The Glory of Venkatadri Kshetra

Verse 1 (skanda.2.17.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । वेंकटाद्रेस्तु माहात्म्यं भूयोऽपि प्रवदाम्यहम् । युष्माकं सावधानेन शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः ।

śrīsūta uvāca veṁkaṭādrestu māhātmyaṁ bhūyo'pi pravadāmyaham yuṣmākaṁ sāvadhānena śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ

Shri Suta said: Now I shall once more relate the glory of Venkatadri; listen to it attentively, all of you, with focused minds.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.17.2)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि ब्रह्माण्डान्तर्गतानि च । तानि सर्वाणि वर्तंते वेंकटाह्वयभूधरे ।

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni brahmāṇḍāntargatāni ca tāni sarvāṇi vartaṁte veṁkaṭāhvayabhūdhare

Whatever tirthas exist upon this earth and within the entire universe — all of them are present upon this mountain called Venkata.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.17.3)

तस्मिन्नगोत्तमे पुण्ये वसन्तं पुरुषोत्तमम् । शंखचक्रधरं देवं पीताम्बरधरं शुभम् ।

tasminnagottame puṇye vasantaṁ puruṣottamam śaṁkhacakradharaṁ devaṁ pītāmbaradharaṁ śubham

That best of beings, Purushottama, who dwells on that best and most sacred of mountains, bearing the conch and discus, clad in yellow, auspicious,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.17.4)

कौस्तुभालंकृतोरस्कं भक्तानामभयप्रदम् । देवदेवं विशालाक्षं वेदवेद्यं सनातनम् ।

kaustubhālaṁkṛtoraskaṁ bhaktānāmabhayapradam devadevaṁ viśālākṣaṁ vedavedyaṁ sanātanam

whose breast is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, who grants fearlessness to devotees, the God of gods, wide-eyed, known through the Vedas, eternal—

Verse 5 (skanda.2.17.5)

अंगकोसलकर्णाटकाशीगुर्जरदेशगाः । चोलकेरलपाण्ड्यादिसर्वदेशसमुद्भवाः ।

aṁgakosalakarṇāṭakāśīgurjaradeśagāḥ colakeralapāṇḍyādisarvadeśasamudbhavāḥ

people born in the lands of Anga, Kosala, Karnataka, Kashi, Gurjara, and in Chola, Kerala, Pandya, and every other land,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.17.6)

सकुटुंबाश्च सेवार्थमायान्ति प्रतिवत्सरम् । देवाश्च ऋषयः सिद्धा योगिनः सनकादयः ।

sakuṭuṁbāśca sevārthamāyānti prativatsaram devāśca ṛṣayaḥ siddhā yoginaḥ sanakādayaḥ

come every year, together with their families, for his service. Gods, sages, siddhas, and yogis headed by Sanaka too,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.17.7)

ये भाद्रपदमासे तु वेंकटेशमहोत्सवे । सेवां कुर्वन्ति ते सर्वे निष्पापा उत्तमोत्तमाः ।

ye bhādrapadamāse tu veṁkaṭeśamahotsave sevāṁ kurvanti te sarve niṣpāpā uttamottamāḥ

whoever performs service in the great festival of Venkatesha in the month of Bhadrapada, all of them become sinless and supremely blessed.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.17.8)

तत्र श्रीवेंकटेशस्य ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । चकार कन्यामासे तु ध्वजारोपमहोत्सवम् ।

tatra śrīveṁkaṭeśasya brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ cakāra kanyāmāse tu dhvajāropamahotsavam

There, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, instituted for Shri Venkatesha the great festival of the flag-hoisting, in the month of Kanya (Virgo).

Verse 9 (skanda.2.17.9)

प्रतिवर्षं च तत्सेवा निमित्तं सर्वमानवाः । सर्वे देवाश्च गंधर्वाः सिद्धाः साध्या महौजसः ।

prativarṣaṁ ca tatsevā nimittaṁ sarvamānavāḥ sarve devāśca gaṁdharvāḥ siddhāḥ sādhyā mahaujasaḥ

Every year, for the sake of that service, all men, all gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the mighty Sadhyas,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.17.10)

ब्रह्मोत्सवे भगवतः समायांति द्विजोत्तमाः । विद्यानां वेदविद्येव मंत्राणां प्रणवो यथा ।

brahmotsave bhagavataḥ samāyāṁti dvijottamāḥ vidyānāṁ vedavidyeva maṁtrāṇāṁ praṇavo yathā

O excellent brahmins, come for the Lord's great Brahmotsava festival. Just as, among branches of learning, the knowledge of the Veda is supreme, and among mantras, the syllable Om,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.17.11)

प्राणवत्प्रियवस्तूनां धेनूनां कामधेनुवत् । तथा वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः क्षेत्राणामुत्तमोत्तमः ।

prāṇavatpriyavastūnāṁ dhenūnāṁ kāmadhenuvat tathā veṁkaṭaśailendraḥ kṣetrāṇāmuttamottamaḥ

just as, among cherished things, the life-breath is supreme, and among cows, the wish-fulfilling Kamadhenu, so is the mountain Venkata the very best among all sacred sites.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.17.12)

शेषवत्सर्वनागानां पक्षिणां गरुडो यथा । देवानां तु यथा विष्णुर्वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो यथा ।

śeṣavatsarvanāgānāṁ pakṣiṇāṁ garuḍo yathā devānāṁ tu yathā viṣṇurvarṇānāṁ brāhmaṇo yathā

Just as, among all serpents, Shesha is supreme, among birds, Garuda, among gods, Vishnu, and among the social orders, the brahmin,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.17.13)

तथा वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः क्षेत्राणामुत्तमोत्तमः । भूरुहाणां सुरतरुर्भार्येव सुहृदां यथा ।

tathā veṁkaṭaśailendraḥ kṣetrāṇāmuttamottamaḥ bhūruhāṇāṁ suratarurbhāryeva suhṛdāṁ yathā

so is the mountain Venkata the very best among all sacred sites. Just as, among trees, the celestial wish-tree is supreme, and among friends, one's own wife,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.17.14)

तीर्थानां तु यथा गंगा तेजसां तु रविर्यथा । तथा वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः क्षेत्राणामुत्तमोत्तमः ।

tīrthānāṁ tu yathā gaṁgā tejasāṁ tu raviryathā tathā veṁkaṭaśailendraḥ kṣetrāṇāmuttamottamaḥ

just as, among tirthas, the Ganga is supreme, and among radiant things, the sun, so is the mountain Venkata the very best among all sacred sites.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.17.15)

आयुधानां यथा वज्रं लोहानां कांचनं यथा । वैष्णवानां यथा रुद्रो रत्नानां कौस्तुभो यथा ।

āyudhānāṁ yathā vajraṁ lohānāṁ kāṁcanaṁ yathā vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā rudro ratnānāṁ kaustubho yathā

Just as, among weapons, the thunderbolt is supreme, among metals, gold, among Vaishnavas, Rudra, and among gems, the Kaustubha,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.17.16)

तथा वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः क्षेत्राणामुत्तमोत्तमः । नानेन सदृशो लोके विष्णुप्रीतिविवर्धनः ।

tathā veṁkaṭaśailendraḥ kṣetrāṇāmuttamottamaḥ nānena sadṛśo loke viṣṇuprītivivardhanaḥ

so is the mountain Venkata the very best among all sacred sites. There is nothing else in the world equal to it for increasing Vishnu's favor.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.17.17)

न माधवसमो मासो न कृतेन समं युगम् । न च वेदसमं शास्त्रं न तीर्थं गंगया समम् ।

na mādhavasamo māso na kṛtena samaṁ yugam na ca vedasamaṁ śāstraṁ na tīrthaṁ gaṁgayā samam

There is no month equal to the month of Madhava (Vaishakha), no age equal to the Satya Yuga, no scripture equal to the Veda, and no tirtha equal to the Ganga.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.17.18)

न जलेन समं दानं न सुखं भार्यया समम् । न कृषेस्तु समं वित्तं न लाभो जीवितात्परः ।

na jalena samaṁ dānaṁ na sukhaṁ bhāryayā samam na kṛṣestu samaṁ vittaṁ na lābho jīvitātparaḥ

There is no gift equal to water, no happiness equal to a wife, no wealth equal to farming, and no gain greater than life itself.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.17.19)

न तपोऽनशनादन्यन्न दानात्परमं सुखम् । न धर्मस्तु दयातुल्यो न ज्योतिश्चक्षुषा समम् ।

na tapo'naśanādanyanna dānātparamaṁ sukham na dharmastu dayātulyo na jyotiścakṣuṣā samam

There is no austerity beyond fasting, no happiness greater than giving, no dharma equal to compassion, and no light equal to the eye.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.17.20)

न तृप्तिरशनातुल्या न वाणिज्यं कृषेः समम् । न धर्मेण समं मित्रं न सत्येन समं यशः ।

na tṛptiraśanātulyā na vāṇijyaṁ kṛṣeḥ samam na dharmeṇa samaṁ mitraṁ na satyena samaṁ yaśaḥ

There is no satisfaction equal to eating, no trade equal to farming, no friend equal to dharma, and no fame equal to truth.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.17.21)

यथा तथा भगवतः स्थानेन सदृशं न हि ।

yathā tathā bhagavataḥ sthānena sadṛśaṁ na hi

In just the same way, there is nothing at all equal to this dwelling-place of the Lord.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.17.22)

यत्कीर्तनं सकलपापहरं मुनीन्द्रा यद्वन्दनं सकलसौख्यदमेव लोके । यात्रापि यं प्रति सुरैरपि पूजनीया तादृङ्महान्भवति वेंकटशैलमुख्यः ।

yatkīrtanaṁ sakalapāpaharaṁ munīndrā yadvandanaṁ sakalasaukhyadameva loke yātrāpi yaṁ prati surairapi pūjanīyā tādṛṅmahānbhavati veṁkaṭaśailamukhyaḥ

O lords among sages, that whose very praise removes every sin, whose veneration bestows complete happiness in this world, and even the pilgrimage to which is worthy of worship even by the gods — such is the greatness of this foremost of mountains, Venkata.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.17.23)

तस्यानुभावं प्रवदामि भूयः समस्ततीर्थानि वसंति यत्र । एवं समस्तेषु च मुख्यतीर्थं श्रीस्वामिनामास्ति सरोवरं तत् ।

tasyānubhāvaṁ pravadāmi bhūyaḥ samastatīrthāni vasaṁti yatra evaṁ samasteṣu ca mukhyatīrthaṁ śrīsvāmināmāsti sarovaraṁ tat

I shall tell again of its power — here dwell all the tirthas together. And thus, among all these tirthas, that lake named Shri Swami is the foremost tirtha of all.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.17.24)

माहात्म्यमेतस्य मयोच्यते कथं यत्पश्चिमे रोधसि भूवराहः । आलिंग्य कान्तामतिसौम्यमूर्तिर्विराजते विश्वजनोपकारी ।

māhātmyametasya mayocyate kathaṁ yatpaścime rodhasi bhūvarāhaḥ āliṁgya kāntāmatisaumyamūrtirvirājate viśvajanopakārī

How shall I describe the greatness of that lake, on whose western bank, of the most gentle form, the benefactor of all the world's people, Bhu-Varaha, stands enthroned, embracing his beloved (Bhudevi)?

Verse 25 (skanda.2.17.25)

श्रीस्वामिपुष्करिण्यां च दक्षिणे वेंकटेश्वरः । आलिंगितवपुर्लक्ष्म्या वरदो वर्तते चिरम् ।

śrīsvāmipuṣkariṇyāṁ ca dakṣiṇe veṁkaṭeśvaraḥ āliṁgitavapurlakṣmyā varado vartate ciram

And on the southern bank of the Shri Swami Pushkarini, Venkateshwara, the granter of boons, whose form is ever embraced by Lakshmi, has long dwelt.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.17.26)

एवं वः कथितं विप्राः क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । यः शृणोति सदा भक्त्या विष्णुलोके महीयते ।

evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprāḥ kṣetramāhātmyamuttamam yaḥ śṛṇoti sadā bhaktyā viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Thus, O brahmins, have I told you this supreme glory of this sacred region. Whoever hears this always with devotion is glorified in the world of Vishnu.