Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 16
Source।। अथ श्रीवेंकटाद्रौ जलदानप्रशंसा ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। वेंकटाख्ये महापुण्ये तृषार्तानां विशेषतः ।। जलदानमकुर्वाणस्तिर्यग्योनिमवाप्नुयात् ।।१।। तस्माद्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रे यथाशक्त्यनुसारतः ।। जलदानं हि कर्तव्यं सर्वेषां जीवनं महत्।। २ ।। अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।। विप्रस्य गृहगोधायाः संवादं परमाद्भुतम् ।। ३ ।। ।। अथ हेमांगस्य जलदानाकरणेन गृहगोधिकात्वप्राप्तिः ।। ।। पुरा चेक्ष्वाकुवंशेऽभूद्धेमांग इति भूमिपः ।। ब्रह्मण्यो ब्रह्मभूयिष्ठो जितामित्रो जितेंद्रियः ।।४।। यावन्तो भूमिकणिका यावन्तस्तोयबिन्दवः ।। यावन्त्युडूनि गगने तावतीर्गा ददात्यसौ ।। ५ ।। येनेष्टयज्ञदर्भैश्च भूमिर्बर्हिष्मती स्मृता ।। गोभूतिलहिरण्याद्यैस्तोषिता बहवो द्विजाः ।। ६ ।। तेनादत्तानि दानानि न विद्यन्त इति श्रुतम् ।। तेनादत्तं जलं चैकं सुखलभ्यधिया द्विजाः ।। ७ ।। बोधितो ब्रह्मपुत्रेण वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ।। अमूल्यं सर्वतोलभ्यं तद्दातुः किं फलं लभेत् ।। ८ ।। इति दुर्धीर्हेतुवादैर्न जलं दत्तवान्विभुः ।। अलभ्यदाने पुण्यं स्यादित्यवादीत्सयुक्तिकम् ।। ९ ।। स आनर्च द्विजान्व्यङ्गान्दरिद्रान्वृत्तिकर्शितान् ।। नानर्च श्रोत्रियान्विप्रान्ब्रह्मज्ञान्ब्रह्मवादिनः ।। 2.1.16.१० ।। प्रख्यातान्पूजयिष्यन्ति सर्वलोकाः सहार्हणैः ।। अनाथानामविद्यानां व्यङ्गानां च कुटुंबिनाम् ।। ११ ।। दरिद्राणां गतिः का वा तस्मात्ते मद्दयास्पदाः ।। इति दुष्टेषु पात्रेषु दत्तवान्किमपि स्वकम् ।। १२ ।। तेन दोषेण महता चातकत्वं त्रिजन्मसु ।। एकजन्मनि गृध्रत्वं श्वत्वं वा सप्त जन्मसु ।। १३ ।। प्राप्य पश्चाद्गृहे जातो भूपोऽयं गृहगोधिका ।। श्रुतकीर्तेस्तु भूपस्य मिथिलाधिपतेर्द्विजाः ।। १४ ।। गृहद्वारप्रतोल्यां स्म वर्तते कीटकाशनः ।। अष्टाशीतिषु वर्षेषु स्थितं तेन दुरात्मना ।। १५ ।। ।। अथ श्रुतदेवपादोदकसेवनेन हेमांगस्य जातिस्मरणम् ।। ।। विदेहाधिपतेर्गेहं कदाचिदृषिसत्तमः ।। श्रुतदेव इति ख्यातः श्रान्तो मध्याह्न आगमत् ।। १६ ।। तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय जातहर्षो नराधिपः ।। मधुपर्कः सुसंपूज्य तस्य पादावनेजनीः ।। १७ ।। अपो मूर्ध्नावहत्क्षिप्रं तदोत्क्षिप्तैश्च बिन्दुभिः ।। दैवोपदिष्टकालेन प्रोक्षिता गृहगोधिका ।। १८ ।। सद्यो जातिस्मृतिरभूत्कृतकर्मातिदुःखिता ।। त्राहि त्राहीति चुक्रोश ब्राह्मणं गृहमागतम् ।। १९ ।। तिर्यग्जन्तुरवं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणो विस्मितोऽभवत् ।। कुतः क्रोशसि गोधे त्वं दशेयं केन कर्मणा ।। 2.1.16.२० ।। उपदेवोऽथ देवो वा त्वं नृपोऽथ द्विजोत्तमः ।। कस्त्वं ब्रूहि महाभाग त्वामद्याहं समुद्धरे ।। २१ ।। इत्युक्तः स नृपः प्राह श्रुतदेवं महाप्रभुः ।। अहमिक्ष्वाकुकुलजः शस्त्रविद्याविशारदः ।। २२ ।। यावन्तो भूमिकणिका यावन्तस्तोयबिन्दवः ।। यावन्त्युडूनि गगने तावतीर्गा अदामहम् ।। २३ ।। सर्वैर्यज्ञैर्मया चेष्टं पूर्तान्याचरितानि मे ।। दानान्यपि च दत्तानि धर्मजातं स्वनुष्ठितम् ।। ।। २४ ।। तथापि दुर्गतिर्जाता न मे चोर्ध्वगतिर्विभो ।। त्रिवारं चातकत्वं मे गृध्रत्वं चैकजन्मनि ।।२५।। सप्तजन्मसु च श्वत्वं प्राप्तं पूर्वं मया द्विज ।। धरतानेन भूपेन चापः पादावनेजनीः ।। २६ ।। बिन्दवो दूरमुत्क्षिप्तास्तैः सिक्तोऽहं कथंचन ।। तदा जन्मस्मृतिरभूत्तेन मे हतपाप्मनः ।। २७ ।। गोधाजन्मानि भाव्यानीत्यष्टाविंशति मे द्विज ।। दृश्यन्ते देवदिष्टानि बिभ्यते जन्मभिर्भृशम् ।। २८ ।। न कारणं प्रपश्यामि तन्मे विस्तरतो वद ।। इत्युक्तः स द्विजः प्राह ज्ञातं विज्ञानचक्षुषा ।। २९ ।। ।। अथ श्रुतदेवदत्तपुण्येन हेमांगस्य गोधिकात्वविमुक्तिः ।। ।। शृणु भूप प्रवक्ष्यामि तव दुर्गतिकारणम् ।। न जलं तु त्वया दत्तं वेंकटाह्वयभूधरे ।। 2.1.16.३० ।। तज्जलं सुलभं मत्वा न मौल्यमिति निश्चितः ।। नाध्वगानां द्विजादीनां घर्मकालेऽप्यजानता ।। ३१ ।। तथा पात्रं समुत्सृज्य ह्यपात्रे प्रतिपादितम् ।। ज्वलन्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य न हि भस्मनि हूयते ।। ३२ ।। तुलसीं तु समुत्सृज्य बृहती पूज्यते नु किम् ।। अनाथव्यंगपंगुत्वं न प्रयोजकतामियात् ।। ३३ ।। पंग्वाद्या येप्यनाथा हि दयापात्रं हि केवलम् ।। तपोनिष्ठा ज्ञाननिष्ठाः श्रुतिशास्त्रपरायणाः ।। ३४ ।। विष्णुरूपाः सदा पूज्या नेतरे तु कदाचन ।। तत्रापि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थं प्रिया विष्णोः सदैव हि ।। ३५ ।। ज्ञानिनामपि भूपाल विष्णुरेव सदा प्रियः ।। तस्माज्ज्ञानी सदा पूज्यः पूज्यात्पूज्यतरः स्मृतः ।। ३६ ।। न जलं तु त्वया दत्तं साधवो वा न सेविताः ।। तेन ते दुर्गतिश्चेयं प्राप्ता चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दन ।। ३७ ।। वेंकटाद्रौ कृतं पुण्यं तुभ्यं दास्यामि शान्तये ।। भूतं भव्यं भवत्तेन कर्मजातं विजेष्यसि ।। ३८ ।। इत्युक्त्वाप उपस्पृश्य ददौ पुण्यमनुत्तमम् ।। यद्दत्तं ब्राह्मणेनापि स्नानं चैकदिने कृतम् ।। ३९ ।। तेन ध्वस्ताखिलाऽऽगास्तु त्यक्त्वा च गृहगोधिका ।। रूपं कर्मोचितं घोरं सद्योऽदृश्यत पूरुषः ।। 2.1.16.४० ।। दिव्यं विमानमारूढो दिव्यस्रग्वस्त्रभूषणः ।। पश्यतामेव साधूनां मैथिलस्य गृहान्तरे ।। ४१ ।। बद्धाञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य च ।। अनुज्ञातो ययौ राजा स्तूयमानोऽमरैर्दिवम् ।। ४२ ।। तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान्वर्षायुतमतन्द्रितः ।। स एव चेक्ष्वाकुकुले ककुत्स्थोऽभून्महारथः ।। ४३ ।। सप्तद्वीपप्रतीपालो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः ।। देवेन्द्रस्य समो विष्णोरंश एवं महाप्रभुः ।। ४४ ।। बोधितस्तु वसिष्ठेन सर्वान्धर्मान्मनोहरान् ।। अनुष्ठायाखिलान्राजा तेन ध्वस्ताशुभादिकः ।। ४५ ।। दिव्यं ज्ञानं समासाद्य विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्तवान् ।। तस्माद्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रः पुण्यः पापविनाशनः ।। ४६ ।। तस्मिंश्च जलदानं तु विष्णुलोकप्रदायकम् ।। एवं वः कथितं विप्रा जलदानस्य वैभवम् ।। वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वपातकनाशने ।। ४७ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्ये जलदानवैभववर्णनंनाम षोडशोऽध्यायः ।। १६ ।।
|| atha śrīveṃkaṭādrau jaladānapraśaṃsā || || śrīsūta uvāca || || veṃkaṭākhye mahāpuṇye tṛṣārtānāṃ viśeṣataḥ || jaladānamakurvāṇastiryagyonimavāpnuyāt ||1|| tasmādveṃkaṭaśailendre yathāśaktyanusārataḥ || jaladānaṃ hi kartavyaṃ sarveṣāṃ jīvanaṃ mahat|| 2 || atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam || viprasya gṛhagodhāyāḥ saṃvādaṃ paramādbhutam || 3 || || atha hemāṃgasya jaladānākaraṇena gṛhagodhikātvaprāptiḥ || || purā cekṣvākuvaṃśe'bhūddhemāṃga iti bhūmipaḥ || brahmaṇyo brahmabhūyiṣṭho jitāmitro jiteṃdriyaḥ ||4|| yāvanto bhūmikaṇikā yāvantastoyabindavaḥ || yāvantyuḍūni gagane tāvatīrgā dadātyasau || 5 || yeneṣṭayajñadarbhaiśca bhūmirbarhiṣmatī smṛtā || gobhūtilahiraṇyādyaistoṣitā bahavo dvijāḥ || 6 || tenādattāni dānāni na vidyanta iti śrutam || tenādattaṃ jalaṃ caikaṃ sukhalabhyadhiyā dvijāḥ || 7 || bodhito brahmaputreṇa vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā || amūlyaṃ sarvatolabhyaṃ taddātuḥ kiṃ phalaṃ labhet || 8 || iti durdhīrhetuvādairna jalaṃ dattavānvibhuḥ || alabhyadāne puṇyaṃ syādityavādītsayuktikam || 9 || sa ānarca dvijānvyaṅgāndaridrānvṛttikarśitān || nānarca śrotriyānviprānbrahmajñānbrahmavādinaḥ || 2.1.16.10 || prakhyātānpūjayiṣyanti sarvalokāḥ sahārhaṇaiḥ || anāthānāmavidyānāṃ vyaṅgānāṃ ca kuṭuṃbinām || 11 || daridrāṇāṃ gatiḥ kā vā tasmātte maddayāspadāḥ || iti duṣṭeṣu pātreṣu dattavānkimapi svakam || 12 || tena doṣeṇa mahatā cātakatvaṃ trijanmasu || ekajanmani gṛdhratvaṃ śvatvaṃ vā sapta janmasu || 13 || prāpya paścādgṛhe jāto bhūpo'yaṃ gṛhagodhikā || śrutakīrtestu bhūpasya mithilādhipaterdvijāḥ || 14 || gṛhadvārapratolyāṃ sma vartate kīṭakāśanaḥ || aṣṭāśītiṣu varṣeṣu sthitaṃ tena durātmanā || 15 || || atha śrutadevapādodakasevanena hemāṃgasya jātismaraṇam || || videhādhipatergehaṃ kadācidṛṣisattamaḥ || śrutadeva iti khyātaḥ śrānto madhyāhna āgamat || 16 || taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya jātaharṣo narādhipaḥ || madhuparkaḥ susaṃpūjya tasya pādāvanejanīḥ || 17 || apo mūrdhnāvahatkṣipraṃ tadotkṣiptaiśca bindubhiḥ || daivopadiṣṭakālena prokṣitā gṛhagodhikā || 18 || sadyo jātismṛtirabhūtkṛtakarmātiduḥkhitā || trāhi trāhīti cukrośa brāhmaṇaṃ gṛhamāgatam || 19 || tiryagjanturavaṃ śrutvā brāhmaṇo vismito'bhavat || kutaḥ krośasi godhe tvaṃ daśeyaṃ kena karmaṇā || 2.1.16.20 || upadevo'tha devo vā tvaṃ nṛpo'tha dvijottamaḥ || kastvaṃ brūhi mahābhāga tvāmadyāhaṃ samuddhare || 21 || ityuktaḥ sa nṛpaḥ prāha śrutadevaṃ mahāprabhuḥ || ahamikṣvākukulajaḥ śastravidyāviśāradaḥ || 22 || yāvanto bhūmikaṇikā yāvantastoyabindavaḥ || yāvantyuḍūni gagane tāvatīrgā adāmaham || 23 || sarvairyajñairmayā ceṣṭaṃ pūrtānyācaritāni me || dānānyapi ca dattāni dharmajātaṃ svanuṣṭhitam || || 24 || tathāpi durgatirjātā na me cordhvagatirvibho || trivāraṃ cātakatvaṃ me gṛdhratvaṃ caikajanmani ||25|| saptajanmasu ca śvatvaṃ prāptaṃ pūrvaṃ mayā dvija || dharatānena bhūpena cāpaḥ pādāvanejanīḥ || 26 || bindavo dūramutkṣiptāstaiḥ sikto'haṃ kathaṃcana || tadā janmasmṛtirabhūttena me hatapāpmanaḥ || 27 || godhājanmāni bhāvyānītyaṣṭāviṃśati me dvija || dṛśyante devadiṣṭāni bibhyate janmabhirbhṛśam || 28 || na kāraṇaṃ prapaśyāmi tanme vistarato vada || ityuktaḥ sa dvijaḥ prāha jñātaṃ vijñānacakṣuṣā || 29 || || atha śrutadevadattapuṇyena hemāṃgasya godhikātvavimuktiḥ || || śṛṇu bhūpa pravakṣyāmi tava durgatikāraṇam || na jalaṃ tu tvayā dattaṃ veṃkaṭāhvayabhūdhare || 2.1.16.30 || tajjalaṃ sulabhaṃ matvā na maulyamiti niścitaḥ || nādhvagānāṃ dvijādīnāṃ gharmakāle'pyajānatā || 31 || tathā pātraṃ samutsṛjya hyapātre pratipāditam || jvalantamagnimutsṛjya na hi bhasmani hūyate || 32 || tulasīṃ tu samutsṛjya bṛhatī pūjyate nu kim || anāthavyaṃgapaṃgutvaṃ na prayojakatāmiyāt || 33 || paṃgvādyā yepyanāthā hi dayāpātraṃ hi kevalam || taponiṣṭhā jñānaniṣṭhāḥ śrutiśāstraparāyaṇāḥ || 34 || viṣṇurūpāḥ sadā pūjyā netare tu kadācana || tatrāpi jñānino'tyarthaṃ priyā viṣṇoḥ sadaiva hi || 35 || jñānināmapi bhūpāla viṣṇureva sadā priyaḥ || tasmājjñānī sadā pūjyaḥ pūjyātpūjyataraḥ smṛtaḥ || 36 || na jalaṃ tu tvayā dattaṃ sādhavo vā na sevitāḥ || tena te durgatiśceyaṃ prāptā cekṣvākunandana || 37 || veṃkaṭādrau kṛtaṃ puṇyaṃ tubhyaṃ dāsyāmi śāntaye || bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhavattena karmajātaṃ vijeṣyasi || 38 || ityuktvāpa upaspṛśya dadau puṇyamanuttamam || yaddattaṃ brāhmaṇenāpi snānaṃ caikadine kṛtam || 39 || tena dhvastākhilā''gāstu tyaktvā ca gṛhagodhikā || rūpaṃ karmocitaṃ ghoraṃ sadyo'dṛśyata pūruṣaḥ || 2.1.16.40 || divyaṃ vimānamārūḍho divyasragvastrabhūṣaṇaḥ || paśyatāmeva sādhūnāṃ maithilasya gṛhāntare || 41 || baddhāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā parikramya praṇamya ca || anujñāto yayau rājā stūyamāno'marairdivam || 42 || tatra bhuktvā mahābhogānvarṣāyutamatandritaḥ || sa eva cekṣvākukule kakutstho'bhūnmahārathaḥ || 43 || saptadvīpapratīpālo brahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ || devendrasya samo viṣṇoraṃśa evaṃ mahāprabhuḥ || 44 || bodhitastu vasiṣṭhena sarvāndharmānmanoharān || anuṣṭhāyākhilānrājā tena dhvastāśubhādikaḥ || 45 || divyaṃ jñānaṃ samāsādya viṣṇoḥ sāyujyamāptavān || tasmādveṃkaṭaśailendraḥ puṇyaḥ pāpavināśanaḥ || 46 || tasmiṃśca jaladānaṃ tu viṣṇulokapradāyakam || evaṃ vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā jaladānasya vaibhavam || veṃkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvapātakanāśane || 47 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmye jaladānavaibhavavarṇanaṃnāma ṣoḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 16 ||
English translation
[ Praise of the Gift of Water on Śrīveṅkaṭādri ]:—
Śrī Sūta said :
1. One who does not offer water particularly to the thirsty on the highly meritorious mountain named Veṅkaṭa shall be born amongst lower animals.
2. Hence on the prominent mountain Veṅkaṭa a gift of water should be made in accordance with one’s capacity. It is a great thing that instils life in all.
3. In this connection they cite this ancient legendary story of an exceedingly wonderful conversation between a Brāhmaṇa and a house-lizard.
[ Hemāṅga Becomes a House-Lizard for not Offering Water ]:—
4. Formerly there was a king named Hemāṅga in the family of Ikṣvāku . He was hospitable to Brāhmaṇas and deeply engrossed in meditation on Brahman . He had conquered enemies and had perfect control over his sense-organs.
5. He had gifted away as many cows as there are particles of earth, drops of water or stars in the sky.
6. The earth is known as Barhiṣmatī (‘abounding in Darbha grass’) on account of the Darbha grass used (and strewn in) the Yajñas performed by him. Many Brāhmaṇas had been satisfied by him through the gift of cows, lands, gingelly seeds, gold etc.
7. It is heard (i.e. reported) that there are no (kinds of) gift not distributed by him. But, O Brāhmaṇas, water was not given by him because he thought that it was easily available.
8-9. When urged by Vasiṣṭha , the noble-souled son of Brahmā , he viciously argued, “It is worthless. It is available everywhere. What benefit can accrue to the donor who gifts it?”
The lord of dull understanding still did not offer water. He reasoned thus, ‘There shall be merit in gifting away what is rare to get.’
10. He adored and worshipped Brāhmaṇas who were mutilated or physically handicapped in one or more limbs and who were poor and unable to sustain themselves for want of means of livelihood. He did not honour Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas , who were knowers and expounders of Brahman:
11-12. ‘All people will worship renowned persons with due veneration and honour. But what about helpless persons, persons devoid of learning, persons with defective limbs and poor householders? So they are the objects of my mercy.’ [1] Thus he gave whatever he possessed to (physically) defective recipients.
13-15. On account of that great sin he was born as a Cātaka bird in three births, as a vulture in one birth and as a dog in seven births. Afterwards this king became a house-lizard, O Brāhmaṇa, in the abode of Śrutakīrti , a king of Mithilā .
He lived in the street near the threshold of that king feeding himself on insects and worms. That wicked soul thus lived for eighty-eight years.
[ Hemāṅga Recollects the Previous Birth as a Result of Being Sprinkled with Water with which the Feet of Śrutadeva were Washed ]:—
16. Once an excellent sage well-known as Śrutadeva came to the abode of the king of Videha at midday. He was utterly tired then.
17-18. On seeing him the king was much delighted. He got up instantaneously with Madhuparka (i.e. respectable offerings to an honoured guest); he received him respectfully. The water with which his feet were washed, was sprinkled by the king over his own head. As fate had destined its timing, some of the drops of that water thus sprinkled fell on that house-lizard.
19. Immediately the lizard remembered the previous births. It was dejected on account of what had been committed. “Save me, save me”, cried it aloud to the Brāhmaṇa who had come to the house.
20-21. On hearing the sound of a lowly creature the Brāhmaṇa became surprised. (He said,) “Whence do you cry, O lizard? What was that action that has resulted in this plight of yours? Are you a god or a demi-god, or a king, or an excellent Brāhmaṇa? O highly fortunate one, who are you? Tell me. I shall redeem you today.”
22-27. On being told thus the king told Śrutadeva: “I was a great king born of the family of Ikṣvāku. I was an expert in the art of wielding weapons. I had gifted away as many cows as there are dust particles on the earth, drops of water in the ocean and stars in the sky.
I had performed all sorts of Yajñas. I had arranged for Pūrtas (i.e. works of public welfare, viz. building of rest-houses, tanks etc.) as well. Many gifts were offered by me. Pious rites were well-performed. Despite that I have fallen in a hellish condition, O holy lord; I have not attained heavenly worlds.
Three times I was born as a Cātaka bird, once as a vulture and as a dog in seven births. While this king was sprinkling the water with which your feet were washed over his head, a few drops were scattered away. I was sprinkled somehow with them. Thereby my sins were destroyed and I recollected previous births.
28-29. O Brāhmaṇa, I have yet to take twenty-eight births as a house-lizard. They are ordained by fate. I am much afraid of those (too) many births. I do not see the reason thereof. Explain to me that in detail.”
On being requested thus the Brāhmaṇa told him what was seen by him through the eye of perfect knowledge.
[ Hemāṅga is Liberated from the State of House-Lizard Through the Merit Offered by Śrutadeva ]:—
30-31. “Listen, O king, I shall tell the reason for your miserable plight. Water was not offered by you on the mountain named Veṅkaṭa. Thinking that water is easily available, you came to the conclusion that it had. no value. Ignorant that you were, you did not give water to Brāhmaṇas and other wayfarers even during the summer season.
32-35. You left out deserving persons and showered gifts on the undeserving. Homa is not performed on the ash after setting aside the blazing fire. Is the holy basil plant abandoned and the eggplant worshipped? The state of being helpless, mutilated or completely devoid of limbs cannot be the ground (of charitable gifts). The lame one and others who are helpless are only objects of compassion.
Those who are engaged in penance, those who possess knowledge (of the Supreme Being) and those who are devoted to Śrutis and Śāstras are persons in the form of Viṣṇu . They are always to be worshipped and never the others. There too the Jñānins (i.e. persons with spiritual knowledge) are extremely dear to and favourites of Viṣṇu always.
36. O king, even to the persons with knowledge it is Viṣṇu alone who is the most favourite. Hence a person with knowledge is always worthy of being worshipped. It is laid down in Smṛtis that he is more venerable than the most venerable ones.
37. Water was not offered nor good men were served by you. Therefore, you attained this miserable plight, O scion of the family of Ikṣvākus .
38. I shall give you the merit acquired on the Veṅkaṭa mountain for the quelling of your (sinful) Karmas , past, present and future by means of that.”
39-40. After saying this, he touched water and bequeathed his excellent merit of the holy bath performed (by him) on one day. With what was given by the Brāhmaṇa all its (house-lizard’s) sins were destroyed. Hence the house-lizard abandoned the terrible form befitting its action. Immediately a man was seen (there).
41-42. He was seated in a divine aerial chariot. He wore divine garlands and garments as well as ornaments. Even as good men were watching within the abode of the king of Mithilā, he joined his palms in reverence, circumambulated and bowed down (to the Brāhmaṇa). On being permitted the king (started from there) and went to heaven, eulogized by the immortal ones.
43-47. There he enjoyed great pleasures for ten thousand years without any weariness. He himself was reborn as the mighty warrior Kakutstha [2] in the family of Ikṣvāku. That great king was the protector of the seven continents. He was hospitable to Brāhmaṇas and honoured by good men. He was on a par with Deveṇḍra and was a part of Viṣṇu.
Enlightened by Vasiṣṭha he performed all the good holy rites and thereby destroyed all inauspiciousness etc. He acquired divine knowledge and attained Sāyujya (identity) with Viṣṇu.
Hence Veṅkaṭa mountain is meritorious and destructive of sins. Offering water therein bestows the world of Viṣṇu.
Thus, O Brāhmaṇa, the importance of the gift of water on the highly meritorious Veṅkaṭādri which is destructive of all sins, has been recounted by me.
[1]: [1] : The Purāṇa is advocating a strange doctrine. Instead of appreciating the humanitarian attitude of the king in helping the helpless and physically handicapped people, he is made a house-lizard. Probably scarcity of water on the Veṅkaṭa hill in summer may be the reason for inventing the story to persuade people to make arrangement of potable water on the Tirupati hill.
[2]: [2] : A famous king of the Solar race. His real name was Purañjaya. He promised to help Indra against Asuras provided he carried him on his shoulders. Indra assumed the form of a bull. Purañjaya occupied the bulī (Indra) and defeated the demons. Hence he became known as Kakutstha , ‘the occupant of the hump’ ( Vide Raghuvaṃśa 6.71).
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14056, revision 71016 (2016-06-09T20:53:39Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370695.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.