The Glory of Lakshmi-Narayana

Verse 1 (skanda.6.255.1)

गालव उवाच । एवं ते लब्धशापाश्च पार्वतीशापपीडिताः । अनपत्या बभूवुश्च तथा च प्रतिमानवाः

gālava uvāca evaṁ te labdhaśāpāśca pārvatīśāpapīḍitāḥ anapatyā babhūvuśca tathā ca pratimānavāḥ

Galava said: Thus, having received the curse, afflicted by Parvati's curse, they became childless, and likewise came to exist as new images.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.255.2)

शालग्रामस्तु गंडक्यां नर्मदायां महेश्वरः । उत्पद्यते स्वयंभूश्च तावेतौ नैव कृत्रिमौ

śālagrāmastu gaṁḍakyāṁ narmadāyāṁ maheśvaraḥ utpadyate svayaṁbhūśca tāvetau naiva kṛtrimau

The Shalagrama arises, self-manifest, in the Gandaki, and Maheshvara in the Narmada — these two are never artificial.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.255.3)

चतुर्विंशतिभेदेन शालग्रामगतो हरिः । परीक्ष्यः पुरुषैर्नित्यमेकरूपः सदाशिवः

caturviṁśatibhedena śālagrāmagato hariḥ parīkṣyaḥ puruṣairnityamekarūpaḥ sadāśivaḥ

In twenty-four varieties, Hari present in the Shalagrama should ever be examined by men; Sadashiva, however, is ever of a single form.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.255.4)

शालग्रामशिला यत्र गंडकीविमले जले । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च ब्रह्मणः पदमाप्नुयात्

śālagrāmaśilā yatra gaṁḍakīvimale jale tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca brahmaṇaḥ padamāpnuyāt

Where the Shalagrama stone is, in the pure water of the Gandaki, bathing there and drinking there, one attains the state of Brahman.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.255.5)

तां पूजयित्वा विधिवद्गंडकीसंभवां शिलाम् । योगीश्वरो विशुद्धात्मा जायते नात्र संशयः

tāṁ pūjayitvā vidhivadgaṁḍakīsaṁbhavāṁ śilām yogīśvaro viśuddhātmā jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Having duly worshipped that stone born of the Gandaki, one becomes a lord of yogis, of purified soul — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.255.6)

एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टोऽहमिह त्वया । यथा हरो विप्रशापं प्राप्तवांस्तन्निशामय

etatte kathitaṁ sarvaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'hamiha tvayā yathā haro vipraśāpaṁ prāptavāṁstanniśāmaya

All this has been told to you, whatever I was asked here by you; now hear how Hara came to receive the brahmin's curse.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.255.7)

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या वाच्यमानामिमां कथाम् । गिरीशनृत्यसंबन्धामुमादेहार्द्धवर्णिताम्

yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā vācyamānāmimāṁ kathām girīśanṛtyasaṁbandhāmumādehārddhavarṇitām

That man who hears with devotion this story as it is told, concerning Girisha's dance, describing Uma's half of the body,

Verse 8 (skanda.6.255.8)

ब्रह्मणः स्तुतिसंयुक्तां स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम् । श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा समस्तं श्लोकमेव वा

brahmaṇaḥ stutisaṁyuktāṁ sa gacchetparamāṁ gatim ślokārddhaṁ ślokapādaṁ vā samastaṁ ślokameva vā

joined with the hymn of Brahma — he attains the supreme state. Whoever half a verse, or a quarter of a verse, or a whole verse indeed,

Verse 9 (skanda.6.255.9)

यः पठेदविरोधेन मायामानविवर्जितः । स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति

yaḥ paṭhedavirodhena māyāmānavivarjitaḥ sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra gatvā na śocati

recites without contradiction, free from illusion and pride, he goes to the supreme abode, having gone to which he does not grieve.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.255.10)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण पठञ्छृण्वन्नरोत्तमः । लभते चिंतितां सिद्धिं धनपुत्रादिसंवृतः

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa paṭhañchṛṇvannarottamaḥ labhate ciṁtitāṁ siddhiṁ dhanaputrādisaṁvṛtaḥ

Especially during Chaturmasya, the best of men, reading or hearing it, obtains the accomplishment he has thought of, surrounded by wealth, sons, and the rest.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.255.11)

यथा ब्रह्मादयो देवा गीतवाद्याभियोगतः । परां सिद्धिमवापुस्ते दुर्गाशिवसमीपतः

yathā brahmādayo devā gītavādyābhiyogataḥ parāṁ siddhimavāpuste durgāśivasamīpataḥ

Just as the gods, Brahma and the rest, through their engagement in song and music, obtained supreme accomplishment in the presence of Durga and Shiva,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.255.12)

वर्षाकाले च संप्राप्ते भक्तियोगे जनार्दने । महेश्वरेऽथ दुर्गायां न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत्

varṣākāle ca saṁprāpte bhaktiyoge janārdane maheśvare'tha durgāyāṁ na bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet

so, when the rainy season has come, one who is devoted in yoga to Janardana, and then to Maheshvara and Durga, shall not again be born as an infant.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.255.13)

गणेशस्य सदा कुर्याच्चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः । पूजां मनुष्यो लाभार्थं यत्नो लाभप्रदो हि सः

gaṇeśasya sadā kuryāccāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ pūjāṁ manuṣyo lābhārthaṁ yatno lābhaprado hi saḥ

One should always perform the worship of Ganesha, especially during Chaturmasya, for the sake of gain — that effort is indeed a bestower of gain.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.255.14)

सूर्यो नीरोगतां दद्याद्भक्त्या यैः पूज्यते हि सः । चातुर्मास्ये समायाते विशेषफलदो नृणाम्

sūryo nīrogatāṁ dadyādbhaktyā yaiḥ pūjyate hi saḥ cāturmāsye samāyāte viśeṣaphalado nṛṇām

Surya grants freedom from disease to those by whom he is worshipped with devotion; when Chaturmasya has come, he grants a special fruit to men.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.255.15)

इदं हि पंचायतनं सेव्यते गृहमेधिभिः । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सेवितं चिंतितप्रदम्

idaṁ hi paṁcāyatanaṁ sevyate gṛhamedhibhiḥ cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa sevitaṁ ciṁtitapradam

This Panchayatana of five deities is indeed served by householders; served especially during Chaturmasya, it grants what is desired.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.255.16)

शालग्रामगतं विष्णुं यः पूजयति नित्यदा । द्वारवतीचक्रशिलासहितं मोक्षदायकम्

śālagrāmagataṁ viṣṇuṁ yaḥ pūjayati nityadā dvāravatīcakraśilāsahitaṁ mokṣadāyakam

Whoever ever worships Vishnu present in the Shalagrama, together with the Dvaravati chakra-stone, the bestower of liberation,

Verse 17 (skanda.6.255.17)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण दर्शनादपि मुक्तिदम् । यस्मिन्स्तुते स्तुतं सर्वं पूजिते पूजितं जगत्

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa darśanādapi muktidam yasminstute stutaṁ sarvaṁ pūjite pūjitaṁ jagat

especially during Chaturmasya, it grants liberation even by the mere sight of it; when it is praised, all is praised, and when it is worshipped, the whole world is worshipped.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.255.18)

पूजितः पठितो ध्यातः स्मृतो वै कलुषापहः । शालग्रामे किं पुनर्यच्छालग्रामगतो हरिः

pūjitaḥ paṭhito dhyātaḥ smṛto vai kaluṣāpahaḥ śālagrāme kiṁ punaryacchālagrāmagato hariḥ

Worshipped, recited, meditated upon, or remembered, it indeed removes impurity — what more need be said, then, of the Shalagrama, where Hari himself is present?

Verse 19 (skanda.6.255.19)

पुनर्हि हरिनैवेद्यं फलं चापि धृतं जलम् । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण शालग्रामगतं शुभम्

punarhi harinaivedyaṁ phalaṁ cāpi dhṛtaṁ jalam cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa śālagrāmagataṁ śubham

Moreover, the offering made to Hari, and the fruit, and even the water held for him, especially during Chaturmasya, present in the Shalagrama, become auspicious.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.255.20)

तिलाः पुनंत्यर्पिताश्च शालग्रामस्य शूद्रज । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण नरं भक्त्या समन्वितम्

tilāḥ punaṁtyarpitāśca śālagrāmasya śūdraja cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa naraṁ bhaktyā samanvitam

O Shudra-born one, sesame seeds offered to the Shalagrama purify, especially during Chaturmasya, the man endowed with devotion,

Verse 21 (skanda.6.255.21)

स लक्ष्मीसहितो नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः । महाभाग्यवतां गेहे जायते नात्र संशयः

sa lakṣmīsahito nityaṁ dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ mahābhāgyavatāṁ gehe jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

and he is born, ever accompanied by Lakshmi, endowed with wealth and grain, in the house of the greatly fortunate — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.255.22)

स लक्ष्मीसहितो विष्णुर्विज्ञेयो नात्र संशयः । तं पूजयेन्महाभक्त्या स्थिरा लक्ष्मीर्गृहे भवेत्

sa lakṣmīsahito viṣṇurvijñeyo nātra saṁśayaḥ taṁ pūjayenmahābhaktyā sthirā lakṣmīrgṛhe bhavet

It is to be known as Vishnu accompanied by Lakshmi — there is no doubt of this. One should worship it with great devotion; then Lakshmi becomes steady in the house.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.255.23)

तावद्दरिद्रता लोके तावद्गर्जति पातकम् । तावत्क्लेशाः शरीरेऽस्मिन्न यावत्पूजयेद्धरिम्

tāvaddaridratā loke tāvadgarjati pātakam tāvatkleśāḥ śarīre'sminna yāvatpūjayeddharim

So long does poverty exist in the world, so long does sin roar, so long do afflictions exist in this body, as one does not worship Hari.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.255.24)

स एव पूज्यते यत्र पंचक्रोशं पवित्रकम् । करोति सकलं क्षेत्रं न तवाऽशुभसंभवः

sa eva pūjyate yatra paṁcakrośaṁ pavitrakam karoti sakalaṁ kṣetraṁ na tavā'śubhasaṁbhavaḥ

Where he alone is worshipped, he makes the entire region for five krosha around it pure and sacred — there is no possibility of anything inauspicious arising there.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.255.25)

एतदेव महाभाग्यमेतदेव महातपः । एष एव परो मोक्षो यत्र लक्ष्मीशपूजनम्

etadeva mahābhāgyametadeva mahātapaḥ eṣa eva paro mokṣo yatra lakṣmīśapūjanam

This alone is great fortune, this alone is great austerity, this alone is supreme liberation — wherever there is worship of the Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.255.26)

शंखश्च दक्षिणावर्त्तो लक्ष्मीनारायणात्मकः । तुलसी कृष्णसारोऽत्र यत्र द्वारवती शिला । तत्र श्रीर्विजयो विष्णुर्मुक्तिरेवं चतुष्टयम्

śaṁkhaśca dakṣiṇāvartto lakṣmīnārāyaṇātmakaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇasāro'tra yatra dvāravatī śilā tatra śrīrvijayo viṣṇurmuktirevaṁ catuṣṭayam

A right-spiraled conch is of the nature of Lakshmi-Narayana; and Tulasi and black deer-hide too. Wherever the Dvaravati stone is present, there Shri, victory, Vishnu, and liberation — thus this fourfold blessing — are to be found.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.255.27)

लक्ष्मीनारायणे पूजां विधातुर्मनुजस्य तु । ददाति पुण्यमतुलं मुक्तो भवति तत्क्षणात्

lakṣmīnārāyaṇe pūjāṁ vidhāturmanujasya tu dadāti puṇyamatulaṁ mukto bhavati tatkṣaṇāt

To the man who duly performs worship of Lakshmi-Narayana, it grants incomparable merit; he becomes liberated in that very instant.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.255.28)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण पूज्यो लक्ष्मीयुतो हरिः

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa pūjyo lakṣmīyuto hariḥ

Especially during Chaturmasya, Hari, together with Lakshmi, is to be worshipped.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.255.29)

कुर्वतस्तस्य देवस्य ध्यानं कल्मषनाशनम् । तुलसीमञ्जरीभिश्च पूजितो जन्मनाशनः

kurvatastasya devasya dhyānaṁ kalmaṣanāśanam tulasīmañjarībhiśca pūjito janmanāśanaḥ

For one who performs meditation upon that god, it destroys sin; and, worshipped with Tulasi blossoms, it destroys the cycle of birth.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.255.30)

पूजितो बिल्वपत्रेण चातुर्मास्येऽघहृत्तमः

pūjito bilvapatreṇa cāturmāsye'ghahṛttamaḥ

Worshipped with a Bilva leaf, during Chaturmasya it becomes the supreme remover of sin.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.255.31)

सर्वप्रयत्नेन स एव सेव्यो यो व्याप्य विश्वं जगतामधीशः । काले सृजत्यत्ति च हेलया वा तं प्राप्य भक्तो न हि सीदतीति

sarvaprayatnena sa eva sevyo yo vyāpya viśvaṁ jagatāmadhīśaḥ kāle sṛjatyatti ca helayā vā taṁ prāpya bhakto na hi sīdatīti

With all effort, he alone is to be served, who, pervading the universe, is the lord of the worlds, who in time creates and consumes it, as if in play — having attained him, a devotee never grieves.