Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच दह्यमानाय विप्राय यः प्रयच्छत्युपानहौ यत्फलं तस्य भवति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said I wish to hear, O grandfather what the merits are of that person who makes the gift of a pair of sandals to a Brahmana whose feet are burning or being scorched by hot sands while walking.
भीष्म उवाच उपानहौ प्रयच्छेद्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समाहितः मर्दते कण्टकान्सर्वान्विषमान्निस्तरत्यपि स शत्रूणामुपरि च संतिष्ठति युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The man who gives to the Brahmanas sandals for the protection of their feet, succeeds in crushing all thorns and gets over every sort of difficulty.
यानं चाश्वतरीयुक्तं तस्य शुभ्रं विशां पते उपतिष्ठति कौन्तेय रूप्यकाञ्चनभूषणम् शकटं दम्यसंयुक्तं दत्तं भवति चैव हि
M. N. Dutt: Such a man, O Yudhishthira, stands over the heads of all his enemies, cars of pure splendour, with mules yoked thereto and made of gold and silver, O monarch, approach him. He who makes a gift of sandals is said to acquire the merit of making the gift of a car with well-broken horses yoked thereto.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यत्फलं तिलदाने च भूमिदाने च कीर्तितम् गोप्रदानेऽन्नदाने च भूयस्तद्ब्रूहि कौरव
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me fully once more, O grand father, of the merits of gifts of sesame and land, and of kine and food.
भीष्म उवाच शृणुष्व मम कौन्तेय तिलदानस्य यत्फलम् निशम्य च यथान्यायं प्रयच्छ कुरुसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hear, O son of Kunti, what the merits are of the gift sesame. Hearing me, do you then, O best of the Kurus, make gifts of sesame according to the rites.
पितॄणां प्रथमं भोज्यं तिलाः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा तिलदानेन वै तस्मात्पितृपक्षः प्रमोदते
M. N. Dutt: Sesame seeds were created by the Self create Brahmana as the best food for the departed manes. Hence, gifts sesame seeds always please the departed manes greatly.
माघमासे तिलान्यस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति सर्वसत्त्वसमाकीर्णं नरकं स न पश्यति
M. N. Dutt: The man who makes gifts of sesame seeds in the month of Magha, to the Brahmanas, has never to see Hell which is full of all dreadful creatures.
सर्वकामैः स यजते यस्तिलैर्यजते पितॄन् न चाकामेन दातव्यं तिलश्राद्धं कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: He who worship the departed manes with offerings of sesame seeds is considered as worshipping the deities in all the sacrifices. One should never make a Shraddha with offerings of sesames seeds without entertaining some purpose.
महर्षेः कश्यपस्यैते गात्रेभ्यः प्रसृतास्तिलाः ततो दिव्यं गता भावं प्रदानेषु तिलाः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Sesame seeds sprang from the limbs of the great Rishi Kashyapa. Hence in the matter of gifts, they have come to be considered as possessed of great efficacy.
पौष्टिका रूपदाश्चैव तथा पापविनाशनाः तस्मात्सर्वप्रदानेभ्यस्तिलदानं विशिष्यते
M. N. Dutt: Sesame seeds confer both prosperity and personal beauty cleanse the giver of all his sins. It is for this reason that the gift of sesame seeds is superior to the gift of every other article.
आपस्तम्बश्च मेधावी शङ्खश्च लिखितस्तथा महर्षिर्गौतमश्चापि तिलदानैर्दिवं गताः
M. N. Dutt: The highly intelligent Apastamva, Shankha and Likhita, and the great Rishi Gautama, have all gone to the celestial region by having made gifts of sesame seeds.
तिलहोमपरा विप्राः सर्वे संयतमैथुनाः समा गव्येन हविषा प्रवृत्तिषु च संस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those Brahmanas who make Homa with offerings of sesame, abstain from sexual intercourse, and are observant of the religion of Acts, are considered as equal to vaccine Havi.
सर्वेषामेव दानानां तिलदानं परं स्मृतम् अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते
M. N. Dutt: The gift of sesame seeds is superior to all gifts. Amongst all gifts, the gift of sesame is considered as yielding unending merit.
