The Greatness of Agni-tīrtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.414.1)

पुलस्त्य उवाच अग्नितीर्थं ततो गच्छेत्पावनं परमं नृणाम् तत्र वह्निः पुरा नष्टो लब्धश्च त्रिदशैरपि

pulastya uvāca agnitīrthaṁ tato gacchetpāvanaṁ paramaṁ nṛṇām tatra vahniḥ purā naṣṭo labdhaśca tridaśairapi

Pulastya said: Then one should go to Agni-tirtha, the supreme purifier of men; there Fire was formerly lost, and was recovered even by the gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.414.2)

ययातिरुवाच किमर्थं भगवन्वह्निः पुरा नष्टो द्विजोत्तम कथं तत्रैव लब्धस्तु कौतुकं मे महामुने

yayātiruvāca kimarthaṁ bhagavanvahniḥ purā naṣṭo dvijottama kathaṁ tatraiva labdhastu kautukaṁ me mahāmune

Yayati said: Why, O Lord, O best of the twice-born, was Fire formerly lost? And how was he recovered there? This is my curiosity, O great sage.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.414.3)

पुलस्त्य उवाच पुरा वृष्टिनिरोधोऽभूद्यावद्द्वादशवत्सरान् संशयं परमं प्राप्तः सर्वो लोकः क्षुधार्दितः

pulastya uvāca purā vṛṣṭinirodho'bhūdyāvaddvādaśavatsarān saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ prāptaḥ sarvo lokaḥ kṣudhārditaḥ

Pulastya said: Formerly there was a stoppage of rain for as long as twelve years; the whole world, tormented by hunger, fell into the utmost distress.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.414.4)

प्रायो मृतो मृतप्रायः शेषोऽभूद्धरणीतले नष्टा अरण्यजा ग्राम्याः पशवः पक्षिणो मृगाः

prāyo mṛto mṛtaprāyaḥ śeṣo'bhūddharaṇītale naṣṭā araṇyajā grāmyāḥ paśavaḥ pakṣiṇo mṛgāḥ

Most had died, the remainder were as good as dead upon the earth; the forest-born and the village-dwelling animals, birds, and deer perished.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.414.5)

एवं कृच्छ्रमनुप्राप्ते मर्त्यलोके नराधिपः विश्वामित्रो मुनिवरः संदेहं परमं गतः

evaṁ kṛcchramanuprāpte martyaloke narādhipaḥ viśvāmitro munivaraḥ saṁdehaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

When the mortal world had thus come to such distress, O lord of men, the great sage Vishvamitra fell into the utmost anxiety.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.414.6)

अन्नौषधिरसाभावादस्थिशेषो व्यजायत अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे प्राप्तः क्षुत्क्षामः पर्यटन्दिशः

annauṣadhirasābhāvādasthiśeṣo vyajāyata anyasmindivase prāptaḥ kṣutkṣāmaḥ paryaṭandiśaḥ

For lack of food, herbs, and their essence, he became reduced to a mere skeleton. On another day, emaciated by hunger, wandering the directions,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.414.7)

चंडालनिलयं प्राप्तः क्षुत्तृषापीडितो भृशम् तत्रापश्यन्मृतं श्वानं शुष्कं पार्थिवसत्तम

caṁḍālanilayaṁ prāptaḥ kṣuttṛṣāpīḍito bhṛśam tatrāpaśyanmṛtaṁ śvānaṁ śuṣkaṁ pārthivasattama

he came, greatly afflicted with hunger and thirst, to the dwelling of a Chandala; there he saw a dead dog, dried up, O best of kings.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.414.8)

तमादाय गृहं प्राप्तः प्रक्षाल्य सलिलेन तु क्षुत्क्षामः पाचयामास ततस्तं पावकेऽजुहोत्

tamādāya gṛhaṁ prāptaḥ prakṣālya salilena tu kṣutkṣāmaḥ pācayāmāsa tatastaṁ pāvake'juhot

Taking it, he came home, and, having washed it with water, being emaciated with hunger, he cooked it, and then offered it into the fire.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.414.9)

अभक्ष्यभक्षणं ज्ञात्वा हव्यवाहस्ततो नृप शक्रस्योपरि मन्युं स्वं चक्रेऽतीव महीपते

abhakṣyabhakṣaṇaṁ jñātvā havyavāhastato nṛpa śakrasyopari manyuṁ svaṁ cakre'tīva mahīpate

Knowing that inedible food had been offered, the Fire-bearer then, O king, directed his great anger upon Indra, O lord of the earth.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.414.10)

नष्टौषधिरसे लोके युक्तमेतद्धि सांप्रतम् यादृगाप्तं हविस्तादृगग्निभक्षो विशिष्यते

naṣṭauṣadhirase loke yuktametaddhi sāṁpratam yādṛgāptaṁ havistādṛgagnibhakṣo viśiṣyate

In a world where the essence of herbs is destroyed, this indeed is fitting now — whatever oblation is obtained, such is the fire's food regarded, inferior in kind.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.414.11)

नाभक्ष्यं भक्षयिष्यामि त्यजिष्ये क्षितिमंडलम् येन शक्रादयो देवा यांति कष्टतरां दशाम्

nābhakṣyaṁ bhakṣayiṣyāmi tyajiṣye kṣitimaṁḍalam yena śakrādayo devā yāṁti kaṣṭatarāṁ daśām

I shall not consume what is inedible — I shall abandon the circle of the earth, by which Indra and the other gods shall come to a more wretched state.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.414.12)

एवं संचिंत्य मनसा सकोपो हव्यवाहनः प्रणष्टः सकलं हित्वा मर्त्यलोकं चराचरम्

evaṁ saṁciṁtya manasā sakopo havyavāhanaḥ praṇaṣṭaḥ sakalaṁ hitvā martyalokaṁ carācaram

Having thus reflected in his mind, the angry Fire-bearer vanished, abandoning entirely the mortal world with its moving and unmoving beings.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.414.13)

प्रणष्टे सहसा वह्नावग्निष्टोमादिकाः क्रियाः प्रणष्टास्तु जनाः सर्वे विशेषात्संशयं गताः

praṇaṣṭe sahasā vahnāvagniṣṭomādikāḥ kriyāḥ praṇaṣṭāstu janāḥ sarve viśeṣātsaṁśayaṁ gatāḥ

When Fire had suddenly vanished, the rites beginning with Agnishtoma were lost; and all the people, ruined, fell into the greatest anxiety.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.414.14)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे संदेहं परमं गताः यज्ञभागविहीनत्वान्मंत्रं चक्रुस्ततो मिथः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve saṁdehaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ yajñabhāgavihīnatvānmaṁtraṁ cakrustato mithaḥ

Then all the hosts of gods fell into the utmost anxiety; being deprived of their sacrificial portion, they then took counsel among themselves:

Verse 15 (skanda.7.414.15)

त्यक्तस्तु वह्निना मर्त्यस्ततो नाशं गता नराः शेषनाशाद्वयं सर्वे विनंक्ष्यामो न संशयः

tyaktastu vahninā martyastato nāśaṁ gatā narāḥ śeṣanāśādvayaṁ sarve vinaṁkṣyāmo na saṁśayaḥ

Mortals, abandoned by Fire, have gone to destruction; by the destruction of the remnant, we all too shall certainly perish, without doubt.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.414.16)

तस्मादन्वेष्यतां वह्निर्यत्र तिष्ठति सांप्रतम् यथा चरति मर्त्ये च तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्

tasmādanveṣyatāṁ vahniryatra tiṣṭhati sāṁpratam yathā carati martye ca tathā nītirvidhīyatām

Therefore let Fire be sought out, wherever he now dwells; and let policy be devised according to how he moves in the mortal world.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.414.17)

पुलस्त्य उवाच एवं ते निश्चयं कृत्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः अन्वैषयंस्तथाग्निं ते समंतात्क्षितिमंडले

pulastya uvāca evaṁ te niścayaṁ kṛtvā sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ anvaiṣayaṁstathāgniṁ te samaṁtātkṣitimaṁḍale

Pulastya said: Having thus resolved, all the gods, together with Vasava, searched for Fire all over the circle of the earth.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.414.18)

ततस्ते पुरतो दृष्ट्वा शुकं श्रांता दिवौकसः पप्रच्छुः श्रद्धया वह्निर्यदि दृष्टः प्रकथ्यताम्

tataste purato dṛṣṭvā śukaṁ śrāṁtā divaukasaḥ papracchuḥ śraddhayā vahniryadi dṛṣṭaḥ prakathyatām

Then, weary, the heaven-dwellers, seeing a parrot before them, asked with reverence: If Fire has been seen, let it be told.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.414.19)

शुक उवाच योऽयं वंशो महानग्रे प्रदग्धो वह्निसंगतः प्रणष्टो हव्यवाहोत्र मया दृष्टो महाद्युतिः

śuka uvāca yo'yaṁ vaṁśo mahānagre pradagdho vahnisaṁgataḥ praṇaṣṭo havyavāhotra mayā dṛṣṭo mahādyutiḥ

The parrot said: That great bamboo-thicket ahead, burnt, engulfed by fire — there the vanished Havyavahana, of great splendor, was seen by me.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.414.20)

शुकेनावेदितो वह्निः शप्त्वा तं मन्युना वृतः गद्गदा भावि ते वाणी प्रोक्त्वेदं प्रस्थितो द्रुतम्

śukenāvedito vahniḥ śaptvā taṁ manyunā vṛtaḥ gadgadā bhāvi te vāṇī proktvedaṁ prasthito drutam

Fire, thus reported by the parrot, filled with anger, cursed him: Your speech shall become stammering — having said this, he departed swiftly.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.414.21)

प्रविवेश शमीगर्भमश्वत्थं तरुसत्तमम् तत्रस्थो द्विपराज्ञा स कथितो विबुधान्प्रति

praviveśa śamīgarbhamaśvatthaṁ tarusattamam tatrastho dviparājñā sa kathito vibudhānprati

He entered the interior of a Shami tree combined with an Ashvattha, most excellent of trees. There, while he remained, a king of elephants revealed him to the gods.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.414.22)

स तं प्रोवाच ते जिह्वा विपरीता भविष्यति ततो जलाशयं गत्वा पर्वतेऽर्बुदसंज्ञके

sa taṁ provāca te jihvā viparītā bhaviṣyati tato jalāśayaṁ gatvā parvate'rbudasaṁjñake

He said to him: Your tongue shall become reversed. Then, having gone to a pool on the mountain named Arbuda,

Verse 23 (skanda.7.414.23)

प्रविष्टो भगवान्वह्निर्यथा देवैर्न लक्ष्यते तत्रोत्थेन दर्दुरेण तेषां प्रोक्तो हुताशनः

praviṣṭo bhagavānvahniryathā devairna lakṣyate tatrotthena dardureṇa teṣāṁ prokto hutāśanaḥ

Blessed Fire entered, so that he might not be perceived by the gods. There, by a frog that arose, Fire was made known to them:

Verse 24 (skanda.7.414.24)

अत्राऽसौ तिष्ठते वह्निर्निर्झरे पर्वतस्य च दग्धाश्च जलजाः सर्वे सुतप्तेनैव वारिणा

atrā'sau tiṣṭhate vahnirnirjhare parvatasya ca dagdhāśca jalajāḥ sarve sutaptenaiva vāriṇā

Here that Fire dwells, in the mountain-spring; and all the water-born creatures have been burnt by the very hot water.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.414.25)

कृच्छ्रादहं विनिष्क्रांतस्तस्मान्मृत्युमुखात्सुराः तच्छ्रुत्वा यत्नमास्थाय प्रविष्टो हव्यवाहनः

kṛcchrādahaṁ viniṣkrāṁtastasmānmṛtyumukhātsurāḥ tacchrutvā yatnamāsthāya praviṣṭo havyavāhanaḥ

With difficulty have I escaped from that, from the very mouth of death, O gods. Hearing this, having resorted to effort, they discovered Havyavahana.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.414.26)

भविष्यसि विजिह्वस्त्वं शप्त्वा तं दर्दुरं नृपः

bhaviṣyasi vijihvastvaṁ śaptvā taṁ dardaraṁ nṛpaḥ

'You shall become tongueless,' said the king, cursing that frog.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.414.27)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे निष्क्रांताः सलिलाश्रयात् संवेष्ट्य तुष्टुवुः सर्वे स्तवैर्वेदोद्भवैर्नृप

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve niṣkrāṁtāḥ salilāśrayāt saṁveṣṭya tuṣṭuvuḥ sarve stavairvedodbhavairnṛpa

Then all the hosts of gods, having emerged from their watery refuge, O king, surrounded him and praised him with hymns arisen from the Vedas.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.414.28)

देवा ऊचुः त्वमग्ने सर्वभूतानामंतश्चरसि पावक त्वया हीनं जगत्सर्वं नाशं यास्यति सत्वरम्

devā ūcuḥ tvamagne sarvabhūtānāmaṁtaścarasi pāvaka tvayā hīnaṁ jagatsarvaṁ nāśaṁ yāsyati satvaram

The gods said: O Agni, O purifier, you move within all beings; without you the whole world would swiftly go to ruin.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.414.29)

त्वं मुखं सर्वदेवानां त्वयि लोकाः प्रतिष्ठिताः भूलोके च त्वया त्यक्ते वयं सर्वे सवासवाः विनाशमेव यास्यामस्तस्मात्त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि

tvaṁ mukhaṁ sarvadevānāṁ tvayi lokāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ bhūloke ca tvayā tyakte vayaṁ sarve savāsavāḥ vināśameva yāsyāmastasmāttvaṁ trātumarhasi

You are the mouth of all the gods; in you the worlds are established. With the earthly realm abandoned by you, we, all together with Vasava, shall go to destruction alone; therefore you ought to save us.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.414.30)

त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं महादेवस्त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं दिवाकरः त्वं चंद्रस्त्वं च धनदो मरुत्त्वं च सुरेश्वरः

tvaṁ brahmā tvaṁ mahādevastvaṁ viṣṇustvaṁ divākaraḥ tvaṁ caṁdrastvaṁ ca dhanado marutvaṁ ca sureśvaraḥ

You are Brahma, you are Mahadeva, you are Vishnu, you are the Sun, you are the Moon, and you are Dhanada, you are Marut, and you are the lord of the gods.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.414.31)

इंद्राद्या विबुधाः सर्वे त्वदायत्ता हुताशन किमर्थं भगवन्मर्त्त्यं त्यक्त्वा त्वमत्र संस्थितः किमर्थं भगवन्नस्माननागांस्त्यक्तुमिच्छसि

iṁdrādyā vibudhāḥ sarve tvadāyattā hutāśana kimarthaṁ bhagavanmarttyaṁ tyaktvā tvamatra saṁsthitaḥ kimarthaṁ bhagavannasmānnāgāṁstyaktumicchasi

Indra and the other gods, all of them, are dependent upon you, O Fire-bearer. Why, O Lord, have you abandoned the mortal world and settled here? Why, O Lord, do you wish to abandon us, the exalted ones?

Verse 32 (skanda.7.414.32)

पुलस्त्य उवाच वेष्टितो भगवान्वह्निर्देवैः स्तुतिपरायणैः तस्यैव निर्झरस्याथ तटस्थो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

pulastya uvāca veṣṭito bhagavānvahnirdevaiḥ stutiparāyaṇaiḥ tasyaiva nirjharasyātha taṭastho vākyamabravīt

Pulastya said: The Blessed Fire, surrounded by the gods intent on praise, standing at the edge of that very spring, spoke these words:

Verse 33 (skanda.7.414.33)

वह्निरुवाच अभक्ष्यभक्षणे शक्रो मामिच्छति नियोजितुम् तेनैव न करोत्येष वृष्टिं मर्त्त्ये सुरेश्वरः

vahniruvāca abhakṣyabhakṣaṇe śakro māmicchati niyojitum tenaiva na karotyeṣa vṛṣṭiṁ marttye sureśvaraḥ

Fire said: Shakra wishes to compel me to consume what is inedible; for that very reason this lord of gods does not make rain in the mortal world.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.414.34)

अतोऽहं भूतलं त्यक्त्वा प्रविष्टो निर्झरे त्विह प्रणष्टान्नरसे लोके न चाहं स्थातुमुत्सहे

ato'haṁ bhūtalaṁ tyaktvā praviṣṭo nirjhare tviha praṇaṣṭānnarase loke na cāhaṁ sthātumutsahe

Therefore, abandoning the earthly realm, I have entered this very spring; in a world where the essence of food is destroyed, I do not wish to remain.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.414.35)

शक्र उवाच शृणु यस्मान्मया रोधः कृतो वृष्टेर्हुताशन देवापिर्नाम धर्मज्ञः क्षत्रियाणां यशस्करः

śakra uvāca śṛṇu yasmānmayā rodhaḥ kṛto vṛṣṭerhutāśana devāpirnāma dharmajñaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṁ yaśaskaraḥ

Shakra said: Hear, O Fire-bearer, why I have caused this obstruction of rain: there was one named Devapi, a knower of dharma, glory of the Kshatriyas.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.414.36)

प्रतीपस्तत्सुतः साधुः सर्वशीलवतां वरः देवापौ च गते स्वर्गं ज्येष्ठभ्रातरमग्रजम् संत्यक्त्वा जगृहे राज्यं शंतनुस्तत्सुतोऽवरः

pratīpastatsutaḥ sādhuḥ sarvaśīlavatāṁ varaḥ devāpau ca gate svargaṁ jyeṣṭhabhrātaramagrajam saṁtyaktvā jagṛhe rājyaṁ śaṁtanustatsuto'varaḥ

He was Pratipa's son, virtuous, best among all men of good conduct. And when Devapi had gone away, his elder brother, the firstborn, being set aside, Shantanu, his younger son, seized the kingdom.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.414.37)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्राज्ये तस्य वृष्टिर्निराकृता तवादेशात्करिष्यामि निवर्तस्व हुताशन

etasmātkāraṇādrājye tasya vṛṣṭirnirākṛtā tavādeśātkariṣyāmi nivartasva hutāśana

For this reason, rain was withheld from his kingdom. At your command I shall act — turn back, O Fire-bearer.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.414.38)

पुलस्त्य उवाच एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षः पुष्करावर्तकान्घनान् द्रुतमाज्ञापयामास वृष्ट्यर्थं जगतीतले

pulastya uvāca evamuktvā sahasrākṣaḥ puṣkarāvartakānghanān drutamājñāpayāmāsa vṛṣṭyarthaṁ jagatītale

Pulastya said: Having said this, the thousand-eyed one swiftly commanded the heavy Pushkaravartaka clouds, for the sake of rain upon the earth.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.414.39)

अथ शक्रसमादिष्टा विद्युत्वन्तो बलाहकाः गम्भीरराविणः सर्वं भूतलं प्रचुरैर्जलैः पूरयामासुरत्युग्रा द्युतिमन्तो महीपते

atha śakrasamādiṣṭā vidyutvaṁto balāhakāḥ gaṁbhīrarāviṇaḥ sarvaṁ bhūtalaṁ pracurairjalaiḥ pūrayāmāsuratyugrā dyutimaṁto mahīpate

Then, commanded by Shakra, the lightning-bearing storm-clouds, deeply thundering, filled the entire surface of the earth with abundant waters, exceedingly fierce and brilliant, O lord of the earth.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.414.40)

ततोऽगमत्परां तुष्टिं भगवान्हव्यवाहनः रोचयामास भूपृष्ठे वसतिं देवकारणात्

tato'gamatparāṁ tuṣṭiṁ bhagavānhavyavāhanaḥ rocayāmāsa bhūpṛṣṭhe vasatiṁ devakāraṇāt

Then the Blessed Havyavahana attained supreme satisfaction, and chose to dwell upon the surface of the earth for the sake of the gods.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.414.41)

देवा ऊचुः तवाऽऽदेशात्कृता वृष्टिरन्यत्कार्यं हुताशन यत्ते प्रियं तदस्माकं सुशीघ्रं हि निवेदय

devā ūcuḥ tavā''deśātkṛtā vṛṣṭiranyatkāryaṁ hutāśana yatte priyaṁ tadasmākaṁ suśīghraṁ hi nivedaya

The gods said: By your command, rain has been made; what other task remains, O Fire-bearer? Whatever is dear to you, tell us that very quickly.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.414.42)

अग्निरुवाच एतज्जलाशयं पुण्यं मन्नाम्ना तीर्थमुत्तमम् ख्यातिं यातु धरापृष्ठे युष्माकं हि प्रसादतः

agniruvāca etajjalāśayaṁ puṇyaṁ mannāmnā tīrthamuttamam khyātiṁ yātu dharāpṛṣṭhe yuṣmākaṁ hi prasādataḥ

Fire said: Let this sacred pool, an excellent tirtha, become famed by my name upon the earth's surface, by your grace.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.414.43)

देवा ऊचुः अग्नितीर्थमिदं लोके प्रख्यातिं संप्रयास्यति अत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यगग्निलोकं प्रयास्यति

devā ūcuḥ agnitīrthamidaṁ loke prakhyātiṁ saṁprayāsyati atra snāto naraḥ samyagagnilokaṁ prayāsyati

The gods said: This shall become known in the world as Agni-tirtha. A man who bathes here properly shall go to the world of Fire.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.414.44)

यस्तिलान्दास्यति नरस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्सुसमाहितः अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य फलं तस्य भविष्यति

yastilāndāsyati narastīrthe'sminsusamāhitaḥ agniṣṭomasya yajñasya phalaṁ tasya bhaviṣyati

Whoever, well-composed, gives sesame seeds at this tirtha, shall obtain the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.414.45)

पुलस्त्य उवाच एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे स्वस्वस्थानं ययुस्ततः वह्निश्च भगवान्राजन्यथापूर्वमवर्तत

pulastya uvāca evamuktvā surāḥ sarve svasvasthānaṁ yayustataḥ vahniśca bhagavānrājanyathāpūrvamavartata

Pulastya said: Having said this, all the gods went each to his own place; and Bhagavan Fire, O king, continued as before.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.414.46)

यश्चैत्पठते नित्यं प्रातरुत्थाय चोत्तमम् अग्नितीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

yaścaitpaṭhate nityaṁ prātarutthāya cottamam agnitīrthasya māhātmyaṁ mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Whoever daily recites, rising in the morning, this excellent greatness of Agni-tirtha, is freed from all sins.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.414.47)

अहोरात्रकृतात्पापात्स शृण्वन्नपि मुच्यते

ahorātrakṛtātpāpātsa śṛṇvannapi mucyate

He, even by merely hearing it, is freed from sin committed day and night.