The Glory of Sambaditya

Verse 1 (skanda.7.306.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि सांबादित्यमनुत्तमम्। तस्मादुत्तरभागे तु सर्वपातकनाशनम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi sāṁbādityamanuttamam| tasmāduttarabhāge tu sarvapātakanāśanam

Ishvara said: Then go, O great Goddess, to the unsurpassed Sambaditya, situated in the northern part of that place, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.306.2)

यत्र सांबस्तपस्तप्त्वा ह्याराध्य च दिवाकरम्। प्राप्तवान्सुन्दरं देहं सहस्रांशुप्रसादतः

yatra sāṁbastapastaptvā hyārādhya ca divākaram| prāptavānsundaraṁ dehaṁ sahasrāṁśuprasādataḥ

Where Samba, having performed austerity and worshipped Divakara, obtained a beautiful body by the grace of the thousand-rayed one.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.306.3)

यदा रोषेण संशप्तः पित्रा जांबवतीसुतः। आराधयामास तदा विष्णुं कमललोचनम्

yadā roṣeṇa saṁśaptaḥ pitrā jāṁbavatīsutaḥ| ārādhayāmāsa tadā viṣṇuṁ kamalalocanam

When Jambavati's son was cursed in anger by his father, he then worshipped Vishnu, the lotus-eyed.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.306.4)

अनुग्रहार्थं शापस्य सांबो जांबवतीसुतः। प्रसन्नवदनो भूत्वा विष्णुः प्रोवाच तं प्रति

anugrahārthaṁ śāpasya sāṁbo jāṁbavatīsutaḥ| prasannavadano bhūtvā viṣṇuḥ provāca taṁ prati

For the removal of the curse, to Samba, Jambavati's son, Vishnu, his face gracious, spoke:

Verse 5 (skanda.7.306.5)

गच्छ प्राभासिके क्षेत्रे ब्रह्मभागमनुत्तमम्। ऋषितोयातटे रम्ये ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभिते

gaccha prābhāsike kṣetre brahmabhāgamanuttamam| ṛṣitoyātaṭe ramye brāhmaṇairupaśobhite

'Go to the unsurpassed portion of Brahma in the Prabhasa field, on the lovely bank of Rishitoya, adorned with brahmins.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.306.6)

तत्राऽहं सूर्यरूपेण वरं दास्यामि पुत्रक। इत्युक्तः स तदा सांबो विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना

tatrā'haṁ sūryarūpeṇa varaṁ dāsyāmi putraka| ityuktaḥ sa tadā sāṁbo viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā

'There, in the form of the Sun, I shall grant you a boon, my child.' Thus addressed by the mighty Vishnu, Samba then—

Verse 7 (skanda.7.306.7)

गतः प्राभासिके क्षेत्रे रम्ये शिवपुरे शिवे। तत्राराध्य परं देवं भास्करं वारितस्करम्

gataḥ prābhāsike kṣetre ramye śivapure śive| tatrārādhya paraṁ devaṁ bhāskaraṁ vāritaskaram

went to the lovely, auspicious field of Prabhasa; there, having worshipped the supreme god Bhaskara, the drawer-up of water,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.306.8)

प्रसादयामास तदा स्तुत्वा स्तोत्रैरनेकधा

prasādayāmāsa tadā stutvā stotrairanekadhā

he then propitiated him, praising him with many hymns.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.306.9)

प्रत्युवाच रविः सांबं प्रसन्नस्ते स्तवेन वै। शीघ्रं गच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ ऋषितोयातटे शुभे

pratyuvāca raviḥ sāṁbaṁ prasannaste stavena vai| śīghraṁ gaccha naraśreṣṭha ṛṣitoyātaṭe śubhe

The Sun replied to Samba: 'I am indeed pleased by your praise; go quickly, best of men, to the auspicious bank of Rishitoya.'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.306.10)

इत्युक्तः स तदाऽऽगत्य ऋषितोयातटं शुभम्। नारदो यत्र ब्रह्मर्षिस्तपस्तप्यति चैव हि

ityuktaḥ sa tadā''gatya ṛṣitoyātaṭaṁ śubham| nārado yatra brahmarṣistapastapyati caiva hi

Thus addressed, he then came to the auspicious bank of Rishitoya, where the brahmin-sage Narada was also performing austerity.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.306.11)

तत्र गत्वा हरेः सूनुरुन्नतस्थानवासिनः। आसन्ये ब्राह्मणास्तान्स इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

tatra gatvā hareḥ sūnurunnatasthānavāsinaḥ| āsanye brāhmaṇāstānsa idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Going there, Hari's son approached those brahmins dwelling in the elevated place nearby, and spoke this word to them:

Verse 12 (skanda.7.306.12)

सांब उवाच। एष वै ब्रह्मणो भागः प्रभासे क्षेत्र उत्तमे। अत्र वै ब्राह्मणा ये तु ते वै श्रेष्ठाः स्मृता भुवि

sāṁba uvāca| eṣa vai brahmaṇo bhāgaḥ prabhāse kṣetra uttame| atra vai brāhmaṇā ye tu te vai śreṣṭhāḥ smṛtā bhuvi

Samba said: 'This indeed is Brahma's own portion in the excellent field of Prabhasa; the brahmins who are here are indeed remembered as the best on earth.'

Verse 13 (skanda.7.306.13)

भवतां वचनाद्विप्राः सूर्यमाराधयाम्यहम्। मम वै पूर्वमादिष्टं स्थानमेतच्च विष्णुना

bhavatāṁ vacanādviprāḥ sūryamārādhayāmyaham| mama vai pūrvamādiṣṭaṁ sthānametacca viṣṇunā

'At your word, O brahmins, I shall worship the Sun; this very place was formerly appointed for me by Vishnu.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.306.14)

विप्रा ऊचुः। सिद्धिस्ते भविता सांब आराधय दिवाकरम्। इत्युक्तः स तदा विप्रैः प्रविष्टोऽथ प्रभाकरम्

viprā ūcuḥ| siddhiste bhavitā sāṁba ārādhaya divākaram| ityuktaḥ sa tadā vipraiḥ praviṣṭo'tha prabhākaram

The brahmins said: 'Success shall be yours, Samba—worship the Sun.' Thus addressed by the brahmins, he then entered upon the worship of Prabhakara.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.306.15)

नित्यमाराधयामास सांबो जांबवतीसुतः। तपोनिष्ठं च तं दृष्ट्वा विष्णुः कारुणिको महान्

nityamārādhayāmāsa sāṁbo jāṁbavatīsutaḥ| taponiṣṭhaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā viṣṇuḥ kāruṇiko mahān

Samba, Jambavati's son, worshipped him constantly; and seeing him devoted to austerity, the greatly compassionate Vishnu—

Verse 16 (skanda.7.306.16)

इदं वै चिन्तयामास पुत्रवात्सल्यसंयुतः। यथैश्वर्यप्रदो रुद्रो यथा विष्णुश्च मुक्तिदः

idaṁ vai cintayāmāsa putravātsalyasaṁyutaḥ| yathaiśvaryaprado rudro yathā viṣṇuśca muktidaḥ

filled with fatherly affection, reflected thus: 'Just as Rudra is the giver of lordly power, and Vishnu the giver of liberation,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.306.17)

यज्ञैरिष्टो हि देवेन्द्रो यथा स्वर्गप्रदः स्मृतः। शुद्धिकर्तृ यथा तोयं मृत्तिकाभस्मसंयुतम्। दहनात्मा यथा वह्निर्विघ्नहर्त्ता गणेश्वरः

yajñairiṣṭo hi devendro yathā svargapradaḥ smṛtaḥ| śuddhikartṛ yathā toyaṁ mṛttikābhasmasaṁyutam| dahanātmā yathā vahnirvighnaharttā gaṇeśvaraḥ

just as Devendra, worshipped with sacrifices, is remembered as the giver of heaven; just as water, together with earth and ash, is the purifier; just as fire, of a burning nature, purifies; just as Ganeshvara is the remover of obstacles;

Verse 18 (skanda.7.306.18)

स्वच्छंदभारतीदाने यथा ब्रह्मसुता नृणाम्। तथाऽऽरोग्यप्रदाता च नान्यो देवो दिवाकरात्

svacchaṁdabhāratīdāne yathā brahmasutā nṛṇām| tathā''rogyapradātā ca nānyo devo divākarāt

just as Brahma's daughter is, in freely bestowing eloquence, the benefactress of men—so too, no other god than the Sun is the giver of health.'

Verse 19 (skanda.7.306.19)

अनेकधाऽऽराधितोऽपि स देवो भास्करः शुचिः। न ददाति वरं यत्तु तन्मे शापस्य कारणात्

anekadhā''rādhito'pi sa devo bhāskaraḥ śuciḥ| na dadāti varaṁ yattu tanme śāpasya kāraṇāt

'That pure god Bhaskara, though worshipped in many ways, does not grant the boon—and that is due to my own curse.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.306.20)

एवं संचिन्त्य भगवान्विष्णुः कमललोचनः। सूर्यरूपं समाश्रित्य तस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः

evaṁ saṁcintya bhagavānviṣṇuḥ kamalalocanaḥ| sūryarūpaṁ samāśritya tasya tuṣṭo janārdanaḥ

Having thus reflected, the blessed lotus-eyed Vishnu, Janardana, taking on the form of the Sun, pleased with him,

Verse 21 (skanda.7.306.21)

योऽपरनारायणख्यस्तस्यैव सन्निधौ स्थितः। प्रत्यक्षः स ततो विष्णुः सूर्यरूपी दिवाकरः। उवाच परमप्रीतो वरदः पुण्यकर्मणाम्

yo'paranārāyaṇakhyastasyaiva sannidhau sthitaḥ| pratyakṣaḥ sa tato viṣṇuḥ sūryarūpī divākaraḥ| uvāca paramaprīto varadaḥ puṇyakarmaṇām

he who is known as the 'other Narayana', stationed in his very presence—that Vishnu, in the form of the Sun, Divakara, thereupon appeared visibly and, most delighted, the boon-giver, spoke to him of holy deeds:

Verse 22 (skanda.7.306.22)

अलं क्लेशेन ते सांब किमर्थं तप्यसे तपः। प्रसन्नोऽहं हरेः सूनो वरं वरय सुव्रत

alaṁ kleśena te sāṁba kimarthaṁ tapyase tapaḥ| prasanno'haṁ hareḥ sūno varaṁ varaya suvrata

'Enough, Samba, of this suffering—for what purpose do you perform austerity? I am pleased, son of Hari; choose a boon, O one of good vows.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.306.23)

सांब उवाच। निर्मलस्त्वत्प्रसादेन कुष्ठमुक्तकलेवरः। भवानि देवदेवेश प्रत्यक्षाऽम्बरभूषण। अस्मिन्स्थाने स्थितो रम्ये नित्यं सन्निहितो भव

sāṁba uvāca| nirmalastvatprasādena kuṣṭhamuktakalevaraḥ| bhavāni devadeveśa pratyakṣā'mbarabhūṣaṇa| asminsthāne sthito ramye nityaṁ sannihito bhava

Samba said: 'By your grace may I become pure, my body freed from leprosy, O God of gods, O visible one adorned with the sky; abiding in this lovely place, be ever present here.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.306.24)

सूर्य उवाच। अधुना निर्मलो देहस्तव सांब भविष्यति। इहागत्य नरो यस्तु सप्तम्यां रविवासरे। उपवासपरो भूत्वा रात्रौ जागरणे स्थितः

sūrya uvāca| adhunā nirmalo dehastava sāṁba bhaviṣyati| ihāgatya naro yastu saptamyāṁ ravivāsare| upavāsaparo bhūtvā rātrau jāgaraṇe sthitaḥ

Surya said: 'Now, Samba, your body shall become pure. Whatever man comes here on Sunday, the seventh lunar day, and, devoted to fasting, keeps vigil through the night,

Verse 25 (skanda.7.306.25)

अष्टादशानि कुष्ठानि पापरोगास्तथैव च। कदाचिन्न भविष्यन्ति कुले तस्य महात्मनः

aṣṭādaśāni kuṣṭhāni pāparogāstathaiva ca| kadācinna bhaviṣyanti kule tasya mahātmanaḥ

'in the family of that great soul, the eighteen kinds of leprosy, and likewise sin-born diseases, shall never occur.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.306.26)

कृत्वा स्नानं नरो यस्तु भक्तियुक्तो जितेन्द्रियः। पूजयेद्रविवारेण सांबादित्यं महाप्रभम्। स रोगहीनो धनवान्पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः

kṛtvā snānaṁ naro yastu bhaktiyukto jitendriyaḥ| pūjayedravivāreṇa sāṁbādityaṁ mahāprabham| sa rogahīno dhanavānputravāñjāyate naraḥ

Whatever man, having bathed, devoted and self-controlled, worships Sambaditya of great splendor on Sunday, that man becomes free from disease, wealthy, and blessed with sons.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.306.27)

तस्यैव पूर्वदिग्भागे किञ्चिदीशानमाश्रितम्। कुंडं पापहरं पुण्यं स्वच्छोदपरि पूरितम्

tasyaiva pūrvadigbhāge kiñcidīśānamāśritam| kuṁḍaṁ pāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ svacchodapari pūritam

In the eastern part of that very place, a little toward the northeast, is a sin-removing, holy pool, filled to the brim with clear water.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.306.28)

तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवत्कुर्याच्छ्राद्धं विचक्षणः। भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्यस्तु सांबादित्यं प्रपूजयेत्

tatra snātvā ca vidhivatkuryācchrāddhaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ| bhojayedbrāhmaṇānyastu sāṁbādityaṁ prapūjayet

Bathing there, a discerning man should duly perform shraddha; whoever feeds brahmins and worships Sambaditya,

Verse 29 (skanda.7.306.29)

सर्वकामसमृद्धात्मा सूर्यलोके महीयते

sarvakāmasamṛddhātmā sūryaloke mahīyate

his soul made prosperous in every desire, is glorified in the world of the Sun.