Skandapurana 6.3.53

6.3.53.p1

adhyāya 53

6.3.53.1

uttānapāda uvāca -
āśrame vasatastasya sa dīrghatapaso muneḥ .
kanīyāṃstanayo deva kathaṃ mṛtyumupāgataḥ .. 53.1 ..

Uttānapāda said: / While he dwelt in the hermitage, O God, how did that younger son / of the sage Dīrghatapas meet his death?

6.3.53.2

īśvara uvāca -
śṛṇuṣvaikamanā bhūtvā kathāṃ divyāṃ mahīpate .
śravaṇādeva yasyāstu mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ .. 53.2 ..

Īśvara said: / Listen with single-minded attention, O king, to the divine tale, / by the mere hearing of which one is freed from all sins.

6.3.53.3

kāśīrājo mahāvīryo mahābalaparākramaḥ .
citrasena iti khyātāṃ dharaṇyāṃ sa narādhipa .. 53.3 ..

There was a king of Kāśī of great valor and of mighty strength and prowess, / renowned on earth, O lord of men, as Citrasena.

6.3.53.4

tasya rājye sadā dharmo nādharmo vidyate kvacit .
vedadharmarato nityaṃ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan .. 53.4 ..

In his realm there was always righteousness; unrighteousness was nowhere to be found. / He was constantly devoted to Vedic dharma, protecting the subjects righteously.

6.3.53.5

svadharmanirataścaiva yuddhātithyapriyaḥ sadā .
kṣatradharmaṃ samāśritya bhogānbhuṅkte sa kāmataḥ .. 53.5 ..

Devoted to his own duty, always fond of war and hospitality, / adhering to the duty of a kṣatriya, he enjoyed pleasures at will.

6.3.53.6

kośasyānto na vidyeta hastyaśvarathapattimān .
itihāsapurāṇajñaiḥ paṇḍitaiḥ saha saṃkathām .. 53.6 ..

There was no end to his treasury; he possessed elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers. / Conversing with learned men conversant with the Itihāsas and Purāṇas,

6.3.53.7

kathayanrājate rājā kailāsa iva śaṅkaraḥ .
evaṃ sa pālayanrājyaṃ rājā mantriṇamabravīt .. 53.7 ..

the king shone like Śaṅkara on Mount Kailāsa. / Protecting the kingdom in this manner, the king said to his minister:

6.3.53.8

mṛgayāyāṃ gamiṣyāmi tiṣṭhadhvaṃ rājyapālane .
gamyatāṃ sacivaiḥ prokte gato'sau vasudhādhipaḥ .. 53.8 ..

“I shall go on a hunt; remain here protecting the kingdom.” / When the ministers said, “Go,” that lord of the earth set out.

6.3.53.9

aśvārūḍhāśca dhāvanto rājāno maṇḍalādhipāḥ .
chatraiśchatrāṇi ghṛṣyanto'nujagmuḥ kānanaṃ prati .. 53.9 ..

Riding on horses and galloping along, kings and rulers of provinces, / their parasols rubbing against one another, followed toward the forest.

6.3.53.10

rajastatrotthitaṃ bhaumaṃ gajavājipadāhatam .
tenaitacchāditaṃ sarvaṃ sadiṅmārtaṇḍamaṃlam .. 53.10 ..

The earthly dust raised there, struck by the feet of elephants and horses, / covered everything, together with the quarters of space and the disc of the sun.

6.3.53.11

na tatra dṛśyate sūryo na kāṣṭhā na ca candramāḥ .
pādapāśca na dṛśyante giriśṛṅgāṇi sarvataḥ .. 53.11 ..

Neither the sun, nor the cardinal directions, nor the moon could be seen there; / nor could the trees and mountain peaks be seen anywhere.

6.3.53.12

parasparaṃ na paśyanti niśārddhe vārṣike yathā .
tatrāsau sumahadyūthaṃ mṛgāṇāṃ samalakṣyata .. 53.12 ..

They could not see one another, just as in the middle of a night in the rainy season. / Then he sighted an immense herd of deer there.

6.3.53.13

adhāvatsahitaḥ sarvaiḥ sa rājā rājaputrakaiḥ .
vṛndāsphoṭo'bhavatteṣāṃ śīghraṃ jagmurdiśo daśa .. 53.13 ..

The king ran accompanied by all the princes; / their gathering broke apart, and they quickly scattered in the ten directions.

6.3.53.14

ekamārgagato rājā citraseno mahīpatiḥ .
ekākī sa gatastatra yatra yatra ca te mṛgāḥ .. 53.14 ..

King Citrasena, the lord of the earth, took a single path; / he went alone wherever those deer went.

6.3.53.15

praviṣṭo'sau tato durgaṃ kānanaṃ girigahvaram .
vallīgulmasamākīrṇaṃ sthito yatra na lakṣyate .. 53.15 ..

Then he entered an impassable forest and mountain cavern, / thick with creepers and bushes, where one could not be seen standing.

6.3.53.16

adṛśyāṃstu mṛgānmatvā diśo rājā vyalokayat .
kāṃ diśaṃ nu gamiṣyāmi kva me sainyasamāgamaḥ .. 53.16 ..

Considering the deer to have become invisible, the king looked around at the quarters of space: / “To which direction shall I go? Where is the reunion with my army?”

6.3.53.17

evaṃ kaṣṭaṃ gato rājā citraseno narādhipaḥ .
vṛkṣacchāyāṃ samāśritya viśrāmamakaronnṛpaḥ .. 53.17 ..

Having thus fallen into distress, King Citrasena, the lord of men, / took shelter under the shade of a tree and rested.

6.3.53.18

kṣuttṛṣārto bhramandurge kānane girigahvare .
tato'paśyatsaro divyaṃ padminīkhaṇḍamaṇḍitam .. 53.18 ..

Afflicted with hunger and thirst, wandering in the impassable forest and mountain cave, / he then saw a divine lake adorned with clusters of lotuses.

6.3.53.19

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṃ cakravākopaśobhitam .
tato dṛṣṭvā sa rājendraḥ samprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ .. 53.19 ..

Filled with swans and kāraṇḍava ducks, adorned with cakravāka birds, / upon seeing it, that king of kings had the hair of his body stand on end with joy.

6.3.53.20

kamalāni gṛhītvā tu tataḥ snānaṃ samācarat .
tarpayitvā pitṛdevānmanuṣyāṃśca yathāvidhi .. 53.20 ..

Taking lotuses, he then performed ritual ablution, / having offered libations to the ancestors, gods, and men according to the injunctions.

6.3.53.21

ācchādya śatapatraiśca pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram .
yayau pānīyamamalaṃ yathāvatsa samāhitaḥ .. 53.21 ..

Covering [it] with lotuses, he worshipped Śaṃkara; / attentive, he drank pure water in the prescribed manner.

6.3.53.22

uttīrya salilāttīre dṛṣṭvā vṛkṣaṃ samīpagam .
uttarīyamadhaḥ kṛtvopaviṣṭo dharaṇītale .. 53.22 ..

Coming out of the water onto the bank, seeing a tree nearby, / placing his upper garment below, he sat down on the surface of the ground.

6.3.53.23

cintayannupaviṣṭo'sau kimadya prakaromyaham .
tatrāsīno dadarśātha vanoddeśe mṛgānbahūn .. 53.23 ..

Sitting there, he reflected: 'What shall I do today?' / Seated there, he then saw many deer in that part of the forest.

6.3.53.24

kecitpūrvamukhāstatra cāpare dakṣiṇāmukhāḥ .
vāruṇyamimukhāḥ kecitkecitkauberadiṅmukhāḥ .. 53.24 ..

Some were facing east, others facing south, / some facing west, and some facing the quarter of Kubera [north].

6.3.53.25

kecinnidrāparāḥ kecidūrdhvakarṇāḥ sthitāḥ pare .
mṛgamadhye sthito yogī ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ .. 53.25 ..

Some were devoted to sleep; others stood with their ears pricked up. / In the midst of the deer was the yogin Ṛkṣaśṛṅga of great austerity.

6.3.53.26

mṛgāndṛṣṭvā tato rājā āhārārthamacintayat .
hatvaiteṣu mṛgaṃ kaṃcidbhakṣayāmi yadṛcchayā .. 53.26 ..

Seeing the deer, the king then thought of food: / 'Having killed one of these deer, I shall eat at will;

6.3.53.27

svasthāvastho bhaviṣyāmi mṛgamāṃsasya bhakṣaṇāt .
kāśīṃ prati gamiṣyāmi mārgamanviṣya yatnataḥ .. 53.27 ..

I will regain my strength from eating deer meat, / [and then] I shall go toward Kāśī, searching for the way with effort.'

6.3.53.28

vicintyaivaṃ tato rājā vṛkṣamūlamupāśritaḥ .
cāpaṃ gṛhya karāgreṇa sa śaraṃ saṃdadhe tataḥ .. 53.28 ..

Having thought thus, the king, leaning against the foot of the tree, / took his bow in hand and then fitted an arrow.

6.3.53.29

vicikṣepa śaraṃ tatra yatra te bahavo mṛgāḥ .
teṣāṃ madhye sa vai viddha ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ .. 53.29 ..

He shot an arrow there, where those many deer were; / in their midst, that Ṛkṣaśṛṅga of great austerity was struck.

6.3.53.30

jagmustrastāstu te sarve śabdaṃ kṛtvā vanaukasaḥ .
sa ṛṣiḥ patitastatra kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti cābravīt .. 53.30 ..

Frightened, all those forest-dwellers ran away, crying out; / that seer fell there and cried, 'Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!'

6.3.53.31

hāhā kaṣṭaṃ kṛtaṃ tena yenāhaṃ ghātito'dhunā .
kasyaiṣā durmatirjātā pāpabuddhermamopari .. 53.31 ..

'Alas, a terrible deed has been done by the one who has now struck me down! / Whose evil intent, wicked of mind, has arisen against me?

6.3.53.32

mṛgamadhye sthitaścāhaṃ na kaṃciduparodhaye .
tāṃ vācaṃ mānuṣīṃ śrutvā sa rājā vismayānvitaḥ .. 53.32 ..

I stood among the deer, harming no one.' / Hearing that human voice, the king was filled with astonishment.

6.3.53.33

śīghraṃ gatvā tato'paśyadbrāhmaṇaṃ brahmatejasā .
hāhā kaṣṭaṃ kṛtaṃ me'dya yenāsau ghātito dvijaḥ .. 53.33 ..

Going quickly, he then saw a brahmin blazing with brahmanic splendor: / 'Alas, a terrible thing I have done today, by which this twice-born has been struck down!'

6.3.53.34

citrasena uvāca -
akāmādghātitastvaṃ tu mṛgabhrāntyā mayānagha .
gṛhītvā bahudārūṇi svatanuṃ dāhayāmyaham .. 53.34 ..

Citrasena said: / 'Unintentionally, mistaking you for a deer, you have been struck down by me, O sinless one! / Gathering much wood, I will burn my own body.

6.3.53.35

dṛṣṭādṛṣṭaṃ tu yatkiṃcinna samaṃ brahmahatyayā .
anyathā brahmahatyāyāḥ śuddhirme na bhaviṣyati .. 53.35 ..

Whatever [sin] exists, seen or unseen, none equals the murder of a brahmin. / Otherwise, my purification from the murder of a brahmin will not come to pass.'

6.3.53.36

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca -
na te siddhirbhavetkācinmayi pañcatvamāgate .
bahvyo hatyā bhaviṣyanti vināśe mama sāmpratam .. 53.36 ..

Ṛkṣaśṛṅga said: / 'No attainment whatsoever will be yours if I meet my death. / Many deaths will follow upon my destruction now.

6.3.53.37

jananī me pitā vṛddho bhrātaraśca tapasvinaḥ .
bhrātṛjāyā mariṣyanti mayi pañcatvamāgate .. 53.37 ..

My mother, my aged father, my ascetic brothers, / and my brothers' wives will die if I meet my death.

6.3.53.38

etā hatyā bhaviṣyanti kathaṃ śuddhirbhavettava .
upāyaṃ kathayiṣyāmi taṃ kartuṃ yadi manyase .. 53.38 ..

These killings will happen; how will your purification come to pass? / I will tell you a remedy, if you think to do it.'

6.3.53.39

citrasena uvāca -
upāyaḥ kathyatāṃ me'dya yaste manasi vartate .
kariṣye tamahaṃ sarvaṃ yatnenāpi mahāmune .. 53.39 ..

Citrasena said: / 'Tell me today the remedy that is in your mind; / I will do all of it with every effort, O great sage.'

6.3.53.40

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca -
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ kathaṃ ko vā kutastvamiha cāgataḥ .
brahmakṣatraviśāṃ madhye ko bhavānuta śūdrajaḥ .. 53.40 ..

Ṛkṣaśṛṅga said: / 'I ask you: who are you, and whence have you come here? / Among brahmins, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, which are you—or born of a śūdra?'

6.3.53.41

citrasena uvāca -
nāhaṃ śūdro'smi bhostāta na vaiśyo brāhmaṇo na vā .
na cāntyajo'smi viprendra kṣatriyo'smi mahāmune .. 53.41 ..

Citrasena said: / 'I am not a śūdra, sir, nor a vaiśya, nor a brahmin; / nor am I an outcaste, O foremost of the twice-born: I am a kṣatriya, O great sage,

6.3.53.42

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca sarvasattvahite rataḥ .
akāmātpātakaṃ jātaṃ kathaṃ śuddhirbhaviṣyati .. 53.42 ..

knowing righteousness, grateful, and devoted to the welfare of all beings. / The sin has occurred unintentionally; how will purification come to pass?'

6.3.53.43

ṛkṣaśṛṅga uvāca -
māṃ gṛhītvā āśramaṃ gaccha yatra tau pitarau mama .
āvedayasva cātmānaṃ putraghātinamāturam .. 53.43 ..

Ṛkṣaśṛṅga said: / 'Take me and go to the hermitage where my parents are, / and announce yourself as the afflicted killer of their son.

6.3.53.44

te dṛṣṭvā māṃ kariṣyanti kāruṇyaṃ ca tavopari .
upāyaṃ kathayiṣyanti yena śāntirbhaviṣyati .. 53.44 ..

Seeing me, they will have compassion on you; / they will tell you the remedy by which peace will be attained.'

6.3.53.45

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā citraseno nṛpottama .
skandhe kṛtvā tu taṃ vipraṃ jagāmāśramasannidhau .. 53.45 ..

Hearing his words, Citrasena, best of kings, / took the twice-born on his shoulder and went toward the hermitage.

6.3.53.46

na śaknoti yadā voḍhuṃ viśrāmyati punaḥpunaḥ .
tāvatpaśyati taṃ vipraṃ mūrchitaṃ vikalendriyam .. 53.46 ..

When he was unable to carry him, resting again and again, / he then saw that twice-born fainted, his faculties failing.

6.3.53.47

mumoca citrasenastaṃ chāyāyāṃ vaṭabhūruhaḥ .
vastraṃ caturguṇaṃ kṛtvā cakre vātaṃ muhurmuhuḥ .. 53.47 ..

Citrasena set him down in the shade of a banyan tree; / folding a cloth fourfold, he fanned him repeatedly.

6.3.53.48

paśyatastasya rājendra ṛkṣaśṛṅgo mahātapāḥ .
pañcatvamagamacchīghraṃ dhyānayogena yogavit .. 53.48 ..

As he watched, O king of kings, Ṛkṣaśṛṅga of great austerity, / skilled in yoga, swiftly met his death through the yoga of meditation.

6.3.53.49

dāhayāmāsa taṃ vipraṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā .
snānaṃ kṛtvā sa śokārto vilalāpa muhurmuhuḥ .. 53.49 ..

He cremated that twice-born according to the prescribed rite; / having performed ritual ablution, stricken with grief, he lamented repeatedly.

6.3.53.49_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe śūlabhedamāhātmye ṛkṣaśṛṅgasvargagamanavarṇanaṃ nāma tripañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the fifty-third chapter, entitled 'Description of Ṛkṣaśṛṅga's Departure to Heaven' in the Śūlabhedamāhātmya of the Revākhaṇḍa in the fifth Āvantyakhaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a compendium of eighty-one thousand verses.