Matsya Purana 284: adhyāyaḥ 284

Matsya said—“I shall now tell you about the sacred Dharâdâna that drives away all the ills and sins of the devotee and promotes his welfare”—1

The Yajamân (sacrificer) should make an earth of gold in imitation of Jambudvîpa This golden Jambudvīpa, having mountains, with Meru in the centre, with eight Lokapâlas and nine Varṣas, with rivers and oceans full of gems, conjoint with Vasu, Rudra and the Sun should be made of 1,000 palas or 500 or 300, or 200 or 100 palas of gold It should however be more than five palas The Lokapâlas should be invoked as in course of the Tulâdāna and Ṛitvikas, pandal ornaments, clothings, etc, should be similarly arranged.—2-6

On the altar (Vedi) the black deer skin should be spread and over it should be made a mound of sesamum Above the heap should be placed the image of the earth and round it should be placed salt, etc, along with 18 kinds of grains Then 8 pitchers full of water should be placed covered over with silk awning as well as various kinds of fruits and coconnuts and clothings Afterwards the devotee should put on white clothes, white garlands and taking a handful of flowers,—7-10

Recite the following mantras at an auspicious moment:—"O Mother Universe! You are the refuge of all the Devas, I therefore salute you You protect all the Jīvas, therefore protect me O Vasundhare! You hold the Vasus all the beings, pray protect me O Achale! Even the four faced Lord Brahmâ does not adequately know your limit Therefore you are Ananta My salutations to you O, one without any beginning or an end, Guard me from the perils of this vast and fearful ocean of the world You are with Viṣṇu in the form of Lakshmī, with Śiva in the form of Gaurī, with Brahmâ in the form of Sâvitrī You are the light of the Sun and the Moon, intellect in Vṛihaspati, Medhâ (intelligence) retentive faculty in the Munis—11 15

"O mother! You are fixed, you pervade all the universe, therefore you are called Viśvambharâ Devī! you are known by the names Dhṛiti, Sthiti, Kshamâ, Kshaunī, Pṛithvī Vasumatī and Rasâ Pray do protect me by all your above-mentioned forms' Afterwards the devotee should give away the Devī to the Brâhmaṇas One-half or one-fourth of the earth made of gold should be given to the preceptor (Guru) and the rest should be given away to the Ṛitvikas Then the Brâhmaṇas should be dismissed after being saluted—16-18

In such a way one who gives away that golden universe in an auspicious moment attains bliss and goes to the realm of Nârāyaṇa seated in a Vimân bright as the Sun and decorated with beautiful network and bells where he remains for 3 Kalpas and liberates his manes, sons, grand-children for twenty one generations One who reads this or hears it is also liberated from all sins and goes to the realm of Śiva resided by thousands of Devas where nymphs yearn for him

Here ends the 284th Chapter on giving away the golden earth