The Greatness of Vaikuntha

Siita said:

1-3. Having heard these words of that Dharmaraja (i.e. Yama), the brahmaga again asked him about the auspicious rite of Vaishakha.

The brdhmana said:

O magnanimous Dharmaraja, you have properly disclosed the secret of the religious merit due to a bath in Vaishakha which gives salvation to men, and is great. Tell me the manner in which a man, being calm and having bathed in the morning, should worship the god (Vishnu) and with which flowers in the month of Vaigakha.

DharmarSja (i.e. Yama) said:

4-11a. Of all kinds of leaves Tulasi is dear to Vishnu. Holy places likePushkara, so also rivers like Ganga and gods like Vishnu live in the leaf of Tulasi. Always and at all times Tulasi is dear to Vishnu. Leaving the flower of jasmine and abandoning a lotus, and taking a Tulasi leaf a man should devoutly worship Vishnu. Even shesha would not be able to describe the fruit of the religious merit due to it. All that — plucking a Tulasi leaf in honour of a deity or for a rite in honour of the dead ancestors without bathing — becomes fruitless. (Such a man) becomes pure by (drinking) the five products of a cow. As yellow myrobalan removes diseases, so Tulasi quickly removes very many sins like poverty and experiencing calamities. A man, a devotee of Vishgu, who especially worships Vishnu with (leaves of) Tulasi called Knpagaura, would become Vishgu. He who, being restrai­ned, would worship (Vishou) the killer of Madhu at three times of the day during the entire month of Vaigakha, has no rebirth.

11b-17. A man should always worship Vishnu even with food etc. if flowers and leaves are not available, or with rice grains or wheat. He should gratify, after bathing in the morning, with proper rites deities, dead ancestors and men along with the mobile and the immobile. He who always would sprinkle profuse water at the root of the ASvattha (tree), and would go round it full of all gods, or he who would worship with water god Asvattha on all sides, has liberated a myriad (members of) his family. There is no doubt about it. All griefs like poverty, mis­fortune, bad dreams and bad thoughts melt away by gratifying Asvattha, О dear one. He, the hero, who would worship Asvattha has gratified his dead ancestors, has worshipped Vlshbu; he alone has worshipped the Planets. He should touch white flowers, so also sami (leaves), fire, sandal, Sun’s orb and Asvattha tree, and then should perform the duties of his caste.

18-21a. After scratching (the body of a cow), giving a morsel to a cow, after having bathed and gratified a pippala, and having worshipped Vishiju, he would not face misfortune. A woman or a man, though quite weak, who, observing rules already stated, bathes according to her or his capacity in the morning for the three days of Vaishakha — the thirteenth, the fourteenth (of the bright half) and the full-moon day, gets free from all sins and obtains inexhaustible heaven (i.e. obtains heaven eternally).

21b-26a. If a man, being restrained and pure, gets up on the three nights (i.e. the days, viz. the twelfth, the thirteenth and the full-moon day), and feeds, according to his capacity, ten brahmanas, and, offering white or black Sheshamum seeds with water to twelve brahmanas, would perform a solemn observance saying 'May Dharmaraja be pleased with me’, and would grati­fy the dead ancestors and gods, (then) the sin committed by him during his life perishes at that moment only. He would happily stay in heaven a myriad after a myriad (years). He, honoured by all deities, would not see me only. О brahmana, he who, to gratify the dead ancestors and deities, devoutly gives cooked food, jars full of water etc. on the three days, viz. the thirteenth, the fourteenth (days of the bright half) and the fullmoon day, is freed from great sins.

26b-28a. He who, every day, would gratify brahmanas with golden vessels full of Sheshamum seeds and water, destroys (the sin of) the murder of a brahmana. The Sheshamum seeds created by Brahma should be given on the full-moon day of Vaishakha with devotion, for the good of the children.

28b-31. In this matter, listen to an old account, О you of a good vow. The fruit of jhe month of Vaishakha is very wonderful (when a gift is given) on the full-moon day (of that month). Thirty days beginning with (the Sun’s) passing through Aries are excellent. They are said to be superior to all sacrifices and holy. Especially (holy) are the three days (viz. the thirteenth, fourteenth the full-moon day) which are to be secured with a difficulty by sinners. The full-moon day of Vaishakha is still more holy and is -dear to Vishnu. This day is the day of the beginning of the period of the duration of the world called Varahakalpa.

32-36a. Formerly on this day Narayapa (i.e. Vishnu) killed these two pre-eminent demons — Hirapyaksha and Madhu, and lifted up the earth. This lord performed these three (feats) only on the thirteenth, fourteenth and the full-moon day, in the bright half of the month of Vaishakha. Since then, О best brah­mapa, due to the speciality, this full-moon day, the beginning of the period of the duration of the world, is called purifying and the proper witness of the feat. О brahmana, what is the use of the life of him, indeed harming himself, who, controlling himself, has not bathed in the morning in Vaiiakha?

36b-38a. A woman or a man who restraining herself or himself, has, according to proper rites, bathed in the morning on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and-especially on the full-moon day of Vaiakha, is freed from all sins. He who has passed the full-moon day of Vaishakha without bath, gifts, worship, Sraddha, or (other acts of) merit, has indeed hell as his abode.

38b-44a. There is no other sacred treatise like the Veda; there is no other holy place like Ganga; there is no other gift like a cow or water; and there is no other day like the full-moon day of Vaishakha. He who beiDg solely devoted to Vishnu, gives a cow with water (to a brahmana) on the full-moon day of Vaishakha, is especially the fourth of (i.e. in addition to) the three gods. A man who has killed his mother or father, or who causes abortion, or who violates his teacher’s bed (i.e. his wife), gets free from all sins on seeing a cow along with water. Those who, in this earth, give a cow along with water according to the proper rite (to a brahmana) on the full-moon day of Vaiiakha, liberate ten earlier and ten later members of the family. Those who give to the best brahmanas sugar, fruits, tambiila, shoes and documents, are declared to be fortunate in this world. He who gives jars with gems and watshr, cooked food, and golden presents on the full-moon day of Vaiakha, would obtain, the fruit of a horsesacrifice.

44b-49a. Here also they relate an old account, and the con­versation of а brahmana with ghosts in a great forest. О sinless one, formerly there lived a brahmana DhanaSarman by name. When he had gone to the forest for (collecting) Kusha, he saw a wonder. He who was frightened, saw three wicked and very awful ghosts whose hair was raised, whose eyes were red, whose teeth were black, who were emaciated, who were making various sounds, and were running here and there. Seeing them, the brahmana, afflicted with fear, speedily ran away. They too, crying, went after him at that time. Being overpowered by the ghosts, he spoke sweet words (to them).

Dhanaiarman said:

49b-53. Who are you? Due to what have you been reduced to this condition suitable for hell? Please protect me, afflicted with fear, fit to be pitied, afflicted, a devotee ofVishnu, very much frightened, a poor brahmana who has come to the forest. That Vishnu, the lord, Brahmapya, KeSava pleased with you through compassion towards me, will give you felicity. That Vishnu is like the hemp-flower, has put on a yellow garment, and by merely hearing his name great darkness goes (away). The god is without origin and death, holds a conch, a disc and a mace. He is end­less; his eyes are like lotuses; he gives salvation to the dead.

Yama said:

54-55. The goblins were pleased by merely hearing the name of Vishnu. They lived in religious merit. They were controlled by compassion and generosity. They were pleased by his words and were impelled by his direction. The goblins, afflicted with the flood of hunger and thirst, said these (words) to the brahmana:

The goblins said:

56-64. О brahmana, on seeing you and on hearing the name of Vishnu, we have reached another condition. We have become kind. Indeed the union with the good removes sin, and joins (a man) with virtue, and quickly spreads fame. Whom does the moonlight of the nectar of a devotee of Vishnu, which is full of the elixir of life, and which gives great delight, not give joy? This is named Kftaghna. This second one is Vidaivata. This third one is AVaishakha, who is the (most) sinful of the three. This sinful one always practised ingratitude. Therefore, his name is fixed as Kftaghna due to his (ungrateful) actions. This Kftaghna was a Siidra named Sudasa in the former existence. Due to that sin (of ingratitude) he has reached this condition. There is an expiation for a very great sinner, a rogue, or for one who acts malevolently to his teacher or master; but there is no expiation for an ungrateful person. О brahmana, having experienced (i.e. lived in) groups of many hells with bodies enduring torments, he has come to this stage. Without worshipping the deities, so also without giving to the teacher and brahmanas, he ate food all alone. Therefore, he is (called) Vidaivata.

65-76a. This one known by the name Harivira in the former existence, was the king of ten thousand villages. Through anger, egotism and atheism, he was always bent upon violating his teacher’s orders. He who censured brahmanas, ate without offering the (five) great sacrifices. Due to that sinful act, he, having experienced the great peril of hell, was then bom as a ghost called Vidaivata. I am the third one, AVaishakha by name. I am (most) sinful of the Gautama family, known by the same name. I lived in Viprovasapura, and was a sacrificer in the former existence. I who follow the path as laid down in the Vedic texts, did not bathe in honour of Vishnu in the month of Vaishakha. I did not give (any gift), or did not offer any oblation, especially on the full-moon day of Vaishakha. During that month I did not worship (Vishnu) the killer of (the demon) Madhu. Nor did I please the learned men. I also did not gratify dead ancestors and deities with the gifts of jars containing water; and I did not offer Sheshamum seeds with water to learned brahmanas. In that month I did not honour, in order to gratify the dead ancestors and deities with flowers, fruits, tambiila, sandal, fans and gar­ments. Not a single full-moon day of Vaishakha, giving complete fruit, did I (even) observe by good deeds like a bath, giving gifts or worshipping (Vishnu). Therefore, all my deeds done according to the Vedic texts have become fruitless. Then I totally became a ghost named AVaishakha. I have fully told you this cause of (the turning into ghosts of) all the three of us.

76b-80. (Please) be our emancipator from (our) sin, since you are a restrained brahmana. О brahmana, brahmanas, auspi­cious due to having done good deeds, are superior to holy places. They liberate great sinners even though they have resorted to (i.e. fallen into) hells. Between the two, viz. the man who always bathes at the holy places like Ganga and the man who keeps the company of the good — he who has the company of the good, is better. Or, you who are exerting for us, (please) go to my son, well-known as Dhanaiarman, and inform him, О lord. He, who exerts when some work of others has come up, obtains much more fruit than obtained by sacrifices or giving gifts.

Yama said:

81-82a. Having heard those words of the ghost, Dhanasarman was extremely pained. Having recognised him to be his father, fallen into hell, he entirely censured himself, and said these words.

DhanaSarman said:

82b-87.0 lord, I am the useless son of you — of Gautama. That son who would not carefully liberate his father, would not purify himself, or being rich, would not give (gifts, is useless). Even an intelligent person has to note carefully that religious merit s difficult (to understand), as you who are my father, have reach­ed this misfortune. You have not secured continuous happiness from me. He, due to whom continuous happiness is obtained in both worlds is called a son due to that. According to law, a man has two teachers in this world — his father and his mother. Of the two also, the father is superior as his superiority due to his (depositing the) seed is seen. What should Ido? Where should I go? О father, how (i.e. what would be) your condition? I do not know the true nature of propriety. I depend upon your words.

The ghost said:

88-96. О son, listen to my true words. Due to the force of future interest, I shall have bliss as a result of some religious merit. I who was performing the rites as laid down in the scrip­tures arrogantly, dishonoured the words of my teacher; (and thus) I insulted my teacher. Due to the teacher’s insult, and the man’s great delight, anger or pride, the religious merit perishes, like glory due to bad conduct. A rite which is not against the Vedic rites (should be performed) according to the rules laid down in the Puranas. (But) through ignorance I performed only the Vedic rites. О son, I never duly observed even a single fullmoon day of Vaishakha, which is a flame like that of the wild fire for the fuel of sins, and an axe for the tree of sins. That man who does not observe the vow of the full-moon day of Vaishakha, would be A Vaishakha. After that for ten existences he is born in the stocks of animals. Then in course of time he would become a ghost in the end. He somehow gets the human existence which is hard to get. I shall tell you a great means which brings about the liberation of a ghost; I had heard this in my former existence from the mouth of my own teacher. О son, go home and bathe duly in Yamuna. That full-moon day of Vaishakha, the beginning of kalpa, and the giver of all good conditions, has come today. The full-moon day is beneficial for the worship of the dead ancestors and the deities in the later part of the day. A man should devoutly give on this day even water mixed with Sheshamum seeds, with water jars and food, to the dead ancestors.

97-103. That sraddha offered here (i.e. on this day) lasts for a thousand years. He who feeds brahmanas on the full-moon day of Vaiakha, has his dead ancestors satisfied with each ball of rice for a life time. Having duly bathed on the full-moon day of Vaishakha, one should feed ten brahmanas with milk. There is no doubt that by (doing) that he gets freed from all sins. Having given white or black Sheshamum seeds along with water, he should invoke their blessings. Saying, ‘May Dharmaraja be pleased’, he should gratify his dead ancestors and deities. Just at that moment only the sin that he has committed throughout his life, perishes. The Sheshamum seeds created by Brahma should be offered (to a brahmana) with devotion on the full-moon day of Vaishakha and should be applied to the entire body, О brahmana. To him who bathes with Sheshamum seeds mixed with barley grains (applied) to the entire body, О brahmana, Brahma gives a desired boon, so also does Dfiarma.

104-114. He who gives, to please Dharmaraja, water-jars, there is no doubt that he has liberated seven (members before) him and seven (after him of his family). О son, give us that fruit which is produced by devoutly bathing, muttering (prayers), offering oblations, giving gifts and worshipping (Vishnu) on the thirteenth, the fourteenth and on the full-moon day (of Vaishakha). Abandoning these two ghosts I shall resort to a posi­tion in the heaven; for, the end of the sin of these two has also come by.

Yama said:

Saying ‘All right’ he left. Then the brahmana took a bath and gave gifts very much devoutly on the full-moon day of Vaishakha. Having devoutly bathed and being very much pleased, he, when the full-moon day of Vaishakha arrived, gave many gifts and gave them separately for his religious merit. Just at that moment only, they, seated in an aeroplane, went to heaven. О best brahmana, they were pleased with his having given his religious merit to them. The best brahmana Dhanasarman also, who knew the sacred texts, the law-codes and the Puranas enjoyed many pleasures for a long time and obtained Brahma’s heaven. There­fore, with great regard (for you), I describe in brief this most meritorious full-moon day of Vaiakha, which purifies all. Those men who, of a pure heart, bathe duly in the morning in the month of Vaishakha, and worship (Vishnu) the destroyer of Madhu, are alone fortunate, blessed and they alone are bom in the world as men having a purpose. The man who, having bathed in the morning, worships (Vishnu) the lord of Rama (i.e. Lakshmi), and is endowed with (i.e. observes) all controls and restraints, indeed destroys his sin.

115-128. Those who, being controlled, bathe in the month of Vaishakha have alone overcome death; are alone fortunate among men; they alone are free from sins; they alone do not enter (a mother’s) womb (i.e. are not reborn). That month of Vaishakha, even a small meritorious act alone in which would be equal to (merit done in) a day of Brahma, roars with sacrifices and austerities and giving of gifts. Even the quality of viciousness of a man who bathes and worships Vishnu at sunrise in the month of Vaishakha, tends to make his body pure due to his contact with a drop of water. Till that Virat, Vishnu, the dear lord of Rama (i.e. Lakshmi) does not arrive, sins, having got upon a man’s body move there. The steps which a man puts for going to a holy place in the month of Vaishakha, again become equal to horse-sacrifices, due to recollection of Shri Madhava (i.e. Vishnu) and by reciting his name. The month of Vaishakha, dear to Vishnu, burns, when a (daily) bath is taken during it, many grave sins like (the mountains) Meru and Mandara. О brahmana, to favour you, I have, in brief, told you this greatness of the month of Vaishakha, which destroys the sins of the listener. He too, who will devoutly listen to this account narrated by me, will be free from sins and will not see me. The many sins like the murder of a brahmana committed (by a man), definitely perish by performing the rites (narrated above) in Vaishakha. A man who has duly bathed during Vaishakha would liberate thirty former, thirty later dead ancestors, so also thirty far and near ancestors. On one side are all holy places and sacrifices with presents, and on the other side is the month of Vaishakha (in) which (the vows are) properly observed. Since this month of Vaishakha is very dear to that lord Vishnu of excellent deeds, it is superior to all (sacrifice etc.). О lord of the earth, having got what I told about the month of Vaishakha, do not entertain any doubt whatsoever. In this matter listen to a wonderful, old account. Though the account should not be told (to anyone), I shall tell it to you.

 

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