Skandapurana 1.4.56
English (machine translation) 1.4.56
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Arjuna said:
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Why is this a hidden sacred field, and for what reason is it hidden, O Nārada,
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whose majesty is so great, yet not praised by anyone? (1)
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Nārada said:
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Regarding the cause of the hidden sacred field, an ancient story—
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hear, O Pāṇḍava, how it became hidden on account of a curse. (2)
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Long ago, on a certain occasion, the presiding deities of all sacred fords
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went together to the assembly of Brahmā to pay homage to Brahmā: (3)
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the deities of Puṣkara, Prabhāsa, Nimiṣa, Arbuda,
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the field of Kurukṣetra, and Dharmāraṇya; (4)
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those of Vastrāpatha, Śveta, and the Phalgu sacred ford;
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those of Kedāra, and of other sacred fields by the millions; (5)
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the lords of the confluence of the Indus and the ocean, and of Mahīsāgara,
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the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean, and of Sūkara; (6)
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and the presiding deities of rivers headed by the Gaṅgā and the Revā;
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and the presiding deities of pools, with the Śoṇa pool at their head. (7)
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They all, gathering in groups in order to know their own pre-eminence,
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came, pure, to the great assembly of Brahmā. (8)
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Seeing all the sacred fords arrived there,
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the Grandfather rose up together with all the members of the assembly. (9)
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Having bowed to all the sacred fords with folded hands,
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the Lord spoke to the sacred fords, his eyes wide with wonder: (10)
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"Today our entire abode has been exceedingly sanctified by you,
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and we too have been doubly sanctified merely by the sight of you. (11)
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Beholding the sacred fords, touching them, and indeed bathing in them,
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praising them, and remembering them also—there is no higher merit than this. (12)
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Even those who are burdened with grave sins, fierce and most cruel,
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even they are thoroughly purified by the sacred fords; how much more so those established in righteousness!" (13)
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Having spoken thus, he instructed his son Pulastya:
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"Quickly bring guest-offering for the sake of the sacred fords, so that I may worship [them]." (14)
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Pulastya said:
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"Innumerable sacred fords are seen here, O lotus-born one.
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As you command me, father, I shall bring a single guest-offering, (15)
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since this verse is sung in the exposition of righteousness: (16)
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'If in worship there are innumerable ones worthy of a guest-offering,
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then the guest-offering is indeed to be given to the foremost of them, as one.'" (17)
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Brahmā said:
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"Well spoken, my child! This word has been uttered by you with deep meaning.
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Do so: bring quickly a single guest-offering." (18)
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Nārada said:
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Then Pulastya swiftly brought an excellent guest-offering.
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Taking it in his hand, Brahmā spoke these words to the sacred fords: (19)
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"Let one who is foremost be declared by all of you together,
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and to that one I shall offer the guest-offering; thus impropriety will not touch me." (20)
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The sacred fords said:
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"We do not know each other's superiority in any way.
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And for this reason we have come; knowing it yourself, bestow it!" (21)
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Brahmā said:
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"I do not know your superiority in any way; obeisance be unto you!
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You ought all to tell me of your own boundless majesty. (22)
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Where there are Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Puṣkara, and Naimiṣa,
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Kurukṣetra, and likewise Revā, the confluence of Mahīsāgara, (23)
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and hundreds beginning with Prabhāsa—what judgment could be ours?" (24)
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Nārada said:
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When this was spoken by the lotus-born one, no one said anything.
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Then, after a long time, the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean spoke this:
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"Quickly grant this guest-offering to me, O four-faced one [Brahmā]!
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For no one can equal even a ten-millionth fraction of me! / 26
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Because when the earth was scorched by King Indradyumna,
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she was liquefied by all the sacred fords and became the river named Mahī. / 27
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And she, joined with all the sacred fords, is united with me;
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therefore, throughout the three worlds, I am renowned as consisting of all sacred fords. / 28
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Moreover, after establishing the great liṅga Īśvara Kumāreśvara,
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the primacy among sacred fords was granted to me by the great-souled Guha. / 29
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Nārada too, having established a splendid seat on my bank,
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formerly granted me pre-eminence over all sacred fields. / 1.2.58.30
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Thus, because of these three excellent reasons, let the guest-offering be given to me alone.
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No other sacred ford is equal to me, even in a fraction of my virtues!" / 31
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When this speech had been spoken by the king of sacred fords, O son of Pṛthā [Arjuna], O Bhārata,
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no one said anything at all, wondering what Brahmā would say. / 32
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Then the eldest son of Brahmā, adorned with a white garland and white sandal-paste,
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raising his right arm, Dharma, spoke these words: / 33
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"Ah, alas, this was ill-spoken out of delusion by the king of sacred fords!
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For even when they exist, one's own virtues should never be spoken by the virtuous themselves. / 34
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He who himself speaks of his own virtues, casting down others in [their] prosperity,
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this is indeed a contemptible egoism born of passion. / 35
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Therefore, because of this egoism, even though these virtues do exist,
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this sacred ford will become unrenowned and ruined in form. / 36
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It will be known as Stambhatīrtha, because arrogance (stambha) was displayed [here].
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For even Brahmā immediately incurred the fruit of arrogance; how much more another?" / 37
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When this was spoken by the god Dharma, a cry of "Alas, alas!" arose.
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Then, O son of Pāṇḍu, both the lord of yogins [Guha] and I arrived swiftly. / 38
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Then Guha spoke words in the assembly of the god Dharma:
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"This is improper, O Dharma, that this curse has been given out of rashness! / 39
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Let anyone among all the sacred fords present there speak,
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if this confluence of the Mahī and the ocean does not deserve sovereignty! / 1.2.58.40
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Let alone his own virtue which was described by the king of sacred fords;
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what flaw is there in that, since the virtue was spoken truly? / 41
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Ah, it is not fitting for guardians if even they, without deliberating,
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decide matters in this way! To whom will the subjects turn for refuge?" / 42
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When Guha had spoken thus, Dharma then said:
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"It is true that this confluence of the Mahī and the ocean is worthy / 43
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of primacy among all sacred fords and also of the guest-offering from the Grandfather [Brahmā].
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Yet one's own virtues should not be spoken; this is the eternal vow of the virtuous.
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Self-praise, even when said behind one's back, would cause even Brahmā to fall. / 44
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Did not Yayāti of old, uttering self-praise
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accompanied by censuring others, fall from heaven to the earth?
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The standards that were established of old by the wise Īśa— / 45
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those must be maintained; what wise person would transgress them?
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We, who were established by your father by his command for this purpose, / 46
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have maintained this, and you also ought to uphold it.
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If you lords act by your own authority, / 47
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then let this supreme ordinance be directed by us!"
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Having said this, as he was about to cast aside his bull, / 48
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I, seeing the occasion, spoke these words:
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"Obeisance to great Dharma, the supporter of the universe, the great-souled one, / 49
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who is constantly worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, the destroyer of sin!
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If you, O Dharma, should ever abandon your seal [of authority], / 1.2.58.50
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then whence would our existence be? Do not destroy the universe, O Lord!
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You also ought to show honour to Guha, the lord of yogins; / 51
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for he is to be respected just like Śiva, being manifestly Śiva's son.
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And the divine lord Guha ought to show honour to you. / 52
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Through the unity of you two, this world may live happily.
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Let not this curse that you have given result in total rejection. / 53
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And grant grace to the king of sacred fords, O giver of honour!" / 54
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Praising me as I spoke thus, the lotus-born [Brahmā] also said:
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"Well said is this by Nārada. O Dharma, obey this word!
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Honor Guha as well, for Guha is indeed our lord."
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When this was spoken by Brahmā, Dharma uttered these words:
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"Homage to Guha, the perfected one! We are your servants.
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O lord Skanda, consider this request of mine:
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Because of the pillar (stambha), this great sacred ford shall become obscure;
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it shall become very famous, known as Stambhatīrtha;
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known as Stambhatīrtha, bestowing the fruit of all sacred fords.
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And whatever man shall perform ablutions and gifts here,
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all the fruit described for him shall be evident.
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Whatever fruit there may be of a new-moon day falling on a Saturday,
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know that that very fruit will be gained in a pilgrimage to the Mahīsāgara.
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Whatever fruit would arise from ten pilgrimages to Prabhāsa, seven to Puṣkara,
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and eight to Prayāga;
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whatever fruit [arises] from five [pilgrimages] to Kurukṣetra and three to Nakulīśa,
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and whatever from six to Arbuda;
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whatever from three to Vastrāpatha and five to the Gaṅgā;
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whatever fruit would arise from four to Kūpodarī;
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and whatever would be [gained] from six to Kāśī, and five to the Godāvarī—
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that very fruit shall indeed be at Stambhatīrtha on a Saturday new-moon day."
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When the boon was thus granted, Skanda then became pleased in mind.
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Brahmā also, being concentrated in mind, offered arghya to Stambhatīrtha,
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and he of immeasurable splendor granted it pre-eminence over all sacred fords.
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And having honored the sacred fords and lord Guha, he departed.
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Such was this event of old, the cause of the hidden sacred field.
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And again, for the sake of its fame, apsarases were sent here by me;
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and they were freed by you from the form of crocodiles, O best of Kurus!
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For since all dharma operates in manifold forms,
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your and Kṛṣṇa's birth exists in every age for its protection.
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Thus this great fruit of all the sacred fords has been described to you.
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Having heard this completely from the beginning, a man is released from sins.
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Sūta said:
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Having heard this, the wise Arjuna praised [it], greatly astonished;
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and, dismissed by Nārada and the others, he departed toward Dvārakā.
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Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, named 'Description of the Conclusion of Arjuna's Pilgrimage' in the description of the Mahīsāgara-māhātmya, in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa, in the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit