The Greatness of Rishitirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.255.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्। तस्यैव पश्चिमे भागे ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam| tasyaiva paścime bhāge ṛṣīṇāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām

Ishvara said: O Mahadevi, next one should go to that tirtha renowned throughout the three worlds, and, in the western part of that place, to the tirtha of the sages of pure deeds.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.255.2)

तस्मिंस्त्रिनेत्रा मत्स्याश्च दृश्यंतेऽद्यापि भामिनि। अंगिरा गौतमोऽगस्त्यः सुमतिः सुसखिस्तथा

tasmiṁstrinetrā matsyāśca dṛśyaṁte'dyāpi bhāmini| aṁgirā gautamo'gastyaḥ sumatiḥ susakhistathā

O radiant one, in it even today three-eyed fish are seen. There Angira, Gautama, Agastya, Sumati, and Susakhi dwelt in austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.255.3)

विश्वामित्रः स्थूलशिराः संवर्त्तः प्रतिमर्द्दनः। रैभ्यो बृहस्पतिश्चैव च्यवनः कश्यपो भृगुः

viśvāmitraḥ sthūlaśirāḥ saṁvarttaḥ pratimarddanaḥ| raibhyo bṛhaspatiścaiva cyavanaḥ kaśyapo bhṛguḥ

Vishvamitra, Sthulashira, Samvarta, Pratimardana, Raibhya, Brihaspati, Chyavana, Kashyapa, and Bhrigu —

Verse 4 (skanda.7.255.4)

दुर्वासा जामदग्न्यश्च मार्कंडेयोऽथ गालवः। उशनाऽथ भरद्वाजो यवक्रीतस्त्रितस्तथा

durvāsā jāmadagnyaśca mārkaṁḍeyo'tha gālavaḥ| uśanā'tha bharadvājo yavakrītastritastathā

Durvasa, the son of Jamadagni, Markandeya, Galava, Ushana, Bharadvaja, Yavakrita, and Trita —

Verse 5 (skanda.7.255.5)

नारदः पर्वतश्चैव वसिष्ठोऽरुंधती तथा

nāradaḥ parvataścaiva vasiṣṭho'ruṁdhatī tathā

Narada, Parvata, Vasishtha, and Arundhati —

Verse 6 (skanda.7.255.6)

काण्वोऽथ गौतमो धौम्यः शतानन्दोऽकृतव्रणः। जमदग्निस्तथा रामो बकश्चेत्येवमादयः। कृष्णद्वैपायनश्चैव पुत्रशिष्यैः समन्वितः

kāṇvo'tha gautamo dhaumyaḥ śatānando'kṛtavraṇaḥ| jamadagnistathā rāmo bakaścetyevamādayaḥ| kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaścaiva putraśiṣyaiḥ samanvitaḥ

Kanva, Gautama, Dhaumya, Shatananda, Akritavrana, Jamadagni, Rama, Baka, and others such as these — and Krishnadvaipayana, accompanied by his sons and disciples.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.255.7)

एतत्क्षेत्रं समासाद्य प्रभासं मुनिसत्तमाः। तपस्तेपुर्महात्मानो विविधं परमाद्भुतम्

etatkṣetraṁ samāsādya prabhāsaṁ munisattamāḥ| tapastepurmahātmāno vividhaṁ paramādbhutam

Having reached this field of Prabhasa, those great-souled foremost sages performed manifold and most wondrous austerities.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.255.8)

एवं ते नियतात्मानो दमयुक्तास्तपस्विनः। समाधिना जिगीषन्ते ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्

evaṁ te niyatātmāno damayuktāstapasvinaḥ| samādhinā jigīṣante brahmalokaṁ sanātanam

Thus, disciplined and self-controlled, those ascetics sought, through meditative absorption, to win the eternal world of Brahma.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.255.9)

अथाभवदनावृष्टिः कदाचिन्महती प्रिये। कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तो ह्यभूत्तत्र सर्वलोकः क्षुधार्दितः

athābhavadanāvṛṣṭiḥ kadācinmahatī priye| kṛcchraṁ prāpto hyabhūttatra sarvalokaḥ kṣudhārditaḥ

