13.067
तिलादिदानप्रशंसा
Praise of gifts such as sesame
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
तिलानां कीदृशं दानमथ दीपस्य चैव ह। अन्नानां वाससां चैव भूय एव ब्रवीहि मे ॥१३-६७-१॥
Please tell me again, what kind of gift of sesame seeds, and also of lamps, as well as of food grains and clothes. (13-67-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं यमस्य च युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-६७-२॥
Here too, O Yudhiṣṭhira, an ancient story is cited—the dialogue between the Brāhmaṇa and Yama. (13-67-2)
मध्यदेशे महान्ग्रामो ब्राह्मणानां बभूव ह। गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यामुनस्य गिरेरधः ॥१३-६७-३॥
In the region of Madhyadeśa, there was indeed a great village of Brāhmaṇas, situated between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rivers, below the hill of Yamunā. (13-67-3)
पर्णशालेति विख्यातो रमणीयो नराधिप। विद्वांसस्तत्र भूयिष्ठा ब्राह्मणाश्चावसंस्तदा ॥१३-६७-४॥
O king, the place known as the Parṇaśālā was charming and well-known. There, mostly brāhmaṇas and other learned ones resided at that time. (13-67-4)
अथ प्राह यमः कञ्चित्पुरुषं कृष्णवाससम्। रक्ताक्षमूर्ध्वरोमाणं काकजङ्घाक्षिनासिकम् ॥१३-६७-५॥
Then Yama spoke to a certain man who was clothed in black, had red eyes, hair standing on end, legs like those of a crow, and eyes and nose resembling those of a crow. (13-67-5)
गच्छ त्वं ब्राह्मणग्रामं ततो गत्वा तमानय। अगस्त्यं गोत्रतश्चापि नामतश्चापि शर्मिणम् ॥१३-६७-६॥
Go to the village of brāhmaṇas; after going there, bring him: Agastya by lineage and Śarmiṇa by name. (13-67-6)
शमे निविष्टं विद्वांसमध्यापकमनादृतम्। मा चान्यमानयेथास्त्वं सगोत्रं तस्य पार्श्वतः ॥१३-६७-७॥
Do not bring another teacher of the same lineage to sit beside a learned teacher who is settled in composure but not respected. (13-67-7)
स हि तादृग्गुणस्तेन तुल्योऽध्ययनजन्मना। अपत्येषु तथा वृत्ते समस्तेनैव धीमता ॥ तमानय यथोद्दिष्टं पूजा कार्या हि तस्य मे ॥१३-६७-८॥
For he, having such qualities, is equal by virtue of birth and study; likewise among children, and by all means in conduct according to the wise. Bring him as specified; worship must indeed be performed for him by me. (13-67-8)
स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तच्चकार यमशासनम्। तमाक्रम्यानयामास प्रतिषिद्धो यमेन यः ॥१३-६७-९॥
He went and did that which was contrary to Yama's command. Having overpowered him, he brought (him), though forbidden by Yama. (13-67-9)
तस्मै यमः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा च वीर्यवान्। प्रोवाच नीयतामेष सोऽन्य आनीयतामिति ॥१३-६७-१०॥
To him, Yama—the powerful one—rose, performed honour, and said, "Let this one be taken away; let another be brought." (13-67-10)
एवमुक्ते तु वचने धर्मराजेन स द्विजः। उवाच धर्मराजानं निर्विण्णोऽध्ययनेन वै ॥ यो मे कालो भवेच्छेषस्तं वसेयमिहाच्युत ॥१३-६७-११॥
When thus addressed by Dharmarāja, that twice-born said to Dharmarāja—disenchanted with study, indeed—"O Acyuta, let me spend whatever time remains to me here." (13-67-11)
यम उवाच॥
Yama said.
नाहं कालस्य विहितं प्राप्नोमीह कथञ्चन। यो हि धर्मं चरति वै तं तु जानामि केवलम् ॥१३-६७-१२॥
I do not in any way attain what is ordained by time here; but I know only the one who indeed practices dharma. (13-67-12)
गच्छ विप्र त्वमद्यैव आलयं स्वं महाद्युते। ब्रूहि वा त्वं यथा स्वैरं करवाणि किमित्युत ॥१३-६७-१३॥
O brāhmaṇa, go at once today to your own home, O greatly radiant one. Or else, tell me: what shall I do as you wish? (13-67-13)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
यत्तत्र कृत्वा सुमहत्पुण्यं स्यात्तद्ब्रवीहि मे। सर्वस्य हि प्रमाणं त्वं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सत्तम ॥१३-६७-१४॥
Tell me that act there by which very great merit may arise. For you are the authority for all, O best among the three worlds. (13-67-14)
यम उवाच॥
Yama said.
शृणु तत्त्वेन विप्रर्षे प्रदानविधिमुत्तमम्। तिलाः परमकं दानं पुण्यं चैवेह शाश्वतम् ॥१३-६७-१५॥
Hear, O sage among Brāhmaṇas, the supreme method of charity. The gift of sesame seeds is the highest gift, and its merit here is indeed eternal. (13-67-15)
तिलाश्च सम्प्रदातव्या यथाशक्ति द्विजर्षभ। नित्यदानात्सर्वकामांस्तिला निर्वर्तयन्त्युत ॥१३-६७-१६॥
O best of the twice-born, sesame seeds should also be given according to one's ability. By regularly giving them, sesame seeds indeed fulfill all desires. (13-67-16)
तिलाञ्श्राद्धे प्रशंसन्ति दानमेतद्ध्यनुत्तमम्। तान्प्रयच्छस्व विप्रेभ्यो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१३-६७-१७॥
The gift during the sesame śrāddha is indeed praised as the highest. Therefore, give these (sesame seeds) to Brāhmaṇas, following the prescribed procedure. (13-67-17)
तिला भक्षयितव्याश्च सदा त्वालभनं च तैः। कार्यं सततमिच्छद्भिः श्रेयः सर्वात्मना गृहे ॥१३-६७-१८॥
Sesame seeds must always be eaten, and your food also, by those who wish for the greatest good; this should always be done with full devotion at home. (13-67-18)
तथापः सर्वदा देयाः पेयाश्चैव न संशयः। पुष्करिण्यस्तडागानि कूपांश्चैवात्र खानयेत् ॥१३-६७-१९॥
Thus, water should always be given and made available for drinking—there is no doubt about it. Here, one should dig ponds, lakes, and wells. (13-67-19)
एतत्सुदुर्लभतरमिह लोके द्विजोत्तम। आपो नित्यं प्रदेयास्ते पुण्यं ह्येतदनुत्तमम् ॥१३-६७-२०॥
This (act) is even more very rare here in the world, O best of twice-born. You should always give water; this is indeed unsurpassed merit. (13-67-20)
प्रपाश्च कार्याः पानार्थं नित्यं ते द्विजसत्तम। भुक्तेऽप्यथ प्रदेयं ते पानीयं वै विशेषतः ॥१३-६७-२१॥
O best of the twice-born, drinking places should always be made by you for the purpose of drinking. Even after someone has eaten, you should especially give water. (13-67-21)
इत्युक्ते स तदा तेन यमदूतेन वै गृहान्। नीतश्चकार च तथा सर्वं तद्यमशासनम् ॥१३-६७-२२॥
When thus addressed, he was then indeed led to the houses by that messenger of Yama and performed all of Yama's commands accordingly. (13-67-22)
नीत्वा तं यमदूतोऽपि गृहीत्वा शर्मिणं तदा। ययौ स धर्मराजाय न्यवेदयत चापि तम् ॥१३-६७-२३॥
Having carried him away, the messenger of Yama, having seized Śarmiṇa at that time, went to Dharmarāja and also reported him. (13-67-23)
तं धर्मराजो धर्मज्ञं पूजयित्वा प्रतापवान्। कृत्वा च संविदं तेन विससर्ज यथागतम् ॥१३-६७-२४॥
The glorious king of dharma, who knows dharma, honored him and, after making an agreement with him, dismissed him as he had come. (13-67-24)
तस्यापि च यमः सर्वमुपदेशं चकार ह। प्रत्येत्य च स तत्सर्वं चकारोक्तं यमेन तत् ॥१३-६७-२५॥
Yama also gave all instruction to him; and, having approached, he did all that which was spoken by Yama. (13-67-25)
तथा प्रशंसते दीपान्यमः पितृहितेप्सया। तस्माद्दीपप्रदो नित्यं सन्तारयति वै पितॄन् ॥१३-६७-२६॥
Thus, Yama praises lamps out of the desire for the welfare of the ancestors; therefore, the one who gives lamps always indeed delivers the ancestors. (13-67-26)
दातव्याः सततं दीपास्तस्माद्भरतसत्तम। देवानां च पितॄणां च चक्षुष्यास्ते मताः प्रभो ॥१३-६७-२७॥
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, lamps should always be given; these are considered pleasing to the eyes of the gods and ancestors, O lord. (13-67-27)
रत्नदानं च सुमहत्पुण्यमुक्तं जनाधिप। तानि विक्रीय यजते ब्राह्मणो ह्यभयङ्करः ॥१३-६७-२८॥
O lord of people, the gift of jewels is said to be of very great merit. The Brāhmaṇa, having sold those (jewels), indeed performs sacrifices and becomes a remover of fear. (13-67-28)
यद्वै ददाति विप्रेभ्यो ब्राह्मणः प्रतिगृह्य वै। उभयोः स्यात्तदक्षय्यं दातुरादातुरेव च ॥१३-६७-२९॥
Whatever a Brāhmaṇa gives to priests, having duly received, that becomes imperishable for both — for the giver and for the receiver alike. (13-67-29)
यो ददाति स्थितः स्थित्यां तादृशाय प्रतिग्रहम्। उभयोरक्षयं धर्मं तं मनुः प्राह धर्मवित् ॥१३-६७-३०॥
Manu, the knower of dharma, said that the act in which one situated in his livelihood gives and another of the same kind accepts is a righteous act imperishable for both. (13-67-30)
वाससां तु प्रदानेन स्वदारनिरतो नरः। सुवस्त्रश्च सुवेषश्च भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥१३-६७-३१॥
We have heard that when a man, devoted to his own wife, gives garments, he himself becomes well clothed and well adorned. (13-67-31)
गावः सुवर्णं च तथा तिलाश्चैवानुवर्णिताः। बहुशः पुरुषव्याघ्र वेदप्रामाण्यदर्शनात् ॥१३-६७-३२॥
Cows, gold, and sesame seeds are repeatedly praised; they are often mentioned, O tiger among men, because of the authority established in the Veda. (13-67-32)
विवाहांश्चैव कुर्वीत पुत्रानुत्पादयेत च। पुत्रलाभो हि कौरव्य सर्वलाभाद्विशिष्यते ॥१३-६७-३३॥
You should indeed arrange marriages and produce sons; the acquisition of a son, O Kauravya, is superior to all other gains. (13-67-33)
