The Dispute between King Chola and Vishnudasa

Verse 1 (skanda.2.123.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ इत्थं तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मदत्तः सविस्मयः ॥ प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमौ वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

nārada uvāca itthaṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dharmadattaḥ savismayaḥ || praṇamya daṇḍavadbhūmau vākyametaduvāca ha

Narada said: Hearing these words, Dharmadatta, astonished, prostrated full length on the ground and spoke these words —

Verse 2 (skanda.2.123.2)

॥धर्मदत्त उवाच॥ आराधयंति सर्वेऽपि विष्णुं भक्ताऽर्तिनाशनम् ॥ यज्ञैर्दानैर्व्रतैस्तीर्थैस्तपोभिश्च यथाविधि

dharmadatta uvāca ārādhayaṁti sarve'pi viṣṇuṁ bhaktā'rtināśanam || yajñairdānairvrataistīrthaistapobhiśca yathāvidhi

Dharmadatta said: "All people worship Vishnu, the destroyer of his devotees' afflictions, duly, through sacrifices, gifts, vows, pilgrimages, and austerities.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.123.3)

विष्णुप्रीतिकरं तेषां किंचित्सान्निध्यकारकम् ॥ यत्कृत्वा तानि चीर्णानि सर्वाण्यपि भवंति हि

viṣṇuprītikaraṁ teṣāṁ kiṁcitsānnidhyakārakam || yatkṛtvā tāni cīrṇāni sarvāṇyapi bhavaṁti hi

Among all these, there is something that especially pleases Vishnu and brings about nearness to him; by doing which, all those other observances become fruitful.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.123.4)

॥गणावूचतुः॥ साधु पृष्टं त्वया विप्र शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः ॥ सेतिहासकथां पुण्यां कथ्यमानां पुराभवाम्

gaṇāvūcatuḥ sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā vipra śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ || setihāsakathāṁ puṇyāṁ kathyamānāṁ purābhavām

The two ganas said: "Well have you asked, O brahmin; listen with a focused mind to this sacred tale, told with its history, of what once occurred long ago.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.123.5)

कांचिपुर्यां पुरा चोलश्चक्रवर्ती नृपोऽभवत् ॥ यस्याख्ययैव ते देशाश्चोला इति प्रथां गताः

kāṁcipuryāṁ purā colaścakravartī nṛpo'bhavat || yasyākhyayaiva te deśāścolā iti prathāṁ gatāḥ

Long ago, in Kanchipuri, there was a universal monarch named Chola, by whose very name those lands came to be known as Chola.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.123.6)

यस्मिञ्छासति भूचक्रं दरिद्रो वाऽपि दुःखितः ॥ पापबुद्धिः सरुग्वापि नैव कश्चिदभून्नरः

yasmiñchāsati bhūcakraṁ daridro vā'pi duḥkhitaḥ || pāpabuddhiḥ sarugvāpi naiva kaścidabhūnnaraḥ

While he ruled the circle of the earth, there was no man who was poor, sorrowful, sinful-minded, or diseased.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.123.7)

यस्याप्युन्नतयज्ञस्य ताम्रपर्ण्यास्तटावुभौ ॥ सुवर्णयूपैः शोभाढ्यावास्तां चैत्ररथोपमौ

yasyāpyunnatayajñasya tāmraparṇyāstaṭāvubhau || suvarṇayūpaiḥ śobhāḍhyāvāstāṁ caitrarathopamau

His grand sacrifices adorned both banks of the Tamraparni river with golden sacrificial posts, making them resemble the celestial Chaitraratha grove.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.123.8)

स कदाचिदगाद्राजा ह्यनंतशयनं द्विज ॥ यत्राऽसौ जगतां नाथो योगनिद्रामुपाश्रितः

sa kadācidagādrājā hyanaṁtaśayanaṁ dvija || yatrā'sau jagatāṁ nātho yoganidrāmupāśritaḥ

O brahmin, once that king went to Anantashayana, where the Lord of the worlds lay absorbed in yogic slumber.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.123.9)

तत्र श्रीरमणं देवं संपूज्य विधिवन्नृपः ॥ मणिमुक्ताफलैर्दिव्यैः स्वर्णपुष्पैश्च शोभनैः

tatra śrīramaṇaṁ devaṁ saṁpūjya vidhivannṛpaḥ || maṇimuktāphalairdivyaiḥ svarṇapuṣpaiśca śobhanaiḥ

There the king duly worshipped that god, the beloved of Shri, with divine jewels and pearls and beautiful golden flowers.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.123.10)

प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमावुपविष्टः स तत्र वै ॥ तावद्ब्राह्मणमायांतमपश्यद्देवसन्निधौ

praṇamya daṇḍavadbhūmāvupaviṣṭaḥ sa tatra vai || tāvadbrāhmaṇamāyāṁtamapaśyaddevasannidhau

Having prostrated full length upon the ground, he sat there; and then he saw a brahmin approaching, near the god,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.123.11)

देवार्चनार्थं पाणौ तु तुलस्युदकधारिणम् ॥ स्वपुरीवासिनं तत्र विष्णुदासाह्वयं द्विजम्

devārcanārthaṁ pāṇau tu tulasyudakadhāriṇam || svapurīvāsinaṁ tatra viṣṇudāsāhvayaṁ dvijam

bearing in his hand Tulasi-water for the worship of the god — a brahmin of that very city, named Vishnudasa.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.123.12)

स तत्राभ्येत्य विप्रर्षिर्देवदेवमपूजयत् ॥ विष्णुसूक्तेन संस्नाप्य तुलसीमंजरीदलैः

sa tatrābhyetya viprarṣirdevadevamapūjayat || viṣṇusūktena saṁsnāpya tulasīmaṁjarīdalaiḥ

That sage among brahmins came there and worshipped the god of gods, bathing him with the Vishnu-sukta and worshipping with Tulasi's flower-clusters and leaves.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.123.13)

तुलसीपूजया तस्य रत्नपूजां पुरा कृताम् ॥ आच्छादितां समालोक्य राजा कुद्धोऽब्रवीदिदम्

tulasīpūjayā tasya ratnapūjāṁ purā kṛtām || ācchāditāṁ samālokya rājā kuddho'bravīdidam

Seeing his own earlier jewel-offering now covered over by that man's Tulasi worship, the king, enraged, spoke these words —

Verse 14 (skanda.2.123.14)

॥चोल उवाच॥ माणिक्यस्वर्णपूजाऽत्र शोभाढ्या या कृता मया ॥ विष्णुदास कथं सेयमाच्छन्ना तुलसीदलैः

cola uvāca māṇikyasvarṇapūjā'tra śobhāḍhyā yā kṛtā mayā || viṣṇudāsa kathaṁ seyamācchannā tulasīdalaiḥ

Chola said: "Vishnudasa, this splendid worship of mine, adorned with rubies and gold — why has it been covered over with Tulasi leaves?

Verse 15 (skanda.2.123.15)

विष्णुभक्तिं न जानासि वराकोऽसि मतो मम ॥ यस्त्विमामतिशोभाढ्यां पूजामाच्छादयस्यहो

viṣṇubhaktiṁ na jānāsi varāko'si mato mama || yastvimāmatiśobhāḍhyāṁ pūjāmācchādayasyaho

You do not know devotion to Vishnu; you seem contemptible to me, since you cover over this most splendid worship!"

Verse 16 (skanda.2.123.16)

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सक्रोधः स द्विजोत्तमः ॥ राज्ञो गौरवमुल्लंघ्य जगाद वचनं तदा

iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sakrodhaḥ sa dvijottamaḥ || rājño gauravamullaṁghya jagāda vacanaṁ tadā

Hearing these words, that excellent brahmin, angered, disregarding the king's dignity, then spoke these words —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.123.17)

॥विष्णुदास उवाच॥ राजन्भक्तिं न जानासि गर्वितोऽसि नृपश्रिया ॥ कियद्विष्णुव्रतं पूर्वं त्वया चीर्णं वदस्व तत्

viṣṇudāsa uvāca rājanbhaktiṁ na jānāsi garvito'si nṛpaśriyā || kiyadviṣṇuvrataṁ pūrvaṁ tvayā cīrṇaṁ vadasva tat

Vishnudasa said: "O king, you do not know devotion; you are proud of your royal splendor. Tell me first how much of the vow of Vishnu you yourself have practiced.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.123.18)

॥गणावूचतुः॥ तद्ब्राह्मणवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य स नृपोत्तमः ॥ विष्णुदासं तदा गर्वादुवाच वचनं द्विजम्

gaṇāvūcatuḥ tadbrāhmaṇavacaḥ śrutvā prahasya sa nṛpottamaḥ || viṣṇudāsaṁ tadā garvādūvāca vacanaṁ dvijam

The two ganas said: Hearing that brahmin's words, that excellent king, laughing, then spoke these words to the brahmin Vishnudasa out of pride —

Verse 19 (skanda.2.123.19)

॥राजोवाच॥ इत्थं चेद्वदसे विप्र विष्णुभक्त्याऽतिगर्वितः ॥ भक्तिस्ते कियती विष्णोर्दरिद्रस्याऽधनस्य च

rājovāca itthaṁ cedvadase vipra viṣṇubhaktyā'tigarvitaḥ || bhaktiste kiyatī viṣṇordaridrasyā'dhanasya ca

The king said: "If, O brahmin, so exceedingly proud of your devotion to Vishnu, you speak thus, then tell me — how great is your devotion to Vishnu, you who are poor and without wealth?

Verse 20 (skanda.2.123.20)

यज्ञदानादिकं नैव विष्णोस्तुष्टिकरं कृतम् ॥ नाऽपि देवालयं पूर्वं कृतं विप्र त्वया क्वचित्

yajñadānādikaṁ naiva viṣṇostuṣṭikaraṁ kṛtam || nā'pi devālayaṁ pūrvaṁ kṛtaṁ vipra tvayā kvacit

You have performed neither sacrifice, gift, nor any deed to please Vishnu; nor have you, O brahmin, ever before built any temple.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.123.21)

ईदृशस्याऽपि ते गर्व एष तिष्ठति भक्तितः ॥ तच्छृण्वंतु वचो मेऽद्य सर्वेऽप्येते द्विजातयः

īdṛśasyā'pi te garva eṣa tiṣṭhati bhaktitaḥ || tacchṛṇvaṁtu vaco me'dya sarve'pyete dvijātayaḥ

Yet you carry such pride in your devotion. Let all these brahmins present today hear my words —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.123.22)

साक्षात्कारमहं विष्णोरेष वादो गमिष्यति ॥ पश्यंतु सर्वेऽपि ततो भक्तिं ज्ञास्यंति चावयोः

sākṣātkāramahaṁ viṣṇoreṣa vādo gamiṣyati || paśyaṁtu sarve'pi tato bhaktiṁ jñāsyaṁti cāvayoḥ

this dispute shall be settled by a direct vision of Vishnu; then let everyone see and know both our devotions."

Verse 23 (skanda.2.123.23)

॥गणावूचतुः॥ इत्युक्त्वा स नृपोऽगच्छन्निजराजगृहं तदा ॥ आरभद्वैष्णवं सत्रं कृत्वाऽऽचार्यं तु मुद्गलम्

gaṇāvūcatuḥ ityuktvā sa nṛpo'gacchannijarājagṛhaṁ tadā || ārabhadvaiṣṇavaṁ satraṁ kṛtvā'ācāryaṁ tu mudgalam

The two ganas said: So saying, the king went to his own palace, and, appointing Mudgala as officiating priest, began a great Vaishnava sacrificial session.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.123.24)

ऋषिसंघसमाजुष्टं बह्वन्नं बहुदक्षिणम् ॥ यच्च ब्रह्मकृतं पूर्वं गयाक्षेत्रे समृद्धिमत्

ṛṣisaṁghasamājuṣṭaṁ bahvannaṁ bahudakṣiṇam || yacca brahmakṛtaṁ pūrvaṁ gayākṣetre samṛddhimat

It was attended by hosts of sages, abundant in food and abundant in sacrificial fees, resembling in its splendor the sacrifice once performed by Brahma at Gaya.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.123.25)

विष्णुदासोऽपि तत्रैव तस्थौ देवालये व्रती ॥ यथोक्तनियमान्कुर्वन्विष्णोस्तुष्टिकरान्सदा

viṣṇudāso'pi tatraiva tasthau devālaye vratī || yathoktaniyamānkurvanviṣṇostuṣṭikarānsadā

Vishnudasa too remained right there in the temple, keeping his vow, always observing the prescribed disciplines that please Vishnu.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.123.26)

माघोर्जयोर्व्रतं सम्यक्तुलसीवनपालनम् ॥ एकादश्यां हरेर्जाप्यं द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

māghorjayorvrataṁ samyaktulasīvanapālanam || ekādaśyāṁ harerjāpyaṁ dvādaśākṣaravidyayā

He duly kept the vows of Magha and Kartika, tended the Tulasi grove, and on Ekadashi recited Hari's twelve-syllabled mantra.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.123.27)

उपचारैः षोडशभिर्नृत्यगीतादिमंगलैः ॥ नित्यं विष्णोस्तथा पूजां व्रतान्येतानि सोऽकरोत्

upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhirnṛtyagītādimaṁgalaiḥ || nityaṁ viṣṇostathā pūjāṁ vratānyetāni so'karot

With the sixteen ritual offerings, with auspicious dance and song, he daily worshipped Vishnu, keeping all these observances.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.123.28)

नित्यं संस्मरणं विष्णोर्गच्छन्भुवि स्वपन्नपि ॥ सर्वभूतस्थितं विष्णुमपश्यत्समदर्शनः

nityaṁ saṁsmaraṇaṁ viṣṇorgacchanbhuvi svapannapi || sarvabhūtasthitaṁ viṣṇumapaśyatsamadarśanaḥ

Constantly remembering Vishnu, whether walking or even sleeping on the ground, he, seeing all with equal eyes, beheld Vishnu dwelling in every being.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.123.29)

माघकार्तिकयोर्नित्यं विशेषनियमानपि ॥ अकरोद्विष्णुतुष्ट्यर्थं सोद्यापनविधिं तथा

māghakārtikayornityaṁ viśeṣaniyamānapi || akarodviṣṇutuṣṭyarthaṁ sodyāpanavidhiṁ tathā

In Magha and Kartika he constantly observed the special disciplines, and for Vishnu's satisfaction also performed the concluding rite each time.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.123.30)

एवं समाराधयतोः श्रियः पतिं तयोश्च चोलेश्वरविष्णुदासयोः ॥ अगाद्धि कालः सुमहान्व्रतस्थयोस्तन्निष्ठसर्वेंद्रियकर्मणोस्तदा

evaṁ samārādhayatoḥ śriyaḥ patiṁ tayośca coleśvaraviṣṇudāsayoḥ || agāddhi kālaḥ sumahānvratasthayostanniṣṭhasarveṁdriyakarmaṇostadā

Thus, as both Choleshvara and Vishnudasa worshipped the Lord of Shri, remaining fixed in their vows, all the actions of their senses devoted to it, a very long time passed for them.