The Glory of Nandaditya

Verse 1 (skanda.7.256.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि नन्दादित्यं समाहितः। नन्देन स्थापितं पूर्वं तत्रैवामितबुद्धिना॥

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchet mahādevi nandādityaṁ samāhitaḥ| nandena sthāpitaṁ pūrvaṁ tatraivāmitabuddhinā||

Ishvara said: O Mahadevi, thereafter one should go with a composed mind to Nandaditya, who was established there long ago by the immensely wise king Nanda.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.256.2)

नन्दो राजा पुरा ह्यासीत्सर्वलोकसुखप्रदः। न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधि नाकाले मरणं नृणाम्॥

nando rājā purā hyāsīt sarvalokasukhapradaḥ| na durbhikṣaṁ na ca vyādhi nākāle maraṇaṁ nṛṇām||

Long ago there was a king named Nanda, who brought happiness to all the world; in his realm there was neither famine nor disease, nor did men die before their time.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.256.3)

तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे न चावृष्टिकृतं भयम्। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पूर्वकर्मानुसारतः॥

tasmiñchāsati dharmajñe na cāvṛṣṭikṛtaṁ bhayam| kasyacit tvatha kālasya pūrvakarmānusārataḥ||

While that righteous king ruled, there was no fear even of drought. But at a certain time, in accordance with the deeds of a former life,

Verse 4 (skanda.7.256.4)

कुष्ठेन महता व्याप्तो वैराग्यपरमं गतः। तेन रोगाभिभूतेन देवदेवो दिवाकरः। प्रतिष्ठितो नदीतीरे स च रोगाद्विमोचितः॥

kuṣṭhena mahatā vyāpto vairāgyaparamaṁ gataḥ| tena rogābhibhūtena devadevo divākaraḥ| pratiṣṭhito nadītīre sa ca rogādvimocitaḥ||

Overcome by a terrible leprosy, he attained supreme detachment. Afflicted by that disease, he established the God of gods, the Sun (Divakara), on the riverbank, and was thereby freed from the disease.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.256.5)

देव्युवाच। किमसौ रोगवान्राजा सार्वभौमो महीपतिः। तस्य धर्मरतस्यापि कस्माद्रोगसमुद्भवः॥

devyuvāca| kimasau rogavān rājā sārvabhaumo mahīpatiḥ| tasya dharmaratasyāpi kasmād roga samudbhavaḥ||

The Goddess said: How did that universal sovereign king become diseased? Though devoted to righteousness, from what cause did his illness arise?

Verse 6 (skanda.7.256.6)

ईश्वर उवाच। एष धर्मसदाचारो नन्दो राजा प्रतापवान्। व्यचरत्सर्वलोकान्स विमानवरमास्थितः॥

īśvara uvāca| eṣa dharmasadācāro nando rājā pratāpavān| vyacarat sarvalokān sa vimānavaramāsthitaḥ||

Ishvara said: This mighty King Nanda was devoted to righteousness and virtuous conduct. Mounted upon an excellent celestial chariot, he roamed through all the worlds.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.256.7)

विमानं तस्य तुष्टेन दत्तं वै विष्णुना स्वयम्। कामगं वरवर्णेन बर्हिणेन विनादितम्॥

vimānaṁ tasya tuṣṭena dattaṁ vai viṣṇunā svayam| kāmagaṁ varavarṇena barhiṇena vināditam||

That chariot, which went wherever he wished, had been given to him by a pleased Vishnu himself, and it resounded with the cry of a beautifully-plumed peacock.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.256.8)

स कदाचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठो विचरंस्तत्र संस्थितः। गतवान्मानसं दिव्यं सरो देवगणान्वितम्॥

sa kadācin nṛpaśreṣṭho vicaraṁs tatra saṁsthitaḥ| gatavān mānasaṁ divyaṁ saro devagaṇānvitam||

Once, that foremost of kings, roaming about seated in the chariot, arrived at the divine lake Manasa, thronged with hosts of gods.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.256.9)

तत्रापश्यद्बृहत्पद्मं सरोमध्यगतं सितम्। तत्र चांगुष्ठमात्रं तु स्थितं पुरुषसत्तमम्॥

tatrāpaśyad bṛhatpadmaṁ saromadhyagataṁ sitam| tatra cāṅguṣṭhamātraṁ tu sthitaṁ puruṣasattamam||

There he beheld a great white lotus in the middle of the lake, and upon it, a thumb-sized supreme Being seated.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.256.10)

रक्तवासोभिराच्छन्नं द्विभुजं तिग्मतेजसम्। तं दृष्ट्वा सारथिं प्राह पद्ममेतत्समाहर॥

raktavāsobhirācchannaṁ dvibhujaṁ tigmatejasam| taṁ dṛṣṭvā sārathiṁ prāha padmam etat samāhara||

That Being was clad in red garments, two-armed, and of fierce brilliance. Seeing him, the king said to his charioteer, "Fetch me this lotus."

Verse 11 (skanda.7.256.11)

इदं तु शिरसा बिभ्रत्सर्वलोकस्य सन्निधौ। श्लाघनीयो भविष्यामि तस्मादाहर मा चिरम्॥

idaṁ tu śirasā bibhrat sarvalokasya sannidhau| ślāghanīyo bhaviṣyāmi tasmād āhara mā ciram||

"Bearing this upon my head, I shall become an object of praise before all the world; so do not delay, bring it quickly."

Verse 12 (skanda.7.256.12)

एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन सारथिः प्रविवेश ह। ग्रहीतुमुपचक्राम तत्पद्मं वरवर्णिनि। स्पृष्टमात्रे तदा पद्मे हुंकारः समपद्यत॥

evamuktas tatas tena sārathiḥ praviveśa ha| grahītum upacakrāma tat padmaṁ varavarṇini| spṛṣṭamātre tadā padme huṁkāraḥ samapadyata||

Thus addressed, the charioteer entered the water and set about seizing that lotus. O fair one, the moment the lotus was touched, a roar of "hum" arose.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.256.13)

राजा च तत्क्षणात्तेन शब्देन समजायत। कुष्ठी विगतवर्णश्च बलवीर्यविवर्जितः॥

rājā ca tatkṣaṇāt tena śabdena samajāyata| kuṣṭhī vigatavarṇaśca balavīryavivarjitaḥ||

At that very instant, because of that sound, the king became a leper — his complexion faded, and he was stripped of his strength and vigor.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.256.14)

तथागतमथात्मानं दृष्ट्वा स पुरुषर्षभः। तस्थौ तत्रैव शोकार्तः किमेतदिति चिन्तयन्॥

tathāgatam athātmānaṁ dṛṣṭvā sa puruṣarṣabhaḥ| tasthau tatraiva śokārtaḥ kim etad iti cintayan||

Seeing himself thus transformed, that foremost of men stood there overwhelmed with grief, wondering, "What has happened to me?"

Verse 15 (skanda.7.256.15)

तस्य चिन्तयतो धीमानाजगाम महातपाः। वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मपुत्रस्तु स तं पप्रच्छ पार्थिवः॥

tasya cintayato dhīmān ājagāma mahātapāḥ| vasiṣṭho brahmaputrastu sa taṁ papraccha pārthivaḥ||

While he was thus absorbed in thought, the wise and greatly austere Vasishtha, son of Brahma, arrived there, and the king questioned him.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.256.16)

एष मे भगवञ्जातो देहस्यास्य विपर्ययः। कुष्ठरोगाभिभूतात्मा नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे॥

eṣa me bhagavañjāto dehasyāsya viparyayaḥ| kuṣṭharogābhibhūtātmā nāhaṁ jīvitum utsahe||

The king said: "O Lord, this reversal has befallen my body. Overwhelmed by leprosy, I no longer have the will to live."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.256.17)

उपायं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्व्याधितस्य चिकित्सितम्। उताहो व्रतमन्यद्वा दानं यज्ञमथापि वा॥

upāyaṁ brūhi me brahman vyādhitasya cikitsitam| utāho vratam anyadvā dānaṁ yajñam athāpi vā||

"O Brahmin, tell me some remedy for my ailment — be it a vow, a gift, or a sacrifice."

Verse 18 (skanda.7.256.18)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। एतद्ब्रह्मोद्भवं नाम पद्मं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्। दृष्टमात्रेण चानेन दृष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः॥

vasiṣṭha uvāca| etad brahmodbhavaṁ nāma padmaṁ trailokyaviśrutam| dṛṣṭamātreṇa cānena dṛṣṭāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ||

Vasishtha said: "This lotus, called Brahmodbhava, is renowned in all three worlds. By merely beholding it, one beholds all the gods."

Verse 19 (skanda.7.256.19)

एतद्धि दृश्यते धन्यैः पद्मं कैः क्वापि पार्थिव। एतस्मिन्दृष्टमात्रे तु यो जलं विशते नरः॥

etaddhi dṛśyate dhanyaiḥ padmaṁ kaiḥ kvāpi pārthiva| etasmin dṛṣṭamātre tu yo jalaṁ viśate naraḥ||

"O king, this lotus is seen only rarely, and only by fortunate souls. The man who, upon merely seeing it, enters that water,"

Verse 20 (skanda.7.256.20)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः पदं निर्वाणमाप्नुयात्। एष दृष्ट्वा तु ते सूतो हर्तुं तोये प्रविष्टवान्॥

sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ padaṁ nirvāṇam āpnuyāt| eṣa dṛṣṭvā tu te sūto hartuṁ toye praviṣṭavān||

"becomes freed from all sin and attains the state of liberation. It was upon seeing this that your charioteer entered the water to seize it."

Verse 21 (skanda.7.256.21)

तव वाक्येन राजेन्द्र मृतोऽसौ रोगवान्भवेत्। ब्रह्मपुत्रोऽप्यहं तेन पश्यामि परमेश्वरम्॥

tava vākyena rājendra mṛto'sau rogavān bhavet| brahmaputro'py ahaṁ tena paśyāmi parameśvaram||

"O lord of kings, by your very command he became afflicted, as one at the point of death. I too, though a son of Brahma, behold the Supreme Lord only through its power."

Verse 22 (skanda.7.256.22)

अहन्यहनि चागच्छंस्त्वं पुनर्दृष्टवानसि। वांछंति देवता नित्यममुं हृदि मनोरथम्॥

ahanyahani cāgacchaṁs tvaṁ punardṛṣṭavān asi| vāṁchaṁti devatā nityam amuṁ hṛdi manoratham||

"Coming day after day, you have seen it again and again. The gods too forever cherish this very longing in their hearts."

Verse 23 (skanda.7.256.23)

मानसे ब्रह्मपद्मं तु दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वा कदा वयम्। प्राप्स्यामः परमं ब्रह्म यद्गत्वा न पुनर्भवेत्॥

mānase brahmapadmaṁ tu dṛṣṭvā snātvā kadā vayam| prāpsyāmaḥ paramaṁ brahma yad gatvā na punarbhavet||

"'When, having beheld this Brahma-lotus in Lake Manasa and bathed there, shall we attain that Supreme Brahman, reaching which there is no rebirth?' — such is their constant wish."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.256.24)

इदं च कारणं भूयो द्वितीयं शृणु पार्थिव। कुष्ठस्य यत्त्वया प्राप्तं हर्तुकामेन पंकजम्॥

idaṁ ca kāraṇaṁ bhūyo dvitīyaṁ śṛṇu pārthiva| kuṣṭhasya yat tvayā prāptaṁ hartukāmena paṅkajam||

"O king, now hear a further, second reason why you contracted leprosy — because you desired to seize that lotus for yourself."

Verse 25 (skanda.7.256.25)

प्रद्योतनस्तु गर्भेऽस्मिन्स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितः। तवैषा बुद्धिरभवद्दृष्ट्वेदं वरपंकजम्॥

pradyotanastu garbhe'smin svayameva vyavasthitaḥ| tavaiṣā buddhir abhavad dṛṣṭvedaṁ varapaṅkajam||

"Within the heart of that lotus, the Sun himself (Pradyotana) resides. Seeing this excellent lotus, this thought arose in your mind:"

Verse 26 (skanda.7.256.26)

धारयामि शिरस्येनं लोकमध्ये विभूषणम्। इदं चिन्तयतः पापमेवं देवेन दर्शितम्॥

dhārayāmi śirasy enaṁ lokamadhye vibhūṣaṇam| idaṁ cintayataḥ pāpam evaṁ devena darśitam||

"'I shall wear it upon my head as an ornament, to shine forth among the people.' For harboring this sinful thought, the Lord showed you this consequence."

Verse 27 (skanda.7.256.27)

ततः सर्वप्रयत्नेन तमाराधय भास्करम्। प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य मोक्ष्यसे नात्र संशयः॥

tataḥ sarvaprayatnena tam ārādhaya bhāskaram| prasādād devadevasya mokṣyase nātra saṁśayaḥ||

"Therefore, with all your effort, worship that Sun-god. By the grace of the God of gods, you shall certainly be freed — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 28 (skanda.7.256.28)

प्रभासं गच्छ राजेन्द्र तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्। तत्र सिद्धिर्भवेच्छीघ्रमार्त्तानां प्राणिनां भुवि॥

prabhāsaṁ gaccha rājendra tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam| tatra siddhir bhavec chīghram ārttānāṁ prāṇināṁ bhuvi||

"O lord of kings, go to Prabhasa, the tirtha renowned in all three worlds. There, afflicted beings on earth swiftly attain success."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.256.29)

ईश्वर उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। प्रभासं क्षेत्रमासाद्य माहेश्वर्यास्तटे शुभे॥

īśvara uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ| prabhāsaṁ kṣetram āsādya māheśvaryās taṭe śubhe||

Ishvara said: Having heard these words of the great sage Vasishtha, the king reached the field of Prabhasa and came to the auspicious bank of the Maheshvari (river).

Verse 30 (skanda.7.256.30)

नन्दादित्यं प्रतिष्ठाप्य गन्धधूपानुलेपनैः। पूजयामास तं देवि पुष्पैरुच्चावचैस्तथा॥

nandādityaṁ pratiṣṭhāpya gandhadhūpānulepanaiḥ| pūjayāmāsa taṁ devi puṣpair uccāvacais tathā||

There he installed Nandaditya and, O Goddess, worshipped him with fragrant paste, incense, unguents, and flowers of every kind.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.256.31)

तस्य तुष्टो दिवानाथो वरदोऽहमथाब्रवीत्॥

tasya tuṣṭo divānātho varado'ham athābravīt||

Pleased with him, the Lord of the day, the Sun, said, "I am the giver of boons; speak, what do you desire?"

Verse 32 (skanda.7.256.32)

नन्द उवाच। कुष्ठेन महता व्याप्तं पश्य मां सुरसत्तम। यथाऽयं नाशमायाति तथा कुरु दिवाकर॥

nanda uvāca| kuṣṭhena mahatā vyāptaṁ paśya māṁ surasattama| yathā'yaṁ nāśam āyāti tathā kuru divākara||

Nanda said: "O best of gods, behold me overwhelmed by terrible leprosy. O Divakara, act so that this disease may be destroyed."

Verse 33 (skanda.7.256.33)

सान्निध्यं कुरु देवेश स्थानेऽस्मिन्नित्यदा विभो॥

sānnidhyaṁ kuru deveśa sthāne'sminnityadā vibho||

"O Lord of gods, O mighty one, may you forever maintain your presence in this place."

Verse 34 (skanda.7.256.34)

सूर्य उवाच। नीरोगस्त्वं महाराज सद्य एव भविष्यसि। अत्र ये मां समागत्य द्रक्ष्यंति च नरा भुवि॥

sūrya uvāca| nīrogas tvaṁ mahārāja sadya eva bhaviṣyasi| atra ye māṁ samāgatya drakṣyaṁti ca narā bhuvi||

Surya said: "O great king, you shall become free of disease this very instant. Whatever men on this earth come here and behold me,"

Verse 35 (skanda.7.256.35)

सप्तम्यां सूर्यवारेण यास्यंति परमां गतिम्। अत्र मे सूर्यवारेण सांनिध्यं सप्तमीदिने॥

saptamyāṁ sūryavāreṇa yāsyaṁti paramāṁ gatim| atra me sūryavāreṇa sānnidhyaṁ saptamīdine||

"on the seventh lunar day falling on a Sunday, shall attain the supreme state. Here, on the seventh day coinciding with Sunday, my presence shall abide."

Verse 36 (skanda.7.256.36)

भविष्यति न संदेहो गमिष्ये त्वं सुखी भव। एवमुक्त्वा सहस्रांशुस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत॥

bhaviṣyati na saṁdeho gamiṣye tvaṁ sukhī bhava| evam uktvā sahasrāṁśus tatraivāntaradhīyata||

"This is certain. I now depart; be happy." Having said this, the thousand-rayed Sun vanished there itself.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.256.37)

नीरोगत्वमवाप्यासौ कृत्वा राज्यमनुत्तमम्। जगाम परमं स्थानं यत्र देवो दिवाकरः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा कृत्वा श्राद्धं प्रयत्नतः॥

nīrogatvam avāpyāsau kṛtvā rājyam anuttamam| jagāma paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra devo divākaraḥ| tasmiṁs tīrthe naraḥ snātvā kṛtvā śrāddhaṁ prayatnataḥ||

Having become free of disease and having ruled an excellent kingdom, that king finally attained the supreme abode where the Sun-god resides. A man who bathes at that tirtha and diligently performs the shraddha rite there —

Verse 38 (skanda.7.256.38)

नन्दादित्यं पुनर्दृष्ट्वा न पुनर्मर्त्त्यतां व्रजेत्। प्रदद्यात्कपिलां तत्र ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे॥

nandādityaṁ punar dṛṣṭvā na punar marttyatāṁ vrajet| pradadyāt kapilāṁ tatra brāhmaṇe vedapārage||

— and having seen Nandaditya again, is not born once more into mortal existence. There, one should give a tawny cow to a Brahmin versed in the Vedas.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.256.39)

अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा घृतधेनुमथापि वा। न तस्य गुणितुं शक्या संख्या पुण्यस्य केनचित्॥

ahorātroṣito bhūtvā ghṛtadhenum athāpi vā| na tasya guṇituṁ śakyā saṁkhyā puṇyasya kenacit||

Having resided there for a full day and night, or having given a cow made of clarified butter, the extent of the merit thus gained cannot be reckoned by anyone.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.256.40)

इत्येवं देवदेवस्य माहात्म्यं दीप्तदीधितेः। कथितं तव सुश्रोणि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्॥

ityevaṁ devadevasya māhātmyaṁ dīptadīdhiteḥ| kathitaṁ tava suśroṇi sarvapāpapraṇāśanam||

Thus, O fair-hipped one, have I related to you the glory of the radiant God of gods (the Sun), which destroys all sins.