Skandapurana 6.3.146

6.3.146.p1

adhyāya 146

6.3.146.1

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
asmāhakaṃ tato gacchetpitṛtīrthamanuttamam .
pretatvādyatra mucyante piṇḍenaikena pūrvajāḥ .. 146.1 ..

Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Then one should go to Asmāhaka, the unsurpassed sacred ford for the ancestors, / where forefathers are freed from the state of ghosts by a single rice-ball offering.

6.3.146.2

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
asmāhakasya māhātmyaṃ kathayasva mamānagha .
snānadānena yatpuṇyaṃ tathā piṇḍodakena ca .. 146.2 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / Tell me, faultless one, the māhātmya of Asmāhaka, / and the merit obtained through bathing and gift-giving, as well as through offerings of rice-balls and water.

6.3.146.3

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
purā kalpe nṛpaśreṣṭha ṛṣidevasamāgame .
praśnaḥ pṛṣṭo mayā tāta yathā tvamanupṛcchasi .. 146.3 ..

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Long ago in a former kalpa, best of kings, at a gathering of seers and gods, / I asked this question, dear one, just as you are asking now.

6.3.146.4

ekatra sāgarāḥ sapta saprayāgāḥ sapuṣkarāḥ .
nāsya sāmyaṃ labhante te nātra kāryā vicāraṇā .. 146.4 ..

The seven oceans brought together in one place, along with Prayāga and Puṣkara, / do not equal it; about this there should be no doubt.

6.3.146.5

somanāthaṃ tu vikhyātaṃ yatsomena pratiṣṭhitam .
tatra somagrahe puṇyaṃ tatpuṇyaṃ labhate naraḥ .. 146.5 ..

The renowned Somanātha was established by Soma; / whatever merit is gained there during a lunar eclipse, a man obtains that very merit [here].

6.3.146.6

māsānte pitaro nṛṇāṃ vīkṣante santatiṃ svakām .
kaścidasmatkule'smākaṃ piṇḍamatra pradāsyati .. 146.6 ..

At the end of each month, the ancestors look upon their descendants, [hoping:] / "Someone in our lineage will offer a rice-ball for us here."

6.3.146.7

prapitāmahāstathādityāḥ śrutireṣā sanātanī .
evaṃ bruvanti devāśca ṛṣayaḥ satapodhanāḥ .. 146.7 ..

The great-grandfathers are likewise the Ādityas; this is the eternal Vedic revelation. / Thus say the gods and the seers rich in austerity.

6.3.146.8

sakṛtpiṇḍodakenaiva śṛṇu pārthiva yatphalam .
dvādaśābdāni rājendra yogaṃ bhuktvā suśobhanam .. 146.8 ..

Hear, O king, the fruit produced by offering a rice-ball and water even once: / after enjoying a most splendid association for twelve years, O best of kings,

6.3.146.9

yuge yuge mahārāja asmāhake pitāmahāḥ .
sarvadā hyavalokanta āgacchantaṃ svagotrajam .. 146.9 ..

in age after age, great king, the grandfathers at Asmāhaka / always look out for one born in their lineage who is arriving.

6.3.146.10

bhaviṣyati kimasmākamamāvāsyāpyamāhake .
snānaṃ dānaṃ ca ye kuryuḥ pitṝṇāṃ tilatarpaṇam .. 146.10 ..

[They wonder:] "Will there be a new-moon day for us at Amāhaka?" / Those who perform ritual ablution, give gifts, and offer sesame-water to the ancestors,

6.3.146.11

te sarvapāpanirmuktāḥ sarvānkāmāṃllabhati vai .
jalamadhye'tra bhūpāla agnitīrthaṃ ca tiṣṭhati .. 146.11 ..

are freed from all sins and certainly obtain all desires. / In the midst of the water here, protector of the earth, stands Agnitīrtha.

6.3.146.12

darśanāttasya tīrthasya pāparāśirvilīyate .
snānamātreṇa rājendra brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati .. 146.12 ..

By the sight of that sacred ford, a heap of sins melts away; / by mere bathing [in it], O best of kings, it wipes away the killing of a brahmin.

6.3.146.13

śuklāmbaradharo nityaṃ niyataḥ sa jitendriyaḥ .
ekakālaṃ tu bhuñjāno māsaṃ tīrthasya sannidhau .. 146.13 ..

Dressed always in white garments, restrained, with senses mastered, / eating only once a day for a month in the presence of the sacred ford,

6.3.146.14

suvarṇālaṃkṛtānāṃ tu kanyānāṃ śatadānajam .
phalamāpnoti sampūrṇaṃ pitṛloke mahīyate .. 146.14 ..

he obtains the full fruit of giving a hundred maidens adorned with gold, / and is glorified in the world of the ancestors.

6.3.146.15

pṛthivyāmāsamudrāyāṃ mahābhogapatirbhavet .
dhanadhānyasamāyukto dātā bhavati dhārmikaḥ .. 146.15 ..

He becomes the master of great enjoyments over the earth as far as the ocean; / endowed with wealth and grain, he becomes a generous and righteous man.

6.3.146.16

upavāsī śucirbhūtvā brahmalokamavāpnuyāt .
asmāhakaṃ samāsādya yastu prāṇān parityajet .. 146.16 ..

Fasting and becoming pure, he reaches the world of Brahmā. / And whoever casts off his life-breaths after reaching Asmāhaka

6.3.146.17

koṭivarṣasahasrāṇi rudraloke mahīyate .
tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇakarmā divaścyutaḥ .. 146.17 ..

is glorified in the world of Rudra for thousands of ten millions of years. / Falling from that heaven when his karmic merit is exhausted, cast down from the sky,

6.3.146.18

suvarṇamaṇimuktāḍhye kule jāyeta rūpavān .
kṛtvābhiṣekavidhinā hayamedhaphalaṃ labhet .. 146.18 ..

he is born handsome in a family rich in gold, gems, and pearls. / Performing the bath according to the prescribed rule, he attains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

6.3.146.19

dhanāḍhyo rūpavāndakṣo dātā bhavati dhārmikaḥ .
caturvedeṣu yatpuṇyaṃ satyavādiṣu yatphalam .. 146.19 ..

He becomes rich in wealth, handsome, capable, generous, and righteous. / Whatever merit is in the four Vedas, whatever fruit is among the speakers of truth,

6.3.146.20

tatphalaṃ labhate nūnaṃ tatra tīrthe'bhiṣecanāt .
tīrthānāṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ nirmitaṃ śambhunā purā .. 146.20 ..

surely he attains that fruit from bathing in that sacred ford. / Long ago, this supreme sacred ford among sacred fords was fashioned by Śambhu.

6.3.146.21

hṛdayeśaḥ svayaṃ viṣṇurjapeddevaṃ maheśvaram .
gandharvāpsarasaścaiva maruto mārutāstathā .. 146.21 ..

Viṣṇu himself, lord of the heart, mutters prayers to the god Maheśvara [there]; / gandharvas and apsarases, the Maruts and the wind-deities,

6.3.146.22

viśvedevāśca pitaraḥ sacandrāḥ sadivākarāḥ .
marīciratryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ .. 146.22 ..

the Viśvedevas and the ancestors, together with the moon and the sun, / Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu,

6.3.146.23

pracetāśca vasiṣṭhaśca bhṛgurnārada eva ca .
cyavano gālavaścaiva vāmadevo mahāmuniḥ .. 146.23 ..

Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Nārada, / Cyavana, Gālava, and the great sage Vāmadeva,

6.3.146.24

vālakhilyāśca gandhārāstṛṇabinduśca jājaliḥ .
uddālakaścarṣyaśṛṅgo vasiṣṭhaśca sanandanaḥ .. 146.24 ..

the Vālakhilyas, Gandhāras, Tṛṇabindu, Jājali, / Uddālaka, Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Vasiṣṭha, Sanandana,

6.3.146.25

śukraścaiva bharadvājo vātsyo vātsyāyanastathā .
agastirmitrāvaruṇau viśvāmitro munīśvaraḥ .. 146.25 ..

Śukra, Bharadvāja, Vātsya, Vātsyāyana, / Agasti, Mitra and Varuṇa, the lord of sages Viśvāmitra,

6.3.146.26

gautamaśca pulastyaśca paulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ .
sanātanastu kapilo vāhniḥ pañcaśikhastathā .. 146.26 ..

Gautama, Pulastya, the son of Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, / Sanātana, Kapila, Vahni, and Pañcaśikha,

6.3.146.27

anye'pi bahavastatra munayaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ .
krīḍanti devatāḥ sarva ṛṣayaḥ satapodhanāḥ .. 146.27 ..

and many other sages of celebrated vows [dwell there]. / All the deities sport there, along with the seers rich in austerity.

6.3.146.28

manuṣyāścaiva yogīndrāḥ pitaraḥ sapitāmahāḥ .
asmāhake'tra tiṣṭhanti sarva eva na saṃśayaḥ .. 146.28 ..

Mortals, foremost yogins, and ancestors with grandfathers— / all of them dwell here at Asmāhaka, without a doubt.

6.3.146.29

pitaraḥ pitāmahāścaiva tathaiva prapitāmahāḥ .
yeṣāṃ dattamupasthāyi sukṛtaṃ vāpi duṣkṛtam .. 146.29 ..

To the fathers, the grandfathers, and likewise the great-grandfathers / what is offered stands ready, whether good deeds or bad deeds.

6.3.146.30

akṣayaṃ tatra tatsarvaṃ yatkṛtaṃ yodhanīpure .
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ tyaktvā sarvabandhusuhṛjjanān .. 146.30 ..

Whatever is done in Yodhanīpura remains imperishable there. / Leaving behind mother, father, and all relatives and dear friends,

6.3.146.31

dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ priyānputrāṃstathā dehaṃ nṛpottama .
gacchate vāyubhūtastu śubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ .. 146.31 ..

wealth, grain, beloved sons, and even the body, O best of kings, / becoming of the nature of wind, he departs, accompanied by his good and evil deeds.

6.3.146.32

adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ paramātmā mahattaraḥ .
śubhāśubhagatiṃ prāptaḥ karmaṇā svena pārthiva .. 146.32 ..

Invisible to all beings, the greater supreme self / reaches a good or evil destiny according to his own action, O king.

6.3.146.33

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
śubhāśubhaṃ na bandhūnāṃ jāyate kena hetunā .
ekaḥ prasūyate jantureka eva pralīyate .. 146.33 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / For what reason do the good and evil deeds of relatives not accrue [to one]? / A living being is born alone, and alone it dissolves.

6.3.146.34

eko hi bhuṅkte sukṛtameka eva hi duṣkṛtam .. 146.34 ..

Alone one enjoys good deeds, and alone indeed bad deeds.

6.3.146.35

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
eṣa tvayokto nṛpate mahāpraśnaḥ smṛto mayā .. 146.35 ..

Mārkaṇḍeya said: / This great question stated by you, O king, has been remembered by me.

6.3.146.36

pitāmahamukhodgītaṃ śrutaṃ te kathayāmyaham .
yanme pitāmahātpūrvaṃ vijñātamṛṣisaṃsadi .. 146.36 ..

I shall tell you what was sung from the mouth of the Grandfather and heard [by me], / which was previously learned by me from the Grandfather in an assembly of seers.

6.3.146.37

na mātā na pitā bandhuḥ kasyacinna suhṛtkvacit .
kasya na jñāyate rūpaṃ vāyubhūtasya dehinaḥ .. 146.37 ..

Neither mother, nor father, nor kin, nor friend belongs to anyone anywhere; / whose form cannot be recognized when the embodied being becomes of the nature of wind?

6.3.146.38

yadyevaṃ na bhavettāta lokasya tu nareśvara .
amaryādaṃ bhavennūnaṃ vinaśyati carācaram .. 146.38 ..

If it were not so for the world, dear lord of men, / the world of mobile and immobile beings would surely become lawless and perish.

6.3.146.39

evaṃ jñātvā pūrā rājansamastairlokakartṛbhiḥ .
maryādā sthāpitā loke yathā dharmo na naśyati .. 146.39 ..

Knowing this long ago, O king, an orderly boundary was established in the world / by all the creators of the world, so that dharma would not perish.

6.3.146.40

dharme naṣṭe manuṣyāṇāmadharmo'bhibhavetpunaḥ .
tataḥ svadharmacalanānnarake gamanaṃ dhruvam .. 146.40 ..

When dharma is destroyed among mortals, adharma overcomes them again; / then, by deviating from one's own duty, going to hell is certain.

6.3.146.41

loko niraṅkuśaḥ sarvo maryādālaṅghane rataḥ .
maryādā sthāpitā tena śāstraṃ vīkṣya maharṣibhiḥ .. 146.41 ..

The entire world is unbridled, intent on transgressing the boundary; / therefore, having examined the scriptures, an orderly boundary was established by the great seers:

6.3.146.42

snānaṃ dānaṃ japo homaḥ svādhyāyo devatārcanam .
piṇḍodakapradānaṃ ca tathaivātithipūjanam .. 146.42 ..

ritual ablution, gift-giving, silent recitation, fire-offering, recitation of scripture, worship of the deity, / offering of rice-balls and water, and likewise honoring guests.

6.3.146.43

pitaraḥ pitāmahāścaiva tathaiva prapitāmahāḥ .
trayo devāḥ smṛtāstāta brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ .. 146.43 ..

Fathers, grandfathers, and likewise great-grandfathers
are traditionally regarded as the three deities, dear one: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara.

6.3.146.44

pūjitaiḥ pūjitāḥ sarve tathā mātāmahāstrayaḥ .
tasmātsarvaprayatnena śrutismṛtyarthanoditān .. 146.44 ..

When they are worshiped, all are worshiped, as well as the three maternal grandfathers.
Therefore, with every effort, [performing] the duties taught in the sense of the Śruti and Smṛti,

6.3.146.45

dharmaṃ samācarannityaṃ pāpāṃśena na lipyate .
śrutismṛtyuditaṃ dharmaṃ manasāpi na laṅghayet .. 146.45 ..

always practicing righteousness, one is not tainted by a fraction of sin.
One should not transgress, even in thought, the righteousness taught in the Śruti and Smṛti,

6.3.146.46

iha loke pare caiva yadīcchecchreya ātmanaḥ .
pitāputrau sadāpyekau bimbādbimbamivoddhṛtau .. 146.46 ..

if one desires one's own welfare in this world and the next.
Father and son are always one, like an image drawn out from an image,

6.3.146.47

vibhaktau vāvibhaktau vā śrutismṛtyarthatastathā .
uddharedātmanātmānamātmānamavasādayet .. 146.47 ..

whether divided or undivided according to the purport of the Śruti and Smṛti.
One should uplift oneself by oneself; one [can also] ruin oneself,

6.3.146.48

piṇḍodakapradānābhyāmṛte pārtha na saṃśayaḥ .
evaṃ jñātvā prayatnena piṇḍodakaprado bhavet .. 146.48 ..

by lacking the offerings of rice-balls and water, O son of Pṛthā, there is no doubt.
Knowing this, one should diligently offer rice-balls and water.

6.3.146.49

āyurdharmo yaśastejaḥ santatiścaiva vardhate .
pṛthivyāṃ sāgarāntāyāṃ pitṛkṣetrāṇi yāni ca .. 146.49 ..

Lifespan, righteousness, fame, splendor, and offspring increase.
And whatever sacred fields for the ancestors exist on the earth bounded by oceans,

6.3.146.50

tāni te sampravakṣyāmi yeṣu dattaṃ mahāphalam .
gayāyāṃ puṣkare jyeṣṭhe prayāge naimiṣe tathā .. 146.50 ..

I shall declare them to you, where what is given bears great fruit:
at Gayā, at the foremost Puṣkara, at Prayāga, and at Naimiṣa,

6.3.146.51

saṃnihatyāṃ kurukṣetre prabhāse kurunandana .
piṇḍodakapradānena yatphalaṃ kathitaṃ budhaiḥ .. 146.51 ..

at Saṃnihiti, in Kurukṣetra, and in Prabhāsa, O delight of the Kurus—
whatever reward the wise speak of from giving rice-balls and water,

6.3.146.52

asmāhake tadāpnoti narmadāyāṃ na saṃśayaḥ .
tatra brahmā murāriśca rudraśca umayā saha .. 146.52 ..

one obtains that at Asmāhaka on the Narmadā, without a doubt.
There Brahmā and Murāri, and Rudra along with Umā,

6.3.146.53

indrādyā devatāḥ sarve pitaro munayastathā .
sāgarāḥ saritaścaiva parvatāśca balāhakāḥ .. 146.53 ..

all the deities headed by Indra, the ancestors, and the sages,
the oceans, the rivers, the mountains, and the clouds,

6.3.146.54

tiṣṭhanti pitaraḥ sarve sarvatīrthādhikaṃ tataḥ .
sthitā brahmaśilā tatra gajakumbhanibhā nṛpa .. 146.54 ..

all the ancestors dwell there; therefore, it is superior to all sacred fords.
There stands the Brahma-rock, resembling an elephant's forehead-bump, O king.

6.3.146.55

kalau na dṛśyā bhavati pradhānaṃ yadgayāśiraḥ .
vaiśākhe māsi samprāpte'māvāsyāṃ nṛpottama .. 146.55 ..

In the Kali age it cannot be seen—that which is the foremost Gayā-śiras.
When the new moon of the month of Vaiśākha arrives, O best of kings,

6.3.146.56

vyāpya sā tiṣṭhate tīrthaṃ gajakumbhanibhā śilā .
tacca gavyūtimātraṃ hi tīrthaṃ tataḥ pravakṣate .. 146.56 ..

that rock, resembling an elephant's forehead-bump, stands pervading the sacred ford.
That sacred ford is said to measure just one gavyūti.

6.3.146.57

tasmindine tatra gatvā yastu śrāddhaprado bhavet .
pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptirjāyate śatavārṣikī .. 146.57 ..

He who goes there on that day and offers a śrāddha,
for his ancestors an imperishable satisfaction of a hundred years is produced.

6.3.146.58

anyasyāmapyamāvāsyāṃ yaḥ snātvā vijitendriyaḥ .
karoti manujaḥ śrāddhaṃ vidhivanmantrasaṃyutam .. 146.58 ..

Even on any other new moon day, a self-controlled man who bathes
and performs a śrāddha according to rule, accompanied by mantras,

6.3.146.59

tasya puṇyaphalaṃ yatsyāttacchṛṇuṣva narādhipa .
agniṣṭomāśvamedhābhyāṃ vājapeyasya yatphalam .. 146.59 ..

listen to what merit and reward belong to him, O ruler of men:
Whatever is the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma and the horse sacrifice, and of the Vājapeya,

6.3.146.60

tatphalaṃ samavāpnoti yathā me śaṅkaro'bravīt .
rauravādiṣu sarveṣu narakeṣu vyavasthitāḥ .. 146.60 ..

that fruit he fully attains, just as Śaṅkara told me.
Those who reside in all the hells such as Raurava—

6.3.146.61

pitā pitāmahādyāśca pitṛke mātṛke tathā .
piṇḍodakena caikena tarpaṇena viśeṣataḥ .. 146.61 ..

the father, grandfathers, and others on the paternal as well as on the maternal side—
by a single offering of rice-balls and water, especially by libation,

6.3.146.62

krīḍanti pitṛlokasthā yāvadābhūtasamplavam .
ye karmasthā vikarmasthā ye jātāḥ pretakalmaṣāḥ .. 146.62 ..

dwell in the world of the ancestors, rejoicing until the dissolution of all beings.
Those who are performing rituals, those performing forbidden deeds, and those who have become impure ghosts,

6.3.146.63

piṇḍenaikena mucyante te'pi tatra na saṃśayaḥ .
asmāhake śilā divyā tiṣṭhate gajasannibhā .. 146.63 ..

even they are liberated by a single rice-ball there; there is no doubt.
At Asmāhaka stands a divine rock resembling an elephant,

6.3.146.64

brahmaṇā nirmitā pūrvaṃ sarvapāpakṣayaṃkarī .
uparyasyā yathānyāyaṃ pitṝnuddiśya bhārata .. 146.64 ..

fashioned anciently by Brahmā, destroying all sins.
Upon it, duly dedicated to the ancestors, O descendant of Bharata,

6.3.146.65

dakṣiṇāgreṣu darbheṣu dadyātpiṇḍānvicakṣaṇaḥ .
bhūmau cānnena siddhena śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi .. 146.65 ..

the wise man should place rice-balls upon darbha grasses with tips pointing southward;
and having performed a śrāddha on the ground with prepared food according to rule,

6.3.146.66

śrāddhibhyo vastrayugmāni chatropānatkamaṇḍalu .
dakṣiṇā vividhā deyā pitṝnuddiśya bhārata .. 146.66 ..

pairs of garments, parasols, sandals, and water pots should be given to the śrāddha participants,
and diverse priestly fees dedicated to the ancestors, O descendant of Bharata.

6.3.146.67

yo dadāti dvijaśreṣṭha tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu .
tasya te dvādaśābdāni tṛptiṃ yānti na saṃśayaḥ .. 146.67 ..

He who gives them, O best of the twice-born—hear the fruit of his merit:
They attain satisfaction for twelve years; of this there is no doubt.

6.3.146.68

asmāhake mahārāja pitaraśca pitāmahāḥ .
vāyubhūtā nirīkṣante āgacchantaṃ svagotrajam .. 146.68 ..

At Asmāhaka, O great king, the fathers and grandfathers,
having become air, watch for a man born in their clan who is arriving:

6.3.146.69

atra tīrthe suto'bhyetya snātvā toyaṃ pradāsyati .
śrāddhaṃ vā piṇḍadānaṃ vā tena yāsyāma sadgatim .. 146.69 ..

‘Our son will come to this sacred ford, bathe, and offer water,
or a śrāddha, or an offering of rice-balls; through that we shall reach a good destination.’

6.3.146.70

snāne kṛte tu ye kecijjāyante vastravipluṣaḥ .
prīṇayennarakasthāṃstu taiḥ pitṝnnātra saṃśayaḥ .. 146.70 ..

When the bath is performed, whatever drops of water come from the clothes—
with them he pleases those ancestors who reside in hell; there is no doubt of this.

6.3.146.71

keśodabindavastasya ye cānye lepabhājinaḥ .
tṛpyantyanagninasaṃskārā yaṃ mṛtāḥ syuḥ svagotrajāḥ .. 146.71 ..

By the drops of water from his hair, and whatever other [offerings] belong to the scrapings of the hand,
those who died without fire-rites and those born in his own clan are satisfied.

6.3.146.72

tatra tīrthe tu ye kecicchrāddhaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ .
narakāduddharantyāśu japantaḥ pitṛsaṃhitām .. 146.72 ..

Indeed, whoever performs a śrāddha according to rule at that sacred ford,
reciting the Pitṛsaṃhitā, swiftly delivers [them] from hell.

6.3.146.73

vanaspatigate some yadā somadinaṃ bhavet .
akṣayāllabhate lokānpiṇḍenaikena mānavaḥ .. 146.73 ..

When Soma is in the lunar mansion of plants and it is Monday,
a man attains imperishable worlds by means of a single rice-ball.

6.3.146.74

akṣayaṃ tatra vai sarvaṃ jāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ .
narakāduddharantyāśu japante pitṛsaṃhitām .. 146.74 ..

Everything there becomes imperishable; of this there is no doubt.
Reciting the Pitṛsaṃhitā, they swiftly deliver [them] from hell.

6.3.146.75

tasmiṃstīrthe tvamāvāsyāṃ pitṝnuddiśya bhārata .
nīlaṃ sarvāṅgasampūrṇaṃ yo'bhiṣicya samutsṛjet .. 146.75 ..

At that sacred ford, on the new moon day, dedicated to the ancestors, O descendant of Bharata,
whoever consecrates and releases a dark bull possessing all auspicious marks,

6.3.146.76

tasya puṇyaphalaṃ vaktuṃ na tu vācaspatiḥ kṣamaḥ .
asmāhake vṛṣotsargādyatpuṇyaṃ samavāpyate .. 146.76 ..

even the Lord of Speech is not capable of describing his meritorious fruit.
Whatever merit is attained by the release of a bull at Asmāhaka,

6.3.146.77

tava śuśrūṣaṇātsarvaṃ tatpravakṣyāmi bhārata .
rauravādiṣu ye kiṃcitpacyante tasya pūrvajāḥ .. 146.77 ..

I shall tell it all to you because of your desire to hear, O descendant of Bharata.
Whatever ancestors of his are roasted in the Raurava and other hells,

6.3.146.78

vṛṣotsargeṇa tānsarvāṃstārayedekaviṃśatim .
lohito yastu varṇena mukhe pucche ca pāṇḍuraḥ .. 146.78 ..

by the release of a bull he delivers all twenty-one of them.
One that is reddish in color, but pale at the face and tail,

6.3.146.79

piṅgaḥ khuraviṣāṇābhyāṃ sa nīlo vṛṣa ucyate .
yastu sarvāṅgapiṅgaśca śvetaḥ pucchakhureṣu ca .. 146.79 ..

and tawny at the hooves and horns, is called a ‘dark’ (nīla) bull.
One that is tawny throughout all limbs and white at the tail and hooves,

6.3.146.80

sa piṅgo vṛṣa ityāhuḥ pitṝṇāṃ prītivardhanaḥ .
pārāvatasavarṇaśca lalāṭe tilako bhavet .. 146.80 ..

they call a tawny bull; it increases the pleasure of the ancestors.
One having the color of a pigeon and a mark on the forehead,

6.3.146.81

taṃ vṛṣaṃ babhrumityāhuḥ pūrṇaṃ sarvāṅgaśobhanam .
sarvāṅgeṣvekavarṇo yaḥ piṅgaḥ pucchakhureṣu ca .. 146.81 ..

they call that bull ‘brown’ (babhru), complete and beautiful in all limbs.
One that is of a single color in all limbs, but tawny at the tail and hooves,

6.3.146.82

khurapiṅgaṃ tamityāhuḥ pitṝṇāṃ sadgatipradam .
nīlaṃ sarvaśarīreṇa svāraktanayanaṃ dṛḍham .. 146.82 ..

they call ‘tawny-hoofed’ (khurapiṅga); it grants a good destination to the ancestors.
One that is dark across the whole body, with reddish eyes, and strong,

6.3.146.83

tameva nīlamityāhurnīlaḥ pañcavidhaḥ smṛtaḥ .
yastu vaiśyagṛhe jātaḥ sa vai nīlo viśiṣyate .. 146.83 ..

that indeed they call the dark [bull]; the dark one is recorded as fivefold.
However, one born in the house of a vaiśya is especially distinguished as a dark bull.

6.3.146.84

na vāhayedgṛhe jātaṃ vatsakaṃ tu kadācana .
tenaiva ca vṛṣotsarge pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavet .. 146.84 ..

One should never yoke a calf born in one's house;
by using that very [calf] for the release of a bull, one becomes free of debt to the ancestors.

6.3.146.85

jātaṃ tu svagṛhe vatsaṃ dvijanmā yastu vāhayet .
patanti pitarastasya brahmakokagatā api .. 146.85 ..

If a twice-born person yokes a calf born in his own home,
his ancestors fall, even if they have reached the world of Brahmā.

6.3.146.86

yathāyathā hi pibati pītvā dhūnāti mastakam .
pibanpitṝn prīṇayati narakāduddhareddhunan .. 146.86 ..

For as he drinks, and having drunk shakes his head, / in drinking he satisfies the ancestors, and in shaking [his head] he delivers them from hell.

6.3.146.87

yathā pucchābhighātena skandhaṃ gacchanti bindavaḥ .
narakāduddharantyāśu patitān gotriṇastathā .. 146.87 ..

Just as the drops reach his shoulder by the lashing of his tail, / so they quickly deliver from hell those kinsmen who have fallen [there].

6.3.146.88

garjanprāvṛṣi kāle tu viṣāṇābhyāṃ bhuvaṃ likhan .
khurebhyo yā mṛdudbhūtā tayā saṃprīṇayedṛṣīn .. 146.88 ..

Bellowing in the rainy season while scratching the earth with both horns, / by the dust that rises from his hooves he completely pleases the seers.

6.3.146.89

pibanpitṝn prīṇayate khādanollekhane surān .
garjannṛṣimanuṣyāṃśca dharmarūpo hi dharmaja .. 146.89 ..

In drinking he satisfies the ancestors; in eating and digging up [the earth] he satisfies the gods; / in bellowing he pleases the seers and mortals, for he is the embodiment of dharma, O son of Dharma.

6.3.146.90

bhūtairvāpi piśācairvā cāturthikajvareṇa vā .
gṛhīto'smāhakaṃ gacchetsarveṣāmādhināśanam .. 146.90 ..

One who is seized by bhūtas, piśācas, or a quartan fever / should go to Asmāhaka, which destroys all afflictions.

6.3.146.91

snātvā tu vimale toye darbhagranthiṃ nibandhayet .
mastake bāhumūle vā nābhyāṃ vā galake'pi vā .. 146.91 ..

Having bathed in the pure water, he should tie a knot of darbha grass / on the head, or at the base of the arm, or on the navel, or around the throat.

6.3.146.92

gatvā devasamīpaṃ ca prādakṣiṇyena keśavam .
tataḥ samuccaranmantraṃ gāyatryā vātha vaiṣṇavam .. 146.92 ..

Having approached the god Keśava, [circumambulating] him clockwise, / he should then recite the mantra, either with the Gāyatrī or a Vaiṣṇava [formula]:

6.3.146.93

nārāyaṇaṃ śaraṇyeśaṃ sarvadevanamaskṛtam .
namo yajñāṅgasambhūta sarvavyāpinnamo'stu te .. 146.93 ..

‘O Nārāyaṇa, Lord of refuge, bowed to by all the gods! / Homage to you who arose from the limbs of sacrifice, O all-pervading one, homage to you!

6.3.146.94

namo namaste deveśa padmagarbha sanātana .
dāmodara jayānanta rakṣa māṃ śaraṇāgatam .. 146.94 ..

Homage, homage to you, Lord of the gods, lotus-wombed eternal one! / O Dāmodara, victorious infinite one, protect me who have come for refuge!

6.3.146.95

tvaṃ kartā tvaṃ ca hartā ca jagatyasmiṃścarācare .
tvaṃ pālayasi bhūtāni bhuvanaṃ tvaṃ bibharṣi ca .. 146.95 ..

You are the creator and you are the destroyer in this world of moving and unmoving beings. / You protect all beings and you sustain the universe.

6.3.146.96

prasīda devadeveśa suptamaṅgaṃ prabodhaya .
tvaddhyānanirato nityaṃ tvadbhaktiparamo hare .. 146.96 ..

Be gracious, O Lord of the gods! Awaken this sleeping body! / Always devoted to meditation on you, wholly dedicated to devotion to you, O Hari!

6.3.146.97

iti stuto mayā deva prasādaṃ kuru me'cyuta .
māṃ rakṣa rakṣa pāpebhyastrāyasva śaraṇāgatam .. 146.97 ..

Thus praised by me, O god, grant me your grace, O Acyuta! / Protect me, protect me from sins; save me who have come for refuge!’

6.3.146.98

evaṃ stutvā ca deveśaṃ dānavāntakaraṃ harim .
punaruktena vai snātvā tato viprāṃstu bhojayet .. 146.98 ..

Having thus praised the Lord of the gods, Hari who destroys the Dānavas, / and having bathed once more, he should then feed the brahmins.

6.3.146.99

vedoktena vidhānena snānaṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi .
piṇḍanirvapaṇaṃ kṛtvā vācayetsvastikaṃ tataḥ .. 146.99 ..

Having performed the ritual ablution according to the rule declared in the Veda as prescribed, / and having offered the funeral cakes, he should then have benedictions recited.

6.3.146.100

evaṃ stutvā ca deveśaṃ dānavāntakaraṃ harim .
punaruktena vai snātvā tato viprāṃstu bhojayet .. 146.100 ..

Having thus praised the Lord of the gods, Hari who destroys the Dānavas, / and having bathed once more, he should then feed the brahmins.

6.3.146.101

vedoktena vidhānena snānaṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi .
evaṃ tānvācayitvā tu tato viprānvisarjayet .. 146.101 ..

Having performed the ritual ablution according to the rule declared in the Veda as prescribed, / and having thus had them recite blessings, he should then dismiss the brahmins.

6.3.146.102

yattatroccaritaṃ kiṃcittadviprebhyo nivedayet .
tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā nārī vā bhaktitatparā .
śaktito dakṣiṇāṃ dadyātkṛtvā śrāddhaṃ yathāvidhi .. 146.102 ..

Whatever has been uttered there, he should offer that to the brahmins. / A man or a devoted woman, having bathed at that sacred ford, / should give a priestly gift according to their means, having performed the śrāddha as prescribed.

6.3.146.103

tatra tīrthe naro yāvatsnāpayedvidhipūrvakam .
kṣīreṇa madhunā vāpi dadhnā vā śītavāriṇā .. 146.103 ..

As long as a man bathes [the deity] at that sacred ford according to the rite, / with milk, or honey, or curd, or cold water,

6.3.146.104

tāvatpuṣkarapātreṣu pibanti pitaro jalam .
ayane viṣuve caiva yugādau sūryasaṃkrame .. 146.104 ..

for so long do the ancestors drink water from lotus-leaf vessels. / At the solstices, at the equinoxes, at the beginning of a yuga, and at the sun's transit,

6.3.146.105

puṣpaiḥ sampūjya deveśaṃ naivedyaṃ yaḥ pradāpayet .
so'śvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnoti puṣkalam .. 146.105 ..

whoever, having worshipped the Lord of the gods with flowers, presents an offering of food, / obtains the abundant fruit of a horse sacrifice.

6.3.146.106

tatra tīrthe tu yo rājan sūryagrahaṇamācaret .
sūryatejonibhairyānairviṣṇuloke mahīyate .. 146.106 ..

He who observes a solar eclipse at that sacred ford, O king, / is honoured in the world of Viṣṇu on aerial chariots resembling the radiance of the sun.

6.3.146.107

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ śrāddhaṃ pitṛbhyaḥ samprayacchati .
satputreṇa ca tenaiva samprāptaṃ janmanaḥ phalam .. 146.107 ..

He who offers a śrāddha to the ancestors at that sacred ford, / through him as a good son the purpose of birth has indeed been attained.

6.3.146.108

iti śrutvā tato devāḥ sarve śakrapurogamāḥ .
brahmaviṣṇumaheśāśca sthāpayāṃcakrurīśvaram .. 146.108 ..

Hearing this, all the gods headed by Śakra, / together with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa, established the Lord.

6.3.146.109

sarvarogopaśamanaṃ sarvapātakanāśanam .
yastu saṃvatsaraṃ pūrṇamamāvāsyāṃ tu bhāvitaḥ .. 146.109 ..

It soothes all diseases and destroys all grave sins. / He who, purified in mind, for a full year on the new moon day

6.3.146.110

pitṛbhyaḥ piṇḍadānaṃ ca kuryādasmāhake nṛpa .
tripuṣkare gayāyāṃ ca prabhāse naimiṣe tathā .. 146.110 ..

offers funeral cakes to the ancestors at Asmāhaka, O king, / [secures] the merit of performing a śrāddha at Tripuṣkara, Gayā, Prabhāsa, and Naimiṣa;

6.3.146.111

yatpuṇyaṃ śrāddhakartṝṇāṃ tadihaiva bhaveddhruvam .
tilodakaṃ kuśairmiśraṃ yo dadyāddakṣiṇāmukhaḥ .. 146.111 ..

that merit certainly accrues right here. / Facing south, whoever offers water with sesame seeds mixed with kuśa grass

6.3.146.112

manvādau ca yugādau ca vyatīpāte dinakṣaye .
yo dadyātpitṛmātṛbhyaḥ so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet .. 146.112 ..

at the start of a Manvantara, at the start of a yuga, on a vyatīpāta, and on a dinakṣaya, / to his fathers and mothers, obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice.

6.3.146.113

asmāhake naro yastu snātvā sampūjayeddharim .
brahmāṇaṃ śaṅkaraṃ bhaktyā kuryājjāgaraṇakriyām .. 146.113 ..

A man who, having bathed at Asmāhaka, worships Hari, / Brahmā, and Śaṃkara with devotion, and keeps a night vigil,

6.3.146.114

sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śakrātithyamavāpnuyāt .
tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā yaḥ paśyati janārdanam .. 146.114 ..

is freed from all sins and receives the hospitality of Śakra. / A man who, having bathed at that sacred ford, beholds Janārdana,

6.3.146.115

viśeṣavidhinābhyarcya praṇamya ca punaḥpunaḥ .
saputreṇa ca tenaiva pitṝṇāṃ vihitā gatiḥ .. 146.115 ..

and worships him with the special rites, bowing again and again, / through him as a son, the [highest] destination is secured for his ancestors.

6.3.146.116

ekamūrtistrayo devā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ .
satkāryakāraṇopetāḥ susūkṣmāḥ sumahāphalāḥ .. 146.116 ..

The three gods Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara have one form; / endowed with noble cause and effect, they are extremely subtle and yield exceedingly great fruit.

6.3.146.117

etatte kathitaṃ rājanmahāpātakanāśanam .
asmāhakasya māhātmyaṃ kimanyatparipṛcchasi .. 146.117 ..

This has been told to you, O king, which destroys grave sins: / the māhātmya of Asmāhaka. What else do you ask?

6.3.146.117_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe asmāhakatīrthamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṭcatvāriṃśadadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the one hundred and forty-sixth chapter, called 'The Description of the Māhātmya of the Sacred Ford of Asmāhaka', in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth [part], Āvantyakhaṇḍa, of the Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses.