Skandapurana 2.8.4
English (machine translation) 2.8.4
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Agastya said:
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In the south-eastern direction from that site of Candra-Hari is situated
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the deity named Dharma-Hari, the destroyer of the sins of the Kali age. // 1
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Dharma, who knew the truth of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas and was steadfast in his own duties,
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came there in ancient times desiring to perform a pilgrimage to sacred fords. // 2
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Having arrived, he performed the pilgrimage there with great reverence;
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and beholding the peerless greatness of Ayodhyā, full of wonder,
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raising his two arms, the brahmin spoke, filled with joy: // 4
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"Ah, how delightful is this sacred ford! Ah, what supreme greatness!
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No other city is seen equal to Ayodhyā,
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which does not touch the earth, resting ceaselessly on the discus of Viṣṇu. // 5
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With what can this [city] be compared, in which Hari is manifestly present?
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Ah, all the sacred fords here truly bestow the world of Viṣṇu! // 6
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Ah, Viṣṇu! Ah, the sacred ford! Ah, Ayodhyā, the great city!
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Ah, what peerless greatness! What present here is not praiseworthy?" // 7
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Having spoken thus, agitated with intense joy, he danced there repeatedly,
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as Dharma gazed upon the greatness of Ayodhyā in particular. // 8
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Seeing Dharma dancing in this manner, filled with compassion,
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the Blessed Lord Hari himself, clad in yellow garments, manifested.
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Bowing to him, Dharma then praised Hari with reverence. // 9
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Dharma said:
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Obeisance to the one who dwells in the ocean of milk! Obeisance to the one reclining on the couch [of Śeṣa]!
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Obeisance to Viṣṇu, whose divine feet are touched by Śaṃkara! // 2.8.4.10
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Obeisance to you whose auspicious feet are worshipped with devotion, who are dear to Brahmā and the others!
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Obeisance, obeisance to Mādhava, having auspicious limbs and handsome eyes! // 11
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Obeisance to the lotus-footed one, indeed obeisance to the lotus-naveled one!
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Obeisance to the wielder of the bow Śārṅga, whose body is touched by the billows of the ocean of milk! // 12
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Oṃ, obeisance to the one of yogic sleep, whose self is meditated upon by the best of yogins!
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Obeisance, obeisance to God Govinda, whose seat is Garuḍa! // 13
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To the wielder of the discus, with beautiful hair, a handsome nose, and a lovely forehead;
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to Śrīdhara, with beautiful garments and of golden hue, obeisance, obeisance! // 14
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Obeisance to you with strong arms, obeisance to you with charming shanks;
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to the wielder of the mace, well-clad, highly divine, possessing true wisdom! // 15
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Obeisance, obeisance to Keśava, tranquil and to Vāmana!
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Obeisance to you, the god beloved by Dharma, dressed in yellow garments! // 16
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Agastya said:
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Thus praised with joy by Dharma, the Lord of the universe, the consort of Śrī,
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that noble-minded Hṛṣīkeśa, pleased, spoke to Dharma: // 17
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The Blessed Lord said:
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I am pleased with you, O Dharma of good vows, through this hymn of praise.
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Choose a boon, O knower of righteousness, which may be dear to your heart. // 18
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Whatever mortal unweariedly praises me with this hymn
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attains all desires, being honored and always endowed with fortune. // 19
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Dharma said:
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If you are pleased, O Blessed One, God of gods, Lord of the world,
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I establish you here by my own name, O Guru of the world! // 2.8.4.20
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Agastya said:
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Saying “So be it,” the all-pervading lord became Dharmahari.
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From the mere remembrance of the all-pervading Dharmahari, a person is liberated. // 21
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Having bathed in the waters of the Sarayū, [even] one whose mind is afflicted with deep anxieties,
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should behold god Dharmahari; he is completely freed from all sins. // 22
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Here, gift-giving, as well as burnt offerings, silent recitation, and feeding brahmins—
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all become imperishable, causing residence in Viṣṇu’s realm. // 23
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Whatever misdeed might exist, whether through ignorance or knowingly,
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an expiation must be diligently performed for its destruction. // 24
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By means of the prescribed expiation, his sin is destroyed;
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therefore, expiation should be performed here according to rule. // 25
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Whether through ignorance or knowingly, or through the restraint of a king or the like,
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for any man lacking self-control whose daily rites are interrupted,
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an expiation must also be diligently performed here by him. // 26
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Here, Lord Viṣṇu himself dwells in person with reverence;
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therefore, his greatness cannot indeed be adequately described by mortals. // 27
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In Āṣāḍha, on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight, O best of the twice-born,
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his annual pilgrimage should be performed according to rule. // 28
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A person having bathed at Svargadvāra and beheld the all-pervading Dharmahari,
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his soul purified of all sins, will dwell forever in the realm of Viṣṇu. // 29
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To the southern direction from that place is an excellent mine of gold,
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where Kubera produced a shower of gold out of fear of Raghu’s descendant. // 2.8.4.30
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Vyāsa said:
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O blessed one, knower of the truth, tell me: how did the shower of gold happen?
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How did the fear of King Raghu arise in Kubera? // 31
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Explain all of this in detail to me, O one of good vows.
