The Abduction of Kamapramodini

Verse 1 (skanda.5.324.1)

ततो गच्छेत्परं तीर्थं पुण्यं पापप्रणाशनम्। माण्डव्यो यत्र संसिद्ध ऋषिर्नारायणस्तथा॥

tato gacchetparaṁ tīrthaṁ puṇyaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam| māṇḍavyo yatra saṁsiddha ṛṣirnārāyaṇastathā||

Shri Markandeya said: Thereafter one should go to that supreme, meritorious tirtha which destroys all sin, where the sage Mandavya, and Narayana too, attained perfection.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.324.2)

नारायणेन शुश्रूषा शूलस्थेन कृता पुरा। तत्र स्नात्वा महाराज मुच्यते पापकञ्चुकात्॥

nārāyaṇena śuśrūṣā śūlasthena kṛtā purā| tatra snātvā mahārāja mucyate pāpakañcukāt||

Formerly, while impaled upon a stake, service was rendered there to Narayana - O great king, bathing there, a man is freed from the sheath of sin.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.324.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। आश्चर्यमेतल्लोकेषु यत्त्वया कथितं मुने। न दृष्टं न श्रुतं तात शूलस्थेन तपः कृतम्॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| āścaryametallokeṣu yattvayā kathitaṁ mune| na dṛṣṭaṁ na śrutaṁ tāta śūlasthena tapaḥ kṛtam||

Yudhishthira said: O sage, what you have declared is astonishing to the world. O father, that one impaled upon a stake should perform austerity has never been seen or heard of before.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.324.4)

एतत्सर्वं कथय मे ऋषिभिः सहितस्य वै। अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं माण्डव्यस्य कुतूहलात्॥

etatsarvaṁ kathaya me ṛṣibhiḥ sahitasya vai| asya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ māṇḍavyasya kutūhalāt||

Out of curiosity, tell me all this - the greatness of this tirtha and of Mandavya, together with the sages.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.324.5)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तपुरा त्रेतायुगे क्षितौ। लोकपालोपमो राजा देवपन्नो महामतिः॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śṛṇu rājanyathāvṛttapurā tretāyuge kṣitau| lokapālopamo rājā devapanno mahāmatiḥ||

Shri Markandeya said: Hear, O king, what happened of old, in the Treta Yuga, upon the earth. There was a great-minded king, like a guardian of the world, named Devapanna,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.324.6)

धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च यज्वा दानरतः सदा। प्रजा ररक्ष यत्नेन पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान्॥

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca yajvā dānarataḥ sadā| prajā rarakṣa yatnena pitā putrānivaurasān||

- versed in dharma, grateful, a performer of sacrifices, ever devoted to charity. He protected his subjects with the same care as a father protects his own sons.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.324.7)

दात्यायनी प्रिया भार्या तस्य राज्ञो वशानुगा। हारनूपुरघोषेण झङ्काररवनादिता॥

dātyāyanī priyā bhāryā tasya rājño vaśānugā| hāranūpuraghoṣeṇa jhaṅkārarava nāditā||

That king's beloved, devoted wife was named Datyayani, who resounded with the jingling music of her necklace and anklets.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.324.8)

परस्परं तयोः प्रीतिर्वर्धतेऽनुदिनं नृप। वंशस्तम्बे स्थितो राजा संशास्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्॥

parasparaṁ tayoḥ prītirvardhate'nudinaṁ nṛpa| vaṁśastambe sthito rājā saṁśāsti pṛthivīmimām||

O king, their mutual love grew day by day. Established firmly in his lineage, the king ruled over this earth,

Verse 9 (skanda.5.324.9)

हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पूर्णां धनवाहनसंयुताम्। अलंकृतो गुणैः सर्वैरनपत्यो महीपतिः॥

hastyaśvarathasampūrṇāṁ dhanavāhanasaṁyutām| alaṁkṛto guṇaiḥ sarvairanapatyo mahīpatiḥ||

- full of elephants, horses, and chariots, rich with wealth and conveyances. Though adorned with every virtue, that lord of the earth was childless.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.324.10)

दुःखेन महताविष्टः संतप्तः सन्ततिं विना। स्नानहोमरतो नित्यं द्वादशाब्दानि भारत॥

duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭaḥ saṁtaptaḥ saṁtatiṁ vinā| snānahomarato nityaṁ dvādaśābdāni bhārata||

Overwhelmed by great sorrow, tormented for want of offspring, O Bharata, he remained devoted to daily bathing and oblation for twelve years,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.324.11)

व्रतोपवासनियमैः पत्नीभिः सह तस्थिवान्। आराधयद्भगवतीं चामुण्डां मुण्डमर्दिनीम्॥

vratopavāsaniyamaiḥ patnībhiḥ saha tasthivān| ārādhayadbhagavatīṁ cāmuṇḍāṁ muṇḍamardinīm||

- remaining, together with his wives, with vows, fasts, and observances; he worshipped the goddess Chamunda, slayer of Munda.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.324.12)

स्तोत्रैरनेकैर्भक्त्या च पूजाविधिसमाधिना। जय वाराहि चामुण्डे जय देवि त्रिलोचने॥

stotrairanekairbhaktyā ca pūjāvidhisamādhinā| jaya vārāhi cāmuṇḍe jaya devi trilocane||

With many hymns, with devotion, with the ritual and meditation of worship - "Victory to you, Varahi, Chamunda! Victory to you, O three-eyed goddess!

Verse 13 (skanda.5.324.13)

ब्राह्मि रौद्रि च कौमारि कात्यायनि नमोऽस्तु ते। प्रचण्डे भैरवे रौद्रि योगिन्याकाशगामिनि॥

brāhmi raudri ca kaumāri kātyāyani namo'stu te| pracaṇḍe bhairave raudri yoginyākāśagāmini||

O Brahmi, O Raudri, O Kaumari, O Katyayani, salutation to you. O fierce one, O Bhairavi, O Raudri, O sky-roaming yogini!

Verse 14 (skanda.5.324.14)

नास्ति किंचित्त्वया हीनं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। राज्ञा स्तुता च संतुष्टा देवी वचनमब्रवीत्॥

nāsti kiṁcittvayā hīnaṁ trailokye sacarācare| rājñā stutā ca saṁtuṣṭā devī vacanamabravīt||

There is nothing in the moving and unmoving three worlds bereft of you." Thus praised by the king, the goddess, pleased, spoke this word -

Verse 15 (skanda.5.324.15)

वरयस्व यथाकामं यस्ते मनसि वर्तते। आराधिता त्वया भक्त्या तुष्टा दास्यामि ते वरम्॥

varayasva yathākāmaṁ yaste manasi vartate| ārādhitā tvayā bhaktyā tuṣṭā dāsyāmi te varam||

"Ask for whatever boon is in your heart. Worshipped by your devotion, I am pleased, and shall grant you a boon."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.324.16)

देवपन्न उवाच। यदि तुष्टासि देवेशि वरार्हो यदि वाप्यहम्। पुत्रसन्तानरहितं संतप्तं मां समुद्धर॥

devapanna uvāca| yadi tuṣṭāsi deveśi varārho yadi vāpyaham| putrasantānarahitaṁ saṁtaptaṁ māṁ samuddhara||

Devapanna said: "O goddess, if you are pleased, and if I am worthy of a boon, then deliver me, tormented and bereft of a son.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.324.17)

सन्तानं नय मे वृद्धिं गोत्ररक्षां कुरुष्व मे। अपुत्रिणां गृहाणीह श्मशानसदृशानि हि॥

santānaṁ naya me vṛddhiṁ gotrarakṣāṁ kuruṣva me| aputriṇāṁ gṛhāṇīha śmaśānasadṛśāni hi||

Grant increase to my line; protect my lineage. In this world, the homes of the sonless are like cremation grounds.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.324.18)

पितरस्तस्य नाश्नन्ति देवता ऋषिभिः सह। क्रियमाणेऽप्यहरहः श्राद्धे मत्पितरः सदा॥

pitarastasya nāśnanti devatā ṛṣibhiḥ saha| kriyamāṇe'pyaharahaḥ śrāddhe matpitaraḥ sadā||

His ancestors, together with the gods and sages, do not accept his offerings. Even though shraddha is performed for me daily, my ancestors always -

Verse 19 (skanda.5.324.19)

दर्शयन्ति सदात्मानं स्वप्ने क्षुत्पीडितं मम। इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा देवी ध्यानमुपागता॥

darśayanti sadātmānaṁ svapne kṣutpīḍitaṁ mama| iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā devī dhyānamupāgatā||

- show themselves to me in dreams, tormented by hunger." Hearing the king's words, the goddess entered into meditation,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.324.20)

दिव्येन चक्षुषा दृष्टं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्। प्रसन्नवदना देवी राजानमिदमब्रवीत्॥

divyena cakṣuṣā dṛṣṭaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram| prasannavadanā devī rājānamidamabravīt||

and beheld, with divine eye, the moving and unmoving three worlds. The goddess, her face gracious, spoke this to the king -

Verse 21 (skanda.5.324.21)

सन्तानं नास्ति ते राजंस्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। यजस्व यज्ञपुरुषमपत्यं नास्ति तेऽन्यथा॥

santānaṁ nāsti te rājaṁstrailokye sacarācare| yajasva yajñapuruṣamapatyaṁ nāsti te'nyathā||

"O king, there is no possibility of offspring for you in the moving and unmoving three worlds. Perform sacrifice to the Purusha of sacrifice; otherwise you shall have no child.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.324.22)

मया दृष्टं महीपाल त्रैलोक्यं दिव्यचक्षुषा। एवमुक्त्वा गता देवी राजा स्वगृहमागमत्॥

mayā dṛṣṭaṁ mahīpāla trailokyaṁ divyacakṣuṣā| evamuktvā gatā devī rājā svagṛhamāgamat||

I have seen, O lord of the earth, the three worlds with my divine eye." Having said this, the goddess departed, and the king returned to his own home.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.324.23)

इयाज यज्ञपुरुषं संजाता कन्यका ततः। तेजस्विनी रूपवती सर्वलोकमनोहरा॥

iyāja yajñapuruṣaṁ saṁjātā kanyakā tataḥ| tejasvinī rūpavatī sarvalokamanoharā||

He performed sacrifice to the Purusha of sacrifice, and then a daughter was born, radiant, beautiful, captivating to all the world.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.324.24)

देवगन्धर्वलोकेऽपि तादृशी नास्ति कामिनी। तस्या नाम कृतं पित्रा हर्षात्कामप्रमोदिनी॥

devagandharvaloke'pi tādṛśī nāsti kāminī| tasyā nāma kṛtaṁ pitrā harṣātkāmapramodinī||

Even in the worlds of gods and gandharvas there was no such beautiful woman. Her father, in his joy, named her Kamapramodini.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.324.25)

ततः कालेन ववृधे रूपेणास्तम्भयज्जगत्। हंसलीलागतिः सुभ्रूः स्तनभारावनामिता॥

tataḥ kālena vavṛdhe rūpeṇāstambhayajjagat| haṁsalīlāgatiḥ subhrūḥ stanabhārāvanāmitā||

Thereafter, over time, she grew, and by her beauty she would astound the world. Her gait was like a swan's, her brows lovely, bent by the weight of her breasts,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.324.26)

रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरा कुण्डलाभरणोज्ज्वला। दिव्यानुलेपनवती सखीभिः सा सुरक्षिता॥

raktamālyāmbaradharā kuṇḍalābharaṇojjvalā| divyānulepanavatī sakhībhiḥ sā surakṣitā||

wearing red garlands and garments, radiant with earrings and ornaments, anointed with divine unguents, well protected by her companions,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.324.27)

कुचमध्यगतो हारो विद्युन्मालेव राजते। भ्रमराञ्चितकेशी सा बिम्बोष्ठी चारुहासिनी॥

kucamadhyagato hāro vidyunmāleva rājate| bhramarāñcitakeśī sā bimboṣṭhī cāruhāsinī||

The necklace resting between her breasts shone like a garland of lightning. Her hair was thronged with bees, her lips like the bimba fruit, her laughter charming,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.324.28)

कर्णान्तप्राप्तनेत्राभ्यां पिबन्तीवाथ कामिनः। चन्द्रताम्बूलसौरभ्यैराकर्षन्तीव मन्मथम्॥

karṇāntaprāptanetrābhyāṁ pibantīvātha kāminaḥ| candratāmbūlasaurabhyairākarṣantīva manmatham||

with her eyes reaching to her ears, she seemed to drink in her admirers; with the fragrance of moon-like face and betel, she seemed to draw forth desire itself.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.324.29)

कम्बुग्रीवा चारुमध्या ताम्रपादाङ्गुलीनखा। निम्ननाभिः सुजघना रम्भोरू सुदती शुभा॥

kambugrīvā cārumadhyā tāmrapādāṅgulīnakhā| nimnanābhiḥ sujaghanā rambhorū sudatī śubhā||

With a neck like a conch, a slender waist, coppery toes and nails, a deep navel, beautiful hips, thighs like plantain stems, lovely teeth, auspicious,

Verse 30 (skanda.5.324.30)

मातापितृसुहृद्वर्गे क्रीडानन्दविवर्धिनी। एकस्मिन्दिवसे बाला सखीवृन्दसमन्विता॥

mātāpitṛsuhṛdvarge krīḍānandavivardhinī| ekasmindivase bālā sakhīvṛndasamanvitā||

- she increased the joy of her parents and friends with her sportive play. One day, that maiden, accompanied by a throng of companions,

Verse 31 (skanda.5.324.31)

चन्दनागरुतांबूलधूपसौमनसाञ्चिता। गृहीत्वा पुष्पधूपादि गता देवीप्रपूजने॥

candanāgarutāmbūladhūpasaumanasāñcitā| gṛhītvā puṣpadhūpādi gatā devīprapūjane||

adorned with sandal, aloewood, betel, incense, and flowers, taking flowers and incense and the like, went to worship the goddess.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.324.32)

तडागतट उत्सृज्य भूषणान्यङ्गवेष्टकान्। चक्रुः सरसिताः क्रीडां जलमध्यगतास्तदा॥

taḍāgataṭa utsṛjya bhūṣaṇānyaṅgaveṣṭakān| cakruḥ sarasitāḥ krīḍāṁ jalamadhyagatāstadā||

Having set aside their ornaments and body-wraps on the bank of the pond, they then entered the water and played in its midst.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.324.33)

क्रीडन्तीं तामवेक्ष्याथ ससखीं विमले जले। राक्षसः शम्बरो नाम श्येनरूपेण चागमत्॥

krīḍantīṁ tāmavekṣyātha sasakhīṁ vimale jale| rākṣasaḥ śambaro nāma śyenarūpeṇa cāgamat||

Beholding her at play, together with her companions, in the clear water, a rakshasa named Shambara came in the form of a hawk.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.324.34)

गृहीता जलमध्यस्था तेन सा काममोदिनी। खमुत्पपात दुष्टात्मा गृहीत्वाभरणान्यपि॥

gṛhītā jalamadhyasthā tena sā kāmamodinī| khamutpapāta duṣṭātmā gṛhītvābharaṇānyapi||

That evil-souled one seized Kamapramodini as she stood in the water and, taking her ornaments as well, flew up into the sky.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.324.35)

वायुमार्गं गतः सोऽथ कामिन्या सह भारत। अपतन्कुण्डलादीनि यत्र तोये महामुनिः॥

vāyumārgaṁ gataḥ so'tha kāminyā saha bhārata| apatankuṇḍalādīni yatra toye mahāmuniḥ||

O Bharata, he then went along the path of the air, with that beautiful woman; and her earrings and other ornaments fell into the water at that place where the great sage -

Verse 36 (skanda.5.324.36)

माण्डव्यो नर्मदातीरे काष्ठवत्संजितेन्द्रियः। लीनो माहेश्वरे स्थाने नारायणपदे परे॥

māṇḍavyo narmadātīre kāṣṭhavatsaṁjitendriyaḥ| līno māheśvare sthāne nārāyaṇapade pare||

- Mandavya, motionless as wood, his senses conquered, on the bank of the Narmada, was absorbed in that abode of Maheshvara, in the supreme state of Narayana.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.324.37)

तस्य चानुचरो भ्राता भ्रातुः शुश्रूषणे रतः। तपोजपकृशीभूतो दध्यौ देवं जनार्दनम्॥

tasya cānucaro bhrātā bhrātuḥ śuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ| tapojapakṛśībhūto dadhyau devaṁ janārdanam||

His attendant brother, devoted to the service of his brother, emaciated by austerity and recitation, meditated upon the god Janardana.