13.065
The result of giving sesame and similar gifts.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O Grandfather, tell me what result accrues to one who gives sandals to a burning (suffering) brāhmaṇa. (13-65-1)
Bhishma said;
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the self-collected one who gives sandals to Brāhmaṇas crushes all thorns, passes over all uneven places, and stands above his enemies. (13-65-2)
O Kaunteya, a vehicle yoked with mules, white and adorned with silver and gold ornaments, approaches him, O lord of people. Likewise, a cart joined with reins, when given, surely accrues (to the giver also). (13-65-3)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O Kaurava, tell me what result is stated regarding the giving of sesame, of land, of cows, and of food, and also what is said to be greater. (13-65-4)
Bhishma said.
O son of Kunti, hear from me the fruit of giving sesame seeds. Having heard and according to what is right, offer (them), O best of Kurus. (13-65-5)
Sesame seeds were created by Svayambhū as the first food for the ancestors. Therefore, by offering sesame seeds, the ancestors' lineage is delighted. (13-65-6)
Whoever gives sesame seeds to Brāhmaṇas in the month of Māgha does not see hell crowded with all beings. (13-65-7)
He who performs the ancestral sacrifice with sesame seeds offers (it) with all his desires. The sesame rite should not at all be given without desire. (13-65-8)
O lord, these sesame seeds sprang from the body of the great sage Kaśyapa; therefore, sesame seeds possess a divine nature when offered.
Sesame is nourishing, confers beauty, and destroys sin; therefore, among all gifts, the giving of sesame is considered superior. (13-65-10)
Āpastamba, Medhāvī, Śaṅkha, Likhita, and the great sage Gautama have all attained heaven by gifts of sesame. (13-65-11)
All Brāhmaṇas, devoted to sesame oblations, self-restrained in sexual union, for a year, established in the proper rites with sacrificial offerings of cow’s ghee. (13-65-12)
Truly among all gifts, the gift of sesame is considered the highest. Among all gifts, the gift of sesame is here said to be imperishable. (13-65-13)
Long ago, when the oblation was prepared, the sage Kuśika, O scorcher of foes, having offered the three fires with sesame seeds, attained the highest state. (13-65-14)
Thus, O best of the Kurus, the unsurpassed gift of sesame has been described. Here the procedure by which the offering of sesame is praised is given. (13-65-15)
O great king, now further know this assembly of the gods who wished to offer worship, which was indeed convened by Brahma, the Self-born. (13-65-16)
O king, the gods, having assembled, desiring to perform a sacrifice, requested Brahmā for an auspicious piece of land on earth, saying, "Let us sacrifice." (13-65-17)
The gods said.
O revered one, you are the lord of the earth, of all and of the threefold heaven; O greatly fortunate, let us perform the sacrifice by your permission. For land not permitted does not indeed yield the fruit of sacrifice. (13-65-18)
You are indeed the master of all the world, both the stationary and the moving; therefore, you alone are worthy to grant permission. (13-65-19)
Brahmā said;
O best of the gods, I give you a portion of the earth. In whichever place you, descendants of Kaśyapa, will perform sacrifice.
The gods said.
O revered one, our desires have been fulfilled; we shall perform worship with proper offerings. Yet, the sages have always constantly revered this place. (13-65-21)
Bhīṣma said.
Then Agastya, Kanva, Bhrigu, Atri, Vṛṣākapi, Asita, and Devala also came to the divine sacrifice. (13-65-22)
Then the gods of great soul performed the sacrifice for Acyuta. In this way, the best among the gods completed it at the proper time. (13-65-23)
There, the thirty-three gods who are expert in sacrifices, performed the giving of land as the sixth portion of the sacrifice, in the great Himavat mountain. (13-65-24)
Whoever gives an uncultivated piece of land about a hand span in size does not suffer in times of distress and does not encounter calamities. (13-65-25)
Even a resident of the world of gods who has given well-prepared house land capable of withstanding cold, wind, and heat is not displaced even at the end of his merit. (13-65-26)
O king, the wise man who rejoices dwells with Indra; and the giver of shelter is also honored in heaven. (13-65-27)
He who, content, has living in his house one who was born in the family of a teacher, is versed in the Vedas, and has controlled senses, attains the highest realm. (13-65-28)
Likewise, O best of the Bharatas, a great refuge that endures cold and rain for the sake of a cow saves (his) family up to the seventh generation. (13-65-29)
A son who gives field-land in this world may obtain prosperity, but by giving jewel-land, he may increase his family lineage. (13-65-30)
One should, by no means, give land that is barren, completely burnt, surrounded by a cremation ground, or frequented by evil. (13-65-31)
If one offers śrāddha for one's ancestors on another's land, the śrāddha-rite is obstructed by the ancestors of the owner of that land. (13-65-32)
Therefore, the wise person, even after acquiring a little land, should offer it; for an offering of rice to the ancestors, when given on such land, becomes everlasting. (13-65-33)
They say that all forests, mountains, and river fords are ownerless, and possession is not permitted there. (13-65-34)
Thus the fruit of land donation has been spoken, O lord of men. Now, I shall proclaim to you the giving of cows, O sinless one. (13-65-35)
Cows are even superior to all ascetics; therefore, the great lord Maheshvara (Shiva) undertook austerities using them. (13-65-36)
O Bhārata, these women dwell in Brahma's world together with Soma; the Brahmarṣis and siddhas among them pray for the supreme state. (13-65-37)
O Bhārata, with milk, oblation, curd, even dung, hide, bones, as well as with horns and tails, they perform service.
