Skandapurana 2.1.40
English (machine translation) 2.1.40
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Now begins the determination of the time for bathing in Ākāśagaṅgā as spoken by Vyāsa.
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Śrī Sūta said:
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Having obtained the boon, Añjanā also rejoiced along with her husband,
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her mind filled with wonder on seeing Brahmā and the others arrive. (1)
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Then the sweet-spoken Añjanā, at ease together with her husband,
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was addressed by Vyāsa, the foremost of knowers of the Veda, authorized by Brahmā and the others; (2)
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he spoke this to Añjanā with a voice deep as a thundercloud: (3)
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Vyāsa said:
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O Añjanā, listen to my words, which bring welfare to all the worlds.
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Having heard the words of the seer Mataṅga with a pure mind, (4)
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since you went to Veṅkaṭa and performed most difficult austerity,
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a heroic son whose valor spans the three worlds is born of you. (5)
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Therefore, this supreme sacred ford, on the day of your manifestation,
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and the sacred fords beginning with the Gaṅgā in the three worlds arrive here. (6)
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There is no sacred ford in the cosmic egg equal to Mount Veṅkaṭa;
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even there, the auspicious Svāmipuṣkariṇī is exceedingly meritorious. (7)
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Greater than that is this sacred ford manifest on your day.
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Those who arrive for ritual ablution when joined with the constellation Citrā, (8)
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when the sun has reached Aries, on the auspicious full moon day—
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hear their reward, O goddess, which I shall declare to you, O lady of noble vows: (9)
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Whatever fruit exists from twelve years in all the sacred fords beginning with the Gaṅgā,
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that very fruit surely accrues [here], O fair-faced goddess! (10)
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Hear the greatness of the reward for men who make gifts [there];
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know, O goddess of fair face, the fruit declared [for them] in this place. (11)
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Añjanā said:
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Whatever gifts should be made on Mount Veṅkaṭa, the best of mountains,
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tell all of them, O best of brahmins, foremost among the knowers of the Veda! (12)
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Now the praise of the gifts to be given on Mount Veṅkaṭācala as declared by Vyāsa:
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Vyāsa said:
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The gift of food and the gift of clothing—these two are extolled;
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especially the funeral rites for a father, on Mount Veṅkaṭa, the best of mountains. (13)
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Those who give gold for the pleasure of the Slayer of Madhu,
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having reached every world, rejoice, O best of sages. (14)
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Those who make a gift of a śālagrāma stone on this best of mountains,
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their limbs suffer no injury, and they attain experience of the Self. (15)
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He who gives the gift of a cow to an eminent brahmin who has a household,
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shines in the world of Viṣṇu for a number of years equal to its hairs. (16)
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He who gives land, O goddess, to a brahmin householder,
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who is capable of stating the meritorious fruit of that in heaven or on earth? (17)
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He who gives a maiden [in marriage], O goddess, to a brahmin learned in the Vedas,
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having reached the world of Viṣṇu, rejoices along with his ancestors. (18)
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Those who provide a water booth furnished with cool water, O goddess—
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even Śeṣa is not able to declare the fruit of their merit. (19)
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He who gives sesame to a brahmin householder learned in the Vedas,
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freed from all sin, goes to the world of Viṣṇu. (20)
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The brahmins, the best of knowers of the Veda, praise the gift of grain;
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there will be many sons for those who give gifts of grain. (21)
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Fragrances, campaka flowers and the like, umbrellas, fans, and chowries,
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betel leaves, camphor, and the like—he who gives [these] to a twice-born (22)
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enjoys pleasure for a long time, and then goes to heaven;
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and having enjoyed manifold pleasures for a thousand divine years, (23)
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then becoming a universal monarch, having enjoyed the earth there for a long time,
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then attaining the status of a brahmin, having mastered the Vedas and Vedānta, (24)
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he then attains liberation by the grace of the Holder of the Discus.
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Thus has the glory of Mount Veṅkaṭācala been related, O goddess. (25)
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Whoever constantly hears this, and whoever recites it,
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freed from all sin, goes to the world of Viṣṇu. (26)
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Thus was this spoken long ago by the great-souled Vyāsa himself;
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whoever hears it or reads it will have accomplished his purpose. (27)
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All born in his lineage attain liberation, there is no doubt. (28)
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Thus ends the fortieth chapter, named 'Description of the Acquisition of the Boon by Añjanā, Determination of the Time for Ablution in the Ākāśagaṅgā, etc.,' in the glorious Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya, in the second Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses. (40)
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Thus ends the glorious Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya contained within the Skandapurāṇa.
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Devanāgarī Unicode transcription — 13-09-2015 CE (Bhādrapada dark fortnight, new moon day, Vikrama Saṃvat 2072).
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit