[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Skandapurana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda) › 5.203 # Skandapurana 5.203 Skandapurāṇa 5.203 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [5.203.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.1) .. ānarta uvāca .. .. proktā'smākaṃ tvayā vipra śuddhirnāgarasaṃbhavā .. vaṃśajā vistareṇaiva yathā pṛṣṭo'si suvrata .. 1 .. > Ānarta said: / The purification of the Nāgara lineage, arising from pedigree, / has been spoken to us in detail by you, O pious brahmin, just as you were asked. // 1 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.2) sāṃprataṃ śīlajāṃ brūhi naṣṭavaṃśaśca yo bhavet .. pitāmahaṃ na jānāti na ca mātāmahīṃ nijām .. tasya śuddhiḥ kathaṃ kāryā nāgaro'smīti yo vadet .. 2 .. > Now tell of that which arises from conduct, for one whose lineage is lost— / who does not know his paternal grandfather, nor his maternal grandmother; / how should purification be performed for him who says, 'I am a Nāgara'? // 2 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.3) .. viśvāmitra uvāca .. .. etadarthaṃ purā pṛṣṭo bhartṛyajñaśca nāgaraiḥ .. naṣṭavaṃśakṛte rājanyathā pṛṣṭo'smi vai tva yā .. 3 .. > Viśvāmitra said: / Long ago Bhartṛyajña was asked by the Nāgaras about this matter, / regarding one of lost lineage, O king, just as I have been asked by you. // 3 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.4) .. bhartṛyajña uvāca .. .. naṣṭavaṃśastu yo brūyānnāgaro'smīti saṃsadi .. tasya śīlaṃ pravijñeyaṃ tataḥ śuddhiṃ samādiśet .. 4 .. > Bhartṛyajña said: / If one whose lineage is lost should say in the assembly, 'I am a Nāgara', / his conduct must be ascertained; thereafter purification should be ordained. // 4 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.5) nāgarāṇāṃ tu ye dharmā vyavahārāśca kevalāḥ .. teṣu cedvartate nityaṃ saṃbhāvyo nāgaro hi saḥ .. 5 .. > If he always abides in the duties and pure traditional customs of the Nāgaras, / he should indeed be regarded as a Nāgara. // 5 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.6) tasya śuddhikṛte deyaṃ dhaṭaṃ brāhmaṇasattamāḥ .. dhaṭe tu śuddhimāpanne tato'sau śuddhatāṃ vrajet .. 6 .. > For his purification, O best of brahmins, the balance ordeal should be administered. / When he has attained purity in the balance ordeal, he then attains purity, // 6 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.7) śrāddhārhaḥ kanyakārhaśca somārhaśca viśeṣataḥ .. sāmānyapadayogyaśca samaste sthānakarmaṇi .. 7 .. > fit for śrāddha, fit for \[receiving\] a maiden, and especially fit for soma, / and worthy of ordinary standing in all communal matters. // 7 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.8) etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yatpṛṣṭo'smi narottama .. dvitīyā jāyate śuddhiryathā naṣṭānvaye dvije .. tasmādvada mahārāja yadbhūyaḥ śrotumarhasi .. 8 .. > All this has been told to you, as I was asked, O best of men, / how the second purification is accomplished for a brahmin whose lineage is lost. / Therefore speak, O great king, what you wish to hear further. // 8 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.9) .. ānarta uvāca .. .. tasmātte nāgarā bhūtvā viprāścāṣṭakulodbhavāḥ .. sarveṣāmuttamā jātāḥ prādhānyena vyavasthitāḥ .. 9 .. > Ānarta said: / Therefore, having become Nāgaras, those brahmins born of the eight families / became the highest of all and were established as paramount. // 9 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.10) tapasaḥ kiṃ prabhāvaḥ sa teṣāṃ vā yajanodbhavaḥ .. vidyodbhavo'thavā vipra kiṃ vā dānasamudbhavaḥ .. 6.204.10 .. > Was that the power of their austerity, or arose from their sacrifices, / or arose from sacred learning, O brahmin, or arose from giving gifts? // 10 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.12) .. viśvāmitra uvāca .. .. te sarve guṇasaṃpannā yathānye nāgarāstathā .. viśeṣaścāparasteṣāṃ te śakreṇa pratiṣṭhitāḥ .. 11 .. tena te gauravaṃ prāptāḥ sarveṣāṃ tu dvijanmanām .. 12 .. > Viśvāmitra said: / They were all endowed with virtues just like other Nāgaras; / and they had another distinction: they were established by Śakra. / Because of that, they attained prestige among all twice-born. // 11–12 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.13) .. ānarta uvāca .. .. kasminkāle tu te viprāḥ śakre ṇātra pratiṣṭhitāḥ .. kimarthaṃ ca vadāsmākaṃ vistareṇa mahāmate .. 13 .. > Ānarta said: / At what time were those brahmins established here by Śakra, / and for what purpose? Tell us in detail, O highly wise one. // 13 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.14) .. viśvāmitra uvāca .. .. hiraṇyākṣa iti khyātaḥ purā''sīddānavo ttamaḥ .. abhavattasya saṃgrāmaḥ śakreṇa saha dāruṇaḥ .. 14 .. > Viśvāmitra said: / Formerly there was an eminent Dānava known as Hiraṇyākṣa; / he had a fierce battle with Śakra. // 14 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.15) tatra devāsure yuddhe mṛtā bhūridivaukasaḥ .. dānavāśca mahārāja parasparajigīṣavaḥ .. 15 .. > In that battle between the gods and asuras, many sky-dwellers / and Dānavas died, O great king, each wishing to conquer the other. // 15 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.16) atha te dānavāḥ saṃkhye śakreṇa vinipātitāḥ .. vidyābalena tāñchukraḥ sajīvānkurute punaḥ .. 16 .. > Then, as those Dānavas were struck down in battle by Śakra, / Śukra made them alive again by the power of his lore. // 16 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.17) devāśca nidhanaṃ prāptā na jīvaṃti kathaṃcana .. kasyacittvatha kālasya viṣṇuṃ provāca vṛtrahā .. 17 .. > And the gods who met death did not revive by any means. / Then, after some time, the slayer of Vṛtra spoke to Viṣṇu: // 17 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.18) dhārātīrthamṛtānāṃ ca prahāraiḥ sanmukhaiḥ prabho .. yā gatiśca samādiṣṭā tāṃ me vada janārdana .. .. 18 .. > Tell me, O Lord, O Janārdana, what destiny is ordained / for those who die in the sacred ford of swords facing the enemy with forward blows; // 18 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.19) parāṅmukhā mṛtā ye ca palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ .. teṣāmapi gatiṃ brūhi yādṛgjāyetavācyuta .. 19 .. > and for those who die with backs turned, intent on fleeing— / tell me also what kind of destiny arises for them, O Acyuta. // 19 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.20) .. viṣṇuruvāca .. .. dhārātīrthamṛtānāṃ ca sanmukhānāṃ mahāhave .. yathā cocchinnabījānāṃ punarjanma na vidyate .. 6.204.20 .. > Viṣṇu said: / For those who die in the sacred ford of swords facing forward in great battle, / there is no rebirth, just as for seeds that have been destroyed. // 20 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.21) ye punaḥ pṛṣṭhadeśe tu hanyate bhayaviklavāḥ .. bhujyamānāḥ paraiste ca pretāḥ syustridaśādhipa .. 21 .. > Those, on the other hand, who are struck in the back, agitated by fear, / being consumed by enemies—they become ghosts, O lord of the thirty \[gods\]. // 21 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.22) .. indra uvāca .. .. keciddevā mṛtā yuddhe yudhyamānāśca sanmukhāḥ .. tathaivānye mayā dṛṣṭā hanyamānāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ .. pretatvaṃ dānavānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ syānna vā prabho .. 22 .. > Indra said: / Some gods died in battle fighting face to face; / likewise others were seen by me being struck with their backs turned. / Would all the Dānavas also become ghosts or not, O Lord? // 22 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.23) .. viṣṇuruvāca .. .. asaṃśayaṃ sahasrākṣa hatā yuddhe parāṅmukhāḥ .. pretatve yāṃti te sarve devā vā mānuṣā yadi .. 23 .. > Viṣṇu said: / Undoubtedly, O thousand-eyed one, those slain in battle with backs turned, / whether they are gods or humans, all go into the state of ghosts. // 23 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.24) viṣādagneḥ kulaghnānāṃ tayā caivātmaghātinām .. daṃṣṭribhirhatadehānāṃ śṛṃgibhiśca sureśvara .. pretatvaṃ jāyate nūnaṃ satyametadasaṃśayam ..24.. > For those killed by poison, by fire, for killers of their own families, and likewise for suicides, / and for those whose bodies are slain by tusked and horned animals, O lord of gods, / the state of a ghost certainly arises; this is true without doubt. // 24 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.25) .. indra uvāca .. .. kathaṃ teṣāṃ bhavenmuktiḥ pretatvāddāruṇādvibho .. etanme sarvamācakṣva yena yatnaṃ karomyaham ..25.. > Indra said: / How can their liberation from the terrible state of a ghost come about, O Lord? / Explain all this to me, so that I may make an effort. // 25 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.26) .. śrībhagavānuvāca .. .. teṣāṃ saṃyujyate śrāddhaṃ kanyāsaṃsthe divākare .. kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṃ nabhasyasya sureśvara .. 26 .. > The Blessed Lord said: / A śrāddha is prescribed for them when the sun is in Virgo, / on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Bhādrapada, O lord of gods. // 26 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.27) gayāyāṃ bhaktipūrvaṃ tu pitāmahavaco yathā .. tataḥ prayāṃti te mokṣaṃ satyametadasaṃśayam .. 27 .. > At Gayā, with devotion, in accordance with the words of Pitāmaha, / they then attain liberation; this is true without doubt. // 27 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.28) .. indra uvāca .. .. kasmāttatra dine śrāddhaṃ kriyate madhusūdana .. śastrairvinihatānāṃ ca sarvaṃ me vistarādvada .. 28 .. > Indra said: / Why is the śrāddha performed on that day, O slayer of Madhu, / for those who have been slain with weapons? Tell me everything in detail. // 28 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.29) .. śrībhagavānuvāca .. .. bhūtapretapiśācaiśca kūṣmāṃḍai rākṣasairapi .. purā saṃprārthitaḥ śaṃbhurdine tatra samāgate .. adyaikaṃ divasaṃ deva kanyāsaṃsthe divākare .. 29 .. > The Blessed Lord said: / Formerly Śambhu was besought by bhūtas, pretas, piśācas, / kūṣmāṇḍas, and rākṣasas when that day arrived: / 'O god, when the sun is in Virgo, give us this one day today, // 29 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.30) asmākaṃ dehi yena syāttṛptirvarṣasamudbhavā .. pradatte vaṃśajaiḥ śrāddhe dīnānāṃ tvaṃ dayāṃ kuru .. 6.204.30 .. .. > so that there may be satisfaction for us lasting for a year, / when śrāddha is offered by descendants of the lineage; take pity on the wretched!' // 30 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.31) .. śrībhagavānuvāca .. .. yaḥ kariṣyati vai śrāddhamasminnahani saṃsthite .. kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṃ nabhasyasya ca vaṃśajaḥ .. bhaviṣyati parā prītiryāvatsaṃvatsaraḥ sthitaḥ .. 31 .. > The Blessed Lord said: / 'A descendant of the lineage who performs a śrāddha on this day, / on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Bhādrapada, / will experience supreme delight for as long as the year lasts. // 31 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.32) yaḥ punastu gayāṃ gatvā yuṣmadvaṃśasamudbhavaḥ .. kariṣyati tathā śrāddhaṃ tena muktimavāpsyatha .. 32 .. > Moreover, one born of your lineage who goes to Gayā / and performs a śrāddha in this way—through him you will attain liberation.' // 32 > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.33) śastreṇa nihatānāṃ ca svargasthānāmapi dhruvam .. na kariṣyati yaḥ śrāddhaṃ tasminnahani saṃsthite .. 33 .. > And he who does not perform the śrāddha on that appointed day > for those slain by weapons, even though they dwell in heaven, > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.34) kṣutpipāsārtadehāśca pitarastasya duḥkhitāḥ .. sthāsyaṃti vatsaraṃ yāvadetadāha pitāmahaḥ .. 34 .. > his ancestors, afflicted in body by hunger and thirst and filled with sorrow, > will remain \[so\] for a whole year; thus said the grandfather \[Brahmā\]. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.35) tasmātsarvaprayatnena tasminnahani kārayet .. anyamuddiśya tatsarvaṃ pretānāmiha jāyate .. 35 .. > Therefore, one should make every effort to perform \[the rite\] on that day. > All that is offered intending another turns into that of pretas here. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.36) tato bhagavatā dattā teṣāṃ caiva tu sā tithiḥ .. śrā ddhakarmaṇi saṃjāte vinā śastrahataṃ janam .. 36 .. > Then that lunar day was indeed assigned to them by the Lord, > when the śrāddha rite has taken place, except for a person slain by weapons. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.37) saṃmukhasyāpi saṃgrāme yudhyamānasya dehinaḥ .. kadāciccalate cittaṃ tīkṣṇaśastrahatasya ca .. 37 .. > Even of an embodied being fighting face-to-face in battle > who is struck down by a sharp weapon, the mind sometimes wavers. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ### [5.203.204](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203.204) iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhe nāgarakhaṇḍe śrīhāṭakeśvarakṣetra māhātmye śakraviṣṇusaṃvāde pretaśrāddhakathanaṃnāma caturadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. 204 .. > Thus ends the two hundred and fourth chapter, named 'The Discourse on the Preta-śrāddha in the Conversation between Śakra and Viṣṇu', in the Glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the collection of eighty-one thousand \[verses\], in the sixth Nāgarakhaṇḍa, in the glorification of the sacred field of the venerable Hāṭakeśvara. (204) > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda~en-mt.5.203.1) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.5.203) · Pramāṇa