Akṣayya-tṛtīyāyāḥ Śreṣṭhatva-kathanam — The Narration of the Supreme Excellence of Akṣaya Tṛtīyā

Verse 1 (skanda.2.177.1)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । अक्षय्यायास्तृतीयायाः सिते पक्षे च माधवे ॥

śrutadeva uvāca athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam akṣayyāyāstṛtīyāyāḥ site pakṣe ca mādhave

Shrutadeva said: Now I shall describe the sin-destroying glory of Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of the month of Madhava.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.177.2)

ये कुर्वंति च तस्यां वै प्रातः स्नानं भगोदये । ते सर्वे पापनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परं पदम् ॥

ye kurvanti ca tasyāṁ vai prātaḥ snānaṁ bhagodaye te sarve pāpanirmuktā yānti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

Those who bathe at dawn on this day, before sunrise, are all freed from sin and attain the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.177.3)

देवान्पितॄन्मुनीन्यस्तु कुर्यादुद्दिश्य तर्पणम् । तेनाऽधीतं च तेनेष्टं तेन श्राद्धशतं कृतम् ॥

devānpitṝnmunīnyastu kuryāduddiśya tarpaṇam tenā'dhītaṁ ca teneṣṭaṁ tena śrāddhaśataṁ kṛtam

Whoever offers libations on this day to the gods, ancestors, and sages, has thereby also studied the Veda, performed sacrifice, and performed a hundred shraddhas.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.177.4)

मधुसूदनमभ्यर्च्य कथां शृण्वंति ये नराः । अक्षय्यायां तृतीयायां ते नरा मुक्तिभागिनः ॥

madhusūdanamabhyarcya kathāṁ śṛṇvanti ye narāḥ akṣayyāyāṁ tṛtīyāyāṁ te narā muktibhāginaḥ

Those men who, on Akshaya Tritiya, worship Madhusudana and listen to this story, become sharers in liberation.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.177.5)

ये दानं तत्र कुर्वंति मधुद्विट्प्रीतये शुभम् । तदक्षय्यं फलत्येव मधुशासनशासनात् ॥

ye dānaṁ tatra kurvanti madhudviṭprītaye śubham tadakṣayyaṁ phalatyeva madhuśāsanaśāsanāt

Those who on this day make auspicious gifts to please the foe of the demon Madhu bring forth an imperishable fruit, by the very decree of the vanquisher of Madhu.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.177.6)

देवर्षिपितृदैवत्या तिथिरेषा महाशुभा । त्रयाणां तृप्तिदात्री च कृते धर्मे सनातने ॥

devarṣipitṛdaivatyā tithireṣā mahāśubhā trayāṇāṁ tṛptidātrī ca kṛte dharme sanātane

This most auspicious lunar day is dedicated to the gods, sages, and ancestors, and, in accordance with the eternal dharma of the Krita age, grants satisfaction to all three.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.177.7)

प्रख्यातिश्च तिथेरस्याः केन चास्ति तदप्यहम् । वक्ष्यामि नृपशार्दूल सावधानमनाः शृणु ॥

prakhyātiśca tithherasyāḥ kena cāsti tadapyaham vakṣyāmi nṛpaśārdūla sāvadhānamanāḥ śṛṇu

By what cause this lunar day became renowned, this too I shall tell. O tiger among kings, listen with a mind fully attentive.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.177.8)

पुरा पुरंदरस्याऽऽसीद्युद्धं च बलिना सह । देवानां चैव दैत्यानां द्वंद्वं युद्धमभूत्ततः ॥

purā puraṁdarasyā'sīdyuddhaṁ ca balinā saha devānāṁ caiva daityānāṁ dvandvaṁ yuddhamabhūttataḥ

Long ago there was a war between Indra and Bali, and thereupon a fierce mutual battle broke out between the gods and the demons.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.177.9)

