The Origin of the Betel Creeper and its Atonement

Verse 1 (skanda.6.210.1)

विश्वामित्र उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य देवर्षेर्नारदस्य च सिद्धसेनो महीपालः प्राप्य तं योगमुत्तमम्

viśvāmitra uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya devarṣernāradasya ca siddhaseno mahīpālaḥ prāpya taṁ yogamuttamam

Vishvamitra said: Hearing that word of the divine sage Narada, King Siddhasena, upon that most auspicious conjunction arriving—

Verse 2 (skanda.6.210.2)

माधवे मासि संप्राप्ते अष्टम्यां सूर्यवासरे सूर्योदये तु संप्राप्ते यावत्स्नात्वाऽर्चयेद्रविम्

mādhave māsi saṁprāpte aṣṭamyāṁ sūryavāsare sūryodaye tu saṁprāpte yāvatsnātvā'rcayedravim

—in the month of Madhava, on the eighth day, on a Sunday, as soon as sunrise came, bathed and worshipped the sun-god—

Verse 3 (skanda.6.210.3)

तावत्कुष्ठविनिर्मुक्तः सहसा समपद्यत ततो दिव्यवपुर्भूत्वा सन्तोषं परमं गतः

tāvatkuṣṭhavinirmuktaḥ sahasā samapadyata tato divyavapurbhūtvā santoṣaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

—he was that instant freed of leprosy, and, gaining a divine body, was filled with the deepest joy.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.210.4)

प्रायश्चित्तं ततश्चक्रे तांबूलस्य च भक्षणम् अज्ञानेन कृतं यच्च चूर्णपत्रसमन्वितम्

prāyaścittaṁ tataścakre tāṁbūlasya ca bhakṣaṇam ajñānena kṛtaṁ yacca cūrṇapatrasamanvitam

Thereafter he also performed the atonement for having, out of ignorance, eaten betel leaf together with lime.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.210.5)

ततश्च परमां लक्ष्मीं संप्राप्तः स महीपतिः पितृपैतामहं राज्यं स प्रचक्रे यथा पुरा

tataśca paramāṁ lakṣmīṁ saṁprāptaḥ sa mahīpatiḥ pitṛpaitāmahaṁ rājyaṁ sa pracakre yathā purā

Then that king attained supreme fortune once more, and governed his ancestral kingdom just as he had before.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.210.6)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शंखतीर्थसमुद्भवम् माहात्म्यं पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ śaṁkhatīrthasamudbhavam māhātmyaṁ pārthivaśreṣṭha kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

O best of kings, I have now told you the entire greatness of the origin of Shankha-tirtha; what more do you wish to hear?

Verse 7 (skanda.6.210.7)

आनर्त उवाच अत्याश्चर्यमिदं ब्रह्मन्यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम् यल्लक्ष्मीस्तस्य सन्नष्टा चूर्णपत्रस्य भक्षणात्

ānarta uvāca atyāścaryamidaṁ brahmanyattvayā parikīrtitam yallakṣmīstasya sannaṣṭā cūrṇapatrasya bhakṣaṇāt

Anarta said: O brahmin, most astonishing is what you have told — that his fortune was ruined merely by eating lime with betel leaf.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.210.8)

कीदृक्तेन कृतं तस्य प्रायश्चित्तं विशुद्धये कीदृक्तेन कृतं तच्च निजराज्यं यथा पुरा

kīdṛktena kṛtaṁ tasya prāyaścittaṁ viśuddhaye kīdṛktena kṛtaṁ tacca nijarājyaṁ yathā purā

What sort of atonement did he perform for his purification, and how did he thus regain his kingdom as it was before?

Verse 9 (skanda.6.210.9)

विश्वामित्र उवाच एषा पुण्यतमा मेध्या नागवल्ली नराधिप अयथावत्कृता वक्त्रे बहून्दोषान्प्रयच्छति तस्माद्यत्नेन संभक्ष्या दत्त्वा चैव स्वशक्तितः

viśvāmitra uvāca eṣā puṇyatamā medhyā nāgavallī narādhipa ayathāvatkṛtā vaktre bahūndoṣānprayacchati tasmādyatnena saṁbhakṣyā dattvā caiva svaśaktitaḥ

Vishvamitra said: O king, this betel creeper is a most sacred and meritorious thing; but eaten without proper observance, it produces many faults in the mouth. Therefore it must be eaten carefully, and only after giving of it, according to one's means, in charity.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.210.10)

आनर्त उवाच नागवल्ली कथं जाता कस्माद्दोषो महान्स्मृतः अयथावद्भक्षणाच्च तन्मे वक्तुमिहार्हसि

ānarta uvāca nāgavallī kathaṁ jātā kasmāddoṣo mahānsmṛtaḥ ayathāvadbhakṣaṇācca tanme vaktumihārhasi

Anarta said: How did the betel creeper originate, and why is so great a fault attributed to eating it improperly? Please tell me this.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.210.11)

विश्वामित्र उवाच प्रश्नभारो महानेष त्वया मे परिकीर्तितः तथापि च वदिष्यामि यदि ते कौतुकं नृप यस्मात्सञ्जायते दोषश्चूर्णपत्रस्य भक्षणात्

viśvāmitra uvāca praśnabhāro mahāneṣa tvayā me parikīrtitaḥ tathāpi ca vadiṣyāmi yadi te kautukaṁ nṛpa yasmātsañjāyate doṣaścūrṇapatrasya bhakṣaṇāt

Vishvamitra said: You have put to me a weighty question indeed; still, O king, since you are curious, I shall tell you why a fault arises from eating lime with betel leaf.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.210.12)

अमृतार्थं पुरा देवैर्मथितः कलशोदधिः मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम्

amṛtārthaṁ purā devairmathitaḥ kalaśodadhiḥ manthānaṁ mandaraṁ kṛtvā netraṁ kṛtvā tu vāsukim

In ancient times, for the sake of amrita, the gods churned the ocean of milk, using Mount Mandara as the churning-stick and the serpent Vasuki as the cord.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.210.13)

मुखदेशे बलिर्लग्नः पुच्छदेशेऽखिलाः सुराः वासुदेवमतेनैव सन्दधाराथ कच्छपः

mukhadeśe balirlagnaḥ pucchadeśe'khilāḥ surāḥ vāsudevamatenaiva sandadhārātha kacchapaḥ

Bali and the demons took hold at the serpent's head, and all the gods at its tail; and, at Vasudeva's own counsel, a tortoise bore up that mountain.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.210.14)

मन्दरे भ्रममाणे तु प्रागेव नृपसत्तम आनर्तसहसा जातं रत्नत्रितयमेव च

mandare bhramamāṇe tu prāgeva nṛpasattama ānartasahasā jātaṁ ratnatritayameva ca

O best of kings, as Mandara began to revolve, three jewels arose all at once, even before anything else.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.210.15)

नीलांबरधरः कृष्णः पुरुषो वक्रनासिकः कृष्णदन्तः स्थूलशिरा दीर्घग्रीवो महोदरः शूर्पाकारांघ्रिरेवाऽसौ चिपिटाक्षो भयावहः

nīlāṁbaradharaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puruṣo vakranāsikaḥ kṛṣṇadantaḥ sthūlaśirā dīrghagrīvo mahodaraḥ śūrpākārāṁghrirevā'sau cipiṭākṣo bhayāvahaḥ

Among them was a dark-skinned man clad in blue garments, with a crooked nose, black teeth, a bulging head, a long neck, a huge belly, feet shaped like winnowing-fans, and flattened eyes — a terrifying figure.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.210.16)

तथा तद्रूपिणी तस्य कुभार्या राक्षसी यथा शिशुनांगुलिलग्नेन गर्भश्रमपरायणा

tathā tadrūpiṇī tasya kubhāryā rākṣasī yathā śiśunāṁgulilagnena garbhaśramaparāyaṇā

And his wife too, of like appearance, hideous as a demoness, wearied from the labor of childbirth, clutched the finger of her infant child.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.210.17)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे दानवाश्च विशेषतः मन्थानं तत्परित्यज्य तान्ग्रहीतुं प्रधाविताः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve dānavāśca viśeṣataḥ manthānaṁ tatparityajya tāngrahītuṁ pradhāvitāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, and especially the demons, left off churning and rushed forward to seize them.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.210.18)

अथ तान्विकृतान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वे शंकासमन्विताः जगृहुर्नैव राजेंद्र जहसुश्च परस्परम्

atha tānvikṛtāndṛṣṭvā sarve śaṁkāsamanvitāḥ jagṛhurnaiva rājeṁdra jahasuśca parasparam

But seeing them so misshapen, all grew hesitant; O king, none took hold of them, and instead they burst out laughing at one another.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.210.19)

अथोवाच बलिर्दैत्यः कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः ब्रह्माऽऽदि यल्लभेत्सर्वं यत्पुरस्तात्प्रजायते

athovāca balirdaityaḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ brahmā''di yallabhetsarvaṁ yatpurastātprajāyate

Then the demon Bali, standing with folded hands, said: Whatever arises first of all should belong to Brahma and the other great ones.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.210.20)

रत्नत्रितयमेतद्धि तस्माद्गृह्णातु पद्मजः येन सिद्धिर्भवेदस्मिन्मन्थने कस्य चाऽर्पणात्

ratnatritayametaddhi tasmādgṛhṇātu padmajaḥ yena siddhirbhavedasminmanthane kasya cā'rpaṇāt

Therefore let Brahma alone take these three prizes, so that success in this churning may follow, whoever they are offered to.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.210.21)

तद्वाक्यं विष्णुना तस्य शंसितं शंकरेण तु इंद्राद्यैश्च सुरैः सर्वैर्दानवैश्च विशेषतः

tadvākyaṁ viṣṇunā tasya śaṁsitaṁ śaṁkareṇa tu iṁdrādyaiśca suraiḥ sarvairdānavaiśca viśeṣataḥ

His proposal was applauded by Vishnu and Shankara, and by Indra and all the other gods, and especially by the demons.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.210.22)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मा जग्राह त्रितयं च तत् दाक्षिण्यात्सर्वदेवानामनिच्छन्नपि पार्थिव ममन्थुः सागरं राजन्पुनस्ते यत्नमाश्रिताः

etasminnaṁtare brahmā jagrāha tritayaṁ ca tat dākṣiṇyātsarvadevānāmanicchannapi pārthiva mamanthuḥ sāgaraṁ rājanpunaste yatnamāśritāḥ

Meanwhile, though unwilling, out of deference to all the gods, Brahma accepted that triad. O king, then all of them once more applied themselves diligently to churning the ocean.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.210.23)

ततश्च वारुणी जाता दिव्यगन्धसमन्विता बलिना संगृहीता सा प्रत्यक्षं बलविद्विषः

tataśca vāruṇī jātā divyagandhasamanvitā balinā saṁgṛhītā sā pratyakṣaṁ balavidviṣaḥ

Then Varuni, the wine, arose, endowed with a divine fragrance; it was seized by Bali, right before the eyes of Indra, the foe of the demon Bala.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.210.24)

आवर्ते चापरे जाते निष्क्रांतः कौस्तुभो मणिः स गृहीतो महाराज विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना

āvarte cāpare jāte niṣkrāṁtaḥ kaustubho maṇiḥ sa gṛhīto mahārāja viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā

Then, on another swirl of the sea, the Kaustubha gem emerged, which, O great king, the almighty Vishnu took for himself.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.210.25)

अथापरे स्थिते तत्र महावर्ते निशापतिः सञ्जातः स वृषांकेन संगृहीतश्च तत्क्षणात्

athāpare sthite tatra mahāvarte niśāpatiḥ sañjātaḥ sa vṛṣāṁkena saṁgṛhītaśca tatkṣaṇāt

Then, on yet another great swirl, the lord of night, the moon, arose, and was that same instant taken up by the bull-bannered Shiva.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.210.26)

पारिजातस्ततो जातो दिव्यगन्धसमन्वितः स गृहीत्वा सुरैः सर्वैः स्थापितो नंदने वने

pārijātastato jāto divyagandhasamanvitaḥ sa gṛhītvā suraiḥ sarvaiḥ sthāpito naṁdane vane

Next arose the Parijata tree, filled with divine fragrance, which all the gods took and planted in the Nandana garden.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.210.27)

तस्यानंतरमेवाथ सुरभी वत्ससंयुता निष्क्रांता व्योममार्गेण गोलोकं समवस्थिता

tasyānaṁtaramevātha surabhī vatsasaṁyutā niṣkrāṁtā vyomamārgeṇa golokaṁ samavasthitā

Immediately after, the wish-granting cow Surabhi, together with her calf, emerged, and rising through the sky, went and settled in Goloka.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.210.28)

ततो धन्वंतरिर्जातो बिभ्रद्धस्ते कमंडलुम् संपूर्णममृतेनैव स देवैर्दानवैर्नृप

tato dhanvaṁtarirjāto bibhraddhaste kamaṁḍalum saṁpūrṇamamṛtenaiva sa devairdānavairnṛpa

Then Dhanvantari arose, bearing in his hand a kamandalu filled entirely with amrita. O king, both the gods and the demons—

Verse 29 (skanda.6.210.29)

गृहीतो युगपत्क्रुद्धैः परस्परजिगीषया देवानां हस्तगो वैद्यो दैत्यानां च कमण्डलुः

gṛhīto yugapatkruddhaiḥ parasparajigīṣayā devānāṁ hastago vaidyo daityānāṁ ca kamaṇḍaluḥ

—simultaneously seized upon him in mutual rivalry, each enraged; in the end the physician fell into the hands of the gods, and the kamandalu into those of the demons.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.210.30)

ततस्तं लोभसंयुक्ता ममंथुः सागरं नृप पद्महस्तात्र संजाता ततो लक्ष्मीः सितांबरा

tatastaṁ lobhasaṁyuktā mamaṁthuḥ sāgaraṁ nṛpa padmahastātra saṁjātā tato lakṣmīḥ sitāṁbarā

O king, then, driven by greed, they resumed churning the ocean, and thereupon Lakshmi appeared, lotus in hand, clad in white raiment.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.210.31)

स्वयमेव वृतो विष्णुस्तया पार्थिवसत्तम मथ्यमाने ततोतीव समुद्रे देवदानवैः

svayameva vṛto viṣṇustayā pārthivasattama mathyamāne tatotīva samudre devadānavaiḥ

O best of kings, she of her own accord chose Vishnu as her husband. Then, as the ocean continued to be churned still more violently by gods and demons—

Verse 32 (skanda.6.210.32)

कालकूटं समुत्पन्नं येन सर्वे सुरासुराः संप्राप्ताः परमं कष्टं प्रभग्नाश्च दिशो दश

kālakūṭaṁ samutpannaṁ yena sarve surāsurāḥ saṁprāptāḥ paramaṁ kaṣṭaṁ prabhagnāśca diśo daśa

—the terrible Kalakuta poison arose, from which all the gods and demons fell into the greatest anguish and fled scattering in every direction.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.210.33)

तं दृष्ट्वा भगवाञ्छंभुस्तीव्रं तीव्रपराक्रमः भक्षयामास राजेंद्र नीलकण्ठस्ततोऽभवत्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavāñchaṁbhustīvraṁ tīvraparākramaḥ bhakṣayāmāsa rājeṁdra nīlakaṇṭhastato'bhavat

Seeing that dreadful poison, the mighty Lord Shambhu, of terrible valor, swallowed it; O king, it was from this that he became known as Nilakantha, the blue-throated.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.210.34)

अथ संत्यज्य मंथानं मंदरं वासुकिं तथा अमृतार्थेऽभवद्युद्धं दैत्यानां विबुधैः सह

atha saṁtyajya maṁthānaṁ maṁdaraṁ vāsukiṁ tathā amṛtārthe'bhavadyuddhaṁ daityānāṁ vibudhaiḥ saha

Then the churning-rod Mandara and the cord Vasuki were both set aside, and battle broke out between the demons and the gods over the amrita.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.210.35)

