Dhaneshvara's Birth as a Yaksha

Verse 1 (skanda.2.126.1)

॥श्रीकृष्ण उवाच॥ इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पृथुर्विस्मितमानसः ॥ संपूज्य नारदं सम्यग्विससर्ज तदा प्रिये

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā pṛthurvismitamānasaḥ || saṁpūjya nāradaṁ samyagvisasarja tadā priye

Shri Krishna said: O beloved, hearing these words, Prithu, astonished, duly honored Narada and then took leave of him.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.126.2)

पुराऽवंतीपुरे कश्चिद्विप्र आसीद्धनेश्वरः ॥ ब्रह्मकर्मपरिभ्रष्टः पापकर्मा सुदुर्मतिः

purā'vantīpure kaściddvipra āsīddhaneśvaraḥ || brahmakarmaparibhraṣṭaḥ pāpakarmā sudurmatiḥ

Long ago, in Avantipuri, there lived a brahmin named Dhaneshvara, fallen from brahminical duties, sinful in deed, and exceedingly foolish.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.126.3)

देशाद्देशातरं गच्छन्क्रयविक्रयकारणात् ॥ माहिष्मतीपुरीमागात्कदाचित्स धनेश्वरः

deśāddeśātaraṁ gacchankrayavikrayakāraṇāt || māhiṣmatīpurīmāgātkadācitsa dhaneśvaraḥ

Wandering from land to land for the sake of buying and selling, that Dhaneshvara once came to the city of Mahishmati.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.126.4)

महिषेण कृता पूर्वं तस्मान्माहिष्मतीति सा ॥ यस्या वप्रगता भाति नर्मदा पापनाशिनी

mahiṣeṇa kṛtā pūrvaṁ tasmānmāhiṣmatīti sā || yasyā vapragatā bhāti narmadā pāpanāśinī

Founded long ago by the demon Mahisha, it was thus called Mahishmati, by whose ramparts the sin-destroying Narmada flows in splendor.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.126.5)

कार्तिकव्रतिनस्तत्र नानादेशाऽऽगतान्नरान् ॥ स दृष्ट्वा विक्रयं कुर्वन्मासमेकमुवास सः

kārtikavratinastatra nānādeśā'āgatānnarān || sa dṛṣṭvā vikrayaṁ kurvanmāsamekamuvāsa saḥ

Seeing there Kartika-observant men who had come from many lands, he, carrying on his trade, remained there for a month.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.126.6)

स नित्यं नर्मदातीरे भ्रमन्विक्रयकारणात् ॥ ददर्श ब्राह्मणान्स्नानजपदेवार्चने स्थितान्

sa nityaṁ narmadātīre bhramanvikrayakāraṇāt || dadarśa brāhmaṇānsnānajapadevārcane sthitān

Daily wandering along the Narmada's bank for the sake of trade, he saw brahmins engaged in bathing, recitation, and worship of the gods.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.126.7)

कांश्चित्पुराणं पठतः कांश्चिच्च श्रवणे रतान् ॥ नृत्यगायनवादित्रविष्णुश्रवणतत्परान्

kāṁścitpurāṇaṁ paṭhataḥ kāṁścicca śravaṇe ratān || nṛtyagāyanavāditraviṣṇuśravaṇatatparān

He saw some reading the Puranas, some absorbed in listening, others engaged in dance, song, and instrumental music, and intent on hearing tales of Vishnu.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.126.8)

उद्यापनविधौ सक्तान्कांश्चिज्जागरणे रतान् ॥ विप्रगोपूजनरतान्दीपदानरतांस्तथा

udyāpanavidhau saktānkāṁścijjāgaraṇe ratān || vipragopūjanaratāndīpadānaratāṁstathā

He saw some engaged in the concluding rites, some intent on the night-vigil, some devoted to worshipping brahmins and cows, and others engaged in the gift of lamps.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.126.9)

ददर्श कौतुकाविष्टस्तत्रतत्र धनेश्वरः ॥ नित्यं परिभ्रमंस्तत्र दर्शनस्पर्शभाषणात्

dadarśa kautukāviṣṭastatratatra dhaneśvaraḥ || nityaṁ paribhramaṁstatra darśanasparśabhāṣaṇāt

Filled with curiosity, Dhaneshvara witnessed all this here and there; wandering there daily, through merely seeing, touching, and speaking with them, he —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.126.10)

वैष्णवानां तथा विष्णोर्नामश्रावादि सोऽलभत् ॥ एवं मासं स्थितस्तस्या नर्मदायास्तटे द्विजः

vaiṣṇavānāṁ tathā viṣṇornāmaśrāvādi so'labhat || evaṁ māsaṁ sthitastasyā narmadāyāstaṭe dvijaḥ

obtained the company of Vaishnavas and the hearing of Vishnu's name and the like. Thus that brahmin remained on the bank of the Narmada for a month.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.126.11)

तावत्कृष्णाऽहिना दष्टो विह्वलः स पपात ह ॥ अथ देहपरित्यक्तं तं वद्ध्वा यमकिंकराः

tāvatkṛṣṇā'hinā daṣṭo vihvalaḥ sa papāta ha || atha dehaparityaktaṁ taṁ vaddhvā yamakiṁkarāḥ

Then a black serpent bit him, and, overcome, he fell down. Then Yama's messengers, binding that being now departed from the body —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.126.12)

यमाज्ञया कुंभिपाके चिक्षिपुस्तं धनेश्वरम् ॥ यावत्क्षिप्तश्च तत्रासौ तावच्छीतलतां ययौ

yamājñayā kuṁbhipāke cikṣipustaṁ dhaneśvaram || yāvatkṣiptaśca tatrāsau tāvacchītalatāṁ yayau

by Yama's command, cast that Dhaneshvara into the hell called Kumbhipaka. But the very moment he was thrown in there, it turned cool —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.126.13)

कुंभीपाको यथा वह्निः प्रह्लादक्षेपणात्पुरा ॥ यमस्तु कौतुकं दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छानीय तं ततः

kuṁbhīpāko yathā vahniḥ prahlādakṣepaṇātpurā || yamastu kautukaṁ dṛṣṭvā papracchānīya taṁ tataḥ

just as the fire of Kumbhipaka once cooled when Prahlada was cast into it. Seeing this wonder, Yama had him brought and questioned him.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.126.14)

तावदभ्यागतस्तत्र नारदः प्राह सत्वरम् ॥ ॥नारद उवाच॥ नैवाऽयं निरयान्भोक्तुमर्हो ह्यरुणनंदन

tāvadabhyāgatastatra nāradaḥ prāha satvaram || nārada uvāca naivā'yaṁ nirayānbhoktumarho hyaruṇanaṁdana

At that moment Narada arrived there and quickly spoke. Narada said: "O son of Aruna, this man does not deserve to suffer hell.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.126.15)

यस्मादंतेऽस्य संजातं कर्म यन्निरयापहम् ॥ यः पुण्यकर्मिणां कुर्याद्दर्शनस्पर्शभाषणम्

yasmādaṁte'sya saṁjātaṁ karma yannirayāpaham || yaḥ puṇyakarmiṇāṁ kuryāddarśanasparśabhāṣaṇam

For at his end he performed a deed that removes the fruit of hell. Whoever sees, touches, or converses with those of meritorious deeds —

Verse 16 (skanda.2.126.16)

ततः षडंशमाप्नोति पुण्यस्य नियतं नरः ॥ सख्यं तु तैस्तु संसर्गं कृतवान्वै धनेश्वरः

tataḥ ṣaḍaṁśamāpnoti puṇyasya niyataṁ naraḥ || sakhyaṁ tu taistu saṁsargaṁ kṛtavānvai dhaneśvaraḥ

certainly attains a sixth part of their merit. And Dhaneshvara had, moreover, formed friendship and association with them —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.126.17)

कार्तिकव्रतिभिर्मासं तेषां पुण्यांशभागयम् ॥ तस्मादकामपुण्यो हि यक्षयोनिस्थितो ह्ययम् ॥ विलोक्य निरयान्सर्वान्पापभोगप्रदर्शकान्

kārtikavratibhirmāsaṁ teṣāṁ puṇyāṁśabhāgayam || tasmādakāmapuṇyo hi yakṣayoniṣthito hyayam || vilokya nirayānsarvānpāpabhogapradarśakān

with those Kartika-observant men for a month, he became a partaker of a portion of their merit. Therefore, having gained merit even unintentionally, let him, after beholding all these hells that display the fruits of sin, take the state of a yaksha."

Verse 18 (skanda.2.126.18)

॥श्रीकृष्ण उवाच॥ इत्युक्त्वा गतवति नारदे स सौरिस्तद्वाक्यश्रवणविबुद्धतत्सुकर्मा ॥ तं विप्रं पुनरनयत्स्वकिंकरेण तान्सर्वान्निरयगणान्प्रदर्शयिष्यन्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca ityuktvā gatavati nārade sa sauristadvākyaśravaṇavibuddhatatsukarmā || taṁ vipraṁ punaranayatsvakiṁkareṇa tānsarvānnirayagaṇānpradarśayiṣyan

Shri Krishna said: So saying, after Narada had departed, the son of the Sun, his understanding of that man's good deed awakened by hearing those words, sent that brahmin once more, through his own servant, intending to show him all the hosts of hells.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.126.19)

ततो धनेश्वरं नीत्वा निरयान्प्रेतपोऽब्रवीत् ॥ दर्शयिष्यंस्तु तान्सर्वान्यमानुज्ञाकरस्तदा

tato dhaneśvaraṁ nītvā nirayānpretapo'bravīt || darśayiṣyaṁstu tānsarvānyamānujñākarastadā

