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Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 15

Chapter 15

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Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 15

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।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। ये त्वया वै कृताः प्रश्नाः पूर्वं प्रश्नविदां वर ।। तान्वर्णयिष्ये क्रमशो निशामय सुनिश्चितम् ।।१ ।। सहोमासे च देवो वै कीर्तियुक्तो हि केशवः ।। तस्य पूजा प्रकर्तव्या यथापूर्वं प्रभाषितम् ।। २ ।। ब्राह्मणं केशवं स्मृत्वा तत्पत्नीं कीर्तिमेव च ।। दंपती विधिवत्पूज्यौ वस्त्राभरणधेनुभिः ।। ३ ।। दम्पती पूजितौ वत्स पूजितोऽहं न संशयः।। तस्मादवश्यं संपूज्यौ दंपती मम तुष्टिदौ ।।४।। दानं च विविधं कार्यं मम तुष्टिकरं परम् ।। गोदानं भूमिदानं च स्वर्णदानं विशेषतः ।।५।। वस्त्रदानं तथा शय्या तथाऽलंकरणानि च ।। सद्मदानं प्रकर्तव्यं मम सन्तोषकारकम् ।। ६ ।। सर्वेषामेव दानानां विशेषं च त्रिकं स्मृतम् ।। वसुन्धरा तथा धेनुर्विद्यादानं तथैव च ।।७।। दत्ते दानत्रिके वत्स भवेत्प्रीतिर्ममाऽतुला ।। तस्मान्नरैस्तु कर्तव्यं सहोमासे त्रिकं शुभम् ।। ८ ।। स्नानस्य च विधिः सम्यक्पुरैवोक्तो मयाऽनघ ।। पूजास्नानं च दानं च विधिरेष न संशयः ।। ९ ।। मार्गशीर्षं समग्रं तु एकभक्तेन यः क्षिपेत् ।। भोजयेद्यो द्विजान्भक्त्या स मुच्येद्व्याधिकिल्विषैः।।2.5.15.१०।। कृषिभागी बहुधनो बहुधान्यश्च जायते ।। किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन शृणु गुह्यं पर मम ।। ११ ।। हुतभुग्ब्राह्मणश्चैव वदनं मम मानद ।। ब्राह्मणाख्यं मुखं श्रेष्ठं न तथा हव्यवाहनः ।। १२ ।। ब्राह्मणाख्ये मुखे पुत्र हुतं कोटिगुणं भवेत् ।। अग्न्याख्यं ब्राह्मणाधीनं स्वतंत्रा ब्राह्मणाः किल ।। १३ ।। सशर्करं घृतयुतं पायसं शशिसन्निभम् ।। होतव्यं ब्राह्मणमुखे मम तुष्टिकरं सुत ।। १४ ।। शुभमंडलमोदककोकरसं सुत फेनिकया घृतपूरयुतम् ।। यज विप्रमुखे मम तुष्टिकरं यदि चेच्छसि दारसुतादिसुखम् ।।१५।। कुमुदेन समप्रभसौरभदं शुभभक्तयुतं त्वथ मुद्गयुतम् ।। सुरभीकृतपुष्कलसर्पिसमं कुरु विप्रमुखे हवनं हि सहे ।। १६ ।। पयसा सह सर्पिषि च क्वथितं बहुखारिकचारफलैः सितया ।। सह कर्पुरनारिफलेन समं युतसीकरकं सुत शुभ्रकरम् ।। १७ ।। व्यंजनानि च शुभ्राणि मनोज्ञानि प्रियाणि च ।। कर्त्तव्यानि सहोमासे ब्राह्मणार्थे चतुर्मुख ।। १८ ।। प्रिया शिखरिणी कार्या चान्यत्तेषां प्रियं च यत् ।। कृत्वैवं भोजयेद्विप्राञ्छ्रद्धया परया सुत ।। १९ ।। रसास्वादनपूर्वं हि भुञ्जते वै यथायथा ।। तथातथा मम प्रीतिर्जायते भुवि दुर्लभा ।।2.5.15.२०।। तस्मात्तत्तत्तथा कार्यं यथा तुष्यंति ब्राह्मणाः ।। तुष्टैस्तैश्चाप्यहं तुष्टो भवामीह न संशयः ।। २१ ।। श्रद्धत्स्व त्वं चतुर्वक्त्र न ते मिथ्या ब्रवीम्यहम् ।। एतद्गुह्यं मया प्रोक्तं श्रेयोर्थं तव मानद ।। २२ ।। आक्रोशयंति यदि ते अथवा प्रहरंति चेत् ।। तथापि ते नमस्या वै मम प्रीत्या हि मानद ।। २३ ।। एवं कार्यं सदा पुत्र मार्गशीर्षे विशेषतः ।। यदुक्तं भवता ब्रह्मन्भोक्तव्यं किं शृणुष्व तत् ।। २४ ।। भोक्तव्यं मम चोच्छिष्टं मम भक्तिपरायणैः ।। पवित्रकरणं पुत्र पापिनामपि मुक्तिदम् ।।२५।। ममाशनस्य शेषं च यो भुनक्ति दिनेदिने ।। सिक्थेसिक्थे भवेत्पुण्यं चांद्रायणशतोद्भवम् ।। २६ ।। अवशिष्टं तथोच्छिष्टं भक्तानां भोजनद्वयम् ।। नाऽन्यद्वै भोजनं तेषां भुक्त्वा चांद्रायणं चरेत् ।। २७ ।। अनर्पयित्वा यो भुंक्ते अन्नपानादिकं च यत् ।। श्वानविष्ठासमं चान्नं पानं च मदिरासमम् ।। ।। २८।। तस्मान्मामर्पयेत्पुत्र अन्नपानादि चौषधम् ।। भक्षयेत्परया भक्त्या अशुचेः शुचिकारकम् ।। २९ ।। तीर्थयज्ञादिकफलं कलिदोषविनाशनम् ।। ममोच्छिष्टं सुगतिदमपि दुष्कृतकर्मणाम् ।। 2.5.15.३० ।। अन्येषां दैवतानां च न गृह्णीयाच्च भक्षितम् ।। अभक्तानां च पक्वान्नं भुक्त्वा च नरकं व्रजेत् ।। ३१ ।। वक्तव्यमेव यत्प्रोक्तं तच्छृणुष्व समाहितः ।। कथयिष्ये तव प्रीत्या अपि गुह्यतरं मम ।। ३२ ।। मम नाम प्रवक्तव्यं सहे चैव विशेषतः ।। कृष्णकृष्णेति वक्तव्यं मम प्रीतिकरं परम् ।।३३।। प्रतिज्ञैषा च मे पुत्र न जानंति सुरासुराः ।। मनसा कर्मणा वाचा यो मे शरणमागतः ।। ।। ३४ ।। स हि सर्वामवाप्नोति कामनामिह लौकिकीम् ।। सर्वोत्कृष्टं च वैकुण्ठं मत्प्रियां कमलामपि ।। ३५ ।। कृष्णकृष्णेति कृष्णेति यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ।। जलं भित्त्वा यथा पद्मं नरकादुद्धराम्यहम्।।३६।। विनोदेनाऽपि दंभेन मौढ्याल्लोभाच्छलादपि ।। यो मां भजत्यसौ वत्स मद्भक्तो नाऽवसीदति ।। ३७ ।। ये वै पठंति कृष्णेति मरणे पर्युपस्थिते ।। यदि पापयुताः पुत्र न पश्यंति यमं क्वचित् ।। ३८ ।। पूर्वे वयसि पापानि कृतान्यपि च कृत्स्नशः ।। अंतकाले च कृष्णेति स्मृत्वा मामेत्यसंशयम् ।। ३९ ।। नमः कृष्णाय महते विवशोऽपि वदेद्यदि ।। ध्रुवं पदमवाप्नोति मरणे पर्युपस्थिते ।। 2.5.15.४० ।। श्रीकृष्णेति कृतोच्चारैः प्राणैर्यदि वियुज्यते ।। दूरस्थः पश्यति च तं स्वर्गतं प्रेतनायकः ।। ४१ ।। श्मशाने यदि रथ्यायां कृष्णकृष्णेति जल्पति ।। म्रियते यदि चेत्पुत्र मामेवैति न संशयः ।। ४२ ।। दर्शनात्मम भक्तानां मृत्युमाप्नोति यः क्वचित् ।। विना मत्स्मरणात्पुत्र मुक्तिमेति स मानवः ।। ४३ ।। पापानलस्य दीप्तस्य भयं मा कुरु पुत्रक ।। श्रीकृष्णनाममेघोत्थैः सिच्यते नीरबिंदुभिः ।। ४४ ।। कलिकालभुजंगस्य तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रस्य किं भयम् ।। श्रीकृष्णनामदारूत्थवह्निदग्धः स नश्यति ।। ४८ ।। पापपावकदग्धानां कर्मचेष्टावियोगिनाम् ।। भेषजं नास्ति मर्त्यानां श्रीकृष्णस्मरणं विना ।।४६।। प्रयागे वै यथा गंगा शुक्लतीर्थे च नर्मदा ।। सरस्वती कुरुक्षेत्रे तद्वच्छ्रीकृष्णकीर्तनम् ।।४७।। भवांभोधिनिमग्नानां महापापोर्मिपातिनाम् ।। न गतिर्मानवानां च श्रीकृष्णस्मरणं विना ।। ४८ ।। मृत्युकालेऽपि मर्त्यानां पापिनां तदनिच्छताम् ।। गच्छतां नाऽस्ति पाथेयं श्रीकृष्णस्मरणं विना ।। ४९ ।। तत्र पुत्र गया काशी पुष्करं कुरुजांगलम् ।। प्रत्यहं मंदिरे यस्य कृष्णकृष्णेति कीर्तनम् ।। 2.5.15.५० ।। जीवितं जन्मसाफल्यं सुखं तस्यैव सार्थकम् ।। सततं रसना यस्य कृष्णकृष्णेति जल्पति ।। ५१ ।। सकृदुच्चरितं येन हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम् ।। बद्धः परिकरस्तेन मोक्षाय गमनं प्रति ।। ५२ ।। नाम्नोऽस्य यावती शक्तिः पापनिर्दहने मम ।। तावत्कर्तुं न शक्नोति पातकं पातकी जनः ।। ५३ ।। नाऽपविद्धं भवेत्तस्य शरीरं नैव मानसम् ।। न पापं न च वैक्लव्यं कृष्णकृष्णेति कीर्तनात् ।। ५४ ।। श्रीकृष्णेति वचः पथ्यं न त्यजेद्यः कलौ नरः ।। पापामयो वै न भवेत्कलौ तस्यैव मानसे ।। ५५ ।। श्रीकृष्णेति प्रजल्पंतं दक्षिणाशापतिर्नरम् ।। श्रुत्वा मार्जयते पापं तस्य जन्मशतार्जितम् ।। ५६ ।। चांद्रायणशतैः पापं पराकाणां सहस्रकैः ।। यन्नापयाति तद्याति कृष्णकृष्णेति कीर्तनात् ।। ।। ५७ ।। नान्याभिर्नामकोटीभिस्तोषो मम भवेत्क्वचित् ।। श्रीकृष्णेति कृतोच्चारे प्रीतिरेवाऽधिकाधिका ।। ५८ ।। चंद्रसूर्योपरागैस्तु कोटीभिर्यत्फलं स्मृतम् ।। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति कृष्णकृष्णेति कीर्तनात् ।। ५९ ।। गुरुदाराभिगमनं हेमस्तेयादि पातकम् ।। श्रीकृष्णकीर्तनाद्याति घर्मतप्तं हिमं यथा ।। 2.5.15.६० ।। युक्तो यदि महापापैरगम्यागमनादिभिः ।। मुच्यते चांतकालेऽपि सकृच्छ्रीकृष्णकीर्तनात् ।। ।। ६१ ।। अविशुद्धमना यस्तु विनाप्याचारवर्तनात् ।। प्रेतत्वं सोऽपि नाप्नोति अन्ते श्रीकृष्णकीर्तनात् ।। ६२ ।। मुखे भवतु मा जिह्वाऽसती यातु रसातलम् ।। न सा चेत्कलिकाले या श्रीकृष्णगुणवादिनी ।। ६३ ।। स्ववक्त्रे परवक्त्रे च वंद्या जिह्वा प्रयत्नतः ।। कुरुते या कलौ पुत्र श्रीकृष्ण गुणकीर्तनम् ।। ६४ ।। पापवल्ली मुखे तस्य जिह्वारूपेण कीर्त्यते ।। या न वक्ति दिवारात्रौ श्रीकृष्णगुणकीर्तनम् ।। ६५ ।। पततां शतखण्डा तु सा जिह्वा रोगरूपिणी ।। श्रीकृष्णकृष्णकृष्णेति श्रीकृष्णेति न जल्पति ।। ६६ ।। श्रीकृष्णनाममाहात्म्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् ।। तस्याऽहं श्रेयसां दाता भवाम्येव न संशयः ।। ६७ ।। श्रीकृष्णनाममाहात्म्यं त्रिसंध्यं हि पठेत्तु यः ।। सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति स मृतः परमां गतिम् ।। ६८ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे ब्रह्मविष्णुसंवादे मार्गशीर्षमासमाहात्म्ये श्रीकृष्णनाममाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पंचदशोऽध्यायः ।।१५।।

|| śrībhagavānuvāca || || ye tvayā vai kṛtāḥ praśnāḥ pūrvaṃ praśnavidāṃ vara || tānvarṇayiṣye kramaśo niśāmaya suniścitam ||1 || sahomāse ca devo vai kīrtiyukto hi keśavaḥ || tasya pūjā prakartavyā yathāpūrvaṃ prabhāṣitam || 2 || brāhmaṇaṃ keśavaṃ smṛtvā tatpatnīṃ kīrtimeva ca || daṃpatī vidhivatpūjyau vastrābharaṇadhenubhiḥ || 3 || dampatī pūjitau vatsa pūjito'haṃ na saṃśayaḥ|| tasmādavaśyaṃ saṃpūjyau daṃpatī mama tuṣṭidau ||4|| dānaṃ ca vividhaṃ kāryaṃ mama tuṣṭikaraṃ param || godānaṃ bhūmidānaṃ ca svarṇadānaṃ viśeṣataḥ ||5|| vastradānaṃ tathā śayyā tathā'laṃkaraṇāni ca || sadmadānaṃ prakartavyaṃ mama santoṣakārakam || 6 || sarveṣāmeva dānānāṃ viśeṣaṃ ca trikaṃ smṛtam || vasundharā tathā dhenurvidyādānaṃ tathaiva ca ||7|| datte dānatrike vatsa bhavetprītirmamā'tulā || tasmānnaraistu kartavyaṃ sahomāse trikaṃ śubham || 8 || snānasya ca vidhiḥ samyakpuraivokto mayā'nagha || pūjāsnānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca vidhireṣa na saṃśayaḥ || 9 || mārgaśīrṣaṃ samagraṃ tu ekabhaktena yaḥ kṣipet || bhojayedyo dvijānbhaktyā sa mucyedvyādhikilviṣaiḥ||2.5.15.10|| kṛṣibhāgī bahudhano bahudhānyaśca jāyate || kimatra bahunoktena śṛṇu guhyaṃ para mama || 11 || hutabhugbrāhmaṇaścaiva vadanaṃ mama mānada || brāhmaṇākhyaṃ mukhaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ na tathā havyavāhanaḥ || 12 || brāhmaṇākhye mukhe putra hutaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet || agnyākhyaṃ brāhmaṇādhīnaṃ svataṃtrā brāhmaṇāḥ kila || 13 || saśarkaraṃ ghṛtayutaṃ pāyasaṃ śaśisannibham || hotavyaṃ brāhmaṇamukhe mama tuṣṭikaraṃ suta || 14 || śubhamaṃḍalamodakakokarasaṃ suta phenikayā ghṛtapūrayutam || yaja vipramukhe mama tuṣṭikaraṃ yadi cecchasi dārasutādisukham ||15|| kumudena samaprabhasaurabhadaṃ śubhabhaktayutaṃ tvatha mudgayutam || surabhīkṛtapuṣkalasarpisamaṃ kuru vipramukhe havanaṃ hi sahe || 16 || payasā saha sarpiṣi ca kvathitaṃ bahukhārikacāraphalaiḥ sitayā || saha karpuranāriphalena samaṃ yutasīkarakaṃ suta śubhrakaram || 17 || vyaṃjanāni ca śubhrāṇi manojñāni priyāṇi ca || karttavyāni sahomāse brāhmaṇārthe caturmukha || 18 || priyā śikhariṇī kāryā cānyatteṣāṃ priyaṃ ca yat || kṛtvaivaṃ bhojayedviprāñchraddhayā parayā suta || 19 || rasāsvādanapūrvaṃ hi bhuñjate vai yathāyathā || tathātathā mama prītirjāyate bhuvi durlabhā ||2.5.15.20|| tasmāttattattathā kāryaṃ yathā tuṣyaṃti brāhmaṇāḥ || tuṣṭaistaiścāpyahaṃ tuṣṭo bhavāmīha na saṃśayaḥ || 21 || śraddhatsva tvaṃ caturvaktra na te mithyā bravīmyaham || etadguhyaṃ mayā proktaṃ śreyorthaṃ tava mānada || 22 || ākrośayaṃti yadi te athavā praharaṃti cet || tathāpi te namasyā vai mama prītyā hi mānada || 23 || evaṃ kāryaṃ sadā putra mārgaśīrṣe viśeṣataḥ || yaduktaṃ bhavatā brahmanbhoktavyaṃ kiṃ śṛṇuṣva tat || 24 || bhoktavyaṃ mama cocchiṣṭaṃ mama bhaktiparāyaṇaiḥ || pavitrakaraṇaṃ putra pāpināmapi muktidam ||25|| mamāśanasya śeṣaṃ ca yo bhunakti dinedine || sikthesikthe bhavetpuṇyaṃ cāṃdrāyaṇaśatodbhavam || 26 || avaśiṣṭaṃ tathocchiṣṭaṃ bhaktānāṃ bhojanadvayam || nā'nyadvai bhojanaṃ teṣāṃ bhuktvā cāṃdrāyaṇaṃ caret || 27 || anarpayitvā yo bhuṃkte annapānādikaṃ ca yat || śvānaviṣṭhāsamaṃ cānnaṃ pānaṃ ca madirāsamam || || 28|| tasmānmāmarpayetputra annapānādi cauṣadham || bhakṣayetparayā bhaktyā aśuceḥ śucikārakam || 29 || tīrthayajñādikaphalaṃ kalidoṣavināśanam || mamocchiṣṭaṃ sugatidamapi duṣkṛtakarmaṇām || 2.5.15.30 || anyeṣāṃ daivatānāṃ ca na gṛhṇīyācca bhakṣitam || abhaktānāṃ ca pakvānnaṃ bhuktvā ca narakaṃ vrajet || 31 || vaktavyameva yatproktaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ || kathayiṣye tava prītyā api guhyataraṃ mama || 32 || mama nāma pravaktavyaṃ sahe caiva viśeṣataḥ || kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti vaktavyaṃ mama prītikaraṃ param ||33|| pratijñaiṣā ca me putra na jānaṃti surāsurāḥ || manasā karmaṇā vācā yo me śaraṇamāgataḥ || || 34 || sa hi sarvāmavāpnoti kāmanāmiha laukikīm || sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ ca vaikuṇṭhaṃ matpriyāṃ kamalāmapi || 35 || kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti kṛṣṇeti yo māṃ smarati nityaśaḥ || jalaṃ bhittvā yathā padmaṃ narakāduddharāmyaham||36|| vinodenā'pi daṃbhena mauḍhyāllobhācchalādapi || yo māṃ bhajatyasau vatsa madbhakto nā'vasīdati || 37 || ye vai paṭhaṃti kṛṣṇeti maraṇe paryupasthite || yadi pāpayutāḥ putra na paśyaṃti yamaṃ kvacit || 38 || pūrve vayasi pāpāni kṛtānyapi ca kṛtsnaśaḥ || aṃtakāle ca kṛṣṇeti smṛtvā māmetyasaṃśayam || 39 || namaḥ kṛṣṇāya mahate vivaśo'pi vadedyadi || dhruvaṃ padamavāpnoti maraṇe paryupasthite || 2.5.15.40 || śrīkṛṣṇeti kṛtoccāraiḥ prāṇairyadi viyujyate || dūrasthaḥ paśyati ca taṃ svargataṃ pretanāyakaḥ || 41 || śmaśāne yadi rathyāyāṃ kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti jalpati || mriyate yadi cetputra māmevaiti na saṃśayaḥ || 42 || darśanātmama bhaktānāṃ mṛtyumāpnoti yaḥ kvacit || vinā matsmaraṇātputra muktimeti sa mānavaḥ || 43 || pāpānalasya dīptasya bhayaṃ mā kuru putraka || śrīkṛṣṇanāmameghotthaiḥ sicyate nīrabiṃdubhiḥ || 44 || kalikālabhujaṃgasya tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrasya kiṃ bhayam || śrīkṛṣṇanāmadārūtthavahnidagdhaḥ sa naśyati || 48 || pāpapāvakadagdhānāṃ karmaceṣṭāviyoginām || bheṣajaṃ nāsti martyānāṃ śrīkṛṣṇasmaraṇaṃ vinā ||46|| prayāge vai yathā gaṃgā śuklatīrthe ca narmadā || sarasvatī kurukṣetre tadvacchrīkṛṣṇakīrtanam ||47|| bhavāṃbhodhinimagnānāṃ mahāpāpormipātinām || na gatirmānavānāṃ ca śrīkṛṣṇasmaraṇaṃ vinā || 48 || mṛtyukāle'pi martyānāṃ pāpināṃ tadanicchatām || gacchatāṃ nā'sti pātheyaṃ śrīkṛṣṇasmaraṇaṃ vinā || 49 || tatra putra gayā kāśī puṣkaraṃ kurujāṃgalam || pratyahaṃ maṃdire yasya kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti kīrtanam || 2.5.15.50 || jīvitaṃ janmasāphalyaṃ sukhaṃ tasyaiva sārthakam || satataṃ rasanā yasya kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti jalpati || 51 || sakṛduccaritaṃ yena harirityakṣaradvayam || baddhaḥ parikarastena mokṣāya gamanaṃ prati || 52 || nāmno'sya yāvatī śaktiḥ pāpanirdahane mama || tāvatkartuṃ na śaknoti pātakaṃ pātakī janaḥ || 53 || nā'paviddhaṃ bhavettasya śarīraṃ naiva mānasam || na pāpaṃ na ca vaiklavyaṃ kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti kīrtanāt || 54 || śrīkṛṣṇeti vacaḥ pathyaṃ na tyajedyaḥ kalau naraḥ || pāpāmayo vai na bhavetkalau tasyaiva mānase || 55 || śrīkṛṣṇeti prajalpaṃtaṃ dakṣiṇāśāpatirnaram || śrutvā mārjayate pāpaṃ tasya janmaśatārjitam || 56 || cāṃdrāyaṇaśataiḥ pāpaṃ parākāṇāṃ sahasrakaiḥ || yannāpayāti tadyāti kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti kīrtanāt || || 57 || nānyābhirnāmakoṭībhistoṣo mama bhavetkvacit || śrīkṛṣṇeti kṛtoccāre prītirevā'dhikādhikā || 58 || caṃdrasūryoparāgaistu koṭībhiryatphalaṃ smṛtam || tatphalaṃ samavāpnoti kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti kīrtanāt || 59 || gurudārābhigamanaṃ hemasteyādi pātakam || śrīkṛṣṇakīrtanādyāti gharmataptaṃ himaṃ yathā || 2.5.15.60 || yukto yadi mahāpāpairagamyāgamanādibhiḥ || mucyate cāṃtakāle'pi sakṛcchrīkṛṣṇakīrtanāt || || 61 || aviśuddhamanā yastu vināpyācāravartanāt || pretatvaṃ so'pi nāpnoti ante śrīkṛṣṇakīrtanāt || 62 || mukhe bhavatu mā jihvā'satī yātu rasātalam || na sā cetkalikāle yā śrīkṛṣṇaguṇavādinī || 63 || svavaktre paravaktre ca vaṃdyā jihvā prayatnataḥ || kurute yā kalau putra śrīkṛṣṇa guṇakīrtanam || 64 || pāpavallī mukhe tasya jihvārūpeṇa kīrtyate || yā na vakti divārātrau śrīkṛṣṇaguṇakīrtanam || 65 || patatāṃ śatakhaṇḍā tu sā jihvā rogarūpiṇī || śrīkṛṣṇakṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti śrīkṛṣṇeti na jalpati || 66 || śrīkṛṣṇanāmamāhātmyaṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet || tasyā'haṃ śreyasāṃ dātā bhavāmyeva na saṃśayaḥ || 67 || śrīkṛṣṇanāmamāhātmyaṃ trisaṃdhyaṃ hi paṭhettu yaḥ || sarvānkāmānavāpnoti sa mṛtaḥ paramāṃ gatim || 68 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe brahmaviṣṇusaṃvāde mārgaśīrṣamāsamāhātmye śrīkṛṣṇanāmamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma paṃcadaśo'dhyāyaḥ ||15||

English translation

Note: Purāṇas (especially the later ones) glorify the name of God (be it Śiva or Viṣṇu ). But here the glorification of the name Kṛṣṇa comes after describing the importance and the worship etc. of a Brahmin couple who are supposed to represent Viṣṇu and his consort Kīrti in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa and of feeding Brāhmaṇas .

Śrī Bhagavān said :

1. O excellent interlocutor, I shall decisively and in the proper order describe and explain those questions you have put before. Listen.

2. The Lord of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa is Keśava accompanied by Kīrti. His worship is to be performed as stated before.

3. Considering the Brāhmaṇa as Keśava and his wife as Kīrti, the couple should be duly honoured with clothes, ornaments and cows.

4. O dear one, if the couple is honoured and worshipped, I too am worshipped undoubtedly. Hence the couple should be necessarily honoured. That will give me satisfaction.

5-7. Different kinds of charitable gifts must be made, which will gratify me. They are: the gifts of cows, lands and especially gold, clothes, bed, ornaments, and houses. These should be given. They cause satisfaction to me. Out of all (kinds of) gifts three are proclaimed to be most excellent, viz. land, cow and learning.

8. If these three are given, O dear one, I shall have immeasurable pleasure. Hence in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa these three splendid gifts should be made by men.

9. O sinless one, the procedure of the holy bath has been clearly described by me before. This is undoubtedly the procedure of worship, holy bath and charitable gifts.

10. One who takes but one meal (everyday) and devoutly feeds Brāhmaṇas during the whole month of Mārgaśīrṣa, shall be liberated from sickness and sins.

11. He shall become a great agriculturist and shall have abundant wealth and foodgrains. Of what avail is much talk in this connection? Listen to my great secret.

12. Fire-god and Brāhmaṇa, these two represent my mouth, O bestower of honour. The mouth named Brāhmaṇa is the most excellent one and not so Fire-god.

13. That which is offered as Homa in the mouth named Brāhmaṇa, O dear son, shall become a crore of times meritorious. That which is named Fire is dependent upon Brāhmaṇa. Brāhmaṇas are free.

14. Milk-pudding resembling the moon (in whiteness) with plenty of sugar and ghee should be offered as Homa in the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa. It causes delight to me, O son.

15. O son, if you wish for the happiness of wife and sons etc., worship the mouth of Brāhmaṇa with splendid Modakas , circular pancakes, juice of wild date tree and Pheṇikā sweet fried in ghee. It causes delight to me.

16. In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, perform Havana in the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa with splendid cooked rice that has the lustre and fragrance of (white) lilies, that is served along with Mudga pulse (green gram) and plenty of ghee with good flavour.

17. Sīkaraka (a variety of sweet delicacy) that is boiled in milk and ghee with plenty of dried date fruits (called Khāriks ) and Cāra fruits ( Buchanania latifolia? ), sugar, camphor and coconut kernels causes auspiciousness.

18. Splendid and attractive side-dishes and pickles should be prepared in the monṃ of Mārgaśīrṣa, O Four-faced One, for the sake of Brāhmaṇas.

19. The pleasant Śikhariṇī (a dish with curds, sugar, spices etc. called Śrīkhaṇḍ in Marathi ) and other things pleasing to them should be prepared. After making all these things, he should feed Brāhmaṇas with great respect, O son.

20. The more they relish (the sweet) things served and eat them, the greater is my delight. It is a rare thing in the world.

21. Hence the different things should be prepared in such a way that the Brāhmaṇas are pleased. If they are pleased, I am also pleased undoubtedly.

22. Believe, O Four-faced One, I am not speaking untruth to you. This secret has been stated by me for the sake of your welfare, O bestower of honour.

23. Even if they shout rebuke and beat, they are worthy of being bowed to, O bestower of honour, because of my love (for them).

24. This should be done in this manner always, O son, particularly in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. You had asked, “What should be eaten?”, O Brahmā ; hear that.

25. My Ucchiṣṭa (remnants after taking food) should be eaten by those who are devoted to me. O son, it is sanctifying. It bestows salvation even on sinners.

26. If anyone eats the leavings of my food everyday, he should attain the merit of a hundred Cāndrāyaṇa rites for every lump thereof.

27. The devotees will have two types of food: Avaśiṣṭa (that which is not partaken and so left over) and Ucchiṣta (partially consumed and left over). They do not have any other types of food. Should they take (anything else) they shall perform the expiatory rite of Cāndrāyaṇa.

28. If anyone takes food, drink etc. without dedicating it to me, the food is as bad as the faeces of a dog and the drink just like liquor.

29. Hence, O son, food, drink and medicine should be dedicated to me first and then taken with great devotion. They make what is impure into one that is pure.

30. My Ucchiṣṭa yields the benefit of Tīrtha , Yajña etc. It destroys the evils of Kali . It bestows good status even on persons of vicious deeds,

31. No devotee should partake of the food offerings to oṃer deities. By eating the cooked rice of non-devotees one shall fall into hell.

32. Listen attentively to what should be stated about which you have asked. I shall state it out of love for you, though it is a great secret of mine.

33. My name should be uttered particularly in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. [1] The name Kṛṣṇa should be repeatedly uttered. It is exceedingly pleasing to me.

34-35. This is my vow. Even Suras and Asuras do not know this, O my son. Only he who has sought refuge in me mentally, verbally and physically attains all the worldly desires. He will attain Vaikuṇṭha which is greater than everything and (will have) even my beloved Kamalā (the goddess of fortune).

36. If anyone remembers me everyday uttering ‘Kṛṣṇa’, ‘Kṛṣṇa’ continuously, I redeem him from Naraka in the manner in which the lotus comes up breaking through water.

37. He who worships me just for fun, or out of hypocrisy, or due to foolishness, greediness or even fraudulently is my devotee. He does not have to repent.

38. When death is imminent, if people repeat “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”, O dear son, they will never see Yama even if they are sinners. [2]

39. Earlier in his life a man might have committed all sorts of sins. But at the time of death if he remembers (to utter the name) Kṛṣṇa, he shall undoubtedly attain me.

40-41. If a helpless miserable man utters the words “Obeisance to Kṛṣṇa, the great one” he attains the immutable (eternal) region.

When death is imminent, if a person utters “ Śrīkṛṣṇa ” and gives up his life even as he utters it, the leader of ghosts (i.e. Yama) stands far off and sees him going to heaven.

42. Whether in a cremation ground or in a street, if a person utters “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa” and dies, O son, he attains me alone. There is no doubt about it.

43. If any man dies anywhere within the sight of my devotees, he shall attain salvation even without remembering me.

44. O son, do not be afraid of the blazing fire of sins. It shall be sprinkled (and put out) with the drops of water issuing from the cloud named Śrīkṛṣṇa.

45. Why should there be any fear of the serpent of Kali that has very sharp fangs? He will perish on being burned by the fire issuing forth from the wood of the name of Śrīkṛṣṇa.

46. Excepting remembering Śrīkṛṣṇa there is no other medicine for men who are burned by the fire of sin and who are separated(?) from performance of Karmas .

47. Just as there is Gaṅgā in Prayāga , Narmada in Śuklatīrtha and Sarasvatī in Kurukṣetra , so also is the glorification of Śrīkṛṣṇa.

48. Without the remembering of Śrīkṛṣṇa there is no redemption of men who are immersed in the ocean of worldly existence and who are submerged in the waves of great sins.

49. Excepting the remembrance of Śrīkṛṣṇa, there is no oṃer viaticum (provision for a journey) to those who go (to the other world), to the sinning people who do not wish for it (even) at the time of death.

50. There is Gayā , Kāśī , Puṣkara and Kurujāṅgala , O son, in mansions wherein there is the glorification (of the Lord) with the repetition “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa” everyday.

51. If the tongue of anyone prattles “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa” always, his life is fruitful, his birth is fruitful, his happiness alone is fruitful.

52. If the two syllables HA and RI are uttered by anyone at least once, he has girt up his loins for proceeding towards salvation.

53. Sinning people cannot commit as many sins as my name is competent to burn down.

54. If anyone glorifies the Lord by repeating “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”, neither his body nor his mind are pierced (by sin). (One will not be touched by) sin and affliction if one glorifies the Lord by saying “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”.

55. There shall be no ailment or sin in the mind of that man who never forsakes the wholesome and beneficial word Śrīkṛṣṇa in Kali Age.

56. On hearing a man repeatedly uttering “Śrīkṛṣṇa” the Lord of the Southern Quarter (Yama) wipes off his sin acquired in the course of hundreds of births.

57. The sin that is not dispelled by hundreds of Cāndrāyaṇa (expiatory rites) and thousands of Parāka rites, is removed by repeatedly uttering “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”.

58. I have no pleasure at all (in hearing) crores of other names. When the name Śrīkṛṣṇa is uttered, I get more and more delight.

59. The benefit that is proclaimed (as resulting from) performing the rites during crores of lunar and solar eclipses is obtained by uttering “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”.

60. Such (great) sins as carnally approaching the wife of the preceptor or stealing gold etc. are dispelled by glorifying Śrīkṛṣṇa like snow heated by sunshine.

61. If a person is contaminated with the great sins beginning with carnally approaching forbidden women, he is liberated from them if he glorifies Śrīkṛṣṇa at least once, even at the time of his death.

62. A man may be of impure mind. He may not strictly adhere to the code of good conduct. Even he does not become a ghost, if he glorifies Śrīkṛṣṇa in the end.

63. If, in Kali Age, the tongue does not glorify the good qualities of Śrīkṛṣṇa, let it not exist in the mouth. Let that unchaste one go to the nether worlds.

64. O son, the tongue that glorifies Śrīkṛṣṇa is to be respected by all means whether it is in one’s own mouth or in another man’s mouth.

65. If it does not glorify the good qualities of Śrīkṛṣṇa day and night, the tongue is a creeper of sin, though called (by the designation) tongue.

66. Let that tongue which is in the form of a disease fall shattered into hundred pieces, if it does not utter “Śrīkṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Śrīkṛṣṇa”.

67. If a man gets up in the morning and repeats aloud the greatness of the name of Śrīkṛṣṇa, I shall be the bestower of welfare on him. There is no doubt about it.

68. He who recites the greatness of the name of Śrīkṛṣṇa at the time of the three junctions (morning, noon and dusk) shall attain all desires. On death he attains the greatest goal.

[1]: [1] : As it is the glorification of Mārgaśīrṣa, the name of Kṛṣṇa is recommended—not that this Japa is restricted to this period only.

[2]: [2] : The belief in the efficacy of uttering the name of God at the time of death still persists in India. The great reverence for God’s name expressed in vv 38-68 is re-echoed and repeated by saints all over India since then.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23024, revision 329310 (2022-01-02T01:01:10Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371694.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.