अथ स्त्रीरूपमाधाय विष्णुर्दैत्यानुवाच तान् ततो हृष्टो बलिस्तस्यै दत्त्वा पीयूषमेव तत्

atha strīrūpamādhāya viṣṇurdaityānuvāca tān tato hṛṣṭo balistasyai dattvā pīyūṣameva tat

Then Vishnu, taking on a woman's form, addressed the demons; and Bali, delighted, handed over that very nectar to her.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.210.36)

विश्वासं परमं गत्वा युद्धं चक्रे सुरैः सह ततो विष्णुः परित्यज्य स्त्रीरूपं पुरुषाकृतिः

viśvāsaṁ paramaṁ gatvā yuddhaṁ cakre suraiḥ saha tato viṣṇuḥ parityajya strīrūpaṁ puruṣākṛtiḥ

Having placed his utmost trust in her, he then resumed battle with the gods. Then Vishnu, casting off his female form, resumed his masculine shape.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.210.37)

तदेवामृतमादाय ययौ यत्र दिवौकसः अब्रवीत्तान्सुहृष्टात्मा पिवध्वममृतं सुराः

tadevāmṛtamādāya yayau yatra divaukasaḥ abravīttānsuhṛṣṭātmā pivadhvamamṛtaṁ surāḥ

Taking that very nectar, he went to where the gods were, and, filled with joy, said to them: Drink this amrita, O gods.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.210.38)

येनामरत्वमासाद्य व्यापादयत दानवान् ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय पपुः पीयूषमुत्तमम्

yenāmaratvamāsādya vyāpādayata dānavān te tatheti pratijñāya papuḥ pīyūṣamuttamam

So that, gaining immortality thereby, you may destroy the demons. Vowing 'so be it,' they drank that supreme nectar.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.210.39)

अमराश्च ततो जाता जघ्नुः संख्ये महासुरान्

amarāśca tato jātā jaghnuḥ saṁkhye mahāsurān

Thereupon, become immortal, they slew the great demons in battle.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.210.40)

तेषां पानविधौ तत्र वर्तमाने महीपते राहुर्विबुधरूपेण पपौ पीयूषमुत्सुकः

teṣāṁ pānavidhau tatra vartamāne mahīpate rāhurvibudharūpeṇa papau pīyūṣamutsukaḥ

O king, even as that drinking of the nectar was underway, Rahu, taking on the form of a god, eagerly drank of the amrita too.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.210.41)

स लक्षितो महादैत्यश्चंद्रार्काभ्यां च तत्क्षणात् निवेदितो हरे राजन्नायं देवो महासुरः

sa lakṣito mahādaityaścaṁdrārkābhyāṁ ca tatkṣaṇāt nivedito hare rājannāyaṁ devo mahāsuraḥ

That great demon was instantly recognized by the moon and the sun, and, O king, they informed Hari: this is no god, but a great demon.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.210.42)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवेन तस्य चक्रं सुदर्शनम् वधाय पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ मुक्तं वज्रसमप्रभम्

tacchrutvā vāsudevena tasya cakraṁ sudarśanam vadhāya pārthivaśreṣṭha muktaṁ vajrasamaprabham

Hearing this, O best of kings, Vasudeva hurled his Sudarshana discus, radiant as the thunderbolt, to slay him.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.210.43)

यावन्मात्रं शरीरं तत्तस्य व्याप्तं महीपते अमृतेन ततः कृत्तममोघेनापि तच्छिरः

yāvanmātraṁ śarīraṁ tattasya vyāptaṁ mahīpate amṛtena tataḥ kṛttamamoghenāpi tacchiraḥ

O king, only so much of his body as had already been pervaded by the amrita remained; his head was severed by that unfailing discus.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.210.44)

ततोऽमरत्वमापन्नः स यावत्सिंहिकासुतः तावत्प्रोक्तोऽच्युतेनाथ साम्ना परमवल्गुना

tato'maratvamāpannaḥ sa yāvatsiṁhikāsutaḥ tāvatprokto'cyutenātha sāmnā paramavalgunā

Thus the son of Simhika attained immortality; then Lord Achyuta addressed him in the most gentle and conciliatory tone.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.210.45)

त्यज दैत्यान्महाभाग देवानां संमतो भव संप्राप्स्यसि परां पूजां सदा त्वं ग्रहमंडले

tyaja daityānmahābhāga devānāṁ saṁmato bhava saṁprāpsyasi parāṁ pūjāṁ sadā tvaṁ grahamaṁḍale

O illustrious one, forsake the demons now and become accepted among the gods; you shall forever receive supreme worship in the circle of the planets.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.210.46)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय त्यक्त्वा तान्दैत्यसत्तमान् पूजां प्राप्नोति मर्त्यानां संस्थितो ग्रहमण्डले

sa tatheti pratijñāya tyaktvā tāndaityasattamān pūjāṁ prāpnoti martyānāṁ saṁsthito grahamaṇḍale

He agreed, saying 'so be it,' forsook those foremost demons, and, established since then in the circle of the planets, receives the worship of mankind.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.210.47)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे दैत्या निर्जिताः सुरसत्तमैः दिशो जग्मुः परित्रस्ताः केचिन्मृत्युमुपागताः

etasminnaṁtare daityā nirjitāḥ surasattamaiḥ diśo jagmuḥ paritrastāḥ kecinmṛtyumupāgatāḥ

Meanwhile, the demons, defeated by the foremost gods, fled terrified in every direction, and some met their death.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.210.48)

पीतशेषं च पीयूषं स्थापितं नन्दने वने नागराजस्य यत्रैव स्थितमालानमेव च

pītaśeṣaṁ ca pīyūṣaṁ sthāpitaṁ nandane vane nāgarājasya yatraiva sthitamālānameva ca

The remainder of the nectar left after the drinking was set down in the Nandana garden, at the very spot where the tethering-post of the lord of elephants stood.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.210.49)

अहर्निशं मदस्रावी करींद्रः सोऽपि संस्थितः तत्प्रभावैः प्रभिन्नः स पीयूषस्य कमंडलुः

aharniśaṁ madasrāvī karīṁdraḥ so'pi saṁsthitaḥ tatprabhāvaiḥ prabhinnaḥ sa pīyūṣasya kamaṁḍaluḥ

That elephant lord, ever oozing rut-fluid day and night, stood there; and by the effect of that fluid, the kamandalu of nectar became cracked.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.210.50)

ततो वल्ली समुत्पन्ना तस्माच्चैव कमण्डलोः तत्रालानसमारूढा वृद्धिं च परमां गता

tato vallī samutpannā tasmāccaiva kamaṇḍaloḥ tatrālānasamārūḍhā vṛddhiṁ ca paramāṁ gatā

From that very kamandalu a creeper then sprang up, and, climbing up along that tethering-post, grew to the greatest size.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.210.51)

तदुद्भवानि पत्राणि गृहीत्वा सुरसत्तमाः अपूर्वाणि सुगंधीनि मत्वा ते भक्षयंति च

tadudbhavāni patrāṇi gṛhītvā surasattamāḥ apūrvāṇi sugaṁdhīni matvā te bhakṣayaṁti ca

Taking the leaves that grew upon it to be wondrous and fragrant, the foremost gods began to pluck and chew them.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.210.52)

वक्त्रशुद्धिकृते राजन्विशेषेण प्रहर्षिताः

vaktraśuddhikṛte rājanviśeṣeṇa praharṣitāḥ

O king, they took special delight in them for the purifying of the mouth.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.210.53)

अथ धन्वतरिर्वैद्यः स्वबुद्ध्या पृथिवीपते नागालाने यतो जाता नागवल्ली भविष्यति

atha dhanvatarirvaidyaḥ svabuddhyā pṛthivīpate nāgālāne yato jātā nāgavallī bhaviṣyati

O king, then Dhanvantari the physician, reasoning with his own wisdom, thought: since this creeper arose at the elephant's tethering-post, it shall be called Nagavalli.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.210.54)

सदा स्मरस्य संस्थानं मम वाक्याद्भविष्यति नागवल्लीति वै नाम तस्याश्चक्रे ततः परम्

sadā smarasya saṁsthānaṁ mama vākyādbhaviṣyati nāgavallīti vai nāma tasyāścakre tataḥ param

And by my word it shall forever be the abode of Kamadeva, the god of desire. Thereupon he gave it the name Nagavalli.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.210.55)

संयोगं च चकाराथ तांबूलं जायते यथा पूगीफलेन चूर्णेन खदिरेणापि पार्थिव

saṁyogaṁ ca cakārātha tāṁbūlaṁ jāyate yathā pūgīphalena cūrṇena khadireṇāpi pārthiva

O king, it was he too who devised the combination by which betel — leaf, areca nut, lime, and catechu together — comes to be prepared.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.210.56)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वाणीवत्सरको नृपः प्रतोषं नीतवाञ्छक्रं तपसा निर्मलेन च

kasyacittvatha kālasya vāṇīvatsarako nṛpaḥ pratoṣaṁ nītavāñchakraṁ tapasā nirmalena ca

After some time, a king named Vanivatsaraka, through his own pure austerity, brought Indra to the utmost satisfaction.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.210.57)

ततस्तत्तपसा तुष्ट इन्द्रो वचनमब्रवीत्

tatastattapasā tuṣṭa indro vacanamabravīt

Then Indra, well pleased by that austerity, spoke these words.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.210.58)

इन्द्र उवाच भोभोः पार्थिव तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसाऽनेन सांप्रतम् ब्रूहि यत्ते वरं दद्मि मनसा वांछितं सदा

indra uvāca bhobhoḥ pārthiva tuṣṭo'smi tapasā'nena sāṁpratam brūhi yatte varaṁ dadmi manasā vāṁchitaṁ sadā

Indra said: O king, I am now well pleased by this austerity; speak, and I shall grant you whatever boon your mind has always desired.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.210.59)

सोऽब्रवीद्यदि मे तुष्टो यदि देयो वरो मम विमानं खेचरं देहि येनागच्छामि ते गृहे नित्यमेव धरापृष्ठाद्वंदनार्थं तव प्रभो

so'bravīdyadi me tuṣṭo yadi deyo varo mama vimānaṁ khecaraṁ dehi yenāgacchāmi te gṛhe nityameva dharāpṛṣṭhādvaṁdanārthaṁ tava prabho

He said: O lord, if you are pleased with me and wish to grant me a boon, give me a sky-going chariot, by which I may come daily from the earth to your abode, to pay homage to you.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.210.60)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय हंसबर्हिणनादितम् विमानं प्रददौ तस्मै मनोमारुतवेगधृक्

sa tatheti pratijñāya haṁsabarhiṇanāditam vimānaṁ pradadau tasmai manomārutavegadhṛk

Indra, saying 'so be it,' gave him a celestial chariot resounding with the cries of swans and peacocks, swift as thought and as the wind.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.210.61)

स तत्र नित्यमारुह्य प्रयाति त्रिदशालयम् भक्त्या परमया युक्तः सहस्राक्षं प्रवंदितुम्

sa tatra nityamāruhya prayāti tridaśālayam bhaktyā paramayā yuktaḥ sahasrākṣaṁ pravaṁditum

He would mount it daily and, filled with the utmost devotion, journey to the abode of the gods to pay homage to the thousand-eyed Indra.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.210.62)

तस्य शक्रः स्वहस्तेन तांबूलं च प्रयच्छति स च तद्भक्षयामास प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना

tasya śakraḥ svahastena tāṁbūlaṁ ca prayacchati sa ca tadbhakṣayāmāsa prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā

Indra would give him betel with his own hand, and he, his heart filled with joy, would eat it.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.210.63)

वृद्धभावेऽपि संप्राप्ते तस्य कामोऽत्यवर्द्धत तांबूलस्य प्रभावेन सुमहान्पृथिवीपते

vṛddhabhāve'pi saṁprāpte tasya kāmo'tyavarddhata tāṁbūlasya prabhāvena sumahānpṛthivīpate

O king, even upon reaching old age, his desire greatly increased, owing to the power of that betel.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.210.64)

अथ शक्रमुवाचेदं स राजा विनयान्वितः नागवल्लीप्रदानेन प्रसादो मे विधीयताम्

atha śakramuvācedaṁ sa rājā vinayānvitaḥ nāgavallīpradānena prasādo me vidhīyatām

Then that humble king said to Indra: Grant me your grace by giving me the Nagavalli creeper.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.210.65)

मर्त्यलोके समानेतुं प्रचारं येन गच्छति स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय तस्मै तां प्रददौ तदा

martyaloke samānetuṁ pracāraṁ yena gacchati sa tatheti pratijñāya tasmai tāṁ pradadau tadā

So that I may bring it to the mortal world and spread its use there. Indra, saying 'so be it,' then gave him that creeper.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.210.66)

गत्वा निजपुरं सोपि स्वोद्यानेऽस्थापयत्तदा ततः कालेन महता प्रचारं सा गता क्षितौ

gatvā nijapuraṁ sopi svodyāne'sthāpayattadā tataḥ kālena mahatā pracāraṁ sā gatā kṣitau

Returning to his own city, he planted it in his own garden; and after a long time it spread across the whole earth.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.210.67)

यस्याः स्वादनतो लोकः कामात्मा समपद्यत न कश्चिद्यजनं चक्रे याजनं च विशेषतः अन्या धर्मक्रियाः सर्वाः प्रणष्टा धर्मसंभवाः

yasyāḥ svādanato lokaḥ kāmātmā samapadyata na kaścidyajanaṁ cakre yājanaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ anyā dharmakriyāḥ sarvāḥ praṇaṣṭā dharmasaṁbhavāḥ

Through its savor, people became given over to desire; no one performed sacrifice, nor especially officiated at one; and all other rites born of dharma fell into ruin.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.210.68)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे यज्ञभागविवर्जिताः पीड्यमानाः क्रुधाविष्टा गत्वा प्रोचुः पितामहम्

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve yajñabhāgavivarjitāḥ pīḍyamānāḥ krudhāviṣṭā gatvā procuḥ pitāmaham

Then all the hosts of gods, deprived of their share in the sacrifices, distressed and filled with anger, went to Brahma and said.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.210.69)

मर्त्यलोके सुरश्रेष्ठ नष्टा धर्मक्रिया भृशम् कामासक्तो यतो लोकस्तांबूलस्य च भक्षणात् तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं नो येनास्माकं क्रिया भवेत्

martyaloke suraśreṣṭha naṣṭā dharmakriyā bhṛśam kāmāsakto yato lokastāṁbūlasya ca bhakṣaṇāt tasmātkuru prasādaṁ no yenāsmākaṁ kriyā bhavet

O foremost of gods, in the mortal world all religious rites have utterly perished, for by chewing betel the people have grown given over to desire; so grant us your grace, that our own rites of worship may resume.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.210.70)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पुष्करस्थं पितामहम् यजनार्थे समायातं दरिद्रो वीक्ष्य पार्थिव

etasminneva kāle tu puṣkarasthaṁ pitāmaham yajanārthe samāyātaṁ daridro vīkṣya pārthiva

O king, at that very time, a destitute man caught sight of Brahma, who had come to Pushkara for a sacrifice.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.210.71)

प्रणिपत्य ततः प्राह विनयावनतः स्थितः निर्विण्णोऽहं सुरश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणानां गृहे स्थितः

praṇipatya tataḥ prāha vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ nirviṇṇo'haṁ suraśreṣṭha brāhmaṇānāṁ gṛhe sthitaḥ

Bowing before him and standing humbly, he said: O foremost of gods, I have grown utterly weary of dwelling in the houses of brahmins.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.210.72)

तस्मात्कीर्तय मे स्थानं श्रेष्ठं वित्तवतां हि यत् तत्र सञ्जायते तृप्तिः शाश्वती प्रचुरा प्रभो

tasmātkīrtaya me sthānaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vittavatāṁ hi yat tatra sañjāyate tṛptiḥ śāśvatī pracurā prabho

So tell me, O lord, of that best place belonging to the wealthy, where lasting and abundant satisfaction is to be found.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.210.73)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चिरं ध्यात्वा पितामहः अब्रवीच्च दरिद्रं तं छिद्रार्थं धनिनामिह

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā ciraṁ dhyātvā pitāmahaḥ abravīcca daridraṁ taṁ chidrārthaṁ dhanināmiha

Hearing his words, Brahma pondered a long while, and then, in order to reveal the vulnerable spots of the wealthy, spoke to that poor man.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.210.74)

चूर्णपत्रे त्वया वासः सदा कार्यो दरिद्र भोः तांबूलस्य तु पर्णाग्रे भार्यया मम वाक्यतः

cūrṇapatre tvayā vāsaḥ sadā kāryo daridra bhoḥ tāṁbūlasya tu parṇāgre bhāryayā mama vākyataḥ

He said: O poor man, by my word, dwell always in the lime and the betel leaf — with the help of my own wife, in the tip of the betel leaf—

Verse 75 (skanda.6.210.75)

पर्णानां चैव वृंतेषु सर्वेषु त्वत्सुतेन च रात्रौ खदिरसारे च त्वं ताभ्यां सर्वदा वस

parṇānāṁ caiva vṛṁteṣu sarveṣu tvatsutena ca rātrau khadirasāre ca tvaṁ tābhyāṁ sarvadā vasa

—and, with the help of your own son, in the stalks of all leaves, and by night in the essence of the catechu — dwell always together with these two.

Verse 76 (skanda.6.210.76)

धनिनां छिद्रकृत्प्रोक्तमेतत्स्थानचतुष्टयम् पार्थिवानां विशेषेण मम वाक्याद्व्रज द्रुतम्

dhanināṁ chidrakṛtproktametatsthānacatuṣṭayam pārthivānāṁ viśeṣeṇa mama vākyādvraja drutam

By my word, these four places have been declared as the vulnerable spots of the wealthy — especially of kings; now go quickly.

Verse 77 (skanda.6.210.77)

नारद उवाच एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि नराधिप

nārada uvāca etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'smi narādhipa

Narada said: O king, all that you asked, I have now related to you.

Verse 78 (skanda.6.210.78)

तांबूलोत्थानि छिद्राणि यथा स्युर्धनिनामिह तानि सर्वाणि चीर्णानि त्वया राजन्नजानता तेन वै विभवोच्छित्तिः संजाता सहसा नृप

tāṁbūlotthāni chidrāṇi yathā syurdhanināmiha tāni sarvāṇi cīrṇāni tvayā rājannajānatā tena vai vibhavocchittiḥ saṁjātā sahasā nṛpa

Those vulnerable spots of the wealthy that arise through betel — all of them you, O king, unknowingly consumed; and it was from that alone that your prosperity was suddenly destroyed.

Verse 79 (skanda.6.210.79)

राजोवाच तदर्थमपि मे ब्रूहि प्रायश्चित्तं मुनीश्वर कदाचिद्भक्षणं मे स्यात्तांबूलस्य तथाविधम्

rājovāca tadarthamapi me brūhi prāyaścittaṁ munīśvara kadācidbhakṣaṇaṁ me syāttāṁbūlasya tathāvidham

The king said: O lord of sages, tell me too the atonement for this, should I ever again eat betel in such a manner—

Verse 80 (skanda.6.210.80)

येन सञ्जायते शुद्धिः कुतांबूलसमुद्भवा

yena sañjāyate śuddhiḥ kutāṁbūlasamudbhavā

—so that purification for the sin arising from improperly eaten betel may be obtained.

Verse 81 (skanda.6.210.81)

विश्वामित्र उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रायश्चित्तं तु यच्चरेत् आश्वासनेन शुद्ध्यर्थं कुतांबूलस्य भक्षणात्

viśvāmitra uvāca śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi prāyaścittaṁ tu yaccaret āśvāsanena śuddhyarthaṁ kutāṁbūlasya bhakṣaṇāt

Vishvamitra said: Listen, O king, I shall tell you the atonement one should observe, for reassurance and purification, for eating betel improperly.

Verse 82 (skanda.6.210.82)

पर्वकालं समुद्दिश्य सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः आनयेद्ब्राह्मणं राजन्वेदवेदांगपारगम्

parvakālaṁ samuddiśya samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ ānayedbrāhmaṇaṁ rājanvedavedāṁgapāragam

On some sacred occasion, filled with proper faith, O king, one should invite a brahmin learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences.

Verse 83 (skanda.6.210.83)

प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ तस्य वाससी परिधापयेत् संपूज्य गंधपुष्पाद्यैस्ततः पत्रं हिरण्मयम् स्वशक्त्या कारयित्वाऽथ चूर्णे मुक्ताफलं न्यसेत्

prakṣālya caraṇau tasya vāsasī paridhāpayet saṁpūjya gaṁdhapuṣpādyaistataḥ patraṁ hiraṇmayam svaśaktyā kārayitvā'tha cūrṇe muktāphalaṁ nyaset

One should wash his feet and clothe him in a pair of garments, worship him with fragrance and flowers, then have a leaf of gold fashioned according to one's means, and place a pearl in its lime.

Verse 84 (skanda.6.210.84)

पूगीफलं च वैडूर्यं खदिरं रूप्यमेव च मन्त्रेणानेन विप्राय तथैव च समर्पयेत्

pūgīphalaṁ ca vaiḍūryaṁ khadiraṁ rūpyameva ca mantreṇānena viprāya tathaiva ca samarpayet

In place of the areca nut, a cat's-eye gem, and in place of the catechu, silver, should be offered to the brahmin with this mantra.

Verse 85 (skanda.6.210.85)

यन्मया भक्षितं पूर्वं वृन्तं पत्रसमुद्भवम् चूर्णपत्रं तथैवान्यद्रात्रौ खदिरमेव च

yanmayā bhakṣitaṁ pūrvaṁ vṛntaṁ patrasamudbhavam cūrṇapatraṁ tathaivānyadrātrau khadirameva ca

The mantra runs: Whatever I have previously eaten — the stalk of the leaf, lime-laden betel, and likewise the catechu by night—

Verse 86 (skanda.6.210.86)

तस्य पापस्य शुद्ध्यर्थं तांबूलं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ततस्तु ब्राह्मणो मंत्रमेवं राजन्नुदाहरेत्

tasya pāpasya śuddhyarthaṁ tāṁbūlaṁ pratigṛhyatām tatastu brāhmaṇo maṁtramevaṁ rājannudāharet

—accept this betel for the purification of that sin. O king, the brahmin should then recite this mantra in reply.

Verse 87 (skanda.6.210.87)

यजमानहितार्थाय सर्वपापविशुद्धये अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि कुतांबूलं प्रभक्षितम्

yajamānahitārthāya sarvapāpaviśuddhaye ajñānājjñānato vāpi kutāṁbūlaṁ prabhakṣitam

For the good of the sacrificer and the purification of all his sins — whatever wrongly-eaten betel you have consumed, whether knowingly or unknowingly—

Verse 88 (skanda.6.210.88)

भक्षयिष्यसि यच्चान्यत्कदाचिन्मे प्रसादनात् तस्य दोषो न ते भावी मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

bhakṣayiṣyasi yaccānyatkadācinme prasādanāt tasya doṣo na te bhāvī mama vākyādasaṁśayam

—and whatever else of the kind you may eat hereafter, by my grace and by this word of mine, no fault shall ever attach to you for it, without doubt.

Verse 89 (skanda.6.210.89)

अनेन विधिना दत्त्वा तांबूलं शुद्धिमाप्नुयात् कुतांबूलस्य दोषेण गृह्यते न नरो नृप

anena vidhinā dattvā tāṁbūlaṁ śuddhimāpnuyāt kutāṁbūlasya doṣeṇa gṛhyate na naro nṛpa

By giving betel according to this rite, a man obtains purification; O king, he is then no longer bound by the fault of improperly eaten betel.

Verse 90 (skanda.6.210.90)

तस्मात्त्वं हि महाराज व्रतमेतत्समाचर बहु पुण्यतमं ह्येतन्महाभोगविवर्द्धनम्

tasmāttvaṁ hi mahārāja vratametatsamācara bahu puṇyatamaṁ hyetanmahābhogavivarddhanam

Therefore, O great king, observe this vow yourself; it is exceedingly meritorious and greatly increases one's enjoyments.

Verse 91 (skanda.6.210.91)

यः प्रयच्छति राजेन्द्र विधिनानेन भक्तितः जन्मजन्मान्तरे वापि न तांबूलेन मुच्यते

yaḥ prayacchati rājendra vidhinānena bhaktitaḥ janmajanmāntare vāpi na tāṁbūlena mucyate

O foremost of kings, whoever gives betel devotedly according to this rite is never, in birth after birth, deprived of betel.

Verse 92 (skanda.6.210.92)

तांबूलं भक्षयित्वा यो नैतद्दानं प्रयच्छति तांबूलवर्जितः सोऽत्र भवेज्जन्मनिजन्मनि

tāṁbūlaṁ bhakṣayitvā yo naitaddānaṁ prayacchati tāṁbūlavarjitaḥ so'tra bhavejjanmanijanmani

But whoever eats betel and yet does not give this gift remains deprived of betel in birth after birth.

Verse 93 (skanda.6.210.93)

तांबूलवर्जितं यस्य मुखं स्यात्पृथिवीपते कृपणस्य दरिद्रस्य तद्बिलं न हि तन्मुखम्

tāṁbūlavarjitaṁ yasya mukhaṁ syātpṛthivīpate kṛpaṇasya daridrasya tadbilaṁ na hi tanmukham

O king, the mouth of a miserly, destitute man that is bereft of betel is no mouth at all, but rather a mere cavity.

Verse 94 (skanda.6.210.94)

तांबूलं ब्राह्मणेन्द्राय यो दत्त्वा प्राक्प्रभक्षयेत् सुरूपो भाग्यवान्दक्षो भवेज्जन्मनिजन्मनि

tāṁbūlaṁ brāhmaṇendrāya yo dattvā prākprabhakṣayet surūpo bhāgyavāndakṣo bhavejjanmanijanmani

Whoever, having first given betel to a foremost brahmin, then eats it himself, becomes handsome, fortunate, and capable in birth after birth.

Verse 95 (skanda.6.210.95)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं कुतांबूलस्य भक्षणात् यत्फलं जायते पुंसां यद्दानेन महीपते

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ kutāṁbūlasya bhakṣaṇāt yatphalaṁ jāyate puṁsāṁ yaddānena mahīpate

O king, I have now told you all that fruit which comes to men from eating betel improperly, and that which comes from giving it in charity.

Verse 96 (skanda.6.210.96)

शंखादित्यानुषंगेण तांबूलस्य च भक्षणे ये दोषा ये गुणा राजन्दानं चैव प्रभक्षणे

śaṁkhādityānuṣaṁgeṇa tāṁbūlasya ca bhakṣaṇe ye doṣā ye guṇā rājandānaṁ caiva prabhakṣaṇe

O king, in connection with the account of Shankhaditya, I have now related all the faults and merits of eating betel, and the proper practice of giving and eating it.