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Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 4

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।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। तैलाभ्यङ्गं दिवास्वापं तथा वै कांस्य भोजनम् ।। खट्वा निद्रां गृहे स्नानं निषिद्धस्य च भक्षणम् ।। १ ।। वैशाखे वर्जयेदष्टौ द्विभुऽक्तं नक्तभोजनम्।। पद्मपत्रे तु यो भुंक्ते वैशाखे ब्रतसंस्थितः ।। २ ।। स तु पापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति ।। वैशाखे मासि मध्याह्ने श्रौतानां तु द्विजन्मनाम् ।। पादावनेजनं कुर्यात्तद्व्रतं सुव्रतोत्तमम् ।। ३ ।। अध्वश्रान्तं द्विजं यस्तु मध्याह्ने स्वगृहागतम् ।। उपवेश्यासने रम्ये कृत्वा पादावनेजनम् ।। ५ ।। धृत्वा शिरसि ताश्चापो विध्वस्ताखिलबंधनः ।। गंगादिसर्वतीर्थेषु स्नातो भवति निश्चितम्।। ६।। अस्नायी वाऽप्यपत्राशी वैशाखं तु नयेद्यदि ।। रासभी योनिमासाद्य पश्चादश्वतरो भवेत् ।। ७ ।। दृढाङ्गो रोगहीनश्च तथा स्वस्थोऽपि मानवः ।। वैशाखे तु गृहे स्नात्वा चांडालीं योनिमाप्नुयात् ।। ८ ।। वैशाखे मासि राजेन्द्र मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे ।। न करोति बहिःस्नानं श्वानयोनिशतं व्रजेत् ।। ९ ।। अस्नात्वा चाप्यदत्त्वा च वैशाखो येन नीयते ।। स पिशाचो भवेन्नूनमवैशाखादथो व्रजेत् ।। 2.7.4.१० ।। यो न दद्याज्जलं चान्नं वैशाखे लोभमानसः ।। पापहानिं दुःखहानिं नैवाप्नोति न संशयः ।। ११ ।। नदीस्नानं तु यः कुर्याद्वैशाखे विष्णुतत्परः ।। जन्मत्रयार्जितात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। १२ ।। समुद्रगनदीस्नानं कुर्यात्प्रातर्भगोदये ।। सप्तजन्मार्जितैः पापैस्तत्क्षणादेव मुच्यते ।। १३ ।। कुर्यादुषसि यः स्नानं सप्तगङ्गासु मानवः ।। कोटिजन्मार्जितात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। १४ ।। जाह्नवी वृद्धगङ्गा च कालिंदी च सरस्वती ।। कावेरी नर्मदा वेणी सप्तगंगाः प्रकीर्तिताः ।। १५ ।। देवखातेषु यः कुर्यात्प्रातर्वैशाखमज्जनम् ।। जन्मारभ्य कृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। १६ ।। वैशाखे मासि संप्राप्ते यो वापीष्ववगाहनम् ।। प्रातः कुर्यान्महाराज महापातकनाशनम् ।। १७ ।। अपि गोष्पदमात्रेषु बहिःस्थेषु जलेषु च ।। तिष्ठंति सरितः सर्वा गंगाद्या इति निश्चयः ।। इति जानन्समाप्नोति सर्वतीर्थाधिकं फलम् ।। १८ ।। क्षीरं रसाधिकं क्षीरादधिकं दधि भूमिप ।। दध्नोऽधिकं घृतं यद्वदूर्जो मासोऽधिकस्तथा ।। १९ ।। कार्तिकादधिको माघो माघाद्वैशाख उत्तमः ।। तस्मिन्मासे कृतो धर्मो वर्द्धते वटबीजवत् ।। 2.7.4.२० ।। आढ्यो वाऽतिदरिद्रो वा परतंत्रोऽथ वा नरः ।। यद्वस्तु लभते तेन तद्दातव्यं द्विजातये ।। २१ ।। कन्दमूलफलं शाकं लवणं गुडमेव च ।। कोलं पत्रं जलं तक्रमानंत्यायोपकल्पते ।। ।। २२ ।। नादत्तं लभते क्वापि ब्रह्माद्यैस्त्रिदशैरपि ।। २३ ।। दानेन हीनो हि भवेदकिंचनो निष्किञ्चनत्वाच्च करोति पापम् ।। पापादवश्यं नरकं प्रयाति दातव्यमस्मात्सुखमिच्छता तदा ।। २४ ।। यथा गृहं सर्वगुणोपपन्नं परिच्छदैर्हीनमशोभनं तथा ।। मासेषु धर्मः सकलेष्वनुष्ठितो वैशाखहीनस्तु वृथैव याति ।। २५ ।। यथैव कन्या सकलैश्च लक्षणैर्युक्ताऽपि जीवत्पतिलक्षणा न हि ।। क्रियाऽपि सांगा सकलाऽपि राजन्वैशाखहीना तु वृथैव तां विदुः ।। २६ ।। दयाविहीनास्तु यथा गुणा वृथा वैशाखधर्मेण विना तथा क्रियाः ।। शाकं तु यद्वल्लवणेन हीनं न रोचते सर्वगुणोपपन्नम् ।। २७ ।। वैशाखहीनं तु तथैव पुण्यं न साधुसेव्यं न फलाप्तिहेतुः ।। यद्वन्न भूषासहिताऽपि शोभते वस्त्रेण हीना ललना सुरूपा ।। क्रियाकलापः सुकृतोऽपि पुंभिर्न भासते तन्मधुमासहीनम् ।। २८ ।। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन येन केनाऽपि जन्तुना ।। धर्मो वैशाखमासे तु कर्तव्य इति निश्चयः ।। २९ ।। मधुसूदनमुद्दिश्य मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे ।। प्रातः स्नात्वाऽर्चयद्विष्णुमन्यथा नरकं व्रजेत् ।। 2.7.4.३० ।। कश्चिन्महीरथो राजा कामासक्तो जितेन्द्रियः ।। वैशाखस्नानयोगेन वैकुण्ठं गतवान्स्वयम् ।। ३१ ।। वैशाखः सफलो मासो मधुसूदनदैवतः ।। तीर्थयात्रातपोयज्ञदानहोमफलाधिकः ।। ३२ ।। ।। ।। प्रार्थनामंत्रः ।। ।। मधुसूदन देवेश वैशाखे मेषगे रवौ ।। प्रातः स्नानं करिष्यामि निर्विघ्नं कुरु माधव ।।३३।। ।। अर्घ्यमंत्राः ।। ।। वैशाखे मेषगे भानौ प्रातःस्नानपरायणः ।। अर्घ्यं तेऽहं प्रदास्यामि गृहाण मधुसूदन ।। ३४ ।। गंगाद्याः सरितः सर्वास्तीर्थानि च ह्रदाश्च ये ।। प्रगृह्णीत मया दत्तमर्घ्यं सम्यक्प्रसीदथ ।। ३५ ।। ऋषभः पापिनां शास्ता त्वं यमः समदर्शनः ।। गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं यथोक्तफलदो भव ।। ३६ ।। इति चार्घ्यं समर्प्याथ पश्चात्स्नानं समाचरेत् ।। वाससी परिधायाथ कृत्वा कर्माणि सर्वशः ।। ३७ ।। मधुसूदनमभ्यर्च्य प्रसूनैर्माधवोद्भवैः ।। श्रुत्वा विष्णुकथां दिव्यामेतन्मासप्रशंसिनीम् ।। ३८ ।। कोटिजन्मार्जितात्पापान्मुक्तो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् ।। ३९ ।। न जातु खिद्यते भूमौ न स्वर्गे न रसातले ।। न गर्भे जायते क्वापि न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् ।। 2.7.4.४० ।। वैशाखे कांस्यभोजी यस्तथा चाश्रुतसत्कथः ।। न स्नातो नापि दाता च नरकानेव गच्छति ।। ४१ ।। ब्रह्महत्यासहस्रस्य पापं शाम्येत्कथंचन ।। वैशाखे येन न स्नातं तत्पापं नैव गच्छति ।। ४२ ।। स्वाधीनेन स्वकायेन जले स्वातंत्र्य वर्तिनि ।। स्वाधीनजिह्वयोच्चार्यं हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम् ।। ४३ ।। न कुर्याद्यदि वैशाखे प्रातःस्नानं नराधमः ।। जीवन्नेव स पंचत्वमागतो नात्र संशयः ।। ४४ ।। येन केनाप्युपायेन माधवे मधुसूदनम्।। नार्चयेद्यदि मूढात्मा शौकरीं योनिमाप्नुयात् ।। ४५ ।। योऽर्चयेत्तुलसीपत्रैर्वैशाखे मधुसूदनम् ।। नृपो भूत्वा सार्वभौमः कोटिजन्मसु भोगवान् ।। पश्चात्कोटिकुलैर्युक्तो विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात्।। ।। ४६ ।। विविधैर्भक्तिमार्गैश्च विष्णुं सेवेत यौ व्रतैः ।। सगुणं निर्गुणं वाऽपि नित्यं ध्यायेदनन्यधीः ।। ४७ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां सहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये नारदाम्बरीषसंवादे वैशाखधर्मप्रशंसा नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ।। ४ ।।

|| nārada uvāca || || tailābhyaṅgaṃ divāsvāpaṃ tathā vai kāṃsya bhojanam || khaṭvā nidrāṃ gṛhe snānaṃ niṣiddhasya ca bhakṣaṇam || 1 || vaiśākhe varjayedaṣṭau dvibhu'ktaṃ naktabhojanam|| padmapatre tu yo bhuṃkte vaiśākhe bratasaṃsthitaḥ || 2 || sa tu pāpavinirmukto viṣṇulokaṃ ca gacchati || vaiśākhe māsi madhyāhne śrautānāṃ tu dvijanmanām || pādāvanejanaṃ kuryāttadvrataṃ suvratottamam || 3 || adhvaśrāntaṃ dvijaṃ yastu madhyāhne svagṛhāgatam || upaveśyāsane ramye kṛtvā pādāvanejanam || 5 || dhṛtvā śirasi tāścāpo vidhvastākhilabaṃdhanaḥ || gaṃgādisarvatīrtheṣu snāto bhavati niścitam|| 6|| asnāyī vā'pyapatrāśī vaiśākhaṃ tu nayedyadi || rāsabhī yonimāsādya paścādaśvataro bhavet || 7 || dṛḍhāṅgo rogahīnaśca tathā svastho'pi mānavaḥ || vaiśākhe tu gṛhe snātvā cāṃḍālīṃ yonimāpnuyāt || 8 || vaiśākhe māsi rājendra meṣasaṃsthe divākare || na karoti bahiḥsnānaṃ śvānayoniśataṃ vrajet || 9 || asnātvā cāpyadattvā ca vaiśākho yena nīyate || sa piśāco bhavennūnamavaiśākhādatho vrajet || 2.7.4.10 || yo na dadyājjalaṃ cānnaṃ vaiśākhe lobhamānasaḥ || pāpahāniṃ duḥkhahāniṃ naivāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ || 11 || nadīsnānaṃ tu yaḥ kuryādvaiśākhe viṣṇutatparaḥ || janmatrayārjitātpāpānmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 12 || samudraganadīsnānaṃ kuryātprātarbhagodaye || saptajanmārjitaiḥ pāpaistatkṣaṇādeva mucyate || 13 || kuryāduṣasi yaḥ snānaṃ saptagaṅgāsu mānavaḥ || koṭijanmārjitātpāpānmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 14 || jāhnavī vṛddhagaṅgā ca kāliṃdī ca sarasvatī || kāverī narmadā veṇī saptagaṃgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ || 15 || devakhāteṣu yaḥ kuryātprātarvaiśākhamajjanam || janmārabhya kṛtātpāpānmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 16 || vaiśākhe māsi saṃprāpte yo vāpīṣvavagāhanam || prātaḥ kuryānmahārāja mahāpātakanāśanam || 17 || api goṣpadamātreṣu bahiḥstheṣu jaleṣu ca || tiṣṭhaṃti saritaḥ sarvā gaṃgādyā iti niścayaḥ || iti jānansamāpnoti sarvatīrthādhikaṃ phalam || 18 || kṣīraṃ rasādhikaṃ kṣīrādadhikaṃ dadhi bhūmipa || dadhno'dhikaṃ ghṛtaṃ yadvadūrjo māso'dhikastathā || 19 || kārtikādadhiko māgho māghādvaiśākha uttamaḥ || tasminmāse kṛto dharmo varddhate vaṭabījavat || 2.7.4.20 || āḍhyo vā'tidaridro vā parataṃtro'tha vā naraḥ || yadvastu labhate tena taddātavyaṃ dvijātaye || 21 || kandamūlaphalaṃ śākaṃ lavaṇaṃ guḍameva ca || kolaṃ patraṃ jalaṃ takramānaṃtyāyopakalpate || || 22 || nādattaṃ labhate kvāpi brahmādyaistridaśairapi || 23 || dānena hīno hi bhavedakiṃcano niṣkiñcanatvācca karoti pāpam || pāpādavaśyaṃ narakaṃ prayāti dātavyamasmātsukhamicchatā tadā || 24 || yathā gṛhaṃ sarvaguṇopapannaṃ paricchadairhīnamaśobhanaṃ tathā || māseṣu dharmaḥ sakaleṣvanuṣṭhito vaiśākhahīnastu vṛthaiva yāti || 25 || yathaiva kanyā sakalaiśca lakṣaṇairyuktā'pi jīvatpatilakṣaṇā na hi || kriyā'pi sāṃgā sakalā'pi rājanvaiśākhahīnā tu vṛthaiva tāṃ viduḥ || 26 || dayāvihīnāstu yathā guṇā vṛthā vaiśākhadharmeṇa vinā tathā kriyāḥ || śākaṃ tu yadvallavaṇena hīnaṃ na rocate sarvaguṇopapannam || 27 || vaiśākhahīnaṃ tu tathaiva puṇyaṃ na sādhusevyaṃ na phalāptihetuḥ || yadvanna bhūṣāsahitā'pi śobhate vastreṇa hīnā lalanā surūpā || kriyākalāpaḥ sukṛto'pi puṃbhirna bhāsate tanmadhumāsahīnam || 28 || tasmātsarvaprayatnena yena kenā'pi jantunā || dharmo vaiśākhamāse tu kartavya iti niścayaḥ || 29 || madhusūdanamuddiśya meṣasaṃsthe divākare || prātaḥ snātvā'rcayadviṣṇumanyathā narakaṃ vrajet || 2.7.4.30 || kaścinmahīratho rājā kāmāsakto jitendriyaḥ || vaiśākhasnānayogena vaikuṇṭhaṃ gatavānsvayam || 31 || vaiśākhaḥ saphalo māso madhusūdanadaivataḥ || tīrthayātrātapoyajñadānahomaphalādhikaḥ || 32 || || || prārthanāmaṃtraḥ || || madhusūdana deveśa vaiśākhe meṣage ravau || prātaḥ snānaṃ kariṣyāmi nirvighnaṃ kuru mādhava ||33|| || arghyamaṃtrāḥ || || vaiśākhe meṣage bhānau prātaḥsnānaparāyaṇaḥ || arghyaṃ te'haṃ pradāsyāmi gṛhāṇa madhusūdana || 34 || gaṃgādyāḥ saritaḥ sarvāstīrthāni ca hradāśca ye || pragṛhṇīta mayā dattamarghyaṃ samyakprasīdatha || 35 || ṛṣabhaḥ pāpināṃ śāstā tvaṃ yamaḥ samadarśanaḥ || gṛhāṇārghyaṃ mayā dattaṃ yathoktaphalado bhava || 36 || iti cārghyaṃ samarpyātha paścātsnānaṃ samācaret || vāsasī paridhāyātha kṛtvā karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ || 37 || madhusūdanamabhyarcya prasūnairmādhavodbhavaiḥ || śrutvā viṣṇukathāṃ divyāmetanmāsapraśaṃsinīm || 38 || koṭijanmārjitātpāpānmukto mokṣamavāpnuyāt || 39 || na jātu khidyate bhūmau na svarge na rasātale || na garbhe jāyate kvāpi na bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet || 2.7.4.40 || vaiśākhe kāṃsyabhojī yastathā cāśrutasatkathaḥ || na snāto nāpi dātā ca narakāneva gacchati || 41 || brahmahatyāsahasrasya pāpaṃ śāmyetkathaṃcana || vaiśākhe yena na snātaṃ tatpāpaṃ naiva gacchati || 42 || svādhīnena svakāyena jale svātaṃtrya vartini || svādhīnajihvayoccāryaṃ harirityakṣaradvayam || 43 || na kuryādyadi vaiśākhe prātaḥsnānaṃ narādhamaḥ || jīvanneva sa paṃcatvamāgato nātra saṃśayaḥ || 44 || yena kenāpyupāyena mādhave madhusūdanam|| nārcayedyadi mūḍhātmā śaukarīṃ yonimāpnuyāt || 45 || yo'rcayettulasīpatrairvaiśākhe madhusūdanam || nṛpo bhūtvā sārvabhaumaḥ koṭijanmasu bhogavān || paścātkoṭikulairyukto viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāpnuyāt|| || 46 || vividhairbhaktimārgaiśca viṣṇuṃ seveta yau vrataiḥ || saguṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ vā'pi nityaṃ dhyāyedananyadhīḥ || 47 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ sahitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye nāradāmbarīṣasaṃvāde vaiśākhadharmapraśaṃsā nāma caturtho'dhyāyaḥ || 4 ||

