Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 24
Sourceअथ सुन्दराख्यगन्धर्वस्य राक्षसत्वप्राप्तिनिवृत्त्योरुपोद्घातः ।। ।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। भगवन्राक्षसः कोऽसौ सूत पौराणिकोत्तम ।। विष्णुभक्तं महात्मानं यो ब्राह्मणमबाधत ।। १ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। वक्ष्यामि राक्षसं क्रूरं तं विप्राः शृणुतादरात् ।। यथा च राक्षसो जातो मुनीनां शापवैभवात् ।। २ ।। पुरा वैकुण्ठसदृशे श्रीरङ्गे विष्णुमंदिरे ।। वसिष्ठात्रिमुखाः सर्वे विष्णुभक्ता महौजसः ।। ।। ३ ।। श्रीरङ्गनाथं देवेशं भक्तानामभयप्रदम् ।। उपासांचक्रिरे मुक्त्यै श्रीरङ्गपुरवासिनः ।। ४ ।। कदाचित्तत्र गन्धर्वो वीरबाहुसुतो बली ।। सुन्दरो नाम विप्रेंद्रा विटगोष्ठीपरायणः ।। ५ ।। ललनाशतसंयुक्तो विवस्त्रः सलिलाशये ।। चिक्रीड स विवस्त्राभिः साकं युवतिभिर्मुदा ।। ६ ।। कवेरजायास्तीर्थे तु वसिष्ठो मुनिभिः सह ।। माध्याह्निकं कर्तुमना ययौ श्रीरंगमंदिरात् ।। ७ ।। तानृषीनवलोक्याथ रामास्ता भयकातराः ।। वासांस्याच्छादयामासुः सुन्दरो न तु साहसी ।। ८ ।। ततो वसिष्ठः कुपितः शशापैनं गतत्रपम् ।। ९ ।। ।। वसिष्ठ उवाच ।। ।। यस्मात्सुन्दर गन्धर्व दृष्ट्वाऽस्माँल्लज्जया त्वया ।। वासो नाच्छादितं शीघ्रं याहि राक्षसतां ततः ।। 2.1.24.१० ।। एवमुक्ते वसिष्ठेन रामाः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा ।। प्रणिपत्य वसिष्ठं तं भक्तिनम्रेण चेतसा ।।११।। मुनिमण्डलमध्ये तु वसिष्ठमिदमब्रुवन् ।। १२ ।। ।। रामा ऊचुः ।। ।। भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ चतुरानननन्दन ।। दयासिन्धोऽवलोक्यास्मान्न कोपं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। १३ ।। पतिरेव हि नारीणां भूषणं परमुच्यते ।। पतिहीना तु या नारी शतपुत्रापि सा मुने ।। ।। १४ ।। विधवेत्युच्यते लोके तासां जन्म निरर्थकम् ।। तत्प्रसादं कुरु मुने पत्यावस्माकमादरात् ।। १५ ।। एकोऽपराधः क्षंतव्यो मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ।। क्षमां कुरु दयासिन्धो युष्मच्छिष्येऽत्र सुन्दरे ।। १६ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। वसिष्ठः प्रार्थितस्त्वेवं सुन्दरस्यांगनाजनैः ।। प्रोवाच वचनं भूयः प्रसन्नः स द्विजोत्तमः ।। १७ ।। ।। अथ सुन्दराख्यस्य वसिष्ठोक्तराक्षत्वनिवृत्त्युपायः ।। ।। वसिष्ठ उवाच ।। ।। न मे स्याद्वचनं मिथ्या कदाचिदपि सुभ्रुवः ।। उपायं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं श्रद्धया सह ।। १८ ।। षोडशाब्दावधिः शापो भर्तुर्वै भविता ध्रुवम् ।। षोडशाब्दावधौ चैव सुन्दरो राक्षसाकृतिः ।। १९ ।। यदृच्छया वेंकटाद्रिं सर्वपापहरं शुभम् ।। गत्वासौ चक्रतीर्थं तद्गमिष्यति सुरांगनाः ।। 2.1.24.२० ।। आस्ते तत्र महायोगी पद्मनाभो मुनीश्वरः ।। भक्षार्थं तं मुनिं सोऽयं राक्षसोऽभिगमिष्यति ।। २१ ।। ततो ब्राह्मणरक्षार्थ प्रेरितं चक्रमुत्तमम् ।। विष्णुनास्य शिरः कायाद्धरिष्यति न संशयः ।। २२ ।। ततः स्वं रूपमासाद्य शापान्मुक्तः स सुन्दरः ।। पतिर्वस्त्रिदिवं भूयो गन्ता नास्त्यत्र संशयः ।। २३ ।। ततस्त्रिदिवमासाद्य सुन्दरोऽयं पतिर्हि वः ।। रमयिष्यति सुन्दर्यो युष्मान्सुन्दरवेषभृत् ।। २४ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा तु वसिष्ठस्ताः सुन्दरस्य वरांगनाः ।। स्वाश्रमं प्रययौ तूर्णं श्रीरंगेश्वरभक्तिमान् ।। २५ ।। अथ रामास्तमालिंग्य सुन्दरं पतिमात्मनः ।। रुरुदुः शोकसन्तप्ता दुःखसागरमध्यगाः ।। २६ ।। दृश्यमानासु तास्वेवं सुन्दरो राक्षसोऽभवत् ।। महादंष्ट्रो महाकायो रक्तश्मश्रुशिरोरुहः ।। २७ ।। तं दृष्ट्वा भयसंविग्ना जग्मू रामास्त्रिविष्टपम् ।। ततो राक्षसवेषोऽयं सुंदरी भैरवाकृतिः ।। २८ ।। भक्षयन्प्राणिनः सर्वान्देशाद्देशं वनाद्वनम्।। भ्रमन्ननिलवेगोऽयं वेंकटाद्रिं नगोत्तमम् ।। २९ ।। प्रविश्यासौ महापापी चक्रतीर्थं ततो ययौ ।। एवं षोडशवर्षाणि भ्रमतोऽस्य ययुस्तदा ।। 2.1.24.३० ।। ततस्तु षोडशाब्दान्ते राक्षसोऽयं मुनीश्वराः ।। भक्षितुं पद्मनाभं तं चक्रतीर्थनिवासिनम् ।। ३१ ।। उपाद्रवद्वायुवेगः सचास्तौषीज्जनार्दनम् ।। योगिना च स्तुतो विष्णुस्तदा चक्रमचोदयत् ।। ३२ ।। रक्षितुं पद्मनाभं तं राक्षसेन प्रपीडितम् ।। अथागत्य हरेश्चक्रं राक्षसस्य शिरोऽहरत् ।। ।। ३३ ।। ।। अथ सुन्दराख्यस्य राक्षसत्वविमुक्तिपूर्वकं स्वस्वरूपप्राप्तिः ।। ।। ततोऽयं राक्षसं देहं त्यक्त्वा दिव्यकलेवरः ।। विमानवरमारुह्य सुन्दरः पुष्पवर्षितः ।। ३४ ।। प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा ववंदे तत्सुदर्शनम् ।। तुष्टाव श्रुतिरम्याभिर्वाग्भिरग्र्याभिरादरात् ।। ३५ ।। ।। सुन्दर उवाच ।। ।। सुदर्शन नमस्तेऽस्तु विष्णुहस्तैकभूषण ।। नमस्तेऽसुरसंहर्त्रे सहस्रादित्यतेजसे ।। ३६ ।। कृपावेशेन भवतस्त्यक्वाहं राक्षसीं तनुम् ।। स्वं रूपमभजं विष्णोश्चक्रायुध नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ३७ ।। अनुजानीहि मां गंतुं त्रिदिवं विष्णुवल्लभ ।। भार्या मे परिशोचन्ति विरहातुरचेतसः ।। ३८ ।। त्वन्मनस्को भविष्यामि यावज्जीवं यथा ह्यहम् ।। तथा रूपं कुरुष्व त्वं मयि चक्र नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ३९ ।। एवं स्तुतं विष्णुचक्रं सुन्दरेण सभक्तिकम् ।। अनुजग्राह सहसा तथास्त्विति मुनीश्वराः ।। 2.1.24.४० ।। चक्रायुधाभ्यनुज्ञातः सुन्दरो ब्राह्मणोत्तमम् ।। प्रणम्य तेनानुज्ञातो गन्धर्वस्त्रिदिवं ययौ ।। ४१ ।। सुन्दरे तु गते स्वर्गं पद्मनाभो मुनीश्वरः ।। तच्चक्रं प्रार्थयामास विष्ण्वायुध नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ।। ४२ ।। चक्रायुध नमामि त्वां महासुरविमर्दन ।। सन्निधानं कुरुष्व त्वं चक्रतीर्थेऽमले शुभे ।।४३।। त्वत्सन्निधानात्सर्वेषां स्नातानां पापिनामिह ।। पापनाशं कुरुष्व त्वं मोक्षं च कुरु शाश्वतम् ।। ४४ ।। चक्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातिं लोकेऽस्य परिकल्पय ।। त्वत्सन्निधानादत्रत्यमुनीनां भयनाशनम् ।। ४५ ।। इतः परं भवत्वार्य चक्रायुध नमोऽस्तु ते ।। भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यो भयं मा भवतु प्रभो ।। ४६ ।। इति सम्प्रार्थितं चक्रं पद्मनाभेन योगिना ।। तथैवास्त्विति सम्भाष्य तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तिरोहितम् ।। ४७ ।। ।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवं वः कथितं विप्रा राक्षसस्योद्भवे मया ।। माहात्म्यं चक्रतीर्थस्य कथितं च मलापहम् ।। ४८ ।। यच्छुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवो भुवि ।। ४९ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्ये चक्रतीर्थमहिमानुवर्णनंनाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः ।। २४ ।।
atha sundarākhyagandharvasya rākṣasatvaprāptinivṛttyorupodghātaḥ || || ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || bhagavanrākṣasaḥ ko'sau sūta paurāṇikottama || viṣṇubhaktaṃ mahātmānaṃ yo brāhmaṇamabādhata || 1 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || vakṣyāmi rākṣasaṃ krūraṃ taṃ viprāḥ śṛṇutādarāt || yathā ca rākṣaso jāto munīnāṃ śāpavaibhavāt || 2 || purā vaikuṇṭhasadṛśe śrīraṅge viṣṇumaṃdire || vasiṣṭhātrimukhāḥ sarve viṣṇubhaktā mahaujasaḥ || || 3 || śrīraṅganāthaṃ deveśaṃ bhaktānāmabhayapradam || upāsāṃcakrire muktyai śrīraṅgapuravāsinaḥ || 4 || kadācittatra gandharvo vīrabāhusuto balī || sundaro nāma vipreṃdrā viṭagoṣṭhīparāyaṇaḥ || 5 || lalanāśatasaṃyukto vivastraḥ salilāśaye || cikrīḍa sa vivastrābhiḥ sākaṃ yuvatibhirmudā || 6 || kaverajāyāstīrthe tu vasiṣṭho munibhiḥ saha || mādhyāhnikaṃ kartumanā yayau śrīraṃgamaṃdirāt || 7 || tānṛṣīnavalokyātha rāmāstā bhayakātarāḥ || vāsāṃsyācchādayāmāsuḥ sundaro na tu sāhasī || 8 || tato vasiṣṭhaḥ kupitaḥ śaśāpainaṃ gatatrapam || 9 || || vasiṣṭha uvāca || || yasmātsundara gandharva dṛṣṭvā'smā~llajjayā tvayā || vāso nācchāditaṃ śīghraṃ yāhi rākṣasatāṃ tataḥ || 2.1.24.10 || evamukte vasiṣṭhena rāmāḥ prāñjalayastadā || praṇipatya vasiṣṭhaṃ taṃ bhaktinamreṇa cetasā ||11|| munimaṇḍalamadhye tu vasiṣṭhamidamabruvan || 12 || || rāmā ūcuḥ || || bhagavansarvadharmajña caturānananandana || dayāsindho'valokyāsmānna kopaṃ kartumarhasi || 13 || patireva hi nārīṇāṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ paramucyate || patihīnā tu yā nārī śataputrāpi sā mune || || 14 || vidhavetyucyate loke tāsāṃ janma nirarthakam || tatprasādaṃ kuru mune patyāvasmākamādarāt || 15 || eko'parādhaḥ kṣaṃtavyo munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ || kṣamāṃ kuru dayāsindho yuṣmacchiṣye'tra sundare || 16 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || vasiṣṭhaḥ prārthitastvevaṃ sundarasyāṃganājanaiḥ || provāca vacanaṃ bhūyaḥ prasannaḥ sa dvijottamaḥ || 17 || || atha sundarākhyasya vasiṣṭhoktarākṣatvanivṛttyupāyaḥ || || vasiṣṭha uvāca || || na me syādvacanaṃ mithyā kadācidapi subhruvaḥ || upāyaṃ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṃ śraddhayā saha || 18 || ṣoḍaśābdāvadhiḥ śāpo bharturvai bhavitā dhruvam || ṣoḍaśābdāvadhau caiva sundaro rākṣasākṛtiḥ || 19 || yadṛcchayā veṃkaṭādriṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham || gatvāsau cakratīrthaṃ tadgamiṣyati surāṃganāḥ || 2.1.24.20 || āste tatra mahāyogī padmanābho munīśvaraḥ || bhakṣārthaṃ taṃ muniṃ so'yaṃ rākṣaso'bhigamiṣyati || 21 || tato brāhmaṇarakṣārtha preritaṃ cakramuttamam || viṣṇunāsya śiraḥ kāyāddhariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 22 || tataḥ svaṃ rūpamāsādya śāpānmuktaḥ sa sundaraḥ || patirvastridivaṃ bhūyo gantā nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ || 23 || tatastridivamāsādya sundaro'yaṃ patirhi vaḥ || ramayiṣyati sundaryo yuṣmānsundaraveṣabhṛt || 24 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || ityuktvā tu vasiṣṭhastāḥ sundarasya varāṃganāḥ || svāśramaṃ prayayau tūrṇaṃ śrīraṃgeśvarabhaktimān || 25 || atha rāmāstamāliṃgya sundaraṃ patimātmanaḥ || ruruduḥ śokasantaptā duḥkhasāgaramadhyagāḥ || 26 || dṛśyamānāsu tāsvevaṃ sundaro rākṣaso'bhavat || mahādaṃṣṭro mahākāyo raktaśmaśruśiroruhaḥ || 27 || taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhayasaṃvignā jagmū rāmāstriviṣṭapam || tato rākṣasaveṣo'yaṃ suṃdarī bhairavākṛtiḥ || 28 || bhakṣayanprāṇinaḥ sarvāndeśāddeśaṃ vanādvanam|| bhramannanilavego'yaṃ veṃkaṭādriṃ nagottamam || 29 || praviśyāsau mahāpāpī cakratīrthaṃ tato yayau || evaṃ ṣoḍaśavarṣāṇi bhramato'sya yayustadā || 2.1.24.30 || tatastu ṣoḍaśābdānte rākṣaso'yaṃ munīśvarāḥ || bhakṣituṃ padmanābhaṃ taṃ cakratīrthanivāsinam || 31 || upādravadvāyuvegaḥ sacāstauṣījjanārdanam || yoginā ca stuto viṣṇustadā cakramacodayat || 32 || rakṣituṃ padmanābhaṃ taṃ rākṣasena prapīḍitam || athāgatya hareścakraṃ rākṣasasya śiro'harat || || 33 || || atha sundarākhyasya rākṣasatvavimuktipūrvakaṃ svasvarūpaprāptiḥ || || tato'yaṃ rākṣasaṃ dehaṃ tyaktvā divyakalevaraḥ || vimānavaramāruhya sundaraḥ puṣpavarṣitaḥ || 34 || prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā vavaṃde tatsudarśanam || tuṣṭāva śrutiramyābhirvāgbhiragryābhirādarāt || 35 || || sundara uvāca || || sudarśana namaste'stu viṣṇuhastaikabhūṣaṇa || namaste'surasaṃhartre sahasrādityatejase || 36 || kṛpāveśena bhavatastyakvāhaṃ rākṣasīṃ tanum || svaṃ rūpamabhajaṃ viṣṇoścakrāyudha namo'stu te || 37 || anujānīhi māṃ gaṃtuṃ tridivaṃ viṣṇuvallabha || bhāryā me pariśocanti virahāturacetasaḥ || 38 || tvanmanasko bhaviṣyāmi yāvajjīvaṃ yathā hyaham || tathā rūpaṃ kuruṣva tvaṃ mayi cakra namo'stu te || 39 || evaṃ stutaṃ viṣṇucakraṃ sundareṇa sabhaktikam || anujagrāha sahasā tathāstviti munīśvarāḥ || 2.1.24.40 || cakrāyudhābhyanujñātaḥ sundaro brāhmaṇottamam || praṇamya tenānujñāto gandharvastridivaṃ yayau || 41 || sundare tu gate svargaṃ padmanābho munīśvaraḥ || taccakraṃ prārthayāmāsa viṣṇvāyudha namo'stu te || || 42 || cakrāyudha namāmi tvāṃ mahāsuravimardana || sannidhānaṃ kuruṣva tvaṃ cakratīrthe'male śubhe ||43|| tvatsannidhānātsarveṣāṃ snātānāṃ pāpināmiha || pāpanāśaṃ kuruṣva tvaṃ mokṣaṃ ca kuru śāśvatam || 44 || cakratīrthamiti khyātiṃ loke'sya parikalpaya || tvatsannidhānādatratyamunīnāṃ bhayanāśanam || 45 || itaḥ paraṃ bhavatvārya cakrāyudha namo'stu te || bhūtapretapiśācebhyo bhayaṃ mā bhavatu prabho || 46 || iti samprārthitaṃ cakraṃ padmanābhena yoginā || tathaivāstviti sambhāṣya tasmiṃstīrthe tirohitam || 47 || || śrīsūta uvāca || || evaṃ vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā rākṣasasyodbhave mayā || māhātmyaṃ cakratīrthasya kathitaṃ ca malāpaham || 48 || yacchutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavo bhuvi || 49 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmye cakratīrthamahimānuvarṇanaṃnāma caturviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 24 ||
English translation
The sages said :
1. O holy lord Sūta , the most excellent one among those conversant with the Purāṇas , who was this Rākṣasa who tormented the noble-souled Brāhmaṇa , a devotee of Viṣṇu ?
Śrī Sūta said :
1. O Brāhmaṇas , I shall narrate the story of that cruel Rākṣasa and how as a result of the curse of sages he became a Rākṣasa. Listen with concentration.
3-4. Formerly in Śrīraṅga , [1] the temple of Viṣṇu on a par with Vaikuṇṭha , all the devotees of Viṣṇu, of great prowess, the chiefs of whom were Vasiṣṭha and Atri , came to reside and began to worship Śrīraṅganātha , the Lord of Devas , the bestower of immunity from fear on the devotees. They worshipped him for salvation.
5-6, Once a certain Gandharva named Sundara , powerful son of Vīrabāhu (came there), O great Brāhmaṇas. He was deeply attached to the assembly of lecherous people. Accompanied by a hundred young women, he entered the water-pond without any clothe on. He joyously sported with naked young women.
7-9. Vasiṣṭha was desirous of performing Mādhyāhnika (Mid-day) religious rites. From the temple of Śrīraṅga he went to the holy Tīrtha of the river Kāverī along with the other sages.
On seeing those sages those young women became frightened. They immediately wore their clothes but not Sundara who was over-bold and rash . Thereupon, Vasiṣṭha became angry and cursed that shameless fellow.
Vasiṣṭha said :
10-12. Since, O Sundara, O Gandharva, even after seeing us the clothes were not put on by you out of natural shame, become a Rākṣasa instantaneously.
When this was imprecated by Vasiṣṭha, the women bowed down to him with palms joined in reverence and mind humble due to devotion. They spoke to Vasiṣṭha in the midst of the multitude of sages thus:
The young women said :
13-16. O holy lord, O son of Brahmā , conversant with all holy rites, O ocean of mercy, in our presence it does not behove you to be angry. It is the husband who is mentioned to be the greatest ornament of women. A woman without a husband, even if blessed with a hundred sons, is called a widow in the world, O sage. Her life is purposeless. Hence, O sage, be pleased with our husband. One offence should be pardoned by the sages, the seers of Truth. Forgive, O ocean of mercy. Be merciful to Sundara, your disciple.
Śrī Sūta said :
17. When requested thus by the womenfolk of Sundara, Vasiṣṭha, the excellent Brāhmaṇa, became pleased once again and spoke these words:
[ The Remedy for Terminating Sundara’s Rākṣasa-hood as Suggested by Vasiṣṭha ]:—
Vasiṣṭha said :
18. O ladies of beautiful eyebrows, my words will never be false. I will recount to you the means (to get out of the curse). Listen with attention and faith.
19-21. The curse in the case of your husband will certainly be effective for a period of sixteen years. During this period of sixteen years, Sundara will have the form and features of a Rākṣasa. O celestial ladies, once he will, by chance, go to Veṅkaṭa , the auspicious mountain that dispels all sins. He will then go to Cakratīrtha. Padmanābha , a prominent sage and a great Yogin , stays there. This Rākṣasa will rush at that sage for devouring him.
22-24. Thereafter, the excellent Discus despatched by Viṣṇu for the protection of the Brāhmaṇa, will undoubtedly sever his head from his body. Thereafter, that Sundara, your husband, will be released from the curse and will regain his own form. He will return to heaven once again. There is no doubt about it. Thereupon, after reaching heaven, O beautiful women, Sundara, your husband, will delight you all in his beautiful dress.
Śrī Sūta said :
25. After saying thus to those excellent women of Sundara, Vasiṣṭha, a devotee of Śrīraṅgeśvara, went to his hermitage immediately.
26. Then those young women who were grief-stricken and immersed in the middle of the ocean of misery, embraced their husband Sundara and lamented.
27-30. Even as they were watching thus, Sundara became a Rākṣasa with a huge body and big curved teeth. His hair and beard were red in colour. On being frightened at his sight the beautiful women went to heaven.
Then this Sundara in the form of a Rākṣasa of terrible form and features, began to eat living beings. He wandered from land to land and forest to forest with the speed of wind. He roamed over the excellent mountain Veṅkaṭādri . The great sinner entered Cakratīrtha and then went away. Thus sixteen years elapsed while he continued his wanderings.
31-33. Then, at the close of the sixteenth year, O great sages, this Rākṣasa rushed at Padmanābha, a resident of Cakratīrtha, with the velocity of wind, in order to devour him.
He (Padmanābha) then eulogized Janārdana . On being eulogized by the Yogin, Viṣṇu hurled his Discus in order to protect that Padmanābha who was terribly harassed by the Rākṣasa. Hari ’s Discus came and removed the head of the Rākṣasa.
[ Liberation of Sundara from Rākṣasa-hood and Restoration of His Original Form ]:—
34-35. Then he abandoned the body of Rākṣasa. Sundara got back his divine body and got in an aerial chariot. He was showered with flowers. With palms joined in reverence he bowed down to and saluted that Sudarśana . With great respect he eulogized him with excellent words pleasing to the ears:
Sundara said :
36. O Sudarśana, obeisance to you, O sole ornament of Viṣṇu’s hand. Obeisance to you, the destroyer of Asuras , to the (weapon) having the refulgence of a thousand suns.
37. It was by your grace that I cast off the body of Rākṣasa and regained the original form of mine. O missile Discus of Viṣṇu, salute to you.
38. O favourite of Viṣṇu, permit me to go to heaven. My wives are bewailing me due to the grief of separation.
39. O Discus, grant me such a form as to enable me to think about you as long as I live. Obeisance to you.
40. On being thus eulogized devoutly by Sundara, O great sages, the Discus of Viṣṇu at once blessed him saying, “Let it be so.”
41. Permitted by the Missile Discus, Sundara, the Gandharva, bowed down to the excellent Brāhmaṇa and permitted by him went to heaven.
42-46. When Sundara had gone to heaven, the prominent sage Padmanābha prayed to the Discus:
“O missile of Viṣṇu, obeisance to you. O weapon Discus, the suppressor of great Asuras, I bow down to you. Be pleased to be present in this splendid Cakratīrtha devoid of impurities. By your presence destroy the sins of all the sinners who take their bath here. Grant them eternal salvation. Let this Tīrtha become famous by the name Cakratīrtha in the world. Henceforth let the fear of the sages living here be dispelled. O noble weapon Discus, obeisance to you. Let there be no fear from evil spirits, vampires and ghosts, O Lord.”
47-49. On being prayed to in this manner by Padmanābha, the Yogin, the Discus said, “So be it” and vanished in that Tīrtha.
Śrī Sūta said :
Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, the greatness of Cakratīrtha has been recounted by me with (reference to) the origin of the Rākṣasa. It dispels all impurities. On hearing it men on the earth are liberated from all sins.
[1]: [1] : Seringapatam on Kāverī in Mysore.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22898, revision 71025 (2016-06-09T21:04:13Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370703.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.