Mandavya's Ordeal and Shandili's Dialogue with the Sages

Verse 1 (skanda.5.326.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। कथितं ब्राह्मणं द्रष्टुं शूले क्षिप्तं तपोधनैः । नारायणसमीपे तु गताः सर्वे महर्षयः ॥ १ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| kathitaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ draṣṭuṁ śūle kṣiptaṁ tapodhanaiḥ | nārāyaṇasamīpe tu gatāḥ sarve maharṣayaḥ || 1 ||

Sri Markandeya said: Having been told of the brahmin who had been impaled upon a stake, all the great ascetic sages went to see him, coming into the presence of the muni Narayana.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.326.2)

नारदो देवलो रैभ्यो यमः शातातपोऽङ्गिराः । वसिष्ठो जमदग्निश्च याज्ञवल्क्यो बृहस्पतिः ॥ २ ॥

nārado devalo raibhyo yamaḥ śātātapo'ṅgirāḥ | vasiṣṭho jamadagniśca yājñavalkyo bṛhaspatiḥ || 2 ||

Narada, Devala, Raibhya, Yama, Shatatapa, Angiras, Vasishtha, Jamadagni, Yajnavalkya, and Brihaspati —

Verse 3 (skanda.5.326.3)

कश्यपोऽत्रिर्भरद्वाजो विश्वामित्रोऽरुणिर्मुनिः । वालखिल्यादयोऽन्ये च सर्वेऽप्यृषिगणान्वयाः ॥ ३ ॥

kaśyapo'trirbharadvājo viśvāmitro'ruṇirmuniḥ | vālakhilyādayo'nye ca sarve'pyṛṣigaṇānvayāḥ || 3 ||

Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, the sage Aruni, the Valakhilyas, and other sages of many lineages —

Verse 4 (skanda.5.326.4)

ददृशुः शूलमारूढं माण्डव्यमृषिपुंगवाः । प्रोचुर्नारायणं विप्रं किं कुर्मस्तव चेप्सितम् ॥ ४ ॥

dadṛśuḥ śūlamārūḍhaṁ māṇḍavyamṛṣipuṅgavāḥ | procurnārāyaṇaṁ vipraṁ kiṁ kurmastava cepsitam || 4 ||

These finest of sages beheld Mandavya mounted upon the stake, and said to the brahmin Narayana, 'What shall we do? Tell us your wish.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.326.5)

सर्वे ते तत्र सांनिध्यान्माण्डव्यस्य महात्मनः । संभ्रान्ता आगता ऊचुः किं मृतः किं नु जीवति ॥ ५ ॥

sarve te tatra sānnidhyānmāṇḍavyasya mahātmanaḥ | sambhrāntā āgatā ūcuḥ kiṁ mṛtaḥ kiṁ nu jīvati || 5 ||

Bewildered, they all arrived there in the presence of the great soul Mandavya and asked, 'Is he dead, or does he yet live?'

Verse 6 (skanda.5.326.6)

अवस्थां तस्य ते दृष्ट्वा विषादमगमन्परम् । असहित्वा तु तद्दुःखं सर्वे ते मनसा द्विजाः ॥ ६ ॥

avasthāṁ tasya te dṛṣṭvā viṣādamagamanparam | asahitvā tu tadduḥkhaṁ sarve te manasā dvijāḥ || 6 ||

Seeing his condition, they fell into deep sorrow; all those brahmins, unable to bear that suffering in their hearts,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.326.7)

पृच्छ्यतां यदि मन्येत राजानं भस्मसात्कुरु । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं नारायणोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ७ ॥

pṛcchyatāṁ yadi manyeta rājānaṁ bhasmasātkuru | teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vākyaṁ nārāyaṇo'bravīt || 7 ||

[they said to one another] 'Let him be asked if he wishes it — then let the king be reduced to ashes!' Hearing their words, Narayana spoke this reply:

Verse 8 (skanda.5.326.8)

मयि जीवति मद्भ्राता ह्यवस्थामीदृशीं गतः । धिग्जीवितं च मे किंतु तपसो विद्यते फलम् ॥ ८ ॥

mayi jīvati madbhrātā hyavasthāmīdṛśīṁ gataḥ | dhigjīvitaṁ ca me kiṁtu tapaso vidyate phalam || 8 ||

'While I yet live, my own brother has come to such a state — shame upon my life! And yet, this is indeed the fruit of his austerity.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.326.9)

दृष्ट्वा शूलस्थितं ज्येष्ठं मन्मनो नु विदीर्यते । परं किं तु करिष्यामि येन राष्ट्रं सराजकम् ॥ ९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā śūlasthitaṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ manmano nu vidīryate | paraṁ kiṁ tu kariṣyāmi yena rāṣṭraṁ sarājakam || 9 ||

Seeing my elder brother fixed upon the stake, my mind is torn apart. Yet what shall I do, by which the whole kingdom together with its king —

Verse 10 (skanda.5.326.10)

भस्मसाच्च करोम्यद्य भवद्भिः क्षम्यतामिह । एवमुक्त्वा गृहीत्वासौ करस्थमभिमन्त्रयेत् ॥ १० ॥

bhasmasācca karomyadya bhavadbhiḥ kṣamyatāmiha | evamuktvā gṛhītvāsau karasthamabhimantrayet || 10 ||

I shall today reduce to ashes — forgive me this, all of you.' Having said this, he took water in his hand and began to consecrate it with mantras.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.326.11)

क्रोधेन पश्यते यावत्तावद्धुंकारकोऽभवत् । तेन हुङ्कारशब्देन ऋषयो विस्मितास्तदा ॥ ११ ॥

krodhena paśyate yāvattāvaddhuṁkārako'bhavat | tena huṅkāraśabdena ṛṣayo vismitāstadā || 11 ||

As soon as he looked on it in anger, a sound of 'hum' arose. At that sound the sages were astonished.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.326.12)

माण्डव्यस्य समीपे तु ह्यपृच्छंस्ते द्विजोत्तमाः । निवारयसि किं विप्र शापं नृपजिघांसनम् ॥ १२ ॥

māṇḍavyasya samīpe tu hyapṛcchaṁste dvijottamāḥ | nivārayasi kiṁ vipra śāpaṁ nṛpajighāṁsanam || 12 ||

Then, near Mandavya, those best of brahmins asked, 'O brahmin, why do you hold back the curse meant to destroy the king?'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.326.13)

अपापस्य तु येनेह कृतमस्य जिघांसनम् । ऋषीणां वचनं श्रुत्वा कृच्छ्रान्माण्डव्यकोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १३ ॥

apāpasya tu yeneha kṛtamasya jighāṁsanam | ṛṣīṇāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā kṛcchrānmāṇḍavyako'bravīt || 13 ||

'— by the one who has thus sought to destroy him though he is without sin.' Hearing the sages' words, Mandavya spoke with great difficulty:

Verse 14 (skanda.5.326.14)

अभिवन्दामि वो मूर्ध्ना स्वागतं ऋषयः सदा । अर्घ्यसन्मानपूजार्हाः सर्वेऽत्रोपविशन्तु ते ॥ १४ ॥

abhivandāmi vo mūrdhnā svāgataṁ ṛṣayaḥ sadā | arghyasanmānapūjārhāḥ sarve'tropaviśantu te || 14 ||

'I bow my head to all of you; O sages, you are ever welcome. Worthy of offerings, honour and worship, let all of you be seated here.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.326.15)

निविष्टैकाग्रमनसा सर्वान्माण्डव्यकोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १५ ॥

niviṣṭaikāgramanasā sarvānmāṇḍavyako'bravīt || 15 ||

With mind fixed and one-pointed, Mandavya spoke to them all.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.326.16)

प्राप्तं दुःखं मया घोरं पूर्वजन्मार्जितं फलम् । मा विषादं कुरुध्वं भोः कृतं पापं तु भुज्यते ॥ १६ ॥

prāptaṁ duḥkhaṁ mayā ghoraṁ pūrvajanmārjitaṁ phalam | mā viṣādaṁ kurudhvaṁ bhoḥ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tu bhujyate || 16 ||

'This terrible suffering I have obtained is the fruit earned in a former birth. Do not grieve, O sirs — the sin once committed must indeed be experienced.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.326.17)

