The Release of Rukmini from Sorrow

Verse 1 (skanda.7.450.1)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ अहो ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः। महिमा यदयं नैव मृषा चक्रे मुनेर्वचः॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| aho brahmaṇyadevasya kṛṣṇasyāmitatejasaḥ| mahimā yadayaṁ naiva mṛṣā cakre munervacaḥ||

The sages said: Ah, such is the glory of the boundlessly radiant Krishna, devoted to brahmins, that he never let the sage's word go in vain!

Verse 2 (skanda.7.450.2)

तेन चक्रे न रोषं स सेतुपालो जनार्दनः। भृगोर्यश्चरणाघातं दधार हृदि लाञ्छनम्॥

tena cakre na roṣaṁ sa setupālo janārdanaḥ| bhṛgoryaścaraṇāghātaṁ dadhāra hṛdi lāñchanam||

Therefore he showed no anger — that same Janardana, guardian of the moral order, who once bore upon his very heart the mark of Bhrigu's kick.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.450.3)

सा तु देवी कथं तेन प्रेयसा विप्रयोजिता। एकाकिनी स्थिता तत्र कथ्यतामसुरेश्वर॥

sā tu devī kathaṁ tena preyasā viprayojitā| ekākinī sthitā tatra kathyatāmasureśvara||

But how did that goddess come to be separated from her beloved, left standing there all alone? Tell us this, O lord of the asuras.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.450.4)

उत्कण्ठिता अति वयं श्रोतुं द्वारवतीं मुदा। इदमादौ बुभुत्सामश्चित्तखेदापनुत्तये॥

utkaṇṭhitā ati vayaṁ śrotuṁ dvāravatīṁ mudā| idamādau bubhutsāmaścittakhedāpanuttaye||

We are most eager, and full of joy, to hear of Dvaravati; and to dispel this distress of mind, this is what we wish to know first.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.450.5)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ श्रूयतामृषयः सर्वे गदतो मम विस्तरात्। यथा शापोद्भवं दुःखं मुमोच हरिवल्लभा॥

prahlāda uvāca| śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ sarve gadato mama vistarāt| yathā śāpodbhavaṁ duḥkhaṁ mumoca harivallabhā||

Prahlada said: Listen, all you sages, as I tell in full how Hari's beloved was released from the sorrow born of that curse.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.450.6)

अथ दुर्वाससः शापमवाप्यारुन्तुदं तदा। यादवेन्द्रस्य गृहिणी सहसा पर्यदेवयत्॥

atha durvāsasaḥ śāpamavāpyāruntudaṁ tadā| yādavendrasya gṛhiṇī sahasā paryadevayat||

Then, having received that heart-piercing curse of Durvasa, the consort of the lord of the Yadavas suddenly broke into lament.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.450.7)

॥ रुक्मिण्युवाच ॥ कल्याणी बत वाणीयं लौकिकी संविभाव्यते। कूपके चैव सिन्धौ च प्रमाणान्नाधिकं जलम्॥

rukmiṇyuvāca| kalyāṇī bata vāṇīyaṁ laukikī saṁvibhāvyate| kūpake caiva sindhau ca pramāṇānnādhikaṁ jalam||

Rukmini said: Ah, how true this common saying proves — that whether in a well or in the ocean, water never exceeds its allotted measure.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.450.8)

यासाहं भूरिभाग्या वै प्राप्य नाथं जगत्पतिम्। इयमेकाकिनी जाता पौलस्त्याद्देवहेलनात्॥

yāsāhaṁ bhūribhāgyā vai prāpya nāthaṁ jagatpatim| iyamekākinī jātā paulastyāddevahelanāt||

I, who was so richly blessed in having attained the lord of the universe as my husband, now stand utterly alone — because of an affront to a god, at the hand of the descendant of Pulastya.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.450.9)

क्व मङ्गलालयः श्रीमाननवद्यगुणो हरिः। अल्पपुण्या सुसंबाधा कामिनी क्वातिचञ्चला॥

kva maṅgalālayaḥ śrīmānanavadyaguṇo hariḥ| alpapuṇyā susaṁbādhā kāminī kvāticañcalā||

Where is that Hari, abode of all auspiciousness, glorious, of flawless virtue — and where am I, a woman of scant merit, beset with trouble, so fickle and unworthy!

Verse 10 (skanda.7.450.10)

तथापि घटयामास धाता वञ्चनकोविदः। विधानमशुभाया मे वियोगविषमव्यथम्॥

tathāpi ghaṭayāmāsa dhātā vañcanakovidaḥ| vidhānamaśubhāyā me viyogaviṣamavyatham||

Yet still, that fate, so skilled in deception, has fashioned for me, ill-starred as I am, this cruel and grievous ordinance of separation.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.450.11)

अन्यथा वर्णगुरवः स्नातास्त्रैविद्यवर्त्मनि। कथं नु शप्तुमर्हन्ति स्वयं खिन्नामनागसम्॥

anyathā varṇagauravaḥ snātāstraividyavartmani| kathaṁ nu śaptumarhanti svayaṁ khinnāmanāgasam||

Otherwise, how could a brahmin, so venerable among the classes, versed in the threefold Vedic learning, rightly curse one already grieving and wholly guiltless?

