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Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 14

Chapter 14

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Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 14

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।। अथ सुमत्याख्यद्विजवृत्तान्तः ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः ।। स्वामितीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं भूयोऽपि प्रवदाम्यहम् ।। १ ।। पुरा किरातीसंसर्गात्सुमतिर्ब्राह्मणः सुराम् ।। पीतवान्पुष्करिण्यां स स्नात्वा पापाद्विमोचितः ।। २ ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। सुमतिः कस्य पुत्रोऽसौ कथं स च सुरां पपौ ।। कथं किरात्यासक्तोऽभूत्सूत पौराणिकोत्तम ।। ३ ।। सर्वेषां विस्तरादेतद्वद त्वं कृपयाधुना ।। ४ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। महाराष्ट्राभिधे देशे ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदास्तिकः ।। यज्ञदेव इति ख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः ।। ५ ।। दयालुरातिथेयश्च शिवनारायणार्चकः ।। सुमतिर्नामपुत्रोऽभूद्यज्ञदेवस्य तस्य वै ।। ६ ।। पितरं स परित्यज्य भार्यामपि पतिव्रताम् ।। प्रययावुत्कले देशे विटगोष्ठीपरायणः ।।७।। काचित्किराती तद्देशे वसन्ती युवमोहनी ।। यूनां समस्तद्रव्याणि प्रलोभ्य जगृहे चिरम् ।।८।। तस्या गृहं स प्रययौ सुमतिर्ब्राह्मणाधमः ।। सुमतिं सा च जग्राह किराती निर्धनं द्विजम् ।। ९ ।। ।।अथ सुमत्याख्यद्विजस्य किरातीसङ्गान्महापातकप्राप्तिः ।। तया युक्तोऽथ सुमतिस्तत्संयोगैकतत्परः ।। इतस्ततश्चोरयित्वा बहुद्रव्याणि सन्ततम् ।।2.1.14.१०।। दत्त्वा तया चिरं रेमे तद्गृहे बुभुजे च सः।। एकेन चषकेणासौ तया सह सुरां पपौ ।। ११ ।। एवं स बहुकालं वै रममाणस्तया सह ।। पितरौ निजपत्नीं च नास्मरद्विषयातुरः ।। १२ ।। स कदाचित्किरातैस्तु चौर्यं कर्तुं ययौ सह ।। विप्रस्य कस्यचिद्गेहे सोऽपि कैरातवेषभृत् ।। १३ ।। ययौ चोरयितुं द्रव्यं साहसी खङ्गहस्तवान् ।। तद्गृहस्वामिनं विप्रं हत्वा खङ्गेन साहसात् ।।१४।। समादाय बहु द्रव्यं किरातीभवनं ययौ ।। तं यान्तमनुयाति स्म ब्रह्महत्या भयंकरी ।। १५ ।। नीलवस्त्रधरा भीमा भृशं रक्तशिरोरुहा ।। गर्जन्ती साट्टहासं सा कम्पयन्ती च रोदसी ।। १६ ।। अनुद्रुतस्तया सोऽयं बभ्राम जगतीतले ।। एवं भ्रमन्भुवं सर्वां कदाचित्सुमतिः स्वयम् ।। १७ ।। स्वग्रामं प्रययौ भीत्या विप्रबन्धुर्दुरात्मवान्।। अनुद्रुतस्तया भीतः प्रययौ स्वगृहं प्रति ।। १८ ।। ब्रह्महत्याप्यनुद्रुत्य तेन साकं गृहं ययौ ।। पितरं रक्षरक्षेति सुमतिः शरणं ययौ ।। १९ ।। मा भैषीरिति तं प्रोच्य पिता रक्षितुमुद्यतः ।। तदानीं ब्रह्महत्येयं तत्तातं प्रत्यभाषत ।। 2.1.14.२०।। ।। ब्रह्महत्योवाच।। ।। मैव त्वं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व यज्ञदेव द्विजोत्तम ।। असौ सुरापी स्तेयी च ब्रह्महा चातिपातकी ।।२१।। मातृद्रोही पितृद्रोही भार्यात्यागी च पातकी ।। किरातीसंगदुष्टश्च ह्येनं मुंच दुरात्मकम् ।। २२ ।। गृह्णासि चेदिमं विप्र महापातकिनं सुतम् ।। त्वद्भार्यामस्य भार्यां च त्वां च पुत्रमिमं द्विज ।। २३ ।। भक्षयिष्यामि वंशं च तस्मान्मुञ्च सुतं त्विमम् ।। इमं त्यजसि चेत्पुत्रं युष्मान्मुचांमि सांप्रतम्।। ।। २४ ।। नैकस्यार्थे कुलं हन्तुमर्हसि त्वं महामते ।। इत्युक्तः स तया तत्र यज्ञदेवोऽब्रवीच्च ताम् ।। २५ ।। ।। यज्ञदेव उवाच ।। ।। बाधते मां सुतस्नेहः कथमेनं परित्यजे ।। ब्रह्महत्या तदाकर्ण्य द्विजोक्तं तमभाषत ।। २६ ।। ।। ब्रह्महत्योवाच ।। ।। अयं हि पतितो भूत्वा वर्णाश्रम बहिष्कृतः ।। पुत्रेस्मिन्मा कुरु स्नेहं निन्दितं चास्य दर्शनम् ।। २७ ।। इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्महत्या सा यज्ञदेवस्य पश्यतः ।। तलेन प्रजहारास्य पुत्रं सुमतिनामकम् ।। २८ ।। रुरोद ताततातेति पितरं प्रब्रुवन्मुहुः ।। २९ ।। ।। अथ सुमतिं प्रति दुर्वासः कथित ब्रह्महत्यामुक्त्युपायः ।। ।। रुरु दुर्जनको माता भार्यापि सुमतेस्तदा ।। एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र दुर्वासाः शंकरांशकः ।। 2.1.14.३० ।। दिष्ट्या समाययौ योगी धार्मिको मुनिसत्तमः ।। यज्ञदेवोऽथ तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिं रुद्रावतारकम्।। ३१ ।। स्तुत्वा प्रणम्य शरणं ययाचे पुत्रकारणात् ।। दुर्वासास्त्वं महायोगिन्साक्षाद्वै शंकरांशकः ।। ।। ३२ ।। त्वद्दर्शनमपुण्यानां भविता न कदाचन ।। ब्रह्महा च सुरापी च स्तेयी चाभूत्सुतो मम ।। ३३ ।। एनं प्रहर्तुमायाता ब्रह्महत्यापि वर्तते ।। स्याद्यथा मे पुत्रोऽयं महापातकमोचितः ।। ३४ ।। घोरा च ब्रह्महत्येयं यथा शीघ्रं लयं व्रजेत् ।। तमुपायं वदस्वाद्य मम पुत्रे दयां कुरु ।। ३५ ।। अयमेव हि पुत्रो मे नान्योऽस्ति तनयो मुने ।। अस्मिन्मृते तु वंशो मे समुच्छिद्येत मूलतः ।। ३६ ।। ततः पितृभ्यः पिण्डानां दातापि न भवेद्ध्रुवम् ।। ततः कृपां कुरुष्व त्वमस्मासु भगवन्मुने ।। ३७ ।। इत्युक्तः स तदोवाच दुर्वासाः शंकरांशकः ।। ध्यात्वाथसुचिरं कालं यज्ञदेवं द्विजोत्तमम् ।। ३८ ।। ।। दुर्वासा उवाच ।। ।। यज्ञदेवकृतं षापमतिदूर सुतेन ते ।। नास्य पापस्य शातिः स्यात्प्रायश्चित्तायुतैरपि ।। ।। ३९ ।। तथापि ते सुतस्याहं तस्य पापस्य शान्तये ।। प्रायश्चित्तं वदिष्यामि शृणु नान्यमना द्विज ।। 2.1.14.४० ।। वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वपातकनाशने ।। स्वामिपुष्करिणी चेति वर्तते मंगलप्रदा ।। ४१ ।। ।। अथ सुमतेः स्वामिपुष्करिणीस्नानाद्ब्रह्महत्या विमुक्तिः ।। ।। स्नाति चेत्तव पुत्रोऽयं पातकान्मुच्यते क्षणात् ।। एवं श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं यज्ञदेवो महामतिः ।। ४२ ।। पुत्रमादाय सुमतिं स्वामिपुष्करिणींगतः ।। स्नापयामास सुमतिं हत्यया पीडितं सुतम् ।। ४३ ।। आकाशवाणी तं विप्रमुवाच मधुरस्वरा ।। यज्ञदेव महाभाग स्नानेनानेन सुव्रत ।। ४४ ।। पूतोऽभवत्तव सुतः संशयं मा कृथा द्विज ।। एवंप्रभावं तत्तीर्थं पापवृक्षकुठारकम् ।। ४५ ।। एवं वः कथितं विप्रा इतिहासं पुरातनम्।। शृण्वतां पठतां चापि वाजपेयफलं लभेत् ।। ४६ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्ये स्वामिपुष्करिणीतीर्थमहिमानुवर्णनंनाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः ।। १४ ।।

|| atha sumatyākhyadvijavṛttāntaḥ || || śrīsūta uvāca || || bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ || svāmitīrthasya māhātmyaṃ bhūyo'pi pravadāmyaham || 1 || purā kirātīsaṃsargātsumatirbrāhmaṇaḥ surām || pītavānpuṣkariṇyāṃ sa snātvā pāpādvimocitaḥ || 2 || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || sumatiḥ kasya putro'sau kathaṃ sa ca surāṃ papau || kathaṃ kirātyāsakto'bhūtsūta paurāṇikottama || 3 || sarveṣāṃ vistarādetadvada tvaṃ kṛpayādhunā || 4 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || mahārāṣṭrābhidhe deśe brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidāstikaḥ || yajñadeva iti khyāto vedavedāṃgapāragaḥ || 5 || dayālurātitheyaśca śivanārāyaṇārcakaḥ || sumatirnāmaputro'bhūdyajñadevasya tasya vai || 6 || pitaraṃ sa parityajya bhāryāmapi pativratām || prayayāvutkale deśe viṭagoṣṭhīparāyaṇaḥ ||7|| kācitkirātī taddeśe vasantī yuvamohanī || yūnāṃ samastadravyāṇi pralobhya jagṛhe ciram ||8|| tasyā gṛhaṃ sa prayayau sumatirbrāhmaṇādhamaḥ || sumatiṃ sā ca jagrāha kirātī nirdhanaṃ dvijam || 9 || ||atha sumatyākhyadvijasya kirātīsaṅgānmahāpātakaprāptiḥ || tayā yukto'tha sumatistatsaṃyogaikatatparaḥ || itastataścorayitvā bahudravyāṇi santatam ||2.1.14.10|| dattvā tayā ciraṃ reme tadgṛhe bubhuje ca saḥ|| ekena caṣakeṇāsau tayā saha surāṃ papau || 11 || evaṃ sa bahukālaṃ vai ramamāṇastayā saha || pitarau nijapatnīṃ ca nāsmaradviṣayāturaḥ || 12 || sa kadācitkirātaistu cauryaṃ kartuṃ yayau saha || viprasya kasyacidgehe so'pi kairātaveṣabhṛt || 13 || yayau corayituṃ dravyaṃ sāhasī khaṅgahastavān || tadgṛhasvāminaṃ vipraṃ hatvā khaṅgena sāhasāt ||14|| samādāya bahu dravyaṃ kirātībhavanaṃ yayau || taṃ yāntamanuyāti sma brahmahatyā bhayaṃkarī || 15 || nīlavastradharā bhīmā bhṛśaṃ raktaśiroruhā || garjantī sāṭṭahāsaṃ sā kampayantī ca rodasī || 16 || anudrutastayā so'yaṃ babhrāma jagatītale || evaṃ bhramanbhuvaṃ sarvāṃ kadācitsumatiḥ svayam || 17 || svagrāmaṃ prayayau bhītyā viprabandhurdurātmavān|| anudrutastayā bhītaḥ prayayau svagṛhaṃ prati || 18 || brahmahatyāpyanudrutya tena sākaṃ gṛhaṃ yayau || pitaraṃ rakṣarakṣeti sumatiḥ śaraṇaṃ yayau || 19 || mā bhaiṣīriti taṃ procya pitā rakṣitumudyataḥ || tadānīṃ brahmahatyeyaṃ tattātaṃ pratyabhāṣata || 2.1.14.20|| || brahmahatyovāca|| || maiva tvaṃ pratigṛhṇīṣva yajñadeva dvijottama || asau surāpī steyī ca brahmahā cātipātakī ||21|| mātṛdrohī pitṛdrohī bhāryātyāgī ca pātakī || kirātīsaṃgaduṣṭaśca hyenaṃ muṃca durātmakam || 22 || gṛhṇāsi cedimaṃ vipra mahāpātakinaṃ sutam || tvadbhāryāmasya bhāryāṃ ca tvāṃ ca putramimaṃ dvija || 23 || bhakṣayiṣyāmi vaṃśaṃ ca tasmānmuñca sutaṃ tvimam || imaṃ tyajasi cetputraṃ yuṣmānmucāṃmi sāṃpratam|| || 24 || naikasyārthe kulaṃ hantumarhasi tvaṃ mahāmate || ityuktaḥ sa tayā tatra yajñadevo'bravīcca tām || 25 || || yajñadeva uvāca || || bādhate māṃ sutasnehaḥ kathamenaṃ parityaje || brahmahatyā tadākarṇya dvijoktaṃ tamabhāṣata || 26 || || brahmahatyovāca || || ayaṃ hi patito bhūtvā varṇāśrama bahiṣkṛtaḥ || putresminmā kuru snehaṃ ninditaṃ cāsya darśanam || 27 || ityuktvā brahmahatyā sā yajñadevasya paśyataḥ || talena prajahārāsya putraṃ sumatināmakam || 28 || ruroda tātatāteti pitaraṃ prabruvanmuhuḥ || 29 || || atha sumatiṃ prati durvāsaḥ kathita brahmahatyāmuktyupāyaḥ || || ruru durjanako mātā bhāryāpi sumatestadā || etasminnaṃtare tatra durvāsāḥ śaṃkarāṃśakaḥ || 2.1.14.30 || diṣṭyā samāyayau yogī dhārmiko munisattamaḥ || yajñadevo'tha taṃ dṛṣṭvā muniṃ rudrāvatārakam|| 31 || stutvā praṇamya śaraṇaṃ yayāce putrakāraṇāt || durvāsāstvaṃ mahāyoginsākṣādvai śaṃkarāṃśakaḥ || || 32 || tvaddarśanamapuṇyānāṃ bhavitā na kadācana || brahmahā ca surāpī ca steyī cābhūtsuto mama || 33 || enaṃ prahartumāyātā brahmahatyāpi vartate || syādyathā me putro'yaṃ mahāpātakamocitaḥ || 34 || ghorā ca brahmahatyeyaṃ yathā śīghraṃ layaṃ vrajet || tamupāyaṃ vadasvādya mama putre dayāṃ kuru || 35 || ayameva hi putro me nānyo'sti tanayo mune || asminmṛte tu vaṃśo me samucchidyeta mūlataḥ || 36 || tataḥ pitṛbhyaḥ piṇḍānāṃ dātāpi na bhaveddhruvam || tataḥ kṛpāṃ kuruṣva tvamasmāsu bhagavanmune || 37 || ityuktaḥ sa tadovāca durvāsāḥ śaṃkarāṃśakaḥ || dhyātvāthasuciraṃ kālaṃ yajñadevaṃ dvijottamam || 38 || || durvāsā uvāca || || yajñadevakṛtaṃ ṣāpamatidūra sutena te || nāsya pāpasya śātiḥ syātprāyaścittāyutairapi || || 39 || tathāpi te sutasyāhaṃ tasya pāpasya śāntaye || prāyaścittaṃ vadiṣyāmi śṛṇu nānyamanā dvija || 2.1.14.40 || veṃkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvapātakanāśane || svāmipuṣkariṇī ceti vartate maṃgalapradā || 41 || || atha sumateḥ svāmipuṣkariṇīsnānādbrahmahatyā vimuktiḥ || || snāti cettava putro'yaṃ pātakānmucyate kṣaṇāt || evaṃ śrutvā munervākyaṃ yajñadevo mahāmatiḥ || 42 || putramādāya sumatiṃ svāmipuṣkariṇīṃgataḥ || snāpayāmāsa sumatiṃ hatyayā pīḍitaṃ sutam || 43 || ākāśavāṇī taṃ vipramuvāca madhurasvarā || yajñadeva mahābhāga snānenānena suvrata || 44 || pūto'bhavattava sutaḥ saṃśayaṃ mā kṛthā dvija || evaṃprabhāvaṃ tattīrthaṃ pāpavṛkṣakuṭhārakam || 45 || evaṃ vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā itihāsaṃ purātanam|| śṛṇvatāṃ paṭhatāṃ cāpi vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet || 46 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmye svāmipuṣkariṇītīrthamahimānuvarṇanaṃnāma caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 14 ||

English translation

[ The Story of a Brāhmaṇa Named Sumati ]:—

Śrī Sūta said :

1-2. O ascetics, O ye all residents of Naimiṣa forest, I shall recount once more the greatness of Svāmitīrtha . Formerly, on account of his association with a Kirātī (‘huntress’) Sumati, a Brāhmaṇa, drank liquor. He took his bath in Puṣkariṇī and was liberated from the sin.

The sages asked :

3-4. Whose son was Sumati? How did he come (i.e. become addicted) to drink liquor? How was he enamoured of a Kirāta woman? O Sūta , the most excellent one among those conversant with the Purāṇas , kindly narrate this now in detail to us all.

Śrī Sūta said :

5-6. In the land named Mahārāṣṭra there was an orthodox Brāhmaṇa well-known as Yajñadeva. He was a master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas . He was very compassionate, hospitable to guests and a regular worshipper of Śiva and Nārāyaṇa . That Yajñadeva had a son named Sumati.

7. He left his father and deserted his chaste wife. Devoted to an assembly of lecherous persons, he went to the Utkala land ( Orissa ).

8. In that land there lived a Kirāta woman (a Kirātī) who was young and of enchanting beauty. For a long time she tempted young men and took away all their wealth.

9. Sumati, the base Brāhmaṇa, went to her house. That huntress (Kirātī) caught hold of Sumati, (though) he was a Brāhmaṇa without wealth.

[ Due to His Association with the Kirātī the Brāhmaṇa Named Sumati Incurs a Great Sin ]:—

10-12. Sumati associated with her. He was solely interested in sexual union with her. From here and there he stole many things and much wealth and always handed them over to her. He sported with her for a long time. He took food in her house. He drank liquor along with her from the same goblet. Sporting about thus with her for a long time, eagerly engaged in sensual pleasures, he never remembered his parents or wife.

13. Once he went to the house of a certain Brāhmaṇa to commit theft along with the Kirātas . He too assumed the guise of a Kirāta.

14-15. He was rash and ferocious. With a sword in his hand he went to steal his wealth. With his sword he killed the master of that house, took away plenty of wealth and went to the house of the Kirātī.

The terrible, hideous, evil spirit of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter followed him as he proceeded ahead.

16. Clad in dark-blue clothes, the terrible spirit with extremely red hair roared boisterously shaking heaven and earth.

17-18. Chased by the ogress, he wandered over the whole of the earth. Thus roaming over the entire earth once Sumati went to his own village. The evil Brāhmaṇa of vicious soul was frightened on being chased by that evil spirit. He went into his own house.

19. The devil of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter pursued him and went to the house along with him. Saying “Save me, save me”, Sumati sought refuge in his father.

20. Saying to him, “Do not be afraid”, the father exerted himself to protect him. At that time Brahmahatyā spoke to his father:

Brahmahatyā said :

21-22. O Yajñadeva, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, do not accept him. He is a drink-addict. He is a thief. He is murderer of a Brāhmaṇa. He is a great sinner. He is antagonistic to his mother and father, a deserter of his wife. He is a sinner. He is defiled due to his association with a Kirātī. Leave him off. He is vicious.

23-24. If you agree to protect, O Brāhmaṇa, this son who is a great sinner, I will devour your wife, his wife, you as well as this son, O Brāhmaṇa. I will devour the whole family. Hence leave this son off. If you leave this son off, I will release all of you now.

25. It does not behove you, O highly intelligent one, to get the whole family destroyed for the sake of one member.

On being told thus by her, Yajñadeva spoke to her:

Yajñadeva said :

26. Affection for my son afflicts me. How can I forsake him?

On hearing that utterance of the Brāhmaṇa Brahmahatyā spoke to him:

Brahmahatyā said :

27-29. He has become fallen. He has been banished from the social system of castes and stages of life. Do not show any affection to this son. Even his sight is censurable.

After saying this, even as Yajñadeva was looking, that Brahmahatyā struck his son named Sumati with her palm. Crying out “O father, O father” he lamented much.

[ Means of Getting Free from Brahmahatyā Suggested to Sumati by Durvāsas ]:—

30-31. The father, mother and wife of Sumati lamented then.

In the meantime the great Yogī Durvāsas, the virtuous and excellent sage, a part of Śaṅkara himself, fortunately came there. On seeing that sage, the incarnation of Rudra , Yajñadeva eulogized and bowed to him. On behalf of his son he begged of him an asylum:

32-37. “O great Yogin , O Durvāsas, you are a part of Śaṅkara himself. Persons devoid of merit will never have a vision of yours. My son is slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, a drink-addict and a thief. Even the ogress of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter has come to strike him down. Tell me the means whereby this son of mine shall be rid of the great sins and this terrible Brahmahatyā shall cease to be (i.e. to torment him) quickly. Take pity on my son. He is the only son of mine, O sage. I have no other son. If he dies, my family will become extinct and uprooted. There will not be anyone to offer riceballs to the Manes. So, O holy lord, O sage, take pity on us.”

38. On being told thus, Durvāsas, a part of Śaṅkara, meditated for a long time and said to Yajñadeva, the most excellent Brāhmaṇa:

Durvāsas said :

39. O Yajñadeva, an extremely terrible sin has been committed by your son. His sin cannot be expiated even by ten thousand modes of expiation.

40. Still I shall suggest an atonement for the suppression of that sin of your son. O Brāhmaṇa, listen (carefully) with your mind not distracted by anything else.

41. On the highly meritorious mountain Veṅkaṭādri which is destructive of all sins, there is a lake named Svāmipuṣkariṇī that bestows auspiciousness.

42-43. If your son takes his bath there he shall be rid of sins instantaneously.

[ Sumati Liberated from Brahmahatyā Through Holy Bath in Svāmipuṣkariṇī ]:—

On hearing these words of the sage Yajñadeva of great intellect took his son and went to Svāmipuṣkariṇī. He made his son bathe there—his son Sumati who was tormented by the evil spirit of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter.

44-45. A sweet-toned ethereal voice said to the Brāhmaṇa:

“O Yajñadeva of good holy rites, O Brāhmaṇa of exalted magnificence, your son has become purified by means of this holy bath. O Brāhmaṇa, do not entertain any doubt. That Tīrtha has a power of this sort. It is an axe unto the tree of sins.”

46. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas , the ancient legend has been recounted to you all. It yields the benefit of a Vājapeya sacrifice to those who listen and read.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22889, revision 71014 (2016-06-09T20:51:16Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370693.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.