Skandapurana 2.4.30.149

2.4.30.149

On the words "devoted to tapas" [the commentator notes]: Here is the well-known story from the Brāhma [Purāṇa]: In the Tretāyuga, there was a deceitful brahmin named Taponiṣṭha who endured the dualities of life. Once, as he was wandering for alms, a crane flying in the sky dropped feces into the middle of the food in his bowl. The crane was looked at by him, and then it fell from its path in the sky; with his gaze of wrath, that crane lost its life in an instant. Seeing that, he became wicked and proud of his own power. Once, as he was wandering for alms, he went to a dwelling of a certain devoted wife and said, "Give alms!" Seeing the ascetic, she, devoted to serving her husband and busy performing her daily duties, found no interval to give alms. Well-mannered and wishing what was pleasing to him, she fed her husband; with the end of her garment, she warded off small insects. That ascetic also stood motionless like a post out of wrath. Having fed him, seeing her own husband cleansed and reclining on the bed, she wiped his feet; massaging his feet, with a smiling face, she spoke agreeable, pleasing, beneficial, and affectionate words concerning their relationship. Then, when her own husband had fallen asleep, the chaste, virtuous woman took a vessel of food and went outside. Seeing the chaste woman who now wished to give alms, the ascetic, his eyes reddened with fury, made a roaring sound and would not take what was offered by her. Then that virtuous woman, her eyes cast down at her own feet, said to him: The devoted wife said: "I am not that lovely crane which was burned by you, O great ascetic! The desire of your mind shall not come to pass; take the food!" Brahmā said: Then, highly astonished, the brahmin dropped that alms-bowl, his hair bristling, and with joined palms spoke to the chaste woman: The ascetic said: "How, O mother, do you know of the crane falling today, struck down from the sky? Tell me the reason for that!" The devoted wife said: "O brahmin, this is not produced by mantras or the like, nor is it inborn in me; it is merely the general power of whoever has Acyuta in their heart. For those who perform rituals, Viṣṇu is in the sacred fire; for sons, Hari is the parents; for women, he indeed resides in their husbands; for students, in the preceptor. In the brahmin for all castes, Viṣṇu is declared by the wise; Hari is in statues for the small-minded, and in the heart for yogins. This Ancient Person is my visible deity—father, mother, preceptor, protector, kinsmen, friend, and son. Truly, O brahmin, all that exists, being composed of all things, is present for me on earth in my husband. Through service to him, I have this knowledge and both worlds. As a woman under her husband's control, I should not speak to another, O twice-born; you had no right even to speak this much at present. This has been spoken because of the context; therefore may Viṣṇu be pleased with me! If you now desire to hear of dharma, O ascetic, go to Vārāṇasī and ask a meat-seller, a hunter dwelling in a slaughterhouse; he will tell you of dharma." Having said just this, she went into the inner apartment. The ascetic too, having gone to Vārāṇasī, went to the hunter's house. Seeing that ascetic approaching, he ran towards him; coming forward, the hunter bowed humbly to that brahmin, then brought him to his own home, worshipped him according to the rules, and said: "You have now been sent to my house by that chaste woman." Brahmā said: Hearing his speech, the ascetic was extremely astonished and said: "How do you, the righteous hunter, know of the devoted wife?" The righteous hunter said: "This power of mine is not produced by mantras or the like, nor is it inborn; I bow to my parents, hence such power is mine. Incomparable, correct, threefold-temporal, and unfailing knowledge, as well as the secret of dharma, I know through service to my parents." Having said this, he spoke again to the ascetic who was desiring instruction: "The brahmin is the highest among the castes, praised by all castes; therefore, a twice-born is never to be instructed by the low-born. Hence, go, O brahmin, to the seer named Bindu; possessing knowledge and righteous conduct, he will impart knowledge to you." Hearing his words, bowing to him and taking leave, he went to the sacred ford of Pañcanada and addressed the lord among sages: The ascetic said: "O brahmin-seer, what was accumulated previously by me has been destroyed through wrath. Now tell me out of mercy that by which I may attain liberation." The seer Bindu said: "Kārtika is remembered as the foremost of all dharmas. Likewise, O ascetic, all sacred fords take away the sins of living beings; Prayāgarāja takes away the sins of all sacred fords when the sun is in Capricorn; and the sacred ford of Pañcanada takes away the sin of Prayāgarāja in Kārtika. Therefore, go to Pañcanada and observe the Kārtika vow." Having heard that, the ascetic went there, performed the vow according to the rules, and went to the world of Viṣṇu on an aerial chariot. .. 49 ..