The Jackal and the Monkey: Sumati's Deliverance Foretold

Verse 1 (skanda.3.34.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच इतिहासं पुनर्वक्ष्ये धनुष्कोटिप्रशंसनम् सृगालस्य च संवादं वानरस्य च सत्तमाः

śrīsūta uvāca itihāsaṁ punarvakṣye dhanuṣkoṭipraśaṁsanam sṛgālasya ca saṁvādaṁ vānarasya ca sattamāḥ

Sri Suta said: "O best of sages, I shall again relate a tale in praise of Dhanushkoti — the dialogue between a jackal and a monkey."

Verse 2 (skanda.3.34.2)

सृगालवानरौ पूर्वमास्तां जातिस्मरावुभौ पुरापि मानुषे भावे सखायौ तौ बभूवतुः

sṛgālavānarau pūrvamāstāṁ jātismarāvubhau purāpi mānuṣe bhāve sakhāyau tau babhūvatuḥ

A jackal and a monkey once lived, both able to remember their former births; earlier too, in a human state, they had been friends.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.34.3)

अन्यां योनिं समापन्नौ सार्गालीं वानरीं तथा सख्यं समीयतुरुभौ सृगालो वानरो द्विजाः

anyāṁ yoniṁ samāpannau sārgālīṁ vānarīṁ tathā sakhyaṁ samīyaturubhau sṛgālo vānaro dvijāḥ

Having entered other wombs, the jackal-womb and the monkey-womb, O brahmins, the two of them, jackal and monkey, again came to friendship.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.34.4)

कदाचिद्रुद्रभूमिष्ठं सृगालं वानरोऽब्रवीत् श्मशानमध्ये संप्रेक्ष्य पूर्वजातिमनुस्मरन्

kadācidrudrabhūmiṣṭhaṁ sṛgālaṁ vānaro'bravīt śmaśānamadhye saṁprekṣya pūrvajātimanusmaran

Once, seeing the jackal standing in a cremation ground, the monkey, recalling their former birth, said to him:

Verse 5 (skanda.3.34.5)

वानर उवाच सृगाल पातकं पूर्वं किमकार्षीः सुदारुणम् यस्त्वं श्मशाने मृतकान्पूतिगंधांश्च कुत्सितान् अत्सीत्युक्तोऽथ कपिना सृगालस्तमभाषत

vānara uvāca sṛgāla pātakaṁ pūrvaṁ kimakārṣīḥ sudāruṇam yastvaṁ śmaśāne mṛtakānpūtigaṁdhāṁśca kutsitān atsītyukto'tha kapinā sṛgālastamabhāṣata

The monkey said: "O jackal, what terrible sin did you formerly commit, that you now eat corpses in the cremation ground, foul-smelling and vile?" Thus addressed by the monkey, the jackal spoke to him:

Verse 6 (skanda.3.34.6)

सृगाल उवाच अहं पूर्वभवे ह्यासं ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः

sṛgāla uvāca ahaṁ pūrvabhave hyāsaṁ brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ

The jackal said: "In my former birth, I was a brahmin, learned in the Vedas,"

Verse 7 (skanda.3.34.7)

वेदशर्माभिधो विद्वान्सर्वकर्मकलापवित् ब्राह्मणाय प्रतिश्रुत्य न मया तत्र जन्मनि

vedaśarmābhidho vidvānsarvakarmakalāpavit brāhmaṇāya pratiśrutya na mayā tatra janmani

"known as Vedasharma, learned, versed in the whole range of rites. In that birth, having promised a gift to a brahmin,"

Verse 8 (skanda.3.34.8)

कपे धनं तदा दत्तं सृगालोऽहं ततोऽभवम् तस्मादेवंविधं भक्ष्यं भक्षयाम्यतिकुत्सितम्

kape dhanaṁ tadā dattaṁ sṛgālo'haṁ tato'bhavam tasmādevaṁvidhaṁ bhakṣyaṁ bhakṣayāmyatikutsitam

"O monkey, I did not give him that wealth; because of that I became a jackal. Therefore I eat food as vile as this."

Verse 9 (skanda.3.34.9)

प्रतिश्रुत्य दुरात्मानो न प्रयच्छंति ये नराः कपे सृगालयोनिं ते प्राप्नुवंत्यतिकुत्सिताम्

pratiśrutya durātmāno na prayacchaṁti ye narāḥ kape sṛgālayoniṁ te prāpnuvaṁtyatikutsitām

"O monkey, those wicked men who promise but do not give, attain the utterly vile womb of a jackal."

Verse 10 (skanda.3.34.10)

यो न दद्यात्प्रतिश्रुत्य स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु सर्वाशास्तस्य नष्टाः स्युः षंढस्येव प्रजोद्भवः

yo na dadyātpratiśrutya svalpaṁ vā yadi vā bahu sarvāśāstasya naṣṭāḥ syuḥ ṣaṁḍhasyeva prajodbhavaḥ

"Whoever, having promised, does not give — be it little or much — all his hopes are destroyed, like a eunuch's hope of begetting offspring."

Verse 11 (skanda.3.34.11)

प्रतिश्रुत्याप्रदाने तु ब्राह्मणाय प्लवंगम दशजन्मार्जितं पुण्यं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति

pratiśrutyāpradāne tu brāhmaṇāya plavaṁgama daśajanmārjitaṁ puṇyaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati

"O monkey, by promising a brahmin and not giving, the merit earned over ten births is destroyed in that very instant."

Verse 12 (skanda.3.34.12)

प्रतिश्रुत्याप्रदानेन यत्पापमुपजायते नाश्वमेधशतेनापितत्पापं परिशुध्यति

pratiśrutyāpradānena yatpāpamupajāyate nāśvamedhaśatenāpitatpāpaṁ pariśudhyati

"The sin that arises from promising and not giving is not purified even by a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices."

Verse 13 (skanda.3.34.13)

न जानेहमिदं पापं कदा नष्टं भवेदिति तस्मात्प्रतिश्रुतं द्रव्यं दातव्यं विदुषा सदा

na jānehamidaṁ pāpaṁ kadā naṣṭaṁ bhavediti tasmātpratiśrutaṁ dravyaṁ dātavyaṁ viduṣā sadā

"I do not know when this sin of mine will ever be destroyed; therefore a wise man should always give what he has promised."

Verse 14 (skanda.3.34.14)

प्रतिश्रुत्याप्रदानेन सृगालो भवति ध्रुवम् तस्मात्प्राज्ञेन विदुषा दातव्यं हि प्रतिश्रुतम्

pratiśrutyāpradānena sṛgālo bhavati dhruvam tasmātprājñena viduṣā dātavyaṁ hi pratiśrutam

"By promising and not giving, one certainly becomes a jackal; therefore the wise and learned man should indeed give what he has promised."

Verse 15 (skanda.3.34.15)

इत्युक्त्वा स सृगालस्तं वानरं पुनरब्रवीत् भवता किं कृतं पापं येन वानरतामगात्

ityuktvā sa sṛgālastaṁ vānaraṁ punarabravīt bhavatā kiṁ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ yena vānaratāmagāt

Having said this, the jackal then said again to the monkey: "What sin did you commit, that you attained monkey-birth?"

Verse 16 (skanda.3.34.16)

अनागसो वनचरान्पक्षिणो हिंसि वानर तत्पातकं वदस्वाद्य वानरत्वप्रदं मम इत्युक्तः स सृगालेन सृगालं वानरोऽब्रवीत्

anāgaso vanacarānpakṣiṇo hiṁsi vānara tatpātakaṁ vadasvādya vānaratvapradaṁ mama ityuktaḥ sa sṛgālena sṛgālaṁ vānaro'bravīt

"O monkey, you harm innocent forest-dwelling birds; tell me today of that sin which gave you your monkey-form." Thus addressed by the jackal, the monkey said to the jackal:

Verse 17 (skanda.3.34.17)

वानर उवाच पुरा जन्मन्यहं विप्रो वेदनाथ इति स्मृतः

vānara uvāca purā janmanyahaṁ vipro vedanātha iti smṛtaḥ

The monkey said: "In a former birth, I was a brahmin, known by the name Vedanatha."

Verse 18 (skanda.3.34.18)

विश्वनाथो मम पिता ममांबा कमलालया सृगाल सख्यमभवदावयोः प्राग्भवेऽपि हि

viśvanātho mama pitā mamāṁbā kamalālayā sṛgāla sakhyamabhavadāvayoḥ prāgbhave'pi hi

"Vishvanatha was my father, and my mother was Kamalalaya. O jackal, our friendship existed even in that former birth."

Verse 19 (skanda.3.34.19)

त्वं न जानासि तत्सर्वं वेद्म्यहं पुण्य गौरवात् तपसाराध्य गिरिशं तत्प्रसादात्पुरा मम

tvaṁ na jānāsi tatsarvaṁ vedmyahaṁ puṇya gauravāt tapasārādhya giriśaṁ tatprasādātpurā mama

"You do not know all that, but I know it, through the power of my merit; having propitiated Girisha (Shiva) through austerity, by his grace, once,"

Verse 20 (skanda.3.34.20)

अतीतभाविविज्ञानमस्ति जन्मांतरेऽपि च गोमायो तद्भवे शाकं ब्राह्मणस्य हृतं मया

atītabhāvivijñānamasti janmāṁtare'pi ca gomāyo tadbhave śākaṁ brāhmaṇasya hṛtaṁ mayā

"I gained knowledge of past and future, even across other births, O jackal. In that former birth, I stole vegetables from a brahmin's house."

Verse 21 (skanda.3.34.21)

तत्पापाद्वानरो जातो नरकानुभवादनु नाहर्तव्यं विप्रधनं हरणान्नरकं भवेत्

tatpāpādvānaro jāto narakānubhavādanu nāhartavyaṁ vipradhanaṁ haraṇānnarakaṁ bhavet

"From that sin, after experiencing hell, I was born a monkey. A brahmin's property should never be stolen; theft of it leads to hell."

