The Descent of Vishnu's Incarnations

Verse 1 (skanda.7.19.1)

देव्युवाच। यद्येवं सकलश्चंद्रः कथं न विधृतस्त्वया। अन्तभावे कलानां तत्कारणं कथय प्रभो

devyuvāca| yadyevaṁ sakalaścaṁdraḥ kathaṁ na vidhṛtastvayā| antabhāve kalānāṁ tatkāraṇaṁ kathaya prabho

The Goddess said: If the Moon thus possesses all his digits in full, why then do you not hold him whole? Tell me, O Lord, the reason for the waning of his digits.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.19.2)

ईश्वर उवाच। अमा षोडशभेदेन देवि प्रोक्ता महाकला। संस्थिता परमा माया देहिनां देह धारिणी

īśvara uvāca| amā ṣoḍaśabhedena devi proktā mahākalā| saṁsthitā paramā māyā dehināṁ deha dhāriṇī

Ishvara said: O Goddess, the New Moon, through its sixteen divisions, is declared the Great Digit; it is the supreme Maya, established as the sustainer of the bodies of all embodied beings.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.19.3)

अमादिपौर्णमास्यंता या एव शशिनः कलाः। तिथयस्ताः समाख्याताः षोडशैव प्रकीर्तिताः

amādipaurṇamāsyaṁtā yā eva śaśinaḥ kalāḥ| tithayastāḥ samākhyātāḥ ṣoḍaśaiva prakīrtitāḥ

Those very digits of the Moon, from the New Moon to the Full Moon, are called the tithis, the lunar days; they are declared to number exactly sixteen.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.19.4)

अमा सूक्ष्मा परा शक्तिः सा त्वं देवि प्रकीर्तिता। प्रलयोत्पत्तियोगेन स्थिताः कालक्रमोदिताः

amā sūkṣmā parā śaktiḥ sā tvaṁ devi prakīrtitā| pralayotpattiyogena sthitāḥ kālakramoditāḥ

The New Moon is the subtle, supreme Power — that, O Goddess, is declared to be you; through the union of dissolution and creation these digits stand, arisen in time's due order.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.19.5)

षोडशैव स्वरा ये तु आद्याः सृष्टयंतकाः प्रिये। कालस्यावयवास्ते च विज्ञेयाः कालवेदिभिः

ṣoḍaśaiva svarā ye tu ādyāḥ sṛṣṭayaṁtakāḥ priye| kālasyāvayavāste ca vijñeyāḥ kālavedibhiḥ

The sixteen vowels, O beloved, are those primal ones that begin and end creation; the knowers of time should recognize them as the very limbs of Time itself.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.19.6)

त्रुटिर्लवो निमेषश्च कला काष्ठा मुहूर्तकम्। रात्र्यहःपक्षमासाश्च अयनं वत्सरं युगम्

truṭirlavo nimeṣaśca kalā kāṣṭhā muhūrtakam| rātryahaḥpakṣamāsāśca ayanaṁ vatsaraṁ yugam

Truti, lava, nimesha, kala, kashtha, muhurta; night and day, fortnight, month, the solstitial course (ayana), the year, and the yuga —

Verse 7 (skanda.7.19.7)

मन्वतरं तथा कल्पं महाकल्पं च षोडश। कला विसर्जनी या तु जीवमाश्रित्य वर्तते

manvataraṁ tathā kalpaṁ mahākalpaṁ ca ṣoḍaśa| kalā visarjanī yā tu jīvamāśritya vartate

— Manvantara, Kalpa, and Mahakalpa: these are the sixteen. And there is, besides, a dissolving digit which abides by resorting to the living being...

Verse 8 (skanda.7.19.8)

सा सृजत्यखिलं विश्वं विषुवद्वयसंयुतम्। तथा संवरणी या तु विश्वं संहरते प्रिये। नेत्रपाताच्चतुर्भागस्त्रुटिकालो निगद्यते। तस्माच्च द्विगुणं विद्धि निमिषं तन्महेश्वरि

sā sṛjatyakhilaṁ viśvaṁ viṣuvadvayasaṁyutam| tathā saṁvaraṇī yā tu viśvaṁ saṁharate priye| netrapātāccaturbhāgastruṭikālo nigadyate| tasmācca dviguṇaṁ viddhi nimiṣaṁ tanmaheśvari

That digit creates the whole universe together with its two equinoxes, and likewise, O beloved, there is a withdrawing digit by which it dissolves the universe again. A quarter of a single blink of the eye is called the span of a truti; and know, O great Goddess, that a nimesha is twice that span.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.19.9)

निमिषैस्त्रिंशद्भिः काष्ठा ताभिर्विंशतिभिः कला। विंशतिकलो मुहूर्तः स्याद्दिनं पंचदशैस्तु तैः

nimiṣaistriṁśadbhiḥ kāṣṭhā tābhirviṁśatibhiḥ kalā| viṁśatikalo muhūrtaḥ syāddinaṁ paṁcadaśaistu taiḥ

Thirty nimeshas make one kashtha; twenty kashthas make one kala. A muhurta consists of twenty kalas, and fifteen muhurtas make one day.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.19.10)

दिनमाना निशा ज्ञेया अहोरात्रं द्वयाद्भवेत्। तैः पंचदशभिः पक्षो द्विपक्षो मास उच्यते

dinamānā niśā jñeyā ahorātraṁ dvayādbhavet| taiḥ paṁcadaśabhiḥ pakṣo dvipakṣo māsa ucyate

The night is to be reckoned of the same measure as the day; from the pair of them comes a full day-and-night. Fifteen such days-and-nights make one fortnight, and two fortnights are called a month.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.19.11)

मासैश्चैवायनं षड्भिर्वर्षं स्यादयनद्वये। चत्वारिंशच्च लक्षाणि लक्षाणां त्रितयं पुनः

māsaiścaivāyanaṁ ṣaḍbhirvarṣaṁ syādayanadvaye| catvāriṁśacca lakṣāṇi lakṣāṇāṁ tritayaṁ punaḥ

Six months make one ayana; two ayanas make one year. Forty lakhs, and again three lakhs...

Verse 12 (skanda.7.19.12)

विंशतिश्च सहस्राणि ज्ञेयं सौरं चतुर्युगम्। चतुर्युगैकसप्तत्या मन्वंतरमुदाहृतम्

viṁśatiśca sahasrāṇi jñeyaṁ sauraṁ caturyugam| caturyugaikasaptatyā manvaṁtaramudāhṛtam

...and twenty thousand more — thus is the solar Chaturyuga to be reckoned. Seventy-one such Chaturyugas are declared to make one Manvantara.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.19.13)

ऐंद्रमेतद्भवेदायुः समासांतं च कीर्तितम्। चतुर्दशेन्द्रैः प्रलीनैः कल्पं ब्रह्मदिनं भवेत्

aiṁdrametadbhavedāyuḥ samāsāṁtaṁ ca kīrtitam| caturdaśendraiḥ pralīnaiḥ kalpaṁ brahmadinaṁ bhavet

This, in sum, is declared to be the lifespan of one Indra. When fourteen Indras have passed away, a Kalpa — one day of Brahma — comes to pass.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.19.14)

रात्रिश्च तावती चैव चतुर्युगसहस्रिका। अनेन दिनमानेन शताब्दं जीवति प्रिये

rātriśca tāvatī caiva caturyugasahasrikā| anena dinamānena śatābdaṁ jīvati priye

And the night of Brahma is of the same measure, a thousand Chaturyugas; by this reckoning of a day, O beloved, Brahma lives a hundred such years.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.19.15)

ममैव निमिषार्द्धेन सहस्राणि चतुर्द्दश। विनश्यंति ततो विष्णोरसंख्याताः पितामहाः

mamaiva nimiṣārddhena sahasrāṇi caturddaśa| vinaśyaṁti tato viṣṇorasaṁkhyātāḥ pitāmahāḥ

In half a blink of my own eye, fourteen thousand such Brahmas perish, along with countless forms of Vishnu, the Grandsires.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.19.16)

एवं क्रमेण देवेशि समुत्पन्नमिदं जगत्। शशिसूर्यविभागेन चित्ररूपमनंतकम्

evaṁ krameṇa deveśi samutpannamidaṁ jagat| śaśisūryavibhāgena citrarūpamanaṁtakam

Thus, O Queen of the gods, in this order has this world come into being — a world of wondrous and endless form, shaped through the division of Moon and Sun.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.19.17)

कला देवि यदाद्यंतमनादिमजमव्ययम्। तदान्वितः शशी तस्यामधोमुखमवस्थितः

kalā devi yadādyaṁtamanādimajamavyayam| tadānvitaḥ śaśī tasyāmadhomukhamavasthitaḥ

O Goddess, that digit is without beginning or end, unborn and unchanging; united with it, the Moon abides within it, facing downward.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.19.18)

एवं क्षयोदयं ज्ञेयं चंद्रार्काभ्यामवस्थितम्। सृष्टिक्रमं मया प्रोक्तं संहारमधुना शृणु

evaṁ kṣayodayaṁ jñeyaṁ caṁdrārkābhyāmavasthitam| sṛṣṭikramaṁ mayā proktaṁ saṁhāramadhunā śṛṇu

Thus should the waxing and waning, established through the Moon and Sun, be understood. I have told you the order of creation; now hear of its dissolution.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.19.19)

महाकल्पं हतं कल्पैः कल्पं मन्वंतरैर्हतम्। मासं पक्षाहतं कृत्वा तं चाहोरात्रिभाजितम्

mahākalpaṁ hataṁ kalpaiḥ kalpaṁ manvaṁtarairhatam| māsaṁ pakṣāhataṁ kṛtvā taṁ cāhorātribhājitam

Multiplying the Mahakalpa by its Kalpas, and the Kalpa by its Manvantaras; multiplying the month by its fortnights and dividing that by the day-and-night —

Verse 20 (skanda.7.19.20)

अहोरात्रं मुहूर्तेन मुहूर्तं तु कलाहतम्। कलां काष्ठा हतां कृत्वा काष्ठां निमिषभाजिताम्

ahorātraṁ muhūrtena muhūrtaṁ tu kalāhatam| kalāṁ kāṣṭhā hatāṁ kṛtvā kāṣṭhāṁ nimiṣabhājitām

— multiplying the day-and-night by the muhurta, and the muhurta by the kala; multiplying the kala by the kashtha, and dividing the kashtha by the nimesha —

Verse 21 (skanda.7.19.21)

निमिषं च लवैर्हत्वा लवं त्रुटिविभाजितम्। तदतीतं प्रशांतं च निर्विकारमलक्षणम्

nimiṣaṁ ca lavairhatvā lavaṁ truṭivibhājitam| tadatītaṁ praśāṁtaṁ ca nirvikāramalakṣaṇam

— and multiplying the nimesha by lavas, and dividing the lava by the truti — one arrives at That which lies beyond all this: utterly tranquil, changeless, without any defining mark.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.19.22)

तस्य चेयं परा माया कला शिरसि धारिता। सा शक्तिर्देवदेवस्य विश्वाकारा परा प्रिये। मोहयित्वा तु संतानं संसारयति पार्वति

tasya ceyaṁ parā māyā kalā śirasi dhāritā| sā śaktirdevadevasya viśvākārā parā priye| mohayitvā tu saṁtānaṁ saṁsārayati pārvati

This supreme Maya of That Absolute is the digit I wear upon my head; she, O beloved, is the Power of the God of gods, supreme, taking the form of the whole universe; having bewildered the succession of beings, O Parvati, she casts them into transmigration.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.19.23)

एवमेतज्जगद्देवि उत्पत्तिस्थितिलक्षणम्। यत्रैवोत्पद्यते कृत्स्नं पुनस्तत्रैव लीयते

evametajjagaddevi utpattisthitilakṣaṇam| yatraivotpadyate kṛtsnaṁ punastatraiva līyate

Thus, O Goddess, is this world marked by both origination and continuance; wherever this entirety arises, there again it dissolves.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.19.24)

सेयं मायामयी शक्तिः शुद्धाशुद्धस्वरूपिणी। चंद्ररूपा स्थिता सा तु तव देवि प्रकाशयेत्

seyaṁ māyāmayī śaktiḥ śuddhāśuddhasvarūpiṇī| caṁdrarūpā sthitā sā tu tava devi prakāśayet

This same power, made of Maya, of both pure and impure nature, abides in the form of the Moon — she, O Goddess, is the one who illumines all for you.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.19.25)

देव्युवाच। पंचाग्निनोपसन्तप्ता वर्षकोटीरनेकधा। तत्तपः सफलं जातं मेऽद्य देव जगत्पते

devyuvāca| paṁcāgninopasantaptā varṣakoṭīranekadhā| tattapaḥ saphalaṁ jātaṁ me'dya deva jagatpate

The Goddess said: Though I was scorched by the five fires for many crores of years in manifold ways, that austerity of mine, O God, Lord of the world, has today borne its fruit.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.19.26)

सृष्टियोगो मया ज्ञातः संहारश्च महेश्वर। चन्द्रोत्पत्तिस्वरूपं च कलामानं तथैव च

sṛṣṭiyogo mayā jñātaḥ saṁhāraśca maheśvara| candrotpattisvarūpaṁ ca kalāmānaṁ tathaiva ca

I have now understood, O Maheshvara, the working of creation and of dissolution, as well as the true nature of the Moon's origin and the measure of his digits.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.19.27)

अधुना मम देवेश सन्देहो हृदि संस्थितः। कौतूहलं परं देव कथयस्व महेश्वर

adhunā mama deveśa sandeho hṛdi saṁsthitaḥ| kautūhalaṁ paraṁ deva kathayasva maheśvara

Now, O Lord of gods, a doubt has settled in my heart; a great curiosity remains, O God — resolve it for me, O Maheshvara.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.19.28)

अमृतादेव संभूतः सर्वाह्लादकरः शशी। प्रियश्च तव देवेश वल्लभश्चंद्रमास्तथा

amṛtādeva saṁbhūtaḥ sarvāhlādakaraḥ śaśī| priyaśca tava deveśa vallabhaścaṁdramāstathā

The Moon, born as he was from the nectar of immortality, brings delight to all; and he is, O Lord of gods, dear and beloved to you as well.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.19.29)

चंद्रे च चदि इत्येष ह्लादने धातुरिष्यते। शुक्लत्वे चापतत्त्वे च मया त्वेष विभाव्यते

caṁdre ca cadi ityeṣa hlādane dhāturiṣyate| śuklatve cāpatattve ca mayā tveṣa vibhāvyate

In the word "chandra," the root "chad" is taken in the sense of "to delight"; I understand it also in the sense of whiteness, and of that waning nature.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.19.30)

सर्वौषधीनामधिपः पितॄणां प्रीणनं परम्। तदाश्रयश्च त्वद्भक्तस्त्व त्सेवातत्परः शशी

sarvauṣadhīnāmadhipaḥ pitṝṇāṁ prīṇanaṁ param| tadāśrayaśca tvadbhaktastva tsevātatparaḥ śaśī

He is the lord of all herbs, the supreme satisfier of the ancestors; and, resting upon that, the Moon is your devotee, ever intent on your service.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.19.31)

तथापि सकलंकोऽयं कौतुकं कुरुते मम। देवि ब्रह्मांडसंघट्टमालामंडितशेखरः

tathāpi sakalaṁko'yaṁ kautukaṁ kurute mama| devi brahmāṁḍasaṁghaṭṭamālāmaṁḍitaśekharaḥ

And yet, O Goddess, this Moon — though his crest is adorned with a garland formed of clustered universes — remains marked with a spot; this is a wonder to me.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.19.32)

शीर्षे तव निविष्टस्य कष्टं चंद्रस्य चेद्यदि। तर्हि नाथ न शोच्या वै संसारे दुःखभागिनः

śīrṣe tava niviṣṭasya kaṣṭaṁ caṁdrasya cedyadi| tarhi nātha na śocyā vai saṁsāre duḥkhabhāginaḥ

If even the Moon, resting upon your own head, must undergo hardship, O Lord, then surely those who bear suffering in this world are not to be pitied — such is the way of things.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.19.33)

न चास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु न चैतत्संभविष्यति। यत्र शक्तो भवत्कर्तुं दुःखस्यास्य च संक्षयम्

na cāsti triṣu lokeṣu na caitatsaṁbhaviṣyati| yatra śakto bhavatkartuṁ duḥkhasyāsya ca saṁkṣayam

There is nothing in the three worlds, nor will there ever be, that lies beyond your power — so bring an end to this suffering of his as well.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.19.34)

सर्वेषां वर्तते शंका यथा मम महेश्वर। उत्पन्नं कारणं किंतद्येन सोमस्य लांछनम्

sarveṣāṁ vartate śaṁkā yathā mama maheśvara| utpannaṁ kāraṇaṁ kiṁtadyena somasya lāṁchanam

As is my doubt, O Maheshvara, so is everyone's: what was the cause that arose, by which the Moon came to bear this mark?

Verse 35 (skanda.7.19.35)

किमेतत्कारणं देव कथयस्व महेश्वर। अमृते संभवो यस्य कथं तस्यापि लांछनम्

kimetatkāraṇaṁ deva kathayasva maheśvara| amṛte saṁbhavo yasya kathaṁ tasyāpi lāṁchanam

What is this cause, O God? Tell me, O Maheshvara. He whose very origin lies in the nectar of immortality — how does even he come to bear a blemish?

Verse 36 (skanda.7.19.36)

प्रियश्च तव देवेश लांछनं चापि तिष्ठति। कौतूहलं परं देव तत्त्वं मे वक्तुमर्हसि

priyaśca tava deveśa lāṁchanaṁ cāpi tiṣṭhati| kautūhalaṁ paraṁ deva tattvaṁ me vaktumarhasi

He is dear to you, O Lord of gods, and yet his mark remains. This is a matter of my deepest curiosity, O God; you should tell me the truth of it.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.19.37)

एवमुक्तः स पार्वत्या देवदेवो महेश्वरः। उवाच परमप्रीतः प्रेम्णा शैलसुतां प्रभुः

evamuktaḥ sa pārvatyā devadevo maheśvaraḥ| uvāca paramaprītaḥ premṇā śailasutāṁ prabhuḥ

Thus addressed by Parvati, the God of gods, Lord Maheshvara, greatly pleased, spoke lovingly to the Mountain's Daughter.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.19.38)

ईश्वर उवाच। किं ते देवि महाशंकाद्योत्पन्ना वरवर्णिनि। ममोपरि न कर्त्तव्या निरुद्विग्ना भव प्रिये। पितुस्तव प्रभावेन लांछनं शशिनोऽभवत्

īśvara uvāca| kiṁ te devi mahāśaṁkādyotpannā varavarṇini| mamopari na karttavyā nirudvignā bhava priye| pitustava prabhāvena lāṁchanaṁ śaśino'bhavat

Ishvara said: O Goddess of lovely hue, why has this great doubt arisen in you? It should not be raised as a charge against me; be free of distress, O beloved. It was through the power of the curse arising from your own father that the Moon came to bear his mark.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.19.39)

भावित्वात्कर्मणो देवि दक्षस्याज्ञाव्यतिक्रमात्। समं वर्त्तस्व भार्याभिरित्युक्तः शशलांछनः

bhāvitvātkarmaṇo devi dakṣasyājñāvyatikramāt| samaṁ varttasva bhāryābhirityuktaḥ śaśalāṁchanaḥ

O Goddess, owing to what was destined by his own deed — from transgressing Daksha's command — the Hare-marked Moon, though told, "conduct yourself equally toward all your wives"...

Verse 40 (skanda.7.19.40)

तद्वाक्यमन्यथा चक्रे ततः शप्तः शशी प्रिये। इदं पृष्टं तु यद्देवि त्वया लांछनकारणम्

tadvākyamanyathā cakre tataḥ śaptaḥ śaśī priye| idaṁ pṛṣṭaṁ tu yaddevi tvayā lāṁchanakāraṇam

...disregarded that command; therefore, O beloved, the Moon was cursed. This, O Goddess, is the cause of the mark that you asked about.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.19.41)

कल्पेकल्पे पृथग्भावं कारणैरस्ति भामिनि। असंख्यातं च तद्वक्तुं शक्यं नैव मया प्रिये

kalpekalpe pṛthagbhāvaṁ kāraṇairasti bhāmini| asaṁkhyātaṁ ca tadvaktuṁ śakyaṁ naiva mayā priye

In every single Kalpa, O radiant one, this occurs differently, with differing causes; and that, O beloved, is beyond counting — it is simply not possible for me to recount it all.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.19.42)

असंख्येयाश्चन्द्रमसः संभवंति पुनःपुनः। विनश्यंति च देवेशि सर्वमन्वन्तरान्तरम्

asaṁkhyeyāścandramasaḥ saṁbhavaṁti punaḥpunaḥ| vinaśyaṁti ca deveśi sarvamanvantarāntaram

Countless moons come into being again and again, O Queen of the gods, and perish too, within the span of every single Manvantara.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.19.43)

असंख्याताश्च कल्पाख्या असंख्याताः पितामहाः। हरयश्चाप्यसंख्याता एक एव महेश्वरः

asaṁkhyātāśca kalpākhyā asaṁkhyātāḥ pitāmahāḥ| harayaścāpyasaṁkhyātā eka eva maheśvaraḥ

Countless are those called Kalpas, countless are the Pitamahas; countless too are the Vishnus — Maheshvara alone remains ever one.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.19.44)

कोटिकोट्ययुतान्यत्र ब्रह्माण्डानि मम प्रिये। जलबुद्बुदवद्देवि संजातानि तु लीलया

koṭikoṭyayutānyatra brahmāṇḍāni mama priye| jalabudbudavaddevi saṁjātāni tu līlayā

Here, O beloved, crore upon crore of universes of mine have come into being, O Goddess, through sheer play — like bubbles on water.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.19.45)

तत्रतत्र चतुर्वक्त्रा ब्रह्माणो हरयो भवाः। सृष्टाः प्रधानेन तदा लब्धा शंभोस्तु संनिधिः

tatratatra caturvaktrā brahmāṇo harayo bhavāḥ| sṛṣṭāḥ pradhānena tadā labdhā śaṁbhostu saṁnidhiḥ

In each of them, four-faced Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas are brought forth by Pradhana, primordial Nature; and then they attain the presence of Shambhu.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.19.46)

लयं चैव तथान्योन्यमाद्यंतं प्रकरोति च। सर्गसंहारसंस्थानां कर्त्ता देवो महेश्वरः

layaṁ caiva tathānyonyamādyaṁtaṁ prakaroti ca| sargasaṁhārasaṁsthānāṁ karttā devo maheśvaraḥ

And he likewise brings about, for each in turn, both beginning and dissolution; the God Maheshvara alone is the doer of creation, destruction, and preservation.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.19.47)

सर्गे च रजसा पृक्तः सत्त्वस्थः परिपालने। प्रतिसर्गे तमोयुक्तः सोऽहं देवि त्रिधा स्थितः

sarge ca rajasā pṛktaḥ sattvasthaḥ paripālane| pratisarge tamoyuktaḥ so'haṁ devi tridhā sthitaḥ

Joined with rajas in creation, abiding in sattva during protection, joined with tamas at dissolution — I, O Goddess, stand thus in three forms.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.19.48)

तस्मान्माहेश्वरो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिः शिवः। सदाशिवो भवेद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा सर्वात्मको ह्यतः

tasmānmāheśvaro brahmā brahmaṇo'dhipatiḥ śivaḥ| sadāśivo bhavedviṣṇurbrahmā sarvātmako hyataḥ

Therefore Brahma partakes of the nature of Maheshvara; Shiva is the overlord of Brahma; Vishnu becomes Sadashiva; and thus Brahma is the very Self of all.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.19.49)

स एव भगवान्रुद्रो विष्णुर्विश्व जगत्प्रभुः। अस्मिन्नण्डे त्विमेलोका अन्तर्विश्वमिदंजगत्

sa eva bhagavānrudro viṣṇurviśva jagatprabhuḥ| asminnaṇḍe tvimelokā antarviśvamidaṁjagat

He alone is the Blessed Rudra and Vishnu, the lord of this whole moving world; and within this single cosmic Egg lie all these worlds — this entire universe, contained within.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.19.50)

चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहा देवि ब्रह्माण्डेऽस्मिन्मनस्विनि। संख्यातुं नैव शक्यन्ते ये भविष्यंति ये गताः

candrasūryagrahā devi brahmāṇḍe'sminmanasvini| saṁkhyātuṁ naiva śakyante ye bhaviṣyaṁti ye gatāḥ

O wise Goddess, the moons, suns, and planets of this single universe — those yet to come and those already past — simply cannot be counted.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.19.51)

अस्मिन्वाराहकल्पे तु वर्तमाने मनस्विनि। षडतीता महादेवि रोहिणीपतयः पुरा

asminvārāhakalpe tu vartamāne manasvini| ṣaḍatītā mahādevi rohiṇīpatayaḥ purā

But in this present Varaha Kalpa, O wise great Goddess, six Lords of Rohini — six Moons — have already passed before this one.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.19.52)

सप्तमोऽयं महादेवि वर्ततेऽमृतसंभवः। दक्षशापेन यो देवि संक्षीणो दृश्यतेऽधुना

saptamo'yaṁ mahādevi vartate'mṛtasaṁbhavaḥ| dakṣaśāpena yo devi saṁkṣīṇo dṛśyate'dhunā

This is the seventh, O great Goddess, born of the nectar of immortality, now present before us; and it is he, O Goddess, who through Daksha's curse now appears waning.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.19.53)

अथ द्वितीये संप्राप्ते परार्द्धे चैव वेधसः। तस्य त्रिंशत्तिमे कल्पे पितृ कल्पेति विश्रुते

atha dvitīye saṁprāpte parārddhe caiva vedhasaḥ| tasya triṁśattime kalpe pitṛ kalpeti viśrute

Now, when the second half of Brahma's lifespan had arrived, in its thirtieth Kalpa, known as the "Pitri-kalpa"...

Verse 54 (skanda.7.19.54)

स्वायंभुवेंऽतरे प्राप्ते तस्यादौ त्वं सती किल। तस्मिन्काले महादेवि योभूद्दक्षः पिता तव

svāyaṁbhuveṁ'tare prāpte tasyādau tvaṁ satī kila| tasminkāle mahādevi yobhūddakṣaḥ pitā tava

...and when the Svayambhuva Manvantara arrived, at its very outset you indeed were Sati; and at that time, O great Goddess, he who was your father was Daksha.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.19.55)

प्राणात्प्रजापतेर्जन्म तस्य दक्षस्य कीर्तितम्। अस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे देवि दक्षः प्राचेतसोऽभवत्

prāṇātprajāpaterjanma tasya dakṣasya kīrtitam| asminmanvantare devi dakṣaḥ prācetaso'bhavat

That Daksha's birth is declared to have come from the very breath of Prajapati; but in this present Manvantara, O Goddess, Daksha was born as the son of the Prachetasas.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.19.56)

अंगुष्ठाद्दक्षिणाद्दक्षो भविष्यत्यधुना प्रिये। युगेयुगे भवन्त्येते सर्वे दक्षादयो द्विजाः

aṁguṣṭhāddakṣiṇāddakṣo bhaviṣyatyadhunā priye| yugeyuge bhavantyete sarve dakṣādayo dvijāḥ

Now, O beloved, Daksha shall be born from the right thumb of Brahma; in every age, all these twice-born — Daksha and the rest — come into being anew.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.19.57)

पुनश्चैव विनश्यन्ति विद्वांस्तत्र न मुह्यति। तस्यापमानात्त्वं देवि देहं तत्यक्थ वै पुरा

punaścaiva vinaśyanti vidvāṁstatra na muhyati| tasyāpamānāttvaṁ devi dehaṁ tatyaktha vai purā

And again they perish; the wise are not bewildered by this. Because of that Daksha's insult, you, O Goddess, indeed gave up your body in that earlier age.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.19.58)

तावद्वियुक्तोऽहं देवि त्वया मुक्तोऽभवं पुरा। यावद्वराहकल्पस्य चाक्षुषस्यान्तरं प्रिये

tāvadviyukto'haṁ devi tvayā mukto'bhavaṁ purā| yāvadvarāhakalpasya cākṣuṣasyāntaraṁ priye

So long, O Goddess, was I separated from you — set apart, as it were, from that former time — for the whole span up to the Chakshusha Manvantara of this Varaha Kalpa, O beloved.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.19.59)

एकविंशो मनुश्चायं कल्पे वाराहसंज्ञके। कल्पेकल्पे महादेवि भवेन्नामान्तरं तव

ekaviṁśo manuścāyaṁ kalpe vārāhasaṁjñake| kalpekalpe mahādevi bhavennāmāntaraṁ tava

And this is the twenty-first Manu of this Kalpa called Varaha; in every Kalpa, O great Goddess, your name changes anew.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.19.60)

अस्मिन्कल्पे तु वाराहे हिमवत्तपसार्ज्जिते। संभूता पार्वती देवि चाक्षुषस्यांतरे गते

asminkalpe tu vārāhe himavattapasārjjite| saṁbhūtā pārvatī devi cākṣuṣasyāṁtare gate

But in this Varaha Kalpa, won by the austerity of Himavat, you, O Goddess, were born as Parvati once the Chakshusha Manvantara had passed.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.19.61)

ब्रह्मणो दिनमेकं तु षण्मासेन तवावधिः। त्वं वियुक्ता मया सार्द्धं दक्षकोपेन भामिनि

brahmaṇo dinamekaṁ tu ṣaṇmāsena tavāvadhiḥ| tvaṁ viyuktā mayā sārddhaṁ dakṣakopena bhāmini

Yet this was but a single day of Brahma; your own period of separation, O radiant one, lasted only six months — parted from me through Daksha's wrath.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.19.62)

तव क्रोधेन ये शप्ता ऋषयो वै मया पुरा। तेऽपि देवि त्वया सार्द्धं जाता वैवस्वतेंतरे

tava krodhena ye śaptā ṛṣayo vai mayā purā| te'pi devi tvayā sārddhaṁ jātā vaivasvateṁtare

Those sages whom I formerly cursed, on account of your anger — they too, O Goddess, were born together with you in the Vaivasvata Manvantara.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.19.63)

भृगुरंगिरा मरीचिस्तु पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः। अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च अष्टौ ते ब्रह्मणः सुताः

bhṛguraṁgirā marīcistu pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ| atriścaiva vasiṣṭhaśca aṣṭau te brahmaṇaḥ sutāḥ

Bhrigu, Angiras, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Atri, and Vasishtha — these eight are the sons of Brahma.

Verse 64 (skanda.7.19.64)

दक्षस्य यज्ञे ते शप्ताः पूर्वं स्वायंभुवेन्तरे। जाता देवि पुनस्ते वै कल्पेस्मिंश्चाक्षुषे गते

dakṣasya yajñe te śaptāḥ pūrvaṁ svāyaṁbhuventare| jātā devi punaste vai kalpesmiṁścākṣuṣe gate

They were cursed formerly, in the Svayambhuva Manvantara, at Daksha's sacrifice; O Goddess, they were born again in this very Kalpa, once the Chakshusha Manvantara had passed.

Verse 65 (skanda.7.19.65)

देवस्य महतो यज्ञे वारुणीं बिभ्रतस्तनुम्। ब्रह्मणो जुह्वतः शुक्रमग्नौ पूर्वं प्रजेप्सया

devasya mahato yajñe vāruṇīṁ bibhratastanum| brahmaṇo juhvataḥ śukramagnau pūrvaṁ prajepsayā

At that great sacrifice of the God, when Brahma, bearing a form arisen from the waters, offered his own seed into the fire in that earlier time, out of desire for progeny —

Verse 66 (skanda.7.19.66)

ऋषयो जज्ञिरे पूर्वं सूर्यबिंबसमप्रभाः। पितुस्तव समीपं ते वरणाय तव प्रिये। प्रस्थापिता मया पूर्वं तत्त्वं जानासि सुव्रते

ṛṣayo jajñire pūrvaṁ sūryabiṁbasamaprabhāḥ| pitustava samīpaṁ te varaṇāya tava priye| prasthāpitā mayā pūrvaṁ tattvaṁ jānāsi suvrate

— the sages were then born, radiant as the very orb of the sun. They were sent by me formerly, O beloved, into your father's presence, for the sake of your being chosen in marriage — you already know this truth, O woman of good vows.

Verse 67 (skanda.7.19.67)

अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन वच्मि ते प्रश्नमुत्तमम्। द्वितीये तु परार्द्धेऽस्मिन्वर्त्तमाने च वेधसः

atha kiṁ bahunoktena vacmi te praśnamuttamam| dvitīye tu parārddhe'sminvarttamāne ca vedhasaḥ

Now, what need is there for many words? Let me answer your excellent question. In this present second half of Brahma's lifespan...

Verse 68 (skanda.7.19.68)

श्वेतकल्पात्समारभ्य यावद्वाराहगोचरम्। समतीताश्च ये चन्द्रास्ताञ्छृणुष्व वरानने

śvetakalpātsamārabhya yāvadvārāhagocaram| samatītāśca ye candrāstāñchṛṇuṣva varānane

...beginning from the Shveta Kalpa down to this present Varaha Kalpa, hear now, O fair-faced one, of the moons that have already passed.

Verse 69 (skanda.7.19.69)

चतुःशतानि देवेशि षड्विंशत्यधिकानि तु। गतानि शीतरश्मीनां सप्तविंशोऽधुना प्रिये

catuḥśatāni deveśi ṣaḍviṁśatyadhikāni tu| gatāni śītaraśmīnāṁ saptaviṁśo'dhunā priye

O Queen of the gods, four hundred and twenty-six moons have already passed; the twenty-seventh, O beloved, is the one now present.

Verse 70 (skanda.7.19.70)

वैवस्वतेंऽतरे प्राप्ते यश्चायं वर्ततेऽधुना। त्रेतायुगे तु दशमे दत्तात्रेयपुरःसरः

vaivasvateṁ'tare prāpte yaścāyaṁ vartate'dhunā| tretāyuge tu daśame dattātreyapuraḥsaraḥ

And this one, present now that the Vaivasvata Manvantara has arrived — in the tenth Treta Yuga, with Dattatreya going before...

Verse 71 (skanda.7.19.71)

संजातो रोहिणीनाथो योऽधुना वर्त्तते प्रिये। तस्योत्पत्तिप्रसंगेन विष्णोर्मानुषसंभवान्

saṁjāto rohiṇīnātho yo'dhunā varttate priye| tasyotpattiprasaṁgena viṣṇormānuṣasaṁbhavān

...was born the Lord of Rohini, O beloved, who abides even now. In connection with the story of his birth, hear now of Vishnu's births among men.

Verse 72 (skanda.7.19.72)

देहावतारान्वक्ष्यामि प्रारंभात्प्रथमान्प्रिये। पञ्चमः पंचदश्यां स त्रेतायां तु बभूव ह

dehāvatārānvakṣyāmi prāraṁbhātprathamānpriye| pañcamaḥ paṁcadaśyāṁ sa tretāyāṁ tu babhūva ha

I shall tell you of his bodily incarnations, O beloved, the earliest ones from the start. The fifth occurred in the fifteenth Treta Yuga.

Verse 73 (skanda.7.19.73)

मांधाता चक्रवर्त्तित्वे तस्योतथ्यपुरःसरः। एकोनविंशत्रेतायां सर्वक्षत्रांतकोऽभवत्

māṁdhātā cakravarttitve tasyotathyapuraḥsaraḥ| ekonaviṁśatretāyāṁ sarvakṣatrāṁtako'bhavat

He appeared in the sovereignty of Mandhata, with Utathya preceding him; in the nineteenth Treta Yuga he became the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas, as Parashurama.

Verse 74 (skanda.7.19.74)

जामदग्न्यस्तथा षष्ठो विश्वामित्रपुरःसरः। चतुर्विंशे युगे रामो वसिष्ठेन पुरोधसा

jāmadagnyastathā ṣaṣṭho viśvāmitrapuraḥsaraḥ| caturviṁśe yuge rāmo vasiṣṭhena purodhasā

And the sixth was Jamadagni's son, Parashurama, with Vishvamitra going before him; in the twenty-fourth Yuga came Rama, with Vasishtha as his priest —

Verse 75 (skanda.7.19.75)

सप्तमो रावणस्यार्थे जज्ञे दशरथात्मजः। अष्टमे द्वापरे विष्णुरष्टाविंशे पराशरात्

saptamo rāvaṇasyārthe jajñe daśarathātmajaḥ| aṣṭame dvāpare viṣṇuraṣṭāviṁśe parāśarāt

— the seventh was born as the son of Dasharatha, for Ravana's sake. In the eighth, in the twenty-eighth Dvapara Yuga, Vishnu was born from Parashara...

Verse 76 (skanda.7.19.76)

वेदव्यासस्ततो जज्ञे जातूकर्ण्यपुरःसरः। तत्रैव नवमो विष्णुरदितेः कश्यपात्मजः

vedavyāsastato jajñe jātūkarṇyapuraḥsaraḥ| tatraiva navamo viṣṇuraditeḥ kaśyapātmajaḥ

...as Vedavyasa, with Jatukarnya preceding him. In that same age, the ninth Vishnu was born of Aditi, as the son of Kashyapa.

Verse 77 (skanda.7.19.77)

देवक्यां वसुदेवात्तु ब्रह्मगर्गपुरःसरः। एकविंशतमस्यास्य द्वापरस्यांशसंक्षये। नष्टे धर्मे तदा जज्ञे विष्णुर्वृष्णिकुले स्वयम्

devakyāṁ vasudevāttu brahmagargapuraḥsaraḥ| ekaviṁśatamasyāsya dvāparasyāṁśasaṁkṣaye| naṣṭe dharme tadā jajñe viṣṇurvṛṣṇikule svayam

In Devaki, from Vasudeva, with the sage Garga going before — at the waning of a portion of this twenty-first Dvapara, when Dharma had perished, Vishnu himself was then born in the Vrishni clan.

Verse 78 (skanda.7.19.78)

कर्तुं धर्मव्यवस्थानमसुराणां प्रणाशनः। पूर्वजन्मनि विष्णुः स प्रमतिर्नाम वीर्यवान्

kartuṁ dharmavyavasthānamasurāṇāṁ praṇāśanaḥ| pūrvajanmani viṣṇuḥ sa pramatirnāma vīryavān

— to establish the order of Dharma, as the destroyer of the demons. In a former birth, that Vishnu was the mighty one named Pramati.

Verse 79 (skanda.7.19.79)

गोत्रेण वै चंद्रमसः संध्यामिश्रे भविष्यति। कल्किर्विष्णुयशानाम पाराशर्यप्रतापवान्

gotreṇa vai caṁdramasaḥ saṁdhyāmiśre bhaviṣyati| kalkirviṣṇuyaśānāma pārāśaryapratāpavān

Of the lunar lineage, he shall be born amid the twilight that marks the age's end — Kalki, named Vishnuyashas, mighty as Parashara.

Verse 80 (skanda.7.19.80)

दशमो भाव्यसंभूतो याज्ञवल्क्यपुरःसरः। अनुकर्षश्च वै सेनां हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलाम्

daśamo bhāvyasaṁbhūto yājñavalkyapuraḥsaraḥ| anukarṣaśca vai senāṁ hastyaśvarathasaṁkulām

The tenth, yet to come, with Yajnavalkya going before him, shall lead an army thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots.

Verse 81 (skanda.7.19.81)

प्रगृहीतायुधैर्विप्रैर्भृशं शतसहस्रशः। निःशेषाञ्छूद्रराज्ञस्तांस्तदा स तु करिष्यति

pragṛhītāyudhairviprairbhṛśaṁ śatasahasraśaḥ| niḥśeṣāñchūdrarājñastāṁstadā sa tu kariṣyati

With brahmins bearing weapons, in their hundreds of thousands, he shall then utterly annihilate those Shudra kings, leaving not one remaining.

Verse 82 (skanda.7.19.82)

पाखंडान्म्लेच्छजातींश्च दस्यूंश्चैव सहस्रशः। नात्यर्थं धार्मिका ये च ब्रह्मब्रह्मद्विषः क्वचित्

pākhaṁḍānmlecchajātīṁśca dasyūṁścaiva sahasraśaḥ| nātyarthaṁ dhārmikā ye ca brahmabrahmadviṣaḥ kvacit

He shall destroy heretics, the Mleccha peoples, and robbers by the thousands, and those who are not truly righteous, and wherever there are haters of the Brahman and of brahmins.

Verse 83 (skanda.7.19.83)

प्रवृत्तचक्रो बलवाञ्च्छूराणामंतको बली। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां पृथिवीं विचरिष्यति

pravṛttacakro balavāñcchūrāṇāmaṁtako balī| adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ pṛthivīṁ vicariṣyati

With his discus set in motion, mighty, the destroyer of even the heroic, powerful and unseen by all beings, he shall roam the earth.

Verse 84 (skanda.7.19.84)

मानवस्य तु सोंऽशेन देवस्य भुवि वै प्रभुः। क्षपयित्वा तु तान्सर्वान्भाविनार्थेन नोदितान्। गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये निष्ठां प्राप्स्यति सानुगः

mānavasya tu soṁ'śena devasya bhuvi vai prabhuḥ| kṣapayitvā tu tānsarvānbhāvinārthena noditān| gaṁgāyamunayormadhye niṣṭhāṁ prāpsyati sānugaḥ

As the Lord upon earth, a portion of the divine Manu's line, having destroyed all those driven by the force of coming destiny, he, together with his followers, shall attain his final rest between the Ganga and the Yamuna.

Verse 85 (skanda.7.19.85)

ततो व्यतीते कल्कौ तु सामात्ये सहसैनिके। नृपेष्वपि च नष्टेषु तदात्वप्रहराः प्रजाः

tato vyatīte kalkau tu sāmātye sahasainike| nṛpeṣvapi ca naṣṭeṣu tadātvapraharāḥ prajāḥ

Then, once Kalki has passed away along with his ministers and his army, and the kings too have perished, the people of that age shall be left defenseless.

Verse 86 (skanda.7.19.86)

रक्षणे विनिवृत्ते च हत्वा चान्योन्यमाहवे। परस्परहतास्ताश्च निराक्रंदाः सुदुःखिताः

rakṣaṇe vinivṛtte ca hatvā cānyonyamāhave| parasparahatāstāśca nirākraṁdāḥ suduḥkhitāḥ

And once protection has ceased, and they have slain one another in battle, struck down by each other, crying out with none to help, they shall be sunk in great suffering.

Verse 87 (skanda.7.19.87)

क्षीणे कलियुगे चास्मिन्दशवर्षसहस्रके। स संध्यांशे तु निःशेषे कृतं वै प्रतिपत्स्यति

kṣīṇe kaliyuge cāsmindaśavarṣasahasrake| sa saṁdhyāṁśe tu niḥśeṣe kṛtaṁ vai pratipatsyati

And when this Kali Yuga of ten thousand years has waned, and its twilight-portion is entirely spent, the Krita Age shall indeed begin anew.

Verse 88 (skanda.7.19.88)

यदा चंद्रश्च सूर्यश्च तथा तिष्यबृहस्पती। एकराशौ समेष्यंति प्रपत्स्यति तदा कृतम्

yadā caṁdraśca sūryaśca tathā tiṣyabṛhaspatī| ekarāśau sameṣyaṁti prapatsyati tadā kṛtam

When the Moon and the Sun, and likewise Tishya and Jupiter, come together in a single sign, then the Krita Age shall commence.

Verse 89 (skanda.7.19.89)

अभिजिन्नाम नक्षत्रं जयंतीनाम शर्वरी। मुहूर्तो विजयो नाम यत्र जातो जनार्द्दनः

abhijinnāma nakṣatraṁ jayaṁtīnāma śarvarī| muhūrto vijayo nāma yatra jāto janārddanaḥ

The constellation named Abhijit, the night named Jayanti, the auspicious hour named Vijaya — it was in this that Janardana, Krishna, was born.

Verse 90 (skanda.7.19.90)

देव्युवाच। नोक्तं यथावदखिलं भृगुशापविचेष्टितम्। पूर्वावतारान्मे ब्रूहि नोक्तपूर्वान्महेश्वर

devyuvāca| noktaṁ yathāvadakhilaṁ bhṛguśāpaviceṣṭitam| pūrvāvatārānme brūhi noktapūrvānmaheśvara

The Goddess said: The whole matter of Bhrigu's curse and its working has not yet been told in full. Tell me, O Maheshvara, of those earlier incarnations not yet spoken of.

Verse 91 (skanda.7.19.91)

ईश्वर उवाच। यदा तु पृथिवी व्याप्ता दानवैर्बलवत्तरैः। ततः प्रभृति शापेन भृगुनैमित्तिकेन ह

īśvara uvāca| yadā tu pṛthivī vyāptā dānavairbalavattaraiḥ| tataḥ prabhṛti śāpena bhṛgunaimittikena ha

Ishvara said: When the earth had become overrun by exceedingly powerful demons, then, from that time onward, through the occasioning curse of Bhrigu —

Verse 92 (skanda.7.19.92)

जज्ञे पुनःपुनर्विष्णुः कर्त्तुं धर्मव्यवस्थितिम्। धर्मान्नारायणः साध्यः संभूतश्चाक्षुषेंतरे

jajñe punaḥpunarviṣṇuḥ karttuṁ dharmavyavasthitim| dharmānnārāyaṇaḥ sādhyaḥ saṁbhūtaścākṣuṣeṁtare

— Vishnu was born again and again, to establish the order of Dharma; Narayana, attainable through righteousness, was born in the Chakshusha Manvantara.

Verse 93 (skanda.7.19.93)

यज्ञं प्रवर्तयामास स च वैवस्वतेंऽतरे। प्रादुर्भावे तदा तस्य ब्रह्मा चासीत्पुरोहितः

yajñaṁ pravartayāmāsa sa ca vaivasvateṁ'tare| prādurbhāve tadā tasya brahmā cāsītpurohitaḥ

And he set the sacrifice in motion in the Vaivasvata Manvantara; at that appearance of his, Brahma himself served as the officiating priest.

Verse 94 (skanda.7.19.94)

चतुर्थ्यां तु युगाख्यायामापन्नेषु सुरेष्विह। संभूतः स समुद्रात्तु हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधे

caturthyāṁ tu yugākhyāyāmāpanneṣu sureṣviha| saṁbhūtaḥ sa samudrāttu hiraṇyakaśiporvadhe

In the fourth Yuga so named, when the gods here had fallen into distress, he was born from the ocean, for the slaying of Hiranyakashipu.

Verse 95 (skanda.7.19.95)

द्वितीयो नरसिंहोऽभूद्रुद्रस्तस्य पुरःसरः। लोकेषु बलिसंस्थेषु त्रेतायां सप्तमे युगे

dvitīyo narasiṁho'bhūdrudrastasya puraḥsaraḥ| lokeṣu balisaṁstheṣu tretāyāṁ saptame yuge

The second was Narasimha, with Rudra going before him; when the worlds lay under Bali's rule, in the seventh Treta Yuga —

Verse 96 (skanda.7.19.96)

दैत्यैस्त्रैलोक्य आक्रांते तृतीयो वामनोभवत्। संक्षिप्यात्मानमंगेषु बृहस्पतिपुरःसरः

daityaistrailokya ākrāṁte tṛtīyo vāmanobhavat| saṁkṣipyātmānamaṁgeṣu bṛhaspatipuraḥsaraḥ

— when the three worlds had been overrun by the Daityas, the third incarnation became Vamana, contracting his own form within his limbs, with Brihaspati going before him.

Verse 97 (skanda.7.19.97)

त्रेतायुगे तु दशमे दत्तात्रेयो बभूव ह। नष्टे धर्मे चतुर्थांशे मार्कंडेयपुरःसरः। एते दिव्यावतारा वै मानुष्ये कथिताः पुरा

tretāyuge tu daśame dattātreyo babhūva ha| naṣṭe dharme caturthāṁśe mārkaṁḍeyapuraḥsaraḥ| ete divyāvatārā vai mānuṣye kathitāḥ purā

In the tenth Treta Yuga, Dattatreya came to be; when a fourth part of Dharma had perished, with Markandeya going before him. These divine incarnations, thus born among men, have now all been told.