The Account of Jalandhara's Liberation

Verse 1 (skanda.2.119.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततो जलंधरो दृष्ट्वा रुद्रमद्भुतविक्रमम् ॥ चकार मायया गौरीं त्र्यंबकं मोहयन्निव

nārada uvāca tato jalaṁdharo dṛṣṭvā rudramadbhutavikramam || cakāra māyayā gaurīṁ tryaṁbakaṁ mohayanniva

Narada said: Then Jalandhara, seeing Rudra's astonishing valor, used his illusion to fashion the form of Gauri, as if to bewilder the Three-eyed One.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.119.2)

रथोपरि च तां बद्धां रुदन्तीं पार्वतीं शिवः ॥ निशुंभप्रमुखाद्यैश्च वध्यमानां ददर्श सः

rathopari ca tāṁ baddhāṁ rudaṁtīṁ pārvatīṁ śivaḥ || niśuṁbhapramukhādyaiśca vadhyamānāṁ dadarśa saḥ

Shiva saw that illusory Parvati bound on a chariot, weeping, being struck by Nishumbha and other chief daityas.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.119.3)

गौरीं तथाविधां दृष्ट्वा शिवोऽप्युद्विग्नमानसः ॥ अवाङ्मुखः स्थितस्तूष्णीं विस्मृत्य स्वपराक्रमम्

gaurīṁ tathāvidhāṁ dṛṣṭvā śivo'pyudvignamānasaḥ || avāṅmukhaḥ sthitastūṣṇīṁ vismṛtya svaparākramam

Seeing Gauri in that condition, Shiva too grew troubled at heart, and stood silent with head bowed, forgetting his own valor.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.119.4)

ततो जलंधरो वेगात्त्रिभिर्विव्याध सायकैः ॥ आपुंखमग्रैस्तं रुद्रं शिरस्युरसि चोदरे

tato jalaṁdharo vegāttribhirvivyādha sāyakaiḥ || āpuṁkhamagraistaṁ rudraṁ śirasyurasi codare

Then Jalandhara swiftly pierced Rudra to the very feathers with three arrows, striking him in the head, chest, and belly.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.119.5)

ततो जज्ञे स तां मायां विष्णुना च प्रबोधितः ॥ रौद्ररूपधरो जातो ज्वालामालाऽतिभीषणः

tato jajñe sa tāṁ māyāṁ viṣṇunā ca prabodhitaḥ || raudrarūpadharo jāto jvālāmālā'tibhīṣaṇaḥ

Then, alerted by Vishnu, he recognized that illusion, and assumed a terrifying Raudra form, garlanded with fearsome flames.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.119.6)

तस्याऽतीव महारौद्रं रूपं दृष्ट्वा महासुराः ॥ न शेकुः संमुखे स्थातुं भेजिरे ते दिशो दश

tasyā'tīva mahāraudraṁ rūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāsurāḥ || na śekuḥ saṁmukhe sthātuṁ bhejire te diśo daśa

Seeing that supremely terrifying Raudra form, the great asuras could not stand before him and fled in all ten directions.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.119.7)

ततः शापं ददौ रुद्रस्तयोः शुंभनिशुंभयोः ॥ मम युद्धादपक्रांतौ गौर्या बध्यौ भविष्यथः

tataḥ śāpaṁ dadau rudrastayoḥ śuṁbhaniśuṁbhayoḥ || mama yuddhādapakrāṁtau gauryā badhyau bhaviṣyathaḥ

Then Rudra cursed both Shumbha and Nishumbha: "You two, having fled from battle with me, shall be slain by Gauri."

Verse 8 (skanda.2.119.8)

पुनर्जलंधरो वेगाद्ववर्ष निशितैः शरैः ॥ बाणांधकारैः संछन्नं तदा भूमितलं महत्

punarjalaṁdharo vegādvavarṣa niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || bāṇāṁdhakāraiḥ saṁchannaṁ tadā bhūmitalaṁ mahat

Again Jalandhara swiftly rained down sharp arrows, so that the whole vast earth was covered in a darkness of shafts.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.119.9)

यावद्रुद्रश्च चिच्छेद तस्य बाणगणं जवात् ॥ तावत्स परिघेणाऽऽशु जघान वृषभं बली

yāvadrudraśca ciccheda tasya bāṇagaṇaṁ javāt || tāvatsa parighenā'āśu jaghāna vṛṣabhaṁ balī

The very moment Rudra swiftly cut down that mass of arrows, the mighty one struck the bull at once with his iron club.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.119.10)

वृषस्तेन प्रहारेण परावृत्तो रणांगणात् ॥ रुद्रेणाऽऽकृष्यमाणोऽपि न तस्थौ रणभूमिषु

vṛṣastena prahāreṇa parāvṛtto raṇāṁgaṇāt || rudreṇā'ākṛṣyamāṇo'pi na tasthau raṇabhūmiṣu

From that blow the bull turned back from the battlefield; even though Rudra pulled at him, he could not hold his ground there.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.119.11)

ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो रुद्रो रौद्रवपुर्धरः ॥ चक्रं सुदर्शनं वेगाच्चिक्षेपाऽऽदित्यवर्चसम्

tataḥ paramasaṁkruddho rudro raudravapurdharaḥ || cakraṁ sudarśanaṁ vegāccikṣepā'ādityavarcasam

Then Rudra, greatly enraged and clothed in his terrible form, swiftly hurled the Sudarshana discus, blazing like the sun.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.119.12)

प्रदहद्रोदसी वेगात्पपात वसुधातले ॥ जहार तच्छिरः कायान्महदायतलोचनम्

pradahadrodasī vegātpapāta vasudhātale || jahāra tacchiraḥ kāyānmahadāyatalocanam

That discus, scorching heaven and earth as it sped, fell upon the earth and severed the head of that large, wide-eyed one from his body.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.119.13)

रथात्कायः पपाताऽस्य नादयन्वसुधातलम् ॥ तेजश्च निर्गतं देहात्तद्रुद्रे लयमागमत्

rathātkāyaḥ papātāsya nādayanvasudhātalam || tejaśca nirgataṁ dehāttadrudre layamāgamat

His trunk fell from the chariot, making the earth resound; and the radiance that issued from his body merged into Rudra.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.119.14)

वृन्दादेहोद्भवं तेजस्तद्गौर्यां विलयं गतम् ॥ अथ ब्रह्मादयो देवा हर्षादुत्फुल्ललोचनाः

vṛṁdādehodbhavaṁ tejastadgauryāṁ vilayaṁ gatam || atha brahmādayo devā harṣādutphullalocanāḥ

The radiance born from Vrinda's body merged into Gauri. Then Brahma and the other gods, their eyes wide with joy —

Verse 15 (skanda.2.119.15)

प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं शशंसुर्विष्णुचेष्टितम् ॥ ॥देवा ऊचुः॥ महादेव त्वया देवा रक्षिताः शत्रुजाद्भयात्

praṇamya śirasā rudraṁ śaśaṁsurviṣṇuceṣṭitam || devā ūcuḥ mahādeva tvayā devā rakṣitāḥ śatrujādbhayāt

bowed their heads to Rudra and praised Vishnu's deed. The gods said: "O Mahadeva, you have saved the gods from fear of the enemy.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.119.16)

किंचिदन्यत्समुद्भूतं तत्र किं करवामहे ॥ वृन्दालावण्यसंभ्रांतो विष्णुस्तिष्ठति मोहितः

kiṁcidanyatsamudbhūtaṁ tatra kiṁ karavāmahe || vṛṁdālāvaṇyasaṁbhrāṁto viṣṇustiṣṭhati mohitaḥ

But something else has now come to pass; what should we do about it? Vishnu stands there bewildered, dazed by Vrinda's beauty."

Verse 17 (skanda.2.119.17)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ गच्छध्वं शरणं देवा विष्णोर्मोहापनुत्तये ॥ शरण्यां मोहिनीं मायां सा वः कार्यं करिष्यति

īśvara uvāca gacchadhvaṁ śaraṇaṁ devā viṣṇormohāpanuttaye || śaraṇyāṁ mohinīṁ māyāṁ sā vaḥ kāryaṁ kariṣyati

Ishvara said: "Go, O gods, to the refuge-giving Mohini-maya to dispel Vishnu's delusion; she will accomplish your task."

Verse 18 (skanda.2.119.18)

॥नारद उवाच॥ इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवः सर्वभूतगणैस्तदा ॥ देवाश्च तुष्टुवुर्मूलप्रकृतिं भक्तवत्सलाम्

nārada uvāca ityuktvā'ntardadhe devaḥ sarvabhūtagaṇaistadā || devāśca tuṣṭuvurmūlaprakṛtiṁ bhaktavatsalām

Narada said: So saying, that god vanished along with all his hosts; and the gods began to praise Mula-prakriti, the primordial Power, ever tender toward her devotees.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.119.19)

॥देवा ऊचुः॥ यदुद्भवाः सत्त्वरजस्तमोगुणाः सर्गस्थितिध्वंसनिदानकारिणः ॥ यदिच्छया विश्वमिदं भवाऽभवौ तनोति मूलप्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

devā ūcuḥ yadudbhavāḥ sattvarajastamoguṇāḥ sargasthitidhvaṁsanidānakāriṇaḥ || yadicchayā viśvamidaṁ bhavā'bhavau tanoti mūlaprakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

The gods said: "She from whom sprang the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas, who is the cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution, by whose will this universe undergoes birth and un-birth — to that Mula-prakriti we bow."

Verse 20 (skanda.2.119.20)

या हि त्रयोविंशतिभेदशब्दिता जगत्यशेषे समधिष्ठिता परा ॥ यद्रूपकर्माणि जडास्त्रयोऽपि देवा न विद्युः प्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

yā hi trayoviṁśatibhedaśabditā jagatyaśeṣe samadhiṣṭhitā parā || yadrūpakarmāṇi jaḍāstrayo'pi devā na vidyuḥ prakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

"She who is spoken of in twenty-three divisions, the supreme power pervading the entire universe, whose forms and deeds even the three great gods, bound by matter, do not fully know — to that Prakriti we bow.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.119.21)

यद्भक्तियुक्ताः पुरुषास्तु नित्यं दारिद्र्यभीमोहपराभवादीन् ॥ न प्राप्नुवंत्येव हि भक्तवत्सलां सदैव मूलप्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्

yadbhaktiyuktāḥ puruṣāstu nityaṁ dāridryabhīmohaparābhavādīn || na prāpnuvaṁtyeva hi bhaktavatsalāṁ sadaiva mūlaprakṛtiṁ natāḥ sma tām

"Those endowed with devotion to her never encounter poverty, fear, delusion, defeat, and the like — to that Mula-prakriti, ever tender to her devotees, we bow."

Verse 22 (skanda.2.119.22)

॥नारद उवाच॥ स्तोत्रमेतत्त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेदेकाग्रमानसः ॥ दारिद्यमोहदुःखानि न कदाचित्स्पृशंति तम्

nārada uvāca stotrametattrisaṁdhyaṁ yaḥ paṭhedekāgramānasaḥ || dāridyamohaduḥkhāni na kadācitspṛśaṁti tam

Narada said: Whoever recites this hymn with a focused mind at the three daily junctures is never touched by poverty, delusion, or sorrow.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.119.23)

इत्थं स्तुवंतस्ते देवास्तेजोमण्डलमास्थितम् ॥ ददृशुर्गगनं तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगंतरम्

itthaṁ stuvaṁtaste devāstejomaṇḍalamāsthitam || dadṛśurgaganaṁ tatra jvālāvyāptadigaṁtaram

As they praised her thus, those gods beheld in the sky a sphere of radiance, its flames pervading the far horizons.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.119.24)

तन्मध्याद्भारतीं सर्वे शुश्रुवुर्व्योमचारिणीम् ॥ ॥शक्तिरुवाच॥ अहमेव त्रिधा भिन्ना तिष्ठामि त्रिविधैर्गुणैः

tanmadhyādbhāratīṁ sarve śuśruvurvyomacāriṇīm || śaktiruvāca ahameva tridhā bhinnā tiṣṭhāmi trividhairguṇaiḥ

From within it, they all heard a voice moving through the sky. Shakti said: "I alone abide, divided threefold by the three gunas —

Verse 25 (skanda.2.119.25)

गौरी लक्ष्मी स्वरा चेति रजःसत्त्वतमोगुणैः ॥ तत्र गच्छत ताः कार्यं विधास्यति च वः सुराः

gaurī lakṣmī svarā ceti rajaḥsattvatamoguṇaiḥ || tatra gacchata tāḥ kāryaṁ vidhāsyati ca vaḥ surāḥ

as Gauri, Lakshmi, and Svara, through the gunas of rajas, sattva, and tamas. Go to them, O gods; they will accomplish your task."

Verse 26 (skanda.2.119.26)

॥नारद उवाच॥ शृण्वतामिति तां वाचमंतर्धानमगान्महः ॥ देवानां विस्मयोत्फुल्लनेत्राणां तत्तदा नृप

nārada uvāca śṛṇvatāmiti tāṁ vācamaṁtardhānamagānmahaḥ || devānāṁ vismayotphullanetrāṇāṁ tattadā nṛpa

Narada said: O king, even as they listened to that voice, that radiance vanished before the wonder-widened eyes of the gods.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.119.27)

ततः सर्वेऽपि ते देवा गत्वा तद्वाक्यनोदिताः ॥ गौरीं लक्ष्मीं स्वरां चैव प्रणेमुर्भक्तितत्पराः

tataḥ sarve'pi te devā gatvā tadvākyanoditāḥ || gaurīṁ lakṣmīṁ svarāṁ caiva praṇemurbhaktitatparāḥ

Then, urged on by that word, all those gods went and, full of devotion, bowed to Gauri, Lakshmi, and Svara.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.119.28)

ततस्तास्तान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा प्रणतान्भक्तवत्सलाः ॥ बीजानि प्रददुस्तेभ्यो वाक्यान्यूचुश्च भूमिप

tatastāstānsurāndṛṣṭvā praṇatānbhaktavatsalāḥ || bījāni pradadustebhyo vākyānyūcuśca bhūmipa

Then those goddesses, tender toward their devotees, seeing the gods bowed before them, gave them seeds and spoke these words, O king:

Verse 29 (skanda.2.119.29)

॥देव्य ऊचुः॥ इमानि तत्र बीजानि विष्णुर्यत्राऽवतिष्ठते ॥ निर्वपध्वं ततः कार्यं भवतां सिद्धिमेष्यति

devya ūcuḥ imāni tatra bījāni viṣṇuryatrā'vatiṣṭhate || nirvapadhvaṁ tataḥ kāryaṁ bhavatāṁ siddhimeṣyati

The goddesses said: "Sow these seeds where Vishnu now stands; then your task shall be accomplished."

Verse 30 (skanda.2.119.30)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततस्तु हृष्टाः सुरसिद्धसंघाः प्रगृह्य बीजानि विचिक्षिपुस्ते ॥ वृंदान्वितो भूमितले स यत्र विष्णुः सदा तिष्ठति सौख्यहीनः

nārada uvāca tatastu hṛṣṭāḥ surasiddhasaṁghāḥ pragṛhya bījāni vicikṣipuste || vṛṁdānvito bhūmitale sa yatra viṣṇuḥ sadā tiṣṭhati saukhyahīnaḥ

Narada said: Then the delighted hosts of gods and siddhas took the seeds and scattered them upon that ground where Vishnu, joined still with Vrinda, stood forever bereft of comfort.