Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 31
SkP-RK 31.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच: हिरण्यबाहुः शापान्ते नगरीं प्राप्य निर्वृतः । दक्षादयः कथं मुक्तास् तस्माच् छापाच् च कथ्यताम्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: hiraṇyabāhuḥ śāpānte nagarīṃ prāpya nirvṛtaḥ / dakṣādayaḥ kathaṃ muktās tasmāc chāpāc ca kathyatām
Yudhiṣṭhira said: Hiraṇyabāhu, at the end of the curse, reached the city and was content. How were Dakṣa and the others freed from that curse? Let it be told.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.2
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: शृणु राजन् महाबाहो कथ्यमानं निबोध मे । हिरण्यबाहुना शप्ता यावन् मुक्ता द्विजोत्तमाः
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: śṛṇu rājan mahābāho kathyamānaṃ nibodha me / hiraṇyabāhunā śaptā yāvan muktā dvijottamāḥ
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O king of mighty arms, attend to what is told by me: the best of the twice-born, cursed by Hiraṇyabāhu, until they were released —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.3
बभ्रमुः सर्वतीर्थानि आसमुद्रान्त गोचरे । तेषां ब्रह्मादयः शापं न निवर्तयितुं क्षमाः
babhramuḥ sarvatīrthāni āsamudrānta gocare / teṣāṃ brahmādayaḥ śāpaṃ na nivartayituṃ kṣamāḥ
— they wandered over all the sacred fords within the range as far as the sea's end. Brahmā and the others were not able to turn back their curse.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.4
वाराणसीं महापुण्यां गङ्गासागरसङ्गमम् । हिमवन्तं च केदारमौर्वतीर्थं च भारत
vārāṇasīṃ mahāpuṇyāṃ gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgamam / himavantaṃ ca kedāramaurvatīrthaṃ ca bhārata
(They went to) Vārāṇasī of great merit, the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean, and the Himavat, and Kedāra, and the Aurva ford, O Bhārata,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.5
गङ्गा च नैमिषारण्यं भैरवं पुष्करं तथा । मायापुरीं तथा रम्याम् उग्रं कनखलं तथा
gaṅgā ca naimiṣāraṇyaṃ bhairavaṃ puṣkaraṃ tathā / māyāpurīṃ tathā ramyām ugraṃ kanakhalaṃ tathā
and the Gaṅgā, and the Naimiṣa forest, Bhairava, and Puṣkara, and lovely Māyāpurī likewise, and mighty Kanakhala too,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.6
रौद्रं चैव तथेशानं सुरासुरनमस्कृतम् । गङ्गाद्वारं हिमस्थानं प्रभासं शशिभूषणम्
raudraṃ caiva tatheśānaṃ surāsuranamaskṛtam / gaṅgādvāraṃ himasthānaṃ prabhāsaṃ śaśibhūṣaṇam
and Raudra, and likewise Īśāna, worshipped by gods and demons, Gaṅgādvāra, the snow-abode, Prabhāsa, (and the shrine of) the moon-adorned one,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.7
रुद्रकोटिसमायोगं गङ्गाभेदं सरस्वतीम् । स्थानेश्वरं तथा पुण्यं कुरुक्षेत्रं तथैव च
rudrakoṭisamāyogaṃ gaṅgābhedaṃ sarasvatīm / sthāneśvaraṃ tathā puṇyaṃ kurukṣetraṃ tathaiva ca
the meeting-place of the ten million Rudras, the Gaṅgā's parting, the Sarasvatī, and holy Sthāneśvara, and Kurukṣetra as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.8
कुरुक्षेत्रं गमिष्यामि कुरुक्षेत्रे वसाम्यहम् । कुरुक्षेत्रस्य नाम्नापि नरः पापैः प्रमुच्यते
kurukṣetraṃ gamiṣyāmi kurukṣetre vasāmyaham / kurukṣetrasya nāmnāpi naraḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate
"I shall go to Kurukṣetra, I dwell in Kurukṣetra" — even by the mere name of Kurukṣetra a man is released from his sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.9
भ्रमेणैवं विषण्णास्ते शापस्यान्त न लेभिरे । निन्दितानि च तीर्थानि पापकर्मरतैस् ततः
bhrameṇaivaṃ viṣaṇṇāste śāpasyānta na lebhire / ninditāni ca tīrthāni pāpakarmaratais tataḥ
Thus dejected by their wandering, they did not attain the end of the curse; and thereupon the sacred fords were reviled by those (now) given to sinful deeds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.10
आकाशवचनं श्रुत्वा महातीर्थानि निन्दत । हरं हरिं च यो द्वेष्टि नाभिनन्दति यः सुरान्
ākāśavacanaṃ śrutvā mahātīrthāni nindata / haraṃ hariṃ ca yo dveṣṭi nābhinandati yaḥ surān
Hearing a voice from the sky (saying): "You revile the great sacred fords! He who hates Hara and Hari, and who does not honour the gods —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.11
स याति यत्र यत्रैव दुःखं प्राप्नोत्य् असंशयः । एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे प्राप्तो नारदो देवपूजितः
sa yāti yatra yatraiva duḥkhaṃ prāpnoty asaṃśayaḥ / etasminn antare prāpto nārado devapūjitaḥ
wherever he goes, he undoubtedly meets with sorrow." In this interval Nārada, honoured by the gods, arrived.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.12
दक्षशौनकगर्गादीन् सर्वांस्तान् मुनिसत्तमान् । ब्रह्मरक्षस्तनून् दृष्ट्वा नारदो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
dakṣaśaunakagargādīn sarvāṃstān munisattamān / brahmarakṣastanūn dṛṣṭvā nārado vākyam abravīt
Seeing all those excellent sages, Dakṣa, Śaunaka, Garga and the rest, with the bodies of brahma-demons, Nārada spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.13
भवन्तः कर्मणा केन सञ्जाता ब्रह्मराक्षसाः । तस्याथ वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदस्य महामुनेः
bhavantaḥ karmaṇā kena sañjātā brahmarākṣasāḥ / tasyātha vacanaṃ śrutvā nāradasya mahāmuneḥ
"By what deed have you become brahma-demons?" Then, having heard those words of Nārada the great sage,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.14
सो ऽभिवाद्य नमस्कृत्य दक्षो वचनम् अब्रवीत् । यथोत्सवं कृतं कर्म ब्रह्मलोकहिताय यत्
so 'bhivādya namaskṛtya dakṣo vacanam abravīt / yathotsavaṃ kṛtaṃ karma brahmalokahitāya yat
he, Dakṣa, greeting and bowing to him, spoke these words: "The rite that was performed as a festival, for the good of the world of Brahmā —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.15
तद्विपर्यासमापन्नं गहना कर्मणो गतिः । कर्मोपदिश मे किंचिद् येन मुञ्चापि दुष्कृतम्
tadviparyāsamāpannaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ / karmopadiśa me kiṃcid yena muñcāpi duṣkṛtam
that has turned into its opposite; the course of action (karma) is unfathomable. Teach me some rite by which I may be released from the evil deed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.16
यत्र यत्र च गच्छामो जलमन्नं न विद्यते । अनावृष्टिरभूद् घोरा तत्र तत्रैव नारद
yatra yatra ca gacchāmo jalamannaṃ na vidyate / anāvṛṣṭirabhūd ghorā tatra tatraiva nārada
And wherever we go, no water or food is to be found; there, in that very place, a terrible drought has arisen, O Nārada.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.17
नारद उवाच: प्रसाद्यतां मुनिश्रेष्ठाः शापस्यान्तं करिष्यति । हिरण्यबाहुर् धर्मात्मा हिरण्यपुरमास्थितः
nārada uvāca: prasādyatāṃ muniśreṣṭhāḥ śāpasyāntaṃ kariṣyati / hiraṇyabāhur dharmātmā hiraṇyapuramāsthitaḥ
Nārada said: Let him be propitiated, O best of sages; he will make an end of the curse — the righteous Hiraṇyabāhu, who dwells in Hiraṇyapura.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.18
यज्ञं कर्तुं समायातो रेवाचरुकसङ्गमे । पञ्चलिङ्गानि चाभ्यर्च्य शापान्तं च करिष्यति
yajñaṃ kartuṃ samāyāto revācarukasaṅgame / pañcaliṅgāni cābhyarcya śāpāntaṃ ca kariṣyati
He has come to perform a sacrifice at the confluence of the Revā and the Caruka; and having worshipped the five liṅgas he will bring the curse to an end.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.19
एवमुक्त्वा स देवर्षिर् ब्राह्मणैः शापकर्षितैः । आजगाम ततो दिव्यां हिरण्यनगरीं शुभाम्
evamuktvā sa devarṣir brāhmaṇaiḥ śāpakarṣitaiḥ / ājagāma tato divyāṃ hiraṇyanagarīṃ śubhām
Having spoken thus, that divine sage came, together with the brahmins worn down by the curse, to the lovely, divine city of Hiraṇya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.20
हिरण्यबाहुर् नृपतिर् वशिष्ठश् च महामुनिः । विलोक्य तान् मुनीन् सर्वान् स देवर्षिपुरोगमान्
hiraṇyabāhur nṛpatir vaśiṣṭhaś ca mahāmuniḥ / vilokya tān munīn sarvān sa devarṣipurogamān
King Hiraṇyabāhu and the great sage Vaśiṣṭha, beholding all those sages led by the divine sage (Nārada),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.21
अभिवाद्य यथा न्यायम् अर्घपाद्यैर् अपूजयत् । नारदस् तु ततो वाक्यं राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
abhivādya yathā nyāyam arghapādyair apūjayat / nāradas tu tato vākyaṃ rājānam idam abravīt
saluted (them) as is proper and honoured (them) with water for guests and for the feet; then Nārada spoke this word to the king:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.22
कुशलं ते नृपश्रेष्ठ सुखं तिष्ठसि सुव्रत । नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वधर्मपरायणः
kuśalaṃ te nṛpaśreṣṭha sukhaṃ tiṣṭhasi suvrata / nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā sarvadharmaparāyaṇaḥ
"Is it well with you, best of kings? Do you dwell in happiness, you of good vows?" Hearing Nārada's speech, he who was devoted to all dharma
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.23
उवाच वचनं राजा नारदं श्लक्ष्णया गिरा । अद्य मे कुशलं ब्रह्मंस्तवपादाब्जदर्शनात्
uvāca vacanaṃ rājā nāradaṃ ślakṣṇayā girā / adya me kuśalaṃ brahmaṃstavapādābjadarśanāt
— the king — spoke a word to Nārada in a smooth voice: "Today it is well with me, O brahmin, from the sight of your lotus feet."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.24
नारद उवाच: कुरु ब्रह्ममुनीनां त्वं शापान्तं राजदर्शनात्
nārada uvāca: kuru brahmamunīnāṃ tvaṃ śāpāntaṃ rājadarśanāt
Nārada said: Do you bring about the end of the curse of the brahmin sages by (their) seeing the king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 31.25
निपातय महादुष्टान् दैत्यान् दुष्कृतकारिणः । बन्धनस्था हि मोक्तव्या ब्राह्मणास् तु विशेषतः
nipātaya mahāduṣṭān daityān duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ / bandhanasthā hi moktavyā brāhmaṇās tu viśeṣataḥ
Strike down the greatly wicked daityas, the doers of evil deeds; for those held in bondage must be released, and brahmins especially.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.26
राजोवाच: वेदं पठन्ति ये ऽज्ञानाद् वदन्त्यर्थं न तस्य च । प्रमाणं भूतलोकस्य तद्वत् कर्म च कुर्वतः
rājovāca: vedaṃ paṭhanti ye 'jñānād vadantyarthaṃ na tasya ca / pramāṇaṃ bhūtalokasya tadvat karma ca kurvataḥ
The king said: Those who recite the Veda out of ignorance and do not declare its meaning — and likewise one who performs the rite (so) — are (yet) an authority for the world of beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 31.27
ब्रह्मन् वेदेन विधिवत् ते तु स्वर्गं प्रयान्ति वै । अहंकरविमूढाश् च मिथ्यदानेन याजकाः
brahman vedena vidhivat te tu svargaṃ prayānti vai / ahaṃkaravimūḍhāś ca mithyadānena yājakāḥ
O brahmin, but those (who act) by the Veda according to rule do indeed go to heaven; while sacrificial priests deluded by egotism, (acting) with false giving,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.28
पतन्ति नरके विष्णुशङ्करद्वेषणे रताः । अगस्त्यं च वशिष्ठं च कृत्वा तौ याजकौ मुने
patanti narake viṣṇuśaṅkaradveṣaṇe ratāḥ / agastyaṃ ca vaśiṣṭhaṃ ca kṛtvā tau yājakau mune
fall into hell, being devoted to hatred of Viṣṇu and Śaṅkara. Having made Agastya and Vaśiṣṭha the two officiating priests, O sage,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.29
क्रतुमिष्ट्वा विधानेन रेवाचरुकसङ्गमे । मोचयिष्याम्यहं शापात् पञ्चलिङ्गार्चनाद् द्विज
kratumiṣṭvā vidhānena revācarukasaṅgame / mocayiṣyāmyahaṃ śāpāt pañcaliṅgārcanād dvija
having offered the sacrifice according to the rule at the confluence of the Revā and the Caruka, I shall release (them) from the curse by the worship of the five liṅgas, O twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.30
वेदमन्त्रहुतं तत्र स्वयं विष्णुर् ग्रहीष्यति । रुद्रः कालाग्निरूपेण ग्राहकश् च भविष्यति
vedamantrahutaṃ tatra svayaṃ viṣṇur grahīṣyati / rudraḥ kālāgnirūpeṇa grāhakaś ca bhaviṣyati
There Viṣṇu himself will receive what is offered with Vedic mantras, and Rudra, in the form of the fire of time, will be the receiver.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.31
एवं यज्ञे तु सम्पूर्णे तुष्टे नारायणे शिवे । द्विजानां मोक्षणं तत्र भविष्यति न संशयः
evaṃ yajñe tu sampūrṇe tuṣṭe nārāyaṇe śive / dvijānāṃ mokṣaṇaṃ tatra bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
Thus, when the sacrifice is complete and Nārāyaṇa and Śiva are pleased, the release of the twice-born will come about there — there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.32
न मुने देवता यत्र शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः । इहलोके परे चैव गतिस् तस्य न विद्यते
na mune devatā yatra śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ / ihaloke pare caiva gatis tasya na vidyate
O sage, where the deity is not the bearer of conch, discus and mace, for such a one there is no course (of good fortune) either in this world or in the next.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 31.33
एवम् उक्त्वा ययौ राजा सर्वसंभारसंभृतः । यज्ञोपस्करम् आदाय ब्राह्मणैर् वेदपारगैः
evam uktvā yayau rājā sarvasaṃbhārasaṃbhṛtaḥ / yajñopaskaram ādāya brāhmaṇair vedapāragaiḥ
Having spoken thus the king went, provided with all the requisites, taking the sacrificial equipment along with brahmins versed in the Vedas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.34
रेवाचरुकसंभेदे यज्ञमिष्ट्वा विधानतः । विहाय पापं शप्तांस् तान् मोचयामास स द्विजान्
revācarukasaṃbhede yajñamiṣṭvā vidhānataḥ / vihāya pāpaṃ śaptāṃs tān mocayāmāsa sa dvijān
At the meeting of the Revā and the Caruka, having offered the sacrifice according to rule, he cast off the sin and set free those cursed twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.35
पञ्चलिङ्गसमायोगे तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । ब्रह्मयानसमारूढो वीज्यमानो ऽप्सरोगणैः
pañcaliṅgasamāyoge tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ / brahmayānasamārūḍho vījyamāno 'psarogaṇaiḥ
At the conjunction of the five liṅgas, by the power of this holy place, mounted on Brahmā's vehicle, fanned by throngs of apsarases,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.36
ध्रियमाणातपत्रस्तु स्तूयमानश् च वन्दिभिः । प्रायाच्छिवपुरं दिव्यमुमामाहेश्वरं नृप
dhriyamāṇātapatrastu stūyamānaś ca vandibhiḥ / prāyācchivapuraṃ divyamumāmāheśvaraṃ nṛpa
with a parasol held (over him) and praised by bards, he went to the divine city of Śiva, that of Umā and Maheśvara, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.37
एतत् ते कथितं राजन् पुराणाख्यानम् उत्तमम् । श्रुत्वाख्यानाम् इदं पुण्यं पञ्चलिङ्गसमागमम्
etat te kathitaṃ rājan purāṇākhyānam uttamam / śrutvākhyānām idaṃ puṇyaṃ pañcaliṅgasamāgamam
This excellent ancient tale has been told to you, O king. Having heard this meritorious narrative, the coming together of the five liṅgas,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 31.38
यमलोकं न पश्येद् वै पापयोनिं न गच्छति । हयमेधफलं प्राप्य शिवलोके महीयते
yamalokaṃ na paśyed vai pāpayoniṃ na gacchati / hayamedhaphalaṃ prāpya śivaloke mahīyate
He does not see Yama's world, nor does he go to a sinful birth; having obtained the fruit of a horse sacrifice, he is honoured in Śiva's world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition