The Consecration of Narasimha and the King's Hymn

Verse 1 (skanda.2.56.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच । नृपं सुमनसं दृष्ट्वा श्रद्दधानं महाक्रतौ । उवाच परमप्रीत्या नारदो लोकहर्षणः

jaiminiruvāca nṛpaṁ sumanasaṁ dṛṣṭvā śraddadhānaṁ mahākratau uvāca paramaprītyā nārado lokaharṣaṇaḥ

Jaimini said: Seeing the king well-disposed and full of faith in the great sacrifice, Narada, the delight of the world, spoke with the deepest affection —

Verse 2 (skanda.2.56.2)

व्यवसाये सुकृतिनां देवा यांति सहायताम् । तत्रोदाहरणं त्वं हि यत्सहायश्चतुर्मुखः

vyavasāye sukṛtināṁ devā yāṁti sahāyatām tatrodāharaṇaṁ tvaṁ hi yatsahāyaścaturmukhaḥ

'In the undertakings of the virtuous, the gods themselves come to their aid; you yourself are the proof of this, whose helper is the four-faced Brahma himself.'

Verse 3 (skanda.2.56.3)

तदेहि यामस्तत्रैव नीलकंठस्य सन्निधौ । सर्वराक्षससंहारं सर्वविघ्ननिवारणम्

tadehi yāmastatraiva nīlakaṁṭhasya sannidhau sarvarākṣasasaṁhāraṁ sarvavighnanivāraṇam

'Come then, let us go there, into the presence of Nilakantha — destroyer of all rakshasas, remover of all obstacles;'

Verse 4 (skanda.2.56.4)

स्थापयाम्यग्रतो राजन्नृसिंहं वारुणीमुखम् । अंतर्हितो हि भगवान्प्रत्यक्षोऽसौ नृकेसरी

sthāpayāmyagrato rājannṛsiṁhaṁ vāruṇīmukham aṁtarhito hi bhagavānpratyakṣo'sau nṛkesarī

'O king, I shall first install a west-facing Narasimha here; though the Lord [in wood] is hidden, this man-lion [image] shall be made visible.'

Verse 5 (skanda.2.56.5)

सन्निधावस्य यागस्तु फलातिशयवान्भवेत् । त्वमग्रतो गच्छ शीघ्रं प्रासादं तत्र कारय

sannidhāvasya yāgastu phalātiśayavānbhavet tvamagrato gaccha śīghraṁ prāsādaṁ tatra kāraya

'In his presence the sacrifice shall bear surpassing fruit — go on ahead, and swiftly have a temple built there.'

Verse 6 (skanda.2.56.6)

स्मरणान्मम चागत्य सुतो वै विश्वकर्मणः । प्रत्यङ्मुखं तु प्रासादं स तूर्णं घटयिष्यति

smaraṇānmama cāgatya suto vai viśvakarmaṇaḥ pratyaṅmukhaṁ tu prāsādaṁ sa tūrṇaṁ ghaṭayiṣyati

'At my mere remembrance the son of Vishvakarma shall come there and swiftly fashion a west-facing shrine.'

Verse 7 (skanda.2.56.7)

दक्षिणे नीलकंठस्य यो महांश्चंदनद्रुमः । धनुःशतांतरे राजंश्चिररूढस्तु तिष्ठति

dakṣiṇe nīlakaṁṭhasya yo mahāṁścaṁdanadrumaḥ dhanuḥśatāṁtare rājaṁścirarūḍhastu tiṣṭhati

'To the south of Nilakantha stands a great, long-established sandalwood tree, O king, a hundred bow-lengths away;'

Verse 8 (skanda.2.56.8)

तस्य पश्चिमदेशस्थं क्षेत्रं राजन्भविष्यति । वाजिमेधसहस्रेण तस्याग्रे यजतां भवान्

tasya paścimadeśasthaṁ kṣetraṁ rājanbhaviṣyati vājimedhasahasreṇa tasyāgre yajatāṁ bhavān

'to its west shall be the field, O king; there, before it, perform your sacrifice with a thousand horse-offerings.'

Verse 9 (skanda.2.56.9)

गच्छ त्वमहमत्रैव स्थास्यामि दिनपञ्चकम् । आराध्यैनं दिव्यसिंहं ज्योतीरूपमनन्तकम्

gaccha tvamahamatraiva sthāsyāmi dinapañcakam ārādhyainaṁ divyasiṁhaṁ jyotīrūpamanantakam

'Go on; I shall remain here for five days, propitiating this divine lion, of the very form of light, the infinite one;'

Verse 10 (skanda.2.56.10)

प्रत्यर्चायां प्रतिष्ठाप्य प्राणेंद्रियमनोयुतम् । दीपाद्दीपं यथा राजन्नयिष्ये शोभनाकृतिम्

pratyarcāyāṁ pratiṣṭhāpya prāṇeṁdriyamanoyutam dīpāddīpaṁ yathā rājannayiṣye śobhanākṛtim

'establishing life-breath, senses and mind in the replica-image, as flame kindles flame, I shall, O king, bring it into beautiful form.'

Verse 11 (skanda.2.56.11)

नारदस्येति वचनं प्रतिश्रुत्य नृपोत्तमः । जगाम तत्र वेगेन चन्दनद्रुमसंनिधिम्

nāradasyeti vacanaṁ pratiśrutya nṛpottamaḥ jagāma tatra vegena candanadrumasaṁnidhim

Having agreed to Narada's word, the best of kings went swiftly there, to the vicinity of the sandalwood tree.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.56.12)

तत्रापश्यत्सुघटकं शिल्पशास्त्रविशारदम् । नारदस्याज्ञया प्राप्तं पुत्रं वै देवशिल्पिनः

tatrāpaśyatsughaṭakaṁ śilpaśāstraviśāradam nāradasyājñayā prāptaṁ putraṁ vai devaśilpinaḥ

There he saw a skilled craftsman, expert in the science of building, arrived at Narada's command — indeed the son of the divine architect,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.56.13)

मनुष्यरूपमास्थाय शस्त्रसूत्रधरं स्थितम् । राजानं स तु दृष्ट्वा वै चिकीर्षंतं सुरालयम्

manuṣyarūpamāsthāya śastrasūtradharaṁ sthitam rājānaṁ sa tu dṛṣṭvā vai cikīrṣaṁtaṁ surālayam

having assumed human form, standing there with tools and measuring cord in hand; and seeing the king desirous of building a divine temple,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.56.14)

कृतांजलिपुटः प्रोचे देवाहं शिल्पशास्त्रवित् । नरसिंहालयं तेऽद्य घटयिष्यामि शोभनम् । राजापि तमुवाचेदं प्रहसन्भो द्विजोत्तमाः

kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ proce devāhaṁ śilpaśāstravit narasiṁhālayaṁ te'dya ghaṭayiṣyāmi śobhanam rājāpi tamuvācedaṁ prahasanbho dvijottamāḥ

with folded hands he said: 'O king, I am versed in the science of building; today itself I shall fashion for you a beautiful temple of Narasimha.' The king too, O best of Brahmins, smiling, said to him —

Verse 15 (skanda.2.56.15)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच । न शिल्पी त्वं हि सामान्यः शिल्पशास्त्रप्रणेतृकः । कथितो नारदेनैव त्वष्टुः पुत्रो महायशाः

indradyumna uvāca na śilpī tvaṁ hi sāmānyaḥ śilpaśāstrapraṇetṛkaḥ kathito nāradenaiva tvaṣṭuḥ putro mahāyaśāḥ

Indradyumna said: 'You are no ordinary craftsman — you are the very founder of the science of building; Narada himself has told me you are the illustrious son of Tvashtar.'

Verse 16 (skanda.2.56.16)

निर्जनेऽस्मिन्महारण्ये नेतः पूर्वं जनाश्रयः । वयमद्यागताः शिल्पिन्सम्बन्धः किंनिमित्तकः

nirjane'sminmahāraṇye netaḥ pūrvaṁ janāśrayaḥ vayamadyāgatāḥ śilpinsambandhaḥ kiṁnimittakaḥ

'In this desolate great forest, no human dwelling was ever here before; we have arrived only today, O craftsman — for what reason, then, this connection?'

Verse 17 (skanda.2.56.17)

देवशिल्पी भवानेव विष्णोरमिततेजसः । सदानुध्यायिनस्तस्य निदेशवशवर्तिनः

devaśilpī bhavāneva viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ sadānudhyāyinastasya nideśavaśavartinaḥ

'You yourself are the divine architect of Vishnu of measureless splendour, ever meditating on him, ever obedient to his command;'

Verse 18 (skanda.2.56.18)

येन स्मृतस्त्वं मुनिना स एवात्रागमिष्यति । प्रत्यर्चां नरसिंहस्य गृहीत्वा तु दिनांतरे

yena smṛtastvaṁ muninā sa evātrāgamiṣyati pratyarcāṁ narasiṁhasya gṛhītvā tu dināṁtare

'that very sage by whom you were summoned shall himself come here the next day, bringing the replica-image of Narasimha.'

Verse 19 (skanda.2.56.19)

तदाशु घटयस्वाद्य सप्राकारं सतोरणम् । प्रासादं नरसिंहस्य प्रतीचीवदनं शुभम्

tadāśu ghaṭayasvādya saprākāraṁ satoraṇam prāsādaṁ narasiṁhasya pratīcīvadanaṁ śubham

'Therefore fashion swiftly, today itself, an auspicious, west-facing temple of Narasimha, complete with ramparts and archways.'

Verse 20 (skanda.2.56.20)

तं पूजयित्वा विधिवन्नियोज्य घटने नृपः । शिलासंचयकान्भृत्यान्बहुवित्तैरयोजयत्

taṁ pūjayitvā vidhivanniyojya ghaṭane nṛpaḥ śilāsaṁcayakānbhṛtyānbahuvittairayojayat

Having duly worshipped him and set him to the work of building, the king also set servants to gathering stone, furnishing them with abundant wealth.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.56.21)

चतुर्थे दिवसे विप्राः प्रासादोऽभूदनुत्तमः । बहुकालप्रसाध्योऽपि महिम्ना देवशिल्पिनः

caturthe divase viprāḥ prāsādo'bhūdanuttamaḥ bahukālaprasādhyo'pi mahimnā devaśilpinaḥ

By the fourth day, O Brahmins, that unmatched temple, which would ordinarily take a long time to complete, was finished through the divine architect's power.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.56.22)

ततः प्रभाते विमले नित्यकर्मावसानतः । प्रतिष्ठाविधिसंभारं गृहीत्वा सपरिच्छदः

tataḥ prabhāte vimale nityakarmāvasānataḥ pratiṣṭhāvidhisaṁbhāraṁ gṛhītvā saparicchadaḥ

Then, at the spotless dawn, having finished his daily rites, taking up the materials for the consecration rite, together with his retinue,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.56.23)

नारदागमनं प्रेक्ष्य यावत्तिष्ठति भूपतिः । तावच्छुश्रुविरे शङ्खा मृदङ्गा मुरजास्तथा

nāradāgamanaṁ prekṣya yāvattiṣṭhati bhūpatiḥ tāvacchuśruvire śaṅkhā mṛdaṅgā murajāstathā

while the king stood waiting for Narada's arrival, there began to be heard the sounds of conches, mridangas and murajas,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.56.24)

गीतमङ्गलवाद्यानि घंटानां करिणां स्वनाः । तथा जय जयेत्युच्चैः शब्दा आकाशमण्डले

gītamaṅgalavādyāni ghaṁṭānāṁ kariṇāṁ svanāḥ tathā jaya jayetyuccaiḥ śabdā ākāśamaṇḍale

songs and auspicious instruments, the sounds of bells and elephants, and loud cries of 'Victory, victory!' echoing in the vault of the sky.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.56.25)

ताञ्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयापन्ना इंद्रद्युम्नपुरोगमाः । राजानः श्रोत्रिया विप्रा वैष्णवाश्च सहस्रशः

tāñchrutvā vismayāpannā iṁdradyumnapurogamāḥ rājānaḥ śrotriyā viprā vaiṣṇavāśca sahasraśaḥ

Hearing these, filled with wonder, the kings headed by Indradyumna, the learned Brahmins, and Vaishnavas by the thousands —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.56.26)

निराधारास्त्विमे शब्दा अद्भुतानि न संशयः । विचारयंतस्ते यावत्तावद्दक्षिणतो मरुत्

nirādhārāstvime śabdā adbhutāni na saṁśayaḥ vicārayaṁtaste yāvattāvaddakṣiṇato marut

— [thinking] 'these sounds have no visible source, and are wondrous indeed' — even as they pondered this, a wind arose from the south,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.56.27)

गन्धान्वितद्विरेफौघशब्दिताः पुष्पवृष्टयः । आविर्भूतास्त्रिपथगा वारिणार्द्रीकृता द्विजाः

gandhānvitadvirephaughaśabditāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ āvirbhūtāstripathagā vāriṇārdrīkṛtā dvijāḥ

and showers of fragrant flowers, resonant with the hum of bees, appeared, O Brahmins, moistening everyone with the water of the Triple-path river.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.56.28)

तदनंतरमेवासौ नारदो ब्रह्मणः सुतः । तपःप्रभावनिर्व्यूढ विमानवरशायिनीम्

tadanaṁtaramevāsau nārado brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ tapaḥprabhāvanirvyūḍha vimānavaraśāyinīm

Immediately thereafter, Narada, the son of Brahma, mounted upon an excellent celestial chariot obtained by the power of his austerity,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.56.29)

रत्नचामरहस्ताभिर्दिव्यस्त्रीभिः सुशोभिताम् । अलंकृतां वहुविधैर्मणिरत्नप्रसाधनैः

ratnacāmarahastābhirdivyastrībhiḥ suśobhitām alaṁkṛtāṁ vahuvidhairmaṇiratnaprasādhanaiḥ

graced by celestial women bearing jewelled chowries in their hands, adorned with manifold ornaments of gems and jewels,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.56.30)

दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरां दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनाम् । रम्यां प्रतिष्ठितप्राणां घटितां विश्वकर्मणा

divyamālyāṁbaradharāṁ divyagandhānulepanām ramyāṁ pratiṣṭhitaprāṇāṁ ghaṭitāṁ viśvakarmaṇā

clad in celestial garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrance — a delightful image, its life-breath established, fashioned by Vishvakarma,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.56.31)

तेजोमण्डलसंवीतां परितो हर्षदामपि । आदाय नरसिंहस्य प्रत्यर्चां प्रत्युपस्थितः

tejomaṇḍalasaṁvītāṁ parito harṣadāmapi ādāya narasiṁhasya pratyarcāṁ pratyupasthitaḥ

girt about with a halo of splendour, joy-giving on every side — bearing this replica-image of Narasimha, he arrived there.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.56.32)

तां दृष्ट्वा हर्षिताः सर्वे राजा राजानुयायिनः । अन्तर्द्धानं गतो देवो नारदेनोद्धृतः किमु

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣitāḥ sarve rājā rājānuyāyinaḥ antarddhānaṁ gato devo nāradenoddhṛtaḥ kimu

Seeing it, the king and all his followers rejoiced — as though the god who had vanished had now been drawn forth again by Narada!

Verse 33 (skanda.2.56.33)

मेनिरे हर्षितात्मानः प्रशशंसुश्च तं मुनिम् । निरूप्य संनिधिस्थां तु नरसिंहाकृतिं द्विजाः । आद्यमूर्तेर्नृसिंहस्य प्रतिमामथ मेनिरे

menire harṣitātmānaḥ praśaśaṁsuśca taṁ munim nirūpya saṁnidhisthāṁ tu narasiṁhākṛtiṁ dvijāḥ ādyamūrternṛsiṁhasya pratimāmatha menire

Their hearts filled with joy, they praised the sage; and, examining the form of Narasimha now present before them, O Brahmins, they recognized it as the very image of Narasimha's primal form.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.56.34)

प्रत्युत्थाय ततो राजा प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य हरिं जगाम शिरसा महीम्

pratyutthāya tato rājā prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā pradakṣiṇīkṛtya hariṁ jagāma śirasā mahīm

Then the king rose up, his inner self overjoyed, circumambulated Hari, and bowed his head to the earth.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.56.35)

श्रद्धासंपत्तियोग्येन संभारेण नृपाज्ञया । प्रस्थापयामास मुनिः प्रासादं शुभलक्षणम्

śraddhāsaṁpattiyogyena saṁbhāreṇa nṛpājñayā prasthāpayāmāsa muniḥ prāsādaṁ śubhalakṣaṇam

With materials befitting the fullness of devotion, by the king's order, the sage installed the image in that auspiciously-marked temple.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.56.36)

प्रतिमां देवदेवस्य सुमुहूर्ते द्विजोत्तमाः । धरारमाभ्यां सहितां रत्नवेद्यां प्रतिष्ठिताम् । योगारूढतनुं राजा इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽथ तुष्टुवे

pratimāṁ devadevasya sumuhūrte dvijottamāḥ dharāramābhyāṁ sahitāṁ ratnavedyāṁ pratiṣṭhitām yogārūḍhatanuṁ rājā indradyumno'tha tuṣṭuve

The image of the God of gods, O best of Brahmins, was consecrated, together with Dhara and Rama, upon a jewelled altar, at an excellent hour; and King Indradyumna then praised that form absorbed in yogic posture,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.56.37)

वैष्णवैर्ब्राह्मणैर्भूपैर्नारदेन च धीमता । गुह्योपनिषदैः स्मार्तैः स्तोत्रैः शास्त्रैर्मुदान्वितैः

vaiṣṇavairbrāhmaṇairbhūpairnāradena ca dhīmatā guhyopaniṣadaiḥ smārtaiḥ stotraiḥ śāstrairmudānvitaiḥ

together with the Vaishnavas, the Brahmins, the kings, and the wise Narada, joyfully, with secret Upanishadic verses, Smarta hymns and scriptural praises —

Verse 38 (skanda.2.56.38)

इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच । एकानेकस्थूलसूक्ष्माणुमूर्ते व्योमातीत व्योमरूपैकरूप । व्योमाकार व्यापक व्योमसंस्थ व्योमारूढ व्योमकेशाब्जयोने

indradyumna uvāca ekānekasthūlasūkṣmāṇumūrte vyomātīta vyomarūpaikarūpa vyomākāra vyāpaka vyomasaṁstha vyomārūḍha vyomakeśābjayone

Indradyumna said: 'O One-and-many, gross-subtle-and-atomic in form! O you beyond space, yet the one form of space itself! Space-shaped, all-pervading, seated in space, mounted on space, whose hair is the sky, born of the lotus —'

Verse 39 (skanda.2.56.39)

दुःखांभोधेस्त्राहि मां दिव्यसिंह प्रादुर्भूतानेककोट्यर्कधामन् । नित्यासन्नो दूरसंस्थो न दूरो नासन्नो वा बोध्यबोधात्मभाव

duḥkhāṁbhodhestrāhi māṁ divyasiṁha prādurbhūtānekakoṭyarkadhāman nityāsanno dūrasaṁstho na dūro nāsanno vā bodhyabodhātmabhāva

'— save me from the ocean of sorrow, O divine lion, whose splendour has appeared as crores upon crores of suns! Ever near, yet also far off; neither far nor near; whose very nature is both the knowable and the knower —'

Verse 40 (skanda.2.56.40)

ज्ञेयज्ञेयो ज्ञानगम्योऽप्यगम्यो मायातीतो मानमेयोऽनुमानात् । कृत्स्नस्यादिः कृत्स्नकर्त्तानुमंता पाता हर्त्ता विश्वसाक्षिन्नमस्ते

jñeyajñeyo jñānagamyo'pyagamyo māyātīto mānameyo'numānāt kṛtsnasyādiḥ kṛtsnakarttānumaṁtā pātā harttā viśvasākṣinnamaste

'— knowable and unknowable, attainable through knowledge yet unattainable, beyond maya yet measured through inference; the origin of all, the doer of all, the sanctioner, the protector, the destroyer, witness of the universe — salutation to you.'

Verse 41 (skanda.2.56.41)

दुःखध्वंसस्यैकहेतुं न हेतुं भेत्तुं छेत्तुं संशयानग्रजातम् । ज्योतीरूप ज्ञानरूप प्रकाश स्तोमव्यूहाकार निर्माणहेतो

duḥkhadhvaṁsasyaikahetuṁ na hetuṁ bhettuṁ chettuṁ saṁśayānagrajātam jyotīrūpa jñānarūpa prakāśa stomavyūhākāra nirmāṇaheto

'— the sole cause, yet yourself uncaused, of the destruction of sorrow; piercer and severer of primordial doubts; O form of light, form of knowledge, radiance, shaped of the very mass of hymns of praise, cause of all creation —'

Verse 42 (skanda.2.56.42)

त्वत्पादब्जे भक्तिमग्र्यां सदा मे देहि स्वामिन्मूलभूतां चतुर्णाम् । श्रौतैः स्मार्तैर्नित्ययुक्ता जनास्ते दीनास्तिष्ठन्त्यत्र बद्धा भवाब्धौ

tvatpādabje bhaktimagryāṁ sadā me dehi svāminmūlabhūtāṁ caturṇām śrautaiḥ smārtairnityayuktā janāste dīnāstiṣṭhantyatra baddhā bhavābdhau

'— O Lord, grant me ever the foremost devotion to your lotus feet, which is the very root of the four ends of life; men, ever engaged in shruti and smriti rites, remain here wretched, bound in the ocean of existence.'

