Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 19
Sourceअथ ब्रह्मादीनां नैरंतर्येण श्रीवेंकटाचले स्थितिवर्णनम् ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि वेंकटाचलवैभवम् ।। युष्माकं सावधानेन शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः ।। १ ।। लक्षकोटिसहस्राणि सरांसि सरितस्तथा ।। समुद्राश्च महापुण्या वनान्यप्याश्रमा अपि ।। २ ।। पुण्यानि क्षेत्रजातानि वेदारण्यादिकानि च ।। मुनयश्च वसिष्ठाद्या सिद्धचारणकिंनराः ।। ३ ।। लक्ष्म्या सह धरण्या च भगवान्मधुसूदनः ।। सावित्र्या च सरस्वत्या सहैव चतुराननः ।। ४ ।। पार्वत्या सह देवेशस्त्र्यम्बकस्त्रिपुरांतकः ।। हेरम्बषण्मुखाद्याश्च देवाः सेन्द्रपुरोगमाः ।। ५ ।। आदित्यादि ग्रहाश्चैव तथाष्टवसवो द्विजाः ।। पितरो लोकपालाश्च तथान्ये देवतागणाः ।। ६ ।। महापातकसंघानां नाशने लोकपावने ।। दिवानिशं वसन्त्यंतर्वेंकटाचलमूर्धनि ।। ७ ।। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण बुद्धिसौख्यं नृणां भवेत् ।। तन्मूर्धनि कृतावासा सिद्धचारणयोषितः ।। ८ ।। पूजयंति सदाकालं वेंकटेशं कृपानिधिम् ।। कोटयो ब्रह्महत्यानामगम्यागमकोटयः ।। ९ ।। अङ्गलग्ना विनश्यंति वेंकटाचलमारुतैः ।। 2.1.19.१० ।। ।। अथ श्रीवेंकटाचलारोहणसमयानुसंध्यानक्रमः ।। ।। वेंकटाद्रिं गिरिं तं तु प्रार्थयेत्पुण्यवर्धनम् ।। स्वर्णाचल महापुण्य सर्वदेवनिषेवित ।। ११ ।। ब्रह्मादयोऽपि यं देवाः सेवन्ते श्रद्धया सह ।। तं भवन्तमहं पद्भ्यामाक्रमेयं नगोत्तम ।। १२ ।। क्षमस्व तदघं मेऽद्य दयया पापचेतसः ।। त्वन्मूर्धनि कृतावासं माधवं दर्शयस्व मे ।। १३ ।। प्रार्थयित्वा नरस्त्वेवं वेंकटाद्रिं नगोत्तमम् ।। ततो मृदुपदं गच्छेत्पावनं वेंकटाचलम् ।। १४ ।। वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वपातकनाशने ।। स्वामिपुष्करिणीतीर्थे स्नात्वा नियमपूर्वकम् ।। १५ ।। पिण्डदानं ततः कुर्यादपि सर्षपमात्रकम् ।। शमीदलसमानान्वा दद्यात्पिंडान्पितॄन्प्रति ।। १६ ।। स्वर्गस्था मोक्षमायांति स्वर्गं नरकवासिनः ।। १७ ।। ।। अथ पापविनाशनाख्यतीर्थमाहात्म्यम् ।। ।। ततस्तस्योपरि महत्सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।। सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं पुण्यं नाम्ना पापविनाशनम् ।। १८ ।। अस्ति पुण्यतमे विप्राः पवित्रे वेंकटाचले ।। यस्य संस्मरणादेव गर्भवासो न विद्यते ।। १९ ।। तत्प्राप्य तु नरः स्नायात्स्वामितीर्थस्य चोत्तरे ।। तत्र स्नानान्नरा यांति वैकुण्ठं नात्र संशयः ।। 2.1.19.२० ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। सूत पापविनाशाख्यतीर्थस्य ब्रूहि वैभवम् ।। व्यासेन बोधितस्त्वं हि वेत्सि सर्वं महामुने ।। २१ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। ब्रह्माश्रमपदे वृत्तां पार्श्वे हिमवतः शुभे ।। वक्ष्यामि ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा युष्माकं तु कथां शुभाम् ।। २२ ।। तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं ब्रह्माश्रमपदं शुभम्।। नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं पार्श्वे हिमवतः शुभे ।। २३ ।। बहुगुल्मलताकीर्णं मृगद्विपनिषेवितम् ।। सिद्धचारणसंघुष्टं रम्यं पुष्पितकाननम् ।। ।। २४ ।। यतिभिर्बहुभिः कीर्णं तापसैरुपशोभितम्।। ब्राह्मणैश्च महाभागैः सूर्यज्वलनसन्निभैः ।। २५ ।। नियमव्रतसम्पन्नैः समाकीर्णे तपस्विभिः ।। दीक्षितैर्यागशीलैश्च यताहारैः कृतात्मभिः ।।२६।। वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नैर्वैदिकैः परिवेष्टितम् ।। वर्णिभिश्च गृहस्थैश्च वानप्रस्थैश्च भिक्षुभिः ।। २७ ।। स्वाश्रमाचारनिरतैः स्ववर्णोक्तविधायिभिः ।। वालखिल्यैश्च ऋषिभिः समंतात्परिवेष्टितम् ।।२८ ।। ।। अथ दृढमत्याख्यशूद्रवृत्तान्तः ।। ।। तत्राश्रमे पुरा कश्चिच्छूद्रो दृढमतिर्द्विजाः ।। साहसी ब्राह्मणाभ्याशमाजगाम मुदान्वितः ।। २९ ।। आगतो ह्याश्रमपदं पूजितश्च तपस्विभिः ।। नाम्ना दृढमतिः शूद्रः साष्टांगं प्रणनाम वै ।। 2.1.19.३० ।। तान्स दृष्ट्वा मुनिगणान्देवकल्पान्महौजसः ।। कुर्वतो विविधान्यज्ञान्संप्राशहृष्यत शूद्रकः ।। ३१ ।। अथास्य बुद्धिरभवत्तपः कर्तुमनुत्तमम् ।। ततोऽब्रवीत्कुलपतिं मुनिमागत्य तापसम् ।। ३२ ।। ।। दृढमतिरुवाच।। ।। तपोधन नमस्तेऽस्तु रक्ष मां करुणानिधे ।। तव प्रसादादिच्छामि यागं कर्तुं प्रसीद मे ।। ३३ ।। ।। अथ दृढमतिं प्रति कुलपत्याख्यमुन्युपदिष्टशूद्रधर्माः ।। ।। एवमुक्तस्तु शूद्रेण तमाह ब्राह्मणस्तदा ।। ३४ ।। ।। कुलपतिरुवाच ।। ।। यागे दीक्षयितुं शक्यो न शूद्रो हीनजन्मभाक् ।। भूयते यदि ते बुद्धिः शुश्रूषा निरतो भव ।। ३५ ।। उपदेशो न कर्तव्यो जातिहीनस्य कर्हिचित् ।। उपदेशे महान्दोष उपाध्यायस्यविद्यते ।। ३६ ।। नाध्यापयेद्बुधः शूद्रं तथा नैव च याजयेत् ।। न पाठयेत्तथा शूद्रं शास्त्रं व्याकरणादिकम् ।। ३७ ।। काव्यं वा नाटकं वापि तथालंकारमेव वा ।। पुराणमितिहासं च शूद्रं नैव तु पाठयेत् ।। ३८ ।। यदि चोपदिशेद्विप्रः शूद्रस्यैतानि कर्हिचित् ।। त्यजेयुर्ब्राह्मणा विप्रं ते ग्रामाद्ब्रह्मसंकुलात् ।। ३९ ।। शूद्राय चोपदेष्टारं द्विजं चण्डालवत्त्यजेत्।। शूद्रं चाक्षरसंयुक्तं दूरतः परिवर्जयेत् ।। 2.1.19.४० ।। तच्छुश्रूषस्व भद्रं ते ब्राह्मणाच्छद्धयासह ।। शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा मन्वादिभिरुदीरिता ।। ४१ ।। न हि नैसर्गिकं कर्म परित्यक्तुं त्वमर्हसि ।। एवमुक्तः स मुनिना स शूद्रोऽचिन्तयत्तदा ।। ४२ ।। किं कर्तव्यं मया त्वद्य व्रते श्रद्धा हि मे परा ।। यथा स्यान्ममसुज्ञान यतिष्येऽहं तथाद्य वै ।। ४३ ।। इति निश्चित्य मनसा शूद्रो दृढमतिस्तदा ।। गत्वाश्रमपदादूरं कृतवानुटजशुभम्।। ४४ ।। तत्र वै देवतागारं पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ।। पुष्पारामादिकं चापि तटाकखननादिकम् ।। ४५।। श्रद्धया कारयामास तपः सिद्ध्यर्थमात्मन ।। अभिषेकांश्च नियमानुपवासादिकानपि ।। ४६ ।। बलिं कृत्वा च हुत्वा च दैवतान्यभ्यपूजयत् ।। संकल्पनियमोपेतः फलाहारो जितेंद्रियः ।। ४७ ।। नित्यं कन्दैश्च मूलैश्च पुष्पैरपि तथा फलैः ।। अतिथीन्पूजयामास यथावत्समुपागतान् ।। ४८ ।। एवं हि सुमहान्कालो व्यतिचक्राम तस्य वै ।। ४९ ।। ।। अथ दृढमतये सुमत्याख्यविप्रप्रकाशितकर्मानुष्ठानक्रमः ।। ।। अथाश्रममगात्तस्य सुमतिर्नाम नामतः ।। द्विजो गर्गकुलोद्भूतः सत्यवादी जितेंद्रियः ।। 2.1.19.५० ।। स्वागतैर्मुनिमाराध्य तोषयित्वा फलादिकैः ।। कथयन्वै कथाः पुण्याः कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत ।। ५१ ।। इत्थं विप्रः स पाद्याद्यैरुपचारैस्तु पूजितः ।। आशीर्भिरभिनन्द्यैनं प्रतिगृह्य च सत्क्रियाम् ।। ५२ ।। तमापृच्छत्प्रहृष्टात्मा स्वाश्रमं पुनराययौ ।। एवं दिनेदिने विप्रः शूद्रेऽस्मिन्पक्षपातवान् ।। ५३ ।। आगच्छदाश्रमं तस्य द्रष्टुं तं शूद्रयोनिजम् ।। बहुकालं द्विजस्याभूत्संसर्गः शूद्रयोनिना ।। ५४ ।। स्नेहस्य वशमापन्नः शूद्रोक्तं नातिचक्रमे ।। अथागतं द्विजं शूद्रः प्राह स्नेहवशीकृतम् ।। ५५ ।। हव्यकव्यविधानं मे ब्रूहि त्वं तु गुरुर्मतः ।। एवमुक्तः स शूद्रेण सर्वमेतदुपादिशत् ।।५६।। कारयामास शूद्रस्य पितृकार्यादिकं तदा ।। पितृकार्ये कृते तेन विसृष्टः स द्विजोत्तमः ।। ५७ ।। ।। अथ शूद्रस्य वैदिककर्मोपदेशेन सुमत्यनुभूतदुर्गतिः ।। ।। अथ दीर्घेण कालेन पोषितः शूद्रयोनिना ।। त्यक्तो विप्रगणैः सोऽयं पञ्चत्वमगमद्द्विजः ।। ५८ ।। वैवस्वतभटैर्नीत्वा पातितो नरकेष्वपि ।। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च ।। ५९ ।। भुक्त्वा क्रमेण नरकांस्तदन्ते स्थावरोऽभवत् ।। गर्दभस्तु ततो जज्ञे विड्वराहस्ततः परम् ।। 2.1.19.६० ।। जज्ञेऽथ सारमेयोऽसौ पश्चाद्वायसतां गतः ।। अथ चण्डालतां प्राप्य शूद्रयोनिमगात्ततः ।। ६१ ।। गतवान्वैश्यतां पश्चात्क्षत्रियस्तदनन्तरम् ।। प्रबलैर्बाध्यमानोऽसौ ब्राह्मणो वै तदाभवत् ।। ६२ ।। उपनीतः स पित्रा तु वर्षे गर्भाष्टमे द्विजः ।। वर्तमानः पितुर्गेहे स्वाचाराभ्यासतत्परः ।। ६३ ।। गच्छन्कदाचिद्गहने गृहीतो ब्रह्मरक्षसा ।। रुदन्भ्रमन्स्खलन्मूढः प्रलपन्प्रहसन्नसौ ।। ६४ ।। शश्वद्धाहेति च वदन्वैदिकं कर्म सोऽत्यजत् ।। दृष्ट्वा सुतं तथाभूतं पिता दुःखेन पीडितः ।। ६५ ।। सुतमादाय च स्नेहादगस्त्यं शरणं ययौ ।। सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे तपस्यन्तं शिवाग्रतः ।।६६।। भक्त्या मुनिं प्रणम्यासौ पिता तस्य सुतस्य वै ।। तस्मै निवेदयामास स्वपुत्रस्य विचेष्टितम् ।।६७।। ।। अथागस्त्योक्त्या दुर्गत्यपनोदनार्थं सुमतेर्वेंकटाद्रिगमनम् ।। ।। अब्रवीच्च तदा विप्रः कुम्भजं मुनिपुंगवम् ।। एष मे तनयो ब्रह्मन्गृहीतो ब्रह्मरक्षसा ।।६८।। सुखं न लभते ब्रह्मन्रक्ष तं करुणादृशा ।। नास्ति मे तनयोऽप्यन्यः पितॄणामृणमुक्तये ।। ६९ ।। तस्य पीडाविनाशार्थमुपायं ब्रूहि कुम्भज ।। त्वत्समस्त्रिषु लोकेषु तपःशीलो न विद्यते ।। 2.1.19.७० ।। त्वां विनास्य परित्राता न मे पुत्रस्य विद्यते ।। पुत्रे दयां कुरु गुरो दयाशीला हि साधवः ।। ७१ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन कुम्भजो ध्यानमास्थितः ।। ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालमब्रवीद्ब्राह्मणं ततः ।।७२।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। पूर्वजन्मनि ते पुत्रो ब्राह्मणोऽयं महामते ।। सुमतिर्नाम विप्रोऽयं मतिं शूद्राय वै ददौ ।। ७३ ।। कर्माणि वैदिकान्येष सर्वाण्युपदिदेश वै ।। अतोऽयं नरकान्भुक्त्वा कल्पकोटिसहस्रकम् ।। ७४ ।। जातो भुवि तदन्तेषु स्थावरादिषु योनिषु ।। इदानीं ब्राह्मणो जातः कर्मशेषेण ते सुतः ।। ७५ ।। यमेन प्रेषितेनात्र गृहीतो ब्रह्मरक्षसा ।। क्रूरेण पातकेनाद्य पूर्वजन्मकृतेन वै ।। ७६ ।। उपायं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मरक्षोविनाशने ।। शृणुष्व श्रद्धया युक्तः समाधाय च मानसम्।। ७७ ।। सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे ऋषिसंघनिषेविते ।। वर्तते दैवतैः सेव्यः पावनो वेंकटाचलः ।। ७८ ।। तस्योपरि महातीर्थं नाम्ना पापविनाशनम्।। अस्ति पुण्यं प्रसिद्धं च महापातकनाशनम् ।। ७९ ।। भूतप्रेतपिशाचानां वेतालब्रह्मरक्षसाम् ।। महतां चैव रोगाणां तीर्थं तन्नाशकं स्मृतम् ।। 2.1.19.८० ।। सुतमादाय गच्छ त्वं तत्तीर्थं गिरिमध्यगम् ।। प्रयतः स्नापय सुतं तीर्थे पापविनाशने ।। ८१ ।। स्नानेन त्रिदिनं तत्र बह्मरक्षो विनश्यति ।। नैवोपायान्तरं तस्य विनाशे विद्यते भुवि ।। ८२ ।। तस्माच्छीघ्रं प्रयाहि त्वं वेंकटाह्वयपर्वतम् ।। तत्र पापविनाशाख्यतीर्थे स्नापय ते सुतम् ।। ८३ ।। मा विलम्बं कुरुष्वात्र त्वरया याहि वै द्विज ।। इत्युक्तः स द्विजोऽगस्त्यं प्रणम्य भुवि दण्डवत् ।। ८४ ।। अनुज्ञातश्च तेनासौ प्रययौ वेंकटाचलम् ।। सुतेन साकं विप्रोऽसौ गत्वा पापविनाशनम् ।। ८५ ।। ।। अथ सुमतेः पापनाशनस्नानेन दुर्गत्यपनोदनम् ।। ।। संकल्पपूर्वं संस्नाप्य दिनत्रयमसौ सुतम् ।। सस्नौ स्वयं च विप्रेन्द्रः पिता पापविनाशने ।। ८६ ।। समागतः पपौ तोयं कृत्वा चाप्याह्निकक्रमम् ।। अथ तस्य सुतस्तत्र विमुक्तो ब्रह्मरक्षसा ।। ८७ ।। समजायत नीरोगः स्वस्थः सुन्दररूपधृक् ।। सर्वसंपत्समृद्धोऽसौ भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकशः ।। ८८ ।। देहान्ते प्रययौ मुक्तिं स्नानात्पापविनाशने ।। पितापि तत्र स्नानेन देहान्ते मुक्तिमाप्तवान् ।। ८९ ।। ।। अथ वैदिककर्मानुष्ठातुर्दृढमतेर्दुर्गतिप्राप्त्यपनोदनम् ।। ।। तेनोपदिष्टोऽयं शूद्रः स भुक्त्वा नरकान्क्रमात् ।। अनेकासु जनित्वा च कुत्सितास्वपि योनिषु ।। 2.1.19.९० ।। गृध्रजन्माभवत्पश्चाद्वेंकटाचलभूधरे ।। स कदाचिज्जलं पातुं तीर्थे पापविनाशने ।। ९१ ।। समागतः पपौ तोयं सिषिचे चात्मनस्तनुम् ।। तदैव दिव्यदेहः सन्सर्वाभरणभूषितः ।। ९२ ।। दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य प्रययावमरालयम्।। ९३ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवम्प्रभावमेतद्वै तीर्थं पापविनाशनम् ।। पापानां नाशनाद्विप्राः पापनाशाभिधं हि तत् ।। ९४ ।। इत्थं रहस्यं कथितं मुनीन्द्रास्तद्वैभवं पापविनाशनस्य ।। यत्राभिषेकात्सहसा विमुक्तौ द्विजश्च शूद्रश्च विनिन्द्यकृत्यौ ।। ९५ ।। ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्यं पापविनाशनतीर्थमहिमानुवर्णनंनामैकोनविंशतितमोऽध्यायः ।। १९ ।।
atha brahmādīnāṃ nairaṃtaryeṇa śrīveṃkaṭācale sthitivarṇanam || || śrīsūta uvāca || || athātaḥ saṃpravakṣyāmi veṃkaṭācalavaibhavam || yuṣmākaṃ sāvadhānena śṛṇudhvaṃ susamāhitāḥ || 1 || lakṣakoṭisahasrāṇi sarāṃsi saritastathā || samudrāśca mahāpuṇyā vanānyapyāśramā api || 2 || puṇyāni kṣetrajātāni vedāraṇyādikāni ca || munayaśca vasiṣṭhādyā siddhacāraṇakiṃnarāḥ || 3 || lakṣmyā saha dharaṇyā ca bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ || sāvitryā ca sarasvatyā sahaiva caturānanaḥ || 4 || pārvatyā saha deveśastryambakastripurāṃtakaḥ || herambaṣaṇmukhādyāśca devāḥ sendrapurogamāḥ || 5 || ādityādi grahāścaiva tathāṣṭavasavo dvijāḥ || pitaro lokapālāśca tathānye devatāgaṇāḥ || 6 || mahāpātakasaṃghānāṃ nāśane lokapāvane || divāniśaṃ vasantyaṃtarveṃkaṭācalamūrdhani || 7 || tasya darśanamātreṇa buddhisaukhyaṃ nṛṇāṃ bhavet || tanmūrdhani kṛtāvāsā siddhacāraṇayoṣitaḥ || 8 || pūjayaṃti sadākālaṃ veṃkaṭeśaṃ kṛpānidhim || koṭayo brahmahatyānāmagamyāgamakoṭayaḥ || 9 || aṅgalagnā vinaśyaṃti veṃkaṭācalamārutaiḥ || 2.1.19.10 || || atha śrīveṃkaṭācalārohaṇasamayānusaṃdhyānakramaḥ || || veṃkaṭādriṃ giriṃ taṃ tu prārthayetpuṇyavardhanam || svarṇācala mahāpuṇya sarvadevaniṣevita || 11 || brahmādayo'pi yaṃ devāḥ sevante śraddhayā saha || taṃ bhavantamahaṃ padbhyāmākrameyaṃ nagottama || 12 || kṣamasva tadaghaṃ me'dya dayayā pāpacetasaḥ || tvanmūrdhani kṛtāvāsaṃ mādhavaṃ darśayasva me || 13 || prārthayitvā narastvevaṃ veṃkaṭādriṃ nagottamam || tato mṛdupadaṃ gacchetpāvanaṃ veṃkaṭācalam || 14 || veṃkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvapātakanāśane || svāmipuṣkariṇītīrthe snātvā niyamapūrvakam || 15 || piṇḍadānaṃ tataḥ kuryādapi sarṣapamātrakam || śamīdalasamānānvā dadyātpiṃḍānpitṝnprati || 16 || svargasthā mokṣamāyāṃti svargaṃ narakavāsinaḥ || 17 || || atha pāpavināśanākhyatīrthamāhātmyam || || tatastasyopari mahatsarvalokeṣu viśrutam || sarvatīrthottamaṃ puṇyaṃ nāmnā pāpavināśanam || 18 || asti puṇyatame viprāḥ pavitre veṃkaṭācale || yasya saṃsmaraṇādeva garbhavāso na vidyate || 19 || tatprāpya tu naraḥ snāyātsvāmitīrthasya cottare || tatra snānānnarā yāṃti vaikuṇṭhaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || 2.1.19.20 || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || sūta pāpavināśākhyatīrthasya brūhi vaibhavam || vyāsena bodhitastvaṃ hi vetsi sarvaṃ mahāmune || 21 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || brahmāśramapade vṛttāṃ pārśve himavataḥ śubhe || vakṣyāmi brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā yuṣmākaṃ tu kathāṃ śubhām || 22 || tadāśramapadaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmāśramapadaṃ śubham|| nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ pārśve himavataḥ śubhe || 23 || bahugulmalatākīrṇaṃ mṛgadvipaniṣevitam || siddhacāraṇasaṃghuṣṭaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitakānanam || || 24 || yatibhirbahubhiḥ kīrṇaṃ tāpasairupaśobhitam|| brāhmaṇaiśca mahābhāgaiḥ sūryajvalanasannibhaiḥ || 25 || niyamavratasampannaiḥ samākīrṇe tapasvibhiḥ || dīkṣitairyāgaśīlaiśca yatāhāraiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ ||26|| vedādhyayanasaṃpannairvaidikaiḥ pariveṣṭitam || varṇibhiśca gṛhasthaiśca vānaprasthaiśca bhikṣubhiḥ || 27 || svāśramācāranirataiḥ svavarṇoktavidhāyibhiḥ || vālakhilyaiśca ṛṣibhiḥ samaṃtātpariveṣṭitam ||28 || || atha dṛḍhamatyākhyaśūdravṛttāntaḥ || || tatrāśrame purā kaścicchūdro dṛḍhamatirdvijāḥ || sāhasī brāhmaṇābhyāśamājagāma mudānvitaḥ || 29 || āgato hyāśramapadaṃ pūjitaśca tapasvibhiḥ || nāmnā dṛḍhamatiḥ śūdraḥ sāṣṭāṃgaṃ praṇanāma vai || 2.1.19.30 || tānsa dṛṣṭvā munigaṇāndevakalpānmahaujasaḥ || kurvato vividhānyajñānsaṃprāśahṛṣyata śūdrakaḥ || 31 || athāsya buddhirabhavattapaḥ kartumanuttamam || tato'bravītkulapatiṃ munimāgatya tāpasam || 32 || || dṛḍhamatiruvāca|| || tapodhana namaste'stu rakṣa māṃ karuṇānidhe || tava prasādādicchāmi yāgaṃ kartuṃ prasīda me || 33 || || atha dṛḍhamatiṃ prati kulapatyākhyamunyupadiṣṭaśūdradharmāḥ || || evamuktastu śūdreṇa tamāha brāhmaṇastadā || 34 || || kulapatiruvāca || || yāge dīkṣayituṃ śakyo na śūdro hīnajanmabhāk || bhūyate yadi te buddhiḥ śuśrūṣā nirato bhava || 35 || upadeśo na kartavyo jātihīnasya karhicit || upadeśe mahāndoṣa upādhyāyasyavidyate || 36 || nādhyāpayedbudhaḥ śūdraṃ tathā naiva ca yājayet || na pāṭhayettathā śūdraṃ śāstraṃ vyākaraṇādikam || 37 || kāvyaṃ vā nāṭakaṃ vāpi tathālaṃkārameva vā || purāṇamitihāsaṃ ca śūdraṃ naiva tu pāṭhayet || 38 || yadi copadiśedvipraḥ śūdrasyaitāni karhicit || tyajeyurbrāhmaṇā vipraṃ te grāmādbrahmasaṃkulāt || 39 || śūdrāya copadeṣṭāraṃ dvijaṃ caṇḍālavattyajet|| śūdraṃ cākṣarasaṃyuktaṃ dūrataḥ parivarjayet || 2.1.19.40 || tacchuśrūṣasva bhadraṃ te brāhmaṇācchaddhayāsaha || śūdrasya dvijaśuśrūṣā manvādibhirudīritā || 41 || na hi naisargikaṃ karma parityaktuṃ tvamarhasi || evamuktaḥ sa muninā sa śūdro'cintayattadā || 42 || kiṃ kartavyaṃ mayā tvadya vrate śraddhā hi me parā || yathā syānmamasujñāna yatiṣye'haṃ tathādya vai || 43 || iti niścitya manasā śūdro dṛḍhamatistadā || gatvāśramapadādūraṃ kṛtavānuṭajaśubham|| 44 || tatra vai devatāgāraṃ puṇyānyāyatanāni ca || puṣpārāmādikaṃ cāpi taṭākakhananādikam || 45|| śraddhayā kārayāmāsa tapaḥ siddhyarthamātmana || abhiṣekāṃśca niyamānupavāsādikānapi || 46 || baliṃ kṛtvā ca hutvā ca daivatānyabhyapūjayat || saṃkalpaniyamopetaḥ phalāhāro jiteṃdriyaḥ || 47 || nityaṃ kandaiśca mūlaiśca puṣpairapi tathā phalaiḥ || atithīnpūjayāmāsa yathāvatsamupāgatān || 48 || evaṃ hi sumahānkālo vyaticakrāma tasya vai || 49 || || atha dṛḍhamataye sumatyākhyavipraprakāśitakarmānuṣṭhānakramaḥ || || athāśramamagāttasya sumatirnāma nāmataḥ || dvijo gargakulodbhūtaḥ satyavādī jiteṃdriyaḥ || 2.1.19.50 || svāgatairmunimārādhya toṣayitvā phalādikaiḥ || kathayanvai kathāḥ puṇyāḥ kuśalaṃ paryapṛcchata || 51 || itthaṃ vipraḥ sa pādyādyairupacāraistu pūjitaḥ || āśīrbhirabhinandyainaṃ pratigṛhya ca satkriyām || 52 || tamāpṛcchatprahṛṣṭātmā svāśramaṃ punarāyayau || evaṃ dinedine vipraḥ śūdre'sminpakṣapātavān || 53 || āgacchadāśramaṃ tasya draṣṭuṃ taṃ śūdrayonijam || bahukālaṃ dvijasyābhūtsaṃsargaḥ śūdrayoninā || 54 || snehasya vaśamāpannaḥ śūdroktaṃ nāticakrame || athāgataṃ dvijaṃ śūdraḥ prāha snehavaśīkṛtam || 55 || havyakavyavidhānaṃ me brūhi tvaṃ tu gururmataḥ || evamuktaḥ sa śūdreṇa sarvametadupādiśat ||56|| kārayāmāsa śūdrasya pitṛkāryādikaṃ tadā || pitṛkārye kṛte tena visṛṣṭaḥ sa dvijottamaḥ || 57 || || atha śūdrasya vaidikakarmopadeśena sumatyanubhūtadurgatiḥ || || atha dīrgheṇa kālena poṣitaḥ śūdrayoninā || tyakto vipragaṇaiḥ so'yaṃ pañcatvamagamaddvijaḥ || 58 || vaivasvatabhaṭairnītvā pātito narakeṣvapi || kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca || 59 || bhuktvā krameṇa narakāṃstadante sthāvaro'bhavat || gardabhastu tato jajñe viḍvarāhastataḥ param || 2.1.19.60 || jajñe'tha sārameyo'sau paścādvāyasatāṃ gataḥ || atha caṇḍālatāṃ prāpya śūdrayonimagāttataḥ || 61 || gatavānvaiśyatāṃ paścātkṣatriyastadanantaram || prabalairbādhyamāno'sau brāhmaṇo vai tadābhavat || 62 || upanītaḥ sa pitrā tu varṣe garbhāṣṭame dvijaḥ || vartamānaḥ piturgehe svācārābhyāsatatparaḥ || 63 || gacchankadācidgahane gṛhīto brahmarakṣasā || rudanbhramanskhalanmūḍhaḥ pralapanprahasannasau || 64 || śaśvaddhāheti ca vadanvaidikaṃ karma so'tyajat || dṛṣṭvā sutaṃ tathābhūtaṃ pitā duḥkhena pīḍitaḥ || 65 || sutamādāya ca snehādagastyaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau || suvarṇamukharītīre tapasyantaṃ śivāgrataḥ ||66|| bhaktyā muniṃ praṇamyāsau pitā tasya sutasya vai || tasmai nivedayāmāsa svaputrasya viceṣṭitam ||67|| || athāgastyoktyā durgatyapanodanārthaṃ sumaterveṃkaṭādrigamanam || || abravīcca tadā vipraḥ kumbhajaṃ munipuṃgavam || eṣa me tanayo brahmangṛhīto brahmarakṣasā ||68|| sukhaṃ na labhate brahmanrakṣa taṃ karuṇādṛśā || nāsti me tanayo'pyanyaḥ pitṝṇāmṛṇamuktaye || 69 || tasya pīḍāvināśārthamupāyaṃ brūhi kumbhaja || tvatsamastriṣu lokeṣu tapaḥśīlo na vidyate || 2.1.19.70 || tvāṃ vināsya paritrātā na me putrasya vidyate || putre dayāṃ kuru guro dayāśīlā hi sādhavaḥ || 71 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || evamuktastadā tena kumbhajo dhyānamāsthitaḥ || dhyātvā tu suciraṃ kālamabravīdbrāhmaṇaṃ tataḥ ||72|| || agastya uvāca || || pūrvajanmani te putro brāhmaṇo'yaṃ mahāmate || sumatirnāma vipro'yaṃ matiṃ śūdrāya vai dadau || 73 || karmāṇi vaidikānyeṣa sarvāṇyupadideśa vai || ato'yaṃ narakānbhuktvā kalpakoṭisahasrakam || 74 || jāto bhuvi tadanteṣu sthāvarādiṣu yoniṣu || idānīṃ brāhmaṇo jātaḥ karmaśeṣeṇa te sutaḥ || 75 || yamena preṣitenātra gṛhīto brahmarakṣasā || krūreṇa pātakenādya pūrvajanmakṛtena vai || 76 || upāyaṃ te pravakṣyāmi brahmarakṣovināśane || śṛṇuṣva śraddhayā yuktaḥ samādhāya ca mānasam|| 77 || suvarṇamukharītīre ṛṣisaṃghaniṣevite || vartate daivataiḥ sevyaḥ pāvano veṃkaṭācalaḥ || 78 || tasyopari mahātīrthaṃ nāmnā pāpavināśanam|| asti puṇyaṃ prasiddhaṃ ca mahāpātakanāśanam || 79 || bhūtapretapiśācānāṃ vetālabrahmarakṣasām || mahatāṃ caiva rogāṇāṃ tīrthaṃ tannāśakaṃ smṛtam || 2.1.19.80 || sutamādāya gaccha tvaṃ tattīrthaṃ girimadhyagam || prayataḥ snāpaya sutaṃ tīrthe pāpavināśane || 81 || snānena tridinaṃ tatra bahmarakṣo vinaśyati || naivopāyāntaraṃ tasya vināśe vidyate bhuvi || 82 || tasmācchīghraṃ prayāhi tvaṃ veṃkaṭāhvayaparvatam || tatra pāpavināśākhyatīrthe snāpaya te sutam || 83 || mā vilambaṃ kuruṣvātra tvarayā yāhi vai dvija || ityuktaḥ sa dvijo'gastyaṃ praṇamya bhuvi daṇḍavat || 84 || anujñātaśca tenāsau prayayau veṃkaṭācalam || sutena sākaṃ vipro'sau gatvā pāpavināśanam || 85 || || atha sumateḥ pāpanāśanasnānena durgatyapanodanam || || saṃkalpapūrvaṃ saṃsnāpya dinatrayamasau sutam || sasnau svayaṃ ca viprendraḥ pitā pāpavināśane || 86 || samāgataḥ papau toyaṃ kṛtvā cāpyāhnikakramam || atha tasya sutastatra vimukto brahmarakṣasā || 87 || samajāyata nīrogaḥ svasthaḥ sundararūpadhṛk || sarvasaṃpatsamṛddho'sau bhuktvā bhogānanekaśaḥ || 88 || dehānte prayayau muktiṃ snānātpāpavināśane || pitāpi tatra snānena dehānte muktimāptavān || 89 || || atha vaidikakarmānuṣṭhāturdṛḍhamaterdurgatiprāptyapanodanam || || tenopadiṣṭo'yaṃ śūdraḥ sa bhuktvā narakānkramāt || anekāsu janitvā ca kutsitāsvapi yoniṣu || 2.1.19.90 || gṛdhrajanmābhavatpaścādveṃkaṭācalabhūdhare || sa kadācijjalaṃ pātuṃ tīrthe pāpavināśane || 91 || samāgataḥ papau toyaṃ siṣice cātmanastanum || tadaiva divyadehaḥ sansarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ || 92 || divyaṃ vimānamāruhya prayayāvamarālayam|| 93 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || evamprabhāvametadvai tīrthaṃ pāpavināśanam || pāpānāṃ nāśanādviprāḥ pāpanāśābhidhaṃ hi tat || 94 || itthaṃ rahasyaṃ kathitaṃ munīndrāstadvaibhavaṃ pāpavināśanasya || yatrābhiṣekātsahasā vimuktau dvijaśca śūdraśca vinindyakṛtyau || 95 || || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmyaṃ pāpavināśanatīrthamahimānuvarṇanaṃnāmaikonaviṃśatitamo'dhyāyaḥ || 19 ||
English translation
Note: This chapter states the procedure of the Yātrā of Veṅkaṭādri .
[ Permanent Residence of Brahmā and others on Śrī Veṅkaṭācala ]:—
Śrī Sūta said :
1. Henceforth 1 shall recount the greatness of Veṅkaṭācala to you all. Listen with attention and a pure mind.
2. There are thousands, lakhs and crores of lakes and rivers, oceans of great merit, forests and hermitages.
3. There are meritorious holy places like Vedāraṇya, Vasiṣṭha and other sages, Siddhas , Cāraṇas and Kinnaras .
4. Lord Madhusūdana ( Viṣṇu ) is present there along with Lakṣmī and Dharaṇī . The Four-faced Lord (Brahmā) (resides there) with Sāvitrī and Sarasvatī .
5. The Three-eyed Lord of Devas , the destroyer of Tripura (lives there) with Pārvatī . Heraṃba, Ṣaṇmukha and others, Devas with Indra as their leader (all these live there).
6. O Brāhmaṇas , Planets beginning with the Sun, the eight Vasus , Pitṛs and Guardians of the Worlds and other groups of Devas (reside there).
7. (All these) live day and night within Veṅkaṭācala and on its top, which is destructive of multitudes of great sins and a sanctifier of the worlds.
8-10. Merely by looking at it men can attain intelligence and happiness. The women-folk of Siddhas and Cāraṇas who have taken up residence on its top, always worship Veṅkaṭeśa , the storehouse of mercy. Crores of the sins of Brāhmaṇa -slaugh-ter and crores of the sins of cohabiting with forbidden women perish when the winds from Veṅkaṭācala touch their limbs.
[ Time for Climbing Śrī Veṅkaṭācala and the Procedure of Meditating on it ]:—
11-13. A devotee should request the mountain Veṅkaṭādri which enhances merit: “O golden mountain of great merits, resorted to by all the Devas, even Brahmā and other Devas attend upon you with great faith. O excellent one among mountains! I am treading upon you (of such good qualities). Forgive me this one sin kindly, though I am evil-minded. Show me Mādhava who has taken up his residence on your top.”
14. After praying thus the man (the devotee) should gently set his foot on Veṅkaṭādri, the most excellent one among mountains. He shall then gently walk over the sacred Veṅkaṭācala.
15-17. With the specific holy observances he should take bath in Svāmipuṣkariṇī Tīrtha on (mountain) Veṅkaṭādri of great merits, which destroys all sins. Thereafter, he should offer rice-balls even if they be of the size of a mustard seed. Or he should offer rice-balls equal to the leaves of Śamī tree unto the Manes. Those who are stationed in heaven will attain salvation and those who are in hells will go to heaven.
[ Greatness of the Tīrtha Named Pāpavināśana ]:—
18-20. On the top of the extremely sacred and pure Veṅkaṭācala there is a great and sacred Tīrtha named Pāpavināśana. It is well-known in all the worlds. It is the most excellent of all the Tīrthas , O Brāhmaṇas. Merely by remembering it one will no longer have to enter a womb (i.e. one gets salvation). One (i.e. pilgrim) should go to it which is towards the north of Svāmitīrtha , and take his holy bath. By taking the holy bath there men go to Vaikuṇṭha . There is no doubt about it.
The sages requested :
21. O Sūta , recount the greatness of the Tīrtha called Pāpavināśa. O great sage, you have been enlightened by Vyāsa . Indeed you know everything.
Śrī Sūta said :
22. I shall recount to you all, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the auspicious story of what happened in the penance-grove of Brahmā on the auspicious ridge of Himavān .
23. That penance-grove is sacred. Brahmā’s penance-grove is very auspicious. It is full of trees of various kinds. It is situated on a beautiful side of Himavān.
24. It abounds in hedges and creepers. It is frequented by deer and elephants. It is resonant with the voices (talk, conversation etc.) of Siddhas and Cāraṇas. It is made beautiful due to the whole forest being in full bloom.
25-28. Many ascetics live sparsely in it. It is rendered splendid by sages. It is full of Brāhmaṇas of exalted magnificence, as resplendent as the sun and the fire. There are many anchorites staying there and they are richly endowed with holy rites and regular observances. There are many persons there regularly performing Yāgas with requisite initiation, who practised control over their diet and were self-possessed. It is surrounded by persons conversant with the Vedas and endowed with rich experience by the study of the Vedas. There are persons of all stages of life there, viz. religious students, householders, anchorites and mendicants, all of them strictly adhering to the duties of their stages and performing (all the rites) ordained for their respective castes. It is surrounded by Vālakhilyas and other sages.
The Episode of a Śūdra Named Dṛḍhamati
29-32. Once, O Brāhmaṇas, a certain Śūdra named Dṛḍhamati, a venturesome fellow, joyously came near the Brāhmaṇas in that hermitage.
On coming to the penance-grove he was duly honoured by the ascetics. (After announcing his) name Dṛḍhamati the Śūdra prostrated (before them) with the eight limbs touching (the ground).
On seeing those groups of sages who were on a par with Devas, who had great prowess and were performing different kinds of Yajñas , the Śūdra was much delighted.
He had an inclination to perform an excellent penance. He approached the sage and ascetic, the head of the penance-grove and said:
Dṛḍhamati said :
33. O ascetic, obeisance to you. Save me, O storehouse of sympathy. With your grace I wish to perform a Yāga (sacrifice). Be pleased with me.
[ The Duties of a Śūdra as Taught to Dṛḍhamati by the Sage Named Kulapati [1] ]:—
( Kulapati said :)
34-40. A Śūdra is of inferior birth. He cannot be initiated for the performance of a Yāga. So it is heard (i.e. mentioned in the Vedas). If you have the inclination, be engaged in rendering service.
Instructions cannot be imparted at any cost to one devoid of (high) caste. In case he is instructed, the teacher-priest incurs a great sin.
No learned man should teach a Śūdra nor shall he preside over his Yāga. He should not teach a Śūdra any (sacred) science such as grammar etc. He should not directly teach a Śūdra poetry, drama , rhetorics, Purāṇa or Itihāsa . If any Brāhmaṇa instructs any Śūdra these subjects at any time, the other Brāhmaṇas must banish that Brāhmaṇa from the village full of Brāhmaṇas. One should abandon a Brāhmaṇa like a Cāṇḍāla if he teaches any Śūdra.
41-44. Therefore, welfare unto you. Render service to Brāhmaṇas with great faith. Rendering service to the Twice-born has been mentioned by Manu and others (as the duty) of a Śūdra. It does not behove you to forsake your natural duty.
On being told thus by the sage the Śūdra thought, ‘What should be done by me now? My faith in the holy rites is very intense. I shall endeavour in such a way as to have perfect knowledge.’
After deciding thus mentally Dṛḍhamati, the Śūdra, went far away from the penance-grove and erected a splendid hut.
45-49. There he made a temple and many holy shrines, flower-garden etc. He got a big lake dug up. All these he set up for the sake of the performance of penance by himself.
He performed the rites of ablution and worshipped deities. He practised all holy observances such as fast etc.
He offered oblations and performed Homas . Regular in habits and mental resolve he sustained himself on a fruit diet. He conquered his sense organs. Everyday he honoured duly guests that approached him by means of bulbous roots, roots, flowers and fruits. Thus a great deal of time passed by.
[ Procedure for the Performance of Holy Rites as Revealed (Explained) to Dṛḍhamati by the Brāhmaṇa named Sumati ]:—
50. Once a Brāhmaṇa named Sumati, born in the family of Garga , arrived at his hermitage. He (the Brāhmaṇa) was truthful in speech and had his sense-organs under control.
51. (Dṛḍhamati) propitiated the sage with words of welcome, made him delighted through (offer of) fruits and other things and enquired about his health in the course of narration of holy tales.
52-54. The Brāhmaṇa who was honoured by various services thus, such as offering water for washing and the like, accepted the same and felicitated him with blessings. Delighted in his mind, he took leave of him and went back to his own hermitage. Thus day by day the Brāhmaṇa became more and more favourably disposed to the Śūdra. He paid a visit to his hermitage in order to meet the Śūdra-born (sage). This association of the Brāhmaṇa with the Śūdra-born (sage) lasted for a longtime.
55. Being won over by affection, the Brāhmaṇa could not refuse what had been requested by the Śūdra. Once that Śūdra spoke to the Brāhmaṇa whom he had won over by means of affection. He said to him thus, when the Brāhmaṇa came to him:
56. “Tell me the injunctions regarding the offer of Havyas and Kavyas . You are considered to be my preceptor.” On being requested thus by the Śūdra, he taught him everything.
57. He made the Śūdra perform the holy rites etc. unto the Manes. After the holy rites of Pitṛs (Manes) had been performed, that excellent Brāhmaṇa was sent away by him (with a farewell).
[ Miseries Undergone by Sumati due to His Imparting of Instructions in Vedic Rites to a Śūdra ]:—
58. The Brāhmaṇa was fed and nourished thus for a long time by the Śūdra-born sage. He was therefore excommunicated by Brāhmaṇas. Later he died.
59. He was carried away by the soldiers of Yama and cast into the hells (where he had to remain) for thousands of crores of Kalpas and hundreds of crores of Kalpas.
60. After undergoing the tortures of the hells one by one he became an immobile being. Afterwards he was born as a donkey and thereafter a pig feeding on faeces.
61. He was then born as a dog and he became a crow subsequently. Then he was born as a Cāṇḍāla and thereafter as a Śūdra.
62. Then he was born as a Vaiśya and thereafter as a Kṣatriya . Though obstructed by powerful agencies, he became a Brāhmaṇa thereafter.
63. He was invested with the sacred thread in the eighth year reckoned from the day of conception. Thus the Brāhmaṇa remained in his father’s house engaged in the regular practice of rules of his caste.
64-65. Once while he was going through a forest, he was haunted by a Brahmarākṣasa (i.e. a Brāhmaṇa turned into a demon). He cried, whirled, faltered in his steps, prattled foolishly and laughed. Frequently he cried out “Alas! Alas!”. He forsook all Vedic rites. On seeing his son in such a plight the father was distressed with agony.
66-67. He affectionately took his son and sought refuge in Agastya who was engaged in a penance in front of Śiva on the banks of Suvarṇamukharī . He devoutly bowed down to the sage. The father of that son reported to him all the actions of the son.
[ Sumati Goes to Veṅkaṭādri as per Advice of Agastya in Order to Dispel His Misery ]:—
68-71. Then the Brāhmaṇa told the great Pot-born Sage (Agastya): “O Brāhmaṇa, this my son has been possessed by a Brahmarākṣasa. He is not at all happy, O Brāhmaṇa. Protect him with your benign glance. I have no other son who could relieve me of my indebtedness to the Pitṛs. O Pot-born Sage, tell me the means whereby his pain and agony will be destroyed. There is no other person in the three worlds habitually engaged in penance like you. Excepting you there is no other person to protect my son. O Sire, take pity on my son. Indeed good people are by nature compassionate.”
Śrī Sūta said :
72. On being told thus by him the Pot-born Sage began to meditate. After meditating for a long time he told the Brāhmaṇa:
Agastya said :
73. In his former birth, O highly intelligent one, this son of yours was a Brāhmaṇa named Sumati. That Brāhmaṇa imparted (sacred) knowledge to a Śūdra.
74-75. He instructed him in all the Vedic rites. So he had to undergo the tortures of hells for a period of one thousand crores of Kalpas. At the end of it he was born in various species beginning with immobile things. Now your son is born as a Brāhmaṇa on account of the balance of his (good) Karmas .
76. He has been possessed by a Brahmarākṣasa sent by Yama on account of the cruel sin committed by him in the previous birth.
77. I shall tell you the means of destroying the Brahmarākṣasa. Listen with an attentive mind and great faith.
78. On the banks of Suvarṇamukharī which is resorted to by multitudes of sages, there is the sacred Veṅkaṭācala worthy of being resorted to by Devas.
79. On it there is a great Tīrtha named Pāpavināśana. It is meritorious, famous and destructive of great sins.
80. That Tīrtha is known as the destroyer of evil spirits, ghosts and vampires, goblins and Brahmarākṣasas as well as of great ailments.
81. Take your son and go to that Tīrtha in the middle of the mountain. With great mental purity make your son take his bath in that Tīrtha which is destructive of sins.
82. By means of the holy bath taken on three (consecutive) days that Brahmarākṣasa will perish. There is no other means on the earth to destroy him.
83. Hence go quickly to that mountain named Veṅkaṭa . There make your son bathe in the Tīrtha named Pāpavināśa.
84-85. Do not delay here, O Brāhmaṇa, go there quickly.
On being told thus that Brāhmaṇa bowed down to Agastya and prostrated before him like a log of wood. Permitted by him the Brāhmaṇa went to Veṅkaṭācala along with his son and reached Pāpavināśana.
[ All the Miseries of Sumati Dispelled Through Holy Bath Taken in Pāpanāśana ]:—
86-89. With the rite of Saṃkalpa (i.e. ceremonial pronouncement of the decision to perform a religious act) he made the son take bath on three days. The eminent Brāhmaṇa, the father himself, took his bath in Pāpavināśana. After returning he drank water at the conclusion of the daily routine of holy rites. Thereupon his son was released by the Brahmarākṣasa.
He became free from ailments. He became normal with handsome form and features. Endowed with all flourishing riches, he enjoyed many kinds of pleasures. At the end of his life he attained salvation by virtue of his holy bath in Pāpavināśana. His father too, on account of his holy bath there, attained salvation after death.
[ Misery of Dṛḍhamati who Performed Vedic Rites is Dispelled ]:—
90-93. The Śūdra who had been instructed by him underwent the tortures of the hells one by one. Then he was born in many despicable low species. Afterwards he became a vulture on the mountain Veṅkaṭācala. Once he came to the Tīrtha Pāpavināśana in order to drink water. He drank water and sprinkled his own body (with it). At that very time he obtained a divine personality adorned with all ornaments. He got into a celestial aerial chariot and went to heaven.
Śrī Sūta said :
94-95. This Tīrtha, Pāpavināśana, has such power. O Brāhmaṇas, it has got the name Pāpanāśana because it is destructive of sins.
Thus the secret has been told, O eminent sages, of the greatness of Pāpavināśana. It is by means of their holy bath therein that (both) the Brāhmaṇa and the Śūdra of despicable actions became liberated instantaneously.
[1]: [1] : VV 34-44 describe the inhuman constraints on Śūdras. Even the knowledge of non-Vedic subjects like poetry, drama, rhetorics is denied to them. For more disabilities vide Kane, HD II. i. pp. 154-64.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22893, revision 71020 (2016-06-09T20:59:08Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370698.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.