The Glory of Akashaganga: Ramanuja's Austerity

Verse 1 (skanda.2.21.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । आकाशगंगातीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं प्रवदाम्यहम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ ākāśagaṁgātīrthasya māhātmyaṁ pravadāmyaham

Shri Suta said: O all you sages rich in austerity, dwellers of Naimisharanya! Now I shall describe the glory of the Akashaganga tirtha.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.21.2)

आकाशगंगानिकटे सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः । रामानुज इति ख्यातो विष्णुभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः ।

ākāśagaṁgānikaṭe sarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ rāmānuja iti khyāto viṣṇubhakto jitendriyaḥ

Near the Akashaganga there lived a brahmin, versed in the meaning of all the scriptures, known by the name Ramanuja — a devotee of Vishnu who had conquered his senses.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.21.3)

तपश्चकार धर्मात्मा वैखानसमते स्थितः । ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निमध्यस्थो विष्णुध्यानपरायणः ।

tapaścakāra dharmātmā vaikhānasamate sthitaḥ grīṣme paṁcāgnimadhyastho viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

That righteous man practiced austerity, established in the Vaikhanasa discipline; in summer he sat amid the five fires, devoted wholly to meditation on Vishnu.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.21.4)

जपन्नष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं ध्यायन्हृदि जनार्दनम् । वर्षास्वाकाशगो नित्यं हेमन्तेषु जलेशयः ।

japannaṣṭākṣaraṁ maṁtraṁ dhyāyanhṛdi janārdanam varṣāsvākāśago nityaṁ hemanteṣu jaleśayaḥ

Reciting the eight-syllabled mantra and meditating on Janardana in his heart, he stayed always beneath the open sky in the rainy season, and lay in water through the winter months.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.21.5)

सर्वभूतहितो दान्तः सर्वद्वन्द्वविवर्जितः । वर्षाणि कतिचित्सोऽयं जीर्णपर्णाशनोभवत् ।

sarvabhūtahito dāntaḥ sarvadvaṁdvavivarjitaḥ varṣāṇi katicitso'yaṁ jīrṇaparṇāśanobhavat

He was benevolent to all beings, self-controlled, free from every pair of opposites; for some years he subsisted on nothing but withered fallen leaves.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.21.6)

कञ्चित्कालं जलाहारो वायुभक्षः कियत्समाः ।

kaṁcitkālaṁ jalāhāro vāyubhakṣaḥ kiyatsamāḥ

For a time he lived on water alone, and for some years he lived on air alone.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.21.7)

अथ तत्तपसा तुष्टो भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः । प्रत्यक्षतामगात्तस्य शंखचक्रगदाधरः ।

atha tattapasā tuṣṭo bhagavānbhaktavatsalaḥ pratyakṣatāmagāttasya śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ

Then, pleased by his austerity, the Lord who loves his devotees — bearing conch, discus, and mace — became manifest directly before him.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.21.8)

विकचाम्बुजपत्राक्षः सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभः । विनतानन्दनारूढश्छत्रचामरशोभितः ।

vikacāṁbujapatrākṣaḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhaḥ vinatānaṁdanārūḍhaśchatracāmaraśobhitaḥ

His eyes were like the petals of a fully-blossomed lotus, his radiance equal to a million suns; he was mounted on Vinata's son, Garuda, and adorned with a royal umbrella and yak-tail fans.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.21.9)

हारकेयूरमुकुटः कटकादिविभूषितः । विष्वक्सेनसुनन्दादि किङ्करैः परिवारितः ।

hārakeyūramukuṭaḥ kaṭakādivibhūṣitaḥ viṣvaksenasunaṁdādi kiṁkaraiḥ parivāritaḥ

He wore a necklace, armlets and crown, adorned with bracelets and other ornaments, surrounded by attendants such as Vishvaksena and Sunanda.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.21.10)

वीणावेणुमृदंगादिवादकैर्नारदादिभिः । गीयमानः सुविभवः पीताम्बरविराजितः ।

vīṇāveṇumṛdaṁgādivādakairnāradādibhiḥ gīyamānaḥ suvibhavaḥ pītāṁbaravirājitaḥ

Being extolled in song by Narada and others playing the vina, flute, and mridanga, magnificent in splendor, he shone in his yellow silk garment.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.21.11)

लक्ष्मीविराजितोरस्को नीलमेघनिवच्छविः । सनकादिमहायोगिसेवितः पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः ।

lakṣmīvirājitorasko nīlameghanivacchaviḥ sanakādimahāyogisevitaḥ pārśvayordvayoḥ

His chest was resplendent with Lakshmi, his hue like a dark blue cloud; on both sides he was attended by great yogis such as Sanaka.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.21.12)

मन्दस्मितेन सकलं मोहयन्भुवनत्रयम् । स्वभासा मानयन्सर्वा दिशो दश विराजयन् ।

maṁdasmitena sakalaṁ mohayanbhuvanatrayam svabhāsā mānayansarvā diśo daśa virājayan

With his gentle smile he enchanted the three worlds entire, and with his own radiance he honored and illumined all the ten directions.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.21.13)

सुभक्तसुलभो देवो वेंकटेशो दयानिधिः । पुनः सन्निदधे तस्य रामानुजमहामुनेः ।

subhaktasulabho devo veṁkaṭeśo dayānidhiḥ punaḥ sannidadhe tasya rāmānujamahāmuneḥ

That deity Venkatesha, ocean of compassion, easily accessible to his true devotees, drew near once more to the great sage Ramanuja.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.21.14)

आविर्भूतं तदा दृष्ट्वा श्रीनिवासं कृपानिधिम् । पीताम्बरधरं देवं तुष्टिं प्राप महामुनिः ।

āvirbhūtaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā śrīnivāsaṁ kṛpānidhim pītāṁbaradharaṁ devaṁ tuṣṭiṁ prāpa mahāmuniḥ

Seeing Shrinivasa, the ocean of grace, thus manifest — the god clad in yellow silk — the great sage was filled with joy.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.21.15)

भक्त्या परमया युक्तस्तुष्टाव जगदीश्वरम् ।

bhaktyā paramayā yuktastuṣṭāva jagadīśvaram

Filled with the deepest devotion, he began to praise the Lord of the universe.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.21.16)

रामानुज उवाच । नमो देवाधिदेवाय शङ्खचक्रगदाभृते । नमो नित्याय शुद्धाय वेंकटशाय ते नमः ।

rāmānuja uvāca namo devādhidevāya śaṁkhacakragadābhṛte namo nityāya śuddhāya veṁkaṭaśāya te namaḥ

Ramanuja said: Salutations to you, God of gods, bearer of conch, discus and mace! Salutations to you, eternal and pure Lord of Venkata!

Verse 17 (skanda.2.21.17)

नमो भक्तार्तिहंत्रे ते हव्यकव्यस्वरूपिणे । नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणे ।

namo bhaktārtihaṁtre te havyakavyasvarūpiṇe namastrimūrtaye tubhyaṁ sṛṣṭisthityaṁtakāriṇe

Salutations to you who remove your devotees' distress, embodiment of the offerings to gods and ancestors; salutations to you, the triple form who creates, sustains, and ends the universe.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.21.18)

नमः परेशाय नमोऽतिभूम्ने नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्मीपतये विधात्रे । नमोऽस्तु सूर्येन्दुविलोचनाय नमो विरिञ्चाद्यभिवन्दिताय ।

namaḥ pareśāya namo'tibhūmne namo'stu lakṣmīpataye vidhātre namo'stu sūryenduvilocanāya namo viriñcādyabhivaṁditāya

Salutations to the supreme lord, salutations to the boundless one; salutations to the consort of Lakshmi, the ordainer; salutations to him whose eyes are sun and moon; salutations to him who is honored by Brahma and the other gods.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.21.19)

यो नाम जात्यादिविकल्पहीनः समस्तदोषैरपि वर्जितो यः । समस्तसंसारभयापहारिणे तस्मै नमो दैत्यविनाशकाय ।

yo nāma jātyādivikalpahīnaḥ samastadoṣairapi varjito yaḥ samastasaṁsārabhayāpahāriṇe tasmai namo daityavināśakāya

He who is beyond distinctions of name, caste, and the like, who is free from every fault whatsoever, who removes all the fear of worldly existence — to that destroyer of demons, salutation.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.21.20)

वेदांतवेद्याय रमेश्वराय वृषादिवासाय विधातृपित्रे । नमोनमः सर्वजनार्तिहारिणे नारायणायामितविक्रमाय ।

vedāṁtavedyāya rameśvarāya vṛṣādivāsāya vidhātṛpitre namonamaḥ sarvajanārtihāriṇe nārāyaṇāyāmitavikramāya

To him who is known through Vedanta, the lord of Rama (Lakshmi), who dwells on Vrishadri, the father of the creator Brahma — salutation again and again; to Narayana of measureless valor, who removes the suffering of all people, salutation.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.21.21)

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते वासुदेवाय शार्ङ्गिणे । भूयोभूयो नमस्तुभ्यं वेंकटाद्रिनिवासिने ।

namastubhyaṁ bhagavate vāsudevāya śārṁgiṇe bhūyobhūyo namastubhyaṁ veṁkaṭādrinivāsine

Salutation to you, blessed Vasudeva, wielder of the Sharnga bow; salutation again and again to you who dwell on the Venkata hill.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.21.22)

इति स्तुत्वा वेंकटेशं श्रीनिवासं जगद्गुरुम् । रामानुजो मुनिस्तूष्णीमास्ते विप्रवरोत्तमः ।

iti stutvā veṁkaṭeśaṁ śrīnivāsaṁ jagadgurum rāmānujo munistūṣṇīmāste vipravarottamaḥ

Having thus praised Venkatesha Shrinivasa, the teacher of the universe, the sage Ramanuja, best among brahmins, fell silent.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.21.23)

श्रुत्वा स्तुतिं श्रुतिसुखां स्तुतस्तस्य महात्मनः । अवाप परमं तोषं वेंकटाचलनायकः ।

śrutvā stutiṁ śrutisukhāṁ stutastasya mahātmanaḥ avāpa paramaṁ toṣaṁ veṁkaṭācalanāyakaḥ

Hearing that great soul's hymn, pleasant to the ear, the lord of Venkatachala, thus praised, felt supreme delight.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.21.24)

अथालिङ्ग्य मुनिं शौरिश्चतुर्भिर्बाहुभिस्तदा । बभाषे प्रीतिसंयुक्तो वरं वै व्रियतामिति ।

athāliṁgya muniṁ śauriścaturbhirbāhubhistadā babhāṣe prītisaṁyukto varaṁ vai vriyatāmiti

Then Shauri (Vishnu), embracing the sage with his four arms, spoke with affection: "Ask a boon."

Verse 25 (skanda.2.21.25)

तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसा तेऽद्य स्तोत्रेणापि महामुने । नमस्कारेण च प्रीतो वरदोऽहं तवागतः ।

tuṣṭo'smi tapasā te'dya stotreṇāpi mahāmune namaskāreṇa ca prīto varado'haṁ tavāgataḥ

"O great sage, today I am pleased by your austerity, pleased also by your hymn; delighted by your obeisance, I have come here to grant you a boon."

Verse 26 (skanda.2.21.26)

रामानुज उवाच । नारायण रमानाथ श्रीनिवास जगन्मय । जनार्दन जगद्धाम गोविन्द नरकान्तक ।

rāmānuja uvāca nārāyaṇa ramānātha śrīnivāsa jagaṁmaya janārdana jagaddhāma govinda narakāṁtaka

Ramanuja said: O Narayana! O lord of Rama! O Shrinivasa! O you who pervade the universe! O Janardana! O abode of the universe! O Govinda! O destroyer of the demon Naraka!

Verse 27 (skanda.2.21.27)

त्वद्दर्शनात्कृतार्थोऽस्मि वेंकटाद्रिशिरोमणे । त्वां नमस्यंति धर्मिष्ठा यतस्त्वं धर्मपालकः ।

tvaddarśanātkṛtārtho'smi veṁkaṭādriśiromaṇe tvāṁ namasyaṁti dharmiṣṭhā yatastvaṁ dharmapālakaḥ

O crest-jewel of Venkatadri, by your very sight I am fulfilled; the righteous bow to you because you are the protector of dharma.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.21.28)

यं न वेत्ति भवो ब्रह्मा यं न वेत्ति त्रयी तथा । त्वां वेद्मि परमात्मानं किमस्मादधिकं परम् ।

yaṁ na vetti bhavo brahmā yaṁ na vetti trayī tathā tvāṁ vedmi paramātmānaṁ kimasmādadhikaṁ param

You whom even Shiva does not know, whom even Brahma does not know, whom even the triple Veda does not know — I know as the Supreme Self; what could be greater than this?

Verse 29 (skanda.2.21.29)

योगिनो यं न पश्यंति यं न पश्यंति कर्मठाः । पश्यामि परमात्मानं किमस्मादधिकं परम् ।

yogino yaṁ na paśyaṁti yaṁ na paśyaṁti karmaṭhāḥ paśyāmi paramātmānaṁ kimasmādadhikaṁ param

You whom even yogis do not see, whom even the devoted performers of ritual do not see — that Supreme Self I now behold; what could be greater than this?

Verse 30 (skanda.2.21.30)

एतेन च कृतार्थोऽस्मि वेंकटेश जगत्पते । यन्नामस्मृतिमात्रेण महापातकिनोऽपि च ।

etena ca kṛtārtho'smi veṁkaṭeśa jagatpate yannāmasmṛtimātreṇa mahāpātakino'pi ca

By this alone, O Venkatesha, O lord of the universe, I am fulfilled — for by the mere remembrance of whose name, even great sinners —

Verse 31 (skanda.2.21.31)

मुक्तिं प्रयांति मनुजास्तं पश्यामि जनार्दनम् । त्वत्पादपद्मयुगले निश्चला भक्तिरस्तु मे ।

muktiṁ prayāṁti manujāstaṁ paśyāmi janārdanam tvatpādapadmayugale niścalā bhaktirastu me

— men attain liberation — that same Janardana I now see; may my devotion remain unwavering at your lotus-feet pair.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.21.32)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा तेस्तु रामानुज महामते । शृणु चाप्यपरं वाक्यमुच्यते ते मया द्विज ।

śrībhagavānuvāca mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā testu rāmānuja mahāmate śṛṇu cāpyaparaṁ vākyamucyate te mayā dvija

The Blessed Lord said: O wise Ramanuja, may your devotion to me remain firm; now, O brahmin, listen also to another word I speak to you.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.21.33)

मेषसंक्रमणे भानोश्चित्रानक्षत्रसंयुते । पौर्णमास्यां च गंगायां स्नानं कुर्वन्ति ये जनाः ।

meṣasaṁkramaṇe bhānościtrānakṣatrasaṁyute paurṇamāsyāṁ ca gaṁgāyāṁ snānaṁ kurvaṁti ye janāḥ

When the sun transits into Aries, joined with the full moon under the Chitra constellation, those people who bathe in the Ganga at that time —

Verse 34 (skanda.2.21.34)

ते यांति परमं धाम पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् । वियद्गंगासमीपे त्वं वस रामानुज द्विज ।

te yāṁti paramaṁ dhāma punarāvṛttivarjitam viyadgaṁgāsamīpe tvaṁ vasa rāmānuja dvija

— they attain the supreme abode from which there is no return; O brahmin Ramanuja, dwell near the Akashaganga.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.21.35)

एतत्प्रारब्धदेहांते मत्स्वरूपमवाप्स्यसि । बहुना किमिहोक्तेन वियद्गंगाजले शुभे ।

etatprārabdhadehāṁte matsvarūpamavāpsyasi bahunā kimihoktena viyadgaṁgājale śubhe

At the end of this present body, you shall attain my own form; what use is there in saying more — in the auspicious waters of the Akashaganga —

Verse 36 (skanda.2.21.36)

स्नान्ति ये वै जनाः सर्वे ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः । भवन्ति मुनिशार्दूल नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।

snāṁti ye vai janāḥ sarve te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ bhavaṁti muniśārdūla nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

— all those people who bathe become the very best of devotees (bhagavatas); O tiger among sages, there is no need for doubt in this matter.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.21.37)

रामानुज उवाच । किंलक्षणा भागवता ज्ञायन्ते केन कर्मणा । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कौतूहलपरो यतः ।

rāmānuja uvāca kiṁlakṣaṇā bhāgavatā jñāyaṁte kena karmaṇā etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ kautūhalaparo yataḥ

Ramanuja said: By what marks and by what deeds are the true devotees known? I wish to hear this, for I am filled with curiosity about it.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.21.38)

श्रीवेंकटेश उवाच । लक्ष्म भागवतानां तु शृणुष्व मुनिसत्तम ।

śrīveṁkaṭeśa uvāca lakṣma bhāgavatānāṁ tu śṛṇuṣva munisattama

Shri Venkatesha said: O best of sages, now hear the characteristic marks of the true devotees.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.21.39)

वक्तुं तेषां प्रभावं तु शक्यते नाब्दकोटिभिः ।

vaktuṁ teṣāṁ prabhāvaṁ tu śakyate nābdakoṭibhiḥ

To describe their full glory would not be possible even in tens of millions of years.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.21.40)

ये हिताः सर्वजन्तूनां गतासूया विमत्सराः । ज्ञानिनो निःस्पृहाः शान्तास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

ye hitāḥ sarvajaṁtūnāṁ gatāsūyā vimatsarāḥ jñānino niḥspṛhāḥ śāṁtāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who are benevolent to all creatures, free from envy and malice, wise, desireless, and tranquil — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.21.41)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा परपीडां न कुर्वते । अपरिग्रहशीलाश्च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

karmaṇā manasā vācā parapīḍāṁ na kurvate aparigrahaśīlāśca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who cause no pain to others by deed, thought, or word, and who are by nature free from possessiveness — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.21.42)

सत्कथाश्रवणे येषां वर्तते सात्त्विकी मतिः । मत्पादाम्बुजभक्ता ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

satkathāśravaṇe yeṣāṁ vartate sāttvikī matiḥ matpādāṁbujabhaktā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those whose minds turn with sattvic disposition toward hearing sacred discourse, who are devoted to my lotus feet — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.21.43)

मातापित्रोश्च शुश्रूषां कुर्वते ये नरोत्तमाः । ये तु देवार्चनरता ये तु तत्साधका नराः । पूजां दृष्ट्वा तु मोदन्ते ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

mātāpitrośca śuśrūṣāṁ kurvate ye narottamāḥ ye tu devārcanaratā ye tu tatsādhakā narāḥ pūjāṁ dṛṣṭvā tu modaṁte te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those excellent men who serve their mother and father, who are devoted to the worship of the gods and strive for it, and who rejoice at the sight of such worship — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.21.44)

वर्णिनां च यतीनां च परिचर्यापराश्च ये । परनिन्दामकुर्वाणास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

varṇināṁ ca yatīnāṁ ca paricaryāparāśca ye paranindāmakurvāṇāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who are devoted to serving celibate students and renunciate ascetics, who never speak ill of others — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.21.45)

सर्वेषां हितवाक्यानि ये वदन्ति नरोत्तमाः । ये गुणग्राहिणो लोके ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

sarveṣāṁ hitavākyāni ye vadaṁti narottamāḥ ye guṇagrāhiṇo loke te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those excellent men who speak words beneficial to all, who in this world take note of others' virtues — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.21.46)

आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि ये पश्यन्ति नरोत्तमाः । तुल्याः शत्रुषु मित्रेषु ते वै भागवताः स्मृताः ।

ātmavatsarvabhūtāni ye paśyaṁti narottamāḥ tulyāḥ śatruṣu mitreṣu te vai bhāgavatāḥ smṛtāḥ

Those excellent men who see all beings as their own self, who remain equal-minded toward foe and friend alike — they are remembered as the true devotees.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.21.47)

धर्मशास्त्रप्रवक्तारः सत्यवाक्यरताश्च ये । तेषां शुश्रूषवो ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

dharmaśāstrapravaktāraḥ satyavākyaratāśca ye teṣāṁ śuśrūṣavo ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who teach the scriptures of dharma and are devoted to truthful speech, and those who serve such teachers — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.21.48)

व्याकुर्वन्ति पुराणानि तानि शृण्वन्ति ये तथा । तद्वक्तरि च भक्ता ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

vyākurvaṁti purāṇāni tāni śṛṇvaṁti ye tathā tadvaktari ca bhaktā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who expound the Puranas, those who listen to them, and those devoted to their expounder — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.21.49)

ये गोब्राह्मणशुश्रूषां कुर्वन्ति सततं नराः । तीर्थयात्रापरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

ye gobrāhmaṇaśuśrūṣāṁ kurvaṁti satataṁ narāḥ tīrthayātrāparā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those men who constantly serve cows and brahmins, who are devoted to pilgrimage to sacred fords — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.21.50)

अन्येषामुदयं दृष्ट्वा येऽभिनन्दंति मानवाः । हरिनामपरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

anyeṣāmudayaṁ dṛṣṭvā ye'bhinaṁdaṁti mānavāḥ harināmaparā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those men who, seeing another's prosperity, rejoice in it, who are devoted to the name of Hari — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.21.51)

आरामारोपणरतास्तटाकपरिरक्षकाः । कासारकूपकर्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

ārāmāropaṇaratāstaṭākaparirakṣakāḥ kāsārakūpakartāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those devoted to planting gardens, who protect ponds, who have wells and reservoirs dug — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.21.52)

ये वै तटाककर्तारो देवसद्मानि कुर्वते । गायत्रीनिरता ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

ye vai taṭākakartāro devasadmāni kurvate gāyatrīniratā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who have ponds dug, who build temples for the gods, who are devoted to the Gayatri mantra — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.21.53)

येऽभिनन्दंति नामानि हरेः श्रुत्वाऽतिहर्षिताः । रोमाञ्चितशरीराश्च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

ye'bhinaṁdaṁti nāmāni hareḥ śrutvā'tiharṣitāḥ romāñcitaśarīrāśca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who, on hearing the names of Hari, rejoice greatly and whose bodies thrill with horripilation — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.21.54)

तुलसीकाननं दृष्ट्वा ये नमस्कुर्वते नराः । तत्काष्ठांकितकर्णा ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

tulasīkānanaṁ dṛṣṭvā ye namaskurvate narāḥ tatkāṣṭhāṁkitakarṇā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those men who, seeing a grove of tulasi, bow to it, who wear ear-ornaments made of its wood — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.21.55)

तुलसीगन्धमाघ्राय सन्तोषं कुर्वते तु ये । तन्मूलमुद्धरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

tulasīgaṁdhamāghrāya saṁtoṣaṁ kurvate tu ye tanmūlamuddharā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who, smelling the fragrance of tulasi, feel contented, who wear a rosary made from its root — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.21.56)

स्वाश्रमाचारनिरतास्तथैवातिथिपूजकाः । ये च वेदार्थवक्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

svāśramācāraniratāstathaivātithipūjakāḥ ye ca vedārthavaktāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those devoted to the conduct proper to their own stage of life, who honor guests, who expound the meaning of the Vedas — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.21.57)

विदितानि च शास्त्राणि परार्थं प्रवदन्ति ये । सर्वत्र गुणभाजो ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

viditāni ca śāstrāṇi parārthaṁ pravadaṁti ye sarvatra guṇabhājo ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those who declare the scriptures they have learned for the benefit of others, who everywhere honor good qualities — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.21.58)

पानीयदाननिरता ह्यन्नदानरताश्च ये । एकादशीव्रतपरास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

pānīyadānaniratā hyannadānaratāśca ye ekādaśīvrataparāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those devoted to the gift of water, and also devoted to the gift of food, who are dedicated to the Ekadashi fast — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.21.59)

गोदाननिरता ये च कन्यादानरताश्च ये । मदर्थं कर्मकर्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

godānaniratā ye ca kanyādānaratāśca ye madarthaṁ karmakartāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those devoted to the gift of cows, those devoted to the giving of a daughter in marriage, those who perform actions for my sake — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.21.60)

मन्मानसाश्च मद्भक्ता ये मद्भजनलोलुपाः । मन्नामस्मरणासक्तास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

manmānasāśca madbhaktā ye madbhajanalolupāḥ mannāmasmaraṇāsaktāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

Those whose minds dwell on me, who are my devotees, who are eager for devotion to me, who are attached to the remembrance of my name — they indeed are the best of devotees.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.21.61)

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन संक्षेपात्ते ब्रवीम्यहम् । सद्गुणाय प्रवर्तंते ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।

bahunātra kimuktena saṁkṣepātte bravīmyaham sadguṇāya pravartaṁte te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ

What use is there in saying much more here — I tell you in brief: those who are inclined toward good qualities are indeed the best of devotees.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.21.62)

एते भागवता विप्राः केचिदत्र प्रकीर्तिताः । ममापि गदितुं शक्या नाब्दकोटिशतैरपि ।

ete bhāgavatā viprāḥ kecidatra prakīrtitāḥ mamāpi gadituṁ śakyā nābdakoṭiśatairapi

O brahmin, these are but some of the devotees described here; even for me, to describe them fully would not be possible in hundreds of millions of years.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.21.63)

रामानुज महाभाग मद्भक्तानां च लक्षणम् । मयि भक्ते त्वयि प्रीत्या युक्तं किल महामते ।

rāmānuja mahābhāga madbhaktānāṁ ca lakṣaṇam mayi bhakte tvayi prītyā yuktaṁ kila mahāmate

O fortunate Ramanuja, this indeed is the mark of my devotees — O wise one, spoken fittingly and with affection to you, a devotee dear to me.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.21.64)

श्रीसूत उवाच । एवं वः कथितं विप्राः शौनकाद्या महौजसः । वृषाद्रौ च वियद्गंगातीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprāḥ śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ vṛṣādrau ca viyadgaṁgātīrthamāhātmyamuttamam

Shri Suta said: O brahmins headed by Shaunaka, mighty in splendor, thus I have told you the sublime glory of the Akashaganga tirtha situated on Vrishadri.