Vidura's Temples and the Greatness of Vidureshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.59.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे रविः पूर्वं विदुरेण प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ शिवश्च परया भक्त्या तथा विष्णुर्द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca tasminkṣetre raviḥ pūrvaṁ vidureṇa pratiṣṭhitam śivaśca parayā bhaktyā tathā viṣṇurdvijottamāḥ

Suta said: "In that sacred field, O best of the twice-born, the Sun was long ago installed by Vidura, and Shiva too, with supreme devotion, and Vishnu as well."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.59.2)

यस्तान्पूजयते भक्त्या मानुषो भक्तितस्ततः॥ स यास्यति परं स्थानं यज्ञैरपि सुदुर्लभम्

yastānpūjayate bhaktyā mānuṣo bhaktitastataḥ sa yāsyati paraṁ sthānaṁ yajñairapi sudurlabham

Whatever man worships them with devotion attains the supreme abode, hard to attain even through sacrifices.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.59.3)

हस्तिनापुरसंस्थेन विदुरेण पुरा द्विजाः॥ गालवो मुनिशार्दूलः पृष्टः स्वगृहमागतः

hastināpurasaṁsthena vidureṇa purā dvijāḥ gālavo muniśārdūlaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ svagṛhamāgataḥ

O brahmins, long ago Vidura, dwelling in Hastinapura, once questioned the tiger among sages, Galava, who had come to his house.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.59.4)

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्लोके कीदृक्संजायते परे॥ एतन्मे पृच्छतो ब्रूहि कृत्वा सद्भावमुत्तमम्

aputrasya gatirloke kīdṛksaṁjāyate pare etanme pṛcchato brūhi kṛtvā sadbhāvamuttamam

"'What kind of destiny comes about in the world beyond for one without a son? Tell me this, as I ask, with supreme goodwill.'"

Verse 5 (skanda.6.59.5)

गालव उवाच॥ अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति मृतः स्वर्गं न गच्छति॥ द्वादशानामपि तथा यद्येकोऽपि न विद्यते

gālava uvāca aputrasya gatirnāsti mṛtaḥ svargaṁ na gacchati dvādaśānāmapi tathā yadyeko'pi na vidyate

Galava said: "For one without a son there is no destiny; the dead man does not reach heaven, if not even one of the twelve kinds of sons exists for him."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.59.6)

औरसः क्षेत्रजश्चैव क्रयक्रीतश्च पालितः॥ पौनर्भवः पुनर्दत्तः कुंडो गोलस्तथा परः॥ कानीनश्च सहोढश्च अश्वत्थो ब्रह्मवृक्षकः

aurasaḥ kṣetrajaścaiva krayakrītaśca pālitaḥ paunarbhavaḥ punardattaḥ kuṁḍo golastathā paraḥ kānīnaśca sahoḍhaśca aśvattho brahmavṛkṣakaḥ

The auras (natural-born), the kshetraja (field-born), the bought son, the fostered son, the son of a remarried woman, the given-back son, the kunda, and the gola, the kanina, the sahodha, and the ashvattha and brahmavrikshaka --

Verse 7 (skanda.6.59.7)

एतेषामपि यद्येकः पुरुषाणां न जायते॥ तन्नूनं नरके वासः पुंसंज्ञे वै प्रजायते

eteṣāmapi yadyekaḥ puruṣāṇāṁ na jāyate tannūnaṁ narake vāsaḥ puṁsaṁjñe vai prajāyate

-- if not even one of these is born to a man, then surely dwelling in the hell called 'Put' becomes his lot.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.59.8)

सूत उवाच॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य गालवस्य महात्मनः॥ अपुत्रत्वात्परं दुःखं जगाम विदुरस्तदा

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya gālavasya mahātmanaḥ aputratvātparaṁ duḥkhaṁ jagāma vidurastadā

Suta said: "Hearing these words of the great-souled Galava, Vidura then fell into deep sorrow because of his own lack of a son."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.59.9)

तप्तस्तं गालवः प्राह मा त्वं दुःखपदं व्रज॥ मद्वाक्यात्पुत्रकं वृक्षं विष्णुसंज्ञं द्रुतं कुरु

taptastaṁ gālavaḥ prāha mā tvaṁ duḥkhapadaṁ vraja madvākyātputrakaṁ vṛkṣaṁ viṣṇusaṁjñaṁ drutaṁ kuru

Seeing him tormented, Galava said: "Do not go the way of sorrow; by my word, quickly adopt a tree named for Vishnu as your son."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.59.10)

तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि निःशेषं फलं पुत्रसमुद्भवम्॥ गत्वा पुण्यतमे देशे रक्तशृंगस्य मूर्धनि

tasmātprāpsyasi niḥśeṣaṁ phalaṁ putrasamudbhavam gatvā puṇyatame deśe raktaśṛṁgasya mūrdhani

"'Thereby you shall obtain the entire fruit that comes from having a son; go to the most sacred land, upon the summit of Raktashringa.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.6.59.11)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे सर्ववृद्धिशुभोदये॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विदुरस्तत्क्षणाद्ययौ

