Dharmagupta's Madness and the Cure at Swami Pushkarini

Verse 1 (skanda.2.13.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । भूयोपि संप्रवक्ष्यामि स्वामितीर्थस्य वैभवम् । युष्माकमादरेणाऽहं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः ।

śrīsūta uvāca bhūyopi saṁpravakṣyāmi svāmitīrthasya vaibhavam yuṣmākamādareṇā'haṁ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ

Shri Suta said: O dwellers of Naimisharanya, out of regard for you I shall once more relate the glory of the Swami tirtha.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.13.2)

नन्दोनाम महाराजः सोमवंशसमुद्भवः । धर्मेण पालयामास सागरान्तां धरामिमाम् ।

nandonāma mahārājaḥ somavaṁśasamudbhavaḥ dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa sāgarāntāṁ dharāmimām

A great king named Nanda, born in the lunar dynasty, righteously ruled this earth as far as the ocean's edge.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.13.3)

तस्य पुत्रः समभवद्धर्मगुप्त इति स्मृतः । राज्यरक्षाधुरं नन्दो निजपुत्रे निधाय सः ।

tasya putraḥ samabhavaddharmagupta iti smṛtaḥ rājyarakṣādhuraṁ nando nijaputre nidhāya saḥ

He had a son, known by the name Dharmagupta. Nanda, having entrusted the burden of guarding the kingdom to his own son,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.13.4)

जितेंद्रियो जिताहारः प्रविवेश तपोवनम् । ताते तपोवनं याते धर्मगुप्ताभिधो नृपः ।

jiteṁdriyo jitāhāraḥ praviveśa tapovanam tāte tapovanaṁ yāte dharmaguptābhidho nṛpaḥ

having conquered both his senses and his appetite, entered the forest of austerity. When his father had gone to the penance-forest, that king named Dharmagupta,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.13.5)

मेदिनीं पालयामास धर्मज्ञो नीतितत्परः । ईजे वहुविधैर्यज्ञैर्देवानिन्द्र पुरोगमान् ।

medinīṁ pālayāmāsa dharmajño nītitatparaḥ īje vahuvidhairyajñairdevānindra purogamān

knowing dharma and devoted to right policy, began to rule the earth. He performed manifold sacrifices to the gods headed by Indra,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.13.6)

ब्राह्मणानां ददौ वित्तं क्षेत्राणि च बहूनि सः । सर्वे स्वधर्मनिरतास्तस्मिन्राजनि शासति ।

brāhmaṇānāṁ dadau vittaṁ kṣetrāṇi ca bahūni saḥ sarve svadharmaniratāstasminrājani śāsati

and gave wealth and many lands to the brahmins. Under that king's rule, all people remained devoted to their own duties,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.13.7)

कदाचिन्नाभवन्पीडास्तस्मिंश्चोरादिसंभवाः । कदाचिद्धर्मगुप्तोऽयमारुह्य तुरगोत्तमम् ।

kadācinnābhavanpīḍāstasmiṁścorādisaṁbhavāḥ kadāciddharmagupto'yamāruhya turagottamam

and in his kingdom there was never any trouble arising from thieves and the like. Once this Dharmagupta, mounted on an excellent horse,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.13.8)

वनं विवेश विप्रेंद्रा मृगयारसकौतुकी । तमालतालहिन्तालकुरवाकुलदिङ्मुखे ।

vanaṁ viveśa vipreṁdrā mṛgayārasakautukī tamālatālahintālakuravākuladiṅmukhe

O excellent brahmins, eager for the pleasure of the hunt, entered a forest whose every quarter was thick with tamala, tala, and hintala trees,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.13.9)

विचचार वने तस्मिन्सिंसहव्याघ्रभयानके । मत्तालिकुलसन्नादसंमूर्च्छितदिगन्तरे ।

vicacāra vane tasminsiṁsahavyāghrabhayānake mattālikulasannādasaṁmūrcchitadigantare

and he wandered in that forest, terrifying with lions and tigers, where the very quarters seemed to swoon with the humming of swarms of intoxicated bees,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.13.10)

