The Great Efficacy of Giving (Charity)

1. O brahmana, I have told you in brief the fruit of Vishnu's worship. Now I shall tell (you about) the presents. Listen attentively.

2-3. Of giving presents and penance, giving presents is said to be superior. Due to penance, it is said, there is sin. In the act of giving presents there is no sin. Penance is (said to be) the best in Krtayuga. And meditation is (said to be) the best in Treta (yuga). Worship is (said to be) the best in Dvapara (yuga). Givingpresents is (said to be) the best in Kali (yuga).

4-6. Therefore, the wise desiring the highest position, should always make presents for pleasing Lakshmi's lord in Kaliyuga. As the moon waxes digit by digit, similar is said to be the condition of giving gifts and of penance by the wise. O best brahmana, wealth should be stored (beginning) with even a straw. A wise man should use his stored wealth in giving gifts.

7-8. A man who, though having wealth, does not enjoy or give it, should be known to be a poor man, deprived of giving gifts or of enjoyment. O brahmana, with whom does wealth come? Who goes with it? When death comes, that which is given before in this world comes (to a man's help).

9-11. Those men who become poor due to repeatedly giving gifts should not be known to be poor. They are the great lords in the next world. Those who save wealth due to miserliness should be known to be very unhappy. O Jaimini, at the end, giving it up all, they, being disappointed, go (i.e. die). O best brahmana, a man bereft of a good, strong power (lives) in the other world devoid of wealth and relatives. Whatever is not given by a man, does not stand by him there.

12. O best brahmana, the devotees of Vishnu, having devotion and faith, should everyday devoutly give small gifts.

13-19a. O best brahmana, the wise have declared the gift of food as the best of all gifts. So also the gift of water. Vital airs cannot stay in the body without food. (Therefore) one who gives food should be known to be the giver of life. (And) the giver of life is the giver of everything. Therefore, the giver of food obtains the fruit of all (kinds of) gifts. O Jaimini, giving water is similar to giving food. Food would not exist without water. Therefore, water is given. O best brahmana, hunger and thirst are said to be equal. Therefore, the wise have said the gift of water to be the best. Water is the life of men. Life is not their life. Therefore, for the protection of life, a wise man should give water. O best brahmana, he who has given food and water on the earth, has given all gifts. There is no doubt about it.

20-26a. In the city of Hastinapura itself there lived a prostitute beautiful like a divine damsel, rich like Kubera. She was known as Ratividagdha, and had all the marks (of a beautiful lady). There (also) lived a brahmana lady, named Ksemankari, born in a great family. That daughter of a brahmana, who possessed all virtues, was a widow. O best brahmana, that brahmana lady had her mind attached to paramours. She, doing prohibited act (s) became thoughtless. O brahmana, the brahrnana lady, being near the prostitute, formed friendship with her, and took to the life of a prostitute, O Jaimini, the prostitute and the brahmana lady together, joyfully, everyday committed innumerable sins. Then that Ratividagdha attained old age. The brahmana lady of a bad character also (became old). Sometime that chief prostitute who was aging, who was very much amazed, and who was full of modesty, said these words to her friend, O brahmana: Ratividagdha said:

26b-32a. O friend, along with you, I committed many fearful sins. Even now I have a great thought (i.e. a strong desire) for (committing) sins. All my beauty and strength has been taken away by old age. (The condition) like this causing ill-health, does not make (me) give up hope. I, who have committed sins, have secured very great real estate. Seeing this my death, as it were, has approached. Who will protect my wealth obtained through sins which I committed, when I die issuless? Therefore, O friend, if you consent, I desire to give to brahmanas all my wealth obtained unjustly.

32b-34. See, I have always given to unworthy recipients all the wealth which I had collected. Therefore, I am without wealth. What shall I give to a brahmana? If you have wealth, then make a present of it quickly. Hearing these words of her, the prostitute was very much glad.

35-43. With all her wealth she made a present of food. There was an excellent brahmana named Harisarman, who very devoutly always worshipped lord Vishnu. He who had curbed his senses and his anger, who was free from harming (others) and hypocrisy, practised a great (i.e. severe) penance to please Lakshmi's lord. With sandal, flowers, offerings, incense, ghee and lamps he everyday worshipped Vishnu, the lord of gods. Even though the brahmana was rich he was always afraid of spending money. O best brahmana, in the house of the miser, ants, rats and other living beings, were always hungry. O best brahmana, he, without (i.e. not doing) the act of giving gifts, himself enjoyed everyday all the wealth that he had earned. For fear of being requested (to give) money, he never conversed with his friends and his brahmana relatives. O best brahmana, counting his very large wealth in his own house, he, regarding himself as the greatest, delighted himself. O brahmana, at the time destined for death, that very rich brahmana, that prostitute and that brahmana lady died at the same time.

44-45. Then, very fierce messengers, with nooses and mallets in their hands, of god Dharmaraja (i.e. Yama) came to take them (to him). Then, O Jaimini, those messengers like Canda, took them and instantly went to Yama's city along a difficult path. Canda said (to Yama):

46. O lord of life, by your order Harisarman is brought here. So also the prostitute, the brahmana lady (are brought here). Look at them standing before you.

47. Seeing them, the lord of life laughed, O best brahmana, and spoke thus to Chitragupta skilled in all jobs:

48. O wise, very intelligent Chitragupta, think over, from the beginning all the good and evil acts of these.

49. Then by Yama's order, the wise Chitragupta considered all their good as well as evil acts. Chitragupta said:

50-56. O god, listen I shall tell (you) their religious merit and sins, which this prostitute, this brahmana lady and Harisarman did. It is not possible to narrate the sins which this prostitute called Ratividagdha, of a very wicked heart, committed. O Sun's son, this one, when she became old, gave food with all her wealth that was unjustly earned. Due to the efficacy of the gift of food, she was abandoned by all her sins committed during crores of existences, which would have resulted in her residence in houses of torments (i.e. where torments are inflicted). O great king, those who, even though they are sinners, give gift of food on the earth, go to the highest position of Vishnu. As many sins of (i.e. due to) brahminicide perish as the number of foods given by men on the earth. There is no doubt about it. Sin, leaving the bodies of the givers of food, goes to the vessels of those receiving it, O Sun's son.

57-58. Therefore, the wise ones do not accept the food of sinners. Those fools who accept it through delusion are sinners only. O lord, I have told the good and evil acts of the prostitute. Listen to the good and evil acts of the brahmana lady.

59-67a. O lord, this brahmana lady named Ksemankarl, born in a pure family, and the wife of Bhadrakirti, committed evil acts. Abandoning the acts of (i.e. suited to) the stage of life, she, proud of her youth, ardently longing for union with paramours, became most sinful. O king, once in her childhood, while playing with (other) children, she dug a ditch having four corners on the road. On the same day clouds showered water. O lord, that ditch made by her was filled with water. O king, at noon, a thirsty bull scorched by the sun's heat drank water there. Due to the efficacy of the act of giving water only, all her great sins perished, O wise son of the Sun. Freed from all sins, she went to Vishnu's abode. O lord of gods, this wicked brahmana lady who had committed sins, became freed from all sins due to the effcacy of the gift of water. This brahmana is a great devotee of the Disc-holder, the god of gods. Therefore, O lord of life, Vishnu alone is said to be superior to him. Vyasa said:

67b-69. Having heard those words of Chitragupta, Yama saluted the prostitute, the brahmana lady and the brahmana. Having heard about the worship of them and the members of their family, Yama, very much pleased, laughed and spoke words containing soft letters (i.e. spoke soft words), O Jaimini. Yama said:

70-71. All you noble ones have all your sins perished. Go to the place of Vishnu, lord of Lakshmi, which gives all pleasures. Then Yama, having put them into a divine (chariot) which was made of gold and to which royal swans were yoked, sent them to the place of the Disc-holder (i.e. Vishnu).

72. Then all of them, freed from sins, mounted upon a divine chariot, and adorned by all ornaments, went to the lord's city.

73-75. That prostitute, with all her sins perished, obtained the proximity of the god, and lived happily for a long time, O brahmana. So also the brahmana lady. Seeing that Harisarman in the assembly Vishnu, through affection, gave him an excellent seat made of gold. Having gladly honoured the best brahmana by offering him water for washing his feet, a respectful offering, water for sipping, Vishnu asked him seated on an excellent seat (there): The lord said:

76. O brahmana, tell me about your happiness (i.e. How do you do?). Since you are my excellent devotee, stay fora long time in my abode, free from all troubles. The brahmaria said:

77. O god, O lord, on remembering you, you are seen. (And the devotee) gets happiness. I have obtained your proximity. What greater happiness is there than this? Vyasa said:

78-80. Hearing his words spoken through affection, the lord gave the brahmana his similarity (i.e. assimilated the brahmana into himself). The lord of Laksmf, gave him all happiness difficult to be obtained; but remembering his miserliness, did not give him his measure of food. After a couple of days, the brahmana, being without food (and therefore) overcome by hunger, and being humble through modesty, said to Vishnu, the lord of gods: The brahmana said:

81-90. O lord, as the fruits of many austerities I have secured your position. O lord, even here how am I everyday suffering from hunger? Even on beds I am fanned with breezes from white chowries by celestial hosts of divine maidens who have attained the prime of youth? O lord, like the best king, I am adorned with large garlands of fragrant flowers and my entire body is smeared with sandal. O Vishnu, by your order, everyday ladies with beautiful bodies dance to the accompaniment of songs before me. Everyday, gods like Indra always carry the dust-particles from my feet (on their heads), which beautify the crowns on their heads. And, O lord of the world, gods, divine sages, (other) sages, always praise me with eulogies like (my) servants. I have become Vishnu, having four arms, dark, holding a conch, a disc, a mace, and a lotus, having eyes like full-blown lotuses, wearing a yellow garment, and fine ear-rings. I am having a golden sacred thread, a crown and also ear-rings. By gods I am seen to be another Garuda-bannered (god) like you. O lord, you have given me all these pleasures difficult to be obtained. (Then) O highest lord, how (i.e. why) do you not give me food? As a tree is burnt by the fire in its hollow, my body is being very much scorched by the fire of hunger.

91-93. O Vishnu, with the digestive fire of the stomach blazing, I, whose body is afflicted, do not like this happiness given by you. None else worshipped by hosts of gods, except you, the lord of the world, has ever been worshipped by me through (physical) acts, mentally, or through speech. I have not been devoted to him (i.e. any other god than you) even in a dream. (Then) due to which fault (of mine), O lord, you are not giving me food?

94-95. Then lord Vishnu, full of joy, said to him: "Well-being to you, O brahmana. Go quickly to Brahma." Hearing these words, the brahmana quickly went to Brahma. Pointing out to him his miserliness, Brahma said to him: Brahma said:

96-97. There is no doubt that (the fruit of) an action, obtained with difficulty, which is not given to a brahmana nor enjoyed by oneself, perishes. I have told you the entire cause of your affliction. O brahmana, well-being to you; you who have come from Yama, (now) go without any doubt.

98. Through your grace I have heard fully (about) this maturity of my acts. Now tell (me) which gifts should be given by men. Brhama said:

99-101. There are many (kinds) of gifts. (All) cannot be described. O brahmana, I (shall) tell (about them) in brief. Listen attentively. O best brahmana, the pious one who has made the gift of land, the best of all gifts, should be known to be the giver of all (kinds of) gifts. O best brahmana, he who gives (a piece of) land measuring a gocarman,1 would, being freed from all sins, go to the highest place.

102-107. Listen to the religious merit of (i.e. earned by) him who gives land along with the crop to a poor brahmana, O best brahmana. Freed from all sins, he would go to Vishnu's city. There he enjoys all happiness as long as fourteen Indras (rule).

1. Gocarman — A particular measure of surface thus defined by Vasishtha: dasahastena varhsena dasavarhsan samantatalj/ pafica cabhyadhikan dadyadetadgocarma cocyate.

Again obtaining land, he would be a sovereign emperor. That man, enjoying the entire earth for a long time, would become Vishnu. Since, brahmanas should accept the land, even after abandoning (i.e. not accepting) hundreds of (other) gifts, the giver of the land and its receiver both go to heaven. O best brahmana, that dull brahmana who would reject the gift of land, would be very much afflicted in every existence. Even with him Vishnu is pleased and gives the highest position to him who would give a gift of land, even after obtaining it from others.

108-110. O brahmana, listen to the religious merit of (i.e. obtained by) him who gives or causes (someone else) to give a village to a poor brahmana. The wise one would live in Vishnu's world for as many periods of Man u as there are dust-particles on the earth or as there are drops in showers. O brahmana, I am telling you about the religious merit of the noble one who gives a milch-cow along with her calf (to a brahmana). Listen.

111-121. A man who gives a cow to a brahmana would obtain that fruit which one would get by giving the earth with the seven islands along with the crop (on it). He who gives a bull to a brahmana with a family, is freed from sins and goes to Rudra's world. For as many thousands of kalpas as the number of small hair on the body of the bull, he rejoices with Rudra. He who gives a cow to one proficient in the Vedas, never returns (to this world) from Rudra's world. O best brahmana, he who gives a bull with Sheshamum seeds (to a brahmana) would live in Rudra's abode in accordance with the number of the Sheshamum seeds. He who gives gold even of the measure of a Sheshamum seed to a brahmana, goes, along with crores (of the members) of his family to Vishnu's abode. He who would devoutly give silver to a poor brahmana, reaches the world of the Moon and drinks nectar (there). O best brahmana, he who gives a diamond or a pearl or a coral or any (other) gem, goes to Indra's world. O best brahmana, he, the generous-minded one, who gives the gift of a horse (to a brahmana) obtains the kingship of kings of gandharvas. There is no doubt about it. He who gives a young elephant without blemishes, would become a partner in the kingdom of gods like Indra, O brahmana. He too, who would give a palanquin carried by men, along with presents, to a brahmana, would also, having secured Indra's position, live there for four kalpas.

