Skandapurana 3.2.33

Rāma said:

"I shall carry out the restoration in accordance with Śrīmātā's word.

Grant me permission, so that I may give gifts to you as is fitting.

Gifts must be given to a worthy recipient after performing an excellent sacrifice, O twice-born."

Nothing should be given to an unworthy recipient; what is given [to such a one] brings no happiness.

A worthy recipient, like a boat, always carries both across;

an unworthy recipient should be known as like a lump of iron, destined to sink.

Brahminhood does not arise merely by birth, O twice-born ones!

Action is powerful in the world; for one devoid of action, whence can come any fruit?

Therefore, the most venerable brahmins are those who speak the truth.

When a sacrificial task arises, may you always show grace.”

Brahmā said:

Then, having gathered together and consulted with one another,

some among them said to Rāma: “We live by gleaning grains of corn.

Relying on supreme contentment, devoted to righteousness, we abide here;

we have no need to practice accepting gifts.

An oil-presser is equal to ten slaughter-houses; a tavern keeper is equal to ten oil-pressers;

a courtesan is equal to ten tavern keepers; a king is equal to ten courtesans.

Accepting a gift from a king is dreadful, O Rāma; this is true, there is no doubt.

Therefore, we do not desire an acceptance of gifts that brings fear.”

Some twice-born ones had provisions for only one day; some subsisted on what came unsolicited;

some twice-born ones had grain stored only in a single jar; some were intent on the six priestly duties.

All had been established by the Trinity, having diverse dispositions and distinct qualities.

Some of them spoke thus: “Without the command of the Trinity,

how could we, twice-born ones, accept any gift?

We do not take betel, nor do we accept women, nor do we eat what is spoken of as a donation.”

Having reflected then together with the great-souled Vasiṣṭha,

Rāma, along with his guru, remembered Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the other gods.

As soon as they were remembered, the gods came to that region,

surrounded by hosts of aerial chariots resplendent as ten million suns.

They were duly worshipped by Rāma with the highest joy,

and everything was explained by Rāma of exceedingly noble intellect:

“By the command of the tutelary goddess, I am undertaking the renovation

in Dharmāraṇya, the sacred field of Hari, near the Dharmakūpa.”

Then all those brahmins bowed down to the Trinity,

filled with a great multitude of joy, their desires attained.

They worshipped them with faith through the rites of water for hospitality, water for the feet, and the rest.

Having rested for a moment, those gods, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the others,

spoke to Rāma, who possessed great power and stood with hands joined in modesty.

The gods said:

“O Rāma, since those who hated the gods, Rāvaṇa and the others, were slain by you,

we are all pleased by that, O ornament of the Solar race!

Renovate the great sacred place, and obtain immense renown!”

Having received their command, the son of Daśaratha was pleased;

desiring an infinitely multiplied fruit from the restoration, the lord of the earth

then commenced the work in the presence of those gods.

Having first constructed an auspicious raised terrace like a great mountain,

upon it he built many outer halls and household halls,

and numerous assembly halls of beautiful appearance,

furnished with treasures, filled with household utensils,

filled with crores of gold, supplied with fluids, garments, and other goods,

rich in wealth and grain, and stocked with all kinds of minerals.

Having had all this prepared, he then gave it to the brahmins.

To each one individually he gave ten milch cows;

he granted one hundred and forty-four villages

to the learned twice-born brahmins, did Rāma, the son of Daśaratha.

These best among the twice-born were established by the triad of lords headed by the creator Brahmā;

therefore their fame as 'knowers of the three Vedas' arose in the world.

Having given such a wonderful gift to the twice-born,

the lord of men considered himself to have achieved his purpose.

Those who had been established of old by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śaṃkara,

were honored by the descendant of Raghu when the restoration was completed.

And thirty-six thousand Gobhujas, who were excellent merchants,

were assigned by the gods, headed by Hari and Hara, to serve them.

And by the pleased Śarva, conscious life was given to them;

a white horse and fly-whisks were given, and a spotless sword was given.

Then indeed they were instructed to serve the twice-born:

"At weddings and other rites, let there always be the supreme blessing with fly-whisks;

the auspicious sword, my emblem resting in the hand, must then be held.

Worship of the guru and repeatedly of the family goddess must always be performed.

When ceremonies for prosperity have arrived, a prosperity-yielding priestly fee [is to be given];

on the eleventh lunar day or on Saturday, a gift must be given to a twice-born,

and must be granted to the young and old, by my, Rāma's, command."

And those who were pure in the provinces, devoted to the highest mercantile livelihood,

one hundred and twenty-five thousand were given, protectors of Rāma's edict;

they are to be known as regional rulers, kings, lords of provinces.

The best of merchants were assigned by Rāma to serve the twice-born.

Rāma gave a pair of fly-whisks and a sword as well.

According to the rite of consecration, the Sun, master of the lineage,

and Brahmā accompanied by the four Vedas, he installed;

and Śrīmātā the great Śakti, as well as Hari the lord of Śūnya,

and stationed at the southern gate to destroy obstacles and misfortunes,

he installed the Gaṇa, and likewise other deities.

Seven-storied palaces were caused to be built by that hero.

Whatever auspicious rite of an auspicious nature one performs—

when a son is born, at a birth-rite, at the first feeding, or at tonsure,

at a hundred-thousand oblation sacrifice, at a ten-million oblation sacrifice, and in sacrificial rites,

at rites for house-building and the pacification of planets, and when a great festival arrives—

whatever gift one makes, whether wealth or excellent grain,

cloth or cows, O lord, or gold and silver,

to brahmins or śūdras, and to the poor, helpless, and blind:

a person should continuously first give a share to Bakulārka

and to Śrīmātā for the successful completion of the rite without obstacles.

The man who transacting otherwise transgresses my word,

an obstacle will befall that rite of his; there is no doubt.

Having spoken thus, then Rāma, with a delighted inner heart,

[built shrines] for the gods, stepped wells, and very beautiful ramparts

equipped with fortress-defences, and wide main streets,

and constructed ponds, lakes, and pools,

righteous stepwells, ordinary wells, and others made for the gods.

Extending all this in the delightful Dharmāraṇya,

with supreme faith he gave it again to the leaders learned in the three Vedas.

Whoever should annul Rāma's edict inscribed on a copper plate,

his ancestors fall into hell, and no posterity comes forth.

Then Rāma, summoning the son of the wind, spoke these words:

"O son of the wind, great hero, your worship shall take place.

For the protection of this sacred field, make your dwelling here."

Bowingly, the son of Añjanā placed that instruction upon his head.

Having then carried out the restoration, [Rāma] had achieved his purpose.

Having then worshipped Śrīmātā with a serene inner self,

having bowed to Śrīmātā and to the other sacred fords, the scion of Raghu [rested].

Those gods too, led by Brahmā, departed to their own abodes,

giving a blessing to Rāma: "Your desire will be fulfilled.

A lovely deed has been performed by you, O Rāma, in the settlement and honoring of the brahmins;

affection toward us too has been shown by you, the virtuous one."

Thus praising him, those gods returned to their own abodes.

Thus ends the thirty-third chapter, named 'Description of the Return to the City of Śrī Rāmacandra', in the Dharmāraṇyamāhātmya in the first half of the third Brahmakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.