The Ending of the Enmity

Verse 1 (skanda.8.19.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवं तव पिता व्यास रक्षःसत्रं समाहरत् । समापयित्वा च पुनस्तपस्तपति सत्वरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| evaṁ tava pitā vyāsa rakṣaḥsatraṁ samāharat | samāpayitvā ca punastapastapati satvaram

Sanatkumara said: Thus, O Vyasa, your father completed the rakshasa-sacrifice; and having concluded it, he speedily resumed his austerities.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.19.2)

तमागत्य वसिष्ठस्तु तपसा भास्करद्युतिम् । उवाच प्रीतिसंपन्नमिदमर्थवदव्ययः

tamāgatya vasiṣṭhastu tapasā bhāskaradyutim | uvāca prītisaṁpannamidamarthavadavyayaḥ

Then the imperishable Vasishtha came to him, who through austerity now shone with the splendour of the sun, and, filled with affection, spoke this meaningful word.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.19.3)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। पितरः पुत्रकामा वै तपस्तप्त्वातिदुश्चरम् । पुत्रमुत्पादयंति स्म तपोज्ञानसमन्वितम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca| pitaraḥ putrakāmā vai tapastaptvātiduścaram | putramutpādayaṁti sma tapojñānasamanvitam

Vasishtha said: 'Fathers who desire a son, having performed austerity most difficult to accomplish, beget a son endowed with both austerity and knowledge.'

Verse 4 (skanda.8.19.4)

यत्नतः संततिश्चैव ज्ञानवाँस्तपसान्वितः । करिष्यति गतिं दैवीमिति वेदविदो विदुः

yatnataḥ saṁtatiścaiva jñānavā~stapasānvitaḥ | kariṣyati gatiṁ daivīmiti vedavido viduḥ

'A son diligently begotten, possessed of knowledge and endowed with austerity, secures for his forefathers a divine destiny — thus the knowers of the Veda understand.'

Verse 5 (skanda.8.19.5)

सद्यस्तपोन्वितश्चैव ज्ञानवान् यशसान्वितः । पुत्रः पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठो विहीनः प्रजया विभो

sadyastaponvitaścaiva jñānavān yaśasānvitaḥ | putraḥ putravatāṁ śreṣṭho vihīnaḥ prajayā vibho

'A son at once endowed with austerity, knowledge, and fame is foremost among those who have sons — O mighty one, you are yet without offspring.'

Verse 6 (skanda.8.19.6)

तस्मात् पितॄणामानृण्यं गच्छ व्रतवतां वर । सुतमुत्पादय क्षिप्रं सममेव च भावन

tasmāt pitṝṇāmānṛṇyaṁ gaccha vratavatāṁ vara | sutamutpādaya kṣipraṁ samameva ca bhāvana

'Therefore, O best of those devoted to vows, go and free yourself from the debt owed to your forefathers. Swiftly beget a son, O thoughtful one.'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.19.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। स एवमुक्तस्तेजस्वी वसिष्ठेन महात्मना । मैनाकं पर्वतं प्राप्य तपस्तेपे सुदुस्तरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| sa evamuktastejasvī vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā | mainākaṁ parvataṁ prāpya tapastepe sudustaram

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by the great-souled Vasishtha, that splendid one went to Mount Mainaka and performed austerity most difficult to accomplish.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.19.8)

तस्य कालेन महता तपसा तारितस्य तु । उमापतिर्वरं प्रादात् स च वव्रे वरं सुतम्

tasya kālena mahatā tapasā tāritasya tu | umāpatirvaraṁ prādāt sa ca vavre varaṁ sutam

After a very long time, when he had been brought through by his austerity, the husband of Uma granted him a boon; and he chose a son as his boon.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.19.9)

स लब्ध्वा वरमागत्यान्वेषयत् पुत्रकारणात् । क्षेत्रं सुपरिशुद्धं च स्वपुत्रो यत्र सम्भवेत्

sa labdhvā varamāgatyānveṣayat putrakāraṇāt | kṣetraṁ supariśuddhaṁ ca svaputro yatra sambhavet

Having obtained the boon, he returned and searched, for the sake of a son, for a field perfectly pure, where his own son might be born.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.19.10)

स भ्रमन् दाशराजस्य दुहितृत्वमुपागताम् । पितृकन्यां ततः कालीमपश्यद्दिव्यरूपिणीम्

sa bhraman dāśarājasya duhitṛtvamupāgatām | pitṛkanyāṁ tataḥ kālīmapaśyaddivyarūpiṇīm

Wandering thus, he beheld Kali, who had come to be the daughter of the fisherman-king Dasharaja — she who was, in truth, the daughter of another father, and of divine form.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.19.11)

मत्स्यगर्भसमुत्पन्नां मत्स्यबीजोद्भवां पुरा । अद्रिकामप्सरःश्रेष्ठां ब्रह्मतेजोमयीं शुभाम्

matsyagarbhasamutpannāṁ matsyabījodbhavāṁ purā | adrikāmapsaraḥśreṣṭhāṁ brahmatejomayīṁ śubhām

She who had, in ages past, arisen from a fish's womb, sprung from fish-seed — she was, in truth, Adrika, foremost of the apsarases, radiant with the splendour of Brahman.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.19.12)

तस्यां स जनयामास वरं दत्त्वा महातपाः । भवन्तं तपसां योनिं श्रौतस्मार्तप्रवर्तकम्

tasyāṁ sa janayāmāsa varaṁ dattvā mahātapāḥ | bhavantaṁ tapasāṁ yoniṁ śrautasmārtapravartakam

That great ascetic, having granted her a boon, begot you in her — you who are the very source of austerities, the promulgator of the scriptural and traditional rites.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.19.13)

तव पुत्रोऽभवच्चापि शुको वेदविदां वरः । तस्य पुत्राश्च चत्वारः कन्या चैका सुमध्यमा

tava putro'bhavaccāpi śuko vedavidāṁ varaḥ | tasya putrāśca catvāraḥ kanyā caikā sumadhyamā

Your son, in turn, was Shuka, foremost among the knowers of the Veda; and he had four sons and one slender, graceful daughter.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.19.14)

व्यास उवाच। तादृग् वैरं परं ब्रह्मन् विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः । कथं चापि गतं भूय एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्

vyāsa uvāca| tādṛg vairaṁ paraṁ brahman viśvāmitravasiṣṭhayoḥ | kathaṁ cāpi gataṁ bhūya etadicchāmi veditum

Vyasa said: 'O Brahmin, how, again, did such great enmity as that between Vishvamitra and Vasishtha come about? This I wish to know.'

Verse 15 (skanda.8.19.15)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पराशरे तु गर्भस्थे रिपुत्वं गाधिजे गते । सरस्वत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे वसतोः स्वाश्रमे तयोः

sanatkumāra uvāca| parāśare tu garbhasthe riputvaṁ gādhije gate | sarasvatyāṁ kurukṣetre vasatoḥ svāśrame tayoḥ

Sanatkumara said: While Parashara was still in the womb, enmity had already arisen toward the son of Gadhi, the two of them then dwelling in their own hermitages on the Sarasvati, in Kurukshetra.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.19.16)

तत्र वैरमनुस्मृत्य विश्वामित्रेण धीमता । नियतस्य वसिष्ठस्य हतं पुत्रशतं रुषा

tatra vairamanusmṛtya viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā | niyatasya vasiṣṭhasya hataṁ putraśataṁ ruṣā

There, recalling that old enmity, the wise Vishvamitra, in fury, slew the hundred sons of the self-disciplined Vasishtha.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.19.17)

मुनिरप्याह तत्रासौ विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान्

munirapyāha tatrāsau viśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān

There too, that mighty sage Vishvamitra spoke —

Verse 18 (skanda.8.19.18)

सरस्वतीमथैकान्ते वसिष्ठम् । स्रोतसा महता क्षिप्रं स्नायमानमिहानय

sarasvatīmathaikānte vasiṣṭham | srotasā mahatā kṣipraṁ snāyamānamihānaya

— to Sarasvati, in private, concerning Vasishtha (a small portion of the text is lost here): 'Bring him, while he bathes, swiftly here by your great current.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.19.19)

सैवमुक्ता तु तं गत्वा वसिष्ठं प्राह दुःखिता । यदुक्तवाँस्तु गाधेयः स चोवाच महानदीम्

saivamuktā tu taṁ gatvā vasiṣṭhaṁ prāha duḥkhitā | yaduktavā~stu gādheyaḥ sa covāca mahānadīm

Thus commanded, she went sorrowfully to Vasishtha and told him what the son of Gadhi had said; and he then spoke to that great river —

Verse 20 (skanda.8.19.20)

एवं कुरु महाभागे मां नयस्व यथेप्सितम् । मा ते क्रूरः स गाधेयः शापं दद्यात् सुदुस्तरम्

evaṁ kuru mahābhāge māṁ nayasva yathepsitam | mā te krūraḥ sa gādheyaḥ śāpaṁ dadyāt sudustaram

'Do as he asks, O illustrious one; carry me as he desires, lest that cruel son of Gadhi pronounce upon you a curse most hard to bear.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.19.21)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। गाधेयस्य ततः सा तु जुह्वतोऽथ दिवाकरे । मध्यं प्राप्तेनयच्चैव वसिष्ठं स्रोतसा शुभा

sanatkumāra uvāca| gādheyasya tataḥ sā tu juhvato'tha divākare | madhyaṁ prāptenayaccaiva vasiṣṭhaṁ srotasā śubhā

Sanatkumara said: Then, while the son of Gadhi was offering oblations to the sun, that auspicious river carried Vasishtha by her current into their midst.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.19.22)

स तं दृष्ट्वा हृतं व्यास स्रोतसा मुनिसत्तमम् । उवाच छद्मना सोऽस्मद्वेगेनापहृतस्त्वया

sa taṁ dṛṣṭvā hṛtaṁ vyāsa srotasā munisattamam | uvāca chadmanā so'smadvegenāpahṛtastvayā

Seeing that best of sages thus carried off by the current, O Vyasa, he said: 'By this deceit, you have swept him away using our own force.'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.19.23)

तस्मात्त्वं कर्मणानेन सातृक्तोया भविष्यसि । विश्वामित्रेण सा शप्ता नदी लोकसुखप्रदा

tasmāttvaṁ karmaṇānena sātṛktoyā bhaviṣyasi | viśvāmitreṇa sā śaptā nadī lokasukhapradā

'Therefore, by this deed, you shall become a river whose waters run with blood.' Thus was that river, giver of happiness to the world, cursed by Vishvamitra.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.19.24)

अवहद्रुधिरं घोरं मासं मेदस्तथैव च । ततो विश्वामित्रस्तु गत्वा देवानामधिपं तदा

avahadrudhiraṁ ghoraṁ māsaṁ medastathaiva ca | tato viśvāmitrastu gatvā devānāmadhipaṁ tadā

She then flowed with dreadful blood, flesh, and fat. Then Vishvamitra went to Indra, the lord of the gods.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.19.25)

उवाच वज्रं मे देहि शरीरं चैव कौशिकः । दुर्वृत्तं हि हनिष्यामि वसिष्ठं ब्राह्मणाधमम्

uvāca vajraṁ me dehi śarīraṁ caiva kauśikaḥ | durvṛttaṁ hi haniṣyāmi vasiṣṭhaṁ brāhmaṇādhamam

Kaushika said: 'Give me your thunderbolt and your own power. I shall slay that ill-conducted Vasishtha, basest of brahmins.'

Verse 26 (skanda.8.19.26)

पुत्राः शक्र मया तस्य निहताः पापचेतसः । तान् हत्वापि न मे शान्तिर्भवित्री चैव देवप

putrāḥ śakra mayā tasya nihatāḥ pāpacetasaḥ | tān hatvāpi na me śāntirbhavitrī caiva devapa

'O Shakra, his sons have already been slain by me, my mind given over to sin; and yet, even having slain them, no peace has come to me, O lord of the gods.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.19.27)

शक्र उवाच। ब्रह्मज्ञानौ वसिष्ठश्च तव चात्मनि सत्तम । निर्वेशे सोममेतेषां नो मुक्तं भव वेदितुम्

śakra uvāca| brahmajñānau vasiṣṭhaśca tava cātmani sattama | nirveśe somameteṣāṁ no muktaṁ bhava veditum

Shakra said: 'Both Vasishtha and you, O worthy one, are knowers of Brahman in your own selves. As for requital for these sons, know that I cannot be free to grant it.' (This verse is uncertain/corrupt in the source.)

Verse 28 (skanda.8.19.28)

ततः समभिक्रुद्धोऽसौ गाधेयः शक्रमोजसा । योगात् प्रच्यावयामास शरीरात् कालनन्दन

tataḥ samabhikruddho'sau gādheyaḥ śakramojasā | yogāt pracyāvayāmāsa śarīrāt kālanandana

Then that son of Gadhi, greatly enraged, by his own power and through yogic force expelled Shakra from his body, O son of Kali.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.19.29)

स तच्छरीरमाविश्य वृत्रशत्रोः प्रतापवान् । वज्रोद्यतकरो भूत्वा छिद्रान्वेष्यवतिष्ठत

sa taccharīramāviśya vṛtraśatroḥ pratāpavān | vajrodyatakaro bhūtvā chidrānveṣyavatiṣṭhata

That mighty one, entering the body of the enemy of Vritra, and taking up the thunderbolt in hand, stood there watching for an opening.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.19.30)

ज्वलंतं स तमग्निं तु वज्रेण शतपर्वणा । चिच्छेद सप्तधा कृत्वा मुनीनामेव पश्यताम्

jvalaṁtaṁ sa tamagniṁ tu vajreṇa śataparvaṇā | ciccheda saptadhā kṛtvā munīnāmeva paśyatām

With the hundred-jointed thunderbolt, he cut that blazing fire into seven pieces, before the very eyes of the sages.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.19.31)

खण्डान्यथ समानीय क्षिप्रमेव मुनिः स्वयम् । संधाय स्वशरीरं वै सक्रोधो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

khaṇḍānyatha samānīya kṣiprameva muniḥ svayam | saṁdhāya svaśarīraṁ vai sakrodho vākyamabravīt

Then the sage himself quickly gathered up the pieces, rejoined them to his own body, and, filled with rage, spoke this word —

Verse 32 (skanda.8.19.32)

तिष्ठ कौशिक मेदानीं मया दृष्टो गमिष्यसि

tiṣṭha kauśika medānīṁ mayā dṛṣṭo gamiṣyasi

'Stand, Kaushika! Now that you have been seen by me, you shall...' (the remainder of this verse is entirely lost in the manuscript.)

Verse 33 (skanda.8.19.33)

दिवाकराद् वै कबन्धाः पेतुः शतसहस्रशः

divākarād vai kabandhāḥ petuḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

From the sun there fell headless trunks by the hundreds of thousands.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.19.34)

अशून्यं रुधिरं चैव गगनाच्च पपात ह । ववुश्चात्यशुभा वाता विमानान्यपतन् दिवः

aśūnyaṁ rudhiraṁ caiva gaganācca papāta ha | vavuścātyaśubhā vātā vimānānyapatan divaḥ

And an unceasing rain of blood fell from the sky; exceedingly inauspicious winds blew, and celestial chariots fell from heaven.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.19.35)

नेयुर्वेदाश्च विप्राणां नागाश्चाकाशगास्तथा । एवमादीँस्तदोत्पातान् विविधाँल्लोकनाशनान्

neyurvedāśca viprāṇāṁ nāgāścākāśagāstathā | evamādī~stadotpātān vividhā~llokanāśanān

The Vedas departed from the brahmins, and the sky-going serpents too vanished. Such various world-destroying portents as these occurred then.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.19.36)

दृष्ट्वा देवाः समुनयस्तमाहुर्गाधिनन्दनम् । वसिष्ठश्च महातेजास्त्वं च गाधेय धार्मिक

dṛṣṭvā devāḥ samunayastamāhurgādhinandanam | vasiṣṭhaśca mahātejāstvaṁ ca gādheya dhārmika

Seeing these, the gods, together with the sages, said to the son of Gadhi: 'Both the greatly splendid Vasishtha, and you, O righteous son of Gadhi —'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.19.37)

अमरौ जरया त्यक्तौ तपोयोगबलान्वितौ । युवयोर्हि क्षयं नास्ति क्षयं च न करिष्यथः

amarau jarayā tyaktau tapoyogabalānvitau | yuvayorhi kṣayaṁ nāsti kṣayaṁ ca na kariṣyathaḥ

'— are immortal, untouched by old age, endowed with the power of austerity and yoga. For you two there is no destruction, nor shall you bring about destruction.'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.19.38)

देवानां सर्वलोकानां युध्यमानौ परस्परम् । मत्तयोर्गजयोर्यद्वदरण्ये युध्यमानयोः

devānāṁ sarvalokānāṁ yudhyamānau parasparam | mattayorgajayoryadvadaraṇye yudhyamānayoḥ

'For the gods and all the worlds, your fighting with one another is like that of two rutting elephants fighting each other in a forest —'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.19.39)

वीरुधां भूरुहां चैव संमर्देन क्षयो महान् । तथा वैरेण युवयोः प्रवृत्तेन महात्मनोः

vīrudhāṁ bhūruhāṁ caiva saṁmardena kṣayo mahān | tathā vaireṇa yuvayoḥ pravṛttena mahātmanoḥ

'— in whose trampling great destruction comes upon creepers and trees; so too, through this enmity now proceeding between you two great souls —'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.19.40)

लोकानामनयो व्यक्तं भविष्यति न संशयः । तस्माद्विनाशं लोकानामृषिभिः सह

lokānāmanayo vyaktaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ | tasmādvināśaṁ lokānāmṛṣibhiḥ saha

'— manifest calamity will surely come upon the worlds, without doubt. Therefore, [seeking to avert] the destruction of the worlds, together with the sages —' (the text is partially damaged here)

Verse 41 (skanda.8.19.41)

युवयोरस्तु सख्यं च क्षयो वैरस्य चाथ वै । स एवमुक्तो गाधेयो मुनिभिर्दैवतैः सह

yuvayorastu sakhyaṁ ca kṣayo vairasya cātha vai | sa evamukto gādheyo munibhirdaivataiḥ saha

'— let there be friendship between you two, and let this enmity come to an end.' Thus addressed by the sages together with the gods, the son of Gadhi —

Verse 42 (skanda.8.19.42)

एवमस्त्विति तान्प्राह विस्मितस्तेजसा तदा । ततो वसिष्ठमप्येवमूचुः सर्वे दिवौकसः

evamastviti tānprāha vismitastejasā tadā | tato vasiṣṭhamapyevamūcuḥ sarve divaukasaḥ

— astonished by that display of power, said to them, 'So be it.' Then all the gods spoke likewise to Vasishtha as well.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.19.43)

असावपि तथैवेति तेन सख्यं चकार ह । ततःप्रभृति सर्वं वै जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम् ससुखं प्रीतिसंयुक्तं मुमुदे विगतज्वरम्

asāvapi tathaiveti tena sakhyaṁ cakāra ha | tataḥprabhṛti sarvaṁ vai jagat sthāvarajaṅgamam sasukhaṁ prītisaṁyuktaṁ mumude vigatajvaram

He too said, 'So be it,' and made friendship with him. From that time onward, the whole world, moving and unmoving, rejoiced, happy, filled with love, and freed from affliction. (Further verses of the original text are entirely lost here in the manuscript.)

Verse 44 (skanda.8.19.44)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अथ तीर्थप्रसंगेन मुनिभिः समुपागतैः । अनुग्रहः कृतस्तस्या येन स्वच्छजलाभवत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| atha tīrthaprasaṁgena munibhiḥ samupāgataiḥ | anugrahaḥ kṛtastasyā yena svacchajalābhavat

Sanatkumara said: Then, on the occasion of a pilgrimage, the sages who had gathered there bestowed a blessing upon that river, by which she became clear-watered once more.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.19.45)

महतस्तपसः शक्ताः कालेन महता तदा । वसिष्ठस्य तु तां क्षान्तिं ज्ञात्वा स ऋषिपुङ्गवः

mahatastapasaḥ śaktāḥ kālena mahatā tadā | vasiṣṭhasya tu tāṁ kṣāntiṁ jñātvā sa ṛṣipuṅgavaḥ

After a very long time, capable still of great austerity, and having recognised that forbearance of Vasishtha, that foremost of sages —

Verse 46 (skanda.8.19.46)

विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठे वैरमत्यजत् । एवं तौ वैरमन्योन्यं जहतुर्मुनिसत्तमौ

viśvāmitro mahātejā vasiṣṭhe vairamatyajat | evaṁ tau vairamanyonyaṁ jahaturmunisattamau

— the greatly radiant Vishvamitra gave up his enmity toward Vasishtha. Thus did those two foremost sages abandon their mutual enmity.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.19.47)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। य इदं शृणुयाद्विप्रो ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रावयीत वा । सुदुस्तराणि दुर्गाणि तरत्यश्रान्तपौरुषः

sanatkumāra uvāca| ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādvipro brāhmaṇāñchrāvayīta vā | sudustarāṇi durgāṇi taratyaśrāntapauruṣaḥ

Sanatkumara said: 'Whatever brahmin hears this account, or causes brahmins to hear it, crosses over the most difficult straits, his strength unwearied.'

Verse 48 (skanda.8.19.48)

त्रिपौरुषौदार्यविहारसत्वैः समुन्नतश्चोज्ज्वलचारुवेषः । भवेच्च सर्वामरराजतुल्यस्त्रिविष्टपे क्रीडति चेच्छया स्वयम्

tripauruṣaudāryavihārasatvaiḥ samunnataścojjvalacāruveṣaḥ | bhavecca sarvāmararājatulyastriviṣṭape krīḍati cecchayā svayam

'He becomes exalted with the nobility, delight, and strength of three generations, radiant and of splendid form; and he becomes equal to the king of all the immortals, sporting in heaven of his own free will.'

Verse 49 (skanda.8.19.49)

एवं तदभवद् व्यास विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः । वैरं समाप्तं लोकानां हितार्थं पुनरेव च

evaṁ tadabhavad vyāsa viśvāmitravasiṣṭhayoḥ | vairaṁ samāptaṁ lokānāṁ hitārthaṁ punareva ca

Thus, O Vyasa, did that enmity between Vishvamitra and Vasishtha come to an end — once again, for the welfare of the worlds.