Anushasanika Parva — The rewards of the planting of trees and the digging of tanks

Yudhishthira said I wish, O Bharata, chief to hear from you what the rewards are, O best of the Kurus, of the planting of trees and the digging of tanks.

Bhishma said A piece of land on a best sight, fertile, situate in the midst of charming adorned with various kinds of metals, and inhabited by all sorts of creatures, Is considered as the foremost of spots.

A particular portion of such land should be chosen for digging a tank. I shall tell you, in due order, the different kinds of tanks. I shall also tell you what kinds of tanks. I shall also tell you what the merits also are of the digging of tanks.

The man who causes a tank to be dug becomes entitled to the respect and adoration of the three worlds.

A tank full of water is as agreeable and beneficial as the house of a friend. It is gratifying to the Sun himself. It also helps the growth of the celestials. It is the foremost of all things that lead to fame.

The wise have said that the excavation of a tank brings on Virtue, Profit and Pleasure. A tank is said to be properly excavated, if it is made on a piece of land that is inhabited by respectable persons. A tank is said to be necessary for all the four purposes of living creatures. Thanks, again, are considered as forming the excellent beauty of a country.

The celestials, human beings, Gandharvas. Departed Manes Uragas, Rakshasas, and even immobile beings, all resort to a tank full of water as their refuge.

I shall, therefore, recite to you the merits attached to tanks as described by great Rishis, and the rewards in store for persons who cause them to be excavated.

The wise have said that man acquires the merit of an Agnihotra sacrifice in whose tank water is held in the season of rains.

The high reward in the world that is reaped by the person who makes a gift of a thousand kine is acquired by that man in whose tank water is held in the season of autumn.

That person in whose tank water lics in the cold season acquires the merit of the wight who performs a sacrifice with profuse gifts of gold.

That person in whose tank water lies in the season of dew, acquires, the wise have said, the merits of an Agnishtoma sacrifice.

That man in whose wellmade tank water lies in the season of spring, acquires the merit of the Atiratra sacrifice.

That man in whose tank water lies in the season of summer, wins, the Rishi say, the merits of a horsesacrifice.

That man rescues his whole race in whose tank kine are seen to satisfy their thirst and from which pious men draw their water.

That man in whose tank kine satisfy their thirst as also other animals and birds, and human being, gains the merits of of a horsesacrifice.

Whatever quantity of water is drunk from one's tank and whatever quantity is taken therefrom by others for purposes of bathing, all become stored for the benefit of the excavater of the tank and he enjoys the same eternally in the next world.

Water, especially in the other world, is difficult to get, O son. A gift of drink yields eternal happiness.

Make gifts of sesame here. Make gifts of water. Do you also give lamps. While alive and awake, do you sport happily with kinsmen. These are acts which you shall not be able to achieve in the other world.

The gift of drink, O chief of men, is superior to every other gift. In point of merit, it is superior to all other gifts. Therefore, do you make gifts of water.

Thus have the Rishis described the high merits of the excavation of tanks, I shall now describe to you the planting of trees.

Of immobile objects, six classes have been spoken. They are Vrikshas, Gulmas, Latas, Vallis, Tvaksaras, and Trinas of diverse kinds.

These are the several kinds of vegetables. Listen now to the merit of their planting, By planting trees one acquires fame in the world of men and auspicious rewards in the next world.

Such a man is applauded and respected in the world of the Departed Manes. Such a man's name does not die even when he goes to live in the world of celestials.

The man who plants trees rescues the ancestors and descendants of both his paternal and maternal lines. Do you, therefore, plant trees, O Yudhishthira.

The trees that a man plants become the planter's children. There is no doubt in this, Departing from this world, such a man goes to the celestial region, Indeed, he enjoys many cternal regions of bliss.

Trees please the deities by their flowers; the Departed Manes by their fruits; and all guests and strangers by the shadow they afford.

Kinnaras, Uragas, Rakshasas, deities Gandharvas, and human beings, as also Rishis, all resort to trees as their refuge.

Trees that bear flowers and fruits please all men. The planter of trees is saved in the next world by the trees he plants like children saving their own father.

Therefore, the man who is desirous of achieving his own good, should plant trees by the side of tanks and rear them like his own children. The trees which a man plants are, according to both reason and the scriptures, the children of the planter.

That Brahmana who excavates a tank, and he who plants trees, and he who performs sacrifices, are all adored in the celestial region as men who are devoted to truth fullness of speech.

Hence, one should cause tanks to be excavated and trees to be planted, adore the deities in diverse sacrifices, and speak the truth.