The Curse of Brahma and the Sages in the Deodar Forest

Verse 1 (skanda.1.6.1)

॥ऋषय ऊचुः॥ लिंगे प्रतिष्ठा च कथं शिवं हित्वा प्रवर्तिता॥ तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग परं शुश्रुषतां हि नः

||ṛṣaya ūcuḥ|| liṃge pratiṣṭhā ca kathaṃ śivaṃ hitvā pravartitā|| tatkathyatāṃ mahābhāga paraṃ śuśruṣatāṃ hi naḥ

The sages said: How did the establishment of the linga come about, apart from Shiva himself? Tell us that, O most fortunate one; we are most eager to hear it.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.6.2)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ यदा दारुवने शंभुर्भिक्षार्थं प्राचरत्प्रभुः

||lomaśa uvāca|| yadā dāruvane śaṃbhurbhikṣārthaṃ prācaratprabhuḥ

Lomasha said: When the Lord Shambhu wandered in the Deodar forest (Daruvana) begging for alms —

Verse 3 (skanda.1.6.3)

दिगंबरो मुक्तजटाकलापो वेदांतवेद्यो भुवनैकभर्ता॥ स ईश्वरो ब्रह्मकलापधारो योगीश्वराणां परमः परश्च

digaṃbaro muktajaṭākalāpo vedāṃtavedyo bhuvanaikabhartā|| sa īśvaro brahmakalāpadhāro yogīśvarāṇāṃ paramaḥ paraśca

sky-clad, his matted locks let loose, known through the Vedanta, sole lord of the worlds — that Ishvara, bearing the guise of a holy mendicant, supreme and beyond even the lords of yoga,

Verse 4 (skanda.1.6.4)

अणोरणीयान्महतो मही यान्महानुभावो भुवनाधिपो महान्॥ स ईश्वरो भिक्षुरूपी महात्मा भिक्षाटनं दारुवने चकार

aṇoraṇīyānmahato mahī yānmahānubhāvo bhuvanādhipo mahān|| sa īśvaro bhikṣurūpī mahātmā bhikṣāṭanaṃ dāruvane cakāra

subtler than the subtlest, greater than the greatest, of great majesty, the mighty overlord of the worlds — that Ishvara, in the guise of a mendicant, that great soul, went begging alms in the Deodar forest.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.6.5)

मध्याह्न ऋषयो विप्रास्तीर्थं जग्मुः स्वकाश्रमात्॥ तदानीमेव सर्वास्ता ऋषीभार्याः समागताः

madhyāhna ṛṣayo viprāstīrthaṃ jagmuḥ svakāśramāt|| tadānīmeva sarvāstā ṛṣībhāryāḥ samāgatāḥ

At midday, the sage-brahmins had gone from their hermitage to the sacred waters; at that very moment all the sages' wives had gathered together.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.6.6)

विलोकयंत्यः शंभुं तमाचख्युश्च परस्परम्॥ कोऽसौ भिक्षुकरूपोयमागतोऽपूर्वदर्शनः

vilokayaṃtyaḥ śaṃbhuṃ tamācakhyuśca parasparam|| ko'sau bhikṣukarūpoyamāgato'pūrvadarśanaḥ

Beholding Shambhu, they said to one another: "Who is this mendicant of such unprecedented appearance who has come here?"

Verse 7 (skanda.1.6.7)

अस्मै भिक्षां प्रयच्छामो वयं च सखिभिः सह॥ तथेति गत्वा सर्वास्ता गृहेभ्य आनयन्मुदा

asmai bhikṣāṃ prayacchāmo vayaṃ ca sakhibhiḥ saha|| tatheti gatvā sarvāstā gṛhebhya ānayanmudā

"Let us, together with our companions, offer him alms." Saying "So be it," they all went and joyfully brought food from their own homes.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.6.8)

भिक्षान्नं विविधं श्लक्ष्णं सोपचारं च शक्तितः॥ प्रदत्तं भिक्षितं तेन देवदेवेन शूलिना

bhikṣānnaṃ vividhaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ sopacāraṃ ca śaktitaḥ|| pradattaṃ bhikṣitaṃ tena devadevena śūlinā

Various kinds of fine, courteously offered alms-food was given, as far as each was able, to that God of gods, the trident-bearer, and received by him as alms.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.6.9)

काचित्प्रियतमं शंभुं बभाषे विस्मयान्विता॥ कोसि त्वं भिक्षुको भूत्वा आगतोत्र महामते

kācitpriyatamaṃ śaṃbhuṃ babhāṣe vismayānvitā|| kosi tvaṃ bhikṣuko bhūtvā āgatotra mahāmate

One of them, filled with wonder, said to that most beloved Shambhu: "Who are you, O wise one, who have come here in the guise of a mendicant?"

Verse 10 (skanda.1.6.10)

ऋषीणामाश्रमं शुद्धं किमर्थं नो निषीदसि॥ तयोक्तोऽपि तदा शंभुर्बभाषे प्रहसन्निव

ṛṣīṇāmāśramaṃ śuddhaṃ kimarthaṃ no niṣīdasi|| tayokto'pi tadā śaṃbhurbabhāṣe prahasanniva

"Why do you sit in this pure hermitage of the sages?" Thus addressed, Shambhu, smiling as it were, replied —

Verse 11 (skanda.1.6.11)

ईश्वरोहं सुकेशांते पावनं प्राप्तवानिमम्॥ ईश्वरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषिभार्या उवाच तम्

īśvarohaṃ sukeśāṃte pāvanaṃ prāptavānimam|| īśvarasya vacaḥ śrutvā ṛṣibhāryā uvāca tam

"I am Ishvara, O fair-tressed one; I have come to this sacred place." Hearing Ishvara's words, the sage's wife said to him —

Verse 12 (skanda.1.6.12)

ईश्वरोऽसि महाभाग कैलासपतिरेव च॥ एकाकिनः कथं देव भिक्षार्थमटनं तव

īśvaro'si mahābhāga kailāsapatireva ca|| ekākinaḥ kathaṃ deva bhikṣārthamaṭanaṃ tava

"You are Ishvara, most fortunate one, and lord of Kailasa too; why then, O God, do you wander alone for alms?"

Verse 13 (skanda.1.6.13)

एवमुक्तस्तया शंभुः पुनस्तामब्रवीद्वचः॥ दाक्षायण्या विरहितो विचरामि दिगंबरः

evamuktastayā śaṃbhuḥ punastāmabravīdvacaḥ|| dākṣāyaṇyā virahito vicarāmi digaṃbaraḥ

Thus addressed by her, Shambhu spoke to her again: "Separated from Dakshayani, I wander sky-clad,"

Verse 14 (skanda.1.6.14)

भिक्षाटनार्थं सुश्रोणि संकल्परहितः सदा॥ तया सत्या विना किंचित्स्त्रीमात्रं मम भामिनि॥ न रोचते विशालाक्षि सत्यं प्रतिवदामि ते

bhikṣāṭanārthaṃ suśroṇi saṃkalparahitaḥ sadā|| tayā satyā vinā kiṃcitstrīmātraṃ mama bhāmini|| na rocate viśālākṣi satyaṃ prativadāmi te

"— for the sake of alms-begging alone, O fair one, ever without any other purpose; without that true wife of mine, O lovely one, no ordinary woman pleases me at all, O wide-eyed one; I speak the truth to you."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.6.15)

तस्योक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा उवाच कमलेक्षणा॥ स्त्रियो हि सुखसंस्पर्शाः पुरुषस्य न संशयः

tasyoktaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā uvāca kamalekṣaṇā|| striyo hi sukhasaṃsparśāḥ puruṣasya na saṃśayaḥ

Hearing his words, that lotus-eyed one said: "Women indeed are a pleasant touch for men, there is no doubt of that."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.6.16)

तास्स्त्रियो वर्जिताः शंभो त्वादृशेन विपश्चिता

tāsstriyo varjitāḥ śaṃbho tvādṛśena vipaścitā

"Such women are indeed renounced by one so wise as you, O Shambhu."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.6.17)

इति च प्रमदाः सर्वा मिलिता यत्र शंकरः॥ भिक्षापात्रं च तच्छंभोः पूरितं च महागुणैः

iti ca pramadāḥ sarvā militā yatra śaṃkaraḥ|| bhikṣāpātraṃ ca tacchaṃbhoḥ pūritaṃ ca mahāguṇaiḥ

Thus, wherever Shankara went, all those women gathered there too; and Shambhu's alms-bowl became filled with excellent things,

Verse 18 (skanda.1.6.18)

अन्नैश्चतुर्विधैः षड्भी रसैश्च परिपूरितम्॥ यदा संभुर्गंतुकामः कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति॥ तदा सर्वा विप्रपत्न्यो ह्यन्गच्छन्मुदान्विताः

annaiścaturvidhaiḥ ṣaḍbhī rasaiśca paripūritam|| yadā saṃbhurgaṃtukāmaḥ kailāsaṃ parvataṃ prati|| tadā sarvā viprapatnyo hyangacchanmudānvitāḥ

filled with the four kinds of food and the six flavors. When Shambhu then wished to go toward Mount Kailasa, all the brahmins' wives followed him joyfully,

Verse 19 (skanda.1.6.19)

गृहकार्यं परित्यज्य चेरुस्तद्गतमानसाः॥ गतासु तासु सर्वासु पत्नीषु ऋषिसत्तमाः

gṛhakāryaṃ parityajya cerustadgatamānasāḥ|| gatāsu tāsu sarvāsu patnīṣu ṛṣisattamāḥ

abandoning their household duties, their minds fixed upon him. When all those wives had gone, those foremost sages,

Verse 20 (skanda.1.6.20)

यावदाश्रममभ्येत्य तावच्छून्यं व्यलोकयन्॥ परस्परमथोचुस्ते पत्न्यः सर्वाः कुतो गताः

yāvadāśramamabhyetya tāvacchūnyaṃ vyalokayan|| parasparamathocuste patnyaḥ sarvāḥ kuto gatāḥ

upon returning to their hermitage, found it empty; they said to one another: "Where have all our wives gone?"

Verse 21 (skanda.1.6.21)

न विदामोऽथ वै सर्वाः केन नष्टेन चाहृताः॥ एवं विमृश्यमानास्ते विचिन्वंतस्ततस्ततः

na vidāmo'tha vai sarvāḥ kena naṣṭena cāhṛtāḥ|| evaṃ vimṛśyamānāste vicinvaṃtastatastataḥ

"We do not know at all by whom, lost as they are, they have been carried off." Thus deliberating, they went searching here and there,

Verse 22 (skanda.1.6.22)

समपश्यंस्ततः सर्वे शिवस्यानुगताश्च ताः॥ शिवं दृष्ट्वा तु संप्राप्ता ऋषयस्ते रुषान्विताः

samapaśyaṃstataḥ sarve śivasyānugatāśca tāḥ|| śivaṃ dṛṣṭvā tu saṃprāptā ṛṣayaste ruṣānvitāḥ

and then all of them saw that their wives had followed Shiva. Seeing Shiva, those sages, filled with fury, arrived there.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.6.23)

शिवस्याथाग्रतो भूत्वा ऊचुः सर्वे त्वरान्विताः॥ किं कृतं हि त्वया शंभो विरक्तेन महात्मना॥ परदारापहर्त्तासि त्वमृषीणां न संशयः

śivasyāthāgrato bhūtvā ūcuḥ sarve tvarānvitāḥ|| kiṃ kṛtaṃ hi tvayā śaṃbho viraktena mahātmanā|| paradārāpaharttāsi tvamṛṣīṇāṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Standing before Shiva, all of them hastily said: "What have you done, O dispassionate great soul Shambhu? You are, without doubt, an abductor of the sages' wives!"

Verse 24 (skanda.1.6.24)

एवं क्षिप्तः शिवो मौनी गच्छमानोऽपि पर्वतम्॥ तदा स ऋषिभिः प्राप्तो महादेवोऽव्ययस्तथा॥ यस्मात्कलत्रहर्ता त्वं तस्मात्षंढो भव त्वरम्

evaṃ kṣiptaḥ śivo maunī gacchamāno'pi parvatam|| tadā sa ṛṣibhiḥ prāpto mahādevo'vyayastathā|| yasmātkalatrahartā tvaṃ tasmātṣaṃḍho bhava tvaram

Thus reviled, silent Shiva was going toward the mountain, when the sages confronted that imperishable Mahadeva: "Since you are a stealer of wives, become a eunuch at once!"

Verse 25 (skanda.1.6.25)

एवं शप्तः स मुनिभिर्लिंगं तस्यापतद्भुवि॥ भूमिप्राप्तं च तल्लिंगं ववृधे तरसा महत्

evaṃ śaptaḥ sa munibhirliṃgaṃ tasyāpatadbhuvi|| bhūmiprāptaṃ ca talliṃgaṃ vavṛdhe tarasā mahat

Thus cursed by the sages, his linga fell to the ground. Having reached the earth, that linga swiftly grew to immense size.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.6.26)

आवृत्य सप्त पातालान्क्षणाल्लिंगमदोर्ध्वतः॥ व्याप्य पृथ्वीं समग्रां च अंतरिक्षं समावृणोत्

āvṛtya sapta pātālānkṣaṇālliṃgamadordhvataḥ|| vyāpya pṛthvīṃ samagrāṃ ca aṃtarikṣaṃ samāvṛṇot

In an instant it encompassed the seven nether worlds, and, spreading from below to above, that linga pervaded the entire earth and enveloped the sky as well.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.6.27)

स्वर्गाः समावृताः सर्वे स्वर्गातीतमथाभवत्॥ न मही न च दिक्चक्रं न तोयं न च पावकः

svargāḥ samāvṛtāḥ sarve svargātītamathābhavat|| na mahī na ca dikcakraṃ na toyaṃ na ca pāvakaḥ

All the heavens were engulfed, and it grew beyond even the heavens; there was neither earth, nor the circle of directions, nor water, nor fire,

Verse 28 (skanda.1.6.28)

न च वायुर्न वाकाशं नाहंकारो न वा महत्॥ न चाव्यक्तं न कालश्च न महाप्रकृतिस्तथा

na ca vāyurna vākāśaṃ nāhaṃkāro na vā mahat|| na cāvyaktaṃ na kālaśca na mahāprakṛtistathā

nor wind, nor sky, nor ego-sense, nor the great principle; nor the unmanifest, nor time, nor even primordial nature,

Verse 29 (skanda.1.6.29)

नासीद्द्ववैतविभागं च सर्वं लीनं च तत्क्षणात्॥ यस्माल्लीनं जगत्सर्वं तस्मिँल्लिगे महात्मनः

nāsīddvavaitavibhāgaṃ ca sarvaṃ līnaṃ ca tatkṣaṇāt|| yasmāllīnaṃ jagatsarvaṃ tasmi~llige mahātmanaḥ

there was no division into duality at all; everything was dissolved in that very instant. Since the entire universe had dissolved into that great soul's linga,

Verse 30 (skanda.1.6.30)

लयनाल्लिंगमित्येवं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः॥ तथाभूतं वर्द्धमानं दृष्ट्वा तेऽपि सुरर्षयः

layanālliṃgamityevaṃ pravadaṃti manīṣiṇaḥ|| tathābhūtaṃ varddhamānaṃ dṛṣṭvā te'pi surarṣayaḥ

the wise therefore call it "linga," from "laya" (dissolution). Seeing it thus grow, those divine sages too —

Verse 31 (skanda.1.6.31)

ब्रह्मेंद्रविष्णुवाय्यग्निलोकपालाः सपन्नगाः॥ विस्मयाविष्टमनसः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्

brahmeṃdraviṣṇuvāyyagnilokapālāḥ sapannagāḥ|| vismayāviṣṭamanasaḥ parasparamathābruvan

Brahma, Indra, Vishnu, Vayu, Agni, the guardians of the quarters, together with the serpent-lords, their minds filled with astonishment, said to one another —

Verse 32 (skanda.1.6.32)

किमायामं च विस्तारं क्व चांतः क्व च पीठिका॥ इति चिंतान्विता विष्णुमूचुः सर्वे सुरास्तदा

kimāyāmaṃ ca vistāraṃ kva cāṃtaḥ kva ca pīṭhikā|| iti ciṃtānvitā viṣṇumūcuḥ sarve surāstadā

"What is its length and breadth? Where is its end and where its base?" Thus troubled, all the gods said to Vishnu —

Verse 33 (skanda.1.6.33)

॥देवा ऊचुः॥ अस्य मूलं त्वया विष्णो पद्मोद्भव च मस्तकम्॥ युवाभ्यां च विलोक्यं स्यात्स्थाने स्यात्परिपालकौ

||devā ūcuḥ|| asya mūlaṃ tvayā viṣṇo padmodbhava ca mastakam|| yuvābhyāṃ ca vilokyaṃ syātsthāne syātparipālakau

The gods said: "O Vishnu, you shall search out its root, and you, lotus-born one, its crown; the two of you shall investigate it, and become guardians each of your own domain."

Verse 34 (skanda.1.6.34)

श्रुत्वा तु तौ महाभागौ वैकुंठकमलोद्भवौ॥ विष्णुर्गतो हि पातालं ब्रह्मा सर्वर्गं जगाम ह

śrutvā tu tau mahābhāgau vaikuṃṭhakamalodbhavau|| viṣṇurgato hi pātālaṃ brahmā sarvargaṃ jagāma ha

Hearing this, those two most fortunate ones — the lord of Vaikuntha and the lotus-born — Vishnu went down to Patala, and Brahma went upward, everywhere.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.6.35)

स्वर्गं गतस्तदा ब्रह्मा अवलोकनतत्परः॥ नापस्यत्तत्र लिंगस्य मस्तकं च विचक्षमः

svargaṃ gatastadā brahmā avalokanatatparaḥ|| nāpasyattatra liṃgasya mastakaṃ ca vicakṣamaḥ

Brahma went toward heaven, intent on searching; but, keen-sighted though he was, he could not see the top of the linga there.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.6.36)

तथा गतेन मार्गेण प्रत्यावृत्त्याब्जसंभवः॥ मेरुपृष्ठमनुप्राप्तः सुरभ्या लक्षितस्ततः

tathā gatena mārgeṇa pratyāvṛttyābjasaṃbhavaḥ|| merupṛṣṭhamanuprāptaḥ surabhyā lakṣitastataḥ

Turning back by the very path he had gone, the lotus-born one reached the back of Mount Meru, where he was noticed by the divine cow Surabhi,

Verse 37 (skanda.1.6.37)

स्थिता या केतकीच्छायामुवाच मधुरं वचः॥ तस्या वचनमाकर्ण्य सर्वलोकपितामहः॥ उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं छलोक्त्या सुरभिं प्रति

sthitā yā ketakīcchāyāmuvāca madhuraṃ vacaḥ|| tasyā vacanamākarṇya sarvalokapitāmahaḥ|| uvāca prahasanvākyaṃ chaloktyā surabhiṃ prati

who stood in the shade of a ketaki flower and spoke sweet words. Hearing her words, the grandfather of all worlds, Brahma, laughing, spoke a deceitful word to Surabhi —

Verse 38 (skanda.1.6.38)

लिंगं महाद्भुतं दृष्टं येनव्याप्तं जगत्त्रयम्॥ दर्शनार्थं च तस्यांतं देवैः संप्रेषितोस्मयहम्

liṃgaṃ mahādbhutaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ yenavyāptaṃ jagattrayam|| darśanārthaṃ ca tasyāṃtaṃ devaiḥ saṃpreṣitosmayaham

"I have seen that immensely wondrous linga by which the three worlds are pervaded; I have been sent by the gods to see its very end."

Verse 39 (skanda.1.6.39)

न दृष्टं मस्तकं तस्य व्यापकस्य महात्मनः॥ किं वक्ष्येऽहं च देवाग्रे चिंता मे चाति वर्तते

na dṛṣṭaṃ mastakaṃ tasya vyāpakasya mahātmanaḥ|| kiṃ vakṣye'haṃ ca devāgre ciṃtā me cāti vartate

"I have not seen the top of that all-pervading great soul; what shall I say before the gods? I am filled with great anxiety."

Verse 40 (skanda.1.6.40)

लिंगस्य मस्तकं दृष्टं देवानां च मृषा वदेः॥ ते सर्वे यदि वक्ष्यंति इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः

liṃgasya mastakaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ devānāṃ ca mṛṣā vadeḥ|| te sarve yadi vakṣyaṃti iṃdrādyā devatāgaṇāḥ

"If I falsely tell the gods that I saw the top of the linga, and if all of them, Indra and the rest, ask —"

Verse 41 (skanda.1.6.41)

ते संति साक्षिमो देवा अस्मिन्नर्थे वदत्वरम्॥ अर्थेऽस्मिन्भव साक्षी त्वं केतक्या सह सुव्रते

te saṃti sākṣimo devā asminnarthe vadatvaram|| arthe'sminbhava sākṣī tvaṃ ketakyā saha suvrate

"— we have witnesses, they will say — speak of this at once; O you of good vows, be my witness in this matter, together with the ketaki flower."

Verse 42 (skanda.1.6.42)

तद्वचः शिरसा गृह्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः॥ केतकीसहिता तत्र सुरभी तदमानयत्

tadvacaḥ śirasā gṛhya brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ|| ketakīsahitā tatra surabhī tadamānayat

Accepting that word of the Supreme Lord Brahma, Surabhi, together with the ketaki flower, brought him there.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.6.43)

एवं समागतो ब्रह्म देवाग्रे समुवाच ह

evaṃ samāgato brahma devāgre samuvāca ha

Thus arriving, Brahma spoke before the gods.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.6.44)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ लिंगस्य मस्तकं देवा दृष्टवानहमद्भुतम्॥ समीचीनं चार्तितं च केतकीदल संयुतम्

||brahmovāca|| liṃgasya mastakaṃ devā dṛṣṭavānahamadbhutam|| samīcīnaṃ cārtitaṃ ca ketakīdala saṃyutam

Brahma said: "O gods, I have seen the wondrous top of the linga, well-formed and worshipped, adorned with a ketaki petal —"

Verse 45 (skanda.1.6.45)

विशालं विमलं श्लक्ष्णं प्रसन्नतरमद्भुतम्॥ रम्यं च रमणीयं च दर्शनीयं महाप्रभम्

viśālaṃ vimalaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ prasannataramadbhutam|| ramyaṃ ca ramaṇīyaṃ ca darśanīyaṃ mahāprabham

"— vast, spotless, smooth, exceedingly radiant, wondrous, delightful, charming, worth beholding, and of great splendor."

Verse 46 (skanda.1.6.46)

एतादृशं मया दृष्टं न दृष्टं तद्विनाक्वचित्॥ ब्रह्मणो हि वचः श्रुत्वा सुरा विस्मयमाययुः

etādṛśaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ na dṛṣṭaṃ tadvinākvacit|| brahmaṇo hi vacaḥ śrutvā surā vismayamāyayuḥ

"Such a thing have I seen; nothing like it have I ever seen anywhere else." Hearing Brahma's words, the gods were filled with wonder.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.6.47)

एवं विस्मयपूर्णास्ते इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः॥ तिष्ठंति तावत्सर्वेशो विष्णुरध्यात्मदीपकः

evaṃ vismayapūrṇāste iṃdrādyā devatāgaṇāḥ|| tiṣṭhaṃti tāvatsarveśo viṣṇuradhyātmadīpakaḥ

While Indra and the other gods stood thus filled with wonder, meanwhile the lord of all, Vishnu, the very lamp of the inner self,

Verse 48 (skanda.1.6.48)

पातालादागतः सद्यः सर्वेषामवदत्त्वरम्॥ तस्याप्यंतो न दृष्टो मे ह्यवलोकनतत्परः

pātālādāgataḥ sadyaḥ sarveṣāmavadattvaram|| tasyāpyaṃto na dṛṣṭo me hyavalokanatatparaḥ

having just returned from Patala, swiftly told them all: "I too could not find its end, though I remained intent on the search."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.6.49)

विस्मयो मे महाञ्जातः पातालात्परतश्चरन्॥ अतलं सुतलं चापि नितलं च रसातलम्

vismayo me mahāñjātaḥ pātālātparataścaran|| atalaṃ sutalaṃ cāpi nitalaṃ ca rasātalam

"Journeying on even beyond Patala, I was filled with great wonder — through Atala, Sutala, Nitala, and Rasatala,"

Verse 50 (skanda.1.6.50)

तथा गतस्तलं चैव पातालं च तथातलम्॥ तलातलानि तान्येनं शून्यवद्यद्विभाव्यते

tathā gatastalaṃ caiva pātālaṃ ca tathātalam|| talātalāni tānyenaṃ śūnyavadyadvibhāvyate

"and likewise through Tala, Patala, and Atala too — all these nether regions I saw as if utterly void,"

Verse 51 (skanda.1.6.51)

शून्यादपि च शून्यं च तत्सर्वं सुनिरीक्षितम्॥ न मूलं च न मध्यं च न चांतो ह्यस्य विद्यते

śūnyādapi ca śūnyaṃ ca tatsarvaṃ sunirīkṣitam|| na mūlaṃ ca na madhyaṃ ca na cāṃto hyasya vidyate

"void beyond even void — all this I thoroughly examined; it has neither a root, nor a middle, nor any end at all."

Verse 52 (skanda.1.6.52)

लिंगरूपी महादेवो येनेदं धार्यते जगत्॥ यस्य प्रसादादुत्पन्ना यूयं च ऋषयस्तथा

liṃgarūpī mahādevo yenedaṃ dhāryate jagat|| yasya prasādādutpannā yūyaṃ ca ṛṣayastathā

"Mahadeva, in the form of the linga, by whom this world is sustained — by whose grace you all, and these sages too, have come into being."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.6.53)

श्रुत्वा सुराश्च ऋषयस्तस्य वाक्यमपूजयन्॥ तदा विष्णुरुवाचेदं ब्रह्माणं प्रहसन्निव

śrutvā surāśca ṛṣayastasya vākyamapūjayan|| tadā viṣṇuruvācedaṃ brahmāṇaṃ prahasanniva

Hearing this, the gods and sages honored his words. Then Vishnu, smiling as it were, said this to Brahma —

Verse 54 (skanda.1.6.54)

दृष्टं हि चेत्त्वया ब्रह्मन्मस्तकं परमार्थतः॥ साक्षिणः के त्वया तत्र अस्मिन्नर्थे प्रकल्पिताः

dṛṣṭaṃ hi cettvayā brahmanmastakaṃ paramārthataḥ|| sākṣiṇaḥ ke tvayā tatra asminnarthe prakalpitāḥ

"O Brahma, if you have truly, in fact, seen the top, then who are the witnesses you have arranged there for this matter?"

Verse 55 (skanda.1.6.55)

आकर्ण्य वचनं विष्णोर्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः॥ उवाच त्वरितेनैव केतकी सुरभीति च

ākarṇya vacanaṃ viṣṇorbrahmā lokapitāmahaḥ|| uvāca tvaritenaiva ketakī surabhīti ca

Hearing Vishnu's words, Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, swiftly said: "The ketaki flower and Surabhi —"

Verse 56 (skanda.1.6.56)

ते देवा मम साक्षित्वे जानीहि परमार्थतः॥ ब्रह्मणो हि वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे देवास्त्वरान्विताः

te devā mama sākṣitve jānīhi paramārthataḥ|| brahmaṇo hi vacaḥ śrutvā sarve devāstvarānvitāḥ

"— know these two divine beings to be my true witnesses." Hearing Brahma's words, all the gods, swiftly,

Verse 57 (skanda.1.6.57)

आह्वानं चक्रिरे तस्याः सुरभ्याश्च तया सह॥ आगते तत्क्षमादेव कार्यार्थं ब्रह्मणस्तदा

āhvānaṃ cakrire tasyāḥ surabhyāśca tayā saha|| āgate tatkṣamādeva kāryārthaṃ brahmaṇastadā

summoned Surabhi, together with her, for that very purpose; she arrived there at once, for Brahma's business.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.6.58)

इंद्राद्यैश्च तदा देवैरुक्ता च सुरभी ततः॥ उवाच केतकीसार्द्धं दृष्टो वै ब्रह्मणा सुराः

iṃdrādyaiśca tadā devairuktā ca surabhī tataḥ|| uvāca ketakīsārddhaṃ dṛṣṭo vai brahmaṇā surāḥ

Questioned by Indra and the other gods, Surabhi, together with the ketaki, said: "Yes, we have seen —"

Verse 59 (skanda.1.6.59)

लिंगस्य मस्तको देवाः केतकीदलपूजितः॥ तदा नभोगता वाणी सर्वेषां श्रृण्वतामभूत्

liṃgasya mastako devāḥ ketakīdalapūjitaḥ|| tadā nabhogatā vāṇī sarveṣāṃ śrṛṇvatāmabhūt

"— O gods, the top of the linga, worshipped with a ketaki petal." Then a voice arose in the sky, heard by all present —

Verse 60 (skanda.1.6.60)

सुरभ्या चैव यत्प्रोक्तं केतक्या च तथा सुराः॥ तन्मृषोक्तं च जानीध्वं न दृष्टो ह्यस्य मस्तकः

surabhyā caiva yatproktaṃ ketakyā ca tathā surāḥ|| tanmṛṣoktaṃ ca jānīdhvaṃ na dṛṣṭo hyasya mastakaḥ

"O gods, know what has been spoken by Surabhi and by the ketaki alike to be false — its top has not been seen."

Verse 61 (skanda.1.6.61)

तदा सर्वेऽथ विबुधाः सेंद्रा वै विष्णुना सह॥ शेपुश्च सुरभीं रोषान्मृषावादनतत्पराम्

tadā sarve'tha vibudhāḥ seṃdrā vai viṣṇunā saha|| śepuśca surabhīṃ roṣānmṛṣāvādanatatparām

Then all the wise gods, together with Indra and Vishnu, in their fury, cursed Surabhi, given to false speech —

Verse 62 (skanda.1.6.62)

मुखेनोक्तं त्वयाद्यैवमनृतं च तथा शुभे॥ अपवित्रं मुखं तेऽस्तु सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतम्

mukhenoktaṃ tvayādyaivamanṛtaṃ ca tathā śubhe|| apavitraṃ mukhaṃ te'stu sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtam

"By your own mouth, O auspicious one, you have this day spoken this falsehood; may your mouth become impure, excluded from all sacred rites."

Verse 63 (skanda.1.6.63)

सुगंधकेतकी चापि अयोग्या त्वं शिवार्चने॥ भविष्यसि न संदेहो अनृता चैव भामिनि

sugaṃdhaketakī cāpi ayogyā tvaṃ śivārcane|| bhaviṣyasi na saṃdeho anṛtā caiva bhāmini

"And you too, O lady, fragrant ketaki, shall become unfit for the worship of Shiva, without doubt, and shall become false as well."

Verse 64 (skanda.1.6.64)

तदा नभो गता वाणी ब्रह्मणं च शशाप वै॥ मृषोक्तं च त्वया मंद किमर्थं बालिशेन हि

tadā nabho gatā vāṇī brahmaṇaṃ ca śaśāpa vai|| mṛṣoktaṃ ca tvayā maṃda kimarthaṃ bāliśena hi

Then that same voice from the sky cursed Brahma too: "Why, O dull one, have you spoken this falsehood, out of mere folly,"

Verse 65 (skanda.1.6.65)

भृगुणा ऋषिभिः साकं तथैव च पुरोधसा॥ तस्माद्युयं न पूज्याश्च भवेयुः क्लेशभागिनः

bhṛguṇā ṛṣibhiḥ sākaṃ tathaiva ca purodhasā|| tasmādyuyaṃ na pūjyāśca bhaveyuḥ kleśabhāginaḥ

"together with Bhrigu the sage and your own family priest? Therefore you shall become unworthy of worship and a sharer in affliction."

Verse 66 (skanda.1.6.66)

ऋषयोऽपि च धर्मिष्ठास्तत्त्ववाक्यबहिष्कृताः॥ विवादनिरता मूढा अतत्त्वज्ञाः समत्सराः

ṛṣayo'pi ca dharmiṣṭhāstattvavākyabahiṣkṛtāḥ|| vivādaniratā mūḍhā atattvajñāḥ samatsarāḥ

"And the sages too, though righteous, shall become cast out from words of truth, given over to disputation, foolish, ignorant of the truth, and envious,"

Verse 67 (skanda.1.6.67)

याचकाश्चावदान्याश्च नित्यं स्वज्ञानघातकाः॥ आत्मसंभाविताः स्तब्धाः परस्परविनिंदकाः

yācakāścāvadānyāśca nityaṃ svajñānaghātakāḥ|| ātmasaṃbhāvitāḥ stabdhāḥ parasparaviniṃdakāḥ

"beggarly yet ungenerous, ever destroyers of their own knowledge, self-conceited, obstinate, and forever reviling one another."

Verse 68 (skanda.1.6.68)

एवं शप्ताश्च मुनयो ब्रह्माद्या देवतास्तथा॥ शिवेन शप्तास्ते सर्वे लिंगं शरणमाययुः

evaṃ śaptāśca munayo brahmādyā devatāstathā|| śivena śaptāste sarve liṃgaṃ śaraṇamāyayuḥ

Thus were the sages cursed, and Brahma and the other gods likewise; cursed by Shiva, all of them took refuge in the linga.