The Glory of the Damanaka Festival

Verse 1 (skanda.1.44.1)

॥ उलूक उवाच॥ इतीदमुक्तमखिलं पूर्वजन्मसमुद्भवम्॥ स्वरूपमायुषो हेतुः कौशिकत्वस्य चेति मे

ulūka uvāca itīdamuktamakhilaṁ pūrvajanmasamudbhavam svarūpamāyuṣo hetuḥ kauśikatvasya ceti me

The owl said: "Thus have I told you all of this — the tale born of my former birth, the nature and cause of my long life, and how I came to be an owl."

Verse 2 (skanda.1.44.2)

इत्युक्त्वा विरते तस्मिन्पुरूहूतसनामनि॥ नाडीजंघो बको मित्रमाह तं दुःखितो वचः

ityuktvā virate tasminpurūhūtasanāmani nāḍījaṁgho bako mitramāha taṁ duḥkhito vacaḥ

Having said this, when that owl named Kaushika fell silent, Nadijangha the heron, sorrowful, spoke this word to his friend —

Verse 3 (skanda.1.44.3)

॥नाडीजंघ उवाच॥ यदर्थं वयमायातास्तन्न सिद्धं महामते॥ कार्यं तन्मरणं नूनं त्रयाणामप्युपागतम्

nāḍījaṁgha uvāca yadarthaṁ vayamāyātāstanna siddhaṁ mahāmate kāryaṁ tanmaraṇaṁ nūnaṁ trayāṇāmapyupāgatam

Nadijangha said: "O wise one, the very purpose for which we came remains unaccomplished; now death alone stands as the certain task before all three of us.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.44.4)

इंद्रद्युम्नापरिज्ञाने भद्रकोऽयं मुमूर्षति॥ तस्यानु मित्रं मार्कंडस्तं चान्वहमपि स्फुटम्

iṁdradyumnāparijñāne bhadrako'yaṁ mumūrṣati tasyānu mitraṁ mārkaṁḍastaṁ cānvahamapi sphuṭam

"With no word of Indradyumna, this good man wishes to die; and after him his friend Markanda, and I too, day after day, clearly enough...

Verse 5 (skanda.1.44.5)

मित्रकार्ये विनिर्वृत्ते म्रियमाणं निरीक्षते॥ यो मित्रं जीवितं तस्य धिगस्निग्धं दुरात्मनः

mitrakārye vinirvṛtte mriyamāṇaṁ nirīkṣate yo mitraṁ jīvitaṁ tasya dhigasnigdhaṁ durātmanaḥ

"...watch them die, one after another, our friend's cause left unfulfilled. Shame on that unloving, evil-souled creature to whom his own friend's life means nothing!

Verse 6 (skanda.1.44.6)

तदेतावनुयास्यामि म्रियमाणावहं द्विज॥ आपृच्छे त्वां नमस्कार आश्लेषश्चाथपश्चिमः

tadetāvanuyāsyāmi mriyamāṇāvahaṁ dvija āpṛcche tvāṁ namaskāra āśleṣaścāthapaścimaḥ

"Therefore, O twice-born, I too shall follow these two into death. I take my leave of you now, with reverence, and with a final embrace.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.44.7)

प्रतिज्ञातमनिष्पाद्य मित्रस्याभ्यागतस्य च॥ कथंकारं न लज्जंते हताशा जीवितेप्सवः

pratijñātamaniṣpādya mitrasyābhyāgatasya ca kathaṁkāraṁ na lajjaṁte hatāśā jīvitepsavaḥ

"How could such wretched, life-clinging souls feel no shame, having left unfulfilled a promise made to a friend who came seeking help?

Verse 8 (skanda.1.44.8)

तस्माद्वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि सार्धमाभ्यामसंशयम्॥ आपृष्टोऽस्यधुना स्नेहान्मम देहि जलांजलिम्

tasmādvahniṁ pravekṣyāmi sārdhamābhyāmasaṁśayam āpṛṣṭo'syadhunā snehānmama dehi jalāṁjalim

"Therefore, without doubt, I shall enter the fire together with these two. Having taken my leave of you now out of affection, offer me the water of parting."

Verse 9 (skanda.1.44.9)

इत्युक्तवत्युलूकोऽसौ नाडीजंघे सगद्गदम्॥ साश्रुनेत्रं स्थिरीभूय प्राह वाचं सुधासमुचम्

ityuktavatyulūko'sau nāḍījaṁghe sagadgadam sāśrunetraṁ sthirībhūya prāha vācaṁ sudhāsamucam

When he had spoken thus, that owl, addressing Nadijangha, his voice breaking, his eyes filled with tears, then, growing steady, spoke a word sweet as nectar —

Verse 10 (skanda.1.44.10)

॥उलूक उवाच॥ मयि जीवति मित्रे मे भवान्मरणमेति च॥ अद्यप्रभृति कस्तर्हि हृदा मम लभिष्यति

ulūka uvāca mayi jīvati mitre me bhavānmaraṇameti ca adyaprabhṛti kastarhi hṛdā mama labhiṣyati

The owl said: "While I, your friend, am still alive, would you go to your death? From today, then, who indeed shall win the affection of my heart?

Verse 11 (skanda.1.44.11)

अस्त्युपायो महानत्र गन्धमादनपर्वते॥ मत्तश्चिरायुर्मित्रोस्ति गृध्रः प्राणसमः सुहृत्

astyupāyo mahānatra gandhamādanaparvate mattaścirāyurmitrosti gṛdhraḥ prāṇasamaḥ suhṛt

"There is a great remedy at hand — on Mount Gandhamadana there lives a friend of mine, longer-lived even than I, a vulture, dear to me as my own life.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.44.12)

स विज्ञास्यति वोऽभीष्टमिंद्रद्युम्नं महीपतिम्॥ इत्युक्त्वा पुरतस्तस्थावुलूकः स च भूपतिः

sa vijñāsyati vo'bhīṣṭamiṁdradyumnaṁ mahīpatim ityuktvā puratastasthāvulūkaḥ sa ca bhūpatiḥ

"He shall surely know your desired King Indradyumna." Having said this, that owl and that king set out ahead,

Verse 13 (skanda.1.44.13)

मार्कंडेयो बकश्चैव प्रययुर्गंधमादनम्॥ तमायांतमथालोक्य वयस्यं पुरतः स्थितम्

mārkaṁḍeyo bakaścaiva prayayurgaṁdhamādanam tamāyāṁtamathālokya vayasyaṁ purataḥ sthitam

and Markandeya and the heron too, and all went on to Gandhamadana. Seeing his companion arrive, standing there before him,

Verse 14 (skanda.1.44.14)

स्वकुलायात्प्रहृष्टोऽसौ गृध्रः संमुखमाययौ॥ कृतसंविदसौ पूर्वं स्वागतासनभोजनैः

svakulāyātprahṛṣṭo'sau gṛdhraḥ saṁmukhamāyayau kṛtasaṁvidasau pūrvaṁ svāgatāsanabhojanaiḥ

delighted, that vulture came out from his own nest to welcome him. Having, as before, exchanged pleasantries through welcome, seats, and food,

Verse 15 (skanda.1.44.15)

उलूकं गृध्रराजश्च कार्यं पप्रच्छ तं तथा॥ म चाचख्यावयं मित्रं बको मेऽस्य मुनिः किल

ulūkaṁ gṛdhrarājaśca kāryaṁ papraccha taṁ tathā ma cācakhyāvayaṁ mitraṁ bako me'sya muniḥ kila

the owl and the king of vultures then asked him the matter at hand; and the owl said: "This heron here is my friend, and this sage as well.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.44.16)

मुनेरपि तृतीयोऽयं मित्रं चार्थोयमुद्यतः॥ इंद्रद्युम्नपरिज्ञाने स्वयं जीवति नान्यथा

munerapi tṛtīyo'yaṁ mitraṁ cārthoyamudyataḥ iṁdradyumnaparijñāne svayaṁ jīvati nānyathā

"This too is the sage's third friend; and the matter is urgent — for the sage himself lives only on condition of learning of Indradyumna, and not otherwise.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.44.17)

वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यते व्यक्तमयं तदनु वै वयम्॥ मया निषिद्धोऽयं ज्ञात्वा त्वां चिरंतनमात्मना

vahniṁ pravekṣyate vyaktamayaṁ tadanu vai vayam mayā niṣiddho'yaṁ jñātvā tvāṁ ciraṁtanamātmanā

"He will surely enter the fire, and we shall follow him. Knowing you to be long-lived, I myself have kept him from it thus far —

Verse 18 (skanda.1.44.18)

तच्चेज्जानासि तं ब्रूहि चतुर्णां देहि जीवितम्॥ संरक्ष्याप्नुहि सत्कीर्तिं क्षयं चाखिलपाप्मनः

taccejjānāsi taṁ brūhi caturṇāṁ dehi jīvitam saṁrakṣyāpnuhi satkīrtiṁ kṣayaṁ cākhilapāpmanaḥ

"so if you know of him, tell us — give life to these four. Guard your own good name and win it, and destroy every sin."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.44.19)

॥गृध्र उवाच॥ षट्पंचाशद्व्यतीता मे कल्पा जातस्य कौशिक॥ न दृष्टो न श्रुतोऽस्माभिरिंद्रद्युम्नो महीपतिः

gṛdhra uvāca ṣaṭpaṁcāśadvyatītā me kalpā jātasya kauśika na dṛṣṭo na śruto'smābhiriṁdradyumno mahīpatiḥ

The vulture said: "Fifty-six kalpas have passed since my birth, O Kaushika; we have neither seen nor heard of any King Indradyumna."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.44.20)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयाविष्ट इंद्रद्युम्नोऽपि दुःखितः॥ पप्रचछ जीविते हेतुमतिमात्रे विहंगमम्

tacchrutvā vismayāviṣṭa iṁdradyumno'pi duḥkhitaḥ papracacha jīvite hetumatimātre vihaṁgamam

Hearing this, Indradyumna, filled with astonishment, though sorrowful, asked that bird the cause of so vast a lifespan.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.44.21)

॥गृध्र उवाच॥ श्रृणु भद्रै पुरा जातो मर्कटोऽहं च चापलः॥ आसं कदाचिदभवद्वसंतोऽथ ऋतुः क्रमात्

gṛdhra uvāca śrṛṇu bhadrai purā jāto markaṭo'haṁ ca cāpalaḥ āsaṁ kadācidabhavadvasaṁto'tha ṛtuḥ kramāt

The vulture said: "Listen, good sir: long ago I was born a fickle monkey. Once, in due season, spring came round —

Verse 22 (skanda.1.44.22)

तत्राग्रे देवदेवस्य वनमध्ये शिवालये॥ भवोद्भवस्य पुरतो जगद्योगेश्वराभिधे

tatrāgre devadevasya vanamadhye śivālaye bhavodbhavasya purato jagadyogeśvarābhidhe

"and there, before the God of gods, in a shrine of Shiva set in the depths of a forest, before Yogeshvara, the source-lord of the world,

Verse 23 (skanda.1.44.23)

चतुर्दशीदिने हस्तनक्षत्रे हर्षणाभिधे॥ योगे चैत्रे सिते पक्ष आसीद्दमनकोत्सवः

caturdaśīdine hastanakṣatre harṣaṇābhidhe yoge caitre site pakṣa āsīddamanakotsavaḥ

"on the fourteenth day, under the constellation Hasta, in the auspicious conjunction called Harshana, in the bright fortnight of Chaitra, the festival of Damanaka was being held.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.44.24)

अत्र सौवर्ण्यदोलायां लिंग आरोपिते जनैः॥ निशायामधिरूह्याऽहं दोलां तां च व्यचालयम्

atra sauvarṇyadolāyāṁ liṁga āropite janaiḥ niśāyāmadhirūhyā'haṁ dolāṁ tāṁ ca vyacālayam

"There, when the people had set the linga upon a golden swing, that night I climbed up onto the swing and began to rock it —

Verse 25 (skanda.1.44.25)

निसर्गाज्जतिचापल्याच्चिरकालं पुनःपुनः॥ अथ प्रभात आयाता जनाः पूजाकृते कपिम्

nisargājjaticāpalyāccirakālaṁ punaḥpunaḥ atha prabhāta āyātā janāḥ pūjākṛte kapim

"again and again, for a long while, out of my own natural, excessive restlessness. Then, in the morning, the people came for worship, and seeing a monkey mounted on the swing,

Verse 26 (skanda.1.44.26)

दोलाधिरूढमालोक्य लकुटैर्मां व्यताडयन्॥ दोलासंस्थित एवाहं प्रमीतः शिवमंदिरे

dolādhirūḍhamālokya lakuṭairmāṁ vyatāḍayan dolāsaṁsthita evāhaṁ pramītaḥ śivamaṁdire

"beat me there with sticks. I died right there upon the swing, within the shrine of Shiva.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.44.27)

तेषां प्रहारैः सुदृढैर्बहुभिर्वज्रदुःसहैः॥ शिवांदोलनमाहात्म्याज्जातोऽहं नृपमंदिरे

teṣāṁ prahāraiḥ sudṛḍhairbahubhirvajraduḥsahaiḥ śivāṁdolanamāhātmyājjāto'haṁ nṛpamaṁdire

"By those blows, many and firm, unbearable as thunderbolts — through the sheer merit of having swung Shiva — I was born in a royal palace,

Verse 28 (skanda.1.44.28)

काशीश्वरस्य तनयः प्रतीतोऽस्मि कुशध्वजः॥ जाति स्मरस्ततो राज्ये क्रमात्प्राप्याहमैश्वरम्

kāśīśvarasya tanayaḥ pratīto'smi kuśadhvajaḥ jāti smarastato rājye kramātprāpyāhamaiśvaram

"known as Kushadhvaja, son of the lord of Kashi. Remembering my past life, I gradually won complete sovereignty over the kingdom,

Verse 29 (skanda.1.44.29)

कारयामि धरापृष्ठे चैत्रे दमनकोत्सवम्॥ यथा यथा दोलयति शिवं दोलास्थितं नरः

kārayāmi dharāpṛṣṭhe caitre damanakotsavam yathā yathā dolayati śivaṁ dolāsthitaṁ naraḥ

"and had the Damanaka festival held throughout the earth in the month of Chaitra. For in whatever measure a man swings Shiva as he sits upon the swing —

Verse 30 (skanda.1.44.30)

तथा तथाऽशुभं याति पुण्यमायाति भद्रक॥ शिवदीक्षामुपागम्याखिलसंस्कारसंस्कृतः

tathā tathā'śubhaṁ yāti puṇyamāyāti bhadraka śivadīkṣāmupāgamyākhilasaṁskārasaṁskṛtaḥ

"...in that very measure, good friend, his misfortune departs and merit comes to him. Receiving initiation into Shiva-worship, purified through every rite,

Verse 31 (skanda.1.44.31)

शिवाचार्यैर्विमुक्तोऽहं पशुपाशैस्तदागमात्॥ निर्वाहदीक्षापर्यंतान्संस्कारान्प्राप्य सर्वतः

śivācāryairvimukto'haṁ paśupāśaistadāgamāt nirvāhadīkṣāparyaṁtānsaṁskārānprāpya sarvataḥ

"freed by the teachers of Shiva, through that scripture, from the bonds of worldly bondage, and having received every rite up to the culminating initiation,

Verse 32 (skanda.1.44.32)

आराधयामि देवेशं प्रत्यक्चित्तमुमापतिम्॥ समस्तक्लेशविच्छेदकारणं जगतां गुरुम्

ārādhayāmi deveśaṁ pratyakcittamumāpatim samastakleśavicchedakāraṇaṁ jagatāṁ gurum

"I worship the Lord of gods, husband of Uma, with a mind turned inward — he who is the very cause of the cutting away of every affliction, the teacher of all the worlds,

Verse 33 (skanda.1.44.33)

चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधेन वैराग्याभ्यासयोगतः॥ जपन्नुद्गीतमस्यार्थं भावयन्नष्टमं रसम्

cittavṛttinirodhena vairāgyābhyāsayogataḥ japannudgītamasyārthaṁ bhāvayannaṣṭamaṁ rasam

"through the restraint of the mind's wandering, through the discipline of dispassion and practice, reciting the meaning of the sacred chant, meditating upon the eighth flavor of devotion,

Verse 34 (skanda.1.44.34)

ततो मां प्रणिधानेनाभ्यासेन दृढभूमिना॥ अन्तरायानुपहतं ज्ञात्वा तुष्टोऽब्रवीद्धरः

tato māṁ praṇidhānenābhyāsena dṛḍhabhūminā antarāyānupahataṁ jñātvā tuṣṭo'bravīddharaḥ

"and then, finding my devotion and practice firmly grounded, undisturbed by any obstacle, Hara, well pleased, spoke to me —

Verse 35 (skanda.1.44.35)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ कुशध्वजाहं तुष्टोद्य वरं वरय वांछितम्॥ न हीदृशमनुष्ठानं कस्याप्यस्ति महीतले

īśvara uvāca kuśadhvajāhaṁ tuṣṭodya varaṁ varaya vāṁchitam na hīdṛśamanuṣṭhānaṁ kasyāpyasti mahītale

Ishvara said: "Kushadhvaja, I am pleased with you today; choose the boon you desire. For no one else on this earth possesses such a practice as yours."

Verse 36 (skanda.1.44.36)

श्रुत्वेत्युक्तो मया शम्भुर्भूयासं ते गंणो ह्यहम्॥ अनेनैव शरीरेण तथेत्येवाह गां प्रभुः

śrutvetyukto mayā śambhurbhūyāsaṁ te gaṁṇo hyaham anenaiva śarīreṇa tathetyevāha gāṁ prabhuḥ

Hearing this, I said to Shambhu: "Let me become your own gana, in this very body." "So be it," the Lord said to me.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.44.37)

ततः कैलासमानीय विमानं मम चादिशत्॥ सर्वरत्नमयं दिव्यं दिव्याश्चर्यसमावृतम्

tataḥ kailāsamānīya vimānaṁ mama cādiśat sarvaratnamayaṁ divyaṁ divyāścaryasamāvṛtam

Then, bringing me to Kailasa, he granted me a celestial chariot, wrought entirely of gems, divine, surrounded by wonders of heaven —

Verse 38 (skanda.1.44.38)

विचरामि प्रतीतोऽहं तदारूढो यदृच्छया॥ अथ काले कियन्मात्रे व्यतीतेऽत्रैवं पर्वते

vicarāmi pratīto'haṁ tadārūḍho yadṛcchayā atha kāle kiyanmātre vyatīte'traivaṁ parvate

and, delighted, mounted upon it, I roam wherever I please. Then, after some time had passed, upon this very mountain,

Verse 39 (skanda.1.44.39)

गवाक्षाधिष्ठितोऽपश्यं वसंते मुनिकन्यकाम्॥ प्रवाति दक्षिणे वायौ मदनाग्निप्रदीपितः

gavākṣādhiṣṭhito'paśyaṁ vasaṁte munikanyakām pravāti dakṣiṇe vāyau madanāgnipradīpitaḥ

peering out through a window, I saw, in the season of spring, a sage's daughter — the southern breeze was blowing, and I was set ablaze by the fire of desire —

Verse 40 (skanda.1.44.40)

अग्निवेश्यसुतां भद्र विवस्त्रां जलमध्यगाम्॥ उद्भिन्नयौवनां श्यामां मध्यक्षामां मृगेक्षणाम्

agniveśyasutāṁ bhadra vivastrāṁ jalamadhyagām udbhinnayauvanāṁ śyāmāṁ madhyakṣāmāṁ mṛgekṣaṇām

the daughter of Agnivesya, good sir, unclothed, standing amid the water — her youth just come, dark of hue, slender of waist, doe-eyed,

Verse 41 (skanda.1.44.41)

विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगां रंभोरुं संहतस्तनीम्॥ तामंकुरितलावण्यां जलसेका दिवाग्रतः

vistīrṇajaghanābhogāṁ raṁbhoruṁ saṁhatastanīm tāmaṁkuritalāvaṇyāṁ jalasekā divāgrataḥ

wide of hip, her thighs like plantain stalks, her full breasts pressed close together — her beauty just budding, bathing there in the water before the day had fully come —

Verse 42 (skanda.1.44.42)

प्रोन्निद्रपंकजमुखीं वर्णनीयतमाकृतिम्॥ यथाप्रज्ञानयाथात्म्याद्विद्विद्भिरपि वर्णिनीम्

pronnidrapaṁkajamukhīṁ varṇanīyatamākṛtim yathāprajñānayāthātmyādvidvidbhirapi varṇinīm

her face a lotus just opening, her form beyond all fitting description — one whom even the wise, for all their true understanding, could hardly describe as she deserved,

Verse 43 (skanda.1.44.43)

प्रोद्यत्कटाक्षविक्षेपैः शरव्रातैरिव स्मरः॥ स्वयं तदंगमास्थाय ताडयामास मां दृढम्

prodyatkaṭākṣavikṣepaiḥ śaravrātairiva smaraḥ svayaṁ tadaṁgamāsthāya tāḍayāmāsa māṁ dṛḍham

and with the rising volleys of her sidelong glances, like a shower of arrows, Kama himself, taking on her very form, began to strike me down without mercy.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.44.44)

वयस्यासंवृचामेवं खेलमानां यदृच्छया॥ अवतीर्याहमहरं विमानान्मदनातुरः

vayasyāsaṁvṛcāmevaṁ khelamānāṁ yadṛcchayā avatīryāhamaharaṁ vimānānmadanāturaḥ

While she, unaware of anything beyond her companions, played there freely at will, I, tormented by desire, descended from my chariot,

Verse 45 (skanda.1.44.45)

सा गृहीता मया दीर्घं प्रकुर्वाणा महास्वनम्॥ तातेति च विमानस्था रुरोदातीव भद्रक

sā gṛhītā mayā dīrghaṁ prakurvāṇā mahāsvanam tāteti ca vimānasthā rurodātīva bhadraka

and seized her; she cried out loudly, calling "Father!" again and again, and, held there in my chariot, good friend, wept without end.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.44.46)

ततो वयस्यास्ता दीना मुनिमाहुः प्रधाविताः॥ वैमानिकेन केनापि ह्रियते तव पुत्रिका

tato vayasyāstā dīnā munimāhuḥ pradhāvitāḥ vaimānikena kenāpi hriyate tava putrikā

Then her distraught companions ran to the sage and cried: "Your daughter is being carried off by some rider of a heavenly chariot!

Verse 47 (skanda.1.44.47)

रुदन्तीं भगवन्नेतां त्राह्युत्तिष्ठेति सर्वतः॥ तासां तदाकर्ण्य वचो मुनिर्भद्रतपोनिधिः

rudantīṁ bhagavannetāṁ trāhyuttiṣṭheti sarvataḥ tāsāṁ tadākarṇya vaco munirbhadrataponidhiḥ

"Save her, O Lord, she is weeping — rise up!" — so they cried from every side. Hearing their words, that sage, a very treasury of blessed austerity,

Verse 48 (skanda.1.44.48)

अग्निवेश्योऽभ्यगात्तस्या व्योमन्युपपदं त्वरन्॥ तिष्ठतिष्ठेति मामुक्त्वा संस्तभ्य तपसा गतिम्

agniveśyo'bhyagāttasyā vyomanyupapadaṁ tvaran tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti māmuktvā saṁstabhya tapasā gatim

Agnivesya, sped into the sky in pursuit; crying "Stop, stop!" to me, he froze my very motion by the power of his austerity.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.44.49)

ततः प्रकुपितः प्राह मुनिमामति दुःसहम्॥ ॥अग्निवेश्य उवाच॥ यस्मान्मदीया तनया मांसपेशीव ते हृता

tataḥ prakupitaḥ prāha munimāmati duḥsaham agniveśya uvāca yasmānmadīyā tanayā māṁsapeśīva te hṛtā

Then, greatly enraged, he spoke to me a word most unbearable — Agnivesya said: "Since you have carried off my own daughter as though she were a mere piece of flesh —

Verse 50 (skanda.1.44.50)

गृध्रेणेवाऽधुना व्योम्नि तस्माद्गध्रो भव द्रुतम्॥ अनिच्छंती मदीयेयं सुता बाला तपस्विनी

gṛdhreṇevā'dhunā vyomni tasmādgadhro bhava drutam anicchaṁtī madīyeyaṁ sutā bālā tapasvinī

"...like a vulture just now in the sky — therefore become a vulture at once! This reluctant young ascetic, my own daughter —

Verse 51 (skanda.1.44.51)

त्वया हृताधुनास्यैतत्फलमाप्नुहि दुर्मते॥ इत्याकर्ण्य भयाविष्टो लज्जयाधोमुखो मुनेः

tvayā hṛtādhunāsyaitatphalamāpnuhi durmate ityākarṇya bhayāviṣṭo lajjayādhomukho muneḥ

"...you have just now carried her off — reap the fruit of it, foolish one!" Hearing this, seized with fear, my face bowed low in shame, before that sage...

Verse 52 (skanda.1.44.52)

पादौ प्रगृह्य न्यपतं रुदन्नतितरां तदा॥ न मयेयं परिज्ञाय हृता नाद्यापि धर्षिता

pādau pragṛhya nyapataṁ rudannatitarāṁ tadā na mayeyaṁ parijñāya hṛtā nādyāpi dharṣitā

...I fell, clasping his feet, weeping without restraint, and said: "I did not knowingly carry her off, and even now no harm has come to her.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.44.53)

प्रसादं कुरु ते शापं व्यावर्तय तपोनिधे॥ प्रणतेषु क्षमावन्तो निसर्गेण तपोधनाः

prasādaṁ kuru te śāpaṁ vyāvartaya taponidhe praṇateṣu kṣamāvanto nisargeṇa tapodhanāḥ

"Show me your grace, withdraw your curse, O treasury of austerity; those rich in penance are, by their very nature, forgiving toward those who bow before them —

Verse 54 (skanda.1.44.54)

भवंति संतस्तद्गृध्रो मा भवेयं प्रसीद मे॥ इति प्रपन्नेन मया प्रणतोऽसौ महामुनिः

bhavaṁti saṁtastadgṛdhro mā bhaveyaṁ prasīda me iti prapannena mayā praṇato'sau mahāmuniḥ

"...so it is with the virtuous; let me not become a vulture, then — be pleased with me." Thus, taking refuge, I bowed before that great sage;

Verse 55 (skanda.1.44.55)

प्रसन्नः प्राह नो मिथ्या मम वाक्यं भवेत्क्वचित्॥ किं त्विंद्रद्युम्नभूपालपरिज्ञाने सहायताम्

prasannaḥ prāha no mithyā mama vākyaṁ bhavetkvacit kiṁ tviṁdradyumnabhūpālaparijñāne sahāyatām

pleased, he said: "My word can never prove false — and yet, when you become a helper in the discovery of King Indradyumna...

Verse 56 (skanda.1.44.56)

यदा यास्यसि शापस्य तदा मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि

yadā yāsyasi śāpasya tadā muktimavāpsyasi

"...only then shall you win release from this curse."

Verse 57 (skanda.1.44.57)

इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिः प्रायाद्गृहीत्वा निजकन्यकाम्॥ अखण्डशीलां स्वावासमहं गृध्रोऽभवं तदा

ityuktvā sa muniḥ prāyādgṛhītvā nijakanyakām akhaṇḍaśīlāṁ svāvāsamahaṁ gṛdhro'bhavaṁ tadā

Having said this, that sage departed for his own dwelling, taking with him his daughter, her purity unbroken; and I then became a vulture.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.44.58)

एवं तदा दमनकोत्सव ईश्वरस्य आंदोलनेन नृपवेश्मनि मेऽवतारः॥ शम्भोर्गणत्वमभवच्च तथाग्निवेश्यशापेन गृध्र इह भद्र तवेदमुक्तम्

evaṁ tadā damanakotsava īśvarasya āṁdolanena nṛpaveśmani me'vatāraḥ śambhorgaṇatvamabhavacca tathāgniveśyaśāpena gṛdhra iha bhadra tavedamuktam

Thus, then, through the swinging of the god at the Damanaka festival, I was born in a royal palace; and lordship among Shambhu's Ganas came to me; and thus too, through Agnivesya's curse, good sir, I became here a vulture — this has now been told to you.