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Skandapurana 2.1

English (machine translation) 2.1

Language: English

Contents

2.1.1.13

Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya.
Nārada's vision of Yajñavarāha on the summit of Sumeru.
In the holy Naimiṣāraṇya, Śaunaka and the other great seers / performed a twelve-year sacrificial session for the protection of the world. // 1
To them came the story-teller, the pupil of Vyāsa of great intellect, / the sage named Ugraśravas, born of Romaharṣaṇa. // 2
Being duly worshipped by them, Sūta, the best of Purāṇa reciters, / narrated that divine Purāṇa named Skanda. // 3
He related in detail the story of the creation, dissolution, and lineages, / of the deeds of the dynasties, and of the manvantaras. // 4
Having heard the stories of the powers of the sacred fords, those foremost of sages / spoke to the self-controlled Sūta, eager to hear [more] stories. // 5
The seers said:
"O Romaharṣaṇa, all-knowing one, skilled in the meaning of the Purāṇas! / We wish to hear the māhātmya of the great mountains on earth. / Tell us, O fortunate one, which are the foremost mountains?" // 6
Śrī Sūta said:
"Formerly, on the bank of the Ganges, I asked this very question / to Vyāsa, the foremost of great sages; that best of teachers spoke to me." // 7
Vyāsa said:
"Formerly, in the age of the gods, O Sūta, Nārada, the best of sages, / having gone to the summit of Sumeru, shining with various jewels, // 8
and having seen in its center the vast, radiant, divine abode of Brahmā, / saw to its north an excellent pippala tree, // 9
a thousand yojanas high and twice as broad. / At its base was a divine pavilion, adorned with various gems, // 10
adorned with thousands of ruby pillars, / with rows of auspicious emblems made of beryl and pearls, // 11
strown with the nine jewels, beautified by divine archways, / filled with auspicious beasts and birds made of the nine jewels, // 12
having a great gate of topaz, a gateway tower of seven storeys, / beautified by two doors well-fashioned from radiant diamonds. // 13

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Having entered, he saw within a divine pavilion of pearls;

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the great sage ascended a lofty platform of beryl. // 14

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In its center, lofty, peerless, adorned with eight legs,

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he saw a throne covered with pearls, of great splendor. // 15

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In its center was a divine lotus, adorned with a thousand petals,

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white, lustrous as a thousand moons, bright with pericarp and filaments. // 16

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Seated in its center, with the brilliance of ten thousand full moons,

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having the form of Mount Kailāsa, handsome, having a human form, // 17

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four-armed, with noble limbs, an auspicious boar-face,

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bearing the conch, discus, and gestures of granting safety and boons, the Supreme Person, // 18

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the god wearing yellow garments, with eyes long like lotus petals,

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with a gentle face like the full moon, his lotus mouth fragrant with incense, // 19

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sounding with the Sāma Veda, the embodiment of sacrifice, with a snout like a offering ladle and a nose like a sacrificial spoon,

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resembling the ocean of milk, with his face radiant with a diadem, // 20

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with the śrīvatsa mark on his chest, adorned with a bright sacred thread,

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blazing with the splendor of the Kaustubha gem, having an elevated, broad chest, // 21

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endowed with divine ornaments of excellent jewels made of gold,

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radiant like an autumn cloud encircled by garlands of lightning, // 22

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splendid on a footstool pressed by the sole of his left foot,

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ever brilliant with bracelets, armlets, upper-arm bands, and earrings, // 23

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by the four-faced [Brahmā], Vasiṣṭha, Atri, Mārkaṇḍeya, and other lords of sages,

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and by Bhṛgu and many others, served day and night, // 24

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and by the world-guardians headed by Indra, and hosts of gandharvas and apsarases—

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having approached and bowed down to that God of gods thus served, // 25

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and having praised the Supporter of the Earth with divine passages from the Upaniṣads,

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Nārada, exceedingly pleased, stood in the presence of the god. // 26

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Now the arrival of Dharaṇī before Varāha.

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In the meantime, there arose the sound of divine kettledrums. // 27

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Then goddess Dharaṇī came there together with her companions,

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radiant in divine garments resembling an ocean of excellent jewels, // 28

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bent low under the weight of breasts shaped like Sumeru and Mandara,

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dark as fresh dūrvā grass blades, adorned with all ornaments, // 29

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accompanied indeed by her two friends Ilā and Piṅgalā.

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Then, scattering at the feet of the glorious god Varāha

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the heap of flowers brought by those two, the Earth, // 30

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having bowed to the God of gods, stood with joined palms. // 31

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Then the glorious Varāha, having embraced that goddess and placed her on his lap, // 32

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Now the dialogue of Dharaṇī and Varāha.

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asked the Earth about her welfare, his mind disposed to affection. // 33

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Glorious Varāha said:

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"Having placed you, O goddess Earth, upon the comfortable head of Śeṣa,

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and having established the world upon you, and mountains as your helpers,

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I have come here, O goddess. For what purpose have you come here?" // 34

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The Earth said:

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"Having lifted me up from Pātāla onto the lofty, jeweled head of Ananta,

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adorned with a thousand hoods, as if onto a jewel-seat,

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and having made me firmly fixed, O god, and having established the mountains // 35

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capable of bearing me, holy, identical with you, O Supreme Person,

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tell me of the foremost among them, O mighty-armed one, that are my supports." // 36

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Now the description of Śeṣācala surpassing all mountains.

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Glorious Varāha said:

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"Sumeru, Himavat, Vindhya, Mandara, Gandhamādana,

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Sālagrāma, Citrakūṭa, Mālyavat, Pāriyātra, // 37

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Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Siṃhādri, and Raivata,

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and the great golden mountain named Añjana, the son of Meru— // 38

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all these excellent mountains are your supports, O Vasundharā,

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which are frequented by me, and by hosts of gods, and by hosts of seers. // 39

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Among these I will declare the foremost in truth; listen, O Mādhavī:

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Sālagrāma, Siṃhādri, and Gandhamādana, the king of mountains..." // 40

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These best of mountains, O goddess, are situated in the northern direction;

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now I shall describe the famous mountains in the south, O Vasundharā: // 41

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Aruṇādri, Hastiśaila, Gṛdhrādri, Ghaṭikācala—

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all these best of mountains stand near the Kṣīranadī. // 42

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To the north of Hastiśaila, at a distance of five yojanas,

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flows the foremost of rivers, named Suvarṇamukharī. // 43

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On its northern bank is a lake called Kamala;

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on its shore dwells the blessed lord Hari, granter of boons to Śuka, // 44

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joined by Balabhadra—Kṛṣṇa, who destroys the distress of his devotees,

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perpetually worshipped by the immaculate hosts of Vaikhānasa sages. // 45

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To the north of Lake Kamala, in an excellent forest,

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at a distance of just two and a half krośas, adorned with yellow-sandal trees,

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is the great abode of Vāsudeva named Śrīveṅkaṭācala. // 46

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Seven yojanas in breadth, one yojana high,

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this lord of mountains is golden, O goddess, possessing peaks of jewels and extending far. // 47

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Hosts of gods beginning with Indra, lords of sages beginning with Vasiṣṭha,

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Siddhas, Sādhyas, and Maruts, Dānavas, Daityas, and Rākṣasas,

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and troops of apsarases beginning with Rambhā dwell there constantly, O earth; // 48

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Nāgas, Garuḍas, and Kinnaras perform austerity there.

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Occupied by these, sacred-looking rivers are there,

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and various divine lakes exist here, O Mādhavī. // 49

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Now the description of the superiority of Svāmipuṣkariṇī over all sacred fords.

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Hear indeed the foremost among all the sacred fords: // 50

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Cakratīrtha, Daivatīrtha, and likewise Viyadgaṅgā,

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Kumāradhārikātīrtha, and Pāpanāśana,

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the sacred ford named Pāṇḍava, and likewise Svāmipuṣkariṇī— // 51

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these seven, they say, are the best on the auspicious Nārāyaṇagiri.

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Foremost among these, O goddess, is the auspicious Svāmipuṣkariṇī. // 52

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On its western bank I reside together with you;

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on its southern bank dwells Śrīnivāsa, the lord of the world. // 53

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Equal to all sacred fords including the Gaṅgā is that lake, O earth ocean-clad;

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whatever sacred fords, lakes, and rivers there are in the three worlds,

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lordship over them has accrued to the Svāmisarovara, O earth. // 54

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To serve the holy Svāmipuṣkariṇī on this divine mountain,

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all the sacred fords reside; I shall tell you their number: // 55

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there are sixty-six crores of sacred fords on this sacred, best of mountains;

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and among them, six sacred fords are paramount, O Vasundharā. // 56

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Among five kingly fords, the great Tumba is like a womb;

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it destroys the fear of entering the womb for those who bathe [there] on this best of mountains. // 57

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Dharaṇī said:

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Six sacred fords on the mountain have been mentioned by you, O mighty-armed one;

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tell me their māhātmya, along with the proper time and the proper injunction,

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and tell [me] the fruits for men who bathe in them, O maintainer of the earth. // 58

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The glorious Varāha said:

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I shall tell the māhātmya of Nārāyaṇādri; hear, O Mādhavī: // 59

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gods, seers, and yogins beginning with Sanaka,

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and wise men declare this mountain to be the abode of the Supreme Self—

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as Añjanādri in the Kṛta age, Nārāyaṇagiri in the Tretā age, / Siṃhaśaila in the Dvāpara, and Śrīveṅkaṭācala in the Kali age. // 60–61

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The wise here declare that mountain to be the abode of the Supreme Self.

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Even one stationed at the end of a thousand yojanas or gone to another continent,

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who bows in devotion facing in the direction of this lord of mountains,

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is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Viṣṇu. // 62

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I will describe to you the māhātmya of the six sacred fords there, according to the proper time. // 63

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Now the māhātmya of Kumāradhārā.

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Listen attentively, O auspicious one, [to what] destroys all sins:

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when the sun resides in Aquarius, in the month of Māgha, on the great lunar day of the full moon, // 64

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joined with the Maghā asterism, on this lord of mountains, O Vasundharā,

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there is a pool named Kumāradhārikā that purifies the world, // 65

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where dwells Pārvatī's son, Kārttikeya, who was born from fire,

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joined with Devasenā, worshipping Śrīnivāsa, O pure one. // 66

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Hear the fruit of merit of one who bathes in it at midday:

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One who bathes with regularity in all sacred fords such as the Gaṅgā, O Earth,

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for twelve years, O supporter of the world, obtains that very fruit.

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One who gives food at that sacred ford according to one's capacity, accompanied by a fee,

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reaps that same fruit, just as the fruit has been described for the ritual ablution.

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Now, the māhātmya of the Tumba sacred ford.

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When the sun is stationed in the Mānasa, on the full moon day, O Earth,

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conjoined with Uttarāphālgunī, at the fourth auspicious period,

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among the five sacred fords, then at Tumba in the mountain cave,

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the person who bathes, O goddess, is not born into a womb again.

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Now, the māhātmya of Ākāśagaṅgā.

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When the sun is in the constellation of Agnivāha, conjoined with the Citrā nakṣatra,

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on the holy lunar day called the full moon, and likewise at dawn,

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having bathed in the river Ākāśagaṅgā, one attains liberation.

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Now, the māhātmya of the Pāṇḍava sacred ford.

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When the sun is in Taurus, in the month of Vaiśākha, on the twelfth lunar day, on a Sunday,

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whether in the bright or dark fortnight, conjoined with Tuesday;

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or in the bright or dark [fortnight] conjoined with Sunday,

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or conjoined with the Puṣya nakṣatra or conjoined with the Hasta constellation:

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the person who bathes here at the sacred ford named Pāṇḍava at morning-time

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incurs no suffering in this world, and enjoys happiness in the next.

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Now, the māhātmya of the Pāpanāśana sacred ford.

