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Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Unit 139 of 221Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 6Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 61 source entries

Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 6

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।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। घण्टानादस्य माहात्म्यं चंदनस्य तथाऽच्युत ।। यत्फलं लभते स्वामिंस्तत्सर्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ।। १ ।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। स्नानार्चनक्रियाकाले घंटानादं करोति यः ।। पुरतो मम देवेश तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु ।। २ ।। वर्षकोटिसहस्राणि वर्षकोटिशतानि च ।। वसते मामके लोके अप्सरोगणसेवितः ।। ३ ।। सर्ववाद्यमयी घण्टा सर्वदेवमयी यतः ।। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन घण्टानादं तु कारयेत् ।। ४ ।। सर्ववाद्यमयी घण्टा सर्वदा मम वल्लभा ।। वादनाल्लभते पुण्यं यज्ञकोटिशतोद्भवम् ।। ५ ।। घंटानादः सदा कार्यः पूजाकाले विशेषतः ।। मन्वंतरसहस्राणि मन्वतरशतानि च ।। ६ ।। प्रीतो भवामि सततं घंटानादेन पुत्रक ।। भेरीशंखनिनादेन घंटानादान्वितेन च ।। ७ ।। मृदंगशंखेन युतं प्रणवेन समन्वितम् ।। अर्चनं मम देवेश सततं मोक्षदं नृणाम् ।। ८ ।। यत्र तिष्ठेत पुरतो घंटा नादान्विता मम ।। अर्चिता वैष्णवैर्यत्र तत्र मां विद्धि पुत्रक ।। ९ ।। वैनतेयांऽकिता घंटा सुदर्शनयुताऽथवा ।। ममाग्रे स्थापयेद्यस्तु तस्य पापं हराम्यहम् ।। 2.5.6.१० ।। मदीयार्चनवेलायां घंटानादं करोति यः ।। नश्यंति तस्य पापानि शतजन्मार्जितान्यपि ।। ११ ।। स्वापकाले प्रकुर्वीत घण्टानादं स्वभक्तितः ।। ममैवार्चनवेलायां फलं कोटिगुणोद्भवम् ।। १२ ।। ये मामर्चंति देवेश सुपर्णोपरिसंस्थितम् ।। शंखपद्मगदायुक्तं सचक्रं च श्रिया युतम् ।। १३ ।। किं करिष्यंति ते तीर्थैर्देवतानां च दर्शनैः ।। किं यज्ञैः किं व्रतैर्वापि किं दानैः किमुपोषणैः ।।१४।। मूर्तिर्नारायणी यैश्च मामकी गरुडोपरि ।। स्थापिता ते कलौ यांति कल्पकोटिं पदं मम ।। १५।। ममाऽग्रे स्थापयेद्यस्तु प्रासादेऽथ गृहेऽथवा ।। तीर्थकोटिसहस्राणि तत्र तिष्ठंति देवताः ।। १६ ।। यस्तु पूजयते धन्यो गरुडोपरिसंस्थितम्।। एकादश्यां तथा रात्रौ वासनासंयुतो मम ।। कृत्वा गीतं च नृत्यं च तारयेन्नरकात्पितॄन् ।। १७ ।। पुनश्च कथयिष्यामि शृणु घंटामहं सुत ।। १८ ।। मम नामांकिता घण्टा पुरतो या च तिष्ठति ।। अर्चिता वैष्णवी यत्र तत्र मां विद्धि पुत्रक ।। १९ ।। यस्तु वादयते घंटां वैनतेयविचिह्निताम्।। धूपे नीराजने स्नाने पूजाकाले विलेपने ।। 2.5.6.२० ।। ममाग्रे प्रत्यहं वत्स प्रत्येकं लभते फलम् ।। मखायुतं गोऽयुतं च चांद्रायणशतोद्भवम्।। २१ ।। विधिबाह्यकृता पृजा सफला जायते नृणाम् ।। घण्टानादेन तुष्टोऽहं प्रयच्छामि स्वकं पदम् ।। २२ ।। नागाऽरिचिह्निता घंटा रथांगेन समन्विता ।। वादनात्कुरुते नाशं जन्मकोटिभयस्य वै ।। २३ ।। गरुडेनांऽकितां घंटां दृष्ट्वाहं प्रत्यहं मुदा ।। प्रीतिं करोमि देवेश लक्ष्मीं प्राप्य यथाऽधनः ।। २४ ।। घंटादण्डस्य शिरसि सुचक्रं स्थापयेत्तु यः ।। मत्प्रियं वैनतेयं वा स्थापितं भुवनत्रयम् ।। २५ ।। घंटानादं सचक्रं च अंतकाले शृणोति यः ।। पापकोटियुतस्याऽपि नश्यंति यमकिंकराः ।। २६ ।। सर्वदोषाः प्रणश्यंति घंटानादेन वै सुत ।। देवतानां सरुद्राणां पितॄणामुत्सवो भवेत् ।। २७ ।। अभावे वैनतेयस्य चक्रस्याऽपि न संशयः ।। घंटानादेन भक्तानां प्रसादं प्रकरोम्यहम् ।। २८ ।। गृहे यस्मिन्भवेन्नित्यं घण्टा नागारिसंयुता ।। सर्पाणां न भयं तत्र नाग्निविद्युत्समुद्भवम् ।। २९ ।। यस्य घंटा गृहे नास्ति शंखो न पुरतो मम ।। कथं भागवतो ज्ञेयः कथं भवति वल्लभः ।। 2.5.6.३० ।। चंदनस्य प्रवक्ष्याम माहात्म्यं तव पुत्रक ।। यस्मिन्कृते भवेत्प्रीतिर्ममात्यंतं न संशयः ।। ।। ३१ ।। सचंदनं सकुसुमं कर्पूरागरुमिश्रितम् ।। मृगनाभिसमायुक्तं जातीफलसमन्वितम् ।। ३२ ।। तुलसीचंदनोपेतं ममात्यंतसुखावहम् ।। यो ददाति हि मां नित्यं तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवम्।। ३३ ।। युगानि वसते स्वर्गे ह्यनंतानि नरोत्तमः ।। महाविष्णोः कलौ भक्त्या दत्त्वा तुलसिचंदनम् ।। ।।३४।। अर्चयेन्मालतीपुष्पैर्न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् ।। तुलसीकाष्ठसंभूतं चंदनं यच्छते मम ।।३५।। दहामि पातकं सर्वं पूर्वजन्मशतैः कृतम् ।। सर्वेषामेव देवानां तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्।।३६।। पितॄणां च विशेषेण सदाऽभीष्टं यथा मम ।।३७।। श्रीखंडं चंदनं तावच्छ्रेष्ठं कृष्णागुरुं तथा ।। यावन्न दीयते मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्।। ३८ ।। तावत्कस्तूरिकाऽऽमोदः कर्पूरस्य सुगंधिता ।। यावन्न दीयते मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम् ।।३९।। कलौ यच्छंति ये मह्यं तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्।। मार्गशीर्षशुभेमासे ते कृतार्था न संशयः ।। 2.5.6.४० ।। यो हि भागवतो भूत्वा कलौ तुलसिचंदनम् ।। नार्पयेद्वै सहोमासे नाऽसौ भागवतो नरः ।।४१।। कुंकुमागुरुश्रीखण्डकर्दमैर्मम विग्रहम् ।। आलिपेद्वै सहोमासे कल्पकोटिं वसेद्दिवि ।।४२।। कर्पूरागुरुमिश्रेण चंदनेनाऽनुलिंपयेत् ।। मृगदर्पं विशेषेण अभीष्टं च सदा मम।।४३।। विलेपयति यो मां वै शंखे कृत्वा तु चंदनम् ।। मार्गशीर्षे तदा प्रीतिं करोमि शतवार्षिकीम् ।।४४।। सेवते तुलसीपत्रैर्नित्यमामलकैश्च यः ।। मार्गशीर्षे सदा भक्त्या स लभेद्वांछितं फलम् ।। ४५ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे ब्रह्मविष्णुसंवादे मार्गशीर्षमाहात्म्ये भगवते तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनार्पणफलकथनंनाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः ।। ६ ।।

