13.100
बलिप्रदानम्
the giving of an offering
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममखिलं प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ। ऋद्धिमाप्नोति किं कृत्वा मनुष्य इह पार्थिव ॥१३-१००-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, expound the entire duty of the householder; what should a man do here, O King, to attain prosperity? (13-100-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तं जनाधिप। वासुदेवस्य संवादं पृथिव्याश्चैव भारत ॥१३-१००-२॥
Here, O king, I shall tell you the ancient event—the conversation between Vāsudeva and the earth, O Bhārata. (13-100-2)
संस्तूय पृथिवीं देवीं वासुदेवः प्रतापवान्। पप्रच्छ भरतश्रेष्ठ यदेतत्पृच्छसेऽद्य माम् ॥१३-१००-३॥
Having offered praise to the earth goddess, the mighty Vāsudeva asked me today about that which you inquire, O best of the Bharatas. (13-100-3)
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रित्य मया वा मद्विधेन वा। किमवश्यं धरे कार्यं किं वा कृत्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥१३-१००-४॥
Having adopted the duties of householder, either by myself or by one like me, what action must certainly be performed, or by doing what can one become happy? (13-100-4)
पृथिव्युवाच॥
The earth said.
ऋषयः पितरो देवा मनुष्याश्चैव माधव। इज्याश्चैवार्चनीयाश्च यथा चैवं निबोध मे ॥१३-१००-५॥
O Mādhava, sages, ancestors, gods, and humans are indeed objects of worship and to be honored; just so—understand this from me. (13-100-5)
सदा यज्ञेन देवांश्च आतिथ्येन च मानवान्। छन्दतश्च यथानित्यमर्हान्युञ्जीत नित्यशः ॥ तेन ह्यृषिगणाः प्रीता भवन्ति मधुसूदन ॥१३-१००-६॥
One should always worship the gods by sacrifice and men by hospitality, and at all times joyfully serve the worthy ones. Through this, O Madhusūdana, the groups of sages become pleased. (13-100-6)
नित्यमग्निं परिचरेदभुक्त्वा बलिकर्म च। कुर्यात्तथैव देवा वै प्रीयन्ते मधुसूदन ॥१३-१००-७॥
O Madhusūdana, one should always tend the fire without having eaten and perform the offering of oblations likewise; thus, indeed, the gods are pleased. (13-100-7)
कुर्यादहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन वा। पयोमूलफलैर्वापि पितॄणां प्रीतिमाहरन् ॥१३-१००-८॥
One should perform the śrāddha every day, offering to the ancestors food and edibles, or water, or even milk, roots, and fruits, thereby bringing them satisfaction. (13-100-8)
सिद्धान्नाद्वैश्वदेवं वै कुर्यादग्नौ यथाविधि। अग्नीषोमं वैश्वदेवं धान्वन्तर्यमनन्तरम् ॥१३-१००-९॥
From prepared food, one should perform the Vaiśvadeva offering in the fire according to rule; then Agnīṣoma, Vaiśvadeva, and Dhanvantari offerings, one after another. (13-100-9)
प्रजानां पतये चैव पृथग्घोमो विधीयते। तथैव चानुपूर्व्येण बलिकर्म प्रयोजयेत् ॥१३-१००-१०॥
A separate homa is prescribed for the lord of beings, and in the same way, one should perform the bali offering in due order. (13-100-10)
दक्षिणायां यमायेह प्रतीच्यां वरुणाय च। सोमाय चाप्युदीच्यां वै वास्तुमध्ये द्विजातये ॥१३-१००-११॥
In the south one should offer to Yama here, in the west to Varuṇa, in the north indeed to Soma, and in the middle of the dwelling to the twice-born. (13-100-11)
धन्वन्तरेः प्रागुदीच्यां प्राच्यां शक्राय माधव। मनोर्वै इति च प्राहुर्बलिं द्वारे गृहस्य वै ॥ मरुद्भ्यो देवताभ्यश्च बलिमन्तर्गृहे हरेत् ॥१३-१००-१२॥
O Mādhava, they say the offering at the door of the house should be made to Dhanvantari in the northeast, to Śakra in the east, and to Manu. One should offer the offering inside the house to the Maruts and other deities. (13-100-12)
तथैव विश्वेदेवेभ्यो बलिमाकाशतो हरेत्। निशाचरेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो बलिं नक्तं तथा हरेत् ॥१३-१००-१३॥
In the same way, he should offer oblations to the Viśve-devas by casting them into the sky. Likewise, at night, he should offer oblations to night-wanderers and spirits. (13-100-13)
एवं कृत्वा बलिं सम्यग्दद्याद्भिक्षां द्विजातये। अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्याग्नावग्रमुत्क्षिप्य निक्षिपेत् ॥१३-१००-१४॥
Having thus made the offering in the proper manner, one should give alms to a twice-born; but if a Brāhmaṇa is not found, one should take the chief portion and deposit it in the fire. (13-100-14)
यदा श्राद्धं पितृभ्यश्च दातुमिच्छेत मानवः। तदा पश्चात्प्रकुर्वीत निवृत्ते श्राद्धकर्मणि ॥१३-१००-१५॥
When a man wishes to offer śrāddha to the ancestors, he should then perform the subsequent rites after the completion of the śrāddha ceremony. (13-100-15)
पितॄन्सन्तर्पयित्वा तु बलिं कुर्याद्विधानतः। वैश्वदेवं ततः कुर्यात्पश्चाद्ब्राह्मणवाचनम् ॥१३-१००-१६॥
After satisfying the ancestors, one should perform the offering as prescribed; then the Vaiśvadeva should be performed, and afterwards the Brāhmaṇa recitation. (13-100-16)
ततोऽन्नेनावशेषेण भोजयेदतिथीनपि। अर्चापूर्वं महाराज ततः प्रीणाति मानुषान् ॥१३-१००-१७॥
Then, O great king, with the remaining food he should also feed the guests; by this (ritual), before the worship, he thus pleases people. (13-100-17)
अनित्यं हि स्थितो यस्मात्तस्मादतिथिरुच्यते। आचार्यस्य पितुश्चैव सख्युराप्तस्य चातिथेः। इदमस्ति गृहे मह्यमिति नित्यं निवेदयेत् ॥१३-१००-१९॥
Because the guest stays only temporarily, he is called an 'atithi'. For the teacher, the father, the friend, the trusted person, and the guest, one should always state, "This is in my house." (13-100-19)
ते यद्वदेयुस्तत्कुर्यादिति धर्मो विधीयते। गृहस्थः पुरुषः कृष्ण शिष्टाशी च सदा भवेत् ॥१३-१००-२०॥
Duty is enjoined as: a person should do what they might say. The householder should always be pure, and should eat food left by the noble. (13-100-20)
राजर्त्विजं स्नातकं च गुरुं श्वशुरमेव च। अर्चयेन्मधुपर्केण परिसंवत्सरोषितान् ॥१३-१००-२१॥
One should honor with the madhuparka offering the king, the officiating priest, the initiated graduate, the teacher, and the father-in-law—provided they have stayed away for a year. (13-100-21)
श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भुवि। वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत्सायम्प्रातर्विधीयते ॥१३-१००-२२॥
Offerings should be cast on the ground for dogs, outcastes, and birds; this is called the Vaiśvadeva rite, and it is prescribed at evening and morning. (13-100-22)
एतांस्तु धर्मान्गार्हस्थान्यः कुर्यादनसूयकः। स इहर्द्धिं परां प्राप्य प्रेत्य नाके महीयते ॥१३-१००-२३॥
But whoever performs these duties of a householder without envy attains supreme prosperity here, and after death is honored in heaven. (13-100-23)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
इति भूमेर्वचः श्रुत्वा वासुदेवः प्रतापवान्। तथा चकार सततं त्वमप्येवं समाचर ॥१३-१००-२४॥
Having heard the words of Bhūmi, the mighty Vāsudeva acted accordingly always. You too should act in this manner. (13-100-24)
एवं गृहस्थधर्मं त्वं चेतयानो नराधिप। इहलोके यशः प्राप्य प्रेत्य स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥१३-१००-२५॥
O king, if you practice the duty of a householder in this way, you will attain fame in this world and, after passing away, you will reach heaven. (13-100-25)
