The Disappearance of the Lord from Vishala and the Glory of Badari's Offered Food

Verse 1 (skanda.2.94.1)

स्कंद उवाच । किमर्थं भगवांस्तत्र वसति श्रद्धया पुनः । किं पुण्यं किं फलं तस्य दर्शनस्पर्शनादिभिः ।

skaṁda uvāca kimarthaṁ bhagavāṁstatra vasati śraddhayā punaḥ kiṁ puṇyaṁ kiṁ phalaṁ tasya darśanasparśanādibhiḥ

Skanda said: O lord, why does the Lord dwell there again with such devotion? What is the merit, what the fruit, of his darshan, his touch, and the like?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.94.2)

नैवेद्यभक्षणं चापि महापूजाकृतेस्तथा । प्रदक्षिणस्य च फलं ब्रूहि मे कृपया पितः ।

naivedyabhakṣaṇaṁ cāpi mahāpūjākṛtestathā pradakṣiṇasya ca phalaṁ brūhi me kṛpayā pitaḥ

Tell me too, O father, out of compassion, the fruit of partaking his offered food (naivedya), of performing great worship, and of circumambulation.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.94.3)

शिव उवाच । पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ सर्वभूतहिताय च । मूर्तिमान्भगवांस्तत्र तपोयोगसमाश्रितः ।

śiva uvāca purā kṛtayugasyādau sarvabhūtahitāya ca mūrtimānbhagavāṁstatra tapoyogasamāśritaḥ

Shiva said: Long ago, at the beginning of the Krita Yuga, for the welfare of all beings, the Lord himself, in embodied form, took up residence there in tapas and yoga.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.94.4)

त्रेतायुगे ह्यृषिगणैर्योगाभ्यासैकतत्परः । द्वापरे समनुप्राप्ते ज्ञाननिष्ठो हि दुर्लभः ।

tretāyuge hyṛṣigaṇairyogābhyāsaikatatparaḥ dvāpare samanuprāpte jñānaniṣṭho hi durlabhaḥ

In the Treta Yuga the sages beheld him, wholly devoted to the practice of yoga; but once the Dvapara had come, steadfastness in knowledge grew rare indeed.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.94.5)

ऋषीणां देवतानां च दुर्दर्शो भगवानभूत् । ततो ह्यृषिगणा देवा अलभ्य भगवद्गतिम् ।

ṛṣīṇāṁ devatānāṁ ca durdarśo bhagavānabhūt tato hyṛṣigaṇā devā alabhya bhagavadgatim

The Lord became hard to behold even for sages and gods. Then the hosts of sages and gods, unable any longer to find the Lord's presence,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.94.6)

स्वायंभुवं पदं याता विस्मयाकुलचेतसः । तत्र गत्वा नमस्कृत्य ऊचुर्लोकेश्वरं मुदा । बृहस्पतिं पुरस्कृत्य ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।

svāyaṁbhuvaṁ padaṁ yātā vismayākulacetasaḥ tatra gatvā namaskṛtya ūcurlokeśvaraṁ mudā bṛhaspatiṁ puraskṛtya ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ

went, their minds bewildered with astonishment, to the abode of Svayambhu, Brahma. Arriving there and bowing down, the sages rich in austerity, with Brihaspati at their head, joyfully addressed the Lord of the worlds.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.94.7)

देवा ऊचुः । नमस्ते सर्वलोकानामाश्रयः शरणार्तिहा । वृत्तिदः करुणापूर्णः पितामह सुरेश्वर । निवेदनीया विपदः समुद्धर्ता पितासि नः ।

devā ūcuḥ namaste sarvalokānāmāśrayaḥ śaraṇārtihā vṛttidaḥ karuṇāpūrṇaḥ pitāmaha sureśvara nivedanīyā vipadaḥ samuddhartā pitāsi naḥ

The gods said: Salutations to you, refuge of all the worlds, remover of the sorrow of those who take shelter in you, giver of sustenance, filled with compassion, O grandsire, lord of the gods! Our calamity is fit to be reported to you alone — you are our father and our deliverer.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.94.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । किमर्थमागता यूयं विस्मयाकुलमानसाः । मिलिता ऋषिभिः साकं ब्रूतागमनकारणम् ।

brahmovāca kimarthamāgatā yūyaṁ vismayākulamānasāḥ militā ṛṣibhiḥ sākaṁ brūtāgamanakāraṇam

Brahma said: For what reason have you come, your minds troubled with astonishment, gathered together with the sages? Tell me the cause of your coming.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.94.9)

देवा ऊचुः । द्वापरे समनुप्राप्ते विशालायां विशालधीः । भगवान्दृश्यते नैव तत्र किं कारणं वद ।

devā ūcuḥ dvāpare samanuprāpte viśālāyāṁ viśāladhīḥ bhagavāndṛśyate naiva tatra kiṁ kāraṇaṁ vada

The gods said: O you of vast wisdom, now that the Dvapara Yuga has come, the Lord is no longer to be seen in Vishala. What is the reason for this — tell us.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.94.10)

विशाला किं परित्यक्ता ततो वा क्व गतः स्वयम् । अपराधादुतास्माकं कथं चासौ प्रसीदति ।

viśālā kiṁ parityaktā tato vā kva gataḥ svayam aparādhādutāsmākaṁ kathaṁ cāsau prasīdati

Has he abandoned Vishala? Or where has he himself gone? Is it perhaps because of some offense of ours? And how might he be made gracious once more?

Verse 11 (skanda.2.94.11)

ब्रह्मोवाच । नाहमेतद्विजानामि श्रुतं चाद्य मुखाद्धि वः । को हेतुर्दृक्पथातीतो भगवान्भवतां सुराः । आगच्छत वयं यामस्तीरं क्षीरपयोनिधेः ।

brahmovāca nāhametadvijānāmi śrutaṁ cādya mukhāddhi vaḥ ko heturdṛkpathātīto bhagavānbhavatāṁ surāḥ āgacchata vayaṁ yāmastīraṁ kṣīrapayonidheḥ

Brahma said: I do not know this myself; it is today, from your own mouths, that I have heard it. O gods, what is the reason the Lord has passed beyond the range of sight? Come, let us go to the shore of the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.94.12)

इत्युक्तास्ते पुरोधाय ब्रह्माणं त्रिदिवौकसः । ययुः क्षीरांबुधेस्तीरमृषयश्च तपोधनाः ।

ityuktāste purodhāya brahmāṇaṁ tridivaukasaḥ yayuḥ kṣīrāṁbudhestīramṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ

Thus addressed, the dwellers of heaven, placing Brahma at their head, went to the shore of the Ocean of Milk, together with the sages rich in austerity.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.94.13)

तत्र गत्वा जगन्नाथं देवदेवं वृषाकपिम् । गीर्भिश्चित्रपदार्थाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्जगदीश्वरम् ।

tatra gatvā jagannāthaṁ devadevaṁ vṛṣākapim gīrbhiścitrapadārthābhistuṣṭuvurjagadīśvaram

Having arrived there, they praised the Lord of the universe, the God of gods, Vrishakapi, the Ruler of the world, with hymns of wondrous meaning.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.94.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच । नमस्ते पुरुषाध्यक्ष सर्वभूतगुहाशय । वासुदेवाखिलाधार जगद्धेतो जगन्मय ।

brahmovāca namaste puruṣādhyakṣa sarvabhūtaguhāśaya vāsudevākhilādhāra jagaddheto jaganmaya

Brahma said: Salutations to you, O overseer of all beings, who dwell hidden in the cave of every creature's heart. Salutations to you, O Vasudeva, support of all, the cause of the world, pervading the world.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.94.15)

त्वमेव सर्वभूतानां हेतुः पतिरुताश्रयः । मायाशक्तिमुपाश्रित्य विचरस्येकसुन्दर ।

tvameva sarvabhūtānāṁ hetuḥ patirutāśrayaḥ māyāśaktimupāśritya vicarasyekasundara

You alone are the cause, the lord, and the refuge of all beings; resorting to the power of your Maya, O sole beautiful one, you wander through creation.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.94.16)

एको नानायते योऽसौ नटवज्जायतेऽव्ययः । व्यापकोऽपि कृपालुत्वाद्भक्तहृत्पद्मषट्पद । ददाति विविधानंदं तं वंदे जगतां पतिम् ।

eko nānāyate yo'sau naṭavajjāyate'vyayaḥ vyāpako'pi kṛpālutvādbhaktahṛtpadmaṣaṭpada dadāti vividhānaṁdaṁ taṁ vaṁde jagatāṁ patim

He who, though one, becomes many; who, imperishable, seems to take birth like an actor upon a stage; who, though all-pervading, out of compassion becomes the bee at the lotus of his devotees' hearts, granting manifold bliss — to him, the Lord of the worlds, I bow.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.94.17)

देवा ऊचुः । विपद्वनांते हुतभुग्जनानां गृहीतसत्त्वस्त्रिदशावनीशः । चराचरात्मा भगवाननंतः कृपाकटाक्षैरवलोकतां नः ।

devā ūcuḥ vipadvanāṁte hutabhugjanānāṁ gṛhītasattvastridaśāvanīśaḥ carācarātmā bhagavānanaṁtaḥ kṛpākaṭākṣairavalokatāṁ naḥ

The gods said: O refuge of those scorched at the edge of the wildfire of calamity, protector of the three worlds, the Self of all that moves and moves not, the infinite Lord — look upon us with your compassionate glance.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.94.18)

सकृद्यन्नामपीयूषरसपानपरः पुमान् । निःश्रेयसं तृणमिव मन्यते तं हरिं भजे ।

sakṛdyannāmapīyūṣarasapānaparaḥ pumān niḥśreyasaṁ tṛṇamiva manyate taṁ hariṁ bhaje

That man who has tasted, even once, the nectar-juice of his Name comes to regard even liberation itself as a mere blade of grass — that Hari I worship.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.94.19)

अविद्याप्रतिबिंबत्वाज्जीवभावमुपागतः । विज्ञत्वादुपशांतात्मा स पुनातु जगत्त्रयम् ।

avidyāpratibiṁbatvājjīvabhāvamupāgataḥ vijñatvādupaśāṁtātmā sa punātu jagattrayam

He who, through being reflected within ignorance, has come to the condition of an individual soul, yet whose self, through true knowledge, is ever at peace — may he purify the three worlds.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.94.20)

गंधर्वा ऊचुः । पिबंति ये हरेः पदांबुसंगलेशतः पयः पयो न ते पुनःपुनः पिबंति मातुरंकतः । प्रसंगतो यदा भिधासुधां निपीय मानवा मृताऽमृतं व्रजंत्यधो न जातु यांत्यशंकिताः ।

gaṁdharvā ūcuḥ pibaṁti ye hareḥ padāṁbusaṁgaleśataḥ payaḥ payo na te punaḥpunaḥ pibaṁti māturaṁkataḥ prasaṁgato yadā bhidhāsudhāṁ nipīya mānavā mṛtā'mṛtaṁ vrajaṁtyadho na jātu yāṁtyaśaṁkitāḥ

The Gandharvas said: Those who drink even a little water that has touched Hari's feet never again drink milk at a mother's breast — that is, they are never reborn. When men, through the company of the good, drink in the nectar of his Name, then, mortal though they are, they attain immortality — without doubt, they never sink downward again.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.94.21)

ततः स्तुतो हरिः साक्षात्सिंधोरुत्थाय चाब्रवीत् । अलक्षितोऽपरैर्ब्रह्मा परं तद्वेद नापरः ।

tataḥ stuto hariḥ sākṣātsiṁdhorutthāya cābravīt alakṣito'parairbrahmā paraṁ tadveda nāparaḥ

Thus praised, Hari rose up in person from the Ocean of Milk and spoke: 'Brahma has grasped this supreme truth, unseen by others; no one else knows it.'

Verse 22 (skanda.2.94.22)

ब्रह्मा तदुपधार्याथ नत्वा तस्मै दिवौकस । बोधयामास सकलं सुराः शृणुत सादरम् ।

brahmā tadupadhāryātha natvā tasmai divaukasa bodhayāmāsa sakalaṁ surāḥ śṛṇuta sādaram

Brahma, grasping this, bowed to him, O dweller of heaven, and made it known to all: 'O gods, listen with reverence.'

Verse 23 (skanda.2.94.23)

अंतर्हितोऽसौ भगवान्दृष्ट्वा लोकान्कुमेधसः । श्रुत्वेत्थं वचनं तस्य सर्वे देवा दिवं ययुः ।

aṁtarhito'sau bhagavāndṛṣṭvā lokānkumedhasaḥ śrutvetthaṁ vacanaṁ tasya sarve devā divaṁ yayuḥ

Seeing that the people had become dull of understanding, the Lord vanished from sight. Having heard these words of Brahma, all the gods returned to heaven.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.94.24)

ततोऽहं यतिरूपेण तीर्थान्नारदसंज्ञकात् । उद्धृत्य स्थापयिष्यामि हरिं लोकहितेच्छया ।

tato'haṁ yatirūpeṇa tīrthānnāradasaṁjñakāt uddhṛtya sthāpayiṣyāmi hariṁ lokahitecchayā

'Then I, in the form of an ascetic, will raise up Hari from the ford named after Narada, and, wishing for the good of the world, establish him there.'

Verse 25 (skanda.2.94.25)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पातकानि महान्त्यपि । विलीयंते क्षणादेव सिंहं दृष्ट्वा मृगा इव ।

yasya darśanamātreṇa pātakāni mahāntyapi vilīyaṁte kṣaṇādeva siṁhaṁ dṛṣṭvā mṛgā iva

At the mere sight of whom even great sins dissolve in an instant, just as deer flee at the sight of a lion.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.94.26)

धर्माधर्मान्विजित्याथ बदरीशं विभुं हरिम् । दृष्ट्वा मुक्तिमुपायांति विनाऽऽयासं षडानन ।

dharmādharmānvijityātha badarīśaṁ vibhuṁ harim dṛṣṭvā muktimupāyāṁti vinā''yāsaṁ ṣaḍānana

O Six-Faced One, having transcended both merit and sin, and having beheld Hari, the all-pervading Lord of Badari, people attain liberation without any effort.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.94.27)

त्यक्तप्रायाणि तीर्थानि हरिणा कलिकालतः । बदरीं समनुप्राप्य साक्षादेवावतिष्ठते ।

tyaktaprāyāṇi tīrthāni hariṇā kalikālataḥ badarīṁ samanuprāpya sākṣādevāvatiṣṭhate

Because of the Kali age, Hari has all but forsaken the other sacred fords; having come to Badari, he abides there in person.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.94.28)

कलिकालमनुप्राप्य मुक्तिर्येषामभीप्सिता । द्रष्टव्या बदरी तैस्तु हित्वा तीर्थान्यशेषतः ।

kalikālamanuprāpya muktiryeṣāmabhīpsitā draṣṭavyā badarī taistu hitvā tīrthānyaśeṣataḥ

Those who, in this age of Kali, desire liberation must, leaving aside every other tirtha, seek the sight of Badari.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.94.29)

विना ज्ञानेन योगेन तीर्थाटनपरिश्रमैः । एकेन जन्मना जंतुः कैवल्यं पदमश्नुते ।

vinā jñānena yogena tīrthāṭanapariśramaiḥ ekena janmanā jaṁtuḥ kaivalyaṁ padamaśnute

Without knowledge, without yoga, without the toil of pilgrimage, a creature attains the state of liberation in a single birth.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.94.30)

जन्मांतरसहस्रैस्तु येन चाराधितो हरिः । स गच्छेद्बदरीं द्रष्टुं यत्र जंतुर्न शोचति ।

janmāṁtarasahasraistu yena cārādhito hariḥ sa gacchedbadarīṁ draṣṭuṁ yatra jaṁturna śocati

He by whom Hari has been worshipped through a thousand previous births — he alone comes to behold Badari, where no creature ever grieves.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.94.31)

बदरीबदरीत्युक्त्वा प्रसंगान्मनुजोत्तमः । संसारतिमिराबाधे दीपमुज्वालयत्यसौ ।

badarībadarītyuktvā prasaṁgānmanujottamaḥ saṁsāratimirābādhe dīpamujvālayatyasau

The best of men, merely by uttering 'Badari, Badari' in passing, lights a lamp amid the oppressive darkness of worldly existence.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.94.32)

यथा दीपावलोकेन तमोबाधा न जायते । तथैव बदरीं दृष्ट्वा पुंसो मृत्युभयं कुतः ।

yathā dīpāvalokena tamobādhā na jāyate tathaiva badarīṁ dṛṣṭvā puṁso mṛtyubhayaṁ kutaḥ

Just as, by the light of a lamp, the affliction of darkness does not arise, so too, having beheld Badari, how could the fear of death remain for a man?

Verse 33 (skanda.2.94.33)

दर्शनाद्यस्य पापानि रुदंत्यव्याहतानि च । मुक्तिमार्गमुपालक्ष्य तं वंदे बदरीपतिम् ।

darśanādyasya pāpāni rudaṁtyavyāhatāni ca muktimārgamupālakṣya taṁ vaṁde badarīpatim

At whose very sight even great, unchecked sins are made to weep — recognizing thus the very path of liberation, I bow to that Lord of Badari.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.94.34)

सशैलकानना भूमिर्दशधा दक्षिणीकृता । हरेः प्रदक्षिणं तद्वद्बदर्यां तत्पदेपदे ।

saśailakānanā bhūmirdaśadhā dakṣiṇīkṛtā hareḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ tadvadbadaryāṁ tatpadepade

The merit of circling the whole earth, with its mountains and forests, ten times over — that same merit is gained with every single step of circumambulating Hari at Badari.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.94.35)

अश्वमेधे तु यत्पुण्यं वाजपेयशतेन च । हरेः प्रदक्षिणात्तद्वद्बदर्यां तत्पदेपदे ।

aśvamedhe tu yatpuṇyaṁ vājapeyaśatena ca hareḥ pradakṣiṇāttadvadbadaryāṁ tatpadepade

Whatever merit lies in the Ashvamedha sacrifice and in a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices — the same merit is gained with every single step of circling Hari at Badari.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.94.36)

चतुर्मासे तु यत्पुण्यं ब्रह्मांडदानतस्तथा । हरेः प्रदक्षिणं तद्वद्बदर्यां तत्पदेपदे ।

caturmāse tu yatpuṇyaṁ brahmāṁḍadānatastathā hareḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ tadvadbadaryāṁ tatpadepade

Whatever merit lies in observing the Chaturmasya vow and in the gift of a golden universe — the same merit comes with every single step of circling Hari at Badari.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.94.37)

अतिकृच्छ्रैर्महाकृच्छ्रैश्छांदसैः सुकृतं भवेत् । हरेः प्रदक्षिणं तद्वद्बदर्यां तत्पदेपदे ।

atikṛcchrairmahākṛcchraiśchāṁdasaiḥ sukṛtaṁ bhavet hareḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ tadvadbadaryāṁ tatpadepade

Whatever merit accrues from the atikrichchhra and mahakrichchhra penances and the Vedic austerities — the same merit is gained, step by step, in circumambulating Hari at Badari.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.94.38)

बदर्यां विष्णुनैवेद्यं सिक्थमात्रं षडानन । अशनाच्छोधयेत्पापं तुषाग्निरिव कांचनम् ।

badaryāṁ viṣṇunaivedyaṁ sikthamātraṁ ṣaḍānana aśanācchodhayetpāpaṁ tuṣāgniriva kāṁcanam

O Six-Faced One, at Badari, even a single grain of Vishnu's offered food, when eaten, purifies sin, just as fire kindled from husks purifies gold.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.94.39)

यदन्नं भगवानत्ति ऋषिभिर्न्नारदादिभिः । तत्सत्त्वशुद्धये सर्वैर्भोक्तव्यमविचारितम् ।

yadannaṁ bhagavānatti ṛṣibhirnnāradādibhiḥ tatsattvaśuddhaye sarvairbhoktavyamavicāritam

That food which the Lord himself eats together with sages headed by Narada must be eaten by all, without hesitation, for the purification of their being.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.94.40)

अमरा अपि यन्नूनं व्याजेनेच्छन्ति सर्वतः । भोक्तुं बदरिकां विष्णोर्नैवेद्यं यांति तत्पराः ।

amarā api yannūnaṁ vyājenecchanti sarvataḥ bhoktuṁ badarikāṁ viṣṇornaivedyaṁ yāṁti tatparāḥ

That very thing which even the immortals long to obtain, by whatever pretext, from every side — devoted to it, they come to Badarika to partake of Vishnu's offered food.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.94.41)

भोजनानंतरं विष्णोः प्रगच्छन्ति स्वमालयम् । प्रह्लादप्रमुखा भक्ताः प्रविशंति हरेः पदम् ।

bhojanānaṁtaraṁ viṣṇoḥ pragacchanti svamālayam prahlādapramukhā bhaktāḥ praviśaṁti hareḥ padam

After Vishnu's meal-offering, the gods return each to his own abode; but devotees headed by Prahlada enter into Hari's own supreme state.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.94.42)

बाल्ययौवनवार्द्धक्ये यत्पापं ज्ञानतः कृतम् । नैवेद्यभक्षणाद्विष्णोर्बदर्यां तद्विलीयते ।

bālyayauvanavārddhakye yatpāpaṁ jñānataḥ kṛtam naivedyabhakṣaṇādviṣṇorbadaryāṁ tadvilīyate

Whatever sin has been knowingly committed in childhood, youth, or old age — that dissolves at Badari through the eating of Vishnu's offered food.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.94.43)

प्राणांतं यस्य पापस्य प्रायश्चित्तं प्रकीर्तितम् । विष्णोर्निवेदितं भुक्त्वा बदर्य्यां तन्निवर्त्तते ।

prāṇāṁtaṁ yasya pāpasya prāyaścittaṁ prakīrtitam viṣṇorniveditaṁ bhuktvā badaryyāṁ tannivarttate

That sin for which death itself has been prescribed as the only atonement — even that is removed at Badari by partaking of what has been offered to Vishnu.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.94.44)

तीर्थांतरेषु यत्नेन मुक्तिं गच्छति मानवः । नैवेद्यभक्षणाद्विष्णोः सालोक्यं लभते नरः ।

tīrthāṁtareṣu yatnena muktiṁ gacchati mānavaḥ naivedyabhakṣaṇādviṣṇoḥ sālokyaṁ labhate naraḥ

At other tirthas, a man attains liberation only through effort; but merely by eating Vishnu's offered food, a man attains dwelling in his very world.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.94.45)

हृदि रूपं मुखे नाम नैवेद्यमुदरे हरेः । पादोदकं सनिर्माल्यं मस्तके यस्य सोऽच्युतः ।

hṛdi rūpaṁ mukhe nāma naivedyamudare hareḥ pādodakaṁ sanirmālyaṁ mastake yasya so'cyutaḥ

He who bears the Lord's form in his heart, his Name upon his lips, Hari's offered food within him, and his foot-water together with the discarded garland-flowers upon his head — he himself becomes Achyuta, the imperishable one.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.94.46)

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वंगनागमः । नैवेद्यभक्षणाद्विष्णोर्बदर्यां यांति संक्षयम् ।

brahmahatyā surāpānaṁ steyaṁ gurvaṁganāgamaḥ naivedyabhakṣaṇādviṣṇorbadaryāṁ yāṁti saṁkṣayam

The killing of a Brahmin, the drinking of liquor, theft, and violating the teacher's wife — even these great sins are utterly destroyed at Badari through the eating of Vishnu's offered food.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.94.47)

बदरीसदृशं क्षेत्रं नैवेद्यसदृशं वसु । नारदीयसमं क्षेत्रं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।

badarīsadṛśaṁ kṣetraṁ naivedyasadṛśaṁ vasu nāradīyasamaṁ kṣetraṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

There has never been, nor will there ever be, any sacred field equal to Badari, any wealth equal to its offered food, or any field equal to the Naradiya tirtha.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.94.48)

बदरी यत्नतो गम्या भोक्तव्यं तन्निवेदितम् । द्रष्टव्यो भगवान्वह्नितीर्थे स्नानं सुदुर्लभम् ।

badarī yatnato gamyā bhoktavyaṁ tanniveditam draṣṭavyo bhagavānvahnitīrthe snānaṁ sudurlabham

Badari must be reached with effort, its offered food must be eaten, and the Lord must be beheld — yet bathing at the Fire-tirtha is exceedingly rare to attain.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.94.49)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि व्रतानि नियमास्तथा । पादोदकं विशालायां पावनं पुरतो भवेत् ।

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni vratāni niyamāstathā pādodakaṁ viśālāyāṁ pāvanaṁ purato bhavet

Whatever tirthas, vows, and observances exist upon this earth — the purifying foot-water obtained at Vishala surpasses them all.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.94.50)

किं तस्य दानैस्तपसा तीर्थाटनपरिश्रमैः । बदर्यां विष्णुपादोदबिंदुमात्रं लभेद्यदि ।

kiṁ tasya dānaistapasā tīrthāṭanapariśramaiḥ badaryāṁ viṣṇupādodabiṁdumātraṁ labhedyadi

What need has a man of gifts, austerity, or the toils of pilgrimage, if at Badari he obtains even a single drop of the water that has washed Vishnu's feet?

Verse 51 (skanda.2.94.51)

प्रायश्चित्तानि जल्पंति तावदेव षडानन । यावन्न लभ्यते विष्णोर्बदर्यां चरणोदकम् ।

prāyaścittāni jalpaṁti tāvadeva ṣaḍānana yāvanna labhyate viṣṇorbadaryāṁ caraṇodakam

O Six-Faced One, rites of atonement are spoken of only for so long as one has not yet obtained Vishnu's foot-water at Badari.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.94.52)

अनायासेन येषां वा इच्छा मुक्तिपथे नृणाम् । कर्त्तव्यं तैः प्रयत्नेन विष्णोर्नैवेद्यभक्षणम् ।

anāyāsena yeṣāṁ vā icchā muktipathe nṛṇām karttavyaṁ taiḥ prayatnena viṣṇornaivedyabhakṣaṇam

Those men who wish to attain the path of liberation without exertion should, with due effort, undertake the eating of Vishnu's offered food.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.94.53)

ये नराः प्रतिगृह्णंति पापाः संसारभागिनः । यात्राकृतं फलं तेषां न कदाचित्प्रजायते ।

ye narāḥ pratigṛhṇaṁti pāpāḥ saṁsārabhāginaḥ yātrākṛtaṁ phalaṁ teṣāṁ na kadācitprajāyate

Those sinful men who, out of greed, merely take without true devotion, remaining bound to worldly existence — for them the fruit of pilgrimage never comes to pass.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.94.54)

नैवेद्यनिंदनाद्विष्णोर्निंद्यंते ते तमोगताः । नैवेद्यभक्षणात्सत्त्वशुद्धिरेव न संशयः ।

naivedyaniṁdanādviṣṇorniṁdyaṁte te tamogatāḥ naivedyabhakṣaṇātsattvaśuddhireva na saṁśayaḥ

By disparaging Vishnu's offered food, such people are themselves condemned and sink into darkness; by eating the offered food, purity of being surely results — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.94.55)

नैवेद्यं स्वयमानीय ब्राह्मणान्भोजयंति ये । तुलापुरुषदानेन किं फलं ते कृतार्थिनः ।

naivedyaṁ svayamānīya brāhmaṇānbhojayaṁti ye tulāpuruṣadānena kiṁ phalaṁ te kṛtārthinaḥ

Those who, having themselves brought the offered food, feed Brahmins with it — such fulfilled souls, what further fruit remains for them to gain from the tula-purusha gift?

Verse 56 (skanda.2.94.56)

कुरुक्षेत्रे समासाद्य राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । महादानेन यत्पुण्यं बदर्य्यां ग्रासमात्रतः ।

kurukṣetre samāsādya rāhugraste divākare mahādānena yatpuṇyaṁ badaryyāṁ grāsamātrataḥ

Whatever merit is obtained through great gifts at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse — the same merit is obtained at Badari through merely a single mouthful of its food.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.94.57)

बदरीक्षेत्रमासाद्य ग्रासमात्रं प्रयत्नतः । उपायोऽयं महांस्तत्र बदर्यां हरितोषणे । यतिभ्यो भोजनाद्विष्णोरपराध्यपि वल्लभः ।

badarīkṣetramāsādya grāsamātraṁ prayatnataḥ upāyo'yaṁ mahāṁstatra badaryāṁ haritoṣaṇe yatibhyo bhojanādviṣṇoraparādhyapi vallabhaḥ

Having reached the sacred field of Badari, even a single mouthful obtained with effort is a great means of pleasing Hari there; by feeding ascetics in Vishnu's name, even one who has offended becomes dear to him.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.94.58)

न विष्णोः सदृशो देवो न विशाला समा पुरी । न भिक्षुसदृशं पात्रमृषितीर्थसमं न हि ।

na viṣṇoḥ sadṛśo devo na viśālā samā purī na bhikṣusadṛśaṁ pātramṛṣitīrthasamaṁ na hi

There is no god equal to Vishnu, no city equal to Vishala; no worthy recipient equal to a mendicant, and nothing equal to the sages' tirtha.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.94.59)

चातुर्मास्यं प्रकुर्वंति ये नराः पुण्यशालिनः । तेषां पुण्यफलं वक्तुं ब्रह्मणापि न शक्यते ।

cāturmāsyaṁ prakurvaṁti ye narāḥ puṇyaśālinaḥ teṣāṁ puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ brahmaṇāpi na śakyate

Those meritorious men who observe the Chaturmasya vow there — even Brahma cannot describe the fruit of their merit.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.94.60)

भिक्षुकाणां फलावाप्तिर्विशेषादिह कीर्त्यते । वेदांतश्रवणात्पुण्यं दशधा यत्प्रकीर्तितम् ।

bhikṣukāṇāṁ phalāvāptirviśeṣādiha kīrtyate vedāṁtaśravaṇātpuṇyaṁ daśadhā yatprakīrtitam

The attainment of fruit is here declared especially for mendicants; the tenfold merit that is proclaimed from hearing the Vedanta —

Verse 61 (skanda.2.94.61)

बदरी दृष्टिमात्रेण भिक्षुकाणां तदिष्यते । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण कैवल्यफलभागिनः ।

badarī dṛṣṭimātreṇa bhikṣukāṇāṁ tadiṣyate cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa kaivalyaphalabhāginaḥ

that same merit comes to mendicants by the mere sight of Badari; and especially during Chaturmasya, they become partakers of the very fruit of liberation.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.94.62)

न्यासिनो बदरीस्थाने विनायासेन पुत्रक । ये मूर्खा जाड्यमापन्ना दम्भकाषायवाससः । बदरीदर्शनात्तेषां मुक्तिः करतले स्थिता ।

nyāsino badarīsthāne vināyāsena putraka ye mūrkhā jāḍyamāpannā dambhakāṣāyavāsasaḥ badarīdarśanātteṣāṁ muktiḥ karatale sthitā

O son, at the abode of Badari, renunciants attain liberation without any effort. Even those who are foolish, sunk in dullness, wearing the ochre robe out of mere pretense — for them too, through the sight of Badari, liberation stands ready in the palm of the hand.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.94.63)

ज्ञानिनोऽज्ञानिनो वापि न्यासिनो नियतव्रता । द्रष्टव्या बदरी तैस्तु फलानि समभीप्सुभिः ।

jñānino'jñānino vāpi nyāsino niyatavratā draṣṭavyā badarī taistu phalāni samabhīpsubhiḥ

Whether wise or ignorant, renunciants bound by fixed vows — all who equally desire these fruits must behold Badari.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.94.64)

श्रुत्वाऽध्यायमिमं पुण्यं प्रसंगेनापि मानवः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते ।

śrutvā'dhyāyamimaṁ puṇyaṁ prasaṁgenāpi mānavaḥ sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇuloke mahīyate

A man who hears this meritorious chapter, even in passing, is freed from all sin and is exalted in the world of Vishnu.