Dirghatapas's Ascent to Heaven

Verse 1 (skanda.5.209.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततश्चानन्तरं राजा जगामोद्वेगमुत्तमम्। कथं यामि गृहं त्वद्य वाराणस्यामहं पुनः॥

īśvara uvāca| tataścānantaraṁ rājā jagāmodvegamuttamam| kathaṁ yāmi gṛhaṁ tvadya vārāṇasyāmahaṁ punaḥ||

Ishvara said: Then, after that, the king fell into utmost anguish: "How shall I go home today, again to Varanasi?

Verse 2 (skanda.5.209.2)

ब्रह्महत्यासमाविष्टो जुहोम्यग्नौ कलेवरम्। अथवा तस्य वाक्येन तं गच्छाम्याश्रमं प्रति॥

brahmahatyāsamāviṣṭo juhomyagnau kalevaram| athavā tasya vākyena taṁ gacchāmyāśramaṁ prati||

Possessed by the sin of brahmin-slaying, shall I offer my body into the fire? Or rather, by that sage's own word, shall I go toward that hermitage,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.209.3)

कथयामि यथावृत्तं गत्वा तस्य महामुनेः। एवं संचिन्त्य राजासौ जगामाश्रमसन्निधौ॥

kathayāmi yathāvṛttaṁ gatvā tasya mahāmuneḥ| evaṁ saṁcintya rājāsau jagāmāśramasannidhau||

and tell what has happened, going to that great sage?" Having thus reflected, that king went to the vicinity of the hermitage.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.209.4)

ऋक्षशृङ्गस्य चास्थीनि गृहीत्वा स नृपोत्तमः। दृष्टिमार्गे स्थितस्तस्य महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः॥

ṛkṣaśṛṅgasya cāsthīni gṛhītvā sa nṛpottamaḥ| dṛṣṭimārge sthitastasya maharṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ||

That best of kings, carrying the bones of Rikshashringa, stood within sight of that purified-souled great sage.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.209.5)

दीर्घतपा उवाच। आगच्छ स्वागतं तेऽस्तु आसनेऽत्रोपविश्यताम्। अर्घं ददाम्यहं येन मधुपर्कं सविष्टरम्॥

dīrghatapā uvāca| āgaccha svāgataṁ te'stu āsane'tropaviśyatām| arghaṁ dadāmyahaṁ yena madhuparkaṁ saviṣṭaram||

Dirghatapas said: "Come, welcome to you; be seated here on this seat. I shall offer you the guest-gift, with madhuparka and a stool."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.209.6)

चित्रसेन उवाच। अर्घस्यास्य न योग्योऽहं महर्षे नास्मि भाषणे। मृगमध्यस्थितो विप्रस्तव पुत्रो मया हतः॥

citrasena uvāca| arghasyāsya na yogyo'haṁ maharṣe nāsmi bhāṣaṇe| mṛgamadhyasthito viprastava putro mayā hataḥ||

Chitrasena said: "O great sage, I am not worthy of this offering, nor of conversation. That brahmin who stood among the deer, your son, has been slain by me.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.209.7)

पुत्रघ्नं विद्धि मां विप्र तीव्रदण्डेन दण्डय। मृगभ्रान्त्या हतो विप्र ऋक्षशृङ्गो महातपाः॥

putraghnaṁ viddhi māṁ vipra tīvradaṇḍena daṇḍaya| mṛgabhrāntyā hato vipra ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ||

Know me, O brahmin, as the slayer of your son; punish me with severe punishment. Through mistaking him for a deer, O brahmin, the greatly austere Rikshashringa was slain."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.209.8)

इति मत्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुरु मे त्वं यथोचितम्। माता तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गृहान्निष्क्रम्य विह्वला॥

iti matvā muniśreṣṭha kuru me tvaṁ yathocitam| mātā tadvacanaṁ śrutvā gṛhānniṣkramya vihvalā||

"Thinking this, O best of sages, do with me whatever is fitting." Hearing those words, his mother, distraught, rushed out of the house—

Verse 9 (skanda.5.209.9)

हा हतास्मीत्युवाचेदं पपात धरणीतले। विललाप सुदुःखार्ता पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता॥

hā hatāsmītyuvācedaṁ papāta dharaṇītale| vilalāpa suduḥkhārtā putraśokena pīḍitā||

crying, "Alas, I am slain!" she fell upon the ground; overwhelmed with deep grief, scorched by sorrow for her son, she lamented.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.209.10)

हा हता पुत्र पुत्रेति करुणं कुररी यथा। विललापातुरा माता क्व गतो मां विहाय वै। मुखं दर्शय चात्मीयं मातरं मां हि मानय॥

hā hatā putra putreti karuṇaṁ kurarī yathā| vilalāpāturā mātā kva gato māṁ vihāya vai| mukhaṁ darśaya cātmīyaṁ mātaraṁ māṁ hi mānaya||

"Alas my son, alas my son!" — wailing piteously thus like a kurari-bird, the distraught mother cried: "Where have you gone, forsaking me? Show me your face; honour me, your mother.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.209.11)

श्रुताध्ययनसम्पन्नं जपहोमपरायणम्। आगतं त्वां गृहद्वारे कदा द्रक्ष्यामि पुत्रक॥

śrutādhyayanasampannaṁ japahomaparāyaṇam| āgataṁ tvāṁ gṛhadvāre kadā drakṣyāmi putraka||

Accomplished in Vedic study, devoted to japa and homa — when shall I see you again, arriving at our door, my child?

Verse 12 (skanda.5.209.12)

लोकोक्त्या श्रूयते चैतच्चन्दनं किल शीतलम्। पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गश्चन्दनादपि शीतलः॥

lokoktyā śrūyate caitaccandanaṁ kila śītalam| putragātrapariṣvaṅgaścandanādapi śītalaḥ||

It is said, by common saying, that sandalwood is cool; but the embrace of a son's limbs is cooler even than sandalwood.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.209.13)

किं चन्दनेन पीयूपबिन्दुना किं किमिन्दुना॥

kiṁ candanena pīyūpabindunā kiṁ kimindunā||

What use to me is sandalwood, what use a drop of nectar, what use the very moon,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.209.14)

पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गपात्रं गात्रं भवेद्यदि॥

putragātrapariṣvaṅgapātraṁ gātraṁ bhavedyadi||

if my own body should never again become the vessel for the embrace of my son's limbs?

Verse 15 (skanda.5.209.15)

परिष्वजितुमिच्छामि त्वामहं पुत्र सुप्रिय। पञ्चत्वमनुयास्यामि त्वद्विहीनाद्य दुःखिता॥

pariṣvajitumicchāmi tvāmahaṁ putra supriya| pañcatvamanuyāsyāmi tvadvihīnādya duḥkhitā||

O my most beloved son, I wish to embrace you; deprived of you today, grief-stricken, I too shall follow you unto death."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.209.16)

एवं विलपती दीना पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता। मूर्छिता विह्वला दीना निपपात महीतले॥

evaṁ vilapatī dīnā putraśokena pīḍitā| mūrchitā vihvalā dīnā nipapāta mahītale||

Thus lamenting, wretched, tormented by grief for her son, she fell fainting, distraught and wretched, to the ground.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.209.17)

भार्यां च पतितां दृष्ट्वा पुत्रशोकेन पीडिताम्। चुकोप स मुनिस्तत्र चित्रसेनाय भूभृते॥

bhāryāṁ ca patitāṁ dṛṣṭvā putraśokena pīḍitām| cukopa sa munistatra citrasenāya bhūbhṛte||

Seeing his wife fallen, stricken with grief for their son, that sage grew angry there at King Chitrasena.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.209.18)

दीर्घतपा उवाच। याहि याहि महापाप मा मुखं दर्शयस्व मे। किं त्वया घातितो विप्रो ह्यकामाच्च सुतो मम॥

dīrghatapā uvāca| yāhi yāhi mahāpāpa mā mukhaṁ darśayasva me| kiṁ tvayā ghātito vipro hyakāmācca suto mama||

Dirghatapas said: "Go, go, great sinner! Do not show me your face! Was it not unintentionally that you slew this brahmin, my son?

Verse 19 (skanda.5.209.19)

ब्रह्महत्या भविष्यन्ति बह्व्यस्ते वसुधाधिप। सकुटुम्बस्य मे त्वं हि मृत्युरेष उपस्थितः॥

brahmahatyā bhaviṣyanti bahvyaste vasudhādhipa| sakuṭumbasya me tvaṁ hi mṛtyureṣa upasthitaḥ||

O lord of the earth, now many brahmin-slayings shall be yours; you alone have arrived as the cause of death for me and my whole family."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.209.20)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो विप्रो विचिन्त्य च पुनःपुनः। परित्यज्य तदा क्रोधं मुनिभावाज्जगाद ह॥

evamuktvā tato vipro vicintya ca punaḥpunaḥ| parityajya tadā krodhaṁ munibhāvājjagāda ha||

Having said this, the brahmin, reflecting again and again, then set aside his anger by virtue of his sage-like nature, and spoke:

Verse 21 (skanda.5.209.21)

दीर्घतपा उवाच। उद्वेगं त्यज भो वत्स दुरुक्तं गदितो मया। पुत्रशोकाभिभूतेन दुःखतप्तेन मानद॥

dīrghatapā uvāca| udvegaṁ tyaja bho vatsa duruktaṁ gadito mayā| putraśokābhibhūtena duḥkhataptena mānada||

Dirghatapas said: "Abandon your distress, my child; overwhelmed by grief for my son and scorched by sorrow, I spoke harsh words to you, O honourer of others.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.209.22)

किं करोति नरः प्राज्ञः प्रेर्यमाणः स्वकर्मभिः। प्रागेव हि मनुष्याणां बुद्धिः कर्मानुसारिणी॥

kiṁ karoti naraḥ prājñaḥ preryamāṇaḥ svakarmabhiḥ| prāgeva hi manuṣyāṇāṁ buddhiḥ karmānusāriṇī||

What can even a wise man do, driven on by his own deeds? Indeed the intellect of men follows in accordance with their prior karma.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.209.23)

अनेनैव विधानेन पञ्चत्वं विहितं मम। हत्यास्तव भविष्यन्ति पूर्वमुक्ता न संशयः॥

anenaiva vidhānena pañcatvaṁ vihitaṁ mama| hatyāstava bhaviṣyanti pūrvamuktā na saṁśayaḥ||

By this very ordinance my own end was destined; these deaths of yours had already been foretold — there is no doubt of it.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.209.24)

ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां मध्ये शूद्रचण्डालजातिषु। कस्त्वं कथय सत्यं मे कस्माच्च निहतो द्विजः॥

brahmakṣatraviśāṁ madhye śūdracaṇḍālajātiṣu| kastvaṁ kathaya satyaṁ me kasmācca nihato dvijaḥ||

Among brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, or among the shudra and chandala castes, who are you? Tell me the truth, and for what cause was this twice-born one slain?"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.209.25)

चित्रसेन उवाच। विज्ञापयामि विप्रर्षे क्षन्तव्यं ते ममोपरि। नाहं विप्रोऽस्मि वै तात न वैश्यो न च शूद्रजः॥

citrasena uvāca| vijñāpayāmi viprarṣe kṣantavyaṁ te mamopari| nāhaṁ vipro'smi vai tāta na vaiśyo na ca śūdrajaḥ||

Chitrasena said: "I beg to inform you, O sage among brahmins; forgiveness is due to me from you. Good sir, I am not a brahmin, nor a vaishya, nor shudra-born,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.209.26)

न व्याधश्चान्त्यजातो वा क्षत्रियोऽहं महामुने। काशीराजो मृगान् हन्तुमागतो वनमुत्तमम्॥

na vyādhaścāntyajāto vā kṣatriyo'haṁ mahāmune| kāśīrājo mṛgān hantumāgato vanamuttamam||

nor a hunter, nor of low-caste birth, O great sage; I am a kshatriya — the king of Kashi, who came to this excellent forest to hunt deer.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.209.27)

भ्रान्त्या निपातितो ह्येष मृगरूपधरो मुनिः। इदानीं तव पादान्ते संश्रितः पातकान्वितः॥

bhrāntyā nipātito hyeṣa mṛgarūpadharo muniḥ| idānīṁ tava pādānte saṁśritaḥ pātakānvitaḥ||

By mistake this sage, wearing the form of a deer, was slain; now, burdened with sin, I have come to take refuge at your feet.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.209.28)

किं कर्तव्यं मया विप्र उपायं कथयस्व मे॥

kiṁ kartavyaṁ mayā vipra upāyaṁ kathayasva me||

O brahmin, what must I do? Tell me the remedy."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.209.29)

दीर्घतपा उवाच। ब्रह्महत्या न शक्येताप्येका निस्तरितुं प्रभो। दशैका च कथं शक्यास्ताः शृणुष्व नरेश्वर॥

dīrghatapā uvāca| brahmahatyā na śakyetāpyekā nistarituṁ prabho| daśaikā ca kathaṁ śakyāstāḥ śṛṇuṣva nareśvara||

