Friday, December 13, 2024

The story of Alaksmi and Jyeṣṭhā – The Deity of Misfortune

Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

षष्ठोऽध्यायः
ṣaṣṭho’dhyāyaḥ

Chapter 6
The story of Alakṣmi


SYNOPSIS

This story, narrated by the sage Sūta, reveals the origin and nature of Jyeṣṭhā, the goddess of misfortune, and her role in the cosmic order as established by Lord Viṣṇu.

The Creation of Jyeṣṭhā and the Dual Forces of the Universe

  • Lord Viṣṇu, the eternal, omniscient creator and preserver of the universe, manifested two opposing aspects to balance creation:

    • Auspicious forces, represented by the Brāhmaṇas (priestly class), Vedas (sacred knowledge), virtues, Padmā (the lotus goddess), and Śrī Lakṣmī (the goddess of prosperity and fortune).
    • Inauspicious forces, represented by Jyeṣṭhā (misfortune), Alakṣmī (inauspiciousness), and sin, which symbolize negativity and chaos.
  • The inauspicious goddess Jyeṣṭhā was created first, making her the elder (hence the name Jyeṣṭhā). After her creation, Viṣṇu brought forth Padmā (Lakṣmī), the embodiment of auspiciousness, who later became his consort. This duality symbolizes the interplay between fortune and misfortune in the universe.

Jyeṣṭhā's Marriage to Sage Duḥṣāha

  • A sage named Duḥṣāha, attracted by Jyeṣṭhā despite her inauspicious nature, married her.

  • Together, they roamed the earth, but Jyeṣṭhā could not bear the atmosphere of auspicious places, such as:

    • Homes filled with the chanting of Vedic hymns.
    • Areas where sacrifices were performed, or the smoke of yajñas (rituals) rose.
    • Places where Viṣṇu and Śiva were worshipped with devotion.
  • In such environments, Jyeṣṭhā would close her eyes and ears in fear and discomfort. Her behavior left Duḥṣāha confused, and he sought guidance from the wise sage Mārkaṇḍeya.

Sage Mārkaṇḍeya's Counsel

  • Mārkaṇḍeya explained that Jyeṣṭhā was destined to thrive only in inauspicious and impure environments. He advised Duḥṣāha to take her to places where negativity and chaos prevailed.

  • He listed places suitable for Jyeṣṭhā's presence, such as:

    • Homes where family members quarrel constantly.
    • Residences devoid of devotion to Viṣṇu, Śiva, or Vedic rituals.
    • Houses with uncleanliness, neglect of religious duties, or sinful activities.
    • Places where selfishness, dishonesty, and moral decay were rampant.
    • Areas marked by heretic practices or the absence of respect for teachers, elders, or the divine.
  • Conversely, Mārkaṇḍeya detailed places that Jyeṣṭhā must avoid:

    • Homes of virtuous and devout individuals.
    • Places where the chanting of divine names, offerings, and sacred rites occur regularly.
    • Residences of those who follow dharma (righteousness) and engage in acts of selflessness and purity.

Jyeṣṭhā's Separation from Duḥṣāha

  • Following Mārkaṇḍeya’s guidance, Duḥṣāha eventually left Jyeṣṭhā at a cottage near a tank, intending to find a more suitable place for them in the underworld (Pātāla).
  • Feeling abandoned and destitute, Jyeṣṭhā appealed to Lord Viṣṇu for sustenance and shelter.

Lord Viṣṇu's Decree

  • In response to Jyeṣṭhā’s plea, Lord Viṣṇu granted her the right to reside in the wealth, homes, and possessions of those who:
    • Neglected worship of Śiva and Viṣṇu.
    • Disregarded Vedic rituals and dharma.
    • Engaged in sinful or immoral behavior.
  • Viṣṇu further decreed that devotees of Śrī Lakṣmī, Viṣṇu, and Śiva must offer propitiation to Jyeṣṭhā to ensure her absence from their homes.

The Role of Jyeṣṭhā in the Cosmic Order

  • Jyeṣṭhā’s existence serves as a reminder of the consequences of neglecting spiritual duties, morality, and devotion.
  • Her presence represents misfortune and inauspiciousness, but her power is limited by the strength of faith and righteous conduct.
  • Viṣṇu’s devotees acknowledge her presence and offer small sacrifices to ensure that she does not disturb their prosperity and peace.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

  • The tale emphasizes the duality of fortune and misfortune, showing that both have a purpose in maintaining balance in the universe.
  • Devotion to Viṣṇu and Śiva, adherence to dharma, and the performance of sacred rites are essential to ward off inauspiciousness.
  • The narrative serves as a cautionary tale against neglecting spiritual practices and living a life of disorder and sin.

Conclusion and Blessing

  • Sūta concludes the story by highlighting its spiritual merit:
    • Those who narrate, read, or listen to this story with devotion are relieved of sins, gain wealth, and ultimately attain mokṣa (liberation).
    • The story thus serves as both a warning and a guide for leading a righteous and harmonious life.

Chapter 6


ऋषय ऊचुः
मायावित्यं श्रुतं विष्णोर्देवदेवस्य धीमतः । 
कथं ज्येष्ठासमुत्पत्तिर्देवदेवाज्जनार्दनात्॥१॥ 
वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं लोमहर्षण तत्त्वतः ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ
māyāvityaṃ śrutaṃ viṣṇordevadevasya dhīmataḥ | 
kathaṃ jyeṣṭhāsamutpattirdevadevājjanārdanāt||1|| 
vaktumarhasi cāsmākaṃ lomaharṣaṇa tattvataḥ |

The sages said-
O Lomaharṣaṇa, the Māyā of intelligent Viṣṇu - the lord of the Devas, has been listened to. How did Jyeṣṭhā - the deity of misfortune, originated from Viṣṇu - the lord of the Devas? It would be in the fitness of things in case you narrate the story about the same.

सूत उवाच
अनादिनिधनः श्रीमान्धाता नारायणः प्रभुः ॥ २ ॥ 
जगद्द्वैधमिदं चक्रे मोहनाय जगत्पतिः ।
विष्णुर्वै ब्राह्मणान्वेदान्वेदधर्मान् सनातनान्॥३॥
श्रियं पद्मां तथा श्रेष्ठां भागमेकमकारयत् ।
ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीमशुभां वेदबाह्यान्नराधमान्॥४॥
अधर्मं च महातेजा भागमेकमकल्पयत् ।
अलक्ष्मीमग्रतः सृष्ट्वा पश्चात्पद्मां जनार्दनः ॥ ५ ॥
ज्येष्ठा तेन समाख्याता अलक्ष्मीर्द्विजसत्तमाः ।
अमृतोद्भववेलायां विषानंतरमुल्बणात्॥६॥
अशुभ सा तथोत्पन्ना ज्येष्ठा इति च वै श्रुतम् ।
ततः श्रीश्च समुत्पन्ना पद्मा विष्णुपरिग्रहः ॥७॥

sūta uvāca
anādinidhanaḥ śrīmāndhātā nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ || 2 || 
jagaddvaidhamidaṃ cakre mohanāya jagatpatiḥ |
viṣṇurvai brāhmaṇānvedānvedadharmān sanātanān||3||
śriyaṃ padmāṃ tathā śreṣṭhāṃ bhāgamekamakārayat |
jyeṣṭhāmalakṣmīmaśubhāṃ vedabāhyānnarādhamān||4||
adharmaṃ ca mahātejā bhāgamekamakalpayat |
alakṣmīmagrataḥ sṛṣṭvā paścātpadmāṃ janārdanaḥ || 5 ||
jyeṣṭhā tena samākhyātā alakṣmīrdvijasattamāḥ |
amṛtodbhavavelāyāṃ viṣānaṃtaramulbaṇāt||6||
aśubha sā tathotpannā jyeṣṭhā iti ca vai śrutam |
tataḥ śrīśca samutpannā padmā viṣṇuparigrahaḥ ||7||

Sūta said-
In order to delude the universe, the glorious lord Viṣṇu, who is without beginning or end and is the lord of the universe, created the two-fold aspects of the universe. Viṣṇu created one set consisting of the Brāhmaṇas, Vedas, Vedic virtues, Padmā and   Śrī Lakṣmī. The god of the great refulgence made another set comprising of Jyeṣṭhā, Alakṣmī, the base of me, excluded from the Vedic sphere as well as the sin. It was after creating Alakṣmī at the outset that Viṣṇu created Padmā. Therefore, Alakṣmī is Jyeṣṭhā (the elder). O excellent Brāhmaṇas, at the outcome of nectar soon after the terribly potent poison, the inauspicious Jyeṣṭhā was born. It is so heard. Thereof, Śrī Padmā was born, who subsequently became the wife of lord Viṣṇu.

दुः सहो नाम विप्रर्षिरुपयेमेऽशुभां तदा । 
ज्येष्ठां तां परिपूर्णोऽसौ मनसा वीक्ष्य धिष्ठिताम् ॥ ८ ॥ 
लोकं चचार हृष्टात्मा तया सह मुनिस्तदा । 
यस्मिन् घोषो हरेश्चैव हरस्य च महात्मनः॥९॥ 
वेदघोषस्तथा विप्रा होमधूमस्तथैव च ।
भस्मांगिनो वा यत्रासंस्तत्र तत्र भयार्दिता ॥ १०॥
पिधाय कर्णौ संयाति धावमाना इतस्ततः । 
ज्येष्ठामेवंविधां दृष्ट्वा दुःसहो मोहमागतः ॥ ११॥
तया सह वनं गत्वा चचार स महामुनिः ।
तपो महद्वने घोरे याति कन्या प्रतिग्रहम् ॥ १२॥
न करिष्यामि चेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिज्ञाय च तामृषिः ।
योगज्ञानपरः शुद्धो यत्र योगीश्वरो मुनिः ॥ १३॥
तत्रायांतं महात्मानं मार्कण्डेयमपश्यत ।
प्रणिपत्य महात्मानं दुःसहो मुनिमब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥
भार्येयं भगवन्मह्यं न स्थास्यति कथञ्चन ।
किं करोमीति विप्रर्षे ह्यनया सह भार्यया ॥ १५ ॥
प्रविशामि तथा कुत्र कुतो न प्रविशाम्यहम् ।

duḥ saho nāma viprarṣirupayeme’śubhāṃ tadā | 
jyeṣṭhāṃ tāṃ paripūrṇo’sau manasā vīkṣya dhiṣṭhitām || 8 || 
lokaṃ cacāra hṛṣṭātmā tayā saha munistadā | 
yasmin ghoṣo hareścaiva harasya ca mahātmanaḥ||9|| 
vedaghoṣastathā viprā homadhūmastathaiva ca |
bhasmāṃgino vā yatrāsaṃstatra tatra bhayārditā || 10||
pidhāya karṇau saṃyāti dhāvamānā itastataḥ | 
jyeṣṭhāmevaṃvidhāṃ dṛṣṭvā duḥsaho mohamāgataḥ || 11||
tayā saha vanaṃ gatvā cacāra sa mahāmuniḥ |
tapo mahadvane ghore yāti kanyā pratigraham || 12||
na kariṣyāmi cetyuktvā pratijñāya ca tāmṛṣiḥ |
yogajñānaparaḥ śuddho yatra yogīśvaro muniḥ || 13||
tatrāyāṃtaṃ mahātmānaṃ mārkaṇḍeyamapaśyata |
praṇipatya mahātmānaṃ duḥsaho munimabravīt || 14 ||
bhāryeyaṃ bhagavanmahyaṃ na sthāsyati kathañcana |
kiṃ karomīti viprarṣe hyanayā saha bhāryayā || 15 ||
praviśāmi tathā kutra kuto na praviśāmyaham |

A Brāhmanical sage Duḥṣāha married the inauspicious Jyeṣṭhā after seeing her fully stabilised. Accompanied with her, the delighted sage wandered all round the world. O Brāhmaṇas, wherever there was a loud chanting sounds of the names of Viṣṇu and  Śiva - the great souls, wherever there was a loud sound of the Vedic hymns, wherever there was a big column of smoke from sacrifices and wherever there were people with their limbs smeared with ashes, the deity of misfortune was extremely frightened. She used to close her ears and eyes here and there. On seeing Jyeṣṭhā thus behaving, Duḥṣāha became confused and bewildered. Accompanied by her, he went to the forest. In the terrible forest, he performed a great penance. The girl Jyeṣṭhā roamed from house to house. The pious sage, who was a leading yogin, devoted to the yogic practices and possessed perfect wisdom, once saw the noble sage Mārkaṇḍeya, arriving in the forest. Bowing down to the great sage, he said to him- "O great sage, my wife does not pull on well with me in any way. O Brāhmana Muni, what shall I do with this wife? Where should I enter and where should I not?"

