13.099
ārāmādinirmāṇam
Construction of gardens and other such things.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said;
ārāmāṇāṃ taḍāgānāṃ yatphalaṃ kurunandana। tadahaṃ śrotumicchāmi tvatto'dya bharatarṣabha ॥13-99-1॥
O delight of the Kurus, I desire to hear from you today what is the fruit of gardens and ponds, O best of the Bharatas. (13-99-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
supradarśā vanavatī citradhātuvibhūṣitā। upetā sarvabījaiś ca śreṣṭhā bhūmir iho cyate॥13-99-2॥
Here, the earth, which is very clear, covered with forests, adorned with diverse minerals, endowed with all seeds, and the best, is so called. (13-99-2)
tasyāḥ kṣetra-viśeṣaṃ ca taḍāgānāṃ niveśanam | audakāni ca sarvāṇi pravakṣyāmy-anupūrvaśaḥ ॥13-99-3॥
I shall explain in order the special features of her field, the arrangement of the lakes, and all the things related to water. (13-99-3)
ṭaḍāgānāṃ ca vakṣyāmi kṛtānāṃ cāpi ye guṇāḥ। triṣu lokeṣu sarvatra pūjito yastaḍāgavān॥13-99-4॥
I shall describe also the qualities of constructed ponds; everywhere in the three worlds, the possessor of a pond is honored. (13-99-4)
atha vā mitrasadanaṃ maitraṃ mitravivardhanam। kīrtisañjananaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ taḍāgānāṃ niveśanam ॥13-99-5॥
Or, the abode of a friend, built with friendliness, promoting the increase of friendship, and causing fame, is the best construction of ponds. (13-99-5)
dharmasyārthasya kāmasya phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ। taḍāgaṃ sukṛtaṃ deśe kṣetram eva mahāśrayam ॥13-99-6॥
The wise say that the fruit of dharma, artha, and kāma is a well-constructed pond in a region—such a field alone is a great support. (13-99-6)
caturvidhānāṃ bhūtānāṃ taḍāgam-upalakṣayet। taḍāgāni ca sarvāṇi diśanti śriyam-uttamām ॥13-99-7॥
One should observe the pond for the four kinds of beings. All ponds bestow the highest prosperity. (13-99-7)
devā manuṣyā gandharvāḥ pitaroragarākṣasāḥ। sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni saṁśrayanti jalāśayam॥13-99-8॥
Gods, humans, gandharvas, ancestors, serpents, rākṣasas, immobile beings, and all creatures seek refuge in the reservoir of water. (13-99-8)
tasmāttāṃste pravakṣyāmi taḍāge ye guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ। yā ca tatra phalāvāptirṛṣibhiḥ samudāhṛtā ॥13-99-9॥
Therefore, I shall declare to you those qualities remembered of a pond, and the results that have been stated there by the sages. (13-99-9)
varṣamātre taḍāge tu salilaṃ yasya tiṣṭhati। agnihotraphalaṃ tasya phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ॥13-99-10॥
If in a pond water remains for a whole year, the wise declare that its owner obtains the fruit of an Agnihotra sacrifice. (13-99-10)
śaratkāle tu salilaṃ taḍāge yasya tiṣṭhati। gosahasrasya sa pretya labhate phalamuttamam॥13-99-11॥
But in the autumn season, whoever has water remaining in a pond obtains after death the supreme fruit equal to (the merit of gifting) a thousand cows. (13-99-11)
hemantakāle salilaṃ taḍāge yasya tiṣṭhati। sa vai bahusuvarṇasya yajñasya labhate phalam ॥13-99-12॥
Whoever in whose pond water remains during the hemanta (early winter) season, he indeed obtains the fruit of a sacrifice made with much gold. (13-99-12)
yasya vai śaiśire kāle taḍāge salilaṁ bhavet। agniṣṭomasya yajñasya phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ॥13-99-13॥
The wise say that the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice belongs to one whose pond has water in the cold season. (13-99-13)
taḍāgaṃ sukṛtaṃ yasya vasanté tu mahāśrayam। atirātrasya yajñasya phalaṃ sa samupāśnute॥13-99-14॥
He whose well-made pond provides great shelter to living beings attains the fruit of the atirātra sacrifice. (13-99-14)
nidāghakāle pānīyaṃ taḍāge yasya tiṣṭhati। vājapeyasamaṃ tasya phalaṃ vai munayo viduḥ॥13-99-15॥
The sages declare that when water remains in a pond during the hot season, the merit gained by the owner is equal to that of performing a Vājapeya sacrifice. (13-99-15)
sa kulaṃ tārayet sarvaṃ yasya khāte jalāśaye। gāvaḥ pibanti pānīyaṃ sādhavaś ca narāḥ sadā ॥13-99-16॥
He whose pit or reservoir supplies water that is always drunk by cows, virtuous people, and men—his entire family is saved. (13-99-16)
taḍāge yasya gāvastu pibanti tṛṣitā jalam। mṛgapakṣimanuṣyāśca so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labheta ॥13-99-17॥
He, in whose pond thirsty cows, deer, birds, and men drink water, obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. (13-99-17)
yat pibanti jalaṃ tatra snāyante viśramanti ca। taḍāgadasya tat sarvaṃ pretyānantyāya kalpate ॥13-99-18॥
Whatever water is drunk, bathed in, and rested by beings there—all of that belonging to the pond, after death, leads to endless (reward or benefit). (13-99-18)
durlabhaṃ salilaṃ tāta viśeṣeṇa paratra vai। pānīyasya pradānena prītir bhavati śāśvatī ॥13-99-19॥
Water is rare, O dear one, especially in the next world. By offering water, everlasting benefit or affection is obtained. (13-99-19)
tilān dadata pānīyaṃ dīpān dadata jāgrata. jñātibhiḥ saha modadhvam etat preteṣu durlabham ॥13-99-20॥
Give sesame seeds, water, and lamps; stay awake. Rejoice together with your relatives, for this is difficult to obtain among the dead. (13-99-20)
sarvadanair gurutaraṃ sarvadanair viśiṣyate. pānīyaṃ naraśārdūla tasmād dātavyam eva hi ॥13-99-21॥
O best of men, water excels and is more weighty than all gifts; therefore, it must certainly be given. (13-99-21)
evam etat taḍāgeṣu kīrtitaṃ phalam uttamam। ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi vṛkṣāṇām api ropaṇe ॥13-99-22॥
Thus the supreme result pertaining to ponds has been declared. Hereafter, I will also describe the result concerning the planting of trees. (13-99-22)
sthāvarāṇāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ jātayaḥ ṣaṭprakīrtitāḥ. vṛkṣagulmalatāvallyastvaksārāstṛṇajātayaḥ ॥13-99-23॥
There are six types of stationary beings: trees, shrubs, creepers, vines, those with bark as core, and types of grass. (13-99-23)
etā jātyastu vṛkṣāṇāṃ teṣāṃ rope guṇāstvime. kīrtiśca mānuṣe loke pretya caiva phalaṃ śubham ॥13-99-24॥
These are the species of trees, and these are their qualities when planted; fame in the world of humans, and after death, indeed, auspicious fruit. (13-99-24)
labhate nāma loke ca pitṛbhiś ca mahīyate। devalokagatasya api nāma tasya na naśyati॥13-99-25॥
He attains a name in this world and is honoured by his ancestors; even the name of one who has reached the world of the gods does not perish. (13-99-25)
atītānāgate cobhe pitṛvaṁśaṁ ca bhārata। tārayed vṛkṣaropī ca tasmād vṛkṣān praropayet ॥13-99-26॥
O Bhārata, one who plants trees saves both his ancestors of the past and future; therefore, one should plant trees. (13-99-26)
tasya putrā bhavantyete pādapā nātra saṁśayaḥ। paralokagataḥ svargaṁ lokāṁścāpnōti sō'avyayān ॥13-99-27॥
These trees become his sons; there is no doubt here. One who has gone to the other world attains heaven and the eternal worlds. (13-99-27)
puṣpaiḥ suragaṇān vṛkṣāḥ phalaiś cāpi tathā pitṝn। chāyayā cātithīṃs tāta pūjayanti mahīruhāḥ॥13-99-28॥
Trees, dear one, honor the gods with flowers, the ancestors with fruits, and guests with their shade. (13-99-28)
kiṁnaroragarakṣāṁsi devagandharvamānavāḥ। tathā ṛṣigaṇāścaiva saṁśrayanti mahīruhān ॥13-99-29॥
Kinnaras, uragas, rakshasas, gods, gandharvas, humans—as well as groups of rishis—all take refuge in the trees. (13-99-29)
puṣpitāḥ phalavantaś ca tarpayantīha mānavān। vṛkṣadaṁ putravad vṛkṣās tārayanti paratra ca ॥13-99-30॥
Trees that are blooming and bearing fruit satisfy people here, and just like sons, the trees one has given (or planted) help one cross over to the next world as well. (13-99-30)
tasmāttadāge vṛkṣā vai ropyāḥ śreyorthinā sadā। putravatparipālyāśca putrāste dharmataḥ smṛtāḥ ॥13-99-31॥
Therefore, trees should always be planted in a pond by one who seeks welfare. These should be cared for like sons and are, according to righteousness, regarded as sons. (13-99-31)
taḍāgakṛd vṛkṣaropī iṣṭayajñaś ca yo dvijaḥ। ete svarge mahīyante ye ca anye satyavādinaḥ॥13-99-32॥
Those twice-born who make ponds, plant trees, and perform auspicious sacrifices; and others who speak the truth—these are honored in heaven. (13-99-32)
tasmāttadāgaṃ kurvīta ārāmāṃścaiva ropayet। yajec ca vividhair yajñaiḥ satyaṃ ca satataṃ vadet॥13-99-33॥
Therefore, one should construct a pond, plant gardens, perform various sacrifices, and always speak the truth. (13-99-33)
