The Glory of Flowers, and the Fruit of the Thousand-Jati-Flower Garland on Vishnu's Neck

Verse 1 (skanda.2.140.1)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। माहात्म्यं वद देवेश पुष्पजातिसमुद्भवम् ।। येनयेन च पुष्पेण यत्फलं लभते नरः

brahmovāca māhātmyaṁ vada deveśa puṣpajātisamudbhavam yenayena ca puṣpeṇa yatphalaṁ labhate naraḥ

Brahma said: O Lord of gods, tell me the glory arising from the varieties of flowers — with each flower, what fruit does a man obtain?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.140.2)

।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। शृणु पुत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पुष्पसंभवम्।। येन पुष्पेण मे प्रीतिर्भवेत्सम्यङ्न संशयः

śrībhagavānuvāca śṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ puṣpasaṁbhavam yena puṣpeṇa me prītirbhavetsamyaṅna saṁśayaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Listen, son, I shall declare the glory arising from flowers, and which flower brings me full pleasure, without doubt.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.140.3)

मल्लिका मालती चैव यूथिका चातिमुक्तका ।। पाटला करवीरं च जयन्ती विजया तथा

mallikā mālatī caiva yūthikā cātimuktakā pāṭalā karavīraṁ ca jayantī vijayā tathā

Mallika, malati, yuthika, and atimuktaka; patala, karavira, jayanti, and vijaya likewise;

Verse 4 (skanda.2.140.4)

कुब्जकस्तबकश्चैव कर्णिकारं कुरंटकः ।। चंपकश्चातकः कुन्दो बाणः कर्चूरमल्लिका

kubjakastabakaścaiva karṇikāraṁ kuraṁṭakaḥ caṁpakaścātakaḥ kundo bāṇaḥ karcūramallikā

Kubjaka, stabaka, karnikara, kurantaka; champaka, chataka, kunda, bana, karchura, and mallika;

Verse 5 (skanda.2.140.5)

अशोकस्तिलकश्चैव तथैवाऽपरयूथिकः ।। अमी पुष्पप्रकारास्तु शस्ता मे पूजने सुत

aśokastilakaścaiva tathaivā'parayūthikaḥ amī puṣpaprakārāstu śastā me pūjane suta

Ashoka, and tilaka likewise, and also another yuthika — these varieties of flowers, son, are praised for my worship.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.140.6)

केतकीपत्रपुष्पं च भृंगराजस्तथैव च ।। तुलसीपत्रपुष्पं च सद्यः प्रीतिकरं मम

ketakīpatrapuṣpaṁ ca bhṛṁgarājastathaiva ca tulasīpatrapuṣpaṁ ca sadyaḥ prītikaraṁ mama

The flower of the ketaki leaf, and likewise of bhringaraja; the flower of the tulasi leaf brings me instant pleasure.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.140.7)

पद्मान्यंबुसमुत्थानि रक्तनीलोत्पले तथा ।। सितोत्पलं सहोमासे ममाऽत्यन्तं हि वल्लभम्

padmānyaṁbusamutthāni raktanīlotpale tathā sitotpalaṁ sahomāse mamā'tyantaṁ hi vallabham

Lotuses born of water, and the red and blue lotuses; the white lotus is exceedingly dear to me in the month of Sahoma.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.140.8)

तान्येव च प्रशस्तानि कुसुमानि च मे सुत ।। यानि स्युर्वर्णयुक्तानि रसगन्धयुतानि च

tānyeva ca praśastāni kusumāni ca me suta yāni syurvarṇayuktāni rasagandhayutāni ca

Those flowers, too, my son, are praised by me which possess color and are endowed with fragrance and flavor.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.140.9)

निर्गंधान्यपि शस्तानि कुसुमानि मतानि मे ।। सुरभीणि तथाऽन्यानि वर्जयित्वा तु केतकीम्

nirgaṁdhānyapi śastāni kusumāni matāni me surabhīṇi tathā'nyāni varjayitvā tu ketakīm

Even scentless flowers are considered praiseworthy by me, as are other fragrant ones — excepting only the ketaki.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.140.10)

बाणं च चंपकाऽशोकं करवीरं च यूथिका ।। पारिभद्रं पाटला च बकुलं गिरिशालिनी

bāṇaṁ ca caṁpakā'śokaṁ karavīraṁ ca yūthikā pāribhadraṁ pāṭalā ca bakulaṁ giriśālinī

Bana, champaka, ashoka, karavira, and yuthika; paribhadra, patala, bakula, and girishalini;

Verse 11 (skanda.2.140.11)

बिल्वपत्रं शमीपत्रं पत्रं भृंगिरजस्य च ।। तमालामलकीपत्रं शस्तं मे पूजने सुत

bilvapatraṁ śamīpatraṁ patraṁ bhṛṁgirajasya ca tamālāmalakīpatraṁ śastaṁ me pūjane suta

Bilva leaf, shami leaf, the leaf of bhringiraja; tamala and amalaki leaf — these, son, are praised for my worship.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.140.12)

पुष्पैररण्यसंभूतैः पत्रैर्वा गिरिसंभवैः ।। अपर्युषितनिश्छिद्रैः प्रोक्षितैर्जंतुवर्जितैः

puṣpairaraṇyasaṁbhūtaiḥ patrairvā girisaṁbhavaiḥ aparyuṣitaniśchidraiḥ prokṣitairjaṁtuvarjitaiḥ

With flowers born in the forest, or with leaves born on a mountain — not stale, without holes, duly sprinkled, and free from insects—

Verse 13 (skanda.2.140.13)

अथारामोद्भवैर्वापि पुष्पैः संपूजयेच्च माम् ।। पुष्पजातिविशेषेण भवेत्पुण्यं विशेषतः

athārāmodbhavairvāpi puṣpaiḥ saṁpūjayecca mām puṣpajātiviśeṣeṇa bhavetpuṇyaṁ viśeṣataḥ

—or else with flowers born in a garden, one should worship me; according to the particular variety of the flower, merit too arises in particular measure.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.140.14)

तपःशीलगुणोपेते पात्रे वेदस्य पारगे ।। दश दत्त्वा सुवर्णानि यत्फलं लभते नरः ।। तत्फलं लभते मर्त्यः सहे कुसुमदानतः

tapaḥśīlaguṇopete pātre vedasya pārage daśa dattvā suvarṇāni yatphalaṁ labhate naraḥ tatphalaṁ labhate martyaḥ sahe kusumadānataḥ

Whatever fruit a mortal obtains by giving ten gold pieces to a worthy recipient endowed with austerity, virtue and learning in the Veda — that same fruit is obtained, in the month of Saha, by the gift of a single flower.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.140.15)

द्रोणपुष्पे तथैकस्मिन्मह्यं च विनिवेदिते ।। दश दत्त्वा सुवर्णानि फलं तदधिकं सुत

droṇapuṣpe tathaikasminmahyaṁ ca vinivedite daśa dattvā suvarṇāni phalaṁ tadadhikaṁ suta

By offering to me even a single drona-flower, my son, the fruit is even greater than that of giving ten gold pieces.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.140.16)

पुष्पात्पुष्पांतरे भेदो यथाऽऽसीत्तन्निबोध मे

puṣpātpuṣpāṁtare bhedo yathā''sīttannibodha me

Learn from me now the distinction that exists between one flower and another.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.140.17)

द्रोणपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यः खादिरं तु विशिष्यते ।। खादिरात्पुष्पसाहस्राच्छमीपुष्पं विशिष्यते

droṇapuṣpasahasrebhyaḥ khādiraṁ tu viśiṣyate khādirātpuṣpasāhasrācchamīpuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate

Above a thousand drona-flowers, the khadira flower is superior; above a thousand khadira flowers, the shami flower is superior.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.140.18)

शमीपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो बिल्वपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। बिल्वपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो बकपुष्पं विशिष्यते

śamīpuṣpasahasrebhyo bilvapuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate bilvapuṣpasahasrebhyo bakapuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate

Above a thousand shami flowers, the bilva flower is superior; above a thousand bilva flowers, the baka flower is superior.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.140.19)

बकपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो नंद्यावर्तं विशिष्यते ।। नंद्यावर्तसहस्राद्धि करवीरं विशिष्यते

bakapuṣpasahasrebhyo naṁdyāvartaṁ viśiṣyate naṁdyāvartasahasrāddhi karavīraṁ viśiṣyate

Above a thousand baka flowers, the nandyavarta is superior; above a thousand nandyavarta, the karavira is superior.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.140.20)

करवीरसहस्रस्य कुसुमं श्वेतमुत्तमम् ।। करवीरश्वेतपुष्पात्पालाशं पुष्पमुत्तमम्

karavīrasahasrasya kusumaṁ śvetamuttamam karavīraśvetapuṣpātpālāśaṁ puṣpamuttamam

Above a thousand karavira flowers, the white flower is best; above the white karavira flower, the palasha flower is best.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.140.21)

पालाशपुष्पसाहस्रात्कुशपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। कुशपुष्पसहस्राद्धि वनमाला विशिष्यते

pālāśapuṣpasāhasrātkuśapuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate kuśapuṣpasahasrāddhi vanamālā viśiṣyate

Above a thousand palasha flowers, the kusha flower is superior; above a thousand kusha flowers, the vanamala is superior.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.140.22)

वनमाला सहस्राद्धि चंपकं च विशिष्यते ।। चंपकस्य पुष्पशतादशोकं पुष्पमुत्तमम्

vanamālā sahasrāddhi caṁpakaṁ ca viśiṣyate caṁpakasya puṣpaśatādaśokaṁ puṣpamuttamam

Above a thousand vanamala, the champaka is superior; above a hundred champaka flowers, the ashoka flower is best.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.140.23)

अशोकपुष्पसाहस्राच्छेवन्तीपुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। शेवन्तीपुष्पसाहस्रात्कुजकं पुष्पमुत्तमम्

aśokapuṣpasāhasrācchevantīpuṣpamuttamam śevantīpuṣpasāhasrātkujakaṁ puṣpamuttamam

Above a thousand ashoka flowers, the shevanti flower is best; above a thousand shevanti flowers, the kunja flower is best.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.140.24)

कुजपुष्पसहस्राद्धि मालतीपुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। मालतीपुष्पसाहस्रात्सन्ध्यापुष्पं विशिष्यते

kujapuṣpasahasrāddhi mālatīpuṣpamuttamam mālatīpuṣpasāhasrātsandhyāpuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate

Above a thousand kunja flowers, the malati flower is best; above a thousand malati flowers, the sandhya flower is superior.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.140.25)

सन्ध्या पुष्पसहस्राद्धि त्रिसंध्यापुष्पमुत्तमम्

sandhyā puṣpasahasrāddhi trisaṁdhyāpuṣpamuttamam

Above a thousand sandhya flowers, the trisandhya flower is the best.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.140.26)

त्रिसंध्यारक्तसाहस्रात्त्रिसंध्याश्वेतमुत्तमम् ।। त्रिसन्ध्याश्वेतसाहस्रात्कुन्दपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।।

trisaṁdhyāraktasāhasrāttrisaṁdhyāśvetamuttamam trisandhyāśvetasāhasrātkundapuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate

Above a thousand red trisandhya flowers, the white trisandhya is best; above a thousand white trisandhya flowers, the kunda flower is superior.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.140.27)

कुन्दपुष्पसहस्राद्धि जातीपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। सर्वासां पुष्पजातीनां जातीपुष्पमिहोत्तमम्

kundapuṣpasahasrāddhi jātīpuṣpaṁ viśiṣyate sarvāsāṁ puṣpajātīnāṁ jātīpuṣpamihottamam

Above a thousand kunda flowers, the jati flower is superior; of all the varieties of flowers, the jati flower is here the best.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.140.28)

जातीपुष्पसहस्रेण यच्छेन्मालां सुशोभनाम् ।। मह्यं यो विधिवद्दद्यात्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

jātīpuṣpasahasreṇa yacchenmālāṁ suśobhanām mahyaṁ yo vidhivaddadyāttasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Whoever offers me, according to rule, a beautifully made garland of a thousand jati flowers — hear the fruit of his merit—

Verse 29 (skanda.2.140.29)

कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च ।। मत्पुरे वसते नित्यं ममतुल्य पराक्रमः

kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca matpure vasate nityaṁ mamatulya parākramaḥ

—he dwells for a thousand crore kalpas and a hundred crore kalpas ever in my own city, his prowess equal to mine.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.140.30)

येषां संति च पुष्पाणि प्रशस्तानि ममाऽर्चने ।। तेषां पत्राणि शस्तानि तदभावे फलानि च

yeṣāṁ saṁti ca puṣpāṇi praśastāni mamā'rcane teṣāṁ patrāṇi śastāni tadabhāve phalāni ca

For those who have flowers praised for my worship, their leaves too are praised; and in the absence of even those, their fruits.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.140.31)

एतैः पत्रैश्च पुष्पैश्च फलैश्चाऽपि तथाहि माम् ।। अर्चन्दशसुवर्णस्य प्रत्येकं फलमाप्नुयात्

etaiḥ patraiśca puṣpaiśca phalaiścā'pi tathāhi mām arcandaśasuvarṇasya pratyekaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

Worshipping me with these leaves, flowers, and also with fruits, one obtains, for each single one, the fruit of the gift of ten gold pieces.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.140.32)

एताभिः पुष्पजातीभिः सहोमासेऽर्चयंति ये ।। भक्तिं ददामि तेषां वै तुष्टः सन्नात्र संशयः

etābhiḥ puṣpajātībhiḥ sahomāse'rcayaṁti ye bhaktiṁ dadāmi teṣāṁ vai tuṣṭaḥ sannātra saṁśayaḥ

Those who worship me with these varieties of flowers in the month of Sahoma — I grant them devotion, pleased indeed; there is no doubt in this.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.140.33)

धनं पुत्रांस्तथा दारान्यत्किंचिद्वांछते हि सः ।। तत्तद्ददामि देवेश पुष्पैरेभिः प्रतोषितः

dhanaṁ putrāṁstathā dārānyatkiṁcidvāṁchate hi saḥ tattaddadāmi deveśa puṣpairebhiḥ pratoṣitaḥ

O Lord of gods, whatever he desires — wealth, sons, or a wife — pleased by these flowers, I grant him each and every one of them.