King Gala's Surrender, and Brahma's Descent to Nilachala

Verse 1 (skanda.2.66.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच । निरुत्पातं समे देशे विधिवर्त्तनयापि च । प्रासादनिकटं देवाः प्रापिताः सुमुहुर्त्तके

jaiminiruvāca nirutpātaṁ same deśe vidhivarttanayāpi ca prāsādanikaṭaṁ devāḥ prāpitāḥ sumuhurttake

Jaimini said: Without mishap, over level ground, and according to due procedure, the gods were brought near the temple at a most auspicious hour.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.66.2)

ततः शालासुमहती रत्नवर्णविनिर्मिता । निदेशादिंद्रद्युम्नस्य निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा

tataḥ śālāsumahatī ratnavarṇavinirmitā nideśādiṁdradyumnasya nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā

Then a vast hall, built of gem-hued materials, was constructed by Vishvakarma at Indradyumna's direction,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.66.3)

सभार्चनायां वस्तूनि हवींषि च समित्कुशाः । भोज्यं नानाविधं गीतनृत्यांश्च विविधांस्तथा

sabhārcanāyāṁ vastūni havīṁṣi ca samitkuśāḥ bhojyaṁ nānāvidhaṁ gītanṛtyāṁśca vividhāṁstathā

— with materials for worshipping the assembly, oblations, sacrificial grass and kusha, food of many kinds, and manifold song and dance as well.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.66.4)

साम्राज्ये यादृशी पूर्वं संपत्तिरभवत्क्षितौ । ततः श्रेष्ठतरा विप्राः प्रतिष्ठायां बभूव ह

sāmrājye yādṛśī pūrvaṁ saṁpattirabhavatkṣitau tataḥ śreṣṭhatarā viprāḥ pratiṣṭhāyāṁ babhūva ha

Whatever splendor his empire had once possessed on earth, O Brahmins, still greater splendor than that was manifest at this consecration.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.66.5)

गालोनाम महीपालस्तदा क्षितितलेऽभवत् । सोप्यत्र प्रतिमां कृत्वा माधवाख्यां दृषन्मयीम्

gālonāma mahīpālastadā kṣititale'bhavat sopyatra pratimāṁ kṛtvā mādhavākhyāṁ dṛṣanmayīm

There was, at that time, upon the earth a king named Gala; he too had made an image here, called Madhava, fashioned of stone,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.66.6)

स्थापयित्वात्र प्रासादे पूजयामास ऋद्धिमत् । कनीयांसं च प्रासादं निर्माय नृपसत्तमः

sthāpayitvātra prāsāde pūjayāmāsa ṛddhimat kanīyāṁsaṁ ca prāsādaṁ nirmāya nṛpasattamaḥ

— and, installing it here in a temple, worshipped it with great splendor; that excellent king, having built a smaller temple,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.66.7)

तत्र तां स्थापयामास ततो निष्कृष्य सादरम् । ततोऽस्य नृपतिर्दूतमुखाच्छुत्वास्य कर्म तत्

tatra tāṁ sthāpayāmāsa tato niṣkṛṣya sādaram tato'sya nṛpatirdūtamukhācchutvāsya karma tat

— installed it there with reverence, having drawn it out. Then king Indradyumna, hearing of this deed of his through the mouth of a messenger,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.66.8)

गालोऽभ्यागात्ससैन्यः सन्क्रुद्धस्तं नीलपर्वतम् । दृष्ट्वा प्रतिष्ठासंभारं मर्त्यैः स्वप्नेऽपि दुर्लभम्

gālo'bhyāgātsasainyaḥ sankruddhastaṁ nīlaparvatam dṛṣṭvā pratiṣṭhāsaṁbhāraṁ martyaiḥ svapne'pi durlabham

— Gala had come, in anger, with his army, to that Blue Mountain; but, beholding the array of the consecration, a thing hard for mortals to attain even in a dream,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.66.9)

विस्मयाविष्टचेताः स तस्थौ गालो नराधिपः । किमेतदिति वृत्तान्तं को वा कारयतीदृशम्

vismayāviṣṭacetāḥ sa tasthau gālo narādhipaḥ kimetaditi vṛttāntaṁ ko vā kārayatīdṛśam

— Gala, that king of men, his mind seized with astonishment, stood still, wondering: "What is this happening here, and who is causing such a thing?"

Verse 10 (skanda.2.66.10)

यत्नाद्दिव्यं स विज्ञाय इन्द्रद्युम्नं नराधिपम् । ब्रह्मलोकादागतं तं कर्त्तारं देववेश्मनः

yatnāddivyaṁ sa vijñāya indradyumnaṁ narādhipam brahmalokādāgataṁ taṁ karttāraṁ devaveśmanaḥ

With some effort learning the divine truth of it, he came to know that King Indradyumna, come from Brahmaloka, was the builder of the god's dwelling,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.66.11)

प्रतिष्ठापयितुं देवैः सार्द्धं संभारकारकम् । सहितं पद्मनिधिना गुरुणा नारदेन च

pratiṣṭhāpayituṁ devaiḥ sārddhaṁ saṁbhārakārakam sahitaṁ padmanidhinā guruṇā nāradena ca

— the gatherer of materials for the consecration, together with the gods, accompanied by Padmanidhi and by his teacher Narada,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.66.12)

ब्रह्माणं चागमिष्यन्तं प्रतिष्ठायै सुरोत्तमम् । श्रुत्वा सर्वं च वृत्तान्तं तद्राजा दिव्यचेष्टितम्

brahmāṇaṁ cāgamiṣyantaṁ pratiṣṭhāyai surottamam śrutvā sarvaṁ ca vṛttāntaṁ tadrājā divyaceṣṭitam

— and that Brahma, best of gods, was himself coming for the consecration. Having heard this whole account of the divine proceedings, that king

Verse 13 (skanda.2.66.13)

मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं तद्राज्ये परमाद्भुतम् । इतः श्रेयस्करं कर्म न भूतं न भविष्यति

mene kṛtārthamātmānaṁ tadrājye paramādbhutam itaḥ śreyaskaraṁ karma na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

considered himself blessed: "This is a supreme wonder in this very kingdom; no deed more auspicious than this has ever happened, nor ever will;

Verse 14 (skanda.2.66.14)

तदस्य निकटे स्थित्वा ज्ञात्वा कर्मक्रमं विधिम् । उत्सवांश्चापि विज्ञाय करिष्ये प्रतिवत्सरम्

tadasya nikaṭe sthitvā jñātvā karmakramaṁ vidhim utsavāṁścāpi vijñāya kariṣye prativatsaram

So, remaining close by it, learning the order and manner of its rites, and also learning of its festivals, I shall perform them every year.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.66.15)

अमुं दारुमयं साक्षाद्ब्रह्मरूपं जनार्दनम् । अभाग्योपचयादेतावंतं कालं न जानता

amuṁ dārumayaṁ sākṣādbrahmarūpaṁ janārdanam abhāgyopacayādetāvaṁtaṁ kālaṁ na jānatā

By me — who, through the weight of my own misfortune, did not know, for so long a time, this Janardana in his wooden form, verily the essence of Brahman —

Verse 16 (skanda.2.66.16)

असेव्यमानेन कृतं जन्मैव विफलं मया । तदेनमिंद्रद्युम्नं वै प्रणिपत्य जगद्गुरुम्

asevyamānena kṛtaṁ janmaiva viphalaṁ mayā tadenamiṁdradyumnaṁ vai praṇipatya jagadgurum

— by not serving him, I have made my very birth fruitless. So now, prostrating myself before this Indradyumna, teacher of the world,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.66.17)

महाभागवतश्रेष्ठं ब्रह्मलोकादिहागतम् । उपेत्य शरणं साक्षाद्दृष्ट्वा नारायणं विभुम्

mahābhāgavataśreṣṭhaṁ brahmalokādihāgatam upetya śaraṇaṁ sākṣāddṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṁ vibhum

— that foremost of great Bhagavatas, come here from Brahmaloka, taking refuge in him, and beholding the mighty Narayana with my own eyes,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.66.18)

प्रतिष्ठितं वै प्रासादे मुक्तिमेष्यामि निश्चयम् । वैकुण्ठं स प्रतिष्ठाप्य मय्येवारोपयिष्यति

pratiṣṭhitaṁ vai prāsāde muktimeṣyāmi niścayam vaikuṇṭhaṁ sa pratiṣṭhāpya mayyevāropayiṣyati

