The Greatness of Hrishikesha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.397.1)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । अंबरीषस्य राजर्षेरैशान्यां पापनाशनम्

pulastya uvāca | tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam | ambarīṣasya rājarṣeraiśānyāṁ pāpanāśanam

Pulastya said: O best of kings, then one should go to that sacred ford, renowned throughout the three worlds, situated to the northeast of the royal sage Ambarisha's ford, which destroys sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.397.2)

यत्र स्वयं हृषीकेशः काले च कलिसंज्ञके । तस्य वाक्यादृतस्तीर्थे स्वयं हि परितिष्ठति

yatra svayaṁ hṛṣīkeśaḥ kāle ca kalisaṁjñake | tasya vākyādṛtastīrthe svayaṁ hi paritiṣṭhati

Where Hrishikesha himself, even in the age called Kali, honouring his word, personally abides in that sacred ford.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.397.3)

पुरासीत्पृथिवीपालो ह्यंबरीषो युगे कृते । हरिमाराधयामास तपस्तेपे सुदुष्करम्

purāsītpṛthivīpālo hyaṁbarīṣo yuge kṛte | harimārādhayāmāsa tapastepe sudurdṣkaram

In the Krita age there was an earth-protector named Ambarisha, who worshipped Hari and performed most difficult austerities.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.397.4)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थे स राजेन्द्रो मितभक्षो जितेन्द्रियः । सहस्रमेकं वर्षाणां तत आसीत्फलाशनः

tasminstīrthe sa rājendro mitabhakṣo jitendriyaḥ | sahasramekaṁ varṣāṇāṁ tata āsītphalāśanaḥ

In that sacred ford, that king of kings, of moderate diet and controlled senses, lived on fruit for one thousand years.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.397.5)

सहस्रे द्वे ततो राजञ्छीर्णपर्णाशनोऽभवत् । सहस्रे द्वे ततो भूयो जलाहारो बभूव ह

sahasre dve tato rājañchīrṇaparṇāśano'bhavat | sahasre dve tato bhūyo jalāhāro babhūva ha

Then, O king, for two thousand years he lived on withered leaves. Then, for another two thousand years, he subsisted on water alone.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.397.6)

सहस्रत्रितयं राजन्वायुभक्षो बभूव ह । चिन्तयन्पुंडरीकाक्षं मानसे श्रद्धयान्वितः

sahasratritayaṁ rājanvāyubhakṣo babhūva ha | ciṁtayanpuṇḍarīkākṣaṁ mānase śraddhayānvitaḥ

Then, O king, for three thousand years he lived on air alone, meditating in his mind, with faith, upon the lotus-eyed one.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.397.7)

दश वर्षसहस्रान्ते ततश्च नृपसत्तम । तुतोष भगवान्विष्णुस्तस्यासौ दर्शनं ददौ

daśa varṣasahasrānte tataśca nṛpasattama | tutoṣa bhagavānviṣṇustasyāsau darśanaṁ dadau

O best of kings, at the end of ten thousand years, the Blessed Vishnu was pleased and granted him his sight.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.397.8)

कृत्वा देवपते रूपमारुह्यैरावतं गजम् । अब्रवीद्वरदोऽस्मीति अंबरीषं नराधिपम्

kṛtvā devapate rūpamāruhyairāvataṁ gajam | abravīdvarado'smīti aṁbarīṣaṁ narādhipam

Taking the form of the lord of the gods and mounting the elephant Airavata, he said to King Ambarisha: "I am one who grants boons."

Verse 9 (skanda.7.397.9)

इंद्र उवाच । वरं वरय भद्रं ते राजन्यन्मनसीप्सितम् । त्वां दृष्ट्वा भक्तिसंयुक्तमागतोऽहमसंशयम्

indra uvāca | varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te rājanyanmanasīpsitam | tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā bhaktisaṁyuktamāgato'hamasaṁśayam

Indra said: O king, may all be well with you; ask for whatever is desired in your mind. Seeing you full of devotion, I have surely come.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.397.10)

अंबरीष उवाच । मुक्तिं दातुमशक्तोसि त्वं च वृत्रनिषूदन । तव प्रसादाद्देवेश त्रैलोक्यं मम वर्त्तते । स्वागतं गच्छ देवेश न वरो रोचते मम

aṁbarīṣa uvāca | muktiṁ dātumaśakto'si tvaṁ ca vṛtraniṣūdana | tava prasādāddeveśa trailokyaṁ mama varttate | svāgataṁ gaccha deveśa na varo rocate mama

Ambarisha said: You, O slayer of Vritra, are unable to grant liberation. O lord of gods, even the three worlds, by your grace, mean little to me. Welcome, O lord of gods; go now - no boon pleases me.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.397.11)

सर्वथा दास्यते मह्यं वरं तुष्टश्चतुर्भुजः । तदाहं प्रतिगृह्णामि गच्छ देव नमोस्तु ते

sarvathā dāsyate mahyaṁ varaṁ tuṣṭaścaturbhujaḥ | tadāhaṁ pratigṛhṇāmi gaccha deva namo'stu te

Only when the four-armed one himself, pleased, gives me a boon will I accept it. Go now, O god; salutations to you.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.397.12)

इन्द्र उवाच । वरं वरय राजर्षे यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते । ब्रह्मविष्णुत्रिनेत्राणामहमीशो नृपोतम

indra uvāca | varaṁ varaya rājarṣe yatte manasi varttate | brahmaviṣṇutrinetrāṇāmahamīśo nṛpottama

Indra said: O royal sage, ask for whatever is in your mind. O best of kings, I am the lord even of Brahma, Vishnu, and the three-eyed one.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.397.13)

अन्येषां चैव देवानां त्रैलोक्यस्याप्यहं विभुः । वरं वरय तस्मात्त्वं प्रसादान्मे सुदुर्ल्लभम्

anyeṣāṁ caiva devānāṁ trailokyasyāpyahaṁ vibhuḥ | varaṁ varaya tasmāttvaṁ prasādānme sudurllabham

I am the lord of all other gods and of the three worlds too. Therefore ask me, by my grace, for some boon most difficult to obtain.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.397.14)

प्रसन्ने मयि राजेन्द्र प्रसन्नाः सर्वदेवताः । कुरु मे वचनं राजन्गृह्यतां वरमुत्तमम्

prasanne mayi rājendra prasannāḥ sarvadevatāḥ | kuru me vacanaṁ rājangṛhyatāṁ varamuttamam

O king of kings, when I am pleased, all the gods are pleased. O king, heed my word; accept this excellent boon.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.397.15)

अंबरीष उवाच । राजा त्वं सर्वदेवानां त्रैलोक्यस्य तथेश्वरः । सप्तद्वीपवती राजा अहं वृत्रनिषूदन

aṁbarīṣa uvāca | rājā tvaṁ sarvadevānāṁ trailokyasya tatheśvaraḥ | saptadvīpavatī rājā ahaṁ vṛtraniṣūdana

Ambarisha said: O slayer of Vritra, you are king of all the gods, lord of the three worlds too, and I am king of the seven-continented earth.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.397.16)

हषीकेशस्य सद्भक्तं विद्धि मां तात निश्चयम् । आगतश्च हृषीकेशो वरं दास्यत्यसंशयम्

hṛṣīkeśasya sadbhaktaṁ viddhi māṁ tāta niścayam | āgataśca hṛṣīkeśo varaṁ dāsyatyasaṁśayam

Know for certain, dear one, that I am a true devotee of Hrishikesha. Hrishikesha himself will come and grant the boon, without doubt.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.397.17)

इन्द्र उवाच । ददतो मम भूपाल न गृह्णासि वरं यदि । वज्रं त्वां प्रेरयिष्यामि वधाय कृतनिश्चयः

indra uvāca | dadato mama bhūpāla na gṛhṇāsi varaṁ yadi | vajraṁ tvāṁ preṣayiṣyāmi vadhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ

Indra said: O king, if you refuse to accept a boon offered by me, then, resolved upon your death, I shall hurl my thunderbolt at you.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.397.18)

एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षः सृक्किणी परिलेलिहन् । कुलिशं भ्रामयामास गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे करे

evamuktvā sahasrākṣaḥ sṛkkiṇī parilelihan | kuliśaṁ bhrāmayāmāsa gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe kare

Having said this, the thousand-eyed Indra, licking the corners of his mouth, took the thunderbolt in his right hand and began to whirl it.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.397.19)

तस्येवं भ्राम्यमाणस्य महोत्पाता बभूविरे । ततः पर्वतशृंगाणि विशीर्णानि समंततः

tasyevaṁ bhrāmyamāṇasya mahotpātā babhūvire | tataḥ parvataśṛṅgāṇi viśīrṇāni samaṁtataḥ

As he thus whirled it, great portents arose. Then mountain peaks shattered and scattered on every side.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.397.20)

आवृतं गगनं मेघैर्विधुन्वानैर्महीं तदा । न किंचिद्दृश्यते तत्र सर्वं संतमसावृतम्

āvṛtaṁ gaganaṁ meghairvidhunvānairmahīṁ tadā | na kiṁciddṛśyate tatra sarvaṁ saṁtamasāvṛtam

The sky became covered with clouds that shook the earth; then nothing could be seen at all, everything was wrapped in dense darkness.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.397.21)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा हरिवत्सलः । निमील्य लोचने स्वीये समाधिस्थो बभूव ह

etasminneva kāle tu sa rājā harivatsalaḥ | nimīlya locane svīye samādhistho babhūva ha

At that very moment, that king, devoted to Hari, closed his eyes and entered into deep meditation.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.397.22)

ततस्तुष्टो जगन्नाथ साक्षात्प्रत्यक्षतां गतः । ऐरावतः स गरुडस्तत्क्षणात्समजायत

tatastuṣṭo jagannātha sākṣātpratyakṣatāṁ gataḥ | airāvataḥ sa garuḍastatkṣaṇātsamajāyata

Then the Lord of the world, pleased, became directly manifest, and in that very instant that Airavata turned into Garuda.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.397.23)

तमुवाच हृषीकेशो मेघगंभीरया गिरा । ध्यानस्थितं नृपश्रेष्ठं शंखचक्रगदाधरः

tamuvāca hṛṣīkeśo meghagambhīrayā girā | dhyānasthitaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṁ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ

Hrishikesha, bearer of conch, discus and mace, spoke in a voice deep as thunder to that best of kings, absorbed in meditation.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.397.24)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्सानन्यभक्तजनेश्वर । वरं वरय भद्रं ते यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | parituṣṭo'smi te vatsānanyabhaktajaneśvara | varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te yadyapi syātsudurlabham

The Blessed Lord said: My child, O lord of unswerving devotees, I am greatly pleased with you. May all be well with you; ask for a boon, even if it be most difficult to obtain.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.397.25)

अंबरीष उवाच । यदि प्रसन्नो भगवन्यदि देयो वरो मम । संसाराब्धेस्तारणाय वरदो भव मे हरे

aṁbarīṣa uvāca | yadi prasanno bhagavanyadi deyo varo mama | saṁsārābdhestāraṇāya varado bhava me hare

Ambarisha said: O Lord, if you are pleased, if a boon is to be given to me, then, O Hari, be my boon-giver for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.397.26)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । अथाह भगवान्विष्णुरंबरीषं जनाधिपम् । ज्ञानयोगं सुविस्तीर्णं संसारक्षयकारणम्

pulastya uvāca | athāha bhagavānviṣṇuraṁbarīṣaṁ janādhipam | jñānayogaṁ suvistīrṇaṁ saṁsārakṣayakāraṇam

Pulastya said: Then the Blessed Vishnu explained to King Ambarisha the extensive path of knowledge, the cause of the destruction of worldly bondage.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.397.27)

यस्मिञ्जाते नरः सद्यः संसारान्मुच्यते नृप । श्रुत्वा स नृपतिः सम्यक्प्रणम्योवाच केशवम्

yasmiñjāte naraḥ sadyaḥ saṁsārānmucyate nṛpa | śrutvā sa nṛpatiḥ samyakpraṇamyovāca keśavam

Which, once arisen, at once frees a man from worldly bondage. Having heard it fully, that king bowed and said to Keshava.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.397.28)

अंबरीष उवाच । भगवन्यस्त्वया प्रोक्तो योगोऽयं मम विस्तरात् । दुर्ज्ञेयः स नृणां देव विशेषाच्च कलौ युगे

aṁbarīṣa uvāca | bhagavanyastvayā prokto yogo'yaṁ mama vistarāt | durjñeyaḥ sa nṛṇāṁ deva viśeṣācca kalau yuge

Ambarisha said: O Lord, this path of yoga you have expounded to me in detail is, O god, hard for men to grasp, especially in the Kali age.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.397.29)

अपि चेत्सुप्रसन्नोऽसि क्रियायोगं ब्रवीहि मे । लोकानां तारणार्थाय शंखचक्रगदाधर

api cetsuprasanno'si kriyāyogaṁ bravīhi me | lokānāṁ tāraṇārthāya śaṅkhacakragadādhara

If you are indeed well pleased, then, O bearer of conch, discus and mace, tell me the path of ritual action, for the deliverance of the worlds.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.397.30)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । ततस्तस्मै नरेन्द्राय क्रियायोगं जनार्द्दनः । यथायोग्यं नृपश्रेष्ठ कथयामास केशवः

pulastya uvāca | tatastasmai narendrāya kriyāyogaṁ janārddanaḥ | yathāyogyaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha kathayāmāsa keśavaḥ

Pulastya said: Then, O best of kings, Janardana Keshava expounded to that king the path of ritual action, as was fitting.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.397.31)

तं श्रुत्वा तुष्टहृदयोऽम्बरीषो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

taṁ śrutvā tuṣṭahṛdayo'mbarīṣo vākyamabravīt

Hearing it, Ambarisha, his heart delighted, spoke these words.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.397.32)

अंबरीष उवाच । यदि तुष्टोऽसि भगवन्रूपेणानेन माधव । ममाश्रमे त्वं देवेश सदा सन्निहितो भव

aṁbarīṣa uvāca | yadi tuṣṭo'si bhagavanrūpeṇānena mādhava | mamāśrame tvaṁ deveśa sadā sannihito bhava

Ambarisha said: O Lord, O Madhava, if you are pleased in this very form, then, O lord of gods, remain always present in my hermitage.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.397.33)

यतस्त्वत्प्रतिमामेकामर्चयामि विधानतः । पूजयिष्यंति लोकास्त्वां शंखचक्रगदाधरम्

yatastvatpratimāmekāmarcayāmi vidhānataḥ | pūjayiṣyanti lokāstvāṁ śaṅkhacakragadādharam

For I shall duly worship an image of you, and the world shall worship you, the bearer of conch, discus and mace.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.397.34)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । तथोक्तो माधवेनासौ चकार हरिमंदिरम् । प्रतिमां पूजयामास गन्धपुष्पानुलेपनैः

pulastya uvāca | tathokto mādhavenāsau cakāra harimandiram | pratimāṁ pūjayāmāsa gandhapuṣpānulepanaiḥ

Pulastya said: Thus instructed by Madhava, he built a temple of Hari and worshipped the image with fragrance, flowers and unguents.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.397.35)

ततः कालेन महता भगवान्विष्णुमंदिरे । तेनैव वपुषा प्राप्तः सपुत्रः सहबांधवः

tataḥ kālena mahatā bhagavānviṣṇumandire | tenaiva vapuṣā prāptaḥ saputraḥ sahabāṁdhavaḥ

Then, after a long time, the Blessed Lord became present in that very form in the Vishnu temple, together with his son and kinsmen.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.397.36)

अद्यापि भगवान्विष्णुः सत्यवाक्येन भूपतेः । सदा संनिहितो विष्णुस्तस्मिन्नवसरे कलौ

adyāpi bhagavānviṣṇuḥ satyavākyena bhūpateḥ | sadā saṁnihito viṣṇustasminnavasare kalau

Even today, the Blessed Vishnu, on account of that king's truthful word, remains ever present there, even at this occasion of Kali.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.397.37)

तदारभ्य महाराज क्रियायोगो धरातले । प्रवृत्तः प्रतिमाकारः काले च कलिसंज्ञके

tadārabhya mahārāja kriyāyogo dharātale | pravṛttaḥ pratimākāraḥ kāle ca kalisaṁjñake

O great king, from that time onward, worship of images as the path of ritual action began on earth, especially in the age called Kali.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.397.38)

यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या हृषीकेशे नृपार्बुदे । स याति विष्णुसालोक्यं प्रसादाच्च हरेर्नृप

yastaṁ pūjayate bhaktyā hṛṣīkeśe nṛpārbude | sa yāti viṣṇusālokyaṁ prasādācca harernṛpa

O king, whoever worships Hrishikesha with devotion at Arbuda attains, by Hari's grace, the world of Vishnu.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.397.39)

एकादश्यां महाराज जागरं यः सदा नृप । करिष्यति निराहारो हृषीकेशाग्रतः स्थितः । स यास्यति परं स्थानं दुर्ल्लभं त्रिदशैरपि

ekādaśyāṁ mahārāja jāgaraṁ yaḥ sadā nṛpa | kariṣyati nirāhāro hṛṣīkeśāgrataḥ sthitaḥ | sa yāsyati paraṁ sthānaṁ durllabhaṁ tridaśairapi

O king, whoever, always fasting on Ekadashi, keeps a night vigil standing before Hrishikesha shall attain the supreme abode, hard to obtain even for the gods.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.397.40)

यत्पुण्यं कपिलादाने कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे । तत्फलं लभते मर्त्त्यो हृषीकेशस्य दर्शनात्

yatpuṇyaṁ kapilādāne kārtikyāṁ jyeṣṭhapuṣkare | tatphalaṁ labhate marttyo hṛṣīkeśasya darśanāt

Whatever merit is gained by donating a tawny cow at the chief Pushkara in the month of Kartika - that same fruit a mortal obtains by the sight of Hrishikesha.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.397.41)

शुक्ले वा यदि वा कृष्णे संप्राप्ते हरिवासरे । यः पश्यति हृषीकेशमश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

śukle vā yadi vā kṛṣṇe samprāpte harivāsare | yaḥ paśyati hṛṣīkeśamaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

Whether in the bright or the dark fortnight, when Hari's day (Ekadashi) arrives, whoever beholds Hrishikesha obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.397.42)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूजयेत्तु विधानतः । यस्तत्र चतुरो मासन्सम्यग्व्रतपरायणः । अभ्यर्चयेद्धृषीकेशं न स भूयोऽभिजायते

tasmātsarvaprayatnena pūjayettu vidhānataḥ | yastatra caturo māsansamyagvrataparāyaṇaḥ | abhyarcayeddhṛṣīkeśaṁ na sa bhūyo'bhijāyate

Therefore one should, with every effort, worship duly. Whoever, properly devoted to his vow, worships Hrishikesha there for four months is not born again.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.397.43)

एकः सर्वाणि तीर्थानि करोति नृपसत्तम । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

ekaḥ sarvāṇi tīrthāni karoti nṛpasattama | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

O best of kings, one man visits all the sacred fords; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months (both gain equal merit).

Verse 44 (skanda.7.397.44)

एको दानानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

eko dānāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇebhyaḥ prayacchati | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man gives all manner of gifts to brahmins; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.397.45)

एकः कन्यासहस्रं तु प्रदद्याच्च यथाविधि । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

ekaḥ kanyāsahasraṁ tu pradadyācca yathāvidhi | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man duly gives away a thousand maidens in marriage; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.397.46)

सूर्यग्रहे कुरुक्षेत्रे दद्याद्दानमनुत्तमम् । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

sūryagrahe kurukṣetre dadyāddānamanuttamam | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man gives the most excellent gift at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.397.47)

अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैर्यजत्येकः सदक्षिणैः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

agniṣṭomādibhiryajñairyajatyekaḥ sadakṣiṇaiḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man performs sacrifices such as Agnishtoma with sacrificial fees; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.397.48)

एको हिमालयं गत्वा त्यजति स्वकलेवरम् । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

eko himālayaṁ gatvā tyajati svakalevaram | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man goes to the Himalaya and gives up his body; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.397.49)

एकस्तु भृगुपातेन त्यजेद्देहं सुतीर्थके । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

ekastu bhṛgupātena tyajeddehaṁ sutīrthake | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man gives up his body by leaping from a cliff at a holy sacred ford; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.397.50)

एकः प्रायोपवेशेन प्राणांस्त्यजति मानवः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

ekaḥ prāyopaveśena prāṇāṁstyajati mānavaḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man gives up his life by ritual fasting unto death; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.397.51)

ब्रह्मज्ञानं वदत्येकः श्रुत्वा ज्ञानविशारदः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

brahmajñānaṁ vadatyekaḥ śrutvā jñānaviśāradaḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man, skilled in wisdom, expounds the knowledge of Brahman after hearing it; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.397.52)

गयाश्राद्धं करोत्येकः पितृपक्षे नृपोत्तम । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

gayāśrāddhaṁ karotyekaḥ pitṛpakṣe nṛpottama | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

O best of kings, one man performs the ancestral rite at Gaya during the fortnight of the ancestors; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.397.53)

चांद्रायणसहस्रं च करोत्येकः समाहितः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुमास्यं समाहितः

cāndrāyaṇasahasraṁ ca karotyekaḥ samāhitaḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man, with focused mind, performs a thousand Chandrayana fasts; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.397.54)

व्रतं तपः सहस्राब्दमेकः सम्यक्चरेन्नरः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

vrataṁ tapaḥ sahasrābdamekaḥ samyakcarennaraḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One man properly practices vows and austerities for a thousand years; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.397.55)

एकस्तु चतुरो वेदान्सम्यक्पठति ब्राह्मणः । पश्यत्यन्यो हृषीकेशं चातुर्मास्यं समाहितः

ekastu caturo vedānsamyakpaṭhati brāhmaṇaḥ | paśyatyanyo hṛṣīkeśaṁ cāturmāsyaṁ samāhitaḥ

One brahmin fully studies the four Vedas; another, with focused mind, beholds Hrishikesha during the four holy months.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.397.56)

बहुना किमिहोक्तेन शृणु संक्षेपतो नृप । एकतस्तु भवेत्सर्वमेकतो हरिदर्शनम्

bahunā kimihoktena śṛṇu saṁkṣepato nṛpa | ekatastu bhavetsarvamekato haridarśanam

What is the use of saying more here - O king, hear it in brief: on one side lies all of that, and on the other, alone, the sight of Hari.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.397.57)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्थातव्यं हरिसंनिधौ । अम्बरीषस्य राजर्षेः स्थानके पापनाशने

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sthātavyaṁ harisaṁnidhau | ambarīṣasya rājarṣeḥ sthānake pāpanāśane

Therefore one should, with every effort, dwell near Hari at the sin-destroying abode of the royal sage Ambarisha.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.397.58)

एकतस्तु हृषीकेश एकतः कर्णिकेश्वरः । तयोर्मर्त्या मृता ये च मानवा नृपसत्तम

ekatastu hṛṣīkeśa ekataḥ karṇikeśvaraḥ | tayormartyā mṛtā ye ca mānavā nṛpasattama

On one side is Hrishikesha, on the other Karnikeshwara. O best of kings, whatever mortals die between the two of them.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.397.59)

अपि कृत्वा महत्पापं गच्छंति हरिसन्निधौ । हृषीकेशं समालोक्य सद्यो मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

api kṛtvā mahatpāpaṁ gacchanti harisannidhau | hṛṣīkeśaṁ samālokya sadyo muktimavāpnuyāt

Even having committed a great sin, they go to Hari's presence. Beholding Hrishikesha, they instantly attain liberation.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.397.60)

पुष्पमेकं हृषीकेशे यश्चारोपयते नृप । सुखसौभाग्यसंयुक्त इह लोके परत्र च

puṣpamekaṁ hṛṣīkeśe yaścāropayate nṛpa | sukhasaubhāgyasaṁyukta iha loke paratra ca

O king, whoever offers even a single flower to Hrishikesha becomes endowed with happiness and good fortune, in this world and the next.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.397.61)

हृषीकेशस्य यो भक्त्या करिष्यत्यनुलेपनम् । स यास्यति परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

hṛṣīkeśasya yo bhaktyā kariṣyatyanulepanam | sa yāsyati paraṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

Whoever, with devotion, anoints Hrishikesha with sandal paste shall attain the supreme abode, free from old age and death.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.397.62)

संमार्जनं च तस्याग्रे यः करोति समाहितः । यावत्यो रेणवस्तत्र तावद्वर्षशतानि सः । मोदते विष्णुलोकस्थो नात्र कार्या विचारणा

saṁmārjanaṁ ca tasyāgre yaḥ karoti samāhitaḥ | yāvatyo reṇavastatra tāvadvarṣaśatāni saḥ | modate viṣṇulokastho nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whoever, with focused mind, sweeps clean the ground before him rejoices in Vishnu's world for as many hundred years as there are grains of dust there - of this there is no doubt.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.397.63)

कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे च एकादश्यां नृपोत्तम । दीपमारोपयेद्यश्च हृषीकेशाग्रतो नृप

kārtike śuklapakṣe ca ekādaśyāṁ nṛpottama | dīpamāropayedyaśca hṛṣīkeśāgrato nṛpa

O best of kings, whoever, on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, lights a lamp before Hrishikesha.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.397.64)

यथायथा प्रकाशेत पापं जन्मांतरार्जितम् । तथातथा व्रजेन्नाशं तस्य कायादशेषतः

yathāyathā prakāśeta pāpaṁ janmāṁtarārjitam | tathātathā vrajennāśaṁ tasya kāyādaśeṣataḥ

As that lamp shines more and more, so his sins accumulated over past births are entirely destroyed from his body.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.397.65)

पंचामृतेन यः पूजां हृषीकेशे करिष्यति । दध्ना क्षीरेण वा यस्तु न स भूयोऽभिजायते

paṁcāmṛtena yaḥ pūjāṁ hṛṣīkeśe kariṣyati | dadhnā kṣīreṇa vā yastu na sa bhūyo'bhijāyate

Whoever performs worship of Hrishikesha with the five nectars, or with curd and milk, is not born again.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.397.66)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन हृषीकेशं समर्चयेत् । संसारबंधतो राजन्मुक्तिमाप्नोति मानवः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena hṛṣīkeśaṁ samarcayet | saṁsārabaṁdhato rājanmuktimāpnoti mānavaḥ

Therefore one should, with every effort, worship Hrishikesha. O king, by this a man attains liberation from the bonds of worldly existence.

Verse 67 (skanda.7.397.67)

हृषीकेशे विशेषेण कर्त्तव्यं पूजनं सदा

hṛṣīkeśe viśeṣeṇa karttavyaṁ pūjanaṁ sadā

Worship of Hrishikesha should ever be performed with special devotion.