The Sharing of Merit and Sin

Verse 1 (padma.6.112.1)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पृथुर्विस्मितमानसः । संपूज्य नारदं भक्त्या विससर्ज तदा प्रिये

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā pṛthurvismitamānasaḥ saṁpūjya nāradaṁ bhaktyā visasarja tadā priye

Shri Krishna said: O beloved, hearing these words, Prithu, his mind filled with wonder, worshipped Narada with devotion and then bid him farewell.

Verse 2 (padma.6.112.2)

तस्माद्व्रतत्रयं ह्येतन्ममातीवप्रियंकरम् । माघकार्तिकयोस्तद्वत्तथैवैकादशीव्रतम्

tasmādvratatrayaṁ hyetanmamātīvapriyaṁkaram māghakārtikayostadvattathaivaikādaśīvratam

Therefore, these three vows are exceedingly dear to me — the Magha and Kartika vows, and likewise the Ekadashi vow.

Verse 3 (padma.6.112.3)

वनस्पतीनां तुलसी मासानां कार्तिकः प्रियः । एकादशी तिथीनां च क्षेत्राणां द्वारका मम

vanaspatīnāṁ tulasī māsānāṁ kārtikaḥ priyaḥ ekādaśī tithīnāṁ ca kṣetrāṇāṁ dvārakā mama

Among plants, tulasi; among months, Kartika; among tithis, the eleventh; and among sacred lands, Dvaraka — these are dear to me.

Verse 4 (padma.6.112.4)

एतेषां सेवनं यस्तु करोति च जितेंद्रियः । स मे वल्लभतां याति न तथा यजनादिभिः

eteṣāṁ sevanaṁ yastu karoti ca jiteṁdriyaḥ sa me vallabhatāṁ yāti na tathā yajanādibhiḥ

Whatever self-controlled man serves these becomes as dear to me as he could never become through sacrifices and the like.

Verse 5 (padma.6.112.5)

पापेभ्यो न भयं तेन कर्त्तव्यं नियमादपि । एतेषां सेवनं कांते कुर्वता मत्प्रसादतः

pāpebhyo na bhayaṁ tena karttavyaṁ niyamādapi eteṣāṁ sevanaṁ kāṁte kurvatā matprasādataḥ

O beloved, one who serves these need have no fear of sins, even beyond the observance of the rule itself, for by my grace he becomes free of them.

Verse 6 (padma.6.112.6)

सत्यभामोवाच। विस्मापनीयं तन्नाथ यत्त्वया कथितं मम । परदत्तेन पुण्येन कलहा मुक्तिमागता

satyabhāmovāca vismāpanīyaṁ tannātha yattvayā kathitaṁ mama paradattena puṇyena kalahā muktimāgatā

Satyabhama said: My lord, what you have told me is astonishing — that Kalaha attained liberation through merit given by another.

Verse 7 (padma.6.112.7)

इत्थं प्रभावो मासोऽयं कार्त्तिकस्ते प्रियंकरः । स्वामिद्रोहादिपापानि स्नानदानैर्गतानि यत्

itthaṁ prabhāvo māso'yaṁ kārttikaste priyaṁkaraḥ svāmidrohādipāpāni snānadānairgatāni yat

Thus this month of Kartika, so pleasing to you, has such power that even sins like betrayal of one's master were removed through its bathing and gift-giving.

Verse 8 (padma.6.112.8)

दत्तं च लभते पुण्यं यत्परेण कृतं विभो । अदत्तं केन मार्गेण लभते चापि मानवः

dattaṁ ca labhate puṇyaṁ yatpareṇa kṛtaṁ vibho adattaṁ kena mārgeṇa labhate cāpi mānavaḥ

O all-pervading one, merit performed by another and given to someone is thereby obtained. But by what means does a man obtain merit that has not been given to him?

Verse 9 (padma.6.112.9)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। अदत्तान्यपि पुण्यानि पापानि च यथा नरैः । प्राप्यंते कर्मणा येन तद्यथावन्निशामय

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca adattānyapi puṇyāni pāpāni ca yathā naraiḥ prāpyaṁte karmaṇā yena tadyathāvanniśāmaya

Shri Krishna said: Listen precisely to how men come to obtain merit and sin, even when these have not been given to them, through certain kinds of action.

Verse 10 (padma.6.112.10)

देशग्रामकुलानि स्युर्भागभांजि कृतादिषु । कलौ तु केवलं कर्त्ता फलभुक्पुण्यपापयोः

deśagrāmakulāni syurbhāgabhāṁji kṛtādiṣu kalau tu kevalaṁ karttā phalabhukpuṇyapāpayoḥ

In the Krita age and the others, the land, the village, and the family too shared in the fruit of a deed; but in the Kali age, only the doer himself is the enjoyer of the fruit of merit and sin.

Verse 11 (padma.6.112.11)

अकृतेऽपि हि संसर्गे व्यवस्थेयमुदाहृता । संसर्गात्पुण्यपापानि यथा यांति निबोध तत्

akṛte'pi hi saṁsarge vyavastheyamudāhṛtā saṁsargātpuṇyapāpāni yathā yāṁti nibodha tat

Nevertheless, even without performing a deed oneself, because of association, this arrangement has been declared. Understand how, through association, merit and sin come to be shared.

Verse 12 (padma.6.112.12)

एकत्रमैथुनाद्यानादेकपात्रस्थभोजनात् । फलार्द्धं प्राप्नुयान्मर्त्यो यथावत्पुण्यपापयोः

ekatramaithunādyānādekapātrasthabhojanāt phalārddhaṁ prāpnuyānmartyo yathāvatpuṇyapāpayoḥ

From joint intimacy, traveling together, and eating from the same vessel, a man duly obtains half the fruit of merit or sin.

Verse 13 (padma.6.112.13)

अध्यापनाद्याजनाद्वाप्येकपंक्त्यशनादपि । तुर्यांशं पुण्यपापानां नित्यं प्राप्नोति मानवः

adhyāpanādyājanādvāpyekapaṁktyaśanādapi turyāṁśaṁ puṇyapāpānāṁ nityaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

From teaching, from officiating at a sacrifice, or even from eating in the same row, a man ever obtains a quarter share of merit and sin.

Verse 14 (padma.6.112.14)

एकासनादेकयानान्निःश्वासस्यांगसंगतः । षडंशं फलभागी स्यान्नयतं पुण्यपापयोः

ekāsanādekayānānniḥśvāsasyāṁgasaṁgataḥ ṣaḍaṁśaṁ phalabhāgī syānnayataṁ puṇyapāpayoḥ

From sitting on the same seat, from riding in the same vehicle, and from contact through breath or limb, a man becomes a sharer of a sixth part of the fruit of merit and sin.

Verse 15 (padma.6.112.15)

स्पर्शनाद्भाषणाद्वापि परस्य स्तवनादपि । दशांशं पुण्यपापानां नित्यं प्राप्नोति मानवः

sparśanādbhāṣaṇādvāpi parasya stavanādapi daśāṁśaṁ puṇyapāpānāṁ nityaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

By touching another, by conversing with him, or even by praising him, a man ever obtains a tenth part of merit and sin.

Verse 16 (padma.6.112.16)

दर्शनश्रवणाभ्यां च मनोध्यानात्तथैव च । परस्य पुण्यपापानां शतांशं प्राप्नुयान्नरः

darśanaśravaṇābhyāṁ ca manodhyānāttathaiva ca parasya puṇyapāpānāṁ śatāṁśaṁ prāpnuyānnaraḥ

Through seeing and hearing, and likewise through mental contemplation, a man obtains a hundredth part of another's merit and sin.

Verse 17 (padma.6.112.17)

परस्य निंदां पैशुन्यं धिक्कारं च करोति यः । तत्कृतं पातकं प्राप्य स्वपुण्यं प्रददाति सः

parasya niṁdāṁ paiśunyaṁ dhikkāraṁ ca karoti yaḥ tatkṛtaṁ pātakaṁ prāpya svapuṇyaṁ pradadāti saḥ

Whoever slanders, backbites, or reviles another receives the sin committed by that person, and gives away his own merit to him in exchange.

Verse 18 (padma.6.112.18)

कुर्वतः पुण्यकर्माणि सेवां यः कुरुते नरः । पत्नीभृतकशिष्येभ्यो यदन्यः कोऽपि मानवः

kurvataḥ puṇyakarmāṇi sevāṁ yaḥ kurute naraḥ patnībhṛtakaśiṣyebhyo yadanyaḥ ko'pi mānavaḥ

Whoever renders service to one performing meritorious deeds — whatever man he may be, other than wife, servant, or disciple —

Verse 19 (padma.6.112.19)

तस्य सेवानुरूपेण द्रव्यं किंचिन्न दीयते । सोऽपि सेवानुरूपेण तत्पुण्यफलभाग्भवेत् । एकपंक्त्यश्नतां यस्तु लंघयेत्परिवेषणम्

tasya sevānurūpeṇa dravyaṁ kiṁcinna dīyate so'pi sevānurūpeṇa tatpuṇyaphalabhāgbhavet ekapaṁktyaśnatāṁ yastu laṁghayetpariveṣaṇam

— if no wealth is given to him proportionate to his service, he too becomes a sharer in the fruit of that merit, in proportion to his service. Whoever, among those eating in the same row, breaches the order of serving —

Verse 20 (padma.6.112.20)

तस्य पापषडंशं तु लभेद्वै परिवेषकः । स्नानसंध्यादिकं कुर्वन्यः स्पृशेद्वा प्रभाषते

tasya pāpaṣaḍaṁśaṁ tu labhedvai pariveṣakaḥ snānasaṁdhyādikaṁ kurvanyaḥ spṛśedvā prabhāṣate

— for that, the server too receives a sixth part of his sin. Whoever, while performing his bath, twilight worship, or the like, touches or speaks with someone —

Verse 21 (padma.6.112.21)

