Faith and the Hunter's Devotion

Verse 1 (skanda.3.109.1)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञैर्गुरुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः ॥ नृणां कृतोपदेशानां सद्यः सिद्धिर्हि जायते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vedavedāṁgatattvajñairgurubhirbrahmavādibhiḥ nṛṇāṁ kṛtopadeśānāṁ sadyaḥ siddhirhi jāyate

The sages said: Instructed by gurus who are knowers of the truth of the Vedas and Vedangas, upholders of Brahman, for men so instructed, perfection indeed arises instantly.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.109.2)

अथान्यजनसामान्यैर्गुरुभिर्नीतिकोविदैः॥ नृणां कृतोपदेशानां सिद्धिर्भवति कीदृशी

athānyajanasāmānyairgurubhirnītikovidaiḥ nṛṇāṁ kṛtopadeśānāṁ siddhirbhavati kīdṛśī

But instructed by ordinary gurus, common among men, skilled merely in worldly conduct, for men so instructed, what sort of perfection results?

Verse 3 (skanda.3.109.3)

सूत उवाच ॥ श्रद्धैव सर्वधर्मस्य चातीव हितकारिणी ॥ श्रद्धयैव नृणां सिद्धिर्जायते लोकयोर्द्वयोः

sūta uvāca śraddhaiva sarvadharmasya cātīva hitakāriṇī śraddhayaiva nṛṇāṁ siddhirjāyate lokayordvayoḥ

Suta said: Faith alone is exceedingly beneficial to all dharma; by faith alone does perfection arise for men, in both worlds.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.109.4)

श्रद्धया भजतः पुंसः शिलापि फलदायिनी ॥ मूर्खोऽपि पूजितो भक्त्या गुरुर्भवति सिद्धिदः

śraddhayā bhajataḥ puṁsaḥ śilāpi phaladāyinī mūrkho'pi pūjito bhaktyā gururbhavati siddhidaḥ

For a man who worships with faith, even a stone becomes a bestower of fruit; even a fool, worshipped with devotion as a guru, becomes a giver of accomplishment.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.109.5)

श्रद्धया पठितो मन्त्रस्त्वबद्धोपि फलप्रदः ॥ श्रद्धया पूजितो देवो नीचस्यापि फलप्रदः ॥ ६. ॥ अश्रद्धया कृता पूजा दानं यज्ञस्तपो व्रतम् ॥ सर्वं निष्फलतां याति पुष्पं वन्ध्यत रोरिव

śraddhayā paṭhito mantrastvabaddhopi phalapradaḥ śraddhayā pūjito devo nīcasyāpi phalapradaḥ 6. aśraddhayā kṛtā pūjā dānaṁ yajñastapo vratam sarvaṁ niṣphalatāṁ yāti puṣpaṁ vandhyata roriva

A mantra recited with faith, even if incorrectly composed, bestows its fruit; a deity worshipped with faith, even by a lowly person, bestows its fruit. Worship, charity, sacrifice, austerity, and vows performed without faith all become fruitless, like a flower on a barren tree.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.109.6)

सर्वत्र संशयाविष्टः श्रद्धाहीनोऽतिचंचलः ॥ परमार्थात्परिभ्रष्टः संसृतेर्न हि मुच्यते

sarvatra saṁśayāviṣṭaḥ śraddhāhīno'ticaṁcalaḥ paramārthātparibhraṣṭaḥ saṁsṛterna hi mucyate

One filled with doubt everywhere, devoid of faith, exceedingly fickle, fallen from the supreme truth, is indeed never freed from the cycle of rebirth.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.109.7)

मन्त्रे तीर्थे द्विजे देवे दैवज्ञे भेषजे गुरौ ॥ यादृशी भावना यत्र सिद्धिर्भवति तादृशी

mantre tīrthe dvije deve daivajñe bheṣaje gurau yādṛśī bhāvanā yatra siddhirbhavati tādṛśī

In a mantra, a sacred ford, a brahmin, a deity, an astrologer, a physician, or a guru, whatever conviction one holds, in that very measure does perfection occur.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.109.8)

अतो भावमयं विश्वं पुण्यं पापं च भावतः ॥ ते उभे भावहीनस्य न भवेतां कदाचन

ato bhāvamayaṁ viśvaṁ puṇyaṁ pāpaṁ ca bhāvataḥ te ubhe bhāvahīnasya na bhavetāṁ kadācana

Therefore the universe is made of conviction; merit and sin too arise from conviction; for one devoid of conviction, neither of the two ever come to be.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.109.9)

अत्रेदं परमाश्चर्यमाख्यानमनुवर्ण्यते ॥ अश्रद्धा सर्वमर्त्यानां येन सद्यो निवर्तते

atredaṁ paramāścaryamākhyānamanuvarṇyate aśraddhā sarvamartyānāṁ yena sadyo nivartate

Here this most wondrous tale is now recounted, by which the lack of faith of all mortals is instantly dispelled.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.109.10)

आसीत्पांचालराजस्य सिंहकेतुरिति श्रुतः ॥ पुत्रः सर्वगुणोपेतः क्षात्रधर्मरतः सदा

āsītpāṁcālarājasya siṁhaketuriti śrutaḥ putraḥ sarvaguṇopetaḥ kṣātradharmarataḥ sadā

There was a son of the king of Panchala, known as Simhaketu, endowed with every virtue, ever devoted to the duty of a kshatriya.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.109.11)

स एकदा कतिपयैर्भृत्यैर्युक्तो महाबलः ॥ जगाम मृगयाहेतोर्बहु सत्त्वान्वितं वनम्

sa ekadā katipayairbhṛtyairyukto mahābalaḥ jagāma mṛgayāhetorbahu sattvānvitaṁ vanam

He, once, mighty, together with a few servants, went for the sake of hunting into a forest teeming with wild creatures.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.109.12)

तद्भृत्यः शबरः कश्चिद्विचरन्मृगयां वने ॥ ददर्श जीर्णं स्फुटितं पतितं देवतालयम्

tadbhṛtyaḥ śabaraḥ kaścidvicaranmṛgayāṁ vane dadarśa jīrṇaṁ sphuṭitaṁ patitaṁ devatālayam

A certain hunter, his servant, wandering in the forest in the hunt, saw a ruined, cracked, fallen temple.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.109.13)

तत्रापश्यद्भिन्नपीठं पतितं स्थंडिलोपरि ॥ शिवलिंङ्गमृजुं सूक्ष्मं मूर्तं भाग्यमिवात्मनः

tatrāpaśyadbhinnapīṭhaṁ patitaṁ sthaṁḍilopari śivaliṁṅgamṛjuṁ sūkṣmaṁ mūrtaṁ bhāgyamivātmanaḥ

There he saw a broken pedestal, fallen upon the bare ground, and a Shiva-linga, straight and small, like the very embodiment of his own fortune.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.109.14)

स समादाय वेगेन पूर्वकर्मप्रचोदितः ॥ तस्मै संदर्शयामास राज पुत्राय धीमते

sa samādāya vegena pūrvakarmapracoditaḥ tasmai saṁdarśayāmāsa rāja putrāya dhīmate

He, impelled swiftly by his past karma, took it up and showed it to that wise prince.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.109.15)

पश्येदं रुचिरं लिंगं मया दृष्टमिह प्रभो ॥ तदेतत्पूजयिष्यामि यथाविभवमादरात्

paśyedaṁ ruciraṁ liṁgaṁ mayā dṛṣṭamiha prabho tadetatpūjayiṣyāmi yathāvibhavamādarāt

"See, O lord, this beautiful linga which I have seen here; I shall now worship this, according to my means, with reverence.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.109.16)

अस्य पूजाविधिं ब्रूहि यथा देवो महेश्वरः ॥ अमंत्रज्ञैश्च मन्त्रज्ञैः प्रीतो भवति पूजितः

asya pūjāvidhiṁ brūhi yathā devo maheśvaraḥ amaṁtrajñaiśca mantrajñaiḥ prīto bhavati pūjitaḥ

"Tell me the procedure for its worship, by which Maheshvara the god becomes pleased when worshipped, whether by those who know the mantras or those who do not."

Verse 17 (skanda.3.109.17)

इति तेन निषादेन पृष्टः पार्थिवनंदनः ॥ प्रत्युवाच प्रहस्यैनं परिहास विचक्षणः

iti tena niṣādena pṛṣṭaḥ pārthivanaṁdanaḥ pratyuvāca prahasyainaṁ parihāsa vicakṣaṇaḥ

Thus questioned by that hunter, the prince, skilled in jest, replied to him, laughing.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.109.18)

संकल्पेन सदा कुर्यादभिषेकं नवांभसा ॥ उपवेश्यासने शुद्धे शुभैर्गंधाक्षतैर्नवैः ॥ वन्यैः पत्रैश्च कुसुमैर्धूपैर्दीपैश्च पूजयेत

saṁkalpena sadā kuryādabhiṣekaṁ navāṁbhasā upaveśyāsane śuddhe śubhairgaṁdhākṣatairnavaiḥ vanyaiḥ patraiśca kusumairdhūpairdīpaiśca pūjayeta

"One should always perform the abhisheka with fresh water, according to one's resolve; having seated it on a pure seat, one should worship it with auspicious fresh fragrance and unbroken rice-grains, with forest leaves and flowers, with incense and lamps.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.109.19)

चिताभस्मोपहारं च प्रथमं परिकल्पयेत् ॥ आत्मोपभोग्येनान्नेन नैवद्यं कल्पयेद्बुधः

citābhasmopahāraṁ ca prathamaṁ parikalpayet ātmopabhogyenānnena naivadyaṁ kalpayedbudhaḥ

"One should first arrange an offering of ash from a funeral pyre; the wise one should prepare the food-offering with food fit for his own consumption.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.109.20)

पुनश्च धूपदीपादीनुपचारान्प्रकल्पेत् ॥ नृत्यवादित्रगीतादीन्यथावत्परिकल्पयेत्

punaśca dhūpadīpādīnupacārānprakalpet nṛtyavāditragītādīnyathāvatparikalpayet

"And again one should arrange the rites of incense, lamps, and the like; one should duly arrange dance, music, and song.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.109.21)

नमस्कृत्वा तु विधिवत्प्रसादं धारयेद्बुधः ॥ एष साधारणः प्रोक्तः शिवपूजाविधिस्तव

namaskṛtvā tu vidhivatprasādaṁ dhārayedbudhaḥ eṣa sādhāraṇaḥ proktaḥ śivapūjāvidhistava

"Having offered salutation, the wise one should partake of the grace duly; this is the general procedure of Shiva-worship I have told you.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.109.22)

चिताभस्मोपहारेण सद्यस्तुष्यति शंकरः

citābhasmopahāreṇa sadyastuṣyati śaṁkaraḥ

"By the offering of ash from a funeral pyre, Shankara is instantly pleased."

Verse 23 (skanda.3.109.23)

सूत उवाच ॥ परिहासरसेनेत्थं शासितः स्वामिनाऽमुना ॥ स चंडकाख्यः शबरो मूर्ध्ना जग्राह तद्वचः

sūta uvāca parihāsarasenetthaṁ śāsitaḥ svāminā'munā sa caṁḍakākhyaḥ śabaro mūrdhnā jagrāha tadvacaḥ

Suta said: Thus instructed in a spirit of jest by that master of his, that hunter named Chandaka took his words to heart.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.109.24)

ततः स्वभवनं प्राप्य लिंगमूर्ति महेश्वरम् ॥ प्रत्यहं पूजयामास चिताभस्मोपहारकृत्

tataḥ svabhavanaṁ prāpya liṁgamūrti maheśvaram pratyahaṁ pūjayāmāsa citābhasmopahārakṛt

Then, reaching his own dwelling, he began worshipping Maheshvara in the form of the linga every day, performing the offering of funeral-pyre ash.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.109.25)

यच्चात्मनः प्रियं वस्तु गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिकम् ॥ निवेद्य शंभवे नित्यमुपायुंक्त ततः स्वयम्

yaccātmanaḥ priyaṁ vastu gandhapuṣpākṣatādikam nivedya śaṁbhave nityamupāyuṁkta tataḥ svayam

And whatever object was dear to himself, fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice-grains and the like, having offered it daily to Shambhu, he then partook of it himself.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.109.26)

एवं महेश्वरं भक्त्या सह पत्न्याभ्यपूजयत् ॥ शबरः सुखमासाद्य निनाय कतिचित्समाः

evaṁ maheśvaraṁ bhaktyā saha patnyābhyapūjayat śabaraḥ sukhamāsādya nināya katicitsamāḥ

Thus, with devotion, together with his wife, he worshipped Maheshvara; that hunter, having attained happiness, passed some years.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.109.27)

एकदा शिवपूजायै प्रवृत्तः शबरोत्तमः ॥ न ददर्श चिताभस्म पात्रे पूरितमण्वपि

ekadā śivapūjāyai pravṛttaḥ śabarottamaḥ na dadarśa citābhasma pātre pūritamaṇvapi

Once, having set about the worship of Shiva, that excellent hunter did not find even a particle of funeral-pyre ash filling his vessel.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.109.28)

अथासौ त्वरितो दूरमन्विष्यन्परितो भ्रमन् ॥ न लब्धवांश्चिताभस्म श्रांतो गृहमगात्पुनः

athāsau tvarito dūramanviṣyanparito bhraman na labdhavāṁścitābhasma śrāṁto gṛhamagātpunaḥ

Then he, hastening, searching far and wide, wandering about, did not obtain funeral-pyre ash, and, exhausted, returned home again.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.109.29)

तत आहूय पत्नीं स्वां शबरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ न लब्धं मे चिताभस्म किं करोमि वद प्रिये

tata āhūya patnīṁ svāṁ śabaro vākyamabravīt na labdhaṁ me citābhasma kiṁ karomi vada priye

Then, summoning his own wife, the hunter spoke these words: "I have not obtained funeral-pyre ash; what shall I do, tell me, beloved?

Verse 30 (skanda.3.109.30)

शिवपूजांतरायो मे जातोद्य बत पाप्मनः ॥ पूजां विना क्षणमपि नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे

śivapūjāṁtarāyo me jātodya bata pāpmanaḥ pūjāṁ vinā kṣaṇamapi nāhaṁ jīvitumutsahe

"An obstacle has today arisen to my Shiva-worship, alas, through my own sinfulness; without worship, even for a moment, I cannot bear to live.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.109.31)

उपायं नात्र पश्यामि पूजोपकरणे हते ॥ न गुरोश्च विहन्येत शासनं सकलार्थदम्

upāyaṁ nātra paśyāmi pūjopakaraṇe hate na gurośca vihanyeta śāsanaṁ sakalārthadam

"I see no remedy here, since the article of worship is lacking; nor should my guru's instruction, bestower of every good, be violated."

Verse 32 (skanda.3.109.32)

इति व्याकुलितं दृष्ट्वा भर्त्तारं शबरांगना ॥ प्रत्यभाषत मा भैस्त्वमुपायं प्रवदामि ते

iti vyākulitaṁ dṛṣṭvā bharttāraṁ śabarāṁganā pratyabhāṣata mā bhaistvamupāyaṁ pravadāmi te

Seeing her husband thus troubled, the hunter's wife replied: "Do not fear; I shall tell you a remedy.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.109.33)

इदमेव गृहं दग्ध्वा बहुकालोपबृंहितम् ॥ अहमग्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि चिताभस्म भवेत्ततः

idameva gṛhaṁ dagdhvā bahukālopabṛṁhitam ahamagniṁ pravekṣyāmi citābhasma bhavettataḥ

"Having burned this very house of ours, built up over a long time, I shall enter the fire myself; from that, funeral-pyre ash will result."

Verse 34 (skanda.3.109.34)

शबर उवाच ॥ धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां देहः परमसाधनम् ॥ कथं त्यजसि तं देहं सुखार्थं नवयौवनम्

śabara uvāca dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ dehaḥ paramasādhanam kathaṁ tyajasi taṁ dehaṁ sukhārthaṁ navayauvanam

The hunter said: "The body is the supreme instrument for dharma, artha, kama, and moksha; how can you abandon that body, in the freshness of youth, for the sake of pleasure?

Verse 35 (skanda.3.109.35)

अधुना त्वनपत्या त्वमभुक्तविषयासवा ॥ भोगयोग्यमिमं देहं कथं दग्धुमिहेच्छसि

adhunā tvanapatyā tvamabhuktaviṣayāsavā bhogayogyamimaṁ dehaṁ kathaṁ dagdhumihecchasi

"Now, childless as you are, having not yet enjoyed the wine of worldly pleasures, how can you wish to burn this body, fit for enjoyment?"

Verse 36 (skanda.3.109.36)

शबर्युवाच ॥ एतावदेव साफल्यं जीवितस्य च जन्मनः ॥ परार्थे यस्त्यजेत्प्राणाञ्छिवार्थे किमुत स्वयम्

śabaryuvāca etāvadeva sāphalyaṁ jīvitasya ca janmanaḥ parārthe yastyajetprāṇāñchivārthe kimuta svayam

The hunter's wife said: "This alone is the true fulfillment of life and of birth, that one should give up one's life for another's sake, how much more so for Shiva's own sake, of one's own accord!

Verse 37 (skanda.3.109.37)

किं नु तप्तं तपो घोरं किं वा दत्तं मया पुरा ॥ किं वार्चनं कृतं शंभोः पूर्वजन्मशतांतरे

kiṁ nu taptaṁ tapo ghoraṁ kiṁ vā dattaṁ mayā purā kiṁ vārcanaṁ kṛtaṁ śaṁbhoḥ pūrvajanmaśatāṁtare

"What terrible austerity did I perform, or what did I give, in some former time? What worship of Shambhu did I perform, across the span of a hundred former births?

Verse 38 (skanda.3.109.38)

किं वा पुण्यं मम पितुः का वा मातुः कृतार्थता ॥ यच्छिवार्थे समिद्धेऽग्नौ त्यजाम्येतत्कलेवरम्

kiṁ vā puṇyaṁ mama pituḥ kā vā mātuḥ kṛtārthatā yacchivārthe samiddhe'gnau tyajāmyetatkalevaram

"Or what merit had my father, or what fulfillment did my mother attain, that I now, for Shiva's sake, in the kindled fire, give up this body?"

Verse 39 (skanda.3.109.39)

इत्थं स्थिरां मतिं दृष्ट्वा तस्या भक्तिं च शंकरे ॥ तथेति दृढसंकल्पः शबरः प्रत्यपूजयत्

itthaṁ sthirāṁ matiṁ dṛṣṭvā tasyā bhaktiṁ ca śaṁkare tatheti dṛḍhasaṁkalpaḥ śabaraḥ pratyapūjayat

Seeing her firm resolve thus, and her devotion to Shankara, the hunter, his resolve now steadied, said "So be it," and worshipped in accord.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.109.40)

सा भर्त्तारमनुप्राप्य स्नात्वा शुचिरलंकृता ॥ गृहमादीप्य तं वह्निं भक्त्या चक्रे प्रदक्षिणम्

sā bharttāramanuprāpya snātvā śuciralaṁkṛtā gṛhamādīpya taṁ vahniṁ bhaktyā cakre pradakṣiṇam

She, having received her husband's consent, having bathed and become pure and adorned, having set that house ablaze, with devotion circumambulated the fire.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.109.41)

नमस्कृत्वात्मगुरवे ध्यात्वा हृदि सदाशिवम् ॥ अग्निप्रवेशाभिमुखी कृतांजलिरिदं जगौ

namaskṛtvātmagurave dhyātvā hṛdi sadāśivam agnipraveśābhimukhī kṛtāṁjaliridaṁ jagau

Having bowed to her own guru, having meditated on Sadashiva in her heart, facing the fire she was about to enter, with joined palms, she sang this:

Verse 42 (skanda.3.109.42)

शबर्युवाच ॥ पुष्पाणि संतु तव देव ममेंद्रियाणि धूपोऽगुरुर्वपुरिदं हृदयं प्रदीपः ॥ प्राणा हवींषि करणानि तवाक्षताश्च पूजाफलं व्रजतु सांप्रतमेष जीवः

śabaryuvāca puṣpāṇi saṁtu tava deva mameṁdriyāṇi dhūpo'gururvapuridaṁ hṛdayaṁ pradīpaḥ prāṇā havīṁṣi karaṇāni tavākṣatāśca pūjāphalaṁ vrajatu sāṁpratameṣa jīvaḥ

The hunter's wife said: "Let my senses be your flowers, O god; let this body be the incense of aloewood; let my heart be the lamp; let my life-breaths be the oblations, my faculties the unbroken grains; let this fruit of worship, this life of mine, now go to you.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.109.43)

वांछामि नाहमपि सर्वधनाधिपत्यं न स्वर्गभूमिमचलां न पदं विधातुः ॥ भूयो भवामि यदि जन्मनिजन्मनि स्यां त्वत्पादपंकजलसन्मकरंदभृंगी

vāṁchāmi nāhamapi sarvadhanādhipatyaṁ na svargabhūmimacalāṁ na padaṁ vidhātuḥ bhūyo bhavāmi yadi janmanijanmani syāṁ tvatpādapaṁkajalasanmakaraṁdabhṛṁgī

"I do not desire even lordship over all wealth, nor the unmoving realm of heaven, nor the seat of the Creator; if I must be born again and again, let me be a bee delighting in the flowing honey of your lotus feet.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.109.44)

जन्मानि संतु मम देव शताधिकानि माया न मे वि शतु चित्तमबोधहेतुः ॥ किंचित्क्षणार्धमपि ते चरणारविन्दान्नापैतु मे हृदयमीश नमोनमस्ते

janmāni saṁtu mama deva śatādhikāni māyā na me vi śatu cittamabodhahetuḥ kiṁcitkṣaṇārdhamapi te caraṇāravindānnāpaitu me hṛdayamīśa namonamaste

"Let me have a hundred and more births, O god; let maya, the cause of ignorance, never enter my mind; let my heart never depart, even for half a moment, from your lotus feet, O Lord; salutation, salutation to you."

Verse 45 (skanda.3.109.45)

इति प्रसाद्य देवेशं शबरी दृढनिश्चया ॥ विवेश ज्वलितं वह्निं भस्मसादभवत्क्षणात्

iti prasādya deveśaṁ śabarī dṛḍhaniścayā viveśa jvalitaṁ vahniṁ bhasmasādabhavatkṣaṇāt

Having thus propitiated the Lord of gods, that hunter's wife, of firm resolve, entered the blazing fire, and in an instant turned to ash.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.109.46)

शबरोपि च तद्भस्म यत्नेन परिगृह्य सः ॥ चक्रे दग्धगृहोपान्ते शिवपूजां समाहितः

śabaropi ca tadbhasma yatnena parigṛhya saḥ cakre dagdhagṛhopānte śivapūjāṁ samāhitaḥ

And that hunter too, having gathered that ash with care, performed the worship of Shiva, composed in mind, near the burned house.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.109.47)

अथ सस्मार पूजांते प्रसादग्रहणोचिताम् ॥ दयितां नित्यमायांतीं प्रांजलिं विनयान्विताम्

atha sasmāra pūjāṁte prasādagrahaṇocitām dayitāṁ nityamāyāṁtīṁ prāṁjaliṁ vinayānvitām

Then, at the end of the worship, he remembered his beloved, fit to receive the sacred remnants, who ever used to come, with joined palms and humility.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.109.48)

स्मृतमात्रां तदापश्यदागतां पृष्ठतः स्थिताम् ॥ पूर्वेणावयवेनैव भक्तिनम्रां शुचिस्मिताम्

smṛtamātrāṁ tadāpaśyadāgatāṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ sthitām pūrveṇāvayavenaiva bhaktinamrāṁ śucismitām

No sooner had he thought of her than he saw her, arrived, standing behind him, in her former bodily form, bowed in devotion, of pure smile.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.109.49)

तां वीक्ष्य शबरः पत्नीं पूर्ववत्प्रांजलिं स्थिताम् ॥ भस्मावशेषितगृहं यथापूर्वमवस्थितम्

tāṁ vīkṣya śabaraḥ patnīṁ pūrvavatprāṁjaliṁ sthitām bhasmāvaśeṣitagṛhaṁ yathāpūrvamavasthitam

Seeing his wife thus, standing with joined palms as before, and the house, reduced to ash, standing as before,

Verse 50 (skanda.3.109.50)

अग्निर्दहति तेजोभिः सूर्यो दहति रश्मिभिः ॥ राजा दहति दंडेन ब्राह्मणो मनसा दहेत्

agnirdahati tejobhiḥ sūryo dahati raśmibhiḥ rājā dahati daṁḍena brāhmaṇo manasā dahet

"Fire burns with its heat, the sun burns with its rays, a king burns with punishment, a brahmin burns with his mind,

Verse 51 (skanda.3.109.51)

किमयं स्वप्न आहोस्वित्किं वा माया भ्रमात्मिका ॥ इति विस्मयसंभ्रातस्तां भूयः पर्यपृच्छत

kimayaṁ svapna āhosvitkiṁ vā māyā bhramātmikā iti vismayasaṁbhrātastāṁ bhūyaḥ paryapṛcchata

"is this a dream, or is it some illusion born of confusion?" Thus, overcome with astonishment, he questioned her again.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.109.52)

अपि त्वं च कथं प्राप्ता भस्मभूतासि पावके ॥ दग्धं च भवनं भूयः कथं पूर्व वदास्थितम्

api tvaṁ ca kathaṁ prāptā bhasmabhūtāsi pāvake dagdhaṁ ca bhavanaṁ bhūyaḥ kathaṁ pūrva vadāsthitam

"How indeed did you, turned to ash in the fire, come to be here? And how is the house, burned down, standing again as it was before?"

Verse 53 (skanda.3.109.53)

शबर्युवाच ॥ यदा गृहं समुद्दीप्य प्रविष्टाहं हुताशने ॥ तदात्मानं न जानामि न पश्यामि हुताशनम्

śabaryuvāca yadā gṛhaṁ samuddīpya praviṣṭāhaṁ hutāśane tadātmānaṁ na jānāmi na paśyāmi hutāśanam

The hunter's wife said: "When, having set the house ablaze, I entered the fire, then I knew not myself, nor did I see the fire at all.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.109.54)

न तापलेशोप्यासीन्मे प्रविष्टाया इवोदकम् ॥ सुषुप्तेव क्षणार्धेन प्रबुद्धास्मि पुनः क्षणात्

na tāpaleśopyāsīnme praviṣṭāyā ivodakam suṣupteva kṣaṇārdhena prabuddhāsmi punaḥ kṣaṇāt

"There was not even a trace of heat for me, as if I had entered water; as if asleep for half a moment, I awoke again the very next instant.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.109.55)

तावद्भवनमद्राक्षमदग्धमिव सुस्थितम् ॥ अधुना देवपूजांते प्रसादं लब्धुमागता

tāvadbhavanamadrākṣamadagdhamiva susthitam adhunā devapūjāṁte prasādaṁ labdhumāgatā

"At that very moment I saw the house standing well, as if unburned; now, at the end of your worship of the god, I have come to receive the sacred remnant."

Verse 56 (skanda.3.109.56)

एवं परस्परं प्रेम्णा दंपत्योर्भाषमाणयोः ॥ प्रादुरासीत्तयोरग्रे विमानं दिव्यमद्भुतम्

evaṁ parasparaṁ premṇā daṁpatyorbhāṣamāṇayoḥ prādurāsīttayoragre vimānaṁ divyamadbhutam

As the husband and wife thus spoke to one another with mutual love, there appeared before them a divine, wondrous celestial chariot.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.109.57)

तस्मिन्विमाने शतचन्द्रभास्वरे चत्वार ईशानुचराः पुरःसराः ॥ हस्ते गृहीत्वाथ निषाददंपती आरोपयामासुरमुक्तविग्रहौ

tasminvimāne śatacandrabhāsvare catvāra īśānucarāḥ puraḥsarāḥ haste gṛhītvātha niṣādadaṁpatī āropayāmāsuramuktavigrahau

In that chariot, radiant as a hundred moons, four attendants of Ishvara, leading the way, took the hunter and his wife by the hand and set them, their bodies unimpaired, upon it.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.109.58)

तयोर्निषाददंपत्योस्तत्क्षणादेव तद्वपुः ॥ शिवदूतकरस्पर्शात्तत्सारूप्यमवाप ह

tayorniṣādadaṁpatyostatkṣaṇādeva tadvapuḥ śivadūtakarasparśāttatsārūpyamavāpa ha

In that very instant, by the touch of the hands of Shiva's messengers, the bodies of that hunter couple attained a form like his own.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.109.59)

तस्माच्छ्रद्धैव सर्वेषु विधेया पुण्यकर्मसु ॥ नीचोपि शबरः प्राप श्रद्धया योगिनां गतिम्

tasmācchraddhaiva sarveṣu vidheyā puṇyakarmasu nīcopi śabaraḥ prāpa śraddhayā yogināṁ gatim

Therefore faith alone should be maintained in all meritorious deeds; even a lowly hunter attained, through faith, the destiny of yogis.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.109.60)

किं जन्मना सकलवर्णजनोत्तमेन किं विद्यया सकलशास्त्रविचारवत्या ॥ यस्यास्ति चेतसि सदा परमेशभक्तिः कोऽन्यस्ततस्त्रिभुवने पुरुषोस्ति धन्यः

kiṁ janmanā sakalavarṇajanottamena kiṁ vidyayā sakalaśāstravicāravatyā yasyāsti cetasi sadā parameśabhaktiḥ ko'nyastatastribhuvane puruṣosti dhanyaḥ

What use is birth as the best of men of every caste? What use is learning that examines every scripture? He in whose heart there is ever devotion to the Supreme Lord, who else in the three worlds is more blessed than he?