The Greatness of Circumambulation: The Story of Vajrangada

Verse 1 (skanda.1.136.1)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । स्वामिन्नित्यशिवानन्द भगवन्नंदिकेश्वर । आह्लादितोऽस्मि शोणेशमाहात्म्यसुधया त्वया

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca svāminnityaśivānanda bhagavannaṁdikeśvara āhlādito'smi śoṇeśamāhātmyasudhayā tvayā

Markandeya said: O Master, ever blissful in Shiva, venerable Nandikeshvara, I have been delighted by you with the nectar of the greatness of the Lord of the Red Mountain.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.136.2)

कथं वज्रांगदः पांड्यराजः शोणव्यतिक्रमम् । चक्रे कथं तद्भक्त्यैव प्राप्तवान्संपदं पुनः

kathaṁ vajrāṁgadaḥ pāṁḍyarājaḥ śoṇavyatikramam cakre kathaṁ tadbhaktyaiva prāptavānsaṁpadaṁ punaḥ

How did the Pandya king Vajrangada commit a transgression against the Red Mountain, and how, through devotion to it alone, did he again attain prosperity?

Verse 3 (skanda.1.136.3)

कथं विद्याधराधीशौ कांतिशालिकलाधरौ । दुर्वासःशापनिर्विद्धाववितौ शोणशंभुना

kathaṁ vidyādharādhīśau kāṁtiśālikalādharau durvāsaḥśāpanirviddhāvavitau śoṇaśaṁbhunā

How were the two lords of the Vidyadharas, Kantishali and Kaladhara, pierced by the curse of Durvasas, and how were they protected by Shiva of the Red Mountain?

Verse 4 (skanda.1.136.4)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । दीर्घायुष्यत्वसाफल्यं लब्धवांस्त्वं मृकण्डुज । यदियं स्थेयसी भक्तिर्भवतो भूतनायके

naṁdikeśvara uvāca dīrghāyuṣyatvasāphalyaṁ labdhavāṁstvaṁ mṛkaṇḍuja yadiyaṁ stheyasī bhaktirbhavato bhūtanāyake

Nandikeshvara said: O son of Mrikandu, you have attained the true fulfilment of your long life, since this steadfast devotion of yours is fixed upon the Lord of Beings.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.136.5)

वक्ष्ये वज्रांगदोदंतं वृत्तं विद्याभृतोरपि । यतोऽभून्महितो लोके शोणाद्रीश्वरवैभवः

vakṣye vajrāṁgadodaṁtaṁ vṛttaṁ vidyābhṛtorapi yato'bhūnmahito loke śoṇādrīśvaravaibhavaḥ

I shall tell the story of Vajrangada, and also the account of the two Vidyadharas, through which the glory of the Lord of the Red Mountain became exalted in the world.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.136.6)

आसीद्वज्रांगदोनाम पुरा पांड्येषु पार्थिवः । आस्ते यस्य भुजस्तम्भे वसुधा सालभंजिका

āsīdvajrāṁgadonāma purā pāṁḍyeṣu pārthivaḥ āste yasya bhujastambhe vasudhā sālabhaṁjikā

Long ago there was a king named Vajrangada among the Pandyas, upon the pillar-like arm of whom the earth rested as though a carved figure upon a pillar.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.136.7)

धार्मिको न्यायविज्ज्ञाता गंभीरो दक्षिणम् क्षमः । शांतो विनयवान्धीमानेकदारव्रतः कृती

dhārmiko nyāyavijjñātā gaṁbhīro dakṣiṇam kṣamaḥ śāṁto vinayavāndhīmānekadāravrataḥ kṛtī

He was righteous, learned in justice, profound, capable and gracious, calm, humble, wise, devoted to the vow of a single wife, and accomplished.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.136.8)

शिवपूजार्चनरतः श्रीमाञ्छीलवतां वरः । पृथ्वीमासेतुकेदाराच्छशास जितशात्रवः

śivapūjārcanarataḥ śrīmāñchīlavatāṁ varaḥ pṛthvīmāsetukedārācchaśāsa jitaśātravaḥ

Devoted to the worship of Shiva, prosperous, foremost among men of good character, and having conquered his foes, he ruled the earth from Setu to Kedara.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.136.9)

कदाचिन्मृगयाव्याजात्स चरन्सुतुरंगमः । अरुणाचलपर्यंतं कांतारं समगाहत

kadācinmṛgayāvyājātsa caransuturaṁgamaḥ aruṇācalaparyaṁtaṁ kāṁtāraṁ samagāhata

One day, on the pretext of hunting, riding a fine steed, he penetrated deep into a forest that stretched all the way to Arunachala.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.136.10)

स तत्र बहलामोदं कंचित्कस्तूरिकामृगम् । दृष्ट्वा तमन्वक्तुरगं प्रावर्तयत कौतुकात्

sa tatra bahalāmodaṁ kaṁcitkastūrikāmṛgam dṛṣṭvā tamanvakturagaṁ prāvartayata kautukāt

There, seeing a certain musk-deer of intense fragrance, he urged his horse after it out of eager curiosity.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.136.11)

स मृगोऽनुद्रुतस्तेन अभितः शोणपर्वतम् । प्रादक्षिण्यात्परीयाय पपात च मनोजवः

sa mṛgo'nudrutastena abhitaḥ śoṇaparvatam prādakṣiṇyātparīyāya papāta ca manojavaḥ

Pursued by him, that deer circled all around the Red Mountain in a clockwise course, moving swift as thought, and then fell.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.136.12)

ततः स भग्नसारोपि राजा जातश्रमश्चरन् । पपात वाहाद्विच्छायः क्षीणपुण्य इव द्युतः

tataḥ sa bhagnasāropi rājā jātaśramaścaran papāta vāhādvicchāyaḥ kṣīṇapuṇya iva dyutaḥ

Then the king, his strength broken and wearied by the chase, fell from his mount, his splendour drained away as though his merit had been exhausted.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.136.13)

अज्ञातकारणेनैवं मातंगेनेव पीडितः । नाज्ञासीत्क्षणमात्मानं राजा ग्रहगृहीतवत्

ajñātakāraṇenaivaṁ mātaṁgeneva pīḍitaḥ nājñāsītkṣaṇamātmānaṁ rājā grahagṛhītavat

Afflicted thus for some unknown reason, as though seized by a mad elephant, the king for a moment lost all awareness of himself, as one possessed by a planet-spirit.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.136.14)

अचिंतयच्च कोयं मे निर्हेतुः सत्त्वविप्लवः । क्व गतः स ह्यकस्मान्मे उपवाह्यस्तुरंगमः

aciṁtayacca koyaṁ me nirhetuḥ sattvaviplavaḥ kva gataḥ sa hyakasmānme upavāhyasturaṁgamaḥ

He then thought: What is this causeless collapse of my strength? Where has my horse, which was carrying me, suddenly gone?

Verse 15 (skanda.1.136.15)

इति चिंताकुले तस्मिंस्तज्ज्ञानेप्यपटीयसि । तडित्तटजटालेव सहसा द्यौरदृश्यत

iti ciṁtākule tasmiṁstajjñānepyapaṭīyasi taḍittaṭajaṭāleva sahasā dyauradṛśyata

While he was thus troubled with worry, unable to comprehend the matter, suddenly the sky appeared filled with masses of lightning-streaked clouds.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.136.16)

निरीक्षमाण एवास्मिन्हित्वा तिर्यक्कलेवरम् । तूर्णं तुरंगसारंगौ खेचरत्वमुपागतौ

nirīkṣamāṇa evāsminhitvā tiryakkalevaram tūrṇaṁ turaṁgasāraṁgau khecaratvamupāgatau

As he watched, the horse and deer, shedding their animal forms, swiftly attained the state of sky-going beings.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.136.17)

किरीटिनौ कुण्डलिनौ हारकेयूरधारिणौ । क्षौमांतरीयोत्तरीयौ स्रग्विणौ च विरेजतुः

kirīṭinau kuṇḍalinau hārakeyūradhāriṇau kṣaumāṁtarīyottarīyau sragviṇau ca virejatuḥ

Wearing crowns and earrings, adorned with necklaces and armlets, clad in silken lower and upper garments, and garlanded, the two shone forth resplendent.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.136.18)

अवोचतां च नृपतिमाश्चर्याकृष्टमानसम् । हरंताविव दन्तांशुजालैस्त्वस्यार्त्तिजं तमः

avocatāṁ ca nṛpatimāścaryākṛṣṭamānasam haraṁtāviva dantāṁśujālaistvasyārttijaṁ tamaḥ

As though dispelling the darkness of his distress with the radiant light of their teeth, the two spoke to the king, whose mind had been drawn in wonder.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.136.19)

राजन्नलं विषादेन शोणाद्रीशप्रभावतः । एतां जानीहि संजातां नवां नौ चेदृशी दशाम्

rājannalaṁ viṣādena śoṇādrīśaprabhāvataḥ etāṁ jānīhi saṁjātāṁ navāṁ nau cedṛśī daśām

O king, enough of your distress; know that this new condition of ours has come about through the power of the Lord of the Red Mountain.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.136.20)

तदोवाच तयोः किंचिदाश्वस्तइव पार्थिवः । कृतांजलिरभाषिष्ट तावुभौ विनयान्वितः

tadovāca tayoḥ kiṁcidāśvastaiva pārthivaḥ kṛtāṁjalirabhāṣiṣṭa tāvubhau vinayānvitaḥ

Then, somewhat reassured, the king, with joined palms and humility, spoke to the two of them.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.136.21)

कौ युवां निर्मितो याभ्यामभिषंगो ममेदृशः । भद्रौ भणतमार्त्तानां त्राणं हि महतां गुणः

kau yuvāṁ nirmito yābhyāmabhiṣaṁgo mamedṛśaḥ bhadrau bhaṇatamārttānāṁ trāṇaṁ hi mahatāṁ guṇaḥ

Who are the two of you, by whom this affliction of mine was brought about? Speak, O gracious ones, for protecting the distressed is indeed the virtue of the great.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.136.22)

इति तेन कृते प्रश्ने तमुवाच कलाधरः । राजानं जनिताश्चर्यं निर्दिष्टः कांतिशालिना

iti tena kṛte praśne tamuvāca kalādharaḥ rājānaṁ janitāścaryaṁ nirdiṣṭaḥ kāṁtiśālinā

When this question was thus asked, Kaladhara, prompted by Kantishali, spoke to the wonder-struck king.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.136.23)

अवेहि राजन्नावां हि पुराविद्याधरेश्वरौ । परस्परातिसौहार्दौ वसंतमदनाविव

avehi rājannāvāṁ hi purāvidyādhareśvarau parasparātisauhārdau vasaṁtamadanāviva

Know, O king, that we two were once lords of the Vidyadharas, bound to each other by deep friendship, like Spring and the God of Love.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.136.24)

एकदा तु सुवर्णाद्रेः पार्श्वे दुर्वाससो मुनेः । तपोवनमगच्छाव मनसोऽपि दुरासदम्

ekadā tu suvarṇādreḥ pārśve durvāsaso muneḥ tapovanamagacchāva manaso'pi durāsadam

One day, near the golden mountain, we went to the penance-grove of the sage Durvasas, a place hard to approach even in thought.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.136.25)

क्रोशेद्धां तपसस्तस्य शिवाराधनसाधनीम् । पुष्पोज्ज्वलामपश्याव पुण्यामारामवाटिकाम्

krośeddhāṁ tapasastasya śivārādhanasādhanīm puṣpojjvalāmapaśyāva puṇyāmārāmavāṭikām

A kroshe from there, the site of his penance and worship of Shiva, we saw a sacred garden ablaze with flowers.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.136.26)

विनीतावप्यसंजातौ तत्त्वोचितसुधीगणौ । प्राविशाव तदुद्यानं प्रसूनावचयोत्सुकौ

vinītāvapyasaṁjātau tattvocitasudhīgaṇau prāviśāva tadudyānaṁ prasūnāvacayotsukau

Though gentle by nature and possessed of an understanding fit for such matters, we had not yet reached maturity of judgment; eager to gather flowers, we entered that garden.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.136.27)

स्थलस्य तस्य सौहार्दात्कांतिशाल्यतिगर्वितः । संचचार मुहुः पादन्यासैराघट्टयन्महीम्

sthalasya tasya sauhārdātkāṁtiśālyatigarvitaḥ saṁcacāra muhuḥ pādanyāsairāghaṭṭayanmahīm

Out of fondness for that place, Kantishali, filled with excessive pride, kept wandering about, striking the ground repeatedly with his footsteps.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.136.28)

अहं तु तत्र पुष्पाणां गंधातिशयमोहितः । विकस्वरेषु पुष्पेषु न्यस्तहस्तो दुराशयः

ahaṁ tu tatra puṣpāṇāṁ gaṁdhātiśayamohitaḥ vikasvareṣu puṣpeṣu nyastahasto durāśayaḥ

As for me, deluded by the excessive fragrance of the flowers, with wrongful intent I laid my hands upon the fully-blossomed flowers.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.136.29)

ततः शांडिल्यमूलस्थो व्याघ्रचर्मासने स्थितः । दुर्वासास्तपसां राशिर्ज्वलन्निव हुताशनः

tataḥ śāṁḍilyamūlastho vyāghracarmāsane sthitaḥ durvāsāstapasāṁ rāśirjvalanniva hutāśanaḥ

Then Durvasas, that mass of austerities, seated on a tiger-skin at the foot of a Shandilya tree, blazing like fire itself—

Verse 30 (skanda.1.136.30)

अमर्षोत्कर्षनीरंध्रस्पंदमानाधरच्छदः । कराल भृकुटीबंधसारालितविशालभूः

amarṣotkarṣanīraṁdhraspaṁdamānādharacchadaḥ karāla bhṛkuṭībaṁdhasārālitaviśālabhūḥ

—his lips quivering incessantly with the excess of his fury, his broad brow furrowed with a terrifying frown—

Verse 31 (skanda.1.136.31)

सरोषोऽभूत्तेजसाढ्यो घर्मदंतुरविग्रहः । दहन्निव दृशा पश्यन्नभर्त्सयत नौ मुनिः

saroṣo'bhūttejasāḍhyo gharmadaṁturavigrahaḥ dahanniva dṛśā paśyannabhartsayata nau muniḥ

—became filled with wrath, radiant with fiery power, his body rough with beads of sweat; looking at us as though burning us with his glance, the sage rebuked us.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.136.32)

आः पापौ प्रच्युताचारौ कौ युवामतिगर्वितौ । ज्वलतः कोपवह्नेर्मे शलभत्वमुपागतौ

āḥ pāpau pracyutācārau kau yuvāmatigarvitau jvalataḥ kopavahnerme śalabhatvamupāgatau

Ah, you two sinners, fallen from proper conduct, filled with excessive pride — you have become like moths flying into the blaze of my anger.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.136.33)

तपोवनमिदं मत्कं पावनं भूतभावनम् । पादैर्न स्पृशतः क्वापि सूर्याचंद्रमसावपि

tapovanamidaṁ matkaṁ pāvanaṁ bhūtabhāvanam pādairna spṛśataḥ kvāpi sūryācaṁdramasāvapi

This penance-grove of mine, sacred and the nourisher of all beings, is not touched by the feet even of the sun and moon anywhere.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.136.34)

पुरवैरिसपर्यायाः पर्यायकमिदं वनम् । न स्पंदतेऽत्र वातोपि न लिप्यंतेऽत्र षटपदाः

puravairisaparyāyāḥ paryāyakamidaṁ vanam na spaṁdate'tra vātopi na lipyaṁte'tra ṣaṭapadāḥ

This forest is dedicated wholly to the worship of the Enemy of the Triple City; here not even the wind stirs, nor do bees ever alight.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.136.35)

तदेतत्पादसंचारैर्दूषयन्नेष पातकी । हयो भवतु भूलोके परवाह्यत्वपीडितः

tadetatpādasaṁcārairdūṣayanneṣa pātakī hayo bhavatu bhūloke paravāhyatvapīḍitaḥ

This sinner here, who has defiled it by the tread of his feet, let him become a horse on earth, afflicted by carrying another upon his back.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.136.36)

अपरोप्ययमत्युग्रे पतत्वचलकंदरे । प्रसूनगंधलोभाद्यो गंधसारंगतां गतः

aparopyayamatyugre patatvacalakaṁdare prasūnagaṁdhalobhādyo gaṁdhasāraṁgatāṁ gataḥ

And let this other one too, who out of greed for the fragrance of flowers has taken on the nature of a musk-deer, fall into the dreadful mountain caves.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.136.37)

इति तेनोग्ररोषेण शापवज्रे निपातिते । तत्क्षणाद्विगलद्गर्वावावां तं शरणं गतौ

iti tenograroṣeṇa śāpavajre nipātite tatkṣaṇādvigaladgarvāvāvāṁ taṁ śaraṇaṁ gatau

Thus, when the thunderbolt of that curse was hurled by him in fierce wrath, our pride instantly melted away and we took refuge in him.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.136.38)

अभिधाय च तं देवमाहितांघ्रिपरिग्रहैः । अमोघ एष त्वच्छापस्तदस्यांतो निवेद्यताम्

abhidhāya ca taṁ devamāhitāṁghriparigrahaiḥ amogha eṣa tvacchāpastadasyāṁto nivedyatām

Falling at his feet and clasping them, we said to that godlike sage: This curse of yours is unfailing; therefore, be pleased to tell us how its end may come.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.136.39)

अथातिदीनमनसावावामालोक्य पार्थिव । सानुग्रहोऽभून्मुनिराट् कारुण्यादतिशीतलः

athātidīnamanasāvāvāmālokya pārthiva sānugraho'bhūnmunirāṭ kāruṇyādatiśītalaḥ

Then, O king, seeing us with hearts utterly humbled, the great sage, cooled by compassion, became gracious toward us.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.136.40)

अभाषत च मैवं भो भवतोः क्वापि दुर्धियोः । शापस्य भविता शांतिररुणाद्रेः प्रदक्षिणात्

abhāṣata ca maivaṁ bho bhavatoḥ kvāpi durdhiyoḥ śāpasya bhavitā śāṁtiraruṇādreḥ pradakṣiṇāt

He said: Grieve not thus, O ill-witted ones; the end of this curse shall come for you both through circumambulation of Arunachala.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.136.41)

पुरा खलु पुरारातिरध्यतिष्ठच्छुभां सभाम् । पर्युपास्यत दिक्पालैरिंद्रोपेंद्रयमादिभिः

purā khalu purārātiradhyatiṣṭhacchubhāṁ sabhām paryupāsyata dikpālairiṁdropeṁdrayamādibhiḥ

Long ago indeed, the Foe of the Triple City presided over an auspicious assembly, attended upon by the guardians of the directions — Indra, Upendra, Yama, and others.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.136.42)

तदा च देवदेवाय नंदनारण्यदेवता । उपायनीकृतवती फलं किमपि पाटलम्

tadā ca devadevāya naṁdanāraṇyadevatā upāyanīkṛtavatī phalaṁ kimapi pāṭalam

At that time, the goddess of the Nandana forest offered to the God of gods, as a gift, a certain reddish-pink fruit.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.136.43)

बाल्यात्कुतूहलाक्रान्तौ गजाननषडाननौ । पितरं तदयाचेतां लोभनीयतरं फलम्

bālyātkutūhalākrāntau gajānanaṣaḍānanau pitaraṁ tadayācetāṁ lobhanīyataraṁ phalam

Ganesha and Skanda, seized by childish curiosity, begged their father for that most desirable fruit.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.136.44)

अथ ताववदद्देवस्तनयौ फलतर्षितौ । गोपयित्वा फलं पाणिसंपुटेन कुमारकौ

atha tāvavadaddevastanayau phalatarṣitau gopayitvā phalaṁ pāṇisaṁpuṭena kumārakau

Then the Lord, hiding the fruit within his cupped palms, spoke to his two sons, who were consumed with longing for it.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.136.45)

इमां समस्तां पृथिवीं लोकालोकेन वेष्टिताम् । यो वां प्रदक्षिणीकर्तुमीष्टे तस्मै ददाम्यहम्

imāṁ samastāṁ pṛthivīṁ lokālokena veṣṭitām yo vāṁ pradakṣiṇīkartumīṣṭe tasmai dadāmyaham

Whichever of you two is able to circumambulate this entire earth, encircled by the Lokaloka mountains, to him alone shall I give it.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.136.46)

इत्युक्ते पार्वतीशेन स्मयमानमुखेंदुना । स्कंदः प्रदक्षिणीकर्तुं मेदिनीमुपचक्रमे

ityukte pārvatīśena smayamānamukheṁdunā skaṁdaḥ pradakṣiṇīkartuṁ medinīmupacakrame

When Parvati's Lord, his moon-like face smiling, had thus spoken, Skanda set out to circumambulate the earth.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.136.47)

लंबोदरस्तु देवस्य शोणशैलाकृतेः पितुः । प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा पुरस्तादेव तत्क्षणात्

laṁbodarastu devasya śoṇaśailākṛteḥ pituḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā purastādeva tatkṣaṇāt

But Lambodara, circumambulating instead his father in the form of the Red Mountain, did so at once, right there in front—

Verse 48 (skanda.1.136.48)

तद्दृष्ट्वा तस्य चातुर्यं हेरंबाय त्रियंवकः । फलं वितीर्णवानस्मै प्रणयाघ्रातमस्तकः

taddṛṣṭvā tasya cāturyaṁ heraṁbāya triyaṁvakaḥ phalaṁ vitīrṇavānasmai praṇayāghrātamastakaḥ

—seeing his cleverness, three-eyed Shiva, affectionately smelling the head of Heramba, gave him the fruit.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.136.49)

अद्यप्रभृति सर्वेषां फलानामधिनायकः । भवेत्यस्मै वरं दत्त्वा ह्येकदंताय शंकरः

adyaprabhṛti sarveṣāṁ phalānāmadhināyakaḥ bhavetyasmai varaṁ dattvā hyekadaṁtāya śaṁkaraḥ

Granting him also the boon, from this day forth be the lord of all fruits, Shankara bestowed this upon Ekadanta.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.136.50)

बभाषे च सभास्तारान्सर्वानपि सुरासुरान् । प्रसरद्दशनज्योत्स्नाकर्बुरीकृतमंदिरः

babhāṣe ca sabhāstārānsarvānapi surāsurān prasaraddaśanajyotsnākarburīkṛtamaṁdiraḥ

And, his whole abode dappled by the moonlight-like radiance streaming from his teeth, he addressed all the gods and demons present in the assembly.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.136.51)

स्थावरोयं ममाकारः शोणाद्रिर्योऽस्य भक्तितः । प्रदक्षिणां वितनुते स मे सारूप्यभाग्भवेत्

sthāvaroyaṁ mamākāraḥ śoṇādriryo'sya bhaktitaḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ vitanute sa me sārūpyabhāgbhavet

This Red Mountain is my own immovable form; whoever performs circumambulation of it with devotion shall attain a form like unto my own.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.136.52)

गिरेः प्रदक्षिणेनास्य यस्य धत्तः पदे रुजम् । स सम्राट्सकलोत्कृष्टं लभते शाश्वतं पदम्

gireḥ pradakṣiṇenāsya yasya dhattaḥ pade rujam sa samrāṭsakalotkṛṣṭaṁ labhate śāśvataṁ padam

Whoever, in circumambulating this mountain, endures pain in his feet, that emperor attains the supreme, eternal state above all others.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.136.53)

इति शासनतः शंभोः शोणशैलप्रदक्षिणम् । विधाय सर्वगीर्वाणा लेभिरे स्वं स्वमीप्सितम्

iti śāsanataḥ śaṁbhoḥ śoṇaśailapradakṣiṇam vidhāya sarvagīrvāṇā lebhire svaṁ svamīpsitam

Thus, by the command of Shambhu, all the gods performed circumambulation of the Red Mountain and obtained their own desired boons.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.136.54)

युवामपि मदोद्भूतमालिन्यौ शिक्षितौ मया । प्रदक्षिणेन शोणाद्रेः शापांतो वां भविष्यति

yuvāmapi madodbhūtamālinyau śikṣitau mayā pradakṣiṇena śoṇādreḥ śāpāṁto vāṁ bhaviṣyati

You two also, whose impurity arose from pride, have now been instructed by me; through circumambulation of the Red Mountain, the end of your curse shall come.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.136.55)

तिरश्चोरपि वां सिध्येदरुणाद्रेः प्रदक्षिणा । वज्रांगदस्य पांड्यस्य नृपतेरनुबंधतः

tiraścorapi vāṁ sidhyedaruṇādreḥ pradakṣiṇā vajrāṁgadasya pāṁḍyasya nṛpateranubaṁdhataḥ

Even in your animal forms, circumambulation of Arunachala shall be accomplished by you both, through your connection with King Vajrangada of the Pandyas.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.136.56)

इत्यमर्षणमहर्षिमहाब्धेः शापहालहल शोषितगात्रौ । पातितौ बहुलपातकभारात्क्षिप्रमश्वमृगजातिषु जातौ

ityamarṣaṇamaharṣimahābdheḥ śāpahālahala śoṣitagātrau pātitau bahulapātakabhārātkṣipramaśvamṛgajātiṣu jātau

Thus, our bodies withered by the poison-like curse from that great ocean of a wrathful sage, we were cast down and, owing to the weight of our many sins, swiftly born into the species of horse and deer.