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre sarvavṛddhiśubhodaye tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vidurastatkṣaṇādyayau

"'-- in the field of Hatakeshvara, the source of every good and prosperity.'" Hearing his words, Vidura set out at that very instant.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.59.12)

तत्स्थानं गालवोद्दिष्टं हर्षेण महतान्वितः॥ तत्राश्वत्थतरुं स्थाप्य पुत्रत्वे चाभिषेच्य च

tatsthānaṁ gālavoddiṣṭaṁ harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ tatrāśvatthataruṁ sthāpya putratve cābhiṣecya ca

Filled with great joy, he reached that place indicated by Galava, and there, having planted a pipal tree, consecrated it as his son,

Verse 13 (skanda.6.59.13)

वैवाहिकेन विधिना कृतकृत्यो बभूव ह॥ ततो बभ्राम तत्क्षेत्रं तीर्थयात्रापरायणः

vaivāhikena vidhinā kṛtakṛtyo babhūva ha tato babhrāma tatkṣetraṁ tīrthayātrāparāyaṇaḥ

performing it with the marriage rite, and thus became one whose purpose was accomplished; then he wandered through that sacred field, devoted to pilgrimage.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.59.14)

कीर्तितानि विचित्राणि राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम्॥ श्रुत्वा स्थानानि गत्वा च ददर्श स्थानदेवताः

kīrtitāni vicitrāṇi rājarṣīṇāṁ mahātmanām śrutvā sthānāni gatvā ca dadarśa sthānadevatāḥ

Having heard of the wondrous, celebrated sites of the great-souled royal sages, he went to those places and beheld the deities enshrined there.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.59.15)

स दृष्ट्वा कुरुवृद्धस्य कीर्तनानि महात्मनः॥ ततश्चक्रे मतिं तत्र दिव्यप्रासादकर्मणि

sa dṛṣṭvā kuruvṛddhasya kīrtanāni mahātmanaḥ tataścakre matiṁ tatra divyaprāsādakarmaṇi

Having seen the accounts celebrating the great-souled elder of the Kurus, he then resolved to undertake the building of a divine temple there as well.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.59.16)

ततो माहेश्वरं लिंगं वटाधस्ताद्विधाय सः॥ विष्णुं च स्थापयामास अश्वत्थस्य तरोरधः

tato māheśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ vaṭādhastādvidhāya saḥ viṣṇuṁ ca sthāpayāmāsa aśvatthasya taroradhaḥ

Then he installed a Maheshvara-linga beneath a banyan tree, and established Vishnu beneath the pipal tree.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.59.17)

निवेश्य च तथा दिव्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न्यवेदयत्॥ एतद्देवत्रयं क्षेत्रे युष्माकं हि मया कृतम्॥ भवद्भिः सकला चास्य चिन्ताकार्या सदैव हि

niveśya ca tathā divyaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo nyavedayat etaddevatrayaṁ kṣetre yuṣmākaṁ hi mayā kṛtam bhavadbhiḥ sakalā cāsya cintākāryā sadaiva hi

And having thus established the divine images, he declared to the brahmins: "This triad of gods has been made by me here in this field for your sake; the entire care of it must always be undertaken by all of you."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.59.18)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः॥ वयमस्य करिष्यामो यात्राद्याः सकलाः क्रियाः

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ vayamasya kariṣyāmo yātrādyāḥ sakalāḥ kriyāḥ

The brahmins said: "We shall perform for it all the rites, beginning with the pilgrimage festival."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.59.19)

तथा वंशोद्भवा ये च पुत्राः पौत्रास्तथापरे॥ करिष्यंति क्रियाः सर्वास्त्वं गच्छ स्वगृहं प्रति

tathā vaṁśodbhavā ye ca putrāḥ pautrāstathāpare kariṣyaṁti kriyāḥ sarvāstvaṁ gaccha svagṛhaṁ prati

"'And whatever sons, grandsons, and other descendants of our line come after us shall also perform all these rites; you may go to your own home.'"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.59.20)

सूत उवाच॥ ततो जगाम विदुरः स्वपुरं प्रति हर्षितः॥ कृतकृत्यो द्विजास्ते च चक्रुर्वाक्यं तदुद्भवम्

sūta uvāca tato jagāma viduraḥ svapuraṁ prati harṣitaḥ kṛtakṛtyo dvijāste ca cakrurvākyaṁ tadudbhavam

Suta said: "Then Vidura, his purpose accomplished, went joyfully to his own city; and those brahmins made a verse concerning this event:"

Verse 21 (skanda.6.59.21)

माघमासस्य सप्तम्यां सूर्यवारेण यो नरः॥ पूजयेद्भास्करं तत्र स याति परमां गतिम्

māghamāsasya saptamyāṁ sūryavāreṇa yo naraḥ pūjayedbhāskaraṁ tatra sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

"'Whatever man worships the Sun there on the seventh of the month of Magha falling on a Sunday attains the highest state.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.59.22)

शिवं वा सोमवारेण शुक्लाष्टम्यां विशेषतः॥ शयने बोधने विष्णुं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः

śivaṁ vā somavāreṇa śuklāṣṭamyāṁ viśeṣataḥ śayane bodhane viṣṇuṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ

"'Or Shiva, especially on the bright eighth falling on a Monday; or Vishnu at his lying down and his awakening, with true and complete faith.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.59.23)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन देवानां तत्त्रयं शुभम्॥ पूजनीयं विशेषेण नरैः स्वर्गतिमीप्सुभिः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena devānāṁ tattrayaṁ śubham pūjanīyaṁ viśeṣeṇa naraiḥ svargatimīpsubhiḥ

"'Therefore this auspicious triad of gods should be worshipped with every effort, especially by men desiring passage to heaven.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.59.24)

तत्र सिद्धिं गताः पूर्वं मुनयः संशितव्रताः॥ विदुरेश्वरमाराध्य शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

tatra siddhiṁ gatāḥ pūrvaṁ munayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ vidureśvaramārādhya śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

There, long ago, sages of strict vows, in their hundreds and thousands, attained perfection by worshipping Vidureshvara.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.59.25)

ततस्तत्सिद्धिदं ज्ञात्वा लिंगं वै पाकशासनः॥ पांसुभिः पूरयामास यथा कश्चिन्न बुध्यते

tatastatsiddhidaṁ jñātvā liṁgaṁ vai pākaśāsanaḥ pāṁsubhiḥ pūrayāmāsa yathā kaścinna budhyate

Then Indra, learning that the linga bestowed such accomplishment, covered it with dust so that no one might notice it.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.59.26)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य विदुरस्तत्र चागतः॥ दृष्ट्वा लोपगतं लिंगं दुःखेन महतान्वितः

kasyacittvatha kālasya vidurastatra cāgataḥ dṛṣṭvā lopagataṁ liṁgaṁ duḥkhena mahatānvitaḥ

After some time Vidura came there again, and, seeing the linga vanished from sight, was overcome with great sorrow.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.59.27)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी॥ मा त्वं कुरु विषादं हि लिंगार्थे विदुराधुना

etasminneva kāle tu vāguvācāśarīriṇī mā tvaṁ kuru viṣādaṁ hi liṁgārthe vidurādhunā

At that very moment a disembodied voice spoke: "'Vidura, do not now grieve over the linga.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.59.28)

योऽयं स दृश्यते वालो वटस्तस्य तले स्थिता॥ देवद्रोणिः सुरेशेन पांसुभिः परिपूरिता

yo'yaṁ sa dṛśyate vālo vaṭastasya tale sthitā devadroṇiḥ sureśena pāṁsubhiḥ paripūritā

"'This young banyan sapling that you see -- beneath it lies the divine trough, filled up with dust by the lord of the gods.'"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.59.29)

ततो गजाह्वयात्तूर्णं समानीय धनं बहु॥ शोधयामास तत्स्थानं दिवारात्रमतन्द्रितः

tato gajāhvayāttūrṇaṁ samānīya dhanaṁ bahu śodhayāmāsa tatsthānaṁ divārātramatandritaḥ

Then, having quickly brought much wealth from the city of Gajahvaya, he cleared that spot, working day and night without tiring.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.59.30)

ततो विलोक्य तान्देवान्हर्षेण महतान्वितः॥ प्रासादं निर्ममे तेषां योग्यं साध्वभिसंस्थितम्

tato vilokya tāndevānharṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ prāsādaṁ nirmame teṣāṁ yogyaṁ sādhvabhisaṁsthitam

Then, beholding those gods once more, filled with great joy, he built for them a fitting temple, well and firmly established.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.59.31)

कैलासशिखराकारं भास्करार्थे महामुनिः॥ जटामध्यगतं दृष्ट्वा वटस्य च महेश्वरम्

kailāsaśikharākāraṁ bhāskarārthe mahāmuniḥ jaṭāmadhyagataṁ dṛṣṭvā vaṭasya ca maheśvaram

That great sage, seeing Maheshvara amid the roots of the banyan tree, built a temple shaped like the peak of Kailasa for the Sun.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.59.32)

प्रासादं नाकरोत्तत्र लिंगं यावन्न चालयेत्॥ वासुदेवस्य योग्यां च कृत्वा शालां बृहत्तराम्

prāsādaṁ nākarottatra liṁgaṁ yāvanna cālayet vāsudevasya yogyāṁ ca kṛtvā śālāṁ bṛhattarām

He did not build a temple there in a way that would disturb the linga, and, for Vasudeva, he built a larger hall, fitting for him.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.59.33)

दत्त्वा वृत्तिं च संहृष्टो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो निवेद्य च॥ जगाम स्वाश्रमं भूयो विप्रानामंत्र्य तांस्ततः

dattvā vṛttiṁ ca saṁhṛṣṭo brāhmaṇebhyo nivedya ca jagāma svāśramaṁ bhūyo viprānāmaṁtrya tāṁstataḥ

Having given an endowment, and, filled with joy, having made his declaration to the brahmins, he took leave of them and went once more to his own hermitage.