The Meeting with Vishnu

Verse 1 (skanda.3.60.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । धर्मारण्यकथां पुण्यां श्रुत्वा तृप्तिर्न मे विभो । यदायदा कथयसि तदा प्रोत्सहते मनः । अतः परं किमभवत्परं कौतूहलं हि मे

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca dharmāraṇyakathāṁ puṇyāṁ śrutvā tṛptirna me vibho yadāyadā kathayasi tadā protsahate manaḥ ataḥ paraṁ kimabhavatparaṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

Yudhishthira said: O mighty lord, having heard the sacred tale of Dharmaranya, I am not yet satisfied; the more you tell it, the more my mind is stirred with eagerness. What happened next? I am filled with great curiosity.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.60.2)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु पार्थ महापुण्यां कथां स्कंदपुराणजाम् । स्थाणुनोक्तां च स्कंदाय धर्मारण्योद्भवां शुभाम्

vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu pārtha mahāpuṇyāṁ kathāṁ skaṁdapurāṇajām sthāṇunoktāṁ ca skaṁdāya dharmāraṇyodbhavāṁ śubhām

Vyasa said: Listen, O Partha, to this greatly meritorious tale born of the Skanda Purana — the auspicious account of Dharmaranya's origin, as spoken by Sthanu (Shiva) to Skanda.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.60.3)

सर्वतीर्थस्य फलदां सर्वोपद्रवनाशिनीम् । कैलासशिखरासीनं देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् । पंचवक्त्रं दशभुजं त्रिनेत्रं शूलपाणिनम्

sarvatīrthasya phaladāṁ sarvopadravanāśinīm kailāsaśikharāsīnaṁ devadevaṁ jagadgurum paṁcavaktraṁ daśabhujaṁ trinetraṁ śūlapāṇinam

This tale bestows the fruit of every pilgrimage and destroys every calamity. Skanda approached the God of gods, the guru of the universe, seated upon the peak of Kailasa — five-faced, ten-armed, three-eyed, the wielder of the trident —

Verse 4 (skanda.3.60.4)

कपालखटवांगकरं नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम् । गणैः परिवृतं तत्र सुरासुरनमस्कृतम्

kapālakhaṭavāṁgakaraṁ nāgayajñopavītinam gaṇaiḥ parivṛtaṁ tatra surāsuranamaskṛtam

— bearing the skull and the skull-staff in his hand, wearing a serpent as his sacred thread; there surrounded by his hosts of attendants, and saluted by gods and demons alike.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.60.5)

नानारूपगुणैर्गीतं नारदप्रमुखैर्युतम् । गंधर्वैश्चाप्सरोभिश्च सेवितं तमुमापतिम् । तत्रस्थं च महादेवं प्रणिपत्याब्रवीत्सुतः

nānārūpaguṇairgītaṁ nāradapramukhairyutam gaṁdharvaiścāpsarobhiśca sevitaṁ tamumāpatim tatrasthaṁ ca mahādevaṁ praṇipatyābravītsutaḥ

Praised in song for his manifold forms and virtues, attended by Narada and the other sages, served by gandharvas and apsarasas — before that Lord of Uma, that Mahadeva seated there, his son Skanda bowed low and spoke.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.60.6)

स्कंद उवाच । स्वामिन्निंद्रादयो देवा ब्रह्माद्याश्चैव सर्वशः । तव द्वारे समायातान्त्वद्दर्शनैकलालसाः । किमाज्ञापयसे देव करवाणि तवाग्रतः

skaṁda uvāca svāminniṁdrādayo devā brahmādyāścaiva sarvaśaḥ tava dvāre samāyātāntvaddarśanaikalālasāḥ kimājñāpayase deva karavāṇi tavāgrataḥ

Skanda said: O Lord, Indra and the other gods, Brahma and all the rest, have come to your door, longing only for the sight of you. What do you command, O god? I stand ready before you.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.60.7)

व्यास उवाच । स्कंदस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा आसनादुत्थितो हरः । वृषभं न समारूढो गंतुकामोऽभवत्तदा

vyāsa uvāca skaṁdasya vacanaṁ śrutvā āsanādutthito haraḥ vṛṣabhaṁ na samārūḍho gaṁtukāmo'bhavattadā

Vyasa said: Hearing Skanda's words, Hara rose up from his seat; and without even mounting his bull, he at once became eager to set forth.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.60.8)

गतुकामं शिवं दृष्ट्वा स्कंदो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

gatukāmaṁ śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā skaṁdo vākyamathābravīt

Seeing Shiva eager to depart, Skanda then spoke these words.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.60.9)

स्कंद उवाच । किं कार्यं देव देवानां यत्त्वमाहूयसे त्वरम् । वृषं त्यक्त्वा कृपासिंधो कृपास्ति यदि मे वद

skaṁda uvāca kiṁ kāryaṁ deva devānāṁ yattvamāhūyase tvaram vṛṣaṁ tyaktvā kṛpāsiṁdho kṛpāsti yadi me vada

Skanda said: O god, what business of the gods is it that summons you so urgently that you leave your bull behind? O ocean of compassion, if you have any grace for me, tell me.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.60.10)

देवदानव युद्धं वा किं कार्यं वा महत्तरम्

devadānava yuddhaṁ vā kiṁ kāryaṁ vā mahattaram

Is it a war between gods and demons, or is there some even greater matter at hand?

Verse 11 (skanda.3.60.11)

शिव उवाच । शृणुष्वैकाग्रमनसा येनाहं व्यग्रचेतसः । अस्ति स्थानं महापुण्यं धर्म्मारण्यं च भूतले

śiva uvāca śṛṇuṣvaikāgramanasā yenāhaṁ vyagracetasaḥ asti sthānaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ dharmmāraṇyaṁ ca bhūtale

Shiva said: Listen with a focused mind to why I am so restless at heart. There exists on earth a place of great merit, Dharmaranya.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.60.12)

तत्रापि गंतुकामोऽहं देवैः सह षडाननः

tatrāpi gaṁtukāmo'haṁ devaiḥ saha ṣaḍānanaḥ

I too, O Six-Faced one, wish to go there together with the gods.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.60.13)

स्कंद उवाच । तत्र गत्वा महादेव किं करिष्यसि सांप्रतम् । तन्मे ब्रूहि जगन्नाथ कृत्यं सर्वमशेषतः

skaṁda uvāca tatra gatvā mahādeva kiṁ kariṣyasi sāṁpratam tanme brūhi jagannātha kṛtyaṁ sarvamaśeṣataḥ

Skanda said: O Mahadeva, having gone there, what will you now do? Tell me, O Lord of the universe, the whole purpose of it, leaving nothing out.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.60.14)

शिव उवाच । श्रूयतां वचनं पुत्र मनसोल्हादकारणम् । आदितः सर्व्ववृत्तानां सृष्टि स्थितिकरं महत्

śiva uvāca śrūyatāṁ vacanaṁ putra manasolhādakāraṇam āditaḥ sarvvavṛttānāṁ sṛṣṭi sthitikaraṁ mahat

Shiva said: Listen, my son, to these words that will gladden your heart — the great account, from the very beginning, of the creation and sustaining of all that exists.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.60.15)

परंतु प्रलये जाते सर्वतस्तमसा वृतम् । आसीदेकं तदा ब्रह्म निर्गुणं बीजमव्ययम्

paraṁtu pralaye jāte sarvatastamasā vṛtam āsīdekaṁ tadā brahma nirguṇaṁ bījamavyayam

But when the dissolution came, all was enveloped on every side in darkness; then there existed only the one Brahman, without attributes, the imperishable seed.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.60.16)

निर्मितं वै गुणैरादौ मह द्द्रव्यं प्रचक्ष्यते

nirmitaṁ vai guṇairādau maha ddravyaṁ pracakṣyate

At the very beginning, that which was fashioned by the gunas is declared to be the Mahat, the Great Principle.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.60.17)

महाकल्पे च संप्राप्ते चराचरे क्षयं गते । जलरूपी जगन्नाथो रममाणस्तु लीलया

mahākalpe ca saṁprāpte carācare kṣayaṁ gate jalarūpī jagannātho ramamāṇastu līlayā

And when the great kalpa arrived and the moving and unmoving creation had perished, the Lord of the universe, taking the form of water, sported there at his own pleasure.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.60.18)

चिरकाले गते सोपि पृथिव्यादिसुतत्त्वकैः । वृक्षमुत्पादयामासायुतशाखामनोरमम्

cirakāle gate sopi pṛthivyādisutattvakaiḥ vṛkṣamutpādayāmāsāyutaśākhāmanoramam

After a long span of time had passed, he too, from the subtle elements beginning with earth, brought forth a beautiful tree with ten thousand branches.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.60.19)

फलैर्विशालैराकीर्णं स्कंधकांडादिशोभितम् । फलौघाढ्यो जटायुक्तो न्यग्रो धो विटपो महान्

phalairviśālairākīrṇaṁ skaṁdhakāṁḍādiśobhitam phalaughāḍhyo jaṭāyukto nyagro dho viṭapo mahān

Covered with vast fruits, adorned with trunk and boughs, that great banyan tree (nyagrodha), rich with clusters of fruit and entwined with hanging roots.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.60.20)

बालभावं ततः कृत्वा वासुदेवो जनार्द्दनः । शेतेऽसौ वटपत्रेषु विश्वं निर्मातुमुत्सुकः

bālabhāvaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā vāsudevo janārddanaḥ śete'sau vaṭapatreṣu viśvaṁ nirmātumutsukaḥ

Then, taking the form of an infant, Vasudeva Janardana lay down upon the leaves of that banyan tree, eager to fashion the universe.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.60.21)

सनाभिकमले विष्णो र्जातो ब्रह्मा हि लोककृत् । सर्वं जलमयं पश्यन्नानाकारमरूपकम्

sanābhikamale viṣṇo rjāto brahmā hi lokakṛt sarvaṁ jalamayaṁ paśyannānākāramarūpakam

From the lotus at Vishnu's navel was born Brahma, the maker of the worlds; and he beheld everything as consisting only of water, without varied forms, formless.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.60.22)

तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोद्वेगाद्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । इदमाह तदा पुत्र किं करो मीति निश्चितम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasodvegādbrahmā lokapitāmahaḥ idamāha tadā putra kiṁ karo mīti niścitam

Beholding this, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, was suddenly seized with anxiety and said uncertainly: "My son, what indeed should I do?"

Verse 23 (skanda.3.60.23)

खे जजान ततो वाणी देवात्सा चाशरीरिणी । तपस्तप विधे धातर्यथा मे दर्शनं भवेत्

khe jajāna tato vāṇī devātsā cāśarīriṇī tapastapa vidhe dhātaryathā me darśanaṁ bhavet

Then from the sky arose that bodiless, divine voice: "Perform austerity, O Vidhi, O Dhatri, so that you may attain the sight of me."

Verse 24 (skanda.3.60.24)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । प्रातप्यत तपो घोरं परमं दुष्करं महत्

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tatra brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ prātapyata tapo ghoraṁ paramaṁ duṣkaraṁ mahat

Hearing that word, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, then performed there a terrible austerity — supreme, exceedingly hard, and great.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.60.25)

प्रहसन्स तदा बालरूपेण कमलापतिः । उवाच मधुरां वाचं कृपालुर्बाल लीलया

prahasansa tadā bālarūpeṇa kamalāpatiḥ uvāca madhurāṁ vācaṁ kṛpālurbāla līlayā

Then, smiling, Kamalapati (Vishnu), in the form of an infant, graciously spoke sweet words through his childlike play.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.60.26)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । पुत्र त्वं विधिना चाद्य कुरु ब्रह्मांडगोलके । पातालं भूतलं चैव सिंधुसागरकाननम्

śrīviṣṇuruvāca putra tvaṁ vidhinā cādya kuru brahmāṁḍagolake pātālaṁ bhūtalaṁ caiva siṁdhusāgarakānanam

Shri Vishnu said: My son, now duly fashion, within the sphere of the cosmic egg, the netherworld, the surface of the earth, and the rivers, oceans, and forests.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.60.27)

वृक्षाश्च गिरयो द्विपदाः पशवस्तथा । पक्षिणश्चैव गंधर्वाः सिद्धा यक्षाश्च राक्षसाः

vṛkṣāśca girayo dvipadāḥ paśavastathā pakṣiṇaścaiva gaṁdharvāḥ siddhā yakṣāśca rākṣasāḥ

And trees, mountains, two-footed and four-footed creatures; birds, gandharvas, siddhas, yakshas, and rakshasas.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.60.28)

श्वापदाद्याश्च ये जीवाश्चतुराशीतियोनयः । उद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजाश्चैव जरायुजास्तथांडजाः

śvāpadādyāśca ye jīvāścaturāśītiyonayaḥ udbhijjāḥ svedajāścaiva jarāyujāstathāṁḍajāḥ

And wild beasts and the rest — all the living beings of the eighty-four hundred thousand kinds of wombs; the plant-born, the sweat-born, the womb-born, and the egg-born.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.60.29)

एकविंशतिलक्षाणि एकैकस्य च योनयः । कुरु त्वं सकलं चाशु इत्युक्त्वांतरधीयत । ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं सर्वं ब्रह्मांडं च यथोदितम्

ekaviṁśatilakṣāṇi ekaikasya ca yonayaḥ kuru tvaṁ sakalaṁ cāśu ityuktvāṁtaradhīyata brahmaṇā nirmitaṁ sarvaṁ brahmāṁḍaṁ ca yathoditam

Each of these has twenty-one hundred thousand varieties; create all of it quickly. Having spoken thus, he vanished. And Brahma then fashioned the whole cosmic egg exactly as had been declared.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.60.30)

यस्मिन्पितामहो जज्ञे प्रभुरेकः प्रजापतिः । स्थाणुः सुरगुरुर्भानुः प्रचेताः परमेष्ठिनः

yasminpitāmaho jajñe prabhurekaḥ prajāpatiḥ sthāṇuḥ suragururbhānuḥ pracetāḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

In which creation the Grandfather, the one lord Prajapati, was born, along with Sthanu, Suraguru, Bhanu, Praceta, and Parameshthin.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.60.31)

यथा दक्षो दक्षपुत्रा स्तथा सप्तर्षयश्च ये । ततः प्रजानां पतयः प्राभवन्नेकविंशतिः

yathā dakṣo dakṣaputrā stathā saptarṣayaśca ye tataḥ prajānāṁ patayaḥ prābhavannekaviṁśatiḥ

As Daksha was born, so too were Daksha's sons, and likewise the seven sages; and from them arose the twenty-one lords of creatures.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.60.32)

पुरुषश्चाप्रमेयश्च एवं वंश्यर्षयो विदुः । विश्वेदेवास्तथादित्या वसव श्चाश्विनावपि

puruṣaścāprameyaśca evaṁ vaṁśyarṣayo viduḥ viśvedevāstathādityā vasava ścāśvināvapi

And Purusha, and the immeasurable one — thus are the sages of that lineage known. The Vishvedevas, likewise the Adityas, the Vasus, and the two Ashvins.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.60.33)

यक्षाः पिशाचाः साध्याश्च पितरो गुह्यकास्तथा । ततः प्रसूता विद्वांसो ह्यष्टौ ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः

yakṣāḥ piśācāḥ sādhyāśca pitaro guhyakāstathā tataḥ prasūtā vidvāṁso hyaṣṭau brahmarṣayo'malāḥ

Yakshas, pishachas, sadhyas, ancestors, and likewise guhyakas; and from them were born eight learned and spotless brahmarshis.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.60.34)

राजर्षयश्च बहवः सर्वे समुदिता गुणैः । द्यौरापः पृथिवी वायुरंतरिक्षं दिशस्तथा

rājarṣayaśca bahavaḥ sarve samuditā guṇaiḥ dyaurāpaḥ pṛthivī vāyuraṁtarikṣaṁ diśastathā

And many royal sages, all endowed together with virtues. The sky, the waters, the earth, the wind, the atmosphere, and the directions as well.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.60.35)

संवत्सरार्तवो मासाः पक्षाहोरात्रयः क्रमात् । कलाकाष्ठामुहूर्तादि निमे षादि लवास्तथा

saṁvatsarārtavo māsāḥ pakṣāhorātrayaḥ kramāt kalākāṣṭhāmuhūrtādi nime ṣādi lavāstathā

The year, the seasons, the months, the fortnights, and, in order, day and night; the kala, kashtha, and muhurta units, and likewise nimesha and the lava measures of time.

Verse 36 (skanda.3.60.36)

ग्रहचक्रं सनक्षत्रं युगा मन्वन्तरादयः । यच्चान्यदपि तत्सर्वं संभूतं लोकसाक्षिकम्

grahacakraṁ sanakṣatraṁ yugā manvantarādayaḥ yaccānyadapi tatsarvaṁ saṁbhūtaṁ lokasākṣikam

The wheel of the planets together with the constellations, the yugas, the manvantaras, and the rest — and whatever else there may be, all of it too came into being, witnessed by the worlds.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.60.37)

यदिदं दृश्यते चक्रं किंचि त्स्थावरजंगमम् । पुनः संक्षिप्यते पुत्र जगत्प्राप्ते युगक्षये

yadidaṁ dṛśyate cakraṁ kiṁci tsthāvarajaṁgamam punaḥ saṁkṣipyate putra jagatprāpte yugakṣaye

Whatever of this visible wheel of creation there is — moving or unmoving — all of it, my son, is once again drawn back in when the world reaches the dissolution of the age.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.60.38)

यथर्तावृतुलिंगानि नामरूपाणि पर्यये । दृश्यन्ते तानि तान्येव तथा वत्स युगादिकम्

yathartāvṛtuliṁgāni nāmarūpāṇi paryaye dṛśyante tāni tānyeva tathā vatsa yugādikam

Just as, with the turning of the seasons, the very same signs, names, and forms appear again and again, so too, my child, is it with the ages and all that follows them.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.60.39)

शिव उवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । ब्रह्मणश्च तथा पुत्र वंशस्यैवानुकीर्तनम्

śiva uvāca ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām brahmaṇaśca tathā putra vaṁśasyaivānukīrtanam

Shiva said: Beyond this, I shall now tell the auspicious Puranic tale, and, my son, the account of Brahma's own lineage.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.60.40)

ब्रह्मणो मानसाः पुत्रा विदिताः षण्महर्षयः । मरीचिरत्र्यंगिरसौ पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः

brahmaṇo mānasāḥ putrā viditāḥ ṣaṇmaharṣayaḥ marīciratryaṁgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ

The mind-born sons of Brahma are known as the six great sages: Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.60.41)

मरीचेः कश्यपः पुत्रः कश्यपाच्चरमाः प्रजाः । प्रजज्ञिरे महाभागा दक्षकन्यास्त्रयोदश

marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ putraḥ kaśyapāccaramāḥ prajāḥ prajajñire mahābhāgā dakṣakanyāstrayodaśa

From Marichi was born the son Kashyapa; from Kashyapa sprang the manifold creatures. The thirteen illustrious daughters of Daksha —

Verse 42 (skanda.3.60.42)

अदितिर्दितिर्दनुः काला दनायुः सिंहिका तथा । क्रोधा प्रोवा वसिष्ठा च विनता कपिला तथा

aditirditirdanuḥ kālā danāyuḥ siṁhikā tathā krodhā provā vasiṣṭhā ca vinatā kapilā tathā

Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Danayu, and likewise Simhika; Krodha, Prova, Vasishtha, Vinata, and likewise Kapila —

Verse 43 (skanda.3.60.43)

कण्डूश्चैव सुनेत्रा च कश्यपाय ददौ तदा । अदित्यां द्वादशादित्याः संजाता हि शुभाननाः

kaṇḍūścaiva sunetrā ca kaśyapāya dadau tadā adityāṁ dvādaśādityāḥ saṁjātā hi śubhānanāḥ

— and Kandu, and Sunetra as well — these Daksha gave in marriage to Kashyapa. From Aditi were born the twelve Adityas, fair of face.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.60.44)

सूर्याद्वै धर्मराड् जज्ञे ते नेदं निर्मितं पुरा । धर्मेण निर्मितं दृष्ट्वा धर्मारण्यमनुत्तमम् । धर्मारण्यमिति प्रोक्तं यन्मया स्कन्द पुण्यदम्

sūryādvai dharmarāḍ jajñe te nedaṁ nirmitaṁ purā dharmeṇa nirmitaṁ dṛṣṭvā dharmāraṇyamanuttamam dharmāraṇyamiti proktaṁ yanmayā skanda puṇyadam

From Surya was born Dharmaraja; before this, this place had not yet been created. Beholding this unsurpassed forest fashioned by Dharma, it was named Dharmaranya — this, O Skanda, is what I have told you, this merit-bestowing tale.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.60.45)

स्कन्द उवाच । धर्मारण्यस्य चाख्यानं परमं पावनं तथा । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं कथयस्व महेश्वर

skanda uvāca dharmāraṇyasya cākhyānaṁ paramaṁ pāvanaṁ tathā śrotumicchāmi tatsarvaṁ kathayasva maheśvara

Skanda said: O Maheshvara, I wish to hear the whole account of Dharmaranya, that supremely purifying tale — tell it all to me.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.60.46)

ईश्वर उवाच । इन्द्राद्याः सकला देवा अन्वयुर्ब्रह्मणा सह । अहं वै तत्र यास्यामि क्षेत्रं पापनिषूदनम्

īśvara uvāca indrādyāḥ sakalā devā anvayurbrahmaṇā saha ahaṁ vai tatra yāsyāmi kṣetraṁ pāpaniṣūdanam

Ishvara said: Indra and all the other gods set out together with Brahma; I too shall go there, to that field which destroys sin.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.60.47)

स्कन्द उवाच । अहमप्यागमिष्यामि तं द्रष्टुं शशिशे खर

skanda uvāca ahamapyāgamiṣyāmi taṁ draṣṭuṁ śaśiśe khara

Skanda said: I too, O Shashishekhara, shall come to see that place.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.60.48)

सूत उवाच । ततः स्कन्दस्तथा रुद्रः सूर्यश्चैवानिलोऽनलः । सिद्धाश्चैव सगन्धर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसः शुभाः

sūta uvāca tataḥ skandastathā rudraḥ sūryaścaivānilo'nalaḥ siddhāścaiva sagandharvāstathaivāpsarasaḥ śubhāḥ

Suta said: Then Skanda, and likewise Rudra, Surya, Anila the wind, and Anala the fire, together with the siddhas, the gandharvas, and the fair apsarasas —

Verse 49 (skanda.3.60.49)

पिशाचा गुह्यकाः सर्व इन्द्रो वरुण एव च । नागाः सर्वाः समाजग्मुः शुक्रो वाचस्पतिस्तथा

piśācā guhyakāḥ sarva indro varuṇa eva ca nāgāḥ sarvāḥ samājagmuḥ śukro vācaspatistathā

— the pishachas, all the guhyakas, Indra, and Varuna too; all the nagas assembled there, and likewise Shukra and Vachaspati (Brihaspati).

Verse 50 (skanda.3.60.50)

ग्रहाः सर्वे सनक्षत्रा वसवोऽष्टौ ध्रुवा दयः । अंतरिक्षचराः सर्वे ये चान्ये नगवासिनः

grahāḥ sarve sanakṣatrā vasavo'ṣṭau dhruvā dayaḥ aṁtarikṣacarāḥ sarve ye cānye nagavāsinaḥ

All the planets together with the constellations, the eight Vasus beginning with Dhruva; all who wander the atmosphere, and whatever others dwell upon the mountains.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.60.51)

ब्रह्मादयः सुराः सर्वे वैकुण्ठं परया मुदा । मन्त्रणार्थं तदा ब्रह्मा विष्णवेऽमितते जसे

brahmādayaḥ surāḥ sarve vaikuṇṭhaṁ parayā mudā mantraṇārthaṁ tadā brahmā viṣṇave'mitate jase

Brahma and all the gods, with supreme joy, went toward Vaikuntha; then Brahma, for the sake of counsel, approached Vishnu of boundless splendour.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.60.52)

गत्वा तस्मिंश्च वैकुण्ठे ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तमाचष्ट विष्णुं प्रति सुहर्षितः

gatvā tasmiṁśca vaikuṇṭhe brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ dhyātvā muhūrtamācaṣṭa viṣṇuṁ prati suharṣitaḥ

And having gone there to Vaikuntha, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, meditated for a moment, and then, filled with joy, addressed Vishnu.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.60.53)

ब्रह्मोवाच । कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो कृपालो परमेश्वर । स्रष्टा त्वं चैव हर्ता त्वं त्वमेव जगतः पिता

brahmovāca kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahābāho kṛpālo parameśvara sraṣṭā tvaṁ caiva hartā tvaṁ tvameva jagataḥ pitā

Brahma said: O Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, compassionate, supreme Lord! You are the creator, and you the destroyer too; you alone are the father of this universe.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.60.54)

नमस्ते विष्णवे सौम्य नमस्ते गरुडध्वज । नमस्ते कम लाकांत नमस्तेब्रह्मरूपिणे

namaste viṣṇave saumya namaste garuḍadhvaja namaste kama lākāṁta namastebrahmarūpiṇe

Salutations to you, O Vishnu, O gentle one! Salutations to you, whose banner bears Garuda! Salutations to you, beloved of Kamala! Salutations to you, who bear the very form of Brahma!

Verse 55 (skanda.3.60.55)

नमस्ते मत्स्यरूपाय विश्वरूपाय वै नमः । नमस्ते दैत्यनाशाय भक्तानामभयाय च

namaste matsyarūpāya viśvarūpāya vai namaḥ namaste daityanāśāya bhaktānāmabhayāya ca

Salutations to you in your form as the Fish; salutations indeed to you of the universal form. Salutations to you, destroyer of the daityas, and giver of fearlessness to your devotees.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.60.56)

कंसघ्नाय नमस्तेस्तु बलदैत्यजिते नमः । ब्रह्मणैवं स्तुतश्चासीत्प्रत्यक्षोऽसौ जनार्द्दनः

kaṁsaghnāya namastestu baladaityajite namaḥ brahmaṇaivaṁ stutaścāsītpratyakṣo'sau janārddanaḥ

Salutations be to you, slayer of Kamsa; salutations to you, vanquisher of the mighty daitya. Thus praised by Brahma, that Janardana became manifest before him.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.60.57)

पीतांबरो घनश्यामो नागारिकृतवाहनः । चतुर्भुजो महा तेजाः शंखचक्रगदाधरः

pītāṁbaro ghanaśyāmo nāgārikṛtavāhanaḥ caturbhujo mahā tejāḥ śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ

Clad in yellow garments, dark as a rain-cloud, riding upon Garuda, the enemy of serpents; four-armed, of great splendour, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.60.58)

स्तूयमानः सुरैः सर्वैः स देवोऽमितविक्रमः । विद्याधरैस्तथा नागैः स्तूयमानश्च सर्वशः

stūyamānaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiḥ sa devo'mitavikramaḥ vidyādharaistathā nāgaiḥ stūyamānaśca sarvaśaḥ

Praised by all the gods, that deity of boundless valour; and praised too, on every side, by vidyadharas and nagas.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.60.59)

उत्तस्थौ स तदा देवो भास्करामितदीप्तिमान् । कोटिरत्नप्रभाभास्वन्मुकुटादिविभूषितः

uttasthau sa tadā devo bhāskarāmitadīptimān koṭiratnaprabhābhāsvanmukuṭādivibhūṣitaḥ

That god then rose up, radiant with splendour boundless as the sun; adorned with a crown and other ornaments shining with the light of ten million gems.