The Origin of Bhrigukachchha and the Hymn of Bhrigu

Verse 1 (skanda.5.336.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि भृगुतीर्थस्य विस्तरम् । यं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नो मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः ॥ १ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi bhṛgutīrthasya vistaram | yaṁ śrutvā brahmahā goghno mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ || 1 ||

Sri Markandeya said: Now I shall further relate the extent of Bhrigutirtha, hearing which even a brahmin-slayer or a cow-slayer is freed from all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.336.2)

तत्र तीर्थे तु विख्यातं वृषखातमिति श्रुतम् । भृगुणा तत्र राजेन्द्र तपस्तप्तं पुरा किल ॥ २ ॥

tatra tīrthe tu vikhyātaṁ vṛṣakhātamiti śrutam | bhṛguṇā tatra rājendra tapastaptaṁ purā kila || 2 ||

At that tirtha there is a place renowned and known as Vrishakhata, 'the bull's pit.' There, O lord of kings, Bhrigu once performed austerity, it is said.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.336.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। भृगुकच्छे स विप्रेन्द्रो निवसन् केन हेतुना । तपस्तप्त्वा सुविपुलं परां सिद्धिमुपागतः ॥ ३ ॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| bhṛgukacche sa viprendro nivasan kena hetunā | tapastaptvā suvipulaṁ parāṁ siddhimupāgataḥ || 3 ||

Yudhishthira said: 'For what reason did that foremost of brahmins dwell at Bhrigukachchha? Having performed such vast austerity, what supreme accomplishment did he attain?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.336.4)

को वा वृष इति प्रोक्तस्तत्खातं येन खानितम् । एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं कथयस्व ममानघ ॥ ४ ॥

ko vā vṛṣa iti proktastatkhātaṁ yena khānitam | etatsarvaṁ yathānyāyaṁ kathayasva mamānagha || 4 ||

And who is this bull spoken of, by whom that pit was dug? O sinless one, tell me all of this in proper order.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.336.5)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। एष प्रश्नो महाराज यस्त्वया परिपृच्छितः । तत्सर्वं कथयिष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमना नृप ॥ ५ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| eṣa praśno mahārāja yastvayā paripṛcchitaḥ | tatsarvaṁ kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikamanā nṛpa || 5 ||

Sri Markandeya said: O great king, this question that you have asked — I shall tell you all of it; listen, O king, with a single-pointed mind.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.336.6)

षष्ठस्तु ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो मानसो भृगुसत्तमः । तपश्चचार विपुलं श्रीवृते क्षेत्र उत्तमे ॥ ६ ॥

ṣaṣṭhastu brahmaṇaḥ putro mānaso bhṛgusattamaḥ | tapaścacāra vipulaṁ śrīvṛte kṣetra uttame || 6 ||

Bhrigu, the sixth mind-born son of Brahma, foremost of the Bhrigus, performed vast austerity in this excellent field graced by Shri.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.336.7)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु संशुष्को मुनिसत्तमः । निराहारो निरानन्दः काष्ठपाषाणवत्स्थितः ॥ ७ ॥

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu saṁśuṣko munisattamaḥ | nirāhāro nirānando kāṣṭhapāṣāṇavatsthitaḥ || 7 ||

For a thousand divine years, that best of sages, emaciated, without food, without joy, stood motionless like wood or stone.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.336.8)

ततः कदाचिद्देवेशो विमानवरमास्थितः । उमया सहितः श्रीमांस्तेन मार्गेण चागतः ॥ ८ ॥

tataḥ kadācidddeveśo vimānavaramāsthitaḥ | umayā sahitaḥ śrīmāṁstena mārgeṇa cāgataḥ || 8 ||

Then, at some time, the lord of the gods, glorious, mounted upon an excellent aerial chariot, together with Uma, came by that path.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.336.9)

दृष्ट्वा तत्र महाभागं भृगुं वल्मीकवत्स्थितम् । उवाच देवी देवेशं किमिदं दृश्यते प्रभो ॥ ९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā tatra mahābhāgaṁ bhṛguṁ valmīkavatsthitam | uvāca devī deveśaṁ kimidaṁ dṛśyate prabho || 9 ||

Seeing there the illustrious Bhrigu, standing motionless like an anthill, the goddess said to the lord of gods: 'What is this that is seen, O lord?'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.336.10)

ईश्वर उवाच। भृगुर्नाम महादेवि तपस्तप्त्वा सुदारुणम् । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु मम ध्यानपरायणः ॥ १० ॥

īśvara uvāca| bhṛgurnāma mahādevi tapastaptvā sudāruṇam | divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu mama dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ || 10 ||

Ishvara said: 'O great goddess, this is one named Bhrigu, who has performed most severe austerity, devoted to meditation upon me for a thousand divine years.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.336.11)

जलबिन्दु कुशाग्रेण मासे मासे पिबेच्च सः । संवत्सरशतं साग्रं तिष्ठते च वरानने ॥ ११ ॥

jalabindu kuśāgreṇa māse māse pibecca saḥ | saṁvatsaraśataṁ sāgraṁ tiṣṭhate ca varānane || 11 ||

O beautiful-faced one, once a month he drinks a single drop of water on the tip of a kusha blade, and thus he has stood for over a hundred years.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.336.12)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं गौरी क्रोधसंवर्तितेक्षणा । उवाच देवी देवेशं शूलपाणिं महेश्वरम् ॥ १२ ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ gaurī krodhasaṁvartitekṣaṇā | uvāca devī deveśaṁ śūlapāṇiṁ maheśvaram || 12 ||

Hearing these words, Gauri, her eyes rolling with anger, said to the lord of gods, the trident-wielding Maheshvara:

Verse 13 (skanda.5.336.13)

सत्यमुग्रोऽसि लोके त्वं ख्यापितो वृषभध्वज । निष्कारुण्यो दुराराध्यः सर्वभूतभयंकरः ॥ १३ ॥

satyamugro'si loke tvaṁ khyāpito vṛṣabhadhvaja | niṣkāruṇyo durārādhyaḥ sarvabhūtabhayaṁkaraḥ || 13 ||

'It is true, O bull-bannered one, you are indeed known in the world as fierce — merciless, hard to propitiate, a source of terror to all beings.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.336.14)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु ध्यायमानस्य शङ्करम् । ब्राह्मणस्य वरं कस्मान्न प्रयच्छसि शंस मे ॥ १४ ॥

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu dhyāyamānasya śaṅkaram | brāhmaṇasya varaṁ kasmānna prayacchasi śaṁsa me || 14 ||

Tell me, why do you not grant a boon to this brahmin, who has meditated upon Shankara for a thousand divine years?'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.336.15)

एवमुक्तोऽथ देवेशः प्रहस्य गिरिनन्दिनीम् । उवाच नरशार्दूल मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ १५ ॥

evamukto'tha deveśaḥ prahasya girinandinīm | uvāca naraśārdūla meghagambhīrayā girā || 15 ||

Thus addressed, the lord of gods, laughing, spoke to the mountain's daughter, O tiger among men, in a voice deep as thunder:

Verse 16 (skanda.5.336.16)

स्त्री विनश्यति गर्वेण तपः क्रोधेन नश्यति । गावो दूरप्रचारेण शूद्रान्नेन द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ १६ ॥

strī vinaśyati garveṇa tapaḥ krodhena naśyati | gāvo dūrapracāreṇa śūdrānnena dvijottamāḥ || 16 ||

'A woman is ruined by pride; austerity is destroyed by anger; cows are harmed by wandering too far; and the best of brahmins, by eating the food of shudras.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.336.17)

क्रोधान्वितो द्विजो गौरी तेन सिद्धिर्न विद्यते । वर्षायुतैस्तथा लक्षैर्न किंचित्कारणं प्रिये ॥ १७ ॥

krodhānvito dvijo gaurī tena siddhirna vidyate | varṣāyutaistathā lakṣairna kiṁcitkāraṇaṁ priye || 17 ||

O Gauri, a brahmin overcome by anger — by that anger no accomplishment is possible; not even in ten thousand or a hundred thousand years is there any reason for success, O beloved.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.336.18)

एवम्भूतस्य तस्यापि क्रोधस्य चरितं महत् । एवमुक्त्वा ततः शम्भुर्वृषं दध्यौ च तत्क्षणे ॥ १८ ॥

evambhūtasya tasyāpi krodhasya caritaṁ mahat | evamuktvā tataḥ śambhurvṛṣaṁ dadhyau ca tatkṣaṇe || 18 ||

Even so, this account of his anger is a great one.' Having said this, Shambhu at that very instant fixed his mind upon the bull.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.336.19)

वृषो हि भगवन्ब्रह्मा वृषरूपी महेश्वरः । ध्यानप्राप्तः क्षणादेव गर्जयन् वै मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ १९ ॥

vṛṣo hi bhagavanbrahmā vṛṣarūpī maheśvaraḥ | dhyānaprāptaḥ kṣaṇādeva garjayan vai muhurmuhuḥ || 19 ||

The bull, indeed the Lord Brahma in essence, the bull-formed one of Maheshvara, summoned by meditation, appeared in an instant, bellowing again and again.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.336.20)

किं करोमि सुरश्रेष्ठ ध्यातः केनैव हेतुना । करोमि कस्य निधनमकाले परमेश्वर ॥ २० ॥

kiṁ karomi suraśreṣṭha dhyātaḥ kenaiva hetunā | karomi kasya nidhanamakāle parameśvara || 20 ||

'O best of gods, what shall I do? For what reason have you summoned me? O Parameshvara, whose destruction shall I bring about, untimely?'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.336.21)

ईश्वर उवाच। कोपयस्व द्विजश्रेष्ठं गत्वा त्वं भृगुसत्तमम् । येन मे श्रद्दधत्येषा गौरी लोकैकसुन्दरी ॥ २१ ॥

īśvara uvāca| kopayasva dvijaśreṣṭhaṁ gatvā tvaṁ bhṛgusattamam | yena me śraddadhatyeṣā gaurī lokaikasundarī || 21 ||

Ishvara said: 'Go and provoke that foremost of brahmins, Bhrigu the best, so that this Gauri, the one beauty of all the worlds, may come to trust my word.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.336.22)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वृषो गत्वा धर्षणार्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । नर्मदायास्तटे रम्ये समीपे चाश्रमे भृगुः ॥ २२ ॥

etacchrutvā vṛṣo gatvā dharṣaṇārthaṁ dvijottamam | narmadāyāstaṭe ramye samīpe cāśrame bhṛguḥ || 22 ||

Hearing this, the bull went to provoke that best of brahmins, Bhrigu, who dwelt in his hermitage near the lovely bank of the Narmada.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.336.23)

ततः शृङ्गैर्गृहीत्वा तु प्रक्षिप्तो नर्मदाजले । ततः क्रुद्धो भृगुस्तत्र दण्डहस्तो महामुनिः ॥ २३ ॥

tataḥ śṛṅgairgṛhītvā tu prakṣipto narmadājale | tataḥ kruddho bhṛgustatra daṇḍahasto mahāmuniḥ || 23 ||

Then, seizing him with its horns, it flung him into the waters of the Narmada. At that, the great sage Bhrigu, enraged, staff in hand,

Verse 24 (skanda.5.336.24)

पशुवत्ते वधिष्यामि दण्डघातेन मस्तके । शिखायज्ञोपवीते च परिधानं वरासने ॥ २४ ॥

paśuvatte vadhiṣyāmi daṇḍaghātena mastake | śikhāyajñopavīte ca paridhānaṁ varāsane || 24 ||

cried out: 'I shall kill you as if you were an animal, with a blow of my staff upon your head!' Meanwhile his tuft of hair, sacred thread, and garment upon his seat —

Verse 25 (skanda.5.336.25)

सुसंवृतं कृतं तेन धावन्वै पृष्ठतो ब्रवीत् ॥ २५ ॥

susaṁvṛtaṁ kṛtaṁ tena dhāvanvai pṛṣṭhato bravīt || 25 ||

— were left disheveled by the bull; running behind it, he shouted:

Verse 26 (skanda.5.336.26)

भृगुरुवाच। पापकर्मन्दुराचार कथं यास्यसि मे वृष । अवमानं समुत्पाद्य कृत्वा गर्तं खुरैस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| pāpakarmandurācāra kathaṁ yāsyasi me vṛṣa | avamānaṁ samutpādya kṛtvā gartaṁ khuraistathā || 26 ||

Bhrigu said: 'O sinful, evil-conducted bull, where will you go from me, having insulted me and dug a pit with your hooves?'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.336.27)

गर्जयित्वा महानादं ततो विप्रमपातयत् । आत्मानं पातितं ज्ञात्वा वृषेण परमेष्ठिना ॥ २७ ॥

garjayitvā mahānādaṁ tato vipramapātayat | ātmānaṁ pātitaṁ jñātvā vṛṣeṇa parameṣṭhinā || 27 ||

Bellowing loudly, the bull then threw the brahmin down. Knowing himself thrown down by the bull, who was in essence the Supreme Being,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.336.28)

भृगुः क्रोधेन जज्वाल हुताहुतिरिवानलः । करे गृह्य महादण्डं ब्रह्मदण्डमिवापरम् ॥ २८ ॥

bhṛguḥ krodhena jajvāla hutāhutirivānalaḥ | kare gṛhya mahādaṇḍaṁ brahmadaṇḍamivāparam || 28 ||

Bhrigu blazed with anger like a fire fed with oblations; taking up in his hand a great staff, like another Brahma-danda,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.336.29)

हन्तुकामो वृषं विप्रोऽभ्यधावत युधिष्ठिर । धावमानं ततो दृष्ट्वा स वृषः पूर्वसागरे ॥ २९ ॥

hantukāmo vṛṣaṁ vipro'bhyadhāvata yudhiṣṭhira | dhāvamānaṁ tato dṛṣṭvā sa vṛṣaḥ pūrvasāgare || 29 ||

O Yudhishthira, wishing to kill the bull, the brahmin ran after it. Then, seeing him running after it, that bull fled to the eastern ocean —

Verse 30 (skanda.5.336.30)

जम्बूद्वीपं कुशां क्रौञ्चं शाल्मलिं शाकमेव च । गोमेदं पुष्करं प्राप्तः पूर्वतो दक्षिणापथम् ॥ ३० ॥

jambūdvīpaṁ kuśāṁ krauñcaṁ śālmaliṁ śākameva ca | gomedaṁ puṣkaraṁ prāptaḥ pūrvato dakṣiṇāpatham || 30 ||

— crossing through Jambudvipa, Kusha, Kraunchadvipa, Shalmali, and Shakadvipa, and reached Gomeda and Pushkara, from east to the southern quarter.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.336.31)

उत्तरं पश्चिमं चैव द्वीपाद्द्वीपं नरेश्वर । पातालं सुतलं पश्चाद्वितलं च तलातलम् ॥ ३१ ॥

uttaraṁ paścimaṁ caiva dvīpāddvīpaṁ nareśvara | pātālaṁ sutalaṁ paścādvitalaṁ ca talātalam || 31 ||

O lord of men, it fled to north and west, from island to island, then to Patala, Sutala, then Vitala and Talatala,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.336.32)

तामिस्रमन्धतामिस्रं पातालं सप्तमं ययौ । ततो जगाम भूर्लोकं प्राणार्थी स वृषोत्तमः ॥ ३२ ॥

tāmisramandhatāmisraṁ pātālaṁ saptamaṁ yayau | tato jagāma bhūrlokaṁ prāṇārthī sa vṛṣottamaḥ || 32 ||

— then to Tamisra, Andhatamisra, and the seventh Patala. Then, seeking to save his life, that best of bulls went to the world of Bhurloka —

Verse 33 (skanda.5.336.33)

भुवः स्वश्चैव च महस्तपः सत्यं जनस्तथा । अनुगम्यमानो विप्रेण न शर्म लभते क्वचित् ॥ ३३ ॥

bhuvaḥ svaścaiva ca mahastapaḥ satyaṁ janastathā | anugamyamāno vipreṇa na śarma labhate kvacit || 33 ||

— and to Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Tapah, Satya, and Janah; pursued by the brahmin, it found peace nowhere.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.336.34)

पापं कृत्वैव पुरुषः कामक्रोधबलार्दितः । ततो जगाम शरणं ब्रह्माणं विष्णुमेव च ॥ ३४ ॥

pāpaṁ kṛtvaiva puruṣaḥ kāmakrodhabalārditaḥ | tato jagāma śaraṇaṁ brahmāṇaṁ viṣṇumeva ca || 34 ||

Like a man, having committed sin, afflicted by the force of desire and anger, finds no peace — then it went for refuge to Brahma and to Vishnu,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.336.35)

इन्द्रं चन्द्रं तथादित्यैर्याम्यवारुणमारुतैः । यदा सर्वैः परित्यक्तो लोकालोकैः सुरेश्वरैः ॥ ३५ ॥

indraṁ candraṁ tathādityairyāmyavāruṇamārutaiḥ | yadā sarvaiḥ parityakto lokālokaiḥ sureśvaraiḥ || 35 ||

and to Indra, Chandra, and the Adityas, to Yama, Varuna, and Vayu. When it was abandoned by all these, by the worlds and the lords of gods alike —

Verse 36 (skanda.5.336.36)

तदा देवं नमस्कृत्वा रक्ष रक्षस्व चाब्रवीत् । वध्यमानं महादेवो भृगुणा परमेष्ठिना ॥ ३६ ॥

tadā devaṁ namaskṛtvā rakṣa rakṣasva cābravīt | vadhyamānaṁ mahādevo bhṛguṇā parameṣṭhinā || 36 ||

— then, bowing to the god, it cried, 'Save me, save me!' — being about to be slain by Bhrigu, who was in essence the Supreme Being, Mahadeva —

Verse 37 (skanda.5.336.37)

सर्वलोकैः परित्यक्तमनाथमिव तं प्रभो । दृष्ट्वा श्रान्तं वृषं देवः पतितं चरणाग्रतः ॥ ३७ ॥

sarvalokaiḥ parityaktamanāthamiva taṁ prabho | dṛṣṭvā śrāntaṁ vṛṣaṁ devaḥ patitaṁ caraṇāgrataḥ || 37 ||

O lord, seeing that bull, abandoned by all the worlds, as if orphaned, exhausted, fallen before his own feet,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.336.38)

ततः प्रोवाच भगवान् स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥ ३८ ॥

tataḥ provāca bhagavān smitapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ || 38 ||

— the blessed Lord then spoke these words, smiling:

Verse 39 (skanda.5.336.39)

ईश्वर उवाच। पश्य देवि महाभागे शमं विप्रस्य सुन्दरि ॥ ३९ ॥

īśvara uvāca| paśya devi mahābhāge śamaṁ viprasya sundari || 39 ||

Ishvara said: 'Behold, O illustrious goddess, O beautiful one, the calm equanimity of this brahmin!'

Verse 40 (skanda.5.336.40)

पार्वत्युवाच। यावद्विप्रो न चास्माकं कुप्यते परमेश्वर । तावद्वरं प्रयच्छाशु यदि चेच्छसि मत्प्रियम् ॥ ४० ॥

pārvatyuvāca| yāvadvipro na cāsmākaṁ kupyate parameśvara | tāvadvaraṁ prayacchāśu yadi ceccasi matpriyam || 40 ||

Parvati said: 'O Parameshvara, before this brahmin becomes angry with us, quickly grant him a boon, if you wish to please me.'

Verse 41 (skanda.5.336.41)

ततो भस्मी जटी शूली चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखरः । उमार्द्धदेहो भगवान्भूत्वा विप्रमुवाच ह ॥ ४१ ॥

tato bhasmī jaṭī śūlī candrārdhakṛtaśekharaḥ | umārddhadeho bhagavānbhūtvā vipramuvāca ha || 41 ||

Then the blessed Lord, ash-smeared, matted-haired, trident-bearing, crowned with the crescent moon, his body half Uma's, spoke to the brahmin:

Verse 42 (skanda.5.336.42)

भोभो द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ क्रोधस्ते न शमं गतः । यस्मात्तस्मादिदं तात क्रोधस्थानं भविष्यति ॥ ४२ ॥

bhobho dvijavaraśreṣṭha krodhaste na śamaṁ gataḥ | yasmāttasmādidaṁ tāta krodhasthānaṁ bhaviṣyati || 42 ||

'O excellent best of brahmins, since your anger has not been calmed, therefore, O son, this place shall be known as the place of anger.'

Verse 43 (skanda.5.336.43)

ततो दृष्ट्वा च तं शम्भुं भृगुः श्रेष्ठं त्रिलोचनम् । जानुभ्यामवनिं गत्वा इदं स्तोत्रमुदैरयत् ॥ ४३ ॥

tato dṛṣṭvā ca taṁ śambhuṁ bhṛguḥ śreṣṭhaṁ trilocanam | jānubhyāmavaniṁ gatvā idaṁ stotramudairayat || 43 ||

Then, seeing that excellent, three-eyed Shambhu, Bhrigu, falling upon his knees to the ground, uttered this hymn of praise:

Verse 44 (skanda.5.336.44)

भृगुरुवाच। प्रणिपत्य भूतनाथं भवोद्भवं भूतिदं भयातीतम् । भवभीतो भुवनपते विज्ञप्तुं किंचिदिच्छामि ॥ ४४ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| praṇipatya bhūtanāthaṁ bhavodbhavaṁ bhūtidaṁ bhayātītam | bhavabhīto bhuvanapate vijñaptuṁ kiṁcidicchāmi || 44 ||

Bhrigu said: Having bowed to the lord of all beings, the source of existence, the giver of prosperity, beyond all fear — afraid of worldly existence, O lord of the worlds, I wish to submit something to you.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.336.45)

त्वद्गुणनिकरान्वक्तुं का शक्तिर्मानुषस्यास्य । वासुकिरपि न तावद्वक्तुं वदनसहस्रं भवेद्यस्य ॥ ४५ ॥

tvadguṇanikarānvaktuṁ kā śaktirmānuṣasyāsya | vāsukirapi na tāvadvaktuṁ vadanasahasraṁ bhavedyasya || 45 ||

What power has this mere man to describe the multitude of your virtues? Even Vasuki, who has a thousand mouths, is not able to speak them fully.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.336.46)

भक्त्या तथापि शङ्कर शशिधर करजालधवलिताशेष । स्तुतिमुखरस्य महेश्वर प्रसीद तव चरणनिरतस्य ॥ ४६ ॥

bhaktyā tathāpi śaṅkara śaśidhara karajāladhavalitāśeṣa | stutimukharasya maheśvara prasīda tava caraṇaniratasya || 46 ||

Yet, out of devotion, O Shankara, O moon-bearer, O you whose entire form is whitened by a net of rays — O Maheshvara, be gracious to this one, garrulous with praise, devoted to your feet.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.336.47)

सत्त्वं रजस्तमस्त्वं स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशनं देव । भवभीतो भुवनपते भुवनेश शरणनिरतस्य ॥ ४७ ॥

sattvaṁ rajastamastvaṁ sthityutpattivināśanaṁ deva | bhavabhīto bhuvanapate bhuvaneśa śaraṇaniratasya || 47 ||

O god, you are Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, and the cause of preservation, creation, and dissolution. O lord of the worlds, O ruler of all realms, protect this one, afraid of worldly existence, devoted to your refuge.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.336.48)

यमनियमयज्ञदानं वेदाभ्यासश्च धारणायोगः । त्वद्भक्तेः सर्वमिदं नार्हन्ति वै कलासहस्रांशम् ॥ ४८ ॥

yamaniyamayajñadānaṁ vedābhyāsaśca dhāraṇāyogaḥ | tvadbhakteḥ sarvamidaṁ nārhanti vai kalāsahasrāṁśam || 48 ||

Yama, Niyama, sacrifice, charity, the study of the Vedas, and the yoga of concentration — all of this together is not worth even a thousandth part of devotion to you.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.336.49)

उत्कृष्टरसरसायनखड्गां जनविवरपादुकासिद्धिः । चिह्नं हि तव नतानां दृश्यत इह जन्मनि प्रकटम् ॥ ४९ ॥

utkṛṣṭarasarasāyanakhaḍgāṁ janavivarapādukāsiddhiḥ | cihnaṁ hi tava natānāṁ dṛśyata iha janmani prakaṭam || 49 ||

The accomplishments of the finest alchemical elixirs, the invisibility-granting sandals, and other siddhis — these are indeed seen clearly, in this very birth, as the mark of those who bow to you.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.336.50)

शाठ्येन यदि प्रणमति वितरसि तस्यापि भूतिमिच्छया देव । भवति भवच्छेदकरी भक्तिर्मोक्षाय निर्मिता नाथ ॥ ५० ॥

śāṭhyena yadi praṇamati vitarasi tasyāpi bhūtimicchayā deva | bhavati bhavacchedakarī bhaktirmokṣāya nirmitā nātha || 50 ||

O god, even if one bows to you deceitfully, you still grant prosperity to him according to his wish; O lord, devotion to you, fashioned for liberation, severs the bonds of worldly existence.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.336.51)

परदारपरस्वरतं परपरिभवदुःखशोकसंतप्तम् । परवदनवीक्षणपरं परमेश्वर मां परित्राहि ॥ ५१ ॥

paradāraparasvarataṁ paraparibhavaduḥkhaśokasaṁtaptam | paravadanavīkṣaṇaparaṁ parameśvara māṁ paritrāhi || 51 ||

One attached to others' wives and others' wealth, tormented by the sorrow and grief of insulting others, ever intent on watching others' faces with envy — O Parameshvara, save me from such a state.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.336.52)

अधिकाभिमानमुदितं क्षणभङ्गुरविभवविलसन्तम् । क्रूरं कुपथाभिमुखं शङ्कर शरणागतं परित्राहि ॥ ५२ ॥

adhikābhimānamuditaṁ kṣaṇabhaṅguravibhavavilasantam | krūraṁ kupathābhimukhaṁ śaṅkara śaraṇāgataṁ paritrāhi || 52 ||

One elated with excessive pride, reveling in wealth as fleeting as a moment, cruel, facing toward the wrong path — O Shankara, save this one who has come to your refuge.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.336.53)

दीनं द्विजं वरार्थे बन्धुजने नैव पूरिता ह्याशा । छिन्द्धि महेश्वर तृष्णां किं मूढं मां विडम्बयसि ॥ ५३ ॥

dīnaṁ dvijaṁ varārthe bandhujane naiva pūritā hyāśā | chinddhi maheśvara tṛṣṇāṁ kiṁ mūḍhaṁ māṁ viḍambayasi || 53 ||

This wretched brahmin's hope in seeking boons from kinsfolk has never been fulfilled. O Maheshvara, cut off my craving — why do you mock this foolish one of mine?

Verse 54 (skanda.5.336.54)

तृष्णां हरस्व शीघ्रं लक्ष्मीं दद हृदयवासिनीं नित्यम् । छिन्द्धि मदमोहपाशं मामुत्तारय भवाच्च देवेश ॥ ५४ ॥

tṛṣṇāṁ harasva śīghraṁ lakṣmīṁ dada hṛdayavāsinīṁ nityam | chinddhi madamohapāśaṁ māmuttāraya bhavācca deveśa || 54 ||

Quickly take away my craving; grant me Lakshmi to dwell ever in my heart; cut the noose of my pride and delusion; and, O lord of gods, deliver me from worldly existence.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.336.55)

करुणाभ्युदयं नाम स्तोत्रमिदं सर्वसिद्धिदं दिव्यम् । यः पठति भृगुं स्मरति च शिवलोकमसौ प्रयाति देहान्ते ॥ ५५ ॥

karuṇābhyudayaṁ nāma stotramidaṁ sarvasiddhidaṁ divyam | yaḥ paṭhati bhṛguṁ smarati ca śivalokamasau prayāti dehānte || 55 ||

This divine hymn, named 'Karunabhyudaya,' grants all accomplishments. Whoever recites it and remembers Bhrigu attains the world of Shiva at the end of the body.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.336.56)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महादेवः स्तोत्रं च भृगुभाषितम् । उवाच वरदोऽस्मीति देव्या सह वरोत्तमम् ॥ ५६ ॥

etacchrutvā mahādevaḥ stotraṁ ca bhṛgubhāṣitam | uvāca varado'smīti devyā saha varottamam || 56 ||

Hearing this hymn spoken by Bhrigu, Mahadeva, together with the goddess, said to that excellent one, 'I am a boon-giver.'

Verse 57 (skanda.5.336.57)

भृगुरुवाच। प्रसन्नो देवदेवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । सिद्धिक्षेत्रमिदं सर्वं भविता मम नामतः ॥ ५७ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| prasanno devadeveśa yadi deyo varo mama | siddhikṣetramidaṁ sarvaṁ bhavitā mama nāmataḥ || 57 ||

Bhrigu said: 'O lord of gods, if you are pleased and a boon is to be given to me, let this entire field of accomplishment be known by my name.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.336.58)

भवद्भिः सन्निधानेन स्थातव्यं हि सहोमया । देवक्षेत्रमिदं पुण्यं येन सर्वं भविष्यति ॥ ५८ ॥

bhavadbhiḥ sannidhānena sthātavyaṁ hi sahomayā | devakṣetramidaṁ puṇyaṁ yena sarvaṁ bhaviṣyati || 58 ||

You must dwell here in presence, together with Uma, by which this whole place shall become a meritorious divine field.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.336.59)

अत्र स्थाने महास्थानं करोमि जगदीश्वर । तव प्रसादाद्देवेश पूर्यन्तां मे मनोरथाः ॥ ५९ ॥

atra sthāne mahāsthānaṁ karomi jagadīśvara | tava prasādāddeveśa pūryantāṁ me manorathāḥ || 59 ||

O lord of the world, I shall make this a great sacred place. O lord of gods, by your grace, may my desires be fulfilled.'

Verse 60 (skanda.5.336.60)

ईश्वर उवाच। श्रिया कृतमिदं पूर्वं किं न ज्ञातं त्वया द्विज । अनुमान्य श्रियं देवीं यदीयं मन्यते भवान् ॥ ६० ॥

īśvara uvāca| śriyā kṛtamidaṁ pūrvaṁ kiṁ na jñātaṁ tvayā dvija | anumānya śriyaṁ devīṁ yadīyaṁ manyate bhavān || 60 ||

Ishvara said: 'This place was already established by Shri before — did you not know that, O brahmin? If you wish this to be yours, first obtain the consent of the goddess Shri.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.336.61)

कुरुष्व यदभिप्रेतं त्वत्कृतं नः तदन्यथा । एवमुक्त्वा गते देवे स्नात्वा गत्वा भृगुः श्रियम् ॥ ६१ ॥

kuruṣva yadabhipretaṁ tvatkṛtaṁ naḥ tadanyathā | evamuktvā gate deve snātvā gatvā bhṛguḥ śriyam || 61 ||

Do as you wish; what you accomplish will not be otherwise for us.' Having said this, when the god had gone, Bhrigu bathed and went to Shri.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.336.62)

कृत्वा च पारणं तत्र वसन्विप्रस्तया सह । श्रिया च सहितः काल इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ६२ ॥

kṛtvā ca pāraṇaṁ tatra vasanvipraḥ tayā saha | śriyā ca sahitaḥ kāla idaṁ vacanamabravīt || 62 ||

Having broken his fast there, dwelling with her, the brahmin, after some time together with Shri, spoke these words:

Verse 63 (skanda.5.336.63)

भृगुरुवाच। यदि ते रोचते भद्रे दुःखासीनं च ते यदि । त्वया वृते महाक्षेत्रे स्वीयं स्थानं करोम्यहम् ॥ ६३ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| yadi te rocate bhadre duḥkhāsīnaṁ ca te yadi | tvayā vṛte mahākṣetre svīyaṁ sthānaṁ karomyaham || 63 ||

Bhrigu said: 'O auspicious one, if it pleases you, and if my presence causes you no distress, I would establish my own place within this great field chosen by you.'

Verse 64 (skanda.5.336.64)

श्रीरुवाच। मम नाम्ना तु विप्रर्षे तव नाम्ना तु शोभनम् । स्थानं कुरुष्वाभिप्रेतमविरोधेन मे मतिः ॥ ६४ ॥

śrīruvāca| mama nāmnā tu viprarṣe tava nāmnā tu śobhanam | sthānaṁ kuruṣvābhipretamavirodhena me matiḥ || 64 ||

Shri said: 'O sage among brahmins, in my name, and beautifully in your name too — establish the place as you wish; my mind holds no objection.'

Verse 65 (skanda.5.336.65)

भृगुरुवाच। कच्छपाधिष्ठितं ह्येतत्तस्य पृष्ठिगतं रमे । संमन्त्र्य सहितं तेन शोभनं भवती कुरु ॥ ६५ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| kacchapādhiṣṭhitaṁ hyetattasya pṛṣṭhigataṁ rame | saṁmantrya sahitaṁ tena śobhanaṁ bhavatī kuru || 65 ||

Bhrigu said: 'This place rests upon a tortoise; I shall dwell upon its very back. Having taken counsel together with it, do you, O gracious one, make it beautiful.'