Sutanu's Answers to Narada's Questions

Verse 1 (skanda.1.40.1)

॥ नारद उवाच॥ ततोऽहं धर्मवर्माणं प्रोच्य तिष्ठेद्धनं त्वयि॥ कृत्यकाले ग्रहीष्यामीत्यागमं रैवतं गिरिम्

nārada uvāca tato'haṁ dharmavarmāṇaṁ procya tiṣṭheddhanaṁ tvayi kṛtyakāle grahīṣyāmītyāgamaṁ raivataṁ girim

Narada said: "Then, having told Dharmavarma, 'Let the wealth remain with you; I shall take it when the time for its use comes,' I came to Mount Raivata.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.40.2)

आसं प्रमुदितश्चाहं पश्यंस्तं गिरिसत्तमम्॥ आह्वयानं नरान्साधून्भूमेर्भुजमिवोच्छ्रितम्

āsaṁ pramuditaścāhaṁ paśyaṁstaṁ girisattamam āhvayānaṁ narānsādhūnbhūmerbhujamivocchritam

"I was delighted beholding that finest of mountains, which seemed to call good men to itself, like an uplifted arm of the earth.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.40.3)

यस्मिन्नानाविधा वृक्षाः प्रकाशंते समंततः॥ साधुं गृहपतिं प्राप्य पुत्रभार्यादयो यथा

yasminnānāvidhā vṛkṣāḥ prakāśaṁte samaṁtataḥ sādhuṁ gṛhapatiṁ prāpya putrabhāryādayo yathā

"On which, on every side, varied trees shine forth — as sons, wife, and kin shine forth when a worthy householder is found.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.40.4)

मुदिता यत्र संतृप्ता वाशंते कोकिलादयः॥ सद्गुरोर्ज्ञानसंपन्ना यथा शिष्यगणा भुवि

muditā yatra saṁtṛptā vāśaṁte kokilādayaḥ sadgurorjñānasaṁpannā yathā śiṣyagaṇā bhuvi

"Where cuckoos and other birds, joyful and content, call out — as disciples, endowed with knowledge, cry out around a true teacher.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.40.5)

यत्र तप्त्वा तपो मर्त्या यथेप्सितमवाप्नुयुः॥ श्रीमहादेवमासाद्य भक्तो यद्वन्मनोरथम्

yatra taptvā tapo martyā yathepsitamavāpnuyuḥ śrīmahādevamāsādya bhakto yadvanmanoratham

"Where mortals, having performed austerity, obtain their heart's desire — as a devotee obtains his wish upon reaching glorious Mahadeva.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.40.6)

तस्याहं च गिरेः पार्थ समासाद्य महाशिलाम्॥ शीतसौरभ्यमंदेन प्रीणीतोऽचिंतयं हृदि

tasyāhaṁ ca gireḥ pārtha samāsādya mahāśilām śītasaurabhyamaṁdena prīṇīto'ciṁtayaṁ hṛdi

"Reaching a great rock of that mountain, O Partha, delighted by its cool, fragrant, gentle breeze, I reflected in my heart —

Verse 7 (skanda.1.40.7)

तावन्मया स्थानमाप्तं यदतीव सुदुर्लभम्॥ इदानीं ब्राह्मणार्थेऽहं कुर्वे तावदुपक्रमम्

tāvanmayā sthānamāptaṁ yadatīva sudurlabham idānīṁ brāhmaṇārthe'haṁ kurve tāvadupakramam

"'By this much I have gained a place exceedingly rare; now let me begin my task for the good of Brahmins.'

Verse 8 (skanda.1.40.8)

ब्राह्मणाश्च विलोक्य मे ये हि पात्रतमा मताः॥ तथा हि चात्र श्रूयंते वचांसि श्रुतिवादिनाम्

brāhmaṇāśca vilokya me ye hi pātratamā matāḥ tathā hi cātra śrūyaṁte vacāṁsi śrutivādinām

"'And having examined the Brahmins, discerning those most worthy — for indeed such words of the reciters of scripture are heard here —'

Verse 9 (skanda.1.40.9)

न जलोत्तरणे शक्ता यद्वन्नौः कर्णवर्जिता॥ तद्वच्छ्रेष्ठोऽप्यनाचारो विप्रो नोद्धरणक्षमः

na jalottaraṇe śaktā yadvannauḥ karṇavarjitā tadvacchreṣṭho'pyanācāro vipro noddharaṇakṣamaḥ

"'As a boat without an oar cannot cross the water, so too a Brahmin, however excellent, is unable to save others if he lacks right conduct.'

Verse 10 (skanda.1.40.10)

ब्राह्मणो ह्यनधीयानस्तृणाग्निरिव शाम्यति॥ तस्मै हव्यं न दातव्यं न हि भस्मनि हूयते

brāhmaṇo hyanadhīyānastṛṇāgniriva śāmyati tasmai havyaṁ na dātavyaṁ na hi bhasmani hūyate

"'A Brahmin who does not study fades away like a fire of straw; no oblation should be given to him, for one does not pour offerings into ashes.'

Verse 11 (skanda.1.40.11)

दानपात्रमतिक्रम्य यदपात्रे प्रदीयते॥ तद्दत्तं गामतिक्रम्य गर्दभस्य गवाह्निकम्

dānapātramatikramya yadapātre pradīyate taddattaṁ gāmatikramya gardabhasya gavāhnikam

"'What is given, bypassing the worthy, to one unworthy — that is like passing over the cow to offer a cow's due to a donkey.'

Verse 12 (skanda.1.40.12)

ऊषरे वापितं बीजं भिन्नभांडे च गोदुहम्॥ भस्मनीव हुतं हव्यं मूर्खे दानमशाश्वतम्

ūṣare vāpitaṁ bījaṁ bhinnabhāṁḍe ca goduham bhasmanīva hutaṁ havyaṁ mūrkhe dānamaśāśvatam

"'Seed sown in barren ground, milk drawn into a cracked vessel — a gift given to a fool is like an oblation poured into ashes, and never lasts.'

Verse 13 (skanda.1.40.13)

विधिहीने तथाऽपात्रे यो ददाति प्रतिग्रहम्॥ न केवलं हि तद्याति शेषं पुण्यं प्रणश्यति

vidhihīne tathā'pātre yo dadāti pratigraham na kevalaṁ hi tadyāti śeṣaṁ puṇyaṁ praṇaśyati

"'He who gives, against all proper rite, to one unworthy — not only is that gift wasted, but his remaining merit too is destroyed.'

Verse 14 (skanda.1.40.14)

भूराप्ता गौस्तथा भोगाः सुवर्णं देहमेव च॥ अश्वश्चक्षुस्तथा वासो घृतं तेजस्तिलाः प्रजाः

bhūrāptā gaustathā bhogāḥ suvarṇaṁ dehameva ca aśvaścakṣustathā vāso ghṛtaṁ tejastilāḥ prajāḥ

"'Land once gained, a cow, enjoyments, gold, the body itself, a horse, sight, clothing, ghee, splendor, sesame, offspring —'

Verse 15 (skanda.1.40.15)

घ्नंति तस्मादविद्वांस्तु बिभियाच्च प्रतिग्रहात्॥ स्वल्पक केनाप्यविद्वांस्तु पंके गौरिव सीदति

ghnaṁti tasmādavidvāṁstu bibhiyācca pratigrahāt svalpaka kenāpyavidvāṁstu paṁke gauriva sīdati

"'all these are destroyed; therefore the unlearned should fear the act of accepting gifts; through even the smallest fault the ignorant man sinks like a cow into the mire.'

Verse 16 (skanda.1.40.16)

तस्माद्ये गूढतपसो गूढस्वाध्यायसाधकाः॥ स्वदारनिरताः शांतास्तेषु दत्तं सदाऽक्षयम्

tasmādye gūḍhatapaso gūḍhasvādhyāyasādhakāḥ svadāraniratāḥ śāṁtāsteṣu dattaṁ sadā'kṣayam

"'Therefore, what is given to those of hidden austerity, hidden accomplishment in study, devoted to their own wives, and tranquil — that gift alone is ever imperishable.'

Verse 17 (skanda.1.40.17)

देशे काल उपायेन द्रव्यं श्रद्धासमन्वितम्॥ पात्रे प्रदीयते यत्तत्सकलं धर्मलक्षणम्

deśe kāla upāyena dravyaṁ śraddhāsamanvitam pātre pradīyate yattatsakalaṁ dharmalakṣaṇam

"'Whatever wealth, joined with faith, is given in the right place, time, and manner to a worthy recipient — that alone bears the whole mark of dharma.'

