The Meeting of Vishvamitra and Menaka

Verse 1 (skanda.6.42.1)

सूत उवाच॥ विश्वामित्रसमुद्भूतं कुण्डं तत्रापरं शुभम्॥ संतिष्ठते द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सर्वकामप्रदायकम्

sūta uvāca viśvāmitrasamudbhūtaṁ kuṇḍaṁ tatrāparaṁ śubham saṁtiṣṭhate dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ sarvakāmapradāyakam

Suta said: "O best of brahmins, there is another auspicious pool there, brought forth by Vishvamitra, which grants all desires."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.42.2)

तत्र चैत्रतृतीयायां कृते स्नाने भवेन्नरः॥ दिव्यरूपधरः साक्षात्कामोऽन्यो द्विजसत्तमाः

tatra caitratṛtīyāyāṁ kṛte snāne bhavennaraḥ divyarūpadharaḥ sākṣātkāmo'nyo dvijasattamāḥ

A man who bathes there on the third day of the bright half of Chaitra, O best of brahmins, takes on a divine form, becoming as it were another Kamadeva incarnate.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.42.3)

नारी वा श्रद्धयोपेता तत्र स्नात्वा प्रजावती॥ भवेत्सौभाग्यसंयुक्ता स्पृहणीयतमा क्षितौ

nārī vā śraddhayopetā tatra snātvā prajāvatī bhavetsaubhāgyasaṁyuktā spṛhaṇīyatamā kṣitau

And a woman who bathes there with faith becomes blessed with children, endowed with good fortune, and the most enviable of women on earth.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.42.4)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ तीर्थं तस्य मुनेस्तत्र कस्मिन्काले व्यवस्थितम्॥ निर्मलं केन निःशेषं वद त्वं सूतनंदन

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tīrthaṁ tasya munestatra kasminkāle vyavasthitam nirmalaṁ kena niḥśeṣaṁ vada tvaṁ sūtanaṁdana

The sages said: "O son of Suta, at what time, and by whom, was that sage's pure tirtha established there in its perfect, spotless form? Tell us all this."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.42.5)

सूत उवाच॥ तत्रास्ति निर्झरः पूर्वं सामान्यो द्विजसत्तमाः॥ अवधूतो धरापृष्ठे माहात्म्येन व्यवस्थितः

sūta uvāca tatrāsti nirjharaḥ pūrvaṁ sāmānyo dvijasattamāḥ avadhūto dharāpṛṣṭhe māhātmyena vyavasthitaḥ

Suta said: "O best of brahmins, there was formerly an ordinary spring there, lying neglected on the earth's surface, which through its greatness came to be firmly established in fame."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.42.6)

यत्र देवनदी गंगा स्वयमेव व्यवस्थिता॥ यस्यां स्नातः पुमान्सद्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

yatra devanadī gaṁgā svayameva vyavasthitā yasyāṁ snātaḥ pumānsadyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

There the celestial river Ganga herself became established; a man who bathes in it is instantly freed from all his sins.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.42.7)

यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं पितॄनुद्दिश्य भावितः॥ तदक्षयं भवेच्छ्राद्धं पितॄणां तृप्तिकारकम्

yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ pitṝnuddiśya bhāvitaḥ tadakṣayaṁ bhavecchrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ tṛptikārakam

Whoever, with reverent intent, performs the ancestral rites there for his forefathers -- that offering becomes imperishable and brings full satisfaction to the ancestors.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.42.8)

यत्किंचिद्दीयत दानं तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे द्विजाः॥ हुतजप्यादिकं चैव तदनंतफलं भवेत्

yatkiṁciddīyata dānaṁ tasmiṁstīrthavare dvijāḥ hutajapyādikaṁ caiva tadanaṁtaphalaṁ bhavet

O brahmins, whatever gift is given at that excellent tirtha, and whatever oblation, recitation, and the like is performed there, yields boundless fruit.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.42.9)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मृगी व्याधशराहता॥ प्रविष्टा सलिले तस्मिंस्तत्र पञ्चत्वमागता

kasyacittvatha kālasya mṛgī vyādhaśarāhatā praviṣṭā salile tasmiṁstatra pañcatvamāgatā

At one time a doe, wounded by a hunter's arrow, plunged into those waters, and there met her death.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.42.10)

चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां मध्याह्ने द्विजसत्तमाः॥ नक्षत्रे यमदैवत्ये मार्तंडस्य च वासरे

caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāṁ madhyāhne dvijasattamāḥ nakṣatre yamadaivatye mārtaṁḍasya ca vāsare

O best of brahmins, this happened at midday on the third day of the bright half of Chaitra, under the lunar mansion presided over by Yama, on a Sunday.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.42.11)

अथ तत्तोयमाहात्म्यान्मेनकानाम साऽभवत्॥ अप्सरास्त्रिदशेंद्रस्य समंताच्चारुहासिनी

atha tattoyamāhātmyānmenakānāma sā'bhavat apsarāstridaśeṁdrasya samaṁtāccāruhāsinī

Then, through the greatness of that water, that doe became Menaka, the apsara of Indra, whose lovely smile enchanted all around her.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.42.12)

स्मरमाणाऽथ सा तस्य प्रभावं वरवर्णिनी॥ तीर्थमागत्य सद्भक्त्या स्नानं तत्र समाचरत्॥ चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां यामर्क्षे सूर्यवासरे

smaramāṇā'tha sā tasya prabhāvaṁ varavarṇinī tīrthamāgatya sadbhaktyā snānaṁ tatra samācarat caitraśuklatṛtīyāyāṁ yāmarkṣe sūryavāsare

That fair one, remembering the power of that tirtha, would come there each year on that same third day of bright Chaitra, under the same lunar mansion and on Sunday, and bathe there with true devotion.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.42.13)

एकदा दिवसे तस्मिन्भ्रममाणो मुनीश्वरः॥ विश्वामित्र इति ख्यातस्तत्रायातस्तपोऽन्वितः

ekadā divase tasminbhramamāṇo munīśvaraḥ viśvāmitra iti khyātastatrāyātastapo'nvitaḥ

One time, on that very day, the great sage renowned as Vishvamitra, wandering about, absorbed in his austerities, arrived at that place.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.42.14)

साऽपि स्वर्गात्समायाता देवतादर्शनार्थतः॥ पूजयित्वाथ तं देवं प्रस्थिता त्रिदिवं प्रति

sā'pi svargātsamāyātā devatādarśanārthataḥ pūjayitvātha taṁ devaṁ prasthitā tridivaṁ prati

She too had come down from heaven to visit the deity there; and having worshipped that god, she was about to set out again for heaven.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.42.15)

सा दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिं तत्र भ्रममाणमितस्ततः॥ यौवनस्थं सुरूपाढ्यं पंचबाणमिवापरम्

sā dṛṣṭvā taṁ muniṁ tatra bhramamāṇamitastataḥ yauvanasthaṁ surūpāḍhyaṁ paṁcabāṇamivāparam

She saw that sage there, wandering here and there, in the prime of youth, richly endowed with beauty, like another Kamadeva.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.42.16)

व्रतप्रभावजैर्व्याप्तं तेजोभिर्भास्करं यथा॥ बाल्यात्प्रभृति चीर्णेन तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषम्

vrataprabhāvajairvyāptaṁ tejobhirbhāskaraṁ yathā bālyātprabhṛti cīrṇena tapasā dagdhakilbiṣam

He was suffused with radiance born of the power of his vows, like the sun, and every trace of sin in him had been burned away by austerities practiced from childhood.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.42.17)

सा तस्य दर्शनादेव कामबाणप्रपीडिता॥ सानंदाः सुरतार्थाय समीपं समुपाद्रवत्

sā tasya darśanādeva kāmabāṇaprapīḍitā sānaṁdāḥ suratārthāya samīpaṁ samupādravat

