Dharmagupta's Deliverance from Madness

Verse 1 (skanda.3.32.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच भूयोऽपिसंप्रवक्ष्यामि धनुष्कोटेस्तु वैभवम् युष्माकमादरेणाहं नैमिषारण्यवा सिनः

śrīsūta uvāca bhūyo'pisaṁpravakṣyāmi dhanuṣkoṭestu vaibhavam yuṣmākamādareṇāhaṁ naimiṣāraṇyavā sinaḥ

Sri Suta said: "Once again I shall tell, O dwellers of the Naimisha forest, out of regard for you, the glory of Dhanushkoti."

Verse 2 (skanda.3.32.2)

नंदोनाम महाराजः सोमवंशसमुद्भवः धर्मेण पालयामास सागरांतां धरामिमाम्

naṁdonāma mahārājaḥ somavaṁśasamudbhavaḥ dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa sāgarāṁtāṁ dharāmimām

There was a great king named Nanda, born in the lunar dynasty; he ruled this earth, bounded by the ocean, with righteousness.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.32.3)

तस्य पुत्रः समभवद्धर्मगुप्त इति श्रुतः राज्य रक्षाधुरं नंदो निजपुत्रे निधाय सः

tasya putraḥ samabhavaddharmagupta iti śrutaḥ rājya rakṣādhuraṁ naṁdo nijaputre nidhāya saḥ

A son was born to him, known by the name Dharmagupta; Nanda, having placed the burden of guarding the kingdom upon that son of his,

Verse 4 (skanda.3.32.4)

जितेंद्रियो जिताहारः प्रविवेश तपोवनम् ताते तपोवनं याते धर्मगुप्ताभिधो नृपः

jiteṁdriyo jitāhāraḥ praviveśa tapovanam tāte tapovanaṁ yāte dharmaguptābhidho nṛpaḥ

with senses and diet fully mastered, entered the forest of austerities. When his father had gone to that penance-forest, the king named Dharmagupta,

Verse 5 (skanda.3.32.5)

मेदिनीं पालया मास धर्मज्ञो नीतितत्परः ईजे बहुविधैर्यज्ञैर्देवानिंद्रपुरोगमान्

medinīṁ pālayā māsa dharmajño nītitatparaḥ īje bahuvidhairyajñairdevāniṁdrapurogamān

ruled the earth, versed in righteousness and devoted to statecraft; he worshipped the gods headed by Indra with sacrifices of many kinds.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.32.6)

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ वित्तं क्षेत्राणि च बहूनि सः सर्वे स्वधर्मनिरतास्तस्मिन्राजनि शासति

brāhmaṇebhyo dadau vittaṁ kṣetrāṇi ca bahūni saḥ sarve svadharmaniratāstasminrājani śāsati

He gave wealth to brahmins, and many lands as well; while he reigned, everyone remained devoted to their own dharma.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.32.7)

बभूवुर्नाभवन्पीडास्तस्मिंश्चोरादिसंभवाः कदाचिद्धर्मगुप्तोऽयमारूढस्तुरगोत्तमम्

babhūvurnābhavanpīḍāstasmiṁścorādisaṁbhavāḥ kadāciddharmagupto'yamārūḍhasturagottamam

No afflictions arising from thieves or the like occurred in his realm. Once this Dharmagupta, mounted upon an excellent horse,

Verse 8 (skanda.3.32.8)

वनं विवेश विप्रेंद्रा मृगयारसकौ तुकी तमालतालहिंतालकुरवाकुलदिङ्मुखे

vanaṁ viveśa vipreṁdrā mṛgayārasakau tukī tamālatālahiṁtālakuravākuladiṅmukhe

entered a forest, O best of brahmins, eager for the delight of the hunt — a forest whose quarters were thick with tamala, tala, hintala and kurava trees;

Verse 9 (skanda.3.32.9)

विचचार वने तस्मिन्सिंहव्याघ्रभयानके मत्तालिकुलसंनादसंमूर्छितदिगंतरे

vicacāra vane tasminsiṁhavyāghrabhayānake mattālikulasaṁnādasaṁmūrchitadigaṁtare

he roamed in that forest, made fearsome by lions and tigers, its far horizons resounding with the humming of intoxicated swarms of bees.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.32.10)

पद्म कल्हारकुमुदनीलोत्पलवनाकुलैः तटाकैरपि संपूर्णे तपस्विजनमंडिते

padma kalhārakumudanīlotpalavanākulaiḥ taṭākairapi saṁpūrṇe tapasvijanamaṁḍite

It was full of ponds thick with lotuses, kalhara, kumuda and blue lotus flowers, and was adorned with the dwellings of ascetics.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.32.11)

तस्मिन्वने संचरतो धर्मगुप्तस्य भूपतेः अभूद्विभावरी विप्रास्त मसावृतदिङ्मुखा

tasminvane saṁcarato dharmaguptasya bhūpateḥ abhūdvibhāvarī viprāsta masāvṛtadiṅmukhā

While King Dharmagupta was roaming in that forest, O brahmins, night fell upon him, its quarters wrapped in darkness.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.32.12)

राजापि पश्चिमां संध्यामुपास्य नियमान्वितः जजाप तत्र च वने गायत्रीं वेदमातरम्

rājāpi paścimāṁ saṁdhyāmupāsya niyamānvitaḥ jajāpa tatra ca vane gāyatrīṁ vedamātaram

The king too, observing his vows, performed the evening twilight rites and recited there in the forest the Gayatri, mother of the Vedas.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.32.13)

सिंहव्याघ्रादिभीत्या स्मिन्वृक्षमेकं समास्थिते राजपुत्रे तदाभ्यागादृक्षः सिंहभयार्दितः

siṁhavyāghrādibhītyā sminvṛkṣamekaṁ samāsthite rājaputre tadābhyāgādṛkṣaḥ siṁhabhayārditaḥ

While the king had taken refuge on a certain tree for fear of lions and tigers, a bear, tormented by fear of a lion, then came there.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.32.14)

अन्वधावतं तं ऋक्षमैकः सिंहो वनेचरः अनुद्रुतः स सिंहेन ऋक्षो वृक्षमुपारुहत्

anvadhāvataṁ taṁ ṛkṣamaikaḥ siṁho vanecaraḥ anudrutaḥ sa siṁhena ṛkṣo vṛkṣamupāruhat

A lion roaming the forest was chasing that bear; pursued by the lion, the bear climbed up that same tree.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.32.15)

आरुह्य ऋक्षो वृक्षं तं ददर्श जगतीपतिम् वृक्षस्थितं महात्मानं महाबलपराक्रमम्

āruhya ṛkṣo vṛkṣaṁ taṁ dadarśa jagatīpatim vṛkṣasthitaṁ mahātmānaṁ mahābalaparākramam

Having climbed the tree, the bear saw there that lord of the earth, the great-souled king of mighty strength and valor, already seated.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.32.16)

उवाच भूपतिं दृष्ट्वा ऋक्षोयं वनगोचरः मा भीतिं कुरु राजेंद्र वत्स्यावो रजनीमिह

uvāca bhūpatiṁ dṛṣṭvā ṛkṣoyaṁ vanagocaraḥ mā bhītiṁ kuru rājeṁdra vatsyāvo rajanīmiha

Seeing the king, that forest-dwelling bear said: "Do not be afraid, O king of kings; let us both stay here for the night."

Verse 17 (skanda.3.32.17)

महासत्त्वो महाकायो महादंष्ट्रासमाकुलः वृक्षमूलं समायातः सिंहो यमतिभीषणः

mahāsattvo mahākāyo mahādaṁṣṭrāsamākulaḥ vṛkṣamūlaṁ samāyātaḥ siṁho yamatibhīṣaṇaḥ

"A lion of immense power, huge body and formidable fangs, terrible as death itself, has come to the foot of this tree."

Verse 18 (skanda.3.32.18)

रात्र्यर्धं भज निद्रा त्वं रक्ष्यमाणो मयादितः ततः प्रसुप्तं मां रक्ष शर्वर्यर्धं महामते

rātryardhaṁ bhaja nidrā tvaṁ rakṣyamāṇo mayāditaḥ tataḥ prasuptaṁ māṁ rakṣa śarvaryardhaṁ mahāmate

"Sleep through the first half of the night, watched over by me; then, O wise one, when I sleep, guard me through the second half."

Verse 19 (skanda.3.32.19)

इति तद्वाक्यमादाय सुप्ते नंदसुते हरिः प्रोवाच ऋक्षं सुप्तोऽयं नृपश्च त्यज्यतामिति

iti tadvākyamādāya supte naṁdasute hariḥ provāca ṛkṣaṁ supto'yaṁ nṛpaśca tyajyatāmiti

Having accepted that arrangement, once the son of Nanda had fallen asleep, the lion said to the bear: "This king is asleep; let him be given up to me."

Verse 20 (skanda.3.32.20)

तं सिंहमब्रवीदृक्षो धर्मज्ञो द्विजसत्तमाः भवान्धर्मं न जानीषे मृगराज वनेचर

taṁ siṁhamabravīdṛkṣo dharmajño dvijasattamāḥ bhavāndharmaṁ na jānīṣe mṛgarāja vanecara

O best of brahmins, the bear, knowing dharma, said to that lion: "You, O king of beasts, forest-dweller, do not know dharma."

Verse 21 (skanda.3.32.21)

विश्वासघातिनां लोके महाकष्टा भवंति हि न हि मित्रद्रुहां पापं नश्येयज्ञायुतैरपि

viśvāsaghātināṁ loke mahākaṣṭā bhavaṁti hi na hi mitradruhāṁ pāpaṁ naśyeyajñāyutairapi

"Those who betray trust suffer great torments in this world; the sin of wronging a friend does not perish even through ten thousand sacrifices."

Verse 22 (skanda.3.32.22)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां कथंचिन्निष्कृतिर्भवेत् विश्वस्तघातिनां पापं न नश्येज्जन्मकोटिभिः

brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ kathaṁcinniṣkṛtirbhavet viśvastaghātināṁ pāpaṁ na naśyejjanmakoṭibhiḥ

"For sins such as brahmin-slaying, some expiation may somehow be found; but the sin of one who kills a trusting being does not perish even in millions of births."

Verse 23 (skanda.3.32.23)

नाहं मेरुं महाभारं मन्ये पंचास्य भूतले महाभारमिमं मन्ये लोके विश्वासघातकम्

nāhaṁ meruṁ mahābhāraṁ manye paṁcāsya bhūtale mahābhāramimaṁ manye loke viśvāsaghātakam

"I do not think Mount Meru the heaviest burden on this earth, O lion; I consider the betrayal of trust the truly heaviest burden in the world."

Verse 24 (skanda.3.32.24)

एवमुक्तेऽथ ऋक्षेण सिंहस्तूष्णीमभूत्तदा धर्मगुप्ते प्रबुद्धे तु ऋक्षः सुष्वाप भूरुहे

evamukte'tha ṛkṣeṇa siṁhastūṣṇīmabhūttadā dharmagupte prabuddhe tu ṛkṣaḥ suṣvāpa bhūruhe

When the bear had spoken thus, the lion fell silent. And when Dharmagupta awoke, the bear then fell asleep upon the tree.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.32.25)

ततः सिंहोऽब्रवीद्भूपमेनमृक्षं त्यजस्व मे एवमुक्तेऽथ सिंहेन राजा सुप्तमशंकितः

tataḥ siṁho'bravīdbhūpamenamṛkṣaṁ tyajasva me evamukte'tha siṁhena rājā suptamaśaṁkitaḥ

Then the lion said to the king: "Give this bear up to me." Thus addressed by the lion, the king, harboring no suspicion,

Verse 26 (skanda.3.32.26)

स्वांकन्यस्तशिरस्कं तमृक्षं तत्याज भूतले पात्यमानस्ततो राज्ञा नखालंबितपादपः

svāṁkanyastaśiraskaṁ tamṛkṣaṁ tatyāja bhūtale pātyamānastato rājñā nakhālaṁbitapādapaḥ

cast down to the ground the sleeping bear whose head had been resting in his own lap. As he was thrown down by the king, the bear, clutching the tree with his claws,

Verse 27 (skanda.3.32.27)

ऋक्षः पुण्यवशाद्वृक्षान्न पपात महीतले स ऋक्षो नृपमभ्येत्य कोपाद्वाक्यमभाषत

ṛkṣaḥ puṇyavaśādvṛkṣānna papāta mahītale sa ṛkṣo nṛpamabhyetya kopādvākyamabhāṣata

did not, by the power of his own merit, fall to the ground from the tree. That bear, coming before the king, spoke to him in anger:

Verse 28 (skanda.3.32.28)

कामरूपधरो राजन्नहं भृगुकुलोद्भवः ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधो नाम्ना ऋक्षरूपमधारयम्

kāmarūpadharo rājannahaṁ bhṛgukulodbhavaḥ dhyānakāṣṭhābhidho nāmnā ṛkṣarūpamadhārayam

"O king, I am one born in the lineage of Bhrigu, able to take any form at will; known by the name Dhyanakashtha, I had assumed the form of a bear."

Verse 29 (skanda.3.32.29)

यस्मादनागसं सुप्तमत्याक्षीन्मां भवान्नृप मच्छापात्त्वमतः शीघ्रमुन्मत्तश्चर भूपते

yasmādanāgasaṁ suptamatyākṣīnmāṁ bhavānnṛpa macchāpāttvamataḥ śīghramunmattaścara bhūpate

"O king, since you abandoned me, innocent and asleep, therefore, O ruler, by my curse you shall from this moment go about deranged with madness."

Verse 30 (skanda.3.32.30)

इति शप्त्वा मुनिर्भूपं ततः सिंहमभाषत नृसिंहस्त्वं महायक्षः कुबेरसचिवः पुरा

iti śaptvā munirbhūpaṁ tataḥ siṁhamabhāṣata nṛsiṁhastvaṁ mahāyakṣaḥ kuberasacivaḥ purā

Having thus cursed the king, the sage then said to the lion: "O man-lion, you were of old a great Yaksha, a minister of Kubera."

Verse 31 (skanda.3.32.31)

हिमवद्गिरिमासाद्य कदाचित्त्वं वधूसखः अज्ञानाद्गौतमाभ्याशे विहारमतनोर्मुदा

himavadgirimāsādya kadācittvaṁ vadhūsakhaḥ ajñānādgautamābhyāśe vihāramatanormudā

"Once, having gone to the Himalayan mountain in the company of a young woman, you, in ignorance, sported joyfully near the hermitage of the sage Gautama."

Verse 32 (skanda.3.32.32)

गौतमोप्युटजाद्दैवात्समिदाहरणाय वै निर्गतस्त्वां विवसनं दृष्ट्वा शापमुदाहरत्

gautamopyuṭajāddaivātsamidāharaṇāya vai nirgatastvāṁ vivasanaṁ dṛṣṭvā śāpamudāharat

"And Gautama too, having by chance come out of his hut to gather firewood, saw you unclothed and pronounced this curse:"

Verse 33 (skanda.3.32.33)

यस्मान्ममाश्रमेऽद्य त्वं विवस्त्रः स्थितवानसि अतः सिंहत्वमद्यैव भविता ते न संशयः

yasmānmamāśrame'dya tvaṁ vivastraḥ sthitavānasi ataḥ siṁhatvamadyaiva bhavitā te na saṁśayaḥ

"'Since you have today stood naked within my hermitage, therefore this very day you shall become a lion — of this there is no doubt.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.3.32.34)

इति गौतमशापेन सिंहत्वमगमत्पुरा कुबेरसचिवो यक्षो भद्रनामा भवान्पुरा

iti gautamaśāpena siṁhatvamagamatpurā kuberasacivo yakṣo bhadranāmā bhavānpurā

"Thus, by Gautama's curse, you formerly became a lion; before that, O Yaksha named Bhadra, you were a minister of Kubera."

Verse 35 (skanda.3.32.35)

कुबेरो धर्मशीलो हि तद्भृत्याश्च तथैव हि अतः किमर्थं त्वं हंसि मामृषिं वनगोचरम्

kubero dharmaśīlo hi tadbhṛtyāśca tathaiva hi ataḥ kimarthaṁ tvaṁ haṁsi māmṛṣiṁ vanagocaram

"Kubera is by nature righteous, and so likewise are his servants; so why then do you seek to kill me, a sage dwelling in this forest?"

Verse 36 (skanda.3.32.36)

एतत्सर्वमहं ध्याना ज्जानामीह मृगाधिप इत्युक्ते ध्यानकाष्ठेन त्यक्त्वा सिंहत्वमाशु सः

etatsarvamahaṁ dhyānā jjānāmīha mṛgādhipa ityukte dhyānakāṣṭhena tyaktvā siṁhatvamāśu saḥ

"All this I know here through meditation, O king of beasts." When Dhyanakashtha had said this, that lion at once cast off his lion-form,

Verse 37 (skanda.3.32.37)

यक्षरूपं गतो दिव्यं कुबेरसचिवात्मकम् ध्यानकाष्ठमसावाह प्रांजलिः प्रणतो मुनिम्

yakṣarūpaṁ gato divyaṁ kuberasacivātmakam dhyānakāṣṭhamasāvāha prāṁjaliḥ praṇato munim

and assumed his divine Yaksha form as Kubera's minister; with joined palms, bowed low, he addressed the sage Dhyanakashtha:

Verse 38 (skanda.3.32.38)

अद्य ज्ञातं मया सर्वं पूर्ववृत्तं महामुने गौतमः शापकाले मे शापांतमपि चोक्तवान्

adya jñātaṁ mayā sarvaṁ pūrvavṛttaṁ mahāmune gautamaḥ śāpakāle me śāpāṁtamapi coktavān

"O great sage, today I have come to know all that happened before; Gautama, when cursing me, also told me the end of the curse:"

Verse 39 (skanda.3.32.39)

ध्यानकाष्ठे न संवाद ऋक्षरूपेण ते यदा तदा निर्धूय सिंहत्वं यक्षरूपमवाप्स्यसि

dhyānakāṣṭhe na saṁvāda ṛkṣarūpeṇa te yadā tadā nirdhūya siṁhatvaṁ yakṣarūpamavāpsyasi

"'When you converse with Dhyanakashtha in his bear form, then, shaking off your lion-state, you shall regain your Yaksha form.'"

Verse 40 (skanda.3.32.40)

इति मामब्रवीद्ब्रह्मन्गौतमो मुनिपुंगवः अद्य सिंहत्वनाशान्मे जानामि त्वां महामुने

iti māmabravīdbrahmangautamo munipuṁgavaḥ adya siṁhatvanāśānme jānāmi tvāṁ mahāmune

"Thus, O brahmin, the foremost sage Gautama told me. Today, from the destruction of my lion-state, I recognize you, O great sage,"

Verse 41 (skanda.3.32.41)

ध्यानकाष्ठाभिधं शुद्धं कामरूपधरं सदा इत्युक्त्वा तं प्रणम्याथ ध्यानकाष्ठं स यक्षराट्

dhyānakāṣṭhābhidhaṁ śuddhaṁ kāmarūpadharaṁ sadā ityuktvā taṁ praṇamyātha dhyānakāṣṭhaṁ sa yakṣarāṭ

as the pure Dhyanakashtha, ever able to take any form at will." Having said this and bowed to him, that lord of Yakshas,

Verse 42 (skanda.3.32.42)

विमानवरमा रुह्य प्रययावलकापुरीम् तस्मिन्गते तु यक्षेशे ध्यानकाष्ठो महामुनिः

vimānavaramā ruhya prayayāvalakāpurīm tasmingate tu yakṣeśe dhyānakāṣṭho mahāmuniḥ

mounting an excellent celestial chariot, departed for the city of Alaka. When that lord of Yakshas had gone, the great sage Dhyanakashtha,

Verse 43 (skanda.3.32.43)

अव्याहतेष्टगमनो यथेष्ठः प्रययौ महीम् ध्यानकाष्ठे गते तस्मि न्कामरूपधरे मुनौ

avyāhateṣṭagamano yatheṣṭhaḥ prayayau mahīm dhyānakāṣṭhe gate tasmi nkāmarūpadhare munau

whose movement met no obstruction anywhere, went forth over the earth as he pleased. When that sage Dhyanakashtha, who could assume any form, had departed,

Verse 44 (skanda.3.32.44)

धर्मगुप्तौ मुनेः शापादुन्मत्तः प्रययौ पुरीम् उन्मत्तरूपं तं दृष्ट्वा मंत्रिणस्तु नृपोत्तमम्

dharmaguptau muneḥ śāpādunmattaḥ prayayau purīm unmattarūpaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā maṁtriṇastu nṛpottamam

Dharmagupta, by the sage's curse, went toward the city in a state of madness. Seeing that best of kings in his mad state, his ministers,

Verse 45 (skanda.3.32.45)

पितुः सकाशमा निन्यू रेवातीरे मनोरमे तस्मै निवेदयामासुर्मतिभ्रंशं सुतस्य ते

pituḥ sakāśamā ninyū revātīre manorame tasmai nivedayāmāsurmatibhraṁśaṁ sutasya te

brought him to his father's presence on the lovely bank of the river Reva, and reported to him his son's derangement of mind.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.32.46)

ज्ञात्वा तु पुत्रवृत्तांतं नन्दस्तस्य पिता तदा पुत्रमादाय तरसा जैमिनेरन्तिकं ययौ तस्मै निवेदयामास पुत्रवृत्तान्तमादितः

jñātvā tu putravṛttāṁtaṁ nandastasya pitā tadā putramādāya tarasā jaiminerantikaṁ yayau tasmai nivedayāmāsa putravṛttāntamāditaḥ

Learning of his son's condition, Nanda, his father, quickly took his son and went to Jaimini, and related to him his son's whole story from the beginning.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.32.47)

भगवञ्जैमिने पुत्रो ममाद्योन्मत्ततां गतः

bhagavañjaimine putro mamādyonmattatāṁ gataḥ

"O venerable Jaimini, my son has today fallen into a state of madness."

Verse 48 (skanda.3.32.48)

अस्योन्मादविनाशाय ब्रूह्युपायं महामुने इति पृष्टश्चिरं दध्यौ जैमिनिर्मुनिपुंगवः

asyonmādavināśāya brūhyupāyaṁ mahāmune iti pṛṣṭaściraṁ dadhyau jaiminirmunipuṁgavaḥ

"Tell me, O great sage, some means for the destruction of his madness." Thus asked, Jaimini, foremost of sages, pondered for a long while,

Verse 49 (skanda.3.32.49)

ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं नृपं नंदमथाब्रवीत् ध्यानकाष्ठस्य शापेन ह्युन्म त्तस्ते सुतोऽभवत्

dhyātvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ nṛpaṁ naṁdamathābravīt dhyānakāṣṭhasya śāpena hyunma ttaste suto'bhavat

and after long reflection said to King Nanda: "It is indeed by the curse of Dhyanakashtha that your son has become mad."

Verse 50 (skanda.3.32.50)

तस्य शापस्य मोक्षार्थमुपायं प्रब्रवीमि ते दक्षिणांबुनिधौ सेतौ पुण्ये पापविनाशने

tasya śāpasya mokṣārthamupāyaṁ prabravīmi te dakṣiṇāṁbunidhau setau puṇye pāpavināśane

"For release from that curse I shall tell you a means: at the sacred, sin-destroying Setu in the southern ocean,"

Verse 51 (skanda.3.32.51)

धनुष्कोटिरिति ख्यातं तीर्थमस्ति महत्तरम् पवित्राणां पवित्रं च मंगलानां च मंगलम्

dhanuṣkoṭiriti khyātaṁ tīrthamasti mahattaram pavitrāṇāṁ pavitraṁ ca maṁgalānāṁ ca maṁgalam

"there is a very great tirtha known as Dhanushkoti, purest of the pure and most auspicious of all auspicious things."

Verse 52 (skanda.3.32.52)

श्रुतिसिद्धं महापुण्यं ब्रह्महत्यादिशोधकम् नीत्वा तत्र सुतं तेऽद्य स्नापयस्व महीपते

śrutisiddhaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ brahmahatyādiśodhakam nītvā tatra sutaṁ te'dya snāpayasva mahīpate

"It is established by the Vedas, of great merit, and it purifies even the sin of brahmin-slaying. O king, take your son there and bathe him this very day."

Verse 53 (skanda.3.32.53)

उन्मादस्तत्क्षणादेव तस्य नश्येन्न संशयः इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्यासौ जैमिनिं मुनिपुंगवम्

unmādastatkṣaṇādeva tasya naśyenna saṁśayaḥ ityuktastaṁ praṇamyāsau jaiminiṁ munipuṁgavam

"His madness will be destroyed that very instant; of this there is no doubt." Thus addressed, Nanda bowed to Jaimini, foremost of sages,

Verse 54 (skanda.3.32.54)

नंदः पुत्रं समादाय धनुष्कोटिं ययौ तदा तत्र च स्नापयामास पुत्रं नियमपूर्वकम्

naṁdaḥ putraṁ samādāya dhanuṣkoṭiṁ yayau tadā tatra ca snāpayāmāsa putraṁ niyamapūrvakam

and Nanda then took his son and went to Dhanushkoti; and there he bathed his son according to the prescribed rule.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.32.55)

स्नानमात्रात्ततः सद्यो नष्टोन्मादोऽभवत्सुतः स्वयं सस्नौ स नन्दोपि धनुष्कोटौ सभक्तिकम्

snānamātrāttataḥ sadyo naṣṭonmādo'bhavatsutaḥ svayaṁ sasnau sa nandopi dhanuṣkoṭau sabhaktikam

By that bathing alone, his son's madness was instantly destroyed. Nanda too bathed devoutly at Dhanushkoti himself,

Verse 56 (skanda.3.32.56)

उषित्वा दिनमेकं तु सपुत्रस्तु पिता तदा सेवित्वा रामनाथं च सांबमूर्तिं घृणानिधिम्

uṣitvā dinamekaṁ tu saputrastu pitā tadā sevitvā rāmanāthaṁ ca sāṁbamūrtiṁ ghṛṇānidhim

and, staying there one day together with his son, the father worshipped Ramanatha, the form of Shiva together with Uma, that treasury of compassion.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.32.57)

पुत्रमापृच्छय नंदस्तं प्रययौ तपसे वनम् गते पितरि पुत्रोऽपि धर्मगुप्तो नृपो द्विजाः

putramāpṛcchaya naṁdastaṁ prayayau tapase vanam gate pitari putro'pi dharmagupto nṛpo dvijāḥ

Taking leave of his son, Nanda went back again to the forest for his austerities. When his father had gone, O brahmins, King Dharmagupta too,

Verse 58 (skanda.3.32.58)

प्रददौ रामनाथाय बहुवित्तानि भक्तितः ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं धान्यं क्षेत्राणि च ददौ तदा

pradadau rāmanāthāya bahuvittāni bhaktitaḥ brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ kṣetrāṇi ca dadau tadā

with devotion offered great wealth to Ramanatha, and then gave wealth, grain, and lands to the brahmins.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.32.59)

प्रययौ मंत्रिभिः सार्धं स्वां पुरीं तदनंतरम् धर्मेण पालयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्

prayayau maṁtribhiḥ sārdhaṁ svāṁ purīṁ tadanaṁtaram dharmeṇa pālayāmāsa rājyaṁ nihatakaṇṭakam

Thereafter he went to his own city together with his ministers, and ruled his kingdom, now free of thorns, with righteousness.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.32.60)

पितृपैतामहं विप्रा धर्मगुप्तोऽतिधार्मिकः उन्मादैरप्यपस्मारैर्ग्रहैर्दुष्टैश्च ये नराः

pitṛpaitāmahaṁ viprā dharmagupto'tidhārmikaḥ unmādairapyapasmārairgrahairduṣṭaiśca ye narāḥ

O brahmins, the most righteous Dharmagupta thus governed the realm of his father and forefathers. Those men who are seized by madness, epilepsy, and evil planetary influences —

Verse 61 (skanda.3.32.61)

ग्रस्ता भवंति विप्रेंद्रास्तेऽपि चात्र निमज्जनात् धनुष्कोटौ विमुक्ताः स्युः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

grastā bhavaṁti vipreṁdrāste'pi cātra nimajjanāt dhanuṣkoṭau vimuktāḥ syuḥ satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

those too, O best of brahmins, are freed by bathing here at Dhanushkoti; I speak the truth, the truth alone.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.32.62)

परित्यज्य धनुष्कोटिं तीर्थमन्यद्व्रजेत्तु यः सिद्धं स गोपयस्त्यक्त्वा स्नुहीक्षीरं प्रयाचते

parityajya dhanuṣkoṭiṁ tīrthamanyadvrajettu yaḥ siddhaṁ sa gopayastyaktvā snuhīkṣīraṁ prayācate

Whoever, forsaking Dhanushkoti, goes to another tirtha, is like one who abandons a cow already at hand and goes begging for the sap of the thorn-plant instead.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.32.63)

धनुष्कोटिर्धनुष्कोटिर्धनुष्कोटिरिति द्विजाः त्रिः पठन्तो नरा ये तु यत्र क्वापि जलाशये

dhanuṣkoṭirdhanuṣkoṭirdhanuṣkoṭiriti dvijāḥ triḥ paṭhanto narā ye tu yatra kvāpi jalāśaye

O brahmins, those men who, reciting "Dhanushkoti, Dhanushkoti, Dhanushkoti" three times, then bathe in whatever body of water,

Verse 64 (skanda.3.32.64)

स्नांति सर्वे नरास्ते वै यास्यंति ब्रह्मणः पदम् एवं वः कथिता विप्रा धर्मगुप्तकथा शुभा

snāṁti sarve narāste vai yāsyaṁti brahmaṇaḥ padam evaṁ vaḥ kathitā viprā dharmaguptakathā śubhā

all such men attain the world of Brahma. Thus, O brahmins, I have told you this auspicious story of Dharmagupta,

Verse 65 (skanda.3.32.65)

यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या विनश्यति स्वर्णस्तेयादयश्चान्ये नश्येयुः पापसंचयाः

yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyā vinaśyati svarṇasteyādayaścānye naśyeyuḥ pāpasaṁcayāḥ

merely by hearing which the sin of brahmin-slaying is destroyed, and other accumulated sins such as the theft of gold likewise perish.