Daksha's Curse

Verse 1 (skanda.8.10.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। सा देवी त्र्यम्बकप्रोक्ता तताप सुचिरं तपः । निराहारा कदाचिच्च एकपर्ण्णाशना पुनः

sanatkumāra uvāca| sā devī tryambakaproktā tatāpa suciraṁ tapaḥ | nirāhārā kadācicca ekaparṇṇāśanā punaḥ

Sanatkumara said: That goddess, instructed by Tryambaka, performed austerity for a very long time — sometimes fasting entirely, and sometimes again subsisting on a single leaf.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.10.2)

वाय्वाहारा पुनश्चापि अब्भक्षा भूय एव हि । तां तपश्चरणे युक्तां ब्रह्मा ज्ञात्वातिभास्वराम्

vāyvāhārā punaścāpi abbhakṣā bhūya eva hi | tāṁ tapaścaraṇe yuktāṁ brahmā jñātvātibhāsvarām

And again subsisting on air alone, and yet again living only on water — knowing her thus engaged in austerity, exceedingly radiant, Brahma...

Verse 3 (skanda.8.10.3)

उवाच ब्रूहि तुष्टोस्मि देवि किं करवाणि ते । साब्रवीत् त्र्यम्बकं देवं पतिं प्राप्येन्दुवर्च्चसम् । विचरेयं सुखं देव सर्वांल्लोकान्नमस्तव

uvāca brūhi tuṣṭosmi devi kiṁ karavāṇi te | sābravīt tryambakaṁ devaṁ patiṁ prāpyenduvarccasam | vicareyaṁ sukhaṁ deva sarvāṁllokānnamastava

...said, "Speak, O goddess, I am pleased; what may I do for you?" She replied, "O Lord, having gained the moon-radiant god Tryambaka as my husband, may I wander happily through all the worlds — salutation to you."

Verse 4 (skanda.8.10.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच। नहि येन शरीरेण क्रियते परमं तपः । तेनैव परमेशोसौ पतिः शम्भुरवाप्यते

brahmovāca| nahi yena śarīreṇa kriyate paramaṁ tapaḥ | tenaiva parameśosau patiḥ śambhuravāpyate

Brahma said: "Not with the very body by which supreme austerity is performed can that Supreme Lord, the husband Shambhu, be attained."

Verse 5 (skanda.8.10.5)

तस्माद्धि योगाद्भवती दक्षस्येह प्रजापतेः । जायस्व दुहिता भूत्वा पतिं रुद्रमवाप्स्यसि

tasmāddhi yogādbhavatī dakṣasyeha prajāpateḥ | jāyasva duhitā bhūtvā patiṁ rudramavāpsyasi

"Therefore, O gracious one, through yoga be born here as the daughter of Daksha Prajapati; having become his daughter, you shall obtain Rudra as husband."

Verse 6 (skanda.8.10.6)

ततः सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा योगाद्देवी मनस्विनी । दक्षस्य दुहिता जज्ञे सतीनामातियोगिनी

tataḥ sā tadvacaḥ śrutvā yogāddevī manasvinī | dakṣasya duhitā jajñe satīnāmātiyoginī

Then, hearing those words, that wise goddess was born through yoga as the daughter of Daksha, named Sati, a great yogini.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.10.7)

तां दक्षस्त्र्यम्बकायैव ददौ भार्यामनिन्दिताम् । ब्रह्मणो वचनाद्यस्यां मानसानसृजत्सुतान्

tāṁ dakṣastryambakāyaiva dadau bhāryāmaninditām | brahmaṇo vacanādyasyāṁ mānasānasṛjatsutān

Daksha gave that blameless daughter as wife to Tryambaka alone; and at Brahma's word, he (Rudra) begot mind-born sons through her.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.10.8)

आत्मतुल्यबलान्दीप्तान् जरामरणवर्जितान् । अनेकानि सहस्राणि रुद्राणाममितौजसाम्

ātmatulyabalāndīptān jarāmaraṇavarjitān | anekāni sahasrāṇi rudrāṇāmamitaujasām

Equal to himself in strength, blazing, free from old age and death — many thousands of Rudras of immeasurable vigor were born.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.10.9)

तान्दृष्टा मृज्यमानाँश्च ब्रह्मा तं प्रत्यषेधयत् । मा स्राक्षीर्देवदेवेश प्रजा मृत्युविवर्जिताः

tāndṛṣṭā mṛjyamānā~śca brahmā taṁ pratyaṣedhayat | mā srākṣīrdevadeveśa prajā mṛtyuvivarjitāḥ

Seeing them thus multiplying, Brahma restrained him: "O God of gods, do not create offspring free from death."

Verse 10 (skanda.8.10.10)

अन्याः सृजस्व भद्रन्ते प्रजा मृत्युसमन्विताः । तेन चोक्तं स्थितोस्मीति स्थाणुस्तेन ततः स्मृतः

anyāḥ sṛjasva bhadrante prajā mṛtyusamanvitāḥ | tena coktaṁ sthitosmīti sthāṇustena tataḥ smṛtaḥ

"Create other offspring, subject to death, may it go well with you." At this he said, "I remain still (sthito'smi)" — hence he came to be known as Sthanu.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.10.11)

देवदेव उवाच। न स्रक्ष्ये मृत्युसंयुक्ताः प्रजा ब्रह्मन् कथञ्चन । स्थितोस्मि वचनात्तेद्य वक्तव्यो नास्मि ते पुनः

devadeva uvāca| na srakṣye mṛtyusaṁyuktāḥ prajā brahman kathañcana | sthitosmi vacanāttedya vaktavyo nāsmi te punaḥ

The God of gods said: "O Brahma, I shall never, in any way, create offspring bound to death. Today, at your word, I stand still — you need not say this to me again."

Verse 12 (skanda.8.10.12)

ये त्विमे मानसाः सृष्टा महात्मानो महाबलाः । चरिष्यन्ति मया सार्ध सर्व एते हि याज्ञिकाः

ye tvime mānasāḥ sṛṣṭā mahātmāno mahābalāḥ | cariṣyanti mayā sārdha sarva ete hi yājñikāḥ

"But these mind-born ones already created — the great-souled, the mighty — all of them shall move about together with me, for indeed they are all masters of sacrifice."

Verse 13 (skanda.8.10.13)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अथ काले गते व्यास स दक्षः शापकारणात् । अन्यानाहूय जामातॄन्सदारानर्च्चयद् गृहे

sanatkumāra uvāca| atha kāle gate vyāsa sa dakṣaḥ śāpakāraṇāt | anyānāhūya jāmātṝnsadārānarccayad gṛhe

Sanatkumara said: Then, O Vyasa, as time passed, that Daksha, for the cause that would bring about the curse, invited his other sons-in-law together with their wives and honored them in his house.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.10.14)

सतीं सह त्र्यम्बकेण नाजुहाव रुषान्वितः । सती ज्ञात्वा तु तत्सर्वं गत्वा पितरमब्रवीत्

satīṁ saha tryambakeṇa nājuhāva ruṣānvitaḥ | satī jñātvā tu tatsarvaṁ gatvā pitaramabravīt

Filled with anger, he did not invite Sati along with Tryambaka. But Sati, learning of all this, went to her father and said:

Verse 15 (skanda.8.10.15)

अहं ज्येष्ठा वरिष्ठा च जामात्रा सह सुव्रत । मां हित्वा नार्हसि ह्येताः सह भर्तृभिरर्चितुम्

ahaṁ jyeṣṭhā variṣṭhā ca jāmātrā saha suvrata | māṁ hitvā nārhasi hyetāḥ saha bhartṛbhirarcitum

"O one of good vows, I, together with my husband, am the eldest and most excellent (of your daughters). Leaving me aside, it is not right for you to honor these others with their husbands."

Verse 16 (skanda.8.10.16)

क्रोधेनाथ समाविष्टः स क्रोधोपहतेन्द्रियः । निरीक्ष्य प्राब्रवीद् दक्षश्चक्षुषा निर्दहन्निव

krodhenātha samāviṣṭaḥ sa krodhopahatendriyaḥ | nirīkṣya prābravīd dakṣaścakṣuṣā nirdahanniva

Then, overcome with anger, his senses overpowered by rage, Daksha looked at her and spoke, as though burning her with his glance.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.10.17)

मामेताः सति सस्नेहाः पूजयन्ति सभर्तृकाः । न त्वं तथा पूजयसे सह भर्त्रा महाव्रते

māmetāḥ sati sasnehāḥ pūjayanti sabhartṛkāḥ | na tvaṁ tathā pūjayase saha bhartrā mahāvrate

"O Sati, these others, with their husbands, honor me with affection; but you, O woman of great vows, together with your husband, do not honor me thus."

Verse 18 (skanda.8.10.18)

गृहांश्च मे सपत्नीकाः प्रविशन्ति तपोधनाः । श्रेष्ठस्तस्मात्सदा मन्ये ततस्तानर्चयाम्यहम्

gṛhāṁśca me sapatnīkāḥ praviśanti tapodhanāḥ | śreṣṭhastasmātsadā manye tatastānarcayāmyaham

"And ascetics rich in austerity enter my house together with their wives; therefore I always deem that practice best, and so I honor them."

Verse 19 (skanda.8.10.19)

तस्माद् यां ते करोम्यद्य शुभां वा यदि वाशुभाम् । पूजां गृहाण तां पुत्रि गच्छ वा यत्र रोचते

tasmād yāṁ te karomyadya śubhāṁ vā yadi vāśubhām | pūjāṁ gṛhāṇa tāṁ putri gaccha vā yatra rocate

"Therefore, O daughter, whatever honor I now offer you, be it auspicious or not, accept it — or else go wherever you please."

Verse 20 (skanda.8.10.20)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः सा क्रोधदीप्तास्या न जग्राहातिकोपिता । पूजामसम्मतां हीनामिदं चोवाच तं शुभा

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ sā krodhadīptāsyā na jagrāhātikopitā | pūjāmasammatāṁ hīnāmidaṁ covāca taṁ śubhā

Sanatkumara said: Then, her face blazing with anger, extremely enraged, she did not accept that disrespectful, inferior honor; and that auspicious one spoke these words to him:

Verse 21 (skanda.8.10.21)

यस्मादसम्मतामेनां पूजां त्वं कुरुषे मयि । श्लाघ्यां चैवाप्यदुष्टाञ्च श्रेष्ठां मां गर्हसे पितः

yasmādasammatāmenāṁ pūjāṁ tvaṁ kuruṣe mayi | ślāghyāṁ caivāpyaduṣṭāñca śreṣṭhāṁ māṁ garhase pitaḥ

"Since you offer me this disrespectful honor, O father, and since you scorn me though I am praiseworthy, blameless, and excellent —"

Verse 22 (skanda.8.10.22)

तस्मादियं स्वकं देहं त्यजाम्येषा तवात्मजा । असत्कृतायाः किं मेद्य जीवितेनाशुभेन ह

tasmādiyaṁ svakaṁ dehaṁ tyajāmyeṣā tavātmajā | asatkṛtāyāḥ kiṁ medya jīvitenāśubhena ha

"— therefore I, your own daughter, now give up this body of mine. What good is this inauspicious life to me, dishonored as I am?"

Verse 23 (skanda.8.10.23)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः कृत्वा नमस्कारं मनसा त्र्यम्बकाय ह । उवाचेदं सुसंरब्धा वचनं वचनारणिः

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ kṛtvā namaskāraṁ manasā tryambakāya ha | uvācedaṁ susaṁrabdhā vacanaṁ vacanāraṇiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then, having offered a mental salutation to Tryambaka, that eloquent woman, deeply agitated, spoke these words:

Verse 24 (skanda.8.10.24)

यत्राहमुपपद्येयं पुनर्देहे स्वयेच्छया । देव तत्राप्यसंमूढा संभूता धार्मिका सती

yatrāhamupapadyeyaṁ punardehe svayecchayā | deva tatrāpyasaṁmūḍhā saṁbhūtā dhārmikā satī

"O Lord, in whatever body I may again come to be, by my own will, there too, undeluded, may I be born a righteous and virtuous woman."

Verse 25 (skanda.8.10.25)

गच्छेयं धर्मपत्नीत्वं त्र्यम्बकस्यैव धीमतः । ततः सा धारणां कृत्वा देव्याग्नेयीं समाधिना

gaccheyaṁ dharmapatnītvaṁ tryambakasyaiva dhīmataḥ | tataḥ sā dhāraṇāṁ kṛtvā devyāgneyīṁ samādhinā

"May I become the righteous wife of the wise Tryambaka alone." Then, through meditative concentration, she took up the fiery dharana of the goddess.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.10.26)

ददाह वै स्वकं देहं स्वसमुत्थेन वह्निना । तां ज्ञात्वा त्र्यम्बको देवीं तथाभूतां महायशाः

dadāha vai svakaṁ dehaṁ svasamutthena vahninā | tāṁ jñātvā tryambako devīṁ tathābhūtāṁ mahāyaśāḥ

She consumed her own body with fire born from within herself. Knowing the goddess to be in that state, the greatly renowned Tryambaka...

Verse 27 (skanda.8.10.27)

उवाच दक्षं संगम्य इदं वचनकोविदः । यस्मात्ते निन्दितश्चाहं प्रशस्ताश्चेतरे पृथक्

uvāca dakṣaṁ saṁgamya idaṁ vacanakovidaḥ | yasmātte ninditaścāhaṁ praśastāścetare pṛthak

"...meeting Daksha, skilled in speech, he said this: "Since I have been reviled by you, while the others were separately honored —"

Verse 28 (skanda.8.10.28)

जामातरः सपत्नीकास्तस्माद्वैवस्वतेन्तरे । उत्पत्स्यन्ते पुनर्यज्ञे तव जामातरस्त्विमे

jāmātaraḥ sapatnīkāstasmādvaivasvatentare | utpatsyante punaryajñe tava jāmātarastvime

"— therefore, in the Vaivasvata period, these sons-in-law of yours, together with their wives, shall arise again at your sacrifice."

Verse 29 (skanda.8.10.29)

त्वं चैव मम शापेन क्षत्रियो भविता नृप । प्रचेतसां सुतश्चैव कन्यायां शाखिनां पुनः । धर्मविघ्नञ्च ते तत्र करिष्ये क्रूरकर्मणः

tvaṁ caiva mama śāpena kṣatriyo bhavitā nṛpa | pracetasāṁ sutaścaiva kanyāyāṁ śākhināṁ punaḥ | dharmavighnañca te tatra kariṣye krūrakarmaṇaḥ

"And you yourself, O king, shall by my curse become a kshatriya — son of the Prachetas, born again of a daughter of the trees; and there, O cruel one, I shall create an obstacle to your dharma."

Verse 30 (skanda.8.10.30)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। तमुवाच तदा दक्षो दूयता हृदयेन वै । मया यदि सुता स्वा वै प्रोक्ता त्यक्तापि वा पुनः

sanatkumāra uvāca| tamuvāca tadā dakṣo dūyatā hṛdayena vai | mayā yadi sutā svā vai proktā tyaktāpi vā punaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then Daksha, his heart grieving, said to him: "Whether I called her my own daughter, or again renounced her —"

Verse 31 (skanda.8.10.31)

किं तवात्र कृतं देव अहं तस्याः प्रभुः सदा । यस्मात्त्वं मामभ्यशपस्तस्मात्त्वमपि शङ्कर । भुव्येव वत्स्यसे नित्यं नान्तरिक्षे कदाचन

kiṁ tavātra kṛtaṁ deva ahaṁ tasyāḥ prabhuḥ sadā | yasmāttvaṁ māmabhyaśapastasmāttvamapi śaṅkara | bhuvyeva vatsyase nityaṁ nāntarikṣe kadācana

"— what is it to you, O God? I am always her lord (father). Since you have cursed me, therefore you too, O Shankara, shall dwell forever only upon the earth, never in the sky."

Verse 32 (skanda.8.10.32)

भागं च तव यज्ञेषु दत्त्वा सर्वे द्विजातयः । अपस्प्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वत्र महादेव महाद्युते

bhāgaṁ ca tava yajñeṣu dattvā sarve dvijātayaḥ | apasprakṣyanti sarvatra mahādeva mahādyute

"And, O greatly radiant Mahadeva, all the twice-born, after offering your portion in their sacrifices, shall everywhere touch water afterward, to purify themselves."

Verse 33 (skanda.8.10.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः स देवः प्रहसन् तमुवाच त्रिलोचनः । सर्वेषामेव लोकानां मूलं भूर्लोक उच्यते

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ sa devaḥ prahasan tamuvāca trilocanaḥ | sarveṣāmeva lokānāṁ mūlaṁ bhūrloka ucyate

Sanatkumara said: Then that three-eyed God, laughing, said to him: "The world called Bhurloka is said to be the very root of all the worlds."

Verse 34 (skanda.8.10.34)

तमहं धारयाम्येको लोकानां हितकाम्यया । एतस्मिन् हि धृते लोकाः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति शाश्वताः

tamahaṁ dhārayāmyeko lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā | etasmin hi dhṛte lokāḥ sarve tiṣṭhanti śāśvatāḥ

"I alone sustain it, wishing for the welfare of the worlds; for when this is upheld, all the worlds remain firm and everlasting."

Verse 35 (skanda.8.10.35)

तस्मात्तिष्ठाम्यहं नित्यमिहैव न तवेच्छया । भागान्दत्त्वा तथान्येभ्यो दित्सवो मे द्विजातयः

tasmāttiṣṭhāmyahaṁ nityamihaiva na tavecchayā | bhāgāndattvā tathānyebhyo ditsavo me dvijātayaḥ

"Therefore I dwell here always — not by your wish; the twice-born, desiring to give, offer portions to me just as to others."

Verse 36 (skanda.8.10.36)

अपः स्पृशन्ति शुद्ध्यर्थं भागं यच्छन्ति मे ततः । दत्त्वा स्पृशन्ति भूयश्च धर्मस्यैवाभिवृद्ध्ये

apaḥ spṛśanti śuddhyarthaṁ bhāgaṁ yacchanti me tataḥ | dattvā spṛśanti bhūyaśca dharmasyaivābhivṛddhye

"They touch water for purity's sake, then offer a portion to me; and having offered it, they touch water again, for the increase of dharma."

Verse 37 (skanda.8.10.37)

यथा हि देवनिर्माल्यं शुचयो धारयन्त्युत । अशुचिं स्प्रष्टुकामाश्च त्यक्त्वापः संस्पृशन्ति च

yathā hi devanirmālyaṁ śucayo dhārayantyuta | aśuciṁ spraṣṭukāmāśca tyaktvāpaḥ saṁspṛśanti ca

"Just as the pure wear a deity's discarded garland, and those wishing to touch something impure set it aside and then touch water again —"

Verse 38 (skanda.8.10.38)

यथा ममैव मन्येषां दित्सवो ब्राह्मणर्षभाः । भागानपः स्पृशन्ति स्म तत्र का परिदेवना

yathā mamaiva manyeṣāṁ ditsavo brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ | bhāgānapaḥ spṛśanti sma tatra kā paridevanā

"— just so, O foremost of brahmins, those wishing to offer shares, whether to me or to others, touch water; what is there in this to lament?"

Verse 39 (skanda.8.10.39)

त्वन्तु मच्छापनिर्दग्धो विपरीतो नराधमः । स्वस्यां सुतायां मूढात्मा पुत्रमुत्पादयिष्यसि

tvantu macchāpanirdagdho viparīto narādhamaḥ | svasyāṁ sutāyāṁ mūḍhātmā putramutpādayiṣyasi

"But you, burned by my curse, perverse, lowest of men, deluded in mind, shall beget a son upon your own daughter."

Verse 40 (skanda.8.10.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवं स भगवाञ्छप्त्वा दक्षं देवो जगत्पतिः । विरराम महातेजा जगाम च यथागतम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| evaṁ sa bhagavāñchaptvā dakṣaṁ devo jagatpatiḥ | virarāma mahātejā jagāma ca yathāgatam

Sanatkumara said: Having thus cursed Daksha, that Lord, God and ruler of the world, of great splendor, fell silent and departed as he had come.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.10.41)

सोमदिवाकरवह्निसमाक्षं चन्द्रनिभाननपद्मदलाक्षम् । गोवृषवाहममेय गुणौघं शाश्वतमिन्दुवह प्रणताः स्मः

somadivākaravahnisamākṣaṁ candranibhānanapadmadalākṣam | govṛṣavāhamameya guṇaughaṁ śāśvataminduvaha praṇatāḥ smaḥ

We bow before him whose eyes are like the moon, the sun, and fire; whose face is like the moon and whose eyes are like lotus petals; who rides the bull, whose host of virtues is immeasurable — the eternal one who bears the crescent moon.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.10.42)

य इमं दक्षशापाङ्क देव्याश्चैवाशरीरताम् । शृणुयाद् वाथ विप्रान् वा श्रावयीत यतव्रतः । स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तो रुद्रलोकमवाप्नुयात्

ya imaṁ dakṣaśāpāṅka devyāścaivāśarīratām | śṛṇuyād vātha viprān vā śrāvayīta yatavrataḥ | sa sarvapāpanirmukto rudralokamavāpnuyāt

Whoever, keeping disciplined vows, hears this account of Daksha's curse and the goddess's relinquishing of her body, or causes brahmins to hear it, shall be freed from all sin and attain the world of Rudra.