Avanti Khanda · Chapter 258
The Greatness of Erandi-sangama Tirtha
Verse 1 (skanda.5.258.1)
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल एरण्डीसङ्गमं परम्। यच्छ्रुतं वै मया राजञ्छिवस्य वदतः पुरा।
śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla eraṇḍīsaṅgamaṁ param| yacchrutaṁ vai mayā rājañchivasya vadataḥ purā||
Shri Markandeya said: Thereafter, O lord of the earth, one should go to the supreme confluence of Erandi, which I once heard, O king, being spoken of by Shiva.
Verse 2 (skanda.5.258.2)
एतदेव पुरा प्रश्नं गौर्या पृष्टस्तु शङ्करः। प्रोवाच नृपशार्दूल गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं शुभम्।
etadeva purā praśnaṁ gauryā pṛṣṭastu śaṅkaraḥ| provāca nṛpaśārdūla guhyādguhyataraṁ śubham||
This very question was once asked by Gauri, and Shankara, O tiger among kings, declared this auspicious secret, more secret than the secret.
Verse 3 (skanda.5.258.3)
ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि परं गुह्यं नाख्यातं कस्यचिन्मया। रेवायाश्चोत्तरे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। भ्रूणहत्याहरं देवि कामदं पुत्रवर्धनम्।
īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi paraṁ guhyaṁ nākhyātaṁ kasyacinmayā| revāyāścottare kūle tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| bhrūṇahatyāharaṁ devi kāmadaṁ putravardhanam||
Ishvara said: Hear, O Devi, this supreme secret that I have told to no one - on the northern bank of the Reva there is a most beautiful tirtha, O Devi, which removes the sin of feticide, grants desires, and increases sons.
Verse 4 (skanda.5.258.4)
पार्वत्युवाच। कथयस्व महादेव तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। भ्रूणहत्याहरं कस्मात्कामदं स्वर्गदर्शनम्।
pārvatyuvāca| kathayasva mahādeva tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| bhrūṇahatyāharaṁ kasmātkāmadaṁ svargadarśanam||
Parvati said: Tell me, O Mahadeva, of this most beautiful tirtha - why does it remove the sin of feticide, grant desires, and show the vision of heaven?
Verse 5 (skanda.5.258.5)
ईश्वर उवाच। अत्रिर्नाम महादेवि मानसो ब्रह्मणः सुतः। अग्निहोत्ररतो नित्यं देवतातिथिपूजकः।
īśvara uvāca| atrirnāma mahādevi mānaso brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ| agnihotrarato nityaṁ devatātithipūjakaḥ||
Ishvara said: O great Devi, there was a mind-born son of Brahma named Atri, ever devoted to the fire-sacrifice, a worshipper of gods and guests.
Verse 6 (skanda.5.258.6)
सोमसंस्थाश्च सप्तैव कृता विप्रेण पार्वति। अनसूयेति विख्याता भार्या तस्य गुणान्विता।
somasaṁsthāśca saptaiva kṛtā vipreṇa pārvati| anasūyeti vikhyātā bhāryā tasya guṇānvitā||
That brahmin had performed the seven Soma-sacrifices, O Parvati. His wife, endowed with virtues, was renowned by the name Anasuya.
Verse 7 (skanda.5.258.7)
पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा पत्युः कार्यहिते रता। एवं याति ततः काले न पुत्रा न च पुत्रिका।
pativratā patiprāṇā patyuḥ kāryahite ratā| evaṁ yāti tataḥ kāle na putrā na ca putrikā||
She was devoted to her husband, her very life was her husband, and she was intent on his welfare and his tasks. Thus time passed, but there was neither son nor daughter.
Verse 8 (skanda.5.258.8)
अपराह्णे महादेवि सुखासीनौ तु सुन्दरि। वदन्तौ सुखदुःखानि पूर्ववृत्तानि यानि च।
aparāhṇe mahādevi sukhāsīnau tu sundari| vadantau sukhaduḥkhāni pūrvavṛttāni yāni ca||
O great Devi, O beautiful one, in the afternoon the two sat comfortably together, speaking of their joys and sorrows and of past happenings.
Verse 9 (skanda.5.258.9)
अत्रिरुवाच। सौम्ये शुभे प्रिये कान्ते चारुसर्वाङ्गसुन्दरि। विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणे।
atriruvāca| saumye śubhe priye kānte cārusarvāṅgasundari| vidyāvinayasampanne padmapatranibhekṣaṇe||
Atri said: O gentle, auspicious, beloved, lovely one, beautiful in every limb, endowed with learning and humility, whose eyes are like lotus petals -
Verse 10 (skanda.5.258.10)
पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाकारे पृथुश्रोणिभरालसे। न त्वया सदृशी नारी त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे।
pūrṇacandranibhākāre pṛthuśroṇibharālase| na tvayā sadṛśī nārī trailokye sacarācare||
- whose form is like the full moon, graceful with ample hips: there is no woman like you in the three worlds, with all that moves and moves not.
Verse 11 (skanda.5.258.11)
रतिपुत्रफला नारी पठ्यते वेदवादिभिः। पुत्रहीनस्य यत्सौख्यं तत्सौख्यं मम सुन्दरि।
ratiputraphalā nārī paṭhyate vedavādibhiḥ| putrahīnasya yatsaukhyaṁ tatsaukhyaṁ mama sundari||
The Veda-knowers declare that the fruit of a wife's union is a son. O beautiful one, whatever joy belongs to a sonless man, that same joy is mine.
Verse 12 (skanda.5.258.12)
यथाहं न तथा पुत्रः समर्थः सर्वकर्मसु। पुन्नामनरकाद्भद्रे जातमात्रेण सुन्दरि।
yathāhaṁ na tathā putraḥ samarthaḥ sarvakarmasu| punnāmanarakādbhadre jātamātreṇa sundari||
As I am capable, so is a son even more capable in all rites; O auspicious, beautiful one, merely by being born a son saves his father from the hell called Put.
Verse 13 (skanda.5.258.13)
पतन्तं रक्षयेद्देवि महापातकिनं यदि। महाघोरे गता वापि दुष्टकर्मपितामहाः।
patantaṁ rakṣayeddevi mahāpātakinaṁ yadi| mahāghore gatā vāpi duṣṭakarmapitāmahāḥ||
O Devi, a son protects even a father who is a great sinner and falling into hell; and even forefathers gone to the most terrible hell on account of evil deeds -
Verse 14 (skanda.5.258.14)
तद्धरन्ति सुपुत्राश्च वैतरण्यां गतानपि। पुत्रेण लोकाञ्जयति पौत्रेण परमा गतिः।
taddharanti suputrāśca vaitaraṇyāṁ gatānapi| putreṇa lokāñjayati pautreṇa paramā gatiḥ||
- good sons rescue them, even from the Vaitarani river; through a son one conquers the worlds, through a grandson the supreme goal is attained.
Verse 15 (skanda.5.258.15)
अथ पुत्रस्य पौत्रेण प्रगच्छेद्ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्। नास्ति पुत्रसमो बन्धुरिह लोके परत्र च।
atha putrasya pautreṇa pragacchedbrahma śāśvatam| nāsti putrasamo bandhuriha loke paratra ca||
And through the grandson of a son one attains the eternal Brahman; there is no kinsman equal to a son, in this world or the next.
Verse 16 (skanda.5.258.16)
अहश्च मध्यरात्रे च चिन्तयानस्य सर्वदा। शुष्यन्ति मम गात्राणि ग्रीष्मे नद्युदकं यथा।
ahaśca madhyarātre ca cintayānasya sarvadā| śuṣyanti mama gātrāṇi grīṣme nadyudakaṁ yathā||
Day and midnight, ever thinking of this, my limbs waste away, like a river's water in summer.
Verse 17 (skanda.5.258.17)
अनसूयोवाच। यत्त्वया शोचितं विप्र तत्सर्वं शोचयाम्यहम्। तवोद्वेगकरं यच्च तन्मे दहति चेतसि।
anasūyovāca| yattvayā śocitaṁ vipra tatsarvaṁ śocayāmyaham| tavodvegakaraṁ yacca tanme dahati cetasi||
Anasuya said: O brahmin, whatever grieves you, that same grief is mine. Whatever causes you distress burns in my heart too.
Verse 18 (skanda.5.258.18)
येन पुत्रा भविष्यन्ति आयुष्मन्तो गुणान्विताः। तत्कार्यं च समीक्षस्व येन तुष्येत्प्रजापतिः।
yena putrā bhaviṣyanti āyuṣmanto guṇānvitāḥ| tatkāryaṁ ca samīkṣasva yena tuṣyetprajāpatiḥ||
Consider what action would bring long-lived, virtuous sons, by which Prajapati would be pleased.
Verse 19 (skanda.5.258.19)
अत्रिरुवाच। तपस्तप्तं मया भद्रे जातमात्रेण दुष्करम्। व्रतोपवासनियमैः शाकाहारेण सुन्दरि।
atriruvāca| tapastaptaṁ mayā bhadre jātamātreṇa duṣkaram| vratopavāsaniyamaiḥ śākāhāreṇa sundari||
Atri said: O auspicious, beautiful one, from the very time of my birth I have performed difficult austerity, through vows, fasts, restraints, and a diet of vegetables alone.
Verse 20 (skanda.5.258.20)
क्षीणदेहस्तु तिष्ठामि ह्यशक्तोऽहं महाव्रते। तेन शोचामि चात्मानं रहस्यं कथितं मया।
kṣīṇadehastu tiṣṭhāmi hyaśakto'haṁ mahāvrate| tena śocāmi cātmānaṁ rahasyaṁ kathitaṁ mayā||
My body is now wasted, and I am unable for further great vows. Therefore I grieve for myself - this secret I have told you.
Verse 21 (skanda.5.258.21)
अनसूयोवाच। भर्तुः पतिव्रता नारी रतिपुत्रविवर्धिनी। त्रिवर्गसाधना सा च श्लाघ्या च विदुषां जने।
anasūyovāca| bhartuḥ pativratā nārī ratiputravivardhinī| trivargasādhanā sā ca ślāghyā ca viduṣāṁ jane||
Anasuya said: A wife devoted to her husband increases both his union and his sons; she accomplishes the threefold aim of life, and is praised among the wise.
Verse 22 (skanda.5.258.22)
जपस्तपस्तीर्थयात्रा मृडेज्यामन्त्रसाधनम्। देवताराधनं चैव स्त्रीशूद्रपतनानि षट्।
japastapastīrthayātrā mṛḍejyāmantrasādhanam| devatārādhanaṁ caiva strīśūdrapatanāni ṣaṭ||
Japa, tapas, pilgrimage, worship of Shiva, mantra-practice, and worship of deities - these six, if undertaken without permission, are causes of downfall for women and shudras.
Verse 23 (skanda.5.258.23)
ईदृशं तु महादोषं स्त्रीणां तु व्रतसाधने। वदन्ति मुनयः सर्वे यथोक्तं वेदभाषितम्।
īdṛśaṁ tu mahādoṣaṁ strīṇāṁ tu vratasādhane| vadanti munayaḥ sarve yathoktaṁ vedabhāṣitam||
All the sages declare this to be a great fault in women undertaking vows, as stated according to the word of the Veda.
Verse 24 (skanda.5.258.24)
अनुज्ञाता त्वया ब्रह्मंस्तपस्तप्स्यामि दुष्करम्। पुत्रार्थित्वं समुद्दिश्य तोषयामि सुरोत्तमान्।
anujñātā tvayā brahmaṁstapastapsyāmi duṣkaram| putrārthitvaṁ samuddiśya toṣayāmi surottamān||
With your permission, O brahmin, I shall perform difficult austerity; desiring a son, I shall please the best of the gods.
Verse 25 (skanda.5.258.25)
अत्रिरुवाच। साधु साधु महाप्राज्ञे मम संतोषकारिणि। आज्ञाता त्वं मया भद्रे पुत्रार्थं तप आश्रय।
atriruvāca| sādhu sādhu mahāprājñe mama saṁtoṣakāriṇi| ājñātā tvaṁ mayā bhadre putrārthaṁ tapa āśraya||
Atri said: Well done, well done, O most wise one who gives me contentment! You are permitted by me, O auspicious one - undertake austerity for the sake of a son.
Verse 26 (skanda.5.258.26)
देवतानां मनुष्याणां पितॄणामनृणो भवे। न भार्यासदृशो बन्धुस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते।
devatānāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ pitḥṇāmanṛṇo bhave| na bhāryāsadṛśo bandhustriṣu lokeṣu vidyate||
O Devi, may our son free us from debt to gods, men, and ancestors; there is no kinsman equal to a wife in the three worlds.
