Merit Earned through Gifts

Mahadeva said:

l-9a. О goddess, listen. I shall explain to you righteousness (dharma) (the excellent way of life), hearing which a man is never born on the earth. From righteousness a man would get the triad of material welfare (artha)9 satisfaction of desires (kama) and salvation (moksa). Therefore, that learned man who would desire righteousness through penance, gifts, vows an< f restraints, is said to be wise. Similarly by means of sincere penance heaven is obtained. He who has come here (i.e. is bom on the earth) and is free from anger and greed, would have salvation after an existence and obtains Visiju’s position. He becomes passio­nate (irajasa) by means of penance practised through passion (irajas). By means of vicious (tamasa) (or ignorant) penance he becomes hard-hearted (tamasa) and does cruel deeds. That is said to be the penance of the demons, giving salvation to those who are of a vicious nature. That penance which is righteous (sattvika) is permanent. Even in a forest blemishes do occur in the case of the passionate one, desiring wealth etc., being controlled by (irajas) and ignorance (tamas), living in a solitary forest, and subsisting on air. Control over the five senses (practised) even at home is (also) a penance. For him who is not engaged in con­demned acts and who is detached from passions, his house is a penance-grove. The householder’s stage is said to be (a man’s) own duty. It is very difficult to be overcome by (even) those who have restrained their senses. That best auspicious stage (of life) is affected.

9b-15. О you daughter of the (Himalaya) mountain, the householder’s stage of life is said to be excellent for the wise ones by Brahma and others. An ascetic after practising penance in a forest and being oppressed by hunger, comes to the house of a food-giver. With devotion he (i.e. the food-giver) gives him food and gets a portion (of the fruit) of his penance. There is no doubt that the man who properly follows the householder’s stage, the best on the earth, enjoys human pleasures here (i.e. in this world) and goes to heaven. О goddess, how can sin come to them who always practise (the duties of) a. (householder)? The householder’s stage is most meritorious. A house is always like a sacred place. In this meritorious stage of a householder gifts should be especially given. In it worship of deities is practised, food is given to guests; it is the refuge of guests. Therefore, it is said to be most blessed. Those men who having resorted to a house(-holder’s stage) honour brahmanas, never lack in (long) life, wealth, so also sons. О beautiful lady, listen. I shall tell (you about) a gift which cleanses all great sins which brings about every (kind of) wealth, and which gives fruit in this world and in the next.

16-26. When an auspicious time has come, a man, after having duly worshipped his deity, and having performed his obli­gatory and occasional (duties), should give a gift according to his own capacity. He who having snatched another’s wealth would give it to brahmanas and deities, would after seeing (i.e. having gone to) hell, go to the highest position, as Satanika was emancipated along with his sons due to having given gifts. So also after having given (gifts) to brahmanas, he will go to heaven as a result of his righteousness. The religious merit of those who have given (gifts) at holy places, has been told. О goddess, listen. I shall tell (you) in. brief about the gift of wealth. (Such) a gift purifying the body was never there, nor will be there. Due to it a man becomes free from sins. There is no doubt about it. Having enjoyed pleasures, he then goes to the ancient Vishnu. Formerly it was narrated by Brahma to the magnanimous Bhargava Rama, full of sin. During the Sun’s passing through Libra and Taurus, the king was engaged in a sinful act. He indulged in killing and binding (men). He was engaged in eating what ought not to be eaten. He caused abortions and violated his preceptor’s wife. These and a liar are born in bad stocks. They perform sacrifices for those for whom they should not be performed; they ask for (gifts) from the censurable ones; they are always angry; and are always engaged in troubling the good. They are destroyed through faith, and with their life condemn righteousness. They are full of sins and know that they are dead (i.e. they would soon die). Knowing this, О goddess, they should especially give gifts. On the earth many devotees of Vis^u prac­tising righteousness are well-known on the earth.

 

CHAPTER SEVENTYFIVE

The Greatness of Gan^ika

Mahadeva said:

1-11. О goddess, I shall properly tell you the greatness of Gan^ika. О daughter of the (Himalaya) mountain, as Ganga is, so she is. Similarly many Salagrama stones are found there. So also her greatness is told by the best sages. There are birds, plants, insects and viviparous beings that are meritorious just on account of seeing her, О Parvati. That great river Gagdika rises in the north. О daughter of the (Himalaya) mountain, she, being remembered again and again destroys sins. There god Narayana, causing welfare, always exists. Those, holders of conches and discs, who live near him, have, after reaching Death, had four arms and divine forms. Sages stay there, and especially gods, Rudras, serpents, so also yakshas. No doubt should be raised in this matter. Near it is a place of raised ground, having the form of Vishnu. At this place, there is an image of many forms, giving salvation. There are twentyfour species of beings there. One is of the form of a fish and another, a black figure, the giver of sal­vation, is said to be there at the place called Vishnu by the wise. There is (another figure) called Kalki and tawny (in colour), (as is) told by me. Many other figures of various shapes are also seen there. All these various figures, of different forms stand there. She is Ganga. She is great. She is auspicious. She gives merit, desired objects and salvation.

12-26. In that land, Vishgu, accompanied by me, definitely stays even now. There is no doubt about this. A man is free merely by her touch from all sins like causing an abortion, killing a child, and especially killing a cow. Brahmagas, kshatriyas, vaisyas, siidras, so also (men of) other castes — all of them are freed on seeing the water of Gagdika. This (river) is holy like (the river) Veni — especially so for the sinners. (Even) the killer of a brahmaga is freed there, what, to say about others! О Parvati, always, at all times I go (there). Brahma has indeed said that this is the king of holy places. Sages have bathed and given gifts there. О beautiful lady, in A^a^ha, on an auspicious occasion, I go there. For a month I duly bathe there; I also continuously mutter (the hymn) which emancipates (a being). Therefore, since I had gone to the place holy to Vishnu, I became a devotee of Vishnu. This very great holy place was formerly fashioned by Vishflu. It gives a good position to Vishiju’s devotees. It is said to be very purify­ing. О goddess, it is always very difficult to be born as a human being in this mundane existence. The holy place on (the bank of) Gaij^ika is not easily accessible. To reach the place holy to Vishnu is (still) more difficult. Therefore, the best brahmanas should go (there) in the month of Asha^ha. Having gone there, the best brahmanas should especially put on the marks of conches, discs etc. That is said to be (a) very pure (act). The holy mark of a conch should be (put) on the left (arm), the mark of a disc should be (put) on the right arm. This is said to give salvation to brahmanas. (The marks) should be carefully put on. Especially the brahmanas should put on the marks of conches and discs. When the mark is put on, those men belong to Vishnu. О you beautiful lady, there is no other holy place like Garidakl. There is no other vow like Dvadasl. There is no other god like Vishjiu. (I am) repeatedly (telling this). Those best men who listen to the greatness of Gandika, enjoy happiness in this world, and (after death) go to Vishnu’s world.

 

CHAPTER SEVENTYSIX

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