The Glory of Dandapani and Chakradhara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.99.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि यत्र चक्रधरः स्थितः। दंडपाणिश्च देवेशि यत्रैकस्थानसंस्थितः

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi yatra cakradharaḥ sthitaḥ| daṇḍapāṇiśca deveśi yatraikasthānasaṁsthitaḥ

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to where Chakradhara, the bearer of the discus, stands; and, O Lady of the gods, where Dandapani too abides, established in that very same place.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.99.2)

चंद्रेशात्पूर्वदिग्भागे सोमेशादुत्तरे स्थितः। धनुषां पंचसंस्थाने गंधर्वेशात्समीपतः

candreśātpūrvadigbhāge someśāduttare sthitaḥ| dhanuṣāṁ pañcasaṁsthāne gandharveśātsamīpataḥ

It is situated to the east of Chandresha, to the north of Somesha, at a distance of five bows, near to Gandharvesha.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.99.3)

उमाया नैर्ऋते भागे ब्रह्मदेवर्षिसंस्थितः। तस्योत्पत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपातकनाशिनीम्

umāyā nairṛte bhāge brahmadevarṣisaṁsthitaḥ| tasyotpattiṁ pravakṣyāmi sarvapātakanāśinīm

In the southwest direction from Uma, established by Brahma and the divine sages; I shall tell his origin, the destroyer of all sin.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.99.4)

पौंड्रको वासुदेवस्तु वाराणस्यां पुराऽभवत्। तेन श्रुतं पुराणं तु पठ्यमानं द्विजातिभिः

pauṇḍrako vāsudevastu vārāṇasyāṁ purā'bhavat| tena śrutaṁ purāṇaṁ tu paṭhyamānaṁ dvijātibhiḥ

There was formerly, in Varanasi, a Vasudeva named Paundraka; by him the Purana was heard, being recited by the twice-born.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.99.5)

कल्पादौ द्वापरांते तु क्षत्रियाणां निवेशने। अवतारं महाबाहुवासुदेवः करिष्यति

kalpādau dvāparānte tu kṣatriyāṇāṁ niveśane| avatāraṁ mahābāhuvāsudevaḥ kariṣyati

'At the beginning of the Kalpa, at the end of Dvapara, in the household of the Kshatriyas, the mighty-armed Vasudeva shall take incarnation.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.99.6)

स तु मूढमतिर्मेने अहं विष्णुरिति प्रिये। चिह्नानि धारयामास चक्रादीनि वरानने

sa tu mūḍhamatirmene ahaṁ viṣṇuriti priye| cihnāni dhārayāmāsa cakrādīni varānane

He, however, of deluded mind, thought, 'I am Vishnu,' O beloved; he bore the emblems, the discus and the rest, O fair one.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.99.7)

स दूतं प्रेषयामास द्वारकायां महोदरम्। स गत्वा प्राह विष्णुं वै चक्रादीनि परित्यज

sa dūtaṁ preṣayāmāsa dvārakāyāṁ mahodaram| sa gatvā prāha viṣṇuṁ vai cakrādīni parityaja

He sent a messenger named Mahodara to Dvaraka; he, having gone, said to Vishnu, 'Give up the discus and the other emblems.'

Verse 8 (skanda.7.99.8)

इत्याह पौंड्रको राजा नचेद्वधमवाप्स्यसि। ततश्च भगवान्विष्णुः प्राहास्य रुचिरं वचः

ityāha pauṇḍrako rājā nacedvadhamavāpsyasi| tataśca bhagavānviṣṇuḥ prāhāsya ruciraṁ vacaḥ

'So says King Paundraka; otherwise you shall meet death.' Then the Lord Vishnu spoke to him this pleasant reply.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.99.9)

वाच्यः स पौंड्रको राजा त्वया हंत वचो मम। गृहीतचक्र एवाहं काशीमागम्य ते पुरीम्

vācyaḥ sa pauṇḍrako rājā tvayā haṁta vaco mama| gṛhītacakra evāhaṁ kāśīmāgamya te purīm

'You must say this word of mine to King Paundraka: having myself taken up the discus, coming to your city of Kashi—'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.99.10)

संत्यक्ष्यामि ततश्चक्रं गदां चेमामसंशयम्। तद्ग्राह्यं भवता चक्रमन्यद्वा यत्तवेप्सितम्

saṁtyakṣyāmi tataścakraṁ gadāṁ cemāmasaṁśayam| tadgrāhyaṁ bhavatā cakramanyadvā yattavepsitam

'— I shall then relinquish, without doubt, this discus and this mace; let that discus, or whatever else you desire, be taken by you.'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.99.11)

इत्युक्तेऽथ गते दूते संस्मृत्याऽभ्यागतं हरिः। गरुत्मन्तं समारुह्य त्वरितस्तत्पुरं ययौ

ityukte'tha gate dūte saṁsmṛtyā'bhyāgataṁ hariḥ| garutmantaṁ samāruhya tvaritastatpuraṁ yayau

So spoken, when the messenger had gone, Hari, recalling what had occurred, mounted upon Garuda and swiftly went to that city.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.99.12)

मित्रस्नेहात्ततस्तस्य काशिराजः सहानुगः। सर्वसैन्यपरीवारस्ततः पौंड्रमुपाययौ

mitrasnehāttatastasya kāśirājaḥ sahānugaḥ| sarvasainyaparīvārastataḥ pauṇḍramupāyayau

Then the king of Kashi, out of the affection of friendship, together with his followers, with his entire army and retinue, advanced towards Paundraka.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.99.13)

ततो बलेन महता काशिराजबलेन च। पौंड्रको वासुदेवोऽसौ केशवाभिमुखो ययौ

tato balena mahatā kāśirājabalena ca| pauṇḍrako vāsudevo'sau keśavābhimukho yayau

Then, with a great army, and with the army of the king of Kashi, that Paundraka Vasudeva advanced to face Keshava.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.99.14)

तं ददर्श हरिर्दूराद्दुर्वारे स्यंदने स्थितम्। चक्रहस्तं गदाशार्ङ्गसंयुतं गरुडध्वजम्

taṁ dadarśa harirdūrāddurvāre syandane sthitam| cakrahastaṁ gadāśārṅgasaṁyutaṁ garuḍadhvajam

Hari beheld him from afar, standing in an unassailable chariot, discus in hand, equipped with mace and Sharnga bow, bearing the Garuda banner.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.99.15)

तं दृष्ट्वा भावगंभीरं जहास गरुडध्वजः। उवाच पौंड्रकं मूढमात्मचिह्नोपलक्षितम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhāvagaṁbhīraṁ jahāsa garuḍadhvajaḥ| uvāca pauṇḍrakaṁ mūḍhamātmacihnopalakṣitam

Beholding him with a grave demeanor, Garuda-bannered Krishna laughed, and spoke to the deluded Paundraka, marked with his own emblems.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.99.16)

पौंड्रकोक्तं त्वया यत्तु दूतवक्त्रेण मां प्रति। समुत्सृजेति चिह्नानि तच्च सर्वं त्यजाम्यहम्

pauṇḍrakoktaṁ tvayā yattu dūtavaktreṇa māṁ prati| samutsṛjeti cihnāni tacca sarvaṁ tyajāmyaham

'That which you said to me through the mouth of your messenger, Paundraka — that I should give up the emblems — all of that I now relinquish.'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.99.17)

चक्रमेतत्समुत्सृष्टं गदेयं च विसर्जिता। गरुत्मानेष ते गत्वा समारोहतु वै ध्वजम्

cakrametatsamutsṛṣṭaṁ gadeyaṁ ca visarjitā| garutmāneṣa te gatvā samārohatu vai dhvajam

'This discus is now released, and this mace is cast off; let this very Garuda go to you, and mount upon your banner.'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.99.18)

इत्युच्चार्य विमुक्तेन चक्रेणासौ निपातितः। रथश्च गदया भग्नो गजाश्चाश्वाश्च चूर्णिताः

ityuccārya vimuktena cakreṇāsau nipātitaḥ| rathaśca gadayā bhagno gajāścāśvāśca cūrṇitāḥ

Having said this, he was struck down by the released discus; his chariot was shattered by the mace, and his elephants and horses were crushed.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.99.19)

ततो हाहाकृते लोके काशिनाथो महाबली। युयुधे वासुदेवेन मित्रदुःखेन दुःखितः

tato hāhākṛte loke kāśinātho mahābalī| yuyudhe vāsudevena mitraduḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ

Then, amid the cries of woe of the people, the mighty king of Kashi, grieved by his friend's suffering, fought with Vasudeva.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.99.20)

ततः शार्ङ्गविनिर्मुक्तैश्छित्त्वा तस्य शरैः शिरः। काशीपुर्यां स चिक्षेप कुर्वँल्लोकस्य विस्मयम्

tataḥ śārṅgavinirmuktaiśchittvā tasya śaraiḥ śiraḥ| kāśīpuryāṁ sa cikṣepa kurvalllokasya vismayam

Then, having severed his head with arrows released from the Sharnga bow, he cast it into the city of Kashi, causing the world to marvel.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.99.21)

हत्वा तु पौंड्रकं शौरिः काशिराजं च सानुगम्। पुनर्द्वारवतीं प्राप्तो मृगयाया गतो यथा

hatvā tu pauṇḍrakaṁ śauriḥ kāśirājaṁ ca sānugam| punardvāravatīṁ prāpto mṛgayāyā gato yathā

Having slain Paundraka, and the king of Kashi with his followers, Shauri returned once more to Dvaravati, as if returning from a hunt.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.99.22)

ततः काशिपतेः पुत्रः पितुर्दुःखेन दुःखितः। शंकरं तोषयामास स च तस्मै वरं ददौ

tataḥ kāśipateḥ putraḥ pitur duḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ| śaṁkaraṁ toṣayāmāsa sa ca tasmai varaṁ dadau

Then the son of the lord of Kashi, grieved by his father's death, propitiated Shankara; and he granted him a boon.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.99.23)

स वव्रे भगवन्कृत्या पितुर्हंतुर्वधाय मे। समुत्तिष्ठतु कृष्णस्य त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वर

sa vavre bhagavankṛtyā pituhantorvadhāya me| samuttiṣṭhatu kṛṣṇasya tvatprasādātsureśvara

He chose this boon: 'O Lord, O Lord of gods, let a Kritya arise, by your grace, for the slaying of Krishna, the killer of my father.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.99.24)

एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्ते दक्षिणाग्नेस्तु मध्यतः। महाकृत्या समुत्तस्थौ प्रस्थिता द्वारकां प्रति

evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyukte dakṣiṇāgnestu madhyataḥ| mahākṛtyā samuttasthau prasthitā dvārakāṁ prati

Being told, 'so shall it be,' from the midst of the southern sacrificial fire a great Kritya arose, and set out towards Dvaraka.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.99.25)

ज्वालामालाकरालां तां यादवा भयविह्वलाः। दृष्ट्वा जनार्द्दनं सर्वे शरणार्थमुपागताः

jvālāmālākarālāṁ tāṁ yādavā bhayavihvalāḥ| dṛṣṭvā janārddanaṁ sarve śaraṇārthamupāgatāḥ

Beholding her, terrible with garlands of flame, the Yadavas, overwhelmed with fear, all went to Janardana for refuge.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.99.26)

ततः सुदर्शनं तस्या मुमोच गरुडध्वजः। वधाय सा ततो भग्ना चक्रतेजोऽभिपीडिता

tataḥ sudarśanaṁ tasyā mumoca garuḍadhvajaḥ| vadhāya sā tato bhagnā cakratejo'bhipīḍitā

Then Garuda-bannered Krishna released the Sudarshana discus at her, for her destruction; she was then broken, overwhelmed by the fire of the discus.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.99.27)

कृत्यामनुजगामाशु विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम्। कृत्या वाराणसीं प्राप्ता तस्याश्चक्रं तु पृष्ठतः

kṛtyāmanujagāmāśu viṣṇoścakraṁ sudarśanam| kṛtyā vārāṇasīṁ prāptā tasyāścakraṁ tu pṛṣṭhataḥ

The Sudarshana discus of Vishnu at once pursued the Kritya; the Kritya reached Varanasi, with the discus behind her.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.99.28)

ततः सा भयसंत्रस्ता शंकरं शरणं गता। सोमनाथं जगन्नाथं नान्यः शक्तो हि रक्षितुम्

tataḥ sā bhayasaṁtrastā śaṁkaraṁ śaraṇaṁ gatā| somanāthaṁ jagannāthaṁ nānyaḥ śakto hi rakṣitum

Then she, terrified with fear, went for refuge to Shankara, Somanatha, the Lord of the world; for none other was able to protect her.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.99.29)

ततश्चक्रं वरैर्बाणैस्ताडयामास शंकरः। तच्च द्वारवतीं प्राप्तं शिवसायकमिश्रितम्

tataścakraṁ varairbāṇaistāḍayāmāsa śaṁkaraḥ| tacca dvāravatīṁ prāptaṁ śivasāyakamiśritam

Then Shankara struck the discus with his excellent arrows; and it, reaching Dvaravati, came mingled with Shiva's arrows.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.99.30)

तद्दृष्ट्वा शिवनामांकैस्ताडितं भगवान्हरिः। चक्रं शरैस्ततः कुद्धो गृहीत्वा च करेण तत्। जगाम तत्र यत्रास्ते सोमेशः कालभैरवः

taddṛṣṭvā śivanāmāṁkaistāḍitaṁ bhagavānhariḥ| cakraṁ śaraistataḥ kuddho gṛhītvā ca kareṇa tat| jagāma tatra yatrāste someśaḥ kālabhairavaḥ

Beholding it struck, marked with Shiva's name, the Lord Hari grew angry that the discus had been struck by those arrows; taking it up in his hand, he went to where Someshvara, Kala-Bhairava, abides.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.99.31)

स गत्वा रोष ताम्राक्षश्चक्रोद्यतकरः स्थितः। कृत्यां हंतुं मतिं चक्रे कालभैरवनिर्मिताम्

sa gatvā roṣa tāmrākṣaścakrodyatakaraḥ sthitaḥ| kṛtyāṁ haṁtuṁ matiṁ cakre kālabhairavanirmitām

Having gone there, angry, copper-eyed, standing with his discus raised in hand, he resolved to destroy the Kritya fashioned by Kala-Bhairava.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.99.32)

दृष्टो देवैस्ततः सर्वैदंडपाणिगणेन च। देवानां प्रेक्षतां तत्र दण्डपाणिर्महागणः। चक्रोद्यतकरं दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं प्राहाब्जलोचनम्

dṛṣṭo devaistataḥ sarvairdaṇḍapāṇigaṇena ca| devānāṁ prekṣatāṁ tatra daṇḍapāṇirmahāgaṇaḥ| cakrodyatakaraṁ dṛṣṭvā viṣṇuṁ prāhābjalocanam

Then, seen by all the gods and by the gana Dandapani, there, in the very sight of the gods, the great gana Dandapani, beholding the lotus-eyed Vishnu with his discus raised, spoke to him.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.99.33)

दंडपाणिरुवाच। मा क्रोधं कुरु देवेश कृत्यां प्रति जगत्प्रभो

daṇḍapāṇiruvāca| mā krodhaṁ kuru deveśa kṛtyāṁ prati jagatprabho

Dandapani said: Do not be angry, O Lord of gods, O Master of the universe, toward the Kritya.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.99.34)

अमोघं युधि ते चक्रं कृत्या चापि च शांकरी। एवं चक्र विनिर्मुक्ते भवेत्कोधो हरे यदि। भविष्यति महद्दुःखं लोकानां संक्षयो हि वा

amoghaṁ yudhi te cakraṁ kṛtyā cāpi ca śāṁkarī| evaṁ cakra vinirmukte bhavetkrodho hare yadi| bhaviṣyati mahadduḥkhaṁ lokānāṁ saṁkṣayo hi vā

'Your discus is unfailing in battle, and so too is Shankara's Kritya; thus, if anger should arise in Hari when the discus is released, great suffering, or even the destruction of the worlds, shall result.'

Verse 35 (skanda.7.99.35)

न मोक्तव्यमतश्चक्र शृणु भूयो वचश्च नः। अत्र स्थाने नियुक्तोऽहं शंकरेण पुरा हरे

na moktavyamataścakra śṛṇu bhūyo vacaśca naḥ| atra sthāne niyukto'haṁ śaṁkareṇa purā hare

'Therefore the discus should not be released; hear our word further. I have been appointed in this place by Shankara long ago, O Hari,'

Verse 36 (skanda.7.99.36)

पापिनां रक्षणार्थं वै विघ्नार्थं दुष्टचेतसाम्। तस्मात्त्वं मम सांनिध्ये तिष्ठ चक्रधरो हरे

pāpināṁ rakṣaṇārthaṁ vai vighnārthaṁ duṣṭacetasām| tasmāttvaṁ mama sāṁnidhye tiṣṭha cakradharo hare

'— for the protection of sinners, and for the obstruction of those of wicked mind. Therefore, O Hari, abide as Chakradhara in my presence.'

Verse 37 (skanda.7.99.37)

अत्र चक्रधरं देवं पूजयिष्यंति मानवाः। धूपमाल्योपहारैश्च नैवेद्यैर्विविधैरपि

atra cakradharaṁ devaṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti mānavāḥ| dhūpamālyopahāraiśca naivedyairvividhairapi

'Here, men shall worship you as the god Chakradhara, with incense, garlands, offerings, and various kinds of naivedya.'

Verse 38 (skanda.7.99.38)

विष्णुरुवाच। एष एव निवृत्तोहं तव वाक्यांकुशेन वै। अत्र चक्रोद्यतकरः स्थास्ये तव समीपतः

viṣṇuruvāca| eṣa eva nivṛtto'haṁ tava vākyāṁkuśena vai| atra cakrodyatakaraḥ sthāsye tava samīpataḥ

Vishnu said: 'By the very goad of your word I am now restrained; here, with discus raised in hand, I shall abide near you.'

Verse 39 (skanda.7.99.39)

एवं हि स्थितोदेवस्तत्र चक्रधरः प्रिये। दंडपाणिश्च भगवान्मम रूपी गणेश्वरः

evaṁ hi sthito devastatra cakradharaḥ priye| daṇḍapāṇiśca bhagavānmama rūpī gaṇeśvaraḥ

Thus indeed the god Chakradhara remains established there, O beloved; and the Lord Dandapani, my own form, the lord of the ganas —

Verse 40 (skanda.7.99.40)

यस्तौ पूजयते भक्त्या दंडपाणिहरी क्रमात्। स पाप कंचुकैर्मुक्तो गच्छेच्छिवपुरं नरः

yastau pūjayate bhaktyā daṇḍapāṇiharī kramāt| sa pāpa kaṁcukairmukto gacchecchivapuraṁ naraḥ

— he who worships these two, Dandapani and Hari, in due order, with devotion, that man, freed from the sheath of sin, goes to the city of Shiva.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.99.41)

माघे मासि चतुर्द्दश्यां कृष्णाष्टम्यां विशेषतः। गंधधूपोपहारैर्यः पूजयेद्दण्डनायकम्। तस्य क्षेत्रे निवसतो न विघ्नं जायते क्वचित्

māghe māsi caturddaśyāṁ kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| gandhadhūpopahārairyaḥ pūjayeddaṇḍanāyakam| tasya kṣetre nivasato na vighnaṁ jāyate kvacit

He who, especially in the month of Magha, on the fourteenth and on the dark eighth, worships the Lord of the Staff with fragrances, incense, and offerings — for him, dwelling in that field, no obstacle ever arises.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.99.42)

एकादश्यां जिताहारो योऽर्चयेच्चक्रपाणिनम्। स मुक्तः पातकैः सर्वैर्याति विष्णोः सलोकताम्

ekādaśyāṁ jitāhāro yo'rcayeccakrapāṇinam| sa muktaḥ pātakaiḥ sarvairyāti viṣṇoḥ salokatām

He who, on the eleventh lunar day, with restrained diet, worships the discus-bearer, is freed from all sins and attains the realm of Vishnu.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.99.43)

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं माहात्म्यं चक्रपाणिनः। दण्डपाणिगणस्यापि श्रुतं पापौघनाशनम्

iti saṁkṣepataḥ proktaṁ māhātmyaṁ cakrapāṇinaḥ| daṇḍapāṇigaṇasyāpi śrutaṁ pāpaughanāśanam

Thus has been told, in brief, the glory of Chakrapani, and likewise of the gana Dandapani — known to destroy the flood of sin.