The Origin of the Poison-Maiden

Verse 1 (skanda.6.61.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ शर्मिष्ठातीर्थमित्युक्तं त्वया यच्च महामते॥ कथं जातं महाभाग किंप्रभावं तु तद्वद

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śarmiṣṭhātīrthamityuktaṁ tvayā yacca mahāmate kathaṁ jātaṁ mahābhāga kiṁprabhāvaṁ tu tadvada

The sages said: O greatly wise one, that Sharmishtha-tirtha which you spoke of — O most fortunate one, how did it come to be, and what is its power? Tell us truly.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.61.2)

सूत उवाच॥ आसीद्राजा वृकोनाम सोमवंश समुद्भवः॥ ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च सर्वलोकहिते रतः

sūta uvāca āsīdrājā vṛkonāma somavaṁśa samudbhavaḥ brahmaṇyaśca śaraṇyaśca sarvalokahite rataḥ

Suta said: There was a king named Vrika, born in the lunar dynasty, devoted to brahmins, a refuge to those who sought him, and ever intent upon the welfare of all the world.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.61.3)

तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी॥ सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना पतिव्रतपरायणा

tasya bhāryā'bhavatsādhvī prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannā pativrataparāyaṇā

His wife was a devoted and virtuous woman, dearer to him than his own life, adorned with every auspicious mark, and wholly given to the vow of devotion to her husband.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.61.4)

अथ तस्यां समुत्पन्ना प्राप्ते वयसि पश्चिमे॥ कन्यका दिवसे प्राप्ते सर्वशास्त्रविगर्हिते

atha tasyāṁ samutpannā prāpte vayasi paścime kanyakā divase prāpte sarvaśāstravigarhite

Then, when he had reached the last stage of his life, a daughter was born to her — and that too on a day condemned by all the scriptures as inauspicious.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.61.5)

तत आनीय विप्रान्स ज्योतिर्ज्ञानविचक्षणान्॥ पप्रच्छ कीदृशी कन्या ममेयं संभविष्यति

tata ānīya viprānsa jyotirjñānavicakṣaṇān papraccha kīdṛśī kanyā mameyaṁ saṁbhaviṣyati

Then he summoned brahmins learned in the science of astrology and asked them: 'What kind of girl will this daughter of mine become?'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.61.6)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः॥ या कन्या प्राप्नुयाज्जन्म चित्रासंस्थे दिवाकरे॥ चंद्रे वापि चतुर्दश्यां सा भवेद्विषकन्यका

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ yā kanyā prāpnuyājjanma citrāsaṁsthe divākare caṁdre vāpi caturdaśyāṁ sā bhavedviṣakanyakā

The brahmins said: A girl born while the sun stands in the Chitra constellation, or one born on the fourteenth lunar day under that same configuration of the moon, becomes a 'poison-maiden.'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.61.7)

यस्तस्याः प्रतिगृह्णाति पाणिं पार्थिवसत्तम॥ षण्मासाभ्यंतरे मृत्युं स प्राप्नोति नरो ध्रुवम्

yastasyāḥ pratigṛhṇāti pāṇiṁ pārthivasattama ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare mṛtyuṁ sa prāpnoti naro dhruvam

O best of kings, whatever man takes her hand in marriage will certainly meet his death within six months.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.61.8)

यस्मिन्सा जायते हर्म्ये षण्मासाभ्यंतरे च तत्॥ करोति विभवैर्हीनं धनदस्याप्यसंशयम्

yasminsā jāyate harmye ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare ca tat karoti vibhavairhīnaṁ dhanadasyāpyasaṁśayam

And the mansion in which she is born will, within six months, be stripped of all its riches — even were it the house of Kubera himself, lord of wealth — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.61.9)

सेयं तव सुता राजन्यथोक्ता विष कन्यका॥ पैतृकं श्वाशुरीयं च हनिष्यति गृहद्वयम्

seyaṁ tava sutā rājanyathoktā viṣa kanyakā paitṛkaṁ śvāśurīyaṁ ca haniṣyati gṛhadvayam

So this daughter of yours, O king, is exactly as described — a poison-maiden. She will destroy both households — her father's home and the home of her father-in-law.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.61.10)

तस्मादिमां परित्यज्य सुखी भव नराधिप॥ श्रद्दधासि वचोऽस्माकं हित मुक्तं यदि प्रभो

tasmādimāṁ parityajya sukhī bhava narādhipa śraddadhāsi vaco'smākaṁ hita muktaṁ yadi prabho

Therefore, O lord of men, abandon her and live happily — if you trust this word of ours, O sovereign, spoken only for your good.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.61.11)

राजोवाच॥ त्यक्ष्यामि यदि नामैतां धारयिष्यामि वा गृहे॥ अन्यदेहोद्भवं कर्म फलिष्यति तथापि मे

rājovāca tyakṣyāmi yadi nāmaitāṁ dhārayiṣyāmi vā gṛhe anyadehodbhavaṁ karma phaliṣyati tathāpi me

The king said: Whether I abandon her, or keep her in my home, the karma born in another body — a past life — will bear its fruit for me all the same.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.61.12)

शुभं वा यदि वा पापं न तु शक्यं प्ररक्षितुम्॥ तस्मात्कर्म पुरस्कृत्य नैव त्यक्ष्यामि कन्यकाम्

śubhaṁ vā yadi vā pāpaṁ na tu śakyaṁ prarakṣitum tasmātkarma puraskṛtya naiva tyakṣyāmi kanyakām

Whether that fruit is good or evil, it cannot be warded off. Therefore, holding karma foremost, I will never abandon this child.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.61.13)

येनयेन शरीरेण यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः॥ तेनतेनैव भूयः स प्राप्नोति सकलं फलम्

yenayena śarīreṇa yadyatkarma karoti yaḥ tenatenaiva bhūyaḥ sa prāpnoti sakalaṁ phalam

With whatever body a person performs whatever action, it is with that same body again that he receives the entire fruit of it.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.61.14)

यस्यां यस्यामवस्थायां क्रियतेऽत्र शुभाशुभम्॥ तस्यां तस्यां ध्रुवं तस्य फलं तद्भुज्यते नरैः

yasyāṁ yasyāmavasthāyāṁ kriyate'tra śubhāśubham tasyāṁ tasyāṁ dhruvaṁ tasya phalaṁ tadbhujyate naraiḥ

In whatever state of being a good or evil deed is done in this world, it is in that very state that people surely come to experience its fruit.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.61.15)

न नश्यति पुराकर्म कृतं सर्वेंद्रियैरिह॥ अकृतं जायते नैव तस्मान्नास्ति भयं मम

na naśyati purākarma kṛtaṁ sarveṁdriyairiha akṛtaṁ jāyate naiva tasmānnāsti bhayaṁ mama

Past karma, performed here with all the senses, never perishes; and what has not been done never comes to fruition. Therefore I have no fear.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.61.16)

आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्या निधनमेव च॥ पञ्चैतानि हि सृज्यन्ते गर्भस्थस्यैव देहिनः

āyuḥ karma ca vittaṁ ca vidyā nidhanameva ca pañcaitāni hi sṛjyante garbhasthasyaiva dehinaḥ

Lifespan, the working-out of one's deeds, wealth, learning, and death itself — these five things are determined for the embodied soul while it still lies in the womb.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.61.17)

यथा वृक्षेषु वल्लीषु कुसुमानि फलानि च॥ स्वकालं नातिवर्तंते तद्वत्कर्म पुराकृतम्

yathā vṛkṣeṣu vallīṣu kusumāni phalāni ca svakālaṁ nātivartaṁte tadvatkarma purākṛtam

Just as, among trees and creepers, flowers and fruits never come before their proper season, so too karma performed in a former life never oversteps its appointed time.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.61.18)

येनैव यद्यथा पूर्वं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम्॥ स एव तत्तथा भुंक्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मनः

yenaiva yadyathā pūrvaṁ kṛtaṁ karma śubhāśubham sa eva tattathā bhuṁkte nityaṁ vihitamātmanaḥ

Whoever performed a good or evil deed before, that same person always experiences it in just that manner, as ordained for himself alone.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.61.19)

यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम्॥ तथैवं कोटिमध्यस्थं कर्तारं कर्म विन्दति

yathā dhenusahasreṣu vatso vindati mātaram tathaivaṁ koṭimadhyasthaṁ kartāraṁ karma vindati

Just as a calf finds its own mother among a thousand cows, so too does an action find its doer even amid ten million beings.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.61.20)

अन्यदेहकृतं कर्म न कश्चित्पुरुषो भुवि॥ बलेन प्रज्ञया वापि समर्थः कर्तुमन्यथा

anyadehakṛtaṁ karma na kaścitpuruṣo bhuvi balena prajñayā vāpi samarthaḥ kartumanyathā

No person in this world, whether by strength or by wisdom, is able to alter the action performed in another body — a previous life.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.61.21)

अन्यथा शास्त्रगर्भिण्या धिया धीरो महीयते॥ स्वामिवत्प्राक्कृतं कर्म विदधाति तदन्यथा

anyathā śāstragarbhiṇyā dhiyā dhīro mahīyate svāmivatprākkṛtaṁ karma vidadhāti tadanyathā

Though it may seem that a steadfast man attains greatness through a mind steeped in scriptural wisdom, in truth it is the karma performed before — acting like a master — that ordains it to be so.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.61.22)

स्वकृतान्युपतिष्ठंति सुखदुःखानि देहिनाम्॥ हेतुभूतो हि यस्तेषां सोऽहंकारेण बध्यते

svakṛtānyupatiṣṭhaṁti sukhaduḥkhāni dehinām hetubhūto hi yasteṣāṁ so'haṁkāreṇa badhyate

The pleasures and pains that come to embodied beings arise from their own past deeds. Whoever appears to be their immediate cause is, in truth, bound only by the ego.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.61.23)

सुशीघ्रमभिधावन्तं निजं कर्मानुधावति॥ शेते सह शयानेन तिष्ठन्तमनुतिष्ठति

suśīghramabhidhāvantaṁ nijaṁ karmānudhāvati śete saha śayānena tiṣṭhantamanutiṣṭhati

One's own karma follows even the swiftest runner in pursuit; it lies down beside one who lies down to sleep; it stands beside one who stands.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.61.24)

यथा छायातपौ नित्यं सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम्॥ तथा कर्म च कर्ता च नात्र कार्या विचारणा

yathā chāyātapau nityaṁ susaṁbaddhau parasparam tathā karma ca kartā ca nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Just as shade and sunlight are always inseparably linked to one another, so too are the deed and its doer — of this there is no room for doubt.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.61.25)

येन यत्रोपभोक्तव्यं सुखं वा दुःखमेव वा॥ नरः स बद्धो रज्ज्वेव बलात्तत्रैव नीयते

yena yatropabhoktavyaṁ sukhaṁ vā duḥkhameva vā naraḥ sa baddho rajjveva balāttatraiva nīyate

Wherever a person is destined to experience pleasure or pain, he is dragged there by force, as though bound with a rope.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.61.26)

प्रमाणं कर्मभूतानां सुखदुःखोपपादने॥ सावधानतया यच्च जाग्रतां स्वपतामपि

pramāṇaṁ karmabhūtānāṁ sukhaduḥkhopapādane sāvadhānatayā yacca jāgratāṁ svapatāmapi

For beings shaped by karma, karma alone is the authority governing the arising of pleasure and pain — and it works with unfailing vigilance, whether they are awake or asleep.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.61.27)

तैलक्षये यथा दीपो निर्वाणमधिगच्छति॥ कर्मक्षये तथा जंतुर्निर्वाणमधिगच्छति

tailakṣaye yathā dīpo nirvāṇamadhigacchati karmakṣaye tathā jaṁturnirvāṇamadhigacchati

Just as a lamp goes out when its oil is exhausted, so too a living being attains extinction when its karma is exhausted.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.61.28)

न मन्त्रा न तपो दानं न तीर्थं न च संयमः॥ समर्था रक्षितुं जंतुं पीडितं पूर्वकर्मभिः

na mantrā na tapo dānaṁ na tīrthaṁ na ca saṁyamaḥ samarthā rakṣituṁ jaṁtuṁ pīḍitaṁ pūrvakarmabhiḥ

Neither sacred mantras, nor austerity, charity, pilgrimage, nor self-discipline can protect a creature that is afflicted by the deeds of its former life.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.61.29)

संगत्या जठरे न्यस्तो रेतोबिन्दुरचेतनः॥ ऋतुकाले मनुष्येण वृद्धिं गच्छति कर्मतः

saṁgatyā jaṭhare nyasto retobinduracetanaḥ ṛtukāle manuṣyeṇa vṛddhiṁ gacchati karmataḥ

The insentient drop of seed, placed in the womb through union, grows in due season, by the power of karma alone, into a human being.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.61.30)

अन्नपानानि जीर्यंति यत्र भक्ष्यं च भक्षितम्॥ तस्मिन्नेवोदरे गर्भः कथं नाम न जीर्यति

annapānāni jīryaṁti yatra bhakṣyaṁ ca bhakṣitam tasminnevodare garbhaḥ kathaṁ nāma na jīryati

In that very belly where food and drink and every eaten thing are digested — how is it, then, that the child in the womb is not likewise digested?

Verse 31 (skanda.6.61.31)

तस्मात्कर्मकृतं सर्वं देहिनामत्र जायते॥ शुभं वा यदि वा पापमिति मे निश्चयः सदा

tasmātkarmakṛtaṁ sarvaṁ dehināmatra jāyate śubhaṁ vā yadi vā pāpamiti me niścayaḥ sadā

Therefore, whatever happens here to embodied beings — good or evil — is entirely the doing of karma. This is my firm and constant conviction.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.61.32)

अरक्षितं तिष्ठति दैवरक्षितं सुरक्षितं दैवहतं विनश्यति॥ जीवत्यनाथोऽपि वने विसर्जितः कृतप्रयत्नोऽपि गृहे न जीवति

arakṣitaṁ tiṣṭhati daivarakṣitaṁ surakṣitaṁ daivahataṁ vinaśyati jīvatyanātho'pi vane visarjitaḥ kṛtaprayatno'pi gṛhe na jīvati

One whom fate protects survives even without any guard; one whom fate strikes down perishes even when well protected. Even a helpless child, abandoned in the forest, may live on; while another, despite every effort made to save him, does not survive even at home.