The Glory of Kataha-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.2.28.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सर्वार्थतत्त्वज्ञ वेदवेदान्तपारग । श्रीवेंकटाचले तीर्थं कटाहाख्यं सुपावनम् ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sarvārthatattvajña vedavedāntapāraga śrīveṁkaṭācale tīrthaṁ kaṭāhākhyaṁ supāvanam

The sages said: O Suta, knower of the truth of every subject, versed in the Vedas and Vedanta! On Sri Venkatachala there is a most purifying tirtha named Kataha.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.28.2)

श्रूयते तस्य माहात्म्यं घुष्यते च जगत्त्रये । अस्माकमेतद्ब्रूहि त्वं कृपया व्यासशासित ।

śrūyate tasya māhātmyaṁ ghuṣyate ca jagattraye asmākametadbrūhi tvaṁ kṛpayā vyāsaśāsita

Its glory is heard of, and it is proclaimed throughout the three worlds; tell it to us by your grace, O one instructed by Vyasa.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.28.3)

पुरा वै नारदः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मपुत्रो महानृषिः । दृष्ट्वा वै नैमिषारण्यं संप्राप्तो द्विजसत्तमः ।

purā vai nāradaḥ śrīmānbrahmaputro mahānṛṣiḥ dṛṣṭvā vai naimiṣāraṇyaṁ saṁprāpto dvijasattamaḥ

Long ago the glorious Narada, son of Brahma, the great sage, best of the twice-born, having visited Naimisharanya, arrived there.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.28.4)

तदानीं ब्रह्मपुत्रं तमर्घ्यपाद्यादिभिः शुभैः । पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं पवित्रे च कुशासने ।

tadānīṁ brahmaputraṁ tamarghyapādyādibhiḥ śubhaiḥ pūjayitvā yathānyāyaṁ pavitre ca kuśāsane

Then, having worshipped that son of Brahma according to rule with auspicious offerings of arghya, padya and the like, and having seated him on a pure kusha-grass seat —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.28.5)

सन्निवेश्य महाभक्त्या विनयानतकन्धराः । प्रणम्य प्रार्थयामासुरिमे सर्वे महर्षयः ।

sanniveśya mahābhaktyā vinayānatakandharāḥ praṇamya prārthayāmāsurime sarve maharṣayaḥ

having seated him there with great devotion, these great sages, their necks bowed in humility, prostrated and made this request:

Verse 6 (skanda.2.28.6)

त्वां विना नारद श्रीमन्नस्माकं भुवनत्रये । धर्मोपदेशकः कश्चिन्नास्ति नास्ति महर्षिषु ।

tvāṁ vinā nārada śrīmannasmākaṁ bhuvanatraye dharmopadeśakaḥ kaścinnāsti nāsti maharṣiṣu

"Besides you, O glorious Narada, there is for us in the three worlds no other teacher of dharma, none even among the great sages.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.28.7)

वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वदेवनिषेविते । वैकुण्ठादागते दिव्ये सिद्धगन्धर्वसेविते ।

veṁkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvadevaniṣevite vaikuṇṭhādāgate divye siddhagandharvasevite

On the greatly meritorious Venkatadri, served by all the gods, brought there divinely from Vaikuntha, served by Siddhas and Gandharvas —

Verse 8 (skanda.2.28.8)

कटाहतीर्थमाहात्म्यं वर्णयाद्य वनौकसाम् ।

kaṭāhatīrthamāhātmyaṁ varṇayādya vanaukasām

declare to us forest-dwellers this day the glory of Kataha-tirtha."

Verse 9 (skanda.2.28.9)

श्रीनारद उवाच । शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे शौनकाद्या महौजसः । कटाहतीर्थमाहात्म्यं को वेत्ति भुवनत्रये ।

śrīnārada uvāca śṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ kaṭāhatīrthamāhātmyaṁ ko vetti bhuvanatraye

Shri Narada said: Hear, all you sages, O greatly powerful Shaunaka and the rest — who indeed in the three worlds can know the glory of Kataha-tirtha?

Verse 10 (skanda.2.28.10)

महादेवो विजानाति तस्य तीर्थस्य वैभवम् । यानि कानि च पुण्यानि ब्रह्माण्डान्तर्गतानि वै ।

mahādevo vijānāti tasya tīrthasya vaibhavam yāni kāni ca puṇyāni brahmāṇḍāntargatāni vai

Mahadeva alone knows the majesty of that tirtha. Whatever merits there are contained within this universe —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.28.11)

तानि गंगादितीर्थानि स्वपापपरिशुद्धये । कटाहतीर्थसेवां च कुर्वन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः ।

tāni gaṁgāditīrthāni svapāpapariśuddhaye kaṭāhatīrthasevāṁ ca kurvanti dvijasattamāḥ

those very tirthas, headed by the Ganga, for the cleansing of their own sins, render service to Kataha-tirtha, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.28.12)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्त्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चेतरजातयः । स्पृशन्ति तज्जलमिति न पिबेद्यो विमूढधीः ।

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣattriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścetarajātayaḥ spṛśanti tajjalamiti na pibedyo vimūḍhadhīḥ

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and other castes touch its water; whoever, of deluded mind, does not drink it —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.28.13)

स हि चण्डालतां प्राप्य कुम्भीपाके पतिष्यति । ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वा वानप्रस्थो यतीश्वरः ।

sa hi caṇḍālatāṁ prāpya kumbhīpāke patiṣyati brahmacārī gṛhastho vā vānaprastho yatīśvaraḥ

he attains the state of an outcaste and falls into the Kumbhipaka hell. A celibate student, a householder, a forest-dweller, or a great ascetic —

