The Sages' Quest for Vishnu in the Kali Age

Verse 1 (skanda.7.448.1)

॥ शौनक उवाच ॥ कथं सूत युगे ह्यस्मिन् रौद्रे वै कलिसंज्ञके। बहुपाखण्डसंकीर्णे प्राप्स्यामो मधुसूदनम्॥

śaunaka uvāca| kathaṁ sūta yuge hyasmin raudre vai kalisaṁjñake| bahupākhaṇḍasaṁkīrṇe prāpsyāmo madhusūdanam||

Shaunaka said: O Suta, in this terrible age called Kali, so filled with countless false doctrines, how shall we attain Madhusudana?

Verse 2 (skanda.7.448.2)

युगत्रये व्यतिक्रान्ते धर्माचारपरे सदा। प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे क्व विष्णुर्भगवानिति॥

yugatraye vyatikrānte dharmācārapare sadā| prāpte kaliyuge ghore kva viṣṇurbhagavāniti||

When the three ages, ever devoted to righteous conduct, have passed, and the dreadful Kali Yuga has arrived, where indeed is the Lord Vishnu to be found?

Verse 3 (skanda.7.448.3)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ दिवं याते महाराजे रामे दशरथात्मजे। दुष्टराजन्यभारेण पीडिते धरणीतले॥

sūta uvāca| divaṁ yāte mahārāje rāme daśarathātmaje| duṣṭarājanyabhāreṇa pīḍite dharaṇītale||

Suta said: When the great King Rama, son of Dasharatha, departed for the heavens, and the earth was oppressed by the burden of wicked kings,

Verse 4 (skanda.7.448.4)

देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भूभारहरणाय च। वसुदेवगृहे साक्षादाविर्भूते जनार्दने॥

devānāṁ kāryasiddhyarthaṁ bhūbhāraharaṇāya ca| vasudevagṛhe sākṣādāvirbhūte janārdane||

then, to fulfil the purpose of the gods and to remove the burden of the earth, Lord Janardana appeared in person in the house of Vasudeva.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.448.5)

नन्दव्रजं गते देवे पूतनाशोषणे सति। घातिते च तृणावर्ते शकटे परिवर्तिते॥

nandavrajaṁ gate deve pūtanāśoṣaṇe sati| dhātite ca tṛṇāvarte śakaṭe parivartite||

When the Lord went to Nanda's cowherd settlement, when Putana was drained of life, when Trinavarta was slain, and the cart overturned,

Verse 6 (skanda.7.448.6)

दमिते कालिये नागे प्रलम्बे च निषूदिते। धृते गोवर्धने शैले परित्राते च गोकुले॥

damite kāliye nāge pralambe ca niṣūdite| dhṛte govardhane śaile paritrāte ca gokule||

when the serpent Kaliya was subdued, Pralamba was destroyed, Mount Govardhana was lifted, and Gokula was protected,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.448.7)

सुरभ्या चाभिषिक्ते तु इन्द्रे च विमदीकृते। रासक्रीडारते देवे दारिते केशिदानवे॥

surabhyā cābhiṣikte tu indre ca vimadīkṛte| rāsakrīḍārate deve dārite keśidānave||

when he was consecrated by Surabhi, when Indra's pride was humbled, when the Lord delighted in the rasa dance, and the demon Keshi was torn apart,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.448.8)

अक्रूरवचनाद्देवे मथुरायां गते हरौ। हते कुवलयापीडे मल्लराजे च घातिते॥

akrūravacanāddeve mathurāyāṁ gate harau| hate kuvalayāpīḍe mallarāje ca ghātite||

when at Akrura's word the Lord Hari went to Mathura, when the elephant Kuvalayapida was killed and the king of wrestlers slain,

Verse 9 (skanda.7.448.9)

पश्यतां देवदैत्यानां भोजराजे निपातिते। यदुपुर्यामभिषिक्त उग्रसेने नराधिपे॥

paśyatāṁ devadaityānāṁ bhojarāje nipātite| yadupuryāmabhiṣikta ugrasene narādhipe||

when, before the eyes of gods and demons, the Bhoja king Kamsa fell, and Ugrasena was consecrated as king in the Yadu city,

Verse 10 (skanda.7.448.10)

जरासन्धबले रौद्रे यवने च हते क्षितौ। राजसूये क्रतुवरे चैद्ये चैव निपातिते॥

jarāsandhabale raudre yavane ca hate kṣitau| rājasūye kraturvare caidye caiva nipātite||

when Jarasandha's dread army and the Yavana king were slain on earth, and at the great Rajasuya sacrifice the Chedi king (Shishupala) fell,

Verse 11 (skanda.7.448.11)

निवृत्ते भारते युद्धे भारे च क्षपिते भुवः। यात्राव्याजसमानीते प्रभासं यादवे कुले॥

nivṛtte bhārate yuddhe bhāre ca kṣapite bhuvaḥ| yātrāvyājasamānīte prabhāsaṁ yādave kule||

when the Bharata war had ceased and the earth's burden was lightened, and the Yadava clan was drawn, under the pretext of a pilgrimage, to Prabhasa,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.448.12)

मद्यपानप्रसक्ते तु परस्परवधोद्यते। कलहेनातिरौद्रेण विनष्टे यादवे कुले॥

madyapānaprasakte tu parasparavadhodyate| kalahenātiraudreṇa vinaṣṭe yādave kule||

when, given over to drinking wine, they turned upon one another in mutual slaughter, and the Yadava clan perished in a most terrible strife,

Verse 13 (skanda.7.448.13)

गात्रं संत्यज्य चात्रैव गतेऽनन्ते धरातलात्। अश्वत्थमूलमाश्रित्य समासीने जनार्दने॥

gātraṁ saṁtyajya cātraiva gate'nante dharātalāt| aśvatthamūlamāśritya samāsīne janārdane||

when Ananta (Balarama), leaving his body there, departed from the earth, and Janardana sat resting at the root of the ashvattha tree,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.448.14)

व्याधप्रहारभिन्नाङ्गे परित्यक्ते कलेवरे। स्वधामसंस्थिते देवे पार्थे च पुनरागते॥

vyādhaprahārabhinnāṅge parityakte kalevare| svadhāmasaṁsthite deve pārthe ca punarāgate||

when his body, pierced by the hunter's arrow, was cast off, and the Lord went to his own abode, and Partha (Arjuna) then returned,

Verse 15 (skanda.7.448.15)

यदुपुर्य्यां प्लावितायां सागरेण समन्ततः। शक्रप्रस्थं ततो गत्वा कारयित्वा हरेर्गृहम्॥

yadupuryāṁ plāvitāyāṁ sāgareṇa samantataḥ| śakraprasthaṁ tato gatvā kārayitvā harergṛham||

when the Yadava city was submerged on every side by the ocean, and Arjuna then went to Shakraprastha (Indraprastha) and had a temple built for Hari,

Verse 16 (skanda.7.448.16)

द्वापरे च व्यतिक्रान्ते धर्माधर्मविमिश्रिते। सम्प्राप्ते च महारौद्रे युगे वै कलिसंज्ञिते॥

dvāpare ca vyatikrānte dharmādharmavimiśrite| samprāpte ca mahāraudre yuge vai kalisaṁjñite||

and when the Dvapara age, mingled with both righteousness and unrighteousness, had passed, and the most terrible age called Kali had arrived,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.448.17)

क्षीयमाणे च सद्धर्मे विधर्मे प्रबले तथा। नष्टधर्मक्रियायोगे वेदवादबहिष्कृते। एकपादे स्थिते धर्मे वर्णाश्रमविवर्जिते॥

kṣīyamāṇe ca saddharme vidharme prabale tathā| naṣṭadharmakriyāyoge vedavādabahiṣkṛte| ekapāde sthite dharme varṇāśramavivarjite||

when true dharma was waning and false dharma growing strong, when righteous rites had perished and Vedic teaching was cast aside, when Dharma stood on but a single foot, bereft of the order of varna and ashrama,

Verse 18 (skanda.7.448.18)

अस्मिन्युगे विलुलिते ह्यृषयो वनचारिणः। समेत्यामन्त्रयन्सर्वे गर्गच्यवनभार्गवाः॥

asminyuge vilulite hyṛṣayo vanacāriṇaḥ| sametyāmantrayansarve gargacyavanabhārgavāḥ||

with this age thus thrown into disorder, the forest-dwelling sages — Garga, Chyavana, Bhargava, and others — assembled together and took counsel,

Verse 19 (skanda.7.448.19)

असितो देवलो धौम्यः क्रतुरुद्दालकस्तथा। एते चान्ये च बहवः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्॥

asito devalo dhaumyaḥ kraturuddālakastathā| ete cānye ca bahavaḥ parasparamathābruvan||

Asita, Devala, Dhaumya, Kratu, Uddalaka, and many others besides — these began to speak among themselves:

Verse 20 (skanda.7.448.20)

पश्यध्वं मुनयः सर्वे कलिव्याप्तं दिगन्तरम्। समन्तात्परिधावद्भिर्दस्युभिर्बाध्यते प्रजा॥

paśyadhvaṁ munayaḥ sarve kalivyāptaṁ digantaram| samantātparidhāvadbhirdasyubhirbādhyate prajā||

Behold, O sages all, how every quarter is overrun by Kali; on every side the people are harassed by marauding brigands roaming free.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.448.21)

अधर्मपरमैः पुंभिः सत्यार्जवनिराकृतैः। कथं स भगवान्विष्णुः सम्प्राप्यो मुनिसत्तमाः॥

adharmaparamaiḥ puṁbhiḥ satyārjavanirākṛtaiḥ| kathaṁ sa bhagavānviṣṇuḥ samprāpyo munisattamāḥ||

By men wholly given to unrighteousness, who have cast aside truth and honesty, how, O best of sages, is that Lord Vishnu to be attained?

Verse 22 (skanda.7.448.22)

को वा भवाब्धौ पततस्तारयिष्यति सङ्गतान्। न कलौ सम्भवस्तस्य त्रियुगो मधुसूदनः। तं विना पुण्डरीकाक्षं कथं स्याम कलौ युगे॥

ko vā bhavābdhau patatastārayiṣyati saṅgatān| na kalau sambhavastasya triyugo madhusūdanaḥ| taṁ vinā puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ kathaṁ syāma kalau yuge||

And who shall rescue us as we sink together into the ocean of worldly existence? Madhusudana, known as 'Triyuga' (present in but three ages), does not incarnate in the Kali age — so without that lotus-eyed one, how shall we survive this Kali age?

Verse 23 (skanda.7.448.23)

तेषां चिन्तयतामेवं दुःखितानां तपस्विनाम्। उवाच वचनं तत्र ऋषिरुद्दालकस्तदा॥

teṣāṁ cintayatāmevaṁ duḥkhitānāṁ tapasvinām| uvāca vacanaṁ tatra ṛṣiruddālakastadā||

While those grieving ascetics were thus lost in thought, the sage Uddalaka then spoke these words:

Verse 24 (skanda.7.448.24)

॥ उद्दालक उवाच ॥ यावन्न कलिदोषेण लिप्यामो मुनिसत्तमाः। अपापा ब्रह्मसदनं गच्छामः परिसङ्गताः॥

uddālaka uvāca| yāvanna kalidoṣeṇa lipyāmo munisattamāḥ| apāpā brahmasadanaṁ gacchāmaḥ parisaṅgatāḥ||

Uddalaka said: O best of sages, before we are tainted by the fault of Kali, let us, still sinless, go together to the abode of Brahma.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.448.25)

पृच्छामो लोकधातारं स्थितं विष्णुं कलौ युगे। यदि विष्णुः कलौ न स्याद्रुद्रेण ब्रह्मणाऽसह॥

pṛcchāmo lokadhātāraṁ sthitaṁ viṣṇuṁ kalau yuge| yadi viṣṇuḥ kalau na syādrudreṇa brahmaṇāsaha||

Let us ask the ordainer of the world where Vishnu abides in the Kali age; and if, even with Rudra and Brahma present, Vishnu is not to be found in Kali,

Verse 26 (skanda.7.448.26)

तं विना पुण्डरीकाक्षं त्यक्ष्यामः स्वकलेवरम्। विना भगवता लोके कः स्थास्यति कलौ युगे॥

taṁ vinā puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ tyakṣyāmaḥ svakalevaram| vinā bhagavatā loke kaḥ sthāsyati kalau yuge||

then, without that lotus-eyed Lord, we shall give up our very bodies — for without the Lord, who could remain in this world through the Kali age?

Verse 27 (skanda.7.448.27)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य ऋषयः संशितव्रताः। साधुसाध्विति ते चोक्त्वा प्रस्थिता ब्रह्मणोऽन्तिकम्॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya ṛṣayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ| sādhusādhviti te coktvā prasthitā brahmaṇo'ntikam||

Hearing his words, the sages of rigorous vows exclaimed, "Well said, well said!" and set out toward Brahma's presence.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.448.28)

कथयन्तः कथां विष्णोः स्वरूपमनुवर्णनम्। तापसाः प्रययुः सर्वे संहृष्टा ब्रह्मणोऽन्तिकम्॥

kathayantaḥ kathāṁ viṣṇoḥ svarūpamanuvarṇanam| tāpasāḥ prayayuḥ sarve saṁhṛṣṭā brahmaṇo'ntikam||

Recounting tales of Vishnu and describing his very form, all those ascetics, rejoicing, journeyed on toward Brahma.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.448.29)

ददृशुस्ते तदा देवमासीनं परमासने। पितामहभूतगणैर्मूर्तामूर्तैर्वृतं तथा॥

dadṛśuste tadā devamāsīnaṁ paramāsane| pitāmahabhūtagaṇairmūrtāmūrtairvṛtaṁ tathā||

Then they saw that god (Brahma) seated on his supreme throne, surrounded by hosts of beings, both embodied and formless.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.448.30)

दृष्ट्वा चतुर्मुखं देवं दण्डवत्प्रणताः क्षितौ। प्रणम्य देवदेवं तु स्तोत्रेण तुषुवुस्तदा॥

dṛṣṭvā caturmukhaṁ devaṁ daṇḍavatpraṇatāḥ kṣitau| praṇamya devadevaṁ tu stotreṇa tuṣuvustadā||

Beholding the four-faced god, they fell prostrate on the ground like staves, and having bowed to that god of gods, praised him with a hymn.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.448.31)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ नमस्ते पद्मसम्भूत चतुर्वक्त्राक्षयाव्यय। नमस्ते सृष्टिकर्त्रे तु पितामह नमोऽस्तु ते॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| namaste padmasambhūta caturvaktrākṣayāvyaya| namaste sṛṣṭikartre tu pitāmaha namo'stu te||

The sages said: Salutations to you, O lotus-born, four-faced, imperishable, undecaying one! Salutations to you, O grandsire, creator of all!

Verse 32 (skanda.7.448.32)

एवं स्तुतः सन्मुनिभिः सुप्रीतः कमलोद्भवः। पाद्यार्घ्येणाभिवन्द्यैतान्पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवान्॥

evaṁ stutaḥ sanmunibhiḥ suprītaḥ kamalodbhavaḥ| pādyārghyeṇābhivandyaitānpapraccha munipuṅgavān||

Thus praised by the virtuous sages, the lotus-born Brahma, greatly pleased, honoured them with water for the feet and offerings, and questioned those foremost of sages:

Verse 33 (skanda.7.448.33)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ किमागमनकृत्यं वो ब्रूत तत्त्वेन पुत्रकाः। कुशलं वो महाभागाः पुत्रशिष्याग्निबन्धुषु॥

brahmovāca| kimāgamanakṛtyaṁ vo brūta tattvena putrakāḥ| kuśalaṁ vo mahābhāgāḥ putraśiṣyāgnibandhuṣu||

Brahma said: Tell me truly, my sons, the purpose of your coming. Are all well, O fortunate ones — your sons, disciples, sacred fires, and kinsfolk?

Verse 34 (skanda.7.448.34)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ भवत्प्रसादात्सकलं प्राप्तं नस्तपसः फलम्। यद्भवन्तं प्रपश्यामः सर्वदेवगुरुं प्रभुम्॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| bhavatprasādātsakalaṁ prāptaṁ nastapasaḥ phalam| yadbhavantaṁ prapaśyāmaḥ sarvadevaguruṁ prabhum||

The sages said: By your grace we have obtained the full fruit of our austerities, in that we now behold you, the lord and preceptor of all the gods.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.448.35)

शृणु एतत्कारणं शम्भो एते प्राप्तास्तवान्तिकम्। युगत्रये व्यतिक्रान्ते कृतादिद्वापरान्तके॥

śṛṇu etatkāraṇaṁ śambho ete prāptāstavāntikam| yugatraye vyatikrānte kṛtādidvāparāntake||

Hear the reason, O gracious one, why these have come into your presence: when the three ages, from Krita to the end of Dvapara, have passed,

Verse 36 (skanda.7.448.36)

प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे क्व विष्णुः पृथिवीतले। यं दृष्ट्वा परमां मुक्तिं यास्यामो मुक्तबन्धनाः॥

prāpte kaliyuge ghore kva viṣṇuḥ pṛthivītale| yaṁ dṛṣṭvā paramāṁ muktiṁ yāsyāmo muktabandhanāḥ||

when the dread Kali age arrives, where on earth is Vishnu to be found — seeing whom we might be freed from all bondage and attain the supreme liberation?

Verse 37 (skanda.7.448.37)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ मत्स्यकूर्मादिरूपैश्च भगवाञ्ज्ञायते मया। विष्णोः पारमिकां मूर्तिं न जानामि द्विजोत्तमाः॥

brahmovāca| matsyakūrmādirūpaiśca bhagavāñjñāyate mayā| viṣṇoḥ pāramikāṁ mūrtiṁ na jānāmi dvijottamāḥ||

Brahma said: I know the Lord only through his forms such as the Fish and the Tortoise; but his ultimate, supreme form, O best of the twice-born, I do not know.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.448.38)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ यदि त्वं न विजानासि तात विष्णोरवस्थितिम्। गत्वा प्रयागं तत्रैव सन्त्यक्ष्यामः कलेवरम्॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| yadi tvaṁ na vijānāsi tāta viṣṇoravasthitim| gatvā prayāgaṁ tatraiva santyakṣyāmaḥ kalevaram||

The sages said: If you, O father, do not know where Vishnu abides, then we shall go to Prayaga and there give up our very bodies.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.448.39)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ मा विषादं व्रजध्वं हि उपदेक्ष्यामि वो हितम्। इतो व्रजध्वं पातालं यत्रास्ते दैत्यसत्तमः॥

brahmovāca| mā viṣādaṁ vrajadhvaṁ hi upadekṣyāmi vo hitam| ito vrajadhvaṁ pātālaṁ yatrāste daityasattamaḥ||

Brahma said: Do not despair; I shall instruct you for your own good. Go from here down to Patala, where the foremost of demons dwells.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.448.40)

तं गत्वा परिपृच्छध्वं प्रह्लादं दैत्यसत्तमम्। स ज्ञास्यति हरेः स्थानं याथातथ्येन भो द्विजाः॥

taṁ gatvā paripṛcchadhvaṁ prahlādaṁ daityasattamam| sa jñāsyati hareḥ sthānaṁ yāthātathyena bho dvijāḥ||

Go and ask Prahlada, foremost of the demons; he alone, O brahmins, will know the true dwelling place of Hari.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.448.41)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। प्रणिपत्य च देवेशं प्रस्थितास्ते तपोधनाः॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ| praṇipatya ca deveśaṁ prasthitāste tapodhanāḥ||

Hearing these words of Brahma, the supreme soul, and bowing to that lord of gods, those sages rich in austerity set forth.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.448.42)

जग्मुः संहृष्टमनसः स्तुवन्तो दैत्यसत्तमम्। धन्यः स दैत्यराजोऽयं यो जानाति जनार्दनम्॥

jagmuḥ saṁhṛṣṭamanasaḥ stuvanto daityasattamam| dhanyaḥ sa daityarājo'yaṁ yo jānāti janārdanam||

They went with joyful minds, extolling the foremost of demons: 'Blessed indeed is that king of demons who knows Janardana!'

Verse 43 (skanda.7.448.43)

इति सञ्चिन्तयानास्ते प्राप्ता वै सुतलं द्विजाः। गत्वा ते तस्य नगरं विविशुर्भवनोत्तमम्॥

iti sañcintayānāste prāptā vai sutalaṁ dvijāḥ| gatvā te tasya nagaraṁ viviśurbhavanottamam||

Thinking thus, those brahmins arrived in Sutala, and going on to his city, entered that splendid palace.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.448.44)

दूरादेव स तान्दृष्ट्वा बलिर्वैरोचनिस्तदा। प्रत्युत्थायार्हयाञ्चक्रे प्रह्लादेन समन्वितः॥

dūrādeva sa tāndṛṣṭvā balirvairocanistadā| pratyutthāyārhayāñcakre prahlādena samanvitaḥ||

Seeing them from afar, Bali, son of Virochana, together with Prahlada, rose at once and did them honour.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.448.45)

मधुपर्कं च गां चैव दत्त्वा चार्घ्यं तथैव च। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना॥

madhuparkaṁ ca gāṁ caiva dattvā cārghyaṁ tathaiva ca| uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā||

Offering honey-mixture, a cow, and water of welcome, he spoke with joined palms and a heart full of joy:

Verse 46 (skanda.7.448.46)

स्वागतं वो महाभागाः सुव्युष्टा रजनी मम। भवतो यत्प्रपश्यामि ब्रूत किं करवाणि च॥

svāgataṁ vo mahābhāgāḥ suvyuṣṭā rajanī mama| bhavato yatprapaśyāmi brūta kiṁ karavāṇi ca||

Welcome, O fortunate ones! My night has been well spent, in that I now behold you. Tell me, what may I do for you?

Verse 47 (skanda.7.448.47)

एवं हि दैत्यराजेन सत्कृतास्ते द्विजोत्तमाः। ऊचुः प्रहृष्टमनसो दानवेन्द्रसुतं तदा॥

evaṁ hi daityarājena satkṛtāste dvijottamāḥ| ūcuḥ prahṛṣṭamanaso dānavendrasutaṁ tadā||

Thus honoured by the king of demons, those best of brahmins, their hearts gladdened, then spoke to that son of the lord of danavas:

Verse 48 (skanda.7.448.48)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ कार्यार्थिनस्तु सम्प्राप्ताः प्रह्लाद हरिवल्लभ। तदस्माकं महाबाहो भवांस्त्राता भवार्णवात्॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| kāryārthinastu samprāptāḥ prahlāda harivallabha| tadasmākaṁ mahābāho bhavāṁstrātā bhavārṇavāt||

The sages said: O Prahlada, beloved of Hari, we have come to you seeking help. O mighty-armed one, you alone can be our deliverer from the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.448.49)

कथं दैत्य युगे ह्यस्मिन्रौद्रे वै कलिसंज्ञके। भविष्यामो विना विष्णुं भीतानामभयप्रदम्॥

kathaṁ daitya yuge hyasminraudre vai kalisaṁjñake| bhaviṣyāmo vinā viṣṇuṁ bhītānāmabhayapradam||

O demon, how shall we survive in this terrible age called Kali, without Vishnu, the giver of fearlessness to the frightened?

Verse 50 (skanda.7.448.50)

अस्मिन्युगे ह्यधर्मेण जितो धर्मः सनातनः। अनृतेन जितं सत्यं विप्राश्च वृषलैर्जिताः॥

asminyuge hyadharmeṇa jito dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ| anṛtena jitaṁ satyaṁ viprāśca vṛṣalairjitāḥ||

In this age unrighteousness has vanquished eternal dharma, falsehood has overcome truth, and the low-born have overpowered the brahmins.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.448.51)

विटैर्जिता वेदमार्गाः स्त्रीभिश्च पुरुषा जिताः। ब्राह्मणाश्चापि वध्यन्ते म्लेच्छराजन्यरूपिभिः॥

viṭairjitā vedamārgāḥ strībhiśca puruṣā jitāḥ| brāhmaṇāścāpi vadhyante mlecchrājanyarūpibhiḥ||

Profligates have overrun the path of the Veda, women have gained mastery over men, and brahmins are even being slain by rulers in the guise of barbarians.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.448.52)

अस्मिन्विलुलितप्राये वर्णाश्रमविवर्जिते। अविलुप्ते वेदमार्गे क्व विष्णुर्भगवानिति॥

asminvilulitaprāye varṇāśramavivarjite| avilupte vedamārge kva viṣṇurbhagavāniti||

In this world well-nigh in ruins, stripped of the order of varna and ashrama — even while the path of the Veda still remains unbroken — where indeed is the Lord Vishnu to be found?

Verse 53 (skanda.7.448.53)

विना ज्ञानाद्विना ध्यानाद्विना चेन्द्रियनिग्रहात्। प्राप्यते भगवान्यत्र तद्गुह्यं कथयस्व नः॥

vinā jñānādvinā dhyānādvinā cendriyanigrahāt| prāpyate bhagavānyatra tadguhyaṁ kathayasva naḥ||

Tell us that secret truth — the place where the Lord may be attained even without knowledge, without meditation, and without mastery over the senses.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.448.54)

दैत्यराज त्वमस्माकं सुहृन्मार्गप्रदर्शकः। कथयस्व महाभाग यत्र तिष्ठति केशवः॥

daityarāja tvamasmākaṁ suhṛnmārgapradarśakaḥ| kathayasva mahābhāga yatra tiṣṭhati keśavaḥ||

O king of demons, you are our friend and guide. Tell us, O fortunate one, where Keshava dwells.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.448.55)

एवं स द्विजमुख्यैश्च सम्पृष्टो दैत्यसत्तमः। प्रणम्य ब्राह्मणान्सर्वान्भक्त्या संहृष्टमानसः॥

evaṁ sa dvijamukhyaiśca sampṛṣṭo daityasattamaḥ| praṇamya brāhmaṇānsarvānbhaktyā saṁhṛṣṭamānasaḥ||

Thus questioned by those foremost brahmins, the best of demons, his heart filled with joy, bowed with devotion to all the brahmins,

Verse 56 (skanda.7.448.56)

स नमस्कृत्य देवेभ्यो ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने। भगवद्भक्तियुक्तः सन्व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे॥

sa namaskṛtya devebhyo brahmaṇe paramātmane| bhagavadbhaktiyuktaḥ sanvyāhartumupacakrame||

and having saluted the gods and Brahma, the supreme soul, he, filled with devotion to the Lord, began to speak.