तस्यासीत्तुमुलं युद्धं भार्गवेण समं महत् अंबाकृते शितैः शस्त्रैरस्त्रैश्च तदनंतरम्
He fought a fierce and great battle with Bhargava, for the sake of Amba, with sharp weapons and missiles thereafter.
ततो ब्रह्मादयो देवाः स्वयमेव व्यवस्थिताः गताश्च ते समुत्थाप्य पुनरेव त्रिविष्टपम्
Then Brahma and the other gods themselves appeared and, having intervened, returned again to heaven.
अंबापि प्राप्य परमं गांगेयोत्थं पराभवम्
Amba too, having suffered utter defeat at the hands of Ganga's son,
भर्त्सयित्वा नदीपुत्रं बाष्पव्याकुललोचना
Rebuked the son of the river, her eyes filled with tears.
यस्माद्भीष्म त्वया त्यक्ता कामार्ताहं सुदुर्मते
"Because you, Bhishma, have rejected me, tormented by desire, O most wicked-minded one,
स्त्रीहत्यया समायुक्तस्त्वं च नूनं भविष्यसि
You will surely be stained with the sin of killing a woman."
ततः स घृणयाऽऽविष्टो भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः
Then Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, was overcome with remorse.
भगवन्काशिराजस्य सुतया मे प्रजल्पितम् ६.५७.
"O venerable one, these words were spoken to me by the daughter of the King of Kashi.
तत्किं स्याद्वाक्यमात्रेण नो वा ब्राह्मणसत्तम
O best of Brahmins, does such a thing come to pass by words alone, or not?
स्त्रीजनो वा द्विजो वापि तस्य पापं तु तद्भवेत्
Whether it is a woman or a Brahmin, the sin accrues to the one who wrongs them.
स्त्रियं वा ब्राह्मणं वापि तस्मान्नैव प्रकोपयेत्
Therefore, one should never provoke either a woman or a Brahmin.
तपो वा यदि वा दानं व्रतं नियममेव वा
Whether it is austerity, charity, a vow, or observance,
तत्पापं स्त्रीवधे कृत्स्नं जायते भरतर्षभ
All that merit is entirely destroyed by the sin of killing a woman, O best of the Bharatas.
तदत्र विषये दानं न तपो न व्रतादिकम्
Therefore, in this matter, charity alone is effective—not austerity, nor vows, nor other observances.
ततः क्रमात्समायातो भ्रममाणो महीतले
Then, wandering upon the earth, he gradually arrived,
अथापश्यन्महात्मा स सुपुण्यं तद्गयाशिरः ६.५७.
And that great-souled one beheld the supremely holy Gayashira.
चक्रे तावन्नभोवाणी वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Then the celestial voice spoke these words.
कर्तुं स्त्रीहत्ययायुक्तस्तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम
You are not fit to commit the killing of a woman; therefore, listen to my words.
अस्मात्स्थानात्समीपस्थं वारुण्यां दिशि पुण्यकृत्
From this place, go to the nearby region of Varuna, where merit is gained.
स स्त्रीहत्याकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
There, one is freed from the sin of killing a woman; there is no doubt about this.
सैव षष्ठी तिथिः पुण्या तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं व्रज
That sixth lunar day is auspicious; therefore, quickly go there.
स्त्रीहत्ययान्वितं ज्ञात्वा ततस्तूर्णमिहागतः
Knowing he was afflicted by the sin of killing a woman, he promptly came here.
स्नानं कृत्वा ततः श्राद्धं चक्रे श्रद्धासमन्वितः
After bathing, he performed the śrāddha ceremony with faith.
विपाप्मा त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ संजातोऽसि न संशयः
You are now freed from sin, O best of the Kurus; there is no doubt.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो ज्ञात्वा तीर्थमनुत्तमम्
Then, filled with wonder, he recognized the supreme pilgrimage site.
पारिजातमयीं मूर्तिं रवेर्लक्षणलक्षिताम् ६.५७.
He saw the form made of pārijāta, marked with the signs of the Sun.
तथान्यत्स्थापयामास लिंगं देवस्य शूलिनः
In the same way, he established another liṅga of the god with the trident.
ततः सर्वान्समाहूय स विप्रान्पुरसंभवान्
Then, summoning all the Brahmins born in the city,
मया विनिर्मितं विप्रा देवागारचतुष्टयम्
O Brahmins, the four shrines of the gods have been constructed by me.
पालयध्वं प्रयास्यामि स्वगृहं प्रति सत्वरम्
Protect them; I will depart swiftly to my own house.