The Glory of Tapas during Chaturmasya

Verse 1 (skanda.6.238.1)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । तपः शृणुष्व विप्रेंद्र विस्तरेण महामते । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण चातुर्मास्येऽघनाशनम्

brahmā uvāca tapaḥ śṛṇuṣva vipreṁdra vistareṇa mahāmate yasya śravaṇamātreṇa cāturmāsye'ghanāśanam

Brahma said: "Hear of austerity in detail, O foremost of brahmins, O wise one, by merely hearing which, during Chaturmasya, sin is destroyed."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.238.2)

षोडशैरुपचारैश्च विष्णोः पूजा सदा तपः । ततः सुप्ते जगन्नाथे महत्तप उदाहृतम्

ṣoḍaśairupacāraiśca viṣṇoḥ pūjā sadā tapaḥ tataḥ supte jagannāthe mahattapa udāhṛtam

Worship of Vishnu with the sixteen upacharas is itself austerity always; and when the Lord of the world lies asleep, that is declared to be the greatest austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.238.3)

करणं पंचयज्ञानां सततं तप एव हि । तन्निवेद्य हरौ चैव चातुर्मास्ये महत्तपः

karaṇaṁ paṁcayajñānāṁ satataṁ tapa eva hi tannivedya harau caiva cāturmāsye mahattapaḥ

The constant performance of the five great sacrifices is itself austerity; and offering that to Hari during Chaturmasya is the greatest austerity.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.238.4)

ऋतुयानं गृहस्थस्य तप एव सदैव हि । चातुर्मास्ये हरिप्रीत्यै तन्निषेव्यं महत्तपः

ṛtuyānaṁ gṛhasthasya tapa eva sadaiva hi cāturmāsye hariprītyai tanniṣevyaṁ mahattapaḥ

For a householder, restraint confined to the proper season is itself an ever-present austerity; observing it during Chaturmasya for Hari's pleasure is the greatest austerity.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.238.5)

सत्यवादस्तपो नित्यं प्राणिनां भुवि दुर्लभम् । सुप्ते देवपतौ कुर्वन्ननंतफलभाग्भवेत्

satyavādastapo nityaṁ prāṇināṁ bhuvi durlabham supte devapatau kurvannanaṁtaphalabhāgbhavet

Truthful speech is an eternal austerity, rare among creatures upon this earth; one who practices it while the Lord of gods sleeps becomes possessed of endless fruit.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.238.6)

अहिंसादिगुणानां च पालनं सततं तपः । चातुर्मास्ये त्यक्तवैरं महत्तप उदारधीः

ahiṁsādiguṇānāṁ ca pālanaṁ satataṁ tapaḥ cāturmāsye tyaktavairaṁ mahattapa udāradhīḥ

The constant observance of virtues beginning with non-violence is itself austerity; abandoning enmity during Chaturmasya is the great austerity of the noble-minded.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.238.7)

तप एव महन्मर्त्यः पंचायतनपूजनम् । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण हरिप्रीत्या समाचरेत्

tapa eva mahanmartyaḥ paṁcāyatanapūjanam cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa hariprītyā samācaret

The worship of the five household shrines (panchayatana) is itself a great austerity for mortals; one should perform it especially during Chaturmasya, out of love for Hari.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.238.8)

नारद उवाच । पंचायतनसंज्ञेयं कस्योक्ता सा कथं भवेत् । कथं पूजा च कर्तव्या विस्तरेणाशु तद्वद

nārada uvāca paṁcāyatanasaṁjñeyaṁ kasyoktā sā kathaṁ bhavet kathaṁ pūjā ca kartavyā vistareṇāśu tadvada