For them, there is neither cold nor heat; these always perform their actions. For them, neither rain, nor any difficulty, nor suffering exists indeed. (13-65-39)
With Brāhmaṇas united, they attain the highest state; therefore, the wise call cow and Brāhmaṇa one. (13-65-40)
At Rantideva's sacrifice, those were designated as animals. Afterwards, O king, the river Carmaṇvatī was caused to flow from cow hides. (13-65-41)
O king, those (cows) that are freed from animal nature and readied for giving—he who gives these to the principal brāhmaṇas, O ruler, would overcome even great difficulty or danger, even if he himself is in trouble. (13-65-42)
O lord of men, one who gives a thousand cows does not go to hell after death, but everywhere attains victory. (13-65-43)
The milk of cows is indeed nectar, so said the lord of the gods. Therefore, whoever gives a cow gives nectar. (13-65-44)
This imperishable principle of the fires, known by the Veda-knowers as Dhaumya, whoever gives a cow therefore, he bestows a Soma-sacrificial gift. (13-65-45)
This bull, the lord of cows, is truly a personification of heaven; one who gives it to a virtuous brāhmaṇa is indeed honored in heaven. (13-65-46)
O foremost of the Bharatas, these (cows) are said to be the vital breaths of living beings. Therefore, whoever gives a cow truly bestows life itself. (13-65-47)
Those who know the Veda know that cows are a refuge for living beings. Therefore, whoever grants a cow as a refuge bestows protection. (13-65-48)
A cow should not be given for the purpose of slaughter, nor to a destroyer of wealth, nor to an atheist, nor to a cow-eater; likewise, O best of men. (13-65-49)
The wise ones say that a man who gives cows belonging to such evil-doers will certainly go to endless hell. (13-65-50)
One should not give to a Brāhmaṇa a cow that is emaciated, that has a sinful calf, that is barren, afflicted with disease, deformed, or exhausted. (13-65-51)
The donor of ten thousand cows rejoices in the company of Indra; the man who gives a hundred thousand cows attains imperishable worlds. (13-65-52)
Thus, the gift of cows and the gift of sesame have been described; likewise, the gift of land. Now, O Bhārata, hear also about food. (13-65-53)
O son of Kunti, they declare that the gift of food is indeed the foremost. Indeed, by giving food, Rantideva went to heaven. (13-65-54)
O king, whoever gives food to the weary and the hungry, he beholds the greatly fortunate Svayambhu Manu himself, O lord of men. (13-65-55)
O Bhārata, men do not attain the highest good through gold, nor through garments, nor through giving horses, as do the givers of food here, O lord. (13-65-56)
Food is truly the supreme substance, and both food and prosperity are regarded as supreme. From food arise life, energy, vigor, and strength. (13-65-57)
A man who always gives food to the virtuous with a concentrated mind does not encounter difficulties—thus said Parāśara. (13-65-58)
After performing worship as prescribed, one should offer food to the gods. O king, the food that a man offers, that very food is (accepted by) his deities. (13-65-59)
But in the bright fortnight of Kārtika, whoever gives food—he crosses over all difficulties, and after death, attains eternity. (13-65-60)
He who, being self-composed, gives food to a guest before eating himself—he indeed attains the worlds of the knowers of Brahman, O bull among the Bharatas. (13-65-61)
A man who has fallen into great hardship or calamity, if he gives food, should be freed from it. He crosses over sin and in this world dispels evil deeds. (13-65-62)
Thus, the results of giving food, sesame, land, and cows have been declared. (13-65-63)