— installed there in the temple, I shall surely attain liberation; and having installed him, he will establish Vaikuntha upon me alone.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.66.19)

ब्रह्मलोकं गतो यो वै किं क्षितौ सोऽवतिष्ठते । उपचारान्समादिश्य कोषं संभृत्य च प्रभोः

brahmalokaṁ gato yo vai kiṁ kṣitau so'vatiṣṭhate upacārānsamādiśya koṣaṁ saṁbhṛtya ca prabhoḥ

One who has already gone to Brahmaloka — does he really remain on earth? Yet, for now, having ordained the rites of worship and gathered the Lord's treasury,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.66.20)

ब्रह्मणा सहितोऽवश्यं पुनर्यास्यति तत्क्षयम् । विचार्य मंत्रिभिः सार्द्धं ततो गालोऽपि वैष्णवः

brahmaṇā sahito'vaśyaṁ punaryāsyati tatkṣayam vicārya maṁtribhiḥ sārddhaṁ tato gālo'pi vaiṣṇavaḥ

— together with Brahma he will surely go back again to that same abode." Having thus deliberated with his ministers, Gala too, that Vaishnava,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.66.21)

इन्द्रद्युम्नस्य निकटं विनीतः प्रययौ मुदा । गत्वा तं दूरतो दृष्ट्वा प्रणिपातपुरःसरम्

indradyumnasya nikaṭaṁ vinītaḥ prayayau mudā gatvā taṁ dūrato dṛṣṭvā praṇipātapuraḥsaram

went, humbly and with joy, into the presence of Indradyumna; going there and seeing him from afar, prostrating himself first,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.66.22)

बद्धांजलिपुटो राजा मूर्ध्नि वीक्षन्ससाध्वसम् । शनैः शनैर्ययौ तस्य निकटं गालपार्थिवः

baddhāṁjalipuṭo rājā mūrdhni vīkṣansasādhvasam śanaiḥ śanairyayau tasya nikaṭaṁ gālapārthivaḥ

— his palms joined, gazing upon him with awe, King Gala approached him slowly, step by step.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.66.23)

देव त्वं राजराजोऽसि मर्त्योऽसि ब्रह्मलोकगः । किं स्तौमि नृपकीटोऽहं त्वां जीवन्मुक्तमीश्वरम्

deva tvaṁ rājarājo'si martyo'si brahmalokagaḥ kiṁ staumi nṛpakīṭo'haṁ tvāṁ jīvanmuktamīśvaram

"O lord, you are king of kings; though mortal, you have journeyed to Brahmaloka. How can I, a mere worm among kings, praise you, who are liberated while living, a very lord?

Verse 24 (skanda.2.66.24)

अज्ञात्वा महिमानं ते सचिवैर्मंत्रयन्मुहुः । योद्धुमभ्यागतो देव दृष्ट्वा ते पौरुषं महत्

ajñātvā mahimānaṁ te sacivairmaṁtrayanmuhuḥ yoddhumabhyāgato deva dṛṣṭvā te pauruṣaṁ mahat

Not knowing your true glory, and consulting again and again with my counselors, I came here, O god, to make war; but, beholding your great valor,

Verse 25 (skanda.2.66.25)

अतिमानुषमाश्चर्यं पदं चापि शचीपतेः । दृष्ट्वैतन्निश्चितं देव ब्रह्मलोकागतस्य हि

atimānuṣamāścaryaṁ padaṁ cāpi śacīpateḥ dṛṣṭvaitanniścitaṁ deva brahmalokāgatasya hi

— superhuman and astonishing, and even the very station of Indra to be seen here — beholding all this, O god, it is certain that you have indeed come from Brahmaloka;

Verse 26 (skanda.2.66.26)

ईदृशं हि महत्कर्म यदाज्ञाकृन्महानिधिः । चेतः प्रसादप्रवणं मयि धेहि सुरोत्तम

īdṛśaṁ hi mahatkarma yadājñākṛnmahānidhiḥ cetaḥ prasādapravaṇaṁ mayi dhehi surottama

— for such a mighty deed as this, one at whose very command the great treasure-lord himself labors, could belong to no other. Turn your mind, O best of gods, favorably toward grace for me,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.66.27)

त्रैलोक्यवासिनो देवा यदाज्ञावशवर्तिनः

trailokyavāsino devā yadājñāvaśavartinaḥ

— you, at whose bidding even the gods who dwell in the three worlds stand obedient."

