The Tale of Durdama and the Cleft of Chakratirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.3.4.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । भगवन्राक्षसः कोऽसौ सूत पौराणिकोत्तम । विष्णुभक्तं महात्मानं यो गालवमबाधत

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ bhagavanrākṣasaḥ ko'sau sūta paurāṇikottama viṣṇubhaktaṁ mahātmānaṁ yo gālavamabādhata

The sages said: O venerable Suta, foremost of narrators of the Puranas, who was that rakshasa who assailed the great-souled Galava, devotee of Vishnu?

Verse 2 (skanda.3.4.2)

श्रीसूत उवाच । वक्ष्यामि राक्षसं क्रूरं तं विप्राः शृणुतादरात् । यथा स राक्षसो जातो मुनीनां शापवैभवात्

śrīsūta uvāca vakṣyāmi rākṣasaṁ krūraṁ taṁ viprāḥ śṛṇutādarāt yathā sa rākṣaso jāto munīnāṁ śāpavaibhavāt

Shri Suta said: I shall tell of that cruel rakshasa; O brahmins, listen with reverence, how he became a rakshasa through the power of the sages' curse.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.4.3)

पुरा कैलासशिखरे हालास्ये शिवमंदिरे । चतुर्विशतिसाहस्रा मुनयो ब्रह्मवादिनः

purā kailāsaśikhare hālāsye śivamaṁdire caturviśatisāhasrā munayo brahmavādinaḥ

Long ago, on the peak of Kailasa, at Halasya, in the temple of Shiva, twenty-four thousand sages, proclaimers of Brahman —

Verse 4 (skanda.3.4.4)

वसिष्ठात्रिमुखाः सर्वे शिवभक्ता महौजसः । भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगास्त्रिपुंड्रांकितमस्तकाः

vasiṣṭhātrimukhāḥ sarve śivabhaktā mahaujasaḥ bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṁgāstripuṁḍrāṁkitamastakāḥ

— headed by Vasishtha and Atri, all of them mighty devotees of Shiva, their whole bodies smeared with sacred ash, their foreheads marked with the tripundra —

Verse 5 (skanda.3.4.5)

रुद्राक्ष मालाभरणाः पंचाक्षरजपे रताः । हालास्यनाथं भूतेशं चंद्रचूडमुमापतिम्

rudrākṣa mālābharaṇāḥ paṁcākṣarajape ratāḥ hālāsyanāthaṁ bhūteśaṁ caṁdracūḍamumāpatim

— adorned with rudraksha rosaries, devoted to the recitation of the five-syllabled mantra, worshipped the lord of Halasya, the lord of beings, the moon-crested lord of Uma —

Verse 6 (skanda.3.4.6)

उपासांचक्रिरे मुक्त्यै मधुरापुरवासिनः । कदाचित्तत्र गंधर्वो विश्वावसुसुतो बली

upāsāṁcakrire muktyai madhurāpuravāsinaḥ kadācittatra gaṁdharvo viśvāvasusuto balī

— dwellers of Madhurapuri, worshipped him for the sake of liberation. Once, there, a mighty gandharva, son of Vishvavasu —

Verse 7 (skanda.3.4.7)

दुर्द्दमोनाम विप्रेंद्रा विटगोष्ठीपरायणः । ललनाशतसंयुक्तो विवस्त्रः सलिलाशये

durddamonāma vipreṁdrā viṭagoṣṭhīparāyaṇaḥ lalanāśatasaṁyukto vivastraḥ salilāśaye

— O foremost of brahmins, named Durdama, given to the company of libertines, together with a hundred women, unclothed, at a pool of water —

Verse 8 (skanda.3.4.8)

चिक्रीड स विवस्त्राभिः साकं युवतिभिर्मुदा । हालास्यनाथतीर्थं तद्वसिष्ठो मुनिभिः सह

cikrīḍa sa vivastrābhiḥ sākaṁ yuvatibhirmudā hālāsyanāthatīrthaṁ tadvasiṣṭho munibhiḥ saha

— sported joyfully with those unclothed young women. Vasishtha, together with the sages, at that ford of the lord of Halasya —

Verse 9 (skanda.3.4.9)

माध्यंदिनं कर्तुमना ययौ शंकरमंदिरात् । तानृषीनवलोक्याथ रामास्ता भयकातराः

mādhyaṁdinaṁ kartumanā yayau śaṁkaramaṁdirāt tānṛṣīnavalokyātha rāmāstā bhayakātarāḥ

— set out from the temple of Shankara, intending to perform his midday rites. Seeing those sages, those women, terrified with fear —

Verse 10 (skanda.3.4.10)

वासांस्याच्छादयामासुर्दुर्द्दमो न तु साहसी । ततो वसिष्ठः कुपितः शशापैनं गत त्रपम्

vāsāṁsyācchādayāmāsurdurddamo na tu sāhasī tato vasiṣṭhaḥ kupitaḥ śaśāpainaṁ gata trapam

— covered themselves with garments, but Durdama, being reckless, did not. Then Vasishtha, angered, cursed him for having lost his sense of shame:

Verse 11 (skanda.3.4.11)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । यस्माद्दुर्दम गंधर्व दृष्ट्वास्माँल्लज्जया त्वया । वासो नाच्छादितं शीघ्रं याहि राक्षसतां ततः

vasiṣṭha uvāca yasmāddurdama gaṁdharva dṛṣṭvāsmā~llajjayā tvayā vāso nācchāditaṁ śīghraṁ yāhi rākṣasatāṁ tataḥ

Vasishtha said: "Since, O gandharva Durdama, upon seeing us, you did not swiftly cover yourself out of shame, therefore become a rakshasa!"

Verse 12 (skanda.3.4.12)

इत्युक्त्वा ता स्त्रियः प्राह वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः । यस्मादाच्छादितं वस्त्रं दृष्ट्वास्माँल्ललनोत्तमाः

ityuktvā tā striyaḥ prāha vasiṣṭho munipuṁgavaḥ yasmādācchāditaṁ vastraṁ dṛṣṭvāsmā~llalanottamāḥ

Having said this, Vasishtha, foremost of sages, said to those women: "Since, O foremost of women, upon seeing us, you covered yourselves with your garments —

Verse 13 (skanda.3.4.13)

ततो न युष्माञ्छपिष्यामि गन्छध्वं त्रिदिवं ततः । एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन रामाः प्रांजलयस्तदा

tato na yuṣmāñchapiṣyāmi ganchadhvaṁ tridivaṁ tataḥ evamuktā vasiṣṭhena rāmāḥ prāṁjalayastadā

— therefore I shall not curse you; go now to heaven." Thus addressed by Vasishtha, those women, then, with joined palms —

Verse 14 (skanda.3.4.14)

प्रणिपत्य वसिष्ठं तं भक्तिनम्रेण चेतसा । मुनिमंडलमध्ये तं वसिष्ठमिदमब्रुवन्

praṇipatya vasiṣṭhaṁ taṁ bhaktinamreṇa cetasā munimaṁḍalamadhye taṁ vasiṣṭhamidamabruvan

— bowing to Vasishtha with a mind humbled by devotion, said this to Vasishtha in the midst of the assembly of sages:

Verse 15 (skanda.3.4.15)

रामा ऊचुः । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ चतुरानननंदन । दयासिंधोऽवलोक्यास्मान्न कोपं कर्तुमर्हसि

rāmā ūcuḥ bhagavansarvadharmajña caturānananaṁdana dayāsiṁdho'valokyāsmānna kopaṁ kartumarhasi

The women said: "O venerable one, knower of all dharma, son of the four-faced Brahma, O ocean of compassion, seeing us, you ought not to be angry.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.4.16)

पतिरेवहि नारीणां भूषणं परमुच्यते । पतिहीना तु या नारी शतपुत्रापि सा मुने

patirevahi nārīṇāṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ paramucyate patihīnā tu yā nārī śataputrāpi sā mune

For the husband alone is declared to be the supreme ornament of women. A woman without a husband, O sage, even if she has a hundred sons —

Verse 17 (skanda.3.4.17)

विधवेत्युच्यते लोके तत्स्त्रीणां मरणं स्मृतम् । तत्प्रसादं कुरु मुने पत्यावस्माक मादरात्

vidhavetyucyate loke tatstrīṇāṁ maraṇaṁ smṛtam tatprasādaṁ kuru mune patyāvasmāka mādarāt

— is called a widow in this world; that is remembered as death for women. So, O sage, show your grace toward our husband, out of regard for us.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.4.18)

एकोऽपराधः क्षंतव्यो मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । क्षमां कुरु दयासिंधो युष्मच्छिष्येऽत्र दुर्दमे

eko'parādhaḥ kṣaṁtavyo munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ kṣamāṁ kuru dayāsiṁdho yuṣmacchiṣye'tra durdame

A single offence ought to be forgiven by sages who see the truth. Show forgiveness, O ocean of compassion, toward this Durdama, your own disciple."

Verse 19 (skanda.3.4.19)

वसिष्ठः प्रार्थितस्त्वैवं दुर्दम स्यांगनाजनैः । प्रोवाच वचनं भूयः प्रसन्नः स द्विजोत्तमाः

vasiṣṭhaḥ prārthitastvaivaṁ durdama syāṁganājanaiḥ provāca vacanaṁ bhūyaḥ prasannaḥ sa dvijottamāḥ

Thus entreated by the women of Durdama, Vasishtha, O foremost of brahmins, becoming gracious, spoke again these words:

Verse 20 (skanda.3.4.20)

न मे स्याद्वचनं मिथ्या कदाचिदपि सुभ्रुवः । उपायं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं श्रद्धया सह

na me syādvacanaṁ mithyā kadācidapi subhruvaḥ upāyaṁ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ śraddhayā saha

"O fair-browed ones, my word can never at any time become false. But I shall tell you a way out; listen with faith.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.4.21)

षोडशाब्दावधिः शापो भर्तुर्वो भविता ध्रुवम् । षोडशाब्दावधौ चैष दुर्दमो राक्षसाकृतिः

ṣoḍaśābdāvadhiḥ śāpo bharturvo bhavitā dhruvam ṣoḍaśābdāvadhau caiṣa durdamo rākṣasākṛtiḥ

This curse upon your husband shall surely last only for a period of sixteen years. And at the end of those sixteen years, this Durdama, in his rakshasa form —

Verse 22 (skanda.3.4.22)

यदृच्छयाचक्र तीर्थं गमिष्यति सुरांगनाः । आस्ते तत्र महायोगी गालवो विष्णुतत्परः

yadṛcchayācakra tīrthaṁ gamiṣyati surāṁganāḥ āste tatra mahāyogī gālavo viṣṇutatparaḥ

— O celestial women, shall by chance go to Chakratirtha. There dwells the great yogi Galava, devoted to Vishnu.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.4.23)

भक्ष्यार्थं तं मुनिं सोऽयं राक्षसोभिगमिष्यति । ततो गालवरक्षार्थं प्रेरितं चक्रमुत्तमम्

bhakṣyārthaṁ taṁ muniṁ so'yaṁ rākṣasobhigamiṣyati tato gālavarakṣārthaṁ preritaṁ cakramuttamam

That rakshasa shall approach that sage in order to devour him. Then, for the protection of Galava, the supreme discus, dispatched —

Verse 24 (skanda.3.4.24)

विष्णुनास्य शिरो रामा हरिष्यति न संशयः । ततः स्वरूपमासाद्य शापान्मुक्तः सुदुर्दमः

viṣṇunāsya śiro rāmā hariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ tataḥ svarūpamāsādya śāpānmuktaḥ sudurdamaḥ

— by Vishnu, shall sever his head, O women, without doubt. Then, regaining his own form, freed from the curse, that very Durdama —

Verse 25 (skanda.3.4.25)

पतिर्वस्त्रिदिवं भूयो गंतास्त्यत्र न संशयः । ततस्त्रिदिवमासाद्य दुर्द्दमोऽयं पतिर्हि वः

patirvastridivaṁ bhūyo gaṁtāstyatra na saṁśayaḥ tatastridivamāsādya durddamo'yaṁ patirhi vaḥ

— your husband shall then go again to heaven; of this there is no doubt. Then, having reached heaven, this Durdama, your husband —

Verse 26 (skanda.3.4.26)

रमयिष्यति सुन्दर्यो युष्मान्सुन्दरवेषभृत् । श्रीसूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तु वसिष्ठस्ता दुर्दमस्य वरांगनाः

ramayiṣyati sundaryo yuṣmānsundaraveṣabhṛt śrīsūta uvāca ityuktvā tu vasiṣṭhastā durdamasya varāṁganāḥ

— bearing a beautiful form once more, shall delight you, O beautiful ones." Shri Suta said: Having thus spoken to those lovely wives of Durdama, Vasishtha —

Verse 27 (skanda.3.4.27)

स्वाश्रमं प्रययौ तूर्णं हालास्येश्वरभक्तिमान् । अथ रामास्तमालिंग्य दुर्द्दमं पतिमातुराः

svāśramaṁ prayayau tūrṇaṁ hālāsyeśvarabhaktimān atha rāmāstamāliṁgya durddamaṁ patimāturāḥ

— devoted to the lord of Halasya, swiftly departed for his own hermitage. Then those women, distressed, embracing their husband Durdama —

Verse 28 (skanda.3.4.28)

रुरुदुः शोकसंविग्ना दुःखसागरमध्यगाः । पश्यंतीषु तास्वेव दुर्दमो राक्षसोऽभवत्

ruruduḥ śokasaṁvignā duḥkhasāgaramadhyagāḥ paśyaṁtīṣu tāsveva durdamo rākṣaso'bhavat

— wept, overcome with grief, plunged into an ocean of sorrow. And even as they watched, Durdama became a rakshasa —

Verse 29 (skanda.3.4.29)

महादंष्ट्रो महाकायो रक्तश्मश्रुशिरोरुहः । तं दृष्ट्वा भयसंविग्ना जग्मू रामास्त्रिविष्टपम्

mahādaṁṣṭro mahākāyo raktaśmaśruśiroruhaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayasaṁvignā jagmū rāmāstriviṣṭapam

— huge-fanged, huge-bodied, with red beard and hair. Seeing him, those women, overcome with fear, went to heaven.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.4.30)

ततो राक्षसवेषोऽयं दुर्दमो भैरवाकृतिः । भक्षयन्प्राणिनः सर्वान्देशाद्देशं वनाद्वनम्

tato rākṣasaveṣo'yaṁ durdamo bhairavākṛtiḥ bhakṣayanprāṇinaḥ sarvāndeśāddeśaṁ vanādvanam

Then this Durdama, in the guise of a rakshasa, of terrible form, devouring all creatures, from land to land, from forest to forest —

Verse 31 (skanda.3.4.31)

भ्रमन्न निलवेगोऽसौ धर्मतीर्थं ततो ययौ । एवं षोडशवर्षाणि भ्रमतोऽस्य ययुस्तदा

bhramanna nilavego'sau dharmatīrthaṁ tato yayau evaṁ ṣoḍaśavarṣāṇi bhramato'sya yayustadā

— wandered, swift as the wind, and then went to Dharmatirtha. Thus, sixteen years passed for him as he wandered.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.4.32)

ततस्तु षोडशाब्दांते राक्षसोयं मुनीश्वराः । भक्षितुं गालवमुनिं धर्मतीर्थनिवासिनम्

tatastu ṣoḍaśābdāṁte rākṣasoyaṁ munīśvarāḥ bhakṣituṁ gālavamuniṁ dharmatīrthanivāsinam

Then, O lords of sages, at the end of those sixteen years, this rakshasa, in order to devour the sage Galava, dwelling at Dharmatirtha —

Verse 33 (skanda.3.4.33)

उपाद्रवद्वायुवेगः सचास्तौषीज्जनार्दनम् । गालवेन स्तुतो विष्णुस्तदा चक्रमचोदयत्

upādravadvāyuvegaḥ sacāstauṣījjanārdanam gālavena stuto viṣṇustadā cakramacodayat

— attacked, swift as wind; and Galava then praised Janardana. Vishnu, thus praised by Galava, then dispatched the discus —

Verse 34 (skanda.3.4.34)

रक्षितुं गाल वमुनिं राक्षसेन प्रपीडितम् । अथागत्य हरेश्चक्रं राक्षसस्य शिरोऽहरत्

rakṣituṁ gāla vamuniṁ rākṣasena prapīḍitam athāgatya hareścakraṁ rākṣasasya śiro'harat

— to protect the sage Galava, sorely tormented by the rakshasa. Then, coming there, the discus of Hari severed the head of the rakshasa.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.4.35)

ततोऽयं राक्षसं देहं त्यक्त्वा दिव्यकलेवरः । विमानवरमारुह्य दुर्दमः पुष्पवर्षितः

tato'yaṁ rākṣasaṁ dehaṁ tyaktvā divyakalevaraḥ vimānavaramāruhya durdamaḥ puṣpavarṣitaḥ

Then this Durdama, casting off his rakshasa body, with a divine form, mounting a splendid celestial chariot, showered with flowers —

Verse 36 (skanda.3.4.36)

प्रांजलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा ववन्दे तं सुदर्शनम् । तुष्टाव श्रुतिरम्याभिर्वाग्भिरग्र्याभिरादरात्

prāṁjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā vavande taṁ sudarśanam tuṣṭāva śrutiramyābhirvāgbhiragryābhirādarāt

— with joined palms, having bowed down, saluted that Sudarshana, and praised him reverently with excellent words pleasing to the ear.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.4.37)

दुर्दम उवाच । सुदर्शन नमस्तेऽस्तु विष्णुहस्तैकभूषण । नमस्तेऽसुरसंहर्त्रे सहस्रादित्यतेजसे

durdama uvāca sudarśana namaste'stu viṣṇuhastaikabhūṣaṇa namaste'surasaṁhartre sahasrādityatejase

Durdama said: "Salutation to you, O Sudarshana, the sole ornament of Vishnu's hand! Salutation to you, destroyer of asuras, of the radiance of a thousand suns!

Verse 38 (skanda.3.4.38)

कृपालेशेन भवतस्त्यक्त्वाहं राक्षसीं तनुम् । स्वरूपमभजं विष्णोश्चक्रायुध नमोऽस्तु ते

kṛpāleśena bhavatastyaktvāhaṁ rākṣasīṁ tanum svarūpamabhajaṁ viṣṇoścakrāyudha namo'stu te

By a mere portion of your grace, I have cast off my rakshasa body and attained my own true form. O weapon of Vishnu, salutation to you.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.4.39)

अनुजानीहि मां गन्तुं त्रिदिवं विष्णुवल्लभ । भार्या मे परिशोचंति विरहातुरचेतसः

anujānīhi māṁ gantuṁ tridivaṁ viṣṇuvallabha bhāryā me pariśocaṁti virahāturacetasaḥ

Grant me leave to go to heaven, O beloved of Vishnu; my wives grieve, their minds tormented by separation.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.4.40)

त्वन्मनस्को भविष्यामि यावज्जीवं यथाह्यहम् । तथा कृपां कुरुष्व त्वं मयि चक्र नमोऽस्तु ते

tvanmanasko bhaviṣyāmi yāvajjīvaṁ yathāhyaham tathā kṛpāṁ kuruṣva tvaṁ mayi cakra namo'stu te

I shall keep my mind fixed on you for as long as I live; show me such grace, O discus — salutation to you."

Verse 41 (skanda.3.4.41)

एवं स्तुतं विष्णुचक्रं दुर्दमेन सभक्तिकम् । अनुजग्राह सहसा तथास्त्विति मुनीश्वराः

evaṁ stutaṁ viṣṇucakraṁ durdamena sabhaktikam anujagrāha sahasā tathāstviti munīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, that discus of Vishnu, thus devotedly praised by Durdama, at once graciously granted, saying "So be it."

Verse 42 (skanda.3.4.42)

चक्रायुधाभ्यनुज्ञातो दुर्दमो गालवं मुनिम् । प्रणम्य तेनानुज्ञातो गन्धर्वस्त्रिदिवं ययौ

cakrāyudhābhyanujñāto durdamo gālavaṁ munim praṇamya tenānujñāto gandharvastridivaṁ yayau

Granted leave by the discus-weapon, Durdama bowed to the sage Galava; and, given leave by him too, the gandharva went to heaven.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.4.43)

दुर्दमे तु गते स्वर्गं गालवो मुनिपुंगवः । स चक्रं प्रार्थयामास विष्ण्वायुधमनुत्तमम्

durdame tu gate svargaṁ gālavo munipuṁgavaḥ sa cakraṁ prārthayāmāsa viṣṇvāyudhamanuttamam

When Durdama had gone to heaven, Galava, foremost of sages, entreated that supreme weapon of Vishnu, the discus:

Verse 44 (skanda.3.4.44)

चक्रायुध नमामि त्वां महासुरविमर्द्दन । देवीपट्टण पर्यंते धर्मतीर्थे ह्यनुत्तमे

cakrāyudha namāmi tvāṁ mahāsuravimarddana devīpaṭṭaṇa paryaṁte dharmatīrthe hyanuttame

"O weapon-discus, I bow to you, crusher of great asuras! At this unsurpassed Dharmatirtha, extending as far as Devipattana —

Verse 45 (skanda.3.4.45)

सन्निधानं कुरुष्व त्वं सर्वपापविनाशनम् । त्वत्सन्निधानात्सर्वेषां स्नातानां पापिनामिह

sannidhānaṁ kuruṣva tvaṁ sarvapāpavināśanam tvatsannidhānātsarveṣāṁ snātānāṁ pāpināmiha

— remain present, the destroyer of all sin. By your presence, of all sinners who bathe here —

Verse 46 (skanda.3.4.46)

पापनाशं कुरुष्व त्वं मोक्षं च कुरु शाश्वतम् । चक्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातिं लोकस्य परिकल्पय

pāpanāśaṁ kuruṣva tvaṁ mokṣaṁ ca kuru śāśvatam cakratīrthamiti khyātiṁ lokasya parikalpaya

— bring about the destruction of sin, and grant eternal liberation. Establish for the world the fame of this place as Chakratirtha.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.4.47)

त्वत्सन्निधानादत्रत्यमुनीनां भयनाशनम् । इतः परं भवत्वार्य चक्रायुध नमोऽस्तु ते

tvatsannidhānādatratyamunīnāṁ bhayanāśanam itaḥ paraṁ bhavatvārya cakrāyudha namo'stu te

By your presence here, may fear be destroyed henceforth for the sages dwelling here, O noble one. O weapon-discus, salutation to you.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.4.48)

भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यो भयं मा भवतु प्रभो । इति संप्रार्थितं चक्रं गालवेन मुनीश्वराः

bhūtapretapiśācebhyo bhayaṁ mā bhavatu prabho iti saṁprārthitaṁ cakraṁ gālavena munīśvarāḥ

O lord, may there be no fear from bhutas, pretas, or pishachas." O lords of sages, thus entreated by Galava, the discus —

Verse 49 (skanda.3.4.49)

तथैवा स्त्विति सम्भाष्य तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तिरोहितम् । श्रीसूत उवाच । एवं वः कथितो विप्रा राक्षसस्स भवो मया

tathaivā stviti sambhāṣya tasmiṁstīrthe tirohitam śrīsūta uvāca evaṁ vaḥ kathito viprā rākṣasassa bhavo mayā

— saying "So be it," vanished into that ford. Shri Suta said: Thus, O brahmins, has the origin of that rakshasa been related to you by me,

Verse 50 (skanda.3.4.50)

माहात्म्यं चक्र तीर्थस्य कथितं च मलापहम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवो भुवि

māhātmyaṁ cakra tīrthasya kathitaṁ ca malāpaham yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavo bhuvi

and the glory of Chakratirtha, the remover of impurity, has also been told; hearing which, a man on this earth is freed from all sins.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.4.51)

ऋषय ऊचुः । व्यासशिष्य महाप्राज्ञ सूत पौराणिकोत्तम । आरभ्य दर्भशयनमादेवीपत्तनावधि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vyāsaśiṣya mahāprājña sūta paurāṇikottama ārabhya darbhaśayanamādevīpattanāvadhi

The sages said: O Suta, supremely wise disciple of Vyasa, foremost of narrators of the Puranas — from Darbhashayana up to Devipattana,

Verse 52 (skanda.3.4.52)

बहुव्यायामसंयुक्तं चक्रतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । ययौ विच्छिन्नतां मध्ये कथं कथय सांप्रतम्

bahuvyāyāmasaṁyuktaṁ cakratīrthamanuttamam yayau vicchinnatāṁ madhye kathaṁ kathaya sāṁpratam

— the unsurpassed Chakratirtha, of such vast extent, how did it come to be broken apart in the middle? Tell us this now.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.4.53)

एनं मनसि तिष्ठन्तं संशयं छेत्तुमर्हसि । श्रीसूत उवाच । पुरा हि पर्वताः सर्वे जातपक्षा मनोजवाः

enaṁ manasi tiṣṭhantaṁ saṁśayaṁ chettumarhasi śrīsūta uvāca purā hi parvatāḥ sarve jātapakṣā manojavāḥ

You ought to dispel this doubt that stands in our minds. Shri Suta said: Long ago, indeed, all the mountains had wings, swift as thought —

Verse 54 (skanda.3.4.54)

पर्यंतपर्वतै सार्द्धं चेरुराकाशमार्गगाः । नगरेषु च राष्ट्रेषु ग्रामेषु च वनेषु च

paryaṁtaparvatai sārddhaṁ cerurākāśamārgagāḥ nagareṣu ca rāṣṭreṣu grāmeṣu ca vaneṣu ca

— and, together with the border mountains, they moved through the paths of the sky, over cities, over kingdoms, over villages, and over forests.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.4.55)

आप्लुत्याप्लुत्य तिष्ठंति पर्वताः सर्वतो भुवि । आक्रम्याक्रम्य तिष्ठंति यत्रयत्र महीधराः

āplutyāplutya tiṣṭhaṁti parvatāḥ sarvato bhuvi ākramyākramya tiṣṭhaṁti yatrayatra mahīdharāḥ

Leaping down again and again, the mountains would settle everywhere upon the earth; wherever those mountains would come crashing down and settle —

Verse 56 (skanda.3.4.56)

तत्रतत्र नरा गावस्तथान्ये प्राणिसंचयाः । मरणं सहसा प्रापुः पीड्यमाना महीधरैः

tatratatra narā gāvastathānye prāṇisaṁcayāḥ maraṇaṁ sahasā prāpuḥ pīḍyamānā mahīdharaiḥ

— there, men, cows, and other multitudes of creatures, crushed by the mountains, suddenly met their death.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.4.57)

ब्राह्मणादिषु वर्णेषु नष्टेषु समनन्तरम् । यज्ञाद्यभावात्सहसा देवता व्यसनं ययुः

brāhmaṇādiṣu varṇeṣu naṣṭeṣu samanantaram yajñādyabhāvātsahasā devatā vyasanaṁ yayuḥ

As the brahmins and the other classes perished in succession, the gods, through the sudden absence of sacrifices and the like, fell into distress.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.4.58)

तत इन्द्रो महाक्रुद्धो वज्रमादाय वेगवान् । चिच्छेद सहसा पक्षान्पर्वतानां तरस्विनाम्

tata indro mahākruddho vajramādāya vegavān ciccheda sahasā pakṣānparvatānāṁ tarasvinām

Then Indra, greatly enraged, seizing his thunderbolt, swiftly and suddenly cut off the wings of those speeding mountains.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.4.59)

छिद्यमानच्छदाः सर्वे वासवेन महीधराः । अनन्यशरणा भूत्वा समुद्रं प्राविशन्भयात्

chidyamānacchadāḥ sarve vāsavena mahīdharāḥ ananyaśaraṇā bhūtvā samudraṁ prāviśanbhayāt

All the mountains, their wings being severed by Vasava (Indra), having no other refuge, out of fear entered into the ocean.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.4.60)

अचलेषु च सर्वेषु पतत्सु लवणार्णवे । निपेतुरर्णवभ्रांत्या चक्रतीर्थेपि केचन

acaleṣu ca sarveṣu patatsu lavaṇārṇave nipeturarṇavabhrāṁtyā cakratīrthepi kecana

And as all those mountains fell into the salt ocean, some, through mistaking it for the ocean, fell even into Chakratirtha.

Verse 61 (skanda.3.4.61)

पतितैः पर्वतैस्तैस्तु मध्यतः पूरितोदरम् । चक्रतीर्थं महापुण्यं मध्ये विच्छेदमाययौ

patitaiḥ parvataistaistu madhyataḥ pūritodaram cakratīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ madhye vicchedamāyayau

By those fallen mountains, its middle portion having been filled up, the greatly meritorious Chakratirtha came to be divided in its middle.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.4.62)

यदृच्छया महाशैलाः पार्श्वयोस्तत्र नापतन् । अतो वै दर्भशयने तथा देवीपुरेऽपि च

yadṛcchayā mahāśailāḥ pārśvayostatra nāpatan ato vai darbhaśayane tathā devīpure'pi ca

By chance, the great mountains did not fall on its two sides; and so, both at Darbhashayana and at Devipura,

Verse 63 (skanda.3.4.63)

विच्छिन्नमध्यं तद्द्वेधा विभक्तमिव दृश्यते । मध्यतः पतितैः शैलैश्चक्रतीर्थं स्थलीकृतम्

vicchinnamadhyaṁ taddvedhā vibhaktamiva dṛśyate madhyataḥ patitaiḥ śailaiścakratīrthaṁ sthalīkṛtam

— the middle appears cut off, as if divided into two. By the mountains that fell in the middle, Chakratirtha was turned into dry land there.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.4.64)

श्रीसूत उवाच । युष्माकमेवं कथितं मुनीन्द्रा यन्मध्यतस्तीर्थमिदं स्थली कृतम् । यथा महीध्राः सहसा बिडौजसा विच्छिन्नपक्षा इह पेतुरुन्नताः

śrīsūta uvāca yuṣmākamevaṁ kathitaṁ munīndrā yanmadhyatastīrthamidaṁ sthalī kṛtam yathā mahīdhrāḥ sahasā biḍaujasā vicchinnapakṣā iha peturunnatāḥ

Shri Suta said: Thus, O lords of sages, has it been told to you, how this ford came to be made into dry land in its middle — how the lofty mountains, their wings suddenly severed by the mighty Indra, fell here.