ऋषय ऊचुः । केन कर्मविपाकेन इह जात्यन्तरं व्रजेत् । दानधर्मफलेनैव केन स्वर्गं च गच्छति ॥ १७ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kena karmavipākena iha jātyantaraṁ vrajet | dānadharmaphalenaiva kena svargaṁ ca gacchati || 17 ||

The sages said: 'By the ripening of what karma does one pass into another birth here? And by the fruit of what charity and dharma does one attain heaven?'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.326.18)

माण्डव्य उवाच। अदत्तदाना जायन्ते परभाग्योपजीविनः । न स्नानं न जपो होमो नातिथ्यं न सुरार्चनम् ॥ १८ ॥

māṇḍavya uvāca| adattadānā jāyante parabhāgyopajīvinaḥ | na snānaṁ na japo homo nātithyaṁ na surārcanam || 18 ||

Mandavya said: 'Those who give no gifts are born dependent on others' fortune for their living — with no bathing rites, no japa, no fire-offering, no hospitality, and no worship of the gods —

Verse 19 (skanda.5.326.19)

न पर्वणि पितृश्राद्धं न दानं द्विजसत्तमाः । व्रजन्ति नरके घोरे यान्ति ते त्वन्त्यजां गतिम् ॥ १९ ॥

na parvaṇi pitṛśrāddhaṁ na dānaṁ dvijasattamāḥ | vrajanti narake ghore yānti te tvantyajāṁ gatim || 19 ||

— nor ancestral shraddha on the sacred days, nor gifts, O best of brahmins — such people go to terrible hells, and attain the state of outcastes.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.326.20)

पुनर्दरिद्राः पुनरेव पापाः पापप्रभावान्नरके वसन्ति । तेनैव संसरिणि मर्त्यलोके जीवादिभूते कृमयः पतङ्गाः ॥ २० ॥

punardaridrāḥ punareva pāpāḥ pāpaprabhāvānnarake vasanti | tenaiva saṁsariṇi martyaloke jīvādibhūte kṛmayaḥ pataṅgāḥ || 20 ||

Again and again they become poor, again and again sinful; by the power of their sin they dwell in hell; and by that very cycle, in this mortal, transmigratory world, they are born as worms and moths among lowly creatures.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.326.21)

ये स्नानशीला द्विजदेवभक्ता जितेन्द्रिया जीवदयानुशीलाः । ते देवलोकेषु वसन्ति हृष्टा ये धर्मशीला जितमानरोषाः ॥ २१ ॥

ye snānaśīlā dvijadevabhaktā jitendriyā jīvadayānuśīlāḥ | te devalokeṣu vasanti hṛṣṭā ye dharmaśīlā jitamānaroṣāḥ || 21 ||

Those who are habitually pure through bathing, devoted to brahmins and gods, self-controlled, and given to compassion for living beings — those of righteous conduct who have conquered pride and anger — dwell joyfully in the worlds of the gods.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.326.22)

विद्याविनीता न परोपतापिनः स्वदारतुष्टाः परदारवर्जिताः । तेषां न लोके भयमस्ति किंचित्स्वभावशुद्धा गतकल्मषा हि ते ॥ २२ ॥

vidyāvinītā na paropatāpinaḥ svadāratuṣṭāḥ paradāravarjitāḥ | teṣāṁ na loke bhayamasti kiṁcitsvabhāvaśuddhā gatakalmaṣā hi te || 22 ||

Those humbled by learning, who do not torment others, who are content with their own wives and shun the wives of others — for them there is no fear at all in this world, for they are pure by nature, their sins departed.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.326.23)

ऋषय ऊचुः । पूर्वजन्मनि विप्रेन्द्र किं त्वया दुष्कृतं कृतम् । येन कष्टमिदं प्राप्तं सन्धानं शूलगर्हितम् ॥ २३ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | pūrvajanmani viprendra kiṁ tvayā duṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam | yena kaṣṭamidaṁ prāptaṁ sandhānaṁ śūlagarhitam || 23 ||

The sages said: 'O foremost of brahmins, what evil deed did you commit in a former birth, that you have obtained this misery — this piercing, disgraceful impalement on the stake?'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.326.24)

शूलस्थं त्वां समालक्ष्य ह्यागताः सर्व एव हि । जीवन्तं त्वां प्रपश्याम त्वन्तरन्नवतारयन् । रुजासंतापजं दुःखं सोढ्वापि त्वमवेदनः ॥ २४ ॥

śūlasthaṁ tvāṁ samālakṣya hyāgatāḥ sarva eva hi | jīvantaṁ tvāṁ prapaśyāma tvantarannavatārayan | rujāsaṁtāpajaṁ duḥkhaṁ soḍhvāpi tvamavedanaḥ || 24 ||

'Seeing you fixed on the stake, we have all come here. We see you still living — let us draw you off from within it. Though you have borne the anguish born of that wound, you seem free of pain.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.326.25)

माण्डव्य उवाच। स्वयमेव कृतं कर्म स्वयमेवोपभुज्यते । सुकृतं दुष्कृतं पूर्वे नान्ये भुञ्जन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥ २५ ॥

māṇḍavya uvāca| svayameva kṛtaṁ karma svayamevopabhujyate | sukṛtaṁ duṣkṛtaṁ pūrve nānye bhuñjanti karhicit || 25 ||

Mandavya said: 'The deed one has done oneself, one alone experiences its result. Good and evil done in a former life — others never experience it in one's stead.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.326.26)

यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् । तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमुपगच्छति ॥ २६ ॥

yathā dhenusahasreṣu vatso vindati mātaram | tathā pūrvakṛtaṁ karma kartāramupagacchati || 26 ||

Just as a calf finds its own mother even among a thousand cows, so does a deed once done in the past find its way back to its doer.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.326.27)

न माता न पिता भ्राता न भार्या न सुताः सुहृत् । न कस्य कर्मणां लेपः स्वयमेवोपभुज्यते ॥ २७ ॥

na mātā na pitā bhrātā na bhāryā na sutāḥ suhṛt | na kasya karmaṇāṁ lepaḥ svayamevopabhujyate || 27 ||

Neither mother nor father, brother, wife, sons, nor friend — no one shares the taint of another's deeds; each experiences the fruit of one's own actions alone.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.326.28)

श्रूयतां मम वाक्यं च भवद्भिः पृच्छितो ह्यहम् । पूर्वे वयसि भो विप्रा मलस्नानकृतक्षणः ॥ २८ ॥

śrūyatāṁ mama vākyaṁ ca bhavadbhiḥ pṛcchito hyaham | pūrve vayasi bho viprā malasnānakṛtakṣaṇaḥ || 28 ||

Listen now to my words, since you have asked me. In my earlier years, O brahmins, at the time when I was washing away dirt with a bath —

Verse 29 (skanda.5.326.29)

अज्ञानाद्बालभावेन यूका कण्टेऽधिरोपिता । तैलाभ्यक्तशिरोगात्रे मया यूका घृता न हि ॥ २९ ॥

ajñānādbālabhāvena yūkā kaṇṭe'dhiropitā | tailābhyaktaśirogātre mayā yūkā ghṛtā na hi || 29 ||

— out of ignorance, in the manner of a child, I impaled a louse upon a thorn. With head and body anointed with oil, I did not gently take hold of that louse.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.326.30)

कङ्कतीं रोप्य केशेषु सासा कण्टेऽधिरोपिता । तेषु पापं कृतं सद्यः फलमेतन्ममाभवत् ॥ ३० ॥

kaṅkatīṁ ropya keśeṣu sāsā kaṇṭe'dhiropitā | teṣu pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ sadyaḥ phalametanmamābhavat || 30 ||

Running a comb through my hair, I likewise impaled that louse on a thorn. For that sin then committed, this is at once the fruit that has now come to me.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.326.31)

किंचित्कालं क्षपित्वाहं प्राप्स्ये मोक्षं निरामयम् । भवन्तस्त्विह सन्तापं मां कुरुध्वं महर्षयः ॥ ३१ ॥

kiṁcitkālaṁ kṣapitvāhaṁ prāpsye mokṣaṁ nirāmayam | bhavantastviha santāpaṁ māṁ kurudhvaṁ maharṣayaḥ || 31 ||

After exhausting this karma for some further time, I shall attain untroubled liberation. Do not, O great sages, feel distress for me over this.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.326.32)

इमामवस्थां भुक्त्वाहं कंचिच्छपे न चोच्चरे । अहनि कतिचिच्छूले क्षपयिष्यामि किल्बिषम् ॥ ३२ ॥

imāmavasthāṁ bhuktvāhaṁ kaṁcicchape na coccare | ahani katicicchūle kṣapayiṣyāmi kilbiṣam || 32 ||

Having endured this condition, I curse no one, nor do I even utter a curse. For a few more days on this stake, I shall exhaust my sin.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.326.33)

प्राक्तनं कर्म भुञ्जामि यन्मया संचितं द्विजाः । क्षन्तव्यमस्य राज्ञोऽथ कोपश्चैव विसर्ज्यताम् ॥ ३३ ॥

prāktanaṁ karma bhuñjāmi yanmayā saṁcitaṁ dvijāḥ | kṣantavyamasya rājño'tha kopaścaiva visarjyatām || 33 ||

'I am simply experiencing the past karma I myself accumulated, O brahmins. Therefore this king should be forgiven, and any anger toward him should be released.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.326.34)

श्रुत्वा तु तस्य तद्वाक्यं माण्डव्यस्य महर्षयः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लब्ध्वा साधु साध्वित्यपूजयन् ॥ ३४ ॥

śrutvā tu tasya tadvākyaṁ māṇḍavyasya maharṣayaḥ | praharṣamatulaṁ labdhvā sādhu sādhvityapūjayan || 34 ||

Hearing these words of Mandavya, the great sages, filled with matchless joy, honoured him, exclaiming 'Well said, well said!'

Verse 35 (skanda.5.326.35)

नारायण उवाच। इदं जलं मन्त्रपूतं कस्मिन्स्थाने क्षिपाम्यहम् । येन राजा भवेद्भस्म सराष्ट्रः सपुरोहितः ॥ ३५ ॥

nārāyaṇa uvāca| idaṁ jalaṁ mantrapūtaṁ kasminsthāne kṣipāmyaham | yena rājā bhavedbhasma sarāṣṭraḥ sapurohitaḥ || 35 ||

Narayana said: 'Where shall I cast this water, purified by mantra, by which the king together with his kingdom and priest would be reduced to ashes?'

Verse 36 (skanda.5.326.36)

माण्डव्य उवाच। इदं जलं च रक्षस्व कालकूटविषोपमम् । समुद्रे क्षिपयिष्यामि देवकार्यं समुत्थितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

māṇḍavya uvāca| idaṁ jalaṁ ca rakṣasva kālakūṭaviṣopamam | samudre kṣipayiṣyāmi devakāryaṁ samutthitam || 36 ||

Mandavya said: 'Preserve this water, which is like the deadly kalakuta poison. I shall have it cast into the ocean — for some purpose of the gods is to arise from it.'

Verse 37 (skanda.5.326.37)

अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे माण्डव्यं प्रणिपत्य च । आमन्त्रयित्वा हर्षाच्च कश्यपाद्या गृहान्ययुः ॥ ३७ ॥

atha te munayaḥ sarve māṇḍavyaṁ praṇipatya ca | āmantrayitvā harṣācca kaśyapādyā gṛhānyayuḥ || 37 ||

Then all those sages, having bowed down to Mandavya, and having taken joyful leave of him, headed by Kashyapa, departed for their homes.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.326.38)

गच्छमानास्तु ते चोक्ताः पञ्चमेऽहनि तापसाः । आगन्तव्यं भवद्भिश्च मत्सकाशं प्रतिज्ञया ॥ ३८ ॥

gacchamānāstu te coktāḥ pañcame'hani tāpasāḥ | āgantavyaṁ bhavadbhiśca matsakāśaṁ pratijñayā || 38 ||

As they were leaving, those ascetics were told, 'On the fifth day, you must come back into my presence, as promised.'

Verse 39 (skanda.5.326.39)

तथेति ते प्रतिज्ञाय नारदाद्या अदर्शनम् । गतेषु विप्रमुख्येषु शाण्डिली च तपोधना ॥ ३९ ॥

tatheti te pratijñāya nāradādyā adarśanam | gateṣu vipramukhyeṣu śāṇḍilī ca tapodhanā || 39 ||

'So be it,' they agreed, and Narada and the others passed out of sight. When those foremost brahmins had gone, Shandili, rich in austerity —

Verse 40 (skanda.5.326.40)

द्वितीयेऽह्नि समायाता न तु बुद्ध्वाथ तं ऋषिम् । भर्तारं शिरसा धार्य रात्रौ पर्यटते स्म सा ॥ ४० ॥

dvitīye'hni samāyātā na tu buddhvātha taṁ ṛṣim | bhartāraṁ śirasā dhārya rātrau paryaṭate sma sā || 40 ||

— arrived on the second day, but did not notice that sage there. Carrying her own husband upon her head, she was wandering about by night.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.326.41)

न दृष्टः शूलके विप्रो भराक्रान्त्या युधिष्ठिर । स्खलिता तस्य जानुभ्यां शूलस्थस्य पतिव्रता ॥ ४१ ॥

na dṛṣṭaḥ śūlake vipro bharākrāntyā yudhiṣṭhira | skhalitā tasya jānubhyāṁ śūlasthasya pativratā || 41 ||

O Yudhishthira, weighed down by her burden, she did not see the brahmin upon the stake; the chaste woman stumbled, her knees striking against him who was fixed there.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.326.42)

सर्वाङ्गेषु व्यथा जाता तस्याः प्रस्खलनान्मुनेः । ईदृशीं वर्तमानां च ह्यवस्थां पूर्वदैविकीम् ॥ ४२ ॥

sarvāṅgeṣu vyathā jātā tasyāḥ praskhalanānmuneḥ | īdṛśīṁ vartamānāṁ ca hyavasthāṁ pūrvadaivikīm || 42 ||

From her stumbling, pain arose in every limb of the sage; [he reflected that] this present condition of his was already ordained by past destiny —

Verse 43 (skanda.5.326.43)

पुनः पापफलं किंचिद्धा कष्टं मम वर्तते । व्यथितोऽहं त्वया पापे किमर्थं सूनकर्मणि ॥ ४३ ॥

punaḥ pāpaphalaṁ kiṁciddhā kaṣṭaṁ mama vartate | vyathito'haṁ tvayā pāpe kimarthaṁ sūnakarmaṇi || 43 ||

[he said] 'Alas, once again some fruit of sin, some suffering, now befalls me! Why have you, O sinful woman, pained me with this cruel act?

Verse 44 (skanda.5.326.44)

स्वैरिणीं त्वां प्रपश्यामि राक्षसी तस्करी नु किम् । एवमुक्त्वा क्षणं मोहात्क्रन्दमानो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ४४ ॥

svairiṇīṁ tvāṁ prapaśyāmi rākṣasī taskarī nu kim | evamuktvā kṣaṇaṁ mohātkrandamāno muhurmuhuḥ || 44 ||

I see you as a wanton woman roaming at will — are you a demoness, or perhaps a thief?' Having said this, overcome by confusion for a moment, he cried out again and again.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.326.45)

तपस्विनोऽथ ऋषयः सर्वे संत्रस्तमानसाः । पश्यमाना मुनेः कष्टं पृच्छन्ते ते युधिष्ठिर ॥ ४५ ॥

tapasvino'tha ṛṣayaḥ sarve saṁtrastamānasāḥ | paśyamānā muneḥ kaṣṭaṁ pṛcchante te yudhiṣṭhira || 45 ||

Then, O Yudhishthira, all the ascetic sages, their minds alarmed, seeing the sage's suffering, began to question her:

Verse 46 (skanda.5.326.46)

पर्यटसे किमर्थं त्वं निशीये वहनं नु किम् । क्षिप्तं तु झोलिकाभारं किंवागमनकारणम् । व्यथामुत्पाद्य ऋषये दुःखाद्दुःखविलासिनि ॥ ४६ ॥

paryaṭase kimarthaṁ tvaṁ niśīye vahanaṁ nu kim | kṣiptaṁ tu jholikābhāraṁ kiṁvāgamanakāraṇam | vyathāmutpādya ṛṣaye duḥkhādduḥkhavilāsini || 46 ||

'Why do you wander about at night? What is it you carry? What is the reason for coming here bearing the burden of that sling, causing pain to the sage — O woman who piles sorrow upon sorrow?'

Verse 47 (skanda.5.326.47)

शाण्डिल्युवाच। नासुरीं न च गन्धर्वीं न पिशाचीं न राक्षसीम् । पतिव्रतां तु मां सर्वे जानन्तु तपसि स्थिताम् ॥ ४७ ॥

śāṇḍilyuvāca| nāsurīṁ na ca gandharvīṁ na piśācīṁ na rākṣasīm | pativratāṁ tu māṁ sarve jānantu tapasi sthitām || 47 ||

Shandili said: 'Know me not to be a demoness, nor a Gandharvi, nor a Pishachi, nor a Rakshasi — know all of you that I am a chaste wife devoted to austerity.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.326.48)

न मे कामो न मे क्रोधो न वैरं न च मत्सरः । अज्ञानाद्दृष्टिमान्द्याच्च स्खलनं क्षन्तुमर्हथ ॥ ४८ ॥

na me kāmo na me krodho na vairaṁ na ca matsaraḥ | ajñānāddṛṣṭimāndyācca skhalanaṁ kṣantumarhatha || 48 ||

I have no desire, no anger, no enmity, no envy. Out of ignorance, and because my sight was dim in the dark, I stumbled — you should forgive that.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.326.49)

वहनं भर्तृसौख्याय दिवा सम्पीड्यते रुजा । अयं भर्ता विजानीथ झोलिकासंस्थितः सदा ॥ ४९ ॥

vahanaṁ bhartṛsaukhyāya divā sampīḍyate rujā | ayaṁ bhartā vijānīta jholikāsaṁsthitaḥ sadā || 49 ||

I carry him for my husband's comfort — by day he is racked with disease. Know that this is my husband, ever resting in this sling.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.326.50)

भरणं पानं वस्त्रं च ददाम्येतस्य रोगिणः । ऋषिः शौनकमुख्योऽसौ शाण्डिलीं मां विजानत ॥ ५० ॥

bharaṇaṁ pānaṁ vastraṁ ca dadāmyetasya rogiṇaḥ | ṛṣiḥ śaunakamukhyo'sau śāṇḍilīṁ māṁ vijānata || 50 ||

I give this sick man his food, drink, and clothing. Know me as Shandili — this is the sage foremost among the line of Shaunaka.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.326.51)

स्वभर्तृधर्मिणीं कोपं मा कुरुष्वातिथिं कुरु । सतां समीपं सम्प्राप्तां सर्वं मे क्षन्तुमर्हथ ॥ ५१ ॥

svabhartṛdharmiṇīṁ kopaṁ mā kuruṣvātithiṁ kuru | satāṁ samīpaṁ samprāptāṁ sarvaṁ me kṣantumarhatha || 51 ||

Do not be angry with one devoted to her husband's dharma — rather, welcome me as a guest. Having come into the presence of the virtuous, may you all forgive me everything.'

Verse 52 (skanda.5.326.52)

ऋषय ऊचुः । परव्यथां न जानीषे व्यचरन्ती यदृच्छया । प्रभातेऽभ्युदिते सूर्ये तव भर्ता मरिष्यति ॥ ५२ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | paravyathāṁ na jānīṣe vyacarantī yadṛcchayā | prabhāte'bhyudite sūrye tava bhartā mariṣyati || 52 ||

The sages said: 'Wandering about as you please, you do not consider the pain of others. At dawn, when the sun rises, your husband shall die.'

Verse 53 (skanda.5.326.53)

आत्मदुःखात्परं दुःखं न जानासि कुलाधमे । तेन वाक्येन घोरेण शाण्डिली विमनाभवत् ॥ ५३ ॥

ātmaduḥkhātparaṁ duḥkhaṁ na jānāsi kulādhame | tena vākyena ghoreṇa śāṇḍilī vimanābhavat || 53 ||

'O disgrace to your family! You know no suffering beyond your own.' At that terrible utterance, Shandili became dejected.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.326.54)

परं विषादमापन्ना क्षणं ध्यात्वाब्रवीद्वचः । कोपात्संरक्तनयना निरीक्षन्ती मुनींस्तदा ॥ ५४ ॥

paraṁ viṣādamāpannā kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvābravīdvacaḥ | kopātsaṁraktanayanā nirīkṣantī munīṁstadā || 54 ||

Falling into deep sorrow, after a moment's reflection she spoke these words, her eyes reddened with anger, glaring at the sages:

Verse 55 (skanda.5.326.55)

सतां गेहे किल प्राप्ता भवतां चापकारिणी । सामेनातिथिपूजायां शिष्टे च गृहमागते ॥ ५५ ॥

satāṁ gehe kila prāptā bhavatāṁ cāpakāriṇī | sāmenātithipūjāyāṁ śiṣṭe ca gṛhamāgate || 55 ||

'So I have arrived, it seems, in the house of the virtuous, only to be treated by you as an offender! When a well-behaved guest arrives at one's home, one should honour them with conciliatory courtesy —

Verse 56 (skanda.5.326.56)

भवद्भिरीदृगातिथ्यं कृतं चैव ममैव तु । स्वर्गापवर्गधर्मश्च भवद्भिर्न निरीक्षितम् ॥ ५६ ॥

bhavadbhirīdṛgātithyaṁ kṛtaṁ caiva mamaiva tu | svargāpavargadharmaśca bhavadbhirna nirīkṣitam || 56 ||

— but this is the kind of hospitality you have shown to me. You have not even looked to the dharma that leads to heaven and liberation!

Verse 57 (skanda.5.326.57)

प्राजापत्यामिमां दृष्ट्वा मां यथा प्राकृताः स्त्रियः । भवन्तः स्त्रीबलं मेऽद्य पश्यन्तु दिवि देवताः ॥ ५७ ॥

prājāpatyāmimāṁ dṛṣṭvā māṁ yathā prākṛtāḥ striyaḥ | bhavantaḥ strībalaṁ me'dya paśyantu divi devatāḥ || 57 ||

Seeing me, a daughter of Prajapati's own line, as though I were some ordinary woman — today let you, and the gods in heaven too, witness the power of a woman!

Verse 58 (skanda.5.326.58)

मरिष्यति न मे भर्ता ह्यादित्यो नोदयिष्यति । अन्धकारं जगत्सर्वं क्षीयते नाद्य शर्वरी ॥ ५८ ॥

mariṣyati na me bhartā hyādityo nodayiṣyati | andhakāraṁ jagatsarvaṁ kṣīyate nādya śarvarī || 58 ||

My husband shall not die — for the sun shall not rise! The whole world shall remain in darkness; this night shall not come to an end today!'

Verse 59 (skanda.5.326.59)

एवमुक्ते तया वाक्ये स्तम्भितेऽर्के तमोमयम् । न च प्रजायते सर्वं निर्वषट्कारसत्क्रियम् ॥ ५९ ॥

evamukte tayā vākye stambhite'rke tamomayam | na ca prajāyate sarvaṁ nirvaṣaṭkārasatkriyam || 59 ||

When these words were spoken by her, the sun was held motionless and the world was plunged in darkness; nothing at all could then proceed — all the sacred rites requiring the sacred exclamation 'vashat' ceased.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.326.60)

स्वाहाकारः स्वधाकारः पञ्चयज्ञविधिर्नहि । स्नानं दानं जपो नास्ति सन्ध्यालोपव्यतिक्रमः । षण्मासं च तदा पार्थ लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियम् ॥ ६० ॥

svāhākāraḥ svadhākāraḥ pañcayajñavidhirnahi | snānaṁ dānaṁ japo nāsti sandhyālopavyatikramaḥ | ṣaṇmāsaṁ ca tadā pārtha luptapiṇḍodakakriyam || 60 ||

There was no offering with 'svaha,' none with 'svadha,' no rite of the five great sacrifices; no bathing, no charity, no japa — even the twilight worship lapsed. For six months then, O son of Pritha, the rites of pinda and water-offering to the ancestors remained suspended.