Kali-dharma-nirūpaṇe Pitṛ-muktiḥ — The Determination of Dharma in Kali Yuga: The Liberation of the Ancestors

Verse 1 (skanda.2.176.1)

मैथिलेय उवाच । का ह्यस्मिंस्तिथयः पुण्या मासे वैशाखसंज्ञके । कानि दानानि शस्तानि तासु तासु विशेषतः ॥

maithileya uvāca kā hyasmiṁstithayaḥ puṇyā māse vaiśākhasaṁjñake kāni dānāni śastāni tāsu tāsu viśeṣataḥ

Maithileya said: Which are the meritorious lunar days in this month called Vaishakha? And what gifts are especially praised for each of these particular days?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.176.2)

काः प्रख्याताश्च वै लोक एतदाचक्ष्व विस्तरात् ॥

kāḥ prakhyātāśca vai loka etadācakṣva vistarāt

And which of them are renowned in the world — tell me all this in full detail.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.176.3)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । त्रिंशच्च तिथयः पुण्या वैशाखे मेषगे रवौ ॥

śrutadeva uvāca triṁśacca tithayaḥ puṇyā vaiśākhe meṣage ravau

Shrutadeva said: In the month of Vaishakha, when the sun stands in Aries, all thirty lunar days are meritorious.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.176.4)

एकादश्यां कृतं पुण्यं कोटिकोटिगुणं भवेत् । सर्वदानेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्फलम् ॥

ekādaśyāṁ kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ koṭikoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet sarvadāneṣu yatpuṇyaṁ sarvatīrtheṣu yatphalam

Merit performed on the eleventh day becomes multiplied a myriad-fold. Whatever merit lies in every kind of gift, whatever fruit lies in every sacred crossing,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.176.5)

समवाप्नोति वैशाख एकादश्यां जलाप्लुतः । स्नानं दानं तपो होमो देवतार्चनसत्क्रियाः ॥

samavāpnoti vaiśākha ekādaśyāṁ jalāplutaḥ snānaṁ dānaṁ tapo homo devatārcanasatkriyāḥ

one obtains simply by bathing in water on the eleventh of Vaishakha. Bathing, giving, austerity, fire-oblation, deity-worship, and holy rites —

Verse 6 (skanda.2.176.6)

कथायाः श्रवणं चैव सद्यो मुक्तिविधायकम् । रोगाद्युपहतो यस्तु दारिद्र्येणाऽपि पीडितः ॥

kathāyāḥ śravaṇaṁ caiva sadyo muktividhāyakam rogādyupahato yastu dāridryeṇā'pi pīḍitaḥ

and listening to this story — all of it grants liberation at once. Whoever is afflicted by disease or the like, or is even tormented by poverty,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.176.7)

श्रुत्वा कथामिमां पुण्यां कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः । अस्नात्वा चाप्यदत्त्वा च येन नीता इमाः शुभाः ॥

śrutvā kathāmimāṁ puṇyāṁ kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ asnātvā cāpyadattvā ca yena nītā imāḥ śubhāḥ

becomes fulfilled in every purpose by hearing this meritorious tale. Whoever passes these auspicious days without bathing and without giving,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.176.8)

स गोघ्नश्च कृतघ्नश्च पितृघ्नश्च महान्स्मृतः । जलाशयाश्च स्वाधीनाः स्वाधीनं च कलेवरम् ॥

sa goghnaśca kṛtaghnaśca pitṛghnaśca mahānsmṛtaḥ jalāśayāśca svādhīnāḥ svādhīnaṁ ca kalevaram

he is reckoned a great sinner equal to a killer of cows, an ingrate, and a killer of his own ancestors — even though water-bodies stand at his disposal and his own body is under his control.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.176.9)

माधवो मनसा सेव्यः कालश्च सुगुणोत्तमः । साधवश्च दयावंतः को न सेवेत माधवम् ॥

mādhavo manasā sevyaḥ kālaśca suguṇottamaḥ sādhavaśca dayāvantaḥ ko na seveta mādhavam

Madhava is to be served with the mind, and this season too is supreme in its good qualities, and the virtuous are compassionate — who then would not serve Madhava?

Verse 10 (skanda.2.176.10)

दरिद्रैश्च धनाढ्यैश्च पंगुभिश्चांधकैस्तथा । षंढैश्च विधवाभिश्च नारीभिश्च नरैस्तथा ॥

daridraiśca dhanāḍhyaiśca paṅgubhiścāndhakaistathā ṣaṇḍhaiśca vidhavābhiśca nārībhiśca naraistathā

By the poor and the wealthy, by the lame and the blind, by eunuchs and widows, by women and men alike,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.176.11)

कुमारयुववृद्धैश्च रोगार्तैरपि भूमिप । अतीवसुखसाध्यो हि धर्मो वैशाखगोचरः ॥

kumārayuvavṛddhaiśca rogārtairapi bhūmipa atīvasukhasādhyo hi dharmo vaiśākhagocaraḥ

and, O king, by boys, by the young, by the aged, even by the sick — the dharma pertaining to Vaishakha can be accomplished with the greatest ease.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.176.12)

मासमेनमनुप्राप्य धर्मान्कुरु इमाञ्च्छुभान् । को न यत्नं च कुरुते तस्मात्को न्वपरः शुभः ॥

māsamenamanuprāpya dharmānkuru imāñcchubhān ko na yatnaṁ ca kurute tasmātko nvaparaḥ śubhaḥ

Having attained this month, one should perform these auspicious observances. Who would not make the effort for this? What else could be more auspicious than this?

Verse 13 (skanda.2.176.13)

योऽतीव सुलभान्धर्मान्न करोति नराऽधमः । तस्यैव सुलभा लोका नारका नात्र संशयः ॥

yo'tīva sulabhāndharmānna karoti narā'dhamaḥ tasyaiva sulabhā lokā nārakā nātra saṁśayaḥ

That basest of men who fails to perform even these most easily accomplished observances — for him the hellish worlds become readily accessible, of this there is no doubt.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.176.14)

अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि तस्मिन्मासे च कोत्तमा । तां तिथिं सर्वपापघ्नीं दध्नः सारमिवोद्धृताम् ॥

athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi tasminmāse ca kottamā tāṁ tithiṁ sarvapāpaghnīṁ dadhnaḥ sāramivoddhṛtām

Now I shall tell which lunar day, in that month, is the most excellent — that day which destroys all sin, drawn out like the essence churned from curd.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.176.15)

चैत्रे मासि महापुण्ये मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे । पापघ्नी पितृदैवत्या गयाकोटिफलप्रदा ॥

caitre māsi mahāpuṇye meṣasaṁsthe divākare pāpaghnī pitṛdaivatyā gayākoṭiphalapradā

In the most meritorious month of Chaitra, when the sun stands in Aries, that sin-destroying day, sacred to the ancestors, bestows the fruit of a crore of pilgrimages to Gaya.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.176.16)

अत्रैव श्रूयते पुण्या पितृगाथा पुरातनी । शृणु तां सत्कथां राजन्सावर्णौ शासति क्षितिम् ॥

atraiva śrūyate puṇyā pitṛgāthā purātanī śṛṇu tāṁ satkathāṁ rājansāvarṇau śāsati kṣitim

In this very connection, an ancient and sacred tale of the ancestors is told. O king, hear that true story, from the time when Savarni ruled the earth —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.176.17)

त्रिंशत्कलियुगस्यांते सर्वधर्मविवर्जिते । आनर्ते तु द्विजः कश्चिद्धर्मवर्ण इति श्रुतः ॥

triṁśatkaliyugasyānte sarvadharmavivarjite ānarte tu dvijaḥ kaściddharmavarṇa iti śrutaḥ

At the end of the thirtieth Kali Yuga, in an age bereft of all dharma, there lived in the land of Anarta a certain brahmin known as Dharmavarna, so it is heard.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.176.18)

दृष्ट्वा कलियुगे राजञ्जनान्पापरतान्मुनिः । तस्यैव प्रथमे पादे वर्णधर्मविवर्जिते ॥

dṛṣṭvā kaliyuge rājañjanānpāparatānmuniḥ tasyaiva prathame pāde varṇadharmavivarjite

O king, that sage saw people sunk in sin already in the very first quarter of that Kali Yuga, when the duties of one's social station had already been abandoned.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.176.19)

स कदाचित्सत्रयागं मुनीनां तु महात्मनाम् । अगमत्पुष्करे क्षेत्रे कुर्वतां मौनधारिणाम् ॥

sa kadācitsatrayāgaṁ munīnāṁ tu mahātmanām agamatpuṣkare kṣetre kurvatāṁ maunadhāriṇām

Once he went to the sacred field of Pushkara, where great, silence-observing sages were performing an extended sacrificial session.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.176.20)

तत्र चासन्पुण्यकथा ऋषीणां शास्त्रगोचराः । तत्र केचित्कलियुगं प्रशशंसुर्धृतव्रताः ॥

tatra cāsanpuṇyakathā ṛṣīṇāṁ śāstragocarāḥ tatra kecitkaliyugaṁ praśaśaṁsurdhṛtavratāḥ

There the sages were engaged in sacred discourses on scriptural matters. There, some vow-keeping seers began to praise the Kali Yuga —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.176.21)

कृते यद्वत्सरात्साध्यं पुण्यं माधवतोषणम् । त्रेतायां मासतः साध्यं द्वापरे पक्षतो नृप ॥

kṛte yadvatsarātsādhyaṁ puṇyaṁ mādhavatoṣaṇam tretāyāṁ māsataḥ sādhyaṁ dvāpare pakṣato nṛpa

O king, that merit for pleasing Madhava which in the Krita Yuga required a whole year's observance to attain, is attained in the Treta by a single month, and in the Dvapara by a single fortnight.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.176.22)

तस्माद्दशगुणं पुण्यं कलौ विष्णुस्मृतेर्भवेत् । अत्यल्पमपि वै पुण्यं कलौ कोटिगुणं भवेत् ॥

tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ kalau viṣṇusmṛterbhavet atyalpamapi vai puṇyaṁ kalau koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

Tenfold greater than that is the merit gained in Kali merely by remembering Vishnu. Even the smallest merit in Kali becomes multiplied a crore-fold.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.176.23)

दया पुण्यविहीने तु दानधर्मविवर्जिते । दयादानं च कुरुते सकृदुच्चार्य वै हरिम् ॥

dayā puṇyavihīne tu dānadharmavivarjite dayādānaṁ ca kurute sakṛduccārya vai harim

Even in an age devoid of merit and stripped of the observance of giving, if one performs an act of compassion or charity while uttering the name of Hari even once,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.176.24)

स एव चोर्ध्वगो नूनं दुर्भिक्षे चान्नदस्तथा । एतत्प्रसंगावसरे नारदोऽभ्येत्य वै मुनिः ॥

sa eva cordhvago nūnaṁ durbhikṣe cānnadastathā etatprasaṅgāvasare nārado'bhyetya vai muniḥ

that person surely attains the upward path, just as a giver of food does in a time of famine. At that very moment of this discussion, the sage Narada arrived there,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.176.25)

करेणैकेन शिश्नं च जिह्वां चैकेन वै हसन् । प्रगृह्योन्मत्तवत्तत्र ननर्त मुनिसत्तमः ॥

kareṇaikena śiśnaṁ ca jihvāṁ caikena vai hasan pragṛhyonmattavattatra nanarta munisattamaḥ

and, laughing, grasping his own genital with one hand and his own tongue with the other, that foremost of sages began to dance there like a madman.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.176.26)

सभ्यास्तदा तमित्यूचुः किमेतदिति नारद । प्रत्युवाच स तान्सर्वान्नृत्यं कुर्वन्हसन्सुधीः ॥

sabhyāstadā tamityūcuḥ kimetaditi nārada pratyuvāca sa tānsarvānnṛtyaṁ kurvanhasansudhīḥ

The assembled ones then said to him: O Narada, what is this? Dancing and laughing, that wise sage answered them all —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.176.27)

संतोषाद्यदिह प्रोक्तं नृत्यद्भिर्भावितात्मभिः । सिद्धा वयं न संदेहः पुण्योऽयं कलिरागतः ॥

saṁtoṣādyadiha proktaṁ nṛtyadbhirbhāvitātmabhiḥ siddhā vayaṁ na saṁdehaḥ puṇyo'yaṁ kaliragataḥ

What has been declared here with joy by these dancing, self-realized ones — 'We are perfected beings, no doubt, this meritorious Kali Yuga has arrived' —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.176.28)

तत्सत्यं न च संदेहो बहु स्वल्पेन साध्यते । स्मरणात्तोषमायाति केशवः क्लेशनाशनः ॥

tatsatyaṁ na ca saṁdeho bahu svalpena sādhyate smaraṇāttoṣamāyāti keśavaḥ kleśanāśanaḥ

That is true, and there is no doubt of it — much is accomplished with very little. Merely by remembrance, Keshava, the destroyer of afflictions, becomes pleased.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.176.29)

तथापि वः प्रवक्ष्यामि दुर्घटं च द्वयं धुवम् । शिश्नस्य निग्रहः पुत्रा जिह्वाया अपि नित्यशः ॥

tathāpi vaḥ pravakṣyāmi durghaṭaṁ ca dvayaṁ dhruvam śiśnasya nigrahaḥ putrā jihvāyā api nityaśaḥ

Nevertheless, I shall tell you two things that are certainly difficult to achieve, my sons — mastery over the genital organ, and mastery over the tongue as well, always.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.176.30)

द्वयं यद्धि भवेद्यस्य स एव स्याज्जनार्दनः । भवद्भिर्नात्र स्थातव्यं तस्मात्कलियुगागमे ॥

dvayaṁ yaddhi bhavedyasya sa eva syājjanārdanaḥ bhavadbhirnātra sthātavyaṁ tasmātkaliyugāgame

Whoever possesses control over both of these is himself as good as Janardana. Therefore, at this onset of the Kali Yuga, you ought not to remain here,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.176.31)

पाखंडं भारतं हित्वा संचरध्वं यथासुखम् । यत्र कुत्रापि देशेषु मनो यत्र प्रसीदति ॥

pākhaṇḍaṁ bhārataṁ hitvā saṁcaradhvaṁ yathāsukham yatra kutrāpi deśeṣu mano yatra prasīdati

abandon this land of Bharata, now full of hypocrisy, and wander wherever you please — to any land at all where your mind finds contentment.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.176.32)

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । सत्रं समाप्य सहसा ययुस्ते च यथासुखम् ॥

iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā munayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ satraṁ samāpya sahasā yayuste ca yathāsukham

Hearing these words of his, those sages of accomplished vows at once concluded the sacrificial session and went off, each as he pleased.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.176.33)

धर्मवर्णोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा त्यक्तुं भूमिं मनो दधे । स व्रतं चोर्ध्वतेजस्कं धृत्वा दण्डकमंडलू ॥

dharmavarṇo'pi tacchrutvā tyaktuṁ bhūmiṁ mano dadhe sa vrataṁ cordhvatejaskaṁ dhṛtvā daṇḍakamaṇḍalū

Dharmavarna too, hearing this, resolved to abandon settled life on earth. He took up the vow of celibate ascendant energy, and, holding a staff and water-pot,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.176.34)

जटावल्कलधारी च भूत्वा चैवं ययौ पुनः । कलौ युगे त्वनाचारान्द्रष्टुं विस्मितमानसः ॥

jaṭāvalkaladhārī ca bhūtvā caivaṁ yayau punaḥ kalau yuge tvanācārāndraṣṭuṁ vismitamānasaḥ

matted hair and bark garments, thus set out once more, his mind filled with astonishment, eager to see for himself the misconduct rampant in the Kali Yuga.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.176.35)

तत्राऽपश्यज्जनान्घोरान्पापाचाररतान्खलान् । पाखण्डिनो द्विजाः सर्वे शूद्राः प्रव्राजिनस्तथा ॥

tatrā'paśyajjanānghorānpāpācāraratānkhalān pākhaṇḍino dvijāḥ sarve śūdrāḥ pravrājinastathā

There he saw dreadful, wicked people given over to sinful conduct — all the brahmins had become hypocrites, while shudras wandered about as renunciants.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.176.36)

भर्तारं द्वेष्टि भार्या च शिष्यो द्वेष्टि गुरुं तथा । भृत्यश्च स्वामिहंता च पुत्रः पितृवधे रतः ॥

bhartāraṁ dveṣṭi bhāryā ca śiṣyo dveṣṭi guruṁ tathā bhṛtyaśca svāmihantā ca putraḥ pitṛvadhe rataḥ

The wife hates her own husband, the disciple hates his own teacher, the servant becomes the killer of his master, and the son is bent on murdering his own father.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.176.37)

शूद्रप्राया द्विजाः सर्वे बस्तप्रायाश्च धेनवः । गाथाप्रायास्तथा वेदाः क्रियासाम्याः शुभाः क्रियाः ॥

śūdraprāyā dvijāḥ sarve bastaprāyāśca dhenavaḥ gāthāprāyāstathā vedāḥ kriyāsāmyāḥ śubhāḥ kriyāḥ

Nearly all brahmins had become like shudras, cows had become nearly as scrawny as goats, the Vedas had become nearly like popular ballads, and auspicious rites had become on a par with ordinary ones.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.176.38)

भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्याः फलदास्तत्र देवताः । ता एव श्रद्धयाऽर्चंति जनाः पापरता शिताः ॥

bhūtapretapiśācādyāḥ phaladāstatra devatāḥ tā eva śraddhayā'rcanti janāḥ pāparatā śitāḥ

Ghosts, spirits, pishachas and the like were regarded there as the boon-granting deities. Sin-loving, degraded people worshipped only them with devotion.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.176.39)

सर्वे व्यवायनिरतास्तदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः । कूटसाक्ष्यप्रवक्तारः सदा कैतवमानसाः ॥

sarve vyavāyaniratāstadarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ kūṭasākṣyapravaktāraḥ sadā kaitavamānasāḥ

Everyone was so given over to sensual indulgence that they were prepared to sacrifice their very lives for it. They gave false testimony and were ever of deceitful mind.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.176.40)

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं सदा कलौ । सर्वेषां हैतुकी विद्या सा पूज्या नृपमंदिरे ॥

manasyekaṁ vacasyekaṁ karmaṇyekaṁ sadā kalau sarveṣāṁ haitukī vidyā sā pūjyā nṛpamandire

One thing in the mind, another in speech, and yet another in action — this was ever the way of everyone in Kali. The science of mere logic-chopping alone was revered by all and honoured in the palace of the king.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.176.41)

गीताद्याश्च कला विद्या नृपाणां च प्रियावहाः । हीनाश्च पूज्यतां यांति नोत्तमाश्च कलौ युगे ॥

gītādyāśca kalā vidyā nṛpāṇāṁ ca priyāvahāḥ hīnāśca pūjyatāṁ yānti nottamāśca kalau yuge

Music and other such arts became the favoured accomplishments of kings. In the Kali Yuga, the base attain reverence, but never the truly excellent.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.176.42)

श्रोत्रियाश्च द्विजाः सर्वे दरिद्राः स्युः कलौ युगे । विष्णुभक्तिर्नराणां तु प्रायशो नैव वर्तते ॥

śrotriyāśca dvijāḥ sarve daridrāḥ syuḥ kalau yuge viṣṇubhaktirnarāṇāṁ tu prāyaśo naiva vartate

All the Veda-reciting brahmins become impoverished in the Kali Yuga. Devotion to Vishnu among men, for the most part, simply ceases to exist.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.176.43)

प्रायः पाखंडभूयिष्ठं पुण्यक्षेत्रं भविष्यति । शूद्रा धर्मप्रवक्तारो जटिलास्तापसाः कलौ ॥

prāyaḥ pākhaṇḍabhūyiṣṭhaṁ puṇyakṣetraṁ bhaviṣyati śūdrā dharmapravaktāro jaṭilāstāpasāḥ kalau

Even sacred pilgrimage sites shall for the most part become filled with hypocrisy. In Kali, shudras shall become the preachers of dharma, matted-haired ones, and ascetics.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.176.44)

सर्वे चाल्पायुषो मर्त्या दयाहीना शठा जनाः । सर्वे धर्मप्रवक्तारः सर्वे च ग्रहणोत्सवाः ॥

sarve cālpāyuṣo martyā dayāhīnā śaṭhā janāḥ sarve dharmapravaktāraḥ sarve ca grahaṇotsavāḥ

All mortals shall be short-lived, devoid of compassion, deceitful people. Everyone shall become a preacher of dharma, and every festival shall carry the anxious excitement of an eclipse.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.176.45)

स्वार्चनं चाऽपि हीच्छंति वृथा निन्दापरायणाः । असूयानिरताः सर्वे प्रभोः स्वगृहमागते ॥

svārcanaṁ cā'pi hīcchanti vṛthā nindāparāyaṇāḥ asūyāniratāḥ sarve prabhoḥ svagṛhamāgate

They desire worship for themselves, while being ever given to pointless slander. Even should the Lord himself arrive at their own house, all of them remain absorbed only in envy.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.176.46)

भ्राता च भगिनीगंता पिता पुत्रीं च वै कलौ । सर्वेऽपि शूद्रीनिरताः सर्वे वारांगनारताः ॥

bhrātā ca bhaginīgantā pitā putrīṁ ca vai kalau sarve'pi śūdrīniratāḥ sarve vārāṅganāratāḥ

In Kali, a brother even approaches his own sister, and a father his own daughter. All are given to shudra women, and all are attached to courtesans.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.176.47)

साधून्नैव विजानंति बहुपापांश्च मन्यते । व्यक्तीकुर्वंति साधूनां दोषमेकं दुराग्रहाः ॥

sādhūnnaiva vijānanti bahupāpāṁśca manyate vyaktīkurvanti sādhūnāṁ doṣamekaṁ durāgrahāḥ

They fail even to recognize the saintly and instead consider them great sinners. Stubbornly perverse, they bring into the open the single fault of the virtuous.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.176.48)

पापानां दोषजातानि गुणत्वेन वदन्ति हि । दोषमेव प्रगृह्णंति कलौ तु विगुणा जनाः ॥

pāpānāṁ doṣajātāni guṇatvena vadanti hi doṣameva pragṛhṇanti kalau tu viguṇā janāḥ

They speak of the very faults born of sinners as though they were virtues. In Kali, people bereft of virtue seize upon nothing but faults.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.176.49)

जलौका धर्मसंयुक्ता रक्तं पिवति नो पयः । औषध्यः सत्त्वहीना हि ऋतून् व्यत्ययास्तथा ॥

jalaukā dharmasaṁyuktā raktaṁ pivati no payaḥ auṣadhyaḥ sattvahīnā hi ṛtūn vyatyayāstathā

Even the leech, though behaving 'rightly' according to its own nature, drinks only blood, never milk. Medicinal herbs become devoid of potency, and the seasons too fall out of their proper order.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.176.50)

दुर्भिक्षं सर्वराष्ट्रेषु कन्या काले न सूयते । नटनर्तकविद्यासु प्रीतिमन्तो नराः कलौ ॥

durbhikṣaṁ sarvarāṣṭreṣu kanyā kāle na sūyate naṭanartakavidyāsu prītimanto narāḥ kalau

There shall be famine in every land, and girls shall come of age before their proper time. In Kali, men shall find their pleasure only in the arts of actors and dancers.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.176.51)

वेदवेदांतविद्यासु निरता ये गुणाधिकाः । भृत्यान्पश्यंति तान्मूढास्ते भ्रष्टाश्चाखिला नृप ॥

vedavedāntavidyāsu niratā ye guṇādhikāḥ bhṛtyānpaśyanti tānmūḍhāste bhraṣṭāścākhilā nṛpa

O king, those who are devoted to the study of the Veda and Vedanta, who excel in virtue, the foolish regard as mere servants — all of them having become utterly corrupted.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.176.52)

त्यक्तश्राद्धक्रियाः सर्वे त्यक्तवेदोदितक्रियाः । जिह्वायां विष्णुनामानि न वर्तंते कदाचन । शृंगाररसनिर्वाणास्तद्गीतान्येव ते जगुः ॥

tyaktaśrāddhakriyāḥ sarve tyaktavedoditakriyāḥ jihvāyāṁ viṣṇunāmāni na vartante kadācana śṛṅgārarasanirvāṇāstadgītānyeva te jaguḥ

All have abandoned the shraddha rites, all have abandoned the rites enjoined by the Veda. The names of Vishnu never dwell upon their tongues; they sing only songs steeped in the sentiment of erotic passion.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.176.53)

न विष्णुसेवा न च शास्त्रवार्ता न यागदीक्षा न विचारलेशः । न तीर्थयात्रा न च दानधर्माः कलौ जने क्वाऽपि बभूव चित्रम् ॥

na viṣṇusevā na ca śāstravārtā na yāgadīkṣā na vicāraleśaḥ na tīrthayātrā na ca dānadharmāḥ kalau jane kvā'pi babhūva citram

No service of Vishnu, no discussion of scripture, no initiation into sacrifice, not the least trace of reflection, no pilgrimage, no observance of giving — in Kali, it would be a wonder if any of these were found anywhere among the people.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.176.54)

तान्दृष्ट्वा धर्मवर्णोऽपि सुभीतोऽत्यन्तविस्मितः । वंशं पापात्क्षयं यांतं दृष्ट्वा द्वीपांतरं ययौ ॥

tāndṛṣṭvā dharmavarṇo'pi subhīto'tyantavismitaḥ vaṁśaṁ pāpātkṣayaṁ yāntaṁ dṛṣṭvā dvīpāntaraṁ yayau

Seeing all this, Dharmavarna too grew utterly frightened and astonished. Seeing his own lineage dwindling away because of sin, he departed to another continent.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.176.55)

स चरन्सर्वद्वीपेषु लोकेष्वेव तु सर्वशः । पितृलोकं ययौ धीमान्कदाचित्कौतुकान्वितः ॥

sa caransarvadvīpeṣu lokeṣveva tu sarvaśaḥ pitṛlokaṁ yayau dhīmānkadācitkautukānvitaḥ

He wandered thus everywhere, through every continent and every world. Once, moved by curiosity, that wise man went to the world of the ancestors.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.176.56)

तत्राऽपश्यन्महाघोराञ्च्छ्राम्यमाणांश्च कर्मभिः ॥

tatrā'paśyanmahāghorāñcchrāmyamāṇāṁśca karmabhiḥ

There he saw beings most dreadful to behold, exhausted and worn out by their own deeds.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.176.57)

धावतो रुदमानांश्च पततः पतितानपि । तत्रापश्यच्चान्धकूपे पतितान्स्वान्पितॄनधः ॥

dhāvato rudamānāṁśca patataḥ patitānapi tatrāpaśyaccāndhakūpe patitānsvānpitṝnadhaḥ

He saw beings running about, wailing, some falling, some already fallen. There he saw his own ancestors fallen down into a bottomless dark pit,

Verse 58 (skanda.2.176.58)

दूर्वाग्रलंबिनो दीनान्दूर्वाच्छेदे हि शंकितान् । तदा प्राप्तः कोऽपि चाखुर्दूर्वामूलं तदाश्रयम् ॥

dūrvāgralambino dīnāndūrvācchede hi śaṅkitān tadā prāptaḥ ko'pi cākhurdūrvāmūlaṁ tadāśrayam

pitiful, hanging from the tip of a durva-grass stem, terrified lest that grass be severed. Just then a certain rat arrived, and began gnawing at the very root of that durva grass on which they depended,

Verse 59 (skanda.2.176.59)

तेन भागत्रयं चात्तमेको भागोवशेषितः । तं दृष्ट्वा ते क्षीयमाणं मूलं दुःखेन कर्षिणः ॥

tena bhāgatrayaṁ cāttameko bhāgo'vaśeṣitaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā te kṣīyamāṇaṁ mūlaṁ duḥkhena karṣiṇaḥ

nibbling away three of its four parts, leaving only a single portion remaining. Seeing that root thus dwindling away, they, in their misery, were consumed by anguish,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.176.60)

अधो दृष्ट्वा चांधकूपं तटपातादिभीषणम् । दुरुत्तारं महाघोरं कर्मणाप्तं सुदुःखिताः ॥

adho dṛṣṭvā cāndhakūpaṁ taṭapātādibhīṣaṇam duruttāraṁ mahāghoraṁ karmaṇāptaṁ sudukhitāḥ

beholding below them that bottomless pit, fearsome with the terror of falling from its edge, that impassable, most dreadful pit acquired through their own past deeds, they were plunged into deep sorrow,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.176.61)

अग्रे चाऽपि दुरुत्तारमवलंबविवर्जितम् । तान्द्रष्ट्वा विस्मितो भूत्वा दयालुर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

agre cā'pi duruttāramavalambavivarjitam tāndraṣṭvā vismito bhūtvā dayāluravākyamabravīt

and impassable ahead of them too, bereft of any support. Seeing them, that compassionate man, filled with astonishment, spoke these words —

Verse 62 (skanda.2.176.62)

के यूयं पतिता ह्यस्मिन्केन दुस्तरकर्मणा । कस्य गोत्रे समुत्पन्नाः कथं वो मुक्तिरूर्जिता ॥

ke yūyaṁ patitā hyasminkena dustarakarmaṇā kasya gotre samutpannāḥ kathaṁ vo muktirūrjitā

Who are you, who have fallen into this pit? By what insurmountable deed? In whose lineage were you born? And how might your liberation be secured?

