Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 39
SkP-RK 39.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच: लिङ्गं व्याघ्रेश्वरं नाम विघ्नकर्तृसमागमे । कथितं यन् महाभाग सर्वपापविमोक्षणम्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: liṅgaṃ vyāghreśvaraṃ nāma vighnakartṛsamāgame / kathitaṃ yan mahābhāga sarvapāpavimokṣaṇam
Yudhiṣṭhira said: The liṅga named Vyāghreśvara, which, O greatly fortunate one, you have described at the meeting with the maker of obstacles, as releasing from all sins—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.2
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: शृणु राजन् कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: śṛṇu rājan kathāṃ divyāṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Hear, O king, the divine tale that destroys all sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.3
बभ्रुर् नाम पुरा चासीद्राजा परमधार्मिकः । पुण्ड्रवर्द्धनवासी च सत्यधर्मपरायणः
babhrur nāma purā cāsīdrājā paramadhārmikaḥ / puṇḍravarddhanavāsī ca satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ
Formerly there was a king named Babhru, supremely righteous, a dweller in Puṇḍravardhana, devoted to truth and duty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.4
पितुः क्षयाहे सम्प्राप्ते श्राद्धकाले सुसंयतः । नित्यं नैमित्तिकं कर्म पित्रर्थं स चकार ह
pituḥ kṣayāhe samprāpte śrāddhakāle susaṃyataḥ / nityaṃ naimittikaṃ karma pitrarthaṃ sa cakāra ha
When his father's death-anniversary came, at the time of the śrāddha, well restrained, he performed the regular and the occasional rite for his father's sake.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.5
यज्ञकाले निवृत्ते ऽथ बुद्धिं प्राप्य तु भारत । चिन्तयामास राजासौ किंकरोमीती चाब्रवीत्
yajñakāle nivṛtte 'tha buddhiṃ prāpya tu bhārata / cintayāmāsa rājāsau kiṃkaromītī cābravīt
Then, when the time of the sacrifice was over, coming to a thought, O Bhārata, that king reflected and said, "What am I to do?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.6
ऋषयो निरपेक्षाशाः कन्दमूलफलाशिनः । विप्रातिथिं न पश्यामि कम् भोजयितुम् उत्सहे
ṛṣayo nirapekṣāśāḥ kandamūlaphalāśinaḥ / viprātithiṃ na paśyāmi kam bhojayitum utsahe
"The seers are free of expectations, eating bulbs, roots and fruits; I see no brahmin guest whom I might undertake to feed."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.7
संचिन्त्य विप्रभोज्यार्थं पाकम् अप्सु व्यनिक्षिपत् । ऋग्वेदश् च ततो वाक्यं कोपात् प्राह ततस् तदा
saṃcintya viprabhojyārthaṃ pākam apsu vyanikṣipat / ṛgvedaś ca tato vākyaṃ kopāt prāha tatas tadā
Having thus reflected, he cast the food cooked for the brahmins' eating into the water; and thereupon the Ṛgveda then spoke these words in anger:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.8
इदानीं द्वापरस्यान्ते वर्तते पापसंभवः । वैवस्वते ऽन्तरे प्राप्ते ब्राह्मणा लब्धकामुकाः
idānīṃ dvāparasyānte vartate pāpasaṃbhavaḥ / vaivasvate 'ntare prāpte brāhmaṇā labdhakāmukāḥ
"Now, at the end of the Dvāpara age, the arising of sin is at work; with the Vaivasvata interval arrived, brahmins have become greedy for gain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.9
ते भुञ्जन् कामुकाः सर्वे राजद्रव्यं सकिल्बिषम् । देशे कदाचित् पुण्याहे भारद्वाजाश्रमंगतः
te bhuñjan kāmukāḥ sarve rājadravyaṃ sakilbiṣam / deśe kadācit puṇyāhe bhāradvājāśramaṃgataḥ
All those greedy men were consuming the king's wealth, which was tainted with sin. Once, on an auspicious day, (the king) went in that region to the hermitage of Bhāradvāja.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.10
सो ऽभिवाद्य नमस्कृत्य मुनिं तत्र व्यवस्थितः । भारद्वाजो ऽब्रवीद् वाक्यं तस्मै दत्त्वासनं महत्
so 'bhivādya namaskṛtya muniṃ tatra vyavasthitaḥ / bhāradvājo 'bravīd vākyaṃ tasmai dattvāsanaṃ mahat
He, having greeted and bowed to the sage, took his place there; and Bhāradvāja, after giving him a great seat, spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.11
स्वागतं ते महाराज कुशलं सह भार्यया । चिरं दृष्टो ऽसि धर्मज्ञ एकाकी त्वं कथंचन
svāgataṃ te mahārāja kuśalaṃ saha bhāryayā / ciraṃ dṛṣṭo 'si dharmajña ekākī tvaṃ kathaṃcana
"Welcome to you, great king! Are you well, together with your wife? It is long since you were seen, O knower of dharma; (and) you are somehow alone."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.12
राजोवाच: अद्य मे कुशलं ब्रह्मंस्त्वत्पादाम्बुजदर्शनात् । महर्षे श्राद्धकालो ऽयां पितॄणां मम वर्तते
rājovāca: adya me kuśalaṃ brahmaṃstvatpādāmbujadarśanāt / maharṣe śrāddhakālo 'yāṃ pitṝṇāṃ mama vartate
The king said: Today I am well, brahmin, from seeing your lotus feet. Great seer, this is the time of the śrāddha for my ancestors.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.13
भोजये ऽहं यथा विप्रं तथा त्वं कर्तुम् अर्हसि । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो ऽब्रवीद् वचः
bhojaye 'haṃ yathā vipraṃ tathā tvaṃ kartum arhasi / tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhāradvājo 'bravīd vacaḥ
As I feed a brahmin, so you ought to act (i.e. accept). Hearing that speech of his, Bhāradvāja spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.14
महर्षीणां सहस्राणि तुष्टानाम् ऊर्ध्वरेतसाम् । हंसलोमशमुख्यानां यदि भोजयितुं क्षमः
maharṣīṇāṃ sahasrāṇi tuṣṭānām ūrdhvaretasām / haṃsalomaśamukhyānāṃ yadi bhojayituṃ kṣamaḥ
"If you are able to feed thousands of great seers, contented and chaste, headed by Haṃsa and Lomaśa,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.15
पश्चात् प्रवर्तते श्राद्धं सत्यम् एतद् ब्रवीम्य् अहम् । दद्या हेममयं पीठं दद्या धान्यं तथा वसु
paścāt pravartate śrāddhaṃ satyam etad bravīmy aham / dadyā hemamayaṃ pīṭhaṃ dadyā dhānyaṃ tathā vasu
then afterwards let the śrāddha proceed — this I say truly. You should give a golden seat, you should give grain and likewise wealth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.16
मधुधेनुं तथा दिव्यां पयोधेनुं तथैव च । अग्निशौचस्य कौपीनं वस्त्रस्य तु विशाम्पते
madhudhenuṃ tathā divyāṃ payodhenuṃ tathaiva ca / agniśaucasya kaupīnaṃ vastrasya tu viśāmpate
and a divine honey-cow and likewise a milk-cow, and a loincloth of cloth purified by fire, O lord of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.17
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजस्य भूपतिः । एवमस्त्विति तं चोक्त्वा सर्वं पत्न्यै न्यवेदयत्
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhāradvājasya bhūpatiḥ / evamastviti taṃ coktvā sarvaṃ patnyai nyavedayat
Hearing that speech of Bhāradvāja, the king said to him, "So be it," and reported it all to his wife.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.18
महोक्षं कल्पयित्वा पितृकार्यं निवर्तये । श्रौतस्मार्तादिकं कर्म आमिषं पितृतर्पणम्
mahokṣaṃ kalpayitvā pitṛkāryaṃ nivartaye / śrautasmārtādikaṃ karma āmiṣaṃ pitṛtarpaṇam
"Having prepared a great bull, I shall carry out the rite for the ancestors": the rites of śruti and smṛti and the rest, (and) flesh, are the offering that satisfies the ancestors —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.19
इत्यादिस्मृतिवाक्यानि पर्यालोच्य पुनः पुनः । महोक्षं च ततो हत्वा तर्पयामास तान् पितॄन्
ityādismṛtivākyāni paryālocya punaḥ punaḥ / mahokṣaṃ ca tato hatvā tarpayāmāsa tān pitṝn
— having pondered again and again such sayings of the smṛtis, he then killed a great bull and satisfied those ancestors with it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.20
अनड्वाहं पशुं ज्ञात्वा भारद्वाजादयस् ततः । कुपिताः कर्मणा तेन राज्ञीं राजानम् एव च
anaḍvāhaṃ paśuṃ jñātvā bhāradvājādayas tataḥ / kupitāḥ karmaṇā tena rājñīṃ rājānam eva ca
Then, learning that the sacrificial animal was a draft ox, Bhāradvāja and the others, enraged by that deed, (turned) upon the queen and the king himself,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.21
कोपसंभारसंतप्ता गर्हयन्तो ऽब्रुवंस् तदा । सुरामांसादिमाध्वीकं कृत्वा गोमांसभक्षणम्
kopasaṃbhārasaṃtaptā garhayanto 'bruvaṃs tadā / surāmāṃsādimādhvīkaṃ kṛtvā gomāṃsabhakṣaṇam
and, burning with an accumulation of anger, they then spoke in reproach: "Having consumed liquor, meat and mead and the like, (and) having eaten cow's flesh,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.22
तप्तकृच्छ्रं चरेद् विप्रो मौञ्जीबन्धेन शूद्ध्यति । अभक्षभक्षणं कृत्वा करीषाग्नौ विशेद् द्विजः
taptakṛcchraṃ cared vipro mauñjībandhena śūddhyati / abhakṣabhakṣaṇaṃ kṛtvā karīṣāgnau viśed dvijaḥ
a brahmin should perform the taptakṛcchra penance; he is purified by the girding with muñja-grass. Having eaten what must not be eaten, a twice-born should enter a fire of dry cow-dung.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.23
घातितानि त्वया चाष्टौ सहस्राणि तपस्विनाम् । हव्यं देवा न गृह्णन्ति कथं च पितरः पुनः
ghātitāni tvayā cāṣṭau sahasrāṇi tapasvinām / havyaṃ devā na gṛhṇanti kathaṃ ca pitaraḥ punaḥ
And by you eight thousand ascetics have been slain. The gods do not accept the oblation — how then again the ancestors?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.24
त्वया वै क्रतवश्चेष्टास्ते गता वै श्वयोनिषु । व्यर्थमास तपस्ते ऽद्य मूलनाशस् त्वया कृतः
tvayā vai kratavaśceṣṭāste gatā vai śvayoniṣu / vyarthamāsa tapaste 'dya mūlanāśas tvayā kṛtaḥ
Indeed the sacrifices performed by you — they have gone into the wombs of dogs. Your austerity has become fruitless today; a destruction at the root has been wrought by you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.25
बभ्रुर् उवाच: वेदोक्तं यः परित्यज्य धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् । दशवर्षसहस्राणि श्वयोनौ जायते ध्रुवम्
babhrur uvāca: vedoktaṃ yaḥ parityajya dharmamanyaṃ samācaret / daśavarṣasahasrāṇi śvayonau jāyate dhruvam
Babhru said: He who, abandoning what is declared in the Veda, practises some other dharma is certainly born in the womb of a dog for ten thousand years.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.26
वेदार्थनिन्दका ये वै ब्राह्मणा ज्ञानदुर्बलाः । इह जन्मनि शूद्रास्ते मृताः श्वानो भवन्ति ते
vedārthanindakā ye vai brāhmaṇā jñānadurbalāḥ / iha janmani śūdrāste mṛtāḥ śvāno bhavanti te
Those brahmins who revile the meaning of the Veda, weak in knowledge — in this birth they are śūdras, and when dead they become dogs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.27
गोमेधो हयमेधश् च नरमेधस् तथा ऽपरः । क्षत्रियास्त्वथ जीवन्ति पूज्यन्ते देवमानुषैः
gomedho hayamedhaś ca naramedhas tathā 'paraḥ / kṣatriyāstvatha jīvanti pūjyante devamānuṣaiḥ
The cow-sacrifice, the horse-sacrifice, and likewise the other, the man-sacrifice — by these kṣatriyas live, and they are honoured by gods and men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.28
राज्ञस् तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो ऽशपत् नृपम् । यस्मान् महोक्षमांसेन तार्पिता ब्राह्मणास् त्वया
rājñas tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhāradvājo 'śapat nṛpam / yasmān mahokṣamāṃsena tārpitā brāhmaṇās tvayā
Hearing that speech of the king, Bhāradvāja cursed the ruler: "Since brahmins were satisfied by you with the flesh of a great bull,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.29
भवतु अनेन पापेन व्याघ्रो व्याघ्री तव प्रिया । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु वसुधां विचरिष्यथः
bhavatu anena pāpena vyāghro vyāghrī tava priyā / divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu vasudhāṃ vicariṣyathaḥ
"So be it: by this sin (you shall become) a tiger and your beloved wife a tigress; for a thousand divine years you two shall roam the earth."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.30
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनेर् अमिततेजसः । सुधर्मा चाब्रवीद् वाक्यं राजपत्नी यशस्विनी
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā muner amitatejasaḥ / sudharmā cābravīd vākyaṃ rājapatnī yaśasvinī
Hearing that speech of his, of the sage of measureless splendour, Sudharmā, the illustrious queen, spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.31
वेदोक्तकर्मकर्ता तु यतः शप्तः पतिर् मम । पतिव्रता च निर्दोषा धर्मिष्ठा ऽहं तथैव च
vedoktakarmakartā tu yataḥ śaptaḥ patir mama / pativratā ca nirdoṣā dharmiṣṭhā 'haṃ tathaiva ca
"Since my husband, who was performing the rite prescribed in the Veda, has been cursed, and since I too am faithful to my husband, blameless, and devoted to dharma—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.32
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तेन पापेन दुःखिताः । भविष्यथ महाघोरा यूयं वै ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
daśavarṣasahasrāṇi tena pāpena duḥkhitāḥ / bhaviṣyatha mahāghorā yūyaṃ vai brahmarākṣasāḥ
"—by that sin you all shall for ten thousand years be afflicted, most terrible ones, becoming brahmin-demons (brahmarākṣasas),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.33
निर्जले मरुदेशे च अपरे कण्टकावृते । क्षुधार्ताश् च तृषार्ताश् च काकगृध्रैर् अनुद्रुताः
nirjale marudeśe ca apare kaṇṭakāvṛte / kṣudhārtāś ca tṛṣārtāś ca kākagṛdhrair anudrutāḥ
"—in a waterless desert land, and elsewhere in a place covered with thorns, tormented by hunger and tormented by thirst, harried by crows and vultures."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.34
भारद्वाजश् च राज्ञी च शप्त्वा तत्र परस्परम् । भारद्वाजश् च सार्द्धं तैः कृत्वा पुण्यं ततो नृप
bhāradvājaś ca rājñī ca śaptvā tatra parasparam / bhāradvājaś ca sārddhaṃ taiḥ kṛtvā puṇyaṃ tato nṛpa
And Bhāradvāja and the queen, having thus cursed each other there, Bhāradvāja together with them then performed a meritorious act, O king,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.35
ब्रह्मलोकं जगामाथ ब्राह्मणैः सह भारत । सो ऽभिवाद्य यथा न्यायं ब्रह्माणं सुरसत्तमम्
brahmalokaṃ jagāmātha brāhmaṇaiḥ saha bhārata / so 'bhivādya yathā nyāyaṃ brahmāṇaṃ surasattamam
and then went to the world of Brahmā along with the brahmins, O Bhārata. Having saluted as is proper Brahmā, the best of the gods,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.37
ब्रह्मोवाच: लोकापचरितं कर्म [] कार्यं देववर्जितम् ॥ र्क्स्_३९।३६ ॥ [गप् इन् ओरिगिनल्] उक्तानि च निषिद्धानि धर्माधर्मविचारणे । लोकोक्तं विहितं कर्म त्रयी मार्गं विचारितम्
brahmovāca: lokāpacaritaṃ karma [] kāryaṃ devavarjitam // rks_39.36 // [gap in original] uktāni ca niṣiddhāni dharmādharmavicāraṇe / lokoktaṃ vihitaṃ karma trayī mārgaṃ vicāritam
Brahmā said: An act contrary to the usage of the world [...] is to be done, (though) forsaken by the gods [...] and the prohibited (acts) have been stated in the examination of dharma and non-dharma; the act enjoined by worldly usage, the path of the three (Vedas), has been considered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.38
कर्तव्यं तु प्रयत्नेन स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम् । बोधिता ब्राह्मणास् तेन ब्रह्मणा नृपतिस् तदा
kartavyaṃ tu prayatnena svargamokṣapradāyakam / bodhitā brāhmaṇās tena brahmaṇā nṛpatis tadā
"But that which bestows heaven and liberation is to be done with effort." The brahmins were thus instructed by that Brahmā, and the king too, then.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.39
शापान्तः कथितस् तेषां तेनैव परमेष्ठिना । शापस्यान्तो मया दृष्टो भवतां पापकर्मिणाम्
śāpāntaḥ kathitas teṣāṃ tenaiva parameṣṭhinā / śāpasyānto mayā dṛṣṭo bhavatāṃ pāpakarmiṇām
The end of their curse was told by that very supreme lord: "The end of the curse of you evil-doers has been seen by me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.40
पुण्यक्षये च शप्तास् तु सम्प्राप्ते तु युगान्तरे । नर्मदातीरवासी यो मार्कण्डेयो महामुनिः
puṇyakṣaye ca śaptās tu samprāpte tu yugāntare / narmadātīravāsī yo mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ
"When (your) merit is exhausted, and when the turn of the age has come, you who have been cursed—(there is) Mārkaṇḍeya, the great sage who dwells on the bank of the Narmadā;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.41
स दास्यत्य् उपदेशं वो येन मोक्षम् अवाप्स्यथ । ततः कालेन महता मार्कण्डेयं मुनिं गताः
sa dāsyaty upadeśaṃ vo yena mokṣam avāpsyatha / tataḥ kālena mahatā mārkaṇḍeyaṃ muniṃ gatāḥ
"he will give you instruction, by which you will attain liberation." Then, after a long time, they went to the sage Mārkaṇḍeya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.42
दैवयोगेन ते सर्वे कल्पगा तीरवासिनम् । अभिवाद्य यथा न्यायं तम् ऋषिं प्रणिपत्य च
daivayogena te sarve kalpagā tīravāsinam / abhivādya yathā nyāyaṃ tam ṛṣiṃ praṇipatya ca
By the working of fate they all, moving as it were through an aeon, (approached) him who dwelt on the bank, and having saluted him as is proper and bowed down to that seer,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.43
स्थिताः स्वकर्म तत्रैव व्याहरन्तः परस्परम् । दृष्ट्वा तांश् चिन्तयामास मार्कण्डेयो महामुनिः
sthitāḥ svakarma tatraiva vyāharantaḥ parasparam / dṛṣṭvā tāṃś cintayāmāsa mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ
they remained there, each at his own occupation, conversing with one another. Seeing them, Mārkaṇḍeya the great sage reflected:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.44
मिथुनं व्याघ्ररूपेण व्याहरन् मानुषीं गिरम् । केन कर्मविपाकेन ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
mithunaṃ vyāghrarūpeṇa vyāharan mānuṣīṃ giram / kena karmavipākena brāhmaṇā brahmarākṣasāḥ
"A pair in the form of tigers, uttering human speech—by the ripening of what deed are brahmins (become) brahmin-demons?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.45
एवं संचिन्त्य मार्कण्डो भारद्वाजम् अथाब्रवीत् । दम्पती व्याघ्ररूपेण ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
evaṃ saṃcintya mārkaṇḍo bhāradvājam athābravīt / dampatī vyāghrarūpeṇa brāhmaṇā brahmarākṣasāḥ
Having thus reflected, Mārkaṇḍa then said to Bhāradvāja: "A husband and wife in the form of tigers, and brahmins (turned) brahmin-demons!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.46
भारद्वाज उवाच: शृणु ब्रह्मन् समासेन कथ्यमानं वचो मम
bhāradvāja uvāca: śṛṇu brahman samāsena kathyamānaṃ vaco mama
Bhāradvāja said: Hear, brahmin, in brief my words as they are told,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.47
भविष्यभूततत्त्वज्ञ त्रिकालज्ञ त्रिवेदवित् । बभ्रुर् नामा चक्रवर्ती पुण्ड्रवर्धनसंस्थितः
bhaviṣyabhūtatattvajña trikālajña trivedavit / babhrur nāmā cakravartī puṇḍravardhanasaṃsthitaḥ
O you who know the truth of the future and the past, knower of the three times, knower of the three Vedas: there was an emperor named Babhru, established in Puṇḍravardhana.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.48
सुधर्मा नाम तस्यैव धर्मपत्नी पतिव्रता । एकदा श्राद्धकाले तु नातिथिं प्राप्तवान् द्विजम्
sudharmā nāma tasyaiva dharmapatnī pativratā / ekadā śrāddhakāle tu nātithiṃ prāptavān dvijam
His lawful wife, faithful to her husband, was named Sudharmā. Once, at the time of a śrāddha, he did not obtain a brahmin as guest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.49
संचिन्त्याथ तद् आत्मानम् आगतो ह्याश्रमं मम । पादौ जग्राह शिरसा ततो वचनम् अब्रवीत्
saṃcintyātha tad ātmānam āgato hyāśramaṃ mama / pādau jagrāha śirasā tato vacanam abravīt
Then, having thought it over, he came in person to my hermitage; he clasped (my) feet with his head and then spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.50
पितॄणां श्राद्धकालो मे प्रसादः क्रियतां मयि । ततो मयोपदिष्टो ऽसौ मुनींस् त्वं भोजयाधुना
pitṝṇāṃ śrāddhakālo me prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ mayi / tato mayopadiṣṭo 'sau munīṃs tvaṃ bhojayādhunā
"It is the time of the śrāddha for my forefathers; grant me your favour." Then he was instructed by me: "Feed the sages now."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.51
महोक्षं शातयित्वा तु भोजितास् ते तपोधनाः । शप्तो मया च शीघ्रं त्वं व्याघ्रयोनिं गमिष्यसि
mahokṣaṃ śātayitvā tu bhojitās te tapodhanāḥ / śapto mayā ca śīghraṃ tvaṃ vyāghrayoniṃ gamiṣyasi
But having slaughtered a great bull, those whose wealth is austerity were fed; and (he was) cursed by me: "You shall quickly go to the womb of a tiger."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.52
निर्भर्त्स्य मां च तत्पत्नी शशाप ब्रह्मराक्षसाः । यूयं भवत वै सर्वे मरुदेशे क्षुधार्दिताः
nirbhartsya māṃ ca tatpatnī śaśāpa brahmarākṣasāḥ / yūyaṃ bhavata vai sarve marudeśe kṣudhārditāḥ
And his wife, reviling me, cursed (us): "You brahma-demons, all of you become tormented by hunger in the desert land!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.53
ब्रह्माणं च ततः प्राप्ता विवादेन परस्परम् । ब्रह्मणा प्रेषितास् ते ऽमी त्वत् सकाशम् इहागताः
brahmāṇaṃ ca tataḥ prāptā vivādena parasparam / brahmaṇā preṣitās te 'mī tvat sakāśam ihāgatāḥ
And then, through their mutual dispute, they came to Brahmā; sent by Brahmā, these here have come to your presence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.54
एतत् ते कथितं सर्वं कारणं विकृते महत् । नान्यत् स्थानं प्रपश्यामो यत्रास्माकं स्थितिर् भवेत्
etat te kathitaṃ sarvaṃ kāraṇaṃ vikṛte mahat / nānyat sthānaṃ prapaśyāmo yatrāsmākaṃ sthitir bhavet
All this great cause of (our) deformity has been told to you. We see no other place where there might be a dwelling for us.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.55
न दिवा नैव रात्रिश् च न सूर्यो न च चन्द्रमाः । न ग्रहा नैव ऋक्षाणि ऋषयो यत्र मण्डलम्
na divā naiva rātriś ca na sūryo na ca candramāḥ / na grahā naiva ṛkṣāṇi ṛṣayo yatra maṇḍalam
Where there is neither day nor night, no sun and no moon, no planets and no stars, (nor) the circle of seers—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.56
सरितः सागराः शैला भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम् । आसीद् इदं तमो भूतमादि मध्यान्तवार्जितम्
saritaḥ sāgarāḥ śailā bhūtagrāmaṃ caturvidham / āsīd idaṃ tamo bhūtamādi madhyāntavārjitam
—rivers, oceans, mountains, the fourfold host of beings: all this had become darkness, devoid of beginning, middle, and end.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.57
मुग्धा वयं न जानीमो न चाज्ञायत किंचन । न्यग्रोधं नर्मदामध्ये मेघाभं कालरूपिणम्
mugdhā vayaṃ na jānīmo na cājñāyata kiṃcana / nyagrodhaṃ narmadāmadhye meghābhaṃ kālarūpiṇam
Bewildered, we do not know, nor was anything discerned—(only) the banyan in the midst of the Narmadā, cloud-coloured, having the form of Time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.58
त्वां वै सर्वद्विजश्रेष्ठं नान्य पश्यामि किंचन । त्वं पिता नो गुरुश् चैव हरिर् धाता स्वयं शिवः
tvāṃ vai sarvadvijaśreṣṭhaṃ nānya paśyāmi kiṃcana / tvaṃ pitā no guruś caiva harir dhātā svayaṃ śivaḥ
I see nothing else at all but you, the best of all twice-born; you are our father and our teacher, Hari, the Creator, Śiva himself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.59
अकामतः कृतं पापं स्वयम् एतद् उपार्जितम् । त्वत्प्रसादात् मुनिश्रेष्ठ मुञ्चामो घोरकिल्बिषात्
akāmataḥ kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ svayam etad upārjitam / tvatprasādāt muniśreṣṭha muñcāmo ghorakilbiṣāt
The sin was committed unintentionally, (yet) it was acquired by ourselves. By your grace, best of sages, may we be released from this dreadful guilt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.60
नाभुक्तं क्षीयते कर्म कल्पकोटिशतैर् अपि । अवश्यम् एव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशभम्
nābhuktaṃ kṣīyate karma kalpakoṭiśatair api / avaśyam eva bhoktavyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma śubhāśabham
Karma not experienced does not perish, not even in hundreds of crores of kalpas; the deed done, good or ill, must inevitably be experienced.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.61
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: शाकल्यस्याश्रमं पुण्यं ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम् । वैदूर्यात् पश्चिमे भागे यत्र देवो महेश्वरः
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: śākalyasyāśramaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmarṣigaṇasevitam / vaidūryāt paścime bhāge yatra devo maheśvaraḥ
Mārkaṇḍeya said: The holy hermitage of Śākalya, frequented by the host of brahmin seers, lies in the western region from Vaidūrya, where the god Maheśvara is.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.62
तत्र गत्वा च यूयं वै तपश्चोग्रं करिष्यथ । जपध्यानपरा नित्यं कन्दमूलफलाशिनः
tatra gatvā ca yūyaṃ vai tapaścograṃ kariṣyatha / japadhyānaparā nityaṃ kandamūlaphalāśinaḥ
Going there, you shall perform fierce austerity, ever devoted to muttered prayer and meditation, eating bulbs, roots, and fruits.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.63
एवं द्वादशवर्षाणि संतिष्ठध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः । यावद् वै वेदमानेन पुनः सृष्टिः प्रवर्तते
evaṃ dvādaśavarṣāṇi saṃtiṣṭhadhvaṃ dvijottamāḥ / yāvad vai vedamānena punaḥ sṛṣṭiḥ pravartate
Thus, best of the twice-born, remain for twelve years, until by the measure of the Veda creation proceeds again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.64
तमो भूतम् इदं सर्वं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । सर्वं चकार भगवान् महाकालवपुर्धरः
tamo bhūtam idaṃ sarvaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃcana / sarvaṃ cakāra bhagavān mahākālavapurdharaḥ
All this had become darkness; nothing was discerned. The Lord, bearing the body of Mahākāla, made all of it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.65
प्राणिनां कर्मणा ह्येतज् जगत्कालवशङ्गतम् । वायुरग्निर्जलं पृथ्वी भूतग्रामश् चतुर्विधः
prāṇināṃ karmaṇā hyetaj jagatkālavaśaṅgatam / vāyuragnirjalaṃ pṛthvī bhūtagrāmaś caturvidhaḥ
For by the deeds of living beings this world has come under the sway of Time: wind, fire, water, earth, the fourfold host of beings—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.66
कालस्य भोजनं सर्वं भस्मपुञ्जम् इवाभवत् । नाश्चर्यम् अत्र कर्तव्यं पुनः सृष्टिर् भविष्यति
kālasya bhojanaṃ sarvaṃ bhasmapuñjam ivābhavat / nāścaryam atra kartavyaṃ punaḥ sṛṣṭir bhaviṣyati
—all became Time's food, like a heap of ashes. No wonder should be made of this: creation will come again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.67
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते पापयोनयः । नमस्कृत्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं मार्कण्डं कल्पवासिनम्
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sarve te pāpayonayaḥ / namaskṛtya muniśreṣṭhaṃ mārkaṇḍaṃ kalpavāsinam
Hearing that speech of his, all those of sinful birth, having bowed to the best of sages, Mārkaṇḍa, dweller through the kalpa—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.68
राजा च राजपत्नी च ऋषयो विमलेश्वरम् । जग्मुः कालेन महता पुनःसृष्टिः प्रवर्तिता
rājā ca rājapatnī ca ṛṣayo vimaleśvaram / jagmuḥ kālena mahatā punaḥsṛṣṭiḥ pravartitā
—the king and the king's wife and the seers went to Vimaleśvara; after a great time, creation was set in motion again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.69
स्वयं प्रजापतिर् ब्रह्मा ससर्ज विविधाः प्रजाः । कलाः काष्ठा मुहूर्ताश् च जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
svayaṃ prajāpatir brahmā sasarja vividhāḥ prajāḥ / kalāḥ kāṣṭhā muhūrtāś ca jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam
Brahmā, the Lord of creatures himself, emitted the manifold creatures, the kalās, kāṣṭhās and muhūrtas, and the world with its immobile and moving beings,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.70
सरितः सागरान् गुल्मान् पर्वतां च लतास् तथा । आपो ऽग्निं वै तथा वायुं भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम्
saritaḥ sāgarān gulmān parvatāṃ ca latās tathā / āpo 'gniṃ vai tathā vāyuṃ bhūtagrāmaṃ caturvidham
(He created) rivers, oceans, thickets, mountains and creepers as well, waters, fire, and likewise wind, and the fourfold host of beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.71
सूर्यं च दक्षिणे नेत्रे सो ऽसृजत् प्राणिनस् तथा । वामनेत्रे हिमांशुं च स तथा पर्यकल्पयत्
sūryaṃ ca dakṣiṇe netre so 'sṛjat prāṇinas tathā / vāmanetre himāṃśuṃ ca sa tathā paryakalpayat
And he created the sun in his right eye, and likewise living creatures; and in his left eye he thus fashioned the cool-rayed moon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.72
एतद् ऋक्षवरैः सार्द्धं पवित्रं ध्रुवमण्डलम् । विवस्वतः प्रभां चैव सर्वलोकप्रकाशिनीम्
etad ṛkṣavaraiḥ sārddhaṃ pavitraṃ dhruvamaṇḍalam / vivasvataḥ prabhāṃ caiva sarvalokaprakāśinīm
(He created) this pure circle of Dhruva together with the best of stars, and the radiance of the sun that illumines all the worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.73
सृष्टा चान्द्रमसी ज्योत्स्ना दिवा रात्री तथैव च । अपरेषु च द्वीपेषु न सूर्यो नैव चन्द्रमाः
sṛṣṭā cāndramasī jyotsnā divā rātrī tathaiva ca / apareṣu ca dvīpeṣu na sūryo naiva candramāḥ
The moonlight of the moon was created, and day and night as well; but in the other continents there is neither sun nor moon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.74
रौद्री प्रभा ऽस्ति तत्रैवं पुनः सृष्टिः प्रवर्तिता । पूर्णे तु द्वादशे वर्षे शापान्ते समुपस्थिते
raudrī prabhā 'sti tatraivaṃ punaḥ sṛṣṭiḥ pravartitā / pūrṇe tu dvādaśe varṣe śāpānte samupasthite
There (only) Rudra's radiance exists; thus creation was set going again. But when the twelfth year was complete and the end of the curse had arrived,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.75
अर्चयित्वा महेशानं रेवाव्याघ्रसमागमे । भारद्वाजादयः सर्वे ब्रह्मलोकम् अवाप्नुयुः
arcayitvā maheśānaṃ revāvyāghrasamāgame / bhāradvājādayaḥ sarve brahmalokam avāpnuyuḥ
having worshipped the Great Lord at the confluence of the Revā and the Vyāghra, Bhāradvāja and all the others would attain the world of Brahmā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.76
कामिकं यानम् आरुह्य राजा मुनियुतस् तदा । तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावेण उमामाहेश्वरे पुरे
kāmikaṃ yānam āruhya rājā muniyutas tadā / tīrthasyāsya prabhāveṇa umāmāheśvare pure
Then the king, together with the sages, mounting a vehicle that goes at will, by the power of this tīrtha (went) to the city of Umā and Maheśvara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.77
व्याघ्रेश्वरो व्याघ्रकर्तृसङ्गमे त्रिदशार्चितः । अन्यल् लिङ्गं न पश्यामि दिव्यं वै विमलेश्वरात्
vyāghreśvaro vyāghrakartṛsaṅgame tridaśārcitaḥ / anyal liṅgaṃ na paśyāmi divyaṃ vai vimaleśvarāt
Vyāghreśvara, worshipped by the thirty (gods), (stands) at the confluence of the Vyāghra and the Kartṛ; I see no other liṅga so divine as Vimaleśvara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 39.78
अर्चनात् तस्य लिङ्गस्य दर्शनात् स्पर्शनात् तथा । ब्रह्महत्या प्रणश्येत पापेष्व् अन्येषु का कथा
arcanāt tasya liṅgasya darśanāt sparśanāt tathā / brahmahatyā praṇaśyeta pāpeṣv anyeṣu kā kathā
By worshipping that liṅga, by seeing it and by touching it, even the killing of a brahmin would be destroyed — what to say of other sins?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 39.79
तीर्थेषु श्राद्धकरणात् पितॄणाम् अक्षया गतिः । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च
tīrtheṣu śrāddhakaraṇāt pitṝṇām akṣayā gatiḥ / kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca
By performing śrāddha at the tīrthas there is an imperishable course for the ancestors, for thousands of crores of kalpas and hundreds of crores of kalpas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition