Story of Merudāna

Merudānas (gifts of heaps like Meru) are all very effective and productive of good results. The Merus for the dānas are the following:

Dhānyameru.

A dhānyameru or a thousand droṇas of dhānya (grain) is considered the best; a dāna of half that quantity (i.e. 500) was fair and half of the latter, the worst.

Lavaṇameru.

A dāna of sixteen droṇas of lavaṇa (salt) is considered to be Uttama (best); with half of that as Madhyama (fair) and with half of the latter as Adhama (worst).

Guḍameru.

One with ten bhāras of guḍa (jaggery) is considered Uttama; with half of that as Madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.

Svarṇameru.

A svarṇameru with a thousand palas of Svarṇa (gold) is considered Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.

Tilameru.

One with ten droṇas of tila (gingelly) is considered Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.

Kārpāsameru.

A Meru with twenty bhāras of Kārpāsa (cotton) is considered Uttama; with ten as madhyama and with five as adhama.

Ghṛtameru.

One with twenty jars of ghṛta (ghee) is Uttama; with ten, madhyama and five, adhama.

Rajatameru.

One with ten thousand palas of silver is deemed Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.

Śarkarāmeru.

One with eight bhāras of sugar is deemed Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama. (Chapter 210, Agni Purāṇa).