The Sandal-Anointing Festival and Prajapati Daksha's Hymn

Verse 1 (skanda.2.86.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि यात्रामक्षयमोक्षदाम्। अनायासेन मूढानां वासनाबद्धचेतसाम्

jaiminiruvāca ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi yātrāmakṣayamokṣadām anāyāsena mūḍhānāṁ vāsanābaddhacetasām

Jaimini said: Now I shall further declare the pilgrimage that bestows imperishable liberation, effortlessly, even for the foolish, whose minds are bound by worldly impressions.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.86.2)

वैशाखस्यामले पक्षे द्वितीयारात्रिमध्यतः। मण्डपं च चतुष्कोणं सुधालिप्तं सवेदिकम्

vaiśākhasyāmale pakṣe dvitīyārātrimadhyataḥ maṇḍapaṁ ca catuṣkoṇaṁ sudhāliptaṁ savedikam

In the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, from the middle of the second night, one should build a four-cornered pavilion, plastered with lime, furnished with an altar,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.86.3)

सुधौतवाससा कुर्यात्प्रतिसीरासमं ततः। साधुसोपानसंयुक्तं चारुचंद्रातपान्वितम्

sudhautavāsasā kuryātpratisīrāsamaṁ tataḥ sādhusopānasaṁyuktaṁ cārucaṁdrātapānvitam

made with a well-washed cloth stretched as an awning, fitted with fine stairways, and furnished with a beautiful moonlight-white canopy.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.86.4)

तन्मध्ये विन्यसेन्नूनं साधु भद्रासनोत्तमम्। तस्मिन्निचोलसंछन्ने विन्यसेत्स्वर्णभाजनम्

tanmadhye vinyasennūnaṁ sādhu bhadrāsanottamam tasminnicolasaṁchanne vinyasetsvarṇabhājanam

In its midst one should certainly place a fine, excellent royal seat; upon it, covered with a cloth-covering, one should place a golden vessel.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.86.5)

तस्य पश्चिमभागे वै स्वासीनो ब्राह्मणः शुचिः। पात्रांतरे तु गृह्णीयाच्चंदनं पचविंशतिम्

tasya paścimabhāge vai svāsīno brāhmaṇaḥ śuciḥ pātrāṁtare tu gṛhṇīyāccaṁdanaṁ pacaviṁśatim

To its west, a pure brahmin, seated, should take, in a separate vessel, twenty-five palas of sandal,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.86.6)

सुपिष्टं कृष्णस्नेहस्य गृह्णीयाच्च पलाधिकम्। अगुर्वर्द्धं कुंकुमं स्यात्कुंकुमार्द्धं च सिह्लकम्

supiṣṭaṁ kṛṣṇasnehasya gṛhṇīyācca palādhikam agurvarddhaṁ kuṁkumaṁ syātkuṁkumārddhaṁ ca sihlakam

well-ground, and take more than a pala of the dark unguent; half as much aloe-wood, half again as much saffron, and half as much frankincense,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.86.7)

कस्तूरिकाकर्पुरयोः प्रमाणं सिह्लसंमितम्। सर्वमेकत्र संपिष्यात्पाटलोद्भववारिणा

kastūrikākarpurayoḥ pramāṇaṁ sihlasaṁmitam sarvamekatra saṁpiṣyātpāṭalodbhavavāriṇā

musk and camphor in a quantity equal to the frankincense — all this should be ground together with rose-water.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.86.8)

पलद्वयं ततो दद्यादगुरुस्नेहमुत्तमम्। एकत्र लोडितां कृत्वा पूर्वपात्रे निधापयेत्

paladvayaṁ tato dadyādagurusnehamuttamam ekatra loḍitāṁ kṛtvā pūrvapātre nidhāpayet

Then one should add two palas of the finest aloe-wood oil; having mixed it all together, one should place it in the former vessel,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.86.9)

आच्छाद्य केतकीपत्रैर्वेष्टयेच्चीनवाससा। गन्धस्ते सोममंत्रेण रक्षेद्गरुडमुद्रया

ācchādya ketakīpatrairveṣṭayeccīnavāsasā gandhaste somamaṁtreṇa rakṣedgaruḍamudrayā

cover it with ketaki-leaves, and wrap it in Chinese cloth; that fragrant paste should be protected with the Soma-mantra and the Garuda-seal.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.86.10)

एवं तु मण्डपे तस्मिन्साधिवासं निधापयेत्। अरुणोदयकालेऽथ नयेत्कृष्णस्य सन्निधिम्

evaṁ tu maṇḍape tasminsādhivāsaṁ nidhāpayet aruṇodayakāle'tha nayetkṛṣṇasya sannidhim

Thus, in that pavilion, one should place it in ritual rest; then at the hour of dawn, bring it into Krishna's presence,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.86.11)

शंखचामरछत्राद्यैर्भ्रामयित्वा सुरालयम्। देवाग्रे स्थापयित्वा च पूजयेत्पुरुषोत्तमम्

śaṁkhacāmarachatrādyairbhrāmayitvā surālayam devāgre sthāpayitvā ca pūjayetpuruṣottamam

having carried it around the temple with conch, chowries, and umbrellas; having set it before the deity, one should worship Purushottama.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.86.12)

उद्धाटयेत्ततो वस्त्रे दिव्यदृष्ट्यावलोकयेत्। प्रोक्षितं मंत्रराजेन संकुर्यात्ताडनादिभिः

uddhāṭayettato vastre divyadṛṣṭyāvalokayet prokṣitaṁ maṁtrarājena saṁkuryāttāḍanādibhiḥ

Then one should open the cloth-wrappings and gaze upon it with divine sight; having sprinkled it with the king of mantras, one should soften it by beating and the like.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.86.13)

गंधपुष्पाक्षतैः पूज्यः श्रियः सूक्तेन लेपयेत्। श्रीशस्य सर्वगात्रेषु मृदुस्पर्शं शनैः शनैः

gaṁdhapuṣpākṣataiḥ pūjyaḥ śriyaḥ sūktena lepayet śrīśasya sarvagātreṣu mṛdusparśaṁ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Having worshipped it with fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice, one should anoint it with the Shri-sukta, applying it slowly, slowly, with a gentle touch, upon all the limbs of the Husband of Shri.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.86.14)

वैष्णवा जयशब्दैस्तं वर्द्धयंति तदा हरिम्। नानासूक्तोपनिषदैर्विद्वांसस्तं स्तुवंति वै

vaiṣṇavā jayaśabdaistaṁ varddhayaṁti tadā harim nānāsūktopaniṣadairvidvāṁsastaṁ stuvaṁti vai

The Vaishnavas then extol Hari with cries of 'Victory!'; the learned praise him with various suktas and Upanishads.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.86.15)

वेणुवीणादिकैर्नृत्यगीतवाद्यैरनेकशः। व्यजनैश्चामरैच्छत्रैरन्यैर्नानोपहारकैः

veṇuvīṇādikairnṛtyagītavādyairanekaśaḥ vyajanaiścāmaraicchatrairanyairnānopahārakaiḥ

With flute, vina, and manifold dance, song, and instrumental music, with fans, chowries, umbrellas, and other manifold offerings,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.86.16)

संतोषयञ्जगन्नाथं तृतीयादौ विलेपयेत्। यस्य चिंतनमात्रेण तापा नश्यंति देहिनाम्

saṁtoṣayañjagannāthaṁ tṛtīyādau vilepayet yasya ciṁtanamātreṇa tāpā naśyaṁti dehinām

pleasing Jagannatha, one should apply the unguent from the third day onward — he by mere thought of whom the afflictions of embodied beings perish.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.86.17)

सोऽसौ संदर्शनात्तापान्नृणां हंति तदा द्विजाः। अचिन्त्यो महिमा विष्णोरीदृक्तादृक्तया सदा

so'sau saṁdarśanāttāpānnṛṇāṁ haṁti tadā dvijāḥ acintyo mahimā viṣṇorīdṛktādṛktayā sadā

He, by the mere sight of him, then destroys the afflictions of men, O brahmins; such, and so great, is the inconceivable glory of Vishnu, ever the same.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.86.18)

ततः सूक्ष्मांबरैर्माल्यैर्भक्ष्यभोज्यादिपानकैः। द्रव्यैर्नानाविधैर्हृद्यैर्गव्यैरावर्तितैः शुभैः

tataḥ sūkṣmāṁbarairmālyairbhakṣyabhojyādipānakaiḥ dravyairnānāvidhairhṛdyairgavyairāvartitaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Then one should worship the deity with fine cloths, garlands, foods, drinks and beverages, with manifold delightful substances made from cow's milk, well-prepared and auspicious,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.86.19)

ततः संपूजयेद्देवं तांबूलैश्च सुसंस्कृतैः। तस्मिन्काले तु ये कृष्णं भक्त्या पश्यंति मानवाः

tataḥ saṁpūjayeddevaṁ tāṁbūlaiśca susaṁskṛtaiḥ tasminkāle tu ye kṛṣṇaṁ bhaktyā paśyaṁti mānavāḥ

and then worship the deity with well-prepared betel as well. Those men who, at that time, behold Krishna with devotion,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.86.20)

न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि। विष्णोः स्वरूपमासाद्य विष्णुलोके वसंति वै

na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi viṣṇoḥ svarūpamāsādya viṣṇuloke vasaṁti vai

for them there is no return to rebirth even after a hundred crore kalpas; having attained the very form of Vishnu, they dwell in Vishnuloka.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.86.21)

पुरा कलियुगे विप्रा दक्षो नाम प्रजापतिः। आध्यात्मिकादिसंतापैः सुदीनान्वीक्ष्य मानवान्

purā kaliyuge viprā dakṣo nāma prajāpatiḥ ādhyātmikādisaṁtāpaiḥ sudīnānvīkṣya mānavān

Long ago, O brahmins, in the Kali age, a Prajapati named Daksha, beholding men utterly wretched with mental and other afflictions,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.86.22)

तत्र गत्वा कृपायुक्तो महिमानं चकार वै। यथाविधि मया प्रोक्तं स एव प्रथमं द्विजाः

tatra gatvā kṛpāyukto mahimānaṁ cakāra vai yathāvidhi mayā proktaṁ sa eva prathamaṁ dvijāḥ

went there, and out of compassion performed this glorification — the very rite that I have described in due order, O brahmins, was first performed by him.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.86.23)

प्रलिप्य चन्दनेनांगे माधवामलपक्षके। तृतीयायां जगन्नाथं स्तुतिमेतां मुदा जगौ

pralipya candanenāṁge mādhavāmalapakṣake tṛtīyāyāṁ jagannāthaṁ stutimetāṁ mudā jagau

Having anointed Jagannatha's body with sandal, on the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, he sang this hymn of praise with joy.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.86.24)

दक्ष उवाच। देवदेव जगन्नाथ सहजानंदनिर्मल। संसारार्णवसंमग्नांस्त्राहि नः परमेश्वर

dakṣa uvāca devadeva jagannātha sahajānaṁdanirmala saṁsārārṇavasaṁmagnāṁstrāhi naḥ parameśvara

Daksha said: 'O God of gods, Jagannatha, pure with innate bliss, save us, who are sunk in the ocean of worldly existence, O Supreme Lord.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.86.25)

नानाविधैश्च संतापैः संतप्तान्मानवानिमान्। ममानुक्रोशबुद्ध्या वै शुभदृष्ट्याऽमृतेन च

nānāvidhaiśca saṁtāpaiḥ saṁtaptānmānavānimān mamānukrośabuddhyā vai śubhadṛṣṭyā'mṛtena ca

These men, afflicted by manifold torments, out of my compassionate intent, with an auspicious glance and with nectar,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.86.26)

संतर्पय तृणाञ्छुष्कान्कृष्ण मेऽघ नमोऽस्तुते। कलिकल्मषसंमूढानुद्धर्तुं जगतां पते

saṁtarpaya tṛṇāñchuṣkānkṛṣṇa me'gha namo'stute kalikalmaṣasaṁmūḍhānuddhartuṁ jagatāṁ pate

satisfy them, O Krishna — dried grass-blades though they be; homage to you, my sin. For the sake of uplifting those bewildered by the taint of Kali, O Lord of the worlds,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.86.27)

अवतारोऽयमेतस्मिन्नीलाचलगुहांतरे। चिरकालप्ररूढानां दुस्त्यजानां महांहसाम्

avatāro'yametasminnīlācalaguhāṁtare cirakālaprarūḍhānāṁ dustyajānāṁ mahāṁhasām

this incarnation of yours in this cave within the Blue Mountain is undertaken to burn the heap of great, deep-rooted, hard-to-abandon sins,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.86.28)

राशिं दग्धुं त्वमेवेशो दीनानाथकृपाकर। त्वद्दर्शनमहायोगे यमाद्यष्टांगवर्जिते

rāśiṁ dagdhuṁ tvameveśo dīnānāthakṛpākara tvaddarśanamahāyoge yamādyaṣṭāṁgavarjite

you alone, O Lord, compassionate to the helpless and afflicted; in the great discipline of your sight, free of the eight limbs of yoga beginning with yama,

Verse 29 (skanda.2.86.29)

येषां मतिः समुत्पन्ना चतुर्वर्गैकसाधने। न ते शोचंति दुष्पारे भवारण्ये महाभये

yeṣāṁ matiḥ samutpannā caturvargaikasādhane na te śocaṁti duṣpāre bhavāraṇye mahābhaye

those in whom the resolve has arisen for the attainment of the four goals of life together — they do not grieve in the impassable, terrible wilderness of existence.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.86.30)

कर्मानपेक्षं देवेश नात्मज्ञानं विमोचकम्। इदं ते दर्शनं नाथ विना कर्मापि मोचयेत्

karmānapekṣaṁ deveśa nātmajñānaṁ vimocakam idaṁ te darśanaṁ nātha vinā karmāpi mocayet

O Lord of gods, self-knowledge, independent of ritual action, is held to be the sole means of liberation; but this sight of you, O Lord, liberates even without ritual action.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.86.31)

जय कृष्ण जयेशान जयाक्षर जयाव्यय। प्रसीदानुगृहाणेमान्दीनान्मूढान्विचेतसः

jaya kṛṣṇa jayeśāna jayākṣara jayāvyaya prasīdānugṛhāṇemāndīnānmūḍhānvicetasaḥ

Victory to Krishna, victory, O Lord of gods, victory, O Imperishable One, victory, O Undecaying One! Be gracious, show grace to these wretched, bewildered, senseless ones.'

Verse 32 (skanda.2.86.32)

इति स्तुत्वा दंडपातं पपात चरणांबुजे। प्रसीदेश प्रसीदेश प्रसीदेशेति घोषयन्

iti stutvā daṁḍapātaṁ papāta caraṇāṁbuje prasīdeśa prasīdeśa prasīdeśeti ghoṣayan

Having thus praised him, he fell prostrate like a rod at his lotus feet, crying again and again, 'Be gracious, O Lord! Be gracious, O Lord! Be gracious, O Lord!'

Verse 33 (skanda.2.86.33)

ततो जगाद भगवान्सुस्वरेण प्रजापतिम्। उत्तिष्ठ वत्स ते दत्तं दुर्लभं यद्वरं त्वया

tato jagāda bhagavānsusvareṇa prajāpatim uttiṣṭha vatsa te dattaṁ durlabhaṁ yadvaraṁ tvayā

Then the Blessed Lord spoke to Prajapati in a sweet voice: 'Rise, my child; the boon you sought, so hard to obtain,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.86.34)

कांक्षितं मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः। मदनुग्रहोऽल्पपुण्यानां दुर्लभो विदितस्तव

kāṁkṣitaṁ matprasādena bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ madanugraho'lpapuṇyānāṁ durlabho viditastava

shall, by my grace, without doubt, be fulfilled. My grace, you know, is hard to attain for those of little merit.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.86.35)

मदंगजातोऽस्ति भवान्मां त्वं प्रार्थितवानसि। ममोत्सवेन सन्तोष्य ततस्ते प्रददाम्यहम्

madaṁgajāto'sti bhavānmāṁ tvaṁ prārthitavānasi mamotsavena santoṣya tataste pradadāmyaham

You are born of my own body; you have prayed to me. Having been satisfied by my festival, I now grant it to you.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.86.36)

इमामक्षययात्रां ये भक्त्या पश्यंति हर्षिताः। तस्मिन्काले यदिच्छंति मनसा तदवाप्नुयुः

imāmakṣayayātrāṁ ye bhaktyā paśyaṁti harṣitāḥ tasminkāle yadicchaṁti manasā tadavāpnuyuḥ

Those who, filled with joy, behold this imperishable pilgrimage with devotion — whatever they desire in their hearts at that time, they shall obtain.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.86.37)

यथा संतापहरणं चन्दनेनानुलेपनम्। तथोत्सवोऽयं मे दक्ष संतापत्रयनाशनः

yathā saṁtāpaharaṇaṁ candanenānulepanam tathotsavo'yaṁ me dakṣa saṁtāpatrayanāśanaḥ

As the application of sandal removes the heat of fever, so this festival of mine, O Daksha, destroys the threefold affliction.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.86.38)

मत्प्रेरितमतिस्त्वं हि उत्सवं कृतवानसि। संकल्पितोऽयं मनसा दीनोद्धृत्यै मया ध्रुवम्

matpreritamatistvaṁ hi utsavaṁ kṛtavānasi saṁkalpito'yaṁ manasā dīnoddhṛtyai mayā dhruvam

You, your mind moved by me, have indeed performed this festival; it was ordained by me in my own mind, assuredly for the uplifting of the wretched.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.86.39)

त्वयाभिकाक्षितं सर्वं दास्याम्येव प्रजापते। द्वादशैता महायात्रा गुण्डिचाद्यास्तु पावनाः

tvayābhikākṣitaṁ sarvaṁ dāsyāmyeva prajāpate dvādaśaitā mahāyātrā guṇḍicādyāstu pāvanāḥ

Whatever you have desired, O Prajapati, I shall surely grant it all. These twelve great pilgrimages, beginning with the Gundicha, are purifying;

Verse 40 (skanda.2.86.40)

एकैका मुक्तिदा सर्वा धर्मकामार्थवर्द्धनाः

ekaikā muktidā sarvā dharmakāmārthavarddhanāḥ

each and every one of them bestows liberation, and increases dharma, kama, and artha.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.86.41)

तासामेकतमां वापि यो भक्त्या चावलोकयेत्। एकयापि भवाब्धिं स तीर्त्वा विष्णुपदं व्रजेत्

tāsāmekatamāṁ vāpi yo bhaktyā cāvalokayet ekayāpi bhavābdhiṁ sa tīrtvā viṣṇupadaṁ vrajet

Whoever beholds even a single one of these with devotion — by that one alone, having crossed the ocean of worldly existence, he attains the abode of Vishnu.'

Verse 42 (skanda.2.86.42)

जैमिनिरुवाच। इत्युदीर्य प्रजानाथं भगवान्स तिरोदधे

jaiminiruvāca ityudīrya prajānāthaṁ bhagavānsa tirodadhe

Jaimini said: Having said this to the lord of creatures, the Blessed Lord vanished from sight.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.86.43)

दक्षः प्रजापतिः सोऽपि श्रद्दधानस्तदाज्ञया। संवत्सरं गिरौ स्थित्वा संददर्श महोत्सवान्

dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ so'pi śraddadhānastadājñayā saṁvatsaraṁ girau sthitvā saṁdadarśa mahotsavān

Daksha Prajapati too, full of faith, at his command, dwelt on the mountain for a year and beheld the great festivals.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.86.44)

सर्वज्ञो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा कौशिकस्य कुलोत्तमे। लोकान्प्रवर्तयामास यथाविधि महेषु सः

sarvajño brāhmaṇo bhūtvā kauśikasya kulottame lokānpravartayāmāsa yathāvidhi maheṣu saḥ

Becoming an all-knowing brahmin in the finest lineage of Kaushika, he duly caused those pilgrimages to be established among the people at the great festivals,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.86.45)

विश्वासायाल्पबुद्धीनां यात्रा वै परिकीर्तिताः। अयं च साक्षात्परमब्रह्मरूपी जगद्गुरुः। प्रसादितः सुरेशेन लोकानुग्रहणाय वै

viśvāsāyālpabuddhīnāṁ yātrā vai parikīrtitāḥ ayaṁ ca sākṣātparamabrahmarūpī jagadguruḥ prasāditaḥ sureśena lokānugrahaṇāya vai

proclaimed for the sake of instilling faith in those of little understanding; and this World-Teacher, himself of the very form of the Supreme Brahman, graced by the Lord of the gods, acts for the blessing of the worlds.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.86.46)

यथा तथा दृष्टिपथं यातो मुक्तिप्रदो धुवम्। सर्वान्कामान्ददात्येव नारीणां नात्र संशयः

yathā tathā dṛṣṭipathaṁ yāto muktiprado dhuvam sarvānkāmāndadātyeva nārīṇāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever, in whatever manner, comes within the path of his sight assuredly attains liberation; he grants every desire even to women — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.86.47)

सत्यप्रतिज्ञो भगवांस्तत्रास्ते मधुसूदनः। शोकं तरति यं दृष्ट्वा भवपाथोधिसंभवम्। किं व्रतैः किं तपोदानैः किं कृच्छ्रैः क्रतुभिस्तथा

satyapratijño bhagavāṁstatrāste madhusūdanaḥ śokaṁ tarati yaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhavapāthodhisaṁbhavam kiṁ vrataiḥ kiṁ tapodānaiḥ kiṁ kṛcchraiḥ kratubhistathā

The Blessed Madhusudana, true to his vow, abides there; by beholding him, one crosses the grief that arises from the ocean of worldly existence. What need, then, is there of vows, of austerities and gifts, of hardships and sacrifices,

Verse 48 (skanda.2.86.48)

किमष्टांगेन योगेन किं सांख्येन परेण च

kimaṣṭāṁgena yogena kiṁ sāṁkhyena pareṇa ca

of the eight-limbed yoga, or of the supreme Sankhya discipline?

Verse 49 (skanda.2.86.49)

तीर्थराजजले स्नात्वा क्षेत्रे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे। न्यग्रोधमूलवसतौ वसन्तं चर्मचक्षुषा। दृष्ट्वा दारुमयं ब्रह्म देहबंधात्प्रमुच्यते

tīrtharājajale snātvā kṣetre śrīpuruṣottame nyagrodhamūlavasatau vasantaṁ carmacakṣuṣā dṛṣṭvā dārumayaṁ brahma dehabaṁdhātpramucyate

Having bathed in the waters of the king of sacred places, in the field of Sri Purushottama, and having beheld with one's own fleshly eyes the wooden Brahman dwelling at the root of the banyan tree, one is released from the bondage of the body.