Verse 27 (skanda.5.258.27)
तेन देवाः प्रशंसन्ति न भार्यासदृशं सुखम्। सन्मुखे मन्मुखाः पुत्राः विलोमे तु पराङ्मुखाः।
tena devāḥ praśaṁsanti na bhāryāsadṛśaṁ sukham| sanmukhe manmukhāḥ putrāḥ vilome tu parāṅmukhāḥ||
Therefore the gods praise the wife - there is no happiness equal to a wife. When she faces her husband kindly, sons too are favorable; when she turns away, they too turn away.
Verse 28 (skanda.5.258.28)
तेन भार्यां प्रशंसन्ति सदेवासुरमानुषाः। महाव्रते महाप्राज्ञे सत्त्ववति शुभेक्षणे।
tena bhāryāṁ praśaṁsanti sadevāsuramānuṣāḥ| mahāvrate mahāprājñe sattvavati śubhekṣaṇe||
Therefore gods, demons and men alike praise the wife. O great in vows, most wise, full of goodness, of auspicious glance -
Verse 29 (skanda.5.258.29)
तपस्तपस्व शीघ्रं त्वं पुत्रार्थं तु ममाज्ञया। एतद्वाक्यावसाने तु साष्टाङ्गं प्रणताब्रवीत्।
tapastapasva śīghraṁ tvaṁ putrārthaṁ tu mamājñayā| etadvākyāvasāne tu sāṣṭāṅgaṁ praṇatābravīt||
- quickly perform austerity for a son, by my command. At the end of these words, Anasuya bowed with eight limbs to the ground and spoke.
Verse 30 (skanda.5.258.30)
त्वत्प्रसादेन विप्रेन्द्र सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयाम्। हंसलीलागतिः सा च मृगाक्षी वरवर्णिनी।
tvatprasādena viprendra sarvānkāmānavāpnuyām| haṁsalīlāgatiḥ sā ca mṛgākṣī varavarṇinī||
'By your grace, O best of brahmins, may I obtain all desires.' She, of swan-like graceful gait, doe-eyed, of excellent complexion -
Verse 31 (skanda.5.258.31)
नियमस्था ततो भूत्वा सम्प्राप्ता नर्मदां नदीम्। शिवस्वेदोद्भवां देवीं सर्वपापप्रणाशनीम्।
niyamasthā tato bhūtvā samprāptā narmadāṁ nadīm| śivasvedodbhavāṁ devīṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanīm||
- then, established in vows, reached the river Narmada, the goddess born from Shiva's sweat, destroyer of all sins.
Verse 32 (skanda.5.258.32)
यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण नश्यते पापसञ्चयः। स्नानमात्रेण वै यस्या अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्।
yasyā darśanamātreṇa naśyate pāpasañcayaḥ| snānamātreṇa vai yasyā aśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet||
By the mere sight of whom accumulated sin is destroyed, by whose mere bathing one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
Verse 33 (skanda.5.258.33)
ये पिबन्ति महादेवि श्रद्दधानाः पयः शुभम्। सोमपानेन तत्तुल्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
ye pibanti mahādevi śraddadhānāḥ payaḥ śubham| somapānena tattulyaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā||
O great Devi, those who drink her auspicious water with faith - that is equal to drinking Soma; there is no doubt in this.
Verse 34 (skanda.5.258.34)
ये स्मरन्ति दिवा रात्रौ योजनानां शतैरपि। मुच्यन्ते सर्वपापेभ्यो रुद्रलोकं प्रयान्ति ते।
ye smaranti divā rātrau yojanānāṁ śatairapi| mucyante sarvapāpebhyo rudralokaṁ prayānti te||
Those who remember her, day or night, even from hundreds of yojanas away, are freed from all sins and go to the world of Rudra.
Verse 35 (skanda.5.258.35)
नर्मदायाः समीपे तु तावुभौ योजनद्वये। न पश्यन्ति यमं तत्र ये मृता वरवर्णिनि।
narmadāyāḥ samīpe tu tāvubhau yojanadvaye| na paśyanti yamaṁ tatra ye mṛtā varavarṇini||
O fair one, near the Narmada, within two yojanas on either side, those who die there do not see Yama.
Verse 36 (skanda.5.258.36)
ततस्तदुत्तरे कूले एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे शुभे। नियमस्था विशालाक्षी शाकाहारेण सुन्दरि।
tatastaduttare kūle eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame śubhe| niyamasthā viśālākṣī śākāhāreṇa sundari||
Then on its northern bank, at the auspicious confluence of the Eranda, the wide-eyed, beautiful one remained fixed in vows, living on vegetables alone.
Verse 37 (skanda.5.258.37)
तोषयन्ती त्रींश्च देवाञ्छुभैः स्तोत्रैर्व्रतैस्तथा। ग्रीष्मेषु च महादेवि पञ्चाग्निं साधयेत्ततः।
toṣayantī trīṁśca devāñchubhaiḥ stotrairvrataistathā| grīṣmeṣu ca mahādevi pañcāgniṁ sādhayettataḥ||
Pleasing the three gods with auspicious hymns and vows; and in summer, O great Devi, she practiced the austerity of five fires.
Verse 38 (skanda.5.258.38)
वर्षाकाले चार्द्रवासाश्चरेच्चान्द्रायणानि च। हेमन्ते तु ततः प्राप्ते तोयमध्ये वसेत्सदा।
varṣākāle cārdravāsāścareccāndrāyaṇāni ca| hemante tu tataḥ prāpte toyamadhye vasetsadā||
In the rainy season she wore wet garments and observed the Chandrayana penance; and when winter came, she always stayed immersed in water.
Verse 39 (skanda.5.258.39)
प्रातःस्नानं ततः सन्ध्यां कुर्याद्देवर्षितर्पणम्। देवानामर्चनं कृत्वा होमं कुर्याद्यथाविधि।
prātaḥsnānaṁ tataḥ sandhyāṁ kuryāddevarṣitarpaṇam| devānāmarcanaṁ kṛtvā homaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi||
After the morning bath she performed the twilight rites and offerings to gods and sages; having worshipped the gods, she performed the fire-oblation according to rule.
Verse 40 (skanda.5.258.40)
यजते वैष्णवांल्लोकान् स्नानजाप्यहुतेन च। एवं वर्षशते प्राप्ते रुद्रविष्णुपितामहाः।
yajate vaiṣṇavāṁllokān snānajāpyahutena ca| evaṁ varṣaśate prāpte rudraviṣṇupitāmahāḥ||
Through bathing, japa, and oblation she worshipped toward the Vaishnava worlds. Thus, when a hundred years had passed, Rudra, Vishnu, and the Grandsire -
Verse 41 (skanda.5.258.41)
सम्प्राप्ता द्विजरूपैस्तु एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे प्रिये। पुरतः संस्थितास्तस्या वेदमभ्युद्धरन्ति च।
samprāptā dvijarūpaistu eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame priye| purataḥ saṁsthitāstasyā vedamabhyuddharanti ca||
- arrived in the form of brahmins at the beloved confluence of the Eranda. Standing before her, they were reciting the Vedas.
Verse 42 (skanda.5.258.42)
अनसूया जपं त्यक्त्वा निरीक्ष्य तान्मुहुर्मुहुः। उत्थिता सा विशालाक्षी अर्घं दत्त्वा यथाविधि।
anasūyā japaṁ tyaktvā nirīkṣya tānmuhurmuhuḥ| utthitā sā viśālākṣī arghaṁ dattvā yathāvidhi||
Anasuya, leaving her japa, gazed at them again and again. The wide-eyed one rose and offered them water according to rule.
Verse 43 (skanda.5.258.43)
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफलं तपः। दर्शनेन तु विप्राणां सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते।
adya me saphalaṁ janma adya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ| darśanena tu viprāṇāṁ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate||
'Today my birth is fruitful, today my austerity is fruitful - by the sight of brahmins one is freed from all sins.'
Verse 44 (skanda.5.258.44)
प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा साष्टाङ्गं प्रणताब्रवीत्। कन्दमूलफलं शाकं नीवारानपि पावनान्। प्रयच्छाम्यहमद्यैव मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्।
pradakṣiṇaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā sāṣṭāṅgaṁ praṇatābravīt| kandamūlaphalaṁ śākaṁ nīvārānapi pāvanān| prayacchāmyahamadyaiva munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām||
Then, having circumambulated them and bowed with eight limbs, she said: 'I now offer roots, fruits, vegetables, and pure wild rice, to you sages of purified spirit.'
Verse 45 (skanda.5.258.45)
विप्रा ऊचुः। तपसा तु विचित्रेण तपःसत्येन सुव्रते। तृप्ताः स्म सर्वकामैस्तु सुव्रते तव दर्शनात्।
viprā ūcuḥ| tapasā tu vicitreṇa tapaḥsatyena suvrate| tṛptāḥ sma sarvakāmaistu suvrate tava darśanāt||
The brahmins said: By your wondrous austerity and truthful penance, O virtuous one, we are satisfied in all desires by merely seeing you.
Verse 46 (skanda.5.258.46)
अस्माकं कौतुकं जातं तापसेन व्रतेन यत्। स्वर्गमोक्षसुतस्यार्थे तपस्तपसि दुष्करम्।
asmākaṁ kautukaṁ jātaṁ tāpasena vratena yat| svargamokṣasutasyārthe tapastapasi duṣkaram||
We are curious about this: for what purpose - heaven, liberation, or a son - do you perform such difficult austerity by this ascetic vow?
Verse 47 (skanda.5.258.47)
अनसूयोवाच। तपसा सिध्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा परमा गतिः। तपसा चार्थकामौ च तपसा गुणवान्सुतः। तप एव च मे विप्राः सर्वकामफलप्रदम्।
anasūyovāca| tapasā sidhyate svargastapasā paramā gatiḥ| tapasā cārthakāmau ca tapasā guṇavānsutaḥ| tapa eva ca me viprāḥ sarvakāmaphalapradam||
Anasuya said: By austerity heaven is attained, by austerity the supreme goal; by austerity come wealth and desire, by austerity a virtuous son. O brahmins, austerity alone grants me the fruit of all desires.
Verse 48 (skanda.5.258.48)
विप्रा ऊचुः। तन्वी श्यामा विशालाक्षी स्निग्धाङ्गी रूपसंयुता। हंसलीलागतिगमा त्वं च सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी।
viprā ūcuḥ| tanvī śyāmā viśālākṣī snigdhāṅgī rūpasaṁyutā| haṁsalīlāgatigamā tvaṁ ca sarvāṅgasundarī||
The brahmins said: You are slender, dark-young, wide-eyed, of glossy limbs, endowed with beauty, walking with the swan's graceful gait, lovely in every limb.
Verse 49 (skanda.5.258.49)
किं च ते तपसा कार्यमात्मानं शोच्यसे कथम्।
kiṁ ca te tapasā kāryamātmānaṁ śocyase katham||
What need have you of austerity? Why do you grieve for yourself?
Verse 50 (skanda.5.258.50)
अनसूयोवाच। यदि रुद्रश्च विष्णुश्च स्वयं साक्षात्पितामहः। गूढरूपधराः सर्वे तच्चिह्नमुपलक्षये।
anasūyovāca| yadi rudraśca viṣṇuśca svayaṁ sākṣātpitāmahaḥ| gūḍharūpadharāḥ sarve taccihnamupalakṣaye||
Anasuya said: If Rudra, Vishnu, and the Grandsire himself, in person, are all here in disguised form - I recognize the signs of this.
Verse 51 (skanda.5.258.51)
तस्या वाक्यावसाने तु स्वरूपं दर्शयन्ति ते। स्वस्वरूपैः स्थिता देवाः सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभाः।
tasyā vākyāvasāne tu svarūpaṁ darśayanti te| svasvarūpaiḥ sthitā devāḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhāḥ||
At the end of her words, they showed their true forms. The gods stood in their own forms, radiant as a crore of suns.
Verse 52 (skanda.5.258.52)
चतुर्भुजो महादेवि शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। अतसीपुष्पवर्णस्तु पीतवासा जनार्दनः।
caturbhujo mahādevi śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ| atasīpuṣpavarṇastu pītavāsā janārdanaḥ||
O great Devi, four-armed, bearing conch, discus and mace, of the colour of the atasi flower, clad in yellow - Janardana [Vishnu].
Verse 53 (skanda.5.258.53)
गरुत्मान्वाहनं यस्य श्रिया च सहितो हरिः। प्रसन्नवदनः श्रीमान्स्वयंरूपो व्यवस्थितः।
garutmānvāhanaṁ yasya śriyā ca sahito hariḥ| prasannavadanaḥ śrīmānsvayaṁrūpo vyavasthitaḥ||
Whose vehicle is Garuda, Hari accompanied by Shri, of serene countenance, glorious, standing in his own true form.
Verse 54 (skanda.5.258.54)
पीतवासा महादेवि चतुर्वदनपङ्कजः। हंसोपरि समारूढो ह्यक्षमालाकरोद्यतः।
pītavāsā mahādevi caturvadanapaṅkajaḥ| haṁsopari samārūḍho hyakṣamālākarodyataḥ||
O great Devi, Brahma clad in yellow, with four lotus faces, mounted on a swan, holding a rosary raised in his hand.
Verse 55 (skanda.5.258.55)
आगतो नर्मदातीरे ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। योऽसौ सर्वजगद्व्यापी स्वयं साक्षान्महेश्वरः।
āgato narmadātīre brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| yo'sau sarvajagadvyāpī svayaṁ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ||
Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, came to the bank of the Narmada. And he who pervades the whole universe, Maheshvara himself in person -
Verse 56 (skanda.5.258.56)
वृषभं तु समारूढो दशबाहुसमन्वितः। भस्माङ्गरागशोभाढ्यः पञ्चवक्त्रस्त्रिलोचनः।
vṛṣabhaṁ tu samārūḍho daśabāhusamanvitaḥ| bhasmāṅgarāgaśobhāḍhyaḥ pañcavaktrastrilocanaḥ||
- mounted on the bull, endowed with ten arms, adorned with the beauty of ash smeared on his limbs, five-faced, three-eyed.
Verse 57 (skanda.5.258.57)
जटामुकुटसंयुक्तः कृतचन्द्रार्द्धशेखरः। एवंरूपधरो देवः सर्वव्यापी महेश्वरः।
jaṭāmukuṭasaṁyuktaḥ kṛtacandrārddhaśekharaḥ| evaṁrūpadharo devaḥ sarvavyāpī maheśvaraḥ||
With matted locks as his crown, bearing the crescent moon as his diadem - thus formed, the god Maheshvara, all-pervading.
Verse 58 (skanda.5.258.58)
अनसूया निरीक्ष्यैतद्देवानां दर्शनं परम्। वेपमाना ततः साध्वी सुरान्दृष्ट्वा मुहुर्मुहुः।
anasūyā nirīkṣyaitaddevānāṁ darśanaṁ param| vepamānā tataḥ sādhvī surāndṛṣṭvā muhurmuhuḥ||
Beholding this supreme vision of the gods, Anasuya trembled; the virtuous woman, gazing at the gods again and again -
Verse 59 (skanda.5.258.59)
अनसूयोवाच। किं व्यापारस्वरूपास्तु विष्णुरुद्रपितामहाः। एतद्वै श्रोतुमिच्छामि ह्यशेषं कथयन्तु मे।
anasūyovāca| kiṁ vyāpārasvarūpāstu viṣṇurudrapitāmahāḥ| etadvai śrotumicchāmi hyaśeṣaṁ kathayantu me||
Anasuya said: What is the nature of the functions of Vishnu, Rudra, and the Grandsire? I wish to hear this in full - may you tell me completely.
Verse 60 (skanda.5.258.60)
ब्रह्मोवाच। प्रावृट्कालो ह्यहं ब्रह्मा आपश्चैव प्रकीर्तिताः। मेघरूपो ह्यहं प्रोक्तो वर्षयामि च भूतले।
brahmovāca| prāvṛṭkālo hyahaṁ brahmā āpaścaiva prakīrtitāḥ| megharūpo hyahaṁ prokto varṣayāmi ca bhūtale||
Brahma said: I, Brahma, am declared to be the rainy season and the waters; I am said to have the form of a cloud, and I rain upon the earth.
Verse 61 (skanda.5.258.61)
अहं सर्वाणि बीजानि प्राक्सन्ध्यासूदिते रवौ। एतद्वै कारणं सर्वं रहस्यं कथितं परम्।
ahaṁ sarvāṇi bījāni prāksandhyāsūdite ravau| etadvai kāraṇaṁ sarvaṁ rahasyaṁ kathitaṁ param||
I am all the seeds, before the twilight when the sun rises. This is the entire cause - the supreme secret has been told.
Verse 62 (skanda.5.258.62)
विष्णुरुवाच। हेमन्तश्च भवेद्विष्णुर्विश्वरूपं चराचरम्। पालनाय जगत्सर्वं विष्णोर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्।
viṣṇuruvāca| hemantaśca bhavedviṣṇurviśvarūpaṁ carācaram| pālanāya jagatsarvaṁ viṣṇormāhātmyamuttamam||
Vishnu said: I, Vishnu, am winter, the universal form embracing all that moves and moves not. For the protection of the whole world - this is the supreme greatness of Vishnu.
Verse 63 (skanda.5.258.63)
रुद्र उवाच। ग्रीष्मकालो ह्यहं प्रोक्तः सर्वभूतक्षयंकरः। कर्षयामि जगत्सर्वं रुद्ररूपस्तपस्विनि।
rudra uvāca| grīṣmakālo hyahaṁ proktaḥ sarvabhūtakṣayaṁkaraḥ| karṣayāmi jagatsarvaṁ rudrarūpastapasvini||
Rudra said: I am declared to be the summer season, the destroyer of all beings. O ascetic woman, I, in the form of Rudra, wither the whole world.
Verse 64 (skanda.5.258.64)
एवं ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्चैव महाव्रते। त्रयो देवास्त्रयः सन्ध्यास्त्रयः कालास्त्रयोऽग्नयः।
evaṁ brahmā ca viṣṇuśca rudraścaiva mahāvrate| trayo devāstrayaḥ sandhyāstrayaḥ kālāstrayo'gnayaḥ||
Thus, O great in vows, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are three gods, three twilights, three seasons, three fires.
Verse 65 (skanda.5.258.65)
तथा ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्चैकात्मतां गतः। वरं दद्युश्च ते भद्रे यस्त्वया मनसीप्सितम्।
tathā brahmā ca viṣṇuśca rudraścaikātmatāṁ gataḥ| varaṁ dadyuśca te bhadre yastvayā manasīpsitam||
Thus Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, having become one in essence, said: 'O auspicious one, we shall grant you the boon you desire in your heart.'
Verse 66 (skanda.5.258.66)
अनसूयोवाच। धन्या पुण्या ह्यहं लोके श्लाघ्या वन्द्या च सर्वदा। ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च प्रसन्नवदनाः शुभाः।
anasūyovāca| dhanyā puṇyā hyahaṁ loke ślāghyā vandyā ca sarvadā| brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca prasannavadanāḥ śubhāḥ||
Anasuya said: Blessed and holy am I in the world, ever to be praised and honoured, now that Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra stand before me with pleased, auspicious faces.
Verse 67 (skanda.5.258.67)
यदि तुष्टास्त्रयो देवा दयां कृत्वा ममोपरि। अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु सांनिध्याद्वरदाः सन्तु मे सदा।
yadi tuṣṭāstrayo devā dayāṁ kṛtvā mamopari| asmiṁstīrthe tu sāṁnidhyādvaradāḥ santu me sadā||
If the three gods are pleased and show mercy upon me, then, by their presence at this tirtha, may they ever be granters of boons to me.
Verse 68 (skanda.5.258.68)
रुद्र उवाच। एवं भवतु ते वाक्यं यत्त्वया प्रार्थितं शुभे। प्रत्यक्षा वैष्णवी माया एरण्डीनाम नामतः।
rudra uvāca| evaṁ bhavatu te vākyaṁ yattvayā prārthitaṁ śubhe| pratyakṣā vaiṣṇavī māyā eraṇḍīnāma nāmataḥ||
Rudra said: So be it, as you have asked, O auspicious one. The Vaishnavi Maya shall be manifest here under the name Erandi.
Verse 69 (skanda.5.258.69)
यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण नश्यते पापसञ्चयः। चैत्रमासे तु सम्प्राप्ते अहोरात्रोषितो भवेत्।
yasyā darśanamātreṇa naśyate pāpasañcayaḥ| caitramāse tu samprāpte ahorātroṣito bhavet||
By her mere sight, accumulated sin is destroyed. When the month of Chaitra comes, one should observe a day-and-night fast here.
Verse 70 (skanda.5.258.70)
एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे स्नात्वा ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति। रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यात्प्रभाते भोजयेद्द्विजान्।
eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame snātvā brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati| rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryātprabhāte bhojayeddvijān||
Bathing at the confluence of the Eranda removes even the sin of brahmin-slaying. One should keep vigil at night, and feed brahmins in the morning.
Verse 71 (skanda.5.258.71)
यथोक्तेन विधानेन पिण्डं दद्याद्यथाविधि। प्रदक्षिणां ततो दद्याद्धिरण्यं वस्त्रमेव च।
yathoktena vidhānena piṇḍaṁ dadyādyathāvidhi| pradakṣiṇāṁ tato dadyāddhiraṇyaṁ vastrameva ca||
According to the prescribed rule, one should offer the ancestral pinda-offering as enjoined, then give circumambulation, gold and cloth.
Verse 72 (skanda.5.258.72)
रजतं च तथा गावो भूमिदानमथापि वा। सर्वं कोटिगुणं प्रोक्तमिति स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्।
rajataṁ ca tathā gāvo bhūmidānamathāpi vā| sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ proktamiti svāyambhuvo'bravīt||
Also silver, cows, and even the gift of land - all this is declared to be multiplied a crore-fold, thus said Svayambhu.
Verse 73 (skanda.5.258.73)
ये म्रियन्ति नरा देवि एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे शुभे। यावद्युगसहस्रं तु रुद्रलोके वसन्ति ते।
ye mriyanti narā devi eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame śubhe| yāvadyugasahasraṁ tu rudraloke vasanti te||
O Devi, those men who die at the auspicious confluence of the Eranda dwell in the world of Rudra for a thousand yugas.
Verse 74 (skanda.5.258.74)
अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा जपेद्रुद्रांश्च वैदिकान्। एकादशैकसंज्ञांश्च स याति परमां गतिम्।
ahorātroṣito bhūtvā japedrudrāṁśca vaidikān| ekādaśaikasaṁjñāṁśca sa yāti paramāṁ gatim||
Having fasted a day and a night, one should recite the Vedic Rudras - the eleven with their single collective designation - and one attains the supreme goal.
Verse 75 (skanda.5.258.75)
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धनार्थी लभते धनम्। पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रांल्लभेत्कामान् यथेप्सितान्।
vidyārthī labhate vidyāṁ dhanārthī labhate dhanam| putrārthī labhate putrāṁllabhetkāmān yathepsitān||
The seeker of learning obtains learning, the seeker of wealth obtains wealth, the seeker of sons obtains sons - one obtains desires as wished.
Verse 76 (skanda.5.258.76)
एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमे स्नात्वा रेवाया विमले जले। महापातकिनो वापि ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्।
eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame snātvā revāyā vimale jale| mahāpātakino vāpi te yānti paramāṁ gatim||
Bathing at the confluence of the Eranda, in the pure waters of the Reva, even great sinners attain the supreme goal.
Verse 77 (skanda.5.258.77)
अनसूयोवाच। यदि तुष्टास्त्रयो देवा मम भक्तिप्रचोदिताः। मम पुत्रा भवन्त्वेव हरिरुद्रपितामहाः।
anasūyovāca| yadi tuṣṭāstrayo devā mama bhaktipracoditāḥ| mama putrā bhavantveva harirudrapitāmahāḥ||
Anasuya said: If the three gods, moved by my devotion, are pleased, then may Hari, Rudra and the Grandsire themselves become my sons.
Verse 78 (skanda.5.258.78)
विष्णुरुवाच। पूज्या यत्पुत्रतां यान्ति न कदाचिच्छ्रुतं मया। शुभे ददामि पुत्रांस्ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमान्। रूपवन्तो गुणोपेतान्यज्विनश्च बहुश्रुतान्।
viṣṇuruvāca| pūjyā yatputratāṁ yānti na kadācicchrutaṁ mayā| śubhe dadāmi putrāṁste devatulyaparākramān| rūpavanto guṇopetānyajvinaśca bahuśrutān||
Vishnu said: That the venerable ones become sons - I have never heard of this before. O auspicious one, I grant you sons of god-like valour, handsome, virtuous, devoted to sacrifice, and greatly learned.
Verse 79 (skanda.5.258.79)
अनसूयोवाच। ईप्सितं तच्च दातव्यं यन्मया प्रार्थितं हरे। नान्यथा चैव कर्तव्या मम पुत्रैषणा तु या।
anasūyovāca| īpsitaṁ tacca dātavyaṁ yanmayā prārthitaṁ hare| nānyathā caiva kartavyā mama putraiṣaṇā tu yā||
Anasuya said: O Hari, that alone which I have desired and prayed for should be granted; my longing for sons should not be fulfilled otherwise.
Verse 80 (skanda.5.258.80)
विष्णुरुवाच। पूर्वं तु भृगुसंवादे गर्भवास उपार्जितः। तस्याहं चैव पारं तु नैव पश्यामि शोभने।
viṣṇuruvāca| pūrvaṁ tu bhṛgusaṁvāde garbhavāsa upārjitaḥ| tasyāhaṁ caiva pāraṁ tu naiva paśyāmi śobhane||
Vishnu said: Formerly, in the encounter with Bhrigu, a destiny of dwelling in the womb was incurred; O lovely one, I see no way beyond that.
Verse 81 (skanda.5.258.81)
स्मरमाणः पुरावृत्तं चिन्तयामि पुनःपुनः। एवं संचिन्त्य ते देवाः पितामहमहेश्वराः।
smaramāṇaḥ purāvṛttaṁ cintayāmi punaḥpunaḥ| evaṁ saṁcintya te devāḥ pitāmahamaheśvarāḥ||
Remembering that past event, I ponder it again and again. Thus reflecting, those gods - the Grandsire and Maheshvara -
Verse 82 (skanda.5.258.82)
अयोनिजा भविष्यामस्तव पुत्रा वरानने। योनिवासे महाप्राज्ञि देवा नैव व्रजन्ति च।
ayonijā bhaviṣyāmastava putrā varānane| yonivāse mahāprājñi devā naiva vrajanti ca||
- said: 'O fair-faced one, we shall become your sons without being born from a womb; O most wise one, gods do not enter into residence in a womb.'
Verse 83 (skanda.5.258.83)
सांनिध्यात्सङ्गमे देवि लोकानां तु वरप्रदाः। एरण्डी वैष्णवी माया प्रत्यक्षा त्वं भविष्यसि।
sāṁnidhyātsaṅgame devi lokānāṁ tu varapradāḥ| eraṇḍī vaiṣṇavī māyā pratyakṣā tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi||
O Devi, by our presence at this confluence we shall be granters of boons to the worlds; you shall become the manifest Vaishnavi Maya, Erandi.
Verse 84 (skanda.5.258.84)
त्रयो देवाः स्थिताः पाथ रेवाया उत्तरे तटे। वरप्राप्ता तु सा देवी गता माहेन्द्रपर्वतम्।
trayo devāḥ sthitāḥ pātha revāyā uttare taṭe| varaprāptā tu sā devī gatā māhendraparvatam||
O Partha, the three gods remained on the northern bank of the Reva. Having obtained the boon, that goddess-like woman went to Mount Mahendra.
Verse 85 (skanda.5.258.85)
क्षीणाङ्गी शुक्लदेहा च रूक्षकेशी सुदारुणा। कृतयज्ञोपवीता सा तपोनिष्ठा शुभेक्षणा।
kṣīṇāṅgī śukladehā ca rūkṣakeśī sudāruṇā| kṛtayajñopavītā sā taponiṣṭhā śubhekṣaṇā||
With wasted limbs, pale body, dishevelled hair, in fierce austerity, wearing the sacred thread, devoted to austerity, of auspicious glance -
Verse 86 (skanda.5.258.86)
शिलातलनिविष्टोऽसौ दृष्टः कान्तो महायशाः। हृष्टचित्तोऽभवद्देवि उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ साब्रवीत्।
śilātalaniviṣṭo'sau dṛṣṭaḥ kānto mahāyaśāḥ| hṛṣṭacitto'bhavaddevi uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha sābravīt||
- there she saw her beloved, of great fame, seated on a rock-slab. O Devi, glad at heart, she said, 'Rise, rise!'
Verse 87 (skanda.5.258.87)
अत्रिरुवाच। साधु साधु महाप्राज्ञे ह्यनसूये महाव्रते। अचिन्त्यं गालवादीनां वरं प्राप्तासि दुर्लभम्।
atriruvāca| sādhu sādhu mahāprājñe hyanasūye mahāvrate| acintyaṁ gālavādīnāṁ varaṁ prāptāsi durlabham||
Atri said: Well done, well done, O most wise Anasuya, great in vows! You have obtained an inconceivable boon, rare even for sages like Galava and others.
Verse 88 (skanda.5.258.88)
अनसूयोवाच। त्वत्प्रसादेन देवर्षे वरं प्राप्तास्मि दुर्लभम्। तेन देवाः प्रशंसन्ति सिद्धाश्च ऋषयोऽमलाः।
anasūyovāca| tvatprasādena devarṣe varaṁ prāptāsmi durlabham| tena devāḥ praśaṁsanti siddhāśca ṛṣayo'malāḥ||
Anasuya said: By your grace, O divine sage, I have obtained a rare boon; because of it the gods, siddhas, and pure sages praise me.
Verse 89 (skanda.5.258.89)
एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी हर्षेण महता युता। आलोकयेत्ततः कान्तं तेनापि शुभदर्शना।
evamuktā tu sā devī harṣeṇa mahatā yutā| ālokayettataḥ kāntaṁ tenāpi śubhadarśanā||
Thus addressed, that goddess-like woman, filled with great joy, then gazed upon her beloved; and he too beheld the auspicious-visaged one.
Verse 90 (skanda.5.258.90)
ईक्षणाच्चैव संजातं ललाटे मण्डलं शुभम्। नवयोजनसाहस्रं मण्डलं रश्मिभिर्वृतम्।
īkṣaṇāccaiva saṁjātaṁ lalāṭe maṇḍalaṁ śubham| navayojanasāhasraṁ maṇḍalaṁ raśmibhirvṛtam||
From that mutual gaze, an auspicious orb arose on his forehead - a disc nine thousand yojanas wide, surrounded by rays.
Verse 91 (skanda.5.258.91)
कदम्बगोलकाकारं त्रिगुणं परिमण्डलम्। तस्य मध्ये तु देवेशि पुरुषो दिव्यरूपधृक्।
kadambagolakākāraṁ triguṇaṁ parimaṇḍalam| tasya madhye tu deveśi puruṣo divyarūpadhṛk||
Round like a kadamba flower-ball, threefold in its circle. O queen of gods, in the midst of it was a person of divine form.
Verse 92 (skanda.5.258.92)
हेमवर्णोऽमृतमयः सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभः। आद्यः पुत्रोऽनसूयायाः स्वयं साक्षात्पितामहः।
hemavarṇo'mṛtamayaḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhaḥ| ādyaḥ putro'nasūyāyāḥ svayaṁ sākṣātpitāmahaḥ||
Golden-hued, made of nectar, radiant as a crore of suns - the first son of Anasuya, the Grandsire himself in person.
Verse 93 (skanda.5.258.93)
चन्द्रमा इति विख्यातः सोमरूपो नृपात्मज। इष्टापूर्ते च संपाति कलाषोडशकेन तु।
candramā iti vikhyātaḥ somarūpo nṛpātmaja| iṣṭāpūrte ca saṁpāti kalāṣoḍaśakena tu||
Known as Chandrama, of Soma-form, O prince - he pervades sacrificial and charitable works through his sixteen digits.
Verse 94 (skanda.5.258.94)
प्रतिपच्च द्वितीया च तृतीया च महेश्वरि। चतुर्थी पञ्चमी चैव अव्यया षोडशी कला।
pratipacca dvitīyā ca tṛtīyā ca maheśvari| caturthī pañcamī caiva avyayā ṣoḍaśī kalā||
O great goddess, pratipada, dvitiya, tritiya, chaturthi, panchami are his digits - and the sixteenth kala is imperishable.
Verse 95 (skanda.5.258.95)
चतुर्विधस्य लोकस्य सूक्ष्मो भूत्वा वरानने। आप्रीणाति जगत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्।
caturvidhasya lokasya sūkṣmo bhūtvā varānane| āprīṇāti jagatsarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram||
O fair-faced one, becoming subtle, he satisfies the fourfold creation, the entire world, the three worlds with all that moves and moves not.
Verse 96 (skanda.5.258.96)
सर्वे ते ह्युपजीवन्ति हुतं दत्तं शशिस्थितम्। वनस्पतिगते सोमे धनवांश्च वरानने।
sarve te hyupajīvanti hutaṁ dattaṁ śaśisthitam| vanaspatigate some dhanavāṁśca varānane||
O fair one, all beings live upon what is offered in oblation and gift, which resides in the moon. When Soma enters the plants, one becomes wealthy through them.
Verse 97 (skanda.5.258.97)
भुञ्जन् परगृहे मूढो ददेदब्दकृतं शुभम्। वनस्पतिगते सोमे यस्तु छिन्द्याद्वनस्पतीन्। तेन पापेन देवेशि नरा यान्ति यमालयम्।
bhuñjan paragṛhe mūḍho dadedabdakṛtaṁ śubham| vanaspatigate some yastu chindyādvanaspatīn| tena pāpena deveśi narā yānti yamālayam||
A fool who eats in another's house should give what is auspiciously due for the year. When Soma is present in the plants, whoever cuts down trees - by that sin, O queen of gods, men go to the abode of Yama.
Verse 98 (skanda.5.258.98)
वनस्पतिगते सोमे मैथुनं यो निषेवते। ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं लभते नात्र संशयः।
vanaspatigate some maithunaṁ yo niṣevate| brahmahatyāsamaṁ pāpaṁ labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ||
Whoever engages in intercourse when Soma is in the plants incurs sin equal to brahmin-slaying - there is no doubt of this.
Verse 99 (skanda.5.258.99)
वनस्पतिगते सोमे मन्थानं योऽधिवाहयेत्। गावस्तस्य प्रणश्यन्ति याश्च वै पूर्वसंचिताः।
vanaspatigate some manthānaṁ yo'dhivāhayet| gāvastasya praṇaśyanti yāśca vai pūrvasaṁcitāḥ||
Whoever churns milk when Soma is in the plants - his cows perish, even those previously accumulated.
Verse 100 (skanda.5.258.100)
वनस्पतिगते सोमे ह्यध्वानं योऽधिगच्छति। भवन्ति पितरस्तस्य तं मासं रेणुभोजनाः।
vanaspatigate some hyadhvānaṁ yo'dhigacchati| bhavanti pitarastasya taṁ māsaṁ reṇubhojanāḥ||
Whoever undertakes a journey when Soma is in the plants - for that month his ancestors are reduced to eating dust.
Verse 101 (skanda.5.258.101)
अमावस्यां महादेवि यस्तु श्राद्धप्रदो भवेत्। अब्दमेकं विशालाक्षि तृप्तास्तत्पितरो ध्रुवम्।
amāvasyāṁ mahādevi yastu śrāddhaprado bhavet| abdamekaṁ viśālākṣi tṛptāstatpitaro dhruvam||
O great Devi, whoever performs shraddha on the new moon - O wide-eyed one, his ancestors are certainly satisfied for a whole year.
Verse 102 (skanda.5.258.102)
हिरण्यं रजतं वस्त्रं यो ददाति द्विजातिषु। सर्वं लक्षगुणं देवि लभते नात्र संशयः।
hiraṇyaṁ rajataṁ vastraṁ yo dadāti dvijātiṣu| sarvaṁ lakṣaguṇaṁ devi labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ||
Whoever gives gold, silver, or cloth to the twice-born obtains it multiplied a hundred-thousand-fold, O Devi - there is no doubt.
Verse 103 (skanda.5.258.103)
एवं गुणविशिष्टोऽसौ सोमरूपः प्रजापतिः। संजातः प्रथमः पुत्रो ह्यनसूयासुनन्दनः।
evaṁ guṇaviśiṣṭo'sau somarūpaḥ prajāpatiḥ| saṁjātaḥ prathamaḥ putro hyanasūyāsunandanaḥ||
Thus this Prajapati of Soma-form, endowed with such qualities, was born as the first son, the delight of Anasuya.
Verse 104 (skanda.5.258.104)
द्वितीयस्तु महादेवि दुर्वासा नाम नामतः। सृष्टिसंहारकर्ता च स्वयं साक्षान्महेश्वरः।
dvitīyastu mahādevi durvāsā nāma nāmataḥ| sṛṣṭisaṁhārakartā ca svayaṁ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ||
O great Devi, the second, named Durvasa, the doer of creation and dissolution, was Maheshvara himself in person.
Verse 105 (skanda.5.258.105)
ऋषिमध्यगतो देवि तपस्तपति दुष्करम्। सोऽपि रुद्रत्वमायाति सम्प्राप्ते भूतविप्लवे।
ṛṣimadhyagato devi tapastapati duṣkaram| so'pi rudratvamāyāti samprāpte bhūtaviplave||
O Devi, dwelling among the sages, he performs difficult austerity; he too assumes the nature of Rudra when the dissolution of beings arrives.
Verse 106 (skanda.5.258.106)
इन्द्रोऽपि शप्तस्तेनैव दुर्वाससा वरानने। द्वितीयस्य तु पुत्रस्य सम्भवः कथितो मया।
indro'pi śaptastenaiva durvāsasā varānane| dvitīyasya tu putrasya sambhavaḥ kathito mayā||
O fair-faced one, even Indra was cursed by that same Durvasa. Thus the origin of the second son has been told by me.
Verse 107 (skanda.5.258.107)
दत्तात्रेयस्वरूपेण भगवान्मधुसूदनः। जगद्व्यापी जगन्नाथः स्वयं साक्षाज्जनार्दनः।
dattātreyasvarūpeṇa bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ| jagadvyāpī jagannāthaḥ svayaṁ sākṣājjanārdanaḥ||
In the form of Dattatreya, the Lord Madhusudana, pervader of the universe, Lord of the world, was Janardana himself in person.
Verse 108 (skanda.5.258.108)
एते देवास्त्रयः पुत्रा अनसूयाया महेश्वरि। वरदानेन ते देवा ह्यवतीर्णा महीतले।
ete devāstrayaḥ putrā anasūyāyā maheśvari| varadānena te devā hyavatīrṇā mahītale||
O great goddess, these three gods were the sons of Anasuya; by the gift of their own boon, the gods thus descended upon the earth.
Verse 109 (skanda.5.258.109)
पुत्रप्राप्तिकरं तीर्थं रेवायाश्चोत्तरे तटे। अनसूयाकृतं पार्थ सर्वपापक्षयं परम्।
putraprāptikaraṁ tīrthaṁ revāyāścottare taṭe| anasūyākṛtaṁ pārtha sarvapāpakṣayaṁ param||
O Partha, this is the tirtha that grants sons, on the northern bank of the Reva, made famous by Anasuya, supreme destroyer of all sin.
Verse 110 (skanda.5.258.110)
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेऽस्मिन्नर्मदायां पुरातनम्। भ्रूणहत्या गता तत्र ब्राह्मणस्य नराधिप।
śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| āścaryabhūtaṁ loke'sminnarmadāyāṁ purātanam| bhrūṇahatyā gatā tatra brāhmaṇasya narādhipa||
Shri Markandeya said: There is another wondrous, ancient event in this world, on the Narmada, O king, about a brahmin's sin of feticide that was destroyed there.
Verse 111 (skanda.5.258.111)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच। इतिहासं द्विजश्रेष्ठ कथयस्व ममानघ। सर्वपापहरं लोके दुःखार्तस्य च कथ्यताम्।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| itihāsaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha kathayasva mamānagha| sarvapāpaharaṁ loke duḥkhārtasya ca kathyatām||
Yudhishthira said: O sinless, best of the twice-born, tell me this history - that which removes all sin in the world and is told for one afflicted with sorrow.
Verse 112 (skanda.5.258.112)
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। सुवर्णशिलके ग्रामे गौतमान्वयसम्भवः। कृषीवलो महादेवि भार्यापुत्रसमन्वितः।
śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| suvarṇaśilake grāme gautamānvayasambhavaḥ| kṛṣīvalo mahādevi bhāryāputrasamanvitaḥ||
Shri Markandeya said: In the village of Suvarnashilaka, born in the lineage of Gautama, there lived a farmer, together with his wife and son.
Verse 113 (skanda.5.258.113)
वसते तत्र गोविन्दः संजातो विपुले कुले। पुत्रदारसमोपेतो गृहक्षेत्ररतः सदा।
vasate tatra govindaḥ saṁjāto vipule kule| putradārasamopeto gṛhakṣetrarataḥ sadā||
There dwelt Govinda, born in a great family, accompanied by wife and son, ever devoted to his house and field.
Verse 114 (skanda.5.258.114)
शकटं पूरयित्वा तु काष्ठानामगमद्गुहम्। प्रक्षिप्तानि च काष्ठानि ह्येकाकी क्षुधयान्वितः।
śakaṭaṁ pūrayitvā tu kāṣṭhānāmagamadguham| prakṣiptāni ca kāṣṭhāni hyekākī kṣudhayānvitaḥ||
Having filled a cart with wood, he went into the forest thicket; the wood pieces were loaded, and he, alone and afflicted by hunger -
Verse 115 (skanda.5.258.115)
रिङ्गमाणस्तदा पुत्रः पितुः शब्दात्समागतः। न दृष्टस्तेन वै पुत्रः काष्ठैः संछादितोऽवशः।
riṅgamāṇastadā putraḥ pituḥ śabdātsamāgataḥ| na dṛṣṭastena vai putraḥ kāṣṭhaiḥ saṁchādito'vaśaḥ||
- then his crawling child came near, drawn by his father's voice; but the father did not see the child, who lay helpless, covered by the wood.
Verse 116 (skanda.5.258.116)
आगतस्त्वरितो गेहे पिपासार्तो नराधिप। शकटं मोच्य तद्द्वारि सवृषं रज्जुसंयुतम्।
āgatastvarito gehe pipāsārto narādhipa| śakaṭaṁ mocya taddvāri savṛṣaṁ rajjusaṁyutam||
O king, hastily coming home, afflicted with thirst, he unyoked the cart with its oxen and ropes at the door.
Verse 117 (skanda.5.258.117)
भार्या तस्यैव या दृष्टा चित्तज्ञा वशवर्तिनी। दृष्ट्वा निपातितं पुत्रं काष्ठैर्निर्भिन्नमस्तकम्।
bhāryā tasyaiva yā dṛṣṭā cittajñā vaśavartinī| dṛṣṭvā nipātitaṁ putraṁ kāṣṭhairnirbhinnamastakam||
His wife, who read his heart and was devoted to him - saw her son fallen, his head shattered by the logs.
Verse 118 (skanda.5.258.118)
अजल्पमानाकरुणं निक्षिप्तं ज्ञोलिकां शिशुम्। शुश्रूषणे रता साध्वी प्रियस्य च नराधिप।
ajalpamānākaruṇaṁ nikṣiptaṁ jñolikāṁ śiśum| śuśrūṣaṇe ratā sādhvī priyasya ca narādhipa||
That virtuous woman, without speaking, without showing her grief, placed the child in a sling-cradle; O king, she remained devoted to the service of her beloved, as though nothing had happened.
Verse 119 (skanda.5.258.119)
ततः स्नानादिकं कृत्वा भोजनाच्छयनं शुभम्। पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठा ह्युत्थापयति शासनैः।
tataḥ snānādikaṁ kṛtvā bhojanācchayanaṁ śubham| putraṁ putravatāṁ śreṣṭhā hyutthāpayati śāsanaiḥ||
Then, having bathed and eaten, at the auspicious hour of sleep, as though still the best among mothers of sons, she went to wake the child with her usual gentle commands.
Verse 120 (skanda.5.258.120)
यदा च नोत्थितः सुप्तः पुत्रः पञ्चत्वमागतः। तदा सा दीनवदना रुरोद च मुमोह च।
yadā ca notthitaḥ suptaḥ putraḥ pañcatvamāgataḥ| tadā sā dīnavadanā ruroda ca mumoha ca||
But when the sleeping son did not rise - having gone to the five elements - then, with a wretched face, she wept and fainted.
Verse 121 (skanda.5.258.121)
तच्छ्रुत्वा रुदितं शब्दं गोविन्दस्त्रस्तमानसः। किमेतदिति चोक्त्वा तु पतितो धरणीतले।
tacchrutvā ruditaṁ śabdaṁ govindastrastamānasaḥ| kimetaditi coktvā tu patito dharaṇītale||
Hearing that sound of weeping, Govinda, terrified at heart, saying 'What is this?', fell upon the ground.
Verse 122 (skanda.5.258.122)
द्वावेतौ मुक्तकेशौ तु भूमौ निपतितौ नृप। विलेपाते च राजेन्द्र निःश्वासोच्छ्वासितेन च।
dvāvetau muktakeśau tu bhūmau nipatitau nṛpa| vilepāte ca rājendra niḥśvāsocchvāsitena ca||
O king, the two, with hair let loose, lay fallen upon the ground; O lord of kings, they lamented with sighs and heavy breathing.
Verse 123 (skanda.5.258.123)
कं पश्ये प्राङ्गणे पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा क्रीडन्तमातुरम्। संधारयिष्ये हृदयं स्फुटितं तव कारणे।
kaṁ paśye prāṅgaṇe putraṁ dṛṣṭvā krīḍantamāturam| saṁdhārayiṣye hṛdayaṁ sphuṭitaṁ tava kāraṇe||
'Whom shall I see playing eagerly in the courtyard now? How shall I hold together my heart, shattered because of you?'
Verse 124 (skanda.5.258.124)
त्वज्जन्मान्तं यशो नित्यमक्षयां कुलसन्ततिम्। दृष्ट्वा किमनृणीभूतो यास्यामि परमां गतिम्।
tvajjanmāntaṁ yaśo nityamakṣayāṁ kulasantatim| dṛṣṭvā kimanṛṇībhūto yāsyāmi paramāṁ gatim||
'Through your birth, I hoped for eternal fame and an unbroken family lineage - how, seeing this, shall I become free of debt and attain the supreme goal?'
Verse 125 (skanda.5.258.125)
मम वृद्धस्य दीनस्य गतिस्त्वं किल पुत्रक। एते मनोरथाः सर्वे चिन्तिता विफला गताः।
mama vṛddhasya dīnasya gatistvaṁ kila putraka| ete manorathāḥ sarve cintitā viphalā gatāḥ||
'O my son, you indeed were the refuge of me, old and wretched - all these desires I cherished have gone in vain.'
Verse 126 (skanda.5.258.126)
इमां तु विकलां दीनां विहीनां सुतबान्धवैः। रुदन्तीं पतितां पाहि मातरं धरणीतले।
imāṁ tu vikalāṁ dīnāṁ vihīnāṁ sutabāndhavaiḥ| rudantīṁ patitāṁ pāhi mātaraṁ dharaṇītale||
'Protect this your mother, distressed, wretched, bereft of son and kinsmen, weeping, fallen upon the earth.'
Verse 127 (skanda.5.258.127)
पुन्नाम्नो नरकाद्यस्मात्पितरं त्रायते सुतः। तेन पुत्र इति प्रोक्तः स्वयमेव स्वयम्भुवा।
punnāmno narakādyasmātpitaraṁ trāyate sutaḥ| tena putra iti proktaḥ svayameva svayambhuvā||
'Since a son saves his father from the hell called Put, he is therefore called putra, so declared by Svayambhu himself.'
Verse 128 (skanda.5.258.128)
अपुत्रस्य गृहं शून्यं दिशः शून्या ह्यबान्धवाः। मूर्खस्य हृदयं शून्यं सर्वशून्यं दरिद्रता।
aputrasya gṛhaṁ śūnyaṁ diśaḥ śūnyā hyabāndhavāḥ| mūrkhasya hṛdayaṁ śūnyaṁ sarvaśūnyaṁ daridratā||
'For the sonless, the house is empty; for the friendless, the directions are empty; for the fool, the heart is empty; all is empty in poverty.'
Verse 129 (skanda.5.258.129)
मृषायं वदते लोकश्चन्दनं किल शीतलम्। पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गश्चन्दनादपि शीतलः।
mṛṣāyaṁ vadate lokaścandanaṁ kila śītalam| putragātrapariṣvaṅgaścandanādapi śītalaḥ||
'Falsely does the world say that sandalwood is cool - the embrace of a son's body is cooler even than sandalwood.'
Verse 130 (skanda.5.258.130)
श्मश्रुग्रहणक्रीडन्तं धूलिधूसरिताननम्। पुण्यहीना न पश्यन्ति निजोत्सङ्गसमास्थितम्।
śmaśrugrahaṇakrīḍantaṁ dhūlidhūsaritānanam| puṇyahīnā na paśyanti nijotsaṅgasamāsthitam||
'Those without merit never behold a son playing, grasping at the father's beard, his face dusty with dirt, seated in one's own lap.'
Verse 131 (skanda.5.258.131)
दिगम्बरं गतव्रीडं जटिलं धूलिधूसरम्। पुण्यहीना न पश्यन्ति गङ्गाधरमिवात्मजम्।
digambaraṁ gatavrīḍaṁ jaṭilaṁ dhūlidhūsaram| puṇyahīnā na paśyanti gaṅgādharamivātmajam||
'Naked, unashamed, tousled-haired, dust-covered - those without merit never behold their own child, as endearing as Gangadhara himself.'
Verse 132 (skanda.5.258.132)
वीणावाद्यस्वरो लोके सुस्वरः श्रूयते किल। रुदितं बालकस्यैव तस्मादाह्लादकारकम्।
vīṇāvādyasvaro loke susvaraḥ śrūyate kila| ruditaṁ bālakasyaiva tasmādāhlādakārakam||
'In the world, the sound of the vina is said to be sweet indeed - but even the crying of a child is more delightful than that.'
Verse 133 (skanda.5.258.133)
मृगपक्षिषु काकेषु पशूनां स्वरयोनिषु। पुत्रं तेषु समस्तेषु वल्लभं ब्रुवते बुधाः।
mṛgapakṣiṣu kākeṣu paśūnāṁ svarayoniṣu| putraṁ teṣu samasteṣu vallabhaṁ bruvate budhāḥ||
'Among deer, birds, crows, and beasts born of instinct - among all these too, the wise say the offspring is most beloved.'
Verse 134 (skanda.5.258.134)
मत्स्याश्वप्रकराश्चैव कूर्मग्राहादयोऽपि वा। पुत्रोत्पत्तौ च हृष्यन्ति विपत्तौ यान्ति दुःखिताम्।
matsyāśvaprakarāścaiva kūrmagrāhādayo'pi vā| putrotpattau ca hṛṣyanti vipattau yānti duḥkhitām||
'Fish, horses, and their kind, as well as turtles, crocodiles, and others - they rejoice at the birth of offspring, and grieve at its loss.'
Verse 135 (skanda.5.258.135)
देवगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च हृष्यन्ते पुत्रजन्मनि। पञ्चत्वे तेऽपि शोचन्ति मन्दभाग्योऽस्मि पुत्रक।
devagandharvayakṣāśca hṛṣyante putrajanmani| pañcatve te'pi śocanti mandabhāgyo'smi putraka||
'Gods, gandharvas and yakshas too rejoice at the birth of a son, and grieve at his death. O son, unfortunate am I!'
Verse 136 (skanda.5.258.136)
ऋषिमेलापकं चक्रे पुत्रार्थे राघवो नृप। इन्द्रस्थाने स्थितस्तस्य प्रोक्षते ह्यासनं यतः।
ṛṣimelāpakaṁ cakre putrārthe rāghavo nṛpa| indrasthāne sthitastasya prokṣate hyāsanaṁ yataḥ||
'O king, Raghava gathered an assembly of sages for the sake of a son; on his behalf, one seated in Indra's place consecrated the sacrificial seat.'
Verse 137 (skanda.5.258.137)
स्वर्गवासं सुताद्बाह्यं विद्यते न तु पाण्डव। चक्रे दशरथस्तस्मात्पुत्रार्थं यज्ञमुत्तमम्।
svargavāsaṁ sutādbāhyaṁ vidyate na tu pāṇḍava| cakre daśarathastasmātputrārthaṁ yajñamuttamam||
'O Pandava, there is no dwelling in heaven apart from having a son; therefore Dasharatha performed a supreme sacrifice for a son.'
Verse 138 (skanda.5.258.138)
रामो लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ भरतस्तत्र सम्भवात्। कार्तवीर्यो जितो येन रामेणामिततेजसा।
rāmo lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau bharatastatra sambhavāt| kārtavīryo jito yena rāmeṇāmitatejasā||
'From that sacrifice were born Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna and Bharata; by that Rama of boundless energy, Kartavirya was conquered.'
Verse 139 (skanda.5.258.139)
स रामो रामचन्द्रेण अष्टवर्षेण निर्जितः। एकाकिना हतो वाली प्लवगः शत्रुदुर्जयः।
sa rāmo rāmacandreṇa aṣṭavarṣeṇa nirjitaḥ| ekākinā hato vālī plavagaḥ śatrudurjayaḥ||
'That Rama was defeated by Ramachandra at eight years of age; and alone he slew Vali, the monkey-chief, unconquerable by foes.'
Verse 140 (skanda.5.258.140)
रावणो ब्रह्मपुत्रो यस्त्रैलोक्यं यस्य शङ्कते। हतः स रामचन्द्रेण सपुत्रः सहबान्धवः।
rāvaṇo brahmaputro yastrailokyaṁ yasya śaṅkate| hataḥ sa rāmacandreṇa saputraḥ sahabāndhavaḥ||
'Ravana, descendant of Brahma, of whom the three worlds were afraid, was slain by Ramachandra, together with his sons and kinsmen.'
Verse 141 (skanda.5.258.141)
एवं पुत्रं विना सौख्यं मर्त्यलोके न विद्यते। वंशार्थे मैथुनं यस्य स्वर्गार्थे यस्य भारती।
evaṁ putraṁ vinā saukhyaṁ martyaloke na vidyate| vaṁśārthe maithunaṁ yasya svargārthe yasya bhāratī||
'Thus, without a son, there is no happiness in the mortal world. Union is for the sake of lineage, and learning is for the sake of heaven.'
Verse 142 (skanda.5.258.142)
मृष्टान्नं ब्राह्मणस्यार्थे स्वर्गे वासं तु यान्ति ते। ब्रह्महत्याश्वमेधाभ्यां न परं पापपुण्ययोः।
mṛṣṭānnaṁ brāhmaṇasyārthe svarge vāsaṁ tu yānti te| brahmahatyāśvamedhābhyāṁ na paraṁ pāpapuṇyayoḥ||
'Delicious food is for the sake of brahmins; by giving it one attains dwelling in heaven. There is nothing greater than brahmin-slaying and the horse-sacrifice among sins and merits.'
Verse 143 (skanda.5.258.143)
पुत्रोत्पत्तिविपत्तिभ्यां न परं सुखदुःखयोः। किं ब्रवीमीति भो वत्स न तु सौख्यं सुतं विना।
putrotpattivipattibhyāṁ na paraṁ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ| kiṁ bravīmīti bho vatsa na tu saukhyaṁ sutaṁ vinā||
'Between the birth and the loss of a son there is nothing greater in joy and sorrow. What more shall I say, O child? There is simply no happiness without a son.'
Verse 144 (skanda.5.258.144)
एवं बहुविधं दुःखं प्रलपित्वा पुनःपुनः। जनैश्चाश्वासितो विप्रो बालं गृह्य बहिर्गतः।
evaṁ bahuvidhaṁ duḥkhaṁ pralapitvā punaḥpunaḥ| janaiścāśvāsito vipro bālaṁ gṛhya bahirgataḥ||
Having thus lamented in many ways again and again, the brahmin, consoled by the people, took up the child and went outside.
Verse 145 (skanda.5.258.145)
ततः संस्कृत्य तं बालं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। समवेतौ तु दुःखार्तावागतौ स्वगृहं पुनः।
tataḥ saṁskṛtya taṁ bālaṁ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā| samavetau tu duḥkhārtāvāgatau svagṛhaṁ punaḥ||
Then, having performed the funeral rites for the child according to the prescribed ritual, the two, afflicted with grief, came together back to their home.
Verse 146 (skanda.5.258.146)
एवं गृहागते विप्रे रात्रिर्जाता युधिष्ठिर। भूमौ प्रसुप्तो गोविन्दः पुत्रशोकेन पीडितः।
evaṁ gṛhāgate vipre rātrirjātā yudhiṣṭhira| bhūmau prasupto govindaḥ putraśokena pīḍitaḥ||
O Yudhishthira, thus when the brahmin returned home, night fell; Govinda, tormented by grief for his son, lay asleep on the ground.
Verse 147 (skanda.5.258.147)
यावन्निरीक्षते भार्या भर्तारं दुःखपीडितम्। कृमिराशिगतं सर्वं गोविन्दं समपश्यत।
yāvannirīkṣate bhāryā bhartāraṁ duḥkhapīḍitam| kṛmirāśigataṁ sarvaṁ govindaṁ samapaśyata||
When his wife looked at her grief-stricken husband, she saw Govinda's whole body covered with a mass of worms.
Verse 148 (skanda.5.258.148)
दुःखाद्दुःखतरे मग्ना दृष्ट्वा तं पातकान्वितम्। एवं दुःखनिमग्नायाः शर्वरी विगता तदा।
duḥkhādduḥkhatare magnā dṛṣṭvā taṁ pātakānvitam| evaṁ duḥkhanimagnāyāḥ śarvarī vigatā tadā||
Seeing him thus afflicted, marked by sin, she sank from sorrow into deeper sorrow; and thus, for her sunk in grief, that night passed.
Verse 149 (skanda.5.258.149)
पशुपालस्तु महिषीमुक्त्वारण्येऽगमद्गृहात्। अरण्ये महिषीः सर्वा रक्षयित्वा गृहागतः।
paśupālastu mahiṣīmuktvāraṇye'gamadgṛhāt| araṇye mahiṣīḥ sarvā rakṣayitvā gṛhāgataḥ||
The cowherd, having released the buffaloes, went to the forest from home; having guarded all the buffaloes in the forest, he returned home.
Verse 150 (skanda.5.258.150)
विज्ञप्तः पशुपालेन गोविन्दो ब्राह्मणोत्तमः। यावद्भोक्ष्याम्यहं स्वामिन्महिषीस्त्वं च रक्षसे।
vijñaptaḥ paśupālena govindo brāhmaṇottamaḥ| yāvadbhokṣyāmyahaṁ svāminmahiṣīstvaṁ ca rakṣase||
The cowherd requested Govinda, the excellent brahmin: 'While I eat, my lord, would you watch the buffaloes?'
Verse 151 (skanda.5.258.151)
ततः स त्वरितो विप्रो जगाम महिषीः प्रति। न तत्र महिषीः पश्येत्पश्चात्क्षेत्राभिसम्मुखम्।
tataḥ sa tvarito vipro jagāma mahiṣīḥ prati| na tatra mahiṣīḥ paśyetpaścātkṣetrābhisammukham||
Then the brahmin quickly went toward the buffaloes; not seeing them there, he then turned toward the field.
Verse 152 (skanda.5.258.152)
धावमानश्च विप्रस्तु एरण्डीसङ्गमे गतः। ततः प्रविष्टस्तु जले रेवैरण्ड्योस्तु सङ्गमे।
dhāvamānaśca viprastu eraṇḍīsaṅgame gataḥ| tataḥ praviṣṭastu jale revairaṇḍyostu saṅgame||
Running, the brahmin came to the confluence of the Eranda; then he entered the water at the confluence of the Reva and Eranda.
Verse 153 (skanda.5.258.153)
तज्जलं पीतमात्रं तु त्वरया चातितर्षितः। अकामात्सलिलं पीत्वा प्रक्षाल्य नयने शुभे।
tajjalaṁ pītamātraṁ tu tvarayā cātitarṣitaḥ| akāmātsalilaṁ pītvā prakṣālya nayane śubhe||
Exceedingly thirsty from haste, he merely drank that water, unintentionally and without ritual desire, and washed his auspicious eyes.
Verse 154 (skanda.5.258.154)
आजगाम ततः पश्चाद्भवनं दिवसक्षये। भुक्त्वा दुःखान्वितो रात्रौ गोविन्दः शयनं ययौ।
ājagāma tataḥ paścādbhavanaṁ divasakṣaye| bhuktvā duḥkhānvito rātrau govindaḥ śayanaṁ yayau||
Then afterward, at day's end, he came home; having eaten, sorrowful, Govinda went to his bed at night.
Verse 155 (skanda.5.258.155)
निद्राभिभूतः शोकेन श्रमेणैव तु खेदितः। पुनस्तच्चार्धरात्रे तु तस्य भार्या युधिष्ठिर।
nidrābhibhūtaḥ śokena śrameṇaiva tu kheditaḥ| punastaccārdharātre tu tasya bhāryā yudhiṣṭhira||
Overcome by sleep, wearied by grief and exertion, he lay asleep. Again then, at midnight, O Yudhishthira, his wife -
Verse 156 (skanda.5.258.156)
कृमिभिर्वेष्टितं गान्त्रं क्वचित्पश्यत्यवेष्टितम्। पुनः सा विस्मयाविष्टा तस्य भार्या गुणान्विता। उवाच दुष्कृतं तस्य साध्वसाविष्टचेतसा।
kṛmibhirveṣṭitaṁ gāntraṁ kvacitpaśyatyaveṣṭitam| punaḥ sā vismayāviṣṭā tasya bhāryā guṇānvitā| uvāca duṣkṛtaṁ tasya sādhvasāviṣṭacetasā||
- saw his body in places covered with worms, in places free of them. Again that virtuous wife, filled with astonishment, with a heart seized by fear, spoke of his misdeed.
Verse 157 (skanda.5.258.157)
भार्योवाच। अतीते पञ्चमे चाह्नि त्विन्धनं क्षिपतस्तु ते। गृहपश्चाद्गतो बालो ह्यज्ञानाद्घातितस्त्वया।
bhāryovāca| atīte pañcame cāhni tvindhanaṁ kṣipatastu te| gṛhapaścādgato bālo hyajñānādghātitastvayā||
The wife said: Five days ago, when you were unloading the firewood, the child had gone behind the house and was unknowingly killed by you.
Verse 158 (skanda.5.258.158)
मया तत्पातकं घोरं रहस्यं न प्रकाशितम्। तेन प्रच्छन्नपापेन दह्यमाना दिवानिशम्।
mayā tatpātakaṁ ghoraṁ rahasyaṁ na prakāśitam| tena pracchannapāpena dahyamānā divāniśam||
I did not reveal that terrible sin as a secret; by that hidden sin, I have been burning day and night.
Verse 159 (skanda.5.258.159)
न सुखं तव गात्रस्य पश्यामि न हि चात्मनः। निद्रा मम शमं याता रतिश्चैव त्वया सह।
na sukhaṁ tava gātrasya paśyāmi na hi cātmanaḥ| nidrā mama śamaṁ yātā ratiścaiva tvayā saha||
I have seen no happiness for your body, nor for myself; my sleep has gone away, and so has my union with you.
Verse 160 (skanda.5.258.160)
श्रूयते मानवे शास्त्रे श्लोको गीतो महर्षिभिः। स्मृत्वा स्मृत्वा तु तं चित्ते परितापो न शाम्यति।
śrūyate mānave śāstre śloko gīto maharṣibhiḥ| smṛtvā smṛtvā tu taṁ citte paritāpo na śāmyati||
In the Manava-shastra, a verse sung by the great sages is heard: remembering it again and again, the anguish in the heart does not subside.
Verse 161 (skanda.5.258.161)
कीर्तनान्नश्यते धर्मो वर्धतेऽसौ निगूहनात्। इह लोके परे चैव पापस्याप्येवमेव च।
kīrtanānnaśyate dharmo vardhate'sau nigūhanāt| iha loke pare caiva pāpasyāpyevameva ca||
By proclaiming it, merit is diminished, and it grows by concealment - in this world and the next, the same law holds also for sin.
Verse 162 (skanda.5.258.162)
एवं संचित्यमानाहं स्थिता रात्रौ भयातुरा। कृमिराशिगतं त्वां हि कस्याहं कथयामि किम्।
evaṁ saṁcityamānāhaṁ sthitā rātrau bhayāturā| kṛmirāśigataṁ tvāṁ hi kasyāhaṁ kathayāmi kim||
Thus reflecting, I have remained through the nights afflicted with fear; to whom, and what, should I tell of you being covered with worms?
Verse 163 (skanda.5.258.163)
पुनस्त्वं चाद्य मे दृष्टो भ्रूणहत्याकृमिश्रितः। क्वचिद्भिन्दन्ति ते गात्रं क्वचिन्नष्टाः समन्ततः।
punastvaṁ cādya me dṛṣṭo bhrūṇahatyākṛmiśritaḥ| kvacidbhindanti te gātraṁ kvacinnaṣṭāḥ samantataḥ||
And again today I have seen you infested with the worms of feticide's sin - in places they gnaw your body, in places they have vanished entirely.
Verse 164 (skanda.5.258.164)
एतत्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य विमृशामि पुनःपुनः। न जाने कारणं किंचित्पृच्छन्त्याः कथयस्व मे।
etatsaṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya vimṛśāmi punaḥpunaḥ| na jāne kāraṇaṁ kiṁcitpṛcchantyāḥ kathayasva me||
Remembering this again and again, I ponder repeatedly; I know no reason for it - tell me, as I ask.
Verse 165 (skanda.5.258.165)
तडागं वा सरिद्वापि तीर्थं वा देवतार्चनम्। यं गतोऽसि प्रभावोऽयं तस्य नान्यस्य मे स्थितम्।
taḍāgaṁ vā saridvāpi tīrthaṁ vā devatārcanam| yaṁ gato'si prabhāvo'yaṁ tasya nānyasya me sthitam||
Whether it was a pond, a river, a tirtha, or worship of a deity - wherever you went, this must be its effect; I am certain it is due to nothing else.
Verse 166 (skanda.5.258.166)
एवमुक्तस्तु विप्रोऽसौ कथयामास भारत। भार्याया यद्दिवा वृत्तं शङ्कमानो नृपोत्तम।
evamuktastu vipro'sau kathayāmāsa bhārata| bhāryāyā yaddivā vṛttaṁ śaṅkamāno nṛpottama||
O Bharata, O best of kings, thus addressed, the brahmin, himself uncertain, told his wife what had happened that day.
Verse 167 (skanda.5.258.167)
अद्याहं महिषीसार्थं एरण्डीसङ्गमं गतः। नाभिमात्रे जले गत्वा पीतवान्सलिलं बहु।
adyāhaṁ mahiṣīsārthaṁ eraṇḍīsaṅgamaṁ gataḥ| nābhimātre jale gatvā pītavānsalilaṁ bahu||
'Today, in search of the buffaloes, I went to the confluence of the Eranda; going into water up to my navel, I drank much of that water.'
Verse 168 (skanda.5.258.168)
नान्यत्तीर्थं विजानामि सरितं सर एव वा। सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं कथितं तव भामिनि।
nānyattīrthaṁ vijānāmi saritaṁ sara eva vā| satyaṁ satyaṁ punaḥ satyaṁ kathitaṁ tava bhāmini||
'I know of no other tirtha, river or lake. Truly, truly, again truly, O lady, I have told you.'
Verse 169 (skanda.5.258.169)
एवं ज्ञात्वा तु सा सर्वमुपवासकृतक्षणा। सपत्नीको गतस्तत्र सङ्गमे वरवर्णिनि।
evaṁ jñātvā tu sā sarvamupavāsakṛtakṣaṇā| sapatnīko gatastatra saṅgame varavarṇini||
Having thus learned everything, she resolved to fast; and, O fair one, with her husband, she went there, to the confluence.
Verse 170 (skanda.5.258.170)
स्नात्वा तत्र जले रम्ये नत्वा देवं तु भास्करम्। स्नापयामास देवेशं शङ्करं चोमया सह।
snātvā tatra jale ramye natvā devaṁ tu bhāskaram| snāpayāmāsa deveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ comayā saha||
Bathing there in the lovely water, bowing to the god Bhaskara, they bathed the Lord Shankara together with Uma.
Verse 171 (skanda.5.258.171)
पञ्चगव्यघृतक्षीरैर्दधिक्षौद्रघृतैर्जलैः। गन्धमाल्यादिधूपैश्च नैवेद्यैश्च सुशोभनैः।
pañcagavyaghṛtakṣīrairdadhikṣaudraghṛtairjalaiḥ| gandhamālyādidhūpaiśca naivedyaiśca suśobhanaiḥ||
With the five products of the cow, with milk, curd, honey, ghee, and water, with fragrance, garlands, incense, and beautiful food-offerings -
Verse 172 (skanda.5.258.172)
पूज्य त्रयीमयं लिङ्गं देवीं कात्यायनीं शुभाम्। रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा पत्यासि पतिव्रता।
pūjya trayīmayaṁ liṅgaṁ devīṁ kātyāyanīṁ śubhām| rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā patyāsi pativratā||
- worshipping the Linga embodying the three Vedas, and the auspicious goddess Katyayani, she, the devoted wife, kept vigil through the night with her husband.
Verse 173 (skanda.5.258.173)
ततः प्रभाते विमले द्विजान्सम्पूज्य यत्नतः। गोदानेन हिरण्येन वस्त्रेणान्नेन भारत।
tataḥ prabhāte vimale dvijānsampūjya yatnataḥ| godānena hiraṇyena vastreṇānnena bhārata||
O Bharata, then at pure daybreak, having worshipped the brahmins with effort, with gift of cows, gold, cloth, and food -
Verse 174 (skanda.5.258.174)
गोविन्दः पूजयामास स्वशक्त्या ब्राह्मणाञ्छुभान्। मुक्तपापो गृहायातः स्वभार्यासहितो नृप।
govindaḥ pūjayāmāsa svaśaktyā brāhmaṇāñchubhān| muktapāpo gṛhāyātaḥ svabhāryāsahito nṛpa||
- Govinda worshipped the auspicious brahmins according to his ability. O king, freed of sin, he returned home together with his wife.
Verse 175 (skanda.5.258.175)
एवं यः शृणुते भक्त्या गोविन्दाख्यानमुत्तमम्। पठते परया भक्त्या भ्रूणहत्या प्रणश्यति।
evaṁ yaḥ śṛṇute bhaktyā govindākhyānamuttamam| paṭhate parayā bhaktyā bhrūṇahatyā praṇaśyati||
Whoever hears with devotion this excellent story of Govinda, or recites it with supreme devotion - the sin of feticide is destroyed.
Verse 176 (skanda.5.258.176)
क्रीडते शांकरे लोके यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम्। यश्चैवाश्वयुजे मासि चैत्रे वा नृपसत्तम।
krīḍate śāṁkare loke yāvadābhūtasamplavam| yaścaivāśvayuje māsi caitre vā nṛpasattama||
He sports in the world of Shankara until the great dissolution of all beings. And, O best of kings, whoever, in the month of Ashvina or Chaitra -
Verse 177 (skanda.5.258.177)
सप्तम्यां च सिते पक्षे सोपवासो जितेन्द्रियः। सात्त्विकीं वासनां कृत्वा यो वसेच्छिवमन्दिरे।
saptamyāṁ ca site pakṣe sopavāso jitendriyaḥ| sāttvikīṁ vāsanāṁ kṛtvā yo vasecchivamandire||
- on the seventh day of the bright fortnight, having fasted, self-controlled, cultivating a sattvic disposition, dwells in a temple of Shiva -
Verse 178 (skanda.5.258.178)
ध्यायमानो विरूपाक्षं त्रिशूलकरसंस्थितम्। कंसासुरनिहन्तारं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्।
dhyāyamāno virūpākṣaṁ triśūlakarasaṁsthitam| kaṁsāsuranihantāraṁ śaṅkhacakragadādharam||
- meditating on Virupaksha holding the trident in hand, and on the slayer of the demon Kamsa, who bears the conch, discus, and mace -
Verse 179 (skanda.5.258.179)
पक्षिराजसमारूढं त्रैलोक्यवरदायकम्। पितामहं ततो ध्यायेद्धंसस्थं चतुराननम्।
pakṣirājasamārūḍhaṁ trailokyavaradāyakam| pitāmahaṁ tato dhyāyeddhaṁsasthaṁ caturānanam||
- mounted on the king of birds, granter of boons to the three worlds; then one should meditate on the Grandsire, seated on a swan, four-faced.
Verse 180 (skanda.5.258.180)
सर्गप्रदं समस्तस्य कमलाकरशोभितम्। यो ह्येवं वसते तत्र त्रियमे स्थान उत्तमे।
sargapradaṁ samastasya kamalākaraśobhitam| yo hyevaṁ vasate tatra triyame sthāna uttame||
The giver of creation to all, adorned with a lotus in hand - whoever thus dwells there through the third watch of night in that excellent place -
Verse 181 (skanda.5.258.181)
ततः प्रभाते विमले ह्यष्टम्यां च नराधिप। ब्राह्मणान् पूजयेद्भक्त्या सर्वदोषविवर्जितान्।
tataḥ prabhāte vimale hyaṣṭamyāṁ ca narādhipa| brāhmaṇān pūjayedbhaktyā sarvadoṣavivarjitān||
- O king, then at pure daybreak on the eighth day, should worship with devotion brahmins free from all faults -
Verse 182 (skanda.5.258.182)
सर्वावयवसम्पूर्णान्सर्वशास्त्रविशारदान्। वेदाभ्यासरतान्नित्यं स्वदारनिरतान्सदा।
sarvāvayavasampūrṇānsarvaśāstraviśāradān| vedābhyāsaratānnityaṁ svadāraniratānsadā||
- whole in every limb, learned in all the shastras, ever devoted to Vedic study, always faithful to their own wives -
Verse 183 (skanda.5.258.183)
श्राद्धे दाने व्रते योग्यान् ब्राह्मणान् पाण्डुनन्दन। प्रेतानां पूजनं तत्र देवपूर्वं समारभेत्।
śrāddhe dāne vrate yogyān brāhmaṇān pāṇḍunandana| pretānāṁ pūjanaṁ tatra devapūrvaṁ samārabhet||
- brahmins fit for shraddha, gift, and vow, O son of Pandu. There one should begin the worship of the departed, preceded by worship of the gods.
Verse 184 (skanda.5.258.184)
प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते शीघ्रमेरण्ड्यां पिण्डतर्पणैः। दानानि तत्र देयानि ह्यन्नमुख्यानि सर्वदा।
pretatvānmucyate śīghrameraṇḍyāṁ piṇḍatarpaṇaiḥ| dānāni tatra deyāni hyannamukhyāni sarvadā||
By pinda-offerings and tarpana at the Eranda, one is quickly freed from the state of a preta. Gifts, foremost of which is food, should always be given there.
