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Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 7

Chapter 7

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Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 7

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।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। राजा तदद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा मैथिलो धर्मवित्तमः ।। कृताञ्जलिः सुखासीनं विस्मितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ।।१।। ।। मैथिल उवाच ।। ।। दृष्टमेतन्महाश्चर्यं साधूनां चरितं तथा ।। येन धर्मेण मुक्तोऽभूद्राजा चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः ।।२ ।। तं धर्मं विस्तरेणैव श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि मे ।। मह्यं श्रद्धावते विद्वत्कृपया विस्तराद्वद ।। ३ ।। इति राज्ञा सुसंपृष्टः श्रुतदेवो महामनाः ।। साधुसाध्विति संभाष्य व्याजहार नृपोत्तमम् ।। ४ ।। ।। श्रुतदेव उवाच ।। ।। सम्यग्व्यवसिता बुद्धिस्तव राजर्षिसत्तम ।। वासुदेवप्रियान्धर्माञ्छ्रोतुं यस्मान्मतिस्तव ।। ५ ।। बहुजन्मार्जितं पुण्यं विना कस्यापि देहिनः ।। वासुदेवकथालापे मतिनैवोपजायते ।। ६ ।। यूने राजाधिराजाय जातेयं मतिरीदृशी ।। शुद्धं भागवतं मन्ये तेन त्वां साधुसत्तमम् ।। ७ ।। तस्मात्तुभ्यं ब्रुवे सौम्य धर्मान्भागवताञ्च्छुभान् ।। याञ्ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते जंतुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात्।। ८ ।। यथा शौचं यथा स्नानं यथा सन्ध्या च तर्पणम् ।। अग्निहोत्रं यथा श्राद्धं तथा वैशाखसत्क्रियाः ।। ९ ।। वैशाखे माधवे धर्मानकृत्वा नोर्ध्वगो भवेत् ।। न वैशाखसमो धर्मो धर्मजातेषु विद्यते ।। 2.7.7.१० ।। संत्येव बहवो धर्माः प्रजाश्चाराजका इव ।। उपद्रवैश्च लुप्यंति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ११ ।। सुलभाः सकला धर्माः कर्तुं वैशाखचोदिताः ।। उदकुम्भं प्रपादानं पथिच्छायादिनिर्मितिः ।। १२ ।। उपानत्पादुकादानं छत्रव्यजनयोस्तथा।। तिलयुक्तमधोर्दानं गोरसानां श्रमापहम्।। १३ ।। वापीकूपतडागादिकरणं पथिकाश्रयम्।। नारिकेलेक्षुकर्पूरकस्तूरीदानमेव च ।।१४।। गन्धानुलेपनं शय्या खट्वा दानं तथैव च ।। तथा चूतफलं रम्यमुर्वारुक रसायनम् ।। १५ ।। दानं दमनपुष्पाणां तथा सायं गुडोदकम् ।। चित्राण्यन्नानि पूर्णायां दध्यन्नं प्रत्यहं तथा ।। १६ ।। तांबूलस्य सदा दानं चैत्रदर्शे करीरकम् ।। रवावनुदिते सूर्ये प्रातः स्नानं दिनेदिने ।। १७ ।। मधुसूदनपूजा च कथायाः श्रवणं तथा ।। अभ्यंगवर्जने चैव तथा वै पत्रभोजनम् ।।१८।। मध्येमध्ये श्रमार्तानां वीजनं व्यजनेन च ।। सुगंधैः कोमलैः पुष्पैः प्रत्यहं पूजनं हरेः ।।१९।। फलं दध्यन्न नैवेद्यं धूपदीपौ दिनेदिने ।। गोग्रासं वृषपत्नीनां द्विजपादावनेजनम् ।। 2.7.7.२० ।। गुडनागरदानं च धात्रीपिष्टप्रदापनम् ।। पथिकानां प्रश्रयं च दानं तन्दुल शाकयोः ।। एते धर्माः प्रशस्ता हि वैशाखे माधवप्रिये ।। २१ ।। तथा च विष्णौः कुसुमार्पणं हरेः पूजा च कालोचित पल्लवाद्यैः ।। दध्यन्ननैवेद्यनिवेदनं च समस्तपापौघ विनाशहेतुः ।। २२ ।। नारी पुष्पैर्माधवं नार्चयेद्या कालोत्पन्नैर्मन्दिरे वा गृहे वा ।। पुत्रं सौख्यं क्वाऽपि नाप्नोति हंति चायुर्भर्तुः स्वात्मनो वा महात्मन् ।। २३ ।। रमासहाये माधवे मासि विष्णौ परीक्षायै धर्मसेतोः प्रजानाम् ।। गृहं याते मुनिभिर्दैवतैश्च काले पुष्पैर्नार्चयेद्यस्तु मूढः ।। २४ ।। स मूढात्मा रौरवं प्राप्य पश्चाद्यायाद्योनिं राक्षसीं पञ्चवारम् ।। जलं चान्नं सर्वदा देयमस्मिन्क्षुधार्तानां प्राणिनां प्राणहेतुः ।। २५ ।। तिर्यग्जंतुर्जायते वार्यदानादन्नादानाज्जायते वै पिशाचः ।। अन्नादाने चानुभूतां कथां ते ह्यहं वक्ष्ये चाद्भुतां भूमिपाल ।।२६।। रेवातीरे मत्पिताऽभूत्पिशाचः स्वमांसाशी क्षुत्तृषाश्रांतगात्रः ।। छायाहीने शाल्मलीवृक्षमूले ह्यन्नाभावान्नष्टचैतन्य एषः ।। २७ ।। क्षुधा तृषा कर्मणा यस्य बह्वी सूक्ष्मं छिद्रं कण्ठनालस्य चाऽसीत् ।। मांसं चान्तःकण्ठमध्ये निषण्णं कुर्यात्पीडां प्राणपर्यन्तमेव ।। २८ ।। जलं दृष्ट्वा कालकूटप्रकल्पं कौप्यं शीतं वाऽपि कासारसंस्थम् ।। तस्यास्तीरे चागतं दैवयोगाद्गङ्गायात्राकारणान्मार्गमध्ये ।। २९ ।। दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं शाल्मली वृक्षमूले त्रुटवा त्रुट्वा भक्षयन्तं स्वमांसम् ।। क्रोशन्तं तं बहुधा शोचमानं क्षुधातृषाव्याधितं कर्मभिः स्वैः ।। 2.7.7.