122-126. O brahmana, I shall tell, in brief, (about) the religious merit of (i.e. got by) him who gives the gift of salagrama stone to a brahmana; (please) listen. The giver of a salagrama stone obtains the same fruit as one obtains by giving the earth with the seven islands and with mountains and forests. The giver of a salagrama stone would get a crores times greater fruit than the one which men obtain by giving gold, jewels or other valuable things equal to their own weight.1 O best brahmana, he who has given a salagrama stone has indeed given the fourteen worlds. O best man, that man who gives gold etc. equal to his weight, (lives) in heaven wearing divine garments, and (becomes) a king.

127-130. He is not born again in (i.e. from) the mother's womb. That best man who gives his daughter adorned (with ornaments, in marriage, to a worthy groom), would go to Vishnu's abode without (being required) to be born again. That foolish, man who through delusion, sells his daughter, would go to the fearful hell called Purlsahrada. O brahmana, that son that is born from the daughter (thus) sold, should be known like a candala, expelled from all religious rites. A man knowing the holy texts, should never seethe face of him who sells his daughter.

131-136. If through ignorance he sees it, he should look at the Sun. O brahmana, all that auspicious act that is done in the presence of him who sells his daughter, would become fruitless, O brahmana. For the seller of his daughter there is no escape from hell. The one who gives his daughter (in marriage) does not again return from heaven. What is the use of talking much in this regard? I shall tell (it to you) in brief. The fruit of (the gift of) a diamond, (a piece) of land, and a daughter is hundred times more. Listen to the religious merit of (i.e. obtained by) him who gives a pair of shoes, an umbrella on the earth. I shall tell it to you in brief. Endowed with all affluence he would live here (i.e. in this world) for a hundred years. Reaching Indra's city after death (he would live there) for four hundred kalpas. He who gives a new garment goes to the best position.

1. Tulapurusa — Gold, jewels or other valuable things equal to a man's weight (given to a brahmana as a gift).

137-147. He who would give an old garment, or an aging1 cow or a girl in her menses, would always go to hell. O brahmana, a man who gives (the gift of) a fruit, goes to the abode of gods (i.e. heaven). There he enjoys the fruit like nectar for thousands of kalpas. O brahmana, the giver of vegetables goes to the position of lord Shiva. There he enjoys, along with gods, rice boiled in milk for two kalpas. A giver of milk, of curd, of ghee and of butter-milk obtains the drink of nectar in front of lord Vishnu. O brahmana, a man who gives flowers, sandal, (would go) to the abode of gods (i.e. heaven and), decorated with flowers and sandal would stay there for thousands of yugas. O best brahmana, he who offers a bed, comes to Brahma's world, and lies for a long time on a bed there. O best brahmana, he who offers a lamp or a seat, being free from all sins, is seated, surrounded by rows of burning lamps, on divine throne. O king(?), the giver of a tambflla enjoys all auspicious things. Lying on the bosom of divine ladies in heaven, he eats tambflla. O best brahmana, O best man, he who gives knowledge, would, after securing Vishnu's proximity, stay (near him) for a couple of hundred yugas. Then, O best brahmana, having secured knowledge there, he obtains, through the grace of Lakshmi's lord, liberation, difficult to obtain. He who teaches a helpless, much afflicted brahmana, goes to Vishnu's abode, from which return (to this earth) is difficult to be had.

148-153. Even the best brahmana belonging to a noble family, does not shine without knowledge. Therefore, those who teach a brahmana, go to the highest position. A brahmana, to whom deities resort, is actually a god. The preceptor of all castes does not at all shine without knowledge. He who has taught a brahmana, has given (all) the gifts like gold, that are there in the world. O best brahmana, I (shall) tell you in brief the religious merit of that man who devoutly gives the gift of a book. For every letter that is there on every leaf of the book, he would get the fruit of giving a crore of tawny cows. The giver of the book would live in Vaikuntha for as many periods of Manu as the days twice-borns read that book.

1. Rajati — Jaratl seems to be the correct reading and not raj'atl which means 'whitish'.

154-160. O brahmana, there are many such gifts. Even in two hundred (months) who is in this world able to describe them correctly? All those sins like brahmanicide which are committed by men are destroyed (by gifts). Therefore, one should give gifts. The fruit of that gift is obtained as long as the material of the gift given by the three castes through their religious merit, exists. There is no doubt that a man obtains the religious merit, crore times more than the gift given to please Laksml's lord. O brahmana, therefore, an intelligent man should devoutly give a gift to please Vishnu. The wise have declared giving gifts to be superior even to penance. Therefore, a wise man should, even with an effort, give gifts. O brahmana, there is none like him in this world who does both — giving gifts and practising penance.

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