Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच आरामाणां तडागानां यत्फलं कुरुनन्दन तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तोऽद्य भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Yudhisthira said: O descendant of the Kuru lineage, I wish to hear from you today about the fruits of parks and ponds.
भीष्म उवाच सुप्रदर्शा वनवती चित्रधातुविभूषिता उपेता सर्वबीजैश्च श्रेष्ठा भूमिरिहोच्यते
AI Translation: Bhishma said: The land is well-seen, full of forests, adorned with various minerals, Endowed with all seeds, it is said to be the best.
तस्याः क्षेत्रविशेषं च तडागानां निवेशनम् औदकानि च सर्वाणि प्रवक्ष्याम्यनुपूर्वशः
AI Translation: I shall describe the special places of that (river), the location of the lakes, and all the aquatic (creatures) in due order.
तडागानां च वक्ष्यामि कृतानां चापि ये गुणाः त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वत्र पूजितो यस्तडागवान्
AI Translation: I will tell about the qualities of ponds that have been made The one who has a pond is worshipped everywhere in the three worlds.
अथ वा मित्रसदनं मैत्रं मित्रविवर्धनम् कीर्तिसंजननं श्रेष्ठं तडागानां निवेशनम्
AI Translation: Or, a friend's house, a friend, a friend's increase, The best producer of fame, the abode of lakes,
धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः तडागं सुकृतं देशे क्षेत्रमेव महाश्रयम्
AI Translation: The wise say that a well-constructed tank, a field, and a great shelter are the fruits of Dharma, Artha, and Kama.
चतुर्विधानां भूतानां तडागमुपलक्षयेत् तडागानि च सर्वाणि दिशन्ति श्रियमुत्तमाम्
AI Translation: One should recognize a pond as the abode of the four kinds of beings. And all ponds bestow the best kind of prosperity.
देवा मनुष्या गन्धर्वाः पितरोरगराक्षसाः स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयन्ति जलाशयम्
AI Translation: Gods, men, Gandharvas, Pitrs, serpents, demons, and immobile beings resort to a reservoir of water.
तस्मात्तांस्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तडागे ये गुणाः स्मृताः या च तत्र फलावाप्तिरृषिभिः समुदाहृता
AI Translation: Therefore, I shall tell you about the qualities that are remembered in a pond, and the attainment of fruits there, as described by the sages.
वर्षमात्रे तडागे तु सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति अग्निहोत्रफलं तस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः
AI Translation: The wise say that the fruit of the Agnihotra is the fruit of him whose water remains in a lake for a year.
शरत्काले तु सलिलं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति गोसहस्रस्य स प्रेत्य लभते फलमुत्तमम्
AI Translation: If water remains in a pond during the autumn season, he obtains the supreme fruit after death of a thousand cows.
हेमन्तकाले सलिलं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति स वै बहुसुवर्णस्य यज्ञस्य लभते फलम्
AI Translation: In the winter season, if water remains in a pond, he obtains the fruit of a sacrifice with much gold.
यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तडागे सलिलं भवेत् अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः
AI Translation: If there is water in a pond during the cold season, The wise say it is the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
तडागं सुकृतं यस्य वसन्ते तु महाश्रयम् अतिरात्रस्य यज्ञस्य फलं स समुपाश्नुते
AI Translation: He who has a well-made pond as a great resort in spring attains the fruit of the Atiratra sacrifice.
Supplementary Passages:
13.99.14 D1.2.6 subst. for 14ab: D4.5.7.9 ins. after 14ab: *444 वसन्तकाले पानीयं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति
निदाघकाले पानीयं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति वाजपेयसमं तस्य फलं वै मुनयो विदुः
AI Translation: The sages know that the fruit of one who has water in a lake during the hot season is equal to that of a Vajapeya sacrifice.
स कुलं तारयेत्सर्वं यस्य खाते जलाशये गावः पिबन्ति पानीयं साधवश्च नराः सदा
AI Translation: He who digs a well or a pond for the benefit of all, and cows and good men always drink water from it,
तडागे यस्य गावस्तु पिबन्ति तृषिता जलम् मृगपक्षिमनुष्याश्च सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
AI Translation: He who has a pond where thirsty cows, animals, birds and men drink water, he obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice.
यत्पिबन्ति जलं तत्र स्नायन्ते विश्रमन्ति च तडागदस्य तत्सर्वं प्रेत्यानन्त्याय कल्पते
AI Translation: Whatever they drink, bathe in, or rest in, all that becomes for them, after death, the means of attaining the infinite.
दुर्लभं सलिलं तात विशेषेण परत्र वै पानीयस्य प्रदानेन प्रीतिर्भवति शाश्वती
AI Translation: O son! Water is very difficult to obtain, especially in the other world. By giving water, there is eternal delight.
तिलान्ददत पानीयं दीपान्ददत जाग्रत ज्ञातिभिः सह मोदध्वमेतत्प्रेतेषु दुर्लभम्
AI Translation: Give sesamum seeds, water, lamps, and stay awake. Rejoice with your relatives. This is difficult to obtain for the dead.
सर्वदानैर्गुरुतरं सर्वदानैर्विशिष्यते पानीयं नरशार्दूल तस्माद्दातव्यमेव हि
AI Translation: It is superior to all gifts, it is more excellent than all gifts. Water, O best of men, should be given.
एवमेतत्तडागेषु कीर्तितं फलमुत्तमम् अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि वृक्षाणामपि रोपणे
AI Translation: Thus has been described the excellent fruit of these tanks. Now I shall describe the planting of trees.
Supplementary Passages:
13.99.22 After 22ab, T2 ins.: *445 एकाहमपि कौन्तेय भूमिस्थमुदकं कुरु कुलं तारयते जन्म सप्त सप्त च सप्त च
स्थावराणां च भूतानां जातयः षट्प्रकीर्तिताः वृक्षगुल्मलतावल्ल्यस्त्वक्सारास्तृणजातयः
AI Translation: The six classes of immobile beings are declared to be: Trees, shrubs, creepers, climbers, bark-trees, and grass.
एता जात्यस्तु वृक्षाणां तेषां रोपे गुणास्त्विमे कीर्तिश्च मानुषे लोके प्रेत्य चैव फलं शुभम्
AI Translation: These are the types of trees, and these are their virtues. And fame in the world of men, and after death, auspicious fruit.
Supplementary Passages:
13.99.24 T3 G1.3.4 M4 ins. after 24ab: T1 after 24: M1-3 after 23: *446 पनसाम्रादयो वृक्षा गुल्मा मन्दारपूर्वकाः नागिका मरिचा वल्ल्यो मालतीत्यादिका लताः वेणुक्रमुकत्वक्साराः सस्यानि तृणजातयः T1 cont.: *447 सस्यानि रोपणादेषां तृप्तिर्भवति शाश्वती
लभते नाम लोके च पितृभिश्च महीयते देवलोकगतस्यापि नाम तस्य न नश्यति
AI Translation: He obtains fame in the world and is honored by his ancestors. Even when he has gone to the world of the gods, his name does not perish.
अतीतानागते चोभे पितृवंशं च भारत तारयेद्वृक्षरोपी च तस्माद्वृक्षान्प्ररोपयेत्
AI Translation: He should plant trees, O descendant of Bharata, for the sake of his ancestors, both past and future.
Supplementary Passages:
13.99.26 After 26ab, B2.5 ins.: *448 शतावराञ्शतपरान्मातापितृपितामहान् After 26, V1 B2 ins.: *449 रोपयित्वा तु यो वृक्षान्काले शुश्रूषते नगान्
तस्य पुत्रा भवन्त्येते पादपा नात्र संशयः परलोकगतः स्वर्गं लोकांश्चाप्नोति सोऽव्ययान्
AI Translation: There is no doubt that these are the sons of that (tree). Having gone to the other world, he attains heaven and the imperishable worlds.
पुष्पैः सुरगणान्वृक्षाः फलैश्चापि तथा पितॄन् छायया चातिथींस्तात पूजयन्ति महीरुहाः
AI Translation: Trees worship the gods with flowers, the manes with fruits, and guests with shade.
Supplementary Passages:
13.99.28 For 28cd, T1 subst.: *450 पूजयन्ति क्षितिरुहाश्छायया ह्यतिथीन्सदा
किंनरोरगरक्षांसि देवगन्धर्वमानवाः तथा ऋषिगणाश्चैव संश्रयन्ति महीरुहान्
AI Translation: Kinnaras, serpents, demons, gods, gandharvas, men, and also groups of sages resort to the trees.
पुष्पिताः फलवन्तश्च तर्पयन्तीह मानवान् वृक्षदं पुत्रवद्वृक्षास्तारयन्ति परत्र च
AI Translation: The trees that are in bloom and bear fruit, satisfy the people here. The trees that give shade are like sons, and they also save one in the next world.
तस्मात्तडागे वृक्षा वै रोप्याः श्रेयोर्थिना सदा पुत्रवत्परिपाल्याश्च पुत्रास्ते धर्मतः स्मृताः
AI Translation: Therefore, trees should always be planted in ponds by those who desire welfare. They should be protected like sons, and they are considered sons according to the Dharma.
तडागकृद्वृक्षरोपी इष्टयज्ञश्च यो द्विजः एते स्वर्गे महीयन्ते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिनः
AI Translation: The Brāhmaṇa who has built a tank, planted trees, and performed sacrifices, and those who speak the truth, are honoured in heaven.
तस्मात्तडागं कुर्वीत आरामांश्चैव रोपयेत् यजेच्च विविधैर्यज्ञैः सत्यं च सततं वदेत्
AI Translation: Therefore, one should construct a pond and plant gardens, and perform various sacrifices, and always speak the truth.