The Dharma of Giving

Verse 1 (padma.6.74.1)

महादेव उवाच- शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्ममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा न पुनर्जन्म जायते भुवि कर्हिचित्

mahādeva uvāca- śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi dharmamāhātmyamuttamam yacchrutvā na punarjanma jāyate bhuvi karhicit

Mahadeva said: Listen, O goddess, I shall tell the excellent glory of dharma, hearing which a man never again takes birth upon the earth.

Verse 2 (padma.6.74.2)

धर्मादर्थं च कामं च मोक्षं चैतत्त्रयं लभेत् । तस्माद्धर्मं समीहेत विद्वान्यः स बुधः स्मृतः

dharmādarthaṁ ca kāmaṁ ca mokṣaṁ caitattrayaṁ labhet tasmāddharmaṁ samīheta vidvānyaḥ sa budhaḥ smṛtaḥ

From dharma come artha, kama, and moksha - these three. Therefore whatever learned man desires dharma alone is called truly wise.

Verse 3 (padma.6.74.3)

तपसा चैव दानेन व्रतेन नियमेन च । तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गः सात्विकेन तथैव च

tapasā caiva dānena vratena niyamena ca tapasā prāpyate svargaḥ sātvikena tathaiva ca

[Dharma is accomplished] through austerity, through giving, through vows, and through discipline; heaven too is attained through austerity, especially through austerity of the sattvic kind.

Verse 4 (padma.6.74.4)

इहायातो लभेद्राज्यं क्रोधलोभविवर्जितः । जन्मांतरेण मुक्तिः स्यात्पदं विंदति वैष्णवम्

ihāyāto labhedrājyaṁ krodhalobhavivarjitaḥ janmāṁtareṇa muktiḥ syātpadaṁ viṁdati vaiṣṇavam

Coming into this world, he obtains a kingdom, free of anger and greed; in the next birth he attains liberation, and reaches the Vaishnava state.

Verse 5 (padma.6.74.5)

तपसा राजसेनेह राजसश्चैव जायते । तप्त्वा तामसभावेन क्रूरकर्मा हि निष्ठुरः

tapasā rājaseneha rājasaścaiva jāyate taptvā tāmasabhāvena krūrakarmā hi niṣṭhuraḥ

Through rajasic austerity, a man is born of a rajasic nature here; having practiced austerity with a tamasic disposition, he becomes cruel of deed and hard of heart.

Verse 6 (padma.6.74.6)

तपस्तद्रक्षसां चोक्तं भुक्तिदं तामसात्मनाम् । यत्तप्तं सात्विकं चैव तत्तपो भवति ध्रुवम्

tapastadrakṣasāṁ coktaṁ bhuktidaṁ tāmasātmanām yattaptaṁ sātvikaṁ caiva tattapo bhavati dhruvam

That austerity is declared to be of the demons, which grants only [worldly] enjoyment to those of tamasic soul; but that austerity performed with a sattvic disposition alone truly becomes austerity.

Verse 7 (padma.6.74.7)

रजस्तमोभ्यां नियतं तपस्यां वने सतां वायुभुजां सुनिर्जने । तपस्विनां चैव धनादिवांच्छतां वनेऽपि दोषाः प्रभवंति रागिणाम्

rajastamobhyāṁ niyataṁ tapasyāṁ vane satāṁ vāyubhujāṁ sunirjane tapasvināṁ caiva dhanādivāṁcchatāṁ vane'pi doṣāḥ prabhavaṁti rāgiṇām

Even when practicing austerity in a dense and lonely forest, among sattvic and wind-eating ascetics, those tapasvins still bound to rajas and tamas, harboring desire for wealth and the like, develop faults even there in the forest.

Verse 8 (padma.6.74.8)

गृहेऽपि पंचेंद्रियनिग्रहस्तपस्त्वकुत्सिते कर्मणि यः प्रवर्त्तते । निवृत्तरागस्य तपोवनं गृहं गृहाश्रमोऽतो गदितः स्वधर्मः

gṛhe'pi paṁceṁdriyanigrahastapastvakutsite karmaṇi yaḥ pravarttate nivṛttarāgasya tapovanaṁ gṛhaṁ gṛhāśramo'to gaditaḥ svadharmaḥ

Even at home, the control of the five senses is itself austerity; engaging in blameless action is itself austerity; for a man free of attachment, the home itself is a forest of penance - this is why the householder's life is declared to be one's own true dharma.

Verse 9 (padma.6.74.9)

सुदुस्तरः सत्वजितेंद्रियाणां संहन्यते श्रेष्ठतमः शुभाश्रमः । गृहस्तु धर्मः प्रवरो मनीषिणां ब्रह्मादिभिश्चाभिहितो नगात्मजे

sudustaraḥ satvajiteṁdriyāṇāṁ saṁhanyate śreṣṭhatamaḥ śubhāśramaḥ gṛhastu dharmaḥ pravaro manīṣiṇāṁ brahmādibhiścābhihito nagātmaje

Even for men of sattvic nature who have conquered their senses, that most excellent and auspicious order can, though most arduous, still be broken [if care is not taken]; but, O daughter of the mountain, the householder's dharma alone is declared by Brahma and the rest to be the most excellent dharma of the wise.

Verse 10 (padma.6.74.10)

तप्त्वा तपस्वी विपिने क्षुधार्तो गृहं समायाति सदान्नदातुः । भक्त्या स चान्नं प्रददाति तस्मै तपोविभागं भजते हि तस्य

taptvā tapasvī vipine kṣudhārto gṛhaṁ samāyāti sadānnadātuḥ bhaktyā sa cānnaṁ pradadāti tasmai tapovibhāgaṁ bhajate hi tasya

Having practiced austerity, tormented by hunger, the ascetic comes from the forest to the home of one who ever gives food; that householder gives him food with devotion, and thereby he too obtains a share of that ascetic's own austerity.

Verse 11 (padma.6.74.11)

गृहाश्रमं ज्येष्ठमिहाश्रमाणां सम्यक्च यः पालयते मनुष्यः । इहैव भुंजन्समनुष्यभोगान्स्वर्गं प्रयातीति न संशयोऽत्र । गृहं सदा पालयतां नराणां पापं समायाति कथं हि देवि

gṛhāśramaṁ jyeṣṭhamihāśramāṇāṁ samyakca yaḥ pālayate manuṣyaḥ ihaiva bhuṁjansamanuṣyabhogānsvargaṁ prayātīti na saṁśayo'tra gṛhaṁ sadā pālayatāṁ narāṇāṁ pāpaṁ samāyāti kathaṁ hi devi

Whatever man, among the orders of life, holds the householder's stage as foremost and properly maintains it - enjoying, even in this very world, the pleasures fitting for men, he goes to heaven - of this there is no doubt. O goddess, how could sin ever come near those men who ever maintain their own household?

Verse 12 (padma.6.74.12)

गृहाश्रमः पुण्यतमः सर्वदा तीर्थवद्गृहम् । अस्मिन्गृहाश्रमे पुण्ये दानं देयं विशेषतः

gṛhāśramaḥ puṇyatamaḥ sarvadā tīrthavadgṛham asmingṛhāśrame puṇye dānaṁ deyaṁ viśeṣataḥ

The householder's stage is ever the most meritorious of all, and the home is equal to a sacred crossing; in this meritorious householder's stage, gifts should be given with particular devotion.

Verse 13 (padma.6.74.13)

देवानां पूजनं यत्र अतिथीनां च भोजनम् । पथिकानां च शरणं अतो धन्यतमो मतः

devānāṁ pūjanaṁ yatra atithīnāṁ ca bhojanam pathikānāṁ ca śaraṇaṁ ato dhanyatamo mataḥ

Where there is worship of the gods, feeding of guests, and shelter for travelers - that home is held to be the most blessed of all.

Verse 14 (padma.6.74.14)

तद्गृहं तु समाश्रित्य येऽर्चयंति द्विजान्नराः । आयुर्लक्ष्मीस्तथा पुत्रा न हीयंते कदाचन

tadgṛhaṁ tu samāśritya ye'rcayaṁti dvijānnarāḥ āyurlakṣmīstathā putrā na hīyaṁte kadācana

Those men who, taking refuge in that home, worship the brahmins - their lifespan, prosperity, and sons never diminish.

Verse 15 (padma.6.74.15)

शृणु सुंदरि वक्ष्यामि महापापविशोधनम् । सर्वसंपत्करं दानं इहामुत्रफलप्रदम्

śṛṇu suṁdari vakṣyāmi mahāpāpaviśodhanam sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ dānaṁ ihāmutraphalapradam

Listen, O beautiful one, I shall now tell of that gift which purifies the gravest sins, brings every prosperity, and bestows fruit both in this world and the next.

Verse 16 (padma.6.74.16)

शुभेकाले समायाते समभ्यर्च्य स्वदैवतम् । नित्यं नैमित्तकं कृत्वा दद्याद्दानं स्वशक्तितः

śubhekāle samāyāte samabhyarcya svadaivatam nityaṁ naimittakaṁ kṛtvā dadyāddānaṁ svaśaktitaḥ

When an auspicious time arrives, having worshipped one's own family deity, and having performed one's daily and occasional rites, one should give gifts according to one's own means.

Verse 17 (padma.6.74.17)

गृहीत्वा परद्रव्यं च द्विजदेवेभ्य एव हि । दद्यात्स निरयं दृष्ट्वा पश्चाद्याति परां गतिम्

gṛhītvā paradravyaṁ ca dvijadevebhya eva hi dadyātsa nirayaṁ dṛṣṭvā paścādyāti parāṁ gatim

But whoever, having taken another's wealth, gives it in gift only to brahmins and gods, attains the supreme state only after first beholding hell.

Verse 18 (padma.6.74.18)

शतानीको यथा दानात्सपुत्रश्चैव तारितः । दत्त्वान्ये च द्विजेभ्यश्च स गंता धर्मतो दिवम्

śatānīko yathā dānātsaputraścaiva tāritaḥ dattvānye ca dvijebhyaśca sa gaṁtā dharmato divam

As Shatanika, together with his son, was delivered by the power of a gift, and other people too, by giving gifts to brahmins, attained heaven through dharma.

Verse 19 (padma.6.74.19)

धर्मस्थानेषु यैर्दत्तं तेषां धर्ममुदाहृतम् । शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि वित्तदानं समासतः

dharmasthāneṣu yairdattaṁ teṣāṁ dharmamudāhṛtam śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi vittadānaṁ samāsataḥ

Whatever people have given gifts in places of dharma - their dharma alone has been described here. Listen, O goddess, I shall now speak briefly of the gift of wealth.

Verse 20 (padma.6.74.20)

देहशुद्धिकरं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । पापहीनो येन पुमान्जायते नात्र संशयः

dehaśuddhikaraṁ dānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati pāpahīno yena pumānjāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

There has never been, nor shall there ever be, a gift so purifying of the body; by it a man is certainly born free of sin.

Verse 21 (padma.6.74.21)

भोगान्भुक्त्वा ततश्चायं याति विष्णुं सनातनम् । पुरा वै ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तं भार्गवाय महात्मने

bhogānbhuktvā tataścāyaṁ yāti viṣṇuṁ sanātanam purā vai brahmaṇā proktaṁ bhārgavāya mahātmane

Having enjoyed every pleasure, he then attains the eternal Vishnu. This was told long ago by Brahma to the great-souled Bhargava [Parashurama] -

Verse 22 (padma.6.74.22)

पापयुक्ताय रामाय तुलावृषभमेव च । पापकर्मरतश्चैव भवबंधक्रियो नृपः

pāpayuktāya rāmāya tulāvṛṣabhameva ca pāpakarmarataścaiva bhavabaṁdhakriyo nṛpaḥ

using the image of weighing a sinful king against a bull [of equal weight] on the scale-pan; a king engrossed in sinful deeds and performing acts that bind him to worldly existence,

Verse 23 (padma.6.74.23)

अभक्षभक्षणरता भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः । एतेप्यनृतवादी च प्रसूयंते वियोनिषु

abhakṣabhakṣaṇaratā bhrūṇahā gurutalpagaḥ etepyanṛtavādī ca prasūyaṁte viyoniṣu

those engrossed in eating what should never be eaten, killers of the unborn, violators of their teacher's bed - all these, and speakers of falsehood too, are born in degraded wombs.

Verse 24 (padma.6.74.24)

अयाज्ययाजनं कृत्वा याचयित्वा तु निंदितान् । सदा कोपसमायुक्ताः साधूनां पीडने रताः

ayājyayājanaṁ kṛtvā yācayitvā tu niṁditān sadā kopasamāyuktāḥ sādhūnāṁ pīḍane ratāḥ

Those who perform sacrifices for the unworthy, cause the reprehensible to beg, remain ever filled with anger, and stay intent upon tormenting the virtuous,

Verse 25 (padma.6.74.25)

विश्वासोपहताश्चैषामसुभिर्धर्मनिंदकाः । पापैरेभिः समायुक्ता ज्ञात्वात्मानं गतायुषम्

viśvāsopahatāścaiṣāmasubhirdharmaniṁdakāḥ pāpairebhiḥ samāyuktā jñātvātmānaṁ gatāyuṣam

betrayers of trust, slanderers of dharma even with their very breath - joined with these sins, and knowing themselves to have exhausted their lifespan,

Verse 26 (padma.6.74.26)

इति ज्ञात्वा तु तैर्देवि दानं देयं विशेषतः । बहवो धर्मकर्त्तारो वैष्णवा भुवि विश्रुताः

iti jñātvā tu tairdevi dānaṁ deyaṁ viśeṣataḥ bahavo dharmakarttāro vaiṣṇavā bhuvi viśrutāḥ

O goddess, knowing this, they should give gifts in particular. Many doers of dharma, Vaishnavas, are renowned upon this earth.