Skandapurana 6.3.85

6.3.85.p1

adhyāya 85

6.3.85.1

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
tato gacchettu rājendra narmadāyāḥ purātanam .
brahmahatyāharaṃ tīrthaṃ vārāṇasyā samaṃ hi tat .. 85.1 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Then, O king of kings, one should go to the ancient [sacred ford] of the Narmadā, / the sacred ford that removes the sin of killing a brahmin; for it is equal to Vārāṇasī.

6.3.85.2

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
āścaryaṃ kathyatāṃ brahmanyadvṛttaṃ narmadātaṭe .
vārāṇasyā samaṃ kasmādetatkathaya me prabho .. 85.2 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / Tell me the wonder, O brahmin, that occurred on the bank of the Narmadā. / Why is it equal to Vārāṇasī? Tell me this, O lord.

6.3.85.3

nimagno duḥkhasaṃsāre hṛtarājyo dvijottama .
yuṣmadvāṇījalasnāto nirduḥkhaḥ saha bāndhavaiḥ .. 85.3 ..

Plunged into the miserable cycle of existence, robbed of my kingdom, O best of brahmins, / I am cleansed of sorrow along with my kinsmen, having bathed in the water of your words.

6.3.85.4

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
sādhu sādhu mahābāho somavaṃśavibhūṣaṇa .
pṛṣṭo'smi durlabhaṃ tīrthaṃ guhyādguhyataraṃ param .. 85.4 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Well said, well said, O mighty-armed one, ornament of the lunar dynasty! / I have been asked about a rare sacred ford, the highest, more secret than the secret.

6.3.85.5

ādau pitāmahastāvatsamastajagataḥ prabhuḥ .
manasā tasya saṃjātā daśaiva ṛṣipuṃgavāḥ .. 85.5 ..

In the beginning was the Grandfather, the lord of the entire universe; / from his mind were born ten bull-like seers alone:

6.3.85.6

marīcimatryaṅgirasau pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum .
pracetasaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca bhṛguṃ nāradameva ca .. 85.6 ..

Marīci, Atri, and Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, / Pracetas and Vasiṣṭha, and Bhṛgu and Nārada.

6.3.85.7

jajñe prācetasaṃ dakṣaṃ mahātejāḥ prajāpatiḥ .
dakṣasyāpi tathā jātāḥ pañcāśadduhitāḥ kila .. 85.7 ..

The prajāpati Dakṣa of great splendour was born from Pracetas; / to Dakṣa also were born fifty daughters, as is told.

6.3.85.8

dadau sa daśa dharmāya kaśyapāya trayodaśa .
tathaiva sa mahābhāgaḥ saptaviṃśatimindave .. 85.8 ..

He gave ten to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, / and likewise that fortunate one gave twenty-seven to the moon.

6.3.85.9

rohiṇī nāma yā tāsāmabhīṣṭā sābhavadvidhoḥ .
śeṣāsu karuṇāṃ kṛtvā śapto dakṣeṇa candramāḥ .. 85.9 ..

She among them named Rohiṇī became the moon's beloved; / having taken pity on the others, Dakṣa cursed the moon.

6.3.85.10

kṣayarogyabhavaccandro dakṣasyāyaṃ prajāpateḥ .
sa ca śāpaprabhāveṇa nistejāḥ śarvarīpatiḥ .. 85.10 ..

The moon became afflicted with consumption through this prajāpati Dakṣa; / and by the power of the curse, the lord of night was stripped of his lustre.

6.3.85.11

gataḥ pitāmahaṃ somo vepamāno'mṛtāṃśumān .
padmayone namastubhyaṃ vedagarbha namo'stu te .
śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prasanno'smi pāhi māṃ kamalāsana .. 85.11 ..

Soma, the nectar-rayed one, trembling, went to the Grandfather: / “Homage to you, lotus-born one! Homage to you whose womb is the Veda! / Pleased [with me], I have taken refuge in you; protect me, O lotus-seated one!”

6.3.85.12

brahmovāca -
nistejāḥ śarvarīnātha kalāhīnaśca dṛśyase .
udvignamānasastāta saṃjātaḥ kena hetunā .. 85.12 ..

Brahmā said: / “O lord of night, you are seen stripped of lustre and devoid of crescent digits; / your mind is agitated, my child. For what reason has this happened?”

6.3.85.13

soma uvāca -
dakṣaśāpena me brahmannistejastvaṃ jagatpate .
nirhāraścāsya śāpasya kathyatāṃ me pitāmaha .. 85.13 ..

Soma said: / “By Dakṣa's curse I have lost my lustre, O Brahmā, O lord of the universe; / tell me, O Grandfather, the removal of this curse.”

6.3.85.14

brahmovāca -
sarvatra sulabhā revā triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā .
oṅkāre'tha bhṛgukṣetre tathā caivaurvasaṃgame .. 85.14 ..

Brahmā said: / “The Revā is easy of access everywhere, [but] difficult of access in three places: / at Oṅkāra, in the Bhṛgukṣetra, and likewise at the confluence of the Aurva.

6.3.85.15

tatra gaccha kṣapānātha yatra revāntaraṃ taṭam .
tvarito'sau gatastatra yatra revaurvisaṃgamaḥ .. 85.15 ..

Go there, O lord of night, to the further bank of the Revā.” / Hastily he went to where the confluence of the Revā and the Aurvā was.

6.3.85.16

kāṣṭhāvasthaḥ sthitaḥ somo dadhyau tripuravairiṇam .
yāvadvarṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ tāvattuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ .. 85.16 ..

Standing motionless like wood, Soma meditated on the foe of Tripura; / until a full hundred years [had passed], when Maheśvara was pleased.

6.3.85.17

pratyakṣaḥ somarājasya vṛṣāsana umāpatiḥ .
sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇipatyoccairjaya śambho namo'stu te .. 85.17 ..

The husband of Umā, seated on the bull, appeared before King Soma's eyes; / prostrating with eight limbs, [Soma exclaimed] loudly: “Hail, O Śambhu, homage to you!

6.3.85.18

jaya śaṅkara pāpaharāya namo jaya īśvara te jagadīśa namaḥ .
jaya vāsukibhūṣaṇadhāra namo jaya śūlakapāladharāya namaḥ .. 85.18 ..

Hail, Śaṅkara, remover of sin, homage! Hail, Īśvara, homage to you, Lord of the Universe! / Hail, wearer of the Vāsuki ornament, homage! Hail, bearer of the trident and the skull, homage!

6.3.85.19

jaya andhakadehavināśa namo jaya dānavavṛndavadhāya namaḥ .
jaya niṣkalarūpa sakalāya namo jaya kāla kāmadahāya namaḥ .. 85.19 ..

Hail, destroyer of Andhaka's body, homage! Hail, slayer of the host of Dānavas, homage! / Hail, formless one having form, homage! Hail, Death, consumer of Kāma, homage!

6.3.85.20

jaya mecakakaṇṭhadharāya namo jaya sūkṣmanirañjanaśabda namaḥ .
jaya ādiranādirananta namo jaya śaṅkara kiṃkaramīśa bhaja .. 85.20 ..

Hail, bearer of the dark blue neck, homage! Hail, subtle unstained sound, homage! / Hail, beginning, beginningless, endless one, homage! Hail, Śaṅkara, O Lord, cherish your servant!”

6.3.85.21

evaṃ stuto mahādevaḥ somarājena pāṇḍava .
tuṣṭastasya nṛpaśreṣṭha śivayā śaṅkaro'bravīt .. 85.21 ..

Puffed with praise in this way by King Soma, O Pāṇḍava, / Mahādeva Śaṅkara, pleased with him, spoke with Śivā, O best of kings.

6.3.85.22

īśvara uvāca -
varaṃ prārthaya me bhadra yatte manasi vartate .
sādhu sādhu mahāsattva tuṣṭo'haṃ tapasā tava .. 85.22 ..

Īśvara said: / “Ask a boon of me, good sir, whatever is in your mind. / Excellent, excellent, O one of great fortitude! I am pleased with your austerity.”

6.3.85.23

soma uvāca -
dakṣaśāpena dagdho'haṃ kṣīṇasattvo maheśvara .
śāpasyopaśamaṃ deva kuru śarma mama prabho .. 85.23 ..

Soma said: / “Burnt by Dakṣa's curse, I am drained of strength, O Maheśvara; / bring about an appeasement of the curse, O god; bestow peace upon me, O lord.”

6.3.85.24

īśvara uvāca -
tava bhaktigṛhīto'hamumayā saha toṣitaḥ .
niṣpāpaḥ somanāthastvaṃ saṃjātastīrthasevanāt .. 85.24 ..

Īśvara said: / “I have been won over by your devotion, pleased along with Umā; / you, the lord of the moon, have become free from sin by resorting to this sacred ford.”

6.3.85.25

ityūce devadeveśaḥ kṣaṇaṃ dhyātvendunā tataḥ .
sthāpitaṃ paramaṃ liṅgaṃ kāmadaṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi .
sarvaduḥkhaharaṃ tattu brahmahatyāvināśanam .. 85.25 ..

So spoke the lord of the gods of gods; then, after meditating for a moment, / a supreme liṅga granting desires to living beings on earth was installed by the moon, / removing all sorrow and destroying the sin of killing a brahmin.

6.3.85.26

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
somanāthaprabhāvaṃ me saṃkṣepātkathaya prabho .
duḥkhārṇavanimagnānāṃ trātā prāpto dvijottama .. 85.26 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said: / Tell me briefly, O lord, the power of Somanātha; / for those plunged into the ocean of sorrow, a saviour has arrived, O best of brahmins.

6.3.85.27

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
śṛṇu tīrthaprabhāvaṃ te saṃkṣepātkathayāmyaham .
yadvṛttamuttare kūle revāyā urisaṃgame .. 85.27 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Hear the power of the sacred ford; I will tell you briefly / what happened on the northern bank of the Revā at the confluence of the Urī.

6.3.85.28

śambaro nāma rājābhūttasya putrastrilocanaḥ .
trilocanasutaḥ kaṇvaḥ sa pāparddhiparo'bhavat .. 85.28 ..

There was a king named Śambara; his son was Trilocana; / Trilocana's son was Kaṇva, and he was devoted to increasing his sins.

6.3.85.29

vane nityaṃ bhramanso'tha mṛgayūthaṃ dadarśa ha .
mṛgayūthaṃ hataṃ tattu trilocanasutena ca .. 85.29 ..

Wandering constantly in the forest, he saw a herd of deer; / that herd of deer was slain by Trilocana's son.

6.3.85.30

mṛgarūpī dvijo madhye carate nirjane vane .
sa hatastena saṅgena kaṇvena munisattama .. 85.30 ..

A twice-born in the form of a deer was grazing in their midst in that solitary forest; / he was struck down alongside them by Kaṇva, O best of sages.

6.3.85.31

brahmahatyānvitaḥ kaṇvo nistejā vyacaranmahīm .
vyacaraṃścaiva samprāpto narmadāmurisaṃgame .. 85.31 ..

Possessed by the sin of killing a brahmin, Kaṇva roamed the earth stripped of his lustre; / and roaming about, he arrived at the confluence of the Narmadā and the Urī.

6.3.85.32

kiṃśukāśokabahale jambīrapanasākule .
kadambapāṭalākīrṇe bilvanāraṅgaśobhite .. 85.32 ..

[It was] dense with kiṃśuka and aśoka trees, filled with citron and breadfruit trees, / covered with kadamba and pāṭalā, adorned with bilva and orange trees,

6.3.85.33

ciñciṇīcampakopete hyagastitaruchādite .
prabhūtabhūtasaṃyuktaṃ vanaṃ sarvatra śobhitam .. 85.33 ..

provided with tamarind and campaka, and shaded by agasti trees; / the forest was adorned all around, filled with abundant living beings,

6.3.85.34

citrakairmṛgamārjārairhiṃsraiḥ śambaraśūkaraiḥ .
śaśairgavayasaṃyuktaiḥ śikhaṇḍikharamaṇḍitam .. 85.34 ..

with leopards, wildcats, ferocious boars, and śambara deer, / with hares along with wild oxen, and graced by peacocks and donkeys.

6.3.85.35

praviṣṭastu vane kaṇvastṛṣārtaḥ śramapīḍitaḥ .
snāto revājale puṇye saṅgame pāpanāśane .. 85.35 ..

Having entered the forest, Kaṇva, afflicted with thirst and tormented by fatigue, / bathed in the auspicious water of the Revā at the confluence that destroys sin.

6.3.85.36

arcitaḥ parayā bhaktyā somanātho yudhiṣṭhira .
papau suvimalaṃ toyaṃ sarvapāpakṣayaṃkaram .. 85.36 ..

Somanātha was worshipped by him with supreme devotion, O Yudhiṣṭhira; / he drank the very pure water that brings about the destruction of all sins.

6.3.85.37

phalāni ca vicitrāṇi cakhāda saha kiṃkaraiḥ .
suptaḥ pādapacchāyāyāṃ śrānto mṛgavadhena ca .. 85.37 ..

And he ate various fruits along with his servants. / Exhausted from killing the deer, he fell asleep in the shade of a tree.

6.3.85.38

tāvattīrthavaraṃ vipraḥ snānārthaṃ saṅgamaṃ gataḥ .
mārgago brāhmaṇo harṣodyuktastadgatamānasaḥ .. 85.38 ..

Meanwhile, a brahmin went to that confluence, the best of sacred fords, to bathe; / walking along the path, joyful and with his mind focused upon it,

6.3.85.39

abalā tamuvācedaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭha dvijottama .
trasto nirīkṣate yāvaddiśaḥ sarvā nareśvara .. 85.39 ..

a woman said to him, "Halt, halt, best of the twice-born!" / While he, terrified, looked in all directions, O ruler of men,

6.3.85.40

tāvadvṛkṣasamārūḍhāṃ striyaṃ raktāmbarāvṛtām .
raktamālyāṃ tadā bālāṃ raktacandanacarcitām .
raktābharaṇaśobhāḍhyāṃ pāśahastāṃ dadarśa ha .. 85.40 ..

he saw a young woman perched in a tree, clad in red garments, / wearing a red garland, smeared with red sandalwood paste, / adorned with radiant red ornaments, and holding a noose in her hand.

6.3.85.41

stryuvāca -
saṃdeśaṃ śrūyatāṃ vipra yadi gacchasi saṅgame .
madbhartā tiṣṭhate tatra śīghrameva visarjaya .. 85.41 ..

The woman said: / "Hear a message, O brahmin, if you are going to the confluence: / My husband is staying there; send him away [to me] immediately.

6.3.85.42

ekākinī ca te bhāryā tiṣṭhate vanamadhyagā .
ityākarṇya gato vipraḥ saṅgamaṃ suradurlabhe .. 85.42 ..

And [tell him,] 'Your wife is staying all alone in the middle of the forest.'" / Having heard this, the brahmin went to the confluence that is hard even for gods to attain.

6.3.85.43

vṛkṣacchāyānvitaḥ kaṇvo brāhmaṇenāvalokitaḥ .
uvāca taṃ prati tadā vacanaṃ brāhmaṇottamaḥ .. 85.43 ..

Resting in the shade of a tree, Kaṇva was seen by the brahmin. / Then that best of brahmins spoke these words to him:

6.3.85.44

brāhmaṇa uvāca -
vanāntare mayā dṛṣṭā bālā kamalalocanā .
raktāmbaradharā tanvī raktacandanacarcitā .. 85.44 ..

The brahmin said: / "In the middle of the forest I saw a slender, lotus-eyed maiden / wearing red garments, smeared with red sandalwood paste,

6.3.85.45

raktamālyā suśobhāḍhyā pāśahastā mṛgekṣaṇā .
vṛkṣārūḍhāvadadvākyaṃ madbhartā preṣyatāmiti .. 85.45 ..

wearing a red garland, exceedingly beautiful, holding a noose in her hand, with deer-like eyes; / seated in a tree, she spoke the words: 'Let my husband be sent [to me]!'"

6.3.85.46

kaṇva uvāca -
kasminsthāne tu viprendra vidyate mṛgalocanā .
kasya sā kena kāryeṇa sarvametadvadāśu me .. 85.46 ..

Kaṇva said: / "In what place, O lord of brahmins, is that deer-eyed maiden? / Whose [wife] is she, and for what purpose? Tell me all this at once!"

6.3.85.47

brāhmaṇa uvāca -
saṅgamādardhakrośe sā udyānānte hi vidyate .
vacanādbrahmaṇasyaiṣā na jñātā pārthivena tu .. 85.47 ..

The brahmin said: / "She is indeed half a krośa from the confluence, at the edge of the garden." / By the words of the brahmin, the king did not recognize her.

6.3.85.48

tadā sa kaṇvabhūpālaḥ svakaṃ dūtaṃ samādiśat .
kaṇva uvāca -
gaccha tvaṃ pṛcchatāṃ tāṃ kvāgatā kvaca gamiṣyasi .
preṣitastvarito dūto gato nārīsamīpataḥ .. 85.48 ..

Then that king Kaṇva instructed his own messenger: / Kaṇva said: / "Go, ask her: 'From where have you come, and where will you go?'" / Dispatched, the messenger hurried and went near the woman.

6.3.85.49

vṛkṣasthāṃ dadṛśo bālāmuvāca nṛpasattama .
mannāthaḥ pṛcchati tvāṃ tu kāsi tvaṃ kva gamiṣyasi .. 85.49 ..

He saw the maiden standing in the tree and spoke, O best of kings: / "My lord asks you: 'Who are you, and where will you go?'"

6.3.85.50

kanyovāca -
gururātmavatāṃ śāstā rājā śāstā durātmanām .
iha pracchanna pāpānāṃ śāstā vaivasvato yamaḥ .. 85.50 ..

The maiden said: / "A guru is the punisher of the self-controlled; a king is the punisher of the wicked; / in this world, of secret sins, Yama, son of Vivasvat, is the punisher.

6.3.85.51

brahmahatyā ca saṃjātā mṛgarūpadharadvijāt .
mayā yukto'pi te rājā muktastīrthaprabhāvataḥ .. 85.51 ..

And the murder of a brahmin arose from the twice-born who had taken the form of a deer. / Even though joined with me, your king was freed by the power of the sacred ford.

6.3.85.52

ardhakrośāntarānmadhye brahmahatyā na saṃviśet .
somanāthaprabhāvo'yaṃ vārāṇasyāḥ samaḥ smṛtaḥ .. 85.52 ..

Within half a krośa, the murder of a brahmin may not enter. / Such is the power of Somanātha, considered equal to Vārāṇasī.

6.3.85.53

gaccha tvaṃ preṣyatāṃ rājā śīghramatra na saṃśayaḥ .
gato bhṛtyastataḥ śīghraṃ vepamānaḥ suvihvalaḥ .. 85.53 ..

Go, let the king be sent here quickly; there is no doubt of this." / Then the servant went quickly, trembling and deeply agitated.

6.3.85.54

samastaṃ kathayāmāsa yadvṛttaṃ hi purātanam .
tasya vākyādasau rājā patito dharaṇītale .. 85.54 ..

He recounted everything that had taken place before. / At his words, the king fell upon the ground.

6.3.85.55

bhṛtya uvāca -
kasmāttvaṃ śocase nātha pūrvopāttaṃ śubhāśubham .
ityākarṇya vacastasya rājā vacanamabravīt .. 85.55 ..

The servant said: / "Why do you grieve, O master, over what was formerly incurred, auspicious or inauspicious?" / Having heard his words, the king said:

6.3.85.56

prāṇatyāgaṃ kariṣyāmi somanāthasamīpataḥ .
śīghramānīyatāṃ vahnirindhanāni bahūni ca .. 85.56 ..

"I shall surrender my life near Somanātha. / Let fire and much fuel be brought at once!"

6.3.85.57

ānītaṃ tatkṣaṇātsarvaṃ bhṛtyaistadvaśavartibhiḥ .
snānaṃ kṛtvā śubhe toye saṅgame pāpanāśane .. 85.57 ..

Everything was brought that very moment by the servants who were obedient to him. / Having bathed in the auspicious waters at the sin-destroying confluence,

6.3.85.58

arcitaḥ parayā bhaktyā somanātho mahībhṛtā .
triḥpradakṣiṇataḥ kṛtvā jvalantaṃ jātavedasam .. 85.58 ..

and having worshipped Somanātha with supreme devotion, the king, / having circumambulated the blazing fire three times,

6.3.85.59

praviṣṭaḥ kaṇvarājāsau hṛdi dhyātvā janārdanam .
pītāmbaradharaṃ devaṃ jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇam .. 85.59 ..

entered [it], that king Kaṇva, meditating in his heart on Janārdana: / on the yellow-robed god wearing a crown of matted hair,

6.3.85.60

śriyā yuktaṃ suparṇasthaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam .
surārisūdanaṃ dadhyau sugatirme bhavatviti .. 85.60 ..

endowed with Śrī, mounted on Garuḍa, bearing the conch, discus, and mace; / he meditated on the slayer of the enemies of the gods, saying, "May my destination be good!"

6.3.85.61

papāta puṣpavṛṣṭistu sādhu sādhu nṛpātmaja .
āścaryamatulaṃ dṛṣṭvā nirīkṣya ca parasparam .. 85.61 ..

A rain of flowers fell, [and voices cried,] "Well done! Well done, O prince!" / Seeing an incomparable wonder, they looked at one another.

6.3.85.62

mṛtaṃ taiḥ pāvake bhṛtyairhṛdi dhyātvā gadādharam .
vimānasthāstataḥ sarve saṃjātāḥ pāṇḍunandana .. 85.62 ..

Having died in the fire, those servants, meditating on the mace-bearing god in their hearts, / all mounted aerial chariots, O son of Pāṇḍu.

6.3.85.63

niṣpāpāste divaṃ yātāḥ somanāthaprabhāvataḥ .
brāhmaṇe saṅgame tatra dhyāyamāne vṛṣadhvajam .. 85.63 ..

Free from sin, they went to heaven through the power of Somanātha, / while the brahmin there at the confluence was meditating on the Bull-bannered [Śiva].

6.3.85.64

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
somanāthaprabhāvo'yaṃ śṛṇuṣvaikamanā vidhim .
aṣṭamyāṃ vā caturdaśyāṃ sarvakālaṃ raverdine .. 85.64 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Such is the power of Somanātha. Listen with an attentive mind to the rite: / On the eighth or fourteenth lunar day, or at any time on Sunday,

6.3.85.65

viśeṣācchuklapakṣe cetsūryavāreṇa saptamī .
upoṣya yo naro bhaktyā rātrau kurvīta jāgaram .. 85.65 ..

especially in the bright fortnight if the seventh falls on a Sunday— / fasting, whatever man should keep a vigil at night with devotion,

6.3.85.66

pañcāmṛtena gavyena snāpayetparameśvaram .
śrīkhaṇḍena tato guṇṭhya puṣpadhūpādikaṃ dadet .. 85.66 ..

should bathe the Supreme Lord with the five bovine nectars. / Then, smearing him with white sandalwood paste, he should offer flowers, incense, and the like.

6.3.85.67

ghṛtena bodhayeddīpaṃ nṛtyaṃ gītaṃ ca kārayet .
somavāre tathāṣṭamyāṃ prabhāte pūjayeddvijān .. 85.67 ..

He should kindle a lamp with ghee and arrange dancing and singing. / On Monday, or on the eighth, in the morning he should honor brahmins

6.3.85.68

jitakrodhānātmavataḥ paranindāvivarjitān .
sarvāṅgarucirāñchastān svadāraparipālakān .. 85.68 ..

who have mastered anger, are self-controlled, refrain from censuring others, / are handsome in all their limbs, commendable, and faithful to their own wives,

6.3.85.69

gāyatrīpāṭhamātrāṃśca vikarmaviratān sadā .
punarbhūvṛṣalīśūdrī careyuryasya mandire .. 85.69 ..

content with merely reciting the Gāyatrī, and always abstaining from improper deeds. / A man in whose house a remarried woman, an outcaste woman, or a śūdra woman roams—

6.3.85.70

dūrato'sau dvijastyājya ātmanaḥ śreya icchatā .
hīnāṅgānatiriktāṅgān yeṣāṃ pūrvāparaṃ na hi .. 85.70 ..

such a twice-born is to be avoided from afar by one who desires his own welfare; / also those of deficient limbs or superfluous limbs, and those without a pure ancestry or posterity.

6.3.85.71

vrate śrāddhe tathā dāne dūratastān vivarjayet .
āyasī taruṇī tulyā dvijāḥ svādhyāyavarjitāḥ .. 85.71 ..

In a vow, in a śrāddha, and in gift-giving, one should avoid them from afar. / Twice-born men devoid of Vedic study are like an iron boat;

6.3.85.72

ātmānaṃ saha yājyena pātayanti na saṃśayaḥ .
śālmalīnāvatulyāḥ syuḥ ṣaṭkarmaniratā dvijāḥ .. 85.72 ..

they cause themselves to sink along with their sacrificer, without a doubt. / Brahmins devoted to the six duties are like a boat of silk-cotton wood;

6.3.85.73

dātāraṃ ca tathātmānaṃ tārayanti taranti ca .
śrāddhaṃ someśvare pārtha yaḥ kuryādgatamatsaraḥ .. 85.73 ..

they carry the donor across and cross over themselves. / Whoever performs a śrāddha at Someśvara, O son of Pṛthā, free from jealousy,

6.3.85.74

pretāstasya hi suprītā yāvadābhūtasamplavam .
annaṃ vastraṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca yo dadyādagrajanmane .. 85.74 ..

his ancestors will be well pleased until the dissolution of all beings. / Whoever gives food, clothing, and gold to a brahmin

6.3.85.75

sa yāti śāṅkare loka iti me satyabhāṣitam .
hayaṃ yo yacchate tatra sampūrṇaṃ taruṇaṃ sitam .. 85.75 ..

goes to the realm of Śaṅkara; this is spoken truly by me. / Whoever gives a horse there—full-grown, young, white,

6.3.85.76

raktaṃ vā pītavarṇaṃ vā sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam .
kuṅkumena viliptāṅgāvagrajanmahayāvapi .. 85.76 ..

or red, or yellow, endowed with all auspicious marks— / both the brahmin and the horse should have their limbs smeared with saffron;

6.3.85.77

sragdāmabhūṣitau kāryau sitavastrāvaguṇṭhitau .
aṅghriḥ pradīyatāṃ skandhe madīye hayamāruha .. 85.77 ..

they should be adorned with garlands of flowers and covered with white garments. / [The donor should say:] "Place your foot upon my shoulder and mount the horse!"

6.3.85.78

ārūḍhe brāhmaṇe brūyādbhāskaraḥ prīyatāmiti .
sa yāti śāṃkaraṃ lokaṃ sarvapāpavivarjitaḥ .. 85.78 ..

When the brahmin has mounted, he should say, "May the Sun be pleased." / Rid of all sin, he goes to the world of Śaṃkara.

6.3.85.79

uparāge tu somasya tīrthaṃ gatvā jitendriyaḥ .
satyalokāccyutaścāpi rājā bhavati dhārmikaḥ .. 85.79 ..

During an eclipse of the moon, going to the sacred ford with subdued senses, / even falling from Satyaloka, he becomes a righteous king.

6.3.85.80

tasya vāsaḥ sadā rājanna naśyati kadācana .
dīrghāyurjāyate putro bhāryā ca vaśavartinī .. 85.80 ..

His dwelling, O king, is eternal and never perishes. / A long-lived son is born [to him], and a wife obedient to his will.

6.3.85.81

jīvedvarṣaśataṃ sāgraṃ sarvaduḥkhavivarjitaḥ .
sopavāso jitakrodho dhenuṃ dadyāddvijanmane .. 85.81 ..

He shall live a full hundred years, free from all sorrow. / Fasting, with anger conquered, he should give a cow to a brahmin:

6.3.85.82

savatsāṃ kṣīrasaṃyuktāṃ śvetavastrāvalokitām .
śabalāṃ pītavarṇāṃ ca dhūmrāṃ vā nīlakarburām .. 85.82 ..

with her calf, rich in milk, covered with a white cloth, / speckled, yellow-colored, smoky, or blue-variegated,

6.3.85.83

kapilāṃ vā savatsāṃ ca ghaṇṭābharaṇabhūṣitām .
rūpyakhurāṃ kāṃsyadohāṃ svarṇaśṛṅgīṃ nareśvara .. 85.83 ..

or a tawny cow with her calf, adorned with ornaments of bells, / with silver hooves, a bronze milking vessel, and golden horns, O lord of men.

6.3.85.84

śvetayā vardhate vaṃśo raktā saubhāgyavardhinī .
śabalā pītavarṇā ca duḥkhaghnyau saṃprakīrtite .. 85.84 ..

By a white one his lineage flourishes; a red one increases good fortune; / a speckled one and a yellow one are declared to destroy sorrows.

6.3.85.85

kapilā nāśayetpāpaṃ saptajanmasamudbhavam .
satyalokamavāpnoti gopradāyī nareśvara .. 85.85 ..

A tawny cow destroys the sin born of seven births. / The giver of a cow attains Satyaloka, O lord of men.

6.3.85.86

pakṣānte'tha vyatīpāte vai dhṛtau ravisaṃkrame .
dinakṣaye gajacchāyāṃ grahaṇe bhāskarasya ca .. 85.86 ..

At the end of a fortnight, at a vyatīpāta, at a vaidhṛti, at the sun's transit, / at a dinakṣaya, during the Gajacchāyā conjunction, and during an eclipse of the sun,

6.3.85.87

ye vrajanti mahātmānaḥ saṅgame suradurlabhe .
mṛdāvaguṇṭhayitvā tu cātmānaṃ saṅgame viśet .. 85.87 ..

the great-souled ones who go to the confluence, difficult for the gods to attain— / having smeared oneself with clay, one should enter the confluence.

6.3.85.88

hṛdayāntarjale jāpyā prāṇāyāmo'thavā nṛpa .
gāyatrī vaiṣṇavī caiva saurī śaivī yadṛcchayā .
te'pi pāpaiḥ pramucyanta ityevaṃ śaṅkaro'bravīt .. 85.88 ..

Deep in the water, one should chant [prayers] or perform breath control, O king; / the Vaiṣṇava Gāyatrī, or the solar, or the Śaiva one at will; / they too are freed from sins—thus indeed spoke Śaṅkara.

6.3.85.89

jagatīṃ somanāthasya yastu kuryātpradakṣiṇām .
pradakṣiṇīkṛtā tena saptadvīpā vasuṃdharā .. 85.89 ..

Whoever circumambulates the platform of Somanātha / has circumambulated the earth with its seven continents.

6.3.85.90

brahmahatyā surāpānaṃ gurudāraniṣevaṇam .
bhrūṇahā svarṇahartā ca mucyante nātra saṃśayaḥ .. 85.90 ..

Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, defiling the guru's bed, / slaying an embryo, and stealing gold—they are freed [from these], there is no doubt.

6.3.85.91

tīrthākhyānamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti jitendriyaḥ .
vyādhito mucyate rogī cārogī sukhamāpnuyāt .. 85.91 ..

The afflicted person with subdued senses who hears this sacred account of the sacred ford is freed from illness, / and one free from disease attains happiness.

6.3.85.92

yatte saṃdahyate cetaḥ śṛṇu tanme yudhiṣṭhira .
naikāpi nṛpa loke'smin bhrūṇahatyā sudustyajā .. 85.92 ..

Hear from me that by which your mind is consumed, O Yudhiṣṭhira: / In this world, O king, even a single slaying of an embryo is difficult to shed,

6.3.85.93

kimu ṣaḍviṃśatiṃ pārtha prāpa yāḥ kṣaṇadākaraḥ .
so'pi tīrthamidaṃ prāpya tapastaptvā suduścaram .. 85.93 ..

how much more the twenty-six that the moon incurred, O son of Pṛthā! / Even he, having reached this sacred ford and having performed austerity exceedingly hard to practice,

6.3.85.94

vimuktaḥ sarvapāpebhyaḥ śītaraśmirabhūtsukhī .
śrūyate nṛpa paurāṇī gāthā gītā maharṣibhiḥ .. 85.94 ..

freed from all sins, the cool-rayed [moon] became happy. / An ancient verse sung by great seers is heard, O king:

6.3.85.95

liṅgaṃ pratiṣṭhitaṃ hyekaṃ daśabhrūṇahanaṃ bhavet .
ato liṅgatrayaṃ somaḥ sthāpayāmāsa bhārata .. 85.95 ..

"A single installed liṅga destroys [the sin of] ten embryo-killings." / Therefore, Soma installed three liṅgas, O descendant of Bharata:

6.3.85.96

revaurisaṃgame hyādyaṃ dvitīyaṃ bhṛgukacchake .
tataḥ siddhiṃ parāṃ prāpya prabhāse tu tṛtīyakam .. 85.96 ..

the first at the confluence of the Revā and the Ūrī, the second at Bhṛgukaccha, / and then, having attained the highest perfection, the third at Prabhāsa.

6.3.85.97

iti te kathitaṃ sarvaṃ tīrthamāhātmyamuttamam .
dharmyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ saṃśuddhikṛnnṛṇām .. 85.97 ..

Thus all the supreme māhātmya of the sacred ford has been told to you, / righteous, renowned, life-giving, heavenly, and bringing purification to men.

6.3.85.98

putrārthī labhate putrānniṣkāmaḥ svargamāpnuyāt .
mucyate sarvapāpebhyastīrthaṃ kṛtvā paraṃ nṛpa .. 85.98 ..

One desiring a son obtains sons; one free of desire attains heaven. / One is freed from all sins after visiting this supreme sacred ford, O king.

6.3.85.99

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ somanāthasya yatphalam .
śrutvā putramavāpnoti snātvā cāṣṭau na saṃśayaḥ .. 85.99 ..

All this fruit of Somanātha has been told to you. / By hearing it one obtains a son, and by bathing, eight [sons], there is no doubt.

6.3.85.99_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe somanāthatīrthamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma pañcāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the eighty-fifth chapter, titled "Description of the Greatness of the Somanātha Sacred Ford," in the Revākhaṇḍa of the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses, the glorious Skandapurāṇa.