Agastya's Drinking of the Ocean and the Grant of the Chitreshvara Shrine

Verse 1 (skanda.6.35.1)

सूत उवाच । एवं तेषु प्रभग्नेषु हतेषु च सुरोत्तमाः । प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे स्तुत्वा देवं महेश्वरम्

sūta uvāca | evaṁ teṣu prabhagneṣu hateṣu ca surottamāḥ | prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve stutvā devaṁ maheśvaram

Suta said: O best of gods, thus, with those demons routed and slain, all the gods, their hearts rejoicing, praised the great god Maheshvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.35.2)

तेनैव चाथ निर्मुक्ताः प्रणम्य च मुहुर्मुहुः । स्वंस्वं स्थानमथाजग्मुः शक्रविष्णुपुरःसराः

tenaiva cātha nirmuktāḥ praṇamya ca muhurmuhuḥ | svaṁsvaṁ sthānamathājagmuḥ śakraviṣṇupuraḥsarāḥ

Then, dismissed by him, and bowing again and again, all the gods, led by Indra and Vishnu, departed each to his own abode.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.35.3)

तेऽपि दानवशार्दूला हताशाश्च सुरोत्तमैः । मंत्रं प्रचक्रिरे सर्वे नाशाय त्रिदिवौकसाम्

te'pi dānavaśārdūlā hatāśāśca surottamaiḥ | maṁtraṁ pracakrire sarve nāśāya tridivaukasām

Those tigers among demons, in turn, their hopes crushed by the excellent gods, all took counsel together for the destruction of the dwellers in heaven.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.35.4)

तेषां मंत्रयतामेष निश्चयः समपद्यत । नान्यत्र धर्मविध्वंसाद्देवानां जायते क्षयः

teṣāṁ maṁtrayatāmeṣa niścayaḥ samapadyata | nānyatra dharmavidhvaṁsāddevānāṁ jāyate kṣayaḥ

In their counsel this conclusion was reached: that the gods' decline could come about by nothing other than the destruction of dharma.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.35.5)

तस्मात्तपस्विनो यै च ये च यज्ञपरायणाः । तथान्ये निरता धर्मे निहन्तव्या निशागमे

tasmāttapasvino yai ca ye ca yajñaparāyaṇāḥ | tathānye niratā dharme nihantavyā niśāgame

Therefore whoever were ascetics, whoever devoted to sacrifice, and others intent upon dharma, must all be slain under cover of night.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.35.6)

एवं ते निश्चयं कृत्वा निष्क्रम्य वरुणालयात् । रात्रौ सदैव निघ्नंति जनान्धर्मपरायणान्

evaṁ te niścayaṁ kṛtvā niṣkramya varuṇālayāt | rātrau sadaiva nighnaṁti janāndharmaparāyaṇān

Having thus resolved, they would issue forth from Varuna's abode and, night after night, slay people devoted to dharma.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.35.7)

यत्र यत्र भवेद्यज्ञः सत्रं ऽप्युत्सवोऽथवा । तत्र गत्वा निशायोगे प्रकुर्वंति जनक्षयम्

yatra yatra bhavedyajñaḥ satraṁ 'pyutsavo'thavā | tatra gatvā niśāyoge prakurvaṁti janakṣayam

Wherever a sacrifice, a sacrificial session, or a festival took place, there, arriving under cover of night, they would bring about the destruction of the people.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.35.8)

तैः प्रसूता मखा ध्वस्ता दीक्षिता विनिपातिताः । ऋत्विजश्च तथान्येऽपि सामान्या द्विजसत्तमाः

taiḥ prasūtā makhā dhvastā dīkṣitā vinipātitāḥ | ṛtvijaśca tathānye'pi sāmānyā dvijasattamāḥ

By them, sacrifices already begun were shattered, consecrated patrons struck down, and officiating priests and other ordinary excellent brahmins killed as well.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.35.9)

