The Arrival of Shankha, Agastya and Others at Sri Venkatachala

Verse 1 (skanda.2.37.1)

भारद्वाज उवाच । शृणु पार्थ प्रवक्ष्यामि कथामाश्चर्यकारिणीम् । यथाऽसौ भगवानस्मिञ्छैले प्राप प्रकाशताम् ।

bhāradvāja uvāca śṛṇu pārtha pravakṣyāmi kathāmāścaryakāriṇīm yathā'sau bhagavānasmiñchaile prāpa prakāśatām

Bharadvaja said: Listen, Partha, I shall tell an astonishing story — how that Lord became manifest on this mountain.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.37.2)

श्रुताभिधानो नृपतिरस्ति हैहयवंशजः । यः प्रजाः स्वा इव चिरं शशास धरणीं शुभाम् ।

śrutābhidhāno nṛpatirasti haihayavaṁśajaḥ yaḥ prajāḥ svā iva ciraṁ śaśāsa dharaṇīṁ śubhām

There was a king named Shruta, born in the Haihaya lineage, who long ruled the auspicious earth, cherishing his subjects as his own.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.37.3)

तस्य पुत्रो गुणनिधिः शंखो नाम महीपतिः । पालयामास वसुधां सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः ।

tasya putro guṇanidhiḥ śaṁkho nāma mahīpatiḥ pālayāmāsa vasudhāṁ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ

His son, a treasury of virtues, was King Shankha, who, learned in all the scriptures, protected the earth.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.37.4)

तस्य विष्णौ जगन्नाथे पुण्डरीकायतेक्षणे । बभूव निश्चला भक्तिः परित्यक्तान्यसंश्रया ।

tasya viṣṇau jagannāthe puṇḍarīkāyatekṣaṇe babhūva niścalā bhaktiḥ parityaktānyasaṁśrayā

He had unwavering devotion to Vishnu, the lotus-eyed Lord of the world, a devotion that had abandoned every other refuge.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.37.5)

देवदेवं जगन्नाथमनन्तं पुरुषोत्तमम् । प्रगाढनिश्चयो नित्यं ध्यायन्नद्भुतवैभवम् ।

devadevaṁ jagannāthamanantaṁ puruṣottamam pragāḍhaniścayo nityaṁ dhyāyannadbhutavaibhavam

With firm resolve he constantly meditated upon the God of gods, Lord of the world, the Infinite, the Supreme Person of wondrous majesty.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.37.6)

चक्रे व्रतानि दानानि पुण्यानि विविधानि च । वेदवेद्यस्य नियतं प्रीत्यर्थं मधुविद्विषः ।

cakre vratāni dānāni puṇyāni vividhāni ca vedavedyasya niyataṁ prītyarthaṁ madhuvidviṣaḥ

For the pleasure of the Enemy of Madhu, known through the Vedas, he constantly performed vows, gifts, and various meritorious deeds.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.37.7)

तमुद्दिश्यैव विदधे वाजिमेधादिकान्क्रतून् । यथोक्तदक्षिणायोगात्प्रीणिताशेषभूसुरः ।

tamuddiśyaiva vidadhe vājimedhādikānkratūn yathoktadakṣiṇāyogātprīṇitāśeṣabhūsuraḥ

For his sake alone he performed the Ashvamedha and other sacrifices, satisfying all the brahmins with the prescribed sacrificial gifts.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.37.8)

इष्टापूर्त्तात्मकं चक्रे कर्मजातमतन्द्रितः । विन्यस्तहृदयो नित्यं केशवे भक्तवत्सले ।

iṣṭāpūrttātmakaṁ cakre karmajātamatandritaḥ vinyastahṛdayo nityaṁ keśave bhaktavatsale

Untiring, he performed the works of sacrifice and public benefaction, his heart ever fixed upon Keshava, who is affectionate to his devotees.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.37.9)

स्मरत्यजस्रं गोविन्दं जपत्यच्युतमव्ययम् । पूजयत्यब्जनयनं संकीर्तयति शार्ङ्गिणम् ।

smaratyajasraṁ govindaṁ japatyacyutamavyayam pūjayatyabjanayanaṁ saṁkīrtayati śārṅgiṇam

He remembered Govinda unceasingly, chanted the name of imperishable Achyuta, worshipped the lotus-eyed one, and sang the praise of the wielder of the Sharnga bow.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.37.10)

शृणोति सततं राजा संसारार्णवतारिणीः । पौराणिकैः समाख्याताः पवित्रा वैष्णवी कथाः ।

śṛṇoti satataṁ rājā saṁsārārṇavatāriṇīḥ paurāṇikaiḥ samākhyātāḥ pavitrā vaiṣṇavī kathāḥ

The king constantly listened to the pure Vaishnava tales, related by narrators of the Puranas, that ferry one across the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.37.11)

ब्राह्मणानर्चति स्मायं हरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च । इत्थं सर्वात्मना युक्तोऽप्यश्रान्तः पृथिवीपतिः ।

brāhmaṇānarcati smāyaṁ hariprītyarthameva ca itthaṁ sarvātmanā yukto'pyaśrāntaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ

He worshipped brahmins solely for Hari's pleasure. Thus, though engaged with his whole being, that untiring lord of the earth...

Verse 12 (skanda.2.37.12)

नापश्यच्छाश्वतैश्वर्यं स्वतन्त्रं पुरुषोत्तमम् । अप्राप्य दर्शनं विष्णोः सर्वयज्ञमयात्मनः ।

nāpaśyacchāśvataiśvaryaṁ svatantraṁ puruṣottamam aprāpya darśanaṁ viṣṇoḥ sarvayajñamayātmanaḥ

...still did not behold the eternal, independent Supreme Person; he had not attained sight of Vishnu, whose self is composed of all sacrifice.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.37.13)

सशोकाक्रान्तहृदयः परां चिन्तामुपागमत् ।

saśokākrāntahṛdayaḥ parāṁ cintāmupāgamat

His heart overcome with grief, he fell into deep anxiety.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.37.14)

शंख उवाच । परः सहस्रैर्जनैरतीतदुष्कृतं बहु । कृतं मया यदप्राप्तं हृषीकेशस्य दर्शनम् ।

śaṁkha uvāca paraḥ sahasrairjanairatītaduṣkṛtaṁ bahu kṛtaṁ mayā yadaprāptaṁ hṛṣīkeśasya darśanam

Shankha said: I must have committed past misdeeds greater than those of a thousand people, since I have not attained the sight of Hrishikesha.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.37.15)

उपार्जितानां तमसामनेकैः पूर्वजन्मभिः । अखण्डं हि फलं विष्णोर्दर्शनं मधुघातिनः ।

upārjitānāṁ tamasāmanekaiḥ pūrvajanmabhiḥ akhaṇḍaṁ hi phalaṁ viṣṇordarśanaṁ madhughātinaḥ

The sight of Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu, is indeed the complete fruit that comes only when the sins accumulated through many past births have been exhausted.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.37.16)

कथं नु यायाद्भगवान्विषयं मम नेत्रयोः । कदा वा लभ्यते श्रेयस्तद्वाक्याकर्णनात्मकम् ।

kathaṁ nu yāyādbhagavānviṣayaṁ mama netrayoḥ kadā vā labhyate śreyastadvākyākarṇanātmakam

How indeed might the Lord come within the range of my eyes? Or when shall I gain the blessing of hearing his very words?

