The Linga at Amarakantaka and the Praise of the Bull Nila

Verse 1 (skanda.6.259.1)

गालव उवाच । तस्मिंस्तु पतिते लिंगे योजनायामविस्तृते । विषादार्त्ता ऋषिगणास्तत्राजग्मुः सहस्रशः

gālava uvāca tasmiṁstu patite liṁge yojanāyāmavistṛte viṣādārttā ṛṣigaṇāstatrājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ

Galava said: When that linga, extending a full yojana in breadth, had fallen, the hosts of sages, stricken with despair, came there by the thousands.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.259.2)

व्यलोकयन्त सर्वत्र दृष्ट्वा तत्र महेश्वरम् । नासौ दृष्टिपथे तेषां बभूव भयविह्वलः

vyalokayanta sarvatra dṛṣṭvā tatra maheśvaram nāsau dṛṣṭipathe teṣāṁ babhūva bhayavihvalaḥ

They looked everywhere for Maheshvara there; but he, overcome with fear, did not come within the range of their sight.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.259.3)

वीर्यं वर्षसहस्राणि बहून्यपि सुसंचितम् । पृथिवीं सकलां व्याप्य स्थितं ददृशिरे द्विजाः

vīryaṁ varṣasahasrāṇi bahūnyapi susaṁcitam pṛthivīṁ sakalāṁ vyāpya sthitaṁ dadṛśire dvijāḥ

The twice-born saw that potency, gathered and stored over many thousands of years, pervading and covering the entire earth.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.259.4)

तद्दृष्ट्वा सुमहल्लिंगं रुधिराक्तं जलैः प्लुतम् । ब्राह्मणाः संशयगता दह्यमाना वसुन्धरा

taddṛṣṭvā sumahalliṁgaṁ rudhirāktaṁ jalaiḥ plutam brāhmaṇāḥ saṁśayagatā dahyamānā vasundharā

Seeing that vast linga, smeared with blood and drenched with water, the brahmins fell into doubt, while the earth began to burn.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.259.5)

तल्लिंगं तत्र संस्थाप्य चक्रुस्तां नर्मदां नदीम् । तज्जलं नर्मदारूपं लिंगं चामरकण्टकम्

talliṁgaṁ tatra saṁsthāpya cakrustāṁ narmadāṁ nadīm tajjalaṁ narmadārūpaṁ liṁgaṁ cāmarakaṇṭakam

Establishing that linga there, they made of it the river Narmada; that water became the form of the Narmada, and the linga became Amarakantaka.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.259.6)

नरकं वारयत्येतत्सेवितं नरकापहम् । भूतग्रहाश्च सर्वेऽपि यास्यंति विलयं ध्रुवम्

narakaṁ vārayatyetatsevitaṁ narakāpaham bhūtagrahāśca sarve'pi yāsyaṁti vilayaṁ dhruvam

This, which destroys hell, when resorted to wards off hell; and all the demon-seizing spirits too are surely brought to destruction.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.259.7)

तत्र स्नात्वा जलं पीत्वा संतर्प्य च पितॄंस्तथा । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति मनुष्यो भुवि दुर्लभान्

tatra snātvā jalaṁ pītvā saṁtarpya ca pitṝṁstathā sarvānkāmānavāpnoti manuṣyo bhuvi durlabhān

Bathing there, drinking its water, and satisfying the ancestors, a man obtains on earth all his desires, however hard to attain.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.259.8)

लिंगानि नार्मदेयानि पूजयिष्यंति ये नराः । तेषां रुद्रमयो देहो भविष्यति न संशयः

liṁgāni nārmadeyāni pūjayiṣyaṁti ye narāḥ teṣāṁ rudramayo deho bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Those men who shall worship the lingas of the Narmada — their bodies, without doubt, shall become of the very nature of Rudra.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.259.9)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण लिंगपूजा महाफला । चातुर्मास्ये रुद्रजपं हरपूजा शिवे रतिः

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa liṁgapūjā mahāphalā cāturmāsye rudrajapaṁ harapūjā śive ratiḥ

Especially during Chaturmasya, worship of the linga bears great fruit; during Chaturmasya, one should perform japa of Rudra, worship of Hara, and devotion to Shiva.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.259.10)

पंचामृतेन स्नपनं न तेषांगर्भवेदना । ये करिष्यंति मधुना सेचनं लिंगमस्तके

paṁcāmṛtena snapanaṁ na teṣāṁgarbhavedanā ye kariṣyaṁti madhunā secanaṁ liṁgamastake

Those who bathe the linga with the five nectars shall not suffer the pain of the womb; those who perform the anointing of the linga's crown with honey —

Verse 11 (skanda.6.259.11)

तेषां दुःखसहस्राणि यास्यंति विलयं ध्रुवम् । दीपदानं कृतं येन चातुर्मास्ये शिवाग्रतः

teṣāṁ duḥkhasahasrāṇi yāsyaṁti vilayaṁ dhruvam dīpadānaṁ kṛtaṁ yena cāturmāsye śivāgrataḥ

— their thousands of sorrows shall surely be destroyed. He by whom the gift of a lamp is made before Shiva during Chaturmasya —

Verse 12 (skanda.6.259.12)

कुलकोटिं समुद्धृत्य स्वेच्छया शिवलोकभाक् । चन्दनागुरुधूपैश्च सुश्वेतकुसुमैरपि

kulakoṭiṁ samuddhṛtya svecchayā śivalokabhāk candanāgurudhūpaiśca suśvetakusumairapi

— having thereby delivered ten million of his lineage, he freely becomes a sharer of Shiva's world; and with sandalwood, aguru-incense, and pure white flowers,

Verse 13 (skanda.6.259.13)

नर्मदाजललिंगं ये ह्यर्चयिष्यंति ते शिवाः । शिला हरत्वमापन्नाः प्राणिनामपि का कथा

narmadājalaliṁgaṁ ye hyarcayiṣyaṁti te śivāḥ śilā haratvamāpannāḥ prāṇināmapi kā kathā

Whoever shall worship the linga formed of the Narmada's water become themselves Shiva; even mere stones attain the nature of Hara — what then to speak of living beings?

Verse 14 (skanda.6.259.14)

तत्संभूतं महालिंगं जलधारणसंयुतम् । पूजयित्वा विधानेन चातुर्मास्ये शिवो भवेत्

tatsaṁbhūtaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ jaladhāraṇasaṁyutam pūjayitvā vidhānena cāturmāsye śivo bhavet

Having worshipped, according to due rite, that great linga born of it, joined with the continuous flow of water, during Chaturmasya one becomes Shiva.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.259.15)

चातुर्मास्ये ये मनुजा नर्मदाऽमरकण्टके । तीर्थे स्नास्यंति नियतास्तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे

cāturmāsye ye manujā narmadā'marakaṇṭake tīrthe snāsyaṁti niyatāsteṣāṁ vāsastriviṣṭape

Those men who, self-restrained, shall bathe at the tirtha of Narmada-Amarakantaka during Chaturmasya — their dwelling shall be in heaven.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.259.16)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ते द्विजास्तत्र स्थाप्य लिंगं यथाविधि । अमरकण्टकतीर्थे नर्मदां च महानदीम्

brahmovāca ityuktvā te dvijāstatra sthāpya liṁgaṁ yathāvidhi amarakaṇṭakatīrthe narmadāṁ ca mahānadīm

Brahma said: Having said this, those twice-born, duly establishing the linga there, together with the great river Narmada, at the tirtha of Amarakantaka,

Verse 17 (skanda.6.259.17)

पुनश्चिन्तापरा जाता विश्वस्य क्षोभकारणे । पद्मासनगता भूत्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः

punaścintāparā jātā viśvasya kṣobhakāraṇe padmāsanagatā bhūtvā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ

once more fell into anxious thought over the cause of the universe's disturbance; seated in the lotus posture, devoted to breath-control,

Verse 18 (skanda.6.259.18)

चिन्तयामासुरव्यग्रं हृदयस्थं महेश्वरम् । ततो देवा महेंद्राद्याः संप्राप्यामरकण्टकम्

cintayāmāsuravyagraṁ hṛdayasthaṁ maheśvaram tato devā maheṁdrādyāḥ saṁprāpyāmarakaṇṭakam

they meditated, undistracted, upon Maheshvara dwelling in their hearts. Then the gods, headed by Mahendra, having arrived at Amarakantaka,

Verse 19 (skanda.6.259.19)

ब्राह्मणानां स्तुतिं चक्रुर्विनयानतकन्धराः । नमोऽस्तु वो द्विजातिभ्यो ब्रह्मविद्भ्यो महेश्वराः

brāhmaṇānāṁ stutiṁ cakrurvinayānatakandharāḥ namo'stu vo dvijātibhyo brahmavidbhyo maheśvarāḥ

offered praise to the brahmins, their necks bowed in humility: 'Salutation to you, O twice-born, knowers of Brahman, O great lords —'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.259.20)

भूसुरेभ्यो गुरुभ्यश्च विमुक्तेभ्यश्च वंधनात् । यूयं गुणत्रयातीता गुणरूपा गुणाकराः

bhūsurebhyo gurubhyaśca vimuktebhyaśca vaṁdhanāt yūyaṁ guṇatrayātītā guṇarūpā guṇākarāḥ

'— to the gods on earth, our teachers, freed from all bondage; you are beyond the three gunas, and yet you are the form of the gunas and their very mine.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.259.21)

गुणत्रयमयैर्भावैः सततं प्राणबुद्बुदाः । येषां वाक्यजलेनैव पापिष्ठा अपि शुद्धताम् । प्रयांति पापपुंजाश्च भस्मसाद्यांति पापिनाम्

guṇatrayamayairbhāvaiḥ satataṁ prāṇabudbudāḥ yeṣāṁ vākyajalenaiva pāpiṣṭhā api śuddhatām prayāṁti pāpapuṁjāśca bhasmasādyāṁti pāpinām

'Though ever, by their triple-gunaed nature, mere bubbles of life-breath, yet by the very water of your speech even the most sinful attain purity, and the very heaps of sinners' sins are reduced to ashes.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.259.22)

शस्त्रं लोहमयं येषां वागेव तत्समन्विताः । पापैः पराभिभूतानां तेषां लोकोत्तरं बलम्

śastraṁ lohamayaṁ yeṣāṁ vāgeva tatsamanvitāḥ pāpaiḥ parābhibhūtānāṁ teṣāṁ lokottaraṁ balam

'Their weapon is not one of iron, but speech itself endowed with that same power; against those overpowered by sin, their strength is beyond that of this world.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.259.23)

क्षमया पृथिवीतुल्याः कोपे वैश्वानरप्रभाः । पातनेऽनेकशक्तीनां समर्था यूयमेव हि

kṣamayā pṛthivītulyāḥ kope vaiśvānaraprabhāḥ pātane'nekaśaktīnāṁ samarthā yūyameva hi

'In forbearance you are equal to the earth, in wrath you blaze with the splendor of fire; in bringing down countless powers, you alone are capable indeed.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.259.24)

स्वर्गादीनां तथा याने भवन्तो गतयो ध्रुवम्

svargādīnāṁ tathā yāne bhavanto gatayo dhruvam

'And likewise, for attaining heaven and the like, you are indeed the certain path.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.259.25)

सत्कर्मकारकाश्चैव सत्कर्मनिरताः सदा । सत्कर्मफलदातारः सत्कर्मेभ्यो मुमुक्षवः

satkarmakārakāścaiva satkarmaniratāḥ sadā satkarmaphaladātāraḥ satkarmebhyo mumukṣavaḥ

'You are the doers of good deeds, and ever devoted to good deeds; the bestowers of the fruit of good deeds, and those who seek liberation through good deeds.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.259.26)

सावित्रीमंत्रनिरता ये भवंतोऽघनाशनाः । आत्मानं यजमानं च तारयंति न संशयः

sāvitrīmaṁtraniratā ye bhavaṁto'ghanāśanāḥ ātmānaṁ yajamānaṁ ca tārayaṁti na saṁśayaḥ

'You who are devoted to the Savitri mantra and destroy sin — without doubt you carry across both yourselves and the sacrificer.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.259.27)

वह्नयश्च तथा विप्रास्तर्पिताः कार्यसाधकाः । चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण तेषां पूजा महाफला

vahnayaśca tathā viprāstarpitāḥ kāryasādhakāḥ cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa teṣāṁ pūjā mahāphalā

'The sacred fires, and likewise the brahmins, when satisfied, become the accomplishers of our purposes; especially during Chaturmasya, worship of them bears great fruit.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.259.28)

कोपिताः सर्वदेहस्य नाशनाय भवंति हि । तावन्न वज्रमिंद्रस्य शूलं नैव पिनाकिनः

kopitāḥ sarvadehasya nāśanāya bhavaṁti hi tāvanna vajramiṁdrasya śūlaṁ naiva pinākinaḥ

'When angered, they indeed become the cause of the destruction of the entire body; against them, neither Indra's thunderbolt nor Pinakin's trident can prevail —'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.259.29)

दण्डो यमस्य तावन्नो यावच्छापो द्विजोद्भवः । अग्निना ज्वाल्यते दृश्यं शापोद्दिष्टानपि स्वयम्

daṇḍo yamasya tāvanno yāvacchāpo dvijodbhavaḥ agninā jvālyate dṛśyaṁ śāpoddiṣṭānapi svayam

'— nor is even Yama's staff as potent as the curse born of a brahmin. Fire burns only what is visible, but such a curse of itself consumes even the one at whom it is aimed.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.259.30)

हंति जातानजातांश्च तस्माद्विप्रं न कोपयेत् । विप्रकोपाग्निना दग्धो नरकान्नैव मुच्यते

haṁti jātānajātāṁśca tasmādvipraṁ na kopayet viprakopāgninā dagdho narakānnaiva mucyate

'It slays both the born and the unborn; therefore one should never provoke a brahmin's anger. One scorched by the fire of a brahmin's wrath is never freed even from hell.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.259.31)

शस्त्रक्षतोऽपि नरकान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । देवानां मधुधान्यानां सामर्थ्यं भेदनेन हि

śastrakṣato'pi narakānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ devānāṁ madhudhānyānāṁ sāmarthyaṁ bhedanena hi

'Even one wounded by a weapon is freed from hell — of this there is no doubt; but the power of the gods, and of honey and grain, is nothing beside the power to wound by speech.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.259.32)

वाङ्मात्रेण हि विप्रस्य भिद्यते सकलं जगत् । ते यूयं गुरवोऽस्माकं विश्वकारणकारकाः । प्रसादपरमा नित्यं भवंतु भुवनेश्वराः

vāṅmātreṇa hi viprasya bhidyate sakalaṁ jagat te yūyaṁ guravo'smākaṁ viśvakāraṇakārakāḥ prasādaparamā nityaṁ bhavaṁtu bhuvaneśvarāḥ

'By speech alone a brahmin can shatter the entire world. You, therefore, are our teachers, the makers of the very cause of the universe; may you, O lords of the worlds, ever be supremely gracious.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.259.33)

ईश्वरेण विना सर्वे वयं लोकाश्च दुःखिताः । तत्कथ्यतां स भगवान्कुत्रास्ते परमेश्वरः

īśvareṇa vinā sarve vayaṁ lokāśca duḥkhitāḥ tatkathyatāṁ sa bhagavānkutrāste parameśvaraḥ

'Without Ishvara, all of us and the worlds are grieving; therefore tell us, where does that Lord, the Supreme God, now dwell?'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.259.34)

गालव उवाच । ज्ञात्वा मुनिभयत्रस्तं देवेशं शूलपाणिनम् । सुरभीगर्भसंभूतं देवानूचुर्महर्षयः

gālava uvāca jñātvā munibhayatrastaṁ deveśaṁ śūlapāṇinam surabhīgarbhasaṁbhūtaṁ devānūcurmaharṣayaḥ

Galava said: Knowing that the trident-bearing Lord of gods, terrified by fear of the sages, had come to dwell within Surabhi's womb, the great sages spoke to the gods:

Verse 35 (skanda.6.259.35)

स्वागतं देवदेवेभ्यो ज्ञातो वै स महेश्वरः । तत्र गच्छंतु देवेशा यत्र देवः सनातनः

svāgataṁ devadevebhyo jñāto vai sa maheśvaraḥ tatra gacchaṁtu deveśā yatra devaḥ sanātanaḥ

'Welcome, O gods of gods — indeed, that Maheshvara has been found; let the lords of gods go there, where the eternal God is.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.259.36)

इत्युक्त्वा ते महात्मानः सह देवैर्ययुस्तदा । गोलोकं देवमार्गेण यत्र पायसकर्दमाः

ityuktvā te mahātmānaḥ saha devairyayustadā golokaṁ devamārgeṇa yatra pāyasakardamāḥ

Having said this, those great souls then went, together with the gods, by the path of the gods, toward Goloka, where there are pools of milk-pudding,

Verse 37 (skanda.6.259.37)

घृतनद्योमधु ह्रदा नदीनां यत्र संघशः । पूर्वजानां गणाः सर्वे दधिपीयूषपाणयः

ghṛtanadyomadhu hradā nadīnāṁ yatra saṁghaśaḥ pūrvajānāṁ gaṇāḥ sarve dadhipīyūṣapāṇayaḥ

where there are rivers of ghee and lakes of honey, where the multitudes of rivers flow, and where all the hosts of the ancestors stand, their hands filled with curds and nectar,

Verse 38 (skanda.6.259.38)

मरीचिपाः सोमपाश्च सिद्धसंघास्तथा परे । घृतपाश्चैव साध्याश्च यत्र देवाः सनातनाः

marīcipāḥ somapāśca siddhasaṁghāstathā pare ghṛtapāścaiva sādhyāśca yatra devāḥ sanātanāḥ

and where the drinkers of moonbeams, the drinkers of soma, other hosts of Siddhas, the drinkers of ghee, the Sadhyas, and the eternal gods dwell.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.259.39)

ते तत्र गत्वा मुनयो ददृशुः सुरभीसुतम् । तेजसा भास्करं चैव नीलनामेति विश्रुतम् । इतस्ततोऽभिधावंतं गवां संघातमध्यगम्

te tatra gatvā munayo dadṛśuḥ surabhīsutam tejasā bhāskaraṁ caiva nīlanāmeti viśrutam itastato'bhidhāvaṁtaṁ gavāṁ saṁghātamadhyagam

Having gone there, the sages beheld Surabhi's son — radiant as the sun, known by the celebrated name Nila — running here and there in the midst of the assembled herd of cows,

Verse 40 (skanda.6.259.40)

नंदा सुमनसा चैव सुरूपा च सुशीलका । कामिनी नंदिनी चैव मेध्या चैव हिरण्यदा

naṁdā sumanasā caiva surūpā ca suśīlakā kāminī naṁdinī caiva medhyā caiva hiraṇyadā

among them Nanda, Sumanasa, Surupa, and Sushilaka, Kamini, Nandini, Medhya, and Hiranyada,

Verse 41 (skanda.6.259.41)

धनदा धर्मदा चैव नर्मदा सकलप्रिया । वामनालंबिका कृष्णा दीर्घशृंगा सुपिच्छिका

dhanadā dharmadā caiva narmadā sakalapriyā vāmanālaṁbikā kṛṣṇā dīrghaśṛṁgā supicchikā

Dhanada, Dharmada, and Narmada dear to all, Vamana, Alambika, Krishna, Dirghashringa, and Supicchika,

Verse 42 (skanda.6.259.42)

तारा तरेयिका शांता दुर्विषह्या मनोरमा । सुनासा दीर्घनासा च गौरा गौरमुखीह या

tārā tareyikā śāṁtā durviṣahyā manoramā sunāsā dīrghanāsā ca gaurā gauramukhīha yā

Tara, Tareyika, Shanta, Durvishahya, Manorama, Sunasa, Dirghanasa, Gaura, and she who was Gauramukhi,

Verse 43 (skanda.6.259.43)

हरिद्रवर्णा नीला च शंखिनी पंचवर्णका । विनताभिनता चैव भिन्नवर्णा सुपत्रिका

haridravarṇā nīlā ca śaṁkhinī paṁcavarṇakā vinatābhinatā caiva bhinnavarṇā supatrikā

Haridravarna, Nila, Shankhini, Panchavarnaka, Vinata, Abhinata, Bhinnavarna, and Supatrika —

Verse 44 (skanda.6.259.44)

जयाऽरुणा च कुण्डोध्नी सुदती चारुचंपका । एतासां मध्यगं नीलं दृष्ट्वा ता मुनिदेवताः

jayā'ruṇā ca kuṇḍodhnī sudatī cārucaṁpakā etāsāṁ madhyagaṁ nīlaṁ dṛṣṭvā tā munidevatāḥ

and Jaya, Aruna, Kundodhni, Sudati, and Charuchampaka — seeing Nila in the midst of these, those sage-deities,

Verse 45 (skanda.6.259.45)

विचरंति सुरूपं तं संजातविस्मयोन्मुखाः । मुनीश्वराः कृपाविष्टा इन्द्राद्या हृष्टमानसाः । स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्त्तुं तेजसा तस्य तोषिताः

vicaraṁti surūpaṁ taṁ saṁjātavismayonmukhāḥ munīśvarāḥ kṛpāviṣṭā indrādyā hṛṣṭamānasāḥ stutimārebhire karttuṁ tejasā tasya toṣitāḥ

filled with wonder at seeing that beautiful one moving about, the lords of sages, overcome with tenderness, and Indra and the others, their minds delighted and pleased by his radiance, began to offer him praise.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.259.46)

शूद्र उवाच । कथं नीलेति नामासौ जातोयमद्भुताकृतिः । किमस्तुवन्प्रसन्नास्ते ब्राह्मणा विश्वकारणम्

śūdra uvāca kathaṁ nīleti nāmāsau jātoyamadbhutākṛtiḥ kimastuvanprasannāste brāhmaṇā viśvakāraṇam

The shudra said: How did this being of wondrous form come to bear the name Nila? And what did those gladdened brahmins praise as the cause of the universe?

Verse 47 (skanda.6.259.47)

गालव उवाच । लोहितो यस्तु वर्णेन मुखे पुच्छे च पांडुरः । श्वेतः खुरविषाणेषु स नीलो वृषभः स्मृतः

gālava uvāca lohito yastu varṇena mukhe pucche ca pāṁḍuraḥ śvetaḥ khuraviṣāṇeṣu sa nīlo vṛṣabhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Galava said: He who is red in color, but pale-white at mouth and tail, and white at hooves and horns — he is remembered as the bull Nila.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.259.48)

चतुष्पादो धर्मरूपो नील लोहितचिह्नकः । कपिलः खुरचिह्नेषु स नीलो वृषभः स्मृतः

catuṣpādo dharmarūpo nīla lohitacihnakaḥ kapilaḥ khuracihneṣu sa nīlo vṛṣabhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Four-footed, of the form of Dharma, marked with blue and red, and tawny at the marks of his hooves — he is remembered as the bull Nila.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.259.49)

योऽसौ महेश्वरो देवो वृषश्चापि स एव हि । चतुष्पादो धर्मरूपो नीलः पंचमुखो हरः

yo'sau maheśvaro devo vṛṣaścāpi sa eva hi catuṣpādo dharmarūpo nīlaḥ paṁcamukho haraḥ

That very god Maheshvara is also this very bull — four-footed, of the form of Dharma, blue-throated, five-faced, Hara himself.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.259.50)

यस्य संदर्शनादेव वाजपेयफलं लभेत् । नीले च पूजिते यस्मिन्पूजितं सकलं जगत्

yasya saṁdarśanādeva vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet nīle ca pūjite yasminpūjitaṁ sakalaṁ jagat

By the mere sight of whom one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice; and when this Nila is worshipped, the entire universe is worshipped.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.259.51)

स्निग्धग्रासप्रदानेन जगदाप्यायितं भवेत् । यस्य देहे सदा श्रीमान्विश्वव्यापी जनार्दनः । नित्यमर्चयते योऽसौ वेदमन्त्रैः सनातनैः

snigdhagrāsapradānena jagadāpyāyitaṁ bhavet yasya dehe sadā śrīmānviśvavyāpī janārdanaḥ nityamarcayate yo'sau vedamantraiḥ sanātanaiḥ

By giving him rich fodder, the whole world becomes nourished; he in whose body the glorious, all-pervading Janardana ever dwells, and who is himself ever worshipped with the eternal Vedic mantras.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.259.52)

ऋषय ऊचुः । त्वं देवः सर्वगोप्तॄणां विश्वगोप्ता सनातनः । विघ्नहर्ता ज्ञानदश्च धर्मरूपश्च मोक्षदः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tvaṁ devaḥ sarvagoptṝṇāṁ viśvagoptā sanātanaḥ vighnahartā jñānadaśca dharmarūpaśca mokṣadaḥ

The sages said: You are the god of all protectors, the eternal protector of the universe, the remover of obstacles, the giver of knowledge, of the very form of Dharma, and the giver of liberation.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.259.53)

त्वमेव धनदः श्रीदः सर्वव्याधिनिषूदनः । जगतां शर्मकरणे प्रवृत्तः कनकप्रदः

tvameva dhanadaḥ śrīdaḥ sarvavyādhiniṣūdanaḥ jagatāṁ śarmakaraṇe pravṛttaḥ kanakapradaḥ

You alone are the giver of wealth, the giver of fortune, the destroyer of all disease, ever intent on bringing comfort to the worlds, the giver of gold.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.259.54)

तेजसां धाम सर्वेषां सौरभेय महाबल । शृंगाग्रे धृतकैलासः पार्वतीसहितस्त्वया

tejasāṁ dhāma sarveṣāṁ saurabheya mahābala śṛṁgāgre dhṛtakailāsaḥ pārvatīsahitastvayā

You are the abode of all radiances, O mighty son of Surabhi; on the tip of your horns is borne Kailasa, together with Parvati.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.259.55)

स्तुत्यो वेदमयो वेदात्मा वेदवित्तमः । वेदवेद्यो वेदयानो वेदरूपो गुणाकरः

stutyo vedamayo vedātmā vedavittamaḥ vedavedyo vedayāno vedarūpo guṇākaraḥ

You are worthy of praise, consisting of the Vedas, of the very self of the Vedas, the greatest knower of the Vedas; knowable through the Vedas, whose vehicle is the Vedas, of the form of the Vedas, the mine of good qualities.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.259.56)

गुणत्रयेभ्योऽपि परो याथात्म्यं वेद कस्तव । वृषस्त्वं भगवान्देव यस्तुभ्यं कुरुते त्वघम्

guṇatrayebhyo'pi paro yāthātmyaṁ veda kastava vṛṣastvaṁ bhagavāndeva yastubhyaṁ kurute tvagham

You are beyond even the three gunas — who indeed can know your true nature? You are the Bull, the Lord God; and whoever commits sin against you —

Verse 57 (skanda.6.259.57)

वृषलः स तु विज्ञेयो रौरवादिषु पच्यते । यदा स्पृष्टः स तु नरो नरकादिषु यातनाः

vṛṣalaḥ sa tu vijñeyo rauravādiṣu pacyate yadā spṛṣṭaḥ sa tu naro narakādiṣu yātanāḥ

— is to be known as an outcast, and is cooked in Raurava and the other hells. When touched by that sin, that man suffers torments in hell and the like,

Verse 58 (skanda.6.259.58)

सेवते पापनिचयैर्निगाढप्रायबन्धनैः । क्षुत्क्षामं च तृषाक्रांतं महाभारसमन्वितम्

sevate pāpanicayairnigāḍhaprāyabandhanaiḥ kṣutkṣāmaṁ ca tṛṣākrāṁtaṁ mahābhārasamanvitam

— bound by the almost inescapable bonds accumulated through his heaps of sin, undergoing them emaciated with hunger, overcome by thirst, and laden with a great burden.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.259.59)

निर्दया ये प्रशोष्यंति मतिस्तेषां न शाश्वती । चतुर्भिः सहितं मर्त्या विवाहविधिना तु ये

nirdayā ye praśoṣyaṁti matisteṣāṁ na śāśvatī caturbhiḥ sahitaṁ martyā vivāhavidhinā tu ye

Those who mercilessly starve him bring him to wasting, and their understanding does not endure. But those mortals who, together with the fourfold rite, through the rite of marriage —

Verse 60 (skanda.6.259.60)

विवाहं नीलरूपस्य ये करिष्यंति मानवाः । पितॄनुद्दिश्य तेषां वै कुले नैवास्ति नारकी

vivāhaṁ nīlarūpasya ye kariṣyaṁti mānavāḥ pitṝnuddiśya teṣāṁ vai kule naivāsti nārakī

— shall perform the marriage-rite of one in the form of Nila, dedicating it to their ancestors, in their family none shall ever go to hell.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.259.61)

त्वं गतिः सर्वलोकानां त्वपिता परमेश्वरः । त्वया विना जगत्सर्वं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति

tvaṁ gatiḥ sarvalokānāṁ tvapitā parameśvaraḥ tvayā vinā jagatsarvaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati

You are the refuge of all the worlds, the fatherless Supreme Lord; without you the entire universe would perish that very instant.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.259.62)

परा चैव तु पश्यंती मध्यमा वैखरी तथा । चतुर्विधानां वचसामीश्वरं त्वां विदुर्बुधाः

parā caiva tu paśyaṁtī madhyamā vaikharī tathā caturvidhānāṁ vacasāmīśvaraṁ tvāṁ vidurbudhāḥ

Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama, and likewise Vaikhari — of these four kinds of speech, the wise know you to be the Lord.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.259.63)

चतुःशृंगं चतुष्पादं द्विशीर्षसप्तहस्तकम् । त्रिधा बद्धं धर्ममयं त्वामेव वृषभं विदुः

catuḥśṛṁgaṁ catuṣpādaṁ dviśīrṣasaptahastakam tridhā baddhaṁ dharmamayaṁ tvāmeva vṛṣabhaṁ viduḥ

Four-horned, four-footed, two-headed, seven-handed, bound in three ways, of the form of Dharma — they know you as this very bull.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.259.64)

तृप्तिदं सर्वभूतानां विश्वव्यापकमोजसा । ब्रह्म धर्ममयं नित्यं त्वामात्मानं विदुर्जनाः

tṛptidaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ viśvavyāpakamojasā brahma dharmamayaṁ nityaṁ tvāmātmānaṁ vidurjanāḥ

The giver of satisfaction to all beings, pervading the universe through your own vigor — people know you, the eternal Brahman consisting of Dharma, as their own Self.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.259.65)

अच्छेद्यस्त्वमभेद्यस्त्वमप्रमेयो महायशाः । अशोच्यस्त्वमदाह्योऽसि विदुः पौराणिका जनाः

acchedyastvamabhedyastvamaprameyo mahāyaśāḥ aśocyastvamadāhyo'si viduḥ paurāṇikā janāḥ

You are uncuttable, unpierceable, immeasurable, of great renown; you are not to be grieved for, and unburnable — so know the men versed in the Puranas.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.259.66)

त्वदाधारमिदं सर्वं त्वदाधारमिदं जगत् । त्वदाधाराश्च देवाश्च त्वदाधारं तथा मृतम्

tvadādhāramidaṁ sarvaṁ tvadādhāramidaṁ jagat tvadādhārāśca devāśca tvadādhāraṁ tathā mṛtam

Upon you rests all this, upon you rests this universe; upon you rest the gods, and upon you likewise rests even death.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.259.67)

जीवरूपेण लोकांस्त्रीन्व्याप्य तिष्ठसि नित्यदा

jīvarūpeṇa lokāṁstrīnvyāpya tiṣṭhasi nityadā

In the form of the life-principle you pervade and abide within the three worlds forever.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.259.68)

एवं स संस्तुतो नीलो विप्रैस्तैः सोमपायिभिः । प्रसन्नवदनो भूत्वा विप्रान्प्रणतितत्परः

evaṁ sa saṁstuto nīlo vipraistaiḥ somapāyibhiḥ prasannavadano bhūtvā viprānpraṇatitatparaḥ

Thus praised by those brahmins, drinkers of soma, Nila, his countenance gladdened, became intent on bowing to those brahmins,

Verse 69 (skanda.6.259.69)

पुनरेव वचः प्रोचुर्विप्राः कृतशिवागसः । वरं ददुर्महेशस्य नीलरूपस्य धर्मतः

punareva vacaḥ procurviprāḥ kṛtaśivāgasaḥ varaṁ dadurmaheśasya nīlarūpasya dharmataḥ

and the brahmins, who had committed an offense against Shiva, spoke words once more, and rightfully granted a boon to Mahesha in his form as Nila —

Verse 70 (skanda.6.259.70)

एकादशाहे प्रेतस्य यस्य नोत्सृज्यते वृषः । प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तस्य दत्तैः श्राद्धशतैरपि

ekādaśāhe pretasya yasya notsṛjyate vṛṣaḥ pretatvaṁ susthiraṁ tasya dattaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi

— that for whichever departed soul a bull is not released on the eleventh day, his state as a ghost remains fixed, even though hundreds of shraddha-rites be offered.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.259.71)

पुनरेव सुसर्पंतं दृष्ट्वा नीलं महावृषम् । स्वल्पक्रोधसमाविष्टं द्विजाश्चक्रुस्तमंकितम्

punareva susarpaṁtaṁ dṛṣṭvā nīlaṁ mahāvṛṣam svalpakrodhasamāviṣṭaṁ dvijāścakrustamaṁkitam

Then, seeing the great bull Nila roaming about once more, the twice-born, seized by a little anger, marked him —

Verse 72 (skanda.6.259.72)

चक्रं च वामभागेषु शूलं पार्श्वे च दक्षिणे । उत्ससृजुर्गवां मध्ये तं देवैर्गोपितं तदा

cakraṁ ca vāmabhāgeṣu śūlaṁ pārśve ca dakṣiṇe utsasṛjurgavāṁ madhye taṁ devairgopitaṁ tadā

— with a wheel on his left flank and a trident on his right side, and then released him, guarded by the gods, into the midst of the cows.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.259.73)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे महर्षीणां गणाः पुनः । स्वानि स्थानानि ते जग्मुर्मुनयो वीतमत्सराः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve maharṣīṇāṁ gaṇāḥ punaḥ svāni sthānāni te jagmurmunayo vītamatsarāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, and once again the hosts of the great sages — those sages free from envy — went each to their own abodes.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.259.74)

एवमृषीणां दयितासु सक्तः कामार्त्तचित्तो मुनिपुंगवानाम् । शापं समासाद्य शिवोऽपि भक्त्या रेवाजलेऽगात्सुशिलामयत्वम्

evamṛṣīṇāṁ dayitāsu saktaḥ kāmārttacitto munipuṁgavānām śāpaṁ samāsādya śivo'pi bhaktyā revājale'gātsuśilāmayatvam

Thus, having become attached to the beloved wives of those foremost sages, his mind afflicted by desire, Shiva too, having incurred their curse, out of devotion entered the waters of the Reva and became a beautiful sacred stone.