|| || brahmovāca || || ghaṇṭānādasya māhātmyaṃ caṃdanasya tathā'cyuta || yatphalaṃ labhate svāmiṃstatsarvaṃ brūhi tattvataḥ || 1 || || śrībhagavānuvāca || || snānārcanakriyākāle ghaṃṭānādaṃ karoti yaḥ || purato mama deveśa tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu || 2 || varṣakoṭisahasrāṇi varṣakoṭiśatāni ca || vasate māmake loke apsarogaṇasevitaḥ || 3 || sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā sarvadevamayī yataḥ || tasmātsarvaprayatnena ghaṇṭānādaṃ tu kārayet || 4 || sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā sarvadā mama vallabhā || vādanāllabhate puṇyaṃ yajñakoṭiśatodbhavam || 5 || ghaṃṭānādaḥ sadā kāryaḥ pūjākāle viśeṣataḥ || manvaṃtarasahasrāṇi manvataraśatāni ca || 6 || prīto bhavāmi satataṃ ghaṃṭānādena putraka || bherīśaṃkhaninādena ghaṃṭānādānvitena ca || 7 || mṛdaṃgaśaṃkhena yutaṃ praṇavena samanvitam || arcanaṃ mama deveśa satataṃ mokṣadaṃ nṛṇām || 8 || yatra tiṣṭheta purato ghaṃṭā nādānvitā mama || arcitā vaiṣṇavairyatra tatra māṃ viddhi putraka || 9 || vainateyāṃ'kitā ghaṃṭā sudarśanayutā'thavā || mamāgre sthāpayedyastu tasya pāpaṃ harāmyaham || 2.5.6.10 || madīyārcanavelāyāṃ ghaṃṭānādaṃ karoti yaḥ || naśyaṃti tasya pāpāni śatajanmārjitānyapi || 11 || svāpakāle prakurvīta ghaṇṭānādaṃ svabhaktitaḥ || mamaivārcanavelāyāṃ phalaṃ koṭiguṇodbhavam || 12 || ye māmarcaṃti deveśa suparṇoparisaṃsthitam || śaṃkhapadmagadāyuktaṃ sacakraṃ ca śriyā yutam || 13 || kiṃ kariṣyaṃti te tīrthairdevatānāṃ ca darśanaiḥ || kiṃ yajñaiḥ kiṃ vratairvāpi kiṃ dānaiḥ kimupoṣaṇaiḥ ||14|| mūrtirnārāyaṇī yaiśca māmakī garuḍopari || sthāpitā te kalau yāṃti kalpakoṭiṃ padaṃ mama || 15|| mamā'gre sthāpayedyastu prāsāde'tha gṛhe'thavā || tīrthakoṭisahasrāṇi tatra tiṣṭhaṃti devatāḥ || 16 || yastu pūjayate dhanyo garuḍoparisaṃsthitam|| ekādaśyāṃ tathā rātrau vāsanāsaṃyuto mama || kṛtvā gītaṃ ca nṛtyaṃ ca tārayennarakātpitṝn || 17 || punaśca kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu ghaṃṭāmahaṃ suta || 18 || mama nāmāṃkitā ghaṇṭā purato yā ca tiṣṭhati || arcitā vaiṣṇavī yatra tatra māṃ viddhi putraka || 19 || yastu vādayate ghaṃṭāṃ vainateyavicihnitām|| dhūpe nīrājane snāne pūjākāle vilepane || 2.5.6.20 || mamāgre pratyahaṃ vatsa pratyekaṃ labhate phalam || makhāyutaṃ go'yutaṃ ca cāṃdrāyaṇaśatodbhavam|| 21 || vidhibāhyakṛtā pṛjā saphalā jāyate nṛṇām || ghaṇṭānādena tuṣṭo'haṃ prayacchāmi svakaṃ padam || 22 || nāgā'ricihnitā ghaṃṭā rathāṃgena samanvitā || vādanātkurute nāśaṃ janmakoṭibhayasya vai || 23 || garuḍenāṃ'kitāṃ ghaṃṭāṃ dṛṣṭvāhaṃ pratyahaṃ mudā || prītiṃ karomi deveśa lakṣmīṃ prāpya yathā'dhanaḥ || 24 || ghaṃṭādaṇḍasya śirasi sucakraṃ sthāpayettu yaḥ || matpriyaṃ vainateyaṃ vā sthāpitaṃ bhuvanatrayam || 25 || ghaṃṭānādaṃ sacakraṃ ca aṃtakāle śṛṇoti yaḥ || pāpakoṭiyutasyā'pi naśyaṃti yamakiṃkarāḥ || 26 || sarvadoṣāḥ praṇaśyaṃti ghaṃṭānādena vai suta || devatānāṃ sarudrāṇāṃ pitṝṇāmutsavo bhavet || 27 || abhāve vainateyasya cakrasyā'pi na saṃśayaḥ || ghaṃṭānādena bhaktānāṃ prasādaṃ prakaromyaham || 28 || gṛhe yasminbhavennityaṃ ghaṇṭā nāgārisaṃyutā || sarpāṇāṃ na bhayaṃ tatra nāgnividyutsamudbhavam || 29 || yasya ghaṃṭā gṛhe nāsti śaṃkho na purato mama || kathaṃ bhāgavato jñeyaḥ kathaṃ bhavati vallabhaḥ || 2.5.6.30 || caṃdanasya pravakṣyāma māhātmyaṃ tava putraka || yasminkṛte bhavetprītirmamātyaṃtaṃ na saṃśayaḥ || || 31 || sacaṃdanaṃ sakusumaṃ karpūrāgarumiśritam || mṛganābhisamāyuktaṃ jātīphalasamanvitam || 32 || tulasīcaṃdanopetaṃ mamātyaṃtasukhāvaham || yo dadāti hi māṃ nityaṃ tulasīkāṣṭhasaṃbhavam|| 33 || yugāni vasate svarge hyanaṃtāni narottamaḥ || mahāviṣṇoḥ kalau bhaktyā dattvā tulasicaṃdanam || ||34|| arcayenmālatīpuṣpairna bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet || tulasīkāṣṭhasaṃbhūtaṃ caṃdanaṃ yacchate mama ||35|| dahāmi pātakaṃ sarvaṃ pūrvajanmaśataiḥ kṛtam || sarveṣāmeva devānāṃ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṃdanam||36|| pitṝṇāṃ ca viśeṣeṇa sadā'bhīṣṭaṃ yathā mama ||37|| śrīkhaṃḍaṃ caṃdanaṃ tāvacchreṣṭhaṃ kṛṣṇāguruṃ tathā || yāvanna dīyate mahyaṃ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṃdanam|| 38 || tāvatkastūrikā''modaḥ karpūrasya sugaṃdhitā || yāvanna dīyate mahyaṃ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṃdanam ||39|| kalau yacchaṃti ye mahyaṃ tulasīkāṣṭhacaṃdanam|| mārgaśīrṣaśubhemāse te kṛtārthā na saṃśayaḥ || 2.5.6.40 || yo hi bhāgavato bhūtvā kalau tulasicaṃdanam || nārpayedvai sahomāse nā'sau bhāgavato naraḥ ||41|| kuṃkumāguruśrīkhaṇḍakardamairmama vigraham || ālipedvai sahomāse kalpakoṭiṃ vaseddivi ||42|| karpūrāgurumiśreṇa caṃdanenā'nuliṃpayet || mṛgadarpaṃ viśeṣeṇa abhīṣṭaṃ ca sadā mama||43|| vilepayati yo māṃ vai śaṃkhe kṛtvā tu caṃdanam || mārgaśīrṣe tadā prītiṃ karomi śatavārṣikīm ||44|| sevate tulasīpatrairnityamāmalakaiśca yaḥ || mārgaśīrṣe sadā bhaktyā sa labhedvāṃchitaṃ phalam || 45 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe brahmaviṣṇusaṃvāde mārgaśīrṣamāhātmye bhagavate tulasīkāṣṭhacaṃdanārpaṇaphalakathanaṃnāma ṣaṣṭho'dhyāyaḥ || 6 ||

English translation

Brahmā said :

1. O Lord, tell me everything accurately. O Lord Acyuta , what is the efficacy of sounding a bell [1] and of (applying) sandal-paste? Tell me the fruit thereof.

Śrī Bhagavān said :

2; O Lord of Devas , listen to the fruit obtained by that person who sounds a bell at the time of performing ablution and worship.

3. For thousands of crores of years, for hundreds of crores of years, he resides in my world, attended upon by bevies of celestial damsels.

4. Since bell is identical with alt the musical instruments and all Devas, one should make all efforts to sound a bell.

5. Bell that is identical with all the musical instruments, is always dear to me. By sounding it one acquires the merit arising from (performing) hundreds of crores of Yajñas .

6-8. Bells must be sounded always especially at the time of worship. O son, by the sound of bells, I become delighted always for hundreds and thousands of Manvantaras .

O Lord of Devas, my worship bestows salvation on men always, if it is accompanied by the sounds of Bherī drums and conch, together with bells, and of Mṛdaṅga and conchs along with the sound of Oṃkāra ( Praṇavā ).

9. Where a sounding bell stands in front of me, where it is worshipped by Vaiṣṇavas , O son, know me to be there.

10. I dispel the sin of that person who fixes a bell marked by the figure of Vainateya ( Garuḍa ) or the discus Sudarśana .

11. If anyone rings a bell at the time of my worship, his sins perish, though they may have been acquired in the course of hundreds of births.

12. At the time of (my) sleep one should devoutly ring a bell to accompany my worship. The fruit is crores of times more.

13-14. If devotees worship me, the Lord of Devas seated on Garuḍa,

holding a conch, a lotus and an iron club as well as a discus and accompanied by Śrī, what will they do with Tīrthas , visiting (other) deities, (performance of) Yajñas, holy rites, (donating) charitable gifts and observance of fasts? (They are not necessary.)

15. Those who install my Nārāyaṇa idol seated on Garuḍa in Kali Age, go to my region and stay there for a crore of Kalpas .

16. If anyone installs that idol in front of me, or in a palace or in a house, thousands of crores of Tīrthas and deities stand there.

17. He who is blessed and worships my form riding on Garuḍa on the eleventh day and at night sings songs and performs dance with respectful regard, shall redeem his manes from hell.

18-22. Again I shall recount the (the greatness of a) bell. Listen, O my son.

Where a bell with my name inscribed therein is kept in front, and where the idol of Viṣṇu is worshipped, know, O my son, that I am present there.

He who sounds a bell with the Garuḍa symbol engraved therein at the time of (burning) incense, waving of lights, ablution, worship or application of unguents in front of me, shall attain the merit, O dear one, of ten thousand sacrifices, donation of ten thousand cows (as a religious gift) and a hundred observances of Cāndrāyaṇa for each of those rites.

Even if the worship does not conform to the procedural injunctions, it shall be fruitful to those men. Delighted with the sound of the bell, I grant them my own region.

23. If the bell that is marked with Garuḍa and the discus is sounded, it destroys the fear of crores of births.

24. Everyday, when I see a bell marked with Garuḍa, O Lord of Devas, I become joyful like a poor man who gets wealth.

25. If anyone fixes on top of the pole holding a bell an excellent discus or my favourite Garuḍa, all the three worlds have been (as if) fixed by him.

26. A man may be contaminated by crores of sins; but, if at the time of death he hears the sound of a bell (imprinted) with discus, the servants of Yama are frustrated.

27. O son, all the defects and sins perish by the sound of a bell. Devas, Rudras and Pitṛs all become gay celebrating a festival as it were.

28. Even if Garuḍa and discus (symbols) are not present, I grant my favour to the devotees on account of the sound of a bell. There is no doubt about it.

29. If there is a bell fitted (imprinted) with Garuḍa, there is no fear of serpents, or fire or lightning in that house.

30. If there is no bell in anyone’s house nor conch in front of me, how can he be known as a devotee of the Lord? How can he be (my) favourite?

31. O son, I shall recount to you the efficacy of sandal-paste. When it is prepared, I become extremely delighted. There is no doubt about it.

32-36a. An offering unto me along with sandal-paste, flowers, camphor, agallochum, musk, nutmeg and Tulasī causes great happiness unto me. [2]

The excellent man who always offers to me twigs of Tulasī plant, stays in heaven for infinite number of Yugas .

If in Kali anyone devoutly offers Tulasī and sandalpasste to Mahāviṣṇu and worships him with flowers of Mālatī (jasmine), he will never suck breasts (of any mother) again (i.e., is liberated).

If anyone offers me sandal-paste along with (paste of) Tulasī twigs, I burn all his sins committed in the Course of hundreds of previous births.

36b-37. Tulasī twigs and sandal-paste are always liked by all Devas and by Pitṛs in particular.

38. As long as Tulasī twigs and sandaīpaste are not offered to me, Śrīkhaṇḍa , sandal and black agallochum can be considered excellent.

39. The fragrance of musk and sweet smell of camphor (are excellent), so long as the Tulasī twigs and sandaīpaste are not offered to me.

40. Those who offer me Tulasī twigs and sandapaste in Kaliyuga in the splendid month of Mārgaśīrṣa , have their desires accomplished and are blessed. There is no doubt about it.

41. If anyone professes to be a devotee of the Lord in Kali but does not offer Tulasī and sandal-paste in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, he is not a real Bhāgavata (devotee of the Lord).

42. If anyone applies the paste of saffron, agallochum and sandal on my body in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, he shall stay in heaven for a crore of Kalpas.

43. The devotee should apply sandaīpaste mixed with camphor and agallochum. Musk in particular is always my favourite.

44. If anyone takes sandaīpaste in a conch and applies it over my body in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, I am delighted with him for a hundred years.

45. He who serves the devoutly with Tulasī leaves and emblic myrobalan always during Mārgaśīrṣa, obtains his desired objective.

[1]: [1] : VV 1-30 describe the importance of bells in Viṣṇu worship, of which they form an integral part. Bells are embellished with the figures of Viṣṇu’s weapons like Sudarśana and Garuḍa, each having some specific efficacy and as such deserving worship in their own capacity.

[2]: [2] : VV 32ff describe the sanctity of Tulasī twigs or leaves and sandal-paste, but it is the Tulasī plant which is most appreciated by Viṣṇu.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23019, revision 329298 (2022-01-02T00:51:44Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371685.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.