The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Narayana-Griha which is chapter 337 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the three hundred thirty-seventh chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 337 - Greatness of Nārāyaṇa-Gṛha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3a. Thereafter, O great goddess, one should go to the excellent shrine of Nārāyaṇa. It is to the south of Goṣpada on the auspicious shore of the sea. It is in the vicinity of the river Nyaṅkumatī, the destroyer of all sins. Keśava himself dwells there since another, previous, Kalpa for the redemption of Pitṛs in this terrible Kali Age.
3b-4. When Lord Had brings about the destruction of Daityas, he always stays in this house for taking rest. Hence, it became well-known all over the world as ‘Nārāyaṇa-gṛha’ (Home of Nārāyaṇa).
5. He is known as Janārdana in Kṛta Age, Madhusūdana in Tretā Yuga, Puṇḍarīkākṣa in Dvāpara. He is remembered as Nārāyaṇa in Kali Age.
6. When the new group of four Yugas begins, he, the subduer of enemies, establishes religious order again and again and comes to this place (for rest).
7. He who, on the Ekādaśī (eleventh lunar) day observes complete fast and visits that God, sees (attains) after death the eternal, limitless region of Hari.
8. By persons desirous of the complete benefit of the performance of Yātrā (pilgrimage), yellow garments should be given to an excellent Brāhmaṇa. Proper ablutions and Śrāddha should also be performed.
9. Thus is related to you the great efficacy of the house named after Hari. An intelligent person who assiduously listens to or reads it, attains the greatest goal.