Verse 14 (skanda.2.28.14)

सेवया तस्य तीर्थस्य प्राप्नोति परमं पदम् । श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेषु तत्तीर्थस्य प्रशंसनम् ।

sevayā tasya tīrthasya prāpnoti paramaṁ padam śrutismṛtipurāṇeṣu tattīrthasya praśaṁsanam

by serving that tirtha attains the supreme state. In the Shruti, Smriti, and the Puranas, the praise of that tirtha —

Verse 15 (skanda.2.28.15)

बहुधा वर्ण्यते पंचमहापातकनाशनम् । अत्यद्भुततरं विप्राः सर्वलोकैकपावनम् ।

bahudhā varṇyate paṁcamahāpātakanāśanam atyadbhutataraṁ viprāḥ sarvalokaikapāvanam

is declared in many ways, as the destroyer of the five great sins — a most wondrous thing, O Brahmins, the sole purifier of all worlds.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.28.16)

ब्रह्महत्यायुतं चापि सुरापानायुतं तथा । अयुतं गुरुदाराणां गमनं पापकारणम् ।

brahmahatyāyutaṁ cāpi surāpānāyutaṁ tathā ayutaṁ gurudārāṇāṁ gamanaṁ pāpakāraṇam

Even ten thousand killings of Brahmins, and likewise ten thousand acts of drinking liquor, and ten thousand acts of union with a guru's wife — the very cause of sin —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.28.17)

स्तेयायुतं सुवर्णानां तत्संसर्गाश्च कोटयः । शीघ्रं विलयमायांति तस्य तीर्थस्य सेवया ।

steyāyutaṁ suvarṇānāṁ tatsaṁsargāśca koṭayaḥ śīghraṁ vilayamāyāṁti tasya tīrthasya sevayā

ten thousand thefts of gold, and millions of associations with such sinners — swiftly dissolve away through the service of that tirtha.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.28.18)

यानि निष्कृतिहीनानि पापानि विविधानि च । तानि सर्वाणि नश्यंति तीर्थस्यास्य निषेवणात् ।

yāni niṣkṛtihīnāni pāpāni vividhāni ca tāni sarvāṇi naśyaṁti tīrthasyāsya niṣevaṇāt

Whatever manifold sins there are for which there is no atonement — all of these are destroyed by resorting to this tirtha.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.28.19)

इदं तीर्थं महापुण्यं भगवत्पादनिस्सृतम् । कुष्ठादिरोगयुक्तो यः प्रत्यहं च पिबेदिदम् ।

idaṁ tīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ bhagavatpādanissṛtam kuṣṭhādirogayukto yaḥ pratyahaṁ ca pibedidam

This greatly meritorious tirtha has flowed forth from the very feet of the Lord. One afflicted with leprosy and other diseases, who drinks of it every day —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.28.20)

सोऽपि रोगविहीनः सन्विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति । भगवाञ्छंकरो देवो रहस्यानुभवे पुरा ।

so'pi rogavihīnaḥ sanviṣṇulokaṁ ca gacchati bhagavāñchaṁkaro devo rahasyānubhave purā

he too becomes free of disease and goes to the world of Vishnu. The Lord Shankara himself, in a secret revelation long ago,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.28.21)

पार्वत्यै कथयामास तस्य तीर्थस्य वैभवम् । उक्तेष्वेतेषु सन्देहो न कर्तव्यः कदाचन ।

pārvatyai kathayāmāsa tasya tīrthasya vaibhavam ukteṣveteṣu sandeho na kartavyaḥ kadācana

told Parvati the majesty of that tirtha. Concerning what has been declared here, one should never entertain doubt,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.28.22)

अर्थवादोऽयमिति च न वक्तव्यं कदाचन । येऽर्थवादमिदं ब्रूयुस्तेषां वै नास्तिकात्मनाम् ।

arthavādo'yamiti ca na vaktavyaṁ kadācana ye'rthavādamidaṁ brūyusteṣāṁ vai nāstikātmanām

nor should one ever say, "this is mere rhetorical praise." Of those unbelievers who call this mere rhetorical praise —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.28.23)

जिह्वाग्रे परशुं तप्तं प्रक्षिपन्ति च किंकराः । तस्मात्कटाहतीर्थं तु सेवनीयं प्रयत्नतः ।

jihvāgre paraśuṁ taptaṁ prakṣipanti ca kiṁkarāḥ tasmātkaṭāhatīrthaṁ tu sevanīyaṁ prayatnataḥ

the servants of Yama thrust a heated axe upon the tip of their tongue. Therefore Kataha-tirtha should be resorted to with great effort;

Verse 24 (skanda.2.28.24)

सर्वदुःखप्रशमनमपवर्गफलप्रदम् । यत्र पीत्वा नरो भक्त्या सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ।

sarvaduḥkhapraśamanamapavargaphalapradam yatra pītvā naro bhaktyā sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

it quiets every sorrow and bestows the fruit of final liberation; a man who drinks there with devotion obtains all his desires.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.28.25)

एवमुक्त्वा महाभागः काशीं त्रैलोक्यपावनीम् । संप्राप्तो नारदः श्रीमान्सूत पौराणिकोत्तम ।

evamuktvā mahābhāgaḥ kāśīṁ trailokyapāvanīm saṁprāpto nāradaḥ śrīmānsūta paurāṇikottama

Having said this, the glorious and blessed Narada then went on to Kashi, the purifier of the three worlds, O Suta, foremost of Purana-narrators.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.28.26)

संक्षेपतश्च भगवान्नैमिषे ह्युक्तवान्खलु । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामः कटाहस्य च वैभवम् ।

saṁkṣepataśca bhagavānnaimiṣe hyuktavānkhalu idānīṁ śrotumicchāmaḥ kaṭāhasya ca vaibhavam

And the Lord had spoken of this in brief also at Naimisha; now we wish to hear the majesty of Kataha —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.28.27)

सुविस्तरेण चास्माकं वद सूत कृपावशात् ।

suvistareṇa cāsmākaṁ vada sūta kṛpāvaśāt

in full detail, from you, O Suta, out of your kindness.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.28.28)

श्रीसूत उवाच । भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । कटाहतीर्थमाहात्म्यं शृणुध्वं द्विजसत्तमाः ।

śrīsūta uvāca bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ kaṭāhatīrthamāhātmyaṁ śṛṇudhvaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

Shri Suta said: Hear, all you rich in austerity, dwellers of Naimisharanya, best of the twice-born, the glory of Kataha-tirtha.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.28.29)

कटाहतीर्थं भो विप्राः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम् । सर्वसम्पत्करं शुद्धं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।

kaṭāhatīrthaṁ bho viprāḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutam sarvasampatkaraṁ śuddhaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

O Brahmins, Kataha-tirtha is renowned in all the worlds, bestower of every fortune, pure, and the destroyer of every sin.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.28.30)

दुःस्वप्ननाशनं ह्येतन्महापातकनाशनम् । महाविघ्नप्रशमनं महाशान्तिकरं नृणाम् ।

duḥsvapnanāśanaṁ hyetanmahāpātakanāśanam mahāvighnapraśamanaṁ mahāśāntikaraṁ nṛṇām

It is the destroyer of bad dreams, the destroyer of the five great sins, the pacifier of great obstacles, and the great bringer of peace to men.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.28.31)

स्मृतिमात्रेण यत्पुंसां सर्वपापनिषूदनम् । मन्त्रेणाष्टाक्षरेणैव पिबेत्तीर्थं मनोहरम् ।

smṛtimātreṇa yatpuṁsāṁ sarvapāpaniṣūdanam mantreṇāṣṭākṣareṇaiva pibettīrthaṁ manoharam

By mere remembrance it quiets every sin for men; one should drink of this lovely tirtha with the eight-syllabled mantra,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.28.32)

अथवा केशवाद्यैश्च नामभिर्वा पिबेज्जलम् । यद्वा नामत्रयेणापि पिबेत्तीर्थं शुभप्रदम् ।

athavā keśavādyaiśca nāmabhirvā pibejjalam yadvā nāmatrayeṇāpi pibettīrthaṁ śubhapradam

or else drink the water with the names beginning with Keshava, or else drink of this auspicious-granting tirtha even with just the triad of names,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.28.33)

आहोस्विद्वेंकटेशस्य मन्त्रेणाष्टाक्षरेण वै । पिबेत्कटाहतीर्थं तद्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् ।

āhosvidveṁkaṭeśasya mantreṇāṣṭākṣareṇa vai pibetkaṭāhatīrthaṁ tadbhuktimuktipradāyakam

or else with the eight-syllabled mantra of Venkatesha one should drink of Kataha-tirtha, which grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.28.34)

विना मंत्रेण यो विप्रः संपिबेत्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । पापं मे नाशय क्षिप्रं जन्मान्तरकृतं महत् ।

vinā maṁtreṇa yo vipraḥ saṁpibettīrthamuttamam pāpaṁ me nāśaya kṣipraṁ janmāntarakṛtaṁ mahat

A Brahmin who drinks of this excellent tirtha without any mantra should say: "Swiftly destroy for me this great sin done in another birth" —

Verse 35 (skanda.2.28.35)

इत्युक्त्वा स पिबेन्नित्यं मोक्षमार्गैकसाधनम् । स्वामिपुष्करिणीस्नानं वराहश्रीशदर्शनम् ।

ityuktvā sa pibennityaṁ mokṣamārgaikasādhanam svāmipuṣkariṇīsnānaṁ varāhaśrīśadarśanam

having said this, let him drink daily, for this alone is the means to the path of liberation. Bathing in the Swami-Pushkarini, the sight of Varaha and Srinivasa,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.28.36)

कटाहतीर्थपानं च त्रयं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभम् । बहुना किमिहोक्तेन ब्रह्महत्यादिनाशनम् ।

kaṭāhatīrthapānaṁ ca trayaṁ trailokyadurlabham bahunā kimihoktena brahmahatyādināśanam

and the drinking of Kataha-tirtha — these three are rare even in the three worlds. What more need be said — it destroys even the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.28.37)

पुरा कश्चिद्द्विजो मोहात्केशवाख्यो बहुश्रुतम् । हत्वा खड्गेन दुर्बुद्ध्या ब्रह्महत्यामवाप्तवान् ।

purā kaściddvijo mohātkeśavākhyo bahuśrutam hatvā khaḍgena durbuddhyā brahmahatyāmavāptavān

Long ago a certain Brahmin named Keshava, though widely learned, out of delusion and evil intent killed a man with a sword and incurred the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.28.38)

सोऽपि तस्मिन्महातीर्थे पीत्वा जलमनुत्तमम् । केशवाख्यो महापापी विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यया ।

so'pi tasminmahātīrthe pītvā jalamanuttamam keśavākhyo mahāpāpī vimukto brahmahatyayā

He too, having drunk the incomparable water at that great tirtha — that Keshava, a great sinner, was freed from the killing of a Brahmin.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.28.39)

ऋषय ऊचुः । कस्य पुत्रः केशवाख्यः कथं प्राप्तो भयंकरीम् । ब्रह्महत्यामतिक्रूरामस्माकं वक्तुमर्हसि ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kasya putraḥ keśavākhyaḥ kathaṁ prāpto bhayaṁkarīm brahmahatyāmatikrūrāmasmākaṁ vaktumarhasi

The sages said: Whose son was this Keshava, and how did he come to incur this terrible, most cruel killing-of-a-Brahmin? You should tell us this.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.28.40)

श्रीसूत उवाच । तुङ्गभद्रातटे रम्ये गन्धर्वैरुपसेविते । अग्रहारो महानासीद्वेदाढ्य इति नामतः ।

śrīsūta uvāca tuṅgabhadrātaṭe ramye gandharvairupasevite agrahāro mahānāsīdvedāḍhya iti nāmataḥ

Shri Suta said: On the lovely bank of the Tungabhadra, served by Gandharvas, there was a great Brahmin settlement named Vedadhya.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.28.41)

तस्मिन्वेदपुरे रम्ये ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः । शब्दशास्त्रपराः सर्वे ज्योतिःशास्त्रप्रवर्तकाः ।

tasminvedapure ramye brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ śabdaśāstraparāḥ sarve jyotiḥśāstrapravartakāḥ

In that lovely city of the Vedas, the Brahmins were all masters of the Vedas, all devoted to grammar, and promoters of the science of astrology,

Verse 42 (skanda.2.28.42)

मीमांसातर्कशास्त्रज्ञाः सर्वे वेदान्तवादिनः । धर्मशास्त्रेषु निरता अन्नदानपराः सदा ।

mīmāṁsātarkaśāstrajñāḥ sarve vedāntavādinaḥ dharmaśāstreṣu niratā annadānaparāḥ sadā

all knowers of Mimamsa and logic, all upholders of Vedanta, devoted to the scriptures of dharma, ever intent on the giving of food.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.28.43)

पुत्रवन्तश्च ते सर्वे ह्यग्रहारे महाजनाः । वेदाढ्येऽप्यग्रहारे वै पद्मनाभ इति श्रुतः ।

putravantaśca te sarve hyagrahāre mahājanāḥ vedāḍhye'pyagrahāre vai padmanābha iti śrutaḥ

All these great men in the settlement had sons; and in that same Vedadhya settlement there was one known as Padmanabha.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.28.44)

तस्य पुत्रः केशवाख्यः सर्वकर्मबहिष्कृतः । मातरं पितरं त्यक्त्वा भार्यामपि पतिव्रताम् ।

tasya putraḥ keśavākhyaḥ sarvakarmabahiṣkṛtaḥ mātaraṁ pitaraṁ tyaktvā bhāryāmapi pativratām

His son, named Keshava, was excluded from all rites; abandoning his mother, his father, and even his own chaste wife,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.28.45)

सर्वदा गणिकासक्तो वेश्यागारं विवेश ह । दिनद्वये च तां वेश्यामनुभूय द्विजस्ततः ।

sarvadā gaṇikāsakto veśyāgāraṁ viveśa ha dinadvaye ca tāṁ veśyāmanubhūya dvijastataḥ

ever attached to courtesans, he entered a courtesan's house. Having enjoyed that courtesan for two days, the Brahmin thereafter —

Verse 46 (skanda.2.28.46)

निष्कद्वयं प्रदातव्यं हस्ते दत्त्वा गतः सुखम् । वेश्यया चाधनस्त्यक्तस्तत्संयोगैकतत्परः ।

niṣkadvayaṁ pradātavyaṁ haste dattvā gataḥ sukham veśyayā cādhanastyaktastatsaṁyogaikatatparaḥ

had to give two gold coins into her hand, and went off content; but being penniless, he was cast off by that courtesan, though he remained single-mindedly bent on union with her.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.28.47)

इतस्ततश्चोरयित्वा बहुद्रव्याणि सन्ततम् । दत्त्वा तया चिरं रेमे तद्गृहे बुभुजे च सः ।

itastataścorayitvā bahudravyāṇi santatam dattvā tayā ciraṁ reme tadgṛhe bubhuje ca saḥ

Stealing much wealth from here and there continually, and giving it to her, he long enjoyed himself and feasted in her house.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.28.48)

एकेन चषकेणासौ तया सह सुरां पपौ । स कदाचित्किरातैस्तु द्रव्यं हर्तुं ययौ द्विजः ।

ekena caṣakeṇāsau tayā saha surāṁ papau sa kadācitkirātaistu dravyaṁ hartuṁ yayau dvijaḥ

He drank liquor with her from a single cup; and once this Brahmin went off with hunters to steal wealth.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.28.49)

विप्रस्य कस्यचिद्गेहे सोऽपि कैरातवेषधृक् । केशवो विप्रबन्धुर्वै साहसी खङ्गहस्तवान् ।

viprasya kasyacidgehe so'pi kairātaveṣadhṛk keśavo viprabandhurvai sāhasī khaṅgahastavān

In the house of a certain Brahmin, he too, disguised in the garb of a hunter — Keshava, kinsman of Brahmins, reckless, sword in hand —

Verse 50 (skanda.2.28.50)

तद्गृहस्वामिनं विप्रं हत्वा खड्गेन साहसात् । समादाय बहु द्रव्यं वेश्यागारं विवेश ह ।

tadgṛhasvāminaṁ vipraṁ hatvā khaḍgena sāhasāt samādāya bahu dravyaṁ veśyāgāraṁ viveśa ha

having recklessly slain with his sword the master of that house, a Brahmin, and having seized much wealth, entered the courtesan's house.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.28.51)

तं यान्तमनुयाति स्म ब्रह्महत्या भयंकरी । नीलवस्त्रधरा भीमा भृशं रक्तशिरोरुहा ।

taṁ yāntamanuyāti sma brahmahatyā bhayaṁkarī nīlavastradharā bhīmā bhṛśaṁ raktaśiroruhā

As he went, the terrible killing-of-a-Brahmin followed after him — clad in blue garments, fearsome, her hair intensely red,

Verse 52 (skanda.2.28.52)

गर्जन्ती साट्टहासं सा कम्पयन्ती च रोदसी । अनुद्रुतस्तया विप्रो बभ्राम जगतीतले ।

garjantī sāṭṭahāsaṁ sā kampayantī ca rodasī anudrutastayā vipro babhrāma jagatītale

roaring with loud laughter, making heaven and earth tremble; pursued by her, the Brahmin wandered over the surface of the earth.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.28.53)

एवं भ्रमन्धरां सर्वां विप्रबन्धुर्दुरात्मवान् । स्वग्रामं प्रययौ भीत्या शौनकाद्या महौजसः ।

evaṁ bhramandharāṁ sarvāṁ viprabandhurdurātmavān svagrāmaṁ prayayau bhītyā śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ

Thus wandering over the whole earth, that wicked kinsman of Brahmins, out of fear went to his own village, O greatly powerful Shaunaka and the rest.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.28.54)

अनुद्रुतस्तया भीतः प्रययौ स्वनिकेतनम् । ब्रह्महत्याप्यनुद्रुत्य तेन साकं गृहं ययौ ।

anudrutastayā bhītaḥ prayayau svaniketanam brahmahatyāpyanudrutya tena sākaṁ gṛhaṁ yayau

Pursued by her in fear, he went to his own home; the killing-of-a-Brahmin, pursuing him, went along with him into the house.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.28.55)

जनकं रक्ष रक्षेति केशवः शरणं ययौ । मा भैषीरिति स प्रोच्य पिता रक्षितुमुद्यतः ।

janakaṁ rakṣa rakṣeti keśavaḥ śaraṇaṁ yayau mā bhaiṣīriti sa procya pitā rakṣitumudyataḥ

"Father, protect me, protect me!" — thus Keshava sought refuge; "Fear not," said his father, and prepared to protect him.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.28.56)

क्रूरैनं ब्रह्महत्या सा जनकं प्रत्यभाषत ।

krūrainaṁ brahmahatyā sā janakaṁ pratyabhāṣata

But the cruel killing-of-a-Brahmin spoke thus to the father.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.28.57)

ब्रह्महत्योवाच । मैनं त्वं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पद्मनाभ द्विजोत्तम । अयं सुरापी स्तेयी च ब्रह्महा चातिपातकी ।

brahmahatyovāca mainaṁ tvaṁ pratigṛhṇīṣva padmanābha dvijottama ayaṁ surāpī steyī ca brahmahā cātipātakī

The killing-of-a-Brahmin said: "Do not take him back, O Padmanabha, best of the twice-born; this one is a drinker of liquor, a thief, a killer of a Brahmin, and guilty of the gravest sin.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.28.58)

मातृद्रोही पितृद्रोही भार्यात्यागी च दुष्टधीः । गणिकासक्तचित्तश्च ह्येनं मुञ्च दुरात्मकम् ।

mātṛdrohī pitṛdrohī bhāryātyāgī ca duṣṭadhīḥ gaṇikāsaktacittaśca hyenaṁ muñca durātmakam

A betrayer of his mother, a betrayer of his father, one who abandoned his wife, of wicked mind, his heart bound to courtesans — release this wicked one!

Verse 59 (skanda.2.28.59)

गृह्णासि चेत्सुतं विप्र महापातकिनं वृथा । त्वद्भार्यामस्य भार्यां च त्वां च पुत्रमिमं द्विज ।

gṛhṇāsi cetsutaṁ vipra mahāpātakinaṁ vṛthā tvadbhāryāmasya bhāryāṁ ca tvāṁ ca putramimaṁ dvija

If you take back in vain this son, a great sinner, O Brahmin — your wife, his wife, you yourself, and this son, O twice-born one —

Verse 60 (skanda.2.28.60)

भक्षयिष्यामि वंशं च तस्मान्मुञ्च दुरात्मकम् । इमं त्यजसि चेत्पुत्रं युष्मान्मुञ्चामि सांप्रतम् ।

bhakṣayiṣyāmi vaṁśaṁ ca tasmānmuñca durātmakam imaṁ tyajasi cetputraṁ yuṣmānmuñcāmi sāṁpratam

I shall devour, and your whole lineage; therefore release this wicked one. If you abandon this son, I shall release all of you at once —

Verse 61 (skanda.2.28.61)

नैकस्यार्थे कुलं हन्तुमर्हसि त्वं महामते । इत्युक्तः स तया तत्र पद्मनाभोऽब्रवीच्च ताम् ।

naikasyārthe kulaṁ hantumarhasi tvaṁ mahāmate ityuktaḥ sa tayā tatra padmanābho'bravīcca tām

you should not destroy your whole family for the sake of one person, O wise one." Thus addressed by her, Padmanabha there replied to her:

Verse 62 (skanda.2.28.62)

पद्मनाभ उवाच । बाधते मां सुतस्नेहः कथं पुत्रं परित्यजे । ब्रह्महत्या तदाकर्ण्य पद्मनाभं तमब्रवीत् ।

padmanābha uvāca bādhate māṁ sutasnehaḥ kathaṁ putraṁ parityaje brahmahatyā tadākarṇya padmanābhaṁ tamabravīt

Padmanabha said: "Love for my son afflicts me — how can I abandon my son?" Hearing this, the killing-of-a-Brahmin spoke to Padmanabha —

Verse 63 (skanda.2.28.63)

ब्रह्महत्योवाच । पुत्रोऽयं पतितोऽभूत्ते वर्णाश्रमबहिष्कृतः । पुत्रेऽस्मिन्मा कुरु स्नेहं निंदितं तस्य दर्शनम् ।

brahmahatyovāca putro'yaṁ patito'bhūtte varṇāśramabahiṣkṛtaḥ putre'sminmā kuru snehaṁ niṁditaṁ tasya darśanam

The killing-of-a-Brahmin said: "This son of yours has become an outcast, excluded from caste and life-stage; do not feel affection for this son, whose very sight is disgraceful."

Verse 64 (skanda.2.28.64)

इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्महत्या सा पद्मनाभस्य पश्यतः । हस्तेन प्रजहारास्य सुतं केशवनामकम् ।

ityuktvā brahmahatyā sā padmanābhasya paśyataḥ hastena prajahārāsya sutaṁ keśavanāmakam

Having said this, the killing-of-a-Brahmin, before the very eyes of Padmanabha, struck with her hand at his son named Keshava.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.28.65)

रुरोद ताततातेति जनकं प्रब्रुवन्मुहुः । रुरुदुर्जनको माता भार्या तस्य दुरात्मनः ।

ruroda tātatāteti janakaṁ prabruvanmuhuḥ rurudurjanako mātā bhāryā tasya durātmanaḥ

He cried out again and again, 'Father, father!' calling to his father; his father, mother, and wife, this wicked man's kin, all wept.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.28.66)

तस्मिन्काले महाभागो भरद्वाजो महामुनिः । दिष्ट्या समाययौ योगी शौनकाद्या महौजसः ।

tasminkāle mahābhāgo bharadvājo mahāmuniḥ diṣṭyā samāyayau yogī śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ

At that moment the greatly blessed Bharadvaja, the great sage, arrived there as if by providence, O greatly powerful Shaunaka and the rest.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.28.67)

पद्मनाभोऽथ तं दृष्ट्वा भरद्वाजं महामुनिम् । स्तुत्वा प्रणम्य शरणं ययाचे पुत्रकारणात् ।

padmanābho'tha taṁ dṛṣṭvā bharadvājaṁ mahāmunim stutvā praṇamya śaraṇaṁ yayāce putrakāraṇāt

Padmanabha, seeing that great sage Bharadvaja, praised him, prostrated, and for his son's sake begged for refuge.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.28.68)

भरद्वाज महाभाग साक्षाद्विष्ण्वंशको भवान् । त्वद्दर्शनमपुण्यानां भविता न कदाचन ।

bharadvāja mahābhāga sākṣādviṣṇvaṁśako bhavān tvaddarśanamapuṇyānāṁ bhavitā na kadācana

"O Bharadvaja, greatly blessed one, you are verily a portion of Vishnu himself; the sight of you shall never fall to the meritless.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.28.69)

ब्रह्महा च सुरापी च स्तेयी चाभूत्सुतो मम । पुत्रं प्रहर्तुमा याता ब्रह्महत्या भयंकरी ।

brahmahā ca surāpī ca steyī cābhūtsuto mama putraṁ prahartumā yātā brahmahatyā bhayaṁkarī

My son has become a killer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, and a thief; the terrible killing-of-a-Brahmin has come to strike down my son.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.28.70)

भूयाद्यथा मे पुत्रोयं महापातकमोचितः । घोरेयं ब्रह्महत्या च यथा शीघ्रं लयं व्रजेत् ।

bhūyādyathā me putroyaṁ mahāpātakamocitaḥ ghoreyaṁ brahmahatyā ca yathā śīghraṁ layaṁ vrajet

May it be that my son is freed from this great sin, and may this terrible killing-of-a-Brahmin swiftly meet its end.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.28.71)

तमुपायं वदस्वाद्य मम पुत्रे दयां कुरु । एक एव हि पुत्रो मे नान्योऽस्ति तनयो मुने ।

tamupāyaṁ vadasvādya mama putre dayāṁ kuru eka eva hi putro me nānyo'sti tanayo mune

Tell me that means today, and have mercy on my son; I have but this one son, O sage, and no other child.

Verse 72 (skanda.2.28.72)

सुते मृते तु वंशो मे समुच्छिद्येत मूलतः । ततः पितृभ्यः पिण्डानां दाताऽपि न भवेद्ध्रुवम् ।

sute mṛte tu vaṁśo me samucchidyeta mūlataḥ tataḥ pitṛbhyaḥ piṇḍānāṁ dātā'pi na bhaveddhruvam

If my son dies, my lineage will surely be cut off at its very root, and then there will be none to offer the pinda-rice-balls to our ancestors.

Verse 73 (skanda.2.28.73)

ततः कृपां कुरुष्व त्वमस्मासु भगवन्मुने । इत्युक्तः स भरद्वाजः साक्षान्नारायणांशकः ।

tataḥ kṛpāṁ kuruṣva tvamasmāsu bhagavanmune ityuktaḥ sa bharadvājaḥ sākṣānnārāyaṇāṁśakaḥ

Therefore have compassion on us, O blessed sage." Thus addressed, Bharadvaja, verily a portion of Narayana himself,

Verse 74 (skanda.2.28.74)

ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं पद्मनाभं वचोऽब्रवीत् ।

dhyātvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ padmanābhaṁ vaco'bravīt

having reflected for a long while, spoke these words to Padmanabha.

Verse 75 (skanda.2.28.75)

भरद्वाज उवाच । पद्मनाभ कृतं पापमतिक्रूरं सुतेन ते । नास्य पापस्य शान्तिः स्यात्प्रायश्चित्तायुतैरपि ।

bharadvāja uvāca padmanābha kṛtaṁ pāpamatikrūraṁ sutena te nāsya pāpasya śāntiḥ syātprāyaścittāyutairapi

Bharadvaja said: "O Padmanabha, your son has committed a most cruel sin; there is no expiation for this sin even through ten thousand atonements.

Verse 76 (skanda.2.28.76)

तथाऽपि ते सुतस्याहमस्य पापस्य शान्तये । प्रायश्चित्तं वदिष्यामि पद्मनाभ शृणु द्विज ।

tathā'pi te sutasyāhamasya pāpasya śāntaye prāyaścittaṁ vadiṣyāmi padmanābha śṛṇu dvija

Nevertheless, for the pacifying of this sin of your son, I shall declare the atonement — hear it, O Padmanabha, twice-born one.

Verse 77 (skanda.2.28.77)

गङ्गाया दक्षिणे भागे द्विशतीयोजने द्विज । पूर्वाम्भोधेः पश्चिमे तु पञ्चभिर्योजनैर्मिते ।

gaṅgāyā dakṣiṇe bhāge dviśatīyojane dvija pūrvāmbhodheḥ paścime tu pañcabhiryojanairmite

To the south of the Ganga, two hundred yojanas away, O twice-born one, and to the west of the eastern ocean, measured by five yojanas —

Verse 78 (skanda.2.28.78)

सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे चोत्तरे क्रोशमात्रके । वेंकटाद्रिति ख्यातः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः ।

suvarṇamukharītīre cottare krośamātrake veṁkaṭādriti khyātaḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ

on the bank of the Suvarnamukhari river, to the north by just a krosha's distance, there stands the mountain known as Venkatadri, bowed to by all the worlds —

Verse 79 (skanda.2.28.79)

मेरुपुत्रो महापुण्यः सर्वदेवाभिवन्दितः । वैकुण्ठलोकादानीतो विष्णोः क्रीडाचलो महान् ।

meruputro mahāpuṇyaḥ sarvadevābhivanditaḥ vaikuṇṭhalokādānīto viṣṇoḥ krīḍācalo mahān

the son of Meru, greatly meritorious, honoured by all the gods, brought from the world of Vaikuntha, the great pleasure-mountain of Vishnu,

Verse 80 (skanda.2.28.80)

गरुत्मता वेगवता स्वर्णमुख्यास्तटे शुभे । वर्तते देवसंघैश्च ऋषिसंघैश्च पूजितः ।

garutmatā vegavatā svarṇamukhyāstaṭe śubhe vartate devasaṁghaiśca ṛṣisaṁghaiśca pūjitaḥ

carried there by swift Garuda, on the auspicious bank of the Suvarnamukhi; it stands worshipped by hosts of gods and hosts of sages.

Verse 81 (skanda.2.28.81)

तस्मिन्वेंकटशैलेन्द्रे साक्षान्नारायणः स्वयम् । लक्ष्मीदेव्या च भूदेव्या नीलादेव्या समागतः ।

tasminveṁkaṭaśailendre sākṣānnārāyaṇaḥ svayam lakṣmīdevyā ca bhūdevyā nīlādevyā samāgataḥ

On that lord of mountains, Venkata, Narayana himself in person, together with the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess Bhu, and the goddess Nila, dwells there —

Verse 82 (skanda.2.28.82)

वर्तते वेंकटेशः स साक्षान्मोक्षप्रदायकः । तस्य वेंकटनाथस्य ह्यालयस्य तथोत्तरे ।

vartate veṁkaṭeśaḥ sa sākṣānmokṣapradāyakaḥ tasya veṁkaṭanāthasya hyālayasya tathottare

he is Venkatesha himself, the very bestower of liberation. To the north of that temple of the Lord of Venkata,

Verse 83 (skanda.2.28.83)

कटाहतीर्थं विप्रेन्द्र वर्तते मङ्गलप्रदम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापघ्नं वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायकम् ।

kaṭāhatīrthaṁ viprendra vartate maṅgalapradam brahmahatyādipāpaghnaṁ vāñchitārthapradāyakam

O foremost of Brahmins, there stands the auspicious Kataha-tirtha, which destroys the sin of killing a Brahmin and grants every desired thing.

Verse 84 (skanda.2.28.84)

सुतेन साकं विप्रेंद्र पिब तीर्थं मनोहरम् । भरद्वाजस्य वाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा वै वेदसंमितम् ।

sutena sākaṁ vipreṁdra piba tīrthaṁ manoharam bharadvājasya vākyaṁ tacchrutvā vai vedasaṁmitam

Together with your son, O foremost of Brahmins, drink of that lovely tirtha." Hearing this speech of Bharadvaja, in accord with the Vedas,

Verse 85 (skanda.2.28.85)

शिरसा तं प्रणम्याथ ययौ वेंकटपर्वतम् ।

śirasā taṁ praṇamyātha yayau veṁkaṭaparvatam

Padmanabha bowed his head to him and set out for the mountain of Venkata.

