The Glory of the Hermitage of the Seven Sages

Verse 1 (skanda.6.32.1)

तथान्योऽस्ति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे शुभावहे । सप्तर्षीणां सुविख्यात आश्रमः सर्वकामदः

tathānyo'sti dvijaśreṣṭhāstasminkṣetre śubhāvahe | saptarṣīṇāṁ suvikhyāta āśramaḥ sarvakāmadaḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, in that auspicious field there is also another most renowned hermitage of the Seven Sages, granting every desire.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.32.2)

तत्र श्रावणमासस्य पंचदश्यां समाहितः । यः करोति नरः स्नानं स लभेद्वांछितं फलम्

tatra śrāvaṇamāsasya paṁcadaśyāṁ samāhitaḥ | yaḥ karoti naraḥ snānaṁ sa labhedvāṁchitaṁ phalam

The man who, with a composed mind, bathes there on the full-moon day of Shravana obtains the fruit he desires.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.32.3)

कन्दमूलफलैः शाकैर्यस्तत्र श्राद्धमाचरेत् । स प्राप्नोति फलं कृत्स्नं राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः

kandamūlaphalaiḥ śākairyastatra śrāddhamācaret | sa prāpnoti phalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

One who performs shraddha there with roots, tubers, fruits, and greens obtains the entire fruit of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.32.4)

पंचम्यां शुक्लपक्षे तु मासि भाद्रपदे द्विजाः । यस्तान्पूजयते भक्त्या पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः । विधिनानेन विप्रेन्द्राः सर्वानेव यथाक्रमम् । ॐ अत्रये नमः । ॐ वसिष्ठाय नमः । ॐ कश्यपाय नमः । ॐ भरद्वाजाय नमः । ॐ गौतमाय नमः । ॐ कौशिकाय नमः । ॐ जमदग्नये नमः । ॐ अरुंधत्यै नमः

paṁcamyāṁ śuklapakṣe tu māsi bhādrapade dvijāḥ | yastānpūjayate bhaktyā puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ | vidhinānena viprendrāḥ sarvāneva yathākramam | oṁ atraye namaḥ | oṁ vasiṣṭhāya namaḥ | oṁ kaśyapāya namaḥ | oṁ bharadvājāya namaḥ | oṁ gautamāya namaḥ | oṁ kauśikāya namaḥ | oṁ jamadagnaye namaḥ | oṁ aruṁdhatyai namaḥ

O brahmins, whoever, on the fifth of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, worships them all in due order and with devotion, by this rite, with flowers, incense, and unguents -- Om, salutation to Atri; Om, salutation to Vasishtha; Om, salutation to Kashyapa; Om, salutation to Bharadvaja; Om, salutation to Gautama; Om, salutation to Kaushika; Om, salutation to Jamadagni; Om, salutation to Arundhati --

Verse 5 (skanda.6.32.5)

पूजामन्त्रः । जह्नुकन्यापवित्रांगा गृहीतजपमालिकाः । गृह्णंत्वर्घं मया दत्तमृषयः सर्वकामदाः

pūjāmantraḥ | jahnukanyāpavitrāṁgā gṛhītajapamālikāḥ | gṛhṇaṁtvarghaṁ mayā dattamṛṣayaḥ sarvakāmadāḥ

The worship-mantra: May the sages, their limbs made pure by the daughter of Jahnu, holding their rosaries of prayer, granters of every desire, accept this offering given by me.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.32.6)

ऋषयः उवाच । तत्र सप्तर्षिभिस्तीर्थं कस्मिन्काले व्यवस्थितम् । विस्तरात्सूतज ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि नः

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | tatra saptarṣibhistīrthaṁ kasminkāle vyavasthitam | vistarātsūtaja brūhi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

The sages said: O son of Suta, at what time was that tirtha established by the Seven Sages? Tell us this in full, for we are most eager to know.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.32.7)

सूत उवाच । अनावृष्टिः पुरा जाता लोके द्वादशवार्षिकी । सर्वोषधिक्षयो जातस्ततो लोकाः क्षयार्दिताः

sūta uvāca | anāvṛṣṭiḥ purā jātā loke dvādaśavārṣikī | sarvoṣadhikṣayo jātastato lokāḥ kṣayārditāḥ

Suta said: Long ago, a twelve-year drought fell upon the world; all vegetation perished, and the people were afflicted by famine.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.32.8)

अस्थिशेषा निरुत्साहास्त्यक्तधर्मव्रतक्रियाः । अभक्ष्यभक्षणपरास्तथैवापेयपायिनः

asthiśeṣā nirutsāhāstyaktadharmavratakriyāḥ | abhakṣyabhakṣaṇaparāstathaivāpeyapāyinaḥ

People were reduced to mere bone, lost all energy, abandoned their religious observances and rites, and took to eating the inedible and drinking the undrinkable.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.32.9)

त्यजंति मातरः पुत्रान्कलत्राणि तथा नराः । भृत्यान्स्वानपि वित्तेशाः का कथान्यसमुद्भवान्

tyajaṁti mātaraḥ putrānkalatrāṇi tathā narāḥ | bhṛtyānsvānapi vitteśāḥ kā kathānyasamudbhavān

Mothers abandoned their sons, husbands their wives, and wealthy men their own servants -- what then of those unrelated to them?

Verse 10 (skanda.6.32.10)

संत्यक्तान्यग्निहोत्राणि ब्राह्मणैर्याजकैरपि । व्रतानि व्रतिभिर्दांतैरपि वृद्धतमैर्द्विजाः

saṁtyaktānyagnihotrāṇi brāhmaṇairyājakairapi | vratāni vratibhirdāṁtairapi vṛddhatamairdvijāḥ

O brahmins, the officiating priests abandoned their fire-offerings, and even the most disciplined and venerable observers of vows gave up their vows.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.32.11)

दृश्यते चैव यत्रैव सस्यं वापि कथंचन । ह्रियते लज्जया हीनैस्तत्र क्षुत्क्षामकैर्नरैः

dṛśyate caiva yatraiva sasyaṁ vāpi kathaṁcana | hriyate lajjayā hīnaistatra kṣutkṣāmakairnaraiḥ

Wherever any grain at all was seen, there people wasted by hunger, having lost all shame, would seize it.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.32.12)

एवमन्नक्षये जाते पीडिते धरणीतले । सप्तर्षयः क्षुधाविष्टा बभ्रमुस्तत्रतत्र च

evamannakṣaye jāte pīḍite dharaṇītale | saptarṣayaḥ kṣudhāviṣṭā babhramustatratatra ca

Thus, with all grain destroyed and the earth in distress, the Seven Sages too, overcome with hunger, began to wander from place to place.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.32.13)

अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च कश्यपः सुमहातपाः । भरद्वाजस्तथा चान्यो गौतमः संशितव्रतः । कौशिको जमदग्निश्च तथैवारुंधती सती

atriścaiva vasiṣṭhaśca kaśyapaḥ sumahātapāḥ | bharadvājastathā cānyo gautamaḥ saṁśitavrataḥ | kauśiko jamadagniśca tathaivāruṁdhatī satī

Atri, Vasishtha, the greatly austere Kashyapa, Bharadvaja, Gautama of firm vows, Kaushika, Jamadagni, and the chaste Arundhati --

Verse 14 (skanda.6.32.14)

अथ तेषां समस्तानां चंडाभूत्परिचारिका । पशुवक्त्रस्तथा भृत्यो विनयेन समवितः

atha teṣāṁ samastānāṁ caṁḍābhūtparicārikā | paśuvaktrastathā bhṛtyo vinayena samavitaḥ

-- these all had with them an attendant woman named Chanda, and a humble servant named Pashumukha.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.32.15)

ततस्ते विषयं प्राप्ता वृषादर्भिमहीपतेः । क्षुत्क्षामा मुनयोऽत्यर्थं देशे चानर्तसंज्ञके

tataste viṣayaṁ prāptā vṛṣādarbhimahīpateḥ | kṣutkṣāmā munayo'tyarthaṁ deśe cānartasaṁjñake

Then those sages, terribly wasted by hunger, arrived in the territory of King Vrishadarbhi, in the land called Anarta.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.32.16)

तत्र भिक्षाकृते भ्रांतास्ततश्चैव गृहाद्गृहम् । न ग्रासमपि सस्यस्य प्राप्नुवंस्ते द्विजोत्तमाः

tatra bhikṣākṛte bhrāṁtāstataścaiva gṛhādgṛham | na grāsamapi sasyasya prāpnuvaṁste dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, wandering there from house to house begging alms, they could not obtain even a single mouthful of grain.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.32.17)

ततस्तैः पतितो भूमौ दृष्टो मृतकुमारकः । मंत्रयित्वा मिथः पश्चाद्गृहीतो भक्षणाय च

tatastaiḥ patito bhūmau dṛṣṭo mṛtakumārakaḥ | maṁtrayitvā mithaḥ paścādgṛhīto bhakṣaṇāya ca

Then they saw a dead child lying upon the ground, and, having deliberated among themselves, took it up to eat.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.32.18)

अपचन्यावदग्नौ तं क्षुधया परिपीडिताः । वृषादर्भिर्नृपः प्राप्तः श्रुत्वा तेषां विचेष्टितम्

apacanyāvadagnau taṁ kṣudhayā paripīḍitāḥ | vṛṣādarbhirnṛpaḥ prāptaḥ śrutvā teṣāṁ viceṣṭitam

Tormented by hunger, they were cooking it upon the fire, when King Vrishadarbhi, hearing of their act, arrived there.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.32.19)

वृषादर्भिः उवाच । किमिदं गर्हितं कर्म क्रियते मुनिसत्तमाः । राक्षसानामयं धर्मो महामांसस्य भक्षणम्

vṛṣādarbhiḥ uvāca | kimidaṁ garhitaṁ karma kriyate munisattamāḥ | rākṣasānāmayaṁ dharmo mahāmāṁsasya bhakṣaṇam

Vrishadarbhi said: O best of sages, what is this degrading deed you are doing? The eating of human flesh is the way of demons, not of sages.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.32.20)

सोऽहं सस्यं प्रदास्यामि ग्रामान्व्रीहीन्यवानपि । मम वाक्यादसंदिग्धं त्यजर्ध्वं मृतबालकम्

so'haṁ sasyaṁ pradāsyāmi grāmānvrīhīnyavānapi | mama vākyādasaṁdigdhaṁ tyajardhvaṁ mṛtabālakam

I myself shall give you grain, villages, rice, and barley; trust my word without doubt, and give up this dead child.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.32.21)

ऋषयः उवाच । प्रायश्चित्तं समादिष्टं महामांसस्य भक्षणात् । प्रतिग्रहस्य भूपाला दापत्कालेऽपि नो नृप

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | prāyaścittaṁ samādiṣṭaṁ mahāmāṁsasya bhakṣaṇāt | pratigrahasya bhūpālā dāpatkāle'pi no nṛpa

The sages said: O king, an atonement has been prescribed for the eating of human flesh, but we, O ruler of the earth, are not permitted to accept a gift from a king even in this time of calamity.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.32.22)

पश्चात्तपश्चरिष्यामो महामांससमुद्भवम् । पातकं नाशयिष्यामो भक्षयामो वयं ततः

paścāttapaścariṣyāmo mahāmāṁsasamudbhavam | pātakaṁ nāśayiṣyāmo bhakṣayāmo vayaṁ tataḥ

Afterward we shall perform austerity and destroy the sin arising from this eating of human flesh; for now, we shall simply eat it.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.32.23)

वृषादर्भिः उवाच । प्रतिग्रहो द्विजातीनां प्रोक्ता वृत्तिरनिंदिता । ग्राह्यो मत्तस्ततः सर्वैर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

vṛṣādarbhiḥ uvāca | pratigraho dvijātīnāṁ proktā vṛttiraniṁditā | grāhyo mattastataḥ sarvairnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Vrishadarbhi said: Accepting a gift is said to be a blameless livelihood for brahmins; therefore let all of you accept it from me -- there is no need to deliberate over this.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.32.24)

ऋषयः उवाच । राज प्रतिग्रहो घोरो मध्वास्वादो विषोपमः । स दूराद्ब्राह्मणैस्त्याज्यो विशेषात्कृतिभिर्नृप

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | rāja pratigraho ghoro madhvāsvādo viṣopamaḥ | sa dūrādbrāhmaṇaistyājyo viśeṣātkṛtibhirnṛpa

The sages said: O king, a gift from a king is terrible -- sweet as honey to the taste, yet like poison; especially the cultivated brahmin must shun it from afar.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.32.25)

दशसूनासमश्चक्री दशचक्रिसमो ध्वजी । दश ध्वजिसमा वेश्या दशवेश्यासमो नृपः

daśasūnāsamaścakrī daśacakrisamo dhvajī | daśa dhvajisamā veśyā daśaveśyāsamo nṛpaḥ

Ten butchers equal one potter [with his wheel]; ten such craftsmen equal one hunter with his banner; ten hunters equal one courtesan; and ten courtesans equal one king.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.32.26)

दशसूनासहस्रेण तुल्यो राजप्रतिग्रहः । कस्तस्य प्रतिगृह्णाति लोभाढ्यो ब्राह्मणो यथा

daśasūnāsahasreṇa tulyo rājapratigrahaḥ | kastasya pratigṛhṇāti lobhāḍhyo brāhmaṇo yathā

Thus a gift accepted from a king equals [the sin of] ten thousand butchers; who but a brahmin overcome by greed would accept it?

Verse 27 (skanda.6.32.27)

रौरवादिषु सर्वेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते । तस्माद्गच्छ गृहे भूप स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु सदैव हि

rauravādiṣu sarveṣu narakeṣu sa pacyate | tasmādgaccha gṛhe bhūpa svasti te'stu sadaiva hi

Such a brahmin is cooked in Raurava and all the other hells; therefore, O king, go back to your home -- may all be well with you always.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.32.28)

वयमन्यत्र यास्यामो ग्रहीष्यामो न ते धनम्

vayamanyatra yāsyāmo grahīṣyāmo na te dhanam

We shall go elsewhere; we shall not accept your wealth.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.32.29)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वाथ ते सर्वे मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । परित्यज्य कुमारं तं मृतं तमपि भूमिपम् । चमत्कारपुरं क्षेत्रं समुद्दिश्य ततो ययुः

sūta uvāca | evamuktvātha te sarve munayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ | parityajya kumāraṁ taṁ mṛtaṁ tamapi bhūmipam | camatkārapuraṁ kṣetraṁ samuddiśya tato yayuḥ

Suta said: Having said this, all those sages of firm vows, leaving behind both the dead child and the king, set out toward the field of Chamatkarapura.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.32.30)

सोऽपि राजा ततस्तैस्तु भर्त्सितोऽतिरुषान्वितः । जिज्ञासार्थं ततस्तेषां चक्रे कर्म द्विजोत्तमाः

so'pi rājā tatastaistu bhartsito'tiruṣānvitaḥ | jijñāsārthaṁ tatasteṣāṁ cakre karma dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, that king, thus rebuked by them, grew intensely angry, and then devised a scheme to test them.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.32.31)

ततः सुवर्णपूर्णानि विधायोदुम्बराणि च । तेषां मार्गाग्रतो भूमौ समंतादथ चाक्षिपत्

tataḥ suvarṇapūrṇāni vidhāyodumbarāṇi ca | teṣāṁ mārgāgrato bhūmau samaṁtādatha cākṣipat

He had gular fruits made and filled with gold, and scattered them upon the ground all along the path ahead of them.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.32.32)

सूत उवाच । अथ ते मुनयो दृष्ट्वा पतितानि धरातले । उदुम्बराणि संदृष्ट्वा जगृहुः क्षुधयार्दिताः

sūta uvāca | atha te munayo dṛṣṭvā patitāni dharātale | udumbarāṇi saṁdṛṣṭvā jagṛhuḥ kṣudhayārditāḥ

Suta said: Then those sages, seeing the gular fruits lying scattered on the ground, tormented by hunger, picked them up.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.32.33)

अथ तानि समालक्ष्य गुरूणि मुनिसत्तमाः । अत्रिरेकं परिस्फोट्य सुवर्णं वीक्ष्य चाब्रवीत्

atha tāni samālakṣya gurūṇi munisattamāḥ | atrirekaṁ parisphoṭya suvarṇaṁ vīkṣya cābravīt

Noticing that those fruits were unusually heavy, Atri, foremost among those sages, broke one open, saw the gold within, and said --

Verse 34 (skanda.6.32.34)

अत्रिः उवाच । नास्माकं मुनयोऽज्ञानं नास्माकं गृहबुद्धयः । हैमानिमान्विजानंतो ग्रहीष्याम उदुम्बरान्

atriḥ uvāca | nāsmākaṁ munayo'jñānaṁ nāsmākaṁ gṛhabuddhayaḥ | haimānimānvijānaṁto grahīṣyāma udumbarān

Atri said: We, who are sages, have neither ignorance nor a householder's mind -- shall we, knowing them to be filled with gold, still pick up these gular fruits as such?

Verse 35 (skanda.6.32.35)

तस्मादेतानि संत्यज्य हेमगर्भाणि दूरतः । उदुम्बराणि यास्यामः फलानि विगतस्पृहाः

tasmādetāni saṁtyajya hemagarbhāṇi dūrataḥ | udumbarāṇi yāsyāmaḥ phalāni vigataspṛhāḥ

Therefore, let us abandon these gold-filled fruits from afar, and go on, free of craving, toward the [ordinary] fruits of the gular tree.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.32.36)

सार्वभौमो महीपाल एकोऽन्यश्च निरीहकः । सुभगस्तु तयोर्नित्यं भूयाद्भूयो निरीहकः

sārvabhaumo mahīpāla eko'nyaśca nirīhakaḥ | subhagastu tayornityaṁ bhūyādbhūyo nirīhakaḥ

On one side is a universal emperor, on the other a man free of desire; of the two, the more fortunate, always, is the one more free of desire.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.32.37)

