The Description of Bharadvaja's Ashrama

Verse 1 (skanda.2.30.1)

सूत उवाच । तथा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि समालोक्यागतस्य च । मुदं प्रगुणयाञ्चके सा पार्थस्य महापगा ।

sūta uvāca tathā sarvāṇi tīrthāni samālokyāgatasya ca mudaṁ praguṇayāñcake sā pārthasya mahāpagā

Suta said: Thus, to Partha, who had come after beholding all the tirthas, that great river bestowed joy in generous measure.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.30.2)

यस्यास्तटनिकुञ्जेषु मोदन्ते वनिताः सुखाः । सिद्धाः संसेविता वातैः शीकरासारशीतलैः ।

yasyāstaṭanikuñjeṣu modante vanitāḥ sukhāḥ siddhāḥ saṁsevitā vātaiḥ śīkarāsāraśītalaiḥ

In the groves of her banks, happy celestial women rejoice, and Siddhas are refreshed by breezes cooled with fine spray.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.30.3)

या समुद्यतहस्तेव गङ्गामाकाशवाहिनीम् । आलिंगितुं समुत्तुंगैः कल्लोलैरभ्रसंगिभिः ।

yā samudyatahasteva gaṅgāmākāśavāhinīm āliṁgituṁ samuttuṁgaiḥ kallolairabhrasaṁgibhiḥ

She seems, as it were, to raise her hands — her towering, cloud-touching waves — to embrace the sky-flowing Ganga.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.30.4)

धूमैराहुतिसंभूतैस्तरुशाखोपलंभिभिः । वल्कलैश्च विराजन्ते यत्तटाश्रमभूमयः ।

dhūmairāhutisaṁbhūtaistaruśākhopalaṁbhibhiḥ valkalaiśca virājante yattaṭāśramabhūmayaḥ

The hermitage-grounds on her banks shine with the smoke rising from oblations, caught among the branches of trees, and with garments of bark hung there.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.30.5)

मुनीन्द्रैः सुरवर्यैश्च स्थापितानि समन्ततः । यत्तटद्वितये भांति दिव्यलिंगानि शूलिनः ।

munīndraiḥ suravaryaiśca sthāpitāni samantataḥ yattaṭadvitaye bhāṁti divyaliṁgāni śūlinaḥ

On both her banks shine the divine lingas of the Trident-bearer, set up all around by great sages and the foremost gods.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.30.6)

यदीयसैकतावासविश्रान्ता मानसं सरः । न स्मरंति निजावासं मराला विहगोत्तमाः ।

yadīyasaikatāvāsaviśrāntā mānasaṁ saraḥ na smaraṁti nijāvāsaṁ marālā vihagottamāḥ

Resting on her sandy banks, the royal swans, best among birds, forget even their own home, Lake Manasa.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.30.7)

शमितावग्रहातंकैः कुल्यामुखविनिर्गतैः । पुष्णाति तोयैः सस्यानि लोकरक्षाक्षमाणि या ।

śamitāvagrahātaṁkaiḥ kulyāmukhavinirgataiḥ puṣṇāti toyaiḥ sasyāni lokarakṣākṣamāṇi yā

With the waters issuing from the mouths of her channels, which have quieted the affliction of drought, she nourishes the crops that sustain and protect the world.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.30.8)

चक्रवाककुचोत्तुंगवीचिवल्लीविभूषिता । आवर्तनाभिविलसत्सैकतश्रोणिमण्डला ।

cakravākakucottuṁgavīcivallīvibhūṣitā āvartanābhivilasatsaikataśroṇimaṇḍalā

She is adorned with pairs of ruddy geese like breasts upon the vine of her towering waves, her sandy banks shining like hips around the whirlpool-navels.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.30.9)