आश्रमे मुनिमुख्यस्य शांडिल्यस्य महात्मनः । सहस्रं ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां भक्षितं तैर्दुरात्मभिः

āśrame munimukhyasya śāṁḍilyasya mahātmanaḥ | sahasraṁ brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ bhakṣitaṁ tairdurātmabhiḥ

In the hermitage of the great-souled foremost sage Shandilya, those wicked ones devoured a thousand foremost brahmins.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.35.10)

शतानि च सहस्राणि निहतानि द्विजन्मनाम् । विश्वामित्रस्य पञ्चैव सप्तात्रेश्चैव धीमतः

śatāni ca sahasrāṇi nihatāni dvijanmanām | viśvāmitrasya pañcaiva saptātreścaiva dhīmataḥ

Hundreds upon hundreds of brahmins were slain -- five hundred at Vishvamitra's hermitage, and seven hundred at the wise Atri's.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.35.11)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु समस्तं धरणीतलम् । नष्टयज्ञोत्सवं जातं कालेयभयपीडितम्

etasminneva kāle tu samastaṁ dharaṇītalam | naṣṭayajñotsavaṁ jātaṁ kāleyabhayapīḍitam

At this very time, the whole surface of the earth, terrorized by fear of the Kaleyas, saw all sacrifices and festivals brought to ruin.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.35.12)

न कश्चिच्छयनं रात्रौ प्रकरोति मही तले । धृतायुधा जनाः सर्वे तिष्ठंति सह तापसैः

na kaścicchayanaṁ rātrau prakaroti mahī tale | dhṛtāyudhā janāḥ sarve tiṣṭhaṁti saha tāpasaiḥ

No one upon earth would sleep at night; all people, together with the ascetics, kept watch, weapons in hand.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.35.13)

रात्रौ स्वपंति ये केचिद्विश्वस्ता धर्मभाजनाः । तेषामस्थीनि दृश्यंते प्रातरेव हि केवलम्

rātrau svapaṁti ye kecidviśvastā dharmabhājanāḥ | teṣāmasthīni dṛśyaṁte prātareva hi kevalam

Whoever, feeling secure, slept at night -- even those upright souls -- of them, only bones would be seen the following morning.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.35.14)

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे यज्ञभागविनाकृताः । प्रजग्मुः परमामार्ति ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरस्सराः

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve yajñabhāgavinākṛtāḥ | prajagmuḥ paramāmārti brahmaviṣṇupurassarāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, deprived of their share in the sacrifices, fell into the deepest distress, with Brahma and Vishnu at their head.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.35.15)

ततो गत्वा समुद्रांतं वधाय सुरविद्विषाम् । न शेकुर्विषमस्थांस्तान्मनसापि प्रधर्षितुम्

tato gatvā samudrāṁtaṁ vadhāya suravidviṣām | na śekurviṣamasthāṁstānmanasāpi pradharṣitum

Then, going to the edge of the ocean to slay the enemies of the gods, they found themselves unable even in thought to assail those demons entrenched in that impregnable place.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.35.16)

ततः समुद्रनाशाय मंत्रं चक्रुः सुदुःखिताः । तस्मिन्नष्टे भवन्त्येव वध्या दानवसत्तमाः

tataḥ samudranāśāya maṁtraṁ cakruḥ suduḥkhitāḥ | tasminnaṣṭe bhavantyeva vadhyā dānavasattamāḥ

Then, in great distress, they took counsel for the destruction of the ocean itself, since only with it gone could those foremost demons become vulnerable to slaying.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.35.17)

अगस्त्येन विना नैष शोषं यास्यति सागरः । तस्मात्संप्रार्थयामोत्र कृत्ये गत्वा मुनीश्वरम्

agastyena vinā naiṣa śoṣaṁ yāsyati sāgaraḥ | tasmātsaṁprārthayāmotra kṛtye gatvā munīśvaram

Without Agastya, this ocean cannot be made to dry up; therefore, for this task, let us go and beseech that lord of sages.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.35.18)

चमत्कारपुरे क्षेत्रे स तिष्ठति च सन्मुनिः । तस्मात्तत्रैव गच्छामो येन गच्छति सत्वरम्

camatkārapure kṣetre sa tiṣṭhati ca sanmuniḥ | tasmāttatraiva gacchāmo yena gacchati satvaram

That worthy sage dwells in the field of Chamatkarapura; therefore let us go there at once, so that this may be accomplished swiftly.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.35.19)

एवं निश्चित्य ते सर्वे त्रिदशास्तस्य चाश्रमम् । संप्राप्ता मुनिमुख्यस्य मित्रावरुण जन्मनः

evaṁ niścitya te sarve tridaśāstasya cāśramam | saṁprāptā munimukhyasya mitrāvaruṇa janmanaḥ

Having resolved thus, all those gods arrived at the hermitage of that foremost of sages, born of Mitra and Varuna.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.35.20)

सोऽपि सर्वान्समालोक्य संप्राप्तान्सुरसत्तमान् । प्रहृष्टः सम्मुखस्तूर्णं जगामातीव सन्मुनिः

so'pi sarvānsamālokya saṁprāptānsurasattamān | prahṛṣṭaḥ sammukhastūrṇaṁ jagāmātīva sanmuniḥ

That worthy sage, too, seeing all those excellent gods arrived, went at once, overjoyed, to meet them.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.35.21)

प्रोवाच प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं हर्ष गद्गदया गिरा । ब्रह्मादींस्तान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः

provāca prāṁjalirvākyaṁ harṣa gadgadayā girā | brahmādīṁstānsurāndṛṣṭvā vismayotphullalocanaḥ

Seeing Brahma and the other gods, his eyes wide with astonishment, he spoke, hands joined, in a voice choked with joy --

Verse 22 (skanda.6.35.22)

चमत्कारपुरं क्षेत्रमेतन्मेध्यमपि स्थितम् । भूयो मेध्यतरं जातं युष्माकं हि समाश्रयात्

camatkārapuraṁ kṣetrametanmedhyamapi sthitam | bhūyo medhyataraṁ jātaṁ yuṣmākaṁ hi samāśrayāt

"This field of Chamatkarapura, though already sacred, has now become sacred beyond measure through your very presence here."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.35.23)

तस्माद्वदत यत्कृत्यं मया संसिद्ध्यतेऽधुना । तत्सर्वं प्रकरिष्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुष्करम्

tasmādvadata yatkṛtyaṁ mayā saṁsiddhyate'dhunā | tatsarvaṁ prakariṣyāmi yadyapi syātsuduṣkaram

"Therefore tell me what task you wish me now to accomplish; whatever it may be, however difficult, I shall carry it out entirely."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.35.24)

देवाः उवाच । कालेया इति दैत्या ये हतशेषाः सुरैः कृताः । ते समुद्रं समाश्रित्य निघ्नंति शुभकारिणः

devāḥ uvāca | kāleyā iti daityā ye hataśeṣāḥ suraiḥ kṛtāḥ | te samudraṁ samāśritya nighnaṁti śubhakāriṇaḥ

The gods said: The demons called the Kaleyas, who survived our slaughter of them, have taken refuge in the ocean and are now slaughtering those engaged in righteous deeds.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.35.25)

शुभे नाशमनुप्राप्ते ध्रुवं नाशो दिवौकसाम् । तस्मात्तेषां वधार्थाय त्वं शोषय महार्णवम्

śubhe nāśamanuprāpte dhruvaṁ nāśo divaukasām | tasmātteṣāṁ vadhārthāya tvaṁ śoṣaya mahārṇavam

With righteous deeds destroyed, the destruction of the gods is certain; therefore, for their slaying, dry up this great ocean.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.35.26)

येन ते गोचरं प्राप्ता दृष्टेर्दानवसत्तमाः । बध्यंते विबुधैः सर्वे जायंते च मखा इह

yena te gocaraṁ prāptā dṛṣṭerdānavasattamāḥ | badhyaṁte vibudhaiḥ sarve jāyaṁte ca makhā iha

So that those foremost demons, coming within sight, may be slain by all the gods, and sacrifices may once more take place here.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.35.27)

अगस्त्य उवाच । अहं संवत्सरस्यांते शोषयिष्यामि सागरम् । विद्याबलं समाश्रित्य योगिनीनां सुरोत्तमाः

agastya uvāca | ahaṁ saṁvatsarasyāṁte śoṣayiṣyāmi sāgaram | vidyābalaṁ samāśritya yoginīnāṁ surottamāḥ

Agastya said: O best of gods, relying on the power of the yoginis' mystic lore, I shall dry up this ocean at the end of one year.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.35.28)

तस्माद्व्रजत हर्म्याणि यूयं याति हि वत्सरम् । यावद्भूयोऽपि वर्षांते कार्यमागमनं ध्रुवम्

tasmādvrajata harmyāṇi yūyaṁ yāti hi vatsaram | yāvadbhūyo'pi varṣāṁte kāryamāgamanaṁ dhruvam

Therefore go now to your own abodes; let this one year pass; at its end you must certainly come back here again.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.35.29)

ततो मया समं गत्वा शोषिते वरुणालये । हंतव्या दानवा दुष्टा हन्त यैः पीड्यते जगत्

tato mayā samaṁ gatvā śoṣite varuṇālaye | haṁtavyā dānavā duṣṭā hanta yaiḥ pīḍyate jagat

Then, coming with me, once Varuna's abode has been dried up, you must slay those wicked demons -- alas -- by whom this world is tormented.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.35.30)

सूत उवाच । ततो देवगणाः सर्वे गताः स्वेस्वे निकेतने । अगस्त्योऽपि समुद्योगं चक्रे विद्यासमुद्भवम्

sūta uvāca | tato devagaṇāḥ sarve gatāḥ svesve niketane | agastyo'pi samudyogaṁ cakre vidyāsamudbhavam

Suta said: Then all the hosts of gods departed each to his own abode, and Agastya too began his undertaking, born of mystic learning.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.35.31)

ततः सर्वाणि पीठानि यानि संति धरातले । तानि तत्रानयामास मंत्रशक्त्या महामुनिः

tataḥ sarvāṇi pīṭhāni yāni saṁti dharātale | tāni tatrānayāmāsa maṁtraśaktyā mahāmuniḥ

Then that great sage, by the power of his mantras, brought there all the shrines [of the Goddess] existing upon the earth.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.35.32)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तेषु संपूज्य भक्तितः । योगिनीनां च वृन्दानि कन्यकानां विशेषतः

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ teṣu saṁpūjya bhaktitaḥ | yoginīnāṁ ca vṛndāni kanyakānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

On the eighth and fourteenth lunar days, worshiping there with devotion the assemblies of yoginis, and especially the young maidens,

Verse 33 (skanda.6.35.33)

विद्यां विशोषिणीनाम समाराधयत द्विजः । पूजयित्वा दिशां पालान्क्षेत्रपालानपि द्विजः । आकाशचारिणीं चैव देवतां श्रद्धया द्विजः

vidyāṁ viśoṣiṇīnāma samārādhayata dvijaḥ | pūjayitvā diśāṁ pālānkṣetrapālānapi dvijaḥ | ākāśacāriṇīṁ caiva devatāṁ śraddhayā dvijaḥ

that brahmin propitiated the great mystic power capable of drying up [the ocean], worshiped the guardians of the directions and the guardians of the sacred field as well, and with devotion adored the goddess who moves through the sky.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.35.34)

ततः संवत्सरस्यांते प्रसन्ना तस्य देवता । प्रोवाच वद यत्कृत्यं सिद्धाहं तव सन्मुने

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyāṁte prasannā tasya devatā | provāca vada yatkṛtyaṁ siddhāhaṁ tava sanmune

Then, at the end of the year, that goddess, pleased with him, said: Tell me the task, O worthy sage; I am accomplished and ready for you.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.35.35)

अगस्त्य उवाच । यदि देवि प्रसन्ना मे तदास्यं विश सत्वरम् । येन संशोषयाम्याशु समुद्रं देवि वाग्यतः

agastya uvāca | yadi devi prasannā me tadāsyaṁ viśa satvaram | yena saṁśoṣayāmyāśu samudraṁ devi vāgyataḥ

Agastya said: O goddess, if you are pleased with me, then enter my mouth at once, so that I, remaining silent, may swiftly dry up the ocean.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.35.36)

सूत उवाच । सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय प्रविष्टा सत्वरं मुखे । संशोषणी महाविद्या तस्यर्षेर्भावितात्मनः

sūta uvāca | sā tatheti pratijñāya praviṣṭā satvaraṁ mukhe | saṁśoṣaṇī mahāvidyā tasyarṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ

Suta said: Saying "So be it," that great mystic power of desiccation quickly entered the mouth of that sage of purified soul.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.35.37)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ताः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । धृतायुधकरा हृष्टाः संनद्धा युद्धहेतवे

etasminnaṁtare prāptāḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ | dhṛtāyudhakarā hṛṣṭāḥ saṁnaddhā yuddhahetave

Meanwhile, all the gods together with Indra arrived there, weapons in hand, rejoicing, arrayed and ready for battle.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.35.38)

ततः संप्रस्थितो विप्रो देवैः सर्वैः समाहितः । वारिराशिं समुद्दिश्य संशुष्कवदनस्तदा

tataḥ saṁprasthito vipro devaiḥ sarvaiḥ samāhitaḥ | vārirāśiṁ samuddiśya saṁśuṣkavadanastadā

Then that brahmin, his mouth held dry, set out, accompanied by all the gods together, toward the mass of waters.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.35.39)

अथ गत्वा समुद्रांतं स्तूयमानो दिवालयैः । पिपासाकुलितोऽतीव सर्वान्देवानुवाच ह

atha gatvā samudrāṁtaṁ stūyamāno divālayaiḥ | pipāsākulito'tīva sarvāndevānuvāca ha

Reaching the edge of the ocean, praised by the dwellers of heaven, and utterly consumed with thirst, he then said to all the gods --

Verse 40 (skanda.6.35.40)

एषोऽहं सागरं सद्यः शोषयिष्यामि सांप्रतम् । यूयं भवत सोद्योगा वधाय सुरविद्विषाम्

eṣo'haṁ sāgaraṁ sadyaḥ śoṣayiṣyāmi sāṁpratam | yūyaṁ bhavata sodyogā vadhāya suravidviṣām

"I shall now, this very instant, dry up this ocean; be ready, all of you, for the slaying of the enemies of the gods."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.35.41)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा मुनिः सोऽथ मत्स्यकच्छपसंकुलम् । हेलया प्रपपौ कृत्स्नं ग्राहैः कीर्णं महार्णवम्

sūta uvāca | evamuktvā muniḥ so'tha matsyakacchapasaṁkulam | helayā prapapau kṛtsnaṁ grāhaiḥ kīrṇaṁ mahārṇavam

Suta said: Having said this, that sage, with effortless ease, drank up entirely that great ocean, teeming with fish, tortoises, and crocodiles.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.35.42)

ततः स्थलोपमे जाते ते दैत्याः सुरसत्तमैः । वध्यन्ते निशितैर्बाणैः समन्ताद्विजिगीषुभिः

tataḥ sthalopame jāte te daityāḥ surasattamaiḥ | vadhyante niśitairbāṇaiḥ samantādvijigīṣubhiḥ

Then, with the ocean-bed exposed like dry land, those demons were slain on every side by the sharp arrows of the excellent gods, eager for victory.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.35.43)

अथ कृत्वा महद्युद्धं यथा शक्त्यातिदारुणम् । हतभूयिष्ठशेषा ये भित्त्वा भूमिं गता अधः

atha kṛtvā mahadyuddhaṁ yathā śaktyātidāruṇam | hatabhūyiṣṭhaśeṣā ye bhittvā bhūmiṁ gatā adhaḥ

They waged, to the utmost of their power, a great and utterly terrible battle; most of the survivors were slain, while the few who remained burst through the earth and fled below.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.35.44)

ततः प्रोचुः सुराः सर्वे स्तुत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम् । परित्यज जलं भूयः पूरणार्थं महोदधेः

tataḥ procuḥ surāḥ sarve stutvā taṁ munisattamam | parityaja jalaṁ bhūyaḥ pūraṇārthaṁ mahodadheḥ

Then all the gods, praising that foremost of sages, said: Now release that water again, so that the great ocean may be refilled.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.35.45)

नैषा वसुमती विप्र समुद्रेण विनाकृता । राजते वस्तुसंत्यक्ता यथा नारी विभूषिता

naiṣā vasumatī vipra samudreṇa vinākṛtā | rājate vastusaṁtyaktā yathā nārī vibhūṣitā

O brahmin, this earth deprived of its ocean does not shine, just as a woman, though adorned with ornaments, does not shine if stripped of her garment.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.35.46)

अगस्त्य उवाच । या मयाऽऽराधिता विद्या वर्षंयावत्प्रशोषणी । तया पीतमिदं तोयं परिणामगतं तथा

agastya uvāca | yā mayā''rādhitā vidyā varṣaṁyāvatpraśoṣaṇī | tayā pītamidaṁ toyaṁ pariṇāmagataṁ tathā

Agastya said: This water was drunk by that power of desiccation which I propitiated throughout the year, and it has now already been digested and transformed.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.35.47)

एष यास्यति वै पूर्तिं भूयोऽपि वरुणालयः । खातश्चागाधतां प्राप्तो गंगातोयैः सुनिर्मलैः

eṣa yāsyati vai pūrtiṁ bhūyo'pi varuṇālayaḥ | khātaścāgādhatāṁ prāpto gaṁgātoyaiḥ sunirmalaiḥ

This abode of Varuna will indeed be filled once more, and this hollowed-out depth will again become unfathomable, filled with the utterly pure waters of the Ganga.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.35.48)

सगरोनाम भूपालो भविष्यति महीतले । तत्पुत्राः षष्टिसाहस्राः खनिष्यंति न संशयः

sagaronāma bhūpālo bhaviṣyati mahītale | tatputrāḥ ṣaṣṭisāhasrāḥ khaniṣyaṁti na saṁśayaḥ

There will be, upon the earth, a king named Sagara; his sixty thousand sons will, without doubt, dig out this very place.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.35.49)

तस्यैवान्वयवान्राजा भविष्यति भगीरथः । स ज्ञातिकारणाद्गंगां ब्रह्मांडादानयिष्यति

tasyaivānvayavānrājā bhaviṣyati bhagīrathaḥ | sa jñātikāraṇādgaṁgāṁ brahmāṁḍādānayiṣyati

In his very lineage will be a king named Bhagiratha; for the sake of his kinsmen, he will bring the Ganga down from the cosmic egg.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.35.50)

प्रवाहेण ततस्तस्याः समंतादंभसांनिधिः । भविष्यति सुसंपूर्णः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

pravāheṇa tatastasyāḥ samaṁtādaṁbhasāṁnidhiḥ | bhaviṣyati susaṁpūrṇaḥ satyametanmayoditam

Then, through her flowing current, this ocean will be filled entirely, its waters present on every side -- what I have declared is the truth.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.35.51)

देवाः उवाच । देवकृत्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भवता ह्युपपादितम् । तस्मात्प्रार्थय चित्तस्थं वरं सर्वं मुनीश्वर

devāḥ uvāca | devakṛtyaṁ muniśreṣṭha bhavatā hyupapāditam | tasmātprārthaya cittasthaṁ varaṁ sarvaṁ munīśvara

The gods said: O foremost of sages, you have accomplished the task of the gods; therefore, O lord of sages, ask for whatever boon your heart desires.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.35.52)

अगस्त्य उवाच । चमत्कारपुरे क्षेत्रे मया पीठान्यशेषतः । आनीतानि प्रभावेन मंत्राणां सुरसत्तमाः

agastya uvāca | camatkārapure kṣetre mayā pīṭhānyaśeṣataḥ | ānītāni prabhāvena maṁtrāṇāṁ surasattamāḥ

Agastya said: O best of gods, by the power of my mantras I have brought all the shrines here, in their entirety, into the field of Chamatkarapura.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.35.53)

तस्मात्तेषां सदा वासस्तत्रैवास्तु प्रभावतः । सर्वासां योगिनीनां च मातॄणां च विशेषतः

tasmātteṣāṁ sadā vāsastatraivāstu prabhāvataḥ | sarvāsāṁ yoginīnāṁ ca mātṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

Therefore, by their power, let the dwelling of all the yoginis and, in particular, the divine Mothers, remain there forever.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.35.54)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तानि यः श्रद्धयाऽन्वितः । पूजयिष्यति तस्य स्यात्समस्तं मनसेप्सितम्

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ tāni yaḥ śraddhayā'nvitaḥ | pūjayiṣyati tasya syātsamastaṁ manasepsitam

Whoever, with devotion, worships them on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days shall obtain everything his heart desires.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.35.55)

देवाः उवाच । यस्माच्चित्राणि पीठानि त्वयानीतानि तत्र हि । तस्माच्चित्रेश्वरं नाम पीठमेकं भविष्यति

devāḥ uvāca | yasmāccitrāṇi pīṭhāni tvayānītāni tatra hi | tasmāccitreśvaraṁ nāma pīṭhamekaṁ bhaviṣyati

The gods said: Since you have brought there such a wondrous variety of shrines, that one shrine shall become known by the name Chitreshvara.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.35.56)

यो यं काममभिध्याय तत्र पूजां करिष्यति । योगिनीनां च विद्यानां मातॄणां च विशेषतः

yo yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya tatra pūjāṁ kariṣyati | yoginīnāṁ ca vidyānāṁ mātṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

Whoever, fixing his mind on any desire, performs worship there of the yoginis, the mystic powers, and especially the divine Mothers --

Verse 57 (skanda.6.35.57)

तंतं कामं नरः शीघ्रं संप्राप्स्यति महामुने । अस्माकं वरदानेन यद्यपि स्यात्सुपापकृत्

taṁtaṁ kāmaṁ naraḥ śīghraṁ saṁprāpsyati mahāmune | asmākaṁ varadānena yadyapi syātsupāpakṛt

-- O great sage, that man, by this boon of ours, shall swiftly obtain that very desire, even if he be a great sinner.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.35.58)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे तमामन्त्र्य मुनीश्वरम् । गतास्त्रिविष्टपं हृष्टाः सोऽप्यगस्त्यः स्वमाश्रमम्

sūta uvāca | evamuktvā surāḥ sarve tamāmantrya munīśvaram | gatāstriviṣṭapaṁ hṛṣṭāḥ so'pyagastyaḥ svamāśramam

Suta said: Having said this, all the gods, taking leave of that lord of sages, went rejoicing to their heavenly abode, and Agastya too returned to his own hermitage.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.35.59)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यथा स पयसांनिधिः । अगस्त्येन पुरा पीतो देवकार्यप्रसिद्धये

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yathā sa payasāṁnidhiḥ | agastyena purā pīto devakāryaprasiddhaye

All this I have now related to you -- how, long ago, Agastya drank up that ocean for the accomplishment of the gods' task.