The Glory of Siddheshvara and the Six-Syllable Mantra

Verse 1 (skanda.6.29.1)

सूत उवाच। एवं सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु संस्थितेषु द्विजोत्तमाः। तत्क्षेत्रं ख्यातिमापन्नं समस्ते धरणीतले

sūta uvāca| evaṁ sarveṣu tīrtheṣu saṁsthiteṣu dvijottamāḥ| tatkṣetraṁ khyātimāpannaṁ samaste dharaṇītale

Suta said: O best of brahmins, thus, with all the tirthas established there, that region became famed over the whole earth.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.29.2)

समस्तेभ्यस्ततोऽदूरान्मुनयः शंसितव्रताः। संश्रयंति ततो भूपास्तपोऽर्थं जरयाऽन्विताः

samastebhyastato'dūrānmunayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ| saṁśrayaṁti tato bhūpāstapo'rthaṁ jarayā'nvitāḥ

Not far from all these, sages of accomplished vows take refuge there, and kings too, come upon by old age, take shelter there for austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.29.3)

तथा ते लिंगिनो दान्ताः सिद्धिकामाः समंततः। समाश्रयंति तत्क्षेत्रं सर्वतीर्थसमाश्रयम्

tathā te liṁgino dāntāḥ siddhikāmāḥ samaṁtataḥ| samāśrayaṁti tatkṣetraṁ sarvatīrthasamāśrayam

Likewise, self-controlled linga-bearing ascetics, desiring accomplishment, take refuge on every side in that region, the refuge of all tirthas.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.29.4)

तत्र सिद्धेश्वरंनाम लिंगमस्ति द्विजोत्तमाः। सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं नृणां स्वयं सिद्धिप्रदायकम्

tatra siddheśvaraṁnāma liṁgamasti dvijottamāḥ| sarvasiddhipradaṁ nṛṇāṁ svayaṁ siddhipradāyakam

O best of brahmins, there is a linga there named Siddheshvara, granting every accomplishment to men, itself the bestower of siddhi.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.29.5)

निर्विद्य भूतले शर्वः सर्वव्यापी सदा शिवः। हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञेऽस्मिन्क्षेत्रे देवः स्वयं स्थितः

nirvidya bhūtale śarvaḥ sarvavyāpī sadā śivaḥ| hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñe'sminkṣetre devaḥ svayaṁ sthitaḥ

Having renounced the earth's ties, the all-pervading, eternal Shiva stands here himself, the god present in this Hatakeshvara region.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.29.6)

लिंगरूपेण भगवान्प्रादुर्भूतः स्वयं हरः। स्मरणाद्दर्शनाच्चैव सर्वसिद्धिप्रदः सदा

liṁgarūpeṇa bhagavānprādurbhūtaḥ svayaṁ haraḥ| smaraṇāddarśanāccaiva sarvasiddhipradaḥ sadā

The Lord Hara himself has manifested in the form of a linga, and, by mere remembrance and mere sight, ever grants every accomplishment.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.29.7)

सिद्धेनाराधितो यस्मात्तस्मात्सिद्धेश्वरः स्मृतः। तस्यैव वरदानाद्धि अत्रैवावस्थितो हरः

siddhenārādhito yasmāttasmātsiddheśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ| tasyaiva varadānāddhi atraivāvasthito haraḥ

Because it was worshipped by a siddha, it is remembered as Siddheshvara; it is by that very act of granting him a boon that Hara has remained fixed here.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.29.8)

यस्तं पश्यति सद्भक्त्या शुचिः स्पृशति वा नरः। वांछितं लभते सद्यो यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

yastaṁ paśyati sadbhaktyā śuciḥ spṛśati vā naraḥ| vāṁchitaṁ labhate sadyo yadyapi syātsudurlabham

Whatever man, being pure, sees it with true devotion, or touches it, obtains at once whatever he desires, however hard to attain it may be.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.29.9)

तत्र सिद्धिं गताः पूर्वं शतशः पुरुषा भुवि। दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाच्चान्ये प्रणामादपरे नराः

tatra siddhiṁ gatāḥ pūrvaṁ śataśaḥ puruṣā bhuvi| darśanātsparśanāccānye praṇāmādapare narāḥ

There, in the past, hundreds of men on earth have attained accomplishment -- some through sight, some through touch, and others merely through bowing.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.29.10)

दक्षिणामूर्तिमासाद्य मन्त्रं तस्य षडक्षरम्। यो जपेच्छ्रद्धयोपेतस्तस्यायुः संप्रवर्धते

dakṣiṇāmūrtimāsādya mantraṁ tasya ṣaḍakṣaram| yo japecchraddhayopetastasyāyuḥ saṁpravardhate

Whoever, coming to Dakshinamurti, recites, filled with faith, his six-syllable mantra, his lifespan increases.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.29.11)

यावत्संख्यं जपेन्मत्रं तावत्संख्यान्यहानि सः। आयुषः परतो मर्त्यो जीवते नात्र संशयः

yāvatsaṁkhyaṁ japenmatraṁ tāvatsaṁkhyānyahāni saḥ| āyuṣaḥ parato martyo jīvate nātra saṁśayaḥ

For as many times as he recites the mantra, for that many additional days does that mortal live beyond his allotted span -- of this there is no doubt.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.29.12)

ऋषय ऊचुः। अत्याश्चर्यमिदं सूत यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम्। आयुषोऽप्यधिकं मर्त्यो जीवते यदि मानवः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| atyāścaryamidaṁ sūta yattvayā parikīrtitam| āyuṣo'pyadhikaṁ martyo jīvate yadi mānavaḥ

The sages said: O Suta, this is most wondrous, what you have declared -- that a man may live even beyond his allotted lifespan.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.29.13)

सूत उवाच। अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि स्वयमेव मया श्रुतम्। वदतस्तत्समुद्दिश्य यद्वत्सस्य महात्मनः

sūta uvāca| atra vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi svayameva mayā śrutam| vadatastatsamuddiśya yadvatsasya mahātmanaḥ

Suta said: On this matter I shall tell you what I myself heard, spoken by the great soul Vatsa, on this very subject.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.29.14)

पुरा मे वसमानस्य पुरतोऽत्र पितुर्गृहे। आयातः स मुनिस्तत्र वत्सो नाम महाद्युतिः

purā me vasamānasya purato'tra piturgṛhe| āyātaḥ sa munistatra vatso nāma mahādyutiḥ

Formerly, while I was dwelling here in my father's house, that highly radiant sage named Vatsa arrived there.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.29.15)

वहमानो युवावस्थां द्वादशार्कसमद्युतिः। अंगैः सर्वैस्तु रूपाढ्यः कामदेव इवापरः

vahamāno yuvāvasthāṁ dvādaśārkasamadyutiḥ| aṁgaiḥ sarvaistu rūpāḍhyaḥ kāmadeva ivāparaḥ

Bearing the state of youth, radiant as twelve suns, endowed with beauty in every limb, he was like a second Kamadeva.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.29.16)

मत्पित्रा स तदा दृष्टस्ततो भक्त्याऽभिवादितः। अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा ततः प्रोक्तो विश्रांतो विनयेन च

matpitrā sa tadā dṛṣṭastato bhaktyā'bhivāditaḥ| arghyaṁ dattvā tataḥ prokto viśrāṁto vinayena ca

My father, seeing him, bowed to him with devotion, offered him water of welcome, and, after he had rested, said to him respectfully --

Verse 17 (skanda.6.29.17)

स्वागतं तव विप्रेंद्र कुतस्त्वमिह चागतः। आदेशो दीयतां मह्यं किं करोमि यथोचितम्

svāgataṁ tava vipreṁdra kutastvamiha cāgataḥ| ādeśo dīyatāṁ mahyaṁ kiṁ karomi yathocitam

'Welcome, O foremost brahmin -- from where have you come here? Give me your command; what fitting service may I do for you?'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.29.18)

वत्स उवाच। तवाश्रमपदे सूत चातुर्मास्यसमुद्भवम्। कर्तुमिच्छाम्यनुष्ठानं शुश्रूषां चेत्करोषि मे

vatsa uvāca| tavāśramapade sūta cāturmāsyasamudbhavam| kartumicchāmyanuṣṭhānaṁ śuśrūṣāṁ cetkaroṣi me

Vatsa said: O Suta, I wish to perform the observance of the four rainy months in your hermitage, if you will attend upon me.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.29.19)

लोमहर्षण उवाच। एवं विप्र करिष्यामि तवादेशमसंशयम्। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्त्वं मे गृहमागतः

lomaharṣaṇa uvāca| evaṁ vipra kariṣyāmi tavādeśamasaṁśayam| dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi yastvaṁ me gṛhamāgataḥ

Lomaharshana said: So be it, brahmin; I shall carry out your command without doubt. I am fortunate and blessed that you have come to my house.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.29.20)

एवमुक्ताथ मामाह स पिता द्विजसत्तमाः। त्वया वत्सस्य कर्तव्या शुश्रूषा नित्यमेव हि

evamuktātha māmāha sa pitā dvijasattamāḥ| tvayā vatsasya kartavyā śuśrūṣā nityameva hi

O best of brahmins, having said this, my father then told me: You must always attend upon the sage Vatsa.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.29.21)

ततोऽहं विनयोपेतस्तस्य कृत्यानि कृत्स्नशः। करोमि स च मे रात्रौ चित्राः कीर्तयते कथाः

tato'haṁ vinayopetastasya kṛtyāni kṛtsnaśaḥ| karomi sa ca me rātrau citrāḥ kīrtayate kathāḥ

Then, respectfully, I performed all his tasks, and he, at night, would tell me wondrous stories.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.29.22)

राजर्षीणां पुराणानां देवदानवरक्षसाम्। द्वीपानां पर्वतानां च स्वयं दृष्ट्वा सहस्रशः

rājarṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ devadānavarakṣasām| dvīpānāṁ parvatānāṁ ca svayaṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasraśaḥ

Thousands of tales, personally witnessed by him, of royal seers, ancient lore, gods, demons and rakshasas, and of continents and mountains.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.29.23)

एकदा तु मया पृष्टः कथांते प्राप्य कौतुकम्। विस्मयाविष्टचित्तेन स द्विजो द्विजसत्तमाः

ekadā tu mayā pṛṣṭaḥ kathāṁte prāpya kautukam| vismayāviṣṭacittena sa dvijo dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, once, at the end of a tale, filled with curiosity, my mind seized with astonishment, I asked that brahmin --

Verse 24 (skanda.6.29.24)

भगवन्सुकुमारं ते शरीरं प्रथमं वयः। द्वीपानां च करोषि त्वं कथाश्चित्राः पृथक्पृथक्

bhagavansukumāraṁ te śarīraṁ prathamaṁ vayaḥ| dvīpānāṁ ca karoṣi tvaṁ kathāścitrāḥ pṛthakpṛthak

'O lord, your body is delicate and youthful, your age still in its first bloom, yet you tell such various, wondrous tales of continents --'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.29.25)

कथं सर्वं धरापृष्ठं ससमुद्रं निरीक्षितम्। स्वल्पेन वयसा तात विस्तरतो वद

kathaṁ sarvaṁ dharāpṛṣṭhaṁ sasamudraṁ nirīkṣitam| svalpena vayasā tāta vistarato vada

'How, father, with so little age, have you beheld the whole surface of the earth, together with its oceans? Tell me this in detail.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.29.26)

त्वया ये कीर्तिता द्वीपाः समुद्राः पर्वतास्तथा। मनसापि न शक्यास्ते गन्तुं मर्त्यैः कथंचन

tvayā ye kīrtitā dvīpāḥ samudrāḥ parvatāstathā| manasāpi na śakyāste gantuṁ martyaiḥ kathaṁcana

'The continents, oceans, and mountains you have described cannot be reached by ordinary mortals even in thought.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.29.27)

अत्र कौतूहलं जातमश्रद्धेयं वचस्तथा। श्रुत्वा श्रद्धेयवाक्यस्य तस्मात्सत्यं प्रकीर्तय

atra kautūhalaṁ jātamaśraddheyaṁ vacastathā| śrutvā śraddheyavākyasya tasmātsatyaṁ prakīrtaya

'I am filled with curiosity, and this account seems hard to believe; yet, since your word is trustworthy, therefore declare the truth.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.29.28)

तपसः किं प्रभावोऽयं किं वा मंत्रपराक्रमः। येन पृथ्वीतलं कृत्स्नं त्वया दृष्टं मुनीश्वर

tapasaḥ kiṁ prabhāvo'yaṁ kiṁ vā maṁtraparākramaḥ| yena pṛthvītalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ tvayā dṛṣṭaṁ munīśvara

'Is this the power of austerity, O lord of sages, or the might of a mantra, by which you have beheld the whole surface of the earth?'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.29.29)

किं वा देवप्रसादस्तु तवौषधिकृतोऽथवा। तच्च पुण्यतमं तात त्वं मे ब्रूहि सविस्तरम्

kiṁ vā devaprasādastu tavauṣadhikṛto'thavā| tacca puṇyatamaṁ tāta tvaṁ me brūhi savistaram

'Or is it a god's grace, or the effect of some herb? Father, tell me that most sacred secret in full detail.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.29.30)

अथ मां स मुनिः प्राह विहस्य मुनिसत्तमाः। सत्यमेतत्त्वया ज्ञातं मम मंत्रपराक्रमम्

atha māṁ sa muniḥ prāha vihasya munisattamāḥ| satyametattvayā jñātaṁ mama maṁtraparākramam

O best of sages, then that sage, smiling, said to me: You have rightly understood that this is the might of my mantra.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.29.31)

सदाहमष्टसंयुक्तं सहस्रं शिवसन्निधौ। जपामि शिवमंत्रस्य षडक्षरमितस्य च

sadāhamaṣṭasaṁyuktaṁ sahasraṁ śivasannidhau| japāmi śivamaṁtrasya ṣaḍakṣaramitasya ca

I always recite, in the presence of Shiva, one thousand and eight repetitions of the six-syllable mantra of Shiva.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.29.32)

त्रिकालं तेन मे जातं सुस्थिरं यौवनं मुने। अतीतानागतं ज्ञानं जीवितं च सुखोदयम्

trikālaṁ tena me jātaṁ susthiraṁ yauvanaṁ mune| atītānāgataṁ jñānaṁ jīvitaṁ ca sukhodayam

By this, O sage, I have attained a stable youth in all three times, together with knowledge of the past and future, and a life of happiness.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.29.33)

मम वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि प्रयुतानि च। संजातानि महाभाग दृश्यते प्रथमं वयः

mama varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni prayutāni ca| saṁjātāni mahābhāga dṛśyate prathamaṁ vayaḥ

O illustrious one, thousands upon thousands of years have passed for me, yet my body still appears as in its first youth.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.29.34)

अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि विस्तरेण महामते। यथा सिद्धिर्मया प्राप्ता प्रसादाच्छंकरस्य च

atra te kīrtayiṣyāmi vistareṇa mahāmate| yathā siddhirmayā prāptā prasādācchaṁkarasya ca

O wise one, I shall now tell you in detail how I obtained this accomplishment, by the grace of Shankara.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.29.35)

अहं हि ब्राह्मणो नाम्ना वत्सः ख्यातो महीतले। नानाशास्त्रकृताभ्यासः पुराऽऽसं वेदपारगः

ahaṁ hi brāhmaṇo nāmnā vatsaḥ khyāto mahītale| nānāśāstrakṛtābhyāsaḥ purā''saṁ vedapāragaḥ

I am a brahmin known by the name Vatsa, famed on earth, trained in various shastras; formerly I was versed in the Veda.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.29.36)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मेनका च वराप्सराः। वसंतसमये प्राप्ता मर्त्यलोके यदृच्छया

etasminneva kāle tu menakā ca varāpsarāḥ| vasaṁtasamaye prāptā martyaloke yadṛcchayā

At this very time, the excellent apsaras Menaka, in the season of spring, chanced to come to the mortal world.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.29.37)

सा गता भ्रममाणाथ काम्यकंनाम तद्वनम्। मत्तकोकिलनादाढ्यं मनोज्ञद्रुमसंकुलम्

sā gatā bhramamāṇātha kāmyakaṁnāma tadvanam| mattakokilanādāḍhyaṁ manojñadrumasaṁkulam

Wandering about, she reached that forest named Kamyaka, resounding with the calls of intoxicated cuckoos, dense with lovely trees.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.29.38)

यत्रास्ते मुनिशार्दूलो देवरात इति स्मृतः। व्रतस्वाध्यायसंपन्नस्तपसा ध्वस्तकिल्विषः

yatrāste muniśārdūlo devarāta iti smṛtaḥ| vratasvādhyāyasaṁpannastapasā dhvastakilviṣaḥ

There dwelt a tiger among sages, known as Devarata, accomplished in vows and Vedic study, his sins destroyed by austerity.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.29.39)

उपविष्टो नदीतीरे देवतार्च्चापरायणः। श्रद्धया परया युक्त एकाकी निर्जने वने

upaviṣṭo nadītīre devatārccāparāyaṇaḥ| śraddhayā parayā yukta ekākī nirjane vane

He sat on the riverbank, devoted to worshipping the gods, filled with the highest faith, alone in that deserted forest.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.29.40)

अथ सा पश्यतस्तस्य विवस्त्रा प्राविशज्जलम्। दिव्यरूपसमोपेता घर्मार्ता वरवर्णिनी

atha sā paśyatastasya vivastrā prāviśajjalam| divyarūpasamopetā gharmārtā varavarṇinī

Then, distressed by the heat, that beautiful woman of divine form, before his very eyes, disrobed and entered the water.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.29.41)

अथ तस्य मुनींद्रस्य रेतश्चस्कन्द तत्क्षणात्। दृष्ट्वा तां चारुसर्वांगीं जलमध्यं समाश्रिताम्

atha tasya munīṁdrasya retaścaskanda tatkṣaṇāt| dṛṣṭvā tāṁ cārusarvāṁgīṁ jalamadhyaṁ samāśritām

Seeing her, beautiful in every limb, standing amid the water, that foremost sage's seed at once fell.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.29.42)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ता सारंगी सुपिपासिता। जलमिश्रं तया रेतः पीतं सर्वमशेषतः

etasminnaṁtare prāptā sāraṁgī supipāsitā| jalamiśraṁ tayā retaḥ pītaṁ sarvamaśeṣataḥ

Meanwhile a doe, greatly thirsty, arrived there, and drank up entirely all of that seed mixed with the water.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.29.43)

अथ साऽपि दधे गर्भं मानुषं वै प्रभावतः। अमोघरेतसो मासे सुषुवे दशमे ततः

atha sā'pi dadhe garbhaṁ mānuṣaṁ vai prabhāvataḥ| amogharetaso māse suṣuve daśame tataḥ

By the power of that unfailing seed, she too conceived a human fetus, and in the tenth month gave birth.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.29.44)

जनयामास दीप्तांगी कन्यां पद्मदलेक्षणाम्। तस्मिन्नेव जले पुण्ये देवराताश्रमं प्रति

janayāmāsa dīptāṁgī kanyāṁ padmadalekṣaṇām| tasminneva jale puṇye devarātāśramaṁ prati

That radiant-bodied doe brought forth a girl with eyes like lotus petals, in that same sacred water, near Devarata's hermitage.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.29.45)

अथ तां स मुनिर्ज्ञात्वा स्वज्ञानेन स्ववीर्यजाम्। कृपया परयाविष्टो जग्राह च पुपोष च

atha tāṁ sa munirjñātvā svajñānena svavīryajām| kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo jagrāha ca pupoṣa ca

That sage, knowing through his own wisdom that she was born of his own seed, filled with great compassion, took her up and reared her.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.29.46)

स्नेहेन महता युक्तः कृतकौतुकमंगलः। रक्षमाणो वने चैनां श्वापदेभ्यः प्रयत्नतः

snehena mahatā yuktaḥ kṛtakautukamaṁgalaḥ| rakṣamāṇo vane caināṁ śvāpadebhyaḥ prayatnataḥ

Filled with great affection, having performed her auspicious rites, he protected her carefully in the forest from wild beasts.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.29.47)

आजहार सुमृष्टानि तत्कृते सुफलानि सः। स्वयं गत्वा सुदूरं च कानने श्वापदाकुले

ājahāra sumṛṣṭāni tatkṛte suphalāni saḥ| svayaṁ gatvā sudūraṁ ca kānane śvāpadākule

He himself would go far away into the beast-infested wood and bring back choice, savory fruits for her sake.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.29.48)

तत्रस्था ववृधे सा च नाम्ना ख्याता मृगावती। शुक्लपक्षे यथा व्योम्नि कलेव शशलक्ष्मणः

tatrasthā vavṛdhe sā ca nāmnā khyātā mṛgāvatī| śuklapakṣe yathā vyomni kaleva śaśalakṣmaṇaḥ

Dwelling there, she, known by the name Mrigavati, grew, as the moon's crescent waxes in the sky through the bright fortnight.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.29.49)

अथ सा भ्रममाणेन मया दृष्टा मृगेक्षणा। ततोऽहं कामबाणेन तत्क्षणात्ताडितो हृदि

atha sā bhramamāṇena mayā dṛṣṭā mṛgekṣaṇā| tato'haṁ kāmabāṇena tatkṣaṇāttāḍito hṛdi

Wandering about, I saw that doe-eyed girl, and at once my heart was struck by the arrow of desire.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.29.50)

विज्ञाय च कुमारीं तां सवर्णां चारुहासिनीम्। आदरेण गृहं गत्वा स मुनिर्याचितस्ततः

vijñāya ca kumārīṁ tāṁ savarṇāṁ cāruhāsinīm| ādareṇa gṛhaṁ gatvā sa muniryācitastataḥ

Learning of that maiden, of matching lineage and charming smile, I went respectfully to that sage's dwelling and made this request to him --

Verse 51 (skanda.6.29.51)

प्रयच्छैनां मम ब्रह्मन्पत्न्यर्थं निजकन्यकाम्। यथात्मा पोषयिष्यामि भोजनाच्छादनादिभिः

prayacchaināṁ mama brahmanpatnyarthaṁ nijakanyakām| yathātmā poṣayiṣyāmi bhojanācchādanādibhiḥ

'O brahmin, give me your own daughter as my wife; I shall provide for her myself, with food, clothing, and the rest.'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.29.52)

ततस्तेन प्रदत्ता मे तत्क्षणादेव सुन्दरी। विधिना शास्त्रदृष्टेन नक्षत्रे भगदैवते

tatastena pradattā me tatkṣaṇādeva sundarī| vidhinā śāstradṛṣṭena nakṣatre bhagadaivate

Then he gave that beautiful girl to me at once, according to the rite prescribed in the shastras, under the constellation ruled by the deity Bhaga.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.29.53)

ततः कतिपयाहस्य मयोढा सा सुविस्मिता। सखीजनसमायुक्ता फलार्थं निर्गता वने

tataḥ katipayāhasya mayoḍhā sā suvismitā| sakhījanasamāyuktā phalārthaṁ nirgatā vane

After a few days, she, now my wife, went out into the forest with her companions to gather fruit.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.29.54)

अथ वीरुधसंछन्ने वने तस्मिन्सुसंस्थिते। तया न्यस्तं पदं मूर्ध्नि तृणाच्छन्नस्य भोगिनः

atha vīrudhasaṁchanne vane tasminsusaṁsthite| tayā nyastaṁ padaṁ mūrdhni tṛṇācchannasya bhoginaḥ

In that dense forest, thick with creepers, she placed her foot upon the head of a serpent hidden beneath the grass.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.29.55)

सा दष्टा सहसा तेन पतिता वसुधातले। विषार्दिता गतप्राणा तत्क्षणादेव भामिनी

sā daṣṭā sahasā tena patitā vasudhātale| viṣārditā gataprāṇā tatkṣaṇādeva bhāminī

She was suddenly bitten by it, and, stricken with poison, that beautiful woman fell to the ground and lost her life at that very instant.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.29.56)

अथ सख्यः समागत्य तस्या दुःखेन दुःखिताः। शशंसुस्ता यथावृत्तं रुदन्त्यो मम सूतज

atha sakhyaḥ samāgatya tasyā duḥkhena duḥkhitāḥ| śaśaṁsustā yathāvṛttaṁ rudantyo mama sūtaja

O son of Suta, then her companions, themselves grieving at her sorrow, came and, weeping, related to me all that had happened.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.29.57)

ततोऽहं सत्वरं गत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां पतितां भुवि। विलापान्कृतवान्दीनो रुदितं करुणस्वरम्

tato'haṁ satvaraṁ gatvā dṛṣṭvā tāṁ patitāṁ bhuvi| vilāpānkṛtavāndīno ruditaṁ karuṇasvaram

Then, going swiftly, seeing her fallen on the ground, I, pitiable, gave way to lament, weeping in a piteous voice.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.29.58)

इयं मे सुविशालाक्षी मनःप्राणसमा प्रिया। मृता भूमौ यया हीनो नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे

iyaṁ me suviśālākṣī manaḥprāṇasamā priyā| mṛtā bhūmau yayā hīno nāhaṁ jīvitumutsahe

'This wide-eyed beloved of mine, dear as my very mind and life-breath, lies dead upon the ground; without her I cannot bear to live.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.29.59)

सोऽहमद्य गमिष्यामि परलोकं सहानया। प्रियारहितहर्म्यस्य जीवितस्य च किं फलम्

so'hamadya gamiṣyāmi paralokaṁ sahānayā| priyārahitaharmyasya jīvitasya ca kiṁ phalam

'So today I too shall go to the other world with her; what use is a home, or a life, bereft of one's beloved?'

Verse 60 (skanda.6.29.60)

पुत्रपौत्रवधूभिश्च भृत्यवर्गयुतस्य च। पत्नीहीनानि नो रेजुर्गृहाणि गृहमेधिनाम्

putrapautravadhūbhiśca bhṛtyavargayutasya ca| patnīhīnāni no rejurgṛhāṇi gṛhamedhinām

Even filled with sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, and servants, a householder's home, without his wife, does not shine.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.29.61)

यदीयं कर्णनेत्रांता तन्वंगी मधुरस्वरा। न जीवति पृथुश्रोणी मरिष्येऽहमसंशयम्

yadīyaṁ karṇanetrāṁtā tanvaṁgī madhurasvarā| na jīvati pṛthuśroṇī mariṣye'hamasaṁśayam

'If this slender-limbed, sweet-voiced woman, whose eyes reach to her ears, does not live, then I shall die too, without doubt.'

Verse 62 (skanda.6.29.62)

एवं विलपमानस्य मम सूत कुलोद्वह। आगताः सुहृदः सर्वे रुरुदुस्तेऽपि दुःखिताः

evaṁ vilapamānasya mama sūta kulodvaha| āgatāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarve ruruduste'pi duḥkhitāḥ

O son of the Suta lineage, as I thus lamented, all my friends arrived, and they too, grief-stricken, wept.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.29.63)

रुदित्वा सुचिरं तत्र तैः समं महतीं चिताम्। कृत्वा तां संनिधायाथ प्रदत्तो हव्यवाहनः

ruditvā suciraṁ tatra taiḥ samaṁ mahatīṁ citām| kṛtvā tāṁ saṁnidhāyātha pradatto havyavāhanaḥ

After weeping there for a long time together with them, a great pyre was made, she was laid upon it, and fire was given to it.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.29.64)

तत आदाय मां कृच्छ्रान्निन्युश्च स्वगृहं प्रति। रुदन्तं प्रस्खलन्तं च मुह्यमानं पदेपदे

tata ādāya māṁ kṛcchrānninyuśca svagṛhaṁ prati| rudantaṁ praskhalantaṁ ca muhyamānaṁ padepade

Then, with great difficulty, they led me, weeping, stumbling, growing faint at every step, back toward my own home.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.29.65)

ततो निशावशेषेऽहमुत्थाय त्वरयाऽन्वितः। कांतादुःखपरीतात्मा गतोऽरण्यं तदेव हि

tato niśāvaśeṣe'hamutthāya tvarayā'nvitaḥ| kāṁtāduḥkhaparītātmā gato'raṇyaṁ tadeva hi

Then, in the remaining part of the night, I rose in haste, my mind consumed by grief for my beloved, and went to that very forest.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.29.66)

कामेनोन्मत्ततां प्राप्तो भ्रममाण इतस्ततः। विलपन्नेव दुःखार्तो वने जनविवर्जिते

kāmenonmattatāṁ prāpto bhramamāṇa itastataḥ| vilapanneva duḥkhārto vane janavivarjite

Driven mad by desire, wandering here and there, tormented by grief, I gave way to lament in that forest, devoid of any human presence.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.29.67)

क्व गतासि विशालाक्षि विजनेऽस्मिन्विहाय माम्। नाहं गृहं गमिष्यामि मम दुःखाय निर्दयः

kva gatāsi viśālākṣi vijane'sminvihāya mām| nāhaṁ gṛhaṁ gamiṣyāmi mama duḥkhāya nirdayaḥ

'Where have you gone, wide-eyed one, leaving me alone in this desolate place? Merciless, for my sorrow's sake, I shall not go home.'

Verse 68 (skanda.6.29.68)

एषोऽरुणकरस्पर्शात्स्वाभां त्यजति चंद्रमाः। निशाक्षये निरुत्साहो यथाहं विधिना कृतः

eṣo'ruṇakarasparśātsvābhāṁ tyajati caṁdramāḥ| niśākṣaye nirutsāho yathāhaṁ vidhinā kṛtaḥ

'This moon too, at the touch of the sun's ruddy rays, at the ending of night, gives up its own splendor -- lifeless, as fate has made me.'

Verse 69 (skanda.6.29.69)

अयं तनुः समायाति सविता रक्तमंडलः। निगदिष्यति मे वार्तां नूनं कच्चित्त्वदुद्भवाम्

ayaṁ tanuḥ samāyāti savitā raktamaṁḍalaḥ| nigadiṣyati me vārtāṁ nūnaṁ kaccittvadudbhavām

'This slender sun, its disc red, is now rising; surely it will tell me some news arising from you.'

Verse 70 (skanda.6.29.70)

गगनं व्यापयन्सूर्यः संतापयति मां भृशम्। बाह्ये चाभ्यंतरे कामः कथं वक्ष्यामि जीवितम्

gaganaṁ vyāpayansūryaḥ saṁtāpayati māṁ bhṛśam| bāhye cābhyaṁtare kāmaḥ kathaṁ vakṣyāmi jīvitam

The sun, pervading the sky, scorches me severely, while desire burns within -- how shall I even speak of my life now?

Verse 71 (skanda.6.29.71)

करींदः स्वयमभ्येति तत्कुचाभौ समुद्वहन्। कुम्भौ गत्वा तु पृच्छामि यदि शंसति तां प्रियाम्

karīṁdaḥ svayamabhyeti tatkucābhau samudvahan| kumbhau gatvā tu pṛcchāmi yadi śaṁsati tāṁ priyām

'This elephant approaches, bearing his frontal globes like her breasts; let me go and ask him, in case he can tell me of my beloved.'

Verse 72 (skanda.6.29.72)

एवं प्रलपमानस्य मम मोहो महानभूत्। भास्करांशुप्रतप्तस्य मदनाकुलितस्य च

evaṁ pralapamānasya mama moho mahānabhūt| bhāskarāṁśuprataptasya madanākulitasya ca

Thus raving, scorched by the sun's rays and maddened by desire, a great delusion overtook me.

Verse 73 (skanda.6.29.73)

यंयं पश्यामि तत्राहं भ्रममाणो महावने। वृक्षं वा प्राणिनो वापि तंतं पृच्छामि मोहतः

yaṁyaṁ paśyāmi tatrāhaṁ bhramamāṇo mahāvane| vṛkṣaṁ vā prāṇino vāpi taṁtaṁ pṛcchāmi mohataḥ

Wandering in that great forest, in my delusion I asked whatever tree or creature I saw, one after another, about her.

Verse 74 (skanda.6.29.74)

त्वद्दंतमुसलप्रख्यं यस्या ऊरुयुगं गज। तां बालां वद चेद्दृष्टा दयां कृत्वा ममोपरि

tvaddaṁtamusalaprakhyaṁ yasyā ūruyugaṁ gaja| tāṁ bālāṁ vada ceddṛṣṭā dayāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

'O elephant, whose two thighs are like your tusks -- if you have seen that girl, tell me, having mercy upon me.'

Verse 75 (skanda.6.29.75)

त्वया जंबूक चेद्दृष्टा बिंबाफलनिभाधरा। दयिता मम तद्ब्रूहि श्रेयस्ते भविता महत्

tvayā jaṁbūka ceddṛṣṭā biṁbāphalanibhādharā| dayitā mama tadbrūhi śreyaste bhavitā mahat

'O jackal, if you have seen my beloved, her lips like the bimba fruit, tell me -- great good fortune shall be yours.'

Verse 76 (skanda.6.29.76)

अथवा बिल्व शंस त्वं यदि बिल्वोपमस्तनी। भ्रममाणा वने दृष्टा मम प्राणसमा प्रिया

athavā bilva śaṁsa tvaṁ yadi bilvopamastanī| bhramamāṇā vane dṛṣṭā mama prāṇasamā priyā

'Or tell me, O bilva tree -- if my beloved, dear as my own life, whose breasts are like the bilva fruit, was seen by you wandering in this forest.'

Verse 77 (skanda.6.29.77)

त्वत्पुष्पसदृशांगी सा मम भार्या मनस्विनी। स त्वं चंपक जानीषे यदि त्वं शंस मे द्रुतम्

tvatpuṣpasadṛśāṁgī sā mama bhāryā manasvinī| sa tvaṁ caṁpaka jānīṣe yadi tvaṁ śaṁsa me drutam

'O champak tree, my thoughtful wife's body resembles your flower -- if you know of her, tell me at once.'

Verse 78 (skanda.6.29.78)

मधूक तव पुष्पेण दयितायाः समौ शुभौ। कपोलौ पांडुरच्छायौ दृष्ट्वा त्वां स्मृतिमागतौ

madhūka tava puṣpeṇa dayitāyāḥ samau śubhau| kapolau pāṁḍuracchāyau dṛṣṭvā tvāṁ smṛtimāgatau

'O mahua tree, my beloved's two auspicious, pale-hued cheeks resemble your blossom -- seeing you has brought them to my memory.'

Verse 79 (skanda.6.29.79)

कदलीस्तंभ सुव्यक्तं प्रियायाश्च सुकोमलौ। ऊरू त्वत्तोऽपि तन्वंग्याः सत्येनात्मानमालभे

kadalīstaṁbha suvyaktaṁ priyāyāśca sukomalau| ūrū tvatto'pi tanvaṁgyāḥ satyenātmānamālabhe

'O plantain trunk, it is clear that my beloved's soft thighs are even more delicate than you -- I swear this by truth itself.'

Verse 80 (skanda.6.29.80)

भोभो मृग न मे भार्या त्वया दृष्टाऽत्र कानने। त्वत्समे लोचने स्पष्टे कज्जलेन समावृते

bhobho mṛga na me bhāryā tvayā dṛṣṭā'tra kānane| tvatsame locane spaṣṭe kajjalena samāvṛte

'O deer, have you seen my wife in this forest -- her clear eyes, lined with kohl, resembling yours?'

Verse 81 (skanda.6.29.81)

तृणादोऽपि सुवृद्धोऽपि वने वृद्धोऽपि यः पशुः। सोऽपि कांतापरित्यक्तो न मृगो रमते क्षणम्

tṛṇādo'pi suvṛddho'pi vane vṛddho'pi yaḥ paśuḥ| so'pi kāṁtāparityakto na mṛgo ramate kṣaṇam

Even an aged animal, a grazing beast grown old in the forest, once parted from its mate, that deer too finds no ease, even for a moment.

Verse 82 (skanda.6.29.82)

कांतायाः पुरतो नित्यं विधत्तेंऽगं कलापकृत्। विहंगयोनि जातोऽपि वृद्ध्यर्थं पुष्पधन्वनः

kāṁtāyāḥ purato nityaṁ vidhatteṁ'gaṁ kalāpakṛt| vihaṁgayoni jāto'pi vṛddhyarthaṁ puṣpadhanvanaḥ

Even the peacock, born in the birth of a bird, spreads his plumage before his mate, for the increase of the flower-bowed god of love.

Verse 83 (skanda.6.29.83)

योऽयं संदृश्यते हंसो हंसीमनुस्मरत्यसौ। गतिस्तादृङ्न चाप्यस्य मत्प्रियायाश्च यादृशी

yo'yaṁ saṁdṛśyate haṁso haṁsīmanusmaratyasau| gatistādṛṅna cāpyasya matpriyāyāśca yādṛśī

This swan that is seen even remembers his mate, the female swan; yet his gait is not like that of my beloved's.

Verse 84 (skanda.6.29.84)

एक एव सुधन्योऽयं चक्रवाको विहंगमः। मुहूर्तमपि योऽभीष्टां न त्यजेच्चक्रवाकिकाम्

eka eva sudhanyo'yaṁ cakravāko vihaṁgamaḥ| muhūrtamapi yo'bhīṣṭāṁ na tyajeccakravākikām

This chakravaka bird alone is truly fortunate, who never abandons his beloved chakravaki, even for a moment.

Verse 85 (skanda.6.29.85)

य एष श्रूयते रावो विभ्रमं जनयन्मम। किंवा पिकसमुत्थोऽयं किं वा मे दयितोद्भवः

ya eṣa śrūyate rāvo vibhramaṁ janayanmama| kiṁvā pikasamuttho'yaṁ kiṁ vā me dayitodbhavaḥ

This sound that I hear now fills me with confusion -- is it the call of the cuckoo, or does it come from my beloved?

Verse 86 (skanda.6.29.86)

मां दृष्ट्वाऽयं मृगो याति तं मृगी याति पृष्ठतः। धावमाना ममाप्येवमनुयाति पुरा प्रिया

māṁ dṛṣṭvā'yaṁ mṛgo yāti taṁ mṛgī yāti pṛṣṭhataḥ| dhāvamānā mamāpyevamanuyāti purā priyā

Seeing me, this stag walks away, and the doe follows behind him, running; even so my own beloved used to follow me once.

Verse 87 (skanda.6.29.87)

वारणोऽयं प्रियां कांतामनुरागानुयायिनीम्। स्पर्शयत्यग्रहस्तेन मम संस्मारयन्प्रियाम

vāraṇo'yaṁ priyāṁ kāṁtāmanurāgānuyāyinīm| sparśayatyagrahastena mama saṁsmārayanpriyāma

This bull elephant, with the tip of his trunk, touches his beloved mate who follows him out of love, and thereby reminds me of my own beloved.

Verse 88 (skanda.6.29.88)

हा प्रिये मृगशावाक्षि तप्तकांचनसंनिभे। कथं मां न विजानासि भ्रमंतमिह कानने

hā priye mṛgaśāvākṣi taptakāṁcanasaṁnibhe| kathaṁ māṁ na vijānāsi bhramaṁtamiha kānane

'Alas, my beloved, whose eyes are like a fawn's, whose hue is like refined gold -- why do you not recognize me, wandering here in this wood?'

Verse 89 (skanda.6.29.89)

क्व सा भक्तिः क्व सा प्रीतिः क्व सा तुष्टिः क्व सा दया। निगदन्तं सुदीनं मां संभाषयसि नो यतः

kva sā bhaktiḥ kva sā prītiḥ kva sā tuṣṭiḥ kva sā dayā| nigadantaṁ sudīnaṁ māṁ saṁbhāṣayasi no yataḥ

'Where has that devotion gone, where that affection, where that contentment, where that tenderness -- that you do not even answer me, calling to you so piteously?'

Verse 90 (skanda.6.29.90)

एवं प्रलपमानस्य मम प्राप्ताः सुहृज्जनाः। अन्वेषंतः पदं तत्र वनेषु विषमेषु च

evaṁ pralapamānasya mama prāptāḥ suhṛjjanāḥ| anveṣaṁtaḥ padaṁ tatra vaneṣu viṣameṣu ca

As I thus raved, my friends, searching for my footsteps through the difficult stretches of the forest, at last found me.

Verse 91 (skanda.6.29.91)

ततस्तैः कोपरक्ताक्षैः प्रोक्तोऽहं सूतनंदन। भर्त्सद्भिः परुषैर्वाक्यैर्धिक्त्वां काममयाधुना

tatastaiḥ koparaktākṣaiḥ prokto'haṁ sūtanaṁdana| bhartsadbhiḥ paruṣairvākyairdhiktvāṁ kāmamayādhunā

O son of Suta, then they, their eyes red with anger, rebuked me with harsh words: 'Shame on you now, you creature made wholly of desire!'

Verse 92 (skanda.6.29.92)

त्वं किं शोचसि मूढात्मन्नशोच्यं जीवितं नृणाम्। यतस्त्वामपि शोचंतं शोचयिष्यंति चापरे

tvaṁ kiṁ śocasi mūḍhātmannaśocyaṁ jīvitaṁ nṛṇām| yatastvāmapi śocaṁtaṁ śocayiṣyaṁti cāpare

'Why do you grieve, foolish one? The life of mortals is not to be grieved over -- for even those who grieve for you will themselves one day be grieved for by others.'

Verse 93 (skanda.6.29.93)

यूयं वयं तथा चान्ये संजाताः प्राणिनो भुवि। सर्व एव मरिष्यामस्तत्र का परिदेवना

yūyaṁ vayaṁ tathā cānye saṁjātāḥ prāṇino bhuvi| sarva eva mariṣyāmastatra kā paridevanā

'You, we, and all other creatures alike have been born upon this earth; we shall all die -- what use, then, is this lamentation?'

Verse 94 (skanda.6.29.94)

अदर्शनात्प्रिया प्राप्ता पुनश्चादर्शनं गता। न सा तव न तस्यास्त्वं वृथा किमनुशोचसि

adarśanātpriyā prāptā punaścādarśanaṁ gatā| na sā tava na tasyāstvaṁ vṛthā kimanuśocasi

'Your beloved came to you from unseen origins, and has returned again to the unseen -- she was never truly yours, nor you hers; why do you grieve in vain?'

Verse 95 (skanda.6.29.95)

नायमत्यंतसंवासः कस्यचित्केनचित्सह। अपि स्वेन शरीरेण किमुतान्यैर्वृथा जनैः

nāyamatyaṁtasaṁvāsaḥ kasyacitkenacitsaha| api svena śarīreṇa kimutānyairvṛthā janaiḥ

'No union with anyone lasts forever -- not even with one's own body, let alone with other beings, uselessly grieved over.'

Verse 96 (skanda.6.29.96)

मृतं वा यदि वा नष्टं योतीतमनुशोचति। स दुःखेन लभेद्दुःखं द्वावनर्थो प्रपद्यते

mṛtaṁ vā yadi vā naṣṭaṁ yotītamanuśocati| sa duḥkhena labhedduḥkhaṁ dvāvanartho prapadyate

'Whoever grieves for what is dead, or lost, or past, gains only further suffering from that suffering -- he arrives at a double misfortune.'

Verse 97 (skanda.6.29.97)

एवं संबोधयित्वा मां गृहीत्वा ते मुहुर्जनैः। निन्युर्गृहं ततः सर्वे वनात्तस्मात्सुदारुणात्

evaṁ saṁbodhayitvā māṁ gṛhītvā te muhurjanaiḥ| ninyurgṛhaṁ tataḥ sarve vanāttasmātsudāruṇāt

Having thus counseled me, they took hold of me repeatedly, and all of them together led me home from that most terrible forest.

Verse 98 (skanda.6.29.98)

ततो मम गृहस्थस्य स्मरमाणस्य तां प्रियाम्। उत्पन्नः सुमहान्कोपः सर्पान्प्रति महामते

tato mama gṛhasthasya smaramāṇasya tāṁ priyām| utpannaḥ sumahānkopaḥ sarpānprati mahāmate

O wise one, then, as I lived as a householder, remembering that beloved of mine, a great anger arose in me against serpents.

Verse 99 (skanda.6.29.99)

ततः कोपपरीतेन प्रतिज्ञातं मया स्फुटम्। सर्पानुद्दिश्य यत्सर्वं तन्निबोधय दारुणम्

tataḥ kopaparītena pratijñātaṁ mayā sphuṭam| sarpānuddiśya yatsarvaṁ tannibodhaya dāruṇam

Then, overcome with anger, I made a fearsome vow concerning serpents, quite clearly -- listen to all of it.

Verse 100 (skanda.6.29.100)

अद्यप्रभृति चेन्नाहं सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्। निहन्मि दण्डघातेन तत्पापं स्याद्ध्रुवं मम

adyaprabhṛti cennāhaṁ sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam| nihanmi daṇḍaghātena tatpāpaṁ syāddhruvaṁ mama

'From this day on, if I do not strike down with a blow of my staff any serpent that comes within my sight, let that sin be surely mine --'

Verse 101 (skanda.6.29.101)

यच्च निक्षेपहर्तॄणां यच्च विश्वासघातिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yacca nikṣepahartṝṇāṁ yacca viśvāsaghātinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin that belongs to those who embezzle deposits, and to those who betray trust, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 102 (skanda.6.29.102)

यत्पापं साधुनिंदायां मातापितृवधे च यत्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yatpāpaṁ sādhuniṁdāyāṁ mātāpitṛvadhe ca yat| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of slandering the virtuous, and of slaying one's mother and father, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 103 (skanda.6.29.103)

परदाररतानां च यत्पापं जीवघातिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

paradāraratānāṁ ca yatpāpaṁ jīvaghātinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those attached to others' wives, and of slayers of living beings, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 104 (skanda.6.29.104)

उक्तौ चाभिरतानां च यत्पापं गरदायिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

uktau cābhiratānāṁ ca yatpāpaṁ garadāyinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those given to harsh speech, and of poisoners, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 105 (skanda.6.29.105)

कृतघ्नानां च यत्पापं परवित्तापहारिणाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

kṛtaghnānāṁ ca yatpāpaṁ paravittāpahāriṇām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of the ungrateful, and of those who steal others' wealth, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 106 (skanda.6.29.106)

यत्पापं शस्त्रकर्तृणां तथा वह्निप्रदायिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yatpāpaṁ śastrakartṛṇāṁ tathā vahnipradāyinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those who wield weapons, and of arsonists, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 107 (skanda.6.29.107)

व्रतभंगेन यत्पापं व्रतिनां निंदयापि यत्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

vratabhaṁgena yatpāpaṁ vratināṁ niṁdayāpi yat| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of breaking one's vow, and of slandering those who keep vows, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 108 (skanda.6.29.108)

यत्पापं भ्रूणहत्यायां मृष्टमांसाशिनां च यत्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yatpāpaṁ bhrūṇahatyāyāṁ mṛṣṭamāṁsāśināṁ ca yat| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of killing an unborn child, and of those who eat savory meat, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 109 (skanda.6.29.109)

वृक्षच्छेदप्रसक्तानां यत्पापं शल्यकारिणाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

vṛkṣacchedaprasaktānāṁ yatpāpaṁ śalyakāriṇām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those given to felling trees, and of those who cause injury, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 110 (skanda.6.29.110)

पाखंडिनां च यत्पापं नास्तिकानां च यद्भवेत्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

pākhaṁḍināṁ ca yatpāpaṁ nāstikānāṁ ca yadbhavet| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of heretics, and whatever sin belongs to atheists, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 111 (skanda.6.29.111)

मांसमद्यप्रसक्तानां यत्पापं विटभोजिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

māṁsamadyaprasaktānāṁ yatpāpaṁ viṭabhojinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those attached to meat and liquor, and of those who feed profligates, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 112 (skanda.6.29.112)

मृषावादप्रसक्तानां पररंध्रावलोकिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

mṛṣāvādaprasaktānāṁ pararaṁdhrāvalokinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those given to falsehood, and of those who pry into others' faults, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 113 (skanda.6.29.113)

यत्पापं साक्ष्यकर्तृणां धान्यसंग्रहकारिणाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yatpāpaṁ sākṣyakartṛṇāṁ dhānyasaṁgrahakāriṇām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of false witnesses, and of hoarders of grain, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 114 (skanda.6.29.114)

आखेटकरतानां च यत्पापं पाशदायिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

ākheṭakaratānāṁ ca yatpāpaṁ pāśadāyinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those given to hunting, and of those who set snares, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 115 (skanda.6.29.115)

नित्यं प्रेषणकर्तॄणां यत्पापं मधुजीविनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

nityaṁ preṣaṇakartṝṇāṁ yatpāpaṁ madhujīvinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of habitual tale-bearers, and of those who live by selling honey, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 116 (skanda.6.29.116)

अदृष्टदेववक्त्राणां यत्पापं मत्स्यजीविनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

adṛṣṭadevavaktrāṇāṁ yatpāpaṁ matsyajīvinām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of fishermen, who never look upon the face of a god, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 117 (skanda.6.29.117)

विवादे पृच्छमानानां पक्षपातेन जल्पताम्। भयाद्वा यदि वा लोभाद्द्वेषाद्वा कामतोऽपि वा

vivāde pṛcchamānānāṁ pakṣapātena jalpatām| bhayādvā yadi vā lobhāddveṣādvā kāmato'pi vā

Those who, when questioned in a dispute, speak with partiality, whether out of fear, greed, hatred, or desire --

Verse 118 (skanda.6.29.118)

यत्पापं तु भवेत्तेषां निर्दयानां दुरात्मनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

yatpāpaṁ tu bhavetteṣāṁ nirdayānāṁ durātmanām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those merciless, wicked ones be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 119 (skanda.6.29.119)

कन्याविक्रयकर्तृणां यत्पापं पापसंगिनाम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

kanyāvikrayakartṛṇāṁ yatpāpaṁ pāpasaṁginām| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin of those who sell their daughters, and of those who consort with sinners, be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 120 (skanda.6.29.120)

विद्याविक्रयकर्तॄणां यत्पापं समुदाहृतम्। तन्मे स्याद्यदि नो हन्मि सर्पं दृष्टिवशं गतम्

vidyāvikrayakartṝṇāṁ yatpāpaṁ samudāhṛtam| tanme syādyadi no hanmi sarpaṁ dṛṣṭivaśaṁ gatam

'let the sin declared for those who traffic in sacred knowledge be mine, if I do not kill a serpent that comes within my sight.'

Verse 121 (skanda.6.29.121)

एवं मया प्रतिज्ञाय कोपाविष्टेन सूतज। गृहीतो लगुडः स्थूलो वधार्थं पवनाशिनाम्

evaṁ mayā pratijñāya kopāviṣṭena sūtaja| gṛhīto laguḍaḥ sthūlo vadhārthaṁ pavanāśinām

O son of Suta, having thus made this vow, overcome with anger, I took up a thick staff for the slaying of serpents (the air-eaters).

Verse 122 (skanda.6.29.122)

ततःप्रभृत्यहं भूमौ भ्रमामि लगुडायुधः। ब्राह्मीं वृत्तिं परित्यज्य मार्गमाणो भुजंगमान्

tataḥprabhṛtyahaṁ bhūmau bhramāmi laguḍāyudhaḥ| brāhmīṁ vṛttiṁ parityajya mārgamāṇo bhujaṁgamān

From then on I wandered the earth, weapon in hand, having abandoned my brahmin's calling, ever searching for serpents.

Verse 123 (skanda.6.29.123)

मया कोपपरीतेन बहवः पन्नगा हताः। विषोल्बणा महाकायास्तथान्ये मध्यमाधमाः

mayā kopaparītena bahavaḥ pannagā hatāḥ| viṣolbaṇā mahākāyāstathānye madhyamādhamāḥ

Filled with anger, I killed many serpents -- highly venomous, massive-bodied ones, and other middling and small ones too.

Verse 124 (skanda.6.29.124)

एकदाहं वनं प्राप्तो गहनं लगुडायुधः। शयानं तत्र चापश्यं जलसर्पं वयोऽधिकम्

ekadāhaṁ vanaṁ prāpto gahanaṁ laguḍāyudhaḥ| śayānaṁ tatra cāpaśyaṁ jalasarpaṁ vayo'dhikam

Once, staff in hand, I came to a dense forest, and there I saw a very old water-snake, lying asleep.

Verse 125 (skanda.6.29.125)

ततोऽहं दंडमुद्यम्य कालदंडोपमं रुषा। हन्मि तं यावदेवाहं स मां प्रोवाच पन्नगः

tato'haṁ daṁḍamudyamya kāladaṁḍopamaṁ ruṣā| hanmi taṁ yāvadevāhaṁ sa māṁ provāca pannagaḥ

Then, raising my staff, terrible as the rod of death, in fury, just as I was about to strike him, that serpent spoke to me --

Verse 126 (skanda.6.29.126)

नापराध्यामि ते किंचिदहं ब्राह्मणसत्तम। संरंभात्तत्किमर्थं मां जिघांससि वयोऽधिकम्

nāparādhyāmi te kiṁcidahaṁ brāhmaṇasattama| saṁraṁbhāttatkimarthaṁ māṁ jighāṁsasi vayo'dhikam

'O best of brahmins, I have done you no wrong at all -- why then, in your fury, do you wish to kill me, aged as I am?'

Verse 127 (skanda.6.29.127)

ततो मया स संप्रोक्तः कोपात्सलिलपन्नगः। महामन्युपरीतेन स्मृत्वा भार्यां मृगावतीम्। मम भार्या प्रिया पूर्वं सर्पेणासीद्विनाशिता

tato mayā sa saṁproktaḥ kopātsalilapannagaḥ| mahāmanyuparītena smṛtvā bhāryāṁ mṛgāvatīm| mama bhāryā priyā pūrvaṁ sarpeṇāsīdvināśitā

Then, overcome with great fury, remembering my wife Mrigavati, I said to that water-snake: 'My beloved wife was once destroyed by a serpent.'

Verse 128 (skanda.6.29.128)

ततोऽहं तेन वैरेण सूदयामि महोरगान्। अद्य त्वामपि नेष्यामि वैवस्वतगृहं प्रति। हत्वा दंडप्रहारेण तस्मादिष्टतमं स्मर

tato'haṁ tena vaireṇa sūdayāmi mahoragān| adya tvāmapi neṣyāmi vaivasvatagṛhaṁ prati| hatvā daṁḍaprahāreṇa tasmādiṣṭatamaṁ smara

'Because of that enmity I have been destroying great serpents; today I shall send you too, struck down by a blow of my staff, to the house of Vaivasvata (Yama) -- so remember whatever is dear to you.'

Verse 129 (skanda.6.29.129)

ततः स मां पुनः प्राह भयेन महतावृतः॥ शृणु तावद्वचोऽस्माकं ततः कुरु यथोचितम्

tataḥ sa māṁ punaḥ prāha bhayena mahatāvṛtaḥ|| śṛṇu tāvadvaco'smākaṁ tataḥ kuru yathocitam

Then he, gripped by great fear, spoke to me again: 'First hear my words, then do as seems proper to you.'

Verse 130 (skanda.6.29.130)

अन्ये ते पन्नगा विप्र ये दशंतीह मानवान्। वयं सलिलसंभूता निर्विषाः सर्परूपिणः

anye te pannagā vipra ye daśaṁtīha mānavān| vayaṁ salilasaṁbhūtā nirviṣāḥ sarparūpiṇaḥ

'O brahmin, those serpents that bite men are of a different kind; we, born in water, are venomless, merely serpent-shaped.'

Verse 131 (skanda.6.29.131)

एवं प्रजल्पमानोऽपि स दंडेन मया हतः। सूत तत्सूदनार्थाय निर्विकल्पेन चेतसा

evaṁ prajalpamāno'pi sa daṁḍena mayā hataḥ| sūta tatsūdanārthāya nirvikalpena cetasā

O Suta, even as he spoke thus, I struck him with my staff, my mind without wavering, intent solely on his destruction.

Verse 132 (skanda.6.29.132)

अथासौ लगुडस्पर्शात्तत्क्षणादेव पन्नगः। द्वादशार्कप्रतीकाशो बभूव पुरुषो महान्

athāsau laguḍasparśāttatkṣaṇādeva pannagaḥ| dvādaśārkapratīkāśo babhūva puruṣo mahān

Then, at the touch of my staff, that serpent, at that very instant, became a great man, radiant as twelve suns.

Verse 133 (skanda.6.29.133)

तदाश्चर्यं समालोक्य ततोऽहं विस्मयान्वितः। उक्तवांस्तं प्रणम्योच्चैः क्षम्यतामिति सादरम्

tadāścaryaṁ samālokya tato'haṁ vismayānvitaḥ| uktavāṁstaṁ praṇamyoccaiḥ kṣamyatāmiti sādaram

Beholding that wonder, filled with astonishment, I bowed to him and said aloud, respectfully: 'Forgive me.'

Verse 134 (skanda.6.29.134)

को भवान्किमिदं रूपं कृतं सर्पमयं विभो। किं वा ते ब्रह्मशापोऽयं किं वा क्रीडासदेदृशी

ko bhavānkimidaṁ rūpaṁ kṛtaṁ sarpamayaṁ vibho| kiṁ vā te brahmaśāpo'yaṁ kiṁ vā krīḍāsadedṛśī

'O lord, who are you? How did you take on this serpent form? Was this a brahmin's curse upon you, or was it merely some kind of sport?'

