The Chasm Near Vasishtha's Ashrama

Verse 1 (skanda.7.385.1)

व्यास उवाच । ॐ नमोऽनन्ताय सूक्ष्माय ज्ञानगम्याय वेधसे । शुद्धाय विश्वरूपाय देवदेवाय शम्भवे

vyāsa uvāca | oṁ namo'nantāya sūkṣmāya jñānagamyāya vedhase | śuddhāya viśvarūpāya devadevāya śambhave

Vyasa said: Om, salutation to the Infinite, the Subtle, the Ordainer attainable only through knowledge; salutation to the Pure One, of universal form, God of gods, Shambhu.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.385.2)

ऋषय ऊचुः । कथितो वंशविस्तारो भवता सोमसूर्ययोः । मन्वन्तराणि सर्वाणि सृष्टिश्चैव पृथग्विधा

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kathito vaṁśavistāro bhavatā somasūryayoḥ | manvantarāṇi sarvāṇi sṛṣṭiścaiva pṛthagvidhā

The sages said: You have narrated the lineage of the Lunar and Solar dynasties, all the Manvantaras, and the manifold creation as well.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.385.3)

अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामस्तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । कानि तीर्थानि पुण्यानि भूतलेऽस्मिन्महामते

adhunā śrotumicchāmastīrthamāhātmyamuttamam | kāni tīrthāni puṇyāni bhūtale'sminmahāmate

Now we wish to hear the supreme greatness of the sacred fords. O wise one, tell us which holy places on this earth are meritorious.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.385.4)

सूत उवाच । नाना तीर्थानि लोकेऽस्मिन्येषां संख्या न विद्यते । तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्द्धकोटिश्च तेषां संख्या कृता पुरा

sūta uvāca | nānā tīrthāni loke'sminyeṣāṁ saṅkhyā na vidyate | tisraḥ koṭyo'rddhakoṭiśca teṣāṁ saṅkhyā kṛtā purā

Suta said: There are countless sacred fords in this world, beyond reckoning. In ancient times their number was reckoned at three and a half crore.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.385.5)

क्षेत्राणि सरितश्चैव पर्वताश्च नदास्तथा । ऋषीणां तपसो वीर्यान्माहात्म्यं परमं गताः

kṣetrāṇi saritaścaiva parvatāśca nadāstathā | ṛṣīṇāṁ tapaso vīryānmāhātmyaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ

Sacred fields, rivers, mountains and streams have all attained supreme greatness through the power of the sages' austerities.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.385.6)

तेषां मध्येऽर्बुदो नाम सर्वपापहरोऽनघः । अस्पृष्टः कलिदोषेण वसिष्ठस्य प्रभावतः

teṣāṁ madhye'rbudo nāma sarvapāpaharo'naghaḥ | aspṛṣṭaḥ kalidoṣeṇa vasiṣṭhasya prabhāvataḥ

Among them is the mountain named Arbuda, sinless, the remover of all sin; through the power of Vasishtha it remains untouched by the taint of the Kali age.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.385.7)

पुनन्ति सर्वतीर्थानि स्नानदानादिकैर्यथा । अर्बुदो दर्शनादेव सर्वपापहरो नृणाम्

punanti sarvatīrthāni snānadānādikairyathā | arbudo darśanādeva sarvapāpaharo nṛṇām

Just as all sacred fords purify through bathing, giving and the like, Arbuda removes all the sins of men by mere sight alone.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.385.8)

ऋषय ऊचुः । किं प्रमाणोऽर्बुदो नाम कस्मिन्देशे व्यवस्थितः । कथं वासिष्ठमाहात्म्यात्प्रथितो धरणीतले

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kiṁ pramāṇo'rbudo nāma kasmindeśe vyavasthitaḥ | kathaṁ vāsiṣṭhamāhātmyātprathito dharaṇītale

The sages said: What is the extent of the mountain named Arbuda, and in what land does it stand? How did it become renowned on earth through the greatness of Vasishtha?

