Skandapurana 6.3.42

6.3.42.p1

adhyāya 42

6.3.42.1

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
tato gacchettu rājendra pippaleśvaramuttamam .
yatra siddho mahāyogī pippalādo mahātapāḥ .. 42.1 ..

The glorious Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Then one should go, O king of kings, to the supreme Pippaleśvara, / where the great yogin Pippalāda, of great austerity, attained perfection.

6.3.42.2

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
pippalādasya caritaṃ śrotumicchāmyahaṃ vibho .
māhātmyaṃ tasya tīrthasya yatra siddho mahātapāḥ .. 42.2 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / I wish to hear about Pippalāda's life, O lord, / and the māhātmya of that sacred ford where the [sage] of great austerity attained perfection.

6.3.42.3

kasya putro mahābhāga kimarthaṃ kṛtavāṃstapaḥ .
etadvistarataḥ sarvaṃ kathayasva mamānagha .. 42.3 ..

Whose son was he, O illustrious one, and for what purpose did he perform austerity? / Tell me all this in detail, O sinless one.

6.3.42.4

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
mithilāstho mahābhāgo vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ .
yājñavalkyaḥ purā tāta cacāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ .. 42.4 ..

Mārkaṇḍeya said: / In ancient times, my dear, the illustrious Yājñavalkya, who lived in Mithilā / and was a master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, performed vast austerity.

6.3.42.5

tāpasī tasya bhaginī yājñavalkyasya dhīmataḥ .
sā saptame'pi varṣe ca vaidhavyaṃ prāpa daivataḥ .. 42.5 ..

That wise Yājñavalkya had an ascetic sister. / Through destiny, she became a widow even in her seventh year.

6.3.42.6

pūrvakarmavipākena hīnābhūtpitṛmātṛtaḥ .
nābhūttatpatipakṣe'pi ko'pītyekākinī sthitā .. 42.6 ..

By the ripening of past deeds she was bereft of father and mother. / Nor was there anyone on her husband's side, so she remained alone.

6.3.42.7

bhūmau bhramantī bhrātuḥ sā samīpamagamacchanaiḥ .
cacāra ca tapaḥ so'pi paralokasukhepsayā .. 42.7 ..

Wandering upon the earth, she slowly went to her brother. / He too was practicing austerity, desiring the happiness of the other world.

6.3.42.8

cacāra sāpi tatrasthā śuśrūṣantī mahattapaḥ .
kasmiṃścitsamaye sātha snātāhani rajasvalā .. 42.8 ..

Staying there, serving him, she also practiced great austerity. / Then, at a certain time, having bathed on the day [after her period], having menstruated,

6.3.42.9

antarvāso dhṛtavatī dṛṣṭvā karpaṭakaṃ rahaḥ .
yājñavalkyo'pi tadrātrau supto yatra susaṃvṛtaḥ .. 42.9 ..

she put on an undergarment, having seen a rag in secret. / Where Yājñavalkya also slept that night, well covered,

6.3.42.10

svapnaṃ dṛṣṭvātyajacchukraṃ kaupīne raktabinduvat .
virājitena tapasā siddhaṃ tadanalaprabham .. 42.10 ..

he had a dream and discharged semen upon his loincloth like a drop of blood, / perfected by radiant austerity, glowing like fire.

6.3.42.11

yāvatprabuddho vipro'sau vīkṣyocchiṣṭaṃ tadaṃśukam .
cikṣepa dūrato'spṛśyaṃ śaucaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ .. 42.11 ..

When that brahmin woke up, seeing that garment defiled, / he threw it far away as untouchable, having performed purification according to the rules.

6.3.42.12

niṣiddhaṃ tu niśi snānamiti suṣvāpa sa dvijaḥ .
niśīthe sāpi tadvastraṃ bhagasyāvaraṇaṃ vyadhāt .. 42.12 ..

Since bathing at night is forbidden, the twice-born went back to sleep. / In the dead of night, she used that garment as a covering for her vulva.

6.3.42.13

prātaranveṣayāmāsa munirvastramitastataḥ .
tataḥ sā brāhmaṇī prāha kiṃ anveṣayase prabho .
kena kāryaṃ tava tathā vadasva mama tattvataḥ .. 42.13 ..

In the morning, the sage searched here and there for the garment. / Then that brahmin woman said: “What are you looking for, my lord? / What do you need it for? Tell me the truth.”

6.3.42.14

yājñavalkya uvāca -
apavitro mayā bhadre svapno dṛṣṭo'dya vai niśi .
sakledaṃ tatra me vastraṃ nikṣiptaṃ tanna dṛśyate .. 42.14 ..

Yājñavalkya said: / “O auspicious lady, an impure dream was seen by me tonight. / My wet garment was thrown down there, and it is not to be seen.”

6.3.42.15

tacchrutvā brāhmaṇī vākyaṃ bhītabhītāvadannṛpa .
tadvastraṃ tu mayā vipra snātvā hyantaḥ kṛtaṃ mahat .. 42.15 ..

Hearing that statement, the brahmin woman, terrified, said, O king: / “O brahmin, after bathing, I used that very cloth as an inner garment.”

6.3.42.16

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā hāhetyuktvā mahāmuniḥ .
nipapāta tadā bhūmau chinnamūla iva drumaḥ .. 42.16 ..

Hearing her words, the great sage cried out “Alas! Alas!” / and fell to the ground like a tree cut down at its roots.

6.3.42.17

kimetaditi setyuktvā hyākāśamiva nirmalā .
āśvāsayantī taṃ vipraṃ provāca vacanaṃ tadā .. 42.17 ..

Saying “What is this?”, pure as the sky, / she comforted the brahmin and then addressed these words to him:

6.3.42.18

vadasva kāraṇaṃ tāta guhyādguhyataraṃ yadi .
pratīkāro'sya yenaiva vimṛśya kriyate tvarā .. 42.18 ..

“Tell me the reason, father, even if it is more secret than the secret, / so that a remedy for it may be devised and done with haste.”

6.3.42.19

tataḥ sa suciraṃ dhyātvā labdhavāgvai tataḥ kṣaṇam .
provāca sādhvasamanā yattacchṛṇu nareśvara .. 42.19 ..

Then, having meditated for a long time, regaining his speech a moment later, / his mind filled with dread, he spoke that which [I shall tell you], hear, O ruler of men:

6.3.42.20

nātra doṣo'sti te kaścinmama caiva śubhavrate .
tavodare tu garbho yastatra daivaṃ parāyaṇam .. 42.20 ..

“There is no fault here for you, nor for me, O lady of auspicious vows. / But the fetus in your womb has destiny as its cause.

6.3.42.21

tasya tattvena rakṣā ca tvayā kāryā sadaiva hi .
vināśī naiva kartavyo yāvatkālasya paryayaḥ .. 42.21 ..

Its protection must truly be carried out by you at all times; / it must not be destroyed until the passage of time is complete.”

6.3.42.22

tatheti vrīḍitā sādhvī dūyamānena cetasā .
apālayacca taṃ garbhaṃ yāvatputro hyajāyata .. 42.22 ..

Saying “So be it,” the virtuous woman, ashamed and with an aching heart, / protected that fetus until a son was born.

6.3.42.23

jātamātraṃ ca taṃ garbhaṃ gṛhītvā brāhmaṇī ca sā .
aśvatthacchāyāmāśritya tamutsṛjya vaco'bravīt .. 42.23 ..

As soon as he was born, that brahmin woman took the child, / sought the shade of an aśvattha tree, abandoned him, and spoke these words:

6.3.42.24

yāni sattvāni lokeṣu sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca .
tāni sarvāṇi rakṣantu tyaktaṃ vai bālakaṃ mayā .. 42.24 ..

“Whatever creatures there are in the worlds, both motionless and moving, / let them all protect this child abandoned by me!”

6.3.42.25

evamuktvā gatā sā tu brāhmaṇī nṛpasattama .
tathāgataḥ sa tu śiśustatra sthitvā muhūrtakam .. 42.25 ..

Having spoken thus, that brahmin woman departed, O best of kings. / That infant who had come into such a state, remaining there for a moment,

6.3.42.26

pāṇipādau vinikṣipya nikuñcya nayane śubhe .
āsyaṃ tu vikṛtaṃ kṛtvā ruroda vikṛtaiḥ svaraiḥ .. 42.26 ..

flinging his hands and feet, closing his fine eyes, / and making a contorted face, wept with distorted sounds.

6.3.42.27

tena śabdena vitrastāḥ sthāvarā jaṅgamāśca ye .
ākampitā mahotpātaiḥ saśailavanakānanā .. 42.27 ..

Terrified by that cry, both the motionless and the moving, / along with mountains, forests, and groves, shook with great portents.

6.3.42.28

tato jñātvā mahadbhūtaṃ kṣudhāviṣṭaṃ dvijarṣabham .
na jahāti nagaśchāyāṃ pānārthāya tataḥ param .
apibacca sutaṃ tasmādabhṛtaṃ caiva bhārata .. 42.28 ..

Then, knowing that best of the twice-born to be a great being overwhelmed by hunger, / from then on the tree did not abandon its shade, and for his drinking / he drank the sap from it and was nourished, O descendant of Bharata.

6.3.42.29

evaṃ sa vardhitastatra kumāro nijacetasi .
cintayāmāsa viśrabdhaḥ kiṃ mama grahagocaram .. 42.29 ..

Thus reared there, the boy confidently thought in his own mind: / “What is within the astrological reach of my planets?”

6.3.42.30

tataḥ krūrasabhācāraḥ krūraṃ dṛṣṭvā nirīkṣitaḥ .
papāta sahasā bhūmau śanaiścārī śanaiścaraḥ .. 42.30 ..

Then Śanaiścara, who has a cruel manner, having seen [the boy] looking cruelly, / suddenly fell to the earth, the slow-moving one.

6.3.42.31

uvāca ca bhayatrastaḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭastadā .
kiṃ mayāpakṛtaṃ vipra pippalāda mahāmune .. 42.31 ..

Terrified, with folded hands, he then said: / “What wrong have I done, O brahmin, O great sage Pippalāda,

6.3.42.32

caranvai gaganādyena pātito dharaṇītale .
sauriṇā hyevamuktastu pippalādo mahāmuniḥ .. 42.32 ..

that moving through the sky, I have been cast down to the surface of the earth?” / Thus addressed by Sauri, the great sage Pippalāda,

6.3.42.33

krodharūpo'bravīdvākyaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva narādhipa .
pitṛmātṛvihīnasya mama bālasya durmate .
pīḍāṃ karoṣi kasmāttvaṃ saure brūhi hyaśeṣataḥ .. 42.33 ..

assuming a wrathful form, spoke these words; hear that, O lord of men: / “To me, an infant bereft of father and mother, O evil-minded one, / why do you cause affliction, O Sauri? Tell me completely!”

6.3.42.34

śanaiścara uvāca -
krūrasvabhāvaḥ sahajo mama dṛṣṭistathedṛśī .
muñcasva māṃ tathā kartā yadbravīṣi na saṃśayaḥ .. 42.34 ..

Śanaiścara said: / “A cruel nature is inborn to me, and such is my gaze. / Release me; I will do whatever you say, without a doubt.”

6.3.42.35

pippalāda uvāca -
adyaprabhṛti bālānāṃ varṣādā ṣoḍaśādgraha .
pīḍā tvayā na kartavyā eṣa te samayaḥ kṛtaḥ .. 42.35 ..

Pippalāda said: / “From this day forward, until their sixteenth year, / no affliction should be caused by you to children, O planet! This is the agreement made with you.”

6.3.42.36

evamastviti coktvā sa jagāma punarāgataḥ .
devamārgaṃ śanaiścārī praṇamya ṛṣisattamam .. 42.36 ..

Saying “So be it,” the slow-moving one departed whence he had come, / returning to the path of the gods after bowing down to the best of seers.

6.3.42.37

gate cādarśanaṃ tatra so'pi bālo mahāgrahaḥ .
vicintayanvai pitaraṃ krodhena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ .. 42.37 ..

When that great planet had disappeared from view, the boy, / reflecting on his father, was stained with anger.

6.3.42.38

āgneyīṃ dhāraṇāṃ dhyātvā janayāmāsa pāvakam .
kṛtyāmantrairjuhāvāgnau kṛtyā vai saṃbhavatviti .. 42.38 ..

Contemplating the fiery dhāraṇā, he generated a fire, / and with kṛtyā-spells he offered into the fire, saying: “May a kṛtyā come into being!”

6.3.42.39

tāvajjhaṭiti sā kanyā jvālāmālāvibhūṣitā .
hutabhuksadṛśākārā kiṃ karomīti cābravīt .. 42.39 ..

Instantly, a maiden appeared, adorned with wreaths of flames, / resembling fire itself, and said: “What shall I do?”

6.3.42.40

śoṣayāmi samudrān kiṃ cūrṇayāmi ca parvatān .
avaniṃ veṣṭayāmīti pātaye kiṃ nabhastalam .. 42.40 ..

"Shall I dry up the oceans? Shall I crush the mountains? / Shall I envelop the earth? Shall I bring down the firmament?

6.3.42.41

kasya mūrdhni patiṣyāmi ghātayāmi ca kaṃ dvija .
śīghramādiśyatāṃ kāryaṃ mā me kālātyayo bhavet .. 42.41 ..

Upon whose head shall I fall, and whom shall I strike down, O twice-born? / Command my task quickly, lest my time pass away!"

6.3.42.42

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā pippalādo mahātapāḥ .
krodhasaṃraktanayana idaṃ vacanamabravīt .. 42.42 ..

Hearing those words of hers, Pippalāda, rich in ascetic power, / his eyes reddened with rage, spoke these words:

6.3.42.43

mahatā krodhavegena mayā tvaṃ cintitā śubhe .
pitā me yājñavalkyaśca tasya tvaṃ pata māciram .. 42.43 ..

"In a great rush of fury were you conceived by me, auspicious one! / Yājñavalkya is my father; fall upon him without delay!"

6.3.42.44

evamuktvāgamacchīghraṃ sphoṭayantī nabhastalam .
mithilāstho mahāprājñastapastepe mahāmanāḥ .. 42.44 ..

Having spoken thus, she went swiftly, rending the firmament. / Residing in Mithilā, the highly wise, magnanimous [sage] was practicing austerities.

6.3.42.45

yāvatpaśyati digbhāgaṃ jvalanārkasamaprabham .
yājñavalkyo mahātejā mahadbhūtamupasthitam .. 42.45 ..

Then Yājñavalkya of great splendor saw that quarter of the sky / blazing like the sun, and a great spirit arrived.

6.3.42.46

taddṛṣṭvā sahasāyāntaṃ bhītabhīto mahāmuniḥ .
anuyukto'tha bhūtena janakaṃ nṛpatiṃ yayau .. 42.46 ..

Seeing it arriving suddenly, terrified, the great sage, / pursued by the spirit, went to King Janaka.

6.3.42.47

śaraṇyaṃ māmanuprāptaṃ viddhi tvaṃ nṛpasattama .
mahadbhūtabhayādrakṣa yadi śaknoṣi pārthiva .. 42.47 ..

"Know that I have come to you for refuge, O best of kings! / Protect me from fear of this great spirit, if you are able, O ruler of the earth!"

6.3.42.48

brahmatejobhavaṃ bhūtamanivāryaṃ durāsadam .
na ca śaknomyahaṃ trātuṃ rājā vacanamabravīt .. 42.48 ..

"The spirit born of brahmic brilliance is irresistible and hard to approach; / I cannot protect you," said the king.

6.3.42.49

tataścānyaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ śaraṇārthī mahātapāḥ .
jagāma tena mukto'sau cendrasya sadanaṃ bhayāt .. 42.49 ..

Then, seeking refuge, he of great austerities went to another foremost king; / dismissed by him, he fled in terror to Indra's dwelling.

6.3.42.50

devarāja namaste'stu mahābhūtabhayānnṛpa .
kampamāno'bravīdvipro rakṣasveti punaḥpunaḥ .. 42.50 ..

"O king of gods, salutations to you! Out of fear of this great spirit, O king—" / trembling, the brahmin pleaded again and again, "protect me!"

6.3.42.51

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā devarājo'bravīdidam .
na śaknomi paritrātuṃ brahmakopādahaṃ mune .. 42.51 ..

Hearing his plea, the king of gods said this: / "I cannot protect you from the wrath of a brahmin, O sage."

6.3.42.52

tataḥ sa brahmabhavanaṃ brāhmaṇo brahmavittamaḥ .
jagāma viṣṇulokaṃ ca tenāpītyukta eva saḥ .. 42.52 ..

Then that brahmin, supreme knower of Brahman, went to Brahmā's abode, / and to the realm of Viṣṇu, and by him too he was told the very same thing.

6.3.42.53

tataḥ sa munirudvigno nirāśo jīvite nṛpa .
anugamyamāno bhūtena agacchacchaṅkarālayam .. 42.53 ..

Then the sage, distressed and despairing of his life, O king, / still pursued by the spirit, went to the abode of Śaṅkara.

6.3.42.54

tasya yogabalopeto mahādevasya pāṇḍava .
nakhamāṃsāntare gupto yathā devo na paśyati .. 42.54 ..

Endowed with the power of yoga, O descendant of Pāṇḍu, / he hid within the crevice of Mahādeva's fingernail so that the god did not see him.

6.3.42.55

tadante cāgamadbhūtaṃ jvalanārkasamaprabham .
muñca muñceti puruṣaṃ devadevaṃ maheśvaram .. 42.55 ..

Directly after him arrived the spirit, shining like the blazing sun, / saying, "Release, release the man!" to Maheśvara, the god of gods.

6.3.42.56

evamukto mahādevastena bhūtena bhārata .
yogīndraṃ darśayāmāsa nakhamāṃsāntare tadā .. 42.56 ..

Addressed thus by that spirit, O Bhārata, Mahādeva / then revealed the lord of yogins inside the crevice of his fingernail.

6.3.42.57

saṃsthāpya bhūtaṃ bhūteśaḥ paramāpadgataṃ munim .
uvāca mā bhaistvaṃ vipra nirgacchasva mahāmune .. 42.57 ..

Having checked the spirit, the lord of spirits said to the sage / who had fallen into extreme peril: "Do not fear, O brahmin; come out, O great sage!"

6.3.42.58

tataḥ susūkṣmadehasthaṃ bhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvābravīdidam .
kimasya tvaṃ mahābhūta kariṣyasi vadasva me .. 42.58 ..

Then, seeing the spirit standing with an exceedingly subtle form, he said this: / "What will you do to him, O great spirit? Tell me!"

6.3.42.59

kṛtyovāca -
krodhāviṣṭena deveśa pippalādena cintitā .
asya dehaṃ haniṣyāmi hiṃsārthaṃ viddhi māṃ prabho .. 42.59 ..

The Kṛtyā said: / "Conceived by Pippalāda when filled with fury, O lord of gods, / I shall destroy his body; know me to be meant for violence, O Lord!"

6.3.42.60

etacchrutvā mahādevo bhūtasya vadanāccyutam .
kaṭisthaṃ yājñavalkyaṃ ca mantrayāmāsa mantravit .. 42.60 ..

Hearing this uttered from the mouth of the spirit, / Mahādeva, the knower of mantras, consecrated Yājñavalkya seated on his hip with mantras.

6.3.42.61

yogīśvareti viprasya kṛtvā nāma yudhiṣṭhira .
visarjayitvā deveśastatraivāntaradhīyata .. 42.61 ..

Bestowing the name Yogīśvara upon the brahmin, O Yudhiṣṭhira, / and dismissing [the spirit], the lord of gods vanished right there.

6.3.42.62

preṣayitvā tu taṃ bhūtaṃ pippalādo'pi durmanāḥ .
pitṛmātṛsamudvigno narmadātaṭamāśritaḥ .. 42.62 ..

Having dispatched that spirit, Pippalāda too, disheartened / and anxious about his father and mother, took shelter on the bank of the Narmadā.

6.3.42.63

ekāṅguṣṭho nirāhāro varṣādā ṣoḍaśānnṛpa .
toṣayāmāsa deveśamumayā saha śaṅkaram .. 42.63 ..

Standing on one big toe and fasting for sixteen years, O king, / he propitiated Śaṅkara, the lord of gods, along with Umā.

6.3.42.64

tatastattapasā tuṣṭaḥ śaṅkaro vākyamabravīt .. 42.64 ..

Then, pleased by that austerity, Śaṅkara spoke these words:

6.3.42.65

īśvara uvāca -
parituṣṭo'smi te vipra tapasānena suvrata .
varaṃ vṛṇīṣva te dadmi manasā cepsitaṃ śubham .. 42.65 ..

Īśvara said: / "I am fully pleased with you, O brahmin, by this austerity, O one of good vows! / Choose a boon; I grant you the auspicious thing desired in your mind."

6.3.42.66

pippalāda uvāca -
yadi me bhagavāṃstuṣṭo yadi deyo varo mama .
atra saṃnihito deva tīrthe bhava maheśvara .. 42.66 ..

Pippalāda said: / "If the Blessed Lord is pleased with me, if a boon is to be granted to me, / then, O god, remain present at this sacred ford, O Maheśvara!"

6.3.42.67

evamuktastathetyuktvā pippalādaṃ mahāmunim .
jagāmādarśanaṃ devo bhūtasaṅghasamanvitaḥ .. 42.67 ..

Addressed thus, saying "So be it!" to the great sage Pippalāda, / the god vanished from sight, accompanied by the host of spirits.

6.3.42.68

pippalādo gate deve snātvā tatra mahāmbhasi .
sthāpayitvā mahādevaṃ jagāmottaraparvatam .. 42.68 ..

When the god had departed, Pippalāda bathed there in the great water, / installed Mahādeva, and departed for the northern mountain.

6.3.42.69

tatra tīrthe naro bhaktyā snātvā mantrayutaṃ nṛpa .
tarpayitvā pitḥn devān pūjayecca maheśvaram .. 42.69 ..

A person who bathes with devotion at that sacred ford along with mantras, O king, / offers libations to the ancestors and gods, and worships Maheśvara,

6.3.42.70

aśvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnotyanuttamam .
mṛto rudrapuraṃ yāti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā .. 42.70 ..

obtains the peerless fruit of a horse sacrifice; / upon dying, he goes to the city of Rudra; there should be no doubt about this.

6.3.42.71

atha yo bhojayedviprān pitḥnuddiśya bhārata .
tasya te dvādaśābdāni modante divi tarpitāḥ .. 42.71 ..

Moreover, he who feeds brahmins on behalf of the ancestors, O Bhārata, / his ancestors, fully satisfied, rejoice in heaven for twelve years.

6.3.42.72

saṃnyāsena tu yaḥ kaścittatra tīrthe tanuṃ tyajet .
anivartikā gatistasya rudralokātkadācana .. 42.72 ..

Whoever abandons the body at that sacred ford by means of renunciation, / his state is one of never returning from the realm of Rudra at any time.

6.3.42.73

etatsarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ yatpṛṣṭhe hi tvayānagha .
māhātmyaṃ pippalādasya tīrthasyotpattireva ca .. 42.73 ..

All this that was asked by you, O sinless one, has been related: / the māhātmya of Pippalāda and the very origin of the sacred ford.

6.3.42.74

etatpuṇyaṃ pāpaharaṃ dhanyaṃ duḥsvapnanāśanam .
paṭhatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ caiva sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet .. 42.74 ..

This is meritorious, sin-removing, auspicious, and destroys bad dreams; / for those who read or hear it, there is the destruction of all sins.

6.3.42.74_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe narmadāmāhātmye pippalādatīrthamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma dvicatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the forty-second chapter, titled 'Description of the Māhātmya of Pippalādatīrtha,' in the Narmadāmāhātmya of the Revākhaṇḍa, in the fifth section, Āvantyakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skandamahāpurāṇa comprising eighty-one thousand verses.