The Undertaking to Establish Temples by Dhritarashtra and Others

Verse 1 (skanda.6.73.1)

सूत उवाच॥ एवं ते कौरवाः सर्वे पांडोः पुत्राश्च शालिनः॥ तस्मात्स्थानात्ततो जग्मुर्यत्र द्वारवती पुरी

sūta uvāca evaṁ te kauravāḥ sarve pāṁḍoḥ putrāśca śālinaḥ tasmātsthānāttato jagmuryatra dvāravatī purī

Suta said: Thus all those Kauravas and the splendid sons of Pandu departed from that place and went to where the city of Dvaravati was.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.73.2)

तत्र गत्वा विवाहं तु चक्रुः संहृष्टमानसाः॥ दुर्योधनस्य भूपस्य भानुमत्या समं तदा

tatra gatvā vivāhaṁ tu cakruḥ saṁhṛṣṭamānasāḥ duryodhanasya bhūpasya bhānumatyā samaṁ tadā

Going there, with joyful hearts they then performed the marriage of King Duryodhana with Bhanumati.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.73.3)

नानावादित्रघोषेण वेदध्वनियुतेन च॥ गीतैर्मनोहरैः पाठैर्बन्दिनां च सहस्रशः

nānāvāditraghoṣeṇa vedadhvaniyutena ca gītairmanoharaiḥ pāṭhairbandināṁ ca sahasraśaḥ

amid the clamor of many instruments joined with the sound of Vedic chant, with enchanting songs and recitations, and with the voices of thousands of bards,

Verse 4 (skanda.6.73.4)

एवं महोत्सवो जज्ञे तत्र यावद्दिनाष्टकम्॥ यादवानां कुरूणां च मिलितानां परस्परम्

evaṁ mahotsavo jajñe tatra yāvaddināṣṭakam yādavānāṁ kurūṇāṁ ca militānāṁ parasparam

thus a great festival went on there for a full eight days, as the Yadavas and Kurus mingled with one another.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.73.5)

कृतार्थास्तत्र संजाताः सूतमागधबन्दिनः॥ चारणा ब्राह्मणेंद्राश्च तथान्येऽपि च तार्किकाः

kṛtārthāstatra saṁjātāḥ sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ cāraṇā brāhmaṇeṁdrāśca tathānye'pi ca tārkikāḥ

There the sutas, magadhas, and bards were made content, as were the charanas, the foremost of brahmins, and the other scholars too.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.73.6)

ततस्तु नवमे प्राप्ते दिवसे कुरुपांडवाः॥ भीष्माद्याः पुंडरीकाक्षमिदमूचुः ससौहृदम्

tatastu navame prāpte divase kurupāṁḍavāḥ bhīṣmādyāḥ puṁḍarīkākṣamidamūcuḥ sasauhṛdam

Then, when the ninth day arrived, the Kurus and Pandavas, headed by Bhishma, spoke these affectionate words to the lotus-eyed one:

Verse 7 (skanda.6.73.7)

न वयं पुंडरीकाक्ष तव रामस्य चाश्रयम्॥ कथंचित्त्यक्तुमिच्छामः स्नेहपाशनियंत्रिताः

na vayaṁ puṁḍarīkākṣa tava rāmasya cāśrayam kathaṁcittyaktumicchāmaḥ snehapāśaniyaṁtritāḥ

"O Pundarikaksha, bound as we are by the bonds of affection, we do not wish, in any way, to leave your refuge and that of Rama."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.73.8)

तथापि च प्रगन्तव्यं स्वपुरं प्रति माधव॥ बलभद्रसमायुक्तस्तस्मान्नः कुरु मोक्षणम्

tathāpi ca pragantavyaṁ svapuraṁ prati mādhava balabhadrasamāyuktastasmānnaḥ kuru mokṣaṇam

"Even so, O Madhava, we must go on toward our own city; therefore, together with Balabhadra, grant us leave."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.73.9)

विष्णुरुवाच॥ न तावद्वत्सरो जातो न मासः पक्ष एव च॥ स्थितानामत्र युष्माकं तत्किमौत्सुक्यमागतम्

viṣṇuruvāca na tāvadvatsaro jāto na māsaḥ pakṣa eva ca sthitānāmatra yuṣmākaṁ tatkimautsukyamāgatam

Vishnu said: "Not a year has passed, nor even a month or a fortnight, since you began staying here — why has this eagerness come upon you?"

Verse 10 (skanda.6.73.10)

तस्मादत्रैव तिष्ठामः सहिताः कुरुपांडवाः॥ यूयं वयं विनोदेन मृगयाक्षोद्भवेन च

tasmādatraiva tiṣṭhāmaḥ sahitāḥ kurupāṁḍavāḥ yūyaṁ vayaṁ vinodena mṛgayākṣodbhavena ca

"Therefore let us, Kurus and Pandavas together, stay right here — you and I diverting ourselves in hunting, in dice,"

Verse 11 (skanda.6.73.11)

शस्त्रशिक्षाक्रियाभिश्च दमनेन च दन्तिनाम्॥ तथाभिवांछितैरन्यैः स्नेहोऽस्ति यदि वो मयि

śastraśikṣākriyābhiśca damanena ca dantinām tathābhivāṁchitairanyaiḥ sneho'sti yadi vo mayi

"in the practice of arms, and in the taming of elephants, and in other desired things, if you have any affection for me."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.73.12)

भीष्म उवाच॥ उपपन्नमिदं विष्णो यत्त्वया व्याहृतं वचः॥ परं शृणुष्व मे वाक्यं यदर्थं ह्युत्सुका वयम्

bhīṣma uvāca upapannamidaṁ viṣṇo yattvayā vyāhṛtaṁ vacaḥ paraṁ śṛṇuṣva me vākyaṁ yadarthaṁ hyutsukā vayam

Bhishma said: "Fitting indeed, O Vishnu, is what you have spoken; but hear my words too, on whose account we are eager to leave."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.73.13)

आनर्तविषयेऽस्माभिरागच्छद्भिस्तवांतिकम्॥ दृष्टमत्यद्भुतं क्षेत्रं हाटकेश्वरजं महत्॥ तत्र लिंगानि दृष्टानि भूपतीनां महात्मनाम्

ānartaviṣaye'smābhirāgacchadbhistavāṁtikam dṛṣṭamatyadbhutaṁ kṣetraṁ hāṭakeśvarajaṁ mahat tatra liṁgāni dṛṣṭāni bhūpatīnāṁ mahātmanām

"As we were coming to your presence, in the land of Anarta we saw a most wondrous, great sacred field belonging to Hatakeshvara. There we saw lingas established by great-souled kings,"

Verse 14 (skanda.6.73.14)

सूर्यचन्द्रान्वयोत्थानामन्येषां च महात्मनाम्

sūryacandrānvayotthānāmanyeṣāṁ ca mahātmanām

"born of the solar and lunar lineages, and set up by other great souls,"

Verse 15 (skanda.6.73.15)

देवानां दानवानां च मुनीनां च विशेषतः॥ साकाराणि सुतेजांसि नानाप्रासादभोजि च

devānāṁ dānavānāṁ ca munīnāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ sākārāṇi sutejāṁsi nānāprāsādabhoji ca

"and especially by gods, demons, and sages — embodied, full of splendor, each enjoying its own temple."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.73.16)

ततश्च कुरुमुख्यानां पांडवानां च माधव॥ लिंगसंस्थापनार्थाय तत्र जाता मतिर्दृढा

tataśca kurumukhyānāṁ pāṁḍavānāṁ ca mādhava liṁgasaṁsthāpanārthāya tatra jātā matirdṛḍhā

"Then, O Madhava, a firm resolve arose in the chief Kurus and in the Pandavas to establish lingas there."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.73.17)

ते वयं तत्र गत्वाशु यथाशक्त्या यथेच्छया॥ लिंगानि स्थापयिष्यामः स्वानिस्वानि पृथक्पृथक्

te vayaṁ tatra gatvāśu yathāśaktyā yathecchayā liṁgāni sthāpayiṣyāmaḥ svānisvāni pṛthakpṛthak

"We shall go there swiftly and, each according to his own power and wish, install our own separate lingas, each in his own place."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.73.18)

एतस्मात्कारणात्तूर्णं चलिता वयमच्युत॥ न वयं तव संगस्य तृप्यामोऽब्दशतैरपि

etasmātkāraṇāttūrṇaṁ calitā vayamacyuta na vayaṁ tava saṁgasya tṛpyāmo'bdaśatairapi

"For this reason, O Achyuta, we have set out in haste — though we could never be sated with your company, not even in a hundred years."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.73.19)

तस्मादाज्ञापयस्वाद्य कृत्वा चित्तं दृढं विभो॥ भूयोऽप्यत्रागमिष्यामस्तव दर्शनलालसाः

tasmādājñāpayasvādya kṛtvā cittaṁ dṛḍhaṁ vibho bhūyo'pyatrāgamiṣyāmastava darśanalālasāḥ

"Therefore, O Lord, steel your heart and grant us leave today; we shall come here again, longing for the sight of you."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.73.20)

श्रीभगवानुवाच॥ अहं जानामि तत्क्षेत्रं सुपुण्यं पापनाशनम्॥ तापसैः कीर्तितं नित्यं ममान्यैस्तीर्थयात्रिकैः

śrībhagavānuvāca ahaṁ jānāmi tatkṣetraṁ supuṇyaṁ pāpanāśanam tāpasaiḥ kīrtitaṁ nityaṁ mamānyaistīrthayātrikaiḥ

The Blessed Lord said: "I too know that most holy, sin-destroying sacred field, ever praised to me by ascetics and by other pilgrims to holy places."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.73.21)

तस्मात्तत्र समेष्यामो युष्माभिः सहिता वयम्॥ लिंगसंस्थापनार्थाय क्षेत्रदर्शनवांछया

tasmāttatra sameṣyāmo yuṣmābhiḥ sahitā vayam liṁgasaṁsthāpanārthāya kṣetradarśanavāṁchayā

"Therefore we shall go there together with you, for the establishing of lingas and from a wish to see that sacred field."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.73.22)

सूत उवाच॥ तच्छुत्वा कौरवाः सर्वे परं हर्षमुपागताः॥ तथा पांडुसुताश्चैव ये चान्ये तत्र पार्थिवाः

sūta uvāca tacchutvā kauravāḥ sarve paraṁ harṣamupāgatāḥ tathā pāṁḍusutāścaiva ye cānye tatra pārthivāḥ

Suta said: Hearing this, all the Kauravas were filled with great joy, as were the sons of Pandu and the other kings present there.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.73.23)

ते तु संप्रस्थिताः सर्वे मिलिताः कुरुपांडवाः॥ गजवाजिविमर्देन कम्पयन्तो वसुन्धराम्

te tu saṁprasthitāḥ sarve militāḥ kurupāṁḍavāḥ gajavājivimardena kampayanto vasundharām

Then all of them, the Kurus and Pandavas together, set out, making the earth tremble under the trampling of their elephants and horses.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.73.24)

अथ तत्क्षेत्रमासाद्य दूरे कृत्वा निवेशनम्॥ कौरवा यादवा मुख्याश्चमत्कारपुरं गताः

atha tatkṣetramāsādya dūre kṛtvā niveśanam kauravā yādavā mukhyāścamatkārapuraṁ gatāḥ

Then, having reached that sacred field and pitched their camp at a distance, the chief Kauravas and Yadavas went into Chamatkarapura.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.73.25)

तत्र सर्वान्समाहूय ब्राह्मणान्विनयान्विताः॥ प्रोचुर्दत्त्वा विचित्राणि भूषणाच्छादनानि च

tatra sarvānsamāhūya brāhmaṇānvinayānvitāḥ procurdattvā vicitrāṇi bhūṣaṇācchādanāni ca

There, humbly, having summoned all the brahmins and given them varied ornaments and garments, they said:

Verse 26 (skanda.6.73.26)

वयं सर्वेऽत्र वांछामो लिंगसंस्थापनक्रियाम्॥ कर्तुं प्रासादमुख्यानां पृथक्त्वेन स्वशक्तितः

vayaṁ sarve'tra vāṁchāmo liṁgasaṁsthāpanakriyām kartuṁ prāsādamukhyānāṁ pṛthaktvena svaśaktitaḥ

"All of us wish to carry out here the rite of installing lingas, each building excellent temples separately, according to his own means."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.73.27)

तस्मात्कृत्वा प्रसादं नो दयां च द्विजसत्तमाः॥ आज्ञापयत शीघ्रं हि येन कर्म प्रवर्तते

tasmātkṛtvā prasādaṁ no dayāṁ ca dvijasattamāḥ ājñāpayata śīghraṁ hi yena karma pravartate

"Therefore, O best of brahmins, show us your favor and compassion, and swiftly give your consent, so that the work may proceed."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.73.28)

भविष्यथ तथा यूयं होतारः सर्वकर्मसु॥ न चान्यो ब्राह्मणो बाह्यो यद्यपि स्याद्बृहस्पतिः

bhaviṣyatha tathā yūyaṁ hotāraḥ sarvakarmasu na cānyo brāhmaṇo bāhyo yadyapi syādbṛhaspatiḥ

"And you shall be the officiating priests in every rite; no other, outside brahmin — even were he Brihaspati himself."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.73.29)

यतोऽस्माभिः श्रुता वार्ता कीर्त्यमाना पुरातनी॥ विष्णुना तस्य राजर्षेः प्रेतश्राद्धसमुद्भवा

yato'smābhiḥ śrutā vārtā kīrtyamānā purātanī viṣṇunā tasya rājarṣeḥ pretaśrāddhasamudbhavā

"For we have heard that ancient tale, recounted by Vishnu, concerning the shraddha performed for the departed spirit of that royal sage,"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.73.30)

यथा तेन कृतं श्राद्धं पितुः प्रेतस्य यत्नतः॥ ब्राह्मणानां पुरोऽन्येषां यथोक्तानामपि द्विजाः

yathā tena kṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ pituḥ pretasya yatnataḥ brāhmaṇānāṁ puro'nyeṣāṁ yathoktānāmapi dvijāḥ

"how he diligently performed the shraddha for his departed father, before other duly-prescribed brahmins, O brahmins,"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.73.31)

यथोक्तविधिना तीर्थे नागानां पंचमीदिने॥ श्रावणे मासि नो मुक्तः पिता तस्य तथापि सः

yathoktavidhinā tīrthe nāgānāṁ paṁcamīdine śrāvaṇe māsi no muktaḥ pitā tasya tathāpi saḥ

"by the prescribed rite, at the sacred ford, on the fifth day of the Nagas in the month of Shravana — yet even so his father was not freed,"

Verse 32 (skanda.6.73.32)

प्रेतत्वात्सर्पदोषेण संजाता द्विजसत्तमाः॥ देवशर्मपुरो यावत्तत्कृतं श्राद्धमादरात्॥ तावत्पिता विनिर्मुक्तः प्रेतत्वाद्दारुणाद्द्विजाः

pretatvātsarpadoṣeṇa saṁjātā dvijasattamāḥ devaśarmapuro yāvattatkṛtaṁ śrāddhamādarāt tāvatpitā vinirmuktaḥ pretatvāddāruṇāddvijāḥ

