The Release of Rambha and Ghritachi from their Curse

Verse 1 (skanda.3.39.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि कपितीर्थस्य वैभवम् तत्तीर्थं सकलैः पूर्वं गंधमादनपर्वते

śrīsūta uvāca athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi kapitīrthasya vaibhavam tattīrthaṁ sakalaiḥ pūrvaṁ gaṁdhamādanaparvate

Suta said: Now I shall tell of the greatness of Kapitirtha. That ford was, in former times, made on Mount Gandhamadana by all the monkeys,

Verse 2 (skanda.3.39.2)

सर्वेषामुपकाराय कपिभिर्निर्मितं द्विजाः रावणादिषु रक्षःसु हतेषु तदनंतरम्

sarveṣāmupakārāya kapibhirnirmitaṁ dvijāḥ rāvaṇādiṣu rakṣaḥsu hateṣu tadanaṁtaram

for the benefit of all, O brahmins, immediately after Ravana and the other rakshasas had been slain.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.39.3)

तीर्थं निर्माय तत्रैव सस्नुस्ते कपयो मुदा तीर्थाय च वरं प्रादुः कपयः कामरूपिणः

tīrthaṁ nirmāya tatraiva sasnuste kapayo mudā tīrthāya ca varaṁ prāduḥ kapayaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ

Having made the ford, those monkeys, joyfully, bathed there itself; and the monkeys, who could take any form at will, granted a boon to the ford.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.39.4)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे निमग्ना ये भक्तिप्रवणचेतसः ते सर्वे मुक्तिभाजः स्युर्महापातकमोचिताः

asmiṁstīrthe nimagnā ye bhaktipravaṇacetasaḥ te sarve muktibhājaḥ syurmahāpātakamocitāḥ

'Those whose minds are inclined to devotion, who immerse themselves in this ford, shall all partake of liberation, freed from great sins.'

Verse 5 (skanda.3.39.5)

अत्र तीर्थे निमग्नानां न स्यान्नरकजं भयम् अत्र स्नाता नराः सर्वे दारिद्रयं नाप्नुवंति हि

atra tīrthe nimagnānāṁ na syānnarakajaṁ bhayam atra snātā narāḥ sarve dāridrayaṁ nāpnuvaṁti hi

'For those immersed in this ford, there shall be no fear born of hell; all men who bathe here shall never fall into poverty.'

Verse 6 (skanda.3.39.6)

अत्र तीर्थे निमग्नानां यमपीडापि नो भवेत् कपितीर्थं प्रयास्येऽहमिति यः सततं ब्रुवन्

atra tīrthe nimagnānāṁ yamapīḍāpi no bhavet kapitīrthaṁ prayāsye'hamiti yaḥ satataṁ bruvan

'For those immersed in this ford, there shall not even be affliction from Yama. Whoever constantly says, "I shall go to Kapitirtha,"'

Verse 7 (skanda.3.39.7)

व्रजेच्छतपदं विप्राः स यायात्परमं पदम् एतत्तीर्थसमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति

vrajecchatapadaṁ viprāḥ sa yāyātparamaṁ padam etattīrthasamaṁ tīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

'and takes even a hundred steps toward it, shall attain the supreme abode. There has never been, nor shall there ever be, a ford equal to this one.'

Verse 8 (skanda.3.39.8)

एवं वरं तु ते दत्त्वा तीर्थायास्मै कपीश्वराः रामं दाशरथिं सर्वे प्रणम्याथ ययाचिरे

evaṁ varaṁ tu te dattvā tīrthāyāsmai kapīśvarāḥ rāmaṁ dāśarathiṁ sarve praṇamyātha yayācire

Having thus granted this boon to this ford, all the lords of the monkeys then bowed to Rama, son of Dasharatha, and made a request.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.39.9)

स्वामिंस्त्वयास्मै तीर्थाय दीयतां वरमद्भुतम् कपिभिः प्रार्थितो विप्रा रामचंद्रोऽतिहर्षितः

svāmiṁstvayāsmai tīrthāya dīyatāṁ varamadbhutam kapibhiḥ prārthito viprā rāmacaṁdro'tiharṣitaḥ

'O lord, may a wondrous boon be given by you to this ford.' Thus entreated by the monkeys, O brahmins, Ramachandra, greatly delighted,

Verse 10 (skanda.3.39.10)

तत्तीर्थाय वरं प्रादात्कपीनां प्रीतिकारणात् अत्र तीर्थे निमग्नानां गंगास्नानफलं लभेत्

tattīrthāya varaṁ prādātkapīnāṁ prītikāraṇāt atra tīrthe nimagnānāṁ gaṁgāsnānaphalaṁ labhet

granted a boon to that ford, for the pleasure of the monkeys: 'Those immersed in this ford shall obtain the fruit of bathing in the Ganga,'

Verse 11 (skanda.3.39.11)

प्रयागस्नानजं पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थफलं तथा अग्निष्टोमादियागानां फलं भूयादनुत्तमम्

prayāgasnānajaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvatīrthaphalaṁ tathā agniṣṭomādiyāgānāṁ phalaṁ bhūyādanuttamam

'the merit of bathing at Prayaga, and the fruit of all sacred fords; and let there be the supreme fruit of sacrifices beginning with the Agnishtoma,'

Verse 12 (skanda.3.39.12)

गायत्र्यादिमहामंत्रजपपुण्यं तथा भवेत् गोसहस्रप्रदनृणां प्राप्नोत्यविकलं फलम्

gāyatryādimahāmaṁtrajapapuṇyaṁ tathā bhavet gosahasrapradanṛṇāṁ prāpnotyavikalaṁ phalam

'and likewise the merit of reciting the great mantras beginning with the Gayatri; let one obtain the complete fruit of men who give a thousand cows,'

Verse 13 (skanda.3.39.13)

चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पारायणफलं लभेत् ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशादिदेवपूजाफलं लभेत्

caturṇāmapi vedānāṁ pārāyaṇaphalaṁ labhet brahmaviṣṇumaheśādidevapūjāphalaṁ labhet

'and the fruit of a complete recitation of all four Vedas; let one obtain the fruit of worshipping the gods beginning with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha.'

Verse 14 (skanda.3.39.14)

कपितीर्थाय रामोयं प्रादादेवं वरं द्विजाः एवं रामेण दत्ते तु वरे तत्र कुतूहलात्

kapitīrthāya rāmoyaṁ prādādevaṁ varaṁ dvijāḥ evaṁ rāmeṇa datte tu vare tatra kutūhalāt

Thus did Rama grant this boon to Kapitirtha, O brahmins. When Rama had thus granted the boon, then, out of curiosity, there -

Verse 15 (skanda.3.39.15)

षडर्धनयनो ब्रह्मा सहस्राक्षो यमस्तथा वरुणोग्निस्तथा वायुः कुबेरश्चंद्रमा अपि

ṣaḍardhanayano brahmā sahasrākṣo yamastathā varuṇognistathā vāyuḥ kuberaścaṁdramā api

Three-eyed Brahma, thousand-eyed Indra, Yama, Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Kubera, and the Moon too,

Verse 16 (skanda.3.39.16)

आदित्यो निर्ऋतिश्चैव साध्याश्च वसवस्तथा अन्येऽपि त्रिदशाः सर्वे विश्वेदेवादयस्तथा

ādityo nirṛtiścaiva sādhyāśca vasavastathā anye'pi tridaśāḥ sarve viśvedevādayastathā

Surya, Nirriti, the Sadhyas, and the Vasus, and all the other thirty gods, and the Vishvedevas and the rest,

Verse 17 (skanda.3.39.17)

अत्रिर्भृगुस्तथा कुत्सो गौतमश्च पराशरः कण्वोऽगस्त्यः सुतीक्ष्णश्च विश्वामित्रादयोऽपरे

atrirbhṛgustathā kutso gautamaśca parāśaraḥ kaṇvo'gastyaḥ sutīkṣṇaśca viśvāmitrādayo'pare

Atri, Bhrigu, Kutsa, Gautama, Parashara, Kanva, Agastya, Sutikshna, and others beginning with Vishvamitra,

Verse 18 (skanda.3.39.18)

योगिनः सनकाद्याश्च नारदाद्याः सुरर्षयः रामदत्तवरं तीर्थं श्लाघंते बहुधा तदा

yoginaḥ sanakādyāśca nāradādyāḥ surarṣayaḥ rāmadattavaraṁ tīrthaṁ ślāghaṁte bahudhā tadā

the yogis beginning with Sanaka, and the divine sages beginning with Narada - all these then praised in many ways the ford upon which Rama had bestowed his boon,

Verse 19 (skanda.3.39.19)

सस्नुश्च तत्र तीर्थे ते सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनि कपिभिर्निर्मितं यस्मादेतत्तीर्थमनुत्तमम्

sasnuśca tatra tīrthe te sarvābhīṣṭapradāyini kapibhirnirmitaṁ yasmādetattīrthamanuttamam

and bathed in that ford, the granter of all desires. Since this supreme ford was made by the monkeys,

Verse 20 (skanda.3.39.20)

कपितीर्थमिति ख्यातिमतो लोके प्रयास्यति इत्यप्यवोचंस्ते सर्वे देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा

kapitīrthamiti khyātimato loke prayāsyati ityapyavocaṁste sarve devāśca munayastathā

it shall henceforth become known in the world by the name Kapitirtha. Thus said all those gods and sages as well.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.39.21)

तस्मादवश्यं गंतव्यं कपितीर्थं मुमुक्षुभिः रंभा कौशिकशापेन शिलाभूता पुरा द्विजाः

tasmādavaśyaṁ gaṁtavyaṁ kapitīrthaṁ mumukṣubhiḥ raṁbhā kauśikaśāpena śilābhūtā purā dvijāḥ

Therefore Kapitirtha must certainly be visited by those who seek liberation. Formerly, O brahmins, Rambha, through the curse of Kaushika, became a stone;

Verse 22 (skanda.3.39.22)

तत्र स्नात्वा निजं रूपं प्रपेदे च दिवं ययौ अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते

tatra snātvā nijaṁ rūpaṁ prapede ca divaṁ yayau asya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ mayā vaktuṁ na śakyate

having bathed there, she regained her own form and went to heaven. The greatness of this ford cannot be fully told even by me.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.39.23)

मुनय ऊचुः रंभां किमर्थमशपत्कौशिकः सूतनंदन कथं गता शिलाभूता कपितीर्थं सुरांगना एतन्नः सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरान्मुनिसत्तम

munaya ūcuḥ raṁbhāṁ kimarthamaśapatkauśikaḥ sūtanaṁdana kathaṁ gatā śilābhūtā kapitīrthaṁ surāṁganā etannaḥ sarvamācakṣva vistarānmunisattama

The sages said: O son of Suta, for what reason did Kaushika curse Rambha? How did that celestial nymph, turned to stone, come to Kapitirtha? Tell us all this in detail, O foremost of sages.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.39.24)

श्रीसूत उवाच विश्वामित्राभिधो राजा प्रागभूत्कुशिकान्वये

śrīsūta uvāca viśvāmitrābhidho rājā prāgabhūtkuśikānvaye

Suta said: There was formerly a king named Vishvamitra, born in the lineage of Kushika.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.39.25)

स कदाचिन्महाराजः सेनापरिवृतो बली मेदिनीं परिचक्राम राज्यवीक्षणकौतुकी

sa kadācinmahārājaḥ senāparivṛto balī medinīṁ paricakrāma rājyavīkṣaṇakautukī

Once, that mighty great king, surrounded by his army, went about the earth, eager to inspect his kingdom.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.39.26)

अटित्वा स बहून्देशान्वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं ययौ आतिथ्याय वृतः सोऽयं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना

aṭitvā sa bahūndeśānvasiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ yayau ātithyāya vṛtaḥ so'yaṁ vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā

Having wandered through many lands, he came to the hermitage of Vasishtha; he was welcomed as a guest by the great-souled Vasishtha.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.39.27)

तथास्त्वित्यब्रवीत्सोयं दंडवत्प्रणतो नृपः कामधेनुप्रभावेन विश्वामित्राय भूभुजे

tathāstvityabravītsoyaṁ daṁḍavatpraṇato nṛpaḥ kāmadhenuprabhāvena viśvāmitrāya bhūbhuje

'So be it,' said he, and the king bowed down flat like a staff. By the power of Kamadhenu, to King Vishvamitra -

Verse 28 (skanda.3.39.28)

आतिथ्यमकरोद्विप्रा वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मनंदनः कामधेनुप्रभावं वै ज्ञात्वा कुशिकनंदनः

ātithyamakarodviprā vasiṣṭho brahmanaṁdanaḥ kāmadhenuprabhāvaṁ vai jñātvā kuśikanaṁdanaḥ

Vasishtha, son of Brahma, extended his hospitality, O brahmins. And, learning of the power of Kamadhenu, the son of Kushika,

Verse 29 (skanda.3.39.29)

वसिष्ठं प्रार्थयामास कामधेनुमभीष्टदाम् प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन प्रचकर्ष च तां बलात्

vasiṣṭhaṁ prārthayāmāsa kāmadhenumabhīṣṭadām pratyākhyāto vasiṣṭhena pracakarṣa ca tāṁ balāt

begged Vasishtha for that desire-fulfilling Kamadhenu. Refused by Vasishtha, he then dragged her away by force.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.39.30)

कामधेनुविसृष्टैस्तु म्लेच्छाद्यैः स पराजितः महादेवं समाराध्य तस्मादस्त्राण्यवाप्य च

kāmadhenuvisṛṣṭaistu mlecchādyaiḥ sa parājitaḥ mahādevaṁ samārādhya tasmādastrāṇyavāpya ca

But he was defeated by the mlechchhas and other warriors created by Kamadhenu; having then propitiated Mahadeva and obtained divine weapons from him,

Verse 31 (skanda.3.39.31)

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं गत्वा व्यसृजच्छरसंचयान् सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि मुमुचे ब्रह्मास्त्रं च नृपोत्तमः

vasiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ gatvā vyasṛjaccharasaṁcayān sarvāṇyastrāṇi mumuce brahmāstraṁ ca nṛpottamaḥ

he went to Vasishtha's hermitage and let loose masses of arrows; the excellent king released all his weapons, including the Brahmastra.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.39.32)

तानि सर्वाणि चास्त्राणि वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मनंदनः एकेन ब्रह्मदंडेन निजघ्न स्वतपोबलात्

tāni sarvāṇi cāstrāṇi vasiṣṭho brahmanaṁdanaḥ ekena brahmadaṁḍena nijaghna svatapobalāt

Vasishtha, son of Brahma, destroyed all those weapons with a single staff of Brahma, by the power of his own austerity.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.39.33)

ततः पराजितो विप्रा विश्वामित्रोऽतिलज्जितः ब्राह्मण्यावाप्तये स्वस्य तपः कर्तुं वनं ययौ

tataḥ parājito viprā viśvāmitro'tilajjitaḥ brāhmaṇyāvāptaye svasya tapaḥ kartuṁ vanaṁ yayau

Then, defeated, O brahmins, Vishvamitra, exceedingly ashamed, went to the forest to perform austerity in order to attain brahminhood.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.39.34)

पूर्वासु पश्चिमांतासु त्रिषु दिक्षु तपोऽचरत् प्रादुर्भूतमहा विघ्नस्तत्तद्दिक्षु स कौशिकः

pūrvāsu paścimāṁtāsu triṣu dikṣu tapo'carat prādurbhūtamahā vighnastattaddikṣu sa kauśikaḥ

He practiced austerity in the eastern, western, and other directions - three directions in all; but in each of those directions great obstacles arose for that Kaushika.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.39.35)

उत्तरां दिशमासाद्य हिमवत्पर्वतेऽमले कौशिक्यास्सरितस्तीरे पुण्ये पापविनाशिनि

uttarāṁ diśamāsādya himavatparvate'male kauśikyāssaritastīre puṇye pāpavināśini

Having gone to the northern direction, on the spotless Himalaya mountain, on the sacred, sin-destroying bank of the river Kaushiki,

Verse 36 (skanda.3.39.36)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु निराहारो जितेंद्रियः निरालोको जितश्वासो जितक्रोधः सुनिश्चलः

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu nirāhāro jiteṁdriyaḥ nirāloko jitaśvāso jitakrodhaḥ suniścalaḥ

for a divine thousand years, without food, with senses conquered, without looking about, breath controlled, anger conquered, utterly unmoving,

Verse 37 (skanda.3.39.37)

ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निमध्यस्थः शिशिरे वारिषु स्थितः वर्षास्वाकाशगो नित्यमूर्ध्वबाहुर्निराश्रयः

grīṣme paṁcāgnimadhyasthaḥ śiśire vāriṣu sthitaḥ varṣāsvākāśago nityamūrdhvabāhurnirāśrayaḥ

standing amid the five fires in summer, standing in water in winter, exposed to the open sky in the rains, ever with arms raised, without shelter,

Verse 38 (skanda.3.39.38)

ब्राह्मण्यसिद्धयेऽत्युग्रं चचार सुमहत्तपः उद्विग्नमनसस्तस्य त्रिदशास्त्रिदिवालयाः जंभारिणा च सहिता रंभां प्रोचुरिदं वचः

brāhmaṇyasiddhaye'tyugraṁ cacāra sumahattapaḥ udvignamanasastasya tridaśāstridivālayāḥ jaṁbhāriṇā ca sahitā raṁbhāṁ procuridaṁ vacaḥ

he performed exceedingly fierce and very great austerity for the attainment of brahminhood. The gods, their minds anxious because of him, together with Indra, spoke these words to Rambha.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.39.39)

देवा ऊचुः रंभे त्वं हिमवच्छैले कौशिकीतीरगं मुनिम्

devā ūcuḥ raṁbhe tvaṁ himavacchaile kauśikītīragaṁ munim

The gods said: 'O Rambha, go to the sage on the Himalaya mountain, on the bank of the Kaushiki -'

Verse 40 (skanda.3.39.40)

विश्वामित्रं तपस्यंतं विलोभय विचेष्टितैः यथा तत्तपसो विघ्नो भविष्यति तथा कुरु

viśvāmitraṁ tapasyaṁtaṁ vilobhaya viceṣṭitaiḥ yathā tattapaso vighno bhaviṣyati tathā kuru

'- Vishvamitra, performing austerity, and tempt him with your seductive movements; act in such a way that an obstacle arises to his austerity.'

Verse 41 (skanda.3.39.41)

एवमुक्ता तदा रंभा देवैरिंद्रपुरोगमैः प्रत्युवाच सुरान्सर्वान्प्रांजलिः प्रणता तदा

evamuktā tadā raṁbhā devairiṁdrapurogamaiḥ pratyuvāca surānsarvānprāṁjaliḥ praṇatā tadā

Thus addressed by the gods headed by Indra, Rambha then, with joined palms, bowing, replied to all the gods.

Verse 42 (skanda.3.39.42)

रंभोवाच अतिक्रूरो महाक्रोधो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः स शप्स्यते मां क्रोधेन बिभेम्यस्मादहं सुराः

raṁbhovāca atikrūro mahākrodho viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ sa śapsyate māṁ krodhena bibhemyasmādahaṁ surāḥ

Rambha said: 'The great sage Vishvamitra is exceedingly fierce and prone to great wrath; he will curse me in anger - I am afraid of him, O gods.'

Verse 43 (skanda.3.39.43)

त्रायध्वं कृपया यूयं मां युष्मत्परिचारिकाम् इत्युक्तो रंभया तत्र जंभारिस्ताम भाषत

trāyadhvaṁ kṛpayā yūyaṁ māṁ yuṣmatparicārikām ityukto raṁbhayā tatra jaṁbhāristāma bhāṣata

'Kindly protect me, your own servant.' Thus addressed by Rambha, Indra then spoke to her there.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.39.44)

इन्द्र उवाच रंभे त्वया न भीः कार्या विश्वामित्रात्तपोधनात् अहमप्यागमिष्यामि त्वत्सहायः समन्मथः

indra uvāca raṁbhe tvayā na bhīḥ kāryā viśvāmitrāttapodhanāt ahamapyāgamiṣyāmi tvatsahāyaḥ samanmathaḥ

Indra said: 'O Rambha, you need have no fear of Vishvamitra; I too shall come, as your helper, together with Manmatha, the god of love.'

Verse 45 (skanda.3.39.45)

कोकिलालापमधुरो वसन्तोऽप्यागमिष्यति अतिसुंदररूपा त्वं प्रलोभय महामुनिम्

kokilālāpamadhuro vasanto'pyāgamiṣyati atisuṁdararūpā tvaṁ pralobhaya mahāmunim

'And spring too, sweet with the cuckoo's song, shall come. You, of exceedingly beautiful form, go and tempt the great sage.'

Verse 46 (skanda.3.39.46)

इतींद्रकथिता रंभा विश्वामित्राश्रमं ययौ तद्दृष्टिगोचरा स्थित्वा ललितं रूपमास्थिता

itīṁdrakathitā raṁbhā viśvāmitrāśramaṁ yayau taddṛṣṭigocarā sthitvā lalitaṁ rūpamāsthitā

Thus instructed by Indra, Rambha went to Vishvamitra's hermitage; standing within his sight, she assumed a graceful form.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.39.47)

सा मुनिं लोभयामास मनोहरविचेष्टितः पिकोपि तस्मिन्समये चुकूजानंदयन्मनः

sā muniṁ lobhayāmāsa manoharaviceṣṭitaḥ pikopi tasminsamaye cukūjānaṁdayanmanaḥ

She sought to tempt the sage with her heart-captivating movements; and at that very moment the cuckoo too cooed, delighting the mind.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.39.48)

श्रुत्वा पिकस्वरं रंभां दृष्ट्वा च मुनिपुंगवः संशयाविष्टहृदयो विदित्वा शक्रकर्म तत् शशाप रंभां क्रोधेन विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः

śrutvā pikasvaraṁ raṁbhāṁ dṛṣṭvā ca munipuṁgavaḥ saṁśayāviṣṭahṛdayo viditvā śakrakarma tat śaśāpa raṁbhāṁ krodhena viśvāmitrastapodhanaḥ

Hearing the cuckoo's call and seeing Rambha, the foremost of sages, his heart seized with suspicion, and understanding this to be Indra's doing, Vishvamitra, rich in austerity, cursed Rambha in anger.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.39.49)

विश्वामित्र उवाच यस्मात्कोपयसे रंभे मां त्वं कोपजयैषिणम्

viśvāmitra uvāca yasmātkopayase raṁbhe māṁ tvaṁ kopajayaiṣiṇam

Vishvamitra said: 'Since you, Rambha, provoke my anger, when I am one seeking to conquer anger itself,'

Verse 50 (skanda.3.39.50)

शिला भवात्र तस्मात्त्वं रंभे वर्षशतायुतम् तदंतरे ब्राह्मणेन रक्षिता मोक्षमाप्स्यसि

śilā bhavātra tasmāttvaṁ raṁbhe varṣaśatāyutam tadaṁtare brāhmaṇena rakṣitā mokṣamāpsyasi

'therefore become a stone here, O Rambha, for ten thousand years; during that time, protected by a brahmin, you shall obtain release.'

Verse 51 (skanda.3.39.51)

विश्वामित्रस्य शापेन तदंते सा शिलाऽभवत् बहुकालं शिलाभूता तस्थौ तस्याश्रमे द्विजाः

viśvāmitrasya śāpena tadaṁte sā śilā'bhavat bahukālaṁ śilābhūtā tasthau tasyāśrame dvijāḥ

By Vishvamitra's curse, at the end of those words she became a stone; for a long time, turned to stone, she remained there in his hermitage, O brahmins.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.39.52)

विश्वामित्रोपि धर्मात्मा पुनस्तप्त्वा महत्तपः लेभे वसिष्ठवाक्येन ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं नृपैः

viśvāmitropi dharmātmā punastaptvā mahattapaḥ lebhe vasiṣṭhavākyena brāhmaṇyaṁ durlabhaṁ nṛpaiḥ

Vishvamitra too, the righteous-souled one, having again performed great austerity, obtained brahminhood - hard for kings to attain - through the word of Vasishtha.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.39.53)

बहुकालं शिलाभूता रंभाप्यासीत्तदाश्रमे तस्मिन्नेवाश्रमे पुण्ये शिष्योऽगस्त्यस्य संमतः

bahukālaṁ śilābhūtā raṁbhāpyāsīttadāśrame tasminnevāśrame puṇye śiṣyo'gastyasya saṁmataḥ

For a long time Rambha, turned to stone, remained in that hermitage. In that very sacred hermitage, a disciple approved by Agastya,

Verse 54 (skanda.3.39.54)

श्वेतोनाम मुनिश्चक्रे मुमुक्षुः परमं तपः चिरकालं तपस्तस्मिन्प्रकुर्वति महामुनौ

śvetonāma muniścakre mumukṣuḥ paramaṁ tapaḥ cirakālaṁ tapastasminprakurvati mahāmunau

a sage named Shveta, seeking liberation, performed supreme austerity. While that great sage was performing austerity there for a long time,

Verse 55 (skanda.3.39.55)

अंगारकेति विख्याता राक्षसी काचिदागता तस्याश्रममतिक्रूरा मेघस्वनमहास्वना

aṁgāraketi vikhyātā rākṣasī kācidāgatā tasyāśramamatikrūrā meghasvanamahāsvanā

a certain rakshasi, known by the name Angaraka, exceedingly cruel, with a voice loud as thunder, came to his hermitage.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.39.56)

मूत्ररक्तपुरीषाद्यैर्दूषयामास भीषणा उपद्रवैस्तथा चान्यैर्बाधयामास तं मुनिम्

mūtraraktapurīṣādyairdūṣayāmāsa bhīṣaṇā upadravaistathā cānyairbādhayāmāsa taṁ munim

That fearsome creature defiled his hermitage with urine, blood, excrement and the like, and troubled that sage with these and other disturbances.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.39.57)

अथ क्रुद्धो मुनिः श्वेतो वायव्यास्त्रेण योजयन् शप्तां कुशिकपुत्रेण राक्षस्यै प्राक्षिपच्छिलाम्

atha kruddho muniḥ śveto vāyavyāstreṇa yojayan śaptāṁ kuśikaputreṇa rākṣasyai prākṣipacchilām

Then the sage Shveta, in anger, invoking the weapon of Vayu, hurled at the rakshasi the very stone that had been cursed by the son of Kushika.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.39.58)

राक्षसी सा प्रदुद्राव वायव्यास्त्रेण योजिता वायव्यास्त्रप्रयुक्तेन दृषदानुद्रुता च सा

rākṣasī sā pradudrāva vāyavyāstreṇa yojitā vāyavyāstraprayuktena dṛṣadānudrutā ca sā

That rakshasi fled, driven by the weapon of Vayu; pursued by that stone, propelled by the wind-weapon,

Verse 59 (skanda.3.39.59)

दक्षिणांबुनिधेस्तीरं धावति स्म भयार्दिता धावन्तीमनुधावन्ती सा शिलास्त्रप्रयोजिता

dakṣiṇāṁbunidhestīraṁ dhāvati sma bhayārditā dhāvantīmanudhāvantī sā śilāstraprayojitā

she ran, tormented with fear, toward the shore of the southern ocean; and that stone, impelled like a weapon, chased after her as she ran.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.39.60)

पपातोपरि राक्षस्या मज्जंत्याः कपितीर्थके मृता सा राक्षसी तत्र शिलापातात्स्वमूर्द्धनि

papātopari rākṣasyā majjaṁtyāḥ kapitīrthake mṛtā sā rākṣasī tatra śilāpātātsvamūrddhani

It fell upon that rakshasi as she was sinking into Kapitirtha; that rakshasi died there from the fall of the stone upon her very head.

Verse 61 (skanda.3.39.61)

विश्वामित्रेण शप्ता सा कपितीर्थे निमज्जनात् शिलारूपं परित्यज्य रंभारूपमुपेयुषी

viśvāmitreṇa śaptā sā kapitīrthe nimajjanāt śilārūpaṁ parityajya raṁbhārūpamupeyuṣī

She who had been cursed by Vishvamitra, by that immersion in Kapitirtha, abandoned her form as stone and regained her form as Rambha.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.39.62)

देवैः कुसुमधाराभिरभिवृष्टा मनोरमा दिव्यं विमानमारूढा दिव्यांबरविराजिता

devaiḥ kusumadhārābhirabhivṛṣṭā manoramā divyaṁ vimānamārūḍhā divyāṁbaravirājitā

Showered with streams of flowers by the gods, that beautiful one, mounted on a divine chariot, resplendent in divine garments,

Verse 63 (skanda.3.39.63)

हारकेयूरकटकनासाभरणभूषिता उर्वश्याद्यप्सरोभिश्च सखिभिः परिवारिता

hārakeyūrakaṭakanāsābharaṇabhūṣitā urvaśyādyapsarobhiśca sakhibhiḥ parivāritā

adorned with necklace, armlets, bracelets and nose-ornament, surrounded by her companions, the apsarases headed by Urvashi,

Verse 64 (skanda.3.39.64)

कपितीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं प्रशंसन्ती पुनःपुनः निषेव्य रामनाथं च शंकरं शशिभूषणम्

kapitīrthasya māhātmyaṁ praśaṁsantī punaḥpunaḥ niṣevya rāmanāthaṁ ca śaṁkaraṁ śaśibhūṣaṇam

praising again and again the greatness of Kapitirtha, and having paid homage to Ramanatha and to Shankara, adorned with the crescent moon,

Verse 65 (skanda.3.39.65)

आखण्डलपुरीं रम्यां प्रययावमरावतीम् राक्षसी सापि शापेन कुम्भजस्य महौजसः

ākhaṇḍalapurīṁ ramyāṁ prayayāvamarāvatīm rākṣasī sāpi śāpena kumbhajasya mahaujasaḥ

set out for the beautiful city of Indra, Amaravati. That rakshasi too, by the curse of the mighty pot-born sage Agastya,

Verse 66 (skanda.3.39.66)

घृताची देववेश्या हि राक्षसीरूपमागता साप्यत्र कपितीर्थाप्सु स्नानात्स्वं रूपमाययौ

ghṛtācī devaveśyā hi rākṣasīrūpamāgatā sāpyatra kapitīrthāpsu snānātsvaṁ rūpamāyayau

was in truth Ghritachi, a courtesan of the gods, who had assumed the form of a rakshasi; she too, by bathing in the waters of Kapitirtha, regained her own true form.

Verse 67 (skanda.3.39.67)

एवं रंभाघृताच्यौ ते कपितीर्थे निमज्जनात् अगस्त्यशिष्यश्वेतस्य प्रसादाद्द्विजसत्तमाः

evaṁ raṁbhāghṛtācyau te kapitīrthe nimajjanāt agastyaśiṣyaśvetasya prasādāddvijasattamāḥ

Thus Rambha and Ghritachi, by immersion in Kapitirtha, and by the grace of Shveta, the disciple of Agastya, O best of brahmins,

Verse 68 (skanda.3.39.68)

राक्षसीत्वं शिलात्वं च हित्वा स्वं रूपमागते तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नातव्यं कपितीर्थके

rākṣasītvaṁ śilātvaṁ ca hitvā svaṁ rūpamāgate tasmātsarvaprayatnena snātavyaṁ kapitīrthake

having cast off their state as a rakshasi and as a stone, regained their own true forms. Therefore one should, with all effort, bathe at Kapitirtha.

Verse 69 (skanda.3.39.69)

यः शृणोतीममध्यायं पठते वापि मानवः प्राप्नोति कपितीर्थस्य स्नानजं फलमुत्तमम्

yaḥ śṛṇotīmamadhyāyaṁ paṭhate vāpi mānavaḥ prāpnoti kapitīrthasya snānajaṁ phalamuttamam

Whoever hears this chapter, or reads it, obtains the supreme fruit born of bathing at Kapitirtha.