Lakshmi's Companions Adorn the Lord; the Wedding at Akasharaja's City

Verse 1 (skanda.2.8.1)

श्रीवराह उवाच । ततो देवाधिदेवोऽपि लक्ष्मीमाहूय भामिनीम् । किं कार्यं वद कल्याणि विवाहार्थं सुलोचने ।

śrīvarāha uvāca tato devādhidevo'pi lakṣmīmāhūya bhāminīm kiṁ kāryaṁ vada kalyāṇi vivāhārthaṁ sulocane

Shri Varaha said: Then the God of gods called Lakshmi, the gracious lady, and said, 'O auspicious, fair-eyed one, tell me what must be done for the wedding.'

Verse 2 (skanda.2.8.2)

आज्ञापयस्व स्वसखी रमे कार्यं कुरु प्रियम् । श्रीस्तु कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा सखीराहूय चोदयत् ।

ājñāpayasva svasakhī rame kāryaṁ kuru priyam śrīstu kṛṣṇavacaḥ śrutvā sakhīrāhūya codayat

'Command your own companions, O Rama; do whatever is fitting and dear.' Having heard Krishna's words, Shri summoned her companions and instructed them.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.8.3)

श्रियाज्ञप्ता ततः प्रीतिः सुगंधं तैलमाददौ । श्रुतिः क्षौमं समादाय तस्थौ देवस्य सन्निधौ ।

śriyājñaptā tataḥ prītiḥ sugaṁdhaṁ tailamādadau śrutiḥ kṣaumaṁ samādāya tasthau devasya sannidhau

Commanded by Shri, Priti then brought fragrant oil; Shruti, taking a silken cloth, stood in the Lord's presence.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.8.4)

भूषणानि समादाय स्मृतिरप्याययौ मुदा । धृतिरादर्शमाधत्त शान्तिर्मृगमदं दधौ ।

bhūṣaṇāni samādāya smṛtirapyāyayau mudā dhṛtirādarśamādhatta śāntirmṛgamadaṁ dadhau

Smriti too joyfully brought ornaments; Dhriti held the mirror, while Shanti bore the musk.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.8.5)

यक्षकर्दममादाय ह्रीः स्थिता पुरतो हरेः । कीर्तिः कनकपट्टं च सरत्नं मुकुटं दधौ ।

yakṣakardamamādāya hrīḥ sthitā purato hareḥ kīrtiḥ kanakapaṭṭaṁ ca saratnaṁ mukuṭaṁ dadhau

Hri, taking the fragrant yaksha-kardama unguent, stood before Hari; Kirti held a golden cloth and a jewel-studded crown.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.8.6)

छत्रं दधौ तदेंद्राणी चामरं तु सरस्वती । द्वितीयं चामरं गौरी व्यजने विजयाजये ।

chatraṁ dadhau tadeṁdrāṇī cāmaraṁ tu sarasvatī dvitīyaṁ cāmaraṁ gaurī vyajane vijayājaye

Then Indrani held the royal umbrella, Sarasvati the chowrie, Gauri a second chowrie, and Vijaya and Ajaya held the fans.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.8.7)

आगतास्ताः समालोक्य श्रीरुत्थायाथ सत्वरा । सुगंधं तैलमादाय देवमभ्यज्य शीर्षतः ।

āgatāstāḥ samālokya śrīrutthāyātha satvarā sugaṁdhaṁ tailamādāya devamabhyajya śīrṣataḥ

Seeing them all arrived, Shri rose at once; taking the fragrant oil, she anointed the Lord from the head downward.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.8.8)

उद्वर्तितं गंधचूर्णैर्देवांगं परिमृज्य च । आनीतान्करिभिस्तोयकलशान्कांचनाञ्छतम् ।

udvartitaṁ gaṁdhacūrṇairdevāṁgaṁ parimṛjya ca ānītānkaribhistoyakalaśānkāṁcanāñchatam

Having applied the fragrant powders and wiped the Lord's limbs clean, a hundred golden water-pots, brought by elephants,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.8.9)

वियद्गंगादितीर्थेभ्यः कर्पूरादिसुवासितान् । एकमेकं समादाय त्वभ्यषिंचद्रमा हरिम् ।

viyadgaṁgāditīrthebhyaḥ karpūrādisuvāsitān ekamekaṁ samādāya tvabhyaṣiṁcadramā harim

filled from the Akashaganga and other sacred waters, fragrant with camphor and the like, were taken one by one, and Rama bathed Hari with them.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.8.10)

संधूप्य केशान्धूपेन तानाश्यामान्बबंध च । सुगंधेनानुलिप्यांगं स्वर्णवर्णेन तद्विभोः ।

saṁdhūpya keśāndhūpena tānāśyāmānbabaṁdha ca sugaṁdhenānulipyāṁgaṁ svarṇavarṇena tadvibhoḥ

Having fumigated his hair with incense and bound the dark locks, she anointed the Lord's golden-hued body with fragrance.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.8.11)

पीतकौशेयकं बद्ध्वा कट्यां कांचीसमन्वितम् । मुकुटादिविभूषाभिर्भूषयामास चेन्दिरा ।

pītakauśeyakaṁ baddhvā kaṭyāṁ kāṁcīsamanvitam mukuṭādivibhūṣābhirbhūṣayāmāsa cendirā

Having tied a yellow silken garment at his waist along with a girdle, Indira adorned him with the crown and other ornaments.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.8.12)

अंगुलीयकरत्नानि सर्वास्वेवांगुलीषु च । आदर्शं दर्शयामास धृतिर्देवस्य सन्निधौ ।

aṁgulīyakaratnāni sarvāsvevāṁgulīṣu ca ādarśaṁ darśayāmāsa dhṛtirdevasya sannidhau

With jeweled rings placed on every finger, Dhriti held up the mirror before the Lord.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.8.13)

दृष्ट्वादर्शं देवदेवो ह्यूर्ध्वपुंड्रं स्वयं दधौ । आरुह्य गरुडं पश्चात्स्वयं लक्ष्मीसमन्वितः ।

dṛṣṭvādarśaṁ devadevo hyūrdhvapuṁḍraṁ svayaṁ dadhau āruhya garuḍaṁ paścātsvayaṁ lakṣmīsamanvitaḥ

Having seen the mirror, the God of gods himself applied the urdhva-pundra tilaka; then, mounting Garuda, accompanied by Lakshmi,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.8.14)

ब्रह्मेशवज्रिवरुणयमयक्षेशसेवितः । वसिष्ठाद्यैर्मुनींद्रैश्च सनकाद्यैश्च योगिभिः ।

brahmeśavajrivaruṇayamayakṣeśasevitaḥ vasiṣṭhādyairmunīṁdraiśca sanakādyaiśca yogibhiḥ

attended by Brahma, Shiva, Indra, Varuna, Yama, and Kubera, and together with the great sages headed by Vasishtha and the yogis headed by Sanaka,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.8.15)

भक्तैर्भागवतैर्युक्तो नारायणपुरीं ययौ । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ।

bhaktairbhāgavatairyukto nārāyaṇapurīṁ yayau jagurgandharvapatayo nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

and joined by devotees and Bhagavatas, he went to Narayanapuri. The lords of the Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsaras danced.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.8.16)

देवदुंदुभयो नेदुस्तदा देवस्य सन्निधौ । जपन्तः स्वस्तिसूक्तानि मुनयस्तं समन्वयुः ।

devaduṁdubhayo nedustadā devasya sannidhau japantaḥ svastisūktāni munayastaṁ samanvayuḥ

Then divine kettle-drums resounded in the Lord's presence; the sages, chanting hymns of blessing, followed along with him.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.8.17)

देवो देवगणैर्युक्तो विष्वक्सेनादिपार्षदैः । सखीभिस्स्यंदनस्थाभिर्बकुलाद्याभिरन्वितः । आकाशराजस्य पुरमाससाद स्वलंकृतम् ।

devo devagaṇairyukto viṣvaksenādipārṣadaiḥ sakhībhissyaṁdanasthābhirbakulādyābhiranvitaḥ ākāśarājasya puramāsasāda svalaṁkṛtam

Accompanied by hosts of gods and attendants headed by Vishvaksena, and by companions headed by Bakula seated in their chariots, the Lord reached the beautifully adorned city of Akasharaja.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.8.18)

देवमागतमालोक्य कन्यामैरावतस्थिताम् । पुरीं प्रदक्षणीकृत्य गोपुरद्वारमागताम् ।

devamāgatamālokya kanyāmairāvatasthitām purīṁ pradakṣaṇīkṛtya gopuradvāramāgatām

Seeing the Lord arrived, the maiden, seated upon an elephant like Airavata, having circled the city, came to the gateway.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.8.19)

आलोक्याकाशराजोऽपि समानीय वधूवरौ । बन्धुभिः सहितस्तस्थौ देवमालोक्य केशवम् ।

ālokyākāśarājo'pi samānīya vadhūvarau bandhubhiḥ sahitastasthau devamālokya keśavam

Akasharaja too, beholding this, brought the bride and groom together, and stood with his kinsmen, gazing upon Lord Keshava.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.8.20)

विष्णुर्मालां स्वकंठस्थां हस्तेनादाय सस्मितः । कमलायाः स्कन्धदेशे मुमोच सुमनश्चिताम् ।

viṣṇurmālāṁ svakaṁṭhasthāṁ hastenādāya sasmitaḥ kamalāyāḥ skandhadeśe mumoca sumanaścitām

Vishnu, smiling, took with his hand the garland resting on his own neck and placed that flower-woven garland upon Kamala's shoulder.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.8.21)

आदाय मल्लिकामाला साऽस्य कंठे समर्पयत् । एवं त्रिवारं तौ कृत्वा वाहनादवरुह्य च ।

ādāya mallikāmālā sā'sya kaṁṭhe samarpayat evaṁ trivāraṁ tau kṛtvā vāhanādavaruhya ca

She too took a jasmine garland and placed it about his neck. Having done this three times, and dismounting from their mounts,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.8.22)

स्थित्वा पीठे क्षणं पश्चाद्गृहं विविशतुः शुभम् । ब्रह्मादिदेवयूथैश्च सहितौ भूमिजाहरी ।

sthitvā pīṭhe kṣaṇaṁ paścādgṛhaṁ viviśatuḥ śubham brahmādidevayūthaiśca sahitau bhūmijāharī

they stood a moment upon the dais, then entered the auspicious hall, together with the hosts of gods headed by Brahma — Bhumija and Hari together.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.8.23)

मांगल्यसूत्रबंधादि सांकुरार्पणमब्जजः । वैवाहिकं कारयित्वा लाजहोमान्तमेव च ।

māṁgalyasūtrabaṁdhādi sāṁkurārpaṇamabjajaḥ vaivāhikaṁ kārayitvā lājahomāntameva ca

Brahma performed the tying of the mangala-sutra, the sprout-offering, and the rest of the marriage rites up to the laja-homa,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.8.24)

व्रतादेशं समाज्ञाय शयितौ कमलाहरी । चतुर्थे दिवसे सर्वं समापय्य चतुर्मुखः ।

vratādeśaṁ samājñāya śayitau kamalāharī caturthe divase sarvaṁ samāpayya caturmukhaḥ

and having declared the marriage vows, let Kamala and Hari retire to rest. On the fourth day, having completed everything, the four-faced Brahma—

Verse 25 (skanda.2.8.25)

अनुज्ञाप्य वियद्राजमारोप्य गरुडे हरिम् । देवीभ्यां सहितं देवं देवैर्गन्तुं प्रचक्रमे ।

anujñāpya viyadrājamāropya garuḍe harim devībhyāṁ sahitaṁ devaṁ devairgantuṁ pracakrame

taking leave of the sky-king, and mounting Hari together with the two goddesses upon Garuda, set out to depart with the gods.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.8.26)

दिव्यदुन्दुभिर्निर्घोषैः संप्राप्य वृषभाचलम् । तुष्टुवुर्देवदेवेशं ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः ।

divyadundubhirnirghoṣaiḥ saṁprāpya vṛṣabhācalam tuṣṭuvurdevadeveśaṁ brahmādyā devatāgaṇāḥ

With the resounding of divine kettle-drums, having reached Vrishabhachala, Brahma and the hosts of gods extolled the Lord of gods.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.8.27)

शुकादयो मुनिगणास्तुष्टुवुः पुरुषोत्तमम् । स्तूयमानोऽथ देवोऽपि विवेश मणिमंडपम् ।

śukādayo munigaṇāstuṣṭuvuḥ puruṣottamam stūyamāno'tha devo'pi viveśa maṇimaṁḍapam

Shuka and the other sages praised the Purushottama. Thus praised, the Lord entered the jeweled pavilion,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.8.28)

रमाधरणिजाभ्यां च तत्र सिंहासनं ययौ ।

ramādharaṇijābhyāṁ ca tatra siṁhāsanaṁ yayau

and there, together with Rama and Dharani's daughter, he ascended the throne.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.8.29)

आकाशराजोऽपि तदा महेन्द्रादिसुरैः सह । पुत्रीविष्ण्वोः प्रियार्थं तु प्राभृतं कतुमुद्यतः ।

ākāśarājo'pi tadā mahendrādisuraiḥ saha putrīviṣṇvoḥ priyārthaṁ tu prābhṛtaṁ katumudyataḥ

Akasharaja too, then, together with Mahendra and the other gods, made ready to offer gifts for the joy of his daughter and Vishnu,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.8.30)

सौवर्णेषु कटाहेषु तंडुलाञ्छालिसंभवान् । मुद्गपात्राण्यनेकानि घृतकुम्भशतानि च ।

sauvarṇeṣu kaṭāheṣu taṁḍulāñchālisaṁbhavān mudgapātrāṇyanekāni ghṛtakumbhaśatāni ca

giving rice grown from the finest paddy in golden vessels, many pots of mung beans, and hundreds of jars filled with ghee,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.8.31)

पयोघटसहस्राणि दधिभाण्डान्यनेकशः । दिव्यानि चूतकदलीनारिकेलफलानि च ।

payoghaṭasahasrāṇi dadhibhāṇḍānyanekaśaḥ divyāni cūtakadalīnārikelaphalāni ca

thousands of pitchers of milk, countless vessels of curd, and divine mangoes, plantains, and coconuts,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.8.32)

धात्रीफलानि कूष्माडराजरंभाफलानि च । पनसान्मातुलुंगांश्च शर्करापूरितान्घटान् ।

dhātrīphalāni kūṣmāḍarājaraṁbhāphalāni ca panasānmātuluṁgāṁśca śarkarāpūritānghaṭān

amla fruits, pumpkins and choice plantains, jackfruits and citrons, and jars filled with sugar,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.8.33)

सुवर्णमणिमुक्ताश्च क्षौमकोट्यंबराणि च । दासीदाससहस्राणि कोटिशो गास्तथैव च ।

suvarṇamaṇimuktāśca kṣaumakoṭyaṁbarāṇi ca dāsīdāsasahasrāṇi koṭiśo gāstathaiva ca

gold, gems, and pearls, silken cloths worth crores, thousands of maidservants and menservants, and cattle by the crore,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.8.34)

हंसेन्दुशुक्लवर्णानां हयानामयुतं ददौ । तुंगानां नित्यमत्तानां गजानामधिकं शतात् ।

haṁsenduśuklavarṇānāṁ hayānāmayutaṁ dadau tuṁgānāṁ nityamattānāṁ gajānāmadhikaṁ śatāt

he gave ten thousand horses, white as swans and the moon, and more than a hundred towering, ever-rutting elephants,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.8.35)

अंतःपुरचरा नारीर्नृत्तगीतविशारदाः । ददौ चतुःसहस्राणि श्रीनिवासाय विष्णवे । दत्त्वा चैतानि सर्वाणि तस्थौ देवपुरो विभुः ।

aṁtaḥpuracarā nārīrnṛttagītaviśāradāḥ dadau catuḥsahasrāṇi śrīnivāsāya viṣṇave dattvā caitāni sarvāṇi tasthau devapuro vibhuḥ

and four thousand women skilled in dance and song, attendants of the inner apartments — all this he gave to Srinivasa Vishnu. Having given all these gifts, the Lord stood before the palace gate.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.8.36)

दृष्ट्वा देवोऽपि तत्सर्वं देवीभ्यां सहितो हरिः ।

dṛṣṭvā devo'pi tatsarvaṁ devībhyāṁ sahito hariḥ

Beholding all this, the Lord Hari, together with the two goddesses,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.8.37)

सुप्रीतः प्राह राजानं श्वशुरं वेंकटेश्वरः । वरं वृणीष्व हे राजन्गुरो मत्तो यदीच्छसि ।

suprītaḥ prāha rājānaṁ śvaśuraṁ veṁkaṭeśvaraḥ varaṁ vṛṇīṣva he rājanguro matto yadīcchasi

greatly pleased, said to the king, his father-in-law: 'O king, O my elder, ask of me whatever boon you desire.'

Verse 38 (skanda.2.8.38)

त्वत्सेवैवेह देवैवं भूयादव्यभिचारिणी ।

tvatsevaiveha devaivaṁ bhūyādavyabhicāriṇī

[Akasharaja replied]: 'O Lord, let this service to you remain here ever unwavering,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.8.39)

मनस्त्वत्पादकमले त्वयि भक्तिर्ममास्तु वै ।

manastvatpādakamale tvayi bhaktirmamāstu vai

let my mind ever dwell at your lotus feet, and let my devotion remain fixed in you indeed.'

Verse 40 (skanda.2.8.40)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । त्वया यदुक्तं राजेन्द्र सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति । इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मै संमान्यैव यथोचितम् ।

śrībhagavānuvāca tvayā yaduktaṁ rājendra sarvametadbhaviṣyati iti dattvā varaṁ tasmai saṁmānyaiva yathocitam

Shri Bhagavan said: 'O king of kings, whatever you have said, all of this shall come to pass.' Having thus granted him the boon, and duly honoring him,

Verse 41 (skanda.2.8.41)

ब्रह्मेशादिसुरान्सर्वान्समभ्यर्च्य यथोचितम् । स्वर्लोकगमनायैवमनुमेने मुदा हरिः । गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु श्रिया भूमिजया युतः ।

brahmeśādisurānsarvānsamabhyarcya yathocitam svarlokagamanāyaivamanumene mudā hariḥ gateṣu teṣu sarveṣu śriyā bhūmijayā yutaḥ

having duly honored all the gods headed by Brahma and Shiva, Hari joyfully gave them leave to return to their heavenly worlds. When they had all departed, together with Shri and Bhumija,

Verse 42 (skanda.2.8.42)

विहरन्स यथापूर्वं स्वामिपुष्करिणीतटे । आस्ते दिव्यालये देवोप्यर्च्यमानो गुहेन वै ।

viharansa yathāpūrvaṁ svāmipuṣkariṇītaṭe āste divyālaye devopyarcyamāno guhena vai

sporting as before on the bank of the Swami Pushkarini, the Lord dwells in that divine abode, worshipped there even by Guha.