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Having heard these secret tales, my mind is not satiated. // 32
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Agastya said:
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Listen, O brahmin; I will describe the excellent origin of gold,
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from the hearing of which great wonder arises in men. // 33
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In ancient times, there was the lord of the Raghus who increased the lineage of Ikṣvāku:
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Raghu, who ruled the surface of the earth through the noble valor of his own arms, // 34
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whose true renown was declared by the host of foes tormented by his splendor.
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As he, the righteous and virtuous ruler, properly protected his subjects, // 35
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The ten directions were smeared with the flood of [his] fame of white brilliance;
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he acquired mature wealth through the course of conquest.
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Having invaded various countries accompanied by an army of four divisions,
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and bringing living beings under control, he seized wealth by way of tribute.
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Having punished the preeminent kings who were superior in power, that hero,
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mighty in strength, then quickly seized various jewels.
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Having conquered all the directions and gathered a heap of gems,
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the king returned to Ayodhyā, that auspicious capital.
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And having arrived there, the descendant of Kakutstha, with a mind eager for sacrifice,
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resolved clearly upon a rite worthy of his own lineage.
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Knowing of the sage Vasiṣṭha, as well as Vāmadeva and Kaśyapa,
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and also other foremost sages residing at various sacred fords,
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the king had them summoned by a humble, excellent brahmin.
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Seeing all of them standing there like blazing fires,
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having learned that they had arrived, Raghu, the conqueror of enemy cities,
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himself went out according to proper custom, he of great renown.
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Then, like a humble disciple, the descendant of Kakutstha addressed all the best of brahmins
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with words imbued with righteousness, for the accomplishment of the sacrifice:
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Ravi said:
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"O all you sages here, listen to my words.
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I wish to perform a sacrifice; you should give your command regarding that.
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At present, which sacrifice of mine would be appropriate, O best of sages?
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Deliberating on this truly, please speak, O lords of sages!"
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The sages said:
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"O King, the Viśvajit is celebrated as the highest sacrifice among sacrifices.
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Perform it now with diligence; do not delay in vain!"
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Agastya said:
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Then the king performed the sacrifice known as the conquest of all directions,
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delightful with various preparations, in which all his possessions were given as the sacrificial fee.
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Causing satisfaction and joy to the sages through various kinds of gifts,
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he gave away indeed his entire property to the brahmins out of great respect.
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When all of them had departed, honored, to their own homes,
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and when his kinsmen were satisfied and the sages had bowed,
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by means of that sacrifice duly performed, the lord of men,
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adorned with noble conduct, shone instantly like Indra in heaven.
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In the meantime, there arrived a sage, foremost among those who possess self-restraint,
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a disciple of the sage Viśvāmitra, known as Kautsa.
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That wise one, [coming] for the fee of his teacher, to purify that lord of men—
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"Quickly bring fourteen crores of gold
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as my fee!"—having thus been asked in anger by his teacher out of insistence,
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that sage Kautsa arrived then to make his request respectfully
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to Raghu, the ornament of kings, who had given away his entire property as the sacrificial fee.
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Perceiving that he had arrived, Raghu then with reverence
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stood up and worshiped him according to rule, that scorcher of foes;
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the whole of his worship was performed using earthen vessels.
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Observing that kind of collection of worship materials, the lord of sages
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was astonished and joyless, giving up hope for the fee;
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expert in knowledge of speech, he spoke gentle words:
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Kautsa said:
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"O King, may prosperity be yours! I shall go elsewhere now.
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Solely to obtain [the fee] for my teacher, I do not beg you
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who have given all your property as the sacrificial fee, because of your lack of wealth; therefore I am going elsewhere."
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Agastya said:
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Having been spoken to thus by that sage, Raghu, the conqueror of enemy cities,
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pondered for a moment and said to him out of humility, with folded hands:
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Raghu said:
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"O venerable one, stay in my palace for a single day, O you who observe the vows of a sage,
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while I strive exceedingly, O venerable one, for the sake of your wealth!"
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Agastya said:
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Having spoken these exceedingly generous words to the sage, he of noble mind,
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And Raghu set out there, intending to conquer Kubera.
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Then Kubera, having made submission to him as he was advancing with spoken words,
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appeased his mind and made an inexhaustible shower of gold.
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Where that shower of gold occurred, that became an excellent goldmine.
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He showed the sage the mine presented by him.
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Raghu offered that excellent mine to him.
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The lord of sages too, quickly taking from it out of respect what was needed for the guru,
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that man eminent in virtues presented all the rest to the king.
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Then Kautsa, the best among the wise, being pleased, granted boons:
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Kautsa said:
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O King, obtain a noble son endowed with the virtues of your lineage.
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May this goldmine quickly bestow the fulfillment of the heart's desires;
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may there be here a supreme tīrtha, forever taking away all sin.
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By bathing and giving here, prosperity arises for men.
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The annual pilgrimage is celebrated on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha.
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By my word, may the attainment of diverse desired results come to men.
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Agastya said:
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Having thus granted boons to the king, Kautsa, contented in mind,
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set out eagerly for the teacher's hermitage for the sake of his purpose.
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Then the king, having accomplished his duty, took the remainder of that wealth,
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distributed it duly to the brahmins, and protected his subjects.
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Thus the māhātmya of the goldmine was brought about by the lord of sages.
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Thus ends the fourth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Māhātmya of Dharmahari and the Goldmine', in the Ayodhyāmāhātmya in the second Section on Viṣṇu in the venerable Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit