Skandapurana 2.1.21

Now begins the story of the brahmin named Rāmānuja.

The glorious Sūta said:

"O you whose wealth is austerity, all dwellers in the Naimiṣāraṇya,

I shall proclaim the māhātmya of the Ākāśagaṅgā sacred ford. // 1

Near the Ākāśagaṅgā, [there was a man] who had mastered the meaning of all scriptures,

known as Rāmānuja, devoted to Viṣṇu, with conquered senses. // 2

Adhering to the Vaikhānasa doctrine, righteous in nature, he performed austerity.

In summer, standing amidst five fires, intent upon meditation on Viṣṇu,

muttering the eight-syllable mantra, meditating on Janārdana in his heart,

in the rains ever exposed to the open sky, in the winter lying in water, // 4

benevolent to all beings, subdued, free from all pairs of opposites,

for some years he subsisted on withered leaves. // 5

For some time he had only water for food, and for several years he fed on wind. // 6

Now begins the Lord's manifestation, pleased by the austerity of Rāmānuja on the bank of the Ākāśagaṅgā.

Then, pleased by his austerity, the Lord, affectionate toward his devotees,

holding the conch, discus, and mace, appeared visibly before him. // 7

His eyes were like blooming lotus petals; his radiance was equal to ten million suns;

mounted upon the son of Vinatā, graced with an umbrella and chowries; // 8

wearing a necklace, armlets, and a diadem, adorned with bracelets and other ornaments;

surrounded by attendants such as Viṣvaksena, Sunanda, and others; // 9

being praised in song by Nārada and others playing the vīṇā, flute, and mṛdaṅga drum,

possessing great splendor, shining in yellow garments; // 2.1.21.10

his chest graced by Lakṣmī, his complexion resembling a dark raincloud;

attended on both sides by great yogins such as Sanaka and others; // 11

enchanting all the three worlds with a gentle smile;

honoring with his own radiance and illuminating all the ten directions— // 12

the God Veṅkaṭeśa, easily attained by true devotees, a treasure of compassion,

manifested his presence before that great sage Rāmānuja. // 13

Seeing Śrīnivāsa, the treasure of grace, who had then appeared,

the God clad in yellow garments, the great sage attained immense satisfaction. // 14

Endowed with supreme devotion, he praised the Lord of the universe: // 15

Now begins the praise of the Lord uttered by the brahmin named Rāmānuja.

Rāmānuja said:

"Homage to the supreme God of gods, who bears the conch, discus, and mace!

Homage to the eternal, pure one; homage to you, O Lord of Veṅkaṭa! // 16

Homage to you, the destroyer of devotees' distress, the embodiment of sacrificial offerings to gods and ancestors!

Homage to you of three forms, the author of creation, preservation, and dissolution! // 17

Homage to the supreme Lord, homage to the boundless one! Homage be to the lord of Lakṣmī, the creator!

Homage be to the one whose eyes are the sun and moon! Homage to the one revered by Viriñca and the rest! // 18

He who is free from distinctions such as caste and the like, who is devoid of all defects,

who removes all fear of worldly existence—homage to him, the slayer of the Daityas! // 19

To the one to be known through the Vedānta, the Lord of Ramā, the dweller on Vṛṣa and other mountains, the father of the creator,

Salutations, salutations to Nārāyaṇa, the remover of the distress of all people, whose stride is immeasurable! (20)

Salutations to you, the Blessed Lord, Vāsudeva who wields the bow Śārṅga!

Repeated salutations to you, the dweller upon the Venkaṭa mountain! (21)

Having thus praised Venkaṭeśa, Śrīnivāsa, the teacher of the world,

The sage Rāmānuja, best among the foremost of brahmins, remained silent. (22)

Having heard that praise pleasant to the ears, praised by that great soul,

The Lord of the Venkaṭa mountain attained supreme delight. (23)

Then embracing the sage with his four arms at that time,

Śauri, filled with affection, spoke: "Let a boon indeed be chosen!

I am pleased today with your austerity and also with your hymn of praise, O great sage!

And pleased with your bow of reverence, I have come as the giver of boons to you." (25)

Now the prayer to the Lord made by the brahmin named Rāmānuja:

Rāmānuja said:

"O Nārāyaṇa, O Lord of Ramā, O Śrīnivāsa, O you who pervade the universe,

O Janārdana, O abode of the universe, O Govinda, O slayer of Naraka! (26)

Through your darśana I have achieved my aim, O crest-jewel of the Venkaṭa mountain!

