13.113
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
adharmasya gatir brahman kathitā me tvayānagha। dharmasya tu gatiṁ śrotum icchāmi vadatāṁ vara ॥ kṛtvā karmāṇi pāpāni kathaṁ yānti śubhāṁ gatim ॥13-113-1॥
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)
bṛhaspatir uvāca॥
Bṛhaspati said.
kṛtvā pāpāni karmāṇi adharma-vaśam-āgataḥ। manasā viparītena nirayaṃ pratipadyate ॥13-113-2॥
Having committed evil deeds and fallen under the control of unrighteousness, with a perverted mind, he goes to hell. (13-113-2)
mohād adharmaṃ yaḥ kṛtvā punaḥ samanutapyate। manaḥ-samādhi-saṃyukto na sa seveta duṣkṛtam ॥13-113-3॥
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)
yathā yathā naraḥ samyagadharmam anubhāṣate। samāhitena manasā vimucyati tathā tathā ॥ bhujaṅga iva nirmokāt pūrvabhuktāt jarānvitāt ॥13-113-4॥
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)
adattvāpi pradānāni vividhāni samāhitaḥ. manaḥ-samādhi-saṃyuktaḥ sugatiṃ pratipadyate ॥13-113-5॥
Even without offering various gifts, a composed person endowed with mental concentration attains a good state. (13-113-5)
pradānāni tu vakṣyāmi yāni dattvā yudhiṣṭhira। naraḥ kṛtvāpy-akāryāṇi tadā dharmeṇa yujyate ॥13-113-6॥
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)
sarveṣāmeva dānānām annaṃ śreṣṭham udāhṛtam। pūrvam annaṃ pradātavyam ṛjunā dharmam icchatā ॥13-113-7॥
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)
prāṇā hy annaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ tasmāj jantuś ca jāyate। anne pratiṣṭhitā lokās tasmād annaṁ prakāśate॥13-113-8॥
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)
annam eva praśaṁsanti devarṣipitṛmānavāḥ। annasya hi pradānena svargam āpnoti kauśikaḥ॥13-113-9॥
The gods, seers, ancestors, and men all praise only food; by giving food, Kauśika indeed attains heaven. (13-113-9)
nyāyalabdham pradātavyaṃ dvijebhyo hyannamuttamam। svādhyāyasamupe teb hyaḥ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā ॥13-113-10॥
One should give excellent, rightful food to Brāhmaṇas engaged in self-study with a joyful heart. (13-113-10)
yasya hy annam upāśnanti brāhmaṇānāṃ śatā daśa। hṛṣṭena manasā dattaṃ na sa tiryaggatir bhavet ॥13-113-11॥
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)
brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasrāṇi daśa bhojya nararṣabha। naro'dharmāt pramucyeta pāpeṣv abhirataḥ sadā ॥13-113-12॥
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)
bhaikṣeṇānnaṃ samāhṛtya vipro vedapuraskṛtaḥ। svādhyāyanirate vipre dattveha sukhamedhate ॥13-113-13॥
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)
ahiṁsan brāhmaṇaṁ nityaṁ nyāyena paripālya ca। kṣatriyas tarasā prāptam annaṁ yo vai prayacchati ॥13-113-14॥
A Kṣatriya, having always protected a Brāhmaṇa by justice and without harming him, who indeed gives food obtained by force. (13-113-14)
dvijebhyo vedavṛddhebhyaḥ prayataḥ susamāhitaḥ. tenāpohati dharmātmā duṣkṛtaṃ karma pāṇḍava ॥13-113-15॥
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)
ṣaḍ-bhāga-pariśuddhaṁ ca kṛṣeḥ bhāgam upārjitam। vaiśyo dadad dvijātibhyaḥ pāpebhyaḥ parimucyate ॥13-113-16॥
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)
avāpya prāṇasaṁdehaṁ kārkaśyena samārjitam। annaṁ dattvā dvijātibhyaḥ śūdraḥ pāpāt pramucyate ॥13-113-17॥
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)
aurasena balenānnam arjayitvā avihiṁsakaḥ। yaḥ prayacchati viprebhyo na sa durgāṇi sevate ॥13-113-18॥
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)
nyāyenāvāptam annaṃ tu naro lobhavivarjitaḥ। dvijebhyo vedavṛddhebhyo dattvā pāpāt pramucyate॥13-113-19॥
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)
annam ūrjaskar am loke dattvā urjasvī bhaven naraḥ. satām panthānam āśritya sarvapāpāt pramucyate ॥13-113-20॥
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)
dānakṛdbhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthā yena yānti manīṣiṇaḥ। te sma prāṇasya datāras tebhyo dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ॥13-113-21॥
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)
sarvāvasthaṃ manuṣyeṇa nyāyenānnamupārjitam। kāryaṃ pātragataṃ nityamannaṃ hi paramā gatiḥ ॥13-113-22॥
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)
annasya hi pradānena naro durgaṃ na sevate। tasmād annaṃ pradātavyam anyāya-parivarjitam ॥13-113-23॥
Indeed, by giving food, a man does not encounter danger. Therefore, food should be given free from injustice. (13-113-23)
yatedbrāhmaṇapūrvaṃ hi bhoktumannaṃ gṛhī sadā। avandhyaṃ divasaṃ kuryādannadānena mānavaḥ ॥13-113-24॥
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)
bhojayitvā daśaśataṃ naro vedavidāṃ nṛpa। nyāyavid-dharmaviduṣām-itihāsavidāṃ tathā ॥13-113-25॥
O king, having fed a thousand knowers of the Veda, and likewise those versed in law, dharma, and history.
na yāti narakaṃ ghoraṃ saṃsārāṃś ca na sevate. sarvakāmasamāyuktaḥ pretya cāpy aśnute phalam ॥13-113-26॥
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)
evaṃ sukhasamāyukto ramate vigatajvaraḥ। rūpavānkīrtimāṃścaiva dhanavāṃścopapadyate ॥13-113-27॥
Thus, endowed with happiness, one who is free from distress enjoys; he attains beauty, fame, and wealth. (13-113-27)
etat te sarvam ākhyātam annadāna-phalaṃ mahat। mūlam etad dhi dharmāṇāṃ pradānasya ca bhārata ॥13-113-28॥
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)
