Vaikuntha-Chaturdashi and the Tripuri-Purnima Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.2.132.1)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ वैकुण्ठाख्यचतुर्दश्या माहात्म्यं ते वदाम्यहम् ॥ वालखिल्यैः पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपेण शृणुष्व तत्

brahmovāca vaikuṇṭhākhyacaturdaśyā māhātmyaṁ te vadāmyaham || vālakhilyaiḥ purā proktaṁ saṁkṣepeṇa śṛṇuṣva tat

Brahma said: I shall tell you the glory of the Vaikuntha-chaturdashi, which was declared long ago by the Valakhilyas; hear it in brief.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.132.2)

॥वालखिल्या ऊचुः॥ कार्तिकस्य सिते पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां समागमत् ॥ वैकुण्ठेशस्तु वैकुण्ठाद्वाराणस्यां कृते युगे

vālakhilyā ūcuḥ kārtikasya site pakṣe caturdaśyāṁ samāgamat || vaikuṇṭheśastu vaikuṇṭhādvārāṇasyāṁ kṛte yuge

The Valakhilyas said: In the Krita age, on the fourteenth day of Kartika's bright fortnight, the Lord of Vaikuntha came from Vaikuntha to Varanasi.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.132.3)

रात्र्यां तुर्यांशशेषायां स्नात्वाऽसौ मणिकर्णिके ॥ गृहीत्वा हेमपद्मानां सहस्रं वै ततोऽव्रजत्

rātryāṁ turyāṁśaśeṣāyāṁ snātvā'asau maṇikarṇike || gṛhītvā hemapadmānāṁ sahasraṁ vai tato'vrajat

At the close of the fourth watch of the night, having bathed at Manikarnika, he took a thousand golden lotuses and set out from there.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.132.4)

अतिभक्त्या पूजयितुं शिवया सहितं शिवम् ॥ विधाय पूजां वैश्वेशीं ततः पद्मैरपूजयत्

atibhaktyā pūjayituṁ śivayā sahitaṁ śivam || vidhāya pūjāṁ vaiśveśīṁ tataḥ padmairapūjayat

Intending to worship Shiva, together with Shiva's consort, with the utmost devotion, having performed the worship of Vishveshvara, he then worshipped with the lotuses.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.132.5)

सहस्रसंख्यां कृत्वादावेकनाम्ना ततः परम् ॥ आरब्धं पूजनं तेन शिवस्तद्भक्तिमैक्षत्

sahasrasaṁkhyāṁ kṛtvādāvekanāmnā tataḥ param || ārabdhaṁ pūjanaṁ tena śivastadbhaktimaikṣata

Having first counted out a thousand, one with each name, he then began the worship; Shiva beheld his devotion.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.132.6)

एकं पद्मं पद्ममध्यान्निलीयाऽऽत्तं हरेण तु ॥ ततः पूजितवान्विष्णुरेकोनं कमलं त्वभूत्

ekaṁ padmaṁ padmamadhyānnilīyā'āttaṁ hareṇa tu || tataḥ pūjitavānviṣṇurekonaṁ kamalaṁ tvabhūt

Hari (Shiva) hid and took away one lotus from among the lotuses; then, when Vishnu worshipped, one lotus fell short.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.132.7)

इतस्ततस्तेन दृष्टं पद्मं तिष्ठति न क्वचित् ॥ कमलेषु भ्रमो जातोऽथवा नामसु मे भ्रमः

itastatastena dṛṣṭaṁ padmaṁ tiṣṭhati na kvacit || kamaleṣu bhramo jāto'thavā nāmasu me bhramaḥ

He looked here and there — the lotus was nowhere to be found. (He thought:) "Has there been a miscount among the lotuses, or have I erred among the names?"

Verse 8 (skanda.2.132.8)

क्षणं विचार्य स हरिर्न मे नामभ्रमोऽभवत् ॥ पद्मे चैव भ्रमो जातो विचार्यैवं पुनःपुनः

kṣaṇaṁ vicārya sa harirna me nāmabhramo'bhavat || padme caiva bhramo jāto vicāryaivaṁ punaḥpunaḥ

Reflecting for a moment, Hari thought: "There has been no error in my names; the error lies in the lotus" — thinking thus again and again —

Verse 9 (skanda.2.132.9)

सहस्रपद्मसंकल्पस्तु कृतः पूजार्थं मया ॥ अर्च्यः कथं महादेव एकोनकमलैर्मया

sahasrapadmasaṁkalpastu kṛtaḥ pūjārthaṁ mayā || arcyaḥ kathaṁ mahādeva ekonakamalairmayā

"I resolved on a thousand lotuses for the worship; how then shall I worship Mahadeva with one lotus short?

Verse 10 (skanda.2.132.10)

यद्यानेतुं गमिष्यामि भंगः स्यादासनस्य तु ॥ अतः परं किं विधेयं चिन्तोद्विग्नो हरिस्तदा

yadyānetuṁ gamiṣyāmi bhaṁgaḥ syādāsanasya tu || ataḥ paraṁ kiṁ vidheyaṁ cintodvigno haristadā

If I go to fetch another, my seat will be broken. What then should be done now?" Thus troubled with anxiety, Hari —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.132.11)

एकः प्रकार उत्पन्नो हृदयेऽस्य मुनीश्वराः ॥ पुण्डरीकाक्ष इत्येवं मां वदंति मुनीश्वराः

ekaḥ prakāra utpanno hṛdaye'sya munīśvarāḥ || puṇḍarīkākṣa ityevaṁ māṁ vadaṁti munīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, a solution arose in his heart: "The great sages call me 'Pundarikaksha,' the lotus-eyed one.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.132.12)

नेत्रं मे पद्मसदृशे पद्मार्थे त्वर्पयाम्यहम् ॥ इति निश्चित्य मनसा दत्त्वा तर्जनिकां स तु

netraṁ me padmasadṛśe padmārthe tvarpayāmyaham || iti niścitya manasā dattvā tarjanikāṁ sa tu

My eye is like a lotus; I shall offer it in the place of the lotus." Having resolved this in his mind, using his forefinger,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.132.13)

नेत्रमध्यात्तदुत्पाट्य महादेवस्तु पूजितः ॥ ततो महेश्वरस्तुष्टो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

netramadhyāttadutpāṭya mahādevastu pūjitaḥ || tato maheśvarastuṣṭo vākyametaduvāca ha

he tore out his own eye, and Mahadeva was worshipped with it. Then Maheshvara, pleased, spoke these words —

Verse 14 (skanda.2.132.14)

॥महादेव उवाच॥ त्वत्समो नास्ति मद्भक्तस्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥ राज्यं दत्तं त्रिलोक्यास्ते भव त्वं लोकपालकः

mahādeva uvāca tvatsamo nāsti madbhaktastrailokye sacarācare || rājyaṁ dattaṁ trilokyāste bhava tvaṁ lokapālakaḥ

Mahadeva said: "In the three worlds of the moving and unmoving, there is no devotee of mine equal to you. I give you the sovereignty of the three worlds; be their protector.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.132.15)

अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं यन्मनसेप्सितम् ॥ अवश्यमेव दास्यामि नात्र कार्या विचारणा

anyaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te varaṁ yanmanasepsitam || avaśyameva dāsyāmi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Good fortune to you; ask for another boon too, whatever your heart desires; I shall certainly grant it — have no doubt about this.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.132.16)

मद्भक्तिं तु समालंब्य ये द्विषंति जनार्दनम् ॥ ते मद्द्वेष्या नरा विष्णो व्रजेयुर्नरकं ध्रुवम्

madbhaktiṁ tu samālaṁbya ye dviṣaṁti janārdanam || te maddveṣyā narā viṣṇo vrajeyurnarakaṁ dhruvam

O Vishnu, whatever men, sheltering under devotion to me, hate Janardana — those men, hateful to me too, shall certainly go to hell."

Verse 17 (skanda.2.132.17)

॥विष्णुरुवाच॥ त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरणं ममादिष्टं महेश्वर ॥ दुमर्दाश्च महासत्त्वा दैत्या मार्याः कथं मया

viṣṇuruvāca trailokyarakṣākaraṇaṁ mamādiṣṭaṁ maheśvara || dumardāśca mahāsattvā daityā māryāḥ kathaṁ mayā

Vishnu said: "O Maheshvara, the protection of the three worlds has been assigned to me. How am I to slay the enemy-crushing, mighty daityas?

Verse 18 (skanda.2.132.18)

॥शिव उवाच॥ एतत्सुदर्शनं चक्रं महादैत्यनिकृंतनम् ॥ गृहाण भगवन्विष्णो मया तुभ्य निवेदितम्

śiva uvāca etatsudarśanaṁ cakraṁ mahādaityanikṛṁtanam || gṛhāṇa bhagavanviṣṇo mayā tubhya niveditam

Shiva said: "This discus Sudarshana, which cuts down great daityas — O Blessed Vishnu, it is offered by me to you; accept it.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.132.19)

अनेन सर्वदैत्यानां भगवन्कदनं कुरु ॥ एवं चक्रं हरेर्दत्त्वा ततो वचनमब्रवीत्

anena sarvadaityānāṁ bhagavankadanaṁ kuru || evaṁ cakraṁ harerdattvā tato vacanamabravīt

O Blessed One, with this destroy all the daityas." Thus, having given the discus to Hari, he then spoke these words —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.132.20)

॥शिव उवाच॥ वर्षे च हेमलंबाख्ये मासे श्रीमति कार्तिके ॥ शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यामरुणाभ्युदयं प्रति

śiva uvāca varṣe ca hemalaṁbākhye māse śrīmati kārtike || śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāmaruṇābhyudayaṁ prati

Shiva said: "In the year named Hemalamba, in the auspicious month of Kartika, on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, at the time of dawn's reddening,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.132.21)

महादेवतिथौ ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते मणिकर्णिके ॥ स्नात्वा वैश्वेश्वरं लिंगं वैकुण्ठादेत्य पूजितम्

mahādevatithau brāhme muhūrte maṇikarṇike || snātvā vaiśveśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ vaikuṇṭhādetya pūjitam

on this tithi sacred to Mahadeva, in the Brahma-muhurta, having bathed at Manikarnika, you came from Vaikuntha and worshipped the Vishveshvara linga —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.132.22)

सहस्रकमलैस्तस्माद्भविष्यति मम प्रिया ॥ विख्याता सर्वलोकेषु वैकुण्ठाख्या चतुर्दशी

sahasrakamalaistasmādbhaviṣyati mama priyā || vikhyātā sarvalokeṣu vaikuṇṭhākhyā caturdaśī

with a thousand lotuses; therefore this fourteenth day shall be dear to me, and shall become renowned in all the worlds by the name Vaikuntha-chaturdashi.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.132.23)

अन्यं वरं प्रयच्छामि शृणु विष्णो वचो मम ॥ पूर्वरात्रेषु ते पूजा कर्तव्या सर्वजातिभिः

anyaṁ varaṁ prayacchāmi śṛṇu viṣṇo vaco mama || pūrvarātreṣu te pūjā kartavyā sarvajātibhiḥ

I grant another boon, O Vishnu; hear my words. Your worship should be performed by people of all castes in the earlier part of the night.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.132.24)

उपवासं दिवा कुर्यात्सायंकाले तवार्चनम् ॥ पश्चान्ममार्चनं कार्यमन्यथा निष्फलं भवेत्

upavāsaṁ divā kuryātsāyaṁkāle tavārcanam || paścānmamārcanaṁ kāryamanyathā niṣphalaṁ bhavet

They should fast during the day, worship you in the evening, and afterward worship me; otherwise it will be fruitless.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.132.25)

ग्राह्या तु हरिपूजायां रात्रिव्याप्ता चतुर्दशी ॥ अरुणोदयवेलायां शिवपूजां समाचरेत्

grāhyā tu haripūjāyāṁ rātrivyāptā caturdaśī || aruṇodayavelāyāṁ śivapūjāṁ samācaret

For the worship of Hari, the fourteenth tithi pervading the night should be taken. At the time of dawn's reddening, the worship of Shiva should be performed.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.132.26)

सहस्रकमलैर्विष्णुरादौ यैः पूजितो नरैः ॥ पश्चाच्छिवः पूजितश्चेज्जीवन्मुक्तास्त एव हि

sahasrakamalairviṣṇurādau yaiḥ pūjito naraiḥ || paścācchivaḥ pūjitaścejjīvanmuktāste eva hi

Those men who first worship Vishnu with a thousand lotuses, and then worship Shiva, are indeed liberated while yet living.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.132.27)

सायं स्नात्वा पंचनदे बिंदुमाधवमर्चयेत् ॥ स्नात्वा यो विष्णुकांच्यां वाऽनंतसेनं समर्चयेत्

sāyaṁ snātvā paṁcanade biṁdumādhavamarcayet || snātvā yo viṣṇukāṁcyāṁ vā'anaṁtasenaṁ samarcayet

In the evening, one should bathe at Panchanada and worship Bindu-Madhava. Whoever bathes at Vishnukanchi and worships Anantasena —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.132.28)

रुद्रकांच्यां ततः स्नात्वा प्रणवेशं समर्चयेत् ॥ आदौ स्नात्वा वह्नितीर्थे यजेन्नारायणं ततः

rudrakāṁcyāṁ tataḥ snātvā praṇaveśaṁ samarcayet || ādau snātvā vahnitīrthe yajennārāyaṇaṁ tataḥ

then, having bathed at Rudrakanchi, should worship Pranavesha. Having first bathed at Vahni-tirtha, one should then worship Narayana.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.132.29)

रेतोदके ततः स्नात्वा केदारेशं समर्चयेत् ॥ आदौ स्नात्वा सूर्यपुत्र्यां वेणीमाधवमर्चयेत्

retodake tataḥ snātvā kedāreśaṁ samarcayet || ādau snātvā sūryaputryāṁ veṇīmādhavamarcayet

Then, having bathed at Retodaka, one should worship Kedaresha. Having first bathed in the daughter of the Sun (Yamuna), one should worship Veni-Madhava.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.132.30)

जाह्नव्यां च ततः स्नात्वा संगमेशं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ सर्वाः श्रियस्तस्य वश्याः सत्यं विष्णो मयोदितम्

jāhnavyāṁ ca tataḥ snātvā saṁgameśaṁ prapūjayet || sarvāḥ śriyastasya vaśyāḥ satyaṁ viṣṇo mayoditam

Then, having bathed in the Ganga, one should worship Sangamesha. All fortunes become subject to him — this, O Vishnu, I have truly declared.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.132.31)

एवं तस्मै वरान्दत्त्वा ह्यंतर्धानं ययौ शिवः ॥ तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूज्यौ हरिहरावुभौ

evaṁ tasmai varāndattvā hyaṁtardhānaṁ yayau śivaḥ || tasmātsarvaprayatnena pūjyau hariharāvubhau

Thus, having given him these boons, Shiva vanished. Therefore both Hari and Hara should be worshipped with every effort.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.132.32)

कलौ दशसहस्राणि विष्णुस्त्यजति मेदिनीम् ॥ तदर्द्धं जाह्नवीतोयं तदर्द्धं ग्रामदेवताः

kalau daśasahasrāṇi viṣṇustyajati medinīm || tadardhaṁ jāhnavītoyaṁ tadardhaṁ grāmadevatāḥ

In the Kali age, after ten thousand years, Vishnu will forsake the earth; for half that time the water of the Ganga will remain, and for half of that, the village deities.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.132.33)

कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां तु कुर्यात्त्रैपुरमुत्सवम् ॥ दीपो देयोऽवश्यमेव सायंकाले शिवालये

kārtikyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ tu kuryāttraipuramutsavam || dīpo deyo'vaśyameva sāyaṁkāle śivālaye

On the full moon of Kartika, the Tripura festival should be celebrated. A lamp must certainly be offered in Shiva's temple in the evening.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.132.34)

त्रिपुरो नाम दैत्येंद्रः प्रयागे तप आस्थितः ॥ तपसा तस्य संतुष्टो ददौ ब्रह्मा वरं परम्

tripuro nāma daityeṁdraḥ prayāge tapa āsthitaḥ || tapasā tasya saṁtuṣṭo dadau brahmā varaṁ param

A lord of daityas named Tripura performed austerities at Prayaga. Pleased by his austerity, Brahma granted him a supreme boon.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.132.35)

देवासुरमनुष्येभ्यो न ते मृत्युर्भविष्यति ॥ इति लब्धवरो दैत्यो विश्वकर्मविनिर्मितम्

devāsuramanuṣyebhyo na te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati || iti labdhavaro daityo viśvakarmavinirmitam

"You shall not die at the hands of gods, asuras, or men." Having obtained this boon, the daitya, mounting the aerial city fashioned by Vishvakarma,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.132.36)

त्रिपुराख्यं विमानं तमारुह्य भुवनत्रयम् ॥ यदा वै पीडयामास तदा देवैः स्तुतो हरः

tripurākhyaṁ vimānaṁ tamāruhya bhuvanatrayam || yadā vai pīḍayāmāsa tadā devaiḥ stuto haraḥ

named Tripura, when he began to oppress the three worlds, was, at the gods' entreaty, confronted by Hara, who was then praised by the gods.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.132.37)

त्रिपुरं घातयामास बाणेनैकेन शत्रुहा ॥ कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां तु सर्वे देवाः प्रतुष्टुवुः

tripuraṁ ghātayāmāsa bāṇenaikena śatruhā || kārtikyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ tu sarve devāḥ pratuṣṭuvuḥ

The slayer of enemies destroyed Tripura with a single arrow. On the full moon of Kartika, all the gods praised him joyfully.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.132.38)

तस्मिन्दिने सर्वदेवैर्दीपा दत्ता हराय च ॥ सर्वथैव प्रदेयाश्च दीपास्तु हरतुष्टये

tasmindine sarvadevairdīpā dattā harāya ca || sarvathaiva pradeyāśca dīpāstu haratuṣṭaye

On that day, all the gods offered lamps to Hara. Therefore lamps should always be offered for Hara's satisfaction.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.132.39)

विंशतिः सप्तशतकाः सहिता दीपवर्तयः ॥ ददद्दीपं पूर्णिमायां सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

viṁśatiḥ saptaśatakāḥ sahitā dīpavartayaḥ || dadaddīpaṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Seven hundred and twenty lamp-wicks together — whoever offers a lamp on the full-moon day is freed from all sins.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.132.40)

पौर्णमास्यां तु संध्यायां कर्तव्यस्त्रिपुरोत्सवः ॥ दद्यादनेन मन्त्रेण प्रदीपांश्च सुरालये

paurṇamāsyāṁ tu saṁdhyāyāṁ kartavyastripurotsavaḥ || dadyādanena mantreṇa pradīpāṁśca surālaye

On the evening of the full moon, the Tripura festival should be held. One should offer lamps in the temple of the god with this mantra.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.132.41)

कीटाः पतंगा मशकाश्च वृक्षा जले स्थले ये विचरंति जीवाः ॥ दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न च जन्मभागिनो भवंतु नित्यं श्वपचा हि विप्राः

kīṭāḥ pataṁgā maśakāśca vṛkṣā jale sthale ye vicaraṁti jīvāḥ || dṛṣṭvā pradīpaṁ na ca janmabhāgino bhavaṁtu nityaṁ śvapacā hi viprāḥ

Whatever creatures — insects, moths, mosquitoes, trees, and those that move on water and land — behold this lamp, may they not be subject to rebirth; may even outcastes ever become brahmins.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.132.42)

कार्यस्तस्मात्पौर्णमास्यां त्रिपुराय महोत्सवः ॥ कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यः कुर्यात्स्वामिदर्शनम्

kāryastasmātpaurṇamāsyāṁ tripurāya mahotsavaḥ || kārtikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge yaḥ kuryātsvāmidarśanam

Therefore, on the full moon, a great festival should be held for Tripura. Whoever, in Kartika, during the conjunction with the Krittika nakshatra, has the vision of Svami (Kartikeya) —

Verse 43 (skanda.2.132.43)

सप्त जन्म भवेद्विप्रो धनाढ्यो वेदपारगः ॥ अत्र कृत्वा वृषोत्सर्गं नक्ताच्छैवपुरं व्रजेत्

sapta janma bhaveddvipro dhanāḍhyo vedapāragaḥ || atra kṛtvā vṛṣotsargaṁ naktācchaivapuraṁ vrajet

becomes, for seven births, a wealthy brahmin, master of the Vedas. Performing the bull-release rite here, and observing the nakta-vow of eating once at night, one goes to Shiva's abode.