The Glory of the Valakhilya Hermitage

Verse 1 (skanda.6.79.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तस्यैव दक्षिणे भागे वालखिल्यैः प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ लिंगमस्ति सुविख्यातं सर्वपातकनाशनम्

sūta uvāca tasyaiva dakṣiṇe bhāge vālakhilyaiḥ pratiṣṭhitam liṁgamasti suvikhyātaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam

Suta said: In the southern part of that very place, there is a most renowned linga, established by the Valakhilyas, which destroys all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.79.2)

यमाराध्य च तैः पूर्वं शक्रामर्षसमन्वितैः॥ गरुडो जनितः पक्षी ख्यातो विष्णुरथोऽत्र यः

yamārādhya ca taiḥ pūrvaṁ śakrāmarṣasamanvitaiḥ garuḍo janitaḥ pakṣī khyāto viṣṇuratho'tra yaḥ

By worshipping which, those Valakhilyas, formerly filled with anger against Indra, brought into being the bird Garuda, famed here as Vishnu's mount.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.79.3)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ कथं तेषां समुत्पन्नः शक्रस्योपरि सूतज॥ प्रकोपो वालखिल्यानां संजज्ञे गरुडः कथम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṁ teṣāṁ samutpannaḥ śakrasyopari sūtaja prakopo vālakhilyānāṁ saṁjajñe garuḍaḥ katham

The sages said: "How, O son of Suta, did their anger against Indra arise, and how did Garuda come to be born from the Valakhilyas?"

Verse 4 (skanda.6.79.4)

सूत उवाच॥ पुरा प्रजापतिर्दक्षस्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे सुशोभने॥ चकार विधिवद्यज्ञं संपूर्णवरदक्षिणम्

sūta uvāca purā prajāpatirdakṣastasminkṣetre suśobhane cakāra vidhivadyajñaṁ saṁpūrṇavaradakṣiṇam

Suta said: Long ago, in that beautiful sacred field, the lord of creatures, Daksha, performed a sacrifice by proper rite, complete with all its boons and sacrificial fees.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.79.5)

ततः शक्रादयो देवाः सहायार्थं निमंत्रिताः॥ दक्षेण मुनयश्चैव तथा राजर्षयोऽमलाः

tataḥ śakrādayo devāḥ sahāyārthaṁ nimaṁtritāḥ dakṣeṇa munayaścaiva tathā rājarṣayo'malāḥ

Then Indra and the other gods were invited by Daksha to assist, and likewise the sages and the pure royal seers,

Verse 6 (skanda.6.79.6)

तथा वेदविदो विप्रा यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणाः॥ गृहस्थाश्रमिणो ये च ये चारण्यनिवासिनः

tathā vedavido viprā yajñakarmavicakṣaṇāḥ gṛhasthāśramiṇo ye ca ye cāraṇyanivāsinaḥ

and brahmins learned in the Vedas, skilled in the rites of sacrifice, both those living the householder's life and those dwelling in the forest.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.79.7)

अथ ते वालखिल्याख्या मुनयः संशितव्रताः॥ एकां समिधमादाय साहाय्यार्थं प्रजापतेः॥ प्रस्थिता यज्ञवाटं तं भारार्ताः क्लेशसंयुताः

atha te vālakhilyākhyā munayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ ekāṁ samidhamādāya sāhāyyārthaṁ prajāpateḥ prasthitā yajñavāṭaṁ taṁ bhārārtāḥ kleśasaṁyutāḥ

Then those sages called Valakhilyas, of rigorous vows, each taking a single stick of sacrificial fuel, set out toward that sacrificial enclosure to assist the Lord of creatures, burdened by the load and afflicted by hardship.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.79.8)

अथ तेषां समस्तानां मार्गे गोष्पदमागतम्॥ जलपूर्णं समायातमकालजलदागमे

atha teṣāṁ samastānāṁ mārge goṣpadamāgatam jalapūrṇaṁ samāyātamakālajaladāgame

Then, in the path of all of them, there appeared a hoof-print, filled with water that had come from an untimely rain.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.79.9)

ततस्तरीतुकामास्ते क्लिश्यमाना इतस्ततः॥ समिद्भारश्रमोपेता देवराजेन वीक्षिताः

tatastarītukāmāste kliśyamānā itastataḥ samidbhāraśramopetā devarājena vīkṣitāḥ

Then, wishing to cross it, struggling this way and that, wearied by the burden of their sacrificial sticks, they were seen by the king of the gods,

Verse 10 (skanda.6.79.10)

गच्छता तेन मार्गेण मखे दक्षप्रजापतेः॥ ततश्चिरं समालोक्य स्मितं कृत्वा स कौतुकात्॥ जगामाथ समुल्लंघ्य ऐश्वर्यमदगर्वितः

gacchatā tena mārgeṇa makhe dakṣaprajāpateḥ tataściraṁ samālokya smitaṁ kṛtvā sa kautukāt jagāmātha samullaṁghya aiśvaryamadagarvitaḥ

who was going by that same path to Daksha Prajapati's sacrifice; and, gazing at them for a long while, smiling out of amusement, he — intoxicated with the pride of his lordship — then went on, stepping right over them.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.79.11)

ततस्ते कोपसंयुक्ताः शक्राद्दृष्ट्वा पराभवम्॥ निवृत्य स्वाश्रमं गत्वा चक्रुर्मंत्रं सनिश्चयम्

tataste kopasaṁyuktāḥ śakrāddṛṣṭvā parābhavam nivṛtya svāśramaṁ gatvā cakrurmaṁtraṁ saniścayam

Then they, filled with anger at the insult they had suffered from Indra, turned back, went to their own hermitage, and took counsel with firm resolve:

Verse 12 (skanda.6.79.12)

शाक्रं पदं समासाद्य यस्मादेतेन पाप्मना॥ अतिक्रांता वयं सर्वे तस्मात्पात्यः स सत्पदात्

śākraṁ padaṁ samāsādya yasmādetena pāpmanā atikrāṁtā vayaṁ sarve tasmātpātyaḥ sa satpadāt

"Since, having attained the position of Indra, this sinful being has trampled over all of us, therefore he must be cast down from his righteous position."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.79.13)

अन्यः शक्रः प्रकर्तव्यो मंत्रवीर्यसमुद्भवः॥ आथर्वणैर्महासूक्तैराभिचारिकसंभवैः

anyaḥ śakraḥ prakartavyo maṁtravīryasamudbhavaḥ ātharvaṇairmahāsūktairābhicārikasaṁbhavaiḥ

"Another Indra must be created, born of the power of mantra, through the great Atharvan hymns arising from sorcery,"

Verse 14 (skanda.6.79.14)

येन व्यापाद्यते तेन शक्रोऽयं मदगर्वितः॥ मखमाहात्म्यसंपन्नः स्वल्पबुद्धिपराक्रमः

yena vyāpādyate tena śakro'yaṁ madagarvitaḥ makhamāhātmyasaṁpannaḥ svalpabuddhiparākramaḥ

"by whom this Indra, arrogant with pride, endowed with the greatness of the sacrifice yet of feeble intelligence and prowess, may be destroyed."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.79.15)

ततस्ते शुचयो भूत्वा स्कंदसूक्तेन पावकम्॥ जुहुवुश्च दिवारात्रौ क्षुरिकोक्तेन सोद्यमाः

tataste śucayo bhūtvā skaṁdasūktena pāvakam juhuvuśca divārātrau kṣurikoktena sodyamāḥ

Then, having purified themselves, they offered oblations into the fire day and night, striving earnestly, with the Skanda-sukta and with what is prescribed in the Kshurika,

Verse 16 (skanda.6.79.16)

गर्भोपनिषदेनैव नीलरुद्रैर्द्विजोत्तमाः॥ रुद्रशीर्षेण काम्येन विष्णुसूक्तयुतेन च

garbhopaniṣadenaiva nīlarudrairdvijottamāḥ rudraśīrṣeṇa kāmyena viṣṇusūktayutena ca

with the Garbha-upanishad, O best of brahmins, with the Nilarudra hymns, with the desire-fulfilling Rudrashirsha, and joined with the Vishnu-sukta,

Verse 17 (skanda.6.79.17)

निधाय कलशं मध्ये मंडलस्योदकावृतम्॥ होमांते तत्र संस्पर्शं चक्रुस्तस्य जलैः शुभैः

nidhāya kalaśaṁ madhye maṁḍalasyodakāvṛtam homāṁte tatra saṁsparśaṁ cakrustasya jalaiḥ śubhaiḥ

placing a water-filled vessel in the middle of the ritual diagram, and at the end of the fire-offering, touched it there with its auspicious waters.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.79.18)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रः प्रपश्यति सुदारुणान्॥ उत्पातानात्मनाशाय जायमानान्समंततः

etasminnaṁtare śakraḥ prapaśyati sudāruṇān utpātānātmanāśāya jāyamānānsamaṁtataḥ

Meanwhile Indra began to see most terrible portents, arising all around, foreboding his own destruction.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.79.19)

वामो बाहुश्च नेत्रं च मुहुः स्फुरति चास्य वै॥ न च पश्यति नासाग्रं जिह्वाग्रं च तथा हनुम्

vāmo bāhuśca netraṁ ca muhuḥ sphurati cāsya vai na ca paśyati nāsāgraṁ jihvāgraṁ ca tathā hanum

His left arm and left eye kept twitching repeatedly; and he could not see the tip of his own nose, nor the tip of his tongue, nor his own chin.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.79.20)

शिरोहीनां तथा छायां गगने भास्करद्वयम्॥ अरुंधतीं ध्रुवं चैव न च विष्णुपदानि सः

śirohīnāṁ tathā chāyāṁ gagane bhāskaradvayam aruṁdhatīṁ dhruvaṁ caiva na ca viṣṇupadāni saḥ

He saw his own shadow headless, and two suns in the sky; nor could he see Arundhati, nor the Pole Star, nor the footsteps of Vishnu.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.79.21)

न च मंदं न चाकाशे संस्थितां स्वर्धुनीं हरिः॥ स्वपन्पश्यति कृष्णांगीं नित्यं नारीं धृतायुधाम्

na ca maṁdaṁ na cākāśe saṁsthitāṁ svardhunīṁ hariḥ svapanpaśyati kṛṣṇāṁgīṁ nityaṁ nārīṁ dhṛtāyudhām

Nor could Indra see Saturn, nor the celestial Ganga situated in the sky; and in his sleep, he constantly saw a dark-bodied woman bearing weapons,

Verse 22 (skanda.6.79.22)

मुक्तकेशीं विवस्त्रां च कृष्णदंतां भयानकाम्॥ तान्दृष्ट्वा स महोत्पातान्देवराजो बृहस्पतिम्

muktakeśīṁ vivastrāṁ ca kṛṣṇadaṁtāṁ bhayānakām tāndṛṣṭvā sa mahotpātāndevarājo bṛhaspatim

with disheveled hair, unclothed, black-toothed, and terrifying. Seeing these great portents, the king of the gods, to Brihaspati,

Verse 23 (skanda.6.79.23)

पप्रच्छ भयसंत्रस्तः किमेतदिति मे गुरो॥ जायंते सुमहोत्पाता दुर्निमित्तानि वै पृथक्

papraccha bhayasaṁtrastaḥ kimetaditi me guro jāyaṁte sumahotpātā durnimittāni vai pṛthak

asked, terrified: "What is this, O my preceptor? Such great portents and various evil omens are arising for me."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.79.24)

किं मे भविष्यति प्राज्ञ विनाशः सांप्रतं वद॥ किं वा त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य किं वा वित्तादिकस्य च

kiṁ me bhaviṣyati prājña vināśaḥ sāṁprataṁ vada kiṁ vā trailokyarājyasya kiṁ vā vittādikasya ca

"O wise one, tell me now — will there be my own destruction, or that of my sovereignty over the three worlds, or of my wealth and the like?"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.79.25)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच॥ ये त्वया मदमत्तेन वालखिल्या महर्षयः॥ उल्लंघिताः स्थिता मार्गे गोष्पदं तर्त्तुमिच्छवः

bṛhaspatiruvāca ye tvayā madamattena vālakhilyā maharṣayaḥ ullaṁghitāḥ sthitā mārge goṣpadaṁ tarttumicchavaḥ

Brihaspati said: Those great sages, the Valakhilyas, whom you, intoxicated with pride, trampled over as they stood in the path, wishing to cross a hoof-print of water —

Verse 26 (skanda.6.79.26)

तैरेवाथर्वणैर्मंत्रैस्त्वकृतेऽस्ति शचीपते॥ कृतो होमः सुसंपूर्णः कलशश्चाभिमंत्रितः

tairevātharvaṇairmaṁtraistvakṛte'sti śacīpate kṛto homaḥ susaṁpūrṇaḥ kalaśaścābhimaṁtritaḥ

by those very ones, O husband of Shachi, unbeknownst to you, a fire-offering has been fully performed with Atharvan mantras, and a vessel has been consecrated,

Verse 27 (skanda.6.79.27)

युष्माकं सुविनाशाय सर्वदेवाधिनायकः॥ भविष्यति न संदेहो मंत्रैराथर्वणैर्हरिः

yuṣmākaṁ suvināśāya sarvadevādhināyakaḥ bhaviṣyati na saṁdeho maṁtrairātharvaṇairhariḥ

for your utter destruction; a new lord of all the gods shall arise, without doubt, through those Atharvan mantras.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.79.28)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो भयान्वितः॥ दक्षं गत्वा च दीनास्यः प्रोवाच तदनंतरम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sahasrākṣo bhayānvitaḥ dakṣaṁ gatvā ca dīnāsyaḥ provāca tadanaṁtaram

Hearing those words of his, the thousand-eyed one, filled with fear, went to Daksha, and, his face downcast, then spoke:

Verse 29 (skanda.6.79.29)

अस्मन्नाशाय मुनिभिर्वालखिल्यैः प्रजापते॥ प्रोद्यमो विहितः सम्यक्छक्रस्यान्यस्य वै कृते

asmannāśāya munibhirvālakhilyaiḥ prajāpate prodyamo vihitaḥ samyakchakrasyānyasya vai kṛte

"O Lord of creatures, for my destruction, an undertaking has been thoroughly set in motion by the sage Valakhilyas, for the making of another Indra."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.79.30)

तान्वारय स्वयं गत्वा यावन्नो जायते परः॥ शक्रोऽस्मद्ध्वंसनार्थाय नास्ति तेषामसाध्यता

tānvāraya svayaṁ gatvā yāvanno jāyate paraḥ śakro'smaddhvaṁsanārthāya nāsti teṣāmasādhyatā

"Go yourself and restrain them, before another Indra is born for our destruction — for them nothing is impossible."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.79.31)

अथ दक्षो द्रुतं गत्वा शक्राद्यैरमरैर्वृतः॥ प्रहसंस्तानुवाचेदं विनयेन समन्वितः

atha dakṣo drutaṁ gatvā śakrādyairamarairvṛtaḥ prahasaṁstānuvācedaṁ vinayena samanvitaḥ

Then Daksha, going swiftly, surrounded by Indra and the other gods, spoke to them, smiling and with great humility:

Verse 32 (skanda.6.79.32)

किमेतत्क्रियते विप्राः कर्म रौद्रतमं महत्॥ त्रैलोक्यं व्याकुलं येन सर्वमेतद्व्यवस्थितम्

kimetatkriyate viprāḥ karma raudratamaṁ mahat trailokyaṁ vyākulaṁ yena sarvametadvyavasthitam

"Why, O brahmins, is this great, most terrible deed being performed, by which the entire three worlds have become thrown into such disorder?"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.79.33)

अथ ते दक्षमालोक्य समायातं स्वमाश्रयम्॥ संमुखाश्चाभ्ययुस्तूर्णं प्रगृहीतार्घ्यपाणयः

atha te dakṣamālokya samāyātaṁ svamāśrayam saṁmukhāścābhyayustūrṇaṁ pragṛhītārghyapāṇayaḥ

Then they, seeing Daksha arrived at their own hermitage, went forth quickly to meet him, holding water for the guest-offering in their hands,

Verse 34 (skanda.6.79.34)

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा यथान्यायं पूजां कृत्वाथ भक्तितः॥ प्रोचुश्च प्रणता भूत्वा स्वागतं ते प्रजापते

arghyaṁ dattvā yathānyāyaṁ pūjāṁ kṛtvātha bhaktitaḥ procuśca praṇatā bhūtvā svāgataṁ te prajāpate

and, having offered the arghya duly and worshipped him with devotion, bowing, they said: "Welcome, O Lord of creatures."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.79.35)

आदेशो दीयतां शीघ्रं यदर्थमिह चागतः॥ अपि प्राणप्रदानेन करिष्यामः प्रियं तव

ādeśo dīyatāṁ śīghraṁ yadarthamiha cāgataḥ api prāṇapradānena kariṣyāmaḥ priyaṁ tava

"Give us your command quickly, for whatever purpose you have come here; even by the giving up of our lives, we shall do what pleases you."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.79.36)

दक्ष उवाच॥ एतद्रौद्रतमं कर्म सर्वदेवभयावहम्॥ त्याज्यं युष्माभिरव्यग्रैरेतदर्थमिहागतः

dakṣa uvāca etadraudratamaṁ karma sarvadevabhayāvaham tyājyaṁ yuṣmābhiravyagrairetadarthamihāgataḥ

Daksha said: This most terrible deed, which brings fear upon all the gods, must be abandoned by you, undistracted as you are — it is for this purpose that I have come here.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.79.37)

मुनय ऊचुः॥ वयं शक्रेण ते यज्ञे समायाताः सुभक्तितः॥ उल्लंघिता मदोद्रेकात्कृत्वा हास्यं मुहुर्मुहुः

munaya ūcuḥ vayaṁ śakreṇa te yajñe samāyātāḥ subhaktitaḥ ullaṁghitā madodrekātkṛtvā hāsyaṁ muhurmuhuḥ

The sages said: We had come to your sacrifice with true devotion; but Indra, out of the excess of his pride, trampled over us, laughing again and again,

Verse 38 (skanda.6.79.38)

शक्रोच्छेदाय चास्माभिः शकोऽन्यो वीर्यमंत्रतः॥ प्रारब्धः कर्तुमत्युग्रैर्होमांतश्च व्यवस्थितः

śakrocchedāya cāsmābhiḥ śako'nyo vīryamaṁtrataḥ prārabdhaḥ kartumatyugrairhomāṁtaśca vyavasthitaḥ

and so, for Indra's overthrow, we, most fierce, have begun to bring into being another Indra by the power of mantra, and the fire-offering has now been completed.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.79.39)

तत्कथं मंत्रवीर्यं तत्क्रियते मोघमित्यहो॥ वेदोक्तं च विशेषेण तस्मादत्र वद प्रभो

tatkathaṁ maṁtravīryaṁ tatkriyate moghamityaho vedoktaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa tasmādatra vada prabho

How then can that power of mantra be rendered futile — a power prescribed by the Vedas, especially so? Therefore tell us, O Lord, what is to be done here.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.79.40)

त्वमेव यदि शक्तः स्यादन्यथा कर्तुमेव हि॥ कुरुष्व वा स्वयं नाथ नास्माकं शक्तिरीदृशी

tvameva yadi śaktaḥ syādanyathā kartumeva hi kuruṣva vā svayaṁ nātha nāsmākaṁ śaktirīdṛśī

If you yourself have the power to make it otherwise, then do so yourself, O Lord; we do not have such power.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.79.41)

दक्ष उवाच॥ सत्यमेतन्महाभागा यद्युष्माभिः प्रकीर्तितम्॥ नान्यथा शक्यते कर्तुं वेदमन्त्रोद्भवं बलम्

dakṣa uvāca satyametanmahābhāgā yadyuṣmābhiḥ prakīrtitam nānyathā śakyate kartuṁ vedamantrodbhavaṁ balam

Daksha said: True indeed is this, O noble ones, which has been declared by you; a power born of Vedic mantra cannot be otherwise annulled.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.79.42)

तद्य एष कृतो होमो युष्माभिर्वेदमंत्रतः॥ देवराजार्थमव्यग्रैः कलशश्चाभिमंत्रितः

tadya eṣa kṛto homo yuṣmābhirvedamaṁtrataḥ devarājārthamavyagraiḥ kalaśaścābhimaṁtritaḥ

Therefore, this fire-offering that has been performed by you, undistracted, with Vedic mantras, for the making of a king of the gods, and this consecrated vessel —

Verse 43 (skanda.6.79.43)

सोऽयं मद्वचनाद्राजा भविष्यति पतत्रिणाम्॥ तेजोवीर्यसमोपेतः शक्रादपि सुवीर्यवान्

so'yaṁ madvacanādrājā bhaviṣyati patatriṇām tejovīryasamopetaḥ śakrādapi suvīryavān

let it, by my word, become instead the king of birds, endowed with splendor and might, of even greater valor than Indra himself.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.79.44)

एतस्य देवराजस्य क्षंतव्यं मम वाक्यतः॥ तत्कृतं मूढभावेन यदनेन विचेष्टितम्

etasya devarājasya kṣaṁtavyaṁ mama vākyataḥ tatkṛtaṁ mūḍhabhāvena yadanena viceṣṭitam

And let this king of the gods be forgiven, at my word, for what he did in his foolishness.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.79.45)

एवमुक्त्वाथ तेषां तं सहस्राक्षं भयातुरम्॥ दर्शयामास दक्षस्तु विनयावनतं स्थितम्

evamuktvātha teṣāṁ taṁ sahasrākṣaṁ bhayāturam darśayāmāsa dakṣastu vinayāvanataṁ sthitam

Having said this, Daksha then showed them Indra, tormented with fear, standing there humbly bowed.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.79.46)

तेऽपि दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं वेपमानं कृतांजलिम्॥ प्रोचुर्माऽतिक्रमं शक्र ब्राह्मणानां करिष्यसि

te'pi dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣaṁ vepamānaṁ kṛtāṁjalim procurmā'tikramaṁ śakra brāhmaṇānāṁ kariṣyasi

They too, seeing the thousand-eyed one trembling, hands folded, said: "Do not, O Indra, transgress against brahmins again."

Verse 47 (skanda.6.79.47)

भूयो यदि दिवेशानामाधिपत्यं प्रवांछसि॥ अपि मन्दोऽपि मूर्खोऽपि क्रियाहीनोऽपि वा द्विजः॥ नावज्ञेयो बुधैः क्वापि लोकद्वयमभीप्सुभिः

bhūyo yadi diveśānāmādhipatyaṁ pravāṁchasi api mando'pi mūrkho'pi kriyāhīno'pi vā dvijaḥ nāvajñeyo budhaiḥ kvāpi lokadvayamabhīpsubhiḥ

"If you wish to keep the sovereignty of the gods again, know that a brahmin — even a dull one, even a foolish one, even one lacking in ritual observance — should never be disrespected anywhere by the wise who desire well-being in both worlds."

Verse 48 (skanda.6.79.48)

इन्द्र उवाच॥ अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाद्यन्मया कुकृतं कृतम्॥ तत्क्षंतव्यं द्विजैः सर्वैर्विशेषाद्दक्ष वाक्यतः

indra uvāca ajñānādyadi vā jñānādyanmayā kukṛtaṁ kṛtam tatkṣaṁtavyaṁ dvijaiḥ sarvairviśeṣāddakṣa vākyataḥ

Indra said: Whatever wrong I have done, whether out of ignorance or knowingly, let it be forgiven by all you brahmins, especially at the word of Daksha.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.79.49)

प्रगृह्यतां वरोऽस्माकं यः सदा वर्तते हृदि॥ प्रदास्यामि न संदेहो नादेयं विद्यते मम

pragṛhyatāṁ varo'smākaṁ yaḥ sadā vartate hṛdi pradāsyāmi na saṁdeho nādeyaṁ vidyate mama

"Accept from me a boon, whatever is always in your heart; I shall grant it without doubt — there is nothing I would not give."

Verse 50 (skanda.6.79.50)

मुनय ऊचुः॥ अस्मिन्कुण्डे नरो होमं यः कुर्याच्छ्रद्धयाऽन्वितः॥ एतल्लिंगं समभ्यर्च्य तस्याऽस्तु हृदि वांछितम्

munaya ūcuḥ asminkuṇḍe naro homaṁ yaḥ kuryācchraddhayā'nvitaḥ etalliṁgaṁ samabhyarcya tasyā'stu hṛdi vāṁchitam

The sages said: Whatever man, filled with faith, shall perform a fire-offering in this pool, having duly worshipped this linga, let his heart's desire be fulfilled.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.79.51)

इन्द्र उवाच॥ एतल्लिंगं समभ्यर्च्य योऽत्र होमं करिष्यति॥ कुंडेऽत्र वांछितं सद्यः सफलं स हि लप्स्यते

indra uvāca etalliṁgaṁ samabhyarcya yo'tra homaṁ kariṣyati kuṁḍe'tra vāṁchitaṁ sadyaḥ saphalaṁ sa hi lapsyate

Indra said: Whoever, having worshipped this linga, shall perform a fire-offering here in this pool, shall at once obtain his desire fulfilled.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.79.52)

निष्कामो वाऽथ संपूज्य लिंगमेतच्छुभावहम्॥ प्रयास्यति परां सिद्धिं त्रिदशैरपि दुर्लभाम्

niṣkāmo vā'tha saṁpūjya liṁgametacchubhāvaham prayāsyati parāṁ siddhiṁ tridaśairapi durlabhām

Or, if desireless, having worshipped this auspicious linga, he shall attain the supreme perfection, hard even for the gods to attain.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.79.53)

सूत उवाच॥ एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षो वालखिल्यान्मुनीश्वरान्॥ ऐरावतं समारुह्य दक्षयज्ञे ततो गतः

sūta uvāca evamuktvā sahasrākṣo vālakhilyānmunīśvarān airāvataṁ samāruhya dakṣayajñe tato gataḥ

Suta said: Having said this to the Valakhilyas, those lords among sages, the thousand-eyed one mounted Airavata and then went to Daksha's sacrifice.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.79.54)

दक्षोऽपि विधिवद्यज्ञं चकार द्विजसत्तमाः॥ संहृष्टैर्वालखिल्यैस्तैरुपविष्टैः समीपतः

dakṣo'pi vidhivadyajñaṁ cakāra dvijasattamāḥ saṁhṛṣṭairvālakhilyaistairupaviṣṭaiḥ samīpataḥ

And Daksha too, O best of brahmins, performed the sacrifice according to due rite, with those Valakhilyas, now delighted, seated nearby.