The Glory of Akashaganga: Punyashila and the Unworthy Recipient

Verse 1 (skanda.2.22.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । भगवन्सूत सर्वज्ञ वेदवेदान्तकोविद । दानानि कस्मै देयानि दानकालश्च कीदृशः ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ bhagavansūta sarvajña vedavedāṁtakovida dānāni kasmai deyāni dānakālaśca kīdṛśaḥ

The sages said: O blessed Suta, all-knowing one, expert in the Vedas and Vedanta! To whom should gifts be given, and what is the proper time for giving?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.22.2)

कश्च तत्प्रतिगृह्णीयात्सर्वं नो वक्तुमर्हसि ।

kaśca tatpratigṛhṇīyātsarvaṁ no vaktumarhasi

And who is fit to receive it? You should tell us all of this.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.22.3)

श्रीसूत उवाच । महापुण्यप्रदे क्षेत्रे वेंकटाख्ये द्विजोत्तमाः । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणः परमो गुरुः ।

śrīsūta uvāca mahāpuṇyaprade kṣetre veṁkaṭākhye dvijottamāḥ sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṁ brāhmaṇaḥ paramo guruḥ

Shri Suta said: O best of brahmins, in the immensely meritorious region called Venkata, the brahmin is the supreme teacher of all the classes of men.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.22.4)

तस्मै दानानि देयानि स तारयति पंडितः । ब्राह्मणः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्वर्जयित्वा त्ववर्णकम् ।

tasmai dānāni deyāni sa tārayati paṁḍitaḥ brāhmaṇaḥ pratigṛhṇīyādvarjayitvā tvavarṇakam

Gifts should be given to him, for the learned man carries the giver across; the brahmin should accept the gift, excluding the one devoid of caste standing.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.22.5)

षण्डस्य पुत्रहीनस्य दंभाचाररतस्य च । वेदविद्वेषिणश्चैव द्विजविद्वेषिणस्तथा ।

ṣaṁḍasya putrahīnasya daṁbhācāraratasya ca vedavidveṣiṇaścaiva dvijavidveṣiṇastathā

A eunuch, one without sons, one given to hypocritical conduct, one who hates the Vedas, and likewise one who hates brahmins —

Verse 6 (skanda.2.22.6)

स्वकर्मत्यागिनश्चापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् । परदाररतस्यापि परद्रव्यरतस्य च ।

svakarmatyāginaścāpi dattaṁ bhavati niṣphalam paradāraratasyāpi paradravyaratasya ca

— and to one who has abandoned his own prescribed duties, a gift given bears no fruit; a gift given to one attached to another's wife, or to another's wealth, likewise bears no fruit.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.22.7)

गायकस्यापि विप्रस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् । असूयाविष्टमनसः कृतघ्नस्य च मायिनः ।

gāyakasyāpi viprasya dattaṁ bhavati niṣphalam asūyāviṣṭamanasaḥ kṛtaghnasya ca māyinaḥ

A gift given even to a brahmin who lives by singing bears no fruit; a gift given to one whose mind is possessed by envy, to the ungrateful, and to the deceitful, likewise bears no fruit.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.22.8)

ज्ञानशून्यस्य विप्रस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् । नित्यं याञ्चापरस्यापि हिंसकस्याबलस्य च ।

jñānaśūnyasya viprasya dattaṁ bhavati niṣphalam nityaṁ yāñcāparasyāpi hiṁsakasyābalasya ca

A gift given to a brahmin devoid of knowledge bears no fruit; a gift given to one who constantly begs from others, to the violent, and to the powerless in virtue, likewise bears no fruit.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.22.9)

नामविक्रयिणश्चैव वेदविक्रयिणस्तथा । स्मृतिविक्रयिणश्चैव धर्मविक्रयिणस्तथा ।

nāmavikrayiṇaścaiva vedavikrayiṇastathā smṛtivikrayiṇaścaiva dharmavikrayiṇastathā

One who sells sacred names for profit, likewise one who sells the Vedas, likewise one who sells the Smritis, and likewise one who sells dharma itself —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.22.10)

परोपतापशीलस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् । ये केचित्पापनिरता निन्दिताः सुकृतैस्तथा ।

paropatāpaśīlasya dattaṁ bhavati niṣphalam ye kecitpāpaniratā niṁditāḥ sukṛtaistathā

— and a gift given to one whose nature is to torment others bears no fruit; whoever are devoted to sin and are condemned by those of good deeds —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.22.11)

न तेभ्यः प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न देयं वापि किञ्चन । सत्कर्मनिरतायैव श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये ।

na tebhyaḥ pratigṛhṇīyānna deyaṁ vāpi kiñcana satkarmaniratāyaiva śrotriyāyāhitāgnaye

— one should accept nothing from them, nor should anything be given to them; rather, to one devoted to good deeds, learned in the Vedas, who maintains the sacred fire —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.22.12)

वृत्तिहीनाय वै देयं दरिद्राय कुटुम्बिने । देवपूजासु सक्ताय पुराणकथकाय च ।

vṛttihīnāya vai deyaṁ daridrāya kuṭuṁbine devapūjāsu saktāya purāṇakathakāya ca

— gifts should be given to one without livelihood, to the poor householder, to one devoted to the worship of the gods, and to the reciter of the Puranas.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.22.13)

देयं प्रयत्नतो विप्रा दरिद्रस्य विशेषतः । बहुना किमिहोक्तेन शृणुध्वं द्विजसत्तमाः ।

deyaṁ prayatnato viprā daridrasya viśeṣataḥ bahunā kimihoktena śṛṇudhvaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

O brahmins, especially to the poor should gifts be given with earnest effort; what use is there in saying more — O best of the twice-born, listen.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.22.14)

सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणानां च प्रदातुं शक्यते सदा । वन्ध्याभर्त्रे प्रदत्तञ्चेद्रासभो जायते नरः ।

sarveṣāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ ca pradātuṁ śakyate sadā vaṁdhyābhartre pradattañcedrāsabho jāyate naraḥ

Gifts may always be given to brahmins in general; but if a gift is given to the husband of a barren woman, the giver is reborn as a donkey.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.22.15)

नास्तिकं भिन्नमर्यादं पुत्रहीनं जडं खलम् । स्तेयिनं कितवं चैव कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।

nāstikaṁ bhinnamaryādaṁ putrahīnaṁ jaḍaṁ khalam steyinaṁ kitavaṁ caiva kadācinnābhivādayet

One should never bow in salutation to an atheist, a transgressor of proper limits, one without a son, a dullard, a wicked person, a thief, or a gambler.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.22.16)

पाषण्डं पतितं व्रात्यं वेदविक्रयिणं तथा । कृतघ्नं पापनिरतं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।

pāṣaṁḍaṁ patitaṁ vrātyaṁ vedavikrayiṇaṁ tathā kṛtaghnaṁ pāpanirataṁ kadācinnābhivādayet

One should never bow to a heretic hypocrite, an outcast, one who has forsaken the sacraments, one who sells the Vedas, an ingrate, or one devoted to sin.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.22.17)

तथा स्नानं प्रकुर्वन्तं समित्पुष्पकरं तथा । उदपात्रधरञ्चैव भुंजन्तं नाभिवादयेत् ।

tathā snānaṁ prakurvaṁtaṁ samitpuṣpakaraṁ tathā udapātradharañcaiva bhuṁjaṁtaṁ nābhivādayet

Likewise, one should not salute a person who is bathing, or holding sacrificial twigs or flowers in hand, or carrying a water vessel, or one who is eating.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.22.18)

विवादशालिनं चण्डं वमन्तं जनमध्यगम् । भिक्षान्नधारिणं चैव शयानं नाभिवादयेत् ।

vivādaśālinaṁ caṁḍaṁ vamaṁtaṁ janamadhyagam bhikṣānnadhāriṇaṁ caiva śayānaṁ nābhivādayet

One should not salute a person engaged in a quarrel, an irascible person, one who is vomiting, one standing in the midst of a crowd, one carrying begged food, or one who is asleep.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.22.19)

वन्ध्याञ्च पुष्पिणीं जारां सूतिकां गर्भपातिनीम् । व्रतघ्नीञ्च तथा चण्डीं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।

vaṁdhyāñca puṣpiṇīṁ jārāṁ sūtikāṁ garbhapātinīm vrataghnīñca tathā caṁḍīṁ kadācinnābhivādayet

One should never bow to a barren woman, a menstruating woman, an adulteress, a woman who has just given birth, one who has had a miscarriage, one who has broken a vow, or an irascible woman.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.22.20)

सभायां यज्ञशालायां देवतायतनेष्वपि । प्रत्येकं तु नमस्कारो हन्ति पुण्यं पुरातनम् ।

sabhāyāṁ yajñaśālāyāṁ devatāyataneṣvapi pratyekaṁ tu namaskāro haṁti puṇyaṁ purātanam

In an assembly hall, in a sacrificial hall, and even in temples, bowing separately to each individual present destroys one's accumulated merit.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.22.21)

श्राद्धव्रते नियुक्तञ्च देवताभ्यर्चकं तथा । यज्ञं च तर्पणञ्चैव कुर्वन्तं नाभिवादयेत् ।

śrāddhavrate niyuktañca devatābhyarcakaṁ tathā yajñaṁ ca tarpaṇañcaiva kurvaṁtaṁ nābhivādayet

One should not salute a person engaged in the shraddha rite, or one worshipping a deity, or one performing a sacrifice or ancestral water-offering.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.22.22)

कुर्वते वन्दनं यस्तु न कुर्यात्प्रतिवन्दनम् । नाभिवाद्यः स विज्ञेयो यथा शूद्रस्तथैव च ।

kurvate vaṁdanaṁ yastu na kuryātprativaṁdanam nābhivādyaḥ sa vijñeyo yathā śūdrastathaiva ca

A person who, when saluted, does not return the salutation, should be understood to be unworthy of respectful greeting, just like a shudra.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.22.23)

तस्मात्सर्वेपु कालेषु बुद्धिमान्ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । वन्ध्यापतिं द्विजं क्रूरं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।

tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu buddhimānbrāhmaṇottamaḥ vaṁdhyāpatiṁ dvijaṁ krūraṁ kadācinnābhivādayet

Therefore, at all times, the wise and excellent brahmin should never bow to the husband of a barren woman or to a cruel brahmin.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.22.24)

श्रीसूत उवाच । अत्रेतिहासं वक्ष्यामि पुण्यशीलस्य धीमतः । सनत्कुमारमुनये नारदेन प्रभाषितम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca atretihāsaṁ vakṣyāmi puṇyaśīlasya dhīmataḥ sanatkumāramunaye nāradena prabhāṣitam

Shri Suta said: Here I shall relate the history of the wise Punyashila, as it was told by Narada to the sage Sanatkumara.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.22.25)

तद्वक्ष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठाः शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः । पुरा गोदावरीतीरे सर्वधर्मपरायणः ।

tadvakṣyāmi muniśreṣṭhāḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ purā godāvarītīre sarvadharmaparāyaṇaḥ

I shall tell it, O best of sages; listen with attention. In ancient times, on the bank of the Godavari, there lived one devoted entirely to dharma —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.22.26)

पुण्यशीलो द्विजवरः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । दयावान्सर्वभूतेषु देवाग्निद्विजपूजकः ।

puṇyaśīlo dvijavaraḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ dayāvānsarvabhūteṣu devāgnidvijapūjakaḥ

— the excellent brahmin named Punyashila, truthful in speech, master of his senses, compassionate to all beings, a worshipper of the gods, the sacred fire, and brahmins.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.22.27)

कर्मणा जन्मशुद्धश्च मातापितृहिते रतः । गुरुभक्तिः सदाक्षिण्यो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः ।

karmaṇā janmaśuddhaśca mātāpitṛhite rataḥ gurubhaktiḥ sadākṣiṇyo brahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṁmataḥ

He was pure both by birth and by deed, devoted to the welfare of his mother and father, devoted to his guru, ever generous, a friend to brahmins, and esteemed by the virtuous.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.22.28)

एतादृशगुणैर्युक्तः पुण्यशीलस्य धीमतः ।

etādṛśaguṇairyuktaḥ puṇyaśīlasya dhīmataḥ

Endowed with such virtues was that wise man, Punyashila.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.22.29)

गृहं सम्प्राप्तवान्विप्रो वेदवेदांगपारगः । प्रार्थितः पुण्यशीलेन पितृश्राद्धेऽतिवेगतः ।

gṛhaṁ saṁprāptavānvipro vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ prārthitaḥ puṇyaśīlena pitṛśrāddhe'tivegataḥ

A brahmin, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, arrived at his house, having been invited most urgently by Punyashila for the shraddha rite of his ancestors.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.22.30)

तं विप्रं श्रोत्रियं शान्तं पितृश्राद्धे नियोज्य वै । श्राद्धं चकार धर्मात्मा प्रत्याब्दिकमनुत्तमम् ।

taṁ vipraṁ śrotriyaṁ śāṁtaṁ pitṛśrāddhe niyojya vai śrāddhaṁ cakāra dharmātmā pratyābdikamanuttamam

Having appointed that learned and serene brahmin for the ancestral rite, the righteous man performed the peerless yearly shraddha.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.22.31)

ततः कालान्तरे तस्य पुण्यशीलस्य चानने । वैरूप्यं प्राप्तमत्युग्रं रासभाननवत्तदा ।

tataḥ kālāṁtare tasya puṇyaśīlasya cānane vairūpyaṁ prāptamatyugraṁ rāsabhānanavattadā

After some time had passed, a terrible deformity befell the face of Punyashila, making it resemble the face of a donkey.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.22.32)

ततः खिन्नमना भूत्वा पुण्यशीलोऽतिधार्मिकः । निःश्वस्य बहुधा खिन्नः प्रपेदेऽगस्त्ययोगिनः ।

tataḥ khinnamanā bhūtvā puṇyaśīlo'tidhārmikaḥ niḥśvasya bahudhā khinnaḥ prapede'gastyayoginaḥ

Then, exceedingly distressed at heart, the deeply righteous Punyashila, sighing repeatedly and grieving greatly, took refuge with the sage Agastya.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.22.33)

सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे ऋषिसंघनिषेविते । आश्रमं परमं दिव्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् ।

suvarṇamukharītīre ṛṣisaṁghaniṣevite āśramaṁ paramaṁ divyaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

On the bank of the river Suvarnamukhari, frequented by an assembly of sages — that supremely divine hermitage granting the fruit of every desire —

Verse 34 (skanda.2.22.34)

तत्राश्रमे मुनिवरैः सेव्यमानमहर्निशम् । दृष्ट्वागस्त्यं महात्मानं सर्वलोकहितैषिणम् ।

tatrāśrame munivaraiḥ sevyamānamaharniśam dṛṣṭvāgastyaṁ mahātmānaṁ sarvalokahitaiṣiṇam

— in that hermitage, served day and night by the finest sages, having beheld the great soul Agastya, who wished well for all the worlds —

Verse 35 (skanda.2.22.35)

प्रणाममकरोत्तस्मै गार्दभास्योऽतिदुःखितः ।

praṇāmamakarottasmai gārdabhāsyo'tiduḥkhitaḥ

— the deeply grieved man with the donkey's face bowed down to him.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.22.36)

पुण्यशील उवाच । तपोनिधे नमस्तुभ्यमगस्त्य मुनिसेवित । कुत्सितास्यं महापापं रक्षरक्ष दयानिधे ।

puṇyaśīla uvāca taponidhe namastubhyamagastya munisevita kutsitāsyaṁ mahāpāpaṁ rakṣarakṣa dayānidhe

Punyashila said: Salutation to you, O Agastya, treasury of austerity, served by sages! I am a great sinner with a repulsive face; O ocean of compassion, save me, save me!

Verse 37 (skanda.2.22.37)

केन दोषेण मे चात्र मुखस्यासीत्कुरूपता ।

kena doṣeṇa me cātra mukhasyāsītkurūpatā

By what fault has this ugliness come upon my face?

Verse 38 (skanda.2.22.38)

मयि प्रीत्या महाभाग वदस्व मुनिसत्तम ।

mayi prītyā mahābhāga vadasva munisattama

O fortunate one, O best of sages, tell me this out of affection for me.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.22.39)

अगस्त्य उवाच । विप्रवर्य महाभाग पुण्यशील महामते । आननस्य विरूपं वै शृणु नान्यमना द्विज ।

agastya uvāca vipravarya mahābhāga puṇyaśīla mahāmate ānanasya virūpaṁ vai śṛṇu nānyamanā dvija

Agastya said: O excellent brahmin, O fortunate and wise Punyashila, listen without a wandering mind, O brahmin, to the cause of your face's deformity.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.22.40)

कञ्चिद्विप्रं गुणनिधिं वेदवेदांगपारगम् । श्रोत्रियं पुत्ररहितं श्राद्धे त्वं विनियुक्तवान् ।

kaṁcidvipraṁ guṇanidhiṁ vedavedāṁgapāragam śrotriyaṁ putrarahitaṁ śrāddhe tvaṁ viniyuktavān

You appointed for the shraddha a certain brahmin — a treasury of virtues, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, a Vedic scholar — but one who was without a son.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.22.41)

तेन दोषेण महता मुखे तव विरूपता । ये लोके हव्यकव्यादौ वन्ध्यायाः स्वामिनं द्विजम् ।

tena doṣeṇa mahatā mukhe tava virūpatā ye loke havyakavyādau vaṁdhyāyāḥ svāmināṁ dvijam

By that great fault has this deformity come upon your face; those who in this world, in rites such as offerings to gods and ancestors, appoint the brahmin husband of a barren woman —

Verse 42 (skanda.2.22.42)

नियोजयन्ति ते यान्ति मुखे गर्दभरूपताम् । शुभकर्मणि वा विप्र पैतृके वापि कर्मणि ।

niyojayaṁti te yāṁti mukhe gardabharūpatām śubhakarmaṇi vā vipra paitṛke vāpi karmaṇi

— those who so appoint him take on the form of a donkey in their face, O brahmin, whether it be an auspicious rite or an ancestral one.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.22.43)

वन्ध्यापतिं महापापं कदाचिन्न निमन्त्रयेत् । वन्ध्यापतिं महाक्रूरं वृषलीपतिमेव वा ।

vaṁdhyāpatiṁ mahāpāpaṁ kadācinna nimaṁtrayet vaṁdhyāpatiṁ mahākrūraṁ vṛṣalīpatimeva vā

One should never invite the husband of a barren woman, who is greatly sinful; nor the exceedingly cruel husband of a barren woman, nor the husband of a low-caste woman.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.22.44)

श्रेयस्कामी हि विप्रेंद्र श्राद्धे तु न निमन्त्रयेत् । वेदशास्त्रादियुक्तोऽपि कुलीनः कर्मठोऽपि वा ।

śreyaskāmī hi viprendra śrāddhe tu na nimaṁtrayet vedaśāstrādiyukto'pi kulīnaḥ karmaṭho'pi vā

