The Greatness of the Vasordhara Offering

Verse 1 (skanda.6.90.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः। अग्नितीर्थं त्वया प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मतीर्थं च यत्पुरा ॥ न तयोः कथितोत्पत्तिर्माहात्म्यं च महामते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ agnitīrthaṁ tvayā proktaṁ brahmatīrthaṁ ca yatpurā na tayoḥ kathitotpattirmāhātmyaṁ ca mahāmate

The sages said: "O sage of great wisdom, you earlier spoke of the Agnitirtha and the Brahmatirtha, but you did not tell us the origin and greatness of either."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.90.2)

तस्माद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि एकैकस्य पृथक्पृथक् ॥ न वयं तृप्तिमापन्नाः शृण्वतस्ते वचोऽमृतम्

tasmādvistarato brūhi ekaikasya pṛthakpṛthak na vayaṁ tṛptimāpannāḥ śṛṇvataste vaco'mṛtam

"Therefore tell us of each one separately, in full detail; even as we listen to your nectar-like words, we are not yet satisfied."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.90.3)

सूत उवाच। अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि कथां पातकनाशिनीम् ॥ अग्नितीर्थसमुद्भूतां सर्वसौख्यावहां शुभाम्

sūta uvāca atra vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi kathāṁ pātakanāśinīm agnitīrthasamudbhūtāṁ sarvasaukhyāvahāṁ śubhām

Suta said: Now I shall relate to you the auspicious tale, born of the Agnitirtha, which destroys every sin and brings every happiness.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.90.4)

सोमवंशसमुद्भूतः प्रतीपो नाम भूपतिः ॥ पुरासीच्छौर्यसंपन्नो ब्रह्मज्ञानविचक्षणः

somavaṁśasamudbhūtaḥ pratīpo nāma bhūpatiḥ purāsīcchauryasaṁpanno brahmajñānavicakṣaṇaḥ

Long ago there was a king named Pratipa, born in the lunar dynasty, endowed with valor and skilled in the knowledge of Brahman.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.90.5)

तस्य पुत्रद्वयं जज्ञे सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् ॥ देवापिः प्रथमस्तत्र द्वितीयः शंतनुर्द्विजाः

tasya putradvayaṁ jajñe sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam devāpiḥ prathamastatra dvitīyaḥ śaṁtanurdvijāḥ

O brahmins, two sons were born to him, both marked with every auspicious sign—Devapi the first, and Shantanu the second.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.90.6)

अथो शिवपदं प्राप्ते प्रतीपे नृपसत्तमे ॥ तपोऽर्थं राज्यमुत्सृज्य देवापिर्नियर्यौ वनम्

atho śivapadaṁ prāpte pratīpe nṛpasattame tapo'rthaṁ rājyamutsṛjya devāpirniyaryau vanam

Then, when the excellent king Pratipa attained the state of Shiva (death), Devapi renounced the kingdom for the sake of austerity and went forth into the forest.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.90.7)

ततश्च मंत्रिभिः सर्वैः शंतनुस्तस्य चानुजः ॥ पितृपैतामहे राज्ये सत्वरं सन्नियोजितः

tataśca maṁtribhiḥ sarvaiḥ śaṁtanustasya cānujaḥ pitṛpaitāmahe rājye satvaraṁ sanniyojitaḥ

Then all the ministers swiftly installed his younger brother Shantanu upon the kingdom of his father and forefathers.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.90.8)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रो न ववर्ष क्रुद्धाऽन्वितः ॥ यावद्द्वादशवर्षाणि तस्मि न्राज्यं प्रशासति

etasminnaṁtare śakro na vavarṣa kruddhā'nvitaḥ yāvaddvādaśavarṣāṇi tasmi nrājyaṁ praśāsati

Meanwhile, Indra, filled with anger, withheld the rain for twelve whole years, for as long as he ruled that kingdom.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.90.9)

अतः कृच्छ्रं गतः सर्वो लोकः क्षुत्परिपीडितः ॥ चामुंडासदृशो जातो यो न मृत्युवशंगतः

ataḥ kṛcchraṁ gataḥ sarvo lokaḥ kṣutparipīḍitaḥ cāmuṁḍāsadṛśo jāto yo na mṛtyuvaśaṁgataḥ

Because of this, all the world fell into dire distress, tormented by hunger; whoever had not yet succumbed to death became like a living skeleton, gaunt as Chamunda herself.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.90.10)

संत्यक्ताः पतिभिर्नार्यः पुत्राश्च पितृभिर्निजैः ॥ मातरश्च तथा पुत्रैर्लोकेष्वन्येषु का कथा

saṁtyaktāḥ patibhirnāryaḥ putrāśca pitṛbhirnijaiḥ mātaraśca tathā putrairlokeṣvanyeṣu kā kathā

Wives were abandoned by their husbands, sons by their own fathers, and mothers likewise by their sons; what then need be said of others in the world.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.90.11)

दैवयोगात्क्वचित्किंचित्कस्यचिद्यदि दृश्यते ॥ सस्यं सिद्धमसिद्धं वा ह्रियते वीर्यतः परैः

daivayogātkvacitkiṁcitkasyacidyadi dṛśyate sasyaṁ siddhamasiddhaṁ vā hriyate vīryataḥ paraiḥ

