Chapter 32 - Text-transmission of Vāsudeva-Māhātmya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Skanda said:

1. After eulogizing the Lord (Nārāyaṇa) Nārada went away from that place and arrived at first at Vyāsa’s hermitage called Śamyāprāsa.

2. He was affectionately honoured there by rising up from the seat to welcome him, offering a seat and other formalities. He expounded the Ekāntika Dharma to him (Vyāsa) who was desirous to know it.

3. The sage then went to the assembly of God Brahmā. There he taught it to Devas, Pitṛs and great sages who attended it (i.e. the assembly) while God Brahmā listened to it.

4. Sun-god who was present there, again heard the whole of that Dharma from Nārada as he had heard it from Nārāyaṇa formerly.

5. He respectfully narrated it to Vālakhilyas who go ahead of him. They told Devas like Indra and others who assembled on Mount Meru.

6. Having heard this Dharma from them, Sage Asita narrated it to Pitṛs when he happened to go to the world of manes, O excellent Brāhmaṇa.

7. The Pitṛs including Aryamā and others told it to King Śantanu who narrated it accurately to his son Bhīṣma.

8. At the end of the Bhārata War, he (Bhīṣma) while lying on a bed of arrows, narrated it to Dharmarāja who enquired about it in a big assembly.

9. Even Nārada who respectfully attended that assembly heard it and narrated it to Śaṅkara on Mount Kailāsa. He (in his turn) told me, O excellent sage.

10. O Brāhmaṇa, this has been narrated by me to you who abide by Dharma and enquired about it because my father told me that this Dharma should be given (i.e. taught) to the deserving ones.

11. By whomsoever was this glory of the Lord of Sāttvatas (Vāsudeva) heard, he (spontaneously) had great faith in it (leading to) his personal liberation from Saṃsāra.

12. On hearing the greatness of the son of Devakī (Kṛṣṇa) as glorified by Bhīṣma, even the royal sage Yudhiṣṭhira along with his brothers was delighted.

13. On learning that his maternal uncle’s son (Kṛṣṇa) was the cause of all causes, the highly intelligent one was merged in the ocean of wonder.

14. The king regarded that the Vyūhas (manifestations) such as Vāsudeva (Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha) and all the incarnations like the Divine Boar and others were those of the Lord of Ramā.

15. Then the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) along with his younger brothers became extremely devoted to Kṛṣṇa of divine (yet) human body, O excellent Brāhmaṇa.

16. On hearing this story (i.e. exposition of this Dharma) even all Brāhmaṇical, royal and divine sages who were present in that assembly became wonder-struck.

17. Having come to know that Kṛṣṇa was veritable Supreme Brahman in a human form, they, bowing down to him with reverence, betook themselves to his devotion.

18. This is his greatness. Hence, O piously disposed one, you also resort to that Vāsudeva with whole-hearted devotion.

19. The glory of Śrī Vāsudeva which results in the mitigation (and final extinction) of evil desires and which enhances devotion unto the Lord, has been narrated by me to you.

20-21. Whatever episodes in this Purāṇa have been narrated, their essence has been (as if) churned and extracted and it is this, O Brāhmaṇa. It is the essence of Vedas and Upaniṣads, of Sāṅkhya and Yoga, of Pāñcarātra and entire Dharmaśāstra.

22. This extremely auspicious song sung by the Lord himself confers wealth, fame, long life and is destructive of everything that is inauspicious.

23. Whoever listens to this meritorious (Māhātmya), glorifies it (to others) or reads it, his pure mind will be steadfast in Vāsudeva.

24. Those men will be his Ekāntika Bhaktas (i.e. devotees exclusively devoted to him), become identical with Brahman and in the end go to the world of Brahman which is beyond darkness.

25. (Hereby) one desirous of Dharma will attain Dharma; a person desirous (of any object) will get his desired object; a person covetous of wealth will obtain wealth; one having the object of getting Mokṣa, will attain excellent release from Saṃsāra.

26. A student will get learning (or his desired lore); a sick person will be relieved of his ailment. By merely hearing it all sins will get annihilated.

27. A Brāhmaṇa will attain Brāhmaṇic lustre, a Kṣatriya king-ship, a Vaiśya wealth and a Śūdra happiness by listening to this (Māhātmya).

28. A king who goes to battle after hearing this will win. A woman will get the good fortune of the life-long firm devotion and favour of her husband; a girl will secure her desired groom.

29. Whatever desire a man cherishes will he obtain from listening to and glorifying this Māhātmya which is the crest-jewel of all Śāstras.

30. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, you always read this with devotion. And resort physically, verbally, mentally with devotion to the Lord who is affectionate to his devotees.

Sauti said:

31. After drinking the nectarine speech emanated from the lotus-mouth of Mahāsena (i.e. Skanda), Sāvarṇi performed devotion unto the son of Vāsudeva, who is Brahman in a human form and auspicious to all.

32. You all who are established in your own Dharma (religious duties) and are conversant with Vedas and Āgamas, take recourse to Śrī Vāsudeva who is favourable to Brāhmaṇas, is the Lord worth resorting to and is of distinguished reputation.

33. Obeisance to Vāsudeva, the Lord of the world called Goloka, whose form is constituted of a mass of lustre, and who enhances the delight of devotion.

:: End of Vāsudeva-Māhātmya ::