Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya, Chapter 29 | Skanda Purāṇa

Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya · Chapter 29

।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलं लोकसंग्रहणाय वै ।। सिंहाकृति स हृदये उद्वास्य कमलासनः ।।१।। पूर्वं प्रकाशरूपं यद्विष्णोस्तु प्रकटीकृतम् ।। रथावरोहणे दृष्टाश्चतस्रो मूर्त्तयः पुरा ।। २ ।। ता एव सिंहासनगाः सर्वे ते ददृशुः पुनः ।। द्विषडक्षरमन्त्रेण बलभद्रमपूजयत् ।। ३ ।। सूक्तेन पौरुषेणैनं नारायणमनामयम् ।। देवीसूक्तेन चक्रं च द्वादशाक्षरकेण च ।। पूजयित्वानुग्रहाय पार्थिवस्य न्यवेदयत् ।। ४ ।। ।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। भगवन्देवदेवेश भक्तानुग्रहकारक ।। इन्द्रद्युम्नस्य जन्मानि त्वयि भक्तिं प्रकुर्वतः ।। सहस्रं समतीतानि तदन्ते त्वामलोकयत् ।। ५ ।। त्वद्दर्शनं हि भगवंस्त्वयि सायुज्यकारणम् ।। यद्यप्ययं भक्तियोगेनेच्छति त्वां समर्चितुम् ।। ६ ।। तदाज्ञापय येन त्वां भक्तियोगेन भावयेत् ।। देशकालव्रताद्यैस्तु तथा नानोपचारकैः ।। ७ ।। त्वन्मुखांभोजगलितमाज्ञामृतरसं नृपः ।। पिपासुस्त्वां जगन्नाथ पश्यत्येषोऽनिमेषकम्।।८ ।। ।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। इति विज्ञापितो देवः साक्षात्कमलयोनिना ।। दारुदेहोऽपि विहसन्प्राह गंभीरया गिरा ।। ९ ।। ।। श्रीप्रतिमोवाच ।। ।। इन्द्रद्युम्न प्रसन्नस्ते भक्त्या निष्कामकर्मभिः ।। त्वदन्येनेदृशी संपन्न केनाप्यपवर्जिता ।। 2.2.29.१० ।। वरं ददामि ते भूप मयि भक्तिः स्थिराऽस्तु ते ।। उत्सृज्य वित्तकोटीस्तु यन्ममायतनं कृतम् ।। ११ ।। भंगेप्येतस्य राजेंद्र स्थानं न त्यज्यते मया ।। कालांतरेऽपि योऽप्यन्यः प्रासादं कारयिष्यति ।। १२ ।। तवैव कीर्त्तिः सा नूनं त्वत्प्रीत्या तत्र मे स्थितिः ।। सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं सत्यमेव ब्रवीमि ते ।। १३ ।। प्रासाद भंगे तत्स्थानं न त्यक्ष्यामि कदाचन ।। अनेन दारुवपुषा स्थास्याम्यत्र परार्द्धकम् ।। १४ ।। द्वितीयं पद्मयोनेस्तु यावत्परिसमाप्यते ।। मनोः स्वायंभुवस्यास्य द्वितीये च चतुर्युगे ।। १५ ।। कृतस्य प्रथमे ज्येष्ठे दशेति क्रतुसंस्थितिः ।। ज्यैष्ठ्यामहं चावतीर्णस्तत्पुण्यजन्मवासरम् ।। १६ ।। तस्यां मे स्नपनं कुर्यान्महास्नानविधानतः ।। प्रत्यर्चायां महाराज साधिवासं समृद्धिमत् ।।१७।। पापं विनाशयिष्यामि कोटिजन्मभिरर्जितम् ।। सर्वतीर्थक्रतुफलं सर्वदानफलं तथा ।। १८ ।। पश्यतां चापि राजेंद्र फलं तावत्प्रपद्यते ।। न्यग्रोधादुत्तरे कूपः सर्वतीर्थमयोऽस्ति हि ।। १९ ।। स्नानाय पूर्वं निर्माय किंचिदाच्छादितं भुवा ।। अवतीर्णस्त्वहं पश्चात्तं विविच्य प्रकाशय ।। 2.2.29.२० ।। संस्कार्यः स चतुर्दश्यां बलिं दत्त्वा विधानतः ।। रक्षकक्षेत्रपालाय दिशांपालेभ्य एव च ।। २१ ।। कम्बुकाहालमुरजध्वनिषु सुस्वरेषु च ।। द्विजातयः स्वर्णकुम्भैरुद्धरेयुस्ततो जलम् ।।२२।। ज्यैष्ठ्यां प्रातस्तने काले ब्रह्मणा सहितं च माम् ।। रामं सुभद्रां संस्नाप्य मम लोकमवाप्नुयात् ।। २३ ।। स्नाप्यमानं तु यः पश्येन्मां तदा नृपसत्तम ।। देहबन्धं च नाप्नोति स पुनर्न तु पूरुषः ।। २४ ।। कारयित्वा दृढं मंचमैशान्यां दिशि मंडितम् ।। वितानशोभारचितं चंदनांभः समुक्षितम् ।। २५ ।। तत्र मां रामभद्राभ्यां स्नापयित्वा पुनर्नयेत् ।। २६ ।। दक्षिणाभिमुखं यांतं यो मां पश्यति भक्तितः ।। तत्तद्ध्रुवमवाप्नोति मनसा यद्यदिच्छति ।। २७ ।। ततः पंचदशाहानि स्थापयित्वा तु मां नृप ।। विरूपमभिरूपं वा न पश्येत्तु कदाचन ।। २८ ।। ज्येष्ठस्नानमिदं कृत्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। २९ ।। गुंडिचाख्यां महायात्रां प्रकुर्वीथाः क्षितीश्वर ।। यस्याः संकीर्तनादेव नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते ।। 2.2.29.३० ।। माघमासस्य पंचम्यामष्टम्यां चैत्रशुक्लके ।। एते कालाः प्रशस्ता हि गुंडिचाख्यमहोत्सवे ।। ३१ ।। विशेषान्मोक्षदाषाढद्वितीया पुष्यसंयुता ।। ऋक्षाभावे तिथौ कार्या सदा सा प्रीतये मम ।। ३२ ।। आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे द्वितीया पुष्यसंयुता ।। तस्यां रथे समारोप्य रामं मां भद्रया सह ।। ३३ ।। महोत्सवप्रवृत्त्यर्थं प्रीणयित्वा द्विजान्बहून् ।। गुंडिचामण्डपंनाम यत्राहमजनं पुरा ।। ३४ ।। अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य महावेदी तदाभवत् ।। तस्याः पुण्यतमं स्थानं पृथिव्यां नेह विद्यते ।। ३५ ।। यत्राजुहोः पंचशतवर्षाणि प्रीतये मम ।। मम प्रीतिकरं स्थानं तस्मान्नान्यद्धरागतम् ।। ३६ ।। यथेयं नीलशिखरा प्रासादेन तवाधुना ।। चतुर्मुखानुरोधेन महाप्रीतिकरी मम ।। ३७ ।। तथा नृसिंहक्षेत्रे वै महावेदी तव क्रतोः ।। ममोत्पत्तेश्च निलयं प्रीतिकृन्मम शाश्वतम् ।। ३५ ।। बहुकालं स्थितश्चाहं तस्यां मे प्रीतिरुत्तमा ।। आत्मा मे पद्मभूरेष प्रासादे स्थापितोऽमुना ।। ३९ ।। अस्यानुरोधात्त्वद्भक्त्या ह्यवतिष्ठेऽत्र नित्यदा ।। दिनानि नव यास्यामि तथा तस्मादिहागतः ।। 2.2.29.४० ।। तत्रास्ति ते महाराज सर्वतीर्थमयं सरः ।। तत्तीरे सप्तदिवसान्स्थास्याम्यनुजिघृक्षया ।। ४१ ।। तत्र स्थितं मां पश्यंतो यांति मर्त्या ममालयम् ।। तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्द्धकोटी च तीर्थानां भुवनत्रये ।। ४२ ।। तानि सर्वाणि सरसि मत्सान्निध्याद्व्रजंति ते ।। तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवद्दृष्ट्वा मां भक्तिभावतः ।। ४३ ।। जननीजठरे क्लेशं पुनर्नानुभवंति हि ।। नवमेऽह्नि समायातं दक्षिणाशामुखं तदा ।। ४४ ।। ये पश्यन्ति प्रतिपदमश्वमेधक्रतोः फलम् ।। प्राप्य भोगानिंद्रसमान्भुक्त्वान्ते मां विशंति ते ।। ४५।। ममोत्थानं मम स्वापं मत्पार्श्वपरिवर्त्तनम् ।। मार्गप्रावरणं चैव पुष्यस्नानमहोत्सवम् ।।४६ ।। फाल्गुन्यां क्रीडनं कुर्याद्दोलायां मम भूमिप ।। दोलायां येऽपि पश्यंति दक्षिणामुखपूजितम् ।। ४७ ।। ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। ४८ ।। अनयोर्मां समभ्यर्च्य दृष्ट्वा मां प्रणिपत्य च ।। प्रत्येकमष्टसाहस्रं वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ४९ ।। चैत्रे सितत्रयोदश्यां कुर्यात्कर्मप्रपूरणम् ।। चैत्रे मासि चतुर्दश्यां दमनैर्मे प्रपूजनम् ।। शुक्लपक्षे तु ये लोकाः सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।। 2.2.29.५० ।। वैशाखस्य सिते पक्षे तृतीयाऽक्षयसंज्ञिता ।। तत्र मां लेपयेद्गन्धलेपनैरतिशोभनैः ।। ५१ ।। प्रीतये मम ये कुर्युरुत्सवान्मम शाश्वतान् ।। चतुर्वर्गप्रदा ह्येते प्रत्येकं परिकीर्तिताः ।। ५२ ।। ।। जैमिनिरुवाच ।। ।। इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मा इन्द्रद्युम्नाय भो द्विजाः ।। ब्रह्माणमाह भगवान्स्मेरांभोरुहसन्मुखः।। ५३ ।। चतुर्मुख तव प्रीत्यै सर्वं संपादितं मया ।। त्वदिच्छा हि ममैवेच्छा न भेदो ह्यावयोर्ध्रुवम् ।। ५४ ।। यन्मां माधवमूर्तिं त्वं पुरा प्रार्थितवानसि ।। तस्यैव परिपाकोऽयमवतारः कृतो मया ।। ५५ ।। मामत्र दृष्ट्वा त्वभ्यर्च्य प्राणान्संत्यज्य मुच्यते ।। क्रमात्सर्वे त्वया सार्द्धं भूयः सायुज्यमेव च ।। ५६ ।। यद्वाचाभिलपन्मर्त्यो मामत्र हि निषेवते ।। अवश्यं तदवाप्नोति संगत्या चात्र भूपतिः ।। ५७ ।। व्रजेदानीं सत्यलोकं त्रिदिवं यांतु देवताः।। तवायुःपूर्णिपर्यंतमहमत्र स्थितो ध्रुवम् ।। ५८ ।। ततस्ते हर्षिताः सर्वे ब्रह्मर्षिसुरसत्तमाः ।। प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं जग्मुस्ते निलयं स्वकम् ।। ५९ ।। देवोऽपि च जगन्नाथः प्रतिमारूपधृक्तदा ।। तूष्णीं तिष्ठति सर्वेषां हर्षमापादयन्नृणाम्।। 2.2.29.६० ।। इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽपि धर्मात्मा विष्णुभक्तो दृढव्रतः ।। अनुव्रजन्पद्मयोनिं तेनादिष्टो न्यवर्तत ।। ६१ ।। यात्राः सर्वा भगवता आज्ञप्ताः साधु कारय ।। अस्मिंस्तुष्टे जगन्नाथे सन्तुष्टं वै चराचरम्।।६२।। इत्याज्ञां पद्मयोनेस्तु मूर्ध्न्याधाय क्षितीश्वरः ।। नारदेन सह श्रीमान्निधिना च समृद्धिमत् ।। ज्येष्ठस्नानादिकं सर्वमुत्सवं निरवर्तयत् ।। ६३ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य एकोनत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ।। २९ ।।

|| jaiminiruvāca || || ityuktvā nṛpaśārdūlaṃ lokasaṃgrahaṇāya vai || siṃhākṛti sa hṛdaye udvāsya kamalāsanaḥ ||1|| pūrvaṃ prakāśarūpaṃ yadviṣṇostu prakaṭīkṛtam || rathāvarohaṇe dṛṣṭāścatasro mūrttayaḥ purā || 2 || tā eva siṃhāsanagāḥ sarve te dadṛśuḥ punaḥ || dviṣaḍakṣaramantreṇa balabhadramapūjayat || 3 || sūktena pauruṣeṇainaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam || devīsūktena cakraṃ ca dvādaśākṣarakeṇa ca || pūjayitvānugrahāya pārthivasya nyavedayat || 4 || || || brahmovāca || || bhagavandevadeveśa bhaktānugrahakāraka || indradyumnasya janmāni tvayi bhaktiṃ prakurvataḥ || sahasraṃ samatītāni tadante tvāmalokayat || 5 || tvaddarśanaṃ hi bhagavaṃstvayi sāyujyakāraṇam || yadyapyayaṃ bhaktiyogenecchati tvāṃ samarcitum || 6 || tadājñāpaya yena tvāṃ bhaktiyogena bhāvayet || deśakālavratādyaistu tathā nānopacārakaiḥ || 7 || tvanmukhāṃbhojagalitamājñāmṛtarasaṃ nṛpaḥ || pipāsustvāṃ jagannātha paśyatyeṣo'nimeṣakam||8 || || jaiminiruvāca || || iti vijñāpito devaḥ sākṣātkamalayoninā || dārudeho'pi vihasanprāha gaṃbhīrayā girā || 9 || || śrīpratimovāca || || indradyumna prasannaste bhaktyā niṣkāmakarmabhiḥ || tvadanyenedṛśī saṃpanna kenāpyapavarjitā || 2.2.29.10 || varaṃ dadāmi te bhūpa mayi bhaktiḥ sthirā'stu te || utsṛjya vittakoṭīstu yanmamāyatanaṃ kṛtam || 11 || bhaṃgepyetasya rājeṃdra sthānaṃ na tyajyate mayā || kālāṃtare'pi yo'pyanyaḥ prāsādaṃ kārayiṣyati || 12 || tavaiva kīrttiḥ sā nūnaṃ tvatprītyā tatra me sthitiḥ || satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ satyameva bravīmi te || 13 || prāsāda bhaṃge tatsthānaṃ na tyakṣyāmi kadācana || anena dāruvapuṣā sthāsyāmyatra parārddhakam || 14 || dvitīyaṃ padmayonestu yāvatparisamāpyate || manoḥ svāyaṃbhuvasyāsya dvitīye ca caturyuge || 15 || kṛtasya prathame jyeṣṭhe daśeti kratusaṃsthitiḥ || jyaiṣṭhyāmahaṃ cāvatīrṇastatpuṇyajanmavāsaram || 16 || tasyāṃ me snapanaṃ kuryānmahāsnānavidhānataḥ || pratyarcāyāṃ mahārāja sādhivāsaṃ samṛddhimat ||17|| pāpaṃ vināśayiṣyāmi koṭijanmabhirarjitam || sarvatīrthakratuphalaṃ sarvadānaphalaṃ tathā || 18 || paśyatāṃ cāpi rājeṃdra phalaṃ tāvatprapadyate || nyagrodhāduttare kūpaḥ sarvatīrthamayo'sti hi || 19 || snānāya pūrvaṃ nirmāya kiṃcidācchāditaṃ bhuvā || avatīrṇastvahaṃ paścāttaṃ vivicya prakāśaya || 2.2.29.20 || saṃskāryaḥ sa caturdaśyāṃ baliṃ dattvā vidhānataḥ || rakṣakakṣetrapālāya diśāṃpālebhya eva ca || 21 || kambukāhālamurajadhvaniṣu susvareṣu ca || dvijātayaḥ svarṇakumbhairuddhareyustato jalam ||22|| jyaiṣṭhyāṃ prātastane kāle brahmaṇā sahitaṃ ca mām || rāmaṃ subhadrāṃ saṃsnāpya mama lokamavāpnuyāt || 23 || snāpyamānaṃ tu yaḥ paśyenmāṃ tadā nṛpasattama || dehabandhaṃ ca nāpnoti sa punarna tu pūruṣaḥ || 24 || kārayitvā dṛḍhaṃ maṃcamaiśānyāṃ diśi maṃḍitam || vitānaśobhāracitaṃ caṃdanāṃbhaḥ samukṣitam || 25 || tatra māṃ rāmabhadrābhyāṃ snāpayitvā punarnayet || 26 || dakṣiṇābhimukhaṃ yāṃtaṃ yo māṃ paśyati bhaktitaḥ || tattaddhruvamavāpnoti manasā yadyadicchati || 27 || tataḥ paṃcadaśāhāni sthāpayitvā tu māṃ nṛpa || virūpamabhirūpaṃ vā na paśyettu kadācana || 28 || jyeṣṭhasnānamidaṃ kṛtvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 29 || guṃḍicākhyāṃ mahāyātrāṃ prakurvīthāḥ kṣitīśvara || yasyāḥ saṃkīrtanādeva naraḥ pāpādvimucyate || 2.2.29.30 || māghamāsasya paṃcamyāmaṣṭamyāṃ caitraśuklake || ete kālāḥ praśastā hi guṃḍicākhyamahotsave || 31 || viśeṣānmokṣadāṣāḍhadvitīyā puṣyasaṃyutā || ṛkṣābhāve tithau kāryā sadā sā prītaye mama || 32 || āṣāḍhasya site pakṣe dvitīyā puṣyasaṃyutā || tasyāṃ rathe samāropya rāmaṃ māṃ bhadrayā saha || 33 || mahotsavapravṛttyarthaṃ prīṇayitvā dvijānbahūn || guṃḍicāmaṇḍapaṃnāma yatrāhamajanaṃ purā || 34 || aśvamedhasahasrasya mahāvedī tadābhavat || tasyāḥ puṇyatamaṃ sthānaṃ pṛthivyāṃ neha vidyate || 35 || yatrājuhoḥ paṃcaśatavarṣāṇi prītaye mama || mama prītikaraṃ sthānaṃ tasmānnānyaddharāgatam || 36 || yatheyaṃ nīlaśikharā prāsādena tavādhunā || caturmukhānurodhena mahāprītikarī mama || 37 || tathā nṛsiṃhakṣetre vai mahāvedī tava kratoḥ || mamotpatteśca nilayaṃ prītikṛnmama śāśvatam || 35 || bahukālaṃ sthitaścāhaṃ tasyāṃ me prītiruttamā || ātmā me padmabhūreṣa prāsāde sthāpito'munā || 39 || asyānurodhāttvadbhaktyā hyavatiṣṭhe'tra nityadā || dināni nava yāsyāmi tathā tasmādihāgataḥ || 2.2.29.40 || tatrāsti te mahārāja sarvatīrthamayaṃ saraḥ || tattīre saptadivasānsthāsyāmyanujighṛkṣayā || 41 || tatra sthitaṃ māṃ paśyaṃto yāṃti martyā mamālayam || tisraḥ koṭyo'rddhakoṭī ca tīrthānāṃ bhuvanatraye || 42 || tāni sarvāṇi sarasi matsānnidhyādvrajaṃti te || tatra snātvā ca vidhivaddṛṣṭvā māṃ bhaktibhāvataḥ || 43 || jananījaṭhare kleśaṃ punarnānubhavaṃti hi || navame'hni samāyātaṃ dakṣiṇāśāmukhaṃ tadā || 44 || ye paśyanti pratipadamaśvamedhakratoḥ phalam || prāpya bhogāniṃdrasamānbhuktvānte māṃ viśaṃti te || 45|| mamotthānaṃ mama svāpaṃ matpārśvaparivarttanam || mārgaprāvaraṇaṃ caiva puṣyasnānamahotsavam ||46 || phālgunyāṃ krīḍanaṃ kuryāddolāyāṃ mama bhūmipa || dolāyāṃ ye'pi paśyaṃti dakṣiṇāmukhapūjitam || 47 || brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpairmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 48 || anayormāṃ samabhyarcya dṛṣṭvā māṃ praṇipatya ca || pratyekamaṣṭasāhasraṃ vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet || 49 || caitre sitatrayodaśyāṃ kuryātkarmaprapūraṇam || caitre māsi caturdaśyāṃ damanairme prapūjanam || śuklapakṣe tu ye lokāḥ sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet || 2.2.29.50 || vaiśākhasya site pakṣe tṛtīyā'kṣayasaṃjñitā || tatra māṃ lepayedgandhalepanairatiśobhanaiḥ || 51 || prītaye mama ye kuryurutsavānmama śāśvatān || caturvargapradā hyete pratyekaṃ parikīrtitāḥ || 52 || || jaiminiruvāca || || iti dattvā varaṃ tasmā indradyumnāya bho dvijāḥ || brahmāṇamāha bhagavānsmerāṃbhoruhasanmukhaḥ|| 53 || caturmukha tava prītyai sarvaṃ saṃpāditaṃ mayā || tvadicchā hi mamaivecchā na bhedo hyāvayordhruvam || 54 || yanmāṃ mādhavamūrtiṃ tvaṃ purā prārthitavānasi || tasyaiva paripāko'yamavatāraḥ kṛto mayā || 55 || māmatra dṛṣṭvā tvabhyarcya prāṇānsaṃtyajya mucyate || kramātsarve tvayā sārddhaṃ bhūyaḥ sāyujyameva ca || 56 || yadvācābhilapanmartyo māmatra hi niṣevate || avaśyaṃ tadavāpnoti saṃgatyā cātra bhūpatiḥ || 57 || vrajedānīṃ satyalokaṃ tridivaṃ yāṃtu devatāḥ|| tavāyuḥpūrṇiparyaṃtamahamatra sthito dhruvam || 58 || tataste harṣitāḥ sarve brahmarṣisurasattamāḥ || praṇamya śirasā devaṃ jagmuste nilayaṃ svakam || 59 || devo'pi ca jagannāthaḥ pratimārūpadhṛktadā || tūṣṇīṃ tiṣṭhati sarveṣāṃ harṣamāpādayannṛṇām|| 2.2.29.60 || indradyumno'pi dharmātmā viṣṇubhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ || anuvrajanpadmayoniṃ tenādiṣṭo nyavartata || 61 || yātrāḥ sarvā bhagavatā ājñaptāḥ sādhu kāraya || asmiṃstuṣṭe jagannāthe santuṣṭaṃ vai carācaram||62|| ityājñāṃ padmayonestu mūrdhnyādhāya kṣitīśvaraḥ || nāradena saha śrīmānnidhinā ca samṛddhimat || jyeṣṭhasnānādikaṃ sarvamutsavaṃ niravartayat || 63 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe puruṣottamakṣetramāhātmya ekonatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 29 ||

English translation

Jaimini said :

1-4. After saying this to the tiger among kings, the Lotus-seated Lord took away the lion form of Viṣṇu that had formerly manifested in the form of light and touched the heart for the sake of the welfare of the worlds.

The four idols that were seen before at the time of placing them down from the chariot were seen again seated on thrones. Brahmā then worshipped Balabhadra with the twelve-syllabled Mantra . He worshipped Nārāyaṇa , free from ailments, with the Puruṣa Sūkta , ( Subhadrā ) with the Devī Sūkta and the discus with the twelve-syllabled Mantra. After worshipping he submitted the request (to the Lord) to bless the king.

Brahmā said :

5-8. O Lord, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas , O bestower of blessings on devotees, Indradyumna has been a devotee of yours in the course of a thousand births. At the end he saw you.

Indeed, O Lord, seeing you is the cause of Sāyujya with you, although he wishes to worship you through the yoga of devotion. So command him to meditate on you through the yoga of devotion, through holy rites, different kinds of offerings and services to be performed in different places on different occasions.

Desirous of imbibing the nectarine juice of your command issuing from your lotus-like mouth, O Lord of the universe, the king looks at you without winking.

Jaimini said :

9. On being requested thus directly by the Lotus-born Lord, the Lord, though he had only the wooden body, laughingly said thus in a majestic tone:

The holy idol said :

10. O Indradyumna, I am delighted with your devotion and holy rites performed without selfish motive. So much of wealth has never been spent by any person other than you.

11-12a. I shall grant you this boon, O king, that your devotion to me shall be steady. You have spent crores and crores and built my shrine, O great king. Even if it cracks and crumbles, this spot will not be abandoned by me.

12b-18. Even if any other person later, on another occasion, were to build the Mansion, the credit surely shall go to you only. It is due to my love for you that I will stay there. I affirm repeatedly that it is true. I am speaking the truth to you. Even when the Mansion crumbles, I will never abandon this spot. With this wooden body I shall stay here for the period till the second Parārdhaka (the later half of the life) of Brahmā comes to a close.

In the second set of four Yugas of Svāyaṃbhuva Manu , in the first Jyeṣṭha month of the Kṛta Yuga , [1] I was born in the Jyaiṣṭhī (i.e. on the full-moon day in Jyeṣṭha). That is the auspicious birthday of the incarnation.

On that day the sacred ablution should be performed on my idol in accordance with the injunctions for great ablutions. O great king, it should be done profusely with the waters (of the Tīrthas ) scented with perfumes. [2] This holy rite will destroy the sins acquired in the course of a crore of births. The benefit of all the Tīrthas and sacrifices and the benefit of all charitable gifts (shall be acquired).

19-21. Benefit is acquired, O great king, even by those who view this.

There is a well to the north of the Banyan tree. [3] Indeed it is filled with all the Tīrthas. It was originally dug up for the purpose of bathing. It has been covered a little by the (falling) earth. I incarnated afterwards. Clear it and bring it to light. It should be consecrated on the fourteenth lunar day after offering oblation in accordance with the injunctions to the Kṣetrapāla (Protector of the holy spot) who protects it and to the Guardians of the Quarters.

22. Brāhmaṇas should take water therefrom with golden pots to the accompaniment of the sweet sounds of conch-shells, Kāhāla trumpets, Muraja drums etc.

23. On the morning of the full-moon day, in the month of Jyeṣṭha, the devotee should perform the ablution of Rāma , Subhadrā and me along with Brahmā. Thereby he will obtain my world.

24. The man who sees me being bathed then, O excellent king, does not become bound with bodies thereafter.

25-29. In the north-eastern corner a sturdy stage [raised platform] be made and placed. It should be well-adorned. A canopy should be put up above it. It should be sprinkled with sandal-paste water. Along with Rāma and Subhadrā I should be bathed and taken there. He who sees me proceeding ahead facing South with great devotion, shall certainly obtain whatever he wishes for.

O king, after placing me (installing me), for fifteen days one should never see ugly or beautiful things (?) By performing this holy ablution of Jyeṣṭha one is liberated from all sins.

30. O lord of the earth, you should celebrate ‘the great procession named Guṇḍicā. [4] The very glorification of this liberates a man from sins.

31. The fifth day of the lunar month of Māgha and the eighth day in the bright half of Caitra —these are the best days for the great festival named Guṇḍicā.

32. Particularly the second day in the month of Āṣāḍha in conjunction with Puṣya constellation is conducive to salvation. The festival shall be celebrated on the specified lunar day even if the constellation does not coincide. It is pleasing to me always.

33. On the second day, in the bright half of the lunar month of Āṣāḍha, in conjunction with Puṣya constellation, the devotees should place Rāma and me along with Bhadrā on the chariot.

34. For the performance of the great festival, many Brāhmaṇas should be propitiated. The Guṇḍicā pavilion should be where I was born before.

35. At that time the great Altar of your thousand horse-sacrifices was there. There is no spot here on the earth more meritorious than that.

36. There is no other place on the earth more pleasing to me than that place where you performed Homas for five hundred years to propitiate me.

37-38. Just as this Nīla mountain is highly pleasing to me now on account of your Mansion (built) at the instance of the Four-faced Lord, so also in the Nṛsiṃhakṣetra the great altar of your sacrifice, the place of my birth, is eternally pleasing to me.

39. I have stayed there for a great deal of time. I have great pleasure therein. This Lotus-born Lord is my Ātman . My Ātman has been installed by him in the Mansion.

40. Due to his request and your devotion I shall stay here permanently. I shall go (there) for nine days. Then I will come here.

41-42a. There, O great king, is your lake consisting of all the Tīrthas. On its shore I shall stay for seven days with a desire to bless (people). Men who see me stationed there go to my abode.

42b-44a. There are three and half crores of Tīrthas in all the three worlds together. Due to my presence near the lake all those Tīrthas flow into that lake. By taking holy bath there and by seeing me duly with devotional feelings they do not undergo any longer the pain in the womb of a mother.

44b-45. When I return on the ninth day facing the South, the devotees shall see me. Those who see me then, shall attain the benefit of a horse-sacrifice for every step. They being on a par with Indra enjoy the pleasures and in the end enter me (i.e. become one with me).

46. My getting up, my going to sleep, turning on the sides, covering of my path and meritorious bath—all these are occasions for great festivals.

47-50. On the full-moon day in the month of Phālguna , O king, the festival of my sport in the swing ( dolā ) should be celebrated. Those who see me worshipped facing the South and sporting in the swing shall be liberated from Brāhmaṇa ’s slaughter and other sins. There is no doubt about it. Worshipping me in these two (festivals), seeing me and bowing down to me, the devotee shall obtain the benefit of eight thousand horse-sacrifices for each.

On the thirteenth day in the bright half of Caitra, the festival of Karmaprapūraṇam (filling in the Karmas ) shall be celebrated. I shall be worshipped with Damana (Artemisia Indica) flowers on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra. All the sins of those people shall be destroyed.

51-52. The third day in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha is called Akṣayatṛtīyā . On that day I shall be smeared with excessively splendid unguents. It shall please me. Those who celebrate my festivals regularly shall attain all the four aims in life. Each of these is glorified as the bestower of the fourfold aim of life.

Jaimini said :

53. After granting boons to Indradyumna, O Brāhmaṇas, the Lord said to Brahmā with smiles on his lotus-like face:

54. “O Four-faced One, everything has been accomplished for your delight. Your wish is my wish. Certainly there is no difference between us.

55. This incarnation has been taken by me as a result of your former request to me while I was in the form of Mādhava .

56. By seeing me here, by worshipping me and by casting off their life here, all of them are gradually liberated along with you. Again they will attain Sāyujya :

57. If a man wishes something and serves me here, he will certainly obtain it.

58. Let the king in (your) company go now to Satyaloka . Let the Devas go to heaven. I stay on here as long as you live.”

59. Then those excellent Brahminical Sages and Suras became delighted. After bowing down their heads to the Lord they went to their respective abodes.

60. The Lord, the Lord of the universe having the form of the idol remained silent, delighting all the men.

61. The righteous-souled Indradyumna, the devotee of Viṣṇu, steadfast in his holy rites, followed the Lotus-born Lord. At his behest he returned.

( Brahmā said :)

62. Celebrate well all the processions and festivals commanded by the Lord. Whe this Lord of the universe is pleased, all the mobile and immobile beings are pleased.

63. The lord of the earth received this behest of the Lotus-born Lord with bent head. Accompanied by Nārada and Padmanidhi he celebrated all the festivals beginning with Jyeṣṭhasnāna (taking the holy bath in the month of Jyeṣṭha) gorgeously.

[1]: [1] : Two words ‘ daśeti kratusaṃsthitiḥ ’ in the original appear to be irrelevant.

[2]: [2] : sādhivāsam : ‘ adhivāsa ’ is also interpreted as ‘the necessary arrangement for festive religious duties performed on the previous day’. Then the translation will be... “on that day...for great ablution along with the Adhivāsa ritual”.

[3]: [3] : The Kalpa tree which stands in the compound of Jagannātha Temple.

[4]: [4] : Another name for Ratha-yātrā .

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22951, revision 407899 (2025-03-30T12:35:21Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370749.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.