grass spread out on the ground, the sacrificer pours libations upon it.
Upon also the pores of an ant-hill, upon the right ear of a goat, upon a
piece of level earth, upon the waters of a Tirtha, or on the hand of a
Brahmana, if libations are poured, the illustrious deity of fire becomes
gratified and regards it as a source of his own aggrandisement as also
that of the deities through his. Hence, it is that we have heard that all
the deities regard Agni as their refuge and are devoted to him. Agni
sprang from Brahman, and from Agni sprang gold.[394] Hence, it has been
heard by us, that those persons observant of righteousness that make
gifts of gold are regarded as giving away all the deities. The man who
makes gifts of gold attains to a very high end. Regions of blazing
effulgence are his. Verily, O Bhargava, he becomes installed as the king
of kings in heaven. That person who, at sunrise, makes a gift of gold
according to the ordinance and with proper Mantras, succeeds in warding
off the evil consequences foreshadowed by ominous dreams. The man who, as
soon as the sun has risen, makes a gift of gold becomes cleansed of all
his sins. He who makes a gift of gold at midday destroys all his future
sins. He who with restrained soul, makes a gift of gold at the second
twilight succeeds in attaining to a residence with Brahman and the deity
of wind and Agni and Soma in their respective regions. Such a man attains
to auspicious fame in regions of great felicity that belong to Indra
himself. Attaining to great fame in this world also, and cleansed of all
his sins, he sports in joy and happiness. Verily, such a man attains to
many other regions of happiness and becomes unequalled for glory and
fame. His course perfectly unobstructed, he succeeds in going everywhere
at will. He has never to fall down from the regions to which he attains
and the glory he acquires becomes great. Indeed, by making gifts of gold
one attains to innumerable regions of felicity all of which he enjoys for
eternity. That man who, having ignited a fire at sunrise, makes gifts of
gold in view of the observance of a particular vow, succeeds in attaining
to the fruition of all his wishes. It has been said that gold is
identical with Agni. The gift of gold, therefore, is productive of great
felicity. The gift of gold leads to the possession of those merits and
accomplishments that are desired, and cleanses the heart.[395] I have
thus told thee, O sinless one, th