Then, taking Dhaneshvara through the hells, Yama's servant, the keeper of the dead, carrying out Yama's command, showed him all of them and said —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.126.20)

॥प्रेतप उवाच॥ पश्येमान्निरयान्घोरान्धनेश्वर महाभयान् ॥ एषु पापकरा नित्यं पच्यंते यमकिंकरैः

pretapa uvāca paśyemānnirayānghorāndhaneśvara mahābhayān || eṣu pāpakarā nityaṁ pacyaṁte yamakiṁkaraiḥ

The keeper of the dead said: "Behold, Dhaneshvara, these terrible, most dreadful hells; in them, doers of sin are constantly cooked by Yama's servants.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.126.21)

अकामात्पातकं शुष्कं कामादार्द्रमुदाहृतम् ॥ आर्द्रशुष्कादिभिः पापैर्द्विप्रकारानवस्थितान्

akāmātpātakaṁ śuṣkaṁ kāmādārdramudāhṛtam || ārdraśuṣkādibhiḥ pāpairdviprakārānavasthitān

A sin done without desire is called dry; one done with desire is called moist. By these moist, dry, and other sins, they are established in two kinds —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.126.22)

चतुराशीतिसंख्याकैः पृथग्भेदैरवस्थितान् ॥ यत्प्रकीर्णमपांक्तेयं मलिनीकरणं तथा

caturāśītisaṁkhyākaiḥ pṛthagbhedairavasthitān || yatprakīrṇamapāṁkteyaṁ malinīkaraṇaṁ tathā

and established in eighty-four separate divisions. That which is scattered, that which excludes one from the company of the pure, and that which defiles —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.126.23)

जातिभ्रंशकरं तद्वदुपपातकसंज्ञकम् ॥ अतिपापं महापापं सप्तधा पातकं स्मृतम्

jātibhraṁśakaraṁ tadvadupapātakasaṁjñakam || atipāpaṁ mahāpāpaṁ saptadhā pātakaṁ smṛtam

and that which causes loss of caste — these are called minor sins. Extreme sin, great sin — thus sin is held to be sevenfold.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.126.24)

एभिः सप्तसु पच्यंते निरयेषु यथाक्रमम् ॥ कार्तिकव्रतिभिर्यस्मात्संसर्गो ह्यभवत्तव

ebhiḥ saptasu pacyaṁte nirayeṣu yathākramam || kārtikavratibhiryasmātsaṁsargo hyabhavattava

According to these seven, beings are cooked in due order in the various hells. But since you had association with Kartika-observant men —

Verse 25 (skanda.2.126.25)

तत्पुण्योपचयादेते निर्हृता निरयाः खलु ॥ ॥श्रीकृष्ण उवाच॥ दर्शयित्वेति निरयान्प्रेतपस्तमथाहरत्

tatpuṇyopacayādete nirhṛtā nirayāḥ khalu || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca darśayitveti nirayānpretapastamathāharat

through the accumulation of that merit, these hells have indeed been removed from you." Shri Krishna said: Having thus shown him the hells, the keeper of the dead then took him away,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.126.26)

धनेश्वरं यक्षलोकं यक्षश्चाऽभूत्स तत्र हि ॥ धनदस्याऽनुगः सोऽयं धनयक्षेति विश्रुतः

dhaneśvaraṁ yakṣalokaṁ yakṣaścā'bhūtsa tatra hi || dhanadasyā'nugaḥ so'yaṁ dhanayakṣeti viśrutaḥ

Dhaneshvara, to the world of the yakshas, and there he became a yaksha. Having become an attendant of Dhanada (Kubera), he became renowned by the name Dhanayaksha.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.126.27)

॥सूत उवाच॥ इत्युक्त्वा वासुदेवोऽसौ सत्यभामामतिप्रियम् ॥ सायंसंध्याविधिं कर्तुं जगाम जननीगृहम्

sūta uvāca ityuktvā vāsudevo'sau satyabhāmāmatipriyam || sāyaṁsaṁdhyāvidhiṁ kartuṁ jagāma jananīgṛham

Suta said: So saying, Vasudeva then left his most beloved Satyabhama and went to his mother's house to perform the rite of evening worship.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.126.28)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ एवंप्रभावः खलु कार्तिकोऽयं मुक्तिप्रदो भुक्तिकरश्च यस्मात् ॥ प्रयांत्यनेकाऽर्जितपातकानि व्रतस्य संदर्शयतोऽपि मुक्तिम्

brahmovāca evaṁprabhāvaḥ khalu kārtiko'yaṁ muktiprado bhuktikaraśca yasmāt || prayāṁtyanekā'rjitapātakāni vratasya saṁdarśayato'pi muktim

Brahma said: Such indeed is the power of this month of Kartika, granting both liberation and enjoyment, that even for one who merely beholds this vow being kept, the many sins he has accumulated depart, and he attains liberation.