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# Skandapurana 6.3.53

Skandapurāṇa 6.3.53

- **Language:** Sanskrit

### [6.3.53.p1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.6.3.53.p1)

adhyāya 53

> Chapter 53  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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?  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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,  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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:  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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?”  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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 \[north\].  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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;  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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!'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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?  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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!'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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?'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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,  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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?'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.'  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.47](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

### [6.3.53.49\_2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.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.  
> — English (machine translation) (machine translation)

## Translations (1)

- [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda~en-mt.6.3.53.p1) — English, machine translation

## Linked texts (1)

- [Revākhaṇḍa (Vāyupurāṇa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.vayu.revakhanda.53.1) — Sanskrit

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Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.6.3.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.6.3.53) · Pramāṇa