Skandapurana 6.3.103

6.3.103.p1

adhyāya 103

6.3.103.1

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
tato gacchenmahīpāla eraṇḍīsaṅgamaṃ param .
yacchrutaṃ vai mayā rājañchivasya vadataḥ purā .. 103.1 ..

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Then one should go to the supreme confluence of the Eraṇḍī, O ruler of the earth, / which was heard by me, O king, when Śiva spoke long ago.

6.3.103.2

etadeva purā praśnaṃ gauryā pṛṣṭastu śaṅkaraḥ .
provāca nṛpaśārdūla guhyādguhyataraṃ śubham .. 103.2 ..

When questioned long ago with this very question by Gaurī, / Śaṅkara spoke, O tiger among kings, that which is auspicious and more secret than the secret.

6.3.103.3

īśvara uvāca -
śṛṇu devi paraṃ guhyaṃ nākhyātaṃ kasyacinmayā .
revāyāścottare kūle tīrthaṃ paramaśobhanam .
bhrūṇahatyāharaṃ devi kāmadaṃ putravardhanam .. 103.3 ..

Īśvara said: / Listen, O goddess, to the supreme secret which I have not spoken to anyone: / On the northern bank of the Revā is a most splendid tīrtha, / destroying [the sin of] abortion, O goddess, granting desires, and multiplying sons.

6.3.103.4

pārvatyuvāca -
kathayasva mahādeva tīrthaṃ paramaśobhanam .
bhrūṇahatyāharaṃ kasmātkāmadaṃ svargadarśanam .. 103.4 ..

Pārvatī said: / Tell [me], O Mahādeva, of this most splendid tīrtha: / Why does it remove [the sin of] abortion, grant desires, and grant the vision of heaven?

6.3.103.5

īśvara uvāca -
atrirnāma mahādevi mānaso brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ .
agnihotrarato nityaṃ devatātithipūjakaḥ .. 103.5 ..

Īśvara said: / There was a mind-born son of Brahmā named Atri, O great goddess, / always devoted to the Agnihotra and worshipping deities and guests.

6.3.103.6

somasaṃsthāśca saptaiva kṛtā vipreṇa pārvati .
anasūyeti vikhyātā bhāryā tasya guṇānvitā .. 103.6 ..

And the seven Soma sacrifices were performed by that brahmin, O Pārvatī. / His wife, endowed with virtues, was renowned as Anasūyā,

6.3.103.7

pativratā patiprāṇā patyuḥ kāryahite ratā .
evaṃ yāti tataḥ kāle na putrā na ca putrikā .. 103.7 ..

devoted to her husband, holding her husband as her life-breath, intent on the welfare and duties of her husband. / In this way time passed, but there was neither son nor daughter.

6.3.103.8

aparāhṇe mahādevi sukhāsīnau tu sundari .
vadantau sukhaduḥkhāni pūrvavṛttāni yāni ca .. 103.8 ..

In the afternoon, O great goddess, the two sat comfortably, O beautiful one, / speaking of happiness and sorrow, and of things that had happened in the past.

6.3.103.9

atriruvāca -
saumye śubhe priye kānte cārusarvāṅgasundari .
vidyāvinayasampanne padmapatranibhekṣaṇe .. 103.9 ..

Atri said: / O gentle, auspicious, beloved, dear one, beautiful in all your limbs, / endowed with learning and modesty, with eyes like lotus petals,

6.3.103.10

pūrṇacandranibhākāre pṛthuśroṇibharālase .
na tvayā sadṛśī nārī trailokye sacarācare .. 103.10 ..

with an appearance like the full moon, languid with the weight of broad hips, / there is no woman equal to you in the three worlds, both moving and unmoving.

6.3.103.11

ratiputraphalā nārī paṭhyate vedavādibhiḥ .
putrahīnasya yatsaukhyaṃ tatsaukhyaṃ mama sundari .. 103.11 ..

A woman whose fruit is pleasure and sons is recited by the teachers of the Veda. / Whatever happiness a childless man has, such is my happiness, O beautiful one.

6.3.103.12

yathāhaṃ na tathā putraḥ samarthaḥ sarvakarmasu .
punnāmanarakādbhadre jātamātreṇa sundari .. 103.12 ..

As I am, so is a son not, who is capable in all rites; / from the hell named Put, O gentle one, as soon as he is born, O beautiful one,

6.3.103.13

patantaṃ rakṣayeddevi mahāpātakinaṃ yadi .
mahāghore gatā vāpi duṣṭakarmapitāmahāḥ .. 103.13 ..

he saves one who is falling, O goddess, even if he is a perpetrator of great sins; / or even if the grandfathers of evil deeds have gone to the most dreadful [hell],

6.3.103.14

taddharanti suputrāśca vaitaraṇyāṃ gatānapi .
putreṇa lokāñjayati pautreṇa paramā gatiḥ .. 103.14 ..

good sons deliver them, even those who have gone to the Vaitaraṇī. / By a son one conquers worlds, by a grandson comes the supreme state,

6.3.103.15

atha putrasya pautreṇa pragacchedbrahma śāśvatam .
nāsti putrasamo bandhuriha loke paratra ca .. 103.15 ..

and by the grandson of a son one goes to the eternal Brahman. / There is no friend equal to a son, both in this world and in the next.

6.3.103.16

ahaśca madhyarātre ca cintayānasya sarvadā .
śuṣyanti mama gātrāṇi grīṣme nadyudakaṃ yathā .. 103.16 ..

By day and at midnight, as I worry constantly, / my limbs dry up like the water of a river in summer.

6.3.103.17

anasūyovāca -
yattvayā śocitaṃ vipra tatsarvaṃ śocayāmyaham .
tavodvegakaraṃ yacca tanme dahati cetasi .. 103.17 ..

Anasūyā said: / That which you lament, O brahmin, all that I lament. / And that which causes you distress burns in my heart.

6.3.103.18

yena putrā bhaviṣyanti āyuṣmanto guṇānvitāḥ .
tatkāryaṃ ca samīkṣasva yena tuṣyetprajāpatiḥ .. 103.18 ..

Consider that undertaking by which there will be sons, / long-lived and endowed with virtues, by which the Lord of Creatures would be pleased.

6.3.103.19

atriruvāca -
tapastaptaṃ mayā bhadre jātamātreṇa duṣkaram .
vratopavāsaniyamaiḥ śākāhāreṇa sundari .. 103.19 ..

Atri said: / Difficult austerity was performed by me, O gentle one, as soon as I was born, / with vows, fasts, observances, and a diet of vegetables, O beautiful one.

6.3.103.20

kṣīṇadehastu tiṣṭhāmi hyaśakto'haṃ mahāvrate .
tena śocāmi cātmānaṃ rahasyaṃ kathitaṃ mayā .. 103.20 ..

With an emaciated body I remain, unable to undertake a great vow; / therefore I grieve for myself. The secret has been told by me.

6.3.103.21

anasūyovāca -
bhartuḥ pativratā nārī ratiputravivardhinī .
trivargasādhanā sā ca ślāghyā ca viduṣāṃ jane .. 103.21 ..

Anasūyā said: / A woman devoted to her husband increases pleasure and sons for her husband, / achieves the three goals of life, and is praised among wise people.

6.3.103.22

japastapastīrthayātrā mṛḍejyāmantrasādhanam .
devatārādhanaṃ caiva strīśūdrapatanāni ṣaṭ .. 103.22 ..

Recitation, austerity, pilgrimage to tīrthas, worship of Mṛḍa, mastery of mantras, / and worship of deities—these six cause the downfall of women and śūdras.

6.3.103.23

īdṛśaṃ tu mahādoṣaṃ strīṇāṃ tu vratasādhane .
vadanti munayaḥ sarve yathoktaṃ vedabhāṣitam .. 103.23 ..

All the sages proclaim that such a great fault belongs to women / in performing rituals, according to what is declared in the Veda.

6.3.103.24

anujñātā tvayā brahmaṃstapastapsyāmi duṣkaram .
putrārthitvaṃ samuddiśya toṣayāmi surottamān .. 103.24 ..

Permitted by you, O holy one, I will perform difficult austerity; / with the desire for a son in mind, I shall propitiate the foremost gods.

6.3.103.25

atriruvāca -
sādhu sādhu mahāprājñe mama saṃtoṣakāriṇi .
ājñātā tvaṃ mayā bhadre putrārthaṃ tapa āśraya .. 103.25 ..

Atri said: / 'Well done, well done, O woman of great wisdom, you who bring me delight! / You are permitted by me, blessed lady; resort to austerity for the sake of a son.

6.3.103.26

devatānāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ pitḥṇāmanṛṇo bhave .
na bhāryāsadṛśo bandhustriṣu lokeṣu vidyate .. 103.26 ..

May I be free of debt to the gods, to men, and to the ancestors. / In the three worlds there is no kinsman equal to a wife.

6.3.103.27

tena devāḥ praśaṃsanti na bhāryāsadṛśaṃ sukham .
sanmukhe manmukhāḥ putrāḥ vilome tu parāṅmukhāḥ .. 103.27 ..

Therefore the gods praise her; there is no happiness equal to a wife. / If she is favorable, sons look towards me; but if she is contrary, they turn away.

6.3.103.28

tena bhāryāṃ praśaṃsanti sadevāsuramānuṣāḥ .
mahāvrate mahāprājñe sattvavati śubhekṣaṇe .. 103.28 ..

Therefore gods, demons, and mortals praise a wife. / O lady of great vows, O woman of great wisdom, noble-hearted and of auspicious gaze,

6.3.103.29

tapastapasva śīghraṃ tvaṃ putrārthaṃ tu mamājñayā .
etadvākyāvasāne tu sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇatābravīt .. 103.29 ..

perform austerity quickly for the sake of a son by my command.' / At the end of these words, prostrating with eight limbs, she said:

6.3.103.30

tvatprasādena viprendra sarvānkāmānavāpnuyām .
haṃsalīlāgatiḥ sā ca mṛgākṣī varavarṇinī .. 103.30 ..

'By your favor, O foremost among vipras, may I attain all desires.' / And she, walking with the playful grace of a swan, fawn-eyed and fair-complexioned,

6.3.103.31

niyamasthā tato bhūtvā samprāptā narmadāṃ nadīm .
śivasvedodbhavāṃ devīṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanīm .. 103.31 ..

abiding by observances, then reached the river Narmadā, / the goddess sprung from Śiva's sweat, destroyer of all sin,

6.3.103.32

yasyā darśanamātreṇa naśyate pāpasañcayaḥ .
snānamātreṇa vai yasyā aśvamedhaphalaṃ labhet .. 103.32 ..

by the mere sight of whom the accumulation of sins is destroyed, / by the mere bath in whom one obtains the fruit of an horse sacrifice.

6.3.103.33

ye pibanti mahādevi śraddadhānāḥ payaḥ śubham .
somapānena tattulyaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā .. 103.33 ..

Those who drink its auspicious water with faith, O great goddess, / that is equal to drinking Soma; there is no doubt about this.

6.3.103.34

ye smaranti divā rātrau yojanānāṃ śatairapi .
mucyante sarvapāpebhyo rudralokaṃ prayānti te .. 103.34 ..

Those who remember it day and night, even from a hundred yojanas away, / are freed from all sins and go to the world of Rudra.

6.3.103.35

narmadāyāḥ samīpe tu tāvubhau yojanadvaye .
na paśyanti yamaṃ tatra ye mṛtā varavarṇini .. 103.35 ..

Within two yojanas on both sides near the Narmadā, / those who die there do not see Yama, O fair-complexioned one.

6.3.103.36

tatastaduttare kūle eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame śubhe .
niyamasthā viśālākṣī śākāhāreṇa sundari .. 103.36 ..

Then on its northern bank, at the auspicious confluence with the Eraṇḍī, / keeping her vows, the large-eyed lady [lived] on a diet of vegetables, O beautiful one,

6.3.103.37

toṣayantī trīṃśca devāñchubhaiḥ stotrairvrataistathā .
grīṣmeṣu ca mahādevi pañcāgniṃ sādhayettataḥ .. 103.37 ..

pleasing the three gods with auspicious hymns of praise and vows. / And during the summer seasons, O great goddess, she would practice the five fires.

6.3.103.38

varṣākāle cārdravāsāścareccāndrāyaṇāni ca .
hemante tu tataḥ prāpte toyamadhye vasetsadā .. 103.38 ..

During the rainy season she wore wet clothes and performed the cāndrāyaṇa fasts; / when winter arrived, she would always dwell in the middle of water.

6.3.103.39

prātaḥsnānaṃ tataḥ sandhyāṃ kuryāddevarṣitarpaṇam .
devānāmarcanaṃ kṛtvā homaṃ kuryādyathāvidhi .. 103.39 ..

She performed the morning ritual ablution, then the twilight prayer, and the libation to gods and seers; / having performed the worship of the gods, she performed the fire offering according to the rules.

6.3.103.40

yajate vaiṣṇavāṃllokān snānajāpyahutena ca .
evaṃ varṣaśate prāpte rudraviṣṇupitāmahāḥ .. 103.40 ..

She honored the worlds of Viṣṇu through ritual ablution, recitation, and oblations. / Thus, when a hundred years had passed, Rudra, Viṣṇu, and the Grandfather

6.3.103.41

samprāptā dvijarūpaistu eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame priye .
purataḥ saṃsthitāstasyā vedamabhyuddharanti ca .. 103.41 ..

arrived in the form of twice-born men at the confluence of the Eraṇḍī, O beloved, / and standing before her, they recited the Veda.

6.3.103.42

anasūyā japaṃ tyaktvā nirīkṣya tānmuhurmuhuḥ .
utthitā sā viśālākṣī arghaṃ dattvā yathāvidhi .. 103.42 ..

Anasūyā, setting aside her recitation and looking at them again and again, / arose, that large-eyed woman, and gave the water offering according to rule.

6.3.103.43

adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me saphalaṃ tapaḥ .
darśanena tu viprāṇāṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate .. 103.43 ..

'Today my birth has borne fruit! Today my austerity has borne fruit! / For by the sight of vipras one is freed from all sins.'

6.3.103.44

pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇatābravīt .
kandamūlaphalaṃ śākaṃ nīvārānapi pāvanān .
prayacchāmyahamadyaiva munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām .. 103.44 ..

Then, having circumambulated and bowed down with eight limbs, she said: / 'Roots, tubers, fruit, vegetables, and holy wild grains / I offer this very day to the sages of purified mind.'

6.3.103.45

viprā ūcuḥ .
tapasā tu vicitreṇa tapaḥsatyena suvrate .
tṛptāḥ sma sarvakāmaistu suvrate tava darśanāt .. 103.45 ..

The vipras said: / 'By your wondrous austerity and the truth of your austerity, O woman of good vows, / we are gratified in all desires, O lady of good vows, by the sight of you.

6.3.103.46

asmākaṃ kautukaṃ jātaṃ tāpasena vratena yat .
svargamokṣasutasyārthe tapastapasi duṣkaram .. 103.46 ..

A curiosity has arisen in us regarding this ascetic vow of yours, / that for heaven, liberation, or a son you are performing such difficult austerity.'

6.3.103.47

anasūyovāca -
tapasā sidhyate svargastapasā paramā gatiḥ .
tapasā cārthakāmau ca tapasā guṇavānsutaḥ .
tapa eva ca me viprāḥ sarvakāmaphalapradam .. 103.47 ..

Anasūyā said: / 'Through austerity heaven is attained; through austerity the supreme goal [is reached]; / through austerity come wealth and desire; through austerity a virtuous son [is born]. / For me, O vipras, austerity alone grants the fruit of every desire.'

6.3.103.48

viprā ūcuḥ .
tanvī śyāmā viśālākṣī snigdhāṅgī rūpasaṃyutā .
haṃsalīlāgatigamā tvaṃ ca sarvāṅgasundarī .. 103.48 ..

The vipras said: / 'Slender, youthful, large-eyed, graceful-limbed, endowed with beauty, / walking with the playful grace of a swan, and beautiful in all your limbs are you.

6.3.103.49

kiṃ ca te tapasā kāryamātmānaṃ śocyase katham .. 103.49 ..

What business do you have with austerity? Why do you torment yourself?'

6.3.103.50

anasūyovāca -
yadi rudraśca viṣṇuśca svayaṃ sākṣātpitāmahaḥ .
gūḍharūpadharāḥ sarve taccihnamupalakṣaye .. 103.50 ..

Anasūyā said: / 'If you are Rudra, Viṣṇu, and the Grandfather himself in person / wearing disguised forms, I perceive those signs.'

6.3.103.51

tasyā vākyāvasāne tu svarūpaṃ darśayanti te .
svasvarūpaiḥ sthitā devāḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhāḥ .. 103.51 ..

At the conclusion of her speech, they revealed their true forms; / the gods stood in their own forms, radiant as ten million suns.

6.3.103.52

caturbhujo mahādevi śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ .
atasīpuṣpavarṇastu pītavāsā janārdanaḥ .. 103.52 ..

Four-armed, O great goddess, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, / with the color of an atasī flower, clad in yellow garments was Janārdana,

6.3.103.53

garutmānvāhanaṃ yasya śriyā ca sahito hariḥ .
prasannavadanaḥ śrīmānsvayaṃrūpo vyavasthitaḥ .. 103.53 ..

Hari, whose mount is Garuḍa, accompanied by Śrī, / with a serene countenance, glorious, standing in his own true form.

6.3.103.54

pītavāsā mahādevi caturvadanapaṅkajaḥ .
haṃsopari samārūḍho hyakṣamālākarodyataḥ .. 103.54 ..

Clad in yellow garments, O great goddess, with four lotus-faces, / mounted upon a swan, with hands holding a rosary,

6.3.103.55

āgato narmadātīre brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ .
yo'sau sarvajagadvyāpī svayaṃ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ .. 103.55 ..

Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, had come to the bank of the Narmadā. / And he who pervades the entire universe, Maheśvara himself in person,

6.3.103.56

vṛṣabhaṃ tu samārūḍho daśabāhusamanvitaḥ .
bhasmāṅgarāgaśobhāḍhyaḥ pañcavaktrastrilocanaḥ .. 103.56 ..

mounted upon a bull, endowed with ten arms, / adorned with the splendor of ashes smeared on his body, five-faced and three-eyed,

6.3.103.57

jaṭāmukuṭasaṃyuktaḥ kṛtacandrārddhaśekharaḥ .
evaṃrūpadharo devaḥ sarvavyāpī maheśvaraḥ .. 103.57 ..

endowed with a crown of matted hair, wearing the crescent moon on his head— / bearing such a form was the god Maheśvara, all-pervading.

6.3.103.58

anasūyā nirīkṣyaitaddevānāṃ darśanaṃ param .
vepamānā tataḥ sādhvī surāndṛṣṭvā muhurmuhuḥ .. 103.58 ..

Beholding this supreme vision of the gods, Anasūyā / trembled, the virtuous lady, looking at the gods again and again.

6.3.103.59

anasūyovāca -
kiṃ vyāpārasvarūpāstu viṣṇurudrapitāmahāḥ .
etadvai śrotumicchāmi hyaśeṣaṃ kathayantu me .. 103.59 ..

Anasūyā said: / 'What is the nature of the functions of Viṣṇu, Rudra, and the Grandfather? / This indeed I wish to hear; tell it to me completely.'

6.3.103.60

brahmovāca -
prāvṛṭkālo hyahaṃ brahmā āpaścaiva prakīrtitāḥ .
megharūpo hyahaṃ prokto varṣayāmi ca bhūtale .. 103.60 ..

Brahmā said: / 'I, Brahmā, am the rainy season, and I am celebrated as the waters; / I am said to be in the form of clouds, and I cause rain upon the surface of the earth.

6.3.103.61

ahaṃ sarvāṇi bījāni prāksandhyāsūdite ravau .
etadvai kāraṇaṃ sarvaṃ rahasyaṃ kathitaṃ param .. 103.61 ..

I am all the seeds; at the morning twilight when the sun has risen. / This is the whole cause, the supreme secret that has been told.'

6.3.103.62

viṣṇuruvāca -
hemantaśca bhavedviṣṇurviśvarūpaṃ carācaram .
pālanāya jagatsarvaṃ viṣṇormāhātmyamuttamam .. 103.62 ..

Viṣṇu said: / 'Viṣṇu is the winter season, the universal form, moving and unmoving; / for the protection of the whole universe is the supreme glory of Viṣṇu.'

6.3.103.63

rudra uvāca -
grīṣmakālo hyahaṃ proktaḥ sarvabhūtakṣayaṃkaraḥ .
karṣayāmi jagatsarvaṃ rudrarūpastapasvini .. 103.63 ..

Rudra said: / 'I am declared to be the summer season, the bringer of destruction to all beings; / in the form of Rudra I consume the entire universe, O ascetic lady.'

6.3.103.64

evaṃ brahmā ca viṣṇuśca rudraścaiva mahāvrate .
trayo devāstrayaḥ sandhyāstrayaḥ kālāstrayo'gnayaḥ .. 103.64 ..

Thus are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra, O lady of great vows; / the three gods are the three junctures of the day, the three seasons, and the three fires.

6.3.103.65

tathā brahmā ca viṣṇuśca rudraścaikātmatāṃ gataḥ .
varaṃ dadyuśca te bhadre yastvayā manasīpsitam .. 103.65 ..

Likewise, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra, having attained unity of self,
shall grant you the boon, O auspicious lady, that is desired in your heart.

6.3.103.66

anasūyovāca -
dhanyā puṇyā hyahaṃ loke ślāghyā vandyā ca sarvadā .
brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca prasannavadanāḥ śubhāḥ .. 103.66 ..

Anasūyā said:
I am indeed blessed, meritorious in the world, praiseworthy, and ever to be revered;
for Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra have gracious faces and are auspicious.

6.3.103.67

yadi tuṣṭāstrayo devā dayāṃ kṛtvā mamopari .
asmiṃstīrthe tu sāṃnidhyādvaradāḥ santu me sadā .. 103.67 ..

If the three gods are pleased, having shown compassion toward me,
let them ever grant boons to me by their presence at this sacred ford.

6.3.103.68

rudra uvāca -
evaṃ bhavatu te vākyaṃ yattvayā prārthitaṃ śubhe .
pratyakṣā vaiṣṇavī māyā eraṇḍīnāma nāmataḥ .. 103.68 ..

Rudra said:
May it be so according to your word, which you have requested, O auspicious lady!
You are the visible Vaiṣṇavī Māyā, bearing the name Eraṇḍī.

6.3.103.69

yasyā darśanamātreṇa naśyate pāpasañcayaḥ .
caitramāse tu samprāpte ahorātroṣito bhavet .. 103.69 ..

By the mere sight of whom the accumulation of sin is destroyed.
When the month of Caitra arrives, one should fast for a day and a night;

6.3.103.70

eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame snātvā brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati .
rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kuryātprabhāte bhojayeddvijān .. 103.70 ..

Having bathed at the confluence of the Eraṇḍī, he dispels the sin of slaying a brahmin.
One should keep a night vigil and feed brahmins in the morning.

6.3.103.71

yathoktena vidhānena piṇḍaṃ dadyādyathāvidhi .
pradakṣiṇāṃ tato dadyāddhiraṇyaṃ vastrameva ca .. 103.71 ..

In accordance with the stated rite, he should offer a rice-ball as prescribed.
Then he should perform circumambulation and give gold and clothing,

6.3.103.72

rajataṃ ca tathā gāvo bhūmidānamathāpi vā .
sarvaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ proktamiti svāyambhuvo'bravīt .. 103.72 ..

As well as silver, cows, or the gift of land.
All is said to be multiplied ten million times; so spoke the Self-born one.

6.3.103.73

ye mriyanti narā devi eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame śubhe .
yāvadyugasahasraṃ tu rudraloke vasanti te .. 103.73 ..

Those men who die, O goddess, at the auspicious confluence of the Eraṇḍī,
dwell in the world of Rudra for a thousand yugas.

6.3.103.74

ahorātroṣito bhūtvā japedrudrāṃśca vaidikān .
ekādaśaikasaṃjñāṃśca sa yāti paramāṃ gatim .. 103.74 ..

Having fasted for a day and a night, he should recite the Vedic Rudras
and the eleven called Ekā, and he goes to the supreme state.

6.3.103.75

vidyārthī labhate vidyāṃ dhanārthī labhate dhanam .
putrārthī labhate putrāṃllabhetkāmān yathepsitān .. 103.75 ..

One seeking knowledge obtains knowledge; one seeking wealth obtains wealth;
one seeking sons obtains sons; he shall attain his desires as wished.

6.3.103.76

eraṇḍyāḥ saṅgame snātvā revāyā vimale jale .
mahāpātakino vāpi te yānti paramāṃ gatim .. 103.76 ..

Having bathed at the confluence of the Eraṇḍī in the clear water of the Revā,
even great sinners go to the supreme state.

6.3.103.77

anasūyovāca -
yadi tuṣṭāstrayo devā mama bhaktipracoditāḥ .
mama putrā bhavantveva harirudrapitāmahāḥ .. 103.77 ..

Anasūyā said:
If the three gods are pleased, impelled by my devotion,
let Hari, Rudra, and Pitāmaha indeed become my sons.

6.3.103.78

viṣṇuruvāca -
pūjyā yatputratāṃ yānti na kadācicchrutaṃ mayā .
śubhe dadāmi putrāṃste devatulyaparākramān .
rūpavanto guṇopetānyajvinaśca bahuśrutān .. 103.78 ..

Viṣṇu said:
That those worthy of worship become sons has never been heard by me.
O auspicious lady, I grant you sons equal to gods in prowess,
handsome, endowed with virtues, sacrificers, and highly learned.

6.3.103.79

anasūyovāca -
īpsitaṃ tacca dātavyaṃ yanmayā prārthitaṃ hare .
nānyathā caiva kartavyā mama putraiṣaṇā tu yā .. 103.79 ..

Anasūyā said:
That desired thing must be given which I requested, O Hari!
And my desire for sons must not be made otherwise.

6.3.103.80

viṣṇuruvāca -
pūrvaṃ tu bhṛgusaṃvāde garbhavāsa upārjitaḥ .
tasyāhaṃ caiva pāraṃ tu naiva paśyāmi śobhane .. 103.80 ..

Viṣṇu said:
Formerly, in the dialogue with Bhṛgu, dwelling in a womb was incurred;
and I do not see an end to that, O fair lady.

6.3.103.81

smaramāṇaḥ purāvṛttaṃ cintayāmi punaḥpunaḥ .
evaṃ saṃcintya te devāḥ pitāmahamaheśvarāḥ .. 103.81 ..

Remembering the past event, I think of it again and again.
Reflecting thus, those gods, Pitāmaha and Maheśvara,

6.3.103.82

ayonijā bhaviṣyāmastava putrā varānane .
yonivāse mahāprājñi devā naiva vrajanti ca .. 103.82 ..

[said:] “We shall become your sons not born of a womb, O fair-faced lady!
For gods do not enter dwelling in a womb, O highly wise one.

6.3.103.83

sāṃnidhyātsaṅgame devi lokānāṃ tu varapradāḥ .
eraṇḍī vaiṣṇavī māyā pratyakṣā tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi .. 103.83 ..

Through our presence at the confluence, O goddess, granting boons to the worlds,
you will become visibly manifest as the Eraṇḍī, the Vaiṣṇavī Māyā.”

6.3.103.84

trayo devāḥ sthitāḥ pātha revāyā uttare taṭe .
varaprāptā tu sā devī gatā māhendraparvatam .. 103.84 ..

The three gods remained in the water on the northern bank of the Revā.
Having received the boon, that goddess went to Mount Mahendra.

6.3.103.85

kṣīṇāṅgī śukladehā ca rūkṣakeśī sudāruṇā .
kṛtayajñopavītā sā taponiṣṭhā śubhekṣaṇā .. 103.85 ..

Emaciated of limb, with a pale body, dry hair, exceedingly severe,
wearing the sacred thread, devoted to austerity, lovely-eyed,

6.3.103.86

śilātalaniviṣṭo'sau dṛṣṭaḥ kānto mahāyaśāḥ .
hṛṣṭacitto'bhavaddevi uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha sābravīt .. 103.86 ..

She saw her beloved husband of great renown seated on a stone slab.
His mind was delighted, O goddess; she said: “Arise! Arise!”

6.3.103.87

atriruvāca -
sādhu sādhu mahāprājñe hyanasūye mahāvrate .
acintyaṃ gālavādīnāṃ varaṃ prāptāsi durlabham .. 103.87 ..

Atri said:
“Well done, well done, O highly wise Anasūyā of great vows!
You have obtained a rare boon unthinkable to Gālava and others.”

6.3.103.88

anasūyovāca -
tvatprasādena devarṣe varaṃ prāptāsmi durlabham .
tena devāḥ praśaṃsanti siddhāśca ṛṣayo'malāḥ .. 103.88 ..

Anasūyā said:
“By your grace, O divine seer, I have obtained a rare boon,
because of which the gods, the Siddhas, and the spotless seers praise [me].”

6.3.103.89

evamuktā tu sā devī harṣeṇa mahatā yutā .
ālokayettataḥ kāntaṃ tenāpi śubhadarśanā .. 103.89 ..

Having spoken thus, that goddess, filled with great joy
and of auspicious sight, then looked at her beloved, and he at her.

6.3.103.90

īkṣaṇāccaiva saṃjātaṃ lalāṭe maṇḍalaṃ śubham .
navayojanasāhasraṃ maṇḍalaṃ raśmibhirvṛtam .. 103.90 ..

And from that gazing, an auspicious orb arose upon the forehead,
an orb nine thousand yojanas in size, surrounded by rays,

6.3.103.91

kadambagolakākāraṃ triguṇaṃ parimaṇḍalam .
tasya madhye tu deveśi puruṣo divyarūpadhṛk .. 103.91 ..

In the shape of a kadamba flower's spherical cluster, a threefold circle.
In the midst of it, O queen of the gods, was a person bearing a divine form,

6.3.103.92

hemavarṇo'mṛtamayaḥ sūryakoṭisamaprabhaḥ .
ādyaḥ putro'nasūyāyāḥ svayaṃ sākṣātpitāmahaḥ .. 103.92 ..

Gold-hued, full of nectar, equal in radiance to ten million suns.
He was the first son of Anasūyā, manifestly Pitāmaha himself,

6.3.103.93

candramā iti vikhyātaḥ somarūpo nṛpātmaja .
iṣṭāpūrte ca saṃpāti kalāṣoḍaśakena tu .. 103.93 ..

Renowned as Candramas, possessing the form of Soma, O prince,
falling upon sacrifice and charitable works by means of his sixteen digits.

6.3.103.94

pratipacca dvitīyā ca tṛtīyā ca maheśvari .
caturthī pañcamī caiva avyayā ṣoḍaśī kalā .. 103.94 ..

The first lunar day, the second, and the third, O Maheśvarī,
the fourth, and the fifth, up to the imperishable sixteenth digit;

6.3.103.95

caturvidhasya lokasya sūkṣmo bhūtvā varānane .
āprīṇāti jagatsarvaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram .. 103.95 ..

Becoming subtle for the fourfold world, O fair-faced lady,
he gladdens the entire universe, the three worlds with the moving and unmoving.

6.3.103.96

sarve te hyupajīvanti hutaṃ dattaṃ śaśisthitam .
vanaspatigate some dhanavāṃśca varānane .. 103.96 ..

All of them subsist on the oblation and the gift that resides in the moon.
When Soma enters into the plants, O fair-faced lady, a rich man

6.3.103.97

bhuñjan paragṛhe mūḍho dadedabdakṛtaṃ śubham .
vanaspatigate some yastu chindyādvanaspatīn .
tena pāpena deveśi narā yānti yamālayam .. 103.97 ..

eating foolishly in another's house gives away the merit accumulated in a year.
Whoever cuts down trees when Soma has entered into the plants,
by that sin, O queen of the gods, men go to Yama's abode.

6.3.103.98

vanaspatigate some maithunaṃ yo niṣevate .
brahmahatyāsamaṃ pāpaṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ .. 103.98 ..

Whoever indulges in sexual intercourse when Soma has entered into the plants,
incurs a sin equal to slaying a brahmin; of this there is no doubt.

6.3.103.99

vanaspatigate some manthānaṃ yo'dhivāhayet .
gāvastasya praṇaśyanti yāśca vai pūrvasaṃcitāḥ .. 103.99 ..

Whoever works a churning-stick when Soma has entered into the plants,
his cattle perish, even those gathered formerly.

6.3.103.100

vanaspatigate some hyadhvānaṃ yo'dhigacchati .
bhavanti pitarastasya taṃ māsaṃ reṇubhojanāḥ .. 103.100 ..

Whoever journeys on a path when Soma has entered into the plants,
his ancestors become eaters of dust for that month.

6.3.103.101

amāvasyāṃ mahādevi yastu śrāddhaprado bhavet .
abdamekaṃ viśālākṣi tṛptāstatpitaro dhruvam .. 103.101 ..

Whoever offers a śrāddha on the new-moon day, O great goddess,
his ancestors are surely satisfied for one whole year, O large-eyed lady.

6.3.103.102

hiraṇyaṃ rajataṃ vastraṃ yo dadāti dvijātiṣu .
sarvaṃ lakṣaguṇaṃ devi labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ .. 103.102 ..

Whoever gives gold, silver, or clothing to the twice-born,
obtains it all multiplied a hundred thousand times, O goddess; of this there is no doubt.

6.3.103.103

evaṃ guṇaviśiṣṭo'sau somarūpaḥ prajāpatiḥ .
saṃjātaḥ prathamaḥ putro hyanasūyāsunandanaḥ .. 103.103 ..

Thus, endowed with these virtues, this Prajāpati in the form of Soma
was born as the first son, bringing joy to Anasūyā.

6.3.103.104

dvitīyastu mahādevi durvāsā nāma nāmataḥ .
sṛṣṭisaṃhārakartā ca svayaṃ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ .. 103.104 ..

The second, O great goddess, was named Durvāsas,
the maker of creation and destruction, manifestly Maheśvara himself.

6.3.103.105

ṛṣimadhyagato devi tapastapati duṣkaram .
so'pi rudratvamāyāti samprāpte bhūtaviplave .. 103.105 ..

Remaining in the midst of seers, O goddess, he performs difficult austerity;
and he too attains Rudrahood when the destruction of beings arrives.

6.3.103.106

indro'pi śaptastenaiva durvāsasā varānane .
dvitīyasya tu putrasya sambhavaḥ kathito mayā .. 103.106 ..

Even Indra was cursed by that very Durvāsas, O fair-faced lady. / Thus the origin of the second son has been related by me.

6.3.103.107

dattātreyasvarūpeṇa bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ .
jagadvyāpī jagannāthaḥ svayaṃ sākṣājjanārdanaḥ .. 103.107 ..

In the form of Dattātreya was the Blessed Madhusūdana, / the all-pervading Lord of the World, Janārdana himself manifest in person.

6.3.103.108

ete devāstrayaḥ putrā anasūyāyā maheśvari .
varadānena te devā hyavatīrṇā mahītale .. 103.108 ..

These gods are the three sons of Anasūyā, O great goddess; / by the bestowal of a boon, those gods descended to the surface of the earth.

6.3.103.109

putraprāptikaraṃ tīrthaṃ revāyāścottare taṭe .
anasūyākṛtaṃ pārtha sarvapāpakṣayaṃ param .. 103.109 ..

On the northern bank of the Revā is a sacred ford that grants sons, / founded by Anasūyā, O son of Pṛthā, supreme in destroying all sins.

6.3.103.110

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
āścaryabhūtaṃ loke'sminnarmadāyāṃ purātanam .
bhrūṇahatyā gatā tatra brāhmaṇasya narādhipa .. 103.110 ..

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / There is an ancient wonder in this world at the Narmadā, / where the murder of an embryo was eradicated for a brahmin, O king.

6.3.103.111

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
itihāsaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha kathayasva mamānagha .
sarvapāpaharaṃ loke duḥkhārtasya ca kathyatām .. 103.111 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / O best of the twice-born, sinless one, relate that history to me; / let it be told, which removes all sins in this world and aids one afflicted with grief.

6.3.103.112

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
suvarṇaśilake grāme gautamānvayasambhavaḥ .
kṛṣīvalo mahādevi bhāryāputrasamanvitaḥ .. 103.112 ..

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / In the village of Suvarṇaśilaka, born of the lineage of Gautama, / was a farmer, O great goddess, accompanied by his wife and son.

6.3.103.113

vasate tatra govindaḥ saṃjāto vipule kule .
putradārasamopeto gṛhakṣetrarataḥ sadā .. 103.113 ..

Govinda, born into a great lineage, lived there / endowed with a son and wife, always devoted to his house and fields.

6.3.103.114

śakaṭaṃ pūrayitvā tu kāṣṭhānāmagamadguham .
prakṣiptāni ca kāṣṭhāni hyekākī kṣudhayānvitaḥ .. 103.114 ..

Having filled a cart with firewood, he went to his house; / and being alone and afflicted with hunger, he threw down the logs of wood.

6.3.103.115

riṅgamāṇastadā putraḥ pituḥ śabdātsamāgataḥ .
na dṛṣṭastena vai putraḥ kāṣṭhaiḥ saṃchādito'vaśaḥ .. 103.115 ..

At that time his crawling son came toward the sound of his father; / he was not seen by him, and helpless, was covered by the firewood.

6.3.103.116

āgatastvarito gehe pipāsārto narādhipa .
śakaṭaṃ mocya taddvāri savṛṣaṃ rajjusaṃyutam .. 103.116 ..

Afflicted with thirst, he quickly entered the house, O king, / unyoking the cart with its bulls and ropes at the door.

6.3.103.117

bhāryā tasyaiva yā dṛṣṭā cittajñā vaśavartinī .
dṛṣṭvā nipātitaṃ putraṃ kāṣṭhairnirbhinnamastakam .. 103.117 ..

His wife, who was perceptive and obedient, / seeing her son knocked down with his skull split open by the logs,

6.3.103.118

ajalpamānākaruṇaṃ nikṣiptaṃ jñolikāṃ śiśum .
śuśrūṣaṇe ratā sādhvī priyasya ca narādhipa .. 103.118 ..

without uttering a word in pity, placed the child in a swing-pouch; / and devoted to serving her beloved husband, O king,

6.3.103.119

tataḥ snānādikaṃ kṛtvā bhojanācchayanaṃ śubham .
putraṃ putravatāṃ śreṣṭhā hyutthāpayati śāsanaiḥ .. 103.119 ..

she then gave him a bath and other services, [followed by] food and a comfortable bed; / and [then] the best of mothers roused her son with gentle calls.

6.3.103.120

yadā ca notthitaḥ suptaḥ putraḥ pañcatvamāgataḥ .
tadā sā dīnavadanā ruroda ca mumoha ca .. 103.120 ..

When the sleeping son did not rise, having met his death, / then she, with a miserable face, wept and swooned.

6.3.103.121

tacchrutvā ruditaṃ śabdaṃ govindastrastamānasaḥ .
kimetaditi coktvā tu patito dharaṇītale .. 103.121 ..

Hearing that sound of weeping, Govinda, terrified in his mind, / cried out, “What is this?” and fell down upon the ground.

6.3.103.122

dvāvetau muktakeśau tu bhūmau nipatitau nṛpa .
vilepāte ca rājendra niḥśvāsocchvāsitena ca .. 103.122 ..

Both of them, with disheveled hair, fell down upon the ground, O king, / and wailed, O best of kings, heaving sighs.

6.3.103.123

kaṃ paśye prāṅgaṇe putraṃ dṛṣṭvā krīḍantamāturam .
saṃdhārayiṣye hṛdayaṃ sphuṭitaṃ tava kāraṇe .. 103.123 ..

“Whom shall I see playing anxiously in the courtyard, O son? / How shall I support my heart that has burst asunder on your account?

6.3.103.124

tvajjanmāntaṃ yaśo nityamakṣayāṃ kulasantatim .
dṛṣṭvā kimanṛṇībhūto yāsyāmi paramāṃ gatim .. 103.124 ..

Seeing perpetual fame and unbroken family continuity throughout your life, / will I ever become free of debt and reach the supreme state?

6.3.103.125

mama vṛddhasya dīnasya gatistvaṃ kila putraka .
ete manorathāḥ sarve cintitā viphalā gatāḥ .. 103.125 ..

You were indeed the sole refuge for me, aged and wretched, O son! / All these desires envisioned by me have gone in vain.

6.3.103.126

imāṃ tu vikalāṃ dīnāṃ vihīnāṃ sutabāndhavaiḥ .
rudantīṃ patitāṃ pāhi mātaraṃ dharaṇītale .. 103.126 ..

Protect this mother of yours, fallen upon the surface of the earth, / distraught, wretched, bereft of her son and kin, weeping!

6.3.103.127

punnāmno narakādyasmātpitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ .
tena putra iti proktaḥ svayameva svayambhuvā .. 103.127 ..

Because a son protects his father from the hell named Put, / therefore he was called ‘putra’ by the Self-manifest [Brahmā] himself.

6.3.103.128

aputrasya gṛhaṃ śūnyaṃ diśaḥ śūnyā hyabāndhavāḥ .
mūrkhasya hṛdayaṃ śūnyaṃ sarvaśūnyaṃ daridratā .. 103.128 ..

Empty is the house of a sonless man, empty are all the quarters to one without kin, / empty is the heart of a fool, and poverty is emptiness in everything.

6.3.103.129

mṛṣāyaṃ vadate lokaścandanaṃ kila śītalam .
putragātrapariṣvaṅgaścandanādapi śītalaḥ .. 103.129 ..

People falsely say that sandalwood is cooling; / the embrace of a son’s body is cooler even than sandalwood.

6.3.103.130

śmaśrugrahaṇakrīḍantaṃ dhūlidhūsaritānanam .
puṇyahīnā na paśyanti nijotsaṅgasamāsthitam .. 103.130 ..

Those devoid of merit do not see [a child] seated upon their lap, / playing by grasping their beard, his face dusted with dirt.

6.3.103.131

digambaraṃ gatavrīḍaṃ jaṭilaṃ dhūlidhūsaram .
puṇyahīnā na paśyanti gaṅgādharamivātmajam .. 103.131 ..

Those devoid of merit do not see their own son looking like Gaṅgādhara, / naked, shameless, with matted hair, and covered in dust.

6.3.103.132

vīṇāvādyasvaro loke susvaraḥ śrūyate kila .
ruditaṃ bālakasyaiva tasmādāhlādakārakam .. 103.132 ..

The melodious sound of the lute is indeed heard as pleasing in this world; / yet the weeping of a child is far more delightful than that.

6.3.103.133

mṛgapakṣiṣu kākeṣu paśūnāṃ svarayoniṣu .
putraṃ teṣu samasteṣu vallabhaṃ bruvate budhāḥ .. 103.133 ..

Among deer, birds, and crows, and among the beasts of their various kinds, / the wise declare that the offspring is dearest of all.

6.3.103.134

matsyāśvaprakarāścaiva kūrmagrāhādayo'pi vā .
putrotpattau ca hṛṣyanti vipattau yānti duḥkhitām .. 103.134 ..

Even schools of fish and horses, or turtles and crocodiles, / rejoice at the birth of offspring and fall into sorrow at their loss.

6.3.103.135

devagandharvayakṣāśca hṛṣyante putrajanmani .
pañcatve te'pi śocanti mandabhāgyo'smi putraka .. 103.135 ..

Gods, gandharvas, and yakṣas rejoice at the birth of a son, / and they too grieve upon his death; how unfortunate I am, my child!

6.3.103.136

ṛṣimelāpakaṃ cakre putrārthe rāghavo nṛpa .
indrasthāne sthitastasya prokṣate hyāsanaṃ yataḥ .. 103.136 ..

King Rāghava held an assembly of seers for the sake of a son, / for where he sat in Indra’s abode, his seat had to be sprinkled [for purification].

6.3.103.137

svargavāsaṃ sutādbāhyaṃ vidyate na tu pāṇḍava .
cakre daśarathastasmātputrārthaṃ yajñamuttamam .. 103.137 ..

No residence in heaven exists for one who lacks a son, O son of Pāṇḍu; / therefore Daśaratha performed the supreme sacrifice for the sake of a son.

6.3.103.138

rāmo lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau bharatastatra sambhavāt .
kārtavīryo jito yena rāmeṇāmitatejasā .. 103.138 ..

From that arose Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata. / By that Rāma of boundless splendor was Kārtavīrya conquered;

6.3.103.139

sa rāmo rāmacandreṇa aṣṭavarṣeṇa nirjitaḥ .
ekākinā hato vālī plavagaḥ śatrudurjayaḥ .. 103.139 ..

that Rāma was overcome by Rāmacandra at eight years of age. / Alone, he slew Vālin, the monkey invincible to his enemies.

6.3.103.140

rāvaṇo brahmaputro yastrailokyaṃ yasya śaṅkate .
hataḥ sa rāmacandreṇa saputraḥ sahabāndhavaḥ .. 103.140 ..

Rāvaṇa, who was a son of Brahmā and of whom the three worlds were afraid, / was slain along with his sons and relatives by Rāmacandra.

6.3.103.141

evaṃ putraṃ vinā saukhyaṃ martyaloke na vidyate .
vaṃśārthe maithunaṃ yasya svargārthe yasya bhāratī .. 103.141 ..

Thus without a son there is no happiness in the mortal world. / Intercourse is for progeny; speech is for the sake of heaven;

6.3.103.142

mṛṣṭānnaṃ brāhmaṇasyārthe svarge vāsaṃ tu yānti te .
brahmahatyāśvamedhābhyāṃ na paraṃ pāpapuṇyayoḥ .. 103.142 ..

sweet food is for the sake of a brahmin—such people go to dwell in heaven. / There is nothing greater than the killing of a brahmin and the horse sacrifice among sin and merit respectively;

6.3.103.143

putrotpattivipattibhyāṃ na paraṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ .
kiṃ bravīmīti bho vatsa na tu saukhyaṃ sutaṃ vinā .. 103.143 ..

there is nothing greater than the birth and death of a son among happiness and sorrow. / What more can I say, O child? There is no happiness without a son.”

6.3.103.144

evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ duḥkhaṃ pralapitvā punaḥpunaḥ .
janaiścāśvāsito vipro bālaṃ gṛhya bahirgataḥ .. 103.144 ..

Having thus lamented his manifold grief again and again, / the brahmin, consoled by the people, took the child and went outside.

6.3.103.145

tataḥ saṃskṛtya taṃ bālaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā .
samavetau tu duḥkhārtāvāgatau svagṛhaṃ punaḥ .. 103.145 ..

Then, having cremated that child with rites prescribed by the injunctions, / the two of them, afflicted with grief, returned together to their home.

6.3.103.146

evaṃ gṛhāgate vipre rātrirjātā yudhiṣṭhira .
bhūmau prasupto govindaḥ putraśokena pīḍitaḥ .. 103.146 ..

When the brahmin had thus returned home, night fell, O Yudhiṣṭhira; / Govinda lay asleep on the ground, tormented by grief for his son.

6.3.103.147

yāvannirīkṣate bhāryā bhartāraṃ duḥkhapīḍitam .
kṛmirāśigataṃ sarvaṃ govindaṃ samapaśyata .. 103.147 ..

When his wife looked upon her husband afflicted with grief, / she saw Govinda entirely covered with a heap of worms.

6.3.103.148

duḥkhādduḥkhatare magnā dṛṣṭvā taṃ pātakānvitam .
evaṃ duḥkhanimagnāyāḥ śarvarī vigatā tadā .. 103.148 ..

Sunk from sorrow into deeper sorrow upon seeing him laden with sin, / as she was thus immersed in grief, the night then passed away.

6.3.103.149

paśupālastu mahiṣīmuktvāraṇye'gamadgṛhāt .
araṇye mahiṣīḥ sarvā rakṣayitvā gṛhāgataḥ .. 103.149 ..

The cowherd, having led out the buffaloes into the forest, went from the house; / having guarded all the buffaloes in the forest, he returned home.

6.3.103.150

vijñaptaḥ paśupālena govindo brāhmaṇottamaḥ .
yāvadbhokṣyāmyahaṃ svāminmahiṣīstvaṃ ca rakṣase .. 103.150 ..

Govinda, the best of brahmins, was requested by the cowherd: / “Master, while I eat, please guard the buffaloes.”

6.3.103.151

tataḥ sa tvarito vipro jagāma mahiṣīḥ prati .
na tatra mahiṣīḥ paśyetpaścātkṣetrābhisammukham .. 103.151 ..

Then that brahmin went in haste toward the buffaloes; / he did not see the buffaloes there, and afterwards [went] facing toward the field.

6.3.103.152

dhāvamānaśca viprastu eraṇḍīsaṅgame gataḥ .
tataḥ praviṣṭastu jale revairaṇḍyostu saṅgame .. 103.152 ..

Running along, the brahmin reached the confluence of the Eraṇḍī; / then he entered the water at the confluence of the Revā and Eraṇḍī.

6.3.103.153

tajjalaṃ pītamātraṃ tu tvarayā cātitarṣitaḥ .
akāmātsalilaṃ pītvā prakṣālya nayane śubhe .. 103.153 ..

As soon as he drank that water, being exceedingly thirsty and in haste, / having unintentionally drunk the water and washed his auspicious eyes,

6.3.103.154

ājagāma tataḥ paścādbhavanaṃ divasakṣaye .
bhuktvā duḥkhānvito rātrau govindaḥ śayanaṃ yayau .. 103.154 ..

he came afterwards to his dwelling at the end of the day. / Having eaten, sorrowful at night, Govinda went to bed.

6.3.103.155

nidrābhibhūtaḥ śokena śrameṇaiva tu kheditaḥ .
punastaccārdharātre tu tasya bhāryā yudhiṣṭhira .. 103.155 ..

Overcome by sleep, distressed by grief and by weariness, / then at midnight, O Yudhiṣṭhira, his wife

6.3.103.156

kṛmibhirveṣṭitaṃ gāntraṃ kvacitpaśyatyaveṣṭitam .
punaḥ sā vismayāviṣṭā tasya bhāryā guṇānvitā .
uvāca duṣkṛtaṃ tasya sādhvasāviṣṭacetasā .. 103.156 ..

saw his body covered with worms, [and] in places uncovered. / Again struck with astonishment, his virtuous wife, / with a mind seized by fear, spoke of his misdeed:

6.3.103.157

bhāryovāca -
atīte pañcame cāhni tvindhanaṃ kṣipatastu te .
gṛhapaścādgato bālo hyajñānādghātitastvayā .. 103.157 ..

The wife said: / “On the fifth day past, as you were throwing firewood, / the boy went behind the house and was killed by you through ignorance.

6.3.103.158

mayā tatpātakaṃ ghoraṃ rahasyaṃ na prakāśitam .
tena pracchannapāpena dahyamānā divāniśam .. 103.158 ..

I did not disclose that dreadful sin, [keeping it] a secret; / burning day and night because of that concealed sin,

6.3.103.159

na sukhaṃ tava gātrasya paśyāmi na hi cātmanaḥ .
nidrā mama śamaṃ yātā ratiścaiva tvayā saha .. 103.159 ..

I see no comfort for your body, nor indeed for my own; / my sleep has vanished, and so too my pleasure with you.

6.3.103.160

śrūyate mānave śāstre śloko gīto maharṣibhiḥ .
smṛtvā smṛtvā tu taṃ citte paritāpo na śāmyati .. 103.160 ..

A verse sung by great seers is heard in the Lawbook of Manu; / remembering it again and again in my mind, my anguish does not cease:

6.3.103.161

kīrtanānnaśyate dharmo vardhate'sau nigūhanāt .
iha loke pare caiva pāpasyāpyevameva ca .. 103.161 ..

‘By proclaiming it, righteousness is destroyed; it increases by concealing it, / both in this world and the next; and exactly so it is with sin.’

6.3.103.162

evaṃ saṃcityamānāhaṃ sthitā rātrau bhayāturā .
kṛmirāśigataṃ tvāṃ hi kasyāhaṃ kathayāmi kim .. 103.162 ..

Pondering thus, I remained at night tormented by fear; / seeing you covered with a swarm of worms, to whom can I say what?

6.3.103.163

punastvaṃ cādya me dṛṣṭo bhrūṇahatyākṛmiśritaḥ .
kvacidbhindanti te gātraṃ kvacinnaṣṭāḥ samantataḥ .. 103.163 ..

And today you were seen by me again, covered with the worms of infanticide; / in some places they bore into your body, in some places they have disappeared all around.

6.3.103.164

etatsaṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya vimṛśāmi punaḥpunaḥ .
na jāne kāraṇaṃ kiṃcitpṛcchantyāḥ kathayasva me .. 103.164 ..

Remembering this again and again, I reflect on it repeatedly; / I do not know any reason for it; tell me, as I ask you.

6.3.103.165

taḍāgaṃ vā saridvāpi tīrthaṃ vā devatārcanam .
yaṃ gato'si prabhāvo'yaṃ tasya nānyasya me sthitam .. 103.165 ..

A pond, a river, a sacred ford, or the worship of a deity— / whichever you went to, it is its power; I have no doubt.”

6.3.103.166

evamuktastu vipro'sau kathayāmāsa bhārata .
bhāryāyā yaddivā vṛttaṃ śaṅkamāno nṛpottama .. 103.166 ..

Thus addressed, O Bhārata, best of kings, / that brahmin related with apprehension to his wife what had happened by day:

6.3.103.167

adyāhaṃ mahiṣīsārthaṃ eraṇḍīsaṅgamaṃ gataḥ .
nābhimātre jale gatvā pītavānsalilaṃ bahu .. 103.167 ..

“Today, for the sake of the buffaloes, I went to the confluence of the Eraṇḍī; / having gone into navel-deep water, I drank much water.

6.3.103.168

nānyattīrthaṃ vijānāmi saritaṃ sara eva vā .
satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ kathitaṃ tava bhāmini .. 103.168 ..

I know of no other sacred ford, river, or lake; / truly, truly, and truly again, it has been told to you, O lovely lady.”

6.3.103.169

evaṃ jñātvā tu sā sarvamupavāsakṛtakṣaṇā .
sapatnīko gatastatra saṅgame varavarṇini .. 103.169 ..

Learning all this, she resolved upon a fast; / along with his wife, he went there to the confluence, O lady of fair complexion.

6.3.103.170

snātvā tatra jale ramye natvā devaṃ tu bhāskaram .
snāpayāmāsa deveśaṃ śaṅkaraṃ comayā saha .. 103.170 ..

Having bathed there in that delightful water and bowed to the Sun deity, / he bathed Śaṅkara, the lord of deities, along with Umā,

6.3.103.171

pañcagavyaghṛtakṣīrairdadhikṣaudraghṛtairjalaiḥ .
gandhamālyādidhūpaiśca naivedyaiśca suśobhanaiḥ .. 103.171 ..

with the five products of the cow, ghee, milk, curd, honey, clarified butter, and water, / with perfumes, garlands, incenses, and very beautiful food offerings.

6.3.103.172

pūjya trayīmayaṃ liṅgaṃ devīṃ kātyāyanīṃ śubhām .
rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kṛtvā patyāsi pativratā .. 103.172 ..

Having worshipped the liṅga consisting of the three Vedas and the auspicious goddess Kātyāyanī, / and having kept a vigil at night, the devoted wife, with her husband,

6.3.103.173

tataḥ prabhāte vimale dvijānsampūjya yatnataḥ .
godānena hiraṇyena vastreṇānnena bhārata .. 103.173 ..

then at clear dawn, having carefully worshipped the twice-born / with gifts of cows, gold, cloth, and food, O Bhārata—

6.3.103.174

govindaḥ pūjayāmāsa svaśaktyā brāhmaṇāñchubhān .
muktapāpo gṛhāyātaḥ svabhāryāsahito nṛpa .. 103.174 ..

Govinda worshipped the auspicious brahmins according to his means; / freed from sin, he returned home together with his wife, O king.

6.3.103.175

evaṃ yaḥ śṛṇute bhaktyā govindākhyānamuttamam .
paṭhate parayā bhaktyā bhrūṇahatyā praṇaśyati .. 103.175 ..

Whoever hears this excellent narrative of Govinda with devotion, / or recites it with supreme devotion, their sin of infanticide is destroyed.

6.3.103.176

krīḍate śāṃkare loke yāvadābhūtasamplavam .
yaścaivāśvayuje māsi caitre vā nṛpasattama .. 103.176 ..

They sport in the world of Śaṅkara until the dissolution of all beings. / And whoever, in the month of Āśvayuja or Caitra, O best of kings,

6.3.103.177

saptamyāṃ ca site pakṣe sopavāso jitendriyaḥ .
sāttvikīṃ vāsanāṃ kṛtvā yo vasecchivamandire .. 103.177 ..

fasting and with senses conquered on the seventh day of the bright fortnight, / harboring a pure intention, dwells in a temple of Śiva,

6.3.103.178

dhyāyamāno virūpākṣaṃ triśūlakarasaṃsthitam .
kaṃsāsuranihantāraṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam .. 103.178 ..

meditating on the uneven-eyed [Rudra] holding a trident in his hand, / [and on] the slayer of the demon Kaṃsa, bearing the conch, discus, and mace,

6.3.103.179

pakṣirājasamārūḍhaṃ trailokyavaradāyakam .
pitāmahaṃ tato dhyāyeddhaṃsasthaṃ caturānanam .. 103.179 ..

mounted upon the king of birds, the granter of boons to the three worlds; / and then meditates on the Grandfather, seated upon a swan, four-faced,

6.3.103.180

sargapradaṃ samastasya kamalākaraśobhitam .
yo hyevaṃ vasate tatra triyame sthāna uttame .. 103.180 ..

the creator of everything, adorned with a lotus-holding hand— / whoever thus dwells there for three nights in that excellent place,

6.3.103.181

tataḥ prabhāte vimale hyaṣṭamyāṃ ca narādhipa .
brāhmaṇān pūjayedbhaktyā sarvadoṣavivarjitān .. 103.181 ..

then at clear dawn on the eighth day, O ruler of men, / should worship with devotion brahmins free from all defects,

6.3.103.182

sarvāvayavasampūrṇānsarvaśāstraviśāradān .
vedābhyāsaratānnityaṃ svadāraniratānsadā .. 103.182 ..

complete in all limbs, proficient in all scriptures, / ever devoted to the study of the Vedas, always faithful to their own wives,

6.3.103.183

śrāddhe dāne vrate yogyān brāhmaṇān pāṇḍunandana .
pretānāṃ pūjanaṃ tatra devapūrvaṃ samārabhet .. 103.183 ..

brahmins worthy of ancestral rites, gifts, and vows, O son of Pāṇḍu; / there one should begin the propitiation of the departed spirits, preceded by that of the deities.

6.3.103.184

pretatvānmucyate śīghrameraṇḍyāṃ piṇḍatarpaṇaiḥ .
dānāni tatra deyāni hyannamukhyāni sarvadā .. 103.184 ..

One is quickly freed from the state of a departed ghost at the Eraṇḍī through offerings of rice balls and water libations; / gifts should always be given there, with food as the foremost,

6.3.103.185

hiraṇyabhūmikanyāśca dhūrvāhau śubhalakṣaṇau .
sīreṇa sahitau pārtha dhānyaṃ droṇakasaṃkhyayā .. 103.185 ..

gold, land, virgins, two draft-bulls of auspicious marks / together with a plow, O Pārtha, and grain measured by droṇas;

6.3.103.186

alaṃkṛtāṃ savatsāṃ ca kṣīriṇīṃ taruṇīṃ sitām .
raktāṃ vā kṛṣṇavarṇāṃ vā pāṭalāṃ kapilāṃ tathā .. 103.186 ..

an adorned, milk-giving young cow with her calf, white, / or red, or black-colored, or pale red, or tawny,

6.3.103.187

kāṃsyadohanasaṃyuktāṃ rukmakhuravibhūṣaṇām .
svarṇaśṛṅgīṃ savatsāṃ ca brāhmaṇāyopapādayet .. 103.187 ..

equipped with a bronze milking vessel, adorned with gold on her hooves, / with horns capped in gold, together with her calf, one should present to a brahmin, [saying:]

6.3.103.188

prīyatāṃ me jagannāthā harakṛṣṇapitāmahāḥ .
saṃsārarakṣaṇī devī surabhī māṃ samuddharet .. 103.188 ..

“May the lords of the universe, Hara, Kṛṣṇa, and the Grandfather, be pleased with me; / may the divine cow Surabhī, the protector of the worldly existence, deliver me.”

6.3.103.189

putrārthaṃ yāḥ striyaḥ pārtha hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛpa .
snāpyante rudrasūktaiśca caturvedodbhavaistathā .. 103.189 ..

Those women who, for the sake of obtaining a son, O Pārtha, at the confluence of the Eraṇḍī, O king, / are bathed with hymns to Rudra originating from the four Vedas,

6.3.103.190

caturbhirbrāhmaṇaiḥ śastaṃ dvābhyāṃ yogyaiśca kārayet .
ekena sārdrakumbhena dāmpatyamabhiṣecayet .. 103.190 ..

It is praised [to do this] by means of four brahmins, or one should have it done by two qualified [ones]; / with a single wet jar one should consecrate the husband and wife.

6.3.103.191

daivajñenaiva caikena athavā sāmagena vā .
pañcaratnasamāyuktaṃ kumbhe tatraiva kārayet .. 103.191 ..

Or by an astrologer alone, or else by a singer of the Sāmaveda. / One should place in that very jar five jewels,

6.3.103.192

gandhatoyasamāyuktaṃ sarvauṣadhivimiśritam .
āmrapallavasaṃyuktamaśvatthamadhukaṃ tathā .. 103.192 ..

together with scented water, mixed with all medicinal herbs, / joined with mango sprouts, and likewise aśvattha and madhuka,

6.3.103.193

guṇṭhitaṃ sitavastreṇa sitacandanacarcitam .
sitapuṣpaistu saṃchannaṃ siddhārthakṛtamadhyamam .. 103.193 ..

wrapped in white cloth, smeared with white sandalwood paste, / covered with white flowers, and having white mustard placed in its center.

6.3.103.194

kāṃsyapātre tu saṃsthāpya putrārthī deśikottamaḥ .
aṅgalagnaṃ tu yadvastraṃ kaṭakābharaṇaṃ tathā .. 103.194 ..

Placing it in a bronze vessel, the best of spiritual teachers, desiring a son [for them], / [shall instruct them that] whatever garment touches the body, and likewise bracelet-ornaments,

6.3.103.195

tatsarvaṃ maṇḍale tyājyaṃ siddhyarthaṃ cātmanastadā .
praṇamya bhāskaraṃ paścādācāryaṃ rudrarūpiṇam .. 103.195 ..

all that must then be abandoned on the maṇḍala for one's own success. / Then, bowing to the sun and to the spiritual teacher who embodies Rudra,

6.3.103.196

madhuraṃ ca tato'śnīyāddevyā bhuvana uttame .
phaladānaṃ ca viprāya chatraṃ tāmbūlameva ca .. 103.196 ..

one should then eat sweet food in the excellent abode of the goddess. / And giving fruit to the twice-born, an umbrella, and betel leaves,

6.3.103.197

upānahau ca yānaṃ ca sa bhavedduḥkhavarjitaḥ .
bhāskare krīḍate loke yāvadābhūtasamplavam .. 103.197 ..

and two shoes and a conveyance, he becomes freed from sorrow. / He sports in the world of the sun until the dissolution of all beings.

6.3.103.198

dānaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ sarvaṃ śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham .
yathā nadīnadāḥ sarve sāgare yānti saṃkṣayam .. 103.198 ..

Every gift becomes multiplied ten-millionfold, whether auspicious or inauspicious. / Just as all rivers and streams reach their end in the ocean,

6.3.103.199

evaṃ pāpāni naśyanti hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛṇām .
samantācchastrapātena hyeraṇḍīsaṅgame nṛpa .. 103.199 ..

even so the sins of mortals are destroyed at the Eraṇḍī confluence. / By falling on a weapon completely at the Eraṇḍī confluence, O king,