The Praise of Lakshmi-Narayana

Verse 1 (skanda.2.204.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । विचार्य्याऽहं वेदान्मुहुरुपगतो निश्चयमिमं रमारामे भक्तिस्त्वयि दृढतरा यर्ह्यसुभृताम् । भवेत्तर्ह्येवैषां क्षयविरहिता भोगनिकरास्तथा स्युर्लोका वै परमपुरुषात्यंतिकगतिः

brahmovāca vicāryyā'haṁ vedānmuhurupagato niścayamimaṁ ramārāme bhaktistvayi dṛḍhatarā yarhyasubhṛtām bhavettarhyevaiṣāṁ kṣayavirahitā bhoganikarāstathā syurlokā vai paramapuruṣātyaṁtikagatiḥ

Brahma said: Having repeatedly reflected upon the Vedas, I have arrived at this conclusion, O Beloved of Lakshmi: when devotion to you becomes ever firmer in living beings, then alone their accumulated enjoyments, and their worlds too, become free of decay; the Supreme Person alone is their ultimate goal.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.204.2)

अजानन्तस्त्वित्थं भृतरजतमस्कानपि हरे भजन्त्यस्मान्देवान्बहुविधतपोर्च्चासरणिभिः । त एवोक्ता मूढाः क्षयरहितसौख्यं न कुहचिल्लभन्तेऽतस्त्वां वै निजहृदि दधे केशवमहम्

ajānantastvitthaṁ bhṛtarajatamaskānapi hare bhajantyasmāndevānbahuvidhataporccāsaraṇibhiḥ ta evoktā mūḍhāḥ kṣayarahitasaukhyaṁ na kuhacillabhante'tastvāṁ vai nijahṛdi dadhe keśavamaham

O Hari, not knowing this, those who worship us gods — ourselves burdened with rajas and tamas — through manifold paths of austerity and ritual, are indeed called deluded, for they nowhere obtain happiness free from decay. Therefore I hold you, Keshava, in my own heart.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.204.3)

शंकर उवाच । त्रयी सांख्यवेदांतयोगाः पुराणं तथा पञ्चरात्रं प्रभो धर्मशास्त्रम् । तवैवातिमाहात्म्यमेकस्य नित्यं प्रकारैरनेकैर्हि गायंति भक्त्या

śaṁkara uvāca trayī sāṁkhyavedāṁtayogāḥ purāṇaṁ tathā pañcarātraṁ prabho dharmaśāstram tavaivātimāhātmyamekasya nityaṁ prakārairanekairhi gāyaṁti bhaktyā

Shankara said: O Lord, the threefold Veda, Sankhya, Vedanta, Yoga, the Puranas, likewise the Pancharatra, and the Dharma-shastras — all these, in many ways, sing with devotion the surpassing glory of you, the One alone.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.204.4)

त्वदेवेश शास्त्राणि चैतानि भूम्नो बभूवुस्त्वदेकाश्रयाण्यादिकल्पे । रमासेव्यपादाम्बुजं शास्त्रयोनिं तमाद्यं भवन्तं भजे वासुदेवम्

tvadeveśa śāstrāṇi caitāni bhūmno babhūvustvadekāśrayāṇyādikalpe ramāsevyapādāmbujaṁ śāstrayoniṁ tamādyaṁ bhavantaṁ bhaje vāsudevam

O Lord, these very scriptures came into being from you, the Infinite, having you alone as their refuge, from the first kalpa. I worship you, Vasudeva, the primeval one, whose lotus feet are served by Rama, the very womb of scripture.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.204.5)

धर्म उवाच । कथा त्वदीया भवपाशमोचनी सुधैव तापत्रयतप्तदेहिनाम् । अनेकजन्माघचयापहारिणी तनोति भक्तिं वयुनं तवाञ्जसा

dharma uvāca kathā tvadīyā bhavapāśamocanī sudhaiva tāpatrayataptadehinām anekajanmāghacayāpahāriṇī tanoti bhaktiṁ vayunaṁ tavāñjasā

Dharma said: Your story, which releases from the bonds of worldly existence, is like very nectar for embodied beings scorched by the three kinds of affliction; it removes the accumulated sins of many births, and swiftly bestows devotion and wisdom about you.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.204.6)

सदैव सा कर्णपथेन हृद्दरी विशत्वनन्ताभिध सम्मुखोद्गता । मम त्वदन्या हरताच्च वासना दयाब्धये ते प्रभविष्णवे नमः

sadaiva sā karṇapathena hṛddarī viśatvanantābhidha sammukhodgatā mama tvadanyā haratācca vāsanā dayābdhaye te prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

O one named Ananta, may that story, ever arising before me, enter through the path of my ears into the cave of my heart, and take away my every desire for anything other than you. Salutation to you, the ocean of compassion, the all-powerful one.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.204.7)

प्रजापतय ऊचुः । धन्या एते कल्पवृक्षा यदीयां छायामेतामाश्रितस्त्वं सहश्रीः । धन्यः कर्ता मण्डपस्यास्य ते वै धन्यैषा भूर्यत्र पीठं तवेश

prajāpataya ūcuḥ dhanyā ete kalpavṛkṣā yadīyāṁ chāyāmetāmāśritastvaṁ sahaśrīḥ dhanyaḥ kartā maṇḍapasyāsya te vai dhanyaiṣā bhūryatra pīṭhaṁ taveśa

The Prajapatis said: Blessed indeed are these wish-fulfilling trees, whose shade you, together with Shri, have taken refuge in; blessed is the maker of this pavilion; and, O Lord, blessed is this ground where your seat is.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.204.8)

धन्यो लोके नूनमेषोम्बुराशिः साक्षात्तुभ्यं येन दत्ता स्वकन्या । धन्याश्चैते त्वां वयं वीक्षमाणा धन्येशानं श्रीपतिं त्वां नताः स्मः

dhanyo loke nūnameṣomburāśiḥ sākṣāttubhyaṁ yena dattā svakanyā dhanyāścaite tvāṁ vayaṁ vīkṣamāṇā dhanyeśānaṁ śrīpatiṁ tvāṁ natāḥ smaḥ

Blessed indeed in this world is this Ocean, by whom his own daughter has been given directly to you; blessed too are we who behold you; blessed, we bow to you, the Lord, the husband of Shri.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.204.9)

मनव ऊचुः । धर्मः खलु स हि परमो धर्मेभ्यो माधव सकलेभ्योपि । भक्तिर्भवति यतो वै धर्मभुवि त्वयि हि निरवद्या

manava ūcuḥ dharmaḥ khalu sa hi paramo dharmebhyo mādhava sakalebhyopi bhaktirbhavati yato vai dharmabhuvi tvayi hi niravadyā

The Manus said: O Madhava, that indeed is the supreme dharma, above all dharmas whatsoever, from which arises faultless devotion toward you, the very ground of dharma.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.204.10)

धर्मात्मानं भगवन्धर्मधुरीणं च धर्मपातारम् । सर्वातिप्रियधर्मं नुमस्त्वां धर्मसंभूतिम्

dharmātmānaṁ bhagavandharmadhurīṇaṁ ca dharmapātāram sarvātipriyadharmaṁ numastvāṁ dharmasaṁbhūtim

O Blessed One, we praise you — the righteous soul, the bearer of dharma's yoke, the protector of dharma, dharma exceedingly dear above all, and dharma's very origin.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.204.11)

ऋषय ऊचुः । भक्त्या हीनस्त्वद्विमुखो वयुनार्थी श्राम्यन्भूयोप्यस्य न सिद्धिं समुपैति । तर्ह्यासक्तः कर्मणि काम्ये तु कुतोसौ सौख्यं यायादक्षयमानन्दमहाब्धे

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ bhaktyā hīnastvadvimukho vayunārthī śrāmyanbhūyopyasya na siddhiṁ samupaiti tarhyāsaktaḥ karmaṇi kāmye tu kutosau saukhyaṁ yāyādakṣayamānandamahābdhe

The sages said: One devoid of devotion, turned away from you, seeking wisdom, laboring again and again, attains no success in it. How then, O ocean of bliss, could one attached to desire-driven action attain imperishable happiness?

Verse 12 (skanda.2.204.12)

भक्त्या नित्यं त्वामत एव वयं वै श्रद्धायुक्ता धर्मतपोनिगमाद्यैः । मायातीतं कालनियन्तारमुदारं ध्यायामः श्रीकान्तपरात्परमेकम्

bhaktyā nityaṁ tvāmata eva vayaṁ vai śraddhāyuktā dharmataponigamādyaiḥ māyātītaṁ kālaniyantāramudāraṁ dhyāyāmaḥ śrīkāntaparātparamekam

Therefore, filled with faith, we constantly meditate upon you with devotion, through dharma, austerity, the Vedas and the rest — upon you who are beyond maya, the controller of time, the noble one, the beloved of Shri, the One higher than the highest.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.204.13)

इन्द्र उवाच । भगवन्नुरुदुःखिता वयं ननु दुर्वासस एव हेलनात् । न भवन्तमृतेऽवितुं हि नो विधिरुद्रप्रमुखा इमेऽशकन्

indra uvāca bhagavannuruduḥkhitā vayaṁ nanu durvāsasa eva helanāt na bhavantamṛte'vituṁ hi no vidhirudrapramukhā ime'śakan

Indra said: O Blessed One, we became greatly sorrowful indeed because of disrespect shown to Durvasa; without you, these — Brahma, Rudra, and the rest — were unable to protect us.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.204.14)

विगताखिलसंपदो निरन्नाः समभावं भुवि पामरैरुपेताः । भवतैव वयं हृतापदः स्मः सपदि श्रीहरये नमोस्तु तुभ्यम्

vigatākhilasaṁpado nirannāḥ samabhāvaṁ bhuvi pāmarairupetāḥ bhavataiva vayaṁ hṛtāpadaḥ smaḥ sapadi śrīharaye namostu tubhyam

Our every possession lost, without food, reduced to equal status with the wretched on earth — by you alone have we had our calamity taken away at once. Salutation to you, Shri Hari.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.204.15)

अग्निरुवाच । गीर्वाणदानवनराद्युपजीवनान्नं यन्निर्मितं हि भवतैव ततो बुधास्तु । यज्ञेषु तेन यजनं तव कुर्वतेऽथो त्वच्छेषमन्यदिविषद्भ्य उपानयन्ति

agniruvāca gīrvāṇadānavanarādyupajīvanānnaṁ yannirmitaṁ hi bhavataiva tato budhāstu yajñeṣu tena yajanaṁ tava kurvate'tho tvaccheṣamanyadiviṣadbhya upānayanti

Agni said: The food by which gods, danavas, men and others live was indeed made by you alone; therefore the wise perform their worship of you in sacrifices with it, and bring the rest, once offered to you, to the other celestials.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.204.16)

काम्येषु कर्मसु रता अपि याज्ञिकास्ते तत्कर्मबन्धनत आशु विमुच्य यान्ति । ब्राह्मीं गतिं तदितरे तु भवन्ति चौराः श्रीयज्ञपूरुषमहं प्रणमामि तं त्वाम्

kāmyeṣu karmasu ratā api yājñikāste tatkarmabandhanata āśu vimucya yānti brāhmīṁ gatiṁ taditare tu bhavanti caurāḥ śrīyajñapūruṣamahaṁ praṇamāmi taṁ tvām

Those sacrificers, even engaged in desire-driven rites, are swiftly released from the bondage of that action and go to the state of Brahman; but those who act otherwise become mere thieves. I bow to you, the Person of sacrifice, the Lord of Shri.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.204.17)

मरुत ऊचुः । भक्ता एकान्तिकास्तेऽक्षरपरमपदे सेवया ते तु हीनं वासैश्वर्यादि नेच्छन्त्यतिशयितसुखं नापि कैवल्यमोक्षम् । तद्युक्तं त्वात्मनोपि श्वपचकुलजनुर्मानयन्त्युत्तमं वै तं त्वामेकान्तधर्माश्रयणमुपगताः श्रीमहापूरुषं स्मः

maruta ūcuḥ bhaktā ekāntikāste'kṣaraparamapade sevayā te tu hīnaṁ vāsaiśvaryādi necchantyatiśayitasukhaṁ nāpi kaivalyamokṣam tadyuktaṁ tvātmanopi śvapacakulajanurmānayantyuttamaṁ vai taṁ tvāmekāntadharmāśrayaṇamupagatāḥ śrīmahāpūruṣaṁ smaḥ

The Maruts said: Your single-minded devotees do not desire, apart from service to you, residence in the Imperishable Supreme Abode, lordly power, exceeding happiness, or even the liberation of Kaivalya; they consider even a birth in an outcaste family, if joined with that service, superior to their own state. We, having taken refuge in that single-minded dharma, bow to you, the great Supreme Person, the Lord of Shri.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.204.18)

सिद्धा ऊचुः । नैकब्रह्माण्डसर्गादिकारणं त्वामकारणम् । तत्स्थं तद्व्यतिरिक्तं च नियन्तारं नमामहे

siddhā ūcuḥ naikabrahmāṇḍasargādikāraṇaṁ tvāmakāraṇam tatsthaṁ tadvyatiriktaṁ ca niyantāraṁ namāmahe

The Siddhas said: We bow to you, the cause of the creation of countless universes, yourself without cause; who dwell within them and yet are distinct from them; the controller of all.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.204.19)

रुद्रा ऊचुः । मायायाः सर्वमोहिन्या मोहनं मोहवर्जितम् । महाकालस्यापि कालं त्वां नमः पुरुषोत्तमम्

rudrā ūcuḥ māyāyāḥ sarvamohinyā mohanaṁ mohavarjitam mahākālasyāpi kālaṁ tvāṁ namaḥ puruṣottamam

The Rudras said: You who bewilder even Maya, the all-bewildering one, yet are yourself free of bewilderment; who are Time even to Mahakala himself — salutation to you, Purushottama.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.204.20)

आदित्या ऊचुः । प्रकाशिता येन वयं जगन्ति प्रकाशयामो भवता रमेश । स्वयंप्रकाशं तमुरुप्रकाशं प्रकाशमूर्त्तिं प्रणता भवन्तम्

ādityā ūcuḥ prakāśitā yena vayaṁ jaganti prakāśayāmo bhavatā rameśa svayaṁprakāśaṁ tamuruprakāśaṁ prakāśamūrttiṁ praṇatā bhavantam

The Adityas said: O Lord of Rama, by whom we ourselves have been illumined, and by whom we illumine the worlds — we bow to you, the self-luminous one, of vast radiance, whose very form is light.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.204.21)

साध्या ऊचुः । शास्ता नृपाणां च महोरगाणां दैत्याधिपानां च सुराधिपानाम् । त्वं वै मनूनां च प्रजापतीनां राजाधिराजाय नमोस्तु तुभ्यम्

sādhyā ūcuḥ śāstā nṛpāṇāṁ ca mahoragāṇāṁ daityādhipānāṁ ca surādhipānām tvaṁ vai manūnāṁ ca prajāpatīnāṁ rājādhirājāya namostu tubhyam

The Sadhyas said: You are indeed the ruler of kings, of the great serpents, of the lords of the daityas, and of the lords of the gods, and of the Manus and the Prajapatis — salutation to you, the king of kings.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.204.22)

वसव ऊचुः । भवति भुवि यदायदाऽसुरांशैः प्रथितसनातनधर्मधार्मिकाणाम् । कदनमुरु तदातदा स्वयं ते ह्यवतरते प्रणमाम धर्मगोप्त्रे

vasava ūcuḥ bhavati bhuvi yadāyadā'surāṁśaiḥ prathitasanātanadharmadhārmikāṇām kadanamuru tadātadā svayaṁ te hyavatarate praṇamāma dharmagoptre

The Vasus said: Whenever great destruction comes upon those righteous ones established in the eternal dharma, at the hands of those born of a portion of the asuras, then you yourself descend. We bow to you, the protector of dharma.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.204.23)

चारणा ऊचुः । चरित्रं शुभं ते धृतानेकमूर्त्तेः प्रबन्धैरनेकैर्हि गायन्ति भक्ताः । यदु श्रोतृवक्तॄन्पुनात्येव सद्यो वयं तं नताः पुण्यकीर्त्तिं भवन्तम्

cāraṇā ūcuḥ caritraṁ śubhaṁ te dhṛtānekamūrtteḥ prabandhairanekairhi gāyanti bhaktāḥ yadu śrotṛvaktṝnpunātyeva sadyo vayaṁ taṁ natāḥ puṇyakīrttiṁ bhavantam

The Charanas said: Your auspicious deeds, performed in your many assumed forms, devotees sing in many compositions — deeds which at once purify both hearer and reciter. We bow to you, of holy renown.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.204.24)

गन्धर्वाप्सरस ऊचुः । ये कथास्ते विहायान्यगाथाः प्रभो कीर्त्तयन्तेऽथ शृण्वन्ति वा ते जनाः । दुःखिताः स्युश्च संसारपाशैः सितास्तं नताः स्मः शरण्यं भवन्तं वयम्

gandharvāpsarasa ūcuḥ ye kathāste vihāyānyagāthāḥ prabho kīrttayante'tha śṛṇvanti vā te janāḥ duḥkhitāḥ syuśca saṁsārapāśaiḥ sitāstaṁ natāḥ smaḥ śaraṇyaṁ bhavantaṁ vayam

The Gandharvas and Apsaras said: O Lord, those people who, setting aside all other tales, recite or hear your stories alone, are not left bound and sorrowful by the snares of worldly existence. We bow to you, our refuge.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.204.25)

समुद्र उवाच । अजित तवाऽथ तावकजनस्य मुदाऽल्पमपि द्रविण जलान्नवस्त्रनमनान्यतमेन सकृत् । चरति ह सेवनं स पदवीं महतीं महतां व्रजति जनोल्पकोपि तमहं प्रणतः करुणम्

samudra uvāca ajita tavā'tha tāvakajanasya mudā'lpamapi draviṇa jalānnavastranamanānyatamena sakṛt carati ha sevanaṁ sa padavīṁ mahatīṁ mahatāṁ vrajati janolpakopi tamahaṁ praṇataḥ karuṇam

The Ocean said: O Unconquerable One, whoever performs even once, with joy, service to you or your people through any one of these — a little wealth, water, food, clothing, or a bow — even such a lowly person attains the great state of the great ones. To you, the compassionate one, I bow.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.204.26)

पार्षदा ऊचुः । पितरो त्वमसि स्वजनस्त्वमसि त्वमसीष्टगुरुः सुहृदात्मपतिः । त्वमसीश्वर एव च नः परमस्त्वमसि द्रविणं सकलं त्वमसि

pārṣadā ūcuḥ pitaro tvamasi svajanastvamasi tvamasīṣṭaguruḥ suhṛdātmapatiḥ tvamasīśvara eva ca naḥ paramastvamasi draviṇaṁ sakalaṁ tvamasi

The attendants said: You are our father, you are our kinsman, you are our beloved teacher, our friend, the lord of our very self; you alone are our supreme Lord, and you alone are all our wealth.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.204.27)

मूर्त्तिरुवाच । यत्संबन्धत एव यान्ति पदवीमुच्चां महद्भिर्न्नुतां स्त्रीशूद्रासुरनीचपक्षिपशवः पापात्मजीवा अपि । यद्धीना विबुधेश्वरा अपि भवन्त्यर्च्चोज्झितास्तत्क्षणं गोलोकाधिपतिं तमेव हृदये नित्यं भजे त्वामहम्

mūrttiruvāca yatsaṁbandhata eva yānti padavīmuccāṁ mahadbhirnnutāṁ strīśūdrāsuranīcapakṣipaśavaḥ pāpātmajīvā api yaddhīnā vibudheśvarā api bhavantyarccojjhitāstatkṣaṇaṁ golokādhipatiṁ tameva hṛdaye nityaṁ bhaje tvāmaham

Murti said: By connection with whom alone, women, shudras, asuras, lowly beings, birds, beasts, and even sinful souls attain a lofty state praised by the great; lacking whom, even the lords of the wise instantly become deprived of worship — you, that very Lord of Goloka, I ever worship in my heart.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.204.28)

सावित्र्युवाच । त्वं सर्गकाले प्रकृतिं च पूरुषं दृष्ट्या स्वयोत्थाप्य ततस्तदात्मना । तत्त्वानि सृष्ट्वा महदादिमानितैर्न्नैकान्विराजो बहुधा ससर्जिथ

sāvitryuvāca tvaṁ sargakāle prakṛtiṁ ca pūruṣaṁ dṛṣṭyā svayotthāpya tatastadātmanā tattvāni sṛṣṭvā mahadādimānitairnnaikānvirājo bahudhā sasarjitha

Savitri said: At the time of creation, having by your own glance raised up Prakriti and Purusha, and then, through them, having created the principles beginning with Mahat, you, as the manifold Viraj, created the countless worlds in many ways.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.204.29)

वैराजरूपेण जगद्विधातृतां स्वीकृत्य देवासुरमानुषोरगान् । त्वं स्थावरं जंगममीश निर्ममे त्वामादिकर्तारमुपाश्रितास्म्यहम्

vairājarūpeṇa jagadvidhātṛtāṁ svīkṛtya devāsuramānuṣoragān tvaṁ sthāvaraṁ jaṁgamamīśa nirmame tvāmādikartāramupāśritāsmyaham

Assuming the form of Viraj, and taking upon yourself the role of ordainer of the world, O Lord, you fashioned the gods, asuras, men, serpents, and all things moving and unmoving. I have taken refuge in you, the primal creator.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.204.30)

दुर्गोवाच । प्रियतयाऽधिकया हृदि चिन्तनं विदधते तव ये भुवि ते विभो । न परमेष्ठिसुखं न दिवः सुखं न कमयन्ति धरैकनरेशताम्

durgovāca priyatayā'dhikayā hṛdi cintanaṁ vidadhate tava ye bhuvi te vibho na parameṣṭhisukhaṁ na divaḥ sukhaṁ na kamayanti dharaikanareśatām

Durga said: O mighty one, those on earth who, with surpassing love, hold you in contemplation in their hearts, desire neither the joy of Brahma's realm, nor the joy of heaven, nor even sole kingship over the earth.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.204.31)

प्रसभमर्पितमप्यतुलं त्वया सुखमिदं समवाप्य च तत्र ते । तदपहाय न शक्तिकृतः क्षणं तमु नमामि च सात्वतनायकम्

prasabhamarpitamapyatulaṁ tvayā sukhamidaṁ samavāpya ca tatra te tadapahāya na śaktikṛtaḥ kṣaṇaṁ tamu namāmi ca sātvatanāyakam

Even when this incomparable happiness is forcibly bestowed upon them by you, and they attain it, they become unable, even for a moment, to set it aside. I bow to that Leader of the Sattvatas.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.204.32)

नद्य ऊचुः । वरद नमनमात्रं नामसंकीर्तनं वा विदधति तव ये वै ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतो वा । जनिमृतियमभीतेस्तानपि त्रायमाणं नरसखमुपयाताः स्मोऽद्य नारायणं त्वाम्

nadya ūcuḥ varada namanamātraṁ nāmasaṁkīrtanaṁ vā vidadhati tava ye vai jñānato'jñānato vā janimṛtiyamabhītestānapi trāyamāṇaṁ narasakhamupayātāḥ smo'dya nārāyaṇaṁ tvām

The rivers said: O Boon-giver, those who perform even mere obeisance to you, or the recitation of your name, whether knowingly or unknowingly — you save even them from the fear of birth, death, and Yama. We have come today to you, Narayana, the friend of men.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.204.33)

देवपत्न्य ऊचुः । भुवि धृताकृतेर्जन्म मङ्गलं चरितमद्भुतं लोकपावनम् । भवति निर्गुणं सर्वमेव ते भवसि निर्गुणब्रह्म यत्परम्

devapatnya ūcuḥ bhuvi dhṛtākṛterjanma maṅgalaṁ caritamadbhutaṁ lokapāvanam bhavati nirguṇaṁ sarvameva te bhavasi nirguṇabrahma yatparam

The wives of the gods said: Your birth on earth in an assumed form, your auspicious and wondrous world-purifying deeds — all of this is in truth free of the gunas, since you yourself are the supreme Brahman beyond the gunas.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.204.34)

तव समाश्रयात्तामसा जना अपि च राजसाः सात्त्विकाश्च ये । ननु भवन्ति ते निर्गुणास्ततो वयमुपास्महे त्वां हि निर्गुणम्

tava samāśrayāttāmasā janā api ca rājasāḥ sāttvikāśca ye nanu bhavanti te nirguṇāstato vayamupāsmahe tvāṁ hi nirguṇam

By taking refuge in you, even people who are tamasic, rajasic, or sattvic become free of the gunas; therefore we worship you, who are indeed beyond the gunas.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.204.35)

ऋषिपत्न्य ऊचुः । आर्तानामुरुवृजिनैस्त्रिधा च तापैः सर्वापत्प्रशमनमेकमेव विष्णोः । पादाब्जं तव भवतीति तद्वयं वै प्राप्ताः स्मः शरणमनन्त देवदेव

ṛṣipatnya ūcuḥ ārtānāmuruvṛjinaistridhā ca tāpaiḥ sarvāpatpraśamanamekameva viṣṇoḥ pādābjaṁ tava bhavatīti tadvayaṁ vai prāptāḥ smaḥ śaraṇamananta devadeva

The wives of the sages said: For those afflicted by great sins and by the threefold torments, the one and only remedy for every calamity is your lotus foot, O Vishnu. Therefore, O infinite God of gods, we have come to it for refuge.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.204.36)

पृथिव्युवाच । पूर्णशारदसुधाकराननं शारदाब्जदलदीर्घलोचनम् । श्रीवियोगबहुधार्तिमोचनं वाऽसुदेवमहमेकमाश्रये

pṛthivyuvāca pūrṇaśāradasudhākarānanaṁ śāradābjadaladīrghalocanam śrīviyogabahudhārtimocanaṁ vā'sudevamahamekamāśraye

The Earth said: I take refuge in Vasudeva alone — he whose face is like the full autumn moon, whose long eyes are like the petals of the autumn lotus, and who releases from the manifold afflictions of separation from Shri.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.204.37)

सरस्वत्युवाच । नयने ममाच्युत तवातिसुन्दरे मुखशीतरोचिषि चकोरतां गते । न हि गच्छतोऽन्यत इतीयमेव मे हृदि मूर्तिरस्तु सततं नहीतरा

sarasvatyuvāca nayane mamācyuta tavātisundare mukhaśītarociṣi cakoratāṁ gate na hi gacchato'nyata itīyameva me hṛdi mūrtirastu satataṁ nahītarā

Sarasvati said: O Achyuta, my two eyes have become like chakora birds fixed upon your exceedingly beautiful, moon-cool-radiant face; they do not go elsewhere. May this very form alone remain forever in my heart, none other.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.204.38)

स्कन्द उवाच । इति स्तुतोऽखिलैर्देवैः सोभिनन्द्य दृशैव तान् । प्राह श्रियं शुभे पश्य देवादींस्त्वमिमानिति

skanda uvāca iti stuto'khilairdevaiḥ sobhinandya dṛśaiva tān prāha śriyaṁ śubhe paśya devādīṁstvamimāniti

Skanda said: Thus praised by all the gods, he, greeting them with just a glance, said to Shri, 'O auspicious one, behold these gods and the rest.'

Verse 39 (skanda.2.204.39)

ततः समीक्षिताः प्रीत्या तया मधुरया दृशा । त्रिलोकीवासिनः सर्वे ऋद्धा आसन्यथा पुरा

tataḥ samīkṣitāḥ prītyā tayā madhurayā dṛśā trilokīvāsinaḥ sarve ṛddhā āsanyathā purā

Then, gazed upon with love by her sweet glance, all the dwellers of the three worlds became prosperous again, just as before.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.204.40)

लेभिरे स्वस्वऋद्धिं ते गृहिणस्त्यागिनोपि च । धर्मादयश्च सानन्दं प्रचरन्ति स्म पूर्ववत्

lebhire svasvaṛddhiṁ te gṛhiṇastyāginopi ca dharmādayaśca sānandaṁ pracaranti sma pūrvavat

Householders and renunciants alike regained their own respective prosperity; and Dharma and the rest again moved about joyfully, just as before.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.204.41)

तस्याः श्रियश्च भगवान्ददौ स्थानमुरः स्वकम् । तत्र स्थित्वैव सा व्यापत्त्रैलोक्यं संपदात्मना

tasyāḥ śriyaśca bhagavāndadau sthānamuraḥ svakam tatra sthitvaiva sā vyāpattrailokyaṁ saṁpadātmanā

And the Blessed Lord gave to Shri his own breast as her abode; remaining there, she pervaded the three worlds in the form of prosperity.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.204.42)

ततो रत्नाकरः स्वस्माच्छ्रीजनेरनुभावतः । बभूवान्वर्थसंज्ञो वै संपूर्णक्षयरत्नवान्

tato ratnākaraḥ svasmācchrījaneranubhāvataḥ babhūvānvarthasaṁjño vai saṁpūrṇakṣayaratnavān

Then the Ocean, through the power of Shri's birth from himself, became truly worthy of his own name, full of inexhaustible jewels.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.204.43)

चतुर्विधैर्बहुरसैः सदन्नैरमृतोपमैः । सर्वान्समागतांस्तत्र तर्पयामास सादरम्

caturvidhairbahurasaiḥ sadannairamṛtopamaiḥ sarvānsamāgatāṁstatra tarpayāmāsa sādaram

With food of four kinds, rich in many flavors, excellent, and comparable to nectar, he respectfully satisfied all who had gathered there.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.204.44)

अनर्घ्याणि च वस्त्राणि रत्नभूषाः परिच्छदान् । देवादिभ्यो ददौ प्रीत्या सर्वेभ्योपि पृथक्पृथक्

anarghyāṇi ca vastrāṇi ratnabhūṣāḥ paricchadān devādibhyo dadau prītyā sarvebhyopi pṛthakpṛthak

With love, he gave priceless garments, jeweled ornaments, and equipages, separately to each and every one of the gods and the rest.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.204.45)

जामातुस्तुष्टये स्वस्य तदीयेभ्यस्तदाम्बुधेः । नासीत्किमप्यदेयं वै घनवद्धनवर्षिणः

jāmātustuṣṭaye svasya tadīyebhyastadāmbudheḥ nāsītkimapyadeyaṁ vai ghanavaddhanavarṣiṇaḥ

For the satisfaction of his own son-in-law, and toward those belonging to him, there was nothing at all that the Ocean, raining down wealth like a cloud, would not give.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.204.46)

भगवानपि तद्दत्तं यौतकं च धनं बहु । ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदायैव श्रिया सह तिरोदधे

bhagavānapi taddattaṁ yautakaṁ ca dhanaṁ bahu brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāyaiva śriyā saha tirodadhe

The Blessed Lord too, having given away that dowry and abundant wealth to the brahmins, then disappeared from sight together with Shri.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.204.47)

लक्ष्मीनारायणाभ्यां ते भृशमानन्दिताः सुराः । इन्द्रादयो दिवं जग्मुः स्वंस्वं धामाऽपरे ययुः

lakṣmīnārāyaṇābhyāṁ te bhṛśamānanditāḥ surāḥ indrādayo divaṁ jagmuḥ svaṁsvaṁ dhāmā'pare yayuḥ

Exceedingly delighted by Lakshmi and Narayana, the gods, headed by Indra, went to heaven; others went to their own respective abodes.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.204.48)

अधिकारं च संप्राप्य यथापूर्वं निजंनिजम् । सर्वेपि सुखिनो जाताः प्रसादात्कमलापतेः

adhikāraṁ ca saṁprāpya yathāpūrvaṁ nijaṁnijam sarvepi sukhino jātāḥ prasādātkamalāpateḥ

Having regained their own respective offices just as before, all became happy, by the grace of the Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.204.49)

मन्दरं च गिरिं तार्क्ष्यः पुनर्भगवदाज्ञया । स्वस्थानं समुपानीय स्थापयामास लीलया

mandaraṁ ca giriṁ tārkṣyaḥ punarbhagavadājñayā svasthānaṁ samupānīya sthāpayāmāsa līlayā

And Garuda, by the Lord's command, brought Mount Mandara back to its own place once more, and set it there with mere play.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.204.50)

एवमिन्द्रेण ब्रह्मर्षे नष्टा ब्राह्मणशापतः । उपलब्धा पुनः संपन्नारायणप्रसादतः

evamindreṇa brahmarṣe naṣṭā brāhmaṇaśāpataḥ upalabdhā punaḥ saṁpannārāyaṇaprasādataḥ

Thus, O brahmin sage, the prosperity lost by Indra through a brahmin's curse was regained once again, by the grace of Narayana.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.204.51)

य एतां शृणुयात्पुण्यां कथां भगवतो मुने । कीर्तयेत्प्रयतो वापि संपदं प्राप्नुतो हि तौ

ya etāṁ śṛṇuyātpuṇyāṁ kathāṁ bhagavato mune kīrtayetprayato vāpi saṁpadaṁ prāpnuto hi tau

O sage, whoever hears this holy story of the Lord, or reverently recites it — both alike surely attain prosperity.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.204.52)

गृहिणां धनसिद्धिः स्यात्त्यागिनां च यथेप्सिता । भक्तिज्ञानविरागादेर्भवेत्सिद्धिरनेन वै

gṛhiṇāṁ dhanasiddhiḥ syāttyāgināṁ ca yathepsitā bhaktijñānavirāgāderbhavetsiddhiranena vai

For householders there is success in wealth, and for renunciants, whatever they desire; through this story, success in devotion, knowledge, dispassion, and the rest also comes about.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.204.53)

इति ते कथितं ब्रह्मन्यथेन्द्रः प्राप संपदम् । नारदोपि यथा श्वेतं द्वीपं स गतवानृषिः । तत्ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकेन चैतसा

iti te kathitaṁ brahmanyathendraḥ prāpa saṁpadam nāradopi yathā śvetaṁ dvīpaṁ sa gatavānṛṣiḥ tatte sarvaṁ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikena caitasā

Thus, O brahmin, I have told you how Indra regained his prosperity. Now, how the sage Narada too went to the White Island — all that I shall tell you; listen with a single-pointed mind.