Chapter 305 - Greatness of Nāradāditya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine named Nāradāditya stationed to the east thereof (i.e. Saṅgāleśvara). It is destructive of old age and poverty.

In the west it is within a distance of three hundred Dhanus from Mūlacaṇḍīśa. O goddess Nārada propitiated Bhāskara, the thief of water, and immediately became one whose body was rid of old age.

The Devī said:

How was the leading sage Nārada afflicted with old age and how did he propitiate Sūrya? O Śaṅkara, do tell me this.

Īśvara said:

4-6. When Nārada, the leading sage, reached Dvārāvatī all the mighty sons of Viṣṇu (i.e. Kṛṣṇa) became delighted. They were playing about in the royal palace all together. When they saw Nārada, all of them except Sāṃba paid due obeisance hurriedly. On seeing him rude and impolite, Nārada said:

7. “O Sāṃba, O son of Hari, you are arrogant because of your physical charm. Hence, ere long you will incur a terrible curse.”

Sāṃba said:

8. Of what purpose is the obeisance paid to the sages who have conquered themselves or of what use is their blessing (only which causes) loss of their power of penance?

9. O Nārada, O son of Brahmā, you do not have even the least of the characteristics of sages. What more need be said?

10. You have no wife. You have no sons, grandsons, or great-grandsons. You need not worry about a house and its doorway. You don’t have cows or calves.

11. You are a mental son of Brahmā. You have undertaken the vow of celibacy. How is it. that you have got a nature which always indulges in improper affairs?

12. You don’t seem to be happy without (instigating) a fight nor without causing dispute. You are always fond of arguments of some sort and verbal controversies.

13. In respect to holy ablution, Sandhyā prayers, Japa, Homa and offerings libations to Pitṛs and deities, Nārada does it in one way and Brāhmaṇas in another way.

14. Since you curse me because you are arrogant due to your youthfulness, O Brāhmaṇa-sage, you will become one afflicted with old age.

15-17. O fair lady, on being cursed thus, Nārada, the leading sage, sat on an excellent seat in a clean, lonely place free from bones and thorns. It was covered with the skin of a black antelope. The great sage installed a beautiful idol of Sūrya on the pleasant banks of Ṛṣitoyā. The idol was one that was destructive of all sorts of poverty. He eulogized Àditya, the dispeller of darkness, by means of different kind of prayers.

Prayer of Nārada:

18. Obeisance to thee, the personified form of Ṛks. Obeisance to thee, O Lord, who have penetrated the splendour of the Sāmans. Obeisance to you (thee) whose body is solely of the form of perfect knowledge, to thee who have dispelled darkness.

19. Obeisance to thee whose form is pure refulgence. Obeisance to one without form, to one whose soul is free from impurities. Obeisance to the omni-formed supreme soul, the most excellent, the most elegant.

20. O deity whose form spreads over the entire universe. Obeisance! Obeisance to one of blissful form, to the cause of everything. Obeisance to the permanent foundation of knowledge and minds.

21. Obeisance to you, O Bhāskara. Obeisance to Dinakṛt (the cause of day). Obeisance to the Lord, the form of all, to the Lord in the form of enlightenment, to one who could not be viewed at.

Īśvara said:

22. Even as he eulogized thus mentally, the eternal Sun, the eye of the universe, appeared in front of him, O goddess of Devas. Being highly pleased he spoke to Nārada, the leading sage:

Sūrya said:

23. I am pleased with you, O Brāhmaṇa-sage. Choose your boon, whatever may be in your mind. I shall grant you the same even if it is inaccessible.

Nārada said:

24. O Lord Divākara (Creator of the day), if you are pleased, let me be one in the teen-aged state, though I am now one whose body is afflicted with old age. With your favour, let me be so.

25. O Timirāpaha (Dispeller of darkness), if a man views you on the seventh lunary day coinciding with a Sunday, he should not fear any sort of ailments. Thanks for the favour.

Īśvara said:

26. After saying, “It will be so”, Ravi vanished. Thus, O goddess, the entire greatness of Nāradāditya Deva has been spoken to you. It is destructive of all sins.