Verse 28 (skanda.2.66.28)

जैमिनिरुवाच । इत्थं विज्ञापयंतं तं गालं नृपतिकुंजरम् । स्मयमान उवाचेदं राजन्किं बहु भाषसे

jaiminiruvāca itthaṁ vijñāpayaṁtaṁ taṁ gālaṁ nṛpatikuṁjaram smayamāna uvācedaṁ rājankiṁ bahu bhāṣase

Jaimini said: To Gala, that elephant among kings, petitioning thus, Indradyumna, smiling, said: "O king, why do you speak so much?

Verse 29 (skanda.2.66.29)

भवानपि हरेर्भक्तः सार्वभौमो महीपतिः । सामान्यमेतद्राज्ञा वै भूस्वाम्यं भुवि वर्त्तताम्

bhavānapi harerbhaktaḥ sārvabhaumo mahīpatiḥ sāmānyametadrājñā vai bhūsvāmyaṁ bhuvi varttatām

You too are a devotee of Hari, a sovereign, a lord of the earth; this lordship of the earth held by a king is a common thing, found everywhere on earth.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.66.30)

सांप्रतं हि भवानत्र पृथिव्यामेकपार्थिवः । नृपायत्ताः क्रियाः सर्वा मर्त्यानां मरुतामपि

sāṁprataṁ hi bhavānatra pṛthivyāmekapārthivaḥ nṛpāyattāḥ kriyāḥ sarvā martyānāṁ marutāmapi

You are, indeed, now the sole king upon this earth; all rites depend upon the king, whether of mortals or even of the gods.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.66.31)

अष्टदिक्पालकांशैस्तु ब्रह्मणा निर्मितो नृपः । न ह्यल्पपुण्यकृद्राजा प्रजापालनतत्पर

aṣṭadikpālakāṁśaistu brahmaṇā nirmito nṛpaḥ na hyalpapuṇyakṛdrājā prajāpālanatatpara

A king is fashioned by Brahma from portions of the eight guardians of the directions; a king devoted to protecting his subjects is no man of little merit.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.66.32)

इह कीर्तिं च धर्मश्च यत्र गच्छन्सुवर्त्मनि । प्राप्नोति राजशार्दूल विशेषात्त्वं तु वैष्णवः

iha kīrtiṁ ca dharmaśca yatra gacchansuvartmani prāpnoti rājaśārdūla viśeṣāttvaṁ tu vaiṣṇavaḥ

Here, walking the good path, one attains both fame and righteousness, O tiger among kings — you especially, being a Vaishnava.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.66.33)

प्रासादे स्थापयेद्यस्तु हरेरर्चां विधानतः । न देहबन्धमाप्नोति याति विष्णोः परं पदम्

prāsāde sthāpayedyastu harerarcāṁ vidhānataḥ na dehabandhamāpnoti yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

Whoever installs the image of Hari in a temple, according to rule, no longer obtains bondage to a body; he goes to the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.66.34)

माधवप्रतिमामेतां दारवीं शुभलक्षणाम् । साक्षान्मुक्तिप्रदां भूप स्वयं स्थापितवानसि

mādhavapratimāmetāṁ dāravīṁ śubhalakṣaṇām sākṣānmuktipradāṁ bhūpa svayaṁ sthāpitavānasi

This image of Madhava, wooden, of auspicious marks, itself the very giver of liberation, O king, you yourself have installed.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.66.35)

निर्विघ्नं कर्म ते जातं मम मन्वंतरं गतम् । भवेद्वा संशयो मेऽत्र न स्वतंत्रश्चतुर्मुखः

nirvighnaṁ karma te jātaṁ mama manvaṁtaraṁ gatam bhavedvā saṁśayo me'tra na svataṁtraścaturmukhaḥ

Your work has proceeded without any hindrance; my own Manvantara has now passed. I might indeed have some doubt here — even the four-faced one is not independent —

Verse 36 (skanda.2.66.36)

प्रतिष्ठायै प्रार्थितोऽयं तदन्यः स्थापयेत्कथम् । साक्षाद्दार्ववतारस्य प्रासादस्य नृपोत्तम

pratiṣṭhāyai prārthito'yaṁ tadanyaḥ sthāpayetkatham sākṣāddārvavatārasya prāsādasya nṛpottama

— he has been entreated for the consecration; how then could another install it? Of this temple of the one whose incarnation is verily of wood, O best of kings,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.66.37)

संनिधानेन चेदत्र विधातानुग्रहिष्यति । तदेनं स्थापयित्वा तु चतूरूपं जनार्दनम्

saṁnidhānena cedatra vidhātānugrahiṣyati tadenaṁ sthāpayitvā tu catūrūpaṁ janārdanam

— if the Creator himself, by his presence here, grants his grace, then, having installed this Janardana in his fourfold form,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.66.38)

समर्प्य त्वां गमिष्यामि त्वमेवोपचरिष्यसि । नित्योपहारं यात्राश्च उत्सवांश्च जगत्पतेः

samarpya tvāṁ gamiṣyāmi tvamevopacariṣyasi nityopahāraṁ yātrāśca utsavāṁśca jagatpateḥ

— having entrusted him to you, I shall depart; you yourself shall then attend to him — the daily offerings, the processions, and the festivals of the Lord of the world.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.66.39)

यानेवोपदिशेद्देवः स्वयं वा प्रपितामहः । तांस्तान्प्रयत्नात्कुर्वीत राजा वै धर्मपालकः

yānevopadiśeddevaḥ svayaṁ vā prapitāmahaḥ tāṁstānprayatnātkurvīta rājā vai dharmapālakaḥ

Whatever the god himself, or the great-grandsire, may direct — all those things a king devoted to righteousness should carry out with diligence."

Verse 40 (skanda.2.66.40)

ततः स गालो नृपतिः श्रुत्वा तच्चिंतितं स्वयम् । इन्द्रद्युम्नादिष्टमेतदिति प्राप परां मुदम्

tataḥ sa gālo nṛpatiḥ śrutvā tacciṁtitaṁ svayam indradyumnādiṣṭametaditi prāpa parāṁ mudam

Then King Gala, hearing his own very thought thus confirmed and directed by Indradyumna, attained the highest joy.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.66.41)

तस्थौ तस्यांतिके गाल आज्ञाकार इव स्वयम् । तत्तदाशु करोत्येष इन्द्रद्युम्नो यदादिशत्

tasthau tasyāṁtike gāla ājñākāra iva svayam tattadāśu karotyeṣa indradyumno yadādiśat

Gala remained close by him, as though he himself were his servant carrying out orders; whatever Indradyumna commanded, that he did at once.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.66.42)

एवं संभृतसंभारः सिंहासनगतः प्रभुः । देवैः परिवृतश्चेंद्रद्युम्नः शक्र इवाबभौ

evaṁ saṁbhṛtasaṁbhāraḥ siṁhāsanagataḥ prabhuḥ devaiḥ parivṛtaśceṁdradyumnaḥ śakra ivābabhau

Thus, with the materials all gathered, the lord Indradyumna, seated upon the throne and surrounded by the gods, shone like Indra himself.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.66.43)

ततोऽश्रूयंत निनदा दिव्यदुंदुभिजाः शुभाः । मृदंगवेणुवीणादि तालकाहालनिःस्वनाः

tato'śrūyaṁta ninadā divyaduṁdubhijāḥ śubhāḥ mṛdaṁgaveṇuvīṇādi tālakāhālaniḥsvanāḥ

Then auspicious sounds were heard, arising from divine kettledrums, and the resounding of mridangas, flutes, vinas, cymbals, and horns,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.66.44)

ऐरावतादिकरिणां बृंहितानि बहूनि खे । समंताज्जयशब्दाश्च पुष्पवृष्टिविमिश्रिताः

airāvatādikariṇāṁ bṛṁhitāni bahūni khe samaṁtājjayaśabdāśca puṣpavṛṣṭivimiśritāḥ

— the many trumpetings of Airavata and other elephants in the sky, cries of victory all around, mingled with showers of flowers,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.66.45)

आकाशगंगासलिलकणा मन्दारमिश्रिताः । दिव्य स्रग्लेपधूपानां गन्धा दिग्व्यापिनस्तथा । वैमानिकानां देवानां किंकिणीजालनिःस्वनाः

ākāśagaṁgāsalilakaṇā mandāramiśritāḥ divya sraglepadhūpānāṁ gandhā digvyāpinastathā vaimānikānāṁ devānāṁ kiṁkiṇījālaniḥsvanāḥ

— drops of water from the celestial Ganga mingled with Mandara blossoms, and the fragrance of divine garlands, unguents, and incense spreading in every direction, along with the tinkling of the bell-nets on the gods' aerial cars.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.66.46)

ततश्च तेजसां राशी रोदसीमध्यपूरकः । आविरासीत्क्षितिगत नयनाच्छादको द्विजाः

tataśca tejasāṁ rāśī rodasīmadhyapūrakaḥ āvirāsītkṣitigata nayanācchādako dvijāḥ

Then a mass of radiance, filling the whole expanse between heaven and earth, appeared, O Brahmins, dazzling the eyes of those standing upon the ground,

Verse 47 (skanda.2.66.47)

उत्तोलिताक्षिमालाभिः प्रजाभिर्वीक्षितः पुरः । ततः क्रमात्स ददृशे विमानाग्र्यं प्रजापतेः

uttolitākṣimālābhiḥ prajābhirvīkṣitaḥ puraḥ tataḥ kramātsa dadṛśe vimānāgryaṁ prajāpateḥ

— as the people gazed upward, their eyes lifted in rows toward it; and then, by degrees, the supreme celestial chariot of Prajapati came into view,

Verse 48 (skanda.2.66.48)

स्वर्णहंसशतैः स्कंधेनोह्यमानः समंततः । दिक्पालैश्चामरव्यग्रहस्तैरासेवितः पुरः

svarṇahaṁsaśataiḥ skaṁdhenohyamānaḥ samaṁtataḥ dikpālaiścāmaravyagrahastairāsevitaḥ puraḥ

— borne aloft on every side upon the shoulders of a hundred golden geese, attended in front by the guardians of the directions, their hands busy waving chowries,

Verse 49 (skanda.2.66.49)

जाह्नवीयमुनानीरप्रकीर्णककरेऽभितः । पार्श्वयोश्चन्द्रसूर्याभ्यामुभाभ्यामातपत्रके

jāhnavīyamunānīraprakīrṇakakare'bhitaḥ pārśvayoścandrasūryābhyāmubhābhyāmātapatrake

— the waters of the Ganga and Yamuna scattered all about it, and on either side, the sun and moon serving as its parasol,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.66.50)

धार्यमाणे शनैर्वायोर्गतिचंचलचोलके । ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्गौतमाद्यैः स्तूयमानो रहस्यकैः

dhāryamāṇe śanairvāyorgaticaṁcalacolake brahmarṣibhirgautamādyaiḥ stūyamāno rahasyakaiḥ

— its canopy borne aloft, fluttering gently in the motion of the wind; praised by the Brahmarshis, Gautama and the rest, with secret hymns,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.66.51)

तन्मध्यस्थः प्रजानाथ इंद्रद्युम्नादिभिः स्तुतः । आलुलोके देवगणैर्जयशब्दैरभिष्टुतः

tanmadhyasthaḥ prajānātha iṁdradyumnādibhiḥ stutaḥ āluloke devagaṇairjayaśabdairabhiṣṭutaḥ

— in the midst of it stood the Lord of creatures, praised by Indradyumna and the others; he gazed about him, hailed by the hosts of gods with cries of victory,

Verse 52 (skanda.2.66.52)

रंभादिकाभिर्वेश्याभिर्नृत्यते स्म ससाध्वसम् । हाहाहूहूप्रभृतिभिर्गीयमानश्च गायकैः

raṁbhādikābhirveśyābhirnṛtyate sma sasādhvasam hāhāhūhūprabhṛtibhirgīyamānaśca gāyakaiḥ

— while the celestial dancers, Rambha and the rest, danced in awe, and the singers, Haha, Huhu, and their like, sang his praises,

Verse 53 (skanda.2.66.53)

सिद्धविद्याधरगणैः सादरं चोपवीणितः । कृतांजलिपुटैर्दूरात्तपस्विभिरुपासितः

siddhavidyādharagaṇaiḥ sādaraṁ copavīṇitaḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭairdūrāttapasvibhirupāsitaḥ

— reverently accompanied on the vina by hosts of Siddhas and Vidyadharas, and worshipped from afar by ascetics with joined palms,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.66.54)

सावित्रीशारदे तस्य वाक्प्रबंधैर्विचित्रकैः । तोषमासादयंत्यौ च कोऽन्यस्तत्तोषणे क्षमः

sāvitrīśārade tasya vākprabaṁdhairvicitrakaiḥ toṣamāsādayaṁtyau ca ko'nyastattoṣaṇe kṣamaḥ

— while Savitri and Sharada, with their wondrous compositions of speech, brought him delight — for who else indeed is capable of pleasing him so?

Verse 55 (skanda.2.66.55)

जाह्नवीयमुनानीर प्रकीर्णित कलेवरः । ये च गंधर्वसिद्धाद्या नारदप्रमुखा द्विजाः

jāhnavīyamunānīra prakīrṇita kalevaraḥ ye ca gaṁdharvasiddhādyā nāradapramukhā dvijāḥ

— his form besprinkled with the waters of the Ganga and Yamuna; and those who were Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the rest, the Brahmins led by Narada,

Verse 56 (skanda.2.66.56)

वेत्रहस्ताः सविनया दिव्यसोपानदर्शनाः । संमर्दः स महानासीद्देवानां दिवि गच्छताम्

vetrahastāḥ savinayā divyasopānadarśanāḥ saṁmardaḥ sa mahānāsīddevānāṁ divi gacchatām

— staff-bearers, in humility, beholding that divine stairway — there was, indeed, a great press of the gods journeying through the sky,

Verse 57 (skanda.2.66.57)

न कोऽपि गण्यते देवः को वा केन पथा व्रजेत् । अहंपूर्विकया तेषां व्रजतां त्रिदिवौकसाम्

na ko'pi gaṇyate devaḥ ko vā kena pathā vrajet ahaṁpūrvikayā teṣāṁ vrajatāṁ tridivaukasām

— no single god could be distinguished, nor could one tell which path any of them took, so great was the rivalry among those dwellers of heaven, each hastening to go first.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.66.58)

संमर्दातिशयात्तेषां विभ्रंशोऽभूत्स्ववाहनैः । स्रष्टा पाता च संहर्त्ता जगतां यो जगन्मयः

saṁmardātiśayātteṣāṁ vibhraṁśo'bhūtsvavāhanaiḥ sraṣṭā pātā ca saṁharttā jagatāṁ yo jaganmayaḥ

From the sheer press of that crowd, some of them tumbled from their own vehicles. He who is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the worlds, who is himself of the very substance of the universe,

Verse 59 (skanda.2.66.59)

साक्षाद्व्रजति तत्रैषां सुराणां महिमा कुतः । तं दृष्ट्वा साध्वसान्नम्रो भक्त्या बद्धांजलिर्नृपः

sākṣādvrajati tatraiṣāṁ surāṇāṁ mahimā kutaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā sādhvasānnamro bhaktyā baddhāṁjalirnṛpaḥ

— was himself journeying there in person — so what, then, was the glory of these lesser gods beside him? Seeing him, the king, humbled with awe and joining his palms in devotion,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.66.60)

तैर्देवैर्गालराजेन नारदप्रमुखेन च । सहितो धरणीं प्रायात्साष्टांगं प्रणिपत्य च

tairdevairgālarājena nāradapramukhena ca sahito dharaṇīṁ prāyātsāṣṭāṁgaṁ praṇipatya ca

— together with those gods, with King Gala, and with Narada at their head, and having prostrated himself with all eight limbs, went down to the earth.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.66.61)

उत्थाय परया भक्त्या प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना । पुलकांकितसर्वांगं स्वं मन्वानः कृतार्थकम्

utthāya parayā bhaktyā prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā pulakāṁkitasarvāṁgaṁ svaṁ manvānaḥ kṛtārthakam

Rising up with the deepest devotion, his inmost soul rejoicing, his whole body covered with horripilation, and deeming himself blessed,

Verse 62 (skanda.2.66.62)

पुरतो जगदीशस्य पश्यञ्छुद्धं पितामहम् । कृतांजलिपुटो राजा ममज्जानंदसागरे

purato jagadīśasya paśyañchuddhaṁ pitāmaham kṛtāṁjalipuṭo rājā mamajjānaṁdasāgare

— beholding, there before the Lord of the world, the pure Grandsire, the king, his palms folded, sank into an ocean of bliss.