13.063
नक्षत्रयोगदानम्
The gift of the combination of stars
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
श्रुतं मे भवतो वाक्यमन्नदानस्य यो विधिः। नक्षत्रयोगस्येदानीं दानकल्पं ब्रवीहि मे ॥१३-६३-१॥
"I have heard from you the procedure for food-giving. Now tell me the rule for making donations at the time of lunar conjunctions." (13-63-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। देवक्याश्चैव संवादं देवर्षेर्नारदस्य च ॥१३-६३-२॥
Here too, they recite this ancient story, the dialogue between Devakī and the divine sage Nārada. (13-63-2)
द्वारकामनुसम्प्राप्तं नारदं देवदर्शनम्। पप्रच्छैनं ततः प्रश्नं देवकी धर्मदर्शिनी ॥१३-६३-३॥
When the divine-seeing Nārada had arrived at Dvārakā, Devakī, perceiver of righteousness, then asked him a question. (13-63-3)
तस्याः सम्पृच्छमानाया देवर्षिर्नारदस्तदा। आचष्ट विधिवत्सर्वं यत्तच्छृणु विशां पते ॥१३-६३-४॥
While she was asking, the divine sage Nārada then narrated everything properly. That which was said, listen, O lord of men. (13-63-4)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
कृत्तिकासु महाभागे पायसेन ससर्पिषा। सन्तर्प्य ब्राह्मणान्साधूँल्लोकानाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान् ॥१३-६३-५॥
Offering rice-milk with ghee to Brāhmaṇas and virtuous men during the auspicious time of Kṛttikā, one attains the highest worlds. (13-63-5)
रोहिण्यां प्रथितैर्मांसैर्माषैरन्नेन सर्पिषा। पयोऽनुपानं दातव्यमानृण्यार्थं द्विजातये ॥१३-६३-६॥
On the day of Rohiṇī, one should give to a twice-born person well-known meats, black gram, cooked rice, ghee, and milk as an accompanying drink, for the sake of becoming free from debts. (13-63-6)
दोग्ध्रीं दत्त्वा सवत्सां तु नक्षत्रे सोमदैवते। गच्छन्ति मानुषाल्लोकात्स्वर्गलोकमनुत्तमम् ॥१३-६३-७॥
By giving a milch cow with its calf on the day sacred to the Soma deity, one passes from the world of men to the highest realm of heaven. (13-63-7)
आर्द्रायां कृसरं दत्त्वा तैलमिश्रमुपोषितः। नरस्तरति दुर्गाणि क्षुरधारांश्च पर्वतान् ॥१३-६३-८॥
On the day of Ārdrā, one who has given kṛsara mixed with oil after fasting, crosses over difficulties and razor-edged mountains. (13-63-8)
अपूपान्पुनर्वसौ दत्त्वा तथैवान्नानि शोभने। यशस्वी रूपसम्पन्नो बह्वन्ने जायते कुले ॥१३-६३-९॥
O beautiful lady, one who gives fried cakes and foods again in the month of Vasā (Vaisākha) is born in a renowned lineage, endowed with beauty and abundant food. (13-63-9)
पुष्ये तु कनकं दत्त्वा कृतं चाकृतमेव च। अनालोकेषु लोकेषु सोमवत्स विराजते ॥१३-६३-१०॥
But in the constellation Puṣya, having given gold, both performed and even unperformed deeds, in the worlds without light, he shines like the moon. (13-63-10)
आश्लेषायां तु यो रूप्यमृषभं वा प्रयच्छति। स सर्वभयनिर्मुक्तः शात्रवानधितिष्ठति ॥१३-६३-११॥
But he who gives silver or a bull on (the day of) Āśleṣā, he remains freed from all fear, even among enemies. (13-63-11)
मघासु तिलपूर्णानि वर्धमानानि मानवः। प्रदाय पुत्रपशुमानिह प्रेत्य च मोदते ॥१३-६३-१२॥
A man who, during the Maghā constellation, gives growing pots filled with sesame seeds, becomes possessed of sons and cattle, and rejoices both in this world and after death. (13-63-12)
फल्गुनीपूर्वसमये ब्राह्मणानामुपोषितः। भक्षान्फाणितसंयुक्तान्दत्त्वा सौभाग्यमृच्छति ॥१३-६३-१३॥
