The Grace of Shri Vasudeva

Verse 1 (skanda.2.199.1)

सावर्णिरुवाच । कथं प्राप्ता पुनः स्कन्द श्रीरिन्द्रेण गताम्बुधिम् । एतां कथय मे सर्वां कथां नारायणाश्रयाम्

sāvarṇiruvāca kathaṁ prāptā punaḥ skanda śrīrindreṇa gatāmbudhim etāṁ kathaya me sarvāṁ kathāṁ nārāyaṇāśrayām

Savarni said: O Skanda, how did Indra regain Shri, who had gone into the ocean? Tell me this entire story, which rests upon Narayana.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.199.2)

स्कन्द उवाच । श्रिया विहीनो देवेन्द्रः श्रीहीनैरपि दानवैः । पराजितो हृतस्थानो नष्टाशेषपरिच्छदः

skanda uvāca śriyā vihīno devendraḥ śrīhīnairapi dānavaiḥ parājito hṛtasthāno naṣṭāśeṣaparicchadaḥ

Skanda said: Devendra, deprived of Shri, was defeated even by the danavas, who were themselves without Shri; his position was seized, and every one of his possessions was destroyed.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.199.3)

गिरिगह्वरकुञ्जेषु काननेषु ततस्ततः । परिबभ्राम सहितो दिगीशैर्वरुणादिभिः

girigahvarakuñjeṣu kānaneṣu tatastataḥ paribabhrāma sahito digīśairvaruṇādibhiḥ

He wandered here and there in mountain caves, groves, and forests, accompanied by the guardians of the directions, Varuna and the others.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.199.4)

वल्कलाजिन वस्त्राश्च पशुपक्ष्यामिषाशनाः । देवा दैत्या नरा नागास्तुल्याचारपरिच्छदाः

valkalājina vastrāśca paśupakṣyāmiṣāśanāḥ devā daityā narā nāgāstulyācāraparicchadāḥ

Clothed in bark and animal hides, eating the flesh of beasts and birds, gods, daityas, men, and nagas all fell to the same conduct and poverty.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.199.5)

पात्राणि मृन्मयान्येव सर्वेषामपि वेश्मसु । आसन्वराकाः सर्वेपि पिशाच्य इव च स्त्रियः

pātrāṇi mṛnmayānyeva sarveṣāmapi veśmasu āsanvarākāḥ sarvepi piśācya iva ca striyaḥ

In the homes of all, the vessels were made only of clay; everyone became wretched, and the women looked like female ghouls.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.199.6)

आदावभूदनावृष्टिर्भुवि द्वादशवार्षिकी । ततो वर्षे क्वचिद्वृष्टिरासीत्स्वल्पा क्वचिन्न च

ādāvabhūdanāvṛṣṭirbhuvi dvādaśavārṣikī tato varṣe kvacidvṛṣṭirāsītsvalpā kvacinna ca

At first there was a twelve-year drought upon the earth; then in some years there was a little rain, and in others none at all.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.199.7)

इत्थं दारिद्र्यदुःखानां तेषां वर्षशतं गतम् । बलिष्ठारब्धकर्माणस्तेऽतिदुःखेपि नो मृताः

itthaṁ dāridryaduḥkhānāṁ teṣāṁ varṣaśataṁ gatam baliṣṭhārabdhakarmāṇaste'tiduḥkhepi no mṛtāḥ

Thus a hundred years passed for them in the suffering of poverty. Undertaking mighty labors even in that extreme suffering, they did not die.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.199.8)

अजीवन्त मृतप्राया नरकेष्विव नारकाः । यतन्तोपि श्रियः प्राप्त्यै यज्ञाद्यैर्न्नाऽलभन्त ताम्

ajīvanta mṛtaprāyā narakeṣviva nārakāḥ yatantopi śriyaḥ prāptyai yajñādyairnnā'labhanta tām

They lived as though dead, like the denizens of hell in hell itself; and though striving through sacrifices and the like to regain Shri, they could not obtain her.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.199.9)

ततः सहस्रवर्षान्ते मेरौ शरणमाययुः । शापाद्दुर्वाससो देवाः सर्वे दुर्वाससो विधिम्

tataḥ sahasravarṣānte merau śaraṇamāyayuḥ śāpāddurvāsaso devāḥ sarve durvāsaso vidhim

Then, at the end of a thousand years, all the gods, suffering from the curse of Durvasa, went for refuge on Meru to Brahma.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.199.10)

प्रणम्य तस्मै दुःखं स्वं वासवाद्या न्यवेदयन् । आदावेव हि सोऽज्ञासीत्सर्वज्ञत्वात्सुरापदम्

praṇamya tasmai duḥkhaṁ svaṁ vāsavādyā nyavedayan ādāveva hi so'jñāsītsarvajñatvātsurāpadam

