13.067
tilādidānapraśaṁsā
Praise of gifts such as sesame
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
tilānāṃ kīdṛśaṃ dānam atha dīpasya caiva ha। annānāṃ vāsasāṃ caiva bhūya eva bravīhi me ॥13-67-1॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। brāhmaṇasya ca saṃvādaṃ yamasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-67-2॥
Here too, O Yudhiṣṭhira, an ancient story is cited—the dialogue between the Brāhmaṇa and Yama. (13-67-2)
madhyadeśe mahān grāmo brāhmaṇānāṃ babhūva ha. gaṅgā-yamunayor madhye yāmunasya girer adhaḥ ॥13-67-3॥
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)
parṇaśāleti vikhyāto ramaṇīyo narādhipa। vidvāṃsastatra bhūyiṣṭhā brāhmaṇāścāvaṃsaṃstadā॥13-67-4॥
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)
atha prāha yamaḥ kañcit-puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇa-vāsasam। raktākṣa-mūrdhva-romāṇaṁ kākajaṅgha-akṣi-nāsikam ॥13-67-5॥
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)
gaccha tvaṁ brāhmaṇagrāmaṁ tato gatvā tam ānaya। agastyaṁ gotrataś cāpi nāmataś cāpi śarmiṇam ॥13-67-6॥
Go to the village of brāhmaṇas; after going there, bring him: Agastya by lineage and Śarmiṇa by name. (13-67-6)
śame niviṣṭaṃ vidvāṃsam adhyāpakam anādṛtam। mā cānyam ānayethās tvaṃ sagotraṃ tasya pārśvataḥ ॥13-67-7॥
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)
sa hi tādṛg-guṇas tena tulyo'dhyayana-janmanā। apatyeṣu tathā vṛtte samastenaiva dhīmatā ॥ tam ānaya yathoddiṣṭaṃ pūjā kāryā hi tasya me ॥13-67-8॥
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)
sa gatvā pratikūlaṁ taccakāra yamaśāsanam। tamākramyānayāmāsa pratiṣiddho yamena yaḥ ॥13-67-9॥
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)
tasmai yamaḥ samutthāya pūjāṃ kṛtvā ca vīryavān। provāca nīyatāmeṣa so'nya ānīyatāmiti ॥13-67-10॥
To him, Yama—the powerful one—rose, performed honour, and said, "Let this one be taken away; let another be brought." (13-67-10)
evam-ukte tu vacane dharmarājena sa dvijaḥ। uvāca dharmarājānam nirviṇṇaḥ adhyayanena vai ॥ yaḥ me kālaḥ bhavet śeṣaḥ tam vaseyam iha acyuta ॥13-67-11॥
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)
yama uvāca॥
Yama said.
nāhaṃ kālasya vihitaṃ prāpnomīha kathaṃcana। yo hi dharmaṃ carati vai taṃ tu jānāmi kevalam॥13-67-12॥
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)
gaccha vipra tvam adyaiva ālayaṃ svaṃ mahādyute। brūhi vā tvam yathā svairaṃ karavāṇi kim ity uta ॥13-67-13॥
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)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
yattatra kṛtvā sumahatpuṇyaṃ syāttadbravīhi me। sarvasya hi pramāṇaṃ tvaṃ trailokyasyāpi sattama ॥13-67-14॥
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)
yama uvāca॥
Yama said.
śṛṇu tattvena vipraṛṣe pradānavidhim uttamam। tilāḥ paramakaṃ dānaṃ puṇyaṃ caiva iha śāśvatam॥13-67-15॥
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)
tilāś ca sampradātavyā yathāśakti dvijarṣabha। nityadānāt sarvakāmāṃs tilā nirvartayanty uta॥13-67-16॥
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)
tilāñśrāddhe praśaṃsanti dānam etad dhy anuttamam. tān prayacchasva viprebhyo vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥13-67-17॥
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)
tilā bhakṣayitavyāś ca sadā tv ālabhanaṃ ca taiḥ। kāryaṃ satatam icchadbhiḥ śreyaḥ sarvātmanā gṛhe ॥13-67-18॥
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)
tathāpaḥ sarvadā deyāḥ peyāścaiva na saṁśayaḥ। puṣkariṇyastaḍāgāni kūpāṁścaivātra khānayet ॥13-67-19॥
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)
etatsudurlabhataram iha loke dvijottama। āpo nityaṃ pradeyās te puṇyaṃ hy etad anuttamam ॥13-67-20॥
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)
prapāś ca kāryāḥ pānārthaṁ nityaṁ te dvijasattama। bhukte'py atha pradeyaṁ te pānīyaṁ vai viśeṣataḥ ॥13-67-21॥
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)
ityukte sa tadā tena yamadūtena vai gṛhān। nītaś cakāra ca tathā sarvaṃ tad-yama-śāsanam ॥13-67-22॥
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)
nītvā taṁ yamadūto'pi gṛhītvā śarmiṇaṁ tadā। yayau sa dharmarājāya nyavedayata cāpi tam ॥13-67-23॥
Having carried him away, the messenger of Yama, having seized Śarmiṇa at that time, went to Dharmarāja and also reported him. (13-67-23)
taṃ dharmarājo dharmajñaṃ pūjayitvā pratāpavān। kṛtvā ca saṃvidaṃ tena visasarja yathāgatam ॥13-67-24॥
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)
tasyāpi ca yamaḥ sarvam upadeśaṃ cakāra ha। pratyetya ca sa tatsarvaṃ cakāroktaṃ yamena tat ॥13-67-25॥
Yama also gave all instruction to him; and, having approached, he did all that which was spoken by Yama. (13-67-25)
tathā praśaṁsate dīpān yamāḥ pitṛ-hitepsayā। tasmād dīpa-prado nityaṁ santārayati vai pitṝn ॥13-67-26॥
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)
dātavyāḥ satataṃ dīpās tasmād bharatasattama। devānāṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ ca cakṣuṣyās te matāḥ prabho ॥13-67-27॥
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)
ratnadānaṃ ca sumahatpuṇyam uktaṃ janādhipa। tāni vikrīya yajate brāhmaṇo hy abhayaṅkaraḥ ॥13-67-28॥
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)
yad vai dadāti viprebhyo brāhmaṇaḥ pratigṛhya vai। ubhayoḥ syāt tad akṣayyaṃ dātur ādātur eva ca॥13-67-29॥
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)
yo dadāti sthitaḥ sthityāṃ tādṛśāya pratigraham| ubhayorakṣayaṃ dharmaṃ taṃ manuḥ prāha dharmavit॥13-67-30॥
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)
vāsasāṃ tu pradānena svadāra-nirato naraḥ। suvastraś ca suveṣaś ca bhavatīty anuśuśruma ॥13-67-31॥
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)
gāvaḥ suvarṇaṃ ca tathā tilāścaivānvarṇitāḥ। bahuśaḥ puruṣavyāghra vedaprāmāṇyadarśanāt॥13-67-32॥
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)
vivāhāṃś caiva kurvīta putrān utpādayeta ca. putralābho hi kauravya sarvalābhād viśiṣyate ॥13-67-33॥
You should indeed arrange marriages and produce sons; the acquisition of a son, O Kauravya, is superior to all other gains. (13-67-33)