प्रफुल्लपद्मवदना चलन्मीनयुगेक्षणा । विलसत्फेनवसना हंसयानमनोहरा ।

praphullapadmavadanā calanmīnayugekṣaṇā vilasatphenavasanā haṁsayānamanoharā

Her face is a full-blown lotus, her pair of darting fish are her eyes, her garment is shimmering foam, and she is lovely, as though borne along on swans.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.30.10)

जलपक्षिरवालापा नयनानन्दकारिणी । अपूर्वकामिनीरूपा या विभात्यम्बुधिप्रिया ।

jalapakṣiravālāpā nayanānandakāriṇī apūrvakāminīrūpā yā vibhātyambudhipriyā

Her speech is the cries of water-birds, delighting the eyes; she shines in an unprecedented form, as a beloved woman dear to the ocean.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.30.11)

रोधस्यन्तरवाहिन्या नद्याः प्राच्यां धनञ्जयः । ददर्श शैलमुत्तुंगं कालहस्तिसमाहयम् ।

rodhasyantaravāhinyā nadyāḥ prācyāṁ dhanañjayaḥ dadarśa śailamuttuṁgaṁ kālahastisamāhayam

On the eastern bank, where the river flows within her banks, Dhananjaya beheld a towering mountain named Kalahasti.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.30.12)

उदग्रशिखराभोगोल्लिखिताकाशमण्डलम् । सप्तपातालमूलाधोरूढमूलोपलांचितम् ।

udagraśikharābhogollikhitākāśamaṇḍalam saptapātālamūlādhorūḍhamūlopalāṁcitam

Its lofty summit's expanse seemed to scratch the vault of the sky, while its roots, sunk below into the seven nether worlds, were adorned with rock.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.30.13)

स्नात्वा तस्यां महानद्यां तस्मिञ्छैले सुरार्चितम् । अपश्यदर्जुनो देवं कालहस्तीशनामकम् ।

snātvā tasyāṁ mahānadyāṁ tasmiñchaile surārcitam apaśyadarjuno devaṁ kālahastīśanāmakam

Having bathed in that great river, Arjuna beheld on that mountain the god worshipped by the gods, named Kalahastisha.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.30.14)

संपूज्य च महादेवं नगेन्द्रतनयासखम् । मनसा भक्तियुक्तेन कृतार्थत्वमुपेयिवान् ।

saṁpūjya ca mahādevaṁ nagendratanayāsakham manasā bhaktiyuktena kṛtārthatvamupeyivān

Having worshipped with a devoted mind that Mahadeva, companion of the daughter of the lord of mountains, he attained a sense of fulfilment.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.30.15)

ततो महागिरौ तस्मिन्नद्भुतैकनिकेतने । चचाराभूतपूर्वाणां विशेषाणां दिदृक्षया ।

tato mahāgirau tasminnadbhutaikaniketane cacārābhūtapūrvāṇāṁ viśeṣāṇāṁ didṛkṣayā

Then on that great mountain, the sole abode of wonders, he wandered about, desiring to behold marvels never seen before.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.30.16)

सिद्धानालोकयामास वसतो गिरिसानुषु । गायतो देवदेवस्य चरित्राण्यबलायुतान् ।

siddhānālokayāmāsa vasato girisānuṣu gāyato devadevasya caritrāṇyabalāyutān

He beheld Siddhas dwelling on the mountain-ridges, singing the deeds of the God of gods, accompanied by their womenfolk.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.30.17)

अप्सरोललनाजुष्टान्पुष्पासवमदाकुलान् । निकुञ्जेषु समासीनान्गंधर्वानैक्षतादरात् ।

apsarolalanājuṣṭānpuṣpāsavamadākulān nikuñjeṣu samāsīnāngaṁdharvānaikṣatādarāt

He beheld with reverence Gandharvas seated in the groves, attended by lovely Apsaras, intoxicated with the wine of flowers.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.30.18)

विविक्तेषु प्रदेशेषु शिवध्यानपरायणान् । अपश्यद्योगिनो दिव्यानादरानन्दशालिनः ।

vivikteṣu pradeśeṣu śivadhyānaparāyaṇān apaśyadyogino divyānādarānandaśālinaḥ

In secluded places he saw divine yogis intent on meditation upon Shiva, endowed with reverent bliss.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.30.19)

प्रशान्तान्याश्रमपदान्यवैक्षत समंततः । बलिनीवारविलसद्द्वारभूमीश्च पाण्डवः ।

praśāntānyāśramapadānyavaikṣata samaṁtataḥ balinīvāravilasaddvārabhūmīśca pāṇḍavaḥ

The Pandava beheld all around the utterly tranquil hermitage-grounds, their gateways graced with rows of sacrificial offerings.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.30.20)

निराहारान्वायुभुजः पर्णादानातपाशनान् । शान्तानालोकयामास मुनीन्नियमितेन्द्रियान् ।

nirāhārānvāyubhujaḥ parṇādānātapāśanān śāntānālokayāmāsa munīnniyamitendriyān

He beheld tranquil sages of disciplined senses — some fasting entirely, some living on air alone, some eating only leaves, some subsisting on sunlight.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.30.21)

मुदं वितेनिरे तस्य नेत्रयोः कमलाकराः । फुल्लसौगन्धिकामोदसंवासितदिगन्तराः ।

mudaṁ vitenire tasya netrayoḥ kamalākarāḥ phullasaugandhikāmodasaṁvāsitadigantarāḥ

Lotus-ponds gave delight to his eyes, the far horizons perfumed with the fragrance of blooming red lotuses,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.30.22)

मृगयासंभृतधियश्चरतोऽधिज्यकार्मुकान् ।

mṛgayāsaṁbhṛtadhiyaścarato'dhijyakārmukān

and hunters roaming about, their minds intent on the hunt, bows strung and ready —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.30.23)

ददर्शान्वेषितमृगान्किरातान्वनितायुतान् । ततो दक्षिणदिग्भागे चरन्नद्रेर्मनोहरे ।

dadarśānveṣitamṛgānkirātānvanitāyutān tato dakṣiṇadigbhāge carannadrermanohare

he saw them tracking deer, accompanied by their womenfolk. Then, roaming on the lovely southern side of the mountain,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.30.24)

पुण्यमाश्रममद्राक्षीद्भरद्वाजस्य कौरवः । कदलीनारिकेलाम्रकोलचंपकचंदनैः ।

puṇyamāśramamadrākṣīdbharadvājasya kauravaḥ kadalīnārikelāmrakolacaṁpakacaṁdanaiḥ

the Kaurava beheld the sacred hermitage of Bharadvaja, surrounded by plantain, coconut, mango, jujube, champaka, and sandal trees,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.30.25)

तक्कोलाशोकहिन्तालतालकेतकिदाडिमैः । जंबूकदम्वकतकखदिरार्जुनपाटलैः ।

takkolāśokahintālatālaketakidāḍimaiḥ jaṁbūkadamvakatakakhadirārjunapāṭalaiḥ

by cubeb, ashoka, wild-date palm, palmyra, screw-pine, and pomegranate trees, by jambu, kadamba, taka, khadira, arjuna, and patala trees,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.30.26)

नागपुन्नागसरलदेवदारुकरञ्जकैः । लवंगलुंगलवलीप्रियंगुतिलकैरपि ।

nāgapunnāgasaraladevadārukarañjakaiḥ lavaṁgaluṁgalavalīpriyaṁgutilakairapi

by naga, punnaga, pine, deodar, and karanja trees, and also by clove, citron, lavali, priyangu, and tilaka trees,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.30.27)

बिभीतश्रीफलाश्वत्थमधूकप्लक्षकेसरैः । पूगजम्बीरनारंगनिम्बामलककौशिकैः ।

bibhītaśrīphalāśvatthamadhūkaplakṣakesaraiḥ pūgajambīranāraṁganimbāmalakakauśikaiḥ

by bibhitaka, bilva, ashvattha, mahua, plaksha, and kesara trees, by areca-nut, citron, orange, neem, amla, and kaushika trees,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.30.28)

अन्यैश्च फलपुष्पाढ्यैः शोभितं धरणीरुहैः । वासन्तीकुन्दजात्यादिलताभिः परिवेष्टितम् ।

anyaiśca phalapuṣpāḍhyaiḥ śobhitaṁ dharaṇīruhaiḥ vāsantīkundajātyādilatābhiḥ pariveṣṭitam

and by other trees rich with fruit and flowers, and surrounded by creepers of vasanti, jasmine, and the like,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.30.29)

अपूर्वसौरभाकृष्टभ्रमरीभिः समन्ततः । चक्रवाकबकक्रौञ्चहंसकारण्डवाश्रयैः ।

apūrvasaurabhākṛṣṭabhramarībhiḥ samantataḥ cakravākabakakrauñcahaṁsakāraṇḍavāśrayaiḥ

with female bees drawn from every side by its unprecedented fragrance, and by ponds that were the resort of ruddy geese, cranes, curlews, swans, and karandava ducks,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.30.30)

सौगन्धिकोत्पलांभोजकैरवौघविराजितैः । सरोभिरमृतस्यंदिमधुरस्फारवारिभिः ।

saugandhikotpalāṁbhojakairavaughavirājitaiḥ sarobhiramṛtasyaṁdimadhurasphāravāribhiḥ

resplendent with masses of red lotuses, blue lotuses, day-lotuses, and night-lotuses, their abundant waters sweet as trickling nectar —

Verse 31 (skanda.2.30.31)

समापादितलक्ष्मीकं कौतुकैकनिकेतनम् । सिंहदन्तावलव्याघ्रतरक्षुरुरुरङ्कुभिः ।

samāpāditalakṣmīkaṁ kautukaikaniketanam siṁhadantāvalavyāghratarakṣurururaṅkubhiḥ

a hermitage endowed with such splendour, the sole abode of wonder, thronged with lions, elephants, tigers, hyenas, deer, and antelope,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.30.32)

मृगैरन्यैः समाकीर्णमन्योऽन्यहितकारिभिः । जितचैत्ररथोद्यानमधरीकृतनन्दनम् ।

mṛgairanyaiḥ samākīrṇamanyo'nyahitakāribhiḥ jitacaitrarathodyānamadharīkṛtanandanam

and other wild creatures, all doing good to one another, a place that surpassed even the pleasure-garden Chaitraratha and outshone Nandana itself,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.30.33)

अतिवाङ्मनसोदारं परमानन्दकारणम् । शिवागमानां दिव्यानामर्थजातमनुत्तमम् ।

ativāṅmanasodāraṁ paramānandakāraṇam śivāgamānāṁ divyānāmarthajātamanuttamam

a place magnificent beyond speech and mind, the cause of supreme bliss, where the whole incomparable substance of the divine Shaiva scriptures —

Verse 34 (skanda.2.30.34)

प्रकाशयन्ति शावानां यत्र मञ्जुगिरः शुकाः । यस्मिन्हुताशनो दारधूमश्यामलितं नभः ।

prakāśayanti śāvānāṁ yatra mañjugiraḥ śukāḥ yasminhutāśano dāradhūmaśyāmalitaṁ nabhaḥ

the sweet-voiced parrots there make known to their young; where the smoke of split-wood fires darkens the sky,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.30.35)

अकालजलदभ्रांतिमातनोति शिखण्डिनाम् । यस्मिन्विहारश्रान्तानां सिंहानां स्वेच्छयागताः ।

akālajaladabhrāṁtimātanoti śikhaṇḍinām yasminvihāraśrāntānāṁ siṁhānāṁ svecchayāgatāḥ

spreading among the peacocks the illusion of an untimely rain-cloud; where elephants, coming there of their own accord,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.30.36)

निर्वापयन्ति गात्राणि करिणः करशीकरैः । तदाश्रमपदं पश्यन्विस्मयाक्रांतमानसः ।

nirvāpayanti gātrāṇi kariṇaḥ karaśīkaraiḥ tadāśramapadaṁ paśyanvismayākrāṁtamānasaḥ

cool the limbs of lions weary from play with the spray from their trunks. Beholding that hermitage-ground, his mind overcome with wonder,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.30.37)

प्रभावं पाण्डुतनयः प्रशशंस तपस्विनाम् । निवार्य तत्र तत्रैव सकलाननुजीविनः ।

prabhāvaṁ pāṇḍutanayaḥ praśaśaṁsa tapasvinām nivārya tatra tatraiva sakalānanujīvinaḥ

the son of Pandu praised the power of the ascetics, and, halting all his followers there and then,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.30.38)

मित्रैर्विप्रवरैः सार्धं प्रविवेश तमाश्रमम् । अग्रे ददर्श कौन्तेयः स्फुरत्पावकतेजसम् ।

mitrairvipravaraiḥ sārdhaṁ praviveśa tamāśramam agre dadarśa kaunteyaḥ sphuratpāvakatejasam

entered that hermitage together with his friends, the foremost Brahmins. Before him, the son of Kunti beheld one blazing with the splendour of fire —

Verse 39 (skanda.2.30.39)

भरद्वाजं मुनिवरैरनेकैः परिवारितम् । भस्मानुलिप्तसर्वांगं मृगचर्मोत्तरीयकम् ।

bharadvājaṁ munivarairanekaiḥ parivāritam bhasmānuliptasarvāṁgaṁ mṛgacarmottarīyakam

Bharadvaja, surrounded by many excellent sages, his whole body smeared with ash, wearing a deerskin as his upper garment,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.30.40)

नववारिदसंवीतं कैलासमिव भास्वरम् । जटाभिर्लम्बमानाभिर्भास्वन्तं स्वर्णकांतिभिः ।

navavāridasaṁvītaṁ kailāsamiva bhāsvaram jaṭābhirlambamānābhirbhāsvantaṁ svarṇakāṁtibhiḥ

resplendent like Kailasa wrapped in a fresh raincloud, shining with his hanging matted locks of golden lustre,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.30.41)

स्थिरविद्युल्लताकीर्णमिव शारदनीरदम् । श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणार्थैरेकीभूय समागतैः ।

sthiravidyullatākīrṇamiva śāradanīradam śrutismṛtipurāṇārthairekībhūya samāgataiḥ

like an autumn cloud strewn with unmoving streaks of lightning; he seemed as though the combined essence of the Shruti, Smriti, and Puranas had come together

Verse 42 (skanda.2.30.42)

अङ्गीकृतमिवाकारं दिव्यज्ञानशुभास्पदम् । धृतिक्षांतिदयातुष्टिशांतिभिर्नित्यसेवितम् ।

aṅgīkṛtamivākāraṁ divyajñānaśubhāspadam dhṛtikṣāṁtidayātuṣṭiśāṁtibhirnityasevitam

and taken on a bodily form, the auspicious abode of divine knowledge, ever attended by fortitude, forbearance, compassion, contentment, and peace,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.30.43)

प्रियाभिरिव रक्ताभिरखंडब्रह्मवर्चसम् । उपगम्य शनैः पार्थस्तत्पादांबुजयोः पुरः ।

priyābhiriva raktābhirakhaṁḍabrahmavarcasam upagamya śanaiḥ pārthastatpādāṁbujayoḥ puraḥ

as though these were his devoted, loving wives — a figure of unbroken Brahmanic splendour. Approaching him slowly, Partha, before his lotus feet,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.30.44)

चक्रे प्रणामं साष्टांगं समालिंगितभूतलम् ।

cakre praṇāmaṁ sāṣṭāṁgaṁ samāliṁgitabhūtalam

made a full prostration with eight limbs touching the ground, embracing the earth itself.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.30.45)

तमागतं पृथापुत्रमुत्थाप्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । आशीर्भिरेधयाञ्चक्रे प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लमानसः ।

tamāgataṁ pṛthāputramutthāpya munipuṅgavaḥ āśīrbhiredhayāñcakre praharṣotphullamānasaḥ

That foremost of sages, raising up the son of Pritha who had thus come, his mind blossoming with delight, blessed him with benedictions and made him flourish.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.30.46)

संपूज्य च यथान्यायं तमर्घ्याद्यैः प्रियातिथिम् । विनिर्दिष्टासनासीनं समपृच्छदनामयम् ।

saṁpūjya ca yathānyāyaṁ tamarghyādyaiḥ priyātithim vinirdiṣṭāsanāsīnaṁ samapṛcchadanāmayam

Having duly honoured that beloved guest with arghya and other offerings, and having seated him on the seat pointed out to him, he asked after his welfare.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.30.47)

संमाननमवाप्यास्मान्मुनेः पाण्डवमध्यमः । प्रियैर्वाक्यैर्मुनिपतेरकरोन्मनसो मुदम् ।

saṁmānanamavāpyāsmānmuneḥ pāṇḍavamadhyamaḥ priyairvākyairmunipaterakaronmanaso mudam

Having received this honour, the middle Pandava, through his own pleasant words, brought joy to the mind of the lord of sages.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.30.48)

सस्माराथ भरद्वाजः स्वर्धेनुं कामदोहिनीम् । सा वितेनेऽतिमहतीं भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकल्पनाम् ।

sasmārātha bharadvājaḥ svardhenuṁ kāmadohinīm sā vitene'timahatīṁ bhakṣyabhojyādikalpanām

Then Bharadvaja called to mind his wish-granting celestial cow; she brought forth a lavish provision of foods and delicacies of every kind.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.30.49)

भुक्त्वा पार्थः सानुचरस्तमुपास्य तपोनिधिम् । दिनशेषं कथालापकौतुकेनात्यवाहयत् ।

bhuktvā pārthaḥ sānucarastamupāsya taponidhim dinaśeṣaṁ kathālāpakautukenātyavāhayat

Having eaten, Partha, with his attendants, waited upon that treasure of austerity and passed the rest of the day delightfully in conversation.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.30.50)

ततः सायन्तनीं संध्यामुपास्य हुतपावकः । विप्रैरमात्यैः सहितो ययौ तस्य कुटीगृहान् ।

tataḥ sāyantanīṁ saṁdhyāmupāsya hutapāvakaḥ viprairamātyaiḥ sahito yayau tasya kuṭīgṛhān

Then, having performed the evening twilight rites and offered oblation into the fire, he went, together with the Brahmins and ministers, to his own cottage-dwellings.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.30.51)

तत्रासीनो मुनिपतेराशीर्भिरभिनन्दितः । आनन्द्यमानो मुमुदे तन्नदीशीतलानिलैः ।

tatrāsīno munipaterāśīrbhirabhinanditaḥ ānandyamāno mumude tannadīśītalānilaiḥ

Seated there, greeted with the blessings of the lord of sages, he rejoiced, delighted by the cool breezes from that river.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.30.52)

संप्रापिता केन भुवः प्रभूता कस्मान्महीध्रादधिकप्रभावा । इति प्रभावं परिपृच्छ्य नद्याः श्रोतुं मुनीन्द्रान्मतिरस्य जज्ञे ।

saṁprāpitā kena bhuvaḥ prabhūtā kasmānmahīdhrādadhikaprabhāvā iti prabhāvaṁ paripṛcchya nadyāḥ śrotuṁ munīndrānmatirasya jajñe

"By whom was this river brought to the earth, from what great mountain does she rise, whence her surpassing power?" — asking thus of the river's power, his mind became set on hearing it from the great sages.