The Glory of Brahma in Child-Form

Verse 1 (skanda.7.107.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। अथ पूजाविधानं ते कथयामि समासतः। भक्तिभेदान्पृथक्तस्य ब्रह्मणो बालरूपिणः॥

īśvara uvāca| atha pūjāvidhānaṁ te kathayāmi samāsataḥ| bhaktibhedānpṛthaktasya brahmaṇo bālarūpiṇaḥ||

Ishvara said: Now I shall tell you briefly the manner of worship, and separately the different kinds of devotion, for that Brahma who bears the form of a child.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.107.2)

रथयात्राविधानं तु स्तोत्रमंत्रविधिक्रमम्। विविधा भक्तिरुद्दिष्टा मनोवाक्कायसंभवा॥

rathayātrāvidhānaṁ tu stotramaṁtravidhikramam| vividhā bhaktiruddiṣṭā manovākkāyasaṁbhavā||

I shall also tell the procedure of the chariot-procession and the order of the hymns and mantras. Devotion is described as being of various kinds, arising from mind, speech, and body.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.107.3)

लौकिकी वैदिकी चापि भवेदाध्यात्मिकी तथा। ध्यानधारणया या तु वेदानां स्मरणेन च। ब्रह्मप्रीतिकरी चैषा मानसी भक्तिरुच्यते॥

laukikī vaidikī cāpi bhavedādhyātmikī tathā| dhyānadhāraṇayā yā tu vedānāṁ smaraṇena ca| brahmaprītikarī caiṣā mānasī bhaktirucyate||

It may be worldly, vedic, or spiritual. That which, through meditation and concentration and through the remembrance of the Vedas, pleases Brahma, is called mental devotion.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.107.4)

मंत्रवेदनमस्कारैरग्निश्राद्धविधानकैः। जाप्यैश्चारण्यकैश्चैव वाचिकी भक्तिरुच्यते॥

maṁtravedanamaskārairagniśrāddhavidhānakaiḥ| jāpyaiścāraṇyakaiścaiva vācikī bhaktirucyate||

That devotion which is expressed through mantras, vedic recitation, salutations, the rites of fire-offering and ancestral rites, and through japa and the recitation of the Aranyakas, is called vocal devotion.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.107.5)

व्रतोपवासनियमैश्चितेंद्रियनिरोधिभिः। कृच्छ्रसांतपनैश्चान्यैस्तथा चांद्रायणादिभिः॥

vratopavāsaniyamaiścitendriyanirodhibhiḥ| kṛcchrasāṁtapanaiścānyaistathā cāṁdrāyaṇādibhiḥ||

Through vows, fasts, and observances that restrain the senses when practiced with concentration, through the Krichchhra and Santapana penances, and through others such as the Chandrayana —

Verse 6 (skanda.7.107.6)

ब्रह्मोक्तैश्चोपवासैश्च तथान्यैश्च शुभव्रतैः। कायिकी भक्तिराख्याता त्रिविधा तु द्विजन्मनाम्॥

brahmoktaiścopavāsaiśca tathānyaiśca śubhavrataiḥ| kāyikī bhaktirākhyātā trividhā tu dvijanmanām||

and through the fasts declared by Brahma and other auspicious vows, is expressed the devotion that is called bodily devotion. Thus the devotion of the twice-born is of three kinds.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.107.7)

गोघृतक्षीरदधिभिर्मध्विक्षुसुकुशोदकैः। गंधमाल्यैश्च विविधैर्वस्तुभिश्चोपपादिभिः॥

goghṛtakṣīradadhibhirmadhvikṣusukuśodakaiḥ| gaṁdhamālyaiśca vividhairvastubhiścopapādibhiḥ||

With clarified butter from the cow, milk, curd, honey, sugarcane juice, and pure water infused with kusha grass, and with fragrances, garlands, and various other auxiliary offerings —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.107.8)

घृतगुग्गुलधूपैश्च कृष्णागुरुसुगंधिभिः। भूषणैर्हैमरत्नाद्यैश्चित्राभिः स्रग्भिरेव च॥

ghṛtagugguladhūpaiśca kṛṣṇāgurusugaṁdhibhiḥ| bhūṣaṇairhaimaratnādyaiścitrābhiḥ sragbhireva ca||

With incense of clarified butter and guggulu resin, with fragrant black aloeswood, with ornaments of gold and jewels, and with varied garlands —

Verse 9 (skanda.7.107.9)

न्यासैः परिसरैः स्तोत्रैः पताकाभिस्तथोत्सवैः। नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च सर्ववस्तूपहारकैः॥

nyāsaiḥ parisaraiḥ stotraiḥ patākābhistathotsavaiḥ| nṛtyavāditragītaiśca sarvavastūpahārakaiḥ||

With ritual placements, circumambulatory precincts, hymns, banners, and festivals, with dance, instrumental music, and song, and with offerings of every kind of object —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.107.10)

भक्ष्यभोज्यान्नपानैश्च या पूजा क्रियते नरैः। पितामहं समुद्दिश्य सा भक्तिर्लौकिकी मता॥

bhakṣyabhojyānnapānaiśca yā pūjā kriyate naraiḥ| pitāmahaṁ samuddiśya sā bhaktirlaukikī matā||

And with edibles, delicacies, food, and drink — the worship that men perform, directed toward the Grandsire, in this manner, is regarded as worldly devotion.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.107.11)

वेदमंत्रहविर्भागैः क्रिया या वैदिकी स्मृता॥

vedamaṁtrahavirbhāgaiḥ kriyā yā vaidikī smṛtā||

That rite which is performed with vedic mantras and portions of oblation is remembered as vedic devotion.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.107.12)

दर्शे च पौर्णमास्यां च कर्त्तव्यं चाग्निहोत्रजम्। प्राशनं दक्षिणादानं पुरोडाश इति क्रिया॥

darśe ca paurṇamāsyāṁ ca karttavyaṁ cāgnihotrajam| prāśanaṁ dakṣiṇādānaṁ puroḍāśa iti kriyā||

The rite arising from the fire-oblation to be performed on the new-moon and full-moon days, the eating of the sacred portion, the giving of the priestly fee, and the offering of the sacrificial cake — these too are part of this rite.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.107.13)

इष्टिर्धृतिः सोमपानं याज्ञियं कर्म सर्वशः। ऋग्यजुःसामजाप्यानि संहिताध्ययनानि च। क्रियते ब्रह्माणमुद्दिश्य सा भक्तिर्वैदिकोच्यते॥

iṣṭirdhṛtiḥ somapānaṁ yājñiyaṁ karma sarvaśaḥ| ṛgyajuḥsāmajāpyāni saṁhitādhyayanāni ca| kriyate brahmāṇamuddiśya sā bhaktirvaidikocyate||

The Ishti sacrifice, steadfastness, the drinking of Soma, and every kind of sacrificial rite, together with the recitation of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama mantras and the study of the Samhitas — whatever of this is performed with Brahma as its object is called vedic devotion.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.107.14)

प्राणायामपरो नित्यं ध्यानवान्विजितेंद्रियः। भैक्ष्यभक्षी व्रती चापि सर्वप्रत्याहृतेंद्रियः॥

prāṇāyāmaparo nityaṁ dhyānavānvijitendriyaḥ| bhaikṣyabhakṣī vratī cāpi sarvapratyāhṛtendriyaḥ||

One who is constantly devoted to breath-control, meditative, and has conquered the senses; who eats only alms-food, keeps vows, and has fully withdrawn all his senses —

Verse 15 (skanda.7.107.15)

