Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 64

MBh 9 64.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं मे भवतो वाक्यमन्नदानस्य यो विधिः। नक्षत्रयोगस्येदानी दानकल्पं ब्रवीहि मे।।।।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca śrutaṃ me bhavato vākyamannadānasya yo vidhiḥ| nakṣatrayogasyedānī dānakalpaṃ bravīhi me||||

Yudhishthira said I have heard your discourse about the ordinances for the gift of food. Do you describe to me now about the conjunctions of the planets and the stars in relation to the subject of making gifts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.2

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। देवक्याश्चैव संवादं महर्षेर्नारदस्य च॥

bhīṣma uvāca atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| devakyāścaiva saṃvādaṃ maharṣernāradasya ca||

Bhishma said Regarding it is recited this ancient discourse between Devaki and Narada, that foremost of Rishis.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.3

द्वारकामनुसम्प्राप्तं नारदं देवदर्शनम्। पप्रच्छेदं वचः प्रश्नं देवकी धर्मदर्शनम्॥

dvārakāmanusamprāptaṃ nāradaṃ devadarśanam| papracchedaṃ vacaḥ praśnaṃ devakī dharmadarśanam||

Once on a time when Narada of godlike features and knowing every duty arrived at Dwaraka, Devaki asked him this question.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.4

तस्याः सम्पृच्छमानाया देवर्षि रदस्ततः। आचष्ट विधिवत् सर्वं तच्छणुष्व विशाम्पते॥

tasyāḥ sampṛcchamānāyā devarṣi radastataḥ| ācaṣṭa vidhivat sarvaṃ tacchaṇuṣva viśāmpate||

The celestial Rishi Narada replied to her question in the following words. Do you hear as I recite them.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.5

नारद उवाच कृत्तिकासु महाभागे पायसेन ससर्पिषा। संतर्घ्य ब्राह्मणान् साधूल्लोकानाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान्॥

nārada uvāca kṛttikāsu mahābhāge pāyasena sasarpiṣā| saṃtarghya brāhmaṇān sādhūllokānāpnotyanuttamān||

Narada said By pleasing, O blessed lady, worthy Brahmanas with pudding mixed with ghee, under the constellation Krittika, one acquires regions of great happiness.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.6

रोहिण्यां प्रसृतैर्मार्गेमांसैरन्नेन सर्पिषा। पयोऽन्नपानं दातव्यमनृणार्थे द्विजातये॥

rohiṇyāṃ prasṛtairmārgemāṃsairannena sarpiṣā| payo'nnapānaṃ dātavyamanṛṇārthe dvijātaye||

Under the constellation Rohini, one should, for freeing himself from the debt he owes to the Brahmanas, make gifts to them of many handfuls of venison along with rice and clarified butter and milk, and other kinds of edibles and drinks.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.7

दोग्ध्रीं दत्त्वा सवत्सां तु नक्षत्रे सोमदैवते। गच्छन्ति मानुषाल्लोकात् सर्वलोकमनुत्तमम्॥

dogdhrīṃ dattvā savatsāṃ tu nakṣatre somadaivate| gacchanti mānuṣāllokāt sarvalokamanuttamam||

One giving away a cow with a calf under the constellation called Somadevata (or Mrigashiras), proceeds from this human region to a region in Heaven of great felicity.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.8

आर्द्रायां कृसरं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रमुपोषितः। नरस्तरति दुर्गाणि क्षुरधारांश्च पर्वतान्॥

ārdrāyāṃ kṛsaraṃ dattvā tilamiśramupoṣitaḥ| narastarati durgāṇi kṣuradhārāṃśca parvatān||

One undergoing a fast and giving away Krishara mixed with sesame, gets over all difficulties in the next world, including those mountains with rocks sharp as razors.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.9

पूपान् पुनर्वसौ दत्त्वा तथैवान्नानि शोभने। यशस्वी रूपसम्पन्नो बह्वनो जायते कुले॥

pūpān punarvasau dattvā tathaivānnāni śobhane| yaśasvī rūpasampanno bahvano jāyate kule||

By making gifts, O beautiful lady, of cakes and other food under the constellation Punarvasu, one gets personal beauty and great fame and takes birth in his next life in a family in which there is profuse food.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.10

पुष्येण कनकं दत्त्वा कृतं वाकृतमेव च। अनालोकेषु लोकेषु सोमवत् स विराजते॥

puṣyeṇa kanakaṃ dattvā kṛtaṃ vākṛtameva ca| anālokeṣu lokeṣu somavat sa virājate||

Making a gift of wrought or unwrought gold, under the constellation Pushya, one shines like the Moon himself in regions of surrounding darkness.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.11

आश्लेषायां तु यो रूप्यमृषभं वा प्रयच्छति। स सर्वभयनिर्मुक्तः सम्भवानधितिष्ठति॥

āśleṣāyāṃ tu yo rūpyamṛṣabhaṃ vā prayacchati| sa sarvabhayanirmuktaḥ sambhavānadhitiṣṭhati||

He who makes a gift, gift, under under the constellation Ashlesha, of silver or a bull, becomes freed from every fear and acquires riches and prosperity.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.12

मघासु तिलपूर्णानि वर्धमानानि मानवः। प्रदाय पुत्रपशुमानिह प्रेत्य च मोदते॥

maghāsu tilapūrṇāni vardhamānāni mānavaḥ| pradāya putrapaśumāniha pretya ca modate||

By making a gift, under the constellation Megha, of earthen dishes filled with sesame, one gets children and animals in this world and acquires happiness in the next.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.13

फल्गुनीपूर्वसमये ब्राह्मणानामुपोषितः। भक्ष्यान् फाणित संयुक्तान् दत्त्वा सौभाग्यमृच्छति॥१३

phalgunīpūrvasamaye brāhmaṇānāmupoṣitaḥ| bhakṣyān phāṇita saṃyuktān dattvā saubhāgyamṛcchati||13

By making gifts, while fasting, to Brahmanas, under the constellation called PurvaPhalguni, of food mixed with Phanita, the reward is great prosperity both here and hereafter.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.14

घृतक्षीरसमायुक्तं विधिवत् षष्टिकौदनम्। उत्तराविषये दत्त्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते॥

ghṛtakṣīrasamāyuktaṃ vidhivat ṣaṣṭikaudanam| uttarāviṣaye dattvā svargaloke mahīyate||

By making a gift, under the constellation called UttaraPhalguni, of clarified butter and milk with rice called Shashthika, one wins great honours in Heaven.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.15

यद् यत् प्रदीयते दानमुत्तराविषये नरैः। महाफलमनन्तं तद् भवतीति विनिश्चयः॥

yad yat pradīyate dānamuttarāviṣaye naraiḥ| mahāphalamanantaṃ tad bhavatīti viniścayaḥ||

Whatever gifts are made by men under the constellation of Uttara-Phalguni yield great merit, which, again, becomes unending. This is very certain.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.16

हस्ते हस्तिरथं दत्त्वा चतुर्युक्तमुपोषितः। प्राप्नोति परमॉल्लोकान् पुण्यकामसमन्वितान्॥

haste hastirathaṃ dattvā caturyuktamupoṣitaḥ| prāpnoti paramaॉllokān puṇyakāmasamanvitān||

Observing a fast, the person who makes, under the constell.tion Hasta, a gift of a car with four elephants, acquires regions of great happiness that are capable of granting the fruition of every wish.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.17

चित्रायां वृषभं दत्त्वा पुण्यगन्धांश्च भारत। चरन्त्यप्सरसां लोके रमन्ते नन्दने तथा॥

citrāyāṃ vṛṣabhaṃ dattvā puṇyagandhāṃśca bhārata| carantyapsarasāṃ loke ramante nandane tathā||

By making a gift, under the constellation Chitra, of a bull and of good perfumes, one sports in bliss in regions of Apsaras like the deities sporting in the garden of Nandana.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.18

स्वात्यामथ धनं दत्त्वा यदिष्टतममात्मनः। प्राप्नोति लोकान् स शुभानिह चैव महद् यशः॥

svātyāmatha dhanaṃ dattvā yadiṣṭatamamātmanaḥ| prāpnoti lokān sa śubhāniha caiva mahad yaśaḥ||

By making gifts of riches under the constellation Svati, one acquires such excellent regions as one desires and wins, besides great fame.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.19

विशाखायामनड्वाहं धनुं दत्त्वा च दुग्धदाम्। सप्रासङ्गं च शकटं सधान्यं वस्त्रसंयुतम्॥ पितॄन् देवांश्च प्रीणाति प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते। न च दुर्गाण्यवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति॥

viśākhāyāmanaḍvāhaṃ dhanuṃ dattvā ca dugdhadām| saprāsaṅgaṃ ca śakaṭaṃ sadhānyaṃ vastrasaṃyutam|| pitṝn devāṃśca prīṇāti pretya cānantyamaśnute| na ca durgāṇyavāpnoti svargalokaṃ ca gacchati||

By making gifts, under the constellation Vishakha, of a bull, and a cow giving profuse milk, a cart full of paddy, with a Prasanga for covering the same, and also cloths for wear, a person pleases the departed manes and the deities and acquires external merit in the other world. Such a person never meets with any calamity and certainly reaches Heaven.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.20

दत्त्वा यथोक्तं विप्रेभ्यो वृत्तिमिष्टां स विन्दति। नरकादींश्च संक्लेशान् नाप्नोतीति विनिश्चयः॥

dattvā yathoktaṃ viprebhyo vṛttimiṣṭāṃ sa vindati| narakādīṃśca saṃkleśān nāpnotīti viniścayaḥ||

By making gifts the Brahmanas of whatever articles they want, one acquires such means of subsistence as he wishes, and becomes rescued from Hell and every calamity that befall sinners after death. This is the certain conclusion of the scriptures.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.21

अनुराधासु प्रावारं वरानं समुपोषितः। दत्त्वा युगशतं चापि नरः स्वर्गे महीयते॥

anurādhāsu prāvāraṃ varānaṃ samupoṣitaḥ| dattvā yugaśataṃ cāpi naraḥ svarge mahīyate||

By making gifts, under the constellation Anuradha, of embroidered cloth and other dresses and of food, observing a fast all the while, one becomes honoured in Heaven for a hundred cycles.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.22

कालशाकं तु विप्रभ्यो दत्त्वा मर्त्यः समूलकम्। ज्येष्ठायामृद्धिमिष्टां वै गतिमिष्टां स गच्छति॥

kālaśākaṃ tu viprabhyo dattvā martyaḥ samūlakam| jyeṣṭhāyāmṛddhimiṣṭāṃ vai gatimiṣṭāṃ sa gacchati||

By making a gift under the constellation Jyeshtha, of the potherb called Kalashaka with the roots, one acquires great prosperity as also such an end as is desirable.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.23

मूले मूलफलं दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समाहितः। पितॄन् प्रीणयते चापि गतिमिष्टां च गच्छति॥

mūle mūlaphalaṃ dattvā brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ| pitṝn prīṇayate cāpi gatimiṣṭāṃ ca gacchati||

By making to Brahmanas a gift under the constellation Mula, of fruits and roots, with a controlled soul, one pleases the departed manes and attains to a desirable end.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.24

अथ पूर्वास्वषाढार दधिपात्राण्युपोषितः। कुलवृत्तोपसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे॥ पुरुषो जायते प्रेत्य कुले सुबहुगोधने। उदमन्थं ससर्पिष्कं प्रभूतमधिफाणितम्। दत्त्वोत्तरास्वषाढासु सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात्॥

atha pūrvāsvaṣāḍhāra dadhipātrāṇyupoṣitaḥ| kulavṛttopasampanne brāhmaṇe vedapārage|| puruṣo jāyate pretya kule subahugodhane| udamanthaṃ sasarpiṣkaṃ prabhūtamadhiphāṇitam| dattvottarāsvaṣāḍhāsu sarvakāmānavāpnuyāt||

By making, under the constellation Purvashadha, a gift, to a Brahmana knowing the Vedas and of good family and conduct, of cups filled with curds, while observing a fast, one is born in his next life in a family having abundant kine. One secures the fruition of every desire, by making gifts, under the constellation Uttarashadha, of jugs full of barleywater, with clarified butter and juice of sugarcane in abundance.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.25

दुग्धं त्वभिजिते योगे दत्त्वा मधुघृतप्लुतम्। धर्मनित्यो मनीषिभ्यः स्वर्गलोके महीयते॥

dugdhaṃ tvabhijite yoge dattvā madhughṛtaplutam| dharmanityo manīṣibhyaḥ svargaloke mahīyate||

By making a gift, under the conjunction called Abhijit, of milk with loney and ghee unto men of wisdom, a righteous person attains to Heaven and becomes an object of adoration and honour there.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.26

श्रवणे कम्बलं दत्त्वा वस्त्रान्तरितमेव वा। श्वेतेन याति यानेन स्वर्गलोकानसंवृतान्॥

śravaṇe kambalaṃ dattvā vastrāntaritameva vā| śvetena yāti yānena svargalokānasaṃvṛtān||

By making, under the conjunction Shravana, a gift of blankets or other cloth of thick texture, one passes freely through every region of happiness, riding on a white car of pure resplendence.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.27

गोप्रयुक्तं धनिष्ठासु यानं दत्त्वा समाहितः। वस्त्रराशिधनं सद्यः प्रेत्य राज्यं प्रपद्यते॥

goprayuktaṃ dhaniṣṭhāsu yānaṃ dattvā samāhitaḥ| vastrarāśidhanaṃ sadyaḥ pretya rājyaṃ prapadyate||

By making with a controlled soul under the constellation Dhanishtha a gift of a car with bulls yoked thereto, or masses of cloths and riches, one at once acquires Heaven in his next life.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.28

गन्धानछतभिषायोगे दत्त्वा सागुरुचन्दनान्। प्राप्नोत्यप्सरसा संघान् प्रेत्य गन्धांश्च शाश्वतान्॥

gandhānachatabhiṣāyoge dattvā sāgurucandanān| prāpnotyapsarasā saṃghān pretya gandhāṃśca śāśvatān||

By making gifts, under the constellation Shatabhisha, of perfumes with Aquilaria Agallocha and sandal wood, one acquires in the next world the companionship of Apsaras as also eternal perfumes of various sorts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.29

पूर्वाभाद्रपदायोगे राजमाषान् प्रदाय तु। सर्वभक्षफलोपेतः स वै प्रेत्य सुखी भवेत्॥

pūrvābhādrapadāyoge rājamāṣān pradāya tu| sarvabhakṣaphalopetaḥ sa vai pretya sukhī bhavet||

By making gifts, under the constellation Purva Bhadrapada, of Rajamasha, one acquires great happiness in next life and comes by a profuse supply of every kind of food and fruits.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.30

औरभ्रमुत्तरायोगे यस्तु मांसं प्रयच्छति। स पितॄन् प्रीणयति वै प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते॥

aurabhramuttarāyoge yastu māṃsaṃ prayacchati| sa pitṝn prīṇayati vai pretya cānantyamaśnute||

One who makes, under the constellation Uttara, a gift of mutton, pleases the departed manes by such an act and acquires unending merit in the next world.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.31

कांस्योपदोहनां धेनुं रेवत्यां यः प्रयच्छति। सा प्रेत्य कामानादाय दातारमुपतिष्ठति॥

kāṃsyopadohanāṃ dhenuṃ revatyāṃ yaḥ prayacchati| sā pretya kāmānādāya dātāramupatiṣṭhati||

If one makes a gift, under the constellation Revati, of a cow with a vessel of white copper for milking her, the cow so given away approaches him in the next world, ready to grant the fruition of every desire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.32

रथमश्वसमायुक्तं दत्त्वाश्विन्यां नरोत्तमः। हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्ने वर्चस्वी जायते कुले॥

rathamaśvasamāyuktaṃ dattvāśvinyāṃ narottamaḥ| hastyaśvarathasampanne varcasvī jāyate kule||

By making a gift, under the constellation Ashvini, of a car with horses yoked thereto, one is born in his next life in a family possessing abundant elephants and horses and cars and becomes gifted with great energy.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.33

भरणीषु द्विजातिभ्यस्तिलधेनुं प्रदाय वै। गा: सुप्रभूताः प्राप्नोति नरः प्रेत्य यशस्तथा॥

bharaṇīṣu dvijātibhyastiladhenuṃ pradāya vai| gā: suprabhūtāḥ prāpnoti naraḥ pretya yaśastathā||

By making, under the constellation Bharani, a gift to the Brahmanas of kine and. sesame, one attains in his next life great fame and abundant kine.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 64.34

भीष्म उवाच इत्येष लक्षणोद्देशः प्रोक्तो नक्षत्रयोगतः। देवक्या नारदेनेह सा स्नुषाभ्योऽब्रवीदिदम्॥

bhīṣma uvāca ityeṣa lakṣaṇoddeśaḥ prokto nakṣatrayogataḥ| devakyā nāradeneha sā snuṣābhyo'bravīdidam||

Bhishma said Thus did Narada describe to Devaki the subject of what gifts should be made under what constellations. Devaki herself, having heard this account related it in her turn to her daughters-in-law.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)