Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 42

SkP-RK 42.1

मार्कण्डेय उवाच: रेवा भित्त्वा चण्डवेगा महाभागा विनिःसृता । तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: revā bhittvā caṇḍavegā mahābhāgā viniḥsṛtā / tatra snātvā naravyāghra brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Having split (the mountain), the Revā, (called) Caṇḍavegā, greatly blessed, flowed forth; bathing there, O tiger among men, one dispels the murder of a brahmin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.2

तिलोदकं तत्र तीर्थे हविषा पिण्डदानतः । पितॄन् समुद्धरेद् घोरात् नरकान् नात्र संशयः

tilodakaṃ tatra tīrthe haviṣā piṇḍadānataḥ / pitṝn samuddhared ghorāt narakān nātra saṃśayaḥ

By (offering) sesame-water at that tīrtha, and by the giving of piṇḍa with an oblation, one may raise up one's ancestors out of the dreadful hells; there is no doubt in this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.3

पापमृत्युमृता ये तु चण्डकर्मकृतो नराः । मुच्यन्ते तेन पापेन चण्डवेगासमागमे

pāpamṛtyumṛtā ye tu caṇḍakarmakṛto narāḥ / mucyante tena pāpena caṇḍavegāsamāgame

But those men who have died an evil death, who have done cruel deeds, are freed from that sin at the confluence of the Caṇḍavegā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.4

चण्डेश्वरं तत्र लिङ्गं सर्वदेवमयं शुभम् । दर्शनात् पूजनाद् अस्य पुष्पगन्धादिदानतः

caṇḍeśvaraṃ tatra liṅgaṃ sarvadevamayaṃ śubham / darśanāt pūjanād asya puṣpagandhādidānataḥ

There (stands) the liṅga Caṇḍeśvara, auspicious, consisting of all the gods; by seeing it, by worshipping it, by offering flowers, perfume and the rest,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.5

ब्रह्महत्या सहस्रैर् हि तत्क्षणाद् एव मुच्यते । चन्द्रसेनः पुरा चासीद् दुरात्मा पापकर्मकृत्

brahmahatyā sahasrair hi tatkṣaṇād eva mucyate / candrasenaḥ purā cāsīd durātmā pāpakarmakṛt

one is freed that very instant from even a thousand brahmin-murders. Formerly there was Candrasena, an evil-natured doer of sinful deeds,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.6

परदाररतश्चौरो ब्रह्मघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः । रघुवंशी च पापात्मा ऋषिपत्नीं च ब्राह्मणीम्

paradārarataścauro brahmaghno gurutalpagaḥ / raghuvaṃśī ca pāpātmā ṛṣipatnīṃ ca brāhmaṇīm

addicted to others' wives, a thief, a slayer of brahmins, one who violated his teacher's bed, of the line of Raghu, sinful of soul; and (he desired) a sage's wife, a brahmin woman,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.7

अन्याश् च या वै सुभगाः पतिं हत्वा समाहरत् । नैमिषारण्यवासी च शाण्डिल्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः

anyāś ca yā vai subhagāḥ patiṃ hatvā samāharat / naimiṣāraṇyavāsī ca śāṇḍilyo brahmavittamaḥ

and other fortunate women too, whom he carried off after killing the husband. And there dwelt in the Naimiṣa forest Śāṇḍilya, most learned in the Veda,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.8

सौदामिनी तस्य भार्या धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी । रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना चन्द्रकान्तिसमप्रभा

saudāminī tasya bhāryā dharmapatnī yaśasvinī / rūpayauvanasampannā candrakāntisamaprabhā

whose wife was Saudāminī, his lawful spouse, illustrious, endowed with beauty and youth, radiant as the loveliness of the moon,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.9

कामिनी वल्कलधरा पीनोन्नतपयोधरा । आख्यानं कथयिष्यामि तस्यास् तस्य पुरातनम्

kāminī valkaladharā pīnonnatapayodharā / ākhyānaṃ kathayiṣyāmi tasyās tasya purātanam

lovely, wearing bark garments, with full, high breasts. I shall tell the ancient tale of her and of him.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.10

हयारूढश् चन्द्रसेनो नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । शाण्डिल्यस्याश्रमं प्राप्तो वने स मृगयन् मृगान्

hayārūḍhaś candraseno naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ / śāṇḍilyasyāśramaṃ prāpto vane sa mṛgayan mṛgān

Mounted on a horse, Candrasena, while hunting deer in the forest, came to the hermitage of Śāṇḍilya, the dweller in the Naimiṣa forest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.11

दष्टा सौदामिनी तेन शाण्डिल्यस्य प्रिया तदा । उवाच वचनं तां वै त्वं मे राज्ञी भवेद् इति

daṣṭā saudāminī tena śāṇḍilyasya priyā tadā / uvāca vacanaṃ tāṃ vai tvaṃ me rājñī bhaved iti

Then Saudāminī, Śāṇḍilya's beloved, was noticed by him, and he spoke this word to her: "You shall be my queen."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SkP-RK 42.12

वल्कलाजिनधारी च कुशकाशपवित्रकः । कन्दमूलफलाशी च ब्राह्मणश् च पतिस् तव

valkalājinadhārī ca kuśakāśapavitrakaḥ / kandamūlaphalāśī ca brāhmaṇaś ca patis tava

"Your husband is a brahmin, a wearer of bark and hide, purified with kuśa and kāśa grass, an eater of bulbs, roots and fruits.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.13

किं करिष्यसि तत् तेन मम भोगांश् च पुष्कलान् । सर्वदा मत्प्रसादेन भुङ्क्ष्व त्वं वरवर्णिनि

kiṃ kariṣyasi tat tena mama bhogāṃś ca puṣkalān / sarvadā matprasādena bhuṅkṣva tvaṃ varavarṇini

What will you do with him? Enjoy my abundant pleasures always, by my favour, O woman of excellent complexion."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.14

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा नृपतेः पापकर्मणः । आह सौदामिनी वाक्यं चन्द्रसेनं नृपाधमम्

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā nṛpateḥ pāpakarmaṇaḥ / āha saudāminī vākyaṃ candrasenaṃ nṛpādhamam

Having heard that speech of the king, the doer of sinful deeds, Saudāminī spoke these words to Candrasena, the basest of kings:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.15

याचस्व मे पतिं राजंस् तस्याहं वशवार्तिनी । शाण्डिल्यम् अब्रवीद् राजा ततो ऽमूं वरयामि ते

yācasva me patiṃ rājaṃs tasyāhaṃ vaśavārtinī / śāṇḍilyam abravīd rājā tato 'mūṃ varayāmi te

"Ask my husband, O king; I am subject to his will." Then the king said to Śāṇḍilya: "I choose her from you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.16

कन्याम् इमां च पत्नी ते चेद् अद्य त्वं ददस्व मे । मौल्ये ददामि ते द्रव्यमस्याः शतसहस्रशः

kanyām imāṃ ca patnī te ced adya tvaṃ dadasva me / maulye dadāmi te dravyamasyāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

If (she is) your wife, give me this girl today; as her price I will give you goods by the hundred thousand."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.17

शाण्डिल्य उवाच: सर्वाः स्त्रियः कैतवबद्धमूलास् तासां प्रियो नास्ति मनुष्यलोके । यथेष्टचेष्टो भव भूमिपाल किं मां द्विजं पृच्छसि दुर्बलं च

śāṇḍilya uvāca: sarvāḥ striyaḥ kaitavabaddhamūlās tāsāṃ priyo nāsti manuṣyaloke / yatheṣṭaceṣṭo bhava bhūmipāla kiṃ māṃ dvijaṃ pṛcchasi durbalaṃ ca

Śāṇḍilya said: All women are rooted in deceit; they have no beloved in the world of men. Act as you please, O protector of the earth — why do you ask me, a brahmin, and a weak one?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.18

कामान्धस् तु ततो राजा करे जग्राह तां तदा । सा निरीक्ष्या हतं पापं ज्वलन्ती तीव्रकोपतः । रजस्वला ऽहं मां स्पृष्ट्वा चाण्डालस् त्वं भविष्यसि

kāmāndhas tu tato rājā kare jagrāha tāṃ tadā / sā nirīkṣyā hataṃ pāpaṃ jvalantī tīvrakopataḥ / rajasvalā 'haṃ māṃ spṛṣṭvā cāṇḍālas tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi

Then the king, blinded by lust, seized her by the hand. Looking at that wretched sinner, blazing with fierce anger (she said): "I am menstruating; by touching me you will become a caṇḍāla."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SkP-RK 42.19

तां दृष्ट्वा तादृशीं नग्नां भयार्तां प्राणवल्लभाम् । चाण्डालस् तत् क्षणाज् जातः सर्वभूतभयावहः

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśīṃ nagnāṃ bhayārtāṃ prāṇavallabhām / cāṇḍālas tat kṣaṇāj jātaḥ sarvabhūtabhayāvahaḥ

Seeing her in that state, naked, stricken with fear, dearer to him than life, he became that very instant a caṇḍāla, bringing terror to all beings.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.20

हाहाकारं ततश् चक्रुः सर्वे देवाः समानुषाः । अश्वम् आरुह्य राजा ऽसाव् अयोध्याम् आविशत् पुरीम्

hāhākāraṃ tataś cakruḥ sarve devāḥ samānuṣāḥ / aśvam āruhya rājā 'sāv ayodhyām āviśat purīm

Then all the gods together with men raised a cry of dismay. That king, mounting his horse, entered the city of Ayodhyā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.21

दृष्ट्वा चाण्डालरूपं तं ब्राह्मणाः पुरवासिनः । राजपुत्रा महीपालस्यान्तःपुरनिवासिनः

dṛṣṭvā cāṇḍālarūpaṃ taṃ brāhmaṇāḥ puravāsinaḥ / rājaputrā mahīpālasyāntaḥpuranivāsinaḥ

Seeing him in the form of a Caṇḍāla, the brahmins, the townsfolk, the king's sons, and those dwelling in the king's inner apartments —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.22

बभूवुर् भयभीताश् च गर्हयन्तो महीपतिम् । वशिष्ठं शरणं प्राप्तः शोचित्वा चात्मनस् तनुम्

babhūvur bhayabhītāś ca garhayanto mahīpatim / vaśiṣṭhaṃ śaraṇaṃ prāptaḥ śocitvā cātmanas tanum

— became stricken with fear and reproached the king; and he, grieving over his own body, went to Vasiṣṭha for refuge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.23

राजा विषण्णवदन उवाच स्वपुरोहितम् । जगामाहं समुद्देशं नैमिषारण्यवासिनम्

rājā viṣaṇṇavadana uvāca svapurohitam / jagāmāhaṃ samuddeśaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinam

The king, his face downcast, said to his own household priest: "I went to the place of one who dwells in the Naimiṣa forest,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.24

शाण्डिल्यं च नमस्कृत्य साष्टाङ्गं प्रणिपत्य च । अब्रवं देहि भार्यां स्वां वित्तेन बहुलेन मे

śāṇḍilyaṃ ca namaskṛtya sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇipatya ca / abravaṃ dehi bhāryāṃ svāṃ vittena bahulena me

and having saluted Śāṇḍilya and prostrated with the eight limbs, I said: 'Give me your wife for abundant wealth.'

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.25

शाण्डिल्यस्य तु पत्न्या वै तया शप्तो ऽहम् अन्तिके । श्रुत्वा तस्य चरित्रं च पापस्य भो नराधिप

śāṇḍilyasya tu patnyā vai tayā śapto 'ham antike / śrutvā tasya caritraṃ ca pāpasya bho narādhipa

But by that wife of Śāṇḍilya I was cursed in his presence." — Hearing the conduct of that sinner, O lord of men,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.26

वशिष्ठो ऽप्य् अब्रवीद् वाक्यं चन्द्रसेनं नराधिपम् । शाण्डिल्यं गच्छ राजेन्द्र तापसं ऋतुगामिनम्

vaśiṣṭho 'py abravīd vākyaṃ candrasenaṃ narādhipam / śāṇḍilyaṃ gaccha rājendra tāpasaṃ ṛtugāminam

Vasiṣṭha too spoke a word to Candrasena, the lord of men: "Go, best of kings, to Śāṇḍilya the ascetic, who approaches (his wife only) in her season,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.27

सौदामिनीम् ऋषेर् भार्यां ज्वलन्तीम् इव तेजसा । एवम् अस्त्व् इति चोक्त्वा तं नमस्कृत्य पुरोधसम्

saudāminīm ṛṣer bhāryāṃ jvalantīm iva tejasā / evam astv iti coktvā taṃ namaskṛtya purodhasam

(and to) Saudāminī, the sage's wife, blazing as it were with splendour." And saying "So be it," saluting that household priest,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.28

स जगाम तम् उद्देशं नैमिषारण्यवासिनम् । शाण्डिल्यं तु नमस्कृत्य साष्टाङ्गं च पुनः पुनः

sa jagāma tam uddeśaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinam / śāṇḍilyaṃ tu namaskṛtya sāṣṭāṅgaṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ

he went to that place of the dweller in the Naimiṣa forest; and saluting Śāṇḍilya with the eight limbs again and again,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.29

अब्रवीत् तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं भयत्रस्तो नराधिपः । क्षमस्व मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ त्वद्भार्यां प्रति कामिनः

abravīt taṃ muniśreṣṭhaṃ bhayatrasto narādhipaḥ / kṣamasva me muniśreṣṭha tvadbhāryāṃ prati kāminaḥ

the king, trembling with fear, said to that best of sages: "Forgive me, best of sages, who lusted after your wife.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.30

त्वं माता मे पिता चासि रघुवंशं समुद्धर । मया त्व् अपकृतं ते ऽद्य तस्य प्राप्तं फलं हि वै

tvaṃ mātā me pitā cāsi raghuvaṃśaṃ samuddhara / mayā tv apakṛtaṃ te 'dya tasya prāptaṃ phalaṃ hi vai

You are my mother and my father; raise up the lineage of Raghu. Today I have wronged you, and indeed the fruit of that has come upon me."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.31

उवाच ब्राह्मणः प्रीतो भार्या चैव पतिव्रता । मार्कण्डेयः पिता राजन् छिष्यो ऽहं तस्य धीमतः

uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ prīto bhāryā caiva pativratā / mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pitā rājan chiṣyo 'haṃ tasya dhīmataḥ

The brahmin, pleased, and his wife devoted to her husband, spoke: "Mārkaṇḍeya is my father, O king; I am the pupil of that wise one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.32

भार्यार्थम् इह संप्राप्तो नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । त्वं तु गच्छ नृपश्रेष्ठ चण्डवेगासमागमम्

bhāryārtham iha saṃprāpto naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ / tvaṃ tu gaccha nṛpaśreṣṭha caṇḍavegāsamāgamam

For the sake of a wife I came here, to the dweller of the Naimiṣa forest. But you, best of kings, go to the confluence of the Caṇḍavegā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SkP-RK 42.33

चण्डेश्वरं तमभ्यर्च्य तत्र स्नात्वा नृपोत्तम । अवाप्स्यसि परं स्थानं मुक्तश् चास्माच् च किल्बिषात्

caṇḍeśvaraṃ tamabhyarcya tatra snātvā nṛpottama / avāpsyasi paraṃ sthānaṃ muktaś cāsmāc ca kilbiṣāt

Having worshipped Caṇḍeśvara there and bathed, O best of kings, you will attain the highest state and be freed from this sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.34

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा शाण्डिल्यस्य महात्मनः । शाण्डिल्यं च नमस्कृत्य तथा सौदामिनीं नृपः

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā śāṇḍilyasya mahātmanaḥ / śāṇḍilyaṃ ca namaskṛtya tathā saudāminīṃ nṛpaḥ

Hearing that speech of the great-souled Śāṇḍilya, the king saluted Śāṇḍilya and likewise Saudāminī:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.35

स्वस्ति वो ऽस्तु गमिष्यामि चण्डवेगासमागमम् । एवमुक्त्वा गतस् तत्र समागत्य क्षमापतिः

svasti vo 'stu gamiṣyāmi caṇḍavegāsamāgamam / evamuktvā gatas tatra samāgatya kṣamāpatiḥ

"May it be well with you both; I shall go to the confluence of the Caṇḍavegā." Having said this, the lord of the earth went there and arrived,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.36

चण्डेश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य तत्र स्नात्वा विधानतः । दिव्ययानसमारूढः स्तूयमानो ऽप्सरोगणैः

caṇḍeśvaraṃ samabhyarcya tatra snātvā vidhānataḥ / divyayānasamārūḍhaḥ stūyamāno 'psarogaṇaiḥ

and having worshipped Caṇḍeśvara and bathed there according to the rule, he mounted a divine chariot, praised by the hosts of apsarases,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.37

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तस् तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । क्षणाच् छिवपुरं प्राप्तश् चन्द्रसेनो महीपतिः

sarvapāpavinirmuktas tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ / kṣaṇāc chivapuraṃ prāptaś candraseno mahīpatiḥ

freed from all sin by the power of this holy place: in an instant King Candrasena reached the city of Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.38

स्वारोचिषे ऽन्तरे प्राप्ते आदिकल्पे कृते युगे । भूतानां च सहस्राणि संसिद्धिं तत्र चान्वयुः

svārociṣe 'ntare prāpte ādikalpe kṛte yuge / bhūtānāṃ ca sahasrāṇi saṃsiddhiṃ tatra cānvayuḥ

This happened when the Svārociṣa interval had come, in the first kalpa, in the Kṛta age; and thousands of beings attained perfection there.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 42.39

एतत् ते कथितं राजंश् चण्डवेगासमागमम् । श्रवणात् कीर्तनाद् वापि भ्रूणहत्या प्रणश्यति

etat te kathitaṃ rājaṃś caṇḍavegāsamāgamam / śravaṇāt kīrtanād vāpi bhrūṇahatyā praṇaśyati

This, O king, has been told to you: the confluence of the Caṇḍavegā. By hearing or by reciting (of it), the killing of an embryo is destroyed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition