Description of General Gifts

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.14.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शस्तानि घोरदानानि महादानानि नित्यशः । पात्रेभ्यस्तु प्रदेयानि आत्मानं तारयन्ति च

sanatkumāra uvāca śastāni ghoradānāni mahādānāni nityaśaḥ pātrebhyastu pradeyāni ātmānaṁ tārayanti ca

Sanatkumara said: Praiseworthy always are the great gifts, capable of overcoming even terrible sins, to be given to worthy recipients; they deliver the giver himself.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.14.2)

हिरण्यदानं गोदानं भूमिदानं द्विजोत्तम । गृह्णन्तो वै पवित्राणि तारयन्ति स्वमेव तम्

hiraṇyadānaṁ godānaṁ bhūmidānaṁ dvijottama gṛhṇanto vai pavitrāṇi tārayanti svameva tam

O best of the twice-born, the gift of gold, the gift of a cow, and the gift of land — those who receive these sacred offerings thereby deliver the giver himself.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.14.3)

सुवर्णदानं गोदानं पृथिवीदानमेव च । एतानि श्रेष्ठदानानि कृत्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते

suvarṇadānaṁ godānaṁ pṛthivīdānameva ca etāni śreṣṭhadānāni kṛtvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate

The gift of gold, the gift of a cow, and the gift of land — having made these excellent gifts, one is released from sins.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.14.4)

तुलादानानि शस्तानि गावः पृथ्वी सरस्वती । द्वे तु तुल्यबले शस्ते ह्यधिका च सरस्वती

tulādānāni śastāni gāvaḥ pṛthvī sarasvatī dve tu tulyabale śaste hyadhikā ca sarasvatī

Gifts to be weighed against one another are praised: cows, land, and the gift of learning (Sarasvati). The two former are declared of equal power, but the gift of learning is greater still.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.14.5)

नित्य ह्यनुडुहो गावच्छत्रं वस्त्रमुपानहौ । देयानि याचमानेभ्यः पानमन्नं तथैव च

nitya hyanuḍuho gāvacchatraṁ vastramupānahau deyāni yācamānebhyaḥ pānamannaṁ tathaiva ca

Bullocks and cows, an umbrella, clothing, and sandals should always be given to those who ask, and likewise drink and food.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.14.6)

सङ्कल्पविहितो योऽर्थो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदीयते । अर्थिभ्योऽपीडितेभ्यश्च मनस्वी तेन जायते

saṅkalpavihito yo'rtho brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradīyate arthibhyo'pīḍitebhyaśca manasvī tena jāyate

Whatever wealth, resolved upon with a formal vow, is given to brahmins and to needy supplicants without causing them distress — by that, one becomes noble-minded.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.14.7)

कनकं च तिला नागाः कन्या दासी गृहं रथः । मणयः कपिला गावो महादानानि वै दश

kanakaṁ ca tilā nāgāḥ kanyā dāsī gṛhaṁ rathaḥ maṇayaḥ kapilā gāvo mahādānāni vai daśa

Gold, sesame seeds, elephants, a maiden in marriage-gift, a female servant, a house, a chariot, gems, and a tawny cow — these are the ten Mahadanas, the great gifts.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.14.8)

गृहीत्वैतानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानवित्सदा । वदान्यांस्तारयेत्सद्यो ह्यात्मानं च न संशयः

gṛhītvaitāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇo jñānavitsadā vadānyāṁstārayetsadyo hyātmānaṁ ca na saṁśayaḥ

A brahmin possessed of knowledge, having accepted all of these, immediately delivers both the generous giver and himself — there is no doubt about this.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.14.9)

सुवर्णं ये प्रयच्छन्ति नराः शुद्धेन चेतसा । देवतास्तं प्रयच्छन्ति समन्तादिति मे श्रुतम्

suvarṇaṁ ye prayacchanti narāḥ śuddhena cetasā devatāstaṁ prayacchanti samantāditi me śrutam

Men who give gold with a pure mind — I have heard that the gods, in turn, give to him from every side.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.14.10)

अग्निर्हि देवताः सर्वाः सुवर्णं च हुताशनः । तस्मात् सुवर्णं दत्त्वा च दत्ताः स्युः सर्वदेवताः

agnirhi devatāḥ sarvāḥ suvarṇaṁ ca hutāśanaḥ tasmāt suvarṇaṁ dattvā ca dattāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ

Fire indeed is all the gods, and gold is itself Fire; therefore, by giving gold, all the gods are thereby given an offering.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.14.11)

पृथ्वीदानं महाश्रेष्ठं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । सौवर्णं च विशेषेण यत्कृतं पृथुना पुरा

pṛthvīdānaṁ mahāśreṣṭhaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam sauvarṇaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa yatkṛtaṁ pṛthunā purā

The gift of land is exceedingly excellent, bestowing the fruit of every desire — especially the gift of a golden earth, such as was made by King Prithu of old.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.14.12)

दीयमानां प्रपश्यन्ति पृथ्वीं रुक्मसमन्विताम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तास्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्

dīyamānāṁ prapaśyanti pṛthvīṁ rukmasamanvitām sarvapāpavinirmuktāste yānti paramāṁ gatim

Those who merely witness the earth, adorned with gold, being given away — they too, freed entirely from sin, attain the supreme state.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.14.13)

अथान्यच्च प्रवक्ष्यामि दानं सर्वोत्तमं मुने । कान्तारं यन्न पश्यन्ति यमस्य बहुदुःखदम्

athānyacca pravakṣyāmi dānaṁ sarvottamaṁ mune kāntāraṁ yanna paśyanti yamasya bahuduḥkhadam

O sage, now I shall speak of another gift, the most excellent of all — by which one does not have to see the vast, deeply painful wilderness of Yama.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.14.14)

कुर्यात् कान्तारदानं हि विधिना शुद्धमानसः । न्यायार्जितेन द्रव्येण वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः

kuryāt kāntāradānaṁ hi vidhinā śuddhamānasaḥ nyāyārjitena dravyeṇa vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ

One of pure mind, free from any miserliness regarding wealth, should perform the "Kantara-dana" according to proper rule, using wealth righteously earned.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.14.15)

तिलप्रस्थमयीं कृत्वा धेनुं सर्वगुणान्विताम् । धेनुवत्सं सुवर्णं च सुदिव्यं सर्वलक्षणम्

tilaprasthamayīṁ kṛtvā dhenuṁ sarvaguṇānvitām dhenuvatsaṁ suvarṇaṁ ca sudivyaṁ sarvalakṣaṇam

Having made a cow entirely of sesame seeds, endowed with every quality, together with its calf, and also one of gold, wholly resplendent and marked with every auspicious sign,

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.14.16)

पद्ममष्टदलं कृत्वा कुङ्कुमाक्ताक्षतैः शुभैः । पूजयेत्तत्र रुद्रादीन्सर्वान्देवान्सुभक्तितः

padmamaṣṭadalaṁ kṛtvā kuṅkumāktākṣataiḥ śubhaiḥ pūjayettatra rudrādīnsarvāndevānsubhaktitaḥ

having drawn an eight-petaled lotus, with auspicious rice-grains anointed with saffron, one should there worship Rudra and all the other gods with great devotion.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.14.17)

एवं सम्पूज्य तां दद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय स्वशक्तितः । सरत्नां सहिरण्यां च सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्

evaṁ sampūjya tāṁ dadyād brāhmaṇāya svaśaktitaḥ saratnāṁ sahiraṇyāṁ ca sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām

Having thus worshipped, one should give that cow, according to one's ability, to a brahmin — adorned with gems, with gold, and decked with every kind of ornament.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.14.18)

ततो नक्तं समश्नीयाद्दीपान् दद्यात्तु विस्तरात् । कार्तिक्यामिति कर्तव्यं पूर्णिमायां प्रयत्नतः

tato naktaṁ samaśnīyāddīpān dadyāttu vistarāt kārtikyāmiti kartavyaṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ prayatnataḥ

Then one should eat only once at night, and should give lamps abundantly; this is to be performed with careful effort on the full-moon day of Kartika.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.14.19)

एवं यः कुरुते सम्यग्विधानेन स्वशक्तितः । यममार्गभयं घोरं नरकं च न पश्यति

evaṁ yaḥ kurute samyagvidhānena svaśaktitaḥ yamamārgabhayaṁ ghoraṁ narakaṁ ca na paśyati

Whoever performs this properly, according to rule, to the best of his ability, does not have to see the terrible fear of Yama's path, nor hell.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.14.20)

कृत्वा पापान्यशेषाणि सबन्धुः ससुहृज्जनः । दिवि सङ्क्रीडते व्यास यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

kṛtvā pāpānyaśeṣāṇi sabandhuḥ sasuhṛjjanaḥ divi saṅkrīḍate vyāsa yāvadindrāścaturdaśa

O Vyasa, even having committed every kind of sin, he — together with his kinsmen and friends — sports in heaven for as long as fourteen Indras reign.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.14.21)

विधितो गोश्च दानं वै सर्वोत्तममिह स्मृतम् । न तेन सदृशं व्यास परं दानं प्रकीर्तितम्

vidhito gośca dānaṁ vai sarvottamamiha smṛtam na tena sadṛśaṁ vyāsa paraṁ dānaṁ prakīrtitam

The gift of a cow, given according to proper rule, is indeed remembered here as the most excellent of all; O Vyasa, no other gift is declared to be equal to it.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.14.22)

प्रयच्छते यः कपिलां सवत्सां स्वर्णशृङ्गिकाम् । कांस्यपात्रां रौप्यखुरां सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम्

prayacchate yaḥ kapilāṁ savatsāṁ svarṇaśṛṅgikām kāṁsyapātrāṁ raupyakhurāṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitām

Whoever gives a tawny cow, together with its calf, its horns tipped in gold, milked into a bronze vessel, its hooves tipped in silver, marked with every auspicious sign,

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.14.23)

तैस्तैर्गुणैः कामदुघा भूत्वा सा गौरुपैति तम् । प्रदातारं नरं व्यास परत्रेह च जन्मनि

taistairguṇaiḥ kāmadughā bhūtvā sā gaurupaiti tam pradātāraṁ naraṁ vyāsa paratreha ca janmani

O Vyasa, that cow, becoming the wish-fulfilling Kamadhenu through those very qualities, comes to that giver, both here and in his next birth beyond.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.14.24)

यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके तदस्ति दयितं गृहे । तत्तद् गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता

yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ loke tadasti dayitaṁ gṛhe tattad guṇavate deyaṁ tadevākṣayamicchatā

Whatever is most cherished in the world, whatever is most beloved in one's own home — that very thing should be given to a worthy person by one who desires the merit to become imperishable.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.14.25)

तुलापुरुषदानं हि दानानां दानमुत्तमम् । तुलासंरोहणं कार्यं यदीच्छेच्छ्रेय आत्मनः

tulāpuruṣadānaṁ hi dānānāṁ dānamuttamam tulāsaṁrohaṇaṁ kāryaṁ yadīcchecchreya ātmanaḥ

The gift of Tulapurusha — weighing oneself on a balance-scale against gold or goods — is indeed the most excellent gift of all; the ascent onto the scale should be performed by one who desires his own welfare.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.14.26)

यत्कृत्वा मुच्यते पापैर्वधबन्धकृतोद्भवैः । तुलादानं महत्पुण्यं सर्वपापक्षयङ्करम्

yatkṛtvā mucyate pāpairvadhabandhakṛtodbhavaiḥ tulādānaṁ mahatpuṇyaṁ sarvapāpakṣayaṅkaram

By performing it, one is released even from sins arising from killing and imprisonment; the Tula-gift is of great merit, destroying all sin.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.14.27)

कृत्वा पापान्यशेषाणि तुलादानं करोति यः । सर्वैस्तु पातकैर्मुक्तः स दिवं यात्यसंशयम्

kṛtvā pāpānyaśeṣāṇi tulādānaṁ karoti yaḥ sarvaistu pātakairmuktaḥ sa divaṁ yātyasaṁśayam

Whoever, even having committed every kind of sin, performs the Tula-gift — released from all sins, he undoubtedly goes to heaven.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.14.28)

पापं कृतं यद्दिवसे निशायां द्विसन्ध्ययोर्मध्यदिने निशान्ते । कालत्रये कायमनोवचोभिः तुलापुमान्वै तदपाकरोति

pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ yaddivase niśāyāṁ dvisandhyayormadhyadine niśānte kālatraye kāyamanovacobhiḥ tulāpumānvai tadapākaroti

"Whatever sin has been committed by day, by night, at the two twilights, at midday, or at the end of night — in the three times, by body, mind, or speech — this Tulapurusha rite removes it."

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.14.29)

बालेन वृद्धेन मया हि यूना विजानता ज्ञानपरेण पापम् । तत्सर्वमेवाशु कृतं मदीयं तुलापुमान् वै हरतु स्मरारिः

bālena vṛddhena mayā hi yūnā vijānatā jñānapareṇa pāpam tatsarvamevāśu kṛtaṁ madīyaṁ tulāpumān vai haratu smarāriḥ

"Whatever sin I have swiftly committed — as a child, as an old man, or as a youth, whether knowingly or unknowingly, whether given to wisdom or not — may this Tulapurusha, and Shiva the Enemy of Kama, take it all away."

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.14.30)

पात्रे प्रयुक्तं द्रविणं मयाद्य प्रमाणपूर्णं निहितं तुलायाम् । तेनैव सार्धं तु ममावशेषं कृताकृतं यत्सुकृतं समेतु

pātre prayuktaṁ draviṇaṁ mayādya pramāṇapūrṇaṁ nihitaṁ tulāyām tenaiva sārdhaṁ tu mamāvaśeṣaṁ kṛtākṛtaṁ yatsukṛtaṁ sametu

"The wealth that I have today placed, in full measure, upon the scale, offered to a worthy recipient — together with that very offering, may whatever merit remains to me, from deeds done or undone, come to fruition."

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.14.31)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुच्चार्य तं दद्यात् द्विजेभ्यः सर्वदा हितः । नैकस्यापि प्रदातव्यं न निस्तारस्ततो भवेत्

sanatkumāra uvāca evamuccārya taṁ dadyāt dvijebhyaḥ sarvadā hitaḥ naikasyāpi pradātavyaṁ na nistārastato bhavet

Sanatkumara said: Having uttered this, one, ever well-disposed, should give that wealth to brahmins, dividing it among them; it should not be given to a single one alone, for otherwise no deliverance results from it.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.14.32)

ददात्येवं तु यो व्यास तुलापुरुषमुत्तमम् । हत्वा पापं दिव्यं तिष्ठेद्यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

dadātyevaṁ tu yo vyāsa tulāpuruṣamuttamam hatvā pāpaṁ divyaṁ tiṣṭhedyāvadindrāścaturdaśa

O Vyasa, whoever thus performs the excellent Tulapurusha gift, having destroyed his sin, abides in a divine state for as long as fourteen Indras reign.