Mount Nandivardhana Fills the Chasm

Verse 1 (skanda.7.387.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वा हिमाचलो वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः । चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं विवरस्य प्रपूरणे

sūta uvāca | śrutvā himācalo vākyaṁ vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ | cintayāmāsa tatkāryaṁ vivarasya prapūraṇe

Suta said: Hearing the words of the great soul Vasishtha, Himachala pondered on the task of filling that chasm.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.387.2)

चिरं विचार्य तमृषिमिदमाह नगोत्तमः । क उपायो नगानां वै तत्र गंतुं वदस्व मे

ciraṁ vicārya tamṛṣimidamāha nagottamaḥ | ka upāyo nagānāṁ vai tatra gantuṁ vadasva me

After long reflection, that best of mountains said to the sage: Tell me, what means is there for a mountain to go there?

Verse 3 (skanda.7.387.3)

पक्षच्छेदस्तु शक्रेण सर्वेषां च पुरा कृतः । तस्मादस्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ कार्यस्य पश्य निश्चयम्

pakṣacchedastu śakreṇa sarveṣāṁ ca purā kṛtaḥ | tasmādasya muniśreṣṭha kāryasya paśya niścayam

In ancient times Indra cut off the wings of all mountains. Therefore, O best of sages, consider carefully how this task can be done.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.387.4)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । अस्त्युपायो नगानां तु तत्र नेतुं महानग । तवायं तनयस्तत्र विख्यातो नंदिवर्द्धनः

vasiṣṭha uvāca | astyupāyo nagānāṁ tu tatra netuṁ mahānaga | tavāyaṁ tanayastatra vikhyāto nandivarddhanaḥ

Vasishtha said: O great mountain, there is indeed a means to take a mountain there. This son of yours, known as Nandivardhana, is renowned.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.387.5)

तस्यार्बुद इति ख्यातो वयस्यः परमं प्रियः । नागः प्राणभृतां श्रेष्ठः खेचरोऽपि च वीर्यवान्

tasyārbuda iti khyāto vayasyaḥ paramaṁ priyaḥ | nāgaḥ prāṇabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ khecaro'pi ca vīryavān

He has a most beloved friend known as Arbuda, a serpent, foremost among living beings, a sky-mover and mighty in valor.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.387.6)

स वा ऊर्ध्वगतिः क्षिप्रं क्षणान्नेष्यत्यसंशयः । लीलया सर्वकृत्येषु तं विदित्वाऽहमागतः

sa vā ūrdhvagatiḥ kṣipraṁ kṣaṇānneṣyatyasaṁśayaḥ | līlayā sarvakṛtyeṣu taṁ viditvā'hamāgataḥ

He moves upward and swiftly, and could carry it in an instant, without doubt. Knowing that he accomplishes all tasks with ease, I have come here.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.387.7)

आदेशो दीयतामस्य दुःखं कर्तुं च नार्हसि । अवश्यं यदि भक्तोऽसि तत्र प्रेषय सत्वरम्

ādeśo dīyatāmasya duḥkhaṁ kartuṁ ca nārhasi | avaśyaṁ yadi bhakto'si tatra preṣaya satvaram

Give him the command; you ought not distress him. If you are truly devoted, send him there at once.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.387.8)

सूत उवाच । वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हिमवान्पुत्रवत्सलः । दुःखेन महताऽऽविष्टश्चिंतयामास भूधरः

sūta uvāca | vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā himavānputravatsalaḥ | duḥkhena mahatā'viṣṭaścintayāmāsa bhūdharaḥ

Suta said: Hearing Vasishtha's words, Himavan, fond of his son, was overcome with great sorrow and fell to pondering.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.387.9)

मैनाकस्तनयोऽस्माकं प्रविष्टः सागरे भयात् । ज्येष्ठं तु सर्वथा चाथ वसिष्ठो नेतुमागतः । किं कृत्यमधुनाऽस्माकं कथं श्रेयो भविष्यति

mainākastanayo'smākaṁ praviṣṭaḥ sāgare bhayāt | jyeṣṭhaṁ tu sarvathā cātha vasiṣṭho netumāgataḥ | kiṁ kṛtyamadhunā'smākaṁ kathaṁ śreyo bhaviṣyati

Our son Mainaka, out of fear, took refuge in the ocean; and now Vasishtha has come to take our eldest son entirely away. What should we do now? How shall good come of this?

Verse 10 (skanda.7.387.10)

इतः शापभयं तीव्रमितो दुःखं च पुत्रजम् । वरं पुत्रवियोगोऽस्तु न शापो द्विजसंभवः

itaḥ śāpabhayaṁ tīvramito duḥkhaṁ ca putrajam | varaṁ putraviyogo'stu na śāpo dvijasaṁbhavaḥ

On one side there is the fierce fear of a curse, on the other the grief of parting with a son. Better the separation from my son than a brahmin's curse.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.387.11)

स एवं निश्चयं कृत्वा नंदिवर्धनमुक्तवान् । गच्छ त्वं पुत्र मे वाक्याद्वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति

sa evaṁ niścayaṁ kṛtvā nandivardhanamuktavān | gaccha tvaṁ putra me vākyādvasiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ prati

Having thus resolved, he said to Nandivardhana: My son, at my word, go to Vasishtha's hermitage.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.387.12)

तत्रास्ति विवरो रौद्रस्तं प्रपूरय सत्वरम् । अर्बुदं नागमादाय मित्रं प्राणभृतां वरम्

tatrāsti vivaro raudrastaṁ prapūraya satvaram | arbudaṁ nāgamādāya mitraṁ prāṇabhṛtāṁ varam

There is a terrible chasm there; fill it quickly, taking with you your friend Arbuda, the excellent serpent among living beings.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.387.13)

नंदिवर्द्धन उवाच । पापीयान्स विभो देशः फलमूलैर्विवर्जितः । पालाशैः खादिरैराढ्यो धवैः शाल्मलिभिस्तथा

nandivarddhana uvāca | pāpīyānsa vibho deśaḥ phalamūlairvivarjitaḥ | pālāśaiḥ khādirairāḍhyo dhavaiḥ śālmalibhistathā

Nandivardhana said: O lord, that land is most wretched, devoid of fruits and roots, abounding only in palasha, khadira, dhava and shalmali trees.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.387.14)

सुनिष्ठुरैर्नृपशुभिर्भिल्लैश्च विविधैरपि । नद्यो वहंति नो तत्र दुष्टा लोकाश्च वासिनः । नार्होऽहं पर्वतश्रेष्ठ तत्र गंतुं कथंचन

suniṣṭhurairnṛpaśubhirbhillaiśca vividhairapi | nadyo vahanti no tatra duṣṭā lokāśca vāsinaḥ | nārho'haṁ parvataśreṣṭha tatra gantuṁ kathaṁcana

It is filled with most cruel men like beasts and various tribes of Bhillas; no rivers flow there, and its inhabitants are wicked. O best of mountains, I am in no way fit to go there.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.387.15)

अथोवाच वसिष्ठस्तं संत्रस्तं नंदिवर्द्धनम् । मा भीः कार्या त्वया तत्र देशे दौष्ट्यात्कथंचन

athovāca vasiṣṭhastaṁ saṁtrastaṁ nandivarddhanam | mā bhīḥ kāryā tvayā tatra deśe dauṣṭyātkathaṁcana

Then Vasishtha said to that frightened Nandivardhana: You must feel no fear at all on account of that land's wickedness.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.387.16)

तव मूर्ध्नि सदा वासो मम तत्र भविष्यति । तीर्थानि सरितो देवाः पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

tava mūrdhni sadā vāso mama tatra bhaviṣyati | tīrthāni sarito devāḥ puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

I shall dwell forever upon your summit. Sacred fords, rivers, gods, and holy shrines shall be there.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.387.17)

वृक्षाश्च विविधाकाराः पत्रपुष्पफलान्विताः । सदा तत्र भविष्यंति मृगाश्च विहगाः शुभाः

vṛkṣāśca vividhākārāḥ patrapuṣpaphalānvitāḥ | sadā tatra bhaviṣyanti mṛgāśca vihagāḥ śubhāḥ

Trees of every form, bearing leaves, flowers and fruit, shall ever be there, and gentle deer and beautiful birds.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.387.18)

अहमेवानयिष्यामि तवार्थे च महेश्वरम् । तदा स्थास्यंति वै तत्र सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः

ahamevānayiṣyāmi tavārthe ca maheśvaram | tadā sthāsyanti vai tatra sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ

For your sake I myself shall bring Maheshwara there; then all the gods, together with Indra, shall dwell there.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.387.19)

सूत उवाच । वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्व संहृष्टो नंदिवर्द्धनः । अर्बुदं नागमासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

sūta uvāca | vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā saṁhṛṣṭo nandivarddhanaḥ | arbudaṁ nāgamāsādya vākyametaduvāca ha

Suta said: Hearing Vasishtha's words, Nandivardhana, greatly delighted, approached the serpent Arbuda and spoke these words.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.387.20)

तत्र यावोऽद्य भद्रं ते वयस्य विनयान्वित । एतत्कार्यमहं मन्ये सांप्रतं द्विजसंभवम्

tatra yāvo'dya bhadraṁ te vayasya vinayānvita | etatkāryamahaṁ manye sāmprataṁ dvijasaṁbhavam

Let us go there today, my friend, O courteous one; may all be well with you. I consider this brahmin's task to be pressing now.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.387.21)

अर्बुद उवाच । अहं तत्रागमिष्यामि स्नेहात्ते पर्वतात्मज । तत्रैव च वसिष्यामि त्वया सार्द्धमसंशयम्

arbuda uvāca | ahaṁ tatrāgamiṣyāmi snehātte parvatātmaja | tatraiva ca vasiṣyāmi tvayā sārddhamasaṁśayam

Arbuda said: O son of the mountain, out of love for you I shall come there, and I shall dwell there together with you, without doubt.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.387.22)

किं त्वहं प्रणयाद्भ्रातर्वक्ष्यामि यद्वचः शृणु । प्रणयान्नान्यथा कार्यं यद्यहं तव संमतः

kiṁ tvahaṁ praṇayādbhrātarvakṣyāmi yadvacaḥ śṛṇu | praṇayānnānyathā kāryaṁ yadyahaṁ tava saṁmataḥ

But listen, brother, to what I shall say out of affection. If I am dear to you, you must not do otherwise than what affection demands.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.387.23)

मन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमायातु नान्यत्किंचिद्वृणोम्यहम् । ततः सोऽपि प्रतिज्ञाय आरूढस्तस्य चोपरि । प्रणम्य पितरौ चैव प्रतस्थे मुनिना सह

mannāmnā khyātimāyātu nānyatkiṁciddvṛṇomyaham | tataḥ so'pi pratijñāya ārūḍhastasya copari | praṇamya pitarau caiva pratasthe muninā saha

"Let it become famous by my name; I ask nothing else." Then he too, having promised, mounted upon him, and bowing to his parents, set out along with the sage.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.387.24)

दिव्यैर्वृक्षैः शुभैः पूर्णैर्नदीनिर्झरसंकुलैः । मधुरैर्विहगैर्युक्तो मृगैः सौम्यैः समन्वितः

divyairvṛkṣaiḥ śubhaiḥ pūrṇairnadīnirjharasaṁkulaiḥ | madhurairvihagairyukto mṛgaiḥ saumyaiḥ samanvitaḥ

Filled with divine and auspicious trees, abounding with rivers and cascades, filled with sweet-voiced birds and gentle deer.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.387.25)

मुक्तोऽर्बुदेन तत्रैव विवरे मुनिवाक्यतः । समस्तस्तत्रानासाग्रं गतः पर्वतसत्तमः

mukto'rbudena tatraiva vivare munivākyataḥ | samastastatrānāsāgraṁ gataḥ parvatasattamaḥ

Following the sage's word, that best of mountains was set down by Arbuda right into that chasm, filling it entirely up to its very brim.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.387.26)

विमुक्तो विवरे तस्मिन्नर्बुदेन महात्मना । परिपूर्णे महारौद्रे संतुष्टो मुनिपुंगवः

vimukto vivare tasminnarbudena mahātmanā | paripūrṇe mahāraudre saṁtuṣṭo munipuṅgavaḥ

Set down in that chasm by the great-souled Arbuda, that most dreadful chasm was fully filled, and the foremost of sages was satisfied.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.387.27)

ब्रवीच्चार्बुदं नागं वरं वरय सुव्रत । परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते भद्र कर्मणानेन पन्नग

bravīccārbudaṁ nāgaṁ varaṁ varaya suvrata | parituṣṭo'smi te bhadra karmaṇānena pannaga

He said to the serpent Arbuda: O one of good vows, ask for a boon. O gentle serpent, I am greatly pleased with you for this deed.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.387.28)

अर्बुद उवाच । एष एव वरोऽस्माकं यत्त्वं तुष्टो महामुने । अवश्यं यदि दातव्यं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम

arbuda uvāca | eṣa eva varo'smākaṁ yattvaṁ tuṣṭo mahāmune | avaśyaṁ yadi dātavyaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva dvijottama

Arbuda said: O great sage, your being pleased is boon enough for me. Yet if something must certainly be given, hear it, O best of brahmins.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.387.29)

यच्चैतच्छिखरे ह्यस्मिन्निर्झरं निर्मलोदकम् । नागतीर्थमिति ख्यातिं भूतले यातु सर्वतः

yaccaitacchikhare hyasminnirjharaṁ nirmalodakam | nāgatīrthamiti khyātiṁ bhūtale yātu sarvataḥ

This spring of pure water upon this peak - let it become known everywhere on earth by the name "Naga-tirtha."

Verse 30 (skanda.7.387.30)

अत्रैवाहं वसिष्यामि मित्रस्नेहात्सदा मुने । तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यातु मानवस्त्वत्प्रसादतः

atraivāhaṁ vasiṣyāmi mitrasnehātsadā mune | tatra snātvā divaṁ yātu mānavastvatprasādataḥ

O sage, out of friendship's love I shall dwell here forever. Bathing here, may a man, by your grace, attain heaven.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.387.31)

अपि वंध्या च या नारी स्नानमात्रं समाचरेत् । सा स्यात्पुत्रवती विप्र सुखसौभाग्यसंयुता

api vaṁdhyā ca yā nārī snānamātraṁ samācaret | sā syātputravatī vipra sukhasaubhāgyasaṁyutā

Even a barren woman who merely bathes here, O brahmin, shall become blessed with a son and endowed with happiness and good fortune.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.387.32)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । या वंध्यास्मिञ्जले पूर्णे स्नानमात्रं करिष्यति । सापि पुत्रमवाप्नोति सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca | yā vaṁdhyāsmiñjale pūrṇe snānamātraṁ kariṣyati | sāpi putramavāpnoti sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam

Vasishtha said: The barren woman who merely bathes in this full water shall also obtain a son marked with all auspicious signs.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.387.33)

नभसः शुक्लपंचम्यां फलैः पूजां करोति च । अपि वर्षशता नारी सा भविष्यति पुत्रिणी

nabhasaḥ śuklapaṁcamyāṁ phalaiḥ pūjāṁ karoti ca | api varṣaśatā nārī sā bhaviṣyati putriṇī

The woman who performs worship with fruits on the bright fifth of the month of Bhadrapada shall become a mother even at a hundred years of age.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.387.34)

येऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति ह्यस्मिंस्तीर्थे च भक्तितः । यास्यंति ते परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

ye'tra snānaṁ kariṣyanti hyasminstīrthe ca bhaktitaḥ | yāsyanti te paraṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

Those who bathe here at this ford with devotion shall attain the supreme abode, free from old age and death.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.387.35)

श्राद्धं चात्र करिष्यंति पंचम्यां ये समाहिताः । मासे नभसि तीर्थस्य फलं तेषां भविष्यति

śrāddhaṁ cātra kariṣyanti paṁcamyāṁ ye samāhitāḥ | māse nabhasi tīrthasya phalaṁ teṣāṁ bhaviṣyati

Those who, with focused mind, perform the ancestral rites here on the fifth of the month of Bhadrapada shall obtain the full fruit of this sacred ford.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.387.36)

सूत उवाच । एवं दत्त्वा वरं तस्य वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः । नंदिवर्द्धनमभ्येत्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

sūta uvāca | evaṁ dattvā varaṁ tasya vasiṣṭho bhagavānmuniḥ | nandivarddhanamabhyetya vākyametaduvāca ha

Suta said: Having thus granted him this boon, the revered sage Vasishtha approached Nandivardhana and spoke these words.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.387.37)

वरं च व्रियतां वत्स परितुष्टोऽस्मि तेऽनघ । विनयात्सौहृदात्सर्वं दास्यामि यत्सुदुर्ल्लभम्

varaṁ ca vriyatāṁ vatsa parituṣṭo'smi te'nagha | vinayātsauhṛdātsarvaṁ dāsyāmi yatsudurllabham

My child, O sinless one, ask for a boon; I am greatly pleased with you. For your courtesy and friendship I shall grant even what is most hard to obtain.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.387.38)

नंदिवर्द्धन उवाच । तवास्तु वचनं सत्यं पूर्वोक्तं मुनिसत्तम । सांनिध्यं जायतामत्र अवश्यं तव सर्वदा

nandivarddhana uvāca | tavāstu vacanaṁ satyaṁ pūrvoktaṁ munisattama | sāṁnidhyaṁ jāyatāmatra avaśyaṁ tava sarvadā

Nandivardhana said: O best of sages, may your earlier promise come true. Let your presence certainly remain here always.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.387.39)

यथाहमर्बुदेत्येवं ख्यातिं गच्छामि भूतले । प्रसादाच्चैव ते भूयादेतन्मे मनसि स्थितम्

yathāhamarbudetyevaṁ khyātiṁ gacchāmi bhūtale | prasādāccaiva te bhūyādetanme manasi sthitam

May I become known on earth by the name "Arbuda" - let this come about through your grace alone; this is what dwells in my heart.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.387.40)

सूत उवाच । एवमस्त्विति तं प्रोच्य वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः । चक्रे स्वमाश्रमं तत्र तस्य वाक्येन नोदितः

sūta uvāca | evamastviti taṁ procya vasiṣṭho bhagavānmuniḥ | cakre svamāśramaṁ tatra tasya vākyena noditaḥ

Suta said: Saying "so be it," and moved by his words, the revered sage Vasishtha established his own hermitage there.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.387.41)

पनसैश्चंपकैराम्रैः प्रियंगुबिल्वदाडिमैः । नानापक्षिसमायुक्तो देवगन्धर्वसेवितः

panasaiścaṁpakairāmraiḥ priyaṁgubilvadāḍimaiḥ | nānāpakṣisamāyukto devagandharvasevitaḥ

Adorned with jackfruit, champaka, mango, priyangu, bilva and pomegranate trees, filled with birds of every kind, frequented by gods and gandharvas.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.387.42)

तस्थौ तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठो ह्यरुंधत्या समन्वितः । गोमतीमानयामास तपसा मुनिसत्तमः

tasthau tatra muniśreṣṭho hyaruṁdhatyā samanvitaḥ | gomatīmānayāmāsa tapasā munisattamaḥ

There the foremost of sages dwelt together with Arundhati. That best of sages brought the river Gomati there through his austerity.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.387.43)

यस्यां स्नात्वा दिवं यांति अतिपापकृतो नराः । माघमासे विशेषेण मकरस्थे दिवाकरे

yasyāṁ snātvā divaṁ yānti atipāpakṛto narāḥ | māghamāse viśeṣeṇa makarasthe divākare

Bathing in it, even men of great sin go to heaven, especially in the month of Magha, when the sun is in Capricorn.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.387.44)

येत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति ते यास्यंति परां गतिम्

yetra snānaṁ kariṣyanti te yāsyanti parāṁ gatim

Those who bathe there shall attain the supreme destination.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.387.45)

माघमासे विशेषेण तिलदानं करोति यः । तिलसंख्यानि वर्षाणि स्वर्गे तिष्ठति मानवः

māghamāse viśeṣeṇa tiladānaṁ karoti yaḥ | tilasaṁkhyāni varṣāṇi svarge tiṣṭhati mānavaḥ

Whoever gives sesame seeds especially in the month of Magha dwells in heaven for as many years as the number of seeds given.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.387.46)

बहुना किमिहोक्तेन स्तानमात्रं समाचरेत्

bahunā kimihoktena snānamātraṁ samācaret

What is the use of saying more here - let a man simply bathe there, and that alone suffices.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.387.47)

वसिष्ठस्य मुखं दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । अरुंधती पूजनीया पूजनीया विशेषतः

vasiṣṭhasya mukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā punarjanma na vidyate | aruṁdhatī pūjanīyā pūjanīyā viśeṣataḥ

By merely beholding Vasishtha's face, there is no further rebirth. Arundhati is to be worshipped, especially to be worshipped.