The Supremacy of the Eight Nagara Lineages

Verse 1 (skanda.6.199.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः तिस्रःकोट्योर्धकोटी च तीर्थानामिह भूतले श्रूयते सूत कार्त्स्न्येन कीर्त्यमाना मुनीश्वरैः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tisraḥkoṭyordhakoṭī ca tīrthānāmiha bhūtale śrūyate sūta kārtsnyena kīrtyamānā munīśvaraiḥ

The sages said: O Suta, three and a half crore tirthas are said to exist upon this earth, as declared in full by the great sages.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.199.2)

कथं लभ्येत सर्वेषां तीर्थानां स्नानजं फलम् अल्पायुर्भिर्महाभाग कलिकाल उपस्थिते

kathaṁ labhyeta sarveṣāṁ tīrthānāṁ snānajaṁ phalam alpāyurbhirmahābhāga kalikāla upasthite

O most fortunate one, how can short-lived men, now that the Kali age has come, obtain the fruit born of bathing at all these tirthas?

Verse 3 (skanda.6.199.3)

सूत उवाच क्षेत्रत्रयमिहाख्यातं तथारण्यत्रयं महत् पुरीत्रयं वनान्येव त्रीणि ग्रामास्तथात्रयः

sūta uvāca kṣetratrayamihākhyātaṁ tathāraṇyatrayaṁ mahat purītrayaṁ vanānyeva trīṇi grāmāstathātrayaḥ

Suta said: Here three sacred fields (kshetras) are declared, and three great forests (aranyas), three cities, three woodlands, and likewise three villages.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.199.4)

तथा तीर्थत्रयं चान्यत्पर्वतत्रितयान्वितम् महानदीत्रयं चैव सर्वपातकनाशनम्

tathā tīrthatrayaṁ cānyatparvatatritayānvitam mahānadītrayaṁ caiva sarvapātakanāśanam

And likewise three other tirthas, together with three mountains, and three great rivers, which destroy every sin.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.199.5)

मर्त्यलोकेस्थितं विप्राः सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम् सर्वेष्वेतेषु यः स्नाति स सर्वेषां फलं लभेत्

martyalokesthitaṁ viprāḥ sarvatīrthaphalapradam sarveṣveteṣu yaḥ snāti sa sarveṣāṁ phalaṁ labhet

O brahmins, these stand in the world of mortals, bestowing the fruit of every tirtha. Whoever bathes in all of these obtains the fruit of them all.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.199.6)

चतुर्विंशतिसंख्यानामिदमाह प्रजापतिः य एकस्मिंस्त्रिके स्नाति सर्वत्रिकफलं लभेत्

caturviṁśatisaṁkhyānāmidamāha prajāpatiḥ ya ekasmiṁstrike snāti sarvatrikaphalaṁ labhet

Concerning these twenty-four in all, Prajapati has declared this: whoever bathes at one member of any triad obtains the fruit of that whole triad.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.199.7)

ऋषय ऊचुः त्रीणि क्षेत्राणि कानीह तथारण्यानि कानि च पुर्यस्तिस्रो महाभाग काःख्याताश्च वनानि च

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ trīṇi kṣetrāṇi kānīha tathāraṇyāni kāni ca puryastisro mahābhāga kāḥkhyātāśca vanāni ca

The sages said: O most fortunate one, which are those three sacred fields here, and which are the forests? Which are the three renowned cities, and which the woodlands?

Verse 8 (skanda.6.199.8)

के ग्रामाः कानि तीर्थानि के नगाः सरितश्च काः नामभिर्वद नः सूत सर्वाण्येतानि विस्तरात्

ke grāmāḥ kāni tīrthāni ke nagāḥ saritaśca kāḥ nāmabhirvada naḥ sūta sarvāṇyetāni vistarāt

Which are the villages, which the tirthas, which the mountains, and which the rivers? O Suta, tell us all of these by name, at length.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.199.9)

सूत उवाच कुरुक्षेत्रमिति ख्यातं प्रथमं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं द्वितीयं परिकीर्तितम्

sūta uvāca kurukṣetramiti khyātaṁ prathamaṁ kṣetramuttamam hāṭakeśvarajaṁ kṣetraṁ dvitīyaṁ parikīrtitam

Suta said: The first and foremost sacred field, renowned as Kurukshetra; the field born at Hatakeshvara is declared the second.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.199.10)

प्राभासिकं तृतीयं तु क्षेत्रं हि द्विजसत्तमाः एतत्क्षेत्रत्रयं पुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम्

prābhāsikaṁ tṛtīyaṁ tu kṣetraṁ hi dvijasattamāḥ etatkṣetratrayaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam

O best of brahmins, the field of Prabhasa is the third. This triad of sacred fields is holy, destroying every sin.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.199.11)

यथोक्तविधिना दृष्ट्वा नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते यो यं काममभिध्यायन्क्षेत्रेष्वेतेषु भक्तितः

yathoktavidhinā dṛṣṭvā naraḥ pāpātpramucyate yo yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāyankṣetreṣveteṣu bhaktitaḥ

Beholding them according to the prescribed rite, a man is freed from sin. Whoever, meditating with devotion in these fields upon whatever desire he holds,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.199.12)

स्नानं करोति तस्येष्टं मनसो जायते फलम् चतुर्विंशतिमानेषु स्नातो भवति स द्विजाः

snānaṁ karoti tasyeṣṭaṁ manaso jāyate phalam caturviṁśatimāneṣu snāto bhavati sa dvijāḥ

— and bathes, the fruit desired by his mind comes to pass. O brahmins, he becomes as one who has bathed in all twenty-four of these places.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.199.13)

एकं तु पुष्करारण्यं नैमिषारण्यमेव च धर्मारण्यं तृतीयं तु तेषां संकीर्त्यते द्विजाः

ekaṁ tu puṣkarāraṇyaṁ naimiṣāraṇyameva ca dharmāraṇyaṁ tṛtīyaṁ tu teṣāṁ saṁkīrtyate dvijāḥ

One is the Pushkara forest, and another the Naimisha forest; and the third of these, O brahmins, is declared to be the Dharma forest.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.199.14)

त्रिष्वेतेषु च यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

triṣveteṣu ca yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in these three attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.199.15)

वाराणसी पुरीत्येका द्वितीया द्वारकापुरी अवन्त्याख्या तृतीया च विश्रुता भुवनत्रये

vārāṇasī purītyekā dvitīyā dvārakāpurī avantyākhyā tṛtīyā ca viśrutā bhuvanatraye

One city is Varanasi; the second, Dwaraka-puri; and the third, renowned throughout the three worlds, is called Avanti.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.199.16)

एतासु यो नरः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

etāsu yo naraḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whatever man bathes in these attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.199.17)

वृन्दावनं वनं चैकं द्वितीयं खांडवं वनम् ख्यातं द्वैतवनं चान्यत्तृतीयं धरणीतले

vṛndāvanaṁ vanaṁ caikaṁ dvitīyaṁ khāṁḍavaṁ vanam khyātaṁ dvaitavanaṁ cānyattṛtīyaṁ dharaṇītale

One woodland is Vrindavana, the second is Khandava-vana; and the other, renowned upon the earth, the third, is Dvaita-vana.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.199.18)

त्रिष्वेतेषु च यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

triṣveteṣu ca yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in these three attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.199.19)

कल्पग्रामः स्मृतश्चैकः शालिग्रामो द्वितीयकः नंदिग्रामस्तृतीयस्तु विश्रुतो द्विजसत्तमाः

kalpagrāmaḥ smṛtaścaikaḥ śāligrāmo dvitīyakaḥ naṁdigrāmastṛtīyastu viśruto dvijasattamāḥ

One village is remembered as Kalpa-grama, the second as Shaligrama; and the third, O best of brahmins, the renowned Nandi-grama.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.199.20)

त्रिष्वेतेषु च यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

triṣveteṣu ca yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in these three attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.199.21)

अग्नितीर्थं स्मृतं चैकं शुक्लतीर्थमथापरम् तृतीयं पितृतीर्थं तु पितॄणामतिवल्लभम्

agnitīrthaṁ smṛtaṁ caikaṁ śuklatīrthamathāparam tṛtīyaṁ pitṛtīrthaṁ tu pitṝṇāmativallabham

One tirtha is remembered as Agni-tirtha, another as Shukla-tirtha; and the third, Pitri-tirtha, most dear to the ancestors.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.199.22)

त्रिष्वेतेषु च यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

triṣveteṣu ca yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in these three attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.199.23)

श्रीपर्वतः स्मृतश्चैको द्वितीयश्चार्बुदस्तथा तृतीयो रैवताख्योऽत्र विख्यातः पर्वतोत्तमाः

śrīparvataḥ smṛtaścaiko dvitīyaścārbudastathā tṛtīyo raivatākhyo'tra vikhyātaḥ parvatottamāḥ

One mountain is remembered as Shri-parvata, the second as Arbuda; and the third, renowned among the foremost mountains here, is called Raivataka.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.199.24)

त्रिष्वेतेषु च यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

triṣveteṣu ca yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in these three attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.199.25)

गंगा नदी स्मृता पूर्वा नर्मदाख्या तथा परा सरस्वती तृतीया तु नदी प्लक्षसमुद्भवा

gaṁgā nadī smṛtā pūrvā narmadākhyā tathā parā sarasvatī tṛtīyā tu nadī plakṣasamudbhavā

The first river is remembered as the Ganga, another as the Narmada; and the third, the river Sarasvati, arising from the Plaksha tree.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.199.26)

आसु सर्वासु यः स्नाति चतुर्विंशतिभाग्भवेत्

āsu sarvāsu yaḥ snāti caturviṁśatibhāgbhavet

Whoever bathes in all of these attains a share equal to that of the twenty-four.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.199.27)

एतेष्वेव हि सर्वेषु यः स्नानं कुरुते नरः सार्धकोटित्रयस्यात्र स कृत्स्नं फलमाप्नुयात्

eteṣveva hi sarveṣu yaḥ snānaṁ kurute naraḥ sārdhakoṭitrayasyātra sa kṛtsnaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

Whatever man performs the rite of bathing in all of these obtains here the entire fruit of the three and a half crore tirthas.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.199.28)

यश्चैकस्मिन्नरः स्नाति स त्रिकस्य फलं लभेत्

yaścaikasminnaraḥ snāti sa trikasya phalaṁ labhet

And whatever man bathes in even one of them obtains the fruit of that whole triad.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.199.29)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तमाः संक्षेपात्तीर्थजं पुण्यं लभ्यते यन्नरैर्भुवि

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'smi dvijottamāḥ saṁkṣepāttīrthajaṁ puṇyaṁ labhyate yannarairbhuvi

O best of brahmins, all this has now been told to you, as you asked — in brief, how the merit born of tirthas is obtained by men on earth.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.199.30)

सांप्रतं किं नु वो वच्मि यत्तद्वदत मा चिरम्

sāṁprataṁ kiṁ nu vo vacmi yattadvadata mā ciram

Now, what more shall I tell you? Whatever it is, speak of it without delay.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.199.31)

ऋषय ऊचुः हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे यानि तीर्थानि सूतज तानि प्रोक्तानि सर्वाणि त्वयाऽस्माकं सुविस्तरात्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre yāni tīrthāni sūtaja tāni proktāni sarvāṇi tvayā'smākaṁ suvistarāt

The sages said: O son of Suta, all the tirthas that exist in the sacred field born at Hatakeshvara have already been declared to us by you, at great length.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.199.32)

तथा चायतनान्येव संख्यया रहितानि च अपि वर्षशतेनात्र स्नानं कर्तुं न शक्यते

tathā cāyatanānyeva saṁkhyayā rahitāni ca api varṣaśatenātra snānaṁ kartuṁ na śakyate

And the temples too are countless; even in a hundred years, it is not possible here to bathe at every one of them.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.199.33)

तेषु सर्वेषु मर्त्येन यथोक्तविधिना स्फुटम् देवतायतनान्येव तथा द्रष्टुं महामते

teṣu sarveṣu martyena yathoktavidhinā sphuṭam devatāyatanānyeva tathā draṣṭuṁ mahāmate

Likewise, O wise one, for a mortal to behold all those temples of the gods, according to the prescribed rite, is clearly impossible.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.199.34)

यस्मिन्स्नातो दिने चैव तस्य व्युष्टिः प्रकीर्तिता अल्पायुषस्तदा मर्त्याः कृतेऽपि परिकीर्तिताः

yasminsnāto dine caiva tasya vyuṣṭiḥ prakīrtitā alpāyuṣastadā martyāḥ kṛte'pi parikīrtitāḥ

The fruit of a bathing rite is declared only for the very day on which it is performed. And even in the Krita age, mortals are declared to have been short-lived —

Verse 35 (skanda.6.199.35)

त्रेतायां द्वापरे चापि किमु प्राप्ते कलौ युगे एवमल्पायुषो ज्ञात्वा मानवान्सूतनंदन

tretāyāṁ dvāpare cāpi kimu prāpte kalau yuge evamalpāyuṣo jñātvā mānavānsūtanaṁdana

— how much more so in the Treta and the Dvapara, and how much more again now that the Kali age has come! O son of Suta, knowing men to be so short-lived —

Verse 36 (skanda.6.199.36)

लभेरंश्च कथं सर्वतीर्थानां स्नानजं फलम् देवदर्शनजं वापि विशेषान्निर्धनाश्च ये

labheraṁśca kathaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ snānajaṁ phalam devadarśanajaṁ vāpi viśeṣānnirdhanāśca ye

— how could they possibly obtain the fruit born of bathing at all the tirthas, or that born of beholding the gods — especially those who are poor?

Verse 37 (skanda.6.199.37)

अस्ति कश्चिदुपायोऽत्र दैवो वा मानुषोऽपि वा येन तेषां भवेत्पुण्यं सर्वेषामेव हेलया

asti kaścidupāyo'tra daivo vā mānuṣo'pi vā yena teṣāṁ bhavetpuṇyaṁ sarveṣāmeva helayā

Is there some means here, divine or human, by which this merit might come to them all, effortlessly?

Verse 38 (skanda.6.199.38)

सूत उवाच अस्मिन्नर्थे पुरा पृष्टो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः समुपेत्याश्रमं तस्य आनर्तेन महीभुजा

sūta uvāca asminnarthe purā pṛṣṭo viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ samupetyāśramaṁ tasya ānartena mahībhujā

Suta said: On this very matter, long ago, King Anarta, coming to the hermitage of the great sage Vishvamitra, asked him this same question.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.199.39)

राजोवाच भगवन्नत्र तीर्थानि संख्यया रहितानि च तेषु स्नानविधिः प्रोक्तः सर्वेष्वेव पृथक्पृथक्

rājovāca bhagavannatra tīrthāni saṁkhyayā rahitāni ca teṣu snānavidhiḥ proktaḥ sarveṣveva pṛthakpṛthak

The king said: 'O lord, here the tirthas are without number, and for every one of them a separate rule of bathing has been declared.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.199.40)

मासे वारे दिने चैव कुत्रचिन्मुनिसत्तमैः दानानि च तथोक्तानि यथा स्नानविधिस्तथा

māse vāre dine caiva kutracinmunisattamaiḥ dānāni ca tathoktāni yathā snānavidhistathā

'By the foremost of sages, for a particular month, day of the week, or date, prescriptions of giving have likewise been declared, just as the rule of bathing.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.199.41)

देवानां दर्शनं चापि पृथक्तेन प्रकीर्तितम् न शक्यते फलं प्राप्तुं सर्वेषां केनचिन्मुने

devānāṁ darśanaṁ cāpi pṛthaktena prakīrtitam na śakyate phalaṁ prāptuṁ sarveṣāṁ kenacinmune

'The vision of the gods, too, has been declared by him separately for each. O sage, by no means can anyone obtain the fruit of all of them.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.199.42)

अपि वर्षशतेनापि किं पुनः स्तोकवासरैः तस्माद्वद महाभाग सुखोपायं च देहिनाम्

api varṣaśatenāpi kiṁ punaḥ stokavāsaraiḥ tasmādvada mahābhāga sukhopāyaṁ ca dehinām

'Not even in a hundred years — how much less, then, in a few days! Therefore, O most fortunate one, tell me an easy means for embodied beings,'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.199.43)

एकस्मिन्नपि च स्नातस्तीर्थे प्राप्नोति मानवः सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां स्नानजं सकलं फलम्

ekasminnapi ca snātastīrthe prāpnoti mānavaḥ sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṁ snānajaṁ sakalaṁ phalam

'— by which a man, bathing even at a single tirtha, might obtain the entire fruit born of bathing at every tirtha there is.'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.199.44)

तथैकस्मिन्सुरे दृष्टे सर्वदेवसमुद्भवम् फलं दर्शनजं भावि नराणां द्विजसत्तम

tathaikasminsure dṛṣṭe sarvadevasamudbhavam phalaṁ darśanajaṁ bhāvi narāṇāṁ dvijasattama

'And likewise, O best of brahmins, that beholding even a single god, men might attain the fruit that arises from the vision of every god.'

Verse 45 (skanda.6.199.45)

सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा सुचिरं ध्यात्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः अब्रवीच्छृणु राजेंद्र सरहस्यं वदामि ते

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā suciraṁ dhyātvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ abravīcchṛṇu rājeṁdra sarahasyaṁ vadāmi te

Suta said: Hearing this, the great sage Vishvamitra pondered for a long while, and then spoke: 'Listen, O king of kings — I shall tell you this together with its secret.'

Verse 46 (skanda.6.199.46)

चत्वार्यत्र प्रकृष्टानि मुख्यतीर्थानि पार्थिव येषु स्नाने कृते राजञ्छ्राद्धे च तदनंतरम् सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां स्नानजं लभ्यते फलम्

catvāryatra prakṛṣṭāni mukhyatīrthāni pārthiva yeṣu snāne kṛte rājañchrāddhe ca tadanaṁtaram sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṁ snānajaṁ labhyate phalam

'O king, here there are four excellent and foremost tirthas. When one has bathed in them, O king, and thereafter performed the shraddha-rite, the fruit born of bathing at every tirtha is obtained.'

Verse 47 (skanda.6.199.47)

सप्तविंशतिलिंगानि तथात्रैव स्थितानि च सिद्धेश्वरप्रपूर्वाणि सर्वपापहराणि च

saptaviṁśatiliṁgāni tathātraiva sthitāni ca siddheśvaraprapūrvāṇi sarvapāpaharāṇi ca

'And here, too, there stand twenty-seven lingas, with Siddheshvara foremost among them, which take away every sin.'

Verse 48 (skanda.6.199.48)

तेषु सर्वेषु दृष्टेषु भक्त्या पूतेन चेतसा सर्वेषामेव देवानां भवेद्दर्शनजं फलम्

teṣu sarveṣu dṛṣṭeṣu bhaktyā pūtena cetasā sarveṣāmeva devānāṁ bhaveddarśanajaṁ phalam

'When all of these are beheld with devotion and a purified mind, the fruit born of the vision of every god is obtained.'

Verse 49 (skanda.6.199.49)

एकस्मिन्नपि संदृष्टे पूजिते वा सुरोत्तमे सप्तविंशतिलिंगानां पूजा तेन कृता भवेत्

ekasminnapi saṁdṛṣṭe pūjite vā surottame saptaviṁśatiliṁgānāṁ pūjā tena kṛtā bhavet

'Even beholding or worshipping but a single one of these excellent gods, one thereby accomplishes the worship of all twenty-seven lingas.'

Verse 50 (skanda.6.199.50)

राजोवाच कानि चत्वारि तीर्थानि तत्र मुख्यानि सन्मुने येषु स्नातो नरः सम्यक्सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

rājovāca kāni catvāri tīrthāni tatra mukhyāni sanmune yeṣu snāto naraḥ samyaksarveṣāṁ labhate phalam

The king said: 'O virtuous sage, which are those four foremost tirthas there, bathing at which a man rightly obtains the fruit of them all?'

Verse 51 (skanda.6.199.51)

विश्वामित्र उवाच अत्रास्ति कूपिका पुण्या यस्यां संश्रयते गया कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्याममावास्यादिने तथा

viśvāmitra uvāca atrāsti kūpikā puṇyā yasyāṁ saṁśrayate gayā kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāmamāvāsyādine tathā

Vishvamitra said: 'Here there stands a sacred well-tirtha (Kupika), in which Gaya herself takes refuge, especially on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight and on the day of the new moon,'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.199.52)

विशेषेण महाभाग कन्यासंस्थे दिवाकरे निर्विण्णा भूमिलोकानां कृतैः श्राद्धैरनेकधा

viśeṣeṇa mahābhāga kanyāsaṁsthe divākare nirviṇṇā bhūmilokānāṁ kṛtaiḥ śrāddhairanekadhā

'— and especially, O most fortunate one, when the sun stands in Virgo, wearied by the countless shraddha-rites performed by the people of this earthly world.'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.199.53)

यस्तस्यां कुरुते श्राद्धं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः

yastasyāṁ kurute śrāddhaṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ

'Whoever, filled with true faith, performs the shraddha-rite there,'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.199.54)

तस्मिन्नहनि राजेंद्र स संतारयते पितॄन् तथा तीर्थं द्वितीयं तु शंखतीर्थमिति स्मृतम्

tasminnahani rājeṁdra sa saṁtārayate pitṝn tathā tīrthaṁ dvitīyaṁ tu śaṁkhatīrthamiti smṛtam

'— he, O king of kings, on that very day, delivers his ancestors across. And the second tirtha is remembered as Shankha-tirtha.'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.199.55)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो यस्तु पश्येच्छंखेश्वरं ततः सर्वेषां फलमाप्नोति माघस्य प्रथमेऽहनि

tatra snātvā naro yastu paśyecchaṁkheśvaraṁ tataḥ sarveṣāṁ phalamāpnoti māghasya prathame'hani

'Whatever man, having bathed there, then beholds Shankheshvara, obtains the fruit of them all, on the first day of the month of Magha.'

Verse 56 (skanda.6.199.56)

तथा मन्नामकं तीर्थे तृतीयं मुख्यतां गतम् अत्र स्नात्वा तु यः पश्येन्मया संस्थापितं हरम्

tathā mannāmakaṁ tīrthe tṛtīyaṁ mukhyatāṁ gatam atra snātvā tu yaḥ paśyenmayā saṁsthāpitaṁ haram

'And likewise that tirtha named after me holds the foremost place as the third. Whoever, having bathed here, then beholds the Hara established by me,'

Verse 57 (skanda.6.199.57)

विश्वामित्रेश्वरं नाम सर्वेषां स फलं लभेत् नभस्यस्य सिताष्टम्यां सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

viśvāmitreśvaraṁ nāma sarveṣāṁ sa phalaṁ labhet nabhasyasya sitāṣṭamyāṁ sarveṣāṁ labhate phalam

'— named Vishvamitreshvara — he obtains the fruit of them all; especially on the bright eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada, he obtains the fruit of them all.'

Verse 58 (skanda.6.199.58)

शक्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातं चतुर्थं बालमण्डनम् तत्र स्नात्वा च पंचाहं शक्रेश्वरमवेक्ष्य च आश्विनस्य सितेऽष्टम्यां सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

śakratīrthamiti khyātaṁ caturthaṁ bālamaṇḍanam tatra snātvā ca paṁcāhaṁ śakreśvaramavekṣya ca āśvinasya site'ṣṭamyāṁ sarveṣāṁ labhate phalam

'The fourth is Bala-mandana, renowned as Shakra-tirtha. Bathing there for five days and beholding Shakreshvara, on the bright eighth day of the month of Ashvina, one obtains the fruit of them all.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.199.59)

राजोवाच विधानं वद मे विप्र गयाकूप्याः समुद्भवम् विस्तरेण महाभाग श्रद्धा मे महती स्थिता

rājovāca vidhānaṁ vada me vipra gayākūpyāḥ samudbhavam vistareṇa mahābhāga śraddhā me mahatī sthitā

The king said: 'O brahmin, tell me the rule concerning the origin of the Gaya-well, at length. O most fortunate one, I hold the deepest faith in it.'

Verse 60 (skanda.6.199.60)

विश्वामित्र उवाच अमावास्यादिने प्राप्ते तत्र कन्यागते रवौ यः श्राद्धं कुरुते भक्त्या स पितॄंस्तारयेन्निजान्

viśvāmitra uvāca amāvāsyādine prāpte tatra kanyāgate ravau yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute bhaktyā sa pitṝṁstārayennijān

Vishvamitra said: 'On the day of the new moon, with the sun in Virgo, whoever performs the shraddha-rite there with devotion delivers his own ancestors across —'

Verse 61 (skanda.6.199.61)

भर्तृयज्ञविधानेन शुद्धैः स्थानोद्भवैर्द्विजैः भर्तृयज्ञविधिं त्यक्त्वा योऽन्येन विधिना नरः

bhartṛyajñavidhānena śuddhaiḥ sthānodbhavairdvijaiḥ bhartṛyajñavidhiṁ tyaktvā yo'nyena vidhinā naraḥ

'— according to the rule laid down by Bhartriyajna, through pure brahmins born of that very place. Whatever man abandons the rule of Bhartriyajna and, by some other rule,'

Verse 62 (skanda.6.199.62)

श्राद्धं करोति मूढात्मा विहीनं स्थानजैर्द्विजैः स्थानजैरपि वाऽशुद्धैस्तस्य तद्व्यर्थतां व्रजेत्

śrāddhaṁ karoti mūḍhātmā vihīnaṁ sthānajairdvijaiḥ sthānajairapi vā'śuddhaistasya tadvyarthatāṁ vrajet

'— performs the shraddha-rite, that fool's rite, whether lacking brahmins born of that place, or performed with impure ones born of that place, becomes fruitless.'

Verse 63 (skanda.6.199.63)

वृष्टिः स्यादूषरे यद्वत्सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम् अंधस्याग्रे यथा नृत्यं प्रगीतं बधिरस्य च तथा च व्यर्थतां याति अन्यस्थानोद्भवैर्द्विजैः

vṛṣṭiḥ syādūṣare yadvatsatyametanmayoditam aṁdhasyāgre yathā nṛtyaṁ pragītaṁ badhirasya ca tathā ca vyarthatāṁ yāti anyasthānodbhavairdvijaiḥ

'It becomes like rain falling upon barren ground — this is the truth I declare. Just as a dance before the blind, or a song before the deaf, is in vain, so too a shraddha performed by brahmins born of another place goes to waste.'

Verse 64 (skanda.6.199.64)

ब्राह्मणैः कारयेच्छ्राद्धं मूर्खैरपि द्विजोत्तमाः चतुर्वेदा अपि त्याज्या अन्यस्थानसमुद्भवाः

brāhmaṇaiḥ kārayecchrāddhaṁ mūrkhairapi dvijottamāḥ caturvedā api tyājyā anyasthānasamudbhavāḥ

'O best of brahmins, one should have the shraddha performed by those local brahmins, even if they are unlettered. Even those learned in all four Vedas, if born elsewhere, are to be set aside.'

Verse 65 (skanda.6.199.65)

दवे कर्मणि पित्र्ये वा सोमपाने विशेषतः देशांतरगतो यस्तु श्राद्धं च कुरुते नरः वैश्वानरपुरस्तेन कार्यं नान्यद्विजस्य च

dave karmaṇi pitrye vā somapāne viśeṣataḥ deśāṁtaragato yastu śrāddhaṁ ca kurute naraḥ vaiśvānarapurastena kāryaṁ nānyadvijasya ca

'In a rite for the gods, in one for the ancestors, or especially at the Soma-drinking, whatever man, having gone to another land, performs the shraddha there, should perform it with the sacred fire (Vaishvanara) foremost — not by relying on any other brahmin.'

Verse 66 (skanda.6.199.66)

संनिवेश्य दर्भबटूञ्छ्राद्धं कुर्याद्द्विजोत्तमाः दक्षिणा भोजनं देयं स्थानिकानां चिरादपि

saṁniveśya darbhabaṭūñchrāddhaṁ kuryāddvijottamāḥ dakṣiṇā bhojanaṁ deyaṁ sthānikānāṁ cirādapi

'O best of brahmins, one should perform the shraddha having seated effigies of darbha-grass; and the fee and the meal should still be given to the local brahmins, even if belatedly.'

Verse 67 (skanda.6.199.67)

पंचगव्यस्य संपूर्णो यथा कुम्भः प्रदुष्यति बिंदुनैकेन मद्यस्य पतितेन नृपोत्तम

paṁcagavyasya saṁpūrṇo yathā kumbhaḥ praduṣyati biṁdunaikena madyasya patitena nṛpottama

'O best of kings, just as a full vessel of panchagavya is defiled by even a single drop of wine falling into it,'

Verse 68 (skanda.6.199.68)

एकेनापि च बाह्येन बहूनामपि भूपते मध्ये समुपविष्टेन तच्छ्राद्धं दोषमाप्नुयात्

ekenāpi ca bāhyena bahūnāmapi bhūpate madhye samupaviṣṭena tacchrāddhaṁ doṣamāpnuyāt

'— so too, O lord of the earth, that shraddha incurs fault through even one outsider seated in the midst of many others, however numerous.'

Verse 69 (skanda.6.199.69)

स्थानजोऽपि चतुर्वेदो यद्यपि स्यान्न शुद्धिभाक् बहूनामपि शुद्धानां मध्ये श्राद्धं विनाशयेत्

sthānajo'pi caturvedo yadyapi syānna śuddhibhāk bahūnāmapi śuddhānāṁ madhye śrāddhaṁ vināśayet

'Even a man of that very place, learned in the four Vedas, if he lacks purity, destroys the shraddha, even seated among many who are pure.'

Verse 70 (skanda.6.199.70)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन शुद्धं ब्राह्मणमानयेत्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena śuddhaṁ brāhmaṇamānayet

'Therefore, with every effort, one should bring only a pure brahmin.'

Verse 71 (skanda.6.199.71)

स्थानिकं मूर्खमप्येवमलाभे गुणिनामपि हीनांगमधिकांगं वा दूषितं नो तथा परम्

sthānikaṁ mūrkhamapyevamalābhe guṇināmapi hīnāṁgamadhikāṁgaṁ vā dūṣitaṁ no tathā param

'Even a local fool, in the absence of a virtuous one, is to be preferred — but never one who is deformed, or malformed, or defiled, nor an outsider.'

