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Badarikāśrama-māhātmya · Chapter 8

Chapter 8

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Badarikāśrama-māhātmya · Chapter 8

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।। शिव उवाच ।। ।। ब्रह्मकुण्डाद्दक्षिणतो नरावासगिरिर्महान् ।। यत्र भगवता मेरुः स्थापितो लोकसुन्दरः ।। १ ।। ।। स्कन्द उवाच ।। ।। कथं भगवता मेरुः स्थापितो नरसन्निधौ ।। महत्कौतूहलं तात कथ्यतां यदि रोचते ।। २ ।। ।। महादेव उवाच ।। ।। यदा भगवतो वासो विशालायां समागतः ।। देवा महर्षयः सिद्धाः सविद्याधरचारणाः ।।३।। विहाय मेरुशृंगाणि भगवद्दर्शनोत्सुकाः ।। भगवद्दर्शनाह्लादतिरस्कृतसुरालयाः ।। ४ ।। तदा तु भगवांस्तेषां सुखहेतोः षडानन ।। उत्पाद्य मेरुशृंगाणि करेणैकेन लीलया ।। स्थापयामास सर्वेषां भगवान्प्रीतिवर्द्धनः ।।५।। ततः सर्वे समालोक्य गिरिं कांचननिर्मितम् ।। प्रसन्नास्तुष्टुवुः सर्वे नारायणमनामयम्।।६।। ।।देवा ऊचुः।। ।। योस्मत्सुखाय भवविश्रमणाय बिभ्रल्लीलातनूः कनकशैलमिहानिनाय ।। जेता सुरार्द्दनशतं त्रिदशैकपक्षस्तस्मै विधेम नम उग्रतपःश्रियाय।।७।। यद्यत्करोति कृपया कृपणार्तितूलशैलाग्निराश्रितकृदेकविदां वरिष्ठः।। स्वेनैव तेन करणेन स तुष्यतां नो यस्यान्वकारि पुरुषेण न केनचिद्वै ।।८।। अस्माकमुन्नतधियां विदधाति सम्यक्छिक्षां पितेव करुणो निजलाभपूर्णः।। त्रैलोक्यरक्षणविचक्षणदृष्टिपातपूर्णामृतांबुधिरसौ विपदः प्रपायात् ।। ९ ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। येनाध्यस्तं भाति समस्तं जगदेकं क्रीडाभांडं सत्यतयाऽजस्य विभूम्नः ।। भानां वृदं यद्वदनेप्याश्रितमूर्तिस्तस्मै नित्यं शाश्वत तुभ्यं प्रणमाम ।। 2.3.8.१० ।। ।। सिद्धा ऊचुः ।। ।। यत्कृपालवत एव महांतः सिद्धिमीयुरितरे भवभाजः ।। तेऽचिरेण भवभीमपयोधिं तीर्णवंत इति नः सुमनीषा ।।११।। ।। विद्याधरा ऊचुः।। ।। विभो सद्गुणग्राम कल्याणमूर्ते परेशान संमानसंतानहेतो ।। भवत्पादपद्मासवस्वादमत्ताः कृतार्था न चित्रं भवत्यत्र किंचित् ।।१२।। ततस्तुष्टोऽथ भगवांस्तेषामासीद्दिवौकसाम् ।। वरं वृणुध्वमित्युक्तास्ते प्रोचुर्वरदर्षभम्।।१३।। परितुष्टो भवान्साक्षाद्देवदेवो रमापतिः।। बदरी न त्वया त्याज्या न च मेरुः कदाचन।।१४।। मेरुशृंगं प्रपश्यंति ये जनाः पुण्यभागिनः ।। तेषां वै त्वत्प्रसादेन मेरौ वासः प्रजायताम्।।१५।। तत्र भुक्त्वा चिराद्भोगान्भूयादन्ते लयस्त्वयि।। एवमस्त्विति चाभाष्य तत्रैवांतर्हितो हरिः ।। १६ ।। ततः प्रभृति ते सर्वे मेरुशृंगविहारिणः ।। नरनारायणस्यांते पाल्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः।।१७।। कदाचिद्दिवि तिष्ठंति कदाचिन्मेरुमध्यतः।। निर्विशंका निरुद्वेगा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः।।१८।। भगवानपि तत्रैव नररूपेण तिष्ठति।। धनुर्बाणधरः श्रीमांस्तपसा पावकोपमः।। आनंदमृषिवृंदस्य जनयंस्तप आस्थितः ।। १९ ।। ततस्तु परमं तीर्थं लोकपालाभिवंदितम् ।। यत्र संस्थापयामास लोकपालान्हरिः स्वयम् ।।2.3.8.२०।। ।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। कथं भगवता तत्र लोकपालाश्च स्थापिताः ।। महत्कौतूहलं तात कथयस्व महामते ।। २१ ।। ।। शिव उवाच ।। ।। एकदा मेरुमध्यस्थाश्रयानिह हरन्हरिः।। देवानामृषिमुख्यानां चरितं द्रष्टुमुद्यतः ।।२१।। तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय नमस्कृत्य दिवौकसः ।। ऊचुस्ते विनयात्सर्वे प्रसीद भगवन्विभो ।। २३ ।। क्षणं विश्राम्य विधिवद्दृष्ट्वा तां विरलां भुवम् ।। सान्निध्यमृषिदेवानामयुक्तं भावयन्मिथः ।। २४ ।। ततः प्रहस्य भगवानुवाच मधुसूदनः ।। लोकपालान्समाहूय नात्र स्थेयं भवद्विधैः ।। २५ ।। ऋषयस्तापसाः सिद्धाः सस्त्रीका निवसंति हि ।। भवद्विधानामास्थानं पुरेव कल्पितं मया ।।२६।। ततः स त्वरितो गत्वा रम्ये गिरिवरे हरिः ।। लोकपालान्समाहूय स्थापयामास तान्गुह ।। २७ ।। तत्रैव शैलदंडेन हत्वाग्निं जलकांक्षया ।। क्रीडापुष्करणीं तेषां निर्ममे सुमनोहराम ।। २८ ।। सस्त्रीका यत्र गीर्वाणा विचरंति निजेच्छया ।। गायंति स्वनुमोदंति गंधर्वास्त्रिदिवौकसाम् ।। २९ ।। वनानि कुसुमामोदरम्याणि परितोषतः ।। दिनानि यत्र गच्छंति क्षणप्रायाणि देहिनाम् ।। 2.3.8.३० ।। भगवानपि तत्रैव तेषामानंदमावहन्।। द्वादश्यां पौर्णमास्यां च स्वयमायाति मज्जने ।। ३१ ।। तत्पश्चादृषयः सर्वे मुनयश्च तपोधनाः ।। यत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन गुह मध्याह्नकालतः ।। असंगं परमं ज्योतिर्जले पश्यंति चक्षुषा ।। ३२ ।। सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् ।। तत्फलं तत्क्षणादेव दण्डपुष्करिणीक्षणात् ।। ।। ३३ ।। यत्र काम्यानि कर्माणि सफलानि मनीषिणाम् ।। यत्र पिंडप्रदानेन गयातोऽष्टगुणं फलम् ।।३४।। यज्ञो दानं तपः कर्म सर्वमक्षयमुच्यते।। द्वादश्यां शुक्लपक्षस्य ज्येष्ठे मासि षडानन ।। ३५ ।। तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन कृतकृत्यो भवेद्यतः ।। बदरीतीर्थमध्ये तु गुप्तमेतत्सुरोत्तमैः ।। न वाच्यं यत्र कुत्रापि तव प्रीत्या मयोदितम् ।।३६।। वक्तव्यं किमिह बहु प्रभूतपुण्याः पश्यंति प्रथितमिदं सुरैकगुप्तम् ।। नान्येषां कथमपि चेतसि प्रसंगाद्देवैः स्यादनुदिनचिंतितं गुहैतत् ।। ३७ ।। येषां वै भगवति चेत्समग्रकर्म स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनविधिक्रमेण जातम् ।। पश्यंति त्रिभुवनदुर्ल्लभं सुतीर्थं दंडोदं न भवति चान्यथा सुदृष्टम् ।।३८।। दंडोदकात्परं तीर्थं न विष्णोः सदृशोऽमरः ।। विशालासदृशं क्षेत्रं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।।