The Origin of Panchapinda-Gauri

Verse 1 (skanda.6.130.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । याज्ञवल्क्यसुतः सूत यस्त्वया परिकीर्तितः । कतमा तस्य माताभूत्सर्वं नो ब्रूहि विस्तरात्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yājñavalkyasutaḥ sūta yastvayā parikīrtitaḥ katamā tasya mātābhūtsarvaṁ no brūhi vistarāt

The sages said: O Suta, that son of Yajnavalkya whom you have described — who was his mother? Tell us all this in detail.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.130.2)

सूत उवाच । तस्य भार्याद्वयं श्रेष्ठमासीत्सर्वगुणान्वितम् । एका गुणवती तस्य मैत्रेयीति प्रकीर्तिता

sūta uvāca tasya bhāryādvayaṁ śreṣṭhamāsītsarvaguṇānvitam ekā guṇavatī tasya maitreyīti prakīrtitā

Suta said: He had two excellent wives, both endowed with every virtue; one, virtuous, was renowned by the name Maitreyi.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.130.3)

ज्येष्ठा चान्याथ कल्याणी ख्याता कात्यायनीति च । यस्याः कात्यायनः पुत्रो वेदार्थानां प्रजल्पकः

jyeṣṭhā cānyātha kalyāṇī khyātā kātyāyanīti ca yasyāḥ kātyāyanaḥ putro vedārthānāṁ prajalpakaḥ

The other, the elder and most auspicious, was renowned by the name Katyayani, whose son Katyayana became an expounder of the meanings of the Vedas.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.130.4)

ताभ्यां कुण्डद्वयं तत्र संतिष्ठति सुशोभनम् । यत्र स्नाता नरा यांति लोकांस्तांश्च महोदयान्

tābhyāṁ kuṇḍadvayaṁ tatra saṁtiṣṭhati suśobhanam yatra snātā narā yāṁti lokāṁstāṁśca mahodayān

Two beautiful pools connected with these two women exist there, bathing in which men attain worlds of the greatest exaltation.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.130.5)

कात्यायन्याश्च तीर्थस्य शांडिल्यास्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । पतिव्रतात्वयुक्तायास्तथान्यत्तत्र संस्थितम्

kātyāyanyāśca tīrthasya śāṁḍilyāstīrthamuttamam pativratātvayuktāyāstathānyattatra saṁsthitam

Along with the tirtha of Katyayani, there is also the excellent tirtha of Shandili, and there is yet another tirtha there, connected with a woman who was not devoted to her husband.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.130.6)

यत्र कात्यायनी प्राप्ता शांडिल्या प्रतिबोधिता । वैराग्यं परमं प्राप्ता सपत्नीदुःखदुःखिता

yatra kātyāyanī prāptā śāṁḍilyā pratibodhitā vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ prāptā sapatnīduḥkhaduḥkhitā

It was there that Katyayani arrived and was instructed by Shandili, and, tormented by the sorrow born of a co-wife, attained supreme dispassion.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.130.7)

तत्र या कुरुते स्नानं तृतीयायां समाहिता । नारी मार्गसिते पक्षे सा सौभाग्यवती भवेत् । अथ दौर्भाग्यसंपन्ना काणा वृद्धाऽथ वामना । अभीष्टा जायते सा च तत्प्रभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः

tatra yā kurute snānaṁ tṛtīyāyāṁ samāhitā nārī mārgasite pakṣe sā saubhāgyavatī bhavet atha daurbhāgyasaṁpannā kāṇā vṛddhā'tha vāmanā abhīṣṭā jāyate sā ca tatprabhāvāddvijottamāḥ

There, whatever woman, with a focused mind, bathes on the third day of the dark fortnight of the month of Margashirsha becomes fortunate in marriage. And even if she is unfortunate, one-eyed, old, or a dwarf, O excellent brahmins, by that very power she attains her desired form.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.130.8)

ऋषय ऊचुः । कीदृक्सपत्निजं दुःखं कात्यायन्या उपस्थितम् । उपदेशः कथं लब्धः शांडिल्याः सूत कीदृशः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kīdṛksapatnijaṁ duḥkhaṁ kātyāyanyā upasthitam upadeśaḥ kathaṁ labdhaḥ śāṁḍilyāḥ sūta kīdṛśaḥ

The sages said: What sort of sorrow, born of a co-wife, befell Katyayani? And, O Suta, what kind of instruction did she receive from Shandili?

