Origin of the Vishalya

Verse 1 (skanda.5.177.1)

श्री मार्कण्डेय उवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सा विशल्या ह्यभूद्यथा । आश्चर्यभूता लोकस्य सर्वपापक्षयंकरी

śrī mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi sā viśalyā hyabhūdyathā | āścaryabhūtā lokasya sarvapāpakṣayaṁkarī

Sri Markandeya said: Hereafter I shall relate how that Vishalya river came to be — a wonder to the world, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.177.2)

ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रो मुख्यो ह्यग्निरजायत । मुख्यो वह्निरितिप्रोक्त ऋषिः परमधार्मिकः

brahmaṇo mānasaḥ putro mukhyo hyagnirajāyata | mukhyo vahniritiprokta ṛṣiḥ paramadhārmikaḥ

From Brahma's mind was born his chief son, Agni; that sage, called Mukhya-Vahni, was supremely righteous.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.177.3)

तस्य स्वाहाभवत्पत्नी स्मृता दाक्षायणी तु सा । तस्यां मुख्या महाराज त्रयः पुत्रास्तदाऽभवन्

tasya svāhābhavatpatnī smṛtā dākṣāyaṇī tu sā | tasyāṁ mukhyā mahārāja trayaḥ putrāstadā'bhavan

O great king, his wife was Svaha, remembered as the daughter of Daksha; from her were born his three principal sons.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.177.4)

अग्निराहवनीयस्तु दक्षिणाग्निस्तथैव च । गार्हपत्यस्तृतीयस्तु त्रैलोक्यं यैश्च धार्यते

agnirāhavanīyastu dakṣiṇāgnistathaiva ca | gārhapatyastṛtīyastu trailokyaṁ yaiśca dhāryate

The Ahavaniya fire, likewise the Dakshina fire, and third the Garhapatya — by these the three worlds are sustained.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.177.5)

तथा वै गार्हपत्योऽग्निर्जज्ञे पुत्रद्वयं शुभम् । पद्मकः शङ्कुनामा च तावुभावग्निसत्तमौ

tathā vai gārhapatyo'gnirjajñe putradvayaṁ śubham | padmakaḥ śaṅkunāmā ca tāvubhāvagnisattamau

The Garhapatya fire in turn begot two auspicious sons, named Padmaka and Shanku, both foremost among fires.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.177.6)

वसन्नग्निर्नदीतीरे समाश्रित्य महत्तपः । रुद्रमाराधयामास जितात्मा सुसमाहितः

vasannagnirnadītīre samāśritya mahattapaḥ | rudramārādhayāmāsa jitātmā susamāhitaḥ

Dwelling on a riverbank, undertaking great austerity, with self subdued and mind deeply composed, he worshipped Rudra.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.177.7)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि चचार विपुलं तपः । तमुवाच महादेवः प्रसन्नो वृषभध्वजः

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi cacāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ | tamuvāca mahādevaḥ prasanno vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

For ten thousand years he practiced vast austerity; then Mahadeva, the bull-bannered one, pleased, spoke to him —

Verse 8 (skanda.5.177.8)

भोभो ब्रूहि महाभाग यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । दाता ह्यहमसंदेहो यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

bhobho brūhi mahābhāga yatte manasi vartate | dātā hyahamasaṁdeho yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'O illustrious one, speak — whatever is on your mind. I am without doubt the giver, even should it be something exceedingly rare.'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.177.9)

अग्निरुवाच - नर्मदेयं महाभागा सरितो याश्च षोडश । भवन्तु मम पत्न्यस्तास्त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वर

agniruvāca - narmadeyaṁ mahābhāgā sarito yāśca ṣoḍaśa | bhavantu mama patnyastāstvatprasādānmaheśvara

Agni said: 'O Maheshvara, by your grace may this illustrious Narmada and the other sixteen rivers become my wives.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.177.10)

तासु वै चिन्तितान् पुत्रानग्र्यानुत्पादयाम्यहम् । एष एव वरो देव दीयतां मे महेश्वर

tāsu vai cintitān putrānagryānutpādayāmyaham | eṣa eva varo deva dīyatāṁ me maheśvara

'In them I shall beget the foremost sons I have conceived. This alone is my boon, O Maheshvara; grant it to me.'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.177.11)

ईश्वर उवाच। एतास्तु धिष्णिनाम्न्यो वै भविष्यन्ति सरिद्वराः । पत्न्यस्तव विशालाक्ष्यो वेदे ख्याता न संशयः

īśvara uvāca| etāstu dhiṣṇināmnyo vai bhaviṣyanti saridvarāḥ | patnyastava viśālākṣyo vede khyātā na saṁśayaḥ

Ishvara said: 'These wide-eyed, excellent rivers, renowned in the Veda, shall without doubt become your wives, known by the name Dhishni.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.177.12)

तासां पुत्रा भविष्यन्ति ह्यग्नयो येऽध्वरे स्मृताः । धिष्ण्यानाम सुविख्याता यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम्

tāsāṁ putrā bhaviṣyanti hyagnayo ye'dhvare smṛtāḥ | dhiṣṇyānāma suvikhyātā yāvadābhūtasamplavam

'The sacred fires remembered in the sacrificial rite shall be their sons, well known by the name Dhishnya until the dissolution of created beings.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.177.13)

एवमुक्त्वा महादेवस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । नर्मदा च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा तस्य भार्या बभूव ह

evamuktvā mahādevastatraivāntaradhīyata | narmadā ca saricchreṣṭhā tasya bhāryā babhūva ha

Having said this, Mahadeva vanished right there; and Narmada, foremost of rivers, became his wife.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.177.14)

कावेरी कृष्णवेणी च रेवा च यमुना तथा । गोदावरी वितस्ता च चन्द्रभागा इरावती

kāverī kṛṣṇaveṇī ca revā ca yamunā tathā | godāvarī vitastā ca candrabhāgā irāvatī

The Kaveri, the Krishnaveni, the Reva, and the Yamuna; the Godavari, the Vitasta, the Chandrabhaga, and the Iravati;

Verse 15 (skanda.5.177.15)

विपाशा कौशिकी चैव सरयूः शतरुद्रिका । शिप्रा सरस्वती चैव ह्रादिनी पावनी तथा

vipāśā kauśikī caiva sarayūḥ śatarudrikā | śiprā sarasvatī caiva hrādinī pāvanī tathā

the Vipasha and the Kaushiki; the Sarayu and the Shatarudrika; the Shipra and the Sarasvati; and the Hradini and the Pavani —

Verse 16 (skanda.5.177.16)

एताः षोडशा नद्यो वै भार्यार्थं संव्यवस्थिताः । तदात्मानं विभज्याशु धिष्णीषु स महाद्युतिः

etāḥ ṣoḍaśā nadyo vai bhāryārthaṁ saṁvyavasthitāḥ | tadātmānaṁ vibhajyāśu dhiṣṇīṣu sa mahādyutiḥ

these sixteen rivers became established as his wives; then that greatly radiant Agni, swiftly dividing himself, entered into those Dhishnis.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.177.17)

व्यभिचारात्तु भर्तुर्वै नर्मदाद्यासु धिष्णिषु । उत्पन्नाः शुचयः पुत्राः सर्वे ते धिष्ण्यपाः स्मृताः

vyabhicārāttu bharturvai narmadādyāsu dhiṣṇiṣu | utpannāḥ śucayaḥ putrāḥ sarve te dhiṣṇyapāḥ smṛtāḥ

Through the husband's union with Narmada and the other Dhishnis, pure sons were born from them, all called Dhishnyapas.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.177.18)

तस्याश्च नर्मदायास्तु धिष्णीन्द्रो नाम विश्रुतः । बभूव पुत्रो बलवान्रूपेणाप्रतिमो नृप

tasyāśca narmadāyāstu dhiṣṇīndro nāma viśrutaḥ | babhūva putro balavānrūpeṇāpratimo nṛpa

O king, from that Narmada too was born a son renowned by the name Dhishnindra, mighty and unequalled in beauty.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.177.19)

ततो देवासुरं युद्धमभवल्लोमहर्षणम् । मयतारकमित्येवं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्

tato devāsuraṁ yuddhamabhavallomaharṣaṇam | mayatārakamityevaṁ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam

Then there occurred a hair-raising battle between gods and demons, known throughout the three worlds as the Maya-Taraka war.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.177.20)

तत्र दैत्यैर्महाघोरैर्मयतारपुरोगमैः । ताडितास्ते सुरास्त्रस्ता विष्णुं वै शरणं ययुः

tatra daityairmahāghorairmayatārapurogamaiḥ | tāḍitāste surāstrastā viṣṇuṁ vai śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

There, struck by the terrible demons led by Maya and Tara, the frightened gods went for refuge to Vishnu.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.177.21)

त्रायस्व नो हृषीकेशा घोरादस्मान्महाभयात् । दैत्यान्सर्वान्संहरस्व मयतारपुरोगमान्

trāyasva no hṛṣīkeśā ghorādasmānmahābhayāt | daityānsarvānsaṁharasva mayatārapurogamān

'Protect us, O Hrishikesha, from this terrible great fear; destroy all the demons led by Maya and Tara.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.177.22)

एवमुक्तः स भगवान्दिशो दश व्यलोकयत् । ततो भगवता दृष्टौ रणे पावकमारुतौ

evamuktaḥ sa bhagavāndiśo daśa vyalokayat | tato bhagavatā dṛṣṭau raṇe pāvakamārutau

Thus addressed, the Lord looked upon the ten directions; then he beheld Agni and Vayu, fit for the battle.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.177.23)

आहूतौ विष्णुना तौ तु सकाशं जग्मतुः क्षणात् । स्थितौ तौ प्रणतौ चाग्रे देवदेवस्य धीमतः

āhūtau viṣṇunā tau tu sakāśaṁ jagmatuḥ kṣaṇāt | sthitau tau praṇatau cāgre devadevasya dhīmataḥ

Summoned by Vishnu, those two came into his presence in an instant and stood bowed before that wise god of gods.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.177.24)

ततो धिष्णिः पावकेन्द्रो देवेनोक्तो महात्मना । निर्दहेमान्महाघोरान्नार्मदेय महासुरान्

tato dhiṣṇiḥ pāvakendro devenokto mahātmanā | nirdahemānmahāghorānnārmadeya mahāsurān

Then that great-souled god said to Dhishni, foremost of fires: 'O son of Narmada, burn up these terrible great demons.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.177.25)

अथैवमुक्तौ तौ देवौ रणे पावकमारुतौ । दैत्यान् ददहतुः सर्वान्मयतारपुरोगमान्

athaivamuktau tau devau raṇe pāvakamārutau | daityān dadahatuḥ sarvānmayatārapurogamān

Thus commanded, those two gods, Agni and Vayu, burned up in battle all the demons led by Maya and Tara.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.177.26)

दह्यमानास्तु ते सर्वे शस्त्रैरग्निं त्ववेष्टयन् । दिव्यैरग्न्यर्कसङ्काशैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

dahyamānāstu te sarve śastrairagniṁ tvaveṣṭayan | divyairagnyarkasaṅkāśaiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

As they burned, all those demons assailed Agni with hundreds and then thousands of divine weapons blazing like fire and the sun.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.177.27)

तांश्चाग्निः शस्त्रनिकरैर्निर्ददाह महासुरान् । ज्वालामालाकुलं सर्वं वायुना निर्मितं तदा

tāṁścāgniḥ śastranikarairnirdadāha mahāsurān | jvālāmālākulaṁ sarvaṁ vāyunā nirmitaṁ tadā

Agni burnt up those great demons together with their masses of weapons; everything then, fanned by Vayu, became enveloped in garlands of flame.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.177.28)

दह्यमानास्ततो दैत्या अग्निज्वालासमावृताः । प्रविश्य पातालतलं जले लीनाः सहस्रशः

dahyamānāstato daityā agnijvālāsamāvṛtāḥ | praviśya pātālatalaṁ jale līnāḥ sahasraśaḥ

Then, burning and engulfed in the flames of Agni, the demons entered the depths of Patala, dissolving into the water by the thousands.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.177.29)

ततः कुमारमग्निं तु नर्मदापुत्रमव्ययम् । पूजयित्वा सुराः सर्वे जग्मुस्ते त्रिदशालयम्

tataḥ kumāramagniṁ tu narmadāputramavyayam | pūjayitvā surāḥ sarve jagmuste tridaśālayam

Then, having worshipped that imperishable child of Agni, son of Narmada, all the gods returned to the abode of heaven.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.177.30)

सशल्यस्तु महातेजा रेवापुत्रो वृतोऽग्निभिः । नर्मदामागतः क्षिप्रं मातरं द्रष्टुमुत्सुकः

saśalyastu mahātejā revāputro vṛto'gnibhiḥ | narmadāmāgataḥ kṣipraṁ mātaraṁ draṣṭumutsukaḥ

But that greatly radiant son of the Reva, still bearing weapon-darts and surrounded by flames, came quickly to Narmada, eager to see his mother.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.177.31)

तं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रमायान्तं शस्त्रौघेण परिक्षतम् । नर्मदा पुण्यसलिला अभ्युत्थाय सुविस्मिता

taṁ dṛṣṭvā putramāyāntaṁ śastraugheṇa parikṣatam | narmadā puṇyasalilā abhyutthāya suvismitā

Seeing her son coming, wounded all over by weapon-strikes, Narmada of sacred waters rose up in great astonishment,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.177.32)

पर्यष्वजत बाहुभ्यां प्रस्नवापीडितस्तनी । सशल्यं पुत्रमादाय कापिलं ह्रदमाविशत्

paryaṣvajata bāhubhyāṁ prasnavāpīḍitastanī | saśalyaṁ putramādāya kāpilaṁ hradamāviśat

and, her breasts flowing with milk, embraced him with both arms; taking up her wounded son, she entered the Kapila pool.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.177.33)

प्रविष्टमात्रे तु ह्रदे कापिले पापनाशिनि । सशल्यं तं विशल्यं च क्षणात्कृतवती तदा

praviṣṭamātre tu hrade kāpile pāpanāśini | saśalyaṁ taṁ viśalyaṁ ca kṣaṇātkṛtavatī tadā

The very moment she entered that sin-destroying Kapila pool, she instantly made her wounded son free of his darts — Vishalya.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.177.34)

स विशल्योऽभवद्यस्मात्प्राप्य तस्याः शिवं जलम् । कपिला नामतस्तेन विशल्या चोच्यते बुधैः

sa viśalyo'bhavadyasmātprāpya tasyāḥ śivaṁ jalam | kapilā nāmatastena viśalyā cocyate budhaiḥ

Since he became free of darts on attaining her auspicious water, the wise therefore call that place both Kapila and Vishalya.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.177.35)

अन्येऽपि तत्र ये स्नाताः शुचयस्तु समाहिताः । पापशल्यैः प्रमुच्यन्ते मृता यान्ति सुरालयम्

anye'pi tatra ye snātāḥ śucayastu samāhitāḥ | pāpaśalyaiḥ pramucyante mṛtā yānti surālayam

Others too, pure and composed of mind, who bathe there are freed from the darts of sin, and upon death attain the abode of the gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.177.36)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं पुरा त्वया । उत्पत्तिकारणं तात विशल्याया नरेश्वर

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ purā tvayā | utpattikāraṇaṁ tāta viśalyāyā nareśvara

O son, O lord of men, all this has now been told to you — the cause of the origin of Vishalya, which you earlier asked me.