Bowing to him, Indra and the others related their own suffering; but he, being omniscient, had already known of the gods' calamity from the very beginning.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.199.11)

उपालभ्य ततश्चेन्द्रं विरिञ्चः सहशंकरः । तद्दुःखवारणा कल्पो विष्णुमैच्छत्प्रसादितुम्

upālabhya tataścendraṁ viriñcaḥ sahaśaṁkaraḥ tadduḥkhavāraṇā kalpo viṣṇumaicchatprasāditum

Then Brahma, together with Shankara, having reproached Indra, and being capable of averting that suffering, desired to propitiate Vishnu.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.199.12)

आराधयिष्यंस्तपसा ततोऽसौ तं तपःप्रियम् । सर्वदेवगणोपेत उपायात्क्षीरसागरम्

ārādhayiṣyaṁstapasā tato'sau taṁ tapaḥpriyam sarvadevagaṇopeta upāyātkṣīrasāgaram

Then he, wishing to worship with austerity that Lord who delights in austerity, accompanied by the whole host of gods, approached the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.199.13)

तस्योत्तरे तटे रम्ये सर्वे तेऽनशनव्रताः । एकपादस्थिता ऊर्द्ध्वबाहवश्चक्रिरे तपः

tasyottare taṭe ramye sarve te'naśanavratāḥ ekapādasthitā ūrddhvabāhavaścakrire tapaḥ

On its beautiful northern shore, all of them, under a vow of fasting, standing on one foot, with arms raised, performed austerity.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.199.14)

केशवं हृदि ते दध्युः सर्वक्लेशविनाशनम् । लक्ष्मीपतिं वासुदेवमेकाग्रकृतमानसाः

keśavaṁ hṛdi te dadhyuḥ sarvakleśavināśanam lakṣmīpatiṁ vāsudevamekāgrakṛtamānasāḥ

With minds made one-pointed, they meditated in their hearts on Keshava, the destroyer of every affliction, Vasudeva, the Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.199.15)

शताब्दान्ते ततो विष्णुः श्रीकृष्णो भगवान्स्वयम् । अत्यापन्नेषु दीनेषु कृपां देवेषु सोऽकरोत्

śatābdānte tato viṣṇuḥ śrīkṛṣṇo bhagavānsvayam atyāpanneṣu dīneṣu kṛpāṁ deveṣu so'karot

Then, at the end of a hundred years, Vishnu, Shri Krishna, the Blessed Lord himself, showed compassion upon the gods, who were in extreme distress and pitiable.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.199.16)

अदृश्यमूर्तिरात्मज्ञैरपि भूरितपस्विभिः । तत्राविरासीत्कृपया नियुताहस्करद्युतिः

adṛśyamūrtirātmajñairapi bhūritapasvibhiḥ tatrāvirāsītkṛpayā niyutāhaskaradyutiḥ

He, whose form is unseen even by knowers of the Self and great ascetics, appeared there out of compassion, with the splendor of ten million suns.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.199.17)

तेजोमण्डलमेवादौ सहसा स्फुरितं महत् । ददृशुर्विबुधाः सर्वे सितं घनमनौपमम्

tejomaṇḍalamevādau sahasā sphuritaṁ mahat dadṛśurvibudhāḥ sarve sitaṁ ghanamanaupamam

At first, all the gods saw suddenly flashing forth a great orb of light, white, dense, and without comparison.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.199.18)

ब्रह्मा शिवश्च तन्मध्ये ददृशाते रमापतिम् । घनश्यामं चतुर्बाहुं गदाब्जाब्जारिधारिणम्

brahmā śivaśca tanmadhye dadṛśāte ramāpatim ghanaśyāmaṁ caturbāhuṁ gadābjābjāridhāriṇam

Brahma and Shiva then saw, within the midst of it, the Lord of Lakshmi — dense dark blue, four-armed, holding the mace, the lotus, and the discus.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.199.19)

किरीटकाञ्चीकटककुण्डलादिविभूषितम् । पीतकौशेयवसनं दिव्यसुन्दरविग्रहम्

kirīṭakāñcīkaṭakakuṇḍalādivibhūṣitam pītakauśeyavasanaṁ divyasundaravigraham

Adorned with crown, girdle, bracelets, earrings and the like, clothed in yellow silk garments, of a divinely beautiful form.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.199.20)

हर्षविह्वलितान्मानौ दण्डवत्तौ प्रणेमतुः । तदिच्छयाऽथ देवाश्च दृष्ट्वा तं च मुदाऽऽनमन्

harṣavihvalitānmānau daṇḍavattau praṇematuḥ tadicchayā'tha devāśca dṛṣṭvā taṁ ca mudā''naman

Overcome with joy, those two bowed down to him prostrate like a rod; and then, by his will, the gods too, having seen him, bowed with delight.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.199.21)

