Chapter 3 - Charitable Gifts (Continued)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The last chapter discussed the meritorious nature of charitable gifts of food, water, shelter and other amenities which relieve the oppressive heat of Vaiśākha. This chapter describes the importance of the gift of a cot, bedstead (vv 1-13a), mats, blankets (vv 13b-18) and other things helping to minimise the heat-effects of Vaiśākha.

Nārada said:

1-6. If a person gives a cot to an excellent Brāhmaṇa where he lies (can lie) down happily and comfortably enjoying the cool breeze, that person attains freedom from all ailments in his body that is a means to achieve Dharma.

By giving it he gets rid of all distress and becomes free from sins. He attains the state of unbroken (bliss) which is very difficult, for even Yogins to attain.

After giving very excellent cot that dispels weariness, to the Brāhmaṇas tired and distressed due to the heat (of the sun) in the month of Vaiśākha, O lord of men, one never languishes in the world on account of births, deaths, old age etc.

If a Brāhmaṇa accepts a cot and lies down on it all through his life, all the sins (of the donor) whether committed knowingly or unknowingly perish, O great king, like camphor in contact with fire. That man certainly attains absorption in Brahman if the Brāhmaṇa lies on it.

7-10a. If a person gives food and clothing in the month of Vaiśākha (in) which Hari likes the holy bath, that person will be endowed with all kinds of worldly pleasures in that very birth. Along with his family he certainly remains unafflicted with ailments etc. He obtains longevity, very sound health, fame and fortitude. Till a hundred generations are over, no unrighteous person is born in his family. He will die only after enjoying all worldly pleasures. After getting rid of all sins, he attains salvation.

10b-13a. If a person gives to a prominent Brāhmaṇa well-versed in the Vedas, a pillow without which no man can sleep happily anywhere, he shall enjoy a kingdom on the earth after becoming the supporter of all. Again and again he will enjoy all pleasures and will be devoted to virtue. For seven births, O great king, he will be all-conqueror. Thereafter, he becomes competent to go to the world of Brahmā accompanied by the members of his family up to seven generations.

13b-15. If a person gives a grass-mat or any other kind of mat, Viṣṇu himself shall lie down there. Parameśvara will stay there. Just as wool soaked in water is not broken or ruffled by the water, so also that person living in the mundane world is not bound to the worldly existence. The person who gives a mat is in every respect happy while engaged in sitting or lying down on it (?).

16. If a person offers shelter (like a caravanserai) and gives a mat and a blanket for the purpose of lying down, he shall become liberated by that much alone. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

17. Misery is dispelled by means of sleep. Fatigue is dispelled by means of sleep. The sleep of a person lying on a mat becomes sound and happy surely.

18. O king, he who gives a blanket in the month of Vaiśākha at the advent of the spring season shall become free from premature or accidental death. He will live for a hundred (years).

19. He who gives clothes of fine texture to a good Brāhmaṇa afflicted with heat, shall attain full span of life and the highest goal hereafter.

20. By giving excellent camphor that dispels internal heat, to a Brāhmaṇa, one attains salvation. His miseries are all over.

21. He who gives flowers and saffron to a Brāhmaṇa, shall become an emperor, a ruler who will win over all the peoples.

22-24a. He shall enjoy all worldly pleasures with sons, grandsons etc. and shall attain salvation.

Sandalpaste dispels instantaneously heat and distress of skin and bones. By giving it (sandal-paste) one shall be free from the threefold distress and shall attain salvation.

He who gives the different kinds of unguents, viz. Auśīra^[1], Cāṣaka (?) and Kauśa (?) rendered fragrant by the addition of water, shall have the assistance of Devas, O great king, in (the enjoyment of) worldly pleasures.

24b-25. His sins will be destroyed and miseries will disappear. He shall attain the supreme bliss of salvation. If the devotee conversant with the religious duties in the month of Vaiśākha gives Goroca (yellow orpiment) and musk, he shall be rid of the threefold distress. He shall attain the greatest bliss of salvation.

26. He who gives betel leaves with camphor when the Sun is in Aries, shall share the happiness of an emperor and then attain the highest bliss of salvation.

27. A man who gives blue lotus and jasmine in the month of Meṣa becomes an emperor. Afterwards he attains salvation.

28. He who gives Ketakī or Mallikā at the time of the advent of vernal season shall attain salvation at the behest of the Slayer of Madhu.

29. Listen to the fruit or reward enjoyed by that person, O king, who does the good work of giving arecanuts, coconuts and sweet scents to a Brāhmaṇa.

30. For seven births he shall be a Brāhmaṇa endowed with wealth. He shall be a master of the Vedas. Afterwards, accompanied by seven generations of his family, he shall go to the world of Viṣṇu.

31. O king, I am unable to recount the fruit enjoyed by that person who erects a pavilion for rest and recreation and gives it to a Brāhmaṇa.

32. He who makes a pavilion with good shade, with sand scattered properly and endued with a Prapā (shed for free supply of water) shall become ruler of the world.

33. He who makes parks along the highways, digs lakes and wells, and erects pavilion, is a righteous-souled one. Of what use are sons to him?

34-36. Santāna (progeny) is proclaimed to be of seven types: a well, a lake, a park, a pavilion, Prapā, performing holy rites and a son. If at least one of these is not present, men do not go up (to heaven).

Excellent men conversant with everything know that these seven are to be known as Santāna (progeny): listening to good holy texts, pilgrimage to Tīrthas, association with good people, gift of water, gift of cooked food, planting the seedlings of Aśvattha (holy fig tree) and a son.

37. One without Santāna cannot attain higher worlds, though he may perform hundreds of holy rites. Hence one shall seek Santāna. He should go in for one among the Santānas.

38-40. None among animals, birds, deer and trees goes easily to the higher world. How can we expect it from human beings!

If one gives excellent betel leaves along with arecanuts, camphor and agallochum, one is liberated from all bodily sins. There is no doubt about it. The person who gives Tāṃbūla (collection of all the above) certainly obtains fame, courage and glory.

41-46. If a sick man gives it, he shall be free from illness. A healthy man who gives it shall attain salvation.

He who gives buttermilk that is destructive of heat and distress in the month of Vaiśākha, becomes learned and wealthy on the earth.

There is no other gift on a par with that of buttermilk in summer season. Hence buttermilk should be given to a Brāhmaṇa weary on the way.

He who gives buttermilk mixed with the excellent juice of Jaṃbīra (citron fruit) and fine salt which removes loss of appetite, shall attain salvation.

O king, I am not capable of recounting the fruit enjoyed by that person who gives curds in the month of Vaiśākha for quelling heat.

He who gives excellent rice (in the month of Vaiśākha) that is a favourite of Viṣṇu, shall obtain full span of life. He shall obtain the fruit of all Yajñas.

He who gives ghee from cow’s milk which is a form of Tejas (fire element), to a Brāhmaṇa, obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice and rejoices in the world of Viṣṇu.

47. (He who gives) a mixture of tender cucumber and jaggery in the month of Vaiśākha when the Sun is in Aries, shall be rid of all sins and certainly live in Śvetadvīpa.

48. Infinite is the merit of that person who gives a Brāhmaṇa a sugarcane stump in the evening or during the day, for the sake of cessation (cooling) of heat and distress.

49. By giving Pānaka (mixture of water and treacle) in the evening in the month of Vaiśākha for alleviating fatigue, one shall be rid of all sins. He shall obtain Sāyujya with Viṣṇu.

50. One should give Pānaka along with fruits in the evening in the month of Meṣa to a Brāhmaṇa. Thereby the Pitṛs shall have a drink of nectar undoubtedly.

51. If anyone gives Pānaka mixed with fully ripe mango fruits in the month of Vaiśākha, all his sins shall certainly perish.

52. If anyone gives a (big) pot full of Pānaka juice on the new-moon day in the month of Caitra, undoubtedly a hundred Gayāśrāddhas have been performed by him.

53. On the new-moon day in the month of Caitra, a man should give on behalf of the manes, a potful of Pānaka mixed with musk, camphor, jasmine and the fragrant root of the plant Andropogon muricatus. It is as good as offering ninety-six Śrāddhas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Prepared from the roots of Andropogon muricatus.