धारणं हृदये कृत्वा ध्यायमानः प्रजेश्वरम्। हृत्पद्मकर्णिकासीनं रक्तवर्णं सुलोचनम्॥

dhāraṇaṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā dhyāyamānaḥ prajeśvaram| hṛtpadmakarṇikāsīnaṁ raktavarṇaṁ sulocanam||

Fixing his concentration in the heart, meditates upon the Lord of creatures, seated upon the pericarp of the lotus of the heart, red in hue, with beautiful eyes.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.107.16)

पश्यन्नुद्द्योतितमुखं ब्रह्माणं सुकटीतटम्। रक्तवर्णं चतुर्बाहुं वरदाभयहस्तकम्। एवं यश्चिंतयेद्देवं ब्रह्मभक्तः स उच्यते॥

paśyannuddyotitamukhaṁ brahmāṇaṁ sukaṭītaṭam| raktavarṇaṁ caturbāhuṁ varadābhayahastakam| evaṁ yaściṁtayeddevaṁ brahmabhaktaḥ sa ucyate||

Beholding that Brahma, whose face is radiant, whose waist is graceful, who is red in hue, four-armed, holding his hands in the gestures of boon-granting and fearlessness — whoever thus contemplates the god is called a devotee of Brahma.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.107.17)

विधिं च शृणु मे देवि यः स्मृतः क्षेत्रवासिनाम्॥

vidhiṁ ca śṛṇu me devi yaḥ smṛtaḥ kṣetravāsinām||

O Devi, now hear from me the procedure that is prescribed for those who dwell in the sacred field.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.107.18)

निर्ममा निरहंकारा निःसंगा निष्परिग्रहाः। चतुर्वर्गेपि निःस्नेहाः समलोष्टाश्मकांचनाः॥

nirmamā nirahaṁkārā niḥsaṁgā niṣparigrahāḥ| caturvargepi niḥsnehāḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāṁcanāḥ||

They are free from possessiveness, free from ego, free from attachment, free from acquisitiveness; they are without desire even for the four goals of life, and regard a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as the same.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.107.19)

भूतानां कर्मभिर्नित्यं त्रिविधैरभयप्रदाः। प्राणायामपरा नित्यं परध्यानपरायणाः॥

bhūtānāṁ karmabhirnityaṁ trividhairabhayapradāḥ| prāṇāyāmaparā nityaṁ paradhyānaparāyaṇāḥ||

Through their threefold actions of mind, speech, and body, they ever grant freedom from fear to all beings; they are constantly devoted to breath-control and absorbed in supreme meditation.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.107.20)

जापिनः शुचयो नित्यं यतिधर्मक्रियापराः। सांख्ययोगविधिज्ञा ये धर्मविच्छिन्नसंशयाः॥

jāpinaḥ śucayo nityaṁ yatidharmakriyāparāḥ| sāṁkhyayogavidhijñā ye dharmavicchinnasaṁśayāḥ||

They are constantly engaged in japa, pure, devoted to the practices of the ascetic's discipline; they know the methods of Sankhya and Yoga, understand dharma, and are free of doubt.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.107.21)

ब्रह्मपूजारता नित्यं ते विप्राः क्षेत्रवासिनः। तैर्यथा पूजनीयो वै बालरूपी पितामहः॥

brahmapūjāratā nityaṁ te viprāḥ kṣetravāsinaḥ| tairyathā pūjanīyo vai bālarūpī pitāmahaḥ||

Such Brahmins, dwellers of the field, are ever devoted to the worship of Brahma. In what manner the Grandsire in the form of a child is to be worshipped by them —

Verse 22 (skanda.7.107.22)

तथाहं कीर्त्तयिष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमनाः प्रिये। स्नात्वा तु विमले तीर्थे शुक्लांबरधरः शुचिः। पूजोपहारसंयुक्तस्ततो ब्रह्माणमर्चयेत्॥

tathāhaṁ kīrttayiṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ priye| snātvā tu vimale tīrthe śuklāṁbaradharaḥ śuciḥ| pūjopahārasaṁyuktastato brahmāṇamarcayet||

That I shall now declare, O beloved; listen with a focused mind. Having bathed in a pure sacred ford, wearing clean white garments, and equipped with the materials of worship, one should then worship Brahma.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.107.23)

पूर्वं संस्नाप्य विधिना पंचामृतरसोदकैः। गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधि सर्पिः कुशोदकम्॥

pūrvaṁ saṁsnāpya vidhinā paṁcāmṛtarasodakaiḥ| gomūtraṁ gomayaṁ kṣīraṁ dadhi sarpiḥ kuśodakam||

First, one should duly bathe the image with the essences of the five nectars and water: cow's urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and water infused with kusha grass.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.107.24)

गायत्र्या गृह्य गोमूत्रं गंधद्वारेति गोमयम्। आप्यायस्वेति च क्षीरं दधिक्राव्णेति वै दधि॥

gāyatryā gṛhya gomūtraṁ gaṁdhadvāreti gomayam| āpyāyasveti ca kṣīraṁ dadhikrāvṇeti vai dadhi||

With the Gayatri mantra he should take the cow's urine; with the mantra beginning 'Gandhadvara...' the cow-dung; with 'Apyayasva...' the milk; and with 'Dadhikravnah...' the curd.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.107.25)

तेजोऽसि शुक्रमित्याज्यं देवस्य त्वा कुशोदकम्। आपोहिष्ठेति मंत्रेण पंचगव्येन स्नापयेत्॥

tejo'si śukramityājyaṁ devasya tvā kuśodakam| āpohiṣṭheti maṁtreṇa paṁcagavyena snāpayet||

With 'Tejo'si shukram...' the ghee, and with 'Devasya tva...' the kusha-water — and with the mantra 'Apo hi shtha...' he should bathe the deity with the five products of the cow.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.107.26)

कपिलापंचगव्येन कुशवारियुतेन च। स्नापयेन्मंत्रपूतेन ब्रह्मस्नानं हि तत्स्मृतम्॥

kapilāpaṁcagavyena kuśavāriyutena ca| snāpayenmaṁtrapūtena brahmasnānaṁ hi tatsmṛtam||

One should bathe him with the five products of a tawny cow, together with water infused with kusha grass, all purified by mantras — this indeed is remembered as the bathing rite of Brahma.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.107.27)

वर्षकोटिसहस्रैस्तु यत्पापं समुपार्जितम्। सुरज्येष्ठं तु संस्नाप्य दहेत्सर्वं न संशयः॥

varṣakoṭisahasraistu yatpāpaṁ samupārjitam| surajyeṣṭhaṁ tu saṁsnāpya dahetsarvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ||

Whatever sin has been accumulated over thousands of crores of years — by bathing the foremost of the gods, all of it is undoubtedly burnt away.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.107.28)

एवं संस्नाप्य विधिना ब्रह्माणं बालरूपिणम्। कर्पूरागरुतोयेन ततः संस्नापयेद्द्विजः॥

evaṁ saṁsnāpya vidhinā brahmāṇaṁ bālarūpiṇam| karpūrāgarutoyena tataḥ saṁsnāpayeddvijaḥ||

Having thus duly bathed Brahma in his child-form, the twice-born should then bathe him again with water scented with camphor and aloeswood.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.107.29)

एवं कृत्वार्च्चयेद्देवं गायत्रीन्यासयोगतः। मूर्ध्नः पादतलं यावत्प्रणवं विन्यसेद्बुधः॥

evaṁ kṛtvārccayeddevaṁ gāyatrīnyāsayogataḥ| mūrdhnaḥ pādatalaṁ yāvatpraṇavaṁ vinyasedbudhaḥ||

Having done this, one should worship the god through the practice of Gayatri-nyasa. The wise one should place the syllable Om, through ritual placement, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.107.30)

तकारं विन्यसेन्मूर्ध्नि सकारं मुखमण्डले। विकारं कंठदेशे तु तुकारं चांगसंधिषु॥

takāraṁ vinyasenmūrdhni sakāraṁ mukhamaṇḍale| vikāraṁ kaṁṭhadeśe tu tukāraṁ cāṁgasaṁdhiṣu||

One should place the syllable 'ta' (of the Gayatri) on the crown of the head, 'sa' upon the circle of the face, 'vi' at the region of the throat, and 'tu' at the joints of the limbs.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.107.31)

वकारं हृदि मध्ये तु रेकारं पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः। णिकारं दक्षिणे कुक्षौ यकारं वामसंज्ञिते॥

vakāraṁ hṛdi madhye tu rekāraṁ pārśvayordvayoḥ| ṇikāraṁ dakṣiṇe kukṣau yakāraṁ vāmasaṁjñite||

Place 'va' in the middle of the heart, 're' on both flanks, 'ṇi' on the right side of the belly, and 'ya' on the left side.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.107.32)

भकारं कटिनाभिस्थं गोकारं पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः। देकारं जानुनोर्न्यस्य वकारं पादपद्मयोः॥

bhakāraṁ kaṭinābhisthaṁ gokāraṁ pārśvayordvayoḥ| dekāraṁ jānunornyasya vakāraṁ pādapadmayoḥ||

Establish 'bha' at the waist and navel, 'go' on both flanks; having placed 'de' upon both knees, place 'va' upon the lotus feet.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.107.33)

स्यकारमंगुष्ठयोर्न्यस्य धीकारमुरसि न्यसेत्। मकारं जानुमूले तु हिकारं गुह्यमाश्रितम्॥

syakāramaṁguṣṭhayornyasya dhīkāramurasi nyaset| makāraṁ jānumūle tu hikāraṁ guhyamāśritam||

Having placed 'sya' upon both great toes, place 'dhī' upon the chest; place 'ma' at the base of the knees, and 'hi' resting at the private parts.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.107.34)

धिकारं हृदये न्यस्य योकारं चाधरोष्ठके। योकारं च तथैवान्यमुत्तरोष्ठे न्यसेत्सुधीः॥

dhikāraṁ hṛdaye nyasya yokāraṁ cādharoṣṭhake| yokāraṁ ca tathaivānyamuttaroṣṭhe nyasetsudhīḥ||

Having placed 'dhi' upon the heart, place 'yo' upon the lower lip; and likewise the wise one should place the other 'yo' upon the upper lip.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.107.35)

नकारं नासिकाग्रे तु प्रकारं नेत्रमाश्रितम्। चोकारं च भ्रुवोर्मध्ये दकारं प्राणमाश्रितम्॥

nakāraṁ nāsikāgre tu prakāraṁ netramāśritam| cokāraṁ ca bhruvormadhye dakāraṁ prāṇamāśritam||

Place 'na' at the tip of the nose, and 'pra' resting upon the eyes; place 'co' between the two eyebrows, and 'da' resting upon the vital breath.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.107.36)

यात्कारं च ललाटांते विन्यसेद्वै सुरेश्वरि। न्यासं कृत्वाऽऽत्मनो देहे देवे कुर्यात्तथा प्रिये॥

yātkāraṁ ca lalāṭāṁte vinyasedvai sureśvari| nyāsaṁ kṛtvātmano dehe deve kuryāttathā priye||

O queen of the gods, one should place 'yāt' at the edge of the forehead. O beloved, having thus performed the placement upon one's own body, one should likewise perform it upon the deity's image.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.107.37)

सर्वोपहारसंपन्नं कृत्वा सम्यङ्निरीक्षयेत्। कुंकुमागरुकर्पूरचंदनेन विमिश्रितम्॥

sarvopahārasaṁpannaṁ kṛtvā samyaṅnirīkṣayet| kuṁkumāgarukarpūracaṁdanena vimiśritam||

Having furnished everything with all offerings, one should carefully examine it, preparing substances mixed with saffron, aloeswood, camphor, and sandalwood.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.107.38)

गंधतोयैरुपस्कृत्य गायत्र्या प्रणवेन च। प्रोक्षयेत्सर्वद्रव्याणि पश्चादर्चनमारभेत्॥

gaṁdhatoyairupaskṛtya gāyatryā praṇavena ca| prokṣayetsarvadravyāṇi paścādarcanamārabhet||

Having prepared them with fragrant water, one should sprinkle all the materials with the Gayatri mantra and the syllable Om, and thereafter begin the worship.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.107.39)

दिव्यै पुष्पैः सुगंधैश्च मालतीकमलादिभिः। अशोकैः शतपत्रैश्च बकुलैः पूजयेत्क्रमात्॥

divyai puṣpaiḥ sugaṁdhaiśca mālatīkamalādibhiḥ| aśokaiḥ śatapatraiśca bakulaiḥ pūjayetkramāt||

One should worship in due order with divine and fragrant flowers — with jasmine, lotus, and the like, with ashoka blossoms, hundred-petaled lotuses, and bakula flowers.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.107.40)

कृष्णागरुसुधूपेन घृतदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः। ततः प्रदापयेत्तत्र नैवेद्यं विविधं क्रमात्॥

kṛṣṇāgarusudhūpena ghṛtadīpaistathottamaiḥ| tataḥ pradāpayettatra naivedyaṁ vividhaṁ kramāt||

With excellent incense of black aloeswood and with excellent lamps of ghee, one should then offer there, in due order, various kinds of food offerings.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.107.41)

खण्डलड्डुकश्रीवेष्टकांसाराशोकपल्लवैः। स्वस्तिकोल्लिपिकादुग्धातिलवेष्टकिलाटिकाम्॥

khaṇḍalaḍḍukaśrīveṣṭakāṁsārāśokapallavaiḥ| svastikollipikādugdhātilaveṣṭakilāṭikām||

With sweet balls of raw sugar, shriveshtaka cakes, ansara preparations, ashoka sprouts, svastika-shaped cakes, ullipika, milk, sesame-wrapped cakes, and kilatika (curdled-milk sweets, one should offer these various food preparations).

Verse 42 (skanda.7.107.42)

फलानि चैव पक्वानि मूलमंत्रेण दापयेत्। ऋग्वेदं च यजुर्वेदं सामवेदं च पूजयेत्॥

phalāni caiva pakvāni mūlamaṁtreṇa dāpayet| ṛgvedaṁ ca yajurvedaṁ sāmavedaṁ ca pūjayet||

He should also offer ripe fruits with the root mantra. He should worship the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, and the Samaveda.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.107.43)

ज्ञानं वैराग्यमैश्वर्यं धर्मं संपूजयेद्बुधः। ईशानादिक्रमाद्देवि दिशासु विदिशासु च॥

jñānaṁ vairāgyamaiśvaryaṁ dharmaṁ saṁpūjayedbudhaḥ| īśānādikramāddevi diśāsu vidiśāsu ca||

The wise one should also worship Knowledge, Detachment, Sovereignty, and Dharma. O Devi, he should establish these in the cardinal and intermediate directions, in the order beginning with the northeast.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.107.44)

चतुर्द्दशविद्यास्थानानि ब्रह्मणोऽग्रे प्रपूजयेत्। हृदयानि ततो न्यस्य देवस्य पुरतः क्रमात्॥

caturddaśavidyāsthānāni brahmaṇo'gre prapūjayet| hṛdayāni tato nyasya devasya purataḥ kramāt||

He should also worship, before Brahma, the fourteen seats of learning; then, in due order, he should place the heart-mantras before the deity.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.107.45)

आपोहिष्ठेति ऋगियं हृदयं परिकीर्त्तितम्। ऋतं सत्यं शिखा प्रोक्ता उदुत्यं नेत्रमादिशेत्॥

āpohiṣṭheti ṛgiyaṁ hṛdayaṁ parikīrttitam| ṛtaṁ satyaṁ śikhā proktā udutyaṁ netramādiśet||

This verse beginning 'Apo hi shtha' is declared to be the heart-mantra. 'Ritam satyam' is declared to be the crest-mantra; 'Udutyam' should be designated as the eye-mantra.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.107.46)

चित्रं देवानामित्येवं सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्। ब्रह्मंस्ते छादयामीति कवचं समुदाहृतम्॥

citraṁ devānāmityevaṁ sarvalokeṣu viśrutam| brahmaṁste chādayāmīti kavacaṁ samudāhṛtam||

This mantra beginning 'Chitram devanam' is renowned in all the worlds. 'Brahman te chhadayami' is declared to be the armor-mantra.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.107.47)

भूर्भुवः स्वरितीरेश पूजनं परिकीर्तितम्। गायत्र्या पूजयेद्देवमोंकारेणाभिमंत्रितम्॥

bhūrbhuvaḥ svaritīreśa pūjanaṁ parikīrtitam| gāyatryā pūjayeddevamoṁkāreṇābhimaṁtritam||

O Lord, worship performed with 'Bhur bhuvah svah' is declared here. Having consecrated with the syllable Om, one should worship the god with the Gayatri.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.107.48)

प्रणवेनापरान्सर्वानृग्वेदादीन्प्रपूजयेत्। गायत्री परमो मंत्रो वेदमाता विभावरी॥

praṇavenāparānsarvānṛgvedādīnprapūjayet| gāyatrī paramo maṁtro vedamātā vibhāvarī||

With the syllable Om he should also worship all the other Vedas beginning with the Rig. The Gayatri is the supreme mantra, the mother of the Vedas, radiant with splendor.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.107.49)

गायत्र्यक्षरतत्त्वैस्तु ब्रह्माणं यस्तु पूजयेत्। उपोष्य पंचदश्यां तु स याति परमं पदम्॥

gāyatryakṣaratattvaistu brahmāṇaṁ yastu pūjayet| upoṣya paṁcadaśyāṁ tu sa yāti paramaṁ padam||

Whoever worships Brahma with the syllabic essences of the Gayatri, and fasts on the fifteenth lunar day, attains the supreme abode.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.107.50)

संसारसागरं घोरमुत्तितीर्षुर्द्विजो यदि। प्रभासे कार्त्तिके मासि ब्रह्माणं पूजयेत्सदा॥

saṁsārasāgaraṁ ghoramuttitīrṣurdvijo yadi| prabhāse kārttike māsi brahmāṇaṁ pūjayetsadā||

If a twice-born one desires to cross over this terrible ocean of worldly existence, he should always worship Brahma at Prabhasa in the month of Kartika.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.107.51)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्। कस्तं न पूजयेद्विद्वान्प्रभासे बालरूपिणम्॥

yasya darśanamātreṇa aśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet| kastaṁ na pūjayedvidvānprabhāse bālarūpiṇam||

By the mere sight of whom one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice — what wise man would not worship him, the one in child-form at Prabhasa?

Verse 52 (skanda.7.107.52)

यस्यैकदिवसप्रांते सदेवासुरमानवाः। विलयं यांति देवेशि कस्तं न प्रतिपूजयेत्॥

yasyaikadivasaprāṁte sadevāsuramānavāḥ| vilayaṁ yāṁti deveśi kastaṁ na pratipūjayet||

O Goddess of gods, at the end of whose single day gods, demons, and men alike dissolve into oblivion — who would not worship him?

Verse 53 (skanda.7.107.53)

पिता यः सर्वदेवानां भूतानां च पितामहः। यस्मादेष स तैः पूज्यो ब्राह्मणैः क्षेत्रवासिभिः॥

pitā yaḥ sarvadevānāṁ bhūtānāṁ ca pitāmahaḥ| yasmādeṣa sa taiḥ pūjyo brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣetravāsibhiḥ||

He who is the father of all the gods and the grandsire of all beings — for this very reason he is to be worshipped by the Brahmins who dwell in the sacred field.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.107.54)

रुद्ररूपी विश्वरूपी स एव भुवनेश्वरः। पौर्णमास्यामुपोषित्वा ब्रह्माणं जगतां पतिम्। अर्चयेद्यो विधानेन सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्॥

rudrarūpī viśvarūpī sa eva bhuvaneśvaraḥ| paurṇamāsyāmupoṣitvā brahmāṇaṁ jagatāṁ patim| arcayedyo vidhānena so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet||

He himself, in the form of Rudra, of universal form, is the lord of all worlds. Whoever fasts on the full-moon day and duly worships Brahma, the master of the universe, obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.107.55)

कार्त्तिके मासि देवस्य रथयात्रा प्रकीर्त्तिता। यां कृत्वा मानवो भक्त्या याति ब्रह्मसलोकताम्॥

kārttike māsi devasya rathayātrā prakīrttitā| yāṁ kṛtvā mānavo bhaktyā yāti brahmasalokatām||

In the month of Kartika, the chariot-procession of this god is declared; performing it with devotion, a man attains co-residence in Brahma's world.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.107.56)

कार्त्तिके मासि देवेशि पौर्णमास्यां चतुर्मुखम्। मार्गेण चर्मणा सार्द्धं सावित्र्या च परंतपः॥

kārttike māsi deveśi paurṇamāsyāṁ caturmukham| mārgeṇa carmaṇā sārddhaṁ sāvitryā ca paraṁtapaḥ||

O Goddess of gods, on the full-moon of Kartika, the mighty scourge of foes should place the four-faced Brahma upon the route, together with the ceremonial hide-fan and together with Savitri —

Verse 57 (skanda.7.107.57)

भ्रामयेन्नगरं सर्वं नानावाद्यैः समन्वितम्। स्थापयेद्भ्रामयित्वा तु सकलं नगरं नृपः॥

bhrāmayennagaraṁ sarvaṁ nānāvādyaiḥ samanvitam| sthāpayedbhrāmayitvā tu sakalaṁ nagaraṁ nṛpaḥ||

He should have him paraded through the entire city, accompanied by various musical instruments. Having paraded him through the whole city, the king should then set him back in his place.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.107.58)

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वाग्रे शांडिलेयं प्रपूज्य च। आरोपयेद्रथे देवं पुण्यवादित्रनिःस्वनैः॥

brāhmaṇānbhojayitvāgre śāṇḍileyaṁ prapūjya ca| āropayedrathe devaṁ puṇyavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ||

Having first fed the Brahmins and duly worshipped the Shandileya priest, he should place the god upon the chariot to the sound of auspicious instruments.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.107.59)

रथाग्रे शांडिलीपुत्रं पूजयित्वा विधानतः। ब्राह्मणान्वाचयित्वा च कृत्वा पुण्याहमंगलम्॥

rathāgre śāṇḍilīputraṁ pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ| brāhmaṇānvācayitvā ca kṛtvā puṇyāhamaṁgalam||

Having duly worshipped the son of Shandili before the chariot, having had the Brahmins recite the benedictions, and having performed the auspicious rite of punyahavachana —

Verse 60 (skanda.7.107.60)

देवमारोपयित्वा तु रथे कुर्यात्प्रजागरम्। नानाविधैः प्रेक्षणकैर्ब्रह्मशेषैश्च पुष्कलैः॥

devamāropayitvā tu rathe kuryātprajāgaram| nānāvidhaiḥ prekṣaṇakairbrahmaśeṣaiśca puṣkalaiḥ||

Having placed the god upon the chariot, one should keep a night-vigil, with manifold entertainments and abundant offerings consecrated to Brahma.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.107.61)

नारोढव्यं रथे देवि शूद्रेण शुभमिच्छता। नाधर्मेण विशेषेण मुक्त्वैकं भोजकं प्रिये॥

nāroḍhavyaṁ rathe devi śūdreṇa śubhamicchatā| nādharmeṇa viśeṣeṇa muktvaikaṁ bhojakaṁ priye||

O Devi, a shudra who desires his own welfare should not mount the chariot, nor especially should one of unrighteous conduct — except, O beloved, for the single officiating priest.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.107.62)

ब्रह्मणो दक्षिणे पार्श्वे सावित्रीं स्थापयेत्प्रिये। भोजकं वामपार्श्वे तु पुरतः पंकजं न्यसेत्॥

brahmaṇo dakṣiṇe pārśve sāvitrīṁ sthāpayetpriye| bhojakaṁ vāmapārśve tu purataḥ paṁkajaṁ nyaset||

O beloved, on the right side of Brahma one should place Savitri, on the left side the officiating priest, and in front one should place a lotus.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.107.63)

एवं तूर्यनिनादैश्च शंखशब्दैश्च पुष्कलैः। भ्रामयित्वा रथं देवि पुरं सर्वं च दक्षिणम्। स्वस्थाने स्थापयेद्भूयः कृत्वा नीराजनं बुधः॥

evaṁ tūryaninādaiśca śaṁkhaśabdaiśca puṣkalaiḥ| bhrāmayitvā rathaṁ devi puraṁ sarvaṁ ca dakṣiṇam| svasthāne sthāpayedbhūyaḥ kṛtvā nīrājanaṁ budhaḥ||

Thus, O Devi, to the resounding of trumpets and abundant conch-blasts, having paraded the chariot through the entire city and to the southern quarter as well, the wise one, having performed the waving of lamps, should establish it once more in its own place.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.107.64)

य एवं कुरुते यात्रां भक्त्या यश्चापि पश्यति। रथं वाऽऽकर्षयेद्यस्तु स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मणः पदम्॥

ya evaṁ kurute yātrāṁ bhaktyā yaścāpi paśyati| rathaṁ vākarṣayedyastu sa gacchedbrahmaṇaḥ padam||

Whoever thus conducts the procession with devotion, whoever merely witnesses it, and whoever pulls the chariot, attains the abode of Brahma.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.107.65)

यो दीपं धारयेत्तत्र ब्रह्मणो रथपृष्ठगः। पदेपदेऽश्वमेधस्य स फलं विंदते महत्॥

yo dīpaṁ dhārayettatra brahmaṇo rathapṛṣṭhagaḥ| padepade'śvamedhasya sa phalaṁ viṁdate mahat||

Whoever, walking behind Brahma's chariot, carries a lamp there, obtains at every step the great fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.107.66)

यो न कारयते राजा रथयात्रां तु ब्रह्मणः। स पच्यते महादेवि रौरवे कालमक्षयम्॥

yo na kārayate rājā rathayātrāṁ tu brahmaṇaḥ| sa pacyate mahādevi raurave kālamakṣayam||

Whatever king does not cause Brahma's chariot-procession to be performed, O Mahadevi, is made to suffer for an imperishable span of time in the Raurava hell.

Verse 67 (skanda.7.107.67)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन राष्ट्रस्य क्षेममिच्छता। रथयात्रां विशेषेण स्वयं राजा प्रवर्त्तयेत्॥

tasmātsarvaprayatnena rāṣṭrasya kṣemamicchatā| rathayātrāṁ viśeṣeṇa svayaṁ rājā pravarttayet||

Therefore, a king who desires the welfare of his realm should, with every effort and in particular, personally cause the chariot-procession to be carried out.

Verse 68 (skanda.7.107.68)

प्रतिपद्ब्राह्मणांश्चापि भोजयेद्विधिवत्सुधीः। वासोभिरहतैश्चापि गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः॥

pratipadbrāhmaṇāṁścāpi bhojayedvidhivatsudhīḥ| vāsobhirahataiścāpi gandhamālyānulepanaiḥ||

On the first lunar day, the wise one should duly feed the Brahmins, and honor them also with unstitched garments, fragrances, garlands, and unguents.

Verse 69 (skanda.7.107.69)

कार्त्तिके मास्यमावास्यां यस्तु दीपप्रदीपनम्। शालायां ब्रह्मणः कुर्यात्स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्॥

kārttike māsyamāvāsyāṁ yastu dīpapradīpanam| śālāyāṁ brahmaṇaḥ kuryātsa gacchetparamaṁ padam||

Whoever kindles lamps in the shrine-hall of Brahma on the new-moon day of the month of Kartika attains the supreme abode.

Verse 70 (skanda.7.107.70)

उत्सवेषु च सर्वेषु सर्वकाले विशेषतः। पूजयेयुरिमं विप्रा ब्रह्माणं जगतां गुरुम्॥

utsaveṣu ca sarveṣu sarvakāle viśeṣataḥ| pūjayeyurimaṁ viprā brahmāṇaṁ jagatāṁ gurum||

At all festivals and at all times especially, the Brahmins should worship this Brahma, the teacher of the universe.

Verse 71 (skanda.7.107.71)

यथाकृत्यप्रयोगेण सम्यक्छ्रद्धा समन्विताः। पूज्यो दिव्योपचारेण यथावित्तानुसारतः॥

yathākṛtyaprayogeṇa samyakchraddhā samanvitāḥ| pūjyo divyopacāreṇa yathāvittānusārataḥ||

Through the proper performance of the prescribed rites, endowed with true faith, he should be worshipped with divine offerings, according to one's means.

Verse 72 (skanda.7.107.72)

एवं ते कथितं देवि पूजामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं ब्रह्मणो बालरूपिणः॥

evaṁ te kathitaṁ devi pūjāmāhātmyamuttamam| prabhāsakṣetramāhātmyaṁ brahmaṇo bālarūpiṇaḥ||

O Devi, thus has been told to you the excellent glory of the worship, and the glory of the Prabhasa field, of Brahma in his form as a child.

Verse 73 (skanda.7.107.73)

तस्याहं कथयिष्यामि नाम्नामष्टोत्तरं शतम्। प्रदत्त्वा च पठित्वा च यज्ञायुतफलं लभेत्॥

tasyāhaṁ kathayiṣyāmi nāmnāmaṣṭottaraṁ śatam| pradattvā ca paṭhitvā ca yajñāyutaphalaṁ labhet||

Now I shall declare his hundred and eight names. By giving them and by reciting them, one obtains the fruit of ten thousand sacrifices.

Verse 74 (skanda.7.107.74)

गायत्र्या लक्षजाप्येन सम्यग्जप्तेन यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति स्तोत्रस्यास्य उदीरणात्॥

gāyatryā lakṣajāpyena samyagjaptena yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti stotrasyāsya udīraṇāt||

Whatever fruit is obtained from the proper repetition of the Gayatri mantra a hundred thousand times, that same fruit is obtained by the recitation of this hymn.

Verse 75 (skanda.7.107.75)

इदं स्तोत्रवरं दिव्यं रहस्यं पापनाशनम्। न देयं दुष्टबुद्धीनां निन्दकानां तथैव च॥

idaṁ stotravaraṁ divyaṁ rahasyaṁ pāpanāśanam| na deyaṁ duṣṭabuddhīnāṁ nindakānāṁ tathaiva ca||

This excellent, divine, secret hymn destroys sin. It should never be given to those of wicked intellect, nor likewise to those who slander.

Verse 76 (skanda.7.107.76)

ब्राह्मणाय प्रदातव्यं श्रोत्रियाय महात्मने। विष्णुना हि पुरा पृष्टं ब्रह्मणः स्तोत्रमुत्तमम्॥

brāhmaṇāya pradātavyaṁ śrotriyāya mahātmane| viṣṇunā hi purā pṛṣṭaṁ brahmaṇaḥ stotramuttamam||

It should be given only to a great-souled Brahmin learned in the scriptures. This excellent hymn of Brahma was, in ancient times, asked about by Vishnu himself.

Verse 77 (skanda.7.107.77)

केषुकेषु च स्थानेषु देवदेव पितामह। संचिन्त्यस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वं हि सर्वविदुत्तम॥

keṣukeṣu ca sthāneṣu devadeva pitāmaha| saṁcintyastanmamācakṣva tvaṁ hi sarvaviduttama||

(Vishnu asked:) O God of gods, Grandsire, in which and how many places are you to be contemplated? Tell me this, for you are the most knowing of all.

Verse 78 (skanda.7.107.78)

ब्रह्मोवाच। पुष्करेऽहं सुरश्रेष्ठो गयायां प्रपितामहः। कान्यकुब्जे वेदगर्भो भृगुक्षेत्रे चतुर्मुखः॥

brahmovāca| puṣkare'haṁ suraśreṣṭho gayāyāṁ prapitāmahaḥ| kānyakubje vedagarbho bhṛgukṣetre caturmukhaḥ||

Brahma said: At Pushkara I am Surashreshtha, the foremost of the gods; at Gaya, Prapitamaha; at Kanyakubja, Vedagarbha; and at Bhrigukshetra, Chaturmukha.

Verse 79 (skanda.7.107.79)

कौबेर्यां सृष्टिकर्ता च नन्दिपुर्यां बृहस्पतिः। प्रभासे बालरूपी च वाराणस्यां सुरप्रियः॥

kauberyāṁ sṛṣṭikartā ca nandipuryāṁ bṛhaspatiḥ| prabhāse bālarūpī ca vārāṇasyāṁ surapriyaḥ||

At Kauberi I am Srishtikarta; at Nandipuri, Brihaspati; at Prabhasa, Balarupi; and at Varanasi, Surapriya.

Verse 80 (skanda.7.107.80)

द्वारावत्यां चक्रदेवो वैदिशे भुवनाधिपः। पौंड्रके पुण्डरीकाक्षः पीताक्षो हस्तिनापुरे॥

dvārāvatyāṁ cakradevo vaidiśe bhuvanādhipaḥ| pauṇḍrake puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ pītākṣo hastināpure||

At Dvaravati I am Chakradeva; at Vaidisha, Bhuvanadhipa; at Paundraka, Pundarikaksha; and at Hastinapura, Pitaksha.

Verse 81 (skanda.7.107.81)

जयंत्यां विजयश्चासौ जयन्तः पुरुषोत्तमे। वाडेषु पद्महस्तोऽहं तमोलिप्ते तमोनुदः॥

jayaṁtyāṁ vijayaścāsau jayantaḥ puruṣottame| vāḍeṣu padmahasto'haṁ tamolipte tamonudaḥ||

At Jayanti I am Vijaya; at Purushottama, Jayanta; among the Vadas, Padmahasta; and at Tamolipta, Tamonuda.

Verse 82 (skanda.7.107.82)

आहिच्छत्र्यां जनानंदः काञ्चीपुर्यां जनप्रियः। कर्णाटस्य पुरे ब्रह्मा ऋषिकुण्डे मुनिस्तथा॥

āhicchatryāṁ janānaṁdaḥ kāñcīpuryāṁ janapriyaḥ| karṇāṭasya pure brahmā ṛṣikuṇḍe munistathā||

At Ahichchhatra I am Janananda; at Kanchipuri, Janapriya; in the city of Karnata, Brahma; and at Rishikunda, Muni.

Verse 83 (skanda.7.107.83)

श्रीकण्ठे श्रीनिवासश्च कामरूपे शुभंकरः। उच्छ्रियाणे देवकर्त्ता स्रष्टा जालंधरे तथा॥

śrīkaṇṭhe śrīnivāsaśca kāmarūpe śubhaṁkaraḥ| ucchriyāṇe devakarttā sraṣṭā jālaṁdhare tathā||

At Shrikantha I am Shrinivasa; at Kamarupa, Shubhankara; at Uchchhriyana, Devakarta; and at Jalandhara, Srashta.

Verse 84 (skanda.7.107.84)

मल्लिकाख्ये तथा विष्णुर्महेन्द्रे भार्गवस्तथा। गोनर्दः स्थविराकारे ह्युज्जयिन्यां पितामहः॥

mallikākhye tathā viṣṇurmahendre bhārgavastathā| gonardaḥ sthavirākāre hyujjayinyāṁ pitāmahaḥ||

At Mallikakhya I am Vishnu; at Mahendra, Bhargava; at Sthavirakara, Gonarda; and at Ujjayini, Pitamaha.

Verse 85 (skanda.7.107.85)

कौशांब्यां तु महादेवो ह्ययोध्यायां तु राघवः। विरंचिश्चित्रकूटे तु वाराहो विन्ध्यपर्वते॥

kauśāṁbyāṁ tu mahādevo hyayodhyāyāṁ tu rāghavaḥ| viraṁciścitrakūṭe tu vārāho vindhyaparvate||

At Kaushambi I am Mahadeva; at Ayodhya, Raghava; at Chitrakuta, Virinchi; and on the Vindhya mountain, Varaha.

Verse 86 (skanda.7.107.86)

गंगाद्वारे सुरश्रेष्ठो हिमवन्ते तु शंकरः। देहिकायां स्रुचाहस्तः पद्महस्तस्तथाऽर्बुदे॥

gaṁgādvāre suraśreṣṭho himavaṁte tu śaṁkaraḥ| dehikāyāṁ srucāhastaḥ padmahastastathā'rbude||

At Gangadvara I am Surashreshtha; on the Himalaya, Shankara; at Dehika, Srucahasta; and at Arbuda, Padmahasta.

Verse 87 (skanda.7.107.87)

वृन्दावने पद्मनेत्रः कुशहस्तश्च नैमिषे। गोपक्षेत्रे च गोविन्दः सुरेन्द्रो यमुनातटे॥

vṛndāvane padmanetraḥ kuśahastaśca naimiṣe| gopakṣetre ca govindaḥ surendro yamunātaṭe||

At Vrindavana I am Padmanetra; at Naimisha, Kushahasta; in Gopakshetra, Govinda; and on the bank of the Yamuna, Surendra.

Verse 88 (skanda.7.107.88)

भागीरथ्यां पद्मतनुर्जनानन्दो जनस्थले। कौंकणे च स मध्वक्षः काम्पिल्ये कनकप्रभः॥

bhāgīrathyāṁ padmatanurjanānando janasthale| kauṁkaṇe ca sa madhvakṣaḥ kāmpilye kanakaprabhaḥ||

At the Bhagirathi (Ganga) I am Padmatanu; at Janasthala, Jananandana; in Konkana, Madhvaksha; and at Kampilya, Kanakaprabha.

Verse 89 (skanda.7.107.89)

खेटके चान्नदाता च शंभुश्चैव क्रतुस्थले। लंकायां चैव पौलस्त्यः काश्मीरे हंसवाहनः॥

kheṭake cānnadātā ca śaṁbhuścaiva kratusthale| laṁkāyāṁ caiva paulastyaḥ kāśmīre haṁsavāhanaḥ||

At Khetaka I am Annadata; at Kratusthala, Shambhu; at Lanka, Paulastya; and in Kashmir, Hamsavahana.

Verse 90 (skanda.7.107.90)

वसिष्ठश्चार्बुदे चैव नारदश्चोत्पलावने। मेधके श्रुतिदाता च प्रयागे यजुषां पतिः॥

vasiṣṭhaścārbude caiva nāradaścotpalāvane| medhake śrutidātā ca prayāge yajuṣāṁ patiḥ||

At Arbuda I am Vasishtha; at Utpalavana, Narada; at Medhaka, Shrutidata; and at Prayaga, the Lord of the Yajus (mantras).

Verse 91 (skanda.7.107.91)

शिवलिंगे सामवेदो मर्कटे च मधुप्रियः। नारायणश्च गोमन्ते विदर्भायां द्विजप्रियः॥

śivaliṁge sāmavedo markaṭe ca madhupriyaḥ| nārāyaṇaśca gomante vidarbhāyāṁ dvijapriyaḥ||

At Shivalinga I am Samaveda; at Markata, Madhupriya; at Gomanta, Narayana; and at Vidarbha, Dvijapriya.

Verse 92 (skanda.7.107.92)

अंकुलके ब्रह्मगर्भो ब्रह्मवाहे सुतप्रियः। इन्द्रप्रस्थे दुराधर्षश्चंपायां सुरमर्दनः॥

aṁkulake brahmagarbho brahmavāhe sutapriyaḥ| indraprasthe durādharṣaścaṁpāyāṁ suramardanaḥ||

At Ankulaka I am Brahmagarbha; at Brahmavaha, Sutapriya; at Indraprastha, Duradharsha; and at Champa, Suramardana.

Verse 93 (skanda.7.107.93)

विरजायां महारूपः सुरूपो राष्ट्रवर्धने। कदंबके जनाध्यक्षो देवाध्यक्षः समस्थले॥

virajāyāṁ mahārūpaḥ surūpo rāṣṭravardhane| kadaṁbake janādhyakṣo devādhyakṣaḥ samasthale||

At Viraja I am Maharupa; at Rashtravardhana, Surupa; at Kadambaka, Janadhyaksha; and at Samasthala, Devadhyaksha.

Verse 94 (skanda.7.107.94)

गंगाधरो रुद्रपीठे सुपीठे जलदः स्मृतः। त्र्यंबके त्रिपुरारिश्च श्रीशैले च त्रिलोचनः॥

gaṁgādharo rudrapīṭhe supīṭhe jaladaḥ smṛtaḥ| tryaṁbake tripurāriśca śrīśaile ca trilocanaḥ||

At Rudrapitha I am Gangadhara; at Supitha, Jalada; at Tryambaka, Tripurari; and at Shrishaila, Trilochana.

Verse 95 (skanda.7.107.95)

महादेवः प्लक्षपुरे कपाले वेधनाशनः। शृङ्गवेरपुरे शौरिर्निमिषे चक्रधारकः॥

mahādevaḥ plakṣapure kapāle vedhanāśanaḥ| śṛṅgaverapure śaurirnimiṣe cakradhārakaḥ||

At Plakshapura I am Mahadeva; at Kapala, Vedhanashana; at Shringaverapura, Shauri; and at Nimisha, Chakradharaka.

Verse 96 (skanda.7.107.96)

नन्दिपुर्यां विरूपाक्षो गौतमः प्लक्षपादपे। माल्यवान्हस्तिनाथे तु द्विजेन्द्रो वाचिके तथा॥

nandipuryāṁ virūpākṣo gautamaḥ plakṣapādape| mālyavānhastināthe tu dvijendro vācike tathā||

At Nandipuri I am Virupaksha; at Plakshapadapa, Gautama; at Hastinatha, Malyavan; and at Vachika, Dvijendra.

Verse 97 (skanda.7.107.97)

इन्द्रपुर्यां दिवानाथो भूतिकायां पुरंदरः। हंसबाहुश्च चन्द्रायां चंपायां गरुडप्रियः॥

indrapuryāṁ divānātho bhūtikāyāṁ puraṁdaraḥ| haṁsabāhuśca caṁdrāyāṁ caṁpāyāṁ garuḍapriyaḥ||

At Indrapuri I am Divanatha; at Bhutika, Purandara; at Chandra, Hamsabahu; and at Champa, Garudapriya.

Verse 98 (skanda.7.107.98)

महोदये महायक्षः सुयज्ञः पूतके वने। सिद्धेश्वरे शुक्लवर्णो विभायां पद्मबोधकः॥

mahodaye mahāyakṣaḥ suyajñaḥ pūtake vane| siddheśvare śuklavarṇo vibhāyāṁ padmabodhakaḥ||

At Mahodaya I am Mahayaksha; in the Putaka forest, Suyajna; at Siddheshvara, Shuklavarna; and at Vibha, Padmabodhaka.

Verse 99 (skanda.7.107.99)

देवदारुवने लिंगी उदकेथ उमापतिः। विनायको मातृस्थाने अलकायां धनाधिपः॥

devadāruvane liṁgī udaketha umāpatiḥ| vināyako mātṛsthāne alakāyāṁ dhanādhipaḥ||

In the Devadaru forest I am Lingi; at Udaka, Umapati; at Matristhana, Vinayaka; and at Alaka, Dhanadhipa.

Verse 100 (skanda.7.107.100)

त्रिकूटे चैव गोविंदः पाताले वासुकिस्तथा। कोविदारे युगाध्यक्षः स्त्रीराज्ये च सुरप्रियः॥

trikūṭe caiva goviṁdaḥ pātāle vāsukistathā| kovidāre yugādhyakṣaḥ strīrājye ca surapriyaḥ||

At Trikuta I am Govinda; in Patala, Vasuki; at Kovidara, Yugadhyaksha; and in Strirajya, Surapriya.

Verse 101 (skanda.7.107.101)

पूर्णगिर्यां सुभोगश्च शाल्मल्यां तक्षकस्तथा। अमरे पापहा चैव अंबिकायां सुदर्शनः॥

pūrṇagiryāṁ subhogaśca śālmalyāṁ takṣakastathā| amare pāpahā caiva aṁbikāyāṁ sudarśanaḥ||

At Purnagiri I am Subhoga; at Shalmali, Takshaka; at Amara, Papaha; and at Ambika, Sudarshana.

Verse 102 (skanda.7.107.102)

नरवाप्यां महावीरः कान्तारे दुर्गनाशनः। पद्मवत्यां पद्मगृहो गगने मृगलाञ्छनः॥

naravāpyāṁ mahāvīraḥ kāntāre durganāśanaḥ| padmavatyāṁ padmagṛho gagane mṛgalāñchanaḥ||

At Naravapi I am Mahavira; at Kantara, Durganashana; at Padmavati, Padmagriha; and in the sky, Mrigalanchana (the moon).

Verse 103 (skanda.7.107.103)

अष्टोत्तरं नामशतं यत्रैतत्परिपठ्यते। तत्रैव मम सांनिध्यं त्रिसंध्यं मधुसूदन॥

aṣṭottaraṁ nāmaśataṁ yatraitatparipaṭhyate| tatraiva mama sāṁnidhyaṁ trisaṁdhyaṁ madhusūdana||

O Madhusudana, wherever this hymn of a hundred and eight names is recited, there indeed my presence abides at all three junctures of the day.

Verse 104 (skanda.7.107.104)

तेषामपि यस्त्वेकं पश्येद्वै बालरूपिणम्। सर्वेषां लभते पुण्यं पूर्वोक्तानां च वेधसाम्॥

teṣāmapi yastvekaṁ paśyedvai bālarūpiṇam| sarveṣāṁ labhate puṇyaṁ pūrvoktānāṁ ca vedhasām||

Whoever beholds even one of these forms of the Creator in his child-form obtains the merit of all the aforementioned forms of the Creator together.