बभूवुरतिहृष्टास्ते निधिं प्राप्याऽधना इव । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे भक्त्या तं तुष्टुवुः सुराः

babhūvuratihṛṣṭāste nidhiṁ prāpyā'dhanā iva baddhāñjalipuṭāḥ sarve bhaktyā taṁ tuṣṭuvuḥ surāḥ

They became exceedingly joyful, like paupers who have found a treasure; with hands folded, all the gods praised him with devotion.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.199.22)

देवा ऊचुः । ॐनमो भगवते तुभ्यं वासुदेवाय धीमहि । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नमः संकर्षणाय च

devā ūcuḥ oṁnamo bhagavate tubhyaṁ vāsudevāya dhīmahi pradyumnāyāniruddhāya namaḥ saṁkarṣaṇāya ca

The gods said: Om, salutation to you, Bhagavan; may we meditate upon Vasudeva. Salutation to Pradyumna, to Aniruddha, and to Sankarshana.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.199.23)

ॐकारब्रह्मरूपाय त्रेधाविष्कृतमूर्तये । ब्रह्माण्डसर्गस्थित्यन्तहेतवे निर्गुणाय च

oṁkārabrahmarūpāya tredhāviṣkṛtamūrtaye brahmāṇḍasargasthityantahetave nirguṇāya ca

To you whose form is the syllable Om and Brahman, who has manifested in threefold form; to the cause of the creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe, who is beyond the gunas.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.199.24)

नयनानन्दरूपाय प्रणतक्लेशनाशिने । केशवाय नमस्तुभ्यं स्वतंत्रेश्वरमूर्तये

nayanānandarūpāya praṇatakleśanāśine keśavāya namastubhyaṁ svataṁtreśvaramūrtaye

To you whose form is the delight of the eyes, the destroyer of the afflictions of those who bow to you; salutation to you, Keshava, whose form is the independent Lord.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.199.25)

मोदिताशेषभक्ताय कालमायादिमोहिने । सदानंदाय कृष्णाय नमः सद्धर्मवर्त्तिने

moditāśeṣabhaktāya kālamāyādimohine sadānaṁdāya kṛṣṇāya namaḥ saddharmavarttine

To you who delight all your devotees, who deludes others through time and maya; salutation to you, Krishna, ever blissful, ever established in true dharma.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.199.26)

भवाम्बुधिनिमग्रानामुद्धृतिक्षमकीर्तये । दर्शनीयस्वरूपाय घनश्यामाय ते नमः

bhavāmbudhinimagrānāmuddhṛtikṣamakīrtaye darśanīyasvarūpāya ghanaśyāmāya te namaḥ

To you whose glory is able to lift up those sunk in the ocean of worldly existence, whose form is worthy to behold, of dense dark-blue hue — salutation to you.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.199.27)

गदाब्जदरचक्राणि बिभ्रते दीर्घबाहुभिः । सुरगोविप्रधर्माणां गोप्त्रे तुभ्यं नमोनमः

gadābjadaracakrāṇi bibhrate dīrghabāhubhiḥ suragovipradharmāṇāṁ goptre tubhyaṁ namonamaḥ

To you who bear the mace, the lotus, the conch, and the discus in your long arms; to the protector of the gods, cows, brahmins, and dharma — salutation, salutation to you.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.199.28)

वरेण्याय प्रपन्नानामभीष्टवरदायिने । निगमागमवेद्याय वेदगर्भाय ते नमः

vareṇyāya prapannānāmabhīṣṭavaradāyine nigamāgamavedyāya vedagarbhāya te namaḥ

To you who are worthy of choice, who grant the desired boon to those who surrender; who are to be known through the Nigamas and Agamas, the very womb of the Vedas — salutation to you.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.199.29)

तेजोमण्डलमध्यस्थ दिव्यसुन्दरमूर्तये । नमामो विष्णवे तुभ्यं परात्परतराय च

tejomaṇḍalamadhyastha divyasundaramūrtaye namāmo viṣṇave tubhyaṁ parātparatarāya ca

To you who stand in the midst of the orb of light, of divinely beautiful form; we bow to you, Vishnu, higher than the highest.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.199.30)

वाणीमनोविप्रकृष्टमहिम्नेऽक्षररूपिणे । सर्वान्तर्यामिणे तुभ्यं बृहते च नमोनमः

vāṇīmanoviprakṛṣṭamahimne'kṣararūpiṇe sarvāntaryāmiṇe tubhyaṁ bṛhate ca namonamaḥ

To you whose greatness lies far beyond speech and mind, whose form is the imperishable; to you, the indweller of all, the vast one — salutation, salutation.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.199.31)

सुखदोसि त्वमेवैकः स्वाश्रितानामतो वयम् । महापदधिकक्लिष्टाः शरणं त्वामुपागताः

sukhadosi tvamevaikaḥ svāśritānāmato vayam mahāpadadhikakliṣṭāḥ śaraṇaṁ tvāmupāgatāḥ

You alone are the giver of happiness to those who take refuge in you; therefore we, exceedingly afflicted by great calamity, have come to you for refuge.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.199.32)

देवाधिदेवभक्तस्य तव दुर्वाससो वयम् । अतिक्रमाच्छ्रिया हीनाः प्राप्ताः स्मो दुर्दशामिमाम्

devādhidevabhaktasya tava durvāsaso vayam atikramācchriyā hīnāḥ prāptāḥ smo durdaśāmimām

O God of gods, on account of a transgression against your devotee Durvasa, we, deprived of Shri, have fallen into this wretched condition.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.199.33)

वासोन्नपानस्थानादिहीनान्धर्मोपि नः प्रभो । त्यक्त्वा सह श्रिया यातस्तान्पातुं त्वमसीश्वरः

vāsonnapānasthānādihīnāndharmopi naḥ prabho tyaktvā saha śriyā yātastānpātuṁ tvamasīśvaraḥ

O Lord, dharma too, along with Shri, has abandoned and left us bereft of clothing, food, drink, dwelling, and the like; you alone, being the Lord, are able to restore it to us.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.199.34)

यतो वयं च धर्मश्च त्वदीया इति विश्रुताः । यथापूर्वं सुखीकर्त्तुं त्वमेवार्हस्यतो हि नः

yato vayaṁ ca dharmaśca tvadīyā iti viśrutāḥ yathāpūrvaṁ sukhīkarttuṁ tvamevārhasyato hi naḥ

Since we and dharma are both renowned as belonging to you, therefore you alone are fit to make us happy again, just as before.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.199.35)

स्कन्द उवाच । इति संप्रार्थितो देवैर्भगवान्स दयानिधिः । उवाचानन्दयन्वाचा मेघगम्भीरया सुरान्

skanda uvāca iti saṁprārthito devairbhagavānsa dayānidhiḥ uvācānandayanvācā meghagambhīrayā surān

Skanda said: Thus entreated by the gods, that Blessed One, the treasury of compassion, gladdening the gods, spoke to them with a voice deep as a cloud.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.199.36)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं कष्टं वः सदतिक्रमात् । उपायं कुरुताद्यैव वच्मि यत्तन्निवृत्तये

śrībhagavānuvāca viditaṁ me surāḥ sarvaṁ kaṣṭaṁ vaḥ sadatikramāt upāyaṁ kurutādyaiva vacmi yattannivṛttaye

Shri Bhagavan said: O gods, I know all your suffering, which arose from a transgression against a saint. Carry out this very day the remedy I now declare, for its removal.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.199.37)

ओषधीरम्बुधौ सर्वाः क्षिप्त्वा मन्दरभूभृता । नागराजवरत्रेण मंथध्वमसुरैः सह

oṣadhīrambudhau sarvāḥ kṣiptvā mandarabhūbhṛtā nāgarājavaratreṇa maṁthadhvamasuraiḥ saha

Having cast all manner of herbs into the ocean, with Mount Mandara as the churning-rod and the king of serpents as the rope, churn it together with the asuras.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.199.38)

आदौ संधाय दनुजैः कुरुताम्बुधिमन्थनम् । साहायं वः करिष्यामि खेदः कार्यो न तत्र वः

ādau saṁdhāya danujaiḥ kurutāmbudhimanthanam sāhāyaṁ vaḥ kariṣyāmi khedaḥ kāryo na tatra vaḥ

First, having made an alliance with the demons, churn the ocean; I shall render you assistance — you need have no distress in this.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.199.39)

अमृतं च श्रियो दृष्टिं प्राप्य पूर्वाधिकौजसः । भवितारो मद्विमुखा दैत्यास्तु क्लेशभागिनः

amṛtaṁ ca śriyo dṛṣṭiṁ prāpya pūrvādhikaujasaḥ bhavitāro madvimukhā daityāstu kleśabhāginaḥ

Having obtained the nectar and the sight of Shri, you shall become of greater vigor than before; but the daityas, being averse to me, shall become sharers only of affliction.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.199.40)

स्कन्द उवाच । इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे विष्णुर्भक्तसङ्कटनाशनः । देवास्तस्मै नमस्कृत्य तदुक्तं कर्तुमारभन्

skanda uvāca ityuktvāṁtardadhe viṣṇurbhaktasaṅkaṭanāśanaḥ devāstasmai namaskṛtya taduktaṁ kartumārabhan

Skanda said: Having said this, Vishnu, the destroyer of his devotees' distress, disappeared; and the gods, having bowed to him, began to carry out what he had commanded.