Narada said: "Of whom is this designation 'panchayatana' spoken, and how does it come about? And how is the worship to be performed? Tell me this quickly, in detail."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.238.9)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । प्रातर्मध्याह्नपूजायां मध्ये पूज्यो रविः सदा । रात्रौ मध्ये भवेच्चंद्रस्तद्वर्णकुसुमैः शुभैः

brahmā uvāca prātarmadhyāhnapūjāyāṁ madhye pūjyo raviḥ sadā rātrau madhye bhaveccaṁdrastadvarṇakusumaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Brahma said: "In the morning and midday worship, at the center the Sun is always to be worshipped; at night, at the center should be the Moon, worshipped with auspicious flowers of his own color."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.238.10)

वह्निकोणे तु हेरंबं सर्वविघ्नोपशांतये । रक्तचंदनपुष्पैश्च चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

vahnikoṇe tu heraṁbaṁ sarvavighnopaśāṁtaye raktacaṁdanapuṣpaiśca cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

In the fire-corner (southeast), Heramba (Ganesha) is to be worshipped for the pacification of all obstacles, with red sandal-paste and flowers, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.238.11)

नैर्ऋतं दलमास्थाय भगवान्दुष्टदर्पहा । गृहस्थस्य सदा शत्रुविनाशं विदधाति सः

nairṛtaṁ dalamāsthāya bhagavānduṣṭadarpahā gṛhasthasya sadā śatruvināśaṁ vidadhāti saḥ

Occupying the southwest petal, the Lord who crushes the pride of the wicked always brings about the destruction of the householder's enemies.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.238.12)

नैर्ऋत्यकोणगं विष्णुं पूजयेत्सर्वदा बुधः । सुगन्धचंदनैः पुष्पैर्नैवेद्यैश्चातिशोभनैः

nairṛtyakoṇagaṁ viṣṇuṁ pūjayetsarvadā budhaḥ sugandhacaṁdanaiḥ puṣpairnaivedyaiścātiśobhanaiḥ

The wise man should always worship Vishnu, seated in the southwest corner, with fragrant sandal-paste, flowers, and most excellent offerings of food.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.238.13)

गोत्रजा वायुकोणे तु पूजनीया सदा बुधैः । पुत्रपौत्रप्रवृद्ध्यर्थं सुमनोभिर्मनोहरैः

gotrajā vāyukoṇe tu pūjanīyā sadā budhaiḥ putrapautrapravṛddhyarthaṁ sumanobhirmanoharaiḥ

In the northwest corner, the clan deity is always to be worshipped by the wise, with lovely and beautiful flowers, for the increase of sons and grandsons.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.238.14)

ऐशाने भगवान्रुद्रः श्वेतपुष्पैः सदाऽर्चितः । अपमृत्युविनाशाय सर्वदोषापनुत्तये

aiśāne bhagavānrudraḥ śvetapuṣpaiḥ sadā'rcitaḥ apamṛtyuvināśāya sarvadoṣāpanuttaye

In the northeast, the Lord Rudra is always to be worshipped with white flowers, for the prevention of untimely death and the removal of all faults.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.238.15)

जागर्ति महिमा यस्य ब्रह्माद्यैर्नैव लिख्यते । पंचायतनमेतद्धि पूज्यते गृहमेधिभिः

jāgarti mahimā yasya brahmādyairnaiva likhyate paṁcāyatanametaddhi pūjyate gṛhamedhibhiḥ

His greatness stays ever awake, one that not even Brahma and the other gods can fully describe; this very panchayatana is worshipped by householders.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.238.16)

तप एतत्सदा कार्यं चातुर्मास्ये महाफलम् । पर्वकालेषु सर्वेषु दानं देयं तपः सदा । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण तदनंतं प्रजायते

tapa etatsadā kāryaṁ cāturmāsye mahāphalam parvakāleṣu sarveṣu dānaṁ deyaṁ tapaḥ sadā cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tadanaṁtaṁ prajāyate

This austerity is always to be performed; during Chaturmasya it bears great fruit. At every sacred time, a gift should always be given as an austerity; especially during Chaturmasya, that reward becomes endless.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.238.17)

शौचं तु द्विविधं ग्राह्यं बाह्यमाभ्यंतरं सदा । जलशौचं तथा बाह्यं श्रद्धया चांतरं भवेत्

śaucaṁ tu dvividhaṁ grāhyaṁ bāhyamābhyaṁtaraṁ sadā jalaśaucaṁ tathā bāhyaṁ śraddhayā cāṁtaraṁ bhavet

Purity is to be understood as of two kinds: external and internal. Purification with water is the external kind; and inner purity comes through faith.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.238.18)

इन्द्रियाणां ग्रहः कार्यस्तपसो लक्षणं परम् । निवृत्त्येंद्रियलौल्यं च चातुर्मास्ये महत्तपः

indriyāṇāṁ grahaḥ kāryastapaso lakṣaṇaṁ param nivṛttyeṁdriyalaulyaṁ ca cāturmāsye mahattapaḥ

The restraint of the senses is to be practiced; that is the highest mark of austerity. Ceasing the restlessness of the senses during Chaturmasya is a great austerity.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.238.19)

इन्द्रियाश्वान्सन्नियम्य सततं सुखमेधते । नरके पात्यते प्राणैस्तैरेवोत्पथगामिभिः

indriyāśvānsanniyamya satataṁ sukhamedhate narake pātyate prāṇaistairevotpathagāmibhiḥ

Restraining the horses of the senses, one continually thrives in happiness; but by those very senses straying off the path, a being is cast down into hell.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.238.20)

ममतारूपिणीं ग्राहीं दुष्टां निर्भर्त्स्य निग्रहेत् । तप एव सदा पुंसां चातुर्मास्येऽधिगौरवम्

mamatārūpiṇīṁ grāhīṁ duṣṭāṁ nirbhartsya nigrahet tapa eva sadā puṁsāṁ cāturmāsye'dhigauravam

One should rebuke and restrain that wicked crocodile in the form of possessiveness; this itself is, for men, always the austerity of greatest weight during Chaturmasya.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.238.21)

काम एष महाशत्रुस्तमेकं निर्जयेद्दृढम् । जितकामा महात्मानस्तैर्जितं निखिलं जगत्

kāma eṣa mahāśatrustamekaṁ nirjayeddṛḍham jitakāmā mahātmānastairjitaṁ nikhilaṁ jagat

This desire is a great enemy; one should firmly conquer it alone. Great souls who have conquered desire have, as it were, conquered the entire world.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.238.22)

एतच्च तपसो मूलं तपसो मूलमेव तत् । सर्वदा कामविजयः संकल्पविजयस्तथा

etacca tapaso mūlaṁ tapaso mūlameva tat sarvadā kāmavijayaḥ saṁkalpavijayastathā

This is indeed the root of austerity, it truly is the very root of austerity: the conquest of desire always, and likewise the conquest of craving.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.238.23)

तदेव हि परं ज्ञानं कामो येन प्रजायते । महत्तपस्तदेवाहुश्चातुर्मास्ये फलोत्तमम्

tadeva hi paraṁ jñānaṁ kāmo yena prajāyate mahattapastadevāhuścāturmāsye phalottamam

That alone is the highest knowledge, by which desire is uprooted; that itself, they say, is the great austerity, bearing the highest fruit during Chaturmasya.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.238.24)

लोभः सदा परित्याज्यः पापं लोभे समास्थितम् । तपस्तस्यैव विजयश्चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

lobhaḥ sadā parityājyaḥ pāpaṁ lobhe samāsthitam tapastasyaiva vijayaścāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

Greed is always to be abandoned; sin resides firmly in greed. The conquest of greed alone is austerity, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.238.25)

मोहः सदाऽविवेकश्च वर्जनीयः प्रयत्नतः । तेन त्यक्तो नरो ज्ञानी न ज्ञानी मोहसंश्रयात्

mohaḥ sadā'vivekaśca varjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ tena tyakto naro jñānī na jñānī mohasaṁśrayāt

Delusion and the lack of discernment are always to be avoided through effort. A man who has abandoned delusion is wise; one who takes refuge in delusion is not wise.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.238.26)

मद एव मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महारिपुः । सदा स एव निग्राह्यः सुप्ते देवे विशेषतः

mada eva manuṣyāṇāṁ śarīrastho mahāripuḥ sadā sa eva nigrāhyaḥ supte deve viśeṣataḥ

Pride, dwelling in the body, is the great enemy of men; that alone is always to be subdued, especially while the Lord sleeps.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.238.27)

मानः सर्वेषु भूतेषु वसत्येव भयावहः । क्षमया तं विनिर्जित्य चातुर्मास्ये गुणाधिकः

mānaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu vasatyeva bhayāvahaḥ kṣamayā taṁ vinirjitya cāturmāsye guṇādhikaḥ

Arrogance, dwelling in all beings, is indeed fearsome; having conquered it through forbearance, one becomes richer in virtue during Chaturmasya.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.238.28)

मात्सर्यं निर्जयेत्प्राज्ञो महापातककारणम् । चातुर्मास्ये जितं तेन त्रैलोक्यममरैः सह

mātsaryaṁ nirjayetprājño mahāpātakakāraṇam cāturmāsye jitaṁ tena trailokyamamaraiḥ saha

The wise man should conquer envy, the cause of great sin; by conquering it during Chaturmasya, he has, as it were, conquered the three worlds together with the immortals.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.238.29)

अहंकारसमाक्रांता मुनयो विजितेंद्रियाः । धर्ममार्गं परित्यज्य कुर्वत्युन्मार्गजां क्रियाम्

ahaṁkārasamākrāṁtā munayo vijiteṁdriyāḥ dharmamārgaṁ parityajya kurvatyunmārgajāṁ kriyām

Even sages who have conquered their senses, if overcome by egoism, abandon the path of dharma and perform deeds that stray from the right course.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.238.30)

अहंकारं परित्यज्य सततं सुखमाप्नुयात् । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण तस्य त्यागे महाफलम्

ahaṁkāraṁ parityajya satataṁ sukhamāpnuyāt cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tasya tyāge mahāphalam

Abandoning egoism, one attains constant happiness; especially during Chaturmasya, there is great fruit in relinquishing it.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.238.31)

एतद्धि तपसो मूलं यदेतन्मनसस्त्यजेत् । त्यक्तेष्वेतेषु सर्वेषु परब्रह्ममयो भवेत्

etaddhi tapaso mūlaṁ yadetanmanasastyajet tyakteṣveteṣu sarveṣu parabrahmamayo bhavet

This indeed is the root of austerity: that one abandon these enemies from the mind. When all of these have been abandoned, one becomes united with the supreme Brahman.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.238.32)

प्रथमं कायशुद्ध्यर्थं प्राजापत्यं समाचरेत् । शयने देवदेवस्य विशेषेण महत्तपः

prathamaṁ kāyaśuddhyarthaṁ prājāpatyaṁ samācaret śayane devadevasya viśeṣeṇa mahattapaḥ

First, for the purification of the body, one should perform the Prajapatya penance; while the God of gods lies in sleep, it becomes especially a great austerity.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.238.33)

हरेस्तु शयने नित्यमेकांतरमुपोषणम् । यः करोति नरो भक्त्या न स गच्छेद्यमालयम्

harestu śayane nityamekāṁtaramupoṣaṇam yaḥ karoti naro bhaktyā na sa gacchedyamālayam

During Hari's sleep, whoever, with devotion, constantly observes fasting on alternate days does not go to the abode of Yama.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.238.34)

हरिस्वापे नरो नित्यमेकभक्तं समाचरेत् । दिवसेदिवसे तस्य द्वादशाहफलं लभेत्

harisvāpe naro nityamekabhaktaṁ samācaret divasedivase tasya dvādaśāhaphalaṁ labhet

