Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 21
Source।। अथ रामानुजाख्यद्विजवृत्तान्तः ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः ।। आकाशगंगातीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं प्रवदाम्यहम् ।। १ ।। आकाशगंगानिकटे सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः ।। रामानुज इति ख्यातो विष्णुभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः ।। २ ।। तपश्चकार धर्मात्मा वैखानसमते स्थितः ।। ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निमध्यस्थो विष्णुध्यानपरायणः ।। ३ ।। जपन्नष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं ध्यायन्हृदि जनार्दनम् ।। वर्षास्वाकाशगो नित्यं हेमन्तेषु जलेशयः ।। ४ ।। सर्वभूतहितो दान्तः सर्वद्वन्द्वविवर्जितः ।। वर्षाणि कतिचित्सोऽयं जीर्णपर्णाशनोभवत् ।। ५ ।। कञ्चित्कालं जलाहारो वायुभक्षः कियत्समाः ।।६।। ।। अथाकाशगंगातीरे रामानुजतपस्तुष्टभगवदाविर्भावः ।। ।। अथ तत्तपसा तुष्टो भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः ।। प्रत्यक्षतामगात्तस्य शंखचक्रगदाधरः ।। ७ ।। विकचाम्बुजपत्राक्षः सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभः ।। विनतानन्दनारूढश्छत्रचामरशोभितः ।। ८ ।। हारकेयूरमुकुटः कटकादिविभूषितः ।। विष्वक्सेनसुनन्दादि किङ्करैः परिवारितः ।। ९ ।। वीणावेणुमृदंगादिवादकैर्नारदादिभिः ।। गीयमानः सुविभवः पीताम्बरविराजितः ।।2.1.21.१०।। लक्ष्मीविराजितोरस्को नीलमेघनिवच्छविः ।। सनकादिमहायोगिसेवितः पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः ।। ११ ।। मन्दस्मितेन सकलं मोहयन्भुवनत्रयम् ।। स्वभासा मानयन्सर्वा दिशो दश विराजयन्।। १२ ।। सुभक्तसुलभो देवो वेंकटेशो दयानिधिः ।। पुनः सन्निदधे तस्य रामानुजमहामुनेः ।। १३ ।। आविर्भूतं तदा दृष्ट्वा श्रीनिवासं कृपानिधिम् ।। पीताम्बरधरं देवं तुष्टिं प्राप महामुनिः ।। १४ ।। भक्त्या परमया युक्तस्तुष्टाव जगदीश्वरम् ।।१५।। ।। अथ रामानुजाख्यविप्रकृतभगवत्स्तुतिः ।। ।। रामानुज उवाच ।। ।। नमो देवाधिदेवाय शङ्खचक्रगदाभृते ।। नमो नित्याय शुद्धाय वेंकटशाय ते नमः ।। १६ ।। नमो भक्तार्तिहंत्रे ते हव्यकव्यस्वरूपिणे ।। नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणे ।। १७ ।। नमः परेशाय नमोऽतिभूम्ने नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्मीपतये विधात्रे ।। नमोऽस्तु सूर्येन्दुविलोचनाय नमो विरिञ्चाद्यभिवन्दिताय ।। १८ ।। यो नाम जात्यादिविकल्पहीनः समस्तदोषैरपि वर्जितो यः ।। समस्तसंसारभयापहारिणे तस्मै नमो दैत्यविनाशकाय।।१९।। वेदांतवेद्याय रमेश्वराय वृषादिवासाय विधातृपित्रे ।। नमोनमः सर्वजनार्तिहारिणे नारायणायामितविक्रमाय ।। 2.1.21.२० ।। नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते वासुदेवाय शार्ङ्गिणे ।। भूयोभूयो नमस्तुभ्यं वेंकटाद्रिनिवासिने ।। २१ ।। इति स्तुत्वा वेंकटेशं श्रीनिवासं जगद्गुरुम् ।। रामानुजो मुनिस्तूष्णीमास्ते विप्रवरोत्तमः ।। २२ ।। श्रुत्वा स्तुतिं श्रुतिसुखां स्तुतस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। अवाप परमं तोषं वेंकटाचलनायकः ।। २३ ।। अथालिङ्ग्य मुनिं शौरिश्चतुर्भिर्बाहुभिस्तदा ।। बभाषे प्रीतिसंयुक्तो वरं वै व्रियतामिति ।। २४ ।। तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसा तेऽद्य स्तोत्रेणापि महामुने ।। नमस्कारेण च प्रीतो वरदोऽहं तवागतः ।। २५ ।। ।। अथ रामानुजाख्यविप्रकृतभगवत्प्रार्थना ।। ।। ।। ।। रामानुज उवाच ।। ।। नारायण रमानाथ श्रीनिवास जगन्मय ।। जनार्दन जगद्धाम गोविन्द नरकान्तक ।। २६ ।। त्वद्दर्शनात्कृतार्थोऽस्मि वेंकटाद्रिशिरोमणे ।। त्वां नमस्यंति धर्मिष्ठा यतस्त्वं धर्मपालकः ।। २७ ।। यं न वेत्ति भवो ब्रह्मा यं न वेत्ति त्रयी तथा ।। त्वां वेद्मि परमात्मानं किमस्मादधिकं परम् ।। २८ ।। योगिनो यं न पश्यंति यं न पश्यंति कर्मठाः ।। पश्यामि परमात्मानं किमस्मादधिकं परम् ।। २९ ।। एतेन च कृतार्थोऽस्मि वेंकटेश जगत्पते ।। यन्नामस्मृतिमात्रेण महापातकिनोऽपि च ।। 2.1.21.३० ।। मुक्तिं प्रयांति मनुजास्तं पश्यामि जनार्दनम् ।। त्वत्पादपद्मयुगले निश्चला भक्तिरस्तु मे ।। ३१ ।। ।। अथ भगवद्वर्णिताकाशगंगातीर्थस्नानकालः ।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। मयि भक्तिर्दृढा तेस्तु रामानुज महामते ।। शृणु चाप्यपरं वाक्यमुच्यते ते मया द्विज ।। ३२ ।। मेषसंक्रमणे भानोश्चित्रानक्षत्रसंयुते ।। पौर्णमास्यां च गंगायां स्नानं कुर्वन्ति ये जनाः ।। ३३ ।। ते यांति परमं धाम पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् ।। वियद्गंगासमीपे त्वं वस रामानुज द्विज ।। ३४ ।। एतत्प्रारब्धदेहांते मत्स्वरूपमवाप्स्यसि ।। बहुना किमिहोक्तेन वियद्गंगाजले शुभे ।। ३५ ।। स्नान्ति ये वै जनाः सर्वे ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। भवन्ति मुनिशार्दूल नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ३६ ।। ।। रामानुज उवाच ।। ।। किंलक्षणा भागवता ज्ञायन्ते केन कर्मणा ।। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कौतूहलपरो यतः ।। ३७ ।। ।। ।। अथ भगवद्वर्णितभागवतलक्षणानि ।। ।। श्रीवेंकटेश उवाच ।। लक्ष्म भागवतानां तु शृणुष्व मुनिसत्तम ।। ३८ ।। वक्तुं तेषां प्रभावं तु शक्यते नाब्दकोटिभिः ।। ३९ ।। ये हिताः सर्वजन्तूनां गतासूया विमत्सराः ।। ज्ञानिनो निःस्पृहाः शान्तास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। 2.1.21.४० ।। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा परपीडां न कुर्वते ।। अपरिग्रहशीलाश्च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४१ ।। सत्कथाश्रवणे येषां वर्तते सात्त्विकी मतिः ।। मत्पादाम्बुजभक्ता ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४२ ।। मातापित्रोश्च शुश्रूषां कुर्वते ये नरोत्तमाः ।। ये तु देवार्चनरता ये तु तत्साधका नराः ।। पूजां दृष्ट्वा तु मोदन्ते ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४३ ।। वर्णिनां च यतीनां च परिचर्यापराश्च ये ।। परनिन्दामकुर्वाणास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४४ ।। सर्वेषां हितवाक्यानि ये वदन्ति नरोत्तमाः ।। ये गुणग्राहिणो लोके ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४५ ।। आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि ये पश्यन्ति नरोत्तमाः ।। तुल्याः शत्रुषु मित्रेषु ते वै भागवताः स्मृताः ।। ४६ ।। धर्मशास्त्रप्रवक्तारः सत्यवाक्यरताश्च ये ।। तेषां शुश्रूषवो ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४७ ।। व्याकुर्वन्ति पुराणानि तानि शृण्वन्ति ये तथा ।। तद्वक्तरि च भक्ता ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४८ ।। ये गोब्राह्मणशुश्रूषां कुर्वन्ति सततं नराः ।। तीर्थयात्रापरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ४९ ।। अन्येषामुदयं दृष्ट्वा येऽभिनन्दंति मानवाः ।। हरिनामपरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। 2.1.21.५० ।। आरामारोपणरतास्तटाकपरिरक्षकाः ।। कासारकूपकर्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५१ ।। ये वै तटाककर्तारो देवसद्मानि कुर्वते ।। गायत्रीनिरता ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५२ ।। येऽभिनन्दंति नामानि हरेः श्रुत्वाऽतिहर्षिताः ।। रोमाञ्चितशरीराश्च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५३ ।। तुलसीकाननं दृष्ट्वा ये नमस्कुर्वते नराः ।। तत्काष्ठांकितकर्णा ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।।।। ५४ ।। तुलसीगन्धमाघ्राय सन्तोषं कुर्वते तु ये ।। तन्मूलमुद्धरा ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५५ ।। स्वाश्रमाचारनिरतास्तथैवातिथिपूजकाः ।। ये च वेदार्थवक्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५६ ।। विदितानि च शास्त्राणि परार्थं प्रवदन्ति ये ।। सर्वत्र गुणभाजो ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५७ ।। पानीयदाननिरता ह्यन्नदानरताश्च ये ।। एकादशीव्रतपरास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५८ ।। गोदाननिरता ये च कन्यादानरताश्च ये ।। मदर्थं कर्मकर्तारस्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ५९ ।। मन्मानसाश्च मद्भक्ता ये मद्भजनलोलुपाः ।। मन्नामस्मरणासक्तास्ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।।।। 2.1.21.६० ।। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन संक्षेपात्ते ब्रवीम्यहम् ।। सद्गुणाय प्रवर्तंते ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ।। ६१ ।। एते भागवता विप्राः केचिदत्र प्रकीर्तिताः ।। ममापि गदितुं शक्या नाब्दकोटिशतैरपि ।। ६२ ।। रामानुज महाभाग मद्भक्तानां च लक्षणम् ।। मयि भक्ते त्वयि प्रीत्या युक्तं किल महामते ।। ६३ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवं वः कथितं विप्राः शौनकाद्या महौजसः ।। वृषाद्रौ च वियद्गंगातीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम ।। ।। ६४ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्ये आकाशगंगामाहात्म्य रामानुजविप्रव्रतचर्यादिवर्णनंनामैकविंशतितमोऽध्यायः ।। २१ ।।
|| atha rāmānujākhyadvijavṛttāntaḥ || || śrīsūta uvāca || || bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ || ākāśagaṃgātīrthasya māhātmyaṃ pravadāmyaham || 1 || ākāśagaṃgānikaṭe sarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ || rāmānuja iti khyāto viṣṇubhakto jitendriyaḥ || 2 || tapaścakāra dharmātmā vaikhānasamate sthitaḥ || grīṣme paṃcāgnimadhyastho viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇaḥ || 3 || japannaṣṭākṣaraṃ maṃtraṃ dhyāyanhṛdi janārdanam || varṣāsvākāśago nityaṃ hemanteṣu jaleśayaḥ || 4 || sarvabhūtahito dāntaḥ sarvadvandvavivarjitaḥ || varṣāṇi katicitso'yaṃ jīrṇaparṇāśanobhavat || 5 || kañcitkālaṃ jalāhāro vāyubhakṣaḥ kiyatsamāḥ ||6|| || athākāśagaṃgātīre rāmānujatapastuṣṭabhagavadāvirbhāvaḥ || || atha tattapasā tuṣṭo bhagavānbhaktavatsalaḥ || pratyakṣatāmagāttasya śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ || 7 || vikacāmbujapatrākṣaḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhaḥ || vinatānandanārūḍhaśchatracāmaraśobhitaḥ || 8 || hārakeyūramukuṭaḥ kaṭakādivibhūṣitaḥ || viṣvaksenasunandādi kiṅkaraiḥ parivāritaḥ || 9 || vīṇāveṇumṛdaṃgādivādakairnāradādibhiḥ || gīyamānaḥ suvibhavaḥ pītāmbaravirājitaḥ ||2.1.21.10|| lakṣmīvirājitorasko nīlameghanivacchaviḥ || sanakādimahāyogisevitaḥ pārśvayordvayoḥ || 11 || mandasmitena sakalaṃ mohayanbhuvanatrayam || svabhāsā mānayansarvā diśo daśa virājayan|| 12 || subhaktasulabho devo veṃkaṭeśo dayānidhiḥ || punaḥ sannidadhe tasya rāmānujamahāmuneḥ || 13 || āvirbhūtaṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā śrīnivāsaṃ kṛpānidhim || pītāmbaradharaṃ devaṃ tuṣṭiṃ prāpa mahāmuniḥ || 14 || bhaktyā paramayā yuktastuṣṭāva jagadīśvaram ||15|| || atha rāmānujākhyaviprakṛtabhagavatstutiḥ || || rāmānuja uvāca || || namo devādhidevāya śaṅkhacakragadābhṛte || namo nityāya śuddhāya veṃkaṭaśāya te namaḥ || 16 || namo bhaktārtihaṃtre te havyakavyasvarūpiṇe || namastrimūrtaye tubhyaṃ sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇe || 17 || namaḥ pareśāya namo'tibhūmne namo'stu lakṣmīpataye vidhātre || namo'stu sūryenduvilocanāya namo viriñcādyabhivanditāya || 18 || yo nāma jātyādivikalpahīnaḥ samastadoṣairapi varjito yaḥ || samastasaṃsārabhayāpahāriṇe tasmai namo daityavināśakāya||19|| vedāṃtavedyāya rameśvarāya vṛṣādivāsāya vidhātṛpitre || namonamaḥ sarvajanārtihāriṇe nārāyaṇāyāmitavikramāya || 2.1.21.20 || namastubhyaṃ bhagavate vāsudevāya śārṅgiṇe || bhūyobhūyo namastubhyaṃ veṃkaṭādrinivāsine || 21 || iti stutvā veṃkaṭeśaṃ śrīnivāsaṃ jagadgurum || rāmānujo munistūṣṇīmāste vipravarottamaḥ || 22 || śrutvā stutiṃ śrutisukhāṃ stutastasya mahātmanaḥ || avāpa paramaṃ toṣaṃ veṃkaṭācalanāyakaḥ || 23 || athāliṅgya muniṃ śauriścaturbhirbāhubhistadā || babhāṣe prītisaṃyukto varaṃ vai vriyatāmiti || 24 || tuṣṭo'smi tapasā te'dya stotreṇāpi mahāmune || namaskāreṇa ca prīto varado'haṃ tavāgataḥ || 25 || || atha rāmānujākhyaviprakṛtabhagavatprārthanā || || || || rāmānuja uvāca || || nārāyaṇa ramānātha śrīnivāsa jaganmaya || janārdana jagaddhāma govinda narakāntaka || 26 || tvaddarśanātkṛtārtho'smi veṃkaṭādriśiromaṇe || tvāṃ namasyaṃti dharmiṣṭhā yatastvaṃ dharmapālakaḥ || 27 || yaṃ na vetti bhavo brahmā yaṃ na vetti trayī tathā || tvāṃ vedmi paramātmānaṃ kimasmādadhikaṃ param || 28 || yogino yaṃ na paśyaṃti yaṃ na paśyaṃti karmaṭhāḥ || paśyāmi paramātmānaṃ kimasmādadhikaṃ param || 29 || etena ca kṛtārtho'smi veṃkaṭeśa jagatpate || yannāmasmṛtimātreṇa mahāpātakino'pi ca || 2.1.21.30 || muktiṃ prayāṃti manujāstaṃ paśyāmi janārdanam || tvatpādapadmayugale niścalā bhaktirastu me || 31 || || atha bhagavadvarṇitākāśagaṃgātīrthasnānakālaḥ || || śrībhagavānuvāca || || mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā testu rāmānuja mahāmate || śṛṇu cāpyaparaṃ vākyamucyate te mayā dvija || 32 || meṣasaṃkramaṇe bhānościtrānakṣatrasaṃyute || paurṇamāsyāṃ ca gaṃgāyāṃ snānaṃ kurvanti ye janāḥ || 33 || te yāṃti paramaṃ dhāma punarāvṛttivarjitam || viyadgaṃgāsamīpe tvaṃ vasa rāmānuja dvija || 34 || etatprārabdhadehāṃte matsvarūpamavāpsyasi || bahunā kimihoktena viyadgaṃgājale śubhe || 35 || snānti ye vai janāḥ sarve te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || bhavanti muniśārdūla nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 36 || || rāmānuja uvāca || || kiṃlakṣaṇā bhāgavatā jñāyante kena karmaṇā || etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ kautūhalaparo yataḥ || 37 || || || atha bhagavadvarṇitabhāgavatalakṣaṇāni || || śrīveṃkaṭeśa uvāca || lakṣma bhāgavatānāṃ tu śṛṇuṣva munisattama || 38 || vaktuṃ teṣāṃ prabhāvaṃ tu śakyate nābdakoṭibhiḥ || 39 || ye hitāḥ sarvajantūnāṃ gatāsūyā vimatsarāḥ || jñānino niḥspṛhāḥ śāntāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 2.1.21.40 || karmaṇā manasā vācā parapīḍāṃ na kurvate || aparigrahaśīlāśca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 41 || satkathāśravaṇe yeṣāṃ vartate sāttvikī matiḥ || matpādāmbujabhaktā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 42 || mātāpitrośca śuśrūṣāṃ kurvate ye narottamāḥ || ye tu devārcanaratā ye tu tatsādhakā narāḥ || pūjāṃ dṛṣṭvā tu modante te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 43 || varṇināṃ ca yatīnāṃ ca paricaryāparāśca ye || paranindāmakurvāṇāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 44 || sarveṣāṃ hitavākyāni ye vadanti narottamāḥ || ye guṇagrāhiṇo loke te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 45 || ātmavatsarvabhūtāni ye paśyanti narottamāḥ || tulyāḥ śatruṣu mitreṣu te vai bhāgavatāḥ smṛtāḥ || 46 || dharmaśāstrapravaktāraḥ satyavākyaratāśca ye || teṣāṃ śuśrūṣavo ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 47 || vyākurvanti purāṇāni tāni śṛṇvanti ye tathā || tadvaktari ca bhaktā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 48 || ye gobrāhmaṇaśuśrūṣāṃ kurvanti satataṃ narāḥ || tīrthayātrāparā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 49 || anyeṣāmudayaṃ dṛṣṭvā ye'bhinandaṃti mānavāḥ || harināmaparā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 2.1.21.50 || ārāmāropaṇaratāstaṭākaparirakṣakāḥ || kāsārakūpakartāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 51 || ye vai taṭākakartāro devasadmāni kurvate || gāyatrīniratā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 52 || ye'bhinandaṃti nāmāni hareḥ śrutvā'tiharṣitāḥ || romāñcitaśarīrāśca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 53 || tulasīkānanaṃ dṛṣṭvā ye namaskurvate narāḥ || tatkāṣṭhāṃkitakarṇā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ |||| 54 || tulasīgandhamāghrāya santoṣaṃ kurvate tu ye || tanmūlamuddharā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 55 || svāśramācāraniratāstathaivātithipūjakāḥ || ye ca vedārthavaktāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 56 || viditāni ca śāstrāṇi parārthaṃ pravadanti ye || sarvatra guṇabhājo ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 57 || pānīyadānaniratā hyannadānaratāśca ye || ekādaśīvrataparāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 58 || godānaniratā ye ca kanyādānaratāśca ye || madarthaṃ karmakartāraste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 59 || manmānasāśca madbhaktā ye madbhajanalolupāḥ || mannāmasmaraṇāsaktāste vai bhāgavatottamāḥ |||| 2.1.21.60 || bahunātra kimuktena saṃkṣepātte bravīmyaham || sadguṇāya pravartaṃte te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 61 || ete bhāgavatā viprāḥ kecidatra prakīrtitāḥ || mamāpi gadituṃ śakyā nābdakoṭiśatairapi || 62 || rāmānuja mahābhāga madbhaktānāṃ ca lakṣaṇam || mayi bhakte tvayi prītyā yuktaṃ kila mahāmate || 63 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || evaṃ vaḥ kathitaṃ viprāḥ śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ || vṛṣādrau ca viyadgaṃgātīrthamāhātmyamuttamama || || 64 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmye ākāśagaṃgāmāhātmya rāmānujavipravratacaryādivarṇanaṃnāmaikaviṃśatitamo'dhyāyaḥ || 21 ||
English translation
[ The Episode of Brāhmaṇa Rāmānuja ]:—
Note: This Rāmānuja is a mythological person different from the founder of Viśiṣṭādvaita school of Vedānta . The personal name Rāmānuja was popular iṇ Tamil Nadu in the 11th and 12th centuries CE, which may give some clue to the date of this Māhātmya .
Śrī Sūta said :
1. O ye ascetics, all residents of the Naimiṣa forest, I shall recount the greatness of Ākāśagaṅgā Tīrtha .
2-3. Near Ākāśagaṅgā a certain devotee of Viṣṇu , well-known as Rāmānuja, performed penance. He was a master of all the contents of all scriptures. He had conquered all his sense-organs. He was a virtuous soul closely following the advices of anchorites. During summer he seated himself in the middle of five fires and engaged himself in the meditation of Viṣṇu.
4-5. He repeated the eight-syllabled Mantra [1] ( Oṃ namo Nārāyaṇāya ) and meditated on Janārdana in his mind. During rainy season he stayed out under the open sky and during (early) winter he constantly remained in water. He thought of the welfare of all living beings. He had perfect control over the sense-organs. He was free from (the effect of) all the mutually opposed pairs (such as pleasure-pain). For many years he lived on old and decaying leaves.
6. For some time he took only water as his food. For many years only air was his intake.
[ Pleased with Rāmānuja’s Penance the Lord Manifests Himself on the Bank of Ākāśagaṅgā ]:—
7-9. The Lord, affectionate to his devotees, was delighted by his penance. He appeared directly before him holding the conch, the discus and the iron dub. His eyes were like the petals of a full-blown lotus. His lustre was equal to that of a crore of suns. He rode on Garuḍa . He was rendered splendid by means of the umbrella and the chowries. He was bedecked in necklace, armlets, crown, bracelets etc. He was surrounded by Viṣvaksena , Sunanda and other attendants.
10. Nārada and others who played on flutes , lutes, Mṛdaṅga -drums and other instruments sang songs in his praise. He shone in his yellow robes.
11. On his chest Lakṣmī shone brilliantly. He had the blue lustre of a cloud. On his either side he was attended upon by Sanaka and other great Yogins .
12-13. With his gentle smile he fascinated the three worlds. Honouring (everyone) he rendered all the ten directions brilliant with his refulgence. Thus Lord Veṅkaṭeśa , the storehouse of mercy, easily accessible to good devotees, appeared before that great sage Rāmānuja.
14-15. On seeing Śrīnivāsa , the storehouse of compassion, the Lord clad in yellow robes, who appeared before him then, the great sage attained great delight. Endowed with the greatest devotion, he eulogized the Lord of the universe.
[ Hymn to the Lord Composed by Brāhmaṇa Rāmānuja ]:—
Rāmānuja prayed :
16. Obeisance to the over-lord of Devas holding the conch, the discus and the iron club. Bow to you, the eternal one, the purest one, the Lord of Veṅkaṭa .
17. Obeisance to the dispeller of the agony of devotees. Hail to you, having the form of Havya and Kavya ! Obeisance to you of three forms, the cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution (of the universe).
18. Obeisance to the greatest Lord, Bow to the Lord of great bounty and abundance. Obeisance to the Lord of Lakṣmī, to the creator. Hail to the Lord with the sun and the moon for his eyes! Obeisance to you respectfully bowed to by Brahmā and others.
19. Obeisance to that destroyer of Daityas who has none of these diversities, such as name and caste and other things, who is devoid of all defects and who dispels the fears of the entire universe.
20. Obeisance to the Lord who can be known only through the Upaniṣads . Obeisance to the Lord of Ramā , to the resident of Vṛṣādri, to the father of Brahmā. Obeisance, obeisance to the dispeller of the agony of all the people. Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa of unmeasured valour.
21. Obeisance to you, to Lord Vāsudeva wielding the Śārṅga bow. Repeated obeisance to you, to the resident of Veṅkaṭādri .
22. After eulogizing Śrīnivāsa, the Lord of Veṅkaṭa, the preceptor of the universe thus, sage Rāmānuja, the excellent Brāhmaṇa, remained silent.
23. On hearing this eulogy of that noble soul, pleasing to the ears, the Lord of Veṅkaṭācala who was eulogized, attained deep satisfaction.
24-25. The delighted Lord Śauri embraced the sage with his four arms and spoke to him, “Let the boon be chosen. O great sage, I am delighted at your penance, eulogy and obeisance. I am pleased. I have come here as the bestower of boons on you.”
[ Brāhmaṇa Rāmānuja’s Request to the Lord ]:—
Rāmānuja said :
26-27. O Nārāyaṇa, O Lord of Ramā, O Śrīnivāsa identical with the universe, O Janārdana having the universe for your abode, O Govinda , O slayer of Naraka , I am satisfied and blessed on seeing you. O crest-jewel of Veṅkaṭādri, persons of virtuous nature bow down to you because you are the protector of virtue.
28. I know you, the Supreme Soul whom neither Bhava ( Śiva ) nor Brahmā know, nor do the three Vedas know. What else is greater than you?
29. I see the Supreme Soul whom Yogins do not see and whom those who are exclusively devoted to the performance of religious rites do not see.
30-31. I am contented and blessed with this, O Veṅkaṭeśa, the Lord of the universe, that I perceive Janārdana, merely by recollecting whose name men of very great sins attain salvation. Let my devotion to your lotus-like feet be firm and steady.
[ The Auspicious Time for Holy Bath in ākāśagaṅgā as Described by the Lord ]:—
Śrī Bhagavān said :
32-36. Let your devotion to me be firm and steady, O Rāmānuja of great intellect. Listen to another statement of mine, O Brāhmaṇa. Those people who take their holy bath at the time of the transit of the Sun to the Zodiac Aries in conjunction with the Constellation Citrā or on the Full-Moon day in ( Ākāśa ) Gaṅgā , attain the highest region from which there is no return.
You do stay, O Brāhmaṇa Rāmānuja, near Viyadgaṅgā (i.e. Ākāśagaṅgā). When this body (of yours) that has begun (to experience the results of Karmas ) perishes, you will attain my form (i.e. Sārūpya type of liberation).
Of what avail is much talk? All those people who take their holy bath in the auspicious waters of Viyadgaṅgā are excellent Bhāgavatas (‘Devotees of the Lord’). O tiger among sages, there need be no doubt in this.
Rāmānuja said :
37. What are the characteristics of Bhāgavatas? By what action are they known? I wish to hear this since I am very eager and earnest.
[ The Characteristics of Bhāgavatas as Described by the Lord ]:—
Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa said :
38-40. Listen to the characteristics of Bhāgavatas, [2] O excellent sage. Even in crores of years their power cannot be described.
Those who are devoid of hostility and jealousy, those who are wise, calm and free from vulgar desires and those who wish for the welfare of all living beings are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
41. They never give pain to others physically, verbally and mentally. They habitually refrain from accepting gifts and owning properties. They are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
42. Indeed those whose Sāttvika intellect is engrossed in listening to stories of saintly people and who are devoted to my lotus-like feet are excellent Bhāgavatas.
43. Those excellent men who render service to their parents, those who are engaged in worshipping gods, those men who aspire for godliness and those who rejoice on seeing worship of the deity are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
44. Those who sincerely render service to religious students and ascetics and those who never indulge in censuring others are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
45. Those who always speak words conducive to the welfare of others, those excellent men in the world who accept (and appreciate) the good qualities of others are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
46. Those excellent men who see all living beings as their own selves, those who behave equally towards enemies and friends are indeed remembered as (i.e. said to be) Bhāgavatas.
47. Those who expound Dharmaśāstras (Codes of Laws and Ethics), those who are devoted to truthful statements, and those who render service to them are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
48. Those who expound the Purāṇas , those who listen to them and those who are devoted to the expounders of Purāṇas are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
49. Those men who perpetually render service to cows and Brāhmaṇas and those who are devoted to pilgrimages are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
50. Those men who rejoice at the prosperity of others and those who are devoted to (recitation of) the names of Hari are indeed excellent Brāgavatas [Bhāgavatas?].
51. Those who are engaged in growing and developing parks and gardens, those who maintain lakes and those who build and dig wells and lakes are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
52. Those who make big water-reservoirs, those who build shrines for deities, those who are engaged in repeating the Gāyatrī Mantra are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
53. Those who rejoice on hearing the names of Hari, those who are overjoyed on hearing the names of Hari and get the hair on their body stand through thrill of joy are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
54. Those men who bend down their heads on seeing a bed of holy basil plants and those who place a small piece of holy basil on their ears are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
55. Those who are delighted in inhaling the fragrance of the holy basil and those who smear themselves with the mud taken from its root are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
56. Those who are engaged in the conduct of life ordained for their stage in life and those who worship guests and those who expound the meanings of Vedic passages are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
57. Those who explain to others the scriptures known to them and those who appreciate virtues everywhere are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
58. Those who are engaged in making gifts of water, those who are engaged in making gifts of food and those who are devoted to the holy rites of Ekādaśī (i.e. fast etc. on the eleventh lunar day) are excellent Bhāgavatas.
59. Those who are engaged in gifting cows, those who are engaged in making gifts of virgins (by way of marriage) and those who are engaged in activities for my sake are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
60. Those whose minds dwell on me, those who are my devotees, those who eagerly desire (to perform) my worship, and those who are absorbed in remembering my names are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
61. Of what avail is much talk? I shall tell you succinctly. Those who strive for virtuous deeds are indeed excellent Bhāgavatas.
62. Of those Brāhmaṇas who are Bhāgavatas a few have been glorified here. They cannot be described even by me in the course of hundreds of crores of years.
63. O Rāmānuja of exalted magnificence, O highly intelligent one, the characteristics of my devotees have been spoken out of love and affection for you, my devotee.
Śrī Sūta said :
64. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, Śaunaka and others of great prowess, the excellent greatness of Viyadgaṅgā Tīrtha on Vṛṣādri has been spoken to you all.
[1]: [1] : This is the Pañcarātra Mantra; may be due to the influence of that system on this chapter.
[2]: [2] : VV 38-61 detail the chracteristics of a Bhāgavata or a devotee of Bhagavān or Viṣṇu.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22895, revision 71022 (2016-06-09T21:01:12Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370700.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.