The Greatness of Tripushkara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.45.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तत्रैवास्ति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सुपुण्यं पुष्करत्रयम्॥ यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तमानर्ताधिपभूभुजा

sūta uvāca tatraivāsti dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ supuṇyaṁ puṣkaratrayam yatra pūrvaṁ tapastaptamānartādhipabhūbhujā

Suta said: "O best of brahmins, there in that same place lies the most sacred Tripushkara -- the three Pushkaras -- where in ancient times the king, lord of the Anarta country, performed austerities."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.45.2)

यस्तत्र कार्तिके मासि कृत्तिकास्थे निशाकरे॥ मध्याह्ने कुरुते स्नानं स गच्छति परां गतिम्

yastatra kārtike māsi kṛttikāsthe niśākare madhyāhne kurute snānaṁ sa gacchati parāṁ gatim

Whoever bathes there at midday in the month of Kartika, when the moon stands in the Krittika constellation, attains the supreme goal.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.45.3)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ कथं तत्र समायातं सुपुण्यं पुष्करत्रयम्॥ कस्मिन्स्थाने च विज्ञेयं कैश्चिह्नैर्वद सूतज

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṁ tatra samāyātaṁ supuṇyaṁ puṣkaratrayam kasminsthāne ca vijñeyaṁ kaiścihnairvada sūtaja

The sages said: "O son of Suta, how did that most sacred Tripushkara come to be established there? In what place is it found, and by what signs is it to be known? Tell us all this."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.45.4)

सूत उवाच॥ अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि यैश्चिह्नैः पुष्करत्रयम्॥ प्राग्दृष्टं मुनिना तत्र विश्वामित्रेण धीमता

sūta uvāca ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi yaiścihnaiḥ puṣkaratrayam prāgdṛṣṭaṁ muninā tatra viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā

Suta said: "I shall now describe to you the signs by which the wise sage Vishvamitra formerly recognized the Tripushkara there."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.45.5)

पुरा निवसतस्तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य सन्मुनेः॥ संप्राप्ता कार्तिकी पुण्या कृत्तिकायोगसंयुता

purā nivasatastasya viśvāmitrasya sanmuneḥ saṁprāptā kārtikī puṇyā kṛttikāyogasaṁyutā

Long ago, while that virtuous sage Vishvamitra was dwelling there, the sacred Kartika full moon, joined with the Krittika constellation, arrived.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.45.6)

सर्वतीर्थमयं क्षेत्रं तद्विज्ञाय तपोनिधिः॥ ततश्च चिन्तयामास स्वचित्ते गाधिनन्दनः

sarvatīrthamayaṁ kṣetraṁ tadvijñāya taponidhiḥ tataśca cintayāmāsa svacitte gādhinandanaḥ

Knowing that region to be filled with the merit of all tirthas, Gadhi's son, that treasure-house of austerity, pondered within his mind.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.45.7)

अद्येयं कार्तिकी पुण्या कृत्तिकायोगसंयुता॥ यस्यां स्नाने नरैः श्रेयः प्राप्यते पुष्करोदके॥ आद्यं तु पुष्करं दूरे न गन्तुं शक्यतेऽधुना

adyeyaṁ kārtikī puṇyā kṛttikāyogasaṁyutā yasyāṁ snāne naraiḥ śreyaḥ prāpyate puṣkarodake ādyaṁ tu puṣkaraṁ dūre na gantuṁ śakyate'dhunā

"Today is this sacred Kartika day joined with the Krittika constellation, on which men attain great good by bathing in the waters of Pushkara; but the original Pushkara is far away, and it is not possible to go there now."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.45.8)

तस्मादत्र स्थितं यच्च तस्मिन्स्नानं करोम्यहम्॥ स एवं निश्चयं कृत्वा श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

tasmādatra sthitaṁ yacca tasminsnānaṁ karomyaham sa evaṁ niścayaṁ kṛtvā śraddhāpūtena cetasā

"Therefore, whatever waters are present here, in those I shall bathe." Having thus resolved, with a heart made pure by faith, he set out.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.45.9)

ततश्चान्वेषयामास पुष्कराणि समंततः॥ बहुत्वात्तत्र तीर्थानां निश्चयं नान्वपद्यत

tataścānveṣayāmāsa puṣkarāṇi samaṁtataḥ bahutvāttatra tīrthānāṁ niścayaṁ nānvapadyata

