Skandapurana 2.1.17
English (machine translation) 2.1.17
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2.1.17.1
Now begins the description of the sacred field of Mount Veṅkaṭa and others.
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Glorious Sūta said:
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"I shall declare once again the māhātmya of Mount Veṅkaṭa
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unto you with care; listen with completely focused minds.
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Whatever sacred fords there are upon the earth and within the cosmic egg,
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all of them exist on the mountain named Veṅkaṭa.
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The Supreme Person dwelling on that best of meritorious mountains,
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the auspicious God holding the conch and discus, wearing yellow garments,
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whose chest is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, the granter of fearlessness to devotees,
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the God of gods, large-eyed, knowable through the Vedas, eternal—
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People living in the countries of Aṅga, Kosala, Karṇāṭa, Kāśī, and Gurjara,
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and those born in all regions such as Cola, Kerala, and Pāṇḍya,
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come each year with their families to serve [Him];
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as do the gods, seers, siddhas, and yogins such as Sanaka.
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Those who perform service during the month of Bhādrapada
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at the great festival of the Lord of Veṅkaṭa are all free of sins, the highest of the highest.
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There, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds,
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conducted the great festival of hoisting the banner in the solar month of Kanyā for the glorious Lord of Veṅkaṭa.
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Every year, for the sake of serving Him, all human beings,
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all the gods, gandharvas, siddhas, and sādhyas of great splendor,
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arrive at the Brahmotsava festival of the Lord, O best of the twice-born.
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Just as the knowledge of the Vedas is among forms of knowledge, just as the praṇava is among mantras,
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just as the vital breath is among dear things, just as the wish-granting cow is among cows,
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so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.
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Just as Śeṣa is among all nāgas, just as Garuḍa is among birds,
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just as Viṣṇu is among the gods, just as the brahmin is among the varṇas,
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so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.
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Just as the wish-fulfilling tree is among trees, just as a wife is among friends,
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just as the Gaṅgā is among sacred fords, just as the sun is among lights,
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so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.
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Just as the vajra is among weapons, just as gold is among metals,
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just as Rudra is among Vaiṣṇavas, just as the Kaustubha is among gems,
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Just so is Mount Veṅkaṭa the highest of the high among sacred fields.
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There is nothing equal to it in the world that fosters Viṣṇu's delight.
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There is no month equal to Mādhava, no age equal to the Kṛta,
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no scripture equal to the Veda, and no sacred ford equal to the Gaṅgā.
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There is no gift equal to water; there is no happiness equal to a wife;
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there is no wealth equal to agriculture, and no gain higher than life.
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There is no austerity other than fasting; there is no joy higher than giving.
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There is no virtue equal to compassion; there is no light equal to the eye.
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There is no satisfaction equal to food; there is no trade equal to agriculture.
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There is no friend equal to righteousness; there is no fame equal to truth.
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Just as [these excel], so there is indeed nothing equal to the abode of the Lord.
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O best of sages, the praise of which removes all sins, the adoration of which grants all happiness in the world,
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and pilgrimage to which is worthy of worship even by the gods—such is the greatness of Mount Veṅkaṭa, the foremost [of peaks].
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I shall further tell its power, wherein all sacred fords abide;
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and thus among them all, the foremost sacred ford is that lake named Śrīsvāmi[puṣkariṇī].
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How can its greatness be told by me? On its western bank Bhūvarāha,
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embracing his beloved, with an exceedingly gentle form, shines forth, beneficent to all people.
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And on the south of the Śrīsvāmiduṣkariṇī stands Veṅkaṭeśvara,
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his body embraced by Lakṣmī, granting boons eternally.
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Thus has the supreme greatness of the sacred field been related to you, O brahmins.
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Whoever always hears it with devotion is glorified in the world of Viṣṇu.
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Thus ends the seventeenth chapter, named 'Description of the Greatness of the Sacred Field', in the Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the venerable Skanda Purāṇa in eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit