The Glory of Giving Water: King Hemanga's Lizard Rebirth

Verse 1 (skanda.2.16.1)

अथ श्रीवेंकटाद्रौ जलदानप्रशंसा । श्रीसूत उवाच । वेंकटाख्ये महापुण्ये तृषार्तानां विशेषतः । जलदानमकुर्वाणस्तिर्यग्योनिमवाप्नुयात् ।

atha śrīveṁkaṭādrau jaladānapraśaṁsā śrīsūta uvāca veṁkaṭākhye mahāpuṇye tṛṣārtānāṁ viśeṣataḥ jaladānamakurvāṇastiryagyonimavāpnuyāt

Shri Suta said: On the exceedingly meritorious mountain called Venkata, a man who fails to give water — especially to those tormented by thirst — attains the womb of a beast.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.16.2)

तस्माद्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रे यथाशक्त्यनुसारतः । जलदानं हि कर्तव्यं सर्वेषां जीवनं महत् ।

tasmādveṁkaṭaśailendre yathāśaktyanusārataḥ jaladānaṁ hi kartavyaṁ sarveṣāṁ jīvanaṁ mahat

Therefore, on that king of mountains, Venkata, according to one's ability, the gift of water must be made, for it is a great life-giving act for all beings.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.16.3)

अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । विप्रस्य गृहगोधायाः संवादं परमाद्भुतम् ।

atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam viprasya gṛhagodhāyāḥ saṁvādaṁ paramādbhutam

On this matter, people cite this ancient tale — a most wondrous conversation between a brahmin and a house-lizard.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.16.4)

पुरा चेक्ष्वाकुवंशेऽभूद्धेमांग इति भूमिपः । ब्रह्मण्यो ब्रह्मभूयिष्ठो जितामित्रो जितेंद्रियः ।

purā cekṣvākuvaṁśe'bhūddhemāṁga iti bhūmipaḥ brahmaṇyo brahmabhūyiṣṭho jitāmitro jiteṁdriyaḥ

Long ago, in the Ikshvaku dynasty, there was a king named Hemanga, a friend to brahmins, devoted to Brahman, victorious over his enemies, and master of his senses.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.16.5)

यावन्तो भूमिकणिका यावन्तस्तोयबिन्दवः । यावन्त्युडूनि गगने तावतीर्गा ददात्यसौ ।

yāvanto bhūmikaṇikā yāvantastoyabindavaḥ yāvantyuḍūni gagane tāvatīrgā dadātyasau

As many as are the specks of earth, as many as are the drops of water, and as many as are the stars in the sky — so many cows would he give away in charity.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.16.6)

येनेष्टयज्ञदर्भैश्च भूमिर्बर्हिष्मती स्मृता । गोभूतिलहिरण्याद्यैस्तोषिता बहवो द्विजाः ।

yeneṣṭayajñadarbhaiśca bhūmirbarhiṣmatī smṛtā gobhūtilahiraṇyādyaistoṣitā bahavo dvijāḥ

He who covered the earth with the sacred kusha grass of his many sacrifices, who satisfied countless brahmins with gifts of cows, land, sesame, and gold—

Verse 7 (skanda.2.16.7)

तेनादत्तानि दानानि न विद्यन्त इति श्रुतम् । तेनादत्तं जलं चैकं सुखलभ्यधिया द्विजाः ।

tenādattāni dānāni na vidyanta iti śrutam tenādattaṁ jalaṁ caikaṁ sukhalabhyadhiyā dvijāḥ

it is said that there remained no manner of gift he had not given. But, O brahmins, he had failed to give one single gift — water — thinking it too easily obtained to be worth giving—

Verse 8 (skanda.2.16.8)

बोधितो ब्रह्मपुत्रेण वसिष्ठेन महात्मना । अमूल्यं सर्वतोलभ्यं तद्दातुः किं फलं लभेत् ।

bodhito brahmaputreṇa vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā amūlyaṁ sarvatolabhyaṁ taddātuḥ kiṁ phalaṁ labhet

even when instructed by the great soul Vasishtha, son of Brahma. 'What fruit could the giver possibly gain from giving away a thing so worthless and so easily obtained everywhere?'

Verse 9 (skanda.2.16.9)

इति दुर्धीर्हेतुवादैर्न जलं दत्तवान्विभुः । अलभ्यदाने पुण्यं स्यादित्यवादीत्सयुक्तिकम् ।

iti durdhīrhetuvādairna jalaṁ dattavānvibhuḥ alabhyadāne puṇyaṁ syādityavādītsayuktikam

With such perverse reasoning, that foolish-minded lord never gave the gift of water. 'Only the gift of what is rare and hard to obtain bears merit,' he would say, with seeming logic.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.16.10)

स आनर्च द्विजान्व्यङ्गान्दरिद्रान्वृत्तिकर्शितान् । नानर्च श्रोत्रियान्विप्रान्ब्रह्मज्ञान्ब्रह्मवादिनः ।

sa ānarca dvijānvyaṅgāndaridrānvṛttikarśitān nānarca śrotriyānviprānbrahmajñānbrahmavādinaḥ

He would honor deformed, poor, and destitute brahmins, but did not honor those brahmins learned in the Veda, knowers of Brahman, and expounders of Brahman.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.16.11)

प्रख्यातान्पूजयिष्यन्ति सर्वलोकाः सहार्हणैः । अनाथानामविद्यानां व्यङ्गानां च कुटुंबिनाम् ।

prakhyātānpūjayiṣyanti sarvalokāḥ sahārhaṇaiḥ anāthānāmavidyānāṁ vyaṅgānāṁ ca kuṭuṁbinām

'The whole world will honor the famous with due reverence anyway; but as for the orphaned, the unlearned, the deformed, and those burdened with family,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.16.12)

दरिद्राणां गतिः का वा तस्मात्ते मद्दयास्पदाः । इति दुष्टेषु पात्रेषु दत्तवान्किमपि स्वकम् ।

daridrāṇāṁ gatiḥ kā vā tasmātte maddayāspadāḥ iti duṣṭeṣu pātreṣu dattavānkimapi svakam

and the poor, what other refuge could they have? Therefore they alone are worthy of my compassion' — thinking thus, he gave his own wealth only to unworthy recipients.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.16.13)

तेन दोषेण महता चातकत्वं त्रिजन्मसु । एकजन्मनि गृध्रत्वं श्वत्वं वा सप्त जन्मसु ।

tena doṣeṇa mahatā cātakatvaṁ trijanmasu ekajanmani gṛdhratvaṁ śvatvaṁ vā sapta janmasu

Because of this grave fault, he became a chataka bird for three births, a vulture in one birth, and a dog for seven births.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.16.14)

प्राप्य पश्चाद्गृहे जातो भूपोऽयं गृहगोधिका । श्रुतकीर्तेस्तु भूपस्य मिथिलाधिपतेर्द्विजाः ।

prāpya paścādgṛhe jāto bhūpo'yaṁ gṛhagodhikā śrutakīrtestu bhūpasya mithilādhipaterdvijāḥ

After this, that king was born as a house-lizard. In the house of King Shrutakirti of Mithila, O brahmins,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.16.15)

गृहद्वारप्रतोल्यां स्म वर्तते कीटकाशनः । अष्टाशीतिषु वर्षेषु स्थितं तेन दुरात्मना ।

gṛhadvārapratolyāṁ sma vartate kīṭakāśanaḥ aṣṭāśītiṣu varṣeṣu sthitaṁ tena durātmanā

in the doorway of the house, that lizard lived, feeding upon insects. That wretched soul dwelt there for eighty-eight years, [enduring the fruit of his sins].

Verse 16 (skanda.2.16.16)

विदेहाधिपतेर्गेहं कदाचिदृषिसत्तमः । श्रुतदेव इति ख्यातः श्रान्तो मध्याह्न आगमत् ।

videhādhipatergehaṁ kadācidṛṣisattamaḥ śrutadeva iti khyātaḥ śrānto madhyāhna āgamat

Once, to the house of the king of Videha, an excellent sage known by the name Shrutadeva, weary, arrived at midday.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.16.17)

तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय जातहर्षो नराधिपः । मधुपर्कः सुसंपूज्य तस्य पादावनेजनीः ।

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya jātaharṣo narādhipaḥ madhuparkaḥ susaṁpūjya tasya pādāvanejanīḥ

Seeing him, filled with joy, rising at once, the king honored him with the traditional guest-offering of madhuparka, and, [pouring] water to wash his feet,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.16.18)

अपो मूर्ध्नावहत्क्षिप्रं तदोत्क्षिप्तैश्च बिन्दुभिः । दैवोपदिष्टकालेन प्रोक्षिता गृहगोधिका ।

apo mūrdhnāvahatkṣipraṁ tadotkṣiptaiśca bindubhiḥ daivopadiṣṭakālena prokṣitā gṛhagodhikā

let it flow at once from over the sage's head; and then, by the flung drops of that water, at that divinely appointed moment, the house-lizard was sprinkled,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.16.19)

सद्यो जातिस्मृतिरभूत्कृतकर्मातिदुःखिता । त्राहि त्राहीति चुक्रोश ब्राह्मणं गृहमागतम् ।

sadyo jātismṛtirabhūtkṛtakarmātiduḥkhitā trāhi trāhīti cukrośa brāhmaṇaṁ gṛhamāgatam

and at once she gained the memory of her past births; utterly distressed by her own past deeds, she cried out to that brahmin who had come to the house, 'Save me, save me!'

Verse 20 (skanda.2.16.20)

तिर्यग्जन्तुरवं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणो विस्मितोऽभवत् । कुतः क्रोशसि गोधे त्वं दशेयं केन कर्मणा ।

tiryagjanturavaṁ śrutvā brāhmaṇo vismito'bhavat kutaḥ krośasi godhe tvaṁ daśeyaṁ kena karmaṇā

Hearing the voice of that animal creature, the brahmin was astonished — 'O lizard, why do you cry out? By what deed has this suffering come upon you?

Verse 21 (skanda.2.16.21)

उपदेवोऽथ देवो वा त्वं नृपोऽथ द्विजोत्तमः । कस्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग त्वामद्याहं समुद्धरे ।

upadevo'tha devo vā tvaṁ nṛpo'tha dvijottamaḥ kastvaṁ brūhi mahābhāga tvāmadyāhaṁ samuddhare

Are you some lesser deity, or a god, or a king, or an excellent brahmin? O fortunate one, tell me who you are — I shall deliver you this very day.'

Verse 22 (skanda.2.16.22)

इत्युक्तः स नृपः प्राह श्रुतदेवं महाप्रभुः । अहमिक्ष्वाकुकुलजः शस्त्रविद्याविशारदः ।

ityuktaḥ sa nṛpaḥ prāha śrutadevaṁ mahāprabhuḥ ahamikṣvākukulajaḥ śastravidyāviśāradaḥ

Thus questioned, that king [now a lizard] said to Shrutadeva — 'O great lord, I was born in the Ikshvaku lineage, skilled in the science of arms.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.16.23)

यावन्तो भूमिकणिका यावन्तस्तोयबिन्दवः । यावन्त्युडूनि गगने तावतीर्गा अदामहम् ।

yāvanto bhūmikaṇikā yāvantastoyabindavaḥ yāvantyuḍūni gagane tāvatīrgā adāmaham

As many as are the specks of earth, as many as the drops of water, as many as the stars in the sky — so many cows did I give away.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.16.24)

