Adhyaya 86: The Rite of Donating the Golden Mountain (Kanaka-Parvata Dāna)

Verse 1

*ईश्वर उवाच अथ पापहरं वक्ष्ये सुवर्णाचलमुत्तमम् यस्य प्रदानाद्भवनं वैरिञ्चं याति मानवः //

The Lord said: “Now I shall describe the supreme ‘Golden Mountain’, the remover of sin; by gifting (or offering) it, a human being attains the world of Brahmā (Vairiñca), the abode of the Creator.”

Verse 2

उत्तमः पलसाहस्रो मध्यमः पञ्चभिः शतैः तदर्धेनाधमस्तद्वद् अल्पवित्तो ऽपि शक्तितः दद्यादेकपलादूर्ध्वं यथाशक्त्या विमत्सरः //

The best standard of donation is a thousand palas; the middling is five hundred; the lowest is half of that. Even one of little wealth should, according to his ability and without envy, give—beginning from at least one pala and upwards.

Verse 3

धान्यपर्वतवत्सर्वं विदध्यान्मुनिपुंगव विष्कम्भशैलास्तद्वच्च ऋत्विग्भ्यः प्रतिपादयेत् //

O best of sages, one should arrange everything in the manner of a ‘mountain of grain’; and likewise, those ‘Viṣkambha-mountains’ should also be duly presented to the officiating priests (ṛtviks).

Verse 4

नमस्ते ब्रह्मबीजाय ब्रह्मगर्भाय ते नमः यस्मादनन्तफलदस् तस्मात्पाहि शिलोच्चय //

Salutations to you, the seed of Brahmā; salutations to you, the womb of Brahmā. Since you bestow limitless results, therefore protect us, O mound of stone.

Verse 5

यस्मादग्नेरपत्यं त्वं यस्मात्पुण्यं जगत्पते हेमपर्वतरूपेण तस्मात्पाहि नगोत्तम //

Since you are born of Agni (fire), and since you are holy, O Lord of the world—therefore, in the form of a golden mountain, protect us, O best of mountains.

Verse 6

अनेन विधिना यस्तु दद्यात्कनकपर्वतम् स याति परमं ब्रह्मलोकमानन्दकारकम् तत्र कल्पशतं तिष्ठेत् ततो याति परां गतिम् //

Whoever, following this prescribed procedure, donates a “mountain of gold,” attains the supreme Brahma-world, the abode that bestows bliss. Having dwelt there for a hundred kalpas, he then proceeds to the highest final state.