Verse 86 (skanda.2.28.86)

तं गत्वा वेंकटं शैलं स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले । सुतेन साकं विप्रेंद्रः सस्नौ नियमपूर्वकम् ।

taṁ gatvā veṁkaṭaṁ śailaṁ svāmipuṣkariṇījale sutena sākaṁ vipreṁdraḥ sasnau niyamapūrvakam

Having gone there to the mountain of Venkata, in the waters of the Swami-Pushkarini, together with his son, that foremost of Brahmins bathed according to due observance.

Verse 87 (skanda.2.28.87)

वराहस्वामिनं नत्वा श्रीनिवासालयं गतः । प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा विमानं संप्रणम्य च ।

varāhasvāminaṁ natvā śrīnivāsālayaṁ gataḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā vimānaṁ saṁpraṇamya ca

Bowing to Varaha-swami, he went to the temple of Srinivasa; having then circumambulated it and bowed to the sacred vimana,

Verse 88 (skanda.2.28.88)

पद्मनाभोऽथ पुत्रेण केशवेन दुरात्मना । पपौ कटाहतीर्थं तद्ब्रह्महत्याविनाशकम् ।

padmanābho'tha putreṇa keśavena durātmanā papau kaṭāhatīrthaṁ tadbrahmahatyāvināśakam

Padmanabha, together with his wicked son Keshava, drank of that Kataha-tirtha which destroys the killing of a Brahmin.

Verse 89 (skanda.2.28.89)

तदानीं ब्रह्महत्या सा शीघ्रमेव लयं गता । अनन्तरं ततो गत्वा वेंकटेशं कृपानिधिम् ।

tadānīṁ brahmahatyā sā śīghrameva layaṁ gatā anantaraṁ tato gatvā veṁkaṭeśaṁ kṛpānidhim

At that very moment, that killing-of-a-Brahmin swiftly met its end. Thereafter, going on, to behold Venkatesha, the treasure of compassion —

Verse 90 (skanda.2.28.90)

पुत्रेण सह विप्रेन्द्रः पद्मनाभो ददर्श सः । तदा प्रादुरभूद्देवो वेङ्कटेशो दयानिधिः ।

putreṇa saha viprendraḥ padmanābho dadarśa saḥ tadā prādurabhūddevo veṅkaṭeśo dayānidhiḥ

together with his son, that foremost of Brahmins, Padmanabha, beheld him. Then the god Venkatesha, the treasure of compassion, appeared,

Verse 91 (skanda.2.28.91)

कटाहतीर्थपानेन तोषितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।

kaṭāhatīrthapānena toṣito vākyamabravīt

and, pleased by the drinking of Kataha-tirtha, spoke these words.

Verse 92 (skanda.2.28.92)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । पद्मनाभ महाबुद्धे वेदवेदान्तपारग । भरद्वाजस्य वाक्येन प्राप्य वेंकटपर्वतम् ।

śrībhagavānuvāca padmanābha mahābuddhe vedavedāntapāraga bharadvājasya vākyena prāpya veṁkaṭaparvatam

Shri Bhagavan said: "O Padmanabha, of great intellect, versed in the Vedas and Vedanta! Having reached the mountain of Venkata through the word of Bharadvaja,

Verse 93 (skanda.2.28.93)

कटाहतीर्थं त्वं पीत्वा कृतार्थोऽसि न संशयः । तव पुत्रः केशवाख्यो विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यया ।

kaṭāhatīrthaṁ tvaṁ pītvā kṛtārtho'si na saṁśayaḥ tava putraḥ keśavākhyo vimukto brahmahatyayā

and having drunk Kataha-tirtha, you are without doubt fulfilled; your son Keshava is freed from the killing of a Brahmin.

Verse 94 (skanda.2.28.94)

तस्मात्कटाहतीर्थं तु सेवनीयं प्रयत्नतः । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाभाग पीत्वा जलमनुत्तमम् ।

tasmātkaṭāhatīrthaṁ tu sevanīyaṁ prayatnataḥ tasmiṁstīrthe mahābhāga pītvā jalamanuttamam

Therefore Kataha-tirtha should be resorted to with great effort; at that tirtha, O greatly blessed one, having drunk the incomparable water,

Verse 95 (skanda.2.28.95)

पापिनोऽपि कृतार्थाः स्युः सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः । मामकं लोकमागत्य सुखी भव महामते ।

pāpino'pi kṛtārthāḥ syuḥ satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ māmakaṁ lokamāgatya sukhī bhava mahāmate

even sinners become fulfilled — truly, truly, without doubt. Having come to my world, be happy, O wise one."

Verse 96 (skanda.2.28.96)

इत्युक्त्वा वेंकटेशोऽसावन्तर्धानं गतस्ततः ।

ityuktvā veṁkaṭeśo'sāvantardhānaṁ gatastataḥ

Having said this, Venkatesha then vanished from sight.

Verse 97 (skanda.2.28.97)

श्रीसूत उवाच । तस्मात्तपोधनाः सर्वे शौनकाद्या महौजसः । कटाहतीर्थमाहात्म्यमितिहाससमन्वितम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca tasmāttapodhanāḥ sarve śaunakādyā mahaujasaḥ kaṭāhatīrthamāhātmyamitihāsasamanvitam

Shri Suta said: Therefore, all you rich in austerity, O greatly powerful Shaunaka and the rest, I have told you this glory of Kataha-tirtha, together with its ancient tale,

Verse 98 (skanda.2.28.98)

यथाश्रुतं मया सम्यक्तथोक्तं भवतां द्विजाः ।

yathāśrutaṁ mayā samyaktathoktaṁ bhavatāṁ dvijāḥ

exactly as I heard it, O Brahmins, faithfully have I told it to you.