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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 27

Chapter 27

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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 27

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।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। कदाचिद्विष्णुदासोऽथ कृत्वा नित्यविधिं द्विज ।। स पाकमकरोत्तावदहरत्कोऽप्यलक्षितः ।। १ ।। तमदृष्ट्वाऽप्यसौ पाकं पुनर्नैवाऽकरोत्तदा ।। सायंकालाऽर्चनस्याऽसौ व्रतभंगभयाद्द्विजः ।। २ ।। द्वितीयेऽह्नि पुनः पाकं कृत्वा यावत्स विष्णवे ।। उपहारार्पणं कर्तुं गतः कोऽप्यहरत्पुनः ।। ३ ।। एवं सप्तदिनं तस्य पाकं कोऽप्यहरन्नृप ।। ततः सविस्मयश्चाथ मनस्येवमधारयत् ।। ४ ।। अहो नित्यं समभ्येत्य कः पाकं हरते मम ।। क्षेत्रसंन्यासिनः स्थानं न त्याज्यं मम सर्वथा ।। ५ ।। पुनः पाकं विधायाऽत्र भुज्यते यदि चेन्मया ।। सायंकालाऽर्चनं चैव परित्याज्यं कथं भवेत्।।६।। यदि पाकं विधायैवं भोक्तव्यं तु मया न तत्।। अनिवेद्य हरौ सर्वं वैष्णवैर्नैव भुज्यते।। ७ ।। उपोषितोऽहं सप्ताऽहं तिष्ठाम्यत्र व्रतस्थितः ।। अद्यसंरक्षणं सम्यक्पाकस्याऽत्र करोम्यहम् ।। ८ ।। इति पाकं विधायाऽसौ तत्रैवाऽलक्षितः स्थितः ।। तावद्ददर्श चंडालं पाकान्नहरणे स्थितम् ।।९।। क्षुत्क्षामं दीनवदनमस्थिचर्माऽवशेषितम् ।। तमालोक्य द्विजाग्र्योऽभूत्कृपयाऽन्वितमानसः ।।2.4.27.१०।। विलोक्याऽन्नहरं विप्रस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेत्यभाषत।। कथमश्नासि तद्रूक्षं घृतमेतद्गृहाण भोः।।११।। इत्थं वदंतं विप्राग्र्यमायांतं स विलोक्य च ।। वेगादधावत्तद्भीत्या मृर्च्छितश्च पपात ह ।।१२।। भीतं संमूर्च्छितं दृष्ट्वा चंडालं स द्विजाग्रणीः ।। वेगादभ्येत्य कृपया स्ववस्त्रांतैरवीजयत् ।। १३ ।। अथोत्थितं तमेवासौ विष्णुदासो व्यलोकयत् ।। साक्षान्नारायणं देवं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् ।।।। १४ ।। तं दृष्ट्वा सात्त्विकैर्भावैरावृतो द्विजसत्तमः ।। स्तोतुं चैव नमस्कर्तुं तदा नाऽलं बभूव सः ।। १५ ।। अथ शक्रादयो देवास्तत्रैवाभ्याययुस्तदा ।। गंधर्वाप्सरसश्चाऽपि जगुश्च ननृतुर्मुदा ।। १६ ।। विमानशतसंकीर्णं देवर्षिशतसंकुलम् ।। गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं स्थानं तदभवत्तदा ।। ।। १७ ।। ततो विष्णुः समालिंग्य स्वभक्तं सात्त्विकव्रतम् ।। सारूप्यमात्मनो दत्त्वाऽनयद्वैकुण्ठमंदिरम् ।। १८ ।। विमानवरसंस्थं तं गच्छंतं विष्णुसन्निधिम् ।। दीक्षितश्चोलनृपतिर्विष्णुदासं ददर्श सः ।। १९ ।। वैकुण्ठभुवनं यांतं विष्णुदासं विलोक्य सः ।। स्वगुरुं मुद्गलं वेगादाहूयेत्थं वचोऽब्रवीत् ।। 2.4.27.२० ।। ।। चोल उवाच ।। ।। यत्स्पर्द्धया मया चैव यज्ञदानादिकं कृतम् ।। स विष्णुरूपधृग्विप्रो याति वैकुण्ठमंदिरम् ।। ।। २१ ।। दीक्षितेन मया सम्यक्सत्रेऽस्मिन्वैष्णवे त्वया ।। हुतमग्नौ कृता विप्रा दानाद्यैः पूर्णमानसाः ।। २२ ।। नैवाऽद्यापि स मे देवः प्रसन्नो जायते ध्रुवम् ।। विष्णुदासस्य भक्त्यैव साक्षात्कारं ददौ हरिः ।। २३ ।। तस्माद्दानैश्च यज्ञैश्च नैव विष्णुः प्रसीदति ।। भक्तिरेव परं तस्य निदानं दर्शने विभोः ।। २४ ।। ।। गणावूचतुः ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा भागिनेयं स्वमभ्यषिंचन्नृपासने ।। आबाल्याद्दीक्षितो यज्ञे ह्यपुत्रत्वमगाद्यतः।। २५ ।। तस्मादद्याऽपि तद्देशे सदा राज्यांऽशभागिनः ।। स्वस्रेया एव जायंते तत्कृतावधिवर्तिनः ।। २६ ।। यज्ञवाटं ततोऽभ्येत्य यज्ञकुण्डाग्रतः स्थितः ।। त्रिरुच्चैर्व्याजहाराऽऽशु विष्णुं संबोधयंस्तदा ।। २७ ।। विष्णो भक्तिं स्थिरां देहि मनोवाक्काय कर्मभिः ।। इत्युक्त्वा सोऽपतद्वह्नौ सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम् ।। २८ ।। मुद्गलस्तु तदा क्रोधाच्छिखामुत्पाटयत्स्वकाम् ।। ततस्त्वद्यापि तद्गोत्रे मुद्गला विशिखा बभुः ।। २९ ।। तावदाविरभूद्विष्णुः कुण्डाग्नौ भक्तवत्सलः ।। तमालिंग्य विमानाग्र्यं समारोहयदच्युतः ।। 2.4.27.३० ।। तमालिंग्याऽऽत्मसारूप्यं दत्त्वा वैकुण्ठमंदिरम्।। तेनैव सह देवेशो जगाम त्रिदशैर्वृतः ।। ३१ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। यो विष्णुदासः स तु पुण्यशीलो यश्चोलभूपः स सुशीलनामा ।। एतावुभौ तत्समरूपभाजौ द्वाःस्थौ कृतौ तेन रमाप्रियेण ।। ३२ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये चोलविष्णुदासमुक्तिकथनंनाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः ।। २७ ।।

|| nārada uvāca || || kadācidviṣṇudāso'tha kṛtvā nityavidhiṃ dvija || sa pākamakarottāvadaharatko'pyalakṣitaḥ || 1 || tamadṛṣṭvā'pyasau pākaṃ punarnaivā'karottadā || sāyaṃkālā'rcanasyā'sau vratabhaṃgabhayāddvijaḥ || 2 || dvitīye'hni punaḥ pākaṃ kṛtvā yāvatsa viṣṇave || upahārārpaṇaṃ kartuṃ gataḥ ko'pyaharatpunaḥ || 3 || evaṃ saptadinaṃ tasya pākaṃ ko'pyaharannṛpa || tataḥ savismayaścātha manasyevamadhārayat || 4 || aho nityaṃ samabhyetya kaḥ pākaṃ harate mama || kṣetrasaṃnyāsinaḥ sthānaṃ na tyājyaṃ mama sarvathā || 5 || punaḥ pākaṃ vidhāyā'tra bhujyate yadi cenmayā || sāyaṃkālā'rcanaṃ caiva parityājyaṃ kathaṃ bhavet||6|| yadi pākaṃ vidhāyaivaṃ bhoktavyaṃ tu mayā na tat|| anivedya harau sarvaṃ vaiṣṇavairnaiva bhujyate|| 7 || upoṣito'haṃ saptā'haṃ tiṣṭhāmyatra vratasthitaḥ || adyasaṃrakṣaṇaṃ samyakpākasyā'tra karomyaham || 8 || iti pākaṃ vidhāyā'sau tatraivā'lakṣitaḥ sthitaḥ || tāvaddadarśa caṃḍālaṃ pākānnaharaṇe sthitam ||9|| kṣutkṣāmaṃ dīnavadanamasthicarmā'vaśeṣitam || tamālokya dvijāgryo'bhūtkṛpayā'nvitamānasaḥ ||2.4.27.10|| vilokyā'nnaharaṃ viprastiṣṭhatiṣṭhetyabhāṣata|| kathamaśnāsi tadrūkṣaṃ ghṛtametadgṛhāṇa bhoḥ||11|| itthaṃ vadaṃtaṃ viprāgryamāyāṃtaṃ sa vilokya ca || vegādadhāvattadbhītyā mṛrcchitaśca papāta ha ||12|| bhītaṃ saṃmūrcchitaṃ dṛṣṭvā caṃḍālaṃ sa dvijāgraṇīḥ || vegādabhyetya kṛpayā svavastrāṃtairavījayat || 13 || athotthitaṃ tamevāsau viṣṇudāso vyalokayat || sākṣānnārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ śaṃkhacakragadādharam |||| 14 || taṃ dṛṣṭvā sāttvikairbhāvairāvṛto dvijasattamaḥ || stotuṃ caiva namaskartuṃ tadā nā'laṃ babhūva saḥ || 15 || atha śakrādayo devāstatraivābhyāyayustadā || gaṃdharvāpsarasaścā'pi jaguśca nanṛturmudā || 16 || vimānaśatasaṃkīrṇaṃ devarṣiśatasaṃkulam || gītavāditranirghoṣaṃ sthānaṃ tadabhavattadā || || 17 || tato viṣṇuḥ samāliṃgya svabhaktaṃ sāttvikavratam || sārūpyamātmano dattvā'nayadvaikuṇṭhamaṃdiram || 18 || vimānavarasaṃsthaṃ taṃ gacchaṃtaṃ viṣṇusannidhim || dīkṣitaścolanṛpatirviṣṇudāsaṃ dadarśa saḥ || 19 || vaikuṇṭhabhuvanaṃ yāṃtaṃ viṣṇudāsaṃ vilokya saḥ || svaguruṃ mudgalaṃ vegādāhūyetthaṃ vaco'bravīt || 2.4.27.20 || || cola uvāca || || yatsparddhayā mayā caiva yajñadānādikaṃ kṛtam || sa viṣṇurūpadhṛgvipro yāti vaikuṇṭhamaṃdiram || || 21 || dīkṣitena mayā samyaksatre'sminvaiṣṇave tvayā || hutamagnau kṛtā viprā dānādyaiḥ pūrṇamānasāḥ || 22 || naivā'dyāpi sa me devaḥ prasanno jāyate dhruvam || viṣṇudāsasya bhaktyaiva sākṣātkāraṃ dadau hariḥ || 23 || tasmāddānaiśca yajñaiśca naiva viṣṇuḥ prasīdati || bhaktireva paraṃ tasya nidānaṃ darśane vibhoḥ || 24 || || gaṇāvūcatuḥ || || ityuktvā bhāgineyaṃ svamabhyaṣiṃcannṛpāsane || ābālyāddīkṣito yajñe hyaputratvamagādyataḥ|| 25 || tasmādadyā'pi taddeśe sadā rājyāṃ'śabhāginaḥ || svasreyā eva jāyaṃte tatkṛtāvadhivartinaḥ || 26 || yajñavāṭaṃ tato'bhyetya yajñakuṇḍāgrataḥ sthitaḥ || triruccairvyājahārā''śu viṣṇuṃ saṃbodhayaṃstadā || 27 || viṣṇo bhaktiṃ sthirāṃ dehi manovākkāya karmabhiḥ || ityuktvā so'patadvahnau sarveṣāmeva paśyatām || 28 || mudgalastu tadā krodhācchikhāmutpāṭayatsvakām || tatastvadyāpi tadgotre mudgalā viśikhā babhuḥ || 29 || tāvadāvirabhūdviṣṇuḥ kuṇḍāgnau bhaktavatsalaḥ || tamāliṃgya vimānāgryaṃ samārohayadacyutaḥ || 2.4.27.30 || tamāliṃgyā''tmasārūpyaṃ dattvā vaikuṇṭhamaṃdiram|| tenaiva saha deveśo jagāma tridaśairvṛtaḥ || 31 || || nārada uvāca || || yo viṣṇudāsaḥ sa tu puṇyaśīlo yaścolabhūpaḥ sa suśīlanāmā || etāvubhau tatsamarūpabhājau dvāḥsthau kṛtau tena ramāpriyeṇa || 32 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye colaviṣṇudāsamuktikathanaṃnāma saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 27 ||

English translation

Nārada said :

1. Once, O Brāhmaṇa , Viṣṇudāsa performed all his daily rites and then cooked his food. But someone stealthily took it away. [1]

2. Although he could not see cooked food, he did not prepare it once again, because he was afraid that it would create obstacles to his evening worship and thereby his Vrata would be broken.

3. On the second day also he cooked his food. By the time he went (to the temple) to dedicate the offerings, someone stole it once again.

4. In this way for seven days someone stole away his cooked food. He was struck with wonder and thought thus:

5. ‘Oh! Who comes here everyday and takes away my food? This abode should not at all be abandoned by me who am a Sannyāsin (recluse). It is a holy spot.

6. If the food is to be cooked once again and eaten by me, the worship in the evening will have to be abandoned. How can it be?

7. Even if I cook again it cannot be eaten because, without offering to Han nothing is to be eaten by Vaiṣṇavas .

8. I have observed fast for seven days. I shall remain here and maintan the Vrata. To-day let me protect the cooked food carefully.’

9. Thinking thus, he remained there itself hidden after cooking the food. Presently he saw a Cāṇḍāla stealing the cooked food.

10. He was emaciated due to hunger. His face was pale and gloomy. Only bones and skin remained (on his body). On seeing him the eminent Brāhmaṇa was moved with pity.

11. On seeiag the thief of the cooked food the Brāhmaṇa said:

“Stop, stop. How can you eat that dry food without ghee ? Take this ghee too.”

12. Saying this the Brāhmaṇa hastened towards him. On seeing the Brāhmaṇa coming, (the thief) ran quickly due to fear. He fell down unconscious.

13. On seeing the frightened and unconscious Cāṇḍāla that eminent Brāhmaṇa rushed towards him compassionately and fanned him with the end of his cloth.

14. As he rose up Viṣṇudāsa saw that it was Lord Nārāyaṇa himself holding the conch, the discus and the iron club.

15. On seeing him, the excellent Brāhmaṇa had all the Sāttvika Bhāvas (the emotions and feelings along with horripilation, perspiration etc.). He became incapable of eulogizing or bowing down.

16. Then the Devas including Śakra came there. Gandharvas and celestial damsels sang and danced joyously.

17. The whole place became crowded with hundreds of aerial chariots and celestial sages. The place was full of the sound of songs and instrumental music.

18. Viṣṇu embraced his devotee of excellent holy rites. Granting him Sārūpya (identity of form), he took him to his abode in Vaikuṇṭha .

19. King Cola who was under initiation (for sacrifice) saw Viṣṇudāsa seated in an excellent aerial chariot and going to the presence of Viṣṇu.

20. On Seeing Viṣṇudāsa going to the world of Vaikuṇṭha, he hurriedly called his preceptor Mudgala and spoke these words:

Cola said :

21. Yajñas and Dānas were performed by me in order to compete with Viṣṇudāsa. That Brāhmaṇa has now assumed the form of Viṣṇu. He is going to the abode of Vaikuṇṭha.

22. In this Satra I have been initiated by you perfectly. In this Vaiṣṇava sacrifice Homa was performed in the sacred fire. With charitable gifts etc. Brāhmaṇas have been fully satisfied mentally.

23. But that Lord is not pleased with me till now. It is certain. It was due to the devotion of Viṣṇudāsa that Hari granted him direct vision.

24. Hence, Viṣṇu is never pleased with charitable gifts and Yajñas. Devotion alone is the greatest cause of the perception of the Lord.

The Attendants said :

25-26. After saying this he crowned his nephew as the king and made him sit on the throne. Ever since his childhood he was engaged in Yajñas and so he had no son.

Hence even today in that land ( Tamil Nadu or rather Kerala ?) the sons of sisters are the successors to the throne. They share the kingdom. [2] They remain within the bounds and limitations imposed by him (i.e. the reigning king).

27. Then he went to the sacrificial chamber and stood in front of the sacrificial pit. Addressing Viṣṇu, he called thrice in a loud voice:

28. “O Viṣṇu, grant me steady devotion permeating my mind, speech and action.” After saying this he threw himself into the fire even as everyone was watching.

29. Out of anger Mudgala plucked out his tuft of hair. Ever since then the Mudgalas belonging to his Gotra have remained tuftless. [3]

30. In the meantime Viṣṇu, fond of his devotees, appeared in the fire in the pit. Acyuta embraced him and got him into an excellent aerial chariot.

31. After embracing him and granting him his own form ( Sārūpya ), the Lord of Devas went to his abode in Vaikuṇṭha along with him surrounded by Devas.

Nārada said :

32. He who was Viṣṇudāsa became Puṇyaśīla . He who was King Cola was the one with the name Suśīla . [4] These two who had the same form as that of Viṣṇu were appointed as his gatekeepers by the Lover of Ramā .

[1]: [1] : VV 1-14 narrate how the Samabhāva (attitude of equality towards all) of Viṣṇudāsa was tested by god Viṣṇu.

[2]: [2] : This custom of Kerala is attributed to Cola Dynasty due to the lack of correct information of the Purāṇa writer.

[3]: [3] : A Purāṇic explanation of the then prevalent Tuft-lessness of persons belonging to the Mudgala Gotra.

[4]: [4] : This is the pre-history of Viṣṇu’s attendants Puṇyaśīla and Suśīla.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23007, revision 71295 (2016-06-14T22:05:07Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371669.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.