Verse 18 (skanda.1.40.18)

न विद्यया केवलया तपसा वापि पात्रता॥ यत्र वृत्तिमिमे चोभे तद्वि पात्रं प्रचक्षते

na vidyayā kevalayā tapasā vāpi pātratā yatra vṛttimime cobhe tadvi pātraṁ pracakṣate

"'Worthiness comes neither from learning alone nor from austerity alone; where both are found together, that alone is called a true worthy recipient.'

Verse 19 (skanda.1.40.19)

तेषां त्रयाणां मध्ये च विद्या मुख्यो महागुणः॥ विद्यां विनांधवद्विप्राश्चक्षुष्मंतो हि ते मताः

teṣāṁ trayāṇāṁ madhye ca vidyā mukhyo mahāguṇaḥ vidyāṁ vināṁdhavadviprāścakṣuṣmaṁto hi te matāḥ

"'Among these three, learning is the chief and greatest virtue; without learning, Brahmins, though they have eyes, are considered blind.'

Verse 20 (skanda.1.40.20)

तस्माच्चक्षुष्मतो विद्वान्देशे देशे परीक्षयेत्॥ प्रश्रान्ये मम वक्ष्यंति तेभ्यो दास्याम्यहं ततः

tasmāccakṣuṣmato vidvāndeśe deśe parīkṣayet praśrānye mama vakṣyaṁti tebhyo dāsyāmyahaṁ tataḥ

"'Therefore, being learned and clear-sighted, I should test them in every land; whoever answers my questions, to him alone I shall give.'

Verse 21 (skanda.1.40.21)

इति संचिंत्य मनसा तस्माद्देशात्समुत्थितः॥ आश्रमेषु महर्षीणां विचराम्यस्मि फाल्गुन

iti saṁciṁtya manasā tasmāddeśātsamutthitaḥ āśrameṣu maharṣīṇāṁ vicarāmyasmi phālguna

"'Reflecting thus in my mind, O Phalguna, I rose from that place and began to wander among the hermitages of the great sages,'

Verse 22 (skanda.1.40.22)

इमाञ्छ्लोकान्गायमानः प्रश्ररूपाञ्छृणुष्व तान्॥ मातृकां को विजानाति कतिधा कीदृशाक्षराम्

imāñchlokāngāyamānaḥ praśrarūpāñchṛṇuṣva tān mātṛkāṁ ko vijānāti katidhā kīdṛśākṣarām

"'singing these verses in the form of questions — hear them: who truly knows the alphabet — how many letters, and of what nature?'

Verse 23 (skanda.1.40.23)

पंचपंचाद्भुतं गेहं को विजानाति वा द्विजः॥ बहुरूपां स्त्रियं कर्तुमेकरूपां च वेत्ति कः

paṁcapaṁcādbhutaṁ gehaṁ ko vijānāti vā dvijaḥ bahurūpāṁ striyaṁ kartumekarūpāṁ ca vetti kaḥ

"'Who among the twice-born knows that wondrous house of five-and-five? Who knows how to make a many-formed woman single-formed?'

Verse 24 (skanda.1.40.24)

को वा चित्रकथाबंधं वेत्ति संसारगोचरः॥ को वार्णवमहाग्राहं वेत्ति विद्यापरायणः

ko vā citrakathābaṁdhaṁ vetti saṁsāragocaraḥ ko vārṇavamahāgrāhaṁ vetti vidyāparāyaṇaḥ

"'Who, versed in worldly affairs, knows the binding of the wondrous tale? Who, devoted to knowledge, knows the great crocodile of the ocean?'

Verse 25 (skanda.1.40.25)

को वाष्टविधं ब्राह्मण्यं वेत्ति ब्राह्मणसत्तमः॥ युगानां च चतुर्णां वा को मूलदिवसान्वदेत्

ko vāṣṭavidhaṁ brāhmaṇyaṁ vetti brāhmaṇasattamaḥ yugānāṁ ca caturṇāṁ vā ko mūladivasānvadet

"'Who, best among Brahmins, knows the eightfold nature of Brahmin-hood? Who can name the founding days of the four ages?'

Verse 26 (skanda.1.40.26)

चतुर्दशमनूनां वा मूलवासरं वेत्ति कः॥ कस्मिंश्चैव दिने प्राप पूर्वं वा भास्करो रथम्

caturdaśamanūnāṁ vā mūlavāsaraṁ vetti kaḥ kasmiṁścaiva dine prāpa pūrvaṁ vā bhāskaro ratham

"'And who knows the founding days of the fourteen Manus? On what day did the sun first mount his chariot?'

Verse 27 (skanda.1.40.27)

उद्वेजयति भूतानि कृष्णाहिरिव वेत्ति कः॥ को वास्मिन्घोरसंसारे दक्षदक्षतमो भवेत्

udvejayati bhūtāni kṛṣṇāhiriva vetti kaḥ ko vāsminghorasaṁsāre dakṣadakṣatamo bhavet

"'Who knows what troubles all beings as a black serpent does? Who, in this dreadful samsara, becomes the most skillful of the skillful?'

Verse 28 (skanda.1.40.28)

पंथानावपि द्वौ कश्चिद्वेत्ति वक्ति च ब्राह्मणः॥ इति मे द्वादश प्रश्रान्ये विदुर्ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

paṁthānāvapi dvau kaścidvetti vakti ca brāhmaṇaḥ iti me dvādaśa praśrānye vidurbrāhmaṇottamāḥ

"'And who among Brahmins knows and can name even the two great paths?' These are my twelve questions — whichever Brahmins know them,'

Verse 29 (skanda.1.40.29)

ते मे पूज्यतमास्तेषामहामाराधकश्चिरम्॥ इत्यहं गायमानो वै भ्रमितः सकलां महीम्

te me pūjyatamāsteṣāmahāmārādhakaściram ityahaṁ gāyamāno vai bhramitaḥ sakalāṁ mahīm

"'to me they are most worthy of worship, and I shall long remain their devoted server.' Thus singing, I wandered over the whole earth,'

Verse 30 (skanda.1.40.30)

ते चाहुर्दुःखदाः ख्याताः प्रश्रास्ते कुर्महे नमः॥ इत्यहं सकलां पृथ्वीं विचिंत्यालब्धब्राह्मणः

te cāhurduḥkhadāḥ khyātāḥ praśrāste kurmahe namaḥ ityahaṁ sakalāṁ pṛthvīṁ viciṁtyālabdhabrāhmaṇaḥ

"'and they would say: 'These questions are known to be troublesome — we bow before them and decline.' Thus, having searched the whole earth and found no Brahmin able to answer,'

Verse 31 (skanda.1.40.31)

हिमाद्रिशिखरासीनो भूयश्चिंतामवाप्तवान्॥ सर्वे विलोकिता विप्राः किमतः कर्तुमुत्सहे

himādriśikharāsīno bhūyaściṁtāmavāptavān sarve vilokitā viprāḥ kimataḥ kartumutsahe

"'seated upon a Himalayan peak, I fell again into anxious thought: 'I have examined every Brahmin — what more can I do now?'

Verse 32 (skanda.1.40.32)

ततो मे चिंतयानस्य पुनर्जाता मतिस्त्वियम्॥ अद्यापि न गतश्चाहं कलापग्राममुत्तमम्

tato me ciṁtayānasya punarjātā matistviyam adyāpi na gataścāhaṁ kalāpagrāmamuttamam

"'Then, as I pondered, this thought arose in me again: 'I have not yet gone to Kalapa-grama, that most excellent village,'

Verse 33 (skanda.1.40.33)

यस्मिन्विप्राः संवसंति मूर्तानीव तपांसि च॥ चतुराशीतिसाहस्राः श्रुताध्ययनशालिनः

yasminviprāḥ saṁvasaṁti mūrtānīva tapāṁsi ca caturāśītisāhasrāḥ śrutādhyayanaśālinaḥ

"'where Brahmins dwell like austerities themselves given bodily form — eighty-four thousand of them, rich in the study of scripture.'

Verse 34 (skanda.1.40.34)

स्थाने तस्मिन्गमिष्यामीत्युक्त्वाहं चलितस्तदा॥ खेचरो हिममाक्रम्य परं पारं गतस्ततः

sthāne tasmingamiṣyāmītyuktvāhaṁ calitastadā khecaro himamākramya paraṁ pāraṁ gatastataḥ

"'I shall go to that place,' I said, and set out; crossing over the snows and moving through the sky, I reached that farther shore,'

Verse 35 (skanda.1.40.35)

अद्राक्षं पुण्यभूमिस्थं ग्रामरत्नमहं महत्॥ शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं नानावृक्षसमाकुलम्

adrākṣaṁ puṇyabhūmisthaṁ grāmaratnamahaṁ mahat śatayojanavistīrṇaṁ nānāvṛkṣasamākulam

"'and beheld that great jewel of a village, resting on sacred ground, a hundred yojanas in extent, thick with trees of every kind,'

Verse 36 (skanda.1.40.36)

यत्र पुण्यवतां संति शतशः प्रवराश्रमाः॥ सर्वेषामपि जीवानां यत्रान्योन्यं न दुष्टता

yatra puṇyavatāṁ saṁti śataśaḥ pravarāśramāḥ sarveṣāmapi jīvānāṁ yatrānyonyaṁ na duṣṭatā

"'where hundreds of the finest hermitages of the pious stand, and where among all living beings there is no ill-will toward one another,'

Verse 37 (skanda.1.40.37)

यज्ञभाजां मुनीनां यदुपकारकरं सदा॥ सतां धर्मवतां यद्वदुपकारो न शाम्यति

yajñabhājāṁ munīnāṁ yadupakārakaraṁ sadā satāṁ dharmavatāṁ yadvadupakāro na śāmyati

"'which ever aids the sages devoted to sacrifice, where the mutual kindness of the virtuous and righteous never ceases,'

Verse 38 (skanda.1.40.38)

मुनीनां यत्र परमं स्थानं चाप्यविनाशकृत्॥ स्वाहास्वधावषट्कार हन्तकारो न नश्यति

munīnāṁ yatra paramaṁ sthānaṁ cāpyavināśakṛt svāhāsvadhāvaṣaṭkāra hantakāro na naśyati

"'the supreme and undying abode of sages, where the cries of svaha, svadha, vashatkara, and hantakara never fall silent,'

Verse 39 (skanda.1.40.39)

यत्र कृतयुगस्तार्थं बीजं पार्थावशिष्यते॥ सूर्यस्य सोमवंशस्य ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च

yatra kṛtayugastārthaṁ bījaṁ pārthāvaśiṣyate sūryasya somavaṁśasya brāhmaṇānāṁ tathaiva ca

"'where, O Partha, the very seed of the Krita age still remains — of the solar line, the lunar line, and of the Brahmins too.'

Verse 40 (skanda.1.40.40)

स्थानकं तत्समासाद्य प्रविष्टोऽहं द्विजाश्रमान्॥ तत्र ते विविधान्वादान्विवदंते द्विजोत्तमाः

sthānakaṁ tatsamāsādya praviṣṭo'haṁ dvijāśramān tatra te vividhānvādānvivadaṁte dvijottamāḥ

"'Having reached that place, I entered the hermitages of the twice-born; there those finest of Brahmins were debating one another over many doctrines,'

Verse 41 (skanda.1.40.41)

परस्परं चिंतयाना वेदा मूर्तिधरा यथा॥ तत्र मेधाविनः केचिदर्थमन्यैः प्रपूरितम्

parasparaṁ ciṁtayānā vedā mūrtidharā yathā tatra medhāvinaḥ kecidarthamanyaiḥ prapūritam

"'pondering together as if the Vedas themselves had taken bodily form. There some among those learned, great-souled ones,'

Verse 42 (skanda.1.40.42)

विचिक्षिपुर्महात्मानो नभोगतमिवामिषम्॥ तत्राऽहं करमुद्यम्य प्रावोचं पूर्यतां द्विजाः

vicikṣipurmahātmāno nabhogatamivāmiṣam tatrā'haṁ karamudyamya prāvocaṁ pūryatāṁ dvijāḥ

"'scattered the meaning others had already established, as if it were mere meat cast into the sky for birds to fight over. There I raised my hand and said: 'Answer this, O twice-born!'

Verse 43 (skanda.1.40.43)

काकारावैः किमतैर्वो यद्यस्ति ज्ञानशालिता॥ व्याकुरुध्वं ततः प्रश्रान्मम दुर्विषहान्बहून्

kākārāvaiḥ kimatairvo yadyasti jñānaśālitā vyākurudhvaṁ tataḥ praśrānmama durviṣahānbahūn

"'What use is this cawing like crows, if you truly have wisdom? Then untangle these many unbearable questions of mine.'

Verse 44 (skanda.1.40.44)

॥ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः॥ वद ब्राह्मण प्रश्रान्स्वाञ्छ्रुत्वाऽऽधास्यामहे वयम्॥ परमो ह्येष नो लाभः प्रश्नान्पृच्छति यद्भवान्

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ vada brāhmaṇa praśrānsvāñchrutvā''dhāsyāmahe vayam paramo hyeṣa no lābhaḥ praśnānpṛcchati yadbhavān

"The Brahmins said: 'Speak your questions, O Brahmin; having heard them we shall consider them — it is our greatest gain that you should ask us these questions.'

Verse 45 (skanda.1.40.45)

अहं पूर्विकया ते वै न्यषेधंत परस्परम्॥ अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमिति वीरा यथा रणे

ahaṁ pūrvikayā te vai nyaṣedhaṁta parasparam ahaṁ pūrvamahaṁ pūrvamiti vīrā yathā raṇe

"'Then they began to forestall one another, each claiming precedence — 'I first, I first!' — like warriors on a battlefield.'

Verse 46 (skanda.1.40.46)

ततस्तानब्रवं प्रश्रानहं द्वादश पूर्वकान्॥ श्रुत्वा ते मामवोचंत लीलायंतो मुनीश्वराः

tatastānabravaṁ praśrānahaṁ dvādaśa pūrvakān śrutvā te māmavocaṁta līlāyaṁto munīśvarāḥ

"'Then I told them my twelve questions in order; hearing them, those lords of sages, as if in jest, said to me —'

Verse 47 (skanda.1.40.47)

किं ते द्विज बालप्रश्नैरमीभिः स्वल्पकैरपि॥ अस्माकं यन्निहीनं त्वं मन्यसे स ब्रवीत्वमून्

kiṁ te dvija bālapraśnairamībhiḥ svalpakairapi asmākaṁ yannihīnaṁ tvaṁ manyase sa bravītvamūn

"'What use, O Brahmin, are even to us these small, childish questions of yours? Whomever among us you consider the least, let him answer them.'

Verse 48 (skanda.1.40.48)

ततोतिविस्मितश्चाहं मन्यमानः कृतार्थताम्॥ तेषां निहीनं संचिंत्य प्रावोचं प्रब्रवीत्वयम्

tatotivismitaścāhaṁ manyamānaḥ kṛtārthatām teṣāṁ nihīnaṁ saṁciṁtya prāvocaṁ prabravītvayam

"'Then, greatly astonished and thinking my purpose already won, I considered who among them seemed least, and said: 'Let him answer.'

Verse 49 (skanda.1.40.49)

ततः सुतनुनामा स बालोऽबालोऽभ्युवाच माम्॥ मम मंदायते वाणी प्रश्नैः स्वल्पैस्तव द्विज॥ तथापि वच्मि मां यस्मान्निहीनं मन्यते भवान्

tataḥ sutanunāmā sa bālo'bālo'bhyuvāca mām mama maṁdāyate vāṇī praśnaiḥ svalpaistava dvija tathāpi vacmi māṁ yasmānnihīnaṁ manyate bhavān

"'Then a boy named Sutanu — a boy, and yet no boy at all — spoke to me: 'My voice grows faint, O Brahmin, before such trivial questions of yours; yet still I shall speak, since you consider me the least among them.'"

Verse 50 (skanda.1.40.50)

॥सुतनुरुवाच॥ अक्षरास्तु द्विपंचाशन्मातृकायाः प्रकीर्तिताः

sutanuruvāca akṣarāstu dvipaṁcāśanmātṛkāyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

Sutanu said: "The letters of the alphabet are declared to number fifty-two.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.40.51)

ॐकारः प्रथमस्तत्र चतुर्दश स्वरास्तथा॥ स्पर्शाश्चैव त्रयस्त्रिंशदनुस्वारस्तथैव च

oṁkāraḥ prathamastatra caturdaśa svarāstathā sparśāścaiva trayastriṁśadanusvārastathaiva ca

"Among them Om is the first, then the fourteen vowels; then the thirty-three consonants of contact, and likewise the anusvara,

Verse 52 (skanda.1.40.52)

विसर्ज्जनीयश्च परो जिह्वामूलीय एव च॥ उपध्मानीय एवापि द्विपंचाशदमी स्मृताः

visarjjanīyaśca paro jihvāmūlīya eva ca upadhmānīya evāpi dvipaṁcāśadamī smṛtāḥ

"and beyond that the visarjaniya, the jihvamuliya, and the upadhmaniya as well — together these make fifty-two.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.40.53)

इति ते कथिता संख्या अर्थं चैषां श्रृणु द्विज॥ अस्मिन्नर्थे चेतिहासं तव वक्ष्यामि यः पुरा

iti te kathitā saṁkhyā arthaṁ caiṣāṁ śrṛṇu dvija asminnarthe cetihāsaṁ tava vakṣyāmi yaḥ purā

"Thus their number has been told to you; now hear their meaning, O Brahmin. On this matter I shall tell you a story that happened long ago...

Verse 54 (skanda.1.40.54)

मिथिलायां प्रवृत्तोऽभूद्ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने॥ मिथिलायां पुरा पुर्यां ब्राह्मणः कौथुमाभिधः

mithilāyāṁ pravṛtto'bhūdbrāhmaṇasya niveśane mithilāyāṁ purā puryāṁ brāhmaṇaḥ kauthumābhidhaḥ

"...that once occurred in Mithila, in the household of a Brahmin — long ago, in the city of Mithila, there lived a Brahmin named Kauthuma,

Verse 55 (skanda.1.40.55)

येन विद्याः प्रपठिता वर्तंते भुवि या द्विज॥ एकत्रिंशत्सहस्राणि वर्षाणां स कृतादरः

yena vidyāḥ prapaṭhitā vartaṁte bhuvi yā dvija ekatriṁśatsahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ sa kṛtādaraḥ

"who had mastered every branch of learning found upon this earth, O twice-born; for thirty-one thousand years, with the deepest devotion,

Verse 56 (skanda.1.40.56)

क्षणमप्यनवच्छिन्नं पठित्वा गेहवानभूत्॥ ततः केनापि कालेन कौथुमस्याभवत्सुतः

kṣaṇamapyanavacchinnaṁ paṭhitvā gehavānabhūt tataḥ kenāpi kālena kauthumasyābhavatsutaḥ

"studying without pause even for a moment, he became a householder. Then, some time later, a son was born to Kauthuma.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.40.57)

जडवद्वर्त्तमानः स मातृकां प्रत्यपद्यत॥ पठित्वा मातृकामन्यन्नाध्येति स कथंचन

jaḍavadvarttamānaḥ sa mātṛkāṁ pratyapadyata paṭhitvā mātṛkāmanyannādhyeti sa kathaṁcana

"That son, behaving as if he were dull-witted, learned only the alphabet; having learned the alphabet, he would learn nothing further, by any means at all.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.40.58)

ततः पिता खिन्नरूपी जडं तं समभाषत॥ अधीष्व पुत्रकाधीष्व तव दास्यामि मोदकान्

tataḥ pitā khinnarūpī jaḍaṁ taṁ samabhāṣata adhīṣva putrakādhīṣva tava dāsyāmi modakān

"Then his father, grieved, said to that seemingly dull-witted son: 'Study, my son, study — I shall give you sweets;

Verse 59 (skanda.1.40.59)

अथान्यस्मै प्रदास्यामि कर्णावुत्पाटयामि ते

athānyasmai pradāsyāmi karṇāvutpāṭayāmi te

"'or else I shall give them to someone else instead, and pull out your ears!'

Verse 60 (skanda.1.40.60)

॥पुत्र उवाच॥ तात किं मोदकार्थाय पठ्यते लोभहेतवे॥ पठनंनाम यत्पुंसां परामार्थं हि तत्स्मृतम्

putra uvāca tāta kiṁ modakārthāya paṭhyate lobhahetave paṭhanaṁnāma yatpuṁsāṁ parāmārthaṁ hi tatsmṛtam

The son said: "Father, is study undertaken for sweets, out of greed? Study, it is remembered, is meant for the highest purpose of man."

Verse 61 (skanda.1.40.61)

॥कौथुम उवाच॥ एवं ते वदमानस्य आयुर्भवतु ब्रह्मणः॥ साध्वी बुद्धिरियं तेऽस्तु कुतो नाध्येष्यतः परम्

kauthuma uvāca evaṁ te vadamānasya āyurbhavatu brahmaṇaḥ sādhvī buddhiriyaṁ te'stu kuto nādhyeṣyataḥ param

Kauthuma said: "Speaking thus, O Brahmin child, may your life be long! Excellent indeed is this understanding of yours — then why do you not study further?"

Verse 62 (skanda.1.40.62)

॥पुत्र उवाच॥ तात सर्वं परिज्ञेयं ज्ञानमत्रैव वै यतः॥ ततः परं कंठशोषः किमर्थं क्रियते वद

putra uvāca tāta sarvaṁ parijñeyaṁ jñānamatraiva vai yataḥ tataḥ paraṁ kaṁṭhaśoṣaḥ kimarthaṁ kriyate vada

The son said: "Father, since all that is worth knowing lies right here, why then should one dry up one's throat over anything further? Tell me."

Verse 63 (skanda.1.40.63)

॥पितोवाच॥ विचित्रं भाषसे बाल ज्ञातोऽत्रार्थश्च कस्त्वया॥ ब्रूहि ब्रूहि पुनर्वत्स श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते गिरम्

pitovāca vicitraṁ bhāṣase bāla jñāto'trārthaśca kastvayā brūhi brūhi punarvatsa śrotumicchāmi te giram

The father said: "Strange indeed is what you say, child — what meaning have you found in this? Speak, speak again, dear one — I wish to hear your words."

Verse 64 (skanda.1.40.64)

॥पुत्र उवाच॥ एकत्रिंशत्सहस्राणि पठित्वापि त्वया पितः॥ नानातर्कान्भ्रांतिरेव संधिता मनसि स्वके

putra uvāca ekatriṁśatsahasrāṇi paṭhitvāpi tvayā pitaḥ nānātarkānbhrāṁtireva saṁdhitā manasi svake

The son said: "Father, even after thirty-one thousand years of study, you have gathered in your own mind only confusion, drawn from so many conflicting doctrines.

Verse 65 (skanda.1.40.65)

अयमयं चायमिति धर्मो यो दर्शनोदितः॥ तेषु वातायते चेतस्तव तन्नाशयामि ते

ayamayaṁ cāyamiti dharmo yo darśanoditaḥ teṣu vātāyate cetastava tannāśayāmi te

"'This is it, this is it, this alone' — so runs the teaching of each different school, and your mind wavers among them all; that confusion of yours I shall now destroy.

Verse 66 (skanda.1.40.66)

उपदेशं पठस्येव नैवार्थज्ञोऽसि तत्त्वतः॥ पाठमात्रा हि ये विप्रा द्विपदाः पशवो हि ते

upadeśaṁ paṭhasyeva naivārthajño'si tattvataḥ pāṭhamātrā hi ye viprā dvipadāḥ paśavo hi te

"You merely recite the teaching, but do not truly know its meaning; for Brahmins who are mere reciters of texts are, in truth, nothing but two-footed cattle.

Verse 67 (skanda.1.40.67)

तत्ते ब्रवीमि तद्वाक्यं मोहमार्तंडमद्भुतम्

tatte bravīmi tadvākyaṁ mohamārtaṁḍamadbhutam

"Therefore I speak to you that word which is a wondrous sun dispelling delusion.

Verse 68 (skanda.1.40.68)

अकारः कथितो ब्रह्मा उकारो विष्णुरुच्यते॥ मकारश्च स्मृतो रुद्रस्त्रयश्चैते गुणाः स्मृताः

akāraḥ kathito brahmā ukāro viṣṇurucyate makāraśca smṛto rudrastrayaścaite guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ

"The letter A is said to be Brahma; the letter U is called Vishnu; the letter M is remembered as Rudra — these three are remembered as the three gunas.

Verse 69 (skanda.1.40.69)

अर्धमात्रा च या मूर्ध्नि परमः स सदाशिवः॥ एवमोंकारमाहात्म्यं श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी

ardhamātrā ca yā mūrdhni paramaḥ sa sadāśivaḥ evamoṁkāramāhātmyaṁ śrutireṣā sanātanī

"And the half-measure resting at the crown is itself the supreme Sadashiva. Such is the greatness of Om — this is the eternal teaching of scripture.

Verse 70 (skanda.1.40.70)

ॐकारस्य च माहात्म्यं याथात्म्येन न शक्यते॥ वर्षाणामयुतेनापि ग्रंथकोटिभिरेव वा

oṁkārasya ca māhātmyaṁ yāthātmyena na śakyate varṣāṇāmayutenāpi graṁthakoṭibhireva vā

"The true greatness of Om cannot be told in full, not in ten thousand years, nor even in tens of millions of books;

Verse 71 (skanda.1.40.71)

पुनर्यत्सारसर्वस्वं प्रोक्तं तच्छ्रूयतां परम्॥ अःकारांता अकाराद्या मनवस्ते चतुर्दश

punaryatsārasarvasvaṁ proktaṁ tacchrūyatāṁ param aḥkārāṁtā akārādyā manavaste caturdaśa

"but its essential quintessence I shall now tell — hear it, the supreme teaching: from A to Ah are the fourteen Manus —

Verse 72 (skanda.1.40.72)

स्वायंभुवश्च स्वारोचिरौत्तमो रैवतस्तथा॥ तामसश्चाक्षुषः षष्ठस्तथा वैवस्वतोऽधुना

svāyaṁbhuvaśca svārocirauttamo raivatastathā tāmasaścākṣuṣaḥ ṣaṣṭhastathā vaivasvato'dhunā

"Svayambhuva, Svarochisha, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, the sixth Chakshusha, and now Vaivasvata,

Verse 73 (skanda.1.40.73)

सावर्णिर्ब्रह्मसावर्णी रुद्रसावर्णिरेव च॥ दक्षसावर्णिरेवापि धर्मसावर्णिरेव च

sāvarṇirbrahmasāvarṇī rudrasāvarṇireva ca dakṣasāvarṇirevāpi dharmasāvarṇireva ca

"Savarni, Brahma-savarni, Rudra-savarni, and Daksha-savarni, and Dharma-savarni,

Verse 74 (skanda.1.40.74)

रौच्यो भौत्यस्तथा चापि मनवोऽमी चतुर्दश॥ श्वेतः पांडुस्तथा रक्तस्ताम्रः पीतश्च कापिलः

raucyo bhautyastathā cāpi manavo'mī caturdaśa śvetaḥ pāṁḍustathā raktastāmraḥ pītaśca kāpilaḥ

"Rauchya, and Bhautya — these are the fourteen Manus. White, pale, red, copper-hued, yellow, tawny,

Verse 75 (skanda.1.40.75)

कृष्णः श्यामस्तथा धूम्रः सुपिशंगः पिशंगकः॥ त्रिवर्णः शबलो वर्णैः कर्कंधुर इति क्रमात्

kṛṣṇaḥ śyāmastathā dhūmraḥ supiśaṁgaḥ piśaṁgakaḥ trivarṇaḥ śabalo varṇaiḥ karkaṁdhura iti kramāt

"black, dark, smoky, deep tawny, tawny, three-colored, and mottled in hue — Karkandhu comes last, in order.

Verse 76 (skanda.1.40.76)

वैवस्वतः क्षकारश्च तात कृष्णः प्रदृश्यते॥ ककाराद्य हकारांतास्त्रयस्त्रिंशच्च देवताः

vaivasvataḥ kṣakāraśca tāta kṛṣṇaḥ pradṛśyate kakārādya hakārāṁtāstrayastriṁśacca devatāḥ

"Vaivasvata is the letter Ksha, and dear one, he appears dark of hue. From Ka to Ha are the thirty-three deities.

Verse 77 (skanda.1.40.77)

ककाराद्याष्ठकारांता आदित्या द्वादश स्मृताः॥ धाता मित्रोऽर्यमा शक्रो वरुणाश्चांशुरेव च

kakārādyāṣṭhakārāṁtā ādityā dvādaśa smṛtāḥ dhātā mitro'ryamā śakro varuṇāścāṁśureva ca

"From Ka to Tha are remembered the twelve Adityas — Dhata, Mitra, Aryama, Shakra, Varuna, and Amshu,

Verse 78 (skanda.1.40.78)

भगो विवस्वान्पूषा च सविता दशमस्तथा॥ एकादशस्तथा त्वष्टा विष्णुर्द्वादश उच्यते

bhago vivasvānpūṣā ca savitā daśamastathā ekādaśastathā tvaṣṭā viṣṇurdvādaśa ucyate

"Bhaga, Vivasvan, Pushan, and Savitri as the tenth; Tvashta the eleventh, and Vishnu is called the twelfth.

Verse 79 (skanda.1.40.79)

जघन्यजः स सर्वेषामादित्यानां गुणाधिकः॥ डकाराद्या बकारांता रुद्राश्चैकादशैव तु

jaghanyajaḥ sa sarveṣāmādityānāṁ guṇādhikaḥ ḍakārādyā bakārāṁtā rudrāścaikādaśaiva tu

"Though last-born of all, he alone surpasses every Aditya in virtue. From Da to Ba are the eleven Rudras —

Verse 80 (skanda.1.40.80)

कपाली पिंगलो भीमो विरुपाक्षो विलोहितः॥ अजकः शासनः शास्ता शंभुश्चण्डो भवस्तथा

kapālī piṁgalo bhīmo virupākṣo vilohitaḥ ajakaḥ śāsanaḥ śāstā śaṁbhuścaṇḍo bhavastathā

"Kapali, Pingala, Bhima, Virupaksha, Vilohita, Ajaka, Shasana, Shasta, Shambhu, Chanda, and Bhava.

Verse 81 (skanda.1.40.81)

भकाराद्याः षकारांता अष्टौ हि वसवो मताः॥ ध्रुवो घोरश्च सोमश्च आपश्चैव नलोऽनिलः

bhakārādyāḥ ṣakārāṁtā aṣṭau hi vasavo matāḥ dhruvo ghoraśca somaśca āpaścaiva nalo'nilaḥ

"From Bha to Sha are held to be the eight Vasus — Dhruva, Ghora, Soma, Apa, and Nala and Anila,

Verse 82 (skanda.1.40.82)

प्रत्यूषश्च प्रभासश्च अष्टौ ते वसवः स्मृताः॥ सौ हश्चेत्यश्विनौ ख्यातौ त्रयस्त्रिंशदिमे स्मृताः

pratyūṣaśca prabhāsaśca aṣṭau te vasavaḥ smṛtāḥ sau haścetyaśvinau khyātau trayastriṁśadime smṛtāḥ

"and Pratyusha and Prabhasa — these eight are remembered as the Vasus. Sa and Ha are the famed Ashvins — thus these thirty-three deities are remembered.

Verse 83 (skanda.1.40.83)

अनुस्वारो विसर्गश्च जिह्वामूलीय एव च॥ उपध्मानीय इत्येते जरायुजास्तथांडजाः

anusvāro visargaśca jihvāmūlīya eva ca upadhmānīya ityete jarāyujāstathāṁḍajāḥ

"The anusvara, the visarga, the jihvamuliya, and the upadhmaniya — these represent the womb-born and the egg-born,

Verse 84 (skanda.1.40.84)

स्वेदजाश्चोद्भिजाश्चेति तत जीवाः प्रकीर्तिताः॥ भावार्थः कथितश्चायं तत्त्वार्थं श्रृणु सांप्रतम्

svedajāścodbhijāśceti tata jīvāḥ prakīrtitāḥ bhāvārthaḥ kathitaścāyaṁ tattvārthaṁ śrṛṇu sāṁpratam

"and the sweat-born and the sprout-born — thus these classes of beings are proclaimed. This is the surface meaning declared; now hear its true essence.

Verse 85 (skanda.1.40.85)

ये पुमांसस्त्वमून्देवान्समाश्रित्य क्रियापराः॥ अर्धमात्रात्मके नित्ये पदे लीनास्त एव हि

ye pumāṁsastvamūndevānsamāśritya kriyāparāḥ ardhamātrātmake nitye pade līnāsta eva hi

"Those men who, devoted to ritual action, take refuge in these very gods, become dissolved into that eternal state which has the nature of the half-measure.

Verse 86 (skanda.1.40.86)

चतुर्णां जीवयोनीनां तदैव परिमुच्यते॥ यदाभून्मनसा वाचा कर्मणा च यजेत्सुरान्

caturṇāṁ jīvayonīnāṁ tadaiva parimucyate yadābhūnmanasā vācā karmaṇā ca yajetsurān

"And only then is one freed from the four wombs of living beings, when he worships these gods with mind, speech, and deed.

Verse 87 (skanda.1.40.87)

यस्मिञ्छास्त्रे त्वमी देवा मानिता नैव पापिभिः॥ तच्छास्त्रं हि न मंतव्यं यदि ब्रह्मा स्वयं वदेत्

yasmiñchāstre tvamī devā mānitā naiva pāpibhiḥ tacchāstraṁ hi na maṁtavyaṁ yadi brahmā svayaṁ vadet

"Whatever scripture is such that these gods are not honored in it, even by sinners — that scripture is not to be trusted, even were Brahma himself to speak it.

Verse 88 (skanda.1.40.88)

अमी च देवाः सर्वत्र श्रौते मार्गे प्रतिष्ठिताः॥ पाषण्डशास्त्रे सर्वत्र निषिद्धाः पापकर्मभिः

amī ca devāḥ sarvatra śraute mārge pratiṣṭhitāḥ pāṣaṇḍaśāstre sarvatra niṣiddhāḥ pāpakarmabhiḥ

"These gods are everywhere established in the Vedic path; and everywhere forbidden in the heretical scriptures composed by sinful men.

Verse 89 (skanda.1.40.89)

तदमून्ये व्यतिक्रम्य तपो दानमथो जपम्॥ प्रकुर्वंति दुरात्मानो वेपते मरुतः पथि

tadamūnye vyatikramya tapo dānamatho japam prakurvaṁti durātmāno vepate marutaḥ pathi

"Those evil-souled men who, disregarding these gods, perform austerity, giving, or recitation — before them, even the wind trembles upon the path.

Verse 90 (skanda.1.40.90)

अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यं पश्यताविजितात्मनाम्॥ पठंति मातृकां पापा मन्यंते न सुरानिह

aho mohasya māhātmyaṁ paśyatāvijitātmanām paṭhaṁti mātṛkāṁ pāpā manyaṁte na surāniha

"Ah, behold the power of delusion among these unrestrained souls! These sinners recite the alphabet, yet do not honor the very gods it embodies.

Verse 91 (skanda.1.40.91)

॥सुतनुरुवाच॥ इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पिताभूदतिविस्मितः॥ पप्रच्छ च बहून्प्रश्रान्सोप्यवादीत्तथातथा

sutanuruvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā pitābhūdativismitaḥ papraccha ca bahūnpraśrānsopyavādīttathātathā

Sutanu said: "Hearing these his words, the father was greatly astonished; he asked many further questions, and the son answered each of them in turn.

Verse 92 (skanda.1.40.92)

मयापि तव प्रोक्तोऽयं मातृकाप्रश्र उत्तमः॥ द्वितीयं श्रृणु तं प्रश्नं पंचपंचाद्भुतं गृहम्

mayāpi tava prokto'yaṁ mātṛkāpraśra uttamaḥ dvitīyaṁ śrṛṇu taṁ praśnaṁ paṁcapaṁcādbhutaṁ gṛham

"This, then, I have told you as well — the first excellent question, that of the alphabet. Now hear the second question: the wondrous house of five-and-five.

Verse 93 (skanda.1.40.93)

पंचभूतानि पञ्चैव कर्मज्ञानेंद्रियाणि च॥ पंच पंचापि विषया मनोबुद्ध्यहमेव च

paṁcabhūtāni pañcaiva karmajñāneṁdriyāṇi ca paṁca paṁcāpi viṣayā manobuddhyahameva ca

"The five elements, the five organs of action and of knowledge, the five sense-objects, and mind, intellect, and ego —

Verse 94 (skanda.1.40.94)

प्रकृतिः पुरुषश्चैव पञ्चविंशः सदाशिवः॥ पञ्चपञ्चभिरेततैस्तु निष्पन्नं गृहमुच्यते

prakṛtiḥ puruṣaścaiva pañcaviṁśaḥ sadāśivaḥ pañcapañcabhiretataistu niṣpannaṁ gṛhamucyate

"and Prakriti and Purusha, and Sadashiva as the twenty-fifth — from these, gathered five-and-five, the house is said to be formed.

Verse 95 (skanda.1.40.95)

देहमेतदिदं वेद तत्त्वतो यात्यसौ शिवम्॥ बहुरूपां स्त्रियं प्राहुर्बुद्धिं वेदांतवादिनः

dehametadidaṁ veda tattvato yātyasau śivam bahurūpāṁ striyaṁ prāhurbuddhiṁ vedāṁtavādinaḥ

"He who truly knows this body attains Shiva. The teachers of Vedanta call the intellect the many-formed woman —

Verse 96 (skanda.1.40.96)

सा हि नानार्थभजनान्नानारूपं प्रपद्यते॥ धर्मस्यैकस्य संयोगाद्बहुधाप्येकिकैव सा

sā hi nānārthabhajanānnānārūpaṁ prapadyate dharmasyaikasya saṁyogādbahudhāpyekikaiva sā

"for through attachment to many objects she assumes many forms; yet through union with the one truth, though manifold, she becomes one alone.

Verse 97 (skanda.1.40.97)

इति यो वेदे तत्त्वार्थं नासौ नरकमाप्नुयात्॥ मुनिभिर्यश्च न प्रोक्तं यन्न मन्येत दैवतान्

iti yo vede tattvārthaṁ nāsau narakamāpnuyāt munibhiryaśca na proktaṁ yanna manyeta daivatān

"Whoever knows this true meaning does not fall into hell. That teaching which the sages have not spoken, and which does not honor the gods —

Verse 98 (skanda.1.40.98)

वचनं तद्बुधाः प्रहुर्बंधं चित्रकथं त्विति॥ यच्च कामान्वितं वाक्यं पंचमं वाप्यतः श्रुणु

vacanaṁ tadbudhāḥ prahurbaṁdhaṁ citrakathaṁ tviti yacca kāmānvitaṁ vākyaṁ paṁcamaṁ vāpyataḥ śruṇu

"that teaching the wise call bondage — this is the 'binding of the wondrous tale.' Now hear the fifth, the saying joined with desire.

Verse 99 (skanda.1.40.99)

एको लोभो महान्ग्राहो लोभात्पापं प्रवर्तते॥ लोभात्क्रोधः प्रभवति लोभात्कामः प्रवर्तते

eko lobho mahāngrāho lobhātpāpaṁ pravartate lobhātkrodhaḥ prabhavati lobhātkāmaḥ pravartate

"Greed alone is the great crocodile; from greed springs sin. From greed arises anger, and from greed arises desire.

Verse 100 (skanda.1.40.100)

लोभान्मोहश्च माया च मानः स्तम्भः परेष्सुता॥ अविद्याऽप्रज्ञता चैव सर्वं लोभात्प्रवर्तते

lobhānmohaśca māyā ca mānaḥ stambhaḥ pareṣsutā avidyā'prajñatā caiva sarvaṁ lobhātpravartate

"From greed come delusion and deceit, pride, obstinacy, craving for another's wealth, ignorance and folly — everything arises from greed.

Verse 101 (skanda.1.40.101)

हरणं परवित्तानां परदाराभिमर्शनम्॥ साहसानां च सर्वेषामकार्याणआं क्रियास्तथा

haraṇaṁ paravittānāṁ paradārābhimarśanam sāhasānāṁ ca sarveṣāmakāryāṇaāṁ kriyāstathā

"The stealing of others' wealth, the violation of others' wives, every kind of reckless crime, and the doing of what should never be done —

Verse 102 (skanda.1.40.102)

स लोभः सह मोहेन विजेतव्यो जितात्मना॥ दम्भो द्रोहश्च निंदा च पैशुन्यं मत्सरस्तथा

sa lobhaḥ saha mohena vijetavyo jitātmanā dambho drohaśca niṁdā ca paiśunyaṁ matsarastathā

"this greed, together with delusion, must be conquered by the man who has mastered himself. Hypocrisy, betrayal, slander, backbiting, and envy —

Verse 103 (skanda.1.40.103)

भवन्त्येतानि सर्वाणि लुब्धानामकृतात्मनाम्॥ सुमहां त्यपि सास्त्राणि धारयंति बहुश्रुताः

bhavantyetāni sarvāṇi lubdhānāmakṛtātmanām sumahāṁ tyapi sāstrāṇi dhārayaṁti bahuśrutāḥ

"all of these arise in the greedy and the unrestrained; even the deeply learned, though they hold vast scriptures in their memory,

Verse 104 (skanda.1.40.104)

छेत्तारः संशयानां च लोभग्रस्ता व्रजंत्यधः॥ लोभक्रोधप्रसक्ताश्च शिष्टाचारबहिष्कृताः

chettāraḥ saṁśayānāṁ ca lobhagrastā vrajaṁtyadhaḥ lobhakrodhaprasaktāśca śiṣṭācārabahiṣkṛtāḥ

"who otherwise could cut through every doubt, seized by greed sink downward; caught in greed and anger, they are cast out from the conduct of the virtuous.

Verse 105 (skanda.1.40.105)

अन्तःक्षुरा वाङ्मधुराः कूपाश्धन्नास्तृणौरिव॥ कुर्वते ये बहून्मार्गांस्तांस्तान्हेतुबलन्विताः

antaḥkṣurā vāṅmadhurāḥ kūpāśdhannāstṛṇauriva kurvate ye bahūnmārgāṁstāṁstānhetubalanvitāḥ

"Sharp as blades within, sweet of speech, like wells hidden under grass — such men, empowered by their own arguments, forge many such paths...

Verse 106 (skanda.1.40.106)

सर्वमार्गं विलुंमपंति लोभाज्जातिषु निष्ठुराः॥ धर्मावतंसकाः क्षुद्रा मुष्णंति ध्वजिनो जगत्

sarvamārgaṁ viluṁmapaṁti lobhājjātiṣu niṣṭhurāḥ dharmāvataṁsakāḥ kṣudrā muṣṇaṁti dhvajino jagat

"...and plunder the whole true path, cruel by nature out of greed; petty men who wear dharma like an ornament rob the world beneath its very banner.

Verse 107 (skanda.1.40.107)

एतेऽतिपापिनो ज्ञेया नित्यं लोभसमन्विताः॥ जनको युवनाश्वश्च वृषादर्भिः प्रसेनजित्

ete'tipāpino jñeyā nityaṁ lobhasamanvitāḥ janako yuvanāśvaśca vṛṣādarbhiḥ prasenajit

"These should be known as the most sinful, ever bound to greed. Janaka, Yuvanashva, Vrishadarbhi, and Prasenajit,

Verse 108 (skanda.1.40.108)

लोभक्षयाद्दिवं प्राप्तास्तथैवान्ये जनाधिपाः॥ तस्मात्त्यजंति ये लोभं तेऽतिक्रामंति सागरम्

lobhakṣayāddivaṁ prāptāstathaivānye janādhipāḥ tasmāttyajaṁti ye lobhaṁ te'tikrāmaṁti sāgaram

"through the destruction of greed attained heaven, as did other kings likewise; therefore those who abandon greed cross over this ocean —

Verse 109 (skanda.1.40.109)

संसाराख्यमतोऽनये ये ग्राहग्रस्ता न संशयः॥ अथ ब्राह्मणभेदांस्त्वमष्टो विप्रावधारय

saṁsārākhyamato'naye ye grāhagrastā na saṁśayaḥ atha brāhmaṇabhedāṁstvamaṣṭo viprāvadhāraya

"the one called samsara — of this there is no doubt, for others remain forever seized by that crocodile, greed. Now, O twice-born, learn from me the eight kinds of Brahmin.

Verse 110 (skanda.1.40.110)

मात्रश्च ब्राह्मणश्चैव श्रोत्रियश्च ततः परम्॥ अनूचानस्तथा भ्रूण ऋषिकल्प ऋषिर्मुनिः

mātraśca brāhmaṇaścaiva śrotriyaśca tataḥ param anūcānastathā bhrūṇa ṛṣikalpa ṛṣirmuniḥ

"The Matra, the Brahmana, and beyond him the Shrotriya, the Anuchana, and then the Bhruna, the Rishikalpa, the Rishi, and the Muni —

Verse 111 (skanda.1.40.111)

एते ह्यष्टौ समुद्दिष्टा ब्राह्मणाः प्रथमं श्रुतौ॥ तेषां परः परः श्रेष्ठो विद्यावृत्तविशेषतः

ete hyaṣṭau samuddiṣṭā brāhmaṇāḥ prathamaṁ śrutau teṣāṁ paraḥ paraḥ śreṣṭho vidyāvṛttaviśeṣataḥ

"these eight are first named as Brahmins in scripture; each one surpasses the one before in learning and in conduct.

Verse 112 (skanda.1.40.112)

ब्राह्मणानां कुले जातो जातिमात्रो यदा भवेत्॥ अनुपेतः क्रियाहीनो मात्र इत्यभिधीयते

brāhmaṇānāṁ kule jāto jātimātro yadā bhavet anupetaḥ kriyāhīno mātra ityabhidhīyate

"When one is born in a Brahmin family and is a Brahmin by birth alone, uninitiated and without rites — he is called the Matra.

Verse 113 (skanda.1.40.113)

एकोद्देश्यमतिक्रम्य वेदस्याचारवानृजुः॥ स ब्राह्मण इति प्रोक्तो निभृतः सत्यवाग्घृणी

ekoddeśyamatikramya vedasyācāravānṛjuḥ sa brāhmaṇa iti prokto nibhṛtaḥ satyavāgghṛṇī

"One who, having gone beyond a single fixed aim, lives by Vedic conduct and is upright — he is called the Brahmana, restrained, truthful, and compassionate.

Verse 114 (skanda.1.40.114)

एकां शाखां सकल्पां च षड्भिरंगैरधीत्य च॥ षट्कर्मनिरतो विप्रः श्रोत्रियोनाम धर्मवित्

ekāṁ śākhāṁ sakalpāṁ ca ṣaḍbhiraṁgairadhītya ca ṣaṭkarmanirato vipraḥ śrotriyonāma dharmavit

"One who has studied a single branch of the Veda with its ritual manual through the six auxiliary sciences, devoted to the six duties, learned in dharma — that Brahmin is called Shrotriya.

Verse 115 (skanda.1.40.115)

वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञः शुद्धात्मा पापवर्जितः॥ श्रेष्ठः श्रोत्रियवान्प्राज्ञः सोऽनूचान इति स्मृतः

vedavedāṁgatattvajñaḥ śuddhātmā pāpavarjitaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śrotriyavānprājñaḥ so'nūcāna iti smṛtaḥ

"One who knows the essence of the Vedas and Vedangas, pure of soul, free from sin, excellent and wise, endowed with the qualities of a Shrotriya — he is remembered as Anuchana.

Verse 116 (skanda.1.40.116)

अनूचानगुणोपेतो यज्ञस्वाध्याययंत्रितः॥ भ्रूण इत्युच्यते शिष्टैः शेषभोजी जितेंद्रियः

anūcānaguṇopeto yajñasvādhyāyayaṁtritaḥ bhrūṇa ityucyate śiṣṭaiḥ śeṣabhojī jiteṁdriyaḥ

"Endowed with the qualities of an Anuchana, devoted to sacrifice and study, living on what remains, master of his senses — such a one is called Bhruna by the wise.

Verse 117 (skanda.1.40.117)

वैदिकं लौकिकं चैव सर्वज्ञानमवाप्य यः॥ आश्रमस्थो वशी नित्यमृषिकल्प इति स्मृतः

vaidikaṁ laukikaṁ caiva sarvajñānamavāpya yaḥ āśramastho vaśī nityamṛṣikalpa iti smṛtaḥ

"One who has attained all knowledge, both sacred and worldly, established in his stage of life, ever self-controlled — he is remembered as Rishikalpa.

Verse 118 (skanda.1.40.118)

ऊर्ध्वरेता भवत्यग्र्यो नियताशी नसंश यी॥ शापानुग्रहयोः शक्तः सत्यसंधो भवेदृषिः

ūrdhvaretā bhavatyagryo niyatāśī nasaṁśa yī śāpānugrahayoḥ śaktaḥ satyasaṁdho bhavedṛṣiḥ

"Foremost, celibate, of regulated diet, free of doubt, capable of both curse and grace, true to his word — such a man becomes a Rishi.

Verse 119 (skanda.1.40.119)

निवृत्तः सर्वतत्त्वज्ञः कामक्रोधविवर्जितः॥ ध्यानस्थानिष्क्रियो दांतस्तुल्यमृत्कांचनो मुनिः

nivṛttaḥ sarvatattvajñaḥ kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ dhyānasthāniṣkriyo dāṁtastulyamṛtkāṁcano muniḥ

"Withdrawn from the world, knower of every truth, free of desire and anger, established in meditation, beyond action, self-controlled, regarding clay and gold alike — such a man is a Muni.

Verse 120 (skanda.1.40.120)

एवमन्वयविद्याभ्यां वृत्तेन च समुच्छ्रिताः॥ त्रिशुक्लानाम विप्रेंद्राः पूज्यन्ते सवनादिषु

evamanvayavidyābhyāṁ vṛttena ca samucchritāḥ triśuklānāma vipreṁdrāḥ pūjyante savanādiṣu

"Thus, exalted by lineage, learning, and conduct, those thrice-pure lords among Brahmins are worshipped at the Soma sacrifice and other rites.

Verse 121 (skanda.1.40.121)

इत्येवंविधविप्रत्वमुक्तं श्रृणु युगादयः॥ नवमी कार्तिके शुक्ला कृतादिः परिकीर्तिता

ityevaṁvidhavipratvamuktaṁ śrṛṇu yugādayaḥ navamī kārtike śuklā kṛtādiḥ parikīrtitā

"Thus has Brahmin-hood been described — now hear the founding days of the ages: the bright ninth of Kartika is proclaimed the beginning of the Krita age.

Verse 122 (skanda.1.40.122)

वैशाखस्य तृतीया या शुक्ला त्रेतादिरुच्यते॥ माघे पञ्चदशीनाम द्वापरादिः स्मृता बुधैः

vaiśākhasya tṛtīyā yā śuklā tretādirucyate māghe pañcadaśīnāma dvāparādiḥ smṛtā budhaiḥ

"The bright third of Vaishakha is said to be the start of the Treta age; the full moon of Magha is held by the wise to be the start of Dvapara,

Verse 123 (skanda.1.40.123)

त्रयोदशी नभस्ये च कृष्णा सा हि कलेः स्मृता॥ युगादयः स्मृता ह्येता दत्तस्याक्षयकारकाः

trayodaśī nabhasye ca kṛṣṇā sā hi kaleḥ smṛtā yugādayaḥ smṛtā hyetā dattasyākṣayakārakāḥ

"and the dark thirteenth of Bhadrapada is remembered as the start of Kali. These are remembered as the founding days of the ages, which render whatever is given upon them imperishable.

Verse 124 (skanda.1.40.124)

एताश्चतस्रस्तिथयो युगाद्या दत्तं हुतं चाक्षयमाशु विद्यात्॥ युगेयुगे वर्षशतेन दानं युगादिकाले दिवसेन तत्फलम्

etāścatasrastithayo yugādyā dattaṁ hutaṁ cākṣayamāśu vidyāt yugeyuge varṣaśatena dānaṁ yugādikāle divasena tatphalam

"These four dates mark the beginning of the ages; know that whatever is given or offered upon them at once becomes imperishable. In each age, a gift given over a hundred years bears the very fruit that one given on a single day at the age's dawning bears.

Verse 125 (skanda.1.40.125)

युगाद्याः कथिता ह्येता मन्वाद्याः श्रृणु सांप्रतम्॥ अश्वयुक्छुक्लनवमी द्वादशी कार्तिके तथा

yugādyāḥ kathitā hyetā manvādyāḥ śrṛṇu sāṁpratam aśvayukchuklanavamī dvādaśī kārtike tathā

"Thus have the beginnings of the ages been told; now hear the beginnings of the Manvantaras — the bright ninth of Ashvina, and the twelfth of Kartika,

Verse 126 (skanda.1.40.126)

तृतीया चैत्रमासस्य तथा भाद्रपदस्य च॥ फाल्गुनस्य त्वमावास्या पौषस्यैकादशी तथा

tṛtīyā caitramāsasya tathā bhādrapadasya ca phālgunasya tvamāvāsyā pauṣasyaikādaśī tathā

"the third of Chaitra, and likewise of Bhadrapada; the new moon of Phalguna, and likewise the eleventh of Pausha,

Verse 127 (skanda.1.40.127)

आषाढस्यापि दशमी माघमासस्य सप्तमी॥ श्रावणस्याष्टमी कृष्णा तथाषाढी च पूर्णिमा

āṣāḍhasyāpi daśamī māghamāsasya saptamī śrāvaṇasyāṣṭamī kṛṣṇā tathāṣāḍhī ca pūrṇimā

"the tenth of Ashadha as well, and the seventh of Magha; the dark eighth of Shravana, and the full moon of Ashadha,

Verse 128 (skanda.1.40.128)

कार्तिकी फाल्गुनी चैत्री ज्येष्ठे पञ्चदशी सिता॥ मन्वंतरादयश्चैता दत्तस्याक्षयकारकाः

kārtikī phālgunī caitrī jyeṣṭhe pañcadaśī sitā manvaṁtarādayaścaitā dattasyākṣayakārakāḥ

"those of Kartika, Phalguna, and Chaitra, and the bright fifteenth of Jyeshtha — these are the beginnings of the Manvantaras, which render every gift imperishable.

Verse 129 (skanda.1.40.129)

यस्यां तिथौ रथं पूर्वं प्राप देवो दिवाकरः॥ सा तिथिः कथिता विप्रैर्माघे या रथसप्तमी

yasyāṁ tithau rathaṁ pūrvaṁ prāpa devo divākaraḥ sā tithiḥ kathitā viprairmāghe yā rathasaptamī

"The day on which the sun-god first mounted his chariot — that day the Brahmins have declared to be Ratha-saptami, which falls in Magha.

Verse 130 (skanda.1.40.130)

तस्यां दत्तं हुतं चेष्टं सर्वमेवाक्षयं मतम्॥ सर्वदारिद्र्यशमनं भास्करप्रीतये मतम्

tasyāṁ dattaṁ hutaṁ ceṣṭaṁ sarvamevākṣayaṁ matam sarvadāridryaśamanaṁ bhāskaraprītaye matam

"Whatever is given, offered, or wished for on that day is held to be wholly imperishable; it dispels every poverty and is dear to the sun.

Verse 131 (skanda.1.40.131)

नित्योद्वेजकमाहुर्यं बुधास्तं श्रृणु तत्त्वतः॥ यश्च याचनिको नित्यं न स स्वर्गस्य भाजनम्

nityodvejakamāhuryaṁ budhāstaṁ śrṛṇu tattvataḥ yaśca yācaniko nityaṁ na sa svargasya bhājanam

"That which the wise call the constant troubler — hear its true meaning: he who is forever a beggar is no vessel worthy of heaven,

Verse 132 (skanda.1.40.132)

उद्वेजयति भूतानि यथा चौरास्तथैव सः॥ नरकं याति पापात्मा नित्योद्वेगकरस्त्वसौ

udvejayati bhūtāni yathā caurāstathaiva saḥ narakaṁ yāti pāpātmā nityodvegakarastvasau

"for like a thief he troubles all beings; that sinful soul goes to hell, since he is forever a cause of distress.

Verse 133 (skanda.1.40.133)

इहोपपत्तिर्मम केन कर्मणा क्व च प्रयातव्यमितो मयेति॥ विचार्य चैवं प्रतिकारकारी बुधैः स चोक्तो द्विज दक्षदक्षः

ihopapattirmama kena karmaṇā kva ca prayātavyamito mayeti vicārya caivaṁ pratikārakārī budhaiḥ sa cokto dvija dakṣadakṣaḥ

"'By what deed have I come to be born here, and to where must I now go from this place?' — reflecting thus, and acting as the remedy for it, that man, O twice-born, is called by the wise 'the most skillful of the skillful.'

Verse 134 (skanda.1.40.134)

मासैरष्टभिरह्ना च पूर्वेण वयसायुषा॥ तत्कर्म पुरुषः कुर्याद्येनांते सुखमेधते

māsairaṣṭabhirahnā ca pūrveṇa vayasāyuṣā tatkarma puruṣaḥ kuryādyenāṁte sukhamedhate

"Within eight months, by day, in the earlier part of his years and his life, a man should perform that deed by which he shall prosper in the end.

Verse 135 (skanda.1.40.135)

अर्चिर्धूमश्च मार्गौ द्वावाहुर्वेदांतवादिनः॥ अर्चिषा याति मोक्षं च धूमेनावर्तते पुनः

arcirdhūmaśca mārgau dvāvāhurvedāṁtavādinaḥ arciṣā yāti mokṣaṁ ca dhūmenāvartate punaḥ

"The teachers of Vedanta speak of two paths — the path of flame and the path of smoke. By the path of flame one attains liberation; by the path of smoke one must return again.

Verse 136 (skanda.1.40.136)

यज्ञैरासाद्यते धूमो नैष्कर्म्येणार्चिराप्यते॥ एतयोरपरो मार्गः पाखंड इति कीर्त्यते

yajñairāsādyate dhūmo naiṣkarmyeṇārcirāpyate etayoraparo mārgaḥ pākhaṁḍa iti kīrtyate

"Smoke is reached through sacrifices, and the path of flame through freedom from action. Beyond these two lies yet another path, called heresy —

Verse 137 (skanda.1.40.137)

यो देवान्मन्यते नैव धर्मांश्च मनुसूचितान्॥ नैतौ स याति पंथानौ तत्त्वार्थोऽयं निरूपितः

yo devānmanyate naiva dharmāṁśca manusūcitān naitau sa yāti paṁthānau tattvārtho'yaṁ nirūpitaḥ

"and one who honors neither the gods nor the duties declared by Manu walks upon neither of these two paths. This true meaning has now been made clear.

Verse 138 (skanda.1.40.138)

इते ते कीर्तिताः प्रश्राः शक्त्या ब्राह्मणसत्तम॥ साधु वाऽसाधु वा ब्रूही ख्यापयात्मानमेव च

ite te kīrtitāḥ praśrāḥ śaktyā brāhmaṇasattama sādhu vā'sādhu vā brūhī khyāpayātmānameva ca

"Thus, O best of Brahmins, I have told these questions to the best of my power; now tell me whether it is good or not, and reveal your own self as well."