212 - Gifts granting the desired fruits

Agni said:

l. Ishall describe gifts that confer the desired benefits. Oneshould do daily worship each month and do the worship for (the accomplishment of one's) desires. 

2-3. The undertaking of the vow, worship of the preceptor and the grand worship at the end of the year (are the routines). One who gives a horse and a lotus made of flour to lord Siva after worship in margasirsa would live in the world of Sun for a long time. (By giving) an elephant made of flour in pausa, one would lift twentyone generations. 

4. By giving a horse and a chariot made of flour in magha, one would not go to hell. One would become a monarch and would ascend heaven by giving a bull made of flour in phål guna. 

5. Having given a cow made of sugarcane together with a servant and a female servant in chaitra, one would remain in heaven for a long time and would become a monarch at the end. 

6. One would become verily (lord) Siva himself by giving seven kinds of rice in vaišākha. One would become identical with lord) Siva by making a circular altar in the ashadha. 

7. One would ascend heaven and also (become) a king by giving a vehicle made of flowers in srādana. By giving two hundred fruits one would elevate his family (and become) a king. 

8. One would become a king after ascending heaven by giving guggulu (gum resin) etc. in bhadra. Giving a vessel filled with milk and clarified butter in asuina would convey one to heaven. 

9. Having given pieces of jaggery and clarified butter in the kārttika one would go to heaven and then be a king. Ishall describe the twelve varieties of gifts (known as) merudāna (heaps of things resembling the Meru mountain) that confers enjoyment and emancipation. 

10-18. In the meruvrata oneshould give a meru (mountain) of gems to a brahmin in kārttika. Listen to me. (Ishall describe) the measure (of things) in all (the gifts of) Merus duly. Only a prastha (a measure) of diamond, ruby, mahanila (a kind of sapphire), sapphire, crystal, topaz, emerald and pearl are excellent. Half of that (measure) would be medium and a quarter of that (would be) inferior. Oneshould avoid doing trickery knowingly. The Merushould be located in the pericarps presided by (the lords) Brahma, Vishnu and Isha. Mālyavänshould be worshipped on the east and that is known as Bhadra still to its east. Aśvaraksha is said to be the next. The Nishadha, Hemakūta and Himaván, the three,should be (worshipped) on the south of Meru. The three (mountains) Nila, Sveta and Srungi are (worshipped) on the north (of Meru). (The mountains) Gandhamádana, Vaikanka and Ketumåla would be on the west. Thus the Meru would be associated with the twelve (mountains). Oneshould worship (lord) Vishņu or (lord) Śiva after fasting preceded by bathing. Thc Merushould be worshipped with the sacred syllables in front of the deity and given to a brahmin. (Oneshould say) "I give this excellent material of (theshape of) Meru belonging to god Vishnu to a brahmin of such and such a gotra to become sinless and for the sake of enjoyment and emancipation.” (One who docs so) would be honoured by the celestials and would sport in the (divine) chariot in the worlds of Indra, Brahma, Siva and Vishņu after elevating his family. Oneshould make the gift even at other times such as the entry of the Sun from one constellation into another. 

19-22. Oneshould offer the golden Meru of (the weight of) a thousand palas. Itshould have three peaks representing the (lords) Brahma, Vishņu and Hara (Śiva). Each one of the mountainsshould be hundred (palas). Together with the Meru, the mountains are known to be thirteen. One who makes a gift of gold Meru to a brahmin at the time of solstices, eclipses etc., in the presence of (lord) Vishņu, after having worshipped lord Hari (Vishnu), would live in the world of Vishņu for a long time. One would be a king for such a long time as the infinite-simal particles (of the gift). Oneshould resolve and give a silver Meru having twelve mountains. 

23-26. It would have the aforesaid benefit. Oneshould worship lord Vishņu and a brahmin and resolve (to give) bhūmimeru (land in the form of Meru) consisting of a circular orb or a village of one-eighth part. The other parts (carry) the same benefit as before. One who gives the Meru in the form of an elephant together with the twelve mountains and the three beings (gods) would get infinite benefit. Meru (in the form) of a horse (would be) fifteen horses together with twelve horses. Giving this (as a gift) after worshipping lords Vishņu and others one would enjoy comforts and become a king. Oneshould give a Meru 1 (in the form of cow of the same number as the horse as before. 

27. A gift of a Meru (in the form) of cloth would be a bhāra of silk cloth in the middle with the twelve cloth as mountains (around). By giving (this gift) (one will have) undiminishing benefit. 

28-29. A mountain of clarified butter (would be) five thousand palas of ghee, each one (of the mountains being) five hundred. Oneshould worship lord Hari in this mountain. Having offered it to a brahmin in the presence of (lord) Vishnu, one would get everything and reach lord Hari. One would get (the same fruit) by making a Meru of sugarcandy and giving in the same way. 

30-35. The Meru of grains (should be) five khari (a measure equal to 15 dronas) and the other (mountains of one kilitter each. Allshould have golden peaks (denoting lords) Brahma, Vishņu and Maheśvara. One would acquire special benefit by worshipping lord Vishnu in all of them. Oneshould set up a Meru of sesamum in the same way measuring ten parts. The peaksshould be as before for that (mountain) and other mountains. One who makes a gift of a Meru of sesamum would reach the world of Vishņu together with his relatives. "Obeisance to the form of Vishņu. Obeisance to (the mountain) Dharadhara. (Obeisance) to one having lords Brahma, Vishņu and Isha on the peaks, to one remaining at the navel of the earth, to the lord of twelve mountains, to the destroyer of all sins, to the devotee of lord Vishņu and to the calm person. You always protect me so that I may reach lord Vishņu together with my forefathers becoming sinless. Om, obeisance. You are indeed lord Hari. I am lord Vishņu in the front of (lord) Hari. Ishall inform lord Vishņu with devotion for the sake of enjoyment and emancipation.