उत्पन्ने च पुरा हव्ये कुशिकर्षिः परंतप तिलैरग्नित्रयं हुत्वा प्राप्तवान्गतिमुत्तमाम्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly when Havi (clarified butter) on one occasion could not be procured, the Rishi Kushika, O scorcher of enemies made offerings of sesame seeds to his three sacrificial fires and succeeded in acquiring an excellent end.
इति प्रोक्तं कुरुश्रेष्ठ तिलदानमनुत्तमम् विधानं येन विधिना तिलानामिह शस्यते
M. N. Dutt: I have thus said to you, O chief of the Kurus, what the regulations are about the excellent gift of sesame seeds. It is on account of these regulations that the gift of sesame seeds has come to be considered as fraught with very superior merit.
अत ऊर्ध्वं निबोधेदं देवानां यष्टुमिच्छताम् समागमं महाराज ब्रह्मणा वै स्वयंभुवा
M. N. Dutt: After this, listen to what I would say. Once on a time the gods, desirous of making a Sacrifice, went, O king, to the presence of the Self-create Brahman.
देवाः समेत्य ब्रह्माणं भूमिभागं यियक्षवः शुभं देशमयाचन्त यजेम इति पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Having met Brahman, desirous as they were of celebrating a sacrifice on the Earth, they begged him for a piece of sacred earth, saying, We want it for our sacrifice.
देवा ऊचुः भगवंस्त्वं प्रभुर्भूमेः सर्वस्य त्रिदिवस्य च यजेमहि महाभाग यज्ञं भवदनुज्ञया नाननुज्ञातभूमिर्हि यज्ञस्य फलमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: The deities said O illustrious one, you are the lord of all the Earth as also of all the gods! With your permission, O highly blessed one, we wish to perform a sacrifice.
त्वं हि सर्वस्य जगतः स्थावरस्य चरस्य च प्रभुर्भवसि तस्मात्त्वं समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
AI Translation: You are the lord of all this world, of the immobile and the mobile. Therefore, you are worthy to grant permission.
ब्रह्मोवाच ददामि मेदिनीभागं भवद्भ्योऽहं सुरर्षभाः यस्मिन्देशे करिष्यध्वं यज्ञं काश्यपनन्दनाः
AI Translation: Brahma said: O bulls among gods, I shall give you a part of the earth, In which region you, sons of Kashyapa, will perform the sacrifice.
देवा ऊचुः भगवन्कृतकामाः स्मो यक्ष्यामस्त्वाप्तदक्षिणैः इमं तु देशं मुनयः पर्युपासन्त नित्यदा
M. N. Dutt: The gods said Our wishes, O holy one, have become successful. We shall celebrate our sacrifice even here with large gifts. Let, however, the ascetics always worship this piece of Earth.
भीष्म उवाच ततोऽगस्त्यश्च कण्वश्च भृगुरत्रिर्वृषाकपिः असितो देवलश्चैव देवयज्ञमुपागमन्
M. N. Dutt: Then there came to that place Agastya, Kanva, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vrishakapi, Asita and Devala.
ततो देवा महात्मान ईजिरे यज्ञमच्युत तथा समापयामासुर्यथाकालं सुरर्षभाः
M. N. Dutt: The great deities then. O you of unfading glory, celebrated their sacrifice. Those foremost of gods finished it in due time.
त इष्टयज्ञास्त्रिदशा हिमवत्यचलोत्तमे षष्ठमंशं क्रतोस्तस्य भूमिदानं प्रचक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: Having completed that sacrifice of theirs on the breast of that foremost of mountains, viz., Himavat, the celestials attached to the gift of earth a sixth part of the merit originating from their sacrifice.
प्रादेशमात्रं भूमेस्तु यो दद्यादनुपस्कृतम् न सीदति स कृच्छ्रेषु न च दुर्गाण्यवाप्नुते
M. N. Dutt: The man who makes a gift of even a span of carth with reverence and faith, has never to suffer from any difficulty and has never to meet with any calamity.