During Hari's sleep, a man who constantly takes only a single meal a day obtains, for each such day, the fruit of a twelve-day observance.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.238.35)

चातुर्मास्ये नरो यस्तु शाकाहारपरो यदि । पुण्यं क्रतुसहस्राणां जायते नात्र संशयः

cāturmāsye naro yastu śākāhāraparo yadi puṇyaṁ kratusahasrāṇāṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

If, during Chaturmasya, a man subsists solely on vegetables, the merit of a thousand sacrifices accrues to him; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.238.36)

चातुर्मास्ये नरो नित्यं चांद्रायणव्रतं चरेत् । एकैकमासे तत्पुण्यं वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते

cāturmāsye naro nityaṁ cāṁdrāyaṇavrataṁ caret ekaikamāse tatpuṇyaṁ varṇituṁ naiva śakyate

If a man constantly performs the Chandrayana vow during Chaturmasya, the merit of even a single month of it cannot possibly be described.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.238.37)

सुप्ते देवे च पाराकं यः करोति विशुद्धधीः । नारी वा श्रद्धया युक्ता शतजन्माघनाशनम्

supte deve ca pārākaṁ yaḥ karoti viśuddhadhīḥ nārī vā śraddhayā yuktā śatajanmāghanāśanam

Whoever, of pure mind, performs the Paraka fast while the Lord sleeps, whether man or woman endowed with faith, destroys the sins of a hundred births.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.238.38)

कृच्छ्रसेवी भवेद्यस्तु सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने । पापराशिं विनिर्धूय वैकुण्ठे गणतां व्रजेत्

kṛcchrasevī bhavedyastu supte deve janārdane pāparāśiṁ vinirdhūya vaikuṇṭhe gaṇatāṁ vrajet

Whoever practices the Krichchhra penance while Janardana sleeps, having shaken off the mass of his sins, attains a place among the hosts of Vaikuntha.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.238.39)

तप्तकृच्छ्रपरो यस्तु सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने । कीर्तिं संप्राप्य वा पुत्रं विष्णुसायुज्यतां व्रजेत्

taptakṛcchraparo yastu supte deve janārdane kīrtiṁ saṁprāpya vā putraṁ viṣṇusāyujyatāṁ vrajet

Whoever is devoted to the Tapta-krichchhra penance while Janardana sleeps, whether he attains fame or a son, in the end attains union with Vishnu.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.238.40)

दुग्धाहारपरो यस्तु चातुर्मास्येऽभिजायते । तस्य पापसहस्राणि विलयं यांति देहिनः

dugdhāhāraparo yastu cāturmāsye'bhijāyate tasya pāpasahasrāṇi vilayaṁ yāṁti dehinaḥ

Whoever devotes himself to a diet of milk alone during Chaturmasya — that embodied being's thousands of sins pass away into dissolution.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.238.41)

मितान्नाशनकृद्धीरश्चातुर्मास्ये नरो यदि । निर्धूय सकलं पापं वैकुण्ठपदमाप्नुयात्

mitānnāśanakṛddhīraścāturmāsye naro yadi nirdhūya sakalaṁ pāpaṁ vaikuṇṭhapadamāpnuyāt

If a resolute man practices restrained eating during Chaturmasya, having shaken off all sin, he attains the abode of Vaikuntha.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.238.42)

एकान्नाशनकृन्मर्त्यो न रोगैरभिभूयते । अक्षारलवणाशी च चातुर्मास्ये न पापभाक्

ekānnāśanakṛnmartyo na rogairabhibhūyate akṣāralavaṇāśī ca cāturmāsye na pāpabhāk

A mortal who eats only one kind of food is not overcome by disease; and one who abstains from salt and alkaline substances during Chaturmasya does not become subject to sin.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.238.43)

कृताहारो महापापैर्निर्मुक्तो जायते ध्रुवम् । हरिमुद्दिश्य मासेषु चतुर्षु च न संशयः

kṛtāhāro mahāpāpairnirmukto jāyate dhruvam harimuddiśya māseṣu caturṣu ca na saṁśayaḥ

