The Question of Savarni

Verse 1 (skanda.2.190.1)

श्रीकृष्णाय नमोनमः । अथ श्रीवासुदेवमाहात्म्यं प्रारभ्यते । शौनक उवाच । जीवानां श्रेयसे सौते बहुधा साधनानि ते । धर्मो ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं योगादीन्युदितानि नः

śrīkṛṣṇāya namonamaḥ atha śrīvāsudevamāhātmyaṁ prārabhyate śaunaka uvāca jīvānāṁ śreyase saute bahudhā sādhanāni te dharmo jñānaṁ ca vairāgyaṁ yogādīnyuditāni naḥ

Salutations again and again to Shri Krishna. Here begins the Glory of Vasudeva. Shaunaka said: O Suta, for the welfare of living beings you have described many kinds of means — dharma, knowledge, renunciation, and yoga, among others.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.190.2)

इतिहासैर्बहुविधैर्विस्पष्टार्थानि तानि च । सर्वाण्यपि महाबुद्धे श्रुतान्यस्माभिरादरात्

itihāsairbahuvidhairvispaṣṭārthāni tāni ca sarvāṇyapi mahābuddhe śrutānyasmābhirādarāt

O great-minded one, all of these, their meanings made clear through many kinds of histories and legends, we have heard from you with reverence.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.190.3)

सर्वेषां मनुजानां तु दुष्कराण्येव तानि तु । बाहुल्याच्चान्तरायाणां तत्सिद्धिरपि दुर्ल्लभा

sarveṣāṁ manujānāṁ tu duṣkarāṇyeva tāni tu bāhulyāccāntarāyāṇāṁ tatsiddhirapi durllabhā

Yet for all men these are indeed difficult to accomplish, and because obstacles are so numerous, even success in them is rare.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.190.4)

प्रयत्नेनाति महता पुरुषैद्धेंर्य्यशालिभिः । साधितान्यपि सिध्यन्ति तानि कालेन भूयसा

prayatnenāti mahatā puruṣaiddheṁryyaśālibhiḥ sādhitānyapi sidhyanti tāni kālena bhūyasā

Even when practiced with the greatest effort by men endowed with fortitude, these means bear fruit only after a very long span of time.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.190.5)

अतो भवान्द्विजातीनामाश्रमाणां च सर्वशः । ब्रवीतु सुकरोपायं स्त्रीशूद्रादेरपीह नः

ato bhavāndvijātīnāmāśramāṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ bravītu sukaropāyaṁ strīśūdrāderapīha naḥ

Therefore, please tell us of an easy means — for the twice-born in every stage of life, and here also for women, shudras, and others.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.190.6)

कृतेन येनाप्यल्पेन येन केनापि देहिना । अन्तरायैरविहतं महदेव फलं भवेत्

kṛtena yenāpyalpena yena kenāpi dehinā antarāyairavihataṁ mahadeva phalaṁ bhavet

One which, when practiced even a little, by any embodied being whatsoever, yields a great fruit unhindered by obstacles.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.190.7)

मोक्षस्य साधनं तादृक्सुविचार्य्य महामते । हिताय सर्वजीवानां कृपया वक्तुमर्हसि

mokṣasya sādhanaṁ tādṛksuvicāryya mahāmate hitāya sarvajīvānāṁ kṛpayā vaktumarhasi

O great-minded one, having well considered such a means to liberation, you should, out of compassion, speak it for the good of all living beings.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.190.8)

प्रसादाद्बलदेवस्य व्यासस्य जनकस्य च । जानासि सर्वमेव त्वं तन्नो ब्रूहि बुभुत्सतः

prasādādbaladevasya vyāsasya janakasya ca jānāsi sarvameva tvaṁ tanno brūhi bubhutsataḥ

By the grace of Baladeva and of Vyasa, your father, you know everything. Tell it to us, who are eager to know.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.190.9)

सौतिरुवाच । महर्षिरपि सावर्णिरेवमेव हि शौनक । विनीतः स्कन्दमप्राक्षीत्पुनः शङ्करनन्दनम्

sautiruvāca maharṣirapi sāvarṇirevameva hi śaunaka vinītaḥ skandamaprākṣītpunaḥ śaṅkaranandanam

Suta said: O Shaunaka, in just this same way the great sage Savarni, humbly, once questioned Skanda, the son of Shankara.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.190.10)

सावर्णिरुवाच । श्रुता नानाविधा धर्म्माः साङ्ख्यज्ञानं च नैकधा । योगादीनि त्वदुक्तानि साधनानि मया गुह

sāvarṇiruvāca śrutā nānāvidhā dharmmāḥ sāṅkhyajñānaṁ ca naikadhā yogādīni tvaduktāni sādhanāni mayā guha

