The Glory of All Tirthas and the Procedure of Purana-Hearing

Verse 1 (skanda.2.27.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वसंकटनाशने । सन्ति वै कति तीर्थानि सूत पौराणिकोत्तम ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ veṁkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvasaṁkaṭanāśane santi vai kati tīrthāni sūta paurāṇikottama

The sages said: O Suta, foremost of Purana-narrators, how many tirthas are there on the greatly meritorious Venkatadri, which destroys every calamity?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.27.2)

तेषां संख्यां च मे ब्रूहि कति मुख्यानि तत्र वै । तत्राप्यत्यन्तमुख्यानि वद मे मुनिसत्तम ।

teṣāṁ saṁkhyāṁ ca me brūhi kati mukhyāni tatra vai tatrāpyatyantamukhyāni vada me munisattama

Tell us their number, and how many among them are the chief ones there; and tell us, O best of sages, which are the most important of even those.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.27.3)

सद्धर्मरतिदान्यत्र कति मुख्यानि तानि च । कानि ज्ञानप्रदान्यत्र भक्तिवैराग्यदानि च ।

saddharmaratidānyatra kati mukhyāni tāni ca kāni jñānapradānyatra bhaktivairāgyadāni ca

How many there are that grant devotion to true dharma, and which grant knowledge, and which grant devotion and dispassion?

Verse 4 (skanda.2.27.4)

मुक्तिप्रदानि कान्यत्र तानि मे वद सुव्रत ।

muktipradāni kānyatra tāni me vada suvrata

And which grant liberation? Tell us all this, O keeper of good vows.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.27.5)

श्रीसूत उवाच । षट्षष्टिकोटितीर्थानि पुण्यान्यत्र नगोत्तमे । अष्टोत्तरसहस्राणि तेषु मुख्यानि सुव्रत ।

śrīsūta uvāca ṣaṭṣaṣṭikoṭitīrthāni puṇyānyatra nagottame aṣṭottarasahasrāṇi teṣu mukhyāni suvrata

Shri Suta said: There are six thousand six hundred million sacred tirthas on this best of mountains, O keeper of good vows; among them the chief ones number one thousand and eight.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.27.6)

सद्धर्मरतिदान्यत्र सन्ति चाष्टोत्तरं शतम् । सहस्रेभ्यश्च मुख्यानि पृथक्तेभ्यश्च तानि च ।

saddharmaratidānyatra santi cāṣṭottaraṁ śatam sahasrebhyaśca mukhyāni pṛthaktebhyaśca tāni ca

Of those that grant devotion to true dharma, there are one hundred and eight; and among those thousands, separately, the chief ones —

Verse 7 (skanda.2.27.7)

भक्तिवैराग्यदान्यत्र षष्टिरष्टोत्तरे शते ।

bhaktivairāgyadānyatra ṣaṣṭiraṣṭottare śate

among those hundred and eight, sixty grant devotion and dispassion.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.27.8)

मुक्तिदान्यत्र षट् चैव वेंकटाचलमूर्धनि । स्वामिपुष्करिणी चैव वियद्गङ्गा ततः परम् ।

muktidānyatra ṣaṭ caiva veṁkaṭācalamūrdhani svāmipuṣkariṇī caiva viyadgaṅgā tataḥ param

Among these, six grant liberation, on the crown of Venkatachala itself: the Swami-Pushkarini, and next the Sky-Ganga (Akashaganga),

Verse 9 (skanda.2.27.9)

पश्चात्पापविनाशं च पाण्डुतीर्थमतःपरम् । कुमारधारिकातीर्थं तुम्बोस्तीर्थमतः परम् ।

paścātpāpavināśaṁ ca pāṇḍutīrthamataḥparam kumāradhārikātīrthaṁ tumbostīrthamataḥ param

and after that Papavinasha, and next Pandu-tirtha, and Kumaradharika-tirtha, and next Tumbu-tirtha.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.27.10)

कुम्भमासे पौर्णमास्यां मघायोगो यदा भवेत् । कुमारधारिकां यान्ति सर्वतीर्थानि हे द्विजाः ।

kumbhamāse paurṇamāsyāṁ maghāyogo yadā bhavet kumāradhārikāṁ yānti sarvatīrthāni he dvijāḥ

In the month of Kumbha, on the full-moon day, when the Magha conjunction occurs, all the sacred waters, O Brahmins, come to Kumaradharika.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.27.11)

तत्र यः स्नाति विप्रेन्द्रा राजसूयफलं लभेत् । मुक्तिश्च भविता तत्र नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।

tatra yaḥ snāti viprendrā rājasūyaphalaṁ labhet muktiśca bhavitā tatra nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

O foremost of Brahmins, one who bathes there obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya sacrifice, and liberation shall be his there — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.27.12)

अन्नदानविधिस्तत्र सार्धं दक्षिणयाद्विजाः । उत्तराफल्गुनीयुक्तशुक्लपक्षीयपर्वणि ।

annadānavidhistatra sārdhaṁ dakṣiṇayādvijāḥ uttarāphalgunīyuktaśuklapakṣīyaparvaṇi

The rule of food-giving there, together with the sacrificial fee, O Brahmins, applies on the occasion of the bright fortnight joined with Uttara-Phalguni,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.27.13)

तुम्बोस्तीर्थं मीनसंस्थे रवौ तीर्थानि सर्वशः । अपराह्णे समायान्ति तत्र स्नातो न जायते ।

tumbostīrthaṁ mīnasaṁsthe ravau tīrthāni sarvaśaḥ aparāhṇe samāyānti tatra snāto na jāyate

when the sun stands in Pisces and all the tirthas gather at Tumbu-tirtha in the afternoon — one who bathes there is not born again.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.27.14)

मौञ्जीबन्धं विवाहं च कारयेद्द्रव्यदानतः । मेषसंक्रमणे भानौ चित्रानक्षत्रसंयुते ।

mauñjībandhaṁ vivāhaṁ ca kārayeddravyadānataḥ meṣasaṁkramaṇe bhānau citrānakṣatrasaṁyute

One should perform the sacred-thread rite and marriage there with gifts of wealth, when the sun enters Aries joined with the Chitra nakshatra,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.27.15)

पौर्णमास्यां समायान्ति वियद्गङ्गां तथैव च । तत्र स्नात्वा नरः सद्यः शतक्रतुफलं लभेत् ।

paurṇamāsyāṁ samāyānti viyadgaṅgāṁ tathaiva ca tatra snātvā naraḥ sadyaḥ śatakratuphalaṁ labhet

on the full-moon day, when the tirthas gather also at the Sky-Ganga; bathing there, a man at once obtains the fruit of a hundred Vedic sacrifices.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.27.16)

सुवर्णं तत्र दातव्यं कन्यादानं विशेषतः । वृषभस्थे रवौ विप्रा द्वादश्यां हरिवासरे ।

suvarṇaṁ tatra dātavyaṁ kanyādānaṁ viśeṣataḥ vṛṣabhasthe ravau viprā dvādaśyāṁ harivāsare

Gold should be given there, and especially the gift of a maiden in marriage, when the sun is in Taurus, on the twelfth day, on Hari's day (Thursday or the day sacred to Vishnu),

Verse 17 (skanda.2.27.17)

शुक्ले वाप्यथ कृष्णे वा भौमेनापि समन्विते । पाण्डुतीर्थं समायान्ति गङ्गादीनि जगत्त्रये ।

śukle vāpyatha kṛṣṇe vā bhaumenāpi samanvite pāṇḍutīrthaṁ samāyānti gaṅgādīni jagattraye

whether in the bright or dark fortnight, joined also with Tuesday — [then] the Ganga and other rivers come to Pandu-tirtha, in all the three worlds.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.27.18)

तत्र स्नात्वा च गां दत्त्वा मुच्यते प्रतिबन्धकात् । आश्वयुक्छुक्लपक्षे च सप्तम्यां भानुवासरे ।

tatra snātvā ca gāṁ dattvā mucyate pratibandhakāt āśvayukchuklapakṣe ca saptamyāṁ bhānuvāsare

Bathing there and giving a cow, one is freed from every obstacle; on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashvin, on a Sunday,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.27.19)

उत्तराषाढयुक्तायां तथा पापविनाशनम् । उत्तराभाद्रयुक्तायां द्वादश्यां वा समागतः ।

uttarāṣāḍhayuktāyāṁ tathā pāpavināśanam uttarābhādrayuktāyāṁ dvādaśyāṁ vā samāgataḥ

joined with Uttarashadha, [that bathing likewise] destroys sin; or when it falls on the twelfth day joined with Uttarabhadrapada,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.27.20)

शालग्रामशिलां दत्त्वा स्नात्वा च विधिपूर्वकम् । मुच्यते सर्वपापैश्च जन्म कोटिशतोद्भवैः ।

śālagrāmaśilāṁ dattvā snātvā ca vidhipūrvakam mucyate sarvapāpaiśca janma koṭiśatodbhavaiḥ

one who gives a Shaligrama stone and bathes there according to rule is freed from all sins accumulated through a hundred million births.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.27.21)

धनुर्मासे सिते पक्षे द्वादश्यामरुणोदये । आयान्ति सर्वतीर्थानि स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।

dhanurmāse site pakṣe dvādaśyāmaruṇodaye āyānti sarvatīrthāni svāmipuṣkariṇījale

In the month of Dhanus (Sagittarius), in the bright fortnight, on the twelfth day at sunrise, all the tirthas come to the waters of the Swami-Pushkarini.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.27.22)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरः सद्यो मुक्तिमेति न संशयः । यस्य जन्मसहस्रेषु पुण्यमेवार्जितं पुरा ।

tatra snātvā naraḥ sadyo muktimeti na saṁśayaḥ yasya janmasahasreṣu puṇyamevārjitaṁ purā

Bathing there, a man at once attains liberation, without doubt — but this bathing belongs only to one

Verse 23 (skanda.2.27.23)

तस्य स्नानं भवेद्विप्रा नान्यस्य त्वकृतात्मनः । विभवानुगुणं दानं कार्यं तत्र यथाविधि ।

tasya snānaṁ bhavedviprā nānyasya tvakṛtātmanaḥ vibhavānuguṇaṁ dānaṁ kāryaṁ tatra yathāvidhi

who has already accumulated merit in a thousand former births, O Brahmins, not to one of impure conduct; a gift suited to one's means should be made there according to rule,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.27.24)

शालिग्रामशिलादानं गां दद्याच्च विशेषतः ।

śāligrāmaśilādānaṁ gāṁ dadyācca viśeṣataḥ

especially the gift of a Shaligrama stone, and one should give a cow as well.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.27.25)

ये शृण्वंति कथां विष्णोः सदा भुवनपावनीम् । ते वै मनुष्यलोकेऽस्मिन्विष्णुभक्ता भवन्ति हि ।

ye śṛṇvaṁti kathāṁ viṣṇoḥ sadā bhuvanapāvanīm te vai manuṣyaloke'sminviṣṇubhaktā bhavanti hi

Those who ever hear the tale of Vishnu, which forever purifies the world, become true devotees of Vishnu in this human world.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.27.26)

यद्यशक्तः सदा श्रोतुं कथां भुवनपावनीम् । मुहूर्तं वा तदर्धं वा क्षणं वा विष्णुसत्कथाम् । यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या दुर्गतिर्नास्ति तस्य हि ।

yadyaśaktaḥ sadā śrotuṁ kathāṁ bhuvanapāvanīm muhūrtaṁ vā tadardhaṁ vā kṣaṇaṁ vā viṣṇusatkathām yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā durgatirnāsti tasya hi

If one is unable always to hear the world-purifying tale, then even a muhurta, or half of it, or a mere moment of Vishnu's holy story — one who hears it with devotion never meets a wretched end.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.27.27)

यत्फलं सर्वयज्ञेषु सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम् । सकृत्पुराणश्रवणात्तत्फलं विन्दते नरः ।

yatphalaṁ sarvayajñeṣu sarvadāneṣu yatphalam sakṛtpurāṇaśravaṇāttatphalaṁ vindate naraḥ

The fruit that comes from all sacrifices and from all gifts, a man obtains merely by hearing the Purana once.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.27.28)

कलौ युगे विशेषेण पुराणश्रवणादृते । नास्ति धर्मः परः पुंसां नास्ति मुक्तिप्रदं परम् ।

kalau yuge viśeṣeṇa purāṇaśravaṇādṛte nāsti dharmaḥ paraḥ puṁsāṁ nāsti muktipradaṁ param

In the Kali age especially, apart from hearing the Purana there is no higher dharma for men, nor anything else that bestows liberation.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.27.29)

पुराणश्रवणं विष्णोर्नामसंकीर्तनं परम् । उभे एव मनुष्याणां पुण्यद्रुममहाफले ।

purāṇaśravaṇaṁ viṣṇornāmasaṁkīrtanaṁ param ubhe eva manuṣyāṇāṁ puṇyadrumamahāphale

Hearing the Purana and the chanting of Vishnu's names are the two supreme, great-fruited trees of merit for humankind.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.27.30)

पिबन्नेवामृतं यत्नादेकः स्यादजरामरः । विष्णोः कथामृतं कुर्यात्कुलमेवाजरामरम् ।

pibannevāmṛtaṁ yatnādekaḥ syādajarāmaraḥ viṣṇoḥ kathāmṛtaṁ kuryātkulamevājarāmaram

By drinking nectar with effort, one alone becomes ageless and immortal; by relishing the nectar-story of Vishnu, one's whole lineage becomes ageless and immortal.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.27.31)

बालो युवाथ वृद्धो वा दरिद्रो दुर्भगोऽपि वा । पुराणज्ञः सदा वन्द्यः स पूज्यः सुकृतात्मभिः ।

bālo yuvātha vṛddho vā daridro durbhago'pi vā purāṇajñaḥ sadā vandyaḥ sa pūjyaḥ sukṛtātmabhiḥ

Whether young, old, or in between, or poor, or unfortunate, one versed in the Puranas is ever to be honoured, worshipped by the virtuous.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.27.32)

नीचबुद्धिं न कुर्वीत पुराणज्ञे कदाचन । यस्य वक्त्रोद्गता वाणी कामधेनुः शरीरिणाम् ।

nīcabuddhiṁ na kurvīta purāṇajñe kadācana yasya vaktrodgatā vāṇī kāmadhenuḥ śarīriṇām

One should never harbour base thoughts toward one who knows the Purana, from whose mouth the flowing speech is a wish-granting cow for all beings.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.27.33)

भवकोटिसहस्रेषु भूत्वा भूत्वावसीदताम् । यो ददात्यपुनर्वृत्तिं कोऽन्यस्तस्मात्परो गुरुः ।

bhavakoṭisahasreṣu bhūtvā bhūtvāvasīdatām yo dadātyapunarvṛttiṁ ko'nyastasmātparo guruḥ

For those who, birth after birth through millions of aeons, are sinking [in samsara], who is a greater guru than one who grants them freedom from rebirth?

Verse 34 (skanda.2.27.34)

व्यासासनसमारूढो यदा पौराणिको द्विजः । आ समाप्तेः प्रसंगस्य नमस्कुर्यान्न कस्यचित् ।

vyāsāsanasamārūḍho yadā paurāṇiko dvijaḥ ā samāpteḥ prasaṁgasya namaskuryānna kasyacit

When a Brahmin versed in the Puranas is seated on the teaching-seat, until the discourse concludes he should bow to no one else.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.27.35)

न दुर्जनसमाकीर्णे न शूद्रश्वापदावृते । देशे न द्यूतसदने वदेत्पुण्यकथां सुधीः ।

na durjanasamākīrṇe na śūdraśvāpadāvṛte deśe na dyūtasadane vadetpuṇyakathāṁ sudhīḥ

A wise man should not recite the sacred tale in a place crowded with wicked people, nor one overrun by shudras and dogs, nor in a gambling house.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.27.36)

सुग्रामे सुजनाकीर्णे सुक्षेत्रे देवतालये । पुण्ये वाथ नदीतीरे वदेत्पुण्यकथां सुधीः ।

sugrāme sujanākīrṇe sukṣetre devatālaye puṇye vātha nadītīre vadetpuṇyakathāṁ sudhīḥ

A wise man should recite the sacred tale in a good village full of good people, in a good field, in a temple, or on the holy bank of a river,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.27.37)

श्रद्धाभक्तिसमायुक्ता नान्यकार्येषु लालसा । वाग्यताः शुचयोऽव्यग्राः श्रोतारः पुण्यभागिनः ।

śraddhābhaktisamāyuktā nānyakāryeṣu lālasā vāgyatāḥ śucayo'vyagrāḥ śrotāraḥ puṇyabhāginaḥ

to listeners filled with faith and devotion, free of longing for other business, restrained in speech, pure, and undistracted — such listeners share in the merit.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.27.38)

अभक्त्या ये कथां पुण्यां शृण्वंति मनुजाधमाः । तेषां पुण्यफलं नास्ति दुःखं जन्मनि जन्मनि ।

abhaktyā ye kathāṁ puṇyāṁ śṛṇvaṁti manujādhamāḥ teṣāṁ puṇyaphalaṁ nāsti duḥkhaṁ janmani janmani

Those base men who hear the sacred tale without devotion gain no fruit of merit from it, and suffer sorrow birth after birth.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.27.39)

