The Panchala King's Attainment of Union with Vishnu

Verse 1 (skanda.2.170.1)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । तद्दर्शनाह्लादपरिप्लुताशयः सद्यः समुत्थाय ननाम मूर्ध्ना । चिरं निरीक्ष्याऽऽकुललोचनो ह्यमुं विश्वात्मदेवं जगतामधीशम्

śrutadeva uvāca taddarśanāhlādapariplutāśayaḥ sadyaḥ samutthāya nanāma mūrdhnā ciraṁ nirīkṣyā’’kulalocano hyamuṁ viśvātmadevaṁ jagatāmadhīśam

Shrutadeva said: His heart flooded with the joy of that vision, the king rose up at once and bowed his head; gazing long, his eyes bewildered, upon that God who is the Self of the universe, the Lord of all worlds,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.170.2)

दधार पादाववनिज्य तज्जलं यत्पादजाऽऽब्रह्म जगत्पुनाति । समर्चयामास महाविभूतिभिर्महार्हवस्त्राभरणानुलेपनैः

dadhāra pādāvavanijya tajjalaṁ yatpādajā’’brahma jagatpunāti samarcayāmāsa mahāvibhūtibhirmahārhavastrābharaṇānulepanaiḥ

he washed the Lord's feet and received that water which, born from His foot as the Ganga, purifies the universe up to Brahma; and he worshipped Him with great riches, precious garments, ornaments, and unguents,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.170.3)

स्रग्धूपदीपामृतभक्षणादिभिस्त्वग्गात्रवित्तात्मसमर्पणेन । तुष्टाव विष्णुं पुरुषं पुराणं नारायणं निर्गुणमद्वितीयम्

sragdhūpadīpāmṛtabhakṣaṇādibhistvaggātravittātmasamarpaṇena tuṣṭāva viṣṇuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ nirguṇamadvitīyam

with garlands, incense, lamps, offerings of nectar-like food, and by offering his very skin, body, wealth and self, he praised Vishnu, the ancient Purusha, Narayana, the attributeless, the without-a-second.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.170.4)

निरंजनं विश्वसृजामधीशं वन्दे परं पद्मभवादिवंदितम् । यन्मायया तत्त्वविदुत्तमा जना विमोहिता विश्वसृजामधीश्वरम्

niraṁjanaṁ viśvasṛjāmadhīśaṁ vande paraṁ padmabhavādivaṁditam yanmāyayā tattvaviduttamā janā vimohitā viśvasṛjāmadhīśvaram

'I bow to that stainless one, the supreme Lord of the creators of the universe, worshipped even by lotus-born Brahma and others — he by whose maya even the greatest knowers of truth are bewildered — that very sovereign of the world's creators.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.170.5)

मुह्यंति मायाचरितेषु मूढा गुणेषु चित्रं भगवद्विचेष्टितम् । अनीह एतद्बहुधैक आत्मना सृजत्यवत्यत्ति न सज्जतेऽप्यथ

muhyaṁti māyācariteṣu mūḍhā guṇeṣu citraṁ bhagavadviceṣṭitam anīha etadbahudhaika ātmanā sṛjatyavatyatti na sajjate’pyatha

Fools are bewildered by the workings of maya amid the gunas — wondrous indeed are the Lord's doings! Desireless, He, though one, by Himself creates, sustains, and destroys this manifold universe, yet is never attached to it.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.170.6)

समस्तदेवासुरसौख्यदुःखप्राप्त्यै भवान्पूर्णमनोरथोऽपि । तत्राऽपि काले स्वजनाभिगुप्त्यै बिभर्षि सत्त्वं खलनिग्रहाय

samastadevāsurasaukhyaduḥkhaprāptyai bhavānpūrṇamanoratho’pi tatrā’pi kāle svajanābhiguptyai bibharṣi sattvaṁ khalanigrahāya

For the attainment of pleasure and pain by all gods and demons, You, though ever of fulfilled desire, still, in due time, for the protection of Your own people, assume the quality of sattva, for the restraint of the wicked.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.170.7)

तमोगुणं राक्षस बन्धनाय रजोगुणं निर्गुण विश्वमूर्ते । दिष्ट्या त्वदंघ्रिः प्रणताघनाशनस्तीर्थास्पदं हृदि धृतः सुविपक्वयोगैः

tamoguṇaṁ rākṣasa bandhanāya rajoguṇaṁ nirguṇa viśvamūrte diṣṭyā tvadaṁghriḥ praṇatāghanāśanastīrthāspadaṁ hṛdi dhṛtaḥ suvipakvayogaiḥ

You assume the quality of tamas for the binding of demons, and rajas for creation — O attributeless one, O form of the universe! By good fortune, Your foot, destroyer of the sins of those who bow to it, the very seat of all holy places, is held in the heart by those whose yoga has fully ripened.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.170.8)

उत्सिक्तभक्त्युपहृताशय जीवभावाः प्रापुर्गतिं तव पदस्मृतिमात्रतो ये । भवाख्यकालोरगपाशबन्धः पुनःपुनर्जन्मजरादिदुःखैः

utsiktabhaktyupahṛtāśaya jīvabhāvāḥ prāpurgatiṁ tava padasmṛtimātrato ye bhavākhyakāloragapāśabandhaḥ punaḥpunarjanmajarādiduḥkhaiḥ

Those beings who, their hearts offered up in overflowing devotion, have attained the highest goal merely by remembrance of Your feet — while others remain bound by the serpent-noose called worldly time, suffering again and again the miseries of birth, old age, and the rest.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.170.9)

भ्रमामि योनिष्वहमाखुभक्ष्यवत्प्रवृद्धतर्षस्तव पादविस्मृतेः । नूनं न दत्तं न च ते कथा श्रुता न साधवो जातु मयाऽपि सेविताः

bhramāmi yoniṣvahamākhubhakṣyavatpravṛddhatarṣastava pādavismṛteḥ nūnaṁ na dattaṁ na ca te kathā śrutā na sādhavo jātu mayā’pi sevitāḥ

I wander among rebirths, like a mouse drawn to bait, my thirst ever growing, through forgetfulness of Your feet. Surely I have never given in charity, nor heard Your story, nor ever served the righteous.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.170.10)

तेनारिभिर्ध्वस्तपरार्ध्यलक्ष्मीर्वनं प्रविष्टः स्वगुरुह्यघं स्मरन् । स्मृतौ च तौ मां समुपेत्य दुःखात्संबोधयांचक्रतुरार्तबंधू

tenāribhirdhvastaparārdhyalakṣmīrvanaṁ praviṣṭaḥ svaguruhyaghaṁ smaran smṛtau ca tau māṁ samupetya duḥkhātsaṁbodhayāṁcakraturārtabaṁdhū

For that reason, my great wealth destroyed by enemies, I entered the forest, recalling my own sin. And those two sages, mindful of me, came to me in my suffering and enlightened me — the true friends of the afflicted.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.170.11)

वैशाखधर्मैः श्रुतिचोदितैः शुभैः स्वर्गापवर्गादि पुमर्थहेतुभिः । तद्बोधतोऽहं कृतवान्समस्ताञ्च्छुभावहान्माधवमासधर्मान्

vaiśākhadharmaiḥ śruticoditaiḥ śubhaiḥ svargāpavargādi pumarthahetubhiḥ tadbodhato’haṁ kṛtavānsamastāñcchubhāvahānmādhavamāsadharmān

By the auspicious Vaishakha vows enjoined by scripture, which are the cause of all human goals from heaven to liberation — through their instruction, I performed all the auspicious vows of the month of Madhava.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.170.12)

तस्मादभून्मे परमः प्रसादस्तेनाखिलाः संपद ऊर्जिता इमाः । नाग्निर्न सूर्यो न च चन्द्रतारका न भूर्जलं खं श्वसनोऽथ वाङ्मनः

tasmādabhūnme paramaḥ prasādastenākhilāḥ saṁpada ūrjitā imāḥ nāgnirna sūryo na ca candratārakā na bhūrjalaṁ khaṁ śvasano’tha vāṅmanaḥ

From that, Your supreme grace came upon me, and by it all these mighty riches came to be. Neither fire, nor sun, nor moon and stars, neither earth, water, sky, wind, nor speech and mind—

Verse 13 (skanda.2.170.13)

उपासितास्तेऽपि हरत्यघं चिराद्विपश्चितो घ्नन्ति मुहूर्तसेवया । यान्मन्यसे त्वं भविनोऽपि भूरिशस्त्यक्तेषणांस्त्वत्पदन्यस्तचित्तान्

upāsitāste’pi haratyaghaṁ cirādvipaścito ghnanti muhūrtasevayā yānmanyase tvaṁ bhavino’pi bhūriśastyakteṣaṇāṁstvatpadanyastacittān

— even when worshipped, remove sin only slowly, whereas the wise destroy it by a mere moment's service to You — those whom You regard with favor, even among worldly people, who have abandoned desire and fixed their minds on Your feet.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.170.14)

नमः स्वतंत्राय विचित्रकर्मणे नमः परस्मै सदनुग्रहाय । त्वन्मायया मोहितोऽहं गुणेषु दारार्थरूपेषु भ्रमाम्यनर्थदृक्

namaḥ svataṁtrāya vicitrakarmaṇe namaḥ parasmai sadanugrahāya tvanmāyayā mohito’haṁ guṇeṣu dārārtharūpeṣu bhramāmyanarthadṛk

Homage to You, the independent one, of wondrous deeds! Homage to the Supreme, ever gracious! Deluded by Your maya, I wander among the gunas — in the forms of wife, wealth, and beauty — blind to what is truly harmful.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.170.15)

त्वत्पादपद्मे सति मूलनाशने समस्तपापापहरं सुनिर्मलम् । सुखेच्छयानर्थनिदानभूतैः सुतात्मदारैर्ममताभियुक्तः

tvatpādapadme sati mūlanāśane samastapāpāpaharaṁ sunirmalam sukhecchayānarthanidānabhūtaiḥ sutātmadārairmamatābhiyuktaḥ

Though Your lotus feet exist, the root-destroying remover of all sin, utterly stainless, still, out of desire for happiness, man remains bound by attachment to son, self, and wife, which are the very source of misfortune.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.170.16)

न क्वापि निद्रां लभते न शर्म प्रवृद्धतर्षः पुनरेव तस्मिन् । लब्ध्वा दुरापं नरदेवजन्म त्वं यत्नतः सर्वपुमर्थहेतुः

na kvāpi nidrāṁ labhate na śarma pravṛddhatarṣaḥ punareva tasmin labdhvā durāpaṁ naradevajanma tvaṁ yatnataḥ sarvapumarthahetuḥ

Such a man finds sleep nowhere, nor peace, his thirst for that attachment ever growing again; even having obtained the hard-to-get birth as a human, he does not turn in effort toward You, who are the cause of all human goals.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.170.17)

पदारविन्दं न भजामि देव संमूढचेता विषयेषु लालसः । करोमि कर्माणि सुनिष्ठितः सन्प्रवृद्धतर्षस्तदपेक्षया ददत्

padāravindaṁ na bhajāmi deva saṁmūḍhacetā viṣayeṣu lālasaḥ karomi karmāṇi suniṣṭhitaḥ sanpravṛddhatarṣastadapekṣayā dadat

O God, my mind utterly bewildered, longing after sense-objects, I do not worship Your lotus feet; firmly fixed instead I perform worldly deeds, my thirst ever growing, giving even in charity only in expectation of worldly reward.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.170.18)

पुनश्च भूयामहमद्य भूयामित्येव चिन्ताशतलोलमानसः। तदैव जीवस्य भवेत्कृपा विभो दुरंतशक्तेस्तव विश्वमूर्ते

punaśca bhūyāmahamadya bhūyāmityeva cintāśatalolamānasaḥ tadaiva jīvasya bhavetkṛpā vibho duraṁtaśaktestava viśvamūrte

'May I become this, may I today become that' — with a mind ever restless in a hundred such anxious thoughts. Yet then, O Lord of boundless power, O form of the universe, grace may come upon such a soul,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.170.19)

समागमः स्यान्महतां हि पुंसां भवांबुधिर्येन हि गोष्पदायते । सत्संगमो देव यदैव भूयात्तर्हीश देवे त्वयि जायते मतिः

samāgamaḥ syānmahatāṁ hi puṁsāṁ bhavāṁbudhiryena hi goṣpadāyate satsaṁgamo deva yadaiva bhūyāttarhīśa deve tvayi jāyate matiḥ

if there be association with great souls, by which the ocean of worldly existence shrinks to the size of a cow's hoofprint; O God, whenever there is true association with the good, then, O Lord, the mind turns toward You.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.170.20)

समस्तराज्यापगमं हि मन्ये ह्यनुग्रहं ते मयि जातमञ्जसा । यथार्य ते ब्रह्मसुरासुराद्यैर्निवृत्ततर्षैरपि हंसयूथैः

samastarājyāpagamaṁ hi manye hyanugrahaṁ te mayi jātamañjasā yathārya te brahmasurāsurādyairnivṛttatarṣairapi haṁsayūthaiḥ

Indeed, I consider the loss of my entire kingdom to have been, in truth, Your grace born within me — just as You, O noble one, are sought even by swan-like flocks of Brahma, gods, demons, and the rest, whose thirst has ceased.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.170.21)

इतः स्मराम्यच्युतमेव सादरं भवापहं पादसरोरुहं विभो । अकिंचनप्रार्थ्यममन्दभाग्यदं न कामयेऽन्यत्तव पादपद्मात्

itaḥ smarāmyacyutameva sādaraṁ bhavāpahaṁ pādasaroruhaṁ vibho akiṁcanaprārthyamamandabhāgyadaṁ na kāmaye’nyattava pādapadmāt

From now on, I shall reverently remember only the Imperishable One and Your lotus feet, which remove worldly suffering, O Lord — sought after by those who possess nothing, bestowing abundant fortune; I desire nothing else apart from Your lotus feet.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.170.22)

अतो न राज्यं न सुतादिकोशं देहेन शश्वत्पतता रजोभुवा । भजामि नित्यं तदुपासितव्यं पादारविंदं मुनिभिर्विचिन्त्यम्

ato na rājyaṁ na sutādikośaṁ dehena śaśvatpatatā rajobhuvā bhajāmi nityaṁ tadupāsitavyaṁ pādāraviṁdaṁ munibhirvicintyam

Therefore I desire neither kingdom, nor sons and treasury, nor this ever-perishing body born of dust; I shall constantly worship that which alone is worthy of worship — Your lotus feet, contemplated by sages.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.170.23)

प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास स्मृतिर्यथा स्यात्तव पादपद्मे । सक्तिः सदा गच्छतु दारकोशपुत्रात्मचिह्नेषु गणेषु मे प्रभो

prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa smṛtiryathā syāttava pādapadme saktiḥ sadā gacchatu dārakośaputrātmacihneṣu gaṇeṣu me prabho

Be gracious, O Lord of gods, O abode of the universe, so that my remembrance may remain fixed upon Your lotus feet; O Lord, let my attachment never go toward wife, treasury, sons, and the marks of self.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.170.24)

भूयान्मनः कृष्णपदारविन्दयोर्वचांसि ते दिव्यकथानुवर्णने । नेत्रे ममेमे तव विग्रहेक्षणे श्रोत्रे कथायां रसना तदर्पिते

bhūyānmanaḥ kṛṣṇapadāravindayorvacāṁsi te divyakathānuvarṇane netre mameme tava vigrahekṣaṇe śrotre kathāyāṁ rasanā tadarpite

May my mind ever be at the two lotus feet of Krishna, my words ever engaged in recounting Your divine story; may these eyes of mine be fixed on beholding Your form, my ears on Your story, my tongue devoted to that same praise.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.170.25)

घ्राणं च त्वपादसरोजसौरभे त्वद्भक्तगन्धादिविलेपने सकृत् । स्यातां च हस्तौ तव मन्दिरे विभो संमार्ज्जनादौ मम नित्यदैव

ghrāṇaṁ ca tvapādasarojasaurabhe tvadbhaktagandhādivilepane sakṛt syātāṁ ca hastau tava mandire vibho saṁmārjjanādau mama nityadaiva

May my sense of smell be fixed on the fragrance of Your lotus feet and on the scented unguents of Your devotees; may my two hands, O Lord, be ever engaged in the sweeping and the like of Your temple, always.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.170.26)

पादौ विभो क्षेत्रकथाऽनुसर्पणे मूर्धा च मे स्यात्तव वन्दनेऽनिशम् । कामश्च मे स्यात्तव सत्कथायां बुद्धिश्च मे स्यात्तव चिंतनेऽनिशम्

pādau vibho kṣetrakathā’nusarpaṇe mūrdhā ca me syāttava vandane’niśam kāmaśca me syāttava satkathāyāṁ buddhiśca me syāttava ciṁtane’niśam

May my feet, O Lord, be for going about to Your sacred fields and their stories; may my head be bowed constantly in reverence to You; may my desire be fixed on Your sacred story, and my intellect ever on contemplation of You.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.170.27)

दिनानि मे स्युस्तव सत्कथोदयैरुद्गीयमानैर्मुनिभिर्गृहागतैः । हीनः प्रसंगस्तव मे न भूयात्क्षणं निमेषार्द्धमथाऽपि विष्णो

dināni me syustava satkathodayairudgīyamānairmunibhirgṛhāgataiḥ hīnaḥ prasaṁgastava me na bhūyātkṣaṇaṁ nimeṣārddhamathā’pi viṣṇo

May my days pass amid the rising of Your sacred stories, sung by sages who come to my house; may I never be without connection to You, O Vishnu, even for an instant, even for half the blink of an eye.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.170.28)

न पारमेष्ठ्यं न च सार्वभौमं न चापवर्गं स्पृहयामि विष्णो । त्वत्पादसेवां च सदैव कामये प्रार्थ्यां श्रिया ब्रह्मभवादिभिः सुरैः

na pārameṣṭhyaṁ na ca sārvabhaumaṁ na cāpavargaṁ spṛhayāmi viṣṇo tvatpādasevāṁ ca sadaiva kāmaye prārthyāṁ śriyā brahmabhavādibhiḥ suraiḥ

O Vishnu, I do not long for the position of Brahma, nor for universal sovereignty, nor even for liberation; I desire only, ever, the service of Your feet — that very thing sought even by Lakshmi and by the gods, by Brahma, Shiva and the rest.'

Verse 29 (skanda.2.170.29)

इति राज्ञा स्तुतो विष्णुः प्रसन्नः कमलेक्षणः । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा तमुवाच क्षितीश्वरम्

iti rājñā stuto viṣṇuḥ prasannaḥ kamalekṣaṇaḥ meghagambhīrayā vācā tamuvāca kṣitīśvaram

Thus praised by the king, the lotus-eyed Vishnu became pleased, and in a voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke to that lord of the earth—

Verse 30 (skanda.2.170.30)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । जाने त्वां दासवर्यं मे निष्कामुकमकल्मषम् । अथाऽपि ते प्रदास्यामि वरं दैवतदुर्लभम्

śrībhagavānuvāca jāne tvāṁ dāsavaryaṁ me niṣkāmukamakalmaṣam athā’pi te pradāsyāmi varaṁ daivatadurlabham

The Blessed Lord said: 'I know you to be My most excellent servant, free of desire, without stain; yet I shall grant you a boon hard even for the gods to obtain.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.170.31)

आयुष्यं चायुतं दिव्यं संपदश्च नरेश्वर । भक्तिर्मयि दृढा भूयादन्ते सायुज्यमेव च

āyuṣyaṁ cāyutaṁ divyaṁ saṁpadaśca nareśvara bhaktirmayi dṛḍhā bhūyādante sāyujyameva ca

Ten thousand divine years of life, O lord of men, and riches; may steadfast devotion to Me be yours, and at the end, union with Me itself.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.170.32)

त्वया कृतेन स्तोत्रेण मां स्तुवन्ति च ये भुवि । तेषां तुष्टः प्रदास्यामि भुक्तिं मुक्तिं न संशयः

tvayā kṛtena stotreṇa māṁ stuvanti ca ye bhuvi teṣāṁ tuṣṭaḥ pradāsyāmi bhuktiṁ muktiṁ na saṁśayaḥ

With this hymn composed by you, whoever on earth praises Me — to them, pleased, I shall grant enjoyment and liberation, without doubt.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.170.33)

तृतीयैषाऽक्षयानाम भुवि ख्याता भविष्यति । यस्यां तव प्रसन्नोऽहं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः

tṛtīyaiṣā’kṣayānāma bhuvi khyātā bhaviṣyati yasyāṁ tava prasanno’haṁ bhuktimuktiphalapradaḥ

This third lunar day shall become known on earth by the name 'Akshaya' — the day on which I became pleased with you, granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.170.34)

ये कुर्वंति नरा मूढाः स्नानदानादिकाः क्रिया । व्याजेनाऽपि स्वभावाद्वा यांति मत्पदमव्ययम्

ye kurvaṁti narā mūḍhāḥ snānadānādikāḥ kriyā vyājenā’pi svabhāvādvā yāṁti matpadamavyayam

Even foolish men who perform acts such as bathing and giving charity on this day — whether out of pretense or by their own nature — go to My imperishable abode.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.170.35)

ये चाऽक्षयतृतीयायां पितॄनुद्दिश्य मानवाः । श्राद्धं कुर्वंति तेषां वै तदानंत्याय कल्पते

ye cā’kṣayatṛtīyāyāṁ pitṝnuddiśya mānavāḥ śrāddhaṁ kurvaṁti teṣāṁ vai tadānaṁtyāya kalpate

And those men who, on Akshaya Tritiya, perform the shraddha rite for their ancestors — for them, that offering becomes fit for endless, imperishable merit.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.170.36)

न चानया तिथिर्लोके समा वा नाधिका भुवि। अस्यां कृतं स्वल्पमपि तदक्षय्यफलं भवेत्

na cānayā tithirloke samā vā nādhikā bhuvi asyāṁ kṛtaṁ svalpamapi tadakṣayyaphalaṁ bhavet

There is no tithi in the world equal to this one, nor any greater; whatever is done on this day, even a little, becomes of imperishable fruit.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.170.37)

यो गां दद्यान्नृपश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणाय कुटुंबिने । सर्वसंपत्प्रवर्षाख्या भुक्तिमुक्तिः करे स्थिता

yo gāṁ dadyānnṛpaśreṣṭha brāhmaṇāya kuṭuṁbine sarvasaṁpatpravarṣākhyā bhuktimuktiḥ kare sthitā

O best of kings, whoever gives a cow to a brahmin with a family — for him, enjoyment and liberation, called 'the shower of all riches,' rest ready in the very palm of his hand.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.170.38)

यो हि दद्यादनड्वाहं सर्वपापविनाशनम् । कालमृत्युविमुक्तः सन्दीर्घायुष्यमवाप्नुयात्

yo hi dadyādanaḍvāhaṁ sarvapāpavināśanam kālamṛtyuvimuktaḥ sandīrghāyuṣyamavāpnuyāt

Whoever gives a bull, the destroyer of all sin, becomes freed from untimely death and obtains long life.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.170.39)

वैशाखमासे यो धर्मान्कुरुते मत्प्रियावहान् । तेषां मृत्युजराजन्मभयं पापं हराम्यहम्

vaiśākhamāse yo dharmānkurute matpriyāvahān teṣāṁ mṛtyujarājanmabhayaṁ pāpaṁ harāmyaham

Whoever performs, in the month of Vaishakha, the vows dear to Me — I Myself take away their fear of death, old age, and birth, and their sin.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.170.40)

यथा वैशाखधर्मैस्तु तुष्टः स्यां सकलैरपि । मासधर्मैर्न तुष्टः स्यां मासो मे माधवः प्रियः

yathā vaiśākhadharmaistu tuṣṭaḥ syāṁ sakalairapi māsadharmairna tuṣṭaḥ syāṁ māso me mādhavaḥ priyaḥ

I am as pleased by all the other monthly vows put together as I am by the vows of Vaishakha; indeed I am not so easily pleased by other monthly vows — the month of Madhava is especially dear to Me.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.170.41)

सर्वधमोज्झिता वापि ब्रह्मचर्यविवर्जिताः। वैशाखमासनिरता यांति मत्पदमव्ययम्

sarvadhamojjhitā vāpi brahmacaryavivarjitāḥ vaiśākhamāsaniratā yāṁti matpadamavyayam

Even those devoid of all other dharma, bereft even of celibacy, if devoted to the month of Vaishakha, go to My imperishable abode.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.170.42)

यद्दुरापं तपोभिश्च सांख्ययोगैर्मखैरपि । तद्धाम परमं यांति वैशाखनिरता नराः

yaddurāpaṁ tapobhiśca sāṁkhyayogairmakhairapi taddhāma paramaṁ yāṁti vaiśākhaniratā narāḥ

That supreme abode which is hard to attain even by austerities, by Sankhya and Yoga, and by sacrifices — men devoted to Vaishakha attain it.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.170.43)

अपि पापसहस्रं वा मासोऽयं हरतेऽनघ । प्रायश्चित्तविहीनं वा मत्पादस्मरणं यथा

api pāpasahasraṁ vā māso’yaṁ harate’nagha prāyaścittavihīnaṁ vā matpādasmaraṇaṁ yathā

O sinless one, this month removes even a thousand sins — even those for which there is no prescribed atonement — just as remembrance of My feet does.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.170.44)

गुरूपदिष्टः कांतारे वैशाखे निरतो भवान् । समाराध्य जगन्नाथं तेनाप्तमखिलं नृप

gurūpadiṣṭaḥ kāṁtāre vaiśākhe nirato bhavān samārādhya jagannāthaṁ tenāptamakhilaṁ nṛpa

Instructed by your guru, while in the wilderness you became devoted to Vaishakha; having worshipped the Lord of the universe, by that, O king, you have obtained everything.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.170.45)

धर्मेणानेन संप्रीतः प्रत्यक्षोऽहं भवामि ते । भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथाकामान्देवैरपिसुदुर्लभान्

dharmeṇānena saṁprītaḥ pratyakṣo’haṁ bhavāmi te bhuktvā bhogānyathākāmāndevairapisudurlabhān

Pleased by this observance, I become manifest before you in person; having enjoyed pleasures according to your desire, hard to attain even for the gods,

Verse 46 (skanda.2.170.46)

इति तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा देवदेवो जनार्दनः । पश्यतामेव सर्वेषां तत्रैवांतरधीयत

iti tasmai varaṁ dattvā devadevo janārdanaḥ paśyatāmeva sarveṣāṁ tatraivāṁtaradhīyata

— thus, having granted him this boon, the God of gods, Janardana, vanished right there, even as everyone watched.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.170.47)

ततो भूपालवर्योऽसौ बभूवात्यंतविस्मितः । हृष्टपुष्टतनुर्भूप लब्धनष्टधनो यथा

tato bhūpālavaryo’sau babhūvātyaṁtavismitaḥ hṛṣṭapuṣṭatanurbhūpa labdhanaṣṭadhano yathā

Then that best of kings became utterly astonished, his body now joyful and robust, as if he had regained lost wealth.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.170.48)

ततः शशास पृथिवीं तच्चित्तस्तत्परायणः । महद्भिर्बोधितो नित्यं गुरुभिश्च निरंतरम्

tataḥ śaśāsa pṛthivīṁ taccittastatparāyaṇaḥ mahadbhirbodhito nityaṁ gurubhiśca niraṁtaram

Then, his mind fixed on the Lord, he ruled the earth, ever instructed by great souls and continually by his gurus.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.170.49)

नान्यं प्रियतमं मेने वासुदेवमृते नृपः । यत्संपर्कात्प्रिया आसन्दारामात्यसुतादयः

nānyaṁ priyatamaṁ mene vāsudevamṛte nṛpaḥ yatsaṁparkātpriyā āsandārāmātyasutādayaḥ

The king considered nothing else dearest apart from Vasudeva, through connection with whom his wife, ministers, sons and the rest became dear to him.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.170.50)

सर्वान्धर्मांश्चकाराऽसौ वैशाखोक्तान्पुनःपुनः । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्वृतः

sarvāndharmāṁścakārā’sau vaiśākhoktānpunaḥpunaḥ tena puṇyaprabhāvena putrapautrādibhirvṛtaḥ

He performed, again and again, all the vows enjoined for Vaishakha. By the power of that merit, surrounded by sons, grandsons and the rest,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.170.51)

भुक्त्वा मनोरथान्सर्वान्देवानामपि दुर्लभान् । अंते जगाम सायुज्यं विष्णोर्देवस्य चक्रिणः

bhuktvā manorathānsarvāndevānāmapi durlabhān aṁte jagāma sāyujyaṁ viṣṇordevasya cakriṇaḥ

having enjoyed all his desires, hard to attain even for the gods, he at last attained union (sayujya) with the discus-bearing god Vishnu.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.170.52)

य इदं परमाख्यानं शृण्वन्ति श्रावयंति च । ते सर्वे पापनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परं पदम्

ya idaṁ paramākhyānaṁ śṛṇvanti śrāvayaṁti ca te sarve pāpanirmuktā yāṁti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

Those who hear this supreme narration, and those who recite it to others — all of them, freed from sin, go to the supreme abode of Vishnu.