Verse 12 (skanda.7.450.12)

विदधे वज्रमयं तु किं न्विदं हृदयं मेऽतिकठोरमेव हि। शतधा न विदीर्यते यतो विरहे दुर्विषहे मधुद्विषः॥

vidadhe vajramayaṁ tu kiṁ nvidaṁ hṛdayaṁ me'tikaṭhoramevam hi| śatadhā na vidīryate yato virahe durviṣahe madhudviṣaḥ||

Is this heart of mine then made of adamant, so exceedingly hard, that it does not shatter into a hundred pieces even in this unbearable separation from the slayer of Madhu?

Verse 13 (skanda.7.450.13)

अधिकृत्य सुदुश्चरं तपः प्रतिलब्धः प्रथमं मयात्मजः। तनयेन विनाकृताऽप्यहं न मृता पञ्चसु वासरेष्विह॥

adhikṛtya suduścaraṁ tapaḥ pratilabdhaḥ prathamaṁ mayātmajaḥ| tanayena vinākṛtā'pyahaṁ na mṛtā pañcasu vāsareṣviha||

Even when I was once separated, for five whole days, from the son I had obtained after undertaking the most arduous austerities, I did not die then either!

Verse 14 (skanda.7.450.14)

उपलभ्य सुदारुणामिमामपि पीडामवितास्म्यहं तदा। यदिदं विधुनोति कल्मषं खलु तन्मां समुपेत्य लक्षवृद्धिम्॥

upalabhya sudāruṇāmimāmapi pīḍāmavitāsmyahaṁ tadā| yadidaṁ vidhunoti kalmaṣaṁ khalu tanmāṁ samupetya lakṣavṛddhim||

So too, having endured even this most terrible affliction, I shall survive it; for this taint that has come upon me shall depart, growing away from me a hundred-thousandfold.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.450.15)

इति साऽतिविलप्य दुःखितार्था कुररीतुल्यतया शुशोच वेगात्। विरहेण विघूर्णिताशया द्विजशापापहता मुमूर्च्छ सद्यः॥

iti sā'tivilapya duḥkhitārthā kururītulyatayā śuśoca vegāt| viraheṇa vighūrṇitāśayā dvijaśāpāpahatā mumūrccha sadyaḥ||

Lamenting thus at great length, that sorrowing lady grieved intensely, like a kurari-bird crying out; her mind whirling with the pain of separation and struck down by the brahmin's curse, she fell into a swoon at once.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.450.16)

अथ दुर्वाससा शप्ता रुक्मिणी कृष्णवल्लभा। मूर्च्छनामाप तत्रैव ह्याजगाम पयोनिधिः॥

atha durvāsasā śaptā rukmiṇī kṛṣṇavallabhā| mūrcchanāmāpa tatraiva hyājagāma payonidhiḥ||

Thus cursed by Durvasa, Rukmini, Krishna's beloved, fell there into a swoon; and at that very moment the ocean himself arrived.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.450.17)

सुधाशीकरगर्भेण पद्मकिञ्जल्कवायुना। न्यवीजयदिमां देवीं रुक्मिणीं कृष्णवल्लभाम्॥

sudhāśīkaragarbheṇa padmakiñjalkavāyunā| nyavījayadimāṁ devīṁ rukmiṇīṁ kṛṣṇavallabhām||

With a breeze laden with drops of nectar and fragrant with lotus pollen, he began to fan that goddess Rukmini, Krishna's beloved.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.450.18)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र व्योममार्गेण नारदः। गायन्गुणान्भगवतो वीणापाणिः समागतः॥

etasminnantare tatra vyomamārgeṇa nāradaḥ| gāyanguṇānbhagavato vīṇāpāṇiḥ samāgataḥ||

At that moment, Narada, vina in hand, came travelling through the sky, singing the virtues of the Lord.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.450.19)

स दृष्ट्वा सिन्धुनाऽऽश्वास्यमानां विश्वस्य मातरम्। अवतीर्य श्रुतकथो बोधयामास नारदः॥

sa dṛṣṭvā sindhunāśvāsyamānāṁ viśvasya mātaram| avatīrya śrutakatho bodhayāmāsa nāradaḥ||

Seeing the Mother of the universe being comforted there by the ocean, Narada descended, learned the whole story, and set about consoling her.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.450.20)

॥ नारद उवाच ॥ मा खेदं देव देवेशि देवि त्वदधिपे पतौ। दूरीकृते विप्रशापात्कुरु कल्याणि धीरताम्॥

nārada uvāca| mā khedaṁ deva deveśi devi tvadadhipe patau| dūrīkṛte viprazāpātkuru kalyāṇi dhīratām||

Narada said: Do not grieve, O goddess. Even though your lord has been separated from you by the brahmin's curse, take courage, O blessed one.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.450.21)

त्वं हि साक्षाद्भगवती कृष्णश्च पुरुषोत्तमः। अवतीर्णो धराभारमपनेतुं यदृच्छया॥

tvaṁ hi sākṣādbhagavatī kṛṣṇaśca puruṣottamaḥ| avatīrṇo dharābhāramapanetuṁ yadṛcchayā||

You are indeed the goddess herself, and Krishna is the Supreme Person, who has descended by his own free will to remove the burden of the earth.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.450.22)

देवो ह्यसौ परं ब्रह्म सदाऽनिर्विण्णमानसः। मायाशक्तिस्त्वमेतस्य सर्गस्थित्यन्तकारिणः॥

devo hyasau paraṁ brahma sadā'nirviṇṇamānasaḥ| māyāśaktistvametasya sargasthityantakāriṇaḥ||

That god is the supreme Brahman itself, his mind ever untroubled; you are his power of maya, by which he performs creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.450.23)

संहृत्य निखिलं शेते ययाऽसौ कलया स्वराट्। तदापि न वियुज्येत त्वया विश्वपतिः प्रभुः॥

saṁhṛtya nikhilaṁ śete yayā'sau kalayā svarāṭ| tadāpi na viyujyeta tvayā viśvapatiḥ prabhuḥ||

Even when, by that power, the self-sovereign Lord withdraws the entire creation and lies in cosmic sleep, even then that master of the universe is never truly apart from you.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.450.24)

अवियुक्तस्त्वया नित्यं देवदेवो जगत्पतिः। लीलावतारेष्वेतस्य सर्वेषु त्वं सहायिनी॥

aviyuktastvayā nityaṁ devadevo jagatpatiḥ| līlāvatāreṣvetasya sarveṣu tvaṁ sahāyinī||

The god of gods, lord of the universe, is never truly separate from you. In all his sportive incarnations, you are ever his companion and helper.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.450.25)

योगं वियोगं च तथा न यात्येष त्वयाऽनघे। विडम्बयति भूतानामुपकाराय चेश्वरः॥

yogaṁ viyogaṁ ca tathā na yātyeṣa tvayā'naghe| viḍambayati bhūtānāmupakārāya ceśvaraḥ||

O sinless one, he does not truly undergo union or separation with you at all; the Lord merely enacts such appearances for the benefit of his creatures.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.450.26)

आराधनीयाः सततं भूदेवा भूतिमीप्सता। प्रकोपनीया नैवैते तत्त्वज्ञा हि तपस्विनः॥

ārādhanīyāḥ satataṁ bhūdevā bhūtimīpsatā| prakopanīyā naivaite tattvajñā hi tapasvinaḥ||

One who desires prosperity should always worship the brahmins, the gods on earth; these ascetics, who know the truth, should never be provoked to anger.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.450.27)

इत्येवं शिक्षयँल्लोकं वियोगं तेऽनुमन्यते। मुनिशापाद्धरिः साक्षाद्गूढः कपटमानुषः॥

ityevaṁ śikṣayaṁllokaṁ viyogaṁ te'numanyate| muniśāpāddhariḥ sākṣādgūḍhaḥ kapaṭamānuṣaḥ||

Thus instructing the world, that very Hari, veiled as it were in human disguise, consents to this separation on the pretext of the sage's curse.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.450.28)

अपि स्मरसि कल्याणि जातो रघुकुले स्वयम्। लोकानुग्रहमन्विच्छन्भूभारहरणोत्सुकः॥

api smarasi kalyāṇi jāto raghukule svayam| lokānugrahamanvicchanbhūbhāraharaṇotsukaḥ||

Do you remember, O blessed one, when he himself was born in the Raghu clan, desiring to bless the worlds and eager to remove the earth's burden?

Verse 29 (skanda.7.450.29)

तं हरिं जगतामीशं रुक्मिणि त्वं न वेत्सि किम्। प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयांसमयं देवः स एव हि॥

taṁ hariṁ jagatāmīśaṁ rukmiṇi tvaṁ na vetsi kim| prāṇebhyo'pi garīyāṁsamayaṁ devaḥ sa eva hi||

Do you not know, Rukmini, that Hari, lord of the worlds, who is dearer even than life itself? He is that very god.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.450.30)

येनेदं पूरितं विश्वं बहिरन्तश्च सुव्रते। असंगस्य विभोः संगः कथं स्यादिति मन्मतिः॥

yenedaṁ pūritaṁ viśvaṁ bahirantaśca suvrate| asaṅgasya vibhoḥ saṅgaḥ kathaṁ syāditi manmatiḥ||

O woman of noble vows, by whom this whole universe is pervaded, both within and without — how indeed could the all-pervading Lord, who is beyond all attachment, ever be truly bound in union? Such is my understanding.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.450.31)

तया त्वया नियुक्तोऽसाविति प्रत्येमि सर्वशः। तद्विमुञ्चाऽऽधिमत्यर्थमात्मानमनुसंस्मर। प्रसीद मातः सन्धेहि धीरतां स्वमनीषया॥

tayā tvayā niyukto'sāviti pratyemi sarvaśaḥ| tadvimuñcādhimatyarthamātmānamanusaṁsmara| prasīda mātaḥ sandhehi dhīratāṁ svamanīṣayā||

I am wholly convinced that he acts only as engaged by you yourself. So set aside this excessive anguish, and remember your own true nature. Be gracious, O mother, and through your own wisdom, take hold of steadfastness.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.450.32)

इति ब्रुवति देवर्षाववसाने नदीपतिः। प्रोवाच वचनं तस्यै वाचा मृदुसुवर्णया॥

iti bruvati devarṣāvavasāne nadīpatiḥ| provāca vacanaṁ tasyai vācā mṛdusuvarṇayā||

When the divine sage had finished speaking thus, the lord of the rivers, the ocean, addressed her in gentle and honeyed words:

Verse 33 (skanda.7.450.33)

॥ समुद्र उवाच ॥ यदाह देवि देवर्षिर्नत्वा त्वां सत्यमेव तत्। गीयसे त्वं हि वेदेषु नित्यं विष्णुः सहायिनी॥

samudra uvāca| yadāha devi devarṣirnatvā tvāṁ satyameva tat| gīyase tvaṁ hi vedeṣu nityaṁ viṣṇuḥ sahāyinī||

The ocean said: O goddess, what the divine sage, bowing to you, has said is entirely true. You are ever celebrated in the Vedas as Vishnu's eternal consort.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.450.34)

परः पुमानेव निरस्तविग्रहो गूढोऽधिपस्ते विदधाति भूयः। विश्वं व्यवस्थापयति स्वरोचिषा त्वया सहायेन बिभर्ति मूर्तिम्॥

paraḥ pumāneva nirastavigraho gūḍho'dhipaste vidadhāti bhūyaḥ| viśvaṁ vyavasthāpayati svarociṣā tvayā sahāyena bibharti mūrtim||

That Supreme Person alone, formless in essence, your lord, veils himself and yet again orders this universe; by his own radiance, and with you as his helper, he sustains this embodied form.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.450.35)

तदेष परिखेदस्ते न मनागपि युज्यते। वक्षःस्थलस्था भवती नित्यं श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मणः॥

tadeṣa parikhedaste na manāgapi yujyate| vakṣaḥsthalasthā bhavatī nityaṁ śrīvatsalakṣmaṇaḥ||

So this grief of yours is not warranted in the least — you dwell always upon the breast of him who bears the mark of Shrivatsa.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.450.36)

इयं भागीरथी देवी मदादेशादुपागता। विनोदयिष्यत्यनिशं त्वां हि देवि शरीरिणी॥

iyaṁ bhāgīrathī devī madādeśādupāgatā| vinodayiṣyatyaniśaṁ tvāṁ hi devi śarīriṇī||

This goddess Bhagirathi has come here at my command; taking embodied form, O goddess, she shall unceasingly console and delight you.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.450.37)

एतस्याः स्यान्मृदु स्वादु पयः पूरोपशोभितम्। प्रदेशोऽयमशेषोऽपि भविता त्वत्सुखप्रदः॥

etasyāḥ syānmṛdu svādu payaḥ pūropaśobhitam| pradeśo'yamaśeṣo'pi bhavitā tvatsukhapradaḥ||

Her waters shall be gentle and sweet, adorned by her flowing stream; and this entire region shall become a source of joy for you.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.450.38)

नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं निकुञ्जैरुपशोभितम्। मातङ्गैश्च समाजुष्टं मञ्जुगुञ्जन्मधुव्रतम्॥

nānādrumalatākīrṇaṁ nikuñjairupaśobhitam| mātaṅgaiśca samājuṣṭaṁ mañjuguñjanmadhuvratam||

It shall be filled with many trees and creepers, adorned with groves, frequented by elephants, and murmuring sweetly with humming bees.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.450.39)

नवपल्लवभङ्गीभिः कुसुमस्तबकैः शुभैः। फलैरमृतकल्पैश्च मञ्जरीराजिभिस्तथा॥

navapallavabhaṅgībhiḥ kusumastabakaiḥ śubhaiḥ| phalairamṛtakalpaiśca mañjarīrājibhistathā||

graced with the beauty of fresh young shoots, lovely clusters of blossoms, fruits like ambrosia, and rows of flowering sprays,

Verse 40 (skanda.7.450.40)

नन्दनस्य श्रिया जुष्टं मनोनयननन्दनम्। वनं रम्यतरं चात्र ह्यचिरेण भविष्यति॥

nandanasya śriyā juṣṭaṁ manonayananandanam| vanaṁ ramyataraṁ cātra hyacireṇa bhaviṣyati||

graced with the splendour of Nandana itself, delighting both mind and eye — such a forest shall arise here before long, most beautiful of all.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.450.41)

त्वया सम्बोधनीयाः स्म वयं मातः सदैव हि। अगम्यरूपा विद्या त्वमस्माभिर्बोध्यसे कथम्॥

tvayā sambodhanīyāḥ sma vayaṁ mātaḥ sadaiva hi| agamyarūpā vidyā tvamasmābhirbodhyase katham||

O mother, it is we who ought always to be instructed by you; you are wisdom itself, of unfathomable form — how could we presume to counsel you?

Verse 42 (skanda.7.450.42)

तदा वामनुजानीहि प्रसीद परमेश्वरि। नमस्ते विश्वजननि भूयोऽपि च नमोनमः॥

tadā vāmanujānīhi prasīda parameśvari| namaste viśvajanani bhūyo'pi ca namonamaḥ||

So grant us both leave, and be gracious, O supreme goddess. Salutations to you, O mother of the universe, salutations again and again!

Verse 43 (skanda.7.450.43)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा जगद्धात्रीं जग्मतुस्तौ यथागतम्। आजगाम च तत्रैव देवी भागीरथी स्वयम्॥

prahlāda uvāca| evamuktvā jagaddhātrīṁ jagmatustau yathāgatam| ājagāma ca tatraiva devī bhāgīrathī svayam||

Prahlada said: Having thus spoken to the mother of the world, both of them departed as they had come; and the goddess Bhagirathi herself then arrived there.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.450.44)

वनं समभवत्तत्र दिव्यभूरुहसेवितम्। सेव्यं समस्तलोकानां फलपुष्पसमृद्धिमत्॥

vanaṁ samabhavattatra divyabhūruhasevitam| sevyaṁ samastalokānāṁ phalapuṣpasamṛddhimat||

There arose a forest, graced with heavenly trees, fit to be frequented by all the worlds, and abundant with fruit and flowers.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.450.45)

प्रसादेन च भूतानां गङ्गाऽशेषाघहारिणी। भूषयामास तद्देशं सा च विष्णुपदी सरित्॥

prasādena ca bhūtānāṁ gaṅgā'śeṣāghahāriṇī| bhūṣayāmāsa taddeśaṁ sā ca viṣṇupadī sarit||

Out of compassion for all beings, the Ganga, remover of every sin, that river sprung from Vishnu's foot, adorned that land.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.450.46)

देवो च मुनिवाक्येन गङ्गायाश्च विनोदनात्। सौन्दर्या तस्य देशस्य किञ्चित्स्वास्थ्यमवाप ह॥

devo ca munivākyena gaṅgāyāśca vinodanāt| saundaryā tasya deśasya kiñcitsvāsthyamavāpa ha||

By the sage's words, by the soothing companionship of the Ganga, and by the beauty of that land, the goddess gained some measure of peace.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.450.47)

अथ विष्णुपदीं देवीं श्रुत्वा सागरसङ्गताम्। इतस्ततः समाजग्मुः श्रद्दधानाः पयस्विनीम्॥

atha viṣṇupadīṁ devīṁ śrutvā sāgarasaṅgatām| itastataḥ samājagmuḥ śraddadhānāḥ payasvinīm||

Then, hearing that the goddess Vishnupadi (Ganga) had joined the ocean there, faithful people gathered from every direction to that flowing river.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.450.48)

द्वारकावासिनश्चैव जनाः काननशोभया। हृष्टचित्ताः समाजग्मुरनिशं रुक्मिणीवनम्॥

dvārakāvāsinaścaiva janāḥ kānanaśobhayā| hṛṣṭacittāḥ samājagmuraniśaṁ rukmiṇīvanam||

The people dwelling in Dvaraka too, delighted by the forest's beauty, began coming ceaselessly to that grove of Rukmini.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.450.49)

श्रुत्वा तदखिलं सर्वं दुर्वासाः शाम्भवी कला। चुकोप स्मयमानश्च भूय एतदभाषत॥

śrutvā tadakhilaṁ sarvaṁ durvāsāḥ śāmbhavī kalā| cukopa smayamānaśca bhūya etadabhāṣata||

Hearing all this, Durvasa, that portion of Shambhu (Shiva), grew angry once more and, smiling grimly, spoke thus:

Verse 50 (skanda.7.450.50)

॥ दुर्वासा उवाच ॥ कः प्रभुस्त्रिषु लोकेषु मह्यं वचनमन्यथा। विधातुमपि देवानामाद्यो लोकपितामहः॥

durvāsā uvāca| kaḥ prabhustriṣu lokeṣu mahyaṁ vacanamanyathā| vidhātumapi devānāmādyo lokapitāmahaḥ||

Durvasa said: Who in the three worlds has the power to alter my word — not even Brahma, the primal grandsire of the gods themselves!

Verse 51 (skanda.7.450.51)

किं न जानाति लोकोऽयं मयि रोषकषायिते। शक्रं प्रति त्रिभुवनं भ्रष्टश्रीकमभूत्तदा॥

kiṁ na jānāti loko'yaṁ mayi roṣakaṣāyite| śakraṁ prati tribhuvanaṁ bhraṣṭaśrīkamabhūttadā||

Does this world not know that when I once flared with anger against Indra, the three worlds themselves were stripped of all their glory?

Verse 52 (skanda.7.450.52)

मम शापमविज्ञाय नन्दनप्रतिमे वने। कथं सा रुक्मिणी तत्र रमते जनसेविते॥

mama śāpamavijñāya nandanapratime vane| kathaṁ sā rukmiṇī tatra ramate janasevite||

Ignoring my curse, how does this Rukmini go on delighting in that forest resembling Nandana, thronged with people?

Verse 53 (skanda.7.450.53)

तदेते तरवः सर्वे सन्त्वभोज्यफला नृणाम्। विभ्रष्टसर्वसौभाग्याः कुसुमस्तबकोज्झिताः॥

tadete taravaḥ sarve santvabhojyaphalā nṛṇām| vibhraṣṭasarvasaubhāgyāḥ kusumastabakojjhitāḥ||

So let all these trees bear fruit unfit for men to eat; let them be stripped of all their beauty, bereft of every cluster of blossom.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.450.54)

इयं तु शापनिर्दग्धा हरचूडामणिः सरित्। वार्यस्याः स्यादपेयं तु नैवेह स्थातुमर्हति॥

iyaṁ tu śāpanirdagdhā haracūḍāmaṇiḥ sarit| vāryasyāḥ syādapeyaṁ tu naiveha sthātumarhati||

And this river too, jewel of Hara's crest, shall be scorched by my curse; her water shall become undrinkable, and she shall have no right to remain here.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.450.55)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ तदा सर्वमभूत्तत्र यद्यदाह च वै मुनिः। वाचि वीर्यं हि विप्राणां निर्मितं विष्णुना स्वयम्॥

prahlāda uvāca| tadā sarvamabhūttatra yadyadāha ca vai muniḥ| vāci vīryaṁ hi viprāṇāṁ nirmitaṁ viṣṇunā svayam||

Prahlada said: Then everything the sage had spoken came to pass exactly so — for Vishnu himself has invested the speech of brahmins with such power.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.450.56)

सा तु देवी तथा वृत्तमवेक्ष्य भृशदुःखिता। मेने दुरत्ययं दैवमापतत्तत्पुनःपुनः॥

sā tu devī tathā vṛttamavekṣya bhṛśaduḥkhitā| mene duratyayaṁ daivamāpatattatpunaḥpunaḥ||

Seeing all this come to pass, that goddess grew deeply grieved, and reckoned this fate, falling upon her again and again, to be utterly inescapable.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.450.57)

ततस्तु सा विनिश्चित्य मरणं दुःखभेषजम्। उत्तरीयाम्बरेणैव बहिः किञ्चित्प्रबध्य तु॥

tatastu sā viniścitya maraṇaṁ duḥkhabheṣajam| uttarīyāmbareṇaiva bahiḥ kiñcitprabadhya tu||

Then, resolving that death alone would remedy her sorrow, she took her upper garment and fastened it a little to a bough outside,

Verse 58 (skanda.7.450.58)

अथावबुध्य तत्सर्वं सर्वभूतगुहाशयः। तां ज्ञात्वा सत्वरं चाऽऽगात्सुपर्णेन दयानिधिः॥

athāvabudhya tatsarvaṁ sarvabhūtaguhāśayaḥ| tāṁ jñātvā satvaraṁ cāgātsuparṇena dayānidhiḥ||

Then he who dwells hidden in the heart of every being became aware of it all; and knowing this, that ocean of compassion came swiftly upon Garuda.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.450.59)

ददर्श तादृशीं देवीं कण्ठपाशकरां विभुः। अधस्तात्तरुशाखायां निमीलितविलोचनाम्॥

dadarśa tādṛśīṁ devīṁ kaṇṭhapāśakarāṁ vibhuḥ| adhastāttaruśākhāyāṁ nimīlitavilocanām||

The all-pervading Lord beheld the goddess in that state — a noose about her throat, beneath the branch of a tree, her eyes closed.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.450.60)

विभ्रष्टभूषणगणां कृशदेहवल्लीं म्लानाननाम्बुजरुचं मरणे प्रसक्ताम्। मेने स विग्रहवतीं करुणां कृपालुस्तां सौख्यदां गुणवतीं प्रणतार्तिहन्त्रीम्॥

vibhraṣṭabhūṣaṇagaṇāṁ kṛśadehavallīṁ mlānānanāmbujarucaṁ maraṇe prasaktām| mene sa vigrahavatīṁ karuṇāṁ kṛpālustāṁ saukhyadāṁ guṇavatīṁ praṇatārtihantrīm||

Her ornaments had all fallen away, her slender body-vine had grown thin, the radiance of her lotus-like face had faded, and she was bent on death. The compassionate Lord beheld her as very compassion embodied — she who bestows joy, who is full of virtue, and who removes the suffering of all who take refuge in her.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.450.61)

संश्रुत्य साऽपि पतगाधिपते रवं वै प्रोन्मील्य नेत्रकमलेऽथ ददर्श कृष्णम्। सामन्यत त्रिकविवर्तितलोचनाब्जं प्राप्तं तमिष्टसुहृदं निजजीवनाथम्॥

saṁśrutya sā'pi patagādhipate ravaṁ vai pronmīlya netrakamale'tha dadarśa kṛṣṇam| sāmanyata trikavivartitalocanābjaṁ prāptaṁ tamiṣṭasuhṛdaṁ nijajīvanātham||

Hearing the cry of the lord of birds (Garuda), she too opened her lotus eyes and beheld Krishna. She perceived that her dear beloved, the lord of her very life, had arrived, his lotus eyes turned upon her with that gentle threefold curve.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.450.62)

सा रोमहर्षविवशा त्रपया परीता कोपानुरागकलुषा कृतविप्रलापा। संवर्द्धितद्विगुणशोकभरा च देवी नानारसं बत दृशोर्विषयं प्रपेदे॥

sā romaharṣavivaśā trapayā parītā kopānurāgakaluṣā kṛtavipralāpā| saṁvarddhitadviguṇaśokabharā ca devī nānārasaṁ bata dṛśorviṣayaṁ prapede||

Overcome with a thrill through her whole body, wrapped in shyness, troubled by a mixture of anger and love, she broke into lament; her grief redoubled, and, ah, she became a spectacle of many mingled emotions before his very eyes.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.450.63)

तस्याः ससाध्वसविसर्गचिकीर्षितायाः पाशं व्यपोह्य करचारु सरोरुहेण। आदाय पाणिममृतोपमया च वाचा संजीवयन्निदमुदारमुदाजहार॥

tasyāḥ sasādhvasavisargacikīrṣitāyāḥ pāśaṁ vyapohya karacāru saroruheṇa| ādāya pāṇimamṛtopamayā ca vācā saṁjīvayannidamudāramudājahāra||

Removing the noose from her, terrified as she was and bent on ending her life, with his own beautiful lotus hand, and taking her hand in his, reviving her with words sweet as nectar, he spoke these gracious words:

Verse 64 (skanda.7.450.64)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ किमेतत्साहसं भीरु चिकीर्षत्यविचारितम्। ननु देवि ममाचक्ष्व किं नु ते खेदकारणम्॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| kimetatsāhasaṁ bhīru cikīrṣatyavicāritam| nanu devi mamācakṣva kiṁ nu te khedakāraṇam||

Shri Krishna said: What is this rash, unconsidered act you are about to undertake, timid one? Tell me, O goddess, what is the cause of your grief?

Verse 65 (skanda.7.450.65)

त्वं विद्याऽहं परो बोधस्त्वं माया चेश्वरस्त्वहम्। त्वं च बुद्धिरहं जीवो वियोगः कथमावयोः॥

tvaṁ vidyā'haṁ paro bodhastvaṁ māyā ceśvarastvaham| tvaṁ ca buddhirahaṁ jīvo viyogaḥ kathamāvayoḥ||

You are knowledge, I am the supreme awareness; you are maya, I am the Lord; you are intellect, I am the individual self — how then could there be separation between us two?

Verse 66 (skanda.7.450.66)

त्वया विमोहितात्मानो भ्राम्यन्त्यजभवादयः। सा कथं क्षुभ्यसि त्वं तु किं स्वधाम न बुध्यसे॥

tvayā vimohitātmāno bhrāmyantyajabhavādayaḥ| sā kathaṁ kṣubhyasi tvaṁ tu kiṁ svadhāma na budhyase||

By you, even beings such as the unborn Brahma are bewildered and made to wander — how then can you yourself be so disturbed? Do you not recognize your own true abode?

Verse 67 (skanda.7.450.67)

त्वया हि बद्धा ऋषयस्ते चरन्तीह कर्मभिः। तां त्वां कथमृषिः शप्तुं शक्नुयाद्वरवर्णिनि॥

tvayā hi baddhā ṛṣayaste carantīha karmabhiḥ| tāṁ tvāṁ kathamṛṣiḥ śaptuṁ śaknuyādvaravarṇini||

Even those very sages, who wander here bound by their own deeds, are bound by you — so how, O fair one, could any sage ever curse you?

Verse 68 (skanda.7.450.68)

शिक्षार्थं त्विह लोकानामेवं मे देवि चेष्टितम्। मन्मायया समाविष्टः कुरुते विवशः पुमान्। पश्य कोपपरीतात्मा यः स शान्तो मुनीश्वरः॥

śikṣārthaṁ tviha lokānāmevaṁ me devi ceṣṭitam| manmāyayā samāviṣṭaḥ kurute vivaśaḥ pumān| paśya kopaparītātmā yaḥ sa śānto munīśvaraḥ||

This whole affair, O goddess, has been enacted by me only to instruct the world. Pervaded by my maya, a man acts helplessly, as though compelled. See — that lord of sages, who seemed possessed by anger, is in truth ever peaceful by nature.

Verse 69 (skanda.7.450.69)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ सोऽभ्येत्य भक्तिनम्रोऽथ दुर्वासा मुनिसत्तमः। विचार्य मनसा सर्वं पश्चात्तापानुपाश्रयत्॥

prahlāda uvāca| so'bhyetya bhaktinamro'tha durvāsā munisattamaḥ| vicārya manasā sarvaṁ paścāttāpānupāśrayat||

Prahlada said: Then that foremost of sages, Durvasa, approaching humbly with devotion, pondered over everything in his mind and gave himself over to remorse.

Verse 70 (skanda.7.450.70)

किं मया कृतमित्युक्त्वा तत्समीपमुपागमत्। अपतद्विलुठन्भूमौ दण्डवच्चाश्रुसम्प्लुतः॥

kiṁ mayā kṛtamityuktvā tatsamīpamupāgamat| apatadvaluṭhanbhūmau daṇḍavaccāśrusamplutaḥ||

Saying, 'What have I done?' he came near, and, drenched in tears, fell to the ground, rolling there prostrate like a fallen staff.

Verse 71 (skanda.7.450.71)

पितरौ जगतो देवौ क्षामयामास दीनवत्। तुष्टाव सूक्तवाक्यैस्तु रहस्यैर्भक्तिसंयुतः॥

pitarau jagato devau kṣāmayāmāsa dīnavat| tuṣṭāva sūktavākyaistu rahasyairbhaktisaṁyutaḥ||

Humbly, like a wretched man, he begged forgiveness of those two divine parents of the universe, and praised them with devoted, esoteric hymns of praise.

Verse 72 (skanda.7.450.72)

आह चेदं जगन्नाथं यदि मय्यस्त्यनुग्रहः। तदा पुरेव सम्योगो देव देव्या विधीयताम्॥

āha cedaṁ jagannāthaṁ yadi mayyastyanugrahaḥ| tadā pureva samyogo deva devyā vidhīyatām||

He said to the Lord of the universe: If you have grace upon me, O god, then let there be reunion between you and the goddess, just as before.

Verse 73 (skanda.7.450.73)

अथ प्रहस्य गोविन्दस्तमाह मुनिसत्तमम्। न हि ते वचनं जातु मृषा भवितुमर्हति॥

atha prahasya govindastamāha munisattamam| na hi te vacanaṁ jātu mṛṣā bhavitumarhati||

Then Govinda, smiling, said to that foremost of sages: Your word can never possibly go in vain.

Verse 74 (skanda.7.450.74)

मयैवं विहितः सेतुः कथमुच्छेद्यतां द्विज। सद्भिराचरितः सेतुः सिद्धो लोकस्य पालकः॥

mayaivaṁ vihitaḥ setuḥ kathamucchedyatāṁ dvija| sadbhirācaritaḥ setuḥ siddho lokasya pālakaḥ||

I myself have established this bridge of moral order, O brahmin — how then could it be broken? The bridge upheld by the conduct of the virtuous is itself the established guardian of the world.

Verse 75 (skanda.7.450.75)

दिनेदिने द्विकालं च आयास्ये मुनिसत्तम। विनोदयिष्ये तां तां तु मुनिकन्यां च काम्यया॥

dinedine dvikālaṁ ca āyāsye munisattama| vinodayiṣye tāṁ tāṁ tu munikanyāṁ ca kāmyayā||

O best of sages, I shall come twice each day, and shall, of my own will, continue to bring delight to this daughter of the sages (the Ganga) as well.

Verse 76 (skanda.7.450.76)

तुष्यामि साधनैर्नान्यैर्मत्कथाकथनैरपि। यथा सम्पूज्य मामत्र मम प्रीतिर्भविष्यति॥

tuṣyāmi sādhanairnānyairmatkathākathanairapi| yathā sampūjya māmatra mama prītirbhaviṣyati||

I am not pleased by other means, nor even merely by the recitation of my own story, so much as I shall be gladdened by worship offered to me here.

Verse 77 (skanda.7.450.77)

यदा च मयि वैकुण्ठमधिरूढे महामुने। प्रवेक्ष्यति तदा तेजो मम सर्वं त्रिविक्रमे॥

yadā ca mayi vaikuṇṭhamadhirūḍhe mahāmune| pravekṣyati tadā tejo mama sarvaṁ trivikrame||

And, O great sage, when I ascend to Vaikuntha, then all my radiance shall enter into the form of Trivikrama here.

Verse 78 (skanda.7.450.78)

रुक्मिणीयं च मन्मूर्तेः सम्योगं पुनरेष्यति। इयं भागीरथी चापि सागरेण समा गुणैः। त्यक्त्वा ह्यशेषदुःखानि सुखं चैव गमिष्यति॥

rukmiṇīyaṁ ca manmūrteḥ samyogaṁ punareṣyati| iyaṁ bhāgīrathī cāpi sāgareṇa samā guṇaiḥ| tyaktvā hyaśeṣaduḥkhāni sukhaṁ caiva gamiṣyati||

This Rukmini shall be reunited once more with that form of mine. And this Bhagirathi too, equal to the ocean in her qualities, shall cast off all sorrow and attain happiness.

Verse 79 (skanda.7.450.79)

अनुग्रहं विधायैवमृषिणा सह केशवः। विवेश स्वपुरीं तत्र विधायोपान्तिकं मुनिम्॥

anugrahaṁ vidhāyaivamṛṣiṇā saha keśavaḥ| viveśa svapurīṁ tatra vidhāyopāntikaṁ munim||

Having thus shown favour to that sage, Keshava, leaving the sage nearby, entered his own city.

Verse 80 (skanda.7.450.80)

साऽपि देवी च सम्बुध्य तदा तस्य विचेष्टितम्। अनुग्रहाद्भगवतो बभूव विगतज्वरा॥

sā'pi devī ca sambudhya tadā tasya viceṣṭitam| anugrahādbhagavato babhūva vigatajvarā||

That goddess too, understanding his divine play, was, by the Lord's grace, freed of all her anguish.

Verse 81 (skanda.7.450.81)

यतश्च मुक्ता दुःखेन तत्र देवी हरिप्रिया। ततो भागीरथी सा तु गदिता दुःखमोचिनी॥

yataśca muktā duḥkhena tatra devī haripriyā| tato bhāgīrathī sā tu gaditā duḥkhamocinī||

Because the goddess, Hari's beloved, was there released from sorrow, that Bhagirathi came to be called 'Duhkhamochini' — the remover of sorrow.

Verse 82 (skanda.7.450.82)

अमावास्यां पौर्णमास्यां यस्तस्याः सङ्गमे शुभे। स्नायादशेषदुःखात्तु स नरः परिमुच्यते॥

amāvāsyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ yastasyāḥ saṅgame śubhe| snāyādaśeṣaduḥkhāttu sa naraḥ parimucyate||

Whoever bathes at her auspicious confluence on the day of the new moon or the full moon is wholly released from every sorrow.

Verse 83 (skanda.7.450.83)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चावलोकिता। नराणां रुक्मिणी देवी सर्वान्कामान्प्रयच्छति॥

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ navamyāṁ cāvalokitā| narāṇāṁ rukmiṇī devī sarvānkāmānprayacchati||

Beheld on the eighth, the fourteenth, or the ninth lunar day, the goddess Rukmini grants men all their desires.

Verse 84 (skanda.7.450.84)

इत्येतत्कथितं देव्या ऋषयो दुःखमोचनम्। अनुग्रहश्च देवस्य किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छथ॥

ityetatkathitaṁ devyā ṛṣayo duḥkhamocanam| anugrahaśca devasya kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchatha||

Thus, O sages, I have related the release of the goddess from her sorrow, and the Lord's gracious favour. What more do you wish to hear?