Brahma's Penance

Verse 1 (skanda.5.3.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। छिन्ने वक्त्रे ततो ब्रह्मा क्रोधेन तमसा वृतः। ललाटे स्वदमुत्पन्नं गृहीत्वाऽताडयद्भुवि

sanatkumāra uvāca| chinne vaktre tato brahmā krodhena tamasā vṛtaḥ| lalāṭe svadamutpannaṁ gṛhītvā'tāḍayadbhuvi

Sanatkumara said: When his face was severed, Brahma, filled with rage and enveloped in darkness, took the sweat that had formed on his forehead and dashed it upon the ground.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.3.2)

तत्स्वेदात्कुंडली जज्ञे सधनुः समहेषुधिः। सहस्रकवचो वीरः किं करोमीत्युवाच ह

tatsvedātkuṁḍalī jajñe sadhanuḥ samaheṣudhiḥ| sahasrakavaco vīraḥ kiṁ karomītyuvāca ha

From that sweat there arose a warrior wearing earrings, with bow and quiver, clad in a thousand coats of mail, who said: 'What shall I do?'

Verse 3 (skanda.5.3.3)

तमुवाच विरंचिस्तु दर्शयन्रुद्रमोजसा। वध्यतामेष दुर्बुद्धिर्जायते न यथा पुनः

tamuvāca viraṁcistu darśayanrudramojasā| vadhyatāmeṣa durbuddhirjāyate na yathā punaḥ

Virinchi, pointing out Rudra to him with vigour, said: 'Let this evil-minded one be slain, so that he may not be born again.'

Verse 4 (skanda.5.3.4)

ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा धनुरुद्यम्य पृष्ठतः। स प्रतस्थे महेशस्य बाणहस्तोऽतिरोषभृत्

brahmaṇo vacanaṁ śrutvā dhanurudyamya pṛṣṭhataḥ| sa pratasthe maheśasya bāṇahasto'tiroṣabhṛt

Having heard Brahma's words, taking up his bow and slinging it on his back, arrow in hand, he set out toward Mahesha, filled with great fury.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.3.5)

स दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं चोग्रमगमद्विस्मितो भवः। दिव्यबाणधनुर्हस्तं वेगविक्रांतगामिनम्

sa dṛṣṭvā puruṣaṁ cogramagamadvismito bhavaḥ| divyabāṇadhanurhastaṁ vegavikrāṁtagāminam

Seeing that fierce being, Bhava went forth astonished—a being holding a divine bow and arrow, advancing with swift, mighty strides.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.3.6)

मया न वध्योऽतिबलः सखा विष्णोर्भविष्यति। अनुग्राह्यो ह्यहं तेन सख्यार्थं तपसि स्थितः

mayā na vadhyo'tibalaḥ sakhā viṣṇorbhaviṣyati| anugrāhyo hyahaṁ tena sakhyārthaṁ tapasi sthitaḥ

'This one of great strength is not to be slain by me; he shall become the friend of Vishnu. For the sake of that friendship he is worthy of my grace, this one who abides in austerity.'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.3.7)

चिंतयन्नित्थमीशोऽपि विष्णोराश्रममभ्यगात्। हुंकारध्वनिना ब्रह्मन्मोहयित्वा ततो नरम्

ciṁtayannitthamīśo'pi viṣṇorāśramamabhyagāt| huṁkāradhvaninā brahmanmohayitvā tato naram

Thinking thus, Ishvara went to the hermitage of Vishnu; and, O Brahmin, having bewildered that man with the sound of his roar...

Verse 8 (skanda.5.3.8)

प्रपात्य च तदा हृष्टः क्रीडां कुर्वञ्जगत्स्थितौ। यत्र नारायणः श्रीमांस्तपस्तेपे प्रतापवान्

prapātya ca tadā hṛṣṭaḥ krīḍāṁ kurvañjagatsthitau| yatra nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmāṁstapastepe pratāpavān

...having felled him, and delighting, sporting amid the stability of the world, he came to where glorious, mighty Narayana was practising austerity.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.3.9)

अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वात्मा विश्वसृग्विभुः। तत्र प्राप्तो विरूपाक्षो ददर्श मधुसूदनम्

adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ viśvātmā viśvasṛgvibhuḥ| tatra prāpto virūpākṣo dadarśa madhusūdanam

Invisible to all beings, the Soul of the universe, its creator, the all-pervading Virupaksha, arriving there, beheld Madhusudana.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.3.10)

एकांगुष्ठस्थितं भूमौ तपोऽत्यंतमनातुरम्। युगांतार्कसहस्रस्य तेजसा वृतमद्भुतम्

ekāṁguṣṭhasthitaṁ bhūmau tapo'tyaṁtamanāturam| yugāṁtārkasahasrasya tejasā vṛtamadbhutam

Standing on the earth on a single toe, he practised austerity that was extreme yet untroubled, wondrously wrapped in the splendour of a thousand suns at the end of an age.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.3.11)

पुण्या धारसमायुक्तं पुराणपुरुषोत्तमम्। दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं भिक्षां देहीत्युवाच ह

puṇyā dhārasamāyuktaṁ purāṇapuruṣottamam| dṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ bhikṣāṁ dehītyuvāca ha

Beholding the god Narayana, endowed with sacred merit and radiance, the ancient Purushottama, he said: 'Give me alms!'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.3.12)

कपालं दर्शयित्वाग्रे ज्वलज्ज्वलनसोत्कटम्। कपालपाणिं संप्रेक्ष्य रुद्रं विष्णुरचिंतयत्

kapālaṁ darśayitvāgre jvalajjvalanasotkaṭam| kapālapāṇiṁ saṁprekṣya rudraṁ viṣṇuraciṁtayat

Having first shown the skull-bowl, terrible with blazing fire, Vishnu, beholding Rudra with the skull in hand, reflected.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.3.13)

कोऽन्यो योग्यो भवेद्भिक्षुर्भिक्षादानस्य सांप्रतम्। योग्योऽयमिति संकल्प्य दक्षिणं भुजमर्पयत्

ko'nyo yogyo bhavedbhikṣurbhikṣādānasya sāṁpratam| yogyo'yamiti saṁkalpya dakṣiṇaṁ bhujamarpayat

'Who else now would be a fit recipient for this alms-giving?' Resolving 'this is fitting,' he offered his own right arm.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.3.14)

तं बिभेदांतर्गतज्ञः शूलेन शशिशेखरः। ततः प्रवाह उत्पन्नः शोणितस्य विभोर्भुजात्

taṁ bibhedāṁtargatajñaḥ śūlena śaśiśekharaḥ| tataḥ pravāha utpannaḥ śoṇitasya vibhorbhujāt

Knowing his inner intent, the moon-crested one pierced it with his trident; then a stream of blood began to flow from the Lord's arm.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.3.15)

जांबूनदरसाकारा वह्निज्वालेव निर्मला। निष्पपात कपालांते शंभुना संप्रतीच्छिता

jāṁbūnadarasākārā vahnijvāleva nirmalā| niṣpapāta kapālāṁte śaṁbhunā saṁpratīcchitā

Golden-hued like molten gold, pure as a tongue of flame, it fell at the rim of the skull-bowl, and was received there by Shambhu.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.3.16)

ऋज्वी वेगवती शिप्रा दीधितीवांबरे रवेः। पंचाशद्योजना दीर्घा विस्तारे दशयोजना

ṛjvī vegavatī śiprā dīdhitīvāṁbare raveḥ| paṁcāśadyojanā dīrghā vistāre daśayojanā

It was straight, swift, and radiant, like a ray of the sun across the sky; fifty yojanas in length and ten yojanas in breadth.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.3.17)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं सा समुवाह हरेर्भुजात्। कियंतं कालमीशो हि भिक्षां जग्राह भावितः

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ sā samuvāha harerbhujāt| kiyaṁtaṁ kālamīśo hi bhikṣāṁ jagrāha bhāvitaḥ

For a thousand divine years it flowed from Hari's arm; for that whole time, the devoted Ishvara went on receiving it as alms.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.3.18)

दत्तां नारायणेनाथ सत्पात्रे पात्र उत्तमे। ततो नारायणः प्राह हरं परमिदं वचः

dattāṁ nārāyaṇenātha satpātre pātra uttame| tato nārāyaṇaḥ prāha haraṁ paramidaṁ vacaḥ

It was given by Narayana into a worthy vessel, into that most excellent receptacle; then Narayana spoke this supreme word to Hara.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.3.19)

संपूर्णं तव पात्रं हि ततो वै परमेश्वरः। सतोयांबुदनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं हरेर्हरः

saṁpūrṇaṁ tava pātraṁ hi tato vai parameśvaraḥ| satoyāṁbudanirghoṣaṁ śrutvā vākyaṁ harerharaḥ

'Now your vessel is full.' Thereupon Parameshvara, hearing this word of Hari, resounding like a rain-cloud...

Verse 20 (skanda.5.3.20)

शशिसूर्याग्नि नयनः शशिशेखरशोभितः। कपाले दृष्टिमावेश्य त्रिनेत्रैश्च जनार्दनम्

śaśisūryāgni nayanaḥ śaśiśekharaśobhitaḥ| kapāle dṛṣṭimāveśya trinetraiśca janārdanam

...having the moon, sun, and fire for his eyes, adorned with the crescent moon, fixing the gaze of his three eyes upon the skull-bowl and upon Janardana...

Verse 21 (skanda.5.3.21)

अंगुल्या घटयन्प्राह कपालं चातिपूरितम्। श्रुत्वा हरिरिदं वाक्यं रक्तधारां समाहरत्

aṁgulyā ghaṭayanprāha kapālaṁ cātipūritam| śrutvā hariridaṁ vākyaṁ raktadhārāṁ samāharat

...joining his fingers, he said that the skull-bowl was now overfull; hearing this word, Hari drew back the stream of blood.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.3.22)

पार्श्वतोथ हरेरीशः स्वांगुल्या रुधिरं तदा। दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं च दृष्टिपातं ममंथ वै

pārśvatotha harerīśaḥ svāṁgulyā rudhiraṁ tadā| divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ ca dṛṣṭipātaṁ mamaṁtha vai

Then, beside Hari, Ishvara churned that blood with his own finger, together with the fall of his gaze, for a thousand divine years.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.3.23)

मथ्यमाने ततो रक्ते कललं बुद्बुदं क्रमात्। बभूव च ततः पश्चात्किरीटी सशरासनः

mathyamāne tato rakte kalalaṁ budbudaṁ kramāt| babhūva ca tataḥ paścātkirīṭī saśarāsanaḥ

As it was churned, that blood gradually became froth, then a bubble; and thereafter there came into being a man crowned and armed with a bow.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.3.24)

सहस्रबाहू रक्ताक्षो धनुर्ज्यां संस्पृशन्मुहुः। बभूव तूणीरगलो वृषस्कंधोंऽगुलित्रवान्

sahasrabāhū raktākṣo dhanurjyāṁ saṁspṛśanmuhuḥ| babhūva tūṇīragalo vṛṣaskaṁdhoṁ'gulitravān

Thousand-armed, red-eyed, again and again touching the bowstring; a quiver at his neck, bull-shouldered, and fitted with finger-guards.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.3.25)

पुरुषोऽर्जुनसंकाशः कपाले संप्रकाशयन्। तं दृष्ट्वा भगवान्विष्णुः प्राह रुद्रमिदं वचः

puruṣo'rjunasaṁkāśaḥ kapāle saṁprakāśayan| taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavānviṣṇuḥ prāha rudramidaṁ vacaḥ

A man resembling Arjuna, he shone forth within the skull-bowl; seeing him, the blessed Vishnu spoke this word to Rudra.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.3.26)

कपाले भगवन्कोऽयं प्रादुर्भूतोऽभवन्नरः। उक्तिं श्रुत्वा हरेरीशस्तमुवाच हरे शृणु

kapāle bhagavanko'yaṁ prādurbhūto'bhavannaraḥ| uktiṁ śrutvā harerīśastamuvāca hare śṛṇu

'O Lord, who is this man that has appeared in the skull-bowl?' Hearing Hari's question, Ishvara said to him: 'O Hari, listen.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.3.27)

नरो नामेति पुरुषः परमास्त्रविदांवरः। यस्त्वयोक्तो नर इति नरस्तस्माद्भविष्यति

naro nāmeti puruṣaḥ paramāstravidāṁvaraḥ| yastvayokto nara iti narastasmādbhaviṣyati

'This is a man called Nara, foremost among knowers of the supreme weapons; and since you have called him Nara, Nara shall be his name.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.3.28)

नरनारायणौ चोभौ युगे ख्यातौ भविष्यतः। संग्रामे देवकार्येषु लोकानां परिपालने

naranārāyaṇau cobhau yuge khyātau bhaviṣyataḥ| saṁgrāme devakāryeṣu lokānāṁ paripālane

'Nara and Narayana, both of them, shall become renowned in every age, in battle, in the tasks of the gods, and in the protection of the worlds.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.3.29)

एष नारायण सखा नरस्तव भविष्यति। तव एकाकिनः संख्ये तपसश्च महामुनिः

eṣa nārāyaṇa sakhā narastava bhaviṣyati| tava ekākinaḥ saṁkhye tapasaśca mahāmuniḥ

'O Narayana, this Nara shall become your friend, a great sage beside you in your solitary austerity of battle.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.3.30)

विज्ञानस्य परीक्षायै तेजो लोके भविष्यति। तेजोधिकमिदं दिव्यं ब्रह्मणः पंचमं शिरः

vijñānasya parīkṣāyai tejo loke bhaviṣyati| tejodhikamidaṁ divyaṁ brahmaṇaḥ paṁcamaṁ śiraḥ

'For the testing of true knowledge, a splendour shall appear in the world: this exceedingly radiant, divine fifth head of Brahma...'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.3.31)

तेजसा ब्रह्मणो दीप्तो भुजस्य तव शोणितात्। मम दृष्टिनिपाताच्च त्रीणि तेजांसि यान्यतः

tejasā brahmaṇo dīpto bhujasya tava śoṇitāt| mama dṛṣṭinipātācca trīṇi tejāṁsi yānyataḥ

'...aflame with the splendour of Brahma, from the blood of your arm, and from the fall of my gaze—from these three splendours, the one who...'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.3.32)

तत्संयोगात्समुत्पन्नः शत्रूनुद्वेजयिष्यति। अवध्या ये भविष्यंति दुर्जयास्तव चापरे

tatsaṁyogātsamutpannaḥ śatrūnudvejayiṣyati| avadhyā ye bhaviṣyaṁti durjayāstava cāpare

'...is born of their union shall bring distress upon enemies; and there shall be others too, unslayable and hard to conquer even for you.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.3.33)

शक्रस्य चामरारीणां तेषामेव भयंकरः। एवमुक्तवतः शंभोर्विस्मितस्तस्य तेजसा

śakrasya cāmarārīṇāṁ teṣāmeva bhayaṁkaraḥ| evamuktavataḥ śaṁbhorvismitastasya tejasā

'This one shall be a terror both to Indra and to the enemies of the immortals.' When Shambhu had thus spoken, amazed at his splendour...

Verse 34 (skanda.5.3.34)

हरिरपि स तत्रैव तुष्टाव हरकेशवौ। नमो हर हरे तुभ्यं नमः शंकर विष्णवे

harirapi sa tatraiva tuṣṭāva harakeśavau| namo hara hare tubhyaṁ namaḥ śaṁkara viṣṇave

...Hari too, right there, praised the united form of Hara and Keshava: 'Salutation to you, Hara-Hari; salutation to you, Shankara-Vishnu.'

Verse 35 (skanda.5.3.35)

नमस्ते शूलहस्ताय नमस्ते खङ्गपाणये। नमोनमस्ते मेध्याय हृषीकेश नमोऽस्तु ते

namaste śūlahastāya namaste khaṅgapāṇaye| namonamaste medhyāya hṛṣīkeśa namo'stu te

'Salutation to you, trident-bearer; salutation to you, sword-in-hand; salutation, salutation again to the pure one; O Hrishikesha, salutation to you.'

Verse 36 (skanda.5.3.36)

नमोऽस्तु वाचां पतये श्रीधराय नमोनमः। एवं स्तुवन्तं तं भक्त्या कृतांजलिपुटं नरम्

namo'stu vācāṁ pataye śrīdharāya namonamaḥ| evaṁ stuvantaṁ taṁ bhaktyā kṛtāṁjalipuṭaṁ naram

'Salutation to the Lord of Speech, and again and again to Shridhara.' As he thus praised him with devotion, palms joined together...

Verse 37 (skanda.5.3.37)

तथैवांजलिसंबद्धं गृहीत्वाशु करद्वयम्। उद्धृत्याथ कपालात्तु पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत्

tathaivāṁjalisaṁbaddhaṁ gṛhītvāśu karadvayam| uddhṛtyātha kapālāttu punarvacanamabravīt

...taking up quickly his two joined hands as well, and lifting him from the skull-bowl, he spoke once more.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.3.38)

य एव पुरुषो रौद्रो ब्रह्मणः स्वेदसं भवः। मम हुंकारशब्देन मोहनिद्रामुपागतः

ya eva puruṣo raudro brahmaṇaḥ svedasaṁ bhavaḥ| mama huṁkāraśabdena mohanidrāmupāgataḥ

'This fierce being who was born of Brahma's sweat has fallen into a swoon of delusion at the sound of my roar.'

Verse 39 (skanda.5.3.39)

निबोध तं च त्वरितमित्युक्त्वांतर्हितो हरः। नारायणस्य प्रत्यक्षं बोधयित्वा द्रुतं हि तम्

nibodha taṁ ca tvaritamityuktvāṁtarhito haraḥ| nārāyaṇasya pratyakṣaṁ bodhayitvā drutaṁ hi tam

'Recognise him, and rouse him quickly'—having said this, Hara vanished; and having swiftly awakened him before Narayana...

Verse 40 (skanda.5.3.40)

वामपादेन हत्वा च समुत्तस्थौ नरो रुषा। तयोर्युद्धं समभवत्स्वेदरक्तजयोर्महत्

vāmapādena hatvā ca samuttasthau naro ruṣā| tayoryuddhaṁ samabhavatsvedaraktajayormahat

Nara struck him with his left foot and made him rise in fury; then a great battle broke out between the sweat-born and the blood-born.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.3.41)

विस्फारितधनुःशब्दैर्नादिताशेषभूतलम्। कवचं स्वेदजस्यैकं रक्तजस्य तथा भुजौ

visphāritadhanuḥśabdairnāditāśeṣabhūtalam| kavacaṁ svedajasyaikaṁ raktajasya tathā bhujau

With the twang of drawn bows the whole world resounded; the sweat-born had a single coat of mail, while the blood-born wore armour on his arms.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.3.42)

एवं समेन वै युद्धं दिव्यं जातं तु भूतले। त्रिवर्षोनानि वर्षाणां शतानि दश सुद्विज

evaṁ samena vai yuddhaṁ divyaṁ jātaṁ tu bhūtale| trivarṣonāni varṣāṇāṁ śatāni daśa sudvija

Thus an evenly matched, divine battle took place on the earth; O good Brahmin, it lasted for a thousand years less three.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.3.43)

युध्यतो समतीतानि स्वेदरक्तजयोर्मुने। रक्तजो द्विभुजो दृष्ट्वा कवचैकेन स्वेदजम्

yudhyato samatītāni svedaraktajayormune| raktajo dvibhujo dṛṣṭvā kavacaikena svedajam

O sage, thus the sweat-born and the blood-born went on fighting; then the two-armed blood-born, seeing the single-armoured sweat-born...

Verse 44 (skanda.5.3.44)

बिभेद बाणवेगेन ब्रह्मणस्तं नरं परम्। ससंभ्रममु वाचेदं ब्रह्माणं मधुसूदनः

bibheda bāṇavegena brahmaṇastaṁ naraṁ param| sasaṁbhramamu vācedaṁ brahmāṇaṁ madhusūdanaḥ

...pierced that foremost man of Brahma with the force of his arrow. Then Madhusudana, agitated, spoke to Brahma.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.3.45)

मन्नरेणोच्छ्रितो ब्रह्मंस्त्वदीयो विनिपातितः। श्रुत्वा तदाकुलो ब्रह्मा बभाषे मधुसूदनम्

mannareṇocchrito brahmaṁstvadīyo vinipātitaḥ| śrutvā tadākulo brahmā babhāṣe madhusūdanam

'O Brahman, your man has been struck down, wounded, by my Nara.' Hearing this, Brahma, distressed, spoke to Madhusudana.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.3.46)

हरेऽन्यजन्मनि नरो मदीयो यदि हीयते। तेन तुष्टेन संप्रोक्तं हरिणैवं भविष्यति

hare'nyajanmani naro madīyo yadi hīyate| tena tuṣṭena saṁproktaṁ hariṇaivaṁ bhaviṣyati

'O Hari, if my man perishes in this birth, then let him be restored in another birth'—pleased by this, Hari accordingly said: 'So shall it be.'

Verse 47 (skanda.5.3.47)

कृत्वा तयो रणमपि निवार्य तावुवाच ह। अथान्यजन्मनि नरो मदीयो भविता कलौ

kṛtvā tayo raṇamapi nivārya tāvuvāca ha| athānyajanmani naro madīyo bhavitā kalau

Having stopped the battle between the two as well, he said: 'In another birth, in the Kali age, this one shall be mine.'

Verse 48 (skanda.5.3.48)

ततो महारणे जाते तत्राहं योजयामि तम्। विष्णुनाथ समाहूय महेश्वरसुरेश्वरौ

tato mahāraṇe jāte tatrāhaṁ yojayāmi tam| viṣṇunātha samāhūya maheśvarasureśvarau

'Then, when the great battle comes, I shall engage him in it'—thereupon, having summoned Maheshvara and the lord of the gods...

Verse 49 (skanda.5.3.49)

उक्ताविमौ नरौ रुद्रौ पालनीयौ स्वशक्तितः। स्वेदजातासृग्जातौ तु स्वकीयांशौ धरातले। स्वांशभूतौ द्वापरांते नियोज्यौ भूतले त्वया

uktāvimau narau rudrau pālanīyau svaśaktitaḥ| svedajātāsṛgjātau tu svakīyāṁśau dharātale| svāṁśabhūtau dvāparāṁte niyojyau bhūtale tvayā

it was declared: 'These two men, forms of Rudra, are to be protected each according to his own power; born of sweat and born of blood, they are your own portions upon the earth. At the end of the Dvapara age you yourself must engage these, your own portion-born, upon the earth.'

Verse 50 (skanda.5.3.50)

ततोऽब्रवीत्तदा विष्णुं सुरेशो दुःखितं वचः

tato'bravīttadā viṣṇuṁ sureśo duḥkhitaṁ vacaḥ

Then Suresha spoke sorrowful words to Vishnu.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.3.51)

अस्मिन्मन्वंतरे देव त्रेतायुगं तदा यदा। त्वद्रूपेणेह महता सूर्यपुत्रहितार्थिना। वालीनाम महाबाहुः सुग्रीवार्थे निपातितः

asminmanvaṁtare deva tretāyugaṁ tadā yadā| tvadrūpeṇeha mahatā sūryaputrahitārthinā| vālīnāma mahābāhuḥ sugrīvārthe nipātitaḥ

'O Lord, in this Manvantara, when the Treta age comes, through this great form of yours, for the welfare of the Sun's son Sugriva, the mighty-armed one named Vali shall be struck down for Sugriva's sake.'

Verse 52 (skanda.5.3.52)

तेन दुःखेन तप्तोऽहं नाहं गृह्णामि ते नरम्। अगृह्णमानं देवेशं कारणांतरवादिनम्

tena duḥkhena tapto'haṁ nāhaṁ gṛhṇāmi te naram| agṛhṇamānaṁ deveśaṁ kāraṇāṁtaravādinam

'Tormented by that grief, I shall not accept your man.' Seeing the lord of the gods thus refusing, offering another reason...

Verse 53 (skanda.5.3.53)

विष्णुः प्रोवाच मघवन्भुवो भारावतारणे। अवतारं करिष्यामि मर्त्यलोकेऽप्यहं विभो

viṣṇuḥ provāca maghavanbhuvo bhārāvatāraṇe| avatāraṁ kariṣyāmi martyaloke'pyahaṁ vibho

Vishnu said: 'O Maghavan, in order to lift the burden of the earth, O Lord, I myself shall take incarnation in the world of mortals.'

Verse 54 (skanda.5.3.54)

ततो हृष्टोऽभवच्छक्रो विष्णुवाक्येन तेन वै। प्रतिगृह्य नरं हृष्टः सत्यमस्तु वचस्तव

tato hṛṣṭo'bhavacchakro viṣṇuvākyena tena vai| pratigṛhya naraṁ hṛṣṭaḥ satyamastu vacastava

Then Shakra was made glad by that word of Vishnu; joyfully accepting the man, he said: 'Let your word be true.'

Verse 55 (skanda.5.3.55)

इत्युक्त्वा तु रवीन्द्रौ स प्रेषयित्वा च तौ पुनः। गत्वा च पुण्डरीकाक्षो ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मवेश्मनि

ityuktvā tu ravīndrau sa preṣayitvā ca tau punaḥ| gatvā ca puṇḍarīkākṣo brahmāṇaṁ brahmaveśmani

Having said this, and having sent those two men away once more, the lotus-eyed Vishnu then went to Brahma, in Brahma's own abode.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.3.56)

कृतं जुगुप्सितं कर्म ब्रह्मन्नीशं जिघांसता। यत्त्वया देवदेवेश पुमान्कोपेन भाषितः

kṛtaṁ jugupsitaṁ karma brahmannīśaṁ jighāṁsatā| yattvayā devadeveśa pumānkopena bhāṣitaḥ

'O Brahma, desiring to kill the Lord, you did this reprehensible deed; O Lord of the lords of gods, it was you who, in anger, spoke thus of that man.'

Verse 57 (skanda.5.3.57)

शुद्ध्यर्थमस्य पापस्य प्रायश्चित्तं परं कुरु। गृह्णन्वह्नित्रयं ब्रह्मन्नग्नि होत्रमुपास्व ह

śuddhyarthamasya pāpasya prāyaścittaṁ paraṁ kuru| gṛhṇanvahnitrayaṁ brahmannagni hotramupāsva ha

'For the purification of this sin, perform the supreme expiation; O Brahman, take up the three sacred fires and worship through the fire-oblation.'

Verse 58 (skanda.5.3.58)

एको वै गार्हपत्योऽस्तु द्वितीयाहवनीयकः। दक्षिणाग्निस्तृतीयस्तु त्रिकुण्डेषु प्रकल्पय

eko vai gārhapatyo'stu dvitīyāhavanīyakaḥ| dakṣiṇāgnistṛtīyastu trikuṇḍeṣu prakalpaya

'Let one fire be the Garhapatya, the second the Ahavaniya, the third the Dakshina-agni—establish these three in three fire-pits.'

Verse 59 (skanda.5.3.59)

वर्तुले तर्पयात्मानं मामथो धनुषाकृतौ। चतुष्कोणे हरं देवमृग्यजुःसामनामभिः

vartule tarpayātmānaṁ māmatho dhanuṣākṛtau| catuṣkoṇe haraṁ devamṛgyajuḥsāmanāmabhiḥ

'In the round pit propitiate yourself; then, in the bow-shaped pit, propitiate me; in the four-cornered pit, propitiate the god Hara through the names of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas.'

Verse 60 (skanda.5.3.60)

हुत्वा त्वग्निं च तपसा हरमेवार्च्य तत्क्षणात्। दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु हुत्वाग्निं सिद्धिमाप्स्यसि

hutvā tvagniṁ ca tapasā haramevārcya tatkṣaṇāt| divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu hutvāgniṁ siddhimāpsyasi

'Having offered oblation into the fire, and having worshipped Hara through austerity that very moment, offering into the fire for a thousand divine years, you shall attain accomplishment.'

Verse 61 (skanda.5.3.61)

प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धात्मा प्रतिपद्य महेश्वरम्। ततो निष्कल्मषो भूत्वा विषादस्ते गमिष्यति

prāyaścittaviśuddhātmā pratipadya maheśvaram| tato niṣkalmaṣo bhūtvā viṣādaste gamiṣyati

'Your soul purified by that expiation, and having attained Maheshvara, then, becoming free of stain, your sorrow shall depart.'

Verse 62 (skanda.5.3.62)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा हरिरुग्रतेजा गतः स्वकीयं निलयं महात्मा। ब्रह्मापि चित्तं तपसे निधाय समादधे सर्वमथाच्युतोक्तम्

ityevamuktvā harirugratejā gataḥ svakīyaṁ nilayaṁ mahātmā| brahmāpi cittaṁ tapase nidhāya samādadhe sarvamathācyutoktam

Having spoken thus, the great-souled Hari, of fierce splendour, departed to his own abode; and Brahma too, fixing his mind upon austerity, took to heart all that had been spoken by Achyuta.