O chief of brahmins, one who desires well-being should not invite such a man for the shraddha, even if he is versed in the Vedas and scriptures, well-born, or devoted to ritual duty.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.22.45)

वन्ध्याभर्ता द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धे त्याज्यः कथञ्चन । ज्योतिष्टोमादियज्ञेषु व्रतेषु च तपःसु च ।

vaṁdhyābhartā dvijaśreṣṭha śrāddhe tyājyaḥ kathañcana jyotiṣṭomādiyajñeṣu vrateṣu ca tapaḥsu ca

O best of brahmins, the husband of a barren woman must by all means be excluded from the shraddha — and likewise from Jyotishtoma and other sacrifices, from vows, and from austerities.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.22.46)

समर्थोऽपि द्विजश्रेष्ठः श्राद्धे वन्ध्यापतिं त्यजेत् । अलभ्ये तु द्विजे पात्रे तन्तुमात्रोपजीविनम् ।

samartho'pi dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ śrāddhe vaṁdhyāpatiṁ tyajet alabhye tu dvije pātre taṁtumātropajīvinam

Even one who is otherwise capable should, as the best of brahmins, exclude the husband of a barren woman from the shraddha; if no worthy brahmin recipient can be found, even one who lives merely by the thread of subsistence may be called.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.22.47)

पुत्रवन्तं सदाचारं श्राद्धार्थं तु निमन्त्रयेत् । तदभावे द्विजश्रेष्ठ पुत्रं वाऽनुजमेव वा ।

putravaṁtaṁ sadācāraṁ śrāddhārthaṁ tu nimaṁtrayet tadabhāve dvijaśreṣṭha putraṁ vā'nujameva vā

One should invite for the shraddha only a man who has a son and is of good conduct; failing that, O best of brahmins, one's own son or younger brother —

Verse 48 (skanda.2.22.48)

आत्मानं वा नियुञ्जीत श्राद्धे वन्ध्यापतिं त्यजेत् । पुण्यशील महाभाग चोद्धृत्य भुजमुच्यते ।

ātmānaṁ vā niyuñjīta śrāddhe vaṁdhyāpatiṁ tyajet puṇyaśīla mahābhāga coddhṛtya bhujamucyate

— or even oneself may be appointed instead, but the husband of a barren woman must be excluded from the shraddha; O fortunate Punyashila, I declare this with my arm raised, in all earnestness.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.22.49)

सर्वथा पुत्रहीनं तु श्राद्धार्थं न नियोजयेत् । वन्ध्यापतिं द्विजं यस्तु श्राद्धकर्ता नियोक्ष्यति ।

sarvathā putrahīnaṁ tu śrāddhārthaṁ na niyojayet vaṁdhyāpatiṁ dvijaṁ yastu śrāddhakartā niyokṣyati

One should under no circumstance appoint a man without a son for the shraddha; whatever performer of the shraddha appoints the brahmin husband of a barren woman —

Verse 50 (skanda.2.22.50)

तच्छ्राद्धमासुरं ज्ञेयं कर्ता च नरकं व्रजेत् ।

tacchrāddhamāsuraṁ jñeyaṁ kartā ca narakaṁ vrajet

— that shraddha should be known as demonic, and its performer goes to hell.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.22.51)

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन तद्दोषविनिवृत्तये । उपायं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि स्वर्णमुख्यास्तटे शुभे ।

bahunātra kimuktena taddoṣavinivṛttaye upāyaṁ te pravakṣyāmi svarṇamukhyāstaṭe śubhe

What use is there in saying more here — I shall now tell you the remedy for that fault, found on the auspicious bank of the Suvarnamukhi.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.22.52)

वर्तते देवसंघैश्च सेवितो वेंकटाचलः । मेरुपुत्रो महापुण्यः सर्वकामफलप्रदः ।

vartate devasaṁghaiśca sevito veṁkaṭācalaḥ meruputro mahāpuṇyaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ

There stands Venkatachala, served by hosts of gods — the son of Meru, immensely meritorious, granting the fruit of every desire.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.22.53)

तस्मिन्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रे सुरासुरनमस्कृते । वियद्गंगेति नाम्ना वै तीर्थमस्ति महत्तरम् ।

tasminveṁkaṭaśailendre surāsuranamaskṛte viyadgaṁgeti nāmnā vai tīrthamasti mahattaram

On that lord of Venkata mountains, revered by both gods and demons, there exists a most eminent tirtha named Viyadganga (Akashaganga).

Verse 54 (skanda.2.22.54)

सर्वपापप्रशमनमायुरारोग्यवर्धनम् । त्वं गत्वा वेंकटं शैलं स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।

sarvapāpapraśamanamāyurārogyavardhanam tvaṁ gatvā veṁkaṭaṁ śailaṁ svāmipuṣkariṇījale

It quells all sins and increases longevity and health; go to the Venkata mountain, and in the waters of the Svami-Pushkarini —

Verse 55 (skanda.2.22.55)

स्नात्वा संकल्पपूर्वं तु गंगातीर्थमनन्तरम् । गत्वा तीर्थविधानेन स्नानं कुरु महामते ।

snātvā saṁkalpapūrvaṁ tu gaṁgātīrthamanaṁtaram gatvā tīrthavidhānena snānaṁ kuru mahāmate

— bathe with due resolve, and thereafter go to the Ganga-tirtha and bathe according to the proper ritual procedure, O wise one.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.22.56)

स्नानमात्रात्ततः सद्यो मुखस्यास्य महामते । वैरूप्यं तत्क्षणादेव नंक्ष्यत्येव न संशयः ।

snānamātrāttataḥ sadyo mukhasyāsya mahāmate vairūpyaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naṁkṣyatyeva na saṁśayaḥ

By that bathing alone, O wise one, the deformity of this your face shall be destroyed that very instant — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.22.57)

एवमुक्तः पुण्यशीलो ह्यगस्त्येन महात्मना । तं प्रणम्य महात्मानं वेंकटाद्रिं ततो ययौ ।

evamuktaḥ puṇyaśīlo hyagastyena mahātmanā taṁ praṇamya mahātmānaṁ veṁkaṭādriṁ tato yayau

Thus addressed by the great soul Agastya, Punyashila bowed to that great soul and then set out toward Venkatadri.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.22.58)

तत्र गत्वा महाभागः स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले । स्नात्वा नियमपूर्वं तु वियद्गंगासमीपगः ।

tatra gatvā mahābhāgaḥ svāmipuṣkariṇījale snātvā niyamapūrvaṁ tu viyadgaṁgāsamīpagaḥ

Having arrived there, that fortunate man bathed with due observance in the waters of the Svami-Pushkarini, then approached the Viyadganga.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.22.59)

तत्र स्नानेन धर्मात्मा कामवक्रोपमं मुखम् । प्राप्तवान्पुण्यशीलस्तु अहो तीर्थस्य वैभवम् ।

tatra snānena dharmātmā kāmavakropamaṁ mukham prāptavānpuṇyaśīlastu aho tīrthasya vaibhavam

By bathing there, the righteous Punyashila obtained a face as beautiful as that of Kamadeva, the god of love — oh, what splendor this tirtha holds!

Verse 60 (skanda.2.22.60)

श्रीसूत उवाच । एवं वः कथितं विप्रा नारदेन प्रभाषितम् । सनत्कुमारमुनये शौनकाद्या महौजसः ।

śrīsūta uvāca evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprā nāradena prabhāṣitam sanatkumāramunaye śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ

Shri Suta said: O brahmins headed by Shaunaka, mighty in splendor, thus I have told you what Narada declared to the sage Sanatkumara.