Skandapurana 3.3.3.47.2

3.3.3.47.2

[Obeisance] to those carrying out the protection of the three worlds, who wield trident, shield, sword, and mace. / I have indeed recognized you as attendants of the feet of Maheśvara. / Is this journey of yours for the purpose of protecting the world, or born of sport? / Or have you undertaken an effort to overcome the flood of sins of all people? / Tell me out of compassion, for what purpose have you arrived here? / The messengers of Śiva said: / "Before us is seen this old cāṇḍāla woman, on the verge of death. / We have come to fetch her, commanded by the Lord." / When told this by those messengers of Śiva, I asked them yet again, / my mind overcome with astonishment, standing with folded hands: / "Ah, how does this terrible, most sinful cāṇḍāla woman deserve / to ascend a celestial aerial chariot, like a female dog [entering] a sacrificial arena? / Impure almost from birth, sinful, an adherent of sin, / how do you wish to lead this woman of wicked conduct to the realm of Śiva? / She has no knowledge of Śiva, no extremely severe austerity, / no truthfulness, no compassion—how do you wish to take her? / Feeding on the flesh of beasts, her belly filled with liquor, / constantly delighting in injuring living beings—how do you wish to take her? / Nor has she repeated the five-syllable mantra, nor performed worship of Śiva; / nor was the Lord Śambhu meditated upon—how do you wish to take her? / She observed no fast on Śiva’s lunar day, nor did she perform worship of Śiva; / she knows nothing of goodwill to living beings, nor offering of bilva leaves to Śiva, / nor Vedic sacrifices, charitable works, and the like—how do you wish to take her? / Neither has she bathed at sacred fords, nor given gifts, / nor undertaken vows—how do you wish to take her? / She ought to be avoided at the mere sight, not to mention in conversation; / destitute of the company of the good, fierce—how do you wish to take her? / Or is there any good deed of hers acquired in another birth? / Then why is she overcome by leprosy and worms? / Ah, this course of the Lord is incomprehensible to embodied beings, / when even sinful souls are taken to the supreme abode out of compassion!"