Skandapurana 2.4.26
English (machine translation) 2.4.26
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Nārada said:
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Hearing their words thus, Dharmadatta, filled with wonder,
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bowed down on the ground like a rod and spoke these words:
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Dharmadatta said:
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All people worship Viṣṇu, who destroys the distress of devotees,
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with sacrifices, gifts, vows, sacred fords, and austerities according to rule.
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Among these, [tell me of] something that pleases Viṣṇu, bestows his presence,
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by performing which all of those [practices] indeed become fully accomplished.
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The two attendants said:
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"Well asked by you, O brahmin! Listen with a single-pointed mind
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to the sacred legendary story of ancient events being told. // 4
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Formerly in Kāñcīpurī there was a universal monarch, King Cola,
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by whose very name those territories became renowned as the Colas. // 5
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While he ruled the circle of the earth, poor or miserable,
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evil-minded, or diseased—there was no such person at all. // 6
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When he performed exalted sacrifices, both banks of the Tāmraparṇī
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were rich in splendor with golden sacrificial posts, resembling the Caitraratha grove. // 7
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Once that king went to Anantaśayana, O twice-born,
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where that Lord of the worlds has resorted to yogic sleep. // 8
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Having duly worshipped the god, the beloved of Śrī,
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with divine jewels, pearls, and splendid golden flowers, // 9
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having bowed down upon the ground like a staff, the king sat down there.
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Just then, he saw a brahmin coming into the presence of the god, // 10
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carrying water and tulasī in his hand for the worship of the god,
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a twice-born residing in his own city, named Viṣṇudāsa. // 11
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Approaching there, that brahmin-seer worshipped the God of gods;
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having bathed [the deity] with the Viṣṇusūkta, [he worshipped him] with tulasī blossoms and leaves. // 12
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Beholding his own previously performed worship with gems
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covered over by that worship with tulasī, the king angrily said this: // 13
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Cola said:
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"The worship with rubies and gold, rich in splendor, which was performed by me here—
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Viṣṇudāsa, how is it now covered over with tulasī leaves? // 14
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You do not know devotion to Viṣṇu; you are considered by me to be a wretch,
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since, alas, you cover over this extremely splendid worship!" // 15
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Hearing those words of his, that best of the twice-born, filled with anger,
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disregarded the dignity of the king and spoke these words: // 16
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Viṣṇudāsa said:
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"O King, you do not know devotion; you are arrogant through royal fortune!
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Tell me, how much of Viṣṇu's vow was previously observed by you?" // 17
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The two attendants said:
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Hearing the words of that brahmin, that best of kings laughed,
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and out of pride then addressed these words to the twice-born Viṣṇudāsa: // 18
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The king said:
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"If you speak thus, O brahmin, exceedingly arrogant about devotion to Viṣṇu,
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how great can your devotion to Viṣṇu be, since you are destitute and penniless? // 19
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No sacrifices, gifts, and the like pleasing to Viṣṇu have been performed by you,
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nor was a temple ever built by you before anywhere, O brahmin! // 20
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Yet such pride of yours persists on account of devotion!
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Therefore, let all these twice-born men hear my declaration today: // 21
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This dispute will proceed unto a direct vision of Viṣṇu.
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Let all behold, and from that they will know the devotion of us both!" // 22
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The two attendants said:
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Having spoken thus, that king then went to his royal palace;
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he commenced a Vaiṣṇava sacrificial session, appointing Mudgala as the officiating priest, // 23
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frequented by hosts of seers, with abundant food and plentiful sacrificial fees,
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rich like that which was performed formerly by Brahmā in Gayākṣetra. // 24
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Viṣṇudāsa also remained right there in the temple, observant of vows,
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always performing the prescribed observances that bring satisfaction to Viṣṇu: // 25
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the vow of Māgha and Ūrja properly; tending groves of tulasī;
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recitation [of the name] of Hari on the eleventh day with the twelve-syllable mantra; // 26
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with the sixteen ritual services, and auspicious rites such as dance and song,
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he daily performed the worship of Viṣṇu and these vows. // 27
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Constantly remembering Viṣṇu while walking on the ground or even sleeping,
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he, of equal vision, beheld Viṣṇu abiding in all beings. // 28
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In Māgha and Kārtika he also performed special observances daily
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for the gratification of Viṣṇu, together with the concluding concluding rites. // 29
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As both of them—the lord of the Colas and Viṣṇudāsa—were thus propitiating the consort of Śrī,
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a great span of time passed while they remained steadfast in vows, with all the actions of their senses dedicated to Him. // 30
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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
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit