Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 22
Source।। अथ दानार्हसत्पात्रनिर्णयः ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। भगवन्सूत सर्वज्ञ वेदवेदान्तकोविद ।। दानानि कस्मै देयानि दानकालश्च कीदृशः ।। १ ।। कश्च तत्प्रतिगृह्णीयात्सर्वं नो वक्तुमर्हसि ।। २ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। महापुण्यप्रदे क्षेत्रे वेंकटाख्ये द्विजोत्तमाः ।। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणः परमो गुरुः ।। ३ ।। तस्मै दानानि देयानि स तारयति पंडितः ।। ब्राह्मणः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्वर्जयित्वा त्ववर्णकम् ।। ४ ।। षण्डस्य पुत्रहीनस्य दंभाचाररतस्य च ।। वेदविद्वेषिणश्चैव द्विजविद्वेषिणस्तथा ।। ५ ।। स्वकर्मत्यागिनश्चापि दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ।। परदाररतस्यापि परद्रव्यरतस्य च ।। ६ ।। गायकस्यापि विप्रस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ।। असूयाविष्टमनसः कृतघ्नस्य च मायिनः ।। ७ ।। ज्ञानशून्यस्य विप्रस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ।। नित्यं याञ्चापरस्यापि हिंसकस्याबलस्य च ।। ८ ।। नामविक्रयिणश्चैव वेदविक्रयिणस्तथा ।। स्मृतिविक्रयिणश्चैव धर्मविक्रयिणस्तथा ।। ९ ।। परोपतापशीलस्य दत्तं भवति निष्फलम् ।। ये केचित्पापनिरता निन्दिताः सुकृतैस्तथा ।। 2.1.22.१० ।। न तेभ्यः प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न देयं वापि किञ्चन ।। सत्कर्मनिरतायैव श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये ।। ११ ।। वृत्तिहीनाय वै देयं दरिद्राय कुटुम्बिने ।। देवपूजासु सक्ताय पुराणकथकाय च ।। १२ ।। देयं प्रयत्नतो विप्रा दरिद्रस्य विशेषतः ।। बहुना किमिहोक्तेन शृणुध्वं द्विजसत्तमाः ।। १३ ।। सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणानां च प्रदातुं शक्यते सदा ।। वन्ध्याभर्त्रे प्रदत्तञ्चेद्रासभो जायते नरः ।। १४ ।। नास्तिकं भिन्नमर्यादं पुत्रहीनं जडं खलम् ।। स्तेयिनं कितवं चैव कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।। १५ ।। पाषण्डं पतितं व्रात्यं वेदविक्रयिणं तथा ।। कृतघ्नं पापनिरतं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।। १६ ।। तथा स्नानं प्रकुर्वन्तं समित्पुष्पकरं तथा ।। उदपात्रधरञ्चैव भुंजन्तं नाभिवादयेत् ।। १७ ।। विवादशालिनं चण्डं वमन्तं जनमध्यगम् ।। भिक्षान्नधारिणं चैव शयानं नाभिवादयेत् ।। १८ ।। वन्ध्याञ्च पुष्पिणीं जारां सूतिकां गर्भपातिनीम् ।। व्रतघ्नीञ्च तथा चण्डीं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।। १९ ।। सभायां यज्ञशालायां देवतायतनेष्वपि ।। प्रत्येकं तु नमस्कारो हन्ति पुण्यं पुरातनम् ।। ।। 2.1.22.२० ।। श्राद्धव्रते नियुक्तञ्च देवताभ्यर्चकं तथा ।। यज्ञं च तर्पणञ्चैव कुर्वन्तं नाभिवादयेत् ।। २१ ।। कुर्वते वन्दनं यस्तु न कुर्यात्प्रतिवन्दनम् ।। नाभिवाद्यः स विज्ञेयो यथा शूद्रस्तथैव च ।। २२ ।। तस्मात्सर्वेपु कालेषु बुद्धिमान्ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ।। वन्ध्यापतिं द्विजं क्रूरं कदाचिन्नाभिवादयेत् ।। ।। २३ ।। ।। अथाकाशगंगामाहात्म्यम्।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। अत्रेतिहासं वक्ष्यामि पुण्यशीलस्य धीमतः ।। सनत्कुमारमुनये नारदेन प्रभाषितम् ।। २४ ।। तद्वक्ष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठाः शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः ।। पुरा गोदावरीतीरे सर्वधर्मपरायणः ।। २५ ।। पुण्यशीलो द्विजवरः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः ।। दयावान्सर्वभूतेषु देवाग्निद्विजपूजकः ।।२६।। कर्मणा जन्मशुद्धश्च मातापितृहिते रतः ।। गुरुभक्तिः सदाक्षिण्यो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः ।। २७ ।। एतादृशगुणैर्युक्तः पुण्यशीलस्य धीमतः ।। २८ ।। ।। अथ पुण्यशीलस्य वन्ध्यापतिनिमन्त्रणेन गर्दभमुखत्वप्राप्तिः ।। ।। गृहं सम्प्राप्तवान्विप्रो वेदवेदांगपारगः ।। प्रार्थितः पुण्यशीलेन पितृश्राद्धेऽतिवेगतः ।। २९ ।। तं विप्रं श्रोत्रियं शान्तं पितृश्राद्धे नियोज्य वै ।। श्राद्धं चकार धर्मात्मा प्रत्याब्दिकमनुत्तमम्।। 2.1.22.३० ।। ततः कालान्तरे तस्य पुण्यशीलस्य चानने ।। वैरूप्यं प्राप्तमत्युग्रं रासभाननवत्तदा ।। ३१ ।। ततः खिन्नमना भूत्वा पुण्यशीलोऽतिधार्मिकः ।। निःश्वस्य बहुधा खिन्नः प्रपेदेऽगस्त्ययोगिनः ।। ३२ ।। सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे ऋषिसंघनिषेविते ।। आश्रमं परमं दिव्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्।। ३३ ।। तत्राश्रमे मुनिवरैः सेव्यमानमहर्निशम् ।। दृष्ट्वागस्त्यं महात्मानं सर्वलोकहितैषिणम् ।। ३४ ।। प्रणाममकरोत्तस्मै गार्दभास्योऽतिदुःखितः ।। ३५ ।। ।। पुण्यशील उवाच ।। ।। तपोनिधे नमस्तुभ्यमगस्त्य मुनिसेवित ।। कुत्सितास्यं महापापं रक्षरक्ष दयानिधे ।। ३६ ।। केन दोषेण मे चात्र मुखस्यासीत्कुरूपता ।। ३७ ।। मयि प्रीत्या महाभाग वदस्व मुनिसत्तम ।। ३८ ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। विप्रवर्य महाभाग पुण्यशील महामते ।। आननस्य विरूपं वै शृणु नान्यमना द्विज ।।३९।। ।। अथ वन्ध्यापतेः श्राद्धनिमन्त्रणानर्हत्वकथनम् ।। ।। कञ्चिद्विप्रं गुणनिधिं वेदवेदांगपारगम् ।। श्रोत्रियं पुत्ररहितं श्राद्धे त्वं विनियुक्तवान् ।। 2.1.22.४० ।। तेन दोषेण महता मुखे तव विरूपता ।। ये लोके हव्यकव्यादौ वन्ध्यायाः स्वामिनं द्विजम्।। ४१ ।। नियोजयन्ति ते यान्ति मुखे गर्दभरूपताम् ।। शुभकर्मणि वा विप्र पैतृके वापि कर्मणि ।। ।। ४२ ।। वन्ध्यापतिं महापापं कदाचिन्न निमन्त्रयेत् ।। वन्ध्यापतिं महाक्रूरं वृषलीपतिमेव वा ।। ४३ ।। श्रेयस्कामी हि विप्रेंद्र श्राद्धे तु न निमन्त्रयेत् ।। वेदशास्त्रादियुक्तोऽपि कुलीनः कर्मठोऽपि वा ।। ४४ ।। वन्ध्याभर्ता द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धे त्याज्यः कथञ्चन ।। ज्योतिष्टोमादियज्ञेषु व्रतेषु च तपःसु च ।। ४५ ।। समर्थोऽपि द्विजश्रेष्ठः श्राद्धे वन्ध्यापतिं त्यजेत् ।। अलभ्ये तु द्विजे पात्रे तन्तुमात्रोपजीविनम् ।। ४६ ।। पुत्रवन्तं सदाचारं श्राद्धार्थं तु निमन्त्रयेत् ।। तदभावे द्विजश्रेष्ठ पुत्रं वाऽनुजमेव वा ।। ४७ ।। आत्मानं वा नियुञ्जीत श्राद्धे वन्ध्यापतिं त्यजेत् ।। पुण्यशील महाभाग चोद्धृत्य भुजमुच्यते ।। ४८ ।। सर्वथा पुत्रहीनं तु श्राद्धार्थं न नियोजयेत् ।। वन्ध्यापतिं द्विजं यस्तु श्राद्धकर्ता नियोक्ष्यति ।। ४९ ।। तच्छ्राद्धमासुरं ज्ञेयं कर्ता च नरकं व्रजेत् ।। 2.1.22.५० ।। ।। अथाकाशगंगास्नानेन पुण्यशीलस्य तद्विकृतिनिवृत्तिः ।। ।। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन तद्दोषविनिवृत्तये ।। उपायं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि स्वर्णमुख्यास्तटे शुभे ।। ५१ ।। वर्तते देवसंघैश्च सेवितो वेंकटाचलः ।। मेरुपुत्रो महापुण्यः सर्वकामफलप्रदः ।। ।। ५२ ।। तस्मिन्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रे सुरासुरनमस्कृते ।। वियद्गंगेति नाम्ना वै तीर्थमस्ति महत्तरम् ।। ५३ ।। सर्वपापप्रशमनमायुरारोग्यवर्धनम् ।। त्वं गत्वा वेंकटं शैलं स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।। ५४ ।। स्नात्वा संकल्पपूर्वं तु गंगातीर्थमनन्तरम् ।। गत्वा तीर्थविधानेन स्नानं कुरु महामते ।। ५५ ।। स्नानमात्रात्ततः सद्यो मुखस्यास्य महामते ।। वैरूप्यं तत्क्षणादेव नंक्ष्यत्येव न संशयः ।।५६।। एवमुक्तः पुण्यशीलो ह्यगस्त्येन महात्मना ।। तं प्रणम्य महात्मानं वेंकटाद्रिं ततो ययौ ।।५७ ।। तत्र गत्वा महाभागः स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।। स्नात्वा नियमपूर्वं तु वियद्गंगासमीपगः ।। ५८ ।। तत्र स्नानेन धर्मात्मा कामवक्रोपमं मुखम् ।। प्राप्तवान्पुण्यशीलस्तु अहो तीर्थस्य वैभवम् ।। ५९ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवं वः कथितं विप्रा नारदेन प्रभाषितम् ।। सनत्कुमारमुनये शौनकाद्या महौजसः ।। 2.1.22.६० ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्य आकाशगंगामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वाविंशतितमोऽध्यायः ।। २२ ।।
|| atha dānārhasatpātranirṇayaḥ || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || bhagavansūta sarvajña vedavedāntakovida || dānāni kasmai deyāni dānakālaśca kīdṛśaḥ || 1 || kaśca tatpratigṛhṇīyātsarvaṃ no vaktumarhasi || 2 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || mahāpuṇyaprade kṣetre veṃkaṭākhye dvijottamāḥ || sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ paramo guruḥ || 3 || tasmai dānāni deyāni sa tārayati paṃḍitaḥ || brāhmaṇaḥ pratigṛhṇīyādvarjayitvā tvavarṇakam || 4 || ṣaṇḍasya putrahīnasya daṃbhācāraratasya ca || vedavidveṣiṇaścaiva dvijavidveṣiṇastathā || 5 || svakarmatyāginaścāpi dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || paradāraratasyāpi paradravyaratasya ca || 6 || gāyakasyāpi viprasya dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || asūyāviṣṭamanasaḥ kṛtaghnasya ca māyinaḥ || 7 || jñānaśūnyasya viprasya dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || nityaṃ yāñcāparasyāpi hiṃsakasyābalasya ca || 8 || nāmavikrayiṇaścaiva vedavikrayiṇastathā || smṛtivikrayiṇaścaiva dharmavikrayiṇastathā || 9 || paropatāpaśīlasya dattaṃ bhavati niṣphalam || ye kecitpāpaniratā ninditāḥ sukṛtaistathā || 2.1.22.10 || na tebhyaḥ pratigṛhṇīyānna deyaṃ vāpi kiñcana || satkarmaniratāyaiva śrotriyāyāhitāgnaye || 11 || vṛttihīnāya vai deyaṃ daridrāya kuṭumbine || devapūjāsu saktāya purāṇakathakāya ca || 12 || deyaṃ prayatnato viprā daridrasya viśeṣataḥ || bahunā kimihoktena śṛṇudhvaṃ dvijasattamāḥ || 13 || sarveṣāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pradātuṃ śakyate sadā || vandhyābhartre pradattañcedrāsabho jāyate naraḥ || 14 || nāstikaṃ bhinnamaryādaṃ putrahīnaṃ jaḍaṃ khalam || steyinaṃ kitavaṃ caiva kadācinnābhivādayet || 15 || pāṣaṇḍaṃ patitaṃ vrātyaṃ vedavikrayiṇaṃ tathā || kṛtaghnaṃ pāpanirataṃ kadācinnābhivādayet || 16 || tathā snānaṃ prakurvantaṃ samitpuṣpakaraṃ tathā || udapātradharañcaiva bhuṃjantaṃ nābhivādayet || 17 || vivādaśālinaṃ caṇḍaṃ vamantaṃ janamadhyagam || bhikṣānnadhāriṇaṃ caiva śayānaṃ nābhivādayet || 18 || vandhyāñca puṣpiṇīṃ jārāṃ sūtikāṃ garbhapātinīm || vrataghnīñca tathā caṇḍīṃ kadācinnābhivādayet || 19 || sabhāyāṃ yajñaśālāyāṃ devatāyataneṣvapi || pratyekaṃ tu namaskāro hanti puṇyaṃ purātanam || || 2.1.22.20 || śrāddhavrate niyuktañca devatābhyarcakaṃ tathā || yajñaṃ ca tarpaṇañcaiva kurvantaṃ nābhivādayet || 21 || kurvate vandanaṃ yastu na kuryātprativandanam || nābhivādyaḥ sa vijñeyo yathā śūdrastathaiva ca || 22 || tasmātsarvepu kāleṣu buddhimānbrāhmaṇottamaḥ || vandhyāpatiṃ dvijaṃ krūraṃ kadācinnābhivādayet || || 23 || || athākāśagaṃgāmāhātmyam|| || śrīsūta uvāca || || atretihāsaṃ vakṣyāmi puṇyaśīlasya dhīmataḥ || sanatkumāramunaye nāradena prabhāṣitam || 24 || tadvakṣyāmi muniśreṣṭhāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ susamāhitāḥ || purā godāvarītīre sarvadharmaparāyaṇaḥ || 25 || puṇyaśīlo dvijavaraḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ || dayāvānsarvabhūteṣu devāgnidvijapūjakaḥ ||26|| karmaṇā janmaśuddhaśca mātāpitṛhite rataḥ || gurubhaktiḥ sadākṣiṇyo brahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ || 27 || etādṛśaguṇairyuktaḥ puṇyaśīlasya dhīmataḥ || 28 || || atha puṇyaśīlasya vandhyāpatinimantraṇena gardabhamukhatvaprāptiḥ || || gṛhaṃ samprāptavānvipro vedavedāṃgapāragaḥ || prārthitaḥ puṇyaśīlena pitṛśrāddhe'tivegataḥ || 29 || taṃ vipraṃ śrotriyaṃ śāntaṃ pitṛśrāddhe niyojya vai || śrāddhaṃ cakāra dharmātmā pratyābdikamanuttamam|| 2.1.22.30 || tataḥ kālāntare tasya puṇyaśīlasya cānane || vairūpyaṃ prāptamatyugraṃ rāsabhānanavattadā || 31 || tataḥ khinnamanā bhūtvā puṇyaśīlo'tidhārmikaḥ || niḥśvasya bahudhā khinnaḥ prapede'gastyayoginaḥ || 32 || suvarṇamukharītīre ṛṣisaṃghaniṣevite || āśramaṃ paramaṃ divyaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam|| 33 || tatrāśrame munivaraiḥ sevyamānamaharniśam || dṛṣṭvāgastyaṃ mahātmānaṃ sarvalokahitaiṣiṇam || 34 || praṇāmamakarottasmai gārdabhāsyo'tiduḥkhitaḥ || 35 || || puṇyaśīla uvāca || || taponidhe namastubhyamagastya munisevita || kutsitāsyaṃ mahāpāpaṃ rakṣarakṣa dayānidhe || 36 || kena doṣeṇa me cātra mukhasyāsītkurūpatā || 37 || mayi prītyā mahābhāga vadasva munisattama || 38 || agastya uvāca || || vipravarya mahābhāga puṇyaśīla mahāmate || ānanasya virūpaṃ vai śṛṇu nānyamanā dvija ||39|| || atha vandhyāpateḥ śrāddhanimantraṇānarhatvakathanam || || kañcidvipraṃ guṇanidhiṃ vedavedāṃgapāragam || śrotriyaṃ putrarahitaṃ śrāddhe tvaṃ viniyuktavān || 2.1.22.40 || tena doṣeṇa mahatā mukhe tava virūpatā || ye loke havyakavyādau vandhyāyāḥ svāminaṃ dvijam|| 41 || niyojayanti te yānti mukhe gardabharūpatām || śubhakarmaṇi vā vipra paitṛke vāpi karmaṇi || || 42 || vandhyāpatiṃ mahāpāpaṃ kadācinna nimantrayet || vandhyāpatiṃ mahākrūraṃ vṛṣalīpatimeva vā || 43 || śreyaskāmī hi vipreṃdra śrāddhe tu na nimantrayet || vedaśāstrādiyukto'pi kulīnaḥ karmaṭho'pi vā || 44 || vandhyābhartā dvijaśreṣṭha śrāddhe tyājyaḥ kathañcana || jyotiṣṭomādiyajñeṣu vrateṣu ca tapaḥsu ca || 45 || samartho'pi dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ śrāddhe vandhyāpatiṃ tyajet || alabhye tu dvije pātre tantumātropajīvinam || 46 || putravantaṃ sadācāraṃ śrāddhārthaṃ tu nimantrayet || tadabhāve dvijaśreṣṭha putraṃ vā'nujameva vā || 47 || ātmānaṃ vā niyuñjīta śrāddhe vandhyāpatiṃ tyajet || puṇyaśīla mahābhāga coddhṛtya bhujamucyate || 48 || sarvathā putrahīnaṃ tu śrāddhārthaṃ na niyojayet || vandhyāpatiṃ dvijaṃ yastu śrāddhakartā niyokṣyati || 49 || tacchrāddhamāsuraṃ jñeyaṃ kartā ca narakaṃ vrajet || 2.1.22.50 || || athākāśagaṃgāsnānena puṇyaśīlasya tadvikṛtinivṛttiḥ || || bahunātra kimuktena taddoṣavinivṛttaye || upāyaṃ te pravakṣyāmi svarṇamukhyāstaṭe śubhe || 51 || vartate devasaṃghaiśca sevito veṃkaṭācalaḥ || meruputro mahāpuṇyaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ || || 52 || tasminveṃkaṭaśailendre surāsuranamaskṛte || viyadgaṃgeti nāmnā vai tīrthamasti mahattaram || 53 || sarvapāpapraśamanamāyurārogyavardhanam || tvaṃ gatvā veṃkaṭaṃ śailaṃ svāmipuṣkariṇījale || 54 || snātvā saṃkalpapūrvaṃ tu gaṃgātīrthamanantaram || gatvā tīrthavidhānena snānaṃ kuru mahāmate || 55 || snānamātrāttataḥ sadyo mukhasyāsya mahāmate || vairūpyaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva naṃkṣyatyeva na saṃśayaḥ ||56|| evamuktaḥ puṇyaśīlo hyagastyena mahātmanā || taṃ praṇamya mahātmānaṃ veṃkaṭādriṃ tato yayau ||57 || tatra gatvā mahābhāgaḥ svāmipuṣkariṇījale || snātvā niyamapūrvaṃ tu viyadgaṃgāsamīpagaḥ || 58 || tatra snānena dharmātmā kāmavakropamaṃ mukham || prāptavānpuṇyaśīlastu aho tīrthasya vaibhavam || 59 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || evaṃ vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā nāradena prabhāṣitam || sanatkumāramunaye śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ || 2.1.22.60 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmya ākāśagaṃgāmāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma dvāviṃśatitamo'dhyāyaḥ || 22 ||
English translation
The sages said :
1-2. O holy omniscient Sūta , expert in the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas ! To whom should charitable gifts be given? What is the proper time for making gifts? Who is eligible to receive them? It behoves you to tell everything to us.
Śrī Sūta said :
3-4. O excellent Brāhmaṇas , in the holy spot named Veṅkaṭa which bestows great merits, a Brāhmaṇa is the great preceptor unto all the castes. Charitable gifts are to be made to him. That learned man will redeem (all persons). A Brāhmaṇa can accept monetary gifts. A Brāhmaṇa can receive gifts from everyone except an avarṇaka (i.e. a disreputable person) (explained below). [1]
5-8a. What is given to (and by) [2] an impotent fellow, one devoid of sons, one of hypocritical conduct, one hating the Vedas and Brāhmaṇas, one who has forsaken his special rites and duties becomes fruitless.
What is given by a person fondly attached to another man’s wife or covetous of another man’s wealth becomes fruitless. If a Brāhmaṇa is a (professional) singer, what is given (to and) by him becomes fruitless. What is given by a Brāhmaṇa whose mind is filled with jealousy, who is ungrateful, deceitful and devoid of knowledge becomes fruitless.
8b-12a. What is given by one who perpetually indulges in begging, who is violent towards the weak, who sells his name and fame, Vedic passages, Smṛti texts and holy rites becomes fruitless.
If a person habitually oppresses others, what is given by him becomes fruitless. One should not accept anything from or give anything to those who are engaged in sins or who are censured by the people of good activities.
Gifts should be given only to a person regularly engaged in good activities, who is well-versed in the Vedas, who maintains the sacred fires, who is poor and devoid of means of livelihood and has a large family.
12b-15. Gifts must be given by making special efforts to a person absorbed in the worship of gods or to a person who narrates the stories of the Purāṇas . O Brāhmaṇa, charitable gifts must particularly be made to a poor man.
Of what avail is much talk? Listen, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. Gifts can always be made to all Brāhmaṇas.
If anything is given to the husband of a barren woman, the man is reborn as a donkey.
One should never make obeisance to an unbeliever, [3] a person who has transgressed the limits of decorum, a person without a son, a person who is sluggish and knavish, and (to) one who indulges in gambling and stealing.
16. One should never bow to a heretic, to a fallen man, one who has lost his caste, a person who sells the Vedas, an ungrateful person and a person engaged in sinful activities.
17. One should not make obeisance to a person engaged in bathing, a person with sacrificial twigs and flowers in his hand, a person holding a water-pot as well as a person engaged in taking food.
18. One should not bow to a person engaged in arguments, an angry and ferocious person, a person who is vomiting, one standing in the midst of people, a person holding food received as alms and a person lying down (or asleep).
19. One should never bow to a barren woman, a woman in menses, an adulteress, a woman in the lying-in-chamber, a woman who has had an abortion, a woman who spoils holy rites as well as a fierce woman.
20-23. Individual obeisance in an assembly, in a sacrificial hall and in temples destroys earlier merit.
One should not make obeisance to a person employed in the holy rites of Śrāddha , one who is engaged in the worship of a deity and one who is engaged in the performance of Yajña and Tarpaṇa .
If a person does not salute in return to a person who makes obeisance, he should be known as undeserving to be saluted like a Śūdra . Hence on all occasions an intelligent excellent Brāhmaṇa shall abstain from making obeisance to husband of a barren woman or a cruel Brāhmaṇa.
[ The Greatness of Ākāśagaṅgā ]:—
Śrī Sūta said :
24-27. In this connection I shall relate the legendary story of the intelligent Puṇyaśīla as recounted by Nārada to sage Sanatkumāra . I shall recount it, O excellent sages. Listen attentively.
Formerly on the banks of Godāvarī there was an excellent Brāhmaṇa (named) Puṇyaśīla. He was devoted to all holy rites. He was truthful in speech. He had conquered his sense-organs and was merciful to all living beings. He worshipped gods, Brāhmaṇas and the fire. He was pure by birth as well as by activities. He was engaged in doing service conducive to the welfare of his parents; he was devoted to preceptors and elders. He was courteous and chivalrous. He was hospitable to Brāhmaṇas and honoured by good people.
[ Conversion of Puṇyaśīla’s Face into that of a Donkey by Inviting a Barren Woman’s Husband (to Śrāddha) ]:—
28-30. A certain Brāhmaṇa who was a master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas and who was endowed with good qualities like these came to the house of the intelligent Puṇyaśīla. Immediately he was requested to take part in the Śrāddha of the Pitṛs by Puṇyaśīla.
After employing that quiescent Brāhmaṇa well-versed in the Vedas for the holy Śrāddha of the Pitṛs, the righteous-souled (Puṇyaśīla) performed the excellent annual Śrāddha.
31. Then after some time a hideous deformity resembling the face of a donkey, came over the face of Puṇyaśīla.
32-33. Thereupon that extremely righteous Puṇyaśīla became dejected at heart. Heaving heavy sighs, the deeply depressed Puṇyaśīla came to the hermitage of Yogī Agastya . It was extremely divine and yielded all desired benefits. It was on the banks of Suvarṇamukharī and was resorted to by multitudes of sages.
34-35. In that hermitage he saw the noble-souled Agastya who wished for the welfare of all the worlds, being attended upon day and night by prominent sages. Seeing him the excessively miserable Brāhmaṇa with the face of a donkey bowed down to him.
Puṇyaśīla said :
36-38. Obeisance to you, O Agastya, storehouse of penance, who are served by sages. Save me, O storehouse of mercy, save me, a great sinner with a despicable face. By what fault has my face become hideous and ugly. O excellent sage, O blessed one speak it out of love for me.
Agastya said :
39. O excellent Brāhmaṇa of great distinction, O Puṇyaśīla of great intellect, listen attentively to (the cause) of the ugliness of your face, O Brāhmaṇa.
[ Ineligibility of a Barren Woman’s Husband for Invitation to a Śrāddha ]:—
40-45a. You had (once) engaged a Brāhmaṇa who was a storehouse of good qualities, master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas and conversant with sacred learning, though he was sonless. It is on account of that great sin that there is ugliness in your face, O Brāhmaṇa.
Those who employ a Brāhmaṇa, husband of a barren woman, in offering Havyas , Kavyas etc. attain donkey-facedness. One should never invite the great sinner, husband of a barren woman, in any auspicious rite or in the rites concerning the Manes, O Brāhmaṇa.
O prominent Brāhmaṇa, a person who wishes for welfare and felicity should never invite at a Śrāddha ceremony husband of a barren woman, an exceedingly cruel person and husband of a Śūdra woman.
Even if he be well-conversant with the Vedas, scriptures etc., even if he be of noble birth and even if he be engaged in the performance of religious rites, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, husband of a barren woman must be avoided in the Śrāddha rite at all costs by one desirous of welfare.
45b-50. An excellent Brāhmaṇa should avoid husband of a barren woman in the Śrāddha rite, even if he be competent to perform sacrifices such as Jyotiṣṭoma and others, in holy observances and austerities.
If a deserving Brāhmaṇa is not available, one should invite a Brāhmaṇa of good conduct having a son, though he may be sustaining himself merely on the sacred thread(?) [symbolising his Brahminhood].
In the absence of such a person, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, one should engage one’s son or younger brother or oneself but should refrain (from inviting) husband of a barren woman in the Śrāddha rite. O illustrious Puṇyaśīla, it is proclaimed with arms lifted up that one should not at any cost engage a sonless person for the Śrāddha rite. [4]
If the person performing a Śrāddha engages a Brāhmaṇa who is husband of a barren woman, that Śrāddha should be known as Āsura (demoniac) and the person who performs it shall go to hell.
[ The Deformity of Puṇyaśīla Dispelled by Means of Holy Bath in Ākāśagaṅgā ]:—
51-54a. Of what avail is much talk? I shall mention to you the means of dispelling that defect and sin. On the auspicious banks of Svarṇamukhī there is the highly meritorious Veṅkaṭācala which is resorted to by multitudes of Devas . It is the son of Meru and it bestows all desired benefits.
There is a very great Tīrtha named Viyadgaṅgā on that prominent mountain Veṅkaṭa, bowed to by Suras and Asuras . It suppresses all sins and increases longevity and health.
54b-55. You go to the mountain Veṅkaṭa and take your holy bath in the waters of Svāmipuṣkariṇī with due performance of the holy rite of Saṃkalpa . Thereafter go to Gaṅgātīrtha. After going there, O highly intelligent one, you take your holy bath in it in accordance with the injunctions regarding Tīrthas .
56-57. Merely by having the holy bath, O highly intelligent one, the ugliness of this face will disappear instantaneously. There is no doubt about it.
On being told thus by the noble-souled Agastya Puṇyaśīla bowed down to that noble-souled (sage) and then went to Veṅkaṭādri .
58-59. After going there the blessed one took his holy bath with due observances in the waters of Svāmipuṣkariṇī. Then he went to Viyadgaṅgā. By taking his holy bath there the righteous-souled one, Puṇyaśīla, attained a face comparable to the face of Kāma (god of Love). Thanks to the greatness of the Tīrtha.
Śrī Sūta said :
60. Thus, O Śaunaka and other Brāhmaṇas of great prowess, what was told by Nārada to sage Sanatkumāra has been recounted to you.
[1]: [1] : VV 5-14 give a list of persons not eligible to receive a gift (cf. Manu 4.193-200; Mbh, Vana 200.5-9).
[2]: [2] : Lines 10b-11a show that the restrictions mentioned herein are applicable both to donor and receiver.
[3]: [3] : VV 15-23 give a list of those whom one should not pay obeisance.
[4]: [4] : Śrāddha signifies and is intended for the continuity of the family. An issueless person is naturally regarded as ineligible for it. Hence this tirade against husband of a barren woman.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22896, revision 71023 (2016-06-09T21:02:18Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370701.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.