Account of the Varaha Kalpa (continued)

Verse 1 (skanda.5.175.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रुता मे विविधा धर्माः संहारास्त्वत्प्रसादतः । कृता देवेन सर्वेण ये च दृष्टास्त्वयानघ

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| śrutā me vividhā dharmāḥ saṁhārāstvatprasādataḥ | kṛtā devena sarveṇa ye ca dṛṣṭāstvayānagha

Yudhishthira said: By your grace, O sinless one, I have heard of the various dharmas and the dissolutions wrought by the all-god, which you yourself witnessed.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.175.2)

साम्प्रतं श्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रभावं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः । त्वयानुभूतं विप्रेन्द्र तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि

sāmprataṁ śrotumicchāmi prabhāvaṁ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ | tvayānubhūtaṁ viprendra tanme tvaṁ vaktumarhasi

Now I wish to hear of the power of the bearer of the Sharnga bow, as experienced by you, O lord of brahmins; you should tell me this.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.175.3)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रजासंहारलक्षणम् । यच्चिह्नं दृश्यते तत्र यथा कल्पो विधीयते

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi prajāsaṁhāralakṣaṇam | yaccihnaṁ dṛśyate tatra yathā kalpo vidhīyate

Sri Markandeya said: Hereafter I shall relate the signs of the destruction of creatures, the marks by which the kalpa is ordained to end.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.175.4)

उल्कापाताः सनिर्घाता भूमिकम्पस्तथैव च । पतते पांशुवर्षं च निर्घोषश्चैव दारुणः

ulkāpātāḥ sanirghātā bhūmikampastathaiva ca | patate pāṁśuvarṣaṁ ca nirghoṣaścaiva dāruṇaḥ

Falling meteors with thunderclaps, earthquakes, a rain of dust, and a terrible roaring occur.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.175.5)

यक्षकिन्नरगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः । सर्वे ते प्रलयं यान्ति युगान्ते समुपस्थिते

yakṣakinnaragandharvāḥ piśācoragarākṣasāḥ | sarve te pralayaṁ yānti yugānte samupasthite

Yakshas, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, Pishachas, serpents, and Rakshasas — when the end of the age arrives, all of them meet dissolution.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.175.6)

पर्वताः सागरा नद्यः सरांसि विविधानि च । वृक्षाः शेषं समायान्ति वल्लीजातं तृणानि च

parvatāḥ sāgarā nadyaḥ sarāṁsi vividhāni ca | vṛkṣāḥ śeṣaṁ samāyānti vallījātaṁ tṛṇāni ca

Mountains, oceans, rivers, various lakes, trees, creepers, and grasses likewise come to their end.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.175.7)

एवं हि व्याकुलीभूते सर्वौषधिजलोज्झिते । काष्ठभूते तु संजाते त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे

evaṁ hi vyākulībhūte sarvauṣadhijalojjhite | kāṣṭhabhūte tu saṁjāte trailokye sacarācare

Thus when the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, grow agitated, bereft of all herbs and water, and turn to mere wood,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.175.8)

यावत्पश्यामि मध्याह्ने स्नानकाल उपस्थिते । त्रैलोक्यं ज्वलनाकारं दुर्निरीक्षं दुरासदम्

yāvatpaśyāmi madhyāhne snānakāla upasthite | trailokyaṁ jvalanākāraṁ durnirīkṣaṁ durāsadam

then, at midday, when the bathing hour had come, I saw the three worlds take on the form of fire, unbearable to look upon and unapproachable.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.175.9)

द्वौ सूर्यौ पूर्वतस्तात पश्चिमोत्तरयोस्तथा । तथैव दक्षिणे द्वौ च सूर्यौ दृष्टौ प्रतापिनौ

dvau sūryau pūrvatastāta paścimottarayostathā | tathaiva dakṣiṇe dvau ca sūryau dṛṣṭau pratāpinau

O son, two suns appeared in the east, and likewise in the west and north; and in the south too, two blazing suns were seen.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.175.10)

द्वौ सूर्यौ नागलोकस्थौ मध्ये द्वौ गगनस्य च । इत्येते द्वादशादित्यास्तपन्ते सर्वतो दिशम्

dvau sūryau nāgalokasthau madhye dvau gaganasya ca | ityete dvādaśādityāstapante sarvato diśam

Two suns stood over the world of serpents, and two in the middle of the sky — thus these twelve Adityas blazed forth in every direction.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.175.11)

पृथिवीमदहन्सर्वां सशैलवनकाननाम् । नादग्धं दृश्यते किंचिदृते रेवां च मां तथा

pṛthivīmadahansarvāṁ saśailavanakānanām | nādagdhaṁ dṛśyate kiṁcidṛte revāṁ ca māṁ tathā

They burned the whole earth, together with its mountains, forests, and woodlands; nothing was seen unburnt except the Reva and myself.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.175.12)

पृथिव्यां दह्यमानायां हविर्गन्धश्च जायते । ततो मे शुष्यते गात्रं तृषाप्येवं दुरासदा

pṛthivyāṁ dahyamānāyāṁ havirgandhaśca jāyate | tato me śuṣyate gātraṁ tṛṣāpyevaṁ durāsadā

As the earth burned, the smell of oblation rose; then my body grew parched, and an unbearable thirst assailed me too.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.175.13)

न हि विन्दामि पानीयं शोषितं च दिवाकरैः । यावत्कमण्डलुं वीक्षे शुष्कं तत्रापि तज्जलम्

na hi vindāmi pānīyaṁ śoṣitaṁ ca divākaraiḥ | yāvatkamaṇḍaluṁ vīkṣe śuṣkaṁ tatrāpi tajjalam

I found no water anywhere, all dried by the suns; even when I looked at my water-pot, its water too had dried up.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.175.14)

ततोऽहं शोकसंतप्तो विशेषात्क्षुत्तृषार्दितः । उत्पपात क्षितेरूर्ध्वं पश्यमानो दिवं प्रति

tato'haṁ śokasaṁtapto viśeṣātkṣuttṛṣārditaḥ | utpapāta kṣiterūrdhvaṁ paśyamāno divaṁ prati

Then I, burning with grief and especially afflicted by hunger and thirst, leapt up from the earth, gazing toward the sky.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.175.15)

तावत्पश्यामि गगने गृहं शृङ्गारभूषितम् । ततस्तज्ज्ञातुकामोऽहं प्रस्थितो राजसत्तम

tāvatpaśyāmi gagane gṛhaṁ śṛṅgārabhūṣitam | tatastajjñātukāmo'haṁ prasthito rājasattama

There in the sky I saw a mansion adorned with splendor; then, O best of kings, desiring to know it, I set out toward it.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.175.16)

प्राकारेण विचित्रेण कपाटार्गलभूषितम् । विचित्रशिखरोपेतं द्वारदेशमुपागतः

prākāreṇa vicitreṇa kapāṭārgalabhūṣitam | vicitraśikharopetaṁ dvāradeśamupāgataḥ

Ringed by a wondrous wall, fitted with doors and bolts, crowned with wondrous pinnacles, I came to that mansion's gateway.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.175.17)

षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां समुच्छ्रये । तदर्धं तु पृथक्त्वेन काञ्चनं रत्नभूषितम्

ṣaḍaśītisahasrāṇi yojanānāṁ samucchraye | tadardhaṁ tu pṛthaktvena kāñcanaṁ ratnabhūṣitam

It rose to a height of eighty-six thousand yojanas, and half again as much beyond that, golden and adorned with gems.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.175.18)

तत्र मध्ये परां शय्यां पश्यामि नृपसत्तम । शय्योपरि शयानं तु पुरुषं दिव्यमूर्धजम्

tatra madhye parāṁ śayyāṁ paśyāmi nṛpasattama | śayyopari śayānaṁ tu puruṣaṁ divyamūrdhajam

O best of kings, in its midst I saw a supreme couch, and upon it a person lying, with divine hair,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.175.19)

विकुञ्चिताग्रकेशान्तं समस्तं योजनायतम् । मुकुटेन विचित्रेण दीप्तिकान्तेन शोभितम्

vikuñcitāgrakeśāntaṁ samastaṁ yojanāyatam | mukuṭena vicitreṇa dīptikāntena śobhitam

his hair curling at the tips, his whole form a yojana in length, adorned with a wondrous, radiant crown,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.175.20)

श्यामं कमलपत्राभं सुप्रभं च सुनासिकम् । सिंहास्यमायतभुजं गल्लश्मश्रुवराङ्कितम्

śyāmaṁ kamalapatrābhaṁ suprabhaṁ ca sunāsikam | siṁhāsyamāyatabhujaṁ gallaśmaśruvarāṅkitam

dark of hue like a lotus petal, radiant, fine-nosed, lion-faced, long-armed, his cheeks graced with fine whiskers,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.175.21)

त्रिवलीभङ्गसुभगं कर्णकुण्डलभूषितम् । विशालाभं सुपीनाङ्गं पार्श्वस्वावर्तभूषितम्

trivalībhaṅgasubhagaṁ karṇakuṇḍalabhūṣitam | viśālābhaṁ supīnāṅgaṁ pārśvasvāvartabhūṣitam

graceful with the three folds of the waist, adorned with earrings, broad and well-formed of limb, his sides marked with graceful spirals,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.175.22)

शोभितं कटिभागेन विभक्तं जानुजङ्घयोः । पद्माङ्किततलं देवमाताम्रसुनखाङ्गुलिम्

śobhitaṁ kaṭibhāgena vibhaktaṁ jānujaṅghayoḥ | padmāṅkitatalaṁ devamātāmrasunakhāṅgulim

beautiful about the waist, well-proportioned of knee and calf, his soles marked with the lotus sign, his fingers tipped with fine coppery nails,

Verse 23 (skanda.5.175.23)

मेघनादसुगम्भीरं सर्वावयवसुन्दरम् । शय्यामध्यगतं देवमपश्यं पुरुषोत्तमम्

meghanādasugambhīraṁ sarvāvayavasundaram | śayyāmadhyagataṁ devamapaśyaṁ puruṣottamam

his voice deep as thunder, beautiful in every limb — I saw that Supreme Person lying in the midst of the couch,

Verse 24 (skanda.5.175.24)

शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिं शयानं दक्षिणेन तु । अक्षसूत्रोद्यतकरं सूर्यायुतसमप्रभम्

śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇiṁ śayānaṁ dakṣiṇena tu | akṣasūtrodyatakaraṁ sūryāyutasamaprabham

holding conch, discus, and mace, lying on his right side, one hand raised with a rosary of beads, resplendent as ten thousand suns.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.175.25)

तं दृष्ट्वा भक्तिमान्देवं स्तोतुकामो व्यवस्थितः । जयेश जय वागीश जय दिव्याङ्गभूषण

taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhaktimāndevaṁ stotukāmo vyavasthitaḥ | jayeśa jaya vāgīśa jaya divyāṅgabhūṣaṇa

Beholding him, devoted and desiring to praise him, I stood and said: 'Victory to the Lord! Victory to the Master of Speech! Victory to the one adorned with divine limbs!'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.175.26)

जय देवपते श्रीमन्साक्षाद्ब्रह्म सनातन । तव लोकाः शरीरस्थास्त्वं गतिः परमेश्वर

jaya devapate śrīmansākṣādbrahma sanātana | tava lokāḥ śarīrasthāstvaṁ gatiḥ parameśvara

'Victory to the Lord of gods, the glorious, eternal Brahman incarnate! All the worlds abide in your body; you are the goal, O supreme lord.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.175.27)

त्वदाधारा हि देवेश सर्वे लोका व्यवस्थिताः । त्वं श्रेष्ठः सर्वसत्त्वानां त्वं कर्ता धरणीधरः

tvadādhārā hi deveśa sarve lokā vyavasthitāḥ | tvaṁ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvasattvānāṁ tvaṁ kartā dharaṇīdharaḥ

'O lord of gods, all the worlds stand resting on you; you are the best of all beings, the maker, the bearer of the earth.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.175.28)

त्वं हौत्रमग्निहोत्राणां सूत्रमन्त्रस्त्वमेव च । गोकर्णं भद्रकर्णं च त्वं च माहेश्वरं पदम्

tvaṁ hautramagnihotrāṇāṁ sūtramantrastvameva ca | gokarṇaṁ bhadrakarṇaṁ ca tvaṁ ca māheśvaraṁ padam

'You are the oblation-rite of the fire-sacrifices, you alone are the sacred thread and the mantra; you are Gokarna, Bhadrakarna, and the abode of Maheshvara.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.175.29)

त्वं कीर्तिः सर्वकीर्तीनां दैन्यपापप्रणाशिनी । त्वं नैमिषं कुरुक्षेत्रं त्वं च विष्णुपदं परम्

tvaṁ kīrtiḥ sarvakīrtīnāṁ dainyapāpapraṇāśinī | tvaṁ naimiṣaṁ kurukṣetraṁ tvaṁ ca viṣṇupadaṁ param

'You are the fame of all fames, destroyer of misery and sin; you are Naimisha, Kurukshetra, and Vishnu's supreme abode.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.175.30)

त्वया तु लीलया देव पदाक्रान्ता च मेदिनी । त्वया बद्धो बलिर्देव त्वयेन्द्रस्य पदं कृतम्

tvayā tu līlayā deva padākrāntā ca medinī | tvayā baddho balirdeva tvayendrasya padaṁ kṛtam

'By you, O god, in mere play, the earth was covered with a single stride; by you Bali was bound, and by you Indra's rank was restored.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.175.31)

त्वं कलिर्द्वापरं देव त्रेता कृतयुगं तथा । प्रलम्बदमनश्च त्वं स्रष्टा त्वं च विनाशकृत्

tvaṁ kalirdvāparaṁ deva tretā kṛtayugaṁ tathā | pralambadamanaśca tvaṁ sraṣṭā tvaṁ ca vināśakṛt

'You are Kali, Dvapara, Treta, and likewise Krita Yuga, O god; you are the tamer of Pralamba, the creator, and the destroyer.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.175.32)

त्वया वै धार्यते लोकास्त्वं कालः सर्वसंक्षयः । त्वया हि देव सृष्टास्ताः सर्वा वै देवयोनयः

tvayā vai dhāryate lokāstvaṁ kālaḥ sarvasaṁkṣayaḥ | tvayā hi deva sṛṣṭāstāḥ sarvā vai devayonayaḥ

'By you all the worlds are sustained; you are Time, the destroyer of all; O god, by you all those divine species were created.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.175.33)

त्वं पन्थाः सर्वलोकानां त्वं च मोक्षः परा गतिः । ब्रह्मा त्वदुद्भवो देवो रजोरूपः सनातनः । रुद्रः क्रोधोद्भवोऽप्येवं त्वं च सत्त्वे व्यवस्थितः

tvaṁ panthāḥ sarvalokānāṁ tvaṁ ca mokṣaḥ parā gatiḥ | brahmā tvadudbhavo devo rajorūpaḥ sanātanaḥ | rudraḥ krodhodbhavo'pyevaṁ tvaṁ ca sattve vyavasthitaḥ

'You are the path of all worlds, and you are liberation, the supreme goal; from you sprang the eternal god Brahma in the form of rajas, and Rudra likewise from wrath; and you abide in the quality of sattva.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.175.34)

एतच्चराचरं देव क्रीडनार्थं त्वया कृतम् । एवं संतप्तदेहेन स्तुतो देवो मया प्रभुः

etaccarācaraṁ deva krīḍanārthaṁ tvayā kṛtam | evaṁ saṁtaptadehena stuto devo mayā prabhuḥ

'This whole moving and unmoving world, O god, was made by you for the sake of mere play.' Thus, with a body burning from thirst, I praised that Lord —

Verse 35 (skanda.5.175.35)

भक्त्या परमया राजन्सर्वभूतपतिः प्रभुः । स्तुवन्वै तत्र पश्यामि वारिपूर्णांस्ततो घटान्

bhaktyā paramayā rājansarvabhūtapatiḥ prabhuḥ | stuvanvai tatra paśyāmi vāripūrṇāṁstato ghaṭān

O king, praising with supreme devotion that Lord, master of all beings, I then saw there vessels full of water.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.175.36)

ततो मया विस्मृता या तृषा सा वर्धिता पुनः । उपासर्पं ततस्तस्य पार्श्वं वै पुरुषस्य हि

tato mayā vismṛtā yā tṛṣā sā vardhitā punaḥ | upāsarpaṁ tatastasya pārśvaṁ vai puruṣasya hi

Then the thirst I had forgotten grew again, and I crept toward the side of that person,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.175.37)

पानीयं पातुकामेन चिन्तितं च मया पुनः । नापश्यत हि मां चैष सुप्तोऽपि न च बुध्यते

pānīyaṁ pātukāmena cintitaṁ ca mayā punaḥ | nāpaśyata hi māṁ caiṣa supto'pi na ca budhyate

desiring to drink water; and I thought again — he does not see me, and though asleep, he does not stir.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.175.38)

यस्तु पापेन संमूढः सुखं सुप्तं प्रबोधयेत् । जायते तस्य पापस्य ब्रह्महत्याफलं महत्

yastu pāpena saṁmūḍhaḥ sukhaṁ suptaṁ prabodhayet | jāyate tasya pāpasya brahmahatyāphalaṁ mahat

Whoever, deluded by sin, wakes one peacefully asleep incurs for that sin a fruit as great as killing a brahmin.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.175.39)

एवं संचिन्त्यमाने तु द्वितीयो ह्यागतः पुमान् । नेक्षते जल्पते किंचिद्वामस्कन्धे मृगाजिनी

evaṁ saṁcintyamāne tu dvitīyo hyāgataḥ pumān | nekṣate jalpate kiṁcidvāmaskandhe mṛgājinī

As I pondered this, a second person then arrived, who looked at nothing, spoke nothing, a deer-skin upon his left shoulder,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.175.40)

जटी कमण्डलुधरो दण्डी मेखलया वृतः । भस्मोन्मृदितसर्वाङ्गो महातेजास्त्रिलोचनः

jaṭī kamaṇḍaludharo daṇḍī mekhalayā vṛtaḥ | bhasmonmṛditasarvāṅgo mahātejāstrilocanaḥ

matted-haired, bearing a water-pot and a staff, girded with a waistband, his whole body smeared with ash, of great splendor, three-eyed.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.175.41)

यावत्तं स्तोतुकामोऽहमपश्यं स्वच्छचक्षुषा । तावत्सर्वाङ्गसम्भूत्यामहत्या रूपसम्पदा

yāvattaṁ stotukāmo'hamapaśyaṁ svacchacakṣuṣā | tāvatsarvāṅgasambhūtyāmahatyā rūpasampadā

As I, wishing to praise him, beheld him with clear eyes, then, arisen out of all his limbs, in a great and splendid form,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.175.42)

अपश्यं संवृतां नारीं सर्वाभरणभूषिताम् । दृष्ट्वा तां पतितो भूमौ जयस्वेति ब्रुवंस्ततः

apaśyaṁ saṁvṛtāṁ nārīṁ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām | dṛṣṭvā tāṁ patito bhūmau jayasveti bruvaṁstataḥ

I saw a woman, radiantly veiled and adorned with every ornament. Seeing her, I fell to the ground, crying 'Victory!' —

Verse 43 (skanda.5.175.43)

जय रुद्राङ्गसम्भूते जयवाहिनि सनातनि । जय कौमारि माहेन्द्रि वैष्णवी वारुणी तथा

jaya rudrāṅgasambhūte jayavāhini sanātani | jaya kaumāri māhendri vaiṣṇavī vāruṇī tathā

'Victory to you, born from Rudra's own body, bearer of victory, eternal one! Victory to Kaumari, Mahendri, Vaishnavi, and Varuni!'

Verse 44 (skanda.5.175.44)

जय कौबेरि सावित्रि जय धात्रि वरानने । तृष्णया तप्तदेहस्य रक्षां कुरु चराचरे

jaya kauberi sāvitri jaya dhātri varānane | tṛṣṇayā taptadehasya rakṣāṁ kuru carācare

'Victory to Kauberi, Savitri! Victory, O Dhatri, of the beautiful face! Protect me, my body burning with thirst, O protector of all that moves and moves not.'

Verse 45 (skanda.5.175.45)

श्रीदेव्युवाच - प्रसन्ना विप्रशार्दूल तव वाक्यैः सुशोभनैः । वर्तते मानसे यत्ते मया ज्ञातं द्विजोत्तम

śrīdevyuvāca - prasannā vipraśārdūla tava vākyaiḥ suśobhanaiḥ | vartate mānase yatte mayā jñātaṁ dvijottama

Sri Devi said: 'O tiger among brahmins, I am pleased by your beautiful words. What is in your mind, O best of brahmins, I already know.'

Verse 46 (skanda.5.175.46)

शृणु विप्र ममाप्यस्ति व्रतमेतत्सुदारुणम् । स्त्रीलघुत्वान्मयारब्धं दुष्करं मन्दमेधया

śṛṇu vipra mamāpyasti vratametatsudāruṇam | strīlaghutvānmayārabdhaṁ duṣkaraṁ mandamedhayā

'Hear, O brahmin: I too have this most severe vow, difficult indeed, undertaken by me, of feeble understanding, owing to the lightness of a woman's nature —'

Verse 47 (skanda.5.175.47)

यदि भावी च मे पुत्रो धर्मिष्ठो लोकविश्रुतः । विप्रस्य तु स्तनं दत्त्वा पश्चाद्दास्यामि बालके

yadi bhāvī ca me putro dharmiṣṭho lokaviśrutaḥ | viprasya tu stanaṁ dattvā paścāddāsyāmi bālake

'— that if I am to bear a righteous son renowned in the world, I shall first give my breast to a brahmin, and only afterward to my own child.'

Verse 48 (skanda.5.175.48)

स मे पुत्रः समुत्पन्नो यथोक्तो मे महामुने । स्तनं पिब त्वं विप्रेन्द्र यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि

sa me putraḥ samutpanno yathokto me mahāmune | stanaṁ piba tvaṁ viprendra yadi jīvitumicchasi

'O great sage, my son has indeed been born just as was foretold to me; O lord of brahmins, if you wish to live, drink my breast.'

Verse 49 (skanda.5.175.49)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। अकार्यमेतद्विप्राणां यस्त्विमं पिबते स्तनम् । पुनश्चैवोपनयनं व्रतसिद्धिं न गच्छति

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| akāryametadviprāṇāṁ yastvimaṁ pibate stanam | punaścaivopanayanaṁ vratasiddhiṁ na gacchati

Sri Markandeya said: 'This is improper for brahmins — whoever drinks this milk must undergo the sacred-thread rite again, and his vows fail to be fulfilled.'

Verse 50 (skanda.5.175.50)

ब्राह्मणत्वं त्रिभिर्लोकैर्दुर्लभं पद्मलोचने । संस्कारैः संस्कृतो विप्रो यैश्च जायेत तच्छृणु

brāhmaṇatvaṁ tribhirlokairdurlabhaṁ padmalocane | saṁskāraiḥ saṁskṛto vipro yaiśca jāyeta tacchṛṇu

'O lotus-eyed one, brahminhood is hard to attain in all three worlds; hear the sacraments by which a brahmin is duly consecrated.'

Verse 51 (skanda.5.175.51)

प्रथमं चैव नारीषु संस्कारैर्बीजवापतम् । बीजप्रक्षेपणादेव बीजक्षेपः स उच्यते

prathamaṁ caiva nārīṣu saṁskārairbījavāpatam | bījaprakṣepaṇādeva bījakṣepaḥ sa ucyate

'First is the sacrament of sowing the seed in women; from the mere casting of the seed it is called Bijakshepa.'

Verse 52 (skanda.5.175.52)

तदन्ते च महाभागे गर्भाधानं द्वितीयकम् । पुंसवनं तृतीयं तु सीमन्तं च चतुर्थकम्

tadante ca mahābhāge garbhādhānaṁ dvitīyakam | puṁsavanaṁ tṛtīyaṁ tu sīmantaṁ ca caturthakam

'O illustrious lady, next comes Garbhadhana as the second; Pumsavana the third, and Simantonnayana the fourth.'

Verse 53 (skanda.5.175.53)

पञ्चमं जातकर्म स्यान्नाम वै षष्ठमुच्यते । निष्क्रामः सप्तमश्चैव ह्यन्नप्राशनमष्टमम्

pañcamaṁ jātakarma syānnāma vai ṣaṣṭhamucyate | niṣkrāmaḥ saptamaścaiva hyannaprāśanamaṣṭamam

'The fifth is Jatakarma, the sixth is called Namakarana; the seventh is Nishkramana, and the eighth Annaprashana.'

Verse 54 (skanda.5.175.54)

नवमं वै चूडकर्म दशमं मौञ्जिबन्धनम् । ऐषिकं दार्विकं चैव सौमिकं भौमिकं तथा

navamaṁ vai cūḍakarma daśamaṁ mauñjibandhanam | aiṣikaṁ dārvikaṁ caiva saumikaṁ bhaumikaṁ tathā

'The ninth is Chudakarma, the tenth Maunjibandhana; thereafter come the Aishika, Darvika, Saumika, and Bhaumika rites,'

Verse 55 (skanda.5.175.55)

पत्नीसंयोजनं चान्यद्दैवकर्म ततः परम् । मानुष्यं पितृकर्म स्याद्दशमाष्टासु शोभने

patnīsaṁyojanaṁ cānyaddaivakarma tataḥ param | mānuṣyaṁ pitṛkarma syāddaśamāṣṭāsu śobhane

'and marriage besides, then the divine rites, the human rites, and the ancestral rites — eighteen sacraments in all, O gracious one.'

Verse 56 (skanda.5.175.56)

भूतं भव्यं तथेष्टं च पार्वणं च ततः परम्

bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ tatheṣṭaṁ ca pārvaṇaṁ ca tataḥ param

'Then follow the Bhuta, Bhavya, Ishta, and further the Parvana rites —'

Verse 57 (skanda.5.175.57)

श्राद्धं श्रावण्यामाग्रयणं च चैत्राश्वयुज्यां दशपौर्णमास्याम् । निरूढपशुसवनसौत्रामण्यग्निष्टोमात्यग्निष्टोमाः

śrāddhaṁ śrāvaṇyāmāgrayaṇaṁ ca caitrāśvayujyāṁ daśapaurṇamāsyām | nirūḍhapaśusavanasautrāmaṇyagniṣṭomātyagniṣṭomāḥ

'the Shraddha of Shravana, the Agrayana offering in Chaitra and Ashvina, and the ten full-moon rites; Nirudhapashubandha, Sautramani, Agnishtoma, Atyagnishtoma —'

Verse 58 (skanda.5.175.58)

षोडषीवाजपेयातिरात्राप्तोर्यामोदशवाजपेयाः । सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिरनसूया शौचमङ्गलमकार्पण्यमस्पृहेति

ṣoḍaṣīvājapeyātirātrāptoryāmodaśavājapeyāḥ | sarvabhūteṣu kṣāntiranasūyā śaucamaṅgalamakārpaṇyamaspṛheti

'Shodashi, Vajapeya, Atiratra, Aptoryama, Dashavajapeya — and forbearance toward all beings, freedom from envy, purity, auspiciousness, freedom from meanness, and freedom from craving —'

Verse 59 (skanda.5.175.59)

एभिरष्टचत्वारिंशद्भिः संस्कारैः संकृतो ब्राह्मणो भवति

ebhiraṣṭacatvāriṁśadbhiḥ saṁskāraiḥ saṁkṛto brāhmaṇo bhavati

'— by these forty-eight sacraments duly performed, one becomes a brahmin.'

Verse 60 (skanda.5.175.60)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभागे न तु मां पातुमर्हसि । शिशुपेयं स्तनं भद्रे कथं वै मद्विधः पिबेत्

evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāge na tu māṁ pātumarhasi | śiśupeyaṁ stanaṁ bhadre kathaṁ vai madvidhaḥ pibet

'Knowing all this, O illustrious lady, you should not make me drink. O gracious one, how could this milk, fit only for an infant, be proper for one such as I?'

Verse 61 (skanda.5.175.61)

ममैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारी वचनमब्रवीत्

mamaitadvacanaṁ śrutvā nārī vacanamabravīt

Hearing these words of mine, the woman replied —

Verse 62 (skanda.5.175.62)

यदि त्वं न पिबेः स्तन्यं पयो बालो मरिष्यति । श्रूयते त्रिषु लोकेषु वेदेषु च स्मृतिष्वपि । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो भ्रूणहत्या न मुञ्चति

yadi tvaṁ na pibeḥ stanyaṁ payo bālo mariṣyati | śrūyate triṣu lokeṣu vedeṣu ca smṛtiṣvapi | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo bhrūṇahatyā na muñcati

'If you do not drink this breast-milk, the child will die. It is heard in the three worlds, in the Vedas, and in the Smritis too, that one is released from all sins, but not from the sin of killing an embryo.'

Verse 63 (skanda.5.175.63)

भवित्री तव हत्या च महाभागवतः पुनः । जन्मानि च शतान्यष्टौ क्लिश्यते भ्रूणहत्यया

bhavitrī tava hatyā ca mahābhāgavataḥ punaḥ | janmāni ca śatānyaṣṭau kliśyate bhrūṇahatyayā

'That killing too, O greatly fortunate one, would fall upon you. On account of embryo-killing one suffers for eight hundred births.'

Verse 64 (skanda.5.175.64)

मृतः शुनत्वं चाप्नोति वर्षाणां तु शतत्रयम् । ततस्तस्य क्षये जाते काकयोनिं व्रजेत्पुनः

mṛtaḥ śunatvaṁ cāpnoti varṣāṇāṁ tu śatatrayam | tatastasya kṣaye jāte kākayoniṁ vrajetpunaḥ

'On death he attains the state of a dog for three hundred years; when that has passed, he goes again to the womb of a crow.'

Verse 65 (skanda.5.175.65)

तत्रापि च शतान्यष्टौ क्लिश्यते पापकर्मणि । वराहो दश जन्मानि तदन्ते जायते कृमिः

tatrāpi ca śatānyaṣṭau kliśyate pāpakarmaṇi | varāho daśa janmāni tadante jāyate kṛmiḥ

'There too, for eight hundred years, he suffers for his sinful deed; then for ten births he becomes a boar, and after that a worm.'

Verse 66 (skanda.5.175.66)

ततश्चारोहिणीं प्राप्य गोगजाश्वनृजन्मभाक् । श्रूयते श्रुतिशास्त्रेषु वेदेषु च परंतप

tataścārohiṇīṁ prāpya gogajāśvanṛjanmabhāk | śrūyate śrutiśāstreṣu vedeṣu ca paraṁtapa

'O scorcher of foes, then, attaining the ascending scale, he is born as cow, elephant, horse, and man — so it is heard in the scriptures and the Vedas.'

Verse 67 (skanda.5.175.67)

सर्वपापाधिकं पापं बालहत्या द्विजोत्तम । बालहत्यायुतो विप्रः पच्यते नरके ध्रुवम्

sarvapāpādhikaṁ pāpaṁ bālahatyā dvijottama | bālahatyāyuto vipraḥ pacyate narake dhruvam

'O best of brahmins, the killing of a child is a sin greater than all sins; a brahmin guilty of it is surely cooked in hell.'

Verse 68 (skanda.5.175.68)

वर्षाणि च शतान्यष्टौ प्राप्नोति यमयातनाम् । तस्मादल्पतरो दोषः पिबतो मे स्तनं तव

varṣāṇi ca śatānyaṣṭau prāpnoti yamayātanām | tasmādalpataro doṣaḥ pibato me stanaṁ tava

'He undergoes the torments of Yama for eight hundred years. Therefore the fault of drinking my breast is by far the lesser one.'

Verse 69 (skanda.5.175.69)

तथैवापिबतः पापं जायते बहुवर्षिकम् । क्षुधातृषाविरामस्ते पुण्यं च पिबतः स्तनम्

tathaivāpibataḥ pāpaṁ jāyate bahuvarṣikam | kṣudhātṛṣāvirāmaste puṇyaṁ ca pibataḥ stanam

'Likewise the sin of refusing lasts for many years; but by drinking my breast your hunger and thirst will cease, and merit will come besides.'

Verse 70 (skanda.5.175.70)

अतो न चेतः संदिग्धं कर्तव्यमिह कर्हिचित् । एहि विप्र यथाकामं बालार्थे पिब मे स्तनम्

ato na cetaḥ saṁdigdhaṁ kartavyamiha karhicit | ehi vipra yathākāmaṁ bālārthe piba me stanam

'So let there be no doubt in your mind here at all. Come, O brahmin, drink my breast freely, for the child's sake.'

Verse 71 (skanda.5.175.71)

ततोऽहं वचनं श्रुत्वा स्तनं पातुं समुद्यतः । न च तृप्तिं विजानामि पिबतः स्तनमुत्तमम्

tato'haṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā stanaṁ pātuṁ samudyataḥ | na ca tṛptiṁ vijānāmi pibataḥ stanamuttamam

Then, hearing her words, I made ready to drink her breast; yet, drinking that supreme milk, I never knew satiety.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.175.72)

त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि भारतैवं शतानि च । ततः प्रबुद्धोत्सङ्गेऽहं मायानिद्राविमोहितः

triṁśadvarṣasahasrāṇi bhārataivaṁ śatāni ca | tataḥ prabuddhotsaṅge'haṁ māyānidrāvimohitaḥ

O Bharata, thus thirty thousand years passed, and hundreds more besides; then I awoke in her lap, having been bewildered by the sleep of illusion.

Verse 73 (skanda.5.175.73)

निद्राविगतमोहोऽहं यावत्पश्यामि पाण्डव । तावत्सुप्तं न पश्यामि न च तं बालकं विभो

nidrāvigatamoho'haṁ yāvatpaśyāmi pāṇḍava | tāvatsuptaṁ na paśyāmi na ca taṁ bālakaṁ vibho

O Pandava, when sleep's delusion had left me and I looked around, I no longer saw that sleeping person, nor that child.

Verse 74 (skanda.5.175.74)

चतुरस्तांश्च वै कुम्भान् पश्यामि तत्र भारत । न च पश्यामि तां देवीं गता वै कुत्रचिच्च ते

caturastāṁśca vai kumbhān paśyāmi tatra bhārata | na ca paśyāmi tāṁ devīṁ gatā vai kutracicca te

O Bharata, there I saw only the four square vessels; but I saw that goddess nowhere — she had gone somewhere.

Verse 75 (skanda.5.175.75)

एवं विमृश्यमानस्य चिन्तयानस्य तिष्ठतः । ईषद्धसितया वाचा देवी वचनमब्रवीत्

evaṁ vimṛśyamānasya cintayānasya tiṣṭhataḥ | īṣaddhasitayā vācā devī vacanamabravīt

As I stood thus, reflecting and pondering, the goddess spoke with a slightly smiling voice —

Verse 76 (skanda.5.175.76)

श्रीदेव्युवाच - कृष्णः स पुरुषः सुप्तो द्वितीयोऽप्यागतो हरः । ये चत्वारश्च ते कुम्भाः समुद्रास्ते द्विजोत्तम

śrīdevyuvāca - kṛṣṇaḥ sa puruṣaḥ supto dvitīyo'pyāgato haraḥ | ye catvāraśca te kumbhāḥ samudrāste dvijottama

Sri Devi said: 'O best of brahmins, the dark-hued person who lay sleeping was Vishnu himself; the second who came was Hara; and the four vessels you saw are the four oceans.'

Verse 77 (skanda.5.175.77)

यश्च बालस्त्वया दृष्टो ब्राह्मा लोकपितामहः । अहं च पृथिवी ज्ञेया सप्तद्वीपा सर्वता

yaśca bālastvayā dṛṣṭo brāhmā lokapitāmahaḥ | ahaṁ ca pṛthivī jñeyā saptadvīpā sarvatā

'The child you saw was Brahma, grandsire of the worlds. And know me to be the Earth herself, of seven continents, in her entirety.'

Verse 78 (skanda.5.175.78)

या गता त्वां परित्यज्य भूतले सुप्रतिष्ठिता । इमां च प्रेक्षसे विप्र नर्मदां सरितां वराम्

yā gatā tvāṁ parityajya bhūtale supratiṣṭhitā | imāṁ ca prekṣase vipra narmadāṁ saritāṁ varām

'She who departed, forsaking you, is now well established on the surface of the earth; and, O brahmin, this excellent river you now behold, the Narmada,

Verse 79 (skanda.5.175.79)

सर्वसत्त्वोपकाराय बृहते पुण्यलक्षणा । रेवानदी तु विख्याता न मृता तेन नर्मदा

sarvasattvopakārāya bṛhate puṇyalakṣaṇā | revānadī tu vikhyātā na mṛtā tena narmadā

was created vast and full of merit, for the benefit of all beings; renowned as the river Reva, and since she did not perish, she is also called Narmada.'

Verse 80 (skanda.5.175.80)

एवं ज्ञात्वा शमं गच्छ स्वस्थो भव महामुने । इत्युक्त्वा मां तदा देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

evaṁ jñātvā śamaṁ gaccha svastho bhava mahāmune | ityuktvā māṁ tadā devī tatraivāntaradhīyata

'Knowing this, find peace, O great sage, and be at ease.' Having said this to me, the goddess vanished right there.

Verse 81 (skanda.5.175.81)

एवं हि शेते भगवान्सत्त्वस्थः प्रलये सदा । सत्त्वरूपो महादेवो यदाधारे जगत्स्थितम्

evaṁ hi śete bhagavānsattvasthaḥ pralaye sadā | sattvarūpo mahādevo yadādhāre jagatsthitam

Thus the Lord, established in sattva, ever lies asleep during the dissolution — that great god in the form of sattva, upon whose support this world rests.

Verse 82 (skanda.5.175.82)

एवं मयानुभूतं तु दृष्टमाश्चर्यमुत्तमम् । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं कथितं ते नरोत्तम

evaṁ mayānubhūtaṁ tu dṛṣṭamāścaryamuttamam | sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ kathitaṁ te narottama

O best of men, thus this supreme wonder that I experienced and witnessed, destroyer of all sins and rich in merit, has been related to you.

Verse 83 (skanda.5.175.83)

विष्णोश्चरितमित्युक्तं यत्त्वया परिपृच्छितम् । भूय एव महाबाहो किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

viṣṇoścaritamityuktaṁ yattvayā paripṛcchitam | bhūya eva mahābāho kimanyacchrotumicchasi

Thus has Vishnu's deed, about which you asked, been told. O mighty-armed one, what else do you now wish to hear?