The Filling of the Serpent's Burrow

Verse 1 (skanda.6.9.1)

सूत उवाच। अथ शक्रः समाहूय प्रोचे संवर्तकानिलम्। हाटकेश्वरजेक्षेत्रे महान्नागबिलोऽस्ति वै

sūta uvāca| atha śakraḥ samāhūya proce saṁvartakānilam| hāṭakeśvarajekṣetre mahānnāgabilo'sti vai

Suta said: Then Indra summoned the wind Samvartaka and said: 'In the sacred field of Hatakeshvara there is indeed a great Serpent's Burrow.'

Verse 2 (skanda.6.9.2)

तं पूरय ममादेशाद्द्रुतं गत्वाऽभिपांसुभिः। येन न स्याद्गतिस्तत्र कस्यचिन्मृत्युधर्मिणः

taṁ pūraya mamādeśāddrutaṁ gatvā'bhipāṁsubhiḥ| yena na syādgatistatra kasyacinmṛtyudharmiṇaḥ

'Go there quickly at my command and fill it up with dust, so that no mortal being may find a way through it.'

Verse 3 (skanda.6.9.3)

वायुरुवाच। तवादेशान्मया पूर्वं पूरितो विवरो यदा। लिंगोद्भवस्तदा शापः प्रदत्तो मे पुरारिणा

vāyuruvāca| tavādeśānmayā pūrvaṁ pūrito vivaro yadā| liṁgodbhavastadā śāpaḥ pradatto me purāriṇā

Vayu said: When I once filled that opening before, at your command, at the time of the Linga's origin, the Destroyer of the Three Cities pronounced a curse upon me.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.9.4)

यस्माल्लिंगं ममैतद्वै त्वया पांसुभिरावृतम्। तस्मात्समानधर्मा त्वं गन्धवाहो भविष्यसि

yasmālliṁgaṁ mamaitadvai tvayā pāṁsubhirāvṛtam| tasmātsamānadharmā tvaṁ gandhavāho bhaviṣyasi

'Since you have covered this Linga of mine with dust, therefore you, the bearer of scents, shall have a nature that matches your deed.'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.9.5)

यद्वत्कर्पूरजं गन्धं समग्रं त्वं हि वक्ष्यसि। अमेध्यसंभवं तद्वन्मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

yadvatkarpūrajaṁ gandhaṁ samagraṁ tvaṁ hi vakṣyasi| amedhyasaṁbhavaṁ tadvanmama vākyādasaṁśayam

'Just as you will carry the fragrance of camphor entirely, so too, by my word, you shall carry the odor arising from filth, without any doubt.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.9.6)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे विदित्वैतत्सुरेश्वर। कृत्येऽस्मिन्स्म र्यतामन्यस्त्रिपुरारेर्बिभेम्यहम्

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me viditvaitatsureśvara| kṛtye'sminsma ryatāmanyastripurārerbibhemyaham

'Therefore, O Lord of gods, knowing this, be gracious to me; let some other one be remembered for this task — I am afraid of the Destroyer of Tripura.'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.9.7)

ततः संचिंतयामास पूरणं त्रिदशाधिपः। तस्य नागबिलस्यैव नैव किंचिदवैक्षत

tataḥ saṁciṁtayāmāsa pūraṇaṁ tridaśādhipaḥ| tasya nāgabilasyaiva naiva kiṁcidavaikṣata

Then the lord of the gods pondered how to fill up that very Serpent's Burrow, but could find no means at all.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.9.8)

ततस्तं प्राह देवेज्यःस्वय मेव शतक्रतुम्। कस्मात्त्वं व्याकुलीभूतः कृत्येऽस्मिंस्त्रिदशाधिप

tatastaṁ prāha devejyaḥsvaya meva śatakratum| kasmāttvaṁ vyākulībhūtaḥ kṛtye'smiṁstridaśādhipa

Then the preceptor of the gods himself said to Indra: 'Why are you so distressed over this task, O lord of the gods?'

Verse 9 (skanda.6.9.9)

अस्ति पर्वतमुख्योऽत्र नाम्ना ख्यातो हिमालयः। तस्य पुत्रत्रयं जातं तच्च शक्र शृणुष्व मे

asti parvatamukhyo'tra nāmnā khyāto himālayaḥ| tasya putratrayaṁ jātaṁ tacca śakra śṛṇuṣva me

'There is here a foremost of mountains, renowned by the name Himalaya; three sons were born to him — hear of this from me, O Indra.'

Verse 10 (skanda.6.9.10)

मैनाकः प्रथमः प्रोक्तो द्वितीयो नंदिवर्धनः। रक्तशृंगस्तृतीयस्तु पर्वतः परिकीर्तितः

mainākaḥ prathamaḥ prokto dvitīyo naṁdivardhanaḥ| raktaśṛṁgastṛtīyastu parvataḥ parikīrtitaḥ

'Mainaka is spoken of as the first, Nandivardhana the second, and the third is that mountain celebrated as Raktashringa.'

Verse 11 (skanda.6.9.11)

स मैनाकः समुद्रांतः प्रविष्टः शक्र ते भयात्। पक्षाभ्यां सहितोऽद्यापि स तत्रैव व्यवस्थितः

sa mainākaḥ samudrāṁtaḥ praviṣṭaḥ śakra te bhayāt| pakṣābhyāṁ sahito'dyāpi sa tatraiva vyavasthitaḥ

'That Mainaka, O Indra, fearing you, entered into the depths of the ocean, and there he remains fixed to this day, still bearing his wings.'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.9.12)

नंदिवर्धन इत्येष द्वितीयः परिकीर्तितः। वसिष्ठाश्रमजो रन्ध्रस्ते न कृत्स्नः प्रपूरितः

naṁdivardhana ityeṣa dvitīyaḥ parikīrtitaḥ| vasiṣṭhāśramajo randhraste na kṛtsnaḥ prapūritaḥ

'This one celebrated as the second is Nandivardhana; the hole that arose at Vasishtha's hermitage was not entirely filled by him.'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.9.13)

हिमाचलसमादेशाद्वसिष्ठस्य च सन्मुनेः। देवभूमिं परित्यज्य स गतस्तत्र सत्वरम्

himācalasamādeśādvasiṣṭhasya ca sanmuneḥ| devabhūmiṁ parityajya sa gatastatra satvaram

'At the command of Himachala and of the good sage Vasishtha, he left the land of the gods and quickly went there.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.9.14)

तृतीयस्तिष्ठतेऽद्यापि रक्तशृंगः स्मृतोऽत्र यः। तमानय सहस्राक्ष बिलं सार्पं प्रपूरय

tṛtīyastiṣṭhate'dyāpi raktaśṛṁgaḥ smṛto'tra yaḥ| tamānaya sahasrākṣa bilaṁ sārpaṁ prapūraya

'The third, remembered here as Raktashringa, still remains. Bring him, O thousand-eyed one, and fill up this burrow of the serpents.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.9.15)

नान्यथा पूरितुं शक्यो बिलोऽयं त्रिदशाधिप। तं मुक्त्वा पर्वत श्रेष्ठं सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

nānyathā pūrituṁ śakyo bilo'yaṁ tridaśādhipa| taṁ muktvā parvata śreṣṭhaṁ satyametanmayoditam

'This burrow cannot possibly be filled, O lord of the gods, by any other means than that foremost of mountains — this I say to you in truth.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.9.16)

सूत उवाच। तच्छ्रुत्वा देवपूज्यस्य वचनं त्रिदशाधिपः। जगाम सत्वरं तत्र स यत्रास्ते हिमालयः

sūta uvāca| tacchrutvā devapūjyasya vacanaṁ tridaśādhipaḥ| jagāma satvaraṁ tatra sa yatrāste himālayaḥ

Suta said: Hearing that word of the preceptor of the gods, the lord of the gods went at once to where Himalaya was.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.9.17)

ततः प्रोवाच तं गत्वा सामपूर्वमिदं वचः। हिमाचलं गिरिश्रेष्ठं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्

tataḥ provāca taṁ gatvā sāmapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ| himācalaṁ giriśreṣṭhaṁ siddhacāraṇasevitam

Then, having gone there, he spoke with conciliatory words to Himachala, foremost of mountains, frequented by Siddhas and Charanas.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.9.18)

इन्द्र उवाच। हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे महान्नागबिलः स्थितः। तेन गत्वा नरा देवं पाताले हाटकेश्वरम्

indra uvāca| hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre mahānnāgabilaḥ sthitaḥ| tena gatvā narā devaṁ pātāle hāṭakeśvaram

Indra said: In the sacred field of Hatakeshvara stands a great Serpent's Burrow, by which men go down and reach the god Hatakeshvara in the netherworld.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.9.19)

पूजयिष्यंति ये केचिदपि पापपरायणाः। मया सार्धं करिष्यंति ततः स्पर्द्धां नगोत्तम

pūjayiṣyaṁti ye kecidapi pāpaparāyaṇāḥ| mayā sārdhaṁ kariṣyaṁti tataḥ sparddhāṁ nagottama

'Whoever worships him there, even a man given wholly to sin, will thereby become my equal, O foremost of mountains, and will rival me.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.9.20)

तस्मात्पुत्रमिमं तत्र रक्तशृंगं हिमालय। प्रेषयस्व बिलो येन पूर्यते सोऽहिसंभवः

tasmātputramimaṁ tatra raktaśṛṁgaṁ himālaya| preṣayasva bilo yena pūryate so'hisaṁbhavaḥ

'Therefore, O Himalaya, send this son of yours, Raktashringa, there, so that this burrow which harbors the serpents may be filled.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.9.21)

कुरुष्व त्वं ममातिथ्यं गृहप्राप्तस्य पर्वत। आत्मपुत्रप्रदानेन कीर्तिं प्राप्स्यस्यलौकिकीम्

kuruṣva tvaṁ mamātithyaṁ gṛhaprāptasya parvata| ātmaputrapradānena kīrtiṁ prāpsyasyalaukikīm

'O mountain, do me the honor of hospitality, now that I have come to your house; and by giving your own son, you shall attain fame beyond this world.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.9.22)

बाढमित्येव सोऽप्युक्त्वा पूजयित्वा च देवपम्। ततः प्रोवाच तं पुत्रं रक्तशृंगं हिमालयः

bāḍhamityeva so'pyuktvā pūjayitvā ca devapam| tataḥ provāca taṁ putraṁ raktaśṛṁgaṁ himālayaḥ

Saying 'So be it,' Himalaya honored the lord of the gods, and then spoke to his son Raktashringa.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.9.23)

तवार्थाय सहस्राक्षः पुत्र प्राप्तो ममांतिकम्। तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं तत्र यत्र नागबिलः स्थितः

tavārthāya sahasrākṣaḥ putra prāpto mamāṁtikam| tasmādgaccha drutaṁ tatra yatra nāgabilaḥ sthitaḥ

'O my son, the thousand-eyed Indra has come to my side for your sake; therefore go quickly there, to where the Serpent's Burrow lies.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.9.24)

पूरयित्वा ममादेशात्तं त्वं शक्रस्य कृत्स्नशः। सुखी भव सहानेन तथान्यैः सुरसत्तमैः

pūrayitvā mamādeśāttaṁ tvaṁ śakrasya kṛtsnaśaḥ| sukhī bhava sahānena tathānyaiḥ surasattamaiḥ

'By my command, fill it up completely for Indra's sake, and be happy, together with him and with the other foremost gods.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.9.25)

रक्तशृंग उवाच। नाहं तत्र गमिष्यामि मर्त्य भूमौ कथंचन। यत्र कण्टकिनो वृक्षा रूक्षाः फलविवर्जिताः

raktaśṛṁga uvāca| nāhaṁ tatra gamiṣyāmi martya bhūmau kathaṁcana| yatra kaṇṭakino vṛkṣā rūkṣāḥ phalavivarjitāḥ

Raktashringa said: I shall by no means go there, to that mortal earth, where the trees are thorny, harsh, and bereft of fruit —

Verse 26 (skanda.6.9.26)

न सिद्धा न च गंधर्वा न देवा न च किंनराः। न च तीर्थानि रम्याणि न नद्यो विमलोदकाः

na siddhā na ca gaṁdharvā na devā na ca kiṁnarāḥ| na ca tīrthāni ramyāṇi na nadyo vimalodakāḥ

'— where there are no Siddhas, no Gandharvas, no gods, no Kinnaras; no lovely tirthas, no rivers of pure water —'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.9.27)

तथा पापसमाचारा मनुष्याः शीलवर्जिताः। दुष्टचित्ताः सदा सर्वे तिर्यग्योनिगता अपि

tathā pāpasamācārā manuṣyāḥ śīlavarjitāḥ| duṣṭacittāḥ sadā sarve tiryagyonigatā api

'— and where men behave sinfully, are devoid of good character, ever evil-minded — as are also the beasts born into lower forms of life.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.9.28)

तथा मम नगश्रेष्ठ पक्षौ द्वावपि कर्तितौ। शक्रेण तेन नो शक्तिर्गंतुमस्ति कथंचन

tathā mama nagaśreṣṭha pakṣau dvāvapi kartitau| śakreṇa tena no śaktirgaṁtumasti kathaṁcana

'Moreover, O foremost of mountains, both my wings were cut off by that very Indra; I have no power at all to go anywhere.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.9.29)

तस्मात्कंचित्सहस्राक्ष उपायं तत्कृते परम्। चिंतयत्वेव मां मुक्त्वा सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

tasmātkaṁcitsahasrākṣa upāyaṁ tatkṛte param| ciṁtayatveva māṁ muktvā satyametanmayoditam

'Therefore, O thousand-eyed one, devise some other means for this purpose, leaving me aside — this I say to you truly.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.9.30)

शक्र उवाच। अह त्वां तत्र नेष्यामि स्वहस्तेन विदारितम्। तत्रापि सुशुभा वृक्षा भविष्यंति तवाश्रयाः

śakra uvāca| aha tvāṁ tatra neṣyāmi svahastena vidāritam| tatrāpi suśubhā vṛkṣā bhaviṣyaṁti tavāśrayāḥ

Indra said: I shall carry you there myself, with your wings restored by my own hand; and there too there shall be most auspicious trees to give you shelter.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.9.31)

तथा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि देवतायतनानि च। समंतात्ते भविष्यंति मुनीनामाश्रमास्तथा

tathā puṇyāni tīrthāni devatāyatanāni ca| samaṁtātte bhaviṣyaṁti munīnāmāśramāstathā

'And there shall be sacred tirthas and shrines of the gods all around you, as well as hermitages of sages.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.9.32)

अत्रस्थस्य प्रभावो यस्तव पर्वत नंदन। मद्वाक्यात्तत्र संस्थस्य कोटिसंख्यो भविष्यति

atrasthasya prabhāvo yastava parvata naṁdana| madvākyāttatra saṁsthasya koṭisaṁkhyo bhaviṣyati

'O son of the mountain, whatever power you have here — by my word, once you are established there, it shall become a million times greater.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.9.33)

तथा ये मानवास्तत्र पापात्मानोऽपि भूतले। विपाप्मानो भविष्यंति सहसा तव दर्शनात्

tathā ye mānavāstatra pāpātmāno'pi bhūtale| vipāpmāno bhaviṣyaṁti sahasā tava darśanāt

'And whatever men there on that earth, even those of sinful nature, shall become sinless the very instant they behold you.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.9.34)

तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं तत्र मया सार्धं नगात्मज। न चेद्वज्रप्रहारेण करिष्यामि सहस्रधा

tasmādgaccha drutaṁ tatra mayā sārdhaṁ nagātmaja| na cedvajraprahāreṇa kariṣyāmi sahasradhā

'Therefore, O son of the mountain, go there quickly with me; if not, I shall shatter you into a thousand pieces with the blow of my thunderbolt.'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.9.35)

सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रक्तशृंगो भयान्वितः। प्रविष्टः सहसागत्य तस्मिन्नागबिले गतः

sūta uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā raktaśṛṁgo bhayānvitaḥ| praviṣṭaḥ sahasāgatya tasminnāgabile gataḥ

Suta said: Hearing those words of his, Raktashringa, seized with fear, quickly came and entered into that very Serpent's Burrow.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.9.36)

निमग्नो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा नासाग्रं यावदेव हि। शृंगैर्मनोरमैस्तुं गैः समग्रैः सहितस्तदा। वृक्षगुल्मलताकीर्णै रम्यपक्षिनिषेवितैः

nimagno brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā nāsāgraṁ yāvadeva hi| śṛṁgairmanoramaistuṁ gaiḥ samagraiḥ sahitastadā| vṛkṣagulmalatākīrṇai ramyapakṣiniṣevitaiḥ

O best of brahmins, he sank down until only the tip of his summit remained above, along with all his lovely, lofty peaks, covered with trees, shrubs and creepers, and frequented by charming birds.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.9.37)

एवं संस्थाप्य तं शक्रो हिमाचलसुतं नगम्। ततः प्रोवाच सहृष्टो वरो मत्तः प्रगृह्यताम्

evaṁ saṁsthāpya taṁ śakro himācalasutaṁ nagam| tataḥ provāca sahṛṣṭo varo mattaḥ pragṛhyatām

Having thus established that mountain, the son of Himachala, Indra then joyfully said: 'Receive a boon from me.'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.9.38)

रक्तशृंग उवाच। एष एव वरोऽस्माकं यत्त्वं तुष्टः सुरेश्वर। किं वरेण करिष्यामि त्वत्प्रसादादहं सुखी

raktaśṛṁga uvāca| eṣa eva varo'smākaṁ yattvaṁ tuṣṭaḥ sureśvara| kiṁ vareṇa kariṣyāmi tvatprasādādahaṁ sukhī

Raktashringa said: This alone is boon enough for me, that you, O Lord of gods, are pleased. What need have I for a boon? By your grace I am already happy.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.9.39)

इन्द्र उवाच। न वृथा दर्शनं मे स्यादपि स्वप्ने नगात्मज। किं पुनर्दर्शने जाते कृते कृत्ये विशेषतः

indra uvāca| na vṛthā darśanaṁ me syādapi svapne nagātmaja| kiṁ punardarśane jāte kṛte kṛtye viśeṣataḥ

Indra said: O son of the mountain, my mere sight should never go in vain, even in a dream — how much less when it comes after such a deed has actually been accomplished!

Verse 40 (skanda.6.9.40)

रक्तशृंग उवाच। अवश्यं यदि देयो मे वरः सर्वसुराधिप। विभवो मे द्विजार्थाय सर्वः स्यात्सर्वदा विभो

raktaśṛṁga uvāca| avaśyaṁ yadi deyo me varaḥ sarvasurādhipa| vibhavo me dvijārthāya sarvaḥ syātsarvadā vibho

Raktashringa said: If a boon must certainly be given to me, O Lord of all the gods, then let all my resources, O mighty one, be devoted forever to the good of brahmins.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.9.41)

इन्द्र उवाच। भविष्यति महीपालश्चमत्कार इति स्मृतः। तव मूर्धनि विप्रार्थं स पुरं स्थापयिष्यति

indra uvāca| bhaviṣyati mahīpālaścamatkāra iti smṛtaḥ| tava mūrdhani viprārthaṁ sa puraṁ sthāpayiṣyati

Indra said: There shall be a king renowned by the name Chamatkara, who, for the sake of brahmins, shall establish a city upon your very summit.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.9.42)

तत्र ब्राह्मणशार्दूला वेदवेदांगपारगाः। विभवं तव निःशेषं भजिष्यंति प्रहर्षिताः

tatra brāhmaṇaśārdūlā vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ| vibhavaṁ tava niḥśeṣaṁ bhajiṣyaṁti praharṣitāḥ

'There, tigers among brahmins, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, shall joyfully partake of your entire wealth.'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.9.43)

तथाहं चैत्रमासस्य चतुर्दश्यां नगात्मज। कृष्णायां स्वयमागत्य शृंगे मुख्यतमे तव

tathāhaṁ caitramāsasya caturdaśyāṁ nagātmaja| kṛṣṇāyāṁ svayamāgatya śṛṁge mukhyatame tava

'And I myself, O son of the mountain, on the fourteenth of the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra, shall come, upon your foremost peak,'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.9.44)

पूजयिष्यामि देवेशं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम्। सर्वैर्देवगणैः सार्धं तथा किंनरगुह्यकैः

pūjayiṣyāmi deveśaṁ hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñitam| sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ tathā kiṁnaraguhyakaiḥ

'— to worship the Lord of gods known as Hatakeshvara, together with all the hosts of gods, as well as the Kinnaras and Guhyakas.'

Verse 45 (skanda.6.9.45)

तमेकं दिवसं चात्र शृंगे तव हरः स्वयम्। अस्माभिः सहितस्तुष्टो निवासं प्रकरिष्यति

tamekaṁ divasaṁ cātra śṛṁge tava haraḥ svayam| asmābhiḥ sahitastuṣṭo nivāsaṁ prakariṣyati

'And for that one day, Hara himself, pleased, shall take up his dwelling upon your peak, together with us.'

Verse 46 (skanda.6.9.46)

प्रभावस्तेन ते मुख्य स्त्रैलोक्येऽपि भविष्यति। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि सांप्रतं त्रिदिवालयम्

prabhāvastena te mukhya strailokye'pi bhaviṣyati| svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi sāṁprataṁ tridivālayam

'By that, O foremost one, your power shall extend even through the three worlds. May well-being be yours; I now depart for the abode of heaven.'

Verse 47 (skanda.6.9.47)

सूत उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षस्ततः प्राप्तस्त्रिविष्टपम्। रक्तशृंगोऽपि तस्थौ च व्याप्य नागबिलं तदा

sūta uvāca| evamuktvā sahasrākṣastataḥ prāptastriviṣṭapam| raktaśṛṁgo'pi tasthau ca vyāpya nāgabilaṁ tadā

Suta said: Having said this, the thousand-eyed Indra then reached heaven; and Raktashringa too remained, filling the Serpent's Burrow entirely.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.9.48)

तस्योपरि सुमुख्यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च। संजातानि मुनीनां च संजाताश्च तथाऽऽश्रमाः

tasyopari sumukhyāni tīrthānyāyatanāni ca| saṁjātāni munīnāṁ ca saṁjātāśca tathā''śramāḥ

Upon him arose the finest of tirthas and shrines, and, likewise, the hermitages of sages came to be there.