The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Vishvamitra Performs a Yajna for Trishanku which is chapter 4 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the fourth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 4 - Viśvāmitra Performs a Yajña for Triśaṅku

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-2. After deciding thus, Triśaṅku thought about the great sage Viśvāmitra for a long time and then came to this conclusion: ‘Barring Viśvāmitra there is no one else in all the three worlds who can save me from this terrible misery.

3. Then he set off towards Kurukṣetra. As he went on enquiring about the way, he became very tired and distressed due to hunger and thirst

4. In due course the king ultimately reached Kurukṣetra where he assiduously enquired about the hermitage of Viśvāmitra.

5-7. Even as the king went on enquiring thus, he saw a cluster of blue trees at a far-off place. Through aquatic birds like swans, cranes, Āṭis and Madgus, the thirsty king guessed that there was water nearby. He became delighted as the cool watery breeze removed his fatique. He proceeded hastily.

8-10. He found the hermitage situated on the banks of a river Nandinī(?). Gentle tame animals frequented it. It was a charming place and conducive to dispel mental grief. It reverberated with sweet warbling sound of excellent birds. There were mongooses sporting about with serpents and owls with crows. Cats were playing with mice and tigers with deer of diverse kinds.

11-12. Then on the banks of the river he saw Sage Viśvāmitra of great self-control engaged in the recitation of Vedic Mantras and surrounded by groups of ascetics. Thanks to the power of his penance and splendour, he appeared like a blazing fire. He was clad in bark garments and was sitting under a Śāla tree.

13-14. The eminent king proceeded ahead. He bowed down from a great distance. Announcing his name he prostrated before him and the disciples too with great faith. He bowed down to them one by one and stood by with palms joined in reverence.

15-18. On seeing the king with all the limbs soiled with dust, they thought him to be a Cāṇḍāla through the signs on the body. They rebuked him with harsh words and shouts of ‘Fie upon you! ‘Fie upon you!’ They repeatedly told him: ‘Go away; go away’. ‘Who are you, O sinful one?’ They said: ‘Who are you? Why have you come to this excellent hermitage of sages, filled with the chanting sounds of Vedic Mantras, inaccessible even to pious people? Get away quickly lest some sage should curse you and deprive you of your very life.’

Triśaṅku said:

19-20. I am a king of the solar race named Triśaṅku. I have been cursed by the sons of Vasiṣṭha and turned into a Cāṇḍāla. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, for the sake of relief from the imprecation I have sought refuge in Viśvāmitra, the friend and well-wisher of the whole world. There is no other refuge unto me.

Viśvāmitra said:

21-22. You are the Yājya (one on whose behalf a Yajña is performed) of Vasiṣṭha and hence particularly so of his sons. So why did they put you in an evil condition like this? O excellent king, what offence did you commit against them?

What crime have you perpetrated against them? An attempt on the life or outraging the modesty of their wives?

Triśaṅku said:

23-27. A Yajña was requested of the excellent sage Vasiṣṭha for the sake of going unto Svarga along with this body. He (Vasiṣṭha) replied: “There is no Yajña whereby it is possible to go to Svarga with this body, O king. It is not possible without taking another body.” On hearing his words he was told further by me: “If you do not take me to Svarga along with this physical body immediately by the power of a Yajña, I will adopt another sage as my preceptor. There is no doubt about it.” On realizing this the sage said: “Do what is conducive to your welfare.” Thereupon, being thus forsaken by him, I went to his sons, who proved to be more ruthless, and told them whatever I told Vasiṣṭha before.

28-30. Then O excellent sage, I was cursed by them who too were grief-stricken. I have been reduced to this miserable plight of being a Cāṇḍāla. So I have thought of you cherishing a very great hope, O eminent sage. I have come down to Kurukṣetra from a great distance. O sage, in all the three worlds, there is nothing which you cannot achieve, So, do help me and dispel my misery.

Sūta said:

31-35. On hearing his words the great sage Viśvāmitra out of rivalry with Vasiṣṭha spoke out in the midst of the other sages: “O king, on behalf of you I shall perform that Yajña whereby you will go to Svarga soon after its performance. O king, you have been rendered to this state of a base-born one by the sons of Vasiṣṭha. Undoubtedly it is my duty to make you a king once again. Hence come on along with me, on a pilgrimage. By the power of the Tīrthas, you shall once again be pure and deserving enough for performing the rite of the Yajña after getting rid of your Cāṇḍāla state. There is no such sin that will not perish due to the holy plunge into a Tīrtha.”

Sūta said:

36. After resolving thus, Viśvāmitra, the son of Gādhi, who was closely followed by Triśaṅku proceeded ahead for performing a pilgrimage.

37-40. They visited various places, viz. Prabhāsa Sarasvatī in Kurukṣetra, Kurujāṅgala, Pṛthūdaka, Gayāśīrṣa, Naimiṣa, the three Puṣkaras, Vārāṇasī, Prayāga, the big river Śravaṇa (Śoṇa), Kedāra, Śravaṇanada, Citrakūṭa, Gokarṇa, Śāligrāma, Acaleśvara, Śukla Tīrtha in Surājya (Saurāṣṭra), the auspicious Nada Dṛṣadvatī and many other meritorious Tīrthas and holy shrines. Thus the king wandered for a long time along with that noble-souled sage all over the world.

41-45. O Brāhmaṇas, despite the holy baths taken severally in the Tīrthas thus, he was not rid of the sinful Cāṇḍāla state. In due course he came to the Arbuda (Mt. Abu) mountain and climbed on to the top of that sin-destroying great mountain. Lord Acaleśvara, the deity, was visited and when the great sage came out of the shrine he saw Mārkaṇḍa, the excellent sage. On seeing the eminent sage Viśvāmitra, a friend and well-wisher of the worlds, he asked: “O great Sage, whence did you come here now? Who is behind you with the hideous features of a base-born class? Do tell me these things, O excellent Sage even as I ask.”

Viśvāmitra said:

46-50. This is the famous tiger among kings, Triśaṅku. The sons of Vasiṣṭha, when their anger was roused, have reduced him to the state of a Cāṇḍāla. I have promised to take him round the earth consisting of the seven continents till he regains purity (capacity to perform Yajña). I have wandered over all the Tīrthas and shrines on the earth. He has not gained purity. I am now tired. I have become ashamed. Lest I should be laughed at by the sons of Vasiṣṭha. I intend to leave off the entire earth, all the continents and oceans. I shall go beyond since I have not kept my promise. What I say is true.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

51-57. If it is so, O tiger among sages, do as I say. Do not go anywhere else leaving off the earth consisting of the seven continents. To the south-west of this mountain in the land called Ānartaka, there is the holy shrine named Hāṭakeśvara. There the very first Liṅga made of gold was installed by the excellent Suras. That Liṅga in Pātāla is glorified as Hāṭakeśvara. When his Liṅga (Penis) was retrieved by Śaṃbhu, the waters of Pātāla Jāhnavī surged forth from Rasātala, O excellent one among twice-borns. Let the king enter Pātāla with effort and take his holy bath in the waters of Jāhnavī faithfully. Thereafter let him visit that Hāṭakeśvara Liṅga. Thereby he will become pure and rid of the Cāṇḍāla state. You too shall regain your glory of realizing your objective cherished by you in your heart. If you perform penance there, you will get something more too.

Sūta said:

58-60. On hearing his words, Viśvāmitra, the leading sage, went there immediately accompanied by Triśaṅku. Through the Devamārga (divine path) he entered Pātāla and made Triśaṅku take his holy bath in accordance with the injuctions laid down. No sooner did the king take his holy bath and visit Hāṭakeśvara than the king became rid of the Cāṇḍāla sate and attained a lustre like that of the Sun.

61-63. The sage said to the king who bowed down to him and was bereft of all his sins: “O leading king, fortunately you are freed from the Cāṇḍāla state now. Luckily you have regained the power of penance and great splendour. Hence perform the Sattra with the requisite Dakṣiṇā as laid down, whereby you will attain the Siddhi that has been cherished in your heart for long. I shall myself go to Pitāmaha and plead to him on your behalf.

64. The primordial Lord of all the Devas shall partake of his share in the Yajña. By the time I return from Brahmaloka, get together all the requisite things of the Sattra. Fetch them here.”

65-68. “Yes, Yours Holiness” said he. The sage of perfect holy vows approached Pitāmaha, bowed down and spoke these words: “O Prapitāmaha, I am performing a Yajña on behalf of Triśaṅku, the king, so that he will attain your region along with his human body. Hence, O Pitāmaha, do come to the sacrificial chamber along with all the groups of Suras with Śiva and Viṣṇu as leaders. Accept your share of the Yajña with your own hand in due form so that, with your favour, he may go to heaven along with his body.”

Brahmā said:

69-71. Svarga is not obtained along with one’s body, by means of Yajña rite. O Brāhmaṇa, excepting through change of body, it cannot be obtained. So do not persist in what you say to me. All of us have Agni as our mouth through whom we accept Havis in a sacrifice in accordance with what is laid down in the Vedas for the perfect welfare of the householder. So, O Brāhmaṇa, let him put the Havis in Agni. Thereby, with your favour, he will attain Svarga.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: