The Glory of Tulapurusha-dana at Siddheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.267.1)

सूत उवाच तस्मादेषा महाराज शिवरात्रिर्विपश्चिता कर्तव्या पुरुषेणात्र लोकद्वयमभीप्सुना

sūta uvāca tasmādeṣā mahārāja śivarātrirvipaścitā kartavyā puruṣeṇātra lokadvayamabhīpsunā

Suta said: Therefore, O great king, this Shivaratri must be observed by a wise man who desires both this world and the next.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.267.2)

आनर्त उवाच मंकणेश्वरमाहात्म्यं मया विस्तरतः श्रुतम् शिवरात्रिसमोपेतं यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम्

ānarta uvāca maṁkaṇeśvaramāhātmyaṁ mayā vistarataḥ śrutam śivarātrisamopetaṁ yattvayā parikīrtitam

Anarta said: O great sage, I have heard in detail the greatness of Mankaneshvara together with the Shivaratri observance, which you have declared.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.267.3)

सांप्रतं वद मे कृत्स्नं सिद्धेश्वरसमुद्भवम् विस्तरेण महाभाग परं कौतूहलं हि मे

sāṁprataṁ vada me kṛtsnaṁ siddheśvarasamudbhavam vistareṇa mahābhāga paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

Now tell me in full, O most fortunate one, the entire origin of Siddheshvara, in detail — for I have great curiosity about it.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.267.4)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच सिद्धेश्वर इति ख्यातो महादेवो महीपते तस्योत्पत्तिस्त्वया पूर्वं श्रुतात्र वदतो मम

bhartṛyajña uvāca siddheśvara iti khyāto mahādevo mahīpate tasyotpattistvayā pūrvaṁ śrutātra vadato mama

Bhartriyajna said: O lord of the earth, the origin of the great god known as Siddheshvara you have already heard from me here.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.267.5)

सांप्रतं तत्फलं वच्मि तस्मिन्दृष्टे तु दानजम् यत्फलं जायते नॄणां चक्रवर्तित्व संभवम्

sāṁprataṁ tatphalaṁ vacmi tasmindṛṣṭe tu dānajam yatphalaṁ jāyate nṝṇāṁ cakravartitva saṁbhavam

Now I shall tell of the fruit that arises from donation upon seeing him — the fruit by which men attain the status of a universal sovereign.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.267.6)

तुलापुरुषदानं च तत्र राजन्प्रशश्यते य इच्छेच्चक्रवर्तित्वं समस्ते धरणीतले

tulāpuruṣadānaṁ ca tatra rājanpraśaśyate ya iccheccakravartitvaṁ samaste dharaṇītale

And there, O king, tulapurusha-dana — the donation of one's own weight — is praised for one who desires sovereignty over the whole earth.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.267.7)

आनर्त उवाच तुलापुरुषदानस्य यो विधिः परिकीर्तितः तं मे सर्वं समाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामुने

ānarta uvāca tulāpuruṣadānasya yo vidhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ taṁ me sarvaṁ samācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmune

Anarta said: Tell me in full detail, O great sage, that entire procedure of tulapurusha-dana which has been declared.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.267.8)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच चंद्रसूर्योपरागे वा अयने विषुवे तथा तीर्थे वा पुरुषश्रेष्ठ तुलापुरुषसंभवम्

bhartṛyajña uvāca caṁdrasūryoparāge vā ayane viṣuve tathā tīrthe vā puruṣaśreṣṭha tulāpuruṣasaṁbhavam

Bhartriyajna said: At a lunar or solar eclipse, at the solstice, at the equinox, or at a sacred tirtha, O best of men, tulapurusha may be performed.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.267.9)

प्रशंसंति विधिं सम्यक्प्राप्ते वा चेंदुसंक्षये ब्राह्मणानां सुदांतानामनुष्ठानवतां सताम्

praśaṁsaṁti vidhiṁ samyakprāpte vā ceṁdusaṁkṣaye brāhmaṇānāṁ sudāṁtānāmanuṣṭhānavatāṁ satām

This rite is duly praised even when performed at the waning of the moon, for well-restrained, ritually observant, virtuous brahmins.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.267.10)

वेदाध्ययनयुक्तानां निर्दोषाणां च पार्थिव विभज्य स भवेद्देयो नैकस्य च कथंचन

vedādhyayanayuktānāṁ nirdoṣāṇāṁ ca pārthiva vibhajya sa bhaveddeyo naikasya ca kathaṁcana

O king, it should be given divided among brahmins devoted to Vedic study and free from fault — never to a single person alone, in any way.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.267.11)

शुचौ देशे समे पुण्ये पूर्वोत्तरप्लवे शुभे मंडपं कारयेद्विद्वान् रम्यं ष़ोशहस्तकम् तन्मध्ये कारयेद्वेदिं चतुर्हस्त प्रमाणतः यजमानस्य हस्तेन हस्तैकेन समुच्छ्रिताम्

śucau deśe same puṇye pūrvottaraplave śubhe maṁḍapaṁ kārayedvidvān ramyaṁ ṣa़ośahastakam tanmadhye kārayedvediṁ caturhasta pramāṇataḥ yajamānasya hastena hastaikena samucchritām

In a pure, level, sacred spot sloping toward the north-east, the wise man should have a lovely pavilion built, sixteen cubits across; in its midst he should have an altar made, four cubits in measure, raised to one cubit's height, measured by the sacrificer's own hand-span.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.267.12)

चतुर्हस्तानि कुण्डानि चतुर्दिक्षु प्रकल्पयेत एकहस्तप्रमाणानि आयामव्यासविस्तरात् ऐशान्यामपरां वेदिं हस्तमात्रां न्यसेच्छुभाम् रत्निमात्रोत्थितां चैव ग्रहांस्तत्र प्रकल्पयेत्

caturhastāni kuṇḍāni caturdikṣu prakalpayeta ekahastapramāṇāni āyāmavyāsavistarāt aiśānyāmaparāṁ vediṁ hastamātrāṁ nyasecchubhām ratnimātrotthitāṁ caiva grahāṁstatra prakalpayet

He should arrange fire-pits in the four directions, four cubits apart, each one cubit in length and breadth; in the north-east he should set up a second auspicious altar, one hand-span wide and raised to one forearm's height, and there install the planetary deities.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.267.13)

युग्मांश्च ऋत्विजः कार्याश्चतुर्दिक्षु यथाक्रमम् बह्वृचोऽध्वर्यश्चैव च्छंदोगाथर्वणावपि

yugmāṁśca ṛtvijaḥ kāryāścaturdikṣu yathākramam bahvṛco'dhvaryaścaiva cchaṁdogātharvaṇāvapi

Priests should be appointed in pairs in the four directions, in order — a Rigvedic priest, an Adhvaryu, and likewise a Chandoga and an Atharvana priest.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.267.14)

तूष्णीं तु देवताहोमस्तैः कार्यः सुसमाहितैः तल्लिंगैर्नृपतेमंत्रैः स्वशक्त्या जप एव च

tūṣṇīṁ tu devatāhomastaiḥ kāryaḥ susamāhitaiḥ talliṁgairnṛpatemaṁtraiḥ svaśaktyā japa eva ca

O king, the offering to the deities should be made silently by those composed priests, with mantras suited to each deity's sign, along with japa according to one's own capacity.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.267.15)

एकहस्तप्रविष्टं तु चतुर्हस्तोच्छ्रितं तथा स्तंभद्वयं तु कर्तव्यं वेदियाम्योत्तरे स्थितम्

ekahastapraviṣṭaṁ tu caturhastocchritaṁ tathā staṁbhadvayaṁ tu kartavyaṁ vediyāmyottare sthitam

Two pillars should be set up to the south and north of the altar, sunk one cubit into the ground and rising four cubits high.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.267.16)

तन्मध्ये सुशुभं काष्ठं स्तंभजात्यं दृढं न्यसेत् चन्दनः खदिरो वाथ बिल्वोवाऽश्वत्थ एव वा

tanmadhye suśubhaṁ kāṣṭhaṁ staṁbhajātyaṁ dṛḍhaṁ nyaset candanaḥ khadiro vātha bilvovā'śvattha eva vā

In the middle of it a beautiful, strong pillar-timber should be placed — of sandalwood, khadira, bilva, or else ashvattha.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.267.17)

तिंदुको देवदारुर्वा श्रीपर्णी वा वटोऽथवा अष्टौ वृक्षाः शुभाः शस्ताः स्तंभार्थं नृपसत्तम्

tiṁduko devadārurvā śrīparṇī vā vaṭo'thavā aṣṭau vṛkṣāḥ śubhāḥ śastāḥ staṁbhārthaṁ nṛpasattam

Tinduka, devadaru, shriparni, or vata — O best of kings, these eight trees have been declared auspicious and excellent for the pillar.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.267.18)

शिक्यद्वय समोपेतां तन्मध्ये विन्यसेत्तुलाम् स्नातः शुक्लांबरधरः शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः

śikyadvaya samopetāṁ tanmadhye vinyasettulām snātaḥ śuklāṁbaradharaḥ śuklamālyānulepanaḥ

He should suspend the balance-beam in its middle, fitted with a pair of slings; and having bathed, wearing white garments, adorned with white garlands and unguents...

Verse 19 (skanda.6.267.19)

पूरयित्वा समंताच्च लोकपालान्यथाक्रमम् स्तंभान्संपूजयत्पश्चाद्गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः

pūrayitvā samaṁtācca lokapālānyathākramam staṁbhānsaṁpūjayatpaścādgandhamālyānulepanaiḥ

...having duly worshipped all around the guardian deities of the quarters in order, he should then worship the pillars with fragrance, garlands, and unguents.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.267.20)

तुलां च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ पुण्याहं च प्रकीर्तयेत् यजमानो निजैः सर्वैरायुधैः कायसंस्थितैः

tulāṁ ca pārthivaśreṣṭha puṇyāhaṁ ca prakīrtayet yajamāno nijaiḥ sarvairāyudhaiḥ kāyasaṁsthitaiḥ

O best of kings, the sacrificer, standing before the balance together with all his own weapons upon his body, should have the blessing of the auspicious day proclaimed.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.267.21)

पश्चिमां दिशमास्थाय प्राङ्मुखः श्रद्धयाऽन्वितः कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा इमं मंत्रमुदीरयेत्

paścimāṁ diśamāsthāya prāṅmukhaḥ śraddhayā'nvitaḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā imaṁ maṁtramudīrayet

Standing on the western side, facing east, filled with faith, with joined palms, he should utter this mantra.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.267.22)

ब्रह्मणो दुहिता नित्यं सत्यं परममाश्रिता काश्यपी गोत्रतश्चैव नामतो विश्रुता तुला

brahmaṇo duhitā nityaṁ satyaṁ paramamāśritā kāśyapī gotrataścaiva nāmato viśrutā tulā

'The balance is the eternal daughter of Brahma, ever resting upon supreme truth, of the Kashyapa lineage by gotra, and renowned by the name Tula.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.267.23)

त्वं तुले सत्यनामासि स्वभीष्टं चात्मनः शुभम् करिष्यामि प्रसादं मे सांनिध्यं कुरु सांप्रतम्

tvaṁ tule satyanāmāsi svabhīṣṭaṁ cātmanaḥ śubham kariṣyāmi prasādaṁ me sāṁnidhyaṁ kuru sāṁpratam

'O Tula, your name is true to itself; I shall now accomplish this good deed which I desire. Grant me your favor — be present with me now.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.267.24)

ततस्तस्यां समारुह्य स्वशक्त्या यत्समाहृतम् दानार्थं पूर्वमायोज्यं शिक्येन्यस्मिन्नरोत्तम

tatastasyāṁ samāruhya svaśaktyā yatsamāhṛtam dānārthaṁ pūrvamāyojyaṁ śikyenyasminnarottama

Then, having mounted upon it, O best of men, whatever has been gathered beforehand for the purpose of donation should be placed, according to his ability, in the other sling.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.267.25)

सुवर्णं रजतं वाऽथ वस्त्रं चान्यदभीप्सितम् यावत्साम्यं भवेद्राजन्नात्मनोऽभ्यधिकं च वा

suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ vā'tha vastraṁ cānyadabhīpsitam yāvatsāmyaṁ bhavedrājannātmano'bhyadhikaṁ ca vā

Gold, silver, cloth, or whatever else is desired — O king, until equality in weight with himself is reached, or even more.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.267.26)

ततोऽभीष्टां समासाद्य देवतां शिक्यमाश्रितः उदकं जलमध्ये च तदर्थं प्रक्षिपेद्द्रुतम्

tato'bhīṣṭāṁ samāsādya devatāṁ śikyamāśritaḥ udakaṁ jalamadhye ca tadarthaṁ prakṣipeddrutam

Then, having invoked the deity of his desire while seated in the sling, he should swiftly pour water into water for that purpose.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.267.27)

सतिलं सहिरण्यं च साक्षतं विधिपूर्वकम् अवतीर्य ततः सर्वं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो निवेदयेत्

satilaṁ sahiraṇyaṁ ca sākṣataṁ vidhipūrvakam avatīrya tataḥ sarvaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo nivedayet

With sesame, gold, and unbroken rice, according to rite, having then descended, he should offer all of it to the brahmins.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.267.28)

यत्फलं प्राप्यते पश्चात्तदिहैकमनाः शृणु

yatphalaṁ prāpyate paścāttadihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu

Now listen with a single-pointed mind to the fruit that is obtained thereafter.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.267.29)

अजानता जानता वा यत्पापं तु भवेत्कृतम् तत्सर्वं नाशयेन्मर्त्यो दानस्यास्य प्रभावतः

ajānatā jānatā vā yatpāpaṁ tu bhavetkṛtam tatsarvaṁ nāśayenmartyo dānasyāsya prabhāvataḥ

Whatever sin has been committed, knowingly or unknowingly, a mortal destroys all of it through the power of this donation.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.267.30)

यावन्मात्रं कृतं पापमतीतं नृपसत्तम तावन्मात्रं क्षयं याति तुलापुरुषदानतः

yāvanmātraṁ kṛtaṁ pāpamatītaṁ nṛpasattama tāvanmātraṁ kṣayaṁ yāti tulāpuruṣadānataḥ

O best of kings, whatever measure of sin has been committed in the past, that same measure is destroyed through tulapurusha-dana.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.267.31)

ईश्वराणां समादिष्टं कायक्लेशभयात्मनाम् पुरश्चरणमेतद्धि दानं तौल्यसमुद्भवम्

īśvarāṇāṁ samādiṣṭaṁ kāyakleśabhayātmanām puraścaraṇametaddhi dānaṁ taulyasamudbhavam

This has been specially ordained by the great lords for those fearful of bodily hardship — this donation born of weighing oneself is indeed a purashcharana, a preparatory rite.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.267.32)

एतद्दत्तं दिलीपेन कार्तवीर्येण भूपते पृथुना पुरुकुत्सेन तथान्यैरपि पार्थिवैः

etaddattaṁ dilīpena kārtavīryeṇa bhūpate pṛthunā purukutsena tathānyairapi pārthivaiḥ

O lord of the earth, this was given by Dilipa, by Kartavirya, by Prithu, by Purukutsa, and by many other kings as well.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.267.33)

एतत्पुण्यं प्रशस्यं च सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् तुलापुरुषदानं च सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम्

etatpuṇyaṁ praśasyaṁ ca sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām tulāpuruṣadānaṁ ca sarvopadravanāśanam

This is meritorious and praiseworthy, granting all desires to men; tulapurusha-dana destroys every calamity.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.267.34)

आधयो व्याधयो न स्युर्न वैधव्यं गदोद्भवम् संजायते नृपश्रेष्ठ न वियोगः स्वबन्धुभिः तुलापुरुषदानस्य फलमेतदुदाहृतम्

ādhayo vyādhayo na syurna vaidhavyaṁ gadodbhavam saṁjāyate nṛpaśreṣṭha na viyogaḥ svabandhubhiḥ tulāpuruṣadānasya phalametadudāhṛtam

Mental afflictions and diseases do not arise, nor does widowhood born of illness occur, O best of kings, nor separation from one's own kin — this is declared as the fruit of tulapurusha-dana.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.267.35)

तुलापुरुषदानस्य प्रदत्तस्य नृपोत्तम न शक्यते कथयितुं फलं यत्स्यात्कलौ युगे

tulāpuruṣadānasya pradattasya nṛpottama na śakyate kathayituṁ phalaṁ yatsyātkalau yuge

O best of kings, the fruit of tulapurusha-dana given in the Kali age is such that it cannot be fully told.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.267.36)

दक्षिणामूर्तिमासाद्य सिद्धेश्वरविभोः पुरः यः प्रयच्छति भूपाल सहस्रगुणितं फलम्

dakṣiṇāmūrtimāsādya siddheśvaravibhoḥ puraḥ yaḥ prayacchati bhūpāla sahasraguṇitaṁ phalam

O king, one who, having reached lord Siddheshvara in his Dakshinamurti form, offers this donation there, obtains a thousandfold fruit.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.267.37)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्राप्य सिद्धेश्वरं विभुम् तुलापुरुषदानं च कर्तव्यं सुविवेकिना

tasmātsarvaprayatnena prāpya siddheśvaraṁ vibhum tulāpuruṣadānaṁ ca kartavyaṁ suvivekinā

Therefore the discerning man, having reached lord Siddheshvara, should perform tulapurusha-dana with all effort.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.267.38)

एकत्र सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वाण्यायतनानि च हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे कथितानि स्वयंभुवा

ekatra sarvatīrthāni sarvāṇyāyatanāni ca hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre kathitāni svayaṁbhuvā

All the sacred tirthas together, and all the shrines, have been declared by the Self-born Brahma to be present in the field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.267.39)

सिद्धेश्वरः सुरश्रेष्ठ एकत्र समुदाहृतः तस्मिन्दृष्टे तथा स्पृष्टे पूजिते नृपसत्तम सर्वेषां लभते मर्त्यः फलं यत्परिकीर्तितम्

siddheśvaraḥ suraśreṣṭha ekatra samudāhṛtaḥ tasmindṛṣṭe tathā spṛṣṭe pūjite nṛpasattama sarveṣāṁ labhate martyaḥ phalaṁ yatparikīrtitam

Siddheshvara, best of gods, is proclaimed to hold them all in one place; O best of kings, when he is seen, touched, and worshipped, a mortal obtains the combined fruit of them all.