The Glory of Prithvi-dana at Gautameshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.268.1)

आनर्त उवाच कर्मणा केन मर्त्ये च नराणां जायते वद चक्रवर्तित्वमखिलं सर्वशत्रुविमर्दनम्

ānarta uvāca karmaṇā kena martye ca narāṇāṁ jāyate vada cakravartitvamakhilaṁ sarvaśatruvimardanam

Anarta said: Tell me, by what deed among mortals does complete sovereignty, one that crushes all enemies, arise for a man?

Verse 2 (skanda.6.268.2)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच दुर्लभं भूमिपालत्वं सर्वपापैर्नराधिप तपोभिर्नियमैर्दानैस्तथान्यैश्च शुभैर्व्रतैः

bhartṛyajña uvāca durlabhaṁ bhūmipālatvaṁ sarvapāpairnarādhipa tapobhirniyamairdānaistathānyaiśca śubhairvrataiḥ

Bhartriyajna said: O lord of men, sovereignty over the earth, free from all sin, is hard to attain even through austerities, observances, gifts, and other auspicious vows.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.268.3)

यः पुनर्भूपतिर्भूत्वा पृथ्वीं दद्याद्धिरण्मयीम् गौतमेश्वरदेवस्य पुरतः श्रद्धयान्वितः चक्रवर्ती भवेन्नूनमेवमाह पितामहः

yaḥ punarbhūpatirbhūtvā pṛthvīṁ dadyāddhiraṇmayīm gautameśvaradevasya purataḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ cakravartī bhavennūnamevamāha pitāmahaḥ

But he who, having become a king, gives a golden earth before the god Gautameshvara with faith, surely becomes a universal sovereign — thus spoke Grandsire Brahma himself.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.268.4)

मांधाता धुन्धुमारश्च हरिश्चंद्रः पुरूरवाः भरतः कार्तवीर्यश्च षडेते चक्रवर्तिनः

māṁdhātā dhundhumāraśca hariścaṁdraḥ purūravāḥ bharataḥ kārtavīryaśca ṣaḍete cakravartinaḥ

Mandhata, Dhundhumara, Harishchandra, Pururavas, Bharata, and Kartavirya — these six became universal sovereigns.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.268.5)

पृथ्वीदानं पुरा कृत्वा गौतमेश्वरसंनिधौ दत्त्वा हिरण्मयीं पृथ्वीं सार्वभौमास्ततः स्थिताः

pṛthvīdānaṁ purā kṛtvā gautameśvarasaṁnidhau dattvā hiraṇmayīṁ pṛthvīṁ sārvabhaumāstataḥ sthitāḥ

Having in the past performed the donation of the earth in the presence of Gautameshvara, having given a golden earth, they thereafter came to stand as universal emperors.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.268.6)

आनर्त उवाच भगवन्केन विधिना दातव्या सा वसुन्धरा अहं दास्यामि तां नूनं श्रद्धा मे महती स्थिता

ānarta uvāca bhagavankena vidhinā dātavyā sā vasundharā ahaṁ dāsyāmi tāṁ nūnaṁ śraddhā me mahatī sthitā

Anarta said: O lord, by what procedure should that earth be given? I shall surely give it — my faith in this is great.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.268.7)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच कार्या पलशतेनोर्वी वृत्ताकारा नृपोत्तम तदर्धेनाथवा शक्त्या पंचविंशत्पलात्मिका

bhartṛyajña uvāca kāryā palaśatenorvī vṛttākārā nṛpottama tadardhenāthavā śaktyā paṁcaviṁśatpalātmikā

Bhartriyajna said: O best of kings, the earth-image should be made circular, of a hundred palas in weight, or half that, or — according to one's ability — of twenty-five palas.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.268.8)

धरादाने महाराज वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जयेत् नैव पंचपलादर्वाक्प्रदातव्या कथञ्चन लवणेक्षुसुरासर्पिर्दधिदुग्धजलोद्भवाः समुद्राः सप्त चैतांस्तु कक्षायां तत्र दर्शयेत्

dharādāne mahārāja vittaśāṭhyaṁ vivarjayet naiva paṁcapalādarvākpradātavyā kathañcana lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdadhidugdhajalodbhavāḥ samudrāḥ sapta caitāṁstu kakṣāyāṁ tatra darśayet

O great king, in the donation of the earth one should avoid miserliness with wealth; it should never, under any circumstance, be given at less than five palas. The seven oceans — of salt, sugarcane-juice, wine, ghee, curd, milk, and water — should be depicted there on its border.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.268.9)

जंबूप्लक्षकुशक्रौंचशाकशाल्मलिपुष्कराः समुद्रान्सरितः सप्त द्वैगुण्येन प्रकल्पयेत्

jaṁbūplakṣakuśakrauṁcaśākaśālmalipuṣkarāḥ samudrānsaritaḥ sapta dvaiguṇyena prakalpayet

Jambu, Plaksha, Kusha, Kraunca, Shaka, Shalmali, and Pushkara — these seven continents, together with the seven oceans, should be fashioned in this paired arrangement.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.268.10)

महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यो हिमवान्गंधमादनः विंध्यः शृंगी च सप्तैव कल्पयेत्कुलपर्वतान्

mahendro malayaḥ sahyo himavāngaṁdhamādanaḥ viṁdhyaḥ śṛṁgī ca saptaiva kalpayetkulaparvatān

Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Himavan, Gandhamadana, Vindhya, and Shringi — these seven family-mountains should be fashioned.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.268.11)

मध्ये प्रकल्पयेन्मेरुं दिक्षु विष्कम्भपर्वतान् जंबून्यग्रोधनीपांश्च प्लक्षश्चैव तथा द्रुमान्

madhye prakalpayenmeruṁ dikṣu viṣkambhaparvatān jaṁbūnyagrodhanīpāṁśca plakṣaścaiva tathā drumān

In the center he should fashion Mount Meru, and in the directions the supporting mountains; and likewise the jambu tree, the banyan, the nipa, the plaksha, and other trees.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.268.12)

गंगाद्याः सरितस्तत्र प्राधान्येन प्रकल्पयेत् एवं निर्माप्य वसुधां सर्वां हेममयीं नृप

gaṁgādyāḥ saritastatra prādhānyena prakalpayet evaṁ nirmāpya vasudhāṁ sarvāṁ hemamayīṁ nṛpa

There he should chiefly fashion the Ganga and the other rivers. Having thus, O king, made the whole earth of gold...

Verse 13 (skanda.6.268.13)

मंडपं कारयेत्पश्चाद्यथापूर्वं प्रकल्पितम्

maṁḍapaṁ kārayetpaścādyathāpūrvaṁ prakalpitam

...he should thereafter have a pavilion built, arranged just as described before.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.268.14)

कुण्डानि तोरणान्येव ब्राह्मणग्रहपूजने पूर्ववत्सकलं कृत्वा मध्ये वेदिं प्रकल्पयेत्

kuṇḍāni toraṇānyeva brāhmaṇagrahapūjane pūrvavatsakalaṁ kṛtvā madhye vediṁ prakalpayet

Having made the fire-pits and archways, and all the rites for worshipping the brahmins and the planetary deities as before, he should fashion an altar in the middle.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.268.15)

तत्र संस्थापयेत्पृथ्वीं पंचगव्येन पार्थिव यथोक्तमंत्रैस्तल्लिंगैस्ततः शुद्धोदकेन तु

tatra saṁsthāpayetpṛthvīṁ paṁcagavyena pārthiva yathoktamaṁtraistalliṁgaistataḥ śuddhodakena tu

O king, there he should install the earth-image with the five products of the cow, then with the mantras and emblems prescribed for it, and thereafter with pure water.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.268.16)

इमं मे गंगे यमुने पंचनद्यस्त्रिपुष्करम् श्रीसूक्तं पावमानं च हैमीं च तदनंतरम्

imaṁ me gaṁge yamune paṁcanadyastripuṣkaram śrīsūktaṁ pāvamānaṁ ca haimīṁ ca tadanaṁtaram

Reciting 'O Ganga, O Yamuna, the five rivers, and the triple Pushkara,' and the Shri-sukta, the Pavamana hymn, and thereafter the golden verses...

Verse 17 (skanda.6.268.17)

स्नानकर्मणि योग्यांश स्वादिष्ठायनमुत्तमम्

snānakarmaṇi yogyāṁśa svādiṣṭhāyanamuttamam

...these mantras suited to the bathing rite, along with the excellent and most pleasant Svadishthayana hymn.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.268.18)

एवं संस्नाप्य विधिवद्वासांसि परिधापयेत् युवा सुवासा मंत्रेण सूक्ष्माणि विविधानि च

evaṁ saṁsnāpya vidhivadvāsāṁsi paridhāpayet yuvā suvāsā maṁtreṇa sūkṣmāṇi vividhāni ca

Having thus duly bathed it, he should clothe it with fine and varied garments, using the mantra of the young, well-adorned goddess.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.268.19)

ये भूतानामधीत्येवं ततः प्रोच्य प्रपूजयेत् धूरसीति च मंत्रेण धूपं दद्यात्समाहितः

ye bhūtānāmadhītyevaṁ tataḥ procya prapūjayet dhūrasīti ca maṁtreṇa dhūpaṁ dadyātsamāhitaḥ

Having thus recited the mantras belonging to the elements, and then invoking them, he should worship; and with the mantra beginning 'dhūrasi,' with focused mind, he should offer incense.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.268.20)

अग्निर्ज्योतीति मंत्रेण कुर्यादारार्तिकं ततः अहमस्मीति मंत्रेण सप्तधान्यं प्रकल्पयेत्

agnirjyotīti maṁtreṇa kuryādārārtikaṁ tataḥ ahamasmīti maṁtreṇa saptadhānyaṁ prakalpayet

With the mantra 'agnir jyotiḥ' he should then wave the lamp; with the mantra 'aham asmi' he should arrange the seven grains.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.268.21)

एवं कृत्वाऽखिलं तस्या यजमानः सितांबरः पुरः स्थितोंजलिं बद्ध्वा मंत्रानेतानुदाहरेत्

evaṁ kṛtvā'khilaṁ tasyā yajamānaḥ sitāṁbaraḥ puraḥ sthitoṁjaliṁ baddhvā maṁtrānetānudāharet

Having thus performed the whole rite, the sacrificer, clad in white garments, standing before it with joined palms, should utter these mantras.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.268.22)

त्वया संधार्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् तव दानं करिष्यामि सांनिध्यं कुरु मेदिनि

tvayā saṁdhāryate viśvaṁ jagadetaccarācaram tava dānaṁ kariṣyāmi sāṁnidhyaṁ kuru medini

'By you this entire universe, moving and unmoving, is sustained. O Earth, I shall now perform your donation — grant me your presence.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.268.23)

शरीरेष्वपि भूतानां त्वं देवि प्रथमं स्थिता ततश्चान्यानि भूतानि जलादीनि वसुन्धरे

śarīreṣvapi bhūtānāṁ tvaṁ devi prathamaṁ sthitā tataścānyāni bhūtāni jalādīni vasundhare

'Even within the bodies of beings, you, O goddess, dwell first; only afterward come the other elements, beginning with water, O Vasundhara.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.268.24)

ये त्वां यच्छंति ते भूयस्त्वां लभंते न संशयः इह लोके परे चैव पार्थिवं रूपमाश्रिता

ye tvāṁ yacchaṁti te bhūyastvāṁ labhaṁte na saṁśayaḥ iha loke pare caiva pārthivaṁ rūpamāśritā

'Those who give you away obtain you again — of this there is no doubt — both in this world and in the next, O you who dwell in earthly form.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.268.25)

एवं स्तुत्वा समादाय तोयं हेमाकृतिं नृप वासुदेवं हृदि स्थाप्य मंत्रेणानेन कल्पयेत्

evaṁ stutvā samādāya toyaṁ hemākṛtiṁ nṛpa vāsudevaṁ hṛdi sthāpya maṁtreṇānena kalpayet

Having thus praised her, O king, and taken up water together with the golden image, having established Vasudeva in his heart, he should perform the rite with this mantra.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.268.26)

पातालादुद्धृता येन पृथ्वी सा लोककारिणा अस्या दानेन च सदा प्रीयतां मे जनार्दनः

pātālāduddhṛtā yena pṛthvī sā lokakāriṇā asyā dānena ca sadā prīyatāṁ me janārdanaḥ

'May Janardana, who as the maker of the worlds raised this earth up from the netherworld, ever be pleased with me through this donation of her.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.268.27)

एवमुच्चार्य तत्तोयं तोयमध्ये परिक्षिपेत् न भूमौ नैव हस्ते च ब्राह्मणस्य नृपोत्तम

evamuccārya tattoyaṁ toyamadhye parikṣipet na bhūmau naiva haste ca brāhmaṇasya nṛpottama

Having uttered this, he should pour that water into the midst of water — O best of kings, neither upon the ground nor into a brahmin's hand.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.268.28)

ततो विसर्जयेद्देवीं मन्त्रेणानेन भागशः आगता च यथान्यायं पूजिता च यथाविधि

tato visarjayeddevīṁ mantreṇānena bhāgaśaḥ āgatā ca yathānyāyaṁ pūjitā ca yathāvidhi

Then, part by part, he should take leave of the goddess with this mantra — 'You who have duly come and been duly worshipped...'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.268.29)

अस्माकं त्वं हितार्थाय यत्रेष्टं तत्र गम्यताम् उस्रा वेदेति मंत्रेण समुच्चार्य ततः परम् ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्या संविभज्य नराधिप

asmākaṁ tvaṁ hitārthāya yatreṣṭaṁ tatra gamyatām usrā vedeti maṁtreṇa samuccārya tataḥ param brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradātavyā saṁvibhajya narādhipa

'...now go, for our welfare, wherever you please.' Having said this and uttered the mantra beginning 'usrā veda,' O lord of men, he should thereafter give it, divided, to the brahmins.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.268.30)

एवं ते सर्वमाख्यातं पृथिवीदानमुत्तमम् शृणुयात्पार्थिवो भावी दाता जन्मनिजन्मनि

evaṁ te sarvamākhyātaṁ pṛthivīdānamuttamam śṛṇuyātpārthivo bhāvī dātā janmanijanmani

Thus the entire, excellent donation of the earth has been told to you. A future king destined to be a donor should hear it in birth after birth.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.268.31)

यो राजा पृथिवीं दद्याद्विधिनानेन पार्थिव राज्यभ्रंशो न वंशेऽपि तस्य संजायते क्वचित्

yo rājā pṛthivīṁ dadyādvidhinānena pārthiva rājyabhraṁśo na vaṁśe'pi tasya saṁjāyate kvacit

O king, the ruler who gives the earth by this rite — for him, loss of kingdom never occurs, even within his lineage.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.268.32)

राज्यभ्रंशसमोपेता ये दृश्यंते महीभुजः न तैर्वसुन्धरा दत्ता ब्राह्मणानां धृतात्मनाम्

rājyabhraṁśasamopetā ye dṛśyaṁte mahībhujaḥ na tairvasundharā dattā brāhmaṇānāṁ dhṛtātmanām

Those kings who are seen overtaken by loss of kingdom — by them, in truth, the earth was never given to steadfast brahmins.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.268.33)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पृथ्वीदानं समाचरेत् न हरेत्परदत्तां च कथंचिदपि मेदिनीम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena pṛthvīdānaṁ samācaret na haretparadattāṁ ca kathaṁcidapi medinīm

Therefore one should perform the donation of the earth with every effort, and should never, under any circumstance, seize land given by another.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.268.34)

एतत्पुण्यं प्रशस्यं च पृथिवीदानमुत्तमम् शृण्वतामपि राजेंद्र तद्देहाद्यघनाशनम्

etatpuṇyaṁ praśasyaṁ ca pṛthivīdānamuttamam śṛṇvatāmapi rājeṁdra taddehādyaghanāśanam

This excellent donation of the earth is meritorious and praiseworthy; O lord of kings, even merely hearing of it destroys sin from the body onward.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.268.35)

आस्तां तावत्प्रदानं च पृथिव्याः पृथिवीपतेः दातुः संप्रेरणं यस्या अज्ञानौघविनाशनम्

āstāṁ tāvatpradānaṁ ca pṛthivyāḥ pṛthivīpateḥ dātuḥ saṁpreraṇaṁ yasyā ajñānaughavināśanam

Let alone the actual giving of the earth by its lord — even merely urging a donor toward it destroys the whole mass of ignorance.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.268.36)

रूपवान्सुभगश्चैव तथा च प्रियदर्शनः आधिव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः

rūpavānsubhagaścaiva tathā ca priyadarśanaḥ ādhivyādhivinirmuktaḥ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ

The giver becomes handsome and fortunate, and pleasant to behold; he is freed from mental and bodily afflictions and blessed with sons and grandsons.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.268.37)

मेधावी जायते मर्त्यो दानस्यास्य प्रभावतः इत्थंभूता महाराज कृत्वा राज्यमकण्टकम्

medhāvī jāyate martyo dānasyāsya prabhāvataḥ itthaṁbhūtā mahārāja kṛtvā rājyamakaṇṭakam

Through the power of this donation a man becomes intelligent. Having thus, O great king, made his kingdom free of thorns...

Verse 38 (skanda.6.268.38)

प्रीता विष्णोः पदं यांति शाश्वतं यन्निरामयम् अन्यत्रापि धरादानात्प्रकुर्याच्चक्रवर्तिताम्

prītā viṣṇoḥ padaṁ yāṁti śāśvataṁ yannirāmayam anyatrāpi dharādānātprakuryāccakravartitām

...such contented ones attain the eternal, untroubled abode of Vishnu. Even elsewhere, through the donation of the earth, one may attain the status of a universal sovereign.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.268.39)

एकजन्मांतरं यावत्सम्यग्दत्तं नृपोत्तमः गौतमेश्वरदेवस्य यत्पुरा पुरतः कृतम्

ekajanmāṁtaraṁ yāvatsamyagdattaṁ nṛpottamaḥ gautameśvaradevasya yatpurā purataḥ kṛtam

O best of kings, whatever was rightly given in the past before the god Gautameshvara continues to bear fruit for at least a single lifetime...

Verse 40 (skanda.6.268.40)

सप्तजन्मांतरं यावत्प्रकरोति न संशयः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्र देया मही नृप

saptajanmāṁtaraṁ yāvatprakaroti na saṁśayaḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena tatra deyā mahī nṛpa

...but without doubt it continues to bear fruit for seven lifetimes. Therefore, O king, the earth should be given there with every effort.