He searched all around for the Pushkaras, but because of the great number of tirthas there, he could come to no certain conclusion.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.45.10)

दृष्ट्वादृष्ट्वा जलस्थानं स्नानं चक्रे ततः परम्॥ स तदा श्रममापन्नो भ्रममाण इतस्ततः

dṛṣṭvādṛṣṭvā jalasthānaṁ snānaṁ cakre tataḥ param sa tadā śramamāpanno bhramamāṇa itastataḥ

Seeing each watery place in turn, he simply bathed there; and so, wandering here and there, he grew weary.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.45.11)

वृक्षमूलं समाश्रित्य निविष्टश्च क्षितौ ततः॥ तुष्टावाथ शुचिर्भूत्वा श्रद्धया च त्रिपुष्करम्॥ मध्यमाद्योजनं स्वर्गः कनिष्ठादर्ध योजनम्॥ ज्येष्ठकुण्डात्पुनः ख्यातो हस्तप्रायः शुभात्मभिः

vṛkṣamūlaṁ samāśritya niviṣṭaśca kṣitau tataḥ tuṣṭāvātha śucirbhūtvā śraddhayā ca tripuṣkaram madhyamādyojanaṁ svargaḥ kaniṣṭhādardha yojanam jyeṣṭhakuṇḍātpunaḥ khyāto hastaprāyaḥ śubhātmabhiḥ

Then he sat down on the ground, leaning against the root of a tree, and, made pure, began with faith to praise the Tripushkara. From the middle pool, heaven's merit is said to extend for a distance of one yojana; from the lesser pool, for half a yojana; and from the greatest of the ponds, pure souls have declared its reach to extend but the span of a single hand.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.45.12)

पावयंति हि तीर्थानि स्नानदानादसंशयम्॥ पुष्करालोकनादेव नरः पापात्प्रमु च्यते

pāvayaṁti hi tīrthāni snānadānādasaṁśayam puṣkarālokanādeva naraḥ pāpātpramu cyate

Tirthas, without doubt, purify a man through bathing and giving gifts; but by the mere sight of Pushkara alone, a man is freed from sin.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.45.13)

पुष्करारण्यमाश्रित्य शाकमूलफलैरपि॥ एकस्मिन्भोजिते विप्रे कोटिर्भवति भोजिता

puṣkarāraṇyamāśritya śākamūlaphalairapi ekasminbhojite vipre koṭirbhavati bhojitā

Dwelling in the Pushkara forest, if one feeds even a single brahmin with mere leafy greens, roots, and fruits, it is as though ten million brahmins had been fed.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.45.14)

पुष्करे दुष्करं स्नानं पुष्करे दुष्करं तपः॥ पुष्करे दुष्करो वासः सर्वं पुष्करदुष्करम्

puṣkare duṣkaraṁ snānaṁ puṣkare duṣkaraṁ tapaḥ puṣkare duṣkaro vāsaḥ sarvaṁ puṣkaraduṣkaram

Bathing at Pushkara is hard to achieve, austerity at Pushkara is hard to achieve, dwelling at Pushkara is hard to achieve -- everything at Pushkara is difficult, and thus of the highest merit.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.45.15)

कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे पुष्करे स्नाति यो नरः॥ स क्षणान्मुच्यते पापादाजन्ममरणोद्भवात्

kārtikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge puṣkare snāti yo naraḥ sa kṣaṇānmucyate pāpādājanmamaraṇodbhavāt

Whoever bathes at Pushkara on the Kartika day, when it is joined with the Krittika constellation, is freed in an instant from all sin accumulated from birth to death.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.45.16)

ज्येष्ठे प्रातश्च मध्याह्ने मध्यमे स्नाति यो नरः॥ कनिष्ठेऽस्तमिते भानौ सकृत्स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्

jyeṣṭhe prātaśca madhyāhne madhyame snāti yo naraḥ kaniṣṭhe'stamite bhānau sakṛtsvargamavāpnuyāt

Whoever bathes even once in the greatest pool at dawn, in the middle pool at midday, and in the lesser pool at sunset, attains heaven.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.45.17)

तावत्तिष्ठति देहेषु पातकं सर्वदेहिनाम्॥ यावन्न पौष्करैस्तोयैः स्नानं वै कुर्वते नराः

tāvattiṣṭhati deheṣu pātakaṁ sarvadehinām yāvanna pauṣkaraistoyaiḥ snānaṁ vai kurvate narāḥ

Sin remains lodged in the bodies of all embodied beings only so long as men have not bathed in the waters of Pushkara.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.45.18)

दिवाकरकरैः स्पृष्टं तमो यद्वत्प्रणश्यति॥ पुष्करोदकसंस्पर्शाच्छीघ्रं गच्छति पातकम्

divākarakaraiḥ spṛṣṭaṁ tamo yadvatpraṇaśyati puṣkarodakasaṁsparśācchīghraṁ gacchati pātakam

Just as darkness perishes at the touch of the sun's rays, so too sin quickly vanishes at the touch of Pushkara's waters.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.45.19)

ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं कृत्वापि पुरुषो भुवि॥ कार्तिक्यां पुष्करे स्नात्वा निर्दोषत्वं प्रपद्यते

brahmahatyādikaṁ pāpaṁ kṛtvāpi puruṣo bhuvi kārtikyāṁ puṣkare snātvā nirdoṣatvaṁ prapadyate

Even a man who has committed the sin of killing a brahmin, and the like, becomes free of all fault by bathing at Pushkara on the day of Kartika.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.45.20)

किं दानैः किं व्रतैर्होमैः किं यज्ञैर्वहुविस्तरैः॥ कार्तिक्यां पुष्करे स्नानैः सर्वेषां लभ्यते फलम्

kiṁ dānaiḥ kiṁ vratairhomaiḥ kiṁ yajñairvahuvistaraiḥ kārtikyāṁ puṣkare snānaiḥ sarveṣāṁ labhyate phalam

What need is there of gifts, of vows, of oblations, of elaborate sacrifices? By bathing at Pushkara on the day of Kartika, the fruit of all of them is obtained.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.45.21)

यद्येषा भारती सत्या मया सम्यमुदीरिता॥ तन्मे स्याद्दर्शनं शीघ्रं सद्यः पुष्करसंभवम्

yadyeṣā bhāratī satyā mayā samyamudīritā tanme syāddarśanaṁ śīghraṁ sadyaḥ puṣkarasaṁbhavam

"If this word that I have rightly spoken is true, then may I be granted at once a vision arising from Pushkara itself."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.45.22)

एवं तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः॥ अशरीराऽभवद्वाणी गगनाद्द्विजसत्तमाः

evaṁ tasya bruvāṇasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ aśarīrā'bhavadvāṇī gaganāddvijasattamāḥ

As the wise Vishvamitra spoke thus, O best of brahmins, a bodiless voice arose from the sky.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.45.23)

विश्वामित्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ सदा मे गगने स्थितिः॥ मुक्त्वैकां कार्तिकीं चैव कृत्तिकायोगसंयुताम्

viśvāmitra muniśreṣṭha sadā me gagane sthitiḥ muktvaikāṁ kārtikīṁ caiva kṛttikāyogasaṁyutām

"O Vishvamitra, best of sages, except for this one day of Kartika joined with the Krittika constellation, my dwelling is always in the sky."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.45.24)

तदत्र दिवसे वासो मम भूमितले ध्रुवम्॥ अस्मिन्नेव वने पुण्ये तत्त्वं स्नानं समाचर

tadatra divase vāso mama bhūmitale dhruvam asminneva vane puṇye tattvaṁ snānaṁ samācara

"But on this day my dwelling is surely upon the earth, in this very sacred forest; therefore you should bathe right here."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.45.25)

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥ सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां श्रूयते च समाश्रयः॥ तत्कथं वेद्मि तीर्थेश त्वामत्रैव व्यवस्थितम्

viśvāmitra uvāca sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṁ śrūyate ca samāśrayaḥ tatkathaṁ vedmi tīrtheśa tvāmatraiva vyavasthitam

Vishvamitra said: "O lord of tirthas, it is said that all the tirthas here share a common refuge; how then am I to know just where you are established?"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.45.26)

तदोत्थिता पुनर्वाणी तारा गगनगोचरा॥ विश्वामित्रं मुनिश्रेष्ठं हर्षयंती द्विजोत्तमाः

tadotthitā punarvāṇī tārā gaganagocarā viśvāmitraṁ muniśreṣṭhaṁ harṣayaṁtī dvijottamāḥ

Then that voice, resounding once more like a star moving through the sky, rose again, gladdening Vishvamitra, best of sages.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.45.27)

