The Liberation of Chola and Vishnudasa

Verse 1 (skanda.2.124.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ कदाचिद्विष्णुदासोऽथ कृत्वा नित्यविधिं द्विज ॥ स पाकमकरोत्तावदहरत्कोऽप्यलक्षितः

nārada uvāca kadācidviṣṇudāso'tha kṛtvā nityavidhiṁ dvija || sa pākamakarottāvadaharatko'pyalakṣitaḥ

Narada said: O brahmin, once, having performed his daily rites, Vishnudasa was preparing his food-offering when someone unseen stole it away.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.124.2)

तमदृष्ट्वाऽप्यसौ पाकं पुनर्नैवाऽकरोत्तदा ॥ सायंकालाऽर्चनस्याऽसौ व्रतभंगभयाद्द्विजः

tamadṛṣṭvā'pyasau pākaṁ punarnaivā'karottadā || sāyaṁkālā'rcanasyā'sau vratabhaṁgabhayāddvijaḥ

Though he could not see the thief, he did not prepare the food again that day, that brahmin fearing the breaking of his vow of evening worship.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.124.3)

द्वितीयेऽह्नि पुनः पाकं कृत्वा यावत्स विष्णवे ॥ उपहारार्पणं कर्तुं गतः कोऽप्यहरत्पुनः

dvitīye'hni punaḥ pākaṁ kṛtvā yāvatsa viṣṇave || upahārārpaṇaṁ kartuṁ gataḥ ko'pyaharatpunaḥ

On the second day, having prepared the food again, just as he went to offer it to Vishnu, someone stole it away once more.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.124.4)

एवं सप्तदिनं तस्य पाकं कोऽप्यहरन्नृप ॥ ततः सविस्मयश्चाथ मनस्येवमधारयत्

evaṁ saptadinaṁ tasya pākaṁ ko'pyaharannṛpa || tataḥ savismayaścātha manasyevamadhārayat

O king, thus for seven days someone kept stealing his food. Then, astonished, he pondered in his mind as follows —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.124.5)

अहो नित्यं समभ्येत्य कः पाकं हरते मम ॥ क्षेत्रसंन्यासिनः स्थानं न त्याज्यं मम सर्वथा

aho nityaṁ samabhyetya kaḥ pākaṁ harate mama || kṣetrasaṁnyāsinaḥ sthānaṁ na tyājyaṁ mama sarvathā

"Ah, who comes daily and steals my food away? Having taken up residence here as one bound to this place, I must not abandon my post under any circumstance.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.124.6)

पुनः पाकं विधायाऽत्र भुज्यते यदि चेन्मया ॥ सायंकालाऽर्चनं चैव परित्याज्यं कथं भवेत्

punaḥ pākaṁ vidhāyā'tra bhujyate yadi cenmayā || sāyaṁkālā'rcanaṁ caiva parityājyaṁ kathaṁ bhavet

Yet if I cook again here and eat it myself, how could I abandon the evening worship before offering it?

Verse 7 (skanda.2.124.7)

यदि पाकं विधायैवं भोक्तव्यं तु मया न तत् ॥ अनिवेद्य हरौ सर्वं वैष्णवैर्नैव भुज्यते

yadi pākaṁ vidhāyaivaṁ bhoktavyaṁ tu mayā na tat || anivedya harau sarvaṁ vaiṣṇavairnaiva bhujyate

And if I do cook, I should not eat it in this fashion; Vaishnavas never eat anything without first offering it to Hari.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.124.8)

उपोषितोऽहं सप्ताऽहं तिष्ठाम्यत्र व्रतस्थितः ॥ अद्यसंरक्षणं सम्यक्पाकस्याऽत्र करोम्यहम्

upoṣito'haṁ saptā'haṁ tiṣṭhāmyatra vratasthitaḥ || adyasaṁrakṣaṇaṁ samyakpākasyā'tra karomyaham

I have fasted for seven days, and I shall remain here, steadfast in my vow; today I shall keep close watch over the food."

Verse 9 (skanda.2.124.9)

इति पाकं विधायाऽसौ तत्रैवाऽलक्षितः स्थितः ॥ तावद्ददर्श चंडालं पाकान्नहरणे स्थितम्

iti pākaṁ vidhāyā'sau tatraivā'lakṣitaḥ sthitaḥ || tāvaddadarśa caṁḍālaṁ pākānnaharaṇe sthitam

Thinking thus, he prepared the food and remained there, himself unseen; then he saw a chandala engaged in stealing the food-offering,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.124.10)

क्षुत्क्षामं दीनवदनमस्थिचर्माऽवशेषितम् ॥ तमालोक्य द्विजाग्र्योऽभूत्कृपयाऽन्वितमानसः

kṣutkṣāmaṁ dīnavadanamasthicarmā'vaśeṣitam || tamālokya dvijāgryo'bhūtkṛpayā'nvitamānasaḥ

wasted by hunger, his face wretched, reduced to mere skin and bone. Seeing him, that foremost of brahmins was filled with compassion.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.124.11)

विलोक्याऽन्नहरं विप्रस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेत्यभाषत ॥ कथमश्नासि तद्रूक्षं घृतमेतद्गृहाण भोः

vilokyā'annaharaṁ vipraḥ tiṣṭhatiṣṭhetyabhāṣata || kathamaśnāsi tadrūkṣaṁ ghṛtametadgṛhāṇa bhoḥ

Seeing the food-thief, the brahmin said: "Stay, stay! How can you eat that dry food — here, take this ghee as well."

Verse 12 (skanda.2.124.12)

इत्थं वदंतं विप्राग्र्यमायांतं स विलोक्य च ॥ वेगादधावत्तद्भीत्या मृर्च्छितश्च पपात ह

itthaṁ vadaṁtaṁ viprāgryamāyāṁtaṁ sa vilokya ca || vegādadhāvattadbhītyā mūrcchitaśca papāta ha

Seeing that foremost brahmin speaking thus and coming toward him, he fled swiftly in fear, and, overcome, fell fainting to the ground.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.124.13)

भीतं संमूर्च्छितं दृष्ट्वा चंडालं स द्विजाग्रणीः ॥ वेगादभ्येत्य कृपया स्ववस्त्रांतैरवीजयत्

bhītaṁ saṁmūrcchitaṁ dṛṣṭvā caṁḍālaṁ sa dvijāgraṇīḥ || vegādabhyetya kṛpayā svavastrāṁtairavījayat

Seeing that chandala frightened and fainted, that foremost of brahmins swiftly went to him and, out of compassion, fanned him with the edge of his own garment.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.124.14)

अथोत्थितं तमेवासौ विष्णुदासो व्यलोकयत् ॥ साक्षान्नारायणं देवं शंखचक्रगदाधरम्

athotthitaṁ tamevāsau viṣṇudāso vyalokayat || sākṣānnārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ śaṁkhacakragadādharam

Then, as he rose, Vishnudasa beheld him as none other than the very god Narayana himself, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.124.15)

तं दृष्ट्वा सात्त्विकैर्भावैरावृतो द्विजसत्तमः ॥ स्तोतुं चैव नमस्कर्तुं तदा नाऽलं बभूव सः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sāttvikairbhāvairāvṛto dvijasattamaḥ || stotuṁ caiva namaskartuṁ tadā nā'laṁ babhūva saḥ

Seeing him, that best of brahmins was overwhelmed with sattvic emotion, and at that moment became unable even to praise or bow before him.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.124.16)

अथ शक्रादयो देवास्तत्रैवाभ्याययुस्तदा ॥ गंधर्वाप्सरसश्चाऽपि जगुश्च ननृतुर्मुदा

atha śakrādayo devāstatraivābhyāyayustadā || gaṁdharvāpsarasaścā'pi jaguśca nanṛturmudā

Then Indra and the other gods came there as well, and gandharvas and apsaras too sang and danced with joy.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.124.17)

विमानशतसंकीर्णं देवर्षिशतसंकुलम् ॥ गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं स्थानं तदभवत्तदा

vimānaśatasaṁkīrṇaṁ devarṣiśatasaṁkulam || gītavāditranirghoṣaṁ sthānaṁ tadabhavattadā

That place then became filled with hundreds of celestial chariots, thronged with hundreds of divine sages, resounding with the sound of song and instrument.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.124.18)

ततो विष्णुः समालिंग्य स्वभक्तं सात्त्विकव्रतम् ॥ सारूप्यमात्मनो दत्त्वाऽनयद्वैकुण्ठमंदिरम्

tato viṣṇuḥ samāliṁgya svabhaktaṁ sāttvikavratam || sārūpyamātmano dattvā'anayadvaikuṇṭhamaṁdiram

Then Vishnu embraced his devotee of sattvic vow, granted him the likeness of his own form, and led him to the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.124.19)

विमानवरसंस्थं तं गच्छंतं विष्णुसन्निधिम् ॥ दीक्षितश्चोलनृपतिर्विष्णुदासं ददर्श सः

vimānavarasaṁsthaṁ taṁ gacchaṁtaṁ viṣṇusannidhim || dīkṣitaścolanṛpatirviṣṇudāsaṁ dadarśa saḥ

Chola, the king consecrated for the sacrifice, saw Vishnudasa mounted on that finest of chariots, going into Vishnu's very presence.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.124.20)

वैकुण्ठभुवनं यांतं विष्णुदासं विलोक्य सः ॥ स्वगुरुं मुद्गलं वेगादाहूयेत्थं वचोऽब्रवीत्

vaikuṇṭhabhuvanaṁ yāṁtaṁ viṣṇudāsaṁ vilokya saḥ || svaguruṁ mudgalaṁ vegādāhūyettthaṁ vaco'bravīt

Seeing Vishnudasa going to the realm of Vaikuntha, he swiftly summoned his preceptor Mudgala and spoke these words —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.124.21)

॥चोल उवाच॥ यत्स्पर्द्धया मया चैव यज्ञदानादिकं कृतम् ॥ स विष्णुरूपधृग्विप्रो याति वैकुण्ठमंदिरम्

cola uvāca yatspardhayā mayā caiva yajñadānādikaṁ kṛtam || sa viṣṇurūpadhṛgvipro yāti vaikuṇṭhamaṁdiram

Chola said: "That very brahmin, out of rivalry with whom I performed this sacrifice and giving, now goes to Vaikuntha, wearing the form of Vishnu himself!

Verse 22 (skanda.2.124.22)

दीक्षितेन मया सम्यक्सत्रेऽस्मिन्वैष्णवे त्वया ॥ हुतमग्नौ कृता विप्रा दानाद्यैः पूर्णमानसाः

dīkṣitena mayā samyaksatre'sminvaiṣṇave tvayā || hutamagnau kṛtā viprā dānādyaiḥ pūrṇamānasāḥ

Having taken initiation, in this Vaishnava sacrificial session performed by you, I have offered oblations into the fire and, through gifts and the like, fully satisfied the minds of the brahmins.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.124.23)

नैवाऽद्यापि स मे देवः प्रसन्नो जायते ध्रुवम् ॥ विष्णुदासस्य भक्त्यैव साक्षात्कारं ददौ हरिः

naivā'dyāpi sa me devaḥ prasanno jāyate dhruvam || viṣṇudāsasya bhaktyaiva sākṣātkāraṁ dadau hariḥ

Yet still, without doubt, that god has not become pleased with me. But Hari granted his direct vision to Vishnudasa through devotion alone!

Verse 24 (skanda.2.124.24)

तस्माद्दानैश्च यज्ञैश्च नैव विष्णुः प्रसीदति ॥ भक्तिरेव परं तस्य निदानं दर्शने विभोः

tasmāddānaiśca yajñaiśca naiva viṣṇuḥ prasīdati || bhaktireva paraṁ tasya nidānaṁ darśane vibhoḥ

Therefore Vishnu is not pleased by gifts and sacrifices alone; devotion alone is the supreme means to the vision of that Lord."

Verse 25 (skanda.2.124.25)

॥गणावूचतुः॥ इत्युक्त्वा भागिनेयं स्वमभ्यषिंचन्नृपासने ॥ आबाल्याद्दीक्षितो यज्ञे ह्यपुत्रत्वमगाद्यतः

gaṇāvūcatuḥ ityuktvā bhāgineyaṁ svamabhyaṣiṁcannṛpāsane || ābālyāddīkṣito yajñe hyaputratvamagādyataḥ

The two ganas said: So saying, he anointed his sister's son upon the royal throne, since, having been initiated into the sacrifice from childhood, he had remained without offspring.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.124.26)

तस्मादद्याऽपि तद्देशे सदा राज्यांऽशभागिनः ॥ स्वस्रेया एव जायंते तत्कृतावधिवर्तिनः

tasmādadyā'pi taddeśe sadā rājyāṁśabhāginaḥ || svasreyā eva jāyaṁte tatkṛtāvadhivartinaḥ

Therefore even to this day, in that land, it is always the sister's sons who share in the kingdom, following the tradition he established.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.124.27)

यज्ञवाटं ततोऽभ्येत्य यज्ञकुण्डाग्रतः स्थितः ॥ त्रिरुच्चैर्व्याजहाराऽऽशु विष्णुं संबोधयंस्तदा

yajñavāṭaṁ tato'bhyetya yajñakuṇḍāgrataḥ sthitaḥ || triruccairvyājahārā'āśu viṣṇuṁ saṁbodhayaṁstadā

Then he went to the sacrificial enclosure and stood before the sacrificial pit, and, addressing Vishnu, he called out loudly three times —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.124.28)

विष्णो भक्तिं स्थिरां देहि मनोवाक्काय कर्मभिः ॥ इत्युक्त्वा सोऽपतद्वह्नौ सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम्

viṣṇo bhaktiṁ sthirāṁ dehi manovākkāya karmabhiḥ || ityuktvā so'patadvahnau sarveṣāmeva paśyatām

"O Vishnu, grant me steadfast devotion in mind, speech, body, and deed!" — so saying, he cast himself into the fire before the eyes of all.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.124.29)

मुद्गलस्तु तदा क्रोधाच्छिखामुत्पाटयत्स्वकाम् ॥ ततस्त्वद्यापि तद्गोत्रे मुद्गला विशिखा बभुः

mudgalastu tadā krodhācchikhāmutpāṭayatsvakām || tatastvadyāpi tadgotre mudgalā viśikhā babhuḥ

Then Mudgala, in anger, tore out his own topknot; hence, even to this day, the Mudgalas of that lineage remain without a topknot.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.124.30)

तावदाविरभूद्विष्णुः कुण्डाग्नौ भक्तवत्सलः ॥ तमालिंग्य विमानाग्र्यं समारोहयदच्युतः

tāvadāvirabhūdviṣṇuḥ kuṇḍāgnau bhaktavatsalaḥ || tamāliṁgya vimānāgryaṁ samārohayadacyutaḥ

At that very instant, Vishnu, tender toward his devotees, appeared in the fire of that sacrificial pit; embracing him, the Unfallen One made him mount the finest of celestial chariots.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.124.31)

तमालिंग्याऽऽत्मसारूप्यं दत्त्वा वैकुण्ठमंदिरम् ॥ तेनैव सह देवेशो जगाम त्रिदशैर्वृतः

tamāliṁgyā'ātmasārūpyaṁ dattvā vaikuṇṭhamaṁdiram || tenaiva saha deveśo jagāma tridaśairvṛtaḥ

Embracing him and bestowing upon him the likeness of his own form, the Lord of gods departed for the abode of Vaikuntha together with him, surrounded by the gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.124.32)

॥नारद उवाच॥ यो विष्णुदासः स तु पुण्यशीलो यश्चोलभूपः स सुशीलनामा ॥ एतावुभौ तत्समरूपभाजौ द्वाःस्थौ कृतौ तेन रमाप्रियेण

nārada uvāca yo viṣṇudāsaḥ sa tu puṇyaśīlo yaścolabhūpaḥ sa suśīlanāmā || etāvubhau tatsamarūpabhājau dvāḥsthau kṛtau tena ramāpriyeṇa

Narada said: He who was Vishnudasa became Punyashila, and he who was King Chola became Sushila; these two were made doorkeepers, bearing forms like that of the beloved of Rama, Vishnu, himself.