Verse 9 (skanda.6.130.9)

कात्यायन्या समाचक्ष्व कौतुकं नो व्यवस्थितम् । सामान्यो भविता नैष उपदेशस्तयेरितः

kātyāyanyā samācakṣva kautukaṁ no vyavasthitam sāmānyo bhavitā naiṣa upadeśastayeritaḥ

Tell us this curious event concerning Katyayani; the instruction given to her was clearly no ordinary instruction.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.130.10)

सूत उवाच । मैत्रेय्या सह संसक्तं याज्ञवल्क्यं विलोक्य सा । कात्यायनी सुदुःखार्ता संजाता चेर्ष्यया ततः

sūta uvāca maitreyyā saha saṁsaktaṁ yājñavalkyaṁ vilokya sā kātyāyanī suduḥkhārtā saṁjātā cerṣyayā tataḥ

Suta said: Seeing Yajnavalkya attached to Maitreyi, that Katyayani became greatly distressed and filled with jealousy.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.130.11)

सा न स्नाति न भुंक्ते च न हास्यं कुरुते क्वचित् । केवलं बाष्पपूर्णाक्षी निःश्वासाढ्या बभूव ह

sā na snāti na bhuṁkte ca na hāsyaṁ kurute kvacit kevalaṁ bāṣpapūrṇākṣī niḥśvāsāḍhyā babhūva ha

She would neither bathe, nor eat, nor laugh anywhere; she remained only with eyes full of tears, sighing deeply.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.130.12)

ततः कदाचिदेवाथ फलार्थं निर्गता बहिः । अपश्यच्छांडिलीनाम पतिपार्श्वे व्यवस्थिताम्

tataḥ kadācidevātha phalārthaṁ nirgatā bahiḥ apaśyacchāṁḍilīnāma patipārśve vyavasthitām

Then, once, having gone out in search of fruit, she saw a woman named Shandili seated beside her own husband,

Verse 13 (skanda.6.130.13)

कृतांजलिपुटां साध्वी विनयावनता स्थिताम् । सोऽपि तस्या मुखासक्तः सानुरागः प्रसन्नदृक्

kṛtāṁjalipuṭāṁ sādhvī vinayāvanatā sthitām so'pi tasyā mukhāsaktaḥ sānurāgaḥ prasannadṛk

with folded hands, humbly bowed, seated like a virtuous woman; and that husband too, gazing intently upon her face, appeared filled with love and pleased regard.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.130.14)

गुणदोषोद्भवां वार्तामापृच्छ्याकथयत्तथा । सा च तौ दंपती दृष्ट्वा संहृष्टावितरेतरम्

guṇadoṣodbhavāṁ vārtāmāpṛcchyākathayattathā sā ca tau daṁpatī dṛṣṭvā saṁhṛṣṭāvitaretaram

He asked her about matters relating to good and bad, and she answered him; and seeing that couple thus mutually delighted with one another,

Verse 15 (skanda.6.130.15)

चित्ते स्वे चिंतयामास सुधन्येयं तपस्विनी । यस्याः पतिर्मुखासक्तो गुणदोषप्रजल्पकः । सानुरागश्च सुस्निग्धो नान्यां नारीं बिभर्त्ति च

citte sve ciṁtayāmāsa sudhanyeyaṁ tapasvinī yasyāḥ patirmukhāsakto guṇadoṣaprajalpakaḥ sānurāgaśca susnigdho nānyāṁ nārīṁ bibhartti ca

she began to think in her own mind, "How fortunate is this devoted woman, whose husband remains fixed upon her face, discussing matters of merit and fault with her alone,"

Verse 16 (skanda.6.130.16)

एवं संचित्य सा साध्वी भूयोभूयो द्विजोत्तमाः । जगाम स्वाश्रमं पश्चान्निंद्यमाना स्वकं वपुः

evaṁ saṁcitya sā sādhvī bhūyobhūyo dvijottamāḥ jagāma svāśramaṁ paścānniṁdyamānā svakaṁ vapuḥ

"and, filled with love and deep affection, does not keep any other woman." Thinking thus again and again, O excellent brahmins, that virtuous one, reproaching her own body,

Verse 17 (skanda.6.130.17)

ततः कदाचिदेकांते स्थितां तां शांडिलीं द्विजाः । बहिर्गते भर्तरि च तस्याः कार्येण केनचित्

tataḥ kadācidekāṁte sthitāṁ tāṁ śāṁḍilīṁ dvijāḥ bahirgate bhartari ca tasyāḥ kāryeṇa kenacit

then returned to her own hermitage. Then, once, when that Shandili was alone, her husband having gone out on some errand,

Verse 18 (skanda.6.130.18)

कात्यायनी समागम्य ततः पप्रच्छ सादरम् । वद कल्याणि मे कंचिदुपदेशं महोदयम्

kātyāyanī samāgamya tataḥ papraccha sādaram vada kalyāṇi me kaṁcidupadeśaṁ mahodayam

Katyayani, coming to her, asked her respectfully, "O auspicious one, tell me some great teaching,"

Verse 19 (skanda.6.130.19)

मुखप्रेक्षः सदा भर्त्ता येन स्त्रीणां प्रजायते । नापमानं करोत्येव दुरुक्तवचनैः क्वचित्

mukhaprekṣaḥ sadā bharttā yena strīṇāṁ prajāyate nāpamānaṁ karotyeva duruktavacanaiḥ kvacit

"by which a husband may ever look upon his wife's face alone, and never insult her with harsh words,"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.130.20)

नान्यां संगच्छते नारीं चित्तेनापि कथंचन । अहं भर्तुः कृतैर्दुःखैरतीव परिपीडिता । सपत्नीजैर्विशेषेण तस्मान्मे त्वं प्रकीर्तय

nānyāṁ saṁgacchate nārīṁ cittenāpi kathaṁcana ahaṁ bhartuḥ kṛtairduḥkhairatīva paripīḍitā sapatnījairviśeṣeṇa tasmānme tvaṁ prakīrtaya

"and never, even in mind, incline toward another woman. I am greatly tormented by the sufferings caused by my husband, especially through his other wives; therefore tell me this,"

Verse 21 (skanda.6.130.21)

यथा ते वशगो भर्त्ता संजातः कामदः सदा । मनसापि न संदध्यान्नारीमेष कथंचन

yathā te vaśago bharttā saṁjātaḥ kāmadaḥ sadā manasāpi na saṁdadhyānnārīmeṣa kathaṁcana

"how it is that your husband has become always subject to your will, ever fulfilling your desires — never even in mind thinking of another woman."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.130.22)

शांडिल्युवाच । शृणु साध्वि प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाहं गुह्यमुत्तमम् । यथा ममाभवद्वश्यो मुखप्रेक्षस्तथा पतिः

śāṁḍilyuvāca śṛṇu sādhvi pravakṣyāmi tavāhaṁ guhyamuttamam yathā mamābhavadvaśyo mukhaprekṣastathā patiḥ

Shandili said: "Listen, O virtuous one, I shall tell you this supreme secret of mine — how my husband became subject to my will and became one who always gazes upon my face alone."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.130.23)

मम तातः कुरुक्षेत्रे शांडिल्यो मुनिसत्तमः । वानप्रस्थाश्रमेऽतिष्ठत्पूर्वे वयसि संस्थितः

mama tātaḥ kurukṣetre śāṁḍilyo munisattamaḥ vānaprasthāśrame'tiṣṭhatpūrve vayasi saṁsthitaḥ

"My father was a foremost sage named Shandilya, in Kurukshetra, who lived in the hermit stage of Vanaprastha even in the earlier part of his life."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.130.24)

तत्रैकाहं समुत्पन्ना कन्या तस्य महात्मनः । वृद्धिं गता क्रमेणाथ तस्मिन्नेव तपोवने

tatraikāhaṁ samutpannā kanyā tasya mahātmanaḥ vṛddhiṁ gatā krameṇātha tasminneva tapovane

"There I was born as the only daughter of that great soul, and I gradually grew up in that very forest of austerity."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.130.25)

करोमि तत्र शुश्रूषां होमकाले यथोचिताम् । नीवारादीनि धान्यानि नित्यं चैवानयाम्यहम्

karomi tatra śuśrūṣāṁ homakāle yathocitām nīvārādīni dhānyāni nityaṁ caivānayāmyaham

"There I would perform fitting service at the time of the fire-offering, and I would always bring wild rice and other grains."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.130.26)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । आश्रमे मम तातस्य सुश्रांतः समुपागतः

kasyacittvatha kālasya nārado munisattamaḥ āśrame mama tātasya suśrāṁtaḥ samupāgataḥ

"After some time, the divine sage Narada, greatly wearied, arrived at my father's hermitage."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.130.27)

तातादेशात्ततस्तत्र मया स विश्रमः कृतः । पादशौचादिभिः कृत्यैः स्नानाद्यैश्च तथापरैः

tātādeśāttatastatra mayā sa viśramaḥ kṛtaḥ pādaśaucādibhiḥ kṛtyaiḥ snānādyaiśca tathāparaiḥ

"By my father's command I attended to his rest there, through the washing of his feet and other rites, and through bathing and the like."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.130.28)

ततो भुक्तावसानेऽथ निविष्टः मुखसंस्थित । मम मात्रा परिपृष्टो विनयाद्वरवर्णिनि

tato bhuktāvasāne'tha niviṣṭaḥ mukhasaṁsthita mama mātrā paripṛṣṭo vinayādvaravarṇini

"Then, at the end of the meal, seated near her, he humbly asked my mother, O fair one,"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.130.29)

एकेयं कन्यकास्माकं जाते वयसि संस्थिते । संजाता मुनिशार्दूल प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी

ekeyaṁ kanyakāsmākaṁ jāte vayasi saṁsthite saṁjātā muniśārdūla prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī

"'This only daughter of ours, having now reached her proper age, O foremost of sages, is dearer to us than our very lives.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.130.30)

तदस्याः कीर्तय क्षिप्रं सुखोपायं सुखोदयम् । व्रतं वा नियमं वा त्वं होमं वा मन्त्रमेव वा

tadasyāḥ kīrtaya kṣipraṁ sukhopāyaṁ sukhodayam vrataṁ vā niyamaṁ vā tvaṁ homaṁ vā mantrameva vā

"'Therefore quickly declare for her some means of happiness, one that will bring about happiness — whether a vow, an observance, a fire-offering, or even a mantra,'"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.130.31)

येन चीर्णेन भर्त्ता स्यात्सुसौम्यः सद्गुणान्वितः । प्रियंवदो मुखप्रेक्षः परनारीपराङ्मुखः

yena cīrṇena bharttā syātsusaumyaḥ sadguṇānvitaḥ priyaṁvado mukhaprekṣaḥ paranārīparāṅmukhaḥ

"'by observing which her husband might become most gentle, endowed with virtues, sweet of speech, ever gazing upon her face, and averse to other women.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.6.130.32)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स मुनिस्तदनंतरम् । चिरं ध्यात्वा वचः प्राह प्रसन्नवदनस्ततः

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa munistadanaṁtaram ciraṁ dhyātvā vacaḥ prāha prasannavadanastataḥ

"Hearing her words, that sage, after remaining absorbed in thought for a long time, then spoke these words with a pleased countenance."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.130.33)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे पञ्चपिंडा व्यवस्थिता । गौरी गौर्या स्वयं तत्र स्थापिता परमेश्वरी

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre pañcapiṁḍā vyavasthitā gaurī gauryā svayaṁ tatra sthāpitā parameśvarī

"'In the field of Hatakeshvara there is established a goddess named Panchapinda — Gauri herself established that supreme goddess there in her own form.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.6.130.34)

तामेषा वत्सरं यावच्छ्रद्धया परया युता । सदा पूजयतु प्रीत्या तृतीयायां विशेषतः

tāmeṣā vatsaraṁ yāvacchraddhayā parayā yutā sadā pūjayatu prītyā tṛtīyāyāṁ viśeṣataḥ

"'Let this maiden worship her, endowed with the highest devotion, always with love, especially on the third lunar day, for a period of one year.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.6.130.35)

ततो वर्षांतमासाद्य संप्राप्स्यति यथोचितम् । भर्त्तारं नात्र संदेहो यादृग्रूपं यथोचितम्

tato varṣāṁtamāsādya saṁprāpsyati yathocitam bharttāraṁ nātra saṁdeho yādṛgrūpaṁ yathocitam

"'Then, upon the completion of the year, she shall without doubt obtain just such a husband, of fitting form.'"

Verse 36 (skanda.6.130.36)

तत्र पूर्वं गता गौरी परित्यज्य महेश्वरम् । गंगेर्ष्यया महाभागे ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रं सुसिद्धिदम्

tatra pūrvaṁ gatā gaurī parityajya maheśvaram gaṁgerṣyayā mahābhāge jñātvā kṣetraṁ susiddhidam

"Formerly Gauri herself had gone there, forsaking Maheshvara, out of jealousy toward Ganga, knowing that field to be most potent in granting siddhi.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.130.37)

ततः सा चिंतयामास कां देवीं पूजयाम्यहम् । सौभाग्यार्थं यतोऽन्या मां पूजयंति सुरस्त्रियः

tataḥ sā ciṁtayāmāsa kāṁ devīṁ pūjayāmyaham saubhāgyārthaṁ yato'nyā māṁ pūjayaṁti surastriyaḥ

"Then she thought, 'Which goddess shall I worship, since for the sake of marital fortune it is other divine women who worship me?'"

Verse 38 (skanda.6.130.38)

तस्मादहं प्रभक्त्याढ्या स्वयमात्मानमेव च । आत्मनैव कृतोत्साहा पूजयिष्यामि सिद्धये

tasmādahaṁ prabhaktyāḍhyā svayamātmānameva ca ātmanaiva kṛtotsāhā pūjayiṣyāmi siddhaye

"'Therefore, filled with devotion, I myself, by my own effort, shall worship my own self, for the attainment of siddhi.'"

Verse 39 (skanda.6.130.39)

ततः प्राणाग्निहोत्रोत्थैर्मंत्रैराथर्वणैः शुभैः । मृत्पिंडान्पंच संयोज्य ह्येकस्थाने समाहिता

tataḥ prāṇāgnihotrotthairmaṁtrairātharvaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ mṛtpiṁḍānpaṁca saṁyojya hyekasthāne samāhitā

"Thereupon, with the auspicious Atharvan mantras arising from the Pranagnihotra rite, having arranged five clay lumps in one place, with focused mind,

Verse 40 (skanda.6.130.40)

पृथ्वीमपश्च तेजश्च वायुमाकाशमेव च । तेषु संयोजयामास मृत्पिंडेषु निधाय सा

pṛthvīmapaśca tejaśca vāyumākāśameva ca teṣu saṁyojayāmāsa mṛtpiṁḍeṣu nidhāya sā

"she established and united the five great elements — earth, water, fire, air, and space — with those clay lumps.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.130.41)

महद्भूतानि चैतानि पञ्च देवी यतव्रता । ततः संपूजयामास पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः

mahadbhūtāni caitāni pañca devī yatavratā tataḥ saṁpūjayāmāsa puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ

"Thus that goddess, devoted to her vow, thereupon worshipped these five great elements with flowers, incense, and sandal-paste.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.130.42)

अथ तां तत्र विज्ञाय तपःस्थां गिरजां भवः । तन्मंत्राकृष्टचित्तश्च सत्वरं समुपागतः

atha tāṁ tatra vijñāya tapaḥsthāṁ girajāṁ bhavaḥ tanmaṁtrākṛṣṭacittaśca satvaraṁ samupāgataḥ

Meanwhile, learning that mountain-daughter was there, absorbed in austerity, Shiva too, his mind drawn by her very mantra, came there swiftly.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.130.43)

प्रोवाच च प्रहृष्टात्मा कस्मात्त्वमिह चागता । मां मुक्त्वा दोषनिर्मुक्तं मुखप्रेक्षं सदा रतम्

provāca ca prahṛṣṭātmā kasmāttvamiha cāgatā māṁ muktvā doṣanirmuktaṁ mukhaprekṣaṁ sadā ratam

Filled with great joy, he said, "Why have you come here, abandoning me, who am free of all fault and ever intent on gazing at your face alone?"

Verse 44 (skanda.6.130.44)

तस्मादागच्छ कैलासं वृषारूढा मया सह । अथवा कारणं ब्रूहि यदि दोषोऽस्ति मे क्वचित्

tasmādāgaccha kailāsaṁ vṛṣārūḍhā mayā saha athavā kāraṇaṁ brūhi yadi doṣo'sti me kvacit

"Therefore come with me, mounted upon the bull, to Kailasa; or, if there is any fault in me anywhere, tell me the reason."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.130.45)

देव्युवाच । त्वं मूर्ध्ना जाह्नवीं धत्से मूर्तां पदजलात्मिकाम् । तस्मान्नाहं गमिष्यामि मंदिरं ते कथंचन

devyuvāca tvaṁ mūrdhnā jāhnavīṁ dhatse mūrtāṁ padajalātmikām tasmānnāhaṁ gamiṣyāmi maṁdiraṁ te kathaṁcana

The Goddess said: "You bear upon your head the embodied Ganga, who is but water risen from your very own feet; therefore I shall not go to your abode in any way.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.130.46)

यावन्न त्यजसि व्यक्तं मम सापत्न्यतां गताम् । तथा नित्यं प्रणामं त्वं करोषि वृषभध्वज

yāvanna tyajasi vyaktaṁ mama sāpatnyatāṁ gatām tathā nityaṁ praṇāmaṁ tvaṁ karoṣi vṛṣabhadhvaja

"Until you clearly abandon her, who has become a rival wife to me, and yet, O bull-bannered one, you continue to bow to her every day —

Verse 47 (skanda.6.130.47)

प्रत्यक्षमपि मे नित्यं संध्यायाश्च न लज्जसे । तस्मादेतत्परित्यज्य कर्म लज्जाकरं परम्

pratyakṣamapi me nityaṁ saṁdhyāyāśca na lajjase tasmādetatparityajya karma lajjākaraṁ param

you feel no shame even in performing your daily twilight rites with her openly before me; therefore, abandoning this most shameful conduct,

Verse 48 (skanda.6.130.48)

आकारयसि मां देव तत्स्याद्यदि मतं मम । अन्यथाहं न यास्यामि तव हर्म्ये कथंचन । एतच्छ्रुत्वा यदिष्टं ते कुरुष्व वृषभध्वज