Verse 63 (skanda.2.176.63)

एतद्यूयं वदध्वं मे शर्म वोऽथ भविष्यति । इत्येवमुदितास्तेन पितरोऽथ सुदुःखिताः ॥

etadyūyaṁ vadadhvaṁ me śarma vo'tha bhaviṣyati ityevamuditāstena pitaro'tha sudukhitāḥ

Tell me this, and your well-being shall follow. When he had spoken thus, those deeply anguished ancestors,

Verse 64 (skanda.2.176.64)

तमूचुः करुणां वाचं धर्मश्रुतिपुरःसराः । पितर ऊचुः । वयं श्रीवत्सगोत्रीया भुवि सन्तानवर्जिताः ॥

tamūcuḥ karuṇāṁ vācaṁ dharmaśrutipuraḥsarāḥ pitara ūcuḥ vayaṁ śrīvatsagotrīyā bhuvi santānavarjitāḥ

those ancestors, well-versed in dharma and scripture, spoke to him in a piteous voice. The ancestors said: We belong to the Shrivatsa lineage, now bereft of descendants upon the earth.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.176.65)

पिंडश्राद्धविहीनाश्च तेन पच्यामहे वयम् । निःसन्तानोऽपि नो वंशो जातः पापैः कलौ युगे ॥

piṇḍaśrāddhavihīnāśca tena pacyāmahe vayam niḥsantāno'pi no vaṁśo jātaḥ pāpaiḥ kalau yuge

Deprived of the offering of the rice-ball and the shraddha rite, we suffer thus. In this Kali Yuga, through sins, our lineage has become bereft of offspring.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.176.66)

नाऽस्माकं पिंडदश्चास्ति वंशे पापात्क्षयं गते । तेनांधकूपे पतनं निस्तंतूनां दुरात्मनाम् ॥

nā'smākaṁ piṇḍadaścāsti vaṁśe pāpātkṣayaṁ gate tenāndhakūpe patanaṁ nistantūnāṁ durātmanām

Because our lineage has withered away through sin, we have no one left to offer us the rice-ball. Hence, our very thread of descent broken, we, wretched souls, are destined to fall into this dark pit.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.176.67)

एको हि वर्तते वंशे धर्मवर्णो महायशाः । स विरक्तश्चरन्नेको न गार्हस्थमुपेयिवान् ॥

eko hi vartate vaṁśe dharmavarṇo mahāyaśāḥ sa viraktaścarannneko na gārhasthamupeyivān

In our lineage only one remains, the greatly renowned Dharmavarna. He wanders alone, dispassionate, and has not entered the householder's life.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.176.68)

तंतुना तेन बिभ्रामो दूर्वानालावलंबिताः । निस्तंतुत्वाच्च तन्मूलमाखुः खादति प्रत्यहम् ॥

tantunā tena bibhrāmo dūrvānālāvalambitāḥ nistantutvācca tanmūlamākhuḥ khādati pratyaham

By that single thread alone we hang, suspended from this stalk of durva grass. And because our line of descent has now grown so thin, a rat gnaws at its root every single day.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.176.69)

एकस्यैवाऽवशिष्टत्वात्किंचिन्नलोऽवशेषितः । आखुना खाद्यमानश्च वर्तते सौम्य पश्यताम् ॥

ekasyaivā'vaśiṣṭatvātkiñcinnalo'vaśeṣitaḥ ākhunā khādyamānaśca vartate saumya paśyatām

O gentle one, since only one of our line remains alive, only a little stalk is left, and even that, before our very eyes, is being gnawed away by the rat.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.176.70)

तस्य चाऽऽयुःक्षये तात शेषमाखुर्हरिष्यति । पश्चात्कूपे पतिष्यामो दुरुत्तारेंऽधतामसे ॥

tasya cā'yuḥkṣaye tāta śeṣamākhurhariṣyati paścātkūpe patiṣyāmo duruttāre'ndhatāmase

O child, when his life comes to its end, the rat shall carry off the remainder as well, and thereafter we shall fall into that impassable pit of blinding darkness.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.176.71)

तस्मात्त्वं च भुवं गत्वा धर्मवर्णं प्रबोधय । अस्मद्वाक्यैर्दयापात्रैर्गार्हस्थ्यं विमुखं मुनिम् ॥

tasmāttvaṁ ca bhuvaṁ gatvā dharmavarṇaṁ prabodhaya asmadvākyairdayāpātrairgārhasthyaṁ vimukhaṁ munim

Therefore, go to the earth and, with these piteous words of ours, awaken the sage Dharmavarna, who has turned away from household life.

Verse 72 (skanda.2.176.72)

पितरस्ते भृशाऽर्ता हि नरके पतिता मया । अन्धकूपे दुरुत्तारे दृष्टा दूर्वावलंबिताः ॥

pitaraste bhṛśā'rtā hi narake patitā mayā andhakūpe duruttāre dṛṣṭā dūrvāvalambitāḥ

'Your ancestors are grievously afflicted — I have seen them fallen into hell, hanging by a durva stalk over the impassable dark pit.'

Verse 73 (skanda.2.176.73)

सा दूर्वा वंशरूपा हि तन्मूलं सततं मुने । कालाख्यो मूषकस्तस्य मूलं खादति प्रत्यहम् ॥

sā dūrvā vaṁśarūpā hi tanmūlaṁ satataṁ mune kālākhyo mūṣakastasya mūlaṁ khādati pratyaham

Tell him: that durva grass is itself the form of your lineage, O sage, and Time, in the form of a rat, gnaws at its root every single day.

Verse 74 (skanda.2.176.74)

वंशनाशोऽनुक्रमत एकस्त्वं त्ववशेषितः । तेन मूलस्य दूर्वाया नष्टं भागत्रयं मुने ॥

vaṁśanāśo'nukramata ekastvaṁ tvavaśeṣitaḥ tena mūlasya dūrvāyā naṣṭaṁ bhāgatrayaṁ mune

Our lineage has perished in stages, and now, O sage, you alone remain. Therefore three parts of that durva grass's root have already been destroyed.

Verse 75 (skanda.2.176.75)

एको भागोऽवशिष्टोऽत्र यतस्त्वं वर्तसे भुवि । किंचित्खादति वै त्वाऽऽखुस्तव चाऽऽयुःक्षयक्रमात् ॥

eko bhāgo'vaśiṣṭo'tra yatastvaṁ vartase bhuvi kiñcitkhādati vai tvā'khustava cā'yuḥkṣayakramāt

Only one portion remains, because you still live upon the earth. That rat gnaws it away little by little, in step with the waning of your own lifespan.

Verse 76 (skanda.2.176.76)

परेते त्वयि चाऽस्माकं तवाऽपि पतनं भवेत् । कूप एवान्धतामिस्रे संतानेऽपि क्षयं गते ॥

parete tvayi cā'smākaṁ tavā'pi patanaṁ bhavet kūpa evāndhatāmisre saṁtāne'pi kṣayaṁ gate

When you too pass away, our lineage having then perished utterly, both you and we shall alike fall into that same pit of blinding darkness.

Verse 77 (skanda.2.176.77)

तस्माद्गार्हस्थ्यमासाद्य कुरु संततिवर्धनम् । तेनाऽस्माकं तवाऽपि स्याद्गतिरूर्ध्वा न संशयः ॥

tasmādgārhasthyamāsādya kuru saṁtativardhanam tenā'smākaṁ tavā'pi syādgatirūrdhvā na saṁśayaḥ

Therefore, enter the householder's life and increase our lineage through offspring. Through this, both our destiny and yours shall surely rise upward — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 78 (skanda.2.176.78)

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाऽश्वमेधं च नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् ॥

eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyeko'pi gayāṁ vrajet yajeta vā'śvamedhaṁ ca nīlaṁ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet

Many sons are worth desiring, so that even one among them might go to Gaya, or perform a horse-sacrifice, or release a blue bull in offering,

Verse 79 (skanda.2.176.79)

यद्येकोऽपि च वैशाखे माघे वा कार्तिकेऽपि च । अस्मानुद्दिश्य वै स्नानं श्राद्धं दानं करिष्यति ॥

yadyeko'pi ca vaiśākhe māghe vā kārtike'pi ca asmānuddiśya vai snānaṁ śrāddhaṁ dānaṁ kariṣyati

or if even one of them, in Vaishakha, or in Magha, or in Kartika, should perform bathing, shraddha, and gift-giving on our behalf,

Verse 80 (skanda.2.176.80)

तेन चोर्ध्वगतिर्भूयान्नरकादुद्धृतिश्च नः । एको वा विष्णुभक्तः स्यादेको वा हरिवासरी ॥

tena cordhvagatirbhūyānnarakāduddhṛtiśca naḥ eko vā viṣṇubhaktaḥ syādeko vā harivāsarī

then through that alone we shall gain the upward path and rescue from hell. If even one son should be a devotee of Vishnu, or even one should observe the fast of Hari's day (Ekadashi),

Verse 81 (skanda.2.176.81)

एको वा शृणुयाद्विष्णोः कथां पापविनाशनीम् । तस्यातीतं कुलशतं भावि चाऽपि कुलं शतम् ॥

eko vā śṛṇuyādviṣṇoḥ kathāṁ pāpavināśanīm tasyātītaṁ kulaśataṁ bhāvi cā'pi kulaṁ śatam

or if even one should listen to the sin-destroying story of Vishnu, then a hundred generations of his lineage past, and a hundred generations yet to come,

Verse 82 (skanda.2.176.82)

अपि पापवृतं क्वाऽपि नरकं नैव पश्यति । किमन्यैर्बहुभिः पुत्रैर्दयाधर्मविवर्जितैः ॥

api pāpavṛtaṁ kvā'pi narakaṁ naiva paśyati kimanyairbahubhiḥ putrairdayādharmavivarjitaiḥ

even should they be steeped in sin, shall never behold hell at all. What use, then, are many other sons, if they are devoid of compassion and dharma?

Verse 83 (skanda.2.176.83)

ये जाता नार्चयंत्यद्धा विष्णुं नारायणं कुले । नाऽपुत्रस्य हि लोकोऽस्ति सर्वमेतज्जना विदुः ॥

ye jātā nārcayantyaddhā viṣṇuṁ nārāyaṇaṁ kule nā'putrasya hi loko'sti sarvametajjanā viduḥ

those, though born into the family, who truly do not worship Vishnu Narayana. As all people know, one without a son has no world to attain hereafter.

Verse 84 (skanda.2.176.84)

तत्राऽपि च दयायुक्तं तत्संतानं च दुर्लभम् । इति तं बोधयित्वा तु वाक्यैरेतैश्च सूनृतैः ॥

tatrā'pi ca dayāyuktaṁ tatsaṁtānaṁ ca durlabham iti taṁ bodhayitvā tu vākyairetaiśca sūnṛtaiḥ

And even among sons, one endowed with compassion is a rare find. Having thus enlightened him with these truthful words,

Verse 85 (skanda.2.176.85)

विरक्तस्योर्ध्वरेतस्य गार्हस्थ्ये त्वं मतिं कुरु । पितॄणां वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मवर्णोऽतिविस्मितः ॥

viraktasyordhvaretasya gārhasthye tvaṁ matiṁ kuru pitṝṇāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā dharmavarṇo'tivismitaḥ

though you are dispassionate and celibate, turn your mind now to household life. Hearing these words of the ancestors, Dharmavarna, greatly astonished,

Verse 86 (skanda.2.176.86)

प्रणम्य प्रांजलिः प्राह रुदन्वै जातवेपथुः । नाम्नाहं धर्मवर्णश्च युष्मद्वंश्यो दुराग्रही ॥

praṇamya prāñjaliḥ prāha rudanvai jātavepathuḥ nāmnāhaṁ dharmavarṇaśca yuṣmadvaṁśyo durāgrahī

bowed, and, weeping, his body trembling, said with joined palms: I am he named Dharmavarna, your own descendant, a man of stubborn perversity.

Verse 87 (skanda.2.176.87)

सत्रे श्रुत्वा तु वचनं नारदस्य महात्मनः । जिह्वादार्ढ्यं गुह्यदार्ढ्यं न कस्याऽपि कलौ युगे ॥

satre śrutvā tu vacanaṁ nāradasya mahātmanaḥ jihvādārḍhyaṁ guhyadārḍhyaṁ na kasyā'pi kalau yuge

Having heard, at that sacrificial session, the words of the great soul Narada — that in the Kali Yuga no one has mastery over the tongue or the organ of generation —

Verse 88 (skanda.2.176.88)

दृष्ट्वा भुवि च पापिष्ठांस्ताञ्जनानपि शंकितः । भीतो दुर्जनसंगत्या चरन्द्वीपांतरे वसन् ॥

dṛṣṭvā bhuvi ca pāpiṣṭhāṁstāñjanānapi śaṅkitaḥ bhīto durjanasaṅgatyā carandvīpāntare vasan

and seeing on earth those most sinful people, I grew apprehensive; fearing the company of the wicked, I have been wandering and dwelling in this other continent.

Verse 89 (skanda.2.176.89)

पादास्त्रयो गता ह्यस्य कलेः पादेंऽत्यकेऽपि च । गताः सार्द्धत्रयो भागा इदानीं जनका इमे ॥

pādāstrayo gatā hyasya kaleḥ pāde'ntyake'pi ca gatāḥ sārddhatrayo bhāgā idānīṁ janakā ime

Three quarters of this Kali Yuga have already passed, and even within its final quarter, three and a half parts have gone by — such, O fathers, is the present hour.

Verse 90 (skanda.2.176.90)

नाऽहं वेद्मि भवद्दुःखं वृथा जन्म गतं मम । यस्मिन्कुले त्वहं जात ऋणं पित्रोर्न वै हृतम् ॥

nā'haṁ vedmi bhavadduḥkhaṁ vṛthā janma gataṁ mama yasminkule tvahaṁ jāta ṛṇaṁ pitrorna vai hṛtam

I did not know of your suffering; my birth has passed in vain. In the very lineage into which I was born, I have not repaid the debt owed to my parents.

Verse 91 (skanda.2.176.91)

किं तेन जातमात्रेण भूभारेणाऽत्र शत्रुणा । यो जातो नार्चयेद्विष्णुं पितॄन्देवानृषींस्तथा ॥

kiṁ tena jātamātreṇa bhūbhāreṇā'tra śatruṇā yo jāto nārcayedviṣṇuṁ pitṝndevānṛṣīṁstathā

What is the use of one who is merely born, a mere burden and enemy to the earth here, who, though born, does not worship Vishnu, the ancestors, the gods, and the seers?

Verse 92 (skanda.2.176.92)

युष्मदाज्ञां करिष्यामि मामाऽऽज्ञापयत क्षितौ । यथा न कलिबाधा स्यात्तत्र संसारतोऽपि वा ॥

yuṣmadājñāṁ kariṣyāmi māmā'jñāpayata kṣitau yathā na kalibādhā syāttatra saṁsārato'pi vā

I shall carry out your command. Send me down to the earth, direct me thus, so that there I might be troubled neither by Kali nor even by transmigration itself.

Verse 93 (skanda.2.176.93)

कर्तव्यान्यपि कृत्यानि मया पुत्रेण भूतले । इत्युक्तास्तेन वंश्येन धर्मवर्णेन धीमता ॥

kartavyānyapi kṛtyāni mayā putreṇa bhūtale ityuktāstena vaṁśyena dharmavarṇena dhīmatā

I shall also fulfil, as a son, all the duties incumbent upon me, upon this earth. When the wise scion Dharmavarna had spoken thus,

Verse 94 (skanda.2.176.94)

किंचिदाश्वस्तमनस इदमूचुर्महीपते । पुत्र पश्य दशामेतां पितॄणां ते महात्मनाम् ॥

kiñcidāśvastamanasa idamūcurmahīpate putra paśya daśāmetāṁ pitṝṇāṁ te mahātmanām

O king, somewhat comforted in mind, they said this: My son, behold this condition of your ancestors, great souls though they are,

Verse 95 (skanda.2.176.95)

संतत्यभावात्पततां दूर्वामात्रावलंबिनाम् । त्वं गार्हस्थ्यमुपालभ्य संतत्यास्मान्समुद्धर ॥

saṁtatyabhāvātpatatāṁ dūrvāmātrāvalambinām tvaṁ gārhasthyamupālabhya saṁtatyāsmānsamuddhara

falling for want of progeny, sustained by nothing but a single blade of durva grass — do you take up the householder's life and, through offspring, redeem us.

Verse 96 (skanda.2.176.96)

ये च विष्णुकथारक्ता ये स्मरंत्यनिशं हरिम् । ये सदाचारनिरता न तान्वै बाधते कलिः ॥

ye ca viṣṇukathāraktā ye smarantyaniśaṁ harim ye sadācāraniratā na tānvai bādhate kaliḥ

Those devoted to the story of Vishnu, those who ceaselessly remember Hari, and those given to righteous conduct — Kali never troubles them.

Verse 97 (skanda.2.176.97)

शालिग्रामशिला यस्य गृहे तिष्ठति मानद । अथवा भारतं गेहे न तं वै बाधते कलिः ॥

śāligrāmaśilā yasya gṛhe tiṣṭhati mānada athavā bhārataṁ gehe na taṁ vai bādhate kaliḥ

O honoured one, whoever keeps a Shaligrama stone in his house, or the Mahabharata in his home, is never troubled by Kali.

Verse 98 (skanda.2.176.98)

यश्च वैशाखनिरतो माघस्नानपरश्च यः । कार्तिके दीपदाता यो न तं वै बाधते कलिः ॥

yaśca vaiśākhanirato māghasnānaparaśca yaḥ kārtike dīpadātā yo na taṁ vai bādhate kaliḥ

Whoever is devoted to the Vaishakha observances, whoever is intent on bathing through Magha, and whoever offers lamps in Kartika, is never troubled by Kali.

Verse 99 (skanda.2.176.99)

प्रत्यहं शृणुयाद्यस्तु कथां विष्णोर्महात्मनः । पापघ्नीं मोक्षदां दिव्यां न तं वै बाधते कलिः ॥

pratyahaṁ śṛṇuyādyastu kathāṁ viṣṇormahātmanaḥ pāpaghnīṁ mokṣadāṁ divyāṁ na taṁ vai bādhate kaliḥ

Whoever daily listens to the divine, sin-destroying, liberation-granting story of the great-souled Vishnu, is never troubled by Kali.

Verse 100 (skanda.2.176.100)

यद्गृहे वैश्वदेवश्च यद्गृहे तुलसी शुभा । यदंगणे शुभा गौश्च न तं वै बाधते कलिः ॥

yadgṛhe vaiśvadevaśca yadgṛhe tulasī śubhā yadaṅgaṇe śubhā gauśca na taṁ vai bādhate kaliḥ

In whose house the Vaishvadeva offering is made, in whose house sacred tulsi grows, and in whose courtyard an auspicious cow stands, that one is never troubled by Kali.

Verse 101 (skanda.2.176.101)

तस्मान्नो भीतिरस्तीह युगे पापात्मकेऽपि च । शीघ्रं गच्छ भुवं पुत्र मासोऽयं माधवाह्वयः ॥

tasmānno bhītirastīha yuge pāpātmake'pi ca śīghraṁ gaccha bhuvaṁ putra māso'yaṁ mādhavāhvayaḥ

Therefore, even in this sinful age, we have no fear. Go quickly to the earth, my son — this present month is the one called Madhava,

Verse 102 (skanda.2.176.102)

सर्वेषामुपकाराय मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे । त्रिंशच्च तिथयः पुण्या मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे ॥

sarveṣāmupakārāya meṣasaṁsthe divākare triṁśacca tithayaḥ puṇyā meṣasaṁsthe divākare

beneficial to all, when the sun stands in Aries. When the sun is in Aries, all thirty lunar days are meritorious.

Verse 103 (skanda.2.176.103)

एकैकस्यां कृतं पुण्यं कोटिकोटिगुणं भवेत् । तत्राऽपि चैत्रबहुलो दर्शो नृणां च मुक्तिदः ॥

ekaikasyāṁ kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ koṭikoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet tatrā'pi caitrabahulo darśo nṛṇāṁ ca muktidaḥ

Merit performed on each single day becomes multiplied a crore-fold. And among these, the new-moon night of the dark fortnight of Chaitra grants liberation to mankind.

Verse 104 (skanda.2.176.104)

प्रियश्च पितृदेवानां सद्यो मुक्तिविधायकः । ये वै पितॄन्समुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं कुर्वंति तद्दिने ॥

priyaśca pitṛdevānāṁ sadyo muktividhāyakaḥ ye vai pitṝnsamuddiśya śrāddhaṁ kurvanti taddine

It is dear to the pitri-deities and grants immediate liberation. Those who perform the shraddha rite on this day for the sake of their ancestors,

Verse 105 (skanda.2.176.105)

सोदकुंभं पिंडदानं तदक्षय्यफलं लभेत् । ये च कुर्वंति वै श्राद्धममायां च मधौ सुत ॥

sodakuṁbhaṁ piṇḍadānaṁ tadakṣayyaphalaṁ labhet ye ca kurvanti vai śrāddhamamāyāṁ ca madhau suta

and give the rice-ball offering together with a water-pot, gain imperishable fruit. My son, those who perform the shraddha rite on the new-moon day of the month of Madhu (Vaishakha),

Verse 106 (skanda.2.176.106)

तैः कृतं तु गयाक्षेत्रे श्राद्धं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । यदि श्राद्धं मधौ दर्शे शाकेनाऽपि करोति च ॥

taiḥ kṛtaṁ tu gayākṣetre śrāddhaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet yadi śrāddhaṁ madhau darśe śākenā'pi karoti ca

the shraddha performed by them becomes a crore times more fruitful than a shraddha performed at the holy field of Gaya. If, on the new-moon of Madhava, the shraddha is performed even with only greens as the offering,

Verse 107 (skanda.2.176.107)

कोटिश्राद्धं गयायां तु कृतं तेन न संशयः । कुंभं च पानकैः पूर्णं कर्पूरागुरुवासितम् ॥

koṭiśrāddhaṁ gayāyāṁ tu kṛtaṁ tena na saṁśayaḥ kuṁbhaṁ ca pānakaiḥ pūrṇaṁ karpūrāguruvāsitam

then, without doubt, it is as though a crore shraddhas had been performed at Gaya. A pot filled with cooling drink, scented with camphor and agarwood —

Verse 108 (skanda.2.176.108)

यो न दद्यान्मधौ दर्शे स पितृघ्नो न संशयः । यो दद्याच्च मधौ दर्शे सपानीयं करीरकम् ॥

yo na dadyānmadhau darśe sa pitṛghno na saṁśayaḥ yo dadyācca madhau darśe sapānīyaṁ karīrakam

whoever fails to give this on the new-moon of Madhava is without doubt a killer of his own ancestors. And whoever gives even a karira fruit together with water on the new-moon of Madhava,

Verse 109 (skanda.2.176.109)

श्राद्धं च भक्तिसंयुक्तः कुरुते च कुलोद्धतिम् । पितॄणां च तथा लोके नदी चाऽमृतवर्षिणी ॥

śrāddhaṁ ca bhaktisaṁyuktaḥ kurute ca kulodyatim pitṝṇāṁ ca tathā loke nadī cā'mṛtavarṣiṇī

and performs the shraddha with devotion, uplifts his own lineage. And in the world of the ancestors, this becomes for them like a river raining down nectar,

Verse 110 (skanda.2.176.110)

कुंभदानात्प्रसरति श्राद्धदानादिदायिनाम् । अन्नसूपघृतापूपलेह्यपायसकर्दमान् ॥

kuṁbhadānātprasarati śrāddhadānādidāyinām annasūpaghṛtāpūpalehyapāyasakardamān

flowing forth, on behalf of those who give the water-pot and the shraddha offering and the like, in a stream mingled with food, lentils, ghee, sweet cakes, condiments, and rice-pudding.

Verse 111 (skanda.2.176.111)

तस्माज्झटिति त्वं गच्छ यदा वाऽमा भविष्यति । कुरु श्राद्धं पिंडदानं सोदकुम्भं महामते ॥

tasmājjhaṭiti tvaṁ gaccha yadā vā'mā bhaviṣyati kuru śrāddhaṁ piṇḍadānaṁ sodakumbhaṁ mahāmate

Therefore, O wise one, go quickly, and when the new moon comes, perform the shraddha, offer the rice-ball, and give the water-pot.

Verse 112 (skanda.2.176.112)

सर्वेषामुपकाराय गार्हस्थ्यं च समाश्रय । धर्मार्थकामैः संतुष्टः प्राप्य संतानमुत्तमम् ॥

sarveṣāmupakārāya gārhasthyaṁ ca samāśraya dharmārthakāmaiḥ saṁtuṣṭaḥ prāpya saṁtānamuttamam

For the benefit of all, take refuge in the householder's life. Content with dharma, wealth, and desire, and having obtained excellent progeny,

Verse 113 (skanda.2.176.113)

पुनश्च मुनिवृत्तिस्त्वं सुखं द्वीपे सुसंचर । इत्यादिष्टः पितृभिश्च तूर्णं भूमिं ययौ मुनिः ॥

punaśca munivṛttistvaṁ sukhaṁ dvīpe susaṁcara ityādiṣṭaḥ pitṛbhiśca tūrṇaṁ bhūmiṁ yayau muniḥ

and then, returning once more to the sage's way of life, you may again roam happily through the continents. Thus instructed by his ancestors, the sage went swiftly to the earth,

Verse 114 (skanda.2.176.114)

चैत्रे मासे मेषसंस्थे पुण्ये मासि दिवाकरे । प्रातः स्नात्वा च संतर्ज्य पितॄन्देवानृषींस्तथा ॥

caitre māse meṣasaṁsthe puṇye māsi divākare prātaḥ snātvā ca saṁtarjya pitṝndevānṛṣīṁstathā

and in the month of Chaitra, that meritorious month with the sun in Aries, having bathed at dawn and offered libations to the ancestors, gods, and seers,

Verse 115 (skanda.2.176.115)

सोदकुंभं तथा श्राद्धं कृत्वा पापविनाशनम् । तेन दत्त्वा पितॄणां च मुक्तिमावृत्तिवर्जिताम् ॥

sodakuṁbhaṁ tathā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā pāpavināśanam tena dattvā pitṝṇāṁ ca muktimāvṛttivarjitām

and performing the sin-destroying shraddha with the water-pot, he thereby granted his ancestors liberation free from any return to rebirth,

Verse 116 (skanda.2.176.116)

स्वयं विवाहमकरोत्संततिं प्राप्य वै सतीम् । लोके प्रख्यापयामास तां तिथिं पापनाशनीम् ॥

svayaṁ vivāhamakarotsaṁtatiṁ prāpya vai satīm loke prakhyāpayāmāsa tāṁ tithiṁ pāpanāśanīm

and himself married, obtaining a virtuous line of descendants, and made that sin-destroying lunar day renowned throughout the world.

Verse 117 (skanda.2.176.117)

स्वयं पुनर्मुदा भक्त्या गन्धमादनमाययौ ॥

svayaṁ punarmudā bhaktyā gandhamādanamāyayau

Then he himself, with joy and devotion, went again to Mount Gandhamadana.

Verse 118 (skanda.2.176.118)

तस्मात्पुण्यतमा चैषा मधोर्दर्शाह्वया तिथिः । नानया सदृशी लोके तिथिर्दृष्टा श्रुताऽपि वा ॥

tasmātpuṇyatamā caiṣā madhordarśāhvayā tithiḥ nānayā sadṛśī loke tithirdṛṣṭā śrutā'pi vā

Therefore this lunar day, called the new moon of the month of Madhu, is the most meritorious of all. No other day equal to this has ever been seen or heard of in the world.