Phala-śruti-kathanam — The Narration of the Fruits of Hearing This Purana

Verse 1 (skanda.2.179.1)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । यास्तिस्रस्तिथयः पुण्या अंतिमाः शुक्लपक्षके । वैशाखमासि राजेंद्र पूर्णिमांताः शुभावहाः ॥

śrutadeva uvāca yāstisrastithayaḥ puṇyā antimāḥ śuklapakṣake vaiśākhamāsi rājendra pūrṇimāntāḥ śubhāvahāḥ

Shrutadeva said: O king of kings, the three lunar days at the very end of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, ending with the full moon, are meritorious and auspicious.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.179.2)

अन्त्याः पुष्करिणीसंज्ञाः सर्वपापक्षयावहाः । माधवे मासि यः पूर्णं स्नानं कर्त्तुं न च क्षमः ॥

antyāḥ puṣkariṇīsaṁjñāḥ sarvapāpakṣayāvahāḥ mādhave māsi yaḥ pūrṇaṁ snānaṁ karttuṁ na ca kṣamaḥ

These final days are known by the name 'Pushkarini', bringing about the destruction of every sin. He who is unable to bathe throughout the entire month of Madhava,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.179.3)

तिथिष्वेतासु स स्नायात्पूर्णमेव फलं लभेत् । सर्वे देवास्त्रयोदश्यां स्थित्वा जंतून्पुनंति हि ॥

tithiṣvetāsu sa snāyātpūrṇameva phalaṁ labhet sarve devāstrayodaśyāṁ sthitvā jantūnpunanti hi

should he bathe on just these lunar days, he obtains the very same complete fruit. On the thirteenth day, all the gods take up residence and purify living beings.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.179.4)

पूर्णायाः पर्वतीर्थैश्च विष्णुना सह संस्थिताः । चतुर्दश्यां सयज्ञाश्च देवा एतान्पुनंति हि ॥

pūrṇāyāḥ parvatīrthaiśca viṣṇunā saha saṁsthitāḥ caturdaśyāṁ sayajñāśca devā etānpunanti hi

Together with the sacred crossings of the great festival, and abiding together with Vishnu, on the fourteenth day the gods, together with the sacrifice, purify these very days.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.179.5)

ब्रह्मघ्नं वा सुरापं वा सर्वानेतान्पुनंति हि । एकादश्यां पुरा जज्ञे वैशाख्याममृतं शुभम् ॥

brahmaghnaṁ vā surāpaṁ vā sarvānetānpunanti hi ekādaśyāṁ purā jajñe vaiśākhyāmamṛtaṁ śubham

They purify even the killer of a brahmin, or the drinker of liquor — all of these. Long ago, on the eleventh day of Vaishakha, the auspicious nectar of immortality was born;

Verse 6 (skanda.2.179.6)

द्वादश्यां पालितं तच्च विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । त्रयोदश्यां सुधां देवान्पाययामास वै हरिः ॥

dvādaśyāṁ pālitaṁ tacca viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā trayodaśyāṁ sudhāṁ devānpāyayāmāsa vai hariḥ

on the twelfth day it was guarded by the all-powerful Vishnu, and on the thirteenth day Hari made the gods drink that nectar.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.179.7)

जघान च चतुर्दश्यां दैत्यान्देवविरोधिनः । पूर्णायां सर्वदेवानां साम्राज्याऽऽप्तिर्बभूव ह ॥

jaghāna ca caturdaśyāṁ daityāndevavirodhinaḥ pūrṇāyāṁ sarvadevānāṁ sāmrājyā'ptirbabhūva ha

On the fourteenth day, he slew the demons hostile to the gods, and on the full moon, all the gods obtained the recovery of their sovereign dominion.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.179.8)

ततो देवाः सुसंतुष्टा एतासां च वरं ददुः । तिसृणां च तिथीनां वै प्रीत्योत्फुल्लविलोचनाः ॥

tato devāḥ susaṁtuṣṭā etāsāṁ ca varaṁ daduḥ tisṛṇāṁ ca tithīnāṁ vai prītyotphullavilocanāḥ

Then the gods, greatly satisfied, their eyes wide with joy, bestowed a boon upon these three lunar days.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.179.9)

एता वैशाख मासस्य तिस्रश्च तिथयः शुभाः । पुत्रपौत्रादिफलदा नराणां पापहानिदाः ॥

etā vaiśākha māsasya tisraśca tithayaḥ śubhāḥ putrapautrādiphaladā narāṇāṁ pāpahānidāḥ

These three auspicious lunar days of the month of Vaishakha grant men the fruit of sons, grandsons, and the like, and bring about the destruction of sin.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.179.10)

योऽस्मिन्मासे च संपूर्णे न स्नातो मनुजाधमः । तिथित्रये तु स स्नात्वा पूर्णमेव फलं लभेत् ॥

yo'sminmāse ca saṁpūrṇe na snāto manujādhamaḥ tithitraye tu sa snātvā pūrṇameva phalaṁ labhet

That base man who has not bathed throughout the entirety of this month may still, by bathing merely on these three days, obtain the complete fruit.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.179.11)

तिथित्रयेप्यकुर्वाणः स्नानदानादिकं नरः । चांडालीं योनिमासाद्य पश्चाद्रौरवमश्नुते ॥

tithitrayepyakurvāṇaḥ snānadānādikaṁ naraḥ cāṇḍālīṁ yonimāsādya paścādrauravamaśnute

The man who fails to perform even the bathing and gift-giving on these three days shall attain the womb of a chandala, and thereafter suffer the Raurava hell.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.179.12)

उष्णोदकेन यः स्नाति माधवे च तिथित्रये । रौरवं नरकं याति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ॥

uṣṇodakena yaḥ snāti mādhave ca tithitraye rauravaṁ narakaṁ yāti yāvadindrāścaturdaśa

Whoever bathes with heated water on these three days of the month of Madhava goes to the Raurava hell for as long as fourteen Indras reign.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.179.13)

पितृन्देवान्समुद्दिश्य दध्यन्नं न ददाति यः । पैशाचीं योनिमासाद्य तिष्ठत्याभूतसंप्लवम् ॥

pitṛndevānsamuddiśya dadhyannaṁ na dadāti yaḥ paiśācīṁ yonimāsādya tiṣṭhatyābhūtasaṁplavam

He who fails to give curd-rice, directing it to the ancestors and the gods, attains the womb of a pishacha and remains in it until the great dissolution of the world.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.179.14)

प्रवृत्तानां च कामानां माधवे नियमे कृते । अवश्यं विष्णुसायुज्यं युज्यते नाऽत्र संशयः ॥

pravṛttānāṁ ca kāmānāṁ mādhave niyame kṛte avaśyaṁ viṣṇusāyujyaṁ yujyate nā'tra saṁśayaḥ

When the discipline of Madhava is duly observed, one who has been driven by worldly desires certainly attains union with Vishnu — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.179.15)

आमासं नियमासक्तः कुर्याद्यदि दिनत्रये । तेन पूर्णफलं प्राप्य मोदते विष्णुमंदिरे ॥

āmāsaṁ niyamāsaktaḥ kuryādyadi dinatraye tena pūrṇaphalaṁ prāpya modate viṣṇumandire

If one, dedicated to this discipline, subsists on unfired food alone for these three days, he obtains the complete fruit and rejoices in the temple of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.179.16)

यो वै देवान्पितॄन्विष्णुं गुरुमुद्दिश्य मानवः । न स्नानादि करोत्यद्धाऽमुष्य शापप्रदा वयम् ॥

yo vai devānpitṝnviṣṇuṁ gurumuddiśya mānavaḥ na snānādi karotyaddhā'muṣya śāpapradā vayam

That man who, in the name of the gods, the ancestors, Vishnu, and his own teacher, truly performs no bathing and the like, upon him we ourselves shall lay a curse —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.179.17)

निःसंतानो निरायुश्च निःश्रेयस्को भवेदिति । इति देवा वरं दत्त्वा स्वधामानि ययुः पुरा ॥

niḥsaṁtāno nirāyuśca niḥśreyasko bhavediti iti devā varaṁ dattvā svadhāmāni yayuḥ purā

that he become childless, short-lived, and devoid of all well-being. Thus, having bestowed this boon, the gods long ago departed each to his own abode.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.179.18)

तस्मात्तिथित्रयं पुण्यं सर्वाघौघविनाशनम् । अंत्यं पुष्करिणीसंज्ञं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्द्धनम् ॥

tasmāttithitrayaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvāghaughavināśanam antyaṁ puṣkariṇīsaṁjñaṁ putrapautravivarddhanam

Therefore this final group of three lunar days, called Pushkarini, is meritorious, destroys the entire mass of sins, and increases sons and grandsons.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.179.19)

या नारी सुभगाऽऽपूपपायसं पूर्णिमादिने । ब्राह्मणाय सकृद्दद्यात्कीर्तिमंतं सुतं लभेत् ॥

yā nārī subhagā'pūpapāyasaṁ pūrṇimādine brāhmaṇāya sakṛddadyātkīrtimantaṁ sutaṁ labhet

That fortunate woman who, on the full-moon day, gives sweet cakes and rice-pudding even once to a brahmin, obtains a renowned son.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.179.20)

गीतापाठं तु यः कुर्यादंतिमे च दिनत्रये । दिनेदिनेऽश्वमेधानां फलमेति न संशयः ॥

gītāpāṭhaṁ tu yaḥ kuryādantime ca dinatraye dinedine'śvamedhānāṁ phalameti na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever recites the Gita on these final three days obtains, day after day, the fruit of a horse-sacrifice — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.179.21)

सहस्रनामपठनं यः कुर्य्याच्च दिनत्रये । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं कः शक्तो दिवि वा भुवि ॥

sahasranāmapaṭhanaṁ yaḥ kuryyācca dinatraye tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ kaḥ śakto divi vā bhuvi

Whoever recites the thousand names during these three days — who, in heaven or on earth, is capable of describing the fruit of his merit?

Verse 22 (skanda.2.179.22)

सहस्रनामभिर्देवं पूर्णायां मधुसूदनम् । पयसा स्नाप्य वै याति विष्णुलोकमकल्मषम् ॥

sahasranāmabhirdevaṁ pūrṇāyāṁ madhusūdanam payasā snāpya vai yāti viṣṇulokamakalmaṣam

By bathing the god Madhusudana with milk to the accompaniment of the thousand names on the full-moon day, one goes, free of all stain, to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.179.23)

समस्तविभवैर्यस्तु पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम् । न तस्य लोकाः क्षीयन्ते युगकल्पादिव्यत्यये ॥

samastavibhavairyastu pūjayenmadhusūdanam na tasya lokāḥ kṣīyante yugakalpādivyatyaye

Whoever worships Madhusudana with all his wealth and splendour — even when the yugas and kalpas themselves come to their end, the worlds he has attained do not decay.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.179.24)

अस्नात्वा चाप्यदत्त्वा च वैशाखश्च मतो यदि । स ब्रह्महा गुरुघ्नश्च पितॄणां घातकस्तथा ॥

asnātvā cāpyadattvā ca vaiśākhaśca mato yadi sa brahmahā gurughnaśca pitṝṇāṁ ghātakastathā

If anyone passes through Vaishakha in this way, neither bathing nor giving, he is as good as a killer of a brahmin, a killer of his teacher, and a killer of his own ancestors.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.179.25)

श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् । वैशाखे च पठन्मर्त्यो ब्रह्मत्वं चोपपद्यते ॥

ślokārddhaṁ ślokapādaṁ vā nityaṁ bhāgavatodbhavam vaiśākhe ca paṭhanmartyo brahmatvaṁ copapadyate

The mortal who, in Vaishakha, daily reads even half a verse, or a single quarter of a verse, arising from the Bhagavata scripture, attains the very state of Brahman.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.179.26)

यो वै भागवतं शास्त्रं शृणोत्येतद्दिनत्रये । न पापैर्लिप्यते क्वाऽपि पद्मपत्रमिवांभसा ॥

yo vai bhāgavataṁ śāstraṁ śṛṇotyetaddinatraye na pāpairlipyate kvā'pi padmapatramivāmbhasā

Whoever listens to the Bhagavata scripture on these three days is never tainted by any sin whatsoever, just as a lotus leaf is never wetted by water.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.179.27)

देवत्वं मनुजैः प्राप्तं कैश्चित्सिद्धत्वमेव च । कैश्चित्प्राप्तो ब्रह्मभावो दिनत्रयनिषेवणात् ॥

devatvaṁ manujaiḥ prāptaṁ kaiścitsiddhatvameva ca kaiścitprāpto brahmabhāvo dinatrayaniṣevaṇāt

Some among men have attained godhood, some have attained the state of a perfected being, and some have even attained the very nature of Brahman — simply through the observance of these three days.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.179.28)

ब्रह्मज्ञानेन वै मुक्तिः प्रयागमरणेन वा । अथवा मासि वैशाखे नियमेन जलाप्लुतेः ॥

brahmajñānena vai muktiḥ prayāgamaraṇena vā athavā māsi vaiśākhe niyamena jalāplute

Liberation is gained through knowledge of Brahman, or through dying at Prayaga, or else through disciplined immersion in water during the month of Vaishakha.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.179.29)

नीलवृषं समुत्सृज्य वैशाख्यां च जलाप्लुतेः । समस्तबंधनिर्मुक्तः पुमान्याति परं पदम् ॥

nīlavṛṣaṁ samutsṛjya vaiśākhyāṁ ca jalāplūteḥ samastabandhanirmuktaḥ pumānyāti paraṁ padam

By releasing a blue bull as an offering, and by immersion in water, in Vaishakha, a man, freed from every bond, attains the supreme abode.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.179.30)

गां सवत्सां द्विजेंद्राय सीदते च कुटुम्बिने । इहापमृत्युनिर्मुक्तः परत्र च परं व्रजेत् ॥

gāṁ savatsāṁ dvijendrāya sīdate ca kuṭumbine ihāpamṛtyunirmuktaḥ paratra ca paraṁ vrajet

Whoever gives a cow with her calf to a distressed brahmin householder, becomes freed in this world from untimely death, and in the next world attains the supreme goal.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.179.31)

स्नानदानविहीनस्तु वैशाखी चैव यो नयेत् । श्वानयोनिशतं प्राप्य विष्ठायां जायते कृमिः ॥

snānadānavihīnastu vaiśākhī caiva yo nayet śvānayoniśataṁ prāpya viṣṭhāyāṁ jāyate kṛmiḥ

Whoever passes the month of Vaishakha devoid of bathing and giving, having taken the womb of a dog a hundred times, is born as a worm in excrement.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.179.32)

तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्धकोटिश्च तीर्थानि भुवनत्रये । संभूय मंत्रयांचक्रुः पापसंघातशंकिताः ॥

tisraḥ koṭyo'rdhakoṭiśca tīrthāni bhuvanatraye saṁbhūya mantrayāṁcakruḥ pāpasaṅghātaśaṅkitāḥ

The three and a half crore sacred crossings in the three worlds, apprehensive over the accumulated mass of sin, gathered together and took counsel —

Verse 33 (skanda.2.179.33)

जना अस्मासु पापिष्ठा विसृजन्ति स्वकं मलम् । तदस्माकं कथं गच्छेदिति चिंतासमन्विताः ॥

janā asmāsu pāpiṣṭhā visṛjanti svakaṁ malam tadasmākaṁ kathaṁ gacchediti cintāsamanvitāḥ

Sinful people cast off their own filth into us — where, then, shall this sin of ours go? Consumed with this anxiety, they,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.179.34)

तीर्थपादं हरिं जग्मुः शरण्यं शरणं विभुम् । स्तुत्वा च बहुभिः स्तोत्रैः प्रार्थयामासुरंजसा ॥

tīrthapādaṁ hariṁ jagmuḥ śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ vibhum stutvā ca bahubhiḥ stotraiḥ prārthayāmāsuraṁjasā

went to Hari, whose very feet are the sacred crossings, worthy of refuge, the all-pervading protector, and, praising him with many hymns, beseeched him sincerely.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.179.35)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ सर्वाघौघविनाशन । जना अस्मासु पापिष्ठाः स्नात्वा पापानि सर्वशः ॥

devadeva jagannātha sarvāghaughavināśana janā asmāsu pāpiṣṭhāḥ snātvā pāpāni sarvaśaḥ

O God of gods, O lord of the universe, O destroyer of the entire mass of sin! Sinful people, bathing in us, wash away all their sins entirely,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.179.36)

विसृज्य त्वत्पदं यांति त्वदाज्ञाधारिणो भुवि । अस्माकं चैव तत्पापं कथं गच्छेज्जनार्दन ॥

visṛjya tvatpadaṁ yānti tvadājñādhāriṇo bhuvi asmākaṁ caiva tatpāpaṁ kathaṁ gacchejjanārdana

and, casting them off, then depart, obedient to your own command, to your abode. But then, O Janardana, where might this sin of ours go?

Verse 37 (skanda.2.179.37)

तदुपायं वदास्माकं त्वत्पादशरणैषिणाम् । इति तीर्थैः प्रार्थितस्तु भगवान्भूतभावनः ॥

tadupāyaṁ vadāsmākaṁ tvatpādaśaraṇaiṣiṇām iti tīrthaiḥ prārthitastu bhagavānbhūtabhāvanaḥ

Tell us the remedy for this, we who seek refuge at your very feet. Thus entreated by the sacred crossings, the Lord, the well-wisher of all beings,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.179.38)

प्रहसन्प्राह तीर्थानि मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । श्रीभगवानुवाच । सिते पक्षे मेषसूर्ये वैशाखान्तेदिनत्रये ॥

prahasanprāha tīrthāni meghagambhīrayā girā śrībhagavānuvāca site pakṣe meṣasūrye vaiśākhāntedinatraye

smilingly answered the sacred crossings in a voice deep as thunder-clouds. The Blessed Lord said: In the bright fortnight, with the sun in Aries, during the final three days of Vaishakha,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.179.39)

सर्वतीर्थमये पुण्ये ममाऽपि प्राणवल्लभे । यूयं भगोदयात्पूर्वं बहिःसंस्थजलाप्लुताः ॥

sarvatīrthamaye puṇye mamā'pi prāṇavallabhe yūyaṁ bhagodayātpūrvaṁ bahiḥsaṁsthajalāplutāḥ

— days that hold within them every sacred crossing, meritorious, and as dear to me as my own life — on those days, before sunrise, having bathed in water lying out in the open,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.179.40)

विमुक्ताघाः पुण्यरूपा भवंत्वाशु सुनिर्मलाः । भवद्भिश्च विमुक्ताघैर्ये न स्नाता दिनत्रये ॥

vimuktāghāḥ puṇyarūpā bhavantvāśu sunirmalāḥ bhavadbhiśca vimuktāghairye na snātā dinatraye

may you too become at once freed of sin, embodying merit, utterly pure. And that sin released from you — for those people who have not bathed on these three days,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.179.41)

तेषु तिष्ठंतु तत्पापं जनैर्युष्मद्विरेचितम् । इति तीर्थपदो विष्णुस्तीर्थानां च वरं ददौ ॥

teṣu tiṣṭhantu tatpāpaṁ janairyuṣmadviracitam iti tīrthapado viṣṇustīrthānāṁ ca varaṁ dadau

let that sin, cast off from you by those people, remain fixed upon them instead. Thus did Vishnu, whose feet are the sacred crossings, grant this boon to the sacred crossings.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.179.42)

अनुज्ञाप्य च तान्योगात्तत्रैवांतरधीयत । स्वधामानि पुनः प्राप्य तानि तीर्थानि नित्यशः ॥

anujñāpya ca tānyogāttatraivāntaradhīyata svadhāmāni punaḥ prāpya tāni tīrthāni nityaśaḥ

Having given them his leave, he vanished from that very place through his yogic power. Those sacred crossings, returning again each to its own abode, thereafter forever,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.179.43)

प्रतिवर्षं तु वैशाखे तथैवांत्यदिनत्रये । तेनाघौघं विमुच्यैव यांति निर्मलता महो ॥

prativarṣaṁ tu vaiśākhe tathaivāntyadinatraye tenāghaughaṁ vimucyaiva yānti nirmalatā maho

every year, on those same final three days of Vaishakha, are released from their mass of accumulated sin, through that very boon, and attain — how wondrous! — utter purity.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.179.44)

ये तु स्नानं न कुर्वंति वैशाखांतदिनत्रये । ते भवन्तु समस्तानां जनानां पातकाऽऽश्रयाः ॥

ye tu snānaṁ na kurvanti vaiśākhāntadinatraye te bhavantu samastānāṁ janānāṁ pātakā'śrayāḥ

But those who do not bathe on the final three days of Vaishakha — let them become the receptacle for the sins of all other people —

Verse 45 (skanda.2.179.45)

इति शापं च तीर्थानि ह्यस्नातानां वदन्ति च । न तेन सदृशः पापो यो न स्नातो दिनत्रये ॥

iti śāpaṁ ca tīrthāni hyasnātānāṁ vadanti ca na tena sadṛśaḥ pāpo yo na snāto dinatraye

thus the sacred crossings pronounce this curse upon those who do not bathe. There is no sinner equal to him who fails to bathe on these three days.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.179.46)

विचारितेषु शास्त्रेषु न दृष्टो न च वै श्रुतः । तस्माद्दिनत्रये कार्यं स्नानदानार्चनादिकम् ॥

vicāriteṣu śāstreṣu na dṛṣṭo na ca vai śrutaḥ tasmāddinatraye kāryaṁ snānadānārcanādikam

Upon careful examination of the scriptures, no such sinner has ever been seen or heard of anywhere. Therefore, one must perform bathing, gift-giving, and worship on these three days.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.179.47)

अन्यथा नरकं याति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश । इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं श्रुतकीर्ते महामते ॥

anyathā narakaṁ yāti yāvadindrāścaturdaśa ityetatsarvamākhyātaṁ śrutakīrte mahāmate

Otherwise, he goes to hell for as long as fourteen Indras reign. O Shrutakirti, O wise one, all this has thus been told —

Verse 48 (skanda.2.179.48)

पृष्टं वैशाखमाहात्म्यं यथा दृष्टं यथाश्रुतम् । माहात्म्यस्य च लेखोऽयं माधवस्य च वर्णितः ॥

pṛṣṭaṁ vaiśākhamāhātmyaṁ yathā dṛṣṭaṁ yathāśrutam māhātmyasya ca lekho'yaṁ mādhavasya ca varṇitaḥ

the glory of Vaishakha that was asked of me, told just as I have seen and heard it. This is the written account describing the glory of Madhava.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.179.49)

कार्त्स्न्याद्वक्तुं च ब्रह्माऽपि नालं वर्षशतैरपि । पुरा कैलासशिखरे पार्वत्यै शंकरः स्वयम् ॥

kārtsnyādvaktuṁ ca brahmā'pi nālaṁ varṣaśatairapi purā kailāsaśikhare pārvatyai śaṅkaraḥ svayam

Even Brahma himself would be unable to describe it completely, even given a hundred years. Long ago, on the summit of Kailasa, Shankara himself, to Parvati,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.179.50)

आह माधवमाहात्म्यं पृच्छंत्यै शतवत्सरम् । तथापि नांतमगमदशक्तो विरराम ह ॥

āha mādhavamāhātmyaṁ pṛcchantyai śatavatsaram tathāpi nāntamagamadaśakto virarāma ha

who was asking about it, related the glory of Madhava for a full hundred years. Even so, he could not reach its end, and, unable to continue, fell silent.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.179.51)

को नु वर्णयितुं शक्तः कार्त्स्न्यान्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । विना विष्णुं जगन्नाथं नारायणमनामयम् ॥

ko nu varṇayituṁ śaktaḥ kārtsnyānmāhātmyamuttamam vinā viṣṇuṁ jagannāthaṁ nārāyaṇamanāmayam

Who indeed, other than Vishnu, the lord of the universe, the blemishless Narayana, could be capable of describing this most excellent glory in its entirety?

Verse 52 (skanda.2.179.52)

पुरा सर्वेऽपि ऋषयो माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । लेशस्य लेशं व्याचख्युर्जनानां हितकाम्यया ॥

purā sarve'pi ṛṣayo māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam leśasya leśaṁ vyācakhyurjanānāṁ hitakāmyayā

Long ago, all the sages together expounded only the merest fraction of a fraction of this sin-destroying glory, out of a wish for the welfare of the people.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.179.53)

नांतः केनापि व्याख्यातो ह्यशक्तत्वान्महीपते । त्वं च मासे तु वैशाखे कुरु दानादिसत्क्रियाः ॥

nāntaḥ kenāpi vyākhyāto hyaśaktatvānmahīpate tvaṁ ca māse tu vaiśākhe kuru dānādisatkriyāḥ

O king, its end has never been fully expounded by anyone, owing to this inherent inability. You too, in the month of Vaishakha, should perform gift-giving and other holy rites,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.179.54)

तेन भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च संप्राप्नोषि न संशयः । इति तं बोधयित्वा च मैथिलं जनकाह्वयम् ॥

tena bhuktiṁ ca muktiṁ ca saṁprāpnoṣi na saṁśayaḥ iti taṁ bodhayitvā ca maithilaṁ janakāhvayam

through which you shall certainly attain both worldly enjoyment and liberation. Having thus enlightened that king of Mithila named Janaka,

Verse 55 (skanda.2.179.55)

श्रुतदेवस्तमामंत्र्य गन्तुं चक्रे मनस्ततः । जाताह्लादः स राजर्षिर्गलद्वाष्पाकुलेक्षणः ॥

śrutadevastamāmantrya gantuṁ cakre manastataḥ jātāhlādaḥ sa rājarṣirgaladbāṣpākulekṣaṇaḥ

Shrutadeva, taking leave of him, resolved to depart from there. That royal sage, overcome with joy, his eyes brimming and flowing with tears,

Verse 56 (skanda.2.179.56)

उत्सवं कारयामास स्वाभिवृद्ध्यै मनोरमम् । ग्रामं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य शिबिकामधिरोप्य तम् ॥

utsavaṁ kārayāmāsa svābhivṛddhyai manoramam grāmaṁ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya śibikāmadhiropya tam

held a delightful festival for his own spiritual advancement. He placed him upon a palanquin and led him in circumambulation of the village,

Verse 57 (skanda.2.179.57)

चतुरंगबलैर्युक्तः स्वयं पृष्ठमथाऽन्वगात् । पुनश्चांतःपुरं प्राप्य सकलैर्विभवैरपि ॥

caturaṅgabalairyuktaḥ svayaṁ pṛṣṭhamathā'nvagāt punaścāntaḥpuraṁ prāpya sakalairvibhavairapi

and, accompanied by his fourfold army, himself walked behind him. Then, reaching his own inner palace, together with all his splendour,

Verse 58 (skanda.2.179.58)

वस्त्रैराभरणैश्चैव गोभूतिलहिरण्यकैः । प्रणम्य च परिक्रम्य तस्थौ प्रांजलिरग्रतः ॥

vastrairābharaṇaiścaiva gobhūtilahiraṇyakaiḥ praṇamya ca parikramya tasthau prāñjaliragrataḥ

with garments, ornaments, cows, land, sesame, and gold he worshipped him, then, bowing and circumambulating him, stood before him with joined palms.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.179.59)

ततः स तु महातेजाः श्रुतदेवो महायशाः । सन्तुष्टः परमप्रीतो ययौ धाम स्वकं मुनिः ॥

tataḥ sa tu mahātejāḥ śrutadevo mahāyaśāḥ santuṣṭaḥ paramaprīto yayau dhāma svakaṁ muniḥ

Then that greatly radiant, greatly renowned sage Shrutadeva, well satisfied and supremely pleased, departed for his own abode.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.179.60)

त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यां च माधवे । स्नानं दानं पूजनं च कथाश्रवणमेव च ॥

trayodaśyāṁ caturdaśyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ ca mādhave snānaṁ dānaṁ pūjanaṁ ca kathāśravaṇameva ca

On the thirteenth, fourteenth, and full-moon days of the month of Madhava, through bathing, giving, worship, and the hearing of this story,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.179.61)

वैशाखधर्मनिरतः स वै मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । धनशर्मा ब्राह्मणश्च प्रेताश्चैव यथा पुरा ॥

vaiśākhadharmaniratah sa vai mokṣamavāpnuyāt dhanaśarmā brāhmaṇaśca pretāścaiva yathā purā

one devoted to the observances of Vaishakha indeed attains liberation — just as, long ago, the brahmin Dhanasharma and the departed spirits did.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.179.62)

नारद उवाच । इत्येतत्परमाख्यानमंबरीष तवोदितम् । श्रवणात्सर्वपापघ्नं सर्वसंपद्विधायकम् ॥

nārada uvāca ityetatparamākhyānamambarīṣa tavoditam śravaṇātsarvapāpaghnaṁ sarvasaṁpadvidhāyakam

Narada said: O Ambarisha, thus has this supreme narrative been told to you. Merely by hearing it, every sin is destroyed and every fortune is granted.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.179.63)

तेन भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च ज्ञानं मोक्षं च विंदति । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा अंवरीषो महायशाः ॥

tena bhuktiṁ ca muktiṁ ca jñānaṁ mokṣaṁ ca vindati iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā ambarīṣo mahāyaśāḥ

Through it, one obtains enjoyment, liberation, knowledge, and final release. Hearing these words of his, the greatly renowned Ambarisha,

Verse 64 (skanda.2.179.64)

प्रहृष्टांतरवृत्तिश्च बाह्यव्यापारवर्जितः । प्रणनाम तथा मूर्ध्ना दण्डवत्पतितो भुवि ॥

prahṛṣṭāntaravṛttiśca bāhyavyāpāravarjitaḥ praṇanāma tathā mūrdhnā daṇḍavatpatito bhuvi

his inner being filled with joy, freed of all external activity, bowed with his very head, and fell prostrate upon the ground like a rod.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.179.65)

विभवैरखिलैश्चाऽपि पूजयामास तं पुनः । संपूजितस्तमामंत्र्य नारदो भगवान्मुनिः ॥

vibhavairakhilaiścā'pi pūjayāmāsa taṁ punaḥ saṁpūjitastamāmantrya nārado bhagavānmuniḥ

With all his splendour, he honoured him once more. Thus worshipped, the blessed sage Narada, taking leave of him,

Verse 66 (skanda.2.179.66)

लोकांतरं ययौ धीमाञ्च्छापान्नैकत्र संस्थितिः । अम्बरीषोऽपि राजर्षिर्नारदोक्तानिमाञ्च्छुभान् ॥

lokāntaraṁ yayau dhīmāñcchāpānnaikatra saṁsthitiḥ ambarīṣo'pi rājarṣirnāradoktānimāñcchubhān

the wise Narada departed to another world — for, owing to a curse upon him, he can never remain fixed in one place. The royal sage Ambarisha too, having performed these auspicious

Verse 67 (skanda.2.179.67)

धर्मान्कृत्वा विलीनोऽभूत्परे ब्रह्मणि निर्गुणे । सूत उवाच । य इदं परमाख्यानं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्धनम् ॥

dharmānkṛtvā vilīno'bhūtpare brahmaṇi nirguṇe sūta uvāca ya idaṁ paramākhyānaṁ pāpaghnaṁ puṇyavardhanam

observances as told by Narada, became dissolved in the attributeless supreme Brahman. Suta said: Whoever, of this supreme narrative, which destroys sin and increases merit,

Verse 68 (skanda.2.179.68)

शृणुयाद्वा पठेद्वाऽपि स याति परमां गतिम् । लिखितं पुस्तकं येषां गृहे तिष्ठति मानदाः ॥

śṛṇuyādvā paṭhedvā'pi sa yāti paramāṁ gatim likhitaṁ pustakaṁ yeṣāṁ gṛhe tiṣṭhati mānadāḥ

either hears it or reads it, attains the supreme goal. O honoured ones, in whose house a written copy of this book resides,

Verse 69 (skanda.2.179.69)

तेषां मुक्तिः करस्था हि किमु तच्छ्रवणात्मनाम् ॥

teṣāṁ muktiḥ karasthā hi kimu tacchravaṇātmanām

for them, liberation already rests within the palm of their hand — how much more so, then, for those who actually listen to it?