The Greatness ofPuskara; Pundarlka Attains Absorption into Vishnu

Narada said:

1. Hearing these words of him, the noble-minded Pundarika spoke to his brother, when his companions were listening: Pundarlka said:

2. O Bharata, tell me if you know due to which religious merit you died at this holy place. Your sin is quite well-known. Bharata said:

3-7. O Pundarlka, listen. I am telling you which religious merit I did in this existence, which gave (i.e. brought) me (to) this holy place. Once, after having snatched wealth, I, while coming back to my house, saw a dead, helpless child of someone in the market. Putting it on my head, taking it to the auspicious bank of Ganga and adorning it with a garment etc. I performed his funeral rites like burning his body. I spent all the wealth I had obtained through gambling. Due to that religious merit I secured (i.e. I reached) this holy place, bringing auspiciousness. Perform funeral rites of my body after burning it. shrl Narada said:

8-16. O king, when the funeral rites were performed, even the sinful Bharata went to heaven by the favour of this holy place. Now listen as to how Vishnu, Hari, lived for a month in Pundarika's house by the favour of this holy place. The pious °ne seeing that Bharata got felicity at this holy place, thought in his mind that this holy place gives desired objects. That wise Pundarika bathed at this holy place with this desire: 'May Vishnu in his original form live in my house during the month of Magha'. Having bathed with this desire he went home. O be-, t king, Pundarika told his brothers about the death of Bharata at this holy place giving all (desired) objects. They too, with their minds covered by Maya, having heard it, lamented. Then Pundarika, doing his (usual) rites at home, and being highly delighted, lived in his house thinking that Vishnu would come due to his penance. On the full-moon day of Pausa he celebrated a great festival, thinking that Hari would certainly come to his house the next day. He adorned his house by sprinkling it with sandal mixed with water, smearing it with cow-dung, and by arranging the quadrangle with pearls. He fed two hundred brahmanas with various kinds of food. He gratified them with profuse presents.

17-21. Singing at night with those skilled in playing on various musical instruments and singing sweet songs, he kept awake with his kinsmen. In the morning having dismissed all those singers etc., he with his mind longing for Vishnu's arrival sat in his house. Then sending back his vehicle from the vicinity of his (i.e. Pundarlka's) house, he (i.e. Vishnu) entered his house to do what was desired by his man. That Pundarika, having seen that Vishnu to have arrived, quickly got up from his seat, and saiuted him by (bending down) his head, O king. That pious one, delighted to see Visiiu, having worshipped him by offering him materials of worship etc. said to him, seated on a scat: Pundarika said:

22-29. You have very clearly done what removes the torment of the mundane existence. O Vishnu, you, causing preservation, stay here, till this pure penance would come to an end. Your Vaikuntha, free from all blemishes, exists there only where all your servants, serving (you) live. We have heard from the mouths of the good that, O lord, Vishnu lives in that house where your deeds are described. They indeed are the good, in whose speech remains your name, in whose hearts remains your handsome form, and in whose ears remain your virtues. They indeed are the good whose heart (longs) for your service, and on whose heads are the remains of an offering to you. O lord of Lakshmi, they alone are the good whose mind (views equally) their enemy and their friend, so also their gain and loss. O lord of Lakshmi, they alone are the good whose mind is not affected by emotions. The good live where you live; you live where the good live. So knowing Cme) to be good live in my house during (the month of) Magha. Narada said:

30. Vishnu, having heard these words of that Pundarlka, and brightening the quarters with the lustre of his teeth, said (these) words:

The lord said:

31-33. O you very intelligent one, you are the best among the virtuous men on the earth, since with a desire for my company you bathed at the holy place. O brahmana, get up. Bathe in the water of Ganga in Magha. At the end of Magha, on the full-moon day, I shall bathe you at Puskara. All that entire fruit due to bathing in the month of Magha at Prayaga, would be (obtained) due to bathing (just) on one day at the holy place, Puskara. Narada said:

34-42a. That best brahmana, Pundarlka, thus addressed by Vishnu, bathed in the water of Ganga, when the sun had slightly risen. Pundarlka actually worshipped the lotus-eyed (Vishnu) with tulasi(-leaves), blooming flowers, barley, saffron, sandal, and he waved five lights of camphor before the lord of Lakshmi, whose body was made fragrant with incenses of agaru. Having fed the lord of the world with four kinds of food, he fanned him lying on a jewelled bed with chowries. He shampooed the feet of the lord of Lakshmi. He gave him a tambula with camphor. Taking a mirror m his hand the best brahmana stood in front of Laksmf s lord when he was tying the turban. Thus the brahmana passed the entire month of Magha in worshipping (Vishnu) destroying the mundane existence and living in his house. Then on the fullmoon day at the end of Magha, he saw Garuda waiting in front °f him, who had come there on merely being remembered by the lord of Lakshmi. Seeing him, the lotus-eyed (Vishnu) said to Pundarlka:

The lord said:

42b-46. O best brahmana, listen to the words which I am speaking to you. I have given you — viz. that I lived (in your house) for a month — (what was desired by you), when you had by chance gone to the holy place Puskara situated in Indraprastha for a bath. O you very intelligent one, today having mounted upon the lord of birds with me go to that Puskara (again) which is the crest-jewel of all holy places. O brahmana, since I am at your disposal, I shall give you, bathing at the place giving the four goals of human life, whatever you desire. Your brother Bharata, though a sinner, desiring heaven got it when he died there. What else can be spoken about him? Narada said:

47-52. O lord of kings, having thus spoken to the best brahmana and putting him on the lord of birds, he came to that best holy place. From Pundarika's body a flash went out along with his vital breath and reached Vishnu's position. O king, Pundarika, by means of a bath at the holy place Puskara, situated in Indraprastha, obtained absorption into the lord. Thus by the solicitation of the holy place, even Vishnu happily lived in his house like his relative. Who can describe the greatness of Puskara situated in Indraprastha? I have described only a part equal to one fraction of a crore. O king, by devoutly listening to or by reciting the greatness, a man obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

 

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