शीतवातातपसहां गृहभूमिं सुसंस्कृताम् प्रदाय सुरलोकस्थः पुण्यान्तेऽपि न चाल्यते
M. N. Dutt: By making a gift of a house that prevents cold, wind, and sun, and that stands upon a piece of clean land, the giver attains to the region of the celestials and does not fall down cven when his merit becomes exhausted.
मुदितो वसते प्राज्ञः शक्रेण सह पार्थिव प्रतिश्रयप्रदाता च सोऽपि स्वर्गे महीयते
M. N. Dutt: By making a gift of a house to live in, the giver, cndued with wisdom, lives, O king, happily in the company of Shakra, Such a person receives great honours in the celestial region.
अध्यापककुले जातः श्रोत्रियो नियतेन्द्रियः गृहे यस्य वसेत्तुष्टः प्रधानं लोकमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: That person in whose house a Brahmana of controlled senses, wellread in the Vedas, and belonging by birth to a family of preceptors, lives in contentment, succeeds in attaining to and enjoying a region of great happiness.
तथा गवार्थे शरणं शीतवर्षसहं महत् आसप्तमं तारयति कुलं भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Likewise, O best of the Bharatas, by giving away a shed for the shelter of kine that can prevent cold and rain and that is substantial in structure, the giver rescues seven generations of his race.
क्षेत्रभूमिं ददल्लोके पुत्र श्रियमवाप्नुयात् रत्नभूमिं प्रदत्त्वा तु कुलवंशं विवर्धयेत्
M. N. Dutt: By giving away a piece of earth fit for cultivation the giver acquires great prosperity. By giving a piece of earth containing mineral riches, the giver advances his family.
न चोषरां न निर्दग्धां महीं दद्यात्कथंचन न श्मशानपरीतां च न च पापनिषेविताम्
M. N. Dutt: One should never give away carth that is barren or that is burnt; nor should one give away any earth that is near a crematorium, or that has been possessed and enjoyed by a sinful person before such gift.
पारक्ये भूमिदेशे तु पितॄणां निर्वपेत्तु यः तद्भूमिस्वामिपितृभिः श्राद्धकर्म विहन्यते
M. N. Dutt: When a man performs a Shraddha in honour of the departed manes on earth belonging to another person, the departed manes render both the gift of that earth and the Shraddha itself fruitless.
तस्मात्क्रीत्वा महीं दद्यात्स्वल्पामपि विचक्षणः पिण्डः पितृभ्यो दत्तो वै तस्यां भवति शाश्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Hence, a wise man should buy even a small piece of earth and make a gift of it, The funeral cake that is offered to one's ancestors on earth that has been duly purchased, becomes endless.
अटवीपर्वताश्चैव नदीतीर्थानि यानि च सर्वाण्यस्वामिकान्याहुर्न हि तत्र परिग्रहः
M. N. Dutt: Forests, mountains, rivers, and Tirthas, are considered as having no owners. No earth need be bought here for performing Shraddhas.
इत्येतद्भूमिदानस्य फलमुक्तं विशां पते अतः परं तु गोदानं कीर्तयिष्यामि तेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: This has been said, O king, on the subject of the merits of making gifts of earth. After this, O sinless one, I shall describe to you the। subject of the gift of kine.
गावोऽधिकास्तपस्विभ्यो यस्मात्सर्वेभ्य एव च तस्मान्महेश्वरो देवस्तपस्ताभिः समास्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Kine are considered as superior to all the ascetics. And therefore, the divine Mahadeva practised penances in their company.
ब्रह्मलोके वसन्त्येताः सोमेन सह भारत आसां ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धाः प्रार्थयन्ति परां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Kine, O Bharata, live in the region of Brahman, in the company of Soma. Forming, as it does the highest end, the twiceborn Rishis, crowned with success, try to attain to that very region.
Supplementary Passages:
13.65.37 After 37, V1 B2-4 Dn3 ins.: *352 तां प्राप्नुवन्ति गां दत्त्वा विमुक्ताः सर्वकिल्बिषैः
पयसा हविषा दध्ना शकृताप्यथ चर्मणा अस्थिभिश्चोपकुर्वन्ति शृङ्गैर्वालैश्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: Kine benefit human beings with milk, clarified butter, curd, dung, skin, bones, horns, and hair, O Bharata.
नासां शीतातपौ स्यातां सदैताः कर्म कुर्वते न वर्षं विषमं वापि दुःखमासां भवत्युत
M. N. Dutt: Kine do not feel cold or heat. They always work. Even the rainy season cannot affect them at all.
ब्राह्मणैः सहिता यान्ति तस्मात्परतरं पदम् एकं गोब्राह्मणं तस्मात्प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: And since kine attain to the highest end, in the company of Brahmanas, therefore do the wise say that kine and Brahmanas are equal.
रन्तिदेवस्य यज्ञे ताः पशुत्वेनोपकल्पिताः ततश्चर्मण्वती राजन्गोचर्मभ्यः प्रवर्तिता
M. N. Dutt: Formerly king Rantideva celebrated a grand sacrifice in which an immense number of kine were offered up and killed. From the juice that was secreted by the skins of the slain animals, a river was formed that passed by the name of Charmanvati.
पशुत्वाच्च विनिर्मुक्ताः प्रदानायोपकल्पिताः ता इमा विप्रमुख्येभ्यो यो ददाति महीपते निस्तरेदापदं कृच्छ्रां विषमस्थोऽपि पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Kine no longer are animals fit for sacrifice. They now are animals fit for gift. That king who presents kine to foremost of Brahmanas, O king, is sure to get over every danger even if he falls into it. The man who presents a thousand kine has not to go to hell,
गवां सहस्रदः प्रेत्य नरकं न प्रपश्यति सर्वत्र विजयं चापि लभते मनुजाधिप
AI Translation: Having given a thousand cows, one does not see hell after death. And the king of men attains victory everywhere.
अमृतं वै गवां क्षीरमित्याह त्रिदशाधिपः तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुममृतं स प्रयच्छति
AI Translation: The lord of the thirty-three gods says, "The milk of cows is nectar." Therefore, he who gives a cow gives nectar.
अग्नीनामव्ययं ह्येतद्धौम्यं वेदविदो विदुः तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुं स हौम्यं संप्रयच्छति
AI Translation: This is the imperishable of the fires, known by those who know the Veda. Therefore, he who gives a cow, gives the Homa.
स्वर्गो वै मूर्तिमानेष वृषभं यो गवां पतिम् विप्रे गुणयुते दद्यात्स वै स्वर्गे महीयते
AI Translation: One who gives a bull, the lord of cows, to a brahmin endowed with good qualities, attains greatness in heaven.
प्राणा वै प्राणिनामेते प्रोच्यन्ते भरतर्षभ तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुं प्राणान्वै स प्रयच्छति
AI Translation: O bull of the Bharata lineage, these are said to be the vital airs of living beings. Therefore, he who gives a cow, gives the vital airs.
गावः शरण्या भूतानामिति वेदविदो विदुः तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुं शरणं संप्रयच्छति
AI Translation: The knowers of the Vedas know that cows are the refuge of beings. Therefore, he who gives a cow gives refuge.
न वधार्थं प्रदातव्या न कीनाशे न नास्तिके गोजीविने न दातव्या तथा गौः पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: The man, who makes the gift of a cow, is considered as making the gifts of what is the high refuge of all creatures. The cow should never be given away for slaughter; nor should the cow be given to a tiller of the soil; nor should the cow be given away to an atheist. The cow should not also, chief of the Bharatas, be given to one who se occupations is the keep of kine.
Supplementary Passages:
13.65.49 After 49, D10 T2.3 G2.4 ins.: *353 गोरसानां न विक्रेतुरपञ्चयजनस्य च
ददाति तादृशानां वै नरो गाः पापकर्मणाम् अक्षयं नरकं यातीत्येवमाहुर्मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: The wise have said that the person, who gives away the cow to any of such sinful persons, has to sink in eternal Heli.
न कृशां पापवत्सां वा वन्ध्यां रोगान्वितां तथा न व्यङ्गां न परिश्रान्तां दद्याद्गां ब्राह्मणाय वै
M. N. Dutt: One should never give to a Brahmana a cow that is lean, or that produces dead calves, or that is barren, or that is diseased, or that is defective of limb, or that is worn out with toil.
दशगोसहस्रदः सम्यक्शक्रेण सह मोदते अक्षयाँल्लभते लोकान्नरः शतसहस्रदः
M. N. Dutt: The man, who gives away ten thousand kine, attains to Heaven and sports in bliss in the company of Indra. The man, who makes gifts of kine by hundred thousands, wins many regions of eternal happiness.
इत्येतद्गोप्रदानं च तिलदानं च कीर्तितम् तथा भूमिप्रदानं च शृणुष्वान्ने च भारत
M. N. Dutt: Thus have I recited to you the merits of the gift of kine and of sesame, as also of the gift of earth. Listen now to me as I describe to you the gift of food, O Bharata.
अन्नदानं प्रधानं हि कौन्तेय परिचक्षते अन्नस्य हि प्रदानेन रन्तिदेवो दिवं गतः
M. N. Dutt: The gift of food, O son of Kunti, is considered as a very superior gift. Formerly king Rantideva ascended to the celestial region by having made gifts of food.
श्रान्ताय क्षुधितायान्नं यः प्रयच्छति भूमिप स्वायंभुवं महाभागं स पश्यति नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: That king, who makes a gift of food to one who is toil-worn and hungry, acquires the regions of supreme happiness belonging to the Self-create.
न हिरण्यैर्न वासोभिर्नाश्वदानेन भारत प्राप्नुवन्ति नराः श्रेयो यथेहान्नप्रदाः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Men cannot, by gifts of gold and dresses and of other things, win that happiness which givers of food succeed in wining, O you of great power.
अन्नं वै परमं द्रव्यमन्नं श्रीश्च परा मता अन्नात्प्राणः प्रभवति तेजो वीर्यं बलं तथा
M. N. Dutt: Food is, indeed, the first article. Food is considered as the highest prosperity. It is from food that life originates as also energy and prowess and strength.
सद्भ्यो ददाति यश्चान्नं सदैकाग्रमना नरः न स दुर्गाण्यवाप्नोतीत्येवमाह पराशरः
M. N. Dutt: He, who always makes gifts of food, with attention, to the righteous, never suffers any distress. This has been said by Parashara.
अर्चयित्वा यथान्यायं देवेभ्योऽन्नं निवेदयेत् यदन्नो हि नरो राजंस्तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः
M. N. Dutt: Having adored the deities duly food should be first dedicated to them. It has been said, O king that the kind of food that is taken by particular men is taken also by the gods those men worship.
कौमुद्यां शुक्लपक्षे तु योऽन्नदानं करोत्युत स संतरति दुर्गाणि प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: That man, who makes gifts of food in light half of the month of Kartika, succeeds in getting over every difficulty here and acquires endless happiness hereafter.
अभुक्त्वातिथये चान्नं प्रयच्छेद्यः समाहितः स वै ब्रह्मविदां लोकान्प्राप्नुयाद्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: That man, who makes a gift of food to a hungry guest arrived at his house, acquires all those regions, O chief of Bharata's race, that are reserved for persons acquainted with Brahman.
सुकृच्छ्रामापदं प्राप्तश्चान्नदः पुरुषस्तरेत् पापं तरति चैवेह दुष्कृतं चापकर्षति
M. N. Dutt: The man, who makes gifts of food, is sure to get over every difficulty and distress. Such a person gets over every sin and purges himself of every evil act.
इत्येतदन्नदानस्य तिलदानस्य चैव ह भूमिदानस्य च फलं गोदानस्य च कीर्तितम्
M. N. Dutt: I have thus described to you the merits of making gifts of food, of sesame, of earth, and of kine. person gets over every sin and purges himself of every evil act.