The Sages' Wives Restored at the Gaya Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.59.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे धूतपापा समाहिताः। पुनर्योगबलं प्राप्य स्वाधिकारं ययुः पुरा

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ suragaṇāḥ sarve dhūtapāpā samāhitāḥ| punaryogabalaṁ prāpya svādhikāraṁ yayuḥ purā

Sanatkumara said: Then all the hosts of gods, cleansed of sin and composed of mind, regaining the power of yoga, went of old back to their own domains.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.59.2)

एवं व्यास गयातीर्थं कुमुद्वत्यां सुनिश्चितम्। गयायां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

evaṁ vyāsa gayātīrthaṁ kumudvatyāṁ suniścitam| gayāyāṁ yāni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

Thus, O Vyasa, the Gaya-tirtha was firmly established at Kumudvati; hear now of the sacred tirthas and shrines that exist at Gaya.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.59.3)

तत्तीर्थेषु नरः स्नात्वा तत्तत्तीर्थफलं भवेत्। तथैव च गयाक्षेत्रं गयाश्राद्धफलप्रदम्

tattīrtheṣu naraḥ snātvā tattattīrthaphalaṁ bhavet| tathaiva ca gayākṣetraṁ gayāśrāddhaphalapradam

...bathing in each of these tirthas, a man obtains the fruit of that particular tirtha; and likewise this Gaya-kshetra grants the fruit of shraddha performed at Gaya.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.59.4)

फल्गुश्च सरितां श्रेष्ठा तथैव फलदायिनी। आदिगया बुद्धगया तथा विष्णुपदी स्मृता

phalguśca saritāṁ śreṣṭhā tathaiva phaladāyinī| ādigayā buddhagayā tathā viṣṇupadī smṛtā

The Phalgu, foremost among rivers, likewise grants its fruit; Adi-Gaya, Buddha-Gaya, and Vishnupadi are remembered there.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.59.5)

गयाकोष्ठस्तथा प्रोक्तो गदाधरपदानि च। वेदिका षोडशी प्रोक्ता तथैव चाक्षयो वटः

gayākoṣṭhastathā prokto gadādharapadāni ca| vedikā ṣoḍaśī proktā tathaiva cākṣayo vaṭaḥ

Gaya-koshtha is also declared there, and the footprints of Gadadhara; the sixteen-fold altar is declared, and likewise the imperishable banyan.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.59.6)

प्रेतमुक्तिकरी नित्यं शिला चोक्ता तथैव च। अच्छोदा निम्नगा प्रोक्ता पितॄणां चाश्रमोत्तमः

pretamuktikarī nityaṁ śilā coktā tathaiva ca| acchodā nimnagā proktā pitṝṇāṁ cāśramottamaḥ

The rock ever granting release to departed spirits is likewise declared there; the river Achchhoda, and the supreme hermitage of the ancestors, are declared there too.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.59.7)

देवानां दानवानां च यक्षकिन्नररक्षसाम्। पन्नगानां च सर्वेषां तथैवाश्रम उत्तमः

devānāṁ dānavānāṁ ca yakṣakinnararakṣasām| pannagānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ tathaivāśrama uttamaḥ

And likewise the supreme hermitage of the gods, the danavas, the yakshas, kinnaras, rakshasas, and of all the serpent-folk is there.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.59.8)

एतत्स्थानेषु सर्वेषु स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः। श्राद्धं च विधिवद्देयं तत्तत्तीर्थफलं लभेत्

etatsthāneṣu sarveṣu snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ| śrāddhaṁ ca vidhivaddeyaṁ tattattīrthaphalaṁ labhet

In all these places the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest, as well as shraddha, should be duly performed; one thereby obtains the fruit of each respective tirtha.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.59.9)

गयायां पितृरूपेण स्वयमेव जनार्दनः। तं ध्यात्वा पुंडरीकाक्षं मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात्

gayāyāṁ pitṛrūpeṇa svayameva janārdanaḥ| taṁ dhyātvā puṁḍarīkākṣaṁ mucyate ca ṛṇatrayāt

At Gaya, Janardana himself abides in the form of the ancestors; meditating on that lotus-eyed one, a man is freed from the three debts.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.59.10)

एवं व्यास गयातीर्थं पुरावन्त्यां प्रतिष्ठितम्। पश्चात्तु कैकटे जातं यत्र संनिहितोऽसुरः

evaṁ vyāsa gayātīrthaṁ purāvantyāṁ pratiṣṭhitam| paścāttu kaikaṭe jātaṁ yatra saṁnihito'suraḥ

Thus, O Vyasa, the Gaya-tirtha was of old established in Avanti; afterward it arose in Kikata as well, where the demon lay confined.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.59.11)

तदारभ्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ गया तत्र प्रतिष्ठिता। गदाधरपदाघातैर्महासुरो निपातितः

tadārabhya dvijaśreṣṭha gayā tatra pratiṣṭhitā| gadādharapadāghātairmahāsuro nipātitaḥ

O best of brahmins, from that time onward Gaya was established there; the great demon was struck down by the blows of Gadadhara's feet.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.59.12)

तत्पदे च महिमानं जनार्दनसमर्पितम्

tatpade ca mahimānaṁ janārdanasamarpitam

And upon that very footprint, greatness was bestowed by Janardana.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.59.13)

पंचक्रोशं गयाक्षेत्रं क्रोशमेकं गयाशिरः। यत्र तत्र करिष्यामि पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्। सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते

paṁcakrośaṁ gayākṣetraṁ krośamekaṁ gayāśiraḥ| yatra tatra kariṣyāmi pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam| sarvadā sarvakāleṣu gayāśrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

The field of Gaya extends five krosas, and Gaya-shiras one krosa; the Lord declared: 'Wherever I go, I shall render the offering to the ancestors imperishable — always, at every time, the shraddha of Gaya is duly performed there.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.59.14)

संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम्। कन्यास्थे च दिवानाथे हस्तनक्षत्रसंयुते। महालयेति तत्प्रोक्तं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्

saṁvatsare paraṁ vyāsa dinamekaṁ pratiṣṭhitam| kanyāsthe ca divānāthe hastanakṣatrasaṁyute| mahālayeti tatproktaṁ pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam

O Vyasa, one particular day of the year is especially established: when the sun by day stands in Virgo joined with the Hasta constellation — that is declared Mahalaya, when the offering to the ancestors becomes imperishable.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.59.15)

सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते

sarvadā sarvakāleṣu gayāśrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Always, at every time, the shraddha of Gaya is duly prescribed.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.59.16)

संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम्। अन्वष्टकायां कुर्वंति मातॄणां श्राद्धमुत्तमम्

saṁvatsare paraṁ vyāsa dinamekaṁ pratiṣṭhitam| anvaṣṭakāyāṁ kurvaṁti mātṝṇāṁ śrāddhamuttamam

O Vyasa, one particular day of the year is especially established: on Anvashtaka they perform the excellent shraddha for the mothers.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.59.17)

अक्षय्या जायते तृप्तिः पितॄणां कल्पसंख्यया। एवं व्यास पुरी रम्या स्नानदानादिकर्मसु

akṣayyā jāyate tṛptiḥ pitṝṇāṁ kalpasaṁkhyayā| evaṁ vyāsa purī ramyā snānadānādikarmasu

Imperishable satisfaction accrues to the ancestors, reckoned in kalpas. Thus, O Vyasa, this beautiful city is foremost among places for the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.59.18)

भूयस्तु संप्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं परमाद्भुतम्। तच्छृणुष्व मया ख्यातं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्

bhūyastu saṁpravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ paramādbhutam| tacchṛṇuṣva mayā khyātaṁ pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam

I shall now tell of yet another supremely wondrous greatness; hear this sacred, sin-destroying tale as declared by me.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.59.19)

सप्तर्षीणां च या भार्या ऋषिपत्न्यः पतिव्रताः। स्वाहादोषपरिभ्रष्टा दूषिताः पावकेन च

saptarṣīṇāṁ ca yā bhāryā ṛṣipatnyaḥ pativratāḥ| svāhādoṣaparibhraṣṭā dūṣitāḥ pāvakena ca

The wives of the Seven Sages, chaste and devoted to their husbands, fell victim through the fault of Svaha's deception and were held defamed through the agency of Fire.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.59.20)

ऋषिभिश्च परित्यक्ता बभ्रमुश्च वनाद्वनम्। एवं बहुतिथे काले नारदो देवदर्शनः

ṛṣibhiśca parityaktā babhramuśca vanādvanam| evaṁ bahutithe kāle nārado devadarśanaḥ

Abandoned by the sages, they wandered from forest to forest. Thus, after much time had passed, Narada, seer of the gods...

Verse 21 (skanda.5.59.21)

तासां च प्रियमन्विच्छन्समायातो वनांतरे। ताभिश्च सत्कृतो नित्यं समासीनो धृतव्रतः

tāsāṁ ca priyamanvicchansamāyāto vanāṁtare| tābhiśca satkṛto nityaṁ samāsīno dhṛtavrataḥ

...seeking their welfare, came into that forest; and, ever honoured by them, Narada, firm in his vow, sat down there.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.59.22)

उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देशकालोचितं वचः। किमिदं विकृतं जातं भवतीनां पराभवः

uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā deśakālocitaṁ vacaḥ| kimidaṁ vikṛtaṁ jātaṁ bhavatīnāṁ parābhavaḥ

He spoke in a gentle voice, words befitting the time and place: 'What is this misfortune that has come upon you, this disgrace?'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.59.23)

कस्माच्च ऋषिभिस्त्यक्ता लोकमातरः पतिव्रताः

kasmācca ṛṣibhistyaktā lokamātaraḥ pativratāḥ

'For what reason have you, mothers of the world, chaste and devoted, been forsaken by the sages?'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.59.24)

ऋषिपत्न्य ऊचुः। न जानीमो वयं तात येन दोषेण तापसैः। विमुक्ताः साग्निकैः क्षिप्रं कार्तिकेयप्रसंगतः

ṛṣipatnya ūcuḥ| na jānīmo vayaṁ tāta yena doṣeṇa tāpasaiḥ| vimuktāḥ sāgnikaiḥ kṣipraṁ kārtikeyaprasaṁgataḥ

The sages' wives said: 'Father, we do not know by what fault the fire-keeping ascetics so swiftly abandoned us, on account of the affair concerning Kartikeya.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.59.25)

लोकापवादजं किंचिज्जातं दिष्टवशादधम्। किं कुर्मो वा क्व गच्छामः किं तपः का च देवता

lokāpavādajaṁ kiṁcijjātaṁ diṣṭavaśādadham| kiṁ kurmo vā kva gacchāmaḥ kiṁ tapaḥ kā ca devatā

'Some base slander of the world has arisen, brought about by the force of fate. What are we to do, or where shall we go? What austerity, and what deity should we worship...'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.59.26)

यस्याराधनपुण्येन पतिसांनिध्यमाप्नुयुः। एतन्निश्चित्य भो ब्रह्मन्ब्रूहि त्वं वेदतत्त्वतः

yasyārādhanapuṇyena patisāṁnidhyamāpnuyuḥ| etanniścitya bho brahmanbrūhi tvaṁ vedatattvataḥ

'...by whose worship we might regain our husbands' presence? Having determined this, O Brahmin, tell us truly, according to the essence of the Veda.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.59.27)

इति पृष्टस्तदा ताभिर्ऋषिपत्नीभिर्नारदः। उवाच सुचिरं ध्यात्वा तासां स शर्महेतवे

iti pṛṣṭastadā tābhirṛṣipatnībhirnāradaḥ| uvāca suciraṁ dhyātvā tāsāṁ sa śarmahetave

Thus questioned by those sages' wives, Narada, having meditated long, spoke for their happiness.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.59.28)

नारद उवाच। श्रूयतां भोस्तपःश्रेष्ठा भवतीनां च कारणम्। महाकालवने रम्ये गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्

nārada uvāca| śrūyatāṁ bhostapaḥśreṣṭhā bhavatīnāṁ ca kāraṇam| mahākālavane ramye gayātīrthamanuttamam

Narada said: 'Listen, O foremost in austerity, to the remedy for your plight: in the beautiful Mahakala forest is the unsurpassed Gaya-tirtha.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.59.29)

तत्रैव चाक्षयो नाम न्यग्रोधः शाखिनां वरः। तत्रागमनमात्रेण धूतदोषा भविष्यथ

tatraiva cākṣayo nāma nyagrodhaḥ śākhināṁ varaḥ| tatrāgamanamātreṇa dhūtadoṣā bhaviṣyatha

'There indeed is the imperishable banyan called Akshaya, foremost among trees; by the mere act of going there, you shall be cleansed of your fault.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.59.30)

सर्वदोषहरं तीर्थं सर्वकामवरप्रदम्। सर्वसौख्यकरं पुण्यं तत्र गच्छत मा चिरम्

sarvadoṣaharaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvakāmavarapradam| sarvasaukhyakaraṁ puṇyaṁ tatra gacchata mā ciram

'That tirtha removes every fault and grants every desired boon; sacred, it bestows every happiness — go there without delay.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.59.31)

नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषिपत्न्यः सुचोदिताः। महाकालवने व्यास इच्छंत्यः प्रियमात्मनः

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā ṛṣipatnyaḥ sucoditāḥ| mahākālavane vyāsa icchaṁtyaḥ priyamātmanaḥ

Hearing Narada's words, the sages' wives, thus well urged and desiring their own welfare, O Vyasa, set out for the Mahakala forest.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.59.32)

आजग्मुस्तद्वनं तत्र यत्र तीर्थं गयाभिधम्। तत्र गत्वा शुचीभूय स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः

ājagmustadvanaṁ tatra yatra tīrthaṁ gayābhidham| tatra gatvā śucībhūya snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ

They arrived at that forest, where the tirtha called Gaya is; having gone there and become pure, they performed the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.59.33)

कृतास्ताभिश्च पुण्याभिर्नभस्यस्यासितेतरे। पंचम्यामृषिसंज्ञायां ताभिः सुचरितं व्रतम्

kṛtāstābhiśca puṇyābhirnabhasyasyāsitetare| paṁcamyāmṛṣisaṁjñāyāṁ tābhiḥ sucaritaṁ vratam

These sacred rites they performed in the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada, on the fifth day known as Rishi-panchami; they observed this excellent vow with due care.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.59.34)

उपोष्य चैकरात्रं तु जागरं चैव योगतः। कृतमात्रे व्रते व्यास धूतपापा बभुः क्षणात्

upoṣya caikarātraṁ tu jāgaraṁ caiva yogataḥ| kṛtamātre vrate vyāsa dhūtapāpā babhuḥ kṣaṇāt

Having fasted a single night and kept vigil through yogic discipline — the moment the vow was completed, O Vyasa, they were instantly cleansed of sin.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.59.35)

भर्तृकोपपरिभ्रष्टाः सद्यः प्राप्ता गृहाश्रमम्। ऋषिभिः साग्निकं दत्तं पूर्ववदृषिसत्तम

bhartṛkopaparibhraṣṭāḥ sadyaḥ prāptā gṛhāśramam| ṛṣibhiḥ sāgnikaṁ dattaṁ pūrvavadṛṣisattama

Freed at once from the disgrace of their husbands' wrath, they attained again the state of householders; the sages, O best of seers, restored to them their share in the sacred fire, as before.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.59.36)

तदाप्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिन्पंचमी ऋषिसंज्ञिता। ये नराश्चाथ नार्यो यास्तां कुर्वन्ति तु भक्तिः

tadāprabhṛti loke'sminpaṁcamī ṛṣisaṁjñitā| ye narāścātha nāryo yāstāṁ kurvanti tu bhaktiḥ

From that time onward in this world, the fifth day has been known as Rishi-panchami; whatever men and women observe it with devotion...

Verse 37 (skanda.5.59.37)

नीवाराहारकं कृत्वा शुचीभूय समाहिताः। न तेषां जायते किंचिदापद्दुःखं कदाचन। दुर्भगत्वं च नारीणां न वियोगश्च मातृभिः

nīvārāhārakaṁ kṛtvā śucībhūya samāhitāḥ| na teṣāṁ jāyate kiṁcidāpadduḥkhaṁ kadācana| durbhagatvaṁ ca nārīṇāṁ na viyogaśca mātṛbhiḥ

...living on wild rice as their only food, becoming pure and composed of mind — no calamity or sorrow ever befalls them, no misfortune comes upon women, nor separation from their mothers.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.59.38)

पुत्रतो धनतो वापि कदाचित्संभविष्यति। एवं व्यास समाख्यातं यत्त्वया परिपृच्छितम्

putrato dhanato vāpi kadācitsaṁbhaviṣyati| evaṁ vyāsa samākhyātaṁ yattvayā paripṛcchitam

Never shall misfortune come to them through sons or through wealth. Thus, O Vyasa, has all that you asked been told.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.59.39)

अवंत्यामीदृशं तीर्थं वर्तते भुवि सत्तम। तादृशं पुण्यदं किंचिन्नास्ति ब्रह्मांडगोलके

avaṁtyāmīdṛśaṁ tīrthaṁ vartate bhuvi sattama| tādṛśaṁ puṇyadaṁ kiṁcinnāsti brahmāṁḍagolake

O worthy one, such a tirtha exists on earth in Avanti; nothing so meritorious as this exists anywhere in the whole cosmic sphere.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.59.40)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः कश्चिन्महादानानि चेच्चरेत्। अक्षयाणि भवंत्यस्य विष्णुलोके महीयते

asmiṁstīrthe naraḥ kaścinmahādānāni ceccaret| akṣayāṇi bhavaṁtyasya viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Whatever man performs great acts of charity at this tirtha, his merits become imperishable; he is exalted in the world of Vishnu.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.59.41)

यो वै नियमवान्भूत्वा कथामेतां शृणोति वा। पठेच्च सततं व्यास हयमेधफलं लभेत्

yo vai niyamavānbhūtvā kathāmetāṁ śṛṇoti vā| paṭhecca satataṁ vyāsa hayamedhaphalaṁ labhet

And, O Vyasa, whoever, observing due discipline, hears this tale, or ever reads it, obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.