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Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 16

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।।श्रीभगवानुवाच।। ।। शृणु ध्यानं चतुर्वक्त्र वक्ष्यामि प्रीतमानसः ।। श्रुतेनैव च सौभाग्यं लभते मानवो भुवि ।।१।। अथ श्रीमदुद्यानसंवीतहैमस्थलोद्भासिरत्नस्फुरन्मंडपांतः ।। लसत्कल्पवृक्षोदितोद्दीप्तरत्नस्थलाधिष्ठितांभोजपीठाऽधिरूढम् ।। २ ।। महानीलनीलाभमत्यंतबालं गुडस्निग्धवक्त्रांतविस्रस्तकेशम् ।। अलिव्रातपर्याकुलोत्फुल्लपद्मप्रमुग्धाननं श्रीमदिंदीवराक्षम् ।। ३ ।। चलत्कुंडलोल्लासितोत्फुल्लगल्लं सुघोणं सुशोणाधरं सुस्मितास्यम् ।। अनेकोल्लसत्कंठभूषालसंतं वहंतं नखं पौंडरीकं सुनेत्रम् ।। ४ ।। समुद्धूसरोरःस्थलं धेनुधूल्या सुपुष्टांगमष्टापदाकल्पदीप्तम् ।। कटीरस्थले चारुजंघोरुयुग्मे पिनद्धं क्वणत्किंकिणीजालदाम्ना ।। ५ ।। हसंतं लसद्बंधुजीवप्रसूनप्रभापाणिपादांबुजोदारकांत्या ।। करे दक्षिणे पायसं वामहस्ते दधानं नवं शुद्धहैयंगवीनम् ।। ६ ।। महीभारभूताऽमरारातियूथाऽनलं पूतनादीन्निहंतुं प्रवृत्तम् ।। प्रभुं गोपिकागोपवृंदेन वीतं सुरेन्द्रादिभिर्वंदितं देवदेवम् ।। ७ ।। प्रगे पूजयित्वा त्वनुस्मृत्य कृष्णं भुजंगेंद्रवज्रादिभिर्भक्तिनम्रः ।। सितांभोजहैयंगवीनैश्च दध्ना विमिश्रेण दुग्धेन संप्रीणयेत्तम् ।। ८ ।। इति प्रातरेवाऽर्चयेदत्युतं यो नरः प्रत्यहं शश्वदास्तिक्ययुक्तः ।। लभेत्सोऽचिरेणैव लक्ष्मीं समग्रामिह प्रेत्य शुद्धं परं धाम भूयात् ।। ९ ।। मन्त्रश्चोक्तः पुरा पुत्र आदौ लोकमनोहरः ।। श्रीमद्दामोदराख्यो हि शृणु तस्याधिकारिणः ।। 2.5.16.१० ।। अयोग्याय न दातव्यो मंत्रराजस्त्वया सुत ।। यत्नेन गोपनीयं च रहस्यं शीघ्रसिद्धिदम् ।। ११ ।। अलसं मलिनं क्लिष्टं दंभमोहसमन्वितम् ।। दरिद्रं रोगिणं क्रुद्धं रागिणं भोगलालसम् ।। १२ ।। असूयामत्सरग्रस्तं शठं परुषवादिनम् ।। अन्यायेनाऽर्जितधनं परदाररतं सदा ।। १३ ।। विदुषां वैरिणं नित्यमज्ञं पंडितमानिनम् ।। भ्रष्टव्रतं क्लिष्टवृत्तिं पिशुनं दुष्टमानसम् ।। १४ ।। बह्वाशिनं क्रूरचेष्टमग्रगण्यं दुरात्मनाम् ।। कृपणं पापिनं रौद्रमाश्रितानां भयंकरम् ।। १५ ।। एवमादिगुणैर्युक्तं शिष्यं नैव परिग्रहेत् ।। गृह्णीयाद्यदि तद्दोषः प्रायो गुरुमुपस्पृशेत् ।। १६ ।। अमात्यदोषो राजानं जायादोषः पतिं यथा ।। तथा शिष्यकृतो दोषो गुरुं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् ।। १७ ।। तस्माच्छिष्यं गुरुर्नित्यं परीक्ष्यैव परिग्रहेत् ।। कायेन मनसा वाचा गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतम् ।। १८ ।। अस्तेयवृत्तिमास्तिक्ययुक्तं मोक्षकृतोद्यमम् ।। ब्रह्मचर्यरतं नित्यं दृढव्रतमकल्मषम् ।। १९ ।। प्रसन्नहृदयं शुद्धमशठं विमलाशयम् ।। परोपकारनिरतं स्वार्थे च विगतस्पृहम् ।। 2.5.16.२० ।। स्वचित्तवित्तदेहैस्तु परितोषकरं गुरोः ।। आश्रितानां तथा पुत्र परितोषकरं शुचिम् ।। २१ ।। ईदृग्विधाय शिष्याय मंत्रं दद्याच्च नान्यथा ।। यद्यन्यथा वदेत्तस्मिन्देवताशाप आपतेत् ।। २२ ।। शृणु पुत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि गुरोरपि च लक्षणम् ।। एभिस्तु लक्षणैर्युक्तो गुरुरेव भवेन्नृणाम् ।। २३ ।। समचेताः प्रशांतात्मा विमन्युश्च सुहृन्नृणाम् ।। साधुर्महान्समो लोके स गुरुः परिकीर्तितः ।। २४ ।। मम व्रतधरो नित्यं वैष्णवानां सुसंमतः ।। मदाश्रयकथासक्तो ममोत्सवरतः सदा ।। २५ ।। कृपासिन्धुः सुपूर्णार्थः सर्वसत्त्वोपकारकः ।। निःस्पृहः सर्वतः सिद्धः सर्वविद्याविशारदः ।। २६ ।। सर्वसंशयसंछेत्ताऽनलसो गुरुरादृतः ।। ब्राह्मणः सर्वकालज्ञः कुर्यात्सर्वेष्वनुग्रहम् ।। २७ ।। पूर्वोक्तलक्षणैर्युक्तः शिष्य ईदृग्विधाद्गुरोः ।। गृह्णीयात्पुत्र तन्मंत्रं मार्गशीर्षे मदायने ।। २८ ।। वैष्णवानां व्रतानां च कुर्यात्स्वीकरणं बुधः ।। मत्प्रियं शृणुयाच्छश्वच्छ्रीमद्भागवतं परम् ।।२९।। श्रीमद्भागवतंनाम पुराणं लोकविश्रुतम् ।। शृणुयाच्छ्रद्धया युक्तो मम सन्तोषकारणम् ।। 2.5.16.३० ।। नित्यं भागवतं यस्तु पुराणं पठते नरः ।। प्रत्यक्षरं भवेत्तस्य कपिलादानजं फलम् ।। ३१ ।। श्लोकार्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् ।। पठते शृणुयाद्यस्तु गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ।। ३२ ।। यः पठेत्प्रयतो नित्यं श्लोकं भागवतं सुत ।। अष्टादशपुराणानां फलमाप्नोति मानवः ।। ३३ ।। नित्यं मम कथा यत्र तत्र तिष्ठन्ति वैष्णवाः ।। कलिबाह्या नरास्ते वै येऽर्चयन्ति सदा मम ।। ३४ ।। वैष्णवानां तु शास्त्राणि येऽर्चयन्ति गृहे नराः ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता भवंति सुरवन्दिताः ।। ३५ ।। येऽर्चयन्ति गृहे नित्यं शास्त्रं भागवतं कलौ ।। आस्फोटयंति वल्गन्ति तेषां प्रीतो भवाम्यहम् ।। ३६ ।। यावद्दिनानि हे पुत्र शास्त्रं भागवतं गृहे ।। तावत्पिबंति पितरः क्षीरं सर्पिर्मधूदकम् ।। ३७ ।। यच्छंति वैष्णवे भक्त्या शास्त्रं भागवतं हि ये ।। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि मम लोके वसंति ते ।। ३८ ।। येऽर्चयन्ति सदा गेहे शास्त्रं भागवतं नराः ।। प्रीणितास्तैश्च विबुधा यावदाऽऽभूतसंप्लवम् ।। ३९ ।। श्लोकार्धं श्लोकपादं वा वरं भागवतं गृहे ।। शतशोऽथ सहस्रैश्च किमन्यैः शास्त्रसंग्रहैः ।। 2.5.16.४० ।। न यस्य तिष्ठते शास्त्रं गृहे भागवतं कलौ ।। न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्याम्यपाशात्कदाचन ।।४१ ।। कथं स वैष्णवो ज्ञेयः शास्त्रं भागवतं कलौ ।। गृहे न तिष्ठते यस्य श्वपचादधिको हि सः ।। ४२ ।। सर्वस्वेनाऽपि लोकेश कर्तव्यः शास्त्रसंग्रहः ।। वैष्णवस्तु सदा भक्त्या तुष्ट्यर्थं मम पुत्रक ।। ४३ ।। यत्र यत्र भवेत्पुण्यं शास्त्रं भागवतं कलौ ।। तत्र तत्र सदैवाऽहं भवामि त्रिदशैः सह ।। ४४ ।। तत्र सर्वाणि तीर्थानि नदीनदसरांसि च ।। यज्ञाः सप्तपुरी नित्यं पुण्याः सर्वे शिलोच्चयाः ।। ४५ ।। श्रोतव्यं मम शास्त्रं हि यशोधर्मजयार्थिना ।। पापक्षयार्थं लोकेश मोक्षार्थं धर्मबुद्धिना ।। ४६ ।। श्रीमद्भागवतं पुण्यमायुरारोग्यपुष्टिदम् ।। पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्वाऽपि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ४७ ।। न शृण्वंति न हृष्यंति श्रीमद्भागवतं परम् ।। सत्यंसत्यं हि लोकेश तेषां स्वामी सदा यमः ।। ४८ ।। न गच्छति यदा मर्त्यः श्रोतुं भागवतं सुत ।। एकादश्यां विशेषेण नाऽस्ति पापरतस्ततः ।। ४९ ।। श्लोकं भागवतं चाऽपि श्लोकार्धं पादमेव वा ।। लिखितं तिष्ठते यस्य गृहे तस्य वसाम्यहम् ।। 2.5.16.५० ।। सर्वाऽऽश्रमाऽभिगमनं सर्वतीर्थाऽवगाहनम् ।। न तथा पावनं नॄणां श्रीमद्भागवतं यथा ।। ५१ ।। यत्र यत्र चतुर्वक्त्र श्रीमद्भागवतं भवेत् ।। गच्छामि तत्रतत्राऽहं गौर्यथा सुतवत्सला ।। ५२ ।। मत्कथावाचकं नित्यं मत्कथाश्रवणे रतम् ।। मत्कथाप्रीतमनसं नाऽहं त्यक्ष्यामि तं नरम् ।। ५३ ।। श्रीमद्भागवतं पुण्यं दृष्ट्वा नोत्तिष्ठते हि यः ।। सांवत्सरं तस्य पुण्यं विलयं याति पुत्रक ।। ५४ ।। श्रीमद्भागवतं दृष्ट्वा प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादनैः ।। सन्मानयेत तं दृष्ट्वा भवेत्प्रीतिर्ममाऽतुला ।। ५५ ।। दृष्ट्वा भागवतं दूरात्प्रक्रमेत्संमुखं हि यः ।। पदेपदेऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् ।। ५६ ।। उत्थाय प्रणमेद्यो वै श्रीमद्भागवतं नरः ।। धनं पुत्रांस्तथा दारान्भक्तिं च प्रददाम्यहम् ।। ५७ ।। महाराजोपचारैस्तु श्रीमद्भागवतं सुत ।। शृण्वंति ये नरा भक्त्या तेषां वश्यो भवाम्यहम्।। ५८ ।। ममोत्सवेषु सर्वेपु श्रीमद्भागवतं परम् ।। शृण्वंति ये नरा भक्त्या मम प्रीत्यै च सुव्रत ।। ५९ ।। वस्त्रालंकरणैः पुष्पैर्धूपदीपोपहारकैः ।। वशीकृतो ह्यहं तैश्च सत्स्त्रिया सत्पतिर्यथा ।। 2.5.16.६० ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे ब्रह्मविष्णुसंवादे मार्गशीर्षमासमाहात्म्ये भागवतश्रैष्ठ्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पोडशोऽध्यायः ।। १६ ।।

||śrībhagavānuvāca|| || śṛṇu dhyānaṃ caturvaktra vakṣyāmi prītamānasaḥ || śrutenaiva ca saubhāgyaṃ labhate mānavo bhuvi ||1|| atha śrīmadudyānasaṃvītahaimasthalodbhāsiratnasphuranmaṃḍapāṃtaḥ || lasatkalpavṛkṣoditoddīptaratnasthalādhiṣṭhitāṃbhojapīṭhā'dhirūḍham || 2 || mahānīlanīlābhamatyaṃtabālaṃ guḍasnigdhavaktrāṃtavisrastakeśam || alivrātaparyākulotphullapadmapramugdhānanaṃ śrīmadiṃdīvarākṣam || 3 || calatkuṃḍalollāsitotphullagallaṃ sughoṇaṃ suśoṇādharaṃ susmitāsyam || anekollasatkaṃṭhabhūṣālasaṃtaṃ vahaṃtaṃ nakhaṃ pauṃḍarīkaṃ sunetram || 4 || samuddhūsaroraḥsthalaṃ dhenudhūlyā supuṣṭāṃgamaṣṭāpadākalpadīptam || kaṭīrasthale cārujaṃghoruyugme pinaddhaṃ kvaṇatkiṃkiṇījāladāmnā || 5 || hasaṃtaṃ lasadbaṃdhujīvaprasūnaprabhāpāṇipādāṃbujodārakāṃtyā || kare dakṣiṇe pāyasaṃ vāmahaste dadhānaṃ navaṃ śuddhahaiyaṃgavīnam || 6 || mahībhārabhūtā'marārātiyūthā'nalaṃ pūtanādīnnihaṃtuṃ pravṛttam || prabhuṃ gopikāgopavṛṃdena vītaṃ surendrādibhirvaṃditaṃ devadevam || 7 || prage pūjayitvā tvanusmṛtya kṛṣṇaṃ bhujaṃgeṃdravajrādibhirbhaktinamraḥ || sitāṃbhojahaiyaṃgavīnaiśca dadhnā vimiśreṇa dugdhena saṃprīṇayettam || 8 || iti prātarevā'rcayedatyutaṃ yo naraḥ pratyahaṃ śaśvadāstikyayuktaḥ || labhetso'cireṇaiva lakṣmīṃ samagrāmiha pretya śuddhaṃ paraṃ dhāma bhūyāt || 9 || mantraścoktaḥ purā putra ādau lokamanoharaḥ || śrīmaddāmodarākhyo hi śṛṇu tasyādhikāriṇaḥ || 2.5.16.10 || ayogyāya na dātavyo maṃtrarājastvayā suta || yatnena gopanīyaṃ ca rahasyaṃ śīghrasiddhidam || 11 || alasaṃ malinaṃ kliṣṭaṃ daṃbhamohasamanvitam || daridraṃ rogiṇaṃ kruddhaṃ rāgiṇaṃ bhogalālasam || 12 || asūyāmatsaragrastaṃ śaṭhaṃ paruṣavādinam || anyāyenā'rjitadhanaṃ paradārarataṃ sadā || 13 || viduṣāṃ vairiṇaṃ nityamajñaṃ paṃḍitamāninam || bhraṣṭavrataṃ kliṣṭavṛttiṃ piśunaṃ duṣṭamānasam || 14 || bahvāśinaṃ krūraceṣṭamagragaṇyaṃ durātmanām || kṛpaṇaṃ pāpinaṃ raudramāśritānāṃ bhayaṃkaram || 15 || evamādiguṇairyuktaṃ śiṣyaṃ naiva parigrahet || gṛhṇīyādyadi taddoṣaḥ prāyo gurumupaspṛśet || 16 || amātyadoṣo rājānaṃ jāyādoṣaḥ patiṃ yathā || tathā śiṣyakṛto doṣo guruṃ prāpnotyasaṃśayam || 17 || tasmācchiṣyaṃ gururnityaṃ parīkṣyaiva parigrahet || kāyena manasā vācā guruśuśrūṣaṇe ratam || 18 || asteyavṛttimāstikyayuktaṃ mokṣakṛtodyamam || brahmacaryarataṃ nityaṃ dṛḍhavratamakalmaṣam || 19 || prasannahṛdayaṃ śuddhamaśaṭhaṃ vimalāśayam || paropakāranirataṃ svārthe ca vigataspṛham || 2.5.16.20 || svacittavittadehaistu paritoṣakaraṃ guroḥ || āśritānāṃ tathā putra paritoṣakaraṃ śucim || 21 || īdṛgvidhāya śiṣyāya maṃtraṃ dadyācca nānyathā || yadyanyathā vadettasmindevatāśāpa āpatet || 22 || śṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmi gurorapi ca lakṣaṇam || ebhistu lakṣaṇairyukto gurureva bhavennṛṇām || 23 || samacetāḥ praśāṃtātmā vimanyuśca suhṛnnṛṇām || sādhurmahānsamo loke sa guruḥ parikīrtitaḥ || 24 || mama vratadharo nityaṃ vaiṣṇavānāṃ susaṃmataḥ || madāśrayakathāsakto mamotsavarataḥ sadā || 25 || kṛpāsindhuḥ supūrṇārthaḥ sarvasattvopakārakaḥ || niḥspṛhaḥ sarvataḥ siddhaḥ sarvavidyāviśāradaḥ || 26 || sarvasaṃśayasaṃchettā'nalaso gururādṛtaḥ || brāhmaṇaḥ sarvakālajñaḥ kuryātsarveṣvanugraham || 27 || pūrvoktalakṣaṇairyuktaḥ śiṣya īdṛgvidhādguroḥ || gṛhṇīyātputra tanmaṃtraṃ mārgaśīrṣe madāyane || 28 || vaiṣṇavānāṃ vratānāṃ ca kuryātsvīkaraṇaṃ budhaḥ || matpriyaṃ śṛṇuyācchaśvacchrīmadbhāgavataṃ param ||29|| śrīmadbhāgavataṃnāma purāṇaṃ lokaviśrutam || śṛṇuyācchraddhayā yukto mama santoṣakāraṇam || 2.5.16.30 || nityaṃ bhāgavataṃ yastu purāṇaṃ paṭhate naraḥ || pratyakṣaraṃ bhavettasya kapilādānajaṃ phalam || 31 || ślokārdhaṃ ślokapādaṃ vā nityaṃ bhāgavatodbhavam || paṭhate śṛṇuyādyastu gosahasraphalaṃ labhet || 32 || yaḥ paṭhetprayato nityaṃ ślokaṃ bhāgavataṃ suta || aṣṭādaśapurāṇānāṃ phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ || 33 || nityaṃ mama kathā yatra tatra tiṣṭhanti vaiṣṇavāḥ || kalibāhyā narāste vai ye'rcayanti sadā mama || 34 || vaiṣṇavānāṃ tu śāstrāṇi ye'rcayanti gṛhe narāḥ || sarvapāpavinirmuktā bhavaṃti suravanditāḥ || 35 || ye'rcayanti gṛhe nityaṃ śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ kalau || āsphoṭayaṃti valganti teṣāṃ prīto bhavāmyaham || 36 || yāvaddināni he putra śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ gṛhe || tāvatpibaṃti pitaraḥ kṣīraṃ sarpirmadhūdakam || 37 || yacchaṃti vaiṣṇave bhaktyā śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ hi ye || kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi mama loke vasaṃti te || 38 || ye'rcayanti sadā gehe śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ narāḥ || prīṇitāstaiśca vibudhā yāvadā''bhūtasaṃplavam || 39 || ślokārdhaṃ ślokapādaṃ vā varaṃ bhāgavataṃ gṛhe || śataśo'tha sahasraiśca kimanyaiḥ śāstrasaṃgrahaiḥ || 2.5.16.40 || na yasya tiṣṭhate śāstraṃ gṛhe bhāgavataṃ kalau || na tasya punarāvṛttiryāmyapāśātkadācana ||41 || kathaṃ sa vaiṣṇavo jñeyaḥ śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ kalau || gṛhe na tiṣṭhate yasya śvapacādadhiko hi saḥ || 42 || sarvasvenā'pi lokeśa kartavyaḥ śāstrasaṃgrahaḥ || vaiṣṇavastu sadā bhaktyā tuṣṭyarthaṃ mama putraka || 43 || yatra yatra bhavetpuṇyaṃ śāstraṃ bhāgavataṃ kalau || tatra tatra sadaivā'haṃ bhavāmi tridaśaiḥ saha || 44 || tatra sarvāṇi tīrthāni nadīnadasarāṃsi ca || yajñāḥ saptapurī nityaṃ puṇyāḥ sarve śiloccayāḥ || 45 || śrotavyaṃ mama śāstraṃ hi yaśodharmajayārthinā || pāpakṣayārthaṃ lokeśa mokṣārthaṃ dharmabuddhinā || 46 || śrīmadbhāgavataṃ puṇyamāyurārogyapuṣṭidam || paṭhanācchravaṇādvā'pi sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 47 || na śṛṇvaṃti na hṛṣyaṃti śrīmadbhāgavataṃ param || satyaṃsatyaṃ hi lokeśa teṣāṃ svāmī sadā yamaḥ || 48 || na gacchati yadā martyaḥ śrotuṃ bhāgavataṃ suta || ekādaśyāṃ viśeṣeṇa nā'sti pāparatastataḥ || 49 || ślokaṃ bhāgavataṃ cā'pi ślokārdhaṃ pādameva vā || likhitaṃ tiṣṭhate yasya gṛhe tasya vasāmyaham || 2.5.16.50 || sarvā''śramā'bhigamanaṃ sarvatīrthā'vagāhanam || na tathā pāvanaṃ nṝṇāṃ śrīmadbhāgavataṃ yathā || 51 || yatra yatra caturvaktra śrīmadbhāgavataṃ bhavet || gacchāmi tatratatrā'haṃ gauryathā sutavatsalā || 52 || matkathāvācakaṃ nityaṃ matkathāśravaṇe ratam || matkathāprītamanasaṃ nā'haṃ tyakṣyāmi taṃ naram || 53 || śrīmadbhāgavataṃ puṇyaṃ dṛṣṭvā nottiṣṭhate hi yaḥ || sāṃvatsaraṃ tasya puṇyaṃ vilayaṃ yāti putraka || 54 || śrīmadbhāgavataṃ dṛṣṭvā pratyutthānābhivādanaiḥ || sanmānayeta taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhavetprītirmamā'tulā || 55 || dṛṣṭvā bhāgavataṃ dūrātprakrametsaṃmukhaṃ hi yaḥ || padepade'śvamedhasya phalaṃ prāpnotyasaṃśayam || 56 || utthāya praṇamedyo vai śrīmadbhāgavataṃ naraḥ || dhanaṃ putrāṃstathā dārānbhaktiṃ ca pradadāmyaham || 57 || mahārājopacāraistu śrīmadbhāgavataṃ suta || śṛṇvaṃti ye narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ vaśyo bhavāmyaham|| 58 || mamotsaveṣu sarvepu śrīmadbhāgavataṃ param || śṛṇvaṃti ye narā bhaktyā mama prītyai ca suvrata || 59 || vastrālaṃkaraṇaiḥ puṣpairdhūpadīpopahārakaiḥ || vaśīkṛto hyahaṃ taiśca satstriyā satpatiryathā || 2.5.16.60 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe brahmaviṣṇusaṃvāde mārgaśīrṣamāsamāhātmye bhāgavataśraiṣṭhyamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma poḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 16 ||

English translation

Note: The next section deals with Bhāgavata Māhātmya , but this chapter is a part of Mārgaśīrṣa Māhātmya and is not related to the next section.

Śrī Bhagavān said :

1. Listen, O Four-faced One, to (the description of) meditation. I shall give it with a delighted mind. By listening to it, a man obtains good fortune on the earth.

2. (The form to be meditated upon)

The Lord is to be meditated upon as follows: [1] The Lord is seated on a lotus-like pedestal placed in a spot paved with and illuminated by precious stones. The Kalpa trees shine nearby. The bejewelled spot shines within a pavilion with golden background surrounded by a glorious park.

3-4. He has the dark-blue lustre of sapphire. He is in the form of a very small child. His tresses, glossy like molasses, are scattered over his face. His face is handsome like the beautiful full-blown lotus surrounded by swarms of bees. His eyes resemble blue lotus.

His cheeks gleam on account of the moving ear-rings. The nose is shapely and beautiful. The lips are red. The whole face is full of smiles. Many ornaments scatter their refulgence round his neck. He holds his nail(?) His eyes resemble a lotus.

5. His chest is soiled and grey-coloured due to the dust particles raised by the cows. His limbs are well-nourished. They gleam like gold. Strings of tinkling bells are tied round his hips and the pairs of beautiful calves and thighs.

6. He shines with the excellent lustre of the lotus-like pairs of hands and feet having the splendour of a Bandhujīva flower. He is laughing. There is milk-pudding in his right hand. He holds fresh, pure butter in his left hand.

7. He is fire (that burns down) multitudes of demons Who have become a burden to the earth. He is engaged (in the task of) killing Pūtanā and others. The Lord is surrounded by groups of cowherdesses and cowherds. The Lord of Devas is bowed down to by Indra and others.

8. Humble with devotion, he should worship Kṛṣṇa after remembering him early in the morning, along with the Lord of Serpents as well as Vajra (thunderbolt) etc. The devotee should please him with butter like white lotus and with milk mixed with curds.

9. The man who is always endued with faith and piety and who always worships Acyuta in the morning itself, shall ere long attain fully the goddess of fortune and after death he shall go to the purest great abode ( Vaikuṇṭha ).

10. The Mantra , O son, has previously, at the outset, been mentioned, named Śrīmad- dāmodara . [2] It is fascinating to the entire world. Listen to those who are entitled to its use.

11. O son, this most important Mantra should not be given by you to an undeserving person. The secret that yields Siddhi quickly should be guarded with great effort.

12-16. The preceptor should not accept a disciple who is idle, dirty, distressed and characterized by hypocrisy and delusion. He (the pupil) shall not be indigent, sickly, infuriated, lecherous and lustful. He should not be jealous and malicious, roguish and harsh in speech. He should not be one who has earned wealth unjustly or who is always devoted to other men’s wives. He should not be inimical to the learned. He should not be a perpetually ignorant fellow or one who professes to be a scholar. He should not be one who has deviated from his vow or one who is of obscure (or irregular?) means of livelihood. He should not be slanderous or vicious in mind. He should not be voracious, cruel in his activities, or a leader of wicked-minded men. He should not be miserly, sinful, dreadful or one who terrorises persons who seek refuge in him. The preceptor should not accept a disciple who has all (any of) these evil characteristics. If he accepts him, his defects (sins) will affect the preceptor.

17. Just as the defect (mistakes) of a minister affects the king, just as the defect of wife affects the husband, so also the defect of disciple passes on to the preceptor undoubtedly.

18-21. Hence the teacher should always test the disciple and only then should he accept him. The disciple should be one who is devoted to the service of the preceptor mentally, verbally and physically. He should not stoop to thieving. He should be endowed with pious qualities (faith, etc.), should endeavour to attain salvation. He should be devoted to the vow of celibacy. He should always be steadfast in the performance of holy rites. He should be cheerful (optimistic) in his mind. He should be pure and not be knavish. His mind should be free from impurities. He should be devoted to helping others. He should be disinterested. He should be one who causes delight to the preceptor with his mind, body (personal service) and wealth. He should cause delight, O son, to all who depend upon him and shall be pure.

22. (The preceptor) should impart the Mantra to a disciple of only such a nature and not otherwise. If he were to instruct otherwise, the curse of Devas will fall on him.

23. Listen, O son, I shall describe the characteristics of the preceptor too. [3] Only that person who is endowed with these characteristics should be a preceptor to people.

24. He who is impartial in mind, calm and quiescent, devoid of anger, friendly to all men, good in behaviour, great and magnanimous and accords equal treatment to all in the world, is glorified as the (ideal) preceptor.

25. He must always observe my holy rites and vows. He must be one honoured by Vaiṣṇavas . He must be interested in episodes pertaining to me. He must be ever devoted to my festivals.

26. He must be an ocean of mercy and must be perfectly contented. He should be one who helps and obliges all living beings. He must be devoid of desire. He must be an all-rounder and accomplished gentleman. He must be an expert in all lores.

27. He must be capable of dispelling all doubts. He must not be lazy. Such a preceptor is a respected Brāhmaṇa . He knows what happens at different times. He should bless all.

28. The disciple having the characteristics mentioned before should receive that Mantra, O son, from a preceptor of this type, in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa which is my resort.

29. A wise man should perform all the Vaiṣṇava Vratas . He should always listen to the great (holy scripture) Śrīmadbhāgavata that is my favourite. [4]

30. The Purāṇa named Śrīmadbhāgavata is renowned throughout the world. The devotee should listen to it with faith. It causes my satisfaction and pleasure.

31. A man who reads the Bhāgavata Purāṇa continuously gets the merit of gifting a tawny-coloured cow for every syllable (so read).

32. He who reads or listens to half or even one-fourth of a verse quoted from Bhāgavata everyday, shall obtain the merit of (the gift of) a thousand cows.

33. O son, a man who reads with (mental and physical) purity a verse from Bhāgavata everyday, attains the merit of (reading) all the eighteen Purāṇas .

34. Vaiṣṇavas stay there where my story is continuously (told). Those men are unaffected by Kali , who always honour my (favourite Purāṇa).

35. Those men who honour in their abode the scriptures of Vaiṣṇavas [5] become rid of all their sins and they are saluted by Suras .

36. If people always honour the scripture Bhāgavata in their houses in the Kali Age, if they clap their hands (in praise thereof) and if they shout in joy, I become delighted with them.

37. The Manes drink milk, ghee , honey and water for as many days, O son, as their descendants keep the Bhāgavata text in their abodes.

38. Those who devoutly present the Bhāgavata scripture to a Vaiṣṇava, reside in my world for thousands and crores of Kalpas .

39. Devas are propitiated till the universal annihilation of all living beings by the men who honour the Bhāgavata scripture in their abodes always.

40. If one has in one’s abode half of a verse or even one-fourth of it from the excellent Bhāgavata , of what use are the collection of hundreds and thousands of other scriptural texts?

41. If, in Kali Age, anyone has no Bhāgavata text in his abode, he will never return from the noose of Yama .

42. If there is no Bhāgavata text in anyone’s house in Kali Age, how can he be known as a Vaiṣṇava? He is worse than a Cāṇḍāla .

43. O Lord of the worlds, scriptural texts must be collected even at the cost of all that one possesses. For the sake of propitiating me, O my son, a Vaiṣṇava must do so always.

44. Wherever there is Bhāgavata , the holy scripture, in Kali Age, I always stay there along with Devas.

45. All the Tīrthas , (West-flowing and East-flowing) rivers and lakes, Yajñas , the seven cities and all the meritorious mountains are present there.

46. O Lord of the worlds, my scripture should be listened to by one who seeks fame, virtue and victory, for the sake of dispelling sins and by the pious-minded one for the sake of salvation.

47. Śrīmadbhāgavata is meritorious. It yields longevity, health and nourishment. By reading or listening to it, one is liberated from all sins.

48. If people do not listen to the great (scripture.) Śrīmadbhāgavata , O Lord of the worlds, their perpetual master is Yama. It is indeed the truth, the truth (positively).

49. If a man does not go to listen to Bhāgavata , O son, particularly on the Ekādaśī day, there is no greater sinner than he.

50. I stay in that house where a verse from Bhāgavata , or half of it or even a quarter of it is kept written.

51. Approaching all the hermitages and taking a holy plunge in all the rivers is not as sanctifying unto men as Śrīmadbhāgavata .

52. Wherever there is Śrīmadbhāgavata , O Four-faced One, I go to that place like a cow fond of her calf.

53. I never abandon that man who is a reader and expounder of my stories, who is always engaged in listening to my stories and who is delighted in his mind (on hearing) my stories.

54. If a man does not stand up on seeing Śrīmadbhāgavata , the meritorious scripture, O son, his merit for the whole year perishes.

55. If a man honours Śrīmadbhāgavata on seeing it by standing up and bowing down to it, by seeing him I derive matchless pleasure.

56. If on seeing Bhāgavata from a distance a person (gladly) proceeds towards it, he shall undoubtedly attain the merit of a horse-sacrifice for every such step.

57. If a man gets up and bows down to Śrīmadbhāgavata , I grant to him wealth, sons, wives and devotion.

58. If men devoutly listen to Śrīmadbhāgavata offering royal reception and reverence to it, I am won over by them (easily).

59. O righteous one, men who listen devoutly to the great Śrīmadbhāgavata during all my festivals give me great delight.

60. I am won over by them through clothes, ornaments, flowers, incense, lamps and presents like a good husband by a good wife.

[1]: [1] : For meditation on God some form must be conceived for concentration of the mind. Here vv 2-7 give a beautiful description of Kṛṣṇa as a child. It will appeal to all devotees for meditation.

[2]: [2] : The author of this section emphasizes Dāmodara as the Mantra for meditation and Japa. The qualifications of a disciple to whom the Mantra is to be imparted are given in vv 11-22.

[3]: [3] : Qualifications of the preceptor are detailed in vv 23-27.

[4]: [4] : The importance of listening to or reading Śrīmadbhāgavata is shown in vv 29-34 and in vv 47ff.

[5]: [5] : VV 35-46 describe the efficacy of the Bhāgavata if one copy of it is kept in the house.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 21425, revision 329311 (2022-01-02T01:02:06Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371695.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.