ākārayasi māṁ deva tatsyādyadi mataṁ mama anyathāhaṁ na yāsyāmi tava harmye kathaṁcana etacchrutvā yadiṣṭaṁ te kuruṣva vṛṣabhadhvaja

O god, only if this word of mine is acceptable to you should you summon me; otherwise I shall not go to your palace in any way." Having heard this, O bull-bannered one, do as you see fit.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.130.49)

देव उवाच । नाहं सौख्येन तां गंगां धारयामि सुरेश्वरि

deva uvāca nāhaṁ saukhyena tāṁ gaṁgāṁ dhārayāmi sureśvari

The god said: "O queen of the gods, it is not for my own pleasure or by my own desire that I bear that Ganga."

Verse 50 (skanda.6.130.50)

भगीरथेन भूपेन प्रार्थितो ज्ञाति कारणात् । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु तपस्तप्त्वा सुदारुणम्

bhagīrathena bhūpena prārthito jñāti kāraṇāt divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu tapastaptvā sudāruṇam

"King Bhagiratha, for the sake of the redemption of his own lineage, made this entreaty to me, and thereafter performed the most terrible austerity for a thousand divine years,"

Verse 51 (skanda.6.130.51)

येन नो याति पातालं गंगा स्वर्गपरिच्युता । तस्मात्त्वं देव मद्वाक्यात्स्वमूर्ध्ना वह जाह्नवीम्

yena no yāti pātālaṁ gaṁgā svargaparicyutā tasmāttvaṁ deva madvākyātsvamūrdhnā vaha jāhnavīm

"so that Ganga, fallen from heaven, should not go crashing down to the netherworld; therefore, O Goddess, know from my own word that I bear the Jahnavi upon my head,"

Verse 52 (skanda.6.130.52)

मया तस्य प्रतिज्ञातं धारयिष्याम्यसंशयम् । आकाशाज्जाह्नवीवेगं पतंतं धरणीतले

mayā tasya pratijñātaṁ dhārayiṣyāmyasaṁśayam ākāśājjāhnavīvegaṁ pataṁtaṁ dharaṇītale

"since I promised him that I would without doubt hold her back — so that the swift, falling stream of the Jahnavi, plunging from the sky to the surface of the earth,"

Verse 53 (skanda.6.130.53)

नो चेद्व्रजेत पातालं यदत्र विषये स्थितम् । ततोऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि तदिहैकमनाः शृणु

no cedvrajeta pātālaṁ yadatra viṣaye sthitam tato'haṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi tadihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu

"should not go down to the netherworld — this is the true reason underlying this matter. Now, therefore, I shall tell you that reason with a focused mind; listen.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.130.54)

एषा गंगा वरारोहे मम मूर्ध्नो विनिर्गता । हिमवंतं नगं भित्त्वा द्विधा जाता ततः परम्

eṣā gaṁgā varārohe mama mūrdhno vinirgatā himavaṁtaṁ nagaṁ bhittvā dvidhā jātā tataḥ param

"O most beautiful one, this Ganga has emerged from my very own head; having cleft through Mount Himavan, she thereafter divided into two branches.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.130.55)

ततः सिंध्वभिधाना सा पश्चिमं सागरं गता । शतानि नव संगृह्य नदीनां परमेश्वरि

tataḥ siṁdhvabhidhānā sā paścimaṁ sāgaraṁ gatā śatāni nava saṁgṛhya nadīnāṁ parameśvari

"Thereafter, O supreme goddess, bearing the name Sindhu, gathering nine hundred rivers with her, she went toward the western ocean.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.130.56)

तथा गंगाभिधाना च सैव प्राक्सागरं गता । तावतीश्च समादाय नदीः पर्वतनन्दिनि

tathā gaṁgābhidhānā ca saiva prāksāgaraṁ gatā tāvatīśca samādāya nadīḥ parvatanandini

"O daughter of the mountain, likewise, that same one, bearing the name Ganga, taking with her just as many rivers, went toward the eastern ocean.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.130.57)

एवमष्टादशैतानि नदीनां पर्वतात्मजे । शतानि सागरे यांति तेन नित्यं स तिष्ठति

evamaṣṭādaśaitāni nadīnāṁ parvatātmaje śatāni sāgare yāṁti tena nityaṁ sa tiṣṭhati

"Thus, O daughter of the mountain, eighteen hundred rivers go into the ocean; for this very reason it remains ever full through them alone.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.130.58)

सततं शोष्यमाणोऽपि वाडवेन दिवानिशम् । समुद्रसलिलं मेघाः समादाय ततः परम्

satataṁ śoṣyamāṇo'pi vāḍavena divāniśam samudrasalilaṁ meghāḥ samādāya tataḥ param

"Though continuously dried, day and night, by the submarine fire, the clouds, having drawn up that ocean's water, then,"

Verse 59 (skanda.6.130.59)

मर्त्यलोके प्रवर्षंति ततः सस्यं प्रजायते । सस्येन जीवते लोकः प्रभवन्ति मखास्तथा । मखांशेन सुराः सर्वे तृप्तिं यांति ततः परम्

martyaloke pravarṣaṁti tataḥ sasyaṁ prajāyate sasyena jīvate lokaḥ prabhavanti makhāstathā makhāṁśena surāḥ sarve tṛptiṁ yāṁti tataḥ param

"cause it to rain in the mortal world, from which grain is produced; by grain the world lives, and from it sacrifices too arise; and by the share of sacrifice, all the gods attain satisfaction."

Verse 60 (skanda.6.130.60)

एतस्मात्कारणान्मूर्ध्नि देवि गंगां दधाम्यहम् । न स्नेहात्कामतो नैव जगद्येन प्रवर्तते

etasmātkāraṇānmūrdhni devi gaṁgāṁ dadhāmyaham na snehātkāmato naiva jagadyena pravartate

"For this very reason, O Goddess, I bear Ganga upon my head — neither out of affection nor out of desire; it is by this that this world continues to function."

Verse 61 (skanda.6.130.61)

अथवा सन्त्यजाम्येनां यदि मूर्ध्नः कथंचन । तद्दूरं वेगतो भित्त्वा पृथ्वीं याति रसातलम्

athavā santyajāmyenāṁ yadi mūrdhnaḥ kathaṁcana taddūraṁ vegato bhittvā pṛthvīṁ yāti rasātalam

"But if I were, by any means, to release her from my head, she would swiftly cleave through the earth to a great depth and go down to the netherworld.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.130.62)

ततः शोषं व्रजेदाशु समुद्रः सरितां पतिः । और्वेण पीयमानोऽत्र ततो वृष्टिर्न जायते । वृष्ट्यभावाज्जगन्नाशः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

tataḥ śoṣaṁ vrajedāśu samudraḥ saritāṁ patiḥ aurveṇa pīyamāno'tra tato vṛṣṭirna jāyate vṛṣṭyabhāvājjagannāśaḥ satyametanmayoditam

"Thereafter the ocean, lord of rivers, being drunk here by Aurva (Agastya), would quickly dry up; then no rain would arise, and, in the absence of rain, the entire world would perish — this I have spoken truly.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.130.63)

एवं गंगाकृते प्रोक्तं मया तव सुरेश्वरि । शृणु सन्ध्याकृतेऽन्यच्च येन तां प्रणमाम्यहम्

evaṁ gaṁgākṛte proktaṁ mayā tava sureśvari śṛṇu sandhyākṛte'nyacca yena tāṁ praṇamāmyaham

"Thus, O queen of the gods, I have told you all this concerning Ganga; now hear another matter concerning the twilight-goddess (Sandhya) too, the reason for which I bow to her as well.