३० ।। स मां हन्तुं प्राद्रवत्पापकर्मा मत्तेजसा निहतो दुद्रुवे च ।। तं चाऽब्रवं कृपया क्लिन्नचित्तो मा भैष्ट त्वं ह्यभयं मे हि दत्तम् ।। ३१ ।। कस्त्वं तात ब्रूहि सद्योऽत्र हेतुं कृच्छ्रादस्मान्मोचये मा विषीद ।। इत्युक्तो मां प्राह पुत्रं त्वजानन्पुरानर्ते भूवराख्ये पुरे च ।। ३२ ।। नाम्ना मैत्रः सांकृतेर्गोत्रजोऽहं तपोविद्यादानयज्ञादिनिष्ठः ।। मयाऽधीताध्यापिताः सर्वविद्याः कृतो मया सर्वतीर्थाऽवगाहः ।। ३३ ।। दत्तं नाऽन्नं मासि वैशाखसंज्ञे लोभाद्भिक्षामात्रमप्येव काले ।। शोचे चाऽहं प्राप्य पैशाचयोनिं नाऽन्यो हेतुः सत्यमेवोक्तमङ्ग ।। ३४ ।। पुत्रोऽधुना वर्तते मद्गृहे च भूरिख्यातिः श्रुतदेवाऽभिधानः ।। वाच्या तस्मै मद्दशा चाऽऽत्मजाय वैशाखान्नादानतोऽभूत्पिशाचः ।। ३५ ।। दृष्टस्तीरे ते पिता नर्मदाया नोर्ध्वं गतो वर्तते वृक्षमूले ।। खादन्मांसं स्वीयमेवाऽन्वखिद्यत्पितुर्मुक्त्यै मासि वैशाखसंज्ञे ।। ३६ ।। प्रातः स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा च विष्णुं निर्व्याजान्मां तर्पयित्वा जलैश्च ।। देयं चाऽन्नं द्विजवर्ये गुणाढ्ये मुक्तो यो वै याति विष्णोः पदं च ।।३७।। इत्थं चोक्तं त्वत्पुरस्ताद्वदेति दया चैषा मत्कृते नाऽत्र शंका ।। भद्रं भूयात्सर्वतो मंगलं ते श्रुत्वा चाऽहं भाषितं मे पितुश्च ।। ३८ ।। दुःखात्कायं दंडवत्पातयित्वा भृशार्तोऽहं पादयोर्भूरिकालम् ।। निदन्निदन्भूर्यहं बाष्पनेत्रः पुत्रोऽहं ते तात दैवाऽऽगतोऽहम् ।। ३९ ।। कर्मभ्रष्टो भूसुराणां विनिन्द्यो नाऽभूद्यस्मात्क्लेशमोक्षः पितॄणाम् ।। आख्याहि त्वं कर्मणा केन मुक्तो भविता वै तत्करोमि द्विजेंद्र ।। 2.7.7.४० ।। ततः प्राह प्रीतसर्वान्तरात्मा यात्रां कृत्वा शीघ्रमागत्य गेहम् ।। प्राप्ते मासे मेषसंस्थे च भानौ निवेद्याऽन्नं विष्णवे त्वं गुणाढ्यम् ।। ४१ ।। दानं देहि द्विजवर्ये महात्मंस्तस्मान्मोक्षो भविता सान्वयस्य ।। पित्राऽऽदिष्टः कृतयात्रः स्वगेहे प्राप्याऽकरं माधवे चाऽन्नदानम् ।।४२।। तस्मान्मुक्तो मत्पिता मां समेत्य यानारूढो ह्यभिनंद्याऽऽशिषा च ।। गतो लोकं श्रीपतेर्दुर्विभाव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तंति भूयः ।।४३।। तस्माद्दानं सर्वशास्त्रेषु चोक्तं तुभ्यं प्रोक्तं धर्मसारं सुधर्म्यम् ।। किमन्यत्ते श्रोतुमिच्छा वदस्व श्रुत्वा सर्वं ते वदामीति सत्यम् ।। ४४ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये नारदाम्बरीषसंवादे पिशाचमोक्षप्राप्तिर्नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः ।। ७ ।।

|| nārada uvāca || || rājā tadadbhutaṃ dṛṣṭvā maithilo dharmavittamaḥ || kṛtāñjaliḥ sukhāsīnaṃ vismito vākyamabravīt || ||1|| || maithila uvāca || || dṛṣṭametanmahāścaryaṃ sādhūnāṃ caritaṃ tathā || yena dharmeṇa mukto'bhūdrājā cekṣvākunandanaḥ ||2 || taṃ dharmaṃ vistareṇaiva śrotuṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me || mahyaṃ śraddhāvate vidvatkṛpayā vistarādvada || 3 || iti rājñā susaṃpṛṣṭaḥ śrutadevo mahāmanāḥ || sādhusādhviti saṃbhāṣya vyājahāra nṛpottamam || 4 || || śrutadeva uvāca || || samyagvyavasitā buddhistava rājarṣisattama || vāsudevapriyāndharmāñchrotuṃ yasmānmatistava || 5 || bahujanmārjitaṃ puṇyaṃ vinā kasyāpi dehinaḥ || vāsudevakathālāpe matinaivopajāyate || 6 || yūne rājādhirājāya jāteyaṃ matirīdṛśī || śuddhaṃ bhāgavataṃ manye tena tvāṃ sādhusattamam || 7 || tasmāttubhyaṃ bruve saumya dharmānbhāgavatāñcchubhān || yāñjñātvā mucyate jaṃturjanmasaṃsārabandhanāt|| 8 || yathā śaucaṃ yathā snānaṃ yathā sandhyā ca tarpaṇam || agnihotraṃ yathā śrāddhaṃ tathā vaiśākhasatkriyāḥ || 9 || vaiśākhe mādhave dharmānakṛtvā nordhvago bhavet || na vaiśākhasamo dharmo dharmajāteṣu vidyate || 2.7.7.10 || saṃtyeva bahavo dharmāḥ prajāścārājakā iva || upadravaiśca lupyaṃti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 11 || sulabhāḥ sakalā dharmāḥ kartuṃ vaiśākhacoditāḥ || udakumbhaṃ prapādānaṃ pathicchāyādinirmitiḥ || 12 || upānatpādukādānaṃ chatravyajanayostathā|| tilayuktamadhordānaṃ gorasānāṃ śramāpaham|| 13 || vāpīkūpataḍāgādikaraṇaṃ pathikāśrayam|| nārikelekṣukarpūrakastūrīdānameva ca ||14|| gandhānulepanaṃ śayyā khaṭvā dānaṃ tathaiva ca || tathā cūtaphalaṃ ramyamurvāruka rasāyanam || 15 || dānaṃ damanapuṣpāṇāṃ tathā sāyaṃ guḍodakam || citrāṇyannāni pūrṇāyāṃ dadhyannaṃ pratyahaṃ tathā || 16 || tāṃbūlasya sadā dānaṃ caitradarśe karīrakam || ravāvanudite sūrye prātaḥ snānaṃ dinedine || 17 || madhusūdanapūjā ca kathāyāḥ śravaṇaṃ tathā || abhyaṃgavarjane caiva tathā vai patrabhojanam ||18|| madhyemadhye śramārtānāṃ vījanaṃ vyajanena ca || sugaṃdhaiḥ komalaiḥ puṣpaiḥ pratyahaṃ pūjanaṃ hareḥ ||19|| phalaṃ dadhyanna naivedyaṃ dhūpadīpau dinedine || gogrāsaṃ vṛṣapatnīnāṃ dvijapādāvanejanam || 2.7.7.20 || guḍanāgaradānaṃ ca dhātrīpiṣṭapradāpanam || pathikānāṃ praśrayaṃ ca dānaṃ tandula śākayoḥ || ete dharmāḥ praśastā hi vaiśākhe mādhavapriye || 21 || tathā ca viṣṇauḥ kusumārpaṇaṃ hareḥ pūjā ca kālocita pallavādyaiḥ || dadhyannanaivedyanivedanaṃ ca samastapāpaugha vināśahetuḥ || 22 || nārī puṣpairmādhavaṃ nārcayedyā kālotpannairmandire vā gṛhe vā || putraṃ saukhyaṃ kvā'pi nāpnoti haṃti cāyurbhartuḥ svātmano vā mahātman || 23 || ramāsahāye mādhave māsi viṣṇau parīkṣāyai dharmasetoḥ prajānām || gṛhaṃ yāte munibhirdaivataiśca kāle puṣpairnārcayedyastu mūḍhaḥ || 24 || sa mūḍhātmā rauravaṃ prāpya paścādyāyādyoniṃ rākṣasīṃ pañcavāram || jalaṃ cānnaṃ sarvadā deyamasminkṣudhārtānāṃ prāṇināṃ prāṇahetuḥ || 25 || tiryagjaṃturjāyate vāryadānādannādānājjāyate vai piśācaḥ || annādāne cānubhūtāṃ kathāṃ te hyahaṃ vakṣye cādbhutāṃ bhūmipāla ||26|| revātīre matpitā'bhūtpiśācaḥ svamāṃsāśī kṣuttṛṣāśrāṃtagātraḥ || chāyāhīne śālmalīvṛkṣamūle hyannābhāvānnaṣṭacaitanya eṣaḥ || 27 || kṣudhā tṛṣā karmaṇā yasya bahvī sūkṣmaṃ chidraṃ kaṇṭhanālasya cā'sīt || māṃsaṃ cāntaḥkaṇṭhamadhye niṣaṇṇaṃ kuryātpīḍāṃ prāṇaparyantameva || 28 || jalaṃ dṛṣṭvā kālakūṭaprakalpaṃ kaupyaṃ śītaṃ vā'pi kāsārasaṃstham || tasyāstīre cāgataṃ daivayogādgaṅgāyātrākāraṇānmārgamadhye || 29 || dṛṣṭvā'dbhutaṃ śālmalī vṛkṣamūle truṭavā truṭvā bhakṣayantaṃ svamāṃsam || krośantaṃ taṃ bahudhā śocamānaṃ kṣudhātṛṣāvyādhitaṃ karmabhiḥ svaiḥ || 2.7.7.30 || sa māṃ hantuṃ prādravatpāpakarmā mattejasā nihato dudruve ca || taṃ cā'bravaṃ kṛpayā klinnacitto mā bhaiṣṭa tvaṃ hyabhayaṃ me hi dattam || 31 || kastvaṃ tāta brūhi sadyo'tra hetuṃ kṛcchrādasmānmocaye mā viṣīda || ityukto māṃ prāha putraṃ tvajānanpurānarte bhūvarākhye pure ca || 32 || nāmnā maitraḥ sāṃkṛtergotrajo'haṃ tapovidyādānayajñādiniṣṭhaḥ || mayā'dhītādhyāpitāḥ sarvavidyāḥ kṛto mayā sarvatīrthā'vagāhaḥ || 33 || dattaṃ nā'nnaṃ māsi vaiśākhasaṃjñe lobhādbhikṣāmātramapyeva kāle || śoce cā'haṃ prāpya paiśācayoniṃ nā'nyo hetuḥ satyamevoktamaṅga || 34 || putro'dhunā vartate madgṛhe ca bhūrikhyātiḥ śrutadevā'bhidhānaḥ || vācyā tasmai maddaśā cā''tmajāya vaiśākhānnādānato'bhūtpiśācaḥ || 35 || dṛṣṭastīre te pitā narmadāyā nordhvaṃ gato vartate vṛkṣamūle || khādanmāṃsaṃ svīyamevā'nvakhidyatpiturmuktyai māsi vaiśākhasaṃjñe || 36 || prātaḥ snātvā pūjayitvā ca viṣṇuṃ nirvyājānmāṃ tarpayitvā jalaiśca || deyaṃ cā'nnaṃ dvijavarye guṇāḍhye mukto yo vai yāti viṣṇoḥ padaṃ ca ||37|| itthaṃ coktaṃ tvatpurastādvadeti dayā caiṣā matkṛte nā'tra śaṃkā || bhadraṃ bhūyātsarvato maṃgalaṃ te śrutvā cā'haṃ bhāṣitaṃ me pituśca || 38 || duḥkhātkāyaṃ daṃḍavatpātayitvā bhṛśārto'haṃ pādayorbhūrikālam || nidannidanbhūryahaṃ bāṣpanetraḥ putro'haṃ te tāta daivā''gato'ham || 39 || karmabhraṣṭo bhūsurāṇāṃ vinindyo nā'bhūdyasmātkleśamokṣaḥ pitṝṇām || ākhyāhi tvaṃ karmaṇā kena mukto bhavitā vai tatkaromi dvijeṃdra || 2.7.7.40 || tataḥ prāha prītasarvāntarātmā yātrāṃ kṛtvā śīghramāgatya geham || prāpte māse meṣasaṃsthe ca bhānau nivedyā'nnaṃ viṣṇave tvaṃ guṇāḍhyam || 41 || dānaṃ dehi dvijavarye mahātmaṃstasmānmokṣo bhavitā sānvayasya || pitrā''diṣṭaḥ kṛtayātraḥ svagehe prāpyā'karaṃ mādhave cā'nnadānam ||42|| tasmānmukto matpitā māṃ sametya yānārūḍho hyabhinaṃdyā''śiṣā ca || gato lokaṃ śrīpaterdurvibhāvyaṃ yasmingatā na nivartaṃti bhūyaḥ ||43|| tasmāddānaṃ sarvaśāstreṣu coktaṃ tubhyaṃ proktaṃ dharmasāraṃ sudharmyam || kimanyatte śrotumicchā vadasva śrutvā sarvaṃ te vadāmīti satyam || 44 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye nāradāmbarīṣasaṃvāde piśācamokṣaprāptirnāma saptamo'dhyāyaḥ || 7 ||

English translation

Nārada said :

1. On seeing that miracle the king of Mithilā was very much surprised. With palms joined in reverence, the most excellent one among those conversant with Dharma (Virtue), spoke these words to (the sage) who was comfortably seated.

Maithila said :

2-3. This great miracle as well as the act of a saintly man has been witnessed. I am eager to hear in detail about that Dharma whereby this king, a scion of the family of Ikṣvāku , became a liberated soul. O learned one, I am endowed with faith. Kindly describe it in detail.

4. On being specifically asked thus by the king the noble-minded Śrutadeva said, “Good! Good!” and then addressed the excellent king thus:

Śrutadeva said :

5. O most excellent one among saintly kings, you are well-resolved. You have decided well, since you are inclined to hear about the holy rites well-liked by Vāsudeva .

6. Without merit acquired in the course of many births no embodied being can be interested to hear anecdotes of Vāsudeva.

7. (Even though) you are a young man and a king of kings, yet, your mind is inclined like this. Therefore, I consider you a pure Bhāgavata (a devotee of the Lord), the most excellent one among good people.

8. So I shall recount to you the holy Bhāgavata rites, O gentle Sir. By knowing (correctly understanding) these splendid rites a living being is liberated from the bondage of births and worldly existence.

9-10. The excellent holy rites of Vaiśākha are like various other rites such as those of cleanliness, holy bath, Sandhyā prayer, water libations, Śrāddha , Agnihotra .

Without performing the holy rites in the month of Vaiśākha in vernal season one cannot rise up (to heaven etc.). Among all holy rites there is nothing on a par with Vaiśākha.

11. There are many other rites. They are like subjects without a king, who are assailed by calamities (i.e., these rites being easily violable yield only adverse results). There is no doubt about it.

12-21. But those laid down for being performed in Vaiśākha are easy. They are: [1] offering of water pot, construction of Prapās (sheds for free distribution of water), construction of shady places etc. (for travellers) on the way, gifts of footwear, umbrellas and fans, gingelly seeds in honey, milk-products for the alleviation of fatigue, erection of shelters for pedestrians, digging of wells, lakes, tanks etc., gift of coconuts, sugarcane, camphor and musk, sweet scents and unguents, gift of beds and cots, tasty mango fruit, sharbat (sweet drink) made of lemon juice, gift of Damana (Artemisia indica ) flowers, gift of treacle juice in the evening, varieties of cooked rice on the full-moon day and cooked rice mixed with curds everyday, gift of betel leaves, gift of water pot on the new-moon day of Caitra , early morning bath everyday before sunrise, worship of Madhusūdana etc., listening to the story of the Lord, avoidance of oil bath, taking food on leaves, fanning off and on those people who are weary, daily worship of Hari by means of tender fragrant flowers, Naivedya , offerings of fruits and cooked rice mixed with curds, offerings of incense and light everyday, morsels of grass to cows, washing of the feet of Brāhmaṇas , gift of dried ginger mixed with jaggery, gift of powdered Emblic officinalis, shelter to wayfarers and gift of rice and vegetables. These are the holy rites praised and recommended for the month of Vaiśākha which is liked by Mādhava .

22. Offering flowers to Viṣṇu , worshipping Hari by means of sprouts etc. peculair to the season, and offering cooked rice as Naivedya is the cause of the destruction of all the masses of sins.

23. O noble-souled one, if a woman does not worship Mādhava either in a temple or in her house with the flowers growing in that season, she will never obtain a son or happiness anywhere. She will end the life of her husband or of herself.

24-26. In order to test the bridge of Dharma of the subjects in the month of Vaiśākha Viṣṇu goes to their abodes accompanied by Ramā , Devas and the sages. If at that time any stupid fellow does not worship him with flowers, he is a deluded soul. He falls into the Raurava hell. Afterwards he is reborn in the wombs of demonesses five times.

In this (month) cooked rice and drinking water should be given always to those who are afflicted with hunger. It is the cause of sustaining the vital airs.

By not giving drinking water he is reborn as a creature of lower species. By not giving cooked rice he is reborn as an evil spirit. I shall tell you a strange experience that I had in connection with non-gifting of cooked rice or food.

27-28. My father was born as an evil spirit on the banks of Revā . [2] He ate his own flesh when he became utterly exhausted with hunger and thirst. Due to lack of food he became too weak to move about. He was staying at the root of a silk cotton tree devoid of any shade. On account of excessive hunger and thirst and due to his past Karma the opening of the food pipe in his throat was very small. Pieces of flesh sticking to his throat gave him a lot of pain threatening his very life.

29-32a. By chance, on my way to Gaṅgā , I reached the bank of that river. He looked upon the cool water of a well as well as of a lake like Kālakūṭa poison. At the root of the Śālmalī tree I witnessed the surprising thing of his eating his own flesh cutting it bit by bit and lamenting in diverse ways. He was afflicted with hunger, thirst and sickness on account of his own Karmas .

I pitied him but on seeing me, that spirit of sinful activities rushed at me to kill. He was restrained on account of my splendour. He began to run away. With my mind melting with pity I told him: “Do not be afraid. I have given you freedom from fear. O dear one, who are you? Tell me immediately the reason for this. I shall set you free from this difficult situation. Do not be distressed.”

32b-40. On being told thus, he said to me without knowing that I was his son: “Formerly I was in the city named Bhūvara (‘most excellent on the earth’) in the land of Ānarta (Northern Gujarat). My name was Maitra . I belonged to the Saṅkṛti Gotra . I regularly performed penance, Yajñas , charitable gifts etc. and I was learned too. All scriptures were learnt and taught by me. I took my holy baths in all the Tīrthas . Out of greediness food was not given by me in the month of Vaiśākha; not even alms were given at that time. I now bemoan my lot after being born a Piśāca (Evil Spirit). There is no other cause. Oh! I have told you the truth. Now my son named Śrutadeva is in my house. He is very famous. My plight should be reported to that son of mine: ‘Your father has become a Piśāca for not giving food in the month of Vaiśākha. He was seen on the banks of Narmada . He has not gone up (to heaven). He is still at the root of the tree. He eats his own flesh and laments over it. For the sake of liberating your father you must take early morning bath in the month of Vaiśākha. After worshipping Viṣṇu and offering water libations to me (your father) sincerely, cooked food should be given to an excellent Brāhmaṇa possessing good qualities. He shall then be liberated and go to the region of Viṣṇu.’” He further said, “Speak this to him; he shall have mercy on me. There is no doubt about it. Let there be welfare in every respect. Let there be auspiciousness in your case.”

On hearing the speech of my father, I became miserable. Excessively agitated, I prostrated before him at his feet for a long time. With tears in my eyes and cursing myself I said: “O my father, I am your son. I have come here by chance. Since my manes have not been liberated from distress, I have fallen off from my duties. I deserve the censure of Brāhmaṇas. Tell me. What is that holy rite whereby you will be liberated? O eminent Brāhmaṇa, I shall perform it.”

41-42. Then he whose mind was completely satisfied told me: “After performing your pilgrimage you should return home quickly. At the advent of the month when the Sun is in Aries, you should offer excellent cooked food as Naivedya to Viṣṇu. O noble-souled one, make some charitable gift to an excellent Brāhmaṇa. Thereby the whole family shall attain salvation.”

On being commanded by my father, I completed my pilgrimage and returned home. I made gift of food in the month of Vaiśākha.

43-44. Hence my father was liberated. He came to me and blessed me. Seated in an aerial chariot he went to the world of the Lord of Śrī—the world that cannot be easily seen and from which those who have gone there once do not return.

Thus the charitable gift that has been enjoined in all the scriptures has been recounted to you. It is the essence of all Dharmas . It is highly virtuous.

What else do you wish to hear? Tell me. On hearing it I shall tell you everything. This is the truth.

[1]: [1] : VV 12-21 enumerate the various Vratas to be performed in Vaiśākha.

[2]: [2] : VV 27-44 describe the story how a Brāhmaṇa Śrutadeva redeemed his own father from the state of Piśāca.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23098, revision 71544 (2016-06-21T03:19:39Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371709.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.