Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 23
Source।। ।। श्रुतदेव उवाच ।। ।। अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् ।। अक्षय्यायास्तृतीयायाः सिते पक्षे च माधवे ।। १ ।। ये कुर्वंति च तस्यां वै प्रातः स्नानं भगोदये ।। ते सर्वे पापनिर्मुक्ता यांति विष्णोः परं पदम् ।। २ ।। देवान्पितॄन्मुनीन्यस्तु कुर्यादुद्दिश्य तर्पणम् ।। तेनाऽधीतं च तेनेष्टं तेन श्राद्धशतं कृतम् ।। ३ ।। मधुसूदनमभ्यर्च्य कथां शृण्वंति ये नराः ।। अक्षय्यायां तृतीयायां ते नरा मुक्तिभागिनः ।। ।। ४ ।। ये दानं तत्र कुर्वंति मधुद्विट्प्रीतये शुभम् ।। तदक्षय्यं फलत्येव मधुशासनशासनात् ।। ५ ।। देवर्षिपितृदैवत्या तिथिरेषा महाशुभा ।। त्रयाणां तृप्तिदात्री च कृते धर्मे सनातने ।। ६ ।। प्रख्यातिश्च तिथेरस्याः केन चास्ति तदप्यहम्।। वक्ष्यामि नृपशार्दूल सावधानमनाः शृणु ।। ।। ७ ।। पुरा पुरंदरस्याऽऽसीद्युद्धं च बलिना सह ।। देवानां चैव दैत्यानां द्वंद्वं युद्धमभूत्ततः ।। ८ ।। स निर्जित्य बलिं दैत्यं पातालतलवासिनम्।। पुनर्भुवं समासाद्य चोतथ्यस्याऽऽश्रमं ययौ ।। ९ ।। तत्रापश्यच्च तत्पत्नीं गुर्विणीं मंदगामिनीम्।। चलच्छ्रोणितटाबद्ध कांचीदाम्ना सुमंडिताम् ।। 2.7.23.१० ।। क्वणत्कंकणनिर्घोष जितमत्तालिकोकिलाम् ।। वल्गुचित्रांबरां रामां मंजुवाचं शुचिस्मिताम् ।। ११ ।। लसत्कुंभस्थलाभ्यां च कुचाभ्यामुपशोभिताम् ।। हसत्पद्ममुखां दिव्यां नीलोत्पलसुलोचनाम्।। १२ ।। केतक्युदरपांडुभ्यां गंडाभ्यां च मनोरमाम् ।। श्रमोच्छ्वसंतीं दीनाक्षीं पर्णशालामुखे स्थिताम् ।। १३ ।। स्वपतीं शयने क्वाऽपि तां दृष्ट्वा मोहमागतः ।। बलात्कारेण बुभुजे गुर्विणीं पाकशासनः।।१४ ।। गर्भस्थस्तु तदा पिंडः स्वस्य पातविशंकया ।। छादयामास वै योनिं द्वारे पादेन दुःखितः ।। १५ ।। ततश्चस्कन्द वीर्यं तद्भूमावेव बलिद्विषः ।। गर्भस्थाय चुकोपासौ भगवान्पाकशासनः ।। १६ ।। तं शशाप च गर्भस्थं रुषा ताम्रांतलोचनः ।। जात्यन्धो भव दुर्बुद्धे माऽवमंस्था यतः पदा ।। १७ ।। प्रच्छाद्य योनिद्वारं च ततो दीर्घतपाह्वयः ।। पदा प्रस्कंदिताद्वीर्याज्जालतः समजायत ।। १७ ।। पश्चादिंद्रो ययौ शीघ्रमृषेः शाप विशंकितः ।। पलायंतं हरिं दृष्ट्वा जहसुर्बटवोऽखिलाः ।। १९ ।। ततस्तु व्रीडितो भूत्वा ययौ मेरोर्गुहां शुभाम् ।। तत्र लीनश्चचाराऽसौ दुस्तरं वै तपो महत् ।। 2.7.23.२० ।। मेरौ विलीय वसति देवेन्द्रे लज्जयाऽन्विते ।। गूढैर्विज्ञाय तां वार्तां दैतेया बलिपूर्वकाः ।। २१ ।। सुरानाक्रम्य बुभुजुर्बलींद्रश्चामरावतीम् ।। दिक्पालानां विभूतीश्च शंबराद्या बलीयसः ।। २२ ।। बलाद्बुभुजिरे हीननाथे राष्ट्रे दिवौकसाम् ।। रक्षितारमजानंतो देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः ।। २३ ।। पप्रच्छुर्धिषणं देवं देवाचार्यमकल्मषम् ।। पप्रच्छुरिंद्रवृत्तांतं क्व स्वित्तिष्ठति नः प्रभुः ।। २४ ।। दैत्याक्रांतमिदं राष्ट्रं हीननाथं दिवौकसाम् ।। कुतो नाऽऽयाति देवोऽसौ भूयान्कालो गतो विभो ।। २५ ।। तं यामो यत्र धिषण प्रार्थयामश्च तं विभुम् ।। इति पृष्टस्तदा देवैर्धिषणस्तानुवाच ह ।। २६ ।। रसातले बलिं जित्वा चोतथ्यस्याऽऽश्रमं ययौ ।। भुक्त्वा पत्नीं च दार्ढ्येन तच्छिष्यैरेव निन्दितः ।। २७ ।। व्रीडितस्तु दिवं यातुं गुहां मेरोर्विवेश ह ।। तत्रैवाऽऽस्ते शचीयुक्तः स्वकृतं चिन्तयन्विभुः ।। २८ ।। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवा अग्निपुरोगमाः ।। गुहां मेरोर्ययुः शीघ्रं दृष्ट्वा प्रार्थयितुं विभुम् ।। २९ ।। तत्र दृष्ट्वा गुहालीनं देवेन्द्रं पाकशासनम् ।। तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैस्तद्वीर्यैर्लोकविश्रुतैः ।। 2.7.23.३० ।। इंद्र तुभ्यं नमस्तेऽस्तु सर्वदेवाऽधिपाय ते ।। वयं दैत्यैरर्दिताश्च त्वया हीना भृशार्दिताः ।। ३१ ।। स्थानभ्रष्टाश्चरामोंऽग नानादेशेषु दुःखिताः ।। तस्मादागत्य देवेन्द्र जहि शत्रूनरिंदम ।। ३२ ।। इति स्तुतस्तदा देवैर्निश्चक्राम गुहामुखात् ।। लज्जया ऽवनतो भूत्वा पश्यन्भूमिं च चक्षुषा ।। ३३ ।। न किंचिदपि चोवाच दुःखाद्गद्गदभाषणः ।। तऽऽज्ञात्वा धिषणः प्राह तं सुरेन्द्रं भयानकम् ।।३४।। मा शंका ते सुरपते कर्माधीनमिदं जगत्।। मानामानौ सुखं दुःखं लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।। ३५।। पूर्वकर्मानुरोधेन भवंत्येते न संशयः।। जीवः कर्मानुगो दुःखं दिष्टं दैवेन कालतः।। ३६।। प्राज्ञाः प्रायो न शोचंति न प्रहृष्यंति वै सुखात्।। तस्मात्प्रारब्धतः प्राप्तं दुःखं चेदं तव प्रभो।। ।। ३७ ।। तत्प्राप्य मघवन्दुःखं नैव शोचितुमर्हसि ।। इत्युक्तो गुरुणा चाह मघवानमराधिपान् ।। ३८ ।। ।। इन्द्र उवाच ।। परस्त्रीसंगदोषेण बलं वीर्यं यशोऽमलम् ।। मंत्रशक्तिःशास्त्रशक्तिर्विद्याशक्तिश्च मानद ।। ३९ ।। अभवन्नष्टवीर्यं मे तूष्णीं तेन वसाम्यहम् ।। पाकशासनवाक्यं तु श्रुत्वा स्वाचार्यसंयुऽताः ।। 2.7.23.४० ।। मंत्रयामासुरेकान्ते पुनस्तस्य बलाप्तये ।। तदा गुरुश्च तान्प्राह करुणं च विदुत्तमः ।। ४१ ।। बृहस्पतिरुवाच।। मासो वैशाखनामाऽयं प्रियो वै मधुघातिनः।। सर्वाश्च तिथयः पुण्या मासेऽस्मिन्माधवप्रिये।।४२।। तत्राऽपि च सिते पक्षे मासेऽस्मिन्नक्षयाह्वया ।। या तस्यां स्नानदानादि श्रद्धया च करोति वै ।।४३।। तस्य पापसहस्राणि नश्यंत्येव न संशयः।। अनवद्यं तथैश्वर्यं बलं धैर्यं भवंति च ।।४४।। तस्मात्तस्यां तृतीयायां हरिणा बलविद्विषा ।। स्नानदानादिसद्धर्मान्कारयामो हिताऽऽप्तये ।।४५।। भविष्यति च सा शक्तिर्विद्याया मन्त्रशास्त्रयोः ।। बलं धैर्यं यशश्चैव यथापूर्वं भविष्यति ।। ४६ ।। इत्येवं तु विचार्याथ गुरुर्देवैः समाहितः ।। इन्द्रेण कारयामास धर्मानेतान्हरिप्रियान्।। ४७ ।। अक्षय्यायां तृतीयायां भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदान् ।। तेन पूर्ववदेवाऽऽसीद्बलं धैर्यादिकं विभोः ।। ।। ४८ ।। परस्त्रीसंगदोषोऽपि सद्य एव व्यलीयत ।। पश्चाद्धताशुभः शक्रो राहोर्मुक्त इवोडुपः ।। ४९ ।। देवतानां तथा मध्ये शुशुभे च हरिर्यथा ।। पश्चाद्देवैः समायुक्तो विनिर्जित्य तथाऽसुरान् ।। 2.7.23.५० ।। तृतीयायाश्च माहात्म्याद्भाग्ययुक्तोऽमरावतीम् ।। विवेश विभवैः सार्द्धं शंखतूर्यादिनिःस्वनैः ।। ५१ ।। अनुज्ञाताश्च शक्रेण स्वधामानि ययुः सुराः ।। ततस्ते यज्ञभागांश्च लेभिरे च यथा पुरा ।। ५२ ।। पिंडभागांश्च पितरो यथापूर्वं प्रपेदिरे ।। स्वाध्याये मुनयस्तुष्टा दैत्यानां च पराजयः ।। ५३ ।। तदा प्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिंस्तृतीया चाऽक्षयाऽऽह्वया ।। प्रख्याता सर्वलोकेषु देवर्षिपितृतुष्टिदा ।।५४।। तस्मात्पुण्यतमा चैषा सर्वकर्मनिकृंतनी ।। भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा नृणां तृतीया चाऽक्षयाऽऽह्वया ।। ५५ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये नारदाम्बरीषसंवादेऽक्षय्यतृतीयायाः श्रेष्ठत्वकथनं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः ।।२३।।
|| || śrutadeva uvāca || || athātaḥ saṃpravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam || akṣayyāyāstṛtīyāyāḥ site pakṣe ca mādhave || 1 || ye kurvaṃti ca tasyāṃ vai prātaḥ snānaṃ bhagodaye || te sarve pāpanirmuktā yāṃti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam || 2 || devānpitṝnmunīnyastu kuryāduddiśya tarpaṇam || tenā'dhītaṃ ca teneṣṭaṃ tena śrāddhaśataṃ kṛtam || 3 || madhusūdanamabhyarcya kathāṃ śṛṇvaṃti ye narāḥ || akṣayyāyāṃ tṛtīyāyāṃ te narā muktibhāginaḥ || || 4 || ye dānaṃ tatra kurvaṃti madhudviṭprītaye śubham || tadakṣayyaṃ phalatyeva madhuśāsanaśāsanāt || 5 || devarṣipitṛdaivatyā tithireṣā mahāśubhā || trayāṇāṃ tṛptidātrī ca kṛte dharme sanātane || 6 || prakhyātiśca titherasyāḥ kena cāsti tadapyaham|| vakṣyāmi nṛpaśārdūla sāvadhānamanāḥ śṛṇu || || 7 || purā puraṃdarasyā''sīdyuddhaṃ ca balinā saha || devānāṃ caiva daityānāṃ dvaṃdvaṃ yuddhamabhūttataḥ || 8 || sa nirjitya baliṃ daityaṃ pātālatalavāsinam|| punarbhuvaṃ samāsādya cotathyasyā''śramaṃ yayau || 9 || tatrāpaśyacca tatpatnīṃ gurviṇīṃ maṃdagāminīm|| calacchroṇitaṭābaddha kāṃcīdāmnā sumaṃḍitām || 2.7.23.10 || kvaṇatkaṃkaṇanirghoṣa jitamattālikokilām || valgucitrāṃbarāṃ rāmāṃ maṃjuvācaṃ śucismitām || 11 || lasatkuṃbhasthalābhyāṃ ca kucābhyāmupaśobhitām || hasatpadmamukhāṃ divyāṃ nīlotpalasulocanām|| 12 || ketakyudarapāṃḍubhyāṃ gaṃḍābhyāṃ ca manoramām || śramocchvasaṃtīṃ dīnākṣīṃ parṇaśālāmukhe sthitām || 13 || svapatīṃ śayane kvā'pi tāṃ dṛṣṭvā mohamāgataḥ || balātkāreṇa bubhuje gurviṇīṃ pākaśāsanaḥ||14 || garbhasthastu tadā piṃḍaḥ svasya pātaviśaṃkayā || chādayāmāsa vai yoniṃ dvāre pādena duḥkhitaḥ || 15 || tataścaskanda vīryaṃ tadbhūmāveva balidviṣaḥ || garbhasthāya cukopāsau bhagavānpākaśāsanaḥ || 16 || taṃ śaśāpa ca garbhasthaṃ ruṣā tāmrāṃtalocanaḥ || jātyandho bhava durbuddhe mā'vamaṃsthā yataḥ padā || 17 || pracchādya yonidvāraṃ ca tato dīrghatapāhvayaḥ || padā praskaṃditādvīryājjālataḥ samajāyata || 17 || paścādiṃdro yayau śīghramṛṣeḥ śāpa viśaṃkitaḥ || palāyaṃtaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā jahasurbaṭavo'khilāḥ || 19 || tatastu vrīḍito bhūtvā yayau merorguhāṃ śubhām || tatra līnaścacārā'sau dustaraṃ vai tapo mahat || 2.7.23.20 || merau vilīya vasati devendre lajjayā'nvite || gūḍhairvijñāya tāṃ vārtāṃ daiteyā balipūrvakāḥ || 21 || surānākramya bubhujurbalīṃdraścāmarāvatīm || dikpālānāṃ vibhūtīśca śaṃbarādyā balīyasaḥ || 22 || balādbubhujire hīnanāthe rāṣṭre divaukasām || rakṣitāramajānaṃto devāścāgnipurogamāḥ || 23 || papracchurdhiṣaṇaṃ devaṃ devācāryamakalmaṣam || papracchuriṃdravṛttāṃtaṃ kva svittiṣṭhati naḥ prabhuḥ || 24 || daityākrāṃtamidaṃ rāṣṭraṃ hīnanāthaṃ divaukasām || kuto nā''yāti devo'sau bhūyānkālo gato vibho || 25 || taṃ yāmo yatra dhiṣaṇa prārthayāmaśca taṃ vibhum || iti pṛṣṭastadā devairdhiṣaṇastānuvāca ha || 26 || rasātale baliṃ jitvā cotathyasyā''śramaṃ yayau || bhuktvā patnīṃ ca dārḍhyena tacchiṣyaireva ninditaḥ || 27 || vrīḍitastu divaṃ yātuṃ guhāṃ merorviveśa ha || tatraivā''ste śacīyuktaḥ svakṛtaṃ cintayanvibhuḥ || 28 || iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devā agnipurogamāḥ || guhāṃ meroryayuḥ śīghraṃ dṛṣṭvā prārthayituṃ vibhum || 29 || tatra dṛṣṭvā guhālīnaṃ devendraṃ pākaśāsanam || tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stotraistadvīryairlokaviśrutaiḥ || 2.7.23.30 || iṃdra tubhyaṃ namaste'stu sarvadevā'dhipāya te || vayaṃ daityairarditāśca tvayā hīnā bhṛśārditāḥ || 31 || sthānabhraṣṭāścarāmoṃ'ga nānādeśeṣu duḥkhitāḥ || tasmādāgatya devendra jahi śatrūnariṃdama || 32 || iti stutastadā devairniścakrāma guhāmukhāt || lajjayā 'vanato bhūtvā paśyanbhūmiṃ ca cakṣuṣā || 33 || na kiṃcidapi covāca duḥkhādgadgadabhāṣaṇaḥ || ta''jñātvā dhiṣaṇaḥ prāha taṃ surendraṃ bhayānakam ||34|| mā śaṃkā te surapate karmādhīnamidaṃ jagat|| mānāmānau sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ lābhālābhau jayājayau|| 35|| pūrvakarmānurodhena bhavaṃtyete na saṃśayaḥ|| jīvaḥ karmānugo duḥkhaṃ diṣṭaṃ daivena kālataḥ|| 36|| prājñāḥ prāyo na śocaṃti na prahṛṣyaṃti vai sukhāt|| tasmātprārabdhataḥ prāptaṃ duḥkhaṃ cedaṃ tava prabho|| || 37 || tatprāpya maghavanduḥkhaṃ naiva śocitumarhasi || ityukto guruṇā cāha maghavānamarādhipān || 38 || || indra uvāca || parastrīsaṃgadoṣeṇa balaṃ vīryaṃ yaśo'malam || maṃtraśaktiḥśāstraśaktirvidyāśaktiśca mānada || 39 || abhavannaṣṭavīryaṃ me tūṣṇīṃ tena vasāmyaham || pākaśāsanavākyaṃ tu śrutvā svācāryasaṃyu'tāḥ || 2.7.23.40 || maṃtrayāmāsurekānte punastasya balāptaye || tadā guruśca tānprāha karuṇaṃ ca viduttamaḥ || 41 || bṛhaspatiruvāca|| māso vaiśākhanāmā'yaṃ priyo vai madhughātinaḥ|| sarvāśca tithayaḥ puṇyā māse'sminmādhavapriye||42|| tatrā'pi ca site pakṣe māse'sminnakṣayāhvayā || yā tasyāṃ snānadānādi śraddhayā ca karoti vai ||43|| tasya pāpasahasrāṇi naśyaṃtyeva na saṃśayaḥ|| anavadyaṃ tathaiśvaryaṃ balaṃ dhairyaṃ bhavaṃti ca ||44|| tasmāttasyāṃ tṛtīyāyāṃ hariṇā balavidviṣā || snānadānādisaddharmānkārayāmo hitā''ptaye ||45|| bhaviṣyati ca sā śaktirvidyāyā mantraśāstrayoḥ || balaṃ dhairyaṃ yaśaścaiva yathāpūrvaṃ bhaviṣyati || 46 || ityevaṃ tu vicāryātha gururdevaiḥ samāhitaḥ || indreṇa kārayāmāsa dharmānetānharipriyān|| 47 || akṣayyāyāṃ tṛtīyāyāṃ bhuktimuktiphalapradān || tena pūrvavadevā''sīdbalaṃ dhairyādikaṃ vibhoḥ || || 48 || parastrīsaṃgadoṣo'pi sadya eva vyalīyata || paścāddhatāśubhaḥ śakro rāhormukta ivoḍupaḥ || 49 || devatānāṃ tathā madhye śuśubhe ca hariryathā || paścāddevaiḥ samāyukto vinirjitya tathā'surān || 2.7.23.50 || tṛtīyāyāśca māhātmyādbhāgyayukto'marāvatīm || viveśa vibhavaiḥ sārddhaṃ śaṃkhatūryādiniḥsvanaiḥ || 51 || anujñātāśca śakreṇa svadhāmāni yayuḥ surāḥ || tataste yajñabhāgāṃśca lebhire ca yathā purā || 52 || piṃḍabhāgāṃśca pitaro yathāpūrvaṃ prapedire || svādhyāye munayastuṣṭā daityānāṃ ca parājayaḥ || 53 || tadā prabhṛti loke'smiṃstṛtīyā cā'kṣayā''hvayā || prakhyātā sarvalokeṣu devarṣipitṛtuṣṭidā ||54|| tasmātpuṇyatamā caiṣā sarvakarmanikṛṃtanī || bhuktimuktipradā nṛṇāṃ tṛtīyā cā'kṣayā''hvayā || 55 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye nāradāmbarīṣasaṃvāde'kṣayyatṛtīyāyāḥ śreṣṭhatvakathanaṃ nāma trayoviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ ||23||
English translation
Śrutadeva said :
1-5 Now I shall narrate the sin-destroying special efficacy of Akṣayatṛtīyā occurring in the bright half of Vaiśākha .
All those who take the holy bath early in the morning at sunrise on that day, shall be rid of sins. They will go to the great region of Viṣṇu .
If a person offers water libation with the Devas , Pitṛs and sages in view, it is as good as the performance of Vedic studies, of sacrifices and of a hundred Śrāddhas by him.
Men who worship Madhusūdana and listen to the (divine) story on the Akṣayatṛtīyā day are partakers of salvation.
If people make charitable gifts on that day for the propitiation of the Slayer of Madhu , it will have auspicious and inexhaustible benefit at the bidding of the Slayer of Madhu (Viṣṇu).
6. This Tithi is exceedingly auspicious. It has Devas, sages and Pitṛs as its deities. It accords satisfaction unto all these three, when the eternal Dharma is performed (on this day).
7. I shall tell, O tiger among kings, the reason for which this Tithi has become famous. Listen to it with great mental concentration.
8. Formerly Purandara fought with Bali . Thereafter Devas and Daityas fought with each other.
9-14. After defeating Bali and forcing him to stay in the nether worlds, he ( Indra ) came to the earth once again. He went to the hermitage of ( Bṛhaspati ’s brother) Utathya . [1] There he saw his wife who was pregnant and hence could walk only very slowly. She was well adorned with a girdle tied to her tremulous hips. The sweet jingling sound of the bangles surpassed that of the inebriated bees and cuckoos. She had beautiful garments of various colours. The beautiful lady was sweet-voiced with beautiful smiles. Her pair of breasts resembled a pair of very fine pitchers. Her eyes were like blue lilies. When she laughed her face resembled a lotus. She appeared very charming with her pale cheeks resembling the interior of a Ketakī flower-bunch. On account of weariness she took deep breaths. Her eyes indicated her pitiable plight. She lay somewhere near the entrance to the hut. She was asleep on her bed. On seeing her, Indra became enamoured and raped her though she was pregnant. [2]
15. The foetus in the womb became miserable and feared that it might fall out. Hence, it closed the vaginal passage by means of its foot.
16. Thereupon, the seminal fluid of the enemy of Bali became scattered on the ground. Therefore Lord Indra became furious with the foetus.
17-19. With the edge of the eyes turned red like copper, he furiously cursed him: “O wicked one, become blind at the very birth, since you have insulted me by closing the vaginal passage.” Thereafter, the son named Dīrghatapas was born. ( Defective Text ) Jālata (?) was born from the seminal fluid that was scattered (on the ground) by the foot. Afterwards Indra was afraid of the curse of the sage and he went away. All the religious students laughed on seeing Indra running.
20. Thereupon he became ashamed and went to a splendid cave of Meru . Remaining concealed there, he performed a great and fierce penance.
21-26. When Devendra resided on Meru, lying concealed there on account of shame, Bali and other Daityas came to know of it through spies. They attacked Suras and rejoiced at Amarāvatī . Bali became Indra. The powerful ones including Śambara enjoyed the prosperity and riches of the Guardians of the Quarters, when the kingdom of the heaven-dwellers became devoid of a lord. Unable to know where their protector was, Devas with Agni at their head asked holy Lord Dhiṣaṇa (i.e. Jupiter or Bṛhaspati), the sinless preceptor of Devas. They asked him about Indra: “Where does our lord stay? This kingdom of the heaven-dwellers is devoid of its leader (and hence) it is attacked by Daityas. Why does the lord not return? A great deal of time has elapsed. O holy lord, O Dhiṣaṇa, we shall go to him at the place where he is (now). We shall request him.” On being asked thus by Devas, Dhiṣaṇa said to them:
27-28. “After conquering Bali in Rasātala (nether worlds), he went to the hermitage of Utathya. He forcibly enjoyed (the sage’s) wife and was censured by his disciples. He is ashamed to come back to heaven. So he has entered a cave of Meru. The Lord continues to stay there accompanied by Śacī . He is thinking about his own (shameful) act.”
29-30. On hearing these words of his, Devas with Agni as their leader, hurriedly went to the cave of Mountain Meru in order to see the lord and request him. On seeing Devendra, the chastiser of Pāka , remaining hidden in the cave they eulogized him by means of eulogies extolling his vigour and exploits as well, well-known in the worlds.
31. “O Indra, obeisance to you, the lord of all the Devas. We are harassed by the Daityas. Without you we are extremely afflicted and dejected.
32. We are dislodged from our abodes and we wander in different lands in great misery. Hence, O Devendra, come and kill the enemies, O suppressor of enemies.”
33. On being eulogized by Devas thus, he came through the entrance of the cave. Due to sense of shame, he had bent down his head and he remained gazing at the ground with his eyes.
34. He did not say anything, because his speech was choked on account of sadness. On coming to know of it, Dhiṣaṇa spoke to Surendra who was afraid:
35-38. “O lord of Suras, do not be afraid or suspicious. This universe depends upon Karma . Honour and dishonour, happiness and misery, profit and loss and victory and defeat—all these occur to one in accordance with the previous Karmas . There is no doubt about it. The individual soul closely follows the Karmas. Misery is accorded by fate in due course. Wise men do not bewail generally (when there is adversity). They are not elated when there is happiness. Hence, this misery has befallen you on account of the Karma that has started its fruition (effect), O lord. O Maghavan , having attained that misery, it does not behove you to lament over it.”
On being told thus by his preceptor, Indra spoke to the overlords of the Devas:
Indra said :
39-41. On account of the sexual contact with another man’s wife, my strength, vigour, pure reputation, the power of Mantras , the power of scriptural texts and the power of learning—all these have vanished. Hence I remain silent.
On hearing the words of Indra, all Devas accompanied by their preceptor had a confidential meeting to devise means to restore his power once again. Then Guru (Bṛhaspati), the most excellent one among those who are conversant with things, spoke in a piteous tone.
Bṛhaspati said :
42. This month is Vaiśākha by name. It is liked much by the Slayer of Madhu. In this month all the lunar days are meritorious. It is the most favourite month of Mādhava .
43-45. There too in the bright half of this month (the third day) named Akṣaya (is the most favourite). If anyone performs holy bath, charitable gift, etc. with faith, thousands of his sins do perish. There is no doubt about it. His prosperity will be free from blemishes. He will acquire strength and courage. Hence for the sake of attaining the benefit, we shall make Indra perform all the good holy rites such as holy bath, charitable gift etc. (on the Akṣaya Tṛtīyā day).
46. He will regain that power of Vidyā , Mantra and scriptural texts. He will have strength, courage and reputation as before.
47. After conferring thus along with the Devas, Guru (i.e. Jupiter) made Indra perform all these holy rites which delight Hari .
48. He made him perform all those holy rites which yield worldly pleasures, on the third lunar day named Akṣaya. Thereby the courage, strength etc. of the lord attained the previous level.
49. The sin of sexual contact with another man’s wife disappeared immediately. Thereafter Śakra , whose inauspiciousness was destroyed, became like the Moon liberated from Rāhu .
50-55. Like Viṣṇu he shone amidst the Devas. Afterwards accompanied by Devas he defeated Asuras . It was due to the great potency of the Tṛtīyā that he entered Amarāvatī with all glory and a fanfare of conchs and musical instruments. Permitted by Śakra the Suras went to their respective abodes. Then they got back their shares in the Yajñas as before. Pitṛs got their shares of the rice-balls as before. The sages were contented with the study of the Vedas . The Daityas faced defeat.
Ever since then the Tṛtīyā named Akṣaya became famous in all the worlds. It bestowed satisfaction on the Devas, sages and Pitṛs. Hence this is highly meritorious. It destroys all Karmas. The Tṛtīyā named Akṣaya yields worldly pleasures and salvation to men.
[1]: [1] : The story of Indra’s rape and subsequent hiding, Asuras’ conquest of Svarga, Bṛhaspati’s attribution of Indra’s act to previous Karmas and request to Indra to rejoin his only post of Indra, is not known to Mbh, BhP and other Purāṇas. This story is found in this Purāṇa only and is meant for the glorification of Akṣaya Tṛtīyā. As a matter of fact, this Tithi is regarded meritorious as the Kṛtayuga began on this day and this Tithi secures permanency to actions performed on this day.
[2]: [2] : In VāP 11.37. 37-42, this shameful rape mentioned in v 14 here is attributed to Bṛhaspati who raped his brother Aśija’s wife Mamatā, not that of Utathya. The foetus cursed to be blind by him is Dīrghatamas and not Dīrghatapas as given here. It may be noted that out of 96 incidents about Indra recorded in the Purāṇic Encyclopedia not a single one mentions this act with reference to Utathya’s wife and his subsequent hiding in Mt. Meru
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23111, revision 71563 (2016-06-21T03:43:55Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371725.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.