Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 58
Sourceव्यास उवाच- शाखिनामेव सर्वेषां फलं वक्ष्यामि यादृशम्। तच्छृणुध्वं महाभागा रोपणे च पृथक्पृथक्१। यस्तु रोपयते तीरे पुण्यवृक्षान्समंततः। तस्य पुण्यफलं ज्ञातुं कथितुं नैव शक्यते२। अन्यत्र रोपणं कृत्वा शाखिनां यत्फलं लभेत्। ततो जलसमीपे तु लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत्३। स्वयं पुष्करिणी तीरे त्वनंतं फलमश्नुते। तस्माच्छतगुणं ब्रूमः शाखिनां पुण्यकारिणाम्४। अश्वत्थरोपणं कृत्वा जलाशयसमीपतः। यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यो न तत्क्रतुशतैरपि५। पतंति यानि पत्राणि जले पर्वणि पर्वणि। तानि पिंडसमानीह पितॄणामक्षयं ययुः६। खादंति पतगास्तत्र फलानि कामतो ध्रुवम्। ब्रह्मभक्ष्यसमं तस्य पुण्यं भवति चाक्षयम्७। अश्वत्थेनैव भक्ष्येण रोपणेनैव यत्फलम्। तद्वै क्रतुशतैर्नैव पुत्रैरेव शतैरपि८। उष्णेच्छायां प्रगृह्णंति गावो देवद्विजातयः। कर्तुः पितृगणानां च स्वर्गो भवति चाक्षयः९। कर्तुं स्वस्थस्य वै विघ्नमक्षयत्वान्न शक्यते। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन रोपयेद्वृक्षमाधवम्१०। एकं वृक्षं समारोप्य नरः स्वर्गान्न हीयते। तस्मादेव महावृक्षं रोपयध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः११। जलानां निकटे रम्ये रसानां क्रयविक्रये। मार्गे जलाशये वृक्षान्रोपयेद्यो महाशयः१२। अश्वत्थादीन्समारोप्य स्वर्गं याति मनोरमम्। अर्चयित्वा तु यत्पुण्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्विजातयः१३। स्नात्वाश्वत्थं स्पृशेद्यस्तु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। अस्नातो यः स्पृशेन्मर्त्यो लभते स्नानजं फलम्१४। दृष्ट्वा च नाशयेत्पापं स्पृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीं प्रपद्यते। प्रदक्षिणे भवेदायुः सदाश्वत्थ नमोस्तु ते१५। चलद्दलाय वृक्षाय सदा विष्णुस्थिताय च। बोधिसत्वाय योग्याय सदाश्वत्थ नमोस्तु ते१६। अश्वत्थाय तु हव्यं तु पयो नैवेद्यमेव च। पुष्पं धूपं दीपकं च दत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते१७। सपुत्रं चाक्षयं विद्धि धनवृद्धियशस्करम्। विजयं मानदं भद्रमश्वत्थस्य प्रपूजनम्१८। यज्जप्तं च हुतं स्तोत्रं यन्त्रमंत्रादिकं च यत्। सर्वं कोटिगुणं प्रोक्तं मूले चलदलस्य च१९। यस्य मूले स्थितो विष्णुर्मध्ये तिष्ठति शंकरः। अग्रभागे स्थितो ब्रह्मा कस्तं जगति नार्चयेत्२०। सोमवारे त्वमायां च स्नानं यन्मौनिना कृतम्। दानस्य गोसहस्रस्य फलं चाश्वत्थवंदने२१। सप्तप्रदक्षिणेनैव गवामयुतजं फलम्। प्रचुराल्लक्षकोटिश्च तस्मात्कार्या हि सा सदा२२। यत्किंचिद्दीयते तत्र फलमूलजलादिकम्। सर्वं तच्चाक्षयफलं जन्मजन्मसु जायते२३। अहोश्वत्थसमो नास्ति वृक्षरूपी हरिर्भुवि। यथा पूज्यो द्विजो लोके यथा गावो यथामराः२४। तथाश्वत्थवृक्षरूपी देवः पूज्यतमः स्मृतः। रोपणे रक्षणे स्पर्शे पूजाकर्मणि वै सदा२५। ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च स्वर्गं मोक्षं पुनः क्रमात्। किंचिच्छेदं तु यः कुर्यादश्वत्थस्य तनौ नरः२६। कल्पैकं निरयं भुक्त्वा चांडालादौ प्रजायते। मूलच्छेदेन तस्यैव स च यात्यपुनर्भवम्२७। पुरुषास्तस्य तिष्ठंति रौरवे घोरदर्शने। अश्वत्थस्यैकवृक्षस्य रोपणे यत्फलं भवेत्२८। तथैव चंपकेर्के च त्रयाणां रोपणेपि च। अष्टौ बिल्वस्य वृक्षाश्च न्यग्रोधाश्चैव सप्त च२९। निंबस्य दशवृक्षाश्च फलं चैषां समं भवेत्। एकैकस्य फलं चोक्तं वृक्षाणां रोपणे द्विजाः३०। एवं बुध्वा तु धर्मात्मा यः कुर्यात्कृत्रिमं वनम्। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च३१। नाकमेति स चूतस्य समारोप्य सहस्रकम्। ततो द्वित्रिगुणेनैव न्यूने वा प्रचुरेपि वा३२। भुंक्ते भुक्त्वा पुनः कुर्यान्नृपो वाथ सदीश्वरः। स्वर्गं भोग्यं ततो राज्यं कल्याणं मंगलं शुभम्३३। आरोग्यं शौर्यसंपन्नमारामादेव जायते। फलानि यस्य खादंति जंतवोथ सहस्रशः३४। आश्रिता विहगाः कीटाः पतगाः शलभादयः। छायाश्रिताश्च ये सत्वास्तत्संख्याताः पृथग्जनाः३५। तस्य किंकरतां यांति शतशो देवतार्चिताः। ये च वृक्षा महासत्वास्सर्वे ते देवरूपिणः३६। तदर्चा पितृवत्कार्या शुश्रूषां जलपिंडकम्। मर्त्यलोके च ते पुत्रास्तस्य जन्मनि जन्मनि३७। सुरूपाः सुविनीताश्च सदापुण्यक्रिया शुभाः। एवं गणेशतां यांति जंतवश्चूतलग्नकाः३८। धात्री हरीतकी चान्ये कटुतिक्ताम्लसंभवाः। सर्वे चारामतः शुद्धाः फलदाः शिवदाः सदा३९। प्रासादा यत्र सौवर्णाः सर्वरत्नविभूषिताः। सर्वाभरणसंयुक्ता विमानाश्चानिलोपमाः४०। शातकुंभमया वृक्षाः सदैव सर्वदायिनः। सर्वर्तुसुखदाः सौम्यकन्यका अप्सरस्समाः४१। गीतनृत्यपराधीरास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वृक्षदाः। पुष्करिण्यो विशेषेण खातान्यन्यानि यानि च४२। शुद्धोपलांतरचिता नद्यः पायसकर्द्दमाः। पुनर्दुग्धसफेनाश्च अन्नादिषड्रसान्विताः४३। मर्त्यलोके यथा भोग्यं पुनः स्वर्गे पुनर्भुवि। पुनरेव तदभ्यासात्खातमारामकं पुनः४४। यथा पुण्यादिकं कृत्वा स्वर्गमर्त्याधिपः पुमान्। अशक्तस्तु प्रपां कृत्वा पुष्करिण्याः फलं लभेत्४५। प्रपाया लक्षणं चात्र सर्वपापहरं परं। सर्वभोगप्रदं शुद्धं स्वर्गापवर्गदं स्थिरं४६। लक्षणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रपायाः कीर्तिवर्धनम्। निर्जलेऽध्वनि पृक्ते च स्थाने कृत्वा च मंडपम्४७। बहुपान्थे समायाते ग्रीष्मवर्षाशरत्स्वपि। अगरुकादि सौगंध्यं जलं पूगं सचंद्रकम्४८। आसनं चैव तांबूलं दत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। एवं वर्षत्रयेणैव पुष्करिण्याः फलं लभेत्४९। स्वर्गाच्चैवाच्युतो मर्त्यो देवैरपि प्रपूज्यते। मासमेकं तु यो दद्यात्प्रपां ग्रीष्मेथ निर्जले५० 1.58.50। कल्पैकं तु वसेत्स्वर्गे स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो महीयते। प्रपादास्तत्र तिष्ठंति यत्र पुष्करिणीप्रदाः५१। नोचेद्धर्मघटो देयः पुण्यः पापक्षयाय च। एष धर्मघटो ज्ञेयो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः५२। तवप्रसादात्सफलाः मम संतु मनोरथाः। स्वर्णमाषं चतुर्भागं दक्षिणार्थं घटस्य च५३। एवं वर्षत्रयेणैव प्रपादानफलं लभेत्। यः पठेच्छ्रावयेद्वापि पुष्करिण्यादिजं फलम्५४। साक्षात्पापाद्भवेन्मुक्तस्तत्प्रसादात्तु सद्गतिः। जनेषु श्रावयेद्यस्तु पुण्याख्यानमिदं शुभम्५५। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि सुरलोके स तिष्ठति५६। इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे पुष्करिण्यादिधर्मकीर्तनंनामाष्टपंचाशत्तमो। ऽध्यायः५८।
vyāsa uvāca- śākhināmeva sarveṣāṃ phalaṃ vakṣyāmi yādṛśam| tacchṛṇudhvaṃ mahābhāgā ropaṇe ca pṛthakpṛthak1| yastu ropayate tīre puṇyavṛkṣānsamaṃtataḥ| tasya puṇyaphalaṃ jñātuṃ kathituṃ naiva śakyate2| anyatra ropaṇaṃ kṛtvā śākhināṃ yatphalaṃ labhet| tato jalasamīpe tu lakṣakoṭiguṇaṃ bhavet3| svayaṃ puṣkariṇī tīre tvanaṃtaṃ phalamaśnute| tasmācchataguṇaṃ brūmaḥ śākhināṃ puṇyakāriṇām4| aśvattharopaṇaṃ kṛtvā jalāśayasamīpataḥ| yatphalaṃ labhate martyo na tatkratuśatairapi5| pataṃti yāni patrāṇi jale parvaṇi parvaṇi| tāni piṃḍasamānīha pitṝṇāmakṣayaṃ yayuḥ6| khādaṃti patagāstatra phalāni kāmato dhruvam| brahmabhakṣyasamaṃ tasya puṇyaṃ bhavati cākṣayam7| aśvatthenaiva bhakṣyeṇa ropaṇenaiva yatphalam| tadvai kratuśatairnaiva putraireva śatairapi8| uṣṇecchāyāṃ pragṛhṇaṃti gāvo devadvijātayaḥ| kartuḥ pitṛgaṇānāṃ ca svargo bhavati cākṣayaḥ9| kartuṃ svasthasya vai vighnamakṣayatvānna śakyate| tasmātsarvaprayatnena ropayedvṛkṣamādhavam10| ekaṃ vṛkṣaṃ samāropya naraḥ svargānna hīyate| tasmādeva mahāvṛkṣaṃ ropayadhvaṃ dvijottamāḥ11| jalānāṃ nikaṭe ramye rasānāṃ krayavikraye| mārge jalāśaye vṛkṣānropayedyo mahāśayaḥ12| aśvatthādīnsamāropya svargaṃ yāti manoramam| arcayitvā tu yatpuṇyaṃ pravakṣyāmi dvijātayaḥ13| snātvāśvatthaṃ spṛśedyastu sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate| asnāto yaḥ spṛśenmartyo labhate snānajaṃ phalam14| dṛṣṭvā ca nāśayetpāpaṃ spṛṣṭvā lakṣmīṃ prapadyate| pradakṣiṇe bhavedāyuḥ sadāśvattha namostu te15| caladdalāya vṛkṣāya sadā viṣṇusthitāya ca| bodhisatvāya yogyāya sadāśvattha namostu te16| aśvatthāya tu havyaṃ tu payo naivedyameva ca| puṣpaṃ dhūpaṃ dīpakaṃ ca datvā svargānna hīyate17| saputraṃ cākṣayaṃ viddhi dhanavṛddhiyaśaskaram| vijayaṃ mānadaṃ bhadramaśvatthasya prapūjanam18| yajjaptaṃ ca hutaṃ stotraṃ yantramaṃtrādikaṃ ca yat| sarvaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ proktaṃ mūle caladalasya ca19| yasya mūle sthito viṣṇurmadhye tiṣṭhati śaṃkaraḥ| agrabhāge sthito brahmā kastaṃ jagati nārcayet20| somavāre tvamāyāṃ ca snānaṃ yanmauninā kṛtam| dānasya gosahasrasya phalaṃ cāśvatthavaṃdane21| saptapradakṣiṇenaiva gavāmayutajaṃ phalam| pracurāllakṣakoṭiśca tasmātkāryā hi sā sadā22| yatkiṃciddīyate tatra phalamūlajalādikam| sarvaṃ taccākṣayaphalaṃ janmajanmasu jāyate23| ahośvatthasamo nāsti vṛkṣarūpī harirbhuvi| yathā pūjyo dvijo loke yathā gāvo yathāmarāḥ24| tathāśvatthavṛkṣarūpī devaḥ pūjyatamaḥ smṛtaḥ| ropaṇe rakṣaṇe sparśe pūjākarmaṇi vai sadā25| dadāti vittaṃ putrāṃśca svargaṃ mokṣaṃ punaḥ kramāt| kiṃcicchedaṃ tu yaḥ kuryādaśvatthasya tanau naraḥ26| kalpaikaṃ nirayaṃ bhuktvā cāṃḍālādau prajāyate| mūlacchedena tasyaiva sa ca yātyapunarbhavam27| puruṣāstasya tiṣṭhaṃti raurave ghoradarśane| aśvatthasyaikavṛkṣasya ropaṇe yatphalaṃ bhavet28| tathaiva caṃpakerke ca trayāṇāṃ ropaṇepi ca| aṣṭau bilvasya vṛkṣāśca nyagrodhāścaiva sapta ca29| niṃbasya daśavṛkṣāśca phalaṃ caiṣāṃ samaṃ bhavet| ekaikasya phalaṃ coktaṃ vṛkṣāṇāṃ ropaṇe dvijāḥ30| evaṃ budhvā tu dharmātmā yaḥ kuryātkṛtrimaṃ vanam| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca31| nākameti sa cūtasya samāropya sahasrakam| tato dvitriguṇenaiva nyūne vā pracurepi vā32| bhuṃkte bhuktvā punaḥ kuryānnṛpo vātha sadīśvaraḥ| svargaṃ bhogyaṃ tato rājyaṃ kalyāṇaṃ maṃgalaṃ śubham33| ārogyaṃ śauryasaṃpannamārāmādeva jāyate| phalāni yasya khādaṃti jaṃtavotha sahasraśaḥ34| āśritā vihagāḥ kīṭāḥ patagāḥ śalabhādayaḥ| chāyāśritāśca ye satvāstatsaṃkhyātāḥ pṛthagjanāḥ35| tasya kiṃkaratāṃ yāṃti śataśo devatārcitāḥ| ye ca vṛkṣā mahāsatvāssarve te devarūpiṇaḥ36| tadarcā pitṛvatkāryā śuśrūṣāṃ jalapiṃḍakam| martyaloke ca te putrāstasya janmani janmani37| surūpāḥ suvinītāśca sadāpuṇyakriyā śubhāḥ| evaṃ gaṇeśatāṃ yāṃti jaṃtavaścūtalagnakāḥ38| dhātrī harītakī cānye kaṭutiktāmlasaṃbhavāḥ| sarve cārāmataḥ śuddhāḥ phaladāḥ śivadāḥ sadā39| prāsādā yatra sauvarṇāḥ sarvaratnavibhūṣitāḥ| sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktā vimānāścānilopamāḥ40| śātakuṃbhamayā vṛkṣāḥ sadaiva sarvadāyinaḥ| sarvartusukhadāḥ saumyakanyakā apsarassamāḥ41| gītanṛtyaparādhīrāstatra tiṣṭhaṃti vṛkṣadāḥ| puṣkariṇyo viśeṣeṇa khātānyanyāni yāni ca42| śuddhopalāṃtaracitā nadyaḥ pāyasakarddamāḥ| punardugdhasaphenāśca annādiṣaḍrasānvitāḥ43| martyaloke yathā bhogyaṃ punaḥ svarge punarbhuvi| punareva tadabhyāsātkhātamārāmakaṃ punaḥ44| yathā puṇyādikaṃ kṛtvā svargamartyādhipaḥ pumān| aśaktastu prapāṃ kṛtvā puṣkariṇyāḥ phalaṃ labhet45| prapāyā lakṣaṇaṃ cātra sarvapāpaharaṃ paraṃ| sarvabhogapradaṃ śuddhaṃ svargāpavargadaṃ sthiraṃ46| lakṣaṇaṃ ca pravakṣyāmi prapāyāḥ kīrtivardhanam| nirjale'dhvani pṛkte ca sthāne kṛtvā ca maṃḍapam47| bahupānthe samāyāte grīṣmavarṣāśaratsvapi| agarukādi saugaṃdhyaṃ jalaṃ pūgaṃ sacaṃdrakam48| āsanaṃ caiva tāṃbūlaṃ datvā svargānna hīyate| evaṃ varṣatrayeṇaiva puṣkariṇyāḥ phalaṃ labhet49| svargāccaivācyuto martyo devairapi prapūjyate| māsamekaṃ tu yo dadyātprapāṃ grīṣmetha nirjale50 1.58.50| kalpaikaṃ tu vasetsvarge svargādbhraṣṭo mahīyate| prapādāstatra tiṣṭhaṃti yatra puṣkariṇīpradāḥ51| noceddharmaghaṭo deyaḥ puṇyaḥ pāpakṣayāya ca| eṣa dharmaghaṭo jñeyo brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakaḥ52| tavaprasādātsaphalāḥ mama saṃtu manorathāḥ| svarṇamāṣaṃ caturbhāgaṃ dakṣiṇārthaṃ ghaṭasya ca53| evaṃ varṣatrayeṇaiva prapādānaphalaṃ labhet| yaḥ paṭhecchrāvayedvāpi puṣkariṇyādijaṃ phalam54| sākṣātpāpādbhavenmuktastatprasādāttu sadgatiḥ| janeṣu śrāvayedyastu puṇyākhyānamidaṃ śubham55| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi suraloke sa tiṣṭhati56| iti śrīpādmapurāṇe prathame sṛṣṭikhaṃḍe puṣkariṇyādidharmakīrtanaṃnāmāṣṭapaṃcāśattamo| 'dhyāyaḥ58|
English translation
Vyāsa said :
1. I shall (now) tell you what the fruit of (planting) trees is. O illustrious ones, listen to it. And also listen to the fruit derived from planting (trees) singly.
2. It is not possible to know or to narrate the meritorious fruit earned by that man who plants auspicious trees all round.
3. The fruit that a man would get by planting trees near water is a lakh crore times more than the fruit that he would get by planting them somewhere else.
4. He who plants it on the bank of a lake gets unending fruit. We say that hundredfold more is the fruit (that one gets) by planting meritorious trees.
5. A man does not obtain that fruit even by hundreds of sacrifices which he gets by planting an Asvattha (fig) tree on the bank of a pond.
6. The leaves (of the fig tree) falling in the water (of the pond) on the parvan [1] days are like the rice balls offered to the manes and bear inexhaustible fruit.
7. The fruit (of the fig tree) are eatens [eaten?] by birds freely and like the food eaten by Brāhmaṇas (at a śrāddha ) they give inexhaustible merit.
8. The fruit that one obtains by planting a fig tree fit to be eaten (exceeds) not only the fruit of performing a hundred sacrifices, but even of having a hundred sons.
9. In the hot (season) cows, deities, brāhmaṇas receive shadow (from the tree). Eternal heaven is had by the hosts of the manes of the planter (i.e. the manes of the man who plants the holy fig tree live in heaven eternally).
10. Due to the holy fig tree being eternal there cannot be any difficulty that would befall the planter. Therefore, making all efforts a man should plant this holy fig tree.
11. By planting one tree a man is not abandoned (i.e. does not fall) from heaven. Therefore, O best brāhmaṇas, plant (this) great tree.
12-13. He who, the large-hearted one, plants trees like the holy fig tree near the charming vicinity of (reservoirs of) water, at the place where drinks are bought and sold, on the path or (near) a tank , goes to the lovely heaven after planting them. O brāhmaṇas, I shall now tell you what merit (a man gets) by worshipping the holy fig tree.
14. He who touches the holy fig tree after his bath is free from all sins. He who without bathing touches it gets the fruit due from a bath.
15-16. By seeing it (i.e. when it is seen) it destroys sin; it gives wealth by (i.e. on) touching it. Long life would be (obtained) by going round it while keeping it to one’s right. (A man should recite the hymn;) ‘O holy fig tree, I always salute you. I always salute the holy fig tree [2] whose leaves are shaking, in whom Viṣṇu always resides, and who is fit (to be saluted).’
17. By offering (i.e. he who offers) to the holy fig tree oblations, water, an offering of eatables, flowers, incense, and lamp, one is not abandoned (i.e. does not fall) from heaven.
18. Remember that worship of the holy fig tree gives eternal wealth, prosperity and fame along with sons, as well as success and honour.
19. All that muttering (of hymns)done, all that offering made, all the hymns of praise sung, all mystical diagrams used as amulets and all sacred prayers etc. recited at the root of the holy fig tree is said to give the fruit which is crore times greater.
20. Who in the world would not worship it at whose root resides Viṣṇu, in whose middle part stays Śiva , and at whose top lives Brahmā ?
21. The fruit that one gets by observing silence, bathing and saluting the holy fig tree on a Monday or a new moon day is the same as is had by making a gift of a thousand cows.
22. By going round it, while keeping it to the right, the fruit that is obtained is (the same as obtained by giving away) a myriad of cows. By going many times round it while keeping it to one’s right the fruit is a lakh crore times greater; therefore one should always go round it while keeping it to one’s right.
23. Whatever, fruits, roots, water etc., is offered there (i.e. at its root), gives an eternal fruit in many births.
24-25a. Oh! there is no other form of Viṣṇu on the earth like this tree-form, viz. the holy fig tree. As in the world a brāhmaṇa is adorable or cows and deities are adorable, so is the god in the form of the holy fig tree most adorable.
25b-26a. When it is planted, preserved, touched and worshipped, it always gives in (that) order, wealth, sons, heaven and salvation.
26b-27a. A man who makes cut in the body of the holy fig tree is born in the cāṇḍāla and other (castes) after having suffered (i.e. lived in) a hell for a kalpa .
27b-28a. By cutting its roots he is never reborn (i.e. eternally lives in hell). Men stand (by) him in (the hell called) Raurava of a fearful sight.
28b-29a. That fruit which is (obtained) by planting (just) one holy fig tree is also obtained by planting three trees (i.e. plants) of campaka and arka (i.e. the sun plant).
29b-30. The fruit of planting eight bilva trees, seven nyagrodha trees and ten nimba trees is the same. O brāhmaṇas, I have told you the fruit obtained by planting each one of (these) trees.
31. He, a religious-minded man, who, knowing this, prepares an artificial forest (i.e. plants trees) goes to (i.e. lives in) heaven for crores of thousands and crores of hundreds of kalpas .
32-33a. (He gets the same fruit) by (planting) a thousand mango trees. Or he enjoys double or triple fruit or that which is smaller or greater (than that); and after having enjoyed it he would be made a king or a good lord.
