The Tale of Hayagriva

Verse 1 (skanda.3.67.1)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। न पश्यंति तदा शीर्षं ब्रह्माद्यास्तु सुरास्तदा । किं कुर्म इति हेत्युक्त्वा ज्ञानिनस्ते व्यचिन्तयन् ।

vyāsa uvāca na paśyaṁti tadā śīrṣaṁ brahmādyāstu surāstadā kiṁ kurma iti hetyuktvā jñāninaste vyaciṁtayan

Vyasa said: Then Brahma and the other gods could nowhere find that head. Saying, 'What shall we do now?' those wise ones fell to deliberating.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.67.2)

उवाच विश्वकर्माणं तदा ब्रह्मा सुरान्वितः ।

uvāca viśvakarmāṇaṁ tadā brahmā surānvitaḥ

Then Brahma, together with the gods, spoke to Vishvakarma.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.67.3)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। विश्वकर्मस्त्वमेवासि कार्यकर्ता सदा विभो । शीघ्रमेव कुरु त्वं वै वक्त्रं सांद्रं च धन्विनः ।

brahmovāca viśvakarmastvamevāsi kāryakartā sadā vibho śīghrameva kuru tvaṁ vai vaktraṁ sāṁdraṁ ca dhanvinaḥ

Brahma said: O Vishvakarma, it is you alone who accomplishes our tasks, O mighty one. Quickly now, fashion a solid face for that wielder of the bow.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.67.4)

नमस्कृत्य तदा तस्मै स्तुतोऽसौ देववर्द्धकिः । उवाच परया भक्त्या ब्रह्माणं कमलोद्भवम् ।

namaskṛtya tadā tasmai stuto'sau devavarddhakiḥ uvāca parayā bhaktyā brahmāṇaṁ kamalodbhavam

Then that divine architect, bowing and offering praise, spoke with the deepest devotion to lotus-born Brahma.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.67.5)

यज्ञकार्यं निवृत्याशु वदंति विविधाः सुराः ।

yajñakāryaṁ nivṛtyāśu vadaṁti vividhāḥ surāḥ

'The various gods are urging that the sacrificial rite be brought to completion at once.'

Verse 6 (skanda.3.67.6)

यज्ञभागविहीनं मां किं पुनर्वच्मि तेऽग्रतः । यज्ञभागमहं देव लभेयैवं सुरैः सह ।

yajñabhāgavihīnaṁ māṁ kiṁ punarvacmi te'grataḥ yajñabhāgamahaṁ deva labheyaivaṁ suraiḥ saha

'I am without any share in the sacrifice — what more shall I say before you? O lord, let me too receive a share in the sacrifice, along with the gods.'

Verse 7 (skanda.3.67.7)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। दास्यामि सर्वयज्ञेषु विभागं सुरवर्द्धके । सोमे त्वं प्रथमं वीर पूज्यसे श्रुतिकोविदैः ।

brahmovāca dāsyāmi sarvayajñeṣu vibhāgaṁ suravarddhake some tvaṁ prathamaṁ vīra pūjyase śrutikovidaiḥ

Brahma said: O divine artisan, I shall grant you a share in every sacrifice. O hero, at the Soma rite you shall be the very first to be honored by those learned in the scriptures.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.67.8)

तद्विष्णोश्च शिरस्तावत्संधत्स्वामरवर्द्धक । विश्वकर्माब्रवीद्देवानानयध्वं शिरस्त्विति ।

tadviṣṇośca śirastāvatsaṁdhatsvāmaravarddhaka viśvakarmābravīddevānānayadhvaṁ śirastviti

So now, O divine builder, join back Vishnu's head. Vishvakarma said to the gods, 'Bring me that head.'

Verse 9 (skanda.3.67.9)

तन्नास्तीति सुराः सर्वे वदंति नृपसत्तम । मध्याह्ने तु समुद्भूते रथस्थो दिवि चांशुमान् ।

tannāstīti surāḥ sarve vadaṁti nṛpasattama madhyāhne tu samudbhūte rathastho divi cāṁśumān

O best of kings, all the gods said — it is nowhere to be found. Then, as midday approached, the radiant Sun rose in his chariot across the sky.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.67.10)

दृष्टं तदा सुरैः सर्वै रथादश्वमथानयन् । छित्त्वा शीर्षं महीपाल कबंधाद्वाजिनो हरेः ।

dṛṣṭaṁ tadā suraiḥ sarvai rathādaśvamathānayan chittvā śīrṣaṁ mahīpāla kabaṁdhādvājino hareḥ

Seeing that, the gods at once took a horse from the chariot, and, O protector of the earth, cut off its head to fit it to Hari's headless trunk.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.67.11)

कबंधे योजयामास विश्वकर्मातिचातुरः । दृष्ट्वा तं देवदेवेशं सुराः स्तुतिमकुर्वत ।

kabaṁdhe yojayāmāsa viśvakarmāticāturaḥ dṛṣṭvā taṁ devadeveśaṁ surāḥ stutimakurvata

The most skillful Vishvakarma fitted that horse's head onto the trunk. Seeing the lord of gods thus restored, the gods began to sing his praise.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.67.12)

।। देवा ऊचुः ।। नमस्तेऽस्तु जगद्बीज नमस्ते कमलापते । नमस्तेऽस्तु सुरेशान नमस्ते कमलेक्षण ।

devā ūcuḥ namaste'stu jagadbīja namaste kamalāpate namaste'stu sureśāna namaste kamalekṣaṇa

The gods said: Salutations to you, O seed of the universe. Salutations to you, O lord of Lakshmi. Salutations to you, O ruler of the gods. Salutations to you, O lotus-eyed one.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.67.13)

त्वं स्थितिः सर्वभूतानां त्वमेव शरणं सताम् । त्वं हंता सर्वदुष्टानां हयग्रीव नमोऽस्तु ते ।

tvaṁ sthitiḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ tvameva śaraṇaṁ satām tvaṁ haṁtā sarvaduṣṭānāṁ hayagrīva namo'stu te

You are the very existence of all beings, you alone the refuge of the virtuous. You are the destroyer of all the wicked — salutations to you, O Hayagriva.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.67.14)

त्वमोंकारो वषट्कारः स्वाहा स्वधा चतुर्विधा । आद्यस्त्वं च सुरेशान त्वमेव शरणं सदा ।

tvamoṁkāro vaṣaṭkāraḥ svāhā svadhā caturvidhā ādyastvaṁ ca sureśāna tvameva śaraṇaṁ sadā

You are the syllable Om, the exclamation Vashat, and the four-fold offerings of Svaha and Svadha. You, O ruler of the gods, are the primal source, and you alone are refuge forever.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.67.15)

यज्ञो यज्ञपतिर्यज्वा द्रव्यं होता हुतस्तथा । त्वदर्थं हूयते देव त्वमेव शरणं सखा ।

yajño yajñapatiryajvā dravyaṁ hotā hutastathā tvadarthaṁ hūyate deva tvameva śaraṇaṁ sakhā

You are the sacrifice, the lord of sacrifice, the sacrificer, the offering, the priest, and the oblation itself. It is for your sake, O god, that offerings are poured into the fire; you alone are refuge, you alone our friend.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.67.16)

कालः करालरूपस्त्वं त्वं वार्क्कः शीतदीधितिः । त्वमग्निर्वरुणश्चैव त्वं च कालक्षयंकरः ।

kālaḥ karālarūpastvaṁ tvaṁ vārkkaḥ śītadīdhitiḥ tvamagnirvaruṇaścaiva tvaṁ ca kālakṣayaṁkaraḥ

You are Time in its most terrible form; you are the Sun, and the cool-rayed Moon. You are Fire and Varuna; and you are that which brings even Time itself to its end.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.67.17)

गुणत्रयं त्वमेवेह गुणहीनस्त्वमेव हि । गुणानामालयस्त्वं च गोप्ता सर्वेषु जंतुषु ।

guṇatrayaṁ tvameveha guṇahīnastvameva hi guṇānāmālayastvaṁ ca goptā sarveṣu jaṁtuṣu

Here in this world you are the three gunas, and you alone are also beyond all gunas. You are the very abode of the gunas, and the protector of every living creature.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.67.18)

स्त्रीपुंसोश्च द्विधा त्वं च पशुपक्ष्यादिमानवैः । चतुर्विधं कुलं त्वं हि चतुराशीतिलक्षणः ।

strīpuṁsośca dvidhā tvaṁ ca paśupakṣyādimānavaiḥ caturvidhaṁ kulaṁ tvaṁ hi caturāśītilakṣaṇaḥ

You are both woman and man; you are the fourfold creation of beasts, birds, and humankind, and you bear the very mark of the eighty-four hundred thousand forms of life.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.67.19)

दिनांतश्चैव पक्षांतो मासांतो हायनं युगम् । कल्पांतश्च महांतश्च कालांतस्त्वं च वै हरे ।

dināṁtaścaiva pakṣāṁto māsāṁto hāyanaṁ yugam kalpāṁtaśca mahāṁtaśca kālāṁtastvaṁ ca vai hare

You are the end of the day, the end of the fortnight, the end of the month, the year and the age; O Hari, you are the end of the kalpa, the great end, and the very end of Time itself.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.67.20)

एवंविधैर्महादिव्यैः स्तूयमानः सुरैर्नृप । संतुष्टः प्राह सर्वेषां देवानां पुरतः प्रभुः ।

evaṁvidhairmahādivyaiḥ stūyamānaḥ surairnṛpa saṁtuṣṭaḥ prāha sarveṣāṁ devānāṁ purataḥ prabhuḥ

O king, thus praised by the gods with such magnificent hymns, the Lord, well pleased, spoke before all the assembled deities.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.67.21)

।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। किमर्थमिह संप्राप्ताः सर्वे देवगणा भुवि । किमेतत्कारणं देवाः कि नु दैत्यप्रपीडिताः ।

śrībhagavānuvāca kimarthamiha saṁprāptāḥ sarve devagaṇā bhuvi kimetatkāraṇaṁ devāḥ ki nu daityaprapīḍitāḥ

The blessed Lord said: For what purpose have all you gods gathered here on earth? What is the reason for this, O gods — are you being harassed by demons?

Verse 22 (skanda.3.67.22)

।। देवा ऊचुः ।। न दैत्यस्य भयं जातं यज्ञ कर्मोत्सुका वयम् । त्वद्दर्शनपराः सर्वे पश्यामो वै दिशो दश ।

devā ūcuḥ na daityasya bhayaṁ jātaṁ yajña karmotsukā vayam tvaddarśanaparāḥ sarve paśyāmo vai diśo daśa

The gods said: No fear of demons has arisen for us; we are simply eager for the sacrifice to proceed. Longing for a sight of you, we have been searching in all ten directions.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.67.23)

त्वन्मायामोहिताः सर्वे व्यग्रचित्ता भयातुराः । योगारूढस्वरूपं च दृष्टं तेऽस्माभिरुत्तमम् ।

tvanmāyāmohitāḥ sarve vyagracittā bhayāturāḥ yogārūḍhasvarūpaṁ ca dṛṣṭaṁ te'smābhiruttamam

Bewildered by your maya, we all became distraught and fearful. We beheld your supreme form, absorbed in yoga.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.67.24)

वम्री च नोदितास्माभिर्जागराय तवेश्वर । ततश्चापूर्वमभवच्छिरश्छिन्नं बभूव ते ।

vamrī ca noditāsmābhirjāgarāya taveśvara tataścāpūrvamabhavacchiraśchinnaṁ babhūva te

O lord, it was we who set the termites to rousing you, and then this unprecedented thing happened — your head was severed.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.67.25)

सूर्याश्वशीर्षमानीय विश्व कर्मातिचातुरः । समधत्त शिरो विष्णो हयग्रीवोऽस्यतः प्रभो ।

sūryāśvaśīrṣamānīya viśvakarmāticāturaḥ samadhatta śiro viṣṇo hayagrīvo'syataḥ prabho

O Vishnu, the most skillful Vishvakarma brought the head of the Sun's own horse and joined it upon you; and thus, O Lord, you have become Hayagriva.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.67.26)

।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। तुष्टोऽहं नाकिनः सर्वे ददाम्रि वरमीप्सितम् । हयग्रीवोऽस्म्यहं जातो देवदेवो जगत्पतिः ।

viṣṇuruvāca tuṣṭo'haṁ nākinaḥ sarve dadāmi varamīpsitam hayagrīvo'smyahaṁ jāto devadevo jagatpatiḥ

Vishnu said: O dwellers of heaven, I am well pleased; I grant you the boon you desire. I have now become Hayagriva, the god of gods, lord of the world.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.67.27)

न रौद्रं न विरूपं च सुरैरपि च सेवितम् । जातोऽहं वरदो देवा हयाननेति तोषितः ।

na raudraṁ na virūpaṁ ca surairapi ca sevitam jāto'haṁ varado devā hayāneneti toṣitaḥ

This form is neither terrible nor unsightly, but is honored even by the gods themselves. O gods, I have become the boon-giver, and I am well content to bear the name Hayanana.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.67.28)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। कृते सत्रे ततो वेधा धीमान्सन्तुष्टचेतसा । यज्ञभागं ततो दत्त्वा वम्रीभ्यो विश्वकर्मणे ।

vyāsa uvāca kṛte satre tato vedhā dhīmānsaṁtuṣṭacetasā yajñabhāgaṁ tato dattvā vamrībhyo viśvakarmaṇe

Vyasa said: When the sacrifice was thus completed, the wise Brahma, his mind well pleased, granted a share of the offering to the termites and to Vishvakarma.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.67.29)

यज्ञांते च सुरश्रेष्ठं नमस्कृत्य दिवं ययौ । एतच्च कारणं विद्धि हयाननो यतो हरिः ।

yajñāṁte ca suraśreṣṭhaṁ namaskṛtya divaṁ yayau etacca kāraṇaṁ viddhi hayānano yato hariḥ

At the end of the sacrifice, having bowed to the foremost of the gods, they departed for heaven. Know this, O king, to be the very cause by which Hari became horse-faced.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.67.30)

।। युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।। येनाक्रांता मही सर्वा क्रमेणैकेन तत्त्वतः । विवरे विवरे रोम्णां वर्तंते च पृथक्पृथक् ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca yenākrāṁtā mahī sarvā krameṇaikena tattvataḥ vivare vivare romṇāṁ vartaṁte ca pṛthakpṛthak

Yudhishthira said: He who truly encompassed the whole earth in a single stride, and in whose every pore, one after another, dwell countless separate universes —

Verse 31 (skanda.3.67.31)

ब्रह्मांडानि सहस्राणि दृश्यंते च महाद्युते । न वेत्ति वेदो यत्पारं शीर्षघातो हि वै कथम् ।

brahmāṁḍāni sahasrāṇi dṛśyaṁte ca mahādyute na vetti vedo yatpāraṁ śīrṣaghāto hi vai katham

— he whose farthest limit even the Vedas cannot fathom, O radiant one — how was it possible that his head should be struck off in this way?

