13.024
The result of gifts given to the gods and ancestors.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandsire, I wish to hear from you here what has been declared and enjoined by the divine sages regarding śrāddha, divine rites, and dharma. (13-24-1)
Bhishma said.
One should perform the divine rites in the forenoon and the ancestral rites in the afternoon, being endowed with auspicious conduct, having performed purification, and acting diligently. (13-24-2)
But among men, one should give at midday according to propriety; a gift given at an improper time, they know that portion as belonging to the demons. (13-24-3)
They know that portion which has been crossed, eaten, previously touched by impurity, done, or seen by menstruating women, as belonging to the rakṣasas (demons). (13-24-4)
O Bhārata, whatever has been touched or eaten by an impure person, or touched by a dog, that portion is considered to belong to the Rākṣasas. (13-24-5)
They knew that portion which had hair, was fallen upon by insects, pecked, looked at by dogs, cried over, and rejected, as belonging to the demons. (13-24-6)
O Bhārata, whatever is consumed without omkāra, with weapons, or by the evil-minded, that portion is known to belong to the rākṣasas. (13-24-7)
Whatever has been eaten by another, or consumed, or may be so, in divine or ancestral rites, that portion is always known to be of the Rākṣasas. (13-24-8)
The Rākṣasas know that portion which is censured, blamed, and surrounded with anger, whether it is divine or ancestral. (13-24-9)
O best of men, the śrāddha ceremony which is performed without mantras and without proper ritual, and which is served by the three castes, is known to be the share of the rākṣasas (demons). (13-24-10)
Whatever is served without the offering of clarified butter, and whatever is eaten by those of bad conduct, that portion is known to belong to the demons. (13-24-11)
O best of the Bharatas, those shares of the rākṣasas that have been declared have been stated; now, listen to the examination of the offering in the Brāhmaṇa. (13-24-12)
O king, as many Brāhmaṇas as are fallen, dull, or insane, likewise, whether in divine or ancestral rites, are not worthy of the banner of honor. (13-24-13)
O king, those who are afflicted with leucoderma, leprosy, impotence, consumption, epilepsy, or blindness are not worthy of honour. (13-24-14)
Physicians, temple-attendants, those who observe vows in vain, and sellers of soma are not fit to participate in a śrāddha ceremony. (13-24-15)
O king, singers, dancers, acrobats, musicians, storytellers, and fighters are not worthy of the banner. (13-24-16)
O king, priests of śūdras, teachers of śūdras, and students of śūdras are not worthy of the banner. (13-24-17)
O Bhārata, both the one who appoints and the brāhmaṇa who is appointed are not worthy even for śrāddha; indeed, those two are sellers of the Veda. (13-24-18)
O king, even a brāhmaṇa who is all-knowing, if he has previously associated with a lower class, does not deserve the banner. (13-24-19)
O king, those Brāhmaṇas who are without fire, those who have carried out the dead, as well as thieves and fallen ones, are not worthy of a dwelling. (13-24-20)
O Bhārata, those whose ancestors are unknown, those descended from groups, and sons born of a daughter or previous sons, are not eligible to offer śrāddha offerings. (13-24-21)
O king, a debtor, a kṣatriya, a brāhmaṇa who is a usurer, and one whose livelihood is selling living beings, are not worthy of the sacrificial banner. (13-24-22)
O best of the Bharatas, those who are preceded by women, those with stalks as backs, as well as she-goats and Brāhmaṇas, are not fit to be accepted in the śrāddha ceremony. (13-24-23)
O best of the Bharatas, the brāhmaṇas appointed for the śrāddha and divine rites, as well as the roles of giver and receiver—hear again about their favor. (13-24-24)
O king, even those ploughmen who have performed vows, are endowed with virtues, know the Sāvitrī, and are performers of rites, they are worthy of distinction. (13-24-25)
Even a kṣatriya may appoint a twice-born of good family in a sacrifice; but, O dear one, a merchant should never be appointed in śrāddha rites. (13-24-26)
O king, a brāhmaṇa who performs agnihotra, lives in the village, is not a thief, and knows how to receive guests is fit to have a house. (13-24-27)
O best of the Bharatas, he who recites the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī mantra) three times a day, lives by alms, and is engaged in rites, O king, he is worthy of distinction. (13-24-28)
O king, he who rises and sets, and likewise sets and rises, who is non-injurious and of little fault, is fit to be the standard-bearer. (13-24-29)
O bull of the Bharatas, he was a brāhmaṇa without guile, not argumentative, possessed of proper understanding, living by alms, and, O king, capable of maintaining a household. (13-24-30)
A non-observer of vows, a gambler, a thief, a seller of living beings, and a merchant—afterwards, having drunk Soma, O king, he is fit for the sacrificial banner. (13-24-31)
O king, after having previously earned wealth through harsh agricultural labors, he should then become a host to all guests, being capable of maintaining a household. (13-24-32)
Wealth obtained from the sale of the Veda, or earned by a woman, as well as that acquired through impotence, is not to be given to ancestors or gods. (13-24-33)
O best of the Bharatas, when liberation is being performed, if a Brahmin does not speak what is proper, then his unrighteousness is as grave as the falsehood regarding cows. (13-24-34)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when the proper time for the śrāddha and the brāhmaṇa has arrived, curd, ghee, the waning of Soma, meat, and whatever is from the forest are appropriate. (13-24-35)
At a śrāddha ceremony, for a brāhmaṇa, one should indeed say 'Svadhā'; for a kṣatriya, one should instead say, 'May the ancestors be pleased.' (13-24-36)
But, O Bhārata, at the śrāddha rite for a Vaiśya, one should say 'imperishable'; for a Śūdra, O Bhārata, one should say 'well-being'. (13-24-37)
For the Brāhmaṇa, the auspicious-day proclamation is prescribed in divine rites. For the Kṣatriya, this same is prescribed but without the Oṅkāra. For the Vaiśya, it should be said: "May the deities be pleased." (13-24-38)
O Bhārata, hear the sequence of actions performed according to injunction: all rites such as the birth ceremony in the three castes. In Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya, they are indeed prescribed by mantra, and for the Vaiśya as well, O Yudhiṣṭhira. (13-24-39)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the girdle of a brāhmaṇa is made of muñja grass, for a kṣatriya it is made of murva fiber, and for a vaiśya it is made of bālvaja grass; this is their respective duty. (13-24-40)
Hear about the dharma and adharma of the giver and the receiver. For a Brāhmaṇa, falsehood is said to be adharma and is designated as a sin. For a Kṣatriya, it is considered four times greater, and for a Vaiśya, eight times greater. (13-24-41)
A brāhmaṇa should not eat anywhere else before being instructed by a learned person; in the matter of animal sacrifice, the younger one, if of equal dharma, should indeed be considered the same. (13-24-42)
Now, if a Kṣatriya or a Vaiśya eats what is not specifically permitted, being less involved in animal slaughter, he should receive half the share. (13-24-43)
O King, if a Brāhmaṇa who has not bathed eats food that is divine, ancestral, or from Brāhmaṇas and others, for him, it is unrighteousness, equivalent to the falsehood of cows. (13-24-44)
If a brāhmaṇa is impure, a kṣatriya may eat among brāhmaṇas and others; but if he does so knowingly out of greed, his unrighteousness is as grave as stealing cows. (13-24-45)
O Bhārata, if someone desires food by offering food for the sake of an action and invites (another), O king, his act is considered unrighteousness and falsehood. (13-24-46)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when the three castes are without Veda, vow, and good conduct, they are served like a mantra; among them, unrighteousness and falsehood concerning cows prevail. (13-24-47)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandsire, I wish to hear about that which, whether given as ancestral or divine, yields great fruit. (13-24-48)
Bhishma said.
Yudhiṣṭhira, feed those whose wives wait for them like farmers wait for good rain, with the remnants of leftovers. (13-24-49)
Among the kṣatriyas who are restrained by conduct, emaciated, and of meagre livelihood, petitioners also approach; whatever is given to them yields great fruit. (13-24-50)
O king, their devotees, their houses, their wealth, and those who take their refuge, as well as petitioners for their sake—whatever is given to them yields great fruit. (13-24-51)
O Yudhishthira, whatever is given to petitioners who, out of fear of thieves or others, desire food, yields great merit. (13-24-52)
Whatever is given to the students who beg for the alms collected by the guileless, self-controlled brāhmaṇa, yields great merit. (13-24-53)
To Brāhmaṇas whose wealth and wives have been taken away, who approach during a national calamity for the sake of wealth, whatever is given to them yields great merit. (13-24-54)
The gifts given to Brāhmaṇas who observe vows, are established in discipline, and are approved by the Vedas, for the purpose of completing that (ritual), yield great results among them. (13-24-55)
Those who have not deviated, whether in dharmic or heretical doctrines, who are weak in life-force and poor in wealth—for gifts given to them, the reward is great. (13-24-56)
When all their wealth has been taken and they are faultless, even the mighty desire food that has already been eaten; whatever is given to them among such people yields great merit. (13-24-57)
Whatever is given to ascetics devoted to austerity, among them those who live by alms and are petitioners desiring something, that gift yields great fruit. (13-24-58)
O best of the Bharatas, you have heard the rule of great fruits in giving; now hear that by which people go to hell or to heaven. (13-24-59)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, except for the sake of the teacher or for the sake of safety, those who speak falsehood are certainly destined for hell. (13-24-60)
Those who approach, touch, or use another's wife are certainly destined for hell. (13-24-61)
Those who steal others' property, destroy others' property, and act as informers against others, they indeed are destined for hell. (13-24-62)
O Bhārata, men who break into rest-houses, assemblies, crossings, and houses are destined for hell. (13-24-63)
Those men who deceive a woman without protector, a young girl, an old woman, a fearful or ascetic woman, they indeed go to hell. (13-24-64)
O Bhārata, those who destroy livelihood, home, wife, friend, and hope are indeed destined for hell. (13-24-65)
Informers, breakers of alliances, those who live off others' actions, and ungrateful friends are indeed destined for hell. (13-24-66)
Heretics, corruptors, and indeed those who corrupt agreements, and those who have fallen—these truly are goers to hell. (13-24-67)
Those who, by means of divisions, drag away one whose hope is fulfilled, whose payment is completed, whose devotion is accomplished, and whose effort is completed—such people indeed go to hell. (13-24-68)
Those who consume the resources of wives, fire, servants, and guests, and neglect sacrifices to ancestors and gods, they indeed go to hell. (13-24-69)
Those who sell the Vedas, those who corrupt the Vedas, and even the scribes of the Vedas—indeed, all of them are destined for hell. (13-24-70)
Men who are outside the four āśramas and outside the Vedas, and who live by improper actions, certainly go to hell. (13-24-71)
O king, female sellers of hair, poison, and milk—these indeed are destined for hell. (13-24-72)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those who discriminate in matters concerning Brāhmaṇas, cows, and maidens are certainly destined for hell. (13-24-73)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those who sell or make weapons, spears, and bows are certainly destined for hell. (13-24-74)
O bull among the Bharatas, those who obstruct the path with spikes, stakes, or pits, indeed, they are destined for hell. (13-24-75)
O bull among the Bharatas, those who abandon teachers, servants, or devoted ones who are incapable, they indeed go to hell. (13-24-76)
Those who have not gained self-control, as well as those who pierce the noses of animals and those who bind them, all these indeed are destined for hell. (13-24-77)
Those who do not protect, possess wealth acquired by fraud, are intent on taking the sixth part as tax, are capable but do not give, they indeed go to hell. (13-24-78)
Those who abandon the patient, the self-restrained, the wise, and those who have lived together for a long time and have accomplished their purpose—such people indeed are destined for hell. (13-24-79)
Those men who eat first without giving to children, the aged, and servants, indeed, they are destined for hell. (13-24-80)
These, seen and declared by former seers as those who go to hell, I shall now tell you, O best of the Bharatas, who are the partakers of the heavenly world. (13-24-81)
O Bhārata, in all actions that are indeed preceded by fate, the transgression against a Brāhmaṇa, when committed, destroys all—sons, cattle, everything. (13-24-82)
O Yudhishthira, those men who follow dharma through charity, austerity, and truthfulness, they go to heaven. (13-24-83)
O Bhārata, those men who, having acquired knowledge through service and austerity, and who are without attachment to accepting gifts, go to heaven. (13-24-84)
Those men who are released from fear, sin, affliction, poverty, disease, and oppression for this reason, go to heaven. (13-24-85)
Those men who possess forbearance, are steadfast, rise to righteous acts, and are endowed with auspicious conduct, go to heaven. (13-24-86)
Those men who have turned away from honey, meat, others' wives, and intoxicating drinks are destined for heaven. (13-24-87)
O Bhārata, those men who are creators of hermitages, families, countries, and cities, they go to heaven. (13-24-88)
Those men who give cloth and ornaments, and likewise those who give food, drink, and grain, and those who provide for families, they go to heaven. (13-24-89)
Those men who have turned away from all injury, who endure everything, and who have become a refuge for all, those men go to heaven. (13-24-90)
Those men who have conquered their senses serve their mother and father, and are affectionate towards their brothers; such men go to heaven. (13-24-91)
O Bhārata, even among the wealthy, the strong, and the youthful, only those men who are steadfast and have conquered their senses truly go to heaven. (13-24-92)
Those men who are affectionate even towards those who have committed faults, gentle, loving as friends, and who delight in serving others, they go to heaven. (13-24-93)
Those who encompass a thousand, likewise those who give thousands, and those who are protectors of thousands—such men go to heaven. (13-24-94)
O bull among the Bharatas, those men who are givers of gold, cows, vehicles, and conveyances go to heaven. (13-24-95)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those men who give garments to maidens given in marriage and to servants, indeed, they go to heaven. (13-24-96)
Those who give monasteries, dwellings, gardens, wells, pleasure-groves, and assembly-halls, and those who construct embankments—these men attain heaven. (13-24-97)
O Bhārata, those men who give dwellings, fields, and habitations as requested are destined for heaven. (13-24-98)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those men who, having produced juices, seeds, and grains by themselves, give them away as donors, go to heaven. (13-24-99)
In whichever family men are born who have many sons, live a hundred years, are compassionate, have conquered anger, and are destined for heaven. (13-24-100)
O Bhārata, this has been spoken regarding the other-worldly purpose, the divine and ancestral (rites), and the righteousness and unrighteousness of giving, as was done by the former sages. (13-24-101)
