Skandapurana 2.1.16

Now begins the praise of the gift of water on glorious Mount Venkaṭa.

The glorious Sūta said:

On the very sacred [mountain] named Venkaṭa, especially to those tormented by thirst,

one who does not give water will attain birth as an animal.

Therefore, on the king of mountains, Venkaṭa, according to one's capacity,

the gift of water should indeed be made; it is the great sustenance of all.

In this very connection, they cite this ancient legend,

the exceedingly wondrous dialogue between a brahmin and a house lizard.

Now begins Hemāṅga's attainment of the state of a house lizard due to not giving water.

Long ago, in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, there was a king named Hemāṅga,

devoted to brahmins, steeped in Brahman, having conquered his enemies and subdued his senses.

As many as are the particles of dust on earth, as many as are the drops of water,

as many as are the stars in the sky, so many cows would he give away.

By whom, through the darbha grass of sacrifices performed, the earth was known as Barhiṣmatī;

Many brahmins were satisfied with gifts of cows, land, sesame, gold, and the like.

It is heard that there were no gifts left ungiven by him;

Only water was not given by him, thinking it easily obtained, O brahmins.

Though instructed by Vasiṣṭha, the noble-minded son of Brahmā, [he thought:]

“It is priceless and obtainable everywhere; what fruit would its giver obtain?”

Thus, poor in intellect, through sophistry the king did not give water.

He argued with specious reasons: “Merit lies in giving what is hard to obtain.”

He honored brahmins who were mutilated, impoverished, and worn down by lack of livelihood;

He did not honor learned brahmins who knew Brahman and discoursed on Brahman.

“All people will worship famous men with offerings;

For those who are helpless, ignorant, mutilated, and burdened with families,

And poor, what refuge is there? Therefore, they are the objects of my compassion.”

Thinking thus, he gave whatever he possessed to unworthy recipients.

On account of that grave transgression, after being a cātaka bird for three lives,

A vulture for one life, or a dog for seven lives,

Having undergone those, this king was then born in the house as a house-lizard—

In the house of King Śrutakīrti, the ruler of Mithilā, O brahmins.

He lived in the gateway lane of the palace eating insects;

For eighty-eight years that evil-minded soul remained there.

Now Hemāṅga remembers his former lives by the contact with Śrutadeva's foot-washing water.

Once, to the house of the king of Videha, an excellent seer

Named Śrutadeva arrived at midday, weary.

Seeing him, the ruler of men immediately rose, filled with joy;

Having duly honored him with madhuparka, the water for washing his feet

He quickly poured over his head; and by the droplets cast up then,

At the time ordained by destiny, the house-lizard was sprinkled.

Immediately recollection of its former births arose, deeply distressed by the deeds it had done;

It cried out, “Save me! Save me!” to the brahmin who had entered the house.

Hearing the voice of an animal, the brahmin was astonished:

“Why do you cry out, O lizard? By what action did this state come about?

Are you a demigod, or a god, a king, or an exalted brahmin?

Who are you, noble one? Speak! Today I shall deliver you.”

Addressed thus, that king, a mighty lord, said to Śrutadeva:

“I was born in the Ikṣvāku line, skilled in the science of arms.

As many as the specks of dust on earth, as many as the drops of water,

As many as the stars in the sky—that many cows I gave away.

I performed all sacrifices; deeds of public piety were undertaken by me;

Gifts were also bestowed, and the entire host of duties was well performed.

Even so, a wretched state befell me, and no upward path was mine, O lord.

Three times I was a cātaka bird, and a vulture for one life;

And for seven lives, the state of a dog was attained by me formerly, O brahmin.

As the water for washing feet was being taken by this king,

Drops were cast far off; by them I was somehow sprinkled.

Then memory of my births arose, my sin being destroyed thereby.

Twenty-eight lizard births are yet to be undergone by me, O brahmin;

They are seen as ordained by fate, and I am terrified of those births.

I do not see the cause; explain it to me in detail.”

Thus addressed, that brahmin spoke, having perceived it with the eye of higher knowledge:

Now Hemāṅga's release from lizardhood through the merit granted by Śrutadeva.

“Listen, O king, I will tell the cause of your wretched condition.

Water was not given by you on the mountain named Veṅkaṭa.

Deeming that water to be easily available, and convinced that it had no price,

You, unaware, did not give it to travelers, brahmins, and others, even in the hot season.

Likewise, abandoning worthy recipients, gifts were given to the unworthy.

Leaving aside the blazing fire, one surely does not pour oblations into ashes.

Leaving aside tulasī, is the bṛhatī plant ever worshipped?

Being helpless, mutilated, or lame does not constitute entitlement [as a worthy recipient].

The lame and the like, who are helpless, are merely objects of pity.

Those devoted to austerity, devoted to knowledge, dedicated to the Vedas and scriptures—

are forms of Viṣṇu and always worthy of worship, but never others.

Even among them, those possessing knowledge are especially dear to Viṣṇu at all times.

And to those possessing knowledge, O king, Viṣṇu alone is always dear.

Therefore, the one who possesses knowledge is always to be worshipped, considered more worthy of worship than any [other] worthy of worship.

Water was not given by you, nor were virtuous people served;

therefore, O joy of Ikṣvāku, this miserable state has been obtained by you.

I shall give you the merit acquired on Mount Veṅkaṭa for [your] pacification.

By that you will conquer the host of karma—past, present, and future.

Having spoken thus and touched water [in sipping], he gave the unsurpassed merit

that was acquired by the brahmin through the ritual ablution performed on a single day.

Thereby, with all sins destroyed, shedding the form of a house-lizard,

a terrible form appropriate to his deeds, immediately a man was seen,

mounted upon a celestial aerial chariot, adorned with divine garlands, garments, and ornaments,

in the house of the king of Mithilā, while the virtuous looked on.

Having folded his hands in reverence, circumambulated, and bowed down,

permitted [to depart], the king went to heaven while being praised by the immortals.

Having enjoyed great pleasures there untiringly for ten thousand years,

he was born in the lineage of Ikṣvāku as Kakutstha, a great car-warrior,

ruler of the seven continents, devoted to brahmins, honored by the virtuous,

equal to Devendra, a portion of Viṣṇu, a great lord.

Instructed by Vasiṣṭha in all the delightful dharmas,

and having practiced them all, the king, his impurities and inauspiciousness destroyed by that,

attained divine knowledge and obtained union with Viṣṇu.

Therefore, the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, is meritorious and destroys sins.

And the gift of water upon it bestows the world of Viṣṇu.

Thus has the glory of the gift of water been described to you, O brahmins,

on the exceedingly meritorious Mount Veṅkaṭa, which destroys all sins.

Thus ends the sixteenth chapter, named 'Description of the Glory of the Gift of Water', in the glorious Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.