The Hunter's Ascent to Heaven

Verse 1 (skanda.5.212.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। भानुमती द्विजान्भोज्य बुभुजे भुक्तशेषतः। भुक्त्वा सुसुखमास्थाय तदन्नं परिणाम्य च॥

īśvara uvāca| bhānumatī dvijānbhojya bubhuje bhuktaśeṣataḥ| bhuktvā susukhamāsthāya tadannaṁ pariṇāmya ca||

Ishvara said: "Bhanumati, having fed the brahmins, ate herself from what remained. Having eaten in comfort and settled, digesting that food,

Verse 2 (skanda.5.212.2)

त्रयोदश्यां ततो गत्वा मदनाख्यतिथौ तदा। मार्कण्डस्य ह्रदे स्नात्वानर्च्य देवं गुहाशयम्॥

trayodaśyāṁ tato gatvā madanākhyatithau tadā| mārkaṇḍasya hrade snātvānarcya devaṁ guhāśayam||

then, going on the thirteenth day, on the tithi called Madana, having bathed in the pool of Markanda and worshipped the God who dwells in the cave,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.212.3)

कृतोपवासनियमा स्नापयित्वा महेश्वरम्। पञ्चामृतसुगन्धेन धूपदीपनिवेदनैः॥

kṛtopavāsaniyamā snāpayitvā maheśvaram| pañcāmṛtasugandhena dhūpadīpanivedanaiḥ||

having kept the observance of fasting, having bathed Maheshvara with the five nectars and fragrant substances, with incense, lamps and offerings,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.212.4)

आर्चयद्विविधैः पुष्पैर्नैवेद्यैश्च सुशोभनैः। क्षपाजागरणं कृत्वा श्रुत्वा पौराणिकीं कथाम्॥

ārcayadvividhaiḥ puṣpairnaivedyaiśca suśobhanaiḥ| kṣapājāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā śrutvā paurāṇikīṁ kathām||

she worshipped him with various flowers and beautiful food-offerings; having kept vigil through the night, having heard the Puranic story,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.212.5)

नृत्यगीतैस्तथा स्तोत्रैर्दध्यौ देवं महेश्वरम्। अन्नं विस्तारितं सर्वं देवस्याग्रे यथाविधि॥

nṛtyagītaistathā stotrairdadhyau devaṁ maheśvaram| annaṁ vistāritaṁ sarvaṁ devasyāgre yathāvidhi||

with dance, song and hymns of praise she meditated upon the God Maheshvara. All the food was spread out before the God, as prescribed,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.212.6)

चातुर्वर्ण्यसुताः सर्वे भोजिताः सपरिच्छदाः। चतुर्दश्यां दिनं यावत्सम्पूज्य वृषभध्वजम्॥

cāturvarṇyasutāḥ sarve bhojitāḥ saparicchadāḥ| caturdaśyāṁ dinaṁ yāvatsampūjya vṛṣabhadhvajam||

and the children of all four varnas, together with their households, were fed. On the fourteenth day, having worshipped the bull-bannered one the whole day,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.212.7)

शङ्खवादित्रभेरीभिः पटहध्वनिनादितम्। क्षपाजागरणं कृत्वा प्रभूतजनसंकुलम्॥

śaṅkhavāditrabherībhiḥ paṭahadhvanināditam| kṣapājāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā prabhūtajanasaṁkulam||

resounding with conches, instruments, kettledrums and the sound of drums, keeping vigil through the night, thronged with a great multitude of people,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.212.8)

नृत्यगीतैस्तथा स्तोत्रैः प्रेरिता सा निशा तदा। प्रभाते भोजिता विप्राः पायसैर्मधुसर्पिषा॥

nṛtyagītaistathā stotraiḥ preritā sā niśā tadā| prabhāte bhojitā viprāḥ pāyasairmadhusarpiṣā||

that night was passed, driven on by dance, song and hymns of praise; in the morning the brahmins were fed with rice-pudding, honey and ghee.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.212.9)

दत्त्वा दानानि विप्रेभ्यः शक्त्या विप्रानुसारतः। अर्चयित्वा महापुष्पैः सुगन्धैर्मदनेन च॥

dattvā dānāni viprebhyaḥ śaktyā viprānusārataḥ| arcayitvā mahāpuṣpaiḥ sugandhairmadanena ca||

Having given gifts to the brahmins according to her ability, in accordance with their worth, having worshipped with great fragrant flowers and madana blossoms,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.212.10)

विचित्रैः सूक्ष्मवस्त्रैश्च देवः सम्पूज्य वेष्टितः। स्रग्दामलम्बमानैश्च बहुदीपसमुज्ज्वलैः॥

vicitraiḥ sūkṣmavastraiśca devaḥ sampūjya veṣṭitaḥ| sragdāmalambamānaiśca bahudīpasamujjvalaiḥ||

and having worshipped the God with varied fine cloths, he was wrapped in them, and, hung about with garlands and wreaths, blazed with many lamps,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.212.11)

पक्वान्नैर्विविधैर्भक्ष्यैः सुवृत्तैर्मोदकादिभिः। ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे वेदाध्ययनतत्पराः॥

pakvānnairvividhairbhakṣyaiḥ suvṛttairmodakādibhiḥ| tataste brāhmaṇāḥ sarve vedādhyayanatatparāḥ||

and with cooked food, various delicacies, and round sweets such as modakas. Then all those brahmins, devoted to the study of the Veda,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.212.12)

तत्पर्व कीर्तयांश्चक्रुः पद्मकं नाम नामतः। आदित्यस्य दिनं त्वद्य तिथिः पञ्चदशी तथा॥

tatparva kīrtayāṁścakruḥ padmakaṁ nāma nāmataḥ| ādityasya dinaṁ tvadya tithiḥ pañcadaśī tathā||

began to proclaim that festival by the name Padmaka: "Today is the day of the sun, and the tithi is the fifteenth,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.212.13)

त्वाष्ट्रमेव च नक्षत्रं संक्रान्तिर्विषुवन्तथा। व्यतीपातस्तथा योगः करणविष्टिरेव च॥

tvāṣṭrameva ca nakṣatraṁ saṁkrāntirviṣuvantathā| vyatīpātastathā yogaḥ karaṇaviṣṭireva ca||

and the constellation is Tvashtra, the solstice, and the equinox as well, and Vyatipata, and the yoga, and the Vishti karana too —

Verse 14 (skanda.5.212.14)

पद्मकं नाम पर्वैतदयनादिचतुर्गुणम्। अत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तं सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम्॥

padmakaṁ nāma parvaitadayanādicaturguṇam| atra dattaṁ hutaṁ japtaṁ sarvaṁ bhavati cākṣayam||

this festival named Padmaka is four times as meritorious as a solstice and the like. Whatever is given, offered in fire, or recited here becomes imperishable."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.212.15)

ते द्विजा भानुमत्याथ शूलभेदं गताः सह। ददृशुः शबरं कुण्डे भार्यया सह संस्थितम्॥

te dvijā bhānumatyātha śūlabhedaṁ gatāḥ saha| dadṛśuḥ śabaraṁ kuṇḍe bhāryayā saha saṁsthitam||

Those brahmins, together with Bhanumati, then went to Shulabheda; they saw the Shabara, seated at the pool together with his wife,

Verse 16 (skanda.5.212.16)

ऐशानीं स दिशं गत्वा पर्वते भृगुमूर्धनि। पतितुं च समारूढो भार्यया सह पार्थिव॥

aiśānīṁ sa diśaṁ gatvā parvate bhṛgumūrdhani| patituṁ ca samārūḍho bhāryayā saha pārthiva||

who, O king, had gone in the northeastern direction and climbed the mountain, upon the peak of Bhrigu, together with his wife, ready to cast himself down.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.212.17)

भानुमत्युवाच। तिष्ठ तिष्ठ महासत्त्व शृणुष्व वचनं मम। किमर्थं त्यजसि प्राणानद्यापि च युवा भवान्॥

bhānumatyuvāca| tiṣṭha tiṣṭha mahāsattva śṛṇuṣva vacanaṁ mama| kimarthaṁ tyajasi prāṇānadyāpi ca yuvā bhavān||

Bhanumati said: "Stop, stop, O great and noble soul! Listen to my words. Why do you abandon your life, being still so young?

Verse 18 (skanda.5.212.18)

कः सन्तापः क उद्वेगः किं दुःखं व्याधिरेव च। शिशुः संदृश्यसेऽद्यापि कारणं कथ्यतामिदम्॥

kaḥ santāpaḥ ka udvegaḥ kiṁ duḥkhaṁ vyādhireva ca| śiśuḥ saṁdṛśyase'dyāpi kāraṇaṁ kathyatāmidam||

What torment is this, what distress, what sorrow or disease? You still appear like a child — tell me the reason."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.212.19)

शबर उवाच। कारणं नास्ति मे किंचिन्न दुःखं किंचिदेव तु। संसारभयभीतोऽहं नान्या बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते॥

śabara uvāca| kāraṇaṁ nāsti me kiṁcinna duḥkhaṁ kiṁcideva tu| saṁsārabhayabhīto'haṁ nānyā buddhiḥ pravartate||

The Shabara said: "There is no particular reason for me, nor any particular sorrow; I am afraid of the cycle of transmigration — no other thought occurs to me.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.212.20)

दुःखेन लभ्यते यस्मान्मानुष्यं जन्म भाग्यतः। मानुष्यं जन्म चासाद्य या न धर्मं समाचरेत्॥

duḥkhena labhyate yasmānmānuṣyaṁ janma bhāgyataḥ| mānuṣyaṁ janma cāsādya yā na dharmaṁ samācaret||

Since a human birth is obtained only with great difficulty, through good fortune, and one who, having obtained a human birth, does not practise righteousness,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.212.21)

स गच्छेन्निरयं घोरमात्मदोषेण सुन्दरि। तस्मात्पतितुमिच्छामि तीर्थेऽस्मिन्पापनाशने॥

sa gacchennirayaṁ ghoramātmadoṣeṇa sundari| tasmātpatitumicchāmi tīrthe'sminpāpanāśane||

goes, O beautiful one, to a terrible hell through his own fault. Therefore I wish to cast myself down at this sin-destroying tirtha."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.212.22)

राज्ञ्युवाच। अद्यापि वर्तते कालो धर्मस्योपार्जने तव। कृतापकृतकर्मा वै व्रतदानैर्विशुध्यति॥

rājñyuvāca| adyāpi vartate kālo dharmasyopārjane tava| kṛtāpakṛtakarmā vai vratadānairviśudhyati||

The princess said: "Even now the time remains for you to acquire merit; one burdened with deeds both done and left undone is purified by vows and gifts.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.212.23)

अहं दास्यामि धान्यं वा वासांसि द्रविणं बहु। नित्यमाचर धर्मं त्वं ध्यायन्नित्यं महेश्वरम्॥

ahaṁ dāsyāmi dhānyaṁ vā vāsāṁsi draviṇaṁ bahu| nityamācara dharmaṁ tvaṁ dhyāyannityaṁ maheśvaram||

I shall give you grain, or clothing, or much wealth; ever meditating upon Maheshvara, practise righteousness always."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.212.24)

शबर उवाच। नैवाहं कामये वित्तं न धान्यं वस्त्रमेव च। यो यस्यैवान्नमश्नाति स तस्याश्नाति किल्बिषम्॥

śabara uvāca| naivāhaṁ kāmaye vittaṁ na dhānyaṁ vastrameva ca| yo yasyaivānnamaśnāti sa tasyāśnāti kilbiṣam||

The Shabara said: "I desire neither wealth, nor grain, nor clothing; whoever eats another's food eats his sin too."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.212.25)

राज्ञ्युवाच। कन्दमूलफलाहारो भ्रमित्वा भैक्ष्यमुत्तमम्। अवगाह्य सुतीर्थानि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥

rājñyuvāca| kandamūlaphalāhāro bhramitvā bhaikṣyamuttamam| avagāhya sutīrthāni sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate||

The princess said: "Living on roots, bulbs and fruits, wandering and begging alms in the finest manner, and bathing in the sacred tirthas, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.212.26)

ततो विमुक्तपापस्तु यत्किंचित्कुरुते शुचिः। कर्मणा तेन पूतस्त्वं सद्गतिं प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्॥

tato vimuktapāpastu yatkiṁcitkurute śuciḥ| karmaṇā tena pūtastvaṁ sadgatiṁ prāpsyasi dhruvam||

Then, freed of sin, whatever one does thereafter in purity — purified by that deed, you shall surely attain a good destiny."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.212.27)

शबर उवाच। अन्नमद्य मया त्यक्तं प्राणेभ्योऽपि महत्तरम्। सत्यं न लोपयेद्देवि निश्चितात्र मतिर्मम॥

śabara uvāca| annamadya mayā tyaktaṁ prāṇebhyo'pi mahattaram| satyaṁ na lopayeddevi niścitātra matirmama||

The Shabara said: "I have today abandoned food, which is dearer to me even than life; O Devi, I shall not violate the truth — my mind is fixed on this.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.212.28)

प्रसादः क्रियतां देवि क्षमस्वाद्य जनैः सह। अर्धोत्तरीयवस्त्रेण संयम्यात्मानमुद्यतः॥

prasādaḥ kriyatāṁ devi kṣamasvādya janaiḥ saha| ardhottarīyavastreṇa saṁyamyātmānamudyataḥ||

O Devi, show me your favour; forgive me today, together with these people." Then, binding himself with half of his upper garment, made ready,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.212.29)

भार्यया सहितो व्याधो हरिं ध्यात्वा पपात ह। नगार्धात्पतितो यावद्गतजीवो नराधिप॥

bhāryayā sahito vyādho hariṁ dhyātvā papāta ha| nagārdhātpatito yāvadgatajīvo narādhipa||

the hunter, together with his wife, meditating upon Hari, fell; and, O lord of men, as he fell from the middle of the mountain's slope, his life departed.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.212.30)

चूर्णीभूतौ हि तौ दृष्ट्वा कुण्डस्योपरि भूमिप। त्रिमुहूर्ते गते काले शबरो भार्यया सह॥

cūrṇībhūtau hi tau dṛṣṭvā kuṇḍasyopari bhūmipa| trimuhūrte gate kāle śabaro bhāryayā saha||

O lord of the earth, seeing the two of them reduced to dust above the pool — when three muhurtas had passed, the Shabara together with his wife,

Verse 31 (skanda.5.212.31)

दिव्यं विमानमारूढो गतश्चानुत्तमां गतिम्॥

divyaṁ vimānamārūḍho gataścānuttamāṁ gatim||

mounted upon a divine celestial chariot, attained the most excellent destiny.