मार्कण्डेय उवाच
शृणु दुःसह सर्वज्ञ अकीर्तिरशुभान्विता ॥१६॥ 
अलक्ष्मीरतुला चेयं ज्येष्ठा इत्यभिशब्दिता । 
नारायणपरा यत्र वेदमार्गानुसारिणः ॥ १७ ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
śṛṇu duḥsaha sarvajña akīrtiraśubhānvitā ||16|| 
alakṣmīratulā ceyaṃ jyeṣṭhā ityabhiśabditā | 
nārāyaṇaparā yatra vedamārgānusāriṇaḥ || 17 ||

Mārkaṇḍeya said-
"All such places. She would enter all such places, which are inauspicious and full of disrepute, Alakṣmī, (misfortune), Atula (unbalanced), and Jyeṣṭhā (the eldest). By no means should she enter the places of the noble souls who are devoted to Viṣṇu following the Vedic path, as well as the devotees of Rudra having dusted and smeared their bodies with ashes.

रुद्रभक्ता महात्मानो भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः ।
स्थिता यत्र जना नित्यं मा विशेथाः कथञ्चन ॥ १८ ॥ 
नारायण हृषीकेश पुण्डरीकाक्ष माधव । 
अच्युतानंत गोविंद वासुदेव जनार्दन ॥१९॥
रुद्र रुद्रेति रुद्रेति शिवाय च नमो नमः । 
नमः शिवतरायेति शङ्करायेति सर्वदा ॥२०॥ 
महादेव महादेव महादेवेति कीर्तयेत् । 
उपमायाः पतये चैव हिरण्यपतये सदा ॥ २१॥ 
हिरण्यबाहवे तुभ्यं वृषाङ्काय नमो नमः । 
नृसिंह वामनाचिंत्य माधवेति च ये जनाः ॥ २२ ॥ 
वक्ष्यंति सततं हृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियास्तथा ।
 वैश्याः शूद्राश्च ये नित्यं तेषां धनगृहादिषु । 
आरामे चैव गोष्ठेषु न विशेथाः कथञ्चन ॥ २३ ॥

rudrabhaktā mahātmāno bhasmoddhūlitavigrahāḥ |
sthitā yatra janā nityaṃ mā viśethāḥ kathañcana || 18 || 
nārāyaṇa hṛṣīkeśa puṇḍarīkākṣa mādhava | 
acyutānaṃta goviṃda vāsudeva janārdana ||19||
rudra rudreti rudreti śivāya ca namo namaḥ | 
namaḥ śivatarāyeti śaṅkarāyeti sarvadā ||20|| 
mahādeva mahādeva mahādeveti kīrtayet | 
upamāyāḥ pataye caiva hiraṇyapataye sadā || 21|| 
hiraṇyabāhave tubhyaṃ vṛṣāṅkāya namo namaḥ | 
nṛsiṃha vāmanāciṃtya mādhaveti ca ye janāḥ || 22 || 
vakṣyaṃti satataṃ hṛṣṭā brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyāstathā |
 vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśca ye nityaṃ teṣāṃ dhanagṛhādiṣu | 
ārāme caiva goṣṭheṣu na viśethāḥ kathañcana || 23 ||

By no means should she enter the precincts of parks, cowpens, wealth and the abodes of such delighted Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras, who offer prayer to Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Mādhava, Acyuta, Ananta, Govinda, Vāsudeva, Janārdana, Rudra, devotees of Rudra, or the places of tapas for Śiva or where salutation is offered to the auspicious Śiva, Mahādeva, salutation to the consort of Umā, to the lord of gold. Salutation to you with golden arms, salutation to bull-bannered lord, Narasimha, Vāmana, the incomprehensible one, O Mahādeva.

ज्वालामालाकरालं च सहस्रादित्यसन्निभम् ।
चक्रं विष्णोरतीवोग्रं तेषां हंति सदाशुभम् ॥ २४ ॥

jvālāmālākarālaṃ ca sahasrādityasannibham |
cakraṃ viṣṇoratīvograṃ teṣāṃ haṃti sadāśubham || 24 ||

Lord Viṣṇu's discus is quite terrible with a cluster of flames that resembles a thousand suns, dispelling people's inauspiciousness forever.

स्वाहाकारो वषट्कारो गृहे यस्मिन् हि वर्तते । 
तद्धित्वा चान्यमागच्छ सामघोषोथ यत्र वा ॥ २५ ॥ 
वेदाभ्यासरता नित्यं नित्यकर्मपरायणाः । 
वासुदेवार्चनरता दूरतस्तान्विसर्जयेत् ॥ २६॥

svāhākāro vaṣaṭkāro gṛhe yasmin hi vartate | 
taddhitvā cānyamāgaccha sāmaghoṣotha yatra vā || 25 || 
vedābhyāsaratā nityaṃ nityakarmaparāyaṇāḥ | 
vāsudevārcanaratā dūratastānvisarjayet || 26||

Avoid the house where there is Svāhākāra or Vaṣaṭkāra and go elsewhere. Discard from a distance the places where there is a loud chanting of the Sāmana hymns where the people are engrossed in chanting the Vedic hymns and where the people are engaged in repeating the Sāmana hymns, devoted to the rituals of their deity and the houses where the worshippers of Vāsudeva are present.

अग्निहोत्रं गृहे येषां लिङ्गार्चा वा गृहेषु च । 
वासुदेवतनुर्वापि चण्डिका यत्र तिष्ठति॥२७॥ 
दूरतो व्रज तान् हित्वा सर्वपापविवर्जितान् । 
नित्यनैमित्तिकैर्यज्ञैर्यजंति च महेश्वरम् ॥२८॥ 
तान् हित्वा व्रज चान्यत्र दुःसह त्वं सहानया । 
श्रोत्रिया ब्राह्मणा गावो गुरवोऽतिथयः सदा ॥ २९॥ 
रुद्रभक्ताश्च पूज्यंते यैर्नित्यं तान् विवर्जयेत् ।

agnihotraṃ gṛhe yeṣāṃ liṅgārcā vā gṛheṣu ca | 
vāsudevatanurvāpi caṇḍikā yatra tiṣṭhati||27|| 
dūrato vraja tān hitvā sarvapāpavivarjitān | 
nityanaimittikairyajñairyajaṃti ca maheśvaram ||28|| 
tān hitvā vraja cānyatra duḥsaha tvaṃ sahānayā | 
śrotriyā brāhmaṇā gāvo guravo’tithayaḥ sadā || 29|| 
rudrabhaktāśca pūjyaṃte yairnityaṃ tān vivarjayet |

Avoid the persons or the houses where the holy Agni hotra is performed, where the liṅga is worshipped, and the places where the images of Vāsudeva and Caṇḍikā are present. Avoid persons who are free from all the sins and move away from them. Avoid the devotees of Maheśvara by means of obligatory and conditional yajñas. O Duḥṣāha, go elsewhere, where along with the lady, you must disown these persons by whom the Brahmā well-versed in Śrutis, cows, preceptors, guests, and devotees of Rudra are always worshipped.

दुःसह उवाच
यस्मिन्प्रवेशो योग्यो मे तद्ब्रूहि मुनिसत्तम ॥३०॥ 
त्वद्वाक्याद्भयनिर्मुक्तो विशान्मेषां गृहे सदा ।

duḥsaha uvāca
yasminpraveśo yogyo me tadbrūhi munisattama ||30|| 
tvadvākyādbhayanirmukto viśānmeṣāṃ gṛhe sadā |

Duḥṣāha said-
O excellent sage, point out to me the places, where I can enter without fear at your instance.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच
न श्रोत्रिया द्विजा गावो गुरवोऽतिथयः सदा । 
यत्र भर्ता च भार्या च परस्परविरोधिनौ ॥ ३१॥ 
सभार्यस्त्वं गृहं तस्य विशेथा भयवर्जितः । 
देवदेवो महादेवो रुद्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः॥३२॥ 
विनिंद्यो यत्र भगवान् विशश्व भयवर्जितः । 
वासुदेवरतिर्नास्ति यत्र नास्ति सदाशिवः ॥३३॥ 
जपहोमादिकं नास्ति भस्म नास्ति गृहे नृणाम् । 
पर्वण्यभयर्चनं नास्ति चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः ॥ ३४॥ 
कृष्णाष्टम्यां च रुद्रस्य संध्यायां भस्मवर्जिताः । 
चतुर्दश्या महादेवं न यजंति च यत्र वै ॥ ३५ ॥ 
विष्णोर्नानविहीनां ये सङ्गताश्च दुरात्मभिः । 
नमः कृष्णाय शर्वाय शिवाय परमेष्ठिने ॥ ३६॥ 
ब्राह्मणाश्च नरा मूढा न वदंति दुरात्मकाः ।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
na śrotriyā dvijā gāvo guravo’tithayaḥ sadā | 
yatra bhartā ca bhāryā ca parasparavirodhinau || 31|| 
sabhāryastvaṃ gṛhaṃ tasya viśethā bhayavarjitaḥ | 
devadevo mahādevo rudrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ||32|| 
viniṃdyo yatra bhagavān viśaśva bhayavarjitaḥ | 
vāsudevaratirnāsti yatra nāsti sadāśivaḥ ||33|| 
japahomādikaṃ nāsti bhasma nāsti gṛhe nṛṇām | 
parvaṇyabhayarcanaṃ nāsti caturdaśyāṃ viśeṣataḥ || 34|| 
kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṃ ca rudrasya saṃdhyāyāṃ bhasmavarjitāḥ | 
caturdaśyā mahādevaṃ na yajaṃti ca yatra vai || 35 || 
viṣṇornānavihīnāṃ ye saṅgatāśca durātmabhiḥ | 
namaḥ kṛṣṇāya śarvāya śivāya parameṣṭhine || 36|| 
brāhmaṇāśca narā mūḍhā na vadaṃti durātmakāḥ |

Mārkaṇḍeya said-
Getting relieved of fear and together with your wife, you can enter the houses, where the husband and wife are at loggerheads and where the Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedic lores, as well as the cows, preceptors are never found present. Completely fearlessly, you can enter the place where Rudra - the lord of Devas, Mahādeva, the lord of the three worlds, is disposed. O dear one, in company with your wife, enter the house where there is no devotion to Vāsudeva, Sadāśiva, japams, and homas are not performed or the ashes are not applied over the bodies, where Rudra is not worshipped on the fourteenth and eighths days of the dark fortnights, where the people do not apply bhaṣma. They are not devoted to Viṣṇu and are associated with evil women or wicked men. Together with your wife, you shall enter the houses of even those who do not repeat their salutation to Kṛṣna, to Sarva, to Śiva and Parameṣṭhī. 

तत्रैव सततं वत्स सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ॥ ३७ ॥ 
वेदघोषो न यत्रास्ति गुरुपूजादयो न च । 
पितृकार्यविहीनांस्तु सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ॥ ३८ ॥

tatraiva satataṃ vatsa sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa || 37 || 
vedaghoṣo na yatrāsti gurupūjādayo na ca | 
pitṛkāryavihīnāṃstu sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa || 38 ||

Accompanied by your wife, you should enter those places where there is no loud sound of the chanting of the Vedic hymns, where the preceptors are not worshipped or the places where the people do not worship their ancestors.

गृहे यस्मिन् कलहो वर्तते मिथः ।
अनया सार्धमनिशं विश त्वं भयवर्जितः ॥ ३९॥

gṛhe yasmin kalaho vartate mithaḥ |
anayā sārdhamaniśaṃ viśa tvaṃ bhayavarjitaḥ || 39||

Devoid of fear and accompanied by this lady, always enter the house where there is always a mutual quarrel between the inmates every night.

लिङ्गार्चनं यस्य नास्ति यस्य नास्ति जपादिकम् । 
रुद्रभक्तिर्विनिंदा च तत्रैव विश निर्भयः ॥ ४०॥

liṅgārcanaṃ yasya nāsti yasya nāsti japādikam | 
rudrabhaktirviniṃdā ca tatraiva viśa nirbhayaḥ || 40||

Fearlessly enter a place where there is a liṇga that is not worshipped and men do not perform japa and where Rudra is not adored with devotion.

अतिथिः श्रोक्षियो वापि गुरुर्वा वैष्णवोपि वा ।
न संति यद्गृहे गावः सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश॥४१॥

atithiḥ śrokṣiyo vāpi gururvā vaiṣṇavopi vā |
na saṃti yadgṛhe gāvaḥ sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa||41||

Accompanied by your wife, you enter the house where there is no preceptor and which is deprived of a Vaiṣnava or a cow.

बालानां प्रेक्षमाणानां यत्रादत्त्वा त्वभक्षयन् । 
भक्ष्याणि तत्र संहृष्टः सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ॥ ४२ ॥

bālānāṃ prekṣamāṇānāṃ yatrādattvā tvabhakṣayan | 
bhakṣyāṇi tatra saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa || 42 ||

You enter with delight, together with your wife, to a place where the people eat food without giving it to the children, who keep on watching the same.

अनभ्यर्च्य महादेवं वासुदेवमथापि वा ।
अहुत्वा विधिवद्यत्र तत्र नित्यं समाविश ॥ ४३ ॥

anabhyarcya mahādevaṃ vāsudevamathāpi vā |
ahutvā vidhivadyatra tatra nityaṃ samāviśa || 43 ||

Always enter the place where the people do not worship Mahādeva, Vāsudeva, or perform the sacrifices in a proper manner.

पापकर्मरता मूढा दयाहीनाः परस्परम्।
गृहे यस्मिन्समासंते देशे वा तत्र संविश ॥ ४४ ॥

pāpakarmaratā mūḍhā dayāhīnāḥ parasparam|
gṛhe yasminsamāsaṃte deśe vā tatra saṃviśa || 44 ||

You can delightfully enter with your wife at a place where the people are indulged in sinful activities and the cruel people have no co-operation among themselves. You should enter such a house.

प्राकारागारविध्वंसा न चैवेड्या कुटुंबिनी ।
तद्गृहं तु समासाद्य वस नित्यं हि हृष्टधीः ॥ ४५ ॥

prākārāgāravidhvaṃsā na caiveḍyā kuṭuṃbinī |
tadgṛhaṃ tu samāsādya vasa nityaṃ hi hṛṣṭadhīḥ || 45 ||

Reaching those places, where the damsels of the houses never keep secrets and destroy the domestic felicity, is never worthy of praise. Always stay there with a delighted mind.

यत्र कंटकिनो वृक्षा यत्र निष्पाववल्लरी | 
ब्रह्मवृक्षश्च यत्रास्ति सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ॥ ४६ ॥ 
अगस्त्यार्कादयो वापि बंधुजीवो गृहेषु वै । 
करवीरो विशेषेण नंद्यावर्तमथापि वा ॥४७॥ 
मल्लिका वा गृहे येषां सभार्यस्त्वंसमाविश । 
कन्या च यत्र वै वल्ली द्रोही वा च जटी गृहे ॥ ४८ ॥
बहुला कदली यत्र सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ।
तालं तमालं भल्लातं तित्तिडीखण्डमेव च॥ ४९ ॥
कदंबः खादिरं वापि सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश । 
न्यग्रोधं वा गृहे येषामश्वत्थं चूतमेव वा ॥ ५० ॥ 
उदुंबरं वा पनसंसभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ।
यस्य काकगृहं निंबे आरामे वा गृहेपि वा ॥ ५१ ॥ 
दण्डनी मुण्डिनी वापि सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ।

yatra kaṃṭakino vṛkṣā yatra niṣpāvavallarī | 
brahmavṛkṣaśca yatrāsti sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa || 46 || 
agastyārkādayo vāpi baṃdhujīvo gṛheṣu vai | 
karavīro viśeṣeṇa naṃdyāvartamathāpi vā ||47|| 
mallikā vā gṛhe yeṣāṃ sabhāryastvaṃsamāviśa | 
kanyā ca yatra vai vallī drohī vā ca jaṭī gṛhe || 48 ||
bahulā kadalī yatra sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa |
tālaṃ tamālaṃ bhallātaṃ tittiḍīkhaṇḍameva ca|| 49 ||
kadaṃbaḥ khādiraṃ vāpi sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa | 
nyagrodhaṃ vā gṛhe yeṣāmaśvatthaṃ cūtameva vā || 50 || 
uduṃbaraṃ vā panasaṃsabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa |
yasya kākagṛhaṃ niṃbe ārāme vā gṛhepi vā || 51 || 
daṇḍanī muṇḍinī vāpi sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa |

Together with your wife, you can enter the place, full of thorny trees and winding creepers of Niṣpāva, Brahmavṛkṣas. In case, the trees like Agastya, Arka, Bandhujīva, Karavīra in particular, Nandyāvarta, Mallikā, Kanyā - the creeping plant, Drohī, Jatī, the black plantain, Tāla, Tamāla, Bhallāta, Tittiḍinkhaṇḍa, Kadamba, Nyagrodha, Aśvastha, Cūta, Uḍumbara and Panasa (are there, you may enter that place). In case, there is a Nimba tree in any park or a house sheltering the crows, enter that in the company of your wife. If there is a Daṇḍinī or a Muṇḍinī at some place, then you can enter it with your wife there.

एका दासी गृहे यत्र त्रिगवं पञ्चमाहिषम् ॥ ५२ ॥ 
षडश्वं सप्तमातङ्गं सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश । 
यस्य काली गृहे देवी प्रेतरूपा च डाकिनी ॥५३॥ 
क्षेत्रपालोथवा यत्र सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश । 
भिक्षुबिंबं च वै यस्य गृहे क्षपणकं तथा ॥ ५४ ॥ 
बौद्धं वा बिंबमासाद्य तत्र पूर्णं समाविश । 
शयनासनकालेषु भोजनाटनवृत्तिषु ॥५५ ॥ 
येषां वदति नो वाणी नामानि च हरेः सदा । 
तद्गृहं ते समाख्यातं सभार्यस्य निवेशितुम् ॥५६॥

ekā dāsī gṛhe yatra trigavaṃ pañcamāhiṣam || 52 || 
ṣaḍaśvaṃ saptamātaṅgaṃ sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa | 
yasya kālī gṛhe devī pretarūpā ca ḍākinī ||53|| 
kṣetrapālothavā yatra sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa | 
bhikṣubiṃbaṃ ca vai yasya gṛhe kṣapaṇakaṃ tathā || 54 || 
bauddhaṃ vā biṃbamāsādya tatra pūrṇaṃ samāviśa | 
śayanāsanakāleṣu bhojanāṭanavṛttiṣu ||55 || 
yeṣāṃ vadati no vāṇī nāmāni ca hareḥ sadā | 
tadgṛhaṃ te samākhyātaṃ sabhāryasya niveśitum ||56||

Together with your wife, you enter the house where there is a single maidservant, three cows, five buffaloes, six horses, or seven elephants; you enter the house with your wife, of the person, whose household deity is Kālī Dākinī of the form of a ghost or a kṣetrapala - guardian of a center; you can enter the house freely wherein the image of Buddhist mendicant or a Buddhist anchorite or the statue of Buddha is found installed. The house of the people who do not recite the names of Viṣṇu when going to bed, taking up a seat, or moving about in the course of their activities like taking food, etc., would belong to you. Enter such houses accompanied by your wife.

पाषण्डाचारनिरताः श्रोतस्मार्तबहिष्कृताः । 
विष्णुभक्तिविनिर्मुक्ता महादेवविनिंदकाः ॥ ५७ ॥ 
नास्तिकाश्च शठा यत्र सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश । 
सर्वस्मादधिकत्वं ये न वदंति पिनाकिनः ॥ ५८ ॥ 
साधारणं स्मरंत्येनं सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश । 
ब्रह्मा च भगवान्विष्णुः शक्रः सर्वसुरेश्वरः ॥५९॥ 
रुद्रप्रसादजाश्चेति न वदंति दुरात्मकाः ।
ब्रह्मा च भगवान्विष्णुः शक्रश्च सम एव च ॥६०॥ 
वदंति मूढाः खद्योतं भानुं वा मूढचेतसः । 
तेषां गृहे तथा क्षेत्र आवासे वा सदाऽनया ॥ ६१॥

pāṣaṇḍācāraniratāḥ śrotasmārtabahiṣkṛtāḥ | 
viṣṇubhaktivinirmuktā mahādevaviniṃdakāḥ || 57 || 
nāstikāśca śaṭhā yatra sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa | 
sarvasmādadhikatvaṃ ye na vadaṃti pinākinaḥ || 58 || 
sādhāraṇaṃ smaraṃtyenaṃ sabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa | 
brahmā ca bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śakraḥ sarvasureśvaraḥ ||59|| 
rudraprasādajāśceti na vadaṃti durātmakāḥ |
brahmā ca bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śakraśca sama eva ca ||60|| 
vadaṃti mūḍhāḥ khadyotaṃ bhānuṃ vā mūḍhacetasaḥ | 
teṣāṃ gṛhe tathā kṣetra āvāse vā sadā’nayā || 61||

In the company of your wife, you enter the place where the people are engaged in heretic activities or the people excluded from the sacred rites prescribed in the Vedas, Smṛits, or the persons devoid of the devotion to lord Viṣṇu, the people who denounce Mahādeva, atheists, and knaves. You can enter with your wife abodes of such persons who do not adore the Pināka bearing lord or consider him as an ordinary god. It is only the wicked who do not say that the Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Indra - the ruler of the gods, are all born by the grace of Rudra. Only the foolish people of deranged minds would say that the glow worm or the sun are equals. They would say that Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Indra are equal to lord Śiva. Even when their houses are full and flourishing, enter them without fear and enjoy yourself with your wife.

विश भुंक्ष्व गृहं तेषां अपि पूर्णमनन्यधीः । 
येश्नंति केवलं मूढाः पक्वमन्नं विचेतसः ॥६२॥ 
स्नानमङ्गलहीनाश्च तेषां त्व गृहमाविश । 
या नारी शौचविभ्रष्टा देहसंस्कारवर्जिता ॥ ६३ ॥ 
सर्वभक्षरता नित्यं तस्या: स्थाने समाविश । 
मलिनास्याः स्वयं मर्त्या मलिनांबरधारिणः ॥ ६४ ॥ 
लदंता गृहस्थाश्च गृहे तेषां समाविश । 
पादशौचविनिर्मुक्ताः संध्याकाले च शायिनः ॥ ६५ ॥ 
संध्यायामश्न ते ये वै गृहं तेषां समाविश ।

viśa bhuṃkṣva gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ api pūrṇamananyadhīḥ | 
yeśnaṃti kevalaṃ mūḍhāḥ pakvamannaṃ vicetasaḥ ||62|| 
snānamaṅgalahīnāśca teṣāṃ tva gṛhamāviśa | 
yā nārī śaucavibhraṣṭā dehasaṃskāravarjitā || 63 || 
sarvabhakṣaratā nityaṃ tasyā: sthāne samāviśa | 
malināsyāḥ svayaṃ martyā malināṃbaradhāriṇaḥ || 64 || 
ladaṃtā gṛhasthāśca gṛhe teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
pādaśaucavinirmuktāḥ saṃdhyākāle ca śāyinaḥ || 65 || 
saṃdhyāyāmaśna te ye vai gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ samāviśa |

You enter the abodes of such foolish people who consume the cooked food by themselves and are devoid of the welfare ceremonies and remain without a bath. Enter the houses where the ladies are devoid of noble habits of cleanliness of the bodies and other auspicious saṁskāras and engage themselves in consuming the forbidden food. Enter such a house where people have dirty faces and are clad in dirty costumes, besides those whose teeth are dirty. Enter the houses of such people who never clean their houses properly, sleep during the evening, and take food in the evening. You can enter such houses.

अत्याशनरता मर्त्या अतिपानरता नराः ॥ ६६॥ 
द्यूतवादक्रियामूढाः गृहे तेषां समाविश । 
ब्रह्मस्वहारिणो ये चायोग्यांश्चैव यजंति वा ॥ ६७॥ 
शूद्रान्न भोजिनो वापि गृहं तेषां समाविश ।
मद्यपानरताः पापा मांसभक्षणतत्पराः ॥ ६८ ॥

atyāśanaratā martyā atipānaratā narāḥ || 66|| 
dyūtavādakriyāmūḍhāḥ gṛhe teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
brahmasvahāriṇo ye cāyogyāṃścaiva yajaṃti vā || 67|| 
śūdrānna bhojino vāpi gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ samāviśa |
madyapānaratāḥ pāpā māṃsabhakṣaṇatatparāḥ || 68 ||

Enter the people's houses who are gluttons, drunkards, foolish, and gamblers and enter into useless controversy. You can also enter the people's houses who usurp the riches of the Brāhmaṇas and eat the food cooked by the  Śūdras. Enter the house of the people who drink wine, eat meat, and are engaged in desecrating the chastity of the other's wife.

परदाररता मर्त्या गृहं तेषां समाविश । 
पर्वण्यनर्चाभिरता मैथुने वा दिवा रताः ॥ ६९॥ 
संध्यायां मैथुनं येषां गृहे तेषां समाविश । 
पृष्ठतो मैथुनं येषां श्वानवन्मृगवच्च वा ॥७०॥ 
जले वा मैथुनं कुर्यात्सभार्यत्वं समाविश । 
रजस्वलां स्त्रियं गच्छेच्चाण्डालीं वा नराधमः ॥७१॥ 
कन्यां वा गोगगृहे वापि गृहं तेषां समाविश । 
बहुना किं प्रलापेन नित्यकर्मबहिष्कृताः ॥ ७२ ॥ 
रुद्रभक्तिविहीना ये गृहं तेषां समाविश । 
शृङ्गैर्दिव्यौषधैः क्षुद्रैः शेफ आलिप्य गच्छति ॥ ७३॥ 
भगद्रावं करोत्यस्मात्सभार्यस्त्वं समाविश ।

paradāraratā martyā gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
parvaṇyanarcābhiratā maithune vā divā ratāḥ || 69|| 
saṃdhyāyāṃ maithunaṃ yeṣāṃ gṛhe teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
pṛṣṭhato maithunaṃ yeṣāṃ śvānavanmṛgavacca vā ||70|| 
jale vā maithunaṃ kuryātsabhāryatvaṃ samāviśa | 
rajasvalāṃ striyaṃ gaccheccāṇḍālīṃ vā narādhamaḥ ||71|| 
kanyāṃ vā gogagṛhe vāpi gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
bahunā kiṃ pralāpena nityakarmabahiṣkṛtāḥ || 72 || 
rudrabhaktivihīnā ye gṛhaṃ teṣāṃ samāviśa | 
śṛṅgairdivyauṣadhaiḥ kṣudraiḥ śepha ālipya gacchati || 73|| 
bhagadrāvaṃ karotyasmātsabhāryastvaṃ samāviśa |

Enter the houses of the people who unite with the women during the daytime, who do not recite scriptures on festive occasions, or who unite with their wives during the evening time or in the water. You enter the houses of such people with your wife. You enter the house of a person who cohabits like the dogs or animals in the water. You enter the house of the degraded people who cohabit with a woman in period, or a Cāṇḍālī woman in a cowpen. What is the use of excessive talk, you enter the house in which the daily auspicious rites are not performed or are devoid of the devotion of Rudra; you enter the house of the people who cohabit with the artificial liṅga or by applying artificial medicines over the liṅga. Enter the houses of such people."

सूत उवाच
इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिः श्रीमान्निर्माज्य नयने तदा ॥ ७४ ॥ 
ब्रह्मर्षिर्ब्रह्मसङ्काशस्तत्रैवांतर्द्धिमातनोत् ।
दुःसहश्च तथोक्तानि स्थानानि च समीयिवान् ॥ ७५ ॥
विशेषाद्देवदेवस्य विष्णोर्निदारतात्मनाम्।
सभार्यो मुनिशूर्दूलः सैषा ज्येष्ठा इति स्मृता ॥ ७६ ॥

sūta uvāca
ityuktvā sa muniḥ śrīmānnirmājya nayane tadā || 74 || 
brahmarṣirbrahmasaṅkāśastatraivāṃtarddhimātanot |
duḥsahaśca tathoktāni sthānāni ca samīyivān || 75 ||
viśeṣāddevadevasya viṣṇornidāratātmanām|
sabhāryo muniśūrdūlaḥ saiṣā jyeṣṭhā iti smṛtā || 76 ||

Sūta said-
Thus speaking, the Brahmarṣi, wiping out his eyes, disappeared at the same time from that place. Duḥṣaha also left for the aforesaid places. The excellent sage together with Jyeṣṭhā, particularly went to the places where lord Viṣṇu was denounced. This is the same goddess who is known by the name of Jyeṣṭhā.

दुःसहस्तामुवाचेदं तडागाश्रममंतरे ।
आस्व त्वमत्र चाहं वै प्रवेक्ष्यामि रसातलम् ॥ ७७ ॥
आवयोः स्थानमालोक्य निवासार्थं ततः पुनः ।
आगमिष्यामि ते पार्श्वमित्युक्ता तमुवाच सा ॥ ७८ ॥
किमश्नामि महाभाग को मे दास्यति वै बलिम् ।
इत्युक्तस्तां मुनिः प्राह याः स्त्रियस्त्वां यजंति वै ॥

duḥsahastāmuvācedaṃ taḍāgāśramamaṃtare |
āsva tvamatra cāhaṃ vai pravekṣyāmi rasātalam || 77 ||
āvayoḥ sthānamālokya nivāsārthaṃ tataḥ punaḥ |
āgamiṣyāmi te pārśvamityuktā tamuvāca sā || 78 ||
kimaśnāmi mahābhāga ko me dāsyati vai balim |
ityuktastāṃ muniḥ prāha yāḥ striyastvāṃ yajaṃti vai ||

Once Duḥṣāha said to her- "You live at the bank of this tank in the cottage because I shall enter Pātālaloka. I shall reach for a suitable place for both of us to dwell and shall return to you." At this, Jyeṣṭhā said- "What shall I do here? Who will feed me here?" At the words thus spoken by Jyeṣṭhā, the sage replied to her.

बलिभिः पुष्पधूपैश्च न तासां च गृहं विश। 
इत्युक्त्वा त्वाविशत्तत्र पातालं बिलयोगतः ॥८०॥ 
अद्यापि च विनिर्मग्नो मुनिः स जलसंस्तरे । 
ग्रामपर्वतबाह्येषु नित्यमास्तेऽशुभा पुनः॥८१॥

balibhiḥ puṣpadhūpaiśca na tāsāṃ ca gṛhaṃ viśa| 
ityuktvā tvāviśattatra pātālaṃ bilayogataḥ ||80|| 
adyāpi ca vinirmagno muniḥ sa jalasaṃstare | 
grāmaparvatabāhyeṣu nityamāste’śubhā punaḥ||81||

"You never enter the houses of the ladies who will adore you offering incense, flowers, and fragrance." Thus speaking, the sage entered Pātāla through an anthill, where the sage lives even today at the water level. The inauspicious goddess Jyeṣṭhā always wanders over the mountains, outside the villages.

प्रसङ्गाद्देवदेवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः ।
लक्ष्म्या दृष्टस्तया लक्ष्मीः सा तमाह जनार्दनम् ॥ ८२ ॥
भर्ता तो महाबाहो बिलं त्यक्त्वा स मां प्रभो ।
 अनाथा जगन्नाथ वृत्तिं देहि नमोस्तु ते ॥ ८३ ॥

prasaṅgāddevadeveśo viṣṇustribhuvaneśvaraḥ |
lakṣmyā dṛṣṭastayā lakṣmīḥ sā tamāha janārdanam || 82 ||
bhartā to mahābāho bilaṃ tyaktvā sa māṃ prabho |
anāthā jagannātha vṛttiṃ dehi namostu te || 83 ||

As a matter of chance, lord Viṣṇu was present there with Lakṣmī, who spotted Alakṣmī. Then, she spoke to Janārdana or Viṣṇu- "O lord, my husband has entered Pātāla through the snake hole leaving me as destitute. O Lord of the universe, salutation to you. You kindly arrange for my daily food."

सूत उवाच
इत्युक्तो भगवान्विष्णुः प्रहस्याह जनार्दनः । 
ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं देवेशो माधवो मधुसूदनः ॥ ८४॥

sūta uvāca
ityukto bhagavānviṣṇuḥ prahasyāha janārdanaḥ | 
jyeṣṭhāmalakṣmīṃ deveśo mādhavo madhusūdanaḥ || 84||

Sūta said-
At this, lord Janārdana, lord Mādhava, the lord of all gods, lord Madhusūdana, replied.

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच
ये रुद्रमनघं शर्वं शङ्करं नीललोहितम् ।
अंबा हैमवतीं वापि जनित्रीं जगतामपि ॥ ८५ ॥
मद्भक्तान्निंदयंत्यत्र तेषां वित्तं तवैव हि ।
येपि चैव महादेवं विनिंद्यैव यजंति माम् ॥ ८६॥
मूढा ह्यभाग्या मद्भक्ता अपि तेषां धनं तव ।
यस्याज्ञया ह्यहं ब्रह्मा प्रसादाद्वर्तते सदा ॥ ८७ ॥
यति विनिंद्यैव मम विद्वेषकारकाः ।
मद्भक्ता नैव ते भक्ता इव वर्तति दुर्मदाः ॥ ८८ ॥
तेषां गृहं धनं क्षेत्रमिष्टापूर्तं तवैव हि ॥

śrīviṣṇuruvāca
ye rudramanaghaṃ śarvaṃ śaṅkaraṃ nīlalohitam |
aṃbā haimavatīṃ vāpi janitrīṃ jagatāmapi || 85 ||
madbhaktānniṃdayaṃtyatra teṣāṃ vittaṃ tavaiva hi |
yepi caiva mahādevaṃ viniṃdyaiva yajaṃti mām || 86||
mūḍhā hyabhāgyā madbhaktā api teṣāṃ dhanaṃ tava |
yasyājñayā hyahaṃ brahmā prasādādvartate sadā || 87 ||
yati viniṃdyaiva mama vidveṣakārakāḥ |
madbhaktā naiva te bhaktā iva vartati durmadāḥ || 88 ||
teṣāṃ gṛhaṃ dhanaṃ kṣetramiṣṭāpūrtaṃ tavaiva hi ||

Lord Viṣṇu said-
"Such of the people who do not adore the sinless Rudra, Śarva, Nīlalohita, Śiva, and Haimavatī - the mother of the universe, besides my devotees, those who denounce Mahādeva and adore me, all their riches belong to you. Lord Śiva, by adoring whom, both myself and Brahmā exist, the riches of my foolish devotees belong to you. Such of the people who are envious of me, denounce me, are not my devotees, and do not worship me like my devotees, belong to you. Their | riches, the fields, crops, and all the noble deeds done by me, belong to you. The digging of the tanks and wells also belongs to you."

सूत उवाच
इत्युक्त्वा तां परित्यज्य लक्ष्म्याऽलक्ष्मीं जनार्दनः ॥ ८९ ॥
जजाप भगवान्रुद्रमलक्ष्मीक्षयसिद्धये । 
तस्मात्प्रदेयस्तस्यै च बलिर्नित्यं मुनीश्वराः ॥ ९० ॥ 
विष्णुभक्तैर्न संदेहः सर्वयत्नेन सर्वदा । 
अङ्गनाभिः सदा पूज्या बलिभिर्विविधैर्द्विजाः ॥९१॥ 
यः पछेच्छृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । 
अलक्ष्मीवृत्तमनघो लक्ष्मीवाँल्लभते गतिम्॥९२॥

sūta uvāca
ityuktvā tāṃ parityajya lakṣmyā’lakṣmīṃ janārdanaḥ || 89 ||
jajāpa bhagavānrudramalakṣmīkṣayasiddhaye | 
tasmātpradeyastasyai ca balirnityaṃ munīśvarāḥ || 90 || 
viṣṇubhaktairna saṃdehaḥ sarvayatnena sarvadā | 
aṅganābhiḥ sadā pūjyā balibhirvividhairdvijāḥ ||91|| 
yaḥ pachecchṛṇuyādvāpi śrāvayedvā dvijottamān | 
alakṣmīvṛttamanagho lakṣmīvāṁllabhate gatim||92||

Sūta said-
Thus speaking, lord Viṣṇu, accompanied by Lakṣmī, left the place. Then lord Viṣṇu meditated upon Śiva, for the destruction of Alakṣmī. Since that time, the devotees of Viṣṇu, also make offerings to Alakṣmī. O Brāhmaṇas, the ladies should adore Alakṣmī, making various types of offerings to her. One who narrates the story of Alakṣmī or reads it or reads it out to the excellent Brāhmaṇas, he is relieved of all the sins and becomes rich. He ultimately achieves mokṣa.

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे उत्तरभागे अलक्ष्मीवृत्तं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः ॥ ६॥
iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe uttarabhāge alakṣmīvṛttaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭho’dhyāyaḥ || 6||


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