CHAPTER – 68
KRAUSTUKI said: – O revered one, by thee has the life of Swarochisha as also the story of the birth of Swarochisha been described in all their details. (1) That knowledge, Padmini by name, which brings all objects of desire, as also those Nidhis that are attached to it, tell me of them in detail. (2) O Guru, the eight Nidhis and the objects they live in, and their nature, all these I desire to hear, related by thee. (3)
MARKANDEYA said: – The knowledge that is called Padmini, has Lakshmi as its presending goddess; its receptacles are the Nidhis; hear of them from me; (4) Padma, Mahapadma, likewise Makara and Cacchapa, Mukunda, and Nandaka, as also Nila, while Shankha is the eighth Nidhi. (5) Wherever there is Riddhi (good fortune) they exist there, and of them Siddhi is born. These eight are called Nidhis; they have been described to thee, O Kraustuki. (6) O Muni, through the grace of the gods, and through the service of the society is the property of men illumined by these always. (7) Of what nature they are, hear from me speaking to you. The first Nidhi Padama by name belongs to Maya, O thou twice-born one. (8) It belongs perpetually to his son and his sons, and their grandsons. When possessed by this Nidhi men become strong in prowess and skill. (9) And, O thou possesser of the eight good qualities of kindness etc, he becomes the receptacle of wealth, for this Nidhi is of the quality of wealth.
(10) He gets gold and silver and copper and all other metals, in very large quantities, and also trades in them. (11) He also performs sacrifices and gives the sacrificial fees; with devotion he causes assemblages (of the learned to meet) at the temples of the gods. (12) There is another Nidhi, the receptacle of the great of Satwa, spoken of as Mahapadma; possessed by him a man becomes strong in the quality of Satwa. (13) He gets padmaraga and other jewels, and pearls, and corals, and buys and sells them. (14) Those who live according to the laws of Yoga to them he gives all this wealth as also habitations (for them) and himself becomes of their character. (15) His sons become of that character, with their sons and grand sons. It does not leave his descendants to the seventh generation. (16) The Nidhi, Makara by name, is of the quality of Tamas; looked on by him a person, of most excellent character, becomes overtaken with ignorance and indiscrimination. (17) He gains arrows, swords, double-edged swords, bows and shields, prepares binding instruments (Pashas) and attains friendship with kings. (18) He give these to those persons who live by valour, and to kings, and to those who are liked by them; and finds pleasure in the rightful sale and barter of weapons. (19) All these happen to one only and it does not follow his descendants; he finds destruction for these objects from soldiers or in battle. (20) The man, who is looked on by the Nidhi the Kacchapa (tortoise), becomes possessed of the quality of Tamas because this Nidhi is of the quality of Tamas. (21) He performs works of various kinds shorn of righteousness, and builds all sorts of places for business; and does not put his trust in any one. (22) Even as the tortoise withdraws unto itself all its lines, so having drawn unto him people’s hearts, he himself exists with his own mind perfectly restrained. (23) He neither gives (his wealth) to others nor does he himself enjoy (it) being always distracted by the fear of its destruction, and puts it in the earth. This Nidhi is also enjoyed only by one person – (not by his descendants). (24) The other Nidhi, Mukunda by name, is of the quality of Rajas. O thou twice-born one, the man, who is looked on by it, becomes of that quality. (25) He gets Vina, flute, Mridanga, etc., the four kinds of musical instruments, and settles pensions on singers and gives (money) to dancers. (26) O thou twice-born one, he gives objects of enjoyments day and night to bards, and ministrels and Magbadhas, and to those addicted to sexual pleasures, and dancing girls, and enjoys these with them. (27) The man, whom this Nidhi worships, does not move in the company of harlots, and others like them; he always finds the company of one (woman) only. (28) The
other Mahanidhi, Nanda by name, is composed of the qualities of Rajas and Tamas; the man, looked upon by it, attains these (qualities) very largely. (29) He gains all kinds of metals and precious stones and also pure and pleasant food grains etc., and also performs their sale and barter. (30) He also gives protection to relations and guests, and travellers, and he does not brook the least indignity, O thou great Muni. (31) On being praised he finds great satisfaction, and he gives to people whatever they want and attains to a mildness (of disposition). (32) Many most beautiful and child-bearing (women) become his wives, and this Nidhi Nanda follows his descendants to the seventh generation. (33) O thou excellent one, growing in eight divisions (this Nidhi) gives the longest term of life to the man (whom it possesses) among all men. (34) Nanda feeds the friends as also those who have come from a distance. It is not admired in the next world; nor does the affection grow towards associates; it becomes indifferent to former friends and makes friendship with others. (35-36) Similarly the name of the Mahanidhi, which maintains the two qualities of Satwa and Rajas, is Nila; the man, who becomes its companion, attains to its character (i.e. the qualities of Satwa and Rajas). (37) He gains, O Muni, cloths and cotton, and food grains &c., and fruits and flowers, and also pearls and corals and conches and mother of pearls, (38) and also other things that are born in water, and wood &c; as also he sells and barters them, and his heart is not set on any other thing. (39) He makes lakes and ponds and likewise gardens, and bunds, and cannals, and plants trees; (40) he grows by enjoying scents and flowers, and the Nidhi Nila becomes his for three generations. (41) The other Nidhi, Sankha by name, is composed of the qualities of Rajas and Tamas, and O Brahmana, by it also is the lord of this Nidhi led to attain these qualities. (42) It becomes of one man only and does not find any other man (i.e. his descendants); hear of, O Kraustuki, the characteristics of him whose this Sankha Nidhi becomes. (43) He, by himself, eats the rice cooked by him, and similarly also wears fine clothes, while the members of his family as also his dependants and servants eat bad rice and do not put on fine clothes. (44) He becomes always devoted to his own maintenance, and does not give (proper food and clothes) to friend, wife, brother, son or daughter-in-law and others. (45) Thus these are the Nidhis, reputed to be the presiding deities of the wealth and riches of men; they are superior on account of their superior look, and are the givers of fruits according to the natures of men. (46) Through being looked on by them a man attains that character which belongs to them. O thou twice-born one, the Padmini, which is of the character of the goddess of fortune – Lakshmi, exercises control over all these. (47)