Shankara's Placation of Parvati

Verse 1 (skanda.6.253.1)

शूद्र उवाच । पार्वतीकुपिता देवी कथं देवेन शूलिना । प्रसादं च गता शप्त्वा यत्कोपात्क्षुभ्यते जगत्

śūdra uvāca pārvatīkupitā devī kathaṁ devena śūlinā prasādaṁ ca gatā śaptvā yatkopātkṣubhyate jagat

The Shudra said: How did the goddess Parvati, angered against the Trident-bearing god — she by whose wrath the universe is thrown into turmoil — after having cursed him, again come to grace,

Verse 2 (skanda.6.253.2)

कथं स भगवान्रुद्रो भार्याशापमवाप ह । वैकृतं रूपमासाद्य पुनर्दिव्यं वपुः श्रितः

kathaṁ sa bhagavānrudro bhāryāśāpamavāpa ha vaikṛtaṁ rūpamāsādya punardivyaṁ vapuḥ śritaḥ

and how did the blessed Rudra receive the curse of his wife, assume a distorted form, and then again take on his divine body?

Verse 3 (skanda.6.253.3)

गालव उवाच । देवा रूपाण्यदृश्यानि कृत्वा देव्या महाभयात् । मनुष्यलोके सकले प्रतिमासु च संस्थिताः

gālava uvāca devā rūpāṇyadṛśyāni kṛtvā devyā mahābhayāt manuṣyaloke sakale pratimāsu ca saṁsthitāḥ

Galava said: The gods, out of great fear of the goddess, having made their forms invisible, became established in images throughout the whole world of men.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.253.4)

तेषामपि प्रसन्ना साऽनुग्रहं समुपाकरोत् । विष्णुस्तुता महाभागा विश्वमाताऽघनाशिनी

teṣāmapi prasannā sā'nugrahaṁ samupākarot viṣṇustutā mahābhāgā viśvamātā'ghanāśinī

Pleased even with them, she, the greatly fortunate Mother of the universe, destroyer of sin, praised by Vishnu, bestowed her favour upon them.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.253.5)

तेषां बलाच्च पार्वत्याः शापभारेण यन्त्रितः । तां नित्यमेवानुनयन्नृचे सोवाच शंकरम्

teṣāṁ balācca pārvatyāḥ śāpabhāreṇa yantritaḥ tāṁ nityamevānunayannṛce sovāca śaṁkaram

Yet, still bound under the weight of Parvati's own wrath, even as Shankara ever sought to conciliate her with gentle entreaty, she spoke to Shankara:

Verse 6 (skanda.6.253.6)

एते देवा विश्वपूज्या विश्वस्य च वरप्रदाः । मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यंति भक्तितस्तोषिता नरैः

ete devā viśvapūjyā viśvasya ca varapradāḥ matprasādādbhaviṣyaṁti bhaktitastoṣitā naraiḥ

"These gods shall become worthy of worship by the universe and bestowers of boons upon the universe. It is by my grace that they shall be gladdened by the devotion of men."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.253.7)

त्वामृते मम कर्मेदं कृतं साधुविनिन्दितम् । वेद्यां विवाहकाले च प्रत्यक्षं सर्वसाक्षिकम्

tvāmṛte mama karmedaṁ kṛtaṁ sādhuvininditam vedyāṁ vivāhakāle ca pratyakṣaṁ sarvasākṣikam

"Apart from you, this act of mine has been rightly condemned by the virtuous — that vow taken openly upon the sacred altar at the time of our wedding, witnessed by all,"

Verse 8 (skanda.6.253.8)

यत्सप्तमंडलानां च गमनं च करार्पणम् । वह्निश्च वरुणः कृष्णो देवताश्च सवल्लभाः

yatsaptamaṁḍalānāṁ ca gamanaṁ ca karārpaṇam vahniśca varuṇaḥ kṛṣṇo devatāśca savallabhāḥ

"namely the going round the seven circles and the joining of hands — in the presence of Agni, Varuna, Krishna, and the gods together with their consorts,"

Verse 9 (skanda.6.253.9)

चतुर्दिक्ष्वंगसंयुक्ता देवब्राह्मणसंयुताः । एतेषामग्रतो दिब्यं कृत्वा त्वं जनसंसदि

caturdikṣvaṁgasaṁyuktā devabrāhmaṇasaṁyutāḥ eteṣāmagrato dibyaṁ kṛtvā tvaṁ janasaṁsadi

"present on every side, together with the gods and the brahmins — before all of these, in the assembly of the people, you made that divine vow,"

Verse 10 (skanda.6.253.10)

प्रमादात्सत्त्वमापन्नो व्यभिचारं कथं कृथाः । गुरवोऽपि न सन्मार्गे प्रवर्त्तंते जनौघवत्

pramādātsattvamāpanno vyabhicāraṁ kathaṁ kṛthāḥ guravo'pi na sanmārge pravarttaṁte janaughavat

"how, then, out of heedlessness, having taken on that solemn nature, could you commit such infidelity? Even elders, when they do not walk the right path, are treated no differently from the common crowd."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.253.11)

निग्राह्याः सर्वलोकेषु प्रबुद्धैः श्रूयते श्रुतौ । पुत्रेणापि पिता शास्यः शिष्येणापि गुरुः स्वयम्

nigrāhyāḥ sarvalokeṣu prabuddhaiḥ śrūyate śrutau putreṇāpi pitā śāsyaḥ śiṣyeṇāpi guruḥ svayam

"It is heard in the shruti that, in all the worlds, such conduct is to be restrained by the wise. Even a father may be corrected by his son, and a guru himself by his pupil,"

Verse 12 (skanda.6.253.12)

क्षत्रियैर्ब्राह्मणः शास्यो भार्यया च पतिस्तथा । उन्मार्गगामिनं श्रेष्ठमपि वेदान्तपारगम्

kṣatriyairbrāhmaṇaḥ śāsyo bhāryayā ca patistathā unmārgagāminaṁ śreṣṭhamapi vedāntapāragam

"a brahmin by kshatriyas, and likewise a husband by his wife. One who has strayed from the path — however excellent, even one who has crossed to the far shore of the Vedanta —"

Verse 13 (skanda.6.253.13)

नीचैरपि प्रशास्येत श्रुतिराह सनातनी । सन्मार्ग एव सर्वत्र पूज्यते नापथः क्वचित्

nīcairapi praśāsyeta śrutirāha sanātanī sanmārga eva sarvatra pūjyate nāpathaḥ kvacit

"is to be corrected even by the lowly — so declares the eternal shruti. Everywhere it is only the right path that is honoured, never the wrong path anywhere."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.253.14)

येन स्वकुलजो धर्मस्त्यक्तः स पतितो भवेत् । मृतश्च नरकं प्राप्य दुःखभारेण युज्यते

yena svakulajo dharmastyaktaḥ sa patito bhavet mṛtaśca narakaṁ prāpya duḥkhabhāreṇa yujyate

"He by whom the dharma born in his own lineage is abandoned becomes a fallen man; and having died and reached hell, he is burdened with suffering."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.253.15)

धर्मं त्यजति नास्तिक्याज्ज्ञातिभेदमुपागतः । स निग्राह्यः सर्वलोकैर्मनुधर्मपरायणैः

dharmaṁ tyajati nāstikyājjñātibhedamupāgataḥ sa nigrāhyaḥ sarvalokairmanudharmaparāyaṇaiḥ

"He who, out of disbelief, abandons dharma, and comes to division from his own kin, is to be restrained by all the worlds devoted to the dharma of Manu."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.253.16)

कुलधर्माञ्ज्ञातिधर्मान्देशधर्मान्महेश्वर । ये त्यजंति च तेऽवश्यं कुलाच्च पतिता जनाः

kuladharmāñjñātidharmāndeśadharmānmaheśvara ye tyajaṁti ca te'vaśyaṁ kulācca patitā janāḥ

"O Maheshvara, those who abandon the dharma of the family, the dharma of kin, and the dharma of the region, inevitably become people fallen from their own lineage."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.253.17)

अग्नित्यागो व्रतत्यागो वचनत्याग एव च । धर्मत्यागो नैव कार्यः कुर्वन्पतित एव हि

agnityāgo vratatyāgo vacanatyāga eva ca dharmatyāgo naiva kāryaḥ kurvanpatita eva hi

"The abandonment of the sacred fire, the abandonment of a vow, and likewise the abandonment of one's word — the abandonment of dharma should never be done; whoever does it indeed becomes a fallen being."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.253.18)

न पिता न च ते माता न भ्राता स्वजनोऽपि च । पश्यते तव वार्तां च अस्पृश्यस्त्वमदन्विषम्

na pitā na ca te mātā na bhrātā svajano'pi ca paśyate tava vārtāṁ ca aspṛśyastvamadanviṣam

"Neither father, nor your mother, nor brother, nor even kin, shall have regard for your affairs — having as it were eaten poison, you are become untouchable,"

Verse 19 (skanda.6.253.19)

अस्थिमालाचिताभस्म जटाधारी कुचैलवान् । चपलो मुक्तमर्यादस्तस्थुं नार्हसि मेऽग्रतः

asthimālācitābhasma jaṭādhārī kucailavān capalo muktamaryādastasthuṁ nārhasi me'grataḥ

"wearing a garland of bones and the ash of the cremation ground, bearing matted hair, poorly clad, fickle, without restraint — you are not fit to stand before me,"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.253.20)

अब्रह्मण्योऽव्रती भिक्षुर्दुष्टात्मा कपटी सदा । नार्हसि त्वं मम पुरः संभाषयितुमीश्वर

abrahmaṇyo'vratī bhikṣurduṣṭātmā kapaṭī sadā nārhasi tvaṁ mama puraḥ saṁbhāṣayitumīśvara

"unfriendly to brahmins, without vows, a mendicant, of wicked disposition, ever deceitful — you, O Ishvara, are not even fit to converse before me."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.253.21)

एवं सा रुदती देवी बाष्पव्याकुललोचना । महादुःखयुतैवासीद्देवेशेऽनुनयत्यपि

evaṁ sā rudatī devī bāṣpavyākulalocanā mahāduḥkhayutaivāsīddeveśe'nunayatyapi

Thus the weeping goddess, her eyes troubled with tears, remained overcome with great sorrow, even as the Lord of gods sought to conciliate her.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.253.22)

पुनरेव प्रकुपिता हरं प्रोवाच भामिनी । तवार्जवं न हृदये काठिन्यं वेद्मि नित्यदा

punareva prakupitā haraṁ provāca bhāminī tavārjavaṁ na hṛdaye kāṭhinyaṁ vedmi nityadā

Enraged once again, the wrathful lady spoke to Hara: "There is no honesty in your heart — I know only harshness there, always."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.253.23)

ब्राह्मणैस्त्वासुरैरुक्तं तन्मृषा प्रतिभाति मे । यस्मान्मयि महादुष्टभाव एव कृतस्त्वया

brāhmaṇaistvāsurairuktaṁ tanmṛṣā pratibhāti me yasmānmayi mahāduṣṭabhāva eva kṛtastvayā

"What the brahmins said concerning the asuras now seems false to me — since toward me you have shown only a most wicked disposition."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.253.24)

ब्राह्मणा वंचिता यस्माद्ब्राह्मणैस्त्वं हनिष्यसे । एवमुक्त्वा भगवती पुनराह न किञ्चन

brāhmaṇā vaṁcitā yasmādbrāhmaṇaistvaṁ haniṣyase evamuktvā bhagavatī punarāha na kiñcana

"Since brahmins have been deceived, you shall be slain by brahmins." Having said this, the goddess said nothing further.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.253.25)

ईशः प्रसन्नवदनामुपचारैरथाकरोत् । शनैर्नीतिमयैर्वाक्यैर्हेतुमद्भिर्महेश्वरः

īśaḥ prasannavadanāmupacārairathākarot śanairnītimayairvākyairhetumadbhirmaheśvaraḥ

Then Isha, Maheshvara, with gentle offerings of service, and with slow, well-reasoned words full of good counsel, made her countenance glad again.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.253.26)

प्रसन्नलोचनां ज्ञात्वा किंचित्प्राह हरस्ततः । कोपेन कलुषं वक्त्रं पूर्णचन्द्रसमप्रभम्

prasannalocanāṁ jñātvā kiṁcitprāha harastataḥ kopena kaluṣaṁ vaktraṁ pūrṇacandrasamaprabham

Knowing her eyes to have grown pleased, Hara then said a little to her, whose face — radiant as the full moon — had been clouded over by anger:

Verse 27 (skanda.6.253.27)

कस्मात्त्वं कुरुषे भद्रे युक्तमेव वचो न ते । सर्वभूतदया कार्या प्राणिनां हि हितेच्छया

kasmāttvaṁ kuruṣe bhadre yuktameva vaco na te sarvabhūtadayā kāryā prāṇināṁ hi hitecchayā

"Why, O gracious one, do you act thus? This speech of yours is not fitting. Compassion should be shown toward all beings, out of a wish for the welfare of living creatures."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.253.28)

यद्यपीष्टो हि यस्यार्थो न कार्यं परपीडनम् । जगत्सर्वं सुतप्रायं तवास्ति वरवर्णिनि

yadyapīṣṭo hi yasyārtho na kāryaṁ parapīḍanam jagatsarvaṁ sutaprāyaṁ tavāsti varavarṇini

"Even when a particular purpose is desired, another should not be caused pain. O fair one, the whole world is to you as good as a son."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.253.29)

जगत्पूज्या त्वमेवैका सर्वरूपधरानघे । मया यदि कृतं कर्मावद्यं देव हिताय वै

jagatpūjyā tvamevaikā sarvarūpadharānaghe mayā yadi kṛtaṁ karmāvadyaṁ deva hitāya vai

"You alone, sinless one, bearing every form, are worthy of worship by the world. If any blameworthy act was done by me, O goddess, it was indeed done for the good [of all],"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.253.30)

तथाप्येवं तव सुतो भविष्यति न संशयः । अथवा मम सर्वेभ्यः प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी

tathāpyevaṁ tava suto bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ athavā mama sarvebhyaḥ prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī

"and nevertheless, in this way, a son of yours shall indeed be born — there is no doubt. Or rather, you are dearer to me than even all my lives,"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.253.31)

यदिच्छसि तथा कुर्यां तथा तव मनोरथान् । प्रसन्नवदना भूत्वा कथयस्व वरानने

yadicchasi tathā kuryāṁ tathā tava manorathān prasannavadanā bhūtvā kathayasva varānane

"Whatever you desire, that I shall do, and your heart's wishes too. O fair-browed one, become glad of face and speak your mind."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.253.32)

इत्युक्ता सा भगवती पुनराह महेश्वरम् । चातुर्मास्ये च संप्राप्ते महाव्रतधरो यदि

ityuktā sā bhagavatī punarāha maheśvaram cāturmāsye ca saṁprāpte mahāvratadharo yadi

Thus addressed, that blessed goddess again spoke to Maheshvara: "If, when Chaturmasya has come, bearing a great vow,"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.253.33)

देवतानां च प्रत्यक्षं तांडवं नर्तसे यदि । पारयित्वा व्रतं सम्यग्ब्रह्मचर्यं महेश्वर

devatānāṁ ca pratyakṣaṁ tāṁḍavaṁ nartase yadi pārayitvā vrataṁ samyagbrahmacaryaṁ maheśvara

"you dance the tandava openly before the gods; and, O Maheshvara, having duly completed the vow of brahmacharya,"

Verse 34 (skanda.6.253.34)

मत्प्रीत्यै यदि देहार्थं वैष्णवं च प्रयच्छसि । शापस्यानुग्रहं कुर्यां प्रसववदना सती

matprītyai yadi dehārthaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca prayacchasi śāpasyānugrahaṁ kuryāṁ prasavavadanā satī

"and, for my pleasure, undertake also a Vaishnava observance for the body's sake — then I, my face gladdened, shall grant a mitigation of the curse."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.253.35)

नान्यथा मम चित्तं त्वां विश्वासमनुगच्छति । तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवांस्तुष्टस्तथेति प्रत्युवाच ताम्

nānyathā mama cittaṁ tvāṁ viśvāsamanugacchati tacchrutvā bhagavāṁstuṣṭastatheti pratyuvāca tām

"Not otherwise does my mind follow you with trust." Hearing this, the blessed one, pleased, replied to her, "So be it."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.253.36)

सापि हृष्टा भगवती शापस्यानुग्रहे वृता

sāpi hṛṣṭā bhagavatī śāpasyānugrahe vṛtā

She too, the blessed goddess, became joyful, resolved upon granting a mitigation of the curse.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.253.37)

इदं पुराणं मनुजः शृणोति श्रद्धायुक्तो भेदबुद्ध्या दृढत्वम् । तस्या वश्यं जीवितं सर्वसिद्धं मर्त्याः सत्यात्तच्छ्रयत्वं प्रयांति

idaṁ purāṇaṁ manujaḥ śṛṇoti śraddhāyukto bhedabuddhyā dṛḍhatvam tasyā vaśyaṁ jīvitaṁ sarvasiddhaṁ martyāḥ satyāttacchrayatvaṁ prayāṁti

That man who, endowed with faith, free from the firmness of a divisive mind, hears this Purana — his life comes under her sway and becomes wholly accomplished. Through truthfulness, mortals come to attain the state of taking refuge in her.