Vrinda's Entry into the Fire

Verse 1 (skanda.2.118.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ विष्णुर्जलंधरं गत्वा तद्दैत्यपुटभेदनम् ॥ पातिव्रत्यस्य भंगाय वृंदायाश्चाऽकरोन्मतिम्

nārada uvāca viṣṇurjalaṁdharaṁ gatvā taddaityapuṭabhedanam || pātivratyasya bhaṁgāya vṛṁdāyāścā'karonmatim

Narada said: Vishnu, having gone to Jalandhara's city, in order to break through that daitya's defense, resolved to shatter Vrinda's chastity.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.118.2)

अथ वृंदारका देवी स्वप्नमध्ये ददर्श ह ॥ भर्तारं महिषाऽऽरूढं तैलाभ्यक्तं दिगंम्बरम्

atha vṛṁdārakā devī svapnamadhye dadarśa ha || bhartāraṁ mahiṣā'ārūḍhaṁ tailābhyaktaṁ digaṁmbaram

Then the noble lady Vrinda saw in a dream her husband mounted on a buffalo, smeared with oil, naked,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.118.3)

कृष्णप्रसूनभूषाढ्यं क्रव्यादगणसेवितम् ॥ दक्षिणाशागतं मुण्डं तमसाप्याऽऽवृतं तदा

kṛṣṇaprasūnabhūṣāḍhyaṁ kravyādagaṇasevitam || dakṣiṇāśāgataṁ muṇḍaṁ tamasāpyā'āvṛtaṁ tadā

adorned with black flowers, attended by flesh-eating hosts, heading toward the southern direction, his head shaven, and wrapped in darkness.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.118.4)

स्वपुरं सागरे मग्नं सहसैवाऽऽत्मना सह ॥ ततः प्रबुद्धा सा बाला तत्स्वप्नं प्रविचिन्वती

svapuraṁ sāgare magnaṁ sahasaivā'ātmanā saha || tataḥ prabuddhā sā bālā tatsvapnaṁ pravicinvatī

She also saw her own city, together with herself, suddenly sinking into the ocean. Then that young woman awoke and pondered over the dream.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.118.5)

ददर्शोदितमादित्यं सच्छिद्रं निष्प्रभं मुहुः ॥ तदनिष्टमिति ज्ञात्वा रुदती भयविह्वला

dadarśoditamādityaṁ sacchidraṁ niṣprabhaṁ muhuḥ || tadaniṣṭamiti jñātvā rudatī bhayavihvalā

She also saw the rising sun as pitted with holes and repeatedly dimmed of its light; knowing this to be an ill omen, she wept, overcome with fear.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.118.6)

कुत्रचिन्नाऽलभच्छर्म गोपुराट्टालभूमिषु ॥ ततः सखीद्वययुता नगरोद्यानमागमत्

kutracinnā'labhaccharma gopurāṭṭālabhūmiṣu || tataḥ sakhīdvayayutā nagarodyānamāgamat

She found no peace anywhere among the city gates and towers. Then, accompanied by two companions, she went to the city garden.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.118.7)

तत्राऽपि साऽभ्रमद्बाला नाऽलभत्कुत्रचित्सुखम् ॥ वनाद्वनांतरं याता नैव वेदात्मनस्तदा

tatrā'pi sā'bhramadbālā nā'labhatkutracitsukham || vanādvanāṁtaraṁ yātā naiva vedātmanastadā

There too that young woman wandered, but found comfort nowhere; passing from one forest to another, she lost all awareness of herself.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.118.8)

ततः सा भ्रमती बाला ददर्शातीवभीषणौ ॥ राक्षसौ सिंहवदनौ दंष्ट्राऽऽननविभीषणौ

tataḥ sā bhramatī bālā dadarśātīvabhīṣaṇau || rākṣasau siṁhavadanau daṁṣṭrā'ānanavibhīṣaṇau

As she wandered thus, that young woman saw two extremely terrifying rakshasas, lion-faced, their tusked mouths dreadful to behold.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.118.9)

तौ दृष्ट्वा विह्वलाऽतीव पलायनपराऽभवत् ॥ ददर्श तापसं शांतं सशिष्यं मौनमास्थितम्

tau dṛṣṭvā vihvalā'tīva palāyanaparā'bhavat || dadarśa tāpasaṁ śāṁtaṁ saśiṣyaṁ maunamāsthitam

Seeing them, she became utterly distraught and fled; then she saw a serene ascetic, seated in silence with his disciple.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.118.10)

ततस्तत्कण्ठमावृत्य निजां बाहुलतां भयात् ॥ मुने मां रक्ष शरणमागताऽस्मीत्यभाषत

tatastatkaṇṭhamāvṛtya nijāṁ bāhulatāṁ bhayāt || mune māṁ rakṣa śaraṇamāgatā'smītyabhāṣata

Then, in fear, she flung her tendril-like arms around his neck and said: "O sage, protect me; I have come to you for refuge."

Verse 11 (skanda.2.118.11)

मुनिस्तां विह्वलां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसाऽनुगतां तदा ॥ हुंकारेणैव तौ घोरौ चकार विमुखौ रुषा

munistāṁ vihvalāṁ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasā'nugatāṁ tadā || huṁkāreṇaiva tau ghorau cakāra vimukhau ruṣā

Seeing her distraught and pursued by the rakshasas, the sage, in anger, drove those two dreadful beings away with a mere roar.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.118.12)

तौ हुंकारभयत्रस्तौ दृष्ट्वा च विमुखौ गतौ ॥ प्रणम्य दंडवद्भूमौ वृन्दा वचनमब्रवीत्

tau huṁkārabhayatrastau dṛṣṭvā ca vimukhau gatau || praṇamya daṁḍavadbhūmau vṛndā vacanamabravīt

Seeing them, terrified by the roar, turn back and depart, Vrinda prostrated full length on the ground and spoke these words —

Verse 13 (skanda.2.118.13)

॥वृन्दोवाच॥ रक्षिताहं त्वया घोराद्भयादस्मात्कृपानिधे ॥ किंचिद्विप्तुमिच्छामि कृपया तन्निशामय

vṛndovāca rakṣitāhaṁ tvayā ghorādbhayādasmātkṛpānidhe || kiṁcidviptumicchāmi kṛpayā tanniśāmaya

Vrinda said: "O ocean of compassion, you have saved me from this terrible danger. I wish to tell you something — please, in your kindness, listen."

Verse 14 (skanda.2.118.14)

जलंधरो हि मद्भर्ता रुद्रं योद्धुं गतः प्रभो ॥ स तत्राऽस्ते कथं युद्धे तन्मे कथय सुव्रत

jalaṁdharo hi madbhartā rudraṁ yoddhuṁ gataḥ prabho || sa tatrā'ste kathaṁ yuddhe tanme kathaya suvrata

"My husband, O lord, is Jalandhara, who has gone to fight Rudra. Tell me, O virtuous one, how he now fares in that battle."

Verse 15 (skanda.2.118.15)

॥नारद उवाच॥ मुनिस्तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य कृपयोर्ध्वमवैक्षत ॥ तावत्कपी समायातौ प्रणम्य चाग्रतः स्थितौ

nārada uvāca munistadvākyamākarṇya kṛpayordhvamavaikṣata || tāvatkapī samāyātau praṇamya cāgrataḥ sthitau

Narada said: The sage, hearing her words, looked upward with compassion; at once two monkeys came, bowed, and stood before him.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.118.16)

ततस्तद्भ्रूलतासंज्ञानियुक्तौ गगनं गतौ ॥ गत्वा क्षणार्द्धादागत्य प्रणतावग्रतः स्थितौ ॥ शिरःकबन्धे हस्तौ च गृहीत्वा समुपस्थितौ

tatastadbhrūlatāsaṁjñāniyuktau gaganaṁ gatau || gatvā kṣaṇārddhādāgatya praṇatāvagrataḥ sthitau || śiraḥkabaṁdhe hastau ca gṛhītvā samupasthitau

Then, receiving his command through a mere signal of his eyebrows, the two flew up into the sky and, returning within half an instant, stood bowing before him, bearing in their hands a severed head and torso.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.118.17)

शिरःकबंधे हस्तौ च दृष्ट्वाऽब्धितनयस्य सा ॥ पपात मूर्छिता भूमौ भर्तृव्यसनदुःखिता

śiraḥkabaṁdhe hastau ca dṛṣṭvā'bdhitanayasya sā || papāta mūrcchitā bhūmau bhartṛvyasanaduḥkhitā

Seeing in their hands the severed head and torso of the son of the ocean, she fainted and fell to the ground, stricken with grief at her husband's misfortune.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.118.18)

कमंडलूदकैः सिक्त्वा मुनिनाऽऽश्वासिता तदा ॥ स्वभर्तृभाले सा भालं कृत्वा दीना रुरोद ह

kamaṁḍalūdakaiḥ siktvā muninā'āśvāsitā tadā || svabhartṛbhāle sā bhālaṁ kṛtvā dīnā ruroda ha

The sage sprinkled her with water from his water-pot and revived her; then, wretched, she pressed her forehead to her husband's forehead and wept.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.118.19)

॥वृन्दोवाच॥ यः पुरा सुखसंवादे विनोदयसि मां प्रभो ॥ स कथं न वदस्यद्य वल्लभा मामनागसम्

vṛndovāca yaḥ purā sukhasaṁvāde vinodayasi māṁ prabho || sa kathaṁ na vadasyadya vallabhā māmanāgasam

Vrinda said: "O my lord, you who once delighted me with sweet conversation — why do you not speak now to me, your innocent beloved?

Verse 20 (skanda.2.118.20)

येन देवाः सगंधर्वा निर्जिता विष्णुना सह ॥ स कथं तापसेनाऽद्य त्रैलोक्यविजयी हतः

yena devāḥ sagaṁdharvā nirjitā viṣṇunā saha || sa kathaṁ tāpasenā'dya trailokyavijayī hataḥ

He who conquered the gods and gandharvas, and Vishnu too — that conqueror of the three worlds — how has he been slain today by a mere ascetic?"

Verse 21 (skanda.2.118.21)

॥नारद उवाच॥ रुदित्वेति तदा वृन्दा तं मुनिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ॥वृन्दोवाच॥ कृपानिधे मुनिश्रेष्ठ जीवयैनं मम प्रियम्

nārada uvāca ruditveti tadā vṛndā taṁ muniṁ vākyamabravīt || vṛndovāca kṛpānidhe muniśreṣṭha jīvayainaṁ mama priyam

Narada said: Weeping thus, Vrinda spoke these words to the sage. Vrinda said: "O ocean of mercy, O best of sages, bring my beloved back to life.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.118.22)

त्वमेवास्य मुने शक्तो जीवनाय मतो मम ॥ ॥नारद उवाच॥ इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य प्रहसन्मुनिरब्रवीत्

tvamevāsya mune śakto jīvanāya mato mama || nārada uvāca iti tadvākyamākarṇya prahasanmunirabravīt

I believe, O sage, that you alone have the power to restore his life." Narada said: Hearing these words, the sage smiled and said —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.118.23)

॥मुनिरुवाच॥ नाऽयं जीवयितुं शक्तो रुद्रेण निहतो युधि ॥ तथाऽपि त्वत्कृपाविष्ट एनं संजीवयाम्यहम्

muniruvāca nā'yaṁ jīvayituṁ śakto rudreṇa nihato yudhi || tathā'pi tvatkṛpāviṣṭa enaṁ saṁjīvayāmyaham

The sage said: "This one, slain by Rudra in battle, cannot truly be revived; nevertheless, moved by compassion for you, I shall bring him back to life."

Verse 24 (skanda.2.118.24)

॥नारद उवाच॥ इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे विप्रस्तावत्सागरनंदनः ॥ वृंदामालिंग्य तद्वक्त्रं चुचुंब प्रीतमानसः

nārada uvāca ityuktvā'ntardadhe viprastāvatsāgaranaṁdanaḥ || vṛṁdāmāliṁgya tadvaktraṁ cucuṁba prītamānasaḥ

Narada said: So saying, that brahmin vanished; and at once the "son of the ocean" — Vishnu in Jalandhara's form — embraced Vrinda and, delighted, kissed her face.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.118.25)

अथ वृन्दाऽपि भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा हर्षितमानसा ॥ रेमे तद्वनमध्यस्था तद्युक्ता बहुवासरम्

atha vṛndā'pi bhartāraṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣitamānasā || reme tadvanamadhyasthā tadyuktā bahuvāsaram

Vrinda too, seeing her husband, her heart filled with joy, dwelt there in the midst of that forest, united with him in pleasure for many days.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.118.26)

कदाचित्सुरतस्यांते दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं तमेव च ॥ निर्भर्त्स्य क्रोधसंयुक्ता वृन्दा वचनमब्रवीत्

kadācitsuratasyāṁte dṛṣṭvā viṣṇuṁ tameva ca || nirbhartsya krodhasaṁyuktā vṛndā vacanamabravīt

Once, at the end of their lovemaking, she saw him revealed as Vishnu himself; filled with anger, Vrinda rebuked him and spoke these words —

Verse 27 (skanda.2.118.27)

॥वृंदोवाच॥ धिक्त्वदीयं हरे शीलं परदाराभिगामिनः ॥ ज्ञातोऽसि त्वं मया सम्यङ्मायाप्रच्छन्नतापसः

vṛndovāca dhiktvadīyaṁ hare śīlaṁ paradārābhigāminaḥ || jñāto'si tvaṁ mayā samyaṅmāyāpracchannatāpasaḥ

Vrinda said: "Shame on your character, O Hari, you who approach another's wife! I have now recognized you fully, O ascetic hidden behind illusion.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.118.28)

यौ त्वया मायया द्वाःस्थौ स्वकीयौ दर्शितौ मम ॥ तावेव राक्षसौ भूत्वा भार्यां तव हरिष्यतः

yau tvayā māyayā dvāḥsthau svakīyau darśitau mama || tāveva rākṣasau bhūtvā bhāryāṁ tava hariṣyataḥ

Those two doorkeepers of yours whom you showed me through your illusion — those very two shall become rakshasas and abduct your own wife.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.118.29)

त्वं चाऽपि भार्यादुःखार्तो वने कपिसहायवान् ॥ भ्रम सर्पेश्वरेणाऽयं यस्ते शिष्यत्वमागतः

tvaṁ cā'pi bhāryāduḥkhārto vane kapisahāyavān || bhrama sarpeśvareṇā'yaṁ yaste śiṣyatvamāgataḥ

And you too, tormented by grief for your wife, shall wander the forest with monkeys for your allies; and this one who became your disciple shall aid you in the form of the lord of serpents."

Verse 30 (skanda.2.118.30)

इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा वृन्दा प्राविशद्धव्यवाहनम् ॥ विष्णुना वार्यमाणाऽपि तस्यामासक्तचेतसा

ityuktvā sā tadā vṛndā prāviśaddhavyavāhanam || viṣṇunā vāryamāṇā'pi tasyāmāsaktacetasā

So saying, Vrinda then entered the fire, even as Vishnu, his heart deeply attached to her, tried to stop her.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.118.31)

ततो हरिस्तामनुसंस्मरन्मुहुर्वृंदान्वितोभस्मरजोवगुंठितः ॥ तत्रैव तस्थौ सुरसिद्धसंघैः प्रबोध्यमानोऽपि ययौ न शांतिम्

tato haristāmanusaṁsmaranmuhurvṛṁdānvito bhasmarajovaguṁṭhitaḥ || tatraiva tasthau surasiddhasaṁghaiḥ prabodhyamāno'pi yayau na śāṁtim

Then Hari, remembering her again and again, covered in the ashen dust of Vrinda's pyre, remained standing right there; though comforted by hosts of gods and siddhas, he found no peace.