The Fruit of Offering the Bell-Sound and Tulasi-Sandal to the Lord

Verse 1 (skanda.2.139.1)

।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। घण्टानादस्य माहात्म्यं चंदनस्य तथाऽच्युत ।। यत्फलं लभते स्वामिंस्तत्सर्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः

brahmovāca ghaṇṭānādasya māhātmyaṁ caṁdanasya tathā'cyuta yatphalaṁ labhate svāmiṁstatsarvaṁ brūhi tattvataḥ

Brahma said: O Achyuta, the glory of the bell's sound, and likewise of sandal-paste — whatever fruit is obtained, O Lord, tell me all of that in truth.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.139.2)

।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। स्नानार्चनक्रियाकाले घंटानादं करोति यः ।। पुरतो मम देवेश तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

śrībhagavānuvāca snānārcanakriyākāle ghaṁṭānādaṁ karoti yaḥ purato mama deveśa tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

The Blessed Lord said: Whoever makes the sound of the bell at the time of the rites of bathing and worship before me, O Lord of gods, hear the fruit of his merit.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.139.3)

वर्षकोटिसहस्राणि वर्षकोटिशतानि च ।। वसते मामके लोके अप्सरोगणसेवितः

varṣakoṭisahasrāṇi varṣakoṭiśatāni ca vasate māmake loke apsarogaṇasevitaḥ

For a thousand crore years and a hundred crore years he dwells in my world, served by hosts of apsarases.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.139.4)

सर्ववाद्यमयी घण्टा सर्वदेवमयी यतः ।। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन घण्टानादं तु कारयेत्

sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā sarvadevamayī yataḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena ghaṇṭānādaṁ tu kārayet

Since the bell is composed of all instruments and of all the gods, therefore one should, with every effort, cause the bell to sound.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.139.5)

सर्ववाद्यमयी घण्टा सर्वदा मम वल्लभा ।। वादनाल्लभते पुण्यं यज्ञकोटिशतोद्भवम्

sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā sarvadā mama vallabhā vādanāllabhate puṇyaṁ yajñakoṭiśatodbhavam

The bell, composed of all instruments, is ever dear to me; by its ringing one obtains merit born of a hundred crore sacrifices.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.139.6)

घंटानादः सदा कार्यः पूजाकाले विशेषतः ।। मन्वंतरसहस्राणि मन्वतरशतानि च

ghaṁṭānādaḥ sadā kāryaḥ pūjākāle viśeṣataḥ manvaṁtarasahasrāṇi manvataraśatāni ca

The sound of the bell should always be made, especially at the time of worship — for it, across thousands of Manvantaras and hundreds of Manvantaras—

Verse 7 (skanda.2.139.7)

प्रीतो भवामि सततं घंटानादेन पुत्रक ।। भेरीशंखनिनादेन घंटानादान्वितेन च

prīto bhavāmi satataṁ ghaṁṭānādena putraka bherīśaṁkhaninādena ghaṁṭānādānvitena ca

—I remain, O son, ever pleased by the sound of the bell, together with the resounding of drums and conches, joined with the bell's sound.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.139.8)

मृदंगशंखेन युतं प्रणवेन समन्वितम् ।। अर्चनं मम देवेश सततं मोक्षदं नृणाम्

mṛdaṁgaśaṁkhena yutaṁ praṇavena samanvitam arcanaṁ mama deveśa satataṁ mokṣadaṁ nṛṇām

O Lord of gods, worship accompanied by mridanga and conch, joined with the pranava, ever bestows liberation upon men.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.139.9)

यत्र तिष्ठेत पुरतो घंटा नादान्विता मम ।। अर्चिता वैष्णवैर्यत्र तत्र मां विद्धि पुत्रक

yatra tiṣṭheta purato ghaṁṭā nādānvitā mama arcitā vaiṣṇavairyatra tatra māṁ viddhi putraka

Wherever the bell, accompanied by its sound, stands before me, worshipped there by Vaishnavas — know me to be present there, O son.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.139.10)

वैनतेयांऽकिता घंटा सुदर्शनयुताऽथवा ।। ममाग्रे स्थापयेद्यस्तु तस्य पापं हराम्यहम्

vainateyāṁ'kitā ghaṁṭā sudarśanayutā'thavā mamāgre sthāpayedyastu tasya pāpaṁ harāmyaham

Whoever sets up before me a bell marked with Garuda or joined with the Sudarshana — I remove his sin.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.139.11)

मदीयार्चनवेलायां घंटानादं करोति यः ।। नश्यंति तस्य पापानि शतजन्मार्जितान्यपि

madīyārcanavelāyāṁ ghaṁṭānādaṁ karoti yaḥ naśyaṁti tasya pāpāni śatajanmārjitānyapi

Whoever sounds the bell at the time of my worship — his sins, even those accumulated over a hundred births, are destroyed.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.139.12)

स्वापकाले प्रकुर्वीत घण्टानादं स्वभक्तितः ।। ममैवार्चनवेलायां फलं कोटिगुणोद्भवम्

svāpakāle prakurvīta ghaṇṭānādaṁ svabhaktitaḥ mamaivārcanavelāyāṁ phalaṁ koṭiguṇodbhavam

One should sound the bell with one's own devotion at the time of the deity's retiring; the fruit born at the time of my worship becomes a crore-fold.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.139.13)

ये मामर्चंति देवेश सुपर्णोपरिसंस्थितम् ।। शंखपद्मगदायुक्तं सचक्रं च श्रिया युतम्

ye māmarcaṁti deveśa suparṇoparisaṁsthitam śaṁkhapadmagadāyuktaṁ sacakraṁ ca śriyā yutam

O Lord of gods, those who worship me seated upon Garuda, holding the conch, lotus, mace and discus, together with Shri—

Verse 14 (skanda.2.139.14)

किं करिष्यंति ते तीर्थैर्देवतानां च दर्शनैः ।। किं यज्ञैः किं व्रतैर्वापि किं दानैः किमुपोषणैः

kiṁ kariṣyaṁti te tīrthairdevatānāṁ ca darśanaiḥ kiṁ yajñaiḥ kiṁ vratairvāpi kiṁ dānaiḥ kimupoṣaṇaiḥ

—what need have they of tirthas, or of the sight of the gods? What need of sacrifices, of vows, of gifts, or of fasts?

Verse 15 (skanda.2.139.15)

मूर्तिर्नारायणी यैश्च मामकी गरुडोपरि ।। स्थापिता ते कलौ यांति कल्पकोटिं पदं मम

mūrtirnārāyaṇī yaiśca māmakī garuḍopari sthāpitā te kalau yāṁti kalpakoṭiṁ padaṁ mama

Those by whom my Narayani image is set up upon Garuda — they go, in the Kali age, to my own abode, for a crore of kalpas.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.139.16)

ममाऽग्रे स्थापयेद्यस्तु प्रासादेऽथ गृहेऽथवा ।। तीर्थकोटिसहस्राणि तत्र तिष्ठंति देवताः

mamā'gre sthāpayedyastu prāsāde'tha gṛhe'thavā tīrthakoṭisahasrāṇi tatra tiṣṭhaṁti devatāḥ

Whoever sets me up before him, in a temple or in a home — there dwell a thousand crore tirthas and deities.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.139.17)

यस्तु पूजयते धन्यो गरुडोपरिसंस्थितम्।। एकादश्यां तथा रात्रौ वासनासंयुतो मम ।। कृत्वा गीतं च नृत्यं च तारयेन्नरकात्पितॄन्

yastu pūjayate dhanyo garuḍoparisaṁsthitam ekādaśyāṁ tathā rātrau vāsanāsaṁyuto mama kṛtvā gītaṁ ca nṛtyaṁ ca tārayennarakātpitṝn

Whatever blessed man worships me, seated upon Garuda, on the night of Ekadashi, absorbed in me, performing song and dance — he lifts his ancestors out of hell.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.139.18)

पुनश्च कथयिष्यामि शृणु घंटामहं सुत

punaśca kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu ghaṁṭāmahaṁ suta

Now, O son, I shall speak again — hear me — concerning the bell.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.139.19)

मम नामांकिता घण्टा पुरतो या च तिष्ठति ।। अर्चिता वैष्णवी यत्र तत्र मां विद्धि पुत्रक

mama nāmāṁkitā ghaṇṭā purato yā ca tiṣṭhati arcitā vaiṣṇavī yatra tatra māṁ viddhi putraka

Wherever a bell inscribed with my name stands before me, worshipped there — know me to be present there, O son.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.139.20)

यस्तु वादयते घंटां वैनतेयविचिह्निताम्।। धूपे नीराजने स्नाने पूजाकाले विलेपने

yastu vādayate ghaṁṭāṁ vainateyavicihnitām dhūpe nīrājane snāne pūjākāle vilepane

Whoever sounds the bell marked with Garuda's emblem during incense, arati, bathing, worship, and anointing—

Verse 21 (skanda.2.139.21)

ममाग्रे प्रत्यहं वत्स प्रत्येकं लभते फलम् ।। मखायुतं गोऽयुतं च चांद्रायणशतोद्भवम्

mamāgre pratyahaṁ vatsa pratyekaṁ labhate phalam makhāyutaṁ go'yutaṁ ca cāṁdrāyaṇaśatodbhavam

—before me, O son, he obtains daily, for each single act, the fruit of ten thousand sacrifices, ten thousand cows, and that born of a hundred Chandrayana fasts.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.139.22)

विधिबाह्यकृता पृजा सफला जायते नृणाम् ।। घण्टानादेन तुष्टोऽहं प्रयच्छामि स्वकं पदम्

vidhibāhyakṛtā pṛjā saphalā jāyate nṛṇām ghaṇṭānādena tuṣṭo'haṁ prayacchāmi svakaṁ padam

Even worship performed outside the proper rule becomes fruitful for men; pleased by the sound of the bell, I grant even my own abode.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.139.23)

नागाऽरिचिह्निता घंटा रथांगेन समन्विता ।। वादनात्कुरुते नाशं जन्मकोटिभयस्य वै

nāgā'ricihnitā ghaṁṭā rathāṁgena samanvitā vādanātkurute nāśaṁ janmakoṭibhayasya vai

The bell marked with the enemy of serpents and joined with the discus, by its sounding, destroys the fear of a crore births.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.139.24)

गरुडेनांऽकितां घंटां दृष्ट्वाहं प्रत्यहं मुदा ।। प्रीतिं करोमि देवेश लक्ष्मीं प्राप्य यथाऽधनः

garuḍenāṁ'kitāṁ ghaṁṭāṁ dṛṣṭvāhaṁ pratyahaṁ mudā prītiṁ karomi deveśa lakṣmīṁ prāpya yathā'dhanaḥ

O Lord of gods, seeing daily, with joy, the bell marked with Garuda, I become as pleased as a poor man on obtaining Lakshmi.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.139.25)

घंटादण्डस्य शिरसि सुचक्रं स्थापयेत्तु यः ।। मत्प्रियं वैनतेयं वा स्थापितं भुवनत्रयम्

ghaṁṭādaṇḍasya śirasi sucakraṁ sthāpayettu yaḥ matpriyaṁ vainateyaṁ vā sthāpitaṁ bhuvanatrayam

Whoever places a fine discus atop the bell's handle, or Garuda who is dear to me — by him it is as though the three worlds have been established.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.139.26)

घंटानादं सचक्रं च अंतकाले शृणोति यः ।। पापकोटियुतस्याऽपि नश्यंति यमकिंकराः

ghaṁṭānādaṁ sacakraṁ ca aṁtakāle śṛṇoti yaḥ pāpakoṭiyutasyā'pi naśyaṁti yamakiṁkarāḥ

Whoever, O son, hears the sound of the bell together with the discus at the time of death — even for one laden with a crore sins, the servants of Yama are destroyed.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.139.27)

सर्वदोषाः प्रणश्यंति घंटानादेन वै सुत ।। देवतानां सरुद्राणां पितॄणामुत्सवो भवेत्

sarvadoṣāḥ praṇaśyaṁti ghaṁṭānādena vai suta devatānāṁ sarudrāṇāṁ pitṝṇāmutsavo bhavet

O son, by the sound of the bell all faults are destroyed; there arises a festival among the gods together with the Rudras, and among the ancestors.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.139.28)

अभावे वैनतेयस्य चक्रस्याऽपि न संशयः ।। घंटानादेन भक्तानां प्रसादं प्रकरोम्यहम्

abhāve vainateyasya cakrasyā'pi na saṁśayaḥ ghaṁṭānādena bhaktānāṁ prasādaṁ prakaromyaham

Even in the absence of Garuda or of the discus, without doubt, by the sound of the bell I show grace to my devotees.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.139.29)

गृहे यस्मिन्भवेन्नित्यं घण्टा नागारिसंयुता ।। सर्पाणां न भयं तत्र नाग्निविद्युत्समुद्भवम्

gṛhe yasminbhavennityaṁ ghaṇṭā nāgārisaṁyutā sarpāṇāṁ na bhayaṁ tatra nāgnividyutsamudbhavam

In whatever house there is always a bell joined with the emblem of the enemy of serpents, there is no fear of serpents, nor of fire or lightning.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.139.30)

यस्य घंटा गृहे नास्ति शंखो न पुरतो मम ।। कथं भागवतो ज्ञेयः कथं भवति वल्लभः

yasya ghaṁṭā gṛhe nāsti śaṁkho na purato mama kathaṁ bhāgavato jñeyaḥ kathaṁ bhavati vallabhaḥ

He in whose house there is no bell, and no conch before me — how can he be known as a Bhagavata? How could he ever be dear to me?

Verse 31 (skanda.2.139.31)

चंदनस्य प्रवक्ष्याम माहात्म्यं तव पुत्रक ।। यस्मिन्कृते भवेत्प्रीतिर्ममात्यंतं न संशयः ।।

caṁdanasya pravakṣyāma māhātmyaṁ tava putraka yasminkṛte bhavetprītirmamātyaṁtaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

Now, my son, I shall declare to you the glory of sandal-paste, by whose application, without doubt, my supreme affection arises.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.139.32)

सचंदनं सकुसुमं कर्पूरागरुमिश्रितम् ।। मृगनाभिसमायुक्तं जातीफलसमन्वितम्

sacaṁdanaṁ sakusumaṁ karpūrāgarumiśritam mṛganābhisamāyuktaṁ jātīphalasamanvitam

Sandal together with camphor, mixed with agaru, joined with musk, and together with nutmeg—

Verse 33 (skanda.2.139.33)

तुलसीचंदनोपेतं ममात्यंतसुखावहम् ।। यो ददाति हि मां नित्यं तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवम्

tulasīcaṁdanopetaṁ mamātyaṁtasukhāvaham yo dadāti hi māṁ nityaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhavam

—together with tulasi, and bringing me the greatest joy — whoever daily offers me that sandal which arises from tulasi wood—

Verse 34 (skanda.2.139.34)

युगानि वसते स्वर्गे ह्यनंतानि नरोत्तमः ।। महाविष्णोः कलौ भक्त्या दत्त्वा तुलसिचंदनम् ।।

yugāni vasate svarge hyanaṁtāni narottamaḥ mahāviṣṇoḥ kalau bhaktyā dattvā tulasicaṁdanam

—that best of men dwells in heaven for endless ages; having offered, with devotion, tulasi-sandal to the great Vishnu in the Kali age—

Verse 35 (skanda.2.139.35)

अर्चयेन्मालतीपुष्पैर्न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् ।। तुलसीकाष्ठसंभूतं चंदनं यच्छते मम

arcayenmālatīpuṣpairna bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhūtaṁ caṁdanaṁ yacchate mama

—and worships with malati flowers, he is never again reduced to taking birth as a suckling infant. Whoever offers me sandal born of tulasi wood—

Verse 36 (skanda.2.139.36)

दहामि पातकं सर्वं पूर्वजन्मशतैः कृतम् ।। सर्वेषामेव देवानां तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्

dahāmi pātakaṁ sarvaṁ pūrvajanmaśataiḥ kṛtam sarveṣāmeva devānāṁ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam

—I burn away all his sins, committed across a hundred former births. For all the gods, sandal made of tulasi wood—

Verse 37 (skanda.2.139.37)

पितॄणां च विशेषेण सदाऽभीष्टं यथा मम

pitṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣeṇa sadā'bhīṣṭaṁ yathā mama

—and especially for the ancestors, is ever as much desired as it is by me.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.139.38)

श्रीखंडं चंदनं तावच्छ्रेष्ठं कृष्णागुरुं तथा ।। यावन्न दीयते मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्

śrīkhaṁḍaṁ caṁdanaṁ tāvacchreṣṭhaṁ kṛṣṇāguruṁ tathā yāvanna dīyate mahyaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam

So long as tulasi-sandal is not given to me, the excellent sandal of shrikhandan and of dark agaru wood too remain no substitute.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.139.39)

तावत्कस्तूरिकाऽऽमोदः कर्पूरस्य सुगंधिता ।। यावन्न दीयते मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्

tāvatkastūrikā''modaḥ karpūrasya sugaṁdhitā yāvanna dīyate mahyaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam

So long as tulasi-sandal is not given to me, the fragrance of musk and the sweet scent of camphor too remain no substitute.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.139.40)

कलौ यच्छंति ये मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्।। मार्गशीर्षशुभेमासे ते कृतार्था न संशयः

kalau yacchaṁti ye mahyaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam mārgaśīrṣaśubhemāse te kṛtārthā na saṁśayaḥ

Those who, in the Kali age, give me tulasi-sandal in the auspicious month of Margashirsha — they, without doubt, have their purpose fulfilled.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.139.41)

यो हि भागवतो भूत्वा कलौ तुलसिचंदनम् ।। नार्पयेद्वै सहोमासे नाऽसौ भागवतो नरः

yo hi bhāgavato bhūtvā kalau tulasicaṁdanam nārpayedvai sahomāse nā'sau bhāgavato naraḥ

Whoever, having become a Bhagavata, does not offer tulasi-sandal to me in the Kali age, in the month of Sahoma — he is no true Bhagavata at all.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.139.42)

कुंकुमागुरुश्रीखण्डकर्दमैर्मम विग्रहम् ।। आलिपेद्वै सहोमासे कल्पकोटिं वसेद्दिवि

kuṁkumāguruśrīkhaṇḍakardamairmama vigraham ālipedvai sahomāse kalpakoṭiṁ vaseddivi

Whoever anoints my image with a paste of saffron, agaru, and shrikhandan in the month of Sahoma dwells in heaven for a crore of kalpas.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.139.43)

कर्पूरागुरुमिश्रेण चंदनेनाऽनुलिंपयेत् ।। मृगदर्पं विशेषेण अभीष्टं च सदा मम

karpūrāgurumiśreṇa caṁdanenā'nuliṁpayet mṛgadarpaṁ viśeṣeṇa abhīṣṭaṁ ca sadā mama

One should anoint me with sandal mixed with camphor and agaru, and especially with musk — this is ever most desired by me.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.139.44)

विलेपयति यो मां वै शंखे कृत्वा तु चंदनम् ।। मार्गशीर्षे तदा प्रीतिं करोमि शतवार्षिकीम्

vilepayati yo māṁ vai śaṁkhe kṛtvā tu caṁdanam mārgaśīrṣe tadā prītiṁ karomi śatavārṣikīm

Whoever, having placed sandal in a conch, anoints me with it in Margashirsha — then I show him affection lasting a hundred years.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.139.45)

सेवते तुलसीपत्रैर्नित्यमामलकैश्च यः ।। मार्गशीर्षे सदा भक्त्या स लभेद्वांछितं फलम्

sevate tulasīpatrairnityamāmalakaiśca yaḥ mārgaśīrṣe sadā bhaktyā sa labhedvāṁchitaṁ phalam

Whoever always serves me with tulasi leaves and amalaka fruits, with devotion, in Margashirsha, obtains the fruit he desires.