The Curse of Kama and the Origin of Khandashila and the Saubhagya Well

Verse 1 (skanda.6.134.1)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ यदा दक्षेण क्रुद्धेन पुरा शप्तो हिमद्युतिः ॥ तत्सर्वं भवता प्रोक्तं सोमनाथकथानकम्॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadā dakṣeṇa kruddhena purā śapto himadyutiḥ tatsarvaṁ bhavatā proktaṁ somanāthakathānakam

The sages said: You have already told us the whole tale of Somanatha — how the wrathful Daksha once cursed the moon.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.134.2)

सांप्रतं वद कामस्य यथा कुष्ठोऽभवत्पुरा ॥ येन दोषेण शापश्च केन तस्य नियोजितः

sāṁprataṁ vada kāmasya yathā kuṣṭho'bhavatpurā yena doṣeṇa śāpaśca kena tasya niyojitaḥ

Now tell us how the god of love once came to be afflicted with leprosy — by what fault, and by whom that curse was laid upon him.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.134.3)

शिलाखंडा च या देवी तथा सौभाग्यकूपिका ॥ यथा तत्र समुत्पन्ना तथाऽस्माकं प्रकीर्तय

śilākhaṁḍā ca yā devī tathā saubhāgyakūpikā yathā tatra samutpannā tathā'smākaṁ prakīrtaya

And tell us also how the deity Shilakhanda and the well Saubhagyakupika came to arise there.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.134.4)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ पुरासीद्ब्राह्मणो नाम हारीत इति विश्रुतः ॥ स तपस्तत्र संतेपे वानप्रस्थाश्रमे वसन्

sūta uvāca purāsīdbrāhmaṇo nāma hārīta iti viśrutaḥ sa tapastatra saṁtepe vānaprasthāśrame vasan

Suta said: Long ago there was a brahmin renowned by the name Harita, who, dwelling there in the hermit stage of life, practised austerity.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.134.5)

तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी रूपौदार्यसमन्विता ॥ त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीरिव मधुद्विषः

tasya bhāryā'bhavatsādhvī rūpaudāryasamanvitā trailokyasundarī sākṣāllakṣmīriva madhudviṣaḥ

His wife was a virtuous woman, endowed with beauty and grace, lovely beyond the three worlds, as if she were Lakshmi herself, the consort of the slayer of Madhu.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.134.6)

ख्याता पूणकलानाम सर्वैः समुदितागुणैः ॥ तां दृष्ट्वा पद्मजोऽप्याशु कामस्य वशगोऽभवत्

khyātā pūṇakalānāma sarvaiḥ samuditāguṇaiḥ tāṁ dṛṣṭvā padmajo'pyāśu kāmasya vaśago'bhavat

She was renowned by the name Purnakala, endowed with the fullness of every virtue; beholding her, even the lotus-eyed god of love himself was at once overcome by desire.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.134.7)

कदाचिदपि स प्राप्तस्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे मनोभवः ॥ सह रत्या तथा प्रीत्या कामेश्वरदिदृक्षया

kadācidapi sa prāptastasminkṣetre manobhavaḥ saha ratyā tathā prītyā kāmeśvaradidṛkṣayā

On one occasion Manobhava (the god of love) came to that kshetra, together with Rati and Priti, desiring to behold Kameshvara.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.134.8)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे सापि स्नानार्थं तत्र चागता ॥ कृत्वा वस्त्रपरित्यागं विवेश जलाशयम्

etasminnaṁtare sāpi snānārthaṁ tatra cāgatā kṛtvā vastraparityāgaṁ viveśa jalāśayam

Meanwhile she too had come there to bathe, and, laying aside her garments, entered the pool.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.134.9)

अथ तां कामदेवोपि समालोक्य शुभाननाम्॥ आत्मीयैरपि निर्विद्धो हृदये पुष्पसायकैः

atha tāṁ kāmadevopi samālokya śubhānanām ātmīyairapi nirviddho hṛdaye puṣpasāyakaiḥ

Then, beholding that lovely-faced woman, the god of love himself was pierced in the heart by his own flower-arrows.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.134.10)

ततो रतिं परित्यक्त्वा प्रीतिं च शरपीडितः॥ विजनं कंचिदासाद्य प्रसुप्तः स तरोरधः

tato ratiṁ parityaktvā prītiṁ ca śarapīḍitaḥ vijanaṁ kaṁcidāsādya prasuptaḥ sa taroradhaḥ

Then, wounded by his own arrows, he abandoned Rati and Priti, and, going to some solitary spot, lay down asleep beneath a tree.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.134.11)

गात्रैः पुलकितैः सर्वैर्निःश्वासान्निःश्वसन्मुहुः ॥ अग्निवर्णान्सुदीर्घांश्च बाष्प पूर्णविलोचनः

gātraiḥ pulakitaiḥ sarvairniḥśvāsānniḥśvasanmuhuḥ agnivarṇānsudīrghāṁśca bāṣpa pūrṇavilocanaḥ

His whole body was thrilling with excitement, he sighed again and again with breaths as deep and hot as fire, and his eyes were filled with tears.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.134.12)

तिष्ठन्स दर्शने तस्या एकदृष्ट्या व्यलोकयत्॥ योगीव सुसमाधिस्थो ध्यायंस्तद्ब्रह्म संस्थितम्

tiṣṭhansa darśane tasyā ekadṛṣṭyā vyalokayat yogīva susamādhistho dhyāyaṁstadbrahma saṁsthitam

Remaining there, he gazed at her with unwavering eyes, like a yogi settled in deep meditation, contemplating the abiding Brahman.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.134.13)

सापि कामं समालोक्य सानुरागं पुरः स्थितम् ॥ जृंभाभंगकृतास्यं च वेपमानशरीरकम्

sāpi kāmaṁ samālokya sānurāgaṁ puraḥ sthitam jṛṁbhābhaṁgakṛtāsyaṁ ca vepamānaśarīrakam

She too saw Kama standing before her, filled with longing, his face contorted with a suppressed yawn, and his whole body trembling.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.134.14)

सापि तद्बाणनिर्भिन्ना साभिलाषा बभूव ह ॥ कामं प्रति विशेषेण तस्य रूपेण मोहिता

sāpi tadbāṇanirbhinnā sābhilāṣā babhūva ha kāmaṁ prati viśeṣeṇa tasya rūpeṇa mohitā

She too, pierced by his arrows and especially bewitched by his form, was filled with longing for Kama.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.134.15)

अथ तस्माज्जलात्कृच्छ्राद्विनिष्क्रम्य शुचिस्मिता ॥ तीरोपांतं समासाद्य स्थिता तद्दृष्टिगोचरे

atha tasmājjalātkṛcchrādviniṣkramya śucismitā tīropāṁtaṁ samāsādya sthitā taddṛṣṭigocare

Then she of the pure smile, with difficulty, came out of that water, and, reaching the edge of the bank, stood within his sight.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.134.16)

ततः कामः समुत्थाय शनैस्तदंतिकं ययौ ॥ कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

tataḥ kāmaḥ samutthāya śanaistadaṁtikaṁ yayau kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā tataḥ provāca sādaram

Then Kama rose and slowly approached her, and, folding his hands in reverence, spoke to her respectfully.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.134.17)

का त्वमत्र विशालाक्षि प्राप्ता स्नातुं जलाशये ॥ मम नाशाय चार्वंगि तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम

kā tvamatra viśālākṣi prāptā snātuṁ jalāśaye mama nāśāya cārvaṁgi tasmācchṛṇu vaco mama

O wide-eyed one, who are you that has come here to bathe in this pool? O fair-limbed one, you have come here to be the very ruin of me; therefore hear my words.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.134.18)

अहं पुष्पशरो लोके प्रसिद्धश्चारुहासिनि ॥ विडंबनां मया नीता देवा अपि निजैः शरैः

ahaṁ puṣpaśaro loke prasiddhaścāruhāsini viḍaṁbanāṁ mayā nītā devā api nijaiḥ śaraiḥ

O one of the charming smile, I am known throughout the world as Pushpashara, he whose arrows are of flowers; by these very arrows of mine I have brought even the great gods to ridicule.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.134.19)

मद्बाणेनाहतो रुद्रः स्वशरीरे नितंबिनीम् ॥ अर्द्धेन धारयामास त्यक्त्वा लज्जां सुदूरतः

madbāṇenāhato rudraḥ svaśarīre nitaṁbinīm arddhena dhārayāmāsa tyaktvā lajjāṁ sudūrataḥ

Struck by my arrow, even Rudra cast his modesty far away and took a woman into half of his very own body.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.134.20)

ब्रह्मा मच्छरनिर्भिन्नः स्वसुतां चकमे ततः ॥ जनयामास तान्विप्रान्वालखिल्यांस्तथाविधान्

brahmā maccharanirbhinnaḥ svasutāṁ cakame tataḥ janayāmāsa tānviprānvālakhilyāṁstathāvidhān

Brahma too, pierced by my arrow, desired his own daughter, and from that begot those celebrated sages called the Valakhilyas.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.134.21)

अहिल्यां चकमे शक्रो गौतमस्य प्रियां सतीम् ॥ मद्बाणैः पीडितोऽतीव स्वर्गादेत्य धरातलम्

ahilyāṁ cakame śakro gautamasya priyāṁ satīm madbāṇaiḥ pīḍito'tīva svargādetya dharātalam

Indra too, exceedingly tormented by my arrows, came down from heaven to the earth and desired Ahalya, the beloved and virtuous wife of Gautama.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.134.22)

एवं देवा अपि क्षुण्णा मच्छरैर्ये महत्तराः ॥ किं पुनर्मानवाः सुभ्रूः कृमिप्रायाः सुचंचलाः

evaṁ devā api kṣuṇṇā maccharairye mahattarāḥ kiṁ punarmānavāḥ subhrūḥ kṛmiprāyāḥ sucaṁcalāḥ

O fair-browed one, when even great gods have been thus overwhelmed by my arrows, what then of mortals, fickle as worms?

Verse 23 (skanda.6.134.23)

आकीटांतं जगत्सर्वमाब्रह्मांतं तथैव च ॥ विडंबनां परां प्राप्तं मच्छरैश्चारुहासिनि

ākīṭāṁtaṁ jagatsarvamābrahmāṁtaṁ tathaiva ca viḍaṁbanāṁ parāṁ prāptaṁ maccharaiścāruhāsini

O one of the charming smile, this whole world, from the lowliest worm up to Brahma himself, has been brought to the height of ridicule by my arrows alone.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.134.24)

अहं पुनस्त्वया भीरु नीतोऽवस्थामिमां शुभे

ahaṁ punastvayā bhīru nīto'vasthāmimāṁ śubhe

O timid, auspicious one, and I myself have now been brought by you to this very state.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.134.25)

तस्माद्देहि महाभागे ममाद्य रतदक्षिणाम् ॥ यावन्न यांति संत्यज्य मम प्राणाः कलेवरात्॥

tasmāddehi mahābhāge mamādya ratadakṣiṇām yāvanna yāṁti saṁtyajya mama prāṇāḥ kalevarāt

Therefore, O most fortunate one, grant me today the recompense of union, before my life-breath departs and leaves this body.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.134.26)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ सापि तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पतिव्रतपरायणा ॥ हन्यमाना विशेषेण तद्बाणैर्हृदये भृशम्

sūta uvāca sāpi tadvacanaṁ śrutvā pativrataparāyaṇā hanyamānā viśeṣeṇa tadbāṇairhṛdaye bhṛśam

Suta said: Hearing these words, she, devoted wholly to her duty as a faithful wife, though pierced grievously and especially in her heart by his arrows,

Verse 27 (skanda.6.134.27)

अनभिज्ञा च सा साध्वी कामधर्मस्य केवलम् ॥ तापसैः सह संवृद्धा नान्यं जानाति किंचन

anabhijñā ca sā sādhvī kāmadharmasya kevalam tāpasaiḥ saha saṁvṛddhā nānyaṁ jānāti kiṁcana

was, being a virtuous woman raised entirely among ascetics, simply unacquainted with the ways of desire, and knew nothing else at all.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.134.28)

वक्तुं तद्विषये यच्च प्रोच्यते कामपीडितैः ॥ अधोमुखाऽलिखद्भूमिमंगुष्ठेन स्थिता चिरम्

vaktuṁ tadviṣaye yacca procyate kāmapīḍitaiḥ adhomukhā'likhadbhūmimaṁguṣṭhena sthitā ciram

Unable to say anything in reply to what those tormented by desire declare, she stood there a long while, face lowered, tracing the ground with her toe.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.134.29)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भानुः प्राप्तश्चास्तं गिरिं प्रति ॥ विहारसमये प्राप्त आहिताग्निर्निवेशने

etasminnantare bhānuḥ prāptaścāstaṁ giriṁ prati vihārasamaye prāpta āhitāgnirniveśane

Meanwhile the sun reached toward the mountain of its setting; it was the hour when one who tends the sacred fire returns home for his evening rest.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.134.30)

हारीतोऽपि चिरं वीक्ष्य तन्मार्गं चाकृताशनः ॥ ततः स चिंतयामास कस्मात्सा चात्र नागता

hārīto'pi ciraṁ vīkṣya tanmārgaṁ cākṛtāśanaḥ tataḥ sa ciṁtayāmāsa kasmātsā cātra nāgatā

Harita too, without having eaten, watched her path for a long while, and then began to wonder why she had still not returned.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.134.31)

स्नात्वा तीर्थवरे तस्मिन्दृष्ट्वा तां चन्द्रकूपिकाम्॥ कामेश्वरं च देवेशं कामदं सुखदं नृणाम्

snātvā tīrthavare tasmindṛṣṭvā tāṁ candrakūpikām kāmeśvaraṁ ca deveśaṁ kāmadaṁ sukhadaṁ nṛṇām

Bathing at that excellent tirtha, and having gone to see that Chandrakupika and Kameshvara, lord of gods, granter of desire and joy to men,

Verse 32 (skanda.6.134.32)

ततः शिष्यसमायुक्तो वीक्षमाण इतस्ततः ॥ तं देशं समनुप्राप्तो यत्र तौ द्वावपि स्थितौ

tataḥ śiṣyasamāyukto vīkṣamāṇa itastataḥ taṁ deśaṁ samanuprāpto yatra tau dvāvapi sthitau

then, accompanied by his disciples and looking about here and there, he came to that very place where the two of them stood.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.134.33)

आलपन्बहुधा कामो हन्यमानो निजैः शरैः ॥ सापि चैव विशेषेण व्रीडयाऽधोमुखी स्थिता

ālapanbahudhā kāmo hanyamāno nijaiḥ śaraiḥ sāpi caiva viśeṣeṇa vrīḍayā'dhomukhī sthitā

Kama, wounded by his own arrows, was speaking to her in many ways, and she too stood there, her face bowed low in particular shame.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.134.34)

स गुल्मांतरितः सर्वं तच्छ्रुत्वा कामजल्पितम् ॥ तस्याश्च तद्गतं भावं ततः कोपादुवाच सः

sa gulmāṁtaritaḥ sarvaṁ tacchrutvā kāmajalpitam tasyāśca tadgataṁ bhāvaṁ tataḥ kopāduvāca saḥ

Concealed behind a thicket, having heard all that Kama had spoken and having perceived the feeling within her, he spoke in anger.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.134.35)

यस्मात्पाप त्वया पत्नी ममैवं शरपीडिता ॥ अनभिज्ञा तथा साध्वी पतिधर्मपरायणा ॥ कुष्ठव्याधिसमायुक्तस्तस्माद्विप्रियदर्शनः

yasmātpāpa tvayā patnī mamaivaṁ śarapīḍitā anabhijñā tathā sādhvī patidharmaparāyaṇā kuṣṭhavyādhisamāyuktastasmādvipriyadarśanaḥ

Since you, sinner, have thus tormented with your arrows my wife, a virtuous woman devoted wholly to her duty as a wife and wholly ignorant of these matters, for that you shall become afflicted with leprosy and repulsive to behold.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.134.36)

त्वं भविष्यसि पापात्मन्मुक्तो दारैः स्वकैरपि ॥ साऽपि चैव विशेषेण व्रीडयाऽधोमुखी स्थिता

tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi pāpātmanmukto dāraiḥ svakairapi sā'pi caiva viśeṣeṇa vrīḍayā'dhomukhī sthitā

O sinful one, you shall become separated even from your own wives; and she too went on standing there, her face bowed low in particular shame.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.134.37)

एषापि च शिलाप्राया भविष्यति विचेतना ॥ त्वां दृष्ट्वा या सरागाऽभून्निजधर्मबहिष्कृता

eṣāpi ca śilāprāyā bhaviṣyati vicetanā tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā yā sarāgā'bhūnnijadharmabahiṣkṛtā

And she too, who, seeing you, became filled with passion and thereby strayed from her own duty, shall become senseless, like a stone.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.134.38)

ततः प्रसादयामास तं कामः प्रणिपत्य च ॥ न ज्ञातेयं मया विप्र तव भार्येति सुन्दरी

tataḥ prasādayāmāsa taṁ kāmaḥ praṇipatya ca na jñāteyaṁ mayā vipra tava bhāryeti sundarī

Then Kama, bowing down, tried to appease him: O brahmin, I did not know that this lovely woman was your wife.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.134.39)

तेन प्रोक्ता विरुद्धानि वाक्यानि विविधानि च ॥ एतस्या नास्ति दोषोऽत्र मद्बाणैः पीडिता भृशम्

tena proktā viruddhāni vākyāni vividhāni ca etasyā nāsti doṣo'tra madbāṇaiḥ pīḍitā bhṛśam

It was I who spoke to her these various improper words; there is no fault in her at all — she was merely grievously tormented by my own arrows.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.134.40)

सानुरागा परं जाता नोक्तं किंचिद्वचो मुने ॥ तस्मान्नार्हसि शापं त्वं दातुमस्याः कथंचन

sānurāgā paraṁ jātā noktaṁ kiṁcidvaco mune tasmānnārhasi śāpaṁ tvaṁ dātumasyāḥ kathaṁcana

O sage, she merely came to feel longing — she spoke not a single word; therefore it is not fitting for you to curse her in any way.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.134.41)

ममास्त्येषो ऽपराधोऽत्र तस्मान्मे निग्रहं कुरु ॥ भूयोऽपि ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ अस्याः शापसमुद्भवम्

mamāstyeṣo 'parādho'tra tasmānme nigrahaṁ kuru bhūyo'pi brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha asyāḥ śāpasamudbhavam

The fault here is mine alone; therefore chastise me instead. O best of brahmins, undo again the curse that has fallen upon her.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.134.42)

अपि रुद्रादयो देवा मद्बाणेभ्यो द्विजोत्तम ॥ सोढुं शक्ता न ते यस्मात्तत्कथं स्यादियं शिला

api rudrādayo devā madbāṇebhyo dvijottama soḍhuṁ śaktā na te yasmāttatkathaṁ syādiyaṁ śilā

O best of brahmins, since even Rudra and the other gods were unable to withstand my arrows, how could she have withstood them — how then should she become a stone?

Verse 43 (skanda.6.134.43)

तथात्र त्रिविधं पापं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः ॥ मानसं वाचिकं चैव कर्मजं च तृतीयकम्॥ तदस्माकं द्विधा जातमेकं चास्या मुनीश्वर।

tathātra trividhaṁ pāpaṁ pravadaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ mānasaṁ vācikaṁ caiva karmajaṁ ca tṛtīyakam tadasmākaṁ dvidhā jātamekaṁ cāsyā munīśvara

O lord of sages, the wise declare sin to be of three kinds — mental, verbal, and the third, of deed; of these, two kinds have occurred in my case, and for her only one.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.134.44)

भार्यायास्ते सुरूपायास्तस्मात्संपूर्णनिग्रहम् ॥ करिष्यसि न ते भीतिः काचिदस्ति परत्रजा

bhāryāyāste surūpāyāstasmātsaṁpūrṇanigraham kariṣyasi na te bhītiḥ kācidasti paratrajā

Therefore do not inflict the full penalty upon your own beautiful wife; you need have no fear at all regarding the world beyond.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.134.45)

मनस्तापाद्व्रजेत्पापं मानसं वाचिकं च यत् ॥ तस्य प्रसादनेनैव यस्योपरि विजल्पितम्

manastāpādvrajetpāpaṁ mānasaṁ vācikaṁ ca yat tasya prasādanenaiva yasyopari vijalpitam

Whatever sin is mental or verbal is removed simply through remorse of mind and through winning the goodwill of the one against whom it was committed.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.134.46)

प्रायश्चित्तैर्यथोक्तैश्च कर्मजं पातकं व्रजेत्। धर्मशास्त्रैः परिप्रोक्तं यतः सर्वैर्महामुने

prāyaścittairyathoktaiśca karmajaṁ pātakaṁ vrajet dharmaśāstraiḥ pariproktaṁ yataḥ sarvairmahāmune

O great sage, sin arising from deed is removed by the atonements prescribed in scripture, for this has been fully declared by all the treatises on dharma.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.134.47)

॥ हारीत उवाच ॥ अन्यत्र विषये तस्याः पातकं कामदेवते ॥ एतस्य तव धर्मस्य प्राधान्यं मनसः स्मृतम्

hārīta uvāca anyatra viṣaye tasyāḥ pātakaṁ kāmadevate etasya tava dharmasya prādhānyaṁ manasaḥ smṛtam

Harita said: O god of love, in another matter this fault of yours might have been treated differently, but in this teaching of yours, it is the mind that is held to be paramount.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.134.48)

तस्मादेवंविधा चेयं सदा स्थास्यति चाधम ॥ किं पुनः कुरु यत्कृत्यं नाहं वक्ष्यामि किंचन

tasmādevaṁvidhā ceyaṁ sadā sthāsyati cādhama kiṁ punaḥ kuru yatkṛtyaṁ nāhaṁ vakṣyāmi kiṁcana

Therefore, O base one, she shall remain in this very state forever; now do whatever there is to be done — I shall say nothing more on this.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.134.49)

प्रथमं मनसा सर्वं चिंत्यते तदनंतरम् ॥ ततः प्रजल्पते वाचा क्रियते कर्मणा ततः

prathamaṁ manasā sarvaṁ ciṁtyate tadanaṁtaram tataḥ prajalpate vācā kriyate karmaṇā tataḥ

First everything is thought in the mind; only after that is it spoken with the voice, and only then is it carried out in deed.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.134.50)

प्रमाणं हि मनस्तस्मात्सर्वकृत्येषु सर्वदा ॥ एतस्मात्कारणात्पूर्णो मयाऽस्या निग्रहः कृतः

pramāṇaṁ hi manastasmātsarvakṛtyeṣu sarvadā etasmātkāraṇātpūrṇo mayā'syā nigrahaḥ kṛtaḥ

Hence the mind alone is always the deciding factor in every act; for this very reason I have imposed the full penalty upon her.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.134.51)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो हारीतः स्वाश्रमं ययौ ॥ सापि पूर्णकला जाता शिलारूपा च तत्क्षणात्

sūta uvāca evamuktvā muniśreṣṭho hārītaḥ svāśramaṁ yayau sāpi pūrṇakalā jātā śilārūpā ca tatkṣaṇāt

Suta said: Having said this, Harita, best of sages, departed to his own hermitage, and Purnakala, at that very instant, became stone.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.134.52)

कामदेवोऽपि कुष्ठेन ग्रस्तो रौद्रेण च द्विजाः ॥ शीर्णनासांघ्रिपाणिश्च नेत्राणामप्रियोऽभवत्॥

kāmadevo'pi kuṣṭhena grasto raudreṇa ca dvijāḥ śīrṇanāsāṁghripāṇiśca netrāṇāmapriyo'bhavat

O brahmins, the god of love too became afflicted by that terrible leprosy; his nose, feet, and hands wasted away, and he became repulsive to look upon.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.134.53)

अथ कामे निरुत्साहे संजाते द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ व्याधिग्रस्ते जगत्यस्मिन्सृष्टिरोधो व्यजायत

atha kāme nirutsāhe saṁjāte dvijasattamāḥ vyādhigraste jagatyasminsṛṣṭirodho vyajāyata

O best of brahmins, when Kama, stricken with disease, lost all vigour, an obstruction to the whole creative process of this world arose.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.134.54)

केवलं क्षीयते लोको नैव वृद्धिं प्रगच्छति ॥ स्वेदजा येऽपि जीवाः स्युस्तेपि याताः परिक्षयम्

kevalaṁ kṣīyate loko naiva vṛddhiṁ pragacchati svedajā ye'pi jīvāḥ syustepi yātāḥ parikṣayam

The world only kept dwindling, and never grew; even those creatures born of sweat began to fall into decline.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.134.55)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवाः सर्वे चिंतासमाकुलाः ॥ किमिदं क्षीयते लोको जलस्थैः स्थलजैः सह

etasminnaṁtare devāḥ sarve ciṁtāsamākulāḥ kimidaṁ kṣīyate loko jalasthaiḥ sthalajaiḥ saha

Meanwhile all the gods, overwhelmed with anxiety, wondered: what is this — the whole world, together with the creatures of water and of land, is wasting away?

Verse 56 (skanda.6.134.56)

न दृश्यते क्वचिद्बालः कोऽपि कश्चित्कथंचन ॥ न च गर्भवती नारी कच्चित्क्षेमं स्मरस्य च

na dṛśyate kvacidbālaḥ ko'pi kaścitkathaṁcana na ca garbhavatī nārī kaccitkṣemaṁ smarasya ca

Nowhere at all, by any means, is a child now to be seen, nor is any woman with child — can it be that Kama himself is not well?

Verse 57 (skanda.6.134.57)

ततस्तं व्याधिना ग्रस्तं ज्ञात्वात्र क्षेत्रसंश्रयम् ॥ आजग्मुस्त्वरिताः सर्वे व्याकुलेनांतरात्मना॥

tatastaṁ vyādhinā grastaṁ jñātvātra kṣetrasaṁśrayam ājagmustvaritāḥ sarve vyākulenāṁtarātmanā

Then, learning that he was afflicted by disease and had taken refuge in this kshetra, all of them hastened there in great haste, their hearts full of anxiety.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.134.58)

कामेश्वरपुरस्थं च तं दृष्ट्वा कुसुमायुधम्॥ अत्यंतविकृताकारं चिंतयानं महेश्वरम्

kāmeśvarapurasthaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā kusumāyudham atyaṁtavikṛtākāraṁ ciṁtayānaṁ maheśvaram

Seeing that flower-armed god, seated before the temple of Kameshvara, his form utterly disfigured, absorbed in meditation upon Maheshvara,

Verse 59 (skanda.6.134.59)

ततः प्रोचुः सुदुःखार्ताः किमिदं कुसुमायुध ॥ निरुत्साहः समुत्पन्नः कुष्ठव्याधिसमाकुलः

tataḥ procuḥ suduḥkhārtāḥ kimidaṁ kusumāyudha nirutsāhaḥ samutpannaḥ kuṣṭhavyādhisamākulaḥ

they, deeply distressed, said: O flower-armed one, what is this? How have you become so listless and afflicted with leprosy?

Verse 60 (skanda.6.134.60)

ततश्चाधोमुखो जातो लज्जया परया वृतः ॥ प्रोवाच शापजं सर्वं हारीतस्य विचेष्टितम्

tataścādhomukho jāto lajjayā parayā vṛtaḥ provāca śāpajaṁ sarvaṁ hārītasya viceṣṭitam

Then, utterly overcome with shame, his face bowed low, he related the whole matter of the curse born of Harita's doing.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.134.61)

ततस्ते विबुधाः प्रोचुः पातकं यद्गिरा कृतम् ॥३ तत्तस्याराधनात्सर्वं संक्षयं यात्यसंशयम्

tataste vibudhāḥ procuḥ pātakaṁ yadgirā kṛtam 3 tattasyārādhanātsarvaṁ saṁkṣayaṁ yātyasaṁśayam

Then the gods said: Whatever sin has been committed by speech is, without doubt, entirely destroyed through the worship of her alone.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.134.62)

तस्मादेतां शिलारूपां त्वमाराधय चित्तज ॥ येन कुष्ठः क्षयं याति ततस्तेजोऽभिवर्धते

tasmādetāṁ śilārūpāṁ tvamārādhaya cittaja yena kuṣṭhaḥ kṣayaṁ yāti tatastejo'bhivardhate

O Chittaja (born of the mind), therefore worship this one in the form of stone, so that your leprosy may be destroyed and your lustre restored.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.134.63)

जगति स्यान्महासृष्टिर्देवकृत्यं कृतं भवेत् ॥ न तेऽस्ति कायजं पापं यतो मुक्त्वा प्रवाचिकम्

jagati syānmahāsṛṣṭirdevakṛtyaṁ kṛtaṁ bhavet na te'sti kāyajaṁ pāpaṁ yato muktvā pravācikam

By this, great creation will again become possible in the world, and the work of the gods too will be accomplished; besides the sin of speech, you have committed no sin of the body at all.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.134.64)

अत्र कुण्डे त्वदीयेऽन्यो यः स्नात्वा श्रद्धयान्वितः ॥ एनां पापविनिर्मुक्तां शिलां वै मानवः स्पृशेत्

atra kuṇḍe tvadīye'nyo yaḥ snātvā śraddhayānvitaḥ enāṁ pāpavinirmuktāṁ śilāṁ vai mānavaḥ spṛśet

Whatever other man, here in this tank of yours, bathes with reverence and then touches this stone, freed as it is from sin,

Verse 65 (skanda.6.134.65)

कुष्ठव्याधिसमोपेतः कायोत्थेनापि कर्मणा ॥ सोऽपि व्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यति गतज्वरः

kuṣṭhavyādhisamopetaḥ kāyotthenāpi karmaṇā so'pi vyādhivinirmukto bhaviṣyati gatajvaraḥ

he too, even if afflicted with leprosy through some deed of the body, shall become freed of that disease and rid of its fever.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.134.66)

एतत्सौभाग्यकूपं च लोके ख्यातं जलाशयम् ॥ भविष्यति न संदेहः सर्वरोगक्षयावहम्

etatsaubhāgyakūpaṁ ca loke khyātaṁ jalāśayam bhaviṣyati na saṁdehaḥ sarvarogakṣayāvaham

This Saubhagyakupa shall become a reservoir renowned throughout the world, and shall, without doubt, destroy every disease.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.134.67)

दद्रूणि दुर्विभूतानि तथान्याश्च विचर्चिकाः ॥ अत्र स्नातस्य यास्यंति दृष्ट्वैतां सद्य एव हि

dadrūṇi durvibhūtāni tathānyāśca vicarcikāḥ atra snātasya yāsyaṁti dṛṣṭvaitāṁ sadya eva hi

For one who bathes here, ringworm, the various disfigurements, and other such rashes shall, merely by the sight of this stone, vanish that very instant.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.134.68)

एवमुक्त्वाथ ते देवाः प्रजग्मुस्त्रिदशालयम् ॥ कामदेवोऽपि तत्रस्थस्तस्याः पूजामथ व्यधात्

evamuktvātha te devāḥ prajagmustridaśālayam kāmadevo'pi tatrasthastasyāḥ pūjāmatha vyadhāt

Having said this, the gods departed for their own heavenly abodes; and Kama, remaining there, began to worship that goddess.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.134.69)

ततश्च समतिक्रांते मासमात्रे द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ तादृग्रूपः स संजातो यादृगासीत्पुरा स्मरः

tataśca samatikrāṁte māsamātre dvijottamāḥ tādṛgrūpaḥ sa saṁjāto yādṛgāsītpurā smaraḥ

O best of brahmins, then, when just one month had passed, he became again as beautiful in form as Kama had been before.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.134.70)

ततश्चायतनं तस्याः कृत्वा श्रद्धासमन्वितः ॥ जगाम वांछितं देशं सृष्ट्यर्थं यत्नमास्थितः

tataścāyatanaṁ tasyāḥ kṛtvā śraddhāsamanvitaḥ jagāma vāṁchitaṁ deśaṁ sṛṣṭyarthaṁ yatnamāsthitaḥ

Then, with devotion, he built a shrine for that goddess and departed for whatever place he desired, resolved to take up again his work of creation.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.134.71)

सापि नम्रमुखी तादृक्तेन शप्ता तथैव च ॥ संजाता खण्डकाकारा तेन खण्डशिला स्मृता

sāpi namramukhī tādṛktena śaptā tathaiva ca saṁjātā khaṇḍakākārā tena khaṇḍaśilā smṛtā

She too, her face bowed low, cursed by him as she was, became split into the shape of a fragment, and for that reason came to be known as Khandashila.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.134.72)

यस्तां पूजयते भक्त्या त्रयोदश्यां तथैव च ॥ नापवादो भवेत्तस्य परदारसमुद्भवः

yastāṁ pūjayate bhaktyā trayodaśyāṁ tathaiva ca nāpavādo bhavettasya paradārasamudbhavaḥ

Whoever worships her with devotion, especially on the thirteenth lunar day, incurs no reproach arising from adultery with another's wife.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.134.73)

कामिन्याश्च विशेषेण प्राहैतच्छंकरात्मजः ॥ कार्तिकेयो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

kāminyāśca viśeṣeṇa prāhaitacchaṁkarātmajaḥ kārtikeyo dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ satyametanmayoditam

O best of brahmins, this was declared especially with regard to any desired woman by Karttikeya, son of Shankara, and what I have told you here is the plain truth.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.134.74)

तथा कामेश्वरं देवं कामदेवप्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ त्रयोदश्यां समाराध्य सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

tathā kāmeśvaraṁ devaṁ kāmadevapratiṣṭhitam trayodaśyāṁ samārādhya sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

Likewise, by worshipping fully on the thirteenth day the god Kameshvara, who was established by Kama himself, one obtains all one's desires.

Verse 75 (skanda.6.134.75)

रतिप्रीतिसमायुक्तः स्थितस्तत्र स्मरस्तथा ॥ मूर्तो ब्राह्मणशार्दूलाः श्रेष्ठं प्रासादमाश्रितः।

ratiprītisamāyuktaḥ sthitastatra smarastathā mūrto brāhmaṇaśārdūlāḥ śreṣṭhaṁ prāsādamāśritaḥ

O foremost of brahmins, Smara (Kama) himself, together with Rati and Priti, dwells there in visible form, established in that splendid shrine.

Verse 76 (skanda.6.134.76)

विरूपो दुर्भगो यो वा त्रयोदश्यां समाहितः ॥ यस्तं कुंकुमजैः पुष्पैः संपूजयति मानवः

virūpo durbhago yo vā trayodaśyāṁ samāhitaḥ yastaṁ kuṁkumajaiḥ puṣpaiḥ saṁpūjayati mānavaḥ

Whatever man, ugly or ill-fortuned, worships him with focused mind on the thirteenth day with flowers reddened with saffron,

Verse 77 (skanda.6.134.77)

स सौभाग्यसमायुक्तो रूपवांश्च प्रजायते ॥ या नारी पतिना त्यक्ता सपत्नीजनसंवृता

sa saubhāgyasamāyukto rūpavāṁśca prajāyate yā nārī patinā tyaktā sapatnījanasaṁvṛtā

becomes endowed with good fortune and comeliness of form; and whatever woman has been forsaken by her husband and is beset by co-wives,

Verse 78 (skanda.6.134.78)

तं देवं सुकलत्राढ्यं तथैव परिपूजयेत् ॥ त्रयोदश्यां द्विजश्रेष्ठाः केसरैः कुंकुमोद्भवैः

taṁ devaṁ sukalatrāḍhyaṁ tathaiva paripūjayet trayodaśyāṁ dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kesaraiḥ kuṁkumodbhavaiḥ

O best of brahmins, let her likewise worship that god, so blessed with a fair consort, on the thirteenth day with saffron filaments.

Verse 79 (skanda.6.134.79)

सा सौभाग्यवती विप्रा जायते च प्रजावती ॥ धनधान्यसमृद्धा च दुःखशोकविवर्जिता ॥ दोषैः सर्वैर्विनिर्मुक्ता शंसिता धरणीतले

sā saubhāgyavatī viprā jāyate ca prajāvatī dhanadhānyasamṛddhā ca duḥkhaśokavivarjitā doṣaiḥ sarvairvinirmuktā śaṁsitā dharaṇītale

She then becomes fortunate in her marriage and blessed with children, prosperous in wealth and grain, free from grief and sorrow, and, released from every fault, becomes praised throughout the earth.