The Rite of Hearing the Purana, and the Conclusion of the Purushottama-kshetra Mahatmya

Verse 1 (skanda.2.89.1)

मुनय ऊचुः। भगवञ्जैमिने सर्वं वेदवेदांगपारग। त्वदनुग्रहतोऽस्माभिर्माहात्म्यं जगदीशितुः

munaya ūcuḥ bhagavañjaimine sarvaṁ vedavedāṁgapāraga tvadanugrahato'smābhirmāhātmyaṁ jagadīśituḥ

The sages said: O Lord Jaimini, master of the Vedas and Vedangas, by your grace we have heard the entire glory of the Lord of the world,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.89.2)

क्षेत्रराजस्य तस्यैव यात्राणां चैव सर्वशः। भगवद्भोजनोच्छिष्टप्राशनादिफलं तथा

kṣetrarājasya tasyaiva yātrāṇāṁ caiva sarvaśaḥ bhagavadbhojanocchiṣṭaprāśanādiphalaṁ tathā

of that very king of sacred fields, and of the pilgrimages in every respect, and likewise the fruit of partaking of the Lord's food-remnant and the rest.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.89.3)

इंद्रद्युम्नस्य राज्ञो वै वृत्तांतमतिदुर्लभम्। नीलमाधवरूपं तु दारुब्रह्मप्रकाशनम्

iṁdradyumnasya rājño vai vṛttāṁtamatidurlabham nīlamādhavarūpaṁ tu dārubrahmaprakāśanam

We have heard the exceedingly rare story of King Indradyumna, and of the form of Nilamadhava, and the manifestation of the wooden Brahman,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.89.4)

श्रुतं त्वद्वदनांभोजाद्गलितं तद्यथाविधि। इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्तो हि वदतां वर

śrutaṁ tvadvadanāṁbhojādgalitaṁ tadyathāvidhi idānīṁ śrotumicchāmastvatto hi vadatāṁ vara

as it flowed forth duly from your lotus mouth. Now we wish to hear from you, O best of speakers,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.89.5)

सर्वं विस्तरतो ब्रह्मन्वयं सर्वे मुदान्विताः। पुराणश्रवणस्यैव यदुक्तं फलमेव तत्

sarvaṁ vistarato brahmanvayaṁ sarve mudānvitāḥ purāṇaśravaṇasyaiva yaduktaṁ phalameva tat

O brahmin, everything in full detail — we are all filled with joy — concerning what has been declared as the very fruit of hearing the Purana.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.89.6)

को वा तस्य विधिश्चैव केन वा स्यात्तु सांगकम्। अस्मासु चेदनुक्रोशो यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

ko vā tasya vidhiścaiva kena vā syāttu sāṁgakam asmāsu cedanukrośo yathāvadvaktumarhasi

What is its procedure, and by what parts does it become complete? If you have compassion for us, you should duly tell us this.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.89.7)

जैमिनिरुवाच। साधु साधु मुनिश्रेष्ठा यत्पृष्टं परया मुदा। तत्र मे प्रीतिरतुला जाता रोमांचकारिणी

jaiminiruvāca sādhu sādhu muniśreṣṭhā yatpṛṣṭaṁ parayā mudā tatra me prītiratulā jātā romāṁcakāriṇī

Jaimini said: Well said, well said, O best of sages, that which you have asked with such great joy; in this my delight is incomparable, and it makes my hair stand on end.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.89.8)

तद्वः सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं सावधानतः। पुराणश्रवणारंभे यथाविभवमात्मनः

tadvaḥ sarvaṁ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ sāvadhānataḥ purāṇaśravaṇāraṁbhe yathāvibhavamātmanaḥ

I shall declare all that to you; listen with full attention. At the beginning of the recitation of the Purana, according to one's own means,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.89.9)

आदौ संकल्प्य विधिवद्ब्राह्मणं शुद्धवंशजम्। अव्यंगावयवं शांतं स्वशाखं स्वपुरोधसम्

ādau saṁkalpya vidhivadbrāhmaṇaṁ śuddhavaṁśajam avyaṁgāvayavaṁ śāṁtaṁ svaśākhaṁ svapurodhasam

having first made one's resolve according to rite, one should choose a brahmin of pure lineage, whose limbs are unblemished, who is calm, of one's own branch of the Veda and one's own family priest,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.89.10)

सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञं भूषणैरतिशोभनैः। वस्त्रचंदनमाल्याद्यैर्वृणुयात्पाठसंश्रुतौ

sarvaśāstrārthatattvajñaṁ bhūṣaṇairatiśobhanaiḥ vastracaṁdanamālyādyairvṛṇuyātpāṭhasaṁśrutau

knowing the true meaning of every scripture — one should invite him to the recitation with most beautiful ornaments, garments, sandal, and garlands.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.89.11)

कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा ततः संप्रार्थयेद्द्विजम्। त्वं विष्णुर्विष्णुरेव त्वं न तु भेदः कदाचन

kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā tataḥ saṁprārthayeddvijam tvaṁ viṣṇurviṣṇureva tvaṁ na tu bhedaḥ kadācana

Then, with hands folded, one should entreat that brahmin: 'You are Vishnu, you are verily Vishnu; there is never any difference between you.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.89.12)

निर्विघ्नं मे भवत्वेव त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रसीद च। ततो वृतं ब्राह्मणं च बहुमूल्यासने शुभे

nirvighnaṁ me bhavatveva tvatprasādātprasīda ca tato vṛtaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ca bahumūlyāsane śubhe

May it be free of obstacles for me, by your grace; be gracious.' Then, having seated the chosen brahmin upon a costly and auspicious seat,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.89.13)

वासयित्वा च तस्यैव गले मालां विनिक्षिपेत्। मस्तके पुष्पगर्भं च चंदनैरनुलेपयेत्

vāsayitvā ca tasyaiva gale mālāṁ vinikṣipet mastake puṣpagarbhaṁ ca caṁdanairanulepayet

one should place a garland around his neck, and anoint his head, filled with flowers, with sandal-paste.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.89.14)

यस्मात्तस्मिंश्च समये विप्रो व्याससमो मतः। तेनैव ब्राह्मणेनैव पुस्तके विष्णुरूपके

yasmāttasmiṁśca samaye vipro vyāsasamo mataḥ tenaiva brāhmaṇenaiva pustake viṣṇurūpake

For at that time the brahmin is regarded as equal to Vyasa himself; by that very brahmin, upon the book in the form of Vishnu,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.89.15)

कारयेद्व्यासपूजां च श्रीखण्डागुरुपुष्पकैः। नानोपचारै रुचिरैर्भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकैरपि

kārayedvyāsapūjāṁ ca śrīkhaṇḍāgurupuṣpakaiḥ nānopacārai rucirairbhakṣyabhojyādikairapi

one should have the worship of Vyasa performed, with sandalwood and aloe-wood and flowers, with various beautiful ritual honours, and with foods and delicacies as well.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.89.16)

भक्त्या चासनदानादिविधिः कार्यो दिने दिने। सांप्रतं कथयाम्येवं श्रूयतां श्रोतृलक्षणम्

bhaktyā cāsanadānādividhiḥ kāryo dine dine sāṁprataṁ kathayāmyevaṁ śrūyatāṁ śrotṛlakṣaṇam

This rite of offering a seat and gifts should be performed with devotion, day after day. Now I shall likewise tell you the characteristics of a proper listener; hear them.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.89.17)

गतानुगतिकानां च निवासार्थं तथा द्विजाः। आसनानि यथायोग्यं रचयित्वा स्वयं तथा

gatānugatikānāṁ ca nivāsārthaṁ tathā dvijāḥ āsanāni yathāyogyaṁ racayitvā svayaṁ tathā

For the sake of housing those who merely follow along out of custom, O brahmins, one should arrange seats each in its proper place, oneself as well,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.89.18)

शुभासनांतरस्थो हि भवेदुत्कण्ठमानसः। अथवा संस्कृते देशे सर्वैः सह वसेद्भुवि

śubhāsanāṁtarastho hi bhavedutkaṇṭhamānasaḥ athavā saṁskṛte deśe sarvaiḥ saha vasedbhuvi

seated upon an auspicious seat, one's mind filled with eager longing; or, in a consecrated place, one should dwell on the ground together with everyone.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.89.19)

व्यासस्याग्रे निवसतिरासने नोच्च एव च। कृतस्नानो मुदा युक्तो धारयंञ्छुक्लवाससी

vyāsasyāgre nivasatirāsane nocca eva ca kṛtasnāno mudā yukto dhārayaṁñchuklavāsasī

One's seat should be before Vyasa, but not raised too high; having bathed, filled with joy, wearing white garments,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.89.20)

आचांतः शंखचक्रादितिलकान्वितविग्रहः। मनसा भावयेद्विष्णुं विश्वासं कारयेद्भृशम्

ācāṁtaḥ śaṁkhacakrāditilakānvitavigrahaḥ manasā bhāvayedviṣṇuṁ viśvāsaṁ kārayedbhṛśam

having sipped water, one's body marked with the tilaka of the conch and discus and the like, one should meditate on Vishnu in the mind, and cultivate faith intensely.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.89.21)

पुराणे ब्राह्मणे चैव देवे च मंत्रकर्मणि। तीर्थे वृद्धस्य वचने विश्वासः फलदायकः

purāṇe brāhmaṇe caiva deve ca maṁtrakarmaṇi tīrthe vṛddhasya vacane viśvāsaḥ phaladāyakaḥ

In the Purana, in the brahmin, in the deity, in the mantra-rite, in the sacred place, and in the word of an elder — faith is what bestows fruit.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.89.22)

अतो मुनिवराः सर्वं पुण्यं विश्वासकारणम्। पाषंडादिकसंभाषं वृथालापं प्रयत्नतः

ato munivarāḥ sarvaṁ puṇyaṁ viśvāsakāraṇam pāṣaṁḍādikasaṁbhāṣaṁ vṛthālāpaṁ prayatnataḥ

Therefore, O best of sages, all merit has faith as its cause. One should, with effort, avoid conversing with heretics and the like, and idle chatter,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.89.23)

पुराणश्रवणे काले सर्वचिंतां च वर्जयेत्। अनेन विधिना विप्राः प्रत्यहं शृणुयान्मुदा

purāṇaśravaṇe kāle sarvaciṁtāṁ ca varjayet anena vidhinā viprāḥ pratyahaṁ śṛṇuyānmudā

and set aside every worldly concern during the time of hearing the Purana. By this procedure, O brahmins, one should listen every day with joy.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.89.24)

ततः पाठे समाप्ते च करतालादिकैर्मुहुः। जय कृष्ण जगन्नाथ हर इत्यादिनामभिः

tataḥ pāṭhe samāpte ca karatālādikairmuhuḥ jaya kṛṣṇa jagannātha hara ityādināmabhiḥ

Then, when the recitation is concluded, again and again with clapping of hands and the like, with the names 'Jaya Krishna, Jagannatha, Hara' and the like,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.89.25)

विस्तारयेद्यथाकाशे श्रूयते शब्द एव सः। एवं च प्रत्यहं कुर्यात्प्रीतये मुरवैरिणः

vistārayedyathākāśe śrūyate śabda eva saḥ evaṁ ca pratyahaṁ kuryātprītaye muravairiṇaḥ

one should extend that very sound so that it is heard even in the sky; and one should do this every day, for the pleasure of the Foe-of-Mura.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.89.26)

ततो ग्रंथसमाप्तौ च विष्णुप्रीणनतत्परः। विशेषाद्वस्त्रमाल्यादिचंदनैर्भूषणैस्तथा। भूषयेत्परया भक्त्या विप्रं व्याससमं द्विजाः

tato graṁthasamāptau ca viṣṇuprīṇanatatparaḥ viśeṣādvastramālyādicaṁdanairbhūṣaṇaistathā bhūṣayetparayā bhaktyā vipraṁ vyāsasamaṁ dvijāḥ

Then, at the conclusion of the text, intent on pleasing Vishnu, one should especially adorn the brahmin, equal to Vyasa, with garments, garlands, sandal, and ornaments, O brahmins, with supreme devotion,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.89.27)

आत्मशक्त्या प्रदद्याच्च दक्षिणां वै यथाविधि। ये ये प्रदद्युर्यद्यच्च मत्तस्तच्छृणुताधुना

ātmaśaktyā pradadyācca dakṣiṇāṁ vai yathāvidhi ye ye pradadyuryadyacca mattastacchṛṇutādhunā

and give him, according to one's own means and according to rite, the sacrificial fee. Now hear from me what each class of person should give.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.89.28)

राजानः करिणो दद्युः सालंकारान्सुलक्षणान्। क्षत्रिया एवमेवं च ते वै राजसमा मताः

rājānaḥ kariṇo dadyuḥ sālaṁkārānsulakṣaṇān kṣatriyā evamevaṁ ca te vai rājasamā matāḥ

Kings should give elephants, adorned with ornaments and of good marks; kshatriyas should give likewise, and they are considered equal to kings in this.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.89.29)

ब्राह्मणाः पुस्तकांश्चैव विष्णोरर्चाकरंडिकाः। कनकं रजतं चैव धान्यं वस्त्रं स्वभक्तितः

brāhmaṇāḥ pustakāṁścaiva viṣṇorarcākaraṁḍikāḥ kanakaṁ rajataṁ caiva dhānyaṁ vastraṁ svabhaktitaḥ

Brahmins should give books, and boxes for Vishnu's worship-image, gold and silver, grain, and cloth, with their own devotion,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.89.30)

विशश्च रत्नभूषाढ्यान्सिन्धुदेशोद्भवानपि। गाश्च लक्षणसंयुक्ताः सवत्साश्च पयस्विनीः

viśaśca ratnabhūṣāḍhyānsindhudeśodbhavānapi gāśca lakṣaṇasaṁyuktāḥ savatsāśca payasvinīḥ

and vaishyas should give attendants rich with jewelled ornaments, brought even from the land of Sindhu, and cows possessed of good marks, together with their calves, yielding milk,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.89.31)

अन्यच्च कनकाद्यं च त्यजेयुर्धर्मतत्पराः। शूद्राः प्रदद्युः परया मुदा संयुक्तमानसाः

anyacca kanakādyaṁ ca tyajeyurdharmatatparāḥ śūdrāḥ pradadyuḥ parayā mudā saṁyuktamānasāḥ

and other things such as gold besides — those devoted to dharma should give up all these; shudras, filled with supreme joy and a devoted mind, should give

Verse 32 (skanda.2.89.32)

वासांसि च सुवर्णं च धान्यं रत्नानि गास्तथा। नानालंकारयुक्ताश्च घटोघ्नीर्बालगर्भिणीः

vāsāṁsi ca suvarṇaṁ ca dhānyaṁ ratnāni gāstathā nānālaṁkārayuktāśca ghaṭoghnīrbālagarbhiṇīḥ

garments, gold, grain, jewels, and cows likewise, endowed with various ornaments, milk-yielding and pregnant.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.89.33)

एवं वै दक्षिणां दद्याद्येन संतुष्यते गुरुः। आत्मनः शक्तितो विप्रा वित्तशाठ्यं न कारयेत्

evaṁ vai dakṣiṇāṁ dadyādyena saṁtuṣyate guruḥ ātmanaḥ śaktito viprā vittaśāṭhyaṁ na kārayet

Thus one should give the sacrificial fee in whatever way pleases the teacher; brahmins should give according to their own means, and not practice miserliness with wealth.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.89.34)

शांतिकं पौष्टिकं चैव व्रतोद्वाहादि कर्म च। मोक्षस्य साधकं कर्म पुराणश्रवणं तथा

śāṁtikaṁ pauṣṭikaṁ caiva vratodvāhādi karma ca mokṣasya sādhakaṁ karma purāṇaśravaṇaṁ tathā

The rites of pacification and of nourishment, and the rites of vows, marriage, and the like, the act that accomplishes liberation, namely the hearing of the Purana,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.89.35)

यज्ञादिकं च दानं च व्रतं नानाविधं तथा। यदि चेद्दक्षिणाहीनं तदा भवति निष्फलम्

yajñādikaṁ ca dānaṁ ca vrataṁ nānāvidhaṁ tathā yadi ceddakṣiṇāhīnaṁ tadā bhavati niṣphalam

sacrifices and gifts, and vows of various kinds — if these are without the sacrificial fee, they become fruitless.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.89.36)

असुराः कर्मणस्तस्य हरंति फलमेव तत्। यथा स्त्रीणां च लावण्यं भर्तृस्नेहविवर्जितम्

asurāḥ karmaṇastasya haraṁti phalameva tat yathā strīṇāṁ ca lāvaṇyaṁ bhartṛsnehavivarjitam

The demons steal away the very fruit of that act — just as a woman's beauty, when devoid of her husband's affection, is fruitless,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.89.37)

युद्धात्पलायितानां च पृष्ठं कृत्वा धनुष्मताम्। विना धावनमश्वानां दुष्टत्वं हि यथा द्विजाः

yuddhātpalāyitānāṁ ca pṛṣṭhaṁ kṛtvā dhanuṣmatām vinā dhāvanamaśvānāṁ duṣṭatvaṁ hi yathā dvijāḥ

or, O brahmins, just as it is a fault for archers who have fled from battle to turn their backs, or for horses to lack the ability to run,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.89.38)

मूकत्वेनेव पांडित्यं सर्वशास्त्रविपश्चिताम्। हीनं दक्षिणया यद्यत्कर्म तद्वच्च निष्फलम्

mūkatveneva pāṁḍityaṁ sarvaśāstravipaścitām hīnaṁ dakṣiṇayā yadyatkarma tadvacca niṣphalam

or as learning is like dumbness for those otherwise wise in all the scriptures — so too, whatever rite is devoid of the sacrificial fee becomes equally fruitless.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.89.39)

दानेन क्षीयते यस्मादुरितानां कदंबकम्। दक्षिणेति तथा विप्रा गीयते शास्त्रवेदिभिः

dānena kṣīyate yasmāduritānāṁ kadaṁbakam dakṣiṇeti tathā viprā gīyate śāstravedibhiḥ

Because by giving, the mass of one's sins is diminished, therefore the sacrificial fee is so named and celebrated by those learned in the scriptures.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.89.40)

ततो विप्रान्भोजयेद्वै यथाशक्तिप्रकल्पितैः। कर्पूरेण च खंडेन सर्पिषा पायसैर्युतैः

tato viprānbhojayedvai yathāśaktiprakalpitaiḥ karpūreṇa ca khaṁḍena sarpiṣā pāyasairyutaiḥ

Then one should feed the brahmins with dishes prepared according to one's means — with camphor, with sugar, with ghee, together with payasam,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.89.41)

षड्विधैरन्नपानाद्यैः सुस्वादैरमृतोपमैः। तेभ्योपि स्वर्णवस्त्रादि यथाशक्त्या प्रदापयेत्

ṣaḍvidhairannapānādyaiḥ susvādairamṛtopamaiḥ tebhyopi svarṇavastrādi yathāśaktyā pradāpayet

with the six kinds of foods and drinks, delicious and nectar-like; and to them too one should give gold, cloth, and the like, according to one's means.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.89.42)

एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं पुराणश्रवणस्य च। सांगोपांगविधानं च येन स्यात्सफलं त्विदम्। इदानीं भो मुनिश्रेष्ठाः किमन्यज्ज्ञातुमिच्छथ

etadvaḥ kathitaṁ sarvaṁ purāṇaśravaṇasya ca sāṁgopāṁgavidhānaṁ ca yena syātsaphalaṁ tvidam idānīṁ bho muniśreṣṭhāḥ kimanyajjñātumicchatha

All this has been declared to you, the entire procedure of the hearing of the Purana together with all its parts and sub-parts, by which this recitation becomes fruitful. Now, O best of sages, what else do you wish to know?

Verse 43 (skanda.2.89.43)

मुनय ऊचुः। अहोऽस्माकं महाभाग्यं यत्पापौघविनाशनम्। पुराणश्रवणस्यैव फलमस्माभिरेव च

munaya ūcuḥ aho'smākaṁ mahābhāgyaṁ yatpāpaughavināśanam purāṇaśravaṇasyaiva phalamasmābhireva ca

The sages said: Ah, what great fortune is ours, that we ourselves have obtained the very fruit of hearing the Purana, which destroys the mass of sin,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.89.44)

सांगोपांगविधानं च श्रुतं त्वन्मुखपंकजात्। धन्याः स्म कृतपुण्याः स्म संसारे विगतज्वराः

sāṁgopāṁgavidhānaṁ ca śrutaṁ tvanmukhapaṁkajāt dhanyāḥ sma kṛtapuṇyāḥ sma saṁsāre vigatajvarāḥ

and have heard, from your lotus mouth, its procedure together with all its parts and sub-parts! We are blessed, we have gained merit, we are free of the fever of worldly existence.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.89.45)

इदानीमात्मशक्त्या वै दीयते भवते मुने। दक्षिणा फलसंप्राप्त्यै प्रसन्नस्त्वं गृहाण च

idānīmātmaśaktyā vai dīyate bhavate mune dakṣiṇā phalasaṁprāptyai prasannastvaṁ gṛhāṇa ca

Now, O sage, this sacrificial fee is given to you according to our own means, for the attainment of its fruit; being gracious, please accept it.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.89.46)

इत्युक्तवंतो मुनयो ह्यकिंचनाः समित्कुशं पुष्पफलाक्षतादिकम्। क्लृप्त्वा च तस्मै मुनयः सुमुक्ताः क्षेत्रोत्तमं जग्मुरतिप्रहर्षिताः

ityuktavaṁto munayo hyakiṁcanāḥ samitkuśaṁ puṣpaphalākṣatādikam klṛptvā ca tasmai munayaḥ sumuktāḥ kṣetrottamaṁ jagmuratipraharṣitāḥ

Having spoken thus, the sages, though possessed of nothing, having prepared for him fuel-sticks, kusha grass, flowers, fruits, unbroken rice, and the like, themselves fully liberated, went, filled with the greatest joy, to that most excellent sacred field.