The Granting of the Boon to Andhaka

Verse 1 (skanda.5.200.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। एष एव पुरा प्रश्नः परिपृष्टो महेश्वरम्। राज्ञा चोत्तानपादेन ऋषिदेवसमागमे

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| eṣa eva purā praśnaḥ paripṛṣṭo maheśvaram| rājñā cottānapādena ṛṣidevasamāgame

Shri Markandeya said: This very question was once asked of Maheshvara by King Uttanapada, in an assembly of sages and gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.200.2)

उत्तानपाद उवाच। इदं तीर्थं महापुण्यं सर्वदेवमयं परम्। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं स्थानं न दृष्टं न श्रुतं हर

uttānapāda uvāca| idaṁ tīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvadevamayaṁ param| guhyādguhyataraṁ sthānaṁ na dṛṣṭaṁ na śrutaṁ hara

Uttanapada said: This tirtha is exceedingly sacred, supreme, embodying all the gods; O Hara, it is a place more secret than the secret, neither seen nor heard of before.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.200.3)

शूलभेदं कथं जातं केनैवोत्पादितं पुरा। माहात्म्यं तस्य तीर्थस्य विस्तराच्छंस मे प्रभो

śūlabhedaṁ kathaṁ jātaṁ kenaivotpāditaṁ purā| māhātmyaṁ tasya tīrthasya vistarācchaṁsa me prabho

How did Shulabheda come into being, and who brought it about in ancient times? O lord, tell me the glory of that tirtha in full detail.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.200.4)

ईश्वर उवाच। आसीत्पुरा महावीर्यो दानवो बलदर्पितः। मर्त्ये न तादृशः कश्चिद्विक्रमेण बलेन वा

īśvara uvāca| āsītpurā mahāvīryo dānavo baladarpitaḥ| martye na tādṛśaḥ kaścidvikrameṇa balena vā

Ishvara said: In ancient times there was a danava of immense might, intoxicated with strength; in the mortal world none was his equal in valour or power.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.200.5)

सूनुर्ब्रह्मसुतस्यायमन्धको नाम दुर्मदः। निजस्थाने वसन् पापः कुर्वन् राज्यमकण्टकम्

sūnurbrahmasutasyāyamandhako nāma durmadaḥ| nijasthāne vasan pāpaḥ kurvan rājyamakaṇṭakam

He was the son of Brahma's son, named Andhaka, arrogant and drunk with power; dwelling in his own domain, that sinful one ruled his kingdom unopposed.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.200.6)

हृष्टपुष्टो वसन्मर्त्ये स सुरैर्नाभिभूयते। भवनं तस्य पापस्य वह्नेरुपवनं यथा

hṛṣṭapuṣṭo vasanmartye sa surairnābhibhūyate| bhavanaṁ tasya pāpasya vahnerupavanaṁ yathā

Thriving and vigorous, dwelling in the mortal world, he was not to be overcome even by the gods; the mansion of that sinful one was like a grove of fire.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.200.7)

एतस्मिन्नन्धकः काले चिन्तयामास भारत। तोषयामि महादेवं येन सानुग्रहो भवेत्

etasminnandhakaḥ kāle cintayāmāsa bhārata| toṣayāmi mahādevaṁ yena sānugraho bhavet

O Bharata, at that time Andhaka thought to himself: Let me please Mahadeva in such a way that he becomes gracious toward me.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.200.8)

प्रार्थयामि वरं दिव्यं यो मे मनसि वर्तते। परं स निश्चयं कृत्वा सोऽन्धको निर्गतो गृहात्

prārthayāmi varaṁ divyaṁ yo me manasi vartate| paraṁ sa niścayaṁ kṛtvā so'ndhako nirgato gṛhāt

I shall ask for the divine boon that dwells in my heart — having made this firm resolve, that Andhaka set out from his home.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.200.9)

रेवातटं समासाद्य दानवस्तपसि स्थितः। उग्रं तपश्चचारासौ दारुणं लोमहर्षणम्

revātaṭaṁ samāsādya dānavastapasi sthitaḥ| ugraṁ tapaścacārāsau dāruṇaṁ lomaharṣaṇam

Reaching the bank of the Reva, that danava settled into austerity; he performed fierce, terrible, hair-raising penance.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.200.10)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं स निराहारोऽभवत्ततः। द्वितीयं तु सहस्रं स न्यवसद्वारिभोजनः

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ sa nirāhāro'bhavattataḥ| dvitīyaṁ tu sahasraṁ sa nyavasadvāribhojanaḥ

For a thousand divine years he remained without food; then, for a second thousand years, he subsisted on water alone.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.200.11)

तृतीयं तु सहस्रं स धूमपानरतोऽभवत्। चतुर्थं वर्षसाहस्रं योगाभ्यासेन संस्थितः

tṛtīyaṁ tu sahasraṁ sa dhūmapānarato'bhavat| caturthaṁ varṣasāhasraṁ yogābhyāsena saṁsthitaḥ

For a third thousand years he was devoted to inhaling smoke alone; for a fourth thousand years he remained fixed in the practice of yoga.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.200.12)

कोपीह नेदृश चक्रे तपः परमदारुणम्। अस्थिचर्मावशेषोऽसौ यावत्तिष्ठति भारत

kopīha nedṛśa cakre tapaḥ paramadāruṇam| asthicarmāvaśeṣo'sau yāvattiṣṭhati bhārata

O Bharata, no one else ever performed such supremely terrible austerity; reduced to mere bone and skin, he still remained standing.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.200.13)

तस्य मूर्ध्नि ततो राजन् धूमवार्त्तिर्विनिःसृता। देवलोकमतीत्यासौ कैलासं व्याप्य संस्थिता

tasya mūrdhni tato rājan dhūmavārttirviniḥsṛtā| devalokamatītyāsau kailāsaṁ vyāpya saṁsthitā

O king, then from his head a stream of smoke issued forth, and passing beyond the world of the gods, it settled, pervading Kailasa.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.200.14)

तावद्देवसमीपस्था उमा वचनमब्रवीत्। कोऽस्त्ययं मानुषे लोके तपसोग्रेण संस्थितः

tāvaddevasamīpasthā umā vacanamabravīt| ko'styayaṁ mānuṣe loke tapasogreṇa saṁsthitaḥ

Just then, Uma, seated near the god, spoke these words: Who is this in the world of men, established in such fierce austerity?

Verse 15 (skanda.5.200.15)

चतुर्वर्षसहस्राणि व्यतीयुः परमेश्वर। न केनापीदृशं तप्तं तपो दृष्टं श्रुतं तथा

caturvarṣasahasrāṇi vyatīyuḥ parameśvara| na kenāpīdṛśaṁ taptaṁ tapo dṛṣṭaṁ śrutaṁ tathā

O supreme lord, four thousand years have already passed; such austerity has never before been performed, seen, or heard of by anyone.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.200.16)

अवज्ञां कुरुषे देव किमत्र नियमान्विते। सर्वस्य दत्से शीघ्रं त्वमल्पेन तपसा विभो

avajñāṁ kuruṣe deva kimatra niyamānvite| sarvasya datse śīghraṁ tvamalpena tapasā vibho

O god, why do you show disregard in this matter? O lord, you generally grant everyone everything quickly, even for the slightest austerity.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.200.17)

नाक्षक्रीडां करिष्येऽद्य त्वया सह महेश्वर। यावन्नोत्थाप्यते ह्येष दानवो भक्तवत्सल

nākṣakrīḍāṁ kariṣye'dya tvayā saha maheśvara| yāvannotthāpyate hyeṣa dānavo bhaktavatsala

O Maheshvara, O one who cherishes devotees, I shall not play dice with you today until this danava is raised up and attended to.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.200.18)

ईश्वर उवाच। साधु साधु महादेवि सर्वलक्षणलक्षिते। अहं तं न विजानामि क्लिश्यन्तं दानवेश्वरम्

īśvara uvāca| sādhu sādhu mahādevi sarvalakṣaṇalakṣite| ahaṁ taṁ na vijānāmi kliśyantaṁ dānaveśvaram

Ishvara said: Well said, well said, O great goddess, endowed with every auspicious mark; I was not even aware of that lord of danavas undergoing such hardship.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.200.19)

योगाभ्यासे स्थितो भद्रे ध्यायंस्तत्परमं पदम्। तत्रागच्छ मया सार्द्धं यत्र तप्यत्यसौ तपः

yogābhyāse sthito bhadre dhyāyaṁstatparamaṁ padam| tatrāgaccha mayā sārddhaṁ yatra tapyatyasau tapaḥ

O gentle one, I was absorbed in the practice of yoga, meditating on that supreme state; come with me now to the place where he performs his austerity.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.200.20)

उमया सहितो देवो गतस्तत्र महेश्वरः। अस्थिचर्मावशेषस्तु दृष्टो देवेन शम्भुना

umayā sahito devo gatastatra maheśvaraḥ| asthicarmāvaśeṣastu dṛṣṭo devena śambhunā

The god Maheshvara, together with Uma, went there; and the god Shambhu saw him reduced to nothing but bone and skin.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.200.21)

प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नोऽसौ देवदेवो महेश्वरः। भोभोः कष्टं कृतं भीमं दारुणं लोमहर्षणम्

pratyuvāca prasanno'sau devadevo maheśvaraḥ| bhobhoḥ kaṣṭaṁ kṛtaṁ bhīmaṁ dāruṇaṁ lomaharṣaṇam

Being pleased, the god of gods, Maheshvara, replied: Oh, oh! You have endured a terrifying, dreadful, hair-raising ordeal.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.200.22)

ईदृशं च तपो घोरं कस्माद्वत्स त्वया कृतम्। वरं दास्याम्यहं वत्स यस्ते मनसि वर्तते

īdṛśaṁ ca tapo ghoraṁ kasmādvatsa tvayā kṛtam| varaṁ dāsyāmyahaṁ vatsa yaste manasi vartate

O child, for what reason have you performed such terrible austerity? O child, I shall grant you whatever boon dwells in your heart.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.200.23)

अन्धक उवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव वरदो यदि शङ्कर। सुरान् सर्वान् विजेष्यामि त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वर

andhaka uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva varado yadi śaṅkara| surān sarvān vijeṣyāmi tvatprasādānmaheśvara

Andhaka said: O god, if you are pleased with me, if, O Shankara, you are a boon-giver, then, O Maheshvara, by your grace I shall conquer all the gods.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.200.24)

ईश्वर उवाच। स्वप्नेऽपि त्रिदशाः सर्वे न योद्धव्याः कदाचन। असंभाव्यं न वक्तव्यं मनसो यन्न रोचते

īśvara uvāca| svapne'pi tridaśāḥ sarve na yoddhavyāḥ kadācana| asaṁbhāvyaṁ na vaktavyaṁ manaso yanna rocate

Ishvara said: Not even in a dream should one ever fight all the thirty gods; one should not speak of something impossible that displeases the heart.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.200.25)

अन्यं किमपि याचस्व यस्ते मनसि वर्तते। स्वर्गे वा यदि वा मर्त्ये पातालेषु च संस्थितान्

anyaṁ kimapi yācasva yaste manasi vartate| svarge vā yadi vā martye pātāleṣu ca saṁsthitān

Ask for anything else that is in your heart — whether concerning things situated in heaven, in the mortal world, or in the netherworlds.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.200.26)

मर्त्येषु विविधान् भोगान् भोक्ष्यसि त्वं यथेप्सितान्। कुरु निष्कण्टकं राज्यं स्वर्गे देवपतिर्यथा

martyeṣu vividhān bhogān bhokṣyasi tvaṁ yathepsitān| kuru niṣkaṇṭakaṁ rājyaṁ svarge devapatiryathā

In the mortal world, you shall enjoy manifold pleasures just as you desire; make your own kingdom free of thorns, just as the lord of gods does in heaven.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.200.27)

देवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सोऽन्धको विमनाः स्थितः। वृथा क्लेशश्च मे जातो न किंचित्साधितं मया

devasya vacanaṁ śrutvā so'ndhako vimanāḥ sthitaḥ| vṛthā kleśaśca me jāto na kiṁcitsādhitaṁ mayā

Hearing the god's words, that Andhaka sat despondent, thinking: My suffering has been in vain; I have accomplished nothing at all.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.200.28)

निश्वासं परमं मुक्त्वा निपपात धरातले। मूलच्छिन्नो यथा वृक्षो निरुच्छ्वासस्तदाभवत्

niśvāsaṁ paramaṁ muktvā nipapāta dharātale| mūlacchinno yathā vṛkṣo nirucchvasastadābhavat

Heaving a deep sigh, he collapsed upon the ground, and, like a tree cut off at its roots, became breathless.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.200.29)

मूर्च्छापन्नं ततो दृष्ट्वा देवी वचनमब्रवीत्। यं कामं कामयत्येष तमस्मै देहि शङ्कर। भक्तानुपेक्षमाणस्य तवाकीर्तिर्भविष्यति

mūrcchāpannaṁ tato dṛṣṭvā devī vacanamabravīt| yaṁ kāmaṁ kāmayatyeṣa tamasmai dehi śaṅkara| bhaktānupekṣamāṇasya tavākīrtirbhaviṣyati

Seeing him fallen unconscious, the goddess spoke: O Shankara, whatever this one desires, grant it to him; for if you neglect your devotee, ill fame will come upon you.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.200.30)

ईश्वर उवाच। यदि दास्ये वरं देवि इच्छाभूतं कदाचन। ततो न मंस्यते विष्णुं न ब्रह्माणं न मामपि। उच्चत्वमाप्तो देवेशि अन्यानपि सुरासुरान्

īśvara uvāca| yadi dāsye varaṁ devi icchābhūtaṁ kadācana| tato na maṁsyate viṣṇuṁ na brahmāṇaṁ na māmapi| uccatvamāpto deveśi anyānapi surāsurān

Ishvara said: O goddess, if I were ever to grant him the exact boon he desires, then, having attained supremacy, he would regard neither Vishnu, nor Brahma, nor even me, O queen of gods, nor any other gods or asuras.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.200.31)

देव्युवाच। कमप्युपायमाश्रित्य उत्थापय महेश्वर। विष्णुवर्जं सुरान्सर्वाञ्जयस्वेति वरं वद

devyuvāca| kamapyupāyamāśritya utthāpaya maheśvara| viṣṇuvarjaṁ surānsarvāñjayasveti varaṁ vada

The Goddess said: O Maheshvara, resorting to some device, raise him up; give him the boon that, save for Vishnu, he shall conquer all the gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.200.32)

ईश्वर उवाच। उपायः शोभनो देवि यो मे मनसि वर्तते। तमेवास्मै प्रदास्यामि यस्त्वया कथितो वरः

īśvara uvāca| upāyaḥ śobhano devi yo me manasi vartate| tamevāsmai pradāsyāmi yastvayā kathito varaḥ

Ishvara said: O goddess, the excellent device that dwells in my mind — that very boon which you have described, I shall grant to him.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.200.33)

ततोऽमृतेन संसिक्तः स्वस्थोऽभूत्तत्क्षणादयम्। तथा पुनर्नवो जातः सर्वावयवशोभितः

tato'mṛtena saṁsiktaḥ svastho'bhūttatkṣaṇādayam| tathā punarnavo jātaḥ sarvāvayavaśobhitaḥ

Then, sprinkled with nectar, he became well at that very instant, and, as it were, was reborn anew, radiant in every limb.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.200.34)

शृणुष्वैकमना भूत्वा गृहाण वरमुत्तमम्। विष्णुवर्जं प्रदास्यामि यत्तवाभिमतं प्रियम्

śṛṇuṣvaikamanā bhūtvā gṛhāṇa varamuttamam| viṣṇuvarjaṁ pradāsyāmi yattavābhimataṁ priyam

Listen with a focused mind, and accept this excellent boon; save for Vishnu, I shall grant whatever is dear and desired by you.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.200.35)

सर्वं च सफलं तुभ्यं मा धर्मस्तेऽन्यथा भवेत्। ददामीति वरं तुभ्यं मन्यसे यदि चासुर। विष्णुवर्जं सुरान् सर्वाञ्जेष्यसि त्वं च मां विना

sarvaṁ ca saphalaṁ tubhyaṁ mā dharmaste'nyathā bhavet| dadāmīti varaṁ tubhyaṁ manyase yadi cāsura| viṣṇuvarjaṁ surān sarvāñjeṣyasi tvaṁ ca māṁ vinā

May everything be fruitful for you; may your righteousness not go astray. O asura, if you accept this as your boon, then I grant it to you: save for Vishnu and myself, you shall conquer all the gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.200.36)

अन्धक उवाच। भवत्वेवमिति प्राह बलमास्थाय केवलम्। विष्णुवर्जं विजेष्येऽहं स्वबलेन महेश्वर

andhaka uvāca| bhavatvevamiti prāha balamāsthāya kevalam| viṣṇuvarjaṁ vijeṣye'haṁ svabalena maheśvara

Andhaka said: 'So be it,' he declared, relying solely on his own strength, and said: O Maheshvara, save for Vishnu, I shall conquer all by my own might.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.200.37)

कृतार्थोऽहं हि संजात इत्युक्त्वा प्रणतिं गतः। गच्छ देवोमयासार्द्धं कैलासशिखरं वरम्

kṛtārtho'haṁ hi saṁjāta ityuktvā praṇatiṁ gataḥ| gaccha devomayāsārddhaṁ kailāsaśikharaṁ varam

'I have become fulfilled,' he said, and bowed in reverence. Go now, O god, together with Uma, to the excellent peak of Kailasa.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.200.38)

वृषपुंगवमारुह्य देवोऽसावुमया सह। वरं दत्त्वा स तस्यैवं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

vṛṣapuṁgavamāruhya devo'sāvumayā saha| varaṁ dattvā sa tasyaivaṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Mounting upon the foremost of bulls, that god, together with Uma, having thus granted him the boon, vanished right there from sight.