Verse 72 (skanda.6.199.72)

कन्यादाने तथा श्राद्धे कुलीनो ब्राह्मणः सदा आहर्तव्यः प्रयत्नेन य इच्छेच्छुभमात्मनः

kanyādāne tathā śrāddhe kulīno brāhmaṇaḥ sadā āhartavyaḥ prayatnena ya icchecchubhamātmanaḥ

'In the giving of a maiden in marriage, as in the shraddha, whoever desires his own welfare should always, with effort, bring a well-born brahmin —

Verse 73 (skanda.6.199.73)

सोऽपि शुद्धिसमायुक्तो यदि स्यान्नृपसत्तम

so'pi śuddhisamāyukto yadi syānnṛpasattama

'— and, O best of kings, one who is endowed with purity as well.'

Verse 74 (skanda.6.199.74)

वृक्षाणां च यथाऽश्वत्थो देवतानां यथा हरिः श्रेष्ठस्थानजविप्राणां तथा चाष्टकुलोद्भवः

vṛkṣāṇāṁ ca yathā'śvattho devatānāṁ yathā hariḥ śreṣṭhasthānajaviprāṇāṁ tathā cāṣṭakulodbhavaḥ

'Just as the ashvattha is foremost among trees, and Hari foremost among gods, so too is the brahmin born of the eight lineages foremost among the local brahmins.'

Verse 75 (skanda.6.199.75)

आयुधानां यथा वज्रं सरसां सागरो यथा श्रेष्ठस्थानजविप्राणां तथाष्टकुलसंभवः

āyudhānāṁ yathā vajraṁ sarasāṁ sāgaro yathā śreṣṭhasthānajaviprāṇāṁ tathāṣṭakulasaṁbhavaḥ

'Just as the thunderbolt is foremost among weapons, and the ocean foremost among bodies of water, so too is the one born of the eight lineages foremost among the local brahmins.'

Verse 76 (skanda.6.199.76)

उच्चैःश्रवा यथाऽश्वानां गजानां शक्रवाहनः श्रेष्ठस्थानजविप्राणां तथाष्टकुलसंभवः

uccaiḥśravā yathā'śvānāṁ gajānāṁ śakravāhanaḥ śreṣṭhasthānajaviprāṇāṁ tathāṣṭakulasaṁbhavaḥ

'Just as Uchchaihshravas is foremost among horses, and Indra's mount foremost among elephants, so too is the one born of the eight lineages foremost among the local brahmins.'

Verse 77 (skanda.6.199.77)

नदीनां च यथा गंगा सतीनां चाप्यरुंधती तद्वत्स्थानजविप्राणां श्रेष्ठोऽष्टकुलिकः स्मृतः

nadīnāṁ ca yathā gaṁgā satīnāṁ cāpyaruṁdhatī tadvatsthānajaviprāṇāṁ śreṣṭho'ṣṭakulikaḥ smṛtaḥ

'Just as the Ganga is foremost among rivers, and Arundhati foremost among faithful wives, so too is the man of the eight lineages remembered as foremost among local brahmins.'

Verse 78 (skanda.6.199.78)

ग्रहाणां भास्करो यद्वन्नक्षत्राणां निशाकरः तद्वत्स्थानजविप्राणां श्रेष्ठोऽष्टकुलिकः स्मृतः

grahāṇāṁ bhāskaro yadvannakṣatrāṇāṁ niśākaraḥ tadvatsthānajaviprāṇāṁ śreṣṭho'ṣṭakulikaḥ smṛtaḥ

'Just as the sun is foremost among the planets, and the moon foremost among the stars, so too is the man of the eight lineages remembered as foremost among local brahmins.'

Verse 79 (skanda.6.199.79)

पर्वतानां यथा मेरुर्द्विपदानां द्विजोत्तमः स्थानजानां तु विप्राणां श्रेष्ठोऽष्टकुलिकस्तथा

parvatānāṁ yathā merurdvipadānāṁ dvijottamaḥ sthānajānāṁ tu viprāṇāṁ śreṣṭho'ṣṭakulikastathā

'Just as Meru is foremost among mountains, and the brahmin foremost among bipeds, so too is the man of the eight lineages foremost among local brahmins.'

Verse 80 (skanda.6.199.80)

पक्षिणां गरुडो यद्वत्सिंहोऽरण्यनिवासिनाम् स्थानजानां तु विप्राणां श्रेष्ठोऽष्टकुलिकस्तथा

pakṣiṇāṁ garuḍo yadvatsiṁho'raṇyanivāsinām sthānajānāṁ tu viprāṇāṁ śreṣṭho'ṣṭakulikastathā

'Just as Garuda is foremost among birds, and the lion foremost among forest dwellers, so too is the man of the eight lineages foremost among local brahmins.'

Verse 81 (skanda.6.199.81)

एवं ज्ञात्वा प्रयत्नेन श्राद्धे यज्ञे च पार्थिव कन्यादाने विशेषेण योज्यश्चाष्टकुलोद्भवः

evaṁ jñātvā prayatnena śrāddhe yajñe ca pārthiva kanyādāne viśeṣeṇa yojyaścāṣṭakulodbhavaḥ

'Knowing this, O king, one should, with every effort, employ one born of the eight lineages in the shraddha, in sacrifice, and especially in the giving of a maiden in marriage.'

Verse 82 (skanda.6.199.82)

नृत्यंति पितरस्तस्य गर्जंति च पितामहाः वेदिमूले समालोक्य प्राप्तमष्टकुलं नृप

nṛtyaṁti pitarastasya garjaṁti ca pitāmahāḥ vedimūle samālokya prāptamaṣṭakulaṁ nṛpa

'O king, seeing one of the eight lineages arrive at the foot of the sacrificial altar, that man's forefathers dance for joy, and his grandsires roar aloud.'

Verse 83 (skanda.6.199.83)

पुनर्वदंति संहृष्टाः किमस्माकं प्रदास्यति दौहित्रश्चापसव्येन जलं दर्भतिलान्वितम्

punarvadaṁti saṁhṛṣṭāḥ kimasmākaṁ pradāsyati dauhitraścāpasavyena jalaṁ darbhatilānvitam

'Overjoyed, they say again: What water, mingled with darbha and sesame, will this our grandson, offering it counter-clockwise, now give us!'

Verse 84 (skanda.6.199.84)

राजोवाच यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं श्रैष्ठ्यमष्टकुलोद्भवम् सर्वेषां नागराणां च तत्किं वद महामते

rājovāca yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ śraiṣṭhyamaṣṭakulodbhavam sarveṣāṁ nāgarāṇāṁ ca tatkiṁ vada mahāmate

The king said: 'O wise one, this supremacy of those born of the eight lineages, above all other Nagaras, that you have declared — what is its cause? Tell me.'

Verse 85 (skanda.6.199.85)

न ह्यत्र कारणं स्वल्पं भविष्यति द्विजोत्तम

na hyatra kāraṇaṁ svalpaṁ bhaviṣyati dvijottama

'O best of brahmins, the cause here can surely be no trifling one.'

Verse 86 (skanda.6.199.86)

विश्वामित्र उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाराज यत्त्वया व्याहृतं वचः अन्येऽपि नागराः संति वेदवेदांगपारगाः

viśvāmitra uvāca satyametanmahārāja yattvayā vyāhṛtaṁ vacaḥ anye'pi nāgarāḥ saṁti vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ

Vishvamitra said: 'True is this word you have spoken, O great king. There are other Nagaras too, mastered in the Veda and its ancillary sciences,'

Verse 87 (skanda.6.199.87)

श्राद्धार्हा यज्ञयोग्याश्च कन्यायोग्या विशेषतः परं ते स्थापिता राजन्स्वयमिंद्रेण तत्र च

śrāddhārhā yajñayogyāśca kanyāyogyā viśeṣataḥ paraṁ te sthāpitā rājansvayamiṁdreṇa tatra ca

'— fit for the shraddha, fit for sacrifice, and especially fit for the giving of a maiden. But, O king, those eight lineages were established there by Indra himself,'

Verse 88 (skanda.6.199.88)

प्रधानत्वेन सर्वेषां नागरैश्चापि कृत्स्नशः तेन ते गौरवं प्राप्ताः स्थानेत्रैव विशेषतः

pradhānatvena sarveṣāṁ nāgaraiścāpi kṛtsnaśaḥ tena te gauravaṁ prāptāḥ sthānetraiva viśeṣataḥ

'— as foremost among all the Nagaras entirely. Therefore they have attained honour, especially in this very place.'

Verse 89 (skanda.6.199.89)

तस्माच्छ्राद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं विप्रैश्चाष्टकुलोद्भवैः अप्राप्तौ चैव तेषां तु कार्यं नागरसंभवैः

tasmācchrāddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ vipraiścāṣṭakulodbhavaiḥ aprāptau caiva teṣāṁ tu kāryaṁ nāgarasaṁbhavaiḥ

'Therefore the shraddha should be performed by brahmins born of the eight lineages. Only in their absence should it be done by those born of the Nagaras at large,'

Verse 90 (skanda.6.199.90)

नान्यस्थानसमुद्भूतैश्चतुर्वेदैरपि द्विजैः भर्तृयज्ञेन मर्यादा कृता ह्येषा महात्मना

nānyasthānasamudbhūtaiścaturvedairapi dvijaiḥ bhartṛyajñena maryādā kṛtā hyeṣā mahātmanā

'— never by brahmins born elsewhere, even if learned in all four Vedas. This rule was established by the great soul Bhartriyajna himself.'

Verse 91 (skanda.6.199.91)

मुक्त्वा तु नागरं विप्रं योऽन्येनात्र करिष्यति श्राद्धं वा यदि वा यज्ञं व्यर्थं तस्य भविष्यति

muktvā tu nāgaraṁ vipraṁ yo'nyenātra kariṣyati śrāddhaṁ vā yadi vā yajñaṁ vyarthaṁ tasya bhaviṣyati

'Whoever, forsaking a Nagara brahmin, performs the shraddha or the sacrifice here with anyone else, it shall be entirely in vain for him.'

Verse 92 (skanda.6.199.92)

राजोवाच संत्यन्ये विविधा विप्रा वेदवेदांगपारगाः मध्यदेशोद्भवाः शान्तास्तथान्ये तीर्थसंभवाः

rājovāca saṁtyanye vividhā viprā vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ madhyadeśodbhavāḥ śāntāstathānye tīrthasaṁbhavāḥ

The king said: 'There exist other brahmins of many kinds, mastered in the Veda and its ancillary sciences, born in the middle country, tranquil, and others born at various tirthas.'

Verse 93 (skanda.6.199.93)

भर्तृयज्ञेन ये त्यक्ताः श्राद्धे यज्ञे विशेषतः हीनांगाश्चाधिकांगाश्च द्विर्नग्नाः श्यावदंतकाः

bhartṛyajñena ye tyaktāḥ śrāddhe yajñe viśeṣataḥ hīnāṁgāścādhikāṁgāśca dvirnagnāḥ śyāvadaṁtakāḥ

'Those whom Bhartriyajna has specifically excluded from the shraddha and sacrifice — the deformed, the malformed, those twice-cut at birth, those with discoloured teeth,'

Verse 94 (skanda.6.199.94)

कुनखाः कुष्ठसंयुक्ता मूर्खा अपि विगर्हिताः श्राद्धार्हाः सूचितास्तेन एतं मे संशयं वद

kunakhāḥ kuṣṭhasaṁyuktā mūrkhā api vigarhitāḥ śrāddhārhāḥ sūcitāstena etaṁ me saṁśayaṁ vada

'— those with deformed nails, those afflicted with leprosy, the ignorant, and the reprehensible — yet these very eight lineages have been declared fit for the shraddha above all. Resolve this doubt of mine.'

Verse 95 (skanda.6.199.95)

विश्वामित्र उवाच कीर्तयिष्ये नरव्याघ्र कारणानि बहूनि च चमत्कारस्य पत्न्याश्च दानेन पतिता यतः

viśvāmitra uvāca kīrtayiṣye naravyāghra kāraṇāni bahūni ca camatkārasya patnyāśca dānena patitā yataḥ

Vishvamitra said: 'O tiger among men, I shall relate to you the many causes — how, through a gift, the wives of Chamatkara fell,'

Verse 96 (skanda.6.199.96)

स्त्रीणां प्रतिग्रहेणैव विप्रेषु प्रोषितेषु च पृथक्त्वं च ततो जातं बाह्याभ्यन्तरसंज्ञकम्

strīṇāṁ pratigraheṇaiva vipreṣu proṣiteṣu ca pṛthaktvaṁ ca tato jātaṁ bāhyābhyantarasaṁjñakam

'— through the acceptance of gifts by women, while their brahmin husbands were away on travel; and from this arose the distinction termed outer and inner.'

Verse 97 (skanda.6.199.97)

दुर्वाससा ततः शप्ता रुष्टेनेवाहिना यथा विद्याधनाभिमानेन शापेन पतिताः सदा

durvāsasā tataḥ śaptā ruṣṭenevāhinā yathā vidyādhanābhimānena śāpena patitāḥ sadā

'Then Durvasa cursed them, like an angered serpent; through pride in their learning and wealth, they were, by that curse, fallen forever.'

Verse 98 (skanda.6.199.98)

कुशे राज्यगते राजन्राक्षसानां महाभयम् प्रजयाऽऽवेदितं सर्वं तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः

kuśe rājyagate rājanrākṣasānāṁ mahābhayam prajayā''veditaṁ sarvaṁ tasya rājño mahātmanaḥ

'O king, when Kusha reigned, a great terror arose from the rakshasas; the people reported all this to that great-souled king.'

Verse 99 (skanda.6.199.99)

विभीषणस्य लंकायां दूतश्च प्रेषितस्तदा सर्वं निवेदयामास प्रजानां भयसंभवम्

vibhīṣaṇasya laṁkāyāṁ dūtaśca preṣitastadā sarvaṁ nivedayāmāsa prajānāṁ bhayasaṁbhavam

'Then a messenger was sent to Vibhishana in Lanka, who related the entire matter of the terror that had arisen among the people.'

Verse 100 (skanda.6.199.100)

अभिवन्द्य कुशादेशं रामस्य चरितं स्मरन् पुर्यां विलोकयामास लङ्कायां रामशासनात्

abhivandya kuśādeśaṁ rāmasya caritaṁ smaran puryāṁ vilokayāmāsa laṅkāyāṁ rāmaśāsanāt

'Honouring Kusha's request, and recalling the deeds of Rama, Vibhishana, by Rama's own authority, searched throughout the city of Lanka,'

Verse 101 (skanda.6.199.101)

उपप्लवस्य कर्तारो नष्टाः सर्वे दिशो दश गन्धर्वाणां च लोकं हि भयेन महता गताः

upaplavasya kartāro naṣṭāḥ sarve diśo daśa gandharvāṇāṁ ca lokaṁ hi bhayena mahatā gatāḥ

'— but the doers of that disturbance had all fled in the ten directions, and, in the greatest terror, had gone even to the world of the gandharvas.'

Verse 102 (skanda.6.199.102)

स्थातुं तत्र न शक्तास्ते विभीषणभयेन च पृथिव्यां समनुप्राप्ताः स्थानान्यपि बहूनि च

sthātuṁ tatra na śaktāste vibhīṣaṇabhayena ca pṛthivyāṁ samanuprāptāḥ sthānānyapi bahūni ca

'But even there they could not remain, out of fear of Vibhishana, and they came instead to many places upon the earth.'

Verse 103 (skanda.6.199.103)

भयेन महता तत्र कुशस्यैव तु शासने ब्राह्मणानां च रूपाणि कृत्वा तत्र समागताः

bhayena mahatā tatra kuśasyaiva tu śāsane brāhmaṇānāṁ ca rūpāṇi kṛtvā tatra samāgatāḥ

'In great fear, under Kusha's rule itself, they came there, having assumed the forms of brahmins.'

Verse 104 (skanda.6.199.104)

वाडवानां महिम्ना च मध्ये स्थातुं न तेऽशकन् पतितानां च संस्थानं चमत्कारपुरं गताः

vāḍavānāṁ mahimnā ca madhye sthātuṁ na te'śakan patitānāṁ ca saṁsthānaṁ camatkārapuraṁ gatāḥ

'Yet, by the majesty of the true brahmins, they could not remain in their midst, and went instead to Chamatkarapura, the dwelling-place of the fallen.'

Verse 105 (skanda.6.199.105)

मायाविशारदैस्तैश्च धनेन विद्यया ततः अध जग्धं ततस्तैस्तु तेषां मध्ये स्थितं च तैः

māyāviśāradaistaiśca dhanena vidyayā tataḥ adha jagdhaṁ tatastaistu teṣāṁ madhye sthitaṁ ca taiḥ

'Those rakshasas, skilled in magical illusion, then, by wealth and learning, took their place among those fallen ones and corrupted them from within,'

Verse 106 (skanda.6.199.106)

ततःप्रभृति ते सर्वे राक्षसत्वं प्रपेदिरे क्रूराण्यपि च कर्माणि कुर्वंति च पदेपदे

tataḥprabhṛti te sarve rākṣasatvaṁ prapedire krūrāṇyapi ca karmāṇi kurvaṁti ca padepade

'and from that time onward, all of them likewise took on the nature of rakshasas, and now, at every step, perform cruel deeds.'

Verse 107 (skanda.6.199.107)

ततस्ते सर्वथा राजन्वर्जनीयाः प्रयत्नतः श्राद्धे यज्ञे नरव्याघ्र नरके पातयंति च

tataste sarvathā rājanvarjanīyāḥ prayatnataḥ śrāddhe yajñe naravyāghra narake pātayaṁti ca

'Therefore, O king, O tiger among men, they must be shunned entirely, with every effort, in the shraddha and the sacrifice — for they drag one down into hell.'

Verse 108 (skanda.6.199.108)

अन्यच्च दूषणं तेषां कीर्तयिष्ये तवाऽनघ त्रिजाताः स्थापिता राजन्सर्पाणां गरनाशनात्

anyacca dūṣaṇaṁ teṣāṁ kīrtayiṣye tavā'nagha trijātāḥ sthāpitā rājansarpāṇāṁ garanāśanāt

'O sinless one, I shall relate to you another fault of theirs. O king, the Trijatas were established there for the destruction of the poison of serpents,'

Verse 109 (skanda.6.199.109)

नगरत्वं ततो जातं चमत्कार पुरस्य तु त्रिजातत्वं तु सर्वेषां जातं तत्र विशेषतः

nagaratvaṁ tato jātaṁ camatkāra purasya tu trijātatvaṁ tu sarveṣāṁ jātaṁ tatra viśeṣataḥ

'and from them Chamatkarapura came to be a city; but there, especially, the character of the Trijatas became mingled into all of them.'

Verse 110 (skanda.6.199.110)

एतेभ्यः कारणेभ्यश्च भर्तृयज्ञेन वर्जिताः पुनश्च कारणं तेषां स्पर्शादपि न शुद्धिभाक्

etebhyaḥ kāraṇebhyaśca bhartṛyajñena varjitāḥ punaśca kāraṇaṁ teṣāṁ sparśādapi na śuddhibhāk

'For these reasons, Bhartriyajna excluded them. And there is yet another reason for this — even their touch is not conducive to purity.'

Verse 111 (skanda.6.199.111)

कुम्भकोत्थं च संप्राप्तं महच्चण्डालसंभवम्

kumbhakotthaṁ ca saṁprāptaṁ mahaccaṇḍālasaṁbhavam

'This is a great taint that came about, arising from Kumbhaka, born of chandala stock.'

Verse 112 (skanda.6.199.112)

राजोवाच एतच्च कारणं विप्र कथयस्व प्रसादतः स्थावरस्य चरस्यैव जगतो ज्ञानमस्ति ते

rājovāca etacca kāraṇaṁ vipra kathayasva prasādataḥ sthāvarasya carasyaiva jagato jñānamasti te

The king said: 'O brahmin, tell me this cause as well, out of your grace; for you have knowledge of this entire world, both moving and unmoving.'

Verse 113 (skanda.6.199.113)

विश्वामित्र उवाच अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि पूर्ववृत्तकथांतरम् भर्तृयजेन ये त्यक्ताः सर्वेन्ये ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

viśvāmitra uvāca atra te kīrtayiṣyāmi pūrvavṛttakathāṁtaram bhartṛyajena ye tyaktāḥ sarvenye brāhmaṇottamāḥ

Vishvamitra said: 'On this matter, I shall relate to you another ancient tale — the cause for which Bhartriyajna excluded all those other otherwise-excellent brahmins as well.'

Verse 114 (skanda.6.199.114)

वर्धमाने पुरे पूर्वमासीदंत्यजजातिजः चण्डालः कुंभकोनाम निर्दयः पापकर्मकृत्

vardhamāne pure pūrvamāsīdaṁtyajajātijaḥ caṇḍālaḥ kuṁbhakonāma nirdayaḥ pāpakarmakṛt

'Long ago, in the city of Vardhamana, there was a chandala of the outcaste class, named Kumbhaka, pitiless and given to sinful deeds.'

Verse 115 (skanda.6.199.115)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्य पुत्रो बभूव ह विरूपस्यापि रूपाढ्यः पूर्वकर्मप्रभावतः

kasyacittvatha kālasya tasya putro babhūva ha virūpasyāpi rūpāḍhyaḥ pūrvakarmaprabhāvataḥ

'After some time, a son was born to that ill-favoured man — one endowed, by the power of past deeds, with great beauty.'

Verse 116 (skanda.6.199.116)

पिंगाक्षस्य सुकृष्णस्य वयोमध्यस्य पार्थिव दक्षः सर्वेषु कृत्येषु सर्वलक्षणलक्षितः

piṁgākṣasya sukṛṣṇasya vayomadhyasya pārthiva dakṣaḥ sarveṣu kṛtyeṣu sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitaḥ

'O king, tawny-eyed, deep black, of middling stature, skilled in every task, marked with every auspicious sign —'

Verse 117 (skanda.6.199.117)

स वृद्धिं द्रुतमभ्येति शुक्लपक्षे यथोडुराट् तथाऽसौ शंस्यमानस्तु सर्वलोकैः सुरूपभाक् दृष्ट्वा कुटुंबकं नित्यं वैराग्यं परमं गतः

sa vṛddhiṁ drutamabhyeti śuklapakṣe yathoḍurāṭ tathā'sau śaṁsyamānastu sarvalokaiḥ surūpabhāk dṛṣṭvā kuṭuṁbakaṁ nityaṁ vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

'— he grew swiftly, as the moon waxes in the bright fortnight; praised by everyone for his beauty, yet, seeing his own family always, he came to feel the deepest revulsion.'

Verse 118 (skanda.6.199.118)

ततो देशांतरं दुःखाद्भ्रममाण इतस्ततः चमत्कारपुरं प्राप्तो द्विजरूपं समाश्रितः स स्नाति सर्वकृत्येषु भिक्षान्नकृतभोजनः

tato deśāṁtaraṁ duḥkhādbhramamāṇa itastataḥ camatkārapuraṁ prāpto dvijarūpaṁ samāśritaḥ sa snāti sarvakṛtyeṣu bhikṣānnakṛtabhojanaḥ

'Then, wandering here and there out of grief, to a foreign land, he arrived at Chamatkarapura, and took on the guise of a brahmin. He would bathe before every rite, and lived on food obtained through begging.'

Verse 119 (skanda.6.199.119)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु ब्राह्मणः शंसितव्रतः छांदोग्यगोत्रविख्यातः सुभद्रोनाम पार्थिवः

etasminneva kāle tu brāhmaṇaḥ śaṁsitavrataḥ chāṁdogyagotravikhyātaḥ subhadronāma pārthivaḥ

'At this very time there was a brahmin devoted to his vows, O king, renowned in the Chandogya gotra, named Subhadra,'

Verse 120 (skanda.6.199.120)

नागरो वर्षयाजी च वेदवेदांगपारगः तत्रासीत्तस्य सञ्जाता कन्यका द्विगुणैरदैः

nāgaro varṣayājī ca vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ tatrāsīttasya sañjātā kanyakā dviguṇairadaiḥ

'a Nagara, who performed the annual sacrifice, mastered in the Veda and its ancillary sciences. To him a daughter was born there, with double teeth,'

Verse 121 (skanda.6.199.121)

तथा त्रिभिःस्तनै रौद्रा पृष्ठ्यावर्तकसंयुता दरिद्रोऽपि सुदुःस्थोऽपि कुलहीनोपि पार्थिव

tathā tribhiḥstanai raudrā pṛṣṭhyāvartakasaṁyutā daridro'pi suduḥstho'pi kulahīnopi pārthiva

'with three breasts, frightful, and marked with a swirl of hair on her back. O king, such a maiden, even offered to a man however poor, wretched, or lowly born —'

Verse 122 (skanda.6.199.122)

दीयमानामपि न तां प्रतिगृह्णाति कश्चन यद्भक्षयति भर्तारं षण्मासाभ्यंतरे हि सा

dīyamānāmapi na tāṁ pratigṛhṇāti kaścana yadbhakṣayati bhartāraṁ ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare hi sā

'— no one would accept, for it is said that such a girl devours her own husband within six months.'

Verse 123 (skanda.6.199.123)

यस्याः स्युर्द्विगुणा दंता एवं सामुद्रिका जगुः त्रिस्तनी कन्यका या तु श्वशुरस्य कुलक्षयम् संधत्ते नात्र सन्देहस्तस्मात्तां दूरतस्त्यजेत्

yasyāḥ syurdviguṇā daṁtā evaṁ sāmudrikā jaguḥ tristanī kanyakā yā tu śvaśurasya kulakṣayam saṁdhatte nātra sandehastasmāttāṁ dūratastyajet

'The treatises on physiognomy declare thus: whoever has double teeth, and whatever maiden has three breasts, brings about the destruction of her husband's family — of this there is no doubt. Therefore she is to be shunned from afar.'

Verse 124 (skanda.6.199.124)

पृष्ठ्यावर्तो भवेद्यस्या असती सा भवेद्द्रुतम् बहुपापसमाचारा तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत्

pṛṣṭhyāvarto bhavedyasyā asatī sā bhaveddrutam bahupāpasamācārā tasmāttāṁ parivarjayet

'And whoever bears such a swirl on her back quickly becomes unchaste, given to many sinful ways. Therefore she too is to be avoided.'

Verse 125 (skanda.6.199.125)

अथ तां वृद्धिमापन्नां दृष्ट्वा विप्रः सुभद्रकः चिन्ताचक्रं समारूढो न शांतिमधिगच्छति

atha tāṁ vṛddhimāpannāṁ dṛṣṭvā vipraḥ subhadrakaḥ cintācakraṁ samārūḍho na śāṁtimadhigacchati

'Seeing that daughter of his grown up, the brahmin Subhadraka fell into a whirlpool of anxiety, and found peace nowhere.'

Verse 126 (skanda.6.199.126)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथमस्याः पतिर्भवेत् न कश्चित्प्रतिगृह्णाति प्रार्थितोऽपि मुहुर्मुहुः

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kathamasyāḥ patirbhavet na kaścitpratigṛhṇāti prārthito'pi muhurmuhuḥ

'What shall I do, where shall I go, how might a husband be found for her? Though I entreat again and again, no one will accept her.'

Verse 127 (skanda.6.199.127)

दरिद्रो व्याधितो वाऽपि वृद्धोऽपि ब्राह्मणो हि सः स्मृतौ यस्मादिदं प्रोक्तं कन्यार्थे प्राङ्महर्षिभिः

daridro vyādhito vā'pi vṛddho'pi brāhmaṇo hi saḥ smṛtau yasmādidaṁ proktaṁ kanyārthe prāṅmaharṣibhiḥ

'— even a brahmin who is poor, sickly, or aged would do — for in the law-books, the great sages have already declared this concerning a maiden:'

Verse 128 (skanda.6.199.128)

अष्टवर्षा भवेद्गौरी नववर्षा च रोहिणी दशवर्षा भवेत्कन्या अत ऊर्ध्वं रजस्वला

aṣṭavarṣā bhavedgaurī navavarṣā ca rohiṇī daśavarṣā bhavetkanyā ata ūrdhvaṁ rajasvalā

'At eight years a girl is called Gauri, at nine Rohini, at ten she is termed Kanya; beyond that she becomes rajasvala.'

Verse 129 (skanda.6.199.129)

माता चैव पिता चैव ज्येष्ठो भ्राता तथैव च त्रयस्ते नरकं यांति दृष्ट्वा कन्यां रजस्वलाम्

mātā caiva pitā caiva jyeṣṭho bhrātā tathaiva ca trayaste narakaṁ yāṁti dṛṣṭvā kanyāṁ rajasvalām

'The mother, the father, and the eldest brother — these three go to hell, should they see the maiden come of age unmarried.'

Verse 130 (skanda.6.199.130)

एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य सोंऽत्यजो द्विजरूपधृक् भिक्षार्थं तद्गृहं प्राप्तो दृष्टस्तेन महात्मना

evaṁ cintayatastasya soṁ'tyajo dvijarūpadhṛk bhikṣārthaṁ tadgṛhaṁ prāpto dṛṣṭastena mahātmanā

As he was thus lost in thought, that outcaste, in the guise of a brahmin, arrived at his house seeking alms, and that great soul beheld him.

Verse 131 (skanda.6.199.131)

पृष्टश्च विस्मयात्तेन दृष्ट्वा रूपं तथाविधम् कुतस्त्वमिह सम्प्राप्तः क्व यास्यसि च भिक्षुक

pṛṣṭaśca vismayāttena dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ tathāvidham kutastvamiha samprāptaḥ kva yāsyasi ca bhikṣuka

Seeing such a fine form, and astonished, Subhadra asked him: 'Where have you come from, O mendicant, and where are you bound?'

Verse 132 (skanda.6.199.132)

ईदृग्भव्यतरो भूत्वा कस्मान्माधुकरीं गतः किं गोत्रं तव मे ब्रूहि कतमः प्रवरश्च ते

īdṛgbhavyataro bhūtvā kasmānmādhukarīṁ gataḥ kiṁ gotraṁ tava me brūhi katamaḥ pravaraśca te

'Being so fine of form, why have you taken up the begging life? Tell me your gotra, and which is your pravara.'

Verse 133 (skanda.6.199.133)

सोऽब्रवीद्गौडदेशीयं स्थानं मे सुमहत्तरम् नाम्ना भोजकटं ख्यातं नानाद्विजसमाश्रितम्

so'bravīdgauḍadeśīyaṁ sthānaṁ me sumahattaram nāmnā bhojakaṭaṁ khyātaṁ nānādvijasamāśritam

He said: 'My home is a very great place in the country of Gauda, renowned by the name Bhojakata, home to many brahmins.'

Verse 134 (skanda.6.199.134)

तत्रासीन्माधवोनाम ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः वसिष्ठगोत्रविख्यात एकप्रवरसूचितः

tatrāsīnmādhavonāma brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ vasiṣṭhagotravikhyāta ekapravarasūcitaḥ

'There was a brahmin there, master of the Veda, named Madhava, renowned in the Vasishtha gotra, marked with a single pravara.'

Verse 135 (skanda.6.199.135)

तस्याहं तनयो नाम्ना चंद्रप्रभ इति स्मृतः

tasyāhaṁ tanayo nāmnā caṁdraprabha iti smṛtaḥ

'I am his son, known by the name Chandraprabha.'

Verse 136 (skanda.6.199.136)

ततोऽहमष्टमे वर्षे यदा व्रतधरः स्थितः तदा पंचत्वमापन्नः पिता मे वेदपारगः

tato'hamaṣṭame varṣe yadā vratadharaḥ sthitaḥ tadā paṁcatvamāpannaḥ pitā me vedapāragaḥ

'When I was in my eighth year, and had just been invested with the sacred thread, my father, that master of the Veda, passed away.'

Verse 137 (skanda.6.199.137)

माता मे सह तेनैव प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम् ततो वैराग्यमापन्नो निष्क्रांतोऽहं निजालयात्

mātā me saha tenaiva praviṣṭā havyavāhanam tato vairāgyamāpanno niṣkrāṁto'haṁ nijālayāt

'My mother entered the fire together with him. Thereafter, overcome with renunciation, I departed from my own home.'

Verse 138 (skanda.6.199.138)

तीर्थानि भ्रममाणोऽत्र संप्राप्तस्तु पुरं तव अधुना संप्रयास्यामि प्रभासं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

tīrthāni bhramamāṇo'tra saṁprāptastu puraṁ tava adhunā saṁprayāsyāmi prabhāsaṁ kṣetramuttamam

'Wandering among the tirthas, I have now arrived at your city; now I shall proceed to the excellent field of Prabhasa,'

Verse 139 (skanda.6.199.139)

यत्र सोमेश्वरो देवस्त्यक्त्वा कैलासमागतः न मया पठिता वेदा न च शास्त्रं नृपोत्तम तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन तेन भिक्षां चराम्यहम्

yatra someśvaro devastyaktvā kailāsamāgataḥ na mayā paṭhitā vedā na ca śāstraṁ nṛpottama tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena tena bhikṣāṁ carāmyaham

'— where the god Someshvara, having left Kailasa, has come to dwell. O best of kings, I have studied neither the Vedas nor any scripture; it is only because I am engaged in this pilgrimage that I go about begging.'

Verse 140 (skanda.6.199.140)

विश्वामित्र उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास चेतसि ब्राह्मणोऽयं सुदेशीयस्तथा भव्यतमाकृतिः यदि गृह्णाति मे कन्यां तदस्मै प्रददाम्यहम्

viśvāmitra uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā cintayāmāsa cetasi brāhmaṇo'yaṁ sudeśīyastathā bhavyatamākṛtiḥ yadi gṛhṇāti me kanyāṁ tadasmai pradadāmyaham

Vishvamitra said: Hearing his words, Subhadra thought in his heart: 'This brahmin comes from a fine country, and is of a most excellent form. If he will accept my daughter, then I shall give her to him.'

Verse 141 (skanda.6.199.141)

यावद्रजस्वला नैव जायते सा निरूपिता कृत्स्नं दूषयति क्षिप्रं नैव वंशं ममाधमा

yāvadrajasvalā naiva jāyate sā nirūpitā kṛtsnaṁ dūṣayati kṣipraṁ naiva vaṁśaṁ mamādhamā

'For as long as that ill-marked girl of mine has not yet come of age, all is well; otherwise this ill-fated girl will swiftly bring ruin upon my entire line.'

Verse 142 (skanda.6.199.142)

ततः प्रोवाच तं म्लेच्छं संमंत्र्य सह भार्यया यदि गृह्णासि मे कन्यां तव यच्छाम्यहं द्विज

tataḥ provāca taṁ mlecchaṁ saṁmaṁtrya saha bhāryayā yadi gṛhṇāsi me kanyāṁ tava yacchāmyahaṁ dvija

Then, having taken counsel with his wife, he spoke to that outcaste: 'O brahmin, if you will accept my daughter, I shall give her to you —'

Verse 143 (skanda.6.199.143)

भरणं पोषणं द्वाभ्यां करिष्यामि सदैव हि

bharaṇaṁ poṣaṇaṁ dvābhyāṁ kariṣyāmi sadaiva hi

'— and I shall always provide for both your maintenance and support.'

Verse 144 (skanda.6.199.144)

तच्छ्रुत्वा हर्षितः प्राह सोंऽत्यजो नृपसत्तमम् तवादेशं करिष्यामि यच्छ मे कन्यकां नृप

tacchrutvā harṣitaḥ prāha soṁ'tyajo nṛpasattamam tavādeśaṁ kariṣyāmi yaccha me kanyakāṁ nṛpa

Hearing this, that outcaste, delighted, said to him: 'I shall do as you command, O king; give me your daughter, O king.'

Verse 145 (skanda.6.199.145)

तथेत्युक्त्वा गतस्तेन तस्मै दत्ता निजा सुता गृह्योक्तेन विधानेन विवाहो विहितस्ततः

tathetyuktvā gatastena tasmai dattā nijā sutā gṛhyoktena vidhānena vivāho vihitastataḥ

Saying 'So be it,' he gave his own daughter to him, and the marriage was performed according to the rite prescribed in the domestic law-texts.

Verse 146 (skanda.6.199.146)

ततो ददौ धनं धान्यं गृहं क्षेत्रं च गोधनम् तस्मै तुष्टिसमायुक्तो मन्यमानः कृतार्थताम्

tato dadau dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ gṛhaṁ kṣetraṁ ca godhanam tasmai tuṣṭisamāyukto manyamānaḥ kṛtārthatām

Then, filled with satisfaction and feeling himself fulfilled, he gave him wealth, grain, a house, land, and cattle.

Verse 147 (skanda.6.199.147)

अथ सोऽपि च तां प्राप्य विलासानकरोद्बहून् खाद्यैः पानैः सुवस्त्रैश्च गन्धमाल्यैर्विभूषणैः

atha so'pi ca tāṁ prāpya vilāsānakarodbahūn khādyaiḥ pānaiḥ suvastraiśca gandhamālyairvibhūṣaṇaiḥ

He too, having obtained her, gave himself over to many pleasures — fine foods and drinks, fine garments, perfumes, garlands, and ornaments.

Verse 148 (skanda.6.199.148)

परं स व्रजति प्रायो येन मार्गेण केनचित् सारमेयाः सशब्दाश्च पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजंति वै

paraṁ sa vrajati prāyo yena mārgeṇa kenacit sārameyāḥ saśabdāśca pṛṣṭhato'nuvrajaṁti vai

But, whatever road he happened to take, dogs would follow behind him, barking —

Verse 149 (skanda.6.199.149)

अन्येषामंत्यजात्यानां यद्वत्तस्य विशेषतः वेदाभ्यासपरश्चैव यदि संजायते क्वचित् रक्तं पतति वक्त्रेण तत्क्षणात्तस्य दुर्मतेः

anyeṣāmaṁtyajātyānāṁ yadvattasya viśeṣataḥ vedābhyāsaparaścaiva yadi saṁjāyate kvacit raktaṁ patati vaktreṇa tatkṣaṇāttasya durmateḥ

— just as they follow other outcastes, so especially did they follow him. And if that ill-fated man ever attempted to recite the Veda, blood would drop from his mouth that very instant.

Verse 150 (skanda.6.199.150)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे लोकः सर्व एव प्रशंकितः अब्रवीच्च मिथोऽभ्येत्य चंडालोऽयमसंशयम्

etasminnaṁtare lokaḥ sarva eva praśaṁkitaḥ abravīcca mitho'bhyetya caṁḍālo'yamasaṁśayam

Meanwhile, everyone in the city grew suspicious, and, gathering together, people began to say to one another: 'This man is undoubtedly a chandala,'

Verse 151 (skanda.6.199.151)

यदेते पृष्ठतो यांति भषमाणाः शुनीसुताः सुभद्रोऽपि च तत्तेषां श्रुत्वा चिन्तापरोऽभवत्

yadete pṛṣṭhato yāṁti bhaṣamāṇāḥ śunīsutāḥ subhadro'pi ca tatteṣāṁ śrutvā cintāparo'bhavat

'— since these dogs follow behind him, barking.' Subhadra too, hearing their words, grew anxious.

Verse 152 (skanda.6.199.152)

मन्यमानश्च तत्सत्यं दुःखेन महतान्वितः नूनमंत्यजजातीयो भविष्यति सुतापतिः

manyamānaśca tatsatyaṁ duḥkhena mahatānvitaḥ nūnamaṁtyajajātīyo bhaviṣyati sutāpatiḥ

Believing it to be true, and overcome with great sorrow, he thought: 'Surely my daughter's husband must be of outcaste birth,'

Verse 153 (skanda.6.199.153)

ज्ञायते चेष्टितैः सर्वैर्यथाऽयं जल्पते जनः

jñāyate ceṣṭitaiḥ sarvairyathā'yaṁ jalpate janaḥ

'— for this is evident from all his behaviour, just as the people are saying.'

Verse 154 (skanda.6.199.154)

एवं रात्रिंदिवं तस्य चिन्तयानस्य भूपतेः लोकापवादयुक्तस्य कियान्कालोऽभ्यवर्तत

evaṁ rātriṁdivaṁ tasya cintayānasya bhūpateḥ lokāpavādayuktasya kiyānkālo'bhyavartata

Thus, day and night, burdened with public censure, he remained lost in anxiety, and some time passed in this way.