The most righteous bow to you, because you are the protector of righteousness. (27)

The one whom Bhava does not know, nor Brahmā, and likewise whom the three Vedas do not know,

You, the Supreme Self, I know—what is there higher and greater than this? (28)

The one whom yogins do not behold, whom the ritualists do not behold,

I behold, the Supreme Self—what is there higher and greater than this? (29)

And by this I have achieved my aim, O Venkaṭeśa, O Lord of the world!

By the mere remembrance of whose name even perpetrators of great sins

Attain liberation—that Janārdana I behold! / May there be unswerving devotion in me to the pair of your lotus feet! (31)

May there be unswerving devotion in me to the pair of your lotus feet! (31)

Now the time of the ritual ablution in the Ākāśagaṅgā sacred ford as described by the Lord:

The Blessed Lord said:

"May your devotion to me be firm, O great-minded Rāmānuja!

And hear another instruction spoken to you by me, O brahmin: (32)

At the transit of the sun into Aries, joined with the lunar mansion Citrā,

And on the full-moon day, the people who perform their ritual ablution in Gaṅgā, (33)

They go to the supreme abode, free from return [to rebirth]. / Dwell near the Viyadgaṅgā, O brahmin Rāmānuja! (34)

Dwell near the Viyadgaṅgā, O brahmin Rāmānuja! (34)

At the end of this body determined by prārabdha-karma, you will attain my true nature.

What need of much being spoken here? In the auspicious water of the Viyadgaṅgā (35)

All the people who perform their ritual ablution, they indeed become the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord,

O tiger among sages—no hesitation should be entertained in this matter." (36)

Rāmānuja said:

"What are the characteristics of devotees of the Blessed Lord? By what action are they known?

This I wish to hear, as I am filled with curiosity." (37)

Now the characteristics of devotees of the Blessed Lord described by the Lord:

Śrī Venkaṭeśa said:

"Hear the distinguishing mark of devotees of the Blessed Lord, O best of sages! (38)

Their power cannot be declared even in tens of millions of years: (39)

Those who are benevolent to all beings, free from envy and devoid of malice,

Endowed with knowledge, desireless, and tranquil—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (40)

Those who do not cause pain to others by action, thought, or word,

And are disposed to non-acceptance of gifts—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (41)

Those whose minds are pure and sattvic in hearing holy narratives,

Who are devoted to my lotus feet—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (42)

Those best of men who render service to their mother and father,

Those men who are devoted to worshiping the gods, or who assist in that,

And rejoice upon beholding worship—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (43)

Those who are devoted to serving religious students and ascetics,

And who do not speak ill of others—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (44)

Those best of men who speak words beneficial to all,

Who appreciate virtues in this world—they indeed are the foremost of devotees of the Blessed Lord. (45)

Those best of men who see all beings like themselves,

Equal toward enemies and friends—they indeed are traditionally regarded as devotees of the Blessed Lord. (46)

Those who expound the treatises on dharma and delight in truthful speech,

and those who attend upon them—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those who explain the Purāṇas, those who listen to them,

and those devoted to the speaker thereof—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Men who constantly render service to cows and brahmins,

and those intent upon pilgrimages to sacred fords—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Men who rejoice upon seeing the prosperity of others,

and those devoted to the names of Hari—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those dedicated to planting groves, protectors of ponds,

constructors of lakes and wells—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those who build reservoirs and construct abodes for the gods,

and those dedicated to the Gāyatrī—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those who, upon hearing the names of Hari, rejoice with great delight,

their bodies bristling with horripilation—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Men who, seeing a grove of tulasī, bow down in reverence,

and whose ears are adorned with its wood—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those who experience joy smelling the fragrance of tulasī,

and who carry its root [or wear its soil]—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those devoted to the duties of their own stage of life, likewise worshipers of guests,

and those who expound the meaning of the Vedas—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those who expound the understood scriptures for the sake of others,

and who share in virtues everywhere—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those dedicated to giving water and giving food,

and those intent on the vow of Ekādaśī—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those dedicated to giving cows and giving away daughters in marriage,

and those who perform actions for my sake—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Those whose minds are set on me, devoted to me, eager in my worship,

attached to the remembrance of my name—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

What is the use of speaking much here? In brief I tell you:

those who strive for good virtue—they indeed are the best of devotees of the Lord.

Only some of these devotees, O brahmins, have been praised here;

they could not be fully described even by me in hundreds of millions of years.

O noble Rāmānuja, the characteristics of my devotees

have truly been related out of affection to you who are devoted to me, O highly intelligent one."

Śrī Sūta said:

"Thus has been recounted to you, O brahmins of great majesty, Śaunaka and others,

the supreme māhātmya of the sacred ford of Viyadgaṅgā on Vṛṣādri.

Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, named 'Description of the Vow and Conduct of the Brahmin Rāmānuja and the Māhātmya of Ākāśagaṅgā' in the Śrī Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya, in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.