Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Vedas teach us to be generous! Bhikshu sUktam-- Rig Veda. 10th Mandala.117th sUkta. I have attempted a free translation of Bhikshu sUktam with due respect to veda. I sincerely apologize for any errors that might have crept in. ## na vA u devAH kSudhamid vadhaM dadurutAshitamupagachanti mRtyavaH uto rayiH pRNato nopa dasyatyutApRNanmarDitAraM na vindate The Gods have not imposed hunger to be a cause for death. Because even those who had a lavish meal are taken over by death. The wealth of the generous man is never depleted, while the one who doesn't donate, finds no one to console him ! ya AdhrAya cakamAnAya pitvo annavAn sanraphitAyopajagmuSe sthiraM manaH kRNute sevate purotocit sa marDitAraM na vindate A man who has food with him, but making his heart stone like, doesn't give to the needy who come to him begging, and indeed eats enjoying in front of them suffers finding no one even to console him ! sa id bhojo yo gRhave dadAtyannakAmAya carate kRshAya aramasmai bhavati yAmahUtA utAparISu kRNute sakhAyam He is considered Generous who immediately feeds the poor and needy who wander around in want of food. A lot many rewards are awaiting him. He befriends even his enemies! na sa sakhA yo na dadAti sakhye sacAbhuve sacamAnAyapitvaH apAsmAt preyAn na tadoko asti pRNantamanyamaraNaM cidicHet He is not a friend who doesn't give anything to his friend/companion/supporter who approaches him in need. His house is not a house. One has to go away from such a place immediately and should seek help from some other generous man. pRNIyAdin nAdhamAnAya tavyAn drAghIyAMsamanupashyeta panthAm o hi vartante rathyeva cakrAnyam anyamupa tiSThanta rAyaH The rich man must donate to the poor. With future insights, he has to choose brighter paths to raise his riches. Because, wealth always goes from one person to another just like the rolling wheels of a chariot. moghamannaM vindate apracetAH satyaM bravImi vadha it satasya nAryamaNaM puSyati no sakhAyaM kevalAgho bhavatikevalAdI A fool greedily earns his own food without giving to others. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, that food shall bring him destruction! He who neither gives to God nor friends and eats all by himself becomes a sinner! kRSannit phAla AshitaM kRNoti yannadhvAnamapa vRNktecaritraiH vadan brahmAvadato vanIyAn pRNannApirapRNantamabhi SyAt The plough produces food to the farmer. One who journeys to distant places earns riches through hard work. A brAhmaNa who explains the subtleties of sAStras is better than the one who is silent. A generous man should be warmhearted at the one who has nothing to give ! ekapAd bhUyo dvipado vi cakrame dvipAt tripAdamabhyetipashcAt catuSpAdeti dvipadAmabhisvare sampashyanpaNktIrupatiSThamAnaH He who has double the wealth of another travels faster. He lags behind the one who has three times more wealth. He who has four times more wealth treads easily through the paths which were left by the rest. samau cid dhastau na samaM viviSTaH sammAtarA cin nasamaM duhAte yamayoshcin na samA vIryANi jnAtI citsantau na samaM pRNItaH Both the hands are alike but their measure of work differs. No two cows born to the same mother give equal amount of milk. Even the twins do not possess equal strength. Born to the same parents, no two siblings are equally generous. !! Aum namO brahmavidbhyaH !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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