The Manner of Anjana's Performance of Austerity

Verse 1 (skanda.2.39.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । पुत्रहीनाञ्जना पूर्वं दुःखिता तपसि स्थिता । तां दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलो मतङ्गो विष्णुतत्परः ।

śrīsūta uvāca putrahīnāñjanā pūrvaṁ duḥkhitā tapasi sthitā tāṁ dṛṣṭvā muniśārdūlo mataṅgo viṣṇutatparaḥ

Shri Suta said: Formerly, Anjana, sonless and sorrowful, remained engaged in austerity. Seeing her, the tiger among sages, Matanga, devoted to Vishnu,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.39.2)

अञ्जनाख्यामुवाचेदमत्युग्रे तपसि स्थिताम् ।

añjanākhyāmuvācedamatyugre tapasi sthitām

spoke thus to her named Anjana, who was engaged in extremely severe austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.39.3)

मतंग उवाच । समुत्तिष्ठाञ्जने देवि किमर्थं तपसि स्थिता । वद देवि महाभागे कार्यं तव वरानने ।

mataṁga uvāca samuttiṣṭhāñjane devi kimarthaṁ tapasi sthitā vada devi mahābhāge kāryaṁ tava varānane

Matanga said: Rise up, O Anjana, O goddess; for what purpose are you engaged in austerity? Tell me, O greatly blessed goddess, of fair countenance, what your purpose is.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.39.4)

अंजनोवाच । मतंग मुनिशार्दूल वचनं मे शृणुष्व ह । पिता मे केसरी नाम राक्षसः शिवतत्परः ।

aṁjanovāca mataṁga muniśārdūla vacanaṁ me śṛṇuṣva ha pitā me kesarī nāma rākṣasaḥ śivatatparaḥ

Anjana said: O Matanga, tiger among sages, hear my words. My father was named Kesari, a Rakshasa devoted to Shiva.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.39.5)

शैवं घोरं तपश्चक्रे पुत्रार्थं तु सुदुष्करम् । पार्वतीसहितः शंभुर्वृषभोपरि संस्थितः ।

śaivaṁ ghoraṁ tapaścakre putrārthaṁ tu suduṣkaram pārvatīsahitaḥ śaṁbhurvṛṣabhopari saṁsthitaḥ

He performed terrible Shaiva austerity, extremely difficult, for the sake of a son. Shambhu, together with Parvati, mounted on his bull, appeared.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.39.6)

प्रादुरासीत्तदा देवो ददौ तस्मै वरं शुभम् ।

prādurāsīttadā devo dadau tasmai varaṁ śubham

and the God gave him an auspicious boon.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.39.7)

शम्भुरुवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि विधिना निर्मितं तव । अस्मिजन्मन्यपुत्रत्वं तथाप्यन्यद्ददामि ते ।

śambhuruvāca śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi vidhinā nirmitaṁ tava asmijanmanyaputratvaṁ tathāpyanyaddadāmi te

Shambhu said: Listen, O king, I shall tell you what has been ordained for you by fate: in this birth, you shall have no son; nevertheless, I grant you something else.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.39.8)

विश्रुता सर्वलोकेषु पुत्री तव भविष्यति । तस्याः पुत्रो महाबुद्धिस्तव प्रीतिं करिष्यति ।

viśrutā sarvalokeṣu putrī tava bhaviṣyati tasyāḥ putro mahābuddhistava prītiṁ kariṣyati

A daughter renowned in all the worlds shall be born to you; her son, of great intelligence, shall bring you joy.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.39.9)

इति तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरः । मां लब्ध्वा मत्पिता विप्रः कृतकृत्यो बभूवू ह ।

iti tasmai varaṁ dattvā tatraivāntardadhe haraḥ māṁ labdhvā matpitā vipraḥ kṛtakṛtyo babhūvū ha

Having given this boon, Hara vanished there. Having obtained me, my father became fulfilled indeed.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.39.10)

ततः कालान्तरे विप्रः केसर्याख्यो महाकपिः । ययाचेमां ददस्वेति पितरं मे ततः पिता ।

tataḥ kālāntare vipraḥ kesaryākhyo mahākapiḥ yayācemāṁ dadasveti pitaraṁ me tataḥ pitā

Then, after some time, the great monkey named Kesari begged my father for me; then my father...

Verse 11 (skanda.2.39.11)

तस्मै मां दत्तवांश्चैव पारिबर्हं ददौ च सः । गवां लक्षसहस्राणि गजलक्षं महामनाः ।

tasmai māṁ dattavāṁścaiva pāribarhaṁ dadau ca saḥ gavāṁ lakṣasahasrāṇi gajalakṣaṁ mahāmanāḥ

...gave me to him, and that great-souled one also gave as dowry: hundreds of thousands of cows, a hundred thousand elephants,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.39.12)

वाजिनामर्बुदं चैव रथानामर्बुदं तथा । वस्त्ररत्नान्यनेकानि दासदासीसहस्रकम् ।

vājināmarbudaṁ caiva rathānāmarbudaṁ tathā vastraratnānyanekāni dāsadāsīsahasrakam

a hundred million horses, and likewise a hundred million chariots, many garments and jewels, and a thousand male and female servants.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.39.13)

अन्तःपुरचरीर्नारीर्नृत्यगीतविशारदाः । ददौ वासः सहस्रं च मया साकं महामते ।

antaḥpuracarīrnārīrnṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ dadau vāsaḥ sahasraṁ ca mayā sākaṁ mahāmate

He gave women skilled in dance and song to attend the inner apartments, and a thousand garments, O great-minded one, along with me.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.39.14)

पत्या मे रममाणाया भूयान्कालो गतो मुने । अपुत्रा दुःखिता विप्र व्रतानि विविधानि च ।

patyā me ramamāṇāyā bhūyānkālo gato mune aputrā duḥkhitā vipra vratāni vividhāni ca

A long time passed while I dwelt happily with my husband, O sage; yet sonless and sorrowful, O brahmin, I performed various vows...

Verse 15 (skanda.2.39.15)

कृतानि च मया तत्र किष्किन्धायां महापुरि । माघे मासि च विप्रेन्द्र वैशाखे कार्तिके तथा ।

kṛtāni ca mayā tatra kiṣkindhāyāṁ mahāpuri māghe māsi ca viprendra vaiśākhe kārtike tathā

...performed by me there in the great city of Kishkindha, in the month of Magha, O foremost of brahmins, and in Vaishakha and Kartika as well.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.39.16)

स्नानदानव्रतादीनि चातुर्मास्यव्रतं तथा । नमस्कारस्तथा विप्र प्रदक्षिणमनुत्तमम् ।

snānadānavratādīni cāturmāsyavrataṁ tathā namaskārastathā vipra pradakṣiṇamanuttamam

Vows of bathing and gift-giving, the Chaturmasya vow, and likewise, O brahmin, prostration and unsurpassed circumambulation,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.39.17)

शालग्रामान्नदानानि दीपदानं तथैव च । गोदानं तिलदानं च वस्त्रदानं महामुने ।

śālagrāmānnadānāni dīpadānaṁ tathaiva ca godānaṁ tiladānaṁ ca vastradānaṁ mahāmune

gifts of Shaligrama and food, gifts of lamps, gifts of cows, gifts of sesame, and gifts of clothing, O great sage,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.39.18)

भूदानं वारिदानं च दत्त्वा पुष्पादिकं मुने । यानि यानि च मुख्यानि वैष्णवानि व्रतानि च । मया कृतानि सर्वाणि सत्पुत्रफलकांक्षया ।

bhūdānaṁ vāridānaṁ ca dattvā puṣpādikaṁ mune yāni yāni ca mukhyāni vaiṣṇavāni vratāni ca mayā kṛtāni sarvāṇi satputraphalakāṁkṣayā

gifts of land and water, and having given flowers and the like, O sage — whatever principal Vaishnava vows there are, all were performed by me desiring a good son.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.39.19)

श्रवणादिषु यत्प्रोक्तं व्रतं विप्रैमहात्मभिः । मया कृतं च विप्रेद्रं तुष्ट्यर्थं मधुविद्विषः ।

śravaṇādiṣu yatproktaṁ vrataṁ vipraimahātmabhiḥ mayā kṛtaṁ ca vipredraṁ tuṣṭyarthaṁ madhuvidviṣaḥ

Whatever vow was prescribed by great brahmin souls for the month of Shravana and others, that too was performed by me, O foremost of brahmins, for the satisfaction of the Enemy of Madhu.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.39.20)

यानि यानि च मुख्यानि फलानि विविधानि च । मया दत्तानि सर्वाणि सत्पुत्रफलकांक्षया ।

yāni yāni ca mukhyāni phalāni vividhāni ca mayā dattāni sarvāṇi satputraphalakāṁkṣayā

Whatever principal and various fruits could be offered — all of these were given by me, desiring a good son.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.39.21)

मया कृतान्यसंख्यानि व्रतानि विविधानि च । पुत्रं तथाप्यलब्ध्वाहं दुःखिता तपसि स्थिता ।

mayā kṛtānyasaṁkhyāni vratāni vividhāni ca putraṁ tathāpyalabdhvāhaṁ duḥkhitā tapasi sthitā

Countless various vows were performed by me; yet, still not having obtained a son, I remain sorrowful, engaged in austerity.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.39.22)

भविष्यति कथं विप्र पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतः । याचेऽहं तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रणता च तवाग्रतः ।

bhaviṣyati kathaṁ vipra putrastrailokyaviśrutaḥ yāce'haṁ tu muniśreṣṭha praṇatā ca tavāgrataḥ

How, O brahmin, shall a son renowned in the three worlds come to be? I beg you, O best of sages, bowed before you,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.39.23)

वद त्वं मुनिशार्दूल दीनाहं तपसि स्थिता ।

vada tvaṁ muniśārdūla dīnāhaṁ tapasi sthitā

tell me, O tiger among sages; I, wretched, remain engaged in austerity.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.39.24)

श्रीसूत उवाच । एवं वदन्तीं तां प्राह मतङ्गो मुनिसत्तमः । शृणु मद्वचनं देवि पुत्रपौत्रप्रदायकम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca evaṁ vadantīṁ tāṁ prāha mataṅgo munisattamaḥ śṛṇu madvacanaṁ devi putrapautrapradāyakam

Shri Suta said: To her speaking thus, Matanga, best of sages, said: Listen to my words, O goddess, which shall grant you sons and grandsons.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.39.25)

इतो दक्षिणदिग्भागे दशयोजनदूरतः । घनाचल इति ख्यातो नृसिंहस्य निवासभूः ।

ito dakṣiṇadigbhāge daśayojanadūrataḥ ghanācala iti khyāto nṛsiṁhasya nivāsabhūḥ

From here, in the southern direction, at a distance of ten yojanas, there is the mountain known as Ghanachala, the dwelling-place of Nrisimha.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.39.26)

तस्योपरि महाभागे ब्रह्मतीर्थं मनोहरम् । तस्यापि पूर्वदिग्भागे दशयोजनमात्रतः ।

tasyopari mahābhāge brahmatīrthaṁ manoharam tasyāpi pūrvadigbhāge daśayojanamātrataḥ

On its summit, in that greatly blessed place, is the charming Brahma Tirtha; and to its east, at a distance of just ten yojanas,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.39.27)

सुवर्णमुखरी नाम नदीनां प्रवरा नदी । तस्या एवोत्तरे भागे वृषभाचलनामतः ।

suvarṇamukharī nāma nadīnāṁ pravarā nadī tasyā evottare bhāge vṛṣabhācalanāmataḥ

is the river named Suvarnamukhari, the foremost among rivers; and to its very north is the mountain named Vrishabhachala.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.39.28)

तस्याग्रे सरसी नाम्ना स्वामिपुष्करिणी शुभा । गत्वा दृष्ट्वा शुभं तोयं मनःशुद्धिं गमिष्यसि ।

tasyāgre sarasī nāmnā svāmipuṣkariṇī śubhā gatvā dṛṣṭvā śubhaṁ toyaṁ manaḥśuddhiṁ gamiṣyasi

At its top is the auspicious lake named Svami Pushkarini; going there and beholding its auspicious waters, you shall attain purity of mind.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.39.29)

तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन वराहं तं प्रणम्य च । वेङ्कटेशं नमस्कृत्य ततो गच्छ वरानने ।

tatra snātvā vidhānena varāhaṁ taṁ praṇamya ca veṅkaṭeśaṁ namaskṛtya tato gaccha varānane

Having bathed there according to rule, and having bowed to that Boar, and having saluted Venkatesha, then go on, O fair-faced one,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.39.30)

उत्तरे स्वामितीर्थस्य सिंहशादूलसंयुते । चूतपुन्नागपनसैर्बकुलामलकः शुभैः ।

uttare svāmitīrthasya siṁhaśādūlasaṁyute cūtapunnāgapanasairbakulāmalakaḥ śubhaiḥ

to the north of the Svami Tirtha, in a place inhabited by lions and tigers, with mango, punnaga, jackfruit, bakula and auspicious amalaka trees,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.39.31)

चन्दनागुरुनिम्बैश्च तालहिन्तालकिंशुकैः । कपित्थाश्वत्थबिल्वैश्च इङ्गुदैश्च वरानने ।

candanāgurunimbaiśca tālahintālakiṁśukaiḥ kapitthāśvatthabilvaiśca iṅgudaiśca varānane

and with sandal, agaru, neem, palmyra, hintala-palm, kimshuka, wood-apple, pipal, bilva and ingudi trees, O fair one,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.39.32)

एतादृशैर्महापुण्यैर्वृक्षैश्च विविधैः शुभैः । वियद्गंगेति विख्यातं तीर्थमेकं विराजते ।

etādṛśairmahāpuṇyairvṛkṣaiśca vividhaiḥ śubhaiḥ viyadgaṁgeti vikhyātaṁ tīrthamekaṁ virājate

with such greatly sacred, various, auspicious trees, there shines a single sacred ford renowned as Viyad-Ganga.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.39.33)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थेऽञ्जने देवि संकल्पविधिपूर्वकम् । स्नात्वा पीत्वा शुभं तीर्थं तीर्थस्याभिमुखी स्थिता ।

tasmiṁstīrthe'ñjane devi saṁkalpavidhipūrvakam snātvā pītvā śubhaṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthasyābhimukhī sthitā

At that ford, O Anjana, O goddess, having bathed with the rite of resolve and drunk of that auspicious water, standing facing the ford,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.39.34)

वायुमुद्दिश्य हे देवि तपः कुरु वरानने । देवैश्च राक्षसैर्विप्रैर्मनुजैर्मुनिसत्तमैः ।

vāyumuddiśya he devi tapaḥ kuru varānane devaiśca rākṣasairviprairmanujairmunisattamaiḥ

perform austerity directed toward Vayu, O goddess, O fair one. By gods, Rakshasas, brahmins, men, the best of sages,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.39.35)

भृङ्गैः पक्षिभिरस्त्रैश्च शस्त्रैश्च विविधैः शुभैः । अवध्यो भविता पुत्रस्तपसा ते न संशयः ।

bhṛṅgaiḥ pakṣibhirastraiśca śastraiśca vividhaiḥ śubhaiḥ avadhyo bhavitā putrastapasā te na saṁśayaḥ

by bees, birds, weapons, and various auspicious arms — your son shall become unslayable by your austerity; there is no doubt of this.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.39.36)

श्रीसूत उवाच । इति प्रोक्ताञ्जना देवी तं प्रणम्य पुनःपुनः । भर्त्रा साकं ययावाशु वेंकटाचलसंज्ञकम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca iti proktāñjanā devī taṁ praṇamya punaḥpunaḥ bhartrā sākaṁ yayāvāśu veṁkaṭācalasaṁjñakam

Shri Suta said: Thus instructed, the goddess Anjana, having bowed to him again and again, went swiftly along with her husband to the mountain known as Venkatachala.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.39.37)

कापिलं तीर्थमासाद्य स्नात्वा निर्मलमानसा । वेंकटाद्रिं समारुह्य स्वामिपुष्करिणीं ययौ ।

kāpilaṁ tīrthamāsādya snātvā nirmalamānasā veṁkaṭādriṁ samāruhya svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ yayau

Having reached the Kapila Tirtha and bathed there with a pure mind, she ascended Venkatadri and went to Svami Pushkarini.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.39.38)

स्नात्वा वराहमानम्य वेंकटेशकृतानतिः । मतंगस्य ऋषेर्वाक्यं स्मरन्ती च मुहुर्मुहुः ।

snātvā varāhamānamya veṁkaṭeśakṛtānatiḥ mataṁgasya ṛṣervākyaṁ smarantī ca muhurmuhuḥ

Having bathed, bowing to the Boar and prostrating to Venkatesha, and remembering again and again the words of the sage Matanga,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.39.39)

वियद्गङ्गां ययावाशु चाञ्जना मंजुभाषिणी । स्नात्वा पीत्वा शुभं तोयं तीरं तस्य तदुन्मुखी ।

viyadgaṅgāṁ yayāvāśu cāñjanā maṁjubhāṣiṇī snātvā pītvā śubhaṁ toyaṁ tīraṁ tasya tadunmukhī

the sweetly-speaking Anjana went swiftly to Viyad-Ganga; having bathed and drunk of the auspicious water, facing its bank,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.39.40)

प्राणवायुं समुद्दिश्य तपश्चक्रे यतव्रता । फलाहारा जलाहारा निराहारा ततः परम् ।

prāṇavāyuṁ samuddiśya tapaścakre yatavratā phalāhārā jalāhārā nirāhārā tataḥ param

she performed austerity directed toward the life-breath, her vows restrained — first on fruits, then on water alone, and thereafter fasting altogether.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.39.41)

सहस्राब्दं तपश्चक्रे न्यस्तनासाग्रदृष्टिका । वयस्या विपुला नाम शुश्रूषामकरोच्छुभा ।

sahasrābdaṁ tapaścakre nyastanāsāgradṛṣṭikā vayasyā vipulā nāma śuśrūṣāmakarocchubhā

For a thousand years she practiced austerity, her gaze fixed on the tip of her nose; a friend named Vipula, an auspicious woman, attended upon her.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.39.42)

वर्षाणां च सहस्रान्ते वायुर्देवो महामतिः । प्रादुरासीत्तदा तां वै भाषमाणो महामतिः ।

varṣāṇāṁ ca sahasrānte vāyurdevo mahāmatiḥ prādurāsīttadā tāṁ vai bhāṣamāṇo mahāmatiḥ

At the end of a thousand years, the great-minded God Vayu appeared, and then spoke to her —

Verse 43 (skanda.2.39.43)

मेषसंक्रमणं भानौ संप्राप्ते मुनिसत्तमाः । पूर्णिमाख्ये तिथौ पुण्ये चित्रानक्षत्रसंयुते ।

meṣasaṁkramaṇaṁ bhānau saṁprāpte munisattamāḥ pūrṇimākhye tithau puṇye citrānakṣatrasaṁyute

[Suta continues:] O best of sages, when the sun's transit into Aries had arrived, on the sacred full-moon day joined with the Chitra constellation,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.39.44)

तवेप्सितमहं दास्ये वरं वरय सुव्रते । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ततः प्राहाञ्जना सती ।

tavepsitamahaṁ dāsye varaṁ varaya suvrate iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tataḥ prāhāñjanā satī

[Vayu said:] 'I shall give you your desired boon; choose it, O woman of good vows.' Hearing these words, the virtuous Anjana then said —

Verse 45 (skanda.2.39.45)

पुत्रं देहि महाभाग वायो देव महामते । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मातरिश्वाब्रवीत्ततः ।

putraṁ dehi mahābhāga vāyo deva mahāmate tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā mātariśvābravīttataḥ

'Give me a son, O greatly blessed Vayu, O great-minded God.' Having heard her words, Matarishvan then said —

Verse 46 (skanda.2.39.46)

पुत्रस्तेऽहं भविष्यामि ख्यातिं दास्ये शुभानने । इति तस्यै वरं दत्त्वा तत्रैवास्ते महाबलः ।

putraste'haṁ bhaviṣyāmi khyātiṁ dāsye śubhānane iti tasyai varaṁ dattvā tatraivāste mahābalaḥ

'I myself shall become your son; I shall grant you fame, O fair-faced one.' Having given her this boon, the mighty one remained right there.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.39.47)

तदा ब्रह्मादयो देवा इन्द्राद्या लोकपालकाः । वसिष्ठाद्या महात्मानः सनकाद्याश्च योगिनः ।

tadā brahmādayo devā indrādyā lokapālakāḥ vasiṣṭhādyā mahātmānaḥ sanakādyāśca yoginaḥ

Then Brahma and the other gods, Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, the great souls headed by Vasishtha, and the yogis headed by Sanaka,

Verse 48 (skanda.2.39.48)

व्यासादयश्च विप्रेंद्रा लक्ष्म्या साकं जगत्पतिः । मुनिपत्न्यो देवपत्न्य ऋषिपत्न्यस्तथैव च ।

vyāsādayaśca vipreṁdrā lakṣmyā sākaṁ jagatpatiḥ munipatnyo devapatnya ṛṣipatnyastathaiva ca

Vyasa and the other foremost brahmins, and the Lord of the universe together with Lakshmi, the wives of sages, gods, and seers,

Verse 49 (skanda.2.39.49)

स्वं स्वं वाहनमारुह्य दारभृत्यसुतादिभिः । आगतास्ते महात्मानो द्रष्टुं तां तपसि स्थिताम् ।

svaṁ svaṁ vāhanamāruhya dārabhṛtyasutādibhiḥ āgatāste mahātmāno draṣṭuṁ tāṁ tapasi sthitām

each mounted on their own vehicle, with their wives, servants, sons and others — those great souls came to see her, engaged in austerity.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.39.50)

आश्चर्यमाश्चर्यमिति ब्रुवाणा ब्रह्मादयो देवगणाश्च सर्वे । आलोकयन्तो दिवि दूरतस्ते स्थितास्तदा ब्रह्ममहेशमुख्याः ।

āścaryamāścaryamiti bruvāṇā brahmādayo devagaṇāśca sarve ālokayanto divi dūrataste sthitāstadā brahmamaheśamukhyāḥ

Saying 'Wonder! Wonder!', Brahma and all the hosts of gods, watching from a distance in the sky, stood there then, headed by Brahma and Mahesha.