One who takes his single meal with Hari in mind, throughout the four months, is certainly freed from great sins; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.238.44)

कन्दमूलाशनकरः पूर्वजान्सह चात्मना । उद्धृत्य नरकाद्घोराद्याति विष्णुसलोकताम्

kandamūlāśanakaraḥ pūrvajānsaha cātmanā uddhṛtya narakādghorādyāti viṣṇusalokatām

One who subsists on roots and tubers, having delivered both his ancestors and himself from dreadful hell, attains the world of Vishnu.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.238.45)

नित्यांबुप्राशनकरश्चातुर्मास्ये यदा भवेत् । दिनेदिनेऽश्वमेधस्य फलमाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

nityāṁbuprāśanakaraścāturmāsye yadā bhavet dinedine'śvamedhasya phalamāpnotyasaṁśayam

One who continually subsists on water alone during Chaturmasya obtains, for every single day, the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice, without doubt.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.238.46)

शीतवृष्टिसहो यस्तु चातुर्मास्ये नरो भवेत् । हरिप्रीत्यै जगन्नाथस्तस्यात्मानं प्रयच्छति

śītavṛṣṭisaho yastu cāturmāsye naro bhavet hariprītyai jagannāthastasyātmānaṁ prayacchati

Whoever, during Chaturmasya, endures cold and rain for the pleasure of Hari — to him the Lord of the world grants his own self.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.238.47)

महापाराकसंज्ञं तु महत्तप उदाहृतम् । मासैकमुपवासेन सर्वं पूर्णं प्रजायते

mahāpārākasaṁjñaṁ tu mahattapa udāhṛtam māsaikamupavāsena sarvaṁ pūrṇaṁ prajāyate

The austerity called Maha-paraka is declared to be a great one; through a single month's fasting, everything desired is fully accomplished.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.238.48)

देवस्वापदिनादौ तु यावत्पवित्रद्वादशी । पवित्रद्वादशीपूर्वं यावच्छ्रवणद्वादशी

devasvāpadinādau tu yāvatpavitradvādaśī pavitradvādaśīpūrvaṁ yāvacchravaṇadvādaśī

From the very day the Lord falls asleep up to the Pavitra Dvadashi, and again from before the Pavitra Dvadashi up to the Shravana Dvadashi —

Verse 49 (skanda.6.238.49)

महापाराकमेतद्धि द्वितीयं परिकीर्तितम् । श्रवणद्वादशीपूर्वं प्राप्ता चाश्विनद्वादशी

mahāpārākametaddhi dvitīyaṁ parikīrtitam śravaṇadvādaśīpūrvaṁ prāptā cāśvinadvādaśī

— this span is proclaimed as the second Maha-paraka. From before the Shravana Dvadashi to the arrival of the Ashvina Dvadashi —

Verse 50 (skanda.6.238.50)

महापाराक तृतीयं प्राज्ञैश्च समुदाहृतम् । आश्विनद्वादशी चादौ प्राप्ता देवसुबोधिनी

mahāpārāka tṛtīyaṁ prājñaiśca samudāhṛtam āśvinadvādaśī cādau prāptā devasubodhinī

— this is declared by the wise as the third Maha-paraka. And from the Ashvina Dvadashi at the start to the arrival of Deva-prabodhini, the awakening of the Lord —

Verse 51 (skanda.6.238.51)

महापाराकमेतद्धि चतुर्थं परिकथ्यते । एतेषामेकमपि च नारी वा पुरुषोऽपि वा

mahāpārākametaddhi caturthaṁ parikathyate eteṣāmekamapi ca nārī vā puruṣo'pi vā

— this indeed is spoken of as the fourth Maha-paraka. Even a single one of these, whether observed by a woman or a man —

Verse 52 (skanda.6.238.52)

यः करोति नरो भक्त्या स च विष्णुः सनातनः । इदं च सर्वतपसां महत्तप उदाहृतम्

yaḥ karoti naro bhaktyā sa ca viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ idaṁ ca sarvatapasāṁ mahattapa udāhṛtam

— whoever performs it with devotion becomes, as it were, the eternal Vishnu himself. This is declared to be the greatest of all austerities.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.238.53)

दुष्करं दुर्लभं लोके चातुर्मास्ये मखाधिकम् । दिवसेदिवसे तस्य यज्ञायुतफलं स्मृतम्

duṣkaraṁ durlabhaṁ loke cāturmāsye makhādhikam divasedivase tasya yajñāyutaphalaṁ smṛtam

It is difficult to accomplish, rare in this world, surpassing sacrifice when performed during Chaturmasya; for every single day of it, the fruit of ten thousand sacrifices is recorded.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.238.54)

महत्तप इदं येन कृतं जगति दुर्लभम् । इदमेव महापुण्यमिदमेव महत्सुखम् । इदमेव परं श्रेयो महापाराकसेवनम्

mahattapa idaṁ yena kṛtaṁ jagati durlabham idameva mahāpuṇyamidameva mahatsukham idameva paraṁ śreyo mahāpārākasevanam

This great austerity, rarely accomplished in this world — this alone is the great merit, this alone is the great happiness; this alone is the highest good: the observance of the Maha-paraka.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.238.55)

नारायणो वसेद्देहे ज्ञानं तस्य प्रजायते । जीवन्मुक्तः स भवति महापातककारकः

nārāyaṇo vaseddehe jñānaṁ tasya prajāyate jīvanmuktaḥ sa bhavati mahāpātakakārakaḥ

Narayana comes to dwell in his body, and true knowledge arises in him; he becomes liberated while yet living, even one who was formerly a doer of great sins.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.238.56)

तावद्गर्जंति पापानि नरकास्तावदेव हि । तावन्मायासहस्राणि यावन्मासोपवासकः

tāvadgarjaṁti pāpāni narakāstāvadeva hi tāvanmāyāsahasrāṇi yāvanmāsopavāsakaḥ

Sins roar, and so do the hells, and so do the thousand snares of illusion — only until one becomes a keeper of a month's fast.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.238.57)

चातुर्मास्युपवासी यो यस्य प्रांगणिको भवेत् । सोऽपि हत्यासहस्राणि त्यक्त्वा निष्कल्मषो भवेत्

cāturmāsyupavāsī yo yasya prāṁgaṇiko bhavet so'pi hatyāsahasrāṇi tyaktvā niṣkalmaṣo bhavet

Whoever comes to dwell even in the courtyard of one who fasts throughout Chaturmasya — even that person, having cast off thousands of acts of violence, becomes free of stain.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.238.58)

य इदं श्रावयेन्मर्त्यो यः पठेत्सततं स्वयम्

ya idaṁ śrāvayenmartyo yaḥ paṭhetsatataṁ svayam

That mortal who causes this to be heard by others, or who himself constantly recites it —

Verse 59 (skanda.6.238.59)

सोऽपि वाचस्पतिसमः फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्

so'pi vācaspatisamaḥ phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayam

— he too becomes equal to Vachaspati, the lord of speech, and without doubt obtains that fruit.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.238.60)

इदं पुराणं परमं पवित्रं शृण्वन्गृणन्पापविशुद्धिहेतु । नारायणं तं मनसा विचिन्त्य मृतोऽभिगच्छत्यमृतं सुराधिकम्

idaṁ purāṇaṁ paramaṁ pavitraṁ śṛṇvangṛṇanpāpaviśuddhihetu nārāyaṇaṁ taṁ manasā vicintya mṛto'bhigacchatyamṛtaṁ surādhikam

This Purana is supremely sacred; for one who hears it or recites it, it becomes the cause of the purification of sin. Contemplating Narayana in the mind, one who dies attains the immortal state, surpassing even the gods.