53 - Eight nidhis

 Treasures of Kubera, the god of Wealth. Nidhis are said to be nine also. 

Sūta said: 

1. After hearing from Hari, Brahmå described the eight Nidhis. [These nidhis or treasures belong to Kubera. In the Tantrika system they are described as attendants on Lakshmi). They are Padma (Lotus), Mahapadma, Makara, (Crocodile), Kacchapa, (Tortoise), 

2. Mukunda, Nanda,2 Nila and Shankha.3 These Nidhis are conducive to the flourishing of qualities Sattva, etc. I shall now describe their special characteristics. 

2. A lute. (SSED, p. 279).

3. Conch. 

3. A man bearing the marks of Padma shall be Sättvika in quality. He shall be chivalrous. He will gather together gold 

4. Silver, etc., and will be offering the same to gods, ascetics and sacrificial priests. A person having the marks of Mahapadma will be liberal in giving wealth and other things to the pious. 

5. The two nidhis Padma and Mahapadma are Sattvika in characteristics. A person having the marks of makara gathers together swords, arrows, javelins, etc. 

6. He will be a donor unto well-read persons and friendly with kings. He will be wasting his wealth and his enemies will kill him in battle. 

7. Makara and Kacchapa -- these two nidhis are supposed to be tamasika in characteristics. A person having the marks of Kacchapa does not have faith in any person. He neither enjoys his wealth nor gives it to anybody. 

8. He will keep his wealth boarded in a deep pit in the ground. He will remain a single person (without any friend). The nidhi Mukunda is rajasika in characteristics. A person having the marks thereof collects realms. 

9. He enjoys all good things in life and distributes wealth among musicians and courtesans. A person having the marks of Nanda - both tamasika and rājasika shall be the vital support of his family. 

10. He will be pleased by flattery: He will have many wives. He will lose interest in old friends and contract friendship with others. 

11. A person having the marks of the nidhi Nila shall have sättvika splendour. He will gather together garments, grains, etc; 

12. He has the manliness and power of three persons. He will be making mango groves, tanks, etc. The nidhi Shankha indicates selfcentredness. He spends all his wealth in his own enjoyment. 

13. His servants and kinsmen eat wretched food and do not wear good garments. The Shankhin (one bearing the marks of Shankha) is assiduous in nourishing himself. If, ever he gives anything to anybody it shall go in vain. 

14. When the markings of different nidhis are present the results are mixed. Lord Hari had thus expounded to Hara and others the characteristics of the nidhis, I am expounding now as Hari had expounded them previously.