The Telling of the Glory of the Shipra

Verse 1 (skanda.5.52.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। भूयः शृणु महाभाग शिप्रामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण हयमेधफलं भवेत्॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| bhūyaḥ śṛṇu mahābhāga śiprāmāhātmyamuttamam| yasya śravaṇamātreṇa hayamedhaphalaṁ bhavet||

Sanatkumara said: Hear again, O fortunate one, the supreme glory of the Shipra, merely by hearing which the fruit of a horse-sacrifice is obtained.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.52.2)

शिप्रा च सर्वतः पुण्या पवित्रा पापहारिणी। अवंत्यां च विशेषेण शिप्रा चोत्तरवाहिनी॥

śiprā ca sarvataḥ puṇyā pavitrā pāpahāriṇī| avaṁtyāṁ ca viśeṣeṇa śiprā cottaravāhinī||

The Shipra is meritorious in every way, pure, the remover of sin; especially in Avanti, the Shipra flows northward.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.52.3)

तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिं विस्तराद्गदतो मम। यथा वाराहतनया विष्णुदेहोद्भवा शिवा। शृणु व्यास महापुण्यां कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम्॥

tathāpi tatsamutpattiṁ vistarādgadato mama| yathā vārāhatanayā viṣṇudehodbhavā śivā| śṛṇu vyāsa mahāpuṇyāṁ kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām||

Nevertheless, as I tell of her origin at length — how she is the daughter of Varaha, born from Vishnu's own body, auspicious — hear, O Vyasa, this greatly meritorious, sacred Puranic tale.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.52.4)

पुरा महासुरो जातो हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः॥

purā mahāsuro jāto hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ||

Long ago there arose a great asura named Hiranyaksha, of immense strength.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.52.5)

स चेमां सकलां पृथ्वीं वशीकृत्वा चकार ह। राज्यं च सार्वभौमानां दानवैश्च दुरात्मभिः॥

sa cemāṁ sakalāṁ pṛthvīṁ vaśīkṛtvā cakāra ha| rājyaṁ ca sārvabhaumānāṁ dānavaiśca durātmabhiḥ||

He, having subjugated this entire earth, established a sovereign kingdom together with the wicked danavas.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.52.6)

जित्वा च सकलाँल्लोकान्सुरानिंद्रपुरोगमान्। दिक्पालान्वसुपालांश्च तिरस्कृत्यसुराधिपः॥

jitvā ca sakalā~llokānsurāniṁdrapurogamān| dikpālānvasupālāṁśca tiraskṛtyasurādhipaḥ||

Having conquered all the worlds, and the gods led by Indra, that lord of asuras, having scorned the guardians of the directions and the protectors of the Vasus,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.52.7)

स सर्वान्सर्वलोकेभ्यः स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति। स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि॥

sa sarvānsarvalokebhyaḥ svayamevādhitiṣṭhati| svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi||

he himself ruled over all beings in all the worlds; by him, all the hosts of gods were driven out from heaven, and upon the earth,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.52.8)

विचरंति यथा मर्त्या भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः। अलब्धशरणाः सर्वे ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः॥

vicaraṁti yathā martyā bhraṣṭarājyāḥ parājitāḥ| alabdhaśaraṇāḥ sarve brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ||

wandered like mortals, cast out of their realm, defeated; finding no refuge anywhere, they all went for refuge to Brahma.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.52.9)

तत्र गत्वा नमस्कृत्य दैत्यकृत्यं न्यवेदयन्। भगवन्किमिदं कार्यं भवता परमेष्ठिना॥

tatra gatvā namaskṛtya daityakṛtyaṁ nyavedayan| bhagavankimidaṁ kāryaṁ bhavatā parameṣṭhinā||

Going there and bowing to him, they related the daitya's deeds: 'O Lord, what is to be done about this, O Supreme One?

Verse 10 (skanda.5.52.10)

येन देवगणाः सर्वे नष्टप्रायाश्च तत्क्षणात्। हिरण्याक्षेण दैत्येन हृतं स्वर्गमकण्टकम्॥

yena devagaṇāḥ sarve naṣṭaprāyāśca tatkṣaṇāt| hiraṇyākṣeṇa daityena hṛtaṁ svargamakaṇṭakam||

By him all the hosts of gods have been all but destroyed at once; by the daitya Hiranyaksha, heaven, once free of thorns, has been seized.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.52.11)

यज्ञभागांश्च वै सर्वानुपाश्नाति पृथक्पृथक्। केनोपायेन जीवाम कथं तिष्ठाम भूतले॥

yajñabhāgāṁśca vai sarvānupāśnāti pṛthakpṛthak| kenopāyena jīvāma kathaṁ tiṣṭhāma bhūtale||

He devours separately all the shares of the sacrifices. By what means shall we live? How shall we remain upon this earth?'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.52.12)

इति विक्लवितं तेषां देवानां स पितामहः। उवाच वचनं रम्यं तत्कालसमयोचितम्॥

iti viklavitaṁ teṣāṁ devānāṁ sa pitāmahaḥ| uvāca vacanaṁ ramyaṁ tatkālasamayocitam||

Having heard this lament of the gods, the Grandsire spoke a pleasing word, suited to that time and occasion.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.52.13)

ब्रह्मोवाच। शृणुध्वं भोः सुरश्रेष्ठा यूयं सर्वे समाहिताः। पुरायं पार्षदश्रेष्ठो द्वारपालः समाहितः॥

brahmovāca| śṛṇudhvaṁ bhoḥ suraśreṣṭhā yūyaṁ sarve samāhitāḥ| purāyaṁ pārṣadaśreṣṭho dvārapālaḥ samāhitaḥ||

Brahma said: Listen, O best of gods, all of you with composed minds. Long ago, this excellent attendant was a composed doorkeeper,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.52.14)

वैकुण्ठभवने रम्ये विष्णोरतुलतेजसः। जयोनाम महाबाहुर्विजयेन समन्वितः॥

vaikuṇṭhabhavane ramye viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ| jayonāma mahābāhurvijayena samanvitaḥ||

in the lovely mansion of Vaikuntha, that of Vishnu of unequalled splendor — a mighty-armed one named Jaya, together with Vijaya,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.52.15)

द्वावेव सचिवौ दांतौ विष्णुवेषधरावुभौ। आत्तयष्टी च विक्रांतौ द्वारे संतिष्ठतः सदा॥

dvāveva sacivau dāṁtau viṣṇuveṣadharāvubhau| āttayaṣṭī ca vikrāṁtau dvāre saṁtiṣṭhataḥ sadā||

the two self-controlled attendants, both bearing the appearance of Vishnu, staff in hand, valorous, ever stationed at the door.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.52.16)

एकदा वै मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मणो मानसात्मजाः। स्वैरं चरंतो लोकानां विष्णोर्भवनमागताः॥

ekadā vai muniśreṣṭha brahmaṇo mānasātmajāḥ| svairaṁ caraṁto lokānāṁ viṣṇorbhavanamāgatāḥ||

Once, O best of sages, the mind-born sons of Brahma, wandering freely through the worlds, came to Vishnu's mansion,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.52.17)

सनकादयो महाभागा भगवद्दर्शनलालसाः। ताभ्यां निवारिताः सर्वे पेतुर्वै धरणीतले॥

sanakādayo mahābhāgā bhagavaddarśanalālasāḥ| tābhyāṁ nivāritāḥ sarve peturvai dharaṇītale||

the great and fortunate ones headed by Sanaka, eager for the sight of the Lord; but, obstructed by those two gatekeepers, all of them fell down to the ground.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.52.18)

मुमुहुश्च तदा व्यास कुमारा भृशदुःखिताः। ततोऽगात्स महाबाहुर्भगवान्कमलेक्षणः॥

mumuhuśca tadā vyāsa kumārā bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ| tato'gātsa mahābāhurbhagavānkamalekṣaṇaḥ||

O Vyasa, the Kumaras then swooned, exceedingly grieved; then the mighty-armed, lotus-eyed Lord went there.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.52.19)

ददर्श सहसा विष्णुः कुमारान्भुवि दुःखितान्। उत्थाप्यांकं समारोप्य सस्वजे मधुसूदनः॥

dadarśa sahasā viṣṇuḥ kumārānbhuvi duḥkhitān| utthāpyāṁkaṁ samāropya sasvaje madhusūdanaḥ||

Vishnu suddenly saw the grieving Kumaras upon the ground; raising them up and setting them upon his lap, Madhusudana embraced them.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.52.20)

मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय बाहुभ्यां परिष्वज्य ह्युवाच ह। कस्माद्वः कश्मलमिदं केनापि दुःखिता भृशम्॥

mūrdhni cāghrāya bāhubhyāṁ pariṣvajya hyuvāca ha| kasmādvaḥ kaśmalamidaṁ kenāpi duḥkhitā bhṛśam||

Kissing their heads and embracing them with both arms, he said: 'Why this distress of yours? By whom have you been so greatly grieved?

Verse 21 (skanda.5.52.21)

सर्वं तत्कारणं बाला ब्रूत नो धर्मवित्तमाः॥

sarvaṁ tatkāraṇaṁ bālā brūta no dharmavittamāḥ||

Tell me the entire reason, my children, O best knowers of dharma.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.52.22)

कुमारा ऊचुः। श्रूयतां भो महाराज अस्माकं दुःखमीदृशम्। येन प्राप्ता वयं ब्रह्मन्दशामेतां शृणुष्व ह॥

kumārā ūcuḥ| śrūyatāṁ bho mahārāja asmākaṁ duḥkhamīdṛśam| yena prāptā vayaṁ brahmandaśāmetāṁ śṛṇuṣva ha||

The Kumaras said: Listen, O great king, to our grief, such as it is; O Brahman, hear by what cause we have come to this state.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.52.23)

आयाता भ्रातरो ह्येते चत्वारो लोकपर्यटाः। दर्शनार्थं रमानाथ साभिलाषाः शुचार्दिताः॥

āyātā bhrātaro hyete catvāro lokaparyaṭāḥ| darśanārthaṁ ramānātha sābhilāṣāḥ śucārditāḥ||

We, these four brothers, wandering the worlds, came, O Lord of Rama, eager for your sight, and now tormented by grief.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.52.24)

निवारिताश्च सहसा ताभ्यां वै द्वारपालनात्। तेनैवेयं दशा प्राप्ता भवता परिपालिताः॥

nivāritāśca sahasā tābhyāṁ vai dvārapālanāt| tenaiveyaṁ daśā prāptā bhavatā paripālitāḥ||

We were suddenly obstructed by those two through their gatekeeping duty; by that very cause we, though cherished by you, have come to this state.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.52.25)

भगवानुवाच। अतः प्रभृति स्थानेस्मिन्स्थितिर्नास्ति च शाश्वती। एतयोरासुरी योनिः प्राप्स्यते यन्ममाहितौ॥

bhagavānuvāca| ataḥ prabhṛti sthānesminsthitirnāsti ca śāśvatī| etayorāsurī yoniḥ prāpsyate yanmamāhitau||

The Lord said: From now on there shall be no eternal residence for these two in this place; since they have done what is displeasing to me, they shall obtain an asura birth.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.52.26)

सद्यः प्राप्तौ तदा व्यास आसुरीं योनिमेव तौ। जयविजयनामाख्यौ दुष्टभावसमाश्रितौ॥

sadyaḥ prāptau tadā vyāsa āsurīṁ yonimeva tau| jayavijayanāmākhyau duṣṭabhāvasamāśritau||

At once, O Vyasa, those two, named Jaya and Vijaya, having taken to a wicked disposition, obtained an asura birth.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.52.27)

जन्मांतरसहस्रेण तपोदानसमाधिभिः। नराणां क्षीणपापानां कृष्णे भक्तिः प्रजायते॥

janmāṁtarasahasreṇa tapodānasamādhibhiḥ| narāṇāṁ kṣīṇapāpānāṁ kṛṣṇe bhaktiḥ prajāyate||

Only after a thousand other births, through austerity, giving and meditation, does devotion to Krishna arise in men whose sins have been exhausted.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.52.28)

दुष्टभावेन सद्यो वै जन्मभिर्जायते त्रिभिः। भविष्यति च तस्माद्वो विष्णुभक्तिः परा स्मृता॥

duṣṭabhāvena sadyo vai janmabhirjāyate tribhiḥ| bhaviṣyati ca tasmādvo viṣṇubhaktiḥ parā smṛtā||

But through a wicked disposition it comes about swiftly, within three births; therefore, for you two, supreme devotion to Vishnu is thus ordained in the end.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.52.29)

जन्मजन्मांतरे जातौ तामसीं योनिमुद्धतौ। हिरण्यकशिपुश्चैव हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः॥

janmajanmāṁtare jātau tāmasīṁ yonimuddhatau| hiraṇyakaśipuścaiva hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ||

Born from birth to birth in a demonic womb, arrogant, they became Hiranyakashipu, and Hiranyaksha of great strength,

Verse 30 (skanda.5.52.30)

तथैव कुंभकर्णाख्यो रावणो लोकरावणः। दंतवक्त्रः शिशुपालश्च जन्मत्रयमिति स्मृतम्॥

tathaiva kuṁbhakarṇākhyo rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ| daṁtavaktraḥ śiśupālaśca janmatrayamiti smṛtam||

then likewise Kumbhakarna, and Ravana, the terror of the world; then Dantavaktra and Shishupala — thus their three births are remembered.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.52.31)

योऽसौ महाबली दैत्यो हिरण्याक्ष इति स्मृतः। दुष्टभावसमापन्नो देवब्राह्मणनिंदकः॥

yo'sau mahābalī daityo hiraṇyākṣa iti smṛtaḥ| duṣṭabhāvasamāpanno devabrāhmaṇaniṁdakaḥ||

That mighty daitya, remembered as Hiranyaksha, possessed of a wicked disposition, a reviler of gods and brahmins,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.52.32)

जित्वा च सकलान्देवान्स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति॥

jitvā ca sakalāndevānsvayamevādhitiṣṭhati||

and, having conquered all the gods, ruled over them himself.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.52.33)

स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः। विचरंति यथा मर्त्यास्तेन देवगणा भुवि॥

svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve bhraṣṭarājyāḥ parājitāḥ| vicaraṁti yathā martyāstena devagaṇā bhuvi||

By him, all the hosts of gods, cast out from heaven, their realm lost, defeated, wandered the earth like mortals.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.52.34)

स्वधाकारो वषट्कारः स्वाहाकारो न दृश्यते। देवपूजार्चनं नास्ति ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः॥

svadhākāro vaṣaṭkāraḥ svāhākāro na dṛśyate| devapūjārcanaṁ nāsti brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ||

The cries of svadha, vashat and svaha were seen no more; there was no worship of the gods, especially none performed by the brahmins.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.52.35)

नैव तीर्थं प्रकाशेत पुण्यान्यायतनानि च। आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु ऋषीणां च महात्मनाम्॥

naiva tīrthaṁ prakāśeta puṇyānyāyatanāni ca| āśrameṣu ca sarveṣu ṛṣīṇāṁ ca mahātmanām||

No tirtha shone forth any longer, nor the sacred shrines; nor, in all the hermitages of the great-souled sages,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.52.36)

उद्वृत्तं च प्रकुर्वंति दुष्टदैत्याः प्रहारिणः। वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्माः स्त्रीणां चैव सुशीलता॥

udvṛttaṁ ca prakurvaṁti duṣṭadaityāḥ prahāriṇaḥ| varṇāśramavatāṁ dharmāḥ strīṇāṁ caiva suśīlatā||

did the violent, wicked daityas commit outrages; the dharma of those following varna and ashrama, and the good conduct of women,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.52.37)

उच्छिन्ना हि तदा जातास्तस्मिन्राज्ञि दुरात्मनि। दुष्टाचारा दुरात्मानो मायिनो बहुमानिनः॥

ucchinnā hi tadā jātāstasminrājñi durātmani| duṣṭācārā durātmāno māyino bahumāninaḥ||

were then utterly destroyed under that wicked king; those of evil conduct, wicked souls, deceivers, full of false pride,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.52.38)

पाखंडिनोऽपराक्रांताः सर्वे धर्मबहिर्मुखाः। पशुधर्मरताः सर्वे सर्वे ब्रह्मेतिशंसिनः॥

pākhaṁḍino'parākrāṁtāḥ sarve dharmabahirmukhāḥ| paśudharmaratāḥ sarve sarve brahmetiśaṁsinaḥ||

heretics, powerless, all turned away from dharma; all delighting in the ways of beasts, yet all claiming falsely to be brahmins.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.52.39)

बहुम्लेच्छा बहुक्लेशा बह्वाबाधावनी कृता। को वेदः का स्मृतिः को यज्ञः का च दक्षिणा॥

bahumlecchā bahukleśā bahvābādhāvanī kṛtā| ko vedaḥ kā smṛtiḥ ko yajñaḥ kā ca dakṣiṇā||

The earth was made full of mlecchas, full of afflictions, full of disturbance — as if to ask, 'What is the Veda? What is the Smriti? What is sacrifice, and what is the sacrificial fee?'

Verse 40 (skanda.5.52.40)

तमीभूतं जगत्सर्वं दृश्यते वसुधातले। एवं व्यास यदा जातं दुष्टं सर्वं जगत्त्रयम्॥

tamībhūtaṁ jagatsarvaṁ dṛśyate vasudhātale| evaṁ vyāsa yadā jātaṁ duṣṭaṁ sarvaṁ jagattrayam||

The whole world appeared plunged in darkness upon the earth's surface. Thus, O Vyasa, when all the three worlds had become so wicked,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.52.41)

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata| abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmyaham||

'Whenever, O Bharata, there is a decline of dharma and a rise of adharma, then I create myself, manifest.'

Verse 42 (skanda.5.52.42)

इति ज्ञात्वा महाविष्णुर्वाराहं वपुरात्मवान्। दधार लीलया दिव्यं श्वेतद्वीपोपमं शुभम्॥

iti jñātvā mahāviṣṇurvārāhaṁ vapurātmavān| dadhāra līlayā divyaṁ śvetadvīpopamaṁ śubham||

Knowing this, the great, self-possessed Vishnu playfully assumed the divine, auspicious form of the Boar, resembling Shvetadvipa,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.52.43)

यूपदंष्ट्रो हविर्गंधो बीजौषधितनूरुहः। वेदपादः शुचिर्दंडी जिह्वाग्निस्तालुकाहुतिः॥

yūpadaṁṣṭro havirgaṁdho bījauṣadhitanūruhaḥ| vedapādaḥ śucirdaṁḍī jihvāgnistālukāhutiḥ||

with the sacrificial post as his tusks, the fragrance of the oblation, herbs and seeds as his body-hairs, the Vedas as his feet, pure, staff-bearing, fire as his tongue, the offering as his palate,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.52.44)

अंतरास्यरुचादार्ढो यज्ञकायः सुदक्षिणः। उद्गानघुर्घुरोन्नादो विहार ऋत्विजाकृतिः॥

aṁtarāsyarucādārḍho yajñakāyaḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ| udgānaghurghuronnādo vihāra ṛtvijākṛtiḥ||

firm with the radiance within his mouth, sacrifice as his body, generous with sacrificial fees, his roaring grunt as the Udgatha-chant, his play the very form of the priests,

Verse 45 (skanda.5.52.45)

हौत्रश्वासपरो दक्षसदस्यावयवः स्मृतः। पुच्छ कर्माशनो नित्यं यजमानसुमानदः॥

hautraśvāsaparo dakṣasadasyāvayavaḥ smṛtaḥ| puccha karmāśano nityaṁ yajamānasumānadaḥ||

his breath the Hotra recitation, his limbs remembered as the very form of the skilled sacrificial assembly, his tail the consumer of ritual acts, ever the giver of honor to the sacrificer,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.52.46)

वेदिपल्वलसंस्तारो ब्रह्माध्वर्युर्वनाकरः। लोककल्पो लोकसाक्षी परावरवहः शुचिः॥

vedipalvalasaṁstāro brahmādhvaryurvanākaraḥ| lokakalpo lokasākṣī parāvaravahaḥ śuciḥ||

the sacrificial altar as his pool of ritual grass, Brahma as his officiating priest, a mine of forests, the very model of the worlds, witness of the worlds, bearer of the higher and lower realms, pure,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.52.47)

आद्यः पुरुष ईशानः पुरुहूतः पुरुष्टुतः। तेनासौ निहतो दैत्यो हिरण्याक्षो दुरासदः॥

ādyaḥ puruṣa īśānaḥ puruhūtaḥ puruṣṭutaḥ| tenāsau nihato daityo hiraṇyākṣo durāsadaḥ||

the primeval Purusha, the Lord, invoked by many, praised by many. By him that daitya Hiranyaksha, hard to approach, was slain.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.52.48)

संग्रामान्सुबहून्कृत्वा बहुकष्टेन विष्णुना। दैत्येन पीडिता पृथ्वी रसातलतलंगता॥

saṁgrāmānsubahūnkṛtvā bahukaṣṭena viṣṇunā| daityena pīḍitā pṛthvī rasātalatalaṁgatā||

After Vishnu had waged very many battles, with great difficulty — the earth, oppressed by the daitya and sunk down into the depths of Rasatala,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.52.49)

उद्धृता च वराहेण दंष्ट्रया चंद्ररेखया। हतास्ते दानवाः सर्वे शेषाः पातालमाययुः॥

uddhṛtā ca varāheṇa daṁṣṭrayā caṁdrarekhayā| hatāste dānavāḥ sarve śeṣāḥ pātālamāyayuḥ||

was raised up by the Boar, upon his tusk curved like a crescent moon; all those danavas were slain, and the remaining ones went to Patala.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.52.50)

ववुः पुण्यास्तथा वाताः सुप्रभोऽभूद्दिवाकरः। जज्वलुश्चाग्नयः शांताः शांता दिग्जनितस्वनाः॥

vavuḥ puṇyāstathā vātāḥ suprabho'bhūddivākaraḥ| jajvaluścāgnayaḥ śāṁtāḥ śāṁtā digjanitasvanāḥ||

Then auspicious breezes blew, the sun grew radiant, sacred fires blazed peacefully, and the sounds arising from every quarter grew calm.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.52.51)

सरितो मार्गवाहिन्यः सागराः प्रकृतिं गतः। दृष्ट्वा देवोऽखिलं व्यास प्रसन्नात्मा बभूव ह॥

sarito mārgavāhinyaḥ sāgarāḥ prakṛtiṁ gataḥ| dṛṣṭvā devo'khilaṁ vyāsa prasannātmā babhūva ha||

The rivers flowed once more within their courses, the oceans returned to their natural state; beholding all this, O Vyasa, the god became of a joyful heart.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.52.52)

वाराहमूर्तिर्भगवान्सर्वकामफलप्रदः। आनंदनिर्भरो देवो हतदैत्यो वरप्रदः॥

vārāhamūrtirbhagavānsarvakāmaphalapradaḥ| ānaṁdanirbharo devo hatadaityo varapradaḥ||

The Lord in the form of the Boar, the giver of the fruit of every desire, filled with bliss, the god who had slain the daitya, the giver of boons —

Verse 53 (skanda.5.52.53)

तस्यापि हृदयाज्जाता नदी ह्येषा सनातनी। आनंदजलसंपूर्णा सर्वानंदवरप्रदा॥

tasyāpi hṛdayājjātā nadī hyeṣā sanātanī| ānaṁdajalasaṁpūrṇā sarvānaṁdavarapradā||

—from his very heart, this eternal river was born, full of the waters of bliss, the giver of every joyful boon.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.52.54)

बहुयोजनविस्तारा बहुला कामचारिणी। पद्माकरसमाकीर्णा हंसकारण्डसंकुला॥

bahuyojanavistārā bahulā kāmacāriṇī| padmākarasamākīrṇā haṁsakāraṇḍasaṁkulā||

Extending over many yojanas, abundant, flowing at will, filled with beds of lotuses, thronged with swans and karandava-ducks,

Verse 55 (skanda.5.52.55)

सरला तरलच्छाया यक्षगंधर्वसेविता। किन्नरीगीयमाना च गीयमाना खगालिभिः॥

saralā taralacchāyā yakṣagaṁdharvasevitā| kinnarīgīyamānā ca gīyamānā khagālibhiḥ||

straight-flowing, with rippling shade, served by yakshas and gandharvas, sung to by kinnari-women, and sung of by flocks of birds,

Verse 56 (skanda.5.52.56)

अप्सरोभिर्नृत्यमाना स्तूयमाना महर्षिभिः। हूयमाना हुताग्निभी राजर्षिभिः समाश्रिता॥

apsarobhirnṛtyamānā stūyamānā maharṣibhiḥ| hūyamānā hutāgnibhī rājarṣibhiḥ samāśritā||

danced upon by apsaras, praised by great sages, offered oblations at by those who kindle fire, taken refuge in by royal sages,

Verse 57 (skanda.5.52.57)

तुंगस्तनभराक्रांतयोषिद्भिः क्रीडितान्तरा। क्वचित्कीरवरांदोलैः रम्यमाणा विराजिता॥

tuṁgastanabharākrāṁtayoṣidbhiḥ krīḍitāntarā| kvacitkīravarāṁdolaiḥ ramyamāṇā virājitā||

her waters played in by women of full, high bosoms, here and there made lovely by the swaying of fine parrots, resplendent,

Verse 58 (skanda.5.52.58)

वेदविद्भिर्द्विजैः सेव्या ऋषिभिस्संशितात्मभिः। सर्वदा सर्वकाले च सिद्धैः सिद्धिप्रदा नृणाम्॥

vedavidbhirdvijaiḥ sevyā ṛṣibhissaṁśitātmabhiḥ| sarvadā sarvakāle ca siddhaiḥ siddhipradā nṛṇām||

served by brahmins learned in the Veda and by sages of firm resolve; ever, at all times, granting accomplishment to men through the siddhas —

Verse 59 (skanda.5.52.59)

महाकालवने रम्ये रम्या पद्मावती पुरी। सुन्दरं कुण्डमपरं रम्यं प्राचीनकं शुभम्॥

mahākālavane ramye ramyā padmāvatī purī| sundaraṁ kuṇḍamaparaṁ ramyaṁ prācīnakaṁ śubham||

in the beautiful Mahakalavana, in the lovely city of Padmavati; there is another beautiful, lovely, ancient, auspicious kunda,

Verse 60 (skanda.5.52.60)

यत्र स्नात्वा नरा यांति शिवलोकं सनातनम्। यत्र नीला परा व्यास शिप्रा वै लोकपावनी॥

yatra snātvā narā yāṁti śivalokaṁ sanātanam| yatra nīlā parā vyāsa śiprā vai lokapāvanī||

bathing in which men go to the eternal world of Shiva; where, O Vyasa, that supreme dark Shipra, purifier of the worlds, flows.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.52.61)

वाराहेण कृतं सर्वं दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम्। तेन देवा निरातंकाः कृता वाराहमूर्तिना॥

vārāheṇa kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ duṣṭadaityanibarhaṇam| tena devā nirātaṁkāḥ kṛtā vārāhamūrtinā||

All this destruction of the wicked daitya was wrought by the Boar; by that Boar-formed one, the gods were freed of all fear.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.52.62)

कृतप्रांजलयः सर्वे देवा इंद्रपुरोगमाः। स्तुतिं कृत्वा महाविष्णोः सततं पुरतः स्थिताः॥

kṛtaprāṁjalayaḥ sarve devā iṁdrapurogamāḥ| stutiṁ kṛtvā mahāviṣṇoḥ satataṁ purataḥ sthitāḥ||

All the gods, led by Indra, with joined palms, having offered praise, stood continually before the great Vishnu.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.52.63)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन। किं दानं किं तपः पुण्यं किं तीर्थं का च देवता॥

devadeva jagannātha puṇyaśravaṇakīrtana| kiṁ dānaṁ kiṁ tapaḥ puṇyaṁ kiṁ tīrthaṁ kā ca devatā||

'O God of gods, Lord of the world, whose hearing and praising bring merit — what gift, what austerity, what merit, what tirtha, and what deity,

Verse 64 (skanda.5.52.64)

येन पुण्यप्रभावेन पुनः स्वर्गो ह्यवाप्स्यते। एतन्निश्चित्य नो ब्रूहि सर्वं गुह्यतरं विभो॥

yena puṇyaprabhāvena punaḥ svargo hyavāpsyate| etanniścitya no brūhi sarvaṁ guhyataraṁ vibho||

—by the power of what merit might heaven be regained by us once more? Determine this and tell us, O Lord, everything, however secret it may be.'

Verse 65 (skanda.5.52.65)

विष्णुरुवाच। शृणुध्वं भोः सुराः सर्वे युष्माकं सिद्धिकारणम्। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं पुण्यं महाकालवनं शुभम्॥

viṣṇuruvāca| śṛṇudhvaṁ bhoḥ surāḥ sarve yuṣmākaṁ siddhikāraṇam| guhyādguhyataraṁ puṇyaṁ mahākālavanaṁ śubham||

Vishnu said: Listen, all you gods, to the cause of your success: the auspicious Mahakalavana is a merit more secret than the secret.

Verse 66 (skanda.5.52.66)

मम देहोद्भवा शिप्रा यत्र लीना पयस्विनी। नीलगंगा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा यत्र प्राची सरस्वती॥

mama dehodbhavā śiprā yatra līnā payasvinī| nīlagaṁgā saricchreṣṭhā yatra prācī sarasvatī||

There, the milk-abounding Shipra, born from my own body, has merged; there is the Nilaganga, best of rivers; there flows the eastward Sarasvati;

Verse 67 (skanda.5.52.67)

पुष्करं च गयातीर्थं पुरुषोत्तमसरः शुभम्। तत्रैव गच्छत क्षिप्र पुनर्लोकानवाप्स्यथ॥

puṣkaraṁ ca gayātīrthaṁ puruṣottamasaraḥ śubham| tatraiva gacchata kṣipra punarlokānavāpsyatha||

and the Pushkara, and the Gaya-tirtha, and the auspicious lake of Purushottama. Go there swiftly, and you shall regain your worlds once more.

Verse 68 (skanda.5.52.68)

इति श्रुत्वा परं वाक्यं देवदेवजगद्गुरोः। तत्र देवगणाः सर्वे ब्रह्मशक्रपुरोगमाः॥

iti śrutvā paraṁ vākyaṁ devadevajagadguroḥ| tatra devagaṇāḥ sarve brahmaśakrapurogamāḥ||

Having heard this supreme word of the God of gods, the Guru of the world, all the hosts of gods there, led by Brahma and Shakra,

Verse 69 (skanda.5.52.69)

महाकालवने रम्ये यत्र शिप्रा सरिद्वरा। स्नानदानादिकं कृत्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथोचितम्॥

mahākālavane ramye yatra śiprā saridvarā| snānadānādikaṁ kṛtvā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā yathocitam||

to the beautiful Mahakalavana, where the excellent river Shipra flows; having performed bathing, giving and the like, and performed shraddha as is proper,

Verse 70 (skanda.5.52.70)

तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन स्वकाँल्लोकान्गताः सुराः। एवं व्यास समाख्याता शिप्रा वै लोकपावनी॥

tena puṇyaprabhāvena svakā~llokāngatāḥ surāḥ| evaṁ vyāsa samākhyātā śiprā vai lokapāvanī||

by the power of that merit, the gods returned to their own worlds. Thus, O Vyasa, has the Shipra been told of, the purifier of the worlds,

Verse 71 (skanda.5.52.71)

जातं सरो वराहस्य विष्णोरतुलतेजसः। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति॥

jātaṁ saro varāhasya viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ| yasya darśanamātreṇa brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati||

and the lake born of the Boar, of Vishnu of unequalled splendor, by the mere sight of which one wipes away even the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.52.72)

अत्र स्नात्वा पयः पीत्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथोचितम्। पयस्विनीं च गां दत्त्वा विष्णुलोके महीयते॥

atra snātvā payaḥ pītvā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā yathocitam| payasvinīṁ ca gāṁ dattvā viṣṇuloke mahīyate||

Bathing here, drinking the water, performing shraddha as is fitting, and giving a milk-yielding cow — one is honored in Vishnu's world.