Andhaka's Penance on the Trident and the Grace of Bhairava

Verse 1 (skanda.6.151.1)

सूत उवाच। अन्धकोऽपि परां विद्यां ज्ञात्वा शुक्रार्जितां तदा ॥ केलीश्वर्याः प्रसादं च भक्तिजं बलवृद्धिदम्

sūta uvāca andhako'pi parāṁ vidyāṁ jñātvā śukrārjitāṁ tadā kelīśvaryāḥ prasādaṁ ca bhaktijaṁ balavṛddhidam

Suta said: Then Andhaka too, having learned the supreme knowledge won from Shukra, and having received the strength-increasing grace born of devotion to Keleeshvari,

Verse 2 (skanda.6.151.2)

अवध्यतामात्मनश्च पितामहवरोद्भवम् ॥ महेश्वरं समुद्दिश्य कोपं चक्रे ततः परम्

avadhyatāmātmanaśca pitāmahavarodbhavam maheśvaraṁ samuddiśya kopaṁ cakre tataḥ param

and his own invulnerability granted by the boon of grandfather Brahma, he thereupon turned great fury upon Maheshvara.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.151.3)

दूतं च प्रेषयामास कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति ॥ गच्छ दूत हरं ब्रूहि मम वाक्येन सांप्रतम्

dūtaṁ ca preṣayāmāsa kailāsaṁ parvataṁ prati gaccha dūta haraṁ brūhi mama vākyena sāṁpratam

He sent a messenger toward Mount Kailasa: "Go, O messenger, and now speak to Hara in my words —

Verse 4 (skanda.6.151.4)

शक्रमेनं परित्यज्य सुखं तिष्ठात्र पर्वते ॥ नो चेद्द्रुतं समागत्य सकैलासं सभार्यकम्

śakramenaṁ parityajya sukhaṁ tiṣṭhātra parvate no ceddrutaṁ samāgatya sakailāsaṁ sabhāryakam

'Let go of this Indra and stay contentedly on this mountain — otherwise, coming swiftly, together with Kailasa and your own wife,

Verse 5 (skanda.6.151.5)

सगणं च रणे हत्वा सुखी स्थास्यामि नंदने ॥ त्वामहं नाशयिष्यामि सत्येनात्मानमालभे

sagaṇaṁ ca raṇe hatvā sukhī sthāsyāmi naṁdane tvāmahaṁ nāśayiṣyāmi satyenātmānamālabhe

and your hosts, I shall slay you all in battle and dwell happily in Nandana. I shall destroy you — this I swear upon truth.'"

Verse 6 (skanda.6.151.6)

एवमुक्तः स दैत्येन दूतो गत्वा द्रुतं ततः ॥ प्रोवाच शंकरं वाक्यैः परुषैः स विशेषतः

evamuktaḥ sa daityena dūto gatvā drutaṁ tataḥ provāca śaṁkaraṁ vākyaiḥ paruṣaiḥ sa viśeṣataḥ

Thus commanded by the daitya, the messenger went at once and spoke to Shankara in especially harsh words.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.151.7)

ततः कोपपरीतात्मा भगवान्वृषभध्वजः ॥ गणान्संप्रेषयामास वधार्थं तस्य दुर्मतेः

tataḥ kopaparītātmā bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ gaṇānsaṁpreṣayāmāsa vadhārthaṁ tasya durmateḥ

Then the bull-bannered Lord, his mind overwhelmed with wrath, dispatched his ganas to slay that evil-minded one.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.151.8)

वीरभद्रं महाकालं नंदिं हस्तिमुखं तथा ॥ अघोरं घोरनादं च घोरघंटं महाबलम्

vīrabhadraṁ mahākālaṁ naṁdiṁ hastimukhaṁ tathā aghoraṁ ghoranādaṁ ca ghoraghaṁṭaṁ mahābalam

Virabhadra, Mahakala, Nandi, Hastimukha, Aghora, Ghoranada, and the mighty Ghoraghanta —

Verse 9 (skanda.6.151.9)

एतेषामनुगाश्चान्ये कोटिरेका पृथक्पृथक्॥ सर्वान्संप्रेषयामास वधार्थं तस्य दुर्मतेः

eteṣāmanugāścānye koṭirekā pṛthakpṛthak sarvānsaṁpreṣayāmāsa vadhārthaṁ tasya durmateḥ

and along with each of them a separate crore of followers too, all of these he sent forth to destroy that evil-minded one.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.151.10)

अथ संप्रेषितास्तेन गणास्ते विकृताननाः ॥ हर्षेण महताविष्टा गर्जमाना यथा घनाः

atha saṁpreṣitāstena gaṇāste vikṛtānanāḥ harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭā garjamānā yathā ghanāḥ

Then those grim-faced ganas, sent forth by him, filled with great delight, roared like storm clouds.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.151.11)

धृतायुधा गताः सर्वे युद्धार्थं यत्र सा पुरी ॥ शक्रस्यासादिता तेन दानवेन बलीयसा

dhṛtāyudhā gatāḥ sarve yuddhārthaṁ yatra sā purī śakrasyāsāditā tena dānavena balīyasā

Bearing their weapons, they all went to fight at the place where Indra's city had been seized by that mighty danava.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.151.12)

अथ प्राप्तान्गणान्दृष्ट्वा दानवास्ते धृतायुधाः ॥ निश्चक्रमुर्वै सहसा युद्धार्थमतिगर्विताः

atha prāptāngaṇāndṛṣṭvā dānavāste dhṛtāyudhāḥ niścakramurvai sahasā yuddhārthamatigarvitāḥ

Then, seeing the ganas arrive, those weapon-bearing danavas, filled with pride, rushed out at once for battle.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.151.13)

ततः समभवद्युद्धं गणानां दानवैः सह ॥ परस्परं महारौद्रं मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्

tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ gaṇānāṁ dānavaiḥ saha parasparaṁ mahāraudraṁ mṛtyuṁ kṛtvā nivartanam

Then a most terrible battle broke out between the ganas and the danavas, both sides fighting with death itself as their only retreat.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.151.14)

ततो हरगणाः सर्वे दानवैस्तै रणाजिरे ॥ जिता जग्मुर्दिशो भीता हरवीक्षणतत्पराः

tato haragaṇāḥ sarve dānavaistai raṇājire jitā jagmurdiśo bhītā haravīkṣaṇatatparāḥ

Then, defeated by those danavas on the battlefield, all of Hara's ganas fled in terror in every direction, longing only for the sight of Hara.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.151.15)

हरोऽपि तान्गणान्भग्नान्दृष्ट्वा कोपाद्विनिर्ययौ ॥ हरं दृष्ट्वा ततो दैत्या दुद्द्रुवुस्ते दिशो दश

haro'pi tāngaṇānbhagnāndṛṣṭvā kopādviniryayau haraṁ dṛṣṭvā tato daityā duddruvuste diśo daśa

Seeing his ganas routed, Hara himself came forth in anger; and at the sight of Hara, those daityas fled in all ten directions.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.151.16)

अन्धकोऽपि हरं दृष्ट्वा युद्धार्थं संमुखो ययौ । ततो युद्धं समभवदंधकस्य हरेण तु ॥ वृत्रवासवयोः पूर्वं यथा युद्धमभून्महत्

andhako'pi haraṁ dṛṣṭvā yuddhārthaṁ saṁmukho yayau tato yuddhaṁ samabhavadaṁdhakasya hareṇa tu vṛtravāsavayoḥ pūrvaṁ yathā yuddhamabhūnmahat

But Andhaka, seeing Hara, advanced to face him in battle, and a great fight then broke out between Andhaka and Hara — as great as the battle once fought long ago between Vritra and Vasava (Indra).

Verse 17 (skanda.6.151.17)

चक्रनालीकनाराचैस्तोमरैः खड्गमुद्गरैः॥ एवं न शक्यते हंतुं दानवो विविधायुधैः

cakranālīkanārācaistomaraiḥ khaḍgamudgaraiḥ evaṁ na śakyate haṁtuṁ dānavo vividhāyudhaiḥ

With discus, and arrows of various kinds, with lances, swords, and maces — even with such varied weapons the danava could not be slain.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.151.18)

अस्त्रयुद्धं परित्यज्य बाहु युद्धमुपागतौ ॥ करं करेण संगृह्य मुष्टिप्रहरणौ तदा

astrayuddhaṁ parityajya bāhu yuddhamupāgatau karaṁ kareṇa saṁgṛhya muṣṭipraharaṇau tadā

Abandoning the fight of weapons, the two then took to a bare-armed struggle, grasping hand to hand and striking each other with their fists.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.151.19)

दानवेनाथ देवेशो बंधेनाक्रम्य पीडितः । निष्पंदभावमापन्नस्ततो मूर्च्छामुपागतः

dānavenātha deveśo baṁdhenākramya pīḍitaḥ niṣpaṁdabhāvamāpannastato mūrcchāmupāgataḥ

Then the danava seized the Lord of the gods in a hold and overpowered him, and he, becoming motionless, sank into a swoon.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.151.20)

मूर्छागतं तु तज्ज्ञात्वा ह्यन्धको निर्ययौ गृहात् ॥ तावत्स्थाणुः क्षणाल्लब्ध्वा चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः

mūrchāgataṁ tu tajjñātvā hyandhako niryayau gṛhāt tāvatsthāṇuḥ kṣaṇāllabdhvā cetanāmāttakārmukaḥ

Knowing him to have fainted, Andhaka withdrew toward his dwelling; but in that very moment Sthanu (Shiva) regained consciousness and took up his bow.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.151.21)

आयसीं लकुटीं गृह्य प्रभुर्भारसहसि काम् ॥ दानवेन्द्रं ततः प्राप्य ताडयामास मूर्धनि

āyasīṁ lakuṭīṁ gṛhya prabhurbhārasahasi kām dānavendraṁ tataḥ prāpya tāḍayāmāsa mūrdhani

Taking up his iron mace, able to bear the heaviest blow, the Lord came upon the lord of danavas and struck him upon the head.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.151.22)

सोऽपि खड्गेन देवेशं ताडयामास वेगतः ॥ अथ देवोऽपि सस्मार कौबेरास्त्रं महाहवे

so'pi khaḍgena deveśaṁ tāḍayāmāsa vegataḥ atha devo'pi sasmāra kauberāstraṁ mahāhave

He in turn struck the Lord of the gods swiftly with his sword; then in that great battle the god called to mind the Kaubera weapon.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.151.23)

अस्त्रेण तेन हृदये ताडयामास दानवम् ॥ ततः स ताडितस्तेन रुधिरोद्गारमुद्वमन्

astreṇa tena hṛdaye tāḍayāmāsa dānavam tataḥ sa tāḍitastena rudhirodgāramudvaman

With that weapon he struck the danava upon the heart; struck thus, Andhaka began to vomit forth streams of blood.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.151.24)

पतितोऽधोमुखो भूत्वा ततः शूलेन भेदितः॥ शूलाग्रसंस्थितः पापश्चक्रवद्भ्रमते ततः

patito'dhomukho bhūtvā tataḥ śūlena bheditaḥ śūlāgrasaṁsthitaḥ pāpaścakravadbhramate tataḥ

He fell face-down, and was then pierced through by the trident; impaled on the point of the trident, that sinner began to whirl round like a wheel.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.151.25)

अन्धकोऽपि तदात्मानं तथावस्थमवेक्ष्य च ॥ ततो वाग्भिः सुपुष्टाभिरस्तौद्देवं महेश्वरम्

andhako'pi tadātmānaṁ tathāvasthamavekṣya ca tato vāgbhiḥ supuṣṭābhirastauddevaṁ maheśvaram

Andhaka, seeing himself reduced to that state, then began to praise the god Maheshvara with well-formed words of hymn.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.151.26)

अन्धक उवाच। नमस्ते जगतां धात्रे शर्वाय त्रिगुणात्मने ॥ वृषभासनसंस्थाय शशांककृतभूषण

andhaka uvāca namaste jagatāṁ dhātre śarvāya triguṇātmane vṛṣabhāsanasaṁsthāya śaśāṁkakṛtabhūṣaṇa

Andhaka said: Salutations to you, the sustainer of the worlds, to Sharva who is the very self of the three gunas; salutations to you who are seated upon the bull, adorned with the crescent moon.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.151.27)

नमः खट्वांगहस्ताय नमः शूलधराय च ॥ नमो डमरुकोदण्डकपालानलधारिणे

namaḥ khaṭvāṁgahastāya namaḥ śūladharāya ca namo ḍamarukodaṇḍakapālānaladhāriṇe

Salutations to you who bear the khatvanga in hand, salutations to the trident-bearer; salutations to you who hold the damaru, the staff, the skull, and fire.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.151.28)

स्मरदेहविनाशाय मूर्त्यष्टकमयात्मने ॥ नमः स्वरूपदेहाय ह्यरूपबहुरू पिणे

smaradehavināśāya mūrtyaṣṭakamayātmane namaḥ svarūpadehāya hyarūpabahurū piṇe

Salutations to you who destroyed the body of Smara (Kama), whose self pervades the eight forms; salutations to you who possess your own true body, formless yet manifest in many forms.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.151.29)

उत्तमांगविनाशाय विरिंचेः सृष्टिकारिणे ॥ स्मशानवासिने नित्यं नमो भैरवरूपिणे

uttamāṁgavināśāya viriṁceḥ sṛṣṭikāriṇe smaśānavāsine nityaṁ namo bhairavarūpiṇe

Salutations to you who severed the head of Virinchi (Brahma), the maker of creation; salutations to you who eternally dwell in the cremation ground in your Bhairava form.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.151.30)

सर्वगः सर्वकर्ता च त्वं हर्ता नान्य एव हि ॥ त्वं भूमिस्त्वं रजश्चैव त्वं ज्योतिस्त्वं तमस्तथा

sarvagaḥ sarvakartā ca tvaṁ hartā nānya eva hi tvaṁ bhūmistvaṁ rajaścaiva tvaṁ jyotistvaṁ tamastathā

You are all-pervading, you alone are the maker and destroyer of all — none other. You are the earth, you are rajas, you are light, and you too are darkness.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.151.31)

त्वं वपुः सर्वभूतानां जीवभूतो महेश्वर ॥ अस्तौदेवं दानवेन्द्रो देवशूलाग्र संस्थितः

tvaṁ vapuḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ jīvabhūto maheśvara astaudevaṁ dānavendro devaśūlāgra saṁsthitaḥ

O Maheshvara, you are the very body of all beings, dwelling in them as their life. Thus, impaled upon the point of the god's trident, the lord of danavas praised the god.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.151.32)

सूत उवाच। एवं तस्य स्तुतिं श्रुत्वा परितुष्टो महेश्वरः ॥ ततः प्रोवाच तं हर्षाच्छूलाग्रस्थं दनूत्तमम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ tasya stutiṁ śrutvā parituṣṭo maheśvaraḥ tataḥ provāca taṁ harṣācchūlāgrasthaṁ danūttamam

Suta said: Hearing this praise, Maheshvara was greatly pleased, and joyfully spoke to that foremost son of Danu impaled upon the tip of his trident.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.151.33)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। नेदं वीरव्रतं दैत्य यच्छत्रुकरपीडनात् ॥ प्रोच्यन्ते सामवाक्यानि विशेषाद्दैत्यजन्मना

śrībhagavānuvāca nedaṁ vīravrataṁ daitya yacchatrukarapīḍanāt procyante sāmavākyāni viśeṣāddaityajanmanā

The Blessed Lord said: O daitya, it is no mark of a hero's vow that, though tormented by the enemy's hand, one born in the daitya lineage should now speak such conciliatory words.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.151.34)

अन्धक उवाच। निर्विण्णोऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ त्रिशूलाऽग्रं समाश्रितः ॥ तस्मात्सूदय मां येन द्रुतं स्यान्मे व्यथाक्षयः

andhaka uvāca nirviṇṇo'smi suraśreṣṭha triśūlā'graṁ samāśritaḥ tasmātsūdaya māṁ yena drutaṁ syānme vyathākṣayaḥ

Andhaka said: O foremost of gods, impaled upon the point of your trident I am utterly wearied; therefore slay me, so that my agony may quickly come to an end.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.151.35)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। न तेऽस्ति मरणं दैत्य कथंचिच्चिंतितं मया ॥ तेनेत्थं विधृतं व्योम्नि भित्त्वा शूलेन वक्षसि

śrībhagavānuvāca na te'sti maraṇaṁ daitya kathaṁcicciṁtitaṁ mayā tenetthaṁ vidhṛtaṁ vyomni bhittvā śūlena vakṣasi

The Blessed Lord said: O daitya, I have in no way intended death for you; that is why, having pierced your breast with the trident, I hold you thus suspended in the sky.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.151.36)

तस्मात्त्वं गणतां गच्छ सांप्रतं पापवर्जितः ॥ त्यक्त्वा दानवजं भावं श्रद्धया परया युतः

tasmāttvaṁ gaṇatāṁ gaccha sāṁprataṁ pāpavarjitaḥ tyaktvā dānavajaṁ bhāvaṁ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ

Therefore, now freed from sin, abandoning your demon nature, and filled with the deepest devotion, become one of my ganas.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.151.37)

अन्धक उवाच। गतो मे दानवो भावः सांप्रतं तव किंकरः ॥ भविष्यामि न सन्देहः सत्येनात्मानमालभे

andhaka uvāca gato me dānavo bhāvaḥ sāṁprataṁ tava kiṁkaraḥ bhaviṣyāmi na sandehaḥ satyenātmānamālabhe

Andhaka said: My demon nature has now departed; I shall become your servant — of this there is no doubt, I swear it upon truth.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.151.38)

शंकर उवाच। परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते वत्स ब्रूहि यत्तेऽभिवांछितम् ॥ प्रार्थयस्व प्रयच्छामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

śaṁkara uvāca parituṣṭo'smi te vatsa brūhi yatte'bhivāṁchitam prārthayasva prayacchāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

Shankara said: I am pleased with you, my child; tell me what you desire. Ask, and I shall grant it, however hard it may be to obtain.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.151.39)

अन्धक उवाच। अनेनैव तु रूपेण शृलाग्रस्थितमत्तनुम् ॥ यो मर्त्योर्च्चां प्रकृत्वा ते स्थापयिष्यति भूतले

andhaka uvāca anenaiva tu rūpeṇa śṛlāgrasthitamattanum yo martyorccāṁ prakṛtvā te sthāpayiṣyati bhūtale

Andhaka said: Whatever mortal shall fashion an image of you in this very form — with my body impaled upon the point of the trident — and establish it upon the earth,

Verse 40 (skanda.6.151.40)

तस्य मोक्षस्त्वया देयो मद्वाक्यात्सुरसत्तम ॥ तथेत्युक्त्वा महेशस्तं शूलाग्रात्प्रमुमोच ह ॥ अस्थिशेषं कृशांगं च चामुण्डासदृशं द्विजाः

tasya mokṣastvayā deyo madvākyātsurasattama tathetyuktvā maheśastaṁ śūlāgrātpramumoca ha asthiśeṣaṁ kṛśāṁgaṁ ca cāmuṇḍāsadṛśaṁ dvijāḥ

O foremost of gods — at my word — grant that man liberation. Saying "so be it," Mahesha then released him from the point of the trident — reduced now to bones alone, emaciated, resembling Chamunda in form.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.151.41)

ततः स गणतां प्राप्तो गीतं चक्रे मनोहरम् ॥ पुरतो देवदेवस्य पार्वत्याश्च विशेषतः

tataḥ sa gaṇatāṁ prāpto gītaṁ cakre manoharam purato devadevasya pārvatyāśca viśeṣataḥ

Then, having attained the rank of a gana, he sang a most enchanting song before the god of gods and, especially, before Parvati.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.151.42)

भृंगवद्रटनं यस्मात्तस्य श्रोत्रसुखा वहम् ॥ भृंगीरिटि इति प्रोक्तस्ततः स त्रिपुरारिणा

bhṛṁgavadraṭanaṁ yasmāttasya śrotrasukhā vaham bhṛṁgīriṭi iti proktastataḥ sa tripurāriṇā

Because his humming was as pleasing to the ear as a bee's, the Slayer of Tripura thereafter named him "Bhringiriti."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.151.43)

एवं स गणतां प्राप्तो देवदेवस्य शूलिनः ॥ विश्वास्यः सर्वकृत्येषु तत्परं समपद्यत

evaṁ sa gaṇatāṁ prāpto devadevasya śūlinaḥ viśvāsyaḥ sarvakṛtyeṣu tatparaṁ samapadyata

Thus, having attained the rank of a gana of the trident-bearing god of gods, he became trusted in all his tasks and wholly devoted to him.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.151.44)

ततःप्रभृति लोकेऽत्र देवदेवो महेश्वरः ॥ तादृशेनैव रूपेण स्थाप्यते भूतले जनैः

tataḥprabhṛti loke'tra devadevo maheśvaraḥ tādṛśenaiva rūpeṇa sthāpyate bhūtale janaiḥ

From that time onward in this world, the god of gods Maheshvara is established upon the earth by people precisely in that same (Bhairava) form.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.151.45)

प्राप्यतेऽत्र परा सिद्धिस्तत्प्रसादादलौ किकी ॥ कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य राज्याद्भ्रष्टो महीपतिः

prāpyate'tra parā siddhistatprasādādalau kikī kasyacittvatha kālasya rājyādbhraṣṭo mahīpatiḥ

By his grace, supreme, more-than-worldly attainment is obtained here. Now, at a certain time, a king was cast down from his kingdom.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.151.46)

सुरथाख्यः प्रसिद्धोऽत्र सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः ॥ ततो वसिष्ठमासाद्य स चात्मीयं पुरो हितम् ॥ प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः

surathākhyaḥ prasiddho'tra sūryavaṁśasamudbhavaḥ tato vasiṣṭhamāsādya sa cātmīyaṁ puro hitam provāca praṇato bhūtvā bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ

He was known by the name Suratha, born of the solar dynasty. Then, approaching his own family priest Vasishtha, he bowed before him and, his eyes brimming with tears, spoke.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.151.47)

त्वया नाथेन मे ब्रह्मन्संस्थितेनाऽपि शत्रुभिः ॥ बलाच्च यद्धृतं राज्यं मन्द भाग्यस्य सांप्रतम्

tvayā nāthena me brahmansaṁsthitenā'pi śatrubhiḥ balācca yaddhṛtaṁ rājyaṁ manda bhāgyasya sāṁpratam

O Brahmin, even while you, my lord and guide, were present, my enemies have forcibly seized my kingdom — such now is the fate of one so unfortunate as I.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.151.48)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे येन मे राज्यसंस्थितिः ॥ भूयोऽपि त्वत्प्रसादेन नान्या मे विद्यते गतिः

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me yena me rājyasaṁsthitiḥ bhūyo'pi tvatprasādena nānyā me vidyate gatiḥ

Therefore show me your grace, that my kingdom may again be firmly established; apart from your grace, I have no other recourse.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.151.49)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। यद्येवं ते महाराज मद्वाक्यात्सत्वरं व्रज ॥ हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca yadyevaṁ te mahārāja madvākyātsatvaraṁ vraja hāṭakeśvarajaṁ kṣetraṁ sarvasiddhipradāyakam

Vasishtha said: If this is so, O great king, then at my word go swiftly to the field of Hatakeshvara, which bestows every attainment.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.151.50)

तत्र भैरवरूपेण स्थापयित्वा महेश्वरम् ॥ भुजोद्यतोग्रशूलाग्रविद्धान्धककलेवरम्

tatra bhairavarūpeṇa sthāpayitvā maheśvaram bhujodyatograśūlāgraviddhāndhakakalevaram

There, having established Maheshvara in his Bhairava form — with Andhaka's body pierced upon the point of the fierce trident held aloft in his arm —

Verse 51 (skanda.6.151.51)

नारसिंहेन मंत्रेण ततः पूजय तं नृप ॥ रक्तपुष्पैस्तथा धूपै रक्तैश्चैवानुलेपनैः

nārasiṁhena maṁtreṇa tataḥ pūjaya taṁ nṛpa raktapuṣpaistathā dhūpai raktaiścaivānulepanaiḥ

O king, then worship him with the Narasimha mantra, and with red flowers, red incense, and red unguents.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.151.52)

ततः सद्वीर्य मासाद्य तेजोवीर्यसमन्वितः ॥ हनिष्यस्यखिलाञ्छत्रूंस्तत्प्रसादादसंशयम्

tataḥ sadvīrya māsādya tejovīryasamanvitaḥ haniṣyasyakhilāñchatrūṁstatprasādādasaṁśayam

Then, gaining true valor and filled with vigor and strength, by his grace you shall without doubt destroy all your enemies.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.151.53)

परं शौचसमेतेन संपूज्यो भगवांस्त्वया ॥ अन्यथा प्राप्स्यसे विघ्नान्सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

paraṁ śaucasametena saṁpūjyo bhagavāṁstvayā anyathā prāpsyase vighnānsatyametanmayoditam

But the Lord must be worshipped by you only with the utmost purity — otherwise you will meet with obstacles; this I tell you truly.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.151.54)

अथ तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स राजा सत्वरं ययौ ॥ तत्र क्षेत्रे ततो देवं स्थापयामास भैरवम्

atha tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sa rājā satvaraṁ yayau tatra kṣetre tato devaṁ sthāpayāmāsa bhairavam

Then, hearing his words, the king departed swiftly, and in that field he established the god Bhairava.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.151.55)

ततः संपूजयामास नारसिंहेन भक्तितः ॥ मन्त्रेण प्रयतो भूत्वा ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः

tataḥ saṁpūjayāmāsa nārasiṁhena bhaktitaḥ mantreṇa prayato bhūtvā brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ

Thereafter, having purified himself and remaining devoted to celibacy, he worshipped him devotedly with the Narasimha mantra.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.151.56)

ततो दशसहस्रांते तस्य मंत्रस्य संख्यया ॥ भैरवस्तुष्टिमापन्नः प्रोवा च तदनन्तरम्

tato daśasahasrāṁte tasya maṁtrasya saṁkhyayā bhairavastuṣṭimāpannaḥ provā ca tadanantaram

Then, when the count of that mantra reached ten thousand, Bhairava became pleased and thereafter spoke.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.151.57)

श्रीभैरव उवाच। परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते राजन्मंत्रेणानेन पूजितः ॥ तस्मात्प्रार्थय यच्चेष्टं येन सर्वं ददाम्यहम्

śrībhairava uvāca parituṣṭo'smi te rājanmaṁtreṇānena pūjitaḥ tasmātprārthaya yacceṣṭaṁ yena sarvaṁ dadāmyaham

Shri Bhairava said: O king, worshipped with this mantra, I am well pleased with you; therefore ask for whatever you desire, and I shall grant it all.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.151.58)

सुरथ उवाच। शत्रुभिर्मे हृतं राज्यं त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वर ॥ तन्मे भवतु भूयोऽपि शत्रुभिः परिवर्ज्जितम्

suratha uvāca śatrubhirme hṛtaṁ rājyaṁ tvatprasādātsureśvara tanme bhavatu bhūyo'pi śatrubhiḥ parivarjjitam

Suratha said: O lord of the gods, by your grace may my kingdom, seized by my enemies, become mine once more, and free of enemies.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.151.59)

अन्योऽपि यः पुमानित्थं त्वामिहागत्य पूजयेत् ॥ अनेनैव तु मंत्रेण तस्य सिद्धिस्त्वया विभो

anyo'pi yaḥ pumānitthaṁ tvāmihāgatya pūjayet anenaiva tu maṁtreṇa tasya siddhistvayā vibho

O mighty one, and any other man who likewise comes here and worships you with this very mantra — let him too be granted success by you.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.151.60)

देया देव सहस्रांते यथा मम सुरेश्वर ॥ तथेति तं प्रतिज्ञाय गतश्चादर्शनं हरः

deyā deva sahasrāṁte yathā mama sureśvara tatheti taṁ pratijñāya gataścādarśanaṁ haraḥ

O god, O lord of the gods, just as it was granted to me, so let it be granted to him upon the completion of a thousand recitations. Saying "so be it," and having given him this promise, Hara vanished from sight.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.151.61)

सुरथोऽपि निजं राज्यं प्राप हत्वा रणे रिपून्

suratho'pi nijaṁ rājyaṁ prāpa hatvā raṇe ripūn

And Suratha too, having slain his enemies in battle, regained his own kingdom.