The Origin of Ajagriha, the Deity of the Disease-Curing Waters

Verse 1 (skanda.6.133.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ तथाऽन्यापि च तत्रास्ति देवता द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ अजागृहेति विख्याता सर्वरोगक्षयावहा

sūta uvāca tathā'nyāpi ca tatrāsti devatā dvijasattamāḥ ajāgṛheti vikhyātā sarvarogakṣayāvahā

Suta said: O best of brahmins, there is also another deity there, renowned by the name Ajagriha, who destroys every disease.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.133.2)

अजापालो यदा राजा सर्वलोकहिते रतः ॥ अजारूपाः प्रयांति स्म व्याधयः सकला द्विजाः ॥ तदा रात्रौ समानीय तस्मिन्स्थाने दधाति सः

ajāpālo yadā rājā sarvalokahite rataḥ ajārūpāḥ prayāṁti sma vyādhayaḥ sakalā dvijāḥ tadā rātrau samānīya tasminsthāne dadhāti saḥ

When King Ajapala, devoted to the welfare of all the world, reigned, all the diseases used to move about in the form of goats; at night he would gather them and keep them at that spot.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.133.3)

ततस्तदाश्रयात्स्थानमजागृहमिति स्मृतम् ॥ सर्वैर्जनैर्धरा पृष्ठेदर्शनाद्व्याधिनाशनम्

tatastadāśrayātsthānamajāgṛhamiti smṛtam sarvairjanairdharā pṛṣṭhedarśanādvyādhināśanam

Because they took shelter there, that spot came to be known as Ajagriha, and merely to behold it, for all people on the face of the earth, destroys disease.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.133.4)

तत्रैश्वर्यमभूत्पूर्वं यत्तद्ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः ॥ अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि श्रोतव्यं सुसमाहितैः

tatraiśvaryamabhūtpūrvaṁ yattadbrāhmaṇasattamāḥ ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi śrotavyaṁ susamāhitaiḥ

O best of brahmins, that glory which came to pass there long ago, I shall recount to you; listen to it with a focused mind.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.133.5)

तत्रागतो द्विजः कश्चित्क्षेत्रे तापसरूपधृक् ॥ तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन रात्रौ प्राप्तः श्रमान्वितः

tatrāgato dvijaḥ kaścitkṣetre tāpasarūpadhṛk tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena rātrau prāptaḥ śramānvitaḥ

A certain brahmin, bearing the guise of an ascetic, came there to that kshetra in the course of a pilgrimage, arriving at night, wearied by his travels.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.133.6)

अजावृंदमथालोक्य निविष्टं सुसुखान्वितम् ॥ रोमंथ कर्मसंयुक्तं विश्वस्तमकुतोभयम्॥

ajāvṛṁdamathālokya niviṣṭaṁ susukhānvitam romaṁtha karmasaṁyuktaṁ viśvastamakutobhayam

Seeing there a herd of goats, settled comfortably, chewing the cud, at ease and utterly without fear,

Verse 7 (skanda.6.133.7)

स ज्ञात्वा मानुषेणात्र भवितव्यमसंशयम् ॥ न शून्याः पशवो रात्रौ स्थास्यंति विजने वने

sa jñātvā mānuṣeṇātra bhavitavyamasaṁśayam na śūnyāḥ paśavo rātrau sthāsyaṁti vijane vane

he reasoned that a human being must surely be present nearby, for animals do not remain unguarded through the night in a deserted forest,

Verse 8 (skanda.6.133.8)

ततः फूत्कृत्य फूकृत्य दिवं यावन्न संदधे ॥ कश्चिद्वाचं प्रसुप्तश्च तावत्तत्रैव चिंतयन्

tataḥ phūtkṛtya phūkṛtya divaṁ yāvanna saṁdadhe kaścidvācaṁ prasuptaśca tāvattatraiva ciṁtayan

So he made loud sounds, hoping for a reply; but until day broke, no one there spoke a word, and even as he lay down to sleep he went on wondering there.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.133.9)

अवश्यं मानुषेणात्र पशूनां रक्षणाय च ॥ आगंतव्यं कुतोऽप्याशु तस्मात्तिष्ठामि निर्भयः

avaśyaṁ mānuṣeṇātra paśūnāṁ rakṣaṇāya ca āgaṁtavyaṁ kuto'pyāśu tasmāttiṣṭhāmi nirbhayaḥ

He thought: certainly some man must come quickly from somewhere to guard these animals; therefore I shall remain here without fear.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.133.10)

एवं तस्य प्रसुप्तस्य गता सा रजनी ततः ॥ ततस्त्वरितवत्तस्य सुश्रांतस्य द्विजोत्तमाः

evaṁ tasya prasuptasya gatā sā rajanī tataḥ tatastvaritavattasya suśrāṁtasya dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, thus, as he slept, that night passed swiftly for the exhausted brahmin.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.133.11)

अथ यावत्प्रभाते स प्रपश्यति निजां तनुम् ॥ तावत्कुष्ठादिभी रोगैः समंतात्परिवारिताम्

atha yāvatprabhāte sa prapaśyati nijāṁ tanum tāvatkuṣṭhādibhī rogaiḥ samaṁtātparivāritām

Then, when morning came and he looked at his own body, he found it surrounded on every side by leprosy and other afflictions.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.133.12)

अशक्तश्चलितुं स्थानादपि चैकं पदं क्वचित् ॥ तेजो हीनोऽपि रौद्रेण चिन्तयामास वै ततः

aśaktaścalituṁ sthānādapi caikaṁ padaṁ kvacit tejo hīno'pi raudreṇa cintayāmāsa vai tataḥ

He was unable to move even a single step from that spot, and though his lustre was destroyed by that dreadful affliction, he began to reflect.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.133.13)

किमिदं कारणं येन ममैषा संस्थिता तनुः ॥ अकस्मादेव रोगोऽयं चलितुं नैव च क्षमः

kimidaṁ kāraṇaṁ yena mamaiṣā saṁsthitā tanuḥ akasmādeva rogo'yaṁ calituṁ naiva ca kṣamaḥ

What could be the reason my body has come to this state? This disease has appeared out of nowhere, and I am not even able to walk.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.133.14)

एवं चिन्तयमानस्य तस्य विप्रस्य तत्क्षणात्॥ द्वादशार्कप्रतीकाशः पुरुषः समुपागतः

evaṁ cintayamānasya tasya viprasya tatkṣaṇāt dvādaśārkapratīkāśaḥ puruṣaḥ samupāgataḥ

While that brahmin pondered thus, at that very moment a man radiant as twelve suns approached him.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.133.15)

तं यूथं कालयामास ततः संज्ञाभिराह्वयन् ॥ पृथक्त्वेन समादाय यष्टिं सव्येन पाणिना

taṁ yūthaṁ kālayāmāsa tataḥ saṁjñābhirāhvayan pṛthaktvena samādāya yaṣṭiṁ savyena pāṇinā

He drove that herd along, calling them apart one by one with signals, holding a staff in his left hand.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.133.16)

अथापश्यत्स तं विप्रं व्याधिभिः सर्वतो वृतम्॥ अशक्तं चलितुं क्वापि ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्॥

athāpaśyatsa taṁ vipraṁ vyādhibhiḥ sarvato vṛtam aśaktaṁ calituṁ kvāpi tataḥ provāca sādaram

Then he saw that brahmin, surrounded on every side by diseases and unable to move anywhere, and spoke to him respectfully.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.133.17)

कस्त्वमेवंविधः प्राप्तः स्थाने चात्र द्विजोत्तम ॥ नास्ति राज्ये मम व्याधिः कस्यचित्कुत्रचित्स्फुटम्

kastvamevaṁvidhaḥ prāptaḥ sthāne cātra dvijottama nāsti rājye mama vyādhiḥ kasyacitkutracitsphuṭam

O best of brahmins, who are you that has come to this place in such a condition? In my kingdom no one, anywhere, ever plainly suffers from disease.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.133.18)

अजोनाम नरेन्द्रोऽहं यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः॥ व्याधींश्च च्छागरूपेण रक्षामि जनकारणात्

ajonāma narendro'haṁ yadi te śrotramāgataḥ vyādhīṁśca cchāgarūpeṇa rakṣāmi janakāraṇāt

If it has reached your ears, I am the king named Aja, and for the sake of the people I guard the diseases, having given them the form of goats.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.133.19)

तस्माद्ब्रूहि शरीरस्थो यस्ते व्याधिर्व्यवस्थितः ॥ येनाऽहं निग्रहं तस्य करोमि द्विजसत्तम

tasmādbrūhi śarīrastho yaste vyādhirvyavasthitaḥ yenā'haṁ nigrahaṁ tasya karomi dvijasattama

Therefore, O best of brahmins, tell me which disease has taken hold in your body, so that I may restrain it.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.133.20)

॥ ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ तीर्थयात्रापरोऽहं च भ्रमामि क्षितिमंडले॥ क्रमेणाऽत्र समायातः क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्हाटकेश्वरे

brāhmaṇa uvāca tīrthayātrāparo'haṁ ca bhramāmi kṣitimaṁḍale krameṇā'tra samāyātaḥ kṣetre'sminhāṭakeśvare

The brahmin said: I roam the circle of the earth intent upon pilgrimage, and in due course I arrived at this Hatakeshvara kshetra.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.133.21)

निशावक्त्रे नृपश्रेष्ठ वासः संचिंतितो मया ॥ दृष्ट्वाऽमूंश्च पशून्भूप मानुषं भाव्यमेव हि

niśāvaktre nṛpaśreṣṭha vāsaḥ saṁciṁtito mayā dṛṣṭvā'mūṁśca paśūnbhūpa mānuṣaṁ bhāvyameva hi

O best of kings, at the fall of night I resolved to stay here; O king, seeing these animals I judged that surely some human presence was to be expected.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.133.22)

ततश्चात्र प्रसुप्तोऽहं पशूनामंतिके नृप

tataścātra prasupto'haṁ paśūnāmaṁtike nṛpa

O king, then I fell asleep here near these animals.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.133.23)

अथ यावत्प्रभातेऽहं प्रपश्यामि निजां तनुम्॥ तावत्कुष्ठादिरोगैश्च समंतात्परिवारिताम्

atha yāvatprabhāte'haṁ prapaśyāmi nijāṁ tanum tāvatkuṣṭhādirogaiśca samaṁtātparivāritām

Then, when morning came and I looked at my own body, I found it surrounded on every side by leprosy and other diseases.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.133.24)

नान्यत्किंचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठ कारणं वेद्मि तत्त्वतः ॥ किमेतेन नृपश्रेष्ठ भूयोभूयः प्रजल्पता ॥ बहुत्वात्कुरु तस्मान्मे यथा स्यान्नीरुजा तनुः॥

nānyatkiṁcinnṛpaśreṣṭha kāraṇaṁ vedmi tattvataḥ kimetena nṛpaśreṣṭha bhūyobhūyaḥ prajalpatā bahutvātkuru tasmānme yathā syānnīrujā tanuḥ

O best of kings, I truly know no other reason beyond this; O king, what use is there in saying it again and again — instead of many words, do whatever will free my body of disease.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.133.25)

ततस्ते व्याधयः प्रोक्ता अजापालेन भूभुजा ॥ केनाज्ञा खंडिता मेऽद्य को वध्यः सांप्रतं मम

tataste vyādhayaḥ proktā ajāpālena bhūbhujā kenājñā khaṁḍitā me'dya ko vadhyaḥ sāṁprataṁ mama

Then King Ajapala said to those diseases: Who today has defied my command? Who now deserves to be slain by me?

Verse 26 (skanda.6.133.26)

॥ व्याधय ऊचुः ॥ मा कोपं कुरु भूपाल कृत्येऽस्मिंस्त्वं कथंचन ॥ यस्मादेष द्विजो विष्टः सांप्रतं व्याधिभिस्त्रिभिः

vyādhaya ūcuḥ mā kopaṁ kuru bhūpāla kṛtye'smiṁstvaṁ kathaṁcana yasmādeṣa dvijo viṣṭaḥ sāṁprataṁ vyādhibhistribhiḥ

The diseases said: O king, do not in any way become angry over this matter, for this brahmin has now been afflicted by three diseases.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.133.27)

राजयक्ष्मा च कुष्ठं च पामा च द्विजसत्तम ॥ एते संसर्गजा दोषास्त्रयोऽद्यापि प्रकीर्तिताः

rājayakṣmā ca kuṣṭhaṁ ca pāmā ca dvijasattama ete saṁsargajā doṣāstrayo'dyāpi prakīrtitāḥ

O best of brahmins, consumption, leprosy, and itch-disease — these three are the afflictions declared to arise from mere contact.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.133.28)

एतेषां प्रथमौ यौ द्वौ निवृत्तिरहितौ स्मृतौ ॥ औषधैश्चैव मंत्रैश्च शेषा नाशं व्रजंति च

eteṣāṁ prathamau yau dvau nivṛttirahitau smṛtau auṣadhaiścaiva maṁtraiśca śeṣā nāśaṁ vrajaṁti ca

Of these, the first two are said to be beyond cure; the rest are destroyed by medicines and by mantras.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.133.29)

आभ्यां च ब्रह्मशापोस्ति येन नास्ति निवर्तनम् ॥ तस्मादत्र नृपश्रेष्ठ कुरु यत्ते क्षमं भवेत्

ābhyāṁ ca brahmaśāposti yena nāsti nivartanam tasmādatra nṛpaśreṣṭha kuru yatte kṣamaṁ bhavet

Behind these two there lies a curse of Brahma, from which there is no release; therefore, O best of kings, do here whatever seems fitting to you.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.133.30)

एतेन ब्राह्मणेनैते स्पृष्टा राजंस्त्रयोपि च॥ तस्मात्तावत्तनुं चास्याविशतां तावसंशयम्॥

etena brāhmaṇenaite spṛṣṭā rājaṁstrayopi ca tasmāttāvattanuṁ cāsyāviśatāṁ tāvasaṁśayam

O king, all three of us have been touched by this brahmin, and so we have, without doubt, entered into his body.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.133.31)

अपरं शृणु भूपाल वचनं नो मुखाच्च्युतम्॥ हिताय सर्वजंतूनां तव श्रेयोविवृद्धये॥

aparaṁ śṛṇu bhūpāla vacanaṁ no mukhāccyutam hitāya sarvajaṁtūnāṁ tava śreyovivṛddhaye

O king, hear one more word that falls from our lips, spoken for the welfare of all creatures and for the growth of your own good fortune.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.133.32)

यत्र स्थानं चिरं तत्र मेदिन्यां विहितं नृप। पुरीषं च समाविद्धा तेनैषा मेदिनी द्रुतम्॥

yatra sthānaṁ ciraṁ tatra medinyāṁ vihitaṁ nṛpa purīṣaṁ ca samāviddhā tenaiṣā medinī drutam

O king, wherever on this earth our abiding place has long remained, and has been steeped with filth, that ground is quickly (contaminated) by it.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.133.33)

कालांतरेपि ये मर्त्या भूम्यामस्यां समागताः। भूमेः स्पर्शं करिष्यंति ते भविष्यंति चेदृशाः॥

kālāṁtarepi ye martyā bhūmyāmasyāṁ samāgatāḥ bhūmeḥ sparśaṁ kariṣyaṁti te bhaviṣyaṁti cedṛśāḥ

Even in future times, whatever mortals come to this ground and touch this earth shall likewise become afflicted just as he was.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.133.34)

वयं शेषा महाराज व्याधयो ये व्यवस्थिताः। त्वया मुक्त्वा भविष्यामो मन्त्रौषधवशानुगाः ॥

vayaṁ śeṣā mahārāja vyādhayo ye vyavasthitāḥ tvayā muktvā bhaviṣyāmo mantrauṣadhavaśānugāḥ

O great king, we, the remaining diseases established here, once released by you shall remain ever subject to mantra and medicine.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.133.35)

नैतौ पुनस्तु दुर्ग्राह्यौ ब्रह्मशाप समुद्भवौ ॥

naitau punastu durgrāhyau brahmaśāpa samudbhavau

But those two diseases born of the curse of Brahma, being hard to overcome, shall not be freed by this.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.133.36)

तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवः सोऽपि तस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितः ॥ तं ब्राह्मणं पुनः प्राह न भेतव्यं त्वया द्विज

tacchrutvā pārthivaḥ so'pi tasminsthāne vyavasthitaḥ taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ punaḥ prāha na bhetavyaṁ tvayā dvija

Hearing this, that king, remaining fixed at that spot, said again to the brahmin: O brahmin, you need not be afraid.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.133.37)

अहं त्वां रक्षयिष्यामि व्याधेरस्मात्सुदारुणात् ॥ अत्र तस्मात्प्रतीक्षस्व कञ्चित्कालं ममाज्ञया

ahaṁ tvāṁ rakṣayiṣyāmi vyādherasmātsudāruṇāt atra tasmātpratīkṣasva kañcitkālaṁ mamājñayā

I shall protect you from this most dreadful affliction; therefore, by my command, wait here a while.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.133.38)

एवमुक्त्वा ततश्चक्रे तदर्थं सुमहत्तपः ॥ आराधयन्प्रभक्त्या च सम्यक्तां क्षेत्रदेवताम्

evamuktvā tataścakre tadarthaṁ sumahattapaḥ ārādhayanprabhaktyā ca samyaktāṁ kṣetradevatām

Having said this, he then performed a great penance for that purpose, worshipping the deity of that kshetra fully and with deep devotion.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.133.39)

मुंडेनाथर्वशीर्षेण दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः॥ क्षेत्रपालोत्थसूक्तेन वास्तुसूक्तेन च द्विजाः॥

muṁḍenātharvaśīrṣeṇa divārātramataṁdritaḥ kṣetrapālotthasūktena vāstusūktena ca dvijāḥ

O brahmins, tirelessly, day and night, he worshipped with the Munda Atharvashirsha hymn, with the hymn to the Kshetrapala, and with the Vastu hymn.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.133.40)

सिद्धार्थै रक्तपुष्पैश्च गुग्गुलेन सुधूपितैः॥ होमं कुर्वन्नृपः पश्चान्नीलरुद्रान्विशेषतः॥

siddhārthai raktapuṣpaiśca guggulena sudhūpitaiḥ homaṁ kurvannṛpaḥ paścānnīlarudrānviśeṣataḥ

That king, with white mustard seeds, red flowers, and fragrant guggulu incense, offered oblations especially with the Nilarudra mantras.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.133.41)

अथ नक्तावसानेन तस्य होमस्य चोत्थिता॥ भित्त्वा धरातलं देवी मन्त्राकृष्टा विनिर्गता॥

atha naktāvasānena tasya homasya cotthitā bhittvā dharātalaṁ devī mantrākṛṣṭā vinirgatā

Then, at the close of that night, drawn forth by the power of that oblation, the goddess emerged, splitting open the surface of the earth.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.133.42)

देवता तस्य क्षेत्रस्य ततः प्रोवाच तं नृपम्॥

devatā tasya kṣetrasya tataḥ provāca taṁ nṛpam

That deity of the kshetra then spoke to the king.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.133.43)

एकाहं तव भूपाल होमस्यास्य प्रभावतः ॥ विनिर्गता धरापृष्ठात्क्षेत्रस्यास्याधिपा स्मृता

ekāhaṁ tava bhūpāla homasyāsya prabhāvataḥ vinirgatā dharāpṛṣṭhātkṣetrasyāsyādhipā smṛtā

O king, by the power of this oblation of yours I have emerged from the surface of the earth, and I am known as the mistress of this kshetra.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.133.44)

तस्माद्वद महाभाग यत्ते कृत्यं करोम्यहम् ॥ परां तुष्टिमनुप्राप्ता तस्माद्ब्रूहि यदीप्सितम्

tasmādvada mahābhāga yatte kṛtyaṁ karomyaham parāṁ tuṣṭimanuprāptā tasmādbrūhi yadīpsitam

Therefore, O most fortunate one, tell me what deed I should perform for you; I am supremely pleased, so speak whatever you desire.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.133.45)

॥ राजोवाच ॥ अत्र स्थाने सदा स्थेयं त्वया देवि विशेषतः ॥ व्याधिसंसर्गजो दोषो भूमेरस्या यथा व्रजेत्॥

rājovāca atra sthāne sadā stheyaṁ tvayā devi viśeṣataḥ vyādhisaṁsargajo doṣo bhūmerasyā yathā vrajet

The king said: O goddess, dwell always, and especially, in this very spot, so that the fault arising from contact with disease may depart from this ground.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.133.46)

अद्यप्रभृति देवेशि तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥ नो चेदस्याः प्रसंगेन प्रभविष्यंति मानवाः

adyaprabhṛti deveśi tathā nītirvidhīyatām no cedasyāḥ prasaṁgena prabhaviṣyaṁti mānavāḥ

O queen of gods, from this day let such an order be established, otherwise, through contact with this place, mankind will continue to suffer.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.133.47)

व्याधिग्रस्ता यथा विप्रो योऽयं संदृश्यते पुरः ॥ मयात्र व्याधयः कालं चिरं संस्थापिता यतः ॥ भविष्यति च मे दोषो नो चेद्देवि न संशयः

vyādhigrastā yathā vipro yo'yaṁ saṁdṛśyate puraḥ mayātra vyādhayaḥ kālaṁ ciraṁ saṁsthāpitā yataḥ bhaviṣyati ca me doṣo no ceddevi na saṁśayaḥ

Just as this brahmin now stands before me, stricken with disease, because it was I who kept these diseases established here for so long — if you do not do this, O goddess, the fault will fall upon me, without doubt.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.133.48)

तथायं ब्राह्मणो रोगात्त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वरि ॥ मुक्तो भवतु मेदिन्यामत्र स्थेयं सदा त्वया

tathāyaṁ brāhmaṇo rogāttvatprasādātsureśvari mukto bhavatu medinyāmatra stheyaṁ sadā tvayā

O queen of gods, by your grace, let this brahmin be freed from disease, and may you dwell here always upon this earth.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.133.49)

॥ क्षेत्रदेवतोवाच ॥ एतत्स्थानं मया सर्वं व्याधिदोषविवर्जितम् ॥ विहितं सर्वदैवात्र स्थास्येऽहमिह सर्वदा

kṣetradevatovāca etatsthānaṁ mayā sarvaṁ vyādhidoṣavivarjitam vihitaṁ sarvadaivātra sthāsye'hamiha sarvadā

The deity of the kshetra said: I have made this entire place free of the fault of disease, and I shall dwell here forever, always.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.133.50)

सांप्रतं योऽत्र मे स्थाने व्याधिग्रस्तः समेष्यति ॥ पूजयिष्यति मां भक्त्या नीरोगः स भविष्यति

sāṁprataṁ yo'tra me sthāne vyādhigrastaḥ sameṣyati pūjayiṣyati māṁ bhaktyā nīrogaḥ sa bhaviṣyati

Now whoever comes to this, my place, afflicted with disease, and worships me with devotion, shall become free of illness.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.133.51)

तस्मादद्य द्विजेंद्रोऽयं मां पूजयतु सादरम् ॥ भक्त्या परमया युक्तः शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः॥

tasmādadya dvijeṁdro'yaṁ māṁ pūjayatu sādaram bhaktyā paramayā yuktaḥ śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ

Therefore let this best of brahmins today worship me with reverence, endowed with supreme devotion, purified, and with a focused mind.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.133.52)

अत्र क्षेत्रे पराऽन्यास्ति विख्याता चंद्रकूपिका।॥ तस्यां स्नातु यथान्यायं नित्यमेव महीपते

atra kṣetre parā'nyāsti vikhyātā caṁdrakūpikā tasyāṁ snātu yathānyāyaṁ nityameva mahīpate

O king, in this kshetra there is another supremely renowned well called the Chandrakupika; let him bathe there daily, according to the proper rite.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.133.53)

दक्षशापप्रशप्तेन या चंद्रेण पुरा कृता ॥ स्वस्नानार्थं क्षयव्याधिप्रग्रस्तेन महात्मना।

dakṣaśāpapraśaptena yā caṁdreṇa purā kṛtā svasnānārthaṁ kṣayavyādhipragrastena mahātmanā

which the great soul Chandra, cursed long ago by Daksha's curse and afflicted with the wasting disease, made for his own bathing.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.133.54)

तथा खण्डशिलानाम देवता चात्र तिष्ठति ॥ सौभाग्यकूपिकास्नानं कृत्वा तां च प्रपश्यतु

tathā khaṇḍaśilānāma devatā cātra tiṣṭhati saubhāgyakūpikāsnānaṁ kṛtvā tāṁ ca prapaśyatu

Likewise there dwells here another deity named Khandashila; let him bathe in the Saubhagyakupika and behold her too.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.133.55)

या कृता कामदेवेन कुष्ठग्रस्तेन वै पुरा। स्नपनार्थं च कुष्ठस्य विनाशाय च सादरम्॥

yā kṛtā kāmadevena kuṣṭhagrastena vai purā snapanārthaṁ ca kuṣṭhasya vināśāya ca sādaram

which the god of love, once afflicted with leprosy, made long ago with reverence, both for his own bathing and for the destruction of that leprosy.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.133.56)

तथा चाप्सरसां कुण्डमत्रास्ति नृपसत्तम ॥ तत्र स्नात्वा रवेरह्नि ततः पामा प्रशाम्यति

tathā cāpsarasāṁ kuṇḍamatrāsti nṛpasattama tatra snātvā raverahni tataḥ pāmā praśāmyati

O best of kings, likewise there is here a tank of the apsaras; bathing there on a Sunday causes the itch-disease to be pacified.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.133.57)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ततः स ब्राह्मणः प्राप्य सुपुण्यां चन्द्रकूपिकाम् ॥ स्नानं कृत्वा च तां देवीं पूजयामास भक्तितः ॥ यावन्मासं ततो मुक्तः सत्वरं राजयक्ष्मणा

sūta uvāca tataḥ sa brāhmaṇaḥ prāpya supuṇyāṁ candrakūpikām snānaṁ kṛtvā ca tāṁ devīṁ pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ yāvanmāsaṁ tato muktaḥ satvaraṁ rājayakṣmaṇā

Suta said: Then that brahmin, reaching that most sacred Chandrakupika, bathed there and worshipped that goddess with devotion, and within a month he was quickly freed from consumption.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.133.58)

ततः सौभाग्यकूपीं तां दृष्ट्वा कामविनिर्मिताम् ॥ तथा स्नानं विधायाथ पश्यन्खंडशिलां च ताम्

tataḥ saubhāgyakūpīṁ tāṁ dṛṣṭvā kāmavinirmitām tathā snānaṁ vidhāyātha paśyankhaṁḍaśilāṁ ca tām

Then, having seen that Saubhagyakupika made by Kama, and having bathed there according to the rite, he went on to behold that Khandashila as well.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.133.59)

तद्वन्मासेन निर्मुक्तः कुष्ठेन द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ तस्या देव्याः प्रभावेन कूपिकायां विशेषतः।

tadvanmāsena nirmuktaḥ kuṣṭhena dvijasattamāḥ tasyā devyāḥ prabhāvena kūpikāyāṁ viśeṣataḥ

O best of brahmins, in the same way, within a month, through the power of that goddess and especially of that well, he was freed from leprosy.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.133.60)

ततश्चाप्सरसां कुंडे स्नात्वैकं रविवासरम् ॥ पामया संपरित्यक्तो बुद्ध्येव विषयात्मकः

tataścāpsarasāṁ kuṁḍe snātvaikaṁ ravivāsaram pāmayā saṁparityakto buddhyeva viṣayātmakaḥ

Then, bathing once on a Sunday in the tank of the apsaras, he was released from the itch-disease just as a mind absorbed in worldly things is released, once purified.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.133.61)

ततः स ब्राह्मणो जातो द्वादशार्कसमप्रभः ॥ तोषेण महता युक्तो दत्ताशीस्तस्य भूपतेः

tataḥ sa brāhmaṇo jāto dvādaśārkasamaprabhaḥ toṣeṇa mahatā yukto dattāśīstasya bhūpateḥ

Then that brahmin became radiant as twelve suns, and, filled with great satisfaction, received the blessing of that king.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.133.62)

प्रययौ वांछितं देशमनुज्ञातश्च भूभुजा ॥ देवतायां प्रणामं च ताभ्यां कृत्वा पुनःपुनः

prayayau vāṁchitaṁ deśamanujñātaśca bhūbhujā devatāyāṁ praṇāmaṁ ca tābhyāṁ kṛtvā punaḥpunaḥ

Given leave by the king, and bowing again and again to that goddess and to them both, he departed for the land of his choice.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.133.63)

सोपि राजा सदोषांस्तानजारूपान्विलोक्य च ॥ स्वस्यैव ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा तं तथा संप्रहर्षितः

sopi rājā sadoṣāṁstānajārūpānvilokya ca svasyaiva brāhmaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā taṁ tathā saṁpraharṣitaḥ

That king too, beholding those goat-formed diseases now freed of their taint, and seeing his own brahmin thus restored, was filled with great joy.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.133.64)

स्वयं च प्रययौ तत्र यत्रस्थो हाटकेश्वरः ॥ तेनैव च शरीरेण निजकांतासमन्वितः

svayaṁ ca prayayau tatra yatrastho hāṭakeśvaraḥ tenaiva ca śarīreṇa nijakāṁtāsamanvitaḥ

He himself, together with his own queen, went in that very body to the place where Hatakeshvara resided.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.133.65)

अजागृहे स्थिता यस्मात्सा देवी क्षेत्रदेवता ॥ अजागृहा ततः ख्याता सर्वत्रैव द्विजोत्तमाः

ajāgṛhe sthitā yasmātsā devī kṣetradevatā ajāgṛhā tataḥ khyātā sarvatraiva dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, because that deity of the kshetra came to dwell at Ajagriha, she thereupon became renowned everywhere as Ajagriha.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.133.66)

अद्यापि यक्ष्मणा ग्रस्तो यस्तां पूजयते नरः ॥ तैनैव विधिना सम्यक्स नीरोगो द्रुतं भवेत्॥

adyāpi yakṣmaṇā grasto yastāṁ pūjayate naraḥ tainaiva vidhinā samyaksa nīrogo drutaṁ bhavet

Even today, whatever man, afflicted with consumption, worships her fully according to that very rite, quickly becomes free of illness.