Skandapurana 6.3.56

Chapter 56

Uttānapāda said: / I wish to hear something else: by whom was Gaṅgā brought down? / How did the holy goddess, dwelling on the head of Rudra, come here?

The sacred stone named Devaśilā, and its excellent māhātmya— / tell me all this, if you are pleased, O Śaṅkara.

Īśvara said: / Listen with single-minded attention to how the highly fortunate Gaṅgā was brought down / by all the gods for the welfare of all the worlds.

There is a mountain named Vindhya in the southern direction, O king. / All the gods went to its summit, O ruler of men.

There Gaṅgā was invoked by all the gods headed by Brahmā, / after worshiping the Lord, the Lord of the universe, the god of gods, the teacher of the universe,

[saying,] "Release Gaṅgā, who resides within your matted hair, onto the surface of the earth." / Then that radiant one was released by Rudra from his head to the earth.

At that place, the highly sacred [river] was brought forth by the gods themselves. / Then she became the river of the gods for the welfare of men on earth.

Those who live on her bank, take their bath with devotion, / and constantly drink her water, do not go to the abode of Yama.

Where she fell into the pool at Śūlabheda, O king, / to the west of that divine river is the eastward-flowing Sarasvatī.

To the south of Śūlabheda is an unsurpassed sacred ford. / There is the holy Devaśilā, fashioned by the god himself.

Whoever, having bathed there with devotion, offers libations to the ancestors and gods, / his ancestors are satisfied until the dissolution of all beings.

Whoever, having bathed there with devotion, feeds brahmins, O king, / even with a little food given, there is no end to its [merit].

Uttānapāda said: / What gifts given on the surface of the earth are commended, / by giving which a man is freed from all sins with devotion?

Tell me the māhātmya of Devaśilā, the fruit arising from bath, gift, and other rites, / and what is to be attained by vows, fasts, and observances.

Īśvara said: / In ancient times there was a ruler of Cedi of great valor and great strength, / known as Vīrasena, a ruler of a realm, O king.

In his kingdom there was no enemy, no disease, and no thieves; / there was no unrighteousness there, but only righteousness at all times.

The king was always filled with joy, accompanied by his wife, having many sons. / He had one daughter, beautiful like Girijā.

She was dear to her parents and to the circle of relatives; / when the proper time arrived, her marriage ceremony was performed according to rule.

Thereafter, the lord of Cedi engaged in a twelve-year sacrifice. / Then her husband fell into the power of death.

Seeing that daughter widowed, the king, filled with grief, / spoke these words to his wife, who was afflicted with sorrow:

"My dear, this sorrow that has arisen will be very hard to endure for as long as we live.
Proud of her beauty and youth, she cannot be protected.

She might bring disgrace upon the family somewhere; how indeed can a young girl be guarded?
There is no means anywhere to protect Bhānumatī."
As they were disputing with each other, hearing that, the maiden spoke:

Bhānumatī said:
"I do not feel ashamed, father, speaking before you at any time.
In truth, no fault will arise on my account for you, O ruler of men.

From today onward, father, I will not keep hair on my head.
And in your house I will wear only half a piece of coarse cloth.

I will immediately undertake religious observances prescribed in the Purāṇas.
I will emaciate myself, and I will please Janārdana.

This is my resolve, if you approve, O father."
Hearing Bhānumatī's words, the king became delighted.

Having assigned a pilgrimage to sacred fords, he gave her an abundant treasury.
Having dispatched elderly men, arranging for her good protection,

And men bearing weapons, brahmins along with royal priests,
Female and male servants, and foot soldiers capable of protecting her,

Then, by her father's consent, that virtuous woman went to the bank of the Gaṅgā.
Having bathed on both banks of the Gaṅgā, O ruler of men,

Always worshipping noble brahmins with perfumes, garlands, and ornaments,
She resided on the bank of the Gaṅgā for twelve years.

Then, having left the Gaṅgā, the princess went toward the southern quarter.
Together with the ministers she arrived where the great river Revā is.

She stayed there for five years at Oṅkāra and Amarakaṇṭaka.
She went from sacred ford to sacred ford among the northern and southern sacred fords.

Bathing repeatedly, worshipping brahmins with devotion, never indolent,
Having gone toward the western quarter, to the confluence of the divine river,

She saw a holy hermitage crowded with hosts of sages.
Seeing the multitude of sages, she bowed down and said this:

"What is the māhātmya of this sacred ford, and what is its name?
May your honors tell me; let favor be shown to me."

The seers said:
"It is renowned as Cakratīrtha; formerly the discus was given to Hari
By Maheśvara, the god of gods who holds the trident, when he was pleased.

Whoever bathes in this sacred ford and satisfies the ancestors and the deities,
His state becomes one from which there is no return; there is no doubt about this.

On the second day, one should then go to Śūlabheda, O woman of austerities.
According to the rite mentioned before, one should perform ritual ablution as prescribed.

He is freed from the sins committed in three lifetimes; there is no doubt about this.
With water containing merely sesame seeds, one should offer three handfuls of water.

His ancestors are satisfied for twelve years, without a doubt.
Whoever performs a śrāddha with devotion by means of brahmins learned in the Vedas, O king,

Usurers and the like being excluded, that which is given to the ancestors becomes imperishable.
On the next day, one should then go to the holy, auspicious Devaśilā.

There is seen the holy Jāhnavī, brought forth by the gods in ancient times.
Having bathed there, one should offer water mixed with sesame seeds, O ruler of men.

By offering a funerary ball of rice just once, one is freed from the murder of a brahmin.
Fasting on the eleventh lunar day in both fortnights,

One should keep a night vigil and recite a narrative from the Purāṇas.
One should perform worship of Viṣṇu with offerings of flowers and incense.

At dawn one should feed brahmins and give gifts according to one's ability.
On the fourth day, one should then go to where the eastward-flowing Sarasvatī is,

Which emerged from the body of Brahmā for the purification of embodied beings.
Having bathed there with devotion, a man should satisfy the ancestors and deities.

Having performed a śrāddha according to rule, he should feed irreproachable brahmins.
His ancestors are satisfied for twelve years, without a doubt.

The place is composed of all the gods, and likewise composed of all the sacred fords;
It is crowded with ten million deities, the highest of the high with ten million liṅgas.

Whoever, pure, having bathed and restrained his senses, spends three nights here,
Or a fortnight, a month, six months, or at any time a year,

For him there is no rebirth among mortals; his dwelling will be in heaven.
Remaining firm in religious observances, he is freed from the sin born of three lifetimes.

Moreover, whatever woman, remaining without a husband, observing pure vows,
Stays for twelve years, she is honored in the world of Rudra for an endless time."

Hearing the words of the sages, she departed with supreme joy.
Then, having plunged into that sacred ford day and night without indolence,

Having seen the power of the sacred ford, she again spoke these words:
"May my words be heard today, O brahmins along with the royal priests!

I will not abandon such a place day and night for as long as I live.
Tell this word to my father and likewise to my mother:

'Your daughter resides at Śūlabheda, restrained and practicing vows.'"
Having spoken thus, Bhānumatī remained there, O king.

Practicing alternate-day fasting, and gradually fasting for a month,
Residing constantly at Devaśilā, she meditated on the wielder of the discus.

Day and night she burned incense and sandalwood accompanied by lamps.
Washing their feet herself, she personally fed the brahmins.
Observing good vows, that princess stayed there for twelve years.

Īśvara said:
"Hear another māhātmya of Devaśilā, O lord of the earth.
I shall recount it, O mighty-armed one, along with an ancient historical account.

A certain hunter living in the forest, a Śabara, along with his wife,
Afflicted there by famine, went into the forest in search of meat.

He did not see birds there, nor beasts, nor fruits.
Then he saw a lake adorned with a grove of lotuses.

Seeing the lake there, the Śabara woman spoke these words:
'Take the divine white lotuses for the sake of obtaining food.

For the worship of the deity of Śūlabheda with diligent care,
A sale will take place there, since the people are righteous.'

Hearing his wife's words, he took the white lotuses. / But having stepped out onto the bank, seeing a bilva tree before him,

taking especially well-ripened bilva fruits, / he reached Śūlabheda and saw very many people.

In the month of Caitra, in the bright fortnight, on the eleventh day, O king! / On that day, children, the elderly, and likewise women would not eat.

He saw a pavilion constructed there upon the divine rock, / wrapped with garments, divine, adorned with wreaths and garlands.

And seers arrived there, those who dwelt in hermitages, / fasting, observing vows, all maintaining their sacred fires.

On the delightful bank of the river of the gods, crowded with hosts of sages / arriving, O best of kings, no path could be found there.

