Skandapurana 2.4.26

Nārada said:

Hearing their words thus, Dharmadatta, filled with wonder,

bowed down on the ground like a rod and spoke these words:

Dharmadatta said:

All people worship Viṣṇu, who destroys the distress of devotees,

with sacrifices, gifts, vows, sacred fords, and austerities according to rule.

Among these, [tell me of] something that pleases Viṣṇu, bestows his presence,

by performing which all of those [practices] indeed become fully accomplished.

The two attendants said:

"Well asked by you, O brahmin! Listen with a single-pointed mind

to the sacred legendary story of ancient events being told. // 4

Formerly in Kāñcīpurī there was a universal monarch, King Cola,

by whose very name those territories became renowned as the Colas. // 5

While he ruled the circle of the earth, poor or miserable,

evil-minded, or diseased—there was no such person at all. // 6

When he performed exalted sacrifices, both banks of the Tāmraparṇī

were rich in splendor with golden sacrificial posts, resembling the Caitraratha grove. // 7

Once that king went to Anantaśayana, O twice-born,

where that Lord of the worlds has resorted to yogic sleep. // 8

Having duly worshipped the god, the beloved of Śrī,

with divine jewels, pearls, and splendid golden flowers, // 9

having bowed down upon the ground like a staff, the king sat down there.

Just then, he saw a brahmin coming into the presence of the god, // 10

carrying water and tulasī in his hand for the worship of the god,

a twice-born residing in his own city, named Viṣṇudāsa. // 11

Approaching there, that brahmin-seer worshipped the God of gods;

having bathed [the deity] with the Viṣṇusūkta, [he worshipped him] with tulasī blossoms and leaves. // 12

Beholding his own previously performed worship with gems

covered over by that worship with tulasī, the king angrily said this: // 13

Cola said:

"The worship with rubies and gold, rich in splendor, which was performed by me here—

Viṣṇudāsa, how is it now covered over with tulasī leaves? // 14

You do not know devotion to Viṣṇu; you are considered by me to be a wretch,

since, alas, you cover over this extremely splendid worship!" // 15

Hearing those words of his, that best of the twice-born, filled with anger,

disregarded the dignity of the king and spoke these words: // 16

Viṣṇudāsa said:

"O King, you do not know devotion; you are arrogant through royal fortune!

Tell me, how much of Viṣṇu's vow was previously observed by you?" // 17

The two attendants said:

Hearing the words of that brahmin, that best of kings laughed,

and out of pride then addressed these words to the twice-born Viṣṇudāsa: // 18

The king said:

"If you speak thus, O brahmin, exceedingly arrogant about devotion to Viṣṇu,

how great can your devotion to Viṣṇu be, since you are destitute and penniless? // 19

No sacrifices, gifts, and the like pleasing to Viṣṇu have been performed by you,

nor was a temple ever built by you before anywhere, O brahmin! // 20

Yet such pride of yours persists on account of devotion!

Therefore, let all these twice-born men hear my declaration today: // 21

This dispute will proceed unto a direct vision of Viṣṇu.

Let all behold, and from that they will know the devotion of us both!" // 22

The two attendants said:

Having spoken thus, that king then went to his royal palace;

he commenced a Vaiṣṇava sacrificial session, appointing Mudgala as the officiating priest, // 23

frequented by hosts of seers, with abundant food and plentiful sacrificial fees,

rich like that which was performed formerly by Brahmā in Gayākṣetra. // 24

Viṣṇudāsa also remained right there in the temple, observant of vows,

always performing the prescribed observances that bring satisfaction to Viṣṇu: // 25

the vow of Māgha and Ūrja properly; tending groves of tulasī;

recitation [of the name] of Hari on the eleventh day with the twelve-syllable mantra; // 26

with the sixteen ritual services, and auspicious rites such as dance and song,

he daily performed the worship of Viṣṇu and these vows. // 27

Constantly remembering Viṣṇu while walking on the ground or even sleeping,

he, of equal vision, beheld Viṣṇu abiding in all beings. // 28

In Māgha and Kārtika he also performed special observances daily

for the gratification of Viṣṇu, together with the concluding concluding rites. // 29

As both of them—the lord of the Colas and Viṣṇudāsa—were thus propitiating the consort of Śrī,

a great span of time passed while they remained steadfast in vows, with all the actions of their senses dedicated to Him. // 30

Thus ends the twenty-sixth chapter, named 'The Account of the Dispute between King Cola and the Brahmin Viṣṇudāsa,' in the Kārtikamāsamāhātmya, in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skandapurāṇa comprising eighty-one thousand verses. // 26