"from the state of a ghost caused by the sin against serpents, O best of brahmins — not until, before Devasharma, that shraddha was performed reverently was the father released from that terrible state of a departed spirit."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.73.33)

यदत्र क्रियते किंचित्कर्म धर्म्यं द्विजोत्तमाः॥ तद्बाह्यं च भवेद्व्यर्थमेतद्विद्मः स्फुटं वयम्

yadatra kriyate kiṁcitkarma dharmyaṁ dvijottamāḥ tadbāhyaṁ ca bhavedvyarthametadvidmaḥ sphuṭaṁ vayam

"Whatever righteous rite is performed here, O best of brahmins, becomes fruitless if done by an outsider — this we know clearly."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.73.34)

प्रार्थयामो विशेषेण तेन दैन्यं समागताः॥ प्रसादः क्रियतां तस्मादाज्ञां यच्छत मा चिरम्

prārthayāmo viśeṣeṇa tena dainyaṁ samāgatāḥ prasādaḥ kriyatāṁ tasmādājñāṁ yacchata mā ciram

"For this reason especially we beseech you, having come to you in humility; therefore be gracious, and grant your consent without delay."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.73.35)

सूत उवाच॥ तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणास्ते परस्परम्॥ मन्त्रं चक्रुस्तदर्थं हि किं कृतं सुकृतं भवेत्

sūta uvāca teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā brāhmaṇāste parasparam mantraṁ cakrustadarthaṁ hi kiṁ kṛtaṁ sukṛtaṁ bhavet

Suta said: Hearing their words, those brahmins deliberated among themselves as to what course would be the right one to take.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.73.36)

एके प्रोचुर्न दास्यामः प्रासादार्थं वसुन्धराम्॥ एतेषामपि चैकस्य तस्माद्गच्छंतु सत्वरम्

eke procurna dāsyāmaḥ prāsādārthaṁ vasundharām eteṣāmapi caikasya tasmādgacchaṁtu satvaram

Some said: "We shall not give land for a temple to even one of them; let them therefore go away at once."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.73.37)

पंचक्रोशप्रमाणेन क्षेत्रमेतद्व्यवस्थितम्॥ पूर्वेषामपि देवानां प्रासादैस्तत्समावृतम्

paṁcakrośapramāṇena kṣetrametadvyavasthitam pūrveṣāmapi devānāṁ prāsādaistatsamāvṛtam

"This sacred field extends only to a measure of five kroshas, and it is already covered over with the temples of the earlier gods."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.73.38)

अन्ये प्रोचुर्धनोमत्ता यूयं च सुखमाश्रिताः॥ दारिद्यार्तिं न जानीथ ब्रूथ तेन भृशं वचः

anye procurdhanomattā yūyaṁ ca sukhamāśritāḥ dāridyārtiṁ na jānītha brūtha tena bhṛśaṁ vacaḥ

Others said: "You, intoxicated with wealth and given over to comfort, do not know the pain of poverty; that is why you speak such harsh words."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.73.39)

तस्माद्वयं प्रदास्याम एतेषां हि वसुन्धराम्॥ अर्थसिद्धिर्भवेद्येन भूषा स्थानस्य जायते

tasmādvayaṁ pradāsyāma eteṣāṁ hi vasundharām arthasiddhirbhavedyena bhūṣā sthānasya jāyate

"Therefore we shall give them land, whereby wealth may be secured and this place may become adorned."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.73.40)

तथान्ये मध्यमाः प्रोचुर्यत्र साक्षाज्जनार्दनः॥ स्वयं प्रार्थयते भूमिं तत्कस्मान्न प्रदीयते

tathānye madhyamāḥ procuryatra sākṣājjanārdanaḥ svayaṁ prārthayate bhūmiṁ tatkasmānna pradīyate

And other, moderate ones said: "Where Janardana himself, in person, requests land, why should it not be given?"

Verse 41 (skanda.6.73.41)

तस्माद्यत्र समायाताः कुरुपांडवयादवाः॥ प्राधान्येन प्रकुर्वंतु प्रासादांस्तेन चापरे

tasmādyatra samāyātāḥ kurupāṁḍavayādavāḥ prādhānyena prakurvaṁtu prāsādāṁstena cāpare

"Therefore, since the Kurus, Pandavas, and Yadavas have come, let them, as the principal ones, build their temples, and let others build alongside them too."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.73.42)

याचते यत्र गांगेयः स्वयमेव तथा परः॥ धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रश्च पांडवाश्च महाबलाः॥ लिंगसंस्थापनार्थाय निषेधस्तत्र नार्हति

yācate yatra gāṁgeyaḥ svayameva tathā paraḥ dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputraśca pāṁḍavāśca mahābalāḥ liṁgasaṁsthāpanārthāya niṣedhastatra nārhati

"Where the son of Ganga himself entreats, and likewise Dhritarashtra with his sons, and the mighty Pandavas, for the establishing of lingas, a refusal is not fitting there."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.73.43)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतिपन्नं द्विजोत्तमैः॥ निर्धनैः सधनैश्चापि सस्पृहैर्निःस्पृहैरपि

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā pratipannaṁ dvijottamaiḥ nirdhanaiḥ sadhanaiścāpi saspṛhairniḥspṛhairapi

Hearing their words, it was agreed to by the excellent brahmins — the poor and the rich alike, both those eager and those free of desire.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.73.44)

ततः समेत्य ते सर्वे ब्राह्मणाः कुरुसत्तमान्॥ यादवान्पांडवान्प्रोचुः कृत्वा वै मन्त्रनिश्चयम्

tataḥ sametya te sarve brāhmaṇāḥ kurusattamān yādavānpāṁḍavānprocuḥ kṛtvā vai mantraniścayam

Then all those brahmins, having reached a settled decision, gathered before the foremost Kurus, the Yadavas, and the Pandavas and said:

Verse 45 (skanda.6.73.45)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः॥ एतत्स्वल्पतरं क्षेत्रं सर्वेषामपि भूभुजाम्॥ प्रासादैः सर्वतो व्याप्तं तत्किं ब्रूमोऽधुना वयम्

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ etatsvalpataraṁ kṣetraṁ sarveṣāmapi bhūbhujām prāsādaiḥ sarvato vyāptaṁ tatkiṁ brūmo'dhunā vayam

The brahmins said: "This sacred field is quite small, and it is already covered on every side with the temples of all these kings — what indeed can we say now?"

Verse 46 (skanda.6.73.46)

तद्भवंतः प्रकुर्वंतु प्राधान्येन यदृच्छया॥ क्षेत्रेऽत्रैवाभिमुख्येन प्रासादान्सुमनोहरान्॥ यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं पृथक्त्वेन व्यवस्थिताः

tadbhavaṁtaḥ prakurvaṁtu prādhānyena yadṛcchayā kṣetre'traivābhimukhyena prāsādānsumanoharān yathājyeṣṭhaṁ yathāśreṣṭhaṁ pṛthaktvena vyavasthitāḥ

"Therefore, as principal ones, build here at will, facing this very field, most beautiful temples, each arranged separately according to seniority and rank."

Verse 47 (skanda.6.73.47)

अथ हर्षसमायुक्ता धृतराष्ट्रमुखाः क्रमात्॥ प्राधान्येन यथाश्रेष्ठं चक्रुः प्रासादपद्धतिम्

atha harṣasamāyuktā dhṛtarāṣṭramukhāḥ kramāt prādhānyena yathāśreṣṭhaṁ cakruḥ prāsādapaddhatim

Then, filled with joy, those headed by Dhritarashtra, in due order, built a row of temples according to precedence and rank.