The Glory of Dharmaranya

Verse 1 (skanda.3.54.1)

व्यास उवाच । पृथ्वीपुरंध्यास्तिलकं ललाटे लक्ष्मीलतायाः स्फुटमालवालम् । वाग्देवताया जलकेलिरम्यं नोहेरकं संप्रति वर्णयामि

vyāsa uvāca pṛthvīpuraṁdhyāstilakaṁ lalāṭe lakṣmīlatāyāḥ sphuṭamālavālam vāgdevatāyā jalakeliramyaṁ noherakaṁ saṁprati varṇayāmi

Vyasa said: I shall now describe Noheraka — the very tilaka-mark on the forehead of Earth's queen, the manifest root-bed of the creeper of Lakshmi, delightful as the water-sport of the goddess of speech.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.54.2)

साधु पृष्टं त्वया राजन्वाराणस्यधिकाधिकम् । धर्मारण्यं नृपश्रेष्ठ श्रृणुष्वावहितो भृशम्

sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā rājanvārāṇasyadhikādhikam dharmāraṇyaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha śrṛṇuṣvāvahito bhṛśam

Well have you asked, O king, of a place surpassing even Varanasi. O best of kings, listen most attentively to the account of Dharmaranya.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.54.3)

सर्वतीर्थानि तत्रैव ऊषरं तेन कथ्यते । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्यैरिंद्राद्यैः परिसेवितम्

sarvatīrthāni tatraiva ūṣaraṁ tena kathyate brahmaviṣṇumaheśādyairiṁdrādyaiḥ parisevitam

All the sacred fords are there itself; hence it is called Ushara. It is attended by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha and the others, and by Indra and the rest.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.54.4)

लोकपालैश्च दिक्पालैर्मातृभिः शिवशक्तिभिः । गंधर्वैश्वाप्सरोभिश्च सेवितं यज्ञकर्मभिः

lokapālaiśca dikpālairmātṛbhiḥ śivaśaktibhiḥ gaṁdharvaiśvāpsarobhiśca sevitaṁ yajñakarmabhiḥ

It is attended by the guardians of the worlds and the directions, by the Mother-goddesses, by the Shiva-shaktis, by gandharvas and apsarases, and by sacrificial rites.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.54.5)

भूतवेतालशाकिनीग्रहदेवाधिदेवतैः । ऋतुभिर्मासपक्षैश्च सेव्यमानं सुरासुरेः

bhūtavetālaśākinīgrahadevādhidevataiḥ ṛtubhirmāsapakṣaiśca sevyamānaṁ surāsureḥ

It is attended by bhutas, betalas, shakinis, the presiding deities of the planets, by the seasons, months and fortnights, and by gods and asuras.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.54.6)

तदाद्यं च नृपस्थानं सर्वसौख्यप्रदुं तथा । यज्ञैश्च बहुभिश्चैव सेवितं मुनिसत्तमैः

tadādyaṁ ca nṛpasthānaṁ sarvasaukhyapraduṁ tathā yajñaiśca bahubhiścaiva sevitaṁ munisattamaiḥ

That is the foremost of royal seats, the bestower of every happiness; it is attended by many sacrifices and by the best of sages.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.54.7)

सिंहव्याघ्रैर्द्विपैश्चैव पक्षिभिर्विविधैस्तथा । गोमहिष्यादिभिश्चैव सारसैर्मृगशूकरैः

siṁhavyāghrairdvipaiścaiva pakṣibhirvividhaistathā gomahiṣyādibhiścaiva sārasairmṛgaśūkaraiḥ

By lions, tigers, and elephants, and by birds of various kinds; by cows, buffaloes and the like, by cranes, deer, and boars —

Verse 8 (skanda.3.54.8)

सेवितं नृपशार्दूल श्वापदैवैर्विविधैरपि । तत्र ये निधनं प्राप्ताः पक्षिणः कीटकादयः

sevitaṁ nṛpaśārdūla śvāpadaivairvividhairapi tatra ye nidhanaṁ prāptāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ kīṭakādayaḥ

— it is attended, O tiger among kings, by manifold wild beasts too; those birds, insects and the like who meet their death there —

Verse 9 (skanda.3.54.9)

पशवः श्वापदाश्चैव जलस्थलचराश्च ये । खेचरा भूचराश्चैव डाकिन्यो राक्षसास्तथा

paśavaḥ śvāpadāścaiva jalasthalacarāśca ye khecarā bhūcarāścaiva ḍākinyo rākṣasāstathā

— cattle and wild beasts, those that move in water or on land, sky-goers and earth-goers, dakinis and rakshasas likewise —

Verse 10 (skanda.3.54.10)

एकोत्तरशतैः सार्द्धं मुक्तिस्तेषां हि शाश्वती । ते सर्वे विष्णुलोकांश्च प्रयांत्येव न संशयः

ekottaraśataiḥ sārddhaṁ muktisteṣāṁ hi śāśvatī te sarve viṣṇulokāṁśca prayāṁtyeva na saṁśayaḥ

— for them, together with a hundred and one generations of their kin, liberation is eternal; all of them attain indeed to the world of Vishnu, without doubt.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.54.11)

संतारयति पूर्वज्ञान्दश पूर्वान्दशापरान् । यवव्रीहितिलैः सर्पिर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च दूर्वया

saṁtārayati pūrvajñāndaśa pūrvāndaśāparān yavavrīhitilaiḥ sarpirbilvapatraiśca dūrvayā

Whoever offers there with barley, rice, sesame, ghee, bilva leaves and durva grass carries across ten generations before him and ten after him —

Verse 12 (skanda.3.54.12)

गुडैश्चैवोदकैर्नाथ तत्र पिंडं करोति यः । उद्धरेत्सप्त गोत्राणि कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम्

guḍaiścaivodakairnātha tatra piṁḍaṁ karoti yaḥ uddharetsapta gotrāṇi kulamekottaraṁ śatam

— O lord, whoever offers a pinda there with jaggery and water uplifts seven gotras, a hundred and one families.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.54.13)

वृक्षैरनेकधा युंक्ते लतागुल्मैः सुशोभितम् । सदा पुण्यप्रदं तच्च सदा फलसमन्वितम्

vṛkṣairanekadhā yuṁkte latāgulmaiḥ suśobhitam sadā puṇyapradaṁ tacca sadā phalasamanvitam

It is joined with trees of many kinds, beautified with creepers and shrubs; it is ever merit-bestowing and ever laden with fruit.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.54.14)

निर्वैरं निर्भयं चैव धर्मारण्यं च भूपते । गोव्याघ्रैः क्रीड्यते तत्र तथा मार्जारमूषकैः

nirvairaṁ nirbhayaṁ caiva dharmāraṇyaṁ ca bhūpate govyāghraiḥ krīḍyate tatra tathā mārjāramūṣakaiḥ

O king, Dharmaranya is free of enmity and free of fear; there, cow and tiger play together, and likewise cat and mouse —

Verse 15 (skanda.3.54.15)

भेकोऽहिना क्रीडते च मानुषा राक्षसैः सह । निर्भयं वसते तत्र धर्म्मारण्यं च भूतले

bheko'hinā krīḍate ca mānuṣā rākṣasaiḥ saha nirbhayaṁ vasate tatra dharmmāraṇyaṁ ca bhūtale

— frog plays with serpent, and men dwell together with rakshasas; fearlessly does one dwell there, in Dharmaranya on this earth.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.54.16)

महानंदमयं दिव्यं पावनात्पावनं परम् । कलकंठः कलोत्कंठमनुगुंजति कुंजगः

mahānaṁdamayaṁ divyaṁ pāvanātpāvanaṁ param kalakaṁṭhaḥ kalotkaṁṭhamanuguṁjati kuṁjagaḥ

It is full of great bliss, divine, the purest of the pure; the sweet-throated cuckoo, dwelling in the groves, hums sweetly with longing —

Verse 17 (skanda.3.54.17)

ध्यानस्थः श्रोष्यति तदा पारावत्येति वार्य्यते । केकः कोकीं परित्यज्य मौनं तिष्ठति तद्भयात्

dhyānasthaḥ śroṣyati tadā pārāvatyeti vāryyate kekaḥ kokīṁ parityajya maunaṁ tiṣṭhati tadbhayāt

— one absorbed in meditation will then hear it; the dove is checked from cooing; the peacock, leaving his mate, stays silent from fear of that meditative stillness.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.54.18)

चकोरश्चंद्रिकाभोक्ता नक्तव्रतमिवास्थितः । पठंति सारिकाः सारं शुकं संबोधयत्यहो

cakoraścaṁdrikābhoktā naktavratamivāsthitaḥ paṭhaṁti sārikāḥ sāraṁ śukaṁ saṁbodhayatyaho

The chakora bird, enjoyer of moonlight, remains as if observing a night-vow; the mynas recite the essence of scripture, calling out to the parrot — how wondrous!

Verse 19 (skanda.3.54.19)

अपारवारसंसारसिंधुपारप्रदः शिवः । आलस्येनापि यो यायाद्गृहाद्धर्मवनं प्रति

apāravārasaṁsārasiṁdhupārapradaḥ śivaḥ ālasyenāpi yo yāyādgṛhāddharmavanaṁ prati

Shiva is the one who carries beings across the boundless ocean of samsara; whoever, even out of mere idleness, should go from his house towards Dharmavana —

Verse 20 (skanda.3.54.20)

अश्वमेधाधिको धर्मस्तस्य स्याच्च पदेपदे । शापानुग्रहसंयुक्ता ब्राह्मणास्तत्र संति वै

aśvamedhādhiko dharmastasya syācca padepade śāpānugrahasaṁyuktā brāhmaṇāstatra saṁti vai

— for him, at every single step, there accrues merit surpassing an Ashvamedha sacrifice. There indeed dwell brahmins endowed with the power both to curse and to bless.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.54.21)

अष्टादशसहस्राणि पुण्यकार्येषु निर्मिताः । षट्त्रिंशत्तु सहस्राणि भृत्यास्ते वणिजो भुवि

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi puṇyakāryeṣu nirmitāḥ ṣaṭtriṁśattu sahasrāṇi bhṛtyāste vaṇijo bhuvi

Eighteen thousand were established there for meritorious works; and thirty-six thousand were their servants and merchants on earth.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.54.22)

द्विजभक्तिसमायुक्ता ब्रह्मण्यास्ते त्वयोनिजाः । पुराणज्ञाः सदाचारा धार्मिकाः शुद्धबुद्धयः । स्वर्गे देवाः प्रशंसंति धर्म्मारण्यनिवासिनः

dvijabhaktisamāyuktā brahmaṇyāste tvayonijāḥ purāṇajñāḥ sadācārā dhārmikāḥ śuddhabuddhayaḥ svarge devāḥ praśaṁsaṁti dharmmāraṇyanivāsinaḥ

They, devoted to the brahmins, brahmin-loving, some not-womb-born, knowers of the Puranas, of good conduct, righteous, pure of intellect — the gods in heaven praise those who dwell in Dharmaranya.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.54.23)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । धर्मारण्येति त्रिदशैः कदा नाम प्रतिष्ठितम् । पावनं भूतले जातं कस्मात्तेन विनिर्मितम्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca dharmāraṇyeti tridaśaiḥ kadā nāma pratiṣṭhitam pāvanaṁ bhūtale jātaṁ kasmāttena vinirmitam

Yudhishthira said: When was the name 'Dharmaranya' established by the gods? By whom was this purifying place created on earth, and from what was it made?

Verse 24 (skanda.3.54.24)

तीर्थभूतं हि कस्माच्च कारणात्तद्वदस्व मे । ब्राह्मणाः कतिसं ख्याकाः केन वै स्थापिताः पुरा

tīrthabhūtaṁ hi kasmācca kāraṇāttadvadasva me brāhmaṇāḥ katisaṁ khyākāḥ kena vai sthāpitāḥ purā

For what reason indeed did it become a sacred ford? Tell me that. How many brahmins were there in number, and by whom were they established of old?

Verse 25 (skanda.3.54.25)

अष्टादशसहस्राणि किमर्थं स्थापितानि वै । कस्मिन्नंशे समुत्पन्ना ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्म सत्तमाः

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi kimarthaṁ sthāpitāni vai kasminnaṁśe samutpannā brāhmaṇā brahma sattamāḥ

For what purpose indeed were the eighteen thousand established? From what portion did those brahmins, the most excellent knowers of Brahman, arise?

Verse 26 (skanda.3.54.26)

सर्वविद्यासु निष्णाता वेदवेदांगपारगाः । ऋग्वेदेषु च निष्णाता यजुर्वेदकृतश्रमाः

sarvavidyāsu niṣṇātā vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ ṛgvedeṣu ca niṣṇātā yajurvedakṛtaśramāḥ

Skilled in all learning, masters of the Vedas and Vedangas; skilled in the Rigveda, and having laboured over the Yajurveda —

Verse 27 (skanda.3.54.27)

सामवेदांगपारज्ञास्त्रैविद्या धर्म वित्तमाः । तपोनिष्ठा शुभाचाराः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः

sāmavedāṁgapārajñāstraividyā dharma vittamāḥ taponiṣṭhā śubhācārāḥ satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ

— knowers of the Samaveda and its limbs, versed in the three Vedas, most excellent knowers of Dharma; devoted to austerity, of auspicious conduct, intent on vows of truth —

Verse 28 (skanda.3.54.28)

मासोपवासैः कृशितास्तथा चांद्रायणादिभिः । सदाचाराश्च ब्रह्मण्याः केन नित्यो पजीविनः । तत्सर्वमादितः कृत्स्नं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर

māsopavāsaiḥ kṛśitāstathā cāṁdrāyaṇādibhiḥ sadācārāśca brahmaṇyāḥ kena nityo pajīvinaḥ tatsarvamāditaḥ kṛtsnaṁ brūhi me vadatāṁ vara

— emaciated by month-long fasts and by chandrayana and similar vows; of good conduct, brahmin-loving — by what did they always subsist? Tell me all of this, from the beginning, in full, O best of speakers.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.54.29)

दानवास्तत्र दैतेया भूतवेतालसंभवाः । राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च उद्वेजंते कथं न तान्

dānavāstatra daiteyā bhūtavetālasaṁbhavāḥ rākṣasāśca piśācāśca udvejaṁte kathaṁ na tān

Danavas, daityas, beings born of bhutas and betalas, rakshasas and pishachas dwell there — how do these not cause distress?