If, by some chance of fate, anyone anywhere was seen to possess any grain, cooked or uncooked, others would seize it from him by force.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.90.12)

शुष्का महीरुहाः सर्वे तथा ये च जलाशयाः॥ नद्यश्च स्वल्पतोयाश्च गंगाद्या अपि संस्थिताः

śuṣkā mahīruhāḥ sarve tathā ye ca jalāśayāḥ nadyaśca svalpatoyāśca gaṁgādyā api saṁsthitāḥ

All the trees withered, and whatever reservoirs and rivers there were shrank to but little water; even the Ganga and other such rivers fell into that same state.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.90.13)

एवं वृष्टेः क्षये जाते नष्टे धर्मपथे तथा ॥ लोकेऽस्मिन्नस्थिसंघातैः पूरिते भस्मना वृते

evaṁ vṛṣṭeḥ kṣaye jāte naṣṭe dharmapathe tathā loke'sminnasthisaṁghātaiḥ pūrite bhasmanā vṛte

Thus, with the rain diminished and the path of righteousness likewise destroyed, this world became filled with heaps of bones and covered over with ashes.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.90.14)

न कश्चिद्यजनं चक्रे न स्वाध्यायं न च व्रतम् ॥ एवमालोक्यते व्योम वृष्ट्यर्थं क्षुत्समाकुलैः

na kaścidyajanaṁ cakre na svādhyāyaṁ na ca vratam evamālokyate vyoma vṛṣṭyarthaṁ kṣutsamākulaiḥ

No one performed sacrifice, sacred study, or vow; thus, tormented by hunger, people did nothing but gaze at the sky, longing for rain.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.90.15)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ चर्मास्थिशेषसर्वांगो बुभुक्षार्त इतस्ततः

etasminneva kāle tu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ carmāsthiśeṣasarvāṁgo bubhukṣārta itastataḥ

At this very time, the great sage Vishvamitra, his whole body reduced to nothing but skin and bone, tormented by hunger, wandered here and there.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.90.16)

परिभ्रमंस्ततः प्राप्य कंचिद्ग्रामं निरुद्वसम् ॥ मृतमर्त्योद्भवैव्याप्तमस्थिसंघैः समंततः

paribhramaṁstataḥ prāpya kaṁcidgrāmaṁ nirudvasam mṛtamartyodbhavaivyāptamasthisaṁghaiḥ samaṁtataḥ

Wandering thus, he came upon a deserted village, filled all around with heaps of bones from the dead.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.90.17)

अथ तत्र भ्रमन्प्राप्तश्चंडालस्य निवेशनम्॥ शून्ये गोऽस्थिसमाकीर्णे दुर्गंधेन समावृते

atha tatra bhramanprāptaścaṁḍālasya niveśanam śūnye go'sthisamākīrṇe durgaṁdhena samāvṛte

Then, wandering there, he came upon the dwelling of an outcaste, empty, strewn with the bones of cattle, and pervaded by a foul stench.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.90.18)

अथापश्यन्मृतं तत्र सारमेयं चिरोषितम् ॥ संशुष्कं गन्धनिर्मुक्तं गृहप्रांते व्यवस्थितम्

athāpaśyanmṛtaṁ tatra sārameyaṁ ciroṣitam saṁśuṣkaṁ gandhanirmuktaṁ gṛhaprāṁte vyavasthitam

There he saw a dead dog, lying long dead, dried up, and no longer even giving off its stench, lying at the edge of the house.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.90.19)

समादाय ततस्तं च आपद्धर्मपरायणः ॥ प्रक्षाल्य सलिले पश्चात्प्रचकर्त तदा मुनिः

samādāya tatastaṁ ca āpaddharmaparāyaṇaḥ prakṣālya salile paścātpracakarta tadā muniḥ

Resorting to the law permitted in dire distress, he picked it up, then washed it in water, and the sage cut it into pieces.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.90.20)

ततश्च श्रपयामास सुसमिद्धे हुताशने ॥ क्षुत्क्षामो भोजनार्थाय ततः पाकाग्रमेव च

tataśca śrapayāmāsa susamiddhe hutāśane kṣutkṣāmo bhojanārthāya tataḥ pākāgrameva ca

Then, wasted with hunger, for the sake of food he cooked it in a well-kindled fire, and set aside the very first portion of the cooked meal,

Verse 21 (skanda.6.90.21)

समादाय पितॄंस्तर्प्य यावदग्नौ जुहोति सः ॥ तावद्वह्निः परित्यज्य समस्तमपि भूतलम्

samādāya pitṝṁstarpya yāvadagnau juhoti saḥ tāvadvahniḥ parityajya samastamapi bhūtalam

taking it to offer as tarpana to the ancestors; but the very moment he began to offer it into the fire, Agni, abandoning the entire face of the earth --

Verse 22 (skanda.6.90.22)

गतश्चादर्शनं सद्यः सर्वेषां क्षितिवासिनाम् ॥ चित्ते कोपं समाधाय शक्रस्योपरि भूरिशः

gataścādarśanaṁ sadyaḥ sarveṣāṁ kṣitivāsinām citte kopaṁ samādhāya śakrasyopari bhūriśaḥ

"-- instantly vanished from the sight of all who dwelt upon the earth, harboring great anger in his heart against Indra --"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.90.23)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे वह्नौ मर्त्यलोकाद्विनिर्गते ॥ विशेषात्पीडिता लोका येऽवशिष्टा धरातले

etasminnaṁtare vahnau martyalokādvinirgate viśeṣātpīḍitā lokā ye'vaśiṣṭā dharātale

Meanwhile, with Agni thus departed from the mortal world, whatever people remained upon the earth fell into especially great distress.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.90.24)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरः सराः ॥ वह्नेरन्वेषणार्थाय वभ्रमुर्धरणीतले

etasminnaṁtare devā brahmaviṣṇupuraḥ sarāḥ vahneranveṣaṇārthāya vabhramurdharaṇītale

Meanwhile, all the gods, with Brahma and Vishnu at their head, wandered over the face of the earth in search of Agni.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.90.25)

अथ तैर्भ्रममाणैश्च प्रदृष्टोऽभूद्गजो महान् ॥ निश्वसन्पतितो भूमौ वह्नितापप्रपीडितः

atha tairbhramamāṇaiśca pradṛṣṭo'bhūdgajo mahān niśvasanpatito bhūmau vahnitāpaprapīḍitaḥ

Wandering thus, they beheld a great elephant, tormented by the heat of a fire, lying prostrate on the ground and gasping for breath.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.90.26)

अथ देवा गजं दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छुस्त्वरयाऽन्विताः ॥ कच्चित्त्वया स दृष्टोऽत्र कानने पावको गज

atha devā gajaṁ dṛṣṭvā papracchustvarayā'nvitāḥ kaccittvayā sa dṛṣṭo'tra kānane pāvako gaja

Then, seeing the elephant, the gods, filled with urgency, asked him: "O elephant, have you by chance seen Agni here in this forest?"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.90.27)

गज उवाच। वंशस्तंबेऽत्र संकीर्णे संप्रविष्टो हुताशनः ॥ सांप्रतं तेन निर्दग्धः कृच्छ्रादत्राहमागतः

gaja uvāca vaṁśastaṁbe'tra saṁkīrṇe saṁpraviṣṭo hutāśanaḥ sāṁprataṁ tena nirdagdhaḥ kṛcchrādatrāhamāgataḥ

The elephant said: "Agni has entered this dense thicket of bamboo here; scorched by him just now, I have come here with great difficulty."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.90.28)

अथ तैर्वेष्टितस्तस्मिन्वंशस्तंबे हुताशनः ॥ देवैर्दत्त्वा गजेंद्रस्य शापं पश्चाद्विनिर्गतः

atha tairveṣṭitastasminvaṁśastaṁbe hutāśanaḥ devairdattvā gajeṁdrasya śāpaṁ paścādvinirgataḥ

Then, when the gods had surrounded that bamboo thicket, Agni, giving that lord of elephants a curse, thereafter emerged from it.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.90.29)

यस्मात्त्वयाहमादिष्टो देवानां वारणाधम ॥ तस्मात्तव मुखे जिह्वा विपरीता भविष्यति

yasmāttvayāhamādiṣṭo devānāṁ vāraṇādhama tasmāttava mukhe jihvā viparītā bhaviṣyati

"O basest of elephants, since you have revealed me to the gods, your tongue shall henceforth grow reversed within your mouth."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.90.30)

एवं शप्त्वा गजं शीघ्रं नष्टो वैश्वानरः पुनः ॥ देवाश्चापि तथा पृष्ठे संलग्नास्तद्दिदृक्षया

evaṁ śaptvā gajaṁ śīghraṁ naṣṭo vaiśvānaraḥ punaḥ devāścāpi tathā pṛṣṭhe saṁlagnāstaddidṛkṣayā

Having thus cursed the elephant, Agni swiftly vanished once more, while the gods, eager to catch sight of him, kept close upon his trail.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.90.31)

अथ दृष्टः शुकस्तैश्च भ्रममाणैर्महावने ॥ भोभोः शुक त्वया वह्निर्यदि दृष्टो निवेद्यताम्

atha dṛṣṭaḥ śukastaiśca bhramamāṇairmahāvane bhobhoḥ śuka tvayā vahniryadi dṛṣṭo nivedyatām

Then, wandering in that great forest, they saw a parrot, and said: "O parrot, if you have seen Agni, tell us."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.90.32)

शुक उवाच। योऽयं संदृश्यते दूराच्छमीगर्भे च पिप्पलः ॥ एतस्मिंस्तिष्ठते वह्निरश्वत्थे सुरसत्तमाः

śuka uvāca yo'yaṁ saṁdṛśyate dūrācchamīgarbhe ca pippalaḥ etasmiṁstiṣṭhate vahniraśvatthe surasattamāḥ

The parrot said: "O best of gods, that pipal tree, growing there within a shami bush, visible from afar—Agni is dwelling within that very ashvattha."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.90.33)

अत्रस्थो यः कुलायो म आसीच्छिशुसमन्वितः ॥ संदग्धस्तत्प्रतापेन अहंकृच्छ्राद्विनिर्गतः

atrastho yaḥ kulāyo ma āsīcchiśusamanvitaḥ saṁdagdhastatpratāpena ahaṁkṛcchrādvinirgataḥ

"My nest, which was there together with my young, was consumed by his very heat; and I too barely escaped with great difficulty."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.90.34)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तैः सुरैः सर्वैः शमीगर्भः स तत्क्षणात् ॥ वेष्टितः पावकोऽप्याशु शुकं शप्त्वा विनिर्गतः

tacchrutvā taiḥ suraiḥ sarvaiḥ śamīgarbhaḥ sa tatkṣaṇāt veṣṭitaḥ pāvako'pyāśu śukaṁ śaptvā vinirgataḥ

Hearing this, when all those gods at once surrounded that shami tree, Agni too, swiftly cursing the parrot, emerged from it.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.90.35)

अहं यस्मात्त्वया पाप देवानां संनिवेदितः ॥ तस्माच्छुक न ते वाणी विस्पष्टा संभविष्यति

ahaṁ yasmāttvayā pāpa devānāṁ saṁniveditaḥ tasmācchuka na te vāṇī vispaṣṭā saṁbhaviṣyati

"O sinner, since you have revealed me to the gods, O parrot, your speech shall henceforth become indistinct."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.90.36)

एवमुक्त्वा जातवेदा देवादर्शनवांछया ॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः

evamuktvā jātavedā devādarśanavāṁchayā hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ

Having said this, Jataveda (Agni), desiring to escape the sight of the gods, came into the field of Hatakeshvara, that of the Supreme Lord --

Verse 37 (skanda.6.90.37)

जलाशयं सुगम्भीरं पूर्वोत्तरदिक्संस्थितम् ॥ दृष्ट्वा तत्र प्रविष्टस्तु निभृतं च समाश्रितः

jalāśayaṁ sugambhīraṁ pūrvottaradiksaṁsthitam dṛṣṭvā tatra praviṣṭastu nibhṛtaṁ ca samāśritaḥ

"-- and, seeing there a very deep reservoir situated in the northeastern direction, entered into it and hid himself away in silence."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.90.38)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र मत्स्यकच्छपदर्दुराः ॥ वह्निप्रतापनिर्दग्धा दृश्यंते शतशो मृताः

etasminnaṁtare tatra matsyakacchapadardurāḥ vahnipratāpanirdagdhā dṛśyaṁte śataśo mṛtāḥ

Meanwhile, there in that reservoir, hundreds of fish, tortoises, and frogs were seen lying dead, scorched by the heat of that fire.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.90.39)

अथ चैकोऽर्धनिर्दग्ध आयुःशेषेण दर्दुरः ॥ तस्माज्जलाद्विनिष्क्रांतो दृष्टो देवैश्च दूरतः

atha caiko'rdhanirdagdha āyuḥśeṣeṇa darduraḥ tasmājjalādviniṣkrāṁto dṛṣṭo devaiśca dūrataḥ

Then one frog, half-scorched, surviving only by the remaining span of its life, crawled out from that water, and the gods saw it from afar.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.90.40)

पृष्टश्च ब्रूहि चेद्भेक त्वया दृष्टो हुताशनः ॥ तदर्थमिह संप्राप्ताः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः

pṛṣṭaśca brūhi cedbheka tvayā dṛṣṭo hutāśanaḥ tadarthamiha saṁprāptāḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ

They asked it: "O frog, if you have seen Agni, tell us; it is for this very purpose that all of us gods, together with Indra, have come here."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.90.41)

भेक उवाच। अस्मिञ्जलाशये वह्निः सांप्रतं पर्यवस्थितः ॥ तस्यैते जलमध्यस्था मृता भूरिजलोद्भवाः

bheka uvāca asmiñjalāśaye vahniḥ sāṁprataṁ paryavasthitaḥ tasyaite jalamadhyasthā mṛtā bhūrijalodbhavāḥ

The frog said: "Just now Agni is dwelling in this very reservoir; because of him, all these many creatures born of the water, dwelling within it, have died."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.90.42)

अस्माकं निधनं प्राप्तं कुटुम्बं सुरसत्तमाः ॥ अहं कृच्छ्रेण निष्क्रांत एतस्माज्जलसंश्रयात्

asmākaṁ nidhanaṁ prāptaṁ kuṭumbaṁ surasattamāḥ ahaṁ kṛcchreṇa niṣkrāṁta etasmājjalasaṁśrayāt

"O best of gods, my own family too has met its death; I alone have escaped this watery refuge, and that too with great difficulty."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.90.43)

तच्छ्रुत्वा ते सुराः सर्वे सर्वतस्तं जलाशयम् ॥ वेष्टयित्वा स्थितास्तत्र वह्निर्भेकं शशाप ह

tacchrutvā te surāḥ sarve sarvatastaṁ jalāśayam veṣṭayitvā sthitāstatra vahnirbhekaṁ śaśāpa ha

