13.113
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
अधर्मस्य गतिर्ब्रह्मन्कथिता मे त्वयानघ। धर्मस्य तु गतिं श्रोतुमिच्छामि वदतां वर ॥ कृत्वा कर्माणि पापानि कथं यान्ति शुभां गतिम् ॥१३-११३-१॥
O Brahman, you have explained to me the path of adharma, O sinless one. But I wish to hear the path of dharma from you, O best of speakers. How do those who have performed sinful actions attain an auspicious path? (13-113-1)
बृहस्पतिरुवाच॥
Bṛhaspati said.
कृत्वा पापानि कर्माणि अधर्मवशमागतः। मनसा विपरीतेन निरयं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१३-११३-२॥
Having committed evil deeds and fallen under the control of unrighteousness, with a perverted mind, he goes to hell. (13-113-2)
मोहादधर्मं यः कृत्वा पुनः समनुतप्यते। मनःसमाधिसंयुक्तो न स सेवेत दुष्कृतम् ॥१३-११३-३॥
He who, having acted unrighteously out of delusion, later regrets it, being endowed with concentration of mind, should not again commit evil action. (13-113-3)
यथा यथा नरः सम्यगधर्ममनुभाषते। समाहितेन मनसा विमुच्यति तथा तथा ॥ भुजङ्ग इव निर्मोकात्पूर्वभुक्ताज्जरान्वितात् ॥१३-११३-४॥
Just as, as a man, whenever he properly speaks about dharma with a concentrated mind, is released each time—so, just as a serpent is released from its old, aged skin that it previously inhabited. (13-113-4)
अदत्त्वापि प्रदानानि विविधानि समाहितः। मनःसमाधिसंयुक्तः सुगतिं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१३-११३-५॥
Even without offering various gifts, a composed person endowed with mental concentration attains a good state. (13-113-5)
प्रदानानि तु वक्ष्यामि यानि दत्त्वा युधिष्ठिर। नरः कृत्वाप्यकार्याणि तदा धर्मेण युज्यते ॥१३-११३-६॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, I will now state the types of gifts which, when given, even if a man has committed improper acts, he is then joined with righteousness. (13-113-6)
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नं श्रेष्ठमुदाहृतम्। पूर्वमन्नं प्रदातव्यमृजुना धर्ममिच्छता ॥१३-११३-७॥
Among all gifts, food is considered to be the best. Food should be given first by one who is upright and desirous of righteousness. (13-113-7)
प्राणा ह्यन्नं मनुष्याणां तस्माज्जन्तुश्च जायते। अन्ने प्रतिष्ठिता लोकास्तस्मादन्नं प्रकाशते ॥१३-११३-८॥
The life-forces are indeed the food of humans; therefore, a creature is born. The worlds are established in food; therefore, food shines forth. (13-113-8)
अन्नमेव प्रशंसन्ति देवर्षिपितृमानवाः। अन्नस्य हि प्रदानेन स्वर्गमाप्नोति कौशिकः ॥१३-११३-९॥
The gods, seers, ancestors, and men all praise only food; by giving food, Kauśika indeed attains heaven. (13-113-9)
न्यायलब्धं प्रदातव्यं द्विजेभ्यो ह्यन्नमुत्तमम्। स्वाध्यायसमुपेतेभ्यः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ॥१३-११३-१०॥
One should give excellent, rightful food to Brāhmaṇas engaged in self-study with a joyful heart. (13-113-10)
यस्य ह्यन्नमुपाश्नन्ति ब्राह्मणानां शता दश। हृष्टेन मनसा दत्तं न स तिर्यग्गतिर्भवेत् ॥१३-११३-११॥
He whose food is eaten by a thousand brāhmaṇas, which is given with a delighted mind, does not attain an animal birth. (13-113-11)
ब्राह्मणानां सहस्राणि दश भोज्य नरर्षभ। नरोऽधर्मात्प्रमुच्येत पापेष्वभिरतः सदा ॥१३-११३-१२॥
O best of men, a man who is always engaged in sins may be freed from unrighteousness by feeding ten thousand Brāhmaṇas. (13-113-12)
भैक्षेणान्नं समाहृत्य विप्रो वेदपुरस्कृतः। स्वाध्यायनिरते विप्रे दत्त्वेह सुखमेधते ॥१३-११३-१३॥
A Brāhmaṇa who, having collected food as alms and guided by the Veda, gives it here to a Brāhmaṇa engaged in self-study attains happiness. (13-113-13)
अहिंसन्ब्राह्मणं नित्यं न्यायेन परिपाल्य च। क्षत्रियस्तरसा प्राप्तमन्नं यो वै प्रयच्छति ॥१३-११३-१४॥
A Kṣatriya, having always protected a Brāhmaṇa by justice and without harming him, who indeed gives food obtained by force. (13-113-14)
द्विजेभ्यो वेदवृद्धेभ्यः प्रयतः सुसमाहितः। तेनापोहति धर्मात्मा दुष्कृतं कर्म पाण्डव ॥१३-११३-१५॥
O Pāṇḍava, a righteous person removes evil acts by approaching the twice-born and the venerable Vedic elders with self-restraint and sincere attentiveness. (13-113-15)
षड्भागपरिशुद्धं च कृषेर्भागमुपार्जितम्। वैश्यो ददद्द्विजातिभ्यः पापेभ्यः परिमुच्यते ॥१३-११३-१६॥
The vaiśya, giving the portion purified by a sixth part and the share acquired from farming to the twice-born, is released from sins. (13-113-16)
अवाप्य प्राणसंदेहं कार्कश्येन समार्जितम्। अन्नं दत्त्वा द्विजातिभ्यः शूद्रः पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-११३-१७॥
If a śūdra, having acquired food with hardship and at the risk of his life, gives that food to the twice-born, he is freed from sin. (13-113-17)
औरसेन बलेनान्नमर्जयित्वाविहिंसकः। यः प्रयच्छति विप्रेभ्यो न स दुर्गाणि सेवते ॥१३-११३-१८॥
Who, having obtained food by his own strength without harming others and being non-injurious, gives to Brahmins—that person does not resort to fortresses or hardships. (13-113-18)
न्यायेनावाप्तमन्नं तु नरो लोभविवर्जितः। द्विजेभ्यो वेदवृद्धेभ्यो दत्त्वा पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-११३-१९॥
A man who, free from greed, obtains food through just means and gives it to the twice-born who are versed in the Veda, is released from sin. (13-113-19)
अन्नमूर्जस्करं लोके दत्त्वोर्जस्वी भवेन्नरः। सतां पन्थानमाश्रित्य सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-११३-२०॥
By giving food that bestows strength in the world, a man may become vigorous; having followed the path of the virtuous, he is freed from all sins. (13-113-20)
दानकृद्भिः कृतः पन्था येन यान्ति मनीषिणः। ते स्म प्राणस्य दातारस्तेभ्यो धर्मः सनातनः ॥१३-११३-२१॥
The path made by the givers of gifts, by which the wise go, those indeed are the givers of life; the eternal duty is greater than them. (13-113-21)
सर्वावस्थं मनुष्येण न्यायेनान्नमुपार्जितम्। कार्यं पात्रगतं नित्यमन्नं हि परमा गतिः ॥१३-११३-२२॥
Food acquired justly by a person in all circumstances should always be kept in a proper vessel; indeed, food is the supreme attainment. (13-113-22)
अन्नस्य हि प्रदानेन नरो दुर्गं न सेवते। तस्मादन्नं प्रदातव्यमन्यायपरिवर्जितम् ॥१३-११३-२३॥
Indeed, by giving food, a man does not encounter danger. Therefore, food should be given free from injustice. (13-113-23)
यतेद्ब्राह्मणपूर्वं हि भोक्तुमन्नं गृही सदा। अवन्ध्यं दिवसं कुर्यादन्नदानेन मानवः ॥१३-११३-२४॥
A householder should always, before he himself eats, offer food first to a Brāhmaṇa; in this way, by giving food, a man makes his day fruitful. (13-113-24)
भोजयित्वा दशशतं नरो वेदविदां नृप। न्यायविद्धर्मविदुषामितिहासविदां तथा ॥१३-११३-२५॥
O king, having fed a thousand knowers of the Veda, and likewise those versed in law, dharma, and history.
न याति नरकं घोरं संसारांश्च न सेवते। सर्वकामसमायुक्तः प्रेत्य चाप्यश्नुते फलम् ॥१३-११३-२६॥
He does not go to terrible hell nor experience the cycles of rebirth; being endowed with all desires, after death he also attains the result. (13-113-26)
एवं सुखसमायुक्तो रमते विगतज्वरः। रूपवान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव धनवांश्चोपपद्यते ॥१३-११३-२७॥
Thus, endowed with happiness, one who is free from distress enjoys; he attains beauty, fame, and wealth. (13-113-27)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमन्नदानफलं महत्। मूलमेतद्धि धर्माणां प्रदानस्य च भारत ॥१३-११३-२८॥
All this has been told to you—the great fruit of offering food. This is indeed the very root of virtues and of giving, O Bhārata. (13-113-28)
