The Glory of Giving during Chaturmasya

Verse 1 (skanda.6.235.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच दानधर्मं प्रशंसंति सर्वधर्मेषु सर्वदा हरौ सुप्ते विशेषेण दानं ब्रह्मत्वकारणम्

brahmovāca dānadharmaṁ praśaṁsaṁti sarvadharmeṣu sarvadā harau supte viśeṣeṇa dānaṁ brahmatvakāraṇam

Brahma said: They ever praise the dharma of giving above all other dharmas; especially while Hari sleeps, giving becomes the cause of attaining the state of Brahma.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.235.2)

अन्नं ब्रह्म इति प्रोक्तमन्ने प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः तस्मादन्नप्रदो नित्यं वारिदश्च भवेन्नरः

annaṁ brahma iti proktamanne prāṇāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ tasmādannaprado nityaṁ vāridaśca bhavennaraḥ

Food is declared to be Brahman itself; in food the life-breaths are established; therefore a man should ever be a giver of food, and a giver of water.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.235.3)

वारिदस्तृप्तिमायाति सुखमक्षय्यमन्नदः वार्यन्नयोः समं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति

vāridastṛptimāyāti sukhamakṣayyamannadaḥ vāryannayoḥ samaṁ dānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

The giver of water attains satisfaction; the giver of food attains imperishable happiness; there has never been, nor will there ever be, a gift equal to that of water and food.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.235.4)

मणिरत्नप्रवालानां रूप्यं हाटकवाससाम् अन्येषामपि दानानामन्नदानं विशिष्यते

maṇiratnapravālānāṁ rūpyaṁ hāṭakavāsasām anyeṣāmapi dānānāmannadānaṁ viśiṣyate

Above the gift of jewels, gems, and coral, of silver, gold, and garments, and of other gifts as well, the gift of food is distinguished.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.235.5)

अन्नोदकप्रदानं च गोप्रदानं च नित्यदा वेदपाठो वह्निहोमश्चातुर्मास्ये महाफलम्

annodakapradānaṁ ca gopradānaṁ ca nityadā vedapāṭho vahnihomaścāturmāsye mahāphalam

The constant giving of food and water, the giving of cows, the recitation of the Veda, and fire-offering — all bear great fruit during Chaturmasya.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.235.6)

वैकुण्ठपदवाञ्छा चेद्विष्णुना सह संगमे सर्वपापक्षयार्थाय चातुर्मास्येऽन्नदो भवेत्

vaikuṇṭhapadavāñchā cedviṣṇunā saha saṁgame sarvapāpakṣayārthāya cāturmāsye'nnado bhavet

If one desires the state of Vaikuntha, union with Vishnu, and the destruction of all sin, let him become a giver of food during Chaturmasya.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.235.7)

सत्यंसत्यं हि देवर्षे मयोक्तं तव नारद जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु नादत्तमुपतिष्ठते

satyaṁsatyaṁ hi devarṣe mayoktaṁ tava nārada janmāṁtarasahasreṣu nādattamupatiṣṭhate

Truly, truly, O divine sage Narada, I tell you this — through thousands of other births, what has not been given does not come to stand by one again.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.235.8)

तस्मादन्नप्रदानेन सर्वे हृष्यंति जन्तवः देवाश्च स्पृहयंत्येनमन्नदानप्रदायिनम्

tasmādannapradānena sarve hṛṣyaṁti jantavaḥ devāśca spṛhayaṁtyenamannadānapradāyinam

Therefore, through the giving of food, all creatures rejoice; and the gods too long for that giver of food.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.235.9)

आज्यं देयं च पात्रेषु श्रद्धया वज्रमिश्रितम् वज्रदानकरो मर्त्यश्चातुर्मास्ये न मानवः

ājyaṁ deyaṁ ca pātreṣu śraddhayā vajramiśritam vajradānakaro martyaścāturmāsye na mānavaḥ

Ghee, mixed with sugar-crystal, should be given in vessels with faith; the mortal who gives such a gift during Chaturmasya is no ordinary man.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.235.10)

भोजनं गुरुविप्राणां घृतदानं च सत्क्रिया एतानि यस्य तिष्ठन्ति चातुर्मास्ये न मानवः

bhojanaṁ guruviprāṇāṁ ghṛtadānaṁ ca satkriyā etāni yasya tiṣṭhanti cāturmāsye na mānavaḥ

The feeding of one's teachers and brahmins, the gift of ghee, and good conduct — he in whom these are firmly established during Chaturmasya is no ordinary man.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.235.11)

सद्धर्मः सत्कथा चैव सत्सेवा दर्शनं सताम् विष्णुपूजा रतिर्दाने चातुर्मास्येषु दुर्लभाः

saddharmaḥ satkathā caiva satsevā darśanaṁ satām viṣṇupūjā ratirdāne cāturmāsyeṣu durlabhāḥ

True dharma, holy narration, service of the good, the sight of the virtuous, worship of Vishnu, and delight in giving — these are rare and precious virtues during Chaturmasya.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.235.12)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य यो मर्त्यश्चातुर्मास्येऽन्नदो भवेत् सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा पितृलोकमवाप्नुयात्

pitṝnuddiśya yo martyaścāturmāsye'nnado bhavet sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā pitṛlokamavāpnuyāt

That mortal who becomes a giver of food during Chaturmasya, dedicated to the ancestors, his soul purified of every sin, attains the world of the ancestors.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.235.13)

देवाः सर्वेऽन्नदानेन तृप्ता यच्छन्ति वांछितम् पिपीलिकाऽपि यद्गेहाद्भक्ष्यमादाय गच्छति

devāḥ sarve'nnadānena tṛptā yacchanti vāṁchitam pipīlikā'pi yadgehādbhakṣyamādāya gacchati

All the gods, satisfied by the gift of food, grant what is desired — even down to the ant that carries away food from one's house.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.235.14)

रात्रौ दिवाऽनिषिद्धान्नो ह्यन्नदानमनुत्तमम् हरौ सुप्ते हि पापघ्नं वार्य मपि शत्रुषु

rātrau divā'niṣiddhānno hyannadānamanuttamam harau supte hi pāpaghnaṁ vārya mapi śatruṣu

The giving of unforbidden food, whether by night or day, is unsurpassed; while Hari sleeps it destroys sin — as does even water given, even to an enemy.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.235.15)

चातुर्मास्ये दुग्धदानं दधि तक्रं महाफलम् जन्मकाले येन बद्धः पिंडस्तद्दानमुत्तमम्

cāturmāsye dugdhadānaṁ dadhi takraṁ mahāphalam janmakāle yena baddhaḥ piṁḍastaddānamuttamam

During Chaturmasya the gift of milk, curd, and buttermilk bears great fruit; the gift of that very substance by which the body's form was bound together at birth is the most excellent gift.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.235.16)

शाकप्रदाता नरकं यमलोकं न पश्यति वस्त्रदः सोमलोकं च वसेदाभूतसंप्लवम्

śākapradātā narakaṁ yamalokaṁ na paśyati vastradaḥ somalokaṁ ca vasedābhūtasaṁplavam

The giver of vegetables does not behold hell, the world of Yama; the giver of clothing dwells in the world of Soma until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.235.17)

सुप्ते देवे यथाशक्ति ह्यन्यासु प्रतिमासु च पुष्पवस्त्रप्रदानेन सन्तानं नैव हीयते

supte deve yathāśakti hyanyāsu pratimāsu ca puṣpavastrapradānena santānaṁ naiva hīyate

While the god sleeps, and likewise in other months, according to one's ability, by the gift of flowers and clothing, one's lineage never fails.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.235.18)

चन्दनागुरुधूपं च चातुर्मास्ये प्रयच्छति पुत्रपौत्रसमायुक्तो विष्णुरूपी भवेन्नरः

candanāgurudhūpaṁ ca cāturmāsye prayacchati putrapautrasamāyukto viṣṇurūpī bhavennaraḥ

He who offers sandalwood, aloewood, and incense during Chaturmasya becomes, together with sons and grandsons, a man of Vishnu's own form.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.235.19)

सुप्ते देवे जगन्नाथे फलदानं प्रयच्छति विप्राय वेदविदुषे यमलोकं न पश्यति

supte deve jagannāthe phaladānaṁ prayacchati viprāya vedaviduṣe yamalokaṁ na paśyati

He who, while the Lord of the universe sleeps, gives the gift of fruit to a brahmin learned in the Veda, does not behold the world of Yama.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.235.20)

विद्यादानं च गोदानं भूमिदानं प्रयच्छति विष्णुप्रीत्यर्थमेवेह स तारयति पूर्वजान्

vidyādānaṁ ca godānaṁ bhūmidānaṁ prayacchati viṣṇuprītyarthameveha sa tārayati pūrvajān

He who offers the gift of learning, the gift of a cow, and the gift of land, purely for the pleasure of Vishnu, thereby delivers his ancestors.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.235.21)

गुडसैंधवतैलादिमधुतिक्ततिलान्नदः देवतायास्समुद्दिश्य तासां लोकं प्रयाति हि

guḍasaiṁdhavatailādimadhutiktatilānnadaḥ devatāyāssamuddiśya tāsāṁ lokaṁ prayāti hi

He who gives jaggery, rock-salt, oil and the like, honey, bitter herbs, and sesame-food, dedicated to a deity, indeed goes to that deity's world.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.235.22)

चातुर्मास्ये तिलान्दत्त्वा न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् यवप्रदाता वसते वासवं लोकमक्षयम्

cāturmāsye tilāndattvā na bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet yavapradātā vasate vāsavaṁ lokamakṣayam

Having given sesame during Chaturmasya, one is never again reborn as a suckling infant; the giver of barley dwells imperishably in the world of Vasava.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.235.23)

हूयेत हव्यं वह्नौ च दानं दद्याद्द्विजातये गावः सुपूजिताः कार्याश्चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

hūyeta havyaṁ vahnau ca dānaṁ dadyāddvijātaye gāvaḥ supūjitāḥ kāryāścāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

One should offer oblation into the fire, and give gifts to the twice-born; cows should be well worshipped, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.235.24)

यत्किंचित्सुकृतं कर्म जन्मावधि सुसंचितम् चातुर्मास्ये गते पात्रे विमुखे यन्न दीयते

yatkiṁcitsukṛtaṁ karma janmāvadhi susaṁcitam cāturmāsye gate pātre vimukhe yanna dīyate

Whatever meritorious deed has been well accumulated over the course of one's life, if, when a worthy recipient has come during Chaturmasya, one turns away and does not give —

Verse 25 (skanda.6.235.25)

प्रणश्यति क्षणादेव वचना द्यस्तु प्रच्युतः दिवसेदिवसे तस्य वर्द्धते च प्रतिश्रुतम्

praṇaśyati kṣaṇādeva vacanā dyastu pracyutaḥ divasedivase tasya varddhate ca pratiśrutam

—it perishes that very instant. But whatever has been promised, once fallen short of one's word, keeps growing day by day.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.235.26)

तस्मान्नैव प्रतिश्राव्यं स्वल्पमप्याशु दीयते तावद्विवर्द्धते दानं यावत्तन्न प्रयच्छति

tasmānnaiva pratiśrāvyaṁ svalpamapyāśu dīyate tāvadvivarddhate dānaṁ yāvattanna prayacchati

Therefore nothing should merely be promised — even a small gift should be given at once; a promised gift keeps growing for as long as it is not actually given.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.235.27)

यो मोहान्मनुजो लोके यावत्कोटिगुणं भवेत् ततो दशगुणा वृद्धिश्चातुर्मास्ये प्रदातरि

yo mohānmanujo loke yāvatkoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet tato daśaguṇā vṛddhiścāturmāsye pradātari

Whatever a man, out of delusion, withholds after promising in this world may multiply crore-fold in fault; but for one who actually gives during Chaturmasya, there is a tenfold increase in merit.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.235.28)

नरके पतनं तस्य याव दिंद्राश्चतुर्दश अतस्तु सर्वदा देयं नरैर्यत्तु प्रतिश्रुतम्

narake patanaṁ tasya yāva diṁdrāścaturdaśa atastu sarvadā deyaṁ narairyattu pratiśrutam

His fall into hell lasts as long as the reigns of fourteen Indras; therefore whatever has been promised should always be given by men.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.235.29)

अन्यस्मै न प्रदातव्यं प्रदत्तं नैव हारयेत् चातुर्मास्येषु यः शय्यां द्विजाग्र्याय प्रयच्छति

anyasmai na pradātavyaṁ pradattaṁ naiva hārayet cāturmāsyeṣu yaḥ śayyāṁ dvijāgryāya prayacchati

It should not be given to another instead, nor should what has been given be taken back. Whoever, during the Chaturmasya months, gives a bed to a foremost brahmin,

Verse 30 (skanda.6.235.30)

वेदोक्तेन विधानेन न स याति यमालयम् आसनं वारिपात्रं च भाजनं ताम्रभाजनम्

vedoktena vidhānena na sa yāti yamālayam āsanaṁ vāripātraṁ ca bhājanaṁ tāmrabhājanam

—according to the rite declared in the Veda, he does not go to the abode of Yama. Likewise the gift of a seat, a water-vessel, a bowl, or a copper vessel —

Verse 31 (skanda.6.235.31)

चातुर्मास्ये प्रयत्नेन देयं वित्तानुसारतः सर्वदानानि विप्रेभ्यो ददत्सुप्ते जगद्गुरौ

cāturmāsye prayatnena deyaṁ vittānusārataḥ sarvadānāni viprebhyo dadatsupte jagadgurau

—should diligently be given during Chaturmasya, according to one's means. He who gives all these gifts to brahmins while the Guru of the universe sleeps,

Verse 32 (skanda.6.235.32)

आत्मानं पूर्वजैः सार्द्धं स मोचयति पातकात् गौर्भूश्च तिलपात्रं च दीपदानमनुत्तमम्

ātmānaṁ pūrvajaiḥ sārddhaṁ sa mocayati pātakāt gaurbhūśca tilapātraṁ ca dīpadānamanuttamam

—delivers himself, together with his ancestors, from sin. A cow, land, a vessel of sesame, and the gift of a lamp are unsurpassed gifts.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.235.33)

ददद्विजातये मुक्तो जायते स ऋणत्रयात्

dadadvijātaye mukto jāyate sa ṛṇatrayāt

Giving these to a twice-born, one becomes freed from the three ancestral debts.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.235.34)

स विश्वकर्ता भुवनेषु गोप्ता स यज्ञभुक्सर्वफलप्रदश्च दानानि वस्तुष्वधिदैवतं च यस्मिन्समुद्दिश्य ददाति मुक्तः

sa viśvakartā bhuvaneṣu goptā sa yajñabhuksarvaphalapradaśca dānāni vastuṣvadhidaivataṁ ca yasminsamuddiśya dadāti muktaḥ

He is the maker of the universe, the protector of the worlds, the enjoyer of sacrifice, the giver of every fruit; whoever gives gifts of any object, dedicating them to him as the presiding deity, is set free.