Rikshashringa's Ascent to Heaven

Verse 1 (skanda.5.208.1)

उत्तानपाद उवाच। आश्रमे वसतस्तस्य स दीर्घतपसो मुनेः। कनीयांस्तनयो देव कथं मृत्युमुपागतः॥

uttānapāda uvāca| āśrame vasatastasya sa dīrghatapaso muneḥ| kanīyāṁstanayo deva kathaṁ mṛtyumupāgataḥ||

Uttanapada said: "O God, while he dwelt in the hermitage of the sage Dirghatapas, how did his younger son come to meet death?"

Verse 2 (skanda.5.208.2)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणुष्वैकमना भूत्वा कथां दिव्यां महीपते। श्रवणादेव यस्यास्तु मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः॥

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇuṣvaikamanā bhūtvā kathāṁ divyāṁ mahīpate| śravaṇādeva yasyāstu mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ||

Ishvara said: "Listen, O king, with a focused mind, to this divine story; by merely hearing it one is freed from all sins."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.208.3)

काशीराजो महावीर्यो महाबलपराक्रमः। चित्रसेन इति ख्यातां धरण्यां स नराधिप॥

kāśīrājo mahāvīryo mahābalaparākramaḥ| citrasena iti khyātāṁ dharaṇyāṁ sa narādhipa||

The king of Kashi was of great valour and mighty strength, renowned on earth by the name Chitrasena, O king.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.208.4)

तस्य राज्ये सदा धर्मो नाधर्मो विद्यते क्वचित्। वेदधर्मरतो नित्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्॥

tasya rājye sadā dharmo nādharmo vidyate kvacit| vedadharmarato nityaṁ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan||

In his kingdom righteousness ever prevailed, and unrighteousness was nowhere found; ever devoted to the law of the Vedas, he protected his subjects with righteousness.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.208.5)

स्वधर्मनिरतश्चैव युद्धातिथ्यप्रियः सदा। क्षत्रधर्मं समाश्रित्य भोगान्भुङ्क्ते स कामतः॥

svadharmanirataścaiva yuddhātithyapriyaḥ sadā| kṣatradharmaṁ samāśritya bhogānbhuṅkte sa kāmataḥ||

Devoted to his own duty, he ever loved battle and the honouring of guests; upholding the duty of a kshatriya, he enjoyed pleasures as he wished.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.208.6)

कोशस्यान्तो न विद्येत हस्त्यश्वरथपत्तिमान्। इतिहासपुराणज्ञैः पण्डितैः सह संकथाम्॥

kośasyānto na vidyeta hastyaśvarathapattimān| itihāsapurāṇajñaiḥ paṇḍitaiḥ saha saṁkathām||

There was no end to his treasury; possessed of elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers, he would converse with scholars versed in the histories and Puranas.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.208.7)

कथयन्राजते राजा कैलास इव शङ्करः। एवं स पालयन्राज्यं राजा मन्त्रिणमब्रवीत्॥

kathayanrājate rājā kailāsa iva śaṅkaraḥ| evaṁ sa pālayanrājyaṁ rājā mantriṇamabravīt||

Conversing thus, the king shone like Shankara upon Kailasa. So, while ruling his kingdom in this manner, the king said to his minister:

Verse 8 (skanda.5.208.8)

मृगयायां गमिष्यामि तिष्ठध्वं राज्यपालने। गम्यतां सचिवैः प्रोक्ते गतोऽसौ वसुधाधिपः॥

mṛgayāyāṁ gamiṣyāmi tiṣṭhadhvaṁ rājyapālane| gamyatāṁ sacivaiḥ prokte gato'sau vasudhādhipaḥ||

"I shall go hunting; you remain in charge of governing the kingdom." When the ministers said, "Let it be so," that lord of the earth departed.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.208.9)

अश्वारूढाश्च धावन्तो राजानो मण्डलाधिपाः। छत्रैश्छत्राणि घृष्यन्तोऽनुजग्मुः काननं प्रति॥

aśvārūḍhāśca dhāvanto rājāno maṇḍalādhipāḥ| chatraiśchatrāṇi ghṛṣyanto'nujagmuḥ kānanaṁ prati||

Provincial kings, mounted on horses and riding at speed, their royal umbrellas jostling one another, followed him toward the forest.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.208.10)

रजस्तत्रोत्थितं भौमं गजवाजिपदाहतम्। तेनैतच्छादितं सर्वं सदिङ्मार्तण्डमंलम्॥

rajastatrotthitaṁ bhaumaṁ gajavājipadāhatam| tenaitacchāditaṁ sarvaṁ sadiṅmārtaṇḍamaṁlam||

There dust rose from the earth, stirred by the feet of elephants and horses; by it everything, all the directions along with the very disc of the sun, was covered.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.208.11)

न तत्र दृश्यते सूर्यो न काष्ठा न च चन्द्रमाः। पादपाश्च न दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गाणि सर्वतः॥

na tatra dṛśyate sūryo na kāṣṭhā na ca candramāḥ| pādapāśca na dṛśyante giriśṛṅgāṇi sarvataḥ||

There neither the sun could be seen, nor the horizon, nor the moon; trees could not be seen, nor mountain peaks on any side.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.208.12)

परस्परं न पश्यन्ति निशार्द्धे वार्षिके यथा। तत्रासौ सुमहद्यूथं मृगाणां समलक्ष्यत॥

parasparaṁ na paśyanti niśārddhe vārṣike yathā| tatrāsau sumahadyūthaṁ mṛgāṇāṁ samalakṣyata||

They could not see one another, as in the middle of a rainy night. There they beheld a very great herd of deer.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.208.13)

अधावत्सहितः सर्वैः स राजा राजपुत्रकैः। वृन्दास्फोटोऽभवत्तेषां शीघ्रं जग्मुर्दिशो दश॥

adhāvatsahitaḥ sarvaiḥ sa rājā rājaputrakaiḥ| vṛndāsphoṭo'bhavatteṣāṁ śīghraṁ jagmurdiśo daśa||

The king, together with all the princes, ran after them; their herd scattered and they swiftly fled in the ten directions.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.208.14)

एकमार्गगतो राजा चित्रसेनो महीपतिः। एकाकी स गतस्तत्र यत्र यत्र च ते मृगाः॥

ekamārgagato rājā citraseno mahīpatiḥ| ekākī sa gatastatra yatra yatra ca te mṛgāḥ||

King Chitrasena, keeping to a single path, went on alone, following wherever those deer went.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.208.15)

प्रविष्टोऽसौ ततो दुर्गं काननं गिरिगह्वरम्। वल्लीगुल्मसमाकीर्णं स्थितो यत्र न लक्ष्यते॥

praviṣṭo'sau tato durgaṁ kānanaṁ girigahvaram| vallīgulmasamākīrṇaṁ sthito yatra na lakṣyate||

He then entered an impenetrable forest and mountain cave thick with creepers and thickets, where, once inside, nothing at all could be discerned.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.208.16)

अदृश्यांस्तु मृगान्मत्वा दिशो राजा व्यलोकयत्। कां दिशं नु गमिष्यामि क्व मे सैन्यसमागमः॥

adṛśyāṁstu mṛgānmatvā diśo rājā vyalokayat| kāṁ diśaṁ nu gamiṣyāmi kva me sainyasamāgamaḥ||

Finding the deer no longer visible, the king looked about at the directions: "Which way, then, shall I go? Where shall I rejoin my army?"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.208.17)

एवं कष्टं गतो राजा चित्रसेनो नराधिपः। वृक्षच्छायां समाश्रित्य विश्राममकरोन्नृपः॥

evaṁ kaṣṭaṁ gato rājā citraseno narādhipaḥ| vṛkṣacchāyāṁ samāśritya viśrāmamakaronnṛpaḥ||

Having thus fallen into such distress, King Chitrasena took shelter in the shade of a tree and rested there.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.208.18)

क्षुत्तृषार्तो भ्रमन्दुर्गे कानने गिरिगह्वरे। ततोऽपश्यत्सरो दिव्यं पद्मिनीखण्डमण्डितम्॥

kṣuttṛṣārto bhramandurge kānane girigahvare| tato'paśyatsaro divyaṁ padminīkhaṇḍamaṇḍitam||

Tormented by hunger and thirst, wandering in that impenetrable forest and mountain cave, he then saw a divine lake, adorned with clusters of lotuses,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.208.19)

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्। ततो दृष्ट्वा स राजेन्द्रः सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः॥

haṁsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṁ cakravākopaśobhitam| tato dṛṣṭvā sa rājendraḥ samprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ||

thronged with swans and karandava ducks, and beautified with chakravaka birds. Seeing it, that lord of kings thrilled with delight.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.208.20)

कमलानि गृहीत्वा तु ततः स्नानं समाचरत्। तर्पयित्वा पितृदेवान्मनुष्यांश्च यथाविधि॥

kamalāni gṛhītvā tu tataḥ snānaṁ samācarat| tarpayitvā pitṛdevānmanuṣyāṁśca yathāvidhi||

He gathered lotuses and then bathed, offering libations to the ancestors, the gods and men, as prescribed.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.208.21)

आच्छाद्य शतपत्रैश्च पूजयामास शङ्करम्। ययौ पानीयममलं यथावत्स समाहितः॥

ācchādya śatapatraiśca pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram| yayau pānīyamamalaṁ yathāvatsa samāhitaḥ||

Covering an image with hundred-petalled lotuses, he worshipped Shankara; then, composed, he drank pure water in due manner.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.208.22)

उत्तीर्य सलिलात्तीरे दृष्ट्वा वृक्षं समीपगम्। उत्तरीयमधः कृत्वोपविष्टो धरणीतले॥

uttīrya salilāttīre dṛṣṭvā vṛkṣaṁ samīpagam| uttarīyamadhaḥ kṛtvopaviṣṭo dharaṇītale||

Coming up out of the water onto the bank, and seeing a nearby tree, he spread his upper garment beneath it and sat down upon the ground.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.208.23)

चिन्तयन्नुपविष्टोऽसौ किमद्य प्रकरोम्यहम्। तत्रासीनो ददर्शाथ वनोद्देशे मृगान्बहून्॥

cintayannupaviṣṭo'sau kimadya prakaromyaham| tatrāsīno dadarśātha vanoddeśe mṛgānbahūn||

Sitting there he fell to thinking: "What shall I do now?" Seated there, he then beheld many deer in that part of the forest.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.208.24)

केचित्पूर्वमुखास्तत्र चापरे दक्षिणामुखाः। वारुण्यमिमुखाः केचित्केचित्कौबेरदिङ्मुखाः॥

kecitpūrvamukhāstatra cāpare dakṣiṇāmukhāḥ| vāruṇyamimukhāḥ kecitkecitkauberadiṅmukhāḥ||

Some of them faced east, others faced south; some faced toward the direction of Varuna, others toward the direction of Kubera.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.208.25)

केचिन्निद्रापराः केचिदूर्ध्वकर्णाः स्थिताः परे। मृगमध्ये स्थितो योगी ऋक्षशृङ्गो महातपाः॥

kecinnidrāparāḥ kecidūrdhvakarṇāḥ sthitāḥ pare| mṛgamadhye sthito yogī ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ||

Some were given over to sleep, others stood with ears raised. Among those deer stood the yogin Rikshashringa, of great austerity.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.208.26)

मृगान्दृष्ट्वा ततो राजा आहारार्थमचिन्तयत्। हत्वैतेषु मृगं कंचिद्भक्षयामि यदृच्छया॥

mṛgāndṛṣṭvā tato rājā āhārārthamacintayat| hatvaiteṣu mṛgaṁ kaṁcidbhakṣayāmi yadṛcchayā||

Seeing the deer, the king thought about food: "Having slain one of these deer, I shall eat it as I please;

Verse 27 (skanda.5.208.27)

स्वस्थावस्थो भविष्यामि मृगमांसस्य भक्षणात्। काशीं प्रति गमिष्यामि मार्गमन्विष्य यत्नतः॥

svasthāvastho bhaviṣyāmi mṛgamāṁsasya bhakṣaṇāt| kāśīṁ prati gamiṣyāmi mārgamanviṣya yatnataḥ||

by eating deer-flesh I shall regain my strength, and then, diligently seeking out the path, I shall go on toward Kashi."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.208.28)

विचिन्त्यैवं ततो राजा वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः। चापं गृह्य कराग्रेण स शरं संदधे ततः॥

vicintyaivaṁ tato rājā vṛkṣamūlamupāśritaḥ| cāpaṁ gṛhya karāgreṇa sa śaraṁ saṁdadhe tataḥ||

Having thus resolved, the king took his stand at the foot of a tree; taking up his bow in hand, he fitted an arrow.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.208.29)

विचिक्षेप शरं तत्र यत्र ते बहवो मृगाः। तेषां मध्ये स वै विद्ध ऋक्षशृङ्गो महातपाः॥

vicikṣepa śaraṁ tatra yatra te bahavo mṛgāḥ| teṣāṁ madhye sa vai viddha ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ||

He shot the arrow there, where those many deer stood; among them the greatly austere Rikshashringa was pierced.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.208.30)

जग्मुस्त्रस्तास्तु ते सर्वे शब्दं कृत्वा वनौकसः। स ऋषिः पतितस्तत्र कृष्ण कृष्णेति चाब्रवीत्॥

jagmustrastāstu te sarve śabdaṁ kṛtvā vanaukasaḥ| sa ṛṣiḥ patitastatra kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti cābravīt||

All those terrified forest-dwelling creatures fled, crying out; that sage fell there and cried, "Krishna, Krishna!"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.208.31)

हाहा कष्टं कृतं तेन येनाहं घातितोऽधुना। कस्यैषा दुर्मतिर्जाता पापबुद्धेर्ममोपरि॥

hāhā kaṣṭaṁ kṛtaṁ tena yenāhaṁ ghātito'dhunā| kasyaiṣā durmatirjātā pāpabuddhermamopari||

"Alas, alas, what a grievous deed has been done, by which I am now slain! Whose evil intent, whose sin-laden mind, has arisen against me?

Verse 32 (skanda.5.208.32)

मृगमध्ये स्थितश्चाहं न कंचिदुपरोधये। तां वाचं मानुषीं श्रुत्वा स राजा विस्मयान्वितः॥

mṛgamadhye sthitaścāhaṁ na kaṁciduparodhaye| tāṁ vācaṁ mānuṣīṁ śrutvā sa rājā vismayānvitaḥ||

Standing here among the deer, I obstruct no one." Hearing that human speech, the king was struck with astonishment.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.208.33)

शीघ्रं गत्वा ततोऽपश्यद्ब्राह्मणं ब्रह्मतेजसा। हाहा कष्टं कृतं मेऽद्य येनासौ घातितो द्विजः॥

śīghraṁ gatvā tato'paśyadbrāhmaṇaṁ brahmatejasā| hāhā kaṣṭaṁ kṛtaṁ me'dya yenāsau ghātito dvijaḥ||

Going swiftly there, he saw a brahmin radiant with the brilliance of Brahman: "Alas, alas, what a grievous deed have I done today, by which this twice-born one has been slain!"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.208.34)

चित्रसेन उवाच। अकामाद्घातितस्त्वं तु मृगभ्रान्त्या मयानघ। गृहीत्वा बहुदारूणि स्वतनुं दाहयाम्यहम्॥

citrasena uvāca| akāmādghātitastvaṁ tu mṛgabhrāntyā mayānagha| gṛhītvā bahudārūṇi svatanuṁ dāhayāmyaham||

Chitrasena said: "O sinless one, I have slain you unintentionally, mistaking you for a deer. I shall gather great quantities of wood and burn my own body,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.208.35)

दृष्टादृष्टं तु यत्किंचिन्न समं ब्रह्महत्यया। अन्यथा ब्रह्महत्यायाः शुद्धिर्मे न भविष्यति॥

dṛṣṭādṛṣṭaṁ tu yatkiṁcinna samaṁ brahmahatyayā| anyathā brahmahatyāyāḥ śuddhirme na bhaviṣyati||

for no sin, seen or unseen, is equal to the killing of a brahmin; otherwise no purification from this brahmin-slaying will come to me."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.208.36)

ऋक्षशृङ्ग उवाच। न ते सिद्धिर्भवेत्काचिन्मयि पञ्चत्वमागते। बह्व्यो हत्या भविष्यन्ति विनाशे मम साम्प्रतम्॥

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca| na te siddhirbhavetkācinmayi pañcatvamāgate| bahvyo hatyā bhaviṣyanti vināśe mama sāmpratam||

Rikshashringa said: "No purpose of yours will be served by that once I have met my end; many more deaths will now follow from my destruction.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.208.37)

जननी मे पिता वृद्धो भ्रातरश्च तपस्विनः। भ्रातृजाया मरिष्यन्ति मयि पञ्चत्वमागते॥

jananī me pitā vṛddho bhrātaraśca tapasvinaḥ| bhrātṛjāyā mariṣyanti mayi pañcatvamāgate||

The moment I meet my end, my mother, my aged father, my ascetic brothers, and my brothers' wives will also die.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.208.38)

एता हत्या भविष्यन्ति कथं शुद्धिर्भवेत्तव। उपायं कथयिष्यामि तं कर्तुं यदि मन्यसे॥

etā hatyā bhaviṣyanti kathaṁ śuddhirbhavettava| upāyaṁ kathayiṣyāmi taṁ kartuṁ yadi manyase||

All these deaths will occur — how then could purification come to you? If you agree, I shall tell you the remedy you must follow."

Verse 39 (skanda.5.208.39)

चित्रसेन उवाच। उपायः कथ्यतां मेऽद्य यस्ते मनसि वर्तते। करिष्ये तमहं सर्वं यत्नेनापि महामुने॥

citrasena uvāca| upāyaḥ kathyatāṁ me'dya yaste manasi vartate| kariṣye tamahaṁ sarvaṁ yatnenāpi mahāmune||

Chitrasena said: "O great sage, tell me now the remedy that is in your mind; I shall carry out all of it with diligence."

Verse 40 (skanda.5.208.40)

ऋक्षशृङ्ग उवाच। पृच्छामि त्वां कथं को वा कुतस्त्वमिह चागतः। ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां मध्ये को भवानुत शूद्रजः॥

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca| pṛcchāmi tvāṁ kathaṁ ko vā kutastvamiha cāgataḥ| brahmakṣatraviśāṁ madhye ko bhavānuta śūdrajaḥ||

Rikshashringa said: "I ask you — who are you, and from where have you come here? Are you a brahmin, a kshatriya, a vaishya, or are you shudra-born?"

Verse 41 (skanda.5.208.41)

चित्रसेन उवाच। नाहं शूद्रोऽस्मि भोस्तात न वैश्यो ब्राह्मणो न वा। न चान्त्यजोऽस्मि विप्रेन्द्र क्षत्रियोऽस्मि महामुने॥

citrasena uvāca| nāhaṁ śūdro'smi bhostāta na vaiśyo brāhmaṇo na vā| na cāntyajo'smi viprendra kṣatriyo'smi mahāmune||

Chitrasena said: "Good sir, I am neither a shudra, nor a vaishya, nor a brahmin, nor am I an outcaste, O lord of brahmins; I am a kshatriya, O great sage.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.208.42)

धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च सर्वसत्त्वहिते रतः। अकामात्पातकं जातं कथं शुद्धिर्भविष्यति॥

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca sarvasattvahite rataḥ| akāmātpātakaṁ jātaṁ kathaṁ śuddhirbhaviṣyati||

I know the law, and I am grateful, devoted to the good of all beings. This sin has arisen unintentionally — how, then, shall purification come about?"

Verse 43 (skanda.5.208.43)

ऋक्षशृङ्ग उवाच। मां गृहीत्वा आश्रमं गच्छ यत्र तौ पितरौ मम। आवेदयस्व चात्मानं पुत्रघातिनमातुरम्॥

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca| māṁ gṛhītvā āśramaṁ gaccha yatra tau pitarau mama| āvedayasva cātmānaṁ putraghātinamāturam||

Rikshashringa said: "Take me and go to the hermitage where my parents dwell; declare yourself there, grief-stricken, as the slayer of their son.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.208.44)

ते दृष्ट्वा मां करिष्यन्ति कारुण्यं च तवोपरि। उपायं कथयिष्यन्ति येन शान्तिर्भविष्यति॥

te dṛṣṭvā māṁ kariṣyanti kāruṇyaṁ ca tavopari| upāyaṁ kathayiṣyanti yena śāntirbhaviṣyati||

Seeing me, they will show compassion even toward you; they will tell you the remedy by which peace shall come."

Verse 45 (skanda.5.208.45)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चित्रसेनो नृपोत्तम। स्कन्धे कृत्वा तु तं विप्रं जगामाश्रमसन्निधौ॥

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā citraseno nṛpottama| skandhe kṛtvā tu taṁ vipraṁ jagāmāśramasannidhau||

Hearing his words, O best of kings, Chitrasena placed that brahmin upon his shoulder and went toward the hermitage.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.208.46)

न शक्नोति यदा वोढुं विश्राम्यति पुनःपुनः। तावत्पश्यति तं विप्रं मूर्छितं विकलेन्द्रियम्॥

na śaknoti yadā voḍhuṁ viśrāmyati punaḥpunaḥ| tāvatpaśyati taṁ vipraṁ mūrchitaṁ vikalendriyam||

When he was unable to bear the weight, he would rest again and again; and then he saw that brahmin fainted, his senses disordered.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.208.47)

मुमोच चित्रसेनस्तं छायायां वटभूरुहः। वस्त्रं चतुर्गुणं कृत्वा चक्रे वातं मुहुर्मुहुः॥

mumoca citrasenastaṁ chāyāyāṁ vaṭabhūruhaḥ| vastraṁ caturguṇaṁ kṛtvā cakre vātaṁ muhurmuhuḥ||

Chitrasena laid him down in the shade of a banyan tree; folding a garment fourfold, he fanned him again and again.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.208.48)

पश्यतस्तस्य राजेन्द्र ऋक्षशृङ्गो महातपाः। पञ्चत्वमगमच्छीघ्रं ध्यानयोगेन योगवित्॥

paśyatastasya rājendra ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ| pañcatvamagamacchīghraṁ dhyānayogena yogavit||

O lord of kings, even as he watched, the greatly austere Rikshashringa, knower of yoga, swiftly attained his end through the discipline of meditation.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.208.49)

दाहयामास तं विप्रं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। स्नानं कृत्वा स शोकार्तो विललाप मुहुर्मुहुः॥

dāhayāmāsa taṁ vipraṁ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā| snānaṁ kṛtvā sa śokārto vilalāpa muhurmuhuḥ||

He cremated that brahmin according to the rites prescribed by law; then, having bathed, stricken with grief, he lamented again and again.