पुराणं ये तु संपूज्य ताम्बूलाद्यैरुपायनैः । शृण्वंति च कथां भक्त्या न दरिद्रा न पापिनः ।

purāṇaṁ ye tu saṁpūjya tāmbūlādyairupāyanaiḥ śṛṇvaṁti ca kathāṁ bhaktyā na daridrā na pāpinaḥ

But those who first honour the Purana with betel-leaf and other offerings, and then hear the tale with devotion, are never poor and never sinful.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.27.40)

कथायां कथ्यमानायां ये गच्छन्त्यन्यतो नराः । भोगान्तरे प्रणश्यन्ति तेषां दाराश्च संपदः ।

kathāyāṁ kathyamānāyāṁ ye gacchantyanyato narāḥ bhogāntare praṇaśyanti teṣāṁ dārāśca saṁpadaḥ

Those men who walk away elsewhere while the tale is being told will lose their wives and their wealth in another existence.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.27.41)

सोष्णीषमस्तका ये च कथां शृण्वंति पावनीम् । ते बालकाः प्रजायन्ते पापिनो मनुजाधमाः ।

soṣṇīṣamastakā ye ca kathāṁ śṛṇvaṁti pāvanīm te bālakāḥ prajāyante pāpino manujādhamāḥ

Those who hear the purifying tale with their heads covered by a turban are reborn as children, sinful and base among men.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.27.42)

तांबूलं भक्षयन्तो ये कथां शृण्वंति पावनीम् । श्वविष्ठां भक्षयन्त्येते नरके च पतंति हि ।

tāṁbūlaṁ bhakṣayanto ye kathāṁ śṛṇvaṁti pāvanīm śvaviṣṭhāṁ bhakṣayantyete narake ca pataṁti hi

Those who chew betel while hearing the purifying tale eat a dog's excrement and fall into hell.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.27.43)

ये च तुंगासनारूढाः कथां शृण्वन्ति दांभिकाः । अक्षय्यान्नरकान्भुक्त्वा ते भवन्त्येव वायसाः ।

ye ca tuṁgāsanārūḍhāḥ kathāṁ śṛṇvanti dāṁbhikāḥ akṣayyānnarakānbhuktvā te bhavantyeva vāyasāḥ

Those hypocrites who hear the tale seated on a raised seat, after suffering endless hells, become nothing but crows.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.27.44)

ये च वीरासनारूढा ये च सिंहासनस्थिताः । शृण्वन्ति सत्कथां ते वै भवन्त्यर्जुनपादपाः ।

ye ca vīrāsanārūḍhā ye ca siṁhāsanasthitāḥ śṛṇvanti satkathāṁ te vai bhavantyarjunapādapāḥ

Those who hear the sacred tale seated in the hero's posture, or seated on a throne like a lion, become Arjuna trees (kino trees, rooted and mute).

Verse 45 (skanda.2.27.45)

असंप्रणम्य शृण्वन्तो विषवृक्षा भवन्ति हि । तथा शयानाः शृण्वन्तो भवन्त्यजगरा हि ते ।

asaṁpraṇamya śṛṇvanto viṣavṛkṣā bhavanti hi tathā śayānāḥ śṛṇvanto bhavantyajagarā hi te

Those who hear without bowing become poison trees; likewise those who hear it lying down become pythons.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.27.46)

यः शृणोति कथां वक्तुः समानासनसंस्थितः । गुरुतल्पसमं पापं संप्राप्य नरकं व्रजेत् ।

yaḥ śṛṇoti kathāṁ vaktuḥ samānāsanasaṁsthitaḥ gurutalpasamaṁ pāpaṁ saṁprāpya narakaṁ vrajet

One who hears the tale seated on a level with the narrator commits a sin equal to defiling his guru's bed and goes to hell for it.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.27.47)

ये निन्दंति पुराणज्ञं सत्कथां पापहारिणीम् । ते वै जन्मशतं मर्त्याः शुनकाश्च भवंति हि ।

ye nindaṁti purāṇajñaṁ satkathāṁ pāpahāriṇīm te vai janmaśataṁ martyāḥ śunakāśca bhavaṁti hi

Those who revile one who knows the Purana, or the sacred tale that removes sin, become dogs for a hundred births as mortals.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.27.48)

कथायां कीर्त्यमानायां ये वदंति दुरुत्तरम् । ते गर्दभाः प्रजायन्ते कृकलासास्ततःपरम् ।

kathāyāṁ kīrtyamānāyāṁ ye vadaṁti duruttaram te gardabhāḥ prajāyante kṛkalāsāstataḥparam

Those who, while the tale is being recited, speak harsh replies are reborn as donkeys, and after that as chameleons.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.27.49)

कदाचिदपि ये पुण्यां न शृण्वंति कथां नराः । ते भुक्त्वा नरकान्घोरान्भवन्ति वनसूकराः ।

kadācidapi ye puṇyāṁ na śṛṇvaṁti kathāṁ narāḥ te bhuktvā narakānghorānbhavanti vanasūkarāḥ

Men who never once listen to this meritorious tale, after suffering terrible hells, become wild boars.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.27.50)

कथायां कीर्त्यमानायां विघ्नं कुर्वंति ये नराः । कोट्यब्दं नरकान्भुक्त्वा भवंति ग्रामसूकराः ।

kathāyāṁ kīrtyamānāyāṁ vighnaṁ kurvaṁti ye narāḥ koṭyabdaṁ narakānbhuktvā bhavaṁti grāmasūkarāḥ

Those who create obstruction while the tale is being recited, after suffering hells for a myriad years, become village pigs.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.27.51)

ये कथामनुमोदन्ते कीर्त्यमानां नरोत्तमाः । अशृण्वन्तोऽपि ते यान्ति शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ।

ye kathāmanumodante kīrtyamānāṁ narottamāḥ aśṛṇvanto'pi te yānti śāśvataṁ padamavyayam

But those best of men who rejoice in the tale being recited, even without hearing it themselves, attain the eternal, undecaying abode.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.27.52)

ये श्रावयन्ति मनुजाः पुण्यां पौराणिकीं कथाम् । कल्पकोटिशतं साग्रं तिष्ठन्ति ब्रह्मणः पदे ।

ye śrāvayanti manujāḥ puṇyāṁ paurāṇikīṁ kathām kalpakoṭiśataṁ sāgraṁ tiṣṭhanti brahmaṇaḥ pade

Those men who cause others to hear this meritorious Puranic tale dwell in the abode of Brahma for a hundred million aeons and more.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.27.53)

आसनार्थं प्रयच्छन्ति पुराणज्ञस्य ये नराः । कम्बलाजिनवासांसि तथा मंचकमेव वा ।

āsanārthaṁ prayacchanti purāṇajñasya ye narāḥ kambalājinavāsāṁsi tathā maṁcakameva vā

Those men who provide a seat for one who knows the Purana — a blanket, a deer-skin, garments, or a couch —

Verse 54 (skanda.2.27.54)

स्वर्गलोकं समासाद्य भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथेप्सितान् । स्थित्वा ब्रह्मादिलोकेषु पदं यांति निरामयम् ।

svargalokaṁ samāsādya bhuktvā bhogānyathepsitān sthitvā brahmādilokeṣu padaṁ yāṁti nirāmayam

attain the heavenly world, enjoy the pleasures they desire, and then, dwelling in the worlds of Brahma and the rest, attain the flawless abode.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.27.55)

पुराणस्य प्रयच्छन्ति ये च सूत्रं नवं वरम् । भोगिनो ज्ञानसंपन्नास्ते भवंति भवे भवे ।

purāṇasya prayacchanti ye ca sūtraṁ navaṁ varam bhogino jñānasaṁpannāste bhavaṁti bhave bhave

Those who present a fine, new copy of the Purana become, birth after birth, endowed with enjoyment and knowledge.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.27.56)

ये महापातकैर्युक्ता ह्युपपातकिनश्च ये । पुराणश्रवणादेव ते यांति परमं पदम् ।

ye mahāpātakairyuktā hyupapātakinaśca ye purāṇaśravaṇādeva te yāṁti paramaṁ padam

Even those burdened with great sins and lesser sins attain the supreme abode through the mere hearing of the Purana.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.27.57)

वेंकटाद्रेस्तु माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा त ऋषयस्ततः । व्यासप्रसादसंपन्नं सूतं पौराणिकोत्तमम् । पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं प्रहर्षमतुलं गताः ।

veṁkaṭādrestu māhātmyaṁ śrutvā ta ṛṣayastataḥ vyāsaprasādasaṁpannaṁ sūtaṁ paurāṇikottamam pūjayitvā yathānyāyaṁ praharṣamatulaṁ gatāḥ

Having heard the glory of Venkatadri, those sages then, worshipping Suta, foremost of Purana-narrators, blessed by Vyasa's grace, according to due rite, went away filled with incomparable joy.