If, before Phalgunī, one fasts and gives the Brāhmaṇas food mixed with sugar, one attains good fortune. (13-63-13)
घृतक्षीरसमायुक्तं विधिवत्षष्टिकौदनम्। उत्तराविषये दत्त्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥१३-६३-१४॥
One who gives rice food made from early rice, properly mixed with clarified butter and milk, in the northern region, is honored in the heavenly world. (13-63-14)
यद्यत्प्रदीयते दानमुत्तराविषये नरैः। महाफलमनन्तं च भवतीति विनिश्चयः ॥१३-६३-१५॥
Whatever gift men give in the future world certainly produces great and endless reward. (13-63-15)
हस्ते हस्तिरथं दत्त्वा चतुर्युक्तमुपोषितः। प्राप्नोति परमाँल्लोकान्पुण्यकामसमन्वितान् ॥१३-६३-१६॥
Having given in his hand an elephant-cart yoked with four (elephants or horses), and having fasted, one obtains the highest worlds endowed with virtuous desires. (13-63-16)
चित्रायामृषभं दत्त्वा पुण्यान्गन्धांश्च भारत। चरत्यप्सरसां लोके रमते नन्दने तथा ॥१३-६३-१७॥
O Bhārata, one who has given a bull and meritorious perfumes during Citrā moves in the world of apsarases and delights likewise in the Nandana garden. (13-63-17)
स्वातावथ धनं दत्त्वा यदिष्टतममात्मनः। प्राप्नोति लोकान्स शुभानिह चैव महद्यशः ॥१३-६३-१८॥
When, after quenching his own thirst, a person gives away the wealth most cherished by himself, he attains auspicious worlds and, even here, great fame. (13-63-18)
विशाखायामनड्वाहं धेनुं दत्त्वा च दुग्धदाम्। सप्रासङ्गं च शकटं सधान्यं वस्त्रसंयुतम् ॥१३-६३-१९॥
In the Viśākhā (lunar mansion), having given a bullock-drawn cart, a cow, a rope for milking, together with accessories, and a cart filled with grain and accompanied by cloth. (13-63-19)
पितॄन्देवांश्च प्रीणाति प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते। न च दुर्गाण्यवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति ॥१३-६३-२०॥
He pleases both his forefathers and the gods; after death, he attains the eternal, does not encounter difficulties, and goes to the world of heaven. (13-63-20)
दत्त्वा यथोक्तं विप्रेभ्यो वृत्तिमिष्टां स विन्दति। नरकादींश्च सङ्क्लेशान्नाप्नोतीति विनिश्चयः ॥१३-६३-२१॥
Having given to the Brāhmaṇas the prescribed and desired livelihood, he obtains benefit; (he) certainly does not attain hell and other torments. (13-63-21)
अनुराधासु प्रावारं वस्त्रान्तरमुपोषितः। दत्त्वा युगशतं चापि नरः स्वर्गे महीयते ॥१३-६३-२२॥
If, during the time of Anurādhā nakṣatra, a man fasts while wearing a cloak and another garment, and after giving charity, he is honored in heaven for a hundred ages. (13-63-22)
कालशाकं तु विप्रेभ्यो दत्त्वा मर्त्यः समूलकम्। ज्येष्ठायामृद्धिमिष्टां वै गतिमिष्टां च विन्दति ॥१३-६३-२३॥
But if a mortal gives amaranth with roots to the Brāhmaṇas in the month of Jyeṣṭha, he attains both the desired prosperity and the desired goal. (13-63-23)
मूले मूलफलं दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समाहितः। पितॄन्प्रीणयते चापि गतिमिष्टां च गच्छति ॥१३-६३-२४॥
One who, being composed, gives root-fruit at the root to the Brāhmaṇas, satisfies his ancestors and also attains the desired state. (13-63-24)
अथ पूर्वास्वषाढासु दधिपात्राण्युपोषितः। कुलवृत्तोपसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे ॥ प्रदाय जायते प्रेत्य कुले सुबहुगोकुले ॥१३-६३-२५॥
At the beginning of the Aṣāḍhā month, after fasting, by giving vessels of curd to a Brāhmaṇa who is accomplished in family conduct and learned in the Vedas, one is reborn after death in a family blessed with many cows. (13-63-25)
उदमन्थं ससर्पिष्कं प्रभूतमधुफाणितम्। दत्त्वोत्तरास्वषाढासु सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात् ॥१३-६३-२६॥
One who gives milk and barley mixture with ghee, abundant with honey and sugar, during the (lunar mansion) Uttarā-Aṣāḍhā, may attain all desires. (13-63-26)
दुग्धं त्वभिजिते योगे दत्त्वा मधुघृताप्लुतम्। धर्मनित्यो मनीषिभ्यः स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥१३-६३-२७॥
But milk given at the auspicious period of Abhijit, soaked with honey and ghee, by one always devoted to dharma to the wise, is honored in the world of heaven. (13-63-27)
श्रवणे कम्बलं दत्त्वा वस्त्रान्तरितमेव च। श्वेतेन याति यानेन सर्वलोकानसंवृतान् ॥१३-६३-२८॥
Having given a blanket to the ear (for the ear), and one wrapped in cloth, he proceeds by a white vehicle to worlds that are unobstructed (without concealment). (13-63-28)
गोप्रयुक्तं धनिष्ठासु यानं दत्त्वा समाहितः। वस्त्ररश्मिधरं सद्यः प्रेत्य राज्यं प्रपद्यते ॥१३-६३-२९॥
By giving with a concentrated mind a vehicle drawn by cows, equipped with cloth reins, one immediately after death attains a kingdom. (13-63-29)
गन्धाञ्शतभिषग्योगे दत्त्वा सागुरुचन्दनान्। प्राप्नोत्यप्सरसां लोकान्प्रेत्य गन्धांश्च शाश्वतान् ॥१३-६३-३०॥
Having offered scents, with aguru and sandalwood, at the conjunction of the Śatabhiṣak asterism, one obtains after death the worlds of the Apsarases and everlasting fragrances. (13-63-30)
पूर्वभाद्रपदायोगे राजमाषान्प्रदाय तु। सर्वभक्षफलोपेतः स वै प्रेत्य सुखी भवेत् ॥१३-६३-३१॥
If one gives black gram beans during the conjunction of Pūrvabhādrā, he becomes endowed with all the enjoyments of food and will indeed be happy after death. (13-63-31)
औरभ्रमुत्तरायोगे यस्तु मांसं प्रयच्छति। स पितॄन्प्रीणयति वै प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते ॥१३-६३-३२॥
Whoever, at the aurabhramuttara rite, offers meat, pleases the ancestors indeed, and after death attains immortality. (13-63-32)
कांस्योपदोहनां धेनुं रेवत्यां यः प्रयच्छति। सा प्रेत्य कामानादाय दातारमुपतिष्ठति ॥१३-६३-३३॥
Whoever gives a cow with a bronze milking-pail at the time of Revati, that cow, after death, takes the fulfillments of desires and approaches the giver. (13-63-33)
रथमश्वसमायुक्तं दत्त्वाश्विन्यां नरोत्तमः। हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्ने वर्चस्वी जायते कुले ॥१३-६३-३४॥
If the best of men gives a yoked chariot with horses during the Aśvinī nakṣatra, a brilliant person, endowed with wealth in elephants, horses, and chariots, is born in his family. (13-63-34)
भरणीषु द्विजातिभ्यस्तिलधेनुं प्रदाय वै। गाः सुप्रभूताः प्राप्नोति नरः प्रेत्य यशस्तथा ॥१३-६३-३५॥
If a man gives a sesame-cow to the twice-born during the days of Bharaṇī, he attains abundant cows and fame after death. (13-63-35)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
इत्येष लक्षणोद्देशः प्रोक्तो नक्षत्रयोगतः। देवक्या नारदेनेह सा स्नुषाभ्योऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥१३-६३-३६॥
Thus, this description of characteristics according to the conjunction of stars has been stated. Here, Devakī, instructed by Nārada, said this to her daughters-in-law. (13-63-36)
