The Marriage of the Merchant Attendants

Verse 1 (skanda.3.62.1)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तं धर्म्मारण्ये शुभं मतम् । यदिदं कथयिष्यामि अशेषाघौघनाशनम्

vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu rājanyathāvṛttaṁ dharmmāraṇye śubhaṁ matam yadidaṁ kathayiṣyāmi aśeṣāghaughanāśanam

Vyasa said: Listen, O king, to what truly came to pass in Dharmaranya — this auspicious account I shall now tell, which destroys the whole mass of sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.62.2)

अजेशेन तदा राजन्प्रेरितेन स्वयंभुवा । कामधेनुः समाहूता कथयामास तां प्रति

ajeśena tadā rājanpreritena svayaṁbhuvā kāmadhenuḥ samāhūtā kathayāmāsa tāṁ prati

Then, O king, urged on by the unborn Lord, Svayambhu (Brahma) summoned Kamadhenu and spoke to her thus.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.62.3)

विप्रेभ्योऽनुचरान्देहि एकैकस्मै द्विजातये । द्वौ द्वौ शुद्धात्मकौ चैवं देहि मातः प्रसीद मे

viprebhyo'nucarāndehi ekaikasmai dvijātaye dvau dvau śuddhātmakau caivaṁ dehi mātaḥ prasīda me

"Give attendants to the brahmins — to each twice-born, give two pure-souled ones each. O mother, be gracious unto me."

Verse 4 (skanda.3.62.4)

तथेत्युक्त्वा महाधेनुः क्षीरेणोल्लेखयद्धराम् । हुंकारात्तस्य निष्क्रांताः शिखासूत्रधरा नराः

tathetyuktvā mahādhenuḥ kṣīreṇollekhayaddharām huṁkārāttasya niṣkrāṁtāḥ śikhāsūtradharā narāḥ

Saying "so be it," the great cow marked the earth with her milk; and from her lowing there emerged men bearing the tuft of hair and the sacred thread.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.62.5)

षट्त्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वणिजश्च महाबलाः । सोपवीता महादक्षाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः

ṣaṭtriṁśacca sahasrāṇi vaṇijaśca mahābalāḥ sopavītā mahādakṣāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ

Thirty-six thousand merchants, of great strength, wearing the sacred thread, highly skilled, and learned in every scripture.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.62.6)

द्विजभक्तिसमायुक्ता ब्रह्मण्यास्ते तपोन्विताः । पुराणज्ञाः सदाचारा धार्मिका बह्मभोजकाः

dvijabhaktisamāyuktā brahmaṇyāste taponvitāḥ purāṇajñāḥ sadācārā dhārmikā bahmabhojakāḥ

Endowed with devotion to the twice-born, reverent toward brahmins, possessed of austerity; knowers of the Puranas, of good conduct, righteous, and feeders of brahmins.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.62.7)

स्वर्गे देवाः प्रशंसंति धर्मारण्यनिवासिनः । तपोऽध्ययनदानेषु सर्वकालेप्यतींद्रियाः

svarge devāḥ praśaṁsaṁti dharmāraṇyanivāsinaḥ tapo'dhyayanadāneṣu sarvakālepyatīṁdriyāḥ

The gods in heaven praise the dwellers of Dharmaranya, who at every season are devoted to austerity, study, and giving, transcending the senses.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.62.8)

एकैकस्मै द्विजायैव दत्तं जातु चरद्वयम् । वाडवस्य च यद्गोत्रं पुरा प्रोक्तं महीपते

ekaikasmai dvijāyaiva dattaṁ jātu caradvayam vāḍavasya ca yadgotraṁ purā proktaṁ mahīpate

To each and every twice-born, exactly two attendants were given; and the gotra of that brahmin, O lord of the earth, was declared in advance for each pair.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.62.9)

परस्परं च तद्गोत्रं तस्य चानुचरस्य च । इति कृत्वा व्यवस्थां च न्यवसंस्तत्र भूमिषु

parasparaṁ ca tadgotraṁ tasya cānucarasya ca iti kṛtvā vyavasthāṁ ca nyavasaṁstatra bhūmiṣu

— that same gotra became shared in common between him and his attendant. Having made this arrangement, they settled together upon that land.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.62.10)

ततश्च शिष्यता देवैर्दत्ता चानुचरान्भुवि । ब्रह्मणा कथितं सर्वं तेषामनुहिताय वै

tataśca śiṣyatā devairdattā cānucarānbhuvi brahmaṇā kathitaṁ sarvaṁ teṣāmanuhitāya vai

Then discipleship was granted by the gods to those attendants there upon the earth; and Brahma told them all this, for their own good.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.62.11)

कुरुध्वं वचनं चैषां ददध्वं च यदिच्छितम् । समित्पुष्पकुशादीनि आनयध्वं दिनेदिने

kurudhvaṁ vacanaṁ caiṣāṁ dadadhvaṁ ca yadicchitam samitpuṣpakuśādīni ānayadhvaṁ dinedine

"Obey the word of these brahmins, and give them whatever they desire; bring sacred fuel, flowers, kusha grass, and the like, day after day."

Verse 12 (skanda.3.62.12)

अनुज्ञयैषां वर्तध्वं मावज्ञां कुरुत क्वचित् । जातकं नामकरणं तथान्नप्राशनं शुभम्

anujñayaiṣāṁ vartadhvaṁ māvajñāṁ kuruta kvacit jātakaṁ nāmakaraṇaṁ tathānnaprāśanaṁ śubham

"Conduct yourselves only by their leave, and never show disrespect toward them. Perform for them the birth-rite, the naming ceremony, and the auspicious first-feeding."

Verse 13 (skanda.3.62.13)

क्षौरं चैवोपनयनं महानाम्न्यादिकं तथा । क्रियाकर्मादिकं यच्च व्रतं दानोपवासकम्

kṣauraṁ caivopanayanaṁ mahānāmnyādikaṁ tathā kriyākarmādikaṁ yacca vrataṁ dānopavāsakam

"And the tonsure rite, the sacred-thread investiture, and the Mahanamni and other observances; and whatever ceremonial acts, vows, charitable gifts, and fasts there are."

Verse 14 (skanda.3.62.14)

अनुज्ञयैषां कर्तव्यं काजेशा इदमबुवन् । अनुज्ञया विनैषां यः कार्यमारभते यदि

anujñayaiṣāṁ kartavyaṁ kājeśā idamabuvan anujñayā vinaiṣāṁ yaḥ kāryamārabhate yadi

"All this is to be undertaken only with their permission" — so spoke the Kajesha deities. "And if anyone should begin some task without their permission —"

Verse 15 (skanda.3.62.15)

दर्शं वा श्राद्धकार्यं वा शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । दारिद्र्यं पुत्रशोकं च कीर्तिनाशं तथैव च

darśaṁ vā śrāddhakāryaṁ vā śubhaṁ vā yadi vā'śubham dāridryaṁ putraśokaṁ ca kīrtināśaṁ tathaiva ca

"— whether it be a new-moon rite or a shraddha, whether auspicious or inauspicious — he shall suffer poverty, grief over a son, and likewise the ruin of his good name."

Verse 16 (skanda.3.62.16)

रोगैर्निपीड्यते नित्यं न क्वचित्सुखमाप्नुयुः । तथेति च ततो देवाः शक्राद्याः सुरसत्तमाः

rogairnipīḍyate nityaṁ na kvacitsukhamāpnuyuḥ tatheti ca tato devāḥ śakrādyāḥ surasattamāḥ

"— he shall be perpetually afflicted with diseases, and never attain happiness anywhere." "So be it," said the brahmins; and then the gods — Shakra and the other foremost among them —

Verse 17 (skanda.3.62.17)

स्तुतिं कुर्वंति ते सर्वे काम धेनोः पुरः स्थिताः । कृतकृत्यास्तदा देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः

stutiṁ kurvaṁti te sarve kāma dhenoḥ puraḥ sthitāḥ kṛtakṛtyāstadā devā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ

— all of them, standing before Kamadhenu, offered up their praise. Then the gods — Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara — their purpose fulfilled —

Verse 18 (skanda.3.62.18)

त्वं माता सर्वदेवानां त्वं च यज्ञस्य कारणम् । त्वं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां नमस्तेऽस्तु सदानघे

tvaṁ mātā sarvadevānāṁ tvaṁ ca yajñasya kāraṇam tvaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ namaste'stu sadānaghe

"You are the mother of all the gods; you are the very cause of sacrifice. You are the tirtha of all tirthas; salutations be to you, O ever-sinless one."

Verse 19 (skanda.3.62.19)

शशिसूर्यारुणा यस्या ललाटे वृषभध्वजः । सरस्वती च हुंकारे सर्वे नागाश्च कंबले

śaśisūryāruṇā yasyā lalāṭe vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ sarasvatī ca huṁkāre sarve nāgāśca kaṁbale

"On whose forehead dwell the moon, the sun, and Aruna, together with the bull-bannered Shiva; in whose lowing dwells Sarasvati, and in whose covering all the nagas reside."

Verse 20 (skanda.3.62.20)

क्षुरपृष्ठे च गन्धर्वा वेदाश्चत्वार एव च । मुखाग्रे सर्वतीर्थानि स्थावराणि चराणि च

kṣurapṛṣṭhe ca gandharvā vedāścatvāra eva ca mukhāgre sarvatīrthāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca

"On the ridge of her hooves dwell the gandharvas, and the four Vedas as well; and at the tip of her mouth dwell all the tirthas, both fixed and moving."

Verse 21 (skanda.3.62.21)

एवंविधैश्च बहुशो वचनैस्तोषिता च सा । सुप्रसन्ना तदा धेनुः किं करोमीति चाब्रवीत्

evaṁvidhaiśca bahuśo vacanaistoṣitā ca sā suprasannā tadā dhenuḥ kiṁ karomīti cābravīt

Pleased by these and many such words, that cow, now greatly gratified, said: "What more shall I do for you?"

Verse 22 (skanda.3.62.22)

देवा ऊचुः । सृष्टाः सर्वे त्वया मातर्देव्यैतेऽनुचराः शुभाः । त्वत्प्रसादान्महाभागे ब्राह्मणाः सुखिनोऽ भवन्

devā ūcuḥ sṛṣṭāḥ sarve tvayā mātardevyaite'nucarāḥ śubhāḥ tvatprasādānmahābhāge brāhmaṇāḥ sukhino' bhavan

The gods said: "O mother, O goddess, all these auspicious attendants have been created by you; by your grace, O illustrious one, the brahmins have become happy."

Verse 23 (skanda.3.62.23)

ततोऽसौ सुरभी राजन्गता नाकं यशस्विनी । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्यास्तत्रैवांतरधुस्ततः

tato'sau surabhī rājangatā nākaṁ yaśasvinī brahmaviṣṇumaheśādyāstatraivāṁtaradhustataḥ

Then, O king, that glorious Surabhi departed for heaven; and Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha, and the rest then vanished from that very place.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.62.24)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । अभार्यास्ते महातेजा गोजा अनुचरास्तथा । उद्वाहिता कथं ब्रह्मन्त्सुतास्तेषां कदाऽभवन्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca abhāryāste mahātejā gojā anucarāstathā udvāhitā kathaṁ brahmantsutāsteṣāṁ kadā'bhavan

Yudhishthira said: Those greatly splendid attendants, born of the cow, were without wives. O brahmin, how then were they married, and when were their sons born?

Verse 25 (skanda.3.62.25)

व्यास उवाच । परिग्रहार्थं वे तेषां रुद्रेण च यमेन च । गन्धर्वकन्या आहृत्य दारास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः

vyāsa uvāca parigrahārthaṁ ve teṣāṁ rudreṇa ca yamena ca gandharvakanyā āhṛtya dārāstatropakalpitāḥ

Vyasa said: For the sake of their marriage, Rudra and Yama brought gandharva maidens and arranged them there to be their wives.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.62.26)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । को वा गन्धर्वराजासौ किंनामा कुत्र वा स्थितः । कियन्मात्रास्तस्य कन्याः किमाचारा ब्रवीहि मे

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ko vā gandharvarājāsau kiṁnāmā kutra vā sthitaḥ kiyanmātrāstasya kanyāḥ kimācārā bravīhi me

Yudhishthira said: Who is that king of the gandharvas — what is his name, and where does he dwell? How many daughters has he, and what is their conduct? Tell me this.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.62.27)

व्यास उवाच । विश्वावसुरिति ख्यातो गन्धर्वाधिपतिर्नृप । षष्टिकन्यासहस्राणि आसते तस्य वेश्मनि

vyāsa uvāca viśvāvasuriti khyāto gandharvādhipatirnṛpa ṣaṣṭikanyāsahasrāṇi āsate tasya veśmani

Vyasa said: The lord of the gandharvas, O king, is known by the name Vishvavasu; sixty thousand daughters dwell within his palace.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.62.28)

अंतरिक्षे गृहं तस्य गधर्वनगरं शुभम् । यौवनस्थाः सुरूपाश्च कन्या गन्धर्वजाः शुभाः

aṁtarikṣe gṛhaṁ tasya gadharvanagaraṁ śubham yauvanasthāḥ surūpāśca kanyā gandharvajāḥ śubhāḥ

His dwelling, the auspicious city of the gandharvas, is set in the sky; his gandharva-born daughters, in the bloom of youth, are of fine form and auspicious.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.62.29)

रुद्रस्यानुचरौ राजन्नंदी भृंगी शुभाननौ । पूर्वदृष्टाश्च ताः कन्याः कथयामासतुः शिवम्

rudrasyānucarau rājannaṁdī bhṛṁgī śubhānanau pūrvadṛṣṭāśca tāḥ kanyāḥ kathayāmāsatuḥ śivam

O king, Rudra's two attendants, Nandi and Bhringi, fair of countenance, having previously seen those maidens, told Shiva about them.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.62.30)

दृष्टाः पुरा महादेव गन्धर्वनगरे विभो । विश्वावसुगृहे कन्या असंख्याताः सहस्रशः

dṛṣṭāḥ purā mahādeva gandharvanagare vibho viśvāvasugṛhe kanyā asaṁkhyātāḥ sahasraśaḥ

"We saw before, O Mahadeva, O mighty one, in the city of the gandharvas, in the house of Vishvavasu, countless maidens, thousands upon thousands."

Verse 31 (skanda.3.62.31)

ता आनीय वलादेव गोभुजेभ्यः प्रयच्छ भो । एवं श्रुत्वा ततो देवस्त्रिपुरघ्नः सदाशिवः

tā ānīya valādeva gobhujebhyaḥ prayaccha bho evaṁ śrutvā tato devastripuraghnaḥ sadāśivaḥ

"Bring them here by force, and give them to the sons of the cow." Hearing this, Sadashiva, the slayer of Tripura —

Verse 32 (skanda.3.62.32)

प्रेषयामास दूतं तु विजयं नाम भारत । स तत्र गत्वा यत्रास्ते विश्वावसुररिंदमः

preṣayāmāsa dūtaṁ tu vijayaṁ nāma bhārata sa tatra gatvā yatrāste viśvāvasurariṁdamaḥ

— sent forth a messenger named Vijaya, O Bharata. He went there, to where Vishvavasu, tamer of his foes, resided.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.62.33)

उवाच वचनं चैव पथ्यं चैव शिवेरितम् । धर्मारण्ये महाभाग काजेशेन विनिर्मिताः

uvāca vacanaṁ caiva pathyaṁ caiva śiveritam dharmāraṇye mahābhāga kājeśena vinirmitāḥ

He spoke the wholesome words that Shiva had directed: "O illustrious one, in Dharmaranya, fashioned by the Kajesha —"

Verse 34 (skanda.3.62.34)

स्थापिता वाडवास्तत्र वेदवेदांगपारगाः । तेषां वै परिचर्यार्थं कामधेनुश्च प्रार्थिता

sthāpitā vāḍavāstatra vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ teṣāṁ vai paricaryārthaṁ kāmadhenuśca prārthitā

"— brahmins learned in the Vedas and Vedangas were established there; and for the sake of serving them, Kamadhenu was entreated —"

Verse 35 (skanda.3.62.35)

तया कृताः शुभाचारा वणिजस्ते त्वयोनिजा । षट्त्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि कुमारास्ते महाबलाः

tayā kṛtāḥ śubhācārā vaṇijaste tvayonijā ṣaṭtriṁśacca sahasrāṇi kumārāste mahābalāḥ

"— by her were created these merchants of good conduct, not born of any womb — thirty-six thousand mighty young men."

Verse 36 (skanda.3.62.36)

शिवेन प्रेषितोऽहं वै त्वत्समीपमुपागतः । कन्यार्थं हि महाभाग देहिदेहीत्युवाच ह

śivena preṣito'haṁ vai tvatsamīpamupāgataḥ kanyārthaṁ hi mahābhāga dehidehītyuvāca ha

"Sent by Shiva, I have come here into your presence; for the sake of maidens, O illustrious one — give, give!" — thus he spoke.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.62.37)

गन्धर्व उवाच । देवानां चैव सर्वेषां गन्धर्वाणां महामते । परित्यज्य कथं लोके मानुषाणां ददामि वै

gandharva uvāca devānāṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ gandharvāṇāṁ mahāmate parityajya kathaṁ loke mānuṣāṇāṁ dadāmi vai

The gandharva said: O wise one, how could I set aside all the gods and gandharvas and give my daughters instead to mere men of the world?

Verse 38 (skanda.3.62.38)

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य निवृत्तो विजयस्तदा । कथयामास तत्सर्वं गन्धर्व चरितं महत्

śrutvā tu vacanaṁ tasya nivṛtto vijayastadā kathayāmāsa tatsarvaṁ gandharva caritaṁ mahat

Hearing his words, Vijaya then turned back and reported it all — the whole conduct of the gandharva.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.62.39)

व्यास उवाच । ततः कोपसमाविष्टो भगवाँल्लोकशंकरः । वृषभे च समारूढः शूलहस्तः सदाशिवः

vyāsa uvāca tataḥ kopasamāviṣṭo bhagavā̐llokaśaṁkaraḥ vṛṣabhe ca samārūḍhaḥ śūlahastaḥ sadāśivaḥ

Vyasa said: Then, seized with wrath, the blessed Lord Shankara of the worlds, mounted upon his bull, trident in hand, Sadashiva —

Verse 40 (skanda.3.62.40)

भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्यैः सहस्रैरावृतः प्रभुः । ततो देवास्तथा नागा भूतवेतालखेचराः

bhūtapretapiśācādyaiḥ sahasrairāvṛtaḥ prabhuḥ tato devāstathā nāgā bhūtavetālakhecarāḥ

— the Lord, surrounded by thousands of bhutas, pretas, pishachas and the like; then the gods, and likewise the nagas, bhutas, vetalas, and sky-wandering spirits —

Verse 41 (skanda.3.62.41)

क्रोधेन महताविष्टाः समाजग्मुः सहस्रशः । हाहाकारो महानासीत्तस्मिन्सैन्ये विसर्पति

krodhena mahatāviṣṭāḥ samājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ hāhākāro mahānāsīttasminsainye visarpati

— filled with great fury, they gathered together by the thousands. A tremendous uproar arose as that army surged forward.

Verse 42 (skanda.3.62.42)

प्रकंपिता धरादेवी दिशापाला भयातुराः । घोरा वातास्तदाऽशांताः शब्दं कुर्वंति दिग्गजाः

prakaṁpitā dharādevī diśāpālā bhayāturāḥ ghorā vātāstadā'śāṁtāḥ śabdaṁ kurvaṁti diggajāḥ

The goddess Earth trembled, and the guardians of the directions were seized with fear; terrible, unruly winds arose, and the elephants of the quarters bellowed aloud.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.62.43)

व्यास उवाच । तदागतं महासैन्यं दृष्ट्वा भयविलोलितम् । गन्धर्वनगरात्सर्वे विनेशुस्ते दिशो दश

vyāsa uvāca tadāgataṁ mahāsainyaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayavilolitam gandharvanagarātsarve vineśuste diśo daśa

Vyasa said: Seeing that great army arrive, all the gandharvas, trembling with fear, fled from their city in the ten directions.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.62.44)

गन्धर्वराजो नगरं त्यक्त्वा मेरुं गतो नृप । ताः कन्या यौवनोपेता रूपौदार्यसमन्विताः

gandharvarājo nagaraṁ tyaktvā meruṁ gato nṛpa tāḥ kanyā yauvanopetā rūpaudāryasamanvitāḥ

The king of the gandharvas, O king, abandoned his city and fled to Mount Meru; and those maidens, in the flush of youth, endowed with beauty and grace —

Verse 45 (skanda.3.62.45)

गृहीत्वा प्रददौ सर्वा वणिग्भ्यश्च तदा नृप । वेदोक्तेन विधानेन तथा वै देवसन्निधौ

gṛhītvā pradadau sarvā vaṇigbhyaśca tadā nṛpa vedoktena vidhānena tathā vai devasannidhau

— were then taken and, O king, given by him to the merchants, according to the rite declared in the Veda, and in the very presence of the gods.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.62.46)

आज्यभागं तदा दत्त्वा गन्धर्वाय गवात्मजाः । देवानां पूर्वजानां च सूर्याचंद्रमसोस्तथा

ājyabhāgaṁ tadā dattvā gandharvāya gavātmajāḥ devānāṁ pūrvajānāṁ ca sūryācaṁdramasostathā

Then those sons of the cow, having offered the portion of ghee to the gandharva, and to the gods, to the ancestors, and likewise to the sun and moon —

Verse 47 (skanda.3.62.47)

यमाय मृत्यवे चैव आज्यभागं तदा ददुः । दत्त्वाज्यभागान्विधिवद्वव्रिरे ते शुभव्रताः

yamāya mṛtyave caiva ājyabhāgaṁ tadā daduḥ dattvājyabhāgānvidhivadvavrire te śubhavratāḥ

— offered the portion of ghee also to Yama and to Death. Having duly offered these portions, those of auspicious vows then took the maidens as their brides.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.62.48)

ततः प्रभृति गान्धर्वविवाहे समुपस्थिते । आज्यभागं प्रगृह्णन्ति अद्यापि सर्वतो भृशम्

tataḥ prabhṛti gāndharvavivāhe samupasthite ājyabhāgaṁ pragṛhṇanti adyāpi sarvato bhṛśam

From that time onward, whenever a gandharva marriage takes place, the portion of ghee is offered, even to this very day, most earnestly, everywhere.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.62.49)

षट्त्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि कुमारा यन्न्यवेदयन् । तेषां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । अत एव हि ताः सर्वा दासत्वे हि विनिर्मिताः

ṣaṭtriṁśacca sahasrāṇi kumārā yannyavedayan teṣāṁ putrāśca pautrāśca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ata eva hi tāḥ sarvā dāsatve hi vinirmitāḥ

The thirty-six thousand young men took these brides, and their sons and grandsons multiplied by the hundreds and by the thousands; and for this very reason, all those gandharva maidens were placed into a condition of servitude.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.62.50)

क्षत्रियाश्च महावीरा किंकरत्वे हि निर्मिताः

kṣatriyāśca mahāvīrā kiṁkaratve hi nirmitāḥ

And great heroic kshatriyas too were placed into service and attendance.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.62.51)

ततो देवाऽस्तदा राजञ्जग्मुः सर्वे यथातथा । गते देवे द्विजाः सर्वे स्थानेऽस्मिन्निवसंति ते

tato devā'stadā rājañjagmuḥ sarve yathātathā gate deve dvijāḥ sarve sthāne'sminnivasaṁti te

Then, O king, all the gods departed, each to his own place; and when the gods had gone, all the brahmins continued to dwell there in that place.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.62.52)

पुत्रपौत्रयुता राजन्निवसंत्यकुतोभयाः । पठंति वेदान्वेदज्ञाः क्वचिच्छास्त्रार्थमुद्गिरन्

putrapautrayutā rājannivasaṁtyakutobhayāḥ paṭhaṁti vedānvedajñāḥ kvacicchāstrārthamudgiran

Surrounded by sons and grandsons, O king, they dwell there free from every fear; the knowers of the Veda recite the Vedas, and in places expound the meaning of the shastras.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.62.53)

केचिद्विष्णुं जपंतीह शिवं केचिज्जपंति हि । ब्रह्माणं च जपंत्येके यमसूक्तं हि केचन

kecidviṣṇuṁ japaṁtīha śivaṁ kecijjapaṁti hi brahmāṇaṁ ca japaṁtyeke yamasūktaṁ hi kecana

Some here chant the name of Vishnu, others chant that of Shiva; some chant that of Brahma, and some, indeed, the Yama-sukta.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.62.54)

यजंति याजकाश्चैव अग्निहोत्रमुपासते । स्वाहाकारस्वधाकारवषट्कारैश्च सुव्रत

yajaṁti yājakāścaiva agnihotramupāsate svāhākārasvadhākāravaṣaṭkāraiśca suvrata

And the officiating priests perform sacrifices and tend the fire-offering; O one of good vows, with the utterances of svaha, svadha, and vashat —

Verse 55 (skanda.3.62.55)

शब्दैरापूयते सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । वणिजश्च महादक्षा द्विजशुश्रूणोत्सुकाः

śabdairāpūyate sarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram vaṇijaśca mahādakṣā dvijaśuśrūṇotsukāḥ

— by these sounds the whole of the three worlds, moving and unmoving, is filled. And the merchants, greatly skilled, ever eager to serve the twice-born —

Verse 56 (skanda.3.62.56)

धर्मारण्ये शुभे दिव्ये ते वसंति सुनिष्ठिताः । अन्नपानादिकं सर्वं समित्कुशफलादिकम्

dharmāraṇye śubhe divye te vasaṁti suniṣṭhitāḥ annapānādikaṁ sarvaṁ samitkuśaphalādikam

— dwell there, firmly established, in the auspicious and divine Dharmaranya. All food and drink, sacred fuel, kusha grass, fruits, and the rest —

Verse 57 (skanda.3.62.57)

आपूरयन्द्विजातीनां वणिजस्ते गवात्मजाः

āpūrayandvijātīnāṁ vaṇijaste gavātmajāḥ

— these, the merchants, the sons of the cow, supply abundantly for the twice-born.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.62.58)

पुष्पोपहारनिचयं स्नानवस्त्रादिधावनम् । उपलादिकनिर्माणं मार्जनादिशुभक्रियाः

puṣpopahāranicayaṁ snānavastrādidhāvanam upalādikanirmāṇaṁ mārjanādiśubhakriyāḥ

The gathering of flowers for offering, the washing of bathing garments and the like, the preparation of grinding-stones and such implements, and the auspicious tasks of sweeping and cleaning —

Verse 59 (skanda.3.62.59)

वणिक्स्त्रियः प्रकुर्वंति कंडनं पेषणादिकम् । शुश्रूषंति च तान्विप्रान्काजेशवचनेन हि

vaṇikstriyaḥ prakurvaṁti kaṁḍanaṁ peṣaṇādikam śuśrūṣaṁti ca tānviprānkājeśavacanena hi

— these the merchant women perform: the pounding and grinding of grain, and the like; and they serve those brahmins, indeed, at the word of the Kajesha deities.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.62.60)

स्वस्था जातास्तदा सर्वे द्विजा हर्षपरायणाः । काजेशादीनुपासंते दिवारात्रौ हि संध्ययोः

svasthā jātāstadā sarve dvijā harṣaparāyaṇāḥ kājeśādīnupāsaṁte divārātrau hi saṁdhyayoḥ

Then all the twice-born became content, and full of joy; and they worship the Kajesha and the other deities day and night, and at both the morning and evening twilight.