The very sight of him pierced her with the arrow of desire, and, delighted, she ran up close to him seeking union.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.42.18)

स दृष्ट्वाऽदृष्टपूर्वां तां मार्गपृच्छाकृते ततः॥ सम्मुखः प्रययौ तूर्णं प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना

sa dṛṣṭvā'dṛṣṭapūrvāṁ tāṁ mārgapṛcchākṛte tataḥ sammukhaḥ prayayau tūrṇaṁ prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā

Seeing her, whom he had never seen before, he too, on the pretext of asking his way, went quickly to meet her, his inner mind delighted.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.42.19)

उवाच देशं तां पृच्छन्स्त्रीधर्मांश्च विशेषतः॥ शुभलाभोऽस्तु ते भद्रे मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

uvāca deśaṁ tāṁ pṛcchanstrīdharmāṁśca viśeṣataḥ śubhalābho'stu te bhadre manasā karmaṇā girā

Asking her about the country, he questioned her especially about a wife's duties as well, saying: "O gentle one, may good fortune come to you in mind, deed, and word."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.42.20)

सदैव वासुदेवस्य भक्तिश्चाव्यभिचारिणी॥ कच्चित्त्वं वर्तसे पुत्रि पतिपादपरायणा॥ चारित्रविनयोपेता सर्वदा प्रियवादिनी

sadaiva vāsudevasya bhaktiścāvyabhicāriṇī kaccittvaṁ vartase putri patipādaparāyaṇā cāritravinayopetā sarvadā priyavādinī

"Do you keep unwavering devotion always to Vasudeva? O daughter, do you remain devoted to your husband's feet, endowed with good conduct and humility, ever speaking pleasant words?"

Verse 21 (skanda.6.42.21)

कच्चित्त्वं सर्वदाभीष्टा पत्युर्दानैस्तथार्च्चनैः॥ बंधून्स्वमित्रवर्गं च तत्पुरः पृष्ठतोपि वा

kaccittvaṁ sarvadābhīṣṭā patyurdānaistathārccanaiḥ baṁdhūnsvamitravargaṁ ca tatpuraḥ pṛṣṭhatopi vā

"Do you remain always dear to your husband through your gifts and courtesies? Do you honor his kinsmen and circle of friends, whether before them or behind their backs?"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.42.22)

कच्चिद्भर्तरि संसुप्ते त्वं निशवशमेष्यसि॥ उत्थानमप्रबुद्धे च करोषि वरवर्णिनि

kaccidbhartari saṁsupte tvaṁ niśavaśameṣyasi utthānamaprabuddhe ca karoṣi varavarṇini

"O fair one, do you go to sleep at night only after your husband has fallen asleep, and do you rise before he awakens?"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.42.23)

कच्चित्प्रातः समुत्थाय करोषि गृहमार्जनम्॥ स्वयमेव वरारोहे मण्डनं चोपमण्डनम्

kaccitprātaḥ samutthāya karoṣi gṛhamārjanam svayameva varārohe maṇḍanaṁ copamaṇḍanam

"O lovely one, do you rise at dawn and sweep the house yourself, and adorn and array yourself with your own hands?"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.42.24)

कच्चिदेवान्नमस्कृत्य गुरुं च तदनंतरम्॥ करोषि त्वं प्राणयात्रां दत्त्वान्नं शक्तितो जलम्

kaccidevānnamaskṛtya guruṁ ca tadanaṁtaram karoṣi tvaṁ prāṇayātrāṁ dattvānnaṁ śaktito jalam

"Do you bow to your elders first, and only thereafter attend to your own sustenance, and give food and water according to your means?"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.42.25)

कच्चिदस्तंगते सूर्ये नान्नमश्नासि भाभिनि॥ अदत्त्वा वा स्वभृत्येभ्यः साधुभ्यश्च विशेषतः

kaccidastaṁgate sūrye nānnamaśnāsi bhābhini adattvā vā svabhṛtyebhyaḥ sādhubhyaśca viśeṣataḥ