Hearing this, all those gods encircled that reservoir on every side and stood there; then Agni laid a curse upon the frog.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.90.44)

यस्माद्भेक त्वया मूढ देवेभ्योऽहं निवेदितः ॥ तस्मात्त्वं भविता नूनं विजिह्वोऽत्र धरातले

yasmādbheka tvayā mūḍha devebhyo'haṁ niveditaḥ tasmāttvaṁ bhavitā nūnaṁ vijihvo'tra dharātale

"O foolish frog, since you have revealed me to the gods, you shall surely become, on this earth, tongueless."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.90.45)

एवमुक्त्वा ततः स्थानात्ततो वह्निर्विनिर्गतः ॥ तावत्स ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तः स्वयमेव महात्मना

evamuktvā tataḥ sthānāttato vahnirvinirgataḥ tāvatsa brahmaṇā proktaḥ svayameva mahātmanā

Having said this, Agni departed from that place; whereupon the great-souled Brahma himself addressed him.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.90.46)

भोभो वह्ने किमर्थं त्वं देवान्दृष्ट्वा प्रगच्छसि ॥ त्वमाद्यश्चैव सर्वेषामेतेषां संस्थितो मुखम्

bhobho vahne kimarthaṁ tvaṁ devāndṛṣṭvā pragacchasi tvamādyaścaiva sarveṣāmeteṣāṁ saṁsthito mukham

"O Agni, why do you flee at the sight of the gods? You are the very first of all these, and you stand established as the mouth of them all."

Verse 47 (skanda.6.90.47)

त्वय्याहुतिर्हुता सम्यगादित्यमुपतिष्ठते ॥ आदित्याज्जायते वृष्टिर्वृष्टेरन्नं ततः प्रजाः

tvayyāhutirhutā samyagādityamupatiṣṭhate ādityājjāyate vṛṣṭirvṛṣṭerannaṁ tataḥ prajāḥ

"The oblation, when properly offered into you, duly reaches the sun; from the sun rain is born, from rain grain, and from grain creatures."

Verse 48 (skanda.6.90.48)

तस्माद्धाता विधाता च त्वमेव जगतः स्थितः ॥ संतुष्टे धार्यते विश्वं त्वयि रुष्टे विनंक्ष्यति

tasmāddhātā vidhātā ca tvameva jagataḥ sthitaḥ saṁtuṣṭe dhāryate viśvaṁ tvayi ruṣṭe vinaṁkṣyati

"Therefore you alone are the sustainer and ordainer of the world; when you are satisfied, the universe is upheld, and when you are angered, it shall perish."

Verse 49 (skanda.6.90.49)

अग्निष्टोमादिका यज्ञास्त्वयि सर्वे प्रतिष्ठिताः ॥ अथ सर्वाणि भूतानि जीवंति तव संश्रयात्

agniṣṭomādikā yajñāstvayi sarve pratiṣṭhitāḥ atha sarvāṇi bhūtāni jīvaṁti tava saṁśrayāt

"Sacrifices such as the Agnishtoma are all established in you; and all beings likewise live only by taking refuge in you."

Verse 50 (skanda.6.90.50)

त्वमग्ने सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरसि सर्वदा ॥ तेनैवान्नं च पानं च जठरस्थं पचत्यलम

tvamagne sarvabhūtānāmantaścarasi sarvadā tenaivānnaṁ ca pānaṁ ca jaṭharasthaṁ pacatyalama

"O Agni, you move at all times within all beings; it is by that very presence that the food and drink lodged in their bellies is fully digested."

Verse 51 (skanda.6.90.51)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं त्वं सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम् ॥ कोपस्य कारणं ब्रूहि यतस्त्यक्त्वा प्रगच्छसि

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ tvaṁ sarveṣāṁ ca divaukasām kopasya kāraṇaṁ brūhi yatastyaktvā pragacchasi

"Therefore show your grace to all the dwellers of heaven; and tell me the reason for your anger, on account of which you flee, abandoning all."

Verse 52 (skanda.6.90.52)

सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः ॥ प्रोवाच प्रणयात्कोपं कृत्वा नत्वा च पद्मजम्

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ provāca praṇayātkopaṁ kṛtvā natvā ca padmajam

Suta said: Hearing those words of the Supreme Lord Brahma, Agni bowed to the Lotus-born and, out of affection, gave voice to his anger.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.90.53)

अग्निरुवाच। अहं कोपं समाधाय शक्रस्योपरि पद्मज ॥ प्रणष्टो जगदुत्सृज्य यस्मात्तत्कारणं शृणु

agniruvāca ahaṁ kopaṁ samādhāya śakrasyopari padmaja praṇaṣṭo jagadutsṛjya yasmāttatkāraṇaṁ śṛṇu

Agni said: "O Lotus-born, hear the reason why, holding anger against Indra, I have vanished, abandoning the world."

Verse 54 (skanda.6.90.54)

अनावृष्ट्या महेन्द्रस्य संजातश्चौषधीक्षयः ॥ ततोऽस्म्यहं श्वमांसेन विश्वामित्रेण योजितः

anāvṛṣṭyā mahendrasya saṁjātaścauṣadhīkṣayaḥ tato'smyahaṁ śvamāṁsena viśvāmitreṇa yojitaḥ

"Because of Mahendra's withholding of rain, all the herbs perished; then Vishvamitra fed me an oblation mixed with dog's flesh."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.90.55)

एतस्मात्कारणान्नष्टो न कामान्न च संभ्रमात् ॥ अभक्ष्यभक्षणाद्भीतः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

etasmātkāraṇānnaṣṭo na kāmānna ca saṁbhramāt abhakṣyabhakṣaṇādbhītaḥ satyametanmayoditam

"For this reason alone I vanished—neither from desire nor from confusion, but from fear of having consumed what should never be eaten. This I speak in truth."

Verse 56 (skanda.6.90.56)

तच्छ्रुत्वा स चतुर्वक्त्रः शक्रमाह ततः परम् ॥ युक्तमेव शिखी प्राह किमर्थं न च वर्षसि

tacchrutvā sa caturvaktraḥ śakramāha tataḥ param yuktameva śikhī prāha kimarthaṁ na ca varṣasi

Hearing this, the four-faced Brahma then said to Indra: "What the flame-crested one has said is indeed just. Why have you withheld the rain?"

Verse 57 (skanda.6.90.57)

शक्र उवाच। ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरमुल्लंघ्य शंतनुः पृथिवीपतिः ॥ पितृपैतामहे राज्ये स निविष्टः पितामह

śakra uvāca jyeṣṭhaṁ bhrātaramullaṁghya śaṁtanuḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ pitṛpaitāmahe rājye sa niviṣṭaḥ pitāmaha

Indra said: "O Grandsire, King Shantanu, overriding his elder brother, has seated himself upon the kingdom of his father and forefathers."

Verse 58 (skanda.6.90.58)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्वृष्टिः संनिरुद्धा मया प्रभो ॥ तद्ब्रूहि किं करोम्यद्य त्वं प्रमाणं पितामह

etasmātkāraṇādvṛṣṭiḥ saṁniruddhā mayā prabho tadbrūhi kiṁ karomyadya tvaṁ pramāṇaṁ pitāmaha

"For this reason, O Lord, I have withheld the rain; therefore, O Grandsire, tell me what I should do now; you alone are the authority here."

Verse 59 (skanda.6.90.59)

पितामह उवाच। तस्याक्रमस्य संप्राप्तं पापं तेन महीभुजा ॥ उपभुक्तमवृष्ट्याद्य तस्माद्वृष्टिं कुरु द्रुतम्

pitāmaha uvāca tasyākramasya saṁprāptaṁ pāpaṁ tena mahībhujā upabhuktamavṛṣṭyādya tasmādvṛṣṭiṁ kuru drutam

The Grandsire said: "The sin that came from that transgression has already been suffered by that king in the form of this drought; therefore now quickly send down the rain."

Verse 60 (skanda.6.90.60)

मद्वाक्याद्याति नो नाशं यावदेतज्जगत्त्रयम् ॥ अकालेनापि देवेन्द्र सस्याभावाद्बुभुक्षया

madvākyādyāti no nāśaṁ yāvadetajjagattrayam akālenāpi devendra sasyābhāvādbubhukṣayā

"By this word of mine, let not these three worlds perish before their time, O lord of the gods, from lack of grain and from hunger."

Verse 61 (skanda.6.90.61)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्र आदिदेश त्वरान्वितः ॥ पुष्करावर्तकान्मेघान्वृष्ट्यर्थं धरणीतले

etasminnaṁtare śakra ādideśa tvarānvitaḥ puṣkarāvartakānmeghānvṛṣṭyarthaṁ dharaṇītale

Thereupon Indra, without delay, commanded the Pushkaravartaka clouds to pour rain down upon the earth.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.90.62)

तेऽपि शक्रसमादेशात्समस्तधरणीतलम् ॥ तत्क्षणात्पूरयामासुर्गर्जन्तो विद्युदन्विताः

te'pi śakrasamādeśātsamastadharaṇītalam tatkṣaṇātpūrayāmāsurgarjanto vidyudanvitāḥ

Those clouds too, at Indra's command, thundering and flashing with lightning, filled the whole surface of the earth with water in that very instant.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.90.63)

अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्ब्रह्मा देवैः सार्धं हुताशनम् ॥ अग्निहोत्रेषु विप्राणां प्रत्यक्षो भव पावक ॥ सांप्रतं त्वं वरं मत्तः प्रार्थयस्वाभिवांछितम्

athābravītpunarbrahmā devaiḥ sārdhaṁ hutāśanam agnihotreṣu viprāṇāṁ pratyakṣo bhava pāvaka sāṁprataṁ tvaṁ varaṁ mattaḥ prārthayasvābhivāṁchitam

Then Brahma, together with the gods, again spoke to Agni: "O purifier, now become manifest again in the fire-offerings of the brahmins; and now ask of me the boon that you desire."

Verse 64 (skanda.6.90.64)

अग्निरुवाच। अयं जलाशयः पुण्यो मन्नाम्ना पृथिवीतले ॥ ख्यातिं यातु चतुर्वक्त्र वह्नितीर्थमिति स्मृतम्

agniruvāca ayaṁ jalāśayaḥ puṇyo mannāmnā pṛthivītale khyātiṁ yātu caturvaktra vahnitīrthamiti smṛtam

Agni said: "O four-faced one, let this sacred reservoir become renowned on this earth by my own name, remembered as 'Vahnitirtha,' the Fire-Tirtha."

Verse 65 (skanda.6.90.65)

अत्र यः प्रातरुत्थाय स्नात्वा श्रद्धा समन्वितः ॥ अग्निसूक्तं जपित्वा च त्वां प्रपश्यति सादरम् ॥ तस्य तुष्टिस्त्वया कार्या द्रुतं मद्वाक्यतः प्रभो

atra yaḥ prātarutthāya snātvā śraddhā samanvitaḥ agnisūktaṁ japitvā ca tvāṁ prapaśyati sādaram tasya tuṣṭistvayā kāryā drutaṁ madvākyataḥ prabho

"Whoever, rising here at dawn, bathes, and, filled with faith, recites the Agni-sukta and reverently beholds you—O Lord, at this word of mine, grant that man swift satisfaction."

Verse 66 (skanda.6.90.66)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच। अत्र यः प्रातरुत्थाय स्नात्वा वै वेदविद्द्विजः ॥ अग्निसूक्तं जपित्वा च वीक्षयिष्यति मां ततः

śrībrahmovāca atra yaḥ prātarutthāya snātvā vai vedaviddvijaḥ agnisūktaṁ japitvā ca vīkṣayiṣyati māṁ tataḥ

Shri Brahma said: "Whatever brahmin, versed in the Veda, rises here at dawn, bathes, recites the Agni-sukta, and then beholds me --"

Verse 67 (skanda.6.90.67)

अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य सकलं लप्स्यते फलम् ॥ अनेकजन्मजं पापं नाशमेष्यति पावक

agniṣṭomasya yajñasya sakalaṁ lapsyate phalam anekajanmajaṁ pāpaṁ nāśameṣyati pāvaka

"-- shall obtain the entire fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice; O purifier, his sin accumulated through many births shall likewise be destroyed."

Verse 68 (skanda.6.90.68)

सूत उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्विरराम पितामहः ॥ पावकोऽपि च विप्राणामग्निहोत्रेषु संस्थितः

sūta uvāca evamuktvā sa bhagavānvirarāma pitāmahaḥ pāvako'pi ca viprāṇāmagnihotreṣu saṁsthitaḥ

Suta said: Having said this, the blessed Grandsire fell silent, and Agni too took up his place once more in the fire-offerings of the brahmins.

Verse 69 (skanda.6.90.69)

एवं तत्र समुद्भूतं वह्नितीर्थं महाद्भुतम् ॥ तत्र स्नातो नरः प्रातः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

evaṁ tatra samudbhūtaṁ vahnitīrthaṁ mahādbhutam tatra snāto naraḥ prātaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Thus arose there that most wondrous Vahnitirtha; whatever man bathes there at dawn is freed from every sin.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.90.70)

अग्निरुवाच। ममातृप्तस्य लोकेश तावद्द्वादशवत्सरान् ॥ क्षुत्पीडासंवृते मर्त्ये न प्राप्तं कुत्रचिद्धविः

agniruvāca mamātṛptasya lokeśa tāvaddvādaśavatsarān kṣutpīḍāsaṁvṛte martye na prāptaṁ kutraciddhaviḥ

Agni said: "O lord of the worlds, throughout those twelve years, while the mortal world lay gripped by hunger, I, unsatisfied, received no oblation anywhere."

Verse 71 (skanda.6.90.71)

भविष्यंति तथा यज्ञा कालेन महता विभो ॥ संजातैः पशुभिर्भूयः सस्यादैरपरैर्भुवि

bhaviṣyaṁti tathā yajñā kālena mahatā vibho saṁjātaiḥ paśubhirbhūyaḥ sasyādairaparairbhuvi

"O mighty one, now, after a long time, sacrifices shall again take place upon the earth, with cattle and grain and the like born once more."

Verse 72 (skanda.6.90.72)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच। अत्र ये ब्राह्मणाः केचिन्निवसंति हुताशन ॥ वसोर्द्धाराप्रदानेन ते त्वां नक्तंदिनं सदा

śrībrahmovāca atra ye brāhmaṇāḥ kecinnivasaṁti hutāśana vasorddhārāpradānena te tvāṁ naktaṁdinaṁ sadā

Shri Brahma said: "O Agni, whatever brahmins dwell here, by the giving of the Vasordhara offering, shall continually, day and night --"

Verse 73 (skanda.6.90.73)

तर्पयिष्यंति सद्भक्त्या ततः पुष्टिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ तेऽपि काम्यैर्मनोऽभीष्टैर्भविष्यंति समन्विताः

tarpayiṣyaṁti sadbhaktyā tataḥ puṣṭimavāpsyasi te'pi kāmyairmano'bhīṣṭairbhaviṣyaṁti samanvitāḥ

"-- satisfy you with true devotion, whereby you shall obtain nourishment; and they too shall be blessed with whatever their hearts desire."

Verse 74 (skanda.6.90.74)

संक्रांति समये येषां वसोर्धाराप्रदायिनाम् ॥ भविष्यति क्षुतं वह्ने हूयमाने तवानल

saṁkrāṁti samaye yeṣāṁ vasordhārāpradāyinām bhaviṣyati kṣutaṁ vahne hūyamāne tavānala

"O Agni, at the time of the solstice, among those who offer the Vasordhara, whoever, while the offering is being poured into you, O flame, happens to sneeze --"

Verse 75 (skanda.6.90.75)

तेषां पापं च यत्किंचिज्ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतः कृतम् ॥ तद्यास्यति क्षयं सर्वमाजन्ममरणांतिकम्

teṣāṁ pāpaṁ ca yatkiṁcijjñānato'jñānataḥ kṛtam tadyāsyati kṣayaṁ sarvamājanmamaraṇāṁtikam

"-- whatever sin they have committed, knowingly or unknowingly, all of it, from birth to the very end of life, shall be destroyed."

Verse 76 (skanda.6.90.76)

त्वयि तुष्टिं गते पश्चाद्भविष्यति महीपतिः ॥ शिबिर्नाम सुविख्यात उशीनरसमुद्रवः

tvayi tuṣṭiṁ gate paścādbhaviṣyati mahīpatiḥ śibirnāma suvikhyāta uśīnarasamudravaḥ

"After you have become satisfied, there shall arise a king, renowned by the name Shibi, born of the line of Ushinara."

Verse 77 (skanda.6.90.77)

स कृत्वा श्रद्धया युक्तः सत्रं द्वादशवार्षिकम्॥ वसोर्द्धाराप्रदानेन वर्षं त्वां तर्पयिष्यति ॥ कलशस्य च वक्त्रेणाविच्छिन्नेन दिवानिशम्

sa kṛtvā śraddhayā yuktaḥ satraṁ dvādaśavārṣikam vasorddhārāpradānena varṣaṁ tvāṁ tarpayiṣyati kalaśasya ca vaktreṇāvicchinnena divāniśam

"He, filled with faith, shall perform a sacrificial session of twelve years and, through the unbroken pouring of Vasordhara from the mouth of a vessel, day and night, for a full year, shall satisfy you."

Verse 78 (skanda.6.90.78)

ततस्तुष्टिं परां प्राप्य परां पुष्टिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ पूज्यमानो धरापृष्ठे सर्वैर्वेदविदां वरैः

tatastuṣṭiṁ parāṁ prāpya parāṁ puṣṭimavāpsyasi pūjyamāno dharāpṛṣṭhe sarvairvedavidāṁ varaiḥ

"Then you shall attain the highest satisfaction and the highest nourishment, worshipped upon the earth by all the foremost knowers of the Veda."

Verse 79 (skanda.6.90.79)

अद्यप्रभृति यत्किंचित्कर्म चात्र भविष्यति ॥ शांतिकं पौष्टिकं वापि वसोर्द्धारासमन्वितम् ॥ संभविष्यति तत्सर्वं तव तृप्तिकरं परम्

adyaprabhṛti yatkiṁcitkarma cātra bhaviṣyati śāṁtikaṁ pauṣṭikaṁ vāpi vasorddhārāsamanvitam saṁbhaviṣyati tatsarvaṁ tava tṛptikaraṁ param

"From this day forward, whatever rite is performed here, be it for peace or for nourishment, accompanied by the Vasordhara, all of it shall bring you the highest satisfaction."

Verse 80 (skanda.6.90.80)

अपि यद्वैश्वदेवीयं कर्म किंचिद्द्विजन्मनाम् ॥ वसोर्द्धाराविहीनं च निष्फलं संभविष्यति

api yadvaiśvadevīyaṁ karma kiṁciddvijanmanām vasorddhārāvihīnaṁ ca niṣphalaṁ saṁbhaviṣyati

"Even the Vaishvadeva rite of the twice-born, if it lacks the Vasordhara, shall become fruitless."

Verse 81 (skanda.6.90.81)

यस्माद्भवति संपूर्णं कर्म यज्ञादिकं हि तत् ॥ शांतिकं वैश्वदेवं च पूर्णाहुतिरिहोच्यते

yasmādbhavati saṁpūrṇaṁ karma yajñādikaṁ hi tat śāṁtikaṁ vaiśvadevaṁ ca pūrṇāhutirihocyate

"For it is only through it that a rite such as sacrifice, whether shantika or vaishvadeva, becomes complete; this alone is called here the 'full oblation.'"

Verse 82 (skanda.6.90.82)

यः सम्यक्छ्रद्धया युक्तो वसोर्द्धारां प्रदास्यति ॥ स कामं मनसा ध्यातं समवाप्स्यति कृत्स्नशः

yaḥ samyakchraddhayā yukto vasorddhārāṁ pradāsyati sa kāmaṁ manasā dhyātaṁ samavāpsyati kṛtsnaśaḥ

"Whoever, filled with proper faith, offers the Vasordhara, shall attain completely whatever desire he holds in his mind."