Seeing the multitude there, the Śabara said to his wife: / 'Go, ask something: what is the reason for the ritual ablution today?

Of the sacred occasions that are heard of, could it be an eclipse of the sun or moon? / Could it be a solstice today, or perhaps Akṣayatṛtīyā?'

Then, at her husband's word, the Śabarī set out at that time. / Seeing a woman ahead, having offered two auspicious lotuses in front, she asked:

'What lunar day is declared today? Tell me, what is the sacred occasion? / Why are these people bathing, or what is the reason for the ritual ablution?'

The woman said: / 'Today is the auspicious Ekādaśī, which destroys all sin; / fasted on even once, it brings attainment of heaven.'

Hearing her words, the Śabarī, calm and composed, / related the woman's words to the Śabara, O best of kings:

'Today is indeed the holy Ekādaśī, fasted on by young and old, / named Madanaikādaśī, which destroys all sin.

Observing vows there, it is heard, is a most beautiful princess, / standing in vows, restrained in food, the virtuous woman named Bhānumatī.

None equal to her is renowned in the three worlds; / that woman of beautiful hips is seen as if descended to the earth.'

Hearing his wife's words, the Śabara said to her: / 'Having given the lotuses as obtained, eat quickly indeed.

This is my resolve: I certainly must not eat. / Auspicious one, with a sinful mind, no merit was ever acquired by me.'

The Śabarī said: / 'Never before have I eaten first on any day whatsoever; / I have eaten what remained of your meal, for as long as I can remember.'

Knowing his wife's resolve, he went to perform ritual ablution. / Having performed ritual ablution with half an upper garment, with devotion,

bowing to all the gods, he went towards the divine rock; / he stood, though hesitating, having bowed to Janārdana.

The woman to whom the two white lotuses had been given reported it to the queen. / Seeing that pair of lotuses, she then said to that maidservant:

'Tell me in front of me: where was this pair of lotuses obtained? / Having gone there quickly, bring other lotuses as well.

Bring the lotuses either with grain or with wealth.' / Hearing Bhānumatī's word, she went to the Śabara:

'Give me bilva fruits and many other flowers.'

The Śabarī said: / 'I shall give the bilva fruits along with flowers in particular; / I have no greed, nor desire. Go, report to the queen.'

And going quickly, she reported the event as it happened, / the words spoken by the Śabarī, in full detail before her.

Hearing her words, the queen went there in person. / She said to the Śabarī with affection: 'Give the lotuses for a price.'

The Śabarī said: / 'O queen, I desire no price arising from fruits and flowers; / take my bilva fruits and flowers as you please.

Perform worship according to rule to Vāsudeva, the Lord of the world.'

The queen said: / 'I will not take your lotuses now without a price; / I give one khārī of grain, let it be accepted!

Ten, twenty, or thirty, or even forty; / or take a hundred khārīs, [as provision against] famine, O noble-minded one!

Wealth, jewels, and gold, and whatever else is desired by you, / all that I will give for the sake of the lotuses, without a doubt.'

The Śabarī said: / 'O fair-faced one, I do not think of food today, apart from God. / Except for the service of God, O gentle lady, no other thought arises.'

The queen said: / 'Food must not be abandoned by you; everything is established in food. / Therefore, by every effort, let my food be accepted!

The illustrious ascetics and those who dwell in the forest, / all of them unweariedly beg for food at the householder's door.'

The Śabarī said: / 'A refusal was already made; everything is established in truth. / By truth the sun gives heat; by truth fire burns.

By truth the ocean remains; the wind blows indeed by truth. / By truth crops ripen, and cows yield milk.

All this world, unmoving and moving, is supported by truth. / Therefore, by every effort, one should protect truth with truth.

Apart from the service of God, no other thought arises in me. / O queen, take the flowers, perform the worship of the Bearer of the Mace.

Indeed, from the words of brahmins it is heard that there is no fault anywhere: / Kuśa grass, vegetables, milk, fish, perfumes, flowers, unbroken rice, curds, / meat, a bed, a seat, roasted grain, and water are not to be refused.'

The queen said: / 'Flower brought from a garden, and flower from the forest, / bought, and obtained as an acceptance of gifts—thus is flower of four kinds.

A wild flower gathered by oneself is highest; / fruit in a garden is middling, but bought is base; / what is obtained through acceptance of gifts, the wise know that as fruitless.'

