.44)

क्षुधा तृषा द्विज व्याघ्र द्वे च तुल्ये प्रकीर्त्तिते । अतश्चान्नं च तोयं च श्रेष्ठं प्रोक्तं बुधैरपि ।

kṣudhā tṛṣā dvija vyāghra dve ca tulye prakīrttite ataścānnaṁ ca toyaṁ ca śreṣṭhaṁ proktaṁ budhairapi

O tiger among Brahmins, hunger and thirst too are declared equal; therefore even the wise have proclaimed food and water supreme.

Verse 45 (padma.4.24.45)

अन्नदानं क्षितौ ब्रह्मन्ये कुर्वंति नरोत्तमाः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता गच्छंति हरिमंदिरम् ।

annadānaṁ kṣitau brahmanye kurvaṁti narottamāḥ sarvapāpavinirmuktā gacchaṁti harimaṁdiram

O Brahmin, whatever excellent men give food upon this earth, freed from every sin, go to the temple of Hari.

Verse 46 (padma.4.24.46)

यावंत्यन्नानि भो विप्र यच्छति क्षितिमंडले । ब्रह्महत्याश्च तावंत्यो नश्यंत्येव तपोधन ।

yāvaṁtyannāni bho vipra yacchati kṣitimaṁḍale brahmahatyāśca tāvaṁtyo naśyaṁtyeva tapodhana

O Brahmin, for as much food as a man gives upon the earth, that many sins of killing a Brahmin are destroyed for him, O ascetic.

Verse 47 (padma.4.24.47)

यच्छतां चान्नदानानि शरीराणि च पातकम् । गात्राणि गृह्णतां त्यक्त्वा सहसा यांति शौनक ।

yacchatāṁ cānnadānāni śarīrāṇi ca pātakam gātrāṇi gṛhṇatāṁ tyaktvā sahasā yāṁti śaunaka

O Shaunaka, the bodies and very limbs of those who give food, shedding every sin at once, depart from this world made pure.

Verse 48 (padma.4.24.48)

अतः पापिष्ठ चान्नानि न गृह्णंति मनीषिणः । गृह्णंति मोहाद्ये मूढा भवंति पापभागिनः ।

ataḥ pāpiṣṭha cānnāni na gṛhṇaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ gṛhṇaṁti mohādye mūḍhā bhavaṁti pāpabhāginaḥ

Therefore the wise do not accept food from the most sinful; whatever fools accept it out of delusion become partakers in that very sin.

Verse 49 (padma.4.24.49)

कुर्याद्भूमिष्ठमुदकं चैकं भो द्विजसत्तम । सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तो व्रजेत्स हरिमंदिरम् ।

kuryādbhūmiṣṭhamudakaṁ caikaṁ bho dvijasattama sarvapāpairvinirmukto vrajetsa harimaṁdiram

O best of Brahmins, whoever sets down even a single vessel of water upon the earth for the thirsty, freed from every sin, goes to the temple of Hari.

Verse 50 (padma.4.24.50)

प्रयत्नेन द्विजश्रेष्ठ कर्त्तव्यो धनसंचयः । संचितं च धनं ब्रह्मन्दानकर्मणि विक्षिपेत् ।

prayatnena dvijaśreṣṭha karttavyo dhanasaṁcayaḥ saṁcitaṁ ca dhanaṁ brahmandānakarmaṇi vikṣipet

O best of Brahmins, one should diligently accumulate wealth; and, O Brahmin, that accumulated wealth should be devoted to the work of charity.

Verse 51 (padma.4.24.51)

रणंति ये च कार्पण्याद्धनं ते चातिदुःखिनः । अंते सर्वधनं त्यक्वा निःस्वा गच्छंति भो मुने ।

raṇaṁti ye ca kārpaṇyāddhanaṁ te cātiduḥkhinaḥ aṁte sarvadhanaṁ tyakvā niḥsvā gacchaṁti bho mune

Those who hoard wealth out of miserliness become exceedingly wretched; in the end, having given up all their wealth, they depart penniless, O sage.

Verse 52 (padma.4.24.52)

मानवा ये सदा दानं दत्त्वा दत्त्वा दरिद्रति । दरिद्रास्तेन विज्ञेया नरलोके महेश्वराः ।

mānavā ye sadā dānaṁ dattvā dattvā daridrati daridrāstena vijñeyā naraloke maheśvarāḥ

Those men who become poor through their constant giving in charity — such "poor" men should be known, in the world of men, as the great lords among men.

Verse 53 (padma.4.24.53)

परलोके द्विजव्याघ्र साधुसंयमवर्जिते । निर्दये बंधुहीने च न दत्तं नोपतिष्ठते ।

paraloke dvijavyāghra sādhusaṁyamavarjite nirdaye baṁdhuhīne ca na dattaṁ nopatiṣṭhate

O tiger among Brahmins, in the other world — devoid of the virtuous and the self-controlled, without mercy and without kin — nothing that was not given here stands by a man there.

Verse 54 (padma.4.24.54)

स्थिते धने नरो यो वै नाश्नाति न ददाति सः । दरिद्र इव विज्ञेयः प्रेत्य निश्वासमुत्सृजेत् ।

sthite dhane naro yo vai nāśnāti na dadāti saḥ daridra iva vijñeyaḥ pretya niśvāsamutsṛjet

Whatever man, though possessed of wealth, neither enjoys it himself nor gives it away, should be known as poor indeed; after death he departs uttering only a long sigh.

Verse 55 (padma.4.24.55)

तपसोऽपि वरं दानं प्रोक्तं च तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । अतो यत्नाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ दानकर्म समाचरेत् ।

tapaso'pi varaṁ dānaṁ proktaṁ ca tattvadarśibhiḥ ato yatnāddvijaśreṣṭha dānakarma samācaret

Those who see the truth have declared charity superior even to austerity; therefore, O best of Brahmins, one should diligently perform the act of giving.

Verse 56 (padma.4.24.56)

दाता दानं न दद्याद्वै समुत्सृज्य द्विजातये । स याति निरयं घोरं सर्वजंतुभयावहम् ।

dātā dānaṁ na dadyādvai samutsṛjya dvijātaye sa yāti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ sarvajaṁtubhayāvaham

Whatever giver fails to give a gift already set aside for a Brahmin goes to a terrible hell, a source of terror to every creature.

Verse 57 (padma.4.24.57)

दानं दाता प्रतिग्राही न स्मरेच्च न याचते । निरये चोभयोर्वासो यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ ।

dānaṁ dātā pratigrāhī na smarecca na yācate niraye cobhayorvāso yāvaccaṁdra divākarau

If neither the giver remembers a promised gift, nor the receiver asks for what is due, both dwell in hell for as long as the sun and moon endure.

Verse 58 (padma.4.24.58)

ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यानि वै द्विजसत्तम । तानि दानेन हन्यंते तस्माद्दानं समाचरेत् ।

brahmahatyādi pāpāni yāni vai dvijasattama tāni dānena hanyaṁte tasmāddānaṁ samācaret

O best of Brahmins, whatever sins there are — the killing of a Brahmin and the like — all are destroyed through charity; therefore one should practice charity.