The Glory of Sacred Ash

Verse 1 (skanda.3.107.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ऋषभस्यानुभावोयं वर्णितः शिवयोगिनः ॥ अथान्यस्यापि वक्ष्यामि प्रभावं शिवयोगिनः

sūta uvāca ṛṣabhasyānubhāvoyaṁ varṇitaḥ śivayoginaḥ athānyasyāpi vakṣyāmi prabhāvaṁ śivayoginaḥ

Suta said: This glory of Rishabha the Shiva-yogi has been described; now I shall tell also the power of another Shiva-yogi.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.107.2)

भस्मनश्चापि माहात्म्यं वर्णयामि समासतः ॥ कृतकृत्या भविष्यंति यच्छुत्वा पापिनो जनाः

bhasmanaścāpi māhātmyaṁ varṇayāmi samāsataḥ kṛtakṛtyā bhaviṣyaṁti yacchutvā pāpino janāḥ

And I shall describe, in brief, the glory of holy ash too, hearing which sinful people shall become fulfilled.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.107.3)

अस्त्येको वामदेवाख्यः शिवयोगी महा तपाः ॥ निर्द्वंद्वो निर्गुणः शांतो निःसंगः समदर्शनः

astyeko vāmadevākhyaḥ śivayogī mahā tapāḥ nirdvaṁdvo nirguṇaḥ śāṁto niḥsaṁgaḥ samadarśanaḥ

There is a certain Shiva-yogi named Vamadeva, of great austerity, free from dualities, without qualities, tranquil, unattached, seeing all with equanimity.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.107.4)

आत्मारामो जितक्रोधो गृहदारविवर्जितः ॥ अतर्कितगतिर्मौनी संतुष्टो निष्प रिग्रहः

ātmārāmo jitakrodho gṛhadāravivarjitaḥ atarkitagatirmaunī saṁtuṣṭo niṣpa rigrahaḥ

Delighting in the self, having conquered anger, free of house and wife, of unpredictable movement, silent, content, without possessions,

Verse 5 (skanda.3.107.5)

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगो जटामंडलमंडितः ॥ वल्कलाजिनसंवीतो भिक्षामात्रपरिग्रहः

bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṁgo jaṭāmaṁḍalamaṁḍitaḥ valkalājinasaṁvīto bhikṣāmātraparigrahaḥ

his whole body smeared with ash, adorned with a mass of matted locks, clad in bark and hide, accepting nothing but alms.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.107.6)

स एकदा चरंल्लोके सर्वानुग्रहतत्परः ॥ क्रौंचारण्यं महाघोरं प्रविवेश यदृच्छया

sa ekadā caraṁlloke sarvānugrahatatparaḥ krauṁcāraṇyaṁ mahāghoraṁ praviveśa yadṛcchayā

He, once, wandering the world, intent on the welfare of all, entered by chance the great and terrible Krauncha forest.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.107.7)

तस्मिन्निर्मनुजेऽरण्ये तिष्ठत्येकोऽतिभीषणः ॥ क्षुत्तृषाकुलितो नित्यं यः कश्चिद्ब्रह्मराक्षसः

tasminnirmanuje'raṇye tiṣṭhatyeko'tibhīṣaṇaḥ kṣuttṛṣākulito nityaṁ yaḥ kaścidbrahmarākṣasaḥ

In that forest devoid of humans, there dwelt alone a most terrible being, ever tormented by hunger and thirst, a certain brahma-rakshasa.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.107.8)

तं प्रविष्टं शिवात्मानं स दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मराक्षसः ॥ अभिदुद्राव वेगेन जग्धंु क्षुत्परिपीडितः

taṁ praviṣṭaṁ śivātmānaṁ sa dṛṣṭvā brahmarākṣasaḥ abhidudrāva vegena jagdhaṁu kṣutparipīḍitaḥ

That brahma-rakshasa, seeing him, the very embodiment of Shiva, entering there, tormented by hunger, rushed at him swiftly to devour him.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.107.9)

व्यात्ताननं महाकायं भीमदंष्ट्रं भयानकम् ॥ तमायांतमभिप्रेक्ष्य योगीशो न चचाल सः

vyāttānanaṁ mahākāyaṁ bhīmadaṁṣṭraṁ bhayānakam tamāyāṁtamabhiprekṣya yogīśo na cacāla saḥ

Its mouth gaping, its body huge, its fangs terrible, frightening, seeing it approaching, that lord of yogis did not waver.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.107.10)

अथाभिद्रुत्य तरसा स घोरो वनगोचरः ॥ दोर्भ्यां निष्पीड्य जग्राह निष्कंपं शिवयोगिनम्

athābhidrutya tarasā sa ghoro vanagocaraḥ dorbhyāṁ niṣpīḍya jagrāha niṣkaṁpaṁ śivayoginam

Then that terrible dweller of the forest, rushing swiftly, seized with its two arms that unshaken Shiva-yogi, crushing him.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.107.11)

तदंगस्पर्शनादेव सद्यो विध्वस्तकिल्बिषः ॥ स ब्रह्मराक्षसो घोरो विषण्णः स्मृतिमाययौ

tadaṁgasparśanādeva sadyo vidhvastakilbiṣaḥ sa brahmarākṣaso ghoro viṣaṇṇaḥ smṛtimāyayau

By the very touch of his body, that terrible brahma-rakshasa, instantly freed of all sin, downcast, regained his memory.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.107.12)

यथा चिंतामणिं स्पृष्ट्वा लोहं कांचनतां व्रजेत् ॥ यथा जंबूनदीं प्राप्य मृत्तिका स्वर्णतां व्रजेत्

yathā ciṁtāmaṇiṁ spṛṣṭvā lohaṁ kāṁcanatāṁ vrajet yathā jaṁbūnadīṁ prāpya mṛttikā svarṇatāṁ vrajet

As iron, touching the wish-fulfilling gem, turns to gold; as clay, reaching the river Jambu, turns to gold;

Verse 13 (skanda.3.107.13)

यथा मानसमभ्येत्य वायसा यांति हंसताम् ॥ यथामृतं सकृत्पीत्वा नरो देवत्वमाप्नुयात्

yathā mānasamabhyetya vāyasā yāṁti haṁsatām yathāmṛtaṁ sakṛtpītvā naro devatvamāpnuyāt

as crows, coming to Lake Manasa, become swans; as a man, having drunk nectar even once, attains divinity;

Verse 14 (skanda.3.107.14)

तथैव हि महात्मानो दर्शनस्पर्शनादिभिः ॥ सद्यः पुनंत्यघोपेतान्सत्संगो दुर्लभो ह्यतः

tathaiva hi mahātmāno darśanasparśanādibhiḥ sadyaḥ punaṁtyaghopetānsatsaṁgo durlabho hyataḥ

so indeed do great souls, by their mere sight, touch, and the like, instantly purify those beset by sin; therefore the company of the good is hard to obtain.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.107.15)

यः पूर्वं क्षुत्पिपासार्तो घोरात्मा विपिने चरः ॥ स सद्यस्तृप्तिमायातः पूर्णानंदो बभूव ह

yaḥ pūrvaṁ kṣutpipāsārto ghorātmā vipine caraḥ sa sadyastṛptimāyātaḥ pūrṇānaṁdo babhūva ha

He who, formerly, tormented by hunger and thirst, of a terrible nature, wandering the forest, at once attained satisfaction, and became full of bliss.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.107.16)

तद्गात्रलग्नसितभस्मकणानुविद्धः सद्यो विधूतघनपापतमःस्वभावः ॥ संप्राप्तपूर्वभव संस्मृतिरुग्रकार्यस्तत्पादपद्मयुगले प्रणतो बभाषे

tadgātralagnasitabhasmakaṇānuviddhaḥ sadyo vidhūtaghanapāpatamaḥsvabhāvaḥ saṁprāptapūrvabhava saṁsmṛtirugrakāryastatpādapadmayugale praṇato babhāṣe

Pierced through by the white ash-particles clinging to that yogi's body, his nature of dense, dark sin instantly shaken off, having attained the remembrance of his former births, that fierce-deeded one, bowing at his pair of lotus feet, spoke.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.107.17)

राक्षस उवाच ॥ प्रसीद मे महायोगिन्प्रसीद करुणानिधे ॥ प्रसीद भवतप्तानामानंदामृवारिधे

rākṣasa uvāca prasīda me mahāyoginprasīda karuṇānidhe prasīda bhavataptānāmānaṁdāmṛvāridhe

The rakshasa said: "Be gracious to me, O great yogi! Be gracious, O ocean of compassion! Be gracious, O ocean of the nectar of bliss, to those scorched by worldly existence!

Verse 18 (skanda.3.107.18)

क्वाहं पापमतिर्घोरः सर्वप्राणिभयंकरः ॥ क्व ते महानुभावस्य दर्शनं करुणात्मनः

kvāhaṁ pāpamatirghoraḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkaraḥ kva te mahānubhāvasya darśanaṁ karuṇātmanaḥ

"Where am I, of sinful mind, terrible, terrifying to all beings, and where is the sight of you, of great glory, compassionate soul?

Verse 19 (skanda.3.107.19)

उद्धरोद्धर मां घोरे पतितं दुःखसागरे ॥ तव सन्निधिमात्रेण महानंदोऽभिवर्धते

uddharoddhara māṁ ghore patitaṁ duḥkhasāgare tava sannidhimātreṇa mahānaṁdo'bhivardhate

"Deliver me, deliver me, fallen into this terrible ocean of suffering; by your mere presence, great bliss increases."

Verse 20 (skanda.3.107.20)

वामदेव उवाच ॥ कस्त्वं वनेचरो घोरो राक्षसोऽत्र किमास्थितः ॥ कथमेतां महाघोरां कष्टां गतिमवाप्तवान्

vāmadeva uvāca kastvaṁ vanecaro ghoro rākṣaso'tra kimāsthitaḥ kathametāṁ mahāghorāṁ kaṣṭāṁ gatimavāptavān

Vamadeva said: "Who are you, terrible forest-dweller, a rakshasa dwelling here? How have you come to attain this most terrible, wretched condition?"

Verse 21 (skanda.3.107.21)

राक्षस उवाच ॥ राक्षसोऽहमितः पूर्वं पंचविंशतिमे भवे ॥ गोप्ता यवनराष्ट्रस्य दुर्जयो नाम वीर्यवान्

rākṣasa uvāca rākṣaso'hamitaḥ pūrvaṁ paṁcaviṁśatime bhave goptā yavanarāṣṭrasya durjayo nāma vīryavān

The rakshasa said: "I was a rakshasa before this; in my twenty-fifth birth previous, I was the protector of the Yavana kingdom, named Durjaya, mighty in valor.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.107.22)

सोऽहं दुरात्मा पापीयान्स्वैरचारी मदोत्कटः ॥ दंडधारी दुराचारः प्रचंडो निर्घृणः खलः

so'haṁ durātmā pāpīyānsvairacārī madotkaṭaḥ daṁḍadhārī durācāraḥ pracaṁḍo nirghṛṇaḥ khalaḥ

"I, that wicked, most sinful one, self-willed, swollen with pride, a wielder of the rod, of evil conduct, fierce, merciless, wicked,

Verse 23 (skanda.3.107.23)

युवा बहुकलत्रोऽपि कामासक्तोऽजितेंद्रियः ॥ इमां पापीयसीं चेष्टां पुनरेकां गतोऽस्म्यहम्

yuvā bahukalatro'pi kāmāsakto'jiteṁdriyaḥ imāṁ pāpīyasīṁ ceṣṭāṁ punarekāṁ gato'smyaham

"young, though possessed of many wives, attached to lust, uncontrolled in my senses, again and again gave myself to this most sinful practice,

Verse 24 (skanda.3.107.24)

प्रत्यहं नूतनामन्या नारीं भोक्तुमनाः सदा ॥ आहृताः सर्वदेशेभ्यो नार्यो भृत्यैर्मदाज्ञया

pratyahaṁ nūtanāmanyā nārīṁ bhoktumanāḥ sadā āhṛtāḥ sarvadeśebhyo nāryo bhṛtyairmadājñayā

"every day desiring to enjoy some new woman; women were brought from every land by my servants, at my command.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.107.25)

भुक्त्वाभुक्त्वा परित्यक्तामेकामेकां दिनेदिने ॥ अन्तर्गृहेषु संस्थाप्य पुनरन्याः स्त्रियो धृताः

bhuktvābhuktvā parityaktāmekāmekāṁ dinedine antargṛheṣu saṁsthāpya punaranyāḥ striyo dhṛtāḥ

"Having enjoyed and then abandoned one after another, day by day, keeping them in the inner chambers, still other women were seized.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.107.26)

एवं स्वराष्ट्रात्परराष्ट्रतश्च देशाकरग्रामपुरव्रजेभ्यः ॥ आहृत्य नार्यो रमिता दिनेदिने भुक्वा पुनः कापि न भुज्यते मया

evaṁ svarāṣṭrātpararāṣṭrataśca deśākaragrāmapuravrajebhyaḥ āhṛtya nāryo ramitā dinedine bhukvā punaḥ kāpi na bhujyate mayā

"Thus, from my own kingdom and from other kingdoms, from provinces, mines, villages, and towns, women were brought and enjoyed day by day; once enjoyed, none was ever enjoyed by me again.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.107.27)

अथान्यैश्च न भुज्यंते मया भुक्तास्तथा स्त्रियः ॥ अन्तर्गृहेषु निहिताः शोचंते च दिवानिशम्

athānyaiśca na bhujyaṁte mayā bhuktāstathā striyaḥ antargṛheṣu nihitāḥ śocaṁte ca divāniśam

"And those women I had enjoyed were not enjoyed by others either; kept in the inner chambers, they grieved day and night.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.107.28)

ब्रह्मविट्क्षत्रशूद्राणां यदा नार्यो मया हृताः ॥ मम राज्ये स्थिता विप्राः सह दारैः प्रदुद्रुवुः

brahmaviṭkṣatraśūdrāṇāṁ yadā nāryo mayā hṛtāḥ mama rājye sthitā viprāḥ saha dāraiḥ pradudruvuḥ

"When I seized the wives of brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras, the brahmins living in my kingdom fled together with their wives.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.107.29)

सभर्तृकाश्च कन्याश्च विधवाश्च रजस्वलाः ॥ आहृत्य नार्यो रमिता मया कामहतात्मना

sabhartṛkāśca kanyāśca vidhavāśca rajasvalāḥ āhṛtya nāryo ramitā mayā kāmahatātmanā

"Women with husbands, and maidens, widows, and even those in their menstrual period, I, my soul destroyed by lust, seized and enjoyed them all.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.107.30)

त्रिशतं द्विजनारीणां राजस्त्रीणां चतुःशतम् ॥ षट्शतं वैश्यनारीणां सहस्रं शूद्रयोषिताम्

triśataṁ dvijanārīṇāṁ rājastrīṇāṁ catuḥśatam ṣaṭśataṁ vaiśyanārīṇāṁ sahasraṁ śūdrayoṣitām

"Three hundred wives of brahmins, four hundred wives of kings, six hundred wives of vaishyas, a thousand women of shudras,

Verse 31 (skanda.3.107.31)

शतं चांडालनद्गीर्णा पुलिंदीनां सहस्रकम् ॥ शैलूषीणां पंचशतं रजकीनां चतुःशतम्

śataṁ cāṁḍālanadgīrṇā puliṁdīnāṁ sahasrakam śailūṣīṇāṁ paṁcaśataṁ rajakīnāṁ catuḥśatam

"a hundred outcaste women swallowed up, a thousand tribal women, five hundred actresses, four hundred washerwomen,

Verse 32 (skanda.3.107.32)

असंख्या वारमुख्याश्च मया भुक्ता दुरात्मना॥ तथापि मयि कामस्य न तृप्तिः समजायत

asaṁkhyā vāramukhyāśca mayā bhuktā durātmanā tathāpi mayi kāmasya na tṛptiḥ samajāyata

"and countless chief courtesans I, that wicked one, enjoyed; yet still my lust found no satisfaction.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.107.33)

एवं दुर्विषयासक्तं मत्तं पानरतं सदा ॥ यौवनेपि महारोगा विविशुर्यक्ष्मकादयः

evaṁ durviṣayāsaktaṁ mattaṁ pānarataṁ sadā yauvanepi mahārogā viviśuryakṣmakādayaḥ

"Thus, ever attached to base pleasures, intoxicated, ever devoted to drink, even in my youth, great diseases such as consumption entered me.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.107.34)

रोगार्दितोऽनपत्यश्च शत्रुभिश्चापि पीडितः ॥ त्यक्तोमात्यैश्च भृत्यैश्च मृतोऽहं स्वेन कर्मणा

rogārdito'napatyaśca śatrubhiścāpi pīḍitaḥ tyaktomātyaiśca bhṛtyaiśca mṛto'haṁ svena karmaṇā

"Afflicted with disease, childless, and tormented by enemies, abandoned by my ministers and servants, I died by my own deeds.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.107.35)

आयुर्विनश्यत्ययशो विवर्धते भाग्यं क्षयं यात्यतिदुर्गतिं व्रजेत् ॥ स्वर्गाच्च्यवंते पितरः पुरातना धर्मव्यपेतस्य नरस्य निश्चितम्

āyurvinaśyatyayaśo vivardhate bhāgyaṁ kṣayaṁ yātyatidurgatiṁ vrajet svargāccyavaṁte pitaraḥ purātanā dharmavyapetasya narasya niścitam

"'Lifespan is destroyed, ill fame increases, fortune goes to ruin, and one falls into the most wretched state; the ancestors of old fall from heaven, certain is this, for a man who has departed from dharma.'

Verse 36 (skanda.3.107.36)

अथाहं किंकरैर्याम्यैर्नीतो वैवस्वतालयम् ॥ ततोऽहं नरके घोरे तत्कुण्डे विनिपातितः

athāhaṁ kiṁkarairyāmyairnīto vaivasvatālayam tato'haṁ narake ghore tatkuṇḍe vinipātitaḥ

"Then I was led by the servants of Yama to the abode of Vaivasvata; there I was cast down into that terrible pit of hell.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.107.37)

तत्राहं नरके घोरे वर्षाणामयुतत्रयम् ॥ रेतः पिबन्पीड्यमानो न्यवसं यमकिंकरैः

tatrāhaṁ narake ghore varṣāṇāmayutatrayam retaḥ pibanpīḍyamāno nyavasaṁ yamakiṁkaraiḥ

"There, in that terrible hell, for thirty thousand years, drinking semen, being tormented, I dwelt at the hands of Yama's servants.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.107.38)

ततः पापावशेषेण पिशाचो निर्जने वने ॥ सहस्रशिश्नः संजातो नित्यं क्षुत्तृषयाकुलः

tataḥ pāpāvaśeṣeṇa piśāco nirjane vane sahasraśiśnaḥ saṁjāto nityaṁ kṣuttṛṣayākulaḥ

"Then, by the remainder of my sin, I became a pishacha in a lonely forest, with a thousand phalluses, ever tormented by hunger and thirst.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.107.39)

पैशाचीं गतिमाश्रित्य नीतं दिव्यं शरच्छतम् ॥ द्वितीयेहं भवे जातो व्याघ्रः प्राणिभयंकरः

paiśācīṁ gatimāśritya nītaṁ divyaṁ śaracchatam dvitīyehaṁ bhave jāto vyāghraḥ prāṇibhayaṁkaraḥ

"Having resorted to that pishacha condition, a divine hundred years passed; in my second birth after that I was born a tiger, terrifying to living creatures.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.107.40)

तृतीयेऽजगरो घोरश्चतुर्थेऽहं भवे वृकः ॥ पंचमे विड्वराहश्च षष्ठेऽहं कृकलासकः

tṛtīye'jagaro ghoraścaturthe'haṁ bhave vṛkaḥ paṁcame viḍvarāhaśca ṣaṣṭhe'haṁ kṛkalāsakaḥ

"In the third, a terrible python; in the fourth birth I was a wolf; in the fifth, a wild boar eating filth; in the sixth I was a lizard.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.107.41)

सप्तमेऽहं सारमेयः सृगालश्चाष्टमे भवे ॥ नवमे गवयो भीमो मृगोऽहं दशमे भवे

saptame'haṁ sārameyaḥ sṛgālaścāṣṭame bhave navame gavayo bhīmo mṛgo'haṁ daśame bhave

"In the seventh I was a dog, and a jackal in the eighth birth; in the ninth a fearsome wild ox, and a deer in the tenth birth.

Verse 42 (skanda.3.107.42)

एकादशे मर्कटश्च गृध्रोऽहं द्वादशे भवे ॥ त्रयोदशेऽहं नकुलो वायसश्च चतु र्दशे

ekādaśe markaṭaśca gṛdhro'haṁ dvādaśe bhave trayodaśe'haṁ nakulo vāyasaśca catu rdaśe

"In the eleventh a monkey, and a vulture in the twelfth birth; in the thirteenth a mongoose, and a crow in the fourteenth.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.107.43)

अच्छभल्लः पंचदशे षोडशे वनकुक्कुटः॥ गर्दभोऽहं सप्तदशे मार्जारोष्टादशे भवे

acchabhallaḥ paṁcadaśe ṣoḍaśe vanakukkuṭaḥ gardabho'haṁ saptadaśe mārjāroṣṭādaśe bhave

"A sloth-bear in the fifteenth, a jungle-fowl in the sixteenth; a donkey in the seventeenth, a cat in the eighteenth birth.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.107.44)

एकोनविंशे मण्डूकः कूर्मो विंशतिमे भवे ॥ एकविंशे भवे मत्स्यो द्वाविंशे मूषकोऽभवम्

ekonaviṁśe maṇḍūkaḥ kūrmo viṁśatime bhave ekaviṁśe bhave matsyo dvāviṁśe mūṣako'bhavam

"A frog in the nineteenth, a tortoise in the twentieth birth; a fish in the twenty-first birth, and I became a mouse in the twenty-second.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.107.45)

उलूकोहं त्रयोविंशे चतुर्विशे वनद्विपः ॥ पंचविंशे भवे चास्मिञ्जातोहं ब्रह्मराक्षसः

ulūkohaṁ trayoviṁśe caturviśe vanadvipaḥ paṁcaviṁśe bhave cāsmiñjātohaṁ brahmarākṣasaḥ

"An owl I was in the twenty-third, a wild elephant in the twenty-fourth; and in this twenty-fifth birth I have been born a brahma-rakshasa.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.107.46)

क्षुत्परीतो निराहारो वसाम्यत्र महावने ॥ इदानीमागतं दृष्ट्वा भवंतं जग्धुमुत्सुकः ॥ त्वद्देहस्पर्शमात्रेण जाता पूर्वभवस्मृतिः

kṣutparīto nirāhāro vasāmyatra mahāvane idānīmāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā bhavaṁtaṁ jagdhumutsukaḥ tvaddehasparśamātreṇa jātā pūrvabhavasmṛtiḥ

"Overcome with hunger, without food, I dwell here in this great forest; now, seeing you arrive, eager to devour you, by the mere touch of your body, the memory of my former births has arisen.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.107.47)

गतजन्म सहस्राणि स्मराम्यद्य त्वदंतिके ॥ निर्वेदश्च परो जातः प्रसन्नं हृदयं च मे

gatajanma sahasrāṇi smarāmyadya tvadaṁtike nirvedaśca paro jātaḥ prasannaṁ hṛdayaṁ ca me

"I remember, today, in your presence, the thousands of births I have passed through; and supreme dispassion has arisen, and my heart is at peace.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.107.48)

ईदृशोऽयं प्रभावस्ते कथं लब्धो महामते ॥ तपसा वापि तीव्रेण किमु तीर्थनिषेवणात्

īdṛśo'yaṁ prabhāvaste kathaṁ labdho mahāmate tapasā vāpi tīvreṇa kimu tīrthaniṣevaṇāt

"How, O great-minded one, has such power as this of yours been obtained, through severe austerity, or through the practice of sacred fords,

Verse 49 (skanda.3.107.49)

योगेन देवशक्त्या वा मंत्रैर्वानंतशक्तिभिः ॥ तत्त्वतो ब्रूहि भगवंस्त्वामहं शरणं गतः

yogena devaśaktyā vā maṁtrairvānaṁtaśaktibhiḥ tattvato brūhi bhagavaṁstvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

"through yoga, through divine power, or through mantras of boundless power? Tell me truly, O Lord; I have come to you for refuge."

Verse 50 (skanda.3.107.50)

वामदेव उवाच ॥ एष मद्गात्रलग्नस्य प्रभावो भस्मनो महान् ॥ यत्संपर्कात्तमोवृत्तेस्तवेयं मतिरुत्तमा

vāmadeva uvāca eṣa madgātralagnasya prabhāvo bhasmano mahān yatsaṁparkāttamovṛttestaveyaṁ matiruttamā

Vamadeva said: "This is the great power of the ash clinging to my body, by contact with which your dark-natured intellect has become excellent.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.107.51)

को वेद भस्मसामर्थ्यं महादेवा दृते परः ॥ दुर्विभाव्यं यथा शंभोर्माहात्म्यं भस्मनस्तथा

ko veda bhasmasāmarthyaṁ mahādevā dṛte paraḥ durvibhāvyaṁ yathā śaṁbhormāhātmyaṁ bhasmanastathā

"Who knows the power of ash, apart from the great Mahadeva? As the glory of Shambhu is inconceivable, so too is that of the ash.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.107.52)

पुरा भवादृशः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो धर्मवर्जितः ॥ द्राविडेषु स्थितो मूढः कर्मणा शूद्रतां गतः

purā bhavādṛśaḥ kaścidbrāhmaṇo dharmavarjitaḥ drāviḍeṣu sthito mūḍhaḥ karmaṇā śūdratāṁ gataḥ

"Long ago, a brahmin like yourself, devoid of dharma, dwelling among the Dravidas, foolish, came by his deeds to the state of a shudra.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.107.53)

चौर्यवृत्तिर्नैष्कृतिको वृषलीरतिलालसः॥ कदाचिज्जारतां प्राप्तः शूद्रेण निहतो निशि

cauryavṛttirnaiṣkṛtiko vṛṣalīratilālasaḥ kadācijjāratāṁ prāptaḥ śūdreṇa nihato niśi

"Given to thievery, degraded, greatly addicted to low women, having on one occasion taken up with an adulteress, he was slain by a shudra at night.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.107.54)

तच्छवस्य बहिर्ग्रामा त्क्षिप्तस्य प्रेतकर्मणः ॥ चचार सारमेयोंऽगे भस्मपादो यदृच्छया

tacchavasya bahirgrāmā tkṣiptasya pretakarmaṇaḥ cacāra sārameyoṁ'ge bhasmapādo yadṛcchayā

"As his corpse was thrown outside the village, for the rites of the dead, a dog with an ash-smeared paw happened to wander over his body.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.107.55)

अथ तं नरके घोरे पतितं शिवकिंकराः॥ निन्युर्विमानमारोप्य प्रसह्य यमकिंकरान्

atha taṁ narake ghore patitaṁ śivakiṁkarāḥ ninyurvimānamāropya prasahya yamakiṁkarān

"Then, as he had fallen into terrible hell, the servants of Shiva took him up, mounted on a celestial chariot, and led him away, forcibly restraining the servants of Yama.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.107.56)

शिवदूतान्समभ्येत्य यमोपि परिपृष्टवान् ॥ महापातककर्त्तारं कथमेनं निनीषथ

śivadūtānsamabhyetya yamopi paripṛṣṭavān mahāpātakakarttāraṁ kathamenaṁ ninīṣatha

"Approaching those messengers of Shiva, Yama too asked them: 'Why do you take away this doer of great sin?'

Verse 57 (skanda.3.107.57)

अथोचुः शिवदूतास्ते पश्यास्य शवविग्रहम् ॥ वक्षोललाटदोर्मूलान्यंकितानि सुभस्मना

athocuḥ śivadūtāste paśyāsya śavavigraham vakṣolalāṭadormūlānyaṁkitāni subhasmanā

"Then those messengers of Shiva said: 'Look at the form of his corpse, his chest, forehead, and shoulders are marked with sacred ash.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.107.58)

अत एनं समानेतुमागताः शिवशासनात् ॥ नास्मान्निषेद्धुं शक्तोसि मास्त्वत्र तव संशयः

ata enaṁ samānetumāgatāḥ śivaśāsanāt nāsmānniṣeddhuṁ śaktosi māstvatra tava saṁśayaḥ

"'We have therefore come to take him away, by Shiva's command; you have no power to stop us; let there be no doubt about this.'

Verse 59 (skanda.3.107.59)

इत्याभाष्य यमं शंभोर्दूतास्तं ब्राह्मणं ततः ॥ पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां निन्युर्लोकमनामयम्

ityābhāṣya yamaṁ śaṁbhordūtāstaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ tataḥ paśyatāṁ sarvalokānāṁ ninyurlokamanāmayam

"Having thus addressed Yama, the messengers of Shambhu then led that brahmin, in the sight of all the worlds, to the world free of affliction.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.107.60)

तस्मादशेषपापानां सद्यः संशोधनं परम् ॥ शंभोर्विभूषणं भस्म सततं ध्रियते मया

tasmādaśeṣapāpānāṁ sadyaḥ saṁśodhanaṁ param śaṁbhorvibhūṣaṇaṁ bhasma satataṁ dhriyate mayā

"Therefore ash, the ornament of Shambhu, the supreme instant purifier of all sins without exception, is worn by me continually."

Verse 61 (skanda.3.107.61)

इत्थं निशम्य माहात्म्यं भस्मनो ब्रह्मराक्षसः ॥ विस्तरेण पुनः श्रोतु मौत्कंठ्यादित्यभाषत

itthaṁ niśamya māhātmyaṁ bhasmano brahmarākṣasaḥ vistareṇa punaḥ śrotu mautkaṁṭhyādityabhāṣata

Having thus heard the glory of ash, the brahma-rakshasa, out of eagerness, spoke again to hear it at greater length.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.107.62)

साधुसाधु महायोगिन्धन्योस्मि तव दर्शनात् ॥ मां विमोचय धर्मात्मन्घोरादस्मात्कुजन्मनः

sādhusādhu mahāyogindhanyosmi tava darśanāt māṁ vimocaya dharmātmanghorādasmātkujanmanaḥ

"Well done, well done, O great yogi! Blessed am I through the sight of you; deliver me, O righteous soul, from this terrible ignoble birth.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.107.63)

किंचिदस्तीह मे भाति मया पुण्यं पुराकृतम् ॥ अतोहं त्वत्प्रसादेन मुक्तोस्म्यद्य द्विजोत्तम

kiṁcidastīha me bhāti mayā puṇyaṁ purākṛtam atohaṁ tvatprasādena muktosmyadya dvijottama

"There is some little merit of mine that shines here, performed by me in a former time; therefore, by your grace, O best of brahmins, may I today be freed.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.107.64)

एकस्मै शिवभक्ताय तस्मिन्पार्थिवजन्मनि ॥ भूमिर्वृत्तिकरी दत्ता सस्यारामान्विता मया

ekasmai śivabhaktāya tasminpārthivajanmani bhūmirvṛttikarī dattā sasyārāmānvitā mayā

"To a certain devotee of Shiva, in that royal birth of mine, I gave land productive of revenue, endowed with crops and gardens.

Verse 65 (skanda.3.107.65)

यमेनापि तदैवोक्तं पंचविंशतिमे भवे ॥ कस्यचिद्योगिनः संगान्मोक्ष्यसे संसृतेरिति

yamenāpi tadaivoktaṁ paṁcaviṁśatime bhave kasyacidyoginaḥ saṁgānmokṣyase saṁsṛteriti

"And Yama himself said then: 'In your twenty-fifth birth, through the company of some yogi, you shall be released from the cycle of rebirth.'

Verse 66 (skanda.3.107.66)

तदद्य फलितं पुण्यं यत्किंचित्प्राग्भवार्जितम् ॥ अतो निर्मनुजारण्ये संप्राप्तस्तव संगमः

tadadya phalitaṁ puṇyaṁ yatkiṁcitprāgbhavārjitam ato nirmanujāraṇye saṁprāptastava saṁgamaḥ

"That merit, whatever little was earned in a former life, has today borne fruit; therefore, in this forest devoid of humans, this meeting with you has come about.

Verse 67 (skanda.3.107.67)

अतो मां घोरपाप्मानं संसरंतं कुजन्मनि ॥ समुद्धर कृपासिन्धो दत्त्वा भस्म समंत्रकम्

ato māṁ ghorapāpmānaṁ saṁsaraṁtaṁ kujanmani samuddhara kṛpāsindho dattvā bhasma samaṁtrakam

"Therefore, deliver me, wandering in this terrible sin, in this ignoble birth, O ocean of compassion, by giving me ash consecrated with mantra.

Verse 68 (skanda.3.107.68)

कथं धार्यमिदं भस्म को मंत्रः को विधिः शुभः ॥ कः कालः कश्च वा देशः सर्वं कथय मे गुरो

kathaṁ dhāryamidaṁ bhasma ko maṁtraḥ ko vidhiḥ śubhaḥ kaḥ kālaḥ kaśca vā deśaḥ sarvaṁ kathaya me guro

"How is this ash to be worn? What is the mantra? What is the auspicious procedure? What is the time, and what the place? Tell me all, O guru.

Verse 69 (skanda.3.107.69)

भवादृशा महात्मानः सदा लोकहिते रताः ॥ नात्मनो हितमिच्छंति कल्पवृक्षसधर्मिणः

bhavādṛśā mahātmānaḥ sadā lokahite ratāḥ nātmano hitamicchaṁti kalpavṛkṣasadharmiṇaḥ

"Great souls like yourself are ever devoted to the welfare of the world; they do not seek their own benefit, being of the same nature as the wish-fulfilling tree."

Verse 70 (skanda.3.107.70)

सूत उवाच ॥ इत्युक्तस्तेन योगीशो घोरेण वनचारिणा ॥ भूयोपि भस्ममाहात्म्यं वर्णयामास तत्त्ववित्

sūta uvāca ityuktastena yogīśo ghoreṇa vanacāriṇā bhūyopi bhasmamāhātmyaṁ varṇayāmāsa tattvavit

Suta said: Thus addressed by that terrible forest-dweller, the lord of yogis, knower of truth, again described the glory of ash.