The Curse of Parvati upon the Gods, and the Glory of the Bilva Leaf

Verse 1 (skanda.6.246.1)

गालव उवाच । शक्रादयस्तु देवेशा दुःखसंतप्तमानसाः । ईश्वरादर्शनभ्रांतमनः कर्मेंद्रियारतिम्

gālava uvāca śakrādayastu deveśā duḥkhasaṁtaptamānasāḥ īśvarādarśanabhrāṁtamanaḥ karmeṁdriyāratim

Galava said: "Indra and the other lords of the gods, their minds tormented by sorrow, their minds bewildered from not beholding Ishvara, their organs of action finding no delight —"

Verse 2 (skanda.6.246.2)

न प्रापुर्लोकनाथं ते कृत्वा यः प्रतिमाकृतिम् । तपसाराधयामासुः सर्वभूतहृदिस्थितम्

na prāpurlokanāthaṁ te kṛtvā yaḥ pratimākṛtim tapasārādhayāmāsuḥ sarvabhūtahṛdisthitam

"— did not attain the Lord of the world; so, having fashioned an image of him, they worshipped through austerity that one who dwells in the hearts of all beings —"

Verse 3 (skanda.6.246.3)

कपर्दशिरसं देवं शूलहस्तं पिनाकिनम् । कपालखट्वांगधरं दशहस्तं किरीटिनम्

kapardaśirasaṁ devaṁ śūlahastaṁ pinākinam kapālakhaṭvāṁgadharaṁ daśahastaṁ kirīṭinam

"— the god with matted locks upon his head, trident in hand, bearer of the Pinaka bow, holding the skull and the khatvanga staff, ten-armed, crowned,"

Verse 4 (skanda.6.246.4)

उमासहितमीशानं पंचवक्त्रं महाभुजम् । कर्पूरगौरदेहाभं सितभूतिविभूषितम्

umāsahitamīśānaṁ paṁcavaktraṁ mahābhujam karpūragauradehābhaṁ sitabhūtivibhūṣitam

"Ishana together with Uma, five-faced, mighty-armed, his body radiant like camphor, adorned with white sacred ash,"

Verse 5 (skanda.6.246.5)

नागयज्ञोपवीतेन गजचर्मसमन्वितम् । कृष्णसारत्वचा चापि कृतप्रावरणं विभुम्

nāgayajñopavītena gajacarmasamanvitam kṛṣṇasāratvacā cāpi kṛtaprāvaraṇaṁ vibhum

"wearing a serpent as his sacred thread, clothed in an elephant's hide, and also wrapped in the skin of the black antelope, the all-pervading Lord."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.246.6)

कृतध्यानाः सुरास्तत्र वृक्षाधारे समाश्रिताः । व्रतचर्यां समाश्रित्य प्रचक्रुस्तप उत्तमम् । षडक्षरेण मंत्रेण शैवेन विहिताः सुराः

kṛtadhyānāḥ surāstatra vṛkṣādhāre samāśritāḥ vratacaryāṁ samāśritya pracakrustapa uttamam ṣaḍakṣareṇa maṁtreṇa śaivena vihitāḥ surāḥ

There the gods, taking shelter beneath the trees, entered into meditation; taking up the observance of the vow, they performed the highest austerity, disposed through the six-syllabled Shaiva mantra.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.246.7)

शूद्र उवाच । व्रतचर्या त्वया या सा प्रोक्ता संजायते कथम्

śūdra uvāca vratacaryā tvayā yā sā proktā saṁjāyate katham

The shudra said: "That vow-observance you have described, how does it come about?"

Verse 8 (skanda.6.246.8)

ब्रह्मन्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि न तृप्येते वचोऽमृतैः

brahmanvistarato brūhi na tṛpyete vaco'mṛtaiḥ

"O Brahman, tell me this in detail; I am never satisfied by the nectar of your words."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.246.9)

गालव उवाच । जपन्भस्म च खट्वांगं कपालं स्फाटिकं तथा । रुंडमालां पंचवक्त्रमर्द्धचंद्रं च मूर्द्धनि

gālava uvāca japanbhasma ca khaṭvāṁgaṁ kapālaṁ sphāṭikaṁ tathā ruṁḍamālāṁ paṁcavaktramarddhacaṁdraṁ ca mūrddhani

Galava said: "Reciting the mantra, with sacred ash, the khatvanga staff, the skull-bowl, and a crystal rosary as well, a garland of skulls, five faces, and the crescent moon upon the head,"

Verse 10 (skanda.6.246.10)

चित्रकृत्तिपरीधानं कौपीनकुण्डलद्वयम् । घंटायुग्मं त्रिशूलं च सूत्रं चर्यास्वरूपकम्

citrakṛttiparīdhānaṁ kaupīnakuṇḍaladvayam ghaṁṭāyugmaṁ triśūlaṁ ca sūtraṁ caryāsvarūpakam

"a spotted hide worn as a garment, a loincloth, a pair of earrings, a pair of bells, a trident, and the sacred thread; this itself is the very form of the observance."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.246.11)

अमीभिर्लक्षणैर्लक्ष्यं मयोक्तं तव शूद्रज । अनेन विधिना सर्वे देवा वह्निपुरोगमाः

amībhirlakṣaṇairlakṣyaṁ mayoktaṁ tava śūdraja anena vidhinā sarve devā vahnipurogamāḥ

"By these very marks, the object of meditation has been described by me to you, O son of a shudra. By this method, all the gods, with Agni at their head,"

Verse 12 (skanda.6.246.12)

सर्व आराधयामासुः सर्वोपायैर्वरप्रदम् । चातुर्मास्ये च संपूर्णे सपूर्णे कार्तिकेऽमले

sarva ārādhayāmāsuḥ sarvopāyairvarapradam cāturmāsye ca saṁpūrṇe sapūrṇe kārtike'male

"— all of them worshipped the boon-granting Lord by every means; and when Chaturmasya had come to its completion, in the full, stainless month of Kartika,"

Verse 13 (skanda.6.246.13)

चीर्णव्रतान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा विशुद्धांश्च महेश्वरः । मतिं तेषां ददौ तुष्टो जीवात्मा सर्वभूतदृक्

cīrṇavratānsurāndṛṣṭvā viśuddhāṁśca maheśvaraḥ matiṁ teṣāṁ dadau tuṣṭo jīvātmā sarvabhūtadṛk

— Maheshvara, the very Self of all life, the seer within all beings, seeing the gods who had completed their vow and become purified, gave them his understanding, being pleased.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.246.14)

शतरुद्रीयजाप्येन विधानसहितेन च । ध्यानेन दीपदानेन चातुर्मास्ये तुतोष सः

śatarudrīyajāpyena vidhānasahitena ca dhyānena dīpadānena cāturmāsye tutoṣa saḥ

By the recitation of the Shata-Rudriya together with its due ritual procedure, by meditation, and by the offering of lamps during Chaturmasya, he was satisfied.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.246.15)

पूजनैः षोडशविधैर्यथा विष्णोस्तथा हरे । कुर्वाणान्भक्तिभावेन ज्ञात्वा देवान्समागतान्

pūjanaiḥ ṣoḍaśavidhairyathā viṣṇostathā hare kurvāṇānbhaktibhāvena jñātvā devānsamāgatān

Knowing that the gods, who had come together, were performing the sixteen-fold worship for Hara just as they would for Vishnu, with a heart full of devotion,

Verse 16 (skanda.6.246.16)

प्रहृष्टो भगवान्रुद्रो ददौ तेषां शुभा मतिम् । ततः संमंत्र्य ते देवा वह्निं स्तुत्वा यथार्थतः

prahṛṣṭo bhagavānrudro dadau teṣāṁ śubhā matim tataḥ saṁmaṁtrya te devā vahniṁ stutvā yathārthataḥ

— the Lord Rudra, greatly pleased, granted them an auspicious understanding. Then, taking counsel together, the gods, having duly praised Agni,

Verse 17 (skanda.6.246.17)

प्रसन्नवदनं चक्रुः कार्यसाधनतत्परम् । कर्मसाक्षी महातेजाः कृत्वा पारावतं वपु

prasannavadanaṁ cakruḥ kāryasādhanatatparam karmasākṣī mahātejāḥ kṛtvā pārāvataṁ vapu

made his countenance gracious and set him to accomplish their task. That witness of all deeds, of great splendor, taking the form of a dove,

Verse 18 (skanda.6.246.18)

प्रविवेश ततो मध्ये द्रष्टुं देवं महेश्वरम् । चकार गतिविक्षेपं गुंठनैरवगुंठनैः

praviveśa tato madhye draṣṭuṁ devaṁ maheśvaram cakāra gativikṣepaṁ guṁṭhanairavaguṁṭhanaiḥ

then entered into their midst, in order to see the god Maheshvara. He caused a peculiar movement in his gait, through swayings and coverings,

Verse 19 (skanda.6.246.19)

लुंठनैः सर्पणैश्चैव चारुरूपोऽद्भुतां गतिम् । तं दृष्ट्वा भगवांस्तत्र कारणं समबुद्ध्यत

luṁṭhanaiḥ sarpaṇaiścaiva cārurūpo'dbhutāṁ gatim taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavāṁstatra kāraṇaṁ samabuddhyata

through rollings and crawlings, that beautiful bird making his movement strange and wonderful. Seeing him there, the Lord understood the reason for it.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.246.20)

ऊर्ध्वरेतास्ततस्तस्मिन्ससर्जादौ दधार तत् । वीर्यं वह्निमुखे चैव सोत्पपात गृहाद्बहिः

ūrdhvaretāstatastasminsasarjādau dadhāra tat vīryaṁ vahnimukhe caiva sotpapāta gṛhādbahiḥ

Then he, whose seed had until then been held aloft, at once released it into him; and that dove, holding that seed within the mouth of fire, flew out of the house.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.246.21)

गते तस्मिन्पतंगेऽथ पार्वती विफलश्रमा । संक्रुद्धा सर्वदेवानां सा शशाप महेश्वरी

gate tasminpataṁge'tha pārvatī viphalaśramā saṁkruddhā sarvadevānāṁ sā śaśāpa maheśvarī

When that bird had gone, Parvati, her efforts having come to nothing, became enraged; the great goddess then cursed all the gods, saying:

Verse 22 (skanda.6.246.22)

यस्मान्ममेच्छा विहता भवद्भिर्दुष्टबुद्धिभिः । तस्मात्पाषाणतामाशु व्रजंतु त्रिदिवौकसः

yasmānmamecchā vihatā bhavadbhirduṣṭabuddhibhiḥ tasmātpāṣāṇatāmāśu vrajaṁtu tridivaukasaḥ

"'Since my desire has been thwarted by you, O evil-minded ones, therefore let the dwellers of heaven at once become turned to stone.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.246.23)

निरपत्या निर्दयाश्च सर्वे देवा भविष्यथ । ततः प्रसादयामासुः प्रणताः शापयंत्रिताः

nirapatyā nirdayāśca sarve devā bhaviṣyatha tataḥ prasādayāmāsuḥ praṇatāḥ śāpayaṁtritāḥ

"'And all you gods shall become childless and merciless.'" Then, bound by that curse, the gods bowed down and sought to appease her,

Verse 24 (skanda.6.246.24)

महद्दुःखं संप्रविष्टाः पुनः पुनरथाब्रुवन्

mahadduḥkhaṁ saṁpraviṣṭāḥ punaḥ punarathābruvan

overcome by great sorrow, and spoke to her again and again:

Verse 25 (skanda.6.246.25)

देवा ऊचुः । त्वं माता सर्वदेवानां सर्वसाक्षी सनातनी । उत्पत्तिस्थितिसंहारकारणं जगतां सदा

devā ūcuḥ tvaṁ mātā sarvadevānāṁ sarvasākṣī sanātanī utpattisthitisaṁhārakāraṇaṁ jagatāṁ sadā

The gods said: "You are the mother of all the gods, the eternal witness of all things, ever the cause of the creation, preservation, and destruction of the worlds."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.246.26)

भूतप्रकृतिरूपा त्वं महाभूतसमाश्रिता । अपर्णा तपसां धात्री भूतधात्री वसुन्धरा

bhūtaprakṛtirūpā tvaṁ mahābhūtasamāśritā aparṇā tapasāṁ dhātrī bhūtadhātrī vasundharā

"You are the very form of the primal nature of all beings, resting upon the great elements. You are Aparna, the bestower of the fruit of austerities, the sustainer of all beings, the earth herself."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.246.27)

मंत्राराध्या मन्त्रबीजं विश्वबीजलयस्थितिः । यज्ञादिफलदात्री च स्वाहारूपेण सर्वदा

maṁtrārādhyā mantrabījaṁ viśvabījalayasthitiḥ yajñādiphaladātrī ca svāhārūpeṇa sarvadā

"You are worshipped through mantras, you are the very seed of mantras, the seed, the dissolution, and the abiding ground of the universe. You always bestow the fruit of sacrifice and the like, in your form as Svaha."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.246.28)

मन्त्रयन्त्रसमोपेता ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिषु । नित्यरूपा महारूपा सर्वरूपा निरञ्जना

mantrayantrasamopetā brahmaviṣṇuśivādiṣu nityarūpā mahārūpā sarvarūpā nirañjanā

"You are present alike in mantra and yantra, and in Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the rest. You are of eternal form, of vast form, of every form, and utterly stainless."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.246.29)

दोषत्रयसमाक्रान्त जननैः श्रेयसप्रदा । महालक्ष्मीर्महाकालीमहादेवी महेश्वरी

doṣatrayasamākrānta jananaiḥ śreyasapradā mahālakṣmīrmahākālīmahādevī maheśvarī

"You bestow the highest good even upon those beings overcome by the three faults; you are Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Mahadevi, Maheshvari,"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.246.30)

विश्वेश्वरी महामाया मायाबीजवरप्रदा । वररूपा वरेण्या त्वं वरदात्री वरासुता

viśveśvarī mahāmāyā māyābījavarapradā vararūpā vareṇyā tvaṁ varadātrī varāsutā

"Vishveshvari, Mahamaya, the giver of the boon that is the seed of Maya. You are of excellent form, worthy of choice, the giver of boons, the excellent daughter of the mountain."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.246.31)

बिल्वपत्रैः शुभैर्ये त्वां पूजयन्ति नराः सदा । तेषां राज्यप्रदात्री च कामदा सिद्धिदा सदा

bilvapatraiḥ śubhairye tvāṁ pūjayanti narāḥ sadā teṣāṁ rājyapradātrī ca kāmadā siddhidā sadā

"Those men who always worship you with auspicious bilva leaves, for them you are ever the bestower of kingship, the fulfiller of desires, and the giver of accomplishment."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.246.32)

चातुर्मास्येऽर्चिता यैस्त्वं बिल्वपत्रैर्विशेषतः । तेषां वांछितसिद्ध्यर्थं जाता कामदुघा स्वयम्

cāturmāsye'rcitā yaistvaṁ bilvapatrairviśeṣataḥ teṣāṁ vāṁchitasiddhyarthaṁ jātā kāmadughā svayam

"By whomever you are worshipped during Chaturmasya, especially with bilva leaves, for the fulfillment of their desires you yourself become, as it were, the wish-granting cow."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.246.33)

येऽर्चयंति सदा लोके महेश्वरसमन्विताम् । बिल्वपत्रैर्महाभक्त्या न तेषां दुःखदुष्कृती

ye'rcayaṁti sadā loke maheśvarasamanvitām bilvapatrairmahābhaktyā na teṣāṁ duḥkhaduṣkṛtī

"Those in this world who always worship you, joined with Maheshvara, with bilva leaves and with the greatest devotion, for them there is no sorrow, nor any evil deed that clings."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.246.34)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण तव पूजा महाफला । अद्यप्रभृति यैर्लोकैर्बिल्वपत्रैस्तु पूजिता

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa tava pūjā mahāphalā adyaprabhṛti yairlokairbilvapatraistu pūjitā

"Especially during Chaturmasya, worship of you bears the greatest fruit. From today onward, those people who worship you with bilva leaves —"

Verse 35 (skanda.6.246.35)

विधास्यसि महेशानि तेषां ज्ञानमनुत्तमम् । चातुर्मास्येऽधिकफलं बिल्वपत्रं वरानने

vidhāsyasi maheśāni teṣāṁ jñānamanuttamam cāturmāsye'dhikaphalaṁ bilvapatraṁ varānane

"— O Maheshani, you shall bestow upon them unsurpassed knowledge. O fair-faced one, during Chaturmasya the bilva leaf yields greater fruit still."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.246.36)

उमामहेश्वरप्रीत्यै दत्तं विधिवदक्षयम् । यथा श्रीस्तुलसीवृक्षे तथा बिल्वे च पार्वती

umāmaheśvaraprītyai dattaṁ vidhivadakṣayam yathā śrīstulasīvṛkṣe tathā bilve ca pārvatī

"Offered duly for the pleasure of Uma and Maheshvara, it becomes imperishable. Just as Shri dwells in the tulsi plant, so does Parvati dwell in the bilva tree."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.246.37)

त्वं मूर्त्या दृश्यसे विश्वं सकलाभीष्टदायिनी । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सेवितौ द्वौ महाफलौ

tvaṁ mūrtyā dṛśyase viśvaṁ sakalābhīṣṭadāyinī cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa sevitau dvau mahāphalau

"In this very form you are seen by the whole world, the granter of every desire. Especially during Chaturmasya, these two — tulsi and bilva — when duly served, yield the greatest fruit."