Verse 32 (skanda.3.67.32)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। शृणु त्वं पांडवश्रेष्ठ कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । ईश्वरस्य चरित्रं हि नैव वेत्ति चराचरे ।

vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu tvaṁ pāṁḍavaśreṣṭha kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām īśvarasya caritraṁ hi naiva vetti carācare

Vyasa said: O best of the Pandavas, listen to this auspicious tale from the Puranas. In all this moving and unmoving world, none can fully know the Lord's own doings.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.67.33)

एकदा ब्रह्मसभायां गता देवाः सवासवाः । भूर्लोकाद्याश्च सर्वे हि स्थावराणि चराणि च ।

ekadā brahmasabhāyāṁ gatā devāḥ savāsavāḥ bhūrlokādyāśca sarve hi sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca

Once, all the gods, with Indra among them, went to Brahma's assembly, and all beings, moving and unmoving, of the earthly realm and beyond, gathered there as well.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.67.34)

देवा ब्रह्मर्षयः सर्वे नमस्कर्तुं पितामहम् । विष्णुरप्यागतस्तत्र सभायां मंत्रकारणात् ।

devā brahmarṣayaḥ sarve namaskartuṁ pitāmaham viṣṇurapyāgatastatra sabhāyāṁ maṁtrakāraṇāt

All the gods and the great brahmarshi sages came to pay homage to grandsire Brahma. Vishnu too had come to that assembly, for some matter of counsel.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.67.35)

ब्रह्मा चापि विगर्विष्ठ उवाचेदं वचस्तदा । भोभो देवाः शृणुध्वं कस्त्रयाणां कारणं महत् ।

brahmā cāpi vigarviṣṭha uvācedaṁ vacastadā bhobho devāḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ kastrayāṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ mahat

Brahma, then swelling with pride, spoke these words: Hear me, O gods — which of us three is the greater cause?

Verse 36 (skanda.3.67.36)

सत्यं ब्रुवंतु वै देवा ब्रह्मेशविष्णुमध्यतः । तां वाचं च समाकर्ण्य देवा विस्मयमागताः ।

satyaṁ bruvaṁtu vai devā brahmeśaviṣṇumadhyataḥ tāṁ vācaṁ ca samākarṇya devā vismayamāgatāḥ

Let the gods declare the truth — among Brahma, Ishvara, and Vishnu, who is greatest? Hearing these words, the gods were struck with astonishment.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.67.37)

ऊचुश्चैव ततो देवा न जानीमो वयं सुराः । ब्रह्मपत्नी तदोवाच विष्णुं प्रति सुरेश्वरम् । त्रयाणामपि देवानां महांतं च वदस्व मे ।

ūcuścaiva tato devā na jānīmo vayaṁ surāḥ brahmapatnī tadovāca viṣṇuṁ prati sureśvaram trayāṇāmapi devānāṁ mahāṁtaṁ ca vadasva me

Then the gods said: We do not know this, O gods. Then Brahma's own wife spoke to Vishnu, ruler of the gods: Tell me, of the three gods, who is the greatest?

Verse 38 (skanda.3.67.38)

।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। विष्णुमायाबलेनैव मोहितं भुवनत्रयम् । ततो ब्रह्मोवाच चेदं न त्वं जानासि भो विभोः ।

viṣṇuruvāca viṣṇumāyābalenaiva mohitaṁ bhuvanatrayam tato brahmovāca cedaṁ na tvaṁ jānāsi bho vibhoḥ

Vishnu said: It is by the power of Vishnu's own maya alone that the three worlds are bewildered. Then Brahma said: O mighty one, you do not know this.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.67.39)

नैव मुह्यति ते मायाबलेन नैवमेव च । गर्वहिंसापरो देवो जगद्भर्ता जगत्प्रभुः ।

naiva muhyati te māyābalena naivameva ca garvahiṁsāparo devo jagadbhartā jagatprabhuḥ

'He is not bewildered by your maya's power, nor is it so' — the god who stands beyond pride and violence, he alone is the sustainer and lord of the world.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.67.40)

ज्येष्ठं त्वां न विदुः सर्वे विष्णुमायावृताः खिलाः । ततो ब्रह्मा स रोषेण क्रुद्धः प्रस्फुरिताननः ।

jyeṣṭhaṁ tvāṁ na viduḥ sarve viṣṇumāyāvṛtāḥ khilāḥ tato brahmā sa roṣeṇa kruddhaḥ prasphuritānanaḥ

'All beings, veiled by Vishnu's maya, fail to recognize you as the eldest.' At this Brahma flared with rage, his face trembling in fury.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.67.41)

उवाच वचनं कोपाद्धे विष्णो शृणु मे वचः । येन वक्त्रेण सभायां वचनं समुदीरितम् ।

uvāca vacanaṁ kopāddhe viṣṇo śṛṇu me vacaḥ yena vaktreṇa sabhāyāṁ vacanaṁ samudīritam

In anger he spoke: Hear my words, O Vishnu! That very face with which you have uttered this speech in this assembly —

Verse 42 (skanda.3.67.42)

तच्छीर्षं पततादाशु चाल्पकालेन वै पुनः । ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं सेंद्राः सर्षिपुरोगमाः ।

tacchīrṣaṁ patatādāśu cālpakālena vai punaḥ tato hāhākṛtaṁ sarvaṁ seṁdrāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ

— let that very head fall off, and swiftly, before long! At this, everyone cried out in dismay, Indra and the sages foremost among them.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.67.43)

ब्रह्माणं क्षमयामासुर्विष्णुं प्रति सुरोत्तमाः । विष्णुश्च तद्वचः श्रुत्वा सत्यंसत्यं भविष्यति ।

brahmāṇaṁ kṣamayāmāsurviṣṇuṁ prati surottamāḥ viṣṇuśca tadvacaḥ śrutvā satyaṁsatyaṁ bhaviṣyati

The foremost gods tried to make Brahma relent toward Vishnu. And Vishnu, hearing that curse, said: 'True, indeed — this shall come to pass.'

Verse 44 (skanda.3.67.44)

ततो विष्णुर्महातेजास्तीर्थस्योत्पादनेन च । तपस्तेपे तु वै तत्र धर्मारण्ये सुरेश्वरः । अश्वशीर्ष मुखं दृष्ट्वा हयग्रीवो जनार्द्दनः ।

tato viṣṇurmahātejāstīrthasyotpādanena ca tapastepe tu vai tatra dharmāraṇye sureśvaraḥ aśvaśīrṣa mukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā hayagrīvo janārddanaḥ

Then the mighty Vishnu, ruler of the gods, performed austerities there in Dharmaranya, thereby giving rise to a tirtha; and, wearing the face of a horse's head, Janardana became Hayagriva.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.67.45)

तपस्तेपे महाभाग विधिना सह भारत । न शक्यं केनचित्कर्त्तुमात्मनात्मैव तुष्टवान् ।

tapastepe mahābhāga vidhinā saha bhārata na śakyaṁ kenacitkarttumātmanātmaiva tuṣṭavān

O descendant of Bharata, that illustrious one performed austerities there along with Brahma himself. This was a feat no other could achieve — he praised himself, by his own self alone.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.67.46)

ब्रह्मापि तपसा युक्तस्तेपे वर्षशतत्रयम् । तिष्ठन्नेव पुरो विष्णोर्विष्णुमायाविमोहितः ।

brahmāpi tapasā yuktastepe varṣaśatatrayam tiṣṭhanneva puro viṣṇorviṣṇumāyāvimohitaḥ

Brahma too, taking up austerities, remained standing there before Vishnu for three hundred years, bewildered by Vishnu's own maya.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.67.47)

यज्ञार्थमवदत्तुष्टो देवदेवो जगत्पतिः । ब्रह्मंस्ते मुक्तताद्यास्ति मम मायाप्यदुःसहा ।

yajñārthamavadattuṣṭo devadevo jagatpatiḥ brahmaṁste muktatādyāsti mama māyāpyaduḥsahā

Well pleased, the god of gods, lord of the world, spoke for the purpose of the sacrifice: O Brahma, from this day you are freed — even my own maya is hard to withstand.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.67.48)

ततो लब्धवरो ब्रह्मा हृष्टचित्तो जनार्द्दनः । उवाच मधुरां वाचं सर्वेषां हितकारणात् ।

tato labdhavaro brahmā hṛṣṭacitto janārddanaḥ uvāca madhurāṁ vācaṁ sarveṣāṁ hitakāraṇāt

Then, having received his boon, Brahma and Janardana, their hearts glad, spoke sweet words for the benefit of all.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.67.49)

अत्राभवन्महाक्षेत्रं पुण्यं पापप्रणाशनम् । विधिविष्णुमयं चैतद्भवत्वेतन्न संशयः ।

atrābhavanmahākṣetraṁ puṇyaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam vidhiviṣṇumayaṁ caitadbhavatvetanna saṁśayaḥ

Here has arisen this great and sacred field, the destroyer of sin. Let it be, without doubt, forever imbued with the presence of both Brahma and Vishnu.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.67.50)

तीर्थस्य महिमा राजन्हयशीर्षस्तदा हरिः । शुभाननो हि संजातः पूर्वेणैवाननेन तु ।

tīrthasya mahimā rājanhayaśīrṣastadā hariḥ śubhānano hi saṁjātaḥ pūrveṇaivānanena tu

O king, through the greatness of that tirtha, Hari, who had borne the horse's head, was again restored to his former, auspicious countenance.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.67.51)

कंदर्पकोटिलावण्यो जातः कृष्णस्तदा नृप । ब्रह्मापि तपसा युक्तो दिव्यं वर्षशतत्रयम् ।

kaṁdarpakoṭilāvaṇyo jātaḥ kṛṣṇastadā nṛpa brahmāpi tapasā yukto divyaṁ varṣaśatatrayam

O king, Krishna then became lovely as ten million Kamadevas combined. Brahma too remained engaged in austerity for three hundred divine years.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.67.52)

सावित्र्या च कृतं यत्र विष्णुमाया न बाधते । मायया तु कृतं शीर्षं पंचमं शार्दुलस्य वा ।

sāvitryā ca kṛtaṁ yatra viṣṇumāyā na bādhate māyayā tu kṛtaṁ śīrṣaṁ pañcamaṁ śārdulasya vā

There, where even Vishnu's own maya could not thwart what Savitri had wrought — through that same maya, Brahma's fifth head, fierce as a lion's, came into being.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.67.53)

धर्मारण्ये कृतं रम्यं हरेण च्छेदितं पुरा । तस्मै दत्त्वा वरं विष्णुर्जगामादर्शनं ततः ।

dharmāraṇye kṛtaṁ ramyaṁ hareṇa cchedidataṁ purā tasmai dattvā varaṁ viṣṇurjagāmādarśanaṁ tataḥ

This lovely event took place in Dharmaranya — that same fifth head which Hara (Shiva) had, long ago, severed. Vishnu, having granted Brahma this boon, then vanished from sight.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.67.54)

स्थापयित्वा विधिस्तत्र तीर्थं चैव त्रिलोचनम् । मुक्तेशं नाम देवस्य मोक्षतीर्थमरिंदम ।

sthāpayitvā vidhistatra tīrthaṁ caiva trilocanam mukteśaṁ nāma devasya mokṣatīrthamariṁdama

O vanquisher of foes, Brahma then established there a tirtha of the three-eyed Shiva, called Mukteshvara — a tirtha of that god bestowing liberation.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.67.55)

गतः सोऽपि सुरश्रेष्ठः स्वस्थानं सुरसेवितम् । तत्र प्रेता दिवं यांति तर्पणेन प्रतर्पिताः ।

gataḥ so'pi suraśreṣṭhaḥ svasthānaṁ surasevitam tatra pretā divaṁ yāṁti tarpaṇena pratarpitāḥ

That foremost of the gods then departed for his own realm, honored by the gods. There, departed spirits, satisfied by tarpana offerings, ascend to heaven.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.67.56)

अश्वमेधफलं स्नाने पाने गोदानजं फलम् । पुष्कराद्यानि तीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा ।

aśvamedhaphalaṁ snāne pāne godānajaṁ phalam puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni gaṁgādyāḥ saritastathā

By bathing there one obtains the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice; by drinking its water, the merit of donating cows. Pushkara and the other tirthas, and the Ganga and other rivers,

Verse 57 (skanda.3.67.57)

स्नानार्थमत्रागच्छंति देवताः पितरस्तथा । कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे मुक्तेशं पूजयेत्तु यः ।

snānārthamatrāgacchaṁti devatāḥ pitarastathā kārttikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge mukteśaṁ pūjayettu yaḥ

— the gods and the ancestors themselves come here to bathe. One who worships Mukteshvara on the full moon of Kartika, when it coincides with the Krittika constellation —

Verse 58 (skanda.3.67.58)

स्नात्वा देवसरे रम्ये नत्वा देवं जनार्द्दनम् । यः करोति नरो भक्त्या सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

snātvā devasare ramye natvā devaṁ janārddanam yaḥ karoti naro bhaktyā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

— and, having bathed in that lovely Devasara and bowed to the god Janardana, whoever does this with devotion is freed from all sins.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.67.59)

भुक्त्वा भोगा न्यथाकामं विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति । अपुत्रा काकवंध्या च मृतवत्सा मृतप्रजा ।

bhuktvā bhogānyathākāmaṁ viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati aputrā kākavaṁdhyā ca mṛtavatsā mṛtaprajā

He enjoys pleasures according to his desire, and in the end attains Vishnu's abode. A woman without sons, a 'crow-barren' woman, one whose child dies —

Verse 60 (skanda.3.67.60)

एकांबरेण सुस्नातौ पतिपत्न्यौ यथाविधि । तद्दोषं नाशयेन्नूनं प्रजाप्तिप्रतिबन्धकम् ।

ekāṁbareṇa susnātau patipatnyau yathāvidhi taddoṣaṁ nāśayennūnaṁ prajāptipratibandhakam

— if husband and wife bathe together properly, wrapped in a single cloth, this without doubt destroys the flaw that obstructs the begetting of children.

Verse 61 (skanda.3.67.61)

मोक्षेश्वरप्रसादेन पुत्रपौत्रादि वर्द्धयेत् । दद्याद्वैकेन चित्तेन फलानि सत्यसंयुता ।

mokṣeśvaraprasādena putrapautrādi varddhayet dadyādvaikena cittena phalāni satyasaṁyutā

By the grace of Mokshesvara one's line of sons and grandsons flourishes. Whatever is offered with a single-pointed mind bears fruit joined with truth.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.67.62)

निधाय वंशपात्रेऽपि नारी दोषात्प्रमुच्यते । प्राप्नुवंति च देवाश्च अग्निष्टोमफलं नृप ।

nidhāya vaṁśapātre'pi nārī doṣātpramucyate prāpnuvaṁti ca devāśca agniṣṭomaphalaṁ nṛpa

Even simply by placing an offering in the bamboo vessel, a woman is freed from that flaw. And O king, the gods themselves obtain there the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.67.63)

वेधा हरिर्हरश्चैव तप्यंते परमं तपः । धर्मारण्ये त्रिसंध्यं च स्नात्वा देवसरस्यथ ।

vedhā harirharaścaiva tapyaṁte paramaṁ tapaḥ dharmāraṇye trisaṁdhyaṁ ca snātvā devasarasyatha

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva alike perform the highest austerities in Dharmaranya, bathing in that Devasara at each of the three daily junctures.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.67.64)

तत्र मोक्षेश्वरः शंभुः स्थापितो वै ततः सुरैः । तत्र सांगं जपं कृत्वा न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् ।

tatra mokṣeśvaraḥ śaṁbhuḥ sthāpito vai tataḥ suraiḥ tatra sāṁgaṁ japaṁ kṛtvā na bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet

There the gods established Shambhu as Mokshesvara. One who performs full ritual japa there is never again born as a suckling infant.

Verse 65 (skanda.3.67.65)

एवं क्षेत्रं महाराज प्रसिद्धं भुवनत्रये । यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं पितॄणां श्रद्धयान्वितः ।

evaṁ kṣetraṁ mahārāja prasiddhaṁ bhuvanatraye yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ śraddhayānvitaḥ

O great king, thus is this field renowned throughout the three worlds. Whoever performs the shraddha rite for his ancestors there, with devotion —

Verse 66 (skanda.3.67.66)

उद्धरेत्सप्त गोत्राणि कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम् । देवसरो महारम्यं नानापुष्पैः समन्वितम् । श्यामं सकलकल्हारैर्विविधैर्जलजंतुभिः ।

uddharetsapta gotrāṇi kulamekottaraṁ śatam devasaro mahāramyaṁ nānāpuṣpaiḥ samanvitam śyāmaṁ sakalakalhāraiḥ vividhairjalajaṁtubhiḥ

— delivers seven generations of ancestral lines, one hundred and one families. That Devasara is exceedingly lovely, adorned with manifold flowers, dark with fields of blue lotuses, and teeming with all kinds of aquatic creatures.

Verse 67 (skanda.3.67.67)

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्यैः सेवितं सुरमानुषैः । सिद्धैर्यक्षैश्च मुनिभिः सेवितं सर्वतः शुभम् ।

brahmaviṣṇumaheśādyaiḥ sevitaṁ suramānuṣaiḥ siddhairyakṣaiśca munibhiḥ sevitaṁ sarvataḥ śubham

It is frequented by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha, and other gods and men, and honored on every side by siddhas, yakshas, and sages — wholly auspicious.

Verse 68 (skanda.3.67.68)

।। युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।। कीदृशं तत्सरः ख्यातं तस्मिन्स्थाने द्विजोत्तम । तस्य रूपं प्रकारं च कथयस्व यथातथम् ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca kīdṛśaṁ tatsaraḥ khyātaṁ tasminsthāne dvijottama tasya rūpaṁ prakāraṁ ca kathayasva yathātatham

Yudhishthira said: O best of brahmins, what is this famous lake in that place actually like? Describe to me its form and character exactly as it is.

Verse 69 (skanda.3.67.69)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञ धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर । यस्य संकीर्तनान्नूनं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

vyāsa uvāca sādhusādhu mahāprājña dharmaputra yudhiṣṭhira yasya saṁkīrtanānnūnaṁ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Vyasa said: Well asked, well asked, O most wise Yudhishthira, son of Dharma! Merely by singing of it, a person is undoubtedly freed from every sin.

Verse 70 (skanda.3.67.70)

अतिस्वछतरं शीतं गंगोदकसमप्रभम् । पवित्रं मधुरं स्वादु जलं तस्य नृपोत्तम ।

atisvachataraṁ śītaṁ gaṁgodakasamaprabham pavitraṁ madhuraṁ svādu jalaṁ tasya nṛpottama

O best of kings, its waters are exceedingly clear, cool, radiant as the Ganga's own, pure, sweet, and delicious.

Verse 71 (skanda.3.67.71)

महाविशालं गंभीरं देवखातं मनोरमम् । लहर्यादिभिर्गंभीरः फेनावर्तसमाकुलम् ।

mahāviśālaṁ gaṁbhīraṁ devakhātaṁ manoramam laharyādibhirgaṁbhīraḥ phenāvartasamākulam

That divinely-dug tank is vast, deep, and delightful, made grave with its rolling waves, and swirling with eddies of foam.

Verse 72 (skanda.3.67.72)

झषमंडूककमठैर्मकरैश्च समाकुलम् । शंखशुक्त्यादि भिर्युक्तं राजहंसैः सुशोभितम् ।

jhaṣamaṁḍūkakamaṭhairmakaraiśca samākulam śaṁkhaśuktyādibhiryuktaṁ rājahaṁsaiḥ suśobhitam

It teems with fish, frogs, tortoises, and crocodiles, is strewn with conches and shells, and graced with royal swans.

Verse 73 (skanda.3.67.73)

वटप्लक्षैः समायुक्तमश्वत्थाम्रैश्च वेष्टितम् । चक्रवाकसमोपतं बकसारसटिट्टिभैः ।

vaṭaplakṣaiḥ samāyuktamaśvatthāmraiśca veṣṭitam cakravākasamopetaṁ bakasārasaṭiṭṭibhaiḥ

It is bordered with banyan and plaksha trees, ringed round with peepal and mango, and thronged with chakravaka birds, herons, cranes, and plovers.

Verse 74 (skanda.3.67.74)

कमनीय प्रगन्धाच्छच्छत्रपत्रैः सुशोभितम् । सेव्यमानं द्विजैः सर्वैः सारसाद्यैः सुशोभितम् ।

kamanīya pragaṁdhāccachatrapatraiḥ suśobhitam sevyamānaṁ dvijaiḥ sarvaiḥ sārasādyaiḥ suśobhitam

It is adorned with lovely, sweet-scented, canopy-like leaves, and is graced by the presence of all manner of brahmins and by cranes and their kind.

Verse 75 (skanda.3.67.75)

सदेवैर्मुनिभिश्चैव विप्रैर्मत्यैश्च भूमिप । सेवितं दुःखहं चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।

sadevairmunibhiścaiva viprairmatyaiśca bhūmipa sevitaṁ duḥkhahaṁ caiva sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

O lord of the earth, it is frequented by gods, sages, brahmins, and mortals alike, and it dispels suffering, destroying every sin.

Verse 76 (skanda.3.67.76)

अनादिनिधनोदंतं सेवितं सिद्धमंडलैः । स्नानादिभिः सर्वदैव तत्सरो नृपसत्तम ।

anādinidhanodaṁtaṁ sevitaṁ siddhamaṁḍalaiḥ snānādibhiḥ sarvadaiva tatsaro nṛpasattama

O best of kings, that lake, without beginning or end, frequented by circles of accomplished siddhas, forever remains a place of bathing and sacred rites.

Verse 77 (skanda.3.67.77)

विधिना कुरुते यस्तु नीलोत्सर्गं च तत्तटे । प्रेता नैव कुले तस्य यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ।

vidhinā kurute yastu nīlotsargaṁ ca tattaṭe pretā naiva kule tasya yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa

Whoever performs the Nilotsarga rite duly on its banks — in his family no spirit shall become a wandering ghost for as long as fourteen Indras reign.

Verse 78 (skanda.3.67.78)

कन्यादानं च ये कुर्युर्विधिना तत्र भूपते । ते तिष्ठन्ति ब्रह्मलोके यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् ।

kanyādānaṁ ca ye kuryurvidhinā tatra bhūpate te tiṣṭhaṁti brahmaloke yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

O king, those who properly perform a kanyadana there abide in Brahmaloka until the very dissolution of creation.

Verse 79 (skanda.3.67.79)

महिषीं गृहदासीं च सुरभीं सुतसंयुताम् । हेम विद्यां तथा भूमिं रथांश्च गजवाससी ।

mahiṣīṁ gṛhadāsīṁ ca surabhīṁ sutasaṁyutām hema vidyāṁ tathā bhūmiṁ rathāṁśca gajavāsasī

A buffalo, a household maidservant, a cow with her calf, gold, learning, land, chariots, elephants, and garments —

Verse 80 (skanda.3.67.80)

ददाति श्रद्धया तत्र सोऽक्षयं स्वर्गमश्नुते । देवखातस्य माहात्म्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ । दीर्घमायुस्तथा सौख्यं लभते नात्र संशयः ।

dadāti śraddhayā tatra so'kṣayaṁ svargamaśnute devakhātasya māhātmyaṁ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau dīrghamāyustathā saukhyaṁ labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ

— whoever gives these there with faith attains imperishable heaven. Whoever recites this greatness of Devakhata in Shiva's own presence undoubtedly obtains long life and happiness.

Verse 81 (skanda.3.67.81)

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या नारी वा त्विदमद्भुतम् । कुले तस्य भवेच्छ्रेयः कल्पांतेऽपि युधिष्ठिर ।

yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā nārī vā tvidamadbhutam kule tasya bhaveccchreyaḥ kalpāṁte'pi yudhiṣṭhira

O Yudhishthira, whatever man or woman hears this wondrous account with devotion — in that person's family, good fortune shall abide even unto the end of the kalpa.

Verse 82 (skanda.3.67.82)

एतत्सर्वं मयाख्यातं हयग्रीवस्य कारणम् । प्रभास्तस्य तीर्थस्य सर्वपापायनुत्तये ।

etatsarvaṁ mayākhyātaṁ hayagrīvasya kāraṇam prabhāstasya tīrthasya sarvapāpāyanuttaye

Thus have I told you the entire cause of Hayagriva, and the glory of this tirtha, which stands for the removal of every sin.