Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 25
Source।। श्रुतदेव उवाच ।। ।। यास्तिस्रस्तिथयः पुण्या अंतिमाः शुक्लपक्षके ।। वैशाखमासि राजेंद्र पूर्णिमांताः शुभावहाः ।। १ ।। अन्त्याः पुष्करिणीसंज्ञाः सर्वपापक्षयावहाः ।। माधवे मासि यः पूर्णं स्नानं कर्त्तुं न च क्षमः ।। २ ।। तिथिष्वेतासु स स्नायात्पूर्ण मेव फलं लभेत् ।। सर्वे देवास्त्रयोदश्यां स्थित्वा जंतून्पुनंति हि ।। ३ ।। पूर्णायाः पर्वतीर्थैश्च विष्णुना सह संस्थिताः ।। चतुर्दश्यां सयज्ञाश्च देवा एतान्पुनंति हि ।। ४ ।। ब्रह्मघ्नं वा सुरापं वा सर्वानेतान्पुनंति हि ।। एकादश्यां पुरा जज्ञे वैशाख्याममृतं शुभम् ।। ५ ।। द्वादश्यां पालितं तच्च विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ।। त्रयोदश्यां सुधां देवान्पाययामास वै हरिः ।। ६ ।। जघान च चतुर्दश्यां दैत्यान्देवविरोधिनः ।। पूर्णायां सर्वदेवानां साम्राज्याऽऽप्तिर्बभूव ह ।। ७ ।। ततो देवाः सुसंतुष्टा एतासां च वरं ददुः ।। तिसृणां च तिथीनां वै प्रीत्योत्फुल्लविलोचनाः ।। ८ ।। एता वैशाख मासस्य तिस्रश्च तिथयः शुभाः ।। पुत्रपौत्रादिफलदा नराणां पापहानिदाः ।। ९ ।। योऽस्मिन्मासे च संपूर्णे न स्नातो मनुजाधमः ।। तिथित्रये तु स स्नात्वा पूर्णमेव फलं लभेत् ।। 2.7.25.१० ।। तिथित्रयेप्यकुर्वाणः स्नानदानादिकं नरः ।। चांडालीं योनिमासाद्य पश्चाद्रौरवमश्नुते ।। ११ ।। उष्णोदकेन यः स्नाति माधवे च तिथित्रये ।। रौरवं नरकं याति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ।।१२।। पितृन्देवान्समुद्दिश्य दध्यन्नं न ददाति यः ।। पैशाचीं योनिमासाद्य तिष्ठत्याभूतसंप्लवम् ।। १३ ।। प्रवृत्तानां च कामानां माधवे नियमे कृते ।। अवश्यं विष्णुसायुज्यं युज्यते नाऽत्र संशयः ।। १४ ।। आमासं नियमासक्तः कुर्याद्यदि दिनत्रये ।। तेन पूर्णफलं प्राप्य मोदते विष्णुमंदिरे ।। १५ ।। यो वै देवान्पितॄन्विष्णुं गुरुमुद्दिश्य मानवः ।। न स्नानादि करोत्यद्धाऽमुष्य शापप्रदा वयम् ।। १६ ।। निःसंतानो निरायुश्च निःश्रेयस्को भवेदिति ।। इति देवा वरं दत्त्वा स्वधामानि ययुः पुरा ।। १७ ।। तस्मात्तिथित्रयं पुण्यं सर्वाघौघविनाशनम् ।। अंत्यं पुष्करिणीसंज्ञं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्द्धनम् ।। १८ ।। या नारी सुभगाऽऽपूपपायसं पूर्णिमादिने ।। ब्राह्मणाय सकृद्दद्यात्कीर्तिमंतं सुतं लभेत् ।। १९ ।। गीतापाठं तु यः कुर्यादंतिमे च दिनत्रये ।। दिनेदिनेऽश्वमेधानां फलमेति न संशयः ।। 2.7.25.२० ।। सहस्रनामपठनं यः कुर्य्याच्च दिनत्रये ।। तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं कः शक्तो दिवि वा भुवि ।। २१ ।। सहस्रनामभिर्देवं पूर्णायां मधुसूदनम् ।। पयसा स्नाप्य वै याति विष्णुलोकमकल्मषम् ।। २२ ।। समस्तविभवैर्यस्तु पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम् ।। न तस्य लोकाः क्षीयन्ते युग कल्पादि व्यत्यये ।। २३ ।। अस्नात्वा चाप्यदत्त्वा च वैशाखश्च मतो यदि ।। स ब्रह्महा गुरुघ्नश्च पितॄणां घातकस्तथा।। २४ ।। श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् ।। वैशाखे च पठन्मर्त्यो ब्रह्मत्वं चोपपद्यते ।। २५ ।। यो वै भागवतं शास्त्रं शृणोत्येतद्दिनत्रये ।। न पापैर्लिप्यते क्वाऽपि पद्मपत्रमिवांभसा ।। २६ ।। देवत्वं मनुजैः प्राप्तं कैश्चित्सिद्धत्वमेव च ।। कैश्चित्प्राप्तो ब्रह्मभावो दिनत्रयनिषेवणात् ।।२७।। ब्रह्मज्ञानेन वै मुक्तिः प्रयागमरणेन वा ।। अथवा मासि वैशाखे नियमेन जलाप्लुतेः ।। २८ ।। नीलवृषं समुत्सृज्य वैशाख्यां च जलाप्लुतेः ।। समस्तबंधनिर्मुक्तः पुमान्याति परं पदम् ।। २९ ।। गां सवत्सां द्विजेंद्राय सीदते च कुटुम्बिने ।। इहापमृत्युनिर्मुक्तः परत्र च परं व्रजेत् ।। 2.7.25.३० ।। स्नानदानविहीनस्तु वैशाखी चैव यो नयेत् ।। श्वानयोनिशतं प्राप्य विष्ठायां जायते कृमिः ।। ३१।। तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्धकोटिश्च तीर्थानि भुवनत्रये ।। संभूय मंत्रयांचक्रुः पापसंघातशंकिताः ।। ३२ ।। जना अस्मासु पापिष्ठा विसृजन्ति स्वकं मलम् ।। तदस्माकं कथं गच्छेदिति चिंतासमन्विताः ।।३३।। तीर्थपादं हरिं जग्मुः शरण्यं शरणं विभुम् ।। स्तुत्वा च बहुभिः स्तोत्रैः प्रार्थयामासुरंजसा ।। ३४ ।। देवदेव जगन्नाथ सर्वाघौघविनाशन ।। जना अस्मासु पापिष्ठाः स्नात्वा पापानि सर्वशः ।। ३५ ।। विसृज्य त्वत्पदं यांति त्वदाज्ञाधारिणो भुवि ।। अस्माकं चैव तत्पापं कथं गच्छेज्जनार्दन ।। ३६ ।। तदुपायं वदास्माकं त्वत्पादशरणैषिणाम् ।। इति तीर्थैः प्रार्थितस्तु भगवान्भूतभावनः ।। ३७ ।। प्रहसन्प्राह तीर्थानि मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। सिते पक्षे मेषसूर्ये वैशाखान्तेदिनत्रये ।। ३८ ।। सर्वतीर्थमये पुण्ये ममाऽपि प्राणवल्लभे ।। यूयं भगोदयात्पूर्वं बहिःसंस्थजलाप्लुताः ।। ३९ ।। विमुक्ताघाः पुण्यरूपा भवंत्वाशु सुनिर्मलाः ।। भवद्भिश्च विमुक्ताघैर्ये न स्नाता दिनत्रये ।। 2.7.25.४० ।। तेषु तिष्ठंतु तत्पापं जनैर्युष्मद्विरेचितम् ।। इति तीर्थपदो विष्णुस्तीर्थानां च वरं ददौ ।। ४१ ।। अनुज्ञाप्य च तान्योगात्तत्रैवांतरधीयत ।। स्वधामानि पुनः प्राप्य तानि तीर्थानि नित्यशः ।। ४२ ।। प्रतिवर्षं तु वैशाखे तथैवांत्यदिनत्रये ।। तेनाघौघं विमुच्यैव यांति निर्मलता महो ।। ४३ ।। ये तु स्नानं न कुर्वंति वैशाखांतदिनत्रये ।। ते भवन्तु समस्तानां जनानां पातकाऽऽश्रयाः ।।४४।। इति शापं च तीर्थानि ह्यस्नातानां वदन्ति च ।। न तेन सदृशः पापो यो न स्नातो दिनत्रये ।। ४५ ।। विचारितेषु शास्त्रेषु न दृष्टो न च वै श्रुतः ।। तस्माद्दिनत्रये कार्यं स्नानदानार्चनादिकम् ।। ४६ ।। अन्यथा नरकं याति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ।। इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं श्रुतकीर्ते महामते ।। ४७ ।। पृष्टं वैशाखमाहात्म्यं यथा दृष्टं यथाश्रुतम् ।। माहात्म्यस्य च लेखोऽयं माधवस्य च वर्णितः ।। ४८ ।। कार्त्स्न्याद्वक्तुं च ब्रह्माऽपि नालं वर्षशतैरपि ।। पुरा कैलासशिखरे पार्वत्यै शंकरः स्वयम् ।।४९।। आह माधवमाहात्म्यं पृच्छंत्यै शतवत्सरम् ।। तथापि नांतमगमदशक्तो विरराम ह ।।2.7.25.५०।। को नु वर्णयितुं शक्तः कार्त्स्न्यान्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।। विना विष्णुं जगन्नाथं नारायणमनामयम् ।। ५१ ।। पुरा सर्वेऽपि ऋषयो माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् ।। लेशस्य लेशं व्याचख्युर्जनानां हितकाम्यया ।। ५२ ।। नांतः केनापि व्याख्यातो ह्यशक्तत्वान्महीपते ।। त्वं च मासे तु वैशाखे कुरु दानादिसत्क्रियाः ।।५३।। तेन भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च संप्राप्नोषि न संशयः ।। इति तं बोधयित्वा च मैथिलं जनकाह्वयम् ।। ५४ ।। श्रुतदेवस्तमामंत्र्य गन्तुं चक्रे मनस्ततः ।। जाताह्लादः स राजर्षिर्गलद्वाष्पाकुलेक्षणः ।। ५५ ।। उत्सवं कारयामास स्वाभिवृद्ध्यै मनोरमम् ।। ग्रामं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य शिबिकामधिरोप्य तम् ।। ५६ ।। चतुरंगबलैर्युक्तः स्वयं पृष्ठमथाऽन्वगात् ।। पुनश्चांतःपुरं प्राप्य सकलैर्विभवैरपि ।। ५७ ।। वस्त्रैराभरणैश्चैव गोभूतिलहिरण्यकैः ।। प्रणम्य च परिक्रम्य तस्थौ प्रांजलिरग्रतः ।। ५८ ।। ततः स तु महातेजाः श्रुतदेवो महायशाः ।। सन्तुष्टः परमप्रीतो ययौ धाम स्वकं मुनिः ।। ५९ ।। त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यां च माधवे ।। स्नानं दानं पूजनं च कथाश्रवणमेव च ।। 2.7.25.६० ।। वैशाखधर्मनिरतः स वै मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् ।। धनशर्मा ब्राह्मणश्च प्रेताश्चैव यथा पुरा ।। ६१ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। इत्येतत्परमाख्यानमंबरीष तवोदितम् ।। श्रवणात्सर्वपापघ्नं सर्वसंपद्विधायकम् ।। ६२ ।। तेन भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च ज्ञानं मोक्षं च विंदति ।। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा अंवरीषो महायशाः ।। ६३ ।। प्रहृष्टांतरवृत्तिश्च बाह्यव्यापारवर्जितः ।। प्रणनाम तथा मूर्ध्ना दण्डवत्पतितो भुवि ।। ६४ ।। विभवैरखिलैश्चाऽपि पूजयामास तं पुनः ।। संपूजितस्तमामंत्र्य नारदो भगवान्मुनिः ।। ६५ ।। लोकांतरं ययौ धीमाञ्च्छापान्नैकत्र संस्थितिः ।। अम्बरीषोऽपि राजर्षिर्नारदोक्तानिमाञ्च्छुभान् ।। ६६ ।। धर्मान्कृत्वा विलीनोऽभूत्परे ब्रह्मणि निर्गुणे ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। य इदं परमाख्यानं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्धनम् ।। ६७ ।। शृणुयाद्वा पठेद्वाऽपि स याति परमां गतिम् ।। लिखितं पुस्तकं येषां गृहे तिष्ठति मानदाः ।। ६८ ।। तेषां मुक्तिः करस्था हि किमु तच्छ्रवणात्मनाम् ।। ६९ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्ये नारदाम्बरीषसंवादे फलश्रुतिकथनंनाम पंचविशोऽध्यायः ।। २५ ।। ।। छ ।। ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराणे द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे वैशाखमासमाहात्म्यं संपूर्णम् ।। श्रीसीतारामचंद्रार्पणमस्तु।।
|| śrutadeva uvāca || || yāstisrastithayaḥ puṇyā aṃtimāḥ śuklapakṣake || vaiśākhamāsi rājeṃdra pūrṇimāṃtāḥ śubhāvahāḥ || 1 || antyāḥ puṣkariṇīsaṃjñāḥ sarvapāpakṣayāvahāḥ || mādhave māsi yaḥ pūrṇaṃ snānaṃ karttuṃ na ca kṣamaḥ || 2 || tithiṣvetāsu sa snāyātpūrṇa meva phalaṃ labhet || sarve devāstrayodaśyāṃ sthitvā jaṃtūnpunaṃti hi || 3 || pūrṇāyāḥ parvatīrthaiśca viṣṇunā saha saṃsthitāḥ || caturdaśyāṃ sayajñāśca devā etānpunaṃti hi || 4 || brahmaghnaṃ vā surāpaṃ vā sarvānetānpunaṃti hi || ekādaśyāṃ purā jajñe vaiśākhyāmamṛtaṃ śubham || 5 || dvādaśyāṃ pālitaṃ tacca viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā || trayodaśyāṃ sudhāṃ devānpāyayāmāsa vai hariḥ || 6 || jaghāna ca caturdaśyāṃ daityāndevavirodhinaḥ || pūrṇāyāṃ sarvadevānāṃ sāmrājyā''ptirbabhūva ha || 7 || tato devāḥ susaṃtuṣṭā etāsāṃ ca varaṃ daduḥ || tisṛṇāṃ ca tithīnāṃ vai prītyotphullavilocanāḥ || 8 || etā vaiśākha māsasya tisraśca tithayaḥ śubhāḥ || putrapautrādiphaladā narāṇāṃ pāpahānidāḥ || 9 || yo'sminmāse ca saṃpūrṇe na snāto manujādhamaḥ || tithitraye tu sa snātvā pūrṇameva phalaṃ labhet || 2.7.25.10 || tithitrayepyakurvāṇaḥ snānadānādikaṃ naraḥ || cāṃḍālīṃ yonimāsādya paścādrauravamaśnute || 11 || uṣṇodakena yaḥ snāti mādhave ca tithitraye || rauravaṃ narakaṃ yāti yāvadiṃdrāścaturdaśa ||12|| pitṛndevānsamuddiśya dadhyannaṃ na dadāti yaḥ || paiśācīṃ yonimāsādya tiṣṭhatyābhūtasaṃplavam || 13 || pravṛttānāṃ ca kāmānāṃ mādhave niyame kṛte || avaśyaṃ viṣṇusāyujyaṃ yujyate nā'tra saṃśayaḥ || 14 || āmāsaṃ niyamāsaktaḥ kuryādyadi dinatraye || tena pūrṇaphalaṃ prāpya modate viṣṇumaṃdire || 15 || yo vai devānpitṝnviṣṇuṃ gurumuddiśya mānavaḥ || na snānādi karotyaddhā'muṣya śāpapradā vayam || 16 || niḥsaṃtāno nirāyuśca niḥśreyasko bhavediti || iti devā varaṃ dattvā svadhāmāni yayuḥ purā || 17 || tasmāttithitrayaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvāghaughavināśanam || aṃtyaṃ puṣkariṇīsaṃjñaṃ putrapautravivarddhanam || 18 || yā nārī subhagā''pūpapāyasaṃ pūrṇimādine || brāhmaṇāya sakṛddadyātkīrtimaṃtaṃ sutaṃ labhet || 19 || gītāpāṭhaṃ tu yaḥ kuryādaṃtime ca dinatraye || dinedine'śvamedhānāṃ phalameti na saṃśayaḥ || 2.7.25.20 || sahasranāmapaṭhanaṃ yaḥ kuryyācca dinatraye || tasya puṇyaphalaṃ vaktuṃ kaḥ śakto divi vā bhuvi || 21 || sahasranāmabhirdevaṃ pūrṇāyāṃ madhusūdanam || payasā snāpya vai yāti viṣṇulokamakalmaṣam || 22 || samastavibhavairyastu pūjayenmadhusūdanam || na tasya lokāḥ kṣīyante yuga kalpādi vyatyaye || 23 || asnātvā cāpyadattvā ca vaiśākhaśca mato yadi || sa brahmahā gurughnaśca pitṝṇāṃ ghātakastathā|| 24 || ślokārddhaṃ ślokapādaṃ vā nityaṃ bhāgavatodbhavam || vaiśākhe ca paṭhanmartyo brahmatvaṃ copapadyate || 25 || yo vai bhāgavataṃ śāstraṃ śṛṇotyetaddinatraye || na pāpairlipyate kvā'pi padmapatramivāṃbhasā || 26 || devatvaṃ manujaiḥ prāptaṃ kaiścitsiddhatvameva ca || kaiścitprāpto brahmabhāvo dinatrayaniṣevaṇāt ||27|| brahmajñānena vai muktiḥ prayāgamaraṇena vā || athavā māsi vaiśākhe niyamena jalāpluteḥ || 28 || nīlavṛṣaṃ samutsṛjya vaiśākhyāṃ ca jalāpluteḥ || samastabaṃdhanirmuktaḥ pumānyāti paraṃ padam || 29 || gāṃ savatsāṃ dvijeṃdrāya sīdate ca kuṭumbine || ihāpamṛtyunirmuktaḥ paratra ca paraṃ vrajet || 2.7.25.30 || snānadānavihīnastu vaiśākhī caiva yo nayet || śvānayoniśataṃ prāpya viṣṭhāyāṃ jāyate kṛmiḥ || 31|| tisraḥ koṭyo'rdhakoṭiśca tīrthāni bhuvanatraye || saṃbhūya maṃtrayāṃcakruḥ pāpasaṃghātaśaṃkitāḥ || 32 || janā asmāsu pāpiṣṭhā visṛjanti svakaṃ malam || tadasmākaṃ kathaṃ gacchediti ciṃtāsamanvitāḥ ||33|| tīrthapādaṃ hariṃ jagmuḥ śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaṃ vibhum || stutvā ca bahubhiḥ stotraiḥ prārthayāmāsuraṃjasā || 34 || devadeva jagannātha sarvāghaughavināśana || janā asmāsu pāpiṣṭhāḥ snātvā pāpāni sarvaśaḥ || 35 || visṛjya tvatpadaṃ yāṃti tvadājñādhāriṇo bhuvi || asmākaṃ caiva tatpāpaṃ kathaṃ gacchejjanārdana || 36 || tadupāyaṃ vadāsmākaṃ tvatpādaśaraṇaiṣiṇām || iti tīrthaiḥ prārthitastu bhagavānbhūtabhāvanaḥ || 37 || prahasanprāha tīrthāni meghagambhīrayā girā || || śrībhagavānuvāca || || site pakṣe meṣasūrye vaiśākhāntedinatraye || 38 || sarvatīrthamaye puṇye mamā'pi prāṇavallabhe || yūyaṃ bhagodayātpūrvaṃ bahiḥsaṃsthajalāplutāḥ || 39 || vimuktāghāḥ puṇyarūpā bhavaṃtvāśu sunirmalāḥ || bhavadbhiśca vimuktāghairye na snātā dinatraye || 2.7.25.40 || teṣu tiṣṭhaṃtu tatpāpaṃ janairyuṣmadvirecitam || iti tīrthapado viṣṇustīrthānāṃ ca varaṃ dadau || 41 || anujñāpya ca tānyogāttatraivāṃtaradhīyata || svadhāmāni punaḥ prāpya tāni tīrthāni nityaśaḥ || 42 || prativarṣaṃ tu vaiśākhe tathaivāṃtyadinatraye || tenāghaughaṃ vimucyaiva yāṃti nirmalatā maho || 43 || ye tu snānaṃ na kurvaṃti vaiśākhāṃtadinatraye || te bhavantu samastānāṃ janānāṃ pātakā''śrayāḥ ||44|| iti śāpaṃ ca tīrthāni hyasnātānāṃ vadanti ca || na tena sadṛśaḥ pāpo yo na snāto dinatraye || 45 || vicāriteṣu śāstreṣu na dṛṣṭo na ca vai śrutaḥ || tasmāddinatraye kāryaṃ snānadānārcanādikam || 46 || anyathā narakaṃ yāti yāvadiṃdrāścaturdaśa || ityetatsarvamākhyātaṃ śrutakīrte mahāmate || 47 || pṛṣṭaṃ vaiśākhamāhātmyaṃ yathā dṛṣṭaṃ yathāśrutam || māhātmyasya ca lekho'yaṃ mādhavasya ca varṇitaḥ || 48 || kārtsnyādvaktuṃ ca brahmā'pi nālaṃ varṣaśatairapi || purā kailāsaśikhare pārvatyai śaṃkaraḥ svayam ||49|| āha mādhavamāhātmyaṃ pṛcchaṃtyai śatavatsaram || tathāpi nāṃtamagamadaśakto virarāma ha ||2.7.25.50|| ko nu varṇayituṃ śaktaḥ kārtsnyānmāhātmyamuttamam || vinā viṣṇuṃ jagannāthaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam || 51 || purā sarve'pi ṛṣayo māhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam || leśasya leśaṃ vyācakhyurjanānāṃ hitakāmyayā || 52 || nāṃtaḥ kenāpi vyākhyāto hyaśaktatvānmahīpate || tvaṃ ca māse tu vaiśākhe kuru dānādisatkriyāḥ ||53|| tena bhuktiṃ ca muktiṃ ca saṃprāpnoṣi na saṃśayaḥ || iti taṃ bodhayitvā ca maithilaṃ janakāhvayam || 54 || śrutadevastamāmaṃtrya gantuṃ cakre manastataḥ || jātāhlādaḥ sa rājarṣirgaladvāṣpākulekṣaṇaḥ || 55 || utsavaṃ kārayāmāsa svābhivṛddhyai manoramam || grāmaṃ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya śibikāmadhiropya tam || 56 || caturaṃgabalairyuktaḥ svayaṃ pṛṣṭhamathā'nvagāt || punaścāṃtaḥpuraṃ prāpya sakalairvibhavairapi || 57 || vastrairābharaṇaiścaiva gobhūtilahiraṇyakaiḥ || praṇamya ca parikramya tasthau prāṃjaliragrataḥ || 58 || tataḥ sa tu mahātejāḥ śrutadevo mahāyaśāḥ || santuṣṭaḥ paramaprīto yayau dhāma svakaṃ muniḥ || 59 || trayodaśyāṃ caturdaśyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ ca mādhave || snānaṃ dānaṃ pūjanaṃ ca kathāśravaṇameva ca || 2.7.25.60 || vaiśākhadharmanirataḥ sa vai mokṣamavāpnuyāt || dhanaśarmā brāhmaṇaśca pretāścaiva yathā purā || 61 || || nārada uvāca || || ityetatparamākhyānamaṃbarīṣa tavoditam || śravaṇātsarvapāpaghnaṃ sarvasaṃpadvidhāyakam || 62 || tena bhuktiṃ ca muktiṃ ca jñānaṃ mokṣaṃ ca viṃdati || iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā aṃvarīṣo mahāyaśāḥ || 63 || prahṛṣṭāṃtaravṛttiśca bāhyavyāpāravarjitaḥ || praṇanāma tathā mūrdhnā daṇḍavatpatito bhuvi || 64 || vibhavairakhilaiścā'pi pūjayāmāsa taṃ punaḥ || saṃpūjitastamāmaṃtrya nārado bhagavānmuniḥ || 65 || lokāṃtaraṃ yayau dhīmāñcchāpānnaikatra saṃsthitiḥ || ambarīṣo'pi rājarṣirnāradoktānimāñcchubhān || 66 || dharmānkṛtvā vilīno'bhūtpare brahmaṇi nirguṇe || || sūta uvāca || || ya idaṃ paramākhyānaṃ pāpaghnaṃ puṇyavardhanam || 67 || śṛṇuyādvā paṭhedvā'pi sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || likhitaṃ pustakaṃ yeṣāṃ gṛhe tiṣṭhati mānadāḥ || 68 || teṣāṃ muktiḥ karasthā hi kimu tacchravaṇātmanām || 69 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmye nāradāmbarīṣasaṃvāde phalaśrutikathanaṃnāma paṃcaviśo'dhyāyaḥ || 25 || || cha || || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇe dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe vaiśākhamāsamāhātmyaṃ saṃpūrṇam || śrīsītārāmacaṃdrārpaṇamastu||
English translation
Śrutadeva said :
1-4. The three meritorious Tithis , toward the end of the bright half, ending with the full-moon day, in the month of Vaiśākha , [1] are very auspicious.
The last Tithis are called Puṣkariṇī . They are destructive of all sins. If one is incompetent to take holy bath throughout the month of Vaiśākha, he should take bath in these Tithis. He will get the full benefit. All the Devas come on the Trayodaśī day and sanctify creatures.
On the full-moon day they appear here along with Viṣṇu and all the Tīrṃas. On the Caturdaśī day Devas sanctify these along with Yajñas .
5-8. They sanctify everyone whether (he be) a murderer of a Brāhmaṇa or a drink-addict. It was on the Ekādaśī day in the month of Vaiśākha that the splendid nectar appeared formerly. On the Dvādaśi day it was guarded by Viṣṇu, the powerful one. On the Trayodaśī day Had made the Devas drink the nectar. On the Caturdaśī the Lord killed the Daityas who were antagonistic to Devas. On the full-moon day the Devas regained their sovereignty. Thereupon, the exceedingly delighted Devas granted boons to these three Tithis. Out of delight their eyes beamed like full blown (lotuses).
9. These three Tithis of the month of Vaiśākha are very auspicious. They bestow sons, grandsons and other benefits on men. They are conducive to the destruction of sins.
10. A base man who does not take bath throughout this month, shall obtain the full benefit by taking the holy bath on these three Tithis.
11. A man who does not take the holy bath or does not perform the holy rites or make charitable gifts etc. during these three Tithis too, is reborn in the womb of a Cāṇḍāla woman and then falls into Raurava hell.
12. He who takes hot-water bath on the three days of Vaiśākha falls into Raurava hell and stays there as long as fourteen Indras rule.
13. He who does not offer cooked rice mixed with curds with Pitṛs in view, is reborn in Piśāca species and remains there till the annihilation of all living beings.
14. If a restraint is made on desires actively pursuing their objects in the month of Vaiśākha, he will certainly attain Sāyujya with Viṣṇu. There is no doubt about it.
15. If a person who is incompetent to observe restraints throughout the month does it on these three days, he attains the entire benefit and rejoices in the abode of Viṣṇu.
16-17. “If a man does not manifestly perform holy bath and other rites with Devas, Pitṛs, preceptor and Viṣṇu in view, we (i.e. the Devas) will curse him that he will be devoid of progeny, long life and welfare.”
The Devas granted these boons formerly and went to their respective abodes.
18. Hence the three Tithis are meritorious and destructive of all masses of sins. The group of the three last ones is called Puṣkariṇī and is conducive to the increase of sons and grandsons.
19. A woman endowed with good fortune who gives at least once sweet pie and milk pudding to a Brāhmaṇa on the full-moon day, shall obtain a renowned son.
20. If a person reads the Bhagavad-Gītā [2] during the last three days, he will obtain the benefits of (many) horse-sacrifices for each day. There is no doubt about this.
21. Who in heaven or on the earth is competent to recount the merit of that person who reads ‘The Thousand Names’ ( Viṣṇu- sahasranāma ) during the (last) three days?
22. By bathing Lord Madhusūdana with milk, (repeating) the thousand names ( Viṣṇu-sahasranāma ), one goes to the sinless world of Viṣṇu.
23. If a person worships Madhusūdana by means of all his riches, his worlds do not perish even during the annihilation at the close of the Yugas , Kalpas etc.
24. If the month of Vaiśākha passes by and a person does not take the holy bath or make charitable gifts, he is a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, a murderer of his preceptor and slaughterer of the Pitṛs.
25. One who reads half of a verse or even one-fourth of a verse from Bhāgavata everyday during the month of Vaiśākha, attains the state of Brahman (i.e. salvation).
26. He who listens to the sacred text of Bhāgavata during these three days is not contaminated by sins like a leaf of lotus that is not affected by water.
27. By resorting to (i.e. observing Vaiśākha Vrata on) these three days the state of Devas has been attained by some men, the state of Siddhas by some and salvation by some.
28-30. Salvation is attained through knowledge of Brahman or through death at Prayāga or by taking the holy bath invariably throughout the month of Vaiśākha.
By letting loose a black bull and by taking the holy bath, a man is liberated from all bondages and attains the greatest region.
By giving a cow along with her calf to an eminent Brāhmaṇa who suffers on account of a large family, one will be rid of the danger of premature or accidental death here, and shall attain the greatest region hereafter.
31. One who is devoid of holy bath and charitable gifts on the full-moon day of the month of Vaiśākha takes rebirth as a dog hundred times. Thereafter, he is born as a worm in faeces.
32. All the thirty-five million Tīrthas in the three worlds gathered together for mutual discussion as they were afraid of masses of sins. [3]
33. “Sinful persons come and shed off their dirt in us. How can this accumulated dirt be got rid of?” This was their worry.
34-38a. They went to Lord Hari and sought refuge in him because he is worthy of being sought refuge in and because his very foot is the source of a Tīrtha . After eulogizing him with many hymns, they promptly requested him:
“O Lord of Devas, O Lord of the universe, O destroyer of all masses of sins, sinful persons take bath in us and cast off all their sins in us. They go to your region. They had been carrying out your behest on the earth. O Janārdana , how will our sin perish? We are desirous of your feet as our refuge and resort to them. Tell us the means thereof.”
On being entreated thus, Lord Hari, the sanctifier of all living beings, laughingly spoke to those Tīrthas, in a voice resembling thunder in sonority.
Śrī Bhagavān said :
38b-43. During the three days towards the close of the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha when the Sun is in Aries, which is as dear to me as my vital airs, all of you do flood over the water that is present in the open air. It is meritorious and full of all the Tīrthas(?) Thereby you will be rid of those sins. You will have meritorious forms free from impurities. May the sins dropped into you all by people and then discharged by you all stay in those persons who do not take the holy baṃ during all those three days.
Thus Viṣṇu whose foot is the source of origin of Tīrthas, granted boons unto the Tīrthas.
After permitting them (to go), the Lord vanished there itself by means of his Yogic power. They went to their respective abodes. Every year during those last three days in Vaiśākha all those Tīrthas discharge the mass of their sins and become free from impurities.
44-50. “May those who do not take the holy bath during the last three days in Vaiśākha become the recipients of the sins of all the people.” This is the curse that the Tīrthas give to those who do not take bath.
There is no other sinner on a par with one who does not take the holy bath in the course of the three days. Even after poring over all the scriptural texts, such a one is not seen or heard. Hence the rites of holy bath, charitable gifts, worship etc. must be performed on all the three days. Otherwise one falls into Naraka and stays there as long as fourteen Indras reign.
Thus everything has been recounted to you, O highly intelligent Śrutakīrti .
Everything that you had asked about the greatness of Vaiśākha has been recounted to you in accordance with what was seen and heard (by me). This treatise on the glory of Vaiśākha has been explained by Mādhava (himself).
Even Brahmā is not competent to recount it entirely even in hundreds of years.
Formerly on the top of Kailāsa Śaṅkara himself recounted the greatness of Vaiśākha to Pārvatī who asked him (about it). He recounted it for a period of a hundred years. Still the topic could not be exhausted. He stopped because he was not capable of proceeding further.
51. Excepting Viṣṇu, the Lord of the worlds, Nārāyaṇa who is free from ailments, who indeed can describe the excellent glory (of the month) in its entirety?
52-55a. Formerly with a desire for the welfare of all the people, all the sages wished to explain a small bit of the sin-destroying greatness. But no one reached the limit of explanation, as he was incapable, O king.
You also do perform charitable gifts and other holy rites in the month of Vaiśākha. Thereby you will obtain worldly pleasures and salvation. There is no doubt about it.
After enlightening thus the king of Mithilā named Janaka , Śrutadeva thought of taking leave of him and go.
55b-59. That saintly king shed tears of joy and his eyes became bedimmed thereby. For the sake of his own prosperity, he celebrated a grand festival of great charm.
He made the sage sit in a palanquin and circumambulate the entire village. He himself followed him accompanied by the army consisting of four divisions. They then returned to the inner apartments. The king placed before him all sorts of riches, garments, ornaments, cows, plots of land, gingelly seeds and gold. He circumambulated the sage, bowed down to him and stood in front of him with palms joined in reverence. Thereafter Śrutadeva of great refulgence and reputation, became exceedingly delighted and contented. The sage then went back to his abode.
60-61. Holy bath, charitable gift, worship and listening to the story on the thirteenth and fourteenth as well as on the full-moon day—these are the holy rites. One who is devoted to holy rites of Vaiśākha shall attain salvation as in the case of Dhanaśarmā , [4] the Brāhmaṇa, and the Pretas before. [5]
Nārada said :
62-64. Thus, O Aṃbarīṣa , the great narrative has been recounted to you. By listening to it one can destroy all the sins. It brings about all riches. Thereby one obtains worldly pleasures and salvation and perfect knowledge.
On hearing his words Aṃbarīṣa of great renown became very pleased within. All his external activities ceased. He bowed down his head and fell on the ground like a log of wood.
65-67a. He adored him by means of all his riches. After being adored, Nārada , the sage, took leave of him and went to another world. The intelligent sage cannot stay in one place due to a curse.
Aṃbarīṣa, the saintly king, performed these splendid holy rites mentioned by Nārada. Thereby he got merged into the Supreme Brahman devoid of attributes.
Sūta said :
67b-69. He who listens to or reads this great story that destroys sins and increases merit attains the greatest goal. Salvation is within the reach of those persons in whose house a manuscript of this book exists, O bestowers of honour. What to speak of those who listen to it themselves!
:: End of Vaiśākhamāsa- Māhātmya ::
[1]: [1] : The author follows Pūrṇimānta māsa —the calendar in which the month ends with Pūrṇimā, full-moon day. Hence the importance of the last three ‘ Puṣkariṇī ’ Tithis , viz. 13th, 14th and 15th (full moon) of Vaiśākha. If one observes Vaiśākha Vratas on these Tithis, he gets full result of complete observance of this Vrata. Though verse 2 calls these collectively ‘Puṣkariṇī’, the name really designates only the full-moon day (v 18).
[2]: [2] : VV 20-26 show that the three Vaiṣṇavite Texts—Bhagavad Gītā, Viṣṇu-sahasranāma and Śrīmad Bhāgavata had a special place in Vaiṣṇavas life. Hence the special prescription of the reading etc. of these texts.
[3]: [3] : VV 32-47 exhort the need and importance of early bath in Tīrthas.
[4]: [4] : The story is given in Vaiśākha Māhātmya in PdP.
[5]: [5] : This is a reference to PdP, Pātāla Khaṇḍa 98.45-111. Dhanaśarmā, a Brāhmaṇa from Madhyadeśa, met three Piśācas. Being afraid and uttering Viṣṇu’s name he asked them who they were. Being pleased to hear the name of the god they told him their names Kṛtaghna (‘ungrateful one’), Vidaivata (‘God-less’), Avaiśākha (non-observer of Vaiśākha-Vrata). The last one who happened to be the father of Dhanaśarmā told him (Dhanaśarmā) to convey his message to his son (Dhanaśarmā) to observe holy bath, make religious gifts, worship and listen to Viṣṇu’s tales on these last three days of Vaiśākha and give the merit thereof to them. Dhanaśarmā did it and the Piśācas were redeemed. The last three days of Vaiśākha are associated with the following important episodes: 13th day: (i) Viṣṇu made Devas drink Amṛta. Devas regained their kingdom (v 7) (ii) Viṣṇu killed Hiraṇyākṣa. 14th day: (i) Viṣṇu killed Devas’ opponents. (ii) Viṣṇu killed demon Madhu. 15th Day: (i) Devas re-established in their kingdom. (ii) Viṣṇu uplifted the earth from the ocean.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23113, revision 71565 (2016-06-21T03:46:38Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371727.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.