Advice to the Sons

Verse 1 (skanda.6.12.1)

सूत उवाच । एवं स वसुधापालो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः स्वशक्तितः । ददौ तु नगरं कृत्वा पुरंदरपुरोपमम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ sa vasudhāpālo brāhmaṇebhyaḥ svaśaktitaḥ dadau tu nagaraṁ kṛtvā puraṁdarapuropamam

Suta said: Thus that lord of the earth, to the best of his power, built a city resembling the city of Indra and gave it to the brahmins.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.12.2)

मुक्ताप्रवालवैडूर्यरत्नहेमविचित्रितैः । भ्राजमानं गृहश्रेष्ठैर्द्यौर्नक्षत्रगणैरिव

muktāpravālavaiḍūryaratnahemavicitritaiḥ bhrājamānaṁ gṛhaśreṣṭhairdyaurnakṣatragaṇairiva

It shone with excellent mansions adorned with pearls, coral, cat's-eye gems, and gold, resplendent like the sky filled with a multitude of stars.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.12.3)

प्रासादैः स्फाटिकैश्चैव कैलासशिखरोपमैः । पताकाशोभितैर्दिव्यैः समंतात्परिवारितम्

prāsādaiḥ sphāṭikaiścaiva kailāsaśikharopamaiḥ patākāśobhitairdivyaiḥ samaṁtātparivāritam

It was surrounded on all sides by crystal palaces resembling the peaks of Kailasa, divine and adorned with banners.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.12.4)

कांचनैः सुविचित्रैश्च प्रोन्नतैरमलैः शुभैः । तोरणानां सहस्रैश्च शोभितं सुमनोहरम्

kāṁcanaiḥ suvicitraiśca pronnatairamalaiḥ śubhaiḥ toraṇānāṁ sahasraiśca śobhitaṁ sumanoharam

That most enchanting city was adorned with thousands of golden, marvelously wrought, lofty, and spotless auspicious gateways.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.12.5)

मणिसोपानशोभाभिर्दीर्घिकाभिः समंततः । आरामकूपयंत्राद्यैः सर्वोपकरणैर्युतम् । निवेद्य ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां कृतकृत्यो बभूव सः

maṇisopānaśobhābhirdīrghikābhiḥ samaṁtataḥ ārāmakūpayaṁtrādyaiḥ sarvopakaraṇairyutam nivedya brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ kṛtakṛtyo babhūva saḥ

It was surrounded by pools whose steps gleamed with gems, and was furnished with gardens, wells, machines, and every other amenity. Having offered it to the foremost of brahmins, the king felt his purpose fulfilled.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.12.6)

शंखतीर्थे स्थितो नित्यं समाहूय ततः सुतान् । पुत्रान्पौत्रांस्तथा भृत्यान्वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

śaṁkhatīrthe sthito nityaṁ samāhūya tataḥ sutān putrānpautrāṁstathā bhṛtyānvākyametaduvāca ha

Then, dwelling always at Shankha-tirtha, he summoned his sons, grandsons, and servants, and spoke these words.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.12.7)

एतत्पुरं मया कृत्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो निवेदितम् । भवद्भिर्मम वाक्येन रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः

etatpuraṁ mayā kṛtvā brāhmaṇebhyo niveditam bhavadbhirmama vākyena rakṣaṇīyaṁ prayatnataḥ

"Having built this city, I have offered it to the brahmins. By my word, you must all diligently protect it."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.12.8)

यथा स्युर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे सुखिनो हृष्टमानसाः । युष्माभिः पालनं कार्यं तथा सर्वैः समाहितैः । यश्चैतान्भक्तिसंयुक्तः पालयिष्यति भूमिपः । अन्योऽपि परमं तेजः स संप्राप्स्यति भूतले

yathā syurbrāhmaṇāḥ sarve sukhino hṛṣṭamānasāḥ yuṣmābhiḥ pālanaṁ kāryaṁ tathā sarvaiḥ samāhitaiḥ yaścaitānbhaktisaṁyuktaḥ pālayiṣyati bhūmipaḥ anyo'pi paramaṁ tejaḥ sa saṁprāpsyati bhūtale

All of you, with focused mind, must so protect them that every brahmin remains happy and glad at heart. Whatever king, even one of another line, protects them with devotion shall attain supreme splendor upon this earth.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.12.9)

अजेयः सर्वशत्रूणां प्रतापी स्फी तिसंयुतः । भविष्यति न सन्देहो ब्राह्मणानां स पालनात्

ajeyaḥ sarvaśatrūṇāṁ pratāpī sphī tisaṁyutaḥ bhaviṣyati na sandeho brāhmaṇānāṁ sa pālanāt

Without doubt, by protecting the brahmins, he shall become unconquerable by all foes, mighty in majesty, and blessed with prosperity.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.12.10)

पुत्रपौत्रसुभृत्याढ्यो दीर्घायू रोगवर्जितः । ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादेन मम वाक्याद्भविष्यति

putrapautrasubhṛtyāḍhyo dīrghāyū rogavarjitaḥ brāhmaṇānāṁ prasādena mama vākyādbhaviṣyati

By my word, and by the grace of the brahmins, he shall be blessed with sons, grandsons, and good servants, long-lived and free of disease.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.12.11)

यः पुनर्द्वेषसंयुक्तः संतापं चैव नेष्यति । एतान्ब्राह्मणशार्दूलान्नरकं स प्रयास्यति

yaḥ punardveṣasaṁyuktaḥ saṁtāpaṁ caiva neṣyati etānbrāhmaṇaśārdūlānnarakaṁ sa prayāsyati

But whoever, filled with hatred, brings suffering upon these tigers among brahmins shall go to hell.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.12.12)

तथा दुःखानि संप्राप्य दृष्ट्वा नैकान्पराभवान् । वियोगानिष्टबन्धूनां व्याधिग्रस्तो विगर्हितः

tathā duḥkhāni saṁprāpya dṛṣṭvā naikānparābhavān viyogāniṣṭabandhūnāṁ vyādhigrasto vigarhitaḥ

He shall meet with manifold sorrows, witness many humiliations, suffer separation from his beloved kin, and become diseased and despised.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.12.13)

वंशोच्छेदं समासाद्य गमिष्यति यमालयम् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन रक्षणीयमिदं पुरम् । मम वाक्याद्विशेषेण हितमिच्छद्भिरात्मनः

vaṁśocchedaṁ samāsādya gamiṣyati yamālayam tasmātsarvaprayatnena rakṣaṇīyamidaṁ puram mama vākyādviśeṣeṇa hitamicchadbhirātmanaḥ

His very lineage shall be cut off, and he shall go to the abode of Yama. Therefore, by my command, whoever desires his own welfare must, with every effort, especially protect this city.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.12.14)

एवं स भूपतिः सर्वांस्ता नुक्त्वा तपसि स्थितः । तेऽपि सर्वे तथा चक्रुर्यथा तेन च शिक्षिताः

evaṁ sa bhūpatiḥ sarvāṁstā nuktvā tapasi sthitaḥ te'pi sarve tathā cakruryathā tena ca śikṣitāḥ

Thus, having instructed them all, the king remained established in his austerity; and all of them acted exactly as he had taught them.