The Greatness of Satyasandheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.126.1)

सूत उवाच । एवं तस्य तपस्थस्य पुत्र्या सह द्विजोत्तमाः । आजग्मुर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे चमत्कारपुरोद्भवाः

sūta uvāca evaṁ tasya tapasthasya putryā saha dvijottamāḥ ājagmurbrāhmaṇāḥ sarve camatkārapurodbhavāḥ

Suta said: Thus, O excellent brahmins, all the brahmins born in Chamatkarapura came to that king, established in austerity, together with his daughter.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.126.2)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । सन्देहेषु च सर्वेषु विवादेषु विशेषतः । अभावात्पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य संजातश्च पराभवः

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ sandeheṣu ca sarveṣu vivādeṣu viśeṣataḥ abhāvātpārthivendrasya saṁjātaśca parābhavaḥ

The brahmins said: "In all matters of doubt, and especially in disputes, due to the absence of a king, we have come to be disrespected."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.126.3)

ततश्च द्विजवर्यैः स संन्यस्तः पृथिवीपतिः । पृष्टश्च प्रार्थितश्चैव निजराज्यस्य रक्षणे । अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे प्राह कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

tataśca dvijavaryaiḥ sa saṁnyastaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ pṛṣṭaśca prārthitaścaiva nijarājyasya rakṣaṇe anyasmindivase prāha kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

Then those excellent brahmins asked that renunciate king and requested him to protect their kingdom; the next day, standing with folded hands, he spoke.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.126.4)

राजोवाच । अनर्होऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः संदेहं हर्तुमेव वः । रक्षां कर्तुं विशेषेण त्यक्तशस्त्रोऽस्मि चाधुना

rājovāca anarho'haṁ dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ saṁdehaṁ hartumeva vaḥ rakṣāṁ kartuṁ viśeṣeṇa tyaktaśastro'smi cādhunā

The king said: "O excellent brahmins, I am not fit even to remove this doubt of yours; especially for protection, for I have now renounced weapons."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.126.5)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । सर्वे वयं महाराज भूपस्याप्यधिका यतः । अहंकारेण दर्पेण निजं स्थानं समाश्रिताः

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ sarve vayaṁ mahārāja bhūpasyāpyadhikā yataḥ ahaṁkāreṇa darpeṇa nijaṁ sthānaṁ samāśritāḥ

The brahmins said: "O great king, all of us are even greater than a king, for out of pride and self-regard we rely only on our own position."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.126.6)

न कस्यचिन्महाराज कदापि च कथंचन । वर्तनायाश्च सन्देहः स्थानकृत्येऽपि संस्थितः

na kasyacinmahārāja kadāpi ca kathaṁcana vartanāyāśca sandehaḥ sthānakṛtye'pi saṁsthitaḥ

"O great king, no one should ever, in any way, have doubt regarding livelihood — not even in matters of one's own station."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.126.7)

असंख्याता कृता वृत्तिः पुराऽस्माकं महात्मना । ततः सा वृद्धिमानीता तत्परैः पार्थिवोत्तमैः

asaṁkhyātā kṛtā vṛttiḥ purā'smākaṁ mahātmanā tataḥ sā vṛddhimānītā tatparaiḥ pārthivottamaiḥ

"Formerly the great soul (your ancestor) established countless arrangements for livelihood; thereafter, those excellent kings devoted to that same task increased it further."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.126.8)

त्वया चैव विशेषेण यावद्राजा बृहद्बलः । आनर्तविषये राजा यो यः स्यात्स प्रयच्छति

tvayā caiva viśeṣeṇa yāvadrājā bṛhadbalaḥ ānartaviṣaye rājā yo yaḥ syātsa prayacchati

"And by you especially, and down to King Brihadbala — whoever became king in the region of Anarta granted this livelihood."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.126.9)

सर्वां वृत्तिं गृहस्थानां यथायोग्यं प्रयत्नतः । तवाग्रे किं वयं ब्रूमस्त्वं वेत्सि सकलं यतः

sarvāṁ vṛttiṁ gṛhasthānāṁ yathāyogyaṁ prayatnataḥ tavāgre kiṁ vayaṁ brūmastvaṁ vetsi sakalaṁ yataḥ

"The entire livelihood of householders was arranged, fittingly and with effort; what shall we say before you, since you yourself know everything."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.126.10)

यथा वृत्तिः पुरा दत्ता यथा संरक्षिता त्वया । तस्माच्चिन्तय राजेन्द्र स्थानं वर्तनसंभवम् । उपायं येन मर्यादा वृत्तिस्तस्मात्सुखेन तु

yathā vṛttiḥ purā dattā yathā saṁrakṣitā tvayā tasmāccintaya rājendra sthānaṁ vartanasaṁbhavam upāyaṁ yena maryādā vṛttistasmātsukhena tu

"As livelihood was formerly granted, as you protected it — O king of kings, so now consider the arrangement and means for the continuance of that livelihood, so that this custom and this livelihood may proceed happily."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.126.11)

ततः स सुचिरं ध्यात्वा गर्तातीर्थसमुद्भवान् । आकार्योपमन्युवंशस्य संभवान्वेदपारगान्

tataḥ sa suciraṁ dhyātvā gartātīrthasamudbhavān ākāryopamanyuvaṁśasya saṁbhavānvedapāragān

Thereafter, having deliberated for a very long time, he summoned those born at Gartatirtha, born in the lineage of Upamanyu, learned masters of the Vedas,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.126.12)

प्रणिपातं प्रकृत्वाथ ततः प्रोवाच सादरम् । मदीयस्थान संस्थानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

praṇipātaṁ prakṛtvātha tataḥ provāca sādaram madīyasthāna saṁsthānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

and, bowing to them, then said respectfully — especially concerning the brahmins established in my own domain (kingdom),

Verse 13 (skanda.6.126.13)

सर्वकृत्यानि कार्याणि भृत्यवद्विनयान्वितैः । नित्यं रक्षा विधातव्या युष्मदीयं वचोखिलम्

sarvakṛtyāni kāryāṇi bhṛtyavadvinayānvitaiḥ nityaṁ rakṣā vidhātavyā yuṣmadīyaṁ vacokhilam

"With humility, like servants, carry out all their tasks for them; your entire word must ever be upheld with proper regard."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.126.14)

एते संपालयिष्यन्ति मर्यादाकारमुत्तमम् । सन्देहेषु च सर्वेषु विवादेषु विशेषतः

ete saṁpālayiṣyanti maryādākāramuttamam sandeheṣu ca sarveṣu vivādeṣu viśeṣataḥ

"These shall maintain the highest standard of custom in all matters of doubt, and especially in disputes."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.126.15)

राजकार्येषु चान्येषु एते दास्यन्ति निर्णयम् । युष्मदीयं वचः श्रुत्वा शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्

rājakāryeṣu cānyeṣu ete dāsyanti nirṇayam yuṣmadīyaṁ vacaḥ śrutvā śubhaṁ vā yadi vā'śubham

"In other royal matters too, they alone shall render judgment; hearing your word, whether it be favorable or unfavorable,"

Verse 16 (skanda.6.126.16)

एते पाल्याः प्रसादेन पुष्टिं नेयाश्च शक्तितः । ईर्ष्यां सर्वां परित्यज्य मदीयस्थानवृद्धये

ete pālyāḥ prasādena puṣṭiṁ neyāśca śaktitaḥ īrṣyāṁ sarvāṁ parityajya madīyasthānavṛddhaye

"let these be sustained with favor and their nourishment provided according to means, abandoning all envy, for the growth of this domain of mine."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.126.17)

बाढमित्येव तैः प्रोक्तः स राजा ब्राह्मणोत्तमान् । चमत्कापुरोद्भूतान्भूयः प्रोवाच सादरम्

bāḍhamityeva taiḥ proktaḥ sa rājā brāhmaṇottamān camatkāpurodbhūtānbhūyaḥ provāca sādaram

When those learned men said, "So be it," that king again spoke respectfully to the excellent brahmins born in Chamatkarapura.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.126.18)

युष्माकं वर्तनार्थाय सर्वकृत्येषु सर्वदा । एते विप्रा मया दत्ता गर्तातीर्थसमुद्भवाः

yuṣmākaṁ vartanārthāya sarvakṛtyeṣu sarvadā ete viprā mayā dattā gartātīrthasamudbhavāḥ

"For your livelihood, in all matters, always — I have appointed these learned men born at Gartatirtha."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.126.19)

एतेषां वचनात्सर्वं युष्मदीयं प्रजायताम् । प्रतिष्ठा जायते नूनं चातुश्चरणसूचिता

eteṣāṁ vacanātsarvaṁ yuṣmadīyaṁ prajāyatām pratiṣṭhā jāyate nūnaṁ cātuścaraṇasūcitā

"By their word alone let all your affairs proceed; certainly, distinction as declared by all the four estates shall arise in this very way."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.126.20)

नान्यथा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु । प्रोक्तं लक्षमितैरन्यैर्युष्मदीयपुरोद्भवैः

nānyathā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ svalpaṁ vā yadi vā bahu proktaṁ lakṣamitairanyairyuṣmadīyapurodbhavaiḥ

"O excellent brahmins, not otherwise — whether little or much, this has also been declared by hundreds of thousands of others born of your very own city."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.126.21)

सूत उवाच । ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा हृष्टास्तानादाय द्विजोत्तमान् । तेषां मतेन चक्रुश्च सर्वकृत्यानि सर्वदा

sūta uvāca tataste brāhmaṇā hṛṣṭāstānādāya dvijottamān teṣāṁ matena cakruśca sarvakṛtyāni sarvadā

Suta said: Thereafter those joyful brahmins, taking those excellent men with them, began to conduct all affairs always according to their counsel.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.126.22)

ततस्तत्र पुरे जाता मर्यादा धर्मवर्द्धिनी । सर्वकृत्येषु सर्वेषां तथा वृद्धिः पुरस्य च

tatastatra pure jātā maryādā dharmavarddhinī sarvakṛtyeṣu sarveṣāṁ tathā vṛddhiḥ purasya ca

Thereafter, in that city, a dharma-enhancing standard came into being, and there was prosperity in all the affairs of everyone, as well as growth of the city itself.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.126.23)

तेऽपि तेषां प्रसादेन गर्त्तातीर्थभवा द्विजाः । परां विभूतिमास्थाय मोदन्ते सुखसंयुताः

te'pi teṣāṁ prasādena garttātīrthabhavā dvijāḥ parāṁ vibhūtimāsthāya modante sukhasaṁyutāḥ

By their very grace, those brahmins born at Gartatirtha too attained the highest prosperity and dwelt happily, filled with joy.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.126.24)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा तत्पुरोत्तमम् । समभ्येत्य द्विजान्सर्वांस्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya sa rājā tatpurottamam samabhyetya dvijānsarvāṁstataḥ provāca sādaram

After some time had passed, that king, going to that excellent city, meeting all the brahmins, then spoke to them respectfully.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.126.25)

युष्मदीयप्रसादेन क्षेत्रेऽत्र सुमहत्तपः । कृतं स्वर्गं प्रयास्यामि सांप्रतं तु द्विजोत्तमाः

yuṣmadīyaprasādena kṣetre'tra sumahattapaḥ kṛtaṁ svargaṁ prayāsyāmi sāṁprataṁ tu dvijottamāḥ

"By your very grace I have performed most great austerity in this field; O excellent brahmins, now I shall depart for heaven."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.126.26)

नास्माकमन्वये कश्चित्सांप्रतं वर्तते नृपः । तस्याहं लिंगमेतद्वै दर्शयामि द्विजोत्तमाः

nāsmākamanvaye kaścitsāṁprataṁ vartate nṛpaḥ tasyāhaṁ liṁgametadvai darśayāmi dvijottamāḥ

"There now remains no king left in my lineage; therefore, O excellent brahmins, I show you this linga of mine."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.126.27)

पूजार्थं चापि वृत्त्यर्थं भोगार्थं च विशेषतः । तस्माद्युष्माभिरेवास्य पूजा कार्या प्रयत्नतः । रथयात्रा विशेषेण दयां कृत्वा ममोपरि

pūjārthaṁ cāpi vṛttyarthaṁ bhogārthaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ tasmādyuṣmābhirevāsya pūjā kāryā prayatnataḥ rathayātrā viśeṣeṇa dayāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

"For the sake of its worship, for the sake of livelihood, and especially for the sake of enjoyment — therefore may all of you diligently perform its worship, and, having compassion upon me, especially conduct its chariot-procession."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.126.28)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । सप्त विंशतिलिंगानि यथेष्टानि महीतले । चमत्कारसुतानां च पूज्यंते सर्वदैव तु

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ sapta viṁśatiliṁgāni yatheṣṭāni mahītale camatkārasutānāṁ ca pūjyaṁte sarvadaiva tu

The brahmins said: "On this earth twenty-seven lingas established by the sons of Chamatkara are worshipped exactly as desired, always."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.126.29)

अष्टाविंशतिमं तद्वदेतल्लिंगं तवोद्भवम् । सर्वदा पूजयिष्यामो निश्चिन्तो भव पार्थिव

aṣṭāviṁśatimaṁ tadvadetalliṁgaṁ tavodbhavam sarvadā pūjayiṣyāmo niścinto bhava pārthiva

"Likewise, this twenty-eighth linga, arisen through you, we shall always worship; O king, be free of care."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.126.30)

अस्य यात्रां करिष्यामः कार्तिके मासि सर्वदा । बलिपूजोपहारांश्च गीतवाद्यानि शक्तितः

asya yātrāṁ kariṣyāmaḥ kārtike māsi sarvadā balipūjopahārāṁśca gītavādyāni śaktitaḥ

"We shall always celebrate its procession in the month of Kartika, with offerings, worship, and gifts, as well as song and instrumental music, according to our capacity."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.126.31)

एवमुक्तः स तैर्हृष्टो गत्वात्मीयं तदाश्रमम् । स्नापयित्वाथ तल्लिंगं पूजां चक्रे प्रभक्तितः

evamuktaḥ sa tairhṛṣṭo gatvātmīyaṁ tadāśramam snāpayitvātha talliṁgaṁ pūjāṁ cakre prabhaktitaḥ

Thus addressed by them, he, rejoicing, went to his own hermitage and, having bathed that linga, performed its worship with the greatest devotion.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.126.32)

सूत उवाच । एवं समर्पितं लिंगं तेन तद्धरसंभवम् । सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां वंशोच्छेदे स्थिते द्विजाः

sūta uvāca evaṁ samarpitaṁ liṁgaṁ tena taddharasaṁbhavam sarveṣāṁ brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ vaṁśocchede sthite dvijāḥ

Suta said: Thus that linga, arisen from Hara, was dedicated by him; O brahmins, even though the lineage of all those excellent brahmins had come to an end,

Verse 33 (skanda.6.126.33)

सकलं कार्तिकं मर्त्यो यस्तच्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः । स्नापयेत्पूजयेच्चापि स नूनं मुक्तिमाप्नुयात्

sakalaṁ kārtikaṁ martyo yastacchraddhāsamanvitaḥ snāpayetpūjayeccāpi sa nūnaṁ muktimāpnuyāt

whatever mortal, with devotion, bathes and worships it throughout the entire month of Kartika, that person surely attains liberation.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.126.34)

सोमस्य दिवसे प्राप्ते वर्षं यावत्कृतक्षणः । तस्य पूजां करोत्येवं स्नापयित्वा विधानतः । सोऽपि मुक्तिं व्रजेन्मर्त्य एतत्तातान्मया श्रुतम्

somasya divase prāpte varṣaṁ yāvatkṛtakṣaṇaḥ tasya pūjāṁ karotyevaṁ snāpayitvā vidhānataḥ so'pi muktiṁ vrajenmartya etattātānmayā śrutam

When the day of the Moon (Monday) arrives, whoever, throughout the year, taking the opportunity, duly bathing and thus worshipping it, also attains liberation, O father — this I myself have heard.