The Glory of Svapneshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.151.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। आशीतिकं विजानीहि देवं स्वप्नेश्वरं प्रिये। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण दुःस्वप्नं नश्यति ध्रुवम्।

īśvara uvāca| āśītikaṁ vijānīhi devaṁ svapneśvaraṁ priye| yasya darśanamātreṇa duḥsvapnaṁ naśyati dhruvam||

Ishvara said: Know, O beloved, the eightieth god as Svapneshvara, by the mere sight of whom a bad dream is surely destroyed.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.151.2)

कल्माषपादेति ख्यातो लोके राजा बभूव ह। इक्ष्वाकुवंशजो देवि तेजसा सूर्यवद्भुवि।

kalmāṣapādeti khyāto loke rājā babhūva ha| ikṣvākuvaṁśajo devi tejasā sūryavadbhuvi||

O goddess, there lived a king renowned in the world as Kalmashapada, born of the Ikshvaku lineage, splendid on earth as the sun.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.151.3)

स कदाचिद्वने राजा वशिष्ठसुतमौरसम्। शक्तिं परमधर्मज्ञं ददर्श विजितेंद्रियम्। मार्गस्थितं तपोनिष्ठमपगच्छेति चाब्रवीत्।

sa kadācidvane rājā vaśiṣṭhasutamaurasam| śaktiṁ paramadharmajñaṁ dadarśa vijiteṁdriyam| mārgasthitaṁ taponiṣṭhamapagaccheti cābravīt||

Once, in the forest, that king came upon Shakti, Vasishtha's own son, most versed in righteousness, master of his senses, standing on the road absorbed in austerity, and told him, "Get out of the way."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.151.4)

अमुंचंतं तु पंथानं तमृषिं नृपसत्तमः। जघान कशया मोहात्तदा राक्षसवन्मुनिम्।

amuṁcaṁtaṁ tu paṁthānaṁ tamṛṣiṁ nṛpasattamaḥ| jaghāna kaśayā mohāttadā rākṣasavanmunim||

When that sage did not yield the path, that eminent king, deluded, struck the sage with his whip, like a very demon.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.151.5)

कशाप्रहाराभिहतस्ततः स मुनिपुंगवः। तं शशाप रुषाविष्टो वाशिष्ठः क्रोधमूर्छितः।

kaśāprahārābhihatastataḥ sa munipuṁgavaḥ| taṁ śaśāpa ruṣāviṣṭo vāśiṣṭhaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ||

Struck by the blow of the whip, that eminent sage, Vasishtha's son, seized with fury, half-mad with rage, cursed him.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.151.6)

हंसि राक्षसवद्यस्माद्राजापसद तापसम्। तस्मात्त्वमद्यप्रभृति पुरुषादो भविष्यति।

haṁsi rākṣasavadyasmādrājāpasada tāpasam| tasmāttvamadyaprabhṛti puruṣādo bhaviṣyati||

"Since, like a rakshasa, you strike an ascetic, O vile king, therefore from this day you shall become an eater of men,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.151.7)

सततं पिशितासक्तश्चरिष्यसि महीमिमाम्। स तु शप्तस्तदा तेन तत्क्षणाद्वै नृपोत्तमः।

satataṁ piśitāsaktaścariṣyasi mahīmimām| sa tu śaptastadā tena tatkṣaṇādvai nṛpottamaḥ||

ever craving flesh, roaming this earth." Thus cursed by him at that very instant, that eminent king —

Verse 8 (skanda.5.151.8)

जगाम शरणं शक्तिं प्रसादयितुमर्हयत्। यदा न तुष्टो विप्रर्षिः शक्तिः परमकोपनः। प्रसाद्यमानो भूपेन तदा तेनापि भक्षितः।

jagāma śaraṇaṁ śaktiṁ prasādayitumarhayat| yadā na tuṣṭo viprarṣiḥ śaktiḥ paramakopanaḥ| prasādyamāno bhūpena tadā tenāpi bhakṣitaḥ||

took refuge with Shakti and sought to appease him. When that most wrathful brahmin-sage Shakti was not pacified, though the king tried to appease him, that king then devoured him too.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.151.9)

शक्तिं तं भक्षयित्वा तु वशिष्ठस्यापरान्तु तान्। भक्षयामास सहसा सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव।

śaktiṁ taṁ bhakṣayitvā tu vaśiṣṭhasyāparāṁstu tān| bhakṣayāmāsa sahasā siṁhaḥ kṣudramṛgāniva||

Having devoured Shakti, he then suddenly devoured the rest of Vasishtha's sons too, as a lion devours small deer.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.151.10)

तदाप्रभृति संजातः पुरुषादो नृपोत्तमः। रात्रौ पश्यति दुःस्वप्नान्पापसंघेन मोहितः।

tadāprabhṛti saṁjātaḥ puruṣādo nṛpottamaḥ| rātrau paśyati duḥsvapnānpāpasaṁghena mohitaḥ||

From that time that eminent king became a man-eater. Deluded by the mass of his sins, he began to see terrible dreams at night.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.151.11)

दृष्ट्वा भयानकान्स्वप्नान्स राजा पर्य्यतप्यत। पश्चात्तापेन संयुक्तो विललाप सुदुःखितः।

dṛṣṭvā bhayānakānsvapnānsa rājā paryyatapyata| paścāttāpena saṁyukto vilalāpa suduḥkhitaḥ||

Beholding those terrible dreams, that king was consumed with anguish; filled with remorse, sorely grieved, he began to lament.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.151.12)

अथाप्युक्तममात्यैश्च किं करोषि महीपते। कस्मात्ते निष्प्रभा कांतिर्विवर्णो हरिणः कृशः।

athāpyuktamamātyaiśca kiṁ karoṣi mahīpate| kasmātte niṣprabhā kāṁtirvivarṇo hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ||

Then his ministers too said to him: "What ails you, O king? Why has your radiance faded, your complexion turned sallow, your body grown thin?"

Verse 13 (skanda.5.151.13)

स राजा कथयामास दुःस्वप्नाननुपूर्वशः। स्वप्नेऽहं सागरं शुष्कं चन्द्रं च पतितं भुवि।

sa rājā kathayāmāsa duḥsvapnānanupūrvaśaḥ| svapne'haṁ sāgaraṁ śuṣkaṁ caṁdraṁ ca patitaṁ bhuvi||

Then the king related his nightmares in order: "In a dream I saw the ocean run dry, and the moon fallen to the earth;

Verse 14 (skanda.5.151.14)

उपरुद्धां च जगतीं घनेन तमसा वृताम्। आत्मानं चाहमद्राक्षं मलिनं मुक्तमूर्द्धजम्।

uparuddhāṁ ca jagatīṁ ghanena tamasā vṛtām| ātmānaṁ cāhamadrākṣaṁ malinaṁ muktamūrddhajam||

I saw the earth obstructed, wrapped in dense darkness; and I saw myself as well, soiled and dishevelled, my hair loose,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.151.15)

पतंतमद्रिशिखरात्कलुषे गोमये ह्रदे। पिबन्नंजलिना तैलं हसन्निव मुहुर्मुहुः।

pataṁtamadriśikharātkaluṣe gomaye hrade| pibannaṁjalinā tailaṁ hasanniva muhurmuhuḥ||

falling from a mountain peak into a foul pool of cow-dung, drinking oil cupped in my own hands, and laughing again and again for no reason;

Verse 16 (skanda.5.151.16)

तैलेनाभ्यक्तसर्वांगस्तैलमेवावगाहयन्। पीठे कार्ष्णायसे चैव निषण्णोऽहमधोमुखः।

tailenābhyaktasarvāṁgastailamevāvagāhayan| pīṭhe kārṣṇāyase caiva niṣaṇṇo'hamadhomukhaḥ||

I saw myself, my whole body smeared with oil, plunging into a pool of oil, seated with bowed head upon a stool of black iron.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.151.17)

गायंति प्रमदा रक्ता रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनाः। कृष्णांबरधराश्चान्याः कृष्णमाल्यानुलेपनाः।

gāyaṁti pramadā raktā raktamālyānulepanāḥ| kṛṣṇāṁbaradharāścānyāḥ kṛṣṇamālyānulepanāḥ||

Women clad in red, adorned with red garlands and unguents, sang; and others, clad in black, adorned with black garlands and unguents, sang too.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.151.18)

ताभिराकृष्यमाणोऽपि नीतोऽहं दक्षिणां दिशम्। बद्ध्वा रज्ज्वा सुवर्णस्य लोहस्य रजतस्य च।

tābhirākṛṣyamāṇo'pi nīto'haṁ dakṣiṇāṁ diśam| baddhvā rajjvā suvarṇasya lohasya rajatasya ca||

Dragged by them, I was taken toward the southern quarter, bound with ropes of gold, of iron, and of silver.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.151.19)

पांसुकर्दमयोर्मध्ये मग्नोहं लोहयंत्रितः। कपोतैस्तुद्यमानोऽहं गृध्रैः काकैश्च दारुणैः।

pāṁsukardamayormadhye magnohaṁ lohayaṁtritaḥ| kapotaistudyamāno'haṁ gṛdhraiḥ kākaiśca dāruṇaiḥ||

Sunk amid dust and mire, shackled in iron, I was pecked at by doves, and torn by vultures and terrible crows.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.151.20)

सृगालैर्भक्ष्यमाणश्च स्थितो मद्गुरमस्तके। ऋक्षवानरयानस्थो गतोऽहं दक्षिणां दिशम्।

sṛgālairbhakṣyamāṇaśca sthito madgurumastake| ṛkṣavānarayānastho gato'haṁ dakṣiṇāṁ diśam||

Devoured by jackals, I stood upon a lofty mound; then, mounted on a vehicle drawn by bears and monkeys, I went toward the southern quarter.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.151.21)

नदीं निमग्नो निश्चेष्टो जलहीनां महीसमाम्। दंतैर्विदारितो रात्रौ रासभेनाहमर्द्दितः।

nadīṁ nimagno niśceṣṭo jalahīnāṁ mahīsamām| daṁtairvidārito rātrau rāsabhenāhamardditaḥ||

I lay submerged, motionless, in a waterless riverbed level as the ground; by night I was torn by teeth, and a donkey trampled me.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.151.22)

ताडितो हदयेत्यर्थं चरणैर्वज्रसंनिभैः। दृष्टिश्च हन्यतेऽत्यर्थं वेतालैर्लोहशंकुभिः।

tāḍito hṛdayetyarthaṁ caraṇairvajrasaṁnibhaiḥ| dṛṣṭiśca hanyate'tyarthaṁ vetālairlohaśaṁkubhiḥ||

My heart was struck with feet hard as thunderbolts; and my very sight was grievously assaulted by vetalas wielding iron spikes.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.151.23)

करालैः कंटकैः कृष्णैः पुरुषैरुद्यतायुधैः। स्वप्नेहं ताडितोत्यर्थमप्रमाणैः शितैः शरैः।

karālaiḥ kaṁṭakaiḥ kṛṣṇaiḥ puruṣairudyatāyudhaiḥ| svapne'haṁ tāḍito'tyarthamapramāṇaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ||

By dreadful, dark, thorn-covered men brandishing weapons, in that dream I was struck relentlessly with countless sharp arrows.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.151.24)

एवमेतन्मया दृष्टमिमांरात्रिं भयावहाम्। संख्यां कर्तुं न शक्येत दुःस्वप्नानपरान्बहून्।

evametanmayā dṛṣṭamimāṁrātriṁ bhayāvahām| saṁkhyāṁ kartuṁ na śakyeta duḥsvapnānaparānbahūn||

Thus have I seen these things this terrifying night; countless other terrible dreams besides these cannot even be reckoned.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.151.25)

इमां तु दुःस्वप्नगतिं निरीक्ष्य वै ह्यनेकरूपामविचिंतितां पुरा। भयं महन्मे हृदयं न शुद्ध्यति प्रगृह्य बाहू विलपाम्यनाथवत्।

imāṁ tu duḥsvapnagatiṁ nirīkṣya vai hyanekarūpāmaviciṁtitāṁ purā| bhayaṁ mahanme hṛdayaṁ na śuddhyati pragṛhya bāhū vilapāmyanāthavat||

Beholding this course of dreadful dreams, so manifold, so unimaginable until now, great fear has seized me — my heart finds no peace. Therefore, raising my arms, I lament like one bereft of protection."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.151.26)

नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा अमात्या भृशदुःखिताः। पश्यंतो दुर्निमित्ताश्च उल्कापातादिकास्तदा।

nṛpasya vacanaṁ śrutvā amātyā bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ| paśyaṁto durnimittāśca ulkāpātādikāstadā||

Hearing the king's words, his ministers were deeply distressed. At the same time they began to notice ill omens, such as the falling of meteors.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.151.27)

सौरि सूर्यकुजाक्रांतं नगरं दृश्यतेऽधुना। नागं चतुष्पदं विष्टिं किंस्तुघ्नं शकुनिं तथा।

sauri sūryakujākrāṁtaṁ nagaraṁ dṛśyate'dhunā| nāgaṁ catuṣpadaṁ viṣṭiṁ kiṁstughnaṁ śakuniṁ tathā||

The city now appeared beset by Saturn, the Sun, and Mars; the inauspicious karanas — Naga, Chatushpada, Vishti, Kimstughna, and Shakuni — were all present.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.151.28)

करणानि न शस्यंते मुहूर्त्ता दारुणाभवन्। विदित्वा नृपभंगं तु देशभंगकुलक्षयम्।

karaṇāni na śasyaṁte muhūrttā dāruṇābhavan| viditvā nṛpabhaṁgaṁ tu deśabhaṁgakulakṣayam||

These astrological periods were unfavourable, and the moments themselves grew ominous. Recognizing in this the king's downfall, the ruin of the realm, and the destruction of the line,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.151.29)

आश्वासयंतो राजानमिदं वचनमब्रुवन्। अलं शोकेन काकुत्स्थ सत्यासत्या हि विभ्रमाः।

āśvāsayaṁto rājānamidaṁ vacanamabruvan| alaṁ śokena kākutstha satyāsatyā hi vibhramāḥ||

the ministers, comforting the king, spoke thus: "Enough of grief, O descendant of Kakutstha! Illusions are of both true and false kinds.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.151.30)

दृश्यंते भाविताः पुंसि स्वप्ने धातुवशेन हि। तथा पित्रादिदेवांश्च पूजय ब्राह्मणांस्तथा।

dṛśyaṁte bhāvitāḥ puṁsi svapne dhātuvaśena hi| tathā pitrādidevāṁśca pūjaya brāhmaṇāṁstathā||

They appear in dreams within a person owing to the influence of the bodily humours. Therefore worship the ancestors, the gods, and the brahmins.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.151.31)

एभिस्ततो मोक्ष्यसे त्वं मानसादधिविभ्रमात्। यस्माद्दैवोपघातानां दैवमेव हि रक्षणम्।

ebhistato mokṣyase tvaṁ mānasādadhivibhramāt| yasmāddaivopaghātānāṁ daivameva hi rakṣaṇam||

By these means you shall be freed from this mental turmoil; for protection from the assaults of fate comes from fate — that is, from the divine — alone.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.151.32)

एवमाश्वासितो भूपो ह्यमात्यैर्धर्मकोविदैः। तत्पापं कथयामास गुरुपुत्रवधादिकम्।

evamāśvāsito bhūpo hyamātyairdharmakovidaiḥ| tatpāpaṁ kathayāmāsa gurupu tra vadhādikam||

Thus comforted by his ministers, versed in righteousness, the king related his sin — the slaying of his guru's son, and all that followed.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.151.33)

वशिष्ठस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठः शक्तिर्वै भक्षितो मया। नृशंसेन तथामात्या एकोनं भक्षितं शतम्।

vaśiṣṭhasya suto jyeṣṭhaḥ śaktirvai bhakṣito mayā| nṛśaṁsena tathāmātyā ekonaṁ bhakṣitaṁ śatam||

"Shakti, the eldest son of Vasishtha, was devoured by me. O ministers, in that cruelty I devoured ninety-nine others besides.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.151.34)

तेन पापेन संतप्तः कथं स्वस्थो भवामि वै। एकापि ब्रह्महत्याया सापि दैवात्सुदुष्करा।

tena pāpena saṁtaptaḥ kathaṁ svastho bhavāmi vai| ekāpi brahmahatyāyā sāpi daivātsuduṣkarā||

Consumed by that sin, how shall I ever become well again? Even a single act of brahmin-slaying is, by fate, an exceedingly grave offence —

Verse 35 (skanda.5.151.35)

मया पुनर्नृशंसेन सा तथा न तु वर्जिता। कांस्तु लोकान्गमिष्यामि कृत्वा कर्म सुदारुणम्। राक्षसोऽहमनेनैव शरीरेण कुलांतकृत्।

mayā punarnṛśaṁsena sā tathā na tu varjitā| kāṁstu lokāngamiṣyāmi kṛtvā karma sudāruṇam| rākṣaso'hamanenaiva śarīreṇa kulāṁtakṛt||

and I, in my cruelty, have not spared it even once. Having committed so terrible a deed, to what worlds shall I go? In this very body I have become a rakshasa, a destroyer of my own lineage.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.151.36)

जातः कुले रघूणां वै पापात्मा पापसंभवः। सोऽहमत्र मरिष्यामि साधयित्वा हुताशनम्।

jātaḥ kule raghūṇāṁ vai pāpātmā pāpasaṁbhavaḥ| so'hamatra mariṣyāmi sādhayitvā hutāśanam||

Born in the lineage of Raghu, I have become sinful of soul, the very offspring of sin. I shall now die here, entering into the sacrificial fire."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.151.37)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सौदासस्य सुविस्मिताः। अमात्या वेदतत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः।

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā saudāsasya suvismitāḥ| amātyā vedatattvajñāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ||

Hearing these words of Saudasa, the ministers, knowers of the essence of the Vedas, skilled in every branch of learning, were utterly astonished.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.151.38)

अहो पापमिदं भूरि कृतं पापेन सर्वथा। प्रायश्चित्तं न जानीमो वशिष्ठेन विनाऽधुना।

aho pāpamidaṁ bhūri kṛtaṁ pāpena sarvathā| prāyaścittaṁ na jānīmo vaśiṣṭhena vinā'dhunā||

They said: "Ah, this is indeed a great sin, done in every way through wickedness. We know of no atonement for it now, save through Vasishtha.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.151.39)

तस्मादद्यैव गंतव्यमस्य भूपस्य कारणात्। यत्र तिष्ठति विप्रर्षिर्वशिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः।

tasmādadyaiva gaṁtavyamasya bhūpasya kāraṇāt| yatra tiṣṭhati viprarṣirvaśiṣṭho bhagavānmuniḥ||

Therefore, for this king's sake, we must go this very day to where that brahmin-sage, the venerable Vasishtha, dwells.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.151.40)

इत्युक्त्वा सहितास्तेन तेऽमात्या भृशदुःखिताः। गत्वा यत्राश्रमे विप्रो वशिष्ठो भगवानृषिः।

ityuktvā sahitāstena te'mātyā bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ| gatvā yatrāśrame vipro vaśiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ||

Having said this, those deeply grieved ministers, together with the king, went to the hermitage where the venerable sage-brahmin Vasishtha dwelt.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.151.41)

अदृश्यंतीं वधूं दीनां यत्राश्वासयति प्रभुः। अदृश्यंती तु तं दृष्ट्वा कूरकर्माणमग्रतः। भयसंविग्नया वाचा वशिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्।

adṛśyaṁtīṁ vadhūṁ dīnāṁ yatrāśvāsayati prabhuḥ| adṛśyaṁtī tu taṁ dṛṣṭvā kūrakarmāṇamagrataḥ| bhayasaṁvignayā vācā vaśiṣṭhamidamabravīt||

There the lord Vasishtha was comforting his wretched wife Adrishyanti. Then Adrishyanti, seeing that doer of cruel deeds before her, spoke these words to Vasishtha in a voice trembling with fear.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.151.42)

असौ मृत्युरिवोग्रेण दण्डेन वहुगर्वितः। प्रगृहीतेन काष्ठेन राक्षसोऽभ्येति भीषणः।

asau mṛtyurivogreṇa daṇḍena vahugarvitaḥ| pragṛhītena kāṣṭhena rākṣaso'bhyeti bhīṣaṇaḥ||

"There, terrible as death, insolent, wielding a fierce rod, a club in hand, that fearsome rakshasa approaches.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.151.43)

तन्निवारयितुं शक्तो नान्यो वै भुवि कश्चन। त्वामृतेऽद्य महाभाग सर्ववेदविदां वर।

tannivārayituṁ śakto nānyo vai bhuvi kaścana| tvāmṛte'dya mahābhāga sarvavedavidāṁ vara||

There is none else on this earth today capable of holding him back, save you alone, O most fortunate one, foremost among the knowers of all the Vedas.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.151.44)

त्राहि मां भगवन्पापादस्माद्दारुणदर्शनात्। राक्षसोऽयमिहागत्य नूनमावां समीहते।

trāhi māṁ bhagavanpāpādasmāddāruṇadarśanāt| rākṣaso'yamihāgatya nūnamāvāṁ samīhate||

Save me, O venerable one, from this sinful, dreadful apparition! This rakshasa, having come here, surely intends harm to us both."

Verse 45 (skanda.5.151.45)

वशिष्ठ उवाच। मा भैः पुत्रि न भेतव्यं राक्षसात्ते कथंचन। नैतद्रक्षो भयं यस्मात्पश्यसि त्वमुपस्थितम्। राजा कल्माषपादोऽयममात्यैः सहितो विभुः।

vaśiṣṭha uvāca| mā bhaiḥ putri na bhetavyaṁ rākṣasātte kathaṁcana| naitadrakṣo bhayaṁ yasmātpaśyasi tvamupasthitam| rājā kalmāṣapādo'yamamātyaiḥ sahito vibhuḥ||

Vasishtha said: "Do not fear, my child; you have nothing to fear from this rakshasa. This apparition before you is not the danger of a rakshasa at all. This is King Kalmashapada himself, come with his ministers."

Verse 46 (skanda.5.151.46)

स एषोऽस्मिन्वनोद्देशे समायातो ममांतिकम्। तमायांतमथालक्ष्य वशिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। वारयामास तेजस्वी हुंकारेण नृपोत्तमम्।

sa eṣo'sminvanoddeśe samāyāto mamāṁtikam| tamāyāṁtamathālakṣya vaśiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ| vārayāmāsa tejasvī huṁkāreṇa nṛpottamam||

"He has come here to me, in this part of the forest." Observing him approach, the venerable sage Vasishtha, with his own power, restrained that eminent king with a mere thunderous roar.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.151.47)

मन्त्रपूतेन च ततः समभ्युक्ष्य च वारिणा। मोक्षयामास वै भावाद्राक्षसाद्राजसत्तमम्।

maṁtrapūtena ca tataḥ samabhyukṣya ca vāriṇā| mokṣayāmāsa vai bhāvādrākṣasādrājasattamam||

Then, sprinkling him with water purified by sacred mantras, he freed that most excellent king from his demonic state through the power of his own compassion.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.151.48)

प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञामभिवाद्य कृतांजलिः। उवाच नृपतिः काले वशिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्।

pratilabhya tataḥ saṁjñāmabhivādya kṛtāṁjaliḥ| uvāca nṛpatiḥ kāle vaśiṣṭhamṛṣisattamam||

Regaining his awareness, and bowing with folded hands, the king then addressed Vasishtha, foremost of sages.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.151.49)

सौदासोऽहं महाभाग दासोऽहं तव सुव्रत। अस्मिन्काले यदिष्टं ते ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते।

saudāso'haṁ mahābhāga dāso'haṁ tava suvrata| asminkāle yadiṣṭaṁ te brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te||

"I am Saudasa, O most fortunate one; I am your servant, O one of noble vows. Tell me what you desire at this moment; what shall I do for you?"

Verse 50 (skanda.5.151.50)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नृपस्य द्विजसत्तमः। ज्ञात्वा तपोबलेनैव विश्वामित्रस्य चेष्टितम्। राजानं प्रत्युवाचेदं विनयावनतं तथा।

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā nṛpasya dvijasattamaḥ| jñātvā tapobalenaiva viśvāmitrasya ceṣṭitam| rājānaṁ pratyuvācedaṁ vinayāvanataṁ tathā||

Hearing the king's words, and knowing, by the power of his own austerity, that this had all been the doing of Vishvamitra, that eminent brahmin replied thus to the humbly bowed king.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.151.51)

ज्ञातमेव यथाकालं गच्छ राजन्कुशस्थलीम्। महाकालसमीपे तु लिंगं दुःस्वप्ननाशनम्।

jñātameva yathākālaṁ gaccha rājankuśasthalīm| mahākālasamīpe tu liṁgaṁ duḥsvapnanāśanam||

"I already know all this. In due time, O king, go to Kushasthali. Near Mahakala there is a linga that destroys bad dreams,

Verse 52 (skanda.5.151.52)

राजसंपत्करं दिव्यं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्द्धनम्। ब्रह्महत्यासहस्राणां स्फोटनं पापनाशनम्। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण विपाप्मा च भविष्यसि।

rājasaṁpatkaraṁ divyaṁ putrapautravivarddhanam| brahmahatyāsahasrāṇāṁ sphoṭanaṁ pāpanāśanam| tasya darśanamātreṇa vipāpmā ca bhaviṣyasi||

a divine linga bestowing royal prosperity, increasing sons and grandsons, shattering the guilt of a thousand brahmin-slayings, destroying sin. By its mere sight you shall become free of sin.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.151.53)

दुःस्वप्नजं भयं घोरं विनंक्ष्यति न संशयः। ग्रहाश्च सानुकूलास्ते भविष्यन्ति नृपोत्तम।

duḥsvapnajaṁ bhayaṁ ghoraṁ vinaṁkṣyati na saṁśayaḥ| grahāśca sānukūlāste bhaviṣyaṁti nṛpottama||

The terrible fear born of bad dreams shall surely be destroyed, and the planets shall become favourable to you, O eminent king.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.151.54)

इत्युक्तो गुरुणा भूयो वशिष्ठेन महात्मना। जगाम त्वरितो देवि महाकालवनं शुभम्। ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं दुष्टदुःस्वप्ननाशनम्।

ityukto guruṇā bhūyo vaśiṣṭhena mahātmanā| jagāma tvarito devi mahākālavanaṁ śubham| dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ duṣṭaduḥsvapnanāśanam||

Thus told once more by his great-souled guru Vasishtha, O goddess, he hastened to the auspicious Mahakalavana and beheld there that linga, destroyer of evil dreams.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.151.55)

नष्टाः सर्वेपि दुःस्वप्नाः सुस्वप्नाश्चाभवंस्तदा। राजा निष्कल्मषो भूत्वा पुनः प्राप्नोन्निजं पदम्। अयोध्यायां गतो राज्यं चकार मुदितस्तदा।

naṣṭāḥ sarvepi duḥsvapnāḥ susvapnāścābhavaṁstadā| rājā niṣkalmaṣo bhūtvā punaḥ prāpnonnijaṁ padam| ayodhyāyāṁ gato rājyaṁ cakāra muditastadā||

Then all his bad dreams were destroyed and became good dreams. The king, now free of stain, regained his own rank once more; returning to Ayodhya, he ruled his kingdom with joy.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.151.56)

तदाप्रभृति देवोऽयं सुस्वप्नेश्वरसंज्ञकः। बभूव भुवने ख्यातः सर्वदुःस्वप्ननाशनः।

tadāprabhṛti devo'yaṁ susvapneśvarasaṁjñakaḥ| babhūva bhuvane khyātaḥ sarvaduḥsvapnanāśanaḥ||

From that time this god became known by the name Sushvapneshvara, renowned throughout the world as the destroyer of every bad dream.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.151.57)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां देवं स्वप्नेश्वरं शिवम्। दर्शनं ये करिष्यंति स्नात्वा शिप्राजले शुभे। आजन्मप्रभवं तेषां दुःस्वप्नं च विनश्यति।

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ devaṁ svapneśvaraṁ śivam| darśanaṁ ye kariṣyaṁti snātvā śiprājale śubhe| ājanmaprabhavaṁ teṣāṁ duḥsvapnaṁ ca vinaśyati||

Those who, on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days, bathe in the auspicious waters of the Shipra and behold Shiva Svapneshvara — every bad dream that has arisen for them since birth is destroyed.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.151.58)

स एव सर्वदा पूज्य इह लोके परत्र च। यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या देवं स्वप्नेश्वरं शिवम्।

sa eva sarvadā pūjya iha loke paratra ca| yaḥ paśyati naro bhaktyā devaṁ svapneśvaraṁ śivam||

That man who beholds Shiva Svapneshvara with devotion becomes ever worthy of worship, in this world and in the next.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.151.59)

यं यं काममभिध्याय मनसाभिमतं नरः। तं तं दुर्ल्लभमाप्नोति सुस्वप्नेश्वरदर्शनात्।

yaṁ yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya manasābhimataṁ naraḥ| taṁ taṁ durlabhamāpnoti susvapneśvaradarśanāt||

Whatever desire a man contemplates in his mind, however difficult to attain, he obtains it through the sight of Sushvapneshvara.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.151.60)

नियमेन प्रपश्यंति देवं स्वप्नेश्वरं सदा। ते प्रयांति तनुं त्यक्त्वा मदीयं भवनं प्रिये।

niyamena prapaśyaṁti devaṁ svapneśvaraṁ sadā| te prayāṁti tanuṁ tyaktvā madīyaṁ bhavanaṁ priye||

Those who, with discipline, ever behold the god Svapneshvara, O beloved, upon leaving the body attain my own abode.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.151.61)

भक्तिहीनः क्रियाहीनो यः पश्यति प्रसंगतः। सुपुण्यां गतिमाप्नोति योगिगम्यां यशस्विनि।

bhaktihīnaḥ kriyāhīno yaḥ paśyati prasaṁgataḥ| supuṇyāṁ gatimāpnoti yogigamyāṁ yaśasvini||

O renowned one, even one devoid of devotion and ritual observance, who merely happens to behold it, attains that highly meritorious state accessible even to yogis.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.151.62)

ये च पुष्पैर्विचित्रैश्च पूजयन्ति च पर्वसु। ते सर्वकामसंपन्नाः श्रीबलारोग्यसंयुताः। दीर्घायुषः शुभाचारा जायन्ते देहिनोऽमलाः।

ye ca puṣpairvicitraiśca pūjayaṁti ca parvasu| te sarvakāmasaṁpannāḥ śrībalārogyasaṁyutāḥ| dīrghāyuṣaḥ śubhācārā jāyaṁte dehino'malāḥ||

Those who worship with an array of flowers on the sacred festival days become endowed with every desire, blessed with prosperity, strength, and health. They are born long-lived, of righteous conduct, and untainted in body.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.151.63)

एते च ब्रह्मविष्ण्विंद्रकुबेरदहनादयः। सुस्वप्नं परमं प्राप्ताः श्रीस्वप्नेश्वरदर्शनात्।

ete ca brahmaviṣṇvviṁdrakuberadahanādayaḥ| susvapnaṁ paramaṁ prāptāḥ śrīsvapneśvaradarśanāt||

Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Kubera, Agni, and others besides have all attained the supreme state of good dreams through the sight of glorious Svapneshvara.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.151.64)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। स्वप्नेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृणु लिंगचतुष्टयम्।

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| svapneśvarasya devasya śṛṇu liṁgacatuṣṭayam||

Thus, O goddess, I have told you the sin-destroying greatness of the god Svapneshvara; now hear of the four lingas.