Verse 43 (skanda.2.56.43)

अनन्तपादं बहुहस्तनेत्रमनंतकर्णं ककुभौघवस्त्रम् । दिवानिशानाथसुकुण्डलाढ्यं नक्षत्रमाला कृतचारुहारम्

anantapādaṁ bahuhastanetramanaṁtakarṇaṁ kakubhaughavastram divāniśānāthasukuṇḍalāḍhyaṁ nakṣatramālā kṛtacāruhāram

'— of endless feet, of many hands and eyes, of endless ears, whose garment is the mass of the directions; adorned with fine earrings that are the sun and moon, lords of day and night, wearing a beautiful garland woven of the constellations —'

Verse 44 (skanda.2.56.44)

त्वामद्भुतं दिव्यनृसिंहमूर्तिं भक्तेष्टपूर्तिं शरणं प्रपद्ये । यत्पादपद्म हि पितामहस्य किरीटरत्नैर्विकचत्वमेति

tvāmadbhutaṁ divyanṛsiṁhamūrtiṁ bhakteṣṭapūrtiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye yatpādapadma hi pitāmahasya kirīṭaratnairvikacatvameti

'— to you, of wondrous, divine Narasimha form, fulfiller of your devotees' desires, I go for refuge — you whose lotus feet gain their very radiance from the jewels of the Grandsire's crown.'

Verse 45 (skanda.2.56.45)

यदीयपादाब्जयुगांतभूमौ लुठेच्छिरो यस्य हि पांचभौतम् । तद्दिव्यपादं शिरसा वहंति सुरेन्द्रनार्यः खलु तं नमामि

yadīyapādābjayugāṁtabhūmau luṭhecchiro yasya hi pāṁcabhautam taddivyapādaṁ śirasā vahaṁti surendranāryaḥ khalu taṁ namāmi

'He at whose paired feet anyone's five-elemented head may roll upon the ground — that divine foot even the wives of the lord of gods bear upon their heads; to him I bow.'

Verse 46 (skanda.2.56.46)

तद्दिव्यसिंहं हतपापसंघं पादाश्रितानां करुणाब्धिसिंहम् । पादाऽब्जसंघट्टविघट्टमानब्रह्मांडभांडं प्रणमामि चण्डम्

taddivyasiṁhaṁ hatapāpasaṁghaṁ pādāśritānāṁ karuṇābdhisiṁham pādā'bjasaṁghaṭṭavighaṭṭamānabrahmāṁḍabhāṁḍaṁ praṇamāmi caṇḍam

'To that divine lion, destroyer of the mass of sins, the lion who is an ocean of compassion for those who take refuge at his feet, at the mere touch of whose lotus feet the vessel of the cosmic egg shatters — to that fierce one I bow.'

Verse 47 (skanda.2.56.47)

सटाच्छटाकंपनशीर्यमाणघनौघविद्रावितपापसंघम् । चंडाट्टहासांतरिताब्दशब्दं त्रिलोकगर्भं नृहरिं नमामि

saṭācchaṭākaṁpanaśīryamāṇaghanaughavidrāvitapāpasaṁgham caṁḍāṭṭahāsāṁtaritābdaśabdaṁ trilokagarbhaṁ nṛhariṁ namāmi

'Whose host of sins is scattered like clouds shredded by the shaking of his mane; whose fierce roar of laughter overwhelms the very thunder of the clouds; who holds the three worlds within his womb — to that Man-Lion I bow.'

Verse 48 (skanda.2.56.48)

नमस्ते नमस्ते नमस्तेऽद्य विष्णो परित्राहि दीनानुकंपिन्ननाथम् । भवंतं समासाद्य मे देहबन्धो मुरारे न संसारकारागृहेऽस्तु

namaste namaste namaste'dya viṣṇo paritrāhi dīnānukaṁpinnanātham bhavaṁtaṁ samāsādya me dehabandho murāre na saṁsārakārāgṛhe'stu

'Salutation, salutation to you today, O Vishnu — protect me, O compassionate one toward the wretched and helpless. Having attained you, O Murari, let this bondage of my body remain no longer in the prison-house of worldly existence.'

Verse 49 (skanda.2.56.49)

हयमेधसहस्रांते यथा त्वां चर्मचक्षुषा । दिव्यरूपं प्रपश्यामि तथानुक्रोशय प्रभो

hayamedhasahasrāṁte yathā tvāṁ carmacakṣuṣā divyarūpaṁ prapaśyāmi tathānukrośaya prabho

'That at the end of a thousand horse-sacrifices I may behold your divine form with these very fleshly eyes — grant me such grace, O Lord.'