Verse 185 (skanda.5.258.185)
हिरण्यभूमिकन्याश्च धूर्वाहौ शुभलक्षणौ। सीरेण सहितौ पार्थ धान्यं द्रोणकसंख्यया।
hiraṇyabhūmikanyāśca dhūrvāhau śubhalakṣaṇau| sīreṇa sahitau pārtha dhānyaṁ droṇakasaṁkhyayā||
Gold, land, a maiden, a pair of yoke-bearing oxen of auspicious marks together with the plough, O Partha, and grain measured in dronas should be given.
Verse 186 (skanda.5.258.186)
अलंकृतां सवत्सां च क्षीरिणीं तरुणीं सिताम्। रक्तां वा कृष्णवर्णां वा पाटलां कपिलां तथा।
alaṁkṛtāṁ savatsāṁ ca kṣīriṇīṁ taruṇīṁ sitām| raktāṁ vā kṛṣṇavarṇāṁ vā pāṭalāṁ kapilāṁ tathā||
And a decorated young milch-cow with her calf, white, or red, or black, or tawny, or brown in colour -
Verse 187 (skanda.5.258.187)
कांस्यदोहनसंयुक्तां रुक्मखुरविभूषणाम्। स्वर्णशृङ्गीं सवत्सां च ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत्।
kāṁsyadohanasaṁyuktāṁ rukmakhuravibhūṣaṇām| svarṇaśṛṅgīṁ savatsāṁ ca brāhmaṇāyopapādayet||
- furnished with a bronze milking-vessel, adorned with gilded hooves, with golden horns, along with her calf, should be presented to a brahmin.
Verse 188 (skanda.5.258.188)
प्रीयतां मे जगन्नाथा हरकृष्णपितामहाः। संसाररक्षणी देवी सुरभी मां समुद्धरेत्।
prīyatāṁ me jagannāthā harakṛṣṇapitāmahāḥ| saṁsārarakṣaṇī devī surabhī māṁ samuddharet||
'May the Lords of the universe - Hara, Krishna, and the Grandsire - be pleased with me; may the goddess Surabhi, protectress of the world, deliver me.'
Verse 189 (skanda.5.258.189)
पुत्रार्थं याः स्त्रियः पार्थ ह्येरण्डीसङ्गमे नृप। स्नाप्यन्ते रुद्रसूक्तैश्च चतुर्वेदोद्भवैस्तथा।
putrārthaṁ yāḥ striyaḥ pārtha hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛpa| snāpyante rudrasūktaiśca caturvedodbhavaistathā||
O Partha, O king, the women who desire a son and are bathed at the Eranda confluence with the Rudra hymns arising from the four Vedas -
Verse 190 (skanda.5.258.190)
चतुर्भिर्ब्राह्मणैः शस्तं द्वाभ्यां योग्यैश्च कारयेत्। एकेन सार्द्रकुम्भेन दाम्पत्यमभिषेचयेत्।
caturbhirbrāhmaṇaiḥ śastaṁ dvābhyāṁ yogyaiśca kārayet| ekena sārdrakumbhena dāmpatyamabhiṣecayet||
- this rite is praised as best done by four brahmins, or may be performed by two worthy ones. With one water-filled pot the couple should be consecrated.
Verse 191 (skanda.5.258.191)
दैवज्ञेनैव चैकेन अथवा सामगेन वा। पञ्चरत्नसमायुक्तं कुम्भे तत्रैव कारयेत्।
daivajñenaiva caikena athavā sāmagena vā| pañcaratnasamāyuktaṁ kumbhe tatraiva kārayet||
By an astrologer, or else a Samavedin, the pot endowed with the five gems should be prepared there.
Verse 192 (skanda.5.258.192)
गन्धतोयसमायुक्तं सर्वौषधिविमिश्रितम्। आम्रपल्लवसंयुक्तमश्वत्थमधुकं तथा।
gandhatoyasamāyuktaṁ sarvauṣadhivimiśritam| āmrapallavasaṁyuktamaśvatthamadhukaṁ tathā||
It should be filled with fragrant water mixed with all herbs, with mango leaves, along with peepal and mahua twigs -
Verse 193 (skanda.5.258.193)
गुण्ठितं सितवस्त्रेण सितचन्दनचर्चितम्। सितपुष्पैस्तु संछन्नं सिद्धार्थकृतमध्यमम्।
guṇṭhitaṁ sitavastreṇa sitacandanacarcitam| sitapuṣpaistu saṁchannaṁ siddhārthakṛtamadhyamam||
- covered with white cloth, smeared with white sandal-paste, strewn with white flowers, with mustard seeds placed in the middle.
Verse 194 (skanda.5.258.194)
कांस्यपात्रे तु संस्थाप्य पुत्रार्थी देशिकोत्तमः। अङ्गलग्नं तु यद्वस्त्रं कटकाभरणं तथा।
kāṁsyapātre tu saṁsthāpya putrārthī deśikottamaḥ| aṅgalagnaṁ tu yadvastraṁ kaṭakābharaṇaṁ tathā||
Placing it in a bronze vessel, the desirer of a son, guided by the best of preceptors - whatever garment clings to the body, and bracelets and ornaments -
Verse 195 (skanda.5.258.195)
तत्सर्वं मण्डले त्याज्यं सिद्ध्यर्थं चात्मनस्तदा। प्रणम्य भास्करं पश्चादाचार्यं रुद्ररूपिणम्।
tatsarvaṁ maṇḍale tyājyaṁ siddhyarthaṁ cātmanastadā| praṇamya bhāskaraṁ paścādācāryaṁ rudrarūpiṇam||
- all this should be surrendered upon the mandala for the sake of one's own accomplishment. Then, having bowed to Bhaskara and to the preceptor who embodies Rudra -
Verse 196 (skanda.5.258.196)
मधुरं च ततोऽश्नीयाद्देव्या भुवन उत्तमे। फलदानं च विप्राय छत्रं ताम्बूलमेव च।
madhuraṁ ca tato'śnīyāddevyā bhuvana uttame| phaladānaṁ ca viprāya chatraṁ tāmbūlameva ca||
- one should then eat something sweet in the excellent abode of the goddess. Giving fruit to the brahmin, along with an umbrella and betel-leaf -
Verse 197 (skanda.5.258.197)
उपानहौ च यानं च स भवेद्दुःखवर्जितः। भास्करे क्रीडते लोके यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम्।
upānahau ca yānaṁ ca sa bhavedduḥkhavarjitaḥ| bhāskare krīḍate loke yāvadābhūtasamplavam||
- and sandals and a conveyance, the giver becomes free of sorrow, and sports in the world of the sun until the dissolution of all beings.
Verse 198 (skanda.5.258.198)
दानं कोटिगुणं सर्वं शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। यथा नदीनदाः सर्वे सागरे यान्ति संक्षयम्।
dānaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ sarvaṁ śubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham| yathā nadīnadāḥ sarve sāgare yānti saṁkṣayam||
Every gift there, whether auspicious or inauspicious, becomes crore-fold - just as all rivers and streams merge into and are dissolved in the ocean.
Verse 199 (skanda.5.258.199)
एवं पापानि नश्यन्ति ह्येरण्डीसङ्गमे नृणाम्। समन्ताच्छस्त्रपातेन ह्येरण्डीसङ्गमे नृप।
evaṁ pāpāni naśyanti hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛṇām| samantācchastrapātena hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛpa||
Thus the sins of men are destroyed at the Eranda confluence; O king, merit equal to falling by weapons on all sides is attained at the Eranda confluence.
Verse 200 (skanda.5.258.200)
भ्रूणहत्यासमं पापं नश्यते शङ्करोऽब्रवीत्। प्राणत्यागं च यो भक्त्या जातवेदसि कारयेत्।
bhrūṇahatyāsamaṁ pāpaṁ naśyate śaṅkaro'bravīt| prāṇatyāgaṁ ca yo bhaktyā jātavedasi kārayet||
A sin equal to feticide is destroyed - thus said Shankara. And whoever with devotion offers up his life in fire -
Verse 201 (skanda.5.258.201)
अनाशकं नृपश्रेष्ठ जले वा तदनन्तरम्। पञ्चसाहस्रिकं मानं वर्षाणां जातवेदसि।
anāśakaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha jale vā tadanantaram| pañcasāhasrikaṁ mānaṁ varṣāṇāṁ jātavedasi||
- or by fasting, or gives up life in water thereafter, O best of kings - the reward for death by fire is declared to be five thousand years.
Verse 202 (skanda.5.258.202)
जले त्रीणि सहस्राण्यनाशके षष्टिं भुञ्जते। काका बकाः कपोताश्च ह्युलूकाः पशवस्तथा।
jale trīṇi sahasrāṇyanāśake ṣaṣṭiṁ bhuñjate| kākā bakāḥ kapotāśca hyulūkāḥ paśavastathā||
For death in water it is three thousand years, for death by fasting it is sixty thousand. Crows, herons, doves, owls, and beasts too -
Verse 203 (skanda.5.258.203)
संगमोदकसंस्पृष्टास्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्। वृक्षाश्च तत्पदं ज्ञात्वा यां गतिं यान्ति योगिनः।
saṁgamodakasaṁspṛṣṭāste yānti paramāṁ gatim| vṛkṣāśca tatpadaṁ jñātvā yāṁ gatiṁ yānti yoginaḥ||
- touched by the water of that confluence attain the supreme goal; and even trees, knowing that place, attain the same state that yogis reach.
Verse 204 (skanda.5.258.204)
एरण्डिका मया देवी दृष्टो मे मन्मथेश्वरः। किं समर्थो यमो रुष्टो भद्रो भद्राणि पश्यति।
eraṇḍikā mayā devī dṛṣṭo me manmatheśvaraḥ| kiṁ samartho yamo ruṣṭo bhadro bhadrāṇi paśyati||
'By me the goddess Erandika has been seen, and I have beheld Manmatheshvara' - what power then has an angry Yama? The auspicious one beholds only auspicious things.
Verse 205 (skanda.5.258.205)
मृत्तिकां सङ्गमोद्भूतां ये च गुण्ठन्ति नित्यशः। भ्रूणहत्यादिपापानि नश्यन्ते नात्र संशयः।
mṛttikāṁ saṅgamodbhūtāṁ ye ca guṇṭhanti nityaśaḥ| bhrūṇahatyādipāpāni naśyante nātra saṁśayaḥ||
Those who daily smear themselves with the clay born of the confluence - the sins beginning with feticide are destroyed for them, there is no doubt.
Verse 206 (skanda.5.258.206)
एरण्डीसङ्गमे मर्त्यो लुण्ठ्यमानो नराधिप। सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम्।
eraṇḍīsaṅgame martyo luṇṭhyamāno narādhipa| sarvapāpairvinirmuktaḥ padaṁ gacchatyanāmayam||
O king, a mortal who rolls upon the ground at the Eranda confluence is freed from all sins and goes to the state free of affliction.
Verse 207 (skanda.5.258.207)
एरण्ड्याः सङ्गमं मर्त्याः कीर्तयन्त्याश्रमस्थिताः। विमुक्तपापा जायन्ते सत्यं शङ्करभाषितम्।
eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgamaṁ martyāḥ kīrtayantyāśramasthitāḥ| vimuktapāpā jāyante satyaṁ śaṅkarabhāṣitam||
Mortals dwelling in the ashramas who praise the confluence of the Eranda become free of sin - true is the word spoken by Shankara.
Verse 208 (skanda.5.258.208)
एरण्डीपादपाग्रैस्तु दृष्टैः पापं व्यपोहति।
eraṇḍīpādapāgraistu dṛṣṭaiḥ pāpaṁ vyapohati||
By merely seeing the tips of the Eranda tree's branches, one's sin is dispelled.
Verse 209 (skanda.5.258.209)
तीर्थाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं ये पठिष्यन्ति मानवाः। शृण्वन्ति चापरे भक्त्या मुक्तपापा भवन्ति ते।
tīrthākhyānamidaṁ puṇyaṁ ye paṭhiṣyanti mānavāḥ| śṛṇvanti cāpare bhaktyā muktapāpā bhavanti te||
Those men who shall recite this sacred account of the tirtha, and others who hear it with devotion - they become free of sin.
Verse 210 (skanda.5.258.210)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमेरण्डीसङ्गमं नृप। भूयश्चान्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्।
etatte sarvamākhyātameraṇḍīsaṅgamaṁ nṛpa| bhūyaścānyatpravakṣyāmi sarvapāpakṣayaṁkaram||
O king, thus all this has been told to you about the Eranda confluence. I shall now further tell of another tirtha, destroyer of all sin.