The Attainment of King Chanakya

Verse 1 (skanda.5.310.1)

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वतीर्थादनुत्तमम्। उत्तरे नर्मदाकूले शुक्लतीर्थं युधिष्ठिर॥

ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi sarvatīrthādanuttamam| uttare narmadākūle śuklatīrthaṁ yudhiṣṭhira||

Shri Markandeya said: Now, O Yudhishthira, I shall describe the tirtha unsurpassed among all tirthas - Shukla-tirtha, situated on the northern bank of the Narmada.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.310.2)

तस्य तीर्थस्य चान्यानि पुण्यत्वाच्छुभदर्शनात्। पृथिव्यां सर्वतीर्थानि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्॥

tasya tīrthasya cānyāni puṇyatvācchubhadarśanāt| pṛthivyāṁ sarvatīrthāni kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm||

Because of its holiness and auspicious sight, all the other tirthas on earth are not worth even a sixteenth part of it.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.310.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। तस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैस्तथान्यैर्द्विजसत्तमैः॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| tasya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ| bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaistathānyairdvijasattamaiḥ||

Yudhishthira said: Together with all my brothers and the other most excellent brahmins, I wish to hear in truth the greatness of that tirtha.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.310.4)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। शुक्लतीर्थस्य चोत्पत्तिमाकर्णय नरेश्वर। यस्य संदर्शनादेव ब्रह्महत्या प्रलीयते॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śuklatīrthasya cotpattimākarṇaya nareśvara| yasya saṁdarśanādeva brahmahatyā pralīyate||

Shri Markandeya said: Hear, O lord of men, of the origin of Shukla-tirtha, the mere sight of which dissolves even the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.310.5)

नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी। यच्च बाल्यं कृतं पापं दर्शनादेव नश्यति॥

narmadā saritāṁ śreṣṭhā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī| yacca bālyaṁ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ darśanādeva naśyati||

The Narmada, best of rivers, destroys all sin; even sin committed in childhood is destroyed by the mere sight of her.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.310.6)

मोक्षदानि न सर्वत्र शुक्लतीर्थमृते नृप। शुक्लतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं पुराणे यच्छ्रुतं मया॥

mokṣadāni na sarvatra śuklatīrthamṛte nṛpa| śuklatīrthasya māhātmyaṁ purāṇe yacchrutaṁ mayā||

O king, apart from Shukla-tirtha, not everywhere is liberation granted. The greatness of Shukla-tirtha which I heard of in the Purana -

Verse 7 (skanda.5.310.7)

समागमे मुनीनां तु देवानां हि तथैव च। कथितं देवदेवेन शितिकण्ठेन भारत। कैलासे पर्वतश्रेष्ठे तत्ते संकथयाम्यहम्॥

samāgame munīnāṁ tu devānāṁ hi tathaiva ca| kathitaṁ devadevena śitikaṇṭhena bhārata| kailāse parvataśreṣṭhe tatte saṁkathayāmyaham||

- was declared, O Bharata, by the god of gods Shitikantha (Shiva) at a gathering of sages and gods, upon Kailasa, the foremost of mountains; that same account I now relate to you.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.310.8)

पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ तोषितुं गिरिजापतिम्। तपश्चचार विपुलं विष्णुर्वर्षसहस्रकम्। वायुभक्षो निराहारः शुक्लतीर्थे व्यवस्थितः॥

purā kṛtayugasyādau toṣituṁ girijāpatim| tapaścacāra vipulaṁ viṣṇurvarṣasahasrakam| vāyubhakṣo nirāhāraḥ śuklatīrthe vyavasthitaḥ||

Formerly, at the start of the Krita Yuga, to please the lord of the mountain's daughter (Shiva), Vishnu performed vast austerities for a thousand years, dwelling at Shukla-tirtha, eating only air, taking no food.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.310.9)

ततः प्रत्यक्षतामागाद्देवदेवो महेश्वरः। प्रादुर्भूतस्तु सहसा तत्र तीर्थे नराधिप॥

tataḥ pratyakṣatāmāgāddevadevo maheśvaraḥ| prādurbhūtastu sahasā tatra tīrthe narādhipa||

Then Maheshvara, the god of gods, became manifest; O king, he suddenly appeared there at that tirtha.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.310.10)

क्रोशद्वयमिदं चक्रे भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः॥

krośadvayamidaṁ cakre bhuktimuktipradāyakam| tasmiṁstīrthe naraḥ snātvā mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ||

He made this stretch of two krosha a bestower of both enjoyment and liberation. Bathing in that tirtha, a man is freed from all sins.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.310.11)

गङ्गा कनखले पुण्या कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वती। ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा॥

gaṅgā kanakhale puṇyā kurukṣetre sarasvatī| grāme vā yadi vāraṇye puṇyā sarvatra narmadā||

The Ganga is holy at Kanakhala, the Sarasvati at Kurukshetra; but the Narmada is holy everywhere, whether in a village or in the forest.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.310.12)

सर्वौषधीनामशनं प्रधानं सर्वेषु पेयेषु जलं प्रधानम्। निद्रा सुखानां प्रमदा रतीनां सर्वेषु गात्रेषु शिरः प्रधानम्॥

sarvauṣadhīnāmaśanaṁ pradhānaṁ sarveṣu peyeṣu jalaṁ pradhānam| nidrā sukhānāṁ pramadā ratīnāṁ sarveṣu gātreṣu śiraḥ pradhānam||

Among all remedies, food is foremost; among all drinks, water is foremost; among pleasures, sleep is foremost; among delights, a woman is foremost; and among all limbs of the body, the head is foremost.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.310.13)

स्नातस्यापि यथा पुण्यं ललाटं नृपसत्तम। शुक्लतीर्थं तथा पुण्यं नर्मदायां युधिष्ठिर॥

snātasyāpi yathā puṇyaṁ lalāṭaṁ nṛpasattama| śuklatīrthaṁ tathā puṇyaṁ narmadāyāṁ yudhiṣṭhira||

O best of kings, just as, even of a bathed man, the forehead is the most sacred part, so too, O Yudhishthira, is Shukla-tirtha the most sacred place upon the Narmada.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.310.14)

सरितां च यथा गङ्गा देवतानां जनार्दनः। शुक्लतीर्थं तथा पुण्यं नर्मदायां व्यवस्थितम्॥

saritāṁ ca yathā gaṅgā devatānāṁ janārdanaḥ| śuklatīrthaṁ tathā puṇyaṁ narmadāyāṁ vyavasthitam||

As the Ganga is foremost among rivers and Janardana among the gods, so is Shukla-tirtha, situated on the Narmada, most sacred.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.310.15)

चतुष्पदानां सुरभिर्वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो यथा। प्रधानं सर्वतीर्थानां शुक्लतीर्थं तथा नृप॥

catuṣpadānāṁ surabhirvarṇānāṁ brāhmaṇo yathā| pradhānaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ śuklatīrthaṁ tathā nṛpa||

As Surabhi is foremost among quadrupeds and the brahmin among the classes, O king, so is Shukla-tirtha foremost among all tirthas.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.310.16)

ग्रहाणां तु यथादित्यो नक्षत्राणां यथा शशी। शिरो वा सर्वगात्राणां धर्माणां सत्यमिष्यते॥

grahāṇāṁ tu yathādityo nakṣatrāṇāṁ yathā śaśī| śiro vā sarvagātrāṇāṁ dharmāṇāṁ satyamiṣyate||

As the sun is foremost among planets, the moon among constellations, the head among all limbs, and truth is held foremost among virtues -

Verse 17 (skanda.5.310.17)

तथैव पार्थ तीर्थानां शुक्लतीर्थमनुत्तमम्। दुर्विज्ञेयो यथा लोके परमात्मा सनातनः॥

tathaiva pārtha tīrthānāṁ śuklatīrthamanuttamam| durvijñeyo yathā loke paramātmā sanātanaḥ||

- so too, O Partha, is Shukla-tirtha unsurpassed among tirthas. Just as the eternal Supreme Self is hard to comprehend in this world,

Verse 18 (skanda.5.310.18)

सुसूक्ष्मत्वादनिर्देश्यः शुक्लतीर्थं तथा नृप। मन्दप्रज्ञत्वमापन्ने महामोहसमन्वितः॥

susūkṣmatvādanirdeśyaḥ śuklatīrthaṁ tathā nṛpa| mandaprajñatvamāpanne mahāmohasamanvitaḥ||

- being extremely subtle and indefinable, O king, so too is Shukla-tirtha. One who has become dull of understanding and is possessed of great delusion -

Verse 19 (skanda.5.310.19)

शुक्लतीर्थं ना जानाति नर्मदातटसंस्थितम्। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन धर्मपुत्र पुनः पुनः॥

śuklatīrthaṁ nā jānāti narmadātaṭasaṁsthitam| bahunātra kimuktena dharmaputra punaḥ punaḥ||

- does not come to know Shukla-tirtha, situated on the bank of the Narmada. O son of Dharma, what is the use of saying more, again and again?

Verse 20 (skanda.5.310.20)

शुक्लतीर्थं महापुण्यं सम्प्राप्तं कल्मषक्षयात्। योऽत्र दत्ते शुचिर्भूत्वा एकं रेवाजलाञ्जलिम्॥

śuklatīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ samprāptaṁ kalmaṣakṣayāt| yo'tra datte śucirbhūtvā ekaṁ revājalāñjalim||

Shukla-tirtha is greatly meritorious, attained only through the destruction of sin. Whoever, having become pure, offers here a single handful of Reva's water -

Verse 21 (skanda.5.310.21)

कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि पितरस्तेन तर्पिताः॥

kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi pitarastena tarpitāḥ||

- by that, his ancestors are satisfied for thousands of crores of kalpas.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.310.22)

एकः पुत्रो धरापृष्ठे पितॄणामार्तिनाशनः। चाणक्यो नाम राजाभूच्छुक्लतीर्थं च वेद सः॥

ekaḥ putro dharāpṛṣṭhe pitṝṇāmārtināśanaḥ| cāṇakyo nāma rājābhūcchuklatīrthaṁ ca veda saḥ||

There is but one son upon the earth who is the remover of the ancestors' affliction - there was a king named Chanakya, and he knew of Shukla-tirtha.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.310.23)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कोऽसौ द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ चाणक्यो नाम नामतः। शुक्लतीर्थस्य यो वेत्ता नान्यो वेत्ता हि कश्चन॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| ko'sau dvijavaraśreṣṭha cāṇakyo nāma nāmataḥ| śuklatīrthasya yo vettā nānyo vettā hi kaścana||

Yudhishthira said: O best of twice-born, who was this one named Chanakya, the knower of Shukla-tirtha, when no one else at all knew of it?

Verse 24 (skanda.5.310.24)

केनोपायेन तत्तीर्थं तेन ज्ञातं धरातले। तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥

kenopāyena tattīrthaṁ tena jñātaṁ dharātale| tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me||

By what means did he come to know that tirtha upon the earth? I wish to hear this, for I have great curiosity about it.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.310.25)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। इक्ष्वाकुप्रभवो राजा नप्ता शुद्धोदनस्य च। चाणक्यो नाम राजर्षिर्बुभुजे पृथिवीमिमाम्॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| ikṣvākuprabhavo rājā naptā śuddhodanasya ca| cāṇakyo nāma rājarṣirbubhuje pṛthivīmimām||

Shri Markandeya said: Born in the Ikshvaku line, the grandson of Shuddhodana, the royal sage named Chanakya ruled over this earth.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.310.26)

विक्रान्तो मतिमाञ्छूरः सर्वलोकैरवञ्चितः। वञ्चितः सहसा धूर्तवायसाभ्यां नृपोत्तमः॥

vikrānto matimāñchūraḥ sarvalokairavañcitaḥ| vañcitaḥ sahasā dhūrtavāyasābhyāṁ nṛpottamaḥ||

He was valiant, wise, and heroic, unrivalled by all people; yet that best of kings was suddenly deceived by two cunning crows.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.310.27)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कथं स वञ्चितो राजा वायसाभ्यां कुतोऽथवा। पुरा येन प्रतिज्ञातं धीगर्भेण महात्मना॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kathaṁ sa vañcito rājā vāyasābhyāṁ kuto'thavā| purā yena pratijñātaṁ dhīgarbheṇa mahātmanā||

Yudhishthira said: How, and for what reason, was that king deceived by the crows - he, the wise great soul, who had once vowed that -

Verse 28 (skanda.5.310.28)

न जीवे वञ्चितोऽन्येन प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्ये न संशयः। एतन्मे वद विप्रेन्द्र परं कौतूहलं मम॥

na jīve vañcito'nyena prāṇāṁstyakṣye na saṁśayaḥ| etanme vada viprendra paraṁ kautūhalaṁ mama||

"If ever deceived by another, I would not live; without doubt, I would give up my life." Tell me this, O lord of brahmins, for I am filled with curiosity.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.310.29)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। आत्मानं वञ्चितं ज्ञात्वा तदा संगृह्य वायसौ। प्रेषयामास तीव्रेण दण्डेन यमसादनम्॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| ātmānaṁ vañcitaṁ jñātvā tadā saṁgṛhya vāyasau| preṣayāmāsa tīvreṇa daṇḍena yamasādanam||

Shri Markandeya said: Realizing he had been deceived, he then seized the two crows and, with severe punishment, resolved to send them to Yama's abode.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.310.30)

वायसावूचतुः। सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः पुत्रावावां काकत्वमागतौ। मा वधीस्त्वं महाभाग कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे॥

vāyasāvūcatuḥ| sundopasundayoḥ putrāvāvāṁ kākatvamāgatau| mā vadhīstvaṁ mahābhāga kasmiṁścitkāraṇāntare||

The two crows said: O illustrious one, we are the sons of Sunda and Upasunda, who have come to the state of crows. For some other reason, do not slay us.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.310.31)

तावावां कृतसंकल्पौ त्वया कोपेन मानद। निरस्तावनिरस्तौ वा यास्यावः परमां गतिम्॥

tāvāvāṁ kṛtasaṁkalpau tvayā kopena mānada| nirastāvanirastau vā yāsyāvaḥ paramāṁ gatim||

O bestower of honour, angered, you have made us two resolve this: whether cast out or not, we shall attain the supreme goal.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.310.32)

तदादेशय राजेन्द्र कृत्वा तव महत्प्रियम्। मुक्तशापौ भविष्यावो ब्रह्मणो वचनं तथा॥

tadādeśaya rājendra kṛtvā tava mahatpriyam| muktaśāpau bhaviṣyāvo brahmaṇo vacanaṁ tathā||

Therefore, O lord of kings, command us: having done a great service for you, we shall, in accordance with Brahma's word, become freed from our curse.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.310.33)

तच्छ्रुत्वा काकवचनं चाणक्यो नृपसत्तमः। नाहं जीवे विदित्वैवं वञ्चितः केन कर्हिचित्॥

tacchrutvā kākavacanaṁ cāṇakyo nṛpasattamaḥ| nāhaṁ jīve viditvaivaṁ vañcitaḥ kena karhicit||

Hearing the crows' words, King Chanakya, best of kings, said: "Having realized that I have been deceived by anyone whatsoever, I shall not live.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.310.34)

तस्मात्तीर्थं विजानीतं यमस्य सदने द्विजौ। प्रेषयामि यथान्यायं श्रुत्वा तत्कथयिष्यथः॥

tasmāttīrthaṁ vijānītaṁ yamasya sadane dvijau| preṣayāmi yathānyāyaṁ śrutvā tatkathayiṣyathaḥ||

Therefore, O twice-hatched ones, I send you to Yama's abode; go there, learn of that tirtha properly, and having heard of it, tell me."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.310.35)

तेनैव मुक्तौ तौ काकौ स्रक्चन्दनविभूषितौ। शीघ्रगौ प्रेषयामास यमस्य सदनं प्रति॥

tenaiva muktau tau kākau srakcandanavibhūṣitau| śīghragau preṣayāmāsa yamasya sadanaṁ prati||

He himself, having released the two crows, adorned them with garlands and sandal-paste, and sent them, swift of flight, towards Yama's abode.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.310.36)

राजोवाच। तत्र धर्मपुरं गत्वा विचरन्तावितस्ततः। यदि पृच्छति धर्मात्मा यमः संयमनो महान्॥

rājovāca| tatra dharmapuraṁ gatvā vicarantāvitastataḥ| yadi pṛcchati dharmātmā yamaḥ saṁyamano mahān||

The king said: Having gone there to Dharmapura and wandering here and there, if the righteous great Yama, the restrainer, asks -

Verse 37 (skanda.5.310.37)

कुतो वामागतं ब्रूतं केन वा भूषितावुभौ। मदीया भारती तस्य कथनीया ह्यशङ्कितम्॥

kuto vāmāgataṁ brūtaṁ kena vā bhūṣitāvubhau| madīyā bhāratī tasya kathanīyā hyaśaṅkitam||

- "From where have you two come, and by whom were you both adorned?" - then, without hesitation, tell him this word of mine.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.310.38)

इक्ष्वाकुसंभवो राजा चाणक्यो नाम धार्मिकः। द्वादशाहे मृतस्यास्य तर्पितावशनादिना॥

ikṣvākusaṁbhavo rājā cāṇakyo nāma dhārmikaḥ| dvādaśāhe mṛtasyāsya tarpitāvaśanādinā||

We two were satisfied with food and such offerings at the twelfth-day rites for the deceased of the righteous Ikshvaku king named Chanakya.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.310.39)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो गतौ तौ यमसादनम्। क्रीडितौ प्राङ्गणे तस्य स्रक्चन्दनविभूषितौ। धर्मराजेन तौ दृष्टौ पृष्टौ धृष्टौ च वायसौ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājño gatau tau yamasādanam| krīḍitau prāṅgaṇe tasya srakcandanavibhūṣitau| dharmarājena tau dṛṣṭau pṛṣṭau dhṛṣṭau ca vāyasau||

Having heard the king's word, the two went to Yama's abode and sported, garlanded and sandal-adorned, in his courtyard. Dharmaraja, seeing those bold crows, questioned them.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.310.40)

यम उवाच। कुतः स्थानात्समायातौ केन वा भूषितावुभौ। वृत्तं वै कथ्यतामेतद्वायसावविशङ्कया॥

yama uvāca| kutaḥ sthānātsamāyātau kena vā bhūṣitāvubhau| vṛttaṁ vai kathyatāmetadvāyasāvaviśaṅkayā||

Yama said: From what place have you two come, and by whom were you both adorned? O crows, relate this account without fear.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.310.41)

काकावूचतुः। इक्ष्वाकुसम्भवो राजा चाणक्यो नाम धार्मिकः। द्वादशाहे मृतस्यास्य तर्पितावशनादिभिः॥

kākāvūcatuḥ| ikṣvākusambhavo rājā cāṇakyo nāma dhārmikaḥ| dvādaśāhe mṛtasyāsya tarpitāvaśanādibhiḥ||

The two crows said: We two were satisfied with food and such offerings on the twelfth day of the funeral rites for the righteous Ikshvaku king named Chanakya.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.310.42)

तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सदा वैवस्वतो यमः। चित्रगुप्तं कलिं कालं वीक्ष्यतामिदमब्रवीत्॥

tayostadvacanaṁ śrutvā sadā vaivasvato yamaḥ| citraguptaṁ kaliṁ kālaṁ vīkṣyatāmidamabravīt||

Hearing their words, Yama, son of Vivasvat, looking upon Chitragupta, Kali, and Kala, spoke thus -

Verse 43 (skanda.5.310.43)

अण्डजस्वेदजातीनां भूतानां सचराचरे। विहितं लोककर्तॄणां सान्निध्यं ब्रह्मणा मम॥

aṇḍajasvedajātīnāṁ bhūtānāṁ sacarācare| vihitaṁ lokakartṝṇāṁ sānnidhyaṁ brahmaṇā mama||

"Brahma has ordained that beings born of egg and of sweat, all creatures moving and unmoving, together with the makers of the worlds, come into my presence.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.310.44)

गतः कुत्र दुराचारश्चाणक्यो नामतस्त्विह। अन्विष्यतां पुराणेषु त्वितिहासेषु या गतिः॥

gataḥ kutra durācāraścāṇakyo nāmatastviha| anviṣyatāṁ purāṇeṣu tvitihāseṣu yā gatiḥ||

Where has that ill-conducted one named Chanakya gone? Search in the Puranas and histories for what his fate has been."

Verse 45 (skanda.5.310.45)

ततस्तैर्धर्मपालैस्तु धर्मराजप्रचोदितैः। निरीक्षिता पुराणोक्ता कर्मजा गतिरागतिः॥

tatastairdharmapālaistu dharmarājapracoditaiḥ| nirīkṣitā purāṇoktā karmajā gatirāgatiḥ||

Then those guardians of dharma, urged on by Dharmaraja, examined the karma-born comings and goings declared in the Puranas.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.310.46)

ततः प्रोवाच वचनं धर्मो धर्मभृतां वरः। शृण्वतां धर्मपालानां मेघगम्भीरया गिरा॥

tataḥ provāca vacanaṁ dharmo dharmabhṛtāṁ varaḥ| śṛṇvatāṁ dharmapālānāṁ meghagambhīrayā girā||

Then Dharma, foremost among the upholders of righteousness, spoke, in a voice deep as thunder, before the listening guardians of dharma -

Verse 47 (skanda.5.310.47)

शुक्लतीर्थे मृतानां तु नर्मदाविमले जले। अण्डजस्वेदजातीनां न गतिर्मम सन्निधौ॥

śuklatīrthe mṛtānāṁ tu narmadāvimale jale| aṇḍajasvedajātīnāṁ na gatirmama sannidhau||

"Of those who die at Shukla-tirtha, in the pure water of the Narmada - whether born of egg or of sweat - there is no coming into my presence.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.310.48)

तत्तीर्थं धार्मिकं लोके ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरैः। निर्मितं परया भक्त्या लोकानां हितकाम्यया॥

tattīrthaṁ dhārmikaṁ loke brahmaviṣṇumaheśvaraiḥ| nirmitaṁ parayā bhaktyā lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā||

That righteous tirtha in the world was created, out of supreme devotion, by Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, desiring the welfare of the worlds.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.310.49)

पापोपपातकैर्युक्ता ये नरा नर्मदाजले। शुक्लतीर्थे मृताः शुद्धा न ते मद्विषयाः क्वचित्॥

pāpopapātakairyuktā ye narā narmadājale| śuklatīrthe mṛtāḥ śuddhā na te madviṣayāḥ kvacit||

Men who, though burdened with sins and lesser sins, die in the water of the Narmada at Shukla-tirtha become purified and never fall within my domain at all."

Verse 50 (skanda.5.310.50)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तौ काकौ यमभाषितम्। आगतौ शीघ्रगौ पार्थ दृष्ट्वा यमपुरं महत्॥

etacchrutvā tu vacanaṁ tau kākau yamabhāṣitam| āgatau śīghragau pārtha dṛṣṭvā yamapuraṁ mahat||

Hearing this speech uttered by Yama, O Partha, those two crows, having seen the great city of Yama, returned swiftly.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.310.51)

पृष्टौ तौ प्रणतौ राज्ञा यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम्। कथयामासतुः पार्थ दानवौ काकतां गतौ॥

pṛṣṭau tau praṇatau rājñā yathāvṛttaṁ yathāśrutam| kathayāmāsatuḥ pārtha dānavau kākatāṁ gatau||

Questioned by the king, the two, bowing, told him - O Partha, those two danavas who had taken the form of crows - exactly what had happened and what they had heard.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.310.52)

अस्मात्स्थानाद्गतावावां यमस्य पुरमुत्तमम्। पृथिव्या दक्षिणे भागे ह्यतीत्य बहुयोनिजम्॥

asmātsthānādgatāvāvāṁ yamasya puramuttamam| pṛthivyā dakṣiṇe bhāge hyatītya bahuyonijam||

We two, having gone from this place, passing beyond many births, reached the excellent city of Yama in the southern region of the earth.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.310.53)

तत्पुरं कामगं दिव्यं स्वर्णप्राकारतोरणम्। अनेकगृहसम्बाधं मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम्॥

tatpuraṁ kāmagaṁ divyaṁ svarṇaprākāratoraṇam| aneka gṛhasambādhaṁ maṇikāñcanabhūṣitam||

That divine city moves at will, has golden ramparts and archways, is crowded with countless mansions, and is adorned with jewels and gold.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.310.54)

चतुष्पथैश्चत्वरैश्च घण्टामार्गोपशोभितम्। उद्यानवनसंछन्नं पद्मिनीखण्डमन्दितम्॥

catuṣpathaiścatvaraiśca ghaṇṭāmārgopaśobhitam| udyānavanasaṁchannaṁ padminīkhaṇḍamanditam||

It is graced with crossroads and squares, with bell-lined avenues, covered with gardens and groves, and adorned with clusters of lotus-pools.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.310.55)

हंससारससंघुष्टं कोकिलाकुलसंकुलम्। सिंहव्याघ्रगजाकीर्णमृक्षवानरसेवितम्॥

haṁsasārasasaṁghuṣṭaṁ kokilākulasaṁkulam| siṁhavyāghragajākīrṇamṛkṣavānarasevitam||

It resounds with swans and cranes, teems with throngs of cuckoos, is filled with lions, tigers, and elephants, and is frequented by bears and monkeys.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.310.56)

नरनारीसमाकीर्णं नित्योत्सवविभूषितम्। शंखदुन्दुभिर्निर्घोषैर्वीणावेणुनिनादितम्॥

naranārīsamākīrṇaṁ nityotsavavibhūṣitam| śaṅkhadundubhirnirghoṣairvīṇāveṇuninaditam||

It is thronged with men and women, adorned with unceasing festivals, and resounds with the peal of conches and drums and the strains of vinas and flutes.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.310.57)

यममार्गेऽपि विहितं स्वर्गलोकमिवापरम्। गतौ तत्र पुनश्चान्यैर्यमदूतैर्यमाज्ञया॥

yamamārge'pi vihitaṁ svargalokamivāparam| gatau tatra punaścānyairyamadūtairyamājñayā||

Even upon Yama's road it has been fashioned as if a second heaven. There we went again, together with other messengers of Yama, by Yama's command,

Verse 58 (skanda.5.310.58)

विदितौ प्रेषितौ तत्र यत्र देवो जगत्प्रभुः। प्राणस्य भीत्या दृष्टोऽसौ सिंहासनगतः प्रभुः॥

viditau preṣitau tatra yatra devo jagatprabhuḥ| prāṇasya bhītyā dṛṣṭo'sau siṁhāsanagataḥ prabhuḥ||

recognized and sent to where the god, lord of the world, resided. Fearing for our lives, we beheld that lord, seated upon his throne -

Verse 59 (skanda.5.310.59)

महाकायो महाजङ्घो महास्कन्धो महोदरः। महावक्षा महाबाहुर्महावक्त्रेक्षणो महान्॥

mahākāyo mahājaṅgho mahāskandho mahodaraḥ| mahāvakṣā mahābāhurmahāvaktrekṣaṇo mahān||

- vast of body, vast of thigh, vast of shoulder, vast of belly, vast of chest, vast of arm, vast of face and eye, mighty -

Verse 60 (skanda.5.310.60)

महामहिषमारूढो महामुकुटभूषितः। तत्रान्यश्च कलिः कालश्चित्रगुप्तो महामतिः॥

mahāmahiṣamārūḍho mahāmukuṭabhūṣitaḥ| tatrānyaśca kaliḥ kālaścitragupto mahāmatiḥ||

- mounted upon a mighty buffalo, adorned with a mighty crown. There too were others - Kali, Kala, and the wise Chitragupta.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.310.61)

समागतौ तदा दृष्टौ मध्ये ज्वलितपावकौ। पुण्यपापानि जन्तूनां श्रुतिस्मृत्यर्थपारगौ॥

samāgatau tadā dṛṣṭau madhye jvalitapāvakau| puṇyapāpāni jantūnāṁ śrutismṛtyarthapāragau||

We saw them assembled, with blazing fire between them; those two, learned in the meaning of the Shrutis and Smritis, ever weighing the merits and sins of creatures,

Verse 62 (skanda.5.310.62)

विचारयन्तौ सततं तिष्ठाते तौ दिवानिशम्। ततो ह्यावां प्रणामान्ते यमेन यममूर्तिना॥

vicārayantau satataṁ tiṣṭhāte tau divāniśam| tato hyāvāṁ praṇāmānte yamena yamamūrtinā||

- stood there judging, continuously, day and night. Then, after we had bowed, Yama himself, in his very form -

Verse 63 (skanda.5.310.63)

पृष्टावागमने हेतुं तमब्रूव शृणुष्व तत्। उज्जयिन्यां महीपालश्चाणक्योऽभूत्प्रतापवान्॥

pṛṣṭāvāgamane hetuṁ tamabrūva śṛṇuṣva tat| ujjayinyāṁ mahīpālaścāṇakyo'bhūtpratāpavān||

- asked us the reason for our coming. We told him - listen to that: "In Ujjayini there was a mighty king named Chanakya.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.310.64)

द्वादशाहे मृतस्यास्य भुक्त्वा प्राप्तौ यमालयम्। ततोऽस्माकं वचः श्रुत्वा कम्पयित्वा शिरो यमः॥

dvādaśāhe mṛtasyāsya bhuktvā prāptau yamālayam| tato'smākaṁ vacaḥ śrutvā kampayitvā śiro yamaḥ||

Having eaten at his twelfth-day death-rites, we two have come to Yama's abode." Then, hearing our words, Yama, shaking his head,

Verse 65 (skanda.5.310.65)

उवाच वचनं सत्यं सभामध्ये हसन्निव। अस्ति तत्कारणं येन चाणक्यः पापपूरुषः॥

uvāca vacanaṁ satyaṁ sabhāmadhye hasanniva| asti tatkāraṇaṁ yena cāṇakyaḥ pāpapūruṣaḥ||

- in the midst of the assembly, as if smiling, spoke this true word: "There is a reason why Chanakya, though a sinful man,

Verse 66 (skanda.5.310.66)

नायातो मम लोके तु सर्वपापभयंकरे। शुक्लतीर्थे मृतानां तु नर्मदायां परं पदम्॥

nāyāto mama loke tu sarvapāpabhayaṁkare| śuklatīrthe mṛtānāṁ tu narmadāyāṁ paraṁ padam||

- has not come to my realm, which strikes terror for all sins. Of those who die in the Narmada at Shukla-tirtha, a supreme state -

Verse 67 (skanda.5.310.67)

जायते सर्वजन्तूनां नात्र काचिद्विचारणा। अवशः स्ववशो वापि जन्तुस्तत्क्षेत्रमण्डले॥

jāyate sarvajantūnāṁ nātra kācidvicāraṇā| avaśaḥ svavaśo vāpi jantustatkṣetramaṇḍale||

- is attained by all creatures; there is no question about this. Whether powerless or of its own will, any creature within that sacred precinct -

Verse 68 (skanda.5.310.68)

मृतः स वै न सन्देहो रुद्रस्यानुचरो भवेत्। तद्धर्मवचनं श्रुत्वा निर्गत्य नगराद्बहिः॥

mṛtaḥ sa vai na sandeho rudrasyānucaro bhavet| taddharmavacanaṁ śrutvā nirgatya nagarādbahiḥ||

- upon dying there, without doubt, becomes an attendant of Rudra." Hearing this word of Dharma, going out beyond the city,

Verse 69 (skanda.5.310.69)

पश्यन्तौ विविधां घोरां नरके लोकयातनाम्। त्रिंशत्कोट्यो हि घोराणां नरकाणां नृपोत्तम॥

paśyantau vividhāṁ ghorāṁ narake lokayātanām| triṁśatkoṭyo hi ghorāṇāṁ narakāṇāṁ nṛpottama||

- we saw the various terrible torments of people in hell. O best of kings, there are thirty crores of dreadful hells -

Verse 70 (skanda.5.310.70)

दृष्टा भीतौ परामार्तिगतौ तत्र महापथि। नरको रौरवस्तत्र महारौरव एव च॥

dṛṣṭā bhītau parāmārtigatau tatra mahāpathi| narako rauravastatra mahārauravaeva ca||

- seeing which we two were terrified and struck with extreme anguish there on the great road. There is the hell Raurava, and Maharaurava too,

Verse 71 (skanda.5.310.71)

पेषणः शोषणश्चैव कालसूत्रोऽस्थिभञ्जनः। तामिस्रश्चान्धतामिस्रः कृमिपूतिवहस्तथा॥

peṣaṇaḥ śoṣaṇaścaiva kālasūtro'sthibhañjanaḥ| tāmisraścāndhatāmisraḥ kṛmipūtivahastathā||

and Peshana, Shoshana, Kalasutra, Asthibhanjana, Tamisra, Andhatamisra, and also Krimiputivaha.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.310.72)

दृष्टश्चान्यो महाज्वालस्तत्रैव विषभोजनः। नरकौ दंशमशकौ तथा यमलपर्वतौ॥

dṛṣṭaścānyo mahājvālastatraiva viṣabhojanaḥ| narakau daṁśamaśakau tathā yamalaparvatau||

There we also saw the hells called Mahajvala and Vishabhojana, as well as the two hells Damsha and Mashaka, and the hell of the Twin Mountains.

Verse 73 (skanda.5.310.73)

नदी वैतरणी दृष्टा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी। शीतलं सलिलं यत्र पिबन्ति ह्यमृतोपमम्॥

nadī vaitaraṇī dṛṣṭā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī| śītalaṁ salilaṁ yatra pibanti hyamṛtopamam||

We saw too the river Vaitarani, destroyer of all sin, whose cool water some drink as if it were nectar,

Verse 74 (skanda.5.310.74)

तदेव नीरं पापानां शोणितं परिवर्तते। असिपत्रवनं चान्यद्दृष्टान्या महती शिला॥

tadeva nīraṁ pāpānāṁ śoṇitaṁ parivartate| asipatravanaṁ cānyaddṛṣṭānyā mahatī śilā||

- while for sinners that same water turns to blood. We also saw the Asipatra forest, and another great rock,

Verse 75 (skanda.5.310.75)

अग्निपुंजनिभाकारा विशाला शाल्मली परा। इत्यादयस्तथैवान्ये शतसाहस्रसंज्ञिताः॥

agnipuñjanibhākārā viśālā śālmalī parā| ityādayastathaivānye śatasāhasrasaṁjñitāḥ||

and the vast Shalmali tree, shaped like a mass of fire. Thus there are hundreds of thousands of other hells, similarly named,

Verse 76 (skanda.5.310.76)

घोरघोरतरा दृष्टाः क्लिश्यन्ते यत्र मानवाः। वाचिकैर्मानसैः पापैः कर्मजैश्च पृथग्विधैः॥

ghoraghoratarā dṛṣṭāḥ kliśyante yatra mānavāḥ| vācikairmānasaiḥ pāpaiḥ karmajaiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ||

- most terrible, which we saw, where men suffer for their various sins committed in speech, mind, and deed,

Verse 77 (skanda.5.310.77)

अहंकारकृतैर्दोषैर्मायावचनपूर्वकैः। पिता माता गुरुर्भ्राता अनाथा विकलेन्द्रियाः॥

ahaṁkārakṛtairdoṣairmāyāvacanapūrvakaiḥ| pitā mātā gururbhrātā anāthā vikalendriyāḥ||

- and for faults born of pride and preceded by deceitful speech. Those whose father, mother, teacher, or brother, left orphaned, bereft of their faculties -

Verse 78 (skanda.5.310.78)

भ्रमन्ति नोद्धृता येषां गतिस्तेषां हि रौरवे। तत्र ते द्वादशाब्दानि क्षपित्वा रौरवेऽधमाः॥

bhramanti noddhṛtā yeṣāṁ gatisteṣāṁ hi raurave| tatra te dvādaśābdāni kṣapitvā raurave'dhamāḥ||

- wander unredeemed, their fate is in Raurava. Those base ones, having spent twelve years there in Raurava,

Verse 79 (skanda.5.310.79)

इह मानुष्यके लोके दीनान्धाश्च भवन्ति ते। देवब्रह्मस्वहर्तॄणां नराणां पापकर्मणाम्॥

iha mānuṣyake loke dīnāndhāśca bhavanti te| devabrahmasvahartṝṇāṁ narāṇāṁ pāpakarmaṇām||

are then born in this human world wretched and blind. For men of sinful deeds who steal the property of gods and brahmins -

Verse 80 (skanda.5.310.80)

महारौरवमाश्रित्य ध्रुवं वासो यमालये। ततः कालेन महता पापाः पापेन वेष्टिताः॥

mahārauravamāśritya dhruvaṁ vāso yamālaye| tataḥ kālena mahatā pāpāḥ pāpena veṣṭitāḥ||

- dwelling in Maharaurava in Yama's abode is certain. Thereafter, after a very long time, those sinners, enveloped in sin,

Verse 81 (skanda.5.310.81)

जायन्ते कण्टकैर्भिन्नाः कोशे वा कोशकारकाः। मृगपक्षिविहङ्गानां घातका मांसभक्षकाः॥

jāyante kaṇṭakairbhinnāḥ kośe vā kośakārakāḥ| mṛgapakṣivihaṅgānāṁ ghātakā māṁsabhakṣakāḥ||

- are born pierced by thorns, or as silkworms within cocoons. Killers of deer, birds, and fowl, eaters of flesh -

Verse 82 (skanda.5.310.82)

पेषणं नरकं यान्ति शोषणं जीवबन्धनात्। तत्रत्यां यातनां घोरां सहित्वा शास्त्रचोदिताम्॥

peṣaṇaṁ narakaṁ yānti śoṣaṇaṁ jīvabandhanāt| tatratyāṁ yātanāṁ ghorāṁ sahitvā śāstracoditām||

- go to the hell Peshana; for binding living creatures, to the hell Shoshana. Having endured there the terrible torment ordained by the scriptures,

Verse 83 (skanda.5.310.83)

इह मानुष्यतां प्राप्य पङ्ग्वन्धबधिरा नराः। गवार्थे ब्राह्मणार्थे च ह्यनृतं वदतामिह॥

iha mānuṣyatāṁ prāpya paṅgvandhabadhirā narāḥ| gavārthe brāhmaṇārthe ca hyanṛtaṁ vadatāmiha||

they, attaining human birth here, become lame, blind, and deaf. For those who here speak falsehood concerning a cow or a brahmin -

Verse 84 (skanda.5.310.84)

पतनं जायते पुंसां नरके कालसूत्रके। तत्रत्या यातना घोरा विहिता शास्त्रकर्तृभिः॥

patanaṁ jāyate puṁsāṁ narake kālasūtrake| tatratyā yātanā ghorā vihitā śāstrakartṛbhiḥ||

- a fall into the hell Kalasutraka occurs. The terrible torment there has been ordained by the makers of the scriptures.

Verse 85 (skanda.5.310.85)

भुक्त्वा समागता ह्यत्र ते यास्यन्त्यन्त्यजां गतिम्। बन्धयन्ति च ये जीवांस्त्यक्त्वात्मकुलसन्ततिम्॥

bhuktvā samāgatā hyatra te yāsyantyantyajāṁ gatim| bandhayanti ca ye jīvāṁstyaktvātmakulasantatim||

Having endured it and returned here, they attain the lowest of births. Those who, forsaking the continuity of their own lineage, bind living creatures -

Verse 86 (skanda.5.310.86)

पतन्ति नात्र सन्देहो नरके तेऽस्थिभञ्जने। तत्र वर्षशतस्यान्त इह मानुष्यतां गताः॥

patanti nātra sandeho narake te'sthibhañjane| tatra varṣaśatasyānta iha mānuṣyatāṁ gatāḥ||

- fall, without doubt, into the hell Asthibhanjana. There, at the end of a hundred years, having attained human birth,

Verse 87 (skanda.5.310.87)

कुब्जा वामनकाः पापा जायन्ते दुःखभागिनः। ये त्यजन्ति स्वकां भार्यां मूढाः पण्डितमानिनः॥

kubjā vāmanakāḥ pāpā jāyante duḥkhabhāginaḥ| ye tyajanti svakāṁ bhāryāṁ mūḍhāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ||

- they are born hunchbacked and dwarfish, sinful, sharing in misery. Fools who, deeming themselves wise, forsake their own wives -

Verse 88 (skanda.5.310.88)

ते यान्ति नरकं घोरं तामिस्रं नात्र संशयः। तत्र वर्षशतस्यान्ते इह मानुष्यतां गताः॥

te yānti narakaṁ ghoraṁ tāmisraṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ| tatra varṣaśatasyānte iha mānuṣyatāṁ gatāḥ||

- go without doubt to the terrible hell Tamisra. There, at the end of a hundred years, having attained this human birth,

Verse 89 (skanda.5.310.89)

दुश्चर्माणो दुर्भगाश्च जायन्ते मानवा हि ते। मानकूटं तुलाकूटं कूटकं तु वदन्ति ये॥

duścarmāṇo durbhagāśca jāyante mānavā hi te| mānakūṭaṁ tulākūṭaṁ kūṭakaṁ tu vadanti ye||

- those men are born with rough skin and ill-fortune. Those who practise falsehood in measures, in the balance, and other forms of deceit -

Verse 90 (skanda.5.310.90)

नरके तेऽन्धतामिस्रे प्रपच्यन्ते नराधमाः। शतसाहस्रिकं कालमुषित्वा तत्र ते नराः॥

narake te'ndhatāmisre prapacyante narādhamāḥ| śatasāhasrikaṁ kālamuṣitvā tatra te narāḥ||

- those base men are cooked in the hell Andhatamisra. Having dwelt there for a hundred thousand years, those men -

Verse 91 (skanda.5.310.91)

इह शत्रुगृहे त्वन्धा भ्रमन्ते दीनमूर्तयः। पितृदेवद्विजेभ्योऽन्नमदत्त्वा येऽत्र भुञ्जते॥

iha śatrugṛhe tvandhā bhramante dīnamūrtayaḥ| pitṛdevadvijebhyo'nnamadattvā ye'tra bhuñjate||

- wander here as blind, wretched beggars in an enemy's house. Those who eat food here without first offering it to ancestors, gods, and brahmins -

Verse 92 (skanda.5.310.92)

नरके कृमिभक्ष्ये ते पतन्ति स्वात्मपोषकाः। ततः प्रसूतिकाले हि कृमिभुक्तश्च सव्रणः॥

narake kṛmibhakṣye te patanti svātmapoṣakāḥ| tataḥ prasūtikāle hi kṛmibhuktaśca savraṇaḥ||

- those who nourish only themselves, fall into the worm-devoured hell. Then, at the time of birth, gnawed by worms, covered in sores,

Verse 93 (skanda.5.310.93)

जायतेऽशुचिगन्धोऽत्र परभाग्योपजीवकः। स्वकर्मविच्युताः पापा वर्णाश्रमविवर्जिताः॥

jāyate'śucigandho'tra parabhāgyopajīvakaḥ| svakarmavicyutāḥ pāpā varṇāśramavivarjitāḥ||

- he is born foul-smelling, living off another's fortune. Sinners fallen from their own duty, bereft of varna and ashrama -

Verse 94 (skanda.5.310.94)

नरके पूयसम्पूर्णे क्लिश्यन्ते ह्ययुतं समाः। पूर्णे तत्र ततः काले प्राप्य मानुष्यकं भवम्॥

narake pūyasampūrṇe kliśyante hyayutaṁ samāḥ| pūrṇe tatra tataḥ kāle prāpya mānuṣyakaṁ bhavam||

- suffer for ten thousand years in a hell filled with pus. When that time is completed there, having attained human birth,

Verse 95 (skanda.5.310.95)

उद्वेजनीया भूतानां जायन्ते व्याधिभिर्वृताः। अग्निदो गरदश्चैव लोभमोहान्वितो नरः॥

udvejanīyā bhūtānāṁ jāyante vyādhibhirvṛtāḥ| agnido garadaścaiva lobhamohānvito naraḥ||

- they are born diseased, objects of loathing to other creatures. The arsonist, the poisoner, and the man possessed by greed and delusion -

Verse 96 (skanda.5.310.96)

नरके विषसम्पूर्णे निमज्जति दुरात्मवान्। तत्र वर्षशतात्कालादुन्मज्जनमवस्थितः॥

narake viṣasampūrṇe nimajjati durātmavān| tatra varṣaśatātkālādunmajjanamavasthitaḥ||

- that evil-souled man sinks into a hell filled with poison. Only after a hundred years there does his emergence take place.

Verse 97 (skanda.5.310.97)

भुवि मानुषतां प्राप्य कृपणो जायते पुनः। पादुकोपानहौ छत्रं शय्यां प्रावरणानि च॥

bhuvi mānuṣatāṁ prāpya kṛpaṇo jāyate punaḥ| pādukopānahau chatraṁ śayyāṁ prāvaraṇāni ca||

Attaining human birth on earth, he is born again wretched and destitute. One who, without giving footwear, sandals, umbrella, bedding, and covering garments -

Verse 98 (skanda.5.310.98)

अदत्त्वा दंशमशकैर्भक्ष्यन्ते जन्यसप्ततिम्। पितुर्द्रव्यापहर्तारस्ताडनक्रोशने रताः॥

adattvā daṁśamaśakairbhakṣyante janyasaptatim| piturdravyāpahartārastāḍanakrośane ratāḥ||

- fails to give away, is devoured by gnats and mosquitoes for seventy births. Those who steal their father's wealth, delighting in beating and causing screams of anguish -

Verse 99 (skanda.5.310.99)

पीडनं क्रियते तेषां यत्र तौ युग्मपर्वतौ। या सा वैतरणी घोरा नदी रक्तप्रवाहिनी॥

pīḍanaṁ kriyate teṣāṁ yatra tau yugmaparvatau| yā sā vaitaraṇī ghorā nadī raktapravāhinī||

- are tormented where those two Yugma mountains stand, crushing them. That terrible river Vaitarani, which flows with a stream of blood,

Verse 100 (skanda.5.310.100)

पिबन्ति रुधिरं तत्र येऽभियान्ति रजस्वलाम्। असिपत्रवने घोरे पीड्यन्ते पापकारिणः॥

pibanti rudhiraṁ tatra ye'bhiyānti rajasvalām| asipatravane ghore pīḍyante pāpakāriṇaḥ||

- those who approach a menstruating woman drink blood there. In the terrible Asipatra forest, evil-doers are tormented -

Verse 101 (skanda.5.310.101)

परपीडाकरा नित्यं ये नरोऽन्त्यजगामिनः। गुरुदाररतानां तु महापातकिनामपि॥

parapīḍākarā nityaṁ ye naro'ntyajagāminaḥ| gurudāraratānāṁ tu mahāpātakināmapi||

- those men who constantly injure others and consort with outcaste women. For those attached to the guru's wife, great sinners though they be -

Verse 102 (skanda.5.310.102)

शिलावगूहनं तेषां जायते जन्मसप्ततिम्। ज्वलन्तीमायसीं घोरां बहुकण्टकसंवृताम्॥

śilāvagūhanaṁ teṣāṁ jāyate janmasaptatim| jvalantīmāyasīṁ ghorāṁ bahukaṇṭakasaṁvṛtām||

- the embrace of a rock occurs, for seventy births. The blazing, iron, terrible, thorn-covered -

Verse 103 (skanda.5.310.103)

शाल्मलीं तेऽवगूहन्ति परदाररता हि ये। परस्य योषितं हृत्वा ब्रह्मस्वमपहृत्य च॥

śālmalīṁ te'vagūhanti paradāraratā hi ye| parasya yoṣitaṁ hṛtvā brahmasvamapahṛtya ca||

- Shalmali tree they embrace, those who are attached to another's wife. Having abducted another's wife, and having stolen a brahmin's property -

Verse 104 (skanda.5.310.104)

अरण्ये निर्जले देशे स भवेत्क्रूरराक्षसः। देवस्वं ब्राह्मणस्वं च लोभेनैवाहरेच्च यः॥

araṇye nirjale deśe sa bhavetkrūrarākṣasaḥ| devasvaṁ brāhmaṇasvaṁ ca lobhenaivāharecca yaḥ||

- he becomes a cruel rakshasa in a waterless forest region. He who, out of greed, seizes the property of gods and brahmins -

Verse 105 (skanda.5.310.105)

स पापात्मा परे लोके गृध्रोच्छिष्टेन जीवति। एवमादीनि पापानि भुञ्जन्ते यमशासनात्॥

sa pāpātmā pare loke gṛdhrocchiṣṭena jīvati| evamādīni pāpāni bhuñjante yamaśāsanāt||

- that sinful soul lives in the next world on the leavings of vultures. Thus, by Yama's ordinance, creatures undergo the fruits of these and similar sins."

Verse 106 (skanda.5.310.106)

येषां तु दर्शनादेव श्रवणाज्जायते भयम्। तथा दानफलं चान्ये भुञ्जाना यममन्दिरे॥

yeṣāṁ tu darśanādeva śravaṇājjāyate bhayam| tathā dānaphalaṁ cānye bhuñjānā yamamandire||

We saw those torments the mere sight or hearing of which causes fear; and we also saw, in Yama's mansion, others enjoying the fruit of their charity,

Verse 107 (skanda.5.310.107)

दृष्टाः श्रुतं कथयतां दूतानां च यमाज्ञया। रथैरन्ये गजैरन्ये केचिद्वाजिभिरावृताः॥

dṛṣṭāḥ śrutaṁ kathayatāṁ dūtānāṁ ca yamājñayā| rathairanye gajairanye kecidvājibhirāvṛtāḥ||

- what we saw and heard, told by Yama's messengers according to his command. Some upon chariots, some upon elephants, some others surrounded by horses,

Verse 108 (skanda.5.310.108)

दृष्टास्तत्र महाभाग तपःसंचयसंस्थिताः। गोदाता स्वर्णदाता च भूमिरत्नप्रदा नराः॥

dṛṣṭāstatra mahābhāga tapaḥsaṁcayasaṁsthitāḥ| godātā svarṇadātā ca bhūmiratnapradā narāḥ||

- we saw there, O illustrious one, established in the accumulation of their austerities. Givers of cows, givers of gold, men who gave land and jewels -

Verse 109 (skanda.5.310.109)

शय्याशनगृहादीनां स लोकः कामदो नृणाम्। अन्नं पानीयसहितं ददते येऽत्र मानवाः॥

śayyāśanagṛhādīnāṁ sa lokaḥ kāmado nṛṇām| annaṁ pānīyasahitaṁ dadate ye'tra mānavāḥ||

- for them, that realm grants every desire - bedding, food, dwellings, and the rest. Men who here give food together with water,

Verse 110 (skanda.5.310.110)

तत्र तृप्ताः सुसंतुष्टाः क्रीडन्ते यमसादने। अत्र यद्दीयते दानमपि वालाग्रमात्रकम्॥

tatra tṛptāḥ susaṁtuṣṭāḥ krīḍante yamasādane| atra yaddīyate dānamapi vālāgramātrakam||

- are, there, satisfied and content, at play in Yama's mansion. Here at Shukla-tirtha, whatever gift is given, even as small as the tip of a hair -

Verse 111 (skanda.5.310.111)

तदक्षयफलं सर्वं शुक्लतीर्थे नृपोत्तम। एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं यद्दृष्टं यच्च वै श्रुतम्॥

tadakṣayaphalaṁ sarvaṁ śuklatīrthe nṛpottama| etatte kathitaṁ sarvaṁ yaddṛṣṭaṁ yacca vai śrutam||

- all that yields imperishable fruit, O best of kings. All this we have told you, whatever we saw and whatever we heard.

Verse 112 (skanda.5.310.112)

कुरुष्व यदभिप्रेतं यदि शक्नोषि मुच्यताम्। तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चाणक्यो हृष्टमानसः॥

kuruṣva yadabhipretaṁ yadi śaknoṣi mucyatām| tayostadvacanaṁ śrutvā cāṇakyo hṛṣṭamānasaḥ||

- "Do as you wish; if you are able, be freed." Hearing their words, Chanakya, his mind filled with joy -

Verse 113 (skanda.5.310.113)

विसर्जयामास खगावभिनन्द्य पुनःपुनः। ताभ्यां गताभ्यां सर्वस्वं दत्त्वा विप्रेषु भारत॥

visarjayāmāsa khagāvabhinandya punaḥpunaḥ| tābhyāṁ gatābhyāṁ sarvasvaṁ dattvā vipreṣu bhārata||

- repeatedly honoured and dismissed the two birds. O Bharata, after they had departed, he gave away all his wealth to brahmins,

Verse 114 (skanda.5.310.114)

कामक्रोधौ परित्यज्य जगामामरपर्वतम्। तत्र बद्ध्वोडुपं गाढं कृष्णरज्ज्वावलम्बितम्॥

kāmakrodhau parityajya jagāmāmaraparvatam| tatra baddhvoḍupaṁ gāḍhaṁ kṛṣṇarajjvāvalambitam||

- forsook desire and anger, and went to the immortal mountain. There, having firmly fastened a raft, suspended by a black rope,

Verse 115 (skanda.5.310.115)

प्लवमानो जगामाऽशु ध्यायन्देवं जनार्दनम्। आरोग्यं भास्करादिच्छेद्धनं वै जातवेदसः॥

plavamāno jagāmā'śu dhyāyandevaṁ janārdanam| ārogyaṁ bhāskarādicchheddhanaṁ vai jātavedasaḥ||

- floating upon it, meditating upon the god Janardana, he went swiftly onward. It is said that one should seek health from the Sun, wealth from Fire,

Verse 116 (skanda.5.310.116)

प्राप्नोति ज्ञानमीशानान्मोक्षं प्राप्नोति केशवात्। नीलं रक्तं तदभवन्मेचकं यद्धि सूत्रकम्॥

prāpnoti jñānamīśānānmokṣaṁ prāpnoti keśavāt| nīlaṁ raktaṁ tadabhavanmecakaṁ yaddhi sūtrakam||

- knowledge from Ishana, and liberation from Keshava. That rope, which was blue, red, and dark in colour,

Verse 117 (skanda.5.310.117)

शुद्धस्फटिकसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा रज्जुं महामतिः। आप्लुत्य विमले तोये गतोऽसौ वैष्णवं पदम्॥

śuddhasphaṭikasaṅkāśaṁ dṛṣṭvā rajjuṁ mahāmatiḥ| āplutya vimale toye gato'sau vaiṣṇavaṁ padam||

- that great-minded one, beholding that rope now as pure as crystal, having bathed in the clear water, attained the Vaishnava state.

Verse 118 (skanda.5.310.118)

गायन्ति यद्वेदविदः पुराणं नारायणं शाश्वतमच्युताह्वयम्। प्राप्तः स तं राजसुतो महात्मा निक्षिप्य देहं शुभशुक्लतीर्थे॥

gāyanti yadvedavidaḥ purāṇaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ śāśvatamacyutāhvayam| prāptaḥ sa taṁ rājasuto mahātmā nikṣipya dehaṁ śubhaśuklatīrthe||

That ancient, eternal Narayana, called Achyuta, whom the knowers of the Vedas sing of - that state did the great-souled prince attain, having relinquished his body at the auspicious Shukla-tirtha.

Verse 119 (skanda.5.310.119)

एषा ते कथिता राजन्सिद्धिश्चाणक्यभूभृतः। तथान्यत्तव वक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः॥

eṣā te kathitā rājansiddhiścāṇakyabhūbhṛtaḥ| tathānyattava vakṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ||

O king, this is the attainment of King Chanakya, as told to you. Now I shall tell you something else; listen with a focused mind.