सर्वैर्यज्ञैर्मया चेष्टं पूर्तान्याचरितानि मे । दानान्यपि च दत्तानि धर्मजातं स्वनुष्ठितम् ।

sarvairyajñairmayā ceṣṭaṁ pūrtānyācaritāni me dānānyapi ca dattāni dharmajātaṁ svanuṣṭhitam

I performed every sacrifice, undertook works of public benefit — wells, tanks, and the like — gave gifts, and duly observed every righteous act.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.16.25)

तथापि दुर्गतिर्जाता न मे चोर्ध्वगतिर्विभो । त्रिवारं चातकत्वं मे गृध्रत्वं चैकजन्मनि ।

tathāpi durgatirjātā na me cordhvagatirvibho trivāraṁ cātakatvaṁ me gṛdhratvaṁ caikajanmani

Yet, O lord, only misfortune came to me, never an upward path. I attained the birth of a chataka bird three times, the birth of a vulture once,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.16.26)

सप्तजन्मसु च श्वत्वं प्राप्तं पूर्वं मया द्विज । धरतानेन भूपेन चापः पादावनेजनीः ।

saptajanmasu ca śvatvaṁ prāptaṁ pūrvaṁ mayā dvija dharatānena bhūpena cāpaḥ pādāvanejanīḥ

and, before all that, O brahmin, the birth of a dog for seven lifetimes. Now, this king — myself — [received] those water-drops used to wash the feet [of a guest],

Verse 27 (skanda.2.16.27)

बिन्दवो दूरमुत्क्षिप्तास्तैः सिक्तोऽहं कथंचन । तदा जन्मस्मृतिरभूत्तेन मे हतपाप्मनः ।

bindavo dūramutkṣiptāstaiḥ sikto'haṁ kathaṁcana tadā janmasmṛtirabhūttena me hatapāpmanaḥ

flung far and wide, which somehow sprinkled me — and then came the memory of my past births, by which my sins were destroyed.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.16.28)

गोधाजन्मानि भाव्यानीत्यष्टाविंशति मे द्विज । दृश्यन्ते देवदिष्टानि बिभ्यते जन्मभिर्भृशम् ।

godhājanmāni bhāvyānītyaṣṭāviṁśati me dvija dṛśyante devadiṣṭāni bibhyate janmabhirbhṛśam

O brahmin, now I see too that twenty-eight more lizard-births, appointed by the gods, still remain for me to undergo. I am utterly terrified of these births,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.16.29)

न कारणं प्रपश्यामि तन्मे विस्तरतो वद । इत्युक्तः स द्विजः प्राह ज्ञातं विज्ञानचक्षुषा ।

na kāraṇaṁ prapaśyāmi tanme vistarato vada ityuktaḥ sa dvijaḥ prāha jñātaṁ vijñānacakṣuṣā

and I cannot see the reason for it — tell me this in full.' Thus questioned, that brahmin, who had already perceived it with the eye of wisdom, said—

Verse 30 (skanda.2.16.30)

शृणु भूप प्रवक्ष्यामि तव दुर्गतिकारणम् । न जलं तु त्वया दत्तं वेंकटाह्वयभूधरे ।

śṛṇu bhūpa pravakṣyāmi tava durgatikāraṇam na jalaṁ tu tvayā dattaṁ veṁkaṭāhvayabhūdhare

'Listen, O king, I shall tell you the cause of your misfortune. You never gave the gift of water on this mountain called Venkata,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.16.31)

तज्जलं सुलभं मत्वा न मौल्यमिति निश्चितः । नाध्वगानां द्विजादीनां घर्मकालेऽप्यजानता ।

tajjalaṁ sulabhaṁ matvā na maulyamiti niścitaḥ nādhvagānāṁ dvijādīnāṁ gharmakāle'pyajānatā

for you deemed it worthless, thinking it too easily obtained, not knowing how essential it is even in the heat of summer for travelers, brahmins, and others.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.16.32)

तथा पात्रं समुत्सृज्य ह्यपात्रे प्रतिपादितम् । ज्वलन्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य न हि भस्मनि हूयते ।

tathā pātraṁ samutsṛjya hyapātre pratipāditam jvalantamagnimutsṛjya na hi bhasmani hūyate

In the same way, forsaking the worthy recipient, you gave your charity to the unworthy. One does not offer oblation into ashes, forsaking a fire that blazes;

Verse 33 (skanda.2.16.33)

तुलसीं तु समुत्सृज्य बृहती पूज्यते नु किम् । अनाथव्यंगपंगुत्वं न प्रयोजकतामियात् ।

tulasīṁ tu samutsṛjya bṛhatī pūjyate nu kim anāthavyaṁgapaṁgutvaṁ na prayojakatāmiyāt

and does one worship a mere weed, forsaking the sacred tulsi? Being orphaned, deformed, or destitute does not, by itself, constitute worthiness.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.16.34)

पंग्वाद्या येप्यनाथा हि दयापात्रं हि केवलम् । तपोनिष्ठा ज्ञाननिष्ठाः श्रुतिशास्त्रपरायणाः ।

paṁgvādyā yepyanāthā hi dayāpātraṁ hi kevalam taponiṣṭhā jñānaniṣṭhāḥ śrutiśāstraparāyaṇāḥ

Indeed, the orphaned, the crippled, and the like are objects of compassion alone — no more. Those established in austerity, established in knowledge, devoted to the Vedas and scriptures,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.16.35)

विष्णुरूपाः सदा पूज्या नेतरे तु कदाचन । तत्रापि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थं प्रिया विष्णोः सदैव हि ।

viṣṇurūpāḥ sadā pūjyā netare tu kadācana tatrāpi jñānino'tyarthaṁ priyā viṣṇoḥ sadaiva hi

who bear the very form of Vishnu — such alone are ever worthy of worship, never any others. And among them, it is the knowers of truth who are ever most dear to Vishnu.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.16.36)

ज्ञानिनामपि भूपाल विष्णुरेव सदा प्रियः । तस्माज्ज्ञानी सदा पूज्यः पूज्यात्पूज्यतरः स्मृतः ।

jñānināmapi bhūpāla viṣṇureva sadā priyaḥ tasmājjñānī sadā pūjyaḥ pūjyātpūjyataraḥ smṛtaḥ

O king, even among the knowers, it is Vishnu alone who is ever their dearest; therefore the knower is ever worthy of worship, deemed even more worthy than the worthy.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.16.37)

न जलं तु त्वया दत्तं साधवो वा न सेविताः । तेन ते दुर्गतिश्चेयं प्राप्ता चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दन ।

na jalaṁ tu tvayā dattaṁ sādhavo vā na sevitāḥ tena te durgatiśceyaṁ prāptā cekṣvākunandana

You gave neither the gift of water, nor did you serve the righteous — for this very reason, O descendant of Ikshvaku, this misfortune has come upon you.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.16.38)

वेंकटाद्रौ कृतं पुण्यं तुभ्यं दास्यामि शान्तये । भूतं भव्यं भवत्तेन कर्मजातं विजेष्यसि ।

veṁkaṭādrau kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ tubhyaṁ dāsyāmi śāntaye bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhavattena karmajātaṁ vijeṣyasi

The merit I have earned on Venkatadri I now give to you, for your peace; by it you shall overcome all the deeds you have done, past and yet to come.'

Verse 39 (skanda.2.16.39)

इत्युक्त्वाप उपस्पृश्य ददौ पुण्यमनुत्तमम् । यद्दत्तं ब्राह्मणेनापि स्नानं चैकदिने कृतम् ।

ityuktvāpa upaspṛśya dadau puṇyamanuttamam yaddattaṁ brāhmaṇenāpi snānaṁ caikadine kṛtam

Having said this, and touching water in ritual confirmation, that brahmin gave her that most excellent merit which he had earned from a single day's bathing there.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.16.40)

तेन ध्वस्ताखिलाऽऽगास्तु त्यक्त्वा च गृहगोधिका । रूपं कर्मोचितं घोरं सद्योऽदृश्यत पूरुषः ।

tena dhvastākhilā''gāstu tyaktvā ca gṛhagodhikā rūpaṁ karmocitaṁ ghoraṁ sadyo'dṛśyata pūruṣaḥ

By that, all her sins were destroyed, and, casting off the form of a house-lizard — that dreadful form suited to her deeds — she appeared at once in the form of a man,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.16.41)

दिव्यं विमानमारूढो दिव्यस्रग्वस्त्रभूषणः । पश्यतामेव साधूनां मैथिलस्य गृहान्तरे ।

divyaṁ vimānamārūḍho divyasragvastrabhūṣaṇaḥ paśyatāmeva sādhūnāṁ maithilasya gṛhāntare

mounted upon a celestial chariot, adorned with divine garlands, garments, and ornaments, right there in the house of the king of Mithila, before the very eyes of those righteous men.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.16.42)

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य च । अनुज्ञातो ययौ राजा स्तूयमानोऽमरैर्दिवम् ।

baddhāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā parikramya praṇamya ca anujñāto yayau rājā stūyamāno'marairdivam

With joined palms, circumambulating and bowing, that king, given leave, and praised by the immortals, departed for heaven.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.16.43)

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान्वर्षायुतमतन्द्रितः । स एव चेक्ष्वाकुकुले ककुत्स्थोऽभून्महारथः ।

tatra bhuktvā mahābhogānvarṣāyutamatandritaḥ sa eva cekṣvākukule kakutstho'bhūnmahārathaḥ

Having enjoyed great splendors there for ten thousand years without weariness, that same soul was born again in the Ikshvaku lineage as the great warrior named Kakutstha,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.16.44)

सप्तद्वीपप्रतीपालो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः । देवेन्द्रस्य समो विष्णोरंश एवं महाप्रभुः ।

saptadvīpapratīpālo brahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṁmataḥ devendrasya samo viṣṇoraṁśa evaṁ mahāprabhuḥ

protector of all seven continents, a friend to brahmins, honored by the righteous, of power equal to Indra, himself a very portion of Vishnu.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.16.45)

बोधितस्तु वसिष्ठेन सर्वान्धर्मान्मनोहरान् । अनुष्ठायाखिलान्राजा तेन ध्वस्ताशुभादिकः ।

bodhitastu vasiṣṭhena sarvāndharmānmanoharān anuṣṭhāyākhilānrājā tena dhvastāśubhādikaḥ

Instructed by Vasishtha in all the beautiful paths of dharma, and observing them all, that king destroyed all his misfortunes,

Verse 46 (skanda.2.16.46)

दिव्यं ज्ञानं समासाद्य विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्तवान् । तस्माद्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः पुण्यः पापविनाशनः ।

divyaṁ jñānaṁ samāsādya viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāptavān tasmādveṁkaṭaśailendraḥ puṇyaḥ pāpavināśanaḥ

and, attaining divine knowledge, he obtained union (sayujya) with Vishnu. Therefore the king of mountains, Venkata, is sacred and destroys every sin,

Verse 47 (skanda.2.16.47)

तस्मिंश्च जलदानं तु विष्णुलोकप्रदायकम् । एवं वः कथितं विप्रा जलदानस्य वैभवम् । वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वपातकनाशने ।

tasmiṁśca jaladānaṁ tu viṣṇulokapradāyakam evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprā jaladānasya vaibhavam veṁkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvapātakanāśane

and there, the gift of water grants the world of Vishnu. Thus, O brahmins, have I told you this glory of the gift of water, made upon the exceedingly meritorious Venkatadri, destroyer of every sin.