धर्मार्थमपि विप्राणां संचयोऽर्थस्य गर्हितः । प्रक्षालनाद्धि पंकस्य दूरादस्पर्शनं वरम्

dharmārthamapi viprāṇāṁ saṁcayo'rthasya garhitaḥ | prakṣālanāddhi paṁkasya dūrādasparśanaṁ varam

Even for a righteous purpose, the hoarding of wealth is condemned for brahmins; for better than washing off mud is not to touch it at all.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.32.38)

त्यजतः संचयान्सर्वान्यांति हानिमुपद्रवाः । न हि सर्वार्थवान्कश्चिद्दृश्यते निरुपद्रवः

tyajataḥ saṁcayānsarvānyāṁti hānimupadravāḥ | na hi sarvārthavānkaściddṛśyate nirupadravaḥ

For one who gives up all hoarding, calamities themselves diminish; for no one possessing everything is ever seen to be free of trouble.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.32.39)

निर्धनत्वं तथा राज्यं तुलायां धारयेद्बुधः । अकिंचनत्वमधिकं जायते संमतिर्मम

nirdhanatvaṁ tathā rājyaṁ tulāyāṁ dhārayedbudhaḥ | akiṁcanatvamadhikaṁ jāyate saṁmatirmama

The wise man should weigh poverty and kingship on the same scale; it is my own conviction that having nothing at all is the greater state.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.32.40)

कश्यपः उवाच । अनर्थोऽयं मुने प्राप्तो यदर्थस्य परिग्रहः । अर्थैश्वर्यविमूढात्मा श्रेयसा मुच्यते हि सः

kaśyapaḥ uvāca | anartho'yaṁ mune prāpto yadarthasya parigrahaḥ | arthaiśvaryavimūḍhātmā śreyasā mucyate hi saḥ

Kashyapa said: O sage, the very acceptance of wealth is a calamity; for one whose mind is deluded by riches and power is thereby cut off from true good.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.32.41)

अर्थसंपद्विमोहाय विमोहो नरकाय च । तस्मादर्थं प्रयत्नेन श्रेयोऽर्थी दूरतस्त्यजेत्

arthasaṁpadvimohāya vimoho narakāya ca | tasmādarthaṁ prayatnena śreyo'rthī dūratastyajet

The abundance of wealth leads to delusion, and delusion to hell; therefore, one who desires the good must, with effort, cast wealth far away.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.32.42)

योर्थेन साध्यते धर्मः क्षयिष्णुः स प्रकीर्तितः । यः पुनस्तपसा साध्यः स मोक्षायेति मे मतिः

yorthena sādhyate dharmaḥ kṣayiṣṇuḥ sa prakīrtitaḥ | yaḥ punastapasā sādhyaḥ sa mokṣāyeti me matiḥ

The dharma achieved through wealth is declared to be perishable; but that which is achieved through austerity leads to liberation -- this is my conviction.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.32.43)

भरद्वाजः उवाच । जीर्यंति जीर्यतः केशा दंता जीर्यंति जीर्यतः । चक्षुः श्रोत्रे तथा पुंसस्तृष्णैका तरुणायते

bharadvājaḥ uvāca | jīryaṁti jīryataḥ keśā daṁtā jīryaṁti jīryataḥ | cakṣuḥ śrotre tathā puṁsastṛṣṇaikā taruṇāyate

Bharadvaja said: As a man ages, his hair grows old, his teeth grow old, his eyes and ears grow old -- but his craving alone remains forever young.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.32.44)

सूच्या सूत्रं यथा वस्त्रं संचारयति सूचिका । तद्वत्संसारसूत्रं च वांछयात्मा नयत्यसौ

sūcyā sūtraṁ yathā vastraṁ saṁcārayati sūcikā | tadvatsaṁsārasūtraṁ ca vāṁchayātmā nayatyasau

As a needle draws thread through cloth, so too does the self, driven by desire, draw itself along the thread of worldly existence.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.32.45)

यथा शृंगं हि कायेन वर्द्धमानेन वर्धते । तद्वत्तृष्णापि वित्तेन वर्द्धमानेन वर्द्धते

yathā śṛṁgaṁ hi kāyena varddhamānena vardhate | tadvattṛṣṇāpi vittena varddhamānena varddhate

As the horn grows along with the body's growth, so too does craving grow along with the growth of wealth.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.32.46)

अनंतपारा दुष्पूरा तृष्णा दुःखशतावहा । अधर्मबहुला चैव तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत्

anaṁtapārā duṣpūrā tṛṣṇā duḥkhaśatāvahā | adharmabahulā caiva tasmāttāṁ parivarjayet

Craving is endless, impossible to satisfy, the bearer of a hundred sorrows, and full of unrighteousness; therefore one should renounce it altogether.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.32.47)

गौतमः उवाच । संतुष्टः केन चाल्योऽस्ति फलैरपि विवर्जितः । सर्वोपीन्द्रियलौल्येन संकटे भ्रमति द्विजाः

gautamaḥ uvāca | saṁtuṣṭaḥ kena cālyo'sti phalairapi vivarjitaḥ | sarvopīndriyalaulyena saṁkaṭe bhramati dvijāḥ

Gautama said: O brahmins, who can disturb a contented man, even one bereft of all rewards? Yet all wander in distress, driven only by the restlessness of the senses.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.32.48)

सर्वत्र संपदस्तस्य संतुष्टं यस्य मानसम् । उपानद्गूढपादस्य ननु चर्मास्तृतेव भूः

sarvatra saṁpadastasya saṁtuṣṭaṁ yasya mānasam | upānadgūḍhapādasya nanu carmāstṛteva bhūḥ

For one whose mind is content, there is abundance everywhere; just as, for a man wearing sandals, the whole earth is as though covered with leather.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.32.49)

संतोषामृततृप्तानां यत्सुखं शांतचेतसाम् । कुतस्तद्धनलुब्धानामितश्चेतश्च धावताम्

saṁtoṣāmṛtatṛptānāṁ yatsukhaṁ śāṁtacetasām | kutastaddhanalubdhānāmitaścetaśca dhāvatām

The happiness that belongs to those whose minds are at peace, satisfied by the nectar of contentment -- how could that ever come to those who run about hither and thither, greedy for wealth?

Verse 50 (skanda.6.32.50)

असंतोषः परं दुःखं संतोषः परमं सुखम् । सुखार्थी पुरुषस्तस्मात्संतुष्टः सततं भवेत्

asaṁtoṣaḥ paraṁ duḥkhaṁ saṁtoṣaḥ paramaṁ sukham | sukhārthī puruṣastasmātsaṁtuṣṭaḥ satataṁ bhavet

Discontent is the greatest sorrow, contentment the greatest happiness; therefore a man who desires happiness should remain forever content.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.32.51)

विश्वामित्रः उवाच । कामं कामयमानस्य यदि कामः स सिध्यति । तथान्यो जायते पुंसस्तत्क्षणादेव कल्पितः

viśvāmitraḥ uvāca | kāmaṁ kāmayamānasya yadi kāmaḥ sa sidhyati | tathānyo jāyate puṁsastatkṣaṇādeva kalpitaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Even if a desiring man's one desire is fulfilled, that very instant another desire, freshly conceived, arises in him.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.32.52)

न जातु कामी कामानां सहस्रैरपि तुष्यति । हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव वांछा तस्य विवर्धते

na jātu kāmī kāmānāṁ sahasrairapi tuṣyati | haviṣā kṛṣṇavartmeva vāṁchā tasya vivardhate

A man of desire is never satisfied even by the fulfillment of a thousand desires; like fire fed with oblations, his craving only grows ever greater.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.32.53)

कामानभिलषन्मोहान्न नरः सुखमाप्नुयात् । श्येनालयतरुच्छायां व्रजन्निव कपिञ्जलः

kāmānabhilaṣanmohānna naraḥ sukhamāpnuyāt | śyenālayatarucchāyāṁ vrajanniva kapiñjalaḥ

A man who, out of delusion, longs for desires, never attains happiness -- just as a partridge finds no ease going for shade beneath the very tree where a hawk nests.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.32.54)

नित्यं सागरपर्यन्तां यो भुङ्क्ते पृथिवीमिमाम् । तुल्याश्मकाश्चनश्चैव स कृतार्थो महीपतिः

nityaṁ sāgaraparyantāṁ yo bhuṅkte pṛthivīmimām | tulyāśmakāścanaścaiva sa kṛtārtho mahīpatiḥ

That king who forever enjoys this earth up to the ocean's edge, regarding stone and gold as equal, is the one who has truly fulfilled his purpose.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.32.55)

जमदग्निः उवाच । योऽर्थं प्राप्याधमो विप्रः शोचितव्येपि हृष्यति । न च पश्यति मन्दात्मा नरकं चा कुतोभयः

jamadagniḥ uvāca | yo'rthaṁ prāpyādhamo vipraḥ śocitavyepi hṛṣyati | na ca paśyati mandātmā narakaṁ cā kutobhayaḥ

Jamadagni said: The base brahmin who, on acquiring wealth, rejoices even in a state deserving grief -- that dull-minded man foresees neither hell nor the danger that awaits him.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.32.56)

प्रतिग्रहसमर्थानां निवृत्तानां प्रतिग्रहात् । य एव ददतां लोकास्त एवाप्रतिगृह्णताम्

pratigrahasamarthānāṁ nivṛttānāṁ pratigrahāt | ya eva dadatāṁ lokāsta evāpratigṛhṇatām

The same worlds that come to those who give in charity come also to those who, though well able to accept a gift, refrain from accepting it.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.32.57)

अरुन्धती उवाच । बिसतंतुर्यथाऽनन्तो नालमासाद्य संस्थितः । तृष्णा चैवमनाद्यन्ता स्थिता देहे शरीरिणाम्

arundhatī uvāca | bisataṁturyathā'nanto nālamāsādya saṁsthitaḥ | tṛṣṇā caivamanādyantā sthitā dehe śarīriṇām

Arundhati said: As the fiber of a lotus stalk lies coiled endlessly within the stalk, so too does craving, without beginning or end, dwell within the bodies of living beings.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.32.58)

या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः । याऽसौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखम्

yā dustyajā durmatibhiryā na jīryati jīryataḥ | yā'sau prāṇāntiko rogastāṁ tṛṣṇāṁ tyajataḥ sukham

That which is hard for the foolish to abandon, which does not age even as the body ages, which is itself a fatal disease -- happiness lies in giving up that very craving.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.32.59)

चण्डा उवाच । सर्पादिवद्धनाद्यस्माद्बिभ्यतीमे ममेश्वराः । यतस्ततो विशेषेण कस्मात्तस्माद्भयं मम

caṇḍā uvāca | sarpādivaddhanādyasmādbibhyatīme mameśvarāḥ | yatastato viśeṣeṇa kasmāttasmādbhayaṁ mama

Chanda said: Since my masters fear wealth as they would a serpent, why should not I too, for that very reason, hold it in particular dread?

Verse 60 (skanda.6.32.60)

पशुमुखः उवाच । यदाचरन्ति विद्वांसः सदा धर्मपरायणाः । तदेव विदुषा कार्यमात्मनो हितमिच्छता

paśumukhaḥ uvāca | yadācaranti vidvāṁsaḥ sadā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ | tadeva viduṣā kāryamātmano hitamicchatā

Pashumukha said: Whatever the wise, ever devoted to dharma, practice -- that very thing a sensible man, desiring his own good, should also practice.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.32.61)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हेमगर्भाणि त्यक्त्वा तानि फलानि च । ऋषयो जग्मुरन्यत्र सर्व एव दृढव्रताः

sūta uvāca | ityuktvā hemagarbhāṇi tyaktvā tāni phalāni ca | ṛṣayo jagmuranyatra sarva eva dṛḍhavratāḥ

Suta said: Having said this, and abandoning those gold-filled fruits, all those sages of firm vows went on elsewhere.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.32.62)

चमत्कारपुरेक्षेत्रे विविशुस्ते ततः परम् । ददृशुः सहसा प्राप्तं परिव्राजं शुनोमुखम्

camatkārapurekṣetre viviśuste tataḥ param | dadṛśuḥ sahasā prāptaṁ parivrājaṁ śunomukham

They then entered the field of Chamatkarapura, and there suddenly saw a wandering ascetic named Shunomukha.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.32.63)

तेनैव सहितास्तत्र गत्वा किञ्चिद्वनान्तरम् । दृष्टवन्तस्ततो हृद्यं सरः पंकजशोभितम्

tenaiva sahitāstatra gatvā kiñcidvanāntaram | dṛṣṭavantastato hṛdyaṁ saraḥ paṁkajaśobhitam

Together with him they went some way into the interior of the forest, and there beheld a delightful lake, adorned with lotuses.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.32.64)

ततो बुभुक्षयाविष्टा बिसान्यादाय भूरिशः । तीरे निक्षिप्य सरसश्चक्रुः पुण्यां जल क्रियाम्

tato bubhukṣayāviṣṭā bisānyādāya bhūriśaḥ | tīre nikṣipya sarasaścakruḥ puṇyāṁ jala kriyām

Then, overcome with hunger, they gathered a great many lotus stalks, set them down on the bank of the lake, and performed their sacred water-rites.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.32.65)

अथोत्तीर्यजलात्सर्वे ते समेत्य परस्परम् । बिसानि तान्यपश्यन्त इदं वचनमब्रुवन्

athottīryajalātsarve te sametya parasparam | bisāni tānyapaśyanta idaṁ vacanamabruvan

Then, coming up out of the water and gathering together, they found those lotus stalks nowhere to be seen, and spoke these words --

Verse 66 (skanda.6.32.66)

ऋषयः उवाच । केन क्षुधाभितप्तानामस्माकं निर्दयात्मना । मृणालानि समस्तानि स्थानादस्माद्धृतानि च

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | kena kṣudhābhitaptānāmasmākaṁ nirdayātmanā | mṛṇālāni samastāni sthānādasmāddhṛtāni ca

The sages said: Who, without mercy, has taken away all our lotus stalks from this place, when we were already tormented by hunger?

Verse 67 (skanda.6.32.67)

ते शंकमाना अन्योन्यमृषयः शंसितव्रताः । प्रचक्रुः शपथान्रौद्रानात्मनः प्रविशुद्धये

te śaṁkamānā anyonyamṛṣayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ | pracakruḥ śapathānraudrānātmanaḥ praviśuddhaye

Suspecting one another, those sages of firm vows, to prove each his own innocence, uttered terrible oaths.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.32.68)

कश्यपः उवाच । सर्वभक्षः सदा सोऽस्तु न्यासलोभं करोतु वा । कूटसाक्षित्वमभ्येतु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

kaśyapaḥ uvāca | sarvabhakṣaḥ sadā so'stu nyāsalobhaṁ karotu vā | kūṭasākṣitvamabhyetu bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Kashyapa said: Whoever has stolen the lotus stalks -- let him be one who eats all things indiscriminately forever, let him covet what is entrusted to him, and let him become a false witness.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.32.69)

धर्मं करोतु दंभेन राजानं चोपसेवताम् । मधुमांसं सदाश्नातु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

dharmaṁ karotu daṁbhena rājānaṁ copasevatām | madhumāṁsaṁ sadāśnātu bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Let the thief of the lotus stalks practice religion only through hypocrisy, let him become a courtier serving a king, and let him ever eat honey-wine and meat.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.32.70)

वसिष्ठः उवाच । अनृतौ मैथुनं यातु दिवा वाप्यथ पर्वणि । अतिथिः स्यात्ततोऽन्योन्यं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

vasiṣṭhaḥ uvāca | anṛtau maithunaṁ yātu divā vāpyatha parvaṇi | atithiḥ syāttato'nyonyaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Vasishtha said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks engage in intercourse at the wrong season, or by day, or on sacred days, and let him become one who repeatedly imposes himself as a guest on others.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.32.71)

भरद्वाजः उवाच । योधिगम्य गुरोः शास्त्रं निष्क्रयं न प्रयच्छति । तस्यैनसा स युक्तोस्तु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

bharadvājaḥ uvāca | yodhigamya guroḥ śāstraṁ niṣkrayaṁ na prayacchati | tasyainasā sa yuktostu bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Bharadvaja said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks be joined to the sin of one who, having learned the scriptures from his teacher, does not give him his due fee.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.32.72)

नृशंसोऽस्तु स सर्वत्र समृद्ध्या चाप्यहंकृतः । मत्सरी पिशुनश्चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

nṛśaṁso'stu sa sarvatra samṛddhyā cāpyahaṁkṛtaḥ | matsarī piśunaścaiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Let the thief of the lotus stalks be cruel everywhere, be made arrogant by prosperity, and remain forever envious and slanderous.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.32.73)

विश्वामित्रः उवाच । एकाकी मृष्टमश्नातु प्रशंस्यादथ चात्मनः । वेदविक्रयकर्तास्तु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

viśvāmitraḥ uvāca | ekākī mṛṣṭamaśnātu praśaṁsyādatha cātmanaḥ | vedavikrayakartāstu bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks eat fine food alone, praise himself, and become one who sells the Veda for a price.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.32.74)

जमदग्निः उवाच । कन्यां यच्छतु वृद्धाय स भूयाद्वृषली पतिः । अस्तु वार्धुषिको नित्यं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

jamadagniḥ uvāca | kanyāṁ yacchatu vṛddhāya sa bhūyādvṛṣalī patiḥ | astu vārdhuṣiko nityaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Jamadagni said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks give his daughter to an old man, let him become the husband of a low-born woman, and let him remain forever a usurer.

Verse 75 (skanda.6.32.75)

गौतमः उवाच । स गृह्णात्वविकादानं करोतु हयविक्रयम् । प्रकरोतु गुरोर्निंदां बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

gautamaḥ uvāca | sa gṛhṇātvavikādānaṁ karotu hayavikrayam | prakarotu gurorniṁdāṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Gautama said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks accept gifts of goats and sheep, trade in horses, and go about slandering his own teacher.

Verse 76 (skanda.6.32.76)

अत्रिः उवाच । मातरं पितरं नित्यं दुर्मतिः सोऽवमन्यताम् । शूद्रं पृच्छतु धर्मार्थं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

atriḥ uvāca | mātaraṁ pitaraṁ nityaṁ durmatiḥ so'vamanyatām | śūdraṁ pṛcchatu dharmārthaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Atri said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks, being of evil mind, ever dishonor his mother and father, and go about asking a shudra for guidance on matters of dharma.

Verse 77 (skanda.6.32.77)

प्रतिश्रुत्य न यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय गवादिकम् । तस्यैनसा स युज्येत बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

pratiśrutya na yo dadyādbrāhmaṇāya gavādikam | tasyainasā sa yujyeta bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Let the thief of the lotus stalks be joined to the sin of one who, having promised, fails to give a cow or the like to a brahmin.

Verse 78 (skanda.6.32.78)

अरुंधती उवाच । करोतु पत्युः पूर्वं सा भोजनं शयनं तथा । नारी दुष्टसमाचारा बिसस्तैन्यं करोति या

aruṁdhatī uvāca | karotu patyuḥ pūrvaṁ sā bhojanaṁ śayanaṁ tathā | nārī duṣṭasamācārā bisastainyaṁ karoti yā

Arundhati said: Let the woman who has stolen the lotus stalks eat and go to sleep before her husband, and let her become of wicked conduct.

Verse 79 (skanda.6.32.79)

चण्डा उवाच । स्वामिनः प्रतिकूलास्तु धर्मद्वेषं करोतु च । साधुद्वेषपरा चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति या

caṇḍā uvāca | svāminaḥ pratikūlāstu dharmadveṣaṁ karotu ca | sādhudveṣaparā caiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yā

Chanda said: Let the woman who has stolen the lotus stalks act contrary to her master's wishes, hold hatred toward dharma, and become given to hostility toward the virtuous.

Verse 80 (skanda.6.32.80)

पशुमुखः उवाच । स्वामिद्रोहरतो नित्यं स भूयात्पापकृन्नरः । साधु द्वेषपरश्चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

paśumukhaḥ uvāca | svāmidroharato nityaṁ sa bhūyātpāpakṛnnaraḥ | sādhu dveṣaparaścaiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Pashumukha said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks become a sinful man, ever intent on betraying his own master, and given to hostility toward the virtuous.

Verse 81 (skanda.6.32.81)

शुनोमुखः उवाच । वेदान्स पठतु न्यायाद्गृहस्थः स्यात्प्रियातिथिः । सत्यं वदतु चाजस्रं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

śunomukhaḥ uvāca | vedānsa paṭhatu nyāyādgṛhasthaḥ syātpriyātithiḥ | satyaṁ vadatu cājasraṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Shunomukha said: Let the thief of the lotus stalks -- if there truly is one -- rightly study the Vedas, become a householder fond of guests, and speak the truth always.

Verse 82 (skanda.6.32.82)

ऋषयः उवाच । इष्ट एव द्विजातीनां यस्त्वया शपथः कृतः । बिसस्तैन्यं हि चास्माकं तन्नूनं भवता कृतम्

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | iṣṭa eva dvijātīnāṁ yastvayā śapathaḥ kṛtaḥ | bisastainyaṁ hi cāsmākaṁ tannūnaṁ bhavatā kṛtam

The sages said: The oath you have sworn is, in truth, nothing but a blessing for brahmins; from this it is certain that it was you yourself who stole our lotus stalks.

Verse 83 (skanda.6.32.83)

शुनोमुखः उवाच । मया हृतानि सर्वेषां बिसानीमानि वो द्विजाः । धर्मान्वै श्रोतुकामेन मां जानीत पुरंदरम्

śunomukhaḥ uvāca | mayā hṛtāni sarveṣāṁ bisānīmāni vo dvijāḥ | dharmānvai śrotukāmena māṁ jānīta puraṁdaram

Shunomukha said: O brahmins, it was I myself who took away all these lotus stalks, out of a desire to hear your teachings on dharma. Know me to be Indra himself.

Verse 84 (skanda.6.32.84)

युष्माकं परितुष्टोऽस्मि लोभाभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः । तस्मात्स्वर्गं मया सार्द्धं शीघ्रमागम्यतामिति

yuṣmākaṁ parituṣṭo'smi lobhābhāvāddvijottamāḥ | tasmātsvargaṁ mayā sārddhaṁ śīghramāgamyatāmiti

O best of brahmins, I am deeply pleased by your freedom from greed; therefore come with me quickly to heaven.

Verse 85 (skanda.6.32.85)

ऋषयः उवाच । मोक्षमार्गं समासक्ता न वयं स्वर्गलिप्सवः । तस्मात्तपश्चरिष्यामः सरसीह विमुक्तये

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | mokṣamārgaṁ samāsaktā na vayaṁ svargalipsavaḥ | tasmāttapaścariṣyāmaḥ sarasīha vimuktaye

The sages said: We are devoted only to the path of liberation, not seekers after heaven; therefore we shall perform austerity here, by this very lake, for the sake of final release,

Verse 86 (skanda.6.32.86)

पूर्णा सागरपर्यंतां चरित्वा पृथिवी मिमाम् । प्राणयात्रां प्रकुर्वाणा मृणालैर्मुनिसत्तमाः । तस्माद्गच्छ तव श्रेयो भूयादस्मात्समागमात्

pūrṇā sāgaraparyaṁtāṁ caritvā pṛthivī mimām | prāṇayātrāṁ prakurvāṇā mṛṇālairmunisattamāḥ | tasmādgaccha tava śreyo bhūyādasmātsamāgamāt

wandering over this whole earth up to the ocean's edge, sustaining our lives on lotus stalks alone, O foremost of sages. So go your way -- this very meeting with you has already brought us good fortune.

Verse 87 (skanda.6.32.87)

शक्रः उवाच । न वृथा दर्शनं मे स्यात्कदाचिदपि सुव्रताः । तस्माद्गृह्णीत यच्चित्ते सदाभीष्टं व्यवस्थितम्

śakraḥ uvāca | na vṛthā darśanaṁ me syātkadācidapi suvratāḥ | tasmādgṛhṇīta yaccitte sadābhīṣṭaṁ vyavasthitam

Shakra said: O men of good vows, a sight of me is never in vain; therefore ask for whatever has always dwelt as your heart's true desire.

Verse 88 (skanda.6.32.88)

ऋषयः उवाच । आश्रमोऽयं सुविख्यातो भूयाच्छक्र महीतले । नाम्नास्माकं तथा नृणां सर्वपातकनाशनः

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | āśramo'yaṁ suvikhyāto bhūyācchakra mahītale | nāmnāsmākaṁ tathā nṛṇāṁ sarvapātakanāśanaḥ

The sages said: O Shakra, may this hermitage become renowned upon the earth under our own name, and become a destroyer of all sins for humankind.

Verse 89 (skanda.6.32.89)

वयं स्थास्यामहे नित्यमत्रैव सुरसत्तम । तपोऽर्थं भावितात्मानो यावन्मोक्षगतिर्ध्रुवा

vayaṁ sthāsyāmahe nityamatraiva surasattama | tapo'rthaṁ bhāvitātmāno yāvanmokṣagatirdhruvā

O best of gods, we shall remain here forever, our minds fixed in contemplation, devoted to austerity, until we attain the sure path to liberation.

Verse 90 (skanda.6.32.90)

इन्द्रः उवाच । त्रैलोक्येऽपि सुविख्यात आश्रमो वो भविष्यति । तथा कामप्रदश्चैव लोकानां संभविष्यति

indraḥ uvāca | trailokye'pi suvikhyāta āśramo vo bhaviṣyati | tathā kāmapradaścaiva lokānāṁ saṁbhaviṣyati

Indra said: This hermitage of yours will become renowned throughout the three worlds, and will grant every desire of the people.

Verse 91 (skanda.6.32.91)

यो यं काममभिध्याय श्राद्धमत्र करिष्यति । श्रावणे पौर्णमास्यां च स तं सर्वमवाप्स्यति

yo yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya śrāddhamatra kariṣyati | śrāvaṇe paurṇamāsyāṁ ca sa taṁ sarvamavāpsyati

Whoever, fixing his mind on any desire, performs shraddha here on the full-moon day of Shravana, shall obtain that desire entirely.

Verse 92 (skanda.6.32.92)

निष्कामो वा नरो यस्तु श्राद्धं दानमथापि वा । प्रकरिष्यति मोक्षं स समवाप्स्यत्यसंशयम्

niṣkāmo vā naro yastu śrāddhaṁ dānamathāpi vā | prakariṣyati mokṣaṁ sa samavāpsyatyasaṁśayam

And the man free of desire who performs shraddha or gives gifts here shall without doubt attain liberation.

Verse 93 (skanda.6.32.93)

ये चात्र देहं त्यक्ष्यंति युष्माकं चाश्रमे शुभे । अपि पापसमायुक्तास्ते यास्यंति परां गतिम्

ye cātra dehaṁ tyakṣyaṁti yuṣmākaṁ cāśrame śubhe | api pāpasamāyuktāste yāsyaṁti parāṁ gatim

Those who give up their bodies in this auspicious hermitage of yours, even if burdened with sin, shall attain the highest state.

Verse 94 (skanda.6.32.94)

इंगुदैर्बदरैर्वापि बिल्वैर्भल्लातकैरपि । पितॄनुद्दिश्य यः श्राद्धं करिष्यति समाहितः

iṁgudairbadarairvāpi bilvairbhallātakairapi | pitṝnuddiśya yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kariṣyati samāhitaḥ

Whoever, with a composed mind, performs shraddha for the sake of the ancestors using ingudi fruit, jujube, bel, or bhallataka --

Verse 95 (skanda.6.32.95)

स यास्यति परां सिद्धिं दुर्लभां त्रिदशैरपि । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स्तूयमानश्च किंनरैः

sa yāsyati parāṁ siddhiṁ durlabhāṁ tridaśairapi | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ stūyamānaśca kiṁnaraiḥ

-- he shall attain the highest accomplishment, rare even for the gods, freed from all sin, and praised by the kinnaras.

Verse 96 (skanda.6.32.96)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षस्तैः सर्वैरभिनंदितः । जगामादर्शनं तेऽपि स्थितास्तत्र द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca | evamuktvā sahasrākṣastaiḥ sarvairabhinaṁditaḥ | jagāmādarśanaṁ te'pi sthitāstatra dvijottamāḥ

Suta said: Having said this, thousand-eyed Indra, honored by them all, vanished from sight, while those excellent brahmins remained settled there.

Verse 97 (skanda.6.32.97)

ततः काले गते तेऽपि कृत्वा तीव्रं महत्तपः । संप्राप्ताः परमं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

tataḥ kāle gate te'pi kṛtvā tīvraṁ mahattapaḥ | saṁprāptāḥ paramaṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

Then, in the course of time, they too, having performed intense and great austerity, attained the supreme abode free of old age and death.

Verse 98 (skanda.6.32.98)

तैस्तत्र स्थापितं लिङ्गं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । तस्य संदर्शनादेव नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते

taistatra sthāpitaṁ liṅgaṁ devadevasya śūlinaḥ | tasya saṁdarśanādeva naraḥ pāpādvimucyate

They established there the linga of the trident-bearing god of gods; merely by the sight of it, a man is freed from sin.

Verse 99 (skanda.6.32.99)

यस्तल्लिंगं पुनर्भक्त्या पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः । अर्चयेत्स ध्रुवं मुक्तिं प्राप्नोति द्विजसत्तमाः

yastalliṁgaṁ punarbhaktyā puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ | arcayetsa dhruvaṁ muktiṁ prāpnoti dvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, whoever worships that linga with devotion, using flowers, incense, and unguents, surely attains liberation.

Verse 100 (skanda.6.32.100)

एतत्पवित्र मायुष्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम् । सप्तर्षोणां समाख्यातमाश्रमस्यानुकीर्तनम्

etatpavitra māyuṣyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam | saptarṣoṇāṁ samākhyātamāśramasyānukīrtanam

Thus has this sacred account of the hermitage of the Seven Sages been related -- an account that grants long life and destroys every sin.