The Greatness of Dharmarajeshvara: The Curse of the Grieving Brahmin

Verse 1 (skanda.6.139.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ धर्मराजेश्वरोत्थं च माहात्म्यं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ यन्मया प्रश्रुतं पुण्यं सकाशात्स्वपितुः पुरा

sūta uvāca dharmarājeśvarotthaṁ ca māhātmyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ yanmayā praśrutaṁ puṇyaṁ sakāśātsvapituḥ purā

Suta said: O best of brahmins, the meritorious greatness connected with Dharmarajeshvara, which I heard long ago from my own father,

Verse 2 (skanda.6.139.2)

तदहं कीर्तयिष्यामि शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः ॥ त्रैलोक्येऽपि सुविख्यातं सर्व पातकनाशनम्

tadahaṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ trailokye'pi suvikhyātaṁ sarva pātakanāśanam

that I shall now recount to you; listen with a focused mind — it is renowned throughout the three worlds and destroys every sin.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.139.3)

तत्र क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रः कश्यपान्वयसंभवः ॥ उपाध्याय इति ख्यातो वेदविद्यापरायणः

tatra kṣetre purā vipraḥ kaśyapānvayasaṁbhavaḥ upādhyāya iti khyāto vedavidyāparāyaṇaḥ

Long ago, in that kshetra, there lived a brahmin born of the lineage of Kashyapa, renowned by the name Upadhyaya, devoted to the study of the Vedas.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.139.4)

पश्चिमे वयसि प्राप्ते तस्य पुत्रो बभूव ह ॥ स्वाध्यायनियमस्थस्य प्रभूतविभवस्य च

paścime vayasi prāpte tasya putro babhūva ha svādhyāyaniyamasthasya prabhūtavibhavasya ca

To that brahmin, devoted to the discipline of daily recitation and possessed of great wealth, a son was born late in life, in his final years.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.139.5)

पञ्चवर्षकमात्रस्तु यदा जज्ञे च तत्सुतः ॥ तदा मृत्युवशं प्राप्तः पितृमातृसुदुःखकृत्

pañcavarṣakamātrastu yadā jajñe ca tatsutaḥ tadā mṛtyuvaśaṁ prāptaḥ pitṛmātṛsuduḥkhakṛt

When that son had reached just five years of age, he fell into the power of death, becoming thereby the cause of deep grief for both his father and mother.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.139.6)

ततः स ब्राह्मणः कोपं चक्रे वैवस्वतोपरि ॥ धर्मराजगृहं प्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा निजकुमारकम्

tataḥ sa brāhmaṇaḥ kopaṁ cakre vaivasvatopari dharmarājagṛhaṁ prāptaṁ dṛṣṭvā nijakumārakam

Then that brahmin, seeing his own boy carried off to the abode of Dharmaraja, became enraged against Vaivasvata (Yama).

Verse 7 (skanda.6.139.7)

आदाय सलिलं हस्ते शुचिर्भूत्वासमाहितः ॥ प्रददौ दारुणं शापं धर्मराजाय दुःखितः

ādāya salilaṁ haste śucirbhūtvāsamāhitaḥ pradadau dāruṇaṁ śāpaṁ dharmarājāya duḥkhitaḥ

Taking water in his hand, having purified himself, but his mind unrestrained by grief, he pronounced a most dreadful curse upon Dharmaraja.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.139.8)

अपुत्रोऽद्य कृतो यस्मादहं तेन दुरात्मना ॥ अतः सोऽपि च दुष्टात्मा यमोऽपुत्रो भविष्यति

aputro'dya kṛto yasmādahaṁ tena durātmanā ataḥ so'pi ca duṣṭātmā yamo'putro bhaviṣyati

That evil-souled one has today made me a man without a son; therefore let that wicked-souled Yama likewise become a father without a son.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.139.9)

तथास्य भूतले लोको नैव पूजां विधास्यति ॥ कीर्तयिष्यति नो नाम यथान्येषां दिवौकसाम्

tathāsya bhūtale loko naiva pūjāṁ vidhāsyati kīrtayiṣyati no nāma yathānyeṣāṁ divaukasām

So too, upon this earth, the world shall never perform his worship, nor shall it ever utter his name as it does that of the other gods.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.139.10)

यः कश्चित्प्रातरुत्थाय नाम चास्य ग्रहीष्यति ॥ मंगल्यकरणे चाथ विघ्नं तस्य भविष्यति

yaḥ kaścitprātarutthāya nāma cāsya grahīṣyati maṁgalyakaraṇe cātha vighnaṁ tasya bhaviṣyati

Whatever man rises in the morning and utters his name shall find an obstacle arising in whatever auspicious undertaking he begins.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.139.11)

तं श्रुत्वा तस्य विप्रस्य यमः शापं सुदारुणम् ॥ स्वधर्मे वर्तमानस्तु ततो दुःखा न्वितोऽभवत्

taṁ śrutvā tasya viprasya yamaḥ śāpaṁ sudāruṇam svadharme vartamānastu tato duḥkhā nvito'bhavat

Hearing that most dreadful curse of the brahmin, Yama, though ever engaged in nothing but his own proper duty, became filled with sorrow.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.139.12)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे गत्वा ब्रह्मणः सदनं प्रति ॥ कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा यमः प्राह पितामहम्

etasminnaṁtare gatvā brahmaṇaḥ sadanaṁ prati kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā yamaḥ prāha pitāmaham

Meanwhile, going to the abode of Brahma and folding his hands, Yama spoke to the grandsire.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.139.13)

पश्य देवेश शप्तोऽहं निर्दोषोपि द्विजन्मना ॥ स्वधर्मे वर्तमानस्तु यथान्यः प्राकृतो जनः

paśya deveśa śapto'haṁ nirdoṣopi dvijanmanā svadharme vartamānastu yathānyaḥ prākṛto janaḥ

Behold, O lord of gods, though I remain wholly within my own proper duty and am, like any ordinary being, entirely without fault, a brahmin has laid a curse upon me.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.139.14)

तस्मादहं त्यजिष्यामि नियोगं ते पितामह ॥ ब्रह्मशापभया द्भीतः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

tasmādahaṁ tyajiṣyāmi niyogaṁ te pitāmaha brahmaśāpabhayā dbhītaḥ satyametanmayoditam

Therefore, O grandsire, I shall give up this office of yours; I say this in all truth, out of fear born of a brahmin's curse.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.139.15)

पुरा मांडव्यशापेन शूद्रयोन्यवतारितः ॥ सांप्रतं पुत्ररहितः कृतोऽपूज्यश्च सत्तम

purā māṁḍavyaśāpena śūdrayonyavatāritaḥ sāṁprataṁ putrarahitaḥ kṛto'pūjyaśca sattama

O most excellent one, once already I was cast down into a shudra womb by Mandavya's curse, and now I have been made both sonless and unworshipped.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.139.16)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दीनं वैवस्वतस्य च ॥ तत्कालोचितमाहेदं स्वयमेव शतक्रतुः

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dīnaṁ vaivasvatasya ca tatkālocitamāhedaṁ svayameva śatakratuḥ

Suta said: Hearing that pitiful speech of Vaivasvata, Indra (Shatakratu) himself then spoke these words, fitting for that occasion.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.139.17)

युक्तमुक्तमनेनैतद्धर्मराजेन पद्मज ॥ नियोगे वर्तमानेन तावकीये सुरेश्वर

yuktamuktamanenaitaddharmarājena padmaja niyoge vartamānena tāvakīye sureśvara

O lotus-born Brahma, O lord of gods, whatever this Dharmaraja has spoken, while faithfully carrying out this office of yours, is entirely just.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.139.18)

अवश्यमेव मर्त्ये च मनुष्याः समये स्थिताः॥ बाल्ये वा यौवने वाथ वार्धक्ये वा पितामह ॥ संहर्तव्या न संदेहो नाकाले च कथंचन

avaśyameva martye ca manuṣyāḥ samaye sthitāḥ bālye vā yauvane vātha vārdhakye vā pitāmaha saṁhartavyā na saṁdeho nākāle ca kathaṁcana

O grandsire, in the mortal world men are certainly bound each to his own appointed hour, whether in childhood, in youth, or in old age; they must without doubt be taken, yet never at all before their time.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.139.19)

एतदेव कृतं नाम धर्मराजाख्यमुत्तमम् ॥ त्वया च सममित्रस्य समशस्त्रोर्महात्मनः

etadeva kṛtaṁ nāma dharmarājākhyamuttamam tvayā ca samamitrasya samaśastrormahātmanaḥ

It was you yourself who gave this great soul, equally a friend and equally a foe to all, this exalted name of Dharmaraja.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.139.20)

तस्मादद्य समालोक्य कश्चिदेव विचिंत्यताम् ॥ उपायो येन निर्दोषो नियोगं कुरुते तव

tasmādadya samālokya kaścideva viciṁtyatām upāyo yena nirdoṣo niyogaṁ kurute tava

Therefore let some remedy now be devised, after due reflection, by which he may carry out this office of yours while yet remaining free of fault.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.139.21)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ ब्रह्मशापं न शक्तोऽह मन्यथाकर्तुमेवच ॥ उपायं च करिष्यामि सांप्रतं त्रिदशाधिप

brahmovāca brahmaśāpaṁ na śakto'ha manyathākartumevaca upāyaṁ ca kariṣyāmi sāṁprataṁ tridaśādhipa

Brahma said: I am not able to undo a brahmin's curse; but, O lord of gods, I shall now devise some remedy.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.139.22)

ततो ध्यानं प्रचक्रे स ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ॥ तदर्थं सर्वदेवानां पुरतः सुस माहितः

tato dhyānaṁ pracakre sa brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ tadarthaṁ sarvadevānāṁ purataḥ susa māhitaḥ

Then Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, entered into meditation for that very purpose, with a focused mind, before all the assembled gods.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.139.23)

तस्यैवं ध्यानसक्तस्य प्रादुर्भूताः समंततः ॥ मूर्ता रोगाः सुरौद्रास्ते वातगुल्मकफात्मकाः ॥ अष्टोत्तरशतप्रायाः प्रोचुस्तं च कृतादराः

tasyaivaṁ dhyānasaktasya prādurbhūtāḥ samaṁtataḥ mūrtā rogāḥ suraudrāste vātagulmakaphātmakāḥ aṣṭottaraśataprāyāḥ procustaṁ ca kṛtādarāḥ

As he sat thus absorbed in meditation, there arose all around him fearsome personified diseases, of the nature of wind, tumour, and phlegm, numbering close to a hundred and eight, and they respectfully addressed him.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.139.24)

॥ रोगा ऊचुः ॥ किमर्थं देवदेवेश त्वया सृष्टा वयं विभो ॥ आदेशो दीयतां शीघ्रं प्रसादः क्रियतामिति

rogā ūcuḥ kimarthaṁ devadeveśa tvayā sṛṣṭā vayaṁ vibho ādeśo dīyatāṁ śīghraṁ prasādaḥ kriyatāmiti

The diseases said: O lord of the gods of gods, for what purpose have you, O mighty one, created us? Give us your command swiftly, and show us your favour.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.139.25)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ व्रजध्वं भूतले शीघ्रं ममादेशादसंशयम् ॥ यमादेशान्मनुष्येषु गन्तव्यमविकल्पितम्

brahmovāca vrajadhvaṁ bhūtale śīghraṁ mamādeśādasaṁśayam yamādeśānmanuṣyeṣu gantavyamavikalpitam

Brahma said: Go now, without doubt, at once to the surface of the earth, by my command; and by the command of Yama alone shall you go among men, without deviation.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.139.26)

एवमुक्त्त्वा तु तान्रोगांस्ततः प्राह पितामहः ॥ धर्मराजं समीपस्थं भृशं दीनमधोमुखम्

evamukttvā tu tānrogāṁstataḥ prāha pitāmahaḥ dharmarājaṁ samīpasthaṁ bhṛśaṁ dīnamadhomukham

Having said this to those diseases, the grandsire then spoke to Dharmaraja, who stood nearby, utterly downcast, his face lowered.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.139.27)

एते ते व्याधयः सर्वे मया यम नियोजिताः ॥ साहाय्यं च करिष्यंति सर्वकृत्येषु सर्वदा

ete te vyādhayaḥ sarve mayā yama niyojitāḥ sāhāyyaṁ ca kariṣyaṁti sarvakṛtyeṣu sarvadā

O Yama, I have appointed all these diseases for your service; they shall ever lend you their aid in all your tasks.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.139.28)

यः कश्चिदधुना मर्त्यो गतायुः संप्रपद्यते ॥ वधाय तस्य यत्नेन त्वया प्रेष्याः सदैव तु

yaḥ kaścidadhunā martyo gatāyuḥ saṁprapadyate vadhāya tasya yatnena tvayā preṣyāḥ sadaiva tu

Whatever mortal now, his lifespan spent, comes to the point of death, for his slaying you should always, and with due effort, send these very ones.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.139.29)

एतेषां जायते तेन जननाशसमुद्भवः ॥ अपवादो धरापृष्ठे न च संजायते तव

eteṣāṁ jāyate tena jananāśasamudbhavaḥ apavādo dharāpṛṣṭhe na ca saṁjāyate tava

In this way the destruction of living beings will appear to arise through them alone, and no reproach for it shall fall upon you on the face of the earth.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.139.30)

तस्माद्गत्वा निजं स्थानं स्वाधिकारपरो भव ॥ ममादेशादसंदिग्धं नैवं दोषमवाप्स्यसि॥

tasmādgatvā nijaṁ sthānaṁ svādhikāraparo bhava mamādeśādasaṁdigdhaṁ naivaṁ doṣamavāpsyasi

Therefore go to your own place and take up your office once more; by my command, without doubt, you shall not incur fault in this way.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.139.31)

ततस्तान्सकलान्व्याधीन्गृहीत्वा रविनंदनः॥ यमलोकं समासाद्य ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

tatastānsakalānvyādhīngṛhītvā ravinaṁdanaḥ yamalokaṁ samāsādya tataḥ provāca sādaram

Then Yama, son of the sun, taking all those diseases with him, arrived at the world of Yama and spoke there with due respect.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.139.32)

पृष्ट्वापृष्ट्वा च गंतव्यं चित्रगुप्तं धरातले ॥ गंतव्यं जननाशाय समये समुपस्थिते

pṛṣṭvāpṛṣṭvā ca gaṁtavyaṁ citraguptaṁ dharātale gaṁtavyaṁ jananāśāya samaye samupasthite

You must go to the surface of the earth only after asking Chitragupta each and every time, and you must go for the destruction of a life only when its proper hour has actually arrived.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.139.33)

परमस्ति मया तत्र स्थापितं लिंगमुत्तमम्। हाटकेश्वरजेक्षेत्रे सर्वपातकनाशनम्

paramasti mayā tatra sthāpitaṁ liṁgamuttamam hāṭakeśvarajekṣetre sarvapātakanāśanam

But there, in the Hatakeshvara kshetra, there stands a supreme linga established by me, which destroys every sin.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.139.34)

यस्तं पश्यति सद्भक्त्या प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः ॥ स युष्माभिः सदा त्याज्यो दूरतो वचनान्मम

yastaṁ paśyati sadbhaktyā prātarutthāya mānavaḥ sa yuṣmābhiḥ sadā tyājyo dūrato vacanānmama

Whatever man rises in the morning and beholds it with true devotion — that man, by this word of mine, is always to be shunned and left well alone by all of you.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.139.35)

एवमुक्त्वा स तान्व्याधींस्ततो वैवस्वतः स्वयम् ॥ तस्य विप्रस्य तं पुत्रं गृहीत्वा सत्वरं ययौ ॥ तस्यैव मंदिरे रम्ये कृत्वा रूपं द्विजन्मनः

evamuktvā sa tānvyādhīṁstato vaivasvataḥ svayam tasya viprasya taṁ putraṁ gṛhītvā satvaraṁ yayau tasyaiva maṁdire ramye kṛtvā rūpaṁ dvijanmanaḥ

Having said this to those diseases, Vaivasvata himself, taking with him that brahmin's son and assuming the form of a brahmin, went quickly to that very man's beautiful home.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.139.36)

अथासौ ब्राह्मणो दृष्ट्वा स्वं पुत्रं गृहमागतम् ॥ सहितं विप्ररूपेण धर्मराजेन धीमता

athāsau brāhmaṇo dṛṣṭvā svaṁ putraṁ gṛhamāgatam sahitaṁ viprarūpeṇa dharmarājena dhīmatā

Then that brahmin saw his own son returned home, accompanied by the wise Dharmaraja in the guise of a brahmin.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.139.37)

ततः प्रहृष्टचित्तेन सत्वरं सम्मुखो ययौ ॥ पुत्रपुत्रेति जल्पन्स निजभार्यासमन्वितः

tataḥ prahṛṣṭacittena satvaraṁ sammukho yayau putraputreti jalpansa nijabhāryāsamanvitaḥ

Then, his heart filled with joy, crying out son, my son, he hurried forward at once to meet him, together with his own wife.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.139.38)

परिष्वज्य ततो भूयो वाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥ आघ्राय च ततो मूर्ध्नि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

pariṣvajya tato bhūyo vāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ āghrāya ca tato mūrdhni vākyametaduvāca ha

Embracing him again and again, his eyes brimming with tears, and smelling the crown of his head, he spoke these words.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.139.39)

॥ ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ कथं पुत्र समायातस्त्वं तस्मा द्यममंदिरात् ॥ न कश्चित्पुनरायाति यत्र गत्वाऽपि वीर्यवान्

brāhmaṇa uvāca kathaṁ putra samāyātastvaṁ tasmā dyamamaṁdirāt na kaścitpunarāyāti yatra gatvā'pi vīryavān

The brahmin said: O son, how have you come back from that abode of Yama? No one, however mighty, who has once gone there, ever returns.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.139.40)

किं वा चैतत्समुत्पन्नमिन्द्रजालं ममांतिकम् ॥ किं वा स्वप्नमिदं किं वा ममायं दृष्टिविभ्रमः

kiṁ vā caitatsamutpannamindrajālaṁ mamāṁtikam kiṁ vā svapnamidaṁ kiṁ vā mamāyaṁ dṛṣṭivibhramaḥ

Or has some magical illusion arisen here before me? Or is this a dream, or merely a delusion of my own sight?

Verse 41 (skanda.6.139.41)

कश्चायं ब्राह्मणः पार्श्वे तव संतिष्ठते सुत ॥ दिव्येन तेजसा युक्तस्तं नमाम्यहमात्मज

kaścāyaṁ brāhmaṇaḥ pārśve tava saṁtiṣṭhate suta divyena tejasā yuktastaṁ namāmyahamātmaja

Who, O son, is this brahmin standing beside you, endowed with such divine radiance? O my child, I bow before him.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.139.42)

॥ पुत्र उवाच ॥ एष ब्राह्मणरूपेण समायातो यमः स्वयम् ॥ मामादाय कृपाविष्टो ज्ञात्वा त्वां दुःखसंयुतम्

putra uvāca eṣa brāhmaṇarūpeṇa samāyāto yamaḥ svayam māmādāya kṛpāviṣṭo jñātvā tvāṁ duḥkhasaṁyutam

The son said: This is Yama himself, come here in the form of a brahmin; knowing you to be sorrowful, and filled with compassion, he himself has brought me back.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.139.43)

तस्मात्त्वं कुरु तातास्य शापानुग्रहमद्य वै॥ गृहप्राप्तस्य सुस्नेहाद्यद्यहं तव वल्लभः

tasmāttvaṁ kuru tātāsya śāpānugrahamadya vai gṛhaprāptasya susnehādyadyahaṁ tava vallabhaḥ

Therefore, O father, if I am indeed dear to you, and if by that same deep love, now that I have returned home, then today convert this curse of yours into a blessing for him.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.139.44)

ततस्तस्य प्रणामं स कृत्वा ब्राह्मणसत्तमः ॥ व्रीडयाऽधोमुखो भूत्वा ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

tatastasya praṇāmaṁ sa kṛtvā brāhmaṇasattamaḥ vrīḍayā'dhomukho bhūtvā tataḥ provāca sādaram

Then that most excellent brahmin, bowing to him, and, his face lowered in shame, spoke respectfully.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.139.45)

॥ ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम् ॥ यत्पुत्रस्य मम प्राप्तिर्गतस्य यमसादनम्।

brāhmaṇa uvāca adya me saphalaṁ janma jīvitaṁ ca sujīvitam yatputrasya mama prāptirgatasya yamasādanam

The brahmin said: Today my birth has borne fruit, and my life has become a life truly worth living, since I have regained my own son who had gone to the abode of Yama.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.139.46)

त्वं च पुत्रकृते तात सन्तोषं परमं गतः ॥ तस्मात्पुत्रेण संयुक्तो यथायं स्यात्तथा कुरु

tvaṁ ca putrakṛte tāta santoṣaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ tasmātputreṇa saṁyukto yathāyaṁ syāttathā kuru

O revered one, you too have found the deepest contentment on account of this son; therefore do whatever is needed so that he may remain thus, ever united with this son.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.139.47)

॥ ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ न मे स्यादनृतं वाक्यं कदा चिदपि पुत्रक ॥ अपि स्वैरेण यत्प्रोक्तं किं पुनर्दुःखितेन च

brāhmaṇa uvāca na me syādanṛtaṁ vākyaṁ kadā cidapi putraka api svaireṇa yatproktaṁ kiṁ punarduḥkhitena ca

The brahmin said: My word can never prove false, my child, not even one spoken freely of my own accord — how much less, then, one spoken in grief?

Verse 48 (skanda.6.139.48)

तस्मात्तस्य भवेत्पुत्रो दैवयोनिसमुद्भवः ॥ न कथंचिदपि प्राज्ञ मम शापवशाद्ध्रुवम्॥

tasmāttasya bhavetputro daivayonisamudbhavaḥ na kathaṁcidapi prājña mama śāpavaśāddhruvam

O wise one, therefore, by the force of my curse, he shall certainly never, in any way, have a son born of divine origin.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.139.49)

भविष्यति सुतश्चान्यो मानुषीयोनिसंभवः ॥ राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां यश्चैनं तारयिष्यति

bhaviṣyati sutaścānyo mānuṣīyonisaṁbhavaḥ rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṁ yaścainaṁ tārayiṣyati

But he shall have another son, born of a human womb, who shall deliver him through the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.139.50)

कोऽर्थः पुत्रेण जातेन यो न संतारणक्षमः ॥ पितृपक्षं शुभं कर्म कृत्वा सर्वोत्तमं भुवि

ko'rthaḥ putreṇa jātena yo na saṁtāraṇakṣamaḥ pitṛpakṣaṁ śubhaṁ karma kṛtvā sarvottamaṁ bhuvi

What use is there in a son born, if he is not capable, even through performing the most excellent auspicious rites for the ancestors on earth, of securing their deliverance?

Verse 51 (skanda.6.139.51)

तथा पूजाकृते योऽस्य शापो दत्तश्च वै पुरा ॥ तत्रापि शृणु मे वाक्यं तस्य पुत्रक जल्पतः

tathā pūjākṛte yo'sya śāpo dattaśca vai purā tatrāpi śṛṇu me vākyaṁ tasya putraka jalpataḥ

O child, regarding the curse I gave earlier concerning his worship as well, hear now this word of mine, as I go on to speak of it.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.139.52)

वेदोक्तैर्विविधैर्मन्त्रैर्या पूजा चास्य संस्थिता ॥ न भविष्यति सा लोके कथंचिदपि पुत्रक

vedoktairvividhairmantrairyā pūjā cāsya saṁsthitā na bhaviṣyati sā loke kathaṁcidapi putraka

O child, that worship of him which was established through the various Vedic mantras shall no longer exist in the world in any way at all.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.139.53)

अस्य मानुषसंभूतैर्मन्त्रैः पूजा भविष्यति ॥ विशिष्टा सर्वदेवेभ्यः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

asya mānuṣasaṁbhūtairmantraiḥ pūjā bhaviṣyati viśiṣṭā sarvadevebhyaḥ satyametanmayoditam

His worship shall henceforth be performed only through mantras composed by men, and it shall be more distinguished than that of all the other gods — this I speak as the plain truth.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.139.54)

॥ पुत्र उवाच ॥ अहमेनं प्रतिष्ठाप्य द्रिजश्रेष्ठ महीतले ॥ सम्यगाराधयिष्यामि किमन्यैर्विबुधैर्मम

putra uvāca ahamenaṁ pratiṣṭhāpya drijaśreṣṭha mahītale samyagārādhayiṣyāmi kimanyairvibudhairmama

The son said: O best of brahmins, I shall establish him here upon the earth and worship him fully myself; what need have I of other gods?

Verse 55 (skanda.6.139.55)

तस्मात्संकीर्तयिष्यामि मंत्रान्मानुषसंभवान् ॥ तथा पूजाविधानं च त्वत्प्रसादेन पूर्वज

tasmātsaṁkīrtayiṣyāmi maṁtrānmānuṣasaṁbhavān tathā pūjāvidhānaṁ ca tvatprasādena pūrvaja

O forefather, therefore, by your grace, I shall myself proclaim those mantras composed by men, together with the mode of worship.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.139.56)

ततः सुगं नः पन्थेति तस्य मंत्रं विधाय सः ॥ समाचरत्प्रहृष्टात्मा धर्मराजस्य शृण्वतः

tataḥ sugaṁ naḥ pantheti tasya maṁtraṁ vidhāya saḥ samācaratprahṛṣṭātmā dharmarājasya śṛṇvataḥ

Then, composing for him the mantra beginning May our path be easy, he performed that rite with a joyful heart, even as Dharmaraja himself listened.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.139.57)

तच्छ्रुत्वाथ यमः प्रोच्चैः सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा ॥ तं ब्राह्मण मुवाचेदं हर्षगद्गदयागिरा

tacchrutvātha yamaḥ proccaiḥ suprasannena cetasā taṁ brāhmaṇa muvācedaṁ harṣagadgadayāgirā

Hearing this, Yama, his heart filled with great delight, spoke to that brahmin in a voice choked with joy.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.139.58)

॥ यम उवाच ॥ कथंचिदपि विप्रेद्र न मे स्याद्दर्शनं वृथा ॥ अन्येषामपि देवानां तस्मात्प्रार्थय वांछि तम्

yama uvāca kathaṁcidapi vipredra na me syāddarśanaṁ vṛthā anyeṣāmapi devānāṁ tasmātprārthaya vāṁchi tam

Yama said: O foremost of brahmins, my appearance never proves fruitless in any way; therefore ask of me too, as of the other gods, whatever it is you desire.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.139.59)

॥ ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ तवार्चां मम पुत्रोऽयं स्थापयिष्यति यामिह ॥ तामनेनैव मंत्रेण यः कश्चित्पूजयेद्द्विजः

brāhmaṇa uvāca tavārcāṁ mama putro'yaṁ sthāpayiṣyati yāmiha tāmanenaiva maṁtreṇa yaḥ kaścitpūjayeddvijaḥ

The brahmin said: Whatever image of yours this son of mine shall establish here — whatever brahmin worships that image with this very mantra,

Verse 60 (skanda.6.139.60)

भवेत्संवत्सरं यावत्संप्राप्ते पंचमीदिने ॥ मा तस्य पुत्रशोको हि इह लोके कथञ्चन

bhavetsaṁvatsaraṁ yāvatsaṁprāpte paṁcamīdine mā tasya putraśoko hi iha loke kathañcana

performing it for a full year, until the fifth lunar day arrives — may such a one never, in any way, suffer grief for a son in this world.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.139.61)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय संप्रहृष्टमना यमः ॥ यमलोकं जगामाथ स्वाधिकारपरोऽभवत्॥

sūta uvāca sa tatheti pratijñāya saṁprahṛṣṭamanā yamaḥ yamalokaṁ jagāmātha svādhikāraparo'bhavat

Suta said: Saying so be it, and with a heart full of joy, Yama then departed for the world of Yama and once more took up his own proper office.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.139.62)

सोऽपि ब्राह्मणदायादः कृत्वा प्रासादमुत्तमम् ॥ यममाराधयामास मध्ये संस्थाप्य भक्तितः ॥ पित्रा चोक्तेन मन्त्रेण तेनैव विधिपूर्वकम्॥

so'pi brāhmaṇadāyādaḥ kṛtvā prāsādamuttamam yamamārādhayāmāsa madhye saṁsthāpya bhaktitaḥ pitrā coktena mantreṇa tenaiva vidhipūrvakam

That brahmin's heir too built a magnificent temple, installed Yama at its centre, and, with devotion and according to the rite, worshipped him with that very mantra his father had taught him.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.139.63)

ततश्च क्रमशः प्राप्य पुत्रपौत्राननेकशः ॥ कालधर्ममनुप्राप्तश्चिरं स्थित्वा महीतले

tataśca kramaśaḥ prāpya putrapautrānanekaśaḥ kāladharmamanuprāptaściraṁ sthitvā mahītale

Then, in due course, having obtained many sons and grandsons, he dwelt long upon the earth, and at last met the appointed course of death.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.139.64)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं पुराणेयत्पुरा श्रुतम्॥ यश्चैतत्कीर्तयेद्भक्त्या संप्राप्ते पंचमीदिने ॥ नापमृत्युर्भवेत्तस्य न च शोकः सुतोद्भवः

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ purāṇeyatpurā śrutam yaścaitatkīrtayedbhaktyā saṁprāpte paṁcamīdine nāpamṛtyurbhavettasya na ca śokaḥ sutodbhavaḥ

I have thus recounted to you in full all that I once heard set down in this Purana; whoever recites it with devotion when the fifth lunar day arrives shall meet neither an untimely death, nor the grief that comes from the loss of a son.