Agni's Hymn of Praise to the Lord

Verse 1 (skanda.2.91.1)

स्कंद उवाच । कथमेतत्समुत्पन्नं कैर्वा क्षेत्रं निषेवितम् । को वा तस्याप्यधीशः स्यादेतद्विस्तरतो वद ।

skanda uvāca kathametatsamutpannaṁ kairvā kṣetraṁ niṣevitam ko vā tasyāpyadhīśaḥ syādetadvistarato vada

Skanda said: How did this field come into being, and by whom is it frequented? Who indeed is its presiding lord? Tell me all this in full.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.91.2)

शिव उवाच । अनादिसिद्धमेतत्तु यथा वेदा हरेस्तनूः । अधिष्ठाता हरिः साक्षान्नारदाद्यैर्निषेवितम् ।

śiva uvāca anādisiddhametattu yathā vedā harestanūḥ adhiṣṭhātā hariḥ sākṣānnāradādyairniṣevitam

Shiva said: This field is established from beginningless time, just as the Vedas are the very body of Hari. Its presiding deity is Hari himself, and it is frequented by Narada and other sages.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.91.3)

पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ स्वीयां दुहितरं विधिः । रूपयौवनसंपन्नां स तां यभितुमुद्यतः ।

purā kṛtayugasyādau svīyāṁ duhitaraṁ vidhiḥ rūpayauvanasaṁpannāṁ sa tāṁ yabhitumudyataḥ

In ancient times, at the beginning of the Krita age, the Creator became intent on union with his own daughter, who was endowed with beauty and youth.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.91.4)

तं दृष्ट्वा तादृशं रोषाच्छिरः खड्गेन पञ्चधा । चिच्छेदाऽहं कपालं तद्ब्रह्महत्यासमुद्यते ।

taṁ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṁ roṣācchiraḥ khaḍgena pañcadhā cicchedā'haṁ kapālaṁ tadbrahmahatyāsamudyate

Beholding him in that state, I, in fury, cut off one of his five heads with my sword; that skull then clung to my hand as the very sin of brahmahatya, the killing of a brahmin.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.91.5)

हस्ते कृत्वा जगामाशु तत्र तीर्थानि सेवितुम् । दिवि भूमौ च पाताले तपश्चरणपूर्वकम् ।

haste kṛtvā jagāmāśu tatra tīrthāni sevitum divi bhūmau ca pātāle tapaścaraṇapūrvakam

Carrying that skull in my hand, I went at once to visit sacred fords, practicing austerity in heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.91.6)

न गता ब्रह्महत्या मे कपालं तादृशं करे । तदा वैकुण्ठमगमं द्रष्टुं लक्ष्मीपतिं हरिम् ।

na gatā brahmahatyā me kapālaṁ tādṛśaṁ kare tadā vaikuṇṭhamagamaṁ draṣṭuṁ lakṣmīpatiṁ harim

Yet the skull, the sin of brahmahatya, did not leave my hand; then I went to Vaikuntha to behold Hari, the Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.91.7)

विनयावनतो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्य पुनः पुनः । सर्वमाख्यातवांस्तस्मै व्यसनं करुणात्मने ।

vinayāvanato bhūtvā namaskṛtya punaḥ punaḥ sarvamākhyātavāṁstasmai vyasanaṁ karuṇātmane

Bowing in humility and offering repeated salutations, I recounted my entire predicament to that compassionate Lord.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.91.8)

तस्योपदिष्टमादाय बदरीं समुपागतः । तत्क्षणाद्ब्रह्महत्या मे वेपमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ।

tasyopadiṣṭamādāya badarīṁ samupāgataḥ tatkṣaṇādbrahmahatyā me vepamānā muhurmuhuḥ

Taking up his instruction, I came to Badari; at that very moment my brahmahatya began trembling again and again.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.91.9)

अंतर्हितं कपालं तत्कराद्विगलितं मम । ततःप्रभृति तत्क्षेत्रं पार्वत्या सह सादरम् ।

antarhitaṁ kapālaṁ tatkarādvigalitaṁ mama tataḥprabhṛti tatkṣetraṁ pārvatyā saha sādaram

The skull vanished and slipped from my hand. From that time on, together with Parvati, I have reverently —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.91.10)

तिष्ठामि तप आस्थाय ऋषीणां प्रीतिमावहन् । वाराणस्यां यथा प्रीतिः श्रीशैलशिखरे तथा ।

tiṣṭhāmi tapa āsthāya ṛṣīṇāṁ prītimāvahan vārāṇasyāṁ yathā prītiḥ śrīśailaśikhare tathā

— dwelt there absorbed in austerity, bringing joy to the sages. My affection for this place equals what I feel for Varanasi, and equals what I feel for the peak of Shrishaila.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.91.11)

कैलासे शिवया सार्द्धं ततोनंतगुणाधिका । अन्यत्र भरणान्मुक्तिः स्वधर्मविधिपूर्वकात् ।

kailāse śivayā sārddhaṁ tato'nantaguṇādhikā anyatra bharaṇānmuktiḥ svadharmavidhipūrvakāt

Even beyond my love for Kailasa with Shiva, my affection here is infinitely greater. Elsewhere, liberation comes only through the proper observance of one's own dharma —

Verse 12 (skanda.2.91.12)

बदरी दर्शनादेव मुक्तिः पुंसां करे स्थिता । हरेश्चरणसान्निध्यं यत्र वैश्वानरः स्वयम् ।

badarī darśanādeva muktiḥ puṁsāṁ kare sthitā hareścaraṇasānnidhyaṁ yatra vaiśvānaraḥ svayam

— but here, by the mere sight of Badari, liberation lies in the very palm of a man's hand, for here, in the presence of Hari's feet, Vaishvanara, the fire-god himself, abides.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.91.13)

तत्र केदाररूपेण मम लिंगं प्रतिष्ठितम् । केदारदर्शनात्स्पर्शादर्च्चनाद्भक्तिभावतः ।

tatra kedārarūpeṇa mama liṅgaṁ pratiṣṭhitam kedāradarśanātsparśādarccanādbhaktibhāvataḥ

There, in the form of Kedara, my linga stands established. By beholding Kedara, touching it, and worshipping it with devotion,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.91.14)

कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं भस्मीभवति तत्क्षणात् । कलामात्रेण तिष्ठामि तत्र क्षेत्रे विशेषतः ।

koṭijanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ bhasmībhavati tatkṣaṇāt kalāmātreṇa tiṣṭhāmi tatra kṣetre viśeṣataḥ

Sins accumulated across millions of births turn to ash that very instant. In that field I dwell specially, present in but a single fraction of my full being.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.91.15)

कला पंचदशैवात्र मूर्तिमध्ये ह्यवस्थितम् ।

kalā pañcadaśaivātra mūrtimadhye hyavasthitam

Here, within the image, fifteen of my kalas, my divine fractions, are established.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.91.16)

जितकृतांतभयाः शिवयोगिनः कृतमृगाजिनकृत्तिसुवाससः । वरविभूतिजटान्वितभूषणाः स्वयमुपासत एव जटाधरम् ।

jitakṛtāntabhayāḥ śivayoginaḥ kṛtamṛgājinakṛttisuvāsasaḥ varavibhūtijaṭānvitabhūṣaṇāḥ svayamupāsata eva jaṭādharam

Shaiva yogis who have conquered the fear of death, clad in deerskin, adorned with sacred ash and matted locks, themselves worship that matted-haired Lord.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.91.17)

फलदलांबुसमीरणतोषिताः शिवमनोजितमृत्युपरिश्रमाः । गिरिवरस्थितनिर्जितमानसाः प्रसरनिर्म्मलबुद्धिमहोदयाः ।

phaladalāmbusamīraṇatoṣitāḥ śivamanojitamṛtyupariśramāḥ girivarasthitanirjitamānasāḥ prasaranirmmalabuddhimahodayāḥ

Content with fruit, leaves, water, and air alone, having through meditation on Shiva conquered the toil of death, their minds mastered upon that finest of mountains, and risen to the great dawning of a pure intellect —

Verse 18 (skanda.2.91.18)

कमलकोमलकांतिमुखांबुजाः शिवकृपाजितनिर्भरवैरिणः । करधृतांजलिमौलिशिवेक्षणाः शिवमुपासत एव निशामुखे ।

kamalakomalakāntimukhāmbujāḥ śivakṛpājitanirbharavairiṇaḥ karadhṛtāñjalimauliśivekṣaṇāḥ śivamupāsata eva niśāmukhe

With faces gentle and radiant as the lotus, having through Shiva's grace overcome their most powerful foes, hands folded in reverence, heads bowed toward Shiva — they worship him at the very onset of night.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.91.19)

करधृतजपमालाः शांतिसंतोषभाजः कृतनतिपरनित्यप्रार्थनाश्चन्द्रमौलौ । हरचरणसरोजध्यानविज्ञानमूर्तिव्यथितजनमनोजाः सर्वभावान्नितांतम् ।

karadhṛtajapamālāḥ śāntisaṁtoṣabhājaḥ kṛtanatiparanityaprārthanāścandramaulau haracaraṇasarojadhyānavijñānamūrtivyathitajanamanojāḥ sarvabhāvānnitāntam

Holding rosaries in their hands, filled with peace and contentment, ever bowing in constant prayer to Chandramauli, that is, Shiva, and — having become embodiments of the wisdom born from meditation on Hara's lotus feet — utterly stilling with every disposition the troubled minds of afflicted people —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.91.20)

वाराणस्यां मृतानां च तारकं ब्रह्मसंज्ञकम् । जनानां पूजनात्तत्र मम लिंगस्य जायते ।

vārāṇasyāṁ mṛtānāṁ ca tārakaṁ brahmasaṁjñakam janānāṁ pūjanāttatra mama liṅgasya jāyate

The liberating Taraka-mantra called Brahma, which those who die at Varanasi receive, is granted here too, to those who worship my linga.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.91.21)

वह्नितीर्थं परिभ्राजद्भगवच्चरणांतिके । केदाराख्यं महालिंगं दृष्ट्वा नो जन्मभाग्भवेत् ।

vahnitīrthaṁ paribhrājadbhagavaccaraṇāntike kedārākhyaṁ mahāliṅgaṁ dṛṣṭvā no janmabhāgbhavet

Near the Lord's feet shines the Agni-tirtha. By beholding there the great linga called Kedara, a man will no longer be subject to rebirth.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.91.22)

स्कन्द उवाच । कथं वैश्वानरः श्रीमान्सर्वलोकैककारणम् । बदरीमनुसंतस्थौ तन्मे वद महामते ।

skanda uvāca kathaṁ vaiśvānaraḥ śrīmānsarvalokaikakāraṇam badarīmanusaṁtasthau tanme vada mahāmate

Skanda said: O sage of great wisdom, tell me how the glorious Vaishvanara, the fire that is the sole cause behind all the worlds, came to abide at Badari.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.91.23)

शिव उवाच । पुरा समाजः समभूदृषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् । गंगा भगवती यत्र कालिंद्या सह संगता ।

śiva uvāca purā samājaḥ samabhūdṛṣīṇāmūrdhvaretasām gaṅgā bhagavatī yatra kālindyā saha saṅgatā

Shiva said: Once, in ancient times, an assembly of sages of unbroken continence gathered at the place where the goddess Ganga meets the Kalindi, the Yamuna.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.91.24)

दशाश्वमेधिकं नाम तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । बभूव तत्र भगवान्हुतभुक्प्रश्रयानतः । ऋषीणामग्रतः स्थित्वा प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे ।

daśāśvamedhikaṁ nāma tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam babhūva tatra bhagavānhutabhukpraśrayānataḥ ṛṣīṇāmagrataḥ sthitvā praṣṭuṁ samupacakrame

There is the ford called Dashashvamedhika, renowned throughout the three worlds. There, the fire-god, bowing humbly, stood before the sages and began to question them.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.91.25)

वैश्वानर उवाच । दृष्ट्वा इहैकदृग्ज्ञाना भवन्तो ब्रह्मवित्तमाः । दीनार्थे करुणापूर्णा हृदयार्द्रा दयालवः ।

vaiśvānara uvāca dṛṣṭvā ihaikadṛgjñānā bhavanto brahmavittamāḥ dīnārthe karuṇāpūrṇā hṛdayārdrā dayāluvaḥ

Vaishvanara said: Seeing that you here are all of one wisdom-vision, foremost among the knowers of Brahman, full of compassion for the wretched, tender of heart and merciful —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.91.26)

सर्वदुर्लक्षणोद्भूतपातकालिप्तचेतसः । कथं स्यान्निरयान्मुक्तिर्मम ब्रह्मविदुत्तमाः ।

sarvadurlakṣaṇodbhūtapātakāliptacetasaḥ kathaṁ syānnirayānmuktirmama brahmaviduttamāḥ

— my mind is stained by the sin born of all manner of ill omens; O foremost knowers of Brahman, how then may I be freed from hell?

Verse 27 (skanda.2.91.27)

सर्वेषामृषिवर्य्याणामाजगाम मुनीश्वरः । गंगांभसि समाप्लुत्य वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ।

sarveṣāmṛṣivaryyāṇāmājagāma munīśvaraḥ gaṅgāṁbhasi samāplutya vākyaṁ cedamuvāca ha

Then to all those excellent sages came a lord of sages, Vyasa, and having bathed in the Ganga's water, he spoke these words —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.91.28)

व्यास उवाच । अस्त्येकः परमोपायो भवतः पापनिष्कृतौ । सर्वभक्षाख्यदोषस्य बदरीं शरणं श्रय ।

vyāsa uvāca astyekaḥ paramopāyo bhavataḥ pāpaniṣkṛtau sarvabhakṣākhyadoṣasya badarīṁ śaraṇaṁ śraya

Vyasa said: There is one supreme remedy for the atonement of your sin known as 'sarvabhaksha,' the all-devouring fault — take refuge in Badari.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.91.29)

यत्रास्ते भगवान्साक्षाद्देवदेवो जनार्द्दनः । भक्तानामप्यभक्तानामघहा मधुसूदनः ।

yatrāste bhagavānsākṣāddevadevo janārddanaḥ bhaktānāmapyabhaktānāmaghahā madhusūdanaḥ

There dwells in person the Lord Janardana, god of gods, Madhusudana who destroys the sins of devotee and non-devotee alike.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.91.30)

तत्र गंगांभसि स्नात्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणां हरेः । दंडवत्प्रणिपातेन सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।

tatra gaṅgāṁbhasi snātvā kṛtvā pradakṣiṇāṁ hareḥ daṇḍavatpraṇipātena sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

By bathing there in the Ganga's water, circumambulating Hari, and prostrating flat on the ground before him, the destruction of every sin comes about.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.91.31)

ततो व्यासमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा ऋषीणामनुवादतः । उत्तराभिमुखो वह्निर्गंधमादनमाययौ ।

tato vyāsamukhācchrutvā ṛṣīṇāmanuvādataḥ uttarābhimukho vahnirgandhamādanamāyayau

Having heard this from Vyasa's mouth, and confirmed by the sages' own repeated word, Agni set out facing north toward Mount Gandhamadana.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.91.32)

ततो बदरिकां प्राप्य स्नात्वा गंगांभसि स्वयम् । नारायणाश्रमं गत्वा नत्वा प्रोवाच भक्तिमान् ।

tato badarikāṁ prāpya snātvā gaṅgāṁbhasi svayam nārāyaṇāśramaṁ gatvā natvā provāca bhaktimān

Reaching Badarika, bathing personally in the Ganga's water, and going to the Narayana ashram, that devoted fire-god bowed and spoke —

Verse 33 (skanda.2.91.33)

अग्निरुवाच । विशुदविज्ञानघनं पुराणं सनातनं विश्वसृजां पतिं गुरुम् । अनेकमेकं जगदेकनाथं नमाम्यनंताश्रितशुद्धबुद्धिम् ।

agniruvāca viśudavijñānaghanaṁ purāṇaṁ sanātanaṁ viśvasṛjāṁ patiṁ gurum anekamekaṁ jagadekanāthaṁ namāmyanantāśritaśuddhabuddhim

Agni said: I bow to him who is a dense mass of pure knowledge, ancient and eternal, the lord and teacher even of the creators of the universe, who though many is one, the sole master of the world, whose pure intelligence is the refuge of countless beings.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.91.34)

मायामयीं शक्तिमुपेत्य विश्वकर्त्तारमुद्दिश्य रजोपयुक्तम् । सत्त्वेन चास्य स्थितिहेतुमुग्रमथो तमोभिग्रसितारमीडे ।

māyāmayīṁ śaktimupetya viśvakarttāramuddiśya rajopayuktam sattvena cāsya sthitihetumugramatho tamobhigrasitāramīḍe

Taking up his illusory power, I praise him — as creator of the universe when charged with rajas, as the awesome cause of its preservation through sattva, and as its devourer through tamas.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.91.35)

अविद्यया विश्वविमोहितात्मा विद्यैकरूपं विततं त्रिलोक्याम् । विद्याश्रितत्वात्सकलज्ञमीशं त्वविद्यया जीवमहं प्रपद्ये ।

avidyayā viśvavimohitātmā vidyaikarūpaṁ vitataṁ trilokyām vidyāśritatvātsakalajñamīśaṁ tvavidyayā jīvamahaṁ prapadye

I take refuge — through my own state of ignorance, as a mere individual soul — in that one whose self, through ignorance, seems bewildered by the universe, yet who, pervading the three worlds as pure knowledge itself and grounded in wisdom, is the all-knowing Lord.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.91.36)

भक्तेच्छयाविष्कृतदेहयोगमाभोगभोगार्पितयोगयोगम् । कौशेयपीताम्बरजुष्टशक्तिं विचित्रशक्त्यष्टमयेष्टमीडे ।

bhaktecchayāviṣkṛtadehayogamābhogabhogārpitayogayogam kauśeyapītāmbarajuṣṭaśaktiṁ vicitraśaktyaṣṭamayeṣṭamīḍe

I praise him who manifests a bodily form at the wish of his devotees, who unites even enjoyment with yoga, whose power is graced by silken yellow robes, and who assumes the desired form together with his eightfold wondrous powers.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.91.37)

अथ प्रसन्नो भगवान्स्तुतः सर्वैर्हृदि स्थितः । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं पावकं पावनार्थिनम् ।

atha prasanno bhagavānstutaḥ sarvairhṛdi sthitaḥ provāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ pāvakaṁ pāvanārthinam

Then the Lord, dwelling in every heart and praised by all, being pleased, spoke sweet words to Pavaka, that is, Agni, who sought purification.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.91.38)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरदोऽहमुपागतः । स्तवेनानेन तुष्टोऽस्मि विनयेन तवानध ।

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te varado'hamupāgataḥ stavenānena tuṣṭo'smi vinayena tavānagha

Shri Narayana said: Ask for a boon, may you prosper; I have come here as the giver of boons. O sinless one, I am well pleased by this hymn and by your humility.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.91.39)

अग्निरुवाच । ज्ञातं भगवता सर्वं यदर्थमहमागतः । तथापि कथयाम्येतदीश्वराज्ञानुपालनम् ।

agniruvāca jñātaṁ bhagavatā sarvaṁ yadarthamahamāgataḥ tathāpi kathayāmyetadīśvarājñānupālanam

Agni said: My Lord, you already know the very purpose for which I have come; yet, in obedience to my lord's command, I shall speak it.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.91.40)

सर्वभक्षो भवाम्येव निष्कृतिस्तु कथं भवेत् । अत्यन्तभयसंपत्तिरेतस्माज्जायते मम ।

sarvabhakṣo bhavāmyeva niṣkṛtistu kathaṁ bhavet atyantabhayasaṁpattiretasmājjāyate mama

I have become an all-devourer; how then may I be absolved? From this very fault, an overwhelming dread has come upon me.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.91.41)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । क्षेत्रदर्शनमात्रेण प्राणिनां नास्ति पातकम् । मत्प्रसादात्पातकं तु त्वयि मास्तु कदाचन ।

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca kṣetradarśanamātreṇa prāṇināṁ nāsti pātakam matprasādātpātakaṁ tu tvayi māstu kadācana

Shri Narayana said: By the mere sight of this field, no sin remains in any creature. By my grace, let no sin ever remain in you.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.91.42)

ततः प्रभृति भूतात्मा पावकः सर्वतो भृशम् । कलयावस्थितश्चात्र सर्वदोषविवर्जितः ।

tataḥ prabhṛti bhūtātmā pāvakaḥ sarvato bhṛśam kalayāvasthitaścātra sarvadoṣavivarjitaḥ

From that time on, Pavaka, the very self of all beings, has remained established here fully as a fraction of himself, free from every taint.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.91.43)

य एतत्प्रातरुत्थाय शृणोति श्रावयेच्छुचिः । अग्नितीर्थकृतस्नानं फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् ।

ya etatprātarutthāya śṛṇoti śrāvayecchuciḥ agnitīrthakṛtasnānaṁ phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayam

Whoever rises at dawn, becomes pure, and either hears or recites this account will, without doubt, obtain the fruit of bathing at the Agni-tirtha.