Verse 9 (skanda.7.385.9)

कानि तीर्थानि मुख्यानि ह्यर्बुदे सन्ति पर्वते । सर्वं विस्तरतो ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि नः

kāni tīrthāni mukhyāni hyarbude santi parvate | sarvaṁ vistarato brūhi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

What are the principal sacred fords on Mount Arbuda? Tell us everything in detail, for our curiosity is great.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.385.10)

सूत उवाच । अहं च सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । अर्बुदस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठा माहात्म्यं च यथा श्रुतम्

sūta uvāca | ahaṁ ca sampravakṣyāmi kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm | arbudasya dvijaśreṣṭhā māhātmyaṁ ca yathā śrutam

Suta said: O best of brahmins, I shall tell you that sin-destroying story, the greatness of Arbuda, just as I have heard it.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.385.11)

वसिष्ठो नाम देवर्षिः पितामहसमुद्भवः । स पूर्वं भूतलं प्राप्तस्तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्

vasiṣṭho nāma devarṣiḥ pitāmahasamudbhavaḥ | sa pūrvaṁ bhūtalaṁ prāptastapastepe sudāruṇam

There was a divine sage named Vasishtha, born of Grandsire Brahma. He once came down to earth and practiced most severe austerities.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.385.12)

नियतो नियताहारः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । वर्षास्वाकाशवासी च हेमन्ते सलिलाशयः

niyato niyatāhāraḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ | varṣāsvākāśavāsī ca hemante salilāśayaḥ

Self-controlled, of regulated diet, devoted to the welfare of all beings, he dwelt in the open sky during the rains and abided in water during the winter.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.385.13)

पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे जपहोमपरायणः । केनचित्त्वथ कालेन तस्य धेनुः पयस्विनी । नन्दिनीति सुविख्याता सा वै कामदुघा शुभा

pañcāgnisādhako grīṣme japahomaparāyaṇaḥ | kenacittvatha kālena tasya dhenuḥ payasvinī | nandinīti suvikhyātā sā vai kāmadughā śubhā

In summer he practiced the five-fire austerity, devoted to japa and fire-offerings. In the course of time he had a milch cow, well known as Nandini, an auspicious wish-fulfilling cow.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.385.14)

सा कदाचिद्धरापृष्ठे भ्रममाणा तृणाशया । पतिता दारुणे श्वभ्रे अगाधे तिमिरावृते

sā kadācidharāpṛṣṭhe bhramamāṇā tṛṇāśayā | patitā dāruṇe śvabhre agādhe timirāvṛte

Once, wandering over the earth in search of grass, she fell into a terrible, bottomless pit covered in darkness.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.385.15)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भगवांस्तीक्ष्णदीधितिः । अस्तं गतो न सम्प्राप्ता नन्दिनी मुनिसत्तमाः

etasminneva kāle tu bhagavāṁstīkṣṇadīdhitiḥ | astaṁ gato na samprāptā nandinī munisattamāḥ

At that very time the sharp-rayed Sun went to his setting, O best of sages, yet Nandini had not returned.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.385.16)

तस्याः क्षीरेण नित्यं स सायं प्रातर्द्विजो मुनिः । करोति होममग्नौ हि सुसमिद्धे जितव्रतः

tasyāḥ kṣīreṇa nityaṁ sa sāyaṁ prātardvijo muniḥ | karoti homamagnau hi susamiddhe jitavrataḥ

With her milk, morning and evening, that brahmin sage of steadfast vows daily performed the fire-oblation in the well-kindled flames.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.385.17)

अथ चिन्तापरो विप्रः प्रायश्चित्तभयाद्ध्रुवम् । वीक्षांचक्रे वने तस्मिन्समेषु विषमेषु च

atha cintāparo vipraḥ prāyaścittabhayāddhruvam | vīkṣāṁcakre vane tasminsameṣu viṣameṣu ca

Then, anxious and certainly fearing the need for expiation, the brahmin searched that forest, both level ground and rugged.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.385.18)

स तच्छ्वभ्रमथासाद्य भूम्भारावमथाशृणोत् । तां प्रोवाच मुनिश्रेष्ठः कथं त्वं पतिता शुभे

sa tacchvabhramathāsādya bhūmbhārāvamathāśṛṇot | tāṁ provāca muniśreṣṭhaḥ kathaṁ tvaṁ patitā śubhe

Reaching that pit, he heard an earth-piercing bellow. Then the best of sages said to her: O auspicious one, how did you fall?

Verse 19 (skanda.7.385.19)

अहं होमस्य चोद्वेगान्निःसृतस्त्वामवेक्षितुम् । साऽब्रवीद्भक्षमाणाहं विप्रर्षे तृणवाञ्छया

ahaṁ homasya codvegānniḥsṛtastvāmavekṣitum | sā'bravīdbhakṣamāṇāhaṁ viprarṣe tṛṇavāñchayā

"I have come out, distressed for the sake of the oblation, to look for you." She said: "O sage among brahmins, I was grazing here out of a desire for grass."

Verse 20 (skanda.7.385.20)

पतितात्र विभो त्राहि कृच्छ्रादस्मात्सुदुःसहात् । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स मुनिर्ध्यानमास्थितः

patitātra vibho trāhi kṛcchrādasmātsuduḥsahāt | tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa munirdhyānamāsthitaḥ

"O lord, I have fallen here; save me from this unbearable distress." Hearing her words, the sage entered into meditation.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.385.21)

सरस्वतीं समादध्यौ नदीं त्रैलोक्यपावनीम् । सा ध्याता मनसा तेन मुनिना तत्र तत्क्षणात्

sarasvatīṁ samādadhyau nadīṁ trailokyapāvanīm | sā dhyātā manasā tena muninā tatra tatkṣaṇāt

He meditated on the river Sarasvati, purifier of the three worlds. Meditated upon in his mind, she instantly appeared there.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.385.22)

श्वभ्रं तत्पूरयामास समन्ताद्विमलैर्जलैः । परिपूर्णं ततः श्वभ्रे निष्क्रान्ता नन्दिनी तदा

śvabhraṁ tatpūrayāmāsa samantādvimalairjalaiḥ | paripūrṇaṁ tataḥ śvabhre niṣkrāntā nandinī tadā

She filled the pit on every side with pure waters. The pit being thus filled, Nandini then came out of it.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.385.23)

संहृष्टा मुनिना सार्द्धं ययावाश्रमसम्मुखम्

saṁhṛṣṭā muninā sārddhaṁ yayāvāśramasammukham

Overjoyed, she went along with the sage toward the hermitage.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.385.24)

स दृष्ट्वा श्वभ्रमध्यं तं गम्भीरं च महामुनिः । चिन्तयामास मेधावी श्वभ्रस्यैव प्रपूरणे

sa dṛṣṭvā śvabhramadhyaṁ taṁ gambhīraṁ ca mahāmuniḥ | cintayāmāsa medhāvī śvabhrasyaiva prapūraṇe

Seeing that deep pit, the wise great sage pondered on how to fill it completely.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.385.25)

तस्य चिन्तयतो विप्रा बुद्धिरेषोदपद्यत । आनीय पर्वतं मुक्त्वा श्वभ्रमेतत्प्रपूर्यते । तस्माद्गच्छाम्यहं शीघ्रं हिमवन्तं नगोत्तमम्

tasya cintayato viprā buddhireṣodapadyata | ānīya parvataṁ muktvā śvabhrametatprapūryate | tasmādgacchāmyahaṁ śīghraṁ himavantaṁ nagottamam

As he pondered, this thought arose in him: "By bringing a mountain and setting it down, this pit will be filled." So he resolved: "I shall quickly go to Himavan, the best of mountains."

Verse 26 (skanda.7.385.26)

स एव पर्वतं चात्र प्रेषयिष्यति भूधरः । येन स्यात्परिपूर्णं च श्वभ्रमेतन्महात्मना

sa eva parvataṁ cātra preṣayiṣyati bhūdharaḥ | yena syātparipūrṇaṁ ca śvabhrametanmahātmanā

He alone, the great mountain-lord, could send a mountain here, by which this pit might be entirely filled.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.385.27)

ततो जगाम स मुनिर्हिमवन्तं नगोत्तमम् । दृष्ट्वा वसिष्ठमायान्तं हिमवान्हृष्टमानसः । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिसंस्कारैः संपूज्य इदमब्रवीत्

tato jagāma sa muniḥ himavantaṁ nagottamam | dṛṣṭvā vasiṣṭhamāyāntaṁ himavānhṛṣṭamānasaḥ | arghyapādyādisaṁskāraiḥ saṁpūjya idamabravīt

Then that sage went to Himavan, best of mountains. Seeing Vasishtha approaching, Himavan, glad at heart, honoured him with offerings of water for guest and feet, and said this.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.385.28)

स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ सफलं मेऽद्य जीवितम् । यद्भवान्मे गृहे प्राप्तः पूज्यः सर्वदिवौकसाम्

svāgataṁ te muniśreṣṭha saphalaṁ me'dya jīvitam | yadbhavānme gṛhe prāptaḥ pūjyaḥ sarvadivaukasām

Welcome, O best of sages! My life has borne fruit today, for you, worshipped by all the gods, have come to my home.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.385.29)

ब्रूहि कार्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठ अपि जीवितमात्मनः । नूनं तुभ्यं प्रदास्यामि नियोगो दीयतां मम

brūhi kāryaṁ muniśreṣṭha api jīvitamātmanaḥ | nūnaṁ tubhyaṁ pradāsyāmi niyogo dīyatāṁ mama

Tell me your purpose, O best of sages - even my own life, if you ask, I shall surely give you. Command me.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.385.30)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । ममाश्रमस्य सांनिध्ये श्वभ्रमस्ति सुदारुणम् । अगाधं नन्दिनी तत्र पतिता धेनुरुत्तमा

vasiṣṭha uvāca | mamāśramasya sāṁnidhye śvabhramasti sudāruṇam | agādhaṁ nandinī tatra patitā dhenuruttamā

Vasishtha said: Near my hermitage there is a terrible, bottomless pit, into which my excellent cow Nandini once fell.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.385.31)

यत्नादाकर्षिता तस्माद्भूयः पतनजाद्भयात् । तवान्तिकमनुप्राप्तो नान्यो योग्यो महीपतिः

yatnādākarṣitā tasmādbhūyaḥ patanajādbhayāt | tavāntikamanuprāpto nānyo yogyo mahīpatiḥ

With effort she was drawn out of it. Fearing that she might fall again, I have come to you, for no other lord of mountains is fit for this.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.385.32)

तस्मात्कञ्चिन्नगश्रेष्ठं तत्र प्रेषय भूधरम् । येन तत्पूर्यते श्वभ्रं भृशं प्रेषय तादृशम्

tasmātkañcinnagaśreṣṭhaṁ tatra preṣaya bhūdharam | yena tatpūryate śvabhraṁ bhṛśaṁ preṣaya tādṛśam

Therefore send some excellent mountain there, one by which that pit may be filled; send such a one quickly.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.385.33)

हिमवानुवाच । किं प्रमाणं मुने श्वभ्रं विस्तारायामतो वद । तत्प्रमाणं नगं कञ्चित्प्रेषयामि विचिन्त्य च

himavānuvāca | kiṁ pramāṇaṁ mune śvabhraṁ vistārāyāmato vada | tatpramāṇaṁ nagaṁ kañcitpreṣayāmi vicintya ca

Himavan said: O sage, tell me the extent of that pit in breadth and length. Considering that measure, I shall send a suitable mountain.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.385.34)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । द्विसहस्रं तु दैर्घ्येण विस्तरेण त्रिसहस्रकम् । न संख्या विद्यतेऽधस्तात्तस्य पर्वतसत्तम

vasiṣṭha uvāca | dvisahasraṁ tu dairghyeṇa vistareṇa trisahasrakam | na saṅkhyā vidyate'dhastāttasya parvatasattama

Vasishtha said: O best of mountains, it is two thousand in length and three thousand in breadth; its depth below has no measure at all.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.385.35)

हिमवानुवाच । कथं तेन प्रमाणेन सञ्जातो विवरो महान् । अभूत्कौतूहलं तेन सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

himavānuvāca | kathaṁ tena pramāṇena sañjāto vivaro mahān | abhūtkautūhalaṁ tena sarvaṁ vistarato vada

Himavan said: How did such a vast chasm of this great extent come to be? I am filled with curiosity about it; tell me everything in detail.