The Grace over Fever, in the Glory of the Shipra

Verse 1 (skanda.5.49.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवं व्यास पुरी रम्या नामभूता सनातनी। युगेयुगे यथा जाता तथा ख्याता मयाऽनघ॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| evaṁ vyāsa purī ramyā nāmabhūtā sanātanī| yugeyuge yathā jātā tathā khyātā mayā'nagha||

Sanatkumara said: Thus, O sinless Vyasa, has this lovely, eternal city, together with its various names, been declared by me, just as it arose in age after age.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.49.2)

व्यास उवाच। भूयोऽहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर। शिप्रायाश्च कथां पुण्यां पवित्रां पापहारिणीम्॥

vyāsa uvāca| bhūyo'haṁ śrotumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṁ vara| śiprāyāśca kathāṁ puṇyāṁ pavitrāṁ pāpahāriṇīm||

Vyasa said: O best of the knowers of Brahman, I wish to hear further from you the sacred, purifying, sin-removing tale of the Shipra,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.49.3)

सुन्दरं कुंडमाख्यातं पिशाचमोचनं तथा। नीलगंगा इति प्रोक्ता कर्कराजमतः परम्॥

sundaraṁ kuṁḍamākhyātaṁ piśācamocanaṁ tathā| nīlagaṁgā iti proktā karkarājamataḥ param||

—the beautiful, renowned kunda, and Pishachamochana too; that which is called Nilaganga, and Karkaraja after that,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.49.4)

पुष्कराणि च सर्वाणि गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्। गोमतीकुण्डमाख्यातं नाम्ना धर्मसरस्तथा॥

puṣkarāṇi ca sarvāṇi gayātīrthamanuttamam| gomatīkuṇḍamākhyātaṁ nāmnā dharmasarastathā||

—all the Pushkaras, and the unsurpassed Gaya-tirtha; the renowned Gomati-kunda, and likewise the lake named Dharma-sara,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.49.5)

ख्यातं संगमजं तीर्थं शनेर्जन्मकथां शुभाम्। च्यवनाश्रमे च या वार्ता तथा नागालये शुभे॥

khyātaṁ saṁgamajaṁ tīrthaṁ śanerjanmakathāṁ śubhām| cyavanāśrame ca yā vārtā tathā nāgālaye śubhe||

—the renowned tirtha born of the confluence, the auspicious tale of Shani's birth; the account of Chyavana's hermitage, and the auspicious abode of the serpents,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.49.6)

पुरुषोत्तममहिमानं काले केन कथं भवेत्। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि यत्ते मनसि वर्तते॥

puruṣottamamahimānaṁ kāle kena kathaṁ bhavet| etadveditumicchāmi yatte manasi vartate||

—and the glory of Purushottama: by whom, at what time, and how it came to be. This I wish to know, whatever remains in your mind to tell.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.49.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास महाभाग कथां पापहरां पराम्। यस्मिन्काले यदा जाता महाकालवने शुभे॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa mahābhāga kathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām| yasminkāle yadā jātā mahākālavane śubhe||

Sanatkumara said: Hear, O fortunate Vyasa, this supreme sin-removing tale — at what time, and when, it arose in the auspicious Mahakalavana.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.49.8)

नास्ति वत्स महीपृष्ठे शिप्रायाः सदृशी नदी। यस्यास्तीरे क्षणान्मुक्तिः किं चिरात्सेवनेन वै॥

nāsti vatsa mahīpṛṣṭhe śiprāyāḥ sadṛśī nadī| yasyāstīre kṣaṇānmuktiḥ kiṁ cirātsevanena vai||

There is no river on the face of the earth equal to the Shipra, my child; on whose bank liberation comes in a moment — what then of the fruit of long, devoted service there?

Verse 9 (skanda.5.49.9)

वैकुण्ठे जायते शिप्रा ज्वरघ्नी च सुरालये। महाद्वारे च पापघ्नी पातालेऽमृतसंभवा॥

vaikuṇṭhe jāyate śiprā jvaraghnī ca surālaye| mahādvāre ca pāpaghnī pātāle'mṛtasaṁbhavā||

The Shipra is born in Vaikuntha, destroying fever there in the abode of the gods; at Mahadvara she destroys sin, and in Patala she arises as nectar.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.49.10)

वाराहकल्पे वै प्रोक्ता विष्णुदेहेति नामतः। शिप्रावंत्यां समाख्याता कामधेनुसमुद्भवा॥

vārāhakalpe vai proktā viṣṇudeheti nāmataḥ| śiprāvaṁtyāṁ samākhyātā kāmadhenusamudbhavā||

In the Varaha-kalpa she is spoken of by the name Vishnudeha ('Vishnu's Body'); in Avanti she is renowned as Shipra, there born from Kamadhenu.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.49.11)

व्यास उवाच। विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भवता ऋषिसत्तम। वक्तुमर्हसि शिप्रायाः समासेन कथां शुभाम्॥

vyāsa uvāca| vicitramidamākhyātaṁ bhavatā ṛṣisattama| vaktumarhasi śiprāyāḥ samāsena kathāṁ śubhām||

Vyasa said: This wondrous account has been told by you, O best of sages; you should now tell, in brief, the auspicious tale of the Shipra.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.49.12)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ब्राह्मं कपालमादाय भिक्षार्थं संचरन्महीम्। महादेवो विशुद्धात्मा सर्वलोकेषु सर्वतः॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| brāhmaṁ kapālamādāya bhikṣārthaṁ saṁcaranmahīm| mahādevo viśuddhātmā sarvalokeṣu sarvataḥ||

Sanatkumara said: Taking up Brahma's skull, wandering the earth for alms, Mahadeva, of purest soul, roamed everywhere throughout all the worlds.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.49.13)

अप्राप्तभिक्षो भिक्षार्थी वैकुण्ठमगमद्विभुः। गतश्चातिथ्यवेलायां भ्रममाणो यतस्ततः॥

aprāptabhikṣo bhikṣārthī vaikuṇṭhamagamadvibhuḥ| gataścātithyavelāyāṁ bhramamāṇo yatastataḥ||

Having received no alms, the Lord, seeking alms, went to Vaikuntha, arriving there just at the hour of hospitality, having wandered about here and there.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.49.14)

लोकनिंदापरः क्रुद्धः क्षुधितो बहुवासरैः। भिक्षां देहीति भो ब्रह्मन्क्षुधितोऽहं समाहितः॥

lokaniṁdāparaḥ kruddhaḥ kṣudhito bahuvāsaraiḥ| bhikṣāṁ dehīti bho brahmankṣudhito'haṁ samāhitaḥ||

Reviled by the world, wrathful, hungry from many days without food, he said: 'Give me alms, O Brahman — I am hungry,' composed in his speech.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.49.15)

कपालं च करे कृत्वा इत्युवाच पुनः पुनः। गृह्यतां हर भिक्षां ते ददामीति हरिस्तदा॥

kapālaṁ ca kare kṛtvā ityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ| gṛhyatāṁ hara bhikṣāṁ te dadāmīti haristadā||

Holding the skull-bowl in his hand, he said this again and again. Then Hari said: 'Take it, O Hara, I shall give you alms.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.49.16)

इत्युक्त्वा करमुद्यम्य तर्जन्यगुंलिमादधत्। तदा रुद्रः समाध्मातस्त्रिशूलेनाहनद्द्रुषा॥

ityuktvā karamudyamya tarjanyaguṁlimādadhat| tadā rudraḥ samādhmātastriśūlenāhanaddruṣā||

Having said this, raising his hand, he placed his forefinger there; then Rudra, filled with wrath, swiftly struck it with his trident.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.49.17)

तदांगुलिसमुद्भूतं बहु सुस्रावशोणितम्। तेनाशु पात्रं तत्पूर्णं शंकरस्य करे स्थितम्॥

tadāṁgulisamudbhūtaṁ bahu susrāvaśoṇitam| tenāśu pātraṁ tatpūrṇaṁ śaṁkarasya kare sthitam||

Then much blood flowed forth from the finger; by it that bowl, held in Shankara's hand, was swiftly filled.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.49.18)

तदा उद्वेलिता सा वै धारा जाता समं ततः। तत्र स्थाने समुद्भूता शिप्राऽसृग्धारसंभवा॥

tadā udvelitā sā vai dhārā jātā samaṁ tataḥ| tatra sthāne samudbhūtā śiprā'sṛgdhārasaṁbhavā||

Then that stream, overflowing, arose at once from there; at that very spot the river Shipra came into being, born from the stream of blood.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.49.19)

वैकुंठे चाभवत्सद्यो नदी त्रैलोक्यपावनी। एवं शिप्रा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता॥

vaikuṁṭhe cābhavatsadyo nadī trailokyapāvanī| evaṁ śiprā saricchreṣṭhā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā||

At once, in Vaikuntha, arose that river which purifies the three worlds. Thus the Shipra, best of rivers, became renowned in all three worlds.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.49.20)

ज्वरघ्नी च यथा प्रोक्ता तथा व्यास ब्रवीम्यहम्। यदा बाणासुरो दैत्यः कृष्णेन सह संयुगे॥

jvaraghnī ca yathā proktā tathā vyāsa bravīmyaham| yadā bāṇāsuro daityaḥ kṛṣṇena saha saṁyuge||

And how she came to be called 'the destroyer of fever' — that, O Vyasa, I shall now tell you. When the daitya Banasura, in battle with Krishna,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.49.21)

योधयामास दैत्येंद्रो ह्यनिरुद्धप्रहेलनः। सहस्रबाहुभिर्वीरो नानाप्रहरणोद्यतः॥

yodhayāmāsa daityeṁdro hyaniruddhaprahelanaḥ| sahasrabāhubhirvīro nānāpraharaṇodyataḥ||

—having captured Aniruddha, that lord of the daityas fought; a hero of a thousand arms, ready with weapons of every kind—

Verse 22 (skanda.5.49.22)

तस्मात्क्रुद्धो वासुदेवश्चक्रमादाय सत्वरः। चिच्छेद बाहुसाहस्रं क्षुरप्रेणाशुगामिना॥

tasmātkruddho vāsudevaścakramādāya satvaraḥ| ciccheda bāhusāhasraṁ kṣurapreṇāśugāminā||

—Vasudeva, enraged at this, swiftly took up his discus and severed his thousand arms with the swift-flying crescent-headed arrow.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.49.23)

स तदा भग्नसंकल्पश्छिन्नदोश्च व्रणार्दितः। पराङ्मुखपरो भूत्वा शंकरं शरणं ययौ॥

sa tadā bhagnasaṁkalpaśchinnadośca vraṇārditaḥ| parāṅmukhaparo bhūtvā śaṁkaraṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau||

He then, his purpose broken, his arms severed, tormented by his wounds, turned away and went for refuge to Shankara.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.49.24)

तदागतं महादैत्यं समीपे भयविह्वलम्। विलोक्य कृपयाविष्टो गते संग्राममूर्धनि॥

tadāgataṁ mahādaityaṁ samīpe bhayavihvalam| vilokya kṛpayāviṣṭo gate saṁgrāmamūrdhani||

Seeing that great daitya, drawing near, overwhelmed with fear, Shankara, filled with compassion, went to the forefront of the battle.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.49.25)

छित्त्वा बाहुसहस्रं वै दैत्यराजस्य चाहवे। क्रुद्धः कृष्णो महाबाहुः परसेनांतको वरः॥

chittvā bāhusahasraṁ vai daityarājasya cāhave| kruddhaḥ kṛṣṇo mahābāhuḥ parasenāṁtako varaḥ||

Having severed the thousand arms of the lord of daityas in that combat, the wrathful, mighty-armed Krishna, the excellent destroyer of enemy armies,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.49.26)

स्थितो यत्राचलो व्यास तत्रागतो महेश्वरः। वारयामास कृष्णं वै शरोघैश्च समाकिरन्॥

sthito yatrācalo vyāsa tatrāgato maheśvaraḥ| vārayāmāsa kṛṣṇaṁ vai śaroghaiśca samākiran||

—where he stood unmoving, O Vyasa, there Maheshvara came and, showering him with masses of arrows, sought to restrain Krishna.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.49.27)

अन्योन्यं च समासाद्य कृत्वा युद्धं तु दारुणम्। शस्त्रास्त्रैश्च महाघोरैः सर्वप्राणिभयंकरैः॥

anyonyaṁ ca samāsādya kṛtvā yuddhaṁ tu dāruṇam| śastrāstraiśca mahāghoraiḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkaraiḥ||

Meeting one another, they waged a terrible battle, with most fearsome weapons and missiles, terrifying to all living beings.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.49.28)

वैष्णवास्त्रं तदा कृष्णः संदधे हरजिघांसया। पाशुपतं च नामास्त्रं सर्वसंहारकारकम्॥

vaiṣṇavāstraṁ tadā kṛṣṇaḥ saṁdadhe harajighāṁsayā| pāśupataṁ ca nāmāstraṁ sarvasaṁhārakārakam||

Then Krishna set the Vaishnava missile to his bow, desiring to slay Hara; and Shiva set the weapon named Pashupata, the destroyer of all.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.49.29)

संदधे वै तदा शंभुः कृष्णप्राणहरोत्सुकः। हाहाकारस्तदा जातः सर्वलोकेषु श्रूयते॥

saṁdadhe vai tadā śaṁbhuḥ kṛṣṇaprāṇaharotsukaḥ| hāhākārastadā jātaḥ sarvalokeṣu śrūyate||

Shambhu then set that weapon, eager to take Krishna's life; then a great cry of distress arose, heard throughout all the worlds.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.49.30)

मोहनास्त्रं पुनः कृष्णः शिवोपरि मुमोच ह। तेनास्त्रेण तदा शंभुर्मोहितो देवमायया॥

mohanāstraṁ punaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śivopari mumoca ha| tenāstreṇa tadā śaṁbhurmohito devamāyayā||

Krishna then released the Mohana (delusion-causing) weapon upon Shiva; by that weapon, through its divine illusion, Shambhu was bewildered.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.49.31)

जृंभमाणः स्थितः संख्ये किंचित्कालं मुहुर्मुहुः। लब्धसंज्ञः पुनर्जातो यदा रुद्रो महाहवे॥

jṛṁbhamāṇaḥ sthitaḥ saṁkhye kiṁcitkālaṁ muhurmuhuḥ| labdhasaṁjñaḥ punarjāto yadā rudro mahāhave||

He stood in the battle, yawning repeatedly for some time; when Rudra regained his senses once more in that great combat,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.49.32)

तदा क्रोधाभिभूतेन कृतो माहेश्वरो ज्वरः। ललाटफलकात्सद्यो वीरभद्रो महाबलः॥

tadā krodhābhibhūtena kṛto māheśvaro jvaraḥ| lalāṭaphalakātsadyo vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ||

then, overcome with rage, he brought forth the fever called Maheshvara-jvara; and at once, from his forehead, sprang the mighty Virabhadra,

Verse 33 (skanda.5.49.33)

त्रिनेत्रस्त्रिशिरा ह्रस्वस्त्रिपादो बर्कराकृतिः। क्षुद्रो जटिलभस्मांगो महाव्याधिर्दुरत्ययः॥

trinetrastriśirā hrasvastripādo barkarākṛtiḥ| kṣudro jaṭilabhasmāṁgo mahāvyādhirduratyayaḥ||

three-eyed, three-headed, short of stature, three-footed, in the form of a goat; tiny, matted-haired, ash-smeared, an insurmountable great affliction.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.49.34)

कृष्णसेनां समासाद्य महादेवेन प्रेरितः। प्राणिनां कदनं चक्रे सर्वेषां कृष्णसंगिनाम्॥

kṛṣṇasenāṁ samāsādya mahādevena preritaḥ| prāṇināṁ kadanaṁ cakre sarveṣāṁ kṛṣṇasaṁginām||

Sent forth by Mahadeva, reaching Krishna's army, he wrought havoc upon all the beings who accompanied Krishna.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.49.35)

पराङ्मुख्यपरा भग्ना ज्वराभिघातपीडिता। बभूव सहसा व्यास सेना कृष्णेन पालिता॥

parāṅmukhyaparā bhagnā jvarābhighātapīḍitā| babhūva sahasā vyāsa senā kṛṣṇena pālitā||

O Vyasa, Krishna's army, though protected by him, suddenly turned to flight and was routed, tormented by the assault of the fever.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.49.36)

तथाभूतां समालोक्य जृंभमाणा रुजार्दिताम्। स्वसेनां भग्नसंकल्पां माहेशज्वरपीडिताम्॥

tathābhūtāṁ samālokya jṛṁbhamāṇā rujārditām| svasenāṁ bhagnasaṁkalpāṁ māheśajvarapīḍitām||

Seeing his own army thus become — yawning, afflicted by illness, its resolve broken, tormented by the Maheshvara-fever—

Verse 37 (skanda.5.49.37)

ससर्ज वैष्णवं तापं कृष्णः परमकोपनः। तेन सह वैष्णवेन माहेश्वरेण ज्वरेण च॥

sasarja vaiṣṇavaṁ tāpaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ paramakopanaḥ| tena saha vaiṣṇavena māheśvareṇa jvareṇa ca||

—Krishna, greatly enraged, brought forth the Vaishnava fever. Between that Vaishnava fever and the Maheshvara fever,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.49.38)

अन्योन्यमभवद्युद्धं घोरं घोरतरं महत्। संग्रामं बहुलं कृत्वा भग्नो माहेश्वरो ज्वरः॥

anyonyamabhavadyuddhaṁ ghoraṁ ghorataraṁ mahat| saṁgrāmaṁ bahulaṁ kṛtvā bhagno māheśvaro jvaraḥ||

—a great, terrible, ever more terrible battle broke out. After a long combat, the Maheshvara-fever was defeated,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.49.39)

सर्वलोकेषु गत्वा वै न शांतिं प्रतिजग्मिवान्। महाकालवने रम्ये प्राप्तस्तेनाभिपीडितः॥

sarvalokeṣu gatvā vai na śāṁtiṁ pratijagmivān| mahākālavane ramye prāptastenābhipīḍitaḥ||

and, having gone through all the worlds, found peace nowhere; tormented by that Vaishnava fever, it arrived at the beautiful Mahakalavana.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.49.40)

निमग्नोऽथ वै शिप्रायां ततः शांतिं परां ययौ। दृष्ट्वा माहेश्वरं शांतं ज्वरं परमकोपनम्॥

nimagno'tha vai śiprāyāṁ tataḥ śāṁtiṁ parāṁ yayau| dṛṣṭvā māheśvaraṁ śāṁtaṁ jvaraṁ paramakopanam||

There, plunging into the Shipra, it attained supreme peace. Seeing that the fierce, wrathful Maheshvara-fever had been pacified,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.49.41)

वैष्णवोऽपि समासाद्य तस्यां मज्जनमाचरत्। तस्याः प्रभावसन्नष्टौ ज्वरो हरिहरोद्भवौ॥

vaiṣṇavo'pi samāsādya tasyāṁ majjanamācarat| tasyāḥ prabhāvasannaṣṭau jvaro hariharodbhavau||

the Vaishnava fever too came there and immersed itself in her; by her power both fevers, born of Hari and Hara, were destroyed.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.49.42)

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु ज्वरघ्नी साऽभवत्क्षणात्। ज्वराभिभूतास्तां प्राप्य जनाः परमदुःखिताः॥

tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu jvaraghnī sā'bhavatkṣaṇāt| jvarābhibhūtāstāṁ prāpya janāḥ paramaduḥkhitāḥ||

Therefore, at all times, she has instantly become the destroyer of fever. People overcome by fever, greatly suffering, upon reaching her,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.49.43)

निमज्जंति च शिप्रायां व्यासोषसि समाहिताः। न तेषां बाधते पीडा ज्वरोद्भूता कदाचन॥

nimajjaṁti ca śiprāyāṁ vyāsoṣasi samāhitāḥ| na teṣāṁ bādhate pīḍā jvarodbhūtā kadācana||

immerse themselves, O Vyasa, in the Shipra at dawn, with composed mind; and the affliction born of fever never troubles them again.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.49.44)

सत्यमुक्तं तदा व्यास ब्रह्महरिहरेण च॥

satyamuktaṁ tadā vyāsa brahmaharihareṇa ca||

Thus, O Vyasa, was spoken this truth by Brahma, Hari and Hara.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.49.45)

ये शृण्वंति कथां दिव्यां नराश्चैकाग्रमानसाः। न तेषां जायते किंचिज्जवरसंतापजं भयम्॥

ye śṛṇvaṁti kathāṁ divyāṁ narāścaikāgramānasāḥ| na teṣāṁ jāyate kiṁcijjavarasaṁtāpajaṁ bhayam||

Those men who hear this divine tale with one-pointed mind — for them no fear born of the burning affliction of fever ever arises.