The Origin of the Seven Lingas at Hatakeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.271.1)

सूत उवाच अथान्यदपि तत्रास्ति सुपुण्यं लिंगसप्तकम् येनार्चितेन दृष्टेन पूजितेन विशेषतः

sūta uvāca athānyadapi tatrāsti supuṇyaṁ liṁgasaptakam yenārcitena dṛṣṭena pūjitena viśeṣataḥ

Suta said: Now, there is also, in that place, another highly meritorious group of seven lingas, by worshipping, seeing, and especially honoring which...

Verse 2 (skanda.6.271.2)

दीर्घायुर्जायते मर्त्यः सर्वरोगविवर्जितः मार्कण्डेश्वर इत्युक्तस्तत्र देवो महेश्वरः

dīrghāyurjāyate martyaḥ sarvarogavivarjitaḥ mārkaṇḍeśvara ityuktastatra devo maheśvaraḥ

...a mortal attains long life, free from all disease. There, the god called Markandeshvara is the great Lord.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.271.3)

इन्द्रद्युम्नेश्वरोऽन्यस्तु सर्वपापहरो हरः पालेश्वरस्तथा चैव सर्वव्याधिविनाशनः

indradyumneśvaro'nyastu sarvapāpaharo haraḥ pāleśvarastathā caiva sarvavyādhivināśanaḥ

Another is Hara called Indradyumneshvara, remover of all sin; and likewise Paleshvara, destroyer of every disease.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.271.4)

ततो घंटशिवः ख्यातो यो घंटेन प्रतिष्ठितः कलशेश्वरसंज्ञस्तु वानरेश्वरसंयुतः

tato ghaṁṭaśivaḥ khyāto yo ghaṁṭena pratiṣṭhitaḥ kalaśeśvarasaṁjñastu vānareśvarasaṁyutaḥ

Then Ghantashiva, known as such because he was established by Ghanta; and one called Kalasheshvara, joined with Vanareshvara.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.271.5)

ईशान शिव इत्युक्तस्तत्र क्षेत्रेश्वरेश्वरः पूजितो मानवैर्भक्त्या कामान्यच्छत्यमानुषान्

īśāna śiva ityuktastatra kṣetreśvareśvaraḥ pūjito mānavairbhaktyā kāmānyacchatyamānuṣān

There is one called Ishana Shiva, lord of the field's lords, who, worshipped by men with devotion, grants desires beyond human reach...

Verse 6 (skanda.6.271.6)

वांछितान्मनसा सर्वान्कलिकालेऽपि संस्थिते

vāṁchitānmanasā sarvānkalikāle'pi saṁsthite

...all things wished for in the mind, even when the Kali age has set in.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.271.7)

ऋषय ऊचुः कोऽयं मार्कंडसंज्ञस्तु येन लिंगं प्रतिष्ठितम् इन्द्रद्युम्नो महीपालः कतमो वद सूतज

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ ko'yaṁ mārkaṁḍasaṁjñastu yena liṁgaṁ pratiṣṭhitam indradyumno mahīpālaḥ katamo vada sūtaja

The sages said: Who is this one called Markanda, by whom a linga was established? Which king is this Indradyumna? Tell us, O son of Suta.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.271.8)

तथा पालकनामा च येनायं स्थापितो हरः तथा यो घण्टसंज्ञस्तु कस्मिञ्जातः स चान्वये

tathā pālakanāmā ca yenāyaṁ sthāpito haraḥ tathā yo ghaṇṭasaṁjñastu kasmiñjātaḥ sa cānvaye

And who was the one named Palaka, by whom this Hara was established? And in what lineage was the one called Ghanta born?

Verse 9 (skanda.6.271.9)

कलशाख्यस्तु यः ख्यातो वानरेण समन्वितः ईशानोप्यखिलं ब्रूहि परं नःकौतुकं स्थितम्

kalaśākhyastu yaḥ khyāto vānareṇa samanvitaḥ īśānopyakhilaṁ brūhi paraṁ naḥkautukaṁ sthitam

And the one known as Kalasha, together with Vanara — and Ishana too — tell us of all of this; we hold great curiosity.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.271.10)

यतोऽत्र जायते श्रेयः पुनः पुंसां प्रकीर्तय यैरेतैः स्थापिता देवाः क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्मानवोत्तमैः

yato'tra jāyate śreyaḥ punaḥ puṁsāṁ prakīrtaya yairetaiḥ sthāpitā devāḥ kṣetre'sminmānavottamaiḥ

...whereby welfare comes to men here, tell us this — and who these excellent men were who established these gods in this field.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.271.11)

तथा तेषां समाचारं प्रभावं चैव सूतज दानं वापि यथाकालं मंत्रांश्च विस्तराद्वद

tathā teṣāṁ samācāraṁ prabhāvaṁ caiva sūtaja dānaṁ vāpi yathākālaṁ maṁtrāṁśca vistarādvada

O son of Suta, tell us in detail of their conduct and power, and also of the appropriate donation at the proper time, and the mantras.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.271.12)

सूत उवाच अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि कथामेतां पुरातनीम् कथितां भर्तृयज्ञेन आनर्ताधिपतेः स्वयम्

sūta uvāca ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi kathāmetāṁ purātanīm kathitāṁ bhartṛyajñena ānartādhipateḥ svayam

Suta said: I shall recount to you this ancient tale, told by Bhartriyajna himself to the lord of Anarta.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.271.13)

श्रुतयापि यया मर्त्यो दीर्घायुर्जायतेनरः नापमृत्युमवाप्नोति कथंचित्तत्प्रभावतः

śrutayāpi yayā martyo dīrghāyurjāyatenaraḥ nāpamṛtyumavāpnoti kathaṁcittatprabhāvataḥ

By merely hearing which, a man attains long life, and by its power never meets an untimely death.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.271.14)

यो मार्कंड इति ख्यातः प्रथमं परिकीर्तितः संभूतिस्तस्य संप्रोक्ता युष्माकं पापनाशिनी

yo mārkaṁḍa iti khyātaḥ prathamaṁ parikīrtitaḥ saṁbhūtistasya saṁproktā yuṣmākaṁ pāpanāśinī

The one first declared, known as Markanda — his origin, which destroys sin, shall now be told to you.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.271.15)

इंद्रद्युम्नं प्रवक्ष्यामि सांप्रतं मुनिसत्तमाः यद्वंशो यत्प्रभावश्च सर्वभूपालमानितः

iṁdradyumnaṁ pravakṣyāmi sāṁprataṁ munisattamāḥ yadvaṁśo yatprabhāvaśca sarvabhūpālamānitaḥ

O foremost of sages, I shall now speak of Indradyumna — his lineage and his power, honored by all kings.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.271.16)

इंद्रद्युम्नो महीपाल आसीत्पूर्वं द्विजोत्तमाः ब्राह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च साधुलोकप्रपालकः यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः सर्वभूतहिते रतः

iṁdradyumno mahīpāla āsītpūrvaṁ dvijottamāḥ brāhmaṇyaśca śaraṇyaśca sādhulokaprapālakaḥ yajvā dānapatirdakṣaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ

O best of brahmins, in ancient times there was a king Indradyumna — devoted to brahmins, a refuge for the helpless, protector of the virtuous, a performer of sacrifices, a lord of gifts, capable, and devoted to the welfare of all beings.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.271.17)

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्न च चौरकृतं भयम् तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे आसील्लोकस्य कस्यचित्

na durbhikṣaṁ na ca vyādhirna ca caurakṛtaṁ bhayam tasmiñchāsati dharmajñe āsīllokasya kasyacit

While that dharma-knowing king ruled, no famine existed for any of his people, nor disease, nor fear caused by thieves.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.271.18)

यथैव वर्षतो धारा यथा वा दिवि तारकाः गंगायां सिकता यद्वत्संख्यया परिवर्जिताः

yathaiva varṣato dhārā yathā vā divi tārakāḥ gaṁgāyāṁ sikatā yadvatsaṁkhyayā parivarjitāḥ

Just as the streams of falling rain, or the stars in the sky, or the grains of sand in the Ganga are beyond counting...

Verse 19 (skanda.6.271.19)

तद्वत्तेन कृता यज्ञाः सर्वे संपूर्णदक्षिणाः अग्निष्टोमोऽतिरात्रश्च उक्थः षोडशिकास्तथा

tadvattena kṛtā yajñāḥ sarve saṁpūrṇadakṣiṇāḥ agniṣṭomo'tirātraśca ukthaḥ ṣoḍaśikāstathā

...so too, beyond counting, were the sacrifices he performed, all with full sacrificial fees — the Agnishtoma, the Atiratra, the Uktha, and the Shodashi.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.271.20)

सौत्रामण्याऽथ पशवश्चातुर्मास्या द्विजोत्तमाः वाजपेयाश्वमेधाश्च राजसूया विशेषतः

sautrāmaṇyā'tha paśavaścāturmāsyā dvijottamāḥ vājapeyāśvamedhāśca rājasūyā viśeṣataḥ

O best of brahmins, the Sautramani, the animal sacrifices, the Chaturmasya rites, the Vajapeya, the Ashvamedha, and especially the Rajasuya...

Verse 21 (skanda.6.271.21)

पौण्डरीकास्तथैवान्ये श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

pauṇḍarīkāstathaivānye śraddhāpūtena cetasā

...and the Paundarika sacrifices and others too, all performed with a mind purified by faith.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.271.22)

तेन दानानि दत्तानि तीर्थेषु च विशेषतः मिष्टान्नानि द्विजेंद्राणां दक्षिणासहितानि च

tena dānāni dattāni tīrtheṣu ca viśeṣataḥ miṣṭānnāni dvijeṁdrāṇāṁ dakṣiṇāsahitāni ca

By him gifts were given, especially at the sacred tirthas — sweet foods to the foremost brahmins, together with sacrificial fees.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.271.23)

न तदस्ति धरापृष्ठे नगरं पत्तनं तथा तीर्थं वा यत्र नो तस्य विद्यते त्रिदशालयः

na tadasti dharāpṛṣṭhe nagaraṁ pattanaṁ tathā tīrthaṁ vā yatra no tasya vidyate tridaśālayaḥ

There is no city, no town, no tirtha upon the face of the earth where a temple of his making does not exist.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.271.24)

तेन कन्यासहस्राणि अच्युतान्यर्बुदानि च ब्राहमणेभ्यः प्रदत्तानि ब्राह्मणानां धनार्थिनाम्

tena kanyāsahasrāṇi acyutānyarbudāni ca brāhamaṇebhyaḥ pradattāni brāhmaṇānāṁ dhanārthinām

By him thousands, unfailingly, and tens of millions more, of dowried maidens were given to brahmins seeking wealth.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.271.25)

दशमीदिवसे तस्य रात्रौ च गजपृष्ठिगः दुन्दुभिस्ताड्यमानस्तु बभ्राम सकलं पुरम्

daśamīdivase tasya rātrau ca gajapṛṣṭhigaḥ dundubhistāḍyamānastu babhrāma sakalaṁ puram

On the tenth day, at night, riding on the back of an elephant, with the kettledrum being sounded, he processed through the entire city.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.271.26)

प्रत्यूषे वैष्णवं भावि पापहारि च वासरम् उपवासः प्रकर्त्तव्यो मुक्त्वा वृद्धं च बालकम् अन्यथा निग्रहिष्यामि भोजनं यः करिष्यति

pratyūṣe vaiṣṇavaṁ bhāvi pāpahāri ca vāsaram upavāsaḥ prakarttavyo muktvā vṛddhaṁ ca bālakam anyathā nigrahiṣyāmi bhojanaṁ yaḥ kariṣyati

(He proclaimed:) 'At dawn shall come the sin-removing Vaishnava day; fasting must be observed by all, except the aged and children — otherwise I shall punish whoever eats.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.271.27)

इंद्रद्युम्नः स राजर्षिस्तदा विष्णोः प्रसादतः तेनैव स्वशरीरेण ब्रह्मलोकं तदा गतः

iṁdradyumnaḥ sa rājarṣistadā viṣṇoḥ prasādataḥ tenaiva svaśarīreṇa brahmalokaṁ tadā gataḥ

That royal sage Indradyumna then, by the grace of Vishnu, went to Brahmaloka in that very body of his.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.271.28)

तत्र कल्पसहस्रांते स प्रोक्तो ब्रह्मणा स्वयम् इंद्रद्युम्न धरां गच्छ न स्थातव्यं त्वयाऽधुना

tatra kalpasahasrāṁte sa prokto brahmaṇā svayam iṁdradyumna dharāṁ gaccha na sthātavyaṁ tvayā'dhunā

There, at the end of a thousand kalpas, he was told by Brahma himself: 'O Indradyumna, go to the earth; you must no longer remain here.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.271.29)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच कस्माच्च्यावयसे ब्रह्मन्निजलोकाद्द्रुतं हि माम् अपापमपि देवेश तथा मे वद कारणम्

iṁdradyumna uvāca kasmāccyāvayase brahmannijalokāddrutaṁ hi mām apāpamapi deveśa tathā me vada kāraṇam

Indradyumna said: 'Why, O Brahma, do you cast me swiftly out of your own world, though I am sinless? O lord of gods, tell me the reason for this.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.271.30)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच तव कीर्तिसमुच्छेदः संजातोऽद्य धरातले यावत्कीर्तिर्धरापृष्ठे तावत्स्वर्गे वसेन्नरः

śrībrahmovāca tava kīrtisamucchedaḥ saṁjāto'dya dharātale yāvatkīrtirdharāpṛṣṭhe tāvatsvarge vasennaraḥ

Glorious Brahma said: 'Your fame has today been cut off upon the earth. A man dwells in heaven only for as long as his fame endures on the earth's surface.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.271.31)

एतस्मात्कारणाल्लोकाः स्वनामांकानि चक्रिरे वापीकूपतडागानि देवतायतनानि च

etasmātkāraṇāllokāḥ svanāmāṁkāni cakrire vāpīkūpataḍāgāni devatāyatanāni ca

For this reason people mark their own names upon step-wells, wells, ponds, and temples of the gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.271.32)

तस्माद्गच्छ धरापृष्ठं स्वां कीर्तिं नूतनां कुरु यदि वांछसि लोकेऽस्मिन्मामके वसतिं चिरम्

tasmādgaccha dharāpṛṣṭhaṁ svāṁ kīrtiṁ nūtanāṁ kuru yadi vāṁchasi loke'sminmāmake vasatiṁ ciram

'Therefore go to the earth's surface and renew your fame, if you wish to dwell long in this world of mine.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.271.33)

अथात्मानं स राजेंद्रो यावत्पश्यति तत्क्षणात् तावत्प्राप्तं धरापृष्ठे कांपिल्य नगरं प्रति

athātmānaṁ sa rājeṁdro yāvatpaśyati tatkṣaṇāt tāvatprāptaṁ dharāpṛṣṭhe kāṁpilya nagaraṁ prati

Then, the very instant that king looked at himself, he found himself upon the earth's surface, at the city of Kampilya.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.271.34)

अथ पप्रच्छ लोकान्स किमेतन्नगरं स्मृतम् कोऽयं देशः कोऽत्र राजा किं पुरं नगरं च किम्

atha papraccha lokānsa kimetannagaraṁ smṛtam ko'yaṁ deśaḥ ko'tra rājā kiṁ puraṁ nagaraṁ ca kim

Then he asked the people: 'What is this city called? What land is this? Who is king here? What is this town, this city?'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.271.35)

ते तमूचुः परं चैतत्कांपिल्यमिति विश्रुतम् आनर्तनामा देशोऽयं राजात्र पृथिवीजयः

te tamūcuḥ paraṁ caitatkāṁpilyamiti viśrutam ānartanāmā deśo'yaṁ rājātra pṛthivījayaḥ

They told him: 'This is known as Kampilya. This land is named Anarta; the king here is Prithvijaya.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.271.36)

को भवान्किमिहायातः किंचित्कार्यं वदस्व नः

ko bhavānkimihāyātaḥ kiṁcitkāryaṁ vadasva naḥ

'Who are you? Why have you come here? Tell us if you have any purpose.'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.271.37)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच इंद्रद्युम्नो महीपालः पुरासीद्रोचके पुरे देशे वैजरुके पूर्वं स देशः क्व च तत्पुरम्

iṁdradyumna uvāca iṁdradyumno mahīpālaḥ purāsīdrocake pure deśe vaijaruke pūrvaṁ sa deśaḥ kva ca tatpuram

Indradyumna said: 'Long ago there was a king Indradyumna in the city of Rochaka, in the land of Vaijaruka. Where now is that land, and where that city?'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.271.38)

जना ऊचुः न वयं तत्पुरं विद्मो न देशं न च भूपतिम् इन्द्रद्युम्नाभिधानं च यं त्वं पृच्छसि भद्रक

janā ūcuḥ na vayaṁ tatpuraṁ vidmo na deśaṁ na ca bhūpatim indradyumnābhidhānaṁ ca yaṁ tvaṁ pṛcchasi bhadraka

The people said: 'We know neither that city, nor that land, nor that king. Nor do we know anyone called Indradyumna, whom you ask about, good sir.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.271.39)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच चिरायुरस्ति कोऽप्यत्र यस्तं वेत्ति महीपतिम् देशं वा तत्पुरं वापि तन्मे वदथ मा चिरम्

iṁdradyumna uvāca cirāyurasti ko'pyatra yastaṁ vetti mahīpatim deśaṁ vā tatpuraṁ vāpi tanme vadatha mā ciram

Indradyumna said: 'Is there anyone here long-lived, who might know that king, or that land, or that city? Tell me this without delay.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.271.40)

जना ऊचुः सप्तकल्पस्मरो नाम मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः श्रूयते नैमिषारण्ये तं गत्वा पृच्छ वेत्स्यसि

janā ūcuḥ saptakalpasmaro nāma mārkaṁḍeyo mahāmuniḥ śrūyate naimiṣāraṇye taṁ gatvā pṛccha vetsyasi

The people said: 'There is the great sage Markandeya, said to remember seven kalpas, dwelling, we hear, in Naimisharanya. Go to him and ask; you will find out.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.271.41)

अथासौ सत्वरं गत्वा व्योममार्गेण तं मुनिम् पप्रच्छ प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्नैमिषारण्यमाश्रितम्

athāsau satvaraṁ gatvā vyomamārgeṇa taṁ munim papraccha praṇipatyoccairnaimiṣāraṇyamāśritam

Then he swiftly went by the path of the sky, and, bowing low, asked that sage who dwelt in Naimisharanya.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.271.42)

इंद्रद्युम्नेति वै भूपस्त्वया दृष्टः श्रुतोऽथ वा चिरायुस्त्वं श्रुतोऽस्माभिः पृच्छामस्तेन सन्मुने

iṁdradyumneti vai bhūpastvayā dṛṣṭaḥ śruto'tha vā cirāyustvaṁ śruto'smābhiḥ pṛcchāmastena sanmune

'A king named Indradyumna — have you seen him or heard of him? We have heard that you are long-lived, and so we ask you, O good sage.'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.271.43)

श्रीमार्कंडेय उवाच सप्तकल्पांतरे भूपो न दृष्टो न मया श्रुतः इंद्रद्युम्नाभिधानोऽत्र तत्र किं नु वदामि ते

śrīmārkaṁḍeya uvāca saptakalpāṁtare bhūpo na dṛṣṭo na mayā śrutaḥ iṁdradyumnābhidhāno'tra tatra kiṁ nu vadāmi te

Glorious Markandeya said: 'In the span of seven kalpas I have neither seen nor heard of any king named Indradyumna here. What then can I tell you?'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.271.44)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा निराशः स महीपतिः वैराग्यं परमं गत्वा मरणे कृतनिश्चयः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā nirāśaḥ sa mahīpatiḥ vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gatvā maraṇe kṛtaniścayaḥ

Hearing his words, that king, in despair, having come to supreme dispassion, resolved upon death.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.271.45)

तेन चानीय दारूणि प्रज्वाल्य च हुताशनम् प्रवेष्टुकामः स प्रोक्त इन्द्रद्युम्नो महीपतिः

tena cānīya dārūṇi prajvālya ca hutāśanam praveṣṭukāmaḥ sa prokta indradyumno mahīpatiḥ

Having brought wood and kindled a fire, king Indradyumna, wishing to enter it, was addressed.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.271.46)

त्वया चात्र न कर्तव्यमहं ते मित्रतां गतः नाशयिष्यामि ते मृत्युं यद्यपि स्यान्महत्तरम्

tvayā cātra na kartavyamahaṁ te mitratāṁ gataḥ nāśayiṣyāmi te mṛtyuṁ yadyapi syānmahattaram

'This must not be done by you; I have become your friend. I shall banish your death, however great it may be.'

Verse 47 (skanda.6.271.47)

नीरोगोऽसि सुभव्योऽसि कस्मान्मृत्युं प्रवांछसि वद मे कारणं मृत्योः प्रतीकारं करोमि ते

nīrogo'si subhavyo'si kasmānmṛtyuṁ pravāṁchasi vada me kāraṇaṁ mṛtyoḥ pratīkāraṁ karomi te

'You are free of illness, you are of noble bearing — why do you desire death? Tell me the reason; I shall find a remedy for you.'

Verse 48 (skanda.6.271.48)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच चिरायुर्मे भवान्प्रोक्तः कांपिल्यपुरवासिभिः तेनाहं तव पार्श्वेऽत्र समायातो महामुने

iṁdradyumna uvāca cirāyurme bhavānproktaḥ kāṁpilyapuravāsibhiḥ tenāhaṁ tava pārśve'tra samāyāto mahāmune

Indradyumna said: 'You were declared long-lived to me by the dwellers of Kampilyapura; that is why I have come here to your side, O great sage.'

Verse 49 (skanda.6.271.49)

इंद्रद्युम्नोद्भवां वार्तां त्वं वदिष्यसि सन्मुने मत्कीर्तिर्न परिज्ञाता ततो मृत्युं व्रजाम्यहम्

iṁdradyumnodbhavāṁ vārtāṁ tvaṁ vadiṣyasi sanmune matkīrtirna parijñātā tato mṛtyuṁ vrajāmyaham

'I thought you would tell the tale concerning Indradyumna, O good sage. Since my fame is not known to you, I now go to my death.'

Verse 50 (skanda.6.271.50)

सूत उवाच तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा दयावान्स मुनीश्वरः वृथाश्रमं च तं ज्ञात्वा दाक्षिण्यादिदमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca tasya taṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā dayāvānsa munīśvaraḥ vṛthāśramaṁ ca taṁ jñātvā dākṣiṇyādidamabravīt

Suta said: Knowing his resolve, that merciful lord of sages, seeing his hermitage would go to waste, spoke this out of courtesy.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.271.51)

यद्येवं मा विशाग्निं त्वमहं ज्ञास्यामि तं नृपम् नाडीजंघो बको नाम ममास्ति परमः सुहृत्

yadyevaṁ mā viśāgniṁ tvamahaṁ jñāsyāmi taṁ nṛpam nāḍījaṁgho bako nāma mamāsti paramaḥ suhṛt

'If it is so, do not enter the fire; I shall find out about that king. I have a supreme friend named Nadijangha, called Baka.'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.271.52)

चिरंतनश्च सोऽस्माकं नूनं ज्ञास्यति तं नृपम् तस्मादागच्छ गच्छावस्तस्य पार्श्वे हिमाचले

ciraṁtanaśca so'smākaṁ nūnaṁ jñāsyati taṁ nṛpam tasmādāgaccha gacchāvastasya pārśve himācale

'He is older than I, and will surely know that king. So come, let us go to him, upon the Himalaya.'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.271.53)

साधूनां दर्शनं जातु न वृथा जायते क्वचित्

sādhūnāṁ darśanaṁ jātu na vṛthā jāyate kvacit

'The sight of good men is never in vain, anywhere.'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.271.54)

एवमुक्त्वा ततस्तौ तु प्रस्थितौ मुनिपार्थिवौ व्योममार्गेण संतुष्टौ बकं प्रति हिमाचले

evamuktvā tatastau tu prasthitau munipārthivau vyomamārgeṇa saṁtuṣṭau bakaṁ prati himācale

Having said this, that sage and king set out together, contented, by the path of the sky, toward Baka on the Himalaya.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.271.55)

बकोऽपि तं समालोक्य मार्कण्डेयं समागतम् संमुखः प्रययौ तुष्टः स्वागतेनाभ्यपूजयत्

bako'pi taṁ samālokya mārkaṇḍeyaṁ samāgatam saṁmukhaḥ prayayau tuṣṭaḥ svāgatenābhyapūjayat

Baka too, seeing Markandeya arrived, went forward to meet him, delighted, and honored him with welcome.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.271.56)

धन्योऽहं कृतपुण्योऽहं यस्य मे त्वत्समागमः भो भो ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठ आतिथ्यं ते करोमि किम्

dhanyo'haṁ kṛtapuṇyo'haṁ yasya me tvatsamāgamaḥ bho bho brahmavidāṁ śreṣṭha ātithyaṁ te karomi kim

'Blessed am I, meritorious am I, that I have this meeting with you. O best of the knowers of Brahman, what hospitality shall I offer you?'

Verse 57 (skanda.6.271.57)

श्रीमार्कंडेय उवाच मत्तोपि त्वं चिरायुश्च यतो मित्रं व्यवस्थितः इन्द्रद्युम्नो महीपालस्त्वया दृष्टः श्रुतोऽथवा

śrīmārkaṁḍeya uvāca mattopi tvaṁ cirāyuśca yato mitraṁ vyavasthitaḥ indradyumno mahīpālastvayā dṛṣṭaḥ śruto'thavā

Glorious Markandeya said: 'Since you, my friend, are longer-lived than even I, tell me: have you seen or heard of a king Indradyumna?'

Verse 58 (skanda.6.271.58)

एतस्य मम मित्रस्य तेन दृष्टेन कारणम् अन्यथा जायते मृत्युस्ततोऽहं त्वां समागतः

etasya mama mitrasya tena dṛṣṭena kāraṇam anyathā jāyate mṛtyustato'haṁ tvāṁ samāgataḥ

'This is on account of my friend here, who needs to be known by someone; otherwise his death shall come about. That is why I have come to you.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.271.59)

बक उवाच सप्तद्विगुणितान्कल्पान्स्मराम्यहमसंशयम् न स्मरामि कथामेव इंद्रद्युम्नसमुद्भवाम्

baka uvāca saptadviguṇitānkalpānsmarāmyahamasaṁśayam na smarāmi kathāmeva iṁdradyumnasamudbhavām

Baka said: 'I remember, without doubt, fourteen kalpas; but I do not remember any tale concerning Indradyumna.'

Verse 60 (skanda.6.271.60)

आस्तां हि दर्शनं तावत्सत्यमेतन्मयोदिम्

āstāṁ hi darśanaṁ tāvatsatyametanmayodim

'Let alone having seen him — this is the truth I have spoken to you.'

Verse 61 (skanda.6.271.61)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच तपसः किं प्रभावोऽयं दानस्य नियमस्य च यदायुरीदृशं जातं बकत्वेऽपि वदस्व नः

iṁdradyumna uvāca tapasaḥ kiṁ prabhāvo'yaṁ dānasya niyamasya ca yadāyurīdṛśaṁ jātaṁ bakatve'pi vadasva naḥ

Indradyumna said: 'Is this the power of austerity, of gift-giving, or of religious observance, that such long life has come to you even in the form of a stork? Tell us.'

Verse 62 (skanda.6.271.62)

बक उवाच घृतकंबलमाहात्म्याद्देवदेवस्य शूलिनः ममायुरीदृशं जातं बकत्वं मुनिशापतः

baka uvāca ghṛtakaṁbalamāhātmyāddevadevasya śūlinaḥ mamāyurīdṛśaṁ jātaṁ bakatvaṁ muniśāpataḥ

Baka said: 'By the greatness of the ghee-blanket offering to the trident-bearing god of gods, such life has come to me; my form as a stork came about through a sage's curse.'

Verse 63 (skanda.6.271.63)

अहमासं पुरा बालो ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने चमत्कारपुरे रम्ये पाराशर्यस्य धीमतः

ahamāsaṁ purā bālo brāhmaṇasya niveśane camatkārapure ramye pārāśaryasya dhīmataḥ

'I was formerly a child in the household of a brahmin — the wise son of Parashara — in the lovely city of Chamatkarapura.'

Verse 64 (skanda.6.271.64)

नाम्ना च विश्वरूपाख्यो नाम्ना ऽन्येन बक स्मृतः अतीव चपलत्वेन संयुक्तः पितृवल्लभः

nāmnā ca viśvarūpākhyo nāmnā 'nyena baka smṛtaḥ atīva capalatvena saṁyuktaḥ pitṛvallabhaḥ

'By name I was called Vishvarupa, and by another name remembered as Baka; exceedingly restless, and dear to my father.'

Verse 65 (skanda.6.271.65)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य संक्रांतौ मकरस्य भोः संप्राप्यातीव चापल्याल्लिंगं जागेश्वरं मया घृतकुम्भे परिक्षिप्तं पूजितं जनकेन यत्

kasyacittvatha kālasya saṁkrāṁtau makarasya bhoḥ saṁprāpyātīva cāpalyālliṁgaṁ jāgeśvaraṁ mayā ghṛtakumbhe parikṣiptaṁ pūjitaṁ janakena yat

'Once, at a certain time, at the passage of the sun into Makara, out of sheer restlessness, I took hold of the linga called Jageshvara — the one set within a pot of ghee, which my father worshipped.'

Verse 66 (skanda.6.271.66)

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां पृष्टोऽहं जनकेन च त्वया पुत्र परिक्षिप्तं नूनं जागेश्वरं क्वचित् तस्माद्वद प्रयच्छामि तेन ते भक्ष्यमुत्तमम्

atha rātryāṁ vyatītāyāṁ pṛṣṭo'haṁ janakena ca tvayā putra parikṣiptaṁ nūnaṁ jāgeśvaraṁ kvacit tasmādvada prayacchāmi tena te bhakṣyamuttamam

'Then, when the night had passed, I was asked by my father: Son, did you touch Jageshvara somewhere? Tell me, and I shall give you the best of foods for it.'

Verse 67 (skanda.6.271.67)

ततो मयाज्यकुम्भाच्च तस्मादादाय सत्वरम् भक्ष्यलौल्यात्पितुर्हस्ते विन्यस्तं घृतसंप्लुतम्

tato mayājyakumbhācca tasmādādāya satvaram bhakṣyalaulyātpiturhaste vinyastaṁ ghṛtasaṁplutam

'Then, out of greed for the food, I quickly took it from that pot of ghee and placed it, dripping with ghee, into my father's hand.'

Verse 68 (skanda.6.271.68)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पंचत्वं च समागतः जातिस्मरस्ततो जातस्तत्प्रभावान्नृपालये

kasyacittvatha kālasya paṁcatvaṁ ca samāgataḥ jātismarastato jātastatprabhāvānnṛpālaye

'After some time, death came upon me; then, by that power, I was born remembering my past life, in a king's household.'

Verse 69 (skanda.6.271.69)

आनर्ताधिपतेर्हर्म्ये नाम्ना ख्यातस्त्वहं बकः चमत्कारपुरे देवो हरः संस्थापितो मया

ānartādhipaterharmye nāmnā khyātastvahaṁ bakaḥ camatkārapure devo haraḥ saṁsthāpito mayā

'In the palace of the lord of Anarta I became known by the name Baka; and in Chamatkarapura I had established the god Hara.'

Verse 70 (skanda.6.271.70)

तत्प्रभावेण विप्रेंद्र प्राप्तः पैतामहं पदम्

tatprabhāveṇa vipreṁdra prāptaḥ paitāmahaṁ padam

'By that power, O foremost of brahmins, I attained the throne of my forefathers.'

Verse 71 (skanda.6.271.71)

ततो यानि धरापृष्ठे सुलिंगानि स्थितानि च घृतेनच्छादयाम्येव मकरस्थे दिवाकरे मया यत्स्थापितं लिंगं चमत्कारपुरे शुभम्

tato yāni dharāpṛṣṭhe suliṁgāni sthitāni ca ghṛtenacchādayāmyeva makarasthe divākare mayā yatsthāpitaṁ liṁgaṁ camatkārapure śubham

'Then, whatever fine lingas stood upon the face of the earth, I anointed with ghee, when the sun stood in Makara — and especially the auspicious linga I myself had established in Chamatkarapura.'

Verse 72 (skanda.6.271.72)

आराधितं दिवा नक्तं राज्ये संस्थाप्य पुत्रकम् नियोज्य सर्वतो भृत्यान्धनवस्त्रसमन्वितान्

ārādhitaṁ divā naktaṁ rājye saṁsthāpya putrakam niyojya sarvato bhṛtyāndhanavastrasamanvitān

'I worshipped it day and night, having established my son upon the throne, and having appointed servants everywhere, furnished with wealth and garments.'

Verse 73 (skanda.6.271.73)

ततःकालेन महता तुष्टो मे भगवाञ्छिवः मत्समीपं समासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच सः

tataḥkālena mahatā tuṣṭo me bhagavāñchivaḥ matsamīpaṁ samāsādya vākyametaduvāca saḥ

'Then, after a great length of time, the blessed Shiva, pleased with me, came to my presence and spoke these words.'

Verse 74 (skanda.6.271.74)

परितुष्टोऽस्मि भद्रं ते तव पार्थिवसत्तम घृतकंबलदानेन संख्यया रहितेन च

parituṣṭo'smi bhadraṁ te tava pārthivasattama ghṛtakaṁbaladānena saṁkhyayā rahitena ca

'I am well pleased, blessings upon you, O best of kings, by your countless offerings of the ghee-blanket.'

Verse 75 (skanda.6.271.75)

तस्माद्वरय भद्रं ते वरं यन्मनसि स्थितम् अदेयमपि दास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

tasmādvaraya bhadraṁ te varaṁ yanmanasi sthitam adeyamapi dāsyāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'Therefore choose, blessings upon you, whatever boon is in your mind; I shall give it even if it be unbestowable, however difficult to obtain.'

Verse 76 (skanda.6.271.76)

ततो मया हरः प्रोक्तो यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे प्रभो कुरुष्व मां गणं देव नान्यत्किंचिद्वृणोम्यहम्

tato mayā haraḥ prokto yadi tuṣṭo'si me prabho kuruṣva māṁ gaṇaṁ deva nānyatkiṁcidvṛṇomyaham

'Then I said to Hara: If you are pleased with me, O lord, make me your gana; I ask for nothing else.'

Verse 77 (skanda.6.271.77)

श्रीभगवानुवाच बकैहि त्वं महाभाग कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम् मया सार्धमनेनैव शरीरेण गणो भव

śrībhagavānuvāca bakaihi tvaṁ mahābhāga kailāsaṁ parvatottamam mayā sārdhamanenaiva śarīreṇa gaṇo bhava

Glorious lord said: 'O Baka, most fortunate one, come to Kailasa, the best of mountains; be my attendant in this very body of yours.'

Verse 78 (skanda.6.271.78)

अन्योऽपि मर्त्यलोकेत्र यः करिष्यति मानवः मकरस्थे रवौ मह्यं संक्रांतौ रजनीमुखे स नूनं मद्गणो भावी सकृत्कृत्वाऽथ कंबलम्

anyo'pi martyaloketra yaḥ kariṣyati mānavaḥ makarasthe ravau mahyaṁ saṁkrāṁtau rajanīmukhe sa nūnaṁ madgaṇo bhāvī sakṛtkṛtvā'tha kaṁbalam

'Whatever other man in the mortal world shall likewise, when the sun stands in Makara, at nightfall, offer me the ghee-blanket even once, he shall surely become my attendant.'

Verse 79 (skanda.6.271.79)

त्वं पुनर्मामकं लिंगं समं कुर्वन्भविष्यसि धर्मसेनेति विख्यातो विकृत्या परिवर्जितः

tvaṁ punarmāmakaṁ liṁgaṁ samaṁ kurvanbhaviṣyasi dharmaseneti vikhyāto vikṛtyā parivarjitaḥ

'But you, having restored my linga, shall become known as Dharmasena, freed from any deformity.'

Verse 80 (skanda.6.271.80)

एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्मामादाय ततः परम् कैलासं पर्वतं गत्वा गणकोटीशतामदात्

evamuktvā sa bhagavānmāmādāya tataḥ param kailāsaṁ parvataṁ gatvā gaṇakoṭīśatāmadāt

Having said this, that blessed lord took me and, having gone to Mount Kailasa, made me lord over a hundred crores of ganas.

Verse 81 (skanda.6.271.81)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य भ्रममाणो यदृच्छया गतोऽहं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं हिमवंतं महागिरिम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya bhramamāṇo yadṛcchayā gato'haṁ parvataśreṣṭhaṁ himavaṁtaṁ mahāgirim

'Then, after some time, wandering at will, I went to the great mountain Himavan, best of mountains.'

Verse 82 (skanda.6.271.82)

यत्रास्ते गालवो नाम सदैव तपसि स्थितः तस्य भार्या विशालाक्षी सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता

yatrāste gālavo nāma sadaiva tapasi sthitaḥ tasya bhāryā viśālākṣī sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā

'There dwelt one named Galava, ever engaged in austerity; his wife, wide-eyed, marked with every auspicious sign.'

Verse 83 (skanda.6.271.83)

सप्तरक्ता त्रिगंभीरा गूढगुल्फा कृशोदरी तां दृष्ट्वा मन्मथाविष्टः संजातोऽहं मुनीश्वर

saptaraktā trigaṁbhīrā gūḍhagulphā kṛśodarī tāṁ dṛṣṭvā manmathāviṣṭaḥ saṁjāto'haṁ munīśvara

'Seeing that fair-limbed, dignified, slender-waisted woman, O lord of sages, I became overcome by the god of love.'

Verse 84 (skanda.6.271.84)

चिंतितं च मया चित्ते कथमेतां हराम्यहम् तस्माच्छिष्यत्वमासाद्य भक्तिमस्य करोम्यहम्

ciṁtitaṁ ca mayā citte kathametāṁ harāmyaham tasmācchiṣyatvamāsādya bhaktimasya karomyaham

'I thought in my mind: how shall I carry her off? So let me become his disciple and show him devotion.'

Verse 85 (skanda.6.271.85)

शुश्रूषानिरतो भूत्वा येन प्राप्नोमि भामिनीम्

śuśrūṣānirato bhūtvā yena prāpnomi bhāminīm

'Being devoted to service, by which I might obtain that lovely woman.'

Verse 86 (skanda.6.271.86)

ततो बटुकरूपेण संप्राप्तो गालवो मया संसारस्य विरक्तोऽहं करिष्यामि मह्त्तपः

tato baṭukarūpeṇa saṁprāpto gālavo mayā saṁsārasya virakto'haṁ kariṣyāmi mahttapaḥ

'Then, in the form of a young student, I approached Galava: I am dispassionate toward worldly life; I shall perform great austerity.'

Verse 87 (skanda.6.271.87)

दीक्षां यच्छ विभो मह्यं येन शिष्यो भवामि ते

dīkṣāṁ yaccha vibho mahyaṁ yena śiṣyo bhavāmi te

'Grant me initiation, O lord, so that I may become your disciple.'

Verse 88 (skanda.6.271.88)

आहरिष्याम्यहं दर्भांस्तथा सुमनसः सदा समिधश्च सदैवाहं फलानि जलमेव च

āhariṣyāmyahaṁ darbhāṁstathā sumanasaḥ sadā samidhaśca sadaivāhaṁ phalāni jalameva ca

'I shall always bring the kusha-grass and flowers, the sacrificial sticks, the fruits, and the water.'

Verse 89 (skanda.6.271.89)

स मां विनयसंपन्नं ज्ञात्वा ब्राह्मणरूपिणम् ददौ दीक्षां ततो मह्यं शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा

sa māṁ vinayasaṁpannaṁ jñātvā brāhmaṇarūpiṇam dadau dīkṣāṁ tato mahyaṁ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā

'He, knowing me to be well-mannered and in the form of a brahmin, then gave me initiation, by the rite prescribed in the scriptures.'

Verse 90 (skanda.6.271.90)

अथ दीक्षां समासाद्य तोषयामि दिनेदिने तं चैव तस्य पत्नीं तां यथोक्तपरिचर्यया अशुद्धेनापि चित्तेन छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परः

atha dīkṣāṁ samāsādya toṣayāmi dinedine taṁ caiva tasya patnīṁ tāṁ yathoktaparicaryayā aśuddhenāpi cittena chidrānveṣaṇatatparaḥ

'Then, having received initiation, I pleased him day by day, and his wife too, with the service prescribed, though with an impure mind, intent on finding an opening.'

Verse 91 (skanda.6.271.91)

अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे प्राप्ते सा स्त्रीधर्मसमन्विता उटजं दूरतस्त्यक्त्वा रात्रौ सुप्ता मनस्विनी

anyasmindivase prāpte sā strīdharmasamanvitā uṭajaṁ dūratastyaktvā rātrau suptā manasvinī

'One day, when she was in her monthly courses, that noble-minded woman, leaving the hut at some distance, slept there at night.'

Verse 92 (skanda.6.271.92)

सोऽहं रूपं महत्कृत्वा तामादाय तपस्विनीम् सुखसुप्तां सुविश्रब्धां प्रस्थितो दक्षिणामुखः

so'haṁ rūpaṁ mahatkṛtvā tāmādāya tapasvinīm sukhasuptāṁ suviśrabdhāṁ prasthito dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

'Taking on a large form, I carried off that ascetic woman, sleeping peacefully and trustingly, and set off, facing south.'

Verse 93 (skanda.6.271.93)

अथासौ संपरित्यक्ता संस्पर्शान्मम निद्रया चौररूपं परिज्ञाय मां शिष्यं प्ररुरोद ह

athāsau saṁparityaktā saṁsparśānmama nidrayā caurarūpaṁ parijñāya māṁ śiṣyaṁ praruroda ha

'Then she, roused from sleep by my touch, and recognizing me, her disciple, in the form of a thief, wept aloud.'

Verse 94 (skanda.6.271.94)

साब्रवीच्च स्वभर्तारं गालवं मुनिसत्तमम् एष शिष्यो दुराचारो हरते मामितः प्रभो

sābravīcca svabhartāraṁ gālavaṁ munisattamam eṣa śiṣyo durācāro harate māmitaḥ prabho

'She said to her husband, the sage Galava: O lord, this evil-conducted disciple is carrying me off from here!'

Verse 95 (skanda.6.271.95)

तस्माद्रक्ष महाभाग यावद्दूरं न गच्छति

tasmādrakṣa mahābhāga yāvaddūraṁ na gacchati

'Therefore save me, most fortunate one, before he goes far.'

Verse 96 (skanda.6.271.96)

तच्छ्रुत्वा गालवः प्राह तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चासकृत् पापाचार सुदुष्टात्मन्गतिस्ते स्तंभिता मया

tacchrutvā gālavaḥ prāha tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cāsakṛt pāpācāra suduṣṭātmangatiste staṁbhitā mayā

'Hearing this, Galava cried out again and again: Stop, stop! O evildoer, wicked soul, I have arrested your movement.'

Verse 97 (skanda.6.271.97)

तस्य वाक्यात्ततो मह्यं गतिस्तंभो व्यजायत यद्वल्लिखित एवाहं प्रतिष्ठामि सुनिश्चलः

tasya vākyāttato mahyaṁ gatistaṁbho vyajāyata yadvallikhita evāhaṁ pratiṣṭhāmi suniścalaḥ

'By his word, a paralysis of movement came upon me; I stood there utterly unmoving, as if painted in a picture.'

Verse 98 (skanda.6.271.98)

ततस्तेन च शप्तोऽहं गालवेन महात्मना वंचितोऽहं त्वया यस्माद्बको भव सुदुर्मते

tatastena ca śapto'haṁ gālavena mahātmanā vaṁcito'haṁ tvayā yasmādbako bhava sudurmate

'Then I was cursed by that great-souled Galava: Since you have deceived me, become a stork, O evil-minded one!'

Verse 99 (skanda.6.271.99)

ततः पश्यामि चात्मानं सहसा बकरूपिणम् बकत्वेऽपि न मे नष्टा या स्मृतिः पूर्वसंभवा

tataḥ paśyāmi cātmānaṁ sahasā bakarūpiṇam bakatve'pi na me naṣṭā yā smṛtiḥ pūrvasaṁbhavā

'Then suddenly I saw myself in the form of a stork; yet even in the form of a stork, the memory of my former birth was not lost to me.'

Verse 100 (skanda.6.271.100)

ततः साऽपि च तत्पत्नी सचैलं स्नानमाश्रिता मत्स्पर्शादुःखितांगी च शापाय समुपस्थिता

tataḥ sā'pi ca tatpatnī sacailaṁ snānamāśritā matsparśāduḥkhitāṁgī ca śāpāya samupasthitā

'Then his wife too, who had gone to bathe with her garments on, distressed in body by my touch, prepared to pronounce a curse.'

Verse 101 (skanda.6.271.101)

यस्मात्पाप त्वया स्पृष्टा प्रसुप्ताहं रजस्वला बकधर्मं समाश्रित्य भर्त्ता मे वंचितस्त्वया अन्यरूपं समास्थाय तस्मात्सत्यं बको भव

yasmātpāpa tvayā spṛṣṭā prasuptāhaṁ rajasvalā bakadharmaṁ samāśritya bharttā me vaṁcitastvayā anyarūpaṁ samāsthāya tasmātsatyaṁ bako bhava

'Since you touched me, O sinner, asleep and in my courses, and under the pretext of a stork's nature deceived my husband, taking another form — therefore be truly a stork.'

Verse 102 (skanda.6.271.102)

एवं शप्तस्ततो द्वाभ्यां ताभ्यां वै दुःखसंयुतः चरणाभ्यां प्रलग्नस्तु गालवस्य महात्मनः

evaṁ śaptastato dvābhyāṁ tābhyāṁ vai duḥkhasaṁyutaḥ caraṇābhyāṁ pralagnastu gālavasya mahātmanaḥ

Thus cursed by both of them, filled with sorrow, I clung to the feet of the great-souled Galava.

Verse 103 (skanda.6.271.103)

गणोऽहं देवदेवस्य त्रिनेत्रस्य महात्मनः पालकेति च विख्यातो गणकोटिप्रभुः स्थितः

gaṇo'haṁ devadevasya trinetrasya mahātmanaḥ pālaketi ca vikhyāto gaṇakoṭiprabhuḥ sthitaḥ

I said: 'I am a gana of the great three-eyed god of gods, known as Palaka, lord of a hundred million ganas.'

Verse 104 (skanda.6.271.104)

सोऽहमत्र समायातः प्रभोः कार्येण केनचित् तव भार्यां समालोक्य कामदेववशं गतः

so'hamatra samāyātaḥ prabhoḥ kāryeṇa kenacit tava bhāryāṁ samālokya kāmadevavaśaṁ gataḥ

'I came here on some errand of my lord; seeing your wife, I fell under the sway of the god of love.'

Verse 105 (skanda.6.271.105)

क्षमापराधं त्वं मह्यमेवं ज्ञात्वा मुनीश्वर दुर्विनीतः श्रियं प्राप्य विद्यामैश्वर्यमेव च

kṣamāparādhaṁ tvaṁ mahyamevaṁ jñātvā munīśvara durvinītaḥ śriyaṁ prāpya vidyāmaiśvaryameva ca

'Knowing this, O lord of sages, forgive my offense — one who, ill-mannered, having attained prosperity, learning, and lordship...'

Verse 106 (skanda.6.271.106)

न तिष्ठति चिरं स्थाने यथाहं मदगर्वितः शिष्यरूपं समास्थाय ततः प्राप्तस्तवांतिकम्

na tiṣṭhati ciraṁ sthāne yathāhaṁ madagarvitaḥ śiṣyarūpaṁ samāsthāya tataḥ prāptastavāṁtikam

'...does not remain long in his place, arrogant with pride, as I was. Assuming the form of a disciple, I came to your presence.'

Verse 107 (skanda.6.271.107)

अस्या हरणहेतोश्च महासत्या मुनीश्वर तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे दीनस्य प्रणतस्य च

asyā haraṇahetośca mahāsatyā munīśvara tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me dīnasya praṇatasya ca

'It was for the purpose of carrying off this most chaste woman, O lord of sages. Therefore show grace to me, humbled and bowed down.'

Verse 108 (skanda.6.271.108)

अनुग्रहप्रदानेन क्षमा यस्मात्तपस्विनाम् कोकिलानां स्वरो रूपं नारीरूपं पतिव्रता विद्या रूपं कुरूपाणां क्षमा रूपं तपस्विनाम्

anugrahapradānena kṣamā yasmāttapasvinām kokilānāṁ svaro rūpaṁ nārīrūpaṁ pativratā vidyā rūpaṁ kurūpāṇāṁ kṣamā rūpaṁ tapasvinām

'Forgiveness is the ornament granted to ascetics through grace — the voice is the beauty of the cuckoo, chastity is the beauty of a woman, learning is the beauty of the ill-formed, and forgiveness is the beauty of ascetics.'

Verse 109 (skanda.6.271.109)

सूत उवाच तस्य तत्कृपणं श्रुत्वा सोपि माहेश्वरो मुनिः ज्ञात्वा तं बांधवस्थाने दयां कृत्वाऽब्रवीद्वचः

sūta uvāca tasya tatkṛpaṇaṁ śrutvā sopi māheśvaro muniḥ jñātvā taṁ bāṁdhavasthāne dayāṁ kṛtvā'bravīdvacaḥ

Suta said: Hearing his piteous plea, that Shiva-devoted sage too, regarding him as kin, showing mercy, spoke these words.

Verse 110 (skanda.6.271.110)

सत्यवाक्तिष्ठते विप्रश्चमत्कारपुरे शुभे

satyavāktiṣṭhate vipraścamatkārapure śubhe

'A truthful brahmin dwells in the auspicious city of Chamatkarapura.'

Verse 111 (skanda.6.271.111)

भर्त्तृयज्ञ इति ख्यातस्तदा तस्योपदेशतः बकत्वं यास्यते नूनं मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

bharttṛyajña iti khyātastadā tasyopadeśataḥ bakatvaṁ yāsyate nūnaṁ mama vākyādasaṁśayam

'He shall be known as Bhartriyajna; by his instruction, at my word, you shall surely be freed from your stork-form.'

Verse 112 (skanda.6.271.112)

ततः पश्यामि चात्मानं बकत्वेन समाश्रितम्

tataḥ paśyāmi cātmānaṁ bakatvena samāśritam

Then I saw myself established in the form of a stork.

Verse 113 (skanda.6.271.113)

एवं मे दीर्घमायुष्यं संजातं शिवभक्तितः घृतकम्बलमाहात्म्याद्बकत्वं मुनिशापतः

evaṁ me dīrghamāyuṣyaṁ saṁjātaṁ śivabhaktitaḥ ghṛtakambalamāhātmyādbakatvaṁ muniśāpataḥ

'Thus my long life came about through devotion to Shiva and the greatness of the ghee-blanket offering; my stork-form came about through a sage's curse.'

Verse 114 (skanda.6.271.114)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच एतदर्थं समानीतस्त्वत्सकाशं विहंगम इंद्रद्युम्नस्य वार्तार्थं मरणे कृतनिश्चयः

iṁdradyumna uvāca etadarthaṁ samānītastvatsakāśaṁ vihaṁgama iṁdradyumnasya vārtārthaṁ maraṇe kṛtaniścayaḥ

Indradyumna said: 'For this very purpose, O bird, I was brought to your presence — for news of Indradyumna, I who have resolved upon death.'

Verse 115 (skanda.6.271.115)

सा त्वया नैव विज्ञाता ममाभाग्यैर्विहंगम सेवयिष्याम्यहं तस्मात्प्रदीप्तं हव्यवाहनम्

sā tvayā naiva vijñātā mamābhāgyairvihaṁgama sevayiṣyāmyahaṁ tasmātpradīptaṁ havyavāhanam

'That news is not known to you, O bird, by my ill-fortune. Therefore I shall now resort to the blazing fire.'

Verse 116 (skanda.6.271.116)

प्रतिज्ञातं मया पूर्वमेतन्निश्चित्य चेतसि इंद्रद्युम्ने ह्यविज्ञाते संसेव्यः पावको मया

pratijñātaṁ mayā pūrvametanniścitya cetasi iṁdradyumne hyavijñāte saṁsevyaḥ pāvako mayā

'I had resolved this beforehand, firmly in my mind: if Indradyumna remained unknown, the fire was to be resorted to by me.'

Verse 117 (skanda.6.271.117)

तस्माद्देहि ममादेशं मार्कंडेयसमन्वितः प्रविशामि यथा वह्निं भ्रष्टकीर्तिरहं बक

tasmāddehi mamādeśaṁ mārkaṁḍeyasamanvitaḥ praviśāmi yathā vahniṁ bhraṣṭakīrtirahaṁ baka

'Therefore, together with Markandeya, give me leave — let me enter the fire, O Baka, I whose fame is lost.'

Verse 118 (skanda.6.271.118)

मार्कंडेय उवाच वेत्सि चान्यं नरं कञ्चिद्वयसा चात्मनोऽधिकम् पृच्छामि येन तं गत्वा कृते ह्यस्य महात्मनः

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca vetsi cānyaṁ naraṁ kañcidvayasā cātmano'dhikam pṛcchāmi yena taṁ gatvā kṛte hyasya mahātmanaḥ

Markandeya said: 'Do you know of any other man older in years than yourself? Let me go and ask him, for the sake of this great soul.'

Verse 119 (skanda.6.271.119)

श्रद्धया परया युक्तः संप्राप्तोऽयं मया सह तत्कथं त्यजति प्राणान्सहाये मयि संस्थिते

śraddhayā parayā yuktaḥ saṁprāpto'yaṁ mayā saha tatkathaṁ tyajati prāṇānsahāye mayi saṁsthite

'He has come with the utmost faith, together with me; how then shall he give up his life while I, his helper, still stand by?'

Verse 120 (skanda.6.271.120)

अपरं च क्षमं वाक्यं यत्त्वां वच्मि विहंगम अयं दुःखेन संयुक्तः साधयिष्यति पावकम् अहमेनमनुद्धृत्य कस्माद्गच्छामि चाश्रमम्

aparaṁ ca kṣamaṁ vākyaṁ yattvāṁ vacmi vihaṁgama ayaṁ duḥkhena saṁyuktaḥ sādhayiṣyati pāvakam ahamenamanuddhṛtya kasmādgacchāmi cāśramam

'And another fitting word I say to you, O bird: this man, overcome with sorrow, will indeed accomplish the fire. How can I go back to my hermitage without having rescued him?'

Verse 121 (skanda.6.271.121)

सूत उवाच तयोस्तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा बकः परमदुर्मना सुचिरं चिंतयामास कथं स्यादेतयोः सुखम्

sūta uvāca tayostaṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā bakaḥ paramadurmanā suciraṁ ciṁtayāmāsa kathaṁ syādetayoḥ sukham

Suta said: Knowing their resolve, Baka, deeply troubled at heart, pondered for a long while how happiness might come to these two.

Verse 122 (skanda.6.271.122)

ततो राजा मुनिश्चैव दारूण्याहृत्य पावकम् प्रवेष्टुकामौ तौ दृष्ट्वा बको वचनमब्रवीत्

tato rājā muniścaiva dārūṇyāhṛtya pāvakam praveṣṭukāmau tau dṛṣṭvā bako vacanamabravīt

Then, seeing the king and the sage, having gathered wood and kindled a fire, both wishing to enter it, Baka spoke these words.

Verse 123 (skanda.6.271.123)

मम वाक्यं कुरु प्राज्ञ यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि ज्ञातः सोऽद्य मया व्यक्तमिन्द्रद्युम्नं नराधिपम्

mama vākyaṁ kuru prājña yadi jīvitumicchasi jñātaḥ so'dya mayā vyaktamindradyumnaṁ narādhipam

'Follow my word, O wise one, if you wish to live. Today, I have clearly recognized this king Indradyumna.'

Verse 124 (skanda.6.271.124)

यो ज्ञास्यति मम ज्येष्ठः सर्वशास्त्रविचक्षणः तत्त्वमेनं समादाय मरणे कृतनिश्चयम्

yo jñāsyati mama jyeṣṭhaḥ sarvaśāstravicakṣaṇaḥ tattvamenaṁ samādāya maraṇe kṛtaniścayam

'One older than I, skilled in all the scriptures, will recognize him truly — take him along, he who has resolved upon death...'

Verse 125 (skanda.6.271.125)

निश्वसन्तं यथा नागं बाष्पव्याकुललोचनम् समागच्छ मया सार्धं कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति

niśvasantaṁ yathā nāgaṁ bāṣpavyākulalocanam samāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ kailāsaṁ parvataṁ prati

'...sighing like a serpent, his eyes clouded with tears — come with me toward Mount Kailasa.'

Verse 126 (skanda.6.271.126)

यत्रास्ति दयितो मह्यमुलूकश्चिरजीवभाक् स नूनं ज्ञास्यते तं हि मा वृथा मरणं कृथाः

yatrāsti dayito mahyamulūkaścirajīvabhāk sa nūnaṁ jñāsyate taṁ hi mā vṛthā maraṇaṁ kṛthāḥ

'There is my beloved friend, an owl who partakes of long life; he will surely know him. Do not make your death in vain.'

Verse 127 (skanda.6.271.127)

ततोऽसौ तेन संयुक्तो बकेन सुमहात्मना मार्कंडेयेन संप्राप्तः कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम्

tato'sau tena saṁyukto bakena sumahātmanā mārkaṁḍeyena saṁprāptaḥ kailāsaṁ parvatottamam

Then, joined by that great-souled Baka, he, together with Markandeya, reached Kailasa, the best of mountains.

Verse 128 (skanda.6.271.128)

सोऽपि दृष्ट्वा बकं प्राप्तं मित्रं परमसंमतम् समागच्छदसौ हृष्टः स्वागतेनाभ्यनन्दयत्

so'pi dṛṣṭvā bakaṁ prāptaṁ mitraṁ paramasaṁmatam samāgacchadasau hṛṣṭaḥ svāgatenābhyanandayat

He too, seeing Baka arrived, his most cherished friend, came forward, delighted, and welcomed him.

Verse 129 (skanda.6.271.129)

अथ तं चैव विश्रान्तं समालिङ्ग्य मुहुर्मुहुः प्राकारवर्णनामासौ वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

atha taṁ caiva viśrāntaṁ samāliṅgya muhurmuhuḥ prākāravarṇanāmāsau vākyametaduvāca ha

Then, having embraced him again and again after he had rested, he spoke these words of welcome.

Verse 130 (skanda.6.271.130)

स्वागतं ते द्विजश्रेष्ठ भूप सुस्वागतं च ते सख्येऽद्य यच्च ते कार्यं वदागमनकारणम्

svāgataṁ te dvijaśreṣṭha bhūpa susvāgataṁ ca te sakhye'dya yacca te kāryaṁ vadāgamanakāraṇam

'Welcome to you, O best of brahmins; and welcome to you too, O king. Tell me, my friend, the purpose of your visit.'

Verse 131 (skanda.6.271.131)

कावेतौ पुरुषौ प्राप्तौ त्वया सार्धं ममांतिकम् दिव्यरूपौ महाभागौ तेजसा परिवारितौ

kāvetau puruṣau prāptau tvayā sārdhaṁ mamāṁtikam divyarūpau mahābhāgau tejasā parivāritau

'Who are these two men who have come with you to my presence, of divine form, most fortunate, surrounded by radiance?'

Verse 132 (skanda.6.271.132)

बक उवाच एष मार्कंडसंज्ञोऽत्र प्रसिद्धो भुवनत्रये महेश्वरप्रसादेन संसिद्धिं परमां गतः द्वितीयोऽसौ सुहृच्चास्य कश्चिन्नो वेद्मि तत्त्वतः मार्कंडेन समायातः सुहृदा व ममांतिकम्

baka uvāca eṣa mārkaṁḍasaṁjño'tra prasiddho bhuvanatraye maheśvaraprasādena saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gataḥ dvitīyo'sau suhṛccāsya kaścinno vedmi tattvataḥ mārkaṁḍena samāyātaḥ suhṛdā va mamāṁtikam

Baka said: 'This one, known as Markanda, famed in the three worlds, has attained supreme accomplishment by the grace of Maheshvara. The other is his friend; who he truly is, I do not know — he has come to my presence together with my friend Markanda.'

Verse 133 (skanda.6.271.133)

यदि जानासि तं भूपमिन्द्रद्युम्नं महामते तत्त्वं कीर्तय येनासौ मरणाद्विनिवर्तते

yadi jānāsi taṁ bhūpamindradyumnaṁ mahāmate tattvaṁ kīrtaya yenāsau maraṇādvinivartate

'O great-minded one, if you know that king Indradyumna, declare the truth, so that he may be turned back from death.'

Verse 134 (skanda.6.271.134)

चिरायुस्त्वं मया ज्ञातो ह्यतः प्राप्तोऽस्मि तेंऽतिकम्

cirāyustvaṁ mayā jñāto hyataḥ prāpto'smi teṁ'tikam

'I know you to be long-lived; that is why I have come to your presence.'

Verse 135 (skanda.6.271.135)

उलूक उवाच अष्टाविंशत्प्रमाणेन कल्पा जातस्य मे स्थिताः न दृष्टो न श्रुतः कश्चिदिंद्रद्युम्नो महीपतिः

ulūka uvāca aṣṭāviṁśatpramāṇena kalpā jātasya me sthitāḥ na dṛṣṭo na śrutaḥ kaścidiṁdradyumno mahīpatiḥ

The owl said: 'Twenty-eight kalpas have passed since my birth; but I have never seen nor heard of any king Indradyumna.'

Verse 136 (skanda.6.271.136)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच तव कस्मादुलूकत्वं शीघ्रं तन्मे प्रकीर्तय एतन्मे कौतुकं भावि यत्ते ह्यायुरनन्तकम् उलूकत्वं च संजातं रौद्रं लोकविगर्हितम्

iṁdradyumna uvāca tava kasmādulūkatvaṁ śīghraṁ tanme prakīrtaya etanme kautukaṁ bhāvi yatte hyāyuranantakam ulūkatvaṁ ca saṁjātaṁ raudraṁ lokavigarhitam

Indradyumna said: 'Why did you become an owl? Tell me this quickly; I am filled with curiosity — that your life is endless, yet your owl-form came about, terrible and despised by the world.'

Verse 137 (skanda.6.271.137)

उलूक उवाच शृणु तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि दीर्घायुर्मे यथा स्थितम् महेश्वरप्रसादेन बिल्वपत्रार्चनान्मया उलूकत्वं मया प्राप्तं भृगोः शापान्महात्मनः

ulūka uvāca śṛṇu te'haṁ pravakṣyāmi dīrghāyurme yathā sthitam maheśvaraprasādena bilvapatrārcanānmayā ulūkatvaṁ mayā prāptaṁ bhṛgoḥ śāpānmahātmanaḥ

The owl said: 'Listen, I shall tell you how my long life came about — by the grace of Maheshvara, through my worship with bilva leaves. My owl-form I obtained through the curse of the great-souled Bhrigu.'

Verse 138 (skanda.6.271.138)

अहमासं पुरा विप्रः सर्वविद्यासु पारगः चमत्कारपुरे श्रेष्ठे नाम्ना ख्यातस्तु घंटकः ब्रह्मचारी दमोपेतो हरपूजार्चने रतः

ahamāsaṁ purā vipraḥ sarvavidyāsu pāragaḥ camatkārapure śreṣṭhe nāmnā khyātastu ghaṁṭakaḥ brahmacārī damopeto harapūjārcane rataḥ

'I was formerly a brahmin, master of every branch of learning, known by the name Ghantaka, in the excellent city of Chamatkarapura — a celibate student, self-controlled, devoted to the worship of Hara.'

Verse 139 (skanda.6.271.139)

अखंडितैर्बिल्वपत्रैरग्रजातैस्त्रिपत्रकैः त्रिकालं पूजितः शंभुर्लक्षमात्रैः सदा मया

akhaṁḍitairbilvapatrairagrajātaistripatrakaiḥ trikālaṁ pūjitaḥ śaṁbhurlakṣamātraiḥ sadā mayā

'With unbroken bilva leaves, freshly grown, three-leaved, Shambhu was worshipped by me three times a day, always with a hundred thousand of them.'

Verse 140 (skanda.6.271.140)

ततो वर्षसह्स्रांते तुष्टो मे भगवान्हरः प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा मेघगंभीरया गिरा

tato varṣasahsrāṁte tuṣṭo me bhagavānharaḥ provāca darśanaṁ gatvā meghagaṁbhīrayā girā

'Then, at the end of a thousand years, the blessed Hara, pleased with me, granted his darshan and spoke in a voice deep as thunder.'

Verse 141 (skanda.6.271.141)

अहं तुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्स वरं वरय सुव्रत अखंडितैर्बिल्वपत्रैस्त्रिकाले यत्त्वयार्चितः

ahaṁ tuṣṭo'smi te vatsa varaṁ varaya suvrata akhaṁḍitairbilvapatraistrikāle yattvayārcitaḥ

'I am pleased with you, my child, O virtuous one; choose a boon, for you have worshipped me three times daily with unbroken bilva leaves.'

Verse 142 (skanda.6.271.142)

बिल्वस्य प्रसवाग्रेण त्रिपत्रेण प्रजायते एकेनापि यथातुष्टिस्तथान्येषां न कोटिभिः

bilvasya prasavāgreṇa tripatreṇa prajāyate ekenāpi yathātuṣṭistathānyeṣāṁ na koṭibhiḥ

'By a single three-leaved sprig from the tip of the bilva, such satisfaction arises for me as does not arise even from ten million of other flowers.'

Verse 143 (skanda.6.271.143)

पुष्पाणामपि भद्रं ते सुगंधानामपि ध्रुवम् सखे मया प्रणम्योच्चैः स प्रोक्तः शशिशेखरः

puṣpāṇāmapi bhadraṁ te sugaṁdhānāmapi dhruvam sakhe mayā praṇamyoccaiḥ sa proktaḥ śaśiśekharaḥ

'Blessings upon you, surely beyond even the most fragrant of flowers.' Bowing low, O friend, I then addressed that moon-crested god.

Verse 144 (skanda.6.271.144)

यदि तुष्टोसि मे देव यदि देयो वरो मम तन्मां कुरु जगन्नाथ जरामरणवर्जितम्

yadi tuṣṭosi me deva yadi deyo varo mama tanmāṁ kuru jagannātha jarāmaraṇavarjitam

'If you are pleased with me, O god, and if a boon is to be given to me, then, O lord of the world, make me free from old age and death.'

Verse 145 (skanda.6.271.145)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय महादेवो महेश्वरः कैलासं प्रति देवेशः क्षणाच्चादर्शनं गतः

sa tatheti pratijñāya mahādevo maheśvaraḥ kailāsaṁ prati deveśaḥ kṣaṇāccādarśanaṁ gataḥ

That great god Maheshvara, the lord of gods, saying 'so be it,' vanished in an instant toward Kailasa.

Verse 146 (skanda.6.271.146)

ततोहं परितुष्टोथ वरं प्राप्य महेश्वरात् कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं चिंतयामि प्रहर्षितः

tatohaṁ parituṣṭotha varaṁ prāpya maheśvarāt kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṁ ciṁtayāmi praharṣitaḥ

'Then, well contented, having obtained the boon from Maheshvara, I, delighted, considered myself as one whose purpose was fulfilled.'

Verse 147 (skanda.6.271.147)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भार्गवो मुनिसत्तमः कुशलः सर्वशास्त्रेषु वेदवेदांग पारगः

etasminneva kāle tu bhārgavo munisattamaḥ kuśalaḥ sarvaśāstreṣu vedavedāṁga pāragaḥ

'At that very time there was a foremost sage of the Bhrigu line, skilled in all the scriptures, master of the Vedas and their limbs.'

Verse 148 (skanda.6.271.148)

तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी नाम्ना ख्याता सुदर्शना प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रिया तस्य गालवस्य मुनेः सुता

tasya bhāryā'bhavatsādhvī nāmnā khyātā sudarśanā prāṇebhyo'pi priyā tasya gālavasya muneḥ sutā

'His wife was a virtuous woman named Sudarshana, dearer to him than his own life, the daughter of the sage Galava.'

Verse 149 (skanda.6.271.149)

तस्य कन्या समभवद्रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि सा मया सहसा दृष्टा क्रीडमाना यथेच्छया

tasya kanyā samabhavadrūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi sā mayā sahasā dṛṣṭā krīḍamānā yathecchayā

'His daughter was born, unmatched in beauty on this earth; I suddenly saw her, playing there at her will.'

Verse 150 (skanda.6.271.150)

मध्यक्षामा सुकेशी च बिंबोष्ठी दीर्घलोचना तामहं वीक्षयित्वा तु कामदेववशं गतः

madhyakṣāmā sukeśī ca biṁboṣṭhī dīrghalocanā tāmahaṁ vīkṣayitvā tu kāmadevavaśaṁ gataḥ

'Slender-waisted, fine-haired, red-lipped, long-eyed — seeing her, I fell under the sway of the god of love.'

Verse 151 (skanda.6.271.151)

ततः पृष्टा मया कस्य कन्येयं चारुलोचना विभक्तसर्वावयवा देवकन्येव राजते

tataḥ pṛṣṭā mayā kasya kanyeyaṁ cārulocanā vibhaktasarvāvayavā devakanyeva rājate

'Then I asked: whose daughter is this lovely-eyed one, whose every limb is perfectly formed, who shines like a daughter of the gods?'

Verse 152 (skanda.6.271.152)

सखीभिः कीर्तिता मह्यं भार्गवस्य मुनेः सुता एषा चाद्यापि कन्यात्वे वर्तते चारुहासिनी

sakhībhiḥ kīrtitā mahyaṁ bhārgavasya muneḥ sutā eṣā cādyāpi kanyātve vartate cāruhāsinī

'Her friends told me she was the daughter of the sage Bhargava, still unmarried, sweetly smiling.'

Verse 153 (skanda.6.271.153)

ततोऽहं भार्गवं गत्वा विनयेन समन्वितः ययाचे कन्यकां ता च कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

tato'haṁ bhārgavaṁ gatvā vinayena samanvitaḥ yayāce kanyakāṁ tā ca kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

'Then, going to Bhargava with humility, standing with joined palms, I asked for that maiden.'

Verse 154 (skanda.6.271.154)

सवर्णं मां परिज्ञाय सोऽपि भार्गवनंदनः दत्तवांस्तां महाभाग विरूपस्यापि कन्यकाम्

savarṇaṁ māṁ parijñāya so'pi bhārgavanaṁdanaḥ dattavāṁstāṁ mahābhāga virūpasyāpi kanyakām

'Knowing me to be of equal caste, that son of Bhrigu gave me that maiden — most fortunate, though I was misshapen.'

Verse 155 (skanda.6.271.155)

अथ सा कन्यका ज्ञात्वा पित्रा दत्तास्मि धर्मतः विरूपाय ततो गत्वा मातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

atha sā kanyakā jñātvā pitrā dattāsmi dharmataḥ virūpāya tato gatvā mātaraṁ vākyamabravīt

'Then that maiden, learning she had been rightfully given by her father to one so misshapen, went to her mother and spoke these words.'

Verse 156 (skanda.6.271.156)

सुलज्जा साऽतिदुःखार्ता पश्यांब जनकेन च विरूपाय प्रदत्तास्मि नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे

sulajjā sā'tiduḥkhārtā paśyāṁba janakena ca virūpāya pradattāsmi nāhaṁ jīvitumutsahe

'Deeply ashamed and grief-stricken: Mother, see, my father has given me to a misshapen man; I cannot bear to live.'

Verse 157 (skanda.6.271.157)

विषं वा भक्षयिष्यामि प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम् तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा निषिद्धः स द्विजस्तया

viṣaṁ vā bhakṣayiṣyāmi pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā niṣiddhaḥ sa dvijastayā

'I shall either take poison or enter the fire.' Hearing her words, that brahmin was reproached by his wife.

Verse 158 (skanda.6.271.158)

कस्मान्नाथ प्रदत्तासौ विरूपाय त्वया विभो कन्यकेयं सुरूपाढ्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता

kasmānnātha pradattāsau virūpāya tvayā vibho kanyakeyaṁ surūpāḍhyā sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutā

'O lord, why has this maiden, so beautiful and endowed with every auspicious mark, been given by you to a misshapen man?'

Verse 159 (skanda.6.271.159)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं भार्गवो मुनिसत्तमः ततस्तां गर्हयित्वासौ धिङ्नारी पुरुषायते

etacchrutvā tu vacanaṁ bhārgavo munisattamaḥ tatastāṁ garhayitvāsau dhiṅnārī puruṣāyate

Hearing these words, the sage Bhargava rebuked her: 'Shame! A woman here speaks like a man!'

Verse 160 (skanda.6.271.160)

अनेन प्रार्थिता कन्या मया चास्मै प्रदीयते तत्किं निषेधयसि मां दीयमानां सुतामिमाम्

anena prārthitā kanyā mayā cāsmai pradīyate tatkiṁ niṣedhayasi māṁ dīyamānāṁ sutāmimām

'This maiden was sought by him, and I have given her to him; why then do you forbid me from giving away this our daughter?'

Verse 161 (skanda.6.271.161)

इत्युक्त्वा स प्रसुष्वाप पत्न्याथ कन्यया समम्

ityuktvā sa prasuṣvāpa patnyātha kanyayā samam

Having said this, he lay down to sleep, together with his wife and daughter.

Verse 162 (skanda.6.271.162)

ततोऽर्द्धरात्रे चागत्य मया सुप्ता च भार्गवी हृत्वा स्वभवने नीता निशि सुप्ते जने तदा

tato'rddharātre cāgatya mayā suptā ca bhārgavī hṛtvā svabhavane nītā niśi supte jane tadā

'Then, coming at midnight, while everyone slept, I carried off the sleeping daughter of Bhargava, and took her to my own dwelling.'

Verse 163 (skanda.6.271.163)

नियुक्ता कामधर्मेण ह्यनिच्छंती बलान्मया विप्रः प्रातर्जजागार पिता तस्यास्ततः परम्

niyuktā kāmadharmeṇa hyanicchaṁtī balānmayā vipraḥ prātarjajāgāra pitā tasyāstataḥ param

'She was joined to me in the rite of love against her will, by force. In the morning, her father, that brahmin, awoke.'

Verse 164 (skanda.6.271.164)

क्वासौ सा दुहिता केन हृता नष्टा मदीयिका अथासौ वीक्षितुं बाह्ये बभ्राम स्ववनांतिकम्

kvāsau sā duhitā kena hṛtā naṣṭā madīyikā athāsau vīkṣituṁ bāhye babhrāma svavanāṁtikam

'Where is my daughter? By whom has my dear one been taken, been lost?' He then wandered outside, near his own hermitage, searching.

Verse 165 (skanda.6.271.165)

पदसंहतिमार्गेण मुनिभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः तेन दृष्टाऽथ सा कन्या कृतकौतुकमंगला

padasaṁhatimārgeṇa munibhirbahubhirvṛtaḥ tena dṛṣṭā'tha sā kanyā kṛtakautukamaṁgalā

'Following the trail of footprints, accompanied by many sages, he then saw that maiden, adorned for the auspicious ceremony.'

Verse 166 (skanda.6.271.166)

रुदंती सस्वनं तत्र लज्जमाना ह्यधोमुखी ततः कोपपरीतात्मा मां प्रोवाच स भार्गवः

rudaṁtī sasvanaṁ tatra lajjamānā hyadhomukhī tataḥ kopaparītātmā māṁ provāca sa bhārgavaḥ

'She was weeping aloud there, ashamed, her face cast down. Then Bhargava, overcome with wrath, said to me.'

Verse 167 (skanda.6.271.167)

निशाचरस्य धर्मेण यस्मादूढा सुता मम निशाचरो भवानस्तु कर्मणानेन सांप्रतम्

niśācarasya dharmeṇa yasmādūḍhā sutā mama niśācaro bhavānastu karmaṇānena sāṁpratam

'Since my daughter has been wedded by the manner of a night-prowler, become now, by this very act, a night-prowler yourself.'

Verse 168 (skanda.6.271.168)

घंटक उवाच निर्दोषं मां द्विजश्रेष्ठ कस्मात्त्वं शपसि द्रुतम् त्वयैषा मे स्वयं दत्ता तेन रात्रौ हृता मया

ghaṁṭaka uvāca nirdoṣaṁ māṁ dvijaśreṣṭha kasmāttvaṁ śapasi drutam tvayaiṣā me svayaṁ dattā tena rātrau hṛtā mayā

Ghantaka said: 'O best of brahmins, why do you curse me, who am blameless? She was given to me by you yourself; that is why I took her by night.'

Verse 169 (skanda.6.271.169)

यो दत्वा कन्यकां पूर्वं पश्चाद्यच्छेन्न दुर्मतिः स याति नरकं घोरं यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

yo datvā kanyakāṁ pūrvaṁ paścādyacchenna durmatiḥ sa yāti narakaṁ ghoraṁ yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

'One who, having once given away a maiden, later refuses her, that evil-minded one goes to terrible hell until the dissolution of the world.'

Verse 170 (skanda.6.271.170)

अथासौ चिंतयामास सत्यमेतेन जल्पितम् पश्चात्तापसमोपेतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

athāsau ciṁtayāmāsa satyametena jalpitam paścāttāpasamopeto vākyametaduvāca ha

Then he considered: 'What he has said is true.' Overcome with regret, he spoke these words.

Verse 171 (skanda.6.271.171)

सत्यमेतत्त्वया प्रोक्तं न मे वचनमन्यथा उलूकरूपसंयुक्तो भविष्यसि न संशयः

satyametattvayā proktaṁ na me vacanamanyathā ulūkarūpasaṁyukto bhaviṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ

'What you have said is true; yet my word shall not be otherwise — you shall, without doubt, take the form of an owl.'

Verse 172 (skanda.6.271.172)

उत्पत्स्यते यदा चात्र भर्तृयज्ञो महामुनिः तस्योपदेशमासाद्य भूयः प्राप्स्यसि स्वां तनुम्

utpatsyate yadā cātra bhartṛyajño mahāmuniḥ tasyopadeśamāsādya bhūyaḥ prāpsyasi svāṁ tanum

'When the great sage Bhartriyajna shall arise here, having received his teaching, you shall regain your own form again.'

Verse 173 (skanda.6.271.173)

ततः कौशिकरूपं तु पश्याम्यात्मानमेव च तथापि न स्मृतिर्नष्टा मम या पूर्वसंभवा

tataḥ kauśikarūpaṁ tu paśyāmyātmānameva ca tathāpi na smṛtirnaṣṭā mama yā pūrvasaṁbhavā

'Then I saw myself in the form of an owl; yet even so, the memory of my former birth was not lost to me.'

Verse 174 (skanda.6.271.174)

अथ या तत्सुता चोढा मया तस्मिन्गिरौ तदा सापि मां संनिरीक्ष्याथ तद्रूपं दुःखसंयुता प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहं सा विधवात्वमनिच्छती

atha yā tatsutā coḍhā mayā tasmingirau tadā sāpi māṁ saṁnirīkṣyātha tadrūpaṁ duḥkhasaṁyutā praviṣṭā havyavāhaṁ sā vidhavātvamanicchatī

'And that daughter whom I had wedded, upon that mountain, seeing me in that form, overcome with grief, entered the fire, unwilling to become a widow.'

Verse 175 (skanda.6.271.175)

एवं मे कौशिकत्वं हि संजातं तु महाद्युते भार्गवस्य तु शापेन कन्यार्थे यत्तवोदितम्

evaṁ me kauśikatvaṁ hi saṁjātaṁ tu mahādyute bhārgavasya tu śāpena kanyārthe yattavoditam

'Thus, O most radiant one, my owl-form came about through the curse of Bhargava, on account of his daughter — as I have told you.'

Verse 176 (skanda.6.271.176)

अखंडबिल्वपत्रेण पूजितो यन्महेश्वरः चिरायुस्तेनसंजातं सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

akhaṁḍabilvapatreṇa pūjito yanmaheśvaraḥ cirāyustenasaṁjātaṁ satyametanmayoditam

'And by worshipping Maheshvara with unbroken bilva leaves, my long life came about — this I have truly told you.'

Verse 177 (skanda.6.271.177)

सत्यं कथय यत्कृत्यं गृहायातस्य किं तव प्रकरोमि महाभाग यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

satyaṁ kathaya yatkṛtyaṁ gṛhāyātasya kiṁ tava prakaromi mahābhāga yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'Now tell me truly what business brings you to my dwelling; I shall accomplish it, most fortunate one, however difficult it may be.'

Verse 178 (skanda.6.271.178)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच इन्द्रद्युम्नस्य ज्ञानाय प्राप्तोऽहं यत्तवांतिकम् नाडीजंघेन चानीतो मरणे कृतनिश्चयः

indradyumna uvāca indradyumnasya jñānāya prāpto'haṁ yattavāṁtikam nāḍījaṁghena cānīto maraṇe kṛtaniścayaḥ

Indradyumna said: 'It is for knowledge concerning Indradyumna that I have come to your presence, brought by Nadijangha, I who have resolved upon death.'

Verse 179 (skanda.6.271.179)

यदि नो ज्ञास्यति भवांस्तं कीर्त्या च कुलेन च प्रविशामि ततो नूनं प्रदीप्तं हव्यवाहनम्

yadi no jñāsyati bhavāṁstaṁ kīrtyā ca kulena ca praviśāmi tato nūnaṁ pradīptaṁ havyavāhanam

'If you do not know him, by fame and by lineage, then surely I shall enter the blazing fire.'

Verse 180 (skanda.6.271.180)

नो चेत्कीर्तय मे कञ्चिदन्यं तु चिरजीविनम् पृच्छामि तेन तं गत्वा येन वेत्ति न वा च सः

no cetkīrtaya me kañcidanyaṁ tu cirajīvinam pṛcchāmi tena taṁ gatvā yena vetti na vā ca saḥ

'If not, tell me of some other long-lived being; I shall go and ask him whether he knows him or not.'

Verse 181 (skanda.6.271.181)

बक उवाच युक्तमुक्तमनेनाद्य तत्कुरुष्व वदास्य भोः यदि जानासि कंचित्वमात्मनश्चिरजीविनम्

baka uvāca yuktamuktamanenādya tatkuruṣva vadāsya bhoḥ yadi jānāsi kaṁcitvamātmanaścirajīvinam

Baka said: 'What he has said today is fitting; do as he asks. Tell him, sir, if you know of anyone longer-lived than yourself.'

Verse 182 (skanda.6.271.182)

नो चेदहमपि क्षिप्रं प्रविशामि हुताशनम् मार्कंडेनापि सहितः सांप्रतं तव पश्यतः

no cedahamapi kṣipraṁ praviśāmi hutāśanam mārkaṁḍenāpi sahitaḥ sāṁprataṁ tava paśyataḥ

'If not, then I too shall swiftly enter the fire, together with Markandeya, right now, before your very eyes.'

Verse 183 (skanda.6.271.183)

एवम् ज्ञात्वा महाभाग चिन्तयस्व चिरंतनम् कंचिद्भूमितलेऽन्यत्र यतस्त्वं चिरजीवधृक्

evam jñātvā mahābhāga cintayasva ciraṁtanam kaṁcidbhūmitale'nyatra yatastvaṁ cirajīvadhṛk

'Knowing this, O most fortunate one, think of someone older still, elsewhere upon the earth, since you yourself are long-lived.'

Verse 184 (skanda.6.271.184)

आशया परया प्राप्तस्तवाहं किल मंदिरे पुमानेष विशेषेण मार्कंडेयः प्रियो मम

āśayā parayā prāptastavāhaṁ kila maṁdire pumāneṣa viśeṣeṇa mārkaṁḍeyaḥ priyo mama

'With the greatest hope I have come to your dwelling; this man especially, Markandeya, is dear to me.'

Verse 185 (skanda.6.271.185)

संत्यत्र पर्वतश्रेष्ठाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः येषु सन्ति महाभागास्तापसाश्चिरजीविनः नान्यथा जीवितं चास्य कथंचित्संभविष्यति

saṁtyatra parvataśreṣṭhāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ yeṣu santi mahābhāgāstāpasāścirajīvinaḥ nānyathā jīvitaṁ cāsya kathaṁcitsaṁbhaviṣyati

'There are here hundreds and thousands of the finest mountains, upon which dwell most fortunate ascetics of long life. In no other way will this man's life be saved.'

Verse 186 (skanda.6.271.186)

इंद्रद्युम्नस्य राजर्षेर्हितं परमकं भवेत् तथावयोर्द्वयोश्चापि तस्माच्चिंतय सत्वरम्

iṁdradyumnasya rājarṣerhitaṁ paramakaṁ bhavet tathāvayordvayoścāpi tasmācciṁtaya satvaram

'It would be the greatest good for the royal sage Indradyumna, and for us two as well; therefore think quickly.'

Verse 187 (skanda.6.271.187)

तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा मरणार्थं महीपतेः स उलूकः कृपां गत्वा ततो वचनमब्रवीत्

tasya taṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā maraṇārthaṁ mahīpateḥ sa ulūkaḥ kṛpāṁ gatvā tato vacanamabravīt

Knowing that king's resolve toward death, that owl, moved to compassion, then spoke these words.

Verse 188 (skanda.6.271.188)

यद्येवं तु महाभाग मर्तुकामोऽसि सांप्रतम् तदागच्छ मया सार्धं गन्धमादनपर्वतम्

yadyevaṁ tu mahābhāga martukāmo'si sāṁpratam tadāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ gandhamādanaparvatam

'If it is so, most fortunate one, and you now desire death, then come with me to Mount Gandhamadana.'

Verse 189 (skanda.6.271.189)

तत्र संतिष्ठते गृध्रः स च मे परमः सुहृत् चिरंतनस्तथा सम्यक्स ते ज्ञास्यति तं नृपम् कथयिष्यत्यसंदिग्धं मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

tatra saṁtiṣṭhate gṛdhraḥ sa ca me paramaḥ suhṛt ciraṁtanastathā samyaksa te jñāsyati taṁ nṛpam kathayiṣyatyasaṁdigdhaṁ mama vākyādasaṁśayam

'There dwells a vulture, my supreme friend, older still; he will surely know that king and will tell you without doubt, at my word.'

Verse 190 (skanda.6.271.190)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मार्कंडेयादिभिस्त्रिभिः प्रोक्तः सर्वैर्महाभाग मा त्वं प्रविश पावकम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā mārkaṁḍeyādibhistribhiḥ proktaḥ sarvairmahābhāga mā tvaṁ praviśa pāvakam

Hearing his words, he was told by all three — Markandeya and the others: 'O most fortunate one, do not enter the fire.'

Verse 191 (skanda.6.271.191)

वयं यास्यामहे सर्वे त्वया सार्धं च तत्र हि कदाचित्सोऽपि जानाति इंद्रद्युम्नं महीपतिम्

vayaṁ yāsyāmahe sarve tvayā sārdhaṁ ca tatra hi kadācitso'pi jānāti iṁdradyumnaṁ mahīpatim

'We shall all go there together with you; perhaps he too knows king Indradyumna.'

Verse 192 (skanda.6.271.192)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा आशया परया युतः स राजा सह तैः सर्वैः प्रययौ गंधमादनम्

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā āśayā parayā yutaḥ sa rājā saha taiḥ sarvaiḥ prayayau gaṁdhamādanam

Hearing their words, filled with the greatest hope, that king went with all of them to Gandhamadana.

Verse 193 (skanda.6.271.193)

गृध्रराजोऽपि तान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वानेव कृतांजलिः उलूकं पुरतो दृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टः सन्मुखो ययौ

gṛdhrarājo'pi tāndṛṣṭvā sarvāneva kṛtāṁjaliḥ ulūkaṁ purato dṛṣṭvā prahṛṣṭaḥ sanmukho yayau

The vulture-king too, seeing them all with joined palms, and seeing the owl before him, went forth delighted to meet them.

Verse 194 (skanda.6.271.194)

ततोऽब्रवीत्प्रहृष्टात्मा स्वागतं ते द्विजोत्तम चिरकालात्प्रदृष्टोऽसि क एतेऽन्येऽत्र ये स्थिताः

tato'bravītprahṛṣṭātmā svāgataṁ te dvijottama cirakālātpradṛṣṭo'si ka ete'nye'tra ye sthitāḥ

Then, delighted at heart, he said: 'Welcome to you, O best of brahmins; I have not seen you for a long time. Who are these others here?'

Verse 195 (skanda.6.271.195)

उलूक उवाच एष मे परमं मित्रं नाडीजंघो बकः स्मृतः एतस्यापि तु मार्कण्डः संस्थितः परमः सुहृत्

ulūka uvāca eṣa me paramaṁ mitraṁ nāḍījaṁgho bakaḥ smṛtaḥ etasyāpi tu mārkaṇḍaḥ saṁsthitaḥ paramaḥ suhṛt

The owl said: 'This is my great friend, remembered as Baka, called Nadijangha; and his supreme friend is this one, Markanda.'

Verse 196 (skanda.6.271.196)

असौ त्रैलोक्यविख्यातः सप्तकल्पस्मरो भुवि एतस्यापि सुहृत्कश्चिन्नैनं जानामि सत्वरम्

asau trailokyavikhyātaḥ saptakalpasmaro bhuvi etasyāpi suhṛtkaścinnainaṁ jānāmi satvaram

'He is renowned in the three worlds, remembering seven kalpas on this earth. And this other is his friend — I do not know him yet.'

Verse 197 (skanda.6.271.197)

म्रियमाणो मया ह्येष समानी तस्तवांतिकम् अयं जीवति विज्ञात इंद्रद्युम्ने नरेश्वरे नो चेत्प्रविशति क्षिप्रं प्रदीप्तं हव्यवाहनम्

mriyamāṇo mayā hyeṣa samānī tastavāṁtikam ayaṁ jīvati vijñāta iṁdradyumne nareśvare no cetpraviśati kṣipraṁ pradīptaṁ havyavāhanam

'He, about to die, has been brought by me to your presence; he lives only if king Indradyumna becomes known — otherwise he will swiftly enter the blazing fire.'

Verse 198 (skanda.6.271.198)

स त्वं जानासि चेद्ब्रूहि इन्द्रद्युम्नं महीपतिम् चिरंतनो मयापि त्वं तेन प्रष्टुं समागतः

sa tvaṁ jānāsi cedbrūhi indradyumnaṁ mahīpatim ciraṁtano mayāpi tvaṁ tena praṣṭuṁ samāgataḥ

'So, if you know king Indradyumna, tell us. You are older even than I, and that is why I have come with them to ask you.'

Verse 199 (skanda.6.271.199)

गृध्र उवाच इन्द्रद्युम्नेति विख्यातं राजानं न स्मराम्यहम् न दृष्टो न श्रुतश्चापि इन्द्रद्युम्नो महीपतिः

gṛdhra uvāca indradyumneti vikhyātaṁ rājānaṁ na smarāmyaham na dṛṣṭo na śrutaścāpi indradyumno mahīpatiḥ

The vulture said: 'I do not remember any king known by the name Indradyumna; I have neither seen nor heard of king Indradyumna.'

Verse 200 (skanda.6.271.200)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सोऽपि राजा सुदुर्मनाः मनसा चिन्तयामास मरणे कृतनिश्चयः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā so'pi rājā sudurmanāḥ manasā cintayāmāsa maraṇe kṛtaniścayaḥ

Hearing his words, that king too, deeply troubled, resolved in his mind upon death.

Verse 201 (skanda.6.271.201)

ततस्तु कौतुकाविष्टस्तं पप्रच्छ द्विजोत्तमम् कर्मणा केन संप्राप्तमायुष्यं चेदृशं वद

tatastu kautukāviṣṭastaṁ papraccha dvijottamam karmaṇā kena saṁprāptamāyuṣyaṁ cedṛśaṁ vada

Then, filled with curiosity, he asked that noble bird: 'Tell me, by what deed was such an age attained?'

Verse 202 (skanda.6.271.202)

ततः संभावयिष्यामि श्रुत्वा तेऽहं विभावसुम्

tataḥ saṁbhāvayiṣyāmi śrutvā te'haṁ vibhāvasum

'Having heard it, I shall then pay you due honor.'

Verse 203 (skanda.6.271.203)

गृध्र उवाच अहमासं चमत्कारपुरे मर्कटकः किल उपत्यकायां तत्रैव रक्तशृंगस्य भूभृतः

gṛdhra uvāca ahamāsaṁ camatkārapure markaṭakaḥ kila upatyakāyāṁ tatraiva raktaśṛṁgasya bhūbhṛtaḥ

The vulture said: 'I was once, in Chamatkarapura, a monkey indeed, in the foothills of the mountain called Raktashringa.'

Verse 204 (skanda.6.271.204)

तत्रैवास्ति महच्छंभोर्मंदिरं मंदरोपमम् चित्रेश्वराभिधानं च सर्वपातकनाशनम्

tatraivāsti mahacchaṁbhormaṁdiraṁ maṁdaropamam citreśvarābhidhānaṁ ca sarvapātakanāśanam

'There stands a great temple of Shambhu, like Mount Mandara, called Chitreshvara, destroyer of all sins.'

Verse 205 (skanda.6.271.205)

वसंते तत्र संप्राप्ते पौरजानपदैस्तथा आगत्य चैव सुमहानुत्सवो विहितोऽभवत्

vasaṁte tatra saṁprāpte paurajānapadaistathā āgatya caiva sumahānutsavo vihito'bhavat

'When spring arrived there, the townsfolk and villagers, having come together, held a great festival.'

Verse 206 (skanda.6.271.206)

लिंगस्य सविधै रम्ये सर्वर्तुफलितद्रुमे कानने कामिनीलोककांते जनमनोहरे लिंगमारोपितं चारु तरोरांदोलके मुदा

liṁgasya savidhai ramye sarvartuphalitadrume kānane kāminīlokakāṁte janamanohare liṁgamāropitaṁ cāru tarorāṁdolake mudā

'Near the linga, in a lovely grove where trees bore fruit in every season, delightful to women and captivating to all, the beautiful linga was placed with joy upon a swing hung from a tree.'

Verse 207 (skanda.6.271.207)

कृत्वा दमनकेनार्चां स्थाप्यांदोले सुयंत्रिते ययुस्ते स्वगृहं पश्चादर्चयित्वा त्रिलोचनम्

kṛtvā damanakenārcāṁ sthāpyāṁdole suyaṁtrite yayuste svagṛhaṁ paścādarcayitvā trilocanam

'Having worshipped it with damanaka flowers and set it upon the well-fitted swing, they, having worshipped the three-eyed god, went afterward to their own homes.'

Verse 208 (skanda.6.271.208)

ततोऽहं रजनीवक्त्रे तां दोलां सुमनोहराम् कौतुकाविष्टहृदयो दोलयामि मुहुर्मुहुः

tato'haṁ rajanīvaktre tāṁ dolāṁ sumanoharām kautukāviṣṭahṛdayo dolayāmi muhurmuhuḥ

'Then I, at nightfall, with a heart filled with curiosity, swung that lovely swing again and again.'

Verse 209 (skanda.6.271.209)

एवं संदोलयानस्य मम प्राप्ता नरास्तदा कैश्चित्तैस्त्रासितो हत्वा लगुडैः सर्वतोदिशम्

evaṁ saṁdolayānasya mama prāptā narāstadā kaiścittaistrāsito hatvā laguḍaiḥ sarvatodiśam

'While I was thus swinging it, some men came upon me and, striking me on all sides with clubs, terrified me.'

Verse 210 (skanda.6.271.210)

ततः पंचत्वमापन्नस्तत्रैवायतने द्रुतम् ततो जातिस्मरो भूत्वा संजातो नृपमंदिरे

tataḥ paṁcatvamāpannastatraivāyatane drutam tato jātismaro bhūtvā saṁjāto nṛpamaṁdire

'Then I quickly met death right there at the shrine; thereafter, becoming one who remembers his past births, I was born in a royal palace.'

Verse 211 (skanda.6.271.211)

कोटीश्वरस्यविख्यातो नाम्ना चैव कुशध्वजः पितृपैतामहं राज्यं मया प्राप्तं ततः क्रमात्

koṭīśvarasyavikhyāto nāmnā caiva kuśadhvajaḥ pitṛpaitāmahaṁ rājyaṁ mayā prāptaṁ tataḥ kramāt

'Known by the name Kushadhvaja, of the line of Koteshvara, I obtained in due course the kingdom of my father and grandfather.'

Verse 212 (skanda.6.271.212)

कोटीशे समनुप्राप्ते परलोकं स्वकर्मणा जागेश्वरं महाभागं दोलयामि यथेच्छया

koṭīśe samanuprāpte paralokaṁ svakarmaṇā jāgeśvaraṁ mahābhāgaṁ dolayāmi yathecchayā

'When Koteshvara had gone to the other world by his own deeds, I swung the great and fortunate Jageshvara at will.'

Verse 213 (skanda.6.271.213)

शिवसिद्धांतजैर्मंत्रैर्गुरुणा संनिवेदितैः ततः कालेन महता तुष्टो देवो हरो मम भवतो वरदश्चास्मि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

śivasiddhāṁtajairmaṁtrairguruṇā saṁniveditaiḥ tataḥ kālena mahatā tuṣṭo devo haro mama bhavato varadaścāsmi vākyametaduvāca ha

'With the mantras of the Shaiva doctrine, taught to me by my guru, after a great length of time, the god Hara, pleased with me, spoke this word: I am the granter of your boon.'

Verse 214 (skanda.6.271.214)

कुशध्वज प्रतुष्टोऽस्मि श्रद्धया परया तव वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते यः सदा मनसि स्थितः

kuśadhvaja pratuṣṭo'smi śraddhayā parayā tava varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te yaḥ sadā manasi sthitaḥ

'O Kushadhvaja, I am well pleased by your supreme devotion; choose the boon, blessings upon you, that ever abides in your mind.'

Verse 215 (skanda.6.271.215)

ततो मया प्रणम्योच्चैः स प्रोक्तो भगवान्हरः

tato mayā praṇamyoccaiḥ sa prokto bhagavānharaḥ

'Then, bowing low, I addressed the blessed Hara.'

Verse 216 (skanda.6.271.216)

यदि तुष्टोसि मे देव तन्मां कुरु निजं गणम् त्रैलोक्यराज्यमपि मे नान्यत्संप्रति रोचते

yadi tuṣṭosi me deva tanmāṁ kuru nijaṁ gaṇam trailokyarājyamapi me nānyatsaṁprati rocate

'If you are pleased with me, O god, make me your own attendant; even sovereignty over the three worlds does not now please me more than this.'

Verse 217 (skanda.6.271.217)

एवमुक्तो मया देवो विमाने मां निधाय सः शिवलोकं महापुण्यं सहसा मां समानयत्

evamukto mayā devo vimāne māṁ nidhāya saḥ śivalokaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sahasā māṁ samānayat

'Thus addressed by me, that god, placing me in a celestial chariot, at once brought me to the great and holy Shivaloka.'

Verse 218 (skanda.6.271.218)

ततः प्रसादतश्चाहं भवान्याश्च हरस्य च क्रीडामि स्वेच्छया तत्र गणमध्ये व्यवस्थितः

tataḥ prasādataścāhaṁ bhavānyāśca harasya ca krīḍāmi svecchayā tatra gaṇamadhye vyavasthitaḥ

'Then, by the grace of Bhavani and Hara, I play there freely, established among the ganas.'

Verse 219 (skanda.6.271.219)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य विमानवरमाश्रितः स्वेच्छयाभ्रममाणस्तु प्राप्तोऽत्रैव महागिरौ

kasyacittvatha kālasya vimānavaramāśritaḥ svecchayābhramamāṇastu prāpto'traiva mahāgirau

'Then, after some time, mounted on a fine celestial chariot, wandering at will, I arrived at this very great mountain.'

Verse 220 (skanda.6.271.220)

वसंतसमये प्राप्ते प्रवृत्ते दक्षिणानिले अग्निवेश्यसुता दृष्टा विवस्त्रा जलम ध्यगा

vasaṁtasamaye prāpte pravṛtte dakṣiṇānile agniveśyasutā dṛṣṭā vivastrā jalama dhyagā

'When the spring season had come, and the southern breeze was blowing, I saw the daughter of Agnivesya, unclothed, standing amid the water.'

Verse 221 (skanda.6.271.221)

आलिभिर्बहुभिर्युक्ता क्रीडमाना यथेच्छया मुष्टिग्राह्या तु मध्ये सा बिंबोष्ठी वारिजेक्षणा

ālibhirbahubhiryuktā krīḍamānā yathecchayā muṣṭigrāhyā tu madhye sā biṁboṣṭhī vārijekṣaṇā

'Accompanied by many friends, playing at will, slender enough to be grasped in the fist at the waist, red-lipped, lotus-eyed...'

Verse 222 (skanda.6.271.222)

बिल्वस्तनी शशांकास्या सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता ततोऽहं मन्मथाविष्टः समभूवं हि तत्क्षणात्

bilvastanī śaśāṁkāsyā sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā tato'haṁ manmathāviṣṭaḥ samabhūvaṁ hi tatkṣaṇāt

'...her breasts like bilva fruits, her face like the moon, marked with every auspicious sign — I was at once overcome by the god of love.'

Verse 223 (skanda.6.271.223)

अवतीर्य विमानाग्र्याद्गृहीताथ करे मया प्रकुर्वाणाथ करुणं पक्षिणीकुररी यथा

avatīrya vimānāgryādgṛhītātha kare mayā prakurvāṇātha karuṇaṁ pakṣiṇīkurarī yathā

'Descending from my fine chariot, I seized her by the hand, while she cried out piteously, like a female osprey.'

Verse 224 (skanda.6.271.224)

ततः कन्या मुनींद्राणां याः स्थितास्तत्र वारिणि रुदंत्यः संप्रयातास्ता अग्निवेश्यस्य संनिधौ

tataḥ kanyā munīṁdrāṇāṁ yāḥ sthitāstatra vāriṇi rudaṁtyaḥ saṁprayātāstā agniveśyasya saṁnidhau

'Then the daughters of the great sages who stood there in the water, weeping, went at once to the presence of Agnivesya.'

Verse 225 (skanda.6.271.225)

नीयते त्वत्सुता ब्रह्मन्विमानवरमाश्रिता वैमानिकेन केनापि क्रन्दमाना निरर्गलम्

nīyate tvatsutā brahmanvimānavaramāśritā vaimānikena kenāpi krandamānā nirargalam

'O brahmin, your daughter is being carried off, mounted upon a fine chariot, by some sky-traveler, crying out without restraint.'

Verse 226 (skanda.6.271.226)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितः सोऽथ व्योममार्गावलोकनः स्वाश्रमात्संप्रयातः स भर्त्समानो मुहुर्मुहुः

tacchrutvā kupitaḥ so'tha vyomamārgāvalokanaḥ svāśramātsaṁprayātaḥ sa bhartsamāno muhurmuhuḥ

Hearing this, he, enraged, looking up along the path of the sky, set out from his hermitage, rebuking me again and again.

Verse 227 (skanda.6.271.227)

तिष्ठतिष्ठेति च प्रोच्य स्तंभयामास सर्वतः तपसोग्रेण विप्रस्य विमानं मम संस्थितम्

tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti ca procya staṁbhayāmāsa sarvataḥ tapasogreṇa viprasya vimānaṁ mama saṁsthitam

'Crying Stop, stop! that brahmin, by the power of his fierce austerity, brought my chariot to a complete halt, motionless.'

Verse 228 (skanda.6.271.228)

अब्रवीच्च ततो मां स कोपेन महताऽन्वितः यस्मात्पाप त्वया कन्या क्रीडती विहृताधुना

abravīcca tato māṁ sa kopena mahatā'nvitaḥ yasmātpāpa tvayā kanyā krīḍatī vihṛtādhunā

Then, filled with great wrath, he said to me: 'Since you, sinner, have now snatched away my daughter who was playing...'

Verse 229 (skanda.6.271.229)

अकामा मांसपेशीव यथा गृध्रेण दुर्मते तस्माद्गृध्रो भवत्वाशु मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

akāmā māṁsapeśīva yathā gṛdhreṇa durmate tasmādgṛdhro bhavatvāśu mama vākyādasaṁśayam

'...unwilling, as a piece of flesh is seized by a vulture, O evil-minded one — therefore, at my word, become a vulture at once, without doubt.'

Verse 230 (skanda.6.271.230)

एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन लज्जयाऽहं परिप्लुतः निवेद्य कन्यकां तस्मै प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः

evamuktastatastena lajjayā'haṁ pariplutaḥ nivedya kanyakāṁ tasmai praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ

Thus addressed by him, overwhelmed with shame, I returned the maiden to him, bowing again and again.

Verse 231 (skanda.6.271.231)

ततः प्रोक्तो मया विप्रस्त्वग्निवेश्यो महातपाः न मया ते सुता ज्ञाता न कोपयितुमर्हसि

tataḥ prokto mayā viprastvagniveśyo mahātapāḥ na mayā te sutā jñātā na kopayitumarhasi

'Then I said to that brahmin Agnivesya, of great austerity: I did not know she was your daughter; you should not be angry.'

Verse 232 (skanda.6.271.232)

गृध्रत्वं मे यथा न स्यात्तथाकुरु मुनीश्वर

gṛdhratvaṁ me yathā na syāttathākuru munīśvara

'Do something, O lord of sages, so that I may not become a vulture.'

Verse 233 (skanda.6.271.233)

ततोऽहं तेन च प्रोक्तो न मिथ्यावचनं मम कथंचिज्जायते तस्माद्गृध्रत्वं प्रभविष्यति

tato'haṁ tena ca prokto na mithyāvacanaṁ mama kathaṁcijjāyate tasmādgṛdhratvaṁ prabhaviṣyati

Then he told me: 'My word cannot be false; the vulture-form will indeed come about.'

Verse 234 (skanda.6.271.234)

आनर्तस्योपदेशेन यदा यास्यसि भोऽधम भर्तृयज्ञं महाभागमुपदेशकृते तदा

ānartasyopadeśena yadā yāsyasi bho'dhama bhartṛyajñaṁ mahābhāgamupadeśakṛte tadā

'But, O lowly one, when you shall go, by the counsel of Anarta, to the great and fortunate Bhartriyajna for instruction...'

Verse 235 (skanda.6.271.235)

तस्माच्च निष्कृतिं प्राप्य गृध्रत्वं ते प्रयास्यति स मयाऽन्वेषमाणेन न दृष्टो नैव च श्रुतः निर्विण्णो गृध्रभावेन शापांतो न च मेऽभवत्

tasmācca niṣkṛtiṁ prāpya gṛdhratvaṁ te prayāsyati sa mayā'nveṣamāṇena na dṛṣṭo naiva ca śrutaḥ nirviṇṇo gṛdhrabhāvena śāpāṁto na ca me'bhavat

'...you shall obtain release from that, and your vulture-form shall pass away.' Though I searched, I have neither seen nor heard of him; wearied by my vulture-existence, the end of my curse has not yet come.

Verse 236 (skanda.6.271.236)

गृध्र उवाच एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गृधत्वस्य च कारणम् आयुष्यं च यथा जातं मम संख्याविवर्जितम्

gṛdhra uvāca etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ gṛdhatvasya ca kāraṇam āyuṣyaṁ ca yathā jātaṁ mama saṁkhyāvivarjitam

The vulture said: 'Thus I have told you all the reason for my vulture-form, and how my countless-numbered life came about.'

Verse 237 (skanda.6.271.237)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच अनुज्ञां देहि मे शीघ्रं प्रविशामि हुताशनम् येन वैराग्यमापन्नो न हि जीवितुमुत्सहे

indradyumna uvāca anujñāṁ dehi me śīghraṁ praviśāmi hutāśanam yena vairāgyamāpanno na hi jīvitumutsahe

Indradyumna said: 'Give me leave quickly; let me enter the fire — having come to dispassion, I cannot bear to live.'

Verse 238 (skanda.6.271.238)

एवमुक्तः स तेनाथ चिंतयामास चेतसि ममांतिकं समायात एवं मित्रसमन्वितः तत्करोमि यथाशक्त्या स्वोपकारं सुदुर्लभम्

evamuktaḥ sa tenātha ciṁtayāmāsa cetasi mamāṁtikaṁ samāyāta evaṁ mitrasamanvitaḥ tatkaromi yathāśaktyā svopakāraṁ sudurlabham

Thus addressed, he then thought in his mind: 'He has come to my presence, accompanied by such friends; let me do, to the best of my ability, some rare service for him.'

Verse 239 (skanda.6.271.239)

ततः प्रोवाच तं प्रीत्या दाक्षिण्यं परमं गतः मा साधय चाग्निं भोः शृणु तावद्वचो मम

tataḥ provāca taṁ prītyā dākṣiṇyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ mā sādhaya cāgniṁ bhoḥ śṛṇu tāvadvaco mama

Then, moved by affection and the utmost courtesy, he said to him: 'Do not resort to the fire; hear first my words.'

Verse 240 (skanda.6.271.240)

अहं ते कीर्तयिष्यामि मत्तो योऽपि चिरंतनः

ahaṁ te kīrtayiṣyāmi matto yo'pi ciraṁtanaḥ

'I shall tell you of one still older than myself.'

Verse 241 (skanda.6.271.241)

यो ज्ञास्यति न संदेह इंद्रद्युम्नं महीपतिम्

yo jñāsyati na saṁdeha iṁdradyumnaṁ mahīpatim

'Who will, without doubt, know king Indradyumna.'

Verse 242 (skanda.6.271.242)

तदागच्छ मया सार्धं तत्समीपं महात्मनः सहायैः सहितः सर्वैर्मया सार्धं तथैव च

tadāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ tatsamīpaṁ mahātmanaḥ sahāyaiḥ sahitaḥ sarvairmayā sārdhaṁ tathaiva ca

'So come with me to that great soul's presence, together with all your companions, along with me.'

Verse 243 (skanda.6.271.243)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच कस्तवाप्यधिकोऽप्यस्ति जीवितव्येन सद्द्विज एतन्मे कौतुकं भूरि तस्माद्वद महामते

iṁdradyumna uvāca kastavāpyadhiko'pyasti jīvitavyena saddvija etanme kautukaṁ bhūri tasmādvada mahāmate

Indradyumna said: 'Is there one even greater than you in years, O good bird? This fills me with great wonder; tell me, O great-minded one.'

Verse 244 (skanda.6.271.244)

गृध्र उवाच अस्ति मंथरकोनाम कमठश्चिरजीवितः मानसे सरसि ख्यात इन्द्रद्युम्नं स वेत्स्यति

gṛdhra uvāca asti maṁtharakonāma kamaṭhaścirajīvitaḥ mānase sarasi khyāta indradyumnaṁ sa vetsyati

The vulture said: 'There is a long-lived tortoise named Manthara, known at Lake Manasa; he will know Indradyumna.'

Verse 245 (skanda.6.271.245)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मार्कंडाद्याश्च ते त्रयः तमूचुः पार्थिवश्रेष्ठं मरणे कृतनिश्चयम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā mārkaṁḍādyāśca te trayaḥ tamūcuḥ pārthivaśreṣṭhaṁ maraṇe kṛtaniścayam

Hearing his words, Markandeya and the other two spoke to that best of kings, who had resolved upon death.

Verse 246 (skanda.6.271.246)

युक्तमुक्तं महाभाग गृधराजेन धीमता तत्र यास्यामहे सर्वे यत्रासौ कमठः स्थितः

yuktamuktaṁ mahābhāga gṛdharājena dhīmatā tatra yāsyāmahe sarve yatrāsau kamaṭhaḥ sthitaḥ

'What the wise vulture-king has said is fitting, O most fortunate one; let us all go there, where that tortoise dwells.'

Verse 247 (skanda.6.271.247)

अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलं यतः शंसंति पंडिताः नीतिशास्त्रविदः सर्वे तस्मादागच्छ गम्यताम्

anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlaṁ yataḥ śaṁsaṁti paṁḍitāḥ nītiśāstravidaḥ sarve tasmādāgaccha gamyatām

'For the wise, all versed in the science of statecraft, declare that freedom from despair is the root of prosperity; therefore come, let us go.'

Verse 248 (skanda.6.271.248)

सूत उवाच तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वाकृच्छ्रान्निर्वर्त्य पार्थिवः मरणाद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा वैराग्यं परमं गतः

sūta uvāca teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvākṛcchrānnirvartya pārthivaḥ maraṇādbrāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, hearing their words, that king, with difficulty turned back from death, though he had come to supreme dispassion.

Verse 249 (skanda.6.271.249)

अथ ते प्रस्थिताः सर्वे गंधमादनपर्वतात् पंचापि च समादिश्य मानसं सर उत्तमम् अथ प्राप्ताः क्रमेणैव गच्छमाना विहायसा

atha te prasthitāḥ sarve gaṁdhamādanaparvatāt paṁcāpi ca samādiśya mānasaṁ sara uttamam atha prāptāḥ krameṇaiva gacchamānā vihāyasā

Then all five of them set out from Mount Gandhamadana, directing themselves toward the excellent Lake Manasa, and in due course arrived there, traveling by the path of the sky.

Verse 250 (skanda.6.271.250)

मानसं तत्सरो रम्यं कूर्मस्तोयाद्विनिर्गतः निदाघे सेवमानस्तु संतिष्ठति यदृच्छया

mānasaṁ tatsaro ramyaṁ kūrmastoyādvinirgataḥ nidāghe sevamānastu saṁtiṣṭhati yadṛcchayā

At that lovely Lake Manasa, a tortoise, having emerged from the water, basking in the summer heat, sat there at will.

Verse 251 (skanda.6.271.251)

स च तांश्चतुरो दृष्ट्वा सुचिरं च निरीक्ष्य तान् परिज्ञाय ततः सर्वान्प्रनष्टः सलिलं प्रति

sa ca tāṁścaturo dṛṣṭvā suciraṁ ca nirīkṣya tān parijñāya tataḥ sarvānpranaṣṭaḥ salilaṁ prati

Seeing those four, having gazed at them for a long while, and recognizing them all, he then fled toward the water.

Verse 252 (skanda.6.271.252)

अथ तं कौशिकः प्राह गच्छमानं पराङ्मुखम् भोभो मित्राय मां दृष्ट्वा संजातोऽसि पराङ्मुखः

atha taṁ kauśikaḥ prāha gacchamānaṁ parāṅmukham bhobho mitrāya māṁ dṛṣṭvā saṁjāto'si parāṅmukhaḥ

Then the owl said to him, as he went away with his back turned: 'Ho, friend! Seeing me, have you turned your back?'

Verse 253 (skanda.6.271.253)

सुनीचोऽपि गृहं प्राप्तो भवेत्पूज्य तमः सताम्

sunīco'pi gṛhaṁ prāpto bhavetpūjya tamaḥ satām

'Even one of low standing, when he arrives at one's home, should be honored by the good.'

Verse 254 (skanda.6.271.254)

अथासौ तोयमध्यस्थः शिरोमात्रं बहिर्गतः प्रत्युवाचाथ तं गृध्रं विनयाद्द्विजसत्तमाः

athāsau toyamadhyasthaḥ śiromātraṁ bahirgataḥ pratyuvācātha taṁ gṛdhraṁ vinayāddvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, then he, standing in the water with only his head outside, replied to the vulture with humility.

Verse 255 (skanda.6.271.255)

नाहं पराङ्मुखो जात स्त्वां दृष्ट्वाऽनंतरावुभौ पंचमोऽयं समभ्येति यो युष्माकं महापुमान्

nāhaṁ parāṅmukho jāta stvāṁ dṛṣṭvā'naṁtarāvubhau paṁcamo'yaṁ samabhyeti yo yuṣmākaṁ mahāpumān

'I did not turn away upon seeing you and this other one — but a fifth, a great man among you, approaches too.'

Verse 256 (skanda.6.271.256)

भयात्तस्य प्रणष्टोऽहमिंद्रद्युम्नस्य भूपतेः अनेन तु प्रदग्धा मे पुरा पृष्ठिर्मखाग्निना सततं यजमानेन रोचके सत्पुरोत्तमे

bhayāttasya praṇaṣṭo'hamiṁdradyumnasya bhūpateḥ anena tu pradagdhā me purā pṛṣṭhirmakhāgninā satataṁ yajamānena rocake satpurottame

'It was from fear of him, king Indradyumna, that I fled — for by him, ever performing sacrifices in the excellent city of Rochaka, my shell was once scorched by the sacrificial fire.'

Verse 257 (skanda.6.271.257)

एतदीयं पुनः स्मृत्वा भयं मे सुमहत्स्थितम् इंद्रद्युम्नस्य राजर्षेः कीर्ति संश्रयणं महत्

etadīyaṁ punaḥ smṛtvā bhayaṁ me sumahatsthitam iṁdradyumnasya rājarṣeḥ kīrti saṁśrayaṇaṁ mahat

'Remembering this again, a great fear arose in me — great is the fame that attaches to the royal sage Indradyumna.'

Verse 258 (skanda.6.271.258)

इत्येवमुक्ते वचने कमठेन तदा दिवः देवदूतः समागच्छच्छासनात्परमेष्ठिनः

ityevamukte vacane kamaṭhena tadā divaḥ devadūtaḥ samāgacchacchāsanātparameṣṭhinaḥ

As soon as these words were spoken by the tortoise, a messenger of the gods arrived from heaven, by the command of the Supreme Lord.

Verse 259 (skanda.6.271.259)

देवदूत उवाच आगच्छागच्छ राजर्षे सांप्रतं ब्रह्मणोंऽतिकम् उक्तोऽहं ब्रह्मणा राजन्कीर्तिश्चास्य पृथग्विधा

devadūta uvāca āgacchāgaccha rājarṣe sāṁprataṁ brahmaṇoṁ'tikam ukto'haṁ brahmaṇā rājankīrtiścāsya pṛthagvidhā

The divine messenger said: 'Come, come, O royal sage, now to the presence of Brahma; I have been sent by Brahma, O king — his fame has now become manifold.'

Verse 260 (skanda.6.271.260)

यदा प्रकाशतां याति स्वल्पापि जगती तले तदाऽऽनेयो द्रुतं राजा मम लोके सुदुर्लभे

yadā prakāśatāṁ yāti svalpāpi jagatī tale tadā''neyo drutaṁ rājā mama loke sudurlabhe

'(Brahma said:) As soon as even a little of it becomes known upon the earth, the king is to be brought swiftly to my world, so difficult to attain.'

Verse 261 (skanda.6.271.261)

तस्मादागच्छ गच्छामो विमानारोहणं कुरु नयामि येन तत्पार्श्वं ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

tasmādāgaccha gacchāmo vimānārohaṇaṁ kuru nayāmi yena tatpārśvaṁ brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ

'Therefore come, let us go — mount the celestial chariot, so that I may take you to the presence of Brahma, the unmanifest-born.'

Verse 262 (skanda.6.271.262)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच यद्येते सुहृदो मह्यं बककौशिककच्छपाः मार्कंडेयेन सहिता आगच्छंति मया सह

iṁdradyumna uvāca yadyete suhṛdo mahyaṁ bakakauśikakacchapāḥ mārkaṁḍeyena sahitā āgacchaṁti mayā saha

Indradyumna said: 'If these friends of mine — Baka, the owl, and the tortoise, together with Markandeya — come with me...'

Verse 263 (skanda.6.271.263)

आगच्छामि त्वया सार्धं तदहं ब्रह्मणोंऽतिकम् अन्यथा नागमिष्यामि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

āgacchāmi tvayā sārdhaṁ tadahaṁ brahmaṇoṁ'tikam anyathā nāgamiṣyāmi satyametanmayoditam

'...then I shall come with you to the presence of Brahma; otherwise I shall not come. This I have truly spoken.'

Verse 264 (skanda.6.271.264)

देवदूत उवाच एते हरगणाः सर्वे शापभ्रष्टा क्षितिं गताः शापांते हरपार्श्वे तु यो यास्यंत्यसंशयम्

devadūta uvāca ete haragaṇāḥ sarve śāpabhraṣṭā kṣitiṁ gatāḥ śāpāṁte harapārśve tu yo yāsyaṁtyasaṁśayam

The divine messenger said: 'All these are attendants of Hara, fallen through a curse to the earth; when their curse ends, they will surely go to Hara's presence.'

Verse 265 (skanda.6.271.265)

तस्मादागच्छ गच्छामो मुक्त्वात्रैतान्द्रुतं नृप न चैषां रोचते स्वर्गो मुक्त्वा देवं महेश्वरम्

tasmādāgaccha gacchāmo muktvātraitāndrutaṁ nṛpa na caiṣāṁ rocate svargo muktvā devaṁ maheśvaram

'Therefore, O king, come, let us go quickly, leaving these behind — for they desire no heaven other than the god Maheshvara.'

Verse 266 (skanda.6.271.266)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच यद्येवं गच्छ ते भद्रं नाहं गंता त्रिविष्टपम् तथातथा यतिष्यामि भविष्यामि यथा गणः

iṁdradyumna uvāca yadyevaṁ gaccha te bhadraṁ nāhaṁ gaṁtā triviṣṭapam tathātathā yatiṣyāmi bhaviṣyāmi yathā gaṇaḥ

Indradyumna said: 'If it is so, go your way then; I shall not go to heaven. I shall strive in whatever way I might become a gana myself.'

Verse 267 (skanda.6.271.267)

तत्रस्थस्य ध्रुवं भावि नित्यं च पतनाद्भयम् एवमुक्तः स तेनाथ समादाय विमानकम्

tatrasthasya dhruvaṁ bhāvi nityaṁ ca patanādbhayam evamuktaḥ sa tenātha samādāya vimānakam

'For one who dwells there, there is surely ever the fear of falling.' Thus addressed, he then took his celestial chariot...

Verse 268 (skanda.6.271.268)

ब्रह्मलोकं गतो दूतो वैलक्ष्यं परमं गतः इंद्रद्युम्नोपि प्रपच्छ तं कूर्मं विनयान्वितः

brahmalokaṁ gato dūto vailakṣyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ iṁdradyumnopi prapaccha taṁ kūrmaṁ vinayānvitaḥ

...and the messenger went to Brahmaloka, filled with utter astonishment. Indradyumna too, with humility, then asked that tortoise.

Verse 269 (skanda.6.271.269)

आख्याहि कूर्म स्वं कर्म यदीदृक्त्वं चिरंतनः कर्मणा केन तत्प्राप्तं कूर्मत्वं शंस मे द्रुतम्

ākhyāhi kūrma svaṁ karma yadīdṛktvaṁ ciraṁtanaḥ karmaṇā kena tatprāptaṁ kūrmatvaṁ śaṁsa me drutam

'Tell me, O tortoise, of your own deeds, since you are so ancient. By what deed was this tortoise-form attained? Tell me quickly.'

Verse 270 (skanda.6.271.270)

कूर्म उवाच अहमासं पुरा विप्रो बालभावे व्यवस्थितः चमत्कारपुरे रम्ये शांडिल्यो नाम विश्रुतः

kūrma uvāca ahamāsaṁ purā vipro bālabhāve vyavasthitaḥ camatkārapure ramye śāṁḍilyo nāma viśrutaḥ

The tortoise said: 'I was formerly a brahmin, in my childhood, known by the name Shandilya, in the lovely city of Chamatkarapura.'

Verse 271 (skanda.6.271.271)

बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु क्रीडमानो यदृच्छया पक्वेष्टिकमयं शंभोः क्रीडता निर्मितं गृहम् तत्र जागेश्वरं लिंगं हृत्वाऽथ विनिवेशितम्

bālakrīḍāsu sarvāsu krīḍamāno yadṛcchayā pakveṣṭikamayaṁ śaṁbhoḥ krīḍatā nirmitaṁ gṛham tatra jāgeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ hṛtvā'tha viniveśitam

'Playing at all the children's games as I pleased, I, in play, built a house of baked bricks for Shambhu; there I took the Jageshvara linga and installed it.'

Verse 272 (skanda.6.271.272)

ततोऽहं भक्तिसंयुक्तः पूजयामि दिनेदिने क्रीडमानो विना मंत्रैः शिशुभिः परिवारितः

tato'haṁ bhaktisaṁyuktaḥ pūjayāmi dinedine krīḍamāno vinā maṁtraiḥ śiśubhiḥ parivāritaḥ

'Then, filled with devotion, I worshipped it day by day, playing, without mantras, surrounded by other children.'

Verse 273 (skanda.6.271.273)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मरणे समुपस्थिते जातिस्मरो ह्यहं विप्रो जातो वै वैदिशे पुरे

kasyacittvatha kālasya maraṇe samupasthite jātismaro hyahaṁ vipro jāto vai vaidiśe pure

'After some time, when death came, I, a brahmin remembering my past birth, was born in the city of Vaidisha.'

Verse 274 (skanda.6.271.274)

ततो मेऽभ्यधिका जाता भक्तिर्देवं हरं प्रति कृत्त्वा भिक्षाटनं नित्यं याचयित्वा धनं बहु

tato me'bhyadhikā jātā bhaktirdevaṁ haraṁ prati kṛttvā bhikṣāṭanaṁ nityaṁ yācayitvā dhanaṁ bahu

'Then my devotion to the god Hara grew even greater; going about begging daily, I collected much wealth.'

Verse 275 (skanda.6.271.275)

कृत्वा प्रासादमात्रं तु लिंगं संस्थापितं मया पूजयामि ततो भक्त्या देवं पशुपतिं हरम्

kṛtvā prāsādamātraṁ tu liṁgaṁ saṁsthāpitaṁ mayā pūjayāmi tato bhaktyā devaṁ paśupatiṁ haram

'Having built a temple, I installed a linga there; then, with devotion, I worshipped the god Pashupati, Hara.'

Verse 276 (skanda.6.271.276)

ब्रह्मविद्यासमोपेतो भिक्षान्नकृतभोजनः ब्रह्मचर्यसमोपेतस्त्रिकालं च जपञ्छिवम्

brahmavidyāsamopeto bhikṣānnakṛtabhojanaḥ brahmacaryasamopetastrikālaṁ ca japañchivam

'Endowed with the knowledge of Brahman, eating only food from alms, observing celibacy, reciting Shiva's name three times a day...'

Verse 277 (skanda.6.271.277)

ततस्तेन प्रभावेन संजा तोऽहं भवांतरे सार्वभौमो महीपालो जातिस्मरणसंयुतः

tatastena prabhāvena saṁjā to'haṁ bhavāṁtare sārvabhaumo mahīpālo jātismaraṇasaṁyutaḥ

'...then, by that power, in another birth I was born a universal-sovereign king, endowed with memory of my past birth.'

Verse 278 (skanda.6.271.278)

ततः संख्याविहीनाश्च प्रासादाः कारिता मया त्रिनेत्रस्य महाराज कैलास शिखरोपमाः

tataḥ saṁkhyāvihīnāśca prāsādāḥ kāritā mayā trinetrasya mahārāja kailāsa śikharopamāḥ

'Then, O great king, I had countless temples built for the three-eyed god, resembling the peaks of Kailasa.'

Verse 279 (skanda.6.271.279)

तथा निरूपिता पूजा बहुपुष्पसमुद्भवा नान्यत्किंचित्करोम्यत्र धर्म दानादिकं नृप

tathā nirūpitā pūjā bahupuṣpasamudbhavā nānyatkiṁcitkaromyatra dharma dānādikaṁ nṛpa

'And worship was arranged there with abundant flowers; O king, I performed no other religious act — no gift-giving or the like.'

Verse 280 (skanda.6.271.280)

ततः कालेन महता तुष्टो मे शशिशेखरः ततः प्रोवाच राजर्षे प्रहसञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा

tataḥ kālena mahatā tuṣṭo me śaśiśekharaḥ tataḥ provāca rājarṣe prahasañchlakṣṇayā girā

'Then, after a great time, the moon-crested god, pleased with me, spoke, O royal sage, smiling, in a gentle voice.'

Verse 281 (skanda.6.271.281)

जयदत्त प्रतुष्टोऽस्मि तव पार्थिवसत्तम भक्त्याऽनया द्रुतं ब्रूहि किं ते यच्छामि वांछितम्

jayadatta pratuṣṭo'smi tava pārthivasattama bhaktyā'nayā drutaṁ brūhi kiṁ te yacchāmi vāṁchitam

'O Jayadatta, best of kings, I am well pleased by this devotion of yours; quickly tell me, what desire of yours shall I grant?'

Verse 282 (skanda.6.271.282)

प्रणिपत्य ततोऽष्टांगं स्तुत्वा चैव पृथिग्विधम् मया प्रोक्तो हरो राजन्कुरु मामजरामरम् स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय गतोंऽतर्धानमेव हि

praṇipatya tato'ṣṭāṁgaṁ stutvā caiva pṛthigvidham mayā prokto haro rājankuru māmajarāmaram sa tatheti pratijñāya gatoṁ'tardhānameva hi

'Then, prostrating with eight limbs, and praising him in various ways, O king, I said to Hara: Make me free of old age and death. Saying so be it, he vanished from sight.'

Verse 283 (skanda.6.271.283)

अप्रमेयगतिर्देवश्चतुर्दशजगत्पतिः ततोऽहं तुष्टिसंयुक्तो जरामरणवर्जितः विचरामि महीपृष्ठे स्वेच्छया शत्रु वर्जितः

aprameyagatirdevaścaturdaśajagatpatiḥ tato'haṁ tuṣṭisaṁyukto jarāmaraṇavarjitaḥ vicarāmi mahīpṛṣṭhe svecchayā śatru varjitaḥ

'That god, whose ways are beyond measure, the lord of the fourteen worlds — then I, well contented, free from old age and death, wandered the earth's surface at will, without enemies.'

Verse 284 (skanda.6.271.284)

ततः कालेन महता गतेन नृपसत्तम बहुकामाग्निसंतप्तः शिवभक्तिविवर्जितः

tataḥ kālena mahatā gatena nṛpasattama bahukāmāgnisaṁtaptaḥ śivabhaktivivarjitaḥ

'Then, O best of kings, after a great time had passed, burning with the fire of much desire, I fell away from devotion to Shiva.'

Verse 285 (skanda.6.271.285)

यांयां पश्यामि रूपाढ्यां परनारीं मनोरमाम् तांतां निरीक्ष्य सुचिरं धर्षयामि ततः परम्

yāṁyāṁ paśyāmi rūpāḍhyāṁ paranārīṁ manoramām tāṁtāṁ nirīkṣya suciraṁ dharṣayāmi tataḥ param

'Whatever beautiful, charming woman belonging to another I saw, I would gaze upon her for a long while and then violate her.'

Verse 286 (skanda.6.271.286)

धर्मराजभयत्यक्तः पार्थिवत्वं समाश्रितः

dharmarājabhayatyaktaḥ pārthivatvaṁ samāśritaḥ

'Cast off from fear of Dharmaraja, I clung all the more to my royal power.'

Verse 287 (skanda.6.271.287)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे राजन्मम पापेन कर्मणा हाहाकारस्ततो जातः समग्रे धरणीतले

etasminnaṁtare rājanmama pāpena karmaṇā hāhākārastato jātaḥ samagre dharaṇītale

'Meanwhile, O king, because of my sinful conduct, an outcry of woe arose across the whole earth.'

Verse 288 (skanda.6.271.288)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो धर्मराजः शिवांतिकम् अब्रवीत्प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्दुःखित स्तदनंतरम्

etasminnaṁtare prāpto dharmarājaḥ śivāṁtikam abravītpraṇipatyoccairduḥkhita stadanaṁtaram

'Meanwhile Dharmaraja came to the presence of Shiva, and, bowing low, spoke, distressed, thereafter.'

Verse 289 (skanda.6.271.289)

त्वया देव महीपालो जयदत्तो महीतले यो निर्मितः प्रतुष्टेन जरामरणवर्जितः

tvayā deva mahīpālo jayadatto mahītale yo nirmitaḥ pratuṣṭena jarāmaraṇavarjitaḥ

'O god, that king Jayadatta whom you, pleased, made free of old age and death upon the earth...'

Verse 290 (skanda.6.271.290)

स सतीनां सतीत्वं च बलान्नाशयते कुधीः सर्वो भूपभयाल्लोकः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः

sa satīnāṁ satītvaṁ ca balānnāśayate kudhīḥ sarvo bhūpabhayāllokaḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ

'...that evil-minded one now destroys by force the chastity of virtuous women; through fear of the king, all people have been driven outside of all dharma.'

Verse 291 (skanda.6.271.291)

संजातो विबुधश्रेष्ठ न स्वभावात्कथंचन तस्यैकमपि मे नास्ति भयं सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते

saṁjāto vibudhaśreṣṭha na svabhāvātkathaṁcana tasyaikamapi me nāsti bhayaṁ satyaṁ bravīmi te

'O best of the gods, this has not come about at all from his nature. Not a single fear of him do I have; I tell you truly.'

Verse 292 (skanda.6.271.292)

तस्माद्वारय तं शीघ्रं यावद्धर्मो न नश्यति मर्त्यलोकादशेषेण सतीनां धर्षणेन च

tasmādvāraya taṁ śīghraṁ yāvaddharmo na naśyati martyalokādaśeṣeṇa satīnāṁ dharṣaṇena ca

'Therefore restrain him quickly, before dharma is entirely destroyed from the mortal world through the violation of virtuous women.'

Verse 293 (skanda.6.271.293)

एवमुक्तस्ततो देवः कोपेन महतान्वितः शशाप मां समानीय वेपमानं कृताञ्जलिम्

evamuktastato devaḥ kopena mahatānvitaḥ śaśāpa māṁ samānīya vepamānaṁ kṛtāñjalim

Thus addressed, that god, filled with great wrath, summoned me, trembling with joined palms, and cursed me.

Verse 294 (skanda.6.271.294)

यस्माद्दुष्टसमाचार कृतं कर्म विगर्हितम् तस्मान्मच्छाप निर्दग्धः कमठो वै भविष्यसि

yasmādduṣṭasamācāra kṛtaṁ karma vigarhitam tasmānmacchāpa nirdagdhaḥ kamaṭho vai bhaviṣyasi

'Since, O evil-conducted one, you have committed a reprehensible act, by my curse you shall be burnt and become a tortoise.'

Verse 295 (skanda.6.271.295)

ततो मया सुदीनेन प्रार्थितः परमेश्वरः शापांतं मे कुरुष्वेश कुरुष्व च दयां मम

tato mayā sudīnena prārthitaḥ parameśvaraḥ śāpāṁtaṁ me kuruṣveśa kuruṣva ca dayāṁ mama

'Then I, utterly humbled, entreated the supreme lord: O lord, grant an end to my curse, and show me mercy.'

Verse 296 (skanda.6.271.296)

ततस्तेन पुनः प्रोक्तं कल्पांते षष्टिसंज्ञिते स्वशरीरं पुनः प्राप्य मद्गणस्त्वं भविष्यसि

tatastena punaḥ proktaṁ kalpāṁte ṣaṣṭisaṁjñite svaśarīraṁ punaḥ prāpya madgaṇastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

'Then he said again: At the end of the sixtieth kalpa, having regained your own body, you shall become my attendant.'

Verse 297 (skanda.6.271.297)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे कूर्मः संजातोऽहं महीपते समुद्रसलिलं प्राप्य संस्थितो दुःखितोऽनिशम्

etasminnaṁtare kūrmaḥ saṁjāto'haṁ mahīpate samudrasalilaṁ prāpya saṁsthito duḥkhito'niśam

'Thereupon, O king, I became a tortoise, and, reaching the ocean's water, dwelt there, sorrowful without cease.'

Verse 298 (skanda.6.271.298)

कस्यचित्त्वथकालस्य राजंस्त्वं भूतले स्थितः यजनार्थं समानीतः समुद्रसलिलस्त्वया

kasyacittvathakālasya rājaṁstvaṁ bhūtale sthitaḥ yajanārthaṁ samānītaḥ samudrasalilastvayā

'Then, after some time, O king, you, established upon the earth, brought me — the ocean-water tortoise — for the purpose of sacrifice.'

Verse 299 (skanda.6.271.299)

स्थापितो भूमिपृष्ठे तु मंत्रै संस्तंभितस्तथा ममोपरि ततो यज्ञाः कृताः शतसहस्रशः

sthāpito bhūmipṛṣṭhe tu maṁtrai saṁstaṁbhitastathā mamopari tato yajñāḥ kṛtāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

'I was placed upon the earth's surface and fixed there with mantras; then hundreds of thousands of sacrifices were performed upon me.'

Verse 300 (skanda.6.271.300)

क्रियमाणैश्च यैर्दग्धा मम पृष्ठिः समंततः दह्यतोऽपि महाराज तेन यज्ञाग्निना तदा प्रसादनान्महेशस्य न मे प्राणात्ययो ऽभवत्

kriyamāṇaiśca yairdagdhā mama pṛṣṭhiḥ samaṁtataḥ dahyato'pi mahārāja tena yajñāgninā tadā prasādanānmaheśasya na me prāṇātyayo 'bhavat

'By those performed rites my shell was scorched all over; and though I burned, O great king, by that sacrificial fire, through the grace of Mahesha, my life did not perish.'

Verse 301 (skanda.6.271.301)

केवलं जायते दाहो यथा पापं पुरा कृतम् अनुभूतं च तत्सर्वं हरकोपादसंशयम्

kevalaṁ jāyate dāho yathā pāpaṁ purā kṛtam anubhūtaṁ ca tatsarvaṁ harakopādasaṁśayam

'Only the burning occurred, corresponding to the sin previously committed; and all of that I experienced, without doubt, through Hara's anger.'

Verse 302 (skanda.6.271.302)

अथ प्राप्ते दिवं चैव त्वयि पार्थिवसत्तम एकार्णवे तु संजाते जलपूर्णे धरातले संप्राप्तः प्लवमानस्तु ततोऽहं मानसं सरः

atha prāpte divaṁ caiva tvayi pārthivasattama ekārṇave tu saṁjāte jalapūrṇe dharātale saṁprāptaḥ plavamānastu tato'haṁ mānasaṁ saraḥ

'Then, O best of kings, when you went to heaven, and the earth became a single ocean, filled with water, I, floating, reached this Lake Manasa.'

Verse 303 (skanda.6.271.303)

षड्पंचाशत्प्रमाणेन कल्पा मम च संस्थिताः चतुर्भिरपरैर्मोक्षः कूर्मत्वात्संभविष्यति

ṣaḍpaṁcāśatpramāṇena kalpā mama ca saṁsthitāḥ caturbhiraparairmokṣaḥ kūrmatvātsaṁbhaviṣyati

'Fifty-six kalpas have passed for me; with four more, release from this tortoise-form shall come about.'

Verse 304 (skanda.6.271.304)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं दीर्घायुष्ट्वस्य कारणम् हरप्रसादकरणाद्बहुपुष्पार्चनाद्विभोः

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ dīrghāyuṣṭvasya kāraṇam haraprasādakaraṇādbahupuṣpārcanādvibhoḥ

'Thus I have told you all the reason for my long life — through the grace of Hara, gained by worship with abundant flowers.'

Verse 305 (skanda.6.271.305)

कूर्मत्वं च यथा जातं कामदेवस्य कोपतः स त्वं वद महाभाग गृहायातस्य किं तव करोमि सांप्रतं कृत्यं शत्रोरपि हृदि स्थितम्

kūrmatvaṁ ca yathā jātaṁ kāmadevasya kopataḥ sa tvaṁ vada mahābhāga gṛhāyātasya kiṁ tava karomi sāṁprataṁ kṛtyaṁ śatrorapi hṛdi sthitam

'And how the tortoise-form came about, through the wrath brought on by desire — this I have told. Now you, most fortunate one, tell me: what business brings you to my dwelling? I shall now do it, even were it lodged in an enemy's heart.'

Verse 306 (skanda.6.271.306)

त्वया मे सुचिरं कालं दग्धा पृष्ठिर्मखाग्निना अद्यापि च प्रपश्यामि तां ज्वलंतीमिव स्थिताम्

tvayā me suciraṁ kālaṁ dagdhā pṛṣṭhirmakhāgninā adyāpi ca prapaśyāmi tāṁ jvalaṁtīmiva sthitām

'By you, for a long time, my shell was burnt by the sacrificial fire; even today I still see it as if standing ablaze.'

Verse 307 (skanda.6.271.307)

एतस्मात्कारणान्नष्टस्त्वां दृष्ट्वाहं महीपते कस्मात्त्वं न गतः स्वर्गं विमानेऽपि समागते एतस्मात्कारणाद्धर्मं प्रकुर्वंति नराधिपाः

etasmātkāraṇānnaṣṭastvāṁ dṛṣṭvāhaṁ mahīpate kasmāttvaṁ na gataḥ svargaṁ vimāne'pi samāgate etasmātkāraṇāddharmaṁ prakurvaṁti narādhipāḥ

'For this reason, seeing you, O king, I fled. But why did you not go to heaven, though the celestial chariot had come for you? It is for this very reason that kings perform dharma.'

Verse 308 (skanda.6.271.308)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच स्वर्गस्थाने च लोकानां नित्यं च पतना द्भयम् तन्न यास्याम्यहं तत्र यतिष्यामि विमुक्तये

indradyumna uvāca svargasthāne ca lokānāṁ nityaṁ ca patanā dbhayam tanna yāsyāmyahaṁ tatra yatiṣyāmi vimuktaye

Indradyumna said: 'In the abode of heaven there is ever the fear of falling for its inhabitants; therefore I shall not go there — I shall strive instead for liberation.'

Verse 309 (skanda.6.271.309)

स त्वं करोषि चेत्कृत्यं गृहायातस्य मे मखे चिरंतनं कथय मे यद्यस्ति तव सौहृदम्

sa tvaṁ karoṣi cetkṛtyaṁ gṛhāyātasya me makhe ciraṁtanaṁ kathaya me yadyasti tava sauhṛdam

'If you will do this task for me who have come to your dwelling, tell me of one still older than yourself, if you hold any friendship for me.'

Verse 310 (skanda.6.271.310)

कूर्म उवाच लोमशो नाम विप्रर्षिः स मत्तोऽस्ति चिरंतनः श्रूयते स मया दृष्टो नदीतीरं समाश्रितः

kūrma uvāca lomaśo nāma viprarṣiḥ sa matto'sti ciraṁtanaḥ śrūyate sa mayā dṛṣṭo nadītīraṁ samāśritaḥ

The tortoise said: 'There is a brahmin-sage named Lomasha, older than I; I have heard — indeed I have seen him — dwelling on a riverbank.'

Verse 311 (skanda.6.271.311)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच तदागच्छत गच्छामो यतः सर्वे द्रुतं स्वयम् पृच्छामो बहुकालस्य जीवितस्य च कारणम्

indradyumna uvāca tadāgacchata gacchāmo yataḥ sarve drutaṁ svayam pṛcchāmo bahukālasya jīvitasya ca kāraṇam

Indradyumna said: 'Then come, let us all go there quickly ourselves, and ask him the reason for his long life.'

Verse 312 (skanda.6.271.312)

अथ ते सहिताः पञ्च व्योममार्गेण संस्थिताः अथ ते ददृशुस्तत्र लोमशं च निराश्रयम्

atha te sahitāḥ pañca vyomamārgeṇa saṁsthitāḥ atha te dadṛśustatra lomaśaṁ ca nirāśrayam

Then those five, together, set out by the path of the sky, and there they saw Lomasha, without any shelter.

Verse 313 (skanda.6.271.313)

स्वाध्यायनिरतं दांतं जपहोमपरायणम् सव्य हस्ते तृणौघेन छायार्थं विधृतेन च

svādhyāyanirataṁ dāṁtaṁ japahomaparāyaṇam savya haste tṛṇaughena chāyārthaṁ vidhṛtena ca

...devoted to Vedic recitation, self-controlled, intent on japa and homa, holding in his left hand a bundle of grass for the sake of shade...

Verse 314 (skanda.6.271.314)

दधतं चाक्षमालां च दक्षिणेन करेण हि ते तं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानं कृत्वा तस्य प्रदक्षिणाम् उपविष्टास्ततः सर्वे स्वागतेनाभिनन्दिताः

dadhataṁ cākṣamālāṁ ca dakṣiṇena kareṇa hi te taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānaṁ kṛtvā tasya pradakṣiṇām upaviṣṭāstataḥ sarve svāgatenābhinanditāḥ

...and holding a rosary in his right hand. Seeing that great soul, having circumambulated him, they all then sat down, welcomed with a greeting.

Verse 315 (skanda.6.271.315)

पृष्टास्तेन ततश्चैव के यूयं किमिहागताः विश्रब्धं कथ्यतां मह्यं येन सर्वं करोम्यहम्

pṛṣṭāstena tataścaiva ke yūyaṁ kimihāgatāḥ viśrabdhaṁ kathyatāṁ mahyaṁ yena sarvaṁ karomyaham

Then they were asked by him: 'Who are you, and why have you come here? Tell me freely, so that I may do all that is needed.'

Verse 316 (skanda.6.271.316)

कूर्म उवाच मार्कंडो नाम विप्रर्षिः सप्तकल्पस्मरो ह्ययम् इन्द्रद्युम्नेन चानीतो भूभुजानेन सन्मुने

kūrma uvāca mārkaṁḍo nāma viprarṣiḥ saptakalpasmaro hyayam indradyumnena cānīto bhūbhujānena sanmune

The tortoise said: 'This one, a brahmin-sage named Markanda, remembers seven kalpas; he was brought here, O good sage, by king Indradyumna.'

Verse 317 (skanda.6.271.317)

बकस्यास्य समीपे तु नाडीजंघस्य धीमतः चिरायुरिति विज्ञाय आत्मनश्चायुरुत्तमम् इन्द्रद्युम्नस्य वार्तार्थं द्विगुणायुषमात्मनः

bakasyāsya samīpe tu nāḍījaṁghasya dhīmataḥ cirāyuriti vijñāya ātmanaścāyuruttamam indradyumnasya vārtārthaṁ dviguṇāyuṣamātmanaḥ

'Knowing this wise Nadijangha, called Baka, to be of long life — twice the length of his own — for news of Indradyumna he came to his presence...'

Verse 318 (skanda.6.271.318)

अथ तेन न विज्ञातो यदा स पृथिवीपतिः तदा द्वावपि चायातावुलूकस्यास्य संनिधौ

atha tena na vijñāto yadā sa pṛthivīpatiḥ tadā dvāvapi cāyātāvulūkasyāsya saṁnidhau

'...and when that lord of the earth was not known to him, then both of them came to the presence of this owl.'

Verse 319 (skanda.6.271.319)

द्विगुणास्तत्प्रमाणेन कल्पाश्चास्य महात्मनः वर्तंते नैव विज्ञातो नृपो ह्येतेन सद्द्विज

dviguṇāstatpramāṇena kalpāścāsya mahātmanaḥ vartaṁte naiva vijñāto nṛpo hyetena saddvija

'Twice again as many kalpas belong to this great soul; yet even by him, O good bird, the king was not known.'

Verse 320 (skanda.6.271.320)

ततस्त्रयोऽपि चानीता गृध्रराजस्य चान्तिकम्

tatastrayo'pi cānītā gṛdhrarājasya cāntikam

'Then all three came to the presence of the vulture-king.'

Verse 321 (skanda.6.271.321)

षट्पञ्चाशत्प्रमाणेन कल्पाश्चास्य महात्मनः वर्तन्ते नैव विज्ञातो नृपो ह्येतेन सद्द्विज

ṣaṭpañcāśatpramāṇena kalpāścāsya mahātmanaḥ vartante naiva vijñāto nṛpo hyetena saddvija

'Fifty-six kalpas belong to this great soul; yet even by him, O good bird, the king was not known.'

Verse 322 (skanda.6.271.322)

चत्वारोऽपि समानीता एतेनैव ममान्तिकम् चिरायुषं च मां ज्ञात्वा मित्रभावेन ते द्विज

catvāro'pi samānītā etenaiva mamāntikam cirāyuṣaṁ ca māṁ jñātvā mitrabhāvena te dvija

'Then all four came, by him, to my presence, O bird, knowing me to be long-lived, in the manner of friendship.'

Verse 323 (skanda.6.271.323)

मयाप्यसौ परिज्ञातो दूरादेव समागतः इन्द्रद्युम्नो ध्रुवं ह्येष दग्धा पृष्ठिः पुरा मम

mayāpyasau parijñāto dūrādeva samāgataḥ indradyumno dhruvaṁ hyeṣa dagdhā pṛṣṭhiḥ purā mama

'I too recognized him even as he approached from afar: this is surely Indradyumna, by whom my shell was once burnt.'

Verse 324 (skanda.6.271.324)

येन यज्ञाग्निना मंत्रै स्तंभयित्वा क्षितेरधः ततोऽहं तद्भयान्नष्टो गृध्राद्यैश्च निवारितः

yena yajñāgninā maṁtrai staṁbhayitvā kṣiteradhaḥ tato'haṁ tadbhayānnaṣṭo gṛdhrādyaiśca nivāritaḥ

'By whose sacrificial fire, having fixed me beneath the earth with mantras — from fear of this I fled, but was restrained by the vulture and the others.'

Verse 325 (skanda.6.271.325)

उपालंभैस्तु बहुभिः प्रणया ज्जलमाविशत् मयोक्तोऽथ स भूयोऽपि नाहं तव पराङ्मुखः

upālaṁbhaistu bahubhiḥ praṇayā jjalamāviśat mayokto'tha sa bhūyo'pi nāhaṁ tava parāṅmukhaḥ

With many reproaches, out of affection, they stopped me as I was entering the water. I told him: 'I have not turned my back on you again.'

Verse 326 (skanda.6.271.326)

इन्द्रद्युम्नेन मे पृष्ठिर्येन दग्धा मखाग्निना एतस्मिन्नन्तरे स्वर्गाद्देवदूतो महामनाः विमानवरमारूढः प्राप्तश्चास्य महात्मनः

indradyumnena me pṛṣṭhiryena dagdhā makhāgninā etasminnantare svargāddevadūto mahāmanāḥ vimānavaramārūḍhaḥ prāptaścāsya mahātmanaḥ

'It is Indradyumna, by whom my shell was burnt by the sacrificial fire.' Meanwhile, a noble messenger of the gods, mounted upon a fine celestial chariot, arrived from heaven, for this great soul.

Verse 327 (skanda.6.271.327)

कीर्तिलोपाच्युतः स्वर्गादयमासीन्महीपतिः ततो विमानमायातमुक्तमात्रे मया दिवः

kīrtilopācyutaḥ svargādayamāsīnmahīpatiḥ tato vimānamāyātamuktamātre mayā divaḥ

'This king had fallen from heaven through loss of fame; then, as soon as I told this, a celestial chariot came from heaven.'

Verse 328 (skanda.6.271.328)

अथासौ न गतः स्वर्गं विनाऽस्माभिर्द्विजोत्तम मार्कंडेयं परित्यज्य तिर्यग्योनिगतैस्त्रिभिः

athāsau na gataḥ svargaṁ vinā'smābhirdvijottama mārkaṁḍeyaṁ parityajya tiryagyonigataistribhiḥ

'Yet, O best of brahmins, he did not go to heaven without us — without Markandeya and the three of us who had taken animal forms.'

Verse 329 (skanda.6.271.329)

पृच्छतोऽस्य मया प्रोक्तमायुष्यं चात्मनः पुनः षण्णवतिप्रमाणेन कल्पा मे जीवतो गताः

pṛcchato'sya mayā proktamāyuṣyaṁ cātmanaḥ punaḥ ṣaṇṇavatipramāṇena kalpā me jīvato gatāḥ

'When he asked me, I told him of my own lifespan: ninety-six kalpas have passed while I have lived.'

Verse 330 (skanda.6.271.330)

पृष्टोऽहं पूर्वमेवात्र संस्थितस्तव पार्श्वतः चिरंतनतमो ब्रूहि मया त्वं तु निवेदितः

pṛṣṭo'haṁ pūrvamevātra saṁsthitastava pārśvataḥ ciraṁtanatamo brūhi mayā tvaṁ tu niveditaḥ

'I was asked earlier, standing here at your side; I told them: he who is oldest of all, tell of him — thus you were pointed out by me.'

Verse 331 (skanda.6.271.331)

एतस्मात्कारणात्प्राप्ता वयं सर्वे तवांतिकम् तस्माद्यत्पृच्छते भूप एष त्वां तत्प्रकीर्तय

etasmātkāraṇātprāptā vayaṁ sarve tavāṁtikam tasmādyatpṛcchate bhūpa eṣa tvāṁ tatprakīrtaya

'For this reason we have all come to your presence; therefore, whatever this king asks you, declare it to him.'

Verse 332 (skanda.6.271.332)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच लोमशोऽप्यथ तं प्राह विश्रब्धं पृच्छ पार्थिव अवश्यं कथयिष्यामि यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि

bhartṛyajña uvāca lomaśo'pyatha taṁ prāha viśrabdhaṁ pṛccha pārthiva avaśyaṁ kathayiṣyāmi yanmāṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi

Bhartriyajna said: Then Lomasha said to him: 'Ask freely, O king; I shall certainly tell you whatever you ask of me.'

Verse 333 (skanda.6.271.333)

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच कस्मात्त्वं ग्रीष्मकालेऽपि मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे निवासार्थं गृहं रम्यं किमर्थं न करिष्यसि

iṁdradyumna uvāca kasmāttvaṁ grīṣmakāle'pi madhyaṁ prāpte divākare nivāsārthaṁ gṛhaṁ ramyaṁ kimarthaṁ na kariṣyasi

Indradyumna said: 'Why, even in the summer season, when the sun stands at its zenith, do you not build yourself a pleasant dwelling to live in?'

Verse 334 (skanda.6.271.334)

लोमश उवाच कस्यार्थे क्रियते गेहमनित्यं जीवितं यतः यदि स्याच्छाश्वतो देहस्तदर्थं क्रियते च तत्

lomaśa uvāca kasyārthe kriyate gehamanityaṁ jīvitaṁ yataḥ yadi syācchāśvato dehastadarthaṁ kriyate ca tat

Lomasha said: 'For whose sake is a house built, when life itself is impermanent? If the body were eternal, then it would be built for its sake.'

Verse 335 (skanda.6.271.335)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच सर्वेषामेव लोकानां चिरायुः श्रूयते भवान् तेनाहमपि संप्राप्तो भवद्दर्शनकाम्यया

indradyumna uvāca sarveṣāmeva lokānāṁ cirāyuḥ śrūyate bhavān tenāhamapi saṁprāpto bhavaddarśanakāmyayā

Indradyumna said: 'You are said to be long-lived beyond all beings; that is why I too have come here, desiring to see you.'

Verse 336 (skanda.6.271.336)

लोमश उवाच कल्पे कल्पे तु संप्राप्ते रोमकं मम नश्यति अभावे सर्वरोम्णां च ततो नाशो भविष्यति

lomaśa uvāca kalpe kalpe tu saṁprāpte romakaṁ mama naśyati abhāve sarvaromṇāṁ ca tato nāśo bhaviṣyati

Lomasha said: 'With the passing of each kalpa, one hair of mine falls away; when all my hairs are gone, then my end shall come.'

Verse 337 (skanda.6.271.337)

पश्य त्वं मच्छरीरेऽस्मिन्प्रकाशं रोमवर्जितम् न करोमि गृहं तेन कारणेन महामते

paśya tvaṁ maccharīre'sminprakāśaṁ romavarjitam na karomi gṛhaṁ tena kāraṇena mahāmate

'See, upon this body of mine, the bare patches devoid of hair; for this reason, O great-minded one, I do not build a house.'

Verse 338 (skanda.6.271.338)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच किं त्वया विहितं कर्म येनेदृग्जीवितं स्थितम् किं दानस्यप्रभावोऽयं तपसो नियमस्य वा

indradyumna uvāca kiṁ tvayā vihitaṁ karma yenedṛgjīvitaṁ sthitam kiṁ dānasyaprabhāvo'yaṁ tapaso niyamasya vā

Indradyumna said: 'What deed did you perform, by which such a life came to be established? Is this the power of gift-giving, of austerity, or of religious observance?'

Verse 339 (skanda.6.271.339)

लोमश उवाच अहमासं पुरा शूद्रो दरिद्रेण परिप्लुतः भ्रमामि मेदिनीपृष्ठ उदरस्य कृते सदा

lomaśa uvāca ahamāsaṁ purā śūdro daridreṇa pariplutaḥ bhramāmi medinīpṛṣṭha udarasya kṛte sadā

Lomasha said: 'I was formerly a shudra, overwhelmed by poverty, wandering the earth's surface always for the sake of my stomach.'

Verse 340 (skanda.6.271.340)

कर्मयोगेन महता संप्राप्तो हाटकेश्वरम् क्षुत्क्षामस्तु पिपासार्तो यत्रैतल्लिंगमुत्तमम् अवधूतं ततो लिंगं मया दृष्ट्वा स्वयंभु तत्

karmayogena mahatā saṁprāpto hāṭakeśvaram kṣutkṣāmastu pipāsārto yatraitalliṁgamuttamam avadhūtaṁ tato liṁgaṁ mayā dṛṣṭvā svayaṁbhu tat

'By a great turn of circumstance I arrived at Hatakeshvara, weak with hunger and tormented by thirst; there I saw this excellent, self-manifest linga, neglected.'

Verse 341 (skanda.6.271.341)

स्नापितं तोयमादाय शीतमेतत्सुनिर्मलम् ततस्तु कमलैरेतैर्मया पूजा विनिर्मिता

snāpitaṁ toyamādāya śītametatsunirmalam tatastu kamalairetairmayā pūjā vinirmitā

'Taking this cool, pure water, I bathed it; then with these lotuses I performed worship.'

Verse 342 (skanda.6.271.342)

अथ पूजां विनिर्वर्त्य यावन्मार्गसमाश्रितः क्षु त्क्षामकण्ठस्य ततः प्राणा नष्टास्तदा मम

atha pūjāṁ vinirvartya yāvanmārgasamāśritaḥ kṣu tkṣāmakaṇṭhasya tataḥ prāṇā naṣṭāstadā mama

'Then, having completed the worship, as soon as I set out again on the road, my throat parched with hunger, my life then departed.'

Verse 343 (skanda.6.271.343)

अथाहं ब्राह्मणगृहे जातो जातिस्मरस्ततः सर्वं स्मरामि भूपाल देवदेवस्यपूजनात्

athāhaṁ brāhmaṇagṛhe jāto jātismarastataḥ sarvaṁ smarāmi bhūpāla devadevasyapūjanāt

'Then I was born in a brahmin's house, remembering my past birth; O king, I remember everything, through the worship of the god of gods.'

Verse 344 (skanda.6.271.344)

ततो मूकत्वमापन्नो नैव जल्पामि किंचन ईशान इति मे नाम पिता चक्रे प्रहर्षितः

tato mūkatvamāpanno naiva jalpāmi kiṁcana īśāna iti me nāma pitā cakre praharṣitaḥ

'Then I became mute and spoke not at all; my father, delighted, gave me the name Ishana.'

Verse 345 (skanda.6.271.345)

ईशानेन यतो दत्तः पूर्वमाराधितेन च वैराग्यं परमं प्राप्तो इष्ट्वा संसारसंस्थितिम्

īśānena yato dattaḥ pūrvamārādhitena ca vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ prāpto iṣṭvā saṁsārasaṁsthitim

'Since it was given by the god Ishana, formerly worshipped by me, I attained supreme dispassion, having witnessed the condition of worldly life.'

Verse 346 (skanda.6.271.346)

पिता मे बहुवात्सल्याद्भेषजानि प्रयोजयेत् वाचार्थं मंत्रवादांश्च तथा चैवोपयाचितम् ब्राह्मणान्पृच्छते नित्यं दिवारात्रिमतंद्रितः

pitā me bahuvātsalyādbheṣajāni prayojayet vācārthaṁ maṁtravādāṁśca tathā caivopayācitam brāhmaṇānpṛcchate nityaṁ divārātrimataṁdritaḥ

'My father, out of great affection, applied medicines and mantric remedies for my speech, and made offerings and vows; he inquired of brahmins day and night, tirelessly.'

Verse 347 (skanda.6.271.347)

ततो मे जायते हास्यं निजचित्ते नराधिप दृष्ट्वा संसारसंसक्तिं पितुर्मातुश्च भूरिशः

tato me jāyate hāsyaṁ nijacitte narādhipa dṛṣṭvā saṁsārasaṁsaktiṁ piturmātuśca bhūriśaḥ

'Then, O king, laughter would arise within my mind, seeing the great attachment to worldly life of my father and mother.'

Verse 348 (skanda.6.271.348)

ततश्च यौवनं प्राप्तः क्रमेण नृपसत्तम यदा तदा निशि त्यक्त्वा तावुभौ चात्र संगतः

tataśca yauvanaṁ prāptaḥ krameṇa nṛpasattama yadā tadā niśi tyaktvā tāvubhau cātra saṁgataḥ

'Then, O best of kings, having in due course attained youth, one night I left both of them and came here.'

Verse 349 (skanda.6.271.349)

ततो हृष्टमना नित्यं पूजयामि समाहितः ईशानं परया भक्त्या संस्नाप्य सलिलेन च

tato hṛṣṭamanā nityaṁ pūjayāmi samāhitaḥ īśānaṁ parayā bhaktyā saṁsnāpya salilena ca

'Then, joyful at heart, with a composed mind, I have ever worshipped Ishana with supreme devotion, bathing him with water...'

Verse 350 (skanda.6.271.350)

ब्राह्मणीतीर्थजातेन त्रिकालं नृपसत्तम शिलोंछवृत्तिमासाद्य प्राणयात्रां समाचरन् नीवारैर्बदरैः शाकैश्चिर्भटैः फलपत्रकैः

brāhmaṇītīrthajātena trikālaṁ nṛpasattama śiloṁchavṛttimāsādya prāṇayātrāṁ samācaran nīvārairbadaraiḥ śākaiścirbhaṭaiḥ phalapatrakaiḥ

'...born from Brahmani-tirtha, three times daily, O best of kings; and, sustaining my life by gleaning grain and wild rice, jujube fruits, greens, cucumbers, and other fruits and leaves...'

Verse 351 (skanda.6.271.351)

ततो मे भगवान्रुद्रः सर्वदेवेश्वरो हरः अब्रवीद्दर्शनं गत्वा मेघगम्भीरया गिरा

tato me bhagavānrudraḥ sarvadeveśvaro haraḥ abravīddarśanaṁ gatvā meghagambhīrayā girā

'...then the blessed Rudra, lord of all gods, Hara, granted me his darshan and spoke in a voice deep as thunder.'

Verse 352 (skanda.6.271.352)

परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्स वरं वरय सुवते अदेयमपि दास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

parituṣṭo'smi te vatsa varaṁ varaya suvate adeyamapi dāsyāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'I am well pleased with you, my child, O virtuous one; choose a boon — I shall give it even if it be unbestowable, however difficult to obtain.'

Verse 353 (skanda.6.271.353)

ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैः स्तुत्वा वाक्यैः पृथग्विधैः मया प्रोक्तं कुरु विभो जरामरण वर्जितम्

tatastaṁ praṇipatyoccaiḥ stutvā vākyaiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ mayā proktaṁ kuru vibho jarāmaraṇa varjitam

'Then, bowing low to him and praising him with various words, I said: O lord, make me free of old age and death.'

Verse 354 (skanda.6.271.354)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अमरत्वं यतो नास्ति मर्त्यलोकेऽत्र कर्हिचित् मर्यादां कुरु तस्मात्त्वं जीवितस्य स्वकस्य वै

śrībhagavānuvāca amaratvaṁ yato nāsti martyaloke'tra karhicit maryādāṁ kuru tasmāttvaṁ jīvitasya svakasya vai

Glorious lord said: 'Since immortality never exists in this mortal world, set instead a bound to your own lifespan.'

Verse 355 (skanda.6.271.355)

ततो मे भगवानुक्तः कल्पांते समुपस्थिते रोम्ण एकस्य मे नाशो जायतां त्रिदशेश्वर

tato me bhagavānuktaḥ kalpāṁte samupasthite romṇa ekasya me nāśo jāyatāṁ tridaśeśvara

'Then I said to the lord: At the end of each kalpa, let one hair of mine be lost, O lord of the gods.'

Verse 356 (skanda.6.271.356)

यदा च सर्वरोम्णां मे विनाशः संप्रजायते तदा मम गणत्वं च जायतां तावकं विभो

yadā ca sarvaromṇāṁ me vināśaḥ saṁprajāyate tadā mama gaṇatvaṁ ca jāyatāṁ tāvakaṁ vibho

'And when all my hairs are gone, then, O lord, let me become your own attendant.'

Verse 357 (skanda.6.271.357)

एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्तं परं लिंग सदा मम स्नाप्यं जलेन चैतेन ब्राह्मणीसंभवेन च

evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktaṁ paraṁ liṁga sadā mama snāpyaṁ jalena caitena brāhmaṇīsaṁbhavena ca

'So shall it be, he said. This supreme linga of mine shall ever be bathed with this water born of the Brahmani.'

Verse 358 (skanda.6.271.358)

ब्रह्माद्यैः पूजनीय च त्रिकालं द्विजसत्तम ममकैवासरं यावत्तव चायुर्भविष्यति

brahmādyaiḥ pūjanīya ca trikālaṁ dvijasattama mamakaivāsaraṁ yāvattava cāyurbhaviṣyati

'O foremost of brahmins, it shall be worshipped three times a day even by Brahma and the other gods; and your life shall last as long as my own duration.'

Verse 359 (skanda.6.271.359)

अन्योऽपि यो नरो भक्त्या पूजयिष्यति मामिह स्नापयिष्यति सद्भक्त्या विपाप्मा स भविष्यति

anyo'pi yo naro bhaktyā pūjayiṣyati māmiha snāpayiṣyati sadbhaktyā vipāpmā sa bhaviṣyati

'Any other man too who shall worship me here with devotion, and bathe me with true devotion, shall become free of sin.'

Verse 360 (skanda.6.271.360)

नापमृत्युर्भवेत्तस्य कदाचिद्द्विजसत्तम सकृत्संपूजिते ऽप्येवं ब्रह्माद्यैर्मत्कलेवरे

nāpamṛtyurbhavettasya kadāciddvijasattama sakṛtsaṁpūjite 'pyevaṁ brahmādyairmatkalevare

'O foremost of brahmins, untimely death shall never come to him — for even a single act of worship of my body here, in the manner performed by Brahma and the others, suffices.'

Verse 361 (skanda.6.271.361)

सकृत्पिबति यस्तोयं ब्रह्मतीर्थसमुद्भवम् सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा तत्क्षणाज्जायते हि सः

sakṛtpibati yastoyaṁ brahmatīrthasamudbhavam sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā tatkṣaṇājjāyate hi saḥ

'Whoever drinks even once of the water born from the Brahma-tirtha, becomes at that very instant purified of soul from every sin.'

Verse 362 (skanda.6.271.362)

एवमुक्त्वाथ देवेशस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः

evamuktvātha deveśastataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ

Having said this, the lord of the gods then vanished from sight.

Verse 363 (skanda.6.271.363)

अहं तु संस्थितश्चात्र ततः प्रभृति पार्थिव पूजयानश्च सद्भक्त्या लिंगमेतत्सदैव हि

ahaṁ tu saṁsthitaścātra tataḥ prabhṛti pārthiva pūjayānaśca sadbhaktyā liṁgametatsadaiva hi

'From that time onward, O king, I have remained here, ever worshipping this linga with true devotion.'

Verse 364 (skanda.6.271.364)

एतस्मात्कारणाज्जातं ममायुरतिविस्तृतम् शंकरस्य प्रसादेन नान्यदस्तीह कारणम्

etasmātkāraṇājjātaṁ mamāyurativistṛtam śaṁkarasya prasādena nānyadastīha kāraṇam

'For this reason my exceedingly vast lifespan came about, through the grace of Shankara; there is no other cause here.'

Verse 365 (skanda.6.271.365)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच अहमप्यर्चयिष्यामि लिंगमेत त्त्वया सह नान्यत्र वा गमिष्यामि ममैवं हृदि निश्चयः

indradyumna uvāca ahamapyarcayiṣyāmi liṁgameta ttvayā saha nānyatra vā gamiṣyāmi mamaivaṁ hṛdi niścayaḥ

Indradyumna said: 'I too shall worship this linga together with you; I shall go nowhere else — this is my firm resolve.'

Verse 366 (skanda.6.271.366)

लोमश उवाच एवं कुरु महाभाग त्वमवाप्स्यसि वांछितम् हरभक्तस्य लोकस्य वांछितं नास्ति दुलर्भम्

lomaśa uvāca evaṁ kuru mahābhāga tvamavāpsyasi vāṁchitam harabhaktasya lokasya vāṁchitaṁ nāsti dularbham

Lomasha said: 'Do so, most fortunate one, and you shall obtain your desire; for one devoted to Hara, nothing desired is ever unattainable.'

Verse 367 (skanda.6.271.367)

नाडीजंघो गृहं यातु मार्कंडगृधकौशिकाः कच्छपेन समायुक्तस्त्वं हि तिष्ठ ममा श्रमे

nāḍījaṁgho gṛhaṁ yātu mārkaṁḍagṛdhakauśikāḥ kacchapena samāyuktastvaṁ hi tiṣṭha mamā śrame

'Let Nadijangha go home, and Markanda, the vulture, and the owl; but you, together with the tortoise, remain in my hermitage.'

Verse 368 (skanda.6.271.368)

ततः प्रोचुश्च ते सर्वे न वयं तु नरेश्वर त्वां विना संप्रयास्यामो भूय एव निजालयम् लिंगमाराधयिष्यामो यदेतद्भवता र्चितम्

tataḥ procuśca te sarve na vayaṁ tu nareśvara tvāṁ vinā saṁprayāsyāmo bhūya eva nijālayam liṁgamārādhayiṣyāmo yadetadbhavatā rcitam

Then they all said: 'O lord of men, we shall not go back again to our own dwellings without you; we too shall worship this linga which you have honored.'

Verse 369 (skanda.6.271.369)

एवमुक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे लोमशस्य वराश्रमे तस्थुः संपूजयामासुस्त्रिकालं लिंगमेव तत्

evamuktvā tu te sarve lomaśasya varāśrame tasthuḥ saṁpūjayāmāsustrikālaṁ liṁgameva tat

Having said this, they all remained in Lomasha's excellent hermitage, worshipping that linga three times a day.

Verse 370 (skanda.6.271.370)

संस्नाप्य ब्राह्मणीतोयैः पद्मा द्यैः पूजयंति च

saṁsnāpya brāhmaṇītoyaiḥ padmā dyaiḥ pūjayaṁti ca

They bathed it with the waters of the Brahmani and worshipped it with lotuses and other offerings.

Verse 371 (skanda.6.271.371)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन संप्राप्तस्तत्र यत्र ते

kasyacittvatha kālasya nārado munisattamaḥ tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena saṁprāptastatra yatra te

After some time, the great sage Narada, in the course of a pilgrimage, arrived there where they were.

Verse 372 (skanda.6.271.372)

अथ नारदं दृष्ट्वा कृत्वा चैवार्हणक्रियाम् विश्रांतं च ततो ज्ञात्वा पप्रच्छुर्विनयान्विताः

atha nāradaṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛtvā caivārhaṇakriyām viśrāṁtaṁ ca tato jñātvā papracchurvinayānvitāḥ

Then, seeing Narada, having performed the rites of honor, and knowing he had rested, they asked him, filled with humility.

Verse 373 (skanda.6.271.373)

शापभ्रष्टा वयं सर्वे यतः संवर्तदर्शनात् बकाद्याश्चैव चत्वारः कूर्मांताश्च महामुने

śāpabhraṣṭā vayaṁ sarve yataḥ saṁvartadarśanāt bakādyāścaiva catvāraḥ kūrmāṁtāśca mahāmune

'O great sage, we are all fallen through a curse — Baka and the others, four in all, down to the tortoise — for we need the sight of Samvarta.'

Verse 374 (skanda.6.271.374)

न स विज्ञायते क्वापि कस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितः किंरूपः किंप्रमाणश्च किमाचारः क्व संस्थितः

na sa vijñāyate kvāpi kasminsthāne vyavasthitaḥ kiṁrūpaḥ kiṁpramāṇaśca kimācāraḥ kva saṁsthitaḥ

'He is not known anywhere — in what place he dwells, what is his form, what his measure, what his conduct, where he is established.'

Verse 375 (skanda.6.271.375)

स त्वं यदि विजानासि यत्र तं संस्थितं मुनिम् तद्वदस्व महाभाग न किंचित्तेऽस्त्यगोचरम्

sa tvaṁ yadi vijānāsi yatra taṁ saṁsthitaṁ munim tadvadasva mahābhāga na kiṁcitte'styagocaram

'If you know where that sage dwells, tell us, most fortunate one; nothing is beyond your knowledge.'

Verse 376 (skanda.6.271.376)

श्रीनारद उवाच अहं जानामि तं सम्यक्संवर्तं मुनिसत्तमम् गुप्ताचारेण तिष्ठंतं नान्यो वेत्ति कथंचनम्

śrīnārada uvāca ahaṁ jānāmi taṁ samyaksaṁvartaṁ munisattamam guptācāreṇa tiṣṭhaṁtaṁ nānyo vetti kathaṁcanam

Glorious Narada said: 'I indeed know that foremost sage Samvarta well, dwelling in secret conduct; no one else knows of him at all.'

Verse 377 (skanda.6.271.377)

वाराणास्यां स्थितो नित्यं सोऽवधूतो महामुनिः विवस्त्रो मलदिग्धांगः सदारण्यं समाश्रितः

vārāṇāsyāṁ sthito nityaṁ so'vadhūto mahāmuniḥ vivastro maladigdhāṁgaḥ sadāraṇyaṁ samāśritaḥ

'That great sage, an avadhuta, dwells always in Varanasi, unclothed, his body smeared with dirt, always resorting to the forest.'

Verse 378 (skanda.6.271.378)

भिक्षार्थं कुतपे काले समागच्छति तां पुरीम् पाणिपात्रकृताहारो गृहैः कैश्चित्सदैव हि

bhikṣārthaṁ kutape kāle samāgacchati tāṁ purīm pāṇipātrakṛtāhāro gṛhaiḥ kaiścitsadaiva hi

'At the appointed hour he comes to that city for alms, taking his food in his cupped hands, always from certain houses.'

Verse 379 (skanda.6.271.379)

भूयोपि याति सायाह्ने किंचिदेव वनांतरम् तस्यां पुर्यां तथारूपाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

bhūyopi yāti sāyāhne kiṁcideva vanāṁtaram tasyāṁ puryāṁ tathārūpāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

'In the evening he again goes back into some part of the forest. In that city, there are hundreds, even thousands, of others of similar appearance...'

Verse 380 (skanda.6.271.380)

तिष्ठंति तापसश्रेष्ठास्तस्य वक्ष्यामि लक्षणम् भवद्भिः स यथा ज्ञेयो मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

tiṣṭhaṁti tāpasaśreṣṭhāstasya vakṣyāmi lakṣaṇam bhavadbhiḥ sa yathā jñeyo mama vākyādasaṁśayam

'...foremost ascetics dwelling there. I shall tell you his distinguishing sign, so that he may be known by you, without doubt, by my word.'

Verse 381 (skanda.6.271.381)

वाराणस्याः प्रतोल्यां च स्थापनीयं सुयत्नतः ः कुणपं चैव गुप्तं च यथा नो वेत्ति कश्चन

vārāṇasyāḥ pratolyāṁ ca sthāpanīyaṁ suyatnataḥ ḥ kuṇapaṁ caiva guptaṁ ca yathā no vetti kaścana

'In the main street of Varanasi, a corpse should be placed with great care, hidden, so that no one may know of it.'

Verse 382 (skanda.6.271.382)

यास्यंति तापसाः सर्वे तमतिक्रम्य भूरिशः संवर्तो दिव्यदृष्टिस्तु शल्यं नातिक्रमिष्यति

yāsyaṁti tāpasāḥ sarve tamatikramya bhūriśaḥ saṁvarto divyadṛṣṭistu śalyaṁ nātikramiṣyati

'All the many ascetics will pass right over it and go on; but Samvarta, possessed of divine sight, will not step over the impure object.'

Verse 383 (skanda.6.271.383)

निवर्तनं तु यश्चक्रे भूभागात्कुणपाश्रयात् स संवर्तः परिज्ञेयः प्रष्टव्यश्च ततः परम्

nivartanaṁ tu yaścakre bhūbhāgātkuṇapāśrayāt sa saṁvartaḥ parijñeyaḥ praṣṭavyaśca tataḥ param

'Whoever turns back from that spot where the corpse lies, he is to be recognized as Samvarta, and then questioned.'

Verse 384 (skanda.6.271.384)

यदि पृच्छति केनाहं भवतां संनिवेदितः नारदेन ततो वाच्यं स त्वां जानाति वै सदा

yadi pṛcchati kenāhaṁ bhavatāṁ saṁniveditaḥ nāradena tato vācyaṁ sa tvāṁ jānāti vai sadā

'If he asks by whom he has been made known to you, then say: By Narada — for he ever knows you.'

Verse 385 (skanda.6.271.385)

यदि पृच्छति भूयः स नारदः क्व स तिष्ठति

yadi pṛcchati bhūyaḥ sa nāradaḥ kva sa tiṣṭhati

'If he asks further, Where does that Narada dwell?...'

Verse 386 (skanda.6.271.386)

ततो वाच्यो निवेद्य त्वां प्रतिष्टो हव्यवाहनम्

tato vācyo nivedya tvāṁ pratiṣṭo havyavāhanam

'...then he should be told: Having revealed you, he has entered the sacred fire.'

Verse 387 (skanda.6.271.387)

तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदवचः सर्वे वै लोमशादयः वाराणसीं पुरीं प्राप्तास्तस्य दर्शनलालसाः

tacchrutvā nāradavacaḥ sarve vai lomaśādayaḥ vārāṇasīṁ purīṁ prāptāstasya darśanalālasāḥ

Hearing Narada's words, Lomasha and all the others arrived at the city of Varanasi, eager for his sight.

Verse 388 (skanda.6.271.388)

प्रतोल्यां कुणपं स्थाप्य गुप्तं लोकैरलक्षितम् स्वयं चैव स्थिता दूरं प्रेक्षमाणाः प्रयत्नतः

pratolyāṁ kuṇapaṁ sthāpya guptaṁ lokairalakṣitam svayaṁ caiva sthitā dūraṁ prekṣamāṇāḥ prayatnataḥ

Having placed a corpse in the main street, hidden, unnoticed by people, they themselves stood at a distance, watching carefully.

Verse 389 (skanda.6.271.389)

ततस्तु कुतपे काले संवर्तस्तु समागतः यादृग्रूपः पुरा प्रोक्तो नारदेन महात्मना

tatastu kutape kāle saṁvartastu samāgataḥ yādṛgrūpaḥ purā prokto nāradena mahātmanā

Then, at the appointed hour, Samvarta came, in the very form previously described by the great Narada.

Verse 390 (skanda.6.271.390)

स दृष्ट्वा कुणपं तत्र दिव्यदृष्ट्या महामुनिः निवृत्तः क्षुत्पिपासार्तो नैव शल्यमलंघयत्

sa dṛṣṭvā kuṇapaṁ tatra divyadṛṣṭyā mahāmuniḥ nivṛttaḥ kṣutpipāsārto naiva śalyamalaṁghayat

Seeing the corpse there with his divine sight, that great sage turned back, though tormented by hunger and thirst, and did not step over the impure object.

Verse 391 (skanda.6.271.391)

अथ ते तं समुद्दिश्य पृष्ठतोऽनुययुस्तदा तिष्ठतिष्ठेति जल्पंतः प्रसादः क्रियतामिति

atha te taṁ samuddiśya pṛṣṭhato'nuyayustadā tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti jalpaṁtaḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāmiti

Then, recognizing him, they followed behind him, crying: 'Stop, stop! Show us your grace!'

Verse 392 (skanda.6.271.392)

सोऽपि निर्भर्त्सयन्नेतान्निवर्तध्वमिति ब्रुवन् मा गच्छत मत्समीपमिति प्रोच्य पलायितम्

so'pi nirbhartsayannetānnivartadhvamiti bruvan mā gacchata matsamīpamiti procya palāyitam

He too, rebuking them, saying 'Turn back! Do not come near me!' — fled.

Verse 393 (skanda.6.271.393)

अथ दूरतरं गत्वा स प्रोवाच क्षुधान्वितः

atha dūrataraṁ gatvā sa provāca kṣudhānvitaḥ

Then, having gone farther, tormented by hunger, he spoke.

Verse 394 (skanda.6.271.394)

केनादिष्टोऽस्मि युष्माकं स शीघ्रं मे निवेद्यताम् शापाग्नौ येन तं पापं भस्मसात्प्रकरोम्यहम्

kenādiṣṭo'smi yuṣmākaṁ sa śīghraṁ me nivedyatām śāpāgnau yena taṁ pāpaṁ bhasmasātprakaromyaham

'By whom was I pointed out to you? Tell me his name quickly, so that in the fire of my curse I may reduce that sinner to ashes.'

Verse 395 (skanda.6.271.395)

त ऊचुः नारदेन समाख्यातो भवानत्र स्थितो हि नः कथयित्वा ततो वह्नौ संप्रविष्टः स तत्क्षणात्

ta ūcuḥ nāradena samākhyāto bhavānatra sthito hi naḥ kathayitvā tato vahnau saṁpraviṣṭaḥ sa tatkṣaṇāt

They said: 'It was Narada who told us that you dwelt here.' Having said this, he had at once entered the fire.

Verse 396 (skanda.6.271.396)

संवर्त उवाच अहं तदेव कर्ता च तस्य दुष्टस्य सांप्रतम् निर्दिष्टो येन युष्माकं गुप्ताचारं समाश्रितः

saṁvarta uvāca ahaṁ tadeva kartā ca tasya duṣṭasya sāṁpratam nirdiṣṭo yena yuṣmākaṁ guptācāraṁ samāśritaḥ

Samvarta said: 'I myself shall now deal with that wicked one, by whom, though I live in secret conduct, I have been pointed out to you.'

Verse 397 (skanda.6.271.397)

त ऊचुः भगवन्नारदेनोक्तस्त्वमस्माकं महामुने चिरादन्वेष्यमाणानां नान्यस्त्वां वेत्ति कश्चन

ta ūcuḥ bhagavannāradenoktastvamasmākaṁ mahāmune cirādanveṣyamāṇānāṁ nānyastvāṁ vetti kaścana

They said: 'O lord, O great sage, you were revealed to us by Narada; we have long been searching for you, and no one else knows of you.'

Verse 398 (skanda.6.271.398)

तावन्निवेद्य चास्माकं प्रविष्टो हव्यवाहनम् तत्क्षणादेव विप्रेंद्र न विद्मस्तत्र कारणम्

tāvannivedya cāsmākaṁ praviṣṭo havyavāhanam tatkṣaṇādeva vipreṁdra na vidmastatra kāraṇam

'Having thus revealed you to us, he entered the sacred fire that very instant; O foremost of brahmins, we do not know the reason for it.'

Verse 399 (skanda.6.271.399)

संवर्त उवाच अहमप्यतिसंक्रुद्धः शापात्कर्तुं समुद्यतः

saṁvarta uvāca ahamapyatisaṁkruddhaḥ śāpātkartuṁ samudyataḥ

Samvarta said: 'I too, exceedingly enraged, was prepared to pronounce a curse.'

Verse 400 (skanda.6.271.400)

एतदेवहि तस्माच्च स्वयमेव कृतं च यत्

etadevahi tasmācca svayameva kṛtaṁ ca yat

'This very thing, then, he has himself already brought about.'

Verse 401 (skanda.6.271.401)

तस्माद्वदथ मे शीघ्रं कस्माद्यूयं समागताः

tasmādvadatha me śīghraṁ kasmādyūyaṁ samāgatāḥ

'Therefore tell me quickly — why have you all come?'

Verse 402 (skanda.6.271.402)

चिरं स्थास्यामि नात्राहं भ्रमिष्यामि पुरीं प्रति प्राणयात्राकृते भिक्षां करिष्यामि स्वयं यतः

ciraṁ sthāsyāmi nātrāhaṁ bhramiṣyāmi purīṁ prati prāṇayātrākṛte bhikṣāṁ kariṣyāmi svayaṁ yataḥ

'I shall not remain long here; I wander toward the city only because I myself must beg for the sustenance of life.'

Verse 403 (skanda.6.271.403)

विशल्यः क्रियतां मार्गः कुणपं ह्रियतां च यत् नोचेच्छापं प्रदास्यामि यद्येवं न करिष्यथ

viśalyaḥ kriyatāṁ mārgaḥ kuṇapaṁ hriyatāṁ ca yat nocecchāpaṁ pradāsyāmi yadyevaṁ na kariṣyatha

'Let the road be cleared of this obstruction — let that corpse be removed; otherwise I shall pronounce a curse, if you do not do this.'

Verse 404 (skanda.6.271.404)

तथाहं नैव वक्तव्यः कस्यचिच्चात्र संस्थितः अन्वेषयति मां नित्यं मरुत्तः पृथिवीपतिः

tathāhaṁ naiva vaktavyaḥ kasyaciccātra saṁsthitaḥ anveṣayati māṁ nityaṁ maruttaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ

'And I am not to be spoken of to anyone dwelling here; king Marutta constantly searches for me.'

Verse 405 (skanda.6.271.405)

यज्ञार्थं नैव तं भूपं याजयिष्ये कथंचन धिषणेन परित्यक्तो गुरुणा स महीपतिः

yajñārthaṁ naiva taṁ bhūpaṁ yājayiṣye kathaṁcana dhiṣaṇena parityakto guruṇā sa mahīpatiḥ

'I shall never, under any circumstance, officiate as priest for that king's sacrifice; that king has been abandoned by his guru.'

Verse 406 (skanda.6.271.406)

गुरुपुत्रं च मां ज्ञात्वा ततोऽन्वेषयते हि माम्

guruputraṁ ca māṁ jñātvā tato'nveṣayate hi mām

'Knowing me to be the son of his guru, he therefore searches for me.'

Verse 407 (skanda.6.271.407)

त ऊचुः शापभ्रष्टा वयं सर्वे चत्वारोऽपि बकादयः पक्षित्वं चैव संप्राप्ता ब्रह्मशापेन सन्मुने

ta ūcuḥ śāpabhraṣṭā vayaṁ sarve catvāro'pi bakādayaḥ pakṣitvaṁ caiva saṁprāptā brahmaśāpena sanmune

They said: 'O good sage, we are all fallen through a curse — all four of us, Baka and the others — having attained bird-form through a brahmin's curse.'

Verse 408 (skanda.6.271.408)

महेश्वरगणाश्चैव वयं त्रैलोक्यवंदिताः तिर्यग्योनिं समानीता वैराग्यं परमं गताः

maheśvaragaṇāścaiva vayaṁ trailokyavaṁditāḥ tiryagyoniṁ samānītā vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ

'We are attendants of Maheshvara, honored in the three worlds, brought down into animal births; we have come to supreme dispassion.'

Verse 409 (skanda.6.271.409)

शापांतस्तु समादिष्टस्तैर्विप्रैः स्त्रीसमु द्भवः तवोपदेशतस्तेन बकाद्याः शरणं गताः

śāpāṁtastu samādiṣṭastairvipraiḥ strīsamu dbhavaḥ tavopadeśatastena bakādyāḥ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

'The end of our curse was declared by those brahmins to come about through your own instruction, by way of a woman's issue. For this reason, Baka and the others have taken refuge with you.'

Verse 410 (skanda.6.271.410)

तस्मात्त्राहि महाभाग पक्षित्वात्सांप्रतं विभो

tasmāttrāhi mahābhāga pakṣitvātsāṁprataṁ vibho

'Therefore, O most fortunate lord, save us now from our bird-forms.'

Verse 411 (skanda.6.271.411)

निर्विण्णाश्चिरकालं च पक्षित्वस्य निषेवणात् एतच्च कारणं नान्यत्तव संगसमुद्भवम्

nirviṇṇāścirakālaṁ ca pakṣitvasya niṣevaṇāt etacca kāraṇaṁ nānyattava saṁgasamudbhavam

'We are weary, after so long a time, of living as birds; this alone, and no other reason, is why we have come to seek your company.'

Verse 412 (skanda.6.271.412)

संवर्त उवाच यद्येवं गम्यतां शीघ्रं चमत्कारपुरं प्रति भर्तृ यज्ञः स्थितोऽप्यत्र सर्वसंदेहहारकः

saṁvarta uvāca yadyevaṁ gamyatāṁ śīghraṁ camatkārapuraṁ prati bhartṛ yajñaḥ sthito'pyatra sarvasaṁdehahārakaḥ

Samvarta said: 'If it is so, go quickly toward Chamatkarapura; Bhartriyajna, remover of every doubt, is present there.'

Verse 413 (skanda.6.271.413)

स वै दास्यति सर्वेषामुपदेशं सुशोभनम् तेन प्राप्स्यथ संदेहं पूर्वीयं च यथास्थितम्

sa vai dāsyati sarveṣāmupadeśaṁ suśobhanam tena prāpsyatha saṁdehaṁ pūrvīyaṁ ca yathāsthitam

'He shall give excellent instruction to you all; by it your former doubt shall be resolved, exactly as it stands.'

Verse 414 (skanda.6.271.414)

स पूर्वं याज्ञवल्क्योऽभूत्सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः ततो भवांतरेऽन्यस्मिन्कात्यायन इति स्मृतः

sa pūrvaṁ yājñavalkyo'bhūtsarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ tato bhavāṁtare'nyasminkātyāyana iti smṛtaḥ

'He was formerly Yajnavalkya, master of the meaning of every scripture; then, in another birth, he was known as Katyayana.'

Verse 415 (skanda.6.271.415)

ततो देहांतरं प्राप्य ख्यातो वररुचिर्द्विजः ततो देहांतरेऽन्यस्मिन्वेश्यापुत्रो बभूव ह

tato dehāṁtaraṁ prāpya khyāto vararucirdvijaḥ tato dehāṁtare'nyasminveśyāputro babhūva ha

'Then, having taken another body, he became known as the brahmin Vararuchi; then, in yet another birth, he was born the son of a courtesan.'

Verse 416 (skanda.6.271.416)

आराधिता ब्रह्मसुता देवी वाग्रूपिणी सदा न च तुष्टा स्वयं देवी कारणं वीक्ष्य किंचन

ārādhitā brahmasutā devī vāgrūpiṇī sadā na ca tuṣṭā svayaṁ devī kāraṇaṁ vīkṣya kiṁcana

'The goddess Sarasvati, daughter of Brahma, in her form as speech, though ever worshipped by him, was not herself pleased, seeing some reason.'

Verse 417 (skanda.6.271.417)

ब्राह्मणेन प्रजातस्तु देहांतं प्राप्य किंचन तस्य वक्त्रं समापन्ना स्वयमेव सरस्वती

brāhmaṇena prajātastu dehāṁtaṁ prāpya kiṁcana tasya vaktraṁ samāpannā svayameva sarasvatī

'But upon being born of a brahmin, having attained yet another body, Sarasvati herself came to dwell upon his very mouth.'

Verse 418 (skanda.6.271.418)

पूर्वमाराधिता नित्यं न सा त्यजति कर्हिचित् तस्याश्चर्यमभूच्चान्यद्यज्ञे वेश्यासुतस्य हि

pūrvamārādhitā nityaṁ na sā tyajati karhicit tasyāścaryamabhūccānyadyajñe veśyāsutasya hi

'Having been worshipped by him constantly in his former life, she never abandons him now. And another wonder occurred at the sacrifice of that courtesan's son.'

Verse 419 (skanda.6.271.419)

ब्रह्मसूत्रं समभ्येति स्कंधे निर्याति गच्छति

brahmasūtraṁ samabhyeti skaṁdhe niryāti gacchati

'The sacred thread comes of its own accord upon his shoulder, departs, and returns.'

Verse 420 (skanda.6.271.420)

पूर्वेषामेव लोकानां यज्ञकर्मसु संस्थितान् स संदेहान्हरत्येव यथा नान्योऽत्र कश्चन

pūrveṣāmeva lokānāṁ yajñakarmasu saṁsthitān sa saṁdehānharatyeva yathā nānyo'tra kaścana

'He resolves the doubts of the people of former ages engaged in sacrificial rites, as no one else here can.'

Verse 421 (skanda.6.271.421)

सूत उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः गतास्ते कुणपं यत्र संवर्तेन प्रणोदिताः

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ gatāste kuṇapaṁ yatra saṁvartena praṇoditāḥ

Suta said: Hearing his words, and bowing again and again, they went, sent forth by Samvarta, to where the corpse lay.

Verse 422 (skanda.6.271.422)

तच्चाकृष्य ततः सर्वे चमत्कारपुरं गताः वास्तुस्थानपदे तीर्थे तं दृष्ट्वा तत्र संस्थितम्

taccākṛṣya tataḥ sarve camatkārapuraṁ gatāḥ vāstusthānapade tīrthe taṁ dṛṣṭvā tatra saṁsthitam

Having removed it, they all then went to Chamatkarapura, and there, at the tirtha at Vastusthanapada, they saw him established.

Verse 423 (skanda.6.271.423)

प्रणिपत्य ततः प्रोचुः सर्वे विनयसंस्थिताः ब्रह्मशापेन निर्दग्धा वयं चत्वार एव हि

praṇipatya tataḥ procuḥ sarve vinayasaṁsthitāḥ brahmaśāpena nirdagdhā vayaṁ catvāra eva hi

Bowing down, all of them, standing in humility, said: 'We, all four of us, have indeed been consumed by a brahmin's curse.'

Verse 424 (skanda.6.271.424)

पक्षित्वं समनुप्राप्तास्त्रयः कूर्मत्वमन्यकः य एते च त्रयोऽस्माकं स्थिताः पार्श्वे महत्तराः

pakṣitvaṁ samanuprāptāstrayaḥ kūrmatvamanyakaḥ ya ete ca trayo'smākaṁ sthitāḥ pārśve mahattarāḥ

'Three of us attained bird-form, and one other, tortoise-form; and these three, standing beside us, are our elders.'

Verse 425 (skanda.6.271.425)

मार्कंडः कथितो ह्येष इंद्रद्युम्नस्तथा परः तृतीयो लोमशो नाम विख्यातः सुमहातपाः

mārkaṁḍaḥ kathito hyeṣa iṁdradyumnastathā paraḥ tṛtīyo lomaśo nāma vikhyātaḥ sumahātapāḥ

'This one is called Markanda; the other is Indradyumna; the third, known as Lomasha, is famed for his great austerity.'

Verse 426 (skanda.6.271.426)

जीवितव्यस्य निर्विण्णास्त्रय एव च सांप्रतम् उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि

jīvitavyasya nirviṇṇāstraya eva ca sāṁpratam upadeśapradānena prasādaṁ kartumarhasi

'We three are now weary of our lives; you should show us grace by granting your instruction.'

Verse 427 (skanda.6.271.427)

सूत उवाच तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भर्तृयज्ञो महामुनिः अब्रवीत्सुचिरं ध्यात्वा ज्ञात्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा

sūta uvāca teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhartṛyajño mahāmuniḥ abravītsuciraṁ dhyātvā jñātvā divyena cakṣuṣā

Suta said: Hearing their words, the great sage Bhartriyajna, having pondered for a long while, and having perceived with his divine eye, spoke.

Verse 428 (skanda.6.271.428)

यूयं सप्तैव लिंगानि स्थापयध्वं समागताः हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे नाम्ना चैवांतिके निभोः

yūyaṁ saptaiva liṁgāni sthāpayadhvaṁ samāgatāḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre nāmnā caivāṁtike nibhoḥ

'All of you, gathered here, shall establish seven lingas in the field of Hatakeshvara, each in the name and likeness of the Lord.'

Verse 429 (skanda.6.271.429)

ततो दानानि सप्तैव तेषामग्रे प्रयच्छत कुलपर्वतसंज्ञानि सर्वपापहराणि च

tato dānāni saptaiva teṣāmagre prayacchata kulaparvatasaṁjñāni sarvapāpaharāṇi ca

'Then, before them, give seven donations, called after the family-mountains, destroyers of every sin.'

Verse 430 (skanda.6.271.430)

ततः प्राप्स्यथ चाभीष्टं वपुर्दिव्यं मनोरमम् गणत्वं देवदेवस्य त्रिने त्रस्य महात्मनः

tataḥ prāpsyatha cābhīṣṭaṁ vapurdivyaṁ manoramam gaṇatvaṁ devadevasya trine trasya mahātmanaḥ

'Thereupon you shall obtain your desired, divine, beautiful form, and the state of ganahood of the great, three-eyed god of gods.'

Verse 431 (skanda.6.271.431)

त ऊचुः प्रकीर्तय विभो दानं तेषां यच्छामहे यथा प्रमाणं च विधानं च विस्तरेण महामुने

ta ūcuḥ prakīrtaya vibho dānaṁ teṣāṁ yacchāmahe yathā pramāṇaṁ ca vidhānaṁ ca vistareṇa mahāmune

They said: 'O lord, O great sage, declare in detail how we should give that donation — its measure and its rite.'

Verse 432 (skanda.6.271.432)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच देयो हेममयो मेरुः कैलासो रजतोद्भवः कार्प्पासेन हिमाद्रिस्तु गुडजो गंधमादनः

bhartṛyajña uvāca deyo hemamayo meruḥ kailāso rajatodbhavaḥ kārppāsena himādristu guḍajo gaṁdhamādanaḥ

Bhartriyajna said: 'Meru is to be given made of gold; Kailasa, made of silver; Himadri, of cotton; Gandhamadana, made of molasses.'

Verse 433 (skanda.6.271.433)

सुवेलस्तु तिलैर्देयो विंध्यः शर्करया तथा लवणेन तथा शृंगी यथोक्तविधिना ततः

suvelastu tilairdeyo viṁdhyaḥ śarkarayā tathā lavaṇena tathā śṛṁgī yathoktavidhinā tataḥ

'Suvela is to be given made of sesame; Vindhya, of sugar; and Shringi, of salt — each by the rite prescribed.'

Verse 434 (skanda.6.271.434)

सूत उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संस्थाप्य विधिपूर्वकम् सप्तलिंगानि तैः पश्चात्प्रदत्ताः कुलपर्वताः

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā saṁsthāpya vidhipūrvakam saptaliṁgāni taiḥ paścātpradattāḥ kulaparvatāḥ

Suta said: Hearing his words, having duly established the seven lingas, they then gave the family-mountains as gifts.

Verse 435 (skanda.6.271.435)

इंद्रद्युम्नेश्वरस्याग्रे इंद्रद्युम्नः प्रतापवान् मेरुं हेममयं कृत्वा भर्तृयज्ञमते स्थितः

iṁdradyumneśvarasyāgre iṁdradyumnaḥ pratāpavān meruṁ hemamayaṁ kṛtvā bhartṛyajñamate sthitaḥ

Before Indradyumneshvara, the mighty Indradyumna, having made Meru of gold, following Bhartriyajna's counsel, gave it.

Verse 436 (skanda.6.271.436)

मार्कंडेश्वरदेवस्य मार्कंडेन च धीमता कैलासो राजतो दत्तो भक्तिपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमाः

mārkaṁḍeśvaradevasya mārkaṁḍena ca dhīmatā kailāso rājato datto bhaktipūrvaṁ dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, before the god Markandeshvara, the wise Markanda devoutly gave Kailasa, made of silver.

Verse 437 (skanda.6.271.437)

कार्पासो हिमवान्दत्तः पालकेन द्विजातये गंधमादनसंज्ञस्तु प्रदत्तो गुडजः पुरः

kārpāso himavāndattaḥ pālakena dvijātaye gaṁdhamādanasaṁjñastu pradatto guḍajaḥ puraḥ

Palaka (Baka) gave Himavan, made of cotton, to a brahmin; and the mountain called Gandhamadana, made of molasses, was also given before his own shrine.

Verse 438 (skanda.6.271.438)

घंटकेश्वरदेवस्य घंटकेन द्विजोत्तमाः कच्छपेन तु संदत्तः सुवेलः पर्वतोत्तमः

ghaṁṭakeśvaradevasya ghaṁṭakena dvijottamāḥ kacchapena tu saṁdattaḥ suvelaḥ parvatottamaḥ

O best of brahmins, before the god Ghantakeshvara, by Ghantaka; and Suvela, best of mountains, was given by the tortoise.

Verse 439 (skanda.6.271.439)

कच्छपेश्वरदेवस्य पुरस्तिलमयस्तथा शार्करस्तु तदा शैलः प्रदत्तो भक्तिपूर्वकम्

kacchapeśvaradevasya purastilamayastathā śārkarastu tadā śailaḥ pradatto bhaktipūrvakam

Before the god Kachchapeshvara, the sesame-made mountain was given; and then the sugar-made mountain was devoutly given.

Verse 440 (skanda.6.271.440)

शैल ईशानसंज्ञेन निजदेवस्य चाऽग्रतः वानरेश्वर देवस्य पुरतो द्विजसत्तमाः

śaila īśānasaṁjñena nijadevasya cā'grataḥ vānareśvara devasya purato dvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, that mountain was given by the one named Ishana, before his own god, before the god Vanareshvara.

Verse 441 (skanda.6.271.441)

गृध्रेणाथ प्रदत्तस्तु लवणाख्यो महागिरिः शृंगी नाम महाभागः श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

gṛdhreṇātha pradattastu lavaṇākhyo mahāgiriḥ śṛṁgī nāma mahābhāgaḥ śraddhāpūtena cetasā

Then by the vulture was given the great mountain called Shringi, made of salt, most fortunate, with a mind purified by faith.

Verse 442 (skanda.6.271.442)

तत्राश्चर्यमभूद्विप्रा दत्तमात्रैर्नगोत्तमैः पक्षित्वं निर्गतं तेषां कूर्मत्वमितरस्य च

tatrāścaryamabhūdviprā dattamātrairnagottamaiḥ pakṣitvaṁ nirgataṁ teṣāṁ kūrmatvamitarasya ca

O brahmins, a wonder occurred there: as soon as those best of mountains were given, their bird-forms departed, and the other's tortoise-form as well.

Verse 443 (skanda.6.271.443)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सर्वे ते तत्प्रभावतः दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरा दिव्यगंधानुलेपनाः संजाता ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा ये च तत्संमुखे स्थिताः

etasminneva kāle tu sarve te tatprabhāvataḥ divyamālyāṁbaradharā divyagaṁdhānulepanāḥ saṁjātā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā ye ca tatsaṁmukhe sthitāḥ

At that very moment, by that power, all of them, who stood there before him, became clothed in divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances.

Verse 444 (skanda.6.271.444)

विमानानि च सर्वेषां समायातानि तत्क्षणात्

vimānāni ca sarveṣāṁ samāyātāni tatkṣaṇāt

And celestial chariots for all of them arrived at that very instant.

Verse 445 (skanda.6.271.445)

भर्तृयज्ञमनुप्राप्य प्रणिपत्य च तान्द्विजान् कैलासं पर्वतं प्राप्ता विमानवरमाश्रिताः

bhartṛyajñamanuprāpya praṇipatya ca tāndvijān kailāsaṁ parvataṁ prāptā vimānavaramāśritāḥ

Having gone to Bhartriyajna, and bowing to those brahmins, they, mounted upon fine celestial chariots, reached Mount Kailasa.

Verse 446 (skanda.6.271.446)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यथा तल्लिंगसप्तकम् हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे संजातं पापनाशनम्

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yathā talliṁgasaptakam hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre saṁjātaṁ pāpanāśanam

Thus this has all been told to you — how that group of seven lingas, destroyers of sin, came to be in the field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 447 (skanda.6.271.447)

अन्योऽपि यः पुनस्तेषां लिंगानां भक्तिसंयुतः कुलपर्वतदानं च कुर्यात्सोऽपि शिवं व्रजेत्

anyo'pi yaḥ punasteṣāṁ liṁgānāṁ bhaktisaṁyutaḥ kulaparvatadānaṁ ca kuryātso'pi śivaṁ vrajet

Whatever other man, devoted to those lingas, shall likewise perform the donation of the family-mountains, he too shall go to Shiva.

Verse 448 (skanda.6.271.448)

तानि लिंगानि यो मर्त्यः प्रातरुत्थाय वीक्षते अज्ञानविहितात्पापात्सोऽपि मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

tāni liṁgāni yo martyaḥ prātarutthāya vīkṣate ajñānavihitātpāpātso'pi muktimavāpnuyāt

Whatever mortal, rising at dawn, beholds those lingas, he too shall attain liberation from sin committed through ignorance.

Verse 449 (skanda.6.271.449)

यश्चैतान्पर्वतान्सप्त क्रमेणात्र प्रयच्छति द्विजातिभ्यः स्वलिंगानां पुरतस्त्रिदिवं व्रजेत्

yaścaitānparvatānsapta krameṇātra prayacchati dvijātibhyaḥ svaliṁgānāṁ puratastridivaṁ vrajet

Whoever gives these seven mountains in due order to brahmins before his own linga, shall go to heaven.

Verse 450 (skanda.6.271.450)

स्थित्वा कल्पांतरं तत्र संसेव्य च वराप्सराः दिव्यान्भोगांश्च संसेव्य यदा भूमौ प्रजायते चक्रवर्तित्वमासाद्य सार्वभौमः प्रजायते

sthitvā kalpāṁtaraṁ tatra saṁsevya ca varāpsarāḥ divyānbhogāṁśca saṁsevya yadā bhūmau prajāyate cakravartitvamāsādya sārvabhaumaḥ prajāyate

Having dwelt there for the span of a kalpa, having enjoyed the finest apsarases and divine pleasures, when he is born again upon the earth, he attains sovereignty and becomes a universal emperor.

Verse 451 (skanda.6.271.451)

एकेन तु प्रदत्तेन जायते पापसंक्षयः द्वाभ्यां पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च वांछितानि फलानि च

ekena tu pradattena jāyate pāpasaṁkṣayaḥ dvābhyāṁ putrāśca pautrāśca vāṁchitāni phalāni ca

By giving even one, the destruction of sin comes about; by two, sons and grandsons, and desired fruits.

Verse 452 (skanda.6.271.452)

त्रिभिः संजायते राजा चतुर्भिर्मंडलेश्वरः भारतस्य च खण्डस्य स्वामी भवति पंचभिः

tribhiḥ saṁjāyate rājā caturbhirmaṁḍaleśvaraḥ bhāratasya ca khaṇḍasya svāmī bhavati paṁcabhiḥ

By three, one becomes a king; by four, lord of a province; by five, one becomes lord of the land of Bharata.

Verse 453 (skanda.6.271.453)

जंबुद्वीपाधिपः षङ्भिश्चक्रवर्ती च सप्तभिः विधिवत्पर्वतैर्दत्तैरेत दाह पितामहः

jaṁbudvīpādhipaḥ ṣaṅbhiścakravartī ca saptabhiḥ vidhivatparvatairdattaireta dāha pitāmahaḥ

By six, lord of Jambudvipa; and by seven, given duly, one becomes a universal sovereign — thus has the Grandsire declared.

Verse 454 (skanda.6.271.454)

नरः स्याद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः सदाजन्मनिजन्मनि न दुःखितो दरिद्रो वा व्याधितो वा प्रजायते

naraḥ syādbrāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ sadājanmanijanmani na duḥkhito daridro vā vyādhito vā prajāyate

O foremost of brahmins, such a man is born again and again without sorrow, poverty, or disease.

Verse 455 (skanda.6.271.455)

सौभाग्यसुखसंयुक्तः सुदेहो रत्नवान्भवेत् सर्वराज्यविनिर्मुक्तः प्रतापी विजितेन्द्रियः

saubhāgyasukhasaṁyuktaḥ sudeho ratnavānbhavet sarvarājyavinirmuktaḥ pratāpī vijitendriyaḥ

He becomes endowed with good fortune and happiness, of fine body, wealthy in jewels, free of all worldly bondage, powerful, and master of his senses.

Verse 456 (skanda.6.271.456)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भूमिपालैर्विशेषतः एतं च पर्वता देया उद्दिश्य निजदेवताः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena bhūmipālairviśeṣataḥ etaṁ ca parvatā deyā uddiśya nijadevatāḥ

Therefore, with every effort, kings especially should give these mountains, dedicated to their own chosen deity.