The Origin of the Temple Called Dushila

Verse 1 (skanda.6.37.1)

सूत उवाच । अथापश्यत्स विप्राणां वृन्दं वृन्दारकोपमम् । संनिविष्टं धरापृष्ठे लीलाभाजि द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca | athāpaśyatsa viprāṇāṁ vṛndaṁ vṛndārakopamam | saṁniviṣṭaṁ dharāpṛṣṭhe līlābhāji dvijottamāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, then he beheld a gathering of brahmins, radiant as the gods, seated at ease upon the earth.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.37.2)

एके वेदविदस्तत्र वेदव्याख्यानतत्पराः । परस्परं सुसंक्रुद्धा विवदंति जिगीषवः

eke vedavidastatra vedavyākhyānatatparāḥ | parasparaṁ susaṁkruddhā vivadaṁti jigīṣavaḥ

Some among them were knowers of the Vedas, absorbed in expounding them, disputing fiercely with one another, each eager for victory.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.37.3)

यज्ञविद्याविदोऽन्येऽपि यज्ञाख्यानपरायणाः । तत्र विप्राः प्रदृश्यंते शतशो ब्रह्मवादिनः

yajñavidyāvido'nye'pi yajñākhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | tatra viprāḥ pradṛśyaṁte śataśo brahmavādinaḥ

There, too, could be seen hundreds of other brahmins, expounders of Brahman, versed in the science of sacrifice, engrossed in discourses on sacrificial lore.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.37.4)

अन्ये ब्राह्मणशार्दूला वेदांगेषु विचक्षणाः । प्रवदंति च संदेहान्वृन्दानामग्रतः स्थिताः

anye brāhmaṇaśārdūlā vedāṁgeṣu vicakṣaṇāḥ | pravadaṁti ca saṁdehānvṛndānāmagrataḥ sthitāḥ

Other tigers among brahmins, expert in the auxiliary Vedic sciences, stood before the assembled crowds, resolving their doubts.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.37.5)

वेदाभ्यासपराश्चान्ये तारनादेन सर्वशः । नादयंतो दिशां चक्रं तत्र सम्यग्द्विजोत्तमाः

vedābhyāsaparāścānye tāranādena sarvaśaḥ | nādayaṁto diśāṁ cakraṁ tatra samyagdvijottamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, others still, devoted to Vedic recitation, filled the whole circle of the horizon with the resounding pitch of their voices.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.37.6)

अन्ये कौतूहलाविष्टाः संचरान्विषमान्मिथः । पप्रच्छुर्जहसुश्चान्ये ज्ञात्वा मार्गप्रवर्तिनम्

anye kautūhalāviṣṭāḥ saṁcarānviṣamānmithaḥ | papracchurjahasuścānye jñātvā mārgapravartinam

Others, filled with curiosity, put difficult questions to one another, and some, recognizing the one who had raised a subtle point, laughed.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.37.7)

स्मृतिवादपराश्चान्ये तथान्ये श्रुतिपाठकाः । संदेहान्स्मृतिजानन्ये पृच्छंति च परस्परम्

smṛtivādaparāścānye tathānye śrutipāṭhakāḥ | saṁdehānsmṛtijānanye pṛcchaṁti ca parasparam

Still others, devoted to discussions of the smritis, and others reciters of the shruti, questioned one another over doubts arising from the smritis.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.37.8)

कीर्तयंति तथा चान्ये पुराणं ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः । वृद्धानां पुरतस्तत्र सभामध्ये व्यवस्थिताः

kīrtayaṁti tathā cānye purāṇaṁ brāhmaṇottamāḥ | vṛddhānāṁ puratastatra sabhāmadhye vyavasthitāḥ

And there other excellent brahmins, seated in the midst of the assembly before the elders, recited the Puranas.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.37.9)

अथ तान्स मुनिर्दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणान्संशितव्रतान् । अभिवाद्य ततः प्राह सादरं विनयान्वितः

atha tānsa munirdṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇānsaṁśitavratān | abhivādya tataḥ prāha sādaraṁ vinayānvitaḥ

Then that sage, beholding those brahmins of firm vows, bowed to them and, with humility and respect, said --

Verse 10 (skanda.6.37.10)

मम बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना शम्भोरायतनं प्रति । कर्तुं ब्राह्मणशार्दूलास्तस्मात्स्थानं प्रदर्श्यताम्

mama buddhiḥ samutpannā śambhorāyatanaṁ prati | kartuṁ brāhmaṇaśārdūlāstasmātsthānaṁ pradarśyatām

"O tigers among brahmins, a wish has arisen in my mind to build a temple for Shambhu; therefore show me a suitable place."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.37.11)

तवाहं देवदेवस्य शम्भोः प्रासादमुत्तमम् । विधायाराधयिष्यामि तमेव वृषभध्वजम्

tavāhaṁ devadevasya śambhoḥ prāsādamuttamam | vidhāyārādhayiṣyāmi tameva vṛṣabhadhvajam

"I shall build there an excellent temple for the god of gods, Shambhu, bull-bannered, and shall worship him alone."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.37.12)

स एवं जल्पमानोऽपि मुहुर्मुहुरतंद्रितः । न तेषामुत्तरं लेभे शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्

sa evaṁ jalpamāno'pi muhurmuhurataṁdritaḥ | na teṣāmuttaraṁ lebhe śubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham

Though he spoke thus again and again, tireless, he received from them no reply at all, be it favorable or unfavorable.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.37.13)

ततः कोपपरीतात्मा समुनिस्तान्द्विजोत्तमान् । शशाप तारशब्देन यथा शृण्वंति कृत्स्नशः

tataḥ kopaparītātmā samunistāndvijottamān | śaśāpa tāraśabdena yathā śṛṇvaṁti kṛtsnaśaḥ

Then, filled with rage, that sage cursed those foremost brahmins in so loud a voice that all might hear him entirely.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.37.14)

दुर्वासा उवाच । विद्यामदो धनमदस्तृतीयोऽभिजनोद्भवः । एते मदावलिप्तानामेत एव सतां दमाः

durvāsā uvāca | vidyāmado dhanamadastṛtīyo'bhijanodbhavaḥ | ete madāvaliptānāmeta eva satāṁ damāḥ

Durvasa said: The pride of learning, the pride of wealth, and a third, the pride born of noble birth -- these are the very intoxications of the arrogant, and these too are the disciplines of the virtuous.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.37.15)

तत्र येऽपि हि युष्माकं मदा एव व्यवस्थिताः । यतस्ततोऽन्वयेऽप्येवं भविष्यति मदान्विताः

tatra ye'pi hi yuṣmākaṁ madā eva vyavasthitāḥ | yatastato'nvaye'pyevaṁ bhaviṣyati madānvitāḥ

Since it is only these forms of intoxication that have taken root in you, so too, in your very lineage, there shall forever arise people possessed by such pride.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.37.16)

सदा सौहृदनिर्मुक्ताः पितरोऽपि सुतैः सह । भविष्यंति पुरे ह्यस्मिन्किं पुनर्बांधवादयः

sadā sauhṛdanirmuktāḥ pitaro'pi sutaiḥ saha | bhaviṣyaṁti pure hyasminkiṁ punarbāṁdhavādayaḥ

In this city, even fathers shall forever be estranged from their own sons, devoid of affection -- what then of kinsmen and the rest?

Verse 17 (skanda.6.37.17)

एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेन्द्रो निवृत्तस्तदनन्तरम् । अपमानं परं प्राप्य ब्राह्मणानां द्विजोत्तमाः

evamuktvā sa viprendro nivṛttastadanantaram | apamānaṁ paraṁ prāpya brāhmaṇānāṁ dvijottamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, having said this, that foremost brahmin turned back at once, having received this deep insult from the brahmins there.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.37.18)

अथ तन्मध्यगो विप्र आसीद्वृद्धतमः सुधीः । सुशील इति विख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः

atha tanmadhyago vipra āsīdvṛddhatamaḥ sudhīḥ | suśīla iti vikhyāto vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ

In the midst of that gathering there was an aged and wise brahmin, renowned by the name Sushila, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.37.19)

स दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिं क्रुद्धं गच्छंतमपमानितम् । सत्वरं प्रययौ पृष्ठे तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति च ब्रुवन्

sa dṛṣṭvā taṁ muniṁ kruddhaṁ gacchaṁtamapamānitam | satvaraṁ prayayau pṛṣṭhe tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti ca bruvan

Seeing that sage, insulted and angry, departing, he quickly went after him, calling out, "Wait, wait!"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.37.20)

अथासाद्य गतं दूरं प्रणिपत्य मुनिं च सः । प्रोवाच क्षम्यतां विप्र विप्राणां वचनान्मम

athāsādya gataṁ dūraṁ praṇipatya muniṁ ca saḥ | provāca kṣamyatāṁ vipra viprāṇāṁ vacanānmama

Overtaking the sage, who had by then gone far, and bowing before him, he said: "Forgive, O brahmin, the conduct of these brahmins, at my word."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.37.21)

एतैः स्वाध्यायसंपन्नैर्न श्रुतं वचनं तव । नोत्तरं तेन संदत्तं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

etaiḥ svādhyāyasaṁpannairna śrutaṁ vacanaṁ tava | nottaraṁ tena saṁdattaṁ satyametadbravīmyaham

"These men, absorbed in their own study, simply did not hear your words -- that is why no answer was given; this I tell you truly."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.37.22)

तस्माद्भूमिर्मया दत्ता शंभुहर्म्यकृते तव । अस्मिन्स्थाने द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रासादं कर्तुमर्हसि

tasmādbhūmirmayā dattā śaṁbhuharmyakṛte tava | asminsthāne dvijaśreṣṭha prāsādaṁ kartumarhasi

"Therefore, O foremost of brahmins, I give you this land for Shambhu's temple; upon this very spot you should build the shrine."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.37.23)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुर्वासा हर्षसंयुतः । क्षितिदानोद्भवां चक्रे स्वस्ति ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः । प्रासादं निर्ममे पश्चात्तस्य वाक्ये व्यवस्थितः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā durvāsā harṣasaṁyutaḥ | kṣitidānodbhavāṁ cakre svasti brāhmaṇasattamāḥ | prāsādaṁ nirmame paścāttasya vākye vyavasthitaḥ

Hearing his words, Durvasa, filled with joy, O foremost of brahmins, performed the auspicious rites befitting the gift of land, and then, resting upon his word, built the temple.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.37.24)

अथ ते ब्राह्मणा ज्ञात्वा सुशीलेन वसुन्धरा । देवतायतनार्थाय दत्ता तस्मै तपस्विने

atha te brāhmaṇā jñātvā suśīlena vasundharā | devatāyatanārthāya dattā tasmai tapasvine

Then, when those brahmins learned that Sushila had given land to that ascetic for the temple of the god --

Verse 25 (skanda.6.37.25)

सर्वे कोपसमायुक्ताः सुशीलं प्रति ते द्विजाः

sarve kopasamāyuktāḥ suśīlaṁ prati te dvijāḥ

-- all those brahmins were filled with anger toward Sushila.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.37.26)

ततः प्रोचुः समासाद्य येन शप्ता दुरात्मना । वयं तस्मै त्वया दत्ता प्रासादार्थं वसुन्धरा

tataḥ procuḥ samāsādya yena śaptā durātmanā | vayaṁ tasmai tvayā dattā prāsādārthaṁ vasundharā

Then, coming up to him, they said: "That wicked man who cursed us -- to him you have given this land for his temple!"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.37.27)

तस्मात्त्वमपि चास्माकं बाह्य एव भविष्यसि । सुशीलोऽपि हि दुःशीलो नाम्ना संकीर्त्यसे बुधैः

tasmāttvamapi cāsmākaṁ bāhya eva bhaviṣyasi | suśīlo'pi hi duḥśīlo nāmnā saṁkīrtyase budhaiḥ

"Therefore you too shall now become outcast from among us; though Sushila (of good character) by name, wise men will now call you Dushila (of ill character)."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.37.28)

एषोऽपि तापसो दुष्टो यः करोति शिवालयम् । नैव तस्य भवेत्सिद्धिश्चापि वर्षशतैरपि

eṣo'pi tāpaso duṣṭo yaḥ karoti śivālayam | naiva tasya bhavetsiddhiścāpi varṣaśatairapi

"And that wicked ascetic, too, who is building this temple to Shiva -- he shall never attain accomplishment, not even in a hundred years."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.37.29)

तथा कीर्तिकृतां लोके कीर्तनं क्रियते नरैः । ततः संपश्यतां चास्य कीर्तिर्नास्य तु दुर्मतेः

tathā kīrtikṛtāṁ loke kīrtanaṁ kriyate naraiḥ | tataḥ saṁpaśyatāṁ cāsya kīrtirnāsya tu durmateḥ

"Just as people in this world sing the praises of the renowned, his fame -- that of the sage -- shall stand before the eyes of all, but this foolish man shall have no fame at all."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.37.30)

एष दुःशीलसंज्ञो वै तव नाम्ना भविष्यति । प्रासादो नाममात्रेण न संपूर्णः कदाचन

eṣa duḥśīlasaṁjño vai tava nāmnā bhaviṣyati | prāsādo nāmamātreṇa na saṁpūrṇaḥ kadācana

"By your very name shall this temple be called 'Dushila', and, though bearing that name, it shall never be completed."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.37.31)

यस्मात्सौहृदनिर्मुक्ताः कृतास्तेन वयं द्विजाः । मदैस्त्रिभिः समायुक्ताः सर्वान्वयसमन्विताः

yasmātsauhṛdanirmuktāḥ kṛtāstena vayaṁ dvijāḥ | madaistribhiḥ samāyuktāḥ sarvānvayasamanvitāḥ

"Since he has made us -- and all our lineage -- bereft of mutual affection, and possessed by these three forms of pride --"

Verse 32 (skanda.6.37.32)

तस्मादेषोऽपि पापात्मा भविष्यति स कोपभाक् । तप्तं तप्तं तपो येन संप्रयास्यति संक्षयम्

tasmādeṣo'pi pāpātmā bhaviṣyati sa kopabhāk | taptaṁ taptaṁ tapo yena saṁprayāsyati saṁkṣayam

"-- so too shall this sinful man himself become subject to anger, so that whatever austerity he undertakes, again and again, will come to ruin."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.37.33)

एवमुक्त्वाथ ते विप्राः कोपसंरक्तलोचनाः । दुःशीलं संपरित्यज्य प्रविष्टाः स्वपुरे ततः

evamuktvātha te viprāḥ kopasaṁraktalocanāḥ | duḥśīlaṁ saṁparityajya praviṣṭāḥ svapure tataḥ

Having said this, those brahmins, their eyes red with anger, abandoned Dushila and entered back into their own city.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.37.34)

दुःशीलोऽपि बहिश्चक्रे गृहं तस्य पुरस्य च । देवशर्मा यथापूर्वं संत्यक्तः पुरवासिभिः

duḥśīlo'pi bahiścakre gṛhaṁ tasya purasya ca | devaśarmā yathāpūrvaṁ saṁtyaktaḥ puravāsibhiḥ

Just as Devasharman had before been abandoned by the city's people, so too did Dushila build his own house outside that city.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.37.35)

तस्यान्वयेऽपि ये जातास्ते बाह्याः संप्रकीर्तिताः । बाह्याः क्रियासु सर्वासु सर्वेषां पुरवासिनाम्

tasyānvaye'pi ye jātāste bāhyāḥ saṁprakīrtitāḥ | bāhyāḥ kriyāsu sarvāsu sarveṣāṁ puravāsinām

Those born into his lineage were called "the outer ones," excluded from all the ceremonies of all the city's inhabitants.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.37.36)

सूत उवाच । एवं तेषु द्विजेंद्रेषु शापं दत्त्वा गतेषु च । दुर्वासाः प्राह दुःशीलं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः

sūta uvāca | evaṁ teṣu dvijeṁdreṣu śāpaṁ dattvā gateṣu ca | durvāsāḥ prāha duḥśīlaṁ kopasaṁraktalocanaḥ

Suta said: Thus, after those foremost brahmins had gone, having received the curse, Durvasa, his eyes red with anger, said to Dushila --

Verse 37 (skanda.6.37.37)

मम सिद्धिं गता मंत्राः समर्थाः शत्रुसंक्षये । आथर्वणास्तथा चान्ये वेदत्रयसमुद्भवाः

mama siddhiṁ gatā maṁtrāḥ samarthāḥ śatrusaṁkṣaye | ātharvaṇāstathā cānye vedatrayasamudbhavāḥ

"My mantras are now accomplished -- those from the Atharva Veda, and others besides, drawn from the three Vedas, capable of destroying an enemy."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.37.38)

तस्मादेतत्पुरं कृत्स्नं पशुपक्षि समन्वितम् । नाशमद्य नयिष्यामि यथा शत्रोर्हि दुष्टकः

tasmādetatpuraṁ kṛtsnaṁ paśupakṣi samanvitam | nāśamadya nayiṣyāmi yathā śatrorhi duṣṭakaḥ

"Therefore I shall this very day bring to ruin this entire city, together with its beasts and birds, just as one destroys a wicked enemy."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.37.39)

