The Greatness of Suparneshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.82.1)

सूत उवाच। तद्दृष्ट्वा पुंडरीकाक्षो गरुडस्य विचेष्टितम् ॥ विस्मितश्चिंतयामास किमिदं सांप्रतं स्थितम्

sūta uvāca taddṛṣṭvā puṁḍarīkākṣo garuḍasya viceṣṭitam vismitaściṁtayāmāsa kimidaṁ sāṁprataṁ sthitam

Suta said: Seeing Garuda's plight, the lotus-eyed Vishnu, astonished, began to think: "What has happened here now?"

Verse 2 (skanda.6.82.2)

अपि वज्रप्रहारेण यस्य रोमापि न च्युतम् ॥ तौ पक्षौ सहसा चास्य कथं निपतितौ भुवि

api vajraprahāreṇa yasya romāpi na cyutam tau pakṣau sahasā cāsya kathaṁ nipatitau bhuvi

"This one, whose very hair does not stir even under the blow of the thunderbolt—how did both his wings suddenly fall to the ground?"

Verse 3 (skanda.6.82.3)

नूनमेतेन या स्त्रीणां कृता निंदा महात्मना॥ दूषितं ब्रह्मचर्यं यच्छांडिलीं समवेक्ष्य च

nūnametena yā strīṇāṁ kṛtā niṁdā mahātmanā dūṣitaṁ brahmacaryaṁ yacchāṁḍilīṁ samavekṣya ca

"Surely this is the fruit of this great one's censure of women, and of his casting doubt upon Shandili's celibate purity by looking upon her thus."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.82.4)

अनया पातितौ पक्षौ तपःशक्तिप्रभावतः॥ नान्यस्य विद्यते शक्तिरीदृशी भुवनत्रये

anayā pātitau pakṣau tapaḥśaktiprabhāvataḥ nānyasya vidyate śaktirīdṛśī bhuvanatraye

"By the power of her austerity alone, his wings have fallen. In these three worlds, no one else possesses such power."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.82.5)

ततः प्रसादयामास शांडिलीं गरुडध्वजः ॥ तदर्थं विनयोपेतः स्मितं कृत्वा द्विजोत्तमाः

tataḥ prasādayāmāsa śāṁḍilīṁ garuḍadhvajaḥ tadarthaṁ vinayopetaḥ smitaṁ kṛtvā dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, then Vishnu, whose banner bears Garuda, smiling, humbly set out to appease Shandili on this account.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.82.6)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। सामान्यवचनं प्रोक्तं सर्वस्त्रीणामनेन हि ॥ तत्किमर्थं महाभागे त्वया चैवेदृशः कृतः

śrībhagavānuvāca sāmānyavacanaṁ proktaṁ sarvastrīṇāmanena hi tatkimarthaṁ mahābhāge tvayā caivedṛśaḥ kṛtaḥ

Shri Bhagavan said: "He spoke only a general remark about women in general; why then, O blessed one, have you done this to him?"

Verse 7 (skanda.6.82.7)

शांडिल्युवाच। मम वक्त्रं समालोक्य स्मितं चक्रे जनार्दन ॥ स्त्रीनिंदा विहितानेन स्वमत्यापि जगद्गुरो

śāṁḍilyuvāca mama vaktraṁ samālokya smitaṁ cakre janārdana strīniṁdā vihitānena svamatyāpi jagadguro

Shandili said: "O Janardana, looking upon my face, he smiled to himself and made this censure of women. O teacher of the world, this he did entirely of his own conceit."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.82.8)

एतस्मात्कारणादस्य निग्रहोऽयं मया कृतः ॥ मनसा न च वाक्येन न च केशव कर्मणा

etasmātkāraṇādasya nigraho'yaṁ mayā kṛtaḥ manasā na ca vākyena na ca keśava karmaṇā

"For this reason alone I have restrained him thus; O Keshava, this was done neither out of malice in mind, nor in word, nor in deed."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.82.9)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। तथापि कुरु चास्य त्वं प्रसादं गतकल्मषे॥ मम वाक्यानुरोधेन यदिमां मन्यसे शुभे

śrībhagavānuvāca tathāpi kuru cāsya tvaṁ prasādaṁ gatakalmaṣe mama vākyānurodhena yadimāṁ manyase śubhe

Shri Bhagavan said: "Even so, O sinless one, if you regard my word with respect, then, O auspicious one, show him your grace."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.82.10)

शांडिल्युवाच। मनसापि मया ध्यातं शुभं वा यदिवाऽशुभम् ॥ नान्यथा जायते देव विशेषात्कोपयुक्तया

śāṁḍilyuvāca manasāpi mayā dhyātaṁ śubhaṁ vā yadivā'śubham nānyathā jāyate deva viśeṣātkopayuktayā

Shandili said: "O Lord, whatever I have resolved even in mind alone, be it favorable or unfavorable, never turns out otherwise, especially when conceived in anger."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.82.11)

तस्मादेष ममादेशादाराध यतु शंकरम् ॥ पक्षलाभाय नान्यस्य शक्तिर्दातुं व्यवस्थिता

tasmādeṣa mamādeśādārādha yatu śaṁkaram pakṣalābhāya nānyasya śaktirdātuṁ vyavasthitā

"Therefore, by my command, let him go and worship Shankara; no one else has the power to grant the restoration of his wings."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.82.12)

अथवा पुंडरीकाक्ष रूपमीदृग्व्यवस्थितः ॥ एष संस्थास्यते लोके सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

athavā puṁḍarīkākṣa rūpamīdṛgvyavasthitaḥ eṣa saṁsthāsyate loke satyametadbravīmyaham

"Otherwise, O Vishnu, he shall remain fixed in this very form in the world—this I speak in truth."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.82.13)

सूत उवाच। तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तं प्रोवाच जनार्दनः ॥ गरुडं दैन्यसंयुक्तं भासपिंडोपमं स्थितम्

sūta uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā taṁ provāca janārdanaḥ garuḍaṁ dainyasaṁyuktaṁ bhāsapiṁḍopamaṁ sthitam

Suta said: Having heard her words, Janardana spoke to Garuda, who lay there wretched, resembling a shapeless mass of flesh.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.82.14)

एष एव वरश्चास्या द्विपदेश्या द्विजोत्तम ॥ पक्षलाभाय यत्प्रोक्तं तव शंभुप्रसादनम्

eṣa eva varaścāsyā dvipadeśyā dvijottama pakṣalābhāya yatproktaṁ tava śaṁbhuprasādanam

"O best of birds, this two-footed one's counsel is itself the boon: that to regain your wings you must please Shambhu, as she has declared."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.82.15)

तस्मादाराधय क्षिप्रं त्वं देवं शशिशेखरम् ॥ अव्यग्रं चित्तमास्थाय दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः

tasmādārādhaya kṣipraṁ tvaṁ devaṁ śaśiśekharam avyagraṁ cittamāsthāya divārātramataṁdritaḥ

"Therefore quickly worship the god who bears the crescent moon, with an undistracted mind, tirelessly, day and night."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.82.16)

येन ते तत्प्रभावेन भूयः स्यात्तादृशं वपुः ॥ तस्य देवस्य माहात्म्यादचिरादपि काश्यप

yena te tatprabhāvena bhūyaḥ syāttādṛśaṁ vapuḥ tasya devasya māhātmyādacirādapi kāśyapa

"By that god's greatness, O son of Kashyapa, you shall soon regain, through his very power, that same body again."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.82.17)

तच्छ्रुत्वा गरुडस्तूर्णं धृतपाशुपतव्रतः ॥ संस्थाप्य देवमीशानं ततस्तं तोषमानयत्

tacchrutvā garuḍastūrṇaṁ dhṛtapāśupatavrataḥ saṁsthāpya devamīśānaṁ tatastaṁ toṣamānayat

Hearing this, Garuda swiftly took up the Pashupata vow, installed the god Ishana, and then set about pleasing him.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.82.18)

चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि तथा सांतपनानि च ॥ प्राजापत्यानि चक्रेऽथ पाराकाणि तदग्रतः

cāṁdrāyaṇāni kṛcchrāṇi tathā sāṁtapanāni ca prājāpatyāni cakre'tha pārākāṇi tadagrataḥ

He performed before him the Chandrayana, Krichchhra, Santapana, Prajapatya, and Paraka observances.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.82.19)

स्नात्वा त्रिषवणं पश्चाद्भस्मस्नान परायणः ॥ जपन्रुद्रशिरो रुद्रान्नीलरुद्रांस्तथापरान्

snātvā triṣavaṇaṁ paścādbhasmasnāna parāyaṇaḥ japanrudraśiro rudrānnīlarudrāṁstathāparān

Bathing thrice daily, devoted also to the bathing in sacred ash, he recited the Rudra-shiras, the Rudra, and the Nila-rudra hymns among others.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.82.20)

चक्रे पूजां स्वयं तस्य स्नापयित्वा यथाविधि ॥ बलिपूजोपहारांश्च विधानेन प्रयच्छति

cakre pūjāṁ svayaṁ tasya snāpayitvā yathāvidhi balipūjopahārāṁśca vidhānena prayacchati

He himself, having duly bathed the deity, performed worship, and offered oblations, worship-articles, and gifts according to rite.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.82.21)

एवं तस्य व्रतस्थस्य जपपूजापरस्य च ॥ ततो वर्षसहस्रांते गतस्तुष्टिं महेश्वरः ॥ अब्रवीद्वरदोऽस्मीति वृणुष्वेष्टं द्विजोत्तम

evaṁ tasya vratasthasya japapūjāparasya ca tato varṣasahasrāṁte gatastuṣṭiṁ maheśvaraḥ abravīdvarado'smīti vṛṇuṣveṣṭaṁ dvijottama

Thus, while he remained fixed in his vow, engaged in recitation and worship, at the end of a thousand years Maheshvara became satisfied and said: "O best of birds, I am ready to grant a boon; ask for what you desire."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.82.22)

गरुड उवाच। पश्यावस्थां ममेशान शांडिल्या या विनिर्मिता ॥ पक्षपातः कृतोऽस्माकं तमहं प्रार्थयामि वै

garuḍa uvāca paśyāvasthāṁ mameśāna śāṁḍilyā yā vinirmitā pakṣapātaḥ kṛto'smākaṁ tamahaṁ prārthayāmi vai

Garuda said: "O Ishana, behold my state, which Shandili has brought about; I pray to you now concerning this very falling of our wings."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.82.23)

त्वयात्रैव सदा लिंगे स्थेयं हर ममाधुना ॥ मम वाक्यादसंदिग्धं यदि चेष्टं प्रयच्छसि

tvayātraiva sadā liṁge stheyaṁ hara mamādhunā mama vākyādasaṁdigdhaṁ yadi ceṣṭaṁ prayacchasi

"O Hara, if you would grant my wish without doubt, then at my word abide here forever, in this very linga."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.82.24)

भगवानुवाच। अद्यप्रभृति मे चात्र लिंगे वासो भविष्यति ॥ त्वं च तद्रूपसंपन्नो विशेषाद्बलवेगभाक्

bhagavānuvāca adyaprabhṛti me cātra liṁge vāso bhaviṣyati tvaṁ ca tadrūpasaṁpanno viśeṣādbalavegabhāk

The Lord said: "From this day forward my abode shall be here in this linga; and you too shall be restored to that former form, endowed especially with strength and speed."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.82.25)

भविष्यसि न संदेहो मत्प्रसादाद्विहंगम ॥ एवमुक्त्वाथ तं देवः स्वयं पस्पर्श पाणिना

bhaviṣyasi na saṁdeho matprasādādvihaṁgama evamuktvātha taṁ devaḥ svayaṁ pasparśa pāṇinā

"This is certain, O lord of birds, by my grace." Having said this, the god himself touched him with his hand.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.82.26)

ततोऽस्य पक्षौ संजातौ तत्क्षणादेव सुन्दरौ ॥ तथा रोमाणि दिव्यानि जातरूपोपमानि च

tato'sya pakṣau saṁjātau tatkṣaṇādeva sundarau tathā romāṇi divyāni jātarūpopamāni ca

Then at that very instant his two beautiful wings were regenerated, along with divine feathers resembling gold.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.82.27)

ततः प्रणम्य तं देवं प्रहष्टः स विहंगमः ॥ गतः स्वभवनं पश्चादनुज्ञाप्य महेश्वरम्

tataḥ praṇamya taṁ devaṁ prahaṣṭaḥ sa vihaṁgamaḥ gataḥ svabhavanaṁ paścādanujñāpya maheśvaram

Then, having bowed to that god in delight, the lord of birds took leave of Maheshvara and departed to his own abode.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.82.28)

देवोपि वचनात्तस्य तस्मिँल्लिंगे सदा हरः ॥ निवासमकरोत्सम्यक्प्राप्ते संध्यात्रये सदा

devopi vacanāttasya tasmi~lliṁge sadā haraḥ nivāsamakarotsamyakprāpte saṁdhyātraye sadā

True to his word, the god Hara too made his abode in that linga forever, dwelling there fully, always present at every one of the three daily twilights.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.82.29)

तस्य चायतने पुण्ये योगात्प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ॥ प्रायोपवेशनं कृत्वा न स भूयोऽपि जायते

tasya cāyatane puṇye yogātprāṇānparityajet prāyopaveśanaṁ kṛtvā na sa bhūyo'pi jāyate

Whoever, in that sacred sanctuary, gives up his life through yogic discipline, undertaking the fast unto death, is never born again.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.82.30)

अपि पाप समाचारः कौलो वा निर्घृणोऽपि वा ॥ ब्रह्मघ्नो वा सुरापो वा चौरो वा भ्रूणहाऽपि वा

api pāpa samācāraḥ kaulo vā nirghṛṇo'pi vā brahmaghno vā surāpo vā cauro vā bhrūṇahā'pi vā

Even one of sinful conduct—be he a Kaula practitioner, a merciless man, a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or even a killer of an unborn child—

Verse 31 (skanda.6.82.31)

त्रिकालं पूजयन्यस्तु श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा ॥। संवत्सरं वसेत्सोऽपि शिवलोके महीयते

trikālaṁ pūjayanyastu śraddhāpūtena cetasā saṁvatsaraṁ vasetso'pi śivaloke mahīyate

"-- if he worships thrice daily with a heart purified by faith and dwells there for a year, he too is honored in Shiva's world."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.82.32)

अथवा सोमवारेण यस्तं पश्यति मानवः ॥ कृत्वा क्षणं सुभक्त्या यो यावत्संवत्सरं द्विजाः

athavā somavāreṇa yastaṁ paśyati mānavaḥ kṛtvā kṣaṇaṁ subhaktyā yo yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ dvijāḥ

"Or, O brahmins, whatever man beholds him on a Monday, spending there even a moment with true devotion—should he do so for a whole year—"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.82.33)

सोऽपि याति न संदेहः पुरुषः शिवमन्दिरे ॥ विमानवरमारूढः सेव्यमानोऽप्सरोगणैः

so'pi yāti na saṁdehaḥ puruṣaḥ śivamandire vimānavaramārūḍhaḥ sevyamāno'psarogaṇaiḥ

"-- he too, without doubt, goes to Shiva's abode, mounted upon a fine celestial chariot, attended by hosts of apsaras."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.82.34)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कलिकाले विशेषतः॥ द्रष्टव्यो वै सुपर्णाख्यो देवः श्रद्धासमन्वितैः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kalikāle viśeṣataḥ draṣṭavyo vai suparṇākhyo devaḥ śraddhāsamanvitaiḥ

"Therefore, especially in the Kali age, the deity known as Suparna should be beheld with all effort by those endowed with faith."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.82.35)

संत्याज्याश्च तथा प्राणास्तदग्रेप्रायसंश्रितैः ॥ वांछद्भिः शिवसांनिध्यं सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

saṁtyājyāśca tathā prāṇāstadagreprāyasaṁśritaiḥ vāṁchadbhiḥ śivasāṁnidhyaṁ satyametanmayoditam

"And those who desire proximity to Shiva should resort to the fast unto death before him and give up their lives there—this I have spoken in truth."