Verse 155 (skanda.6.199.155)

अन्यस्मिन्नहनि प्राप्ते आद्याद्या द्विजसत्तमाः मध्यगेन समायुक्ता ब्रह्मस्थानं समागताः तस्य शुद्धिकृते प्रोचुर्येन शंका प्रणश्यति

anyasminnahani prāpte ādyādyā dvijasattamāḥ madhyagena samāyuktā brahmasthānaṁ samāgatāḥ tasya śuddhikṛte procuryena śaṁkā praṇaśyati

Then, on another day, those foremost of brahmins, together with the presiding elder, gathered at the assembly-hall, and, for the sake of clarifying the matter, spoke so that the suspicion might be dispelled.

Verse 156 (skanda.6.199.156)

अथोचुस्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठा ब्रह्मस्थानस्य मध्यगम् मध्यगस्य तु वक्त्रेण विवर्णवदनं स्थितम्

athocustaṁ dvijaśreṣṭhā brahmasthānasya madhyagam madhyagasya tu vaktreṇa vivarṇavadanaṁ sthitam

Those excellent brahmins had the presiding elder speak, through his own mouth, to him who stood there, his face gone pale —

Verse 157 (skanda.6.199.157)

कुलं गोत्रं निजं ब्रूहि प्रवरांश्च विशेषतः स्थानं देशं च विप्राणां येन शुद्धिः प्रदीयते

kulaṁ gotraṁ nijaṁ brūhi pravarāṁśca viśeṣataḥ sthānaṁ deśaṁ ca viprāṇāṁ yena śuddhiḥ pradīyate

'Declare your own family, your gotra, and especially your pravaras, and the place and the country of your brahmins, so that certification of purity may be granted.'

Verse 158 (skanda.6.199.158)

अथासौ वेपमानस्तु प्रस्विन्नवदनस्तथा अधोदृष्टिरुवाचेदं गद्गदं विहिताञ्जलिः

athāsau vepamānastu prasvinnavadanastathā adhodṛṣṭiruvācedaṁ gadgadaṁ vihitāñjaliḥ

Then he, trembling, his face bathed in sweat, his eyes cast down, joined his palms and spoke this, his voice choked.

Verse 159 (skanda.6.199.159)

गर्भाष्टमे पिता मह्यं वर्षे मृत्युं गतस्ततः ततः सा तं समादाय जननी मे पतिव्रता मां त्यक्त्वा दुःखितं दीनं प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम्

garbhāṣṭame pitā mahyaṁ varṣe mṛtyuṁ gatastataḥ tataḥ sā taṁ samādāya jananī me pativratā māṁ tyaktvā duḥkhitaṁ dīnaṁ praviṣṭā havyavāhanam

'In the eighth year after my birth, my father passed away. Then my mother, a woman devoted to her husband, having left me sorrowful and wretched, entered the fire together with him.'

Verse 160 (skanda.6.199.160)

अहं वैराग्यमापन्नस्तीर्थयात्रां समाश्रितः बालभावे पितुर्दुःखात्तापसैरपरैः सह

ahaṁ vairāgyamāpannastīrthayātrāṁ samāśritaḥ bālabhāve piturduḥkhāttāpasairaparaiḥ saha

'Even in childhood, out of grief for my father, I fell into renunciation, and took to pilgrimage in the company of other ascetics.'

Verse 161 (skanda.6.199.161)

न मया पठितो वेदो न च शास्त्रं निरूपितम् तीर्थयात्रापरोऽहं च समायातो भवत्पुरम्

na mayā paṭhito vedo na ca śāstraṁ nirūpitam tīrthayātrāparo'haṁ ca samāyāto bhavatpuram

'I have studied neither the Veda nor any scripture. Given over to pilgrimage, I came to your city —'

Verse 162 (skanda.6.199.162)

अभद्रेण सुभद्रेण श्वशुरेण दुरात्मना एतज्जानाम्यहं विप्रा गोत्रं वासिष्ठमेव वा

abhadreṇa subhadreṇa śvaśureṇa durātmanā etajjānāmyahaṁ viprā gotraṁ vāsiṣṭhameva vā

'— where that ill-omened Subhadra, wicked at heart despite his name, took me as his son-in-law. O brahmins, this alone I know: that our gotra is Vasishtha,'

Verse 163 (skanda.6.199.163)

अथैकप्रवरो देशो गौडो मधुपुरं पुरम्

athaikapravaro deśo gauḍo madhupuraṁ puram

'and it has a single pravara, and our country is Gauda, and our city is Madhupura.'

Verse 164 (skanda.6.199.164)

ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः प्रोचुर्यस्य नो ज्ञायते कुलम् तस्य शुद्धिः प्रदातव्या धटद्वारेण केवला

tataste brāhmaṇāḥ procuryasya no jñāyate kulam tasya śuddhiḥ pradātavyā dhaṭadvāreṇa kevalā

Then those brahmins said: 'Whoever's lineage cannot be ascertained in this way can only be granted certification of purity through the ordeal of the water-pot.'

Verse 165 (skanda.6.199.165)

स त्वं धटं समारुह्य ब्राह्मण्यार्थं च केवलम् शुद्धिं प्राप्य ततो भोगान्भुंक्ष्वात्रस्थोऽपि केवलम्

sa tvaṁ dhaṭaṁ samāruhya brāhmaṇyārthaṁ ca kevalam śuddhiṁ prāpya tato bhogānbhuṁkṣvātrastho'pi kevalam

'You, therefore, should undergo the water-pot ordeal solely to establish your brahminhood; having attained certification of purity, only then should you remain here and enjoy these comforts.'

Verse 166 (skanda.6.199.166)

सोऽब्रवीत्साहसं कृत्वा सर्वानेव द्विजोत्तमान् प्रतिगृह्णाम्यहं कामं तप्तमाषकमेव च

so'bravītsāhasaṁ kṛtvā sarvāneva dvijottamān pratigṛhṇāmyahaṁ kāmaṁ taptamāṣakameva ca

He, summoning up his nerve, said to all those excellent brahmins: 'I shall gladly undergo even the ordeal of the heated coin,'

Verse 167 (skanda.6.199.167)

प्रविशामि हुताशं वा भक्षयिष्याम्यहं विषम्

praviśāmi hutāśaṁ vā bhakṣayiṣyāmyahaṁ viṣam

'or I shall enter the fire, or I shall swallow poison.'

Verse 168 (skanda.6.199.168)

किं पुनर्धटदिव्यं च क्रियमाणे सुखावहम् ब्राह्मणस्य कृते विप्राश्चित्ते नो मामके घृणा

kiṁ punardhaṭadivyaṁ ca kriyamāṇe sukhāvaham brāhmaṇasya kṛte viprāścitte no māmake ghṛṇā

'How much easier, then, this comfortable ordeal of the water-pot! O brahmins, in this matter of proving my brahminhood, I feel no aversion at all in my heart.'

Verse 169 (skanda.6.199.169)

अथ ते ब्राह्मणास्तस्य धटारोहणसंभवम् शुद्धिं निर्दिश्य वारं च सूर्यस्य च ततः परम् जग्मुः स्वंस्वं गृहं सर्वे सोऽपि विप्रोंऽत्यजो द्विजाः

atha te brāhmaṇāstasya dhaṭārohaṇasaṁbhavam śuddhiṁ nirdiśya vāraṁ ca sūryasya ca tataḥ param jagmuḥ svaṁsvaṁ gṛhaṁ sarve so'pi viproṁ'tyajo dvijāḥ

Then those brahmins, having fixed the date and the day of the sun for that purification through the water-pot ordeal, all returned each to his own home; and that outcaste, garbed as a brahmin, likewise returned home.

Verse 170 (skanda.6.199.170)

ततः प्राह निजां भार्यां रहस्ये नृपसत्तम ज्ञातोऽहं ब्राह्मणैः सर्वैरंत्यजातिसमुद्भवः देशातरं गमिष्यामि त्वमागच्छ मया सह

tataḥ prāha nijāṁ bhāryāṁ rahasye nṛpasattama jñāto'haṁ brāhmaṇaiḥ sarvairaṁtyajātisamudbhavaḥ deśātaraṁ gamiṣyāmi tvamāgaccha mayā saha

O best of kings, then, in secret, he said to his wife: 'I have been recognized by all the brahmins as one born of the outcaste class. I shall now go to another land; come with me.'

Verse 171 (skanda.6.199.171)

भार्योवाच अहमग्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि न यास्यामि त्वया सह पापबुद्धे पतिष्यामि न चाहं नरकाग्निषु

bhāryovāca ahamagniṁ pravekṣyāmi na yāsyāmi tvayā saha pāpabuddhe patiṣyāmi na cāhaṁ narakāgniṣu

His wife said: 'I shall enter the fire, but I will not go with you. O wicked-minded one, I shall not fall into the fires of hell.'

Verse 172 (skanda.6.199.172)

बुध्यमाना न सेविष्ये त्वामंत्यजसमुद्भवम् पापसंदूषितं सर्वं त्वयैतत्स्थानमुत्तमम्

budhyamānā na seviṣye tvāmaṁtyajasamudbhavam pāpasaṁdūṣitaṁ sarvaṁ tvayaitatsthānamuttamam

'Knowing what you are, I shall never again live as your wife — you, born of the outcaste class. You have defiled this whole excellent place with your sin,'

Verse 173 (skanda.6.199.173)

तथा मम पितुर्हर्म्यं संवत्सरप्रयाजिनः तस्माद्द्रुततरं गच्छ यावन्नो वेत्ति कश्चन

tathā mama piturharmyaṁ saṁvatsaraprayājinaḥ tasmāddrutataraṁ gaccha yāvanno vetti kaścana

'— and my father's house too, that performer of the yearly sacrifice. Therefore flee this very place at once, before anyone else learns of it.'

Verse 174 (skanda.6.199.174)

नो चेत्पापसमाचार संप्राप्स्यसि महाऽऽपदम्

no cetpāpasamācāra saṁprāpsyasi mahā''padam

'Otherwise, O man of sinful conduct, you will meet with a great calamity.'

Verse 175 (skanda.6.199.175)

ततो निशामुखे प्राप्ते कौपीनावरणान्वितः नष्टोऽभीष्टां दिशं प्राप्य तदा जीवितजाद्भयात्

tato niśāmukhe prāpte kaupīnāvaraṇānvitaḥ naṣṭo'bhīṣṭāṁ diśaṁ prāpya tadā jīvitajādbhayāt

Then, as night fell, clad only in a loincloth, in fear for his very life, he fled to whatever direction he wished, and vanished from sight.