The Glory of Pradosha

Verse 1 (skanda.3.98.1)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ यदुक्तं भवता सूत महदाख्यानमद्भुतम् ॥ शम्भोर्माहात्म्यकथनमशेषाघहरं परम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yaduktaṁ bhavatā sūta mahadākhyānamadbhutam śambhormāhātmyakathanamaśeṣāghaharaṁ param

The sages said: O Suta, you have related to us that great and wondrous account, the supreme story of Shambhu's glory that destroys every sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.98.2)

भूयोपि श्रोतुमिच्छामस्तदेव सुसमाहिताः ॥ प्रदोषे भगवाञ्छंभुः पूजितस्तु महात्मभिः

bhūyopi śrotumicchāmastadeva susamāhitāḥ pradoṣe bhagavāñchaṁbhuḥ pūjitastu mahātmabhiḥ

We wish, with focused minds, to hear it again — of how Bhagavan Shambhu, worshipped at the hour of Pradosha by great souls,

Verse 3 (skanda.3.98.3)

संप्रयच्छति कां सिद्धिमेतन्नो ब्रूहि सुव्रत ॥ श्रुतमप्यसकृत्सूत भूयस्तृष्णा प्रवर्धते

saṁprayacchati kāṁ siddhimetanno brūhi suvrata śrutamapyasakṛtsūta bhūyastṛṣṇā pravardhate

bestows what attainment. Tell us this, O one of noble vows. Even having heard it many times, O Suta, our thirst for it only grows.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.98.4)

सूत उवाच ॥ साधु पृष्टं महाप्राज्ञा भवद्भिर्लोकविश्रुतैः ॥ अतोऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि शिवपूजाफलं महत्

sūta uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ mahāprājñā bhavadbhirlokaviśrutaiḥ ato'haṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi śivapūjāphalaṁ mahat

Suta said: Well asked, O you of great wisdom, renowned throughout the world. Therefore I shall now declare the great fruit of the worship of Shiva.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.98.5)

त्रयोदश्यां तिथौ सायं प्रदोषः परिकीर्त्तितः ॥ तत्र पूज्यो महादेवो नान्यो देवः फलार्थिभिः

trayodaśyāṁ tithau sāyaṁ pradoṣaḥ parikīrttitaḥ tatra pūjyo mahādevo nānyo devaḥ phalārthibhiḥ

On the thirteenth lunar day, the evening hour is proclaimed as Pradosha. At that time Mahadeva alone is to be worshipped, and no other deity, by those who desire its fruit.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.98.6)

प्रदोषपूजामाहात्म्यं को नु वर्णयितुं क्षमः ॥ यत्र सर्वेऽपि विबुधास्तिष्ठंति गिरिशांतिके

pradoṣapūjāmāhātmyaṁ ko nu varṇayituṁ kṣamaḥ yatra sarve'pi vibudhāstiṣṭhaṁti giriśāṁtike

Who indeed is capable of describing the greatness of Pradosha worship, at which hour all the gods themselves stand near Girisha?

Verse 7 (skanda.3.98.7)

प्रदोषसमये देवः कैलासे रजतालये ॥ करोति नृत्यं विबुधैरभिष्टुतगुणोदयः

pradoṣasamaye devaḥ kailāse rajatālaye karoti nṛtyaṁ vibudhairabhiṣṭutaguṇodayaḥ

At the hour of Pradosha, the Lord, whose rising glories are praised by the gods, performs his dance in his silver abode on Kailasa.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.98.8)

अतः पूजा जपो होमस्तत्कथास्तद्गुणस्तवः ॥ कर्त्तव्यो नियतं मर्त्यैश्चतुर्वर्गफला र्थिभिः

ataḥ pūjā japo homastatkathāstadguṇastavaḥ karttavyo niyataṁ martyaiścaturvargaphalā rthibhiḥ

Therefore worship, recitation, fire-offering, the telling of his stories, and hymns of his qualities should always be performed by mortals who desire the fruits of the four goals of life.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.98.9)

दारिद्यतिमिरांधानां मर्त्यानां भवभीरुणाम् ॥ भवसागरमग्नानां प्लवोऽयं पारदर्शनः

dāridyatimirāṁdhānāṁ martyānāṁ bhavabhīruṇām bhavasāgaramagnānāṁ plavo'yaṁ pāradarśanaḥ

For mortals blinded by the darkness of poverty, fearful of worldly existence, and sunk in the ocean of becoming, this Pradosha worship is the raft that reveals the farther shore.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.98.10)

दुःखशोकभयार्त्तानां क्लेशनिर्वाणमिच्छताम् ॥ प्रदोषे पार्वतीशस्य पूजनं मंगलायनम्

duḥkhaśokabhayārttānāṁ kleśanirvāṇamicchatām pradoṣe pārvatīśasya pūjanaṁ maṁgalāyanam

For those afflicted by sorrow, grief and fear, who desire the extinguishing of affliction, the worship of Parvati's lord at Pradosha is the abode of auspiciousness.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.98.11)

दुर्बुद्धिरपि नीचोपि मन्दभाग्यः शठोऽपि वा ॥ प्रदोषे पूज्य देवेशं विपद्भ्यः स प्रमुच्यते

durbuddhirapi nīcopi mandabhāgyaḥ śaṭho'pi vā pradoṣe pūjya deveśaṁ vipadbhyaḥ sa pramucyate

Even one of evil intellect, even the lowly, the ill-fated, or the deceitful — by worshipping the Lord of gods at Pradosha, he is freed from calamities.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.98.12)

शत्रुभिर्हन्यमानोऽपि दश्यमानोपि पन्नगैः ॥ शैलैराक्रम्यमाणोऽपि पतितोऽपि महांबुधौ

śatrubhirhanyamāno'pi daśyamānopi pannagaiḥ śailairākramyamāṇo'pi patito'pi mahāṁbudhau

Even one being struck down by enemies, even one bitten by serpents, even one being crushed by mountains, even one who has fallen into the great ocean,

Verse 13 (skanda.3.98.13)

आविद्धकालदण्डोऽपि नानारोगहतोऽपि वा ॥ न विनश्यति मर्त्योऽसौ प्रदोषे गिरिशार्चनात्

āviddhakāladaṇḍo'pi nānārogahato'pi vā na vinaśyati martyo'sau pradoṣe giriśārcanāt

even one struck by the rod of death, even one afflicted by various diseases — such a mortal does not perish, through the worship of Girisha at Pradosha.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.98.14)

दारिद्र्यं मरणं दुःखमृणभारं नगोपमम् ॥ सद्यो विधूय संपद्भिः पूज्यते शिवपूजनात्

dāridryaṁ maraṇaṁ duḥkhamṛṇabhāraṁ nagopamam sadyo vidhūya saṁpadbhiḥ pūjyate śivapūjanāt

Poverty, death, sorrow, and the burden of debt heavy as a mountain — all these are instantly dispelled through the worship of Shiva, and one becomes endowed with prosperity.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.98.15)

अत्र वक्ष्ये महापुण्यमितिहासं पुरातनम् ॥ यं श्रुत्वा मनुजाः सर्वे प्रयांति कृतकृत्यताम्

atra vakṣye mahāpuṇyamitihāsaṁ purātanam yaṁ śrutvā manujāḥ sarve prayāṁti kṛtakṛtyatām

Here I shall tell a most sacred and ancient tale, hearing which all people attain the fulfilment of their purpose.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.98.16)

आसीद्विदर्भविषये नाम्ना सत्यरथो नृपः ॥ सर्वधर्मरतो धीरः सुशीलः सत्यसंगरः

āsīdvidarbhaviṣaye nāmnā satyaratho nṛpaḥ sarvadharmarato dhīraḥ suśīlaḥ satyasaṁgaraḥ

In the country of Vidarbha there was a king named Satyaratha — steadfast, devoted to all dharma, of good conduct, and true to his word.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.98.17)

तस्य पालयतो भूमिं धर्मेण मुनिपुंगवाः ॥ व्यतीयाय महान्कालः सुखेनैव महामतेः

tasya pālayato bhūmiṁ dharmeṇa munipuṁgavāḥ vyatīyāya mahānkālaḥ sukhenaiva mahāmateḥ

O foremost of sages, as this great-minded king protected the earth righteously, a long span of time passed happily.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.98.18)

अथ तस्य महीभर्तुर्बभूवुः शाल्वभूभुजः ॥ शत्रवश्चोद्धतबला दुर्मर्षणपुरोगमाः

atha tasya mahībharturbabhūvuḥ śālvabhūbhujaḥ śatravaścoddhatabalā durmarṣaṇapurogamāḥ

Then this lord of the earth came to have as enemies the kings of the Shalva country, of overweening strength, led by intolerable foes.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.98.19)

कदाचिदथ ते शाल्वाः संनद्धबहुसैनिकाः ॥ विदर्भनगरीं प्राप्य रुरुधुर्विजिगीषवः

kadācidatha te śālvāḥ saṁnaddhabahusainikāḥ vidarbhanagarīṁ prāpya rurudhurvijigīṣavaḥ

Once, those Shalvas, arrayed with a great army and desiring conquest, reached the city of Vidarbha and laid siege to it.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.98.20)

दृष्ट्वा निरुद्ध्यमानां तां विदर्भाधिपतिः पुरीम् ॥ योद्धुमभ्याययौ तूर्णं बलेन महता वृतः

dṛṣṭvā niruddhyamānāṁ tāṁ vidarbhādhipatiḥ purīm yoddhumabhyāyayau tūrṇaṁ balena mahatā vṛtaḥ

Seeing his city thus besieged, the lord of Vidarbha swiftly came forth to do battle, surrounded by a great army.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.98.21)

तस्य तैरभवयुद्धं शाल्वैरपि बलोद्धतैः ॥ पाताले पन्नगेन्द्रस्य गन्धर्वैरिव दुर्मदैः

tasya tairabhavayuddhaṁ śālvairapi baloddhataiḥ pātāle pannagendrasya gandharvairiva durmadaiḥ

With those Shalvas, mighty in strength, a battle broke out — like the battle of the serpent-lord in the netherworld with arrogant Gandharvas.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.98.22)

विदर्भनृपतिः सोऽथ कृत्वा युद्धं सुदारुणम् ॥ प्रनष्टोरुबलैः शाल्वैर्निहतो रणमूर्धनि

vidarbhanṛpatiḥ so'tha kṛtvā yuddhaṁ sudāruṇam pranaṣṭorubalaiḥ śālvairnihato raṇamūrdhani

Then the king of Vidarbha, having fought a most terrible battle and destroyed much of the Shalvas' great army, was slain on the front of the battle.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.98.23)

तस्मिन्महारथे वीरे निहते मंत्रिभिः सह ॥ दुद्रुवुः समरे भग्ना हतशेषाश्च सैनिकाः

tasminmahārathe vīre nihate maṁtribhiḥ saha dudruvuḥ samare bhagnā hataśeṣāśca sainikāḥ

When that great warrior-hero was slain along with his ministers, the remaining soldiers, broken and routed in the battle, fled.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.98.24)

अथ युद्धेभिविरते नदत्सु रिपुमंत्रिषु ॥ नगर्यां युद्ध्यमानायां जाते कोलाहले रवे

atha yuddhebhivirate nadatsu ripumaṁtriṣu nagaryāṁ yuddhyamānāyāṁ jāte kolāhale rave

Then, as the battle subsided, with the enemy's ministers still roaring, and the city itself under assault, a great uproar and tumult arose.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.98.25)

तस्य सत्यरथस्यैका विदर्भाधिपतेः सती ॥ भूरिशोकसमाविष्टा क्वचिद्यत्नाद्विनिर्ययौ

tasya satyarathasyaikā vidarbhādhipateḥ satī bhūriśokasamāviṣṭā kvacidyatnādviniryayau

One faithful wife of that Satyaratha, lord of Vidarbha, overwhelmed with great sorrow, with effort made her way out of the city to some place.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.98.26)

सा निशासमये यत्नादंतर्वत्नी नृपांगना ॥ निर्गता शोक संतप्ता प्रतीचीं प्रययौ दिशम्

sā niśāsamaye yatnādaṁtarvatnī nṛpāṁganā nirgatā śoka saṁtaptā pratīcīṁ prayayau diśam

At night, with effort, that pregnant queen, consumed by grief, went forth and journeyed toward the western direction.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.98.27)

अथ प्रभाते मार्गेण गच्छन्ती शनकैः सती ॥ अतीत्य दूरमध्वानं ददर्श विमलं सरः

atha prabhāte mārgeṇa gacchantī śanakaiḥ satī atītya dūramadhvānaṁ dadarśa vimalaṁ saraḥ

Then at dawn, walking slowly along the road, that faithful woman, having crossed a long distance, saw a clear lake.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.98.28)

तत्रागत्य वरारोहा तप्ता तापेन भूयसा ॥ विलसंतं सरस्तीरे छायावृक्षं समाश्रयत्

tatrāgatya varārohā taptā tāpena bhūyasā vilasaṁtaṁ sarastīre chāyāvṛkṣaṁ samāśrayat

Arriving there, that lovely woman, exhausted by great heat, took shelter beneath a shady tree that stood gleaming on the bank of the lake.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.98.29)

तत्र दैववशाद्राज्ञी विजने तरुकुट्टिमे ॥ असूत तनयं साध्वी मूहूर्ते सद्गुणान्विते

tatra daivavaśādrājñī vijane tarukuṭṭime asūta tanayaṁ sādhvī mūhūrte sadguṇānvite

There, by the will of fate, the queen, that virtuous woman, in the solitary shade beneath the tree, gave birth to a son in an auspicious hour.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.98.30)

अथ सा राजमहिषी पिपासाभिहता भृशम् ॥ सरोऽवतीर्णा चार्वंगी ग्रस्ता ग्राहेण भूयसा

atha sā rājamahiṣī pipāsābhihatā bhṛśam saro'vatīrṇā cārvaṁgī grastā grāheṇa bhūyasā

Then that queen, tormented severely by thirst, went down into the lake, that lovely-limbed one, and was seized there by a great crocodile.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.98.31)

जातमात्रः कुमारोऽपि विनष्टपितृमातृकः ॥ रुरोदोच्चैः सरस्तीरे क्षुत्पिपासार्दितोऽबलः

jātamātraḥ kumāro'pi vinaṣṭapitṛmātṛkaḥ rurodoccaiḥ sarastīre kṣutpipāsārdito'balaḥ

The infant boy, newly born, now bereft of both father and mother, wailed loudly on the bank of the lake, helpless and tormented by hunger and thirst.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.98.32)

तस्मिन्नेवं क्रन्दमाने जातमात्रे कुमारके ॥ काचिदभ्याययौ शीघ्रं दिष्ट्या विप्रवरांगना

tasminnevaṁ krandamāne jātamātre kumārake kācidabhyāyayau śīghraṁ diṣṭyā vipravarāṁganā

While that newborn child was crying out thus, a certain brahmin woman happened, by good fortune, to come swiftly that way.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.98.33)

साप्येकहायनं बालमुद्वहन्ती निजात्मजम् ॥ अधना भर्तृरहिता याचमाना गृहेगृहे

sāpyekahāyanaṁ bālamudvahantī nijātmajam adhanā bhartṛrahitā yācamānā gṛhegṛhe

She too was carrying her own one-year-old son, being poor, without a husband, and begging from house to house.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.98.34)

एकात्मजा बंधुहीना याञ्चामार्गवशंगता॥ उमानाम द्विजसतीददर्श नृपनंदनम्

ekātmajā baṁdhuhīnā yāñcāmārgavaśaṁgatā umānāma dvijasatīdadarśa nṛpanaṁdanam

That brahmin woman named Uma, having only one child, without kin, reduced to the path of begging, saw the king's son lying there.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.98.35)

सा दृष्ट्वा राजतनयं सूर्यबिंवमिव च्युतम्॥ अनाथमेनं क्रंदंतं चिंतयामास भूरिशः

sā dṛṣṭvā rājatanayaṁ sūryabiṁvamiva cyutam anāthamenaṁ kraṁdaṁtaṁ ciṁtayāmāsa bhūriśaḥ

Seeing that royal child, fallen there like the disc of the sun, orphaned and crying, she pondered deeply.

Verse 36 (skanda.3.98.36)

अहो सुमहदाश्चर्यमिदं दृष्टं मयाधुना ॥ अच्छिन्ननाभिसूत्रोऽयं शिशुर्माता क्व वा गता

aho sumahadāścaryamidaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ mayādhunā acchinnanābhisūtro'yaṁ śiśurmātā kva vā gatā

"Ah, what a great wonder is this that I have now seen! This infant's umbilical cord is not even cut — where has his mother gone?"

Verse 37 (skanda.3.98.37)

पिता नास्ति न चान्योस्ति नास्ति बंधुजनोऽपि वा ॥ अनाथः कृपणो बालः शेते केवल भूतले

pitā nāsti na cānyosti nāsti baṁdhujano'pi vā anāthaḥ kṛpaṇo bālaḥ śete kevala bhūtale

"There is no father, nor anyone else, nor any kinsman here — this poor, helpless child lies alone upon the bare earth."

Verse 38 (skanda.3.98.38)

एष चांडालजो वापि शूद्रजो वैश्यजोपि वा ॥ विप्रात्मजो वा नृपजो ज्ञायते कथमर्भकः

eṣa cāṁḍālajo vāpi śūdrajo vaiśyajopi vā viprātmajo vā nṛpajo jñāyate kathamarbhakaḥ

"Is this child born of a chandala, or a shudra, or a vaishya, or the son of a brahmin, or of a king? How can it be known?"

Verse 39 (skanda.3.98.39)

शिशुमेनं समुद्धृत्य पुष्णाम्यौरसवद्ध्रुवम् ॥ किं त्वविज्ञातकुलजं नोत्सहे स्प्रष्टुमुत्तमम्

śiśumenaṁ samuddhṛtya puṣṇāmyaurasavaddhruvam kiṁ tvavijñātakulajaṁ notsahe spraṣṭumuttamam

"I could surely take up this child and raise him as my own — yet, since his family is unknown, I, though of noble birth, do not dare to touch him."

Verse 40 (skanda.3.98.40)

इति मीमांसमानायां तस्यां विप्रवरस्त्रियाम्

iti mīmāṁsamānāyāṁ tasyāṁ vipravarastriyām

Thus, while that excellent brahmin woman was deliberating within herself,

Verse 41 (skanda.3.98.41)

कश्चित्समाययौ भिक्षुः साक्षाद्देवः शिवः स्वयम् ॥ तामाह भिक्षुवर्योथ विप्रभामिनि मा खिदः

kaścitsamāyayau bhikṣuḥ sākṣāddevaḥ śivaḥ svayam tāmāha bhikṣuvaryotha viprabhāmini mā khidaḥ

a certain mendicant approached — none other than the god Shiva himself. That excellent mendicant said to her: "O brahmin lady, do not grieve."

Verse 42 (skanda.3.98.42)

रक्षैनं बालकं सुभ्रुर्विसृज्य हृदि संशयम्॥ अनेन परमं श्रेयः प्राप्स्यसे ह्यचिरादेिह

rakṣainaṁ bālakaṁ subhrurvisṛjya hṛdi saṁśayam anena paramaṁ śreyaḥ prāpsyase hyacirādeiha

"O fair-browed one, protect this child, casting aside the doubt in your heart. Through him you shall soon attain the highest good, right here in this world."

Verse 43 (skanda.3.98.43)

एतावदुक्त्वा त्वरितो भिक्षुः कारुणिको ययौ ॥ अथ तस्मिन्गते भिक्षौ विश्रब्धा विप्रभामिनी

etāvaduktvā tvarito bhikṣuḥ kāruṇiko yayau atha tasmingate bhikṣau viśrabdhā viprabhāminī

Having said only this much, the compassionate mendicant swiftly departed. Then, when the mendicant had gone, the brahmin woman, now reassured,

Verse 44 (skanda.3.98.44)

तमर्भकं समादाय निजमेव गृहं ययौ ॥ भिक्षुवाक्येन विश्रब्धा सा राज तनयं सती

tamarbhakaṁ samādāya nijameva gṛhaṁ yayau bhikṣuvākyena viśrabdhā sā rāja tanayaṁ satī

took up that infant and went to her own home; reassured by the mendicant's words, that virtuous woman took the prince with her.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.98.45)

आत्मपुत्रेण सदृशं कृपया पर्यपोषयत्॥ एकचक्राह्वये रम्ये ग्रामे कृतनिकेतना

ātmaputreṇa sadṛśaṁ kṛpayā paryapoṣayat ekacakrāhvaye ramye grāme kṛtaniketanā

Out of compassion she raised him just as her own son, having made her home in the lovely village called Ekachakra.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.98.46)

स्वपुत्रं राजपुत्रं च भिक्षान्नेन व्यवर्धयत् ॥ ब्राह्मणीतनयश्चैव स राजतनयस्तथा

svaputraṁ rājaputraṁ ca bhikṣānnena vyavardhayat brāhmaṇītanayaścaiva sa rājatanayastathā

She raised both her own son and the prince on alms-food — the brahmin woman's son, and likewise that son of the king.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.98.47)

ब्राह्मणैः कृतसंस्कारौ ववृधाते सुपूजितौ॥ कृतोपनयनौ काले बालकौ नियमे स्थितौ

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṛtasaṁskārau vavṛdhāte supūjitau kṛtopanayanau kāle bālakau niyame sthitau

The two boys, given their sacraments by brahmins, grew up well honored; in due time their sacred-thread ceremony was performed, and they lived observing their vows.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.98.48)

भिक्षार्थं चेरतुस्तत्र मात्रा सह दिनेदिने ॥ ताभ्यां कदाचिद्बालाभ्यां सा विप्रवनिता सह

bhikṣārthaṁ ceratustatra mātrā saha dinedine tābhyāṁ kadācidbālābhyāṁ sā vipravanitā saha

Together with their mother, they went about daily begging for alms; once, together with those two boys, that brahmin woman,

Verse 49 (skanda.3.98.49)

भैक्ष्यं चरंती दैवेन प्रविष्टा देवतालयम्॥ तत्र वृद्धैः समाकीर्णे मुनिभिर्देवतालये

bhaikṣyaṁ caraṁtī daivena praviṣṭā devatālayam tatra vṛddhaiḥ samākīrṇe munibhirdevatālaye

while going about begging alms, by fate entered a temple; there, in that temple crowded with venerable sages,

Verse 50 (skanda.3.98.50)

तौ दृष्ट्वा बालकौ धीमाञ्छांडिल्यो मुनिरब्रवीत् ॥ अहो दैवबलं चित्रमहो कर्म दुरत्ययम्

tau dṛṣṭvā bālakau dhīmāñchāṁḍilyo munirabravīt aho daivabalaṁ citramaho karma duratyayam

seeing those two boys, the wise sage Shandilya exclaimed: "Ah, how strange is the power of fate! Ah, how inescapable is karma!"

Verse 51 (skanda.3.98.51)

एष बालोऽन्यजननीं श्रितो भैक्ष्येण जीवति ॥ इमामेव द्विजवधूं प्राप्य मातरमुत्तमाम्

eṣa bālo'nyajananīṁ śrito bhaikṣyeṇa jīvati imāmeva dvijavadhūṁ prāpya mātaramuttamām

"This boy, having taken refuge with another mother, lives on alms — having found this very brahmin woman as his excellent mother,"

Verse 52 (skanda.3.98.52)

सहैव द्विजपुत्रेण द्विजभावं समाश्रितः ॥ इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं शांडिल्यस्य द्विजांगना

sahaiva dvijaputreṇa dvijabhāvaṁ samāśritaḥ iti śrutvā munervākyaṁ śāṁḍilyasya dvijāṁganā

"together with the brahmin's own son, he has taken on the very status of a brahmin." Hearing these words of the sage Shandilya, the brahmin woman,

Verse 53 (skanda.3.98.53)

सा प्रणम्य सभामध्ये पर्यपृच्छत्सविस्मया ॥ ब्रह्मन्नेषोर्भको नीतो मया भिक्षोर्गिरा गृहम्

sā praṇamya sabhāmadhye paryapṛcchatsavismayā brahmanneṣorbhako nīto mayā bhikṣorgirā gṛham

bowing down in the midst of that assembly, asked in astonishment: "O Brahmin, this child was brought by me to my house at the word of a mendicant."

Verse 54 (skanda.3.98.54)

अविज्ञातकुलोद्यापि सुतवत्परिपोष्यते ॥ कस्मिन्कुले प्रसूतोऽयं का माता जनकोस्य कः

avijñātakulodyāpi sutavatparipoṣyate kasminkule prasūto'yaṁ kā mātā janakosya kaḥ

"Though his lineage is still unknown, I have raised him as my own son. In what family was he born? Who is his mother, who his father?"

Verse 55 (skanda.3.98.55)

सर्वं विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवतो ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥.५५ ॥ इति पृष्टो मुनिः सोथ ज्ञानदृष्टिर्द्विजस्त्रियां ॥ आचख्यौ तस्य बालस्य जन्म कर्म च पौर्विकम्

sarvaṁ vijñātumicchāmi bhavato jñānacakṣuṣaḥ .55 iti pṛṣṭo muniḥ sotha jñānadṛṣṭirdvijastriyāṁ ācakhyau tasya bālasya janma karma ca paurvikam

"I wish to know everything, through your eye of knowledge." Thus questioned, that sage, endowed with the eye of wisdom, then related to the brahmin woman the boy's birth and the deeds of his former life.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.98.56)

विदर्भराजपुत्रस्तु तत्पितुः समरे मृतिम्॥ तन्मातुर्नक्रहरणं साकल्येन न्यवेदयत्

vidarbharājaputrastu tatpituḥ samare mṛtim tanmāturnakraharaṇaṁ sākalyena nyavedayat

He told her fully that this was the son of the king of Vidarbha, of his father's death in battle, and of his mother's seizure by the crocodile.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.98.57)

अथ सा विस्मिता नारी पुनः प्रपच्छ तं मुनिम् ॥ स राजा सकलान्भोगान्हित्वा युद्धे कथं मृतः

atha sā vismitā nārī punaḥ prapaccha taṁ munim sa rājā sakalānbhogānhitvā yuddhe kathaṁ mṛtaḥ

Then that astonished woman again asked the sage: "How did that king, abandoning all his pleasures, come to die in battle?"

Verse 58 (skanda.3.98.58)

दारिद्र्यमस्य बालस्य कथं प्राप्तं महामुने ॥ दारिद्र्यं पुनरुद्धूय कथं राज्यमवाप्स्यति

dāridryamasya bālasya kathaṁ prāptaṁ mahāmune dāridryaṁ punaruddhūya kathaṁ rājyamavāpsyati

"How, O great sage, did this child come to such poverty? And having shaken off this poverty, how shall he attain his kingdom again?"

Verse 59 (skanda.3.98.59)

अस्यापि मम पुत्रस्य भिक्षान्नेनैव जीवतः । दारिद्र्यशमनोपायमुपदेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि

asyāpi mama putrasya bhikṣānnenaiva jīvataḥ dāridryaśamanopāyamupadeṣṭuṁ tvamarhasi

"You should also teach me the means to end the poverty of this, my own son, who likewise lives only on alms-food."

Verse 60 (skanda.3.98.60)

शांडिल्य उवाच ॥ अमुष्य बालस्य पिता स विदर्भमहीपतिः ॥ पूर्वजन्मनि पांड्येशो बभूव नृपसत्तमः

śāṁḍilya uvāca amuṣya bālasya pitā sa vidarbhamahīpatiḥ pūrvajanmani pāṁḍyeśo babhūva nṛpasattamaḥ

Shandilya said: The father of this boy, that lord of Vidarbha, had in a former birth been the excellent king of the Pandya country.

Verse 61 (skanda.3.98.61)

स राजा सर्वधर्मज्ञः पालयन्सकलां महीम् ॥ प्रदोषसमये शंभुं कदा चित्प्रत्यपूजयत्

sa rājā sarvadharmajñaḥ pālayansakalāṁ mahīm pradoṣasamaye śaṁbhuṁ kadā citpratyapūjayat

That king, versed in all dharma, while ruling the whole earth, once worshipped Shambhu at the hour of Pradosha.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.98.62)

तस्य पूजयतो भक्त्या देवं त्रिभुवनेश्वरम् ॥ आसीत्कलकलारावः सर्वत्र नगरे महान्

tasya pūjayato bhaktyā devaṁ tribhuvaneśvaram āsītkalakalārāvaḥ sarvatra nagare mahān

While he was worshipping with devotion the lord of the three worlds, a great uproar suddenly arose everywhere in the city.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.98.63)

श्रुत्वा तमुत्कटं शब्दं राजा त्यक्तशिवार्चनः ॥ निर्ययौ राजभवनान्नगरक्षोभशंकया

śrutvā tamutkaṭaṁ śabdaṁ rājā tyaktaśivārcanaḥ niryayau rājabhavanānnagarakṣobhaśaṁkayā

Hearing that violent noise, the king abandoned his worship of Shiva and came out from his palace, fearing some disturbance in the city.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.98.64)

एतस्मिन्नेव समये तस्यामात्यो महाबलः ॥ शत्रुं गृहीत्वा सामंतं राजांतिकमुपागमत्

etasminneva samaye tasyāmātyo mahābalaḥ śatruṁ gṛhītvā sāmaṁtaṁ rājāṁtikamupāgamat

At that very moment, his mighty minister, having captured an enemy vassal-chief, approached the king.

Verse 65 (skanda.3.98.65)

अमात्येन समानीतं शत्रुं सामंतमुद्धतम् ॥ दृष्ट्वा क्रोधेन नृपतिः शिरच्छेदमकारयत्

amātyena samānītaṁ śatruṁ sāmaṁtamuddhatam dṛṣṭvā krodhena nṛpatiḥ śiracchedamakārayat

Seeing that arrogant enemy vassal brought by his minister, the king, in anger, had his head cut off.

Verse 66 (skanda.3.98.66)

स तथैव महीपालो विसृज्य शिवपूजनम् ॥ असमाप्तात्मनियमश्चकार निशि भोजनम्

sa tathaiva mahīpālo visṛjya śivapūjanam asamāptātmaniyamaścakāra niśi bhojanam

That king, having thus abandoned his worship of Shiva, with his self-imposed vow left incomplete, ate his meal that night before completing it.

Verse 67 (skanda.3.98.67)

तत्पुत्रोपि तथा चक्रे प्रदोषसमये शिवम् ॥ अनर्चयित्वा मूढात्मा भुक्त्वा सुष्वाप दुर्मदः

tatputropi tathā cakre pradoṣasamaye śivam anarcayitvā mūḍhātmā bhuktvā suṣvāpa durmadaḥ

His son likewise, at the hour of Pradosha, without worshipping Shiva, foolishly ate his meal and, in his pride, fell asleep.

Verse 68 (skanda.3.98.68)

जन्मांतरे स नृपतिर्विदर्भक्षितिपोऽभवत् ॥ शिवार्चनांतरायेण परैर्भोगांतरे हतः

janmāṁtare sa nṛpatirvidarbhakṣitipo'bhavat śivārcanāṁtarāyeṇa parairbhogāṁtare hataḥ

In another birth, that king became the ruler of Vidarbha; because of that interruption of Shiva's worship, he was slain by enemies in the midst of his enjoyment of the kingdom.

Verse 69 (skanda.3.98.69)

तत्पुत्रो यः पूर्वभवे सोस्मिञ्जन्मनि तत्सुतः ॥ भूत्वा दारिद्र्यमापन्नः शिवपूजाव्यतिक्रमात्

tatputro yaḥ pūrvabhave sosmiñjanmani tatsutaḥ bhūtvā dāridryamāpannaḥ śivapūjāvyatikramāt

His son of that former birth became, in this present birth, his son again — and has fallen into poverty because of that transgression against Shiva's worship.

Verse 70 (skanda.3.98.70)

अस्य माता पूर्वभवे सपत्नीं छद्मनाहनत् ॥ तेन पापेन महता ग्राहेणास्मिन्भवे हता

asya mātā pūrvabhave sapatnīṁ chadmanāhanat tena pāpena mahatā grāheṇāsminbhave hatā

This boy's mother, in a former birth, had deceitfully killed a co-wife; because of that great sin, she was slain by a crocodile in this present life.

Verse 71 (skanda.3.98.71)

एषा प्रवृत्तिरेतेषां भवत्यै समुदाहृता ॥ अनर्चितशिवा मर्त्याः प्राप्नुवंति दरिद्रताम्

eṣā pravṛttireteṣāṁ bhavatyai samudāhṛtā anarcitaśivā martyāḥ prāpnuvaṁti daridratām

This, O lady, is the account of their circumstances, as has been related to you: mortals who fail to worship Shiva come to poverty.

Verse 72 (skanda.3.98.72)

सत्यं ब्रवीमि परलोकहितं ब्रवीमि सारं ब्रवीम्युपनिषद्धृदयं ब्रवीमि ॥ संसारमुल्बणमसारमवाप्य जंतोः सारो यमीश्वरपदांबुरुहस्य सेवा

satyaṁ bravīmi paralokahitaṁ bravīmi sāraṁ bravīmyupaniṣaddhṛdayaṁ bravīmi saṁsāramulbaṇamasāramavāpya jaṁtoḥ sāro yamīśvarapadāṁburuhasya sevā

I speak the truth, I speak what is good for the world beyond, I speak the essence, I speak the very heart of the Upanishads: having entered this fearsome and unsubstantial worldly existence, the true essence for a living being is only the service of the Lord's lotus feet.

Verse 73 (skanda.3.98.73)

ये नार्चयंति गिरिशं समये प्रदोषे ये नार्चितं शिवमपि प्रणमंति चान्ये ॥ एतत्कथां श्रुतिपुटैर्न पिबंति मूढास्ते जन्मजन्मसु भवंति नरा दरिद्राः

ye nārcayaṁti giriśaṁ samaye pradoṣe ye nārcitaṁ śivamapi praṇamaṁti cānye etatkathāṁ śrutipuṭairna pibaṁti mūḍhāste janmajanmasu bhavaṁti narā daridrāḥ

Those who do not worship Girisha at the hour of Pradosha, and others who do not even bow to Shiva once worshipped, and the foolish who do not drink in this story through the cups of their ears — such people remain poor birth after birth.

Verse 74 (skanda.3.98.74)

ये वै प्रदोषसमये परमेश्वरस्य कुर्वंत्यनन्यमनसोंऽघ्रिसरोजपूजाम् ॥ नित्यं प्रवृद्धधन धान्यकलत्रपुत्रसौभाग्यसंपदधिकास्त इहैव लोके

ye vai pradoṣasamaye parameśvarasya kurvaṁtyananyamanasoṁ'ghrisarojapūjām nityaṁ pravṛddhadhana dhānyakalatraputrasaubhāgyasaṁpadadhikāsta ihaiva loke

But those who, at the hour of Pradosha, worship the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with undivided mind — they, even in this very world, become ever more abundant in wealth, grain, wife, sons, good fortune, and prosperity.

Verse 75 (skanda.3.98.75)

कैलासशैलभवने त्रिजगजनित्रीं गौरीं निवेश्य कनकांचितरत्नपीठे ॥ नृत्यं विधातु मभिवाञ्छति शूलपाणौ देवाः प्रदोषसमयेऽनुभजंति सर्वे

kailāsaśailabhavane trijagajanitrīṁ gaurīṁ niveśya kanakāṁcitaratnapīṭhe nṛtyaṁ vidhātu mabhivāñchati śūlapāṇau devāḥ pradoṣasamaye'nubhajaṁti sarve

In his abode on Mount Kailasa, having seated Gauri, mother of the three worlds, upon a jewelled throne inlaid with gold, when the Trident-bearer desires to perform his dance, all the gods join him in worship at that hour of Pradosha.

Verse 76 (skanda.3.98.76)

वाग्देवी धृतवल्लकी शतमखो वेणुं दधत्पद्मजस्तालोन्निद्रकरो रमा भगवती गेयप्रयोगान्विता ॥ विष्णुः सांद्रमृदंगवादनपटुर्देवाः समंतात्स्थिताः सेवंते तमनु प्रदोषसमये देवं मृडानीपतिम्

vāgdevī dhṛtavallakī śatamakho veṇuṁ dadhatpadmajastālonnidrakaro ramā bhagavatī geyaprayogānvitā viṣṇuḥ sāṁdramṛdaṁgavādanapaṭurdevāḥ samaṁtātsthitāḥ sevaṁte tamanu pradoṣasamaye devaṁ mṛḍānīpatim

The goddess of speech holds the lute, Indra holds the flute, Brahma keeps time with cymbals, the glorious goddess Lakshmi is engaged in singing, and Vishnu is skilled at playing the deep-toned drum, while all the gods stand around and serve that lord of Parvati at the hour of Pradosha.

Verse 77 (skanda.3.98.77)

गंधर्वयक्षपतगोरगसिद्ध साध्या विद्याधरामरवराप्सरसां गणाश्च ॥ येऽन्ये त्रिलोकनिलयाः सह भूतवर्गाः प्राप्ते प्रदोषसमये हरपार्थसंस्थाः

gaṁdharvayakṣapatagoragasiddha sādhyā vidyādharāmaravarāpsarasāṁ gaṇāśca ye'nye trilokanilayāḥ saha bhūtavargāḥ prāpte pradoṣasamaye harapārthasaṁsthāḥ

Gandharvas, yakshas, birds, serpents, siddhas, sadhyas, vidyadharas, the finest of the celestials, and hosts of apsarases, and whatever other beings dwell in the three worlds, together with their hosts of spirits, all take their place beside Hara when the hour of Pradosha arrives.

Verse 78 (skanda.3.98.78)

अतः प्रदोषे शिव एक एव पूज्योऽथ नान्ये हरिपद्मजाद्याः ॥ तस्मिन्महेशे विधिनेज्यमाने सर्वे प्रसीदंति सुराधिनाथाः

ataḥ pradoṣe śiva eka eva pūjyo'tha nānye haripadmajādyāḥ tasminmaheśe vidhinejyamāne sarve prasīdaṁti surādhināthāḥ

Therefore, at Pradosha, Shiva alone is to be worshipped, and no other — not Hari, Brahma, or the rest; for when that great Lord is duly worshipped, all the chief lords among the gods become pleased of themselves.

Verse 79 (skanda.3.98.79)

एष ते तनयः पूर्वजन्मनि ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥ प्रतिग्रहैर्वयो निन्ये न यज्ञाद्यैः सुकर्मभिः

eṣa te tanayaḥ pūrvajanmani brāhmaṇottamaḥ pratigrahairvayo ninye na yajñādyaiḥ sukarmabhiḥ

This son of yours, in a former birth, was an excellent brahmin who passed his life by accepting gifts, not through sacrifices and other good deeds.

Verse 80 (skanda.3.98.80)

अतो दारिद्र्यमापन्नः पुत्रस्ते द्विजभामिनि॥ तद्दोष परिहारार्थं शरणं यातु शंकरम्

ato dāridryamāpannaḥ putraste dvijabhāmini taddoṣa parihārārthaṁ śaraṇaṁ yātu śaṁkaram

Therefore your son, O brahmin lady, has fallen into poverty; to remove this fault, let him take refuge in Shankara.