Adhyaya 24

Verse 1

शौनक उवाच । विदुषांवर तत्त्वज्ञ कथयस्व महामते । इदानीं मम दानानां माहात्म्यं क्रमतो मुने

Śaunaka said: O best among the learned, knower of truth, great-minded one—tell me now, O sage, in proper order, the greatness of my acts of charity.

Verse 2

सूत उवाच । क्षितिदानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ दानानामुत्तमं मतम् । येन कृतं वै तद्दानं सर्वदानफलं मतम्

Sūta said: O best of sages, the gift of land is regarded as the highest among gifts. By making that donation, one is held to gain the fruit of every form of giving.

Verse 3

क्षितिं ससस्यां यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय द्विजोत्तम । विष्णुलोके सुखं भुंक्ते यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश

O best of the twice-born, whoever gives a brāhmaṇa fertile land together with its crops enjoys happiness in Viṣṇu’s world for as long as the fourteen Indras endure.

Verse 4

पृथिव्यां जन्म चासाद्य सार्वभौमस्ततो नृपः । महीं सर्वां चिरं भुक्त्वा व्रजेद्वै श्रीहरेर्गृहम्

Having obtained birth on earth, that king becomes a universal sovereign; having long enjoyed the whole earth, he indeed goes to the abode of Śrī Hari.

Verse 5

गोचर्ममात्रां भूमिं यः प्रयच्छति द्विजातये । स गच्छति हरेर्गेहं सर्वपापविवर्जितः

Whoever gives to a twice-born a piece of land measuring only the size of a cowhide goes to the abode of Hari, freed from all sins.

Verse 6

शतं गावो वृषश्चैको यत्र तिष्ठंत्ययंत्रिताः । गोचर्ममात्रां तां भूमिं प्रवदंति महर्षयः

Where a hundred cows and a single bull may stand unrestrained, the great sages declare that stretch of land to be only the measure of a cowhide.

Verse 7

भूमिनेता भूमिदाता द्वौ चापि स्वर्गगामिनौ । ग्राह्या भूमिर्द्विजैः प्राज्ञैस्त्यक्त्वा दानशतान्यपि

Both the one who leads others to acquire land and the one who donates land go to heaven. Therefore, wise twice-born men should accept land, even setting aside hundreds of other gifts.

Verse 8

अज्ञानी भूसुरो यस्तु त्यजेद्भूमिं विमोहितः । प्रतिजन्मन्यसौ विप्रो भवेच्चात्यंत दुःखभाक्

But that ignorant brāhmaṇa who, deluded, gives up the land becomes, in every birth, a brāhmaṇa destined to suffer extreme misery.

Verse 9

अन्यतो यः समासाद्य दद्याद्भूमिं द्विजातये । तस्मै विप्र जगन्नाथो ददाति परमं पदम्

O brāhmaṇa, whoever, having obtained land from elsewhere, donates it to a twice-born (dvija)—to that person Jagannātha, the Lord of the universe, grants the supreme abode.

Verse 10

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां च मेदिनीं यो हरेद्द्विज । युक्तः कोटिकुलैर्याति नरकं चातिदारुणम्

O brāhmaṇa, whoever seizes land—whether given by himself or given by another—goes to a most dreadful hell, bound along with tens of millions of his lineages.

Verse 11

हरेद्यो वै महीं विप्र देवब्राह्मणयोरपि । न दृष्टा निष्कृतिस्तस्य कोटिकल्पशतैर्मुने

O brāhmaṇa, if one were to steal land belonging even to the gods or to brāhmaṇas, no expiation for that deed is seen—even across hundreds of millions of kalpas, O sage.

Verse 12

भूमिं यो परदत्तां च रक्षति क्ष्मापतिर्द्विज । पुण्यं कोटिगुणं स्याद्वै तस्य दानं जनादपि

O brāhmaṇa, the king who protects land that has been granted by another attains merit ten million times greater—even than the merit of making that gift himself.

Verse 13

सप्तद्वीपां महीं दत्त्वा यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते द्विज । तत्पुण्यं प्राप्नुयान्मर्त्यो धेनुं यच्छन्द्विजातये

O brāhmaṇa, the merit obtained by gifting the earth with its seven continents— that very merit a mortal attains by giving a cow to a twice-born (brāhmaṇa).

Verse 14

ददाति वृषभं यस्तु दरिद्राय कुटुंबिने । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो शिवलोकं स गच्छति

One who offers a bull as a charitable gift to a poor householder is freed from all sins and is said to attain Śiva’s auspicious realm (Śivaloka).

Verse 15

तिलप्रमाणं स्वर्णं यो ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छति । हरेर्निकेतनं याति युक्तः कोटिकुलैरपि

Whoever gives a piece of gold the size of a sesame seed to a brāhmaṇa attains the abode of Hari—along with even crores of his family lines.

Verse 16

यो दद्याद्रजतं विप्र साधवे भूसुराय वै । प्राप्नोति चंद्रलोकं च पिबेत्तत्रामृतं सदा

O brāhmaṇa, whoever gives silver to a virtuous brāhmaṇa truly attains the world of the Moon, and there drinks nectar (amṛta) forever.

Verse 17

प्रवालं मौक्तिकं चैव हीरकं च मणिं तथा । यो ददाति द्विजश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति

Whoever gives coral, pearls, diamonds, and also gems—O best of Brahmins—attains the heavenly world.

Verse 18

तुलापुरुषदानेन यत्पुण्यं लभते जनः । शालग्रामशिलां दत्त्वा तस्मात्कोटिगुणं लभेत्

Whatever merit a person gains by performing the tulāpuruṣa-dāna (the gift of ‘weighing a man’), by donating a Śālagrāma stone one obtains merit a crore times greater than that.

Verse 19

सप्तद्वीपां क्षितिं दत्वा सशैलवनकाननाम् । यत्पुण्यं लभते तद्वै शालग्रामशिलाप्रदः

The merit that one gains by gifting the earth of the seven continents—complete with its mountains, forests, and groves—that very merit is attained by the giver of a Śālagrāma stone.

Verse 20

शालग्रामशिलां यो वै दद्याद्भूमिसुराय च । तेन विप्र प्रदत्तानि भुवनानि चतुर्दश

Whoever truly gives a Śālagrāma stone to a brāhmaṇa, a ‘god on earth’—by that act, O brāhmaṇa, the fourteen worlds are regarded as having been given in charity.

Verse 21

तुलापुरुषदानं यः करोति द्विजपुंगव । जनन्याश्चोदरे तस्य पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

O best of the twice-born, whoever performs the sacred Tulāpuruṣa gift shall not be born again in a mother’s womb.

Verse 22

सालंकारां द्विजश्रेष्ठ कन्यां यच्छति यो नरः । स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मसदनं पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

O best of the twice-born, the man who gives a maiden adorned with ornaments attains Brahmā’s abode; for him there is no rebirth.

Verse 23

कन्याविक्रयिणो नास्ति नरकान्निष्कृतिः पुनः । कन्यादानकृतो नास्ति स्वर्गादागमनं पुनः

For one who sells a maiden, there is no release again from hell; for one who performs kanyādāna—the gifting of a maiden in marriage—there is no return again from heaven.

Verse 24

इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे ब्रह्मखंडे सूतशौनकसंवादे । चतुर्विंशतितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter in the Brahma-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the dialogue between Sūta and Śaunaka.

Verse 25

वस्त्रं यच्छति यो दिव्यं साधवे वै द्विजायते । स्वर्गे दिव्यांबरधरश्चिरं तिष्ठेद्द्विजोत्तम

O best of the twice-born, one who gives divine clothing to a virtuous sādhū truly becomes a brāhmaṇa, and in heaven dwells for a long time, clad in celestial garments.

Verse 26

धेनुं पुरातनीं यच्छेद्वस्त्रं च जरितं द्विज । नूत्नां रजोवतीं कन्यां स गच्छेन्निरयं तथा

O twice-born one, whoever gives away an old cow and worn-out clothing, and likewise gives a newly married maiden while she is menstruating—such a person goes to hell.

Verse 27

कन्याविक्रयिणो ब्रह्मन्न पश्येल्लपनं बुधः । दृष्ट्वा चाज्ञानतो वापि कुर्य्यान्मार्तंड दर्शनम्

O Brāhmaṇa, a wise person should not even look upon the act of selling a maiden. If, however, he sees it unknowingly, he should then perform the viewing of Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun) as an expiatory act.

Verse 28

फलदाता नरो गच्छेत्त्रिदिवं च द्विजोत्तम । भुंक्ते कल्पसहस्राणि फलं तत्रामृतोपमम्

O best of the twice-born, the person who gives fruit goes to the heavenly world and enjoys there, for thousands of kalpas, a reward comparable to nectar (amṛta).

Verse 29

शाकं यच्छति यो मर्त्यो शिवस्यभवनं द्विज । याति कल्पद्वयं भुंक्ते दुर्ल्लभं पायसं सुरैः

O brāhmaṇa, the mortal who offers vegetables at Śiva’s abode goes to heaven and, for two kalpas, partakes of the sweet rice (pāyasa) that is difficult even for the gods to obtain.

Verse 30

घृतदो दधिदश्चैव तक्रदो दुग्धदस्तथा । विष्णोर्निकेतनं गत्वा सुधापानं करोति सः

One who gives ghee, curd, buttermilk, and likewise milk—having gone to the abode of Viṣṇu—attains the drinking of nectar (amṛta).

Verse 31

गंधदः पुष्पदश्चैव मर्त्यो याति सुरालयम् । तिष्ठेद्युगसहस्राणि गंधपुष्पविभूषितः

A mortal who offers fragrance and flowers goes to the abode of the gods; adorned with perfumes and blossoms, he dwells there for thousands of yugas.

Verse 32

शय्यादानं दानसारं ब्राह्मणाय ददाति यः । स याति ब्रह्मसदनं पर्य्यंके शेरते चिरम्

Whoever gives a brāhmaṇa the gift of a bed—the very essence of charity—goes to Brahmā’s abode and lies upon a couch there for a long time.

Verse 33

पीठदाता दीपदाता सर्वदुष्कृतवर्जितः । स्वर्गे सिंहासने तिष्ठेज्ज्वलद्दीपावलीवृतः

One who donates a seat and one who donates a lamp becomes free from all evil deeds; in heaven he sits upon a throne, surrounded by rows of blazing lamps.

Verse 34

तांबूलं यो नरो दद्याद्भूमिं भुंक्तेऽखिलां सुखम् । स्वर्गे देवांगनाक्रोडे सुप्तस्तांबूलमत्ति वै

A man who gives tāmbūla (betel) enjoys the whole earth in happiness; and in heaven, asleep in the lap of celestial maidens, he indeed partakes of tāmbūla.

Verse 35

विद्यादानं दानवरं करोति यो नरोत्तमः । प्रेत्य स सन्निधिं विष्णोस्तिष्ठेद्युगशतत्रयम्

That best of men who makes the gift of knowledge—the finest of gifts—after death abides in the presence of Viṣṇu for three hundred yugas.

Verse 36

प्राप्य ज्ञानं ततस्तत्र दुर्ल्लभं वै द्विजर्षभ । दुर्ल्लभं मोक्षमाप्नोति श्रीहरेः कृपया द्विज

Having attained there that rare knowledge, O best of the twice-born, one then attains the rarest liberation—by the grace of Śrī Hari, O brāhmaṇa.

Verse 37

अनाथं दुःखितं विप्रं पाठयेद्वै नरोत्तमः । श्रीहरेर्भवनं याति पुनर्जन्मविवर्जितः

The best of men who teaches a helpless and sorrow-stricken brāhmaṇa attains the abode of Śrī Hari, freed from rebirth.

Verse 38

यो नरः पुस्तकं दद्याद्भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । प्रतिवर्णं लभेत्पुण्यं कपिलाकोटिदानजम्

Any person who donates a book with devotion and faith obtains merit for every single letter—equal to the merit arising from gifting ten million tawny cows.

Verse 39

मधुदो गुडदश्चैव मर्त्यो यातीक्षुसागरम् । लवणप्रदो नरो याति वारुणं लोकमेव च

A mortal who gives honey and jaggery goes to the Ocean of Sugarcane; and a man who gives salt goes indeed to Varuṇa’s world.

Verse 40

सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नं वारि द्विजोत्तम । तत्त्वज्ञैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैः प्रवरं वै प्रकीर्त्तितम्

Of all forms of charitable giving, O best of the twice-born ones, the gifts of food and water are proclaimed by all sages who know the Truth to be the foremost.

Verse 41

अन्नं वारि द्विजश्रेष्ठ येन दत्तं महीतले । तेन दत्तानि दानानि सर्वाणि च द्विजर्षभ

O best of brāhmaṇas, on this earth, he who has given food and water has thereby given all gifts—O bull among the twice-born.

Verse 42

अन्नदो यो नरो विप्र प्राणदश्च प्रकीर्त्तितः । तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो लभते फलम्

O Brāhmaṇa, the man who gives food is also proclaimed to be a giver of life. Therefore, the giver of food obtains the merit (fruit) of all forms of charity.

Verse 43

यथाचान्नं तथा वारि द्वे तुल्ये च प्रकीर्त्तिते । वारिणा च विना चान्नं सिद्धं न स्याद्द्विजोत्तम

Just as food is, so too is water—these two are proclaimed to be equal. Without water, food cannot be properly prepared, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 44

क्षुधा तृषा द्विज व्याघ्र द्वे च तुल्ये प्रकीर्त्तिते । अतश्चान्नं च तोयं च श्रेष्ठं प्रोक्तं बुधैरपि

O tiger among Brahmins, hunger and thirst are declared to be alike; therefore, both food and water are spoken of by the wise as the highest necessities.

Verse 45

अन्नदानं क्षितौ ब्रह्मन्ये कुर्वंति नरोत्तमाः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता गच्छंति हरिमंदिरम्

O Brahmin, the best among men who give food as charity on earth are freed from all sins and go to Hari’s abode.

Verse 46

यावंत्यन्नानि भो विप्र यच्छति क्षितिमंडले । ब्रह्महत्याश्च तावंत्यो नश्यंत्येव तपोधन

O brāhmaṇa, as many portions of food as a person gives upon the earth, so many sins of brahmahatyā (the killing of a brāhmaṇa) are indeed destroyed, O treasure of austerity.

Verse 47

यच्छतां चान्नदानानि शरीराणि च पातकम् । गात्राणि गृह्णतां त्यक्त्वा सहसा यांति शौनक

O Śaunaka, the food-gifts given by donors—and even their bodies—become tainted; abandoning the limbs of those who accept (such gifts), the merit (puṇya) departs suddenly.

Verse 48

अतः पापिष्ठ चान्नानि न गृह्णंति मनीषिणः । गृह्णंति मोहाद्ये मूढा भवंति पापभागिनः

Therefore, the wise do not accept food or gifts from the most sinful. But those fools who accept it out of delusion become sharers in that sin.

Verse 49

कुर्याद्भूमिष्ठमुदकं चैकं भो द्विजसत्तम । सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तो व्रजेत्स हरिमंदिरम्

O best of the twice-born, one should offer even a single libation of water placed upon the ground; freed from all sins, he then goes to the temple, the abode of Hari.

Verse 50

प्रयत्नेन द्विजश्रेष्ठ कर्त्तव्यो धनसंचयः । संचितं च धनं ब्रह्मन्दानकर्मणि विक्षिपेत्

O best of the twice-born, one should diligently accumulate wealth; and, O Brahman, the wealth that has been gathered should be directed toward acts of dāna (charity).

Verse 51

रणंति ये च कार्पण्याद्धनं ते चातिदुःखिनः । अंते सर्वधनं त्यक्वा निःस्वा गच्छंति भो मुने

Those who hoard wealth out of miserliness are indeed exceedingly unhappy. In the end, abandoning all their riches, they depart destitute—O sage.

Verse 52

मानवा ये सदा दानं दत्त्वा दत्त्वा दरिद्रति । दरिद्रास्तेन विज्ञेया नरलोके महेश्वराः

Those people who, even after repeatedly giving gifts, still remain poor—such persons should be understood to be ‘poor’ in the human world, O Maheśvaras.

Verse 53

परलोके द्विजव्याघ्र साधुसंयमवर्जिते । निर्दये बंधुहीने च न दत्तं नोपतिष्ठते

O tiger among the twice-born, in the next world—devoid of righteous conduct and self-restraint, pitiless and without kin—whatever was not given (in charity) does not come to one’s aid.

Verse 54

स्थिते धने नरो यो वै नाश्नाति न ददाति सः । दरिद्र इव विज्ञेयः प्रेत्य निश्वासमुत्सृजेत्

Even when wealth is at hand, the man who neither enjoys it nor gives (in charity) should be regarded as one who is truly poor; after death, he merely exhales his last breath (leaving everything behind).

Verse 55

तपसोऽपि वरं दानं प्रोक्तं च तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । अतो यत्नाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ दानकर्म समाचरेत्

Even greater than austerity is charity—so declare those who have realized the truth. Therefore, O best of twice-born, one should diligently practice the duty of giving.

Verse 56

दाता दानं न दद्याद्वै समुत्सृज्य द्विजातये । स याति निरयं घोरं सर्वजंतुभयावहम्

If a donor, having undertaken a vow to give, does not truly bestow the promised gift upon a twice-born (brāhmaṇa), he goes to a dreadful hell, terrifying to all beings.

Verse 57

दानं दाता प्रतिग्राही न स्मरेच्च न याचते । निरये चोभयोर्वासो यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ

In the matter of charity, neither giver nor receiver should bring it up again, nor should one ask for it; otherwise, both will dwell in hell for as long as the moon and the sun endure.

Verse 58

ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यानि वै द्विजसत्तम । तानि दानेन हन्यंते तस्माद्दानं समाचरेत्

O best among the twice-born, whatever sins there are—beginning with brahmin-slaying—are destroyed by charitable giving; therefore one should diligently practice charity.