Anushasanika Parva — The gifts of sesame and lamps

Yudhishthira said Do you describe to me once again. O grandfather, the merit's of the gifts of sesame and of lamps for lighting darkness, as also of food and clothes.

Bhishma Said : Regarding it, O Yudhishthira, is recited the discourse that took place forinerly between a Brahmana and Yama.

In the region lying between the rivers Gangs and Yamuna, at the foot of the hills called Yamuna, there was a large town peopled by Brahmanas.

The town was known by the name of Parnashala and was very charming, O king. A large number of learned Bralımanas lived in it.

One day, Yama, the king of the dead, commanded a messenger of his, who was clad in black, having bloodred eyes and hair standing erect, and possessed of feet, eyes, and nose all of which resembled those of a crow, saying, Go you to the town inhabited by Brahmanas and bring here the person known by the name of Sharmin and born in the race of Agastya.

He is intent on mental tranquillity and gifted with learning. He teaches the Vedas and his practices are wellknown. Do not bring me another person belonging to the same race and living in the same neighbourhood.

This other man I want is equal to him in virtues, study and birth. As for children and conduct, this other reassembles the intelligent Sharmin.

Do you bring the individual I want. He should be adored with respect. The messenger, doing there, did the very reverse of what he had been ordered to do.

Attacking that person, he brought him who had been forbidden by Yama to be brought. Endued with great energy, Yama rose up on seeing the Brahmana and adored him duly.

The king of the dead then ordered him messenger, saying Let this one be taken back, and let the other one be brought to me.When the great judge of the dead said these words, that Brahmana addressed him and said I have finished my study of the Vedas and am no longer attached to the world. Whatever period may yet remain of my life, I wish to pass, living here, O you of unfading glory.

Yama said I cannot determine the exact period, ordained by Time, of one's life, and hence, unurged by Time, I cannot allow one to live here. I take note of the acts of virtue (or otherwise) that one does in the world.

Do you, O learned Brahmana of great splendour, return forthwith to your house. Tell me what also is in your mind and what I can do for you, O you of unfading glory.

Brahmana said Do you tell me what those acts are by doing which one may acquire great merit. O best of all beings, you are the foremost of authorities in the three worlds.

Yama said Do you hear, O twiceborm Rishi, the excellent ordinances about gifts. The gift of sesame seeds is a very superior gift. It yields everlasting merit.

O foremost of twiceborn ones, one should make gifts of as much sesame as one can. By making gifts of sesame every day, one is sure to acquire the fruition of his desires.

The gift of sesame at Shraddhas is highly spoken of. The gift of sesame is a very superior gift. Do you make gifts of sesame to the Brahmanas according to the rites laid down in the scriptures.

One should, on the day of the full moon of the month of Vaishakha, make gifts of sesame to the Brahmanas. They should also be made to cat and to touch sesame on every occasion that one can afford.

They, who are desirous of seeing their wellbeing, should with their whole minds do this in their houses. Forsooth, men should likewise make gifts of water and set up resting places for the distribution of drinking water.

One should make tanks and lakes and wells to be excavated. Such acts are rare in the world, O best of twice born persons.

Do you always make gifts of water. This act is full great merit, О best of twice born persons, for making such gifts you should put up resting places along the roads for the distribution of water. After one has eaten, the gift to one should especially be made of water for drink.

Bhishma said After Yama had said these words to him, the messenger who had borne him from his house conveyed him back to it. The Brahmana, on his return, obeyed the instructions he had received.

Having thus conveyed him back to his abode, the messenger of Yama fetched Sharmin who had really been sought by Yama. Taking Sharmin to him, he informed his inaster.

Endued with great energy, the judge of the dead adored that pious Brahmana, and having conversed with him for some time dismissed him for being taken back to his house.

To him also Yama gave same instructions. Sharmin too, returning to the world of men, did all that Yama had said.

Like the gift of water, Yama, from desire of doing good to the departed manes, applauds the gift of lamps to light dark places, for it is considered as benefiting the departed manes.

Hence, O best of the Bharatas, one should always give lamps for lighting dark places. The giving of lamps increases the power of vision, of the deities, the Pitris, and one's own self.

It has been said, O king, that the gift of gems is a very great gift. The Brahmana, who having accepted a gift of gems, sells the same for celebrating a sacrifice, commits no sin.

The Brahmana, who having accepted a gift of gems, makes a gift of them to Brahmanas, wins endless merit himself and confers endless merit upon him from whom he had originally received them.

Knowing every duty, Manu himself has said that he who, observant of proper control makes a gift of gems to a Brahmana observant of proper restraints, wins inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon the recipient.

The man, who is content with his own married wife and who makes a gift of dresses, acquires an excellent complexion and excellent dresses for himself.

I have told you, O foremost of men, What the merits are of gifts of kine, of gold and of sesame, according to various precepts of the Vedas and the scriptures.

One should marry and procreate offspring upon one's married wives. Of all acquistions, O son of Kuru's race, that of sons is considered the foremost.