The Greatness of Shukla-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.123.1)

सूत उवाच । तथान्यदपि तत्रास्ति शुक्लतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । दर्भैः संसूचितं श्वेतैर्यदद्यापि द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca tathānyadapi tatrāsti śuklatīrthamanuttamam darbhaiḥ saṁsūcitaṁ śvetairyadadyāpi dvijottamāḥ

Suta said: O excellent brahmins, there is also another unsurpassed tirtha there, called Shukla-tirtha, still marked today by white darbha grass.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.123.2)

चमत्कारपुरे पूर्वमासीत्कश्चित्सुशल्यवित् । रजकः शुद्धकोनाम पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः

camatkārapure pūrvamāsītkaścitsuśalyavit rajakaḥ śuddhakonāma putrapautrasamanvitaḥ

Formerly in Chamatkarapura there lived a washerman named Shuddhaka, most skilled in cleaning garments, blessed with sons and grandsons.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.123.3)

स सर्वरजकानां च प्राधान्येन व्यवस्थितः । प्रधानब्राह्मणानां च करोत्यंबरशोधनम्

sa sarvarajakānāṁ ca prādhānyena vyavasthitaḥ pradhānabrāhmaṇānāṁ ca karotyaṁbaraśodhanam

He was regarded as the foremost among all washermen, and he cleaned the garments of the leading brahmins as well.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.123.4)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य नीलीकुण्ड्यां समाहितः । प्राक्षिपद्ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां वासो विज्ञातवांश्चिरात्

kasyacittvatha kālasya nīlīkuṇḍyāṁ samāhitaḥ prākṣipadbrāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ vāso vijñātavāṁścirāt

Some time later, one day, absorbed in the vat of indigo dye, having placed the brahmins' garments in, he realized only after a long while,

Verse 5 (skanda.6.123.5)

अथासौ मन्दचित्तश्च स्वामाहूयकुटुम्बिनीम् । पुत्रांश्च वचनं प्राह रहस्ये भयविह्वलः

athāsau mandacittaśca svāmāhūyakuṭumbinīm putrāṁśca vacanaṁ prāha rahasye bhayavihvalaḥ

that mind-dulled washerman, overwhelmed with fear, then privately called his wife and sons and said to them,

Verse 6 (skanda.6.123.6)

निर्मूल्यानि सुवस्त्राणि ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । नीलीमध्ये विमोहेन प्रक्षिप्तानि बहूनि च

nirmūlyāni suvastrāṇi brāhmaṇānāṁ mahātmanām nīlīmadhye vimohena prakṣiptāni bahūni ca

"By mistake, many precious and beautiful garments belonging to the great brahmins have been thrown into the indigo vat."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.123.7)

वधबन्धादिकं कर्म ते करिष्यंत्यसंशयम् । तस्मादन्यत्र गच्छामो गृहीत्वा रजनीमिमाम्

vadhabandhādikaṁ karma te kariṣyaṁtyasaṁśayam tasmādanyatra gacchāmo gṛhītvā rajanīmimām

"When they discover this in the morning, they will surely inflict punishment on us — death, imprisonment, and the like; therefore this very night we must flee elsewhere."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.123.8)

एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा सारमादाय मंदिरात् । प्रस्थितो भार्यया सार्द्धं कांदिशीको द्विजोत्तमाः

evaṁ sa niścayaṁ kṛtvā sāramādāya maṁdirāt prasthito bhāryayā sārddhaṁ kāṁdiśīko dvijottamāḥ

Having resolved thus, O excellent brahmins, taking whatever valuables were in the house, terrified, he set out from there together with his wife.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.123.9)

तावत्तस्य सुता गत्वा स्वां सखीं दाशसंभवाम् । उवाच क्षम्यतां भद्रे यन्मया कुकृतं कृतम्

tāvattasya sutā gatvā svāṁ sakhīṁ dāśasaṁbhavām uvāca kṣamyatāṁ bhadre yanmayā kukṛtaṁ kṛtam

Meanwhile his daughter went to her friend, a fisherman's daughter, and said, "O gentle one, forgive whatever wrong I have done to you,"

Verse 10 (skanda.6.123.10)

अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि प्रक्रीडंत्या त्वया सह । प्रणयाद्बाल्यभावाच्च क्रोधाद्वाथ महेर्ष्यया

ajñānājjñānato vāpi prakrīḍaṁtyā tvayā saha praṇayādbālyabhāvācca krodhādvātha maherṣyayā

"whether unknowingly or knowingly, while playing with you, out of affection, out of childish nature, out of anger, or out of jealousy."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.123.11)

अथ सा सहसा श्रुत्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा । उवाच किमिदं भद्रे यन्मामित्थं प्रभाषसे

atha sā sahasā śrutvā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā uvāca kimidaṁ bhadre yanmāmitthaṁ prabhāṣase

Hearing this suddenly, her friend, her eyes filled with tears, said, "O gentle one, what is this that you speak to me thus?"

Verse 12 (skanda.6.123.12)

सख्युवाच । मम तातेन नीलायां प्रक्षिप्तान्यंबराणि च । ब्राह्मणानां महार्हाणि विभ्रमेण सुलोचने

sakhyuvāca mama tātena nīlāyāṁ prakṣiptānyaṁbarāṇi ca brāhmaṇānāṁ mahārhāṇi vibhrameṇa sulocane

The friend said: "O beautiful-eyed one, my father, out of confusion, has dropped the brahmins' most precious garments into the indigo vat."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.123.13)

तत्प्रभाते परिज्ञाय दंडं धास्यंति दारुणम् । एवं चित्ते समास्थाय तातः संप्रस्थितोऽधुना

tatprabhāte parijñāya daṁḍaṁ dhāsyaṁti dāruṇam evaṁ citte samāsthāya tātaḥ saṁprasthito'dhunā

"Learning of this in the morning, they will inflict a severe punishment; thinking thus, my father has already set out."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.123.14)

अहं तवातिकं प्राप्ता दर्शनार्थमनिन्दिते । अनुज्ञाता प्रयास्यामि त्वया तस्मात्प्रमुच्यताम्

ahaṁ tavātikaṁ prāptā darśanārthamanindite anujñātā prayāsyāmi tvayā tasmātpramucyatām

"I have come here only to see you, O blameless one; now, with your leave, I too shall depart, so let me go."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.123.15)

अथ सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नवदनाऽब्रवीत् । यद्येवं मा सरोजाक्षि कुत्रचित्संप्रयास्यसि

atha sā tadvacaḥ śrutvā prasannavadanā'bravīt yadyevaṁ mā sarojākṣi kutracitsaṁprayāsyasi

Hearing her words, she, her face brightening, said, "O lotus-eyed one, if that is so, do not go anywhere."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.123.16)

निवारय द्रुतं गत्वा तातं नो गम्यतामिति । अस्ति पूर्वोत्तरे भागे स्थानादस्माज्जलाशयः

nivāraya drutaṁ gatvā tātaṁ no gamyatāmiti asti pūrvottare bhāge sthānādasmājjalāśayaḥ

"Go quickly and stop your father — tell him there is no need to go anywhere; there is a pond in the northeastern part of this place."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.123.17)

तत्रैकदा विनिक्षिप्तं मम तातेन जालकम् । अतीवकृष्णकेशोत्थं तावच्छुक्लत्वमागतम्

tatraikadā vinikṣiptaṁ mama tātena jālakam atīvakṛṣṇakeśotthaṁ tāvacchuklatvamāgatam

"There, once, my father cast a fishing-net made of intensely black hair, and it instantly turned white."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.123.18)

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टः स्वयं सस्नौ कुतूहलात् । यावच्छुक्लत्वमापन्नस्तादृक्कृष्णवपुर्धरः

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭaḥ svayaṁ sasnau kutūhalāt yāvacchuklatvamāpannastādṛkkṛṣṇavapurdharaḥ

"Then, filled with astonishment, out of curiosity, he himself bathed there too, and although he had previously been dark-skinned,"

Verse 19 (skanda.6.123.19)

सुश्वेतमूर्धजः सद्यः स्त्रीणां वैराग्यकारकः । ततःप्रभृति नो ज्ञात्वा कश्चित्तत्र प्रगच्छति

suśvetamūrdhajaḥ sadyaḥ strīṇāṁ vairāgyakārakaḥ tataḥprabhṛti no jñātvā kaścittatra pragacchati

"he at once became one with pure white hair, causing women to lose all attraction; since then, knowing this, no one goes there."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.123.20)

तस्मात्तत्रैव वस्त्राणि प्रक्षालयतु सत्वरम् । तातः स तव यास्यंति विशुद्धिं परमां शुभे

tasmāttatraiva vastrāṇi prakṣālayatu satvaram tātaḥ sa tava yāsyaṁti viśuddhiṁ paramāṁ śubhe

"Therefore let him quickly go there and wash those garments; O auspicious one, your father will attain the highest purity from it."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.123.21)

अथ सा सत्वरं गत्वा निजतातस्य तद्वचः । सत्वरं कथयामास प्रहृष्टवदना सती

atha sā satvaraṁ gatvā nijatātasya tadvacaḥ satvaraṁ kathayāmāsa prahṛṣṭavadanā satī

Then she, going quickly to her father, being a virtuous daughter, joyfully related to him her friend's words,

Verse 22 (skanda.6.123.22)

मम सख्या समादिष्टं नातिदूरे जलाशयः । तत्र श्वेतत्वमायाति सर्वं क्षिप्तं सितेतरम्

mama sakhyā samādiṣṭaṁ nātidūre jalāśayaḥ tatra śvetatvamāyāti sarvaṁ kṣiptaṁ sitetaram

"My friend has told me that there is a pond nearby in which whatever black object is thrown becomes white."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.123.23)

तस्मात्प्रक्षालय प्रातस्तत्र गत्वा जलाशये । वस्त्राण्यमूनि शुक्लत्वं संप्रयास्यंत्यसंशयम्

tasmātprakṣālaya prātastatra gatvā jalāśaye vastrāṇyamūni śuklatvaṁ saṁprayāsyaṁtyasaṁśayam

"Therefore go there at dawn and wash the garments; these garments will without doubt attain whiteness."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.123.24)

रजक उवाच । नैतत्संपत्स्यते पुत्रि यन्नीलस्य परिक्षयः । वस्त्रलग्नस्य जायेत यतः प्रोक्तं पुरातनैः

rajaka uvāca naitatsaṁpatsyate putri yannīlasya parikṣayaḥ vastralagnasya jāyeta yataḥ proktaṁ purātanaiḥ

The washerman said: "O daughter, it is not possible that the indigo dye clinging to cloth should ever be fully removed, for the ancients have said,"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.123.25)

वज्रलेपस्य मूर्खस्य नारीणां कर्कटस्य च । एको ग्रहस्तु मीनानां नीलीमद्यपयोस्तथा

vajralepasya mūrkhasya nārīṇāṁ karkaṭasya ca eko grahastu mīnānāṁ nīlīmadyapayostathā

"A diamond-hard binding agent, a fool, women, a crab, the grip of fish, and indigo-dye and a drunkard — all these share a single fixed nature (never letting go)."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.123.26)

कन्योवाच । तत्र ह्यागम्यतां तावद्वस्त्रणयादाय यत्नतः । तोयाच्छुद्धिं प्रयास्यंति तदाऽऽगंतव्यमेव हि

kanyovāca tatra hyāgamyatāṁ tāvadvastraṇayādāya yatnataḥ toyācchuddhiṁ prayāsyaṁti tadā''gaṁtavyameva hi

The maiden said: "Even so, go there and, with effort, take the garments, and they will attain purity from the water; therefore one must certainly go."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.123.27)

भूयोऽपि मंदिरे वाऽथ तस्मात्स्थानाद्दिगंतरम् । गंतव्यं सकलैरेव ममैतद्धृदि संस्थितम्

bhūyo'pi maṁdire vā'tha tasmātsthānāddigaṁtaram gaṁtavyaṁ sakalaireva mamaitaddhṛdi saṁsthitam

"Otherwise, one must go back home or flee to some other quarter from this place — this is what is fixed in my heart, therefore all should go there."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.123.28)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा साधुसाध्विति तेऽसकृत् । प्रोच्य बांधवभृत्याश्च रात्रावेव प्रजग्मिरे

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā sādhusādhviti te'sakṛt procya bāṁdhavabhṛtyāśca rātrāveva prajagmire

Hearing her words, they all repeatedly said, "Well said, well said," and together with their kinsmen and servants departed that very night.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.123.29)

दाशकन्यां पुरः कृत्वा संशयं परमं गताः । विभवेन समायुक्ता निजेन द्विजसत्तमाः

dāśakanyāṁ puraḥ kṛtvā saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ vibhavena samāyuktā nijena dvijasattamāḥ

Placing the fisherman's daughter in front, laden with their own belongings, those excellent people, filled with the greatest doubt, went forth.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.123.30)

ततः सा दर्शयामास दाशकन्या जलाशयम् । बहुवीरुधसंछन्नं दुष्प्रवेशं च देहिनाम्

tataḥ sā darśayāmāsa dāśakanyā jalāśayam bahuvīrudhasaṁchannaṁ duṣpraveśaṁ ca dehinām

Then that fisherman's daughter showed them the pond, overgrown with many creepers and vines, and difficult of access for people.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.123.31)

ततः स रजकस्तत्र वस्त्राण्यादाय सर्वशः । प्रविष्टः सलिले तस्मिन्क्षालयामास वै द्विजाः

tataḥ sa rajakastatra vastrāṇyādāya sarvaśaḥ praviṣṭaḥ salile tasminkṣālayāmāsa vai dvijāḥ

Then that washerman, taking all the garments there and entering into that water, O brahmins, began to wash them.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.123.32)

अथ तानि सुवस्त्राणि मेचकाभानि तत्क्षणात् । जातानि स्फटिकाभानि तत्क्षणादेव कृत्स्नशः

atha tāni suvastrāṇi mecakābhāni tatkṣaṇāt jātāni sphaṭikābhāni tatkṣaṇādeva kṛtsnaśaḥ

Then those fine garments, which had been dark, instantly and completely became bright and radiant like crystal.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.123.33)

ततस्तुष्टिसमायुक्तः साधुसाध्विति चाऽब्रवीत् । समालिंग्य सुतां प्राह दाशकन्यां च सादरम्

tatastuṣṭisamāyuktaḥ sādhusādhviti cā'bravīt samāliṁgya sutāṁ prāha dāśakanyāṁ ca sādaram

Then, filled with the greatest satisfaction, he began to say, "Well done, well done," and, embracing his daughter and the fisherman's daughter with respect, said,

Verse 34 (skanda.6.123.34)

सुवस्त्राणि द्विजेंद्राणामर्पयामो यथाक्रमम्

suvastrāṇi dvijeṁdrāṇāmarpayāmo yathākramam

"Now we shall present these excellent garments to the foremost brahmins in due order."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.123.35)

ततः स स्वगृहं गत्वा तानि वस्त्राणि कृत्स्नशः । यथाक्रमेण संहृष्टः प्रददौ द्विजसत्तमाः

tataḥ sa svagṛhaṁ gatvā tāni vastrāṇi kṛtsnaśaḥ yathākrameṇa saṁhṛṣṭaḥ pradadau dvijasattamāḥ

Thereafter he went to his own home and, with great joy, delivered all those garments in due order to those excellent brahmins.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.123.36)

अथ ते ब्राह्मणा दृष्ट्वा तां शुद्धिं वस्त्रसंभवाम् । तं च श्वेतीकृतं चेदृग्रजकं विस्मयान्विताः

atha te brāhmaṇā dṛṣṭvā tāṁ śuddhiṁ vastrasaṁbhavām taṁ ca śvetīkṛtaṁ cedṛgrajakaṁ vismayānvitāḥ

Then those brahmins, seeing that purity of the garments and that washerman thus turned white, were filled with astonishment,

Verse 37 (skanda.6.123.37)

पप्रच्छुः किमिदं चित्रं वस्त्रमूर्धजसंभवम् । अनौपम्यं च संजातं वदस्व यदि मन्यसे

papracchuḥ kimidaṁ citraṁ vastramūrdhajasaṁbhavam anaupamyaṁ ca saṁjātaṁ vadasva yadi manyase

and asked, "What is this strange and unmatched transformation, arising through the hair, in the garments? If you know, tell us."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.123.38)

रजक उवाच । एतानि विप्रा वस्त्राणि मया क्षिप्तानि मोहतः । नीलीमध्ये सुवस्त्राणि विनष्टानि च कृत्स्नशः

rajaka uvāca etāni viprā vastrāṇi mayā kṣiptāni mohataḥ nīlīmadhye suvastrāṇi vinaṣṭāni ca kṛtsnaśaḥ

The washerman said: "O brahmins, I had thrown these garments in by mistake, and they had become entirely ruined within the indigo vat."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.123.39)

ततो भयं महद्भूतं कुटुम्बेन समन्वितः । चलितो रजनीवक्त्रे दिगंते ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

tato bhayaṁ mahadbhūtaṁ kuṭumbena samanvitaḥ calito rajanīvaktre digaṁte brāhmaṇottamāḥ

"Then great fear seized me and my family, and, at the very onset of night, O excellent brahmins, we set out toward another direction."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.123.40)

अथैषा तनयाऽस्माकं गता निजसखीं प्रति । दाशात्मजां सुदुःखार्ता पुनर्दर्शनलालसा

athaiṣā tanayā'smākaṁ gatā nijasakhīṁ prati dāśātmajāṁ suduḥkhārtā punardarśanalālasā

"At that time this daughter of mine, deeply distressed, went out of longing to see her once more, to that fisherman's daughter, her friend."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.123.41)

तया सर्वमभिप्रायं ज्ञात्वा मे दुःखहेतुकम् । ततः संदर्शयामास स्थिताग्रे स्वजलाशयम्

tayā sarvamabhiprāyaṁ jñātvā me duḥkhahetukam tataḥ saṁdarśayāmāsa sthitāgre svajalāśayam

"She, learning the entire cause of my distress, then showed us the pond, standing before us."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.123.42)

तस्मिन्प्रक्षिप्तमात्राणि वस्त्राणीमानि तत्क्षणात् । ईदृग्वर्णानि जातानि विस्मयस्य हि कारणम्

tasminprakṣiptamātrāṇi vastrāṇīmāni tatkṣaṇāt īdṛgvarṇāni jātāni vismayasya hi kāraṇam

"Instantly, these garments cast therein attained such a color — this is indeed the cause of wonder."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.123.43)

तथा मे मूर्धजाः कृष्णास्तत्र स्नातस्य तत्क्षणात् । परं शुक्लत्वमापन्ना एतत्प्रोक्तं मया स्फुटम्

tathā me mūrdhajāḥ kṛṣṇāstatra snātasya tatkṣaṇāt paraṁ śuklatvamāpannā etatproktaṁ mayā sphuṭam

"Likewise my hair, too, was black, but the instant I bathed there it became purely white — this I have told plainly."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.123.44)

एवं ते ब्राह्मणाः श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्विताः । तत्र जग्मुः परीक्षार्थं विक्षिप्य तदनंतरम्

evaṁ te brāhmaṇāḥ śrutvā kautūhalasamanvitāḥ tatra jagmuḥ parīkṣārthaṁ vikṣipya tadanaṁtaram

Hearing this, those brahmins, filled with curiosity, went there afterward to test it, and threw objects into it,

Verse 45 (skanda.6.123.45)

कृष्णद्रव्याणि भूरीणि केशादीनि सहस्रशः । सर्वं तच्छुक्लतां याति त्यक्त्वा वर्णं मलीमसम्

kṛṣṇadravyāṇi bhūrīṇi keśādīni sahasraśaḥ sarvaṁ tacchuklatāṁ yāti tyaktvā varṇaṁ malīmasam

thousands of black substances, hair and the like — all of it, abandoning its dark color, attained whiteness.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.123.46)

ततो वृद्धतया ये च विशेषाच्छ्वेतमूर्धजाः । ते सस्नुः श्रद्धया युक्तास्तरुणाश्चापि धर्मिणः

tato vṛddhatayā ye ca viśeṣācchvetamūrdhajāḥ te sasnuḥ śraddhayā yuktāstaruṇāścāpi dharmiṇaḥ

Then those whose hair had turned particularly white with old age also bathed there with devotion, as did the righteous young men.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.123.47)

ततः शुक्लत्वमापन्नास्तेजोवीर्यसमन्विताः । भवंति तत्प्रभावेन प्रयांति च परां गतिम्

tataḥ śuklatvamāpannāstejovīryasamanvitāḥ bhavaṁti tatprabhāvena prayāṁti ca parāṁ gatim

Thereafter, endowed with radiance and vigor, they attain whiteness, and by that very power they attain the supreme state.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.123.48)

अथ तद्वासवो दृष्ट्वा शुक्लतीर्थं प्रमुक्तिदम् । पूरयामास रजसा मानुषोत्थभयेन च

atha tadvāsavo dṛṣṭvā śuklatīrthaṁ pramuktidam pūrayāmāsa rajasā mānuṣotthabhayena ca

Then Vasava (Indra), beholding that liberation-granting Shukla-tirtha, out of fear arising from mortals, filled it with dust.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.123.49)

अद्यापि तत्र यत्किंचिज्जायतेऽथ तृणादिकम् । तत्सर्वं शुक्लतामेति तत्तोयस्य प्रभावतः

adyāpi tatra yatkiṁcijjāyate'tha tṛṇādikam tatsarvaṁ śuklatāmeti tattoyasya prabhāvataḥ

Even today, whatever grows there — grass and the like — all of it attains whiteness by the power of that water.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.123.50)

तत्रोत्थैर्यः कुशैः श्राद्धं कुरुते श्रद्धयान्वितः । श्वैतैस्तैस्तारयेत्सर्वान्पितॄन्नरकगानपि

tatrotthairyaḥ kuśaiḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute śraddhayānvitaḥ śvaitaistaistārayetsarvānpitṝnnarakagānapi

Whoever performs the ancestral rites there with devotion, using the kusha grass growing there, delivers all his ancestors — even those fallen into hell — by means of those white kusha blades.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.123.51)

तत्तीर्थोत्थां मृदं गात्रे योजयित्वा नरोत्तमः । स्नानं करोति तीर्थानां सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

tattīrthotthāṁ mṛdaṁ gātre yojayitvā narottamaḥ snānaṁ karoti tīrthānāṁ sarveṣāṁ labhate phalam

Whoever, the best of men, applies the clay of that tirtha to his body obtains the merit of bathing in all the sacred tirthas.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.123.52)

यस्तैर्दर्भैर्नरो भक्त्या तिलैश्चारण्यसंभवैः । करोति तर्पणं विप्राः स प्रीणाति पितामहान्

yastairdarbhairnaro bhaktyā tilaiścāraṇyasaṁbhavaiḥ karoti tarpaṇaṁ viprāḥ sa prīṇāti pitāmahān

O brahmins, whatever man, with devotion, performs the water-offering with that darbha grass and forest-grown sesame pleases his forefathers.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.123.53)

अथाश्वमेधात्संप्राप्यं गयाश्राद्धेन यत्फलम् । नीलसंज्ञगवोत्सर्गे तथात्रापि द्विजोत्तमाः

athāśvamedhātsaṁprāpyaṁ gayāśrāddhena yatphalam nīlasaṁjñagavotsarge tathātrāpi dvijottamāḥ

O excellent brahmins, the merit that is obtained from an Ashvamedha sacrifice and from performing shraddha at Gaya is likewise obtained here also by the gift of a cow called Nila.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.123.54)

ऋषय ऊचुः । शुक्लतीर्थं कथं जातं तत्र त्वं सूतनंदन । विस्तरेण समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śuklatīrthaṁ kathaṁ jātaṁ tatra tvaṁ sūtanaṁdana vistareṇa samācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

The sages said: O son of Suta, tell us in detail how that Shukla-tirtha arose there; we have great curiosity about it.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.123.55)

सूत उवाच । श्वेतद्वीपः समानीतो विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । तत्क्षेत्रे कलिभीतेन यथा शौक्ल्यं न संत्यजेत्

sūta uvāca śvetadvīpaḥ samānīto viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā tatkṣetre kalibhītena yathā śauklyaṁ na saṁtyajet

Suta said: The mighty Vishnu, out of fear of the Kali age, brought Shvetadvipa (the White Island) to that field in such a way that its whiteness would never be lost.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.123.56)

कलिकालेन संस्पृष्टः श्वेतद्वीपोऽपि श्यामताम् । न प्रयाति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्ततस्तत्र निवेशितः

kalikālena saṁspṛṣṭaḥ śvetadvīpo'pi śyāmatām na prayāti dvijaśreṣṭhāstatastatra niveśitaḥ

O excellent brahmins, even the touch of the Kali age never turns that Shvetadvipa dark; and that is why it was established there.