The Reason for Vaishakha's Supremacy

Verse 1 (skanda.2.159.1)

अम्बरीष उवाच । वैशाखः सर्वधर्मेभ्यस्तपोधर्मेभ्य एव च । स कथं सर्वमासेभ्यो दानेभ्योऽप्यधिकोऽभवत्

ambarīṣa uvāca vaiśākhaḥ sarvadharmebhyastapodharmebhya eva ca sa kathaṁ sarvamāsebhyo dānebhyo'pyadhiko'bhavat

Ambarisha said: How did Vaishakha come to surpass all dharmas, even the dharmas of austerity, and surpass all months and even gifts themselves?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.159.2)

नारद उवाच । तद्वक्ष्यामि महाप्राज्ञ शृणु चैकमना भव । कल्पांते देवराड्विष्णुः शेषशायी महाप्रभुः

nārada uvāca tadvakṣyāmi mahāprājña śṛṇu caikamanā bhava kalpāṁte devarāḍviṣṇuḥ śeṣaśāyī mahāprabhuḥ

Narada said: I shall tell you that, O greatly wise one; listen with a focused mind. At the end of a kalpa, Vishnu, king of the gods, the great Lord reclining on Shesha,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.159.3)

कुक्षिस्थ लोकसङ्घोऽयं स शेते प्रलयार्णवे । अनेको ह्येकतां प्राप्य भूतिभिर्योगमायया

kukṣistha lokasaṅgho'yaṁ sa śete pralayārṇave aneko hyekatāṁ prāpya bhūtibhiryogamāyayā

—with this entire collection of worlds lodged within his belly, lies in the ocean of dissolution; manifold though he is, having attained oneness through the majestic power of his yogamaya,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.159.4)

निमेषस्यावसाने तु श्रुतिभिर्बोधितस्ततः । कुक्षिस्थजीवसंघानां रक्षां चक्रे दयानिधिः

nimeṣasyāvasāne tu śrutibhirbodhitastataḥ kukṣisthajīvasaṁghānāṁ rakṣāṁ cakre dayānidhiḥ

—then, at the end of that cosmic 'twinkling', awakened by the Vedic hymns personified, that ocean of compassion undertook the protection of the multitudes of souls lodged within his belly.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.159.5)

तत्तत्कर्मफलप्राप्त्यै सृष्टिं स्रष्टुं मनो दधे । तस्य नाभेरभूत्पद्म सौवर्णं भुवनाश्रयम्

tattatkarmaphalaprāptyai sṛṣṭiṁ sraṣṭuṁ mano dadhe tasya nābherabhūtpadma sauvarṇaṁ bhuvanāśrayam

So that beings might obtain the fruits of their respective deeds, he resolved to create; from his navel arose a golden lotus, the very support of all the worlds.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.159.6)

ब्रह्माणं जनयामास वैराजं पुरुषाह्वयम् । तस्मिन्ससर्ज भगवान्भुवनानि चतुर्दश

brahmāṇaṁ janayāmāsa vairājaṁ puruṣāhvayam tasminsasarja bhagavānbhuvanāni caturdaśa

From it he generated Brahma, called the Cosmic Person, Viraj; within him the Blessed Lord created the fourteen worlds.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.159.7)

भिन्नकर्माशयान्प्राणिसङ्घांश्च विविधान्बहून् । त्रिगुणान्प्रकृतिं लोके मर्यादाश्चाधिपांस्तथा

bhinnakarmāśayānprāṇisaṅghāṁśca vividhānbahūn triguṇānprakṛtiṁ loke maryādāścādhipāṁstathā

—along with numerous, diverse multitudes of beings of differing karmic dispositions; the three-fold nature (prakriti) in the world, the bounds of conduct, and their respective rulers.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.159.8)

वर्णाश्रमविभागांश्च धर्मक्लृप्तिं च सोऽकरोत् । वेदैश्चतुर्भिस्तत्रैश्च सहितान्स्मृतिभिस्तथा

varṇāśramavibhāgāṁśca dharmaklṛptiṁ ca so'karot vedaiścaturbhistatraiśca sahitānsmṛtibhistathā

He also established the divisions of varna and ashrama, and the ordinance of dharma, together with the four Vedas and, likewise, the Smritis,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.159.9)

पुराणैरितिहासैश्च स्वाज्ञारूपैर्महेश्वरः । ऋषीन्प्रवर्तकांश्चक्रे धर्मगुप्त्यै महाप्रभुः

purāṇairitihāsaiśca svājñārūpairmaheśvaraḥ ṛṣīnpravartakāṁścakre dharmaguptyai mahāprabhuḥ

—and with the Puranas and the Itihasas, all of them forms of his own command. The great Lord, the great Ishvara, made the sages the propagators of these, for the protection of dharma.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.159.10)

तैः प्रवर्तितधर्मास्तु वर्णाश्रमविभागजाः । प्रजाः श्रद्दधिरे सर्वाः स्वोचितान्विष्णुतोषदान्

taiḥ pravartitadharmāstu varṇāśramavibhāgajāḥ prajāḥ śraddadhire sarvāḥ svocitānviṣṇutoṣadān

All the people came to place their faith in the dharmas set in motion by those sages, born of the divisions of varna and ashrama — dharmas suited to each, pleasing to Vishnu.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.159.11)

तांस्तु प्रवर्तमानांस्तु स्वाश्रमान्द्रष्टुमीश्वरः । हृदिस्थोऽप्यव्ययः साक्षाद्विभीषार्थं परीक्षया

tāṁstu pravartamānāṁstu svāśramāndraṣṭumīśvaraḥ hṛdistho'pyavyayaḥ sākṣādvibhīṣārthaṁ parīkṣayā

In order to see the people engaged in the dharmas of their own stations, the imperishable Lord — though already present in every heart — came in person, so as to inspire due awe through his examination —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.159.12)

अनूनान्कुशलान्यत्र धर्मान्कुर्वंति वै प्रजाः । स कालः को भवेद्विद्वानिति सर्चितयत्प्रभुः

anūnānkuśalānyatra dharmānkurvaṁti vai prajāḥ sa kālaḥ ko bhavedvidvāniti sarcitayatprabhuḥ

—wondering in which season people perform their dharmas fully and skilfully. 'Which season would that be?' — thus the all-knowing Lord pondered.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.159.13)

वर्षाकालो मया सृष्टः सीदंत्यस्ता इमाः प्रजाः । तत्रानूनान्न कुर्वंति धर्मान्पंकाद्युपद्रुताः

varṣākālo mayā sṛṣṭaḥ sīdaṁtyastā imāḥ prajāḥ tatrānūnānna kurvaṁti dharmānpaṁkādyupadrutāḥ

'The rainy season, which I myself created — in it these people become distressed; there, harassed by mud and the like, they do not perform their dharmas fully.'

Verse 14 (skanda.2.159.14)

तान्दृष्ट्वा कोप एव स्यात्तेषु तुष्टिर्न मे भवेत् । मयेक्षिता न सीदंतु तस्मात्तानवलोकये

tāndṛṣṭvā kopa eva syātteṣu tuṣṭirna me bhavet mayekṣitā na sīdaṁtu tasmāttānavalokaye

'Seeing them thus, only anger would arise in me; I would find no satisfaction. Let those I observe not be found wanting — therefore I shall not examine them then.'

Verse 15 (skanda.2.159.15)

शरद्यपि तथा पूर्तिः कर्षणान्नैव जायते । केचित्पक्वफलासक्ताः केचिद्वृष्टिभिरर्दिताः

śaradyapi tathā pūrtiḥ karṣaṇānnaiva jāyate kecitpakvaphalāsaktāḥ kecidvṛṣṭibhirarditāḥ

'In autumn too, full observance does not occur, because of the labour of harvest; some are absorbed in gathering ripe fruit, some are troubled by lingering rains,'

Verse 16 (skanda.2.159.16)

केचिच्छीतार्दिताश्चैव तान्दृष्ट्वा रोष एव मे । वैगुण्यं पश्यतश्चैव न मे तोषोऽभिजायते

kecicchītārditāścaiva tāndṛṣṭvā roṣa eva me vaiguṇyaṁ paśyataścaiva na me toṣo'bhijāyate

'—and some are afflicted by cold; seeing them, only anger would arise in me. Seeing their shortcomings, I would find no satisfaction.'

Verse 17 (skanda.2.159.17)

उत्थापनं तु नेच्छंति प्रातर्हेमंत आगते । कोपो मेऽनुत्थितान्दृष्ट्वा प्रातः सूर्योदये सति

utthāpanaṁ tu necchaṁti prātarhemaṁta āgate kopo me'nutthitāndṛṣṭvā prātaḥ sūryodaye sati

'With the onset of early winter, they do not wish to rise early in the morning. My anger arises on seeing them still not risen even after sunrise.'

Verse 18 (skanda.2.159.18)

शिशिरेऽपि तथैवार्ताः प्रातःकाल इमाः प्रजाः । तथा पक्वफलादानाशक्ता ह्यनिशमंजसा

śiśire'pi tathaivārtāḥ prātaḥkāla imāḥ prajāḥ tathā pakvaphalādānāśaktā hyaniśamaṁjasā

'In deep winter too, these people are likewise distressed in the morning hour, and are truly unable, day and night, to gather ripe fruit.'

Verse 19 (skanda.2.159.19)

पुनः शीतार्दिताः प्रातःस्नानार्थमिति चिंतिताः । तेषां तु कर्मलोपः स्यान्नैव पूर्तिः कथंचन

punaḥ śītārditāḥ prātaḥsnānārthamiti ciṁtitāḥ teṣāṁ tu karmalopaḥ syānnaiva pūrtiḥ kathaṁcana

'Afflicted by cold, they remain anxious about the morning bath; for them there will only be a lapse in the ritual — full observance will not occur in any way.'

Verse 20 (skanda.2.159.20)

प्रेक्षायाः समयो नाऽयमिति चिंताऽऽकुलो विभुः । वसंत समयं मेने सर्वापत्तिनिवारकम्

prekṣāyāḥ samayo nā'yamiti ciṁtā''kulo vibhuḥ vasaṁta samayaṁ mene sarvāpattinivārakam

'This, then, is not the season for my examination' — troubled by such reflection, the all-pervading Lord settled upon the season of spring as the remover of every difficulty.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.159.21)

स्नाने दाने तथा यागे क्रियायां भोग एव च । नानाधर्मविधाने च ह्यनुकूलस्त्वयं ह्यृतुः

snāne dāne tathā yāge kriyāyāṁ bhoga eva ca nānādharmavidhāne ca hyanukūlastvayaṁ hyṛtuḥ

'For bathing, giving, sacrifice, ritual action, enjoyment, and the performance of the various dharmas — this season alone is favourable.'

Verse 22 (skanda.2.159.22)

अप्रयासेन लभ्यानि द्रव्याण्यसुभृतां धुवम् । येन केनापि द्रव्येण तुष्टिस्तनुभृतां भवेत्

aprayāsena labhyāni dravyāṇyasubhṛtāṁ dhuvam yena kenāpi dravyeṇa tuṣṭistanubhṛtāṁ bhavet

'The materials needed are surely obtainable by living beings without effort; by whatsoever material, satisfaction arises for embodied beings.'

