Shesha Upholds the Earth

Verse 1 (1.36.1)

आख्याता भुजगास्तात वीर्यवन्तो दुरासदाः । शापं तं तेऽभिविज्ञाय कृतवन्तः किमुत्तरम् ॥

ākhyātā bhujagāstāta vīryavanto durāsadāḥ | śāpaṃ taṃ te'bhivijñāya kṛtavantaḥ kimuttaram

You have told of the serpents, my son, mighty and hard to approach. Once they had learned of that curse, what did they do next?

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from शौन (truncated in the source) to शौनक. Aligned by hand with 1.32.1 of the critical edition, whose wording differs slightly.

Verse 2 (1.36.2)

तेषां तु भगवाञ्छेषः कद्रूं त्यक्त्वा महायशाः । उग्रं तपः समातस्थे वायुभक्षो यतव्रतः ॥

teṣāṃ tu bhagavāñcheṣaḥ kadrūṃ tyaktvā mahāyaśāḥ | ugraṃ tapaḥ samātasthe vāyubhakṣo yatavrataḥ

Among them the blessed Shesha, of great fame, left Kadru and took up fierce austerity, living on air and keeping strict vows.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with 1.32.2 of the critical edition.

Verse 3 (1.36.3)

गन्धमादनमासाद्य बदर्यां च तपोरतः । गोकर्णे पुष्करारण्ये तथा हिमवतस्तटे ॥

gandhamādanamāsādya badaryāṃ ca taporataḥ | gokarṇe puṣkarāraṇye tathā himavatastaṭe

Devoted to austerity, he went to Gandhamadana and to Badari, to Gokarna, to the forest of Pushkara and to the slopes of the Himalaya.

Verse 4 (1.36.4)

तेषु तेषु च पुण्येषु तीर्थेष्वायतनेषु च । एकान्तशीलो नियतः सततं विजितेन्द्रियः ॥

teṣu teṣu ca puṇyeṣu tīrtheṣvāyataneṣu ca | ekāntaśīlo niyataḥ satataṃ vijitendriyaḥ

At those holy places, at sacred fords and shrines one after another, he lived in solitude, restrained, his senses always under control.

Verse 5 (1.36.5)

तप्यमानं तपो घोरं तं ददर्श पितामहः । संशुष्कमांसत्वक्स्नायुं जटाचीरधरं मुनिम् ॥

tapyamānaṃ tapo ghoraṃ taṃ dadarśa pitāmahaḥ | saṃśuṣkamāṃsatvaksnāyuṃ jaṭācīradharaṃ munim

The Grandfather saw him performing terrible austerities: a sage with matted hair, wearing bark, his flesh, skin and sinews dried away.

Verse 6 (1.36.6)

तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिं तप्यमानं पितामहः । किमिदं कुरुषे शेष प्रजानां स्वस्ति वै कुरु ॥

tamabravītsatyadhṛtiṃ tapyamānaṃ pitāmahaḥ | kimidaṃ kuruṣe śeṣa prajānāṃ svasti vai kuru

The Grandfather said to him, steadfast in truth as he practised his austerity: "What is this you are doing, Shesha? Work for the welfare of creatures.

Verse 7 (1.36.7)

त्वं हि तीव्रेण तपसा प्रजास्तापयसेऽनघ । ब्रूहि कामं च मे शेष यस्ते हृदि व्यवस्थितः ॥

tvaṃ hi tīvreṇa tapasā prajāstāpayase'nagha | brūhi kāmaṃ ca me śeṣa yaste hṛdi vyavasthitaḥ

For with your fierce austerity, sinless one, you are scorching all creatures. Tell me, Shesha, what desire is fixed in your heart."

Verse 8 (1.36.8)

सोदर्या मम सर्वे हि भ्रातरो मन्दचेतसः । सह तैर्नोत्सहे वस्तुं तद्भवाननुमन्यताम् ॥

sodaryā mama sarve hi bhrātaro mandacetasaḥ | saha tairnotsahe vastuṃ tadbhavānanumanyatām

All my brothers, born of the same womb, are dull-witted. I cannot bear to live with them. Give me your consent to this.

Verse 9 (1.36.9)

अभ्यसूयन्ति सततं परस्परममित्रवत् । ततोऽहं तप आतिष्ठे नैतान्पश्येयमित्युत ॥

abhyasūyanti satataṃ parasparamamitravat | tato'haṃ tapa ātiṣṭhe naitānpaśyeyamityuta

They are forever jealous of one another, as if they were enemies. So I have taken to austerity, so that I need not see them.

Note on the text: Corrected नैतन्पश्येयम् → नैतान्पश्येयम् (misprint in Wikisource; "them" needs the accusative plural एतान्, as in the critical edition).

Verse 10 (1.36.10)

न मर्षयन्ति ससुतां सततं विनतां च ते । अस्माकं चापरो भ्राता वैनतेयोऽन्तरिक्षगः ॥

na marṣayanti sasutāṃ satataṃ vinatāṃ ca te | asmākaṃ cāparo bhrātā vainateyo'ntarikṣagaḥ

They never tolerate Vinata and her son. And Vinata's son, who travels through the sky, is another brother of ours.

Verse 11 (1.36.11)

तं च द्विषन्ति सततं स चापि बलवत्तरः । वरप्रदानात्स पितुः कश्यपस्य महात्मनः ॥

taṃ ca dviṣanti satataṃ sa cāpi balavattaraḥ | varapradānātsa pituḥ kaśyapasya mahātmanaḥ

Yet they hate him constantly, though he is by far the stronger, through the boon granted by his father, the great-souled Kashyapa.

Verse 12 (1.36.12)

सोऽहं तपः समास्थाय मोक्ष्यामीदं कलेवरम् । कथं मे प्रेत्यभावेऽपि न तैः स्यात्सह सङ्गमः ॥

so'haṃ tapaḥ samāsthāya mokṣyāmīdaṃ kalevaram | kathaṃ me pretyabhāve'pi na taiḥ syātsaha saṅgamaḥ

So I have taken up austerity and will give up this body, so that even after death I may have no company with them.

Verse 13 (1.36.13)

तमेवं वादिनं शेषं पितामह उवाच ह । जानामि शेष सर्वेषां भ्रातॄणां ते विचेष्टितम् ॥

tamevaṃ vādinaṃ śeṣaṃ pitāmaha uvāca ha | jānāmi śeṣa sarveṣāṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ te viceṣṭitam

To Shesha as he spoke thus, the Grandfather said: "Shesha, I know how all your brothers behave.

Note on the text: The first line (तमेवं वादिनं शेषं पितामह उवाच ह) is not in the critical edition, which marks Brahma's reply with a speaker line instead; the second line = 1.32.13ab (aligned by hand). From here to verse 16 Wikisource's verse division runs half a verse behind the critical edition's.

Verse 14 (1.36.14)

मातुश्चाप्यपराधाद्वै भ्रातॄणां ते महद्भयम् । कृतोऽत्र परिहारश्च पूर्वमेव भुजङ्गम ॥

mātuścāpyaparādhādvai bhrātṝṇāṃ te mahadbhayam | kṛto'tra parihāraśca pūrvameva bhujaṅgama

Because of their mother's offence a great danger hangs over your brothers. But a remedy for it was arranged long beforehand, serpent.

Note on the text: = 1.32.13cd + 1.32.14ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 15 (1.36.15)

भ्रातॄणां तव सर्वेषां न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि । वृणीष्व च वरं मत्तः शेष यत्तेऽभिकाङ्क्षितम् ॥

bhrātṝṇāṃ tava sarveṣāṃ na śokaṃ kartumarhasi | vṛṇīṣva ca varaṃ mattaḥ śeṣa yatte'bhikāṅkṣitam

You need not grieve for any of your brothers. Choose a boon from me, Shesha, whatever you desire.

Note on the text: = 1.32.14cd + 1.32.15ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 16 (1.36.16)

दास्यामि हि वरं तेऽद्य प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि । दिष्ट्या बुद्धिश्च ते धर्मे निविष्टा पन्नगोत्तम । भूयो भूयश्च ते बुद्धिर्धर्मे भवतु सुस्थिरा ॥

dāsyāmi hi varaṃ te'dya prītirme paramā tvayi | diṣṭyā buddhiśca te dharme niviṣṭā pannagottama | bhūyo bhūyaśca te buddhirdharme bhavatu susthirā

I will grant you a boon today, for I am greatly pleased with you. It is fortunate, best of serpents, that your mind is set on dharma. May your mind grow ever more firmly settled in dharma."

Note on the text: = 1.32.15cd + 1.32.16 of the critical edition (aligned by hand); the critical edition reads दित्सामि for दास्यामि.

Verse 17 (1.36.17)

एष एव वरो देव काङ्क्षितो मे पितामह । धर्मे मे रमतां बुद्धिः शमे तपसि चेश्वर ॥

eṣa eva varo deva kāṅkṣito me pitāmaha | dharme me ramatāṃ buddhiḥ śame tapasi ceśvara

This alone is the boon I desire, O god, O Grandfather: may my mind delight in dharma, in tranquillity and in austerity, my lord.

Verse 18 (1.36.18)

प्रीतोऽस्म्यनेन ते शेष दमेन च शमेन च । त्वया त्विदं वचः कार्यं मन्नियोगात्प्रजाहितम् ॥

prīto'smyanena te śeṣa damena ca śamena ca | tvayā tvidaṃ vacaḥ kāryaṃ manniyogātprajāhitam

I am pleased, Shesha, with this self-control and calm of yours. But at my command you must do what I now ask, for the good of creatures.

Verse 19 (1.36.19)

इमां महीं शैलवनोपपन्नां । ससागरग्रामविहारपत्तनाम् । त्वं शेष सम्यक् चलितां यथाव- । त्संगृह्य तिष्ठस्व यथाऽचला स्यात् ॥

imāṃ mahīṃ śailavanopapannāṃ | sasāgaragrāmavihārapattanām | tvaṃ śeṣa samyak calitāṃ yathāva- | tsaṃgṛhya tiṣṭhasva yathā'calā syāt

This earth, with its mountains and forests, its seas, villages, retreats and towns, is unsteady. Grasp it properly, Shesha, and hold it so that it stands firm.

Verse 20 (1.36.20)

यथाऽऽह देवो वरदः प्रजापति- । र्महीपतिर्भूतपतिर्जगत्पतिः । तथा महीं धारयिताऽस्मि निश्चलां । प्रयच्छतां मे विवरं प्रजापते ॥

yathā''ha devo varadaḥ prajāpati- | rmahīpatirbhūtapatirjagatpatiḥ | tathā mahīṃ dhārayitā'smi niścalāṃ | prayacchatāṃ me vivaraṃ prajāpate

As the boon-giving god Prajapati has said — lord of the earth, lord of beings, lord of the world — so shall I hold the earth steady. Let an opening be granted me, Prajapati.

Verse 21 (1.36.21)

अधो महीं गच्छ भुजङ्गमोत्तम । स्वयं तवैषा विवरं प्रदास्यति । इमां धरां धारयता त्वया हि मे । महत्प्रियं शेष कृतं भविष्यति ॥

adho mahīṃ gaccha bhujaṅgamottama | svayaṃ tavaiṣā vivaraṃ pradāsyati | imāṃ dharāṃ dhārayatā tvayā hi me | mahatpriyaṃ śeṣa kṛtaṃ bhaviṣyati

Go beneath the earth, best of serpents; she herself will give you an opening. By holding up this earth, Shesha, you will do me a great kindness.

Verse 22 (1.36.22)

तथैव कृत्वा विवरं प्रविश्य स । प्रभुर्भुवो भुजगवराग्रजः स्थितः । बिभर्ति देवीं शिरसा महीमिमां । समुद्रनेमिं परिगृह्य सर्वतः ॥

tathaiva kṛtvā vivaraṃ praviśya sa | prabhurbhuvo bhujagavarāgrajaḥ sthitaḥ | bibharti devīṃ śirasā mahīmimāṃ | samudranemiṃ parigṛhya sarvataḥ

He did just so. Entering the opening, that lord of the earth, eldest of the great serpents, took his place below. He bears this goddess Earth on his head, ringed by the ocean as she is, holding her up on every side.

Verse 23 (1.36.23)

शेषोऽसि नागोत्तम धर्मदेवो । महीमिमां धारयसे यदेकः । अनन्तभोगैः परिगृह्य सर्वां । यथाहमेवं बलभिद्यथा वा ॥

śeṣo'si nāgottama dharmadevo | mahīmimāṃ dhārayase yadekaḥ | anantabhogaiḥ parigṛhya sarvāṃ | yathāhamevaṃ balabhidyathā vā

You are Shesha, best of serpents, the god of dharma, for you alone hold up this whole earth, encircling it with your endless coils, just as I do, or as Indra, slayer of Bala, does.

Verse 24 (1.36.24)

अधो भूमौ वसत्येवं नागोऽनन्तः प्रतापवान् । धारयन्वसुधामेकः शासनाद्ब्रह्मणो विभोः ॥

adho bhūmau vasatyevaṃ nāgo'nantaḥ pratāpavān | dhārayanvasudhāmekaḥ śāsanādbrahmaṇo vibhoḥ

So the mighty serpent Ananta dwells beneath the earth, alone upholding it at the command of the lord Brahma.

Note on the text: Corrected धास्यन्वसुधामेकः → धारयन्वसुधामेकः (misprint in Wikisource; the quarter-verse is a syllable short, as in the critical edition).

Verse 25 (1.36.25)

सुपर्णं च सहायं वै भगवानमरोत्तमः । प्रादादनन्ताय तदा वैनतेयं पितामहः ॥

suparṇaṃ ca sahāyaṃ vai bhagavānamarottamaḥ | prādādanantāya tadā vainateyaṃ pitāmahaḥ

And the blessed Grandfather, best of the immortals, then gave Suparna, the son of Vinata, to Ananta as his ally.

Verse 26 (1.36.26)

अनन्तेऽभिप्रयाते तु वासुकिः स महाबलः । अभ्यषिच्यत नागैस्तु दैवतैरिव वासवः ॥

anante'bhiprayāte tu vāsukiḥ sa mahābalaḥ | abhyaṣicyata nāgaistu daivatairiva vāsavaḥ

When Ananta had gone, the mighty Vasuki was consecrated king by the serpents, as Vasava was by the gods.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') and a doubled danda. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).