The Origin of the Jalashayin Legend: Andhaka's Insolent Defiance of Shankara's Command

Verse 1 (skanda.6.228.1)

सूत उवाच तथान्यच्च बिलद्वारि शयनार्थे व्यवस्थितम् दृष्ट्वा प्रमुच्यते पापी देवं च जलशायिनम्

sūta uvāca tathānyacca biladvāri śayanārthe vyavasthitam dṛṣṭvā pramucyate pāpī devaṁ ca jalaśāyinam

Suta said: Moreover, having seen that other form of the reclining Lord — the god who lies upon the waters — established at the mouth of the cave for repose, even the sinner is set free.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.228.2)

स्नात्वा तस्मिन्बिलद्वारे पवित्रे लोकसंश्रये यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या शेषपर्यंकशायिनम् आजन्ममरणात्पापात्स च मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

snātvā tasminbiladvāre pavitre lokasaṁśraye yastaṁ pūjayate bhaktyā śeṣaparyaṁkaśāyinam ājanmamaraṇātpāpātsa ca muktimavāpnuyāt

Having bathed at that sacred cave-door, the refuge of the world, whoever worships with devotion Him who reclines upon the couch of Shesha obtains release from every sin accumulated from birth to death.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.228.3)

चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्सुप्रसुप्तं सुरेश्वरम् संपूजयति यो भक्त्या न स भूयोऽत्र जायते

caturo vārṣikānmāsānsuprasuptaṁ sureśvaram saṁpūjayati yo bhaktyā na sa bhūyo'tra jāyate

Whoever worships with devotion, for the four months of the rains, the lord of the gods lying deep in sleep, is never born again in this world.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.228.4)

तत्र पूर्वं महाभागा मुनयः सेव्य तं प्रभुम् मृत्तिकाग्रहणं कृत्वा तस्य चायतने शुभे

tatra pūrvaṁ mahābhāgā munayaḥ sevya taṁ prabhum mṛttikāgrahaṇaṁ kṛtvā tasya cāyatane śubhe

There, in former times, the greatly blessed sages, having served that Lord and taken the sacred clay at his auspicious shrine...

Verse 5 (skanda.6.228.5)

संप्राप्ताः परमं स्थानं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् यत्फलं सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु यत्फलम् तत्फलं तस्य पूजायां चातुर्मास्यां प्रजायते

saṁprāptāḥ paramaṁ sthānaṁ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam yatphalaṁ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvayajñeṣu yatphalam tatphalaṁ tasya pūjāyāṁ cāturmāsyāṁ prajāyate

...attained that supreme abode, the highest station of Vishnu. Whatever merit there is in all the sacred fords and in all sacrifices, that same merit is produced by worshipping him during Chaturmasya.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.228.6)

यत्फलं गोग्रहे मृत्युं संप्राप्ता यांति मानवाः तत्फलं चतुरो मासान्पूजया जलशायिनः

yatphalaṁ gograhe mṛtyuṁ saṁprāptā yāṁti mānavāḥ tatphalaṁ caturo māsānpūjayā jalaśāyinaḥ

Whatever merit men obtain by meeting death in the defence of cows, that same merit comes from four months of worshipping the god who lies upon the waters.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.228.7)

अपि पापसमाचारः परदाररतोऽपिच ब्रह्मघ्नोऽपि सुरापोऽपि स्त्रीहन्ताऽपि विगर्हितः पूजया चतुरो मासांस्तस्य देवस्य मुच्यते

api pāpasamācāraḥ paradārarato'pica brahmaghno'pi surāpo'pi strīhantā'pi vigarhitaḥ pūjayā caturo māsāṁstasya devasya mucyate

Even one of sinful conduct, even one devoted to another's wife, even a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, or a despised killer of a woman — through four months' worship of that god, he is set free.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.228.8)

ऋषय ऊचुः यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं तत्रस्थं जलशायिनम् बिलद्वारे कथं सूत तत्र नः संशयो महान्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ tatrasthaṁ jalaśāyinam biladvāre kathaṁ sūta tatra naḥ saṁśayo mahān

The sages said: As for what you have declared — that the god who lies upon the waters resides there at the mouth of the cave — how is this, O Suta? On this we have a great doubt.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.228.9)

स किल श्रूयते देवः क्षीराब्धौ मधुसूदनः सदैव भगवाञ्छेते योगनिद्रां समाश्रितः

sa kila śrūyate devaḥ kṣīrābdhau madhusūdanaḥ sadaiva bhagavāñchete yoganidrāṁ samāśritaḥ

That god, Madhusudana, is indeed known to be in the Ocean of Milk, where the Lord ever lies, given over eternally to yogic sleep.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.228.10)

कथं स भगवाञ्छेते बिलद्वारे व्यवस्थितः एतत्कीर्तय कार्त्स्न्येन परं कौतूहलं हि नः

kathaṁ sa bhagavāñchete biladvāre vyavasthitaḥ etatkīrtaya kārtsnyena paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

How does that Lord lie stationed at the door of the cave? Declare this to us in full, for our curiosity about it is very great.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.228.11)

सूत उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाभागाः क्षीराब्धौ मधुसूदनः योगनिद्रां गतः शेते शेषपर्यंकशायकः

sūta uvāca satyametanmahābhāgāḥ kṣīrābdhau madhusūdanaḥ yoganidrāṁ gataḥ śete śeṣaparyaṁkaśāyakaḥ

Suta said: This is true, O greatly blessed ones — Madhusudana, gone into yogic sleep, lies in the Ocean of Milk, reclining upon the couch of Shesha.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.228.12)

स यथा तत्र क्षेत्रे तु संश्रितो भगवान्स्वयम् जलशायिस्वरूपेण तच्छृणुध्वं समाहिताः

sa yathā tatra kṣetre tu saṁśrito bhagavānsvayam jalaśāyisvarūpeṇa tacchṛṇudhvaṁ samāhitāḥ

Hear now, attentively, how the Lord himself came to dwell in that very sacred field in the form of Jalashayin.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.228.13)

यथा च चतुरो मासान्पूजितस्तत्र संस्थितः मुक्तिं ददाति पुंसां स तथा संकीर्तयाम्यहम्

yathā ca caturo māsānpūjitastatra saṁsthitaḥ muktiṁ dadāti puṁsāṁ sa tathā saṁkīrtayāmyaham

And I shall also declare how he, worshipped there for four months and established in that place, grants liberation to men.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.228.14)

चत्वारोऽपि यथा मासा गर्हणीया धरातले सर्वकर्मसु मुख्येषु यज्ञोद्वाहादिषु द्विजाः

catvāro'pi yathā māsā garhaṇīyā dharātale sarvakarmasu mukhyeṣu yajñodvāhādiṣu dvijāḥ

O brahmins, I shall also tell how these four months are held to be inauspicious on earth for all the chief undertakings — sacrifices, weddings, and the like.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.228.15)

तद्वोऽहं कीर्तयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्य द्विजोत्तमाः तस्मै देवाधिदेवाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने

tadvo'haṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi namaskṛtya dvijottamāḥ tasmai devādhidevāya nirguṇāya guṇātmane

That I shall declare to you, O best of brahmins, having first bowed to that God of gods, who is without qualities and yet is the very self of all qualities.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.228.16)

अव्यक्तायाऽप्रमेयाय सर्वदेवमयाय च सर्वज्ञाय कवीशाय सर्वभूतात्मने तथा

avyaktāyā'prameyāya sarvadevamayāya ca sarvajñāya kavīśāya sarvabhūtātmane tathā

To the unmanifest, the immeasurable, who consists of all the gods, to the all-knowing lord of seers, and likewise to him who is the very self of all beings.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.228.17)

पुरासीद्दानवो रौद्रो हिरण्यकशिपुर्महान् नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा विष्णुना यो निपातितः

purāsīddānavo raudro hiraṇyakaśipurmahān nārasiṁhaṁ vapuḥ kṛtvā viṣṇunā yo nipātitaḥ

Long ago there was a fierce, great demon named Hiranyakashipu, who was struck down by Vishnu, who had assumed the form of Narasimha.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.228.18)

तस्य पुत्रद्वयं जज्ञे सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् प्रह्लादश्चांधकश्चैव वीर्येणाप्रतिमौ युधि

tasya putradvayaṁ jajñe sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam prahlādaścāṁdhakaścaiva vīryeṇāpratimau yudhi

To him were born two sons, marked with every auspicious sign — Prahlada and Andhaka — both unmatched in valour in battle.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.228.19)

हिरण्यकशिपौ प्राप्ते परं लोकं महासुरे अमात्यैरभिषेकाय प्रह्लादः स नियोजितः

hiraṇyakaśipau prāpte paraṁ lokaṁ mahāsure amātyairabhiṣekāya prahlādaḥ sa niyojitaḥ

When the great asura Hiranyakashipu had departed to the other world, Prahlada was appointed by the ministers for consecration as king.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.228.20)

स नैच्छत तदा राज्यं पितृपैतामहं महत् समागतमपि प्राज्ञो यस्मात्तद्वो वदाम्यहम्

sa naicchata tadā rājyaṁ pitṛpaitāmahaṁ mahat samāgatamapi prājño yasmāttadvo vadāmyaham

He, being wise, did not desire that great ancestral kingdom of his father and grandfather, even though it had come to him — the reason for this I shall now tell you.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.228.21)

दानवानां सदा द्वेषो देवेन सह चक्रिणा न करोति पुनर्द्वेषं तं समुद्दिश्य सर्वदा

dānavānāṁ sadā dveṣo devena saha cakriṇā na karoti punardveṣaṁ taṁ samuddiśya sarvadā

The demons ever harboured hatred toward the discus-bearing god; but he never again nursed hatred directed toward Him.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.228.22)

एतस्मात्कारणात्सर्वे तेन त्यक्ता दितेः सुताः स्वराज्यमपि संत्यज्य विष्णुस्तेन समाश्रितः

etasmātkāraṇātsarve tena tyaktā diteḥ sutāḥ svarājyamapi saṁtyajya viṣṇustena samāśritaḥ

For this reason he was abandoned by all the sons of Diti; and having renounced even his own kingdom, he took refuge in Vishnu.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.228.23)

ततस्तैर्दानवैः क्षुद्रैर्विष्णुद्वेषपरायणैः अन्धकः स्थापितो राज्ये पितृपैतामहे तदा

tatastairdānavaiḥ kṣudrairviṣṇudveṣaparāyaṇaiḥ andhakaḥ sthāpito rājye pitṛpaitāmahe tadā

Then, by those base demons devoted to hatred of Vishnu, Andhaka was installed on that ancestral throne.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.228.24)

अन्धकोऽपि समाराध्य देवदेवं चतुर्मुखम् अमरत्वं ततो लेभे यावच्चन्द्रार्कतारकम्

andhako'pi samārādhya devadevaṁ caturmukham amaratvaṁ tato lebhe yāvaccandrārkatārakam

Andhaka too, having propitiated the four-faced God of gods, thereby obtained immortality, to last as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.228.25)

वरपुष्टस्ततः सोऽपि चक्रे शक्रेण विग्रहम्

varapuṣṭastataḥ so'pi cakre śakreṇa vigraham

Then he, thus strengthened by the boon, made war upon Indra.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.228.26)

जित्वा शक्रं महासंख्ये यज्ञांशाञ्जगृहे स्वयम् गत्वाऽमरावतीं दैत्यो निःसार्य च शतक्रतुम् स्ववर्गेण समोपेतः स्वर्गं समहरत्तदा

jitvā śakraṁ mahāsaṁkhye yajñāṁśāñjagṛhe svayam gatvā'marāvatīṁ daityo niḥsārya ca śatakratum svavargeṇa samopetaḥ svargaṁ samaharattadā

Having defeated Indra in the great battle, he himself seized the shares of the sacrifice; and the demon, having gone to Amaravati and driven out Shatakratu, together with his own kindred, then seized heaven.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.228.27)

शक्रोऽपि च समाराध्य शंकरं लोकशंकरम् सर्वदेवसमोपेतो भृत्यवत्परिवर्तते

śakro'pi ca samārādhya śaṁkaraṁ lokaśaṁkaram sarvadevasamopeto bhṛtyavatparivartate

Indra too, having propitiated Shankara, the benefactor of the worlds, moved about like a servant in his presence, together with all the gods.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.228.28)

ततः कालेन महता तस्य तुष्टः पिनाकधृक् तं प्राह वरदोऽस्मीति वद शक्र करोमि किम्

tataḥ kālena mahatā tasya tuṣṭaḥ pinākadhṛk taṁ prāha varado'smīti vada śakra karomi kim

Then, after a long time, the wielder of the Pinaka, pleased with him, said: 'I am the granter of boons — speak, Shakra, what shall I do?'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.228.29)

इन्द्र उवाच अंधकेन हृतं राज्यं मम वीर्यात्सुरेश्वर यज्ञभागैः समोपेतं हत्वाऽऽशु तत्प्रयच्छ मे

indra uvāca aṁdhakena hṛtaṁ rājyaṁ mama vīryātsureśvara yajñabhāgaiḥ samopetaṁ hatvā''śu tatprayaccha me

Indra said: O lord of the gods, my kingdom, together with its shares of the sacrifice, has been seized by Andhaka through his valour — slay him swiftly and restore it to me.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.228.30)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य दीनस्य भगवाञ्छशिशेखरः प्रोवाच तव दास्यामि राज्यं त्रैलोक्यसंभवम्

tacchrutvā tasya dīnasya bhagavāñchaśiśekharaḥ provāca tava dāsyāmi rājyaṁ trailokyasaṁbhavam

Having heard this from the distressed Indra, the moon-crested Lord said: 'I shall give you back the kingdom that spans the three worlds.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.228.31)

ततः संप्रेषयामास दूतं तस्य विचक्षणम् गणेशं वीरभद्राख्यं गत्वा तं ब्रूहि चांधकम्

tataḥ saṁpreṣayāmāsa dūtaṁ tasya vicakṣaṇam gaṇeśaṁ vīrabhadrākhyaṁ gatvā taṁ brūhi cāṁdhakam

Then he sent forth his wise messenger, the leader of his hosts named Virabhadra: 'Go, and say to Andhaka...'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.228.32)

ममादेशात्परित्यज्य स्वर्गं गच्छ धरातलम् पितृपैतामहं स्थानं राज्यं तत्र समाचर

mamādeśātparityajya svargaṁ gaccha dharātalam pitṛpaitāmahaṁ sthānaṁ rājyaṁ tatra samācara

'By my command, abandon heaven and go to the earth; there rule over the ancestral realm that is rightfully yours.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.228.33)

परित्यजस्व यज्ञांशान्नो चेद्धंतास्मि सत्वरम् स गत्वा चांधकं प्राह यथोक्तं शंभुना स्फुटम्

parityajasva yajñāṁśānno ceddhaṁtāsmi satvaram sa gatvā cāṁdhakaṁ prāha yathoktaṁ śaṁbhunā sphuṭam

'Give up the shares of the sacrifice, or else I shall swiftly slay you.' He went and spoke to Andhaka exactly as Shambhu had instructed, in plain words.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.228.34)

सविशेषमहाबुद्धिः स्वामिकार्यप्रसिद्धये अथ तं चाधकः प्राह प्रविहस्य महाबलः

saviśeṣamahābuddhiḥ svāmikāryaprasiddhaye atha taṁ cādhakaḥ prāha pravihasya mahābalaḥ

He, of especially great intelligence, went there for the accomplishment of his lord's purpose. Then the mighty Andhaka, laughing scornfully, said to him:

Verse 35 (skanda.6.228.35)

अवध्यो हि यथा दूतस्तेन त्वां न निहन्म्यहम् क स्याद्वै शंकरोनाम यो मामेवं प्रभाषते

avadhyo hi yathā dūtastena tvāṁ na nihanmyaham ka syādvai śaṁkaronāma yo māmevaṁ prabhāṣate

'Since a messenger is inviolable, I shall not kill you for this. But who indeed is this one called Shankara, who dares to speak to me thus?'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.228.36)

न मां वेत्ति स किं मूढः किं वा मृत्युमभीप्सते

na māṁ vetti sa kiṁ mūḍhaḥ kiṁ vā mṛtyumabhīpsate

'Does he not know who I am — is he a fool, or does he simply long for death?'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.228.37)

अथवा सत्यमेवैतान्निर्विण्णो जीविताच्च सः दरिद्रोपहतो नित्यं सर्वभोगविवर्जितः

athavā satyamevaitānnirviṇṇo jīvitācca saḥ daridropahato nityaṁ sarvabhogavivarjitaḥ

'Or perhaps this too is true — that he is weary of life, ever afflicted by poverty, and deprived of every enjoyment.'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.228.38)

स्मशाने क्रीडनं यस्य भस्म गात्रविलेपनम् भूषणं चाहयो वस्त्रं दिशो यस्य जटालका

smaśāne krīḍanaṁ yasya bhasma gātravilepanam bhūṣaṇaṁ cāhayo vastraṁ diśo yasya jaṭālakā

'He whose sport is in the cremation ground, whose bodily unguent is ash, whose ornaments are serpents, whose garment is the quarters of the sky, and whose hair is matted...'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.228.39)

कस्तस्य जीवितेनार्थस्तेनेदं मां ब्रवीति सः तस्माद्गत्वा द्रुतं ब्रूहि मद्वाक्यं दूत स्फुटम्

kastasya jīvitenārthastenedaṁ māṁ bravīti saḥ tasmādgatvā drutaṁ brūhi madvākyaṁ dūta sphuṭam

'...what use has such a one for life, that he speaks thus to me? Therefore, O messenger, go swiftly and declare my words clearly.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.228.40)

त्यक्त्वा कैलासमेनं त्वं वाराणस्यां तपः कुरु मया स्थानमिदं दत्तं कैलासं स्वसुतस्य च

tyaktvā kailāsamenaṁ tvaṁ vārāṇasyāṁ tapaḥ kuru mayā sthānamidaṁ dattaṁ kailāsaṁ svasutasya ca

'Abandon this Kailasa and go practise austerities at Varanasi; I have given this place, Kailasa, to my own son instead.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.228.41)

वृकस्यापि न सन्देहो विभवेन समन्वितम् नो चेत्प्राणान्हरिष्यामि सेंद्रस्य तव शंकर

vṛkasyāpi na sandeho vibhavena samanvitam no cetprāṇānhariṣyāmi seṁdrasya tava śaṁkara

'And there is no doubt that Vrika shall be endowed with this glory. Otherwise, O Shankara, I shall take the life of you, along with Indra.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.228.42)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वीरभद्रस्तु निर्भर्त्स्य च मुहुर्मुहुः क्रोधेन महताविष्टः कैलासं समुपाविशत्

tacchrutvā vīrabhadrastu nirbhartsya ca muhurmuhuḥ krodhena mahatāviṣṭaḥ kailāsaṁ samupāviśat

Having heard this, Virabhadra, rebuking him again and again, seized with great wrath, went and sat down again at Kailasa.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.228.43)

ततः स कथयामास तद्वाक्यं च पिनाकिनः अतिक्रूरं विशेषेण ततः क्रुद्धः पिनाकधृक्

tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa tadvākyaṁ ca pinākinaḥ atikrūraṁ viśeṣeṇa tataḥ kruddhaḥ pinākadhṛk

Then he related that exceedingly cruel speech to the wielder of the Pinaka, whereupon the wielder of the Pinaka grew greatly enraged.