The Glory of Nagahrada (Origin of the Serpents' Lake)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.421.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ नागह्रदं ततो गच्छेत्तीर्थं पापप्रणाशनम् । यत्र नागैस्तपस्तप्तं रम्ये पर्वतरोधसि

pulastya uvāca | nāgahradaṁ tato gacchettīrthaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam | yatra nāgaistapastaptaṁ ramye parvatarodhasi

Pulastya said: Then one should go to Nagahrada, the sin-destroying ford, where austerity was performed by the serpents on that delightful mountain slope.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.421.2)

कद्रूशापं पुरा श्रुत्वा नागाः सर्वे भयातुराः । पप्रच्छुर्नागराजानं शेषं प्रणतकन्धराः

kadrūśāpaṁ purā śrutvā nāgāḥ sarve bhayāturāḥ | papracchurnāgarājānaṁ śeṣaṁ praṇatakandharāḥ

Formerly, having heard Kadru's curse, all the serpents, terrified, with bowed necks, questioned the serpent king Shesha.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.421.3)

मातृशापेन संतप्ता वयं पन्नगसत्तम । किं कुर्मः क्व च गच्छामः शापमोक्षो भवेत्कथम्

mātṛśāpena saṁtaptā vayaṁ pannagasattama | kiṁ kurmaḥ kva ca gacchāmaḥ śāpamokṣo bhavetkatham

"O best of serpents, tormented by our mother's curse, what shall we do, and where shall we go? How may release from the curse come about?"

Verse 4 (skanda.7.421.4)

॥ शेष उवाच ॥ प्रसादिता मया माता शापमुक्तिकृते पुरा । तयोक्तं ये तपोयुक्ता धर्मात्मानः सुसंयताः

śeṣa uvāca | prasāditā mayā mātā śāpamuktikṛte purā | tayoktaṁ ye tapoyuktā dharmātmānaḥ susaṁyatāḥ

Shesha said: "Of old, our mother was propitiated by me for release from the curse; she said: 'Those who are devoted to austerity, righteous of soul, well-restrained —'"

Verse 5 (skanda.7.421.5)

न दहिष्यति तान्वह्निर्यज्ञे पारिक्षितस्य हि । तस्माद्गत्वार्बुदंनाम पर्वतं धरणीतले

na dahiṣyati tānvahniryajñe pārikṣitasya hi | tasmādgatvārbudaṁnāma parvataṁ dharaṇītale

"'— them the fire shall not burn in the sacrifice of Parikshit's son. Therefore, going to the mountain named Arbuda on earth —'"

Verse 6 (skanda.7.421.6)

तत्र यूयं तपोयुक्ता भवध्वं सुसमाहिताः । यत्रास्ते सा स्वयं देवी चंडिका कामरूपिणी

tatra yūyaṁ tapoyuktā bhavadhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ | yatrāste sā svayaṁ devī caṇḍikā kāmarūpiṇī

"'— there, devoted to austerity, become well composed, where that goddess Chandika herself dwells, who assumes forms at will.'"

Verse 7 (skanda.7.421.7)

यस्याः संकीर्त्तनेनापि नश्यंति विपदो ध्रुवम् । आराधयध्वमनिशं तां देवीं मम वाक्यतः

yasyāḥ saṁkīrttanenāpi naśyanti vipado dhruvam | ārādhayadhvamaniśaṁ tāṁ devīṁ mama vākyataḥ

"'By mere recitation of whose name calamities certainly vanish. Worship that goddess unceasingly, at my word.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.7.421.8)

तस्याः प्रसादतः सर्वे भविष्यथ गतज्वराः । एतमेवात्र पश्यामि उपायं नागसत्तमाः । दैवो वा मानुषो वाऽपि नान्यो वो मुक्तिकारकः

tasyāḥ prasādataḥ sarve bhaviṣyatha gatajvarāḥ | etamevātra paśyāmi upāyaṁ nāgasattamāḥ | daivo vā mānuṣo vā'pi nānyo vo muktikārakaḥ

"'By her grace all of you shall become free of affliction. This alone do I see as the means here, O foremost of serpents; no other — divine or human — can bring about your release.'"

Verse 9 (skanda.7.421.9)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्तास्ततो नागा नागराजेन पार्थिव । प्रणम्य तं ततो जग्मुरर्बुदं पर्वतं प्रति

pulastya uvāca | evamuktāstato nāgā nāgarājena pārthiva | praṇamya taṁ tato jagmurarbudaṁ parvataṁ prati

Pulastya said: Thus addressed by the serpent king, O king, the serpents, bowing to him, then went toward Mount Arbuda.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.421.10)

ते भित्त्वा धरणीपृष्ठं पर्वते तदनन्तरम् । निजग्मुर्बिलमार्गेण कृत्वा श्वभ्रे सुविस्तरम्

te bhittvā dharaṇīpṛṣṭhaṁ parvate tadanantaram | nijagmurbilamārgeṇa kṛtvā śvabhre suvistaram

Splitting open the earth's surface, they then entered the mountain by a burrow-path, having made a wide cavity.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.421.11)

ततो धृतव्रताः सर्वे देवी भक्तिपरायणाः । वसंति भक्तिसंयुक्ताश्चण्डिकाराधनाय ते

tato dhṛtavratāḥ sarve devī bhaktiparāyaṇāḥ | vasanti bhaktisaṁyuktāścaṇḍikārādhanāya te

Then, all keeping their vows, devoted to the Goddess, they dwelt there full of devotion, for the worship of Chandika.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.421.12)

तस्थुस्तत्र सदा होमं कुर्वन्तो जाप्यमुत्तमम् । एकाहारा निराहारा वायुभक्षास्तथा परे

tasthustatra sadā homaṁ kurvanto jāpyamuttamam | ekāhārā nirāhārā vāyubhakṣāstathā pare

They remained there always performing the fire-offering and excellent recitation; some eating once a day, some fasting, others living on air alone.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.421.13)

दन्तोलूखलिनः केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे । पञ्चाग्निसाधकाश्चान्ये सद्यः प्रक्षालकास्तथा

dantolūkhalinaḥ kecidaśmakuṭṭāstathā pare | pañcāgnisādhakāścānye sadyaḥ prakṣālakāstathā

Some used only their teeth as a mortar for grinding food, others crushed food only with stones; some practised the five-fires austerity, and others washed their food immediately before eating.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.421.14)

गीतं वाद्यं तथा चक्रुरन्ये देवाः पुरस्तदा । अनन्यश्रद्धयोपेतांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा पन्नगोत्तमान्

gītaṁ vādyaṁ tathā cakrurainye devāḥ purastadā | ananyaśraddhayopetāṁstāndṛṣṭvā pannagottamān

And other gods then performed song and music before them, seeing those foremost serpents endowed with undivided faith.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.421.15)

ततो देवी सुसन्तुष्टा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

tato devī susantuṣṭā vākyametaduvāca ha

Then the Goddess, well satisfied, spoke these words.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.421.16)

॥ देव्युवाच ॥ परितुष्टास्मि वो वत्साः किमर्थं तप्यते तपः । वरयध्वं वरं मत्तो यः स्थितो भवतां हृदि

devyuvāca | parituṣṭāsmi vo vatsāḥ kimarthaṁ tapyate tapaḥ | varayadhvaṁ varaṁ matto yaḥ sthito bhavatāṁ hṛdi

The Goddess said: "I am well pleased with you, O children. For what purpose is this austerity performed? Choose a boon from me, whatever is fixed in your hearts."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.421.17)

॥ नागा ऊचुः ॥ मातृशापेन संतप्ता वयं देवि निराश्रयाः । नागराजसमादेशाच्छरणं त्वां समागताः

nāgā ūcuḥ | mātṛśāpena saṁtaptā vayaṁ devi nirāśrayāḥ | nāgarājasamādeśāccharaṇaṁ tvāṁ samāgatāḥ

The serpents said: "O Goddess, tormented by our mother's curse, without refuge, by the command of the serpent king we have come to you for shelter."

Verse 18 (skanda.7.421.18)

सा त्वं रक्ष भयात्तस्माच्छापवह्निसमुद्भवात् । वयं मात्रा पुरा शप्ताः कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे । पारिक्षितस्य यज्ञे वः पावको भक्षयिष्यति

sā tvaṁ rakṣa bhayāttasmācchāpavahnisamudbhavāt | vayaṁ mātrā purā śaptāḥ kasmiṁścitkāraṇāntare | pārikṣitasya yajñe vaḥ pāvako bhakṣayiṣyati

"Protect us from that fear born of the curse's fire. Formerly we were cursed by our mother for some reason: 'In the sacrifice of Parikshit's son, fire shall devour you.'"

Verse 19 (skanda.7.421.19)

॥ देव्युवाच ॥ यावत्तस्य भवेद्यज्ञ स्तावद्यूयं ममान्तिके । संतिष्ठत विना भीत्या भोगान्भुङ्ध्वं सुपुष्कलान्

devyuvāca | yāvattasya bhavedyajña stāvadyūyaṁ mamāntike | saṁtiṣṭhata vinā bhītyā bhogānbhuṅdhvaṁ supuṣkalān

The Goddess said: "Until his sacrifice takes place, remain near me without fear, and enjoy abundant pleasures."

Verse 20 (skanda.7.421.20)

समाप्ते च क्रतौ भूयो गंतारः स्वं निकेतनम् । युष्माभिर्भेदितं यस्मादेतत्पर्वतकन्दरम्

samāpte ca kratau bhūyo gantāraḥ svaṁ niketanam | yuṣmābhirbheditaṁ yasmādetatparvatakandaram

"And when the sacrifice is over, you shall go again to your own abode. Since this mountain cavern has been cloven by you —"

Verse 21 (skanda.7.421.21)

नागह्रदं तु तत्तीर्थमेतद्भावि धरातले । अत्र यः श्रावणे मासि पञ्चम्यां भक्तितत्परः

nāgahradaṁ tu tattīrthametadbhāvi dharātale | atra yaḥ śrāvaṇe māsi pañcamyāṁ bhaktitatparaḥ

"— therefore this ford shall become known on earth as Nagahrada. He who, in the month of Shravana, on the fifth tithi, devoted here —"

Verse 22 (skanda.7.421.22)

करिष्यति नरः स्नानं तस्य नाहिकृतं भयम् । भविष्यति पुनः श्राद्धात्पितॄन्संतारयिष्यति

kariṣyati naraḥ snānaṁ tasya nāhikṛtaṁ bhayam | bhaviṣyati punaḥ śrāddhātpitṝnsaṁtārayiṣyati

"— shall bathe, for that man there shall be no fear caused by serpents; and again, through shraddha, he shall deliver his forefathers."

Verse 23 (skanda.7.421.23)

ये भोगा भूतले ख्याता ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः । नरो नित्यं लभिष्यति न संशयः

ye bhogā bhūtale khyātā ye divyā ye ca mānuṣāḥ | naro nityaṁ labhiṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"Whatever pleasures are renowned on earth, whether divine or human..." [Note: the source text here shows a genuine gap — roughly half a line is missing or corrupted in the Wikisource edition. Only the surviving words are translated below; no connective phrasing has been supplied.] "...a man shall ever obtain, without doubt."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.421.24)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो हृष्टा बभूवुस्ते मुक्त्वा तद्दारुणं भयम् । देव्याः शरणमापन्नास्तस्थुस्तत्र नगोत्तमे

pulastya uvāca | tato hṛṣṭā babhūvuste muktvā taddāruṇaṁ bhayam | devyāḥ śaraṇamāpannāstasthustatra nagottame

Pulastya said: Then they became joyful, freed from that terrible fear; having taken refuge with the Goddess, they remained there on that foremost mountain.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.421.25)

ततः कालेन महता सत्रे पारिक्षितस्य च । निर्वृत्ते ते तदा जग्मुः सुनिर्वृत्ता रसातलम्

tataḥ kālena mahatā satre pārikṣitasya ca | nirvṛtte te tadā jagmuḥ sunirvṛttā rasātalam

Then, after a great length of time, when the sacrificial session of Parikshit's son was concluded, they then, well content, went to the netherworld.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.421.26)

देव्या चैवाभ्यनुज्ञाताः प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः । कृच्छ्रात्पार्थिवशार्दूल तद्भक्त्या निश्चलीकृताः

devyā caivābhyanujñātāḥ praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ | kṛcchrātpārthivaśārdūla tadbhaktyā niścalīkṛtāḥ

Given leave by the Goddess, bowing again and again — O tiger among kings, held firm with difficulty by devotion to her —

Verse 27 (skanda.7.421.27)

अद्यापि कृष्णपंचम्यां श्रावणे मासि पार्थिव । सान्निध्यं तत्र कुर्वंति देवीदर्शनलालसाः

adyāpi kṛṣṇapañcamyāṁ śrāvaṇe māsi pārthiva | sānnidhyaṁ tatra kurvanti devīdarśanalālasāḥ

— even today, O king, on the dark fifth of the month of Shravana, they remain present there, longing for the sight of the Goddess.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.421.28)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत् । स्नानं च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ य इच्छेच्छ्रेय आत्मनः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena śrāddhaṁ tatra samācaret | snānaṁ ca pārthivaśreṣṭha ya icchecchreya ātmanaḥ

Therefore, O best of kings, one who desires his own good should, with all effort, perform shraddha and bathing there.