O beloved, once there arose a great drought there, and the whole world, afflicted by hunger, fell into dire distress.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.255.10)

ततो निरन्ने लोकेऽस्मिन्नात्मानं ते परीप्सवः। मृतं कुमारमादाय कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तास्तदाऽपचन्

tato niranne loke'sminnātmānaṁ te parīpsavaḥ| mṛtaṁ kumāramādāya kṛcchraṁ prāptāstadā'pacan

Then, in that world bereft of food, desiring to preserve their own lives, those sages, reduced to dire straits, took a dead child and began to cook it.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.255.11)

अथोपरिचरस्तत्र क्लिश्यमानान्हि तानृषीन्। दृष्ट्वा राजा वृषादर्भिः प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा

athoparicarastatra kliśyamānānhi tānṛṣīn| dṛṣṭvā rājā vṛṣādarbhiḥ provācedaṁ vacastadā

At that moment, King Uparichara Vrishadarbhi, seeing those sages in such distress, then spoke these words to them:

Verse 12 (skanda.7.255.12)

राजोवाच। प्रतिग्रहो ब्राह्मणानां दृष्टा वृत्तिरनिंदिता। तस्मात्प्रतिग्रहं मत्त गृह्णीध्वं मुनिपुंगवाः

rājovāca| pratigraho brāhmaṇānāṁ dṛṣṭā vṛttiraniṁditā| tasmātpratigrahaṁ matta gṛhṇīdhvaṁ munipuṅgavāḥ

The king said: Accepting gifts is recognized as a blameless livelihood for brahmins. Therefore, O foremost sages, accept a gift from me.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.255.13)

मुद्गान्माषांश्च व्रीहींश्च तथा रत्नानि कांचनम्। युष्माकं संप्रदास्यामि यच्चान्यदपि दुर्ल्लभम्। निवर्त्तध्वमतः सर्वे ह्येतस्मात्पातकात्परम्

mudgānmāṣāṁśca vrīhīṁśca tathā ratnāni kāṁcanam| yuṣmākaṁ saṁpradāsyāmi yaccānyadapi durllabham| nivarttadhvamataḥ sarve hyetasmātpātakātparam

I shall give you mung beans, black gram, rice, jewels, and gold, and whatever else may be hard to obtain. Therefore, all of you, turn back from this grievous sin.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.255.14)

ऋषय ऊचुः। तज्जानंतः कथं राजन्गृह्णीमस्ते प्रतिग्रहम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| tajjānaṁtaḥ kathaṁ rājangṛhṇīmaste pratigraham

The sages said: O king, knowing this, how could we accept your gift?

Verse 15 (skanda.7.255.15)

दशसूनासमश्चक्री दशचक्रिसमो ध्वजी। दशध्वजि समा वेश्या दशवेश्यासमो नृपः

daśasūnāsamaścakrī daśacakrisamo dhvajī| daśadhvajisamā veśyā daśaveśyāsamo nṛpaḥ

One oil-presser is equal, in the weight of sin, to ten slaughterhouses; one flag-bearer equal to ten oil-pressers; one courtesan equal to ten flag-bearers; and one king equal to ten courtesans.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.255.16)

यो राज्ञां प्रतिगृह्णाति ब्राह्मणो लोभमोहितः। तामिस्रादिषु घोरेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते

yo rājñāṁ pratigṛhṇāti brāhmaṇo lobhamohitaḥ| tāmisrādiṣu ghoreṣu narakeṣu sa pacyate

The brahmin who, deluded by greed, accepts a gift from kings, is cooked in the terrible hells beginning with Tamisra.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.255.17)

तद्गच्छ कुशलं तेऽस्तु सह दानेन पार्थिव। अन्येषां दीयतामेतदित्युक्त्वा ते वनं ययुः

tadgaccha kuśalaṁ te'stu saha dānena pārthiva| anyeṣāṁ dīyatāmetadityuktvā te vanaṁ yayuḥ

So go now, O king, may all be well with you along with your gift; give this to others instead. Having said this, they departed into the forest.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.255.18)

अथ राज्ञः समादेशात्तत्र गत्वा च मंत्रिणः। ऊदुम्बराणि व्यकिरन्हेमगर्भाणि भूतले

atha rājñaḥ samādeśāttatra gatvā ca maṁtriṇaḥ| ūdumbarāṇi vyakiranhemagarbhāṇi bhūtale

Then, at the king's command, the ministers went there and scattered upon the ground udumbara fruits filled inside with gold.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.255.19)

अथ तानि व्यचिन्वंश्च ऋषयो वरवर्णिनि। गुरूणीति विदित्वा तु न ग्राह्याण्यंगिराऽब्रवीत्

atha tāni vyacinvaṁśca ṛṣayo varavarṇini| gurūṇīti viditvā tu na grāhyāṇyaṁgirā'bravīt

O fair one, the sages then began to gather those fruits. But Angira, realizing they were 'heavy' with gold, said they should not be taken.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.255.20)

अत्रिरुवाच। नास्महेनास्महे मूढ वयमज्ञानबुद्धयः। हैमानीमानि जानीमः प्रतिबुद्धाः स्म जाड्यतः

atrirūvāca| nāsmahenāsmahe mūḍha vayamajñānabuddhayaḥ| haimānīmāni jānīmaḥ pratibuddhāḥ sma jāḍyataḥ

Atri said: O foolish one, we are not so lacking in wisdom, nor are we fools. We know full well that these fruits are made of gold; our dullness has now given way to full awareness.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.255.21)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। धर्मार्थं संचयो यस्य द्रव्याणां स न शस्यते। तपःसंचयनं मन्ये वसिष्ठो धनसंचयम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca| dharmārthaṁ saṁcayo yasya dravyāṇāṁ sa na śasyate| tapaḥsaṁcayanaṁ manye vasiṣṭho dhanasaṁcayam

Vasishtha said: Even one who hoards wealth for the sake of dharma is not to be commended. I, Vasishtha, consider the accumulation of austerity alone worthy, not the accumulation of wealth.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.255.22)

त्यजध्वं संचयान्सर्वाञ्जातीनां समुपद्रवान्। न हि संचयवान्कश्चिद्दृश्यते निरुपद्रवः

tyajadhvaṁ saṁcayānsarvāñjātīnāṁ samupadravān| na hi saṁcayavānkaścid dṛśyate nirupadravaḥ

Abandon every kind of hoarding, which brings trouble upon all classes of beings; for no one who possesses accumulated wealth is ever seen free from trouble.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.255.23)

यथायथा न गृह्णाति ब्राह्मणोऽसत्प्रतिग्रहम्। तथातथाऽनिशं चास्य ब्रह्मतेजस्तु वर्धते

yathāyathā na gṛhṇāti brāhmaṇo'satpratigraham| tathātathā'niśaṁ cāsya brahmatejastu vardhate

In whatever measure a brahmin refrains from accepting an unworthy gift, in that same measure his spiritual radiance continually increases.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.255.24)

अकिंचनत्वं राज्यं च तुलया समतोलयम्। अकिंचनत्वमधिकं राज्यादपि न संशयः

akiṁcanatvaṁ rājyaṁ ca tulayā samatolayam| akiṁcanatvamadhikaṁ rājyādapi na saṁśayaḥ

If poverty (utter non-possession) and kingship were weighed together upon a scale, poverty would, without doubt, prove heavier than kingship.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.255.25)

कश्यप उवाच। अनर्थो ब्राह्मणस्यैष यदर्थनिचयो महान्। अर्थैश्वर्यविमूढोऽपि श्रेयसो भ्रश्यते द्विजः

kaśyapa uvāca| anartho brāhmaṇasyaiṣa yadarthanicayo mahān| arthaiśvaryavimūḍho'pi śreyaso bhraśyate dvijaḥ

Kashyapa said: The great accumulation of wealth is itself the greatest misfortune for a brahmin; a twice-born deluded by riches and opulence falls away from the path of true good.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.255.26)

अर्थसंपद्विमोहाय बहुशोकाय चैव हि। तस्मादर्थमनर्थाख्यं श्रेयोऽर्थी दूरतस्त्यजेत्

arthasaṁpadvimohāya bahuśokāya caiva hi| tasmādarthamanarthākhyaṁ śreyo'rthī dūratastyajet

Wealth and prosperity lead only to delusion and much sorrow; therefore, one who desires true welfare should renounce, from afar, this so-called wealth which is in truth misfortune.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.255.27)

यस्य धर्मार्थमप्यर्थास्तस्यापि न हि दृश्यते। प्रक्षालनाद्धि पंकस्य दूरादस्पर्शनं वरम्

yasya dharmārthamapyarthāstasyāpi na hi dṛśyate| prakṣālanāddhi paṁkasya dūrādasparśanaṁ varam

Even for one who possesses wealth solely for the sake of dharma, no true good is seen therein. Rather than washing off mud afterward, it is far better never to touch it at all.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.255.28)

भरद्वाज उवाच। जीर्यंति जीर्यतः केशा दंता जीर्यंति जीर्यतः। चक्षुः श्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका न तु जीर्यते

bharadvāja uvāca| jīryaṁti jīryataḥ keśā daṁtā jīryaṁti jīryataḥ| cakṣuḥ śrotre ca jīryete tṛṣṇaikā na tu jīryate

Bharadvaja said: As a man grows old, his hair decays, his teeth decay, his eyes and ears decay — but craving alone never decays.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.255.29)

सूची सूत्र तथा वस्त्रे समानयति सूचिका। तद्वत्संसारसूत्रस्य तृष्णा सूची विधीयते

sūcī sūtra tathā vastre samānayati sūcikā| tadvatsaṁsārasūtrasya tṛṣṇā sūcī vidhīyate

Just as a needle draws thread through a garment, so craving acts as the needle that stitches together the thread of worldly existence.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.255.30)

यथा शृंगं रुरोः काये वर्द्धमाने हि वर्द्धते। अनंतपारा दुर्वारा तृष्णा दुःखप्रदा सदा। अधर्मबहुला चैव तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत्

yathā śṛṅgaṁ ruroḥ kāye vardhamāne hi vardhate| anaṁtapārā durvārā tṛṣṇā duḥkhapradā sadā| adharmabahulā caiva tasmāttāṁ parivarjayet

Just as the horn on a deer's body grows as the body itself grows, so craving is endless, boundless, irresistible, ever a bringer of sorrow, and full of unrighteousness — therefore one should abandon it altogether.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.255.31)

गौतम उवाच। संतुष्टः को न शक्नोति फलैश्चापि हि वर्त्तितुम्। सर्वोऽपींद्रियलोभेन संकटान्यभिगाहते

gautama uvāca| saṁtuṣṭaḥ ko na śaknoti phalaiścāpi hi varttitum| sarvo'pīndriyalobhena saṁkaṭānyabhigāhate

Gautama said: Who, if content, could not live even on wild fruits? Yet everyone, through the greed of the senses, plunges into trouble.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.255.32)

सर्वत्र संपदस्तस्य संतुष्टं यस्य मानसम्। उपानद्गूढपादस्य ननु चर्मावृतेव भूः

sarvatra saṁpadastasya saṁtuṣṭaṁ yasya mānasam| upānadgūḍhapādasya nanu carmāvṛteva bhūḥ

For one whose mind is content, prosperity exists everywhere. Just as for a man wearing sandals, the whole earth seems as though covered with leather.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.255.33)

संतोषामृततृप्तानां यत्सुखं शांतचेतसाम्। कुतस्तद्धनलुब्धानां सुखं चाशांतचेतसाम्

saṁtoṣāmṛtatṛptānāṁ yatsukhaṁ śāntacetasām| kutastaddhanalubdhānāṁ sukhaṁ cāśāntacetasām

The happiness enjoyed by those of tranquil mind, satisfied with the nectar of contentment — how could that ever belong to those greedy for wealth, whose minds know no peace?

Verse 34 (skanda.7.255.34)

विश्वामित्र उवाच। कामं कामयमानस्य यदि कामः स सिद्ध्यति। तथैनमपरः कामो भूयो विध्यति बाणवत्

viśvāmitra uvāca| kāmaṁ kāmayamānasya yadi kāmaḥ sa sidhyati| tathainamaparaḥ kāmo bhūyo vidhyati bāṇavat

Vishvamitra said: Even if a desire that a man cherishes is fulfilled, another desire straightaway pierces him again, like an arrow.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.255.35)

न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति। हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्द्धते

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānāmupabhogena śāmyati| haviṣā kṛṣṇavartmeva bhūya evābhivarddhate

Desires are never quenched by their indulgence; like fire fed with oblations of ghee, they only blaze up all the more.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.255.36)

कामानभिलषन्लोभान्न नरः सुखमेधते। समालभ्य तरुच्छायां भवनं वाञ्छो नरः

kāmānabhilaṣanlobhānna naraḥ sukhamedhate| samālabhya taruchāyāṁ bhavanaṁ vāṁcho naraḥ

A man who covets objects of desire out of greed never attains happiness — like one who, having found the shade of a tree, still longs for a mansion.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.255.37)

चतुःसागरसंयुक्तां यो भुंक्ते पृथिवीमिमाम्। एकस्तु वनवासी च स कृतार्थो न पार्थिवः

catuḥsāgarasaṁyuktāṁ yo bhuṁkte pṛthivīmimām| ekastu vanavāsī ca sa kṛtārtho na pārthivaḥ

It is not the king who enjoys this earth bounded by the four oceans, but the lone forest-dweller, who is truly fulfilled.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.255.38)

जमदग्निरुवाच। प्रतिग्रहसमर्थो यस्तपो वर्द्धयते महान्। न करोति तपस्तस्य जायते च सहस्रधा

jamadagnirūvāca| pratigrahasamartho yastapo varddhayate mahān| na karoti tapastasya jāyate ca sahasradhā

Jamadagni said: One who, though capable of accepting gifts, increases his great austerity instead and does not accept them — his austerity multiplies a thousandfold.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.255.39)

प्रतिग्रहसमर्थानां निवृत्तानां प्रतिग्रहात्। य एव ददतां लोकास्त एवाप्रतिगृह्णताम्

pratigrahasamarthānāṁ nivṛttānāṁ pratigrahāt| ya eva dadatāṁ lokāsta evāpratigṛhṇatām

Those who, though capable of accepting gifts, refrain from accepting them, attain the very same worlds that are attained by those who give gifts.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.255.40)

अरुंधत्युवाच। बिसतंतुर्यथा नित्यं समंतान्नालसंस्थितः। तृष्णा चैवमनाद्यंता तथा देहाश्रिता सदा

aruṁdhatyuvāca| bisataṁturyathā nityaṁ samaṁtānnālasaṁsthitaḥ| tṛṣṇā caivamanādyaṁtā tathā dehāśritā sadā

Arundhati said: Just as the fibre within a lotus-stalk always pervades it on every side, so craving, beginningless and endless, always clings to the embodied being.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.255.41)

या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः। योऽसौ प्राणांतिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखम्

yā dustyajā durmatibhiryā na jīryati jīryataḥ| yo'sau prāṇāṁtiko rogastāṁ tṛṣṇāṁ tyajataḥ sukham

That craving which is so hard for the foolish to renounce, which never decays even as the body decays, and which is like a fatal disease — happiness comes only to one who abandons it.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.255.42)

चंडोवाच। उग्रात्प्रतिग्रहाद्यस्माद्बिभ्यत्येते महेश्वराः। बलीयांसो दुर्बलवत्तथा चैव बिभेम्यहम्

caṁḍovāca| ugrātpratigrahādyasmādbibhyatyete maheśvarāḥ| balīyāṁso durbalavattathā caiva bibhemyaham

Chanda said: That terrible burden of accepting gifts, which makes even these mighty, lord-like sages tremble like the weak — of that very thing I too am afraid.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.255.43)

पशुमुख उवाच। यदाचरंति विद्वांसः सदा धर्मपरायणाः। तदेव विदुषा कार्यमात्मनो हितमिच्छता

paśumukha uvāca| yadācaraṁti vidvāṁsaḥ sadā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ| tadeva viduṣā kāryamātmano hitamicchatā

Pashumukha said: Whatever the wise, ever devoted to dharma, practise — that very same conduct should be followed by any wise person who desires his own true welfare.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.255.44)

ईश्वर उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा हेमगर्भाणि त्यक्त्वा तानि फलानि च। ऋषयो जग्मुरन्यत्र सर्व एव दृढव्रताः

īśvara uvāca| ityuktvā hemagarbhāṇi tyaktvā tāni phalāni ca| ṛṣayo jagmuranyatra sarva eva dṛḍhavratāḥ

Ishvara said: Having said this, and having abandoned those gold-filled fruits, all those sages of firm vows went elsewhere.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.255.45)

ततस्ते विचरंतो वै ददृशुः सुमहत्सरः। पद्मिनीभिः समाकीर्णं सर्वतो वरवर्णिनि

tataste vicaraṁto vai dadṛśuḥ sumahatsaraḥ| padminībhiḥ samākīrṇaṁ sarvato varavarṇini

Then, wandering about, they beheld a very great lake, O fair one, covered on every side with lotus plants.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.255.46)

तस्मिन्देशे तदा प्राप्तः परिव्राजः शुनोमुखः। तेनैव सहितास्तत्र स्नाताः सर्वे महर्षयः

tasmindeśe tadā prāptaḥ parivrājaḥ śunomukhaḥ| tenaiva sahitāstatra snātāḥ sarve maharṣayaḥ

At that place, a wandering ascetic named Shunomukha arrived at that very time; all the great sages bathed there together with him.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.255.47)

तत्रावतारं कृत्वा तैर्गृहीतानि बिसानि तु। निक्षिप्य सरसस्तीरे चक्रुः पुण्यां जलक्रियाम्

tatrāvatāraṁ kṛtvā tairgṛhītāni bisāni tu| nikṣipya sarasastīre cakruḥ puṇyāṁ jalakriyām

Descending into the water there, they set down the lotus-stalks they had gathered on the bank of the lake, and performed the sacred water-rite.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.255.48)

अथोत्तीर्य जलात्तस्मात्ते समेत्य परस्परम्। बिसानि तान्यपश्यंत इदं वचनमब्रुवन्

athottīrya jalāttasmāt te sametya parasparam| bisāni tānyapaśyaṁta idaṁ vacanamabruvan

Then, coming out of the water and gathering together, when they could not find those lotus-stalks, they spoke these words:

Verse 49 (skanda.7.255.49)

ऋषय ऊचुः। केन क्षुधाभितप्तानामस्माकं पापकर्मणा। बिसानि तानि सर्वाणि हृतानि च मुनीश्वराः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| kena kṣudhābhitaptānāmasmākaṁ pāpakarmaṇā| bisāni tāni sarvāṇi hṛtāni ca munīśvarāḥ

The sages said: O lords among sages, which sinner has stolen away all our lotus-stalks, from us who are so tormented by hunger?

Verse 50 (skanda.7.255.50)

ते शंकमानास्त्वन्योन्यं पर्यपृच्छन्द्विजोत्तमाः। चक्रुस्ते शपथान्सर्वे यथान्यायं च भामिनि

te śaṁkamānāstvanyonyaṁ paryapṛcchandvijottamāḥ| cakruste śapathānsarve yathānyāyaṁ ca bhāmini

O radiant one, suspecting one another, those foremost twice-born questioned each other, and all of them, in due order, took oaths accordingly.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.255.51)

कश्यप उवाच। सर्वभक्षः स भवतु न्यासलोपं करोतु सः। कूटसाक्षित्वमभ्येतु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

kaśyapa uvāca| sarvabhakṣaḥ sa bhavatu nyāsalopaṁ karotu saḥ| kūṭasākṣitvamabhyetu bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Kashyapa said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him become an eater of all forbidden things, let him become one who misappropriates a trust, and let him become a false witness.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.255.52)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। अनृतौ मैथुनं यातु पर नारीं विशेषतः। अतिथिः स्यात्तथान्योन्यं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

vasiṣṭha uvāca| anṛtau maithunaṁ yātu para nārīṁ viśeṣataḥ| atithiḥ syāttathānyonyaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Vasishtha said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him engage in union out of season, especially with another's wife, and let him become one who is inhospitable to guests.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.255.53)

भरद्वाज उवाच। नृशंसो वै स भवतु समृद्ध्या चाप्यहंकृतः। मत्सरी पिशुनश्चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

bharadvāja uvāca| nṛśaṁso vai sa bhavatu samṛddhyā cāpyahaṁkṛtaḥ| matsarī piśunaścaiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Bharadvaja said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him become cruel, let him grow arrogant with prosperity, and let him become envious and slanderous.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.255.54)

विश्वामित्र उवाच। नित्यं कामरतः सोस्तु दिवा सेवतु मैथुनम्। नीचकर्मरतश्चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

viśvāmitra uvāca| nityaṁ kāmaratas so'stu divā sevatu maithunam| nīcakarmarataścaiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him remain forever addicted to lust, let him indulge in union by daylight, and let him become devoted to base deeds.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.255.55)

जमदग्निरुवाच। कन्यां यच्छतु वृद्धाय स भूयाद्वृषलीपतिः। अस्तु वार्द्धुषिको नित्यं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

jamadagnirūvāca| kanyāṁ yacchatu vṛddhāya sa bhūyādvṛṣalīpatiḥ| astu vārddhuṣiko nityaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Jamadagni said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him give his daughter to an old man in marriage, let him become the husband of a low-born woman, and let him remain forever a usurer.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.255.56)

गौतम उवाच। स गृह्णात्वविकादानं करोतु हयविक्रयम्। प्रकरोतु गुरोर्निंदां बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

gautama uvāca| sa gṛhṇātvavikādānaṁ karotu hayavikrayam| prakarotu gurornindāṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Gautama said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him accept the gift of sheep and goats, let him trade in horses, and let him revile his own preceptor.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.255.57)

अत्रिरुवाच। मातरं पितरं नित्यं दुर्मतिः सोऽवमन्यताम्। शूद्रं पृच्छतु धर्मार्थं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

atrirūvāca| mātaraṁ pitaraṁ nityaṁ durmatiḥ so'vamanyatām| śūdraṁ pṛcchatu dharmārthaṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Atri said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him, evil-minded, forever dishonour his own mother and father, and let him seek instruction in dharma from a shudra.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.255.58)

अरुन्धत्युवाच। करोतु पत्युः पूर्वं सा भोजनं शयनं तथा। नारी दुष्टसमाचारा बिसस्तैन्यं करोति या

arundhatyuvāca| karotu patyuḥ pūrvaṁ sā bhojanaṁ śayanaṁ tathā| nārī duṣṭasamācārā bisastainyaṁ karoti yā

Arundhati said: Whatever woman has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let her become one of wicked conduct, who eats and takes her rest before her husband does.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.255.59)

चण्डोवाच। स्वामिनः प्रतिकूलास्तु धर्मद्वेषं करोतु च। साधुद्वेषपरा चैव बिसस्तैन्यं करोति या

caṇḍovāca| svāminaḥ pratikūlāstu dharmadveṣaṁ karotu ca| sādhudveṣaparā caiva bisastainyaṁ karoti yā

Chanda said: Whatever woman has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let her become one who acts against her lord, who bears hatred for dharma, and who is filled with hatred for the virtuous.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.255.60)

पशुमुख उवाच। परस्य प्रेष्यतां यातु सदा जन्मनिजन्मनि। सर्वधर्मक्रियाहीनो बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

paśumukha uvāca| parasya preṣyatāṁ yātu sadā janmanijanmani| sarvadharmakriyāhīno bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Pashumukha said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him remain the servant of others in birth after birth, forever, and let him be devoid of all religious observances.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.255.61)

शुनोमुख उवाच। वेदान्स पठतु न्यायाद्गृहस्थः स्यात्प्रियातिथिः। सत्यं वदतु चाजस्रं बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः

śunomukha uvāca| vedānsa paṭhatu nyāyādgṛhasthaḥ syātpriyātithiḥ| satyaṁ vadatu cājasraṁ bisastainyaṁ karoti yaḥ

Shunomukha said: Whoever has committed the theft of the lotus-stalks — let him instead study the Vedas properly, become a householder dear to his guests, and speak truth unceasingly.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.255.62)

ऋषय ऊचुः। इष्टमेतद्द्विजातीनां यस्त्वया शपथः कृतः। त्वया कृतं बिसस्तैन्यं सर्वेषां नः शुनोमुख

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| iṣṭametaddvijātīnāṁ yastvayā śapathaḥ kṛtaḥ| tvayā kṛtaṁ bisastainyaṁ sarveṣāṁ naḥ śunomukha

The sages said: O Shunomukha, this oath you have taken is most pleasing to the twice-born. It seems, then, that it was you who stole the lotus-stalks from all of us.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.255.63)

शुनोमुख उवाच। मया हृतानि सर्वेषां बिसानीमानि वै द्विजाः। धर्मं वै श्रोतुकामेन जानीध्वं मां पुरंदरम्

śunomukha uvāca| mayā hṛtāni sarveṣāṁ bisānīmāni vai dvijāḥ| dharmaṁ vai śrotukāmena jānīdhvaṁ māṁ puraṁdaram

Shunomukha said: O twice-born ones, it was indeed I who stole the lotus-stalks of you all — I did so out of a desire to hear dharma spoken. Know me to be Purandara, Indra.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.255.64)

अलोभादक्षया लोका जिता वै मुनिसत्तमाः। प्रार्थयध्वं वरं शुभ्रं सर्वमेव ह्यसंशयम्

alobhādakṣayā lokā jitā vai munisattamāḥ| prārthayadhvaṁ varaṁ śubhraṁ sarvameva hyasaṁśayam

O foremost sages, through freedom from greed you have won imperishable worlds. Now, without doubt, ask for any excellent boon you wish.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.255.65)

ऋषय ऊचुः। इहागत्य नरो यस्तु त्रिरात्रोपोषितः शुचिः। कृत्वा स्नानं पितॄंस्तर्प्य श्राद्धं कुर्यात्समाहितः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| ihāgatya naro yastu trirātropoṣitaḥ śuciḥ| kṛtvā snānaṁ pitṝṁstarpya śrāddhaṁ kuryātsamāhitaḥ

The sages said: Whoever comes here, fasts for three nights, becomes pure, bathes, offers libations to the ancestors, and performs shraddha with a composed mind —

Verse 66 (skanda.7.255.66)

सर्वतीर्थोद्भवं तस्य पुण्यं भूयात्पुरंदर। नाधोगतिमवाप्नोति विबुधैस्सह मोदताम्। तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः शक्रस्तत्रैवान्तर्हितोऽभवत्

sarvatīrthodbhavaṁ tasya puṇyaṁ bhūyātpuraṁdara| nādhogatimavāpnoti vibudhaissaha modatām| tathetyuktvā tataḥ śakrastatraivāntarhito'bhavat

—O Purandara, may that person obtain the merit arising from all the sacred tirthas; may he never fall into a lower state, but rejoice together with the gods. Saying 'So be it,' Indra then vanished from that very place.