The Paralysis of Vyasa's Arm

Verse 1 (skanda.4.95.1)

।। व्यास उवाच [। ।। शृणु सूत महाबुद्धे यथा स्कंदेन भाषितम् ।। भविष्यं मम तस्याग्रे कुंभयोने महामते

|| vyāsa uvāca [| || śṛṇu sūta mahābuddhe yathā skaṁdena bhāṣitam || bhaviṣyaṁ mama tasyāgre kuṁbhayone mahāmate

Vyasa said: Listen, O greatly wise Suta, to what was spoken by Skanda regarding my future, before that, O great-minded pot-born one.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.95.2)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। निशामय महाभाग त्वं मैत्रावरुणे मुने ।। पाराशर्यो मुनिवरो यथा मोहमुपैष्यति

|| skaṁda uvāca || || niśāmaya mahābhāga tvaṁ maitrāvaruṇe mune || pārāśaryo munivaro yathā mohamupaiṣyati

Skanda said: Listen, O greatly fortunate one, O sage born of Mitra-Varuna, how the excellent sage Parashari will fall into delusion.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.95.3)

व्यस्य वेदान्महाबुद्धिर्नाना शाखा प्रभेदतः ।। अष्टादशपुराणानि सूतादीन्परिपाठ्य च

vyasya vedānmahābuddhirnānā śākhā prabhedataḥ || aṣṭādaśapurāṇāni sūtādīnparipāṭhya ca

That sage of great intellect, having divided the Vedas into many branches and divisions, and having recited the eighteen Puranas to Suta and others,

Verse 4 (skanda.4.95.4)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणानां रहस्यं यस्त्वचीकरत् ।। महाभारतसंज्ञं च सर्वलोकमनोहरम्

śrutismṛtipurāṇānāṁ rahasyaṁ yastvacīkarat || mahābhāratasaṁjñaṁ ca sarvalokamanoharam

having made known the secret meaning of Shruti, Smriti and Purana, and having composed that named Mahabharata, the delight of all the world,

Verse 5 (skanda.4.95.5)

सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वशांतिकरं परम् ।। यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या विनश्यति

sarvapāpapraśamanaṁ sarvaśāṁtikaraṁ param || yasya śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyā vinaśyati

the supreme remover of all sins, the supreme bringer of all peace, by mere hearing of which even the killing of a brahmin is destroyed —

Verse 6 (skanda.4.95.6)

एकदा स मुनिः श्रीमान्पर्यटन्पृथिवीतले ।। संप्राप्तो नैमिषारण्यं यत्र संति मुनीश्वराः

ekadā sa muniḥ śrīmānparyaṭanpṛthivītale || saṁprāpto naimiṣāraṇyaṁ yatra saṁti munīśvarāḥ

once that illustrious sage, wandering over the earth, arrived at Naimisharanya, where lords of sages dwelt,

Verse 7 (skanda.4.95.7)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि शौनकाद्यास्तपोधनाः ।।. त्रिपुंड्रितमहाभाला लसद्रुद्राक्षमालिनः

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi śaunakādyāstapodhanāḥ ||. tripuṁḍritamahābhālā lasadrudrākṣamālinaḥ

eighty-eight thousand ascetics, Shaunaka and others, their broad foreheads marked with tripundra, wearing shining garlands of rudraksha,

Verse 8 (skanda.4.95.8)

विभूतिधारिणो भक्त्या रुद्रसूक्तजपप्रियान् ।। लिंगाराधनसंसक्ताञ्छिवनामकृतादरान्

vibhūtidhāriṇo bhaktyā rudrasūktajapapriyān || liṁgārādhanasaṁsaktāñchivanāmakṛtādarān

bearing sacred ash with devotion, fond of chanting the Rudra-sukta, devoted to linga-worship, honouring the name of Shiva —

Verse 9 (skanda.4.95.9)

एक एव हि विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नान्य एव हि ।। इति ब्रुवाणान्सततं परिनिश्चितमानसान्

eka eva hi viśveśo muktido nānya eva hi || iti bruvāṇānsatataṁ pariniścitamānasān

constantly declaring, "Vishvesha alone is the giver of liberation, none other indeed" — their minds firmly resolved on this —

Verse 10 (skanda.4.95.10)

विलोक्य स मुनिर्व्यासस्तासर्वान्गिरिशात्मनः ।। उत्क्षिप्य तर्जनीमुच्चैः प्रोवाचेदं वचः पुनः

vilokya sa munirvyāsastāsarvāngiriśātmanaḥ || utkṣipya tarjanīmuccaiḥ provācedaṁ vacaḥ punaḥ

seeing all these devotees of Girisha, that sage Vyasa, raising his forefinger, spoke this word aloud again —

Verse 11 (skanda.4.95.11)

परिनिर्मथ्य वाग्जालं सुनिश्चित्यासकृद्बहु ।। इदमेकं परिज्ञातं सेव्यः सर्वेश्वरो हरिः

parinirmathya vāgjālaṁ suniścityāsakṛdbahu || idamekaṁ parijñātaṁ sevyaḥ sarveśvaro hariḥ

"Having thoroughly churned the web of words, having repeatedly ascertained much, this one thing alone is known to me for certain: Hari, the lord of all, is to be served."

Verse 12 (skanda.4.95.12)

वेदे रामायणे चैव पुराणेषु च भारते ।। आदिमध्यावसानेषु हरिरेकोऽत्र नापरः

vede rāmāyaṇe caiva purāṇeṣu ca bhārate || ādimadhyāvasāneṣu harireko'tra nāparaḥ

"In the Veda, and in the Ramayana, and in the Puranas and in the Bharata, in the beginning, middle, and end, Hari alone is here, none other."

Verse 13 (skanda.4.95.13)

सत्यं सत्यं त्रिसत्यं पुनः सत्यं न मृषा पुनः ।। न वेदादपरं शास्त्रं न देवोच्युततः परः

satyaṁ satyaṁ trisatyaṁ punaḥ satyaṁ na mṛṣā punaḥ || na vedādaparaṁ śāstraṁ na devocyutataḥ paraḥ

"True, true, thrice true, again true, not false again: there is no scripture higher than the Veda, no god higher than the Imperishable One."

Verse 14 (skanda.4.95.14)

लक्ष्मीशः सर्वदो नान्यो लक्ष्मीशोप्यपवर्गदः ।। एक एव हि लक्ष्मीशस्ततो ध्येयो न चापरः

lakṣmīśaḥ sarvado nānyo lakṣmīśopyapavargadaḥ || eka eva hi lakṣmīśastato dhyeyo na cāparaḥ

"The Lord of Lakshmi alone is the giver of everything, none other; the Lord of Lakshmi alone is also the giver of liberation. The Lord of Lakshmi alone is to be meditated upon, none other."

Verse 15 (skanda.4.95.15)

भुक्तेर्मुक्तेरिहान्यत्र नान्यो दाता जनार्दनात्।। तस्माच्चतुर्भुजो नित्यं सेवनीयः सुखेप्सुभिः

bhuktermukterihānyatra nānyo dātā janārdanāt|| tasmāccaturbhujo nityaṁ sevanīyaḥ sukhepsubhiḥ

"For enjoyment or liberation, here or elsewhere, there is no other giver than Janardana. Therefore, those who desire happiness should ever serve the four-armed one."

Verse 16 (skanda.4.95.16)

विहाय केशवादन्यं ये सेवंतेल्पमेधसः ।। संसारचक्रे गहने ते विशंति पुनःपुनः

vihāya keśavādanyaṁ ye sevaṁtelpamedhasaḥ || saṁsāracakre gahane te viśaṁti punaḥpunaḥ

"Those of little intellect who, abandoning Keshava, serve another, enter again and again into the deep wheel of samsara."

Verse 17 (skanda.4.95.17)

एक एव हि सर्वेशो हृषीकेशः परात्परः ।। तं सेवमानः सततं सेव्यस्त्रिजगतां भवेत्

eka eva hi sarveśo hṛṣīkeśaḥ parātparaḥ || taṁ sevamānaḥ satataṁ sevyastrijagatāṁ bhavet

"Hrishikesha alone indeed is the lord of all, higher than the highest; whoever constantly serves him becomes worthy of service by the three worlds."

Verse 18 (skanda.4.95.18)

एको धर्मप्रदो विष्णुस्त्वेको बह्वर्थदो हरिः ।। एकः कामप्रदश्चक्री त्वेको मोक्षप्रदोच्युतः

eko dharmaprado viṣṇustveko bahvarthado hariḥ || ekaḥ kāmapradaścakrī tveko mokṣapradocyutaḥ

"Vishnu alone is the giver of dharma, Hari alone the giver of great wealth; the discus-bearer alone the giver of desire, the Imperishable One alone the giver of liberation."

Verse 19 (skanda.4.95.19)

शार्ङ्गिणं ये परित्यज्य देवमन्यमुपासते ।। ते सद्भिश्च बहिष्कार्या वेदहीना यथा द्विजाः

śārṅgiṇaṁ ye parityajya devamanyamupāsate || te sadbhiśca bahiṣkāryā vedahīnā yathā dvijāḥ

"Those who abandon the bow-bearer and worship another god should be cast out by the good, like brahmins devoid of the Veda."

Verse 20 (skanda.4.95.20)

श्रुत्वेति वाक्यं व्यासस्य नैमिषारण्यवासिनः।। प्रवेपमानहृदयाः परिप्रोचुरिदं वचः

śrutveti vākyaṁ vyāsasya naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ|| pravepamānahṛdayāḥ pariprocuridaṁ vacaḥ

Hearing this speech of Vyasa, the dwellers of Naimisharanya, their hearts trembling, spoke this word —

Verse 21 (skanda.4.95.21)

।। ऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। पाराशर्य मुने मान्यस्त्वमस्माकं महामते ।। यतो वेदास्त्वया व्यस्ताः पुराणान्यपि वेत्ति यत्

|| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || || pārāśarya mune mānyastvamasmākaṁ mahāmate || yato vedāstvayā vyastāḥ purāṇānyapi vetti yat

The sages said: "O sage Parashari, you are honoured by us, O great-minded one, since the Vedas were divided by you, and you know the Puranas too,"

Verse 22 (skanda.4.95.22)

यतश्च कर्ता त्वमसि महतो भारतस्य वै ।। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां विनिश्चयकृतो ध्रुवम्

yataśca kartā tvamasi mahato bhāratasya vai || dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ viniścayakṛto dhruvam

"and since you are the author of the great Bharata, and have surely determined dharma, artha, kama, and moksha."

Verse 23 (skanda.4.95.23)

तत्त्वज्ञः कोपरश्चात्र त्वत्तः सत्यवतीसुत।। भवता यत्प्रतिज्ञातं निश्चित्योक्षिप्यतर्जनीम्

tattvajñaḥ koparaścātra tvattaḥ satyavatīsuta|| bhavatā yatpratijñātaṁ niścityokṣipyatarjanīm

"Who else here is a knower of truth besides you, O son of Satyavati? What you have vowed, having resolved, raising your forefinger —"

Verse 24 (skanda.4.95.24)

अस्मिन्माणवकास्तत्र परिश्रद्दधते नहि ।। प्रतिज्ञा तस्य वचसस्तव श्रद्धा भवेत्तदा

asminmāṇavakāstatra pariśraddadhate nahi || pratijñā tasya vacasastava śraddhā bhavettadā

"— in this, the young students here do not fully believe. Then trust in the vow of this speech of yours would arise —"

Verse 25 (skanda.4.95.25)

यदाऽऽनंदवने शंभोः प्रतिजानासि वै वचः

yadā''naṁdavane śaṁbhoḥ pratijānāsi vai vacaḥ

"— only when you make this vow in Shambhu's Anandavana."

Verse 26 (skanda.4.95.26)

गच्छ वाराणसीं व्यास यत्र विश्वेश्वरः स्वयम् ।। न तत्र युगधर्मोस्ति न च लग्ना वसुंधरा

gaccha vārāṇasīṁ vyāsa yatra viśveśvaraḥ svayam || na tatra yugadharmosti na ca lagnā vasuṁdharā

"Go to Varanasi, O Vyasa, where Vishveshvara himself dwells; there the law of the age does not apply, nor is the earth even bound there."

Verse 27 (skanda.4.95.27)

इति श्रुत्वा मुनिर्व्यासः किंचित्कुपितवद्धृदि ।। जगाम तूर्णं सहितः स्वशिष्यैरयुतोन्मितैः

iti śrutvā munirvyāsaḥ kiṁcitkupitavaddhṛdi || jagāma tūrṇaṁ sahitaḥ svaśiṣyairayutonmitaiḥ

Hearing this, the sage Vyasa, somewhat angered at heart, went swiftly, accompanied by his own disciples numbering ten thousand.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.95.28)

प्राप्य वाराणसीं व्यासः स्नात्वा पंचनदे ह्रदे ।। श्रीमन्माधवमभ्यर्च्य ययौ पादोदकं ततः

prāpya vārāṇasīṁ vyāsaḥ snātvā paṁcanade hrade || śrīmanmādhavamabhyarcya yayau pādodakaṁ tataḥ

Having reached Varanasi, Vyasa, having bathed in the Panchanada lake and worshipped the glorious Madhava, then took the water that had washed his feet.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.95.29)

तत्र स्नानादिकं कृत्वा दृष्ट्वा चैवादिकेशवम् ।। पंचरात्रं ततः कृत्वा वैष्णवैरभिनंदितः

tatra snānādikaṁ kṛtvā dṛṣṭvā caivādikeśavam || paṁcarātraṁ tataḥ kṛtvā vaiṣṇavairabhinaṁditaḥ

There, having performed bathing and other rites, and having seen Adikeshava, and then having performed a five-night observance, he was honoured by the Vaishnavas.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.95.30)

अग्रतः पृष्ठतः शंखैर्वाद्यमानैः प्रमोदितः ।। जयविष्णो हृषीकेश गोविंद मधुसूदन

agrataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ śaṁkhairvādyamānaiḥ pramoditaḥ || jayaviṣṇo hṛṣīkeśa goviṁda madhusūdana

Delighted, with conches sounded before and behind him — "Victory to Vishnu, Hrishikesha, Govinda, Madhusudana,"

Verse 31 (skanda.4.95.31)

अच्युतानंतवैकुंठ माधवोपेंद्रकेशव ।। त्रिविक्रम गदापाणे शार्ङ्गपाणे जनार्दन

acyutānaṁtavaikuṁṭha mādhavopeṁdrakeśava || trivikrama gadāpāṇe śārṅgapāṇe janārdana

"Achyuta, Ananta, Vaikuntha, Madhava, Upendra, Keshava, Trivikrama, mace-bearer, bow-bearer, Janardana,"

Verse 32 (skanda.4.95.32)

श्रीवत्सवक्षः श्रीकांत पीतांबर मुरांतक ।। कैटभारे बलिध्वंसिन्कंसारे केशिसूदन ।।

śrīvatsavakṣaḥ śrīkāṁta pītāṁbara murāṁtaka || kaiṭabhāre balidhvaṁsinkaṁsāre keśisūdana ||

"Shrivatsa-chested, beloved of Shri, yellow-robed, slayer of Mura, foe of Kaitabha, destroyer of Bali, foe of Kamsa, slayer of Keshi,"

Verse 33 (skanda.4.95.33)

नारायणासुररिपो कृष्ण शौरे चतुर्भुज ।। देवकीहृदयानंद यशोदानंदवर्धन

nārāyaṇāsuraripo kṛṣṇa śaure caturbhuja || devakīhṛdayānaṁda yaśodānaṁdavardhana

"Narayana, foe of demons, Krishna, descendant of Shura, four-armed one, delight of Devaki's heart, increaser of Yashoda's joy,"

Verse 34 (skanda.4.95.34)

पुंडरीकाक्ष दैत्यारे दामोदर बलप्रिय ।। बलारातिस्तुत हरे वासुदेव वसुप्रद

puṁḍarīkākṣa daityāre dāmodara balapriya || balārātistuta hare vāsudeva vasuprada

"lotus-eyed one, foe of demons, Damodara, beloved of Bala(rama), praised by the foe of Bala, Hari, Vasudeva, bestower of wealth,"

Verse 35 (skanda.4.95.35)

विष्वक्चमूस्तार्क्ष्य रथवनमालिन्नरोत्तम ।। अधोक्षज क्षमाधार पद्मनाभ जलेशय

viṣvakcamūstārkṣya rathavanamālinnarottama || adhokṣaja kṣamādhāra padmanābha jaleśaya

"all-pervading, Garuda-charioted, forest-garlanded one, best of men, beyond the senses, upholder of patience, lotus-naveled one, resting on the waters,"

Verse 36 (skanda.4.95.36)

नृसिंह यज्ञवाराह गोपगोपालवल्लभ ।। गोपीपते गुणातीत गरुडध्वज गोत्रभृत्

nṛsiṁha yajñavārāha gopagopālavallabha || gopīpate guṇātīta garuḍadhvaja gotrabhṛt

"man-lion, sacrificial boar, beloved of cowherds and gopas, lord of the gopis, beyond the gunas, Garuda-bannered, protector of the clan,"

Verse 37 (skanda.4.95.37)

जय चाणूरमथन जय त्रैलोक्यरक्षण ।। जयानाद्य जयानंद जय नीलोत्पलद्युते

jaya cāṇūramathana jaya trailokyarakṣaṇa || jayānādya jayānaṁda jaya nīlotpaladyute

"victory to the destroyer of Chanura, victory to the protector of the three worlds, victory to the beginningless one, victory to the blissful one, victory to the one radiant like the blue lotus,"

Verse 38 (skanda.4.95.38)

कौस्तुभोद्भूषितोरस्क पूतनाधातुशोषण ।। रक्षरक्ष जगद्रक्षामणे नरकहारक

kaustubhodbhūṣitoraska pūtanādhātuśoṣaṇa || rakṣarakṣa jagadrakṣāmaṇe narakahāraka

"chest adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, dryer-up of Putana's vital essence, protect, protect, O jewel of world-protection, remover of hell,"

Verse 39 (skanda.4.95.39)

सहस्रशीर्षपुरुष पुरुहूत सुखप्रद ।। यद्भूतं यच्च भाव्यं वै तत्रैकः पुरुषो भवान्

sahasraśīrṣapuruṣa puruhūta sukhaprada || yadbhūtaṁ yacca bhāvyaṁ vai tatraikaḥ puruṣo bhavān

"thousand-headed Purusha, invoked by many, giver of happiness — whatever has been and whatever will be, you alone are the one Purusha there."

Verse 40 (skanda.4.95.40)

इत्यादि नाममालाभिः संस्तुवन्वनमालिनम् ।। स्वच्छंदलीलया गायन्नृत्यंश्च परया मुदा

ityādi nāmamālābhiḥ saṁstuvanvanamālinam || svacchaṁdalīlayā gāyannṛtyaṁśca parayā mudā

Praising the wearer of the forest-garland with this and other garlands of names, singing and dancing freely with the utmost joy,

Verse 41 (skanda.4.95.41)

व्यासो विश्वेशभवनं समायातः सुहृष्टवत् ।। ज्ञानवापी पुरोभागे महाभागवतैः सह

vyāso viśveśabhavanaṁ samāyātaḥ suhṛṣṭavat || jñānavāpī purobhāge mahābhāgavataiḥ saha

Vyasa, greatly delighted, arrived at the abode of Vishvesha, in front of Jnanavapi, together with the great devotees of Bhagavan,

Verse 42 (skanda.4.95.42)

विराजमानसत्कंठस्तुलसीवरदामभिः ।। स्वयं तालधरो जातः स्वयं जातः सुनर्तकः

virājamānasatkaṁṭhastulasīvaradāmabhiḥ || svayaṁ tāladharo jātaḥ svayaṁ jātaḥ sunartakaḥ

his fine throat adorned with garlands of tulasi, becoming himself a keeper of rhythm, becoming himself an excellent dancer,

Verse 43 (skanda.4.95.43)

वेणुवादनतत्त्वज्ञः स्वयं श्रुतिधरोभवत् ।। नृत्यं परिसमाप्येत्थं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः

veṇuvādanatattvajñaḥ svayaṁ śrutidharobhavat || nṛtyaṁ parisamāpyetthaṁ vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ

himself a knower of the art of flute-playing, becoming himself one who bore all he heard. Thus having completed the dance, Vyasa, son of Satyavati,

Verse 44 (skanda.4.95.44)

पुनरूर्ध्वभुजं कृत्वा दक्षिणं शिष्यमध्यगः ।। पुनः पपाठ तानेव श्लोकान्गायन्निवोच्चकैः

punarūrdhvabhujaṁ kṛtvā dakṣiṇaṁ śiṣyamadhyagaḥ || punaḥ papāṭha tāneva ślokāngāyannivoccakaiḥ

again raising his arm upward, standing in the midst of his disciples on the right, began again to recite those very verses, as if singing them aloud —

Verse 45 (skanda.4.95.45)

परिनिर्मथ्य वाग्जालं सुनिश्चित्यासकृद्बहु ।। इदमेकं परिज्ञातं सेव्यः सर्वेश्वरो हरिः

parinirmathya vāgjālaṁ suniścityāsakṛdbahu || idamekaṁ parijñātaṁ sevyaḥ sarveśvaro hariḥ

"Having thoroughly churned the web of words, having repeatedly ascertained much, this one thing alone is known for certain: Hari, the lord of all, is to be served" —

Verse 46 (skanda.4.95.46)

इत्यादि श्लोकसंघातं स्वप्रतिज्ञा प्रबोधकम्।। यावत्पठति स व्यासः सव्यमुत्क्षिप्य वै भुजम्

ityādi ślokasaṁghātaṁ svapratijñā prabodhakam|| yāvatpaṭhati sa vyāsaḥ savyamutkṣipya vai bhujam

reciting this and other collections of verses proclaiming his own vow — as Vyasa was reciting, having raised his left arm indeed,

Verse 47 (skanda.4.95.47)

तस्तंभ तावत्तद्बाहुं स शैलादिः स्वलीलया ।। वाक्स्तंभश्चापि तस्यासीन्मुनेर्व्यासस्य सन्मुनेः

tastaṁbha tāvattadbāhuṁ sa śailādiḥ svalīlayā || vākstaṁbhaścāpi tasyāsīnmunervyāsasya sanmuneḥ

at that very moment Shailadi, by his own playful power, paralyzed that arm of his; and speech too became paralyzed for that true sage Vyasa.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.95.48)

ततो गुप्तं समागम्य विष्णुर्व्यासमभाषत ।। अपराद्धं महच्चात्र भवता व्यास निश्चितम्

tato guptaṁ samāgamya viṣṇurvyāsamabhāṣata || aparāddhaṁ mahaccātra bhavatā vyāsa niścitam

Then, coming to him secretly, Vishnu said to Vyasa: "A great offense has certainly been committed here by you, O Vyasa."

Verse 49 (skanda.4.95.49)

तवैतदपराधेन भीतिर्मेपि महत्तरा ।। एक एव हि विश्वेशो द्वितीयो नास्ति कश्चन

tavaitadaparādhena bhītirmepi mahattarā || eka eva hi viśveśo dvitīyo nāsti kaścana

"Because of this offense of yours, an even greater fear has arisen in me too. Vishvesha alone indeed exists; there is no second at all."

Verse 50 (skanda.4.95.50)

तत्प्रसादादहं चक्री लक्ष्मीशस्तत्प्रभावतः ।। त्रैलोक्यरक्षासामर्थ्यं दत्तं तेनैव शंभुना

tatprasādādahaṁ cakrī lakṣmīśastatprabhāvataḥ || trailokyarakṣāsāmarthyaṁ dattaṁ tenaiva śaṁbhunā

"By his grace I am the discus-bearer; by his power I am the Lord of Lakshmi. The capacity to protect the three worlds was given by that very Shambhu."

Verse 51 (skanda.4.95.51)

तद्भक्त्या परमैश्वर्यं मया लब्धं वरात्ततः ।। इदानीं स्तुहि तं शंभुं यदि मे शुभमिच्छसि

tadbhaktyā paramaiśvaryaṁ mayā labdhaṁ varāttataḥ || idānīṁ stuhi taṁ śaṁbhuṁ yadi me śubhamicchasi

"By devotion to him I obtained supreme sovereignty, from that very boon. Now praise that Shambhu, if you wish well for me."

Verse 52 (skanda.4.95.52)

अन्यदापि न वै कार्या भवता शेमुषीदृशी ।। पाराशर्य इति श्रुत्वा संज्ञया व्याजहार ह

anyadāpi na vai kāryā bhavatā śemuṣīdṛśī || pārāśarya iti śrutvā saṁjñayā vyājahāra ha

"Never again should such an intention be entertained by you." Hearing this, Parashari indicated by a sign —

Verse 53 (skanda.4.95.53)

भुजस्तंभः कृतस्तेन नंदिना दृष्टिमात्रतः ।। वाक्स्तंभस्तद्भयाज्जातः स्पृश मे कंठकंदलीम्

bhujastaṁbhaḥ kṛtastena naṁdinā dṛṣṭimātrataḥ || vākstaṁbhastadbhayājjātaḥ spṛśa me kaṁṭhakaṁdalīm

"My arm has been paralyzed by Nandi through a mere glance; and speech has been paralyzed out of fear of that. Touch my throat,"

Verse 54 (skanda.4.95.54)

यथा स्तोतुं भवानीश प्रभवाभि भवांतकम ।। संस्पृश्य विष्णुस्तत्कंठं गुप्तमेव जगाम ह

yathā stotuṁ bhavānīśa prabhavābhi bhavāṁtakama || saṁspṛśya viṣṇustatkaṁṭhaṁ guptameva jagāma ha

"— so that I may be able to praise Bhavani's Lord, the destroyer of existence." Having touched his throat, Vishnu departed in secret, unseen.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.95.55)

ततः सत्यवतीसूनुस्तथा स्तंभितदोर्लतः।। प्रारब्धवान्महेशानं परितुष्टोतुमुदारधीः ।।

tataḥ satyavatīsūnustathā staṁbhitadorlataḥ|| prārabdhavānmaheśānaṁ parituṣṭotumudāradhīḥ ||

Then the son of Satyavati, his arm thus paralyzed, his mind noble, began, out of a wish to please, his hymn to Maheshana.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.95.56)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। ।। एको रुद्रो न द्वितीयो यतस्तद्ब्रह्मैवैकं नेह नानास्ति किंचित् ।। यद्यप्यन्यः कोपि वा कुत्रचिद्वा व्याचष्टां तद्यस्य शक्तिर्मदग्रे

|| vyāsa uvāca || || eko rudro na dvitīyo yatastadbrahmaivaikaṁ neha nānāsti kiṁcit || yadyapyanyaḥ kopi vā kutracidvā vyācaṣṭāṁ tadyasya śaktirmadagre

Vyasa said: "There is one Rudra, no second, since that Brahman alone is one; here there is no multiplicity whatsoever. If someone else, somewhere, should say otherwise, let him explain that before me — whoever has the power."

Verse 57 (skanda.4.95.57)

यः क्षीराब्धेर्मंदराघातजातो ज्वालामाली कालकूटोति भीमः ।। तं सोढुं वा को परोऽभून्महेशाद्यत्कीलाभिः कृष्णतामाप विष्णुः

yaḥ kṣīrābdhermaṁdarāghātajāto jvālāmālī kālakūṭoti bhīmaḥ || taṁ soḍhuṁ vā ko paro'bhūnmaheśādyatkīlābhiḥ kṛṣṇatāmāpa viṣṇuḥ

"That terrible, flame-garlanded Kalakuta poison, born from the churning of Mandara in the ocean of milk — who else but Mahesha was able to bear it, by whose particles even Vishnu himself became dark-hued?"

Verse 58 (skanda.4.95.58)

यद्वाणोभूच्छ्रीपतिर्यस्य यंता लोकेशो यत्स्यंदनं भूः समस्ता ।। वाहा वेदा यस्य येनेषुपाताद्दग्धा ग्रामास्त्रैपुरास्तत्समः कः

yadvāṇobhūcchrīpatiryasya yaṁtā lokeśo yatsyaṁdanaṁ bhūḥ samastā || vāhā vedā yasya yeneṣupātāddagdhā grāmāstraipurāstatsamaḥ kaḥ

"Whose very arrow was the Lord of Shri, whose charioteer was the Lord of the worlds, whose chariot was the entire earth, whose horses were the Vedas — by whose arrow-shot the cities of Tripura were burned — who is equal to him?"

Verse 59 (skanda.4.95.59)

यं कदर्पो वीक्षमाणः समानं देवैरन्यैर्भस्मजातः स्वयं हि ।। पौष्पैर्बाणैः सर्वविश्वैकजेता को वा स्तुत्यः कामजेतुस्ततोन्यः

yaṁ kadarpo vīkṣamāṇaḥ samānaṁ devairanyairbhasmajātaḥ svayaṁ hi || pauṣpairbāṇaiḥ sarvaviśvaikajetā ko vā stutyaḥ kāmajetustatonyaḥ

"Whom Kandarpa, daring to regard as equal to other gods, was himself reduced to ashes by mere looking; who alone, even with flower-arrows, is the sole conqueror of the whole universe — who else, other than the Conqueror of Desire, is worthy of praise?"

Verse 60 (skanda.4.95.60)

यं वै वेदो वेद नो नैव विष्णुर्नोवा वेधा नो मनो नैव वाणी ।। तं देवेशं मादृशः कोल्पमेधा याथात्म्याद्वै वेत्त्यहो विश्वनाथम्

yaṁ vai vedo veda no naiva viṣṇurnovā vedhā no mano naiva vāṇī || taṁ deveśaṁ mādṛśaḥ kolpamedhā yāthātmyādvai vettyaho viśvanātham

"Whom the Veda does not know, nor Vishnu, nor Brahma, nor the mind, nor speech — that lord of gods, how could one of little intellect like me truly know as he really is, ah, the Lord of the universe?"

Verse 61 (skanda.4.95.61)

यस्मिन्सर्वं यस्तु सर्वत्र सर्वो यो वै कर्ता योऽविता योऽपहर्ता ।। नो यस्यादिर्यः समस्तादिरेको नो यस्यांतो योंतकृत्तं नतोस्मि

yasminsarvaṁ yastu sarvatra sarvo yo vai kartā yo'vitā yo'pahartā || no yasyādiryaḥ samastādireko no yasyāṁto yoṁtakṛttaṁ natosmi

"In whom is everything, who is all everywhere, who indeed is the doer, who is the protector, who is the destroyer — whose beginning does not exist, who alone is the beginning of all, whose end does not exist, who is the ender — to him I bow."

Verse 62 (skanda.4.95.62)

यस्यैकाख्या वाजिमेधेन तुल्या यस्या न त्या चैकयाल्पेंद्रलक्ष्मीः ।। यस्य स्तुत्या लभ्यते सत्यलोको यस्यार्चातो मोक्षलक्ष्मीरदूरा

yasyaikākhyā vājimedhena tulyā yasyā na tyā caikayālpeṁdralakṣmīḥ || yasya stutyā labhyate satyaloko yasyārcāto mokṣalakṣmīradūrā

"Whose single name is equal to a horse-sacrifice; compared to which even Indra's fortune is not equal to that one name; by whose praise Satyaloka is obtained; by whose worship the goddess of liberation is not far."

Verse 63 (skanda.4.95.63)

नान्यं देवं वेद्म्यहं श्रीमहेशान्नान्यं देवं स्तौमि शंभोर्ऋतेऽहम् ।। नान्यं देवं वा नमामि त्रिनेत्रात्सत्यं सत्यं सत्यमेतन्मृषा न

nānyaṁ devaṁ vedmyahaṁ śrīmaheśānnānyaṁ devaṁ staumi śaṁbhorṛte'ham || nānyaṁ devaṁ vā namāmi trinetrātsatyaṁ satyaṁ satyametanmṛṣā na

"I know no other god but the glorious Mahesha; I praise no other god except Shambhu; I bow to no other god but the three-eyed one — this is true, true, true, not false."

Verse 64 (skanda.4.95.64)

इत्थं यावत्स्तौति शंभुं महर्षिस्तावन्नंदी शांभवाद्दृक्प्रसादात् ।। तद्दोः स्तंभं त्यक्तवांश्चाबभाषे स्मायंस्मायं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमो वः

itthaṁ yāvatstauti śaṁbhuṁ maharṣistāvannaṁdī śāṁbhavāddṛkprasādāt || taddoḥ staṁbhaṁ tyaktavāṁścābabhāṣe smāyaṁsmāyaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo namo vaḥ

Thus, as long as the great sage praised Shambhu, Nandi, by Shambhu's own gracious glance, released the paralysis of his arm, and, smiling again and again, said: "Salutations to you, O brahmins."

Verse 65 (skanda.4.95.65)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच ।। इदं स्तवं महापुण्यं व्यास ते परिकीर्तितम् ।। यः पठिष्यति मेधावी तस्य तुष्यति शंकरः

naṁdikeśvara uvāca || idaṁ stavaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ vyāsa te parikīrtitam || yaḥ paṭhiṣyati medhāvī tasya tuṣyati śaṁkaraḥ

Nandikeshvara said: "This greatly meritorious hymn has been proclaimed by you, O Vyasa; whoever intelligent one recites it, Shankara becomes pleased with him."

Verse 66 (skanda.4.95.66)

व्यासाष्टकमिदं प्रातः पठितव्यं प्रयत्नतः ।। दुःस्वप्नपापशमनं शिवसान्निध्यकारकम्

vyāsāṣṭakamidaṁ prātaḥ paṭhitavyaṁ prayatnataḥ || duḥsvapnapāpaśamanaṁ śivasānnidhyakārakam

"This octet of Vyasa should be recited every morning with effort; it removes bad dreams and sin, and brings about the presence of Shiva."

Verse 67 (skanda.4.95.67)

मातृहा पितृहा वापि गोघ्नो बालघ्र एव वा ।। सुरापी स्वर्णहृद्वापि निष्पापो स्याः स्तुतेर्जपात्

mātṛhā pitṛhā vāpi goghno bālaghra eva vā || surāpī svarṇahṛdvāpi niṣpāpo syāḥ stuterjapāt

"Even one who has killed his mother or father, or a cow-slayer, or a child-slayer, or a drinker of liquor, or a stealer of gold, becomes sinless by reciting this hymn."

Verse 68 (skanda.4.95.68)

स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। पाराशर्यस्तदारभ्य शंभुभक्तिपरोभवत् ।। लिंगं व्यासेश्वरं स्थाप्य घंटाकर्ण ह्रदाग्रतः

skaṁda uvāca || || pārāśaryastadārabhya śaṁbhubhaktiparobhavat || liṁgaṁ vyāseśvaraṁ sthāpya ghaṁṭākarṇa hradāgrataḥ

Skanda said: From that time on, Parashari became devoted to Shambhu-bhakti; having established the linga Vyaseshvara in front of the Ghantakarna lake,

Verse 69 (skanda.4.95.69)

विभूतिभूषणो नित्यं नित्यरुद्राक्षभूषणः ।। रुद्रसूक्तपरो नित्यं नित्यं लिंगार्चकोभवत्

vibhūtibhūṣaṇo nityaṁ nityarudrākṣabhūṣaṇaḥ || rudrasūktaparo nityaṁ nityaṁ liṁgārcakobhavat

ever adorned with sacred ash, ever adorned with rudraksha, ever devoted to the Rudra-sukta, he became ever a worshipper of the linga.

Verse 70 (skanda.4.95.70)

स कृत्वा क्षेत्रसंन्यासं त्यजेन्नाद्यापि काशिकाम् ।। तत्त्वं क्षेत्रस्य विज्ञाय निर्वाणपददायिनः

sa kṛtvā kṣetrasaṁnyāsaṁ tyajennādyāpi kāśikām || tattvaṁ kṣetrasya vijñāya nirvāṇapadadāyinaḥ

Having taken the vow never to leave the sacred field, he should not, even today, abandon Kashika — knowing the truth of this field, which grants the state of Nirvana.

Verse 71 (skanda.4.95.71)

घंटाकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा व्यासेश्वरं नरः ।। यत्रकुत्र मृतो वापि वाराणस्यां मृतो भवेत्

ghaṁṭākarṇahrade snātvā dṛṣṭvā vyāseśvaraṁ naraḥ || yatrakutra mṛto vāpi vārāṇasyāṁ mṛto bhavet

Having bathed in Ghantakarna lake and seen Vyaseshvara, a man, wherever he dies, shall be counted as having died in Varanasi.

Verse 72 (skanda.4.95.72)

काश्यां व्यासेश्वरं लिंगं पूजयित्वा नरोत्तमः ।। न ज्ञानाद्भ्रश्यते क्वापि पातकैर्नाभिभूयते

kāśyāṁ vyāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ pūjayitvā narottamaḥ || na jñānādbhraśyate kvāpi pātakairnābhibhūyate

Having worshipped the linga Vyaseshvara in Kashi, the best of men never falls from knowledge anywhere, nor is overcome by sins.

Verse 73 (skanda.4.95.73)

व्यासेश्वरस्य ये भक्ता न तेषां कलिकालतः ।। न पापतो भयं क्वापि न च क्षेत्रोपसर्गतः

vyāseśvarasya ye bhaktā na teṣāṁ kalikālataḥ || na pāpato bhayaṁ kvāpi na ca kṣetropasargataḥ

Whoever are devotees of Vyaseshvara have no fear at all — from the Kali age, nor from sin, nor from any calamity of the sacred field.

Verse 74 (skanda.4.95.74)

व्यासेश्वरः प्रयत्नेन द्रष्टव्यः काशिवासिभिः ।। घंटाकर्णकृतस्नानैः क्षेत्रपातकभीरुभिः

vyāseśvaraḥ prayatnena draṣṭavyaḥ kāśivāsibhiḥ || ghaṁṭākarṇakṛtasnānaiḥ kṣetrapātakabhīrubhiḥ

Vyaseshvara should be seen with effort by the residents of Kashi, who, having bathed in Ghantakarna, fear the sin associated with the sacred field.