33b-35. Enjoyable heaven, happy, lucky, auspicious kingdom, good health endowed with heroism come from (the construction of) a garden, the fruit (of the trees) of which are eaten by thousands of beings, birds, insects, or moths etc. that resort to them, or beings resorting to their shadows and other persons equalling that number.
36-38a. Hundreds of venerable deities become his servants. All the trees possessing vitality are of the form of deities. They should be worshipped as the manes (are worshipped), and should be served (as the manes are), and water and piṇḍas should be offered (as they are offered to the manes). In every birth on the earth, they are born as his handsome and very modest sons.
38b. (In his house) auspicious and meritorious rites are always (performed). Thus the beings sticking to the mango tree become the lords of the attendants of Śiva.
39. All the trees like emblic myrobalan, yellow myrobalan and others producing pungent, bitter and sour (fruits), become pure due to (their being planted in) a garden, give fruits, and always give auspicious things.
40-43. Those who give (i.e. plant) trees go to that place where there are golden palaces adorned with all (kinds of) jewels, where there are aeroplanes resembling the wind (in speed), where the trees are full of gold and always give everything and give pleasure in all seasons, where the maidens resembling celestial nymphs are intent upon singing and dancing, where there are tanks and other pools and also rivers having mud in the form of milk and decked with pure stones, having foam of milk, and endowed with the (objects of) six tastes.
44-45. He gets the same enjoyment in heaven as on the earth, and again (the same) on the earth; and again due to the old habit he constructs a tank or a garden. Doing such meritorious deeds the man becomes the lord of heaven and of human beings. A man who is incapable (of constructing a tank) gets the fruit of constructing a tank by erecting a place to distribute water to travellers.
46. Here (i.e. in this world) the quality of a place to distribute water to the travellers greatly removes all sins; it gives all enjoyments, is pure, is steady and gives (i.e. leads to) heaven and salvation.
47-49a. I shall narrate to you the characteristic(s) of a place to distribute water to the public, which enhances one’s fame. A man, who gives fragrant substances like agallochum, water, betel-nut with camphor, seat and tāmbūla , after having erected temporary hall at a place where there is no water and which is mixed with the sounds (of people i.e. which is a crowded place) where many travellers come in summer, rainy season and even in autumn, does not fall from heaven.
49b-51a. If this is done for three years, the fruit (obtained) would be like that of (the construction of) a tank. He does not fall even from heaven, and is honoured even by gods. He who gives (water) at such a temporary hall for a month during summer when there is no (i.e. when there is scarcity of) water, would live in heaven for a kalpa, and fallen from heaven, is honoured (on the earth).
51b. Those who give (water to travellers at such) temporary halls stay there where the givers of (i.e. those who construct) tanks live.
52. Otherwise (i.e. if the erection of such a hall is not possible), one should offer an auspicious ‘dharmaghaṭa’ [3] for the destruction of(one’s) sins. This should be known as a meritorious dharmaghaṭa which is of the nature of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva.
53. (One should pray to the ghaṭa as:) ‘May my desires be fulfilled due to your favour.’ One should also give a māṣa [4] of gold with the jar as dakṣiṇā .
54-56. Thus (i.e. if this is done) for three years only, one would get the fruit of offering (water at) a temporary hall. He, who would recite or make others hear (i.e. recite to others) the fruit got from (the construction of) a tank etc. would evidently be free from sins, and would get beatitude by its favour. He who recites this auspicious meritorious account among (i.e. to) people, lives in heaven for thousands of crores of kalpas.
[1]: [1] : Parvan—The days of the four changes of the moon, i.e. the eighth fourteenth day of each half month, and the days of the full and new moon.
[2]: [2] : Bodhisattva, like Caladdala, is one of the names of the holy fig tree.
[3]: [3] : Dharmaghaṭa—A jar of fragrant water offered daily (to a brāhmaṇa) in the month of Vaiśākha.
[4]: [4] : Māṣa—A particular weight o gold.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 36891, revision 334570 (2022-04-06T03:22:21Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364181.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.