Chapter 155 - A Kṣatriya Addresses His Wife

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Though the printed text does not mention it, the Second Part (Khaṇḍa) begins here. There is duplication of many legends of the First Khaṇḍa in this (Second) Part.

Sūta said:

1-4a. Further, there are other deities also there, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, (such as) the eight Vasus who have resorted to one spot. They are always worshipped by all Devas.

There are also eleven Rudras, twelve Ādityas and two Aśvins, the physicians of Devas.

The Devas who are leaders of crores and crores are stationed there, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. Everyone of them is overcome with fear of the Kali age.

4b-5. A man (devotee) should take his holy bath on the eighth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Caitra. He should wear newly washed clothes and remain pure. After propitiating excellent Brāhmaṇas, the devotee should begin his adoration (of Vasus).

6. He shall devoutly utter the Mantra, vasavas tvā kṛṇvan. Then he should make the food offering while reciting the Mantra, vasavaśchandasau.

7. The devotee with great concentration should offer incense and sweet scents and utter this Mantra, vasavas tvāṃ jetu.

8. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the devotee then offers Ārārtika (waving of lighted lamps) reciting the Mantra, vasavas tvāṃ jetu. Now let it be heard what the benefit that accrues, is:

9. If the eight Vasus are adored, one gets the benefit of worshipping crores of virgins.

10. In the same manner, the devotee should install and worship those twelve Ādityas who are already settled in that holy place, on the day when the seventh lunar day coincides with a Sunday. He should worship them with flowers, sweet scents and unguents properly with full faith.

11. Thereafter, before them he performs twenty-one Vratas called Ādityavratas. Listen to the benefit thereof:

12. One who worships here shall undoubtedly obtain the benefit of worshipping twelve crores of Ādityas.

13. Similarly, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, listen to the benefit of the worship of the eleven Rudras stationed in one spot in this holy Kṣetra.

14. The devotee should install the gods of Suras and devoutly worship them on the fourteenth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Caitra. He should repeat the Śatarudriya Mantra.

15. The Śatarudriya Mantra is to be recited eleven times. It will be as good as though eleven crore (Rudras) have been worshipped by him. There is no doubt about it. It is the truth that has been stated by me.

16-17. Further, the Aśvins, the physicians of Devas, are also stationed there. The devotee should worship them on the full-moon day in the month of Āśvina with the constellation Aśvinī coinciding. He should recite the Aśvinī Sūkta: The benefit acquired thereby shall be twenty million times more.

18. Thus the greatness of the Vasus, Ādityas, Rudras and Aśvins has been spoken to you all, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

Sūta said:

19. Further, there is another deity there installed by Yājñavalkya. It is well-known by the name Puṣpāditya, the bestower of all cherished desires on men.

20. A man may think of any desired object before worshipping. He will obtain it completely even if it is difficult of access.

21. One without a son gets sons; a seeker of wealth shall get wealth; one with many enemies will get the enemies destroyed, and a seeker of learning shall become an expert in the scriptural texts.

22. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, a man who visits it on the seventh lunar day coinciding with a Sunday shall be rid of the sins which are accrued on that day even if they happen to be great.

23. By the adoration sins accumulated over a year will perish. There is no doubt about it that it will perish like darkness at the time of sunrise.

24. He who circumambulates one hundred eight times with fruits in his hand, shall be rid of sins accrued from birth to death.

25. A person who circumambulates shall obtain whatever he desires undoubtedly. One without desires shall attain salvation.

26. One who performs the rite of bathing (the deity) at the time of Meṣa (Aries) and Tulā (Libra) transit coinciding with a Sunday realizes (his) desires.

27. On that occasion, those who desire the benefit of their choice shall visit and adore the Lord with all efforts.

28. The benefit obtained on the visit shall be on a par with the benefit accruing from the visit to all the Devas stationed in Camatkārapura.

The sages said:

29. If, as you say, the Lord was installed by Yājñavalkya, why is the deity called Puṣpāditya? it behoves you to explain this.^[1]

Sūta said:

30. In this connection I shall narrate an ancient legend as to how the deity installed by Yājñavalkya became Puṣpāditya.

31. Here on the earth there is an excellent great city named Vaidiśā. (Vidiśā). There are many mansions there. It is embellished with many excellent remparts [ramparts?] and wells.

32. Hundreds of parks and lakes adorn it There was an excellent king there well known as Citravarmā.

33. While that king who was a knower of Dharma (piety) and who loved virtue always, was ruling over the kingdom, there was no fear from thieves, no ailment and no famine.

34. In that city there was a person, a Kṣatriya by caste. He is remembered by the name Maṇibhadra. He had plenty of wealth inherited from father and grandfather.

35. Whenever necessity arises, the king along with his ministers, nay the entire city, sustained itself through loan taken from him on interest.

36. This Maṇibhadra was an old man of graying hair and wrinkled body (limbs). He was extremely ugly in appearance.

37. He was miserly despite ample wealth. He was a sinner who never gave anything to anyone. He remained thirsty and hungry. He never ate anything (to his fill).

38-41. Though that wicked man was like this, and ugly, he happended to see a beautiful girl of his caste. He wanted to marry the girl who had lips like a Biṃba fruit. Her body was beautiful and fascinating. She had a slender belly that could be grasped within one’s fist. Her eyes were large like the petals of a lotus. Her hair was glossy. Her ankles were not visible (because of ample flesh). She was red (in complexion)in seven limbs and deep in three. She was charming and endowed fully with all characteristics. But, O tigers among Brāhmaṇas, he requested for the girl from a Kṣatriya (her father) who was afflicted with dire poverty. He (the father) mentioned everything about this to his wife.

42. On hearing that she fell into a swoon due to sorrow. Thereafter, he enlightened her with suitable words with suitable (relevant) examples.

The Kṣatriya said:

43. There is no learning, no art or craft, and no object which is not given to rich people by persons seeking wealth.

44. In this world even a stranger becomes a kinsman in the case of rich people. In the case of poor people even a kinsman becomes wicked.

45. From increased riches collected from here and there, all activities spring up like rivers from mountains.

46. One unworthy of being approached is approached and one not deserving to be saluted is bowed down to. It is the consequence of wealth.

47. As sense-organs get activised through eating (food), so all the functions through their causes. Wealth is called the cause of all.

48. This world of living beings may resort to even the cremation ground while seeking wealth. A man without wealth abandons even his father and goes far away.

Probably karpaṭa, ‘old garment’, rag indicating old human body.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The episode of Brāhmaṇa Puṣpa who through the boon of the Sun-god, misappropriated the wife and property of Maṇibhadra is given in this and the following chapters (upto 163-164). Though Puṣpa succeeded in giving his name to Yājñavalkya’s Āditya, the immorality of the whole affair led Puṣpa to expiate (as Puraścaraṇa Saptamī) and the excommunication of Canda [Caṇḍa?] Śarman.