Verse 17 (skanda.2.37.17)

हा धिङ्मां विहितागस्कं क्रियासाफल्यवर्जितम् । नारायणकृपादूरं संसारक्लेशगोचरम् ।

hā dhiṅmāṁ vihitāgaskaṁ kriyāsāphalyavarjitam nārāyaṇakṛpādūraṁ saṁsārakleśagocaram

Alas, shame on me — guilty as I am, devoid of the fruit of my deeds, far from Narayana's grace, and subject to the afflictions of worldly life.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.37.18)

भरद्वाज उवाच । इति चिन्ताकुले तस्मिन्राज्ञि जीवितनिःस्पृहे । अदृश्यमूर्तिः सर्वेषां शृण्वतामाह केशवः ।

bharadvāja uvāca iti cintākule tasminrājñi jīvitaniḥspṛhe adṛśyamūrtiḥ sarveṣāṁ śṛṇvatāmāha keśavaḥ

Bharadvaja said: While that king, thus overwhelmed with anxiety, had grown weary of life, Keshava, invisible in form, spoke so that all could hear —

Verse 19 (skanda.2.37.19)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । मा शोकस्य वशं यायाः शृणु वक्ष्याभि ते हितम् । मदेकशरणं साधुं त्वां त्यक्ष्यामि कथं नृप ।

śrībhagavānuvāca mā śokasya vaśaṁ yāyāḥ śṛṇu vakṣyābhi te hitam madekaśaraṇaṁ sādhuṁ tvāṁ tyakṣyāmi kathaṁ nṛpa

The Blessed Lord said: Do not fall under the sway of grief; listen, I shall tell you what is good for you. How could I abandon you, a virtuous man who has taken refuge in Me alone, O king?

Verse 20 (skanda.2.37.20)

अयं वेंकटनामाद्रिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । वैकुण्ठादपि मे राजन्नावासोऽतिप्रियावहः ।

ayaṁ veṁkaṭanāmādristriṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ vaikuṇṭhādapi me rājannāvāso'tipriyāvahaḥ

This mountain named Venkata is renowned in the three worlds; O king, it is a dwelling even dearer to Me than Vaikuntha.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.37.21)

तं गत्वा भूधरवरं तव भक्त्या तपस्यतः । गते सहस्रे वर्षाणां यास्याम्यालोकनीयताम् ।

taṁ gatvā bhūdharavaraṁ tava bhaktyā tapasyataḥ gate sahasre varṣāṇāṁ yāsyāmyālokanīyatām

Going to that best of mountains, and practicing austerity there with devotion, when a thousand years have passed, I shall become visible to you.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.37.22)

भवानिवोद्यतोऽगस्त्यो मम दर्शनमञ्जसा । क्व वा संदृश्यते विष्णुरेवमाह चतुर्मुखम् ।

bhavānivodyato'gastyo mama darśanamañjasā kva vā saṁdṛśyate viṣṇurevamāha caturmukham

Agastya too, like you, is eager to easily obtain sight of Me; 'Where indeed may Vishnu be seen?' — thus he asked the Four-Faced One.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.37.23)

वृषभाद्रौ हरिर्द्रष्टुं लभ्यते नियतात्मभिः । गच्छ तत्रेति मुनये कथयामास पद्मभूः ।

vṛṣabhādrau harirdraṣṭuṁ labhyate niyatātmabhiḥ gaccha tatreti munaye kathayāmāsa padmabhūḥ

[Brahma replied:] 'On Vrishabhadri, Hari may be attained by those of disciplined self; go there.' Thus the Lotus-born spoke to the sage.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.37.24)

अम्भोजसंभवेनेत्थमादिष्टः कुम्भसम्भवः । अञ्जनाद्रौ महावासे तपस्तप्तुं समेष्यति ।

ambhojasaṁbhavenetthamādiṣṭaḥ kumbhasambhavaḥ añjanādrau mahāvāse tapastaptuṁ sameṣyati

Thus instructed by the Lotus-born one, the Pot-born sage will come to the great abode of Anjanadri to practice austerity.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.37.25)

तस्मिन्महीधरे पुण्ये कृतवासो भवानपि । आराध्य मां तपोनिष्ठो मम दर्शनमाप्स्यसि ।

tasminmahīdhare puṇye kṛtavāso bhavānapi ārādhya māṁ taponiṣṭho mama darśanamāpsyasi

On that same sacred mountain, having taken up residence, you too, steadfast in austerity, by worshipping Me shall attain My sight.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.37.26)

भरद्वाज उवाच । इत्याज्ञप्तो भगवता शंखो दानववैरिणा । जगाम प्रीतिमतुलां धन्योस्मीति स्वचेतसि ।

bharadvāja uvāca ityājñapto bhagavatā śaṁkho dānavavairiṇā jagāma prītimatulāṁ dhanyosmīti svacetasi

Bharadvaja said: Thus commanded by the Lord, the enemy of the demons, Shankha attained incomparable joy, thinking in his heart, 'I am blessed.'

Verse 27 (skanda.2.37.27)

विन्यस्य तनयं वज्रं प्रजापालनकर्मणि । गोविन्ददर्शनापेक्षी नारायणगिरिं ययौ ।

vinyasya tanayaṁ vajraṁ prajāpālanakarmaṇi govindadarśanāpekṣī nārāyaṇagiriṁ yayau

Having installed his son Vajra in the task of protecting his subjects, longing for the sight of Govinda, he went to the mountain of Narayana.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.37.28)

तस्य शृंगे समुत्तुंगे स्वामिपुष्करिणीं शुभाम् । दिव्यैः पयोभिरापूर्णामपश्यदमृतोपमैः ।

tasya śṛṁge samuttuṁge svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ śubhām divyaiḥ payobhirāpūrṇāmapaśyadamṛtopamaiḥ

On its lofty peak he saw the auspicious Svami Pushkarini, full of divine waters comparable to nectar,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.37.29)

अनेकसिद्धगन्धर्वदेवर्षिगणसेविताम् । भवतापप्रशमनी सर्वतीर्थसमाश्रयाम् ।

anekasiddhagandharvadevarṣigaṇasevitām bhavatāpapraśamanī sarvatīrthasamāśrayām

attended by hosts of Siddhas, Gandharvas, and divine sages, that pacifies the suffering of worldly existence, and is the confluence of all sacred fords,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.37.30)

जलकाकबकक्रौञ्चहंसकारण्डवाकुलाम् । कुमुदोत्पलराजीवसौगन्धिकमनोहराम् ।

jalakākabakakrauñcahaṁsakāraṇḍavākulām kumudotpalarājīvasaugandhikamanoharām

thronged with water-crows, herons, curlews, swans and karandava-ducks, and charming with white and blue lotuses, red lotuses, and sweet-scented flowers.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.37.31)

तां दृष्ट्वा पद्मिनीं दिव्यां तत्तीरे विहितोटजः । तोषितः स्नानपानाद्यैर्निर्विकल्पमनोगतिः ।

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā padminīṁ divyāṁ tattīre vihitoṭajaḥ toṣitaḥ snānapānādyairnirvikalpamanogatiḥ

Having seen that divine lotus-pool, he built a hut on its bank; contented by bathing, drinking its water and the like, his mind grew free of distraction,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.37.32)

सर्वकर्माणि विन्यस्य जगदीशे जनार्दने ।

sarvakarmāṇi vinyasya jagadīśe janārdane

having dedicated all his actions to Janardana, the Lord of the universe.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.37.33)

जपध्यानपरो नित्यं तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् । तस्मिन्नेव मुनिः काले शासनात्परमेष्ठिनः ।

japadhyānaparo nityaṁ tapastepe sudāruṇam tasminneva muniḥ kāle śāsanātparameṣṭhinaḥ

Ever devoted to japa and meditation, he practiced very severe austerity. At that very time, by the command of the Supreme Being, that sage...

Verse 34 (skanda.2.37.34)

अगस्त्योऽप्याससादाद्यं शैलं मुनिशतावृतः । प्रतीचीं दिशमारभ्य कृतयत्नः प्रदक्षिणे ।

agastyo'pyāsasādādyaṁ śailaṁ muniśatāvṛtaḥ pratīcīṁ diśamārabhya kṛtayatnaḥ pradakṣiṇe

...Agastya too approached that primeval mountain, surrounded by a hundred sages, and, beginning from the west, made effort in circumambulation,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.37.35)

पश्यंस्तीर्थानि पुण्यानि बभ्राम सुचिरं गिरौ । तत्र तत्र ददर्शासौ हरिदर्शनलालसान् ।

paśyaṁstīrthāni puṇyāni babhrāma suciraṁ girau tatra tatra dadarśāsau haridarśanalālasān

beholding the sacred fords, they wandered for a long time upon the mountain; there, here and there, he saw beings longing for the sight of Hari —

Verse 36 (skanda.2.37.36)

विरिंचिगुहशक्रेशविष्वक्सेनादिकान्क्रमात् । सनकाद्यांश्च योगीन्द्रान्नारदप्रमुखानृषीन् ।

viriṁciguhaśakreśaviṣvaksenādikānkramāt sanakādyāṁśca yogīndrānnāradapramukhānṛṣīn

Brahma, Guha, Indra, Shiva, Vishvaksena and others in order, Sanaka and the other lord-yogis, and sages headed by Narada,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.37.37)

सिद्धगन्धर्वदैतेययक्षराक्षसपन्नगान् । तैस्तैः संमान्यमानोऽसौ प्रश्रयप्रियभाषणैः ।

siddhagandharvadaiteyayakṣarākṣasapannagān taistaiḥ saṁmānyamāno'sau praśrayapriyabhāṣaṇaiḥ

Siddhas, Gandharvas, Daityas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents — being honored by each with courteous, pleasant speech,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.37.38)

पश्यन्नाश्चर्यभूतानि सर्वाणि विचचार ह । स्नात्वा तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु स्कन्दधारादिकेषु च ।

paśyannāścaryabhūtāni sarvāṇi vicacāra ha snātvā tīrtheṣu sarveṣu skandadhārādikeṣu ca

beholding all the wondrous sights, he wandered about, having bathed in all the sacred fords including Skandadhara,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.37.39)

तत्र तत्रार्चयामास गोविन्दं जगतां पतिम् । एवं भ्रान्त्वा गतेऽब्दानां सहस्रे मुनिसत्तमः ।

tatra tatrārcayāmāsa govindaṁ jagatāṁ patim evaṁ bhrāntvā gate'bdānāṁ sahasre munisattamaḥ

and worshipped Govinda, Lord of the worlds, in each place. Thus wandering, when a thousand years had passed, that best of sages...

Verse 40 (skanda.2.37.40)

नापश्यत्पुण्डरीकाक्षं चिन्ताशोकपरोऽभवत् ।

nāpaśyatpuṇḍarīkākṣaṁ cintāśokaparo'bhavat

...still did not see the Lotus-eyed One, and fell into anxiety and grief.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.37.41)

तस्मिन्काले समाजग्मुर्धिषणोशनसौ पुनः । राजोपरिचरो नाम वसुश्च तमृषीश्वरम् ।

tasminkāle samājagmurdhiṣaṇośanasau punaḥ rājoparicaro nāma vasuśca tamṛṣīśvaram

At that time Brihaspati and Ushanas (Shukra) again came, along with the king named Uparichara Vasu, to that lord of sages,

Verse 42 (skanda.2.37.42)

अस्माकं सफलं जातं जीवितं मुनिसत्तम । दृष्टो भवान्यदस्माभिर्नारायण इवापरः ।

asmākaṁ saphalaṁ jātaṁ jīvitaṁ munisattama dṛṣṭo bhavānyadasmābhirnārāyaṇa ivāparaḥ

[saying:] 'Our life has become fruitful, O best of sages, in that we have seen you, who are like another Narayana.'

Verse 43 (skanda.2.37.43)

ब्रह्मणा लोकनाथेन यदादिष्टा वयं मुने । अच्युतालोकनपरास्तदिदं कथ्यते तव ।

brahmaṇā lokanāthena yadādiṣṭā vayaṁ mune acyutālokanaparāstadidaṁ kathyate tava

That which we were instructed by Brahma, Lord of the world — we who long to behold Achyuta — we now tell you, O sage:

Verse 44 (skanda.2.37.44)

अस्ति दक्षिणदिग्भागे वेंकटोनाम भूधरः । श्वेतद्वीपादपि हरेरावासोऽयमभीप्सितः ।

asti dakṣiṇadigbhāge veṁkaṭonāma bhūdharaḥ śvetadvīpādapi harerāvāso'yamabhīpsitaḥ

In the southern direction there is a mountain named Venkata; this is the abode of Hari, more desired than even Shvetadvipa.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.37.45)

तस्मिन्गिरावगस्त्यस्य शंखस्य च महीपतेः । दर्शयिष्यति गोविन्दो निजरूपं जगद्गुरुः ।

tasmingirāvagastyasya śaṁkhasya ca mahīpateḥ darśayiṣyati govindo nijarūpaṁ jagadguruḥ

On that mountain, to Agastya and to King Shankha, Govinda, the Guru of the worlds, will reveal his own form.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.37.46)

तदानीं सर्वदेवानामृषीणां यक्षरक्षसाम् । अस्माकं देवदेवस्य दर्शनं संभविष्यति ।

tadānīṁ sarvadevānāmṛṣīṇāṁ yakṣarakṣasām asmākaṁ devadevasya darśanaṁ saṁbhaviṣyati

At that time, the sight of the God of gods will become possible for all the gods, sages, yakshas, rakshasas, and for us too.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.37.47)

अचिरेणैव तद्भावि ततः संत्यक्तकल्मषाः । अन्वेष्टुं गच्छतागस्त्यं तस्मिन्नारायणाचले ।

acireṇaiva tadbhāvi tataḥ saṁtyaktakalmaṣāḥ anveṣṭuṁ gacchatāgastyaṁ tasminnārāyaṇācale

That will come to pass very soon; therefore, freed of sin, go seek out Agastya on that mountain of Narayana.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.37.48)

इत्याज्ञप्ता वयं धात्रा समागम्यात्र भाग्यतः । दृष्टवन्तो महाभागं भवंतं भूरितेजसम् ।

ityājñaptā vayaṁ dhātrā samāgamyātra bhāgyataḥ dṛṣṭavanto mahābhāgaṁ bhavaṁtaṁ bhūritejasam

Thus commanded by the Creator, we have, by good fortune, come together here and beheld you, greatly blessed one of abundant splendor.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.37.49)

भवता सहिता गत्वा स्वामिपुष्करिणीतटे । तमप्यालोकयिष्यामः शंखं भागवतोत्तमम् ।

bhavatā sahitā gatvā svāmipuṣkariṇītaṭe tamapyālokayiṣyāmaḥ śaṁkhaṁ bhāgavatottamam

Going together with you to the bank of Svami Pushkarini, we shall also behold that Shankha, the foremost devotee of Bhagavan.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.37.50)

भरद्वाज उवाच । गीष्पतिप्रमुखैरित्थमादिष्टः कुम्भसंभवः । शोकजालं परित्यज्य ययौ तैः सहितो द्रुतम् ।

bharadvāja uvāca gīṣpatipramukhairitthamādiṣṭaḥ kumbhasaṁbhavaḥ śokajālaṁ parityajya yayau taiḥ sahito drutam

Bharadvaja said: Thus instructed by Brihaspati and the others, the Pot-born sage, casting off the net of grief, went swiftly along with them.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.37.51)

स ददर्श महावृक्षान्फलपुष्पभरानतात् । प्ररूढशाखानिकरच्छायाच्छादितदिक्तटान् ।

sa dadarśa mahāvṛkṣānphalapuṣpabharānatāt prarūḍhaśākhānikaracchāyācchāditadiktaṭān

He saw great trees bent down with the weight of fruit and flowers, whose spreading branches covered the horizon's edges with shade,

Verse 52 (skanda.2.37.52)

सिंहदंतावलव्याघ्रवराहमहिषादिकान् । मृगानालोकयामास पंथानं चांतरांतरा ।

siṁhadaṁtāvalavyāghravarāhamahiṣādikān mṛgānālokayāmāsa paṁthānaṁ cāṁtarāṁtarā

and along the way, here and there, he saw wild animals — lions, elephants, tigers, boars, buffaloes and the like.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.37.53)

तैस्तदानीं ददृशिरे सानवोऽप्यम्बुभृद्भृतः । सुवर्णरौप्यताम्रादिशोभितास्तत्र तत्र तु ।

taistadānīṁ dadṛśire sānavo'pyambubhṛdbhṛtaḥ suvarṇaraupyatāmrādiśobhitāstatra tatra tu

They also saw mountain ridges laden with clouds, adorned here and there with gold, silver, copper and the like,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.37.54)

उच्चलच्छीकरासारनिर्वाहितदिवौकसः । वेगोद्धृतशिला दृष्टाः शतशो गिरिनिर्झराः ।

uccalacchīkarāsāranirvāhitadivaukasaḥ vegoddhṛtaśilā dṛṣṭāḥ śataśo girinirjharāḥ

and mountain waterfalls were seen by the hundreds, refreshing celestial beings with their rising spray and hurling up rocks with their force.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.37.55)

तेषामापादयामास प्रमोदं मंदमारुतः । कमलामोदसंवाही विचरन्गिरिसानुषु ।

teṣāmāpādayāmāsa pramodaṁ maṁdamārutaḥ kamalāmodasaṁvāhī vicarangirisānuṣu

A gentle breeze, carrying the fragrance of lotuses, wandering over the mountain ridges, brought delight to them.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.37.56)

शुकानां कोकिलानां च तदा शुश्रुविरे गिरः ।

śukānāṁ kokilānāṁ ca tadā śuśruvire giraḥ

Then the calls of parrots and cuckoos were heard.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.37.57)

तत्र तत्र समासीनान्विस्तीर्णासु दृषत्सु ते । सिद्धानपश्यन्कृष्णस्य गायतो गुणवैभवम् ।

tatra tatra samāsīnānvistīrṇāsu dṛṣatsu te siddhānapaśyankṛṣṇasya gāyato guṇavaibhavam

There, here and there, seated upon broad rocks, they saw Siddhas singing of Krishna's glorious qualities.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.37.58)

अगस्त्यप्रमुखाः सर्वे परिक्रम्य मुनीश्वराः । स्वामिपुष्करिणीं दिव्यां ददृशुर्विमलोदकाम् ।

agastyapramukhāḥ sarve parikramya munīśvarāḥ svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ divyāṁ dadṛśurvimalodakām

All the lords of sages, headed by Agastya, having circumambulated, beheld the divine Svami Pushkarini with its pure waters,

Verse 59 (skanda.2.37.59)

तत्तीरे विहितावासमपश्यच्छङ्खभूपतिम् । वाङ्मनःकायजं कर्म सन्निवेश्य स्थितं हरौ ।

tattīre vihitāvāsamapaśyacchaṅkhabhūpatim vāṅmanaḥkāyajaṁ karma sanniveśya sthitaṁ harau

and on its bank they saw King Shankha, dwelling there, having offered all acts of speech, mind and body, fixed upon Hari.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.37.60)

स तानालोक्य सहसा मुनीन्द्रान्संशितव्रतान् । यथोक्तमकरोत्पूजां प्रणामस्तुतिपूर्विकाम् ।

sa tānālokya sahasā munīndrānsaṁśitavratān yathoktamakarotpūjāṁ praṇāmastutipūrvikām

Beholding those foremost sages of rigorous vows suddenly before him, he performed the prescribed worship, beginning with prostration and praise.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.37.61)

आसीनास्तत्र ते सर्वे संभाव्यान्योऽन्यमुत्सुकाः । गोविन्दकीर्तनपराः कृतार्थत्वं प्रपेदिरे ।

āsīnāstatra te sarve saṁbhāvyānyo'nyamutsukāḥ govindakīrtanaparāḥ kṛtārthatvaṁ prapedire

Seated there, all of them, eagerly honoring one another, intent on singing the praises of Govinda, attained a sense of fulfilment.