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In the bright or dark fortnight, a seventh lunar day falling on Sunday,

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conjoined with the Puṣya nakṣatra or conjoined with the Hasta constellation:

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on that lunar day, O fortunate one, in the one named Pāpanāśana,

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the sacred ford on the summit of the king of mountains, one who bathes with regularity

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—that best of men is released from sins accumulated over ten million births.

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Now, the māhātmya of the Deva sacred ford.

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Hear the supreme secret, O goddess, on the great mountain named Ananta:

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to the northwest of my divine abode, on the peak, in a mountain cave,

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is an exceedingly beautiful pool known as the Deva sacred ford.

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I shall tell you the time for ritual ablution in that most holy [place], O goddess:

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when Puṣya falls on a Thursday, at a Vyatīpāta, and likewise when Śravaṇa falls on a Monday—

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hear the fruit of merit of one who bathes on these days:

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Whatever sins are committed here through knowledge or ignorance,

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all of them are destroyed at the exceedingly purifying Deva sacred ford.

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Merits also increase from bathing in the Deva sacred ford;

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one attains a long life, accompanied by sons and grandsons,

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and at the end, having reached heaven, is exalted in Candraloka.

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The giver of food on those days, O goddess, becomes [equivalent to] a giver of food for life.

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This most secret [truth], O goddess, has been declared to you, O Earth.

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Vyāsa said:

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Having heard, the goddess Earth, her mind inclined with joy,

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praised the supporter of the earth with pleasing words:

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Now, the praise of Varāha by Earth.

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Earth said:

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Obeisance to you, O Lord of the gods of gods, O boar-faced, unswerving one,

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resembling the ocean of milk, diamond-tusked, mighty-armed!

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I was lifted up by you, O God, from the waters of the ocean at the beginning of the kalpa;

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by you of a thousand arms, O Viṣṇu, I uphold the worlds.

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You who are adorned with various divine ornaments and the sacred thread,

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wearing deep red garments, embellished with divine gems,

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whose lotus feet resemble the rising sun, obeisance, obeisance [to you]!

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The tip of whose tusks gleams like the crescent moon, O you of great power and valor,

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whose limbs are anointed with divine sandalwood, wearing earrings of refined gold,

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adorned with golden armlets gleaming with sapphire gems,

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who tore asunder Hiraṇyākṣa with the tip of your diamond tusk, O mighty one,

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whose eyes are charming like lotus blossoms, captivating with the sound of the Sāmas,

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whose self is the parting ornament of the Vedic texts, the soul of all, of beautiful strides,

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praised by the four-faced Brahmā and Śaṃbhu, O wide-eyed one!

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O you whose form is made of all knowledge, beyond the spoken word, salutations, salutations to you!

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O infinite one whose form is bliss, the death of Death, salutations, salutations to you!"

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Having thus praised him, the immovable goddess bowed at the feet of the lord.

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Seeing her bowing, the god, his eyes blossoming wide,

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lifted up the goddess Earth and embraced her with his arms.

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Having smelled Earth's face and seated her on his left lap,

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Now, the arrival of the lord Varāha along with Earth at Śeṣācala:

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Mounting Garuda, the lord of birds, he went to Vṛṣabhācala,

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the lord of the earth being praised by the lords of sages headed by Nārada.

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On the western bank of the Svāmipuṣkariṇī, revered by the world,

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the boar-faced one sits, worshipped there by lords of sages,

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by the highly fortunate Vaikhānasa sages, equal to Brahmā, great souls.

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Now, the occasion of hearing the māhātmya of Veṅkaṭācala:

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Vyāsa said:

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"Having seen him, O Sūta, Nārada spoke in ancient times to the sages;

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that very teaching I heard right there in the assembly of sages.

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Since I was asked by you, O Sūta, about the māhātmya of the mountains,

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I have told it properly just as it was heard in ancient times from Nārada."

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Now, the fruit of hearing this chapter:

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"Whoever reads this purifying, righteous dialogue of us two, O Sūta,

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Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit