The Origin of Shankheshvara and Shankha-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.209.1)

आनर्त उवाच सांप्रतं मुनिशार्दूल शंखतीर्थसमुद्भवम् माहात्म्यं वद मे कृत्स्नं श्रद्धा मे महती स्थिता

ānarta uvāca sāṁprataṁ muniśārdūla śaṁkhatīrthasamudbhavam māhātmyaṁ vada me kṛtsnaṁ śraddhā me mahatī sthitā

Anarta said: O best of sages, now tell me the entire greatness of the origin of Shankha-tirtha; I have deep faith in it.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.209.2)

अहो तीर्थमहो तीर्थं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम् क्षेत्रं यच्च धरापृष्ठे सर्वाश्चर्यमयं शुभम्

aho tīrthamaho tīrthaṁ hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñitam kṣetraṁ yacca dharāpṛṣṭhe sarvāścaryamayaṁ śubham

Ah, what a sacred ford this is, named Hatakeshvara! This region upon the earth is auspicious and filled with every wonder.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.209.3)

नाहं तृप्तिं द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रगच्छामि कथंचन शृण्वानस्तु सुमाहात्म्यं क्षेत्रस्यास्य समुद्भवम्

nāhaṁ tṛptiṁ dvijaśreṣṭha pragacchāmi kathaṁcana śṛṇvānastu sumāhātmyaṁ kṣetrasyāsya samudbhavam

O best of brahmins, even as I listen to the beautiful greatness of this region's origin, I find no satiety at all.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.209.4)

विश्वामित्र उवाच अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि पूर्ववृत्तं कथांतरम् शंखतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं यथाजातं धरातले

viśvāmitra uvāca atra te kīrtayiṣyāmi pūrvavṛttaṁ kathāṁtaram śaṁkhatīrthasya māhātmyaṁ yathājātaṁ dharātale

Vishvamitra said: I shall now relate to you another ancient tale — how the greatness of Shankha-tirtha came to arise on this earth.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.209.5)

आनर्ताधिपतिः पूर्वमासीदन्यो महीपतिः यथा त्वं सांप्रतं भूमौ सर्वलोकप्रपालकः

ānartādhipatiḥ pūrvamāsīdanyo mahīpatiḥ yathā tvaṁ sāṁprataṁ bhūmau sarvalokaprapālakaḥ

In former times there was another king of the Anarta land, who protected all the people of the earth just as you do now.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.209.6)

सोऽकस्मात्कुष्ठभाग्जातो विकलांगो बभूव ह अपुत्रः शत्रुभिर्व्याप्तस्त्रस्तश्च नृपसत्तमः

so'kasmātkuṣṭhabhāgjāto vikalāṁgo babhūva ha aputraḥ śatrubhirvyāptastrastaśca nṛpasattamaḥ

That best of kings suddenly fell victim to leprosy and became crippled, and moreover was without a son, beset by enemies, and terrified.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.209.7)

स सर्वैर्भूमिपालैश्च सर्वतः परिपीडितः राज्यभ्रंशसमोपेतः प्राप्तो रैवतकं गिरिम्

sa sarvairbhūmipālaiśca sarvataḥ paripīḍitaḥ rājyabhraṁśasamopetaḥ prāpto raivatakaṁ girim

Harassed on all sides by every neighboring king, and driven from his kingdom, he made his way to Mount Raivataka.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.209.8)

तत्रापि पीड्यते नित्यं सर्वतस्तु मलिम्लुचैः

tatrāpi pīḍyate nityaṁ sarvatastu malimlucaiḥ

There too he was constantly harassed on all sides by robbers and brigands.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.209.9)

हस्त्यश्वरथहीनस्तु कोशहीनो यदाऽभवत् स तदा चिंतयामास किं करोमि च सांप्रतम्

hastyaśvarathahīnastu kośahīno yadā'bhavat sa tadā ciṁtayāmāsa kiṁ karomi ca sāṁpratam

When he was left without elephants, horses, chariots, or treasury, he then pondered what he should now do.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.209.10)

कलत्राण्यपि सर्वाणि ह्रियंते तस्करैर्बलात्

kalatrāṇyapi sarvāṇi hriyaṁte taskarairbalāt

Even his womenfolk were being forcibly carried off by thieves.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.209.11)

स एवं चिंतयानस्तु गतो वै नारदं विभुम् द्रष्टुं पार्थिवशार्दूल वैष्णवे दिवसे स्थिते

sa evaṁ ciṁtayānastu gato vai nāradaṁ vibhum draṣṭuṁ pārthivaśārdūla vaiṣṇave divase sthite

O tiger among kings, thus lost in thought, on the day sacred to Vishnu he went to see the mighty Narada.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.209.12)

तत्रापश्यत्स संप्राप्तं नारदं मुनिसत्तमम् तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन दामोदरदिदृक्षया

tatrāpaśyatsa saṁprāptaṁ nāradaṁ munisattamam tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena dāmodaradidṛkṣayā

There he saw the sage Narada, who had arrived in the course of a pilgrimage, wishing to behold Damodara.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.209.13)

तं प्रणम्याथ शिरसा कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः प्रोवाच वचनं दीन उपविश्य तदग्रतः

taṁ praṇamyātha śirasā kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ provāca vacanaṁ dīna upaviśya tadagrataḥ

Bowing his head to him and standing with folded hands, the wretched king sat before him and spoke these words.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.209.14)

राजोवाच शत्रुभिः परिभूतोऽहं समतान्मुनिसत्तम ततो राज्यपरिभ्रंशात्संप्राप्तोऽत्र महागिरौ

rājovāca śatrubhiḥ paribhūto'haṁ samatānmunisattama tato rājyaparibhraṁśātsaṁprāpto'tra mahāgirau

The king said: O best of sages, I have been overpowered by enemies along with my allies; then, driven from my kingdom, I have come here to this great mountain.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.209.15)

विपिने तस्करैः पापैः प्रपीड्येऽहं समंततः यत्किंचिदश्वनागाद्यं मया सह समागतम्

vipine taskaraiḥ pāpaiḥ prapīḍye'haṁ samaṁtataḥ yatkiṁcidaśvanāgādyaṁ mayā saha samāgatam

In this forest too, I am beset on every side by wicked robbers; whatever horses, elephants, and the like had come with me—

Verse 16 (skanda.6.209.16)

तत्सर्वं तस्करैर्नीतं कोशा दारास्तथा वसु तस्माद्वद मुनिश्रेष्ठ वैराग्यं मे महत्स्थितम्

tatsarvaṁ taskarairnītaṁ kośā dārāstathā vasu tasmādvada muniśreṣṭha vairāgyaṁ me mahatsthitam

—all that, along with my treasury, my women, and my wealth, has been taken by robbers. So tell me, O best of sages — a great weariness of the world has arisen in me.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.209.17)

अन्यजन्मोद्भवं किंचिन्मम पापं सुदारुणम् येनेमां च दशां प्राप्तः सहसा मुनिसत्तम

anyajanmodbhavaṁ kiṁcinmama pāpaṁ sudāruṇam yenemāṁ ca daśāṁ prāptaḥ sahasā munisattama

O best of sages, there must surely be some terrible sin from a former birth, on account of which I have suddenly fallen to this condition.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.209.18)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चिरं ध्यात्वा मुनीश्वरः प्रोवाचाऽथ नृपं दीनं ज्ञात्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā ciraṁ dhyātvā munīśvaraḥ provācā'tha nṛpaṁ dīnaṁ jñātvā divyena cakṣuṣā

Hearing his words, the lord of sages meditated for a long while, then, perceiving with his divine eye, spoke to the wretched king.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.209.19)

नारद उवाच न त्वया कुत्सितं किंचित्पूर्वदेहांतरे कृतम् मया ज्ञातं महाराज सर्वं दिव्येन चक्षुषा

nārada uvāca na tvayā kutsitaṁ kiṁcitpūrvadehāṁtare kṛtam mayā jñātaṁ mahārāja sarvaṁ divyena cakṣuṣā

Narada said: O great king, I have perceived everything with my divine eye — you did nothing reprehensible in your former life.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.209.20)

त्वमासीः पार्थिवः पूर्वं सिद्धपन्नगसंज्ञिते पत्तने सोमवंशीयः सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणः

tvamāsīḥ pārthivaḥ pūrvaṁ siddhapannagasaṁjñite pattane somavaṁśīyaḥ sarvaśatrunibarhaṇaḥ

In a former birth you were a king of the lunar dynasty, ruling in a city called Siddhapannaga, and a destroyer of all your foes.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.209.21)

त्वया चेष्टं महायज्ञैः सदा संपूर्णदक्षिणैः महादानानि दत्तानि पूजिता ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

tvayā ceṣṭaṁ mahāyajñaiḥ sadā saṁpūrṇadakṣiṇaiḥ mahādānāni dattāni pūjitā brāhmaṇottamāḥ

You performed great sacrifices ever accompanied by full sacrificial fees, gave lavish gifts, and honored the foremost brahmins.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.209.22)

तेन कर्मविपाकेन भूयः पार्थिवतां गतः

tena karmavipākena bhūyaḥ pārthivatāṁ gataḥ

It is by the ripening of that karma that you have been born again as a king.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.209.23)

आनर्त उवाच इह जन्मनि नो कृत्यं संस्मरामि विभो कृतम् तत्किं राज्यपरिभ्रंशः सहसा मे समुत्थितः

ānarta uvāca iha janmani no kṛtyaṁ saṁsmarāmi vibho kṛtam tatkiṁ rājyaparibhraṁśaḥ sahasā me samutthitaḥ

Anarta said: O mighty one, in this present birth I recall no misdeed of mine; then why has this loss of my kingdom befallen me so suddenly?

Verse 24 (skanda.6.209.24)

लक्ष्म्या हीनस्य लोकस्य लोकेऽस्मिन्व्यर्थतां व्रजेत् जीवितं मुनिशार्दूल विज्ञातं हि मयाऽधुना

lakṣmyā hīnasya lokasya loke'sminvyarthatāṁ vrajet jīvitaṁ muniśārdūla vijñātaṁ hi mayā'dhunā

O tiger among sages, I have now clearly understood that the life of one bereft of fortune becomes worthless in this world.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.209.25)

मृतो नरो गतश्रीको मृतं राष्ट्रमराजकम् मृतमश्रोत्रिये दानं मृतो यज्ञस्त्वदक्षिणः

mṛto naro gataśrīko mṛtaṁ rāṣṭramarājakam mṛtamaśrotriye dānaṁ mṛto yajñastvadakṣiṇaḥ

A man bereft of fortune is as good as dead; a kingdom without a king is likewise dead; a gift given to one unversed in the Veda is dead, and a sacrifice without sacrificial fees is dead.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.209.26)

लक्ष्म्या हीनस्य मर्त्यस्य बांधवोऽपि विजायते प्रार्थयिष्यति मां नूनं दृष्ट्वा तं चान्यतो व्रजेत्

lakṣmyā hīnasya martyasya bāṁdhavo'pi vijāyate prārthayiṣyati māṁ nūnaṁ dṛṣṭvā taṁ cānyato vrajet

Even a kinsman turns like an enemy toward a man bereft of fortune — thinking, 'he will surely beg something of me,' he veers off elsewhere on catching sight of him.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.209.27)

यथा मां सांप्रतं दृष्ट्वा ये मयाऽपि प्रतर्पिताः तेऽपि दूरतरं यांति एष मां प्रार्थयिष्यति

yathā māṁ sāṁprataṁ dṛṣṭvā ye mayā'pi pratarpitāḥ te'pi dūrataraṁ yāṁti eṣa māṁ prārthayiṣyati

Just as now, seeing me, even those whom I once satisfied with gifts move further away, thinking, 'this man will ask something of me.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.209.28)

धनहीनं नरं त्यक्त्वा कुलीनमपि चोत्तमम् गच्छति स्वजनोऽन्यत्र शुष्कं वृक्षमिवांडजाः

dhanahīnaṁ naraṁ tyaktvā kulīnamapi cottamam gacchati svajano'nyatra śuṣkaṁ vṛkṣamivāṁḍajāḥ

When a man becomes destitute, even his own well-born and worthy kinsfolk abandon him and go elsewhere, just as birds forsake a withered tree.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.209.29)

तत्कार्यकारणार्थाय दरिद्रोऽभ्येति चेद्गृहम् धनिनो भर्त्सयंत्येनं समागच्छंति नांतिकम्

tatkāryakāraṇārthāya daridro'bhyeti cedgṛham dhanino bhartsayaṁtyenaṁ samāgacchaṁti nāṁtikam

If a poor man comes to the door of a rich man on some business, the wealthy rebuke him and do not even approach him.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.209.30)

कृपणोऽपि धनाढ्यश्चेदागच्छति हि याचितुम् एष दास्यति मे किंचिदिति चित्ते नृणां भवेत्

kṛpaṇo'pi dhanāḍhyaścedāgacchati hi yācitum eṣa dāsyati me kiṁciditi citte nṛṇāṁ bhavet

But if even a miserly rich man comes to ask something, people's hearts think, 'this one will give me something.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.209.31)

मम त्वं पूर्ववंशीयः पिता ते च पितुर्मम सदा स्नेहपरश्चासीत्त्वं च स्नेहविवर्जितः

mama tvaṁ pūrvavaṁśīyaḥ pitā te ca piturmama sadā snehaparaścāsīttvaṁ ca snehavivarjitaḥ

They say to him: you are of my ancestral lineage, your father always held affection for mine, yet you are devoid of any affection.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.209.32)

एवं ब्रुवंति लोकेऽत्र धनिनां पुरतः स्थिताः कुलीना अपि पापानां दृश्यंते धनलिप्सया दरिद्रस्य मनुष्यस्य क्षितौ राज्यं प्रकुर्वतः

evaṁ bruvaṁti loke'tra dhanināṁ purataḥ sthitāḥ kulīnā api pāpānāṁ dṛśyaṁte dhanalipsayā daridrasya manuṣyasya kṣitau rājyaṁ prakurvataḥ

In this world, people standing before the wealthy speak just so. Out of greed for wealth, even the well-born are seen bowing before sinners — such is the state of a destitute man striving to rule on this earth.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.209.33)

प्रशोषः केवलं भावी हृदयस्य महामुने द्वाविमौ कण्टकौ तीक्ष्णौ शरीरपरिशोषिणौ यश्चाधनः कामयते यश्च कुप्यत्यनीश्वरः

praśoṣaḥ kevalaṁ bhāvī hṛdayasya mahāmune dvāvimau kaṇṭakau tīkṣṇau śarīrapariśoṣiṇau yaścādhanaḥ kāmayate yaśca kupyatyanīśvaraḥ