Savarni said: O Guha, I have heard the many kinds of dharma, the manifold knowledge of Sankhya, and the means such as yoga that you have spoken of.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.190.11)

सुदुष्कराणि मन्येऽहं तानि त्वस्मादृशां किल । महतामपि चान्येषां कृच्छ्रसाध्यानि वै चिरात्

suduṣkarāṇi manye'haṁ tāni tvasmādṛśāṁ kila mahatāmapi cānyeṣāṁ kṛcchrasādhyāni vai cirāt

I consider these to be indeed very difficult for ones like myself — and even for other great souls, attainable only with great hardship, over a long time.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.190.12)

अतो वर्णाश्रमवतां श्रेयस्कृत्सुकरं च यत् । साधनं तच्छ्रेष्ठतमं वक्तुमर्हसि मेऽधुना

ato varṇāśramavatāṁ śreyaskṛtsukaraṁ ca yat sādhanaṁ tacchreṣṭhatamaṁ vaktumarhasi me'dhunā

Therefore, whatever means brings both welfare and ease to those established in varna and ashrama — that most excellent means you should now tell me.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.190.13)

सौतिरुवाच । इति पृष्टो मुनीन्द्रेण तेन जिज्ञासुना गुहः । वासुदेवं हृदि ध्यायन्कार्त्तिकेयः स ऊचिवान्

sautiruvāca iti pṛṣṭo munīndreṇa tena jijñāsunā guhaḥ vāsudevaṁ hṛdi dhyāyankārttikeyaḥ sa ūcivān

Suta said: Thus questioned by that inquiring foremost of sages, Guha — Karttikeya — meditating on Vasudeva in his heart, spoke.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.190.14)

स्कन्द उवाच । शृणु ब्रह्मन्प्रवक्ष्येऽहं श्रुतं पितृमुखान्मया । सर्वेषामपि जीवानां सुकरं मोक्षसाधनम्

skanda uvāca śṛṇu brahmanpravakṣye'haṁ śrutaṁ pitṛmukhānmayā sarveṣāmapi jīvānāṁ sukaraṁ mokṣasādhanam

Skanda said: Listen, O brahmin, I shall tell what I have heard from my father's own mouth — the means to liberation that is easy for all living beings.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.190.15)

देवताप्रीणनसमं स्वेष्टसिद्धिमभीप्सताम् । नास्त्यन्यसाधनं किञ्चिद्वर्णाश्रमवतामिह

devatāprīṇanasamaṁ sveṣṭasiddhimabhīpsatām nāstyanyasādhanaṁ kiñcidvarṇāśramavatāmiha

For those established in varna and ashrama who desire the fulfillment of their own wishes, there is here no other means whatsoever equal to the pleasing of the Deity.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.190.16)

अप्यल्पं सुकृतं कर्म्म देवसंबन्धतः कृतम् । फलं ददाति निर्विघ्नं महदेव हि तन्नृणाम्

apyalpaṁ sukṛtaṁ karmma devasaṁbandhataḥ kṛtam phalaṁ dadāti nirvighnaṁ mahadeva hi tannṛṇām

Even a small virtuous act, when done in connection with the Deity, gives men a great and unobstructed fruit indeed.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.190.17)

दैवं पित्र्यं स्वधर्म्मश्च काम्यं कर्म्मापि यच्च तत् । देवतायास्तु संबन्धात्सद्यः स्यादिष्टसिद्धिदम्

daivaṁ pitryaṁ svadharmmaśca kāmyaṁ karmmāpi yacca tat devatāyāstu saṁbandhātsadyaḥ syādiṣṭasiddhidam

Rites for the gods, rites for the ancestors, one's own duty, and any desire-driven action — through connection with the Deity, all at once become bestowers of one's desired end.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.190.18)

साङ्ख्ययोग विरागादि प्रागुक्तं यच्च दुष्करम् । तदपि स्याद्धि सुकरमनेनैवाशु सिद्धिदम्

sāṅkhyayoga virāgādi prāguktaṁ yacca duṣkaram tadapi syāddhi sukaramanenaivāśu siddhidam

Sankhya, yoga, renunciation and the rest, spoken of earlier as difficult — even these become easy, and swiftly grant attainment, through this very means.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.190.19)

देवस्याराधनेनैव यतः सिद्ध्यति वाञ्छितम् । अतः सर्वैर्य्यथाशक्ति प्रीत्याराध्यः स मानवैः

devasyārādhanenaiva yataḥ siddhyati vāñchitam ataḥ sarvairyyathāśakti prītyārādhyaḥ sa mānavaiḥ

Since it is through the worship of God alone that one's desire is fulfilled, He should therefore be worshipped with love by all men according to their ability.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.190.20)

सावर्णिरुवाच । देवा वहुविधा प्रोक्तास्त्वया षण्मुख मे पुरा । नानाविधा वर्णिताश्च तदाराधनरीतयः

sāvarṇiruvāca devā vahuvidhā proktāstvayā ṣaṇmukha me purā nānāvidhā varṇitāśca tadārādhanarītayaḥ

Savarni said: O six-faced one, you earlier told me of gods of many kinds, and the various methods of worshipping them have been described.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.190.21)

तत्फलानि च सर्वाणि त्वयोक्तानि पृथक्पृथक् । स्वर्गादिप्राप्तिमुख्यानि कालग्रस्तानि तानि तु

tatphalāni ca sarvāṇi tvayoktāni pṛthakpṛthak svargādiprāptimukhyāni kālagrastāni tāni tu

And all their fruits, too, you have told separately — chief among them the attainment of heaven and the like — but all of these are subject to time, that is, perishable.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.190.22)

निवृत्तिधर्म्मिणां ब्रह्मा ह्युपास्तेर्य्योगिनां गुह । जनादिलोकाप्तिफलं द्विपरार्द्धान्तनश्वरम्

nivṛttidharmmiṇāṁ brahmā hyupāsteryyogināṁ guha janādilokāptiphalaṁ dviparārddhāntanaśvaram

O Guha, for those on the path of renunciation and for yogis, the worship of Brahma has as its fruit the attainment of the world of Jana and the like — perishing at the end of two parardhas, a vast cosmic span.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.190.23)

दुष्कराणीह संसाध्य कर्म्माणि पुरुकृच्छ्रतः । क्षयिष्णुफललाभश्चेत्तर्हि किं तदुपार्जनैः

duṣkarāṇīha saṁsādhya karmmāṇi purukṛcchrataḥ kṣayiṣṇuphalalābhaścettarhi kiṁ tadupārjanaiḥ

If, having accomplished difficult rites here through great hardship, one obtains only a perishable fruit, then what is the use of acquiring them at all?

Verse 24 (skanda.2.190.24)

कालेन नाश्यते येषां वपुः स्थानबलादिकम् । तेषां न रोचते मह्यमुपासाऽत्र दिवौकसाम्

kālena nāśyate yeṣāṁ vapuḥ sthānabalādikam teṣāṁ na rocate mahyamupāsā'tra divaukasām

Those beings whose bodies, positions, powers and the rest are destroyed by time — the worship of such celestial beings does not appeal to me.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.190.25)

यः स्वयं निर्भयोऽन्येषां भयहर्त्ता सनातनः । नित्यधामाऽक्षयफलप्रदाता भक्तवत्सलः

yaḥ svayaṁ nirbhayo'nyeṣāṁ bhayaharttā sanātanaḥ nityadhāmā'kṣayaphalapradātā bhaktavatsalaḥ

He who is himself fearless, the eternal remover of others' fear, whose abode is everlasting, the bestower of imperishable fruit, and affectionate to his devotees —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.190.26)

यस्य प्रसादात्सर्वेषां सर्व एव मनोरथाः । सिद्ध्येयुश्चाञ्जसैवाऽत्र तं देवं वद मे गुह

yasya prasādātsarveṣāṁ sarva eva manorathāḥ siddhyeyuścāñjasaivā'tra taṁ devaṁ vada me guha

By whose grace the desires of all beings would be fulfilled easily and at once — tell me of that God, O Guha.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.190.27)

तदाराधनरीतिं च सुकरां शिष्टसंमताम् । ब्रूहि सर्वां विशेषेण जिज्ञासामीदमञ्जसा

tadārādhanarītiṁ ca sukarāṁ śiṣṭasaṁmatām brūhi sarvāṁ viśeṣeṇa jijñāsāmīdamañjasā

And tell me fully and in detail his easy method of worship, approved by the wise — this alone is my true wish to know.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.190.28)

सौतिरुवाच । इत्थं महर्षिणा तेन संपृष्टो भगवान्गुहः । सुप्रसन्न उवाचेदं मानयंस्तमुदारधीः

sautiruvāca itthaṁ maharṣiṇā tena saṁpṛṣṭo bhagavānguhaḥ suprasanna uvācedaṁ mānayaṁstamudāradhīḥ

Suta said: Thus questioned by that great sage, the noble-minded and blessed Guha, greatly pleased and honoring him, spoke as follows.