The Glory of Kulasantarana Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.432.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ कुलसंतारणं गच्छेत्तत्र तीर्थमनुत्तमम् । यत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्कुलं तारयतेऽखिलम्

pulastya uvāca | kulasaṁtāraṇaṁ gacchettatra tīrthamanuttamam | yatra snāto naraḥ samyakkulaṁ tārayate'khilam

Pulastya said: One should go to Kulasantarana, the unsurpassed ford there, where a man, duly bathing, delivers his entire lineage.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.432.2)

दश पूर्वान्भविष्यांश्च तथात्मानं नृपोत्तम । उद्धरेच्छ्रद्धयायुक्तस्तत्र दानेन मानवः

daśa pūrvānbhaviṣyāṁśca tathātmānaṁ nṛpottama | uddharecchraddhayāyuktastatra dānena mānavaḥ

O best of kings, a man, endowed with faith, through giving there, delivers ten ancestors, ten descendants, and himself as well.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.432.3)

आसीदप्रस्तुतो नाम राजा पूर्वं स पापकृत् । नापि दानं तथा ज्ञानं न ध्यानं न च सत्क्रिया

āsīdaprastuto nāma rājā pūrvaṁ sa pāpakṛt | nāpi dānaṁ tathā jñānaṁ na dhyānaṁ na ca satkriyā

There was of old a king named Aprastuta, a sinner; he had neither charity nor knowledge, nor meditation nor good conduct.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.432.4)

तस्मिञ्छासति लोकानां नासीत्सौख्यं कदाचन । परदार रुचिर्नित्यं महादण्डपरश्च सः

tasmiñchāsati lokānāṁ nāsītsaukhyaṁ kadācana | paradāra rucirnityaṁ mahādaṇḍaparaśca saḥ

While he ruled, the people never had any happiness; he was always inclined to other men's wives, and given to excessive punishment.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.432.5)

न्यायतोऽन्यायतो वापि करोति धनसंग्रहम् । स घातयति लोकांश्च निर्दोषान्पापकृत्तमः

nyāyato'nyāyato vāpi karoti dhanasaṁgraham | sa ghātayati lokāṁśca nirdoṣānpāpakṛttamaḥ

Justly or unjustly, he amassed wealth; that worst of sinners would even kill innocent people.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.432.6)

ततो वार्धक्यमापन्नस्तथापि न शमं गतः । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पितृभिः प्रतिबोधितः । तं प्रसुप्तं समासाद्य नारकेयैः सुदुःखितैः

tato vārdhakyamāpannastathāpi na śamaṁ gataḥ | kasyacittvatha kālasya pitṛbhiḥ pratibodhitaḥ | taṁ prasuptaṁ samāsādya nārakeyaiḥ suduḥkhitaiḥ

Then he reached old age, yet still did not attain tranquility. Then, after some time, he was awakened by his forefathers — greatly suffering, having come as denizens of hell, they approached him as he slept.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.432.7)

॥ पितर ऊचुः ॥ वयं शुद्धसमाचारा नित्यं धर्मपरायणाः । दानयज्ञतपःशीलाः स्वदारनिरतास्तथा

pitara ūcuḥ | vayaṁ śuddhasamācārā nityaṁ dharmaparāyaṇāḥ | dānayajñatapaḥśīlāḥ svadāraniratāstathā

The forefathers said: "We, of pure conduct, ever devoted to dharma, of the nature of giving, sacrifice, and austerity, content with our own wives —"

Verse 8 (skanda.7.432.8)

स्वकर्मभिः कुलांगार दिवं प्राप्ता यथार्हतः । कुपुत्रं त्वां समासाद्य नरकं समुपस्थिताः । तस्मादुद्धर नः सर्वान्कृत्वा किंचिच्छुभार्चनम्

svakarmabhiḥ kulāṅgāra divaṁ prāptā yathārhataḥ | kuputraṁ tvāṁ samāsādya narakaṁ samupasthitāḥ | tasmāduddhara naḥ sarvānkṛtvā kiñcicchubhārcanam

"— by our own deeds, O disgrace of the lineage, attained heaven as was fitting. But having got you, an evil son, we have now come to hell. Therefore deliver all of us, performing some auspicious rite."

Verse 9 (skanda.7.432.9)

कर्मभिस्तव पापात्मन्वयं नरकमाश्रिताः । नरकं दश यास्यंति भविष्याश्च तथा भवान्

karmabhistava pāpātmanvayaṁ narakamāśritāḥ | narakaṁ daśa yāsyanti bhaviṣyāśca tathā bhavān

"O sinful soul, by your deeds we have taken refuge in hell; ten ancestors shall go to hell, likewise ten descendants, and you as well."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.432.10)

एवमुक्त्वा च ते सर्वे पितरस्तु सुदुःखिताः । याताश्च नरकं भूयः प्रबुद्धः सोऽपि पार्थिवः

evamuktvā ca te sarve pitarastu suduḥkhitāḥ | yātāśca narakaṁ bhūyaḥ prabuddhaḥ so'pi pārthivaḥ

Having said this, all those forefathers, greatly grieved, went back again to hell; and that king too awoke.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.432.11)

ततो दुःखमनुप्राप्तः पितृवाक्यानि संस्मरन् । रुरोद प्रातरुत्थाय तं भार्या प्रत्यभाषत

tato duḥkhamanuprāptaḥ pitṛvākyāni saṁsmaran | ruroda prātarutthāya taṁ bhāryā pratyabhāṣata

Then, overcome with sorrow, remembering his forefathers' words, he wept upon rising in the morning; his wife spoke to him.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.432.12)

॥ इन्दुमत्युवाच ॥ किमर्थं राजशार्दूल त्वं रोदिषि महास्वनम् । कथं ते कुशलं राज्ये शरीरे वा पुरेऽथवा

indumatyuvāca | kimarthaṁ rājaśārdūla tvaṁ rodiṣi mahāsvanam | kathaṁ te kuśalaṁ rājye śarīre vā pure'thavā

Indumati said: "Why, O tiger among kings, do you weep so loudly? Is all well with your kingdom, your body, or your city?"

Verse 13 (skanda.7.432.13)

॥ राजोवाच ॥ मया दृष्टोऽद्य स्वप्नांते पिता ह्यथ पितामहः । अपश्यं दुःखितान्देवि ताभ्यामथाग्रजान्पितॄन्

rājovāca | mayā dṛṣṭo'dya svapnānte pitā hyatha pitāmahaḥ | apaśyaṁ duḥkhitāndevi tābhyāmathāgrajānpitṝn

The king said: "Today, at the end of a dream, I saw my father, and my grandfather; O goddess, I saw them, and along with them my elder forefathers, in sorrow."

Verse 14 (skanda.7.432.14)

उपालब्धोऽस्मि तैः सर्वैस्तव कर्मभिरीदृशैः । दारुणे नरके प्राप्ता अधर्मादिविचेष्टितैः

upālabdho'smi taiḥ sarvaistava karmabhirīdṛśaiḥ | dāruṇe narake prāptā adharmādiviceṣṭitaiḥ

"I was reproached by all of them: 'By such deeds of yours, we have come to a terrible hell, through your unrighteous conduct.'"

Verse 15 (skanda.7.432.15)

अथान्ये दश यास्यन्ति भविष्याश्च भवानपि । तस्मात्कृत्वा शुभं कर्म दुर्गतेश्चोद्धरस्व नः

athānye daśa yāsyanti bhaviṣyāśca bhavānapi | tasmātkṛtvā śubhaṁ karma durgateścoddharasva naḥ

"'And another ten descendants shall go there too, and you as well. Therefore, performing an auspicious deed, deliver us from this evil state.'"

Verse 16 (skanda.7.432.16)

एवमुक्तः प्रबुद्धोऽहं पितृभिर्वरवर्णिनि । तेनाहं दुःखमापन्नस्तद्वाक्यं हृदि संस्मरन्

evamuktaḥ prabuddho'haṁ pitṛbhirvaravarṇini | tenāhaṁ duḥkhamāpannastadvākyaṁ hṛdi saṁsmaran

"Thus addressed by my forefathers, O fair one, I awoke; because of that I have fallen into sorrow, remembering their words in my heart."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.432.17)

॥ इन्दुमत्युवाच ॥ सत्यमेतन्महाराज यदुक्तोऽसि पितामहैः । न त्वया सुकृतं कर्म संस्मरेऽहं कृतं पुरा

indumatyuvāca | satyametanmahārāja yaduktosi pitāmahaiḥ | na tvayā sukṛtaṁ karma saṁsmare'haṁ kṛtaṁ purā

Indumati said: "This is true, O great king, what has been said to you by your ancestors. I do not remember any meritorious deed performed by you before."

Verse 18 (skanda.7.432.18)

यथा सुपुत्रमासाद्य तरंति पितरो नृप । कुपुत्रेण तथा यांति नरकं नात्र संशयः

yathā suputramāsādya taranti pitaro nṛpa | kuputreṇa tathā yānti narakaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

O king, just as forefathers, obtaining a good son, cross over, so too, with an evil son, they go to hell — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.432.19)

स त्वमाहूय विप्रेंद्रान्धर्मशास्त्रविचक्षणान् । पृष्ट्वा तान्कुरु यच्छ्रेयः पितॄणामात्मना सह

sa tvamāhūya viprendrāndharmaśāstravicakṣaṇān | pṛṣṭvā tānkuru yacchreyaḥ pitṝṇāmātmanā saha

Therefore, summoning the foremost brahmins, learned in the scriptures of dharma, and asking them, do what is beneficial for your forefathers together with yourself.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.432.20)

आनयामास राजाऽसौ ततो विप्राननेकशः । वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञान्धर्मशास्त्रविचक्षणान् । उवाच विनयोपेतो भार्यया सहितो हितान्

ānayāmāsa rājā'sau tato viprānanekaśaḥ | vedavedāṅgatattvajñāndharmaśāstravicakṣaṇān | uvāca vinayopeto bhāryayā sahito hitān

Then that king brought many brahmins, knowers of the truth of the Vedas and Vedangas, learned in the dharma-shastras; humbly, together with his wife, he addressed those well-wishers.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.432.21)

॥ राजोवाच ॥ कर्मणा केन पितरो निरयस्था द्विजोत्तमाः । स्वर्गं यांति सुपुत्रेण तारिताः प्रोच्यतां स्फुटम्

rājovāca | karmaṇā kena pitaro nirayasthā dvijottamāḥ | svargaṁ yānti suputreṇa tāritāḥ procyatāṁ sphuṭam

The king said: "O foremost of brahmins, by what deed do forefathers dwelling in hell, delivered by a good son, go to heaven? Tell it clearly."

Verse 22 (skanda.7.432.22)

॥ ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः ॥ पितृमेधेन राजेंद्र कृतेन विधिपूर्वकम् । निरयस्था दिवं यांति यद्यपि स्युः सुपापिनः

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | pitṛmedhena rājendra kṛtena vidhipūrvakam | nirayasthā divaṁ yānti yadyapi syuḥ supāpinaḥ

The brahmins said: "O lord of kings, through the pitri-medha rite performed according to rule, those dwelling in hell go to heaven, even if they be great sinners."

Verse 23 (skanda.7.432.23)

॥ राजोवाच ॥ दीक्षयंतु द्विजाः सर्वे तदर्थं मां धृतव्रतम् । यत्किंचिदत्र कर्त्तव्यं प्रोच्यतामखिलं हि तत्

rājovāca | dīkṣayantu dvijāḥ sarve tadarthaṁ māṁ dhṛtavratam | yatkiñcidatra karttavyaṁ procyatāmakhilaṁ hi tat

The king said: "Let all the brahmins initiate me, bound to that vow, for this purpose. Whatever needs to be done here, let all of it be told."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.432.24)

तथोक्तास्ते नृपेंद्रेण ब्राह्मणाः सत्यवादिनः । समग्राः पार्थिवं प्रोचुर्यदुक्तं यज्ञकर्मणि

tathoktāste nṛpendreṇa brāhmaṇāḥ satyavādinaḥ | samagrāḥ pārthivaṁ procuryaduktaṁ yajñakarmaṇi

Thus addressed by the lord of kings, those truthful brahmins, all together, told the king what is prescribed in the rite of sacrifice.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.432.25)

दीक्षा ग्राह्या नृपश्रेष्ठ पुरश्चरणमादितः । कृत्वा कायविशुद्ध्यर्थं ततः श्रेयस्करी भवेत्

dīkṣā grāhyā nṛpaśreṣṭha puraścaraṇamāditaḥ | kṛtvā kāyaviśuddhyarthaṁ tataḥ śreyaskarī bhavet

O best of kings, initiation is to be taken, first performing the preliminary practice for the purification of the body; then it becomes beneficial.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.432.26)

स त्वं पापसमाचारो बाल्यात्प्रभृति पार्थिव । असंख्यं पातकं तस्मात्तीर्थयात्रां समाचर

sa tvaṁ pāpasamācāro bālyātprabhṛti pārthiva | asaṁkhyaṁ pātakaṁ tasmāttīrthayātrāṁ samācara

You, O king, have been of sinful conduct since childhood, and your sins are countless; therefore undertake a pilgrimage to sacred fords.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.432.27)

सर्वतीर्थाभिषिक्तस्त्वं यदा स्यान्नृपसत्तम । प्रायश्चित्तेन योग्यः स्यास्ततो यज्ञस्य नान्यथा

sarvatīrthābhiṣiktastvaṁ yadā syānnṛpasattama | prāyaścittena yogyaḥ syāstato yajñasya nānyathā

O best of kings, when you have been consecrated by all the sacred fords, then, through penance, you shall become fit for the sacrifice — not otherwise.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.432.28)

प्रभासादीनि तीर्थानि यानि संति धरातले । गंतव्यं तेषु सर्वेषु स्नानं कुरु समाहितः

prabhāsādīni tīrthāni yāni santi dharātale | gantavyaṁ teṣu sarveṣu snānaṁ kuru samāhitaḥ

Whatever sacred fords there are on earth, beginning with Prabhasa, you must go to all of them; bathe there, composed in mind.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.432.29)

मनसा गच्छ दुर्गाणि ददद्दानमनुत्तमम् । नश्येत्तेनाशुभं किंचिदपि ब्रह्मवधोद्भवम् । यन्न याति नृणां राजंस्तीर्थस्नानादिना भुवि

manasā gaccha durgāṇi dadaddānamanuttamam | naśyettenāśubhaṁ kiñcidapi brahmavadhodbhavam | yanna yāti nṛṇāṁ rājaṁstīrthasnānādinā bhuvi

Go in your mind even to difficult, remote places, giving unsurpassed gifts. By that even the inauspiciousness arising from the killing of a brahmin — which does not depart from men through mere bathing at fords on earth — shall perish.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.432.30)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ विप्राणां वचनं श्रुत्वा स राजा श्रद्धयाऽन्वितः । तीर्थयात्रापरो भूत्वा परिबभ्राम मेदिनीम्

pulastya uvāca | viprāṇāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā sa rājā śraddhayā'nvitaḥ | tīrthayātrāparo bhūtvā paribabhrāma medinīm

Pulastya said: Hearing the brahmins' words, that king, filled with faith, became devoted to pilgrimage and wandered over the earth.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.432.31)

नियतो नियताहारो ददद्दानानि भूरिशः । राज्ये पुत्रं प्रतिष्ठाप्य वसुं सत्यपराक्रमम्

niyato niyatāhāro dadaddānāni bhūriśaḥ | rājye putraṁ pratiṣṭhāpya vasuṁ satyaparākramam

Self-controlled, restrained in food, giving gifts abundantly, having established his son Vasu, of true valour, in the kingdom —

Verse 32 (skanda.7.432.32)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तीर्थयात्रानुषंगतः । यातोऽसौ नृपतिश्चैव ह्यर्बुदे निर्मलोदकम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya tīrthayātrānuṣaṅgataḥ | yāto'sau nṛpatiścaiva hyarbude nirmalodakam

— then, after some time, in the course of his pilgrimage, that king came to the pure water at Arbuda.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.432.33)

स स्नानमकरोत्तत्र श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । स्नातमात्रस्य तस्याथ तस्मिन्नेव जलाशये

sa snānamakarottatra śraddhāpūtena cetasā | snātamātrasya tasyātha tasminneva jalāśaye

There he bathed, with a mind purified by faith. Then, as soon as he had bathed, in that very body of water —

Verse 34 (skanda.7.432.34)

विमुक्ताः पितरो रौद्रान्नरकात्सुप्रहर्षिताः । ततो दिव्यविमानस्था दिव्यमाल्यांबरान्विताः

vimuktāḥ pitaro raudrānnarakātsuprahaṛṣitāḥ | tato divyavimānasthā divyamālyāmbarānvitāḥ

— his forefathers were freed from the terrible hell, greatly rejoicing; then, seated in celestial chariots, adorned with divine garlands and garments —

Verse 35 (skanda.7.432.35)

तमूचुस्तारिताः सर्वे वयं पुत्र त्वयाऽधुना । तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावेण भविष्याश्च तथा दश

tamūcustāritāḥ sarve vayaṁ putra tvayā'dhunā | tīrthasyāsya prabhāveṇa bhaviṣyāśca tathā daśa

— all of them, saved, said to him: "O son, we have now been delivered by you, by the power of this ford, and likewise ten future descendants —"

Verse 36 (skanda.7.432.36)

आत्मा च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ स्नानाच्च जलतर्पणात् । यस्मात्कुलं त्वया पुत्र तीर्थेऽस्मिंस्तारितं ततः

ātmā ca pārthivaśreṣṭha snānācca jalatarpaṇāt | yasmātkulaṁ tvayā putra tīrthe'sminstāritaṁ tataḥ

"— and yourself too, O best of kings, through bathing and water-offering. Since, O son, your lineage has been delivered by you at this ford —"

Verse 37 (skanda.7.432.37)

कुलसंतारणंनाम तीर्थमेतद्भविष्यति । तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र सहाऽस्माभिर्दिवं प्रति । आगच्छानेन देहेन तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः

kulasaṁtāraṇaṁnāma tīrthametadbhaviṣyati | tasmāttvamapi rājendra sahā'smābhirdivaṁ prati | āgacchānena dehena tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ

"— this ford shall become known by the name Kulasantarana. Therefore, O lord of kings, you too, by the power of this ford, come with this very body along with us to heaven."

Verse 38 (skanda.7.432.38)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्तः स राजेंद्रो दिव्यकांतिवपुस्तदा । तं विमानमथारुह्य गतः स्वर्गं च तैः सह

pulastya uvāca | evamuktaḥ sa rājendro divyakāntivapustadā | taṁ vimānamathāruhya gataḥ svargaṁ ca taiḥ saha

Pulastya said: Thus addressed, that lord of kings, his body then taking on a divine radiance, mounted that celestial chariot and went to heaven together with them.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.432.39)

एष प्रभावो राजर्षे कुलसंतारणस्य च । मया ते वर्णितः सम्यग्भूयः किं परिपृच्छसि

eṣa prabhāvo rājarṣe kulasaṁtāraṇasya ca | mayā te varṇitaḥ samyagbhūyaḥ kiṁ paripṛcchasi

O royal sage, this power of Kulasantarana has been duly described by me to you; what more do you ask?

Verse 40 (skanda.7.432.40)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ स किंप्रभावो राजा स तथा पापसमन्वितः । स्वदेहेन गतः स्वर्गमेतन्मे कौतुकं महत्

yayātiruvāca | sa kiṁprabhāvo rājā sa tathā pāpasamanvitaḥ | svadehena gataḥ svargametanme kautukaṁ mahat

Yayati said: What was the power by which that king, so full of sin, went to heaven in his own body? This is my great curiosity.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.432.41)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ राकासोमव्यतीपात समकाले नृपोत्तम । स स्नातो यत्र भूपालस्तन्महच्छ्रेयसे परम्

pulastya uvāca | rākāsomavyatīpāta samakāle nṛpottama | sa snāto yatra bhūpālastanmahacchreyase param

Pulastya said: O best of kings, that king bathed at the time when the full moon coincided with a vyatipata conjunction — that is the reason for his great, supreme good.