Verse 135 (skanda.6.29.135)

ततः प्रोवाच मां हृष्टः स नरः प्रश्रयान्वितः। शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा वृत्तांतं स्वं वदामि ते

tataḥ provāca māṁ hṛṣṭaḥ sa naraḥ praśrayānvitaḥ| śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā vṛttāṁtaṁ svaṁ vadāmi te

Then that man, delighted and full of courtesy, said to me: 'Listen attentively, I shall tell you my own story.'

Verse 136 (skanda.6.29.136)

अहमासं पुरा विप्र चमत्कारपुरोत्तमे। युवा परमतेजस्वी धनवान्सुसमृद्धिभाक्

ahamāsaṁ purā vipra camatkārapurottame| yuvā paramatejasvī dhanavānsusamṛddhibhāk

'O brahmin, I was formerly, in the excellent city of Chamatkarapura, a young man, highly radiant, wealthy, and prosperous.'

Verse 137 (skanda.6.29.137)

तत्रैव नगरे रम्ये ह्यस्ति पुण्यं शिवालयम्। सिद्धेश्वरस्य देवस्य पताकाभिरलंकृतम्

tatraiva nagare ramye hyasti puṇyaṁ śivālayam| siddheśvarasya devasya patākābhiralaṁkṛtam

'In that same delightful city stands the sacred shrine of the god Siddheshvara, adorned with banners.'

Verse 138 (skanda.6.29.138)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तत्र यात्रा व्यजायत। तत्र वादित्रघोषेण नादितं भुवनत्रयम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya tatra yātrā vyajāyata| tatra vāditraghoṣeṇa nāditaṁ bhuvanatrayam

'After some time a great festival took place there, its instrumental clamor resounding through the three worlds.'

Verse 139 (skanda.6.29.139)

अथ तत्र समायाता मुनयः संशितव्रताः। देवस्य दर्शनार्थाय शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

atha tatra samāyātā munayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ| devasya darśanārthāya śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

'There, hundreds and thousands of sages of strict vows arrived, to have the god's darshan.'

Verse 140 (skanda.6.29.140)

शैवाः पाशुपताश्चैव तथा कापालिकाश्च ये। महाव्रतधराश्चान्ये शिवभक्तिपरायणाः

śaivāḥ pāśupatāścaiva tathā kāpālikāśca ye| mahāvratadharāścānye śivabhaktiparāyaṇāḥ

'Shaivas, Pashupatas, and Kapalikas, and others bearing great vows, devoted to Shiva-worship, were there.'

Verse 141 (skanda.6.29.141)

एकाहारा निराहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे। अब्भक्षाः फलभक्षाश्च शीर्णपर्णाशिनस्तथा

ekāhārā nirāhārā vāyubhakṣāstathāpare| abbhakṣāḥ phalabhakṣāśca śīrṇaparṇāśinastathā

'Those who ate but once a day, those who fasted entirely, air-eaters, water-drinkers, fruit-eaters, and those who lived on withered leaves were there too.'

Verse 142 (skanda.6.29.142)

तेऽभिवन्द्य यथान्यायं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्। उपाविष्टाः पुरस्तस्य कथाश्चक्रुः पृथग्विधाः

te'bhivandya yathānyāyaṁ devadevaṁ maheśvaram| upāviṣṭāḥ purastasya kathāścakruḥ pṛthagvidhāḥ

'Having properly venerated the great god of gods, Maheshvara, they sat before him and told various tales.'

Verse 143 (skanda.6.29.143)

राजर्षीणां पुराणानां देवेन्द्राणां च हर्षिताः। दयाधर्मसमोपेतास्तथान्येऽपि च भूरिशः

rājarṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ devendrāṇāṁ ca harṣitāḥ| dayādharmasamopetāstathānye'pi ca bhūriśaḥ

'Joyfully they told tales of royal seers, of ancient lore, of the lords of the gods, and, in abundance, of compassion and dharma too.'

Verse 144 (skanda.6.29.144)

केचित्तत्र प्रनृत्यंति गायंति च तथाऽपरे। साधवो भक्तिसंयुक्ता वाद्यं चक्रुश्च भूरिशः

kecittatra pranṛtyaṁti gāyaṁti ca tathā'pare| sādhavo bhaktisaṁyuktā vādyaṁ cakruśca bhūriśaḥ

'There some danced, and others sang; devout holy men, filled with devotion, played many an instrument.'

Verse 145 (skanda.6.29.145)

अन्ये दानानि यच्छंति धनिनः श्रद्धयान्विताः। दीनांधकृपणेभ्यश्च तपस्विभ्यो विशेषतः

anye dānāni yacchaṁti dhaninaḥ śraddhayānvitāḥ| dīnāṁdhakṛpaṇebhyaśca tapasvibhyo viśeṣataḥ

'Others, wealthy men filled with faith, gave gifts -- especially to the poor, the blind, the destitute, and the ascetics.'

Verse 146 (skanda.6.29.146)

एवं महोत्सवे तत्र वर्तमाने महोदये। आगतो बहुभिः सार्धमहं यौवनगर्वितः

evaṁ mahotsave tatra vartamāne mahodaye| āgato bahubhiḥ sārdhamahaṁ yauvanagarvitaḥ

'While that great festival was in progress, I too, proud of my youth, came there together with many others.'

Verse 147 (skanda.6.29.147)

शिवदर्शनविद्वेषी तमसा संवृताशयः। यात्रोत्सवविनाशाय प्रेरितोऽन्यैः सुदुर्जनैः

śivadarśanavidveṣī tamasā saṁvṛtāśayaḥ| yātrotsavavināśāya prerito'nyaiḥ sudurjanaiḥ

'harboring hostility toward the sight of Shiva, my mind clouded by darkness, incited by other utterly wicked men to destroy that festival --'

Verse 148 (skanda.6.29.148)

जलसर्पं समादाय सुदीर्घं भीषणाकृतिम्। लेलिहानं मुहुर्जिह्वां जरया परया वृतम्

jalasarpaṁ samādāya sudīrghaṁ bhīṣaṇākṛtim| lelihānaṁ muhurjihvāṁ jarayā parayā vṛtam

'I took up a very long, fearsome-looking water-snake, its tongue flickering repeatedly, extremely old.'

Verse 149 (skanda.6.29.149)

ततश्च क्षिप्तवांस्तत्र महाजनसमागमे। तं दृष्ट्वा विद्रुताः सर्वे जना मृत्युभयार्दिताः

tataśca kṣiptavāṁstatra mahājanasamāgame| taṁ dṛṣṭvā vidrutāḥ sarve janā mṛtyubhayārditāḥ

'And then I hurled it there, into that great gathering of people; seeing it, everyone fled, terrified by fear of death.'

Verse 150 (skanda.6.29.150)

तत्रासीत्तापसो नाम्ना सुप्रभः शंसितव्रतः। समाधिस्थः सुशिष्याढ्यस्तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषः

tatrāsīttāpaso nāmnā suprabhaḥ śaṁsitavrataḥ| samādhisthaḥ suśiṣyāḍhyastapasā dagdhakilbiṣaḥ

'There was there an ascetic named Suprabha, of accomplished vows, absorbed in meditation, endowed with excellent disciples, his sins burnt away by austerity.'

Verse 151 (skanda.6.29.151)

निष्कंपां सुदृढामृज्वीं नातिस्तब्धां न कुंचिताम्। ग्रीवां दधत्स्थिरां यत्नाद्गात्रयष्टिं च सर्वतः

niṣkaṁpāṁ sudṛḍhāmṛjvīṁ nātistabdhāṁ na kuṁcitām| grīvāṁ dadhatsthirāṁ yatnādgātrayaṣṭiṁ ca sarvataḥ

'He held his neck motionless, firm, upright -- neither too rigid nor bent -- keeping his whole body carefully still.'

Verse 152 (skanda.6.29.152)

संपश्यन्नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्। तालुमध्यगतेनैव जिह्वाग्रेणाचलेन च

saṁpaśyannāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśaścānavalokayan| tālumadhyagatenaiva jihvāgreṇācalena ca

'gazing fixedly at the tip of his own nose, looking in no direction, with the tip of his tongue held motionless against the roof of his mouth,'

Verse 153 (skanda.6.29.153)

आवर्तपंकजांतःस्थमष्टपत्रमधोमुखम्। तन्मध्यकर्णिकासंस्थं संपश्यन्रविमंडलम्

āvartapaṁkajāṁtaḥsthamaṣṭapatramadhomukham| tanmadhyakarṇikāsaṁsthaṁ saṁpaśyanravimaṁḍalam

'contemplating, within the eight-petaled, downward-facing lotus in the whirl of his heart, the solar disc seated in its inmost pericarp,'

Verse 154 (skanda.6.29.154)

तस्यापि मध्यतश्चान्यं नरमंगुष्ठमात्रकम्। द्वादशार्कप्रतीकाशमप्रतर्क्यतमाकृतिम्

tasyāpi madhyataścānyaṁ naramaṁguṣṭhamātrakam| dvādaśārkapratīkāśamapratarkyatamākṛtim

'and within it, a man the size of a thumb, radiant as twelve suns, of a form beyond all conception,'

Verse 155 (skanda.6.29.155)

पश्यन्पद्मासनस्थं च वैदनाथं महेश्वरम्। यमक्षरं वदंत्येव सर्वगं सर्ववेदिनम्

paśyanpadmāsanasthaṁ ca vaidanāthaṁ maheśvaram| yamakṣaraṁ vadaṁtyeva sarvagaṁ sarvavedinam

'seeing that Maheshvara, Vaidyanatha, seated in the lotus posture, whom scripture calls the imperishable, all-pervading, all-knowing one,'

Verse 156 (skanda.6.29.156)

अनिंद्यं चाप्यभेद्यं च जरामरणवर्जितम्। पुलकांचितसर्वांगो योगनिद्रावशंगतः

aniṁdyaṁ cāpyabhedyaṁ ca jarāmaraṇavarjitam| pulakāṁcitasarvāṁgo yoganidrāvaśaṁgataḥ

'blameless, indivisible, free from age and death -- his whole body thrilled with rapture, he was sunk in the trance of yogic sleep.'

Verse 157 (skanda.6.29.157)

आनंदाश्रुपरिक्लिन्नः संनिरुद्धेंद्रियाकृतिः। कुंभयित्वोदरांतःस्थं स्वभ्यासाद्वायुपञ्चकम्

ānaṁdāśrupariklinnaḥ saṁniruddheṁdriyākṛtiḥ| kuṁbhayitvodarāṁtaḥsthaṁ svabhyāsādvāyupañcakam

'drenched with tears of bliss, his senses entirely restrained, having, through his practice, held the five vital airs suspended within his belly,'

Verse 158 (skanda.6.29.158)

अंगुष्ठतर्जनीयोगं कृत्वा हृदयसंगतम्। एवं तत्रोपविष्टस्य स सर्पस्तस्य विग्रहम्

aṁguṣṭhatarjanīyogaṁ kṛtvā hṛdayasaṁgatam| evaṁ tatropaviṣṭasya sa sarpastasya vigraham

'his thumb and forefinger joined together upon his heart. As he sat thus, that serpent wound itself --'

Verse 159 (skanda.6.29.159)

वेष्टयामास भोगेन निश्चलस्य महात्मनः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे शिष्यस्तस्यासीत्सुतपोऽन्वितः

veṣṭayāmāsa bhogena niścalasya mahātmanaḥ| etasminnaṁtare śiṣyastasyāsītsutapo'nvitaḥ

'around the body of that motionless great soul, in its coils. Meanwhile there was there a disciple of his, endowed with severe austerity --'

Verse 160 (skanda.6.29.160)

श्रीवर्धन इति ख्यातो नानाशास्त्रकृतश्रमः। स दृष्ट्वा सर्पभोगेन समंताद्वेष्टितं गुरुम्

śrīvardhana iti khyāto nānāśāstrakṛtaśramaḥ| sa dṛṣṭvā sarpabhogena samaṁtādveṣṭitaṁ gurum

'known as Shrivardhana, versed through hard labor in various shastras, saw his guru entirely encircled by the serpent's coils.'

Verse 161 (skanda.6.29.161)

नातिदूरस्थितं मां च ज्ञात्वा तत्कर्मकारिणम्। उवाच परुषं वाक्यं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः

nātidūrasthitaṁ māṁ ca jñātvā tatkarmakāriṇam| uvāca paruṣaṁ vākyaṁ kopasaṁraktalocanaḥ

'Recognizing me, standing not far off, as the one who had done this deed, he, his eyes red with anger, spoke a harsh word --'

Verse 162 (skanda.6.29.162)

स्फुरताधरयुग्मेन बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा। मया चेत्सुतपस्तप्तं गुरुशुश्रूषया सदा

sphuratādharayugmena bāṣpagadgadayā girā| mayā cetsutapastaptaṁ guruśuśrūṣayā sadā

'his lips trembling, his voice choked with tears -- "If I have always performed harsh austerity through service to my guru,'

Verse 163 (skanda.6.29.163)

निर्विकल्पेन चित्तेन यदि ध्यातो महेश्वरः। तेन सत्येन दुष्टोऽयं पापात्मा ब्राह्मणाधमः। ईदृक्कायो भवत्वाशु गुरुर्मे येन धर्षितः

nirvikalpena cittena yadi dhyāto maheśvaraḥ| tena satyena duṣṭo'yaṁ pāpātmā brāhmaṇādhamaḥ| īdṛkkāyo bhavatvāśu gururme yena dharṣitaḥ

'if I have meditated on Maheshvara with an undivided mind, then by that very truth, let this wicked, sinful, base brahmin, who has assaulted my guru, at once take on a body just like this!'

Verse 164 (skanda.6.29.164)

अथाहं सर्पतां प्राप्तस्तत्क्षणादेव दारुणाम्। पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां वदतां साधुसाध्विति

athāhaṁ sarpatāṁ prāptastatkṣaṇādeva dāruṇām| paśyatāṁ sarvalokānāṁ vadatāṁ sādhusādhviti

'Then, at that very instant, before the eyes of all the people, who exclaimed 'well said, well said!', I took on that terrible serpent form.'

Verse 165 (skanda.6.29.165)

अथ गत्वा समाधेः स पर्यंतं संयतो मुनिः। ददर्श निजगात्रस्थं द्विजिह्वं दारुणाकृतिम्

atha gatvā samādheḥ sa paryaṁtaṁ saṁyato muniḥ| dadarśa nijagātrasthaṁ dvijihvaṁ dāruṇākṛtim

'Then, coming to the end of his meditative trance, that self-controlled sage saw a fearsome-looking two-tongued serpent upon his own body.'

Verse 166 (skanda.6.29.166)

अथ सर्पाकृतिं मां च दुःखेन महतान्वितम्। तटस्थं भयसंत्रस्तं तथा सर्वजनं तदा

atha sarpākṛtiṁ māṁ ca duḥkhena mahatānvitam| taṭasthaṁ bhayasaṁtrastaṁ tathā sarvajanaṁ tadā

'He saw me in that serpent form, overcome with great suffering, and likewise all the people standing about, terrified with fear.'

Verse 167 (skanda.6.29.167)

ततो विज्ञाय तत्सर्वं स मुनिर्ज्ञानचक्षुषा। अब्रवीत्कृपायाविष्टः शिष्यं श्रीवर्धनं रुषा

tato vijñāya tatsarvaṁ sa munirjñānacakṣuṣā| abravītkṛpāyāviṣṭaḥ śiṣyaṁ śrīvardhanaṁ ruṣā

'Then, understanding all of this with his eye of wisdom, that sage, filled with compassion, spoke with displeasure to his disciple Shrivardhana --'

Verse 168 (skanda.6.29.168)

न मे प्रियं कृतं शिष्य त्वयैतत्कर्म कुर्वता। शपता ब्राह्मणं दीनं नैष धर्मस्तपस्विनाम्

na me priyaṁ kṛtaṁ śiṣya tvayaitatkarma kurvatā| śapatā brāhmaṇaṁ dīnaṁ naiṣa dharmastapasvinām

'You have not done what pleases me, disciple, by cursing this poor brahmin -- this is not the way of ascetics.'

Verse 169 (skanda.6.29.169)

समो मानेऽपमाने च समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः। तपस्वी सिद्धिमायाति सुहृच्छत्रुसमाकृतिः

samo māne'pamāne ca samaloṣṭāśmakāṁcanaḥ| tapasvī siddhimāyāti suhṛcchatrusamākṛtiḥ

'The ascetic who is even-minded in honor and dishonor, who regards a clod, a stone, and gold alike, and who sees friend and foe with an equal eye, attains accomplishment.'

Verse 170 (skanda.6.29.170)

तस्मादजानता वत्स शप्तोऽयं ब्राह्मणस्त्वया। बाल्यभावात्प्रसादोऽस्य भूयोयुक्तो ममाज्ञया

tasmādajānatā vatsa śapto'yaṁ brāhmaṇastvayā| bālyabhāvātprasādo'sya bhūyoyukto mamājñayā

'Therefore, my child, in ignorance you have cursed this brahmin; because of your youthful nature, it is now fitting, at my command, that grace be shown to him once more.'

Verse 171 (skanda.6.29.171)

अथ श्रीवर्धनः प्राह प्रणिपत्य निजं गुरुम्। अमर्षवशमापन्नः कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

atha śrīvardhanaḥ prāha praṇipatya nijaṁ gurum| amarṣavaśamāpannaḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

'Then Shrivardhana, bowing to his own guru, standing with joined palms, still overcome by indignation, said --'

Verse 172 (skanda.6.29.172)

अज्ञानाद्यदिवा ज्ञानान्मया यद्व्याहृतं वचः। तत्तथैव न संदेहस्तस्मान्मौनं गुरो कुरु

ajñānādyadivā jñānānmayā yadvyāhṛtaṁ vacaḥ| tattathaiva na saṁdehastasmānmaunaṁ guro kuru

'O guru, whatever word I have spoken, whether in ignorance or in knowledge, will surely come to pass -- of that there is no doubt; therefore be silent on this matter.'

Verse 173 (skanda.6.29.173)

न मृषा वचनं प्रोक्तं स्वैरेणापि गुरो मया। किं पुनर्यत्तवार्थाय तस्मान्मौनं समाचर

na mṛṣā vacanaṁ proktaṁ svaireṇāpi guro mayā| kiṁ punaryattavārthāya tasmānmaunaṁ samācara

'My word, guru, never proves false, even when spoken casually -- how much less, then, when spoken for your own sake? Therefore be silent.'

Verse 174 (skanda.6.29.174)

पश्चादुदयते सूर्यः शोषं याति महार्णवः। अपि मेरुश्च शीर्येत न मे स्यादन्यथा वचः

paścādudayate sūryaḥ śoṣaṁ yāti mahārṇavaḥ| api meruśca śīryeta na me syādanyathā vacaḥ

'The sun may rise in the west, the great ocean may dry up, even Meru may crumble -- but my word shall never prove otherwise.'

Verse 175 (skanda.6.29.175)

तमुवाच गुरुः शिष्यं स पुनः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा। जानाम्यहं न ते वाणी कथंचिज्जायतेऽन्यथा

tamuvāca guruḥ śiṣyaṁ sa punaḥ ślakṣṇayā girā| jānāmyahaṁ na te vāṇī kathaṁcijjāyate'nyathā

Then the guru said again to that disciple, in a gentle voice: 'I know well that your word can never in any way prove false.'

Verse 176 (skanda.6.29.176)

सदा शिष्यो वयःस्थोपि शासनीयः प्रयत्नतः। किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तेन त्वां वच्मि भूरिशः

sadā śiṣyo vayaḥsthopi śāsanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ| kiṁ punarbāla eva tvaṁ tena tvāṁ vacmi bhūriśaḥ

'A disciple, even when full-grown, must always be corrected with care -- how much more you, who are still a mere child? That is why I say so much to you.'

Verse 177 (skanda.6.29.177)

धर्मं न व्ययते कोऽपि मुनीनां पूर्वसंचितम्। तपोधर्मविहीनानां गतिस्तेषां न विद्यते

dharmaṁ na vyayate ko'pi munīnāṁ pūrvasaṁcitam| tapodharmavihīnānāṁ gatisteṣāṁ na vidyate

'The dharma sages have accumulated from before is never spent in vain; but those devoid of austerity and dharma have no true refuge.'

Verse 178 (skanda.6.29.178)

क्षमैका सिद्धिदा प्रोक्ता यतीनां च विशेषतः। तस्मात्क्षमां पुरस्कृत्य वर्तितव्यं तपस्विभिः

kṣamaikā siddhidā proktā yatīnāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ| tasmātkṣamāṁ puraskṛtya vartitavyaṁ tapasvibhiḥ

'Forgiveness alone is declared to grant accomplishment, especially for renunciants; therefore ascetics should conduct themselves with forgiveness foremost.'

Verse 179 (skanda.6.29.179)

न पापं प्रति पापः स्याद्बुद्धिरेषा सनातनी। आत्मनैव हतः पापो यः पापं तु समाचरेत्

na pāpaṁ prati pāpaḥ syādbuddhireṣā sanātanī| ātmanaiva hataḥ pāpo yaḥ pāpaṁ tu samācaret

'One should not repay sin with sin -- this is the eternal principle; whoever commits sin destroys himself by that very act.'

Verse 180 (skanda.6.29.180)

दग्धः स दहते भूयो हतमेव निहंति च। सम्यग्ज्ञानपरित्यक्तो यः पापे पापमाचरेत्

dagdhaḥ sa dahate bhūyo hatameva nihaṁti ca| samyagjñānaparityakto yaḥ pāpe pāpamācaret

'One devoid of right knowledge, who repays sin with sin, is like one who burns what is already burnt, and kills what is already dead.'

Verse 181 (skanda.6.29.181)

उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य को गुणः। अपकारिषु यः साधुः कीर्त्यते जनैः

upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ| apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ kīrtyate janaiḥ

'What merit is there in being good toward those who do good to you? He alone who remains good even toward those who wrong him is truly praised by people.'

Verse 182 (skanda.6.29.182)

एवमुक्त्वा स तं शिष्यं ततो मामिदमब्रवीत्। दयया परया युक्तः सुव्रतः शंसितव्रतः

evamuktvā sa taṁ śiṣyaṁ tato māmidamabravīt| dayayā parayā yuktaḥ suvrataḥ śaṁsitavrataḥ

Having thus spoken to that disciple, he, that sage of accomplished vows named Suvrata, filled with the highest compassion, then said this to me --

Verse 183 (skanda.6.29.183)

नान्यथा वचनं भावि मम शिष्यस्य पन्नग। कञ्चित्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व तस्मात्सर्पवपुःस्थितः

nānyathā vacanaṁ bhāvi mama śiṣyasya pannaga| kañcitkālaṁ pratīkṣasva tasmātsarpavapuḥsthitaḥ

'O serpent, my disciple's word cannot fail to come true; therefore wait a while, remaining in this serpent form.'

Verse 184 (skanda.6.29.184)

सर्प उवाच। कस्मिन्काले मुनिश्रेष्ठ शापो मेऽस्तमुपैष्यति। प्रसादं कुरु दीनस्य शापस्याज्ञानिनस्तथा

sarpa uvāca| kasminkāle muniśreṣṭha śāpo me'stamupaiṣyati| prasādaṁ kuru dīnasya śāpasyājñāninastathā

The serpent said: 'O foremost sage, when will this curse of mine come to an end? Show grace to this pitiable one, cursed out of ignorance.'

Verse 185 (skanda.6.29.185)

सुव्रत उवाच। मुहूर्तमपि गीतादि यः करोति शिवालये। न तस्य शक्यते कर्तुं संख्या धर्मस्य भद्रक

suvrata uvāca| muhūrtamapi gītādi yaḥ karoti śivālaye| na tasya śakyate kartuṁ saṁkhyā dharmasya bhadraka

Suvrata said: 'O good one, whoever performs song and the like in a Shiva temple, even for a moment, the merit of that dharma cannot be reckoned.'

Verse 186 (skanda.6.29.186)

मुहूर्तमपि यो विघ्नं करोति च महोत्सवे। तस्य पापस्य नो संख्या कर्तुं शक्या हि केनचित्

muhūrtamapi yo vighnaṁ karoti ca mahotsave| tasya pāpasya no saṁkhyā kartuṁ śakyā hi kenacit

'And whoever, even for a moment, causes disruption in such a great festival, the sin of that too cannot be reckoned by anyone.'

Verse 187 (skanda.6.29.187)

तस्मात्त्वं पापको विप्रो नैव मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि। वार्तासंगेन दुर्बुद्धे तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम

tasmāttvaṁ pāpako vipro naiva muktimavāpsyasi| vārtāsaṁgena durbuddhe tasmācchṛṇu vaco mama

'Therefore, sinful brahmin, you will not attain release merely through discussion, foolish one -- so listen to my word.'

Verse 188 (skanda.6.29.188)

शैवं षडक्षरं मंत्रं योजपेच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः। अपि ब्रह्मवधात्पापं जातं तस्य प्रणश्यति

śaivaṁ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ maṁtraṁ yojapecchraddhayānvitaḥ| api brahmavadhātpāpaṁ jātaṁ tasya praṇaśyati

'Whoever recites Shiva's six-syllable mantra with faith, even his sin born of the killing of a brahmin is destroyed.'

Verse 189 (skanda.6.29.189)

दशभिर्दिनजं पापं विंशत्या वत्सरोद्भवम्। षडक्षरस्य जाप्येन पापं क्षालयते नरः

daśabhirdinajaṁ pāpaṁ viṁśatyā vatsarodbhavam| ṣaḍakṣarasya jāpyena pāpaṁ kṣālayate naraḥ

'With ten recitations, a day's sin is cleansed; with twenty, a year's sin -- by the japa of the six-syllable mantra, a man washes away his sin.'

Verse 190 (skanda.6.29.190)

तस्मात्त्वं जलमध्यस्थस्तं मंत्रं जप सादरम्। येन पापं क्षयं याति कृतमप्यन्यजन्मनि

tasmāttvaṁ jalamadhyasthastaṁ maṁtraṁ japa sādaram| yena pāpaṁ kṣayaṁ yāti kṛtamapyanyajanmani

'Therefore, remaining amid the water, recite that mantra reverently, by which even sin committed in another birth is destroyed.'

Verse 191 (skanda.6.29.191)

यदा त्वां जलमध्यस्थं वत्सोनाम द्विजो रुषा। ताडयिष्यति दण्डेन तदा मोक्षमवाप्स्यसि

yadā tvāṁ jalamadhyasthaṁ vatsonāma dvijo ruṣā| tāḍayiṣyati daṇḍena tadā mokṣamavāpsyasi

'When a brahmin named Vatsa, in anger, strikes you with a staff while you dwell amid the water, then you shall attain release.'

Verse 192 (skanda.6.29.192)

तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं सर्प स्थानादस्माज्जलाशये। किञ्चिदिष्टं मया प्रोक्तो विरराम स सन्मुनिः

tasmādgaccha drutaṁ sarpa sthānādasmājjalāśaye| kiñcidiṣṭaṁ mayā prokto virarāma sa sanmuniḥ

'Therefore, serpent, go quickly from this place to some pool of water.' Having said this much, out of goodwill, that virtuous sage fell silent.

Verse 193 (skanda.6.29.193)

ततोऽहं दुःखसंयुक्तः संप्राप्तोऽत्र जलाशये। षडक्षरं जपन्मन्त्रं नित्यमेव व्यवस्थितः

tato'haṁ duḥkhasaṁyuktaḥ saṁprāpto'tra jalāśaye| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japanmantraṁ nityameva vyavasthitaḥ

'Then, filled with sorrow, I arrived at this very pool, and, dwelling here ever after, kept reciting the six-syllable mantra.'

Verse 194 (skanda.6.29.194)

त्वत्प्रसादादहं मुक्तः सर्पत्वाद्ब्राह्मणोत्तम। किं करोमि प्रियं तेऽद्य तस्माच्छीघ्रतरं वद

tvatprasādādahaṁ muktaḥ sarpatvādbrāhmaṇottama| kiṁ karomi priyaṁ te'dya tasmācchīghrataraṁ vada

'O best of brahmins, by your grace I am today freed from my serpent state; tell me quickly what pleasing service I may render you.'

Verse 195 (skanda.6.29.195)

वत्सोनाम न सन्देहः स त्वं यः कीर्तितो मम। सुव्रतेन विमानं मे पश्यैतदुपसर्पति

vatsonāma na sandehaḥ sa tvaṁ yaḥ kīrtito mama| suvratena vimānaṁ me paśyaitadupasarpati

'You are indeed the one named Vatsa, without doubt, whom Suvrata had named to me -- see, this celestial chariot now approaches for me.'

Verse 196 (skanda.6.29.196)

ततः प्रोक्तो मया सम्यक्स सर्पो दिव्यरूपधृक्। भगवन्नुपदेशं मे किञ्चिद्देहि शुभावहम्

tataḥ prokto mayā samyaksa sarpo divyarūpadhṛk| bhagavannupadeśaṁ me kiñciddehi śubhāvaham

Then I properly addressed that serpent, now clad in divine form: 'O lord, give me some auspicious teaching.'

Verse 197 (skanda.6.29.197)

येन नो जायते दुःखं प्रियलोपसमुद्भवम्। न दारिद्यं न च व्याधिर्न च शत्रुपराभवः

yena no jāyate duḥkhaṁ priyalopasamudbhavam| na dāridyaṁ na ca vyādhirna ca śatruparābhavaḥ

'By which the suffering born of losing a loved one, poverty, illness, and defeat at the hands of enemies may never come upon us.'

Verse 198 (skanda.6.29.198)

अथोवाच स मां भूयः सोत्सुकः पुरुषोत्तमः। प्रश्नभारः समाख्यातस्त्वया मम द्विजोत्तम

athovāca sa māṁ bhūyaḥ sotsukaḥ puruṣottamaḥ| praśnabhāraḥ samākhyātastvayā mama dvijottama

Then that eager, excellent man said to me again: 'O best of brahmins, you have set me a weighty question.'

Verse 199 (skanda.6.29.199)

न चैतच्छक्यते वक्तुं विमाने समुपस्थिते। विस्तरात्तु ततो वच्मि संक्षेपेण तव द्विज

na caitacchakyate vaktuṁ vimāne samupasthite| vistarāttu tato vacmi saṁkṣepeṇa tava dvija

'This cannot now be told at length, since the celestial chariot has arrived; therefore, brahmin, I shall tell you in brief.'

Verse 200 (skanda.6.29.200)

शैवः षडक्षरो मन्त्रो नृणामशुभहारकः। स त्वया शक्तितो विप्र जपनीयो दिवानिशम्

śaivaḥ ṣaḍakṣaro mantro nṛṇāmaśubhahārakaḥ| sa tvayā śaktito vipra japanīyo divāniśam

'The six-syllable mantra of Shiva removes all misfortune from men; O brahmin, you should recite it, according to your ability, day and night.'

Verse 201 (skanda.6.29.201)

ततः प्राप्स्यत्यसंदिग्धं यद्यद्वांछसि चेतसा। स्वर्गं वा यदि वा मोक्षं विमुक्तः सर्वपातकैः

tataḥ prāpsyatyasaṁdigdhaṁ yadyadvāṁchasi cetasā| svargaṁ vā yadi vā mokṣaṁ vimuktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ

'Then you shall obtain, without doubt, whatever you desire in your mind -- whether heaven or liberation -- and shall be freed from every sin.'

Verse 202 (skanda.6.29.202)

मया हि सुमहत्पापं सर्वदा समनुष्ठितम्। तत्रापि मंत्रमाहात्म्यात्प्राप्ता लोका महोदयाः

mayā hi sumahatpāpaṁ sarvadā samanuṣṭhitam| tatrāpi maṁtramāhātmyātprāptā lokā mahodayāḥ

'I myself have committed the very greatest sins throughout, yet even so, by the greatness of this mantra, I have attained the most exalted worlds.'

Verse 203 (skanda.6.29.203)

एको दानानि सर्वाणि यच्छति श्रद्धयान्वितः। षडक्षरं जपेन्मंत्रमन्यस्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

eko dānāni sarvāṇi yacchati śraddhayānvitaḥ| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japenmaṁtramanyastābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man, filled with faith, gives every kind of gift; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 204 (skanda.6.29.204)

सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च कुरुतेऽन्यो नरो द्विज। षडक्षरं जपेन्मंत्रमन्यस्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

sarvatīrthābhiṣekaṁ ca kurute'nyo naro dvija| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japenmaṁtramanyastābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'O brahmin, one man performs ablution at all the tirthas; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 205 (skanda.6.29.205)

चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु कुरुतेऽन्यो यथोचितम्। षडक्षरं जपेदन्यो मंत्रं ताभ्यां समं फलम्

cāṁdrāyaṇasahasraṁ tu kurute'nyo yathocitam| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japedanyo maṁtraṁ tābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man properly performs a thousand chandrayana fasts; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 206 (skanda.6.29.206)

वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते सलिलाशयः। पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे यावद्वर्षशतं नरः

varṣāsvākāśaśāyī ca hemaṁte salilāśayaḥ| pañcāgnisādhako grīṣme yāvadvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ

'A man who sleeps beneath the open sky in the rains, takes refuge in water in winter, and performs the five-fires austerity in summer, for a hundred years --'

Verse 207 (skanda.6.29.207)

अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं शुचिः श्रद्धासमन्वितः। जपेदहर्निशं मर्त्यः फलं ताभ्यां समं स्मृतम्

anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mantraṁ śuciḥ śraddhāsamanvitaḥ| japedaharniśaṁ martyaḥ phalaṁ tābhyāṁ samaṁ smṛtam

'and another, pure and filled with faith, recites the six-syllable mantra day and night -- the fruit of both is declared equal.'

Verse 208 (skanda.6.29.208)

पितृपक्षे सदा चैको गयायां श्राद्धमाचरेत्। अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं जपेत्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

pitṛpakṣe sadā caiko gayāyāṁ śrāddhamācaret| anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mantraṁ japettābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man always performs shraddha at Gaya during the ancestral fortnight; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 209 (skanda.6.29.209)

गोसहस्रं ददात्येकः कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे। षडक्षरं जपेन्मंत्रमन्यस्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

gosahasraṁ dadātyekaḥ kārtikyāṁ jyeṣṭhapuṣkare| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japenmaṁtramanyastābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man gives a thousand cows at Jyeshtha Pushkara on the Kartika full moon; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 210 (skanda.6.29.210)

संनिहित्यां नरः स्नाति राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे। एको अन्यस्तु जपेन्मन्त्रं षडर्णं तुल्यमेव तत्

saṁnihityāṁ naraḥ snāti rāhugraste divākare| eko anyastu japenmantraṁ ṣaḍarṇaṁ tulyameva tat

'One man bathes at Sannihitya when the sun is seized by Rahu (a solar eclipse); another recites the six-syllable mantra -- that too is equal.'

Verse 211 (skanda.6.29.211)

सोमे सोमग्रहेऽन्यस्तु सोमनाथं प्रपश्यति। अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं जपेत्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

some somagrahe'nyastu somanāthaṁ prapaśyati| anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mantraṁ japettābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man, during a lunar eclipse, beholds Somanatha; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 212 (skanda.6.29.212)

एकश्चण्डीश्वरं पश्येदयने चोत्तरे नरः। अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं जपेत्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

ekaścaṇḍīśvaraṁ paśyedayane cottare naraḥ| anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mantraṁ japettābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man beholds Chandishvara at the northern solstice; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 213 (skanda.6.29.213)

भृगुपातं पतेदेकः केदारं वीक्ष्य भक्तितः। अन्यः षडक्षरं मंत्रं जपेत्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

bhṛgupātaṁ patedekaḥ kedāraṁ vīkṣya bhaktitaḥ| anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ maṁtraṁ japettābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man, having beheld Kedara with devotion, casts himself down from the cliff (bhrigupata); another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 214 (skanda.6.29.214)

करीषं साधयेदन्यो दत्त्वा सर्वस्वमादितः। षडक्षरं जपेन्मंत्रमन्यस्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

karīṣaṁ sādhayedanyo dattvā sarvasvamāditaḥ| ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japenmaṁtramanyastābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man, having first given away all he owns, accomplishes the karisha austerity (of cow-dung fire); another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 215 (skanda.6.29.215)

सर्वसंगपरित्यागं कृत्वैको ज्ञानमाप्नुयात्। अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं जपेत्ताभ्यां समं फलम्

sarvasaṁgaparityāgaṁ kṛtvaiko jñānamāpnuyāt| anyaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraṁ mantraṁ japettābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

'One man, having renounced all attachment, attains knowledge; another recites the six-syllable mantra -- the fruit of both is equal.'

Verse 216 (skanda.6.29.216)

एतत्ते परमं गुह्यं मया विप्र प्रकीर्तितम्। नास्तिकाय न दातव्यं भक्तिहीनाय नैव च

etatte paramaṁ guhyaṁ mayā vipra prakīrtitam| nāstikāya na dātavyaṁ bhaktihīnāya naiva ca

'This supreme secret, brahmin, I have declared to you; it must never be given to an atheist, nor to one devoid of devotion.'

Verse 217 (skanda.6.29.217)

तथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि हितबुद्ध्या द्विजोत्तम। मम वाक्यं कुरुष्वाद्य यदीच्छसि परां गतिम्

tathānyadapi vakṣyāmi hitabuddhyā dvijottama| mama vākyaṁ kuruṣvādya yadīcchasi parāṁ gatim

'And, O best of brahmins, out of concern for your welfare, I shall tell you one thing more; heed my word today, if you desire the supreme goal.'

Verse 218 (skanda.6.29.218)

अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्ववेदे प्रकीर्तितः। ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण तस्मात्सर्पवधं त्यज

ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ sarvavede prakīrtitaḥ| brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa tasmātsarpavadhaṁ tyaja

'Non-violence is declared throughout the Veda to be the supreme dharma, especially for a brahmin; therefore give up the killing of serpents.'

Verse 219 (skanda.6.29.219)

अहिंसकानि भूतानि यो हिनस्ति सुनिर्दयः। स याति नरकं घोरं यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

ahiṁsakāni bhūtāni yo hinasti sunirdayaḥ| sa yāti narakaṁ ghoraṁ yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

'Whoever, utterly merciless, harms creatures that themselves do no harm, goes to a terrible hell, lasting until the dissolution of all beings.'

Verse 220 (skanda.6.29.220)

चराचराणां भूतानामभयं यः प्रयच्छति। सर्वदा सर्वसौख्याढ्यो जायते दिवि चेह च

carācarāṇāṁ bhūtānāmabhayaṁ yaḥ prayacchati| sarvadā sarvasaukhyāḍhyo jāyate divi ceha ca

'Whoever grants freedom from fear to all beings, moving and unmoving, is born abounding in every happiness, both in heaven and here.'

Verse 221 (skanda.6.29.221)

नास्ति भर्गसमो देवो नास्ति गंगासमा नदी। नास्ति हिंसासमं पापं नास्ति धर्मो दयापरः

nāsti bhargasamo devo nāsti gaṁgāsamā nadī| nāsti hiṁsāsamaṁ pāpaṁ nāsti dharmo dayāparaḥ

'There is no god equal to Bharga (Shiva), no river equal to the Ganga, no sin equal to violence, and no dharma greater than compassion.'

Verse 222 (skanda.6.29.222)

अथाहमब्रुवं तं च तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य जल्पितम्। अहिंसालक्षणं धर्मं परलोकभयातुरः

athāhamabruvaṁ taṁ ca tacchrutvā tasya jalpitam| ahiṁsālakṣaṇaṁ dharmaṁ paralokabhayāturaḥ

Then, hearing his words -- his declaration of dharma marked by non-violence -- I, troubled by fear of the other world, said to him --

Verse 223 (skanda.6.29.223)

मन्यते वृद्धलोकानामेतद्वाक्यं श्रुतं मया। भूपतेर्नैव दोषः स्याद्वने व्यापादितैर्मृगैः

manyate vṛddhalokānāmetadvākyaṁ śrutaṁ mayā| bhūpaternaiva doṣaḥ syādvane vyāpāditairmṛgaiḥ

'This is what elders hold, as I have heard it -- that a king incurs no fault from deer slain in the forest hunt.'

Verse 224 (skanda.6.29.224)

प्रवदंति तथा वैद्या वैद्यशास्त्रविचक्षणाः। भवंति पुष्टिसंयुक्ता मांसादाश्चिरजीविनः

pravadaṁti tathā vaidyā vaidyaśāstravicakṣaṇāḥ| bhavaṁti puṣṭisaṁyuktā māṁsādāścirajīvinaḥ

'Physicians too, skilled in medical science, likewise declare that meat-eaters become well-nourished and long-lived.'

Verse 225 (skanda.6.29.225)

तदत्र विषये ब्रूहि परं निःश्रेयसं वचः। सर्वं कर्तास्म्यसंदिग्धं तव वक्त्राद्विनिर्गतम्

tadatra viṣaye brūhi paraṁ niḥśreyasaṁ vacaḥ| sarvaṁ kartāsmyasaṁdigdhaṁ tava vaktrādvinirgatam

'Therefore tell me, on this matter, the supreme, most beneficial word; whatever proceeds from your mouth, I shall do, without doubt.'

Verse 226 (skanda.6.29.226)

अथ मां स पुनः प्राह वद मैवं द्विजोत्तम। मतमेतदसाधूनां पापानां मांसगृद्धिनाम्

atha māṁ sa punaḥ prāha vada maivaṁ dvijottama| matametadasādhūnāṁ pāpānāṁ māṁsagṛddhinām

Then he said to me again: 'Do not speak thus, O best of brahmins. This is the doctrine of the wicked, sinful men greedy for meat.'

Verse 227 (skanda.6.29.227)

अहो शोच्यतमा लोके पापात्मानः सुनिर्दयाः। सर्वदोषाकरं मांसं मूढाः स्वादंति ये नराः

aho śocyatamā loke pāpātmānaḥ sunirdayāḥ| sarvadoṣākaraṁ māṁsaṁ mūḍhāḥ svādaṁti ye narāḥ

'Alas, those foolish men who savor meat, that source of every fault, are the most pitiable, sinful, and merciless in the world.'

Verse 228 (skanda.6.29.228)

न मांसमायुषो हेतुरारोग्यस्य बलस्य वा। सर्वमेतदसत्यं स्याच्छ्रणुष्वाद्य निदर्शनम्

na māṁsamāyuṣo heturārogyasya balasya vā| sarvametadasatyaṁ syācchraṇuṣvādya nidarśanam

'Meat is the cause of neither longevity, nor health, nor strength -- all this is false; hear the proof of it now.'

Verse 229 (skanda.6.29.229)

मांसाशिनोऽपि दृश्यंते रोगार्ता दुर्बलास्तथा। स्वल्पायुषश्च मत्वैवं मांसं वर्जय दूरतः

māṁsāśino'pi dṛśyaṁte rogārtā durbalāstathā| svalpāyuṣaśca matvaivaṁ māṁsaṁ varjaya dūrataḥ

'Even meat-eaters are seen to be diseased, weak, and short-lived; understanding this, avoid meat entirely.'

Verse 230 (skanda.6.29.230)

अमांसादा अपि क्ष्मायां दृश्यंते रोगवर्जिताः। चिरायुषश्च पीनांगास्तस्मान्मांसं विवर्जयेत्

amāṁsādā api kṣmāyāṁ dṛśyaṁte rogavarjitāḥ| cirāyuṣaśca pīnāṁgāstasmānmāṁsaṁ vivarjayet

'Those who abstain from meat are also seen on earth to be free from disease, long-lived, and stout of body; therefore one should give up meat.'

Verse 231 (skanda.6.29.231)

यो भक्षयति मांसानि सत्त्वानां जीवितैषिणाम्। स याति नरकं घोरं तत्रस्थो भक्ष्यते च तैः

yo bhakṣayati māṁsāni sattvānāṁ jīvitaiṣiṇām| sa yāti narakaṁ ghoraṁ tatrastho bhakṣyate ca taiḥ

'Whoever eats the flesh of creatures that themselves long to live goes to a terrible hell, and there is devoured by those very creatures.'

Verse 232 (skanda.6.29.232)

न हि मांसं तृणात्काष्ठादुपलादपि जायते। हते जंतौ भवेन्मांसं तस्मात्तत्परिवर्जयेत्

na hi māṁsaṁ tṛṇātkāṣṭhādupalādapi jāyate| hate jaṁtau bhavenmāṁsaṁ tasmāttatparivarjayet

'Meat is not born of grass, wood, or stone -- it comes into being only when a creature is killed; therefore one should abandon it.'

Verse 233 (skanda.6.29.233)

एतदेव हि दृष्टांतं मांसस्य परिवर्जने। यदंगं ह्रियते स्वं च कंटकेनापि विक्षतम्

etadeva hi dṛṣṭāṁtaṁ māṁsasya parivarjane| yadaṁgaṁ hriyate svaṁ ca kaṁṭakenāpi vikṣatam

'This itself is the clear proof for abandoning meat -- that when one's own limb is even slightly torn by a thorn, it causes pain.'

Verse 234 (skanda.6.29.234)

आत्मौपम्येन भूतानि तस्मात्सर्वाणि पंडितैः। द्रष्टव्यानि न हिंस्यानि रक्षणीयानि शक्तितः

ātmaupamyena bhūtāni tasmātsarvāṇi paṁḍitaiḥ| draṣṭavyāni na hiṁsyāni rakṣaṇīyāni śaktitaḥ

'Therefore, the wise should regard all beings as they regard themselves -- never to be harmed, but protected according to one's ability.'

Verse 235 (skanda.6.29.235)

हंता चैवानुमंता च विशस्ता क्रयविक्रयी। संस्कर्ता चोपहर्ता च खादकश्चाष्टघातकाः

haṁtā caivānumaṁtā ca viśastā krayavikrayī| saṁskartā copahartā ca khādakaścāṣṭaghātakāḥ

'The killer, the one who consents, the butcher, the buyer and seller, the cook, the server, and the eater -- these are the eight equally guilty of the killing.'

Verse 236 (skanda.6.29.236)

धनेन क्रयकृद्धंति भक्षणेन च खादकः। घातको वधबंधाभ्यामित्यन्यस्त्रिविधो वधः

dhanena krayakṛddhaṁti bhakṣaṇena ca khādakaḥ| ghātako vadhabaṁdhābhyāmityanyastrividho vadhaḥ

'The buyer kills through his money, the eater through his eating; the slaughterer kills through the act of killing and the binding -- thus killing is of these three kinds.'

Verse 237 (skanda.6.29.237)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यो हिनस्ति न किंचन। स प्राप्नोति परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

karmaṇā manasā vācā yo hinasti na kiṁcana| sa prāpnoti paraṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

'Whoever harms nothing at all, by deed, mind, or word, attains the supreme abode, free from old age and death.'

Verse 238 (skanda.6.29.238)

शाकमूलफलाहारो ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः। न तस्य फलमाप्नोति यदि हिंसापरो नरः

śākamūlaphalāhāro brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ| na tasya phalamāpnoti yadi hiṁsāparo naraḥ

'Even one who lives on greens, roots, and fruit, devoted to celibacy, obtains none of that merit if he is still given to violence.'

Verse 239 (skanda.6.29.239)

एको वर्षशतं साग्रं तपस्तपति दुस्तरम्। अहिंसानिरतो यस्तु तयोः श्रेष्ठो दयान्वितः

eko varṣaśataṁ sāgraṁ tapastapati dustaram| ahiṁsānirato yastu tayoḥ śreṣṭho dayānvitaḥ

'One man performs difficult austerity for over a hundred years; another is simply devoted to non-violence -- of the two, the compassionate one is superior.'

Verse 240 (skanda.6.29.240)

यंयं कामयते कामं दुष्प्रापमपि मानवः। तं तमाप्नोत्यसंदिग्धं यदि स्यात्सुदयान्वितः

yaṁyaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ duṣprāpamapi mānavaḥ| taṁ tamāpnotyasaṁdigdhaṁ yadi syātsudayānvitaḥ

'Whatever desire a man may cherish, however hard to obtain, he attains it without doubt, if he is truly compassionate.'

Verse 241 (skanda.6.29.241)

कामगेन विमानेन दिव्यस्त्रीशतसेवितः। देववन्मोदते स्वर्गे सर्वभूताभयप्रदः

kāmagena vimānena divyastrīśatasevitaḥ| devavanmodate svarge sarvabhūtābhayapradaḥ

'One who grants freedom from fear to all beings rejoices in heaven like a god, borne by a chariot that moves as it wishes, attended by a hundred celestial women.'

Verse 242 (skanda.6.29.242)

एवमुक्त्वा महात्मा स पश्यतो मम सूतज। विमानवरमारुह्य गतश्च त्रिदिवालयम्

evamuktvā mahātmā sa paśyato mama sūtaja| vimānavaramāruhya gataśca tridivālayam

O son of Suta, having said this, that great soul, before my very eyes, mounted the excellent chariot and departed for the abode of the gods.

Verse 243 (skanda.6.29.243)

गन्धर्वैर्गीयमानस्तु स्तूयमानश्च किन्नरैः। षडक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य माहात्म्येन महामते

gandharvairgīyamānastu stūyamānaśca kinnaraiḥ| ṣaḍakṣarasya maṁtrasya māhātmyena mahāmate

O wise one, sung by gandharvas and praised by kinnaras, by the greatness of the six-syllable mantra, he departed for heaven.

Verse 244 (skanda.6.29.244)

तस्मिन्गते तदा स्वर्गं दुःखं मे समुपस्थितम्। स्मृत्वा पूर्वं हतान्सर्पान्भग्नगात्रोऽभवं तदा

tasmingate tadā svargaṁ duḥkhaṁ me samupasthitam| smṛtvā pūrvaṁ hatānsarpānbhagnagātro'bhavaṁ tadā

When he had gone to heaven, sorrow overtook me; remembering the serpents I had earlier killed, I became at once broken in body.

Verse 245 (skanda.6.29.245)

ततोऽहं कृतवांस्तत्र विप्रलापाननेकशः। स्वकर्मभयसंत्रस्तस्तस्मिन्नेव महावने

tato'haṁ kṛtavāṁstatra vipralāpānanekaśaḥ| svakarmabhayasaṁtrastastasminneva mahāvane

Then, terrified by fear of my own deeds, I broke into many laments there in that same great forest.

Verse 246 (skanda.6.29.246)

अहो मया नृशंसेन बहवः प्राणिनो हताः। निन्दितश्च महादेवो नरकार्तिर्भविष्यति

aho mayā nṛśaṁsena bahavaḥ prāṇino hatāḥ| ninditaśca mahādevo narakārtirbhaviṣyati

'Alas, I, cruel man, have killed many creatures, and have even offended the great god -- now I shall suffer the torment of hell.'

Verse 247 (skanda.6.29.247)

सोऽहं हिंसां परित्यज्य चरिष्यामि महत्तपः। शिवदीक्षां समासाद्य पूजयिष्ये महेश्वरम्

so'haṁ hiṁsāṁ parityajya cariṣyāmi mahattapaḥ| śivadīkṣāṁ samāsādya pūjayiṣye maheśvaram

'Therefore, giving up violence, I shall perform great austerity; having received the Shiva initiation, I shall worship Maheshvara.'

Verse 248 (skanda.6.29.248)

यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयंति नराः सुखम्। तत्सर्वं तपसा साध्यं तस्मात्कार्यं मया तपः

yatkiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu prārthayaṁti narāḥ sukham| tatsarvaṁ tapasā sādhyaṁ tasmātkāryaṁ mayā tapaḥ

'Whatever happiness men desire in the three worlds, all of it is achievable through austerity; therefore I must perform austerity.'

Verse 249 (skanda.6.29.249)

अधुनैकोऽहमेकाहमेकैकस्मिन्वनस्पतौ। चरन्भैक्षं मुनिर्मौनी चरिष्याम्याश्रमानिमान्

adhunaiko'hamekāhamekaikasminvanaspatau| caranbhaikṣaṁ munirmaunī cariṣyāmyāśramānimān

'Now, alone, a silent sage, going about begging, dwelling one day under each single tree, I shall practice these ascetic stages.'

Verse 250 (skanda.6.29.250)

पांसुना समवच्छन्नः शून्यागारप्रतिश्रयः। वृक्षमूलनिकेतो वा त्यक्तसर्वप्रियाप्रियः

pāṁsunā samavacchannaḥ śūnyāgārapratiśrayaḥ| vṛkṣamūlaniketo vā tyaktasarvapriyāpriyaḥ

'Covered with dust, taking shelter in an abandoned dwelling, or dwelling at the root of a tree, having abandoned all that is pleasing and displeasing --'

Verse 251 (skanda.6.29.251)

एवं विलप्य यत्नेन मया सूतकुलोद्वह। गृहीतं भक्तियुक्तेन शिवदीक्षाव्रतं ततः

evaṁ vilapya yatnena mayā sūtakulodvaha| gṛhītaṁ bhaktiyuktena śivadīkṣāvrataṁ tataḥ

O son of the Suta lineage, having thus lamented, filled with devotion, I diligently took up the vow of Shiva initiation.

Verse 252 (skanda.6.29.252)

षडक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य अयुतं प्रजपाम्यहम्। त्रिसन्ध्यं श्रद्धया युक्तः सिद्धेश्वरसमीपतः

ṣaḍakṣarasya maṁtrasya ayutaṁ prajapāmyaham| trisandhyaṁ śraddhayā yuktaḥ siddheśvarasamīpataḥ

I recite the six-syllable mantra ten thousand times, filled with faith, in the three daily rites of worship, near Siddheshvara.

Verse 253 (skanda.6.29.253)

तत्प्रभावेन मे स्थैर्यं संजातं यौवनोद्भवम्। तथा लोकांतरज्ञानं खेचरत्वं च सूतज

tatprabhāvena me sthairyaṁ saṁjātaṁ yauvanodbhavam| tathā lokāṁtarajñānaṁ khecaratvaṁ ca sūtaja

O son of Suta, by that power I have attained a lasting youth, together with knowledge of other worlds and the power of flight through the sky.

Verse 254 (skanda.6.29.254)

सिद्धेश्वरं प्रयास्यामि द्वापरांते ह्यवस्थिते। सदाशिवं प्रयास्यामि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

siddheśvaraṁ prayāsyāmi dvāparāṁte hyavasthite| sadāśivaṁ prayāsyāmi satyametanmayoditam

'At the very end of the Dvapara age, I shall go to Siddheshvara, and I shall attain Sadashiva -- this I have declared truly.'

Verse 255 (skanda.6.29.255)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया सूतज मोक्षदम्। षडक्षरस्य माहात्म्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ mayā sūtaja mokṣadam| ṣaḍakṣarasya māhātmyaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

O son of Suta, all this has been related to you by me -- the liberating greatness of the six-syllable mantra, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 256 (skanda.6.29.256)

यश्चैतच्छृणुयान्नित्यं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः। आजन्ममरणात्पापात्सोऽपि मुच्येत मानवः

yaścaitacchṛṇuyānnityaṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ| ājanmamaraṇātpāpātso'pi mucyeta mānavaḥ

Whatever man, filled with true faith, ever hears this, he too is freed from sin, from birth to death.

Verse 257 (skanda.6.29.257)

तस्मात्त्वं हि महाभाग मन्त्रमेनं सदा जप। संप्राप्स्यसि परान्कामान्मनसा वांछितान्सदा

tasmāttvaṁ hi mahābhāga mantramenaṁ sadā japa| saṁprāpsyasi parānkāmānmanasā vāṁchitānsadā

'Therefore, illustrious one, always recite this mantra; you shall ever attain the highest desires cherished in your mind.'

Verse 258 (skanda.6.29.258)

सूत उवाच। एतच्छ्रुतं मया पूर्वं सकाशात्तस्य सद्गुरोः। षडक्षरस्य माहात्म्यं यद्युष्माकं प्रकीर्तितम्

sūta uvāca| etacchrutaṁ mayā pūrvaṁ sakāśāttasya sadguroḥ| ṣaḍakṣarasya māhātmyaṁ yadyuṣmākaṁ prakīrtitam

Suta said: This greatness of the six-syllable mantra, which has been declared to you, I myself heard formerly from that same true teacher (the sage Vatsa).

Verse 259 (skanda.6.29.259)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं शत्रुपक्षक्षयावहम्। पठतां शृण्वतां नित्यं सर्वकामाभयप्रदम्

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ śatrupakṣakṣayāvaham| paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ nityaṁ sarvakāmābhayapradam

This is auspicious, glory-bringing, life-giving, destructive of the ranks of one's enemies, and ever grants every desire and freedom from fear to those who read and hear it.