Skip to main content

Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Unit 155 of 221Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 1Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 11 source entries

Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 1

Source

।। अथ वैशाखमासमाहात्म्य प्रारंभः ।। ।। नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।। देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ।। १ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। भूयोऽप्यंगभुवं राजा ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः ।। पुण्यं माधवमाहात्म्यं नारदं पर्यपृच्छत ।। १ ।। ।। ।। अंवरीष उवाच ।। ।। सर्वेषामपि मासानां त्वत्तो माहात्म्यमंजसा ।। श्रुतं मया पुरा ब्रह्मन्यदा चोक्तं तदा त्वया ।। २ ।। वैशाखः प्रवरो मासो मासेष्वेतेषु निश्चितम् ।। इति तस्माद्विस्तरेण माहात्म्यं माधवस्य च ।। ३ ।। श्रोतुं कौतूहलं ब्रह्मन्कथं विष्णुप्रियो ह्यसौ ।। के च विष्णुप्रिया धर्मा मासे माधववल्लभे ।। ४ ।। तत्राप्यस्य तु कर्तव्याः के धर्मा विष्णुवल्लभाः ।। किं दानं किं फलं तस्य कमुद्दिश्याऽऽचरेदिमान् ।। ।। ५ ।। कैर्द्रव्यैः पूजनीयोऽसौ माधवो माधवागमे ।। एतन्नारद विस्तार्य मह्यं श्रद्धावते वद ।। ६ ।। ।। श्रीनारद उवाच ।। ।। मया पृष्टः पुरा ब्रह्मा मासधर्मान्पुरातनान् ।। व्याजहार पुरा प्रोक्तं यच्छ्रियै परमात्मना ।। ७ ।। ततो मासा विशिष्योक्ताः कार्तिको माघ एव च ।। माधवस्तेषु वैशाखं मासानामुत्तमं व्यधात् ।। ८ ।। मातेव सर्वजीवानां सदैवेष्ट प्रदायकः ।। दानयज्ञ्रव्रतस्नानैः सर्वपापविनाशनः ।। ९ ।। धर्म यज्ञक्रियासारस्तपःसारः सुरार्चितः ।। विद्यानां वेदविद्येव मंत्राणां प्रणवो यथा ।। 2.7.1.१० ।। भूरुहाणां सुरतरुर्धेनूनां कामधेनुवत् ।। शेषवत्सर्वनागानां पक्षिणां गरुडो यथा ।। ११ ।। देवानां तु यथा विष्णुर्वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो यथा ।। प्राणवत्प्रियवस्तूनां भार्येव सुहृदां यथा ।। १२ ।। आपगानां यथा गंगा तेजसां तु रविर्यथा ।। आयुधानां यथा चक्रं धातूनां कांचनं यथा ।। १३ ।। वैष्णवानां यथा रुद्रो रत्नानां कौस्तुभो यथा ।। मासानां धर्महेतूनां वैशाखश्चोत्तमस्तथा ।। १४ ।। नानेन सदृशो लोके विष्णुप्रीतिविधायकः ।। वैशाखस्नाननिरते मेषे प्रागर्यमोदयात् ।। १५ ।। लक्ष्मीसहायो भगवान्प्रीतिं तस्मिन्करोत्यलम् ।। जंतूनां प्रीणनं यद्वदन्नेनैव हि जायते ।। १६ ।। तद्वद्वैशाखस्नानेन विष्णुः प्रीणात्यसंशयम् ।। वैशाखस्नाननिरताञ्जनान्दृष्ट्वाऽनुमोदते ।। १७ ।। तावतापि विमुक्तोऽघैर्विष्णुलोके महीयते ।। सकृत्स्नात्वा मेषसंस्थे सूर्ये प्रातः कृताह्निकः ।। ।। १८ ।। महापापैर्विमुक्तोऽसौ विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ।। स्नानार्थं मासि वैशाखे पादमेकं चरेद्यदि ।। १९ ।। सोऽश्वमेधायुतानां च फलमाप्नोत्यसंशयम् ।। अथवा कूटचित्तस्तु कुर्यात्संकल्पमात्रकम् ।। 2.7.1.२० ।। सोऽपि क्रतुशतं पुण्यं लभेदेव न संशयः ।। यो गच्छेद्धनुरायामं स्नातुं मेषगते रवौ ।। २१ ।। सर्वबंधविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ।। त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि ब्रह्मांडांतर्गतानि च ।। २२ ।। तानि सर्वाणि राजेन्द्र संति बाह्येऽल्पके जले ।। तावल्लिखितपापानि गर्जंति यमशासने ।। २३ ।। यावन्न कुरुते जंतुर्वैशाखे स्नानमंभसि ।। तीर्थादिदेवताः सर्वा वैशाखे मासि भूमिप ।। २४ ।। बहिर्जलं समाश्रित्य सदा सन्निहिता नृप ।। सूर्योदयं समारभ्य यावत्षड्घटिकावधि ।। २५ ।। तिष्ठंति चाऽऽज्ञया विष्णोर्नराणां हितकाम्यया ।। तावन्नागच्छतां पुंसां शापं दत्त्वा सुदारुणम् ।। स्वस्थानं यांति राजेन्द्र तस्मात्स्नानं समाचरेत् ।। ।। २६ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये नारदाम्बरीषसंवादे वैशाखमास प्रशंसापूर्वक वैशाखस्नानमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ।। १ ।।

|| atha vaiśākhamāsamāhātmya prāraṃbhaḥ || || nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya naraṃ caiva narottamam || devīṃ sarasvatīṃ vyāsaṃ tato jayamudīrayet || 1 || || sūta uvāca || || bhūyo'pyaṃgabhuvaṃ rājā brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ || puṇyaṃ mādhavamāhātmyaṃ nāradaṃ paryapṛcchata || 1 || || || aṃvarīṣa uvāca || || sarveṣāmapi māsānāṃ tvatto māhātmyamaṃjasā || śrutaṃ mayā purā brahmanyadā coktaṃ tadā tvayā || 2 || vaiśākhaḥ pravaro māso māseṣveteṣu niścitam || iti tasmādvistareṇa māhātmyaṃ mādhavasya ca || 3 || śrotuṃ kautūhalaṃ brahmankathaṃ viṣṇupriyo hyasau || ke ca viṣṇupriyā dharmā māse mādhavavallabhe || 4 || tatrāpyasya tu kartavyāḥ ke dharmā viṣṇuvallabhāḥ || kiṃ dānaṃ kiṃ phalaṃ tasya kamuddiśyā''caredimān || || 5 || kairdravyaiḥ pūjanīyo'sau mādhavo mādhavāgame || etannārada vistārya mahyaṃ śraddhāvate vada || 6 || || śrīnārada uvāca || || mayā pṛṣṭaḥ purā brahmā māsadharmānpurātanān || vyājahāra purā proktaṃ yacchriyai paramātmanā || 7 || tato māsā viśiṣyoktāḥ kārtiko māgha eva ca || mādhavasteṣu vaiśākhaṃ māsānāmuttamaṃ vyadhāt || 8 || māteva sarvajīvānāṃ sadaiveṣṭa pradāyakaḥ || dānayajñravratasnānaiḥ sarvapāpavināśanaḥ || 9 || dharma yajñakriyāsārastapaḥsāraḥ surārcitaḥ || vidyānāṃ vedavidyeva maṃtrāṇāṃ praṇavo yathā || 2.7.1.10 || bhūruhāṇāṃ suratarurdhenūnāṃ kāmadhenuvat || śeṣavatsarvanāgānāṃ pakṣiṇāṃ garuḍo yathā || 11 || devānāṃ tu yathā viṣṇurvarṇānāṃ brāhmaṇo yathā || prāṇavatpriyavastūnāṃ bhāryeva suhṛdāṃ yathā || 12 || āpagānāṃ yathā gaṃgā tejasāṃ tu raviryathā || āyudhānāṃ yathā cakraṃ dhātūnāṃ kāṃcanaṃ yathā || 13 || vaiṣṇavānāṃ yathā rudro ratnānāṃ kaustubho yathā || māsānāṃ dharmahetūnāṃ vaiśākhaścottamastathā || 14 || nānena sadṛśo loke viṣṇuprītividhāyakaḥ || vaiśākhasnānanirate meṣe prāgaryamodayāt || 15 || lakṣmīsahāyo bhagavānprītiṃ tasminkarotyalam || jaṃtūnāṃ prīṇanaṃ yadvadannenaiva hi jāyate || 16 || tadvadvaiśākhasnānena viṣṇuḥ prīṇātyasaṃśayam || vaiśākhasnānaniratāñjanāndṛṣṭvā'numodate || 17 || tāvatāpi vimukto'ghairviṣṇuloke mahīyate || sakṛtsnātvā meṣasaṃsthe sūrye prātaḥ kṛtāhnikaḥ || || 18 || mahāpāpairvimukto'sau viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāpnuyāt || snānārthaṃ māsi vaiśākhe pādamekaṃ caredyadi || 19 || so'śvamedhāyutānāṃ ca phalamāpnotyasaṃśayam || athavā kūṭacittastu kuryātsaṃkalpamātrakam || 2.7.1.20 || so'pi kratuśataṃ puṇyaṃ labhedeva na saṃśayaḥ || yo gaccheddhanurāyāmaṃ snātuṃ meṣagate ravau || 21 || sarvabaṃdhavinirmukto viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāpnuyāt || trailokye yāni tīrthāni brahmāṃḍāṃtargatāni ca || 22 || tāni sarvāṇi rājendra saṃti bāhye'lpake jale || tāvallikhitapāpāni garjaṃti yamaśāsane || 23 || yāvanna kurute jaṃturvaiśākhe snānamaṃbhasi || tīrthādidevatāḥ sarvā vaiśākhe māsi bhūmipa || 24 || bahirjalaṃ samāśritya sadā sannihitā nṛpa || sūryodayaṃ samārabhya yāvatṣaḍghaṭikāvadhi || 25 || tiṣṭhaṃti cā''jñayā viṣṇornarāṇāṃ hitakāmyayā || tāvannāgacchatāṃ puṃsāṃ śāpaṃ dattvā sudāruṇam || svasthānaṃ yāṃti rājendra tasmātsnānaṃ samācaret || || 26 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye nāradāmbarīṣasaṃvāde vaiśākhamāsa praśaṃsāpūrvaka vaiśākhasnānamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ || 1 ||

English translation

Obeisance to Śrī Gaṇeśa

After bowing down to Nārāyaṇa , Nara the most excellent one among men, Goddess Sarasvatī and Vyāsa , one should recite Jaya (the Purāṇa ). [1]

Sūta said :

1. Once again, the king ( Aṃbarīṣa ) asked Nārada , the son of Brahmā Parameṣṭhin, about the meritorious greatness of the month of Vaiśākha .

Aṃbarīṣa said :

2-6. The greatness of all the months has been truly heard by me from you, O Brāhmaṇa , formerly. It was then said by you that among these months Vaiśākha was the most excellent one. Hence, O Brāhmaṇa, I have great curiosity to hear the greatness of the month of Vaiśākha. How is it that this month is dear to Viṣṇu ? What are those holy rites which Viṣṇu likes to be performed in the month that is a favourite of Mādhava ? Out of these too, what are those holy rites most dear to Viṣṇu and worthy of being performed? What is to be given as charitable gift? What is its benefit? With whom (what deity) in view are we to perform these rites? What are those materials of worship with which Mādhava is to be worshipped at the advent of the month of Vaiśākha? O Nārada, describe this in detail to me who am full of devotion.

Śrī Nārada replied :

7. Formerly, on being asked by me, Brahmā described the ancient (traditional) holy rites pertaining to the different months as had been described previously to Śrī by the Supreme Ātman (Viṣṇu).

8. Thereupon, some months were particularly mentioned (such as) Kārttika and Māgha . Mādhava (Viṣṇu) made Vaiśākha the most excellent one among the months.

9-14. (The month of Vaiśākha) is the bestower of the desired things upon all the living beings, like a mother forever. It is the destroyer of all sins by means of charitable gifts, holy rites and ablutions. It is the essence of all virtues (religious acts), Yajñas and holy rites. It is the essence of all austerities. It is worshipped by Suras .

Like the Vedic lore among all lores, [2] like Praṇava among all Mantras , like the divine Kalpa (wish-yielding) tree among trees, like the Kāmadhenu (wish-yielding cow) among all cows, like Śeṣa among all serpents, like Garuḍa among all birds, like Viṣṇu among all Devas , like Brāhmaṇa among all castes, like the vital air among the dearest objects, like wife among intimate ones, like Gaṅgā among all rivers, like the sun among luminaries, like discus among all the weapons, like gold among all metals, like Rudra among all Vaiṣṇavas and like Kaustubha among all jewels, Vaiśākha is the most excellent one among all the months conducive to piety and virtuousness.

15-17. There is nothing else like this in the world which is conducive to the pleasure of Viṣṇu.

The Lord accompanied by Lakṣmī is much delighted with a person habitually engaged in the holy bath before sunrise in the month of Vaiśākha (when the Sun is) in Aries. [3]

Just as creatures are pleased with food, so also Viṣṇu is undoubtedly pleased with the holy bath in the month of Vaiśākha. On seeing people engaged in holy bath in the month of Vaiśākha, he becomes highly pleased.

18-22a. By that itself one is liberated from sins and is honoured in the world of Viṣṇu. By taking bath once in the morning when the Sun is in Aries and performing the daily round of duties, the devotee is liberated from great sins. He shall attain Sāyujya (identity) with Viṣṇu.

If a man takes a step for the purpose of ablution in the month of Vaiśākha, he undoubtedly attains the benefit of ten thousands of horse-sacrifices.

Or a man of crooked mind may simply resolve (this) within his mind. Even he will obtain the merit of a hundred sacrifices. There is no doubt in it.

He who goes a distance of a Dhanus (=distance of three and a half hands) in order to bathe when the Sun is in Aries, shall be liberated from all bondages. He shall attain Sāyujya with Viṣṇu.

22b-26. O eminent king, all the Tīrthas in the three worlds within the Cosmic Egg are present even in very little of water in streams etc. Sins entered in the records of Yama roar only as long as a living being does not take bath in cold water in the month of Vaiśākha!

All the deities of the Tīrthas etc., O king, are always present in the external water (i.e., in rivers, lakes etc.,) in the month of Vaiśākha. At the behest of Viṣṇu and with a desire for the welfare of men they stay there for six ghaṭikās (24x6=144 Minutes) from sunrise. If men do not take bath by that time, they curse them terribly and go over to their respective abodes. Hence, O great king one should take bath (as stated).

[1]: [1] : This benedictory verse shows that Vaiśākhmāsa-Māhātmya (VM) is an independent work incorporated in SkP. We have a VM in PdP V (Pātāla-Khaṇḍa), Chs. 84-98.

[2]: [2] : VV 11-14 are an echo of BG X ( Vibhūti-Yoga ).

[3]: [3] : VV 15-26 describe the meritorious nature of early bath (before sunrise) in Vaiśākha. The deities of Tīrthas go away from them after six ghaṭis from sunrise.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23093, revision 71538 (2016-06-21T03:11:15Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371703.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.