O great sage, only the withering away of the heart follows from this. Two sharp thorns wither the body: a poor man harboring desire, and a powerless man giving way to anger.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.209.34)

श्मशानमपि सेवंते धनलुब्धा निशागमे जनेतारमपि त्यक्त्वा नित्यं यांति सुदूरतः

śmaśānamapi sevaṁte dhanalubdhā niśāgame janetāramapi tyaktvā nityaṁ yāṁti sudūrataḥ

Those greedy for wealth even haunt the cremation grounds by night, and forsaking even the father who begot them, wander far away.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.209.35)

सुमूर्खोपि भवेद्विद्वानकुलीनोऽपि सत्कुलः यस्य वित्तं भवेद्धर्म्ये विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा

sumūrkhopi bhavedvidvānakulīno'pi satkulaḥ yasya vittaṁ bhaveddharmye viparītamato'nyathā

Whoever possesses wealth righteously earned is deemed learned even if a fool, and well-born even if lowly; the reverse holds true when it is otherwise.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.209.36)

निर्विण्णोऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ जीवितस्य च सांप्रतम् तस्माद्ब्रूहि किमर्थं मे दारिद्र्यं समुपस्थितम्

nirviṇṇo'haṁ muniśreṣṭha jīvitasya ca sāṁpratam tasmādbrūhi kimarthaṁ me dāridryaṁ samupasthitam

O best of sages, I have now grown weary even of my own life; so tell me for what reason this poverty has come upon me.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.209.37)

कुष्ठश्चापि ममोपेतः शत्रुभिश्च पराभवम् अन्यजन्मांतरं दृष्टं त्वया दिव्येन चक्षुषा

kuṣṭhaścāpi mamopetaḥ śatrubhiśca parābhavam anyajanmāṁtaraṁ dṛṣṭaṁ tvayā divyena cakṣuṣā

I have also been afflicted with leprosy and defeated by my enemies. You have seen, with your divine eye, some other birth of mine—

Verse 38 (skanda.6.209.38)

कुकर्मणा न संस्पृष्टं स्वल्पेनापि ब्रवीषि माम् एतज्जन्मांतरं दृष्टं स्मरामि मुनिसत्तम

kukarmaṇā na saṁspṛṣṭaṁ svalpenāpi bravīṣi mām etajjanmāṁtaraṁ dṛṣṭaṁ smarāmi munisattama

—untouched even in the least by any misdeed, so you tell me. O best of sages, I too remember that former birth.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.209.39)

न मया कुकृतं किंचित्कदाचित्समनुष्ठितम् तत्किं राज्यपरिभ्रंशो जातोऽयं मम सन्मुने

na mayā kukṛtaṁ kiṁcitkadācitsamanuṣṭhitam tatkiṁ rājyaparibhraṁśo jāto'yaṁ mama sanmune

I have never at any time committed any misdeed; then why, O noble sage, has this loss of kingdom befallen me?

Verse 40 (skanda.6.209.40)

अत्र मे कौतुकं जातं तस्माद्देहि विनिर्णयम् भवेन्न वा भवेत्कर्म कृतं यच्च शुभाशुभम्

atra me kautukaṁ jātaṁ tasmāddehi vinirṇayam bhavenna vā bhavetkarma kṛtaṁ yacca śubhāśubham

This has stirred a deep curiosity in me; so give me a definite answer as to whether or not there was any good or evil deed done by me.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.209.41)

विश्वामित्र उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चिरं ध्यात्वा तु नारदः कृपया परयाविष्टस्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

viśvāmitra uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā ciraṁ dhyātvā tu nāradaḥ kṛpayā parayāviṣṭastataḥ provāca sādaram

Vishvamitra said: Hearing his words, Narada meditated long, and then, filled with the deepest compassion, spoke to him respectfully.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.209.42)

शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा शुद्धिः प्रजायते तव राज्यस्य संप्राप्तिर्यथा भूयोऽपि जायते

śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi yathā śuddhiḥ prajāyate tava rājyasya saṁprāptiryathā bhūyo'pi jāyate

He said: Listen, O king, I shall tell you how purification can come about for you, and how you may obtain your kingdom once more.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.209.43)

तव भूमौ महापुण्यमस्ति क्षेत्रं जगत्त्रये हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञं तु तीर्थं तत्रास्ति शोभनम् शंखतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सर्वपातकनाशनम्

tava bhūmau mahāpuṇyamasti kṣetraṁ jagattraye hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu tīrthaṁ tatrāsti śobhanam śaṁkhatīrthamiti khyātaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam

In your own land there exists that most sacred of all the three worlds, the region named Hatakeshvara, and there is a beautiful ford there known as Shankha-tirtha, destroyer of every sin.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.209.44)

यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानं श्रद्धया परया युतः अष्टम्यां शुक्लपक्षस्य संप्राप्ते मासि माधवे

yastatra kurute snānaṁ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ aṣṭamyāṁ śuklapakṣasya saṁprāpte māsi mādhave

Whoever, filled with the deepest faith, bathes there on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Madhava—

Verse 45 (skanda.6.209.45)

सूर्यवारे तु सम्प्राप्ते भास्करस्योदयं प्रति सर्वकुष्ठविनिर्मुक्तो जायते सूर्यसंनिभः

sūryavāre tu samprāpte bhāskarasyodayaṁ prati sarvakuṣṭhavinirmukto jāyate sūryasaṁnibhaḥ

—on a Sunday, at the hour of sunrise, becomes freed from every form of leprosy and radiant as the sun itself.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.209.46)

यंयं काममभिध्यायेत्तंतं सर्वेषु दुर्लभम् स तदाऽऽप्नोत्यसंदिग्धं दृष्ट्वा शंखेश्वरं शुभम्

yaṁyaṁ kāmamabhidhyāyettaṁtaṁ sarveṣu durlabham sa tadā''pnotyasaṁdigdhaṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṁkheśvaraṁ śubham

Whatever desire, however difficult of attainment for anyone else, he holds in his mind, that he undoubtedly obtains upon beholding the auspicious Shankheshvara.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.209.47)

किं त्वया न श्रुतं तत्र स्वदेशे वसता नृप तस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं यत्त्वमत्र समागतः

kiṁ tvayā na śrutaṁ tatra svadeśe vasatā nṛpa tasya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ yattvamatra samāgataḥ

O king, had you not heard of the greatness of that ford while dwelling in your own land, that you have come here now asking of it?

Verse 48 (skanda.6.209.48)

सिद्धसेन उवाच कथं शंखेश्वरो देवः संजातो वद सन्मुने

siddhasena uvāca kathaṁ śaṁkheśvaro devaḥ saṁjāto vada sanmune

Siddhasena said: O noble sage, tell me how the god Shankheshvara came to be.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.209.49)

नारद उवाच अहं ते कथयिष्यामि कथामेतां पुरातनीम् यथा शंखेश्वरो जातः शंखतीर्थं तु पार्थिव

nārada uvāca ahaṁ te kathayiṣyāmi kathāmetāṁ purātanīm yathā śaṁkheśvaro jātaḥ śaṁkhatīrthaṁ tu pārthiva

Narada said: O king, I shall tell you this ancient tale, of how Shankheshvara and Shankha-tirtha came into being.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.209.50)

आसतुर्ब्राह्मणौ पूर्वं लिखितः शंख एव च भ्रातरौ वेदविदुषौ तपस्युग्रे व्यवस्थितौ

āsaturbrāhmaṇau pūrvaṁ likhitaḥ śaṁkha eva ca bhrātarau vedaviduṣau tapasyugre vyavasthitau

In former times there lived two brahmin brothers, Likhita and Shankha, both learned in the Vedas and engaged in severe austerity.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.209.51)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य लिखितस्याश्रमं प्रति भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य संप्राप्तो नमस्कारकृते नृप

kasyacittvatha kālasya likhitasyāśramaṁ prati bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya saṁprāpto namaskārakṛte nṛpa

O king, at a certain time Shankha went to the hermitage of his elder brother Likhita, to pay him his respects.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.209.52)

सोऽपश्यदाश्रमं शून्यं लिखितेन विवर्जितम्

so'paśyadāśramaṁ śūnyaṁ likhitena vivarjitam

He found the hermitage empty, with Likhita nowhere to be seen.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.209.53)

अथापश्यद्वने तस्मिन्परिपक्वफलानि सः प्रणयात्प्रतिजग्राह मत्वा भ्रातुर्नृपाऽऽश्रमम्

athāpaśyadvane tasminparipakvaphalāni saḥ praṇayātpratijagrāha matvā bhrāturnṛpā''śramam

Then he saw ripe fruits growing in that grove, and, taking it to be his own brother's hermitage, out of natural affection helped himself to them.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.209.54)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राप्तो लिखितस्तत्र चाश्रमे यावत्पश्यति शंखं स प्रगृहीतबृहत्फलम्

etasminnantare prāpto likhitastatra cāśrame yāvatpaśyati śaṁkhaṁ sa pragṛhītabṛhatphalam

Meanwhile Likhita returned to that hermitage, and saw Shankha there, holding a quantity of large fruits.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.209.55)

किमिदं विहितं पाप पापं साधुविगर्हितम् चौर्यकर्म त्वया निंद्यं यद्धृतानि फलानि च

kimidaṁ vihitaṁ pāpa pāpaṁ sādhuvigarhitam cauryakarma tvayā niṁdyaṁ yaddhṛtāni phalāni ca

He said: What sinful thing have you done here? How could you commit this reprehensible act of theft, condemned by the virtuous, in taking these fruits?

Verse 56 (skanda.6.209.56)

अनेन कर्मणा तुभ्यं तपो यास्यति संक्षयम् चौर्यकर्मप्रवृत्तस्य ब्राह्मणैर्गर्हितस्य च

anena karmaṇā tubhyaṁ tapo yāsyati saṁkṣayam cauryakarmapravṛttasya brāhmaṇairgarhitasya ca

By this act of theft, condemned by brahmins, your entire store of austerity shall be destroyed.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.209.57)

शंख उवाच एकोदरसमुत्पन्नो ज्येष्ठभ्राता यथा पिता भूयादिति श्रुतिर्लोके प्रसिद्धा सर्वतः स्थिता

śaṁkha uvāca ekodarasamutpanno jyeṣṭhabhrātā yathā pitā bhūyāditi śrutirloke prasiddhā sarvataḥ sthitā

Shankha said: It is a well-known scriptural saying, current everywhere in the world, that an elder brother born of the same womb is as a father.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.209.58)

तत्किं पुत्रस्य विप्रेन्द्र नाधिकारः पितुर्धने यथैवं निष्ठुरैर्वाक्यैर्निर्भर्त्सयसि मां विभो

tatkiṁ putrasya viprendra nādhikāraḥ piturdhane yathaivaṁ niṣṭhurairvākyairnirbhartsayasi māṁ vibho

Then, O foremost of brahmins, does a son not have a claim on his father's wealth, that you, O mighty one, rebuke me so harshly?

Verse 59 (skanda.6.209.59)

लिखित उवाच न दोषो जायते हर्तुः पुत्रस्यात्र कथंचन एकत्र संस्थितस्यात्र पितुर्वित्तमसंशयम्

likhita uvāca na doṣo jāyate hartuḥ putrasyātra kathaṁcana ekatra saṁsthitasyātra piturvittamasaṁśayam

Likhita said: So long as a son dwells together with his father in one place, he incurs no fault whatsoever in taking his father's wealth, without doubt.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.209.60)

विभक्तस्तु यदा पुत्रो भ्राता वाऽपहरेद्धनम् तदा दोषमवाप्नोति चौर्योत्थं मतमेव मे

vibhaktastu yadā putro bhrātā vā'pahareddhanam tadā doṣamavāpnoti cauryotthaṁ matameva me

But when a son or a brother has already been separated in property and then takes wealth, he then incurs the fault arising from theft — such is my opinion.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.209.61)

पुत्रस्य तु पुनर्वित्तं पिता हरति सर्वदा न तस्य विद्यते दोषो विभक्तस्यापि कर्हिचित्

putrasya tu punarvittaṁ pitā harati sarvadā na tasya vidyate doṣo vibhaktasyāpi karhicit

A father, however, may always take his son's wealth, even after separation; no fault ever attaches to him for it.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.209.62)

अत्र श्लोकः पुरा गीतो मनुना स्मृतिकारिणा तं तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मशास्त्रोद्भवं वचः

atra ślokaḥ purā gīto manunā smṛtikāriṇā taṁ te'haṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi dharmaśāstrodbhavaṁ vacaḥ

On this matter, the law-giver Manu once spoke a verse; I shall now recite to you that saying, drawn from the codes of dharma.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.209.63)

त्रय एवाधप्रोक्ता भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः यत्ते समधिगच्छंति यस्य ते तस्य तद्धनम्

traya evādhaproktā bhāryā dāsastathā sutaḥ yatte samadhigacchaṁti yasya te tasya taddhanam

Wife, slave, and son — these three alone are declared to be without independent property; whatever they earn belongs to the one under whom they stand.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.209.64)

शंख उवाच यद्येवं चौर्यदोषोऽस्ति मम तात महत्तरः निग्रहं कुरु मे शीघ्रं येन न स्यात्तपःक्षयः

śaṁkha uvāca yadyevaṁ cauryadoṣo'sti mama tāta mahattaraḥ nigrahaṁ kuru me śīghraṁ yena na syāttapaḥkṣayaḥ

Shankha said: If that is so, O elder, then a grave fault of theft has attached to me; punish me at once, so that my austerity may not be destroyed.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.209.65)

विश्वामित्र उवाच तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा शस्त्रमादाय निर्मलम् चकर्ताथ भुजौ तस्य भ्राता भ्रातुश्च निर्घृणः सोपि च्छिन्नकरो विप्रो व्यथयापि समन्वितः

viśvāmitra uvāca tasya taṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā śastramādāya nirmalam cakartātha bhujau tasya bhrātā bhrātuśca nirghṛṇaḥ sopi cchinnakaro vipro vyathayāpi samanvitaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Learning of his firm resolve, the brother, without mercy, took up a bright weapon and cut off both his arms; that brahmin, though his hands were severed and he was in agony—

Verse 66 (skanda.6.209.66)

मन्यमानः प्रसादं तं भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य पार्थिव

manyamānaḥ prasādaṁ taṁ bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya pārthiva

—O king, took even this as an act of grace from his elder brother.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.209.67)

ततस्तु कामदं क्षेत्रं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम् मत्वा प्राप्य तपस्तेपे कंचित्प्राप्य जलाशयम्

tatastu kāmadaṁ kṣetraṁ hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñitam matvā prāpya tapastepe kaṁcitprāpya jalāśayam

Then, betaking himself to the wish-fulfilling region of Hatakeshvara, he found a certain pool of water there and began his austerity.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.209.68)

वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमन्ते सलिलाश्रयः पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे षष्ठकालकृताशनः

varṣāsvākāśaśāyī ca hemante salilāśrayaḥ pañcāgnisādhako grīṣme ṣaṣṭhakālakṛtāśanaḥ

In the rainy season he slept beneath the open sky, in winter he took to the water, in summer he practiced the five-fire penance, and he ate only every sixth meal-time.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.209.69)

संस्नाप्य भास्करं स्थाणुं तत्पुरः शतरुद्रियम् जपन्सामोक्तरुद्रांश्च भवरुद्रांस्तथा जपन् प्राणरुद्रांस्तथा नीलान्स्कन्दसूक्तसमन्वितान्

saṁsnāpya bhāskaraṁ sthāṇuṁ tatpuraḥ śatarudriyam japansāmoktarudrāṁśca bhavarudrāṁstathā japan prāṇarudrāṁstathā nīlānskandasūktasamanvitān

He bathed the sun-god and the linga, recited the Shata-rudriya before them, and chanted the Rudra hymns of the Sama-veda, the Bhava-rudras, the Prana-rudras, the Nila-rudras, together with the Skanda-sukta.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.209.70)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तुष्टस्तस्य महेश्वरः प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा सह सूर्यवृषेश्वरैः

tato varṣasahasrāṁte tuṣṭastasya maheśvaraḥ provāca darśanaṁ gatvā saha sūryavṛṣeśvaraiḥ

Then, at the end of a thousand years, Maheshvara, well pleased, came before him together with the sun-god and the bull-lord Nandi, and gave him his darshan, speaking thus.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.209.71)

महेश्वर उवाच शंख तुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्स तपसानेन सुव्रत तस्मात्कथय मे क्षिप्रं यद्ददामि तवाऽधुना

maheśvara uvāca śaṁkha tuṣṭo'smi te vatsa tapasānena suvrata tasmātkathaya me kṣipraṁ yaddadāmi tavā'dhunā

Maheshvara said: My child Shankha, keeper of noble vows, I am pleased by this austerity of yours; so tell me quickly what I should now grant you.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.209.72)

शंख उवाच यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव यदि देयो वरो मम जायेतां तादृशौ हस्तौ यादृशो मे पुरा स्थितौ

śaṁkha uvāca yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva yadi deyo varo mama jāyetāṁ tādṛśau hastau yādṛśo me purā sthitau

Shankha said: O lord, if you are pleased with me and wish to grant me a boon, let my hands be restored just as they were before.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.209.73)

त्वयाऽत्रैव सदा वासः कार्यः सुरवरेश्वर लिंगे कृत्वा दयां देव ममोपरि महत्तराम्

tvayā'traiva sadā vāsaḥ kāryaḥ suravareśvara liṁge kṛtvā dayāṁ deva mamopari mahattarām

O foremost of gods, take up your permanent abode here in this linga, and, O lord, bestow upon me your still greater grace.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.209.74)

एतज्जलाशयं नाथ मम नाम्ना धरातले प्रसिद्धिं यातु लोकस्य यावच्चन्द्रार्कतारकाः

etajjalāśayaṁ nātha mama nāmnā dharātale prasiddhiṁ yātu lokasya yāvaccandrārkatārakāḥ

O lord, let this pool become renowned among men on earth under my own name, for as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure.

Verse 75 (skanda.6.209.75)

अत्र यः कुरुते स्नानं धृत्वा मनसि दुर्लभम् किंचिद्वस्तु समग्रं तु तस्य संपत्स्यते विभो

atra yaḥ kurute snānaṁ dhṛtvā manasi durlabham kiṁcidvastu samagraṁ tu tasya saṁpatsyate vibho

O mighty one, whoever bathes here, holding in mind some object however difficult to attain, let it come to him in its fullness.

Verse 76 (skanda.6.209.76)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अद्याहं दर्शनं प्राप्तस्तव चैवाष्टमीदिने माधवस्य सिते पक्षे यस्माद्ब्राह्मणसत्तम

śrībhagavānuvāca adyāhaṁ darśanaṁ prāptastava caivāṣṭamīdine mādhavasya site pakṣe yasmādbrāhmaṇasattama

The Lord said: O best of brahmins, since I have granted you my darshan today, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Madhava—

Verse 77 (skanda.6.209.77)

तस्मात्संक्रमणं लिंगे तावकेऽस्मिन्द्विजोत्तम करिष्यामि न सन्देहो दिनमेकमसंशयम्

tasmātsaṁkramaṇaṁ liṁge tāvake'smindvijottama kariṣyāmi na sandeho dinamekamasaṁśayam

—therefore, O best of brahmins, I shall without fail enter into this linga of yours on that same one day every year, without doubt.

Verse 78 (skanda.6.209.78)

यश्चात्र दिवसे प्राप्ते तीर्थेऽत्रैव भवोद्भवे स्नानं कृत्वा रवेर्वार उदयं समुपस्थिते

yaścātra divase prāpte tīrthe'traiva bhavodbhave snānaṁ kṛtvā ravervāra udayaṁ samupasthite

Whoever, on that day, bathes here in this ford belonging to Bhava, at sunrise on a Sunday—

Verse 79 (skanda.6.209.79)

पूजयिष्यति मे मूर्तिं त्वया संस्थापितां द्विज कुष्ठव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो मम लोकं स यास्यति

pūjayiṣyati me mūrtiṁ tvayā saṁsthāpitāṁ dvija kuṣṭhavyādhivinirmukto mama lokaṁ sa yāsyati

—and worships this image of mine that you have established, shall be freed from leprosy and attain my own world.

Verse 80 (skanda.6.209.80)

शेषकालेऽपि विप्रेन्द्र अज्ञानविहितादघात् मुक्तिं प्राप्स्यत्यसंदिग्धं मम वाक्याद्द्विजोत्तम

śeṣakāle'pi viprendra ajñānavihitādaghāt muktiṁ prāpsyatyasaṁdigdhaṁ mama vākyāddvijottama

O foremost of brahmins, even at other times of the year, by my word, he shall without doubt obtain release from sins committed in ignorance.

Verse 81 (skanda.6.209.81)

तथा तवापि यौ हस्तौ छिन्नावेतावुभावपि तस्मिन्योगेऽभिषेकात्तौः स्यातां भूयोऽपि तादृशौ

tathā tavāpi yau hastau chinnāvetāvubhāvapi tasminyoge'bhiṣekāttauḥ syātāṁ bhūyo'pi tādṛśau

And these two severed hands of yours too shall, by the power of the ritual bathing on that same conjunction, be restored exactly as they were.

Verse 82 (skanda.6.209.82)

एष मे प्रत्ययो विप्र भविष्यति तवाऽधुना भूयः स्नानं विधाय त्वं ततो मूर्तिं ममार्चय

eṣa me pratyayo vipra bhaviṣyati tavā'dhunā bhūyaḥ snānaṁ vidhāya tvaṁ tato mūrtiṁ mamārcaya

O brahmin, let this now be your proof of my word; so bathe once more according to the rite, and then worship my image.

Verse 83 (skanda.6.209.83)

अन्येऽपि व्यंगतां प्राप्ताः संयोगेऽत्र तव स्थिते स्नात्वा मां पूजयिष्यंति मुक्तिं यास्यंति ते द्विज

anye'pi vyaṁgatāṁ prāptāḥ saṁyoge'tra tava sthite snātvā māṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti muktiṁ yāsyaṁti te dvija

O brahmin, others too who have become maimed, if they bathe and worship me at this same conjunction fixed by you, shall likewise attain liberation.

Verse 84 (skanda.6.209.84)

एवमुक्त्वा सहस्रांशुस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः शंखोऽपि तत्क्षणात्स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा दिवाकरम्

evamuktvā sahasrāṁśustataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ śaṁkho'pi tatkṣaṇātsnātvā pūjayitvā divākaram

Having said this, the sun-god vanished from sight. Shankha too, that very instant, bathed and worshipped the sun-god.

Verse 85 (skanda.6.209.85)

यावत्पश्यति चात्मानं तावद्धस्तसमन्वितम् आत्मानं पश्यमानस्तु विस्मयं परमं गतः

yāvatpaśyati cātmānaṁ tāvaddhastasamanvitam ātmānaṁ paśyamānastu vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

When he looked at himself, he found his hands fully restored; seeing himself thus, he was overcome with the greatest astonishment.

Verse 86 (skanda.6.209.86)

ततःप्रभृति तत्रैव कृत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं नृप तपस्तेपे द्विजश्रेष्ठो गतश्च परमां गतिम्

tataḥprabhṛti tatraiva kṛtvā''śramapadaṁ nṛpa tapastepe dvijaśreṣṭho gataśca paramāṁ gatim

O king, from that time on, that best of brahmins made his hermitage there and continued his austerity, and in the end he attained the supreme state.

Verse 87 (skanda.6.209.87)

तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र संयोगं प्राप्य तत्त्वतः तेनैव विधिना स्नात्वा त्वं पूजय दिवाकरम्

tasmāttvamapi rājeṁdra saṁyogaṁ prāpya tattvataḥ tenaiva vidhinā snātvā tvaṁ pūjaya divākaram

Therefore, O foremost of kings, when that same conjunction comes round for you too, bathe according to that very rite and worship the sun-god.

Verse 88 (skanda.6.209.88)

यश्चैतच्छृणुयान्नित्यं पठेद्वा पुरतो रवेः तस्यान्वयेऽपि नो कुष्ठी कदाचित्सम्प्रजायते

yaścaitacchṛṇuyānnityaṁ paṭhedvā purato raveḥ tasyānvaye'pi no kuṣṭhī kadācitsamprajāyate

Whoever constantly listens to or recites this account before the sun-god shall never, even in his lineage, have a leper born to him.