Dirghatapas said: "O lord, not even a single brahmin-slaying can be crossed over; how then could ten such be crossed? Listen, O lord of men.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.209.30)

चत्वारो मे सुता राजन् सभार्या मातृपूर्वकाः। मया सह न जीवन्ति ऋक्षशृङ्गस्य कारणे॥

catvāro me sutā rājan sabhāryā mātṛpūrvakāḥ| mayā saha na jīvanti ṛkṣaśṛṅgasya kāraṇe||

O king, my four sons, together with their wives and their mother, will not live on with me now, because of Rikshashringa's death.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.209.31)

उपायं शोभनं तात कथयिष्ये शृणुष्व तम्। शक्रोऽपि यदि तं कर्तुं सुखोपायं नरेश्वर॥

upāyaṁ śobhanaṁ tāta kathayiṣye śṛṇuṣva tam| śakro'pi yadi taṁ kartuṁ sukhopāyaṁ nareśvara||

Good sir, I shall tell you a fitting remedy; listen to it. Even for Indra, O lord of men, were he to attempt it, it would be an easy remedy —

Verse 32 (skanda.5.209.32)

सकुटुम्बं समस्तं मां दाहयित्वानले नृप। अस्थीनि नर्मदातोये शूलभेदे विनिक्षिप॥

sakuṭumbaṁ samastaṁ māṁ dāhayitvānale nṛpa| asthīni narmadātoye śūlabhede vinikṣipa||

O king, having burnt me, together with my whole family, in fire, cast our bones into the waters of the Narmada at the tirtha of Shulabheda.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.209.33)

नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले शूलभेदं हि विश्रुतम्। सर्वपापहरं तीर्थं सर्वदुःखघ्नमुत्तमम्॥

narmadādakṣiṇe kūle śūlabhedaṁ hi viśrutam| sarvapāpaharaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvaduḥkhaghnamuttamam||

On the southern bank of the Narmada, the tirtha named Shulabheda is renowned — a remover of all sin, supreme, and destroyer of every sorrow.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.209.34)

शुचिर्भूत्वा ममास्थीनि तत्र तीर्थे विनिक्षिप। मोक्ष्यसे सर्वपापैस्त्वं मम वाक्यान्न संशयः॥

śucirbhūtvā mamāsthīni tatra tīrthe vinikṣipa| mokṣyase sarvapāpaistvaṁ mama vākyānna saṁśayaḥ||

Having become pure, cast my bones there in that tirtha; by my word, without doubt, you shall be freed from every sin."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.209.35)

राजोवाच। आदेशो दीयतां तात करिष्यामि न संशयः। समस्तं मेऽस्ति यत्किंचिद्राज्यं कोशः सुहृत्सुताः॥

rājovāca| ādeśo dīyatāṁ tāta kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ| samastaṁ me'sti yatkiṁcidrājyaṁ kośaḥ suhṛtsutāḥ||

The king said: "Good sir, give your command; I shall carry it out without doubt. Whatever I possess — kingdom, treasury, friends, sons —

Verse 36 (skanda.5.209.36)

तवाधीनं महाविप्र प्रयच्छामि प्रसीद मे। परस्परं विवदतोर्विप्र राज्ञोस्तदा नृप॥

tavādhīnaṁ mahāvipra prayacchāmi prasīda me| parasparaṁ vivadatorvipra rājñostadā nṛpa||

all is at your disposal, great brahmin; I offer it all to you — be gracious to me." While the brahmin and the king, O king, were thus conversing with one another,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.209.37)

स्फुटित्वा हृदयं शीघ्रं मुनिभार्या मृता तदा। पुत्रशोकसमाविष्टा निर्जीवा पतिता क्षितौ॥

sphuṭitvā hṛdayaṁ śīghraṁ munibhāryā mṛtā tadā| putraśokasamāviṣṭā nirjīvā patitā kṣitau||

the sage's wife's heart at once burst, and she died then; possessed by grief for her son, lifeless, she fell upon the earth.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.209.38)

पुत्राश्च मातृशोकेन सर्वे पञ्चत्वमागताः। स्नुषाश्चैव तदा सर्वा मृताश्च सह भर्तृभिः॥

putrāśca mātṛśokena sarve pañcatvamāgatāḥ| snuṣāścaiva tadā sarvā mṛtāśca saha bhartṛbhiḥ||

And all his sons likewise met their end through grief for their mother; and all their wives too then died together with their husbands.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.209.39)

पञ्चत्वं च गताः सर्वे मुनिमुख्या नृपोत्तम। विप्रानाह्वापयामास ये तत्राश्रमवासिनः॥

pañcatvaṁ ca gatāḥ sarve munimukhyā nṛpottama| viprānāhvāpayāmāsa ye tatrāśramavāsinaḥ||

O best of kings, all those foremost of sages thus met their end. He then had summoned the brahmins who dwelt there in the hermitage,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.209.40)

तेभ्यो निवेदयामास यथावृत्तं नृपोत्तमः। स तैस्तदाभ्यनुज्ञातः काष्ठान्यादाय यत्नतः॥

tebhyo nivedayāmāsa yathāvṛttaṁ nṛpottamaḥ| sa taistadābhyanujñātaḥ kāṣṭhānyādāya yatnataḥ||

and that best of kings related to them all that had occurred. Then, given leave by them, he diligently gathered wood,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.209.41)

दाहं संचयनं चक्रे चित्रसेनो महीपतिः। ऋक्षशृङ्गादिसर्वेषां गृहीत्वास्थीनि यत्नतः॥

dāhaṁ saṁcayanaṁ cakre citraseno mahīpatiḥ| ṛkṣaśṛṅgādisarveṣāṁ gṛhītvāsthīni yatnataḥ||

and King Chitrasena performed the cremation and the gathering of the bones — carefully collecting the bones of Rikshashringa and all the others,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.209.42)

याम्याशां प्रस्थितो राजा पादचारी महीपते। न शक्नोति यदा गन्तुं छायामाश्रित्य तिष्ठति॥

yāmyāśāṁ prasthito rājā pādacārī mahīpate| na śaknoti yadā gantuṁ chāyāmāśritya tiṣṭhati||

he set out on foot, O lord of the earth, toward the southern quarter; when he could go no further, he would take shelter in shade.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.209.43)

विश्रम्य च पुनर्गच्छेद्भाराक्रान्तो महीपतिः। सचैलं कुरुते स्नानं मुक्त्वास्थीनि पदे पदे॥

viśramya ca punargacchedbhārākrānto mahīpatiḥ| sacailaṁ kurute snānaṁ muktvāsthīni pade pade||

Having rested, that lord of the earth, burdened by his load, would go on again; at every step he would bathe with his clothes on, never setting the bones down.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.209.44)

पिबेज्जलं निराहारः स गच्छन् दक्षिणामुखः। अचिरेणैव कालेन संगतो नर्मदातटम्॥

pibejjalaṁ nirāhāraḥ sa gacchan dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ| acireṇaiva kālena saṁgato narmadātaṭam||

Taking no food, drinking only water, he journeyed on facing south; in no long time he arrived at the bank of the Narmada.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.209.45)

आश्रमस्थान् द्विजान् दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ पृथिवीपतिः॥

āśramasthān dvijān dṛṣṭvā papraccha pṛthivīpatiḥ||

Seeing the twice-born dwelling in a hermitage there, that lord of the earth asked—

Verse 46 (skanda.5.209.46)

चित्रसेन उवाच। कथ्यतां शूलभेदस्य मार्गं मे द्विजसत्तमाः। येन यामि महाभागाः स्वकार्यार्थस्य सिद्धये॥

citrasena uvāca| kathyatāṁ śūlabhedasya mārgaṁ me dvijasattamāḥ| yena yāmi mahābhāgāḥ svakāryārthasya siddhaye||

Chitrasena said: "O best of the twice-born, tell me the way to Shulabheda, by which, O blessed ones, I may go for the fulfilment of my task."

Verse 47 (skanda.5.209.47)

मुनय ऊचुः। इतः क्रोशान्तरादर्वाक्तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले ततो द्रक्ष्यसि नान्यथा॥

munaya ūcuḥ| itaḥ krośāntarādarvāktīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| narmadādakṣiṇe kūle tato drakṣyasi nānyathā||

The sages said: "Not far from here, within the space of a krosha, is a most beautiful tirtha; on the southern bank of the Narmada alone shall you see it, and nowhere else."

Verse 48 (skanda.5.209.48)

ऋषिवाक्येन राजासौ शीघ्रं गत्वा नरेश्वरः। स ददर्श ततः शीघ्रं बहुद्विजसमाकुलम्॥

ṛṣivākyena rājāsau śīghraṁ gatvā nareśvaraḥ| sa dadarśa tataḥ śīghraṁ bahudvijasamākulam||

By the sages' word, that lord of men went there swiftly, and swiftly beheld that place, thronged with many twice-born,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.209.49)

बहुद्रुमलताकीर्णं बहुपुष्पोपशोभितम्। ऋक्षसिंहसमाकीर्णं नानाव्रतधरैः शुभैः॥

bahudrumalatākīrṇaṁ bahupuṣpopaśobhitam| ṛkṣasiṁhasamākīrṇaṁ nānāvratadharaiḥ śubhaiḥ||

filled with many trees and creepers, beautified with many flowers, thronged with bears and lions, and peopled by holy keepers of various vows —

Verse 50 (skanda.5.209.50)

एकपादास्थिताः केचिदपरे सूर्यदृष्टयः। एकाङ्गुष्ठ स्थिताः केचिदूर्ध्वबाहुस्थिताः परे॥

ekapādāsthitāḥ kecidapare sūryadṛṣṭayaḥ| ekāṅguṣṭha sthitāḥ kecidūrdhvabāhusthitāḥ pare||

some of them stood on one foot, others kept their gaze fixed on the sun; some stood on a single toe, others stood with arms raised aloft.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.209.51)

दिनैकभोजनाः केचित्केचित्कन्दफलाशनाः। त्रिरात्रभोजनाः केचित्पराकव्रतिनोऽपरे॥

dinaikabhojanāḥ kecitkecitkandaphalāśanāḥ| trirātrabhojanāḥ kecitparākavratino'pare||

Some ate once a day, others lived on roots and fruits; some ate once in three nights, others practised the paraka vow.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.209.52)

चान्द्रायणरताः केचित्केचित्पक्षोपवासिनः। मासोपवासिनः केचित्केचिदृत्वन्तपारणाः॥

cāndrāyaṇaratāḥ kecitkecitpakṣopavāsinaḥ| māsopavāsinaḥ kecitkecidṛtvantapāraṇāḥ||

Some were devoted to the chandrayana vow, some fasted a whole fortnight; some fasted a whole month, others broke their fast only at the turn of the season.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.209.53)

योगाभ्यासरताः केचित्केचिद्ध्यायन्ति तत्पदम्। शीर्णपर्णाशिनः केचित्केचिच्च कटुकाशनाः॥

yogābhyāsaratāḥ kecitkeciddhyāyanti tatpadam| śīrṇaparṇāśinaḥ kecitkecicca kaṭukāśanāḥ||

Some were devoted to the practice of yoga, some meditated upon that Supreme State; some ate only withered leaves, some ate bitter things.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.209.54)

शैवालभोजनाः केचित्केचिन्मारुतभोजनाः। गार्हस्थ्ये च स्थिताः केचित्केचिच्चैवाग्निहोत्रिणः॥

śaivālabhojanāḥ kecitkecinmārutabhojanāḥ| gārhasthye ca sthitāḥ kecitkeciccaivāgnihotriṇaḥ||

Some lived on moss, some lived on air alone; some remained settled in the householder's life, others were devoted to the fire-sacrifice.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.209.55)

एवंविधान् द्विजान् दृष्ट्वा जानुभ्यामवनिं गतः। प्रणम्य शिरसा राजन्राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥

evaṁvidhān dvijān dṛṣṭvā jānubhyāmavaniṁ gataḥ| praṇamya śirasā rājanrājā vacanamabravīt||

Seeing such twice-born as these, he sank to the ground upon his knees; bowing his head, O king, the king spoke these words—

Verse 56 (skanda.5.209.56)

चित्रसेन उवाच। कस्मिन्देशे च तत्तीर्थं सत्यं कथयत द्विजाः। येनाभिवाञ्छिता सिद्धिः सफला मे भविष्यति॥

citrasena uvāca| kasmindeśe ca tattīrthaṁ satyaṁ kathayata dvijāḥ| yenābhivāñchitā siddhiḥ saphalā me bhaviṣyati||

Chitrasena said: "O brahmins, tell me truly in what place that tirtha lies, so that my longed-for aim may be fulfilled and bear fruit for me."

Verse 57 (skanda.5.209.57)

ऋषय ऊचुः। धन्वन्तरशतं गच्छ भृगुतुङ्गस्य मूर्धनि। कुण्डं द्रक्ष्यसि तत्पूर्णं विस्तीर्णं पयसा शिवम्॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| dhanvantaraśataṁ gaccha bhṛgutuṅgasya mūrdhani| kuṇḍaṁ drakṣyasi tatpūrṇaṁ vistīrṇaṁ payasā śivam||

The sages said: "Go a hundred bow-lengths, to the summit of Bhrigutunga; there you shall see a pool, full and broad with water, and auspicious."

Verse 58 (skanda.5.209.58)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गतः कुण्डस्य सन्निधौ। दृष्ट्वा चैव तु तत्तीर्थं भ्रान्तिर्जाता नृपस्य वै॥

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā gataḥ kuṇḍasya sannidhau| dṛṣṭvā caiva tu tattīrthaṁ bhrāntirjātā nṛpasya vai||

Hearing their words, he went to the vicinity of that pool; but on seeing that tirtha, doubt arose in the king's mind.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.209.59)

ततो विस्मयमापन्नश्चिन्तयन्वै मुहुर्मुहुः। आकाशस्थं ददर्शासौ सामिषं कुररं नृपः॥

tato vismayamāpannaścintayanvai muhurmuhuḥ| ākāśasthaṁ dadarśāsau sāmiṣaṁ kuraraṁ nṛpaḥ||

Then, overcome with wonder, pondering again and again, the king saw in the sky an osprey carrying a piece of flesh,

Verse 60 (skanda.5.209.60)

भ्रममाणं गृहीताहिं वध्यमानं निरामिषैः। परस्परं च युयुधुः सर्वेऽप्यामिषकाङ्क्षया॥

bhramamāṇaṁ gṛhītāhiṁ vadhyamānaṁ nirāmiṣaiḥ| parasparaṁ ca yuyudhuḥ sarve'pyāmiṣakāṅkṣayā||

which, having seized a snake, was wheeling about and was being attacked by flesh-eating birds; all of them, coveting the meat, fought one another.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.209.61)

हतश्चञ्चुप्रहारेण स ततः पतितोऽंभसि। शूलेन शूलिना यत्र भूभागो भेदितः पुरा॥

hataścañcuprahāreṇa sa tataḥ patito'ṁbhasi| śūlena śūlinā yatra bhūbhāgo bheditaḥ purā||

Struck by the blow of a beak, it fell there into the water — that very place where, of old, the trident-bearer had cleft the ground with his trident.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.209.62)

तत्तीर्थस्य प्रभावेण स सद्यः पुरुषोऽभवत्। विमानस्थं ददर्शासौ पुमांसं दिव्यरूपिणम्॥

tattīrthasya prabhāveṇa sa sadyaḥ puruṣo'bhavat| vimānasthaṁ dadarśāsau pumāṁsaṁ divyarūpiṇam||

By the power of that tirtha, it at once became a man; the king then saw that being of divine form seated in a celestial chariot,

Verse 63 (skanda.5.209.63)

गन्धर्वाप्सरसो यक्षास्तं यान्तं तुष्टुवुर्दिवि। अप्सरोगीयमाने तु गते सूर्यस्य मूर्धनि। चित्रसेनस्ततस्तस्मिन्नाश्चर्यं परमं गतः॥

gandharvāpsaraso yakṣāstaṁ yāntaṁ tuṣṭuvurdivi| apsarogīyamāne tu gate sūryasya mūrdhani| citrasenastatastasminnāścaryaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ||

as gandharvas, apsarases and yakshas praised him going up into the sky; while the apsarases sang, he reached the very crown of the sun's path, and Chitrasena was filled with the utmost wonder at this.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.209.64)

ऋषिणा कथितं यद्वत्तद्वत्तीर्थं न संशयः। हृष्टरोमाभवद्दृष्ट्वा प्रभावं तीर्थसम्भवम्॥

ṛṣiṇā kathitaṁ yadvattadvattīrthaṁ na saṁśayaḥ| hṛṣṭaromābhavaddṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṁ tīrthasambhavam||

"This tirtha is exactly as the sage described it, without doubt" — seeing the power born of that tirtha, his hair stood on end with delight.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.209.65)

ममाद्य दिवसो धन्यो यस्मादत्र समागतः। अस्थीनि भूमौ निक्षिप्य स्नानं कृत्वा यथाविधि॥

mamādya divaso dhanyo yasmādatra samāgataḥ| asthīni bhūmau nikṣipya snānaṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi||

"Blessed indeed is this day of mine, since I have come here." Setting the bones upon the ground, and bathing according to rule,

Verse 66 (skanda.5.209.66)

तिलमिश्रेण तोयेनातर्पयत्पितृदेवताः। गृह्यास्थीनि ततो राजा चिक्षेपान्तर्जले तदा॥

tilamiśreṇa toyenātarpayatpitṛdevatāḥ| gṛhyāsthīni tato rājā cikṣepāntarjale tadā||

he offered libation to the ancestors and the gods with water mixed with sesame; then the king took up the bones and cast them into the water.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.209.67)

क्षणमेकं ततो वीक्ष्य राजोर्द्ध्ववदनः स्थितः। तान् ददर्श पुनः सर्वान् दिव्यरूपधराञ्छुभान्॥

kṣaṇamekaṁ tato vīkṣya rājorddhvavadanaḥ sthitaḥ| tān dadarśa punaḥ sarvān divyarūpadharāñchubhān||

Then, gazing upward for a single moment, the king again beheld all of them, wearing radiant, auspicious, divine forms,

Verse 68 (skanda.5.209.68)

दिव्यवस्त्रैश्च संवीतान् दिव्याभरणभूषितान्। विमानैर्विविधैर्दिव्यैरप्सरोगणसेवितैः॥

divyavastraiśca saṁvītān divyābharaṇabhūṣitān| vimānairvividhairdivyairapsarogaṇasevitaiḥ||

clad in celestial garments, adorned with heavenly ornaments, seated in various divine chariots attended by hosts of apsarases.

Verse 69 (skanda.5.209.69)

पृथग्भूतांश्च तान् सर्वान् विमानेषु व्यवस्थितान्। उत्पत्तिवत्समालोक्य राजा संहर्षी सोऽभवत्॥

pṛthagbhūtāṁśca tān sarvān vimāneṣu vyavasthitān| utpattivatsamālokya rājā saṁharṣī so'bhavat||

Seeing all of them, each set apart in his own chariot, as though newly born, the king was filled with great joy.

Verse 70 (skanda.5.209.70)

ऋषिर्विमानमारूढश्चित्रसेनमथाब्रवीत्। भोभोः साधो महाराज चित्रसेन महीपते॥

ṛṣirvimānamārūḍhaścitrasenamathābravīt| bhobhoḥ sādho mahārāja citrasena mahīpate||

That sage, mounted in his celestial chariot, then said to Chitrasena: "Well done, well done, great king, O Chitrasena, lord of the earth!

Verse 71 (skanda.5.209.71)

त्वत्प्रसादान्नृपश्रेष्ठ गतिर्दिव्या ममेदृषी। जातेयं यत्त्वया कार्यं कृतं परमशोभनम्॥

tvatprasādānnṛpaśreṣṭha gatirdivyā mamedṛṣī| jāteyaṁ yattvayā kāryaṁ kṛtaṁ paramaśobhanam||

By your grace, O best of kings, such a divine destiny as this has come to me. The deed you have done is most excellent —

Verse 72 (skanda.5.209.72)

स्वसुतोऽपि न शक्नोति पितॄणां कर्तुमीदृशम्। मदीयवचनात्तात निष्पापस्त्वं भविष्यसि॥

svasuto'pi na śaknoti pitṝṇāṁ kartumīdṛśam| madīyavacanāttāta niṣpāpastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi||

not even one's own son could do such a thing for his ancestors. Good sir, by my word you shall become free of sin,

Verse 73 (skanda.5.209.73)

फलं प्राप्स्यसि राजेन्द्र कामिकं मनसेप्सितम्। आशीर्वादांस्ततो दत्त्वा चित्रसेनाय धीमते। स्वर्गं जगाम ससुतस्ततो दीर्घतपा मुनिः॥

phalaṁ prāpsyasi rājendra kāmikaṁ manasepsitam| āśīrvādāṁstato dattvā citrasenāya dhīmate| svargaṁ jagāma sasutastato dīrghatapā muniḥ||

and, O lord of kings, you shall obtain the fruit desired in your heart." Having thus given his blessing to the wise Chitrasena, the sage Dirghatapas then went to heaven together with his sons.