नातिदूरे वनादस्मादत्र संति जलाशयाः॥ तेषामेकतमे पद्मं विद्यतेऽधोमुखं स्थितम्

nātidūre vanādasmādatra saṁti jalāśayāḥ teṣāmekatame padmaṁ vidyate'dhomukhaṁ sthitam

"Not far from this forest, there are pools of water; in one of them there is a lotus, standing with its face turned downward."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.45.28)

ऊर्ध्ववक्त्रं द्वितीये च तिर्यग्वक्त्रं तृतीयके॥ तत्रोर्ध्वास्यैः सरोजैश्च विज्ञेयं ज्येष्ठपुष्करम्

ūrdhvavaktraṁ dvitīye ca tiryagvaktraṁ tṛtīyake tatrordhvāsyaiḥ sarojaiśca vijñeyaṁ jyeṣṭhapuṣkaram

"In the second, the lotus faces upward; and in the third, its face is turned sideways. That pool with upward-facing lotuses should be known as the greatest Pushkara."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.45.29)

पार्श्ववक्त्रैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ मध्यमं परिकीर्तितम्॥ अधोवक्त्रैस्तथा ज्ञेयं कनिष्ठं पुष्करं क्षितौ

pārśvavaktrairdvijaśreṣṭha madhyamaṁ parikīrtitam adhovaktraistathā jñeyaṁ kaniṣṭhaṁ puṣkaraṁ kṣitau

"O best of brahmins, the one with sideways-facing lotuses is proclaimed to be the middle Pushkara; and the one with downward-facing lotuses should be known as the lesser Pushkara on earth."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.45.30)

एतैश्चिह्नैर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ ज्ञात्वा स्नानं समाचर॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा स मुनिस्तूर्णं समुत्थाय ययौ ततः

etaiścihnairmuniśreṣṭha jñātvā snānaṁ samācara tacchrutvā sa munistūrṇaṁ samutthāya yayau tataḥ

"By these signs, O best of sages, recognize them and perform your bath." Hearing this, that sage rose at once and set out from there.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.45.31)

तादृशैः कमलैस्तत्र संस्थितास्ते जलाशयाः॥ तान्दृष्ट्वा श्रद्धयोपेतः कृत्वा स्नानं यथाक्रमम्

tādṛśaiḥ kamalaistatra saṁsthitāste jalāśayāḥ tāndṛṣṭvā śraddhayopetaḥ kṛtvā snānaṁ yathākramam

There those pools stood, adorned with lotuses just as described; seeing them, filled with faith, he bathed in each in due order.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.45.32)

ततश्च विधिना सम्यक्चकारपितृतर्पणम्

tataśca vidhinā samyakcakārapitṛtarpaṇam

Then, according to proper rite, he duly performed the offering of water to the ancestors.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.45.33)

ततः शाकैश्च मूलैश्च नीवारैः फलसंयुतैः॥ चकार विधिना श्राद्धं तत्रैव द्विजसत्तमाः

tataḥ śākaiśca mūlaiśca nīvāraiḥ phalasaṁyutaiḥ cakāra vidhinā śrāddhaṁ tatraiva dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, then, with leafy greens, roots, wild rice, and fruits, he performed the ancestral rite there according to proper rule.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.45.34)

तत्र तस्यैव तीरस्थो वीक्षांचक्रे समाहितः॥ कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे चिह्नदर्शनलालसः

tatra tasyaiva tīrastho vīkṣāṁcakre samāhitaḥ kārtikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge cihnadarśanalālasaḥ

There, standing on that very bank, with focused mind, eager to witness the promised sign of the Kartika-Krittika conjunction, he watched.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.45.35)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः॥ कीदृशं जायते चिह्नं कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे॥ संप्राप्ते कृत्तिकायोगे सर्वं तत्र वदाशु नः

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ kīdṛśaṁ jāyate cihnaṁ kārtikyāṁ jyeṣṭhapuṣkare saṁprāpte kṛttikāyoge sarvaṁ tatra vadāśu naḥ

The brahmins said: "What sign appears in the greatest Pushkara on the day of Kartika, when the Krittika conjunction occurs? Tell us all this quickly."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.45.36)

सूत उवाच॥ कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यदा गच्छति चंद्रमाः॥ तदा निष्क्रामति श्रेष्ठं कमलं जलमध्यतः

sūta uvāca kārtikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge yadā gacchati caṁdramāḥ tadā niṣkrāmati śreṣṭhaṁ kamalaṁ jalamadhyataḥ

Suta said: "On the day of Kartika, when the moon enters the conjunction with Krittika, a supreme lotus rises up from the middle of the water."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.45.37)

तन्मध्येंऽगुष्ठमात्रस्तु पुरुषो दृश्यते जनैः॥ सुस्नातैः श्रद्धयोपेतैस्ततस्तीर्थफलं लभेत्

tanmadhyeṁ'guṣṭhamātrastu puruṣo dṛśyate janaiḥ susnātaiḥ śraddhayopetaistatastīrthaphalaṁ labhet

In the middle of it, a figure the size of a thumb becomes visible to well-bathed, faithful onlookers, and from that vision they obtain the fruit of the pilgrimage.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.45.38)

एतस्मात्कारणात्स्नात्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः॥ तच्चिह्नं वीक्षयामास महद्यत्नं समाश्रितः

etasmātkāraṇātsnātvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ taccihnaṁ vīkṣayāmāsa mahadyatnaṁ samāśritaḥ

For this very reason, having bathed, the great sage Vishvamitra, with great effort, strove to behold that sign.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.45.39)

तस्यैवं वीक्षमाणस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः॥ आनर्ताधिपतिस्तत्र प्राप्तो राजा बृहद्बलः

tasyaivaṁ vīkṣamāṇasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ ānartādhipatistatra prāpto rājā bṛhadbalaḥ

While the wise Vishvamitra was thus watching, King Brihadbala, lord of the Anarta country, arrived there.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.45.40)

अत्यंतं मृगयाश्रांतो हत्वा मृगगणान्बहून्॥ ऋक्षांश्चैव वराहांश्च सारंगानथ संबरान्

atyaṁtaṁ mṛgayāśrāṁto hatvā mṛgagaṇānbahūn ṛkṣāṁścaiva varāhāṁśca sāraṁgānatha saṁbarān

He was utterly exhausted from hunting, having slain many herds of deer, and bears, boars, spotted deer, and sambar.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.45.41)

सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्वृकांश्चैव हिंसानारण्यचारिणः॥ तथान्यानपि मध्याह्ने तेन मार्गेण संगतः

siṁhānvyāghrānvṛkāṁścaiva hiṁsānāraṇyacāriṇaḥ tathānyānapi madhyāhne tena mārgeṇa saṁgataḥ

He had also slain lions, tigers, wolves, and other predatory beasts that roam the forest; at midday, along that very path, he came upon that place.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.45.42)

अथापश्यद्द्रुमोपांते विश्वामित्रं मुनीश्वरम्॥ उपविष्टं कृतस्नानं वीक्षमाणं जलाशयम्

athāpaśyaddrumopāṁte viśvāmitraṁ munīśvaram upaviṣṭaṁ kṛtasnānaṁ vīkṣamāṇaṁ jalāśayam

Then he saw the great sage Vishvamitra, sitting near a tree, having already bathed, gazing intently at the pool.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.45.43)

ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैरवतीर्य तुरंगमात्॥ श्रमार्त्तः सलिले तस्मिन्प्रविवेश नृपोत्तमः

tatastaṁ praṇipatyoccairavatīrya turaṁgamāt śramārttaḥ salile tasminpraviveśa nṛpottamaḥ

Then that excellent king, dismounting from his horse, bowed low before him, and, weary and worn, entered into that water.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.45.44)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तोयात्कमलं तद्विनिर्गतम्॥ सहस्रपत्रसंजुष्टं द्वादशार्कसमप्रभम्

etasminnaṁtare toyātkamalaṁ tadvinirgatam sahasrapatrasaṁjuṣṭaṁ dvādaśārkasamaprabham

At that very moment, that lotus rose up from the water, adorned with a thousand petals, radiant as twelve suns together.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.45.45)

तद्दृष्ट्वा स महीपालः पद्ममत्यद्भुतं महत्॥ जग्राह कौतुकाविष्टः स्वयं सव्येन पाणिना

taddṛṣṭvā sa mahīpālaḥ padmamatyadbhutaṁ mahat jagrāha kautukāviṣṭaḥ svayaṁ savyena pāṇinā

Seeing that supremely wondrous and mighty lotus, the king, overcome with curiosity, grasped it himself with his left hand.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.45.46)

स्पृष्टमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन्कमले द्विजसत्तमाः॥ उत्थितः सुमहाञ्छब्दो विश्वं येन प्रपूरितम्

spṛṣṭamātre tatastasminkamale dvijasattamāḥ utthitaḥ sumahāñchabdo viśvaṁ yena prapūritam

O best of brahmins, the very instant that lotus was touched, a tremendous sound arose from it, filling the entire universe.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.45.47)

तं शब्दं स महीपालः श्रुत्वा मूर्छामुपाविशत्॥ पतितश्च जले तस्मिन्पद्मं चादर्शनं गतम्

taṁ śabdaṁ sa mahīpālaḥ śrutvā mūrchāmupāviśat patitaśca jale tasminpadmaṁ cādarśanaṁ gatam

Hearing that sound, the king fell senseless into the water, and the lotus too vanished from sight.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.45.48)

ततः कृच्छ्रेण महता कर्षितः सलिलाद्बहिः॥ सेवकैर्दुःखशोकार्त्तैर्हाहेति प्रतिजल्पकैः

tataḥ kṛcchreṇa mahatā karṣitaḥ salilādbahiḥ sevakairduḥkhaśokārttairhāheti pratijalpakaiḥ

Then, with great difficulty, his servants, distressed with grief and crying out "Alas! Alas!" dragged him out of the water.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.45.49)

ततस्तीरं समासाद्य कृच्छ्रात्प्राप्याथ चेतनाम्॥ यावद्वीक्षयति स्वांगं तावत्कुष्ठं समागतम्

tatastīraṁ samāsādya kṛcchrātprāpyātha cetanām yāvadvīkṣayati svāṁgaṁ tāvatkuṣṭhaṁ samāgatam

Reaching the bank and, with great difficulty, regaining consciousness, no sooner did he look upon his own body than he found it afflicted with leprosy.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.45.50)

ततो विषादमापन्नो दृष्ट्वा तादृङ्निजं वपुः॥ शीर्णघ्राणांघ्रिहस्तं च घर्घरस्वरसंयुतम्

tato viṣādamāpanno dṛṣṭvā tādṛṅnijaṁ vapuḥ śīrṇaghrāṇāṁghrihastaṁ ca ghargharasvarasaṁyutam

Seeing his own body thus -- his nose, feet, and hands eaten away, his voice reduced to a hoarse rasp -- he fell into deep despair.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.45.51)

अथ गत्वा मुनेः पार्श्वे विश्वामित्रस्य भूमिपः॥ उवाच वचनं दीनं बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा

atha gatvā muneḥ pārśve viśvāmitrasya bhūmipaḥ uvāca vacanaṁ dīnaṁ bāṣpagadgadayā girā

Then that king went to the side of the sage Vishvamitra and spoke pitiful words in a voice choked with tears.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.45.52)

भगवन्पश्य मे जातं यादृशं वपुरेव हि॥ अकस्मादेव मग्नस्य सलिलेऽत्र विगर्हितम्

bhagavanpaśya me jātaṁ yādṛśaṁ vapureva hi akasmādeva magnasya salile'tra vigarhitam

"O Lord, behold what has become of my body -- so wretched, from having suddenly sunk into these waters."

Verse 53 (skanda.6.45.53)

तत्किं पानीयदोषो वा किं वा भूमेर्मुनी श्वर॥ येनेदृक्सहसा यातं विकृतिं मे शरीरकम्

tatkiṁ pānīyadoṣo vā kiṁ vā bhūmermunī śvara yenedṛksahasā yātaṁ vikṛtiṁ me śarīrakam

"O lord of sages, is this the fault of the water, or of the ground, that my body has so suddenly fallen into such deformity?"

Verse 54 (skanda.6.45.54)

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥ सावित्रं पद्ममेवैतद्यत्स्पृष्टं भूपते त्वया॥ उच्छिष्टेन रविर्मध्ये स्वयं यस्य व्यवस्थितः

viśvāmitra uvāca sāvitraṁ padmamevaitadyatspṛṣṭaṁ bhūpate tvayā ucchiṣṭena ravirmadhye svayaṁ yasya vyavasthitaḥ

Vishvamitra said: "O king, that lotus you touched was none other than the lotus of Savitri, the Sun -- in whose very center the Sun himself abides -- and you touched it with a hand still unclean."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.45.55)

यदा स्यात्कृत्तिकायोगः कार्तिके मासि पार्थिव॥ शशांकस्य तदा चैतज्जायते पौष्करे जले

yadā syātkṛttikāyogaḥ kārtike māsi pārthiva śaśāṁkasya tadā caitajjāyate pauṣkare jale

"O king, when in the month of Kartika the moon comes into conjunction with the Krittika constellation, this lotus alone rises up in the waters of Pushkara."

Verse 56 (skanda.6.45.56)

तदिदं पुष्करं ज्येष्ठं भवान्यत्र श्रमातुरः॥ प्रविष्टः कार्तिकी चाद्य कृत्तिकायोगसंयुता

tadidaṁ puṣkaraṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ bhavānyatra śramāturaḥ praviṣṭaḥ kārtikī cādya kṛttikāyogasaṁyutā

"This is that very greatest Pushkara, into which you, exhausted, entered; and today is that same Kartika day, joined with the Krittika conjunction."

Verse 57 (skanda.6.45.57)

एतद्वीक्ष्य नरो ह्यत्र स्नानं कुर्याज्जलाशये॥ श्रद्धया परया युक्तः स गच्छति परां गतिम्

etadvīkṣya naro hyatra snānaṁ kuryājjalāśaye śraddhayā parayā yuktaḥ sa gacchati parāṁ gatim

"Whoever, beholding this, bathes in this pool with the deepest faith, attains the supreme goal."

Verse 58 (skanda.6.45.58)

उच्छिष्टेन त्वया राजन्हरणाय हि केवलम्॥ एतत्सरोरुहं स्पृष्टं तेनेदृक्संस्थितं फलम्

ucchiṣṭena tvayā rājanharaṇāya hi kevalam etatsaroruhaṁ spṛṣṭaṁ tenedṛksaṁsthitaṁ phalam

"But you, O king, touched this lotus with an unclean hand, only to seize it for yourself -- and that is why this has been your fruit."

Verse 59 (skanda.6.45.59)

बृहद्बल उवाच॥ कथं मे स्यान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुष्ठव्याधिपरिक्षयः॥ तपसा नियमेनापि व्रतेनापि कृतेन वै

bṛhadbala uvāca kathaṁ me syānmuniśreṣṭha kuṣṭhavyādhiparikṣayaḥ tapasā niyamenāpi vratenāpi kṛtena vai

Brihadbala said: "O best of sages, by what austerity, or discipline, or vow observed, might this leprosy of mine be destroyed?"

Verse 60 (skanda.6.45.60)

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥ आराधय सहस्रांशुमस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महीपते॥ ततः प्राप्स्यसि संसिद्धिं कुष्ठनाशसमुद्भवाम्

viśvāmitra uvāca ārādhaya sahasrāṁśumasminkṣetre mahīpate tataḥ prāpsyasi saṁsiddhiṁ kuṣṭhanāśasamudbhavām

Vishvamitra said: "O king, worship here in this very place the thousand-rayed Sun; then you will attain the accomplishment that arises from the destruction of leprosy."

Verse 61 (skanda.6.45.61)

तच्छ्रुत्वा स मुनेर्वाक्यं भूमिपालो बृहद्बलः॥ तत्क्षणात्स्थापयामास सूर्यस्य प्रतिमां तदा

tacchrutvā sa munervākyaṁ bhūmipālo bṛhadbalaḥ tatkṣaṇātsthāpayāmāsa sūryasya pratimāṁ tadā

Hearing this word of the sage, King Brihadbala at once established there an image of the Sun.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.45.62)

अर्चयामास विधिवत्पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः॥ श्रद्धया परया युक्तो रविवारे विशेषतः

arcayāmāsa vidhivatpuṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ śraddhayā parayā yukto ravivāre viśeṣataḥ

With flowers, incense, and sandal-paste, he worshipped it according to proper rite, filled with deepest faith, especially on Sundays.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.45.63)

उपवासपरो भूत्वा रक्तचन्दनसंयुतैः॥ पूजयन्रक्तपुष्पैश्च श्रद्धया परया युतः

upavāsaparo bhūtvā raktacandanasaṁyutaiḥ pūjayanraktapuṣpaiśca śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ

Observing a fast, and worshipping with red sandalwood and red flowers, filled with the deepest faith, he continued thus.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.45.64)

