pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: सर्वयज्ञेषु वा दानं सर्वतीर्थेपु वाऽऽप्लुतम्। सर्वदानफलं वापि नैतत्तुल्यमहिंसया॥
English: Gifts made in all sacrifices, ablutions performed in all sacred waters, and the merit which one acquires from making all kinds of gifts mentioned in the scriptures all these do not equal abstention from cruelty in merit.
Sanskrit: अहिंस्रस्य तपोऽक्षय्यमहिंस्रो यजते सदा। अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतानां यथा माता यथा पिता॥
English: The penances of a man who abstains from cruelty are endless. The man who abstains from cruelty is considered as always perforining sacrifices. The man who abstains from cruelty is the father and mother of all creatures.
Sanskrit: एतत् फलमहिंसाया भूयश्च कुरुपुङ्गव। न हि शक्या गुणा वक्तुमपि वर्षशतैरपि॥
English: Even these, chief of Kuru's race, are some of the merits of abstention from cruelty. Altogether, the merits of it are so many that they are incapable of being exhausted even if one were to speak for a century.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच अकामाश्च सकामाश्च ये हताः स्म महामृधे। कां गतिं प्रतिपन्नास्ते तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said Wishing to die and wishing to live many persons surrender their lives in the great sacrifice (of battle). Tell me O grandfather what is the end that these attain to.
Sanskrit: दुःखं प्राणपरित्यागः पुरुषाणां महामृधे। जानासि त्वं महाप्राज्ञ प्राणत्यागं सुदुष्करम्॥ समृद्धौ वासमृद्धौ वा शुभे वा यदि वाऽशुभे। कारणं तत्र में ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञो ह्यसि मे मतः॥
English: To give up life in battle is fraught with sorrow for men. O you of great wisdom you know that to give up life if difficult for men whether they are rich or poor or are in happiness or misery. In my opinion you are gifted with omniscience. Do you tell me the reason of this.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच समृद्धौ वासमृद्धौ वा शुभे वा यदि वाऽशुभे। संसारेऽस्मिन् समायाताः प्राणिनः पृथिवीपते॥
English: Bhishma said In prosperity or adversity in weal or woe, living creatures, O king, coming into this world, live according to a particular method.
Sanskrit: निरता येन भावेन तत्र मे शृणु कारणम्। सम्यक् चायमनुप्रश्नस्त्वयोक्तस्तु युधिष्ठिर॥
English: Listen to me as I explain the reason to you. The question you have put to me is indeed, excellent, O Yudhishthira!
Sanskrit: अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तमिदं नृप। द्वैपायनस्य संवादं कीटस्य च युधिष्ठिर॥
English: Regarding it, О king, I shall explain to you the old discourse that took place formerly between the Dvaipayana Rishi and a crawling worm.
Sanskrit: ब्रह्मभूतश्चरन् विप्रः कृष्णद्वैपायन: पुरा। ददर्श कीटं धावन्तं शीघ्रं शकटवर्त्मनि॥
English: Formerly when that learned Brahmana, viz., the Krishna Dvaipayana having identified himself with Brahma, roamed over the world, he saw on a road over which cars used to pass a worm moving quickly.
Sanskrit: गतिज्ञः सर्वभूतानां भाषाज्ञश्च शरीरिणाम्। सर्वज्ञः स तदा दृष्ट्वा कीटं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
English: The Rishi knew the of every creature and the language of every animal, Gifted with omniscience, he addressed the worm he saw in these words. course
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच कीटसंत्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे। क्व धावसि तदाचक्ष्व कुतस्ते भयमागतम्॥
English: Vyasa said O worm, you appear to be greatly alarmed and to be in great haste. Tell me, where do you run and whence have you been afraid?
Sanskrit: कीट उवाच शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयं मम। आगतं वै महाबुद्धे स्वन एष हि दारुणः॥
English: The worm said I am stricken with fear on hearing the rattle of that large car. O you of great intelligence, it makes a fearful roar. It is almost come.
Sanskrit: श्रूयते न च मां हन्यादिति ह्यस्मादपक्रमे। श्वसतां च शृणोम्येनं गोपुत्राणां प्रतोद्यताम्॥
English: The sound is heard. Will it not kill me? I am flying away for this, I hear the sound of the bulls.
Sanskrit: वहतां सुमहाभारं संनिकर्षे स्वनं प्रभो। नृणां च संवाहयतां श्रूयते विविधः स्वनः॥
English: They are breathing hard under the whip of the driver, as they are carrying the heavy load. I hear also the various sound made by the men who are driving the bulls.
Sanskrit: श्रोतुमस्मद्विधनैष न शक्यः कीटयोनिना। तस्मादतिक्रमाम्येष भयादस्मात् सुदारुणात्॥
English: Creatures which like us are born as worms, cannot bear such sounds. It is therefore that I am flying from this situation of great fright.
Sanskrit: दुःखं हि मृत्युर्भूतानां जीवितं च सुदुर्लभम्। अतो भीत: पलायामि गच्छेयं नासुख सुखात्॥
English: Death is considered by all creatures as painful. Life is an acquisition difficult to make. Hence, I fly away in fear, I do not wish to pass from a state of weal to one of woe.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु तं प्राह कुत: कीट सुखं तव। मरणं ते सुखं मन्ये तिर्यग्योनौ तु वर्तसे॥
English: Bhishma said O worm, whence can be your happiness? You belong to the intermediate order of being. I think death would be of happiness to you.
Sanskrit: शब्दं स्पर्श रस गन्धं भोगांश्चोच्चवचान् बहून्। नाभिजानासि कीट त्वं श्रेयो मरणमेव ते॥
English: Sound touch, taste, scent, and various kinds of excellent enjoyments are unknown to you, O worm! I think death will prove a benefit to you.
Sanskrit: कीट उवाच सर्वत्र निरतो जीव इतश्चापि सुखं मम। चिन्तयामि महाप्राज्ञ तस्मादिच्छामि जीवितुम्॥
English: The Worm said A living creature however circumstanced he may be becomes attached to it. In even this order of being I am happy, I think, O you of great wisdom! It is for this that I wish to live.
Sanskrit: इहापि विषयः सर्वो यथादेहं प्रवर्तितः। मानुषाः स्थैर्यजाश्चैव पृथग्भोगा विशेषतः॥
English: In this condition every object of enjoyment exists for me according to the necessity of my body. Human beings and those creatures which originate from immobile objects have different enjoyments.
Sanskrit: अहमासं मनुष्यो वै शूद्रो बहुधनः प्रभो। अब्रह्मण्यो नृशसंश्च कदर्यो वृद्धिजीवनः॥
English: In my former life I was a human being. O powerful one, I was a wealthy Shudra. I was not devoted to the Brahmanas. I was cruel, vile in conduct, and a usurer.
Sanskrit: वाक्तीक्ष्णो निकृतिप्रज्ञो द्वेष्टा विश्वस्य सर्वशः। मिथ्याकृतोऽपि विधिना परस्वहरणे रतः॥
English: I was harsh in speech. I considered cunning as wisdom. I hated all creatures. Taking advantage of pretexts in agreements made between myself and others I used always to take away what belonged to others.
Sanskrit: भृत्यातिथिजनश्चापि गृहे पर्यशितो मया। मात्सर्यात् स्वादुकामेन नृशंसेन बुभुक्षता॥
English: Without feeding servants and guests arrived at my house, I used to fill, when hungry, my own stomach, proud, covetous of good food, cruel as I was.
Sanskrit: देवार्थं पितृयज्ञार्थमन्नं श्रद्धाऽऽहतं मया। न दत्तमर्थकामेन देयमन्नं पुरा किल॥
English: Greedy as I was of riches, I never dedicated, with faith and respect any food to the celestials and the departed Manes, although duty required me to dedicate food to them.
Sanskrit: गुप्तं शरणमाश्रित्य भयेषु शरणागताः। अकस्मात् ते मया त्यक्ता न त्राता अभयैषिणः॥
English: Those men who moved by fear, came to me, for seeking my help, I sent adrift without giving them any protection. I did not extend my help to those who came to me with prayers for removing their fear.
Sanskrit: धनं धान्यं प्रियान् दारान् यानं वासस्तथाद्भुतम्। श्रियं दृष्ट्वा मनुष्याणामसूयामि निरर्थकम्॥
English: I used to feel unreasonable envy at seeing other people's riches and corn, and wives held dear by them, and articles of drink, and good palaces.
Sanskrit: ईष्र्युः परसुखं दृष्ट्वा अन्यस्य च बुभूषकः। त्रिवर्गहन्ता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्तकः॥
English: Seeing the happiness of other I was filled with envy and I always wished them poverty. Acting thus which promised to crown my own wishes with fruition, I sought to destroy the virtue, riches, and pleasures of other people.
Sanskrit: नृशंसगुणभूयिष्ठं पुरा कर्म कृतं मया। स्मृत्वा तदनुतप्येऽहं हित्वा प्रियमिवात्मजम्॥
English: In that past life of mine, I committed various deeds moved by cruelty and such other passions. Recollecting those deeds I am filled with repentance and grief, as one is filled with grief at the loss of his dear son.
Sanskrit: शुभानां नाभिजानामि कृतानां कर्मणां फलम्। माता च पूजिता वृद्धा ब्राह्मणश्चार्चितो मया।॥
English: On account of those deeds of mine, I do not know what the fruits are of good deeds. I, however, adored my old mother and on one occasion adored a Brahmana.
Sanskrit: सकृज्जातिगुणोपेतः सङ्गत्या गृहमागतः। अतिथिः पूजितो ब्रह्मस्तेन मां नाजहात् स्मृतिः॥
English: Gifted with birth and accomplishments, that Brahmana, while travelling, came to my house once as a guest. I received him with respectful hospitality. One account of the merit of that deed my memory has not forsaken me.
Sanskrit: कर्मणा पुनरेवाहं सुखमागामि लक्षये। तच्छ्रोतुमहमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रेयस्तपोधन॥
English: I think that on account of that deed, I shall once more succeed in regaining happiness. O you having asceticism for wealth you know everything, Tell me please what is for my behoof.
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच शुभेन कर्मणा यद्वै तिर्यग्योनौ न मुह्यसे। ममैव कीट तत् कर्म येन त्वं न प्रमुह्यसे॥
English: Vyasa said On account of a meritorious deed, Oworm, that you, though born in the intermediate order of being are not stupefied. For a deed of mine, Oworm you are not stupefied.
Sanskrit: अहं त्वां दर्शनादेव तारयामि तपोबलात्। तपोबलाद्धि बलवद् बलमन्यन्न विद्यते॥
English: On account of the power of my penances, I am able to rescue a being of sin by granting him sight only of my body. There is no stronger power than that of penances.
Sanskrit: जानामि पापैः स्वकृतैर्गतं त्वां कीट कीटताम्। अवाप्स्यसि पुनर्धर्मं धर्मं तु यदि मन्यसे॥
English: I know, O worm that you have taken birth in the order of worms through the evil deeds of your past life. If, however, you think of acquiring virtue and inerit, you may again attain to it.
Sanskrit: कर्म भूमिकृतं देवा भुञ्जते तिर्यगाश्च ये। धर्मोऽपि हि मनुष्येषु कामार्थश्च तथा गुणाः॥
English: Deities as well as beings crowned with ascetic success, enjoy suffer the consequence of deeds done by them in this field of action. Men perform acts of merit from desire of fruit. The very accomplishinents that one seeks to acquire are sought from desire of the happiness they will produce.
Sanskrit: वाग्बुद्धिपाणिपादैश्च व्यपेतस्य विपश्चितः। किं हास्यति मनुष्यस्य मन्दस्यापि हि जीवतः॥
English: Learned or ignorant (in a previous existence) the creature that is in this life, shorn of speech and understanding and hands and feet, is really shorn of everything. or
Sanskrit: जीवन् हि कुरुते पूजां विप्राय: शशिसूर्ययोः। ब्रुवन्नपि कथां पुण्यां तत्र कीट त्वमेष्यसि॥
English: He who becomes a superior Brahmana worships while alive, the deities of the sun and the moon, uttering various sacred Mantras. O worm, you will come by that state of existence.
Sanskrit: गुणभूतानि भूतानि तत्र त्वमुपभोक्ष्यसे। तत्र तेऽहं विनेष्यामि ब्रह्म त्वं यत्र वैष्यसि॥
English: Acquiring that status you will enjoy all the clements converted into articles of enjoyinent. When you have acquired that state, I shall impart to you Brahma. Or, if you wish, I may place you in any other status.
Sanskrit: स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटो वर्त्मन्यतिष्ठत। शकटो व्रजंश्च सुमहानागतश्च यदृच्छया॥
English: Agreeing to the words of Vyasa, the worm did not leave the road, but remained on it. Meanwhile, the large car which was coming ini that direction came there.
Sanskrit: चक्राक्रमेण भिन्नश्च कीट: प्राणान् मुमोच हा सम्भूतः क्षत्रियकुले प्रसादादमितौजसः॥ तमृषि द्रष्टुमगमत् सर्वास्वन्यासु योनिषु। वाविन्द्रोधावरहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्॥ वपाकशूद्रवैश्यानां क्षत्रियाणां च योनिषु। एवमाभाष्य ऋषिणा सत्यवादिना। प्रतिस्मृत्याथ जग्राह पादौ मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः॥
English: Torn to pieces by the assault of the wheels, the worm died. Born at last in the Kshatriya order through the grace of Vyasa of immeasurable power, he proceeded to see the great Rishi. He had, before becoming a Kshatriya, to pass through various orders of birth, such as hedgehog and Iguana and boar and dcer and bird, and Chandala and Shudra and Vaishya. Having given and account of his various changes to the truth-telling Rishi, and remembering the Rishi's kindness for him, the worm (now with joined hands fell at the Rishi's feet and touched them with his head.
Sanskrit: कीट उवाच इदं तदतुलं स्थानमीप्सितं दशभिर्गुणैः। यदहं प्राप्य कीटत्वमागतो राजपुत्रताम्॥ स कीट
English: The Worm said My present status is that great one which is coveted by all and which only persons having ten well known attribute, can get. Indeed, I who was formerly a worm have thus acquired the status of a prince.
Sanskrit: वहन्ति मामतिबला: कुञ्जरा हेममालिनः। स्यन्दनेषु च काम्बोजा युक्ताः परमवाजिनः॥
English: Elephants of great strength, decked with golden chains, carry me on their backs. To my cars are yoked Kamboja horses of High mettle.
Sanskrit: उष्ट्राश्वतरयुक्तानि यानानि च वहन्ति माम्। सबान्धवः सहामात्यश्चाश्नामि पिशितौदनम्॥
English: Numerous cars to which are attached camels and mules bear me. With all my relatives and friends I now eat food rich with meat.
Sanskrit: गृहेषु स्वनिवासेषु सुखेषु शयनेषु च। वराहेषु महाभाग स्वपामि च सुपूजितः॥
English: Adored by all, I sleep, O highly blessed one on rich beds in charming rooms to which disagreeable winds cannot blow.
Sanskrit: सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु सूतमागधबन्दिनः। स्तुवन्ति मां यथा देवा महेन्द्रं प्रियवादिनः॥
English: Towards the dawn bards and encomiasts sing my praises even as the deities utter the agreeable praises of Indra their chief.
Sanskrit: प्रसादात् सत्यसंधस्य भवतोऽमिततेजसः। यदहं कीटतां प्राप्य सम्प्राप्तो राजपुत्रताम्॥
English: Through your favour who are firm in truth and gifted with immeasurable energy, I who was before a worin have now become a Kshatriya.
Sanskrit: नमस्तेऽस्तु महाप्राज्ञ किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्। त्वत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं ह्यधिगतं मया॥
English: I bow my head to you, O you of great wisdom. Do you command me as to what I should now do. Ordained by the power of your penances, I have come by this position.
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच अर्चितोऽहं त्वया राजन् वाग्भिरद्य यदृच्छया। अद्य ते कीटतां प्राप्य स्मृतिर्जाता जुगुप्सिता॥
English: Vyasa said I have today been adored by you, O king, with various words expressive of respect. Changed into a worm your memory had become clouded. That memory has again appeared.
Sanskrit: न तु नाशोऽस्ति पापस्य यस्त्वयोपचितः पुरा। शूद्रेणार्थप्रधानेन नृशंसेनाततायिना॥
English: The sin you had committed in a pristine life, has not yet been dissipated that sin viz., which was acquired by you while you were a Shudra covetous of riches and cruel in conduct and hostile to the Brahmanas.
Sanskrit: मम ते दर्शनं प्राप्तं तच्च वै सुकृतं त्वया। तिर्यग्योनौ स्म जातेन मम चाभ्यर्चनात् तथा॥ इतस्त्वं राजपुत्रत्वाद् ब्राह्मण्यं समवाप्स्यसि। गोब्राह्मणकृते प्राणान् हुत्वाऽऽत्मानं रणाजिरे॥
English: You were able to obtain a sight of my body. That was an act of merit to you while you were a worm. On account of your having saluted and worshipped me, you shall rise higher for, from the Kshatriya order you shall rise to the status of a Brahinana, if only you die on the field of battle for the sake of kine or Brahmanas.
Sanskrit: राजपुत्र सुखं प्राप्य क्रतूंश्चैवाप्तदक्षिणान्। अथ मोदिष्यसे स्वर्गे ब्रह्मभूतोऽव्ययः सुखी॥
English: O prince, enjoying much happiness and celebrating many sacrifices with profuse presents, you shall attain to Heaven and, changed into eternal Brahma, you shall enjoy perfect beatitude.
Sanskrit: तिर्यग्योन्याः शूद्रतामभ्युपैति शूद्रो वैश्यं क्षत्रियत्वं च वैश्यः। वृत्तश्लाघी क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणत्वं स्वर्ग पुण्यं ब्राह्मणः साधुवृत्तः॥
English: Those who take birth in the intermediate order become Shudras. The Shudra rises to the status of the Vaishya; and the Vaishya to that of the Kshatriya. The charge of the duties of his caste succeeds in acquiring the status of a Brahmana. The Brahmana, by following a righteous conduct, acquires Heaven which is full of happiness.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच क्षत्रधर्ममनुप्राप्तः स्मरन्नेव च वीर्यवान्। त्यक्त्वा स कीटतां राजंश्चचार विपुलं तपः॥
English: Bhishma said Having renounced the status of a worm and taken birth as a Kshatriya of great energy, the person remembering his previous changes, O monarch began to practise severe austerities.
Sanskrit: तस्य धर्मार्थविदुषो दृष्ट्वा तद् विपुलं तपः। आजगाम द्विजश्रेष्ठः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा॥
English: Seeing those severe austerities of the Kshatriya who was well conversant with religion and Profit, Krishna Dvaipayana, that foremost of Brahmanas, went to him.
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच क्षानं देवव्रतं कीट भूतानां परिपालनम्। क्षात्रं देवव्रतं व्यायंस्ततो विप्रत्वमेष्यसि॥
English: Vyasa said The penances, O worm, of the Kshatriyas consist of the protection of all creatures. Consider these duties of the Kshatriya to be the penances laid down for you. You shall come by the status of a Brahmana.
Sanskrit: पाहि सर्वाः प्रजाः सम्यक् शुभाशुभविदात्मवान्। शुभैः संविभजन् कामैरशुभानां च पावनैः॥
English: Ascertaining what is right and what is wrong, and purifying your soul, do you duly cherish and protect all creatures, judiciously satisfying all good desires and correcting all that is unholy.
Sanskrit: आत्मवान् भव सुप्रीतः स्वधर्माचरणे रतः। क्षात्री तनुं समुत्सृज्य ततो विप्रत्वमेष्यसि॥
English: Be you of purified soul, be contented and be devoted to the practice of virtue. Acting thus, you will then, when you die, become a Brahmana.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच सोऽप्यवरण्यमनुप्राप्य पुनरेव युधिष्ठिर। महर्षेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रजा धर्मेण पाल्य च॥
English: Bhishma said Although he had retired into the forest yet, O Yudhishthira, having heard the words of the great Rishi, he began to cherish and protect his subjects righteously.
Sanskrit: अचिरेणैव कालेन कीट: पार्थिवसत्तम। प्रजापालनधर्मेण प्रेत्य विप्रत्वमागतः॥
English: Soon O best of kings, that worm, on account of the duty of protecting his subjects became a Brahmana after renouncing his Kshatriya body.
Sanskrit: ततस्तं ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा पुनरेव महायशाः। आजगाम महाप्राज्ञः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा॥
English: Secing him changed into a Brahmana, the celebrated Rishi,viz.,. Krishna Dvaipayana of great wisdom came to him.
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच भो भो ब्रह्मर्षभ श्रीमन् मा व्यथिष्ठाः कथंचन। शुभकृच्छुभयोनीषु पापकृत् पापयोनिषु॥ उपपद्यति धर्मज्ञ यथापापफलोपगम्।
English: Vyasa said ochief of Brahmanas, O blessed one, be not troubled. He who acts piously, comes by a respectable birth. He on the other hand, who acts impiously comes by a low and vile birth. O you who are conversant with virtue, one attains to misery according to the measure of his sin.
Sanskrit: तस्मान्मृत्युभयात् कीट मा व्यथिष्ठाः कथंचन।॥ धर्मलोपभयं ते स्यात् तस्माद् धर्मं चरोत्तमम्।
English: Therefore, O worm do not be troubled through fear of death. The only fear you should entertain is about the loss of virtue. Do you therefore, go on practising virtue.
Sanskrit: कीट उवाच सुखात् सुखतरं प्राप्तो भगवंस्त्वत्कृते ह्यहम्॥ धर्ममूलां श्रियं प्राप्य पाप्मा नष्ट इहाद्य मे।
English: The Worm said Through your favour, O Holy one, I have attained from happy to happier positions! Having obtained such prosperity as is established in virtue, I think my demerits have been lost.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच भगवद्वचनात् कीटो ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्॥ अकरोत् पृथिवीं राजन् यज्ञयूपशताङ्किताम्।
English: Bhishma said The worin having at the command of the holy Rishi acquired the status of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain, caused the Earth to be marked with a thousand sacrificial stakes.
Sanskrit: ततः सालोक्यमगमद ब्रह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तमः॥ अवाप च पदं कीटः पार्थ ब्रह्म सनातनम्। स्वकर्मफलनिर्वृत्तं व्यासस्य वचनात् तदा॥
English: That foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma then gained a residence in the region of Brahman himself. Indeed, O son of Pritha, the worm acquired the highest status viz. that of eternal Brahma as the result of his own deeds done according to the counsels of Vyasa.
Sanskrit: तेऽपि यस्मात् प्रभावेण हताः क्षत्रियपुङ्गवाः। सम्प्राप्तास्ते गतिं पुण्यां तस्मान्मा शोच पुत्रक॥
English: Those foremost of Kshatriyas, also, who have renounced their lifebreaths, exerting their energy all the while have all acquired a meritorious end. Therefore, O king, do not mourn on their account.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच विद्या तपश्च दानं च किमेतेषां विशिष्यते। पृच्छामि त्वां सतां श्रेष्ठ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said Which amongst these three is superior, viz.,. knowledge, Penances, and Gifts? I ask foremost of pious men. Tell me this, O grandfather.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। मैत्रेयस्य च संवादं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्य च।॥
English: Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old conversation between Maitreya and Krishna Dvaipayana.
Sanskrit: कृष्णद्वैपायनो राजन्नज्ञातचरितं चरन्। वाराणस्यामुपातिष्ठन्मैत्रेयं स्वैरिणीकुले॥
English: Once on a time Krishna Dvaipayana, O king, while wandering over the world in disguisc, proceeded to Varanasi and waited tipon Maitreya who belonged by birth to a race of ascetics.
Sanskrit: तमुपस्थितमासीनं ज्ञात्वा स मुनिसत्तम। अर्चित्वा भोजयामास मैत्रेयोऽशनमुत्तमम्॥
English: Seeing Vyasa arrive, that foremost of Rishis viz., Maitreya, gave him a seat and after adoring him with due rites, entertained him with excellent food.
Sanskrit: तदन्नमुत्तमं भुक्त्वा गुणवत् सार्वकामिकम्। प्रतिष्ठमानोस्मयत प्रीतः कृष्णो महामनाः॥
English: Having eaten that good food which was very wholesome and which gave every kind of ratification the great Krishna become highly pleased and as he sat there, he even laughed aloud.
Sanskrit: तमुत्स्मयन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मैत्रेयः कृष्णमब्रवीत्। कारणं ब्रूहि धर्मात्मन् व्यस्मयिष्ठाः कुतश्च ते॥
English: Seeing Krishna laugh, Maitreya addressed him. saying Tell me, O Righteous souled one, what the reason is of your laughter! You are an ascetic, gifted with power to control your emotions. Great joy, it appears has come over yoll.
Sanskrit: तपस्विनो धृतिमतः प्रमोदः समुपागतः। एतत् पृच्छामि ते विद्वन्नभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च॥
English: Saluting you and adoring you with bent head, I ask you this viz., what the power is of my penances and what the high blessedness is that is yours.
Sanskrit: आत्मनश्च तपोभाग्यं महाभाग्यं तवेह च। पृथगाचरतस्तात पृथगात्मसुखात्मनोः। अल्पान्तरमहं मन्ये विशिष्टमपि चान्वयात्॥
English: The acts I do are different from those of yours. You are already emancipated though alive. I however am not yet freed. For all that, I think that there is not much difference between you and me. I am, again distinguished by birth.
Sanskrit: व्यास उवाच अतिच्छन्दातिवादाभ्यां स्मयोऽयं समुपागतः। असत्यं वेदवचनं कस्माद् वेदोऽनृतं वेदत्॥
English: Vyasa said This wonder that has filled me, has originated from an ordinance which appears like a hyperbole for the comprehension of the people. The declaration of the Vedas seems to be untrue. But why should the Vedas say an untruth?
Sanskrit: त्रीण्येव तु पदान्याहुः पुरुषस्योत्तमं व्रतम्। न दुह्येच्चैव दद्याच्च सत्यं चैव परं वदेत्॥
English: It has been said that there are three roads which form the best vows of a man. One should never injure; one should always tell the truth; and one should make gift.
Sanskrit: इति वेदोक्तमृषिभिः पुरस्तात् परिकल्पितम्। इदानीं चैव नः कृत्यं पुरस्ताच्च परिश्रुतम्॥
English: The Rishis of old said this, following the ordinances laid down in the Vedas. These injunctions of yore, should certainly be followed by us even in our times.
Sanskrit: अल्पोऽपि तादृशो दायो भवत्युत महाफलः। तृषिताय च ते दत्तं हृदयेनानसूयता॥
English: Even a small gift, made under the circumstances laid down, yields great fruits. You have given a little water with a sincere heart to a thirsty man.
Sanskrit: तृषितस्तृषिताय त्वं दत्त्वैतद् दर्शनं मम। अजैषीमहतो लोकान् महायज्ञैरिव प्रभो॥
English: Yourself thirsty and hungry, you have by giving me such food, conquered many high regions of happiness, O powerful one, as one does by many sacrifices.
Sanskrit: ततो दानपवित्रेण प्रीतोऽस्मि तपसैव च। पुण्यस्यैव हि ते सत्त्वं पुण्यस्यैव च दर्शनम्॥
English: I am greatly delighted with your very sacred gift as also with your penances. Your power is that of virtue. Your appearance is that of virtue.
Sanskrit: पुण्यस्यैवाभिगन्धस्ते मन्ये कर्मविधानजम्। अधिकं मार्जनात् तात तथा चैवानुलेपनात्॥ शुभं सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं द्विजा नो चेत् सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं भवेत्॥
English: The fragrance of virtue, is about you. I think that all your acts are performed according to the ordinance. O son, gift is superior to ablutions in sacred waters and to the accomplishment of all Vedic vows. Indeed, O Brahmana, gift is inore auspicious than all religious rites. If it be not more meritorious than all religious rites, there can be no question about its superiority.