The Festival of the Boar

Verse 1 (skanda.8.108.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्मिन्विनिहते दैत्ये सुराः सर्वेभितुष्टुवुः । ऋषयश्च तपोयुक्ता पुष्पवृष्ट्यश्च पेतिरे

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasminvinihate daitye surāḥ sarvebhituṣṭuvuḥ | ṛṣayaśca tapoyuktā puṣpavṛṣṭyaśca petire

Sanatkumara said: When that daitya was slain, all the gods sang his praises, the sages devoted to austerity did likewise, and showers of flowers fell.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.108.2)

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुरदृश्याः सुमहास्वनाः । भूतानां चाभवच्छर्म प्रकृतिस्थं जगद्बभौ

devadundubhayo neduradṛśyāḥ sumahāsvanāḥ | bhūtānāṁ cābhavaccharma prakṛtisthaṁ jagadbabhau

Unseen divine kettledrums resounded with a mighty roar, peace came upon all beings, and the world appeared restored to its natural state.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.108.3)

जगामादृश्यतां चक्रं ततः स्वस्थाभवन् सुराः । ऋषयश्चैव लोकाश्च दैत्यं तं ददृशुर्हतम्

jagāmādṛśyatāṁ cakraṁ tataḥ svasthābhavan surāḥ | ṛṣayaścaiva lokāśca daityaṁ taṁ dadṛśurhatam

The discus then became invisible, the gods regained their composure, and the sages and all the worlds beheld that daitya lying slain.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.108.4)

असुरा अपि ते सर्वे पुरद्वाराणि सर्वशः । पिधाय यत्नात् सन्नद्धाः प्राकरेष्ववतस्थिरे

