Sacred Texts Hinduism Index Previous Next
1. The digger of a well has (the consequences of) the half of his evil acts taken from him as soon as the water comes forth from it.
2. A digger of pools is for ever freed from thirst, and attains the world of Varuna.
3. A giver of water shall never stiffer from thirst (in heaven, for a hundred Yugas or ages of the world).
4. He who plants trees will have those trees for his sons in a future existence.
5. A giver of trees gladdens the gods by (offering up) their blossoms to them.
6. (He gladdens) his guests by (giving) their fruits to them;
7. (He gladdens) travellers with their shade;
[XCI. 14. Y. I, 211.--15, 16. M. IV, 229.--17, 18. Y. I, 209.]
8. (He gladdens) the manes with the water (trickling down from their leaves) when it rains.
9. A maker of dikes attains heaven.
10. A builder of temples enters the dwelling-place of that deity to whom he has erected a temple.
11. He who causes (a temple erected by another) to be whitewashed acquires brilliant fame.
12. He who causes (such a temple) to be painted with (a different) colour (such as blue, yellow, and others) attains the world of the Gandharvas.
13. By giving flowers he becomes fortunate.
14. By giving ointments he acquires renown.
15. By giving a lamp he obtains an excellent eyesight and exquisite happiness.
16. By giving food he obtains strength.
17. By removing the remains of an offering to a deity he obtains the same reward as for giving a cow.
18. The same reward is also obtained by scouring a temple, by smearing it (with cow-dung and the like), by removing the leavings of the food of a Brâhmana, by washing his feet, and by nursing him when sick.
19. He who consecrates anew a well, or a park, or a pool, or a temple (when they have been soiled) obtains the same reward as he who first made them.