Verse 23 (skanda.2.159.23)

विष्णोराधारभूतानां तद्द्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम् । वसंते सकलं द्रव्यं प्राणिनां तु सुखावहम्

viṣṇorādhārabhūtānāṁ taddravyaṁ dharmasādhanam vasaṁte sakalaṁ dravyaṁ prāṇināṁ tu sukhāvaham

'For those who take Vishnu as their refuge, that material becomes an instrument of dharma. In spring, every material brings happiness to living beings —'

Verse 24 (skanda.2.159.24)

दानयोग्यं धर्मयोग्यं भोगयोग्यं तु सर्वशः । निर्धनानां तु पङ्वादि विकलानां महात्मनाम्

dānayogyaṁ dharmayogyaṁ bhogayogyaṁ tu sarvaśaḥ nirdhanānāṁ tu paṅvādi vikalānāṁ mahātmanām

'—suitable for giving, for dharma, and in every way for enjoyment. Even for the poor, the lame, the disabled, and for great souls —'

Verse 25 (skanda.2.159.25)

द्रव्याणि च सुलभ्यानि जलादीनि न संशयः । द्रव्यैरेतैः स्वात्महितं धर्मं कुर्वंति मत्प्रियाः

dravyāṇi ca sulabhyāni jalādīni na saṁśayaḥ dravyairetaiḥ svātmahitaṁ dharmaṁ kurvaṁti matpriyāḥ

'—materials such as water are, without doubt, easily obtainable. With these materials, those dear to me perform dharma for their own benefit —'

Verse 26 (skanda.2.159.26)

पत्रैः पुष्पैः फलैरन्यैः शाकैश्चापि प्रियोक्तिभिः । स्रक्तांबूलैश्चन्दनाद्यैः पादप्रक्षालनादिभिः

patraiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalairanyaiḥ śākaiścāpi priyoktibhiḥ sraktāṁbūlaiścandanādyaiḥ pādaprakṣālanādibhiḥ

'—with leaves, flowers, fruit, and vegetables, and with pleasant words too; with garlands, betel, sandal-paste, and the washing of feet and the like,'

Verse 27 (skanda.2.159.27)

प्रश्रयाद्यैरहो तेषां वरदोऽहमितीरयन् । संचिंत्य भगवान्विष्णुः प्रतस्थे रमया सह

praśrayādyairaho teṣāṁ varado'hamitīrayan saṁciṁtya bhagavānviṣṇuḥ pratasthe ramayā saha

'—and with hospitality and the like — ah, to such people I am indeed the granter of boons!' Having thus reflected and declared, the Blessed Lord Vishnu set out together with Lakshmi.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.159.28)

वनानि सर्वतः पश्यन्विकसत्कुसुमानि च । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णं मत्तालिद्विजसेवितम्

vanāni sarvataḥ paśyanvikasatkusumāni ca hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇaṁ mattālidvijasevitam

—beholding on every side the forests with blossoming flowers, thronged with joyful, thriving people, frequented by intoxicated bees and birds,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.159.29)

आश्रमाणां महार्हाणां वनग्रामनिवासिनाम् । प्रांगणादीनि रम्याणि ह्युद्यानानि स्थलानि च

āśramāṇāṁ mahārhāṇāṁ vanagrāmanivāsinām prāṁgaṇādīni ramyāṇi hyudyānāni sthalāni ca

—and the delightful courtyards, gardens, and grounds of the most venerable hermitages of those dwelling in forest villages,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.159.30)

रमायै दर्शयन्विष्णुः सह देवैर्मुनीश्वरैः । सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वकिन्नरोरगराक्षसैः

ramāyai darśayanviṣṇuḥ saha devairmunīśvaraiḥ siddhacāraṇagandharvakinnaroragarākṣasaiḥ

—Vishnu, showing all this to Lakshmi, accompanied by the gods, the lords of sages, the Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, serpents, and Rakshasas,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.159.31)

स्तूयमानोऽभ्यगाद्गेहान्वर्णाश्रमनिवासिनाम् । मीनादिकर्कटांतं वै स तिष्ठन्रमया सुरैः

stūyamāno'bhyagādgehānvarṇāśramanivāsinām mīnādikarkaṭāṁtaṁ vai sa tiṣṭhanramayā suraiḥ

—being praised on all sides, went to the dwellings of those living within the varnas and ashramas. From the sun's passage through Pisces to the end of Cancer, he remained there together with Lakshmi and the gods,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.159.32)

सार्द्धं प्रतीक्ष्य पुरुषान्कृताकृत सपर्यया । तत्र धर्मवतां पुंसां ददातीष्टान्मनोरथान्

sārddhaṁ pratīkṣya puruṣānkṛtākṛta saparyayā tatra dharmavatāṁ puṁsāṁ dadātīṣṭānmanorathān

—watching to see whether or not people had performed their proper worship. There, to righteous men, he grants their desired wishes.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.159.33)

मत्तान्न सहते पुंसो हरत्यायुर्धनादिकम् । यदि कुर्वंति वैशाखे सपर्या परमात्मनः

mattānna sahate puṁso haratyāyurdhanādikam yadi kurvaṁti vaiśākhe saparyā paramātmanaḥ

He does not tolerate negligent, arrogant men, and takes away their lifespan, wealth, and the like — unless they perform the worship of the Supreme Self in Vaishakha.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.159.34)

तत्रापि चलमूर्तीनां साधूनां यत्र वै विभुः । मासेवन्येषु यज्जातं कर्मलोपं सहिष्यति

tatrāpi calamūrtīnāṁ sādhūnāṁ yatra vai vibhuḥ māsevanyeṣu yajjātaṁ karmalopaṁ sahiṣyati

Even there, before the processional images of the holy, wherever the all-pervading Lord is present, whatever lapse of ritual occurred in the other months, he will forgive.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.159.35)

यथा देशागतं भूपं दृष्ट्वा जानपदाः प्रजाः । यदि तं चोपतिष्ठन्ति प्रश्रयाद्यैर्महार्हणैः

yathā deśāgataṁ bhūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā jānapadāḥ prajāḥ yadi taṁ copatiṣṭhanti praśrayādyairmahārhaṇaiḥ

Just as, when a king arrives in their region, the country-folk, if they wait upon him with hospitality and other great honours,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.159.36)

तदा करादिकं न्यूनं पूर्णं जानाति पार्थिवः । पुनरप्यधिकं चेष्टं तुष्टो दास्यति निश्चितम्

tadā karādikaṁ nyūnaṁ pūrṇaṁ jānāti pārthivaḥ punarapyadhikaṁ ceṣṭaṁ tuṣṭo dāsyati niścitam

—then the king counts any shortfall in tax or tribute as fully met, and, being pleased, will certainly grant even more of what they desire.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.159.37)

तदा त्वकृतपूजानां दण्डं तेषां करोति च । तथा विष्णुः स्वकीयानां वैशाखे माधवागमे

tadā tvakṛtapūjānāṁ daṇḍaṁ teṣāṁ karoti ca tathā viṣṇuḥ svakīyānāṁ vaiśākhe mādhavāgame

But upon those who fail to render homage, he imposes punishment. In the same way, Vishnu, toward his own devotees, at the coming of Madhava in Vaishakha,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.159.38)

सपर्यां कुर्वतां पुंसां ददातीष्टान्मनोरथान् । अकुर्वतां तथा पुंसां धनादीनि हरत्यलम्

saparyāṁ kurvatāṁ puṁsāṁ dadātīṣṭānmanorathān akurvatāṁ tathā puṁsāṁ dhanādīni haratyalam

—grants their desired wishes to those who perform his worship, and utterly takes away the wealth and the like of those who fail to do so.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.159.39)

धर्मगोप्तुर्महाविष्णोर्देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः । परीक्षाकाल एवाऽयं तस्मान्मासोत्तमो ह्ययम्

dharmagopturmahāviṣṇordevadevasya śārṅgiṇaḥ parīkṣākāla evā'yaṁ tasmānmāsottamo hyayam

This, indeed, is precisely the season of examination by the great Vishnu, protector of dharma, god of gods, wielder of the Sharnga bow — therefore this month alone is the best.