The Account Explaining the Name Avanti

Verse 1 (skanda.5.42.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पुरा चैशानकल्पे तु स्मृतावंती यथा पुरी। तथा शृणु सुरैः पूर्वं दैत्यसैन्यपराजितैः॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| purā caiśānakalpe tu smṛtāvaṁtī yathā purī| tathā śṛṇu suraiḥ pūrvaṁ daityasainyaparājitaiḥ||

Sanatkumara said: Now hear how, in the ancient Aishana-kalpa, this city came to be remembered by the name Avanti — by the gods, once defeated by the army of the daityas,

Verse 2 (skanda.5.42.2)

आश्रितं मेरुशिखरं वनकंदगुहावृतम्। तत्र गत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ मंत्रं च चक्रुरुद्यताः॥

āśritaṁ meruśikharaṁ vanakaṁdaguhāvṛtam| tatra gatvā dvijaśreṣṭha maṁtraṁ ca cakrurudyatāḥ||

who took refuge on the peak of Meru, surrounded by forests, roots and caves; going there, O best of the twice-born, they took counsel together, roused to action.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.42.3)

अन्योन्यं च समासाद्य समभ्यर्च्य परस्परम्। जग्मुः सर्वे सुरगणा यत्र ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः॥

anyonyaṁ ca samāsādya samabhyarcya parasparam| jagmuḥ sarve suragaṇā yatra brahmā prajāpatiḥ||

Meeting one another and honoring each other, all the hosts of gods went to where Brahma, Lord of creatures, was.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.42.4)

निवेदयांचक्रिरे सर्वं तत्रागमनकारणम्। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवानां स प्रजेश्वरः॥

nivedayāṁcakrire sarvaṁ tatrāgamanakāraṇam| teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devānāṁ sa prajeśvaraḥ||

There they related the whole reason for their coming. Having heard those words of the gods, that Lord of creatures,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.42.5)

जगाम त्रिदशैः साकं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्। स चापि ह्यगमत्तत्र वैकुंठं धाम यत्र वै॥

jagāma tridaśaiḥ sākaṁ devadevaṁ maheśvaram| sa cāpi hyagamattatra vaikuṁṭhaṁ dhāma yatra vai||

went, together with the gods, to the God of gods, Maheshvara; and he too then went there, to Vaikuntha, the abode where—

Verse 6 (skanda.5.42.6)

ऋद्धिसिद्धिप्रदं नित्यं मुनिचारणसेवितम्। किन्नरैर्गीयमानं च अप्सरोगणसेवितम्॥

ṛddhisiddhipradaṁ nityaṁ municāraṇasevitam| kinnarairgīyamānaṁ ca apsarogaṇasevitam||

—that place, ever granting prosperity and accomplishment, served by sages and charanas, sung of by kinnaras, and attended by hosts of apsaras.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.42.7)

ऋषिभिर्भार्गवादिभिर्देवर्षिनारदोत्तमैः। सिद्धगंधर्वमुख्यैश्च कुमारैः सनकादिभिः॥

ṛṣibhirbhārgavādibhirdevarṣināradottamaiḥ| siddhagaṁdharvamukhyaiśca kumāraiḥ sanakādibhiḥ||

It was attended by sages headed by Bhrigu, by the eminent divine sage Narada, by chief siddhas and gandharvas, and by the Kumaras headed by Sanaka.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.42.8)

प्रजापतिगणाकीर्णं मानवैश्च चतुर्दशैः। वसुभिर्विश्वेदेवैश्च पितॄणामुत्तमैर्गणैः॥

prajāpatigaṇākīrṇaṁ mānavaiśca caturdaśaiḥ| vasubhirviśvedevaiśca pitṝṇāmuttamairgaṇaiḥ||

It was thronged with the hosts of Prajapatis and the fourteen Manus, with the Vasus and Vishvedevas, and with the finest hosts of ancestors.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.42.9)

संसेव्यं च सदाचारैः पुण्यवद्भिर्जनैस्तथा। दिव्यं दिव्यैश्च प्रासादैर्दिव्यपादपशोभितम्॥

saṁsevyaṁ ca sadācāraiḥ puṇyavadbhirjanaistathā| divyaṁ divyaiśca prāsādairdivyapādapaśobhitam||

It was served by people of good conduct and merit; divine, adorned with divine palaces and divine trees.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.42.10)

मणिरत्नैश्च सोपानैर्दिव्यं सरसशोभितम्। हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं मणिभाभिः सुभास्वरम्॥

maṇiratnaiśca sopānairdivyaṁ sarasaśobhitam| haṁsakāraṁḍavākīrṇaṁ maṇibhābhiḥ subhāsvaram||

Divine, adorned with lakes whose steps were of jewels and gems, thronged with swans and karandava-ducks, radiant with the glow of gems.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.42.11)

षडूर्मिरहितं स्थानं यत्र तिष्ठन्ति पक्षिणः। तत्र गत्वा सुराः सर्वे वासुदेवदिदृक्षया। स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्तुं देवदेवजगत्पतेः॥

ṣaḍūrmirahitaṁ sthānaṁ yatra tiṣṭhanti pakṣiṇaḥ| tatra gatvā surāḥ sarve vāsudevadidṛkṣayā| stutimārebhire kartuṁ devadevajagatpateḥ||

A place free from the six waves of change, where birds dwell — going there, all the gods, desiring to see Vasudeva, began to offer praise to the God of gods, Lord of the world.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.42.12)

देवा ऊचुः। नमोऽनंताय बृहते कूर्माय वै नमोनमः॥

devā ūcuḥ| namo'naṁtāya bṛhate kūrmāya vai namonamaḥ||

The gods said: 'Salutation to the Infinite, the Vast One! Salutation again and again to the Tortoise!'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.42.13)

नृसिंहरूपायोग्राय नमो वाराहरूपिणे। राघवाय च रामाय ब्रह्मणेऽनंतशक्तये॥

nṛsiṁharūpāyogrāya namo vārāharūpiṇe| rāghavāya ca rāmāya brahmaṇe'naṁtaśaktaye||

'Salutation to the fierce form of Narasimha, salutation to the form of the Boar; to Raghava, to Rama, to Brahman of endless power.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.42.14)

वासुदेवाय शांताय यदूनां पतये नमः। नमो बुद्धाय शुद्धाय कल्कये म्लेच्छनाशिने॥

vāsudevāya śāṁtāya yadūnāṁ pataye namaḥ| namo buddhāya śuddhāya kalkaye mlecchanāśine||

'Salutation to the peaceful Vasudeva, Lord of the Yadus; salutation to the pure Buddha, and to Kalki, destroyer of the mlecchas.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.42.15)

इति स्तवाभियुक्तानां वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। शृणुध्वं भोः सुराः सर्वे भूत्वा चैकाग्रमानसाः॥

iti stavābhiyuktānāṁ vāguvācāśarīriṇī| śṛṇudhvaṁ bhoḥ surāḥ sarve bhūtvā caikāgramānasāḥ||

As they were thus engaged in praise, a bodiless voice spoke: 'Listen, O all you gods, with minds made one-pointed.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.42.16)

महाकालवने रम्ये ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेविते। तत्र पुण्या पुरी ह्येका सर्वकामफलप्रदा॥

mahākālavane ramye brahmarṣigaṇasevite| tatra puṇyā purī hyekā sarvakāmaphalapradā||

'In the beautiful Mahakalavana, served by hosts of brahmin sages, there is a single sacred city that grants the fruit of every desire.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.42.17)

नाम्ना कुशस्थली रम्या सिद्धगंधर्वसेविता। कल्पादौ कल्पमध्ये वा यत्र संनिहितो हरः॥

nāmnā kuśasthalī ramyā siddhagaṁdharvasevitā| kalpādau kalpamadhye vā yatra saṁnihito haraḥ||

'By name lovely Kushasthali, served by siddhas and gandharvas — where Hara is ever present, whether at the start of the kalpa or in its midst.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.42.18)

कल्पक्षये क्षयं यांति स्थावराणि चराणि च। तीर्थानि चैव सर्वाणि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च॥

kalpakṣaye kṣayaṁ yāṁti sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca| tīrthāni caiva sarvāṇi puṇyānyāyatanāni ca||

'At the destruction of the kalpa, all things moving and unmoving perish, as do all the tirthas and all the sacred shrines.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.42.19)

सरितः सागराः सर्वे सरांस्युपवनानि च। औषधीर्वृक्षवल्लीश्च यंत्रं मंत्रं शुभाशुभम्॥

saritaḥ sāgarāḥ sarve sarāṁsyupavanāni ca| auṣadhīrvṛkṣavallīśca yaṁtraṁ maṁtraṁ śubhāśubham||

'—all rivers and oceans, lakes and groves, herbs, trees and creepers, every yantra and mantra, auspicious or inauspicious,'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.42.20)

ज्योतींषि चंद्रसूर्यौ च सर्वं विष्णुमयं जगत्। तेषां बीजं च पुण्यं च जीवकर्माशय तथा॥

jyotīṁṣi caṁdrasūryau ca sarvaṁ viṣṇumayaṁ jagat| teṣāṁ bījaṁ ca puṇyaṁ ca jīvakarmāśaya tathā||

'—the luminaries, moon and sun, and this whole world made of Vishnu — together with their seed, their merit, and every living being's store of karma,'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.42.21)

सर्वमादाय भगवाञ्छंकरस्तत्र तिष्ठति। सर्वतीर्थमयी गंगा सर्वदेवमयो हरिः॥

sarvamādāya bhagavāñchaṁkarastatra tiṣṭhati| sarvatīrthamayī gaṁgā sarvadevamayo hariḥ||

'—taking all of this up, the Lord Shankara remains there. The Ganga is composed of all tirthas, Hari is composed of all gods,'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.42.22)

सर्वयज्ञमयो वेदः सर्वधर्ममयी दया। रेवा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा भुवि पुण्यकृताधिका॥

sarvayajñamayo vedaḥ sarvadharmamayī dayā| revā ca saritāṁ śreṣṭhā bhuvi puṇyakṛtādhikā||

'—the Veda is composed of all sacrifices, compassion is composed of all dharma; and the Reva is the best of rivers on earth, surpassing others in merit.'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.42.23)

तस्माद्धितकरं क्षेत्रं कुरूणां वै सुरोत्तमाः। तस्माद्दशगुणं मन्ये प्रयागं तीर्थमुत्तमम्॥

tasmāddhitakaraṁ kṣetraṁ kurūṇāṁ vai surottamāḥ| tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ manye prayāgaṁ tīrthamuttamam||

'O best of gods, more beneficial than that is the field of the Kurus; and ten times more excellent than that, I consider, is the tirtha of Prayaga.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.42.24)

तस्माद्दशगुणा काशी काश्या दशगुणा गया। ततो दशगुणा प्रोक्ता कुशस्थली च पुण्यदा॥

tasmāddaśaguṇā kāśī kāśyā daśaguṇā gayā| tato daśaguṇā proktā kuśasthalī ca puṇyadā||

'Ten times greater than that is Kashi; ten times greater than Kashi is Gaya; and ten times greater than that, it is said, is the merit-giving Kushasthali.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.42.25)

उपरागसहस्राणि व्यतिपातायुतानि च। अमालक्षं तु एतस्याः कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्॥

uparāgasahasrāṇi vyatipātāyutāni ca| amālakṣaṁ tu etasyāḥ kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm||

'The merit of thousands of eclipses, ten thousand Vyatipatas, and a hundred thousand new moons does not equal even a sixteenth part of this tirtha.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.42.26)

लक्षमिंदुक्षये दानं सहस्रं चायनद्वये। व्यतीपाते च कोटिः स्याद्राकायां च ह्यनंतकम्॥

lakṣamiṁdukṣaye dānaṁ sahasraṁ cāyanadvaye| vyatīpāte ca koṭiḥ syādrākāyāṁ ca hyanaṁtakam||

'A gift given at the new moon yields a hundred-thousand-fold return; at the two solstices, a thousand-fold; at Vyatipata, ten-million-fold; and on the full-moon day, it becomes limitless.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.42.27)

तस्माद्धितकरा देवा पुरी ह्येषा कुशस्थली। अनंताऽनंतसंख्यातं दानं किंचित्कृतं नरैः॥

tasmāddhitakarā devā purī hyeṣā kuśasthalī| anaṁtā'naṁtasaṁkhyātaṁ dānaṁ kiṁcitkṛtaṁ naraiḥ||

'Therefore, O gods, this city of Kushasthali is supremely beneficial; whatever gift, however small, is given by men here becomes endless and uncountable.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.42.28)

तत्सर्वं भोः सुरश्रेष्ठाः सर्वं तच्चाक्षयं भवेत्। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यूयं यात हि मा चिरम्॥

tatsarvaṁ bhoḥ suraśreṣṭhāḥ sarvaṁ taccākṣayaṁ bhavet| tasmātsarvaprayatnena yūyaṁ yāta hi mā ciram||

'O best of gods, all of that becomes wholly imperishable. Therefore, with every effort, go there without delay.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.42.29)

क्षीणपुण्या भवंतो वै बाधंते तेन वः सुराः। महाकालवने रम्ये पुरी ह्येषा कुशस्थली॥

kṣīṇapuṇyā bhavaṁto vai bādhaṁte tena vaḥ surāḥ| mahākālavane ramye purī hyeṣā kuśasthalī||

'O gods, it is because your merit has become diminished that you are now afflicted; in the beautiful Mahakalavana lies this very city, Kushasthali.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.42.30)

तत्र गत्वा भवंतो वै स्नानदानादिकं भुवि। आचरध्वं सुविधिना पुण्यात्स्वर्गमवाप्स्यथ॥

tatra gatvā bhavaṁto vai snānadānādikaṁ bhuvi| ācaradhvaṁ suvidhinā puṇyātsvargamavāpsyatha||

'Go there and, upon that ground, perform bathing, giving and the like according to proper rule; by that merit you shall regain heaven.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.42.31)

एतच्छुत्वा वचस्तस्या वाण्याश्चाकाशगं तदा। प्रणम्य शिरसा तस्यै ब्रह्मेशानपुरोगमाः॥

etacchutvā vacastasyā vāṇyāścākāśagaṁ tadā| praṇamya śirasā tasyai brahmeśānapurogamāḥ||

Having heard this speech of the voice that moved through the sky, all of them, led by Brahma and Ishana, bowed their heads to it,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.42.32)

पुनर्जग्मुः सुराः सर्वे यत्र माहेश्वरं वनम्। पुरीं चैव द्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामफलप्रदाम्॥

punarjagmuḥ surāḥ sarve yatra māheśvaraṁ vanam| purīṁ caiva dvijaśreṣṭha sarvakāmaphalapradām||

and all the gods went once more to where Maheshvara's forest lay, and to that city too, O best of the twice-born, which grants the fruit of every desire —

Verse 33 (skanda.5.42.33)

चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकीर्णामृषिगंधर्वसेविताम्। पुण्यवद्भिर्जनैः पूर्णां सिद्धचारणसेविताम्॥

cāturvarṇyasamākīrṇāmṛṣigaṁdharvasevitām| puṇyavadbhirjanaiḥ pūrṇāṁ siddhacāraṇasevitām||

—thronged with the four varnas, served by sages and gandharvas, filled with meritorious people, and attended by siddhas and charanas.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.42.34)

दरिद्रो न जडो मूर्खो न रोगी न च मत्सरी। न व्याधितो नापकारी जनः क्वचित्प्रदृश्यते॥

daridro na jaḍo mūrkho na rogī na ca matsarī| na vyādhito nāpakārī janaḥ kvacitpradṛśyate||

No one poor, dull-witted, foolish, diseased, or envious; no one afflicted with illness or given to malice is ever seen there.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.42.35)

दाता शांताः सुशीलाश्च जरारोगविवर्जिंताः। स्वधर्मनिरता नित्यं सदाचारातिथिप्रियाः॥

dātā śāṁtāḥ suśīlāśca jarārogavivarjiṁtāḥ| svadharmaniratā nityaṁ sadācārātithipriyāḥ||

The people there are generous, peaceful, of good character, free from old age and disease; ever devoted to their own dharma, and fond of good conduct and hospitality.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.42.36)

नरा यत्र निवसंति नार्यश्चैव पतिव्रताः। महोत्सवाः सुगीतानि हव्यं कव्यं गृहेगृहे॥

narā yatra nivasaṁti nāryaścaiva pativratāḥ| mahotsavāḥ sugītāni havyaṁ kavyaṁ gṛhegṛhe||

Such men, and women devoted to their husbands, dwell there; great festivals and fine songs, offerings to gods and to ancestors, take place in every home.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.42.37)

ईदृशीं च पुरीं दृष्ट्वा देवा हर्षं परं गताः। तत्र तीर्थं समाख्यातं नाम्ना पैशाचमोचनम्॥

īdṛśīṁ ca purīṁ dṛṣṭvā devā harṣaṁ paraṁ gatāḥ| tatra tīrthaṁ samākhyātaṁ nāmnā paiśācamocanam||

Beholding such a city, the gods felt the greatest joy; there a tirtha is renowned by the name Paishachamochana ('release from evil spirits').

Verse 38 (skanda.5.42.38)

पुण्यवद्भिः सदा सेव्यं सर्वतीर्थनिषेवितम्। तस्मिन्स्नात्वा च जप्त्वा च हुत्वा दत्त्वा च देवताः॥

puṇyavadbhiḥ sadā sevyaṁ sarvatīrthaniṣevitam| tasminsnātvā ca japtvā ca hutvā dattvā ca devatāḥ||

It is ever frequented by the meritorious, and honored by all tirthas as well. Having bathed there, and having recited mantras, made oblations and given gifts, the gods

Verse 39 (skanda.5.42.39)

पुण्यं चाथाक्षयं लब्ध्वा पुनर्याताः सुरालयम्। जित्वाऽसुरान्महादुष्टान्स्थानं प्राप्ताः स्वकंस्वकम्॥

puṇyaṁ cāthākṣayaṁ labdhvā punaryātāḥ surālayam| jitvā'surānmahāduṣṭānsthānaṁ prāptāḥ svakaṁsvakam||

obtained imperishable merit and returned to the abode of the gods; having conquered the greatly wicked asuras, each of them regained his own place.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.42.40)

येऽस्यां कुर्युर्महाभागाः स्नानं दानं तथार्चनम्। हवनं तर्पणं पितॄंस्तत्सर्वं स्याद्ध्यनंतकम्॥

ye'syāṁ kuryurmahābhāgāḥ snānaṁ dānaṁ tathārcanam| havanaṁ tarpaṇaṁ pitṝṁstatsarvaṁ syāddhyanaṁtakam||

Whatever fortunate ones perform here — bathing, giving, worship, oblation, and offerings of tarpana to the ancestors — all of it becomes without end.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.42.41)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन एतत्कार्यं सदा बुधैः। देवतीर्थोषधीबीजभूतानां चैव पालनम्॥

tasmātsarvaprayatnena etatkāryaṁ sadā budhaiḥ| devatīrthoṣadhībījabhūtānāṁ caiva pālanam||

Therefore the wise must ever, with every effort, undertake this task — the protection of the gods, the tirthas, the herbs, the seeds and all living beings.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.42.42)

कल्पेकल्पे च यस्यां वै तेनावंती पुरी स्मृता। अद्यप्रभृति पुरी ह्येषा नाम्नावंती कुशस्थली॥

kalpekalpe ca yasyāṁ vai tenāvaṁtī purī smṛtā| adyaprabhṛti purī hyeṣā nāmnāvaṁtī kuśasthalī||

Because the Lord's presence protects her in every kalpa, this city is remembered by the name Avanti; from this day forth, this city of Kushasthali bears the name Avanti.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.42.43)

इत्युक्त्वा वै तदा देवाः स्वधाम परमं गताः। तदारभ्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ ह्यवंती भुवि विश्रुता॥

ityuktvā vai tadā devāḥ svadhāma paramaṁ gatāḥ| tadārabhya dvijaśreṣṭha hyavaṁtī bhuvi viśrutā||

Having said this, the gods then departed to their own supreme abodes; from that time on, O best of the twice-born, Avanti has been renowned on earth.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.42.44)

य एतां सुकथां दिव्यां पुण्यां च पापहारिणीम्। शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्यो वै सर्वपापैः स मुच्यते॥

ya etāṁ sukathāṁ divyāṁ puṇyāṁ ca pāpahāriṇīm| śṛṇuyācchrāvayedyo vai sarvapāpaiḥ sa mucyate||

Whoever hears, or causes others to hear, this excellent, divine, meritorious and sin-removing tale is freed from all sins.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.42.45)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो धनमाप्नुयात्। वाजपेयसहस्राणां राजसूयशताधिकम्॥

aputro labhate putramadhano dhanamāpnuyāt| vājapeyasahasrāṇāṁ rājasūyaśatādhikam||

The sonless obtains a son, the poor man obtains wealth; he gains merit exceeding a thousand Vajapeya sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.42.46)

पुण्यं लब्ध्वा नरो नित्यं शिवलोके महीयते॥

puṇyaṁ labdhvā naro nityaṁ śivaloke mahīyate||

Having obtained such merit, a man is honored forever in the world of Shiva.