English translation

Nārada said :

1-6. One who observes vows during the month of Vaiśākha shall avoid the (following) eight acts [1] : smearing the body with oil, sleeping during day-time, taking food in a bell-metal vessel, sleeping on a cot, taking bath in the house, eating forbidden food, taking food twice a day and taking food at night.

He who observes the vows in the month of Vaiśākha and takes his meal on a lotus leaf, shall be rid of sins. He shall go to the world of Viṣṇu .

One shall wash the feet of Brāhmaṇas who are tired at midday in the month of Vaiśākha. That shall be a holy rite, the most excellent one among all holy rites.

If a Brāhmaṇa fatigued by travelling on foot comes to one’s house at midday and if one makes that Brāhmaṇa occupy a beautiful seat and washes his feet and sprinkles that water over his (own) head, he shall have all the fetters (of Saṃsāra ) broken down. He is certainly on a par with that person who has taken his holy bath in Gaṅgā and all other Tīrthas .

7. A person who does not take bath in the month of Vaiśākha, one who passes the month of Vaiśākha without taking food on Palāśa leaf, shall be reborn first as a donkey and thereafter as a mule. [2]

8. If a healthy man of a strong constitution, devoid of ailments, takes bath in the house during Vaiśākha, he shall attain rebirth in the womb of a Cāṇḍāla woman.

9. O great king, if a person does not take bath outside (i.e., in rivers, lakes etc.) in the month of Vaiśākha when the Sun is in Aries, he shall be born as a dog a hundred times.

10. If the month of Vaiśākha is passed without the stipulated baths and charitable gifts, the person shall certainly become a ghost. By not observing the holy rites pertaining to the month of Vaiśākha, one shall go down (i.e. become degraded).

11. A man of greedy mind who does not offer water and cooked food in the month of Vaiśākha, never gets his sins and miseries destroyed. There is no doubt about it.

12. He who is devoted to Viṣṇu and takes bath in a river in the month of Vaiśākha, is liberated from the sins accumulated in the course of three births. There is no doubt about it.

13. If a person takes his bath at sunrise [3] in a river that flows into a sea, he shall at the very instant be released from sins acquired in the course of seven births.

14-15. Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), Vṛddhagaṅgā (Būḍhī Gaṅgā), Kālindī ( Yamunā ), Sarasvatī , Kāverī , Narmadā and Veṇī ( Kṛṣṇā )—these are glorified as the “Seven Gaṅgās ”. A man who takes his holy bath early in the morning in (anyone of) the “Seven Gaṅgās” is liberated from the sins acquired in the course of a crore of births. There is no doubt about this.

16. A person who takes the holy plunge in the morning during the month of Vaiśākha in natural reservoirs of water, shall be liberated from the sins committed ever since his birth. There is no doubt about this.

17. He who, at the advent of the month of Vaiśākha, takes his bath in wells (outside the house) in the morning, gets (his) great sins destroyed.

18-20. It is certain that all the rivers including Gaṅgā are present in water-receptacles outside, even if they be small like the pits made by cows’ hoofs. He who realizes this, attains the benefit more than from all the Tīrthas.

(Just as) Milk is superior to water, O king, curd is superior to milk and ghee superior to curd, so Kārttika is superior to the other months, the month of Māgha is superior to Kārttika and Vaiśākha is superior to Māgha. The holy rite performed in that month grows like the (minute) seed of a banyan tree (into a big tree).

21-22. A man may be rich or extremely poor or dependent, but whatever object he obtains should be given to a Brāhmaṇa, whether it is a bulb, root, fruit, vegetable, salt, jaggery, jujube fruit, leaf, water or buttermilk. It is conducive to infinite benefit.

23-28a. Nowhere does a man get anything if it has not been given by him (previously), not from even Devas including Brahmā . One who has never given charitable gifts will become indigent. Due to poverty he commits (further) sin. Due to sinfulness he falls into hell. Hence charitable gifts should be made by one who wishes for happiness.

Just as a house endowed with all good features is not (considered) splendid if it is devoid of goods and chattels, so also holy rites and pious observances performed in all the months go in vain, if the vows of the month of Vaiśākha are not observed. [4]

lust as a girl though endowed with all good qualities and features (does not shine) should she not have a living husband, so also a holy rite may be perfect in every detail with all ancillaries, but they know that it is futile if it is bereft of the Vaiśākha vows.

Just as all other qualities are futile if there is no mercifulness, so also all holy rites are futile if they are without the Vaiśākha vows. A vegetable dish may have all the good features and ingredients, but it is not relished if there is no salt therein. Similarly a meritorious deed unconnected with Vaiśākha should not be resorted to by good people. Nor is it conducive to the attainment of the good.

28b-30. A young woman may be exceedingly beautiful and may have all the ornaments, but she does not shine without (adequate) clothing. So also a series of holy rites performed exceedingly well by men does not shine without the Vaiśākha rites. So it is decided that holy rites are to be performed in the month of Vaiśākha by all means by every type of living being.

With the Slayer of Madhu in view, the devotee shall take holy bath in the morning when the Sun is in Aries and then worship Viṣṇu. Otherwise he will fall into hell.

31-32. There was a king named Mahīratha . [5] He was lecherous and lustful without any control over his passions. But due to holy ablution in the month of Vaiśākha he went to Vaikuṇṭha directly. Vaiśākha is a beneficial month with Madhusūdana as the deity. It yields more benefit for (the various holy rites such as) pilgrimages, austerities, Yajñas , charitable gifts and Homas .

The Mantra for prayer :

33. “O Madhusūdana, O lord of the Devas, I shall take the holy bath in the morning in the month of Vaiśākha when the Sun is in Aries. Make it free from hindrances, O Mādhava .”

The Mantra for Arghya :

34. “In the month of Vaiśākha when the Sun is in Aries, I am engaged in the early morning ablution. I shall give you Arghya . Accept it, O Madhusūdana.

35. O ye all rivers including Gaṅgā, accept the Arghya offered by me. O Tīrthas and whirlpools, accept the Arghya offered by me. Be well pleased.

36. O Yama , you are the leader. You are the chastiser of sinners. You view (everyone) impartially. Accept the Arghya offered by me. Be the bestower of the benefit mentioned.”

37-39. The devotee should offer Arghyas thus and then take the holy bath. He then wears two clothes and performs all the rites. He worships Madhusūdana with flowers growing in the vernal season. He shall then listen to the divine narratives and anecdotes of Viṣṇu praising this month. He shall be liberated from sins acquired in the course of a crore of births and attain salvation.

40. He will never undergo distress on the earth, neither in heaven nor in the nether worlds. He is not born anywhere again in any womb. He does not suck the breasts further (i.e. is liberated).

41. One who takes food in a bell-metal vessel in the month of Vaiśākha, one who does not listen to good stories, one who does not take holy bath or make charitable gifts, falls into hells.

42-47. Somehow the sin of killing a thousand Brāhmaṇas can be dispelled, but the sin of that person who has not taken holy bath in the month of Vaiśākha can never be dispelled. That base man is undoubtedly dead though living, who does not take holy bath in the month of Vaiśākha, though he has his body under his control, can freely enter and stay in water and his tongue is free enough to utter the two syllables HA-RI (but does not do so). If a stupid and deluded soul does not worship Madhusūdana in the month of Vaiśākha, by some means or the other, he shall be reborn as a pig. He who worships Madhusūdana in the month of Vaiśākha with Tulasī leaves, shall become an emperor and enjoy pleasures in a crore of births. Afterwards, he attains Sāyujya with Viṣṇu along with a crore of the members of his family. The devotee shall serve Viṣṇu both Saguṇa and Nirguṇa (with or without attributes) by means of different paths of devotion. He shall meditate upon him always with the mind not dwelling on anything else.

[1]: [1] : VV 1-6 enumerate the don’ts and dos in Vaiśākha.

[2]: [2] : VV 7-11 describe the punishment for violation of the Vrata-injunctions of Vaiśākha.

[3]: [3] : VV 13-19 describe the meritorious effects of morning bath, especially outside one’s house.

[4]: [4] : VV 25-30: importance of observing rites in Vaiśākha.

[5]: [5] : For the story of Mahīratha see PdP V (Pātāla Khaṇḍa), Ch. 99. The king improved his conduct and performed Vaiśākha-rites. After death he expressed his desire to see hells. When he went to have a view, the hellish beings felt happy. Seeing their plight, the king-offered his merit of Vaiśākha-rites and then the hellish beings went to heaven and only after their redemption the king agreed to go to Vaikuṇṭha.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23095, revision 71541 (2016-06-21T03:15:41Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371706.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.