The Liberation of Kalaha

Verse 1 (skanda.2.122.1)

॥धर्मदत्त उवाच॥ विलयं यांति पापानि तीर्थे दानव्रतादिभिः ॥ प्रेतदेहस्थितायास्ते तेषु नैवाऽधिकारिता

dharmadatta uvāca vilayaṁ yāṁti pāpāni tīrthe dānavratādibhiḥ || pretadehasthitāyāste teṣu naivā'dhikāritā

Dharmadatta said: Sins are destroyed through pilgrimage, giving, vows, and the like; but you, being in a ghost-body, have no claim upon these.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.122.2)

त्वद्ग्लानिदर्शनादस्मात्खिन्नं च मम मानसम् ॥ न वै निर्वृतिमायाति त्वामनुद्धृत्य दुःखिताम्

tvadglānidarśanādasmātkhinnaṁ ca mama mānasam || na vai nirvṛtimāyāti tvāmanuddhṛtya duḥkhitām

Seeing your wretched state, my mind has become distressed; I shall find no peace without delivering you, sorrowing one, from this plight.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.122.3)

तस्मादाजन्मचरितं यन्मया कार्तिकव्रतम् ॥ तत्पुण्यस्यार्द्धभागेन सद्गतिं त्वमवाप्नुहि

tasmādājanmacaritaṁ yanmayā kārtikavratam || tatpuṇyasyārddhabhāgena sadgatiṁ tvamavāpnuhi

Therefore, by half the merit of the Kartika vow that I have observed since birth, may you attain a good destiny.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.122.4)

॥नारद उवाच॥ इत्युक्त्वा धर्मदत्तोऽसौ यावत्तामभ्यषेचयत् ॥ तुलसीमिश्रतोयेन श्रावयन्द्वादशाक्षरम्

nārada uvāca ityuktvā dharmadatto'sau yāvattāmabhyaṣecayat || tulasīmiśratoyena śrāvayandvādaśākṣaram

Narada said: So saying, Dharmadatta sprinkled her with Tulasi-mixed water, reciting to her the twelve-syllabled mantra.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.122.5)

तावत्प्रेतत्वनिर्मुक्ता ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमा ॥ दिव्यरूपधरा जाता लावण्येन यथेंदिरा

tāvatpretatvanirmuktā jvaladagniśikhopamā || divyarūpadharā jātā lāvaṇyena yatheṁdirā

At that very instant, freed from her ghostly state, she took on a divine form, blazing like a flame, as lovely as Indira herself.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.122.6)

ततः सा दंडवद्भूमौ प्रणनामाथ तं द्विजम् ॥ उवाच सा तदा वाक्यैर्हर्षगद्गदभाषिणी

tataḥ sā daṇḍavadbhūmau praṇanāmātha taṁ dvijam || uvāca sā tadā vākyairharṣagadgadabhāṣiṇī

Then she prostrated full length on the ground before that brahmin, and spoke these words in a voice choked with joy —

Verse 7 (skanda.2.122.7)

॥कलहोवाच॥ त्वत्प्रसादाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ विमुक्ता निरयादहम् ॥ पापाब्धौ मज्जमानायास्त्वं नौभूतोऽसि मे ध्रुवम्

kalahovāca tvatprasādāddvijaśreṣṭha vimuktā nirayādaham || pāpābdhau majjamānāyāstvaṁ naubhūto'si me dhruvam

Kalaha said: "By your grace, O best of brahmins, I am freed from hell. To me, sinking in the ocean of sin, you have truly become a boat."

Verse 8 (skanda.2.122.8)

॥नारद उवाच॥ इत्थं वदन्ती सा विप्रं ददर्शाऽऽयातमंबरात् ॥ विमानं भास्वरं युक्तं विष्णुरूपधरैर्गणैः

nārada uvāca itthaṁ vadaṁtī sā vipraṁ dadarśā'āyātamaṁbarāt || vimānaṁ bhāsvaraṁ yuktaṁ viṣṇurūpadharaiḥ gaṇaiḥ

Narada said: As she spoke thus, she and the brahmin saw a radiant celestial chariot descending from the sky, attended by ganas bearing the form of Vishnu.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.122.9)

अथ सा तद्विमानाऽग्र्यं द्वाःस्थाभ्यामवरोपिता ॥ पुण्यशीलसुशीलाभ्यामप्सरोगणसेविता

atha sā tadvimānāgryaṁ dvāḥsthābhyāmavaropitā || puṇyaśīlasuśīlābhyāmapsarogaṇasevitā

Then she was helped down from that finest of celestial chariots by its two doorkeepers, Punyashila and Sushila, attended by hosts of apsaras.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.122.10)

तद्विमानं तदाऽपश्यद्धर्मदत्तः सविस्मयः ॥ पपात दण्डवद्भूमौ दृष्ट्वा तौ विष्णुरूपिणौ

tadvimānaṁ tadā'paśyaddharmadattaḥ savismayaḥ || papāta daṇḍavadbhūmau dṛṣṭvā tau viṣṇurūpiṇau

Seeing that chariot, Dharmadatta was filled with wonder, and, beholding those two doorkeepers bearing Vishnu's form, fell prostrate on the ground.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.122.11)

पुण्यशीलसुशीलौ च तमुत्थाप्याऽऽनतं द्विजम् ॥ अभिनन्द्य ततो वाक्यमूचतुर्धर्मसंयुतम्

puṇyaśīlasuśīlau ca tamutthāpyā'ānataṁ dvijam || abhinandya tato vākyamūcaturdharmasaṁyutam

Punyashila and Sushila raised up that bowed brahmin and, welcoming him, spoke words full of dharma —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.122.12)

॥गणावूचतुः॥ साधुसाधु द्विजश्रेष्ठ यस्त्वं विष्णुरतः सदा ॥ दीनाऽनुकम्पी सर्वज्ञो विष्णुव्रतपरायणः

gaṇāvūcatuḥ sādhusādhu dvijaśreṣṭha yastvaṁ viṣṇurataḥ sadā || dīnā'nukampī sarvajño viṣṇuvrataparāyaṇaḥ

The two ganas said: "Well done, well done, O best of brahmins! You, who are ever devoted to Vishnu, compassionate toward the wretched, all-knowing, and intent on the vow of Vishnu —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.122.13)

आ बालत्वाच्छुभं त्वेतद्यत्त्वया कार्तिकव्रतम् ॥ कृतं तस्याऽर्द्धदानेन पुण्यं द्वैगुण्यमागमत्

ā bālatvācchubhaṁ tvetadyattvayā kārtikavratam || kṛtaṁ tasyā'rddhadānena puṇyaṁ dvaiguṇyamāgamat

this auspicious Kartika vow that you have kept since childhood — by your gift of half its merit, your merit has become doubled.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.122.14)

जन्मांतरशतोद्भूतं पापं तद्विलयं गतम् ॥ स्नानैरेव गतं पापं यदस्याः पूर्वकर्मजम्

janmāṁtaraśatodbhūtaṁ pāpaṁ tadvilayaṁ gatam || snānaireva gataṁ pāpaṁ yadasyāḥ pūrvakarmajam

The sin she had accumulated across hundreds of past lives has been destroyed; the sin born of her former deeds vanished through the mere bathing you gave her.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.122.15)

हरिजागरणाद्यैश्च विमानमिदमास्थिता ॥ वैकुण्ठे नीयते साधो नानाभोगयुता त्वियम्

harijāgaraṇādyaiśca vimānamidamāsthitā || vaikuṇṭhe nīyate sādho nānābhogayutā tviyam

Through the merit of the Hari-jagarana and the like, she now, O virtuous one, mounted on this chariot, endowed with manifold enjoyments, is being conveyed to Vaikuntha.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.122.16)

दीपदानभवैः पुण्यैस्तेजःसारूप्यमास्थिता ॥ तुलसीपूजनाद्यैश्च कार्तिकव्रतकैः शुभैः ॥ विष्णुसान्निध्यगा जाता त्वया दत्तैः कृपानिधे

dīpadānabhavaiḥ puṇyaistejaḥsārūpyamāsthitā || tulasīpūjanādyaiśca kārtikavratakaiḥ śubhaiḥ || viṣṇusānnidhyagā jātā tvayā dattaiḥ kṛpānidhe

Through the merit of gifting lamps she has attained a radiant form; and through the auspicious Kartika observances you gave her — the worship of Tulasi and the rest, O fount of mercy — she has attained nearness to Vishnu.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.122.17)

त्वमप्यस्य भवस्यांते भार्याभ्यां सह यास्यसि ॥ वैकुण्ठ भुवनं विष्णोः सान्निध्यं च सरूपताम्

tvamapyasya bhavasyāṁte bhāryābhyāṁ saha yāsyasi || vaikuṇṭha bhuvanaṁ viṣṇoḥ sānnidhyaṁ ca sarūpatām

You too, at the end of this life, together with both your wives, shall go to Vishnu's realm of Vaikuntha, attaining his nearness and the likeness of his form.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.122.18)

ते धन्याः कृतकृत्यास्ते तेषां च सफलो भवः ॥ यैर्भक्त्याराधितो विष्णुर्धर्मदत्त यथा त्वया

te dhanyāḥ kṛtakṛtyāste teṣāṁ ca saphalo bhavaḥ || yairbhaktyārādhito viṣṇurdharmadatta yathā tvayā

Blessed are they, fulfilled are they, and fruitful is their life, who have worshipped Vishnu with devotion, as you have, O Dharmadatta.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.122.19)

सम्यगाराधितो विष्णुः किं न यच्छति देहिनाम् ॥ औत्तानचरणिर्येन ध्रुवत्वे स्थापितः पुरा

samyagārādhito viṣṇuḥ kiṁ na yacchati dehinām || auttānacaraṇiryena dhruvatve sthāpitaḥ purā

What does Vishnu, when rightly worshipped, not grant to embodied beings? He who once established the son of Uttanapada, Dhruva, in his fixed station —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.122.20)

यन्नामस्मरणादेव देहिनो यांति सद्गतिम् ॥ ग्राहग्रस्तो हि नागेंद्रो यन्नामस्मरणात्पुरा

yannāmasmaraṇādeva dehino yāṁti sadgatim || grāhagrasto hi nāgeṁdro yannāmasmaraṇātpurā

he by the mere remembrance of whose name embodied beings attain a good destiny. He by the remembrance of whose name, long ago, the lord of elephants, seized by a crocodile —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.122.21)

विमुक्तः संनिधिं प्राप्तो जातोऽयं जयसंज्ञकः ॥ यतस्त्वयाऽर्चितो विष्णुस्तत्सान्निध्यं प्रयास्यसि

vimuktaḥ saṁnidhiṁ prāpto jāto'yaṁ jayasaṁjñakaḥ || yatastvayā'rcito viṣṇustatsānnidhyaṁ prayāsyasi

was freed and attained his nearness, becoming renowned by the name Jaya. Since you have worshipped Vishnu, you too shall attain his nearness —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.122.22)

बहून्यब्दसहस्राणि भार्याद्वययुतः किल ॥ ततः पुण्यक्षयेजाते यदा यास्यसि भूतलम्

bahūnyabdasahasrāṇi bhāryādvayayutaḥ kila || tataḥ puṇyakṣayejāte yadā yāsyasi bhūtalam

for many thousands of years, together with both your wives. Thereafter, when your merit is spent and you come down again to earth —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.122.23)

सूर्यवंशोद्भवो राजा विख्यातस्त्वं भविष्यसि ॥ नाम्ना दशरथस्तत्र भार्याद्वययुतः पुनः

sūryavaṁśodbhavo rājā vikhyātastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi || nāmnā daśarathastatra bhāryādvayayutaḥ punaḥ

you shall become a renowned king born in the solar dynasty, named Dasharatha, once again together with your two wives —

Verse 24 (skanda.2.122.24)

तृतीययाऽनया चाऽपि या ते पुण्यार्द्धभागिनी ॥ तत्राऽपि तव सान्निध्यं विष्णुर्यास्यति भूतले

tṛtīyayā'nayā cā'pi yā te puṇyārddhabhāginī || tatrā'pi tava sānnidhyaṁ viṣṇuryāsyati bhūtale

and, as a third wife, this very woman, who shares half your merit. There too Vishnu shall come to earth into your presence —

Verse 25 (skanda.2.122.25)

आत्मानं तव पुत्रत्वे प्रकल्प्याऽमरकार्यकृत् ॥ तव जन्मव्रतादस्माद्विष्णुसंतुष्टिकारकात् ॥ न यज्ञा न च दानानि न तीर्थान्यधिकानि वै

ātmānaṁ tava putratve prakalpyā'marakāryakṛt || tava janmavratādasmādviṣṇusaṁtuṣṭikārakāt || na yajñā na ca dānāni na tīrthānyadhikāni vai

fashioning himself as your son, to accomplish the work of the gods. Beyond this lifelong vow of yours, which so pleases Vishnu, there are no sacrifices, no gifts, no other pilgrimages that surpass it.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.122.26)

धन्योऽसि विप्राग्र्य यतस्त्वयैतद्व्रतं कृतं तुष्टिकरं जगद्गुरोः ॥ यदर्धभागात्सफला मुरारेः प्रणीयतेऽस्माभिरियं सलोकताम्

dhanyo'si viprāgrya yatastvayaitadvrataṁ kṛtaṁ tuṣṭikaraṁ jagadguroḥ || yadardhabhāgātsaphalā murāreḥ praṇīyate'smābhiriyaṁ salokatām

Blessed are you, O foremost of brahmins, for you have performed this vow that pleases the guru of the universe; by half its merit, made fruitful, this woman is now being led by us to that very world of Murari."