Shloka 19
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
विशाखायामनडूवाहं थेनुं दत्त्वा च दुग्धदाम् । सप्रासंगं च शकटं सधान्यं वस्त्रसंयुतम्
viśākhāyām anaḍūvāhaṃ dhenuṃ dattvā ca dugdhadām | sa-prāsaṅgaṃ ca śakaṭaṃ sa-dhānyaṃ vastra-saṃyutam ||
Dijo Nārada: “Quien, bajo el asterismo Viśākhā, da en caridad un buey de tiro apto para arrastrar un carro, una vaca que da leche y un carro provisto de sus aperos, junto con grano y vestiduras, satisface a los dioses y a los antepasados. Tras la muerte alcanza una dicha inagotable; en vida no es vencido por la aflicción; y al dejar este mundo va al cielo.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the dharmic value of well-equipped, practical gifts—ox, milch cow, cart with fittings, grain, and clothing—given at an auspicious time (Viśākhā). Such dāna is said to nourish society materially, and spiritually to satisfy devas and pitṛs, yielding protection in life and lasting merit after death.
Nārada is describing a specific charitable observance connected with the nakṣatra Viśākhā. He lists the items to be donated and states the promised fruits: satisfaction of gods and ancestors, freedom from distress while alive, and attainment of heaven and imperishable happiness after death.