Verse 105 (skanda.7.107.105)

एतैर्यो नामभिः कृष्ण प्रभासे स्तौति मां सदा। स्थानं मे विजयं लब्ध्वा मोदते शाश्वतीः समाः॥

etairyo nāmabhiḥ kṛṣṇa prabhāse stauti māṁ sadā| sthānaṁ me vijayaṁ labdhvā modate śāśvatīḥ samāḥ||

O Krishna, whoever always praises me at Prabhasa with these names, having attained my victorious abode, rejoices there for eternal years.

Verse 106 (skanda.7.107.106)

मानसं वाचिकं चैव कायिकं चैव दुष्कृतम्। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति मम स्तोत्रानुकीर्तनात्॥

mānasaṁ vācikaṁ caiva kāyikaṁ caiva duṣkṛtam| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti mama stotrānukīrtanāt||

Whatever wrongdoing has been committed by mind, speech, or body — all of it is destroyed through the recitation of this hymn of mine.

Verse 107 (skanda.7.107.107)

पुष्पोपहारैर्धूपैश्च ब्राह्मणानां च तर्पणैः। ध्यानेन च स्थिरेणाशु प्राप्यते यत्फलं नरैः। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति मम स्तोत्रानुकीर्तनात्॥

puṣpopahārairdhūpaiśca brāhmaṇānāṁ ca tarpaṇaiḥ| dhyānena ca sthireṇāśu prāpyate yatphalaṁ naraiḥ| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti mama stotrānukīrtanāt||

Whatever fruit men swiftly obtain through offerings of flowers, incense, the satisfying of Brahmins, and steady meditation — that same fruit is obtained through the recitation of this hymn of mine.

Verse 108 (skanda.7.107.108)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि इह लोके कृतान्यपि। अकामतः कामतो वा तानि नश्यंति तत्क्षणात्॥

brahmahatyādipāpāni iha loke kṛtānyapi| akāmataḥ kāmato vā tāni naśyaṁti tatkṣaṇāt||

Even sins such as the slaying of a Brahmin, committed in this world, whether unintentionally or intentionally, are destroyed at that very instant.

Verse 109 (skanda.7.107.109)

इदं स्तोत्रं ममाभीष्टं शृणुयाद्वा पठेच्च वा। स मुक्तः पातकैः सर्वैः प्राप्नुयान्महदीप्सितम्॥

idaṁ stotraṁ mamābhīṣṭaṁ śṛṇuyādvā paṭhecca vā| sa muktaḥ pātakaiḥ sarvaiḥ prāpnuyānmahadīpsitam||

Whoever hears or recites this hymn, which is most dear to me, becomes freed from all sins and attains what is greatly desired.

Verse 110 (skanda.7.107.110)

अन्यद्रहस्यं ते वच्मि शृणु कृष्ण यथार्थतः॥

anyadrahasyaṁ te vacmi śṛṇu kṛṣṇa yathārthataḥ||

O Krishna, I shall now tell you another secret; hear it truly.

Verse 111 (skanda.7.107.111)

आग्नेयं तु यदा ऋक्षं कार्तिक्यां भवति क्वचित्। महती सा तिथिर्ज्ञेया प्रभासे मम वल्लभा॥

āgneyaṁ tu yadā ṛkṣaṁ kārtikyāṁ bhavati kvacit| mahatī sā tithirjñeyā prabhāse mama vallabhā||

Whenever the Krittika (Agneya) constellation falls upon the Kartika full moon, that lunar day is to be known as a great one, most beloved to me at Prabhasa.

Verse 112 (skanda.7.107.112)

प्राजापत्यं यदा ऋक्षं तिथौ तस्यां भवेद्यदि। सा महाकार्तिकी पुण्या देवानामपि दुर्लभा॥

prājāpatyaṁ yadā ṛkṣaṁ tithau tasyāṁ bhavedyadi| sā mahākārtikī puṇyā devānāmapi durlabhā||

If, on that same lunar day, the Prajapatya (Rohini) constellation should also fall, that becomes the Great Kartiki, exceedingly meritorious, rare even for the gods.

Verse 113 (skanda.7.107.113)

मंदे वार्के गुरौ वाऽपि कार्तिकी कृत्तिकायुता। तत्राश्वमेधिकं पुण्यं दृष्ट्वा वै बालरूपिणम्॥

maṁde vārke gurau vā'pi kārtikī kṛttikāyutā| tatrāśvamedhikaṁ puṇyaṁ dṛṣṭvā vai bālarūpiṇam||

Should the Kartiki, joined with Krittika, fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or Thursday, then by beholding the one in child-form there, one obtains the merit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 114 (skanda.7.107.114)

विशाखासु यदा सूर्यः कृत्तिकासु च चन्द्रमाः। स योगः पद्मको नाम प्रभासे दुर्लभो हरे॥

viśākhāsu yadā sūryaḥ kṛttikāsu ca candramāḥ| sa yogaḥ padmako nāma prabhāse durlabho hare||

O Hari, when the sun is in the Vishakha constellation and the moon in Krittika, that conjunction is called 'Padmaka,' rare indeed at Prabhasa.

Verse 115 (skanda.7.107.115)

तस्मिन्योगे नरो दृष्ट्वा प्रभासे बालरूपिणम्। पापकोटियुतो वाऽपि यमलोकं न पश्यति॥

tasminyoge naro dṛṣṭvā prabhāse bālarūpiṇam| pāpakoṭiyuto vā'pi yamalokaṁ na paśyati||

A man who, during that conjunction, beholds the one in child-form at Prabhasa, even though burdened with a crore of sins, does not behold the realm of Yama.

Verse 116 (skanda.7.107.116)

ईश्वर उवाच। इत्येवं कथितं स्तोत्रं ब्रह्मणा हरये पुनः। मया तव समाख्यातं माहात्म्यं ब्रह्मदैवतम्॥

īśvara uvāca| ityevaṁ kathitaṁ stotraṁ brahmaṇā haraye punaḥ| mayā tava samākhyātaṁ māhātmyaṁ brahmadaivatam||

Ishvara said: Thus was this hymn once declared by Brahma to Hari. I have now related to you this glory pertaining to the deity Brahma.

Verse 117 (skanda.7.107.117)

सर्वपापहरं नृणां श्रुतं सर्वार्थसाधकम्। भूमिदानं च दातव्यं तत्र यात्राफलेप्सुभिः॥

sarvapāpaharaṁ nṛṇāṁ śrutaṁ sarvārthasādhakam| bhūmidānaṁ ca dātavyaṁ tatra yātrāphalepsubhiḥ||

When heard, it removes all the sins of men, and accomplishes every purpose. Those who desire the fruit of the pilgrimage should also give the gift of land there.

Verse 118 (skanda.7.107.118)

कमंडलुः श्वेतवस्त्रं महादानानि षोडश। तत्रैव देवि देयानि ब्रह्मणे बालरूपिणे॥

kamaṁḍaluḥ śvetavastraṁ mahādānāni ṣoḍaśa| tatraiva devi deyāni brahmaṇe bālarūpiṇe||

O Devi, right there a water-pot, white garments, and the sixteen great gifts should also be given to Brahma in his form as a child.

Verse 119 (skanda.7.107.119)

महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते कुर्युः पारायणं द्विजाः। सर्वे ते ब्राह्मणा देवि क्षेत्रमध्यनिवासिनः॥

mahāparvaṇi saṁprāpte kuryuḥ pārāyaṇaṁ dvijāḥ| sarve te brāhmaṇā devi kṣetramadhyanivāsinaḥ||

O Devi, when a great festival occasion arrives, all those twice-born who dwell in the midst of the sacred field should perform a complete recitation of this hymn.