प्रासादं कुरुते यस्तु विष्णुलिंगस्य मानवः। त्रिकांडं पंचकाडं च सुशोभं सुघटान्वितम्
Whoever constructs a temple for the liṅga of Viṣṇu—one that is three or five stories high, beautiful, and well-built—
इतोऽधिकं तु यो दद्यान्मृन्मयं वा दृषन्मयम्। वसुवृत्तिसुपूर्णं च सुरम्यं दिव्यभूतलम्
Or if someone gives even more, whether made of clay or stone, filled with abundant wealth and exceedingly delightful, with a divine foundation—
प्रतिष्ठाकर्मसंपन्नं किङ्करादिभिरावृतम्। सुलिंगमिष्टदेवस्य विष्णोरेव विशेषतः
Complete with the rite of installation, attended by servants and others, for the liṅga of the chosen deity—especially for Viṣṇu—
कृत्वा च विष्णुसायुज्यं समाप्नोति नरोत्तमः। तथैव प्रतिमां कृत्वा हरेरन्यतरस्य च
Having done this, the best of men attains union with Viṣṇu; likewise, by making an image of Hari or any other form—
कृत्वा देवकुलं रम्यं यत्फलं लभते नरः। न तन्मखसहस्रैस्तु दानैर्भुवि व्रतादिभिः
The fruit a man gains by building a beautiful temple for the deity cannot be obtained on earth by a thousand sacrifices, gifts, or vows.
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च। प्रासादे रत्नसंयुक्ते संपूर्णद्रव्यसंकुले
For thousands of millions of aeons, and even hundreds of millions more, in a temple adorned with jewels and filled with all kinds of riches—
स वसेत्कामगे याने सर्वलोकमनोहरे। स्वर्गाच्च्युतो भवेद्राजा सार्वभौमो गुणैर्वशी
He dwells in a vehicle of his choosing, enchanting to all worlds; when he falls from heaven, he becomes a universal monarch, master of virtues.
शिवलिंगे तु प्रासादं कारयित्वा स्वशक्तितः। यदुक्तं विष्णुलिंगे तु तज्ज्ञेयं शिववेश्मनि
By having a temple built for the liṅga of Śiva, according to one's ability, the same should be understood as said for the house of Śiva as for the liṅga of Viṣṇu.
भुंक्ते भोगं महाभागो मनःशर्मकरं परम्। रामाभिरामसंपूर्णं सर्वतः सुखदं दिवि५० 1.59.
He enjoys supreme pleasures, bringing the highest joy to the mind, filled with the delight of Rāma, granting happiness everywhere in heaven.
उर्व्यामक्षयभोग्यानि नृपो वाथ महाधनी। हरस्य प्रतिमां यश्च कृत्वा देवगृहे नरः
On earth, he enjoys inexhaustible pleasures, whether as a king or a wealthy man, who has made an image of Hara in the temple of the gods.
सुलिंगां वा सुरूपां वा कल्पकोटिं वसेद्दिवि। स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो भवेद्राजा धनी पूज्यतमोपि वा
Or, having made a beautiful liṅga, he dwells in heaven for a million aeons; if he falls from heaven, he becomes a wealthy and highly honored king.
देवीलिंगेषु सर्वेषु कृत्वा देवगृहं नरः। सुरत्वं प्राप्नुयाल्लोके देव्यास्सर्वसुखोद्भवे
Whoever builds a temple for any of the liṅgas of the goddess attains divinity in this world, the source of all happiness from the goddess.
भृशमच्युततामेति सुखमेति निरामयम्। रत्नसंसृष्टप्रासादे मणिकर्बुरभूतले
He attains complete union with the imperishable, and happiness free from affliction, in a temple adorned with jewels, with a floor of crystal.
रामायुतप्रसंभोग्ये देवीसंसृष्टनिर्भये। नृत्यगीतपरे रम्ये सर्वेंद्रियमनोरमे
Enjoying pleasures with thousands of Rāmas, fearless in the company of the goddess, devoted to dance and song, delightful to all the senses and the mind—
रत्नमर्द्दलतालाढ्ये सर्वदा स्त्रीजनेरिते। निर्मले सुखदे रम्ये रत्नानां सुशुभे गृहे
Always surrounded by women, with jewels, drums, and cymbals resounding, in a pure, delightful, and beautiful house shining with gems—
तथैव प्रतिमायाश्च देव्याः प्रासादमुत्तमम्। नियुतं कल्पकोटीनां स्वर्लोकमेति मानवः
Likewise, by building a supreme temple for the image of the goddess, a man attains the world of heaven for a hundred million aeons.
स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो भवेद्भूपो देवीभक्तिपरायणः। एवं च जन्मसाहस्रं स्मर एव भवेद्भुवि
If he falls from heaven, he becomes a king devoted to the goddess; and for a thousand births, he is remembered on earth.
प्रासादं गाणपत्यं च देव्या वा प्रीतिमान्नरः। कृत्वा सुरगणानां च पूजितो दिवि जायते
A man who, with devotion, builds a temple for Gaṇapati or the goddess, or for the hosts of gods, is worshipped in heaven.
तथैव राजतामेति भोग्यान्देवीपुरे तथा। अविघ्नं सर्वकार्येषु सदैव गणपो यथा
In the same way, she attains sovereignty and enjoyment in the city of the gods, and all her undertakings are always unobstructed, just as for the leader of the Gaṇas.
आज्ञानस्खलिता तस्य सुरासुरनरेषु च। तथैव सौरप्रासादे फलमेति नरोत्तमः
If, by mistake, his command is transgressed among gods, demons, or humans, still, in the solar palace, the best of men attains the fruit.
अरोगी सुप्रसन्नात्मा कामदेवसमप्रभः। वरदः सर्वलोकेषु यथा ब्रध्नस्तथा हि सः
He becomes free from disease, with a mind full of joy, radiant like Kāma, the god of love, and a bestower of boons in all worlds, just like Bradhna.
सुरस्य प्रतिमायां च गृहं कृत्वा शिलामयम्। कल्पकोटिशतं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गमुर्वीश्वरो भवेत्
By building a stone house for the image of a god, after enjoying a hundred million aeons, he becomes lord of heaven and earth.
विष्ण्वादि सर्वदेवानामर्चनं यत्पृथक्पृथक्। प्रत्येकं संप्रवक्ष्यामि नराणां हित हेतवे
I will now explain separately, for the benefit of men, the worship of all the gods, beginning with Viṣṇu, each one in turn.
घृतप्रदीपं यो दद्यात्मासमेकमहर्निशम्। दिव्यं वर्षायुतं स्वर्गे पूजितो देवसत्तमैः
Whoever offers a single ghee lamp, equal to himself, day and night, is worshipped by the best of the gods in heaven for ten thousand divine years.
घृतस्नानं तथा लिंगे यः कुर्याद्भुवि मानवः। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि मासैके लभते नरः
Likewise, a man who bathes the liṅga with ghee on earth obtains, in just one month, the fruit of a thousand million aeons.
तिलतैलप्रदीपस्य तथान्यस्यार्द्धकं फलम्। मासैकं जलदानस्य फलेनेश्वरतां व्रजेत्
The fruit of offering a sesame oil lamp, or any other, is half as much; by giving water for one month, a man attains lordship.
धूपदानेन गंधर्वं चंदने द्विगुणं भवेत्। मृगमदागरुसत्वस्य दाने बहुफलं भवेत्
By offering incense, one attains the status of a Gandharva; with sandalwood, the fruit is doubled; by giving musk or agaru, the reward is manifold.
मालापुष्पप्रदानेन नरः स्यात्त्रिदशेश्वरः। शीते तूलपटीं दत्वा सर्वदुःखात्प्रमुच्यते
By offering garlands and flowers, a man becomes lord of the gods; by giving a cotton blanket in winter, he is freed from all suffering.
जन्मजन्मसु लभ्येत उष्णे च शीतलां पटीम्। दत्वा च नैवसीदेत शक्त्या वस्त्रं ददाति यः
In every birth, he obtains a cool cloth in heat; and one who gives a garment according to his ability never suffers.
चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणं च वर्ष्मवेष्टं सुशोभनम्। पिधानं चरणानां च दत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते
By giving a beautiful garment four cubits long, to cover the body and feet, one does not fall from heaven.