३९।। सेवनीया प्रयत्नेन विशाला च विचक्षणैः ।। य इच्छेत्सततं धाम भगवत्पार्श्ववर्ति वै ।। 2.3.8.४० ।। ।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। गंगामाश्रित्य तीर्थानि कानि संतीह सत्पदे ।। श्रेयस्कराणि भूरीणि संक्षेपात्तानि मे वद ।। ४१ ।। ।। महादेव उवाच ।। ।। गंगायां यत्र संयोगो मानसोद्भेदसन्निधौ ।। तत्तीर्थं विमलं पुण्यं प्रयागादधिकं महत् ।। ४२ ।। त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि वायुभोजनतो भवेत् ।। तत्फलं स्नानमात्रेण गंगायाः संगमे नृणाम् ।। ४३ ।। संगमाद्दक्षिणे भागे धर्मक्षेत्रं प्रकीर्तितम् ।। यत्र मूर्त्या श्रुतौ जातौ नरनारायणावृषी ।।४४।। तत्क्षेत्रं पावनं मर्त्ये सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् ।। धर्मस्तत्रैव भगवांश्चतुष्पादवतिष्ठति ।। ४५ ।। यत्र यज्ञास्तपो दानं यत्किंचित्क्रियते नृभिः ।। तत्पुण्यस्य क्षयो नास्ति कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।। ४६ ।। ततो दक्षिणदिग्भाग उर्वशी संगमाभिधम् ।। सर्वपापहरं पुंसां स्नानमात्रेण देहिनाम् ।। ४७ ।। कूर्मोद्धारस्ततः साक्षाद्धरिभक्त्येकसाधनम् ।। स्नानमात्रेण भूतानां सत्त्वशुद्धिः प्रजायते ।। ४८ ।। ब्रह्मावर्त्तस्ततः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मलोकैककारणम् ।। दर्शनादेव तीर्थस्य सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।। ४९ ।। बहूनि संति तीर्थानि दुर्गम्यानीह देहिनाम् ।। संक्षेपात्कथितं वत्स तवादरवशादिदम् ।। 2.3.8.५० ।। य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः पदं विष्णोः प्रपद्यते ।।।। ५१ ।। राजा विजयमाप्नोति सुतार्थी लभते सुतम् ।। कन्यार्थी लभते कन्यां कन्या विंदति सत्पतिम् ।। ५२ ।। धनार्थी धनमाप्नोति सर्वकामैकसाधनम् ।। ५३ ।। मासमात्रं नरो भक्त्या शृणुयाद्यः समाहितः ।। तस्याभीष्टसमावाप्तिर्दुर्लभोपि न संशयः ।। ५४ ।। आधिव्याधिभयं घोरं दारिद्र्य कलहं तथा ।। यस्य गेहेषु माहात्म्यं तत्रैतानि न कर्हिचित् ।। ५५ ।। नापमृत्युर्न सर्पादि दौर्भाग्यं चापि वर्तते ।। दुःस्वप्नग्रहपीडा च परराष्ट्रभयं तथा ।। ५६ ।। युद्धे यात्राप्रयाणे च पठनीयं प्रयत्नतः ।। विवाहे च विवादे च शुभकर्मणि यत्नतः ।। ५७ ।। पूर्णं वाऽध्यायमात्रं वा तदर्धं वा विचक्षणैः ।। सर्वकार्यप्रसिद्धिः स्यान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ५८ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे बदरिकाश्रममाहात्म्ये शिवकार्त्तिकेयसंवादे बदरिकाश्रमे मेरुसंस्थापनतीर्थलोकपालतीर्थदंडपुष्करिणीतीर्थधर्मक्षेत्रादिविविधतीर्थक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य वर्णनंनामाष्टमोऽध्यायः ।। ८ ।। ।। छ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे तृतीयं बदरिकाश्रममाहात्म्यं समाप्तम् ।। २-३) ।। ।।

|| śiva uvāca || || brahmakuṇḍāddakṣiṇato narāvāsagirirmahān || yatra bhagavatā meruḥ sthāpito lokasundaraḥ || 1 || || skanda uvāca || || kathaṃ bhagavatā meruḥ sthāpito narasannidhau || mahatkautūhalaṃ tāta kathyatāṃ yadi rocate || 2 || || mahādeva uvāca || || yadā bhagavato vāso viśālāyāṃ samāgataḥ || devā maharṣayaḥ siddhāḥ savidyādharacāraṇāḥ ||3|| vihāya meruśṛṃgāṇi bhagavaddarśanotsukāḥ || bhagavaddarśanāhlādatiraskṛtasurālayāḥ || 4 || tadā tu bhagavāṃsteṣāṃ sukhahetoḥ ṣaḍānana || utpādya meruśṛṃgāṇi kareṇaikena līlayā || sthāpayāmāsa sarveṣāṃ bhagavānprītivarddhanaḥ ||5|| tataḥ sarve samālokya giriṃ kāṃcananirmitam || prasannāstuṣṭuvuḥ sarve nārāyaṇamanāmayam||6|| ||devā ūcuḥ|| || yosmatsukhāya bhavaviśramaṇāya bibhrallīlātanūḥ kanakaśailamihānināya || jetā surārddanaśataṃ tridaśaikapakṣastasmai vidhema nama ugratapaḥśriyāya||7|| yadyatkaroti kṛpayā kṛpaṇārtitūlaśailāgnirāśritakṛdekavidāṃ variṣṭhaḥ|| svenaiva tena karaṇena sa tuṣyatāṃ no yasyānvakāri puruṣeṇa na kenacidvai ||8|| asmākamunnatadhiyāṃ vidadhāti samyakchikṣāṃ piteva karuṇo nijalābhapūrṇaḥ|| trailokyarakṣaṇavicakṣaṇadṛṣṭipātapūrṇāmṛtāṃbudhirasau vipadaḥ prapāyāt || 9 || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || yenādhyastaṃ bhāti samastaṃ jagadekaṃ krīḍābhāṃḍaṃ satyatayā'jasya vibhūmnaḥ || bhānāṃ vṛdaṃ yadvadanepyāśritamūrtistasmai nityaṃ śāśvata tubhyaṃ praṇamāma || 2.3.8.10 || || siddhā ūcuḥ || || yatkṛpālavata eva mahāṃtaḥ siddhimīyuritare bhavabhājaḥ || te'cireṇa bhavabhīmapayodhiṃ tīrṇavaṃta iti naḥ sumanīṣā ||11|| || vidyādharā ūcuḥ|| || vibho sadguṇagrāma kalyāṇamūrte pareśāna saṃmānasaṃtānaheto || bhavatpādapadmāsavasvādamattāḥ kṛtārthā na citraṃ bhavatyatra kiṃcit ||12|| tatastuṣṭo'tha bhagavāṃsteṣāmāsīddivaukasām || varaṃ vṛṇudhvamityuktāste procurvaradarṣabham||13|| parituṣṭo bhavānsākṣāddevadevo ramāpatiḥ|| badarī na tvayā tyājyā na ca meruḥ kadācana||14|| meruśṛṃgaṃ prapaśyaṃti ye janāḥ puṇyabhāginaḥ || teṣāṃ vai tvatprasādena merau vāsaḥ prajāyatām||15|| tatra bhuktvā cirādbhogānbhūyādante layastvayi|| evamastviti cābhāṣya tatraivāṃtarhito hariḥ || 16 || tataḥ prabhṛti te sarve meruśṛṃgavihāriṇaḥ || naranārāyaṇasyāṃte pālyamānā muhurmuhuḥ||17|| kadāciddivi tiṣṭhaṃti kadācinmerumadhyataḥ|| nirviśaṃkā nirudvegā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ||18|| bhagavānapi tatraiva nararūpeṇa tiṣṭhati|| dhanurbāṇadharaḥ śrīmāṃstapasā pāvakopamaḥ|| ānaṃdamṛṣivṛṃdasya janayaṃstapa āsthitaḥ || 19 || tatastu paramaṃ tīrthaṃ lokapālābhivaṃditam || yatra saṃsthāpayāmāsa lokapālānhariḥ svayam ||2.3.8.20|| || skaṃda uvāca || || kathaṃ bhagavatā tatra lokapālāśca sthāpitāḥ || mahatkautūhalaṃ tāta kathayasva mahāmate || 21 || || śiva uvāca || || ekadā merumadhyasthāśrayāniha haranhariḥ|| devānāmṛṣimukhyānāṃ caritaṃ draṣṭumudyataḥ ||21|| taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya namaskṛtya divaukasaḥ || ūcuste vinayātsarve prasīda bhagavanvibho || 23 || kṣaṇaṃ viśrāmya vidhivaddṛṣṭvā tāṃ viralāṃ bhuvam || sānnidhyamṛṣidevānāmayuktaṃ bhāvayanmithaḥ || 24 || tataḥ prahasya bhagavānuvāca madhusūdanaḥ || lokapālānsamāhūya nātra stheyaṃ bhavadvidhaiḥ || 25 || ṛṣayastāpasāḥ siddhāḥ sastrīkā nivasaṃti hi || bhavadvidhānāmāsthānaṃ pureva kalpitaṃ mayā ||26|| tataḥ sa tvarito gatvā ramye girivare hariḥ || lokapālānsamāhūya sthāpayāmāsa tānguha || 27 || tatraiva śailadaṃḍena hatvāgniṃ jalakāṃkṣayā || krīḍāpuṣkaraṇīṃ teṣāṃ nirmame sumanoharāma || 28 || sastrīkā yatra gīrvāṇā vicaraṃti nijecchayā || gāyaṃti svanumodaṃti gaṃdharvāstridivaukasām || 29 || vanāni kusumāmodaramyāṇi paritoṣataḥ || dināni yatra gacchaṃti kṣaṇaprāyāṇi dehinām || 2.3.8.30 || bhagavānapi tatraiva teṣāmānaṃdamāvahan|| dvādaśyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ ca svayamāyāti majjane || 31 || tatpaścādṛṣayaḥ sarve munayaśca tapodhanāḥ || yatra snātvā vidhānena guha madhyāhnakālataḥ || asaṃgaṃ paramaṃ jyotirjale paśyaṃti cakṣuṣā || 32 || sarvatīrthāvagāhena yatphalaṃ parikīrtitam || tatphalaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva daṇḍapuṣkariṇīkṣaṇāt || || 33 || yatra kāmyāni karmāṇi saphalāni manīṣiṇām || yatra piṃḍapradānena gayāto'ṣṭaguṇaṃ phalam ||34|| yajño dānaṃ tapaḥ karma sarvamakṣayamucyate|| dvādaśyāṃ śuklapakṣasya jyeṣṭhe māsi ṣaḍānana || 35 || tatra snātvā vidhānena kṛtakṛtyo bhavedyataḥ || badarītīrthamadhye tu guptametatsurottamaiḥ || na vācyaṃ yatra kutrāpi tava prītyā mayoditam ||36|| vaktavyaṃ kimiha bahu prabhūtapuṇyāḥ paśyaṃti prathitamidaṃ suraikaguptam || nānyeṣāṃ kathamapi cetasi prasaṃgāddevaiḥ syādanudinaciṃtitaṃ guhaitat || 37 || yeṣāṃ vai bhagavati cetsamagrakarma svādhyāyābhyasanavidhikrameṇa jātam || paśyaṃti tribhuvanadurllabhaṃ sutīrthaṃ daṃḍodaṃ na bhavati cānyathā sudṛṣṭam ||38|| daṃḍodakātparaṃ tīrthaṃ na viṣṇoḥ sadṛśo'maraḥ || viśālāsadṛśaṃ kṣetraṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati ||39|| sevanīyā prayatnena viśālā ca vicakṣaṇaiḥ || ya icchetsatataṃ dhāma bhagavatpārśvavarti vai || 2.3.8.40 || || skaṃda uvāca || || gaṃgāmāśritya tīrthāni kāni saṃtīha satpade || śreyaskarāṇi bhūrīṇi saṃkṣepāttāni me vada || 41 || || mahādeva uvāca || || gaṃgāyāṃ yatra saṃyogo mānasodbhedasannidhau || tattīrthaṃ vimalaṃ puṇyaṃ prayāgādadhikaṃ mahat || 42 || triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi vāyubhojanato bhavet || tatphalaṃ snānamātreṇa gaṃgāyāḥ saṃgame nṛṇām || 43 || saṃgamāddakṣiṇe bhāge dharmakṣetraṃ prakīrtitam || yatra mūrtyā śrutau jātau naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī ||44|| tatkṣetraṃ pāvanaṃ martye sarveṣāmuttamottamam || dharmastatraiva bhagavāṃścatuṣpādavatiṣṭhati || 45 || yatra yajñāstapo dānaṃ yatkiṃcitkriyate nṛbhiḥ || tatpuṇyasya kṣayo nāsti kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 46 || tato dakṣiṇadigbhāga urvaśī saṃgamābhidham || sarvapāpaharaṃ puṃsāṃ snānamātreṇa dehinām || 47 || kūrmoddhārastataḥ sākṣāddharibhaktyekasādhanam || snānamātreṇa bhūtānāṃ sattvaśuddhiḥ prajāyate || 48 || brahmāvarttastataḥ sākṣādbrahmalokaikakāraṇam || darśanādeva tīrthasya sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet || 49 || bahūni saṃti tīrthāni durgamyānīha dehinām || saṃkṣepātkathitaṃ vatsa tavādaravaśādidam || 2.3.8.50 || ya idaṃ śṛṇuyānnityaṃ śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ || sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ padaṃ viṣṇoḥ prapadyate |||| 51 || rājā vijayamāpnoti sutārthī labhate sutam || kanyārthī labhate kanyāṃ kanyā viṃdati satpatim || 52 || dhanārthī dhanamāpnoti sarvakāmaikasādhanam || 53 || māsamātraṃ naro bhaktyā śṛṇuyādyaḥ samāhitaḥ || tasyābhīṣṭasamāvāptirdurlabhopi na saṃśayaḥ || 54 || ādhivyādhibhayaṃ ghoraṃ dāridrya kalahaṃ tathā || yasya geheṣu māhātmyaṃ tatraitāni na karhicit || 55 || nāpamṛtyurna sarpādi daurbhāgyaṃ cāpi vartate || duḥsvapnagrahapīḍā ca pararāṣṭrabhayaṃ tathā || 56 || yuddhe yātrāprayāṇe ca paṭhanīyaṃ prayatnataḥ || vivāhe ca vivāde ca śubhakarmaṇi yatnataḥ || 57 || pūrṇaṃ vā'dhyāyamātraṃ vā tadardhaṃ vā vicakṣaṇaiḥ || sarvakāryaprasiddhiḥ syānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 58 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe badarikāśramamāhātmye śivakārttikeyasaṃvāde badarikāśrame merusaṃsthāpanatīrthalokapālatīrthadaṃḍapuṣkariṇītīrthadharmakṣetrādivividhatīrthakṣetramāhātmya varṇanaṃnāmāṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ || 8 || || cha || iti śrīskāṃde dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe tṛtīyaṃ badarikāśramamāhātmyaṃ samāptam || 2-3) || ||

English translation

Śiva said :

1. To the south of Brahmakuṇḍa is the great mountain Narāvāsa (‘Abode of Nara ’). It is there that Meru which is the most beautiful in the world was fixed by the Lord.

Skanda said :

2. How was Meru fixed by the Lord near Nara? O father, my curiosity is great. Let it be narrated if you like it.

Mahādeva said :

3-6. When the Lord himself transferred his residence to Viśālā , Devas , great sages, Siddhas , Vidyādharas and Cāraṇas left the peaks of Meru because they were eager to see the Lord.

On account of the delight caused to them by the sight of the Lord they abandoned heaven. Then, O Six-faced One, for their happiness (and convenience) the Lord uprooted the peaks of Meru with his single hand playfully and placed them (at Viśālā). Thereby the Lord increased the pleasure of all. Then all of them saw the mountain made of gold. They all were delighted; they eulogized Nārāyaṇa who is devoid of ailments.

Devas said :

7. We pay our obeisance to that Lord of fierce splendour and power of penance, who assumes sportingly many bodies for our happiness as well as for the rest of the world, who brought the golden mountain here, who conquers hundreds of demons, and who solely belongs to the side of Suras .

8. The Lord destroys out of compassion the distress of the miserable like fire reducing to ash even a mountain of cotton . He is the supporter of those who seek refuge in him; he is the most excellent one among those who know the one (and our Lord). Let him be pleased with us by whatever he does out of kindness. Whatever he does has never been imitated by any person.

9. Like a father he gives us perfect training and makes us lofty-minded. He is kind and full of his own acquisition. His glances are efficient in the protection of the three worlds . He is the ocean full of nectar. Let him protect (us) from adversities.

The sages said :

10. The entire universe is superimposed on him. It is only an implement for his sports. It appears to be true. There is a mass of splendour on the face of the unborn Lord of great plenty. He is the Lord whose form is resorted to (by all). We bow down to you, O eternal Being.

Siddhas said :

11. Great men have attained Siddhi due to an iota of his kindness. Other men of the world too have crossed the terrible ocean of worldly existence without delay. This is our considered opinion.

Vidyādharas said :

12. O Lord endowed with a host of good qualities, O Lord with welfare as your form (i.e. whose form is conducive to welfare), O great Lord, O cause.of continuous series of honour, is there any wonder that those who are inebriated with the sweet flavour of the liquor (extracted) from your lotus-feet stay completely satisfied?

13. Thereupon the delighted Lord (appeared) before those heaven-dwellers. On being told “Choose your boons”, they said to (the Lord) who is the most eminent among the bestowers of boons:

14-16. “If (you) the Lord of Devas, the Lord of Ramā , are really pleased, Badarī should never be abandoned by you, nor should Meru too. Those who see the peak of Meru are meritorious persons. With your favour let their residence be on Meru itself. After enjoying the pleasures there for a long time, let them become merged in you.”

Saying “so be it” Hari vanished there itself.

17. Ever since then all of them began to sport about on the peak of Meru. They were being protected repeatedly near Nara and Nārāyaṇa.

18. They used to stay in heaven for some time and some time in the middle of Meru. The sages and ascetics were devoid of distress and fear. They were not excited or agitated.

19. The Lord too stays there in the form of (the sage) Nara holding the bow and arrows. The glorious Lord is comparable to fire on account of (the brilliance of) his penance. He resorts to penance and causes bliss to the multitudes of sages.

20. Beyond that is the excellent Tīrtha saluted by the Guardians of the Quarters. Hari himself established the Guardians of the Quarters there.

Skanda said :

21. How were the Guardians of the Quarters established there by the Lord? O dear father, I have great curiosity and eagerness in regard to it. O highly intelligent one, recount it (to me).

Śiva said :

22. Once, while bringing those who had resorted to the middle of Meru here, Hari was eager to see the activities of Devas and the chief sages.

23-27. On seeing him the heaven-dwellers got up suddenly and bowed down to him. All of them humbly said, “O Lord, be pleased”.

The Lord halted there for a moment and duly surveyed the scanty place there. He thought that the proximity of the sages and the Devas was not proper. Then Lord Madhusūdana called the Guardians of the Quarters and laughingly said to them: “Persons like you should not stay here. Indeed the sages, ascetics and Siddhas stay here along with their womenfolk. The abode of persons like you has already been well-arranged by me.”

Then Hari hurriedly went to the beautiful and excellent mountain. O Guha , he called the Guardians of the Quarters and established them there.

28. Desirous of water, he hit the mountain with a piece of rock. Thereby he created a charming pond for their sport.

29-30. There Devas roam about as they please along with their wives. Gandharvas sing and rejoice. The forests and parks of heaven-dwellers were fascinating with the fragrance of flowers. All the embodied beings spend the days happily as though they were so many moments.

31. Delighting them, the Lord himself comes there to take his holy bath on the twelfth day as well as full-moon day.

32. After that, all the sages and ascetics take their bath, O Guha, according to the injunctions, at midday. They see with their own eyes the great fiery splendour in the waters moving without any obstruction.

33. By seeing Daṇḍapuṣkariṇī they obtain instantaneously the merit which is said to be equal to that of taking the holy bath in all the Tīrthas .

34. All the rites performed for some desired results by the wise become fruitful there. The offering of riceballs there has eight times the benefit than that at Gayā .

35-36 Yajña , charity, penance and holy rite when performed there on the twelfth day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha , O Six-faced One, are said to be everlasting, since one becomes blessed and contented by taking the holy bath in accordance with the injunctions (there on that day). This secret is well guarded by the excellent Suras in regard to Badarītīrtha. This should not be disclosed to anyone and everyone. It was out of love for you that it has been mentioned to you.

37. Why should much be spoken about it here? Only those with plenty of merit see this famous holy place well-guarded by Suras. Not others. They will not even think about this. O Guha; Devas think about this everyday.

38. If people have performed all holy rites for the Lord in accordance with the religious injunctions and if they have regularly studied the Vedas , they see the rare Tīrtha named Daṇḍoda (i.e. Daṇḍa Puṣkariṇī ). Otherswise it is not seen well.

39. There has never been and there will never be a Tīrtha greater than Daṇḍodaka, a god like Viṣṇu and a holy spot on a par with Viśālā.

40. Viśālā should be resorted to by clever devotees with great determination if they wish to be always near the Lord.

Skanda said :

41. What are those Tīrthas which are connected with Gaṅgā and are conducive to welfare in the region of good people? Recount them briefly to me.

Mahādeva said :

42. The Tīrtha in the vicinity of Mānasodbheda where Gaṅgā comes in contact, is devoid of impurities. It is meritorious. It is, superior to Prayāga .

43. Merely by talcing there bath at the confluence of Gaṅgā, men obtain as much merit as is obtained by performing penance while taking in only air for thirty thousand years.

44. The Tīrtha to the south of the confluence is glorified as Dharmakṣetra . It is reported that the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa were born of Mūrti there.

45. That holy spot is very sacred in the human world. It is the most excellent of all excellent holy spots. There alone does the Holy Lord Dharma stand on all his four feet.

46. If Yajña, penance or charity are performed by men there—whatever that may be, the merit thereof is not destroyed even in the course of hundreds and crores of Kalpas .

47. To the south of it is the Tīrtha named Urvaśīsaṅgama. Merely by taking holy bath there all the sins of men and embodied beings are destroyed.

48. Beyond that is Kūrmoddhāra. It is the sole means for devotion to Hari. By taking bath therein all living beings will gain purity of nature.

49. Next to it is the holy spot named Brahmāvarta . It is the sole and direct cause (of attaining) the world of Brahmā . Only by visiting the Tīrtha all the sins will be destroyed.

50. There are many Tīrthas here. But they are not easily approachable to embodied beings. O dear one, it has been briefly recounted because of my considerateness for you.

51. He who always listens to this, or he who recites this or reads this with mental purity and concentration shall get rid of all sins. He attains the region of Viṣṇu. [1]

52. A king gains victory; he who seeks a son gets a son; he who prays for a daughter gets a daughter; a virgin obtains a good husband.

53. He who seeks wealth gets wealth that is the sole means for the fulfilment of all desires.

54. If a man devoutly listens to this for a full month with concentration and purity, there is no doubt that what is wished for by him will be acquired even if it is rare.

55. Where this (text of) the greatness (of Badarī) is present, there is no danger from mental worry or physical ailment or trouble, poverty or strife. All these are not present at all in the houses where this (text of) greatness (of Badarī) is present.

56. There is no premature death, nor danger from serpents etc. There is no ill-luck or mishap. There is no bad dream or affliction caused by evil spirits. There is no danger (of invasion) from other nations.

57-58. In the event of a battle, at the time of a journey, during marriage, when there is a case pending in court and during auspicious holy rites this ( Purāṇa ) should be carefully read by clever devotees—either the whole book or a chapter or half of that. All tasks shall be fruitful. There is no doubt about this.

:: End of Badarikāśrama - Māhātmya ::

[1]: [1] : VV 51-58 give the Phalaśruti (the benefit accruing from listening, reciting etc.) of Badarikāśrama-Māhātmya.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22985, revision 71226 (2016-06-14T01:40:21Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371640.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.