दुःशील उवाच । नैतद्युक्तं नरश्रेष्ठ तव कर्तुं कथंचन । ब्राह्मणानां कृते कर्म ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः

duḥśīla uvāca | naitadyuktaṁ naraśreṣṭha tava kartuṁ kathaṁcana | brāhmaṇānāṁ kṛte karma brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ

Dushila said: O best of men, it is in no way fitting for you to do this deed against brahmins, especially since you yourself are a brahmin.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.37.40)

निघ्नंतो वा शपंतो वा वदंतो वापि निष्ठुरम् । पूजनीयाः सदा विप्रा दिव्याँल्लोकानभीप्सुभिः

nighnaṁto vā śapaṁto vā vadaṁto vāpi niṣṭhuram | pūjanīyāḥ sadā viprā divyā~llokānabhīpsubhiḥ

For those who desire the divine worlds, brahmins are always to be honored -- whether they strike, curse, or speak harshly.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.37.41)

ब्राह्मणैर्निर्जितैर्मेने य आत्मानं जयान्वितम् । तामिस्रादिषु घोरेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते

brāhmaṇairnirjitairmene ya ātmānaṁ jayānvitam | tāmisrādiṣu ghoreṣu narakeṣu sa pacyate

Whoever, having overcome brahmins, considers himself thereby victorious, is cooked in the terrible hells beginning with Tamisra.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.37.42)

आत्मनश्च पराभूतिं तस्माद्विप्रात्सहेत वै । य इच्छेद्वसतिं स्वर्गे शाश्वतीं द्विजसत्तम

ātmanaśca parābhūtiṁ tasmādviprātsaheta vai | ya icchedvasatiṁ svarge śāśvatīṁ dvijasattama

O foremost of brahmins, whoever desires an eternal dwelling in heaven must indeed bear his own humiliation at the hands of a brahmin.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.37.43)

एतेषां ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां क्षेत्रे सिद्धिं समागताः । मंत्रास्ते तत्कथं नाशं त्वमेतेषां करिष्यसि

eteṣāṁ brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ kṣetre siddhiṁ samāgatāḥ | maṁtrāste tatkathaṁ nāśaṁ tvameteṣāṁ kariṣyasi

It was in the very field of these foremost brahmins that your mantras attained their accomplishment -- how then would you bring about the destruction of these very people?

Verse 44 (skanda.6.37.44)

ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नवते तथा । निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः

brahmaghne ca surāpe ca caure bhagnavate tathā | niṣkṛtirvihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ

For the slayer of a brahmin, for the drinker of liquor, for the thief, and even for the breaker of vows, an atonement has been ordained by the wise -- but for the ungrateful, there is no atonement.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.37.45)

तस्मात्कोपो न कर्तव्यः क्षेत्रे चात्र व्यवस्थितैः । क्षमां कुरु मुनिश्रेष्ठ कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि

tasmātkopo na kartavyaḥ kṣetre cātra vyavasthitaiḥ | kṣamāṁ kuru muniśreṣṭha kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

Therefore, anger should not be shown toward those established in this field; O foremost of sages, show mercy toward me and grant forgiveness.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.37.46)

सूत उवाच । स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय तत्र कृत्वावसत्तपः । प्राप्तश्च परमां सिद्धिं दुर्लभां त्रिदशैरपि

sūta uvāca | sa tatheti pratijñāya tatra kṛtvāvasattapaḥ | prāptaśca paramāṁ siddhiṁ durlabhāṁ tridaśairapi

Suta said: Saying "So be it," he remained there and performed austerity, and attained the highest accomplishment, rare even for the gods.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.37.47)

दुःशीलाख्यः क्षितौ सोऽपि प्रासादः ख्याति मागतः । यस्य संदर्शनादेव नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते

duḥśīlākhyaḥ kṣitau so'pi prāsādaḥ khyāti māgataḥ | yasya saṁdarśanādeva naraḥ pāpātpramucyate

That temple, known upon earth by the name Dushila, became renowned; by the mere sight of it, a man is freed from sin.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.37.48)

तस्य मध्यगतं लिंगं शुक्लाष्टम्यां सदा नरः । यः पश्यति क्षणं ध्यात्वा नरकं स न पश्यति

tasya madhyagataṁ liṁgaṁ śuklāṣṭamyāṁ sadā naraḥ | yaḥ paśyati kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā narakaṁ sa na paśyati

Whoever gazes, even for a single moment, in meditation, upon the linga established within it, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight, shall never behold hell.