स निर्जित्य बलिं दैत्यं पातालतलवासिनम् । पुनर्भुवं समासाद्य चोतथ्यस्याऽऽश्रमं ययौ ॥

sa nirjitya baliṁ daityaṁ pātālatalavāsinam punarbhuvaṁ samāsādya cotathyasyā'śramaṁ yayau

Having conquered the demon Bali, dweller of the netherworld, Indra returned again to the earth and went to the hermitage of the sage Utathya.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.177.10)

तत्रापश्यच्च तत्पत्नीं गुर्विणीं मंदगामिनीम् । चलच्छ्रोणितटाबद्धकांचीदाम्ना सुमंडिताम् ॥

tatrāpaśyacca tatpatnīṁ gurviṇīṁ mandagāminīm calacchroṇitaṭābaddhakāñcīdāmnā sumaṇḍitām

There he saw Utathya's wife, pregnant and moving slowly, beautifully adorned with a girdle-chain bound about her swaying hips,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.177.11)

क्वणत्कंकणनिर्घोषजितमत्तालिकोकिलाम् । वल्गुचित्रांबरां रामां मंजुवाचं शुचिस्मिताम् ॥

kvaṇatkaṅkaṇanirghoṣajitamattālikokilām valgucitrāmbarāṁ rāmāṁ mañjuvācaṁ śucismitām

whose tinkling bangles' chime surpassed even the maddened bees and cuckoos, a lovely woman in beautifully patterned garments, of sweet speech and pure smile,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.177.12)

लसत्कुंभस्थलाभ्यां च कुचाभ्यामुपशोभिताम् । हसत्पद्ममुखां दिव्यां नीलोत्पलसुलोचनाम् ॥

lasatkumbhasthalābhyāṁ ca kucābhyāmupaśobhitām hasatpadmamukhāṁ divyāṁ nīlotpalasulocanām

resplendent with breasts like gleaming water-pots, her face like a smiling lotus, divine, her eyes beautiful as blue lotuses,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.177.13)

केतक्युदरपांडुभ्यां गंडाभ्यां च मनोरमाम् । श्रमोच्छ्वसंतीं दीनाक्षीं पर्णशालामुखे स्थिताम् ॥

ketakyudarapāṇḍubhyāṁ gaṇḍābhyāṁ ca manoramām śramocchvasantīṁ dīnākṣīṁ parṇaśālāmukhe sthitām

her cheeks pale and lovely as the inner petals of the ketaki flower, breathing hard from exertion, her eyes weary, standing at the doorway of the leaf-hut,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.177.14)

स्वपतीं शयने क्वाऽपि तां दृष्ट्वा मोहमागतः । बलात्कारेण बुभुजे गुर्विणीं पाकशासनः ॥

svapatīṁ śayane kvā'pi tāṁ dṛṣṭvā mohamāgataḥ balātkāreṇa bubhuje gurviṇīṁ pākaśāsanaḥ

resting upon a couch. Overcome with infatuation at the sight of her, Indra forcibly violated that pregnant woman.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.177.15)

गर्भस्थस्तु तदा पिंडः स्वस्य पातविशंकया । छादयामास वै योनिं द्वारे पादेन दुःखितः ॥

garbhasthastu tadā piṇḍaḥ svasya pātaviśaṅkayā chādayāmāsa vai yoniṁ dvāre pādena duḥkhitaḥ

At that moment the child within the womb, fearing his own fall, grew distressed and covered the birth-passage with his foot.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.177.16)

ततश्चस्कन्द वीर्यं तद्भूमावेव बलिद्विषः । गर्भस्थाय चुकोपासौ भगवान्पाकशासनः ॥

tataścaskanda vīryaṁ tadbhūmāveva balidviṣaḥ garbhasthāya cukopāsau bhagavānpākaśāsanaḥ

Then the seed of that foe of Bali fell upon the ground itself, and the lord Indra grew enraged at the child within the womb.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.177.17)

तं शशाप च गर्भस्थं रुषा ताम्रांतलोचनः । जात्यन्धो भव दुर्बुद्धे माऽवमंस्था यतः पदा ॥

taṁ śaśāpa ca garbhasthaṁ ruṣā tāmrāntalocanaḥ jātyandho bhava durbuddhe mā'vamaṁsthā yataḥ padā

His eyes reddened at the corners with fury, he cursed that unborn child: O evil-minded one, be blind from birth, since you disrespected me with your foot.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.177.18)

प्रच्छाद्य योनिद्वारं च ततो दीर्घतपाह्वयः । पदा प्रस्कंदिताद्वीर्याज्जालतः समजायत ॥

pracchādya yonidvāraṁ ca tato dīrghatapāhvayaḥ padā praskanditādvīryājjālataḥ samajāyata

Having thus blocked the birth-passage with his foot, that child — who came to be known as Dirghatamas — was born through a caul, from the seed that had spilled.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.177.19)

पश्चादिंद्रो ययौ शीघ्रमृषेः शापविशंकितः । पलायंतं हरिं दृष्ट्वा जहसुर्बटवोऽखिलाः ॥

paścādindro yayau śīghramṛṣeḥ śāpaviśaṅkitaḥ palāyantaṁ hariṁ dṛṣṭvā jahasurbaṭavo'khilāḥ

Afterward, Indra, dreading the sage's curse, fled from that place at once. Seeing Hari (Indra) fleeing, all the young students there burst out laughing.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.177.20)

ततस्तु व्रीडितो भूत्वा ययौ मेरोर्गुहां शुभाम् । तत्र लीनश्चचाराऽसौ दुस्तरं वै तपो महत् ॥

tatastu vrīḍito bhūtvā yayau meror guhāṁ śubhām tatra līnaścacārā'sau dustaraṁ vai tapo mahat

Thereupon, overcome with shame, he went to a sacred cave on Mount Meru. Hiding there, he began to perform a most arduous and great austerity.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.177.21)

मेरौ विलीय वसति देवेन्द्रे लज्जयाऽन्विते । गूढैर्विज्ञाय तां वार्तां दैतेया बलिपूर्वकाः ॥

merau vilīya vasati devendre lajjayā'nvite gūḍhairvijñāya tāṁ vārtāṁ daiteyā balipūrvakāḥ

While the shame-stricken lord of the gods was hiding away, dwelling on Mount Meru, the demons, led by Bali, learned of this news through their spies,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.177.22)

सुरानाक्रम्य बुभुजुर्बलींद्रश्चामरावतीम् । दिक्पालानां विभूतीश्च शंबराद्या बलीयसः ॥

surānākramya bubhujurbalīndraścāmarāvatīm dikpālānāṁ vibhūtīśca śaṁbarādyā balīyasaḥ

attacked the gods and, under Bali's rule, took possession of Amaravati for themselves. The mighty demons, Shambara and others, forcibly seized

Verse 23 (skanda.2.177.23)

बलाद्बुभुजिरे हीननाथे राष्ट्रे दिवौकसाम् । रक्षितारमजानंतो देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः ॥

balādbubhujire hīnanāthe rāṣṭre divaukasām rakṣitāramajānanto devāścāgnipurogamāḥ

the possessions of the guardians of the directions, and forcibly ruled over the leaderless realm of the gods. Not knowing where their protector was, the gods, led by Agni,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.177.24)

पप्रच्छुर्धिषणं देवं देवाचार्यमकल्मषम् । पप्रच्छुरिंद्रवृत्तांतं क्व स्वित्तिष्ठति नः प्रभुः ॥

papracchurdhiṣaṇaṁ devaṁ devācāryamakalmaṣam papracchurindravṛttāntaṁ kva svittiṣṭhati naḥ prabhuḥ

went and asked the blameless preceptor of the gods, the god Dhishana (Brihaspati) — they asked news of Indra: Where, then, does our lord now dwell?

Verse 25 (skanda.2.177.25)

दैत्याक्रांतमिदं राष्ट्रं हीननाथं दिवौकसाम् । कुतो नाऽऽयाति देवोऽसौ भूयान्कालो गतो विभो ॥

daityākrāntamidaṁ rāṣṭraṁ hīnanāthaṁ divaukasām kuto nā'yāti devo'sau bhūyānkālo gato vibho

This realm of ours has been overrun by demons and left without a lord. Why does that god not come? O mighty one, a great deal of time has already passed.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.177.26)

तं यामो यत्र धिषण प्रार्थयामश्च तं विभुम् । इति पृष्टस्तदा देवैर्धिषणस्तानुवाच ह ॥

taṁ yāmo yatra dhiṣaṇa prārthayāmaśca taṁ vibhum iti pṛṣṭastadā devairdhiṣaṇastānuvāca ha

O Dhishana, let us go wherever he is, and beseech that mighty one. Thus questioned by the gods, Dhishana told them —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.177.27)

रसातले बलिं जित्वा चोतथ्यस्याऽऽश्रमं ययौ । भुक्त्वा पत्नीं च दार्ढ्येन तच्छिष्यैरेव निन्दितः ॥

rasātale baliṁ jitvā cotathyasyā'śramaṁ yayau bhuktvā patnīṁ ca dārḍhyena tacchiṣyaireva ninditaḥ

Having conquered Bali in the netherworld, he went to the hermitage of Utathya. There, having forcibly violated his wife, he was condemned even by that sage's own disciples.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.177.28)

व्रीडितस्तु दिवं यातुं गुहां मेरोर्विवेश ह । तत्रैवाऽऽस्ते शचीयुक्तः स्वकृतं चिन्तयन्विभुः ॥

vrīḍitastu divaṁ yātuṁ guhāṁ meror viveśa ha tatraivā'ste śacīyuktaḥ svakṛtaṁ cintayanvibhuḥ

Ashamed to go to heaven, he entered a cave on Mount Meru instead. There that mighty lord remains, together with Shachi, brooding upon his own deed.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.177.29)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवा अग्निपुरोगमाः । गुहां मेरोर्ययुः शीघ्रं दृष्ट्वा प्रार्थयितुं विभुम् ॥

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devā agnipurogamāḥ guhāṁ meror yayuḥ śīghraṁ dṛṣṭvā prārthayituṁ vibhum

Hearing these words of his, the gods, led by Agni, went swiftly to the cave on Meru, to see and beseech that mighty lord.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.177.30)

तत्र दृष्ट्वा गुहालीनं देवेन्द्रं पाकशासनम् । तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैस्तद्वीर्यैर्लोकविश्रुतैः ॥

tatra dṛṣṭvā guhālīnaṁ devendraṁ pākaśāsanam tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stotraistadvīryairlokaviśrutaiḥ

There, seeing the lord of the gods hiding away in the cave, they praised him with many hymns extolling his valorous deeds, renowned throughout the world —

Verse 31 (skanda.2.177.31)

इंद्र तुभ्यं नमस्तेऽस्तु सर्वदेवाऽधिपाय ते । वयं दैत्यैरर्दिताश्च त्वया हीना भृशार्दिताः ॥

indra tubhyaṁ namaste'stu sarvadevā'dhipāya te vayaṁ daityairarditāśca tvayā hīnā bhṛśārditāḥ

O Indra, homage to you, lord of all the gods. We are tormented by the demons, and, bereft of you, are grievously afflicted.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.177.32)

स्थानभ्रष्टाश्चरामोंऽग नानादेशेषु दुःखिताः । तस्मादागत्य देवेन्द्र जहि शत्रूनरिंदम ॥

sthānabhraṣṭāścarāmoṅga nānādeśeṣu duḥkhitāḥ tasmādāgatya devendra jahi śatrūnarindama

O dear one, cast out from our own places, we wander sorrowing through many lands. Therefore, O lord of the gods, tamer of foes, come and destroy our enemies.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.177.33)

इति स्तुतस्तदा देवैर्निश्चक्राम गुहामुखात् । लज्जयाऽवनतो भूत्वा पश्यन्भूमिं च चक्षुषा ॥

iti stutastadā devairniścakrāma guhāmukhāt lajjayā'vanato bhūtvā paśyanbhūmiṁ ca cakṣuṣā

Thus praised by the gods, he came forth from the mouth of the cave, bowed low in shame, his eyes fixed upon the ground.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.177.34)

न किंचिदपि चोवाच दुःखाद्गद्गदभाषणः । तं ज्ञात्वा धिषणः प्राह तं सुरेन्द्रं भयानकम् ॥

na kiñcidapi covāca duḥkhādgadgadabhāṣaṇaḥ taṁ jñātvā dhiṣaṇaḥ prāha taṁ surendraṁ bhayānakam

Choked with sorrow, he could not utter a single word. Understanding his state, Dhishana spoke to that fearful lord of the gods —

Verse 35 (skanda.2.177.35)

मा शंका ते सुरपते कर्माधीनमिदं जगत् । मानामानौ सुखं दुःखं लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ॥

mā śaṅkā te surapate karmādhīnamidaṁ jagat mānāmānau sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ lābhālābhau jayājayau

Have no anxiety, O lord of the gods — this world is entirely subject to karma. Honour and dishonour, happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat —

Verse 36 (skanda.2.177.36)

पूर्वकर्मानुरोधेन भवंत्येते न संशयः । जीवः कर्मानुगो दुःखं दिष्टं दैवेन कालतः ॥

pūrvakarmānurodhena bhavantyete na saṁśayaḥ jīvaḥ karmānugo duḥkhaṁ diṣṭaṁ daivena kālataḥ

all of these arise in accordance with one's former deeds, of this there is no doubt. The soul follows in the wake of its own karma; sorrow is ordained by fate, through the working of time.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.177.37)

प्राज्ञाः प्रायो न शोचंति न प्रहृष्यंति वै सुखात् । तस्मात्प्रारब्धतः प्राप्तं दुःखं चेदं तव प्रभो ॥

prājñāḥ prāyo na śocanti na prahṛṣyanti vai sukhāt tasmātprārabdhataḥ prāptaṁ duḥkhaṁ cedaṁ tava prabho

The wise, for the most part, neither grieve nor exult in happiness. Therefore, O lord, this sorrow of yours too has come solely from your prarabdha (fructifying past karma).

Verse 38 (skanda.2.177.38)

तत्प्राप्य मघवन्दुःखं नैव शोचितुमर्हसि । इत्युक्तो गुरुणा चाह मघवानमराधिपान् ॥

tatprāpya maghavanduḥkhaṁ naiva śocitumarhasi ityukto guruṇā cāha maghavānamarādhipān

O Maghavan, having encountered this sorrow, you ought not to grieve. Thus addressed by his preceptor, Maghavan (Indra) said to the lords of the gods —

Verse 39 (skanda.2.177.39)

इन्द्र उवाच । परस्त्रीसंगदोषेण बलं वीर्यं यशोऽमलम् । मंत्रशक्तिः शास्त्रशक्तिर्विद्याशक्तिश्च मानद ॥

indra uvāca parastrīsaṅgadoṣeṇa balaṁ vīryaṁ yaśo'malam mantraśaktiḥ śāstraśaktirvidyāśaktiśca mānada

Indra said: O honoured one, because of the sin of union with another's wife, my strength, virility, stainless fame, power of sacred formulas, power of scripture, and power of learning —

Verse 40 (skanda.2.177.40)

अभवन्नष्टवीर्यं मे तूष्णीं तेन वसाम्यहम् । पाकशासनवाक्यं तु श्रुत्वा स्वाचार्यसंयुताः ॥

abhavannaṣṭavīryaṁ me tūṣṇīṁ tena vasāmyaham pākaśāsanavākyaṁ tu śrutvā svācāryasaṁyutāḥ

have all been lost. That is why I dwell in silence. Having heard these words of Indra, the gods, along with their preceptor,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.177.41)

मंत्रयामासुरेकान्ते पुनस्तस्य बलाप्तये । तदा गुरुश्च तान्प्राह करुणं च विदुत्तमः ॥

mantrayāmāsurekānte punastasya balāptaye tadā guruśca tānprāha karuṇaṁ ca viduttamaḥ

deliberated together in private on how to restore his strength once again. Then that foremost of the learned, their preceptor, spoke to them with compassion —

Verse 42 (skanda.2.177.42)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । मासो वैशाखनामाऽयं प्रियो वै मधुघातिनः । सर्वाश्च तिथयः पुण्या मासेऽस्मिन्माधवप्रिये ॥

bṛhaspatiruvāca māso vaiśākhanāmā'yaṁ priyo vai madhughātinaḥ sarvāśca tithayaḥ puṇyā māse'sminmādhavapriye

Brihaspati said: This month called Vaishakha is most dear to the slayer of the demon Madhu, and every lunar day in this month, so beloved of Madhava, is meritorious.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.177.43)

तत्राऽपि च सिते पक्षे मासेऽस्मिन्नक्षयाह्वया । या तस्यां स्नानदानादि श्रद्धया च करोति वै ॥

tatrā'pi ca site pakṣe māse'sminnakṣayāhvayā yā tasyāṁ snānadānādi śraddhayā ca karoti vai

And among these, in the bright fortnight of this month, there is the day called Akshaya. Whoever, on this day, performs bathing, gift-giving, and the like with faith,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.177.44)

तस्य पापसहस्राणि नश्यंत्येव न संशयः । अनवद्यं तथैश्वर्यं बलं धैर्यं भवंति च ॥

tasya pāpasahasrāṇi naśyantyeva na saṁśayaḥ anavadyaṁ tathaiśvaryaṁ balaṁ dhairyaṁ bhavanti ca

his thousand sins are surely destroyed, without doubt. And unblemished prosperity, strength, and steadfastness come to him as well.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.177.45)

तस्मात्तस्यां तृतीयायां हरिणा बलविद्विषा । स्नानदानादिसद्धर्मान्कारयामो हिताऽऽप्तये ॥

tasmāttasyāṁ tṛtīyāyāṁ hariṇā balavidviṣā snānadānādisaddharmānkārayāmo hitā'ptaye

Therefore, on that third day sacred to Hari, the foe of Bala, we shall have him perform these holy observances — bathing, gift-giving, and the like — for the attainment of his welfare.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.177.46)

भविष्यति च सा शक्तिर्विद्याया मन्त्रशास्त्रयोः । बलं धैर्यं यशश्चैव यथापूर्वं भविष्यति ॥

bhaviṣyati ca sā śaktirvidyāyā mantraśāstrayoḥ balaṁ dhairyaṁ yaśaścaiva yathāpūrvaṁ bhaviṣyati

Through this, that power of learning, sacred formula, and scripture shall be restored, and strength, steadfastness, and fame too shall become as they were before.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.177.47)

इत्येवं तु विचार्याथ गुरुर्देवैः समाहितः । इन्द्रेण कारयामास धर्मानेतान्हरिप्रियान् ॥

ityevaṁ tu vicāryātha gururdevaiḥ samāhitaḥ indreṇa kārayāmāsa dharmānetānharipriyān

Having deliberated thus, the preceptor, together with the gods, had Indra perform these very observances, so dear to Hari —

Verse 48 (skanda.2.177.48)

अक्षय्यायां तृतीयायां भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदान् । तेन पूर्ववदेवाऽऽसीद्बलं धैर्यादिकं विभोः ॥

akṣayyāyāṁ tṛtīyāyāṁ bhuktimuktiphalapradān tena pūrvavadevā'sīdbalaṁ dhairyādikaṁ vibhoḥ

on Akshaya Tritiya, those observances that grant the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation. Through this, that mighty lord's strength, steadfastness, and the rest were restored just as before,

Verse 49 (skanda.2.177.49)

परस्त्रीसंगदोषोऽपि सद्य एव व्यलीयत । पश्चाद्धताशुभः शक्रो राहोर्मुक्त इवोडुपः ॥

parastrīsaṅgadoṣo'pi sadya eva vyalīyata paścāddhatāśubhaḥ śakro rāhormukta ivoḍupaḥ

and even the sin of union with another's wife dissolved at once. Then Shakra, his inauspiciousness destroyed, shone forth like the moon released from the grip of Rahu,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.177.50)

देवतानां तथा मध्ये शुशुभे च हरिर्यथा । पश्चाद्देवैः समायुक्तो विनिर्जित्य तथाऽसुरान् ॥

devatānāṁ tathā madhye śuśubhe ca harir yathā paścāddevaiḥ samāyukto vinirjitya tathā'surān

and shone amid the gods just as Hari himself does. Then, joined with the gods, and having thoroughly vanquished the demons,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.177.51)

तृतीयायाश्च माहात्म्याद्भाग्ययुक्तोऽमरावतीम् । विवेश विभवैः सार्द्धं शंखतूर्यादिनिःस्वनैः ॥

tṛtīyāyāśca māhātmyādbhāgyayukto'marāvatīm viveśa vibhavaiḥ sārddhaṁ śaṅkhatūryādiniḥsvanaiḥ

blessed by the glory of Tritiya, he entered Amaravati amid all his splendour, to the sound of conches, trumpets, and other instruments.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.177.52)

अनुज्ञाताश्च शक्रेण स्वधामानि ययुः सुराः । ततस्ते यज्ञभागांश्च लेभिरे च यथा पुरा ॥

anujñātāśca śakreṇa svadhāmāni yayuḥ surāḥ tataste yajñabhāgāṁśca lebhire ca yathā purā

Given leave by Shakra (Indra), the gods departed each to his own abode. Thereafter they received their shares of the sacrifice, just as before,

Verse 53 (skanda.2.177.53)

पिंडभागांश्च पितरो यथापूर्वं प्रपेदिरे । स्वाध्याये मुनयस्तुष्टा दैत्यानां च पराजयः ॥

piṇḍabhāgāṁśca pitaro yathāpūrvaṁ prapedire svādhyāye munayastuṣṭā daityānāṁ ca parājayaḥ

and the ancestors too obtained their shares of the rice-ball offering, as before; the sages found contentment once more in their study, and the demons met their defeat.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.177.54)

तदा प्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिंस्तृतीया चाऽक्षयाऽऽह्वया । प्रख्याता सर्वलोकेषु देवर्षिपितृतुष्टिदा ॥

tadā prabhṛti loke'sminstṛtīyā cā'kṣayā'hvayā prakhyātā sarvalokeṣu devarṣipitṛtuṣṭidā

From that time onward, in this world, this third lunar day called Akshaya, which brings satisfaction to gods, sages, and ancestors, became renowned throughout all the worlds.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.177.55)

तस्मात्पुण्यतमा चैषा सर्वकर्मनिकृंतनी । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा नृणां तृतीया चाऽक्षयाऽऽह्वया ॥

tasmātpuṇyatamā caiṣā sarvakarmanikṛntanī bhuktimuktipradā nṛṇāṁ tṛtīyā cā'kṣayā'hvayā

Therefore this third day called Akshaya is most meritorious, cutting through every bond of karma, and grants to mankind both worldly enjoyment and liberation.