Verse 50 (skanda.2.56.50)

यथा चेज्यासहस्रं मे निर्विघ्नं तत्समाप्यते । यज्ञेश त्वत्प्रसादान्मे तथा सान्निध्यमस्तु ते

yathā cejyāsahasraṁ me nirvighnaṁ tatsamāpyate yajñeśa tvatprasādānme tathā sānnidhyamastu te

'That my thousand sacrifices may be completed without hindrance — O Lord of sacrifice, by your grace let your presence be near me to that end.'

Verse 51 (skanda.2.56.51)

कोटयः पापराशीनां क्षयं यांति यथा प्रभो । धर्मार्थकामा हस्तस्था नैषां चित्रं स्तुवंति ये । मोक्षस्य भाजनं विष्णो ते नरा ये तवाश्रयाः

koṭayaḥ pāparāśīnāṁ kṣayaṁ yāṁti yathā prabho dharmārthakāmā hastasthā naiṣāṁ citraṁ stuvaṁti ye mokṣasya bhājanaṁ viṣṇo te narā ye tavāśrayāḥ

'O Lord, crores of masses of sin are destroyed for those who behold you; dharma, artha and kama already rest in the very hands of those who praise you — what wonder is that!'

Verse 52 (skanda.2.56.52)

स्तुत्वेत्थं दिव्य सिंहं तं भूपतिर्हष्टमानसः । दण्डपातप्रणामेन जगाम धरणीं मुहुः

stutvetthaṁ divya siṁhaṁ taṁ bhūpatirhaṣṭamānasaḥ daṇḍapātapraṇāmena jagāma dharaṇīṁ muhuḥ

'O Vishnu, those men who take refuge in you become vessels of liberation.' Having thus praised that divine lion, the king, his mind rejoicing, fell again and again in prostration upon the earth, like a falling staff.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.56.53)

जैमिनिरुवाच । क्षेत्रं तन्नरसिंहस्य ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पुरा । इन्द्रद्युम्नानुग्रहाय सर्वलोकहिताय च

jaiminiruvāca kṣetraṁ tannarasiṁhasya brahmaṇā nirmitaṁ purā indradyumnānugrahāya sarvalokahitāya ca

Jaimini said: That field of Narasimha was fashioned of old by Brahma, for the sake of grace toward Indradyumna and for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.56.54)

पश्यंति ये नृसिंहं तं शंभुना सह संस्थितम् । न देहबन्धं ते विप्राः प्राप्नुवंति न संशयः

paśyaṁti ye nṛsiṁhaṁ taṁ śaṁbhunā saha saṁsthitam na dehabandhaṁ te viprāḥ prāpnuvaṁti na saṁśayaḥ

Those who behold that Narasimha established there together with Shambhu, O Brahmins, never again attain bondage to the body — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.56.55)

मनसा वांछितं यद्यत्प्राप्नुवंति ततोऽधिकम् । स्तोत्रेणानेन ये दिव्यसिंहरूपं स्तुवंति वै

manasā vāṁchitaṁ yadyatprāpnuvaṁti tato'dhikam stotreṇānena ye divyasiṁharūpaṁ stuvaṁti vai

Those who praise the divine lion-form with this very hymn obtain even more than whatever they desire in their minds.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.56.56)

सर्वकामप्रदो देवस्तस्य मुक्तिं प्रयच्छति । ज्येष्ठशुक्लद्वादशी या स्वातीनक्षत्रसंयुता

sarvakāmaprado devastasya muktiṁ prayacchati jyeṣṭhaśukladvādaśī yā svātīnakṣatrasaṁyutā

That god, granter of all desires, bestows liberation upon him besides. On the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha, joined with the Svati constellation —

Verse 57 (skanda.2.56.57)

तस्यां प्रतिष्ठितः क्षेत्रे दिव्यसिंहो महर्षिणा । सुतेन ब्रह्मणः साक्षात्तत्र पश्यंति तं च ये

tasyāṁ pratiṣṭhitaḥ kṣetre divyasiṁho maharṣiṇā sutena brahmaṇaḥ sākṣāttatra paśyaṁti taṁ ca ye

— on that day, in that field, the divine lion was consecrated by the great sage, the very son of Brahma. Those who behold him there

Verse 58 (skanda.2.56.58)

वाजिमेधसहस्रस्य फलं साग्रं लभंति ते । पञ्चामृतैर्वा क्षीरेण नारिकेलरसेन वा

vājimedhasahasrasya phalaṁ sāgraṁ labhaṁti te pañcāmṛtairvā kṣīreṇa nārikelarasena vā

obtain the entire fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices. Those who, with the five nectars, or with milk, or with coconut water,

Verse 59 (skanda.2.56.59)

स्नापयंति नरा ये वै अथवा गन्धवारिणा । पूजयित्वा महासिंहमुपचारैः सपायसैः

snāpayaṁti narā ye vai athavā gandhavāriṇā pūjayitvā mahāsiṁhamupacāraiḥ sapāyasaiḥ

or with fragranced water, bathe him, and worship the great lion with rice-milk and other due offerings,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.56.60)

जपाकुसुममाल्यैश्च गन्धमाल्यैः सुशोभनैः । धूपदीपैः सकर्पूरैस्तांबूलैरतिशोभनैः

japākusumamālyaiśca gandhamālyaiḥ suśobhanaiḥ dhūpadīpaiḥ sakarpūraistāṁbūlairatiśobhanaiḥ

with garlands of hibiscus flowers, with beautiful fragrant garlands, with incense and lamps set with camphor, and with most excellent betel,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.56.61)

सुगीर्भिः स्तुतिपाठैश्च जयशब्दैस्तथोच्चकै । प्रदक्षिणप्रणामैश्च दानैर्ब्राह्मणतर्पणैः । सन्तोष्य नरसिंहं तं ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात्

sugīrbhiḥ stutipāṭhaiśca jayaśabdaistathoccakai pradakṣiṇapraṇāmaiśca dānairbrāhmaṇatarpaṇaiḥ santoṣya narasiṁhaṁ taṁ brahmalokamavāpnuyāt

with sweet songs and recitations of praise, with loud cries of victory, with circumambulation and prostration, with gifts and the satisfaction of Brahmins — thus pleasing Narasimha, a man attains the world of Brahma.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.56.62)

वैशाखस्य चतुर्दश्यां सौरिवारेऽनिलर्क्षके । आद्यावतारः सिंहस्य प्रदोषसमये द्विजाः

vaiśākhasya caturdaśyāṁ saurivāre'nilarkṣake ādyāvatāraḥ siṁhasya pradoṣasamaye dvijāḥ

On the fourteenth day of Vaishakha, on Saturday, under the Svati constellation, at the hour of twilight — this is the primal time of the Lion's incarnation, O Brahmins;

Verse 63 (skanda.2.56.63)

तस्यां संपूज्य विधिवन्नरसिंहं समाहितः । जन्मकोटिसहस्रैस्तु पापराशिः सुसंचितः । दह्यते तत्क्षणादेव तूलराशिरिवाग्निना

tasyāṁ saṁpūjya vidhivannarasiṁhaṁ samāhitaḥ janmakoṭisahasraistu pāparāśiḥ susaṁcitaḥ dahyate tatkṣaṇādeva tūlarāśirivāgninā

on that day, having duly and single-mindedly worshipped Narasimha, the mass of sin accumulated across thousands of crores of births is burned away that very instant, like a heap of cotton by fire.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.56.64)

दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा नमस्कृत्वा प्रणिपत्य च भक्तितः । स्तुत्वा विमुच्यते पापैर्निर्मोकेन भुजंगवत्

dṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā namaskṛtvā praṇipatya ca bhaktitaḥ stutvā vimucyate pāpairnirmokena bhujaṁgavat

By sight, touch, salutation, devoted prostration and praise, a man is freed from sins just as a serpent is freed from its slough.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.56.65)

न तस्य व्याधयः संति न शोका नाधयस्तथा । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति हयमेधफलं तथा

na tasya vyādhayaḥ saṁti na śokā nādhayastathā sarvānkāmānavāpnoti hayamedhaphalaṁ tathā

For him there are no diseases, no sorrows, and no mental afflictions; he obtains all his desires, and likewise the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.56.66)

समीपे तस्य भो विप्रा यजनं दानमेव च । अन्यानि पुण्यकर्माणि कृतानि च सकृन्नरैः । कोटिकोटिगुणानि स्युर्नरसिंहप्रसादतः

samīpe tasya bho viprā yajanaṁ dānameva ca anyāni puṇyakarmāṇi kṛtāni ca sakṛnnaraiḥ koṭikoṭiguṇāni syurnarasiṁhaprasādataḥ

O Brahmins, sacrifice and charity performed in his presence, and other meritorious deeds done by men even once, become multiplied a crore-crore-fold through Narasimha's grace.