The Establishment of Mundira, Kalapriya, and Mulasthana

Verse 1 (skanda.6.76.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तथान्यदपि तत्रास्ति भास्करत्रितयं शुभम्॥ यैस्तुष्टैस्त्रिषु लोकेषु मानवो मुक्तिमाप्नुयात्

sūta uvāca tathānyadapi tatrāsti bhāskaratritayaṁ śubham yaistuṣṭaistriṣu lokeṣu mānavo muktimāpnuyāt

Suta said: There is also another thing there — an auspicious triad of suns, pleased with whom a man attains liberation in the three worlds.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.76.2)

मुण्डीरं प्रथमं तत्र कालप्रियं तथापरम्॥ मूलस्थानं तृतीयं च सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्

muṇḍīraṁ prathamaṁ tatra kālapriyaṁ tathāparam mūlasthānaṁ tṛtīyaṁ ca sarvavyādhivināśanam

Mundira is the first there, Kalapriya the second, and Mulasthana the third — the destroyer of all disease.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.76.3)

तत्र संक्रमते सूर्यो मुंडीरे रजनीक्षये॥ कालप्रिये च मध्याह्ने मूलस्थाने क्षपागमे

tatra saṁkramate sūryo muṁḍīre rajanīkṣaye kālapriye ca madhyāhne mūlasthāne kṣapāgame

There the sun passes into Mundira at the end of night, into Kalapriya at midday, and into Mulasthana at the coming of night.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.76.4)

तस्मिन्काले नरो भक्त्या पश्येदप्येकमेवच॥ कृतक्षणो नरो मोक्षं सत्यं याति न संशयः

tasminkāle naro bhaktyā paśyedapyekamevaca kṛtakṣaṇo naro mokṣaṁ satyaṁ yāti na saṁśayaḥ

If at that time a man, with devotion, beholds even one of them, having thus made the moment fruitful, that man truly attains liberation — without doubt.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.76.5)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ मुंडीरः पूर्वदिग्भागे धरित्र्याः श्रूयते किल॥ मध्ये कालप्रियो देवो मूलस्थानं तदन्तरे

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ muṁḍīraḥ pūrvadigbhāge dharitryāḥ śrūyate kila madhye kālapriyo devo mūlasthānaṁ tadantare

The sages said: "We have heard that Mundira is in the eastern part of the earth, the god Kalapriya is in the middle, and Mulasthana lies between them —"

Verse 6 (skanda.6.76.6)

तत्कथं ते त्रयस्तत्र संजाताः सूत भास्कराः॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे सर्वं नो ब्रूहि विस्तरात्

tatkathaṁ te trayastatra saṁjātāḥ sūta bhāskarāḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre sarvaṁ no brūhi vistarāt

"How then did those three suns come to be there, in the sacred field of Hatakeshvara, O Suta? Tell us all this in detail."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.76.7)

सूत उवाच॥ अस्ति सागरपर्यंते विटंकपुरमुत्तमम्॥ समुद्रवीचिसंसक्तप्रोच्चप्राकारमण्डनम्

sūta uvāca asti sāgaraparyaṁte viṭaṁkapuramuttamam samudravīcisaṁsaktaproccaprākāramaṇḍanam

Suta said: At the shore of the ocean there is an excellent city, Vitankapura, adorned with lofty ramparts washed by the waves of the sea.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.76.8)

तत्राभूद्ब्राह्मणः कश्चित्कुष्ठव्याधिसमन्वितः॥ पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन यौवने समुपस्थिते

tatrābhūdbrāhmaṇaḥ kaścitkuṣṭhavyādhisamanvitaḥ pūrvakarmavipākena yauvane samupasthite

There lived a certain brahmin afflicted with leprosy, which had come upon him in his youth as the ripened fruit of past karma.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.76.9)

तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी कुलीना शीलमंडना॥ तथाभूतमपि प्रायः सा पश्यति यथा स्मरम्

tasya bhāryā'bhavatsādhvī kulīnā śīlamaṁḍanā tathābhūtamapi prāyaḥ sā paśyati yathā smaram

His wife was a virtuous woman of good family, adorned with good conduct; afflicted as he was, she still regarded him almost as if he were the god of love himself.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.76.10)

औषधानि विचित्राणि महार्घ्याण्यपि चाददे॥ तदर्थमुपलेपांश्च पथ्यानि विविधानि च

auṣadhāni vicitrāṇi mahārghyāṇyapi cādade tadarthamupalepāṁśca pathyāni vividhāni ca

She procured for him various medicines, even very costly ones, and for his sake ointments and diverse wholesome foods,

Verse 11 (skanda.6.76.11)

तथा भिषग्वरान्नित्यमानिनाय च सादरम्॥ तदर्थे न गुणस्तस्य तथापि स्याच्छरीरजः

tathā bhiṣagvarānnityamānināya ca sādaram tadarthe na guṇastasya tathāpi syāccharīrajaḥ

and constantly, with reverence, brought the finest physicians; yet for all that, no benefit came to his body.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.76.12)

यथायथा स गृह्णाति भेषजानि द्विजोत्तमाः॥ कुष्ठेन सर्वगात्रेषु व्याप्यते च तथातथा

yathāyathā sa gṛhṇāti bheṣajāni dvijottamāḥ kuṣṭhena sarvagātreṣu vyāpyate ca tathātathā

O best of brahmins, the more medicines he took, the more the leprosy spread over all his limbs.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.76.13)

अथैवं वर्तमानस्य तस्य विप्रवरस्य च॥ गृहेऽतिथिः समायातः कश्चित्पांथः श्रमान्वितः

athaivaṁ vartamānasya tasya vipravarasya ca gṛhe'tithiḥ samāyātaḥ kaścitpāṁthaḥ śramānvitaḥ

While that excellent brahmin was in this condition, a certain wayfarer, weary from travel, arrived as a guest at his house.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.76.14)

अथ विप्रं गृहं प्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा तस्य सती प्रिया॥ अज्ञातमपि सद्भक्त्या सूपचारैरतोषयत्

atha vipraṁ gṛhaṁ prāptaṁ dṛṣṭvā tasya satī priyā ajñātamapi sadbhaktyā sūpacārairatoṣayat

Seeing the brahmin arrive at the house, that virtuous wife, though he was a stranger, pleased him with true devotion and proper hospitality.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.76.15)

अथ तं स्नातमाचांतं कृताहारं द्विजोत्तमम्॥ विश्रान्तं शयने विप्रः प्रोवाच स गृहाधिपः

atha taṁ snātamācāṁtaṁ kṛtāhāraṁ dvijottamam viśrāntaṁ śayane vipraḥ provāca sa gṛhādhipaḥ

Then, when that excellent brahmin had bathed, rinsed his mouth, eaten, and rested upon a bed, the brahmin who was master of the house spoke to him —

Verse 16 (skanda.6.76.16)

तेजोऽन्वितं यथा भानुं रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितम्॥ यौवने वर्तमानं च मूर्तं काममिवापरम्

tejo'nvitaṁ yathā bhānuṁ rūpaudāryaguṇānvitam yauvane vartamānaṁ ca mūrtaṁ kāmamivāparam

who was radiant as the sun, endowed with beauty, nobility and virtue, in the flush of youth, like a second embodied god of love.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.76.17)

कुष्ठ्युवाच॥ कुत आगम्यते विप्र क्व यास्यसि वदाऽधुना॥ एवं लावण्ययुक्तोऽपि किमेकाकी यथार्तिभाक्

kuṣṭhyuvāca kuta āgamyate vipra kva yāsyasi vadā'dhunā evaṁ lāvaṇyayukto'pi kimekākī yathārtibhāk

The leper said: "From where have you come, O brahmin, and where will you go now — tell me. Endowed with such beauty, why do you travel alone, as though in distress?"

Verse 18 (skanda.6.76.18)

पथिक उवाच॥ अस्ति कान्तीपुरीनाम पुरंदरपुरी यथा॥ सुस्थितैः सेविता नित्यं जनैर्धर्मव्रतान्वितैः

pathika uvāca asti kāntīpurīnāma puraṁdarapurī yathā susthitaiḥ sevitā nityaṁ janairdharmavratānvitaiḥ

The traveler said: "There is a city named Kantipuri, like the city of Indra, ever inhabited by well-settled people devoted to righteous vows."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.76.19)

तस्यामहं कृतावासो गृहस्थाश्रममावहन्॥ ग्रस्तः कुष्ठेन रौद्रेण यथा त्वं द्विजसत्तम

tasyāmahaṁ kṛtāvāso gṛhasthāśramamāvahan grastaḥ kuṣṭhena raudreṇa yathā tvaṁ dvijasattama

"I made my home there, living the householder's life, and was seized by a terrible leprosy, just as you are, O best of brahmins."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.76.20)

ततः श्रुतं मया तावत्पुराणे स्कान्दसंज्ञिते॥ भास्करत्रितयं भूमौ सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्

tataḥ śrutaṁ mayā tāvatpurāṇe skāndasaṁjñite bhāskaratritayaṁ bhūmau sarvavyādhivināśanam

"Then I heard, in the Purana called the Skanda, of a triad of suns on earth that destroys every disease."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.76.21)

ततो निर्वेदमापन्नो भेषजैः क्लेशितश्चिरम्॥ क्षारैश्चाम्लैः कषायैश्च कटुकैरथ तिक्तकैः

tato nirvedamāpanno bheṣajaiḥ kleśitaściram kṣāraiścāmlaiḥ kaṣāyaiśca kaṭukairatha tiktakaiḥ

"Thereupon, disillusioned, having long been tormented with alkaline, sour, astringent, pungent, and bitter remedies,"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.76.22)

ततो विनिश्चयं चित्ते कृत्वा गृह्य धनं महत्॥ मुण्डीरस्वामिनं गत्वा स्थितस्तस्यैव सन्निधौ

tato viniścayaṁ citte kṛtvā gṛhya dhanaṁ mahat muṇḍīrasvāminaṁ gatvā sthitastasyaiva sannidhau

"I then made up my mind, took great wealth with me, and, going to Mundira-swamin, took up my abode right in his presence."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.76.23)

ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय नित्यं पश्यामि तं विभुम्॥ पूजयामि स्वशक्त्या च प्रणमामि ततः परम्

tataḥ prātaḥ samutthāya nityaṁ paśyāmi taṁ vibhum pūjayāmi svaśaktyā ca praṇamāmi tataḥ param

"Then, rising each morning, I daily beheld that Lord, worshipped him to the best of my power, and thereafter bowed down to him."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.76.24)

सूर्यवारे विशेषेण निराहारो यतेन्द्रियः॥ करोमि जागरं रात्रौ गीतवादित्रनिःस्वनैः

sūryavāre viśeṣeṇa nirāhāro yatendriyaḥ karomi jāgaraṁ rātrau gītavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ

"Especially on Sundays, fasting and with senses restrained, I kept a night-vigil to the sound of songs and instruments."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.76.25)

ततः संवत्सरस्यांते तं प्रणम्य दिनाधिपम्॥ कालप्रियं ततः पश्चाच्छ्रद्धया परया युतः

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyāṁte taṁ praṇamya dinādhipam kālapriyaṁ tataḥ paścācchraddhayā parayā yutaḥ

"Then, at the end of a year, having bowed to that lord of the day, I went, filled with the highest faith, on to Kalapriya,"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.76.26)

तेनैव विधिना विप्र तस्यापि दिवसेशितुः॥ पूजां करोमि मध्याह्ने श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

tenaiva vidhinā vipra tasyāpi divaseśituḥ pūjāṁ karomi madhyāhne śraddhāpūtena cetasā

"and by that same rite, O brahmin, I performed worship of that lord of the day too, at midday, with a heart purified by faith."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.76.27)

ततोऽपि वत्सरस्यांते तं प्रणम्याथ शक्तितः॥ मूलस्थानं गतो देवमपरस्यां दिशि स्थितम्

tato'pi vatsarasyāṁte taṁ praṇamyātha śaktitaḥ mūlasthānaṁ gato devamaparasyāṁ diśi sthitam

"Then again, at year's end, having bowed to him according to my ability, I went to the god Mulasthana, situated in another direction."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.76.28)

तेनैव विधिना पूजा तस्यापि विहिता मया॥ संध्याकाले द्विजश्रेष्ठ यावत्संवत्सरं स्थितः

tenaiva vidhinā pūjā tasyāpi vihitā mayā saṁdhyākāle dvijaśreṣṭha yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ sthitaḥ

"By that same rite I performed worship of him too, at evening twilight, O best of brahmins, remaining there a full year."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.76.29)

ततः संवत्सरस्यांते स्वप्ने मां भास्करोऽब्रवीत्॥ समेत्य प्रहसन्विप्रः संप्रहृष्टेन चेतसा

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyāṁte svapne māṁ bhāskaro'bravīt sametya prahasanvipraḥ saṁprahṛṣṭena cetasā

"Then, at the end of the year, in a dream, the Sun-god, O brahmin, came to me smiling, with a heart full of joy, and said:"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.76.30)

परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते विप्र कर्मणाऽनेन भक्तितः॥ ममाराधनजेनैव तस्मात्कुष्ठं प्रयातु ते

parituṣṭo'smi te vipra karmaṇā'nena bhaktitaḥ mamārādhanajenaiva tasmātkuṣṭhaṁ prayātu te

"'I am well pleased, O brahmin, with this devoted act of yours, born of the worship of me; therefore let your leprosy depart.'"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.76.31)

गच्छ शीघ्रं द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रांतोऽसि निजमंदिरम्॥ पश्य बंधुजनं सर्वं सोत्कण्ठं तत्कृते स्थितम्

gaccha śīghraṁ dvijaśreṣṭha śrāṁto'si nijamaṁdiram paśya baṁdhujanaṁ sarvaṁ sotkaṇṭhaṁ tatkṛte sthitam

"'Go quickly, O best of brahmins, you are weary — go to your own home; see all your kinsfolk, waiting there longingly for you.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.6.76.32)

त्वया हृतं पुरा रुक्मं ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः॥ तेन कर्मविपाकेन कुष्ठव्याधिरुपस्थितः

tvayā hṛtaṁ purā rukmaṁ brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ tena karmavipākena kuṣṭhavyādhirupasthitaḥ

"'Long ago you stole gold from a great-souled brahmin; by the ripening of that deed this leprosy came upon you.'"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.76.33)

स मया नाशितस्तुभ्यं प्रहृष्टेनाधुना द्विज॥ एतज्ज्ञात्वा न कर्तव्यं सुवर्णहरणं पुनः

sa mayā nāśitastubhyaṁ prahṛṣṭenādhunā dvija etajjñātvā na kartavyaṁ suvarṇaharaṇaṁ punaḥ

"'That has now been destroyed by me for your sake, delighted as I am, O brahmin. Knowing this, never again steal gold.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.6.76.34)

दृश्यन्ते ये नरा लोके कुष्ठव्याधिसमाकुलाः॥ सुवर्णहरणं सर्वैस्तैः कृतं पापकर्मभिः

dṛśyante ye narā loke kuṣṭhavyādhisamākulāḥ suvarṇaharaṇaṁ sarvaistaiḥ kṛtaṁ pāpakarmabhiḥ

"'Whatever men are seen in the world afflicted with leprosy, all of them, sinners that they are, have committed the theft of gold.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.6.76.35)

तस्माद्देयं यथाशक्त्या न स्तेयं कनकं बुधैः॥ इच्छद्भिः परमं सौख्यं स्वशरीरस्य शाश्वतम्

tasmāddeyaṁ yathāśaktyā na steyaṁ kanakaṁ budhaiḥ icchadbhiḥ paramaṁ saukhyaṁ svaśarīrasya śāśvatam

"'Therefore gold is to be given according to one's power, never stolen, by the wise who desire supreme and lasting happiness for their own body.'"

Verse 36 (skanda.6.76.36)

एवमुक्त्वा सहस्रांशुस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः॥ अहं च विस्मयाविष्टः प्रोत्थितः शयनाद्द्रुतम्

evamuktvā sahasrāṁśustataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ ahaṁ ca vismayāviṣṭaḥ protthitaḥ śayanāddrutam

"Having said this, the thousand-rayed one then vanished from sight, and I, filled with wonder, rose up quickly from my bed,"

Verse 37 (skanda.6.76.37)

यावत्पश्यामि देहं स्वं कुष्ठव्याधिपरिच्युतम्॥ द्वादशार्कप्रभं दिव्यं यथा त्वं पश्यसे द्विज

yāvatpaśyāmi dehaṁ svaṁ kuṣṭhavyādhiparicyutam dvādaśārkaprabhaṁ divyaṁ yathā tvaṁ paśyase dvija

"and beheld my own body, free of leprosy, radiant as twelve suns, divine — just as you now see it, O brahmin."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.76.38)

तस्मात्त्वमपि विप्रेंद्र भक्त्या तद्भास्करत्रयम्॥ अनेन विधिना पश्य येन कुष्ठं प्रशाम्यति

tasmāttvamapi vipreṁdra bhaktyā tadbhāskaratrayam anena vidhinā paśya yena kuṣṭhaṁ praśāmyati

"Therefore, O foremost of brahmins, you too, with devotion, behold that triad of suns by this same rite, by which leprosy is cured."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.76.39)

किमौषधैः किमाहारैः कटुकैरपि योजितैः॥ सर्वव्याधिप्रणाशेशे स्थितेऽस्मिन्भास्करत्रये

kimauṣadhaiḥ kimāhāraiḥ kaṭukairapi yojitaiḥ sarvavyādhipraṇāśeśe sthite'sminbhāskaratraye

"What need is there of medicines, what need of foods, even the pungent kinds prescribed, when this triad of suns, lord of the destruction of every disease, is right at hand?"

Verse 40 (skanda.6.76.40)

स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि सांप्रतं तां पुरीं प्रति॥ गृहेऽद्य तव विश्रांतो यथा विप्र निजे गृहे

svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi sāṁprataṁ tāṁ purīṁ prati gṛhe'dya tava viśrāṁto yathā vipra nije gṛhe

"May well-being be yours; I shall now go on toward that city — I have rested today in your house, O brahmin, as though in my own home."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.76.41)

एवमुक्तः स पांथेन तेन विप्रः स कुष्ठभाक्॥ वीक्षांचक्रे ततो वक्त्रं स्वपत्न्या दुःखसंयुतः

evamuktaḥ sa pāṁthena tena vipraḥ sa kuṣṭhabhāk vīkṣāṁcakre tato vaktraṁ svapatnyā duḥkhasaṁyutaḥ

Thus addressed by that traveler, the leprous brahmin, filled with sorrow, then looked at the face of his own wife.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.76.42)

साऽब्रवीद्युक्तमुक्तं ते पांथेनानेन वल्लभ॥ तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं गच्छ यत्र तद्भास्करत्रयम्

sā'bravīdyuktamuktaṁ te pāṁthenānena vallabha tasmāttatra drutaṁ gaccha yatra tadbhāskaratrayam

She said: "Rightly indeed has this traveler spoken to you, my beloved; therefore go quickly there, where that triad of suns is."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.76.43)

अहं त्वया समं तत्र शुश्रूषानिरता सती॥ गमिष्यामि न संदेहस्तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं विभो

ahaṁ tvayā samaṁ tatra śuśrūṣāniratā satī gamiṣyāmi na saṁdehastasmādgaccha drutaṁ vibho

"I, faithful and devoted to your service, shall go there together with you — there is no doubt of it; therefore go quickly, my lord."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.76.44)

एवमुक्तस्तया सोऽथ वित्तमादाय भूरिशः॥ प्रस्थितः कांतया सार्धं मुण्डीरस्वामिनं प्रति

evamuktastayā so'tha vittamādāya bhūriśaḥ prasthitaḥ kāṁtayā sārdhaṁ muṇḍīrasvāminaṁ prati

Thus addressed by her, he then took much wealth and set out, together with his wife, toward Mundira-swamin,

Verse 45 (skanda.6.76.45)

प्रतिज्ञया गमिष्यामि द्रष्टुं तद्देवतात्रयम्॥ मुंडीरं कालनाथं च मूलस्थानं च भास्करम्

pratijñayā gamiṣyāmi draṣṭuṁ taddevatātrayam muṁḍīraṁ kālanāthaṁ ca mūlasthānaṁ ca bhāskaram

vowing: "I shall go to see that triad of deities — Mundira, the Lord of Time, and the sun of Mulasthana."

Verse 46 (skanda.6.76.46)

ततः कृच्छ्रेण महता कुष्ठव्याधिसमाकुलः॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे संप्राप्तः स द्विजोत्तमाः

tataḥ kṛcchreṇa mahatā kuṣṭhavyādhisamākulaḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre saṁprāptaḥ sa dvijottamāḥ

Then, with great difficulty, afflicted as he was with leprosy, O best of brahmins, he arrived at the sacred field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.76.47)

तद्दृष्ट्वा सुमहत्क्षेत्रं तापसौघनिषेवितम्॥ निर्विण्णः कुष्ठरोगेण पथि श्रांतोऽब्रवीत्प्रियाम्

taddṛṣṭvā sumahatkṣetraṁ tāpasaughaniṣevitam nirviṇṇaḥ kuṣṭharogeṇa pathi śrāṁto'bravītpriyām

Seeing that vast sacred field, thronged with hosts of ascetics, weary on the road and worn out by his leprosy, he said to his beloved wife:

Verse 48 (skanda.6.76.48)

अहं निर्वेदमापन्नो रोगेणाथ बुभुक्षया॥ मुण्डीरस्वामिनं यावन्न शक्रोमि प्रसर्पितुम्

ahaṁ nirvedamāpanno rogeṇātha bubhukṣayā muṇḍīrasvāminaṁ yāvanna śakromi prasarpitum

"I have become despondent from disease and hunger; I am no longer able to crawl on as far as Mundira-swamin."

Verse 49 (skanda.6.76.49)

तस्मादत्रैव देहं स्वं विहास्यामि न संशयः॥ त्वं गच्छ स्वगृहं कांते सार्थमासाद्य शोभनम्

tasmādatraiva dehaṁ svaṁ vihāsyāmi na saṁśayaḥ tvaṁ gaccha svagṛhaṁ kāṁte sārthamāsādya śobhanam

"Therefore, without doubt, I shall give up my body right here. You go back to your own home, my dear, joining some good company of travelers."

Verse 50 (skanda.6.76.50)

पत्न्युवाच॥ अभुक्ते त्वयि नो भुक्तं कदाचित्कांत वै मया॥ एकांतेऽपि महाभाग न सुप्तं जाग्रति त्वयि

patnyuvāca abhukte tvayi no bhuktaṁ kadācitkāṁta vai mayā ekāṁte'pi mahābhāga na suptaṁ jāgrati tvayi

His wife said: "Never, my beloved, have I eaten while you had not eaten; and even alone, O noble one, I have never slept while you were awake."

Verse 51 (skanda.6.76.51)

तस्मादेतन्महाक्षेत्रं संप्राप्य त्वां व्यवस्थितम्॥ परलोकाय संत्यज्य कथं गच्छाम्यहं गृहम्

tasmādetanmahākṣetraṁ saṁprāpya tvāṁ vyavasthitam paralokāya saṁtyajya kathaṁ gacchāmyahaṁ gṛham

"Therefore, having reached this great sacred field with you standing ready for the world beyond, how shall I abandon you and go home?"

Verse 52 (skanda.6.76.52)

दर्शयिष्ये मुखं तेषां त्वया हीना अहं कथम्॥ बांधवानां गुरूणां च अन्येषां सुदृदामपि

darśayiṣye mukhaṁ teṣāṁ tvayā hīnā ahaṁ katham bāṁdhavānāṁ gurūṇāṁ ca anyeṣāṁ sudṛdāmapi

"How shall I, deprived of you, show my face to our kinsfolk, to our elders, and to our other dear friends?"

Verse 53 (skanda.6.76.53)

तस्मात्त्वया समं नाथ प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्॥ स्नेहपाशविनिर्बद्धा सत्येनात्मानमालभे

tasmāttvayā samaṁ nātha pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam snehapāśavinirbaddhā satyenātmānamālabhe

"Therefore, my lord, I shall enter the fire together with you; bound as I am by the bonds of love, I offer myself up in truth."

Verse 54 (skanda.6.76.54)

यावतस्तव संजाता उपवासा महामते॥ तावंतश्च तथास्माकं कथं गच्छामि तद्गृहम्

yāvatastava saṁjātā upavāsā mahāmate tāvaṁtaśca tathāsmākaṁ kathaṁ gacchāmi tadgṛham

"O wise one, whatever fasts you have undertaken, so many have been mine as well — how then can I go to that home?"

Verse 55 (skanda.6.76.55)

एवं तस्या विदित्वा स निश्चयं ब्राह्मणस्तदा॥ चितिं कृत्वा तु दाहार्थं तया सार्धे ततोऽविशत्

evaṁ tasyā viditvā sa niścayaṁ brāhmaṇastadā citiṁ kṛtvā tu dāhārthaṁ tayā sārdhe tato'viśat

Knowing her resolve to be thus, that brahmin built a pyre for burning and, together with her, entered it.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.76.56)

भास्करं मनसि ध्यात्वा यावदग्निं समाददे॥ तावत्पश्यति चाग्रस्थं सुदीप्तं पुरुषत्रयम्

bhāskaraṁ manasi dhyātvā yāvadagniṁ samādade tāvatpaśyati cāgrasthaṁ sudīptaṁ puruṣatrayam

As, meditating on the Sun in his mind, he was about to set the fire ablaze, he suddenly saw before him three radiant, blazing figures.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.76.57)

तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टः क एते पुरुषास्त्रयः॥ न कदाचिन्मया दृष्टा ईदृक्तेजःसमन्विताः

taddṛṣṭvā vismayāviṣṭaḥ ka ete puruṣāstrayaḥ na kadācinmayā dṛṣṭā īdṛktejaḥsamanvitāḥ

Seeing this, filled with wonder, he thought: "Who are these three figures? Never before have I seen any endowed with such splendor."

Verse 58 (skanda.6.76.58)

पुरुषा ऊचुः॥ मा त्वं मृत्युपथं गच्छ कृत्वा वैराग्यमाकुलः॥ व्यावृत्य स्वगृहं गच्छ स्वभार्यासहितो द्विज

puruṣā ūcuḥ mā tvaṁ mṛtyupathaṁ gaccha kṛtvā vairāgyamākulaḥ vyāvṛtya svagṛhaṁ gaccha svabhāryāsahito dvija

The figures said: "Do not, overcome with dejection, take the path of death; turn back, O brahmin, and go to your own home together with your wife."

Verse 59 (skanda.6.76.59)

ब्राह्मण उवाच॥ प्रतिज्ञाय मया पूर्व गृहं मुक्तं निजं यतः॥ मुण्डीरस्वामिनं दृष्ट्वा तथाऽन्यं कालवल्लभम्

brāhmaṇa uvāca pratijñāya mayā pūrva gṛhaṁ muktaṁ nijaṁ yataḥ muṇḍīrasvāminaṁ dṛṣṭvā tathā'nyaṁ kālavallabham

The brahmin said: "For I made a vow earlier and left my own home for it — to see Mundira-swamin, and likewise the other, dear to Time,"

Verse 60 (skanda.6.76.60)

मूलस्थानं च कर्तव्यं ततः सस्यप्रभक्षणम्॥ सोऽहं तानविलोक्याथ कथं गच्छामि मन्दिरम्॥ भक्षयामि तथा सस्यं तेन त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्

mūlasthānaṁ ca kartavyaṁ tataḥ sasyaprabhakṣaṇam so'haṁ tānavilokyātha kathaṁ gacchāmi mandiram bhakṣayāmi tathā sasyaṁ tena tyakṣyāmi jīvitam

"and Mulasthana too — and only then to eat grain. How, then, without having seen them, can I go home? I shall either eat grain, or on that account give up my life."

Verse 61 (skanda.6.76.61)

पुरुषा ऊचुः॥ वयं ते भास्करा ब्रह्मंस्त्रयोऽत्रैव समागताः॥ त्वद्भक्त्याकृष्टमनसो ब्रूहि किं करवामहे

puruṣā ūcuḥ vayaṁ te bhāskarā brahmaṁstrayo'traiva samāgatāḥ tvadbhaktyākṛṣṭamanaso brūhi kiṁ karavāmahe

The figures said: "O brahmin, we are your three suns, come here together, our minds drawn by your devotion; tell us, what shall we do?"

Verse 62 (skanda.6.76.62)

ब्राह्मण उवाच॥ यदि यूयं समायाताः स्वयमेव ममांतिकम्॥ त्रयोऽपि भास्करा नाशमेष कुष्ठः प्रगच्छतु

brāhmaṇa uvāca yadi yūyaṁ samāyātāḥ svayameva mamāṁtikam trayo'pi bhāskarā nāśameṣa kuṣṭhaḥ pragacchatu

The brahmin said: "If you three suns have yourselves come here to my presence, then let this leprosy of mine be destroyed."

Verse 63 (skanda.6.76.63)

तथाऽत्रैव सदा स्थेयं क्षेत्रे युष्माभिरेव हि॥ सांनिध्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु गन्तव्यं च यथा पुरा

tathā'traiva sadā stheyaṁ kṣetre yuṣmābhireva hi sāṁnidhyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu gantavyaṁ ca yathā purā

"And may you always remain right here in this sacred field, though your presence, as before, may still extend through the three worlds."

Verse 64 (skanda.6.76.64)

भास्करा ऊचुः॥ एवं विप्र करिष्यामः स्थास्यामोऽत्र सदा वयम्॥ त्वं चापि रोगनिर्मुक्तः सुखं प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमम्

bhāskarā ūcuḥ evaṁ vipra kariṣyāmaḥ sthāsyāmo'tra sadā vayam tvaṁ cāpi roganirmuktaḥ sukhaṁ prāpsyasyanuttamam

The suns said: "So shall it be, O brahmin; we shall always remain here, and you too, freed from disease, shall attain unsurpassed happiness."

Verse 65 (skanda.6.76.65)

प्रासादत्रितयं तस्मादस्मदर्थं निरूपय॥ येन त्रिकालमासाद्य गच्छामः संनिधिं द्विज

prāsādatritayaṁ tasmādasmadarthaṁ nirūpaya yena trikālamāsādya gacchāmaḥ saṁnidhiṁ dvija

"Therefore build for our sake a triad of temples, so that, coming at the three times of day, O brahmin, we may reach our proper places."

Verse 66 (skanda.6.76.66)

एवमुक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे गताश्चाद्दर्शनं ततः॥ सोऽपि पश्यति कायं स्वं यावद्रोगविवर्जितम्

evamuktvā tu te sarve gatāścāddarśanaṁ tataḥ so'pi paśyati kāyaṁ svaṁ yāvadrogavivarjitam

Having said this, all of them vanished from sight; and he then beheld his own body, entirely free of disease,

Verse 67 (skanda.6.76.67)

द्वादशार्कप्रतीकाशं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्॥ ततः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां विनयावनतां स्थिताम्

dvādaśārkapratīkāśaṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam tataḥ provāca tāṁ bhāryāṁ vinayāvanatāṁ sthitām

radiant like twelve suns, marked with every auspicious sign. Then he spoke to his wife, who stood there humbly bowed:

Verse 68 (skanda.6.76.68)

पश्य त्वं सुभ्रूर्मे गात्रं यादृग्रूपं पुनः स्थितम्॥ प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य भास्करस्यांशुमालिनः

paśya tvaṁ subhrūrme gātraṁ yādṛgrūpaṁ punaḥ sthitam prasādāddevadevasya bhāskarasyāṁśumālinaḥ

"Behold, O fair-browed one, my body, restored to this form by the grace of the god of gods, the ray-crowned Sun."

Verse 69 (skanda.6.76.69)

सोऽहमत्र स्थितो नित्यं पूजयिष्यामि भास्करम्॥ न यास्यामि पुनः सद्म सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

so'hamatra sthito nityaṁ pūjayiṣyāmi bhāskaram na yāsyāmi punaḥ sadma satyametanmayoditam

"I shall remain right here forever and worship the Sun; I shall not return again to that home — this I say in truth."

Verse 70 (skanda.6.76.70)

एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेन्द्रस्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे सुशोभने॥ प्रासादत्रितयं रम्यं निर्ममे भक्तिसंयुतः

evamuktvā sa viprendrastasminkṣetre suśobhane prāsādatritayaṁ ramyaṁ nirmame bhaktisaṁyutaḥ

Having said this, that foremost of brahmins, filled with devotion, built in that most beautiful sacred field a delightful triad of temples —

Verse 71 (skanda.6.76.71)

मुण्डीरस्वामिनश्चैकमन्यत्कालप्रियस्य च॥ मूलस्थानस्य चान्यत्तु सत्पताकाविभूषितम्

muṇḍīrasvāminaścaikamanyatkālapriyasya ca mūlasthānasya cānyattu satpatākāvibhūṣitam

one for Mundira-swamin, another for Kalapriya, and yet another for Mulasthana, each adorned with fine banners.

Verse 72 (skanda.6.76.72)

त्रयाणामपि तेषां तु साध्वर्चाः शास्त्रसूचिताः॥ स्थापयामास सूर्याणां हस्तार्के सूर्यवासरे

trayāṇāmapi teṣāṁ tu sādhvarcāḥ śāstrasūcitāḥ sthāpayāmāsa sūryāṇāṁ hastārke sūryavāsare

For all three of those suns he set up excellent images, as prescribed by the scriptures, on a Sunday when the sun was in the Hasta asterism.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.76.73)

ततस्ताः पुष्पधूपाद्यैः समभ्यर्च्य चिरं द्विजः॥ त्रिसंध्यं क्रमशः प्राप्तो देहांते भास्करालयम्

tatastāḥ puṣpadhūpādyaiḥ samabhyarcya ciraṁ dvijaḥ trisaṁdhyaṁ kramaśaḥ prāpto dehāṁte bhāskarālayam

Then that brahmin, worshipping them for a long time with flowers, incense and the like, at each of the three daily junctures in turn, attained at the end of his body the abode of the Sun.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.76.74)

सूत उवाच॥ एवं ते तत्र संजातास्त्रयोऽपि द्विजसत्तमाः॥ भास्करा भक्तलोकस्य सर्वव्याधिविनाशकाः

sūta uvāca evaṁ te tatra saṁjātāstrayo'pi dvijasattamāḥ bhāskarā bhaktalokasya sarvavyādhivināśakāḥ

Suta said: Thus those three, O best of brahmins, became established there — the suns, destroyers of every disease for the people who worship them.

Verse 75 (skanda.6.76.75)

यस्तान्पश्यति काले स्वे यथोक्ते सूर्यवासरे॥ स वांछिताँल्लभेत्कामान्दुर्लभानपि मानवैः

yastānpaśyati kāle sve yathokte sūryavāsare sa vāṁchitā~llabhetkāmāndurlabhānapi mānavaiḥ

Whoever beholds them, each at its proper time, on a Sunday as prescribed, obtains all his desired wishes, even those hard for men to attain.