The Origin of Dhara (Nagareshvari)

Verse 1 (skanda.6.168.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ एवं राज्यं परित्यज्य विश्वामित्रो द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ हिमवन्तं नगं प्राप्य तपश्चक्रे सुदारुणम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ rājyaṁ parityajya viśvāmitro dvijottamāḥ himavantaṁ nagaṁ prāpya tapaścakre sudāruṇam

Suta said: O best of brahmins, having thus renounced his kingdom, Vishvamitra went to Mount Himavat and undertook the most severe austerity.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.168.2)

वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते सलिलाशयः ॥ पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे स्थितो वर्षशतत्रयम्

varṣāsvākāśaśāyī ca hemaṁte salilāśayaḥ pañcāgnisādhako grīṣme sthito varṣaśatatrayam

Sleeping in the open sky through the rains, dwelling in water through the winter, practising the five-fires austerity through the summer, he remained thus for three hundred years.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.168.3)

फलमूलकृताहारस्ततो वर्षशतत्रयम् ॥ ध्यायमानः परं ब्रह्म स्थितो ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः ॥ शीर्णपर्णाशनः पश्चात्तावत्कालं व्यवस्थितः

phalamūlakṛtāhārastato varṣaśatatrayam dhyāyamānaḥ paraṁ brahma sthito brāhmaṇasattamāḥ śīrṇaparṇāśanaḥ paścāttāvatkālaṁ vyavasthitaḥ

O best of brahmins, then, subsisting on fruits and roots for three hundred more years, he remained meditating on the Supreme Brahman; and thereafter, eating only withered leaves, he remained for that same span again.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.168.4)

ततश्चैव जलाहारस्तावन्मात्रं व्यवस्थितः ॥ कालं स वायुभक्षश्च ततश्चैवायुतं समाः

tataścaiva jalāhārastāvanmātraṁ vyavasthitaḥ kālaṁ sa vāyubhakṣaśca tataścaivāyutaṁ samāḥ

Then, subsisting on water alone, he continued for that same span; and thereafter, living on air alone, he remained so for ten thousand years.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.168.5)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ अथ दृष्ट्वा तपःशक्तिं तस्य तां त्रिदशाधिपः ॥ पातयिष्यति मां नूनमेष स्थानान्नृपोत्तमः

sūta uvāca atha dṛṣṭvā tapaḥśaktiṁ tasya tāṁ tridaśādhipaḥ pātayiṣyati māṁ nūnameṣa sthānānnṛpottamaḥ

Suta said: Then, beholding the power of his austerity, the lord of the thirty gods thought: 'This best of kings will surely dislodge me from my station.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.168.6)

ततः प्रोवाच संगत्य साम्ना परमवल्गुना ॥ विश्वामित्रं नृपश्रेष्ठं भयेन महताऽन्वितः

tataḥ provāca saṁgatya sāmnā paramavalgunā viśvāmitraṁ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṁ bhayena mahatā'nvitaḥ

Then, overcome with great fear, he approached Vishvamitra, best of kings, and spoke to him with the most gracious and conciliatory words.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.168.7)

॥ इंद्र उवाच ॥ ॥ विश्वामित्र प्रतुष्टोऽस्मि तपसानेन पार्थिव ॥ वरं वरय भद्रं ते यदभीष्टं हृदिस्थितम्

iṁdra uvāca viśvāmitra pratuṣṭo'smi tapasānena pārthiva varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te yadabhīṣṭaṁ hṛdisthitam

Indra said: O king Vishvamitra, I am well pleased by this austerity of yours; choose a boon — blessings upon you — whatever your heart desires.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.168.8)

॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ ॥ ब्राह्मण्यं देहि मे शक्र यदि तुष्टोऽसि सांप्रतम् ॥ तदर्थं तपसश्चर्यां जानीहि त्वं पुरंदर

viśvāmitra uvāca brāhmaṇyaṁ dehi me śakra yadi tuṣṭo'si sāṁpratam tadarthaṁ tapasaścaryāṁ jānīhi tvaṁ puraṁdara

Vishvamitra said: O Shakra, if you are now pleased, grant me brahminhood; know, O Purandara, that it is for this very purpose that I have undertaken this austerity.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.168.9)

॥ इंद्र उवाच ॥ ॥ अनेनैव शरीरेण क्षत्रियः स्यात्कथं द्विजः ॥ चतुर्विंशतिसंस्कारैर्द्विगुणैर्यःप्रजायते ॥ तदन्यत्प्रार्थय क्षिप्रं यत्तेऽभीष्टतरं स्थितम्

iṁdra uvāca anenaiva śarīreṇa kṣatriyaḥ syātkathaṁ dvijaḥ caturviṁśatisaṁskārairdviguṇairyaḥprajāyate tadanyatprārthaya kṣipraṁ yatte'bhīṣṭataraṁ sthitam

Indra said: How, in this very body, could a kshatriya become twice-born — a status attained through the twenty-four sacraments? Ask instead, quickly, for something else more desirable to you.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.168.10)

॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ ॥ न ब्राह्मण्यात्परं किंचित्प्रार्थयामि सुरेश्वर

viśvāmitra uvāca na brāhmaṇyātparaṁ kiṁcitprārthayāmi sureśvara

Vishvamitra said: I ask for nothing beyond brahminhood, O lord of the gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.168.11)

अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यं ते वस्तुष्वन्येषु का कथा ॥ तस्माद्गच्छ सुरश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं परिपालय

api trailokyarājyaṁ te vastuṣvanyeṣu kā kathā tasmādgaccha suraśreṣṭha svarājyaṁ paripālaya

Not even the sovereignty of the three worlds — how much less other things! Therefore go, O best of gods, and govern your own realm.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.168.12)

परित्यक्ष्याम्यहं देहं यास्ये वाऽहं द्विजन्मताम् ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य देवराजो दिवं गतः

parityakṣyāmyahaṁ dehaṁ yāsye vā'haṁ dvijanmatām tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya devarājo divaṁ gataḥ

Either I shall relinquish this body, or I shall attain the state of the twice-born. Hearing these words, the king of the gods departed to heaven.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.168.13)

तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा सर्वदेवसमावृतः ॥ विश्वामित्रोऽपि तद्रूपं चकार दुश्चरं तपः

tasya taṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā sarvadevasamāvṛtaḥ viśvāmitro'pi tadrūpaṁ cakāra duścaraṁ tapaḥ

Knowing his resolve, surrounded by all the gods, Vishvamitra too continued to perform that same austerity, so hard to accomplish.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.168.14)

अथ वर्षसहस्रे तु व्यतिक्रान्ते द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ अन्यस्मिन्वायुभक्षस्य विश्वामित्रस्य भूपतेः

atha varṣasahasre tu vyatikrānte dvijottamāḥ anyasminvāyubhakṣasya viśvāmitrasya bhūpateḥ

Then, O best of brahmins, when another thousand years had passed, of King Vishvamitra, who subsisted on air alone —

Verse 15 (skanda.6.168.15)

आजगाम स्वयं ब्रह्मा पुण्यैर्देवर्षिभिः सह ॥ अब्रवीत्तं महीपालं तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषम्

ājagāma svayaṁ brahmā puṇyairdevarṣibhiḥ saha abravīttaṁ mahīpālaṁ tapasā dagdhakilbiṣam

— Brahma himself came, together with the holy divine sages, and spoke to that king, whose sins had been consumed away by austerity:

Verse 16 (skanda.6.168.16)

॥ श्रीब्रह्मोवाच ॥ ॥ विश्वामित्र प्रतुष्टोऽस्मि तपसानेन सत्तम ॥ वरं वरय भद्रं ते प्रदास्याम्यपि दुर्लभम्

śrībrahmovāca viśvāmitra pratuṣṭo'smi tapasānena sattama varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te pradāsyāmyapi durlabham

Brahma said: O excellent Vishvamitra, I am well pleased by this austerity; choose a boon — blessings upon you — I shall grant you even what is hard to obtain.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.168.17)

॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ ॥ यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव यदि देयो वरो मम ॥ ब्राह्मण्यं देहि मे देव नान्यदिष्टतमं महत्

viśvāmitra uvāca yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva yadi deyo varo mama brāhmaṇyaṁ dehi me deva nānyadiṣṭatamaṁ mahat

Vishvamitra said: If you are pleased with me, O deity, if a boon is to be given to me, then, O deity, grant me brahminhood; nothing else is greater or more desired by me.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.168.18)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ ॥ क्षत्रियेण प्रजातस्य द्विजत्वं जायते कथम् ॥ श्रुतिस्मृतिविरुद्धं हि किमेवं वदसीप्सितम्

brahmovāca kṣatriyeṇa prajātasya dvijatvaṁ jāyate katham śrutismṛtiviruddhaṁ hi kimevaṁ vadasīpsitam

Brahma said: How can twice-born status come to one born of a kshatriya? This desire of yours runs contrary to Shruti and Smriti — why do you ask for such a thing?

Verse 19 (skanda.6.168.19)

यन्न जातं धरापृष्ठे न भविष्यति कर्हिचित्

yanna jātaṁ dharāpṛṣṭhe na bhaviṣyati karhicit

What has never come to pass upon the face of the earth shall never come to pass at all.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.168.20)

॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ ॥ गच्छ त्वं देवदेवेश ब्रह्मलोकमनुत्तमम् ॥ अहं त्यक्ष्यामि वा प्राणान्संप्राप्स्ये वा द्विजन्मताम्

viśvāmitra uvāca gaccha tvaṁ devadeveśa brahmalokamanuttamam ahaṁ tyakṣyāmi vā prāṇānsaṁprāpsye vā dvijanmatām

Vishvamitra said: Go, O lord of the gods, to your unsurpassed realm of Brahma; either I shall give up my life, or I shall attain the state of the twice-born.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.168.21)

अथ देवर्षिमध्यस्थ ऋचीको वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ अस्य जन्मकृते देव ब्राह्म्यैर्मंत्रैर्मया चरुः

atha devarṣimadhyastha ṛcīko vākyamabravīt asya janmakṛte deva brāhmyairmaṁtrairmayā caruḥ

Then Richika, standing among the divine sages, spoke these words: 'O deity, for this one's birth, I myself prepared a sacrificial cake with brahminical mantras —'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.168.22)

अभितो ब्रह्मसर्वस्वं तत्र सयोजितं मया ॥ तेनैव क्षत्रजन्माऽयं ब्राह्मणश्चतुरानन

abhito brahmasarvasvaṁ tatra sayojitaṁ mayā tenaiva kṣatrajanmā'yaṁ brāhmaṇaścaturānana

'— into which I fully infused the entire essence of brahminhood; by that very power, O four-faced one, this man, though born a kshatriya, is a brahmin.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.168.23)

ब्रह्मर्षिकीर्तयस्वैनं तस्मात्त्वं प्रपितामह ॥ राज्यस्थोऽपि द्विजार्हाणि सत्कृत्यान्यकरोदसौ

brahmarṣikīrtayasvainaṁ tasmāttvaṁ prapitāmaha rājyastho'pi dvijārhāṇi satkṛtyānyakarodasau

'Therefore, O great-grandfather, proclaim him a Brahmarshi; for even while established in kingship, he performed the good deeds proper to a brahmin.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.168.24)

ब्राह्ममन्त्रप्रभावेन तस्माद्ब्रह्मर्षिमाह्वय ॥ येन कीर्तामहे सर्वे विश्वामित्रं द्विजोत्तमम्

brāhmamantraprabhāvena tasmādbrahmarṣimāhvaya yena kīrtāmahe sarve viśvāmitraṁ dvijottamam

'Through the power of the brahminical mantra, therefore, proclaim him a Brahmarshi, so that all of us may honour Vishvamitra as foremost among the twice-born.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.168.25)

अथ ब्रह्मा चिरं ध्यात्वा ब्राह्म्यैर्मंत्रैश्च तेजसा ॥ समुत्पन्नं ततः प्राह ब्राह्मणस्त्वं मया कृतः

atha brahmā ciraṁ dhyātvā brāhmyairmaṁtraiśca tejasā samutpannaṁ tataḥ prāha brāhmaṇastvaṁ mayā kṛtaḥ

Then Brahma, after long meditation, perceiving him as one produced through the splendour of the brahminical mantras, declared: 'You have been made a brahmin by me.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.168.26)

त्यजेदं दुष्करं घोरं तपो मद्वचनाद्द्रुतम् ॥ स यदा ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तो ब्रह्मर्षिस्त्वमसंशयम्

tyajedaṁ duṣkaraṁ ghoraṁ tapo madvacanāddrutam sa yadā brahmaṇā prokto brahmarṣistvamasaṁśayam

'By my word, give up at once this dreadful and arduous austerity.' When he had thus been declared by Brahma to be, beyond doubt, a Brahmarshi —

Verse 27 (skanda.6.168.27)

ऋचीकाद्यैस्ततः सर्वैः प्रोक्तो देवर्षिभिस्तथा

ṛcīkādyaistataḥ sarvaiḥ prokto devarṣibhistathā

— he was likewise proclaimed so by all the divine sages, beginning with Richika.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.168.28)

अथ तेषां मध्यगतो वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः ॥ सोऽब्रवीत्कोपसंयुक्तो नाहं वक्ष्यामि कर्हिचित्

atha teṣāṁ madhyagato vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ so'bravītkopasaṁyukto nāhaṁ vakṣyāmi karhicit

But Vasishtha, best of sages, standing among them, filled with anger, declared: 'I shall never say so.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.168.29)

ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियाज्जातं जानन्नपि पितामह ॥ ऋचीकस्य च दाक्षिण्यात्तथा त्वं वदसि प्रभो

brāhmaṇaṁ kṣatriyājjātaṁ jānannapi pitāmaha ṛcīkasya ca dākṣiṇyāttathā tvaṁ vadasi prabho

'O grandfather, even though you know he was born of a kshatriya, you, O lord, speak of him thus only out of courtesy to Richika.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.168.30)

प्रोच्यमानोऽपि बहुधा वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः ॥ पितामहेन मुनिभिर्नारदाद्यैरनेकधा ॥ जगामाथ परित्यज्य तान्सर्वान्द्विजसत्तमान्

procyamāno'pi bahudhā vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ pitāmahena munibhirnāradādyairanekadhā jagāmātha parityajya tānsarvāndvijasattamān

Though urged in many ways, again and again, by the grandsire and by the sages beginning with Narada, Vasishtha, best of sages, then departed, forsaking all those foremost brahmins.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.168.31)

स चागत्य मुनिश्रेष्ठो देशं चानर्तसंज्ञितम् ॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे शंखतीर्थसमीपतः

sa cāgatya muniśreṣṭho deśaṁ cānartasaṁjñitam hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre śaṁkhatīrthasamīpataḥ

That foremost of sages arrived at the land called Anarta, within the sacred field of Hatakeshvara, near Shankhatirtha.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.168.32)

यत्र ब्रह्मशिला पुण्या श्वेतद्वीपसमन्विता ॥ सरस्वती स्थिता यत्र नदी पापहरा शुभा

yatra brahmaśilā puṇyā śvetadvīpasamanvitā sarasvatī sthitā yatra nadī pāpaharā śubhā

— where the sacred Brahmashila stands joined with Shvetadvipa, and where the auspicious, sin-removing river Sarasvati flows.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.168.33)

तत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा चकार विपुलं तपः ॥ विश्वामित्रोऽपि सामर्षस्तद्वधार्थं समागतः

tatrāśramapadaṁ kṛtvā cakāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ viśvāmitro'pi sāmarṣastadvadhārthaṁ samāgataḥ

There, having built a hermitage, he performed vast austerity; and Vishvamitra too, still consumed with resentment, arrived there intent on killing him.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.168.34)

तस्याश्रमस्य दूरे स याम्यां दिशि समाश्रितः ॥ कृत्वाश्रमपदं तत्र तस्य च्छिद्राणि चिन्तयन्

tasyāśramasya dūre sa yāmyāṁ diśi samāśritaḥ kṛtvāśramapadaṁ tatra tasya cchidrāṇi cintayan

Far from his hermitage, he settled to the south, and, having built his own hermitage there, kept watching for weaknesses in him.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.168.35)

संस्थितः सुचिरं कालं न च पश्यति किंचन ॥ अथाभिचारिकं तेन प्रारब्धं तस्य चोपरि

saṁsthitaḥ suciraṁ kālaṁ na ca paśyati kiṁcana athābhicārikaṁ tena prārabdhaṁ tasya copari

He remained there for a very long time, yet found no fault whatsoever; then he undertook a sorcery-rite against him.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.168.36)

यदुक्तं सामविधिना सामवेदे वधात्मकम् ॥ तस्य तैर्दारुणैर्मंत्रैर्जुह्वतो जातवेदसम्

yaduktaṁ sāmavidhinā sāmavede vadhātmakam tasya tairdāruṇairmaṁtrairjuhvato jātavedasam

— the deadly rite declared by the Sama-procedure in the Samaveda; offering oblation with those terrible mantras into the sacred fire,

Verse 37 (skanda.6.168.37)

निष्क्रांता दारुणा शक्तिर्मुक्तकेशी भयानका ॥ वानरस्कंधमारूढा कुर्वाणा किल्किलाध्वनिम्

niṣkrāṁtā dāruṇā śaktirmuktakeśī bhayānakā vānaraskaṁdhamārūḍhā kurvāṇā kilkilādhvanim

there emerged a fearsome and terrible power, her hair unbound, mounted upon the shoulder of a monkey, making a shrill screeching noise.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.168.38)

नानायुधसमोपेता यमजिह्वा यथा परा ॥ साब्रवीद्वद विप्रेंद्र किं ते कृत्यं करोम्यहम्

nānāyudhasamopetā yamajihvā yathā parā sābravīdvada vipreṁdra kiṁ te kṛtyaṁ karomyaham

armed with weapons of every kind, like a second tongue of Yama, she said: 'Speak, O lord of brahmins — what task shall I perform for you?'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.168.39)

त्रैलोक्यमपि कृत्स्नं च संहरामि तवाज्ञया

trailokyamapi kṛtsnaṁ ca saṁharāmi tavājñayā

'By your command, I could annihilate even the whole of the three worlds.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.168.40)

॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ ॥ मम शत्रुर्मान्योऽत्र वसिष्ठः स मुनिः स्थितः ॥ तं त्वं जहि द्रुतं गत्वा तदर्थं च मया कृता

viśvāmitra uvāca mama śatrurmānyo'tra vasiṣṭhaḥ sa muniḥ sthitaḥ taṁ tvaṁ jahi drutaṁ gatvā tadarthaṁ ca mayā kṛtā

Vishvamitra said: My enemy, that sage Vasishtha, dwells right here; go swiftly and slay him — it was for this very purpose that I created you.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.168.41)

एवमुक्ता तु सा तेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ वसिष्ठाश्रममुद्दिश्य प्रस्थिता चोत्तरामुखी

evamuktā tu sā tena viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā vasiṣṭhāśramamuddiśya prasthitā cottarāmukhī

Thus commanded by the wise Vishvamitra, she set out, facing north, toward Vasishtha's hermitage.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.168.42)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे द्विजाः ॥ दुर्निमित्तानि जातानि प्रभूतानि महांति च

etasminneva kāle tu vasiṣṭhasyāśrame dvijāḥ durnimittāni jātāni prabhūtāni mahāṁti ca

At this very time, O brahmins, many great and evil omens occurred in Vasishtha's hermitage.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.168.43)

पपात महती चोल्का निहत्य रविमण्डलम् ॥ तथा रुधिरवृष्टिश्च अस्थिमिश्रा व्यजायत

papāta mahatī colkā nihatya ravimaṇḍalam tathā rudhiravṛṣṭiśca asthimiśrā vyajāyata

A great meteor fell, striking against the orb of the sun; and a rain of blood mixed with bones occurred.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.168.44)

दीप्तां दिशं समासाद्य रुरोद च तथा शिवा ॥ तां दृष्ट्वा सुमहोत्पातान्वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः

dīptāṁ diśaṁ samāsādya ruroda ca tathā śivā tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sumahotpātānvasiṣṭho munipuṁgavaḥ

A jackal, turning toward the blazing sky, let out a howl; and seeing these grave portents, Vasishtha, bull among sages,

Verse 45 (skanda.6.168.45)

यावदालोकते रूपं ज्वालामालासमाकुलम् ॥ ततः सम्यक्परिज्ञाय सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषा

yāvadālokate rūpaṁ jvālāmālāsamākulam tataḥ samyakparijñāya sarvaṁ divyena cakṣuṣā

even as he beheld a shape wreathed in garlands of flame, then, discerning everything clearly with his divine eye,

Verse 46 (skanda.6.168.46)

विश्वामित्रप्रयुक्तेयं शक्तिर्मम वधाय च ॥ कृत्या रूपा सुमंत्रैश्च सामवेदसमुद्भवैः

viśvāmitraprayukteyaṁ śaktirmama vadhāya ca kṛtyā rūpā sumaṁtraiśca sāmavedasamudbhavaiḥ

he understood: 'This is a power sent by Vishvamitra for my destruction — a sorcery-being shaped by potent mantras arisen from the Samaveda.'

Verse 47 (skanda.6.168.47)

तिष्ठतिष्ठेति तेनोक्ता ततः सा निश्चलाभवत् ॥ निजमंत्रैश्च सा तेन स्तंभिताथर्वणोद्भवैः

tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti tenoktā tataḥ sā niścalābhavat nijamaṁtraiśca sā tena staṁbhitātharvaṇodbhavaiḥ

Told by him, 'Halt, halt!', she at once became motionless, held fast by his own mantras drawn from the Atharvaveda.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.168.48)

ततः स्त्रीरूपमादाय प्रोवाच मुनिपुंगवम् ॥ सामवेदस्तु वेदानां प्राधान्येन व्यवस्थितः

tataḥ strīrūpamādāya provāca munipuṁgavam sāmavedastu vedānāṁ prādhānyena vyavasthitaḥ

Then, taking the form of a woman, she spoke to that bull among sages: 'The Samaveda indeed stands foremost among the Vedas —'

Verse 49 (skanda.6.168.49)

विधिना तेन संसृष्टा विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ मा कुरुत्वप्रमाणंतु प्रहारं सह मे मुने ॥ रक्षयिष्यामि ते प्राणान्स्वल्पस्पर्शेन ते मुने

vidhinā tena saṁsṛṣṭā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā mā kurutvapramāṇaṁtu prahāraṁ saha me mune rakṣayiṣyāmi te prāṇānsvalpasparśena te mune

'— and it was by that very procedure that the wise Vishvamitra fashioned me; do not, O sage, let your blow against me go beyond measure. I shall spare your life, O sage, with only the slightest touch.'

Verse 50 (skanda.6.168.50)

॥ वसिष्ठ उवाच ॥ ॥ यद्येवं कुरु मे स्पर्शं न मर्म स्पर्शनं शुभे ॥ मया चाथर्वणा मंत्राः संहृताः कृपया तव

vasiṣṭha uvāca yadyevaṁ kuru me sparśaṁ na marma sparśanaṁ śubhe mayā cātharvaṇā maṁtrāḥ saṁhṛtāḥ kṛpayā tava

Vasishtha said: If that is so, then touch me, O gracious one, but not at any vital spot; out of compassion for you I now withdraw my Atharvan mantras.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.168.51)

ततः सा दारुणा शक्तिर्विश्वामित्रप्रयोजिता ॥ तस्यांगदेशं स्पृष्ट्वाथ निपपात धरातले

tataḥ sā dāruṇā śaktirviśvāmitraprayojitā tasyāṁgadeśaṁ spṛṣṭvātha nipapāta dharātale

Then that terrible power, sent forth by Vishvamitra, having touched a part of his body, fell down upon the ground.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.168.52)

ततस्तुष्टो वसिष्ठस्तु तामाह मधुरं वचः ॥ अद्यप्रभृति ते पूजां करिष्यंति समाहिताः ॥ जनाः सर्वे महाभागे भक्त्या परमया युताः

tatastuṣṭo vasiṣṭhastu tāmāha madhuraṁ vacaḥ adyaprabhṛti te pūjāṁ kariṣyaṁti samāhitāḥ janāḥ sarve mahābhāge bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ

Then Vasishtha, pleased, spoke sweet words to her: 'From this day forward, O most fortunate one, all people, composed and filled with the deepest devotion, shall worship you.'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.168.53)

चैत्रमासे सिते पक्षे अष्टमीदिवसे स्थिते ॥ ये ते पूजां करिष्यंति श्रद्धया परया युताः

caitramāse site pakṣe aṣṭamīdivase sthite ye te pūjāṁ kariṣyaṁti śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ

'In the month of Chaitra, in the bright fortnight, on the eighth day, whoever shall worship you with the utmost faith —'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.168.54)

ते सर्वे वत्सरंयावद्भविष्यंति निरामयाः ॥ तस्मादत्रैव स्थातव्यं सदैव मम वाक्यतः

te sarve vatsaraṁyāvadbhaviṣyaṁti nirāmayāḥ tasmādatraiva sthātavyaṁ sadaiva mama vākyataḥ

'— all of them shall remain free from illness for a whole year. Therefore, by my word, you shall abide here always.'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.168.55)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ एवमुक्ता च सा तेन वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ॥ स्थिता तत्रैव सा देवी तस्य वाक्येन तत्क्षणात्

sūta uvāca evamuktā ca sā tena vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā sthitā tatraiva sā devī tasya vākyena tatkṣaṇāt

Suta said: Thus addressed by the great-souled Vasishtha, that goddess, at his word, remained fixed right there that very instant.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.168.56)

प्राप्नोति परमां पूजां विशेषान्नागरैः कृताम् ॥ धारानामेति विख्याता भक्तलोकसुखप्रदा

prāpnoti paramāṁ pūjāṁ viśeṣānnāgaraiḥ kṛtām dhārānāmeti vikhyātā bhaktalokasukhapradā

She receives the highest worship, offered especially by the Nagaras; renowned by the name Dhara, she bestows happiness upon her devoted people.