ततः संवत्सरस्यांते स बभूव महीपतिः॥ कुष्ठ व्याधि विनिर्मुक्तो द्वादशार्कसमप्रभः

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyāṁte sa babhūva mahīpatiḥ kuṣṭha vyādhi vinirmukto dvādaśārkasamaprabhaḥ

Then, at the end of a year, that king became wholly freed from leprosy, and grew radiant as twelve suns.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.45.65)

ततः स्वं राज्यमासाद्य भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकशः॥ देहांते दिननाथस्य संप्राप्तो मंदिरं तथा

tataḥ svaṁ rājyamāsādya bhuktvā bhogānanekaśaḥ dehāṁte dinanāthasya saṁprāpto maṁdiraṁ tathā

Then he took possession of his kingdom and enjoyed many pleasures, and at the end of his body attained the abode of the Lord of Day, the Sun.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.45.66)

॥ सूत उवाच॥ एवं तत्र द्विजश्रेष्ठा विश्वामित्रेण धीमता॥ प्रकटं सर्वलोकस्य विहितं पुष्करत्रयम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ tatra dvijaśreṣṭhā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā prakaṭaṁ sarvalokasya vihitaṁ puṣkaratrayam

Suta said: "O best of brahmins, thus was that Tripushkara there made manifest and established for the good of all the world by the wise Vishvamitra."

Verse 67 (skanda.6.45.67)

यस्तत्र कार्तिके मासे कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकासु च॥ प्रकरोति नरः स्नानं ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति

yastatra kārtike māse kārttikyāṁ kṛttikāsu ca prakaroti naraḥ snānaṁ brahmalokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever bathes there in the month of Kartika, on the Kartika day, under the Krittika constellation, attains the world of Brahma.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.45.68)

तथा यो भास्करं पश्येद्बृहद्वलप्रतिष्ठितम्॥ वत्सरं रविवारेण यावत्कृत्वा क्षणं नरः॥ स मुच्यते नरो रोगैर्यदि स्याद्रोगसंयुतः

tathā yo bhāskaraṁ paśyedbṛhadvalapratiṣṭhitam vatsaraṁ ravivāreṇa yāvatkṛtvā kṣaṇaṁ naraḥ sa mucyate naro rogairyadi syādrogasaṁyutaḥ

And whoever gazes even for a moment upon that image of the Sun established by Brihadbala, each year on Sundays, is freed from every disease if he was afflicted by one.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.45.69)

नीरोगो वा नरः सद्यो लभते मनसेप्सितम्॥ निष्कामो मोक्षमाप्नोति प्रसादात्तीक्ष्णदीधितेः

nīrogo vā naraḥ sadyo labhate manasepsitam niṣkāmo mokṣamāpnoti prasādāttīkṣṇadīdhiteḥ

And if he is already free of disease, he instantly obtains whatever his heart desires; and one free of all desire attains liberation by the grace of that fierce-rayed Sun.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.45.70)

कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे वृषोत्सर्गं करोति यः॥ पुष्करेषु सुपुण्येषु सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

kārttikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge vṛṣotsargaṁ karoti yaḥ puṣkareṣu supuṇyeṣu so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever performs the rite of releasing a bull on the day of Kartika, at the Krittika conjunction, at these most sacred Pushkaras, obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.45.71)

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजेत्॥ यजेत वाऽश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत्

eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyekopi gayāṁ vrajet yajeta vā'śvamedhena nīlaṁ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet

For this reason, many sons are desired, so that even one of them might go to Gaya, or perform the horse sacrifice, or release a dark-blue bull.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.45.72)

एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वदानानि चैकतः॥ एकतस्तु वृषोत्सर्गः कार्तिक्यां पुष्करेषु च

ekataḥ sarvatīrthāni sarvadānāni caikataḥ ekatastu vṛṣotsargaḥ kārtikyāṁ puṣkareṣu ca

On one side stand all the tirthas together, and on another all forms of giving together; and on yet another stands, alone, the rite of releasing a bull at the Pushkaras on the day of Kartika -- equal in merit to them all.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.45.73)

यश्चैतच्छुणुयान्नित्यं पठेद्वा श्रद्धयान्वितः॥ संप्राप्य सर्वकामान्वै ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

yaścaitacchuṇuyānnityaṁ paṭhedvā śraddhayānvitaḥ saṁprāpya sarvakāmānvai brahmaloke mahīyate

Whoever daily hears or recites this account with faith, having obtained all his desires, comes to be honored in the world of Brahma.