The Greatness of Raktānubandha-tīrtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.415.1)

पुलस्त्य उवाच रक्तानुबन्धं वै गच्छेत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् यत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यङ्मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

pulastya uvāca raktānubandhaṁ vai gacchettīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam yatra snāto naraḥ samyaṅmucyate brahmahatyayā

Pulastya said: One should indeed go to Raktanubandha, the tirtha famed in the three worlds, where a man who bathes properly is freed even from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.415.2)

पुराऽऽसीत्पार्थिवोनाम इंद्रसेनो महीपतिः तस्याऽऽसीत्सुप्रिया भार्या सुनन्दानाम भामिनी पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा सदा पत्युः प्रिये स्थिता

purā''sītpārthivonāma iṁdraseno mahīpatiḥ tasyā''sītsupriyā bhāryā sunandānāma bhāminī pativratā patiprāṇā sadā patyuḥ priye sthitā

Formerly there was a king named Indrasena, lord of the earth; he had a most beloved wife named Sunanda, a devoted lady — chaste, living for her husband, ever devoted to her husband's pleasure.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.415.3)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा सपरिग्रहः परदेशं गतो हंतुं शत्रुसंघं दुरासदम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya sa rājā saparigrahaḥ paradeśaṁ gato haṁtuṁ śatrusaṁghaṁ durāsadam

After some time, that king, with his retinue, went to a foreign land to slay a formidable band of enemies.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.415.4)

तं निहत्य धनं भूरि गृहीत्वा प्रस्थितो गृहम् ततोऽग्रे प्रेषयामास स दूतं कृत्रिमं नृप

taṁ nihatya dhanaṁ bhūri gṛhītvā prasthito gṛham tato'gre preṣayāmāsa sa dūtaṁ kṛtrimaṁ nṛpa

Having slain them and taken much wealth, he set out for home; but before that, O king, he sent ahead a false messenger, saying:

Verse 5 (skanda.7.415.5)

सुनन्दां ब्रूहि गत्वा त्वमिन्द्रसेनो हतो रणे तदाकारस्ततो लक्ष्यः पातिव्रत्ये ममाज्ञया

sunandāṁ brūhi gatvā tvamiṁdraseno hato raṇe tadākārastato lakṣyaḥ pātivratye mamājñayā

Go and tell Sunanda: 'Indrasena has been slain in battle.' Then, by my command, her reaction shall be observed, as proof of her chastity.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.415.6)

यदि सा निश्चयं गच्छेन्मरणं प्रति भामिनी तदा रक्ष्या प्रयत्नेन वाच्यं हास्यं ममोद्भवम्

yadi sā niścayaṁ gacchenmaraṇaṁ prati bhāminī tadā rakṣyā prayatnena vācyaṁ hāsyaṁ mamodbhavam

If that lady should resolve upon death, then she must be carefully protected, and it must be told to her that this was a jest born of me.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.415.7)

एवमुक्तो गतो दूतस्तत्क्षणान्नृपसत्तम तस्यै निवेददामास यदुक्तं तेन भूभुजा

evamukto gato dūtastatkṣaṇānnṛpasattama tasyai nivedadāmāsa yaduktaṁ tena bhūbhujā

Thus instructed, the messenger went, O best of kings, and at once reported to her what had been said by the king.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.415.8)

अथ तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुनंदा चारुहासिनी गतप्राणा नृपश्रेष्ठ पतिप्राणा महासती

atha tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sunaṁdā cāruhāsinī gataprāṇā nṛpaśreṣṭha patiprāṇā mahāsatī

Then, hearing his words, Sunanda, of lovely smile, her life-breath departed at once, O best of kings — a great satī, living wholly for her husband.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.415.9)

यस्मिन्काले मृता सा तु सुनन्दा शीलमंडना तस्मिन्काले नृपः सोऽपि तत्पापेन समाश्रितः

yasminkāle mṛtā sā tu sunandā śīlamaṁḍanā tasminkāle nṛpaḥ so'pi tatpāpena samāśritaḥ

At the very time when she, Sunanda, adorned with virtue, died, at that very time, that king too became beset by that sin.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.415.10)

अथापश्यद्द्वितीयां स च्छायां गात्रस्य चोपरि तथा गुरुतरं कायं सालस्यं समपद्यत

athāpaśyaddvitīyāṁ sa cchāyāṁ gātrasya copari tathā gurutaraṁ kāyaṁ sālasyaṁ samapadyata

Then he saw a second shadow above his own body; and his body became heavier, and he fell into lethargy,

Verse 11 (skanda.7.415.11)

तेजोहीनं सुदुर्गंधि विवर्णं नृपसत्तम अथ प्राप्तो गृहं राजा श्रुत्वा भार्यासमुद्भवम्

tejohīnaṁ sudurgaṁdhi vivarṇaṁ nṛpasattama atha prāpto gṛhaṁ rājā śrutvā bhāryāsamudbhavam

devoid of luster, foul-smelling, discolored, O best of kings. Then, arriving home, the king, on hearing of the death that had befallen his wife,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.415.12)

विनाशं दुःखशोकार्तः करुणं पर्यदेवयत् स ज्ञात्वा पापमात्मानं स्त्रीहत्यासुविदूषितम्

vināśaṁ duḥkhaśokārtaḥ karuṇaṁ paryadevayat sa jñātvā pāpamātmānaṁ strīhatyāsuvidūṣitam

grievously lamented, tormented by sorrow and grief. Recognizing himself as a sinner, thoroughly tainted with the crime of killing a woman,

Verse 13 (skanda.7.415.13)

ब्राह्मणानां समादेशात्तथा यात्रापरोऽभवत् कृत्वौर्द्ध्वदैहिकं तस्या लघुमात्र परिग्रहः वाराणस्यां गतः पूर्वं तत्र दानं ददौ बहु

brāhmaṇānāṁ samādeśāttathā yātrāparo'bhavat kṛtvaurddhvadaihikaṁ tasyā laghumātra parigrahaḥ vārāṇasyāṁ gataḥ pūrvaṁ tatra dānaṁ dadau bahu

on the instruction of the Brahmins, he then devoted himself to pilgrimage. Having performed her last rites, with but light provisions, he went first to Varanasi, and there gave abundant gifts —

Verse 14 (skanda.7.415.14)

कपालमोचने तीर्थे सर्वपापप्रणाशने त्रिनेत्रो यत्र निर्मुक्तः पुरा वै ब्रह्महत्यया

kapālamocane tīrthe sarvapāpapraṇāśane trinetro yatra nirmuktaḥ purā vai brahmahatyayā

at Kapalamochana-tirtha, which destroys all sin, where the three-eyed one [Shiva] was formerly freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.415.15)

तस्य च्छाया द्वितीया सा न नष्टा तत्र भूपते ततः कनखलं प्राप्तः सुपुण्यं शुद्धिदं नृणाम्

tasya cchāyā dvitīyā sā na naṣṭā tatra bhūpate tataḥ kanakhalaṁ prāptaḥ supuṇyaṁ śuddhidaṁ nṛṇām

But that second shadow of his did not vanish there, O lord of the earth. Then he reached Kanakhala, most sacred, purifying for men,

Verse 16 (skanda.7.415.16)

तथैव पुष्करारण्यं तस्मादमरकण्टकम् कुरुक्षेत्रं ततो राजन्प्राप्तोऽसौ नृपसत्तमः

tathaiva puṣkarāraṇyaṁ tasmādamarakaṇṭakam kurukṣetraṁ tato rājanprāpto'sau nṛpasattamaḥ

and likewise the Pushkara forest, then Amarakantaka, then, O king, that best of kings reached Kurukshetra,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.415.17)

प्रभासं सोमतीर्थं च ततस्तु कृमिजांगले एकहंसं ततो राजन्पुण्यपारिप्लवं ततः

prabhāsaṁ somatīrthaṁ ca tatastu kṛmijāṁgale ekahaṁsaṁ tato rājanpuṇyapāriplavaṁ tataḥ

Prabhasa, and Soma-tirtha, and then at Krimijangala, then Ekahamsa, O king, then Punya-Pariplava,

Verse 18 (skanda.7.415.18)

रुद्रकोटिं विरूपाक्षं ततः पंचनदं नृप एवमादीनि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च परिभ्रमन्महीपाल परिश्रांतो नराधिपः

rudrakoṭiṁ virūpākṣaṁ tataḥ paṁcanadaṁ nṛpa evamādīni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca paribhramanmahīpāla pariśrāṁto narādhipaḥ

Rudrakoti, Virupaksha, then Panchanada, O king — wandering among such tirthas and sacred shrines, that lord of men became exhausted.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.415.19)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते संप्राप्तोऽर्बुदपर्वते तत्रापश्यन्नरपतिस्तीर्थान्यायतनानि च

tato varṣasahasrāṁte saṁprāpto'rbudaparvate tatrāpaśyannarapatistīrthānyāyatanāni ca

Then, at the end of a thousand years, he arrived at Mount Arbuda; there the lord of men saw the tirthas and the shrines,

Verse 20 (skanda.7.415.20)

तपस्विसंघान्विविधान्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् ददौ दानानि बहुशो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यदृच्छया

tapasvisaṁghānvividhānbrāhmaṇānvedapāragān dadau dānāni bahuśo brāhmaṇebhyo yadṛcchayā

and various groups of ascetics, and Brahmins versed in the Vedas; he gave gifts abundantly to the Brahmins, of his own accord.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.415.21)

प्राप्तो रक्तानुबंधं च तीर्थं तत्रैव पर्वते तत्र स्नातो विनिष्क्रांतो यावत्पश्यति भूमिपः

prāpto raktānubaṁdhaṁ ca tīrthaṁ tatraiva parvate tatra snāto viniṣkrāṁto yāvatpaśyati bhūmipaḥ

And he reached Raktanubandha, the tirtha, right there on that mountain. There he bathed, and as he emerged, as long as the lord of the earth looked —

Verse 22 (skanda.7.415.22)

तावन्न दृश्यते च्छाया द्वितीया स्त्रीवधोद्भवा लघुत्वं सर्वगात्राणि संप्राप्तानि महीपते

tāvanna dṛśyate cchāyā dvitīyā strīvadhodbhavā laghutvaṁ sarvagātrāṇi saṁprāptāni mahīpate

so long that second shadow, born of the killing of a woman, was no longer seen; lightness had come upon all his limbs, O lord of the earth.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.415.23)

विगन्धता प्रणष्टा च तेजोवृद्धिः पराभवत् ततो हृष्टमना भूत्वा दत्त्वा दानानि भूरिशः स्तूयमानश्चतुर्दिक्षु बंदिभिः प्रस्थितो गृहम्

vigaṁdhatā praṇaṣṭā ca tejovṛddhiḥ parābhavat tato hṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā dattvā dānāni bhūriśaḥ stūyamānaścaturdikṣu baṁdibhiḥ prasthito gṛham

The foul smell had vanished, and increase of luster prevailed. Then, joyful in mind, having given gifts in abundance, praised on the four sides by bards, he set out for home.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.415.24)

ततो रक्तानुबंधस्य सोमातिक्रमणं नृप यावत्करोति राजेन्द्र तावदस्य पुनस्तथा

tato raktānubaṁdhasya somātikramaṇaṁ nṛpa yāvatkaroti rājendra tāvadasya punastathā

Then, O king, whenever he transgressed the lunar observance of Raktanubandha, O king of kings, that many times, just so,

Verse 25 (skanda.7.415.25)

सा च्छाया दृश्यते देहे द्वितीया नृपसत्तम स एव गन्धो गात्रेषु तेजोहानिश्च सा नृप

sā cchāyā dṛśyate dehe dvitīyā nṛpasattama sa eva gaṁdho gātreṣu tejohāniśca sā nṛpa

that second shadow would again be seen on his body, O best of kings; that same odor upon his limbs, and that loss of luster, O king.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.415.26)

ततो दुःखाभिसंतप्तो गतस्तत्रैव तत्क्षणात् रक्तबंधमनुप्राप्तो विपाप्मा सोऽभवत्पुनः

tato duḥkhābhisaṁtapto gatastatraiva tatkṣaṇāt raktabaṁdhamanuprāpto vipāpmā so'bhavatpunaḥ

Then, tormented with sorrow, he went right back there, at that very moment; having reached Raktabandha again, he became free of sin once more.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.415.27)

स ज्ञात्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं परं पार्थिवसत्तमः तत्र दारूणि चाहृत्य चितां कृत्वा ततो नृप दानं दत्त्वा द्विजाग्रेभ्यः प्रविष्टो हव्यवाहनम्

sa jñātvā tīrthamāhātmyaṁ paraṁ pārthivasattamaḥ tatra dārūṇi cāhṛtya citāṁ kṛtvā tato nṛpa dānaṁ dattvā dvijāgrebhyaḥ praviṣṭo havyavāhanam

Recognizing the supreme greatness of the tirtha, that best of kings, having brought wood there and made a funeral pyre, O king, having given gifts to the foremost of the twice-born, entered the fire.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.415.28)

ततो विमानमारुह्य परित्यज्य कलेवरम् दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरः शिवलोकमुपागमत्

tato vimānamāruhya parityajya kalevaram divyamālyāṁbaradharaḥ śivalokamupāgamat

Then, mounting a celestial chariot, relinquishing his body, wearing divine garlands and garments, he went to Shivaloka.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.415.29)

शिवलोकमनुप्राप्ते तस्मिन्पार्थिवसत्तमे देवर्षयस्तदा वाक्यमिदमाहुः सुविस्मयात्

śivalokamanuprāpte tasminpārthivasattame devarṣayastadā vākyamidamāhuḥ suvismayāt

When that best of kings had reached Shivaloka, the divine sages then, in great astonishment, spoke these words:

Verse 30 (skanda.7.415.30)

तीर्थेभ्यस्तु परं तीर्थमिदं वै पावनं परम् इन्द्रसेनो ह्यतः पापात्तीर्थसंगाद्व्यमुच्यत

tīrthebhyastu paraṁ tīrthamidaṁ vai pāvanaṁ param iṁdraseno hyataḥ pāpāttīrthasaṁgādvyamucyata

"This is indeed the supreme tirtha among tirthas, the supreme purifier — for by this, through contact with the tirtha, Indrasena was released from that sin."

Verse 31 (skanda.7.415.31)

ततः प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं ख्यातं च धरणीतले रक्तानां प्राणिनां यस्मादनुबन्धं करोति यत्

tataḥ prabhṛti tattīrthaṁ khyātaṁ ca dharaṇītale raktānāṁ prāṇināṁ yasmādanubaṁdhaṁ karoti yat

From then on, that tirtha became renowned on the earth: since it creates a bond (anubandha) for beings who are attached (rakta) —

Verse 32 (skanda.7.415.32)

रक्तानुबन्धमित्येव तस्मात्तत्कीर्त्त्यते क्षितौ तत्र सन्तर्प्य वै देवान्यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नृप

raktānubandhamityeva tasmāttatkīrttyate kṣitau tatra santarpya vai devānyaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute nṛpa

for that reason it is proclaimed on earth as 'Raktanubandha.' Whoever, having satisfied the gods there, performs shraddha, O king,

Verse 33 (skanda.7.415.33)

तत्र संक्रमणे भानोर्यः स्नानं कुरुते नरः श्रद्धया परया युक्तो मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

tatra saṁkramaṇe bhānoryaḥ snānaṁ kurute naraḥ śraddhayā parayā yukto mucyate brahmahatyayā

whoever performs ablution there at the transit of the sun, endowed with supreme faith, is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.415.34)

पितृक्षेत्रे गयायां च श्राद्धं यः कुरुते नरः गयाश्राद्धसमं प्राहुः फलं तस्य महर्षयः

pitṛkṣetre gayāyāṁ ca śrāddhaṁ yaḥ kurute naraḥ gayāśrāddhasamaṁ prāhuḥ phalaṁ tasya maharṣayaḥ

Whoever performs shraddha in the field of the ancestors at Gaya — the great sages declare his fruit here equal to shraddha performed at Gaya.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.415.35)

चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे वा गोदानं नृपसत्तम यः करोति नरस्तत्र स कुलान्सप्त तारयेत्

caṁdrasūryoparāge vā godānaṁ nṛpasattama yaḥ karoti narastatra sa kulānsapta tārayet

Or, O best of kings, whoever, at a lunar or solar eclipse, gives the gift of a cow there — he saves seven generations of his family.