Skandapurana 2.7.26

English (machine translation) 2.7.26

Language: English

2.7.26.1

Now, the table of contents of the seventh [part], the Māhātmya of the Month of Vaiśākha, in the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa (2.7):

1. In the dialogue of Sūta and Śaunaka: the question put to Nārada by Ambarīṣa who is desirous of knowing the duties of a Vaiṣṇava and others; Nārada's praise of the month of Vaiśākha; and the greatness of ritual ablution in Vaiśākha... 220 1

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2. Praise of Vaiśākha; then the occasion of faults in the non-performance of the vow of the month of Vaiśākha; praise of the vow; setting up a public water booth in Vaiśākha; praise of gifting fans, parasols, and footwear; and praise of gifting food... 221 2

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3. The gifting of beds, blankets, garments, camphor, flowers, saffron, sandalwood, yellow orpiment, betel, fruits, etc.; construction of rest pavilions; praise of wells, ponds, and gardens; description of the seven things regarded as sons in the absence of a son; māhātmya of the gift of betel, buttermilk, curd, rice, ghee, jaggery, sugarcane, sugarcane-juice, and drinks... 222 2

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4. Substances to be avoided by those observing the vow of Vaiśākha; bad fruit of ablution at home; faults of not performing the vow; ritual ablution and gifting at rivers, the seven Gaṅgās, and divine stepwells; prayer to Madhusūdana, offering of water, worship, etc.... 223 2

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5. Declaration of the excellence of the month of Vaiśākha with reasons. 227 1

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6. Declaration of the māhātmya of giving water in the month of Vaiśākha; regarding that, the story of King Hemāṅgada; his falling into an animal birth from not giving water in the month of Vaiśākha; his attaining the form of a monitor lizard in the palace of the king of Mithilā and his release through Śrutadeva... 228 2

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7. Having seen that wonder, the king of Mithilā marveled and inquired; Śrutadeva's explanation of the māhātmya of giving water and other gifts in the month of Vaiśākha; and on that matter, the narration of his father's story... 230 1

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8. Śrutadeva, questioned by the king of Mithilā, narrates the legend of Kākutstha, the son of Ikṣvāku, concerning the māhātmya of Vaiśākha by means of the dialogue between Īśvara and Pārvatī. 231 2

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9. The brahmin Śrutakīrti, questioned by the king of Mithilā, narrates the birth of Kumāra, and the praise of the duties of Vaiśākha. 235 1

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10. Declaration of the Aśūnyavrata; praise of gifting umbrellas and other items in the month of Vaiśākha. 238 1

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11. The celebration of the duties of Vaiśākha by the king of Mithilā; because of that, the departure of Yama to Brahmā, dejected by the emptiness of the hells since all people attained a good state... 240 1

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12. Yama's reporting of his distress to Brahmā ... 243 1

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13. Brahmā comforting Yama through the narration of the Vaiśākhamāhātmya; Brahmā's going to Viṣṇu together with Yama, who was nonetheless full of grief; Viṣṇu's granting of a boon to Yama; praise of the duties of Vaiśākha therein ... 244 2

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14. Praise of ritual ablution in Vaiśākha; praise of hearing the story of the Vaiśākhamāhātmya; the story of the two brahmins dedicated to rituals and dedicated to austerities therein ... 246 1

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15. King Puruyaśas, ruler of the Pañcāla country, regaining his own kingdom by observing the duties of Vaiśākha ... 247 2

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16. Now, the praise of Viṣṇu by Puruyaśas on Akṣayyatṛtīyā, and his attaining liberation of union [with Viṣṇu] through Viṣṇu's grace ... 250 1

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17. The commencement of narrating the duties of Vaiśākha: the story of the brahmin named Śaṅkha in connection with the gift of sandals; therein the story of Dantila and Kohala attaining liberation, in the context of the brahmin named Śaṅkha explaining the duties of Vaiśākha to a hunter ... 251 2

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18. Narration of the hunter's previous life ... 253 1

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19. Explanation of the supremacy of Prāṇa over all the gods through an exposition of the word Brahman; setting forth Kaṇva's curse due to the diminution of the greatness of the god Prāṇa; the breath of life uttering a curse against Kaṇva: “May you become a betrayer of your guru” ... 255 1

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20. Narration of souls attaining rebirth, action, and fruits corresponding to the qualities such as sattva; description of dissolution; exposition of the actions of the vyūha incarnations; description of the characteristics of a devotee of the Blessed Lord preceded by an exposition of the varieties of dharma; exposition of the duties of the month of Vaiśākha ... 257 2

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21. A serpent's liberation through hearing the māhātmya of the month of Vaiśākha; narration of his previous life; narration of the hunter attaining the status of the seer Vālmīki in another birth, in the dialogue between Śaṅkha and the hunter ... 260 2

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit