The Birth of Jalandhara

Verse 1 (padma.6.96.1)

पृथुरुवाच । यत्त्वया कथितं ब्रह्मन्व्रतमूर्जस्य विस्तरात् । तत्र या तुलसीमूले विष्णोः पूजा त्वयोदिता

pṛthuruvāca yattvayā kathitaṁ brahmanvratamūrjasya vistarāt tatra yā tulasīmūle viṣṇoḥ pūjā tvayoditā

Prithu said: O Brahman, you have described in detail the Kartika vow, in which you told of the worship of Vishnu at the root of the tulasi.

Verse 2 (padma.6.96.2)

तेनाहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम् । कथं सातिप्रिया विष्णोर्देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः

tenāhaṁ praṣṭumicchāmi māhātmyaṁ tulasībhavam kathaṁ sātipriyā viṣṇordevadevasya śārṅgiṇaḥ

Therefore I wish to ask about the glory of the origin of tulasi — how did she become so exceedingly dear to Vishnu, the God of gods, the wielder of the Sharnga bow?

Verse 3 (padma.6.96.3)

कथमेषा समुत्पन्ना कस्मिंस्थाने च नारद । एतद्ब्रूहि समासेन सर्वज्ञोऽसि मतो हि मे

kathameṣā samutpannā kasmiṁsthāne ca nārada etadbrūhi samāsena sarvajño'si mato hi me

O Narada, how was she produced, and in what place? Tell me this in brief. In my view, you are all-knowing.

Verse 4 (padma.6.96.4)

नारदउवाच । पुरा रुद्रेण दैत्येंद्रे सिंधुसूनौ निपातिते । प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं देवा ब्रह्मादयोऽब्रुवन् । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम्

nāradauvāca purā rudreṇa daityeṁdre siṁdhusūnau nipātite praṇamya śirasā rudraṁ devā brahmādayo'bruvan śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ tulasībhavam

Narada said: Long ago, when Rudra had slain the lord of the demons, the son of Sindhu, Brahma and the other gods bowed their heads to Rudra. Listen, O king, I shall relate the glory of the origin of tulasi.

Verse 5 (padma.6.96.5)

सेतिहासं पुरावृत्तं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते । पुरा शक्रः शिवं द्रष्टुमगात्कैलासपर्वतम् । सर्वदेवैः परिवृतस्त्वप्सरोगणसेवितः

setihāsaṁ purāvṛttaṁ tatsarvaṁ kathayāmi te purā śakraḥ śivaṁ draṣṭumagātkailāsaparvatam sarvadevaiḥ parivṛtastvapsarogaṇasevitaḥ

I shall tell you that entire ancient tale, together with its history. Long ago, Indra, surrounded by all the gods and attended by troops of apsarases, went to Mount Kailasa to see Shiva.

Verse 6 (padma.6.96.6)

यावद्गतः शिवगृहं तावत्तत्राशु दृष्टवान् । पुरुषं भीमकर्माणं दंष्ट्रानयनभीषणम्

yāvadgataḥ śivagṛhaṁ tāvattatrāśu dṛṣṭavān puruṣaṁ bhīmakarmāṇaṁ daṁṣṭrānayanabhīṣaṇam

As soon as he reached Shiva's abode, he immediately saw there a man of terrible deeds, frightful with tusks and eyes.

Verse 7 (padma.6.96.7)

स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भो क्व गतो जगदीश्वरः । एवं पुनः पुनः पृष्टः स यदा नोचिवान्नृप

sa pṛṣṭastena kastvaṁ bho kva gato jagadīśvaraḥ evaṁ punaḥ punaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ sa yadā nocivānnṛpa

He asked him: 'Hey, who are you? Where has the Lord of the universe gone?' O king, when, though questioned thus again and again, he said nothing —

Verse 8 (padma.6.96.8)

ततः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिस्तन्निर्भर्त्स्य वचोऽब्रवीत् । रे मया पृच्छमानोऽपि नोत्तरं दत्तवानसि

tataḥ kruddho vajrapāṇistannirbhartsya vaco'bravīt re mayā pṛcchamāno'pi nottaraṁ dattavānasi

— then, angered, Vajrapani (Indra), rebuking him, said: 'Hey, though I have questioned you, you have given no answer.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.96.9)

अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्रातास्ति दुर्मते । इत्युदीर्य ततो वज्री वज्रेण चाहनद्दृढम्

atastvāṁ hanmi vajreṇa kaste trātāsti durmate ityudīrya tato vajrī vajreṇa cāhanaddṛḍham

'Therefore I shall strike you with my thunderbolt — O foolish one, who is there to save you?' Having said this, the thunderbolt-bearer then struck him firmly with the thunderbolt.

Verse 10 (padma.6.96.10)

तेनास्य कंठे नीलत्वमगाद्वज्रं च भस्मतां । ततो रुद्र प्रजज्वाल तेजसा प्रदहन्निव

tenāsya kaṁṭhe nīlatvamagādvajraṁ ca bhasmatāṁ tato rudra prajajvāla tejasā pradahanniva

By that blow, blueness appeared on his throat, and the thunderbolt itself was reduced to ashes. Then Rudra blazed forth with such splendor, as if about to burn everything.

Verse 11 (padma.6.96.11)

दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्तूर्णं कृतांजलिपुटोऽभवत् । इंद्रश्चदंडवद्भूमौ कृत्वा स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे

dṛṣṭvā bṛhaspatistūrṇaṁ kṛtāṁjalipuṭo'bhavat iṁdraścadaṁḍavadbhūmau kṛtvā stotuṁ pracakrame

Seeing this, Brihaspati immediately joined his palms in reverence, and Indra too, prostrating flat upon the ground, began to offer praise.

Verse 12 (padma.6.96.12)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । नमो देवाधिदेवाय त्र्यंबकाय कपर्दिने । त्रिपुरघ्नाय शर्वाय नमोंधकनिषूदिने

bṛhaspatiruvāca namo devādhidevāya tryaṁbakāya kapardine tripuraghnāya śarvāya namoṁdhakaniṣūdine

Brihaspati said: Salutation to the God of gods, to Tryambaka, the matted-locked one, the destroyer of Tripura, Sharva, the slayer of Andhaka.

Verse 13 (padma.6.96.13)

विरूपायातिरूपाय बहुरूपाय शंभवे । यज्ञविध्वंसकर्त्रे च यज्ञानां फलदायिने

virūpāyātirūpāya bahurūpāya śaṁbhave yajñavidhvaṁsakartre ca yajñānāṁ phaladāyine

Salutation to the formless one, the surpassingly beautiful one, the many-formed one, Shambhu, the destroyer of sacrifices, and the bestower of the fruits of sacrifices.

Verse 14 (padma.6.96.14)

कालांतकाय कालाय कालभोगधराय च । नमो ब्रह्मशिरोहंत्रे ब्राह्मणाय नमो नमः

kālāṁtakāya kālāya kālabhogadharāya ca namo brahmaśirohaṁtre brāhmaṇāya namo namaḥ

Salutation to the ender of Time itself, who is Time incarnate, who bears the very enjoyment of Time. Salutation, salutation again, to the one who severed Brahma's head, who is himself the embodiment of Brahman.

Verse 15 (padma.6.96.15)

नारद उवाच । एवं स्तुतस्तदा शंभुः द्विजर्षभं जगाद ह । संहरन्नयनज्वालं त्रिलोकीदहनक्षमाम्

nārada uvāca evaṁ stutastadā śaṁbhuḥ dvijarṣabhaṁ jagāda ha saṁharannayanajvālaṁ trilokīdahanakṣamām

Narada said: Thus praised, Shambhu, withdrawing the flame of his eye that was capable of burning the three worlds, spoke to that excellent brahmin (Brihaspati) —

Verse 16 (padma.6.96.16)

वरं वरय भो ब्रह्मन्प्रीतः स्तुत्यानया तव । इंद्रस्यजीवदानेन जीवति त्वं प्रथां व्रज

varaṁ varaya bho brahmanprītaḥ stutyānayā tava iṁdrasyajīvadānena jīvati tvaṁ prathāṁ vraja

'O Brahman, ask for a boon; I am pleased by this praise of yours. Through the gift of life you have won for Indra, may you attain renown.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.96.17)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । यदि तुष्टोऽसि देव त्वं याहींद्रं शरणागतम् । अग्निरेष शमं यातु भालनेत्रसमुद्भवः

bṛhaspatiruvāca yadi tuṣṭo'si deva tvaṁ yāhīṁdraṁ śaraṇāgatam agnireṣa śamaṁ yātu bhālanetrasamudbhavaḥ

Brihaspati said: 'O god, if you are pleased, then protect Indra, who has come to you for refuge. May this fire, born of your forehead eye, come to peace.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.96.18)

ईश्वर उवाच । पुनः प्रवेशमायाति भालनेत्रे कथं त्वयम् । एनं त्यक्ष्याम्यहं दूरे यथेंद्रं नैव पीडयेत्

īśvara uvāca punaḥ praveśamāyāti bhālanetre kathaṁ tvayam enaṁ tyakṣyāmyahaṁ dūre yatheṁdraṁ naiva pīḍayet

Ishvara said: 'How could this fire re-enter my forehead eye again? I shall cast it far away, in such a way that it will not afflict Indra.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.96.19)

नारद उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तं करे धृत्वा प्राक्षिपल्लवणांभसि । सोऽपतत्सिंधुगंगायाः सागरस्य च संगमे

nārada uvāca ityuktvā taṁ kare dhṛtvā prākṣipallavaṇāṁbhasi so'patatsiṁdhugaṁgāyāḥ sāgarasya ca saṁgame

Narada said: Having said this, taking that fiery form in his hand, he cast it into the salt water. It fell at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean.

Verse 20 (padma.6.96.20)

तदा स बालरूपत्वमगात्तत्र रुरोद च । रुदतस्तस्य शब्देन प्राकंपद्धरणी मुहुः

tadā sa bālarūpatvamagāttatra ruroda ca rudatastasya śabdena prākaṁpaddharaṇī muhuḥ

There it took on the form of an infant and began to cry. At the sound of its crying, the earth trembled again and again.

Verse 21 (padma.6.96.21)

स्वर्गश्च सत्यलोकश्च तत्स्वनाद्बधिरीकृतौ । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा ययौ तत्र किमेतदिति विस्मितः

svargaśca satyalokaśca tatsvanādbadhirīkṛtau śrutvā brahmā yayau tatra kimetaditi vismitaḥ

Heaven and Satyaloka too became deafened by that sound. Hearing it, Brahma, astonished, thinking 'What is this?' went there.

Verse 22 (padma.6.96.22)

तावत्समुद्रस्योत्संगे तं बालं स ददर्श ह । दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणमायांतं समुद्रोऽपि कृतांजलि

tāvatsamudrasyotsaṁge taṁ bālaṁ sa dadarśa ha dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇamāyāṁtaṁ samudro'pi kṛtāṁjali

Then he saw that infant in the lap of the ocean. Seeing the brahmin (Brahma) arriving, the ocean too joined his palms in reverence.

Verse 23 (padma.6.96.23)

प्रणम्य शिरसा बालं तस्योत्संगे न्यवेशयेत् । ततो ब्रह्माब्रवीद्वाक्यं कस्यायं शिशुरद्भुतः

praṇamya śirasā bālaṁ tasyotsaṁge nyaveśayet tato brahmābravīdvākyaṁ kasyāyaṁ śiśuradbhutaḥ

Bowing his head, he placed the infant upon his own lap. Then Brahma spoke: 'Whose is this wondrous child?'

Verse 24 (padma.6.96.24)

निशम्येति वचो धातुर्वाक्यं तु सागरोऽब्रवीत् । ब्रह्मा उवाच । सरित्पते कुतो लब्धो बालो ह्येष महाबलः

niśamyeti vaco dhāturvākyaṁ tu sāgaro'bravīt brahmā uvāca saritpate kuto labdho bālo hyeṣa mahābalaḥ

Hearing these words of Brahma, the ocean gave this reply. Brahma had asked: 'O lord of the rivers, whence did you obtain this mighty child?'

Verse 25 (padma.6.96.25)

यस्य नादेन संत्रस्ता देवासुरमहोरगाः । समुद्र उवाच । भो ब्रह्मन्सिधुगंगायां जातोऽयं मम पुत्रकः

yasya nādena saṁtrastā devāsuramahoragāḥ samudra uvāca bho brahmansidhugaṁgāyāṁ jāto'yaṁ mama putrakaḥ

'— whose roar has terrified gods, demons, and great serpents.' The ocean said: 'O Brahman, this is my son, born in the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.96.26)

जातकर्मादि संस्कारान्कुरुष्वास्य जगद्गुरो । नारद उवाच । इत्थं वदति पाथोधौ स बालः सागरात्मजः

jātakarmādi saṁskārānkuruṣvāsya jagadguro nārada uvāca itthaṁ vadati pāthodhau sa bālaḥ sāgarātmajaḥ

'O teacher of the world, please perform his birth-rites and other sacraments yourself.' Narada said: While the ocean was speaking thus, that child, the ocean's son —

Verse 27 (padma.6.96.27)

ब्रह्माणमग्रहीत्कूर्चे विधुन्वंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । धुन्वतस्तस्य कूर्चं तु नेत्राभ्यामागमज्जलम् । कथंचिन्मुक्तकूर्चोऽथ ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच सागरम्

brahmāṇamagrahītkūrce vidhunvaṁtaṁ muhurmuhuḥ dhunvatastasya kūrcaṁ tu netrābhyāmāgamajjalam kathaṁcinmuktakūrco'tha brahmā provāca sāgaram

— grabbed hold of Brahma's beard and kept shaking it again and again. As he shook that beard, water came from Brahma's eyes. Somehow freeing his beard, Brahma then spoke to the ocean —

Verse 28 (padma.6.96.28)

ब्रह्मोवाच । नेत्राभ्यां विधृतं यस्मादनेनैतज्जलं मम । तस्माज्जलंधर इति ख्यातो नाम्ना भवत्यसौ

brahmovāca netrābhyāṁ vidhṛtaṁ yasmādanenaitajjalaṁ mama tasmājjalaṁdhara iti khyāto nāmnā bhavatyasau

Brahma said: 'Since this child has caused this water to be drawn from both my eyes, he shall become known by the name Jalandhara [bearer of water].'

Verse 29 (padma.6.96.29)

अधुनैवैष तरुणः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां विना रुद्रं भविष्यति

adhunaivaiṣa taruṇaḥ sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ vinā rudraṁ bhaviṣyati

'This child shall now itself become a youth, mastered in all weapons, and shall be unslayable by all beings, save Rudra alone.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.96.30)

याति यत्र समुद्भूतस्तत्रेदानीं गमिष्यति

yāti yatra samudbhūtastatredānīṁ gamiṣyati

'He shall now go to that very place from which he arose.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.96.31)

नारद उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा शुक्रमाहूय राज्ये तं चाभ्यषेचयत् । आमंत्र्य सरितां नाथं ब्रह्मांतर्द्धानमन्वगात्

nārada uvāca ityuktvā śukramāhūya rājye taṁ cābhyaṣecayat āmaṁtrya saritāṁ nāthaṁ brahmāṁtarddhānamanvagāt

Narada said: Having said this, calling Shukra, Brahma had him consecrated as king. Taking leave of the lord of the rivers (the ocean), Brahma vanished.

Verse 32 (padma.6.96.32)

अथ तद्दर्शनोत्फुल्लनयनः सागरस्तदा । कालनेमिसुतां वृंदां तद्भार्यार्थमयाचत

atha taddarśanotphullanayanaḥ sāgarastadā kālanemisutāṁ vṛṁdāṁ tadbhāryārthamayācata

Then the ocean, his eyes brightening at the sight of him, requested Vrinda, the daughter of Kalanemi, to be his wife.

Verse 33 (padma.6.96.33)

ते कालनेमिप्रमुखास्ततोऽसुरास्तस्मै सुतां तां प्रददुः प्रहर्षिताः । स चापि तान्प्राप्यसुहृद्वरान्वशी शशास गां शुक्रसहायवान्बली

te kālanemipramukhāstato'surāstasmai sutāṁ tāṁ pradaduḥ praharṣitāḥ sa cāpi tānprāpyasuhṛdvarānvaśī śaśāsa gāṁ śukrasahāyavānbalī

Then Kalanemi and the other leading demons, greatly delighted, gave him that daughter. And he too, having gained them as excellent allies, self-controlled and mighty, with the aid of Shukra, ruled the earth.