पद्मकल्हारकुमुदनीलोत्पलवनाकुले । तटाके रससंपूर्णे तपस्विजनमण्डिते ।

padmakalhārakumudanīlotpalavanākule taṭāke rasasaṁpūrṇe tapasvijanamaṇḍite

thick with groves of lotus, water-lily, kumuda, and blue lotus, and where there was a pool full of sweet water, adorned by ascetics dwelling there.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.13.11)

तस्मिन्वने सञ्चरतो धर्मगुप्तस्य भूपतेः । अभूद्विभावरी विप्रास्तमसावृतदिङ्मुखा ।

tasminvane sañcarato dharmaguptasya bhūpateḥ abhūdvibhāvarī viprāstamasāvṛtadiṅmukhā

As King Dharmagupta wandered in that forest, O brahmins, night fell upon him, its darkness veiling every quarter of the sky.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.13.12)

राजाऽपि पश्चिमां सन्ध्यामुपास्य विनयान्वितः । जजाप च वने तत्र गायत्रीं वेदमातरम् ।

rājā'pi paścimāṁ sandhyāmupāsya vinayānvitaḥ jajāpa ca vane tatra gāyatrīṁ vedamātaram

The humble king, having performed his evening worship, recited in that forest the Gayatri, mother of the Vedas.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.13.13)

सिंहव्याघ्रादिभीत्यास्मिन्वृक्षमेकं समाश्रिते । राजपुत्रे तदभ्याशमृक्षः सिंहभयार्दितः ।

siṁhavyāghrādibhītyāsminvṛkṣamekaṁ samāśrite rājaputre tadabhyāśamṛkṣaḥ siṁhabhayārditaḥ

Out of fear of lions, tigers, and the like, that prince took refuge in a tree. Near that same tree, a bear, likewise tormented by fear of a lion,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.13.14)

अन्वधावत वृक्षं तमेकः सिंहो वनेचरः । अनुद्रुतः स सिंहेन ऋक्षो वृक्षमुपारुहत् ।

anvadhāvata vṛkṣaṁ tamekaḥ siṁho vanecaraḥ anudrutaḥ sa siṁhena ṛkṣo vṛkṣamupāruhat

was being chased by a lion roaming that forest. Pursued by the lion, that bear too climbed up into that very tree.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.13.15)

आरुह्य ऋक्षो वृक्षं तं ददर्श जगतीपतिम् । वृक्षस्थितं महात्मानं महाबलपराक्रमम् ।

āruhya ṛkṣo vṛkṣaṁ taṁ dadarśa jagatīpatim vṛkṣasthitaṁ mahātmānaṁ mahābalaparākramam

Having climbed the tree, the bear saw that lord of the earth — that great soul, mighty in strength and valor, seated in the tree.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.13.16)

उवाच भूपतिं दृष्ट्वा ऋक्षोयं वनगोचरः । मा भीतिं कुरु राजेंद्र वत्स्यावो रजनीमिह ।

uvāca bhūpatiṁ dṛṣṭvā ṛkṣoyaṁ vanagocaraḥ mā bhītiṁ kuru rājeṁdra vatsyāvo rajanīmiha

Seeing the king, that forest-dwelling bear said, 'Do not fear, O king of kings; we shall both pass this night here.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.13.17)

महासत्त्वो महाकायो महादंष्ट्रसमाकुलः । वृक्षमूलं समायातः सिंहोऽयमतिभीषणः ।

mahāsattvo mahākāyo mahādaṁṣṭrasamākulaḥ vṛkṣamūlaṁ samāyātaḥ siṁho'yamatibhīṣaṇaḥ

This most fearsome lion, of great strength and vast body, with huge fangs, has come and stationed itself at the foot of the tree.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.13.18)

रात्र्यर्धं भज निद्रां त्वं रक्ष्यमाणो मयोद्यतः । ततः प्रसुप्तं मां रक्ष शर्वर्यर्धं महामते ।

rātryardhaṁ bhaja nidrāṁ tvaṁ rakṣyamāṇo mayodyataḥ tataḥ prasuptaṁ māṁ rakṣa śarvaryardhaṁ mahāmate

You sleep through the first half of the night; I shall stay awake, watchful, and protect you. Then, O wise one, protect me while I sleep through the second half of the night.'

Verse 19 (skanda.2.13.19)

इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य सुप्ते नन्दसुते हरिः । प्रोवाच ऋक्षं सुप्तोऽयं नृपो मे त्यज्यतामिति ।

iti tadvākyamākarṇya supte nandasute hariḥ provāca ṛkṣaṁ supto'yaṁ nṛpo me tyajyatāmiti

Hearing this word, and once Nanda's son had fallen asleep, [the lion] said to the bear, 'This king is asleep — abandon him to me.'

Verse 20 (skanda.2.13.20)

तं सिंहमब्रवीदृक्षो धर्मज्ञो द्विजसत्तमाः । भवान्धर्मं न जानीते मृगराज वनेचर ।

taṁ siṁhamabravīdṛkṣo dharmajño dvijasattamāḥ bhavāndharmaṁ na jānīte mṛgarāja vanecara

Then that righteous bear said to the lion, O excellent brahmins, 'You do not know dharma, O king of beasts, O forest-dweller.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.13.21)

विश्वासघातिनां लोके महाकष्टं भवत्यहो । न हि मित्रद्रुहां पापं नश्येद्यज्ञायुतैरपि ।

viśvāsaghātināṁ loke mahākaṣṭaṁ bhavatyaho na hi mitradruhāṁ pāpaṁ naśyedyajñāyutairapi

In this world, those who betray trust suffer great torment. The sin of one who betrays a friend is not destroyed even by ten thousand sacrifices.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.13.22)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां कथञ्चिन्निष्कृतिर्भवेत् । विश्वासघातिनां पापं न नश्येज्जन्मकोटिभिः ।

brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ kathañcinniṣkṛtirbhavet viśvāsaghātināṁ pāpaṁ na naśyejjanmakoṭibhiḥ

For sins such as slaying a brahmin, atonement can somehow be made; but the sin of one who betrays trust is not destroyed even in crores of births.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.13.23)

नाहं मेरुं महाभारं मन्ये पञ्चास्य भूतले । महाभारमिमं मन्ये लोकविश्वासघातकम् ।

nāhaṁ meruṁ mahābhāraṁ manye pañcāsya bhūtale mahābhāramimaṁ manye lokaviśvāsaghātakam

I do not consider Mount Meru upon this earth as heavy a burden as I consider one who betrays the trust of the world.'

Verse 24 (skanda.2.13.24)

एवमुक्तोऽथ ऋक्षेण सिंहस्तूष्णीं बभूव ह । धर्मगुप्ते प्रबुद्धे तु ऋक्षः सुष्वाप भूरुहे ।

evamukto'tha ṛkṣeṇa siṁhastūṣṇīṁ babhūva ha dharmagupte prabuddhe tu ṛkṣaḥ suṣvāpa bhūruhe

Thus addressed by the bear, the lion fell silent. When Dharmagupta awoke, the bear then fell asleep in that tree.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.13.25)

ततः सिंहोऽब्रवीद्भूपमेनमृक्षं त्यजस्व मे । एवमुक्तोऽथ सिंहेन राजा सुप्तमशंकितः ।

tataḥ siṁho'bravīdbhūpamenamṛkṣaṁ tyajasva me evamukto'tha siṁhena rājā suptamaśaṁkitaḥ

Then the lion said to the king, 'Abandon this bear to me.' Thus addressed by the lion, the king, without fear,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.13.26)

स्वांकन्यस्तशिरस्कं तमृक्षं तत्याज भूतले । पात्यमानस्ततो राज्ञा समालम्बितपादपः ।

svāṁkanyastaśiraskaṁ tamṛkṣaṁ tatyāja bhūtale pātyamānastato rājñā samālambitapādapaḥ

cast down to the earth that bear, sleeping with its head in the king's own lap. Cast down by the king, that bear, even as it fell,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.13.27)

ऋक्षः पुण्यवशाद्वृक्षान्न पपात महीतले । स ऋक्षो नृपमभ्येत्य कोपाद्वाक्यमभाषत ।

ṛkṣaḥ puṇyavaśādvṛkṣānna papāta mahītale sa ṛkṣo nṛpamabhyetya kopādvākyamabhāṣata

by the power of its own merit clung fast to a branch and did not fall to the ground from the tree. That bear, coming before the king, spoke in anger—

Verse 28 (skanda.2.13.28)

कामरूपधरो राजन्नहं भृगुकुलोद्भवः । ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधो नाम्ना ऋक्षरूपमधारयम् ।

kāmarūpadharo rājannahaṁ bhṛgukulodbhavaḥ dhyānakāṣṭhābhidho nāmnā ṛkṣarūpamadhārayam

'O king, I am a sage named Dhyanakashtha, born in the lineage of Bhrigu, able to assume any form I wish, who had taken on the form of a bear.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.13.29)

कस्मादनागसं सुप्तमत्याक्षीन्मां भवान्नृप । मच्छापादतिशीघ्रं त्वमुन्मत्तश्चर भूतले ।

kasmādanāgasaṁ suptamatyākṣīnmāṁ bhavānnṛpa macchāpādatiśīghraṁ tvamunmattaścara bhūtale

Why, O king, did you abandon me, sleeping and innocent as I was? By my curse, you shall from this moment wander this earth insane.'

Verse 30 (skanda.2.13.30)

इति शप्त्वा मुनिर्भूपं ततः सिंहमभाषत । न सिंहस्त्वं महायक्षः कुबेरसचिवः पुरा ।

iti śaptvā munirbhūpaṁ tataḥ siṁhamabhāṣata na siṁhastvaṁ mahāyakṣaḥ kuberasacivaḥ purā

Having thus cursed the king, the sage then said to the lion, 'You are not a lion; you were formerly the great Yaksha minister of Kubera.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.13.31)

हिमवद्गिरिमासाद्य कदाचित्तं वधूसखः । अज्ञानाद्गौतमाभ्याशे विहारमतनोर्मुदा ।

himavadgirimāsādya kadācittaṁ vadhūsakhaḥ ajñānādgautamābhyāśe vihāramatanormudā

Once, upon Mount Himavan, together with your wife, unknowingly you began to sport joyfully right near the hermitage of the sage Gautama.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.13.32)

गौतमोऽप्युटजाद्दैवात्समिदाहरणाय वै । निर्गतस्त्वां विवसनं दृष्ट्वा शापमुदाहरत् ।

gautamo'pyuṭajāddaivātsamidāharaṇāya vai nirgatastvāṁ vivasanaṁ dṛṣṭvā śāpamudāharat

Gautama too, as fate would have it, came out of his hut to gather fuel-sticks, and, seeing you unclothed [with your wife], pronounced this curse—

Verse 33 (skanda.2.13.33)

यस्मान्ममाश्रमेऽद्य त्वं विवस्त्रः स्थितवानसि । अतः सिंहत्वमद्यैव भविता ते न संशयः ।

yasmānmamāśrame'dya tvaṁ vivastraḥ sthitavānasi ataḥ siṁhatvamadyaiva bhavitā te na saṁśayaḥ

'Since today you have stood unclothed in my hermitage, for this very reason, this very day, you shall without doubt become a lion.'

Verse 34 (skanda.2.13.34)

इति गौतमशापेन सिंहत्वमगमत्पुरा । कुबेरसचिवो यक्षो भद्रनामा भवान्पुरा ।

iti gautamaśāpena siṁhatvamagamatpurā kuberasacivo yakṣo bhadranāmā bhavānpurā

Thus, by Gautama's curse, you formerly became a lion. You were once the Yaksha named Bhadra, minister of Kubera,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.13.35)

कुबेरो धर्मशीलो हि तद्भृत्याश्च तथैव हि । अतः किमर्थं त्वं हंसि मामृषिं वनगोचरम् ।

kubero dharmaśīlo hi tadbhṛtyāśca tathaiva hi ataḥ kimarthaṁ tvaṁ haṁsi māmṛṣiṁ vanagocaram

and Kubera himself is righteous, and his servants likewise are righteous. Why then did you wish to kill me, a forest-dwelling sage?

Verse 36 (skanda.2.13.36)

एतत्सर्वमहं ध्यानाज्जानामि हि मृगाधिप । इत्युक्तो ध्यानकाष्ठेन त्यक्त्वा सिंहत्वमाशु सः ।

etatsarvamahaṁ dhyānājjānāmi hi mṛgādhipa ityukto dhyānakāṣṭhena tyaktvā siṁhatvamāśu saḥ

O king of beasts, I know all this by the power of my meditation.' Thus addressed by Dhyanakashtha, that lion, quickly casting off his lion's form,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.13.37)

यक्षरूपं गतो दिव्यं कुबेरसचिवात्मकम् । ध्यानकाष्ठमसावाह प्रांजलिः प्रणतो मुनिम् ।

yakṣarūpaṁ gato divyaṁ kuberasacivātmakam dhyānakāṣṭhamasāvāha prāṁjaliḥ praṇato munim

assumed the divine Yaksha-form of Kubera's minister. That Yaksha, with joined palms, bowing to the sage Dhyanakashtha, said—

Verse 38 (skanda.2.13.38)

अद्य ज्ञातं मया सर्वं पूर्ववृत्तं महामुने । गौतमः शापकाले मे शापान्तमपि चोक्तवान् ।

adya jñātaṁ mayā sarvaṁ pūrvavṛttaṁ mahāmune gautamaḥ śāpakāle me śāpāntamapi coktavān

'O great sage, today I have come to know this entire past account. Even as Gautama pronounced the curse, he also spoke of its end—

Verse 39 (skanda.2.13.39)

ध्यानकाष्ठेन संवाद ऋक्षरूपेण ते यदा । तदा निर्धूय सिंहत्वं यक्षरूपमवाप्स्यसि ।

dhyānakāṣṭhena saṁvāda ṛkṣarūpeṇa te yadā tadā nirdhūya siṁhatvaṁ yakṣarūpamavāpsyasi

that when you would converse with Dhyanakashtha in the form of a bear, you would then shed your lion nature and regain your Yaksha form.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.13.40)

इति मामब्रवीद्ब्रह्मन्गौतमो मुनिपुङ्गवः । अद्य सिंहत्वनाशान्मे जानामि त्वां महामुने ।

iti māmabravīdbrahmangautamo munipuṅgavaḥ adya siṁhatvanāśānme jānāmi tvāṁ mahāmune

Thus, O brahmin, the sage Gautama told me. Today, by the destruction of my lion-nature, I know that you are that same pure sage,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.13.41)

ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधं शुद्धं कामरूपधरं सदा । इत्युक्त्वा तं प्रणम्याथ ध्यानकाष्ठं स यक्षराट् ।

dhyānakāṣṭhābhidhaṁ śuddhaṁ kāmarūpadharaṁ sadā ityuktvā taṁ praṇamyātha dhyānakāṣṭhaṁ sa yakṣarāṭ

ever able to assume any form at will, known by the name Dhyanakashtha.' Having said this, and bowed to that Dhyanakashtha, that lord of Yakshas,

Verse 42 (skanda.2.13.42)

विमानवरमारुह्य प्रययावलकापुरीम् । उन्मत्तरूपं तं दृष्ट्वा मन्त्रिणस्तु नृपोत्तमम् ।

vimānavaramāruhya prayayāvalakāpurīm unmattarūpaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā mantriṇastu nṛpottamam

mounted upon an excellent celestial chariot, departed for Alakapuri. Seeing that excellent king now in a state of madness, his ministers,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.13.43)

पितुः सकाशमानिन्यू रेवातीरे नृपोत्तमम् । तस्मै निवेदयामासुर्मतिभ्रंशं सुतस्य च ।

pituḥ sakāśamāninyū revātīre nṛpottamam tasmai nivedayāmāsurmatibhraṁśaṁ sutasya ca

brought that excellent king to his father on the bank of the river Reva, and reported to him the loss of his son's reason.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.13.44)

ज्ञात्वा तु पुत्रवृत्तान्तं पिता वै नंदनस्तदा ।

jñātvā tu putravṛttāntaṁ pitā vai naṁdanastadā

Learning this news of his son, the father Nanda then [was overcome with grief]—

Verse 45 (skanda.2.13.45)

पुत्रमादाय सहसा जैमिनेरन्तिकं ययौ । तस्मै निवेदयामास पुत्रवृत्तान्तमादितः ।

putramādāya sahasā jaiminerantikaṁ yayau tasmai nivedayāmāsa putravṛttāntamāditaḥ

and, taking his son with him, went at once to the sage Jaimini, and related to him his son's entire story from the very beginning.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.13.46)

भगवञ्जैमिने पुत्रो ममाद्योन्मत्ततां गतः । अस्योन्मादविनाशाय ब्रूह्युपायं महामुने ।

bhagavañjaimine putro mamādyonmattatāṁ gataḥ asyonmādavināśāya brūhyupāyaṁ mahāmune

'O Lord Jaimini, my son has today become insane. O great sage, tell me some remedy for the destruction of his madness.'

Verse 47 (skanda.2.13.47)

इति पृष्टश्चिरं दध्यौ जैमिनिर्मुनिपुंगवः । ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं नृपनन्दनमब्रवीत् ।

iti pṛṣṭaściraṁ dadhyau jaiminirmunipuṁgavaḥ dhyātvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ nṛpanandanamabravīt

Thus questioned, that finest of sages, Jaimini, remained absorbed in meditation for a long while. Having meditated for a long time, he said to that royal son (Nanda)—

Verse 48 (skanda.2.13.48)

ध्यानकाष्ठस्य शापेन ह्युन्मत्तस्ते सुतोऽभवत् । तस्य शापस्य मोक्षार्थमुपायं प्रब्रवीमि ते ।

dhyānakāṣṭhasya śāpena hyunmattaste suto'bhavat tasya śāpasya mokṣārthamupāyaṁ prabravīmi te

'It is by the curse of Dhyanakashtha that your son has become mad. I shall tell you the remedy for release from that curse.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.13.49)

सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे वेंकटेनाम पर्वते । सर्वपापहरे पुण्ये नानाधातुविनिर्मिते ।

suvarṇamukharītīre veṁkaṭenāma parvate sarvapāpahare puṇye nānādhātuvinirmite

On the bank of the river Suvarnamukhari, on the mountain named Venkata, which removes every sin, is sacred, and is formed of manifold minerals,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.13.50)

स्वामिपुष्करिणी चेति तीर्थमस्ति महत्तरम् । पवित्राणां पवित्रं हि मंगलानां च मंगलम् ।

svāmipuṣkariṇī ceti tīrthamasti mahattaram pavitrāṇāṁ pavitraṁ hi maṁgalānāṁ ca maṁgalam

there is a great tirtha named Swami Pushkarini, the very purest among pure things and the most auspicious among all auspicious things.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.13.51)

श्रुतिसिद्धं महापुण्यं ब्रह्महत्यादिशोधकम् । नीत्वा तत्र सुतं तेऽद्य स्नापयस्व महामते ।

śrutisiddhaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ brahmahatyādiśodhakam nītvā tatra sutaṁ te'dya snāpayasva mahāmate

It is established by the Vedas, exceedingly meritorious, and purifies even the sin of slaying a brahmin — take your son there today, O wise one, and have him bathe.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.13.52)

उन्मादस्तत्क्षणादेव तस्य नश्येन्न संशयः । इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्यासौ जैमिनिं मुनिपुंगवम् ।

unmādastatkṣaṇādeva tasya naśyenna saṁśayaḥ ityuktastaṁ praṇamyāsau jaiminiṁ munipuṁgavam

His madness shall vanish that very instant, of this there is no doubt.' Hearing this, and bowing to that finest of sages, Jaimini,

Verse 53 (skanda.2.13.53)

नन्दः पुत्रं समादाय स्वामिपुष्करिणीं ययौ । तत्र च स्नापयामास पुत्रं नियमपूर्वकम् ।

nandaḥ putraṁ samādāya svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ yayau tatra ca snāpayāmāsa putraṁ niyamapūrvakam

Nanda took his son and went to the Swami Pushkarini, and there had his son bathe according to proper rite.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.13.54)

स्नानमात्रात्ततः सद्यो नष्टोन्मादोऽभवत्सुतः । स्वयं सस्नौ स नन्दोऽपि स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले ।

snānamātrāttataḥ sadyo naṣṭonmādo'bhavatsutaḥ svayaṁ sasnau sa nando'pi svāmipuṣkariṇījale

The moment he bathed, his son's madness was instantly destroyed. Nanda himself too bathed in the waters of the Swami Pushkarini.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.13.55)

उषित्वा दिनमेकं तु सहपुत्रः पिता तदा । सेवित्वा वेंकटेशं च श्रीनिवासं कृपानिधिम् ।

uṣitvā dinamekaṁ tu sahaputraḥ pitā tadā sevitvā veṁkaṭeśaṁ ca śrīnivāsaṁ kṛpānidhim

Staying there for one day, father and son together served Venkatesha Srinivasa, the treasure-house of compassion.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.13.56)

पुत्रमापृच्छ्य नन्दस्तं प्रययौ तपसे वनम् । गते पितरि पुत्रोऽपि धर्मगुप्तो नृपो द्विजाः ।

putramāpṛcchya nandastaṁ prayayau tapase vanam gate pitari putro'pi dharmagupto nṛpo dvijāḥ

Nanda, taking leave of his son, set out to the forest for austerity. When his father had gone, O brahmins, his son, King Dharmagupta,

Verse 57 (skanda.2.13.57)

प्रददौ वेंकटेशस्य बहुवित्तानि भक्तितः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं धान्यं क्षेत्राणि च ददौ तदा ।

pradadau veṁkaṭeśasya bahuvittāni bhaktitaḥ brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ kṣetrāṇi ca dadau tadā

devotedly offered much wealth to Venkatesha, and gave the brahmins wealth, grain, and many lands.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.13.58)

प्रययौ मन्त्रिभिः सार्धं स्वां पुरीं तदनन्तरम् । धर्मेण पालयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् ।

prayayau mantribhiḥ sārdhaṁ svāṁ purīṁ tadanantaram dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa rājyaṁ nihatakaṇṭakam

After this he returned with his ministers to his own city, and ruled his kingdom, free of every thorn, righteously.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.13.59)

पितृपैतामहं विप्रा धर्मगुप्तोतिधार्मिकः । उन्मादैरप्यपस्मारैर्ग्रहैर्दुष्टैश्च ये नराः ।

pitṛpaitāmahaṁ viprā dharmaguptotidhārmikaḥ unmādairapyapasmārairgrahairduṣṭaiśca ye narāḥ

O brahmins, this is the story of that most righteous Dharmagupta, of that lineage from father and grandfather. Those men who are seized by madness, epilepsy, or evil planetary influences,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.13.60)

ग्रस्ता भवन्ति विप्रेन्द्रास्तेऽपि चात्र निमज्जनात् । पुष्करिण्यां विमुक्ताः स्युः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ।

grastā bhavanti viprendrāste'pi cātra nimajjanāt puṣkariṇyāṁ vimuktāḥ syuḥ satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

O excellent brahmins — they too are freed merely by immersing themselves here in this Pushkarini. I speak the truth, truly the truth.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.13.61)

स्वामिपुष्करिणीं त्यक्त्वा तीर्थमन्यद्व्रजेत्तु यः । स्निग्धं स गोपयस्त्यक्त्वा स्नुहीक्षीरं प्रयाचते ।

svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ tyaktvā tīrthamanyadvrajettu yaḥ snigdhaṁ sa gopayastyaktvā snuhīkṣīraṁ prayācate

He who abandons the Swami Pushkarini to go to some other tirtha is like one who abandons rich cow's milk to beg for the poisonous milk of the snuhi plant.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.13.62)

स्वामितीर्थं स्वामितीर्थं स्वामितीर्थमिति द्विजाः । त्रिःपठन्तो नरा एवं यत्र क्वापि जलाशये ।

svāmitīrthaṁ svāmitīrthaṁ svāmitīrthamiti dvijāḥ triḥpaṭhanto narā evaṁ yatra kvāpi jalāśaye

O brahmins, whoever, reciting 'Swami tirtha, Swami tirtha, Swami tirtha' three times, bathes in whatever pool of water,

Verse 63 (skanda.2.13.63)

स्नांति सर्वे नरास्ते वै यास्यन्ति ब्रह्मणः पदम् । एवं वः कथिता विप्रा धर्मगुप्तकथा शुभा ।

snāṁti sarve narāste vai yāsyanti brahmaṇaḥ padam evaṁ vaḥ kathitā viprā dharmaguptakathā śubhā

— all such men attain the abode of Brahma. Thus, O brahmins, have I told you this auspicious story of Dharmagupta,

Verse 64 (skanda.2.13.64)

यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या विनश्यति ।

yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyā vinaśyati

by the mere hearing of which even the sin of slaying a brahmin is destroyed.