Verse 22 (skanda.3.34.22)

अनंतरं वानरत्वं भविष्यति न संशयः तस्मान्न ब्राह्मणस्वं तु हर्तव्यं विदुषा सदा

anaṁtaraṁ vānaratvaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ tasmānna brāhmaṇasvaṁ tu hartavyaṁ viduṣā sadā

"And thereafter one is certain to be born a monkey. Therefore a wise man should never steal a brahmin's property."

Verse 23 (skanda.3.34.23)

ब्रह्मस्वहरणात्पापमधिकं नैव विद्यते पीतवंतं विषं हंति ब्रह्मस्वं सकुलं दहेत्

brahmasvaharaṇātpāpamadhikaṁ naiva vidyate pītavaṁtaṁ viṣaṁ haṁti brahmasvaṁ sakulaṁ dahet

"There is truly no sin greater than stealing a brahmin's property; poison once drunk kills only the drinker, but a brahmin's stolen wealth burns his whole family."

Verse 24 (skanda.3.34.24)

ब्रह्मस्वहरणात्पापी कुंभीपाकेषु पच्यते पश्चान्नरकशेषेण वानरीं योनिमश्नुते

brahmasvaharaṇātpāpī kuṁbhīpākeṣu pacyate paścānnarakaśeṣeṇa vānarīṁ yonimaśnute

"The sinner who steals a brahmin's property is cooked in the Kumbhipaka hell; and afterward, with the residue of that hell, he attains the womb of a monkey."

Verse 25 (skanda.3.34.25)

विप्रद्रव्यं न हर्तव्यं क्षंतव्यं तेष्वतः सदा बाला दरिद्राः कृपणा वेदशास्त्रादिवर्जिताः

vipradravyaṁ na hartavyaṁ kṣaṁtavyaṁ teṣvataḥ sadā bālā daridrāḥ kṛpaṇā vedaśāstrādivarjitāḥ

"A brahmin's property should never be stolen; one should always be forbearing toward brahmins, even toward those who are but children, poor, wretched, or devoid of Vedic learning."

Verse 26 (skanda.3.34.26)

ब्राह्मणा नावमंतव्याः क्रुद्धाश्चेदनलोपमाः अतीतानागतं ज्ञानं सृगालाखिलमस्ति मे

brāhmaṇā nāvamaṁtavyāḥ kruddhāścedanalopamāḥ atītānāgataṁ jñānaṁ sṛgālākhilamasti me

"Brahmins should never be disrespected; when angered, they are like fire itself. O jackal, I have complete knowledge of past and future."

Verse 27 (skanda.3.34.27)

ज्ञानमस्ति न मे त्वेकमेतत्पापविशोधनम् जातिस्मरोऽपि हि भवान्भाविकार्यं न बुध्यते

jñānamasti na me tvekametatpāpaviśodhanam jātismaro'pi hi bhavānbhāvikāryaṁ na budhyate

"But one thing I do not know — the means of purifying this sin of ours. Though you too remember your past births, you do not know what is yet to come."

Verse 28 (skanda.3.34.28)

अतीतेष्वपि किंचिज्ज्ञः प्रतिबंधवशाद्भवान् अतो भवान्न जानीते भाव्यतीतं तथाखिलम्

atīteṣvapi kiṁcijjñaḥ pratibaṁdhavaśādbhavān ato bhavānna jānīte bhāvyatītaṁ tathākhilam

"Even regarding the past, you know only a little, owing to your obstructions of knowledge; therefore you do not know the whole of what is to come, or all that is past either."

Verse 29 (skanda.3.34.29)

कियत्कालं सृगालातो भुक्ता व्यसनमीदृशम् आवयोरस्य पापस्य को वा मोचयिता भवेत्

kiyatkālaṁ sṛgālāto bhuktā vyasanamīdṛśam āvayorasya pāpasya ko vā mocayitā bhavet

"For how long, O jackal, must this kind of misery be endured? Who indeed could free the two of us from this sin?"

Verse 30 (skanda.3.34.30)

एवं प्रब्रुवतोस्तत्र प्लवंगमसृगालयोः यदृच्छया दैवयोगात्पूर्वपुण्यवशाद्द्विजाः

evaṁ prabruvatostatra plavaṁgamasṛgālayoḥ yadṛcchayā daivayogātpūrvapuṇyavaśāddvijāḥ

While the monkey and the jackal were thus conversing there, by chance, through divine coincidence and owing to their past merit, O brahmins,

Verse 31 (skanda.3.34.31)

आययौ स महातेजाः सिंधुद्वीपाह्वयो मुनिः भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगस्त्रिपुंड्रांकितमस्तकः

āyayau sa mahātejāḥ siṁdhudvīpāhvayo muniḥ bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṁgastripuṁḍrāṁkitamastakaḥ

there arrived that greatly radiant sage named Sindhudvipa, his whole body smeared with ashes, his forehead marked with the tripundra,

Verse 32 (skanda.3.34.32)

रुद्राक्षमालाभरणः शिवनामानि कीर्तयन् सृगालवानरौ दृष्ट्वा सिंधुद्वीपाभिधं मुनिम् प्रणम्य मुदि तौ भूत्वा पप्रच्छतुरिदं तदा

rudrākṣamālābharaṇaḥ śivanāmāni kīrtayan sṛgālavānarau dṛṣṭvā siṁdhudvīpābhidhaṁ munim praṇamya mudi tau bhūtvā papracchaturidaṁ tadā

adorned with a rosary of rudraksha beads, chanting the names of Shiva. Seeing that sage named Sindhudvipa, the jackal and monkey, having bowed to him joyfully, then asked him this:

Verse 33 (skanda.3.34.33)

सृगालवानरावूचतुः भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सिंधुद्वीप महामुने

sṛgālavānarāvūcatuḥ bhagavansarvadharmajña siṁdhudvīpa mahāmune

The jackal and monkey said: "O venerable Sindhudvipa, great sage, knower of all dharma,"

Verse 34 (skanda.3.34.34)

आवां रक्ष कृपादृष्ट्या विलोकय मुहुर्मुदा कपित्वं च सृगालत्वमावयोर्येन नश्यति

āvāṁ rakṣa kṛpādṛṣṭyā vilokaya muhurmudā kapitvaṁ ca sṛgālatvamāvayoryena naśyati

"protect us, look upon us again and again with a compassionate, joyful glance; and tell us the means by which our monkey-state and jackal-state may be destroyed."

Verse 35 (skanda.3.34.35)

तमुपायं वदस्वाद्य त्वं हि पुण्यवतां वरः अनाथान्कृपणानज्ञान्बालान्रोगातुराञ्जनान्

tamupāyaṁ vadasvādya tvaṁ hi puṇyavatāṁ varaḥ anāthānkṛpaṇānajñānbālānrogāturāñjanān

"Tell us that means today, for you are the best among the meritorious; the helpless, the wretched, the ignorant, children, and those afflicted with illness —"

Verse 36 (skanda.3.34.36)

रक्षंति साधवो नित्यं कृपया निरपेक्षकाः ताभ्यामितीरितः प्राज्ञः सिंधुद्वीपो महामुनिः प्राह तौ कपिगोमायू ध्यात्वा तु मनसा चिरम्

rakṣaṁti sādhavo nityaṁ kṛpayā nirapekṣakāḥ tābhyāmitīritaḥ prājñaḥ siṁdhudvīpo mahāmuniḥ prāha tau kapigomāyū dhyātvā tu manasā ciram

"the good and virtuous always protect them, out of compassion, seeking nothing in return." Thus addressed by them, the wise great sage Sindhudvipa, after pondering long in his mind, spoke to the monkey and jackal:

Verse 37 (skanda.3.34.37)

सिंधुद्वीप उवाच जानाम्यहं युवां सम्यग्घे सृगालप्लवंगमौ

siṁdhudvīpa uvāca jānāmyahaṁ yuvāṁ samyagghe sṛgālaplavaṁgamau

Sindhudvipa said: "O jackal and monkey, I know you both fully."

Verse 38 (skanda.3.34.38)

सृगाल प्राग्भवे त्वं वै वेदशर्माभिधो द्विजः ब्राह्मणाय प्रतिश्रुत्य धान्यानामाढकं त्वया

sṛgāla prāgbhave tvaṁ vai vedaśarmābhidho dvijaḥ brāhmaṇāya pratiśrutya dhānyānāmāḍhakaṁ tvayā

"O jackal, in a former birth you were the brahmin named Vedasharma; having promised a brahmin a measure of grain,"

Verse 39 (skanda.3.34.39)

न दत्तं तेन पापेन सार्गालीं योनिमाप्तवान् त्वं च वानर पूर्वस्मिन्वेदनाथाभिधो द्विजः

na dattaṁ tena pāpena sārgālīṁ yonimāptavān tvaṁ ca vānara pūrvasminvedanāthābhidho dvijaḥ

"you did not give it, and by that sin attained the jackal-womb. And you, O monkey, were in a former birth the brahmin named Vedanatha."

Verse 40 (skanda.3.34.40)

ब्राह्मणस्य गृहाच्छाकं हृतं चौर्यात्त्वया तत प्राप्तोसि वानरीं योनिं सर्वपक्षिभयंकरीम्

brāhmaṇasya gṛhācchākaṁ hṛtaṁ cauryāttvayā tata prāptosi vānarīṁ yoniṁ sarvapakṣibhayaṁkarīm

"You stole vegetables by theft from a brahmin's house; for that you attained the monkey-womb, terrifying to all birds."

Verse 41 (skanda.3.34.41)

युवयोः पापशांत्यर्थमुपायं प्रवदाम्यहम् दक्षिणांबुनिधौ रामधनुष्कोटौ युवामरम्

yuvayoḥ pāpaśāṁtyarthamupāyaṁ pravadāmyaham dakṣiṇāṁbunidhau rāmadhanuṣkoṭau yuvāmaram

"For the pacification of your sin, I shall tell you a means: at Rama's Dhanushkoti in the southern ocean, you two,"

Verse 42 (skanda.3.34.42)

गत्वात्र कुरुतं स्नानं तेन पापाद्विमोक्ष्यथः पुरा किरातीसंसर्गात्सुमतिर्ब्राह्मणः सुराम् पीतवान्त्स धनुष्कोटौ स्नात्वा पापाद्विमोचितः

gatvātra kurutaṁ snānaṁ tena pāpādvimokṣyathaḥ purā kirātīsaṁsargātsumatirbrāhmaṇaḥ surām pītavāntsa dhanuṣkoṭau snātvā pāpādvimocitaḥ

"going there, bathe; thereby you shall be released from your sin. Of old, through association with a Kirata woman, a brahmin named Sumati drank liquor; he too, by bathing at Dhanushkoti, was released from that sin."

Verse 43 (skanda.3.34.43)

सृगाल वानरावूचतुः सुमतिः कस्य पुत्रोऽसौ कथं च स सुरां पपौ

sṛgāla vānarāvūcatuḥ sumatiḥ kasya putro'sau kathaṁ ca sa surāṁ papau

The jackal and monkey said: "Whose son was that Sumati, and how did he come to drink liquor?"

Verse 44 (skanda.3.34.44)

कथं किरात्यां सक्तोऽभूत्सिंधुद्वीप महामते आवयोर्विस्तरादेतद्वद त्वं कृपायाधुना

kathaṁ kirātyāṁ sakto'bhūtsiṁdhudvīpa mahāmate āvayorvistarādetadvada tvaṁ kṛpāyādhunā

"How, O high-minded Sindhudvipa, did he become attached to a Kirata woman? Tell us this today, in detail, out of compassion."

Verse 45 (skanda.3.34.45)

सिंधुद्वीप उवाच महाराष्ट्राभिधे देशे ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदास्तिकः यज्ञदेव इति ख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः

siṁdhudvīpa uvāca mahārāṣṭrābhidhe deśe brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidāstikaḥ yajñadeva iti khyāto vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ

Sindhudvipa said: "In the land called Maharashtra, there was a certain pious brahmin, known by the name Yajnadeva, versed in the Vedas and Vedangas."

Verse 46 (skanda.3.34.46)

दयालुरातिथेयश्च शिवनारायणार्चकः सुमतिर्नाम पुत्रोऽभूद्यज्ञदेवस्य तस्य वै

dayālurātitheyaśca śivanārāyaṇārcakaḥ sumatirnāma putro'bhūdyajñadevasya tasya vai

He was compassionate, hospitable, and a worshipper of Shiva and Narayana. That Yajnadeva had a son named Sumati.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.34.47)

पितरौ स परित्यज्य भार्यामपि पतिव्रताम् प्रययावुत्कले देशे विटगोष्ठीपरायणः

pitarau sa parityajya bhāryāmapi pativratām prayayāvutkale deśe viṭagoṣṭhīparāyaṇaḥ

Abandoning his parents and even his devoted wife, he went to the land of Utkala, given over to the company of libertines.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.34.48)

काचित्किराती तद्देशे वसन्ती युवमोहिनी यूनां समस्तद्रव्याणि प्रलोभ्य जगृहे चिरम्

kācitkirātī taddeśe vasantī yuvamohinī yūnāṁ samastadravyāṇi pralobhya jagṛhe ciram

A certain Kirata woman, dwelling in that land, one who enchanted young men, had for a long time been enticing them and taking away all their wealth.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.34.49)

तस्या गृहं स प्रययौ सुमतिर्ब्राह्मणाधमः सुमतिं सा न जग्राह किराती निर्धनं द्विजम्

tasyā gṛhaṁ sa prayayau sumatirbrāhmaṇādhamaḥ sumatiṁ sā na jagrāha kirātī nirdhanaṁ dvijam

That degraded brahmin Sumati went to her house; but the Kirata woman did not accept this now-penniless brahmin.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.34.50)

तया त्यक्तोऽथ सुमतिस्तत्संयोगैकतत्परः इतस्ततश्चोरयित्वा बहुद्रव्याणि संततम्

tayā tyakto'tha sumatistatsaṁyogaikatatparaḥ itastataścorayitvā bahudravyāṇi saṁtatam

Rejected by her, Sumati, intent solely on union with her, continuously stole much wealth from here and there,

Verse 51 (skanda.3.34.51)

दत्त्वा तया चिरं रेमे तद्ग्रहे बुभुजे च सः एकेन चषकेणासौ तया सह सुरां पपौ

dattvā tayā ciraṁ reme tadgrahe bubhuje ca saḥ ekena caṣakeṇāsau tayā saha surāṁ papau

and, giving it to her, dwelt long in her house in delight and enjoyment; from a single cup he drank liquor together with her.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.34.52)

एवं स बहुकालं वै रममाणस्तया सह पितरौ निजपत्नीं च नास्मरद्विषयातुरः

evaṁ sa bahukālaṁ vai ramamāṇastayā saha pitarau nijapatnīṁ ca nāsmaradviṣayāturaḥ

Thus sporting with her for a long time, consumed by sensual desire, he no longer remembered his own parents or his wife.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.34.53)

स कदाचित्किरातैस्तु चौर्यं कर्तुं ययौ सह द्रव्यं हर्तुं किरातास्ते लाटानां विषयं ययुः

sa kadācitkirātaistu cauryaṁ kartuṁ yayau saha dravyaṁ hartuṁ kirātāste lāṭānāṁ viṣayaṁ yayuḥ

Once he went along with a band of Kiratas to commit theft; those Kiratas went into the territory of the Lata people to steal wealth.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.34.54)

विप्रस्य कस्यचिद्गेहे सोऽपि कैरातवेषधृक् ययौ चोरयितुं द्रव्यं साहसी खङ्गहस्तवान्

viprasya kasyacidgehe so'pi kairātaveṣadhṛk yayau corayituṁ dravyaṁ sāhasī khaṅgahastavān

Disguised in the garb of a Kirata, he too, bold, sword in hand, went to steal wealth from the house of a certain brahmin.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.34.55)

तद्गृहस्वामिनं विप्रं हत्वा खड्गेन साहसी समादाय बहु द्रव्यं किरातीभवनं ययौ

tadgṛhasvāminaṁ vipraṁ hatvā khaḍgena sāhasī samādāya bahu dravyaṁ kirātībhavanaṁ yayau

That reckless man, having killed the brahmin master of that house with his sword, took much wealth and set off toward the Kirata woman's house.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.34.56)

तं यांतमनुयाति स्म ब्रह्महत्या भयंकरी नीलवस्त्रधरा भीमा भृशं रक्तशिरोरुहा

taṁ yāṁtamanuyāti sma brahmahatyā bhayaṁkarī nīlavastradharā bhīmā bhṛśaṁ raktaśiroruhā

As he went, a terrifying Brahmahatya followed after him, clad in blue garments, dreadful, her hair intensely red,

Verse 57 (skanda.3.34.57)

गर्जंती साट्टहासं सा कंपयन्ती च रोदसी अनुद्रुतस्तया सोऽयं बभ्राम जगतीतले

garjaṁtī sāṭṭahāsaṁ sā kaṁpayantī ca rodasī anudrutastayā so'yaṁ babhrāma jagatītale

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

Verse 58 (skanda.3.34.58)

एवं भ्रमन्भुवं सर्वां कदाचित्सुमतिः स्वयम् स्वं ग्रामं प्रययौ भीत्या हे सृगालप्लवंगमौ

evaṁ bhramanbhuvaṁ sarvāṁ kadācitsumatiḥ svayam svaṁ grāmaṁ prayayau bhītyā he sṛgālaplavaṁgamau

Thus wandering over the whole earth, Sumati himself, O jackal and monkey, at last, out of fear, went to his own village.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.34.59)

अनुद्रुतस्तया भीतः प्रययौ स्वगृहं प्रति ब्रह्महत्याप्यनुद्रुत्य तेन साकं गृहं ययौ

anudrutastayā bhītaḥ prayayau svagṛhaṁ prati brahmahatyāpyanudrutya tena sākaṁ gṛhaṁ yayau

Chased by her and afraid, he went toward his own house; and Brahmahatya too, pursuing him, went to that house together with him.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.34.60)

पितरं रक्ष रक्षेति सुमतिः शरणं ययौ मा भैषीरिति तं प्रोच्य पिता रक्षितुमुद्यतः तदानीं ब्रह्महत्येयं तत्तातं प्रत्यभाषत

pitaraṁ rakṣa rakṣeti sumatiḥ śaraṇaṁ yayau mā bhaiṣīriti taṁ procya pitā rakṣitumudyataḥ tadānīṁ brahmahatyeyaṁ tattātaṁ pratyabhāṣata

"Father, save me, save me!" — crying thus, Sumati took refuge with him. Saying "fear not," the father made ready to protect him. Then that Brahmahatya spoke to his father:

Verse 61 (skanda.3.34.61)

ब्रह्महत्योवाच मैनं त्वं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व यज्ञदेव द्विजोत्तम

brahmahatyovāca mainaṁ tvaṁ pratigṛhṇīṣva yajñadeva dvijottama

Brahmahatya said: "O Yajnadeva, best of brahmins, do not accept him."

Verse 62 (skanda.3.34.62)

असौ सुरापी स्तेयी च ब्रह्महा चातिपातकी मातृद्रोही पितृद्रोही भार्यात्यागी च पापकृत्

asau surāpī steyī ca brahmahā cātipātakī mātṛdrohī pitṛdrohī bhāryātyāgī ca pāpakṛt

"He is a drinker of liquor, a thief, a slayer of a brahmin, an utter sinner, a betrayer of his mother, a betrayer of his father, and one who abandoned his wife — a doer of evil."

Verse 63 (skanda.3.34.63)

किरातीसंगदुष्टश्च नैनं मुञ्चाम्यहं द्विज गृह्णासि चेदिमं विप्र महापातकिनं सुतम्

kirātīsaṁgaduṣṭaśca nainaṁ muñcāmyahaṁ dvija gṛhṇāsi cedimaṁ vipra mahāpātakinaṁ sutam

"He is corrupted by association with a Kirata woman; I shall not let him go, O brahmin. If you accept this greatly sinful son,"

Verse 64 (skanda.3.34.64)

त्वद्भार्यामस्य भार्यां च त्वां च पुत्रमिमं द्विज भक्षयिष्यामि वंशं च तस्मान्मुञ्च सुतं त्विमम्

tvadbhāryāmasya bhāryāṁ ca tvāṁ ca putramimaṁ dvija bhakṣayiṣyāmi vaṁśaṁ ca tasmānmuñca sutaṁ tvimam

"then, O brahmin, I shall devour your wife, his wife, you yourself, this son, and your whole lineage; therefore give up this son of yours."

Verse 65 (skanda.3.34.65)

इमं त्यजसि चेत्पुत्रं युष्मान्मोक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम् नैकस्यार्थे कुलं हन्तुमर्हसि त्वं महामते इत्युक्तः स तया तत्र यज्ञदेवोऽब्रवीच्च ताम्

imaṁ tyajasi cetputraṁ yuṣmānmokṣyāmi sāṁpratam naikasyārthe kulaṁ hantumarhasi tvaṁ mahāmate ityuktaḥ sa tayā tatra yajñadevo'bravīcca tām

"If you abandon this son, I shall release all of you at once. O wise one, you ought not destroy your whole lineage for the sake of one person." Thus addressed by her, Yajnadeva spoke to her:

Verse 66 (skanda.3.34.66)

यज्ञदेव उवाच बाधते मां सुतस्नेहः कथमेनं परित्यजे ब्रह्महत्या तदाकर्ण्य द्विजोक्तं तमभाषत

yajñadeva uvāca bādhate māṁ sutasnehaḥ kathamenaṁ parityaje brahmahatyā tadākarṇya dvijoktaṁ tamabhāṣata

Yajnadeva said: "Love for my son afflicts me; how can I abandon him?" Hearing this said by the brahmin, Brahmahatya spoke to him:

Verse 67 (skanda.3.34.67)

ब्रह्महत्योवाच अयं हि पतितोऽभूत्ते वर्णाश्रमबहिष्कृतः

brahmahatyovāca ayaṁ hi patito'bhūtte varṇāśramabahiṣkṛtaḥ

Brahmahatya said: "This son of yours has become an outcast, expelled from the varna and ashrama order."

Verse 68 (skanda.3.34.68)

पुत्रेस्मिन्मा कुरु स्नेहं निंदितं तस्य दर्शनम् इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्महत्या सा यज्ञदेवस्य पश्यतः

putresminmā kuru snehaṁ niṁditaṁ tasya darśanam ityuktvā brahmahatyā sā yajñadevasya paśyataḥ

"Do not hold affection for this son; even the sight of him is condemned." Having said this, that Brahmahatya, before Yajnadeva's very eyes,

Verse 69 (skanda.3.34.69)

तलेन प्रजहारास्य पुत्रं सुमतिनामकम् रुरोद तात तातेति पितरं प्रब्रुवन्मुहुः

talena prajahārāsya putraṁ sumatināmakam ruroda tāta tāteti pitaraṁ prabruvanmuhuḥ

struck his son named Sumati with the flat of her hand; he cried out again and again to his father, "Father, father!"

Verse 70 (skanda.3.34.70)

रुरुदुर्जनको माता भार्यापि सुमतेस्तदा एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र दुर्वासाः शंकरांशजः

rurudurjanako mātā bhāryāpi sumatestadā etasminnaṁtare tatra durvāsāḥ śaṁkarāṁśajaḥ

His father, mother, and wife too then wept for Sumati. Meanwhile, at that moment, Durvasa, born of a portion of Shankara,

Verse 71 (skanda.3.34.71)

दिष्टवा समाययौ योगी हे सृगालप्लवंगमौ यज्ञदेवोऽथ तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिं रुद्रावतारकम् श्रुत्वा प्रणम्य शरणं ययाचे पुत्रकारणात्

diṣṭavā samāyayau yogī he sṛgālaplavaṁgamau yajñadevo'tha taṁ dṛṣṭvā muniṁ rudrāvatārakam śrutvā praṇamya śaraṇaṁ yayāce putrakāraṇāt

O jackal and monkey, that yogi arrived there by good fortune. Then Yajnadeva, seeing that sage, an incarnation of Rudra, and hearing of him, bowed and begged for refuge on account of his son.

Verse 72 (skanda.3.34.72)

पितोवाच दुर्वासस्त्वं महायोगी साक्षाद्वै शंकरांशजः

pitovāca durvāsastvaṁ mahāyogī sākṣādvai śaṁkarāṁśajaḥ

The father said: "You, Durvasa, are a great yogi, indeed directly born of a portion of Shankara."

Verse 73 (skanda.3.34.73)

त्वद्दर्शनमपुण्यानां भविता न कदाचन ब्रह्महा च सुरापी च स्तेयी चाभूत्सुतो मम

tvaddarśanamapuṇyānāṁ bhavitā na kadācana brahmahā ca surāpī ca steyī cābhūtsuto mama

"Your darshan is never attainable by the unmeritorious. My son has become a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, and a thief."

Verse 74 (skanda.3.34.74)

एनं प्रहर्तुमायाता ब्रह्महत्या विवर्तते भूयाद्यथा मे पुत्रोऽयं महापातकमोचितः

enaṁ prahartumāyātā brahmahatyā vivartate bhūyādyathā me putro'yaṁ mahāpātakamocitaḥ

"This Brahmahatya has come to strike him and hovers here; grant that this son of mine may be freed from his great sin,"

Verse 75 (skanda.3.34.75)

घोरा च ब्रह्महत्येयं यथा शीघ्रं लयं व्रजेत् तमुपायं वदस्वाद्य मम पुत्रे दयां कुरु

ghorā ca brahmahatyeyaṁ yathā śīghraṁ layaṁ vrajet tamupāyaṁ vadasvādya mama putre dayāṁ kuru

"and that this terrible Brahmahatya may swiftly meet its end. Tell me that means today; have mercy on my son."

Verse 76 (skanda.3.34.76)

अयमेव हि पुत्रो मे नान्योऽस्ति तनयो मुने अस्मिन्मृते तु वंशो मे समुच्छिद्येत्समूलतः

ayameva hi putro me nānyo'sti tanayo mune asminmṛte tu vaṁśo me samucchidyetsamūlataḥ

"This is my only son, O sage; I have no other child. If he dies, my lineage will be uprooted entirely."

Verse 77 (skanda.3.34.77)

ततः पितृभ्यः पिंडानां दातापि न भवेद्ध्रुवम् अतः कृपां कुरुष्व त्वमस्मासु भगवन्मुने

tataḥ pitṛbhyaḥ piṁḍānāṁ dātāpi na bhaveddhruvam ataḥ kṛpāṁ kuruṣva tvamasmāsu bhagavanmune

"Then there would certainly be no one left to offer the funeral pinda-offerings to our ancestors; therefore, O venerable sage, have mercy on us."

Verse 78 (skanda.3.34.78)

इत्युक्तः स तदोवाच दुर्वासाः शंकरांशजः ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं यज्ञदेवं द्विजोत्तमम्

ityuktaḥ sa tadovāca durvāsāḥ śaṁkarāṁśajaḥ dhyātvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ yajñadevaṁ dvijottamam

Thus addressed, Durvasa, born of a portion of Shankara, after reflecting long, said this to Yajnadeva, best of brahmins:

Verse 79 (skanda.3.34.79)

दुर्वासा उवाच य़ज्ञदेव कृतं पापमतिक्रूरं सुतेन ते नास्य पापस्य शांतिः स्यात्प्रायश्चित्तायुतैरपि

durvāsā uvāca ya़jñadeva kṛtaṁ pāpamatikrūraṁ sutena te nāsya pāpasya śāṁtiḥ syātprāyaścittāyutairapi

Durvasa said: "O Yajnadeva, an extremely terrible sin has been committed by your son; there can be no pacification of this sin even by ten thousand expiations."

Verse 80 (skanda.3.34.80)

अथापि ते सुतस्याहमस्य पापस्य शांतये प्रायश्चित्तं वदिष्यामि शृणु नान्यमना द्विज

athāpi te sutasyāhamasya pāpasya śāṁtaye prāyaścittaṁ vadiṣyāmi śṛṇu nānyamanā dvija

"Nevertheless, for the pacification of this sin of your son, I shall tell you an expiation; listen, O brahmin, with an undistracted mind."

Verse 81 (skanda.3.34.81)

श्रीरामधनुषः कोटौ दक्षिणे सलिलार्णवे स्नाति चेत्तव पुत्रोऽयं पातकान्मोक्ष्यते क्षणात्

śrīrāmadhanuṣaḥ koṭau dakṣiṇe salilārṇave snāti cettava putro'yaṁ pātakānmokṣyate kṣaṇāt

"If this son of yours bathes at the tip of Sri Rama's bow, in the ocean waters of the south, he shall instantly be released from his sins."

Verse 82 (skanda.3.34.82)

दुर्विनीताभिधो विप्रो यत्र स्नानाद्द्विजोत्तम गुरुस्त्रीगम पापेभ्यस्तत्क्षणादेव मोचितः

durvinītābhidho vipro yatra snānāddvijottama gurustrīgama pāpebhyastatkṣaṇādeva mocitaḥ

"There, O best of brahmins, a brahmin named Durvinita, by bathing, was instantly freed from the sin of consorting with his guru's wife."

Verse 83 (skanda.3.34.83)

सैषा श्रीधनुषः कोटी राघवस्य स्वयं हरेः स्नानमात्रेण पापौघं नाशयेत्त्वत्सुतस्य सा

saiṣā śrīdhanuṣaḥ koṭī rāghavasya svayaṁ hareḥ snānamātreṇa pāpaughaṁ nāśayettvatsutasya sā

"This is that very tip of the bow of Raghava, of Hari himself; by mere bathing it shall destroy the whole flood of your son's sins."