Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya · Chapter 37
Source।। ।। अथ शंखाभिधाननृपवृत्तान्तः ।। ।। भारद्वाज उवाच ।। ।। शृणु पार्थ प्रवक्ष्यामि कथामाश्चर्यकारिणीम् ।। यथाऽसौ भगवानस्मिञ्छैले प्राप प्रकाशताम् ।। १ ।। श्रुताभिधानो नृपतिरस्ति हैहयवंशजः ।। यः प्रजाः स्वा इव चिरं शशास धरणीं शुभाम् ।। २ ।। तस्य पुत्रो गुणनिधिः शंखो नाम महीपतिः ।। पालयामास वसुधां सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः ।। ३ ।। तस्य विष्णौ जगन्नाथे पुण्डरीकायतेक्षणे ।। बभूव निश्चला भक्तिः परित्यक्तान्यसंश्रया ।। ४ ।। देवदेवं जगन्नाथमनन्तं पुरुषोत्तमम् ।। प्रगाढनिश्चयो नित्यं ध्यायन्नद्भुतवैभवम् ।। ५ ।। चक्रे व्रतानि दानानि पुण्यानि विविधानि च ।। वेदवेद्यस्य नियतं प्रीत्यर्थं मधुविद्विषः ।। ६ ।। तमुद्दिश्यैव विदधे वाजिमेधादिकान्क्रतून् ।। यथोक्तदक्षिणायोगात्प्रीणिताशेषभूसुरः ।। ।। ७ ।। इष्टापूर्त्तात्मकं चक्रे कर्मजातमतन्द्रितः ।। विन्यस्तहृदयो नित्यं केशवे भक्तवत्सले ।। ८ ।। स्मरत्यजस्रं गोविन्दं जपत्यच्युतमव्ययम् ।। पूजयत्यब्जनयनं संकीर्तयति शार्ङ्गिणम् ।। ९ ।। शृणोति सततं राजा संसारार्णवतारिणीः ।। पौराणिकैः समाख्याताः पवित्रा वैष्णवी कथाः ।।2.1.37.१०।। ब्राह्मणानर्चति स्मायं हरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च ।। इत्थं सर्वात्मना युक्तोऽप्यश्रान्तः पृथिवीपतिः ।। ११ ।। नापश्यच्छाश्वतैश्वर्यं स्वतन्त्रं पुरुषोत्तमम् ।। अप्राप्य दर्शनं विष्णोः सर्वयज्ञमयात्मनः ।। १२ ।। सशोकाक्रान्तहृदयः परां चिन्तामुपागमत् ।। १३ ।। ।। शंख उवाच ।। ।। परः सहस्रैर्जनैरतीतदुष्कृतं बहु ।। कृतं मया यदप्राप्तं हृषीकेशस्य दर्शनम् ।। १४ ।। उपार्जितानां तमसामनेकैः पूर्वजन्मभिः ।। अखण्डं हि फलं विष्णोर्दर्शनं मधुघातिनः ।। १५ ।। कथं नु यायाद्भगवान्विषयं मम नेत्रयोः ।। कदा वा लभ्यते श्रेयस्तद्वाक्याकर्णनात्मकम् ।। १६ ।। हा धिङ्मां विहितागस्कं क्रियासाफल्यवर्जितम् ।। नारायणकृपादूरं संसारक्लेशगोचरम् ।। १७ ।। ।। भरद्वाज उवाच ।। ।। इति चिन्ताकुले तस्मिन्राज्ञि जीवितनिःस्पृहे ।। अदृश्यमूर्तिः सर्वेषां शृण्वतामाह केशवः ।। १८ ।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। मा शोकस्य वशं यायाः शृणु वक्ष्याभि ते हितम् ।। मदेकशरणं साधुं त्वां त्यक्ष्यामि कथं नृप ।। १९ ।। अयं वेंकटनामाद्रिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ।। वैकुण्ठादपि मे राजन्नावासोऽतिप्रियावहः ।। ।।2.1.37.२०।। तं गत्वा भूधरवरं तव भक्त्या तपस्यतः ।। गते सहस्रे वर्षाणां यास्याम्यालोकनीयताम् ।।२१।। भवानिवोद्यतोऽगस्त्यो मम दर्शनमञ्जसा ।। क्व वा संदृश्यते विष्णुरेवमाह चतुर्मुखम् ।। २२ ।। वृषभाद्रौ हरिर्द्रष्टुं लभ्यते नियतात्मभिः ।। गच्छ तत्रेति मुनये कथयामास पद्मभूः ।। २३।। अम्भोजसंभवेनेत्थमादिष्टः कुम्भसम्भवः ।। अञ्जनाद्रौ महावासे तपस्तप्तुं समेष्यति ।। २४ ।। तस्मिन्महीधरे पुण्ये कृतवासो भवानपि ।। आराध्य मां तपोनिष्ठो मम दर्शनमाप्स्यसि ।। २५ ।। ।। अथ भगवदुक्त्या शंखनृपस्य श्रीवेंकटाचलागमनम् ।। ।। भरद्वाज उवाच ।। ।। इत्याज्ञप्तो भगवता शंखो दानववैरिणा ।। जगाम प्रीतिमतुलां धन्योस्मीति स्वचेतसि ।। २६ ।। विन्यस्य तनयं वज्रं प्रजापालनकर्मणि ।। गोविन्ददर्शनापेक्षी नारायणगिरिं ययौ ।। २७ ।। तस्य शृंगे समुत्तुंगे स्वामिपुष्करिणीं शुभाम् ।। दिव्यैः पयोभिरापूर्णामपश्यदमृतोपमैः ।। २८ ।। अनेकसिद्धगन्धर्वदेवर्षिगणसेविताम् ।। भवतापप्रशमनी सर्वतीर्थसमाश्रयाम् ।। २९ ।। जलकाकबकक्रौञ्चहंसकारण्डवाकुलाम् ।। कुमुदोत्पलराजीवसौगन्धिकमनोहराम् ।। 2.1.37.३० ।। तां दृष्ट्वा पद्मिनीं दिव्यां तत्तीरे विहितोटजः ।। तोषितः स्नानपानाद्यैर्निर्विकल्पमनोगतिः ।। ३१ ।। सर्वकर्माणि विन्यस्य जगदीशे जनार्दने ।। ३२ ।। ।। अथ भगवद्दर्शनार्थमगस्त्यस्य वेंकटाचलागमनम् ।। ।। जपध्यानपरो नित्यं तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् ।। तस्मिन्नेव मुनिः काले शासनात्परमेष्ठिनः ।। ३३ ।। अगस्त्योऽप्याससादाद्यं शैलं मुनिशतावृतः ।। प्रतीचीं दिशमारभ्य कृतयत्नः प्रदक्षिणे ।। ३४ ।। पश्यंस्तीर्थानि पुण्यानि बभ्राम सुचिरं गिरौ ।। तत्र तत्र ददर्शासौ हरिदर्शनलालसान् ।। ३५ ।। विरिंचिगुहशक्रेशविष्वक्सेनादिकान्क्रमात् ।। सनकाद्यांश्च योगीन्द्रान्नारदप्रमुखानृषीन् ।। ३६ ।। सिद्धगन्धर्वदैतेययक्षराक्षसपन्नगान् ।। तैस्तैः संमान्यमानोऽसौ प्रश्रयप्रियभाषणैः ।। ३७ ।। पश्यन्नाश्चर्यभूतानि सर्वाणि विचचार ह ।। स्नात्वा तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु स्कन्दधारादिकेषु च ।। ३८ ।। तत्र तत्रार्चयामास गोविन्दं जगतां पतिम् ।। एवं भ्रान्त्वा गतेऽब्दानां सहस्रे मुनिसत्तमः ।। ३९ ।। नापश्यत्पुण्डरीकाक्षं चिन्ताशोकपरोऽभवत् ।। 2.1.37.४० ।। ।। अथागस्त्यं प्रति गुरुवस्वाद्युक्तिः ।। ।। तस्मिन्काले समाजग्मुर्धिषणोशनसौ पुनः ।। राजोपरिचरो नाम वसुश्च तमृषीश्वरम् ।। ४१ ।। अस्माकं सफलं जातं जीवितं मुनिसत्तम ।। दृष्टो भवान्यदस्माभिर्नारायण इवापरः ।। ४२ ।। ब्रह्मणा लोकनाथेन यदादिष्टा वयं मुने ।। अच्युतालोकनपरास्तदिदं कथ्यते तव ।। ४३ ।। अस्ति दक्षिणदिग्भागे वेंकटोनाम भूधरः ।। श्वेतद्वीपादपि हरेरावासोऽयमभीप्सितः ।। ४४ ।। तस्मिन्गिरावगस्त्यस्य शंखस्य च महीपतेः ।। दर्शयिष्यति गोविन्दो निजरूपं जगद्गुरुः ।। ४५ ।। तदानीं सर्वदेवानामृषीणां यक्षरक्षसाम् ।। अस्माकं देवदेवस्य दर्शनं संभविष्यति ।। ४६ ।। अचिरेणैव तद्भावि ततः संत्यक्तकल्मषाः ।। अन्वेष्टुं गच्छतागस्त्यं तस्मिन्नारायणाचले ।। ४७ ।। इत्याज्ञप्ता वयं धात्रा समागम्यात्र भाग्यतः ।। दृष्टवन्तो महाभागं भवंतं भूरितेजसम् ।। ४८ ।। भवता सहिता गत्वा स्वामिपुष्करिणीतटे ।। तमप्यालोकयिष्यामः शंखं भागवतोत्तमम् ।। ४९ ।। ।। अथागस्त्यादिकृतश्रीवेंकटाचलस्थरम्यवस्तुदर्शनम् ।। ।। ।। भरद्वाज उवाच ।। ।। गीष्पतिप्रमुखैरित्थमादिष्टः कुम्भसंभवः ।। शोकजालं परित्यज्य ययौ तैः सहितो द्रुतम् ।। 2.1.37.५० ।। स ददर्श महावृक्षान्फलपुष्पभरानतात् ।। प्ररूढशाखानिकरच्छायाच्छादितदिक्तटान् ।। ५१ ।। सिंहदंतावलव्याघ्रवराहमहिषादिकान् ।। मृगानालोकयामास पंथानं चांतरांतरा ।। ५२ ।। तैस्तदानीं ददृशिरे सानवोऽप्यम्बुभृद्भृतः ।। सुवर्णरौप्यताम्रादिशोभितास्तत्र तत्र तु ।। ५३ ।। उच्चलच्छीकरासारनिर्वाहितदिवौकसः ।। वेगोद्धृतशिला दृष्टाः शतशो गिरिनिर्झराः ।। ५४ ।। तेषामापादयामास प्रमोदं मंदमारुतः ।। कमलामोदसंवाही विचरन्गिरिसानुषु ।। ५५ ।। शुकानां कोकिलानां च तदा शुश्रुविरे गिरः ।। ५६ ।। तत्र तत्र समासीनान्विस्तीर्णासु दृषत्सु ते ।। सिद्धानपश्यन्कृष्णस्य गायतो गुणवैभवम् ।। ५७ ।। अगस्त्यप्रमुखाः सर्वे परिक्रम्य मुनीश्वराः ।। स्वामिपुष्करिणीं दिव्यां ददृशुर्विमलोदकाम् ।। ५८ ।। तत्तीरे विहितावासमपश्यच्छङ्खभूपतिम् ।। वाङ्मनःकायजं कर्म सन्निवेश्य स्थितं हरौ ।। ५९ ।। स तानालोक्य सहसा मुनीन्द्रान्संशितव्रतान् ।। यथोक्तमकरोत्पूजां प्रणामस्तुतिपूर्विकाम् ।। 2.1.37.६० ।। आसीनास्तत्र ते सर्वे संभाव्यान्योऽन्यमुत्सुकाः ।। गोविन्दकीर्तनपराः कृतार्थत्वं प्रपेदिरे ।। ६१ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे श्रीवेंकटाचलमाहात्म्ये सुवर्णमुखरीमाहात्म्यप्रशंसायां श्रीवेंकटाचलं प्रति शंखागस्त्याद्यागमनवर्णनंनाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ।। ३७ ।।
|| || atha śaṃkhābhidhānanṛpavṛttāntaḥ || || bhāradvāja uvāca || || śṛṇu pārtha pravakṣyāmi kathāmāścaryakāriṇīm || yathā'sau bhagavānasmiñchaile prāpa prakāśatām || 1 || śrutābhidhāno nṛpatirasti haihayavaṃśajaḥ || yaḥ prajāḥ svā iva ciraṃ śaśāsa dharaṇīṃ śubhām || 2 || tasya putro guṇanidhiḥ śaṃkho nāma mahīpatiḥ || pālayāmāsa vasudhāṃ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ || 3 || tasya viṣṇau jagannāthe puṇḍarīkāyatekṣaṇe || babhūva niścalā bhaktiḥ parityaktānyasaṃśrayā || 4 || devadevaṃ jagannāthamanantaṃ puruṣottamam || pragāḍhaniścayo nityaṃ dhyāyannadbhutavaibhavam || 5 || cakre vratāni dānāni puṇyāni vividhāni ca || vedavedyasya niyataṃ prītyarthaṃ madhuvidviṣaḥ || 6 || tamuddiśyaiva vidadhe vājimedhādikānkratūn || yathoktadakṣiṇāyogātprīṇitāśeṣabhūsuraḥ || || 7 || iṣṭāpūrttātmakaṃ cakre karmajātamatandritaḥ || vinyastahṛdayo nityaṃ keśave bhaktavatsale || 8 || smaratyajasraṃ govindaṃ japatyacyutamavyayam || pūjayatyabjanayanaṃ saṃkīrtayati śārṅgiṇam || 9 || śṛṇoti satataṃ rājā saṃsārārṇavatāriṇīḥ || paurāṇikaiḥ samākhyātāḥ pavitrā vaiṣṇavī kathāḥ ||2.1.37.10|| brāhmaṇānarcati smāyaṃ hariprītyarthameva ca || itthaṃ sarvātmanā yukto'pyaśrāntaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ || 11 || nāpaśyacchāśvataiśvaryaṃ svatantraṃ puruṣottamam || aprāpya darśanaṃ viṣṇoḥ sarvayajñamayātmanaḥ || 12 || saśokākrāntahṛdayaḥ parāṃ cintāmupāgamat || 13 || || śaṃkha uvāca || || paraḥ sahasrairjanairatītaduṣkṛtaṃ bahu || kṛtaṃ mayā yadaprāptaṃ hṛṣīkeśasya darśanam || 14 || upārjitānāṃ tamasāmanekaiḥ pūrvajanmabhiḥ || akhaṇḍaṃ hi phalaṃ viṣṇordarśanaṃ madhughātinaḥ || 15 || kathaṃ nu yāyādbhagavānviṣayaṃ mama netrayoḥ || kadā vā labhyate śreyastadvākyākarṇanātmakam || 16 || hā dhiṅmāṃ vihitāgaskaṃ kriyāsāphalyavarjitam || nārāyaṇakṛpādūraṃ saṃsārakleśagocaram || 17 || || bharadvāja uvāca || || iti cintākule tasminrājñi jīvitaniḥspṛhe || adṛśyamūrtiḥ sarveṣāṃ śṛṇvatāmāha keśavaḥ || 18 || || śrībhagavānuvāca || || mā śokasya vaśaṃ yāyāḥ śṛṇu vakṣyābhi te hitam || madekaśaraṇaṃ sādhuṃ tvāṃ tyakṣyāmi kathaṃ nṛpa || 19 || ayaṃ veṃkaṭanāmādristriṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ || vaikuṇṭhādapi me rājannāvāso'tipriyāvahaḥ || ||2.1.37.20|| taṃ gatvā bhūdharavaraṃ tava bhaktyā tapasyataḥ || gate sahasre varṣāṇāṃ yāsyāmyālokanīyatām ||21|| bhavānivodyato'gastyo mama darśanamañjasā || kva vā saṃdṛśyate viṣṇurevamāha caturmukham || 22 || vṛṣabhādrau harirdraṣṭuṃ labhyate niyatātmabhiḥ || gaccha tatreti munaye kathayāmāsa padmabhūḥ || 23|| ambhojasaṃbhavenetthamādiṣṭaḥ kumbhasambhavaḥ || añjanādrau mahāvāse tapastaptuṃ sameṣyati || 24 || tasminmahīdhare puṇye kṛtavāso bhavānapi || ārādhya māṃ taponiṣṭho mama darśanamāpsyasi || 25 || || atha bhagavaduktyā śaṃkhanṛpasya śrīveṃkaṭācalāgamanam || || bharadvāja uvāca || || ityājñapto bhagavatā śaṃkho dānavavairiṇā || jagāma prītimatulāṃ dhanyosmīti svacetasi || 26 || vinyasya tanayaṃ vajraṃ prajāpālanakarmaṇi || govindadarśanāpekṣī nārāyaṇagiriṃ yayau || 27 || tasya śṛṃge samuttuṃge svāmipuṣkariṇīṃ śubhām || divyaiḥ payobhirāpūrṇāmapaśyadamṛtopamaiḥ || 28 || anekasiddhagandharvadevarṣigaṇasevitām || bhavatāpapraśamanī sarvatīrthasamāśrayām || 29 || jalakākabakakrauñcahaṃsakāraṇḍavākulām || kumudotpalarājīvasaugandhikamanoharām || 2.1.37.30 || tāṃ dṛṣṭvā padminīṃ divyāṃ tattīre vihitoṭajaḥ || toṣitaḥ snānapānādyairnirvikalpamanogatiḥ || 31 || sarvakarmāṇi vinyasya jagadīśe janārdane || 32 || || atha bhagavaddarśanārthamagastyasya veṃkaṭācalāgamanam || || japadhyānaparo nityaṃ tapastepe sudāruṇam || tasminneva muniḥ kāle śāsanātparameṣṭhinaḥ || 33 || agastyo'pyāsasādādyaṃ śailaṃ muniśatāvṛtaḥ || pratīcīṃ diśamārabhya kṛtayatnaḥ pradakṣiṇe || 34 || paśyaṃstīrthāni puṇyāni babhrāma suciraṃ girau || tatra tatra dadarśāsau haridarśanalālasān || 35 || viriṃciguhaśakreśaviṣvaksenādikānkramāt || sanakādyāṃśca yogīndrānnāradapramukhānṛṣīn || 36 || siddhagandharvadaiteyayakṣarākṣasapannagān || taistaiḥ saṃmānyamāno'sau praśrayapriyabhāṣaṇaiḥ || 37 || paśyannāścaryabhūtāni sarvāṇi vicacāra ha || snātvā tīrtheṣu sarveṣu skandadhārādikeṣu ca || 38 || tatra tatrārcayāmāsa govindaṃ jagatāṃ patim || evaṃ bhrāntvā gate'bdānāṃ sahasre munisattamaḥ || 39 || nāpaśyatpuṇḍarīkākṣaṃ cintāśokaparo'bhavat || 2.1.37.40 || || athāgastyaṃ prati guruvasvādyuktiḥ || || tasminkāle samājagmurdhiṣaṇośanasau punaḥ || rājoparicaro nāma vasuśca tamṛṣīśvaram || 41 || asmākaṃ saphalaṃ jātaṃ jīvitaṃ munisattama || dṛṣṭo bhavānyadasmābhirnārāyaṇa ivāparaḥ || 42 || brahmaṇā lokanāthena yadādiṣṭā vayaṃ mune || acyutālokanaparāstadidaṃ kathyate tava || 43 || asti dakṣiṇadigbhāge veṃkaṭonāma bhūdharaḥ || śvetadvīpādapi harerāvāso'yamabhīpsitaḥ || 44 || tasmingirāvagastyasya śaṃkhasya ca mahīpateḥ || darśayiṣyati govindo nijarūpaṃ jagadguruḥ || 45 || tadānīṃ sarvadevānāmṛṣīṇāṃ yakṣarakṣasām || asmākaṃ devadevasya darśanaṃ saṃbhaviṣyati || 46 || acireṇaiva tadbhāvi tataḥ saṃtyaktakalmaṣāḥ || anveṣṭuṃ gacchatāgastyaṃ tasminnārāyaṇācale || 47 || ityājñaptā vayaṃ dhātrā samāgamyātra bhāgyataḥ || dṛṣṭavanto mahābhāgaṃ bhavaṃtaṃ bhūritejasam || 48 || bhavatā sahitā gatvā svāmipuṣkariṇītaṭe || tamapyālokayiṣyāmaḥ śaṃkhaṃ bhāgavatottamam || 49 || || athāgastyādikṛtaśrīveṃkaṭācalastharamyavastudarśanam || || || bharadvāja uvāca || || gīṣpatipramukhairitthamādiṣṭaḥ kumbhasaṃbhavaḥ || śokajālaṃ parityajya yayau taiḥ sahito drutam || 2.1.37.50 || sa dadarśa mahāvṛkṣānphalapuṣpabharānatāt || prarūḍhaśākhānikaracchāyācchāditadiktaṭān || 51 || siṃhadaṃtāvalavyāghravarāhamahiṣādikān || mṛgānālokayāmāsa paṃthānaṃ cāṃtarāṃtarā || 52 || taistadānīṃ dadṛśire sānavo'pyambubhṛdbhṛtaḥ || suvarṇaraupyatāmrādiśobhitāstatra tatra tu || 53 || uccalacchīkarāsāranirvāhitadivaukasaḥ || vegoddhṛtaśilā dṛṣṭāḥ śataśo girinirjharāḥ || 54 || teṣāmāpādayāmāsa pramodaṃ maṃdamārutaḥ || kamalāmodasaṃvāhī vicarangirisānuṣu || 55 || śukānāṃ kokilānāṃ ca tadā śuśruvire giraḥ || 56 || tatra tatra samāsīnānvistīrṇāsu dṛṣatsu te || siddhānapaśyankṛṣṇasya gāyato guṇavaibhavam || 57 || agastyapramukhāḥ sarve parikramya munīśvarāḥ || svāmipuṣkariṇīṃ divyāṃ dadṛśurvimalodakām || 58 || tattīre vihitāvāsamapaśyacchaṅkhabhūpatim || vāṅmanaḥkāyajaṃ karma sanniveśya sthitaṃ harau || 59 || sa tānālokya sahasā munīndrānsaṃśitavratān || yathoktamakarotpūjāṃ praṇāmastutipūrvikām || 2.1.37.60 || āsīnāstatra te sarve saṃbhāvyānyo'nyamutsukāḥ || govindakīrtanaparāḥ kṛtārthatvaṃ prapedire || 61 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe śrīveṃkaṭācalamāhātmye suvarṇamukharīmāhātmyapraśaṃsāyāṃ śrīveṃkaṭācalaṃ prati śaṃkhāgastyādyāgamanavarṇanaṃnāma saptatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 37 ||
English translation
[ The Story of the King Named Śaṅkha ]:—
Bharadvāja said :
1. Listen, O son of Pṛthā , I shall relate a wonderful story as to how the Lord revealed himself on this mountain.
2. There was a king named Śruta . He was a descendant of the family of Haihaya . He ruled over the splendid earth for a long time treating his subjects like his own children.
3. His son was the king named Śaṅkha. He was storehouse of good qualities. He was an expert in all the scriptural texts. He ruled over the earth.
4. He had steadfast devotion to Viṣṇu , the Lord of the universe with large eyes resembling lotuses. He had eschewed the support of everything else.
5-6. With a firm resolve he regularly meditated upon Puruṣottama , the Lord of Devas , the Lord of the universe, the infinite one of wonderful power.
He performed holy rites and gave various kinds of meritorious charitable gifts regularly for the sake of the pleasure of the Enemy of Madhu , the Lord who can be understood only through the Vedas .
7. He performed the sacrifices Vājimedha (Horse-sacrifice) etc. with him (Viṣṇu) alone as his object (of worship). By distributing monetary gifts as laid down he delighted every Brāhmaṇa .
8. With his heart permanently fixed on Keśava who is fond of his devotees, he performed all the holy rites of the nature of Iṣṭa and Pūrta.
9. He always remembered Govinda . He performed the Japa of Acyuta , the immutable one. He worshipped the Lotus-eyed Lord. He glorified the Śārṅga -wielding Lord.
10. The king used to listen to the sacred stories of Viṣṇu that redeem people from the ocean of worldly existence and that were expounded by persons well-versed in the Purāṇas .
11-13. He adored Brāhmaṇas for the sake of pleasing Hari . Though the king was tirelessly engaged in all these things wholeheartedly, he did not perceive Puruṣottama who possesses eternal prosperity and is self-determined. Unable to attain the vision of Viṣṇu identical with Yajña , he was overwhelmed with grief in his heart and immersed in great anxiety.
Śaṅkha said :
14. In the course of thousands of my previous births much sin has been committed by me and so the vision of Hṛṣīkeśa has not been obtained by me.
15-17. Indeed the vision of Viṣṇu, the slayer of Madhu, is the entire fruit of austerities performed in the course of many previous births. How will the Lord come within the range of my eyes? When will the bliss of hearing his words be obtained? Fie upon me who have committed sins, who am deprived of the fruit of holy rites, who am far removed from the grace of Nārāyaṇa and have become the victim of the sufferings of worldly existence!
Bharadvāja said :
18. When the king who was thus agitated in his mind became disinterested in life, Keśava of invisible form said thus within the hearing of everyone:
Śrī Bhagavān said :
19. Do not be grief-stricken, O king. Listen. I shall tell you what is conducive to your welfare. You have sought in me sole refuge. You are a good man. How will I forsake you?
20. This mountain named Veṅkaṭa is well-known in all the three worlds. Residence there is liked by me more than in Vaikuṇṭha .
21. Go to that excellent mountain and perform penance devoutly. When a thousand years pass off thus, I shall become visible to you.
22-23. Like you Agastya also endeavoured for the sake of acquiring my vision quickly. He asked the Four-faced Lord ( Brahmā ): “Where is Viṣṇu seen?” The Lotus-born Lord told, “It is possible for persons of controlled mind to get Hari on the Vṛṣabha mountain. Go there.”
24. The Pot-born Sage being directed thus by the Lotus-born Lord will come to my residence, the Añjana mountain, in order to perform penance.
25. You too should fix your residence on that meritorious mountain. You be engaged in penance and propitiate me. You shall obtain my vision.
[ King Śaṅkha Goes to Śrī Veṅkaṭācala at the Suggestion of the Lord ]:—
Bharadvāja said :
26. On being commanded thus by the Lord, the enemy of Dānavas , matchless Śaṅkha attained matchless pleasure in his mind thinking, ‘I am blessed’.
27. Entrusting to his son Vajra the work of protecting the subjects, he went to the Mountain Nārāyaṇa seeking the vision of Govinda.
28. On its lofty peak he saw the auspicious Svāmipuṣkariṇī full of divine waters comparable to nectar.
29-30. It was frequented by multitudes of Siddhas , Gandharvas , Devas and sages. It assuages the scorching heat of worldly existence and is the resort of all the Tīrthas . It was rendered noisy by water crows, storks, cranes, swans and Kāraṇḍava ducks. It was very charming with lilies, blue lotuses, red lotuses and white lotuses.
31 -33a. On seeing that divine (river) abounding in lotuses he put up a hut on its banks. He was delighted by his holy ablutions, drinking of water etc. His mind was free from doubts and hesitation. He surrendered (the benefits of) all the holy rites to Janārdana , the Lord of the universe. He was permanently engaged in Japa and meditation. He performed a very severe penance.
[ Agastya Comes to Veṅkaṭācala for the Sake of the Vision of the Lord ]:—
33b -37a. At that very same time, at the behest of Parameṣṭhin, Sage Agastya too came there surrounded by hundreds of sages. Beginning with the western extremity, he endeavoured to circumambulate (the mountain). He wandered over the mountain for a long time seeing the meritorious holy spots. In different places he saw Brahmā, Guha , Śakra , Īśa, Viṣvaksena and others who were desirous of seeing Hari. He saw the following also: leading Yogins beginning with Sanaka , sages the chief of whom was Nārada , Siddhas, Gandharvas, Daityas , Yakṣas , Rākṣasas and serpents.
37b-40. By means of humble and loving conversations he was honoured by those different persons. He wandered over all those different wonderful places looking at them (with pleasure). He took bath in the different Tīrthas beginning with Skandadhārā. In the different places he worshipped Govinda, the Lord of the worlds. Thus the excellent sage wandered (for a long time). Even when a thousand years elapsed the sage could not see the Lotuseyed Lord. He became anxious and grief-stricken.
[ Guru (Jupiter), Vasu and Others Address Agastya ]:—
41. At that time Dhiṣaṇa (Jupiter) and Uśanas ( Venus ) as well as the king Uparicara -Vasu came to that great sage. (They said:)
42-43. “Our life has become fruitful, O excellent sage, since you have been seen by us like another Nārāyaṇa. We were desirous of seeing Acyuta, O sage. What we had been told then by Brahmā, the Lord of the worlds, is being communicated to you.
44. ‘There is in the southern region a mountain named Veṅkaṭa. This abode is liked by Hari more than Śveta Dvīpa .
45. On that mountain Govinda, the sire of the universe, will reveal his own form to Agastya as well as to Śaṅkha, the king.
46-49. At that time all the Devas, sages, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and we too will have the vision of the Lord of Devas. That will take place ere long. Hence eschew all your sins and evils and go in search of Agastya on that Nārāyaṇa mountain.’
On being commanded thus by Brahmā we came to this place. It is our good fortune that we could see you of exalted magnificence and plenty of refulgence. Accompanied by you, we shall go to the banks of Svāmipuṣkariṇī and see Śaṅkha also, the excellent follower of the Lord.”
[ Agastya and Others see the Various Beautiful Spots on Śrī Veṅkaṭācala ]:—
Bharadvāja said :
50. On being requested thus by Gīṣpati (Jupiter) and other important persons the Pot-born Sage (Agastya) cast off his mass of grief and quickly went along with them.
51. He saw great tall trees heavily laden with flowers and fruits and so bending down (under their weight). They had spread their great shade over all the quarters with multitudes of their branches.
52. In the middle of the various paths he saw various animals such as lions, elephants, tigers, boars, buffaloes etc.
53. The ridges holding clouds were seen by them. They were as splendid as gold, silver, copper etc. (They shone like them.)
54. Hundreds of streams were seen by them. They appeared to offer oblations unto the heaven-dwellers by means of the water-sprays raised by them. With their forceful currents they had dislodged many rocks.
55-57. Gentle wind that blew over the slopes and valleys of the mountain, wafted the fragrance of lotuses and increased their delight. The chirping and the cooing sounds of parrots and cuckoos were heard. They saw Siddhas seated on broad and large rocky slabs in different places singing songs of the greatness and good qualities of Kṛṣṇa .
58-61. All of them, the leading sages, the chief of whom was Agastya, went round and saw the divine Svāmipuṣkariṇī with water free from impurities. They saw the king Śaṅkha who had put up his residence on its banks. He had consigned all his activities, physical, verbal and mental, to Hari and stood by. On seeing the eminent sages of praiseworthy, holy rites suddenly, he offered them due adoration and reverence along with obeisances and eulogies. They honoured one another enthusiastically and took their seats. Engaged in glorifying Govinda. they attained great contentment.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14166, revision 313771 (2021-07-14T08:54:34Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370716.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.