Pushpaditya and King Chitravarma's Miserly Kinsman Manibhadra

Verse 1 (skanda.6.155.1)

सूत उवाच। तथाऽन्ये तत्र तिष्ठंति वसवोऽष्टौ द्विजोत्तमाः॥ स्थानमेकं समाश्रित्य सर्वदैव प्रपूजिताः

sūta uvāca tathā'nye tatra tiṣṭhaṁti vasavo'ṣṭau dvijottamāḥ sthānamekaṁ samāśritya sarvadaiva prapūjitāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, the eight Vasus too dwell there, established together in a single place, forever worshipped.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.155.2)

एकादश तथा रुद्रा आदित्या द्वादशैव तु ॥ देववैद्यौ तथा चान्यावश्विनौ तत्र संस्थितौ

ekādaśa tathā rudrā ādityā dvādaśaiva tu devavaidyau tathā cānyāvaśvinau tatra saṁsthitau

And there too are established the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas, and the two Ashvins, the physicians of the gods.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.155.3)

देवतास्तत्र तिष्ठंति कोटिकोटिप्रनायकाः॥ एकैका ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः कलिकालभयाकुलाः

devatāstatra tiṣṭhaṁti koṭikoṭipranāyakāḥ ekaikā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ kalikālabhayākulāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, these deities, each the leader of a myriad crores, stand established there one by one, troubled by fear of the Kali age.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.155.4)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे यज्ञभागाप्तये सदा ॥ अष्टम्यां शुक्लपक्षे तु मधुमासे व्यवस्थिते

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre yajñabhāgāptaye sadā aṣṭamyāṁ śuklapakṣe tu madhumāse vyavasthite

They remain in the field of Hatakeshvara, ever seeking to receive their share of sacrifice, on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Madhu (Chaitra).

Verse 5 (skanda.6.155.5)

यस्तान्वसूञ्छुचिर्भूत्वा स्नात्वा धौतांबरो नरः ॥ तर्पयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठान्पश्चात्संपूजयेन्नरः

yastānvasūñchucirbhūtvā snātvā dhautāṁbaro naraḥ tarpayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhānpaścātsaṁpūjayennaraḥ

The man who, having purified himself, bathed, put on washed garments, and made offerings to the foremost brahmins, then worships those Vasus —

Verse 6 (skanda.6.155.6)

वसवस्त्वा कृण्वन्निति मन्त्रेणानेन भक्तितः ॥ नैवेद्यं च ततो दद्याद्वसवश्छंदसाविति

vasavastvā kṛṇvanniti mantreṇānena bhaktitaḥ naivedyaṁ ca tato dadyādvasavaśchaṁdasāviti

— with devotion, using this mantra "vasavastvā kṛṇvan," and then should offer the naivedya (food-offering) with the mantra "vasavaśchandasā."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.155.7)

ततो धूपं सुगन्धं च यो यच्छति समाहितः ॥ वसवस्त्वां जेतु तथा मन्त्रमेतमुदीरयेत्

tato dhūpaṁ sugandhaṁ ca yo yacchati samāhitaḥ vasavastvāṁ jetu tathā mantrametamudīrayet

Then, with a focused mind, whoever offers fragrant incense should likewise recite this mantra, "vasavastvāṁ jetu."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.155.8)

आरार्तिकं ततो भूयो यः करोति द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ वसवस्त्वां जेतु तथा श्रूयतां यत्फलं हि तत्

ārārtikaṁ tato bhūyo yaḥ karoti dvijottamāḥ vasavastvāṁ jetu tathā śrūyatāṁ yatphalaṁ hi tat

O best of brahmins, whoever thereafter waves the lamp (arati) should likewise say this same mantra — now hear what fruit this bears.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.155.9)

कन्याभिः कोटिभिर्यच्च पूजिताभिर्भवेत्फलम्॥ वसूनां चैव तत्सर्वमष्टभिस्तैः प्रपूजितैः

kanyābhiḥ koṭibhiryacca pūjitābhirbhavetphalam vasūnāṁ caiva tatsarvamaṣṭabhistaiḥ prapūjitaiḥ

Whatever fruit is obtained from worshipping crores of maidens — all of that same fruit is obtained by duly worshipping those eight Vasus.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.155.10)

तथा ये द्वादशादित्यास्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे व्यवस्थिताः ॥ तान्स्थाप्य पूजयित्वा च सप्तम्यामर्कवासरे ॥ सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमोपेतः पुष्पगन्धानुलेपनैः

tathā ye dvādaśādityāstasminkṣetre vyavasthitāḥ tānsthāpya pūjayitvā ca saptamyāmarkavāsare samyakchraddhāsamopetaḥ puṣpagandhānulepanaiḥ

And as for those twelve Adityas established in that field — having duly installed and worshipped them, with faith, using flowers, fragrance, and unguents, on the seventh lunar day falling on a Sunday —

Verse 11 (skanda.6.155.11)

पश्चात्तत्पुरतस्तेषां समस्तान्येकविंशतिः ॥ आदित्यव्रत संज्ञानि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

paścāttatpuratasteṣāṁ samastānyekaviṁśatiḥ ādityavrata saṁjñāni tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

— one should then perform before them, twenty-one times in all, what is called the "Aditya-vrata"; now hear the merit that comes of this.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.155.12)

कोटिद्वादशकं यस्तु सूर्याणां पूजयेन्नरः ॥ तत्फलं प्राप्नुयात्कृत्स्नं पूजयन्नात्र संशयः

koṭidvādaśakaṁ yastu sūryāṇāṁ pūjayennaraḥ tatphalaṁ prāpnuyātkṛtsnaṁ pūjayannātra saṁśayaḥ

Whatever complete fruit a man would obtain by worshipping twelve crore suns — that same fruit is obtained, without doubt, by worshipping these.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.155.13)

तथैकादशरुद्रा ये तत्र क्षेत्रे द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ एकस्थाने स्थितास्तेषां पूजया श्रूयतां फलम्

tathaikādaśarudrā ye tatra kṣetre dvijottamāḥ ekasthāne sthitāsteṣāṁ pūjayā śrūyatāṁ phalam

O best of brahmins, likewise hear the fruit of worshipping the eleven Rudras, who stand together in a single place in that field.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.155.14)

यस्तान्पूजयते भक्त्या स्थापयित्वा सुरेश्वरान्॥ चैत्रशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां जपेच्च शतरुद्रियम्

yastānpūjayate bhaktyā sthāpayitvā sureśvarān caitraśuklacaturdaśyāṁ japecca śatarudriyam

Whoever, on the fourteenth of the bright half of Chaitra, installs those lords of gods and worships them with devotion, and recites the Shatarudriya —

Verse 15 (skanda.6.155.15)

एकादशप्रमाणेन कोटयस्तेन पूजिताः ॥ भवंति नात्र संदेहः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

ekādaśapramāṇena koṭayastena pūjitāḥ bhavaṁti nātra saṁdehaḥ satyametanmayoditam

— by him eleven crore Rudras have thereby been worshipped; of this there is no doubt, this I have told you truly.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.155.16)

यथा तावश्विनौ तत्र देववैद्यौ व्यवस्थितौ ॥ आश्विने मासि चाश्विन्यां पूर्णिमायां तथा तिथौ

yathā tāvaśvinau tatra devavaidyau vyavasthitau āśvine māsi cāśvinyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ tathā tithau

In the same way, those two Ashvins, the physicians of the gods established there, on the full-moon day in the month of Ashvina when it falls under the Ashvini asterism —

Verse 17 (skanda.6.155.17)

यस्तौ संपूजयित्वा तु ह्यश्विनीसूक्तमुच्चरेत् । द्विकोटि गुणितं पुण्यं सम्यक्तेन समाप्यते

yastau saṁpūjayitvā tu hyaśvinīsūktamuccaret dvikoṭi guṇitaṁ puṇyaṁ samyaktena samāpyate

— whoever duly worships them both and recites the Ashvini-sukta, by him a merit multiplied two crore-fold is fully obtained.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.155.18)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं माहात्म्यं वसुसंभवम् ॥ आदित्यानां च रुद्राणामश्विनोर्द्विजसत्तमाः

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ māhātmyaṁ vasusaṁbhavam ādityānāṁ ca rudrāṇāmaśvinordvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, this entire glory relating to the Vasus, the Adityas, the Rudras, and the Ashvins has thus been told to you.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.155.19)

सूत उवाच। तथाऽन्योऽपि च तत्रास्ति याज्ञवल्क्यप्रतिष्ठितः ॥ पुष्पादित्य इति ख्यातः सर्वकामप्रदो नृणाम्

sūta uvāca tathā'nyo'pi ca tatrāsti yājñavalkyapratiṣṭhitaḥ puṣpāditya iti khyātaḥ sarvakāmaprado nṛṇām

Suta said: And there too is another deity, established by Yajnavalkya, known by the name Pushpaditya, who fulfills every desire of men.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.155.20)

यो यं काममभिध्याय तं पूजयति मानवः ॥ स तं कृत्स्नमवाप्नोति यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

yo yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya taṁ pūjayati mānavaḥ sa taṁ kṛtsnamavāpnoti yadyapi syātsudurlabham

Whatever desire a man holds in mind while worshipping him, that desire he fully obtains, however hard it may be to attain.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.155.21)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्धनार्थी धनमाप्नुयात् ॥ बहुवैरोऽरिनाशं च विद्यार्थी शास्त्रविद्भवेत्

aputro labhate putrāndhanārthī dhanamāpnuyāt bahuvairo'rināśaṁ ca vidyārthī śāstravidbhavet

The one without sons obtains sons; the seeker of wealth obtains wealth; the one beset by many foes obtains the destruction of his enemies; and the seeker of learning becomes versed in the scriptures.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.155.22)

सप्तम्यामर्कवारेण यस्तं पश्यति मानवः ॥ मुच्येद्दिनोद्भवात्पापान्महतोऽपिद्विजोत्तमाः

saptamyāmarkavāreṇa yastaṁ paśyati mānavaḥ mucyeddinodbhavātpāpānmahato'pidvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, the man who beholds him on the seventh lunar day falling on a Sunday is freed even from great sins arising that very day.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.155.23)

पूजया हि प्रणश्येत पापं वर्षसमुद्भवम्॥ नाशं याति न संदेहस्तमः सूर्योदये यथा

pūjayā hi praṇaśyeta pāpaṁ varṣasamudbhavam nāśaṁ yāti na saṁdehastamaḥ sūryodaye yathā

By worshipping him, the sin accumulated over a whole year is destroyed, without doubt, just as darkness is destroyed at sunrise.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.155.24)

अष्टोत्तरशतं चैव यः करोति प्रदक्षिणाम् ॥ फलहस्तः स मुच्येत ह्याजन्ममरणादघात्

aṣṭottaraśataṁ caiva yaḥ karoti pradakṣiṇām phalahastaḥ sa mucyeta hyājanmamaraṇādaghāt

And whoever, coconut fruit in hand, performs one hundred and eight circumambulations is freed from the sins accumulated from birth until death.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.155.25)

प्रदक्षिणां प्रकुवाणो यो यं काममभीप्सति ॥ स तमाप्नोत्यसंदिग्धं निष्कामो मोक्षमाप्नुयात्

pradakṣiṇāṁ prakuvāṇo yo yaṁ kāmamabhīpsati sa tamāpnotyasaṁdigdhaṁ niṣkāmo mokṣamāpnuyāt

While performing circumambulation, whatever desire one holds, that he undoubtedly obtains; and one who is free of desire attains liberation.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.155.26)

संक्रांतौ सूर्यवारेण यः कुर्यात्स्नापनक्रियाम्॥ अभीष्टं सिध्यते तस्य मेषे वा यदि वा तुले

saṁkrāṁtau sūryavāreṇa yaḥ kuryātsnāpanakriyām abhīṣṭaṁ sidhyate tasya meṣe vā yadi vā tule

Whoever performs the bathing rite on a Sankranti (solar transit) falling on a Sunday, whether in Aries or in Libra, has his desired wish fulfilled.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.155.27)

तस्मिन्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वांछद्भिरीप्सितं फलम् ॥ स देवो वीक्षणीयश्च पूजनीयो विशेषतः

tasminsarvaprayatnena vāṁchadbhirīpsitaṁ phalam sa devo vīkṣaṇīyaśca pūjanīyo viśeṣataḥ

Therefore, those desiring their sought-after fruit should, with every effort, behold that deity, who is to be especially worshipped.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.155.28)

यद्देवैः सकलैर्दृष्टैश्चमत्कारपुरोद्भवैः ॥ फलमाप्नोति तद्दृष्टौ तेन तत्फलमाप्नुयात्

yaddevaiḥ sakalairdṛṣṭaiścamatkārapurodbhavaiḥ phalamāpnoti taddṛṣṭau tena tatphalamāpnuyāt

Whatever fruit is obtained by beholding all the deities born in Chamatkarapura — that same fruit is obtained merely by beholding him.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.155.29)

ऋषय ऊचुः। याज्ञवल्क्येन देवोऽसौ यदि तावत्प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ पुष्पादित्यः कथं प्रोक्त एतन्नो वक्तुमर्हसि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yājñavalkyena devo'sau yadi tāvatpratiṣṭhitaḥ puṣpādityaḥ kathaṁ prokta etanno vaktumarhasi

The sages said: If this deity was indeed established by Yajnavalkya, then why is he called Pushpaditya — this you should explain to us.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.155.30)

सूत उवाच। अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि चेतिहासं पुरातनम् ॥ पुष्पादित्यो यथा जातो याज्ञवल्क्यप्रतिष्ठितः

sūta uvāca atra vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi cetihāsaṁ purātanam puṣpādityo yathā jāto yājñavalkyapratiṣṭhitaḥ

Suta said: On this matter I shall now relate to you the ancient legend of how, though established by Yajnavalkya, this deity came to be called Pushpaditya.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.155.31)

अस्त्यत्र मेदिनीपृष्ठे सुपुरं वैदिशं महत् ॥ नानासौध समाकीर्णं वरप्राकारशोभितम्

astyatra medinīpṛṣṭhe supuraṁ vaidiśaṁ mahat nānāsaudha samākīrṇaṁ varaprākāraśobhitam

Upon this earth there is a great and beautiful city called Vaidisha, filled with many mansions and adorned with a splendid rampart.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.155.32)

उद्यानशतसंकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम् ॥ तत्रासीत्पार्थिवश्रेष्ठश्चित्रवर्मेति विश्रुतः

udyānaśatasaṁkīrṇaṁ taḍāgairupaśobhitam tatrāsītpārthivaśreṣṭhaścitravarmeti viśrutaḥ

Filled with a hundred gardens and beautified with lakes, there ruled in that city a foremost king renowned by the name Chitravarma.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.155.33)

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्न च चौरकृतं भयम् ॥ तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे सततं धर्मवत्सले

na durbhikṣaṁ na ca vyādhirna ca caurakṛtaṁ bhayam tasmiñchāsati dharmajñe satataṁ dharmavatsale

While that king, knowing dharma and ever devoted to dharma, ruled, there was neither famine, nor disease, nor fear of thieves.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.155.34)

तत्पुरे क्षत्रियो जात्या मणिभद्र इति स्मृतः ॥ स वै धनेन संयुक्तः पितृपैतामहेन च

tatpure kṣatriyo jātyā maṇibhadra iti smṛtaḥ sa vai dhanena saṁyuktaḥ pitṛpaitāmahena ca

In that city there was a man of the kshatriya caste, known by the name Manibhadra; he was endowed with the wealth left by his father and grandfather.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.155.35)

तत्पुरं सकलं चैव स राजा मंत्रिभिः सह ॥ कुसीदाहृतवित्तेन वर्तते कार्य उत्थिते

tatpuraṁ sakalaṁ caiva sa rājā maṁtribhiḥ saha kusīdāhṛtavittena vartate kārya utthite

With wealth accumulated through usury, he kept even the whole city, and the king himself along with his ministers, dependent upon him whenever some business arose.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.155.36)

स च कायेन कुब्जः स्याज्जराव्याप्तस्तथैव च ॥ वलीपलितगात्रश्च ह्यत्यंतं च विरूपधृक्

sa ca kāyena kubjaḥ syājjarāvyāptastathaiva ca valīpalitagātraśca hyatyaṁtaṁ ca virūpadhṛk

He was, moreover, hunchbacked in body, afflicted by old age, his limbs covered with wrinkles and grey hair, and utterly ugly to behold.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.155.37)

तथा चैव कुकीनाशः प्रभूतेऽपि धने सति ॥ न ददाति स पापात्मा कस्यचित्किञ्चिदेव हि ॥ न भक्षयति तृष्णार्तः स्वयमेव कथंचन

tathā caiva kukīnāśaḥ prabhūte'pi dhane sati na dadāti sa pāpātmā kasyacitkiñcideva hi na bhakṣayati tṛṣṇārtaḥ svayameva kathaṁcana

What is more, he was utterly miserly — though possessed of immense wealth, that sinful man gave nothing whatsoever to anyone, and, tormented by greed, would scarcely eat anything even himself.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.155.38)

एवंविधोऽपि सोऽतीवविरूपोऽपि सुदुर्मतिः ॥ प्रार्थयामास वै कन्यां स्वजात्यां वीक्ष्य सुंदरीम्

evaṁvidho'pi so'tīvavirūpo'pi sudurmatiḥ prārthayāmāsa vai kanyāṁ svajātyāṁ vīkṣya suṁdarīm

Being of such a nature, and though utterly ugly, that evil-minded man, having seen a beautiful maiden of his own caste, sought to obtain her in marriage —

Verse 39 (skanda.6.155.39)

बिंबोष्ठीं चारुदेहां च मुष्टिग्राह्यकृशोदरीम्॥ पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षीं गूढगुल्फां सुकेशिकाम्

biṁboṣṭhīṁ cārudehāṁ ca muṣṭigrāhyakṛśodarīm padmapatraviśālākṣīṁ gūḍhagulphāṁ sukeśikām

— a maiden with lips red as the bimba fruit, a lovely form, a waist so slender it could be grasped in one's fist, eyes as wide as lotus petals, well-formed hidden ankles, and beautiful hair —

Verse 40 (skanda.6.155.40)

रक्तां सप्तसु गात्रेषु त्रिगंभीरां तथा पुनः ॥ सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णां जातीयां सुमनोरमाम्

raktāṁ saptasu gātreṣu trigaṁbhīrāṁ tathā punaḥ sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpūrṇāṁ jātīyāṁ sumanoramām

— reddish in seven parts of her body, deep in three places, and endowed with every auspicious mark — well-born and utterly enchanting.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.155.41)

क्षत्रियाद्द्विजशार्दूला दरिद्रेण च पीडितात् ॥ तेन तत्सकलं वृत्तं भार्यायै संनिवेदितम्

kṣatriyāddvijaśārdūlā daridreṇa ca pīḍitāt tena tatsakalaṁ vṛttaṁ bhāryāyai saṁniveditam

O tiger among brahmins, that maiden was the daughter of an impoverished kshatriya; he related the whole matter to his own wife.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.155.42)

तच्छ्रुत्वा सा च दुःखेन मूर्च्छिता संबभूव ह ॥ संबोधिता ततस्तेन वाक्यैर्दृष्टांतसंभवैः

tacchrutvā sā ca duḥkhena mūrcchitā saṁbabhūva ha saṁbodhitā tatastena vākyairdṛṣṭāṁtasaṁbhavaiḥ

Hearing this, she fainted from grief; then he consoled her with words illustrated by many examples.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.155.43)

क्षत्रिय उवाच। न सा विद्या न तच्छिल्पं न तत्कार्यं न सा कला ॥ अर्थार्थिभिर्न तज्ज्ञानं धनिनां यन्न दीयते

kṣatriya uvāca na sā vidyā na tacchilpaṁ na tatkāryaṁ na sā kalā arthārthibhirna tajjñānaṁ dhanināṁ yanna dīyate

The kshatriya said: There is no learning, no craft, no task, no art, and no knowledge that those who seek wealth do not surrender to the rich.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.155.44)

इह लोके च धनिनां परोऽपि स्वजनायते ॥ स्वजनोऽपि दरिद्राणां कार्यार्थे दुर्जनायते

iha loke ca dhanināṁ paro'pi svajanāyate svajano'pi daridrāṇāṁ kāryārthe durjanāyate

In this world, even a stranger becomes as kin to the wealthy, while, when help is needed, even one's own kin become as enemies to the poor.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.155.45)

अर्थेभ्यो हि विवृद्धेभ्यः संभृतेभ्यस्ततस्ततः ॥ प्रवर्तंते क्रियाः सर्वाः पर्वतेभ्यो यथापगाः

arthebhyo hi vivṛddhebhyaḥ saṁbhṛtebhyastatastataḥ pravartaṁte kriyāḥ sarvāḥ parvatebhyo yathāpagāḥ

For, just as rivers flow forth from mountains, so from wealth increased and gathered from every quarter do all undertakings proceed.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.155.46)

पूज्यते यदपूज्योऽपि यदगम्योऽपि गम्यते ॥ वंद्यते यदवन्द्योऽपि ह्यनुबंधो धनस्य सः

pūjyate yadapūjyo'pi yadagamyo'pi gamyate vaṁdyate yadavandyo'pi hyanubaṁdho dhanasya saḥ

By whose power the unworthy of worship becomes worshipped, the unapproachable becomes approached, and the unworthy of homage becomes revered — that is the very consequence of wealth.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.155.47)

अशनादिंद्रिया णीव स्युः कार्याण्यखिलानिह ॥ सर्वस्मात्कारणाद्वित्तं सर्वसाधनमुच्यते

aśanādiṁdriyā ṇīva syuḥ kāryāṇyakhilāniha sarvasmātkāraṇādvittaṁ sarvasādhanamucyate

Just as the senses depend upon food, so here do all undertakings depend upon wealth; for this reason, in every matter, wealth is called the means to everything.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.155.48)

अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते ॥ जनितारमपि त्यक्त्वा निःस्वः संयाति दूरतः

arthārthī jīvaloko'yaṁ śmaśānamapi sevate janitāramapi tyaktvā niḥsvaḥ saṁyāti dūrataḥ

This world of living beings, seeking wealth, will even frequent a cremation ground; yet, once penniless, it abandons even its own father and goes far away.