"O radiant one, once the sun has set, do you refrain from eating until you have given food to your own servants, and especially to holy men?"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.42.26)

कच्चित्पिबसि पानीयं सप्तवारविशोधितम्॥ निबिडेन स्ववस्त्रेण पालयंती जलोद्भवान्

kaccitpibasi pānīyaṁ saptavāraviśodhitam nibiḍena svavastreṇa pālayaṁtī jalodbhavān

"Do you drink only water that has been strained seven times through a thick cloth, thereby protecting the small creatures born in water?"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.42.27)

कच्चिद्दयासमोपेता गात्रक्लेशकरानपि॥ यूकामत्कुणदंशादीन्पुत्रवत्परिरक्षसि

kacciddayāsamopetā gātrakleśakarānapi yūkāmatkuṇadaṁśādīnputravatparirakṣasi

"Endowed with compassion, do you protect even lice, bedbugs, and other biting creatures that trouble your body, as though they were your own children?"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.42.28)

कच्चित्साधुमुखान्नित्यं शिवधर्मं सुभक्तितः॥ शृणोषि भक्तितो भद्रे प्रकरोषि च सादरम्

kaccitsādhumukhānnityaṁ śivadharmaṁ subhaktitaḥ śṛṇoṣi bhaktito bhadre prakaroṣi ca sādaram

"O gentle one, do you daily and devoutly listen, from the mouths of holy men, to the dharma of Shiva, and practise it with reverence?"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.42.29)

क्वचिच्छ्रुत्वाऽऽगमं पुण्यं प्रकरोषि च पूजनम्॥ शास्त्रस्य वाचकस्यापि व्याख्यातुश्च विशेषतः

kvacicchrutvā''gamaṁ puṇyaṁ prakaroṣi ca pūjanam śāstrasya vācakasyāpi vyākhyātuśca viśeṣataḥ

"Whenever you hear the sacred scripture recited, do you also honor the reader of that text, and especially its expounder?"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.42.30)

कच्चित्पुराणशास्त्राणि प्रणीतानि जनेश्वरैः॥ संलेख्याक्षररम्याणि साधुभ्यः संप्रयच्छसि

kaccitpurāṇaśāstrāṇi praṇītāni janeśvaraiḥ saṁlekhyākṣararamyāṇi sādhubhyaḥ saṁprayacchasi

"Do you have the Puranic scriptures, composed by great sages, copied out in beautiful letters and presented as gifts to holy men?"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.42.31)

यः श्रुत्वा सर्व शास्त्राणि निष्क्रयं न प्रयच्छति॥ शास्त्रचौरः स विज्ञेयो न चैवाप्नोति तत्फलम्

yaḥ śrutvā sarva śāstrāṇi niṣkrayaṁ na prayacchati śāstracauraḥ sa vijñeyo na caivāpnoti tatphalam

"One who, having heard all the scriptures, gives no offering in return, should be known as a thief of scripture, and never attains its fruit."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.42.32)

कच्चिच्छिवालये नृत्यगीतवाद्यादिकाः क्रियाः॥ बलिपूजोपहारांश्च त्वं करोषि च शक्तितः

kaccicchivālaye nṛtyagītavādyādikāḥ kriyāḥ balipūjopahārāṁśca tvaṁ karoṣi ca śaktitaḥ

"Do you perform, according to your means, dance, song, music, and the like in Shiva's temple, along with offerings, worship, and gifts?"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.42.33)

कच्चित्प्रावरणं वस्त्रं सुभगे सर्वमेव च॥ संप्रयच्छसि साधुभ्यः प्रणिपातपुरःसरम्

kaccitprāvaraṇaṁ vastraṁ subhage sarvameva ca saṁprayacchasi sādhubhyaḥ praṇipātapuraḥsaram

"O fortunate one, do you offer wraps and garments and all such things to holy men, prefacing the gift with a respectful bow?"

Verse 34 (skanda.6.42.34)

वृथा पर्यटनं नित्यं कच्चिन्न परमंदिरे॥ त्वं करोषि विशालाक्षि विशेषेण निशागमे

vṛthā paryaṭanaṁ nityaṁ kaccinna paramaṁdire tvaṁ karoṣi viśālākṣi viśeṣeṇa niśāgame

"O wide-eyed one, do you refrain from wandering needlessly about other people's houses each day, especially as night falls?"

Verse 35 (skanda.6.42.35)

कच्चिन्नाश्नासि भद्रे त्वं स्वभर्तरि बुभुक्षिते॥ आज्ञाभंगं प्रयत्नेन कच्चित्तत्र प्ररक्षसि

kaccinnāśnāsi bhadre tvaṁ svabhartari bubhukṣite ājñābhaṁgaṁ prayatnena kaccittatra prarakṣasi

"O gentle one, do you refrain from eating while your husband still hungers, and do you take care never to disobey his command?"

Verse 36 (skanda.6.42.36)

कच्चित्प्रकुपिते कांते नोत्तराणि प्रयच्छसि॥ तस्यकोपप्रणाशार्षं प्रियं कच्चिच्च जल्पसि

kaccitprakupite kāṁte nottarāṇi prayacchasi tasyakopapraṇāśārṣaṁ priyaṁ kaccicca jalpasi

"When your beloved is angered, do you refrain from answering back, and do you speak only pleasant words in order to dispel his anger?"

Verse 37 (skanda.6.42.37)

कच्चित्त्वं प्रोषिते कांते मलिनांबरधारिणी॥ जायसे च तथा दीना विवर्णवदना कृशा

kaccittvaṁ proṣite kāṁte malināṁbaradhāriṇī jāyase ca tathā dīnā vivarṇavadanā kṛśā

"When your beloved is away from home, do you wear soiled garments and become wretched, pale-faced, and gaunt?"

Verse 38 (skanda.6.42.38)

कच्चिन्मंदिरपृष्ठे त्वं न धत्से भिन्नभाजनम्॥ उच्छिष्टं वा जनैस्त्यक्तमपि कार्योपकारकम्

kaccinmaṁdirapṛṣṭhe tvaṁ na dhatse bhinnabhājanam ucchiṣṭaṁ vā janaistyaktamapi kāryopakārakam

"Do you refrain from throwing away broken vessels behind the house, or even leftover scraps discarded by others, if they might still serve some useful purpose?"

Verse 39 (skanda.6.42.39)

कच्चिद्व्रजसि नो रात्रौ जागरेषु कथासु च॥ निर्झरेषु विविक्तेषु पुलिनेषु वनेषु च

kaccidvrajasi no rātrau jāgareṣu kathāsu ca nirjhareṣu vivikteṣu pulineṣu vaneṣu ca

"Do you refrain from wandering at night, whether to night-vigils and storytellings, or to lonely streams, riverbanks, and forests?"

Verse 40 (skanda.6.42.40)

कच्चिन्न कुरुषे मैत्रीं बंधकीभिः समं शुभे॥ धात्रीभिर्मालिकस्त्रीभी रजकीभिश्च भामिनि

kaccinna kuruṣe maitrīṁ baṁdhakībhiḥ samaṁ śubhe dhātrībhirmālikastrībhī rajakībhiśca bhāmini

"O auspicious one, do you refrain from forming friendships with courtesans, wet-nurses, flower-women, and washerwomen?"

Verse 41 (skanda.6.42.41)

कञ्चिद्दधासि नित्यं त्वं मुखं कुंकुमरंजितम्॥ शिरः पुष्पसमाकीर्णं नेत्रे कज्जलरंजिते

kañciddadhāsi nityaṁ tvaṁ mukhaṁ kuṁkumaraṁjitam śiraḥ puṣpasamākīrṇaṁ netre kajjalaraṁjite

"Do you keep your face daily reddened with vermilion, your head adorned with flowers, and your eyes lined with collyrium?"