The priest said: / “Accept the flowers, O Queen, and perform the worship of the mace-bearer [Viṣṇu]. / A favor should be done, even under a pretext, at times.”

Īśvara said: / The bilva fruits and lotuses were given by the Śabara. / Taking them, the queen performed a most splendid worship.

She kept a night vigil, having listened to a Purāṇic narrative. / Then the Śabara spoke these words to his wife:

“Let oil be taken for the lamp as it is obtained, O beautiful one.” / Then, having prepared the lamp and offered an auspicious worship to Hari,

the two kept vigil in the night, meditating upon the bearer of the earth [Viṣṇu]. / Then, at dawn, seeing the people eager for ritual ablution:

some bathed indeed at Śūlabheda, others in the river of the gods, / some men in the Sarasvatī, and others in the pool of Mārkaṇḍa.

Having gone to Cakratīrtha, some performed their ritual ablution according to rule. / All those people, purified after bathing, upon the Devāśilā

diligently performed the śrāddha with faith and a purified heart. / Seeing them, the Śabara diligently made funeral cakes from bilva fruits.

Likewise, the offering of funeral cakes was performed by Bhānumatī for her husband. / Irreproachable brahmins, free from deceit and usury, were fed

with sacrificial food, curds, sugar, honey, and clarified butter, / and especially with milk-rice prepared from cow's milk and cooked dishes.

Having thus fed them, the queen gave gifts according to the precept: / wooden sandals and shoes, an umbrella, a bed, and a bull,

and various gifts of gold, jewels, and wealth. / O Great King, he who gives a tawny cow at Cakratīrtha / has given the entire earth along with its mountains and forests.

Uttānapāda said: / “Whatever gifts given to the lord of the world are commended, / tell me all those, O Lord of gods, out of your grace.”

Īśvara said: / “The giver of sesame seeds obtains desired offspring; the giver of a lamp, excellent vision; / the giver of land attains heaven; the giver of gold, a long life.

The giver of a house becomes free from illness; the giver of silver becomes handsome; / the giver of clothes attains the world of the Moon; the giver of a horse, union with the Sun.

The giver of a bull obtains abundant prosperity; the giver of a cow, the third heaven; / the giver of a conveyance and a bed, a wife; the giver of freedom from fear, sovereignty.

The giver of grain attains eternal happiness; the giver of the Veda, eternal Brahman. / Among gifts of water, food, earth, clothing, sesame, gold, and clarified butter,

the gift of the Veda excels all gifts. / With whatever intention a person offers whatever gift,

with that very intention he receives it honored in return.” / Having seen all the gifts that were given by the queen,

the Śabara spoke to his wife; hear that, O ruler of men: / “The Purāṇa was recited, O auspicious one, by brahmins who have mastered the Vedas,

and all that auspicious fruit of the virtue of giving was heard by me. / Sin accumulated in past lives, through ritual ablutions, gifts, vows, and the like [is destroyed];

abandoning this hard-to-relinquish body, one attains the supreme state. / Afraid of the ocean of worldly existence, I speak the truth to you, O auspicious one:

many sins have been committed by me repeatedly; / living creatures were killed, O blessed one, and mountains were continually burned.

Burned by that sin, my poverty does not cease. / Immersion in sacred fords was not performed by me previously, because of my sin.

Therefore am I afflicted, O auspicious one, by relentless poverty. / Go to your mother's house; give up your affection for me. / Having climbed a mountain peak, I wish to cast off my body.”

The Śabarī said: / “I have no use for mother, nor for father, nor for kinsmen and relatives. / Whatever is your destination, O lord of my life, that shall be mine as well.

For women, there is no such duty as living their own life without a husband. / Many faults are heard in various ways in the treatises on dharma.

Break your fast, O king among Bhojas, so that your vow may not be lost. / Whatever small thing is desired by you, you ought to do it for Viṣṇu.”

Hearing the words of his wife, the Śabara then rejoiced. / Quickly taking a bilva fruit, performing the fire sacrifice according to rule,

and bowing down to all the gods, he also ate together with her. / Knowing the equinox to fall on the full moon of Caitra, he stayed there for three days.

Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter, named 'The Description of the Fruits of Giving and Other Virtues Preceded by the Recounting of the Hunter's Speech', in the fifth section, the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a compendium of eighty-one thousand verses.