स पुण्यकर्मषष्ठांशं दद्यात्तस्मै सुनिश्चितम् । धर्मोद्देशेन यो द्रव्यमपरं याचते नरः

sa puṇyakarmaṣaṣṭhāṁśaṁ dadyāttasmai suniścitam dharmoddeśena yo dravyamaparaṁ yācate naraḥ

— he surely gives to that person a sixth part of his own meritorious deed. Whatever man asks for wealth from another for the purpose of dharma —

Verse 22 (padma.6.112.22)

तत्पुण्यकर्मजं तस्य धनदस्त्वाप्नुयात्फलम् । अपहृत्य परद्रव्यं पुण्यकर्म करोति यः

tatpuṇyakarmajaṁ tasya dhanadastvāpnuyātphalam apahṛtya paradravyaṁ puṇyakarma karoti yaḥ

— the one who provides the wealth obtains the fruit born of that meritorious deed. Whoever performs a meritorious deed by taking away another's wealth —

Verse 23 (padma.6.112.23)

कर्मकृत्पापभाक्तत्र धनिनस्तद्भवं फलम् । नापनुद्य ऋणं यस्तु परस्य म्रियते नरः

karmakṛtpāpabhāktatra dhaninastadbhavaṁ phalam nāpanudya ṛṇaṁ yastu parasya mriyate naraḥ

— there the performer of the deed alone becomes the sharer of sin, and the fruit born of it goes to the owner of that wealth. Whatever man dies without having repaid a debt to another —

Verse 24 (padma.6.112.24)

धनी तत्पुण्यमाधत्ते स्वधनस्यानुरूपतः । बुद्धिदस्त्वनुमंता च यश्चोपकरणप्रदः

dhanī tatpuṇyamādhatte svadhanasyānurūpataḥ buddhidastvanumaṁtā ca yaścopakaraṇapradaḥ

— the creditor obtains that debtor's merit in proportion to his own wealth. He who gives counsel, he who gives approval, and he who provides the means —

Verse 25 (padma.6.112.25)

बलकृच्चापि षष्ठांशं प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यपापयोः । प्रजाभ्यः पुण्यपापानां राजा षष्ठांशमुद्धरेत्

balakṛccāpi ṣaṣṭhāṁśaṁ prāpnuyātpuṇyapāpayoḥ prajābhyaḥ puṇyapāpānāṁ rājā ṣaṣṭhāṁśamuddharet

— and he who provides strength (assistance), all obtain a sixth part of the merit or sin. The king takes a sixth part of the merit and sin of his subjects.

Verse 26 (padma.6.112.26)

शिष्याद्गुरुः स्त्रियो भर्त्ता पितापुत्रात्तथैव च । स्वपतेरपि पुण्यस्य योषिदर्द्धमवाप्नुयात्

śiṣyādguruḥ striyo bharttā pitāputrāttathaiva ca svapaterapi puṇyasya yoṣidarddhamavāpnuyāt

The guru receives a share from the disciple, the husband from the wife, and likewise the father from the son; the wife too obtains half of her husband's own merit.

Verse 27 (padma.6.112.27)

चित्तस्यानुव्रता शश्वद्वर्तते तुष्टिकारिणी । परहस्तेन दानादि कुर्वतः पुण्यकर्मणि

cittasyānuvratā śaśvadvartate tuṣṭikāriṇī parahastena dānādi kurvataḥ puṇyakarmaṇi

— because she ever follows his mind and is a source of his contentment. Of one who has another perform, through his own hand, gift-giving and other meritorious deeds —

Verse 28 (padma.6.112.28)

विना भृतकपुत्राभ्यां कर्त्ता षष्ठांशमुद्धरेत् । वृत्तिदो वृत्तिसंभोक्तुः पुण्यमष्टांशमुद्धरेत्

vinā bhṛtakaputrābhyāṁ karttā ṣaṣṭhāṁśamuddharet vṛttido vṛttisaṁbhoktuḥ puṇyamaṣṭāṁśamuddharet

— excluding servant and son, the one who commissions the deed, in the case of others, takes a sixth part. He who provides livelihood takes an eighth part of the merit of the one who receives that livelihood.

Verse 29 (padma.6.112.29)

आत्मनो वा परस्यापि यदि सेवां न कारयेत्

ātmano vā parasyāpi yadi sevāṁ na kārayet

Whether he has service performed for himself or for another, this rule applies even if he does not have that share specifically rendered.

Verse 30 (padma.6.112.30)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। इत्थं ह्यदत्तान्यपि पुण्यपापान्या यांति नित्यं परसंचितानि । शृणुष्व चेमं इतिहासमग्र्यं पुराभवं पुण्यमतिप्रदं च

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca itthaṁ hyadattānyapi puṇyapāpānyā yāṁti nityaṁ parasaṁcitāni śṛṇuṣva cemaṁ itihāsamagryaṁ purābhavaṁ puṇyamatipradaṁ ca

Shri Krishna said: Thus, even merit and sin accumulated by others, though not directly given, ever come, in this manner, to those connected with them. Now listen to this excellent, ancient history, which bestows great merit.