Rig Veda
āvir abhūn mahi māghonam eṣāṃ viśvaṃ jīvaṃ tamaso nir amoci mahi jyotiḥ pitṛbhir dattam āgād uruḥ panthā dakṣiṇāyā adarśi
These men's great bounty hath been manifested, and the whole world of life set free from darkness. Great light hath come, vouchsafed us by the Fathers: apparent is the spacious path of Guerdon.
uccā divi dakṣiṇāvanto asthur ye aśvadāḥ saha te sūryeṇa hiraṇyadā amṛtatvam bhajante vāsodāḥ soma pra tiranta āyuḥ
High up in heaven abide the Guerdon-givers: they who give steeds dwell with the Sun for ever. They who give gold are blest with life eternal. they who give robes prolong their lives, O Soma.
daivī pūrtir dakṣiṇā devayajyā na kavāribhyo nahi te pṛṇanti athā naraḥ prayatadakṣiṇāso 'vadyabhiyā bahavaḥ pṛṇanti
Not from the niggards-for they give not freely-comes Meed at sacrifice, Gods' satisfaction: Yea, many men with hands stretched out with Guerdon present their gifts because they dread dishonour.
śatadhāraṃ vāyum arkaṃ svarvidaṃ nṛcakṣasas te abhi cakṣate haviḥ ye pṛṇanti pra ca yacchanti saṃgame te dakṣiṇāṃ duhate saptamātaram
These who observe mankind regard oblation as streamy Vayu and light-finding Arka. They satisfy and give their gifts in synod, and pour in streams the seven-mothered Guerdon.
dakṣiṇāvān prathamo hūta eti dakṣiṇāvān grāmaṇīr agram eti tam eva manye nṛpatiṃ janānāṃ yaḥ prathamo dakṣiṇām āvivāya
He who brings Guerdon comes as first invited: chief of the hamlet comes the Guerdon-bearer. Him I account the ruler of the people who was the first to introduce the Guerdon.
tam eva ṛṣiṃ tam u brahmāṇam āhur yajñanyaṃ sāmagām ukthaśāsam sa śukrasya tanvo veda tisro yaḥ prathamo dakṣiṇayā rarādha
They call him Rishi, Brahman, Sama-chanter, reciter of the laud, leader of worship. The brightly-shining God's three forms he knoweth who first bestowed the sacrificial Guerdon.
dakṣiṇāśvaṃ dakṣiṇā gāṃ dadāti dakṣiṇā candram uta yaddhiraṇyam dakṣiṇānnaṃ vanute yo na ātmā dakṣiṇāṃ varma kṛṇute vijānan
Guerdon bestows the horse, bestows the bullock, Guerdon bestows, moreover, gold that Rsisters. Guerdon gives food which is our life and spirit. He who is wise takes Guerdon for his armour.
na bhojā mamrur na nyartham īyur na riṣyanti na vyathante ha bhojāḥ idaṃ yad viśvam bhuvanaṃ svaś caitat sarvaṃ dakṣiṇaibhyo dadāti
The liberal die not, never are they ruined: the liberal suffer neither harm nor trouble. The light of heaven, the universe about us,-all this doth sacrificial Guerdon give them.
bhojā jigyuḥ surabhiṃ yonim agre bhojā jigyur vadhvaṃ yā suvāsāḥ bhojā jigyur antaḥpeyaṃ surāyā bhojā jigyur ye ahūtāḥ prayanti
First have the liberal gained a fragrant dwelling, and got themselves a bride in fair apparel. The liberal have obtained their draught of liquor, and conquered those who, unprovoked, assailed them.
bhojāyāśvaṃ sam mṛjanty āśum bhojāyāste kanyā śumbhamānā bhojasyedam puṣkariṇīva veśma pariṣkṛtaṃ devamāneva citram
They deck the fleet steed for the bounteous giver: the maid adorns herself and waits to meet him. His home is like a lake with lotus blossoms, like the Gods' palaces adorned and splendid.
bhojam aśvāḥ suṣṭhuvāho vahanti suvṛd ratho vartate dakṣiṇāyāḥ bhojaṃ devāso 'vatā bhareṣu bhojaḥ śatrūn samanīkeṣu jetā
Steeds good at draught convey the liberal giver, and lightly rolling moves the car of Guerdon. Assist, ye Gods, the liberal man in battles: the liberal giver conquers foes in combat.