Efficacy of Circumambulating Camatkarapura

Verse 1 (skanda.6.14.1)

सूत उवाच । यदन्यत्तत्र सञ्जातमाश्चर्यं द्विजसत्तमाः । तदहं कीर्तयिष्यामि रहस्यं हृदि संस्थितम्

sūta uvāca yadanyattatra sañjātamāścaryaṁ dvijasattamāḥ tadahaṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi rahasyaṁ hṛdi saṁsthitam

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, I shall now relate another marvel that occurred there, a secret held within the heart until now.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.14.2)

चमत्कारपुरे कश्चिद्वैश्यजातिसमुद्भवः । बभूव पुरुषो मूको दरिद्रेण समन्वितः

camatkārapure kaścidvaiśyajātisamudbhavaḥ babhūva puruṣo mūko daridreṇa samanvitaḥ

In Chamatkarapura there lived a man born of the vaishya caste, who was mute and afflicted with poverty.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.14.3)

यो दौःस्थ्यात्सर्वलोकानां करोति पशुरक्षणम् । कुटुम्बभरणार्थाय संतुष्टो येनकेनचित्

yo dauḥsthyātsarvalokānāṁ karoti paśurakṣaṇam kuṭumbabharaṇārthāya saṁtuṣṭo yenakenacit

Because of his hardship, he tended the cattle of all the people, content with whatever he received for the support of his family.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.14.4)

कदाचिद्रक्षतस्तस्य पशूंस्तान्वनभूमिषु । पशुरेको विनिष्क्रांतः स्वयूथात्तृणलोभतः

kadācidrakṣatastasya paśūṁstānvanabhūmiṣu paśureko viniṣkrāṁtaḥ svayūthāttṛṇalobhataḥ

Once, while he was guarding those cattle in the forest lands, one animal, tempted by grass, strayed away from its herd.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.14.5)

कृष्ण पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां चैत्रमासे द्विजोत्तमाः । न तदा लक्षितस्तेन गच्छमानो यदृच्छया

kṛṣṇa pakṣe caturdaśyāṁ caitramāse dvijottamāḥ na tadā lakṣitastena gacchamāno yadṛcchayā

O best of the twice-born, this happened on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Chaitra, and as the animal wandered off at will, it went unnoticed by him.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.14.6)

अथ यावद्गृहं प्राप्तः स मूकः पशुपालकः । तावत्तस्य च गोः स्वामी भर्त्सयन्समुपागतः

atha yāvadgṛhaṁ prāptaḥ sa mūkaḥ paśupālakaḥ tāvattasya ca goḥ svāmī bhartsayansamupāgataḥ

As soon as that mute cowherd reached home, the owner of that cow came up to him, scolding him.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.14.7)

किं पाप न समायातः पशुरेकोऽद्य नो यथा । नूनं त्वया हतः सोऽपि विक्रीतोऽपिहितोऽथवा । तस्मा दानय मे क्षिप्रं निराहारोऽपि गां त्वरात्

kiṁ pāpa na samāyātaḥ paśureko'dya no yathā nūnaṁ tvayā hataḥ so'pi vikrīto'pihito'thavā tasmā dānaya me kṣipraṁ nirāhāro'pi gāṁ tvarāt

"O sinner, why has one of my cattle not returned today? Surely you have either killed it, sold it, or hidden it somewhere. So even without eating, go and quickly bring back that cow of mine at once."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.14.8)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भयसंत्रस्तः स मूकः पशुपालकः । निष्क्रांतो यष्टिमादाय निराहारोऽपि मन्दिरात्

tacchrutvā bhayasaṁtrastaḥ sa mūkaḥ paśupālakaḥ niṣkrāṁto yaṣṭimādāya nirāhāro'pi mandirāt

Hearing this, that mute cowherd, terrified with fear, took up his staff and set out from his home even without having eaten.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.14.9)

ततोऽरण्यं समासाद्य वीक्षांचक्रे समंततः । सूक्ष्मदृष्ट्या स दुर्गाणि गहनानि वनानि च

tato'raṇyaṁ samāsādya vīkṣāṁcakre samaṁtataḥ sūkṣmadṛṣṭyā sa durgāṇi gahanāni vanāni ca

Then, reaching the forest, he began to search all about with a keen eye, through impenetrable and dense woodlands.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.14.10)

अथ तेन क्वचिद्दृष्टं पदं तस्य पशोः स्फुटम् । अटव्यां भ्रममाणेन परिज्ञातं च कृत्स्नशः

atha tena kvaciddṛṣṭaṁ padaṁ tasya paśoḥ sphuṭam aṭavyāṁ bhramamāṇena parijñātaṁ ca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Then, as he wandered through the wilderness, he came upon the clear footprints of that animal somewhere, and recognized them fully.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.14.11)

ततश्च तत्पदान्वेषी स जगाम वनाद्वनम् । चमत्कारपुरस्यास्य समंताद्द्विजसत्त माः

tataśca tatpadānveṣī sa jagāma vanādvanam camatkārapurasyāsya samaṁtāddvijasatta māḥ

O best of the twice-born, tracking those footprints, he went from forest to forest all around Chamatkarapura.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.14.12)

एवं प्रदक्षिणा तस्य जाता पशुदिदृक्षया । स्थानस्य चैव निर्वेशे पशोश्चापिद्विजोत्तमाः

evaṁ pradakṣiṇā tasya jātā paśudidṛkṣayā sthānasya caiva nirveśe paśoścāpidvijottamāḥ

O foremost of the twice-born, thus, out of his desire to find the animal, a circumambulation of that place occurred, and the animal too was finally located.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.14.13)

प्रदक्षिणावसाने च पशुर्लब्धो हि तेन सः । निशांतेऽथ गृहं नीत्वा स्वामिने विनिवेदितः

pradakṣiṇāvasāne ca paśurlabdho hi tena saḥ niśāṁte'tha gṛhaṁ nītvā svāmine viniveditaḥ

At the end of his circumambulation, he found that animal. Then, at the close of night, he brought it home and delivered it to its owner.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.14.14)

चैत्रे पुण्यतमे मासि कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम् । क्षेत्रे पुण्यतमे देवास्तीर्थान्या यांति सर्वशः

caitre puṇyatame māsi kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśīm kṣetre puṇyatame devāstīrthānyā yāṁti sarvaśaḥ

In the most sacred month of Chaitra, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, the gods come from every side into the tirthas of that most sacred field.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.14.15)

एवमज्ञानभावेन कृता ताभ्यां प्रदक्षिणा । पशुपालपशुभ्यां वै सुपुण्ये तत्र वासरे

evamajñānabhāvena kṛtā tābhyāṁ pradakṣiṇā paśupālapaśubhyāṁ vai supuṇye tatra vāsare

Thus, unknowingly, that circumambulation was performed by both the cowherd and the animal on that most sacred day.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.14.16)

निराहारस्य मूकस्य साहारस्य पशोस्तथा

nirāhārasya mūkasya sāhārasya paśostathā

The mute man remained without food, while the animal, for its part, had taken nourishment along the way.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.14.17)

विना स्नानेन भक्षाच्च दैवाद्द्विजवरोत्तमाः । ततः काले व्यतिक्रांते कियन्मात्रे स्वकर्मतः । उभौ पंचत्वमापन्नौ पृथक्त्वेनायुषः क्षये

vinā snānena bhakṣācca daivāddvijavarottamāḥ tataḥ kāle vyatikrāṁte kiyanmātre svakarmataḥ ubhau paṁcatvamāpannau pṛthaktvenāyuṣaḥ kṣaye

O best among the twice-born, by fate this circumambulation was performed without bathing and without eating. Then, after a little time had passed, in accordance with their own deeds, and at the exhaustion of their lifespans, both of them, separately, met their death.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.14.18)

ततश्च पशुपालस्तु दशार्णाधिपतेः सुतः । संजातस्तत्प्रभावेन पूर्वजातिमनुस्मरन्

tataśca paśupālastu daśārṇādhipateḥ sutaḥ saṁjātastatprabhāvena pūrvajātimanusmaran

Then, by the power of that circumambulation, the cowherd was born as the son of the king of Dasharna, and he remembered his previous birth.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.14.19)

सोऽपि जज्ञे पशुस्तस्य सचिवो द्विजसत्तमाः । जातिस्मरो यथा राजा सर्वदा नृपसंमतः

so'pi jajñe paśustasya sacivo dvijasattamāḥ jātismaro yathā rājā sarvadā nṛpasaṁmataḥ

O best of the twice-born, that animal too was born as his minister, and, remembering his past birth just like the king, was always held in equal honor.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.14.20)

अथागत्य स राजेंद्रस्तेनैव सह मंत्रिणा । कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां पुरस्तस्याः प्रदक्षिणाम्

athāgatya sa rājeṁdrastenaiva saha maṁtriṇā kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ purastasyāḥ pradakṣiṇām

Then that great king, coming there together with that very minister, would perform the circumambulation of that city on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight —

Verse 21 (skanda.6.14.21)

चक्रे संवत्सरस्यांते श्रद्धया परया युतः । निराहारश्च मौनेन पदातिर्द्विजसत्तमाः

cakre saṁvatsarasyāṁte śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ nirāhāraśca maunena padātirdvijasattamāḥ

O best of the twice-born, — at the end of every year, filled with the deepest faith, fasting, keeping silence, and going on foot.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.14.22)

एकदा तत्र चाऽऽयाता मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । तीर्थे पापहरे पुण्ये विश्वामित्रसमुद्भवे

ekadā tatra cā''yātā munayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ tīrthe pāpahare puṇye viśvāmitrasamudbhave

Once there came to that place sages of resolute vows, to that sin-removing, sacred tirtha associated with Vishvamitra.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.14.23)

याज्ञवल्क्यो भरद्वाजः शुनःशेपोऽथ गालवः । देवलो भागुरिर्धौम्यः कश्य पश्च्यवनो भृगुः

yājñavalkyo bharadvājaḥ śunaḥśepo'tha gālavaḥ devalo bhāgurirdhaumyaḥ kaśya paścyavano bhṛguḥ

Yajnavalkya, Bharadvaja, Shunahshepa, Galava, Devala, Bhaguri, Dhaumya, Kashyapa, Chyavana, and Bhrigu —

Verse 24 (skanda.6.14.24)

तथान्ये शंसिताऽऽत्मानो ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणाः । तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे समागताः

tathānye śaṁsitā''tmāno brahmacaryaparāyaṇāḥ tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena tasminkṣetre samāgatāḥ

— and other sages besides, pure of soul and devoted to celibacy, gathered together in that field in the course of their pilgrimage.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.14.25)

तान्दृष्ट्वा स महीपालः प्रणिपत्य कृतांजलिः । यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं पूजयामास भक्तितः

tāndṛṣṭvā sa mahīpālaḥ praṇipatya kṛtāṁjaliḥ yathājyeṣṭhaṁ yathāśreṣṭhaṁ pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Seeing them, that king bowed with joined palms, and worshipped them with devotion in due order of seniority and excellence.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.14.26)

ततस्तेषां स मध्ये च संनिविष्टो महीपतिः । तथागतः स भूपालः सर्वै स्तैश्चाभिनंदितः

tatasteṣāṁ sa madhye ca saṁniviṣṭo mahīpatiḥ tathāgataḥ sa bhūpālaḥ sarvai staiścābhinaṁditaḥ

Then that lord of the earth sat down among them, and, having come there, was welcomed with honor by all of them.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.14.27)

ततश्चक्रुः कथा दिव्या मुनयस्ते महीपतेः । पुरतो मुनिमुख्यानां चरितानि महात्मनाम्

tataścakruḥ kathā divyā munayaste mahīpateḥ purato munimukhyānāṁ caritāni mahātmanām

Then those sages recounted before the king divine stories of the deeds of the foremost great-souled sages.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.14.28)

राजर्षीणां पुराणानां धर्मशास्त्रसमुद्भवाः । आनंदं तस्य राजर्षेर्जनयंतो द्विजोत्तमाः

rājarṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ dharmaśāstrasamudbhavāḥ ānaṁdaṁ tasya rājarṣerjanayaṁto dvijottamāḥ

O best of the twice-born, telling of ancient royal sages and stories drawn from the scriptures of dharma, they filled that royal sage with delight.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.14.29)

अथ क्वाऽपि कथांते स पार्थिवस्तैर्महर्षिभिः । पृष्टः कौतूहलाविष्टैर्दत्त्वा श्रौतीस्तदाशिषः

atha kvā'pi kathāṁte sa pārthivastairmaharṣibhiḥ pṛṣṭaḥ kautūhalāviṣṭairdattvā śrautīstadāśiṣaḥ

Then, at the end of one such story, those great sages, filled with curiosity, having given him blessings drawn from the scriptures, questioned that king.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.14.30)

ऋषय ऊचुः । वर्षेवर्षे महीपाल त्वमत्राऽऽगत्य यत्नतः । करोषि मंत्रिणा सार्धं पुरस्याऽस्य प्रदक्षिणाम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ varṣevarṣe mahīpāla tvamatrā''gatya yatnataḥ karoṣi maṁtriṇā sārdhaṁ purasyā'sya pradakṣiṇām

The sages said: O king, every year you come here and, with great effort, together with your minister, perform the circumambulation of this city.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.14.31)

अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे सुतीर्थानि संति पार्थिवसत्तम । तथाऽन्यानि प्रसिद्धानि देवतायतनानि च

asminkṣetre sutīrthāni saṁti pārthivasattama tathā'nyāni prasiddhāni devatāyatanāni ca

O best of kings, in this field there are excellent tirthas, and other famous shrines of the gods besides.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.14.32)

आदरस्तेषु वै राजन्नास्ति स्वल्पो ऽपि कर्हिचित् । एतन्नः कौतुकं जातं न चेद्गुह्यं प्रकीर्तय

ādarasteṣu vai rājannāsti svalpo 'pi karhicit etannaḥ kautukaṁ jātaṁ na cedguhyaṁ prakīrtaya

O king, you show not even the slightest reverence for them at any time. We are curious about this — if it is not a secret, tell us the reason.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.14.33)

सूत उवाच । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विनयाऽवनतः स्थितः । स प्रोवाच वचो भूपः किंचिद्व्रीडासमन्वितः

sūta uvāca teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vinayā'vanataḥ sthitaḥ sa provāca vaco bhūpaḥ kiṁcidvrīḍāsamanvitaḥ

Suta said: Hearing their words, the king, bowing in humility, spoke these words, somewhat overcome with embarrassment.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.14.34)

यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजश्रेष्ठा युष्माभिः सांप्रतं मम । तद्गुह्यं न मयाऽऽख्यातं कस्यचिद्धरणीतले

yatpṛṣṭo'smi dvijaśreṣṭhā yuṣmābhiḥ sāṁprataṁ mama tadguhyaṁ na mayā''khyātaṁ kasyaciddharaṇītale

"O best of the twice-born, what you have just asked me is my own secret, which I have never told to anyone on this earth."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.14.35)

तथाऽपि हि प्रकर्तव्यं युष्माकं सत्यमेव हि । अपि गुह्यतमं चेत्स्याच्छृण्वंतु मुनिसत्तमाः

tathā'pi hi prakartavyaṁ yuṣmākaṁ satyameva hi api guhyatamaṁ cetsyācchṛṇvaṁtu munisattamāḥ

"Yet even so, I ought to tell you the truth, however most secret it may be. Listen, O best of sages."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.14.36)

सूत उवाच । ततः स कथयामास पूर्वजातिसमुद्भवम् । वृत्तांतं तन्मुनींद्राणां तेषां ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः

sūta uvāca tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa pūrvajātisamudbhavam vṛttāṁtaṁ tanmunīṁdrāṇāṁ teṣāṁ brāhmaṇasattamāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, then he related to those foremost sages that entire account arising from his previous birth.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.14.37)

यथा नष्टः पशुस्तस्य कृता यद्वदवेक्षणा । यथा प्रदक्षिणा जाता चमत्कारपुरस्य तु

yathā naṣṭaḥ paśustasya kṛtā yadvadavekṣaṇā yathā pradakṣiṇā jātā camatkārapurasya tu

How his animal had gone missing, how the search for it was made, and how that circumambulation of Chamatkarapura had come about —

Verse 38 (skanda.6.14.38)

जातिस्मृतिर्यथा जाता प्राक्तनी तत्प्रभावतः । राज्यप्राप्तिर्विभूतिश्च तथेष्टाप्तिः पदेपदे

jātismṛtiryathā jātā prāktanī tatprabhāvataḥ rājyaprāptirvibhūtiśca tatheṣṭāptiḥ padepade

— how, by its power, the memory of his former birth arose, and how he attained the kingdom, prosperity, and, at every step, the fulfillment of his desires.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.14.39)

तच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे प्रहृष्टाः पृथिवीपतेः । आशीर्वादान्बहून्दत्त्वा साधुसाध्विति चाऽब्रुवन्

tacchrutvā munayaḥ sarve prahṛṣṭāḥ pṛthivīpateḥ āśīrvādānbahūndattvā sādhusādhviti cā'bruvan

Hearing this, all those sages were greatly delighted with the king, and, bestowing many blessings, exclaimed "Well done, well done!"

Verse 40 (skanda.6.14.40)

समुत्थाय ततश्चक्रुः पुरस्तस्याः प्रदक्षिणाम् । यथोक्तविधिना सर्वे श्रद्धया परया युताः

samutthāya tataścakruḥ purastasyāḥ pradakṣiṇām yathoktavidhinā sarve śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ

Then, rising up, all of them, filled with the deepest faith, performed the circumambulation of that city according to the prescribed rite.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.14.41)

गताश्च परमां सिद्धिं तत्प्रभावात्सुदुर्लभाम् । जपयज्ञप्रदानैर्या तीर्थसेवादिकैरपि

gatāśca paramāṁ siddhiṁ tatprabhāvātsudurlabhām japayajñapradānairyā tīrthasevādikairapi

And by its power they attained that supreme accomplishment, most difficult to obtain even through recitation, sacrifice, gift-giving, and devotion to tirthas.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.14.42)

सोऽपि राजा स मन्त्री च जातौ वैमानिकौ सुरौ । अद्याऽपि तौ हि दृश्येते तारारूपौ नभस्तले

so'pi rājā sa mantrī ca jātau vaimānikau surau adyā'pi tau hi dṛśyete tārārūpau nabhastale

That king and that minister both became gods who travel by celestial chariot. Even to this day, the two of them are seen in the sky in the form of stars.