The Tortoise's Own Story

Verse 1 (skanda.1.46.1)

॥कूर्म उवाच॥ शांडिल्य इति विख्यातः पुराहमभवं द्विजः॥ बालभावे मया भूप क्रीडमानेन निर्मितम्

kūrma uvāca śāṁḍilya iti vikhyātaḥ purāhamabhavaṁ dvijaḥ bālabhāve mayā bhūpa krīḍamānena nirmitam

Kurma said: "Long ago I was a Brahmin renowned by the name Shandilya; in my childhood, O king, while at play, I once built —

Verse 2 (skanda.1.46.2)

पुरा प्रावृषि पांशूत्थं शिवायतनमुच्छ्रितम्॥ जलार्द्रवालुकाप्रायं प्रांशुप्राकारशोभितम्

purā prāvṛṣi pāṁśūtthaṁ śivāyatanamucchritam jalārdravālukāprāyaṁ prāṁśuprākāraśobhitam

"...long ago, in the rainy season, a shrine of Shiva raised from mud, made of sand still damp with water, adorned with a tall enclosing wall,

Verse 3 (skanda.1.46.3)

पंचायतनविन्यासमनोहरतरं नृप॥ विनायकशिवासूर्यमधुसूदनमूर्तिमत्

paṁcāyatanavinyāsamanoharataraṁ nṛpa vināyakaśivāsūryamadhusūdanamūrtimat

"more enchanting still for its arrangement of five shrines, O king — with images of Vinayaka, Shiva, Surya, and Madhusudana,

Verse 4 (skanda.1.46.4)

पीतमृत्स्वर्णकलशं ध्वजमालाविभूषितम्॥ काष्ठतोरणविन्यस्तं दोलकेन विभूषितम्

pītamṛtsvarṇakalaśaṁ dhvajamālāvibhūṣitam kāṣṭhatoraṇavinyastaṁ dolakena vibhūṣitam

"with a golden pot of yellow clay, decked with garlands of flags, fitted with wooden archways, adorned with a small swing,

Verse 5 (skanda.1.46.5)

दृढप्रांशुसमुद्भूतसोपानश्रेणिभासुरम्॥ सर्वाश्चर्यमयं दिव्यं वयस्यैः संवृतेन मे

dṛḍhaprāṁśusamudbhūtasopānaśreṇibhāsuram sarvāścaryamayaṁ divyaṁ vayasyaiḥ saṁvṛtena me

"shining with rows of firm, tall steps — a divine thing, full of every wonder, made by me together with my playmates.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.46.6)

तत्र जागेश्वरं लिंगं गृत्वाथ विनिवेशितम्॥ बाल्यादुपलरूपं तद्वर्षावारिविशुद्विमत्

tatra jāgeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ gṛtvātha viniveśitam bālyādupalarūpaṁ tadvarṣāvāriviśudvimat

"There I took the linga of Jageshvara and installed it; being still a child, it was but a stone, cleansed by the rains,

Verse 7 (skanda.1.46.7)

बकपुष्पैस्तथान्यैश्च केदारोत्थैः समाहृतैः॥ कोमलैरपरैः पुष्पैर्वृतिवल्लीसमुद्भवैः

bakapuṣpaistathānyaiśca kedārotthaiḥ samāhṛtaiḥ komalairaparaiḥ puṣpairvṛtivallīsamudbhavaiḥ

"with baka flowers gathered from the fields of Kedara and others besides, with other soft flowers born of the hedgerow creepers,

Verse 8 (skanda.1.46.8)

कूष्मांडैश्चैव वर्णाद्यैरुन्मत्तकुसुमायुतैः॥ मंदारैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च दूर्वाद्यैश्च नवांकुरैः

kūṣmāṁḍaiścaiva varṇādyairunmattakusumāyutaiḥ maṁdārairbilvapatraiśca dūrvādyaiśca navāṁkuraiḥ

"with gourd-flowers of every hue, with thorn-apple blossoms in plenty, with mandara flowers and bilva leaves, and fresh shoots of durva grass and the like —

Verse 9 (skanda.1.46.9)

पूजा विरचिता रम्या शंभोरिति मया नृप॥ ततस्तांडवमारब्धमनपेक्षितसत्क्रियम्

pūjā viracitā ramyā śaṁbhoriti mayā nṛpa tatastāṁḍavamārabdhamanapekṣitasatkriyam

"thus, O king, I arranged a delightful worship of Shambhu. Then, with no thought for proper rite, I began a dance,

Verse 10 (skanda.1.46.10)

शिवस्य पुरतो बाल्याद्गीतं च स्वस्वर्जितम्॥ अकार्षं सकृदेवाहं बाल्ये शिशुगणावृतः

śivasya purato bālyādgītaṁ ca svasvarjitam akārṣaṁ sakṛdevāhaṁ bālye śiśugaṇāvṛtaḥ

"and before Shiva, with a child's simplicity, sang a song of my own making; this I did but once, in childhood, ringed about by a band of children.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.46.11)

ततो मृतोऽहं जातश्च विप्रो जातिस्मरो नृप॥ वैदिशे नगरेऽकार्षं शिवपूजां विशेषतः

tato mṛto'haṁ jātaśca vipro jātismaro nṛpa vaidiśe nagare'kārṣaṁ śivapūjāṁ viśeṣataḥ

"Then I died, and was born a Brahmin, remembering my past births, O king; in the city of Vidisha I devoted myself especially to the worship of Shiva.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.46.12)

शिवदीक्षामुपागम्यानुगृहीतः शिवागमैः॥ शिवप्रासाद आधाय लिंगं श्रद्धासमन्वितः

śivadīkṣāmupāgamyānugṛhītaḥ śivāgamaiḥ śivaprāsāda ādhāya liṁgaṁ śraddhāsamanvitaḥ

"Having received initiation into Shiva-worship, blessed by the Shaiva scriptures, having built a temple of Shiva with faith, I installed the linga —

Verse 13 (skanda.1.46.13)

कल्पकोटिं वसेत्स्वर्गेयः करोति शिवालयम्॥ यावंति परमाणूनि शिवस्यायतने नृप

kalpakoṭiṁ vasetsvargeyaḥ karoti śivālayam yāvaṁti paramāṇūni śivasyāyatane nṛpa

"for whoever builds a shrine of Shiva dwells in heaven for millions of kalpas. As many particles of dust as there are in Shiva's temple, O king —

Verse 14 (skanda.1.46.14)

भवंति तावद्वर्षाणि करकः शिवसद्मनि॥ इति पौराणवाक्यानि स्मरञ्छैलं शिवालयम्

bhavaṁti tāvadvarṣāṇi karakaḥ śivasadmani iti paurāṇavākyāni smarañchailaṁ śivālayam

"for that many years does its builder dwell in Shiva's own abode. Remembering these words of the Puranas, I built that mountain-like shrine of Shiva,

Verse 15 (skanda.1.46.15)

अकारिषमहं रम्यं विश्वकर्मविधानतः॥ मृन्मयं काष्ठनिष्पन्नं पाक्वेष्टं शैलमेव वा

akāriṣamahaṁ ramyaṁ viśvakarmavidhānataḥ mṛnmayaṁ kāṣṭhaniṣpannaṁ pākveṣṭaṁ śailameva vā

"delightful, made after the design of Vishvakarma, whether of clay, of wood, of baked brick, or of stone itself —

Verse 16 (skanda.1.46.16)

कृतमायतनं दद्यात्क्रमाद्दशगुणं फलम्॥ भस्मशायी त्रिषवणो भिक्षान्नकृतभोजनः

kṛtamāyatanaṁ dadyātkramāddaśaguṇaṁ phalam bhasmaśāyī triṣavaṇo bhikṣānnakṛtabhojanaḥ

"for a shrine so made grants, in due order, a tenfold fruit. Sleeping in ashes, bathing three times daily, eating only alms-food,

Verse 17 (skanda.1.46.17)

जटाधरस्तपस्यंश्च शिवाराधनतत्परः॥ इत्थं मे कुर्वतो जातं पुनर्भूप प्रमापणम्

jaṭādharastapasyaṁśca śivārādhanatatparaḥ itthaṁ me kurvato jātaṁ punarbhūpa pramāpaṇam

"wearing matted locks, practicing austerity, devoted to the worship of Shiva — thus engaged, O king, my death came once more.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.46.18)

जातो जाति स्मरस्तत्र कारिता तृतीयेहं भवांतरे॥ सार्वभौमो महीपालः प्रतिष्ठाने पुरोत्तमे

jāto jāti smarastatra kāritā tṛtīyehaṁ bhavāṁtare sārvabhaumo mahīpālaḥ pratiṣṭhāne purottame

"There I was born, remembering my past births — in this third existence I became a universal sovereign, lord of the earth, in Pratishthana, finest of cities,

Verse 19 (skanda.1.46.19)

जयदत्त इति ख्यातः सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः॥ ततो मया बहुविधाः प्रासादाः कारिता नृप

jayadatta iti khyātaḥ sūryavaṁśasamudbhavaḥ tato mayā bahuvidhāḥ prāsādāḥ kāritā nṛpa

"renowned by the name Jayadatta, born of the solar dynasty. Then I had many kinds of temples built, O king,

Verse 20 (skanda.1.46.20)

तस्मिन्भवांतरे शंभोराराधनपरेण च॥ ततो निरूपिता जाता बकपुष्पपुरस्सराः

tasminbhavāṁtare śaṁbhorārādhanapareṇa ca tato nirūpitā jātā bakapuṣpapurassarāḥ

"in that existence, ever devoted to the worship of Shambhu. Then, beginning with baka flowers,

Verse 21 (skanda.1.46.21)

सौवर्णै राजतै रत्ननिर्मितैः कुसुमैर्नृप॥ तथाविधेऽन्नदानादि करोमि नृपसत्तम

sauvarṇai rājatai ratnanirmitaiḥ kusumairnṛpa tathāvidhe'nnadānādi karomi nṛpasattama

"I had flowers wrought of gold, of silver, and of jewels made, O king. Together with these I performed food-giving and other charities besides, O best of kings —

Verse 22 (skanda.1.46.22)

केवलं शिवलिंगानां पूजां पुष्पैः करोम्यहम्॥ ततो मे भगवाञ्छंभुः संतुष्टोऽथ वरं ददौ

kevalaṁ śivaliṁgānāṁ pūjāṁ puṣpaiḥ karomyaham tato me bhagavāñchaṁbhuḥ saṁtuṣṭo'tha varaṁ dadau

"yet still it was with flowers alone that I worshipped the Shiva-lingas. Then my blessed Shambhu, well pleased, offered me a boon —

Verse 23 (skanda.1.46.23)

अजरामरतां राजंस्तेनैव वपुषावृतः॥ ततस्तथाविधं प्राप्यानन्यसाधारणं वरम्

ajarāmaratāṁ rājaṁstenaiva vapuṣāvṛtaḥ tatastathāvidhaṁ prāpyānanyasādhāraṇaṁ varam

"agelessness and deathlessness, O king, wrapped within that very body. Then, having gained a boon unequaled by any other,

Verse 24 (skanda.1.46.24)

विचरामि महीमेतां मदांध इव वारणः॥ शिवभक्तिं विहायाथ नृपोऽहं मदनातुरः

vicarāmi mahīmetāṁ madāṁdha iva vāraṇaḥ śivabhaktiṁ vihāyātha nṛpo'haṁ madanāturaḥ

"I roamed over this earth like a rutting elephant, swollen with pride. Then, abandoning devotion to Shiva, tormented by desire, I, a king,

Verse 25 (skanda.1.46.25)

प्रधर्षयितुमारब्धः स्त्रियः परपरिग्रहाः॥ आयुषस्तपसः कीर्तेस्तेजसो यशसः श्रियः

pradharṣayitumārabdhaḥ striyaḥ paraparigrahāḥ āyuṣastapasaḥ kīrtestejaso yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ

"began to violate the wives of other men. Of life, of austerity, of fame, of splendor, of glory, and of fortune —

Verse 26 (skanda.1.46.26)

विनाशकारणं मुख्यं परदारप्रधर्षणम्॥ सकर्णः श्रुतिहीनोऽसौ पश्यन्नंधो वदञ्जडः

vināśakāraṇaṁ mukhyaṁ paradārapradharṣaṇam sakarṇaḥ śrutihīno'sau paśyannaṁdho vadañjaḍaḥ

"the chief cause of ruin is the violation of another man's wife. Though he has ears, he is deaf; though he sees, he is blind; though he speaks, he is dumb;

Verse 27 (skanda.1.46.27)

अचेतनश्चेतनावान्मूर्खो विद्वानपि स्फुटम्॥ तदा भवति भूपाल पुरुषः क्षणमात्रतः

acetanaścetanāvānmūrkho vidvānapi sphuṭam tadā bhavati bhūpāla puruṣaḥ kṣaṇamātrataḥ

"though conscious, he is senseless; though learned, he is plainly a fool — so, O king, does a man become in a single moment,

Verse 28 (skanda.1.46.28)

यदैव हरिणाक्षीणां गोचरं याति चक्षुषाम्॥ मृतस्य निरये वासो जीवतश्चेश्वराद्भयम्

yadaiva hariṇākṣīṇāṁ gocaraṁ yāti cakṣuṣām mṛtasya niraye vāso jīvataśceśvarādbhayam

"the very instant he falls within the gaze of a doe-eyed woman. For the dead, a dwelling in hell; for the living, fear of the Lord —

Verse 29 (skanda.1.46.29)

एवं लोकद्वयं हंत्री परदारप्रधर्षणा॥ जरामरणहीनोहमिति निश्चयमास्थितः

evaṁ lokadvayaṁ haṁtrī paradārapradharṣaṇā jarāmaraṇahīnohamiti niścayamāsthitaḥ

"thus does the violation of another's wife destroy both worlds at once. Fixed in the certainty that I was beyond old age and death,

Verse 30 (skanda.1.46.30)

ऐहिकामुष्मिकभयं विहायांह ततः परम्॥ प्रधर्षयितुमारब्धस्तदा भूप परस्त्रियः

aihikāmuṣmikabhayaṁ vihāyāṁha tataḥ param pradharṣayitumārabdhastadā bhūpa parastriyaḥ

"I cast aside every fear of this world and the next, and with it the fear of sin itself, and then, O king, began to violate the wives of other men.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.46.31)

अथ मां संपरिज्ञाय मर्यादारहितं यमः॥ वरप्रदानादीशस्य तदंतिकसुपाययौ॥ व्यजिज्ञपन्मदीयं च शंभोर्धर्मव्यतिक्रमम्

atha māṁ saṁparijñāya maryādārahitaṁ yamaḥ varapradānādīśasya tadaṁtikasupāyayau vyajijñapanmadīyaṁ ca śaṁbhordharmavyatikramam

Then Yama, finding me beyond all restraint, and unable to punish that sinner because of the very boon Ishvara had granted, went before that Lord and reported to Shambhu my transgression of dharma.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.46.32)

॥यम उवाच॥ नाहं तवानुभावेन गुप्तस्यास्य विनिग्रहम्

yama uvāca nāhaṁ tavānubhāvena guptasyāsya vinigraham

Yama said: "O God, this sinner, shielded by your own power, I am unable to punish —

Verse 33 (skanda.1.46.33)

शक्रोमि पापिनो देव मन्नियोगेऽन्यमादिश॥ जगदाधारूपा हि त्वयेशोक्ताः पतिव्रताः

śakromi pāpino deva manniyoge'nyamādiśa jagadādhārūpā hi tvayeśoktāḥ pativratāḥ

"appoint someone else in my place. For you yourself, O Lord, have declared that chaste wives, who are the very foundation of the world's being,

Verse 34 (skanda.1.46.34)

गावो विप्राः सनिगमा अलुब्धा दानशीलिनः॥ सत्यनिष्ठा इति स्वामिंस्तेषां मुख्यतमा सती

gāvo viprāḥ sanigamā alubdhā dānaśīlinaḥ satyaniṣṭhā iti svāmiṁsteṣāṁ mukhyatamā satī

"cows, Brahmins, knowers of scripture, the ungreedy, the charitable, the truthful — O Lord, and of these, the chaste woman stands foremost of all.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.46.35)

तास्तेन धर्षिता लुप्तं मदीयं धर्मशासनम्॥ वरदानप्रमत्तेन तवैव परिभूय माम्

tāstena dharṣitā luptaṁ madīyaṁ dharmaśāsanam varadānapramattena tavaiva paribhūya mām

"These he has violated, and my own rule of dharma has been swept away — by this Jayadatta, drunk on the very boon you gave, who has scorned even me,

Verse 36 (skanda.1.46.36)

जयदत्तेन देवेश प्रतिष्ठानाधिवासिना॥ इमां धर्मस्य भगवान्गिरमाकर्ण्य कोपितः॥ शशाप मां समानीय वेपमानं कृतांजलिम्

jayadattena deveśa pratiṣṭhānādhivāsinā imāṁ dharmasya bhagavāngiramākarṇya kopitaḥ śaśāpa māṁ samānīya vepamānaṁ kṛtāṁjalim

"a dweller of Pratishthana, O Lord of gods." Hearing this account of dharma broken, the blessed Lord grew angry, and, summoning me before him trembling, hands folded, cursed me —

Verse 37 (skanda.1.46.37)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ यस्माद्दुष्टसमाचार धर्षितास्ते पतिव्रताः

īśvara uvāca yasmādduṣṭasamācāra dharṣitāste pativratāḥ

Ishvara said: "Since, wicked one, you have violated those chaste women,

Verse 38 (skanda.1.46.38)

कामार्तेन मया शप्तस्तस्मात्कूर्मः क्षणाद्भव॥ ततः प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तः शापतापहरो मया

kāmārtena mayā śaptastasmātkūrmaḥ kṣaṇādbhava tataḥ praṇamya vijñaptaḥ śāpatāpaharo mayā

"therefore, lust-tormented one, by my curse become a tortoise this very instant!" Then, bowing, imploring, I begged him to lift the torment of that curse —

Verse 39 (skanda.1.46.39)

प्राह षष्टितमे कल्पे विशापो भविता गणः॥ मदीय इति संप्रोच्य जगामादर्शनं शिवः

prāha ṣaṣṭitame kalpe viśāpo bhavitā gaṇaḥ madīya iti saṁprocya jagāmādarśanaṁ śivaḥ

and he said: "In the sixtieth kalpa you shall be freed of the curse, and become my own gana once again." Having said this, Shiva vanished from sight.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.46.40)

अहं कूर्मस्तदा जातो दशयोजनविस्तृतः॥ समुद्रसलिले नीतस्त्वयाहं यज्ञसाधने

ahaṁ kūrmastadā jāto daśayojanavistṛtaḥ samudrasalile nītastvayāhaṁ yajñasādhane

I then became a tortoise, ten yojanas in extent. You took me into the waters of the ocean, as an instrument for your sacrifice —

Verse 41 (skanda.1.46.41)

पुरस्ताद्यायजूकेन स्मरंस्तच्च बिभेमि ते॥ दग्धस्त्वयाहं पृष्ठेत्र व्रणान्येतानि पश्य मे

purastādyāyajūkena smaraṁstacca bibhemi te dagdhastvayāhaṁ pṛṣṭhetra vraṇānyetāni paśya me

set before you by your officiating priest; remembering this, I fear you. There you burned my very back — look, here are these scars of mine.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.46.42)

चयनानि बहून्यत्र कल्पसूत्रविधानतः॥ पृष्ठोपरि कृतान्यासन्निंद्रद्युम्न तदा त्वया

cayanāni bahūnyatra kalpasūtravidhānataḥ pṛṣṭhopari kṛtānyāsanniṁdradyumna tadā tvayā

Many sacrificial altars, built after the rites of the Kalpa-sutras, you raised then, O Indradyumna, upon my very back,

Verse 43 (skanda.1.46.43)

भूयः संतापिता यज्ञैः पृथिवी पृथिवीपते॥ सुस्राव सर्वतीर्थानां सारं साऽभून्महीनदी

bhūyaḥ saṁtāpitā yajñaiḥ pṛthivī pṛthivīpate susrāva sarvatīrthānāṁ sāraṁ sā'bhūnmahīnadī

and the earth, O lord of the earth, scorched again and again by your sacrifices, poured forth the very essence of every tirtha, and became the river Mahi.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.46.44)

तस्यां च स्नानमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥ ततो नैमित्तिके कस्मिन्नपि प्रलय आगतः

tasyāṁ ca snānamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate tato naimittike kasminnapi pralaya āgataḥ

By bathing in her alone, a man is freed of every sin. Then, at some occasional dissolution of the world,

Verse 45 (skanda.1.46.45)

प्लवमानमिदं राजन्मानसं शतयोजनम्॥ षट्पंचाशत्प्रमाणेन कल्पा मम पुरा नृप

plavamānamidaṁ rājanmānasaṁ śatayojanam ṣaṭpaṁcāśatpramāṇena kalpā mama purā nṛpa

I came, floating, into this Lake Manasa, a hundred yojanas wide, O king. Before that, fifty-six kalpas had already passed for me —

Verse 46 (skanda.1.46.46)

व्यतीता इह चत्वारः शेषे मोक्षस्ततः परम्॥ एवमायुरिदं दीर्घमेवं शापाच्च कूर्मता

vyatītā iha catvāraḥ śeṣe mokṣastataḥ param evamāyuridaṁ dīrghamevaṁ śāpācca kūrmatā

and here four more have gone by; the remainder beyond that leads on to my liberation. Thus came this long life of mine, and thus, through the curse, this form of a tortoise,

Verse 47 (skanda.1.46.47)

ममाभूदीश्वरस्यैव सतीधर्मद्रुहो नृप॥ ब्रूहि किं क्रियतां शत्रोरपि ते गृहगामिनः

mamābhūdīśvarasyaiva satīdharmadruho nṛpa brūhi kiṁ kriyatāṁ śatrorapi te gṛhagāminaḥ

came upon me, O king, betrayer as I was of the chaste women's dharma before the Lord himself. Tell me — what should be done, even for an enemy who comes as a guest to one's own house?

Verse 48 (skanda.1.46.48)

मम पृष्ठिश्चिरं भूप त्वया दग्धाग्निनाऽपुरा॥ अहं ज्वलंतीमिव तां पश्याम्यद्यापि सत्रिणा

mama pṛṣṭhiściraṁ bhūpa tvayā dagdhāgninā'purā ahaṁ jvalaṁtīmiva tāṁ paśyāmyadyāpi satriṇā

My back, O king, was long ago scorched by your fire; even today I see it still, as if ablaze, together with its sacrificial fittings.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.46.49)

इदं विमानमायातं त्वया कस्मान्निराकृतम्॥ देवदूतसमायुक्तं भुंक्ष्व भोगान्निजार्जितान्

idaṁ vimānamāyātaṁ tvayā kasmānnirākṛtam devadūtasamāyuktaṁ bhuṁkṣva bhogānnijārjitān

This chariot has come for you — why do you refuse it? With its messenger of the gods, go and enjoy the pleasures you have yourself earned.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.46.50)

॥इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच॥ चतुर्मुखेन तेनाहं स्वर्गान्निर्वासितः स्वयम्॥ विलक्ष्योन प्रयास्यामि पाताधिक्यादिदूषिते

iṁdradyumna uvāca caturmukhena tenāhaṁ svargānnirvāsitaḥ svayam vilakṣyona prayāsyāmi pātādhikyādidūṣite

Indradyumna said: "By that four-faced one himself I was once already banished from heaven; disgraced as I was, I shall not go again to a place so tainted by the danger of falling."

Verse 51 (skanda.1.46.51)

तस्माद्विवेकवैराग्यमविद्यापापनाशनम्॥ आलिंग्याहं यतिष्यामि प्राप्य बोधं विमुक्तये

tasmādvivekavairāgyamavidyāpāpanāśanam āliṁgyāhaṁ yatiṣyāmi prāpya bodhaṁ vimuktaye

"Therefore, embracing discernment and dispassion, which destroy ignorance and sin alike, I shall, having attained understanding, strive for liberation.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.46.52)

तन्मे गृहगतस्याद्य यथातिथ्यकरो भवान्॥ तदादिश यथाऽपारपारदः कोपि मे गुरुः

tanme gṛhagatasyādya yathātithyakaro bhavān tadādiśa yathā'pārapāradaḥ kopi me guruḥ

"So now show me, a guest come to your own house, the hospitality that is truly due; direct me to some teacher who can ferry me across the boundless."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.46.53)

॥कूर्म उवाच॥ लोमशोनाम दीर्घायुर्मत्तोऽप्यस्ति महामुनिः॥ मया कलापग्रामे स पूर्वं दृष्टः क्वचिन्नृप

kūrma uvāca lomaśonāma dīrghāyurmatto'pyasti mahāmuniḥ mayā kalāpagrāme sa pūrvaṁ dṛṣṭaḥ kvacinnṛpa

Kurma said: "There is a great sage named Lomasha, O king, longer-lived even than I; I once saw him somewhere in Kalapa-grama.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.46.54)

॥इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच॥ तस्मादागच्छ गच्छामस्तमेव सहितावयम्॥ प्राहुः पूततमां तीर्थादपि सत्संगतिं बुधाः

iṁdradyumna uvāca tasmādāgaccha gacchāmastameva sahitāvayam prāhuḥ pūtatamāṁ tīrthādapi satsaṁgatiṁ budhāḥ

Indradyumna said: "Then come, let us go there, all of us together, to him. The wise say that the company of the virtuous purifies even more than a tirtha."

Verse 55 (skanda.1.46.55)

इत्थं निशम्य नृपतेर्वचनं तदानीं सर्वेऽपि ते षडथ तं मुनिमुख्यमाशु॥ चित्ते विधाय मुदिताः प्रययुर्द्विजेंद्रं जिज्ञासवः सुचिरजीवितहेतुमस्य

itthaṁ niśamya nṛpatervacanaṁ tadānīṁ sarve'pi te ṣaḍatha taṁ munimukhyamāśu citte vidhāya muditāḥ prayayurdvijeṁdraṁ jijñāsavaḥ sucirajīvitahetumasya

Hearing this word of the king, all six of them then, delighted, holding that foremost of sages in their hearts, eager to learn the cause of his exceedingly long life, set out at once for that lord of the twice-born.