The Glory of Rameshvara and Pushkara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.111.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि पुष्करारण्यमुत्तमम्। तस्मादीशानकोणस्थं धनुषां षष्टिभिः स्थितम्॥

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi puṣkarāraṇyamuttamam| tasmādīśānakoṇasthaṃ dhanuṣāṃ ṣaṣṭibhiḥ sthitam||

Ishvara said: Thereafter, O great goddess, one should go to the excellent Pushkara forest, situated in the north-eastern direction, sixty bow-lengths away.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.111.2)

तत्र कुण्डं महादेवि ह्यष्टपुष्करसंज्ञितम्। सर्व पापहरं देवि दुष्प्राप्यमकृतात्मभिः॥

tatra kuṇḍaṃ mahādevi hyaṣṭapuṣkarasaṃjñitam| sarva pāpaharaṃ devi duṣprāpyamakṛtātmabhiḥ||

There, O great goddess, is a pool called Ashtapushkara, which removes all sins and is hard to attain for those of unrestrained mind.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.111.3)

तत्र कुण्डसमीपे तु पुरा रामेशधीमता। स्थापितं तन्महालिङ्गं रामेश्वर इति स्मृतम्॥

tatra kuṇḍasamīpe tu purā rāmeśadhīmatā| sthāpitaṃ tanmahāliṅgaṃ rāmeśvara iti smṛtam||

Near that pool, in ancient times, the wise Rama established that great linga, which became known as Rameshvara.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.111.4)

तस्य पूजनमात्रेण मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया॥

tasya pūjanamātreṇa mucyate brahmahatyayā||

By the mere worship of it, one is freed even from the sin of the killing of a Brahmin.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.111.5)

श्रीदेव्युवाच। भगवन्विस्तराद्ब्रूहि रामेश्वरसमुद्भवम्। कथं तत्रागमद्रामः ससीतश्च सलक्ष्मणः॥

śrīdevyuvāca| bhagavanvistarādbrūhi rāmeśvarasamudbhavam| kathaṃ tatrāgamadrāmaḥ sasītaśca salakṣmaṇaḥ||

Shri Devi said: O Lord, tell me at length the origin of Rameshvara. How did Rama come there together with Sita and Lakshmana?

Verse 6 (skanda.7.111.6)

कथं प्रतिष्ठितं लिङ्गं पुष्करे पापतस्करे। एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि फलं माहात्म्यसंयुतम्॥

kathaṃ pratiṣṭhitaṃ liṅgaṃ puṣkare pāpataskare| etadvistarato brūhi phalaṃ māhātmyasaṃyutam||

How was the linga established at Pushkara, that thief of sins? Tell this at length, together with its glory and fruit.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.111.7)

ईश्वर उवाच। चतुर्विंशयुगे रामो वसिष्ठेन पुरोधसा। पुरा रावणनाशार्थं जज्ञे दशरथात्मजः॥

īśvara uvāca| caturviṃśayuge rāmo vasiṣṭhena purodhasā| purā rāvaṇanāśārthaṃ jajñe daśarathātmajaḥ||

Ishvara said: In the twenty-fourth yuga, through the priest Vasishtha, Rama was born long ago as the son of Dasharatha, for the destruction of Ravana.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.111.8)

ततः कालान्तरे देवि ऋषिशापान्महातपाः। ययौ दाशरथी रामः ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः॥

tataḥ kālāntare devi ṛṣiśāpānmahātapāḥ| yayau dāśarathī rāmaḥ sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ||

Then, O goddess, after some time, on account of a sage's curse, Rama the son of Dasharatha, of great austerity, set forth together with Sita and Lakshmana.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.111.9)

वनवासाय निष्क्रांतो दिव्यैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्वृतः। ततो यात्राप्रसंगेन प्रभासं क्षेत्रमागतः॥

vanavāsāya niṣkrāṃto divyairbrahmarṣibhirvṛtaḥ| tato yātrāprasaṃgena prabhāsaṃ kṣetramāgataḥ||

He set out for the forest exile, surrounded by divine Brahmarshis; and in the course of that journey he arrived at the sacred field of Prabhasa.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.111.10)

तं देशं तु समासाद्य सुश्रांतो निषसाद ह। अस्तं गते ततः सूर्ये पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले॥

taṃ deśaṃ tu samāsādya suśrāṃto niṣasāda ha| astaṃ gate tataḥ sūrye parṇānyāstīrya bhūtale||

Having reached that place, greatly wearied, he sat down; and when the sun had set, having spread leaves upon the ground—

Verse 11 (skanda.7.111.11)

सुष्वापाथ निशाशेषे ददृशे पितरं स्वकम्। स्वप्ने दशरथं देवि सौम्यरूपं महाप्रभम्॥

suṣvāpātha niśāśeṣe dadṛśe pitaraṃ svakam| svapne daśarathaṃ devi saumyarūpaṃ mahāprabham||

he slept; and in the latter part of the night he saw, O goddess, in a dream, his own father Dasharatha, of gentle form and great radiance.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.111.12)

प्रातरुत्थाय तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न्यवेदयत्। यथा दशरथः स्वप्ने दृष्टस्तेन महात्मना॥

prātarutthāya tatsarvaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo nyavedayat| yathā daśarathaḥ svapne dṛṣṭastena mahātmanā||

Rising at dawn, that great soul related all of it to the Brahmins—how Dasharatha had been seen by him in the dream.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.111.13)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः। वृद्धिकामाश्च पितरो वरदास्तव राघव। दर्शनं हि प्रयच्छंति स्वप्नान्ते हि स्ववंशजे॥

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ| vṛddhikāmāśca pitaro varadāstava rāghava| darśanaṃ hi prayacchaṃti svapnānte hi svavaṃśaje||

The Brahmins said: O Raghava, your ancestors, desirous of your prosperity and bestowers of boons, grant a vision at the end of a dream to one born of their own line.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.111.14)

एतत्तीर्थं महापुण्यं सुगुप्तं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः। पुष्करेति समाख्यातं श्राद्धमत्र प्रदीयताम्॥

etattīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ suguptaṃ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ| puṣkareti samākhyātaṃ śrāddhamatra pradīyatām||

This most sacred tirtha, the well-guarded place of Sharngadhanvan (Vishnu), is known as Pushkara; here the shraddha rite should be performed.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.111.15)

नूनं दशरथो राजा तीर्थे चास्मिन्समीहते। त्वया दत्तं शुभं पिण्डं ततः स दर्शनं गतः॥

nūnaṃ daśaratho rājā tīrthe cāsminsamīhate| tvayā dattaṃ śubhaṃ piṇḍaṃ tataḥ sa darśanaṃ gataḥ||

Surely King Dasharatha desires something at this tirtha; it was only in order to receive the auspicious rice-ball offered by you that he came to give you this vision.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.111.16)

ईश्वर उवाच। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो राजीवलोचनः। निमंत्रयामास तदा श्राद्धार्हान्ब्राह्मणाञ्छुभान्॥

īśvara uvāca| teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ| nimaṃtrayāmāsa tadā śrāddhārhānbrāhmaṇāñchubhān||

Ishvara said: Having heard their words, Rama of the lotus eyes then invited the auspicious Brahmins fit for the shraddha rite.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.111.17)

अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं पार्श्वे स्थितं विनतकंधरम्। फलार्थं व्रज सौमित्रे श्राद्धार्थं त्वरयाऽन्वितः॥

abravīllakṣmaṇaṃ pārśve sthitaṃ vinatakaṃdharam| phalārthaṃ vraja saumitre śrāddhārthaṃ tvarayā'nvitaḥ||

He said to Lakshmana, who stood by his side with head respectfully bowed: O Saumitri, go quickly to fetch fruits for the shraddha.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.111.18)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय जगाम रघुनंदनः। आनयामास शीघ्रं स फलानि विविधानि च॥

sa tatheti pratijñāya jagāma raghunaṃdanaḥ| ānayāmāsa śīghraṃ sa phalāni vividhāni ca||

Saying 'so be it', that delight of the Raghus went forth, and swiftly brought back many kinds of fruits.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.111.19)

बिल्वानि च कपित्थानि तिन्दुकानि च भूरिशः। बदराणि करीराणि करमर्दानि च प्रिये॥

bilvāni ca kapitthāni tindukāni ca bhūriśaḥ| badarāṇi karīrāṇi karamardāni ca priye||

Bel fruits, wood-apples, and ebony fruits in abundance, and jujubes, karira shoots, and karamarda berries too, O beloved—

Verse 20 (skanda.7.111.20)

चिर्भटानि परूषाणि मातुलिंगानि वै तथा। नालिकेराणि शुभ्राणि इंगुदीसंभवानि च॥

cirbhaṭāni parūṣāṇi mātuliṃgāni vai tathā| nālikerāṇi śubhrāṇi iṃgudīsaṃbhavāni ca||

cucumbers, phalsa berries, citrons as well, and pure white coconuts, and fruits born of the ingudi tree.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.111.21)

अथैतानि पपाचाशु सीता जनकनंदिनी। ततस्तु कुतपे काले स्नात्वा वल्कलभृच्छुचिः॥

athaitāni papācāśu sītā janakanaṃdinī| tatastu kutape kāle snātvā valkalabhṛcchuciḥ||

Then Sita, the daughter of Janaka, swiftly cooked these; and thereafter, at the kutapa hour, having bathed and clad in bark garments, pure—

Verse 22 (skanda.7.111.22)

ब्राह्मणानानयामास श्राद्धार्हान्द्विजसत्तमान्। गालवो देवलो रैभ्यो यवक्रीतोऽथ पर्वतः॥

brāhmaṇānānayāmāsa śrāddhārhāndvijasattamān| gālavo devalo raibhyo yavakrīto'tha parvataḥ||

he had the Brahmins fit for the shraddha, the foremost of the twice-born, brought there—Galava, Devala, Raibhya, Yavakrita, and Parvata,

Verse 23 (skanda.7.111.23)

भरद्वाजो वसिष्ठश्च जावालिर्गौतमो भृगुः। एते चान्ये च बहवो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः॥

bharadvājo vasiṣṭhaśca jāvālirgautamo bhṛguḥ| ete cānye ca bahavo brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ||

Bharadvaja, Vasishtha, Javali, Gautama, Bhrigu—these and many other Brahmins learned in the Vedas,

Verse 24 (skanda.7.111.24)

श्राद्धार्थं तस्य संप्राप्ता रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु रामः सीतामभाषत॥

śrāddhārthaṃ tasya saṃprāptā rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ| etasminneva kāle tu rāmaḥ sītāmabhāṣata||

assembled there for the shraddha of Rama, whose deeds were unwearied. At this very moment, Rama spoke to Sita:

Verse 25 (skanda.7.111.25)

एहि वैदेहि विप्राणां देहि पादावनेजनम्। एतच्छ्रुत्वाऽथ सा सीता प्रविष्टा वृक्षमध्यतः॥

ehi vaidehi viprāṇāṃ dehi pādāvanejanam| etacchrutvā'tha sā sītā praviṣṭā vṛkṣamadhyataḥ||

Come, O Vaidehi, and give water to wash the Brahmins' feet. Hearing this, Sita went in among the trees—

Verse 26 (skanda.7.111.26)

गुल्मैराच्छाद्य चात्मानं रामस्यादर्शने स्थिता। मुहुर्मुहुर्यदा रामः सीतासीतामभाषत॥

gulmairācchādya cātmānaṃ rāmasyādarśane sthitā| muhurmuhuryadā rāmaḥ sītāsītāmabhāṣata||

and, screening herself with the bushes, stood hidden from Rama's sight. When Rama called out again and again, 'Sita, Sita,'

Verse 27 (skanda.7.111.27)

ज्ञात्वा तां लक्ष्मणो नष्टां कोपाविष्टं च राघवम्। स्वयमेव तदा चक्रे ब्राह्मणार्ह प्रतिक्रियाम्॥

jñātvā tāṃ lakṣmaṇo naṣṭāṃ kopāviṣṭaṃ ca rāghavam| svayameva tadā cakre brāhmaṇārha pratikriyām||

Lakshmana, understanding that she had gone from sight and that Raghava was filled with anger, himself performed the rite due to the Brahmins.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.111.28)

अथ भुक्तेषु विप्रेषु कृत पिंडप्रदानके। आगता जानकी सीता यत्र रामो व्यवस्थितः॥

atha bhukteṣu vipreṣu kṛta piṃḍapradānake| āgatā jānakī sītā yatra rāmo vyavasthitaḥ||

Then, after the Brahmins had eaten and the offering of the rice-balls had been made, Janaki Sita came to where Rama was seated.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.111.29)

तां दृष्ट्वा परुषैर्वाक्यैर्भर्त्सयामास राघवः। धिग्धिक्पापे द्विजांस्त्यक्त्वा पितृकृत्यमहोदयम्। क्व गताऽसि च मां हित्वा श्राद्धकाले ह्युपस्थिते॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā paruṣairvākyairbhartsayāmāsa rāghavaḥ| dhigdhikpāpe dvijāṃstyaktvā pitṛkṛtyamahodayam| kva gatā'si ca māṃ hitvā śrāddhakāle hyupasthite||

Seeing her, Raghava rebuked her with harsh words: 'Shame, shame upon you, sinful woman! Abandoning the Brahmins and this great rite for the ancestors, where did you go, leaving me at the very moment the shraddha was at hand?'

Verse 30 (skanda.7.111.30)

ईश्वर उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भयभीता च जानकी॥

īśvara uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhayabhītā ca jānakī||

Ishvara said: Hearing his words, Janaki, frightened,

Verse 31 (skanda.7.111.31)

कृताञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा वेपमाना ह्यभाषत। मा कोपं कुरु कल्याण मा मां निर्भर्त्सय प्रभो॥

kṛtāñjalipuṭā bhūtvā vepamānā hyabhāṣata| mā kopaṃ kuru kalyāṇa mā māṃ nirbhartsaya prabho||

with joined palms, trembling, spoke: 'Be not angry, O blessed one; rebuke me not, O Lord.'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.111.32)

शृणु यस्माद्विभोऽन्यत्र गता त्यक्त्वा तवान्तिकम्। दृष्टस्तत्र पिता मेऽद्य तथा चैव पितामहः॥

śṛṇu yasmādvibho'nyatra gatā tyaktvā tavāntikam| dṛṣṭastatra pitā me'dya tathā caiva pitāmahaḥ||

Listen, O lord, why I went elsewhere, leaving your side: there I saw today my own father, and my grandfather as well,

Verse 33 (skanda.7.111.33)

तस्य पूर्वतरश्चापि तथा मातामहादयः। अंगेषु ब्राह्मणेन्द्राणामाक्रान्तास्ते पृथक्पृथक्॥

tasya pūrvataraścāpi tathā mātāmahādayaḥ| aṃgeṣu brāhmaṇendrāṇāmākrāntāste pṛthakpṛthak||

and his ancestors before him, and my maternal grandfathers too—each of them, separately, had entered into the bodies of those foremost Brahmins.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.111.34)

ततो लज्जा समभवत्तत्र मे रघुनन्दन। पित्रा तत्र महाबाहो मनोज्ञानि शुभानि च॥

tato lajjā samabhavattatra me raghunandana| pitrā tatra mahābāho manojñāni śubhāni ca||

Therefore, O Raghunandana, shame overcame me there. O mighty-armed one, there, by my father—delightful and auspicious,

Verse 35 (skanda.7.111.35)

भक्ष्याणि भक्षितान्येव यानि वै गुणवन्ति च। स कथं सुकषायाणि क्षाराणि कटुकानि च। भक्षयिष्यति राजेन्द्र ततो मे दुःखमाविशत्॥

bhakṣyāṇi bhakṣitānyeva yāni vai guṇavanti ca| sa kathaṃ sukaṣāyāṇi kṣārāṇi kaṭukāni ca| bhakṣayiṣyati rājendra tato me duḥkhamāviśat||

and wholesome foods alone had been eaten—how then, O lord of kings, could he now eat astringent, saline, and bitter things? At that thought, sorrow overcame me.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.111.36)

एतस्मात्कारणान्नष्टा लज्जयाऽहं रघूद्वह। दृष्ट्वा श्वशुरवर्गं स्वं तस्मात्कोपं परित्यज॥

etasmātkāraṇānnaṣṭā lajjayā'haṃ raghūdvaha| dṛṣṭvā śvaśuravargaṃ svaṃ tasmātkopaṃ parityaja||

For this reason, O foremost of the Raghus, out of shame at seeing my own array of father-in-law's kin, I withdrew from sight; therefore give up your anger.'

Verse 37 (skanda.7.111.37)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मितो राघवोऽभवत्। विशेषेण ददौ तस्मिञ्छ्राद्धं तीर्थे तु पुष्करे॥

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā vismito rāghavo'bhavat| viśeṣeṇa dadau tasmiñchrāddhaṃ tīrthe tu puṣkare||

Hearing her words, Raghava was filled with wonder; he thereupon performed the shraddha with particular solemnity at that tirtha of Pushkara.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.111.38)

तत्र पुष्करसान्निध्ये दक्षिणे धनुषां त्रये। लिंगं प्रतिष्ठयामास रामेश्वरमिति श्रुतम्॥

tatra puṣkarasānnidhye dakṣiṇe dhanuṣāṃ traye| liṃgaṃ pratiṣṭhayāmāsa rāmeśvaramiti śrutam||

There, near Pushkara, three bow-lengths to the south, he established the linga that became known as Rameshvara.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.111.39)

यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या गन्धपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात्। स प्राप्नोति परं स्थानं य्रत्र देवो जनार्दनः॥

yastaṃ pūjayate bhaktyā gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ kramāt| sa prāpnoti paraṃ sthānaṃ yratra devo janārdanaḥ||

Whoever worships it with devotion, duly, with sandal-paste, flowers and the rest, attains that supreme abode where the god Janardana himself dwells.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.111.40)

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन द्वादश्यां यत्प्रदापयेत्। न तत्र परिसंख्यानं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते॥

kimatra bahunoktena dvādaśyāṃ yatpradāpayet| na tatra parisaṃkhyānaṃ triṣu lokeṣu vidyate||

What need is there of saying more here—whatever is given as gift on the twelfth lunar day, its measure cannot be reckoned in the three worlds.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.111.41)

शुक्रांगारकसंयुक्ता चतुर्थी या भवेत्क्वचित्। षष्ठी वात्र वरारोहे तत्र श्राद्धे महत्फलम्॥

śukrāṃgārakasaṃyuktā caturthī yā bhavetkvacit| ṣaṣṭhī vātra varārohe tatra śrāddhe mahatphalam||

O fair one, should there ever occur a fourth or sixth lunar day conjoined with Friday or Tuesday, the shraddha performed there then bears great fruit.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.111.42)

यावद्द्वादशवर्षाणि पितरश्च पितामहाः। तर्पिता नान्यमिच्छन्ति पुष्करे स्वकुलोद्भवे॥

yāvaddvādaśavarṣāṇi pitaraśca pitāmahāḥ| tarpitā nānyamicchanti puṣkare svakulodbhave||

For twelve years, the ancestors and forefathers, once satisfied at Pushkara by one born of their own lineage, desire nothing further from anyone else.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.111.43)

तत्र यो वाजिनं दद्यात्सम्यग्भक्तिसमन्वितः। अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः॥

tatra yo vājinaṃ dadyātsamyagbhaktisamanvitaḥ| aśvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ||

Whoever, endowed with true devotion, gives a horse there, that man obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.111.44)

इति ते कथितं सम्यङ्माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम्। रामेश्वरस्य देवस्य पुष्करस्य च भामिनि॥

iti te kathitaṃ samyaṅmāhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam| rāmeśvarasya devasya puṣkarasya ca bhāmini||

Thus, O radiant one, has the sin-destroying glory of the god Rameshvara and of Pushkara been duly told to you.