The Origin of Ashvatirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.165.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ ततःप्रभृति पुण्ये च सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे ॥ बाह्यानां नागराणां च स्थानं जातं महत्तरम्

sūta uvāca tataḥprabhṛti puṇye ca sarasvatyāstaṭe śubhe bāhyānāṁ nāgarāṇāṁ ca sthānaṁ jātaṁ mahattaram

Suta said: From that time onward, on the sacred and auspicious bank of the Sarasvati, a greater settlement of the outer Nagaras came into being.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.165.2)

पुत्रपौत्रप्रवृद्धानां दौहित्राणां द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ चमत्कारपुरस्याग्रे यज्ज्ञातं विद्यया धनैः

putrapautrapravṛddhānāṁ dauhitrāṇāṁ dvijottamāḥ camatkārapurasyāgre yajjñātaṁ vidyayā dhanaiḥ

O best of brahmins, of those grown numerous with sons, grandsons, and daughters' sons, who had become renowned before Chamatkarapura for learning and wealth —

Verse 3 (skanda.6.165.3)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ शप्ता सरस्वती कोपात्कृता रुधिरवाहिनी

kasyacittvatha kālasya viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā śaptā sarasvatī kopātkṛtā rudhiravāhinī

Now, after some time, the wise Vishvamitra, in his wrath, cursed the Sarasvati and made her a river running with blood.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.165.4)

ततः संसेव्यते हृष्टैः राक्षसैः सा दिवानिशम् ॥ गीतनृत्यपरैश्चान्यैर्भूतैः प्रेतैः पिशाचकैः

tataḥ saṁsevyate hṛṣṭaiḥ rākṣasaiḥ sā divāniśam gītanṛtyaparaiścānyairbhūtaiḥ pretaiḥ piśācakaiḥ

Thereafter she was haunted day and night by gleeful rakshasas and other beings given to song and dance — bhutas, pretas, and pishachas.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.165.5)

ततस्ते नागरा बाह्यास्तां त्यक्त्वा दूरतः स्थिताः ॥ कांदिशीकास्ततो याता भक्ष्यमाणास्तु राक्षसैः ॥ नर्मदायास्तटे पुण्ये मार्कण्डाश्रमसंनिधौ

tataste nāgarā bāhyāstāṁ tyaktvā dūrataḥ sthitāḥ kāṁdiśīkāstato yātā bhakṣyamāṇāstu rākṣasaiḥ narmadāyāstaṭe puṇye mārkaṇḍāśramasaṁnidhau

Then those outer Nagaras abandoned her and settled at a distance; fleeing in terror, being devoured by the rakshasas, they went to the sacred bank of the Narmada, near the hermitage of Markanda.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.165.6)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ ॥ कस्मात्सरस्वती शप्ता विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ महानद्या कोऽपराधस्तया तस्य विनिर्मितः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kasmātsarasvatī śaptā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā mahānadyā ko'parādhastayā tasya vinirmitaḥ

The sages said: Why was the Sarasvati cursed by the wise Vishvamitra? What offense had that great river committed against him?

Verse 7 (skanda.6.165.7)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ आसीत्पुरा महद्वैरं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः ॥ ब्राह्मण्यस्य कृते विप्राः प्राणान्तकरणं महत् ॥ स सर्वैर्ब्राह्मणैः प्रोक्तो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः

sūta uvāca āsītpurā mahadvairaṁ viśvāmitravasiṣṭhayoḥ brāhmaṇyasya kṛte viprāḥ prāṇāntakaraṇaṁ mahat sa sarvairbrāhmaṇaiḥ prokto viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, there was formerly a great feud between Vishvamitra and Vasishtha, a deadly enmity over the matter of brahminhood; the great sage Vishvamitra was told by all the brahmins —

Verse 8 (skanda.6.165.8)

क्षत्रियोऽपि पुरस्कृत्य देवदेवं पितामहम् ॥ न चैकेन वसिष्ठेन तेनैतद्वैरमाहितम्

kṣatriyo'pi puraskṛtya devadevaṁ pitāmaham na caikena vasiṣṭhena tenaitadvairamāhitam

'— though a kshatriya, having placed the grandsire, the god of gods, before you as witness; and this enmity was not brought about by Vasishtha alone.'

Verse 9 (skanda.6.165.9)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ ॥ क्षत्रियोऽपि कथं विप्रो विश्वामित्रो महामते ॥ वसिष्ठेन कथं नोक्तो यः प्रोक्तो ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kṣatriyo'pi kathaṁ vipro viśvāmitro mahāmate vasiṣṭhena kathaṁ nokto yaḥ prokto brahmaṇā svayam

The sages said: O wise one, how did Vishvamitra, though a kshatriya, become a brahmin? And how was he, whom Brahma himself declared so, not acknowledged by Vasishtha?

Verse 10 (skanda.6.165.10)

एतन्नः सर्वमाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं स्थितम्

etannaḥ sarvamācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ sthitam

Tell us all of this — a great curiosity has arisen within us.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.165.11)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ आसीत्पुरा ऋचीकाख्यो भृगुपुत्रो महामुनिः ॥ व्रताध्ययनसंपन्नः सुतपस्वी महायशाः

sūta uvāca āsītpurā ṛcīkākhyo bhṛguputro mahāmuniḥ vratādhyayanasaṁpannaḥ sutapasvī mahāyaśāḥ

Suta said: There once lived a great sage named Richika, son of Bhrigu, accomplished in vows and learning, a great ascetic of immense renown.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.165.12)

तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन स कदाचिन्मुनीश्वरः ॥ स्थानं भोजकटं नाम प्राप्तो गाधिमहीपतेः ॥ यत्र सा कौशिकीनाम नदी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता

tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena sa kadācinmunīśvaraḥ sthānaṁ bhojakaṭaṁ nāma prāpto gādhimahīpateḥ yatra sā kauśikīnāma nadī trailokyaviśrutā

Once, in the course of a pilgrimage, that lord of sages arrived at the place named Bhojakata, belonging to King Gadhi, where flows the river named Kaushiki, renowned throughout the three worlds.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.165.13)

तस्यां स्नात्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो यावत्तिष्ठति तीरगः ॥ समाधिस्थो जपं कुर्वन्संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः

tasyāṁ snātvā dvijaśreṣṭho yāvattiṣṭhati tīragaḥ samādhistho japaṁ kurvansaṁtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ

Having bathed in it, while that foremost brahmin stood upon the bank, absorbed in meditation, offering libations to the ancestral gods and reciting japa,

Verse 14 (skanda.6.165.14)

तावत्तत्र समायाता राजकन्या सुशोभना ॥ सर्वलक्षणसम्पूर्णा सर्वैरेव गुणैर्युता

tāvattatra samāyātā rājakanyā suśobhanā sarvalakṣaṇasampūrṇā sarvaireva guṇairyutā

just then a beautiful royal maiden arrived there, perfect in every auspicious mark and possessed of every virtue.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.165.15)

स तां संवीक्षते यावत्सर्वावयवशोभनाम् ॥ तावत्कामशरैर्व्याप्तः कर्तव्यं नाभ्यविंदत

sa tāṁ saṁvīkṣate yāvatsarvāvayavaśobhanām tāvatkāmaśarairvyāptaḥ kartavyaṁ nābhyaviṁdata

The moment he beheld her, lovely in every limb, he was overwhelmed by the arrows of desire and could not tell what he ought to do.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.165.16)

ततः पप्रच्छ लोकान्स लब्ध्वा कृच्छ्रेण चेतनाम् ॥ कस्येयं कन्यका साध्वी किमर्थमिह चागता

tataḥ papraccha lokānsa labdhvā kṛcchreṇa cetanām kasyeyaṁ kanyakā sādhvī kimarthamiha cāgatā

Then, with difficulty regaining his composure, he asked the people: 'Whose virtuous daughter is this, and for what purpose has she come here?'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.165.17)

क्व यास्यति वरारोहा सर्वं मे कथ्यतां जनाः

kva yāsyati varārohā sarvaṁ me kathyatāṁ janāḥ

'Where does this lovely maiden go? Tell me everything, good people.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.165.18)

॥ जना ऊचुः ॥ ॥ एषा गाधिसुता नाम ख्याता त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी ॥ अन्तःपुरात्समायाता गौरीपूजनलालसा

janā ūcuḥ eṣā gādhisutā nāma khyātā trailokyasundarī antaḥpurātsamāyātā gaurīpūjanalālasā

The people said: This is the daughter of Gadhi, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the three worlds; she has come out from the inner apartments, eager to worship Gauri.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.165.19)

वांछमाना सुभर्त्तारं सर्वैः समुदितंगुणैः ॥ प्रासादोऽयं स्थितो योऽत्र नदीतीरे बृहत्तरः

vāṁchamānā subharttāraṁ sarvaiḥ samuditaṁguṇaiḥ prāsādo'yaṁ sthito yo'tra nadītīre bṛhattaraḥ

— longing for a fine husband endowed with every virtue; this great temple standing here on the riverbank —

Verse 20 (skanda.6.165.20)

उमा संतिष्ठते चात्र सर्वैः संपूजिता सुरैः ॥ एतां च स्नापयित्वेयं पूजयित्वा यथा क्रमम्

umā saṁtiṣṭhate cātra sarvaiḥ saṁpūjitā suraiḥ etāṁ ca snāpayitveyaṁ pūjayitvā yathā kramam

here Uma abides, worshipped by all the gods; having bathed her image and worshipped it in due order,

Verse 21 (skanda.6.165.21)

नैवेद्यं विविधं दत्त्वा करिष्यति ततः परम् ॥ वीणाविनोदमात्रं च श्रुतिमार्गसुखावहम्

naivedyaṁ vividhaṁ dattvā kariṣyati tataḥ param vīṇāvinodamātraṁ ca śrutimārgasukhāvaham

and having offered various food-offerings, she will then occupy herself only with the delight of the vina, so pleasing to the ear.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.165.22)

ततो यास्यति हर्म्यं स्वं मन्दीभूते च भास्करे ॥ ऋचीकस्तु तदाकर्ण्य लोकानां वचनं च यत्

tato yāsyati harmyaṁ svaṁ mandībhūte ca bhāskare ṛcīkastu tadākarṇya lokānāṁ vacanaṁ ca yat

then, as the sun grows dim, she will go to her own palace. And Richika, having heard this account from the people,

Verse 23 (skanda.6.165.23)

ययौ गाधिगृहं शीघ्रं कामबाणप्रपीडितः ॥ तं दृष्ट्वा सहसा प्राप्तमृचीकं भृगुसत्तमम् ॥ संमुखः प्रययौ तूर्णं गाधिः पार्थिवसत्तमः

yayau gādhigṛhaṁ śīghraṁ kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasā prāptamṛcīkaṁ bhṛgusattamam saṁmukhaḥ prayayau tūrṇaṁ gādhiḥ pārthivasattamaḥ

Tormented by the arrow of desire, he went swiftly to Gadhi's house. Seeing Richika, best of the Bhrigus, arrived so suddenly, King Gadhi, best of kings, hastened forward at once to meet him.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.165.24)

गृह्योक्तेन विधानेन कृत्वा चैवार्हणं ततः ॥ कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

gṛhyoktena vidhānena kṛtvā caivārhaṇaṁ tataḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā vākyametaduvāca ha

Having then honoured him according to the rite prescribed in the household scriptures, and with joined palms, he spoke these words:

Verse 25 (skanda.6.165.25)

निःस्पृहस्यापि ते विप्र किमागमनकारणम् ॥ तत्सर्वं मे समाचक्ष्व येन यच्छामि तेऽखिलम्

niḥspṛhasyāpi te vipra kimāgamanakāraṇam tatsarvaṁ me samācakṣva yena yacchāmi te'khilam

'O brahmin, what is the reason for your coming, you who are free of all desire? Tell me everything, so that I may grant you all you seek.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.165.26)

॥ ऋचीक उवाच ॥ ॥ तव कन्याऽस्ति विप्रेंद्र वरार्हा वरवर्णिनी ॥ ब्राह्मोक्तेन विवाहेन तां मे देहि महीपते

ṛcīka uvāca tava kanyā'sti vipreṁdra varārhā varavarṇinī brāhmoktena vivāhena tāṁ me dehi mahīpate

Richika said: O lord among brahmins, you have a daughter worthy of a husband, of lovely hue; give her to me, O king, according to the marriage rite called Brahma.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.165.27)

एतदर्थमहं प्राप्तो गृहे तव स्मरार्दितः ॥ सा मया वीक्षिता राजन्गौरीपूजार्थमागता

etadarthamahaṁ prāpto gṛhe tava smarārditaḥ sā mayā vīkṣitā rājangaurīpūjārthamāgatā

For this reason, tormented by desire, I have come to your house; I beheld her, O king, when she had come to worship Gauri.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.165.28)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा भयसंत्रस्तो गाधिः पार्थिवसत्तमः ॥ असवर्णं च तं मत्वा दरिद्रं वृद्धमेवच ॥ अदाने शापभीतस्तु ततो व्याजमुवाच सः

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā bhayasaṁtrasto gādhiḥ pārthivasattamaḥ asavarṇaṁ ca taṁ matvā daridraṁ vṛddhamevaca adāne śāpabhītastu tato vyājamuvāca saḥ

Suta said: Hearing this, Gadhi, best of kings, grew fearful; thinking him of unequal lineage, poor, and old besides, yet dreading a curse should he refuse outright, he spoke then with an evasion:

Verse 29 (skanda.6.165.29)

अस्माकं कन्यकादाने शुल्कमस्ति द्विजोत्तम ॥ तच्चेद्यच्छसि कन्यां तां तुभ्यं दास्याम्यसंशयम्

asmākaṁ kanyakādāne śulkamasti dvijottama taccedyacchasi kanyāṁ tāṁ tubhyaṁ dāsyāmyasaṁśayam

'O best of brahmins, there is a bride-price attached to the giving of a daughter in our family; if you can furnish it, I shall give you the maiden, without doubt.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.165.30)

॥ ऋचीक उवाच ॥ ॥ ब्रूहि पार्थिवशार्दूल कन्याशुल्कं मम द्रुतम् ॥ येन यच्छामि ते सर्वं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

ṛcīka uvāca brūhi pārthivaśārdūla kanyāśulkaṁ mama drutam yena yacchāmi te sarvaṁ yadyapi syātsudurlabham

Richika said: Tell me quickly, O tiger among kings, the bride-price for your daughter, so that I may furnish you with all of it, however hard to obtain it may be.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.165.31)

॥ गाधिरुवाच ॥ ॥ एकतः श्यामकर्णानामश्वानां वातरंहसाम् ॥ शतानि सप्त विप्रेंद्र श्वेतानां चैव सर्वतः

gādhiruvāca ekataḥ śyāmakarṇānāmaśvānāṁ vātaraṁhasām śatāni sapta vipreṁdra śvetānāṁ caiva sarvataḥ

Gadhi said: On one side, seven hundred horses with dark ears and wind-like speed, O lord of brahmins, and on every side white ones as well —

Verse 32 (skanda.6.165.32)

य आनीय प्रदद्यान्मे तस्मै कन्यां ददाम्यहम्

ya ānīya pradadyānme tasmai kanyāṁ dadāmyaham

'— to whoever brings these and gives them to me, to him alone shall I give my daughter.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.165.33)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय ऋचीको मुनिसत्तमः ॥ कान्यकुब्जं समासाद्य गंगातीरे विवेश ह

sūta uvāca sa tatheti pratijñāya ṛcīko munisattamaḥ kānyakubjaṁ samāsādya gaṁgātīre viveśa ha

Suta said: Promising 'so be it,' Richika, best of sages, made his way to Kanyakubja and entered upon the bank of the Ganga.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.165.34)

अश्वो वोढेति यत्सूक्तं चतुःषष्टिसमुद्भवम् ॥ छंदऋषिदेवतायुक्तं जपं चक्रे ततः परम्

aśvo voḍheti yatsūktaṁ catuḥṣaṣṭisamudbhavam chaṁdaṛṣidevatāyuktaṁ japaṁ cakre tataḥ param

That hymn beginning 'Asvo vodheti', comprising sixty-four verses, complete with its metre, seer, and deity, he then recited as japa.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.165.35)

विनियोगं वाजिकृतं गाधिना यत्प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ ततस्ते वाजिनस्तस्मान्निष्क्रांताः सलिलाद्द्विजाः

viniyogaṁ vājikṛtaṁ gādhinā yatprakīrtitam tataste vājinastasmānniṣkrāṁtāḥ salilāddvijāḥ

applying it in the manner declared by Gadhi for the production of horses; and then, O brahmins, those horses came forth from that water.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.165.36)

सर्वश्वेताः सुवेगाश्च श्यामैकश्रवणास्तथा ॥ शतानि सप्तसंख्यानि तावत्संख्यैर्नरैयुताः

sarvaśvetāḥ suvegāśca śyāmaikaśravaṇāstathā śatāni saptasaṁkhyāni tāvatsaṁkhyairnaraiyutāḥ

all white, swift-paced, and each with one dark ear — seven hundred in number, accompanied by an equal number of attendant men.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.165.37)

ततः प्रभृति विख्यातमश्वतीर्थं धरातले ॥ गंगातीरे शुभे पुण्ये कान्यकुब्जसमीपगम् ॥ यस्मिन्स्नाने कृते मर्त्यो वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्

tataḥ prabhṛti vikhyātamaśvatīrthaṁ dharātale gaṁgātīre śubhe puṇye kānyakubjasamīpagam yasminsnāne kṛte martyo vājimedhaphalaṁ labhet

From that time on, this Ashvatirtha became renowned upon the earth, on the auspicious and sacred bank of the Ganga near Kanyakubja — where, by bathing, a mortal obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.