Canto LXVIII - A description of the Nidhis

(Nidhis)^[1]

Mārkaṇḍeya tells of the knowledge called Padminī, of the eight Nidhis connected with it, and of the influences which they exercise over men.

Krauṣṭuki spoke:

Adorable Sir! thou hast related it all fully to me, both Svarocis’ deeds and Svārociṣa’s birth. Now tell me at length about the.knowledge named Padminī which compasses all pleasures, and about the Nidhis who are allied thereto, and about the nature of the eight Nidhis who exist, and the composition of their wealth. I desire to hear it expounded by thee thoroughly, O guru!

Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:

The knowledge which is named Padminī has Lakṣmī for its deity, and the Nidhis for its supporters. Listen while I tell thee of it. The Nidhis therein are Padma and Mahāpadma, and Makara, and Kacchapa, Mukunda and Nandaka, Nila, and Śaṅkha is the eighth Nidhi. These live in real good-fortune^[2]; verily perfection springs from them. These eight Nidhis indeed have been proclaimed to thee, O Krauṣṭuki^[3]. By means of the gods’favour and by attendance on good men a macs wealth is always watched over by them, O muni. Listen while I tell thee what their nature is like.

First, the Nidhi named Padma belongs, O brāhman, to Maya,^[4] to his son, and to the sons and grandsons of his son perpetually. And a man dominated thereby may become the perfection of politeness, since this Nidhi is supported by goodness, yields great enjoyment and is sincere. And he amasses immense quantities of gold, silver, copper and other metals, and buys and sells them; he also makes sacrifices, and bestows the sacred fee; and he causes a palace to be built and temples for the gods, applying his mind thereto.

And another Nidhi who is supported by goodness is known as Mahāpadma. He has goodness for his chief quality. And a man dominated thereby amasses rubies and other gems, pearls and coral, and buys and sells them; and he gives to those whose disposition is towards religious devotion, and has dwellings constructed for them; and he himself develops into that disposition. And from him are born others of similar disposition in the descent of sons and grandsons. This Nidhi comes only from prior good-fortune^[5], and does not depart for seven generations.

The Nidhi who is composed of darkness^[6] is named Makara. And a man on whom he looks^[7] is indeed born characterized chiefly by ignorance, though good in disposition. He gathers together arrows, swords, spears and bows, and shields and rope, and attains to friendship with kings; and he gives to kings who occupy themselves with heroic deeds, and to those whom they esteem; and he finds pleasure in buying and selling weapons and in nothing else. This Nidhi belongs to a man singly, and does not descend to his progeny. Such a man may meet^[8] death for the sake of wealth at the hands of robbers and also in battle.

And the man on whom the Nidhi, who is called Kacchapa, casts his eye is dominated by ignorance, because that Nidhi is characterized by darkness; and he performs all the rules of life^[9] along with men who have acquired merit, and makes all those rules consist in mere acts; he confides in no one. Just as a tortoise draws all its limbs in, so drawing in all his thoughts while unharmed he remains with diffuse mind.^[10] He gives not nor does he enjoy, being afraid of destruction thereby; he makes his resting-place on the earth. That Nidhi also is limited to men singly.

And another Nidhi, who is named Mukunda, is composed of the quality of passion.^[11] The man on whom he looks becomes of the same quality, O brāhman. He gathers together lutes, flutes and drums, and any musical instrument of percussion; he bestows wealth on singers and dancers, and on minstrels, bards, sycophants and those who are skilled in drama; he bestows pleasures on them day and night, and enjoys life along with those companions, O brābman; and he finds no delight in women of loose character, nor with other folk of that kind. He forms a single union, the man to whom this Nidhi resorts.

And composed of passion and darkness is another great Nidhi called Nanda. The man on whom he looks attains to eminent firmness.^[12] He gathers together all kinds of minerals and precious stones and trade-wares,^[13] grain and other articles, and also buys and sells the same; he is the support of his own family and of each visitor and guest; he does not brook disrespectful language although it be very slight, O great muni! and when praised he entertains strong affection and proffers it; and whatever object of desire he wants, he has recourse to tenderness to obtain it. He has many wives, who are prolific and very beautiful to his delight. And the Nidhi Nanda passes down to seven generations, and when strongly developed passes on to the next descendant with an eighth portion, O best of men! and he bestows length of life on all men. Nanda verily provides support to kinsmen indeed, and to those guests who have arrived from afar; and he is not held in honour in the next world; affection does not belong to him, but is born among those who dwell together; he causes laxity among those who were former friends, and affection with others.

Moreover the great Nidhi who contains goodness and passion is termed Līla.^[14] A man united with him may become of that disposition. He leads a man to collect clothing, cotton cloth, grain and other fruit and flowers, also pearls, coral, and shells, and small shells and other similar things, timber and other materials and whatever else is produced in water, O muni; he leads him to buy and sell other things. In nothing else does his mind delight; and he constructs ponds and tanks and places, for pleasure; and such a man makes embankments across rivers and plants trees; and after enjoying unguents, flowers and other objects of delight he is born again. And this Nidhi named Nīla persists for three generations.

And composed of passion and darkness is another Nidhi who is named Śaṅkha. And the man who is lord of this Nidhi is led by him to possess the same qualities, O brāhman. He exists in a mail singly, and does not pass on to another generation. Listen, O Krauṣṭuki, to the character of a man who possesses the Nidhi Śaṅkha. It is when quite alone that he enjoys food and clothing such as he himself has made; his family eat wretched food and wear no bright clothing; he makes no gift to friend, wife, brother, son, daughter-in-law and other relatives. Always intent on his own nourishment is the man who possesses Śaṅkha.

Thus these Nidhis have been described, the deities of wealth among men. When their looks are blended, the blended Nidhis produce results according to their natures, just as each nature described above springs indeed from the aspect of a particular Nidhi. And in sovereignty over them all sits Lakṣmī, who is this knowledge called Padminī of the dvijas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These are demi-gods who preside over and influence men’s propensities, pursuits, pleasures, tastes, &c.

[2]:

Or, prosperity ; satyām ṛddhau.

[3]:

Tava kroṣṭuke ; this violates the metre ; read instead krauṣṭuke tava ?

[4]:

Maya was an Asura, the great artificer of the Dānavas, and constructed a magnificent Court for the Pāṇḍavas; see MahāBhārata, Sabhā-P., i and iii.

[5]:

For pūrvārddha-mātraḥ the Bombay Edition reads pūrvarddhi-mātraḥ, which I have adopted.

[6]:

Or ignorance; tāmasa.

[7]:

Ava-lokita; frequently used in this canto.

[8]:

For savraje read sa vrajet?

[9]:

Vyavdhāra.

[10]:

Āyata-mānasaḥ; or better āyatta-mānasaḥ “with submissive mind”?

[11]:

Rajas.

[12]:

Or solidity: stambha.

[13]:

For puṇya-dhānyādikasya read paṇya-dhānyādikasya?

[14]:

For sa-līla-sañjñas read sa līla-sañjñas? He is also called Nīla in verse 5 above and verse 41 below.