The Story of Paijavana and the Glory of Shaligrama Worship

Verse 1 (skanda.6.243.1)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । शूद्रः पैजवनोनाम गार्हस्थ्याच्छुद्धिमाप्तवान् । धर्ममार्गाविरोधेन तन्निबोध महामते

brahmā uvāca śūdraḥ paijavanonāma gārhasthyācchuddhimāptavān dharmamārgāvirodhena tannibodha mahāmate

Brahma said: "A shudra named Paijavana attained purity through his householder life, without any conflict with the path of dharma; understand this, O wise one."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.243.2)

आसीत्पैजवनः शूद्रः पुरा त्रेतायुगे किल । स्वधर्मनिरतः ख्यातो विष्णुब्राह्मणपूजकः

āsītpaijavanaḥ śūdraḥ purā tretāyuge kila svadharmanirataḥ khyāto viṣṇubrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ

"There once was, in the Treta Yuga of old, a shudra named Paijavana, renowned for being devoted to his own dharma, a worshipper of Vishnu and of brahmins,"

Verse 3 (skanda.6.243.3)

न्यायागतधनो नित्यं शांतः सर्वजनप्रियः । सत्यवादी विवेकज्ञस्तस्य भार्या च सुन्दरी

nyāyāgatadhano nityaṁ śāṁtaḥ sarvajanapriyaḥ satyavādī vivekajñastasya bhāryā ca sundarī

"— possessing wealth acquired justly, ever peaceful, beloved of all people, truthful, and a knower of discernment. His wife too was beautiful,"

Verse 4 (skanda.6.243.4)

धर्मोढा वेदविधिना समानकुलजा शुभा । पतिव्रता महाभागा देवद्विजहिते रता

dharmoḍhā vedavidhinā samānakulajā śubhā pativratā mahābhāgā devadvijahite ratā

"— wedded according to Vedic rule and to dharma, of equal and auspicious lineage, devoted to her husband, greatly blessed, and devoted to the welfare of gods and brahmins."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.243.5)

काश्यां संबंधिता बाला वैजयंत्यां विवाहिता । सा धर्माचरणे दक्षा वैष्णवव्रतचारिणी

kāśyāṁ saṁbaṁdhitā bālā vaijayaṁtyāṁ vivāhitā sā dharmācaraṇe dakṣā vaiṣṇavavratacāriṇī

"That maiden had been betrothed in Kashi and married in Vaijayanti; she was skilled in the practice of dharma and observed the vows of a Vaishnava."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.243.6)

भर्त्रा सह तथा सम्यक्चिक्रीडे सुविनीतवत् । सोऽपि रेमे तया काले हस्तिन्येव महागजः

bhartrā saha tathā samyakcikrīḍe suvinītavat so'pi reme tayā kāle hastinyeva mahāgajaḥ

"With her husband she lived and delighted rightly, as one well-disciplined; and he too took his pleasure with her, in due season, like a great elephant with his mate."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.243.7)

अर्थाप्तिः पूर्वपुण्येन जाता तस्य महात्मनः । वाणिज्यं स्वजनैर्नित्यं स्वदेशपरदेशजम्

arthāptiḥ pūrvapuṇyena jātā tasya mahātmanaḥ vāṇijyaṁ svajanairnityaṁ svadeśaparadeśajam

"Through the merit of his past deeds, that great soul came to acquire wealth; he constantly carried on trade through his own people, dealing in goods native to his own land and to foreign lands,"

Verse 8 (skanda.6.243.8)

कारयत्यर्थजातैश्च परकीयस्वकीयजैः । एवमर्थश्च बहुधा संजातो धर्मदर्शिनः

kārayatyarthajātaiśca parakīyasvakīyajaiḥ evamarthaśca bahudhā saṁjāto dharmadarśinaḥ

"conducting his affairs through both his own goods and goods belonging to others. Thus, for that man who saw clearly the path of dharma, wealth arose to him in many forms."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.243.9)

पुत्रत्रयं च संजातं पितुः शुश्रूषणे रतम् । तस्य पुत्राः पितुर्भक्ता द्रव्यादिमदवर्जिताः

putratrayaṁ ca saṁjātaṁ pituḥ śuśrūṣaṇe ratam tasya putrāḥ piturbhaktā dravyādimadavarjitāḥ

"Three sons were born to him, devoted to serving their father; his sons were devoted to their father and free from any pride born of wealth."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.243.10)

पितृवाक्यरताः श्रेष्ठाः स्वधर्माचारशोभनाः । पित्रोः शुश्रूषणादन्यन्नाभिनंदंति किंचन

pitṛvākyaratāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ svadharmācāraśobhanāḥ pitroḥ śuśrūṣaṇādanyannābhinaṁdaṁti kiṁcana

"They delighted in their father's word, were excellent, adorned by the practice of their own dharma; apart from the service of their parents, they took delight in nothing else."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.243.11)

ते सम्बन्धैः सुसंबद्धाः पित्रा धर्मार्थदर्शिना । तत्पत्न्यो मातृपित्रर्चां कारयंत्यनिवारितम्

te sambandhaiḥ susaṁbaddhāḥ pitrā dharmārthadarśinā tatpatnyo mātṛpitrarcāṁ kārayaṁtyanivāritam

"They were well joined in marriage-ties arranged by their father, who saw clearly both dharma and artha; and their wives, without hindrance, would render worship and homage to their husbands' parents."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.243.12)

ऋद्धिमद्भवनं तस्य धनधान्यसमन्वितम् । सोऽपि धर्मरतो नित्यं देवतातिथिपूजकः

ṛddhimadbhavanaṁ tasya dhanadhānyasamanvitam so'pi dharmarato nityaṁ devatātithipūjakaḥ

"His household was prosperous, endowed with wealth and grain; and he himself was ever devoted to dharma, a worshipper of the gods and of guests."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.243.13)

गृहागतो न विमुखो यस्य जातु कदाचन । शीतकाले धनं प्रादादुष्णकाले जलान्नदः

gṛhāgato na vimukho yasya jātu kadācana śītakāle dhanaṁ prādāduṣṇakāle jalānnadaḥ

"No one who ever came to his house was ever turned away; in the cold season he gave wealth, in the hot season he gave water and food,"

Verse 14 (skanda.6.243.14)

वर्षाकाले वस्त्रदश्च बभूवान्नप्रदः सदा । वापीकूपतडागादिप्रपादेवगृहाणि च

varṣākāle vastradaśca babhūvānnapradaḥ sadā vāpīkūpataḍāgādiprapādevagṛhāṇi ca

"and in the rainy season he became a giver of garments; he was always a giver of food. At the proper times, he had step-wells, wells, ponds and the like, water-shelters, and temples —"

Verse 15 (skanda.6.243.15)

कारयत्युचिते काले शिवविष्णुव्रतस्थितः । इष्टधर्मस्तु वर्णानां समाचीर्णो महाफलः

kārayatyucite kāle śivaviṣṇuvratasthitaḥ iṣṭadharmastu varṇānāṁ samācīrṇo mahāphalaḥ

"— built, remaining established in the vows of Shiva and Vishnu. The ishta-dharma, the sacrificial duty desired by the varnas, when duly practiced, is of great fruit;"

Verse 16 (skanda.6.243.16)

अन्येषां पूर्तधर्माणां तेषां पूर्तकरः सदा । स बभूव धनाढ्योपि व्यसनैर्न समाश्रितः

anyeṣāṁ pūrtadharmāṇāṁ teṣāṁ pūrtakaraḥ sadā sa babhūva dhanāḍhyopi vyasanairna samāśritaḥ

"and of the other, public works of merit, he was ever the doer. Although wealthy, he was never given over to any vices."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.243.17)

विष्णुभक्तिरतो नित्यं चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

viṣṇubhaktirato nityaṁ cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

He was ever devoted to the worship of Vishnu, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.243.18)

एकदा गालवमुनिः शिष्यैर्बहुभिरावृतः

ekadā gālavamuniḥ śiṣyairbahubhirāvṛtaḥ

Once, the sage Galava, surrounded by many disciples —

Verse 19 (skanda.6.243.19)

ब्रह्मज्ञानरतः शांतस्तपोनिष्ठो महावशी । अभ्याजगाम शूद्रस्य गेहे पैजवनस्य सः

brahmajñānarataḥ śāṁtastaponiṣṭho mahāvaśī abhyājagāma śūdrasya gehe paijavanasya saḥ

— devoted to the knowledge of Brahman, peaceful, established in austerity, of great self-mastery — that sage came to the house of the shudra Paijavana.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.243.20)

स वाग्भिर्मधुभिस्तस्य अभ्युत्थानासनादिभिः । उपचारैः पुनर्युक्तः कृतार्थ इव मानयन्

sa vāgbhirmadhubhistasya abhyutthānāsanādibhiḥ upacāraiḥ punaryuktaḥ kṛtārtha iva mānayan

He welcomed him with sweet words and with such courtesies as rising to greet him and offering him a seat, honoring him as though he himself had become fulfilled.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.243.21)

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जातं जीवितमुत्तमम् । अद्य मे सफलो धर्मः कुशलश्चोद्धृतस्त्वया

adya me saphalaṁ janma jātaṁ jīvitamuttamam adya me saphalo dharmaḥ kuśalaścoddhṛtastvayā

(Paijavana said:) "Today my birth has become fruitful, today my life has become excellent; today my dharma has become fruitful, and my well-being has been secured by you."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.243.22)

मम पापसहस्राणि दृष्ट्या दग्धानि ते मुने । गृहं मम गृहस्थस्य सकलं पावितं त्वया

mama pāpasahasrāṇi dṛṣṭyā dagdhāni te mune gṛhaṁ mama gṛhasthasya sakalaṁ pāvitaṁ tvayā

"O sage, my thousands of sins have been burnt away by your very glance; by you, my entire household, the household of a mere householder, has been purified."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.243.23)

तस्य भक्त्या प्रसन्नोऽभूद्गतमार्गपरिश्रमः । उवाच मुनिशार्दूलः सच्छूद्रं तं कृतांजलिम्

tasya bhaktyā prasanno'bhūdgatamārgapariśramaḥ uvāca muniśārdūlaḥ sacchūdraṁ taṁ kṛtāṁjalim

Pleased by his devotion, and his fatigue from the journey now gone, the tiger among sages spoke to that sacchudra who stood before him with joined palms:

Verse 24 (skanda.6.243.24)

कच्चित्ते कुशलं सौम्य मनो धर्मे प्रवर्तते । अर्थानुबंधाः सततं बन्धुदारसुतादयः

kaccitte kuśalaṁ saumya mano dharme pravartate arthānubaṁdhāḥ satataṁ bandhudārasutādayaḥ

"O gentle one, I trust you are well, and that your mind is devoted to dharma. Do the bonds of wealth, and your kinsmen, wife, children, and the rest, remain constantly in order?"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.243.25)

गोविन्दे सततं भक्तिस्तथा दाने प्रवर्तते । धर्मार्थकामकार्येषु सप्रभावं मनस्तव

govinde satataṁ bhaktistathā dāne pravartate dharmārthakāmakāryeṣu saprabhāvaṁ manastava

"Does your devotion to Govinda remain constant, and does it extend also to giving? In your pursuits of dharma, artha, and kama, does your mind remain full of power and clarity?"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.243.26)

विष्णुपादोदकं नित्यं शिरसा धार्यते न वा । पादोद्भवं च गंगोदं द्वादशाब्दफलप्रदम्

viṣṇupādodakaṁ nityaṁ śirasā dhāryate na vā pādodbhavaṁ ca gaṁgodaṁ dvādaśābdaphalapradam

"Do you constantly bear upon your head the water that has washed Vishnu's feet, or not? For the water of the Ganga, born from his foot, bestows the fruit of twelve years' merit;"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.243.27)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण तत्फलं द्विगुणं भवेत् । हरिभक्तिर्हरिकथा हरिस्तोत्रं हरेर्नतिः

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tatphalaṁ dviguṇaṁ bhavet haribhaktirharikathā haristotraṁ harernatiḥ

"especially during Chaturmasya, that fruit becomes twofold. Devotion to Hari, the recounting of Hari's stories, hymns to Hari, and bowing before Hari,"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.243.28)

हरिध्यानं हरेः पूजा सुप्ते देवे च मोक्षकृत् । एवं ब्रुवाणं स मुनिं पुनराह नतिं गतः

haridhyānaṁ hareḥ pūjā supte deve ca mokṣakṛt evaṁ bruvāṇaṁ sa muniṁ punarāha natiṁ gataḥ

"meditation on Hari, worship of Hari — these, while the Lord sleeps, bring about liberation." As the sage spoke thus, Paijavana, bowing low, spoke to him again:

Verse 29 (skanda.6.243.29)

भवद्दृष्ट्याश्रमफलमेतज्जातं न संशयः । तथापि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तव वाणीमनामयीम्

bhavaddṛṣṭyāśramaphalametajjātaṁ na saṁśayaḥ tathāpi śrotumicchāmi tava vāṇīmanāmayīm

"Through your very glance, this fruit of the household life has surely come to pass, without doubt; and yet I wish to hear your wholesome, health-giving words."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.243.30)

भवादृशानां गमनं सर्वार्थेषु प्रकल्पते । ततस्तौ सुमुदा युक्तौ संजातौ हृष्टचेतसौ

bhavādṛśānāṁ gamanaṁ sarvārtheṣu prakalpate tatastau sumudā yuktau saṁjātau hṛṣṭacetasau

"The mere visit of one such as you brings about the fulfillment of every purpose." Then the two of them became filled with great joy, their hearts delighted.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.243.31)

मुनिं पैजवनोनाम सच्छूद्रः प्राह संमतः । किमागमनकृत्यं ते कथयस्व प्रसादतः

muniṁ paijavanonāma sacchūdraḥ prāha saṁmataḥ kimāgamanakṛtyaṁ te kathayasva prasādataḥ

The sacchudra, held in high regard, named Paijavana, said to the sage: "What is the purpose of your coming? Tell me this, out of your grace."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.243.32)

को वा तीर्थप्रसंगश्च चातुर्मास्ये समीपगे । गालवः प्राह सच्छूद्रं धार्मिकं सत्यवादिनम्

ko vā tīrthaprasaṁgaśca cāturmāsye samīpage gālavaḥ prāha sacchūdraṁ dhārmikaṁ satyavādinam

"And what occasion of pilgrimage brings you here, now that Chaturmasya draws near?" Then Galava spoke to that righteous, truthful sacchudra:

Verse 33 (skanda.6.243.33)

मम तीर्थावसिक्तस्य मासा बहुतरा गताः । इदानीमाश्रमं यास्ये चातुर्मास्ये समागते

mama tīrthāvasiktasya māsā bahutarā gatāḥ idānīmāśramaṁ yāsye cāturmāsye samāgate

"Many months have passed for me while I have been immersed in visiting sacred fords; now, with Chaturmasya approaching, I shall go to my hermitage."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.243.34)

आषाढशुक्लैकादश्यां करिष्ये नियमं गृहे । नारायणस्य प्रीत्यर्थं श्रेयोऽर्थं चात्मनस्तथा । प्रत्युवाच मुनिर्धर्मान्विनयानतकन्धरम्

āṣāḍhaśuklaikādaśyāṁ kariṣye niyamaṁ gṛhe nārāyaṇasya prītyarthaṁ śreyo'rthaṁ cātmanastathā pratyuvāca munirdharmānvinayānatakandharam

"On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, I shall undertake my observance at home, for the pleasure of Narayana and likewise for my own well-being." So the sage, versed in dharma, replied to him, who stood with head bowed low in humility.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.243.35)

पैजवन उवाच । मामनुग्रहजां बुद्धिं ब्रूहि त्वं द्विजपुंगव । वेदेऽधिकारो नैवास्ति वेदसारजपस्य वा

paijavana uvāca māmanugrahajāṁ buddhiṁ brūhi tvaṁ dvijapuṁgava vede'dhikāro naivāsti vedasārajapasya vā

Paijavana said: "O foremost of the twice-born, grant me, out of your grace, some understanding. I have no authority regarding the Veda, nor for the recitation of its essential mantras."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.243.36)

पुराणस्मृतिपाठस्य तस्मात्किंचिद्वदस्व मे । तत्त्वात्मसदृशं किंचिद्भाति रूपं महाफलम्

purāṇasmṛtipāṭhasya tasmātkiṁcidvadasva me tattvātmasadṛśaṁ kiṁcidbhāti rūpaṁ mahāphalam

"Nor for the recitation of the Puranas and Smritis; therefore tell me something else. Is there some form suited to my own nature that shines forth as of great fruit?"

Verse 37 (skanda.6.243.37)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण मुक्तिसंसाधकं वद

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa muktisaṁsādhakaṁ vada

"Tell me especially of that which, during Chaturmasya, accomplishes liberation."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.243.38)

गालव उवाच । शालिग्रामगतं विष्णुं चक्रांकितपुटं सदा । येऽर्चयन्ति नरा नित्यं तेषां भुक्तिस्त्वदूरतः

gālava uvāca śāligrāmagataṁ viṣṇuṁ cakrāṁkitapuṭaṁ sadā ye'rcayanti narā nityaṁ teṣāṁ bhuktistvadūrataḥ

Galava said: "Those men who constantly worship Vishnu present in the Shaligrama stone, ever marked with the sign of the discus, for them worldly enjoyment lies not far off,"

Verse 39 (skanda.6.243.39)

शालिग्रामे मनो यस्य यत्किंचित्क्रियते शुभम् । अक्षय्यं तद्भवेन्नित्यं चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

śāligrāme mano yasya yatkiṁcitkriyate śubham akṣayyaṁ tadbhavennityaṁ cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

"and whatever auspicious act is performed by one whose mind rests on the Shaligrama becomes eternally imperishable, especially so during Chaturmasya."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.243.40)

शालिग्रामशिला यत्र यत्र द्वारावती शिला । उभयोः संगमः प्राप्तो मुक्तिस्तस्य न दुर्लभा

śāligrāmaśilā yatra yatra dvārāvatī śilā ubhayoḥ saṁgamaḥ prāpto muktistasya na durlabhā

"Wherever a Shaligrama stone and a Dvaravati stone come together, for the one who has attained the meeting of both, liberation is not hard to obtain."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.243.41)

शालिग्रामशिला यस्यां भूमौ संपूज्यते नृभिः । पञ्चक्रोशं पुनात्येषा अपि पापशतान्वितैः

śāligrāmaśilā yasyāṁ bhūmau saṁpūjyate nṛbhiḥ pañcakrośaṁ punātyeṣā api pāpaśatānvitaiḥ

"The ground on which a Shaligrama stone is worshipped by men, that stone purifies the land for five krosas around, even for those beset by hundreds of sins."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.243.42)

तैजसं पिंडमेतद्धि ब्रह्मरूपमिदं शुभम् । यस्याः संदर्शनादेव सद्यः कल्मषनाशनम्

taijasaṁ piṁḍametaddhi brahmarūpamidaṁ śubham yasyāḥ saṁdarśanādeva sadyaḥ kalmaṣanāśanam

"This is indeed a mass of radiance; this auspicious form is Brahman itself; by the very sight of it, sin is instantly destroyed."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.243.43)

सर्वतीर्थानि पुण्यानि देवतायतनानि च । नद्यः सर्वा महाशूद्र तीर्थत्वं प्राप्नुवंति हि

sarvatīrthāni puṇyāni devatāyatanāni ca nadyaḥ sarvā mahāśūdra tīrthatvaṁ prāpnuvaṁti hi

"O great sacchudra, all the sacred tirthas, and the temples of the gods, and all the rivers, indeed come to attain their status as sacred fords through it."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.243.44)

सन्निधानेन वै तस्याः क्रिया सर्वत्रशोभनाः । व्रजंति हि क्रियात्वं च चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

sannidhānena vai tasyāḥ kriyā sarvatraśobhanāḥ vrajaṁti hi kriyātvaṁ ca cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

"By its very presence, rites performed anywhere become excellent, and indeed attain the true nature of ritual efficacy, especially during Chaturmasya."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.243.45)

पूज्यते भवने यस्य शालिग्रामशिला शुभा । कोमलैस्तुलसीपत्रैर्विमुखस्तत्र वै यमः

pūjyate bhavane yasya śāligrāmaśilā śubhā komalaistulasīpatrairvimukhastatra vai yamaḥ

"In whose house the auspicious Shaligrama stone is worshipped with soft tulsi leaves, there indeed Yama turns his face away."

Verse 46 (skanda.6.243.46)

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां सच्छूद्राणामथापि वा । शालिग्रामाधिकारोऽस्ति न चान्येषां कदाचन

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṁ sacchūdrāṇāmathāpi vā śāligrāmādhikāro'sti na cānyeṣāṁ kadācana

"Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and also sacchudras have the right to worship the Shaligrama; but never do others below them have this right."

Verse 47 (skanda.6.243.47)

सच्छूद्र उवाच । ब्रह्मन्वेदविदां श्रेष्ठ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । स्त्रीशूद्रादिनिषेधोऽयं शालिग्रामे हि श्रूयते

sacchūdra uvāca brahmanvedavidāṁ śreṣṭha sarvaśāstraviśārada strīśūdrādiniṣedho'yaṁ śāligrāme hi śrūyate

The sacchudra said: "O Brahman, foremost among the knowers of the Veda, versed in all the shastras, yet this very prohibition against women, shudras, and others is heard concerning the Shaligrama."

Verse 48 (skanda.6.243.48)

मादृशस्त्वं कथं शालिग्रामपूजाविधिं वद

mādṛśastvaṁ kathaṁ śāligrāmapūjāvidhiṁ vada

"How, then, can you tell one such as me to perform the rite of Shaligrama worship?"

Verse 49 (skanda.6.243.49)

गालव उवाच । असच्छूद्रगतं दास निषेधं विद्धि मानद । स्त्रीणामपि च साध्वीनां नैवाभावः प्रकीर्तितः

gālava uvāca asacchūdragataṁ dāsa niṣedhaṁ viddhi mānada strīṇāmapi ca sādhvīnāṁ naivābhāvaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Galava said: "O honored one, know that this prohibition applies to the unrighteous shudra alone. And even for women, it has never been declared that virtuous, chaste women are excluded."

Verse 50 (skanda.6.243.50)

मा भूत्संशयस्तेनात्र नाऽऽप्नुषे संशयात्फलम् । शालिग्रामार्चनपराः शुद्धदेहा विवेकिनः

mā bhūtsaṁśayastenātra nā''pnuṣe saṁśayātphalam śāligrāmārcanaparāḥ śuddhadehā vivekinaḥ

"Let there be no doubt in your mind on this account; through doubt you would fail to obtain its fruit. Those devoted to the worship of the Shaligrama, of pure body and discerning mind —"

Verse 51 (skanda.6.243.51)

न ते यमपुरं यांति चातुर्मास्ये च पूजकाः । शालिग्रामार्पितं माल्यं शिरसा धारयंति ये

na te yamapuraṁ yāṁti cāturmāsye ca pūjakāḥ śāligrāmārpitaṁ mālyaṁ śirasā dhārayaṁti ye

"— they do not go to the city of Yama, especially those who worship during Chaturmasya. Those who bear upon their heads a garland that has been offered to the Shaligrama —"

Verse 52 (skanda.6.243.52)

तेषां पापसहस्राणि विलयं यांति तत्क्षणात् । शालिग्रामशिलाग्रे तु ये प्रयच्छंति दीपकम्

teṣāṁ pāpasahasrāṇi vilayaṁ yāṁti tatkṣaṇāt śāligrāmaśilāgre tu ye prayacchaṁti dīpakam

"— their thousands of sins pass away that very instant. And those who offer a lamp before the Shaligrama stone —"

Verse 53 (skanda.6.243.53)

तेषां सौरपुरे वासः कदाचिन्नैव हीयते । शालिग्रामगतं विष्णुं सुमनोभिर्मनोहरैः । येऽर्चयंति महाशूद्र सुप्ते देवे हरौ तथा

teṣāṁ saurapure vāsaḥ kadācinnaiva hīyate śāligrāmagataṁ viṣṇuṁ sumanobhirmanoharaiḥ ye'rcayaṁti mahāśūdra supte deve harau tathā

"— their dwelling in the City of the Sun is never diminished. And, O great sacchudra, those who, while Hari sleeps, worship Vishnu present in the Shaligrama with lovely, beautiful flowers,"

Verse 54 (skanda.6.243.54)

पंचामृतेन स्नपनं ये कुर्वंति सदा नराः । शालिग्रामशिलायां च न ते संसारिणो नराः

paṁcāmṛtena snapanaṁ ye kurvaṁti sadā narāḥ śāligrāmaśilāyāṁ ca na te saṁsāriṇo narāḥ

"— those men who always perform the bathing of the Shaligrama stone with the five nectars, such men are no longer bound to the cycle of worldly existence."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.243.55)

मुक्तेर्निदानममलं शालिग्रामगतं हरिम् । हृदि न्यस्य सदा भक्त्या यो ध्यायति स मुक्तिभाक्

mukternidānamamalaṁ śāligrāmagataṁ harim hṛdi nyasya sadā bhaktyā yo dhyāyati sa muktibhāk

"Whoever, having placed in his heart, with constant devotion, Hari present in the Shaligrama, that stainless cause of liberation, meditates upon him, becomes fit for liberation."

Verse 56 (skanda.6.243.56)

तुलसीदलजां मालां शालिग्रामोपरि न्यसेत् । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात्

tulasīdalajāṁ mālāṁ śāligrāmopari nyaset cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa sarvakāmānavāpnuyāt

"One should place a garland made of tulsi leaves upon the Shaligrama; especially during Chaturmasya, one thereby obtains all one's desires."

Verse 57 (skanda.6.243.57)

न तावत्पुष्पजा माला शालिग्रामस्य वल्लभा । सर्वदा तुलसी देवी विष्णोर्नित्यं शुभा प्रिया

na tāvatpuṣpajā mālā śāligrāmasya vallabhā sarvadā tulasī devī viṣṇornityaṁ śubhā priyā

"No garland made of ordinary flowers is as dear to the Shaligrama; the goddess Tulsi alone is always Vishnu's eternal, auspicious beloved."

Verse 58 (skanda.6.243.58)

तुलसी वल्लभा नित्यं चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः । शालिग्रामो महाविष्णुस्तुलसी श्रीर्न संशयः

tulasī vallabhā nityaṁ cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ śāligrāmo mahāviṣṇustulasī śrīrna saṁśayaḥ

"Tulsi is his eternal beloved, especially during Chaturmasya; the Shaligrama is the great Vishnu himself, and Tulsi is Shri; of this there is no doubt."

Verse 59 (skanda.6.243.59)

अतो वासितपानीयैः स्नाप्यं चंदनचर्चितैः । मंजरीभिर्युतं देवं शालग्रामशिलाहरिम्

ato vāsitapānīyaiḥ snāpyaṁ caṁdanacarcitaiḥ maṁjarībhiryutaṁ devaṁ śālagrāmaśilāharim

"Therefore, Hari present in the Shaligrama stone, together with his tulsi-clusters, should be bathed with scented waters mixed with sandal-paste,"

Verse 60 (skanda.6.243.60)

तुलसीसंभवाभिश्च कृत्वा कामानवाप्नुयात् । पत्रे तु प्रथमे ब्रह्मा द्वितीये भगवाञ्छिवः

tulasīsaṁbhavābhiśca kṛtvā kāmānavāpnuyāt patre tu prathame brahmā dvitīye bhagavāñchivaḥ

"and with waters that have arisen from tulsi itself; doing so, one obtains one's desires. In the first leaf dwells Brahma, in the second the Lord Shiva,"

Verse 61 (skanda.6.243.61)

मंजर्यां भगवान्विष्णुस्तदेकस्थत्रया सदा । मंजरी दलसंयुक्ता ग्राह्या बुधजनैः शुभा

maṁjaryāṁ bhagavānviṣṇustadekasthatrayā sadā maṁjarī dalasaṁyuktā grāhyā budhajanaiḥ śubhā

"and in the flower-cluster dwells the Lord Vishnu; thus all three are ever present together in it. The auspicious flower-cluster joined with its leaf is to be gathered by the wise."

Verse 62 (skanda.6.243.62)

तां निवेद्य गुरौ भक्त्या जन्मादिक्षयकारणम् । शालिग्रामे धूपराशिं निवेद्य हरितत्परः

tāṁ nivedya gurau bhaktyā janmādikṣayakāraṇam śāligrāme dhūparāśiṁ nivedya haritatparaḥ

"Offering it with devotion to one's teacher, that becomes the cause of the destruction of the cycle of birth and the rest. Offering a mass of incense to the Shaligrama, one devoted to Hari —"

Verse 63 (skanda.6.243.63)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण मनुष्यो नैव नारकी । शालिग्रामं नरो दृष्ट्वा पूजितं कुसुमैः शुभैः

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa manuṣyo naiva nārakī śāligrāmaṁ naro dṛṣṭvā pūjitaṁ kusumaiḥ śubhaiḥ

"— especially during Chaturmasya, that person never becomes an inhabitant of hell. A man who beholds the Shaligrama worshipped with auspicious flowers,"

Verse 64 (skanda.6.243.64)

सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा याति तन्मयतां हरौ । यस्तौत्यश्मगतं विष्णुं गंडकीजलसंभवम्

sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā yāti tanmayatāṁ harau yastautyaśmagataṁ viṣṇuṁ gaṁḍakījalasaṁbhavam

"his soul wholly purified of sin, attains absorption into Hari. Whoever praises Vishnu present in the stone that has arisen from the waters of the Gandaki,"

Verse 65 (skanda.6.243.65)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणैश्च सोऽपि विष्णुपदं व्रजेत् । शालिग्रामशिलायाश्च चतुर्विंशतिसंख्यकाः । भेदाः संति महाशूद्र ताञ्छृणुष्व महामते

śrutismṛtipurāṇaiśca so'pi viṣṇupadaṁ vrajet śāligrāmaśilāyāśca caturviṁśatisaṁkhyakāḥ bhedāḥ saṁti mahāśūdra tāñchṛṇuṣva mahāmate

"through the words of shruti, smriti, and the Puranas, he too attains the abode of Vishnu. O great sacchudra, O wise one, there are twenty-four distinct kinds of the Shaligrama stone; hear of them."

Verse 66 (skanda.6.243.66)

इमाः पूज्याश्च लोकेऽत्र चतुर्विंशतिसंख्यकाः । तासां च दैवतं विष्णुं नामानि च वदाम्यहम्

imāḥ pūjyāśca loke'tra caturviṁśatisaṁkhyakāḥ tāsāṁ ca daivataṁ viṣṇuṁ nāmāni ca vadāmyaham

"These twenty-four are to be worshipped in this world; I shall now tell you their presiding deity, Vishnu, and their names."

Verse 67 (skanda.6.243.67)

स एव मूर्त्तश्चतुरुत्तरासिर्विंशद्भिरेको भगवान्यथाऽऽद्यः । स एव संवत्सरनामसंज्ञः स एव ग्रावागत आदिदेवः

sa eva mūrttaścaturuttarāsirviṁśadbhireko bhagavānyathā''dyaḥ sa eva saṁvatsaranāmasaṁjñaḥ sa eva grāvāgata ādidevaḥ

That same primal Lord, one alone, takes embodied form in these twenty-four stones; he alone bears the names of the years of the cycle, and he alone, the first of gods, has come in the form of stone.