Greatness of Agni Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.188.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत्तु राजेन्द्र अग्नितीर्थमनुत्तमम् । यत्र संनिहितो ह्यग्निर्गतः कामेन मोहितः

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchettu rājendra agnitīrthamanuttamam | yatra saṁnihito hyagnirgataḥ kāmena mohitaḥ

Sri Markandeya said: O king of kings, thence one should go to the unsurpassed Agni Tirtha, where Agni, deluded by desire, ever dwells.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.188.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कथं देवो जगद्धाता कामेन कलुषीकृतः । कथं च नित्यदा वास एकस्थानेषु जायते

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kathaṁ devo jagaddhātā kāmena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ | kathaṁ ca nityadā vāsa ekasthāneṣu jāyate

Yudhishthira said: How did the god, sustainer of the world, become sullied by desire? And how has his constant dwelling in a single place come about?

Verse 3 (skanda.5.188.3)

एतत्त्वाश्चर्यमतुलं सर्वलोकेष्वनुत्तमम् । कथयस्व महाभाग परं कौतूहलं मम

etattvāścaryamatulaṁ sarvalokeṣvanuttamam | kathayasva mahābhāga paraṁ kautūhalaṁ mama

This is an unparalleled wonder, unmatched in all the worlds. Tell me this, O illustrious one, for great is my curiosity.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.188.4)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। साधु साधु महाप्राज्ञ पृष्टः प्रश्नस्त्वयानघ । कथयामि यथापूर्वं श्रुतमेतन्महेश्वरात्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| sādhu sādhu mahāprājña pṛṣṭaḥ praśnastvayānagha | kathayāmi yathāpūrvaṁ śrutametanmaheśvarāt

Sri Markandeya said: Well asked indeed, O wise and sinless one. I shall relate it just as I once heard it from Maheshvara.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.188.5)

आसीत्कृतयुगे राजा नाम्ना दुर्योधनो महान् । हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पूर्णो मेदिनीपरिपालकः

āsītkṛtayuge rājā nāmnā duryodhano mahān | hastyaśvarathasampūrṇo medinīparipālakaḥ

In the Krita Yuga there was a great king named Duryodhana, abounding in elephants, horses and chariots, a guardian of the earth.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.188.6)

रूपयौवनसम्पन्नं दृष्ट्वा तं पृथिवीपतिम् । दिव्योपभोगसम्पन्नं प्रार्थयामास नर्मदा

rūpayauvanasampannaṁ dṛṣṭvā taṁ pṛthivīpatim | divyopabhogasampannaṁ prārthayāmāsa narmadā

Seeing that lord of the earth, endowed with beauty and youth and possessed of divine enjoyments, Narmada sought him out.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.188.7)

स तु तां चकमे कन्यां त्यक्त्वाऽन्यं प्रमदाजनम् । मुदा परमया युक्तो माहिष्मत्याः पतिर्नृप

sa tu tāṁ cakame kanyāṁ tyaktvā'nyaṁ pramadājanam | mudā paramayā yukto māhiṣmatyāḥ patirnṛpa

O king, he too, forsaking all other women, desired that maiden, and, filled with the greatest delight, became, as lord of Mahishmati, united with her.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.188.8)

रमते स तया सार्द्धं काले वै नृपसत्तम । नर्मदा जनयामास कन्यां पद्मदलेक्षणाम्

ramate sa tayā sārddhaṁ kāle vai nṛpasattama | narmadā janayāmāsa kanyāṁ padmadalekṣaṇām

O best of kings, in time he sported with her, and Narmada gave birth to a daughter whose eyes were like lotus petals.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.188.9)

अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसम्पन्ना यस्माल्लोकेषु विश्रुता । तस्यां पिता च माता च चक्रतुः प्रेमबन्धनम्

aṅgapratyaṅgasampannā yasmāllokeṣu viśrutā | tasyāṁ pitā ca mātā ca cakratuḥ premabandhanam

Perfect in every limb, she became renowned in the worlds; both her father and mother held her bound in ties of love.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.188.10)

कालेनातिसुदीर्घेण यौवनस्था वराङ्गना । प्रार्थ्यमानापि राजन्वै नात्मानं दातुमिच्छति

kālenātisudīrgheṇa yauvanasthā varāṅganā | prārthyamānāpi rājanvai nātmānaṁ dātumicchati

After a very long time that beautiful woman came of age; O king, though sought by many, she was unwilling to give herself to anyone.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.188.11)

ततोऽन्यदिवसे वह्निर्द्विजरूपो महातपाः । राजानं प्रार्थयामास रहो गत्वा शनैः शनैः

tato'nyadivase vahnirdvijarūpo mahātapāḥ | rājānaṁ prārthayāmāsa raho gatvā śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Then, on another day, Agni, of great austerity, taking the form of a brahmin, went slowly to a secluded place and began to entreat the king.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.188.12)

भोभो रघुकुलश्रेष्ठ द्विजोऽहं मन्दसन्ततिः । दरिद्रो ह्यसहायश्च भार्यार्थे वरयामि ताम्

bhobho raghukulaśreṣṭha dvijo'haṁ mandasantatiḥ | daridro hyasahāyaśca bhāryārthe varayāmi tām

'O excellent king, I am a brahmin of meager lineage, poor and without helper; for a wife I seek that maiden.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.188.13)

कन्या सुदर्शना नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । तां ददस्व महाभाग वर्धते तव मन्दिरे

kanyā sudarśanā nāma rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi | tāṁ dadasva mahābhāga vardhate tava mandire

'The maiden named Sudarshana, unequalled in beauty upon the earth — give her to me, O illustrious one; she is growing up in your own palace.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.188.14)

ब्रह्मचर्येण निर्विण्ण एकाकी कामपीडितः । याचमानस्य मे तात प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि

brahmacaryeṇa nirviṇṇa ekākī kāmapīḍitaḥ | yācamānasya me tāta prasādaṁ kartumarhasi

'Wearied by celibacy, alone, and afflicted by desire, I beg of you; O father, show grace to me who entreats you.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.188.15)

राजोवाच - नाहं द्रव्यविहीनस्य असवर्णस्य कर्हिचित् । दास्यामि स्वां सुतां शुभ्रां गम्यतां द्विजपुंगव

rājovāca - nāhaṁ dravyavihīnasya asavarṇasya karhicit | dāsyāmi svāṁ sutāṁ śubhrāṁ gamyatāṁ dvijapuṁgava

The king said: 'I shall never give my radiant daughter to one without wealth and of unequal rank. O best of brahmins, depart now.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.188.16)

एवमुक्तस्तदा वह्निः परां पीडामुपागतः । न किंचिदुक्त्वा राजानं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

evamuktastadā vahniḥ parāṁ pīḍāmupāgataḥ | na kiṁciduktvā rājānaṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Thus addressed, Agni fell into extreme distress; and without saying anything further to the king, he vanished right there.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.188.17)

गते चादर्शनं विप्रे राजा मन्त्रिपुरोहितैः । मन्त्रयित्वाथ काले तु तुष्टो मखमुखे स्थितः

gate cādarśanaṁ vipre rājā mantripurohitaiḥ | mantrayitvātha kāle tu tuṣṭo makhamukhe sthitaḥ

When the brahmin had vanished, the king took counsel with his ministers and priest; then, in due time, satisfied, he took his place at the head of a sacrifice.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.188.18)

यजतश्च मखे भक्त्या ब्राह्मणैः सह भारत । ततश्चादर्शनं वह्निः सर्वेषां पश्यतामगात्

yajataśca makhe bhaktyā brāhmaṇaiḥ saha bhārata | tataścādarśanaṁ vahniḥ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāmagāt

O Bharata, as he sacrificed devoutly with the brahmins, Agni then vanished from sight before the eyes of all.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.188.19)

विप्रा दुर्मनसो भूत्वा गता राज्ञो हि मन्दिरम् । वह्निनाशं विमनसो राजानमिदमब्रुवन्

viprā durmanaso bhūtvā gatā rājño hi mandiram | vahnināśaṁ vimanaso rājānamidamabruvan

The grieving brahmins went to the king's palace, and, troubled at heart over the loss of the fire, spoke thus to the king —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.188.20)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । दुर्योधन महाराज श्रूयतां महदद्भुतम् । न श्रुतं न च दृष्टं वा कौतुकं नृपपुंगव

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | duryodhana mahārāja śrūyatāṁ mahadadbhutam | na śrutaṁ na ca dṛṣṭaṁ vā kautukaṁ nṛpapuṁgava

The brahmins said: 'O great King Duryodhana, hear a great wonder. O foremost of kings, this marvel has never before been heard of or seen.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.188.21)

अग्निकार्यप्रवृत्तानां सर्वेषां विधिवन्नृप । केनापि हेतुना वह्निर्दृश्यते न ज्वलत्युत

agnikāryapravṛttānāṁ sarveṣāṁ vidhivannṛpa | kenāpi hetunā vahnirdṛśyate na jvalatyuta

'O king, though all of us are duly engaged in the fire-rite, for some reason Agni can neither be seen nor does he blaze.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.188.22)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं घोरं राजा विप्रमुखाच्च्युतम् । आसनात्पतितो भूमौ छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः

tacchrutvā vipriyaṁ ghoraṁ rājā vipramukhāccyutam | āsanātpatito bhūmau chinnamūla iva drumaḥ

Hearing this terrible, unwelcome news from the brahmins' mouths, the king fell from his seat to the ground like a tree severed at its root.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.188.23)

आश्वस्य च मुहूर्तेन उन्मत्त इव संस्तदा । निरीक्ष्य च दिशः सर्वा इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

āśvasya ca muhūrtena unmatta iva saṁstadā | nirīkṣya ca diśaḥ sarvā idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Recovering after a moment, as though bewildered, and looking about in every direction, he spoke thus —

Verse 24 (skanda.5.188.24)

किमेतदाश्चर्यपरमिति भोभो द्विजोत्तमाः । कथ्यतां कारणं सर्वं शास्त्रदृष्ट्या विभाव्य च

kimetadāścaryaparamiti bhobho dvijottamāḥ | kathyatāṁ kāraṇaṁ sarvaṁ śāstradṛṣṭyā vibhāvya ca

'O best of brahmins, what extreme wonder is this? Consider it in the light of scripture and tell me the whole cause.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.188.25)

मम वा दुष्कृतं किंचिदुताहो भवतामिह । येन नष्टोऽग्निशालायां हुतभुक्केन हेतुना

mama vā duṣkṛtaṁ kiṁcidutāho bhavatāmiha | yena naṣṭo'gniśālāyāṁ hutabhukkena hetunā

'Is it some misdeed of mine, or of yours, on account of which the fire-eater has vanished from the fire-hall?'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.188.26)

मन्त्रच्छिद्रमथान्यद्वा नैव किंचिददक्षिणम् । क्रियाहीनं कृतं वाथ केन वह्निर्न दृश्यते

mantracchidramathānyadvā naiva kiṁcidadakṣiṇam | kriyāhīnaṁ kṛtaṁ vātha kena vahnirna dṛśyate

'Was there some flaw in the mantras, or something else — a shortfall in the sacrificial fee, or a rite performed incompletely? For what reason is Agni not seen?'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.188.27)

अन्नहीनो दहेद्राष्ट्रं मन्त्रहीनस्तु ऋत्विजः । दातारं दक्षिणाहीनो नास्ति यज्ञसमो रिपुः

annahīno dahedrāṣṭraṁ mantrahīnastu ṛtvijaḥ | dātāraṁ dakṣiṇāhīno nāsti yajñasamo ripuḥ

'A sacrifice deficient in food consumes the kingdom, one deficient in mantra consumes its priests, and one deficient in fee consumes the donor — there is no enemy equal to a flawed sacrifice.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.188.28)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । न मन्त्रहीना हि वयं न च राजन्व्रतैस्तथा । द्रव्येण च न हीनस्त्वमन्यत्पापं विचिन्त्यताम्

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | na mantrahīnā hi vayaṁ na ca rājanvrataistathā | dravyeṇa ca na hīnastvamanyatpāpaṁ vicintyatām

The brahmins said: 'O king, we are not deficient in mantras, nor in observances, nor are you lacking in wealth; some other transgression must be considered.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.188.29)

राजोवाच - तथापि यूयं सहिता उपायं चिन्तयन्त्विति । येन श्रेयो भवेन्नित्यमिह लोके परत्र च

rājovāca - tathāpi yūyaṁ sahitā upāyaṁ cintayantviti | yena śreyo bhavennityamiha loke paratra ca

The king said: 'Even so, deliberate together upon some remedy by which lasting welfare may come, both in this world and the next.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.188.30)

एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे ब्राह्मणाः कृतनिश्चयाः । निराहाराः स्थिताः शर्वे यत्र नष्टो हुताशनः

evamuktāstataḥ sarve brāhmaṇāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ | nirāhārāḥ sthitāḥ śarve yatra naṣṭo hutāśanaḥ

Thus addressed, all the brahmins, having made their resolve, sat down fasting at the very place where the fire had vanished.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.188.31)

ततः स्वप्ने महातेजा हुतभुग्ब्राह्मणांस्तदा । उवाच श्रूयतां सर्वैर्मम नाशस्य कारणम्

tataḥ svapne mahātejā hutabhugbrāhmaṇāṁstadā | uvāca śrūyatāṁ sarvairmama nāśasya kāraṇam

Then, in a dream, that greatly radiant Agni spoke to the brahmins: 'Let all of you hear the cause of my disappearance.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.188.32)

प्रार्थितोऽयं मया राजा सुतां दातुं न चेच्छति । तेन नष्टोऽग्निशरणादहं भो द्विजसत्तमाः

prārthito'yaṁ mayā rājā sutāṁ dātuṁ na cecchati | tena naṣṭo'gniśaraṇādahaṁ bho dvijasattamāḥ

'This king was entreated by me, but he is unwilling to give his daughter; O best of brahmins, for this cause I have withdrawn from my fire-abode.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.188.33)

यदि मे स्वसुतां राजा ददाति परमार्चिताम् । तदास्य ज्वलमानोऽहं गृहे तिष्ठामि नान्यथा

yadi me svasutāṁ rājā dadāti paramārcitām | tadāsya jvalamāno'haṁ gṛhe tiṣṭhāmi nānyathā

'If the king gives me his own most cherished daughter, then, blazing forth, I shall dwell in his house — not otherwise.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.188.34)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विप्रा वैश्वानरमुखोद्गतम् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना राजानमिदमब्रुवन्

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ viprā vaiśvānaramukhodgatam | vismayotphullanayanā rājānamidamabruvan

Hearing this speech from the mouth of Vaishvanara, the brahmins, their eyes wide with astonishment, said this to the king —

Verse 35 (skanda.5.188.35)

भवतो मतमाज्ञाय सर्वे गत्वाग्निमन्दिरम् । निराहाराः स्थिता रात्रौ पश्यामो जातवेदसम्

bhavato matamājñāya sarve gatvāgnimandiram | nirāhārāḥ sthitā rātrau paśyāmo jātavedasam

'Learning your wish, all of us went to the fire-shrine, and, fasting through the night, beheld there Jataveda, the knower of all beings.'

Verse 36 (skanda.5.188.36)

तेनोक्ताः स्वसुतां चेत्तु राजा मे दातुमिच्छति । ततोऽस्य भूयोऽपि गृहे ज्वलेऽहं नान्यथा द्विजाः

tenoktāḥ svasutāṁ cettu rājā me dātumicchati | tato'sya bhūyo'pi gṛhe jvale'haṁ nānyathā dvijāḥ

'He told us — if the king is willing to give me his daughter, then I shall again blaze in his house, O brahmins, not otherwise.'

Verse 37 (skanda.5.188.37)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज स्वसुतां दातुमर्हसि

evaṁ jñātvā mahārāja svasutāṁ dātumarhasi

'Knowing this, O great king, you should give your own daughter.'

Verse 38 (skanda.5.188.38)

राजोवाच - भवतां तस्य वा कार्यं देवस्य वचनं हृदि । समयं कर्तुमिच्छामि कन्यादाने ह्यनुत्तमम्

rājovāca - bhavatāṁ tasya vā kāryaṁ devasya vacanaṁ hṛdi | samayaṁ kartumicchāmi kanyādāne hyanuttamam

The king said: 'Whether this be your affair or that god's word, I take it to heart. I wish to set one supreme condition upon the giving of my daughter.'

Verse 39 (skanda.5.188.39)

मम संनिहितो नित्यं गृहे तिष्ठतु पावकः । ददामि रुचिरापाङ्गीं नान्यथा करवाणि वै

mama saṁnihito nityaṁ gṛhe tiṣṭhatu pāvakaḥ | dadāmi rucirāpāṅgīṁ nānyathā karavāṇi vai

'Let Agni ever dwell in my house — only then shall I give the lovely-eyed maiden; otherwise I shall not do so.'

Verse 40 (skanda.5.188.40)

एवं ते ब्राह्मणाः श्रुत्वा तथाग्निं प्राप्य सत्वरम् । कथयित्वा विवाहेन योजयामासुराशु वै

evaṁ te brāhmaṇāḥ śrutvā tathāgniṁ prāpya satvaram | kathayitvā vivāhena yojayāmāsurāśu vai

Hearing this, the brahmins quickly went to Agni, conveyed this word, and at once united the two in marriage.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.188.41)

सुदर्शनाया लाभेन परितुष्टो हुताशनः । ज्वलते सन्निधौ नित्यं माहिष्मत्यां युधिष्ठिर

sudarśanāyā lābhena parituṣṭo hutāśanaḥ | jvalate sannidhau nityaṁ māhiṣmatyāṁ yudhiṣṭhira

O Yudhishthira, Agni, deeply gratified at obtaining Sudarshana, ever blazes close by her at Mahishmati.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.188.42)

ततः प्रभृति तत्तीर्थमग्नितीर्थं प्रचक्षते । ये तत्र पक्षसन्धौ तु स्नानदानैस्तु भाविताः

tataḥ prabhṛti tattīrthamagnitīrthaṁ pracakṣate | ye tatra pakṣasandhau tu snānadānaistu bhāvitāḥ

From that time that tirtha came to be called Agni Tirtha. Those who there, at the junctures of the lunar fortnight, engage in bathing and giving,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.188.43)

तर्पयन्ति पितॄन् देवांस्तेऽश्वमेधफलैर्युताः । सुवर्णं ये प्रयच्छन्ति तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप

tarpayanti pitṝn devāṁste'śvamedhaphalairyutāḥ | suvarṇaṁ ye prayacchanti tasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa

and offer libations to the ancestors and gods, become possessed of the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. O lord of men, those who give gold at that tirtha

Verse 44 (skanda.5.188.44)

पृथ्वीदानफलं तत्र जायते नात्र संशयः । अनाशकं तु यः कुर्यात्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप

pṛthvīdānaphalaṁ tatra jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ | anāśakaṁ tu yaḥ kuryāttasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa

obtain there the fruit of the gift of the earth — of this there is no doubt. O lord of men, whoever fasts unto death at that tirtha,

Verse 45 (skanda.5.188.45)

स मृतो ह्यग्निलोके तु क्रीडते सुरपूजितः । एष ते ह्यग्नितीर्थस्य सम्भवः कथितो मया

sa mṛto hyagniloke tu krīḍate surapūjitaḥ | eṣa te hyagnitīrthasya sambhavaḥ kathito mayā

sports, upon death, honored by the gods, in the world of Agni. This, then, is the origin of Agni Tirtha, related to you by me.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.188.46)

सर्वपापहरः पुण्यः श्रुतमात्रो नरोत्तम । धन्यः पापहरो नित्यमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत्

sarvapāpaharaḥ puṇyaḥ śrutamātro narottama | dhanyaḥ pāpaharo nityamityevaṁ śaṅkaro'bravīt

O best of men, this account, merely by being heard, removes all sin and confers merit; one becomes blessed, ever free of sin — so spoke Shankara.