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Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 13

Chapter 13

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Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 13

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।। अथ धर्मगुप्तचरित्रवर्णनम् ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। भूयोपि संप्रवक्ष्यामि स्वामितीर्थस्य वैभवम् ।। युष्माकमादरेणाऽहं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः ।। १ ।। नन्दोनाम महाराजः सोमवंशसमुद्भवः ।। धर्मेण पालयामास सागरान्तां धरामिमाम् ।। २ ।। तस्य पुत्रः समभवद्धर्मगुप्त इति स्मृतः ।। राज्यरक्षाधुरं नन्दो निजपुत्रे निधाय सः ।। ३ ।। जितेंद्रियो जिताहारः प्रविवेश तपोवनम् ।। ताते तपोवनं याते धर्मगुप्ताभिधो नृपः ।। ४ ।। मेदिनीं पालयामास धर्मज्ञो नीतितत्परः ।। ईजे वहुविधैर्यज्ञैर्देवानिन्द्र पुरोगमान् ।। ५ ।। ब्राह्मणानां ददौ वित्तं क्षेत्राणि च बहूनि सः ।। सर्वे स्वधर्मनिरतास्तस्मिन्राजनि शासति ।।६।। कदाचिन्नाभवन्पीडास्तस्मिंश्चोरादिसंभवाः ।। कदाचिद्धर्मगुप्तोऽयमारुह्य तुरगोत्तमम् ।। ७ ।। वनं विवेश विप्रेंद्रा मृगयारसकौतुकी ।। तमालतालहिन्तालकुरवाकुलदिङ्मुखे ।। ८ ।। विचचार वने तस्मिन्सिंसहव्याघ्रभयानके ।। मत्तालिकुलसन्नादसंमूर्च्छितदिगन्तरे ।। ९ ।। पद्मकल्हारकुमुदनीलोत्पलवनाकुले ।। तटाके रससंपूर्णे तपस्विजनमण्डिते ।। 2.1.13.१० ।। तस्मिन्वने सञ्चरतो धर्मगुप्तस्य भूपतेः ।। अभूद्विभावरी विप्रास्तमसावृतदिङ्मुखा ।। ११ ।। राजाऽपि पश्चिमां सन्ध्यामुपास्य विनयान्वितः ।। जजाप च वने तत्र गायत्रीं वेदमातरम् ।। १२ ।। सिंहव्याघ्रादिभीत्यास्मिन्वृक्षमेकं समाश्रिते ।। राजपुत्रे तदभ्याशमृक्षः सिंहभयार्दितः ।। १३ ।। अन्वधावत वृक्षं तमेकः सिंहो वनेचरः ।। अनुद्रुतः स सिंहेन ऋक्षो वृक्षमुपारुहत् ।। १४ ।। आरुह्य ऋक्षो वृक्षं तं ददर्श जगतीपतिम् ।। वृक्षस्थितं महात्मानं महाबलपराक्रमम् ।। १५ ।। उवाच भूपतिं दृष्ट्वा ऋक्षोयं वनगोचरः ।। मा भीतिं कुरु राजेंद्र वत्स्यावो रजनीमिह ।। १६ ।। महासत्त्वो महाकायो महादंष्ट्रसमाकुलः ।। वृक्षमूलं समायातः सिंहोऽयमतिभीषणः ।। १७ ।। रात्र्यर्धं भज निद्रां त्वं रक्ष्यमाणो मयोद्यतः ।। ततः प्रसुप्तं मां रक्ष शर्वर्यर्धं महामते ।। १८ ।। इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य सुप्ते नन्दसुते हरिः ।। प्रोवाच ऋक्षं सुप्तोऽयं नृपो मे त्यज्यतामिति ।। १९ ।। तं सिंहमब्रवीदृक्षो धर्मज्ञो द्विजसत्तमाः ।। भवान्धर्मं न जानीते मृगराज वनेचर ।। 2.1.13.२० ।। विश्वासघातिनां लोके महाकष्टं भवत्यहो ।। न हि मित्रद्रुहां पापं नश्येद्यज्ञायुतैरपि ।। २१ ।। ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां कथञ्चिन्निष्कृतिर्भवेत् ।। विश्वासघातिनां पापं न नश्येज्जन्मकोटिभिः ।। २२ ।। नाहं मेरुं महाभारं मन्ये पञ्चास्य भूतले ।। महाभारमिमं मन्ये लोकविश्वासघातकम् ।। २३ ।। एवमुक्तोऽथ ऋक्षेण सिंहस्तूष्णीं बभूव ह ।। धर्मगुप्ते प्रबुद्धे तु ऋक्षः सुष्वाप भूरुहे ।। २४ ।। ततः सिंहोऽब्रवीद्भूपमेनमृक्षं त्यजस्व मे ।। एवमुक्तोऽथ सिंहेन राजा सुप्तमशंकितः ।। २५ ।। स्वांकन्यस्तशिरस्कं तमृक्षं तत्याज भूतले ।। पात्यमानस्ततो राज्ञा समालम्बितपादपः ।। २६ ।। ऋक्षः पुण्यवशाद्वृक्षान्न पपात महीतले ।। स ऋक्षो नृपमभ्येत्य कोपाद्वाक्यमभाषत ।। २७ ।। कामरूपधरो राजन्नहं भृगुकुलोद्भवः ।। ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधो नाम्ना ऋक्षरूपमधारयम् ।। २८ ।। कस्मादनागसं सुप्तमत्याक्षीन्मां भवान्नृप ।। मच्छापादतिशीघ्रं त्वमुन्मत्तश्चर भूतले ।। २९ ।। इति शप्त्वा मुनिर्भूपं ततः सिंहमभाषत ।। न सिंहस्त्वं महायक्षः कुबेरसचिवः पुरा ।। 2.1.13.३० ।। हिमवद्गिरिमासाद्य कदाचित्तं वधूसखः ।। अज्ञानाद्गौतमाभ्याशे विहारमतनोर्मुदा ।। ३१ ।। गौतमोऽप्युटजाद्दैवात्समिदाहरणाय वै ।। निर्गतस्त्वां विवसनं दृष्ट्वा शापमुदाहरत् ।। ३२ ।। यस्मान्ममाश्रमेऽद्य त्वं विवस्त्रः स्थितवानसि ।। अतः सिंहत्वमद्यैव भविता ते न संशयः ।। ३३ ।। इति गौतमशापेन सिंहत्वमगमत्पुरा ।। कुबेरसचिवो यक्षो भद्रनामा भवान्पुरा ।। ३४ ।। कुबेरो धर्मशीलो हि तद्भृत्याश्च तथैव हि ।। अतः किमर्थं त्वं हंसि मामृषिं वनगोचरम् ।। ३५ ।। एतत्सर्वमहं ध्यानाज्जानामि हि मृगाधिप ।। इत्युक्तो ध्यानकाष्ठेन त्यक्त्वा सिंहत्वमाशु सः ।। ।। ३६ ।। यक्षरूपं गतो दिव्यं कुबेरसचिवात्मकम् ।। ध्यानकाष्ठमसावाह प्रांजलिः प्रणतो मुनिम् ।। ३७ ।। अद्य ज्ञातं मया सर्वं पूर्ववृत्तं महामुने ।। गौतमः शापकाले मे शापान्तमपि चोक्तवान् ।। ३८ ।। ध्यानकाष्ठेन संवाद ऋक्षरूपेण ते यदा ।। तदा निर्धूय सिंहत्वं यक्षरूपमवाप्स्यसि ।। ३९ ।। इति मामब्रवीद्ब्रह्मन्गौतमो मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। अद्य सिंहत्वनाशान्मे जानामि त्वां महामुने ।। 2.1.13.४० ।। ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधं शुद्धं कामरूपधरं सदा ।। इत्युक्त्वा तं प्रणम्याथ ध्यानकाष्ठं स यक्षराट् ।। ४१ ।। विमानवरमारुह्य प्रययावलकापुरीम् ।। उन्मत्तरूपं तं दृष्ट्वा मन्त्रिणस्तु नृपोत्तमम्।। ।। ४२ ।। पितुः सकाशमानिन्यू रेवातीरे नृपोत्तमम् ।। तस्मै निवेदयामासुर्मतिभ्रंशं सुतस्य च ।। ४३ ।। ज्ञात्वा तु पुत्रवृत्तान्तं पिता वै नंदनस्तदा ।। ४४ ।। ।। अथ जैमिनिवाक्यात्स्वामितीर्थस्नातस्य धर्मगुप्तस्योन्मादनिवृत्तिः ।। ।। पुत्रमादाय सहसा जैमिनेरन्तिकं ययौ ।। तस्मै निवेदयामास पुत्रवृत्तान्तमादितः ।। ४५ ।। भगवञ्जैमिने पुत्रो ममाद्योन्मत्ततां गतः ।। अस्योन्मादविनाशाय ब्रूह्युपायं महामुने ।। ४६ ।। इति पृष्टश्चिरं दध्यौ जैमिनिर्मुनिपुंगवः ।। ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं नृपनन्दनमब्रवीत् ।। ४७ ।। ध्यानकाष्ठस्य शापेन ह्युन्मत्तस्ते सुतोऽभवत् ।। तस्य शापस्य मोक्षार्थमुपायं प्रब्रवीमि ते ।। ४८ ।। सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे वेंकटेनाम पर्वते ।। सर्वपापहरे पुण्ये नानाधातुविनिर्मिते ।। ४९ ।। स्वामिपुष्करिणी चेति तीर्थमस्ति महत्तरम् ।। पवित्राणां पवित्रं हि मंगलानां च मंगलम् ।। 2.1.13.५० ।। श्रुतिसिद्धं महापुण्यं ब्रह्महत्यादिशोधकम् ।। नीत्वा तत्र सुतं तेऽद्य स्नापयस्व महामते ।। ५१ ।। उन्मादस्तत्क्षणादेव तस्य नश्येन्न संशयः ।। इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्यासौ जैमिनिं मुनिपुंगवम् ।। ५२ ।। नन्दः पुत्रं समादाय स्वामिपुष्करिणीं ययौ ।। तत्र च स्नापयामास पुत्रं नियमपूर्वकम् ।। ५३ ।। स्नानमात्रात्ततः सद्यो नष्टोन्मादोऽभवत्सुतः ।। स्वयं सस्नौ स नन्दोऽपि स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।। ५४ ।। उषित्वा दिनमेकं तु सहपुत्रः पिता तदा ।। सेवित्वा वेंकटेशं च श्रीनिवासं कृपानिधिम् ।। ५५ ।। पुत्रमापृच्छ्य नन्दस्तं प्रययौ तपसे वनम् ।। गते पितरि पुत्रोऽपि धर्मगुप्तो नृपो द्विजाः ।। ५६ ।। प्रददौ वेंकटेशस्य बहुवित्तानि भक्तितः ।। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं धान्यं क्षेत्राणि च ददौ तदा ।। ५७ ।। प्रययौ मन्त्रिभिः सार्धं स्वां पुरीं तदनन्तरम् ।। धर्मेण पालयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् ।। ५८ ।। पितृपैतामहं विप्रा धर्मगुप्तोतिधार्मिकः ।। उन्मादैरप्यपस्मारैर्ग्रहैर्दुष्टैश्च ये नराः ।। ५९ ।। ग्रस्ता भवन्ति विप्रेन्द्रास्तेऽपि चात्र निमज्जनात् ।। पुष्करिण्यां विमुक्ताः स्युः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ।। 2.1.13.६० ।। स्वामिपुष्करिणीं त्यक्त्वा तीर्थमन्यद्व्रजेत्तु यः ।। स्निग्धं स गोपयस्त्यक्त्वा स्नुहीक्षीरं प्रयाचते ।। ६१ ।। स्वामितीर्थं स्वामितीर्थं स्वामितीर्थमिति द्विजाः ।। त्रिःपठन्तो नरा एवं यत्र क्वापि जलाशये ।। ६२ ।। स्नांति सर्वे नरास्ते वै यास्यन्ति ब्रह्मणः पदम् ।। एवं वः कथिता विप्रा धर्मगुप्तकथा शुभा ।। ६३ ।। यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या विनश्यति ।। ।। ६४ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहाल्ये स्वामिपुष्करिणीमहिमानुवर्णनंनाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ।। १३ ।। छ ।।

|| atha dharmaguptacaritravarṇanam || || śrīsūta uvāca || || bhūyopi saṃpravakṣyāmi svāmitīrthasya vaibhavam || yuṣmākamādareṇā'haṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ || 1 || nandonāma mahārājaḥ somavaṃśasamudbhavaḥ || dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa sāgarāntāṃ dharāmimām || 2 || tasya putraḥ samabhavaddharmagupta iti smṛtaḥ || rājyarakṣādhuraṃ nando nijaputre nidhāya saḥ || 3 || jiteṃdriyo jitāhāraḥ praviveśa tapovanam || tāte tapovanaṃ yāte dharmaguptābhidho nṛpaḥ || 4 || medinīṃ pālayāmāsa dharmajño nītitatparaḥ || īje vahuvidhairyajñairdevānindra purogamān || 5 || brāhmaṇānāṃ dadau vittaṃ kṣetrāṇi ca bahūni saḥ || sarve svadharmaniratāstasminrājani śāsati ||6|| kadācinnābhavanpīḍāstasmiṃścorādisaṃbhavāḥ || kadāciddharmagupto'yamāruhya turagottamam || 7 || vanaṃ viveśa vipreṃdrā mṛgayārasakautukī || tamālatālahintālakuravākuladiṅmukhe || 8 || vicacāra vane tasminsiṃsahavyāghrabhayānake || mattālikulasannādasaṃmūrcchitadigantare || 9 || padmakalhārakumudanīlotpalavanākule || taṭāke rasasaṃpūrṇe tapasvijanamaṇḍite || 2.1.13.10 || tasminvane sañcarato dharmaguptasya bhūpateḥ || abhūdvibhāvarī viprāstamasāvṛtadiṅmukhā || 11 || rājā'pi paścimāṃ sandhyāmupāsya vinayānvitaḥ || jajāpa ca vane tatra gāyatrīṃ vedamātaram || 12 || siṃhavyāghrādibhītyāsminvṛkṣamekaṃ samāśrite || rājaputre tadabhyāśamṛkṣaḥ siṃhabhayārditaḥ || 13 || anvadhāvata vṛkṣaṃ tamekaḥ siṃho vanecaraḥ || anudrutaḥ sa siṃhena ṛkṣo vṛkṣamupāruhat || 14 || āruhya ṛkṣo vṛkṣaṃ taṃ dadarśa jagatīpatim || vṛkṣasthitaṃ mahātmānaṃ mahābalaparākramam || 15 || uvāca bhūpatiṃ dṛṣṭvā ṛkṣoyaṃ vanagocaraḥ || mā bhītiṃ kuru rājeṃdra vatsyāvo rajanīmiha || 16 || mahāsattvo mahākāyo mahādaṃṣṭrasamākulaḥ || vṛkṣamūlaṃ samāyātaḥ siṃho'yamatibhīṣaṇaḥ || 17 || rātryardhaṃ bhaja nidrāṃ tvaṃ rakṣyamāṇo mayodyataḥ || tataḥ prasuptaṃ māṃ rakṣa śarvaryardhaṃ mahāmate || 18 || iti tadvākyamākarṇya supte nandasute hariḥ || provāca ṛkṣaṃ supto'yaṃ nṛpo me tyajyatāmiti || 19 || taṃ siṃhamabravīdṛkṣo dharmajño dvijasattamāḥ || bhavāndharmaṃ na jānīte mṛgarāja vanecara || 2.1.13.20 || viśvāsaghātināṃ loke mahākaṣṭaṃ bhavatyaho || na hi mitradruhāṃ pāpaṃ naśyedyajñāyutairapi || 21 || brahmahatyādipāpānāṃ kathañcinniṣkṛtirbhavet || viśvāsaghātināṃ pāpaṃ na naśyejjanmakoṭibhiḥ || 22 || nāhaṃ meruṃ mahābhāraṃ manye pañcāsya bhūtale || mahābhāramimaṃ manye lokaviśvāsaghātakam || 23 || evamukto'tha ṛkṣeṇa siṃhastūṣṇīṃ babhūva ha || dharmagupte prabuddhe tu ṛkṣaḥ suṣvāpa bhūruhe || 24 || tataḥ siṃho'bravīdbhūpamenamṛkṣaṃ tyajasva me || evamukto'tha siṃhena rājā suptamaśaṃkitaḥ || 25 || svāṃkanyastaśiraskaṃ tamṛkṣaṃ tatyāja bhūtale || pātyamānastato rājñā samālambitapādapaḥ || 26 || ṛkṣaḥ puṇyavaśādvṛkṣānna papāta mahītale || sa ṛkṣo nṛpamabhyetya kopādvākyamabhāṣata || 27 || kāmarūpadharo rājannahaṃ bhṛgukulodbhavaḥ || dhyānakāṣṭhābhidho nāmnā ṛkṣarūpamadhārayam || 28 || kasmādanāgasaṃ suptamatyākṣīnmāṃ bhavānnṛpa || macchāpādatiśīghraṃ tvamunmattaścara bhūtale || 29 || iti śaptvā munirbhūpaṃ tataḥ siṃhamabhāṣata || na siṃhastvaṃ mahāyakṣaḥ kuberasacivaḥ purā || 2.1.13.30 || himavadgirimāsādya kadācittaṃ vadhūsakhaḥ || ajñānādgautamābhyāśe vihāramatanormudā || 31 || gautamo'pyuṭajāddaivātsamidāharaṇāya vai || nirgatastvāṃ vivasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā śāpamudāharat || 32 || yasmānmamāśrame'dya tvaṃ vivastraḥ sthitavānasi || ataḥ siṃhatvamadyaiva bhavitā te na saṃśayaḥ || 33 || iti gautamaśāpena siṃhatvamagamatpurā || kuberasacivo yakṣo bhadranāmā bhavānpurā || 34 || kubero dharmaśīlo hi tadbhṛtyāśca tathaiva hi || ataḥ kimarthaṃ tvaṃ haṃsi māmṛṣiṃ vanagocaram || 35 || etatsarvamahaṃ dhyānājjānāmi hi mṛgādhipa || ityukto dhyānakāṣṭhena tyaktvā siṃhatvamāśu saḥ || || 36 || yakṣarūpaṃ gato divyaṃ kuberasacivātmakam || dhyānakāṣṭhamasāvāha prāṃjaliḥ praṇato munim || 37 || adya jñātaṃ mayā sarvaṃ pūrvavṛttaṃ mahāmune || gautamaḥ śāpakāle me śāpāntamapi coktavān || 38 || dhyānakāṣṭhena saṃvāda ṛkṣarūpeṇa te yadā || tadā nirdhūya siṃhatvaṃ yakṣarūpamavāpsyasi || 39 || iti māmabravīdbrahmangautamo munipuṅgavaḥ || adya siṃhatvanāśānme jānāmi tvāṃ mahāmune || 2.1.13.40 || dhyānakāṣṭhābhidhaṃ śuddhaṃ kāmarūpadharaṃ sadā || ityuktvā taṃ praṇamyātha dhyānakāṣṭhaṃ sa yakṣarāṭ || 41 || vimānavaramāruhya prayayāvalakāpurīm || unmattarūpaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā mantriṇastu nṛpottamam|| || 42 || pituḥ sakāśamāninyū revātīre nṛpottamam || tasmai nivedayāmāsurmatibhraṃśaṃ sutasya ca || 43 || jñātvā tu putravṛttāntaṃ pitā vai naṃdanastadā || 44 || || atha jaiminivākyātsvāmitīrthasnātasya dharmaguptasyonmādanivṛttiḥ || || putramādāya sahasā jaiminerantikaṃ yayau || tasmai nivedayāmāsa putravṛttāntamāditaḥ || 45 || bhagavañjaimine putro mamādyonmattatāṃ gataḥ || asyonmādavināśāya brūhyupāyaṃ mahāmune || 46 || iti pṛṣṭaściraṃ dadhyau jaiminirmunipuṃgavaḥ || dhyātvā tu suciraṃ kālaṃ nṛpanandanamabravīt || 47 || dhyānakāṣṭhasya śāpena hyunmattaste suto'bhavat || tasya śāpasya mokṣārthamupāyaṃ prabravīmi te || 48 || suvarṇamukharītīre veṃkaṭenāma parvate || sarvapāpahare puṇye nānādhātuvinirmite || 49 || svāmipuṣkariṇī ceti tīrthamasti mahattaram || pavitrāṇāṃ pavitraṃ hi maṃgalānāṃ ca maṃgalam || 2.1.13.50 || śrutisiddhaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ brahmahatyādiśodhakam || nītvā tatra sutaṃ te'dya snāpayasva mahāmate || 51 || unmādastatkṣaṇādeva tasya naśyenna saṃśayaḥ || ityuktastaṃ praṇamyāsau jaiminiṃ munipuṃgavam || 52 || nandaḥ putraṃ samādāya svāmipuṣkariṇīṃ yayau || tatra ca snāpayāmāsa putraṃ niyamapūrvakam || 53 || snānamātrāttataḥ sadyo naṣṭonmādo'bhavatsutaḥ || svayaṃ sasnau sa nando'pi svāmipuṣkariṇījale || 54 || uṣitvā dinamekaṃ tu sahaputraḥ pitā tadā || sevitvā veṃkaṭeśaṃ ca śrīnivāsaṃ kṛpānidhim || 55 || putramāpṛcchya nandastaṃ prayayau tapase vanam || gate pitari putro'pi dharmagupto nṛpo dvijāḥ || 56 || pradadau veṃkaṭeśasya bahuvittāni bhaktitaḥ || brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ kṣetrāṇi ca dadau tadā || 57 || prayayau mantribhiḥ sārdhaṃ svāṃ purīṃ tadanantaram || dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam || 58 || pitṛpaitāmahaṃ viprā dharmaguptotidhārmikaḥ || unmādairapyapasmārairgrahairduṣṭaiśca ye narāḥ || 59 || grastā bhavanti viprendrāste'pi cātra nimajjanāt || puṣkariṇyāṃ vimuktāḥ syuḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham || 2.1.13.60 || svāmipuṣkariṇīṃ tyaktvā tīrthamanyadvrajettu yaḥ || snigdhaṃ sa gopayastyaktvā snuhīkṣīraṃ prayācate || 61 || svāmitīrthaṃ svāmitīrthaṃ svāmitīrthamiti dvijāḥ || triḥpaṭhanto narā evaṃ yatra kvāpi jalāśaye || 62 || snāṃti sarve narāste vai yāsyanti brahmaṇaḥ padam || evaṃ vaḥ kathitā viprā dharmaguptakathā śubhā || 63 || yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyā vinaśyati || || 64 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhālye svāmipuṣkariṇīmahimānuvarṇanaṃnāma trayodaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 13 || cha ||

English translation

[ The Story of Dharmagupta ]:—

Śrī Sūta said :

1. I shall recount the greatness of Svāmitīrtha once again out of respect for you all, O residents of Naimiṣa forest.

2. There was a great king named Nanda . He was born of the Lunar race. He ruled righteously over this oceangirt [ocean-girt?] earth.

3-4a. He had a son who is remembered by the name Dharmagupta. Nanda entrusted the burden of protection of the kingdom to his son. The old king who had controlled his sense-organs and mastered (craving for) food entered a penance grove.

4b-5. When the father had gone to the penance grove, the king named Dharmagupta protected the earth. He was conversant with virtue ( Dharma ). He was skilled in statesmanship. He worshipped Devas , the chief of whom is Indra , by means of many kinds of Yajñas .

6-7a. To Brāhmaṇas he gave monetary gifts and land grants. When that king was ruling, all the people were devoted to their duties. There were no depredations of thieves etc. in that kingdom.

7b-10. Once Dharmagupta mounted his excellent horse, O eminent Brāhmaṇas, eager to go ahunting. He roamed about iṇ the forest very terrible due to lions and tigers. The quarters in the forest were covered with Tamāla (Indian Cinnamon), Tāla (palm tree), Hintāla (marshy date tree) and Kurabaka (red amaranth). The spaces in between the cardinal points echoed with the humming sound of the swarms of inebriated bees. All the lakes in the forest were full of water and abounded in golden lotuses, white lotuses, blue lotuses and water lilies. There were many ascetics who graced the forest.

11. While king Dharmagupta roamed about in the forest, O Brāhmaṇas, night befell him enveloping all the surrounding quarters with darkness.

12. The king endowed with humility performed the evening prayer ( Sandhyā ) in the forest and repeated the Gāyatrī Mantra , the mother of the Vedas .

13-14. Afraid of lions, tigers and other (wild animals) the prince resorted to a tree. A certain bear that was frightened of a lion came near the prince. A certain lion roaming in the forest chased the bear. The bear chased by the lion came to the tree and climbed it.

15. On climbing the tree the bear saw the king of noble soul and great strength and exploit perched on the tree.

16-18. On seeing him the wild bear said to the king: “O eminent king, do not be afraid. Let us both stay here the whole of the night. A lion of very huge body with great strength aṇḍ large curved teeth has come to the foot of the tree. He is excessively terrible. During the first half of the night you may go to sleep being protected by me. I will remain awake. Thereafter, O king of great intellect, protect me as I sleep during the later half of the night.”

19. On hearing his words the son of Nanda went to sleep. Then the lion told the bear, “Let this king who is asleep be given away to me.”

20. The bear who was conversant with virtue said to the lion, O excellent Brāhmaṇas: “You do not know righteousness, O king of beasts roaming in the forest.

21. Those who are guilty of breach of trust will face great difficulties in the world. The sins of those who are treacherous to friends cannot be destroyed even by means of ten thousand Yajñas.

22. One can somehow expiate for all the sins such as that of Brāhmaṇa -slaughter etc., but the sin of the treacherous ones will not perish even after crores of rebirths.

23. O lion, I do not consider Meru too heavy to the surface of the earth. I consider a treacherous fellow burdensome and very heavy (to the earth).”

24-27. On being told thus by the bear the lion kept quiet. When Dharmagupta woke up, the bear went to sleep on the tree. Thereupon, the lion spoke to the king, “Give away this bear to me.” On being told thus by the lion the king unhesitatingly dropped to the ground that bear that had gone to sleep placing its head on his lap! While being dropped down by the king, the bear supported himself by holding on to the tree. Fortunately he did not fall on the ground from the tree. Then the bear approached the king and angrily spoke these words:

28. “O king, I am a scion of the family of Bhṛgu . My name is Dhyānakāṣṭha. I can assume any form I wish. I have assumed this form of a bear.

29. Why did you let me down while I was asleep though I am devoid of any sin, O king? By my curse you shall instantly become insane. You will be roaming about over the earth.”

30. After cursing the king thus the sage spoke to the lion: “You are not (really) a lion. You are a great Yakṣa , a minister of Kubera .

31. Out of your ignorance once you joyously sported about in the company of women in the presence of Gautama on the mountain Himavān .

32. By chance Gautama came out of his hut to fetch sacrificial twigs. On seeing you naked he pronounced a curse:

33. ‘Since you remained in my hermitage today without any clothes on, you will undoubtedly be turned into a lion today.’

34. Formerly you were a Yakṣa and a minister of Kubera named Bhadra . It was through the curse of Gautama that you obtained the form of a lion.

35. Indeed Kubera is by nature righteous. His servants too are like him. Hence why do you kill me, a sage and resident of the forest?

36-37. O lord of beasts, I know all this through the power of meditation.”

On being told thus by Dhyānakāṣṭha he immediately abandoned the form of lion and resumed the form of Yakṣa, the minister of Kubera. With palms joined in reverence he bowed down to sage Dhyānakāṣṭha and said:

38-42a. “O great sage, today all those previous events have been recollected by me. At the time of cursing me Gautama had mentioned about the end of the curse as well. Gautama, the eminent sage, had said to me thus, O Brāhmaṇa: ‘When you carry on a conversation with Dhyānakāṣṭha in the form of a bear, you will get rid of this form of lion and will regain the form of Yakṣa.’ Since my form of lion has been destroyed now, I know you, O great sage, as the pure ascetic named Dhyānakāṣṭha who can always assume any form he likes.”

After saying this, the eminent Yakṣa bowed down to Dhyānakāṣṭha, got into an excellent aerial chariot and went to Alakāpurī.

42b-43. On seeing the excellent king in the form of a mad man the ministers took him to his father’s presence on the banks of Revā . To him they intimated the mental derangement of his son.

[ At the Instance of Jaimini Dharmagupta Takes His Holy Bath in Svāmitīrtha whereby His Madness Disappears ]:—

44-46. After knowing the account of his son, Nanda, the father, took the son immediately to the presence of Jaimini. To him he reported the story of the son from the beginning:

“O Holy Lord Jaimini, my son has become insane now. O great sage, tell me the means of curing his madness.”

47. On being requested thus, Jaimini, the eminent sage, meditated for a long time. After meditating long he said to king Nanda:

48. “It was on account of the curse of Dhyānakāṣṭha that your son became mad. I shall tell you the means of getting liberated from his curse.

49-53a. On the sacred mountain Veṅkaṭādri which is destructive of all sins and consists of many kinds of minerals, on the banks of Suvarṇamukharī there is a very great Tīrtha named Svāmipuṣkariṇī. It is the holiest of holy Tīrthas ; it is the most auspicious of all auspicious places. It is mentioned in the Vedas; it is highly meritorious; it dispels the (great) sins like Brāhmaṇa-slaughter etc. O highly intelligent one, take your son there and make him bathe therein. Immediately his madness will disappear. There is no doubt about that”

On being told thus Nanda bowed down to Jaimini, the eminent sage, took his son and went to Svāmipuṣkariṇī.

53b-57. There he made his son take his bath with the requisite holy observances. Merely by taking his bath the son got rid of his madness instantaneously. King Nanda too took his holy bath in the waters of Svāmipuṣkariṇī.

Along with his son, the father stayed there for a day, worshipping Veṅkaṭeśa , Śrīnivāsa , the storehouse of mercy. Nanda took leave of his son and went to the forest for penance.

After the father had departed the son, king Dharmagupta, offered much wealth devoutly to Veṅkaṭeśa, O Brāhmaṇas. He gave money, food-grains and land to Brāhmaṇas.

58-60. Thereafter, he went to his city along with his ministers. He righteously protected the kingdom inherited from his father and grandfather and rendered it devoid of thorns (i.e. enemies and troubles). O Brāhmaṇas, Dharmagupta was highly virtuous.

Those man who are afflicted with madness, epileptic fits, evil spirits etc., O eminent Brāhmaṇas, shall be liberated from them by taking the holy bath here in Puṣkariṇī . It is the truth, truth alone that I speak.

61. He who goes to another Tīrtha abandoning Svāmipuṣkariṇī, leaves off the tasty cow’s milk and requests for the juice of spurge (i.e. a kind of plant having milky juice).

62-64. All those men who take their bath in any water anywhere repeating (the name) ‘Svāmitīrtha’ three times, O Brāhmaṇas, will go to Brahmā ’s region.

Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, the auspicious story of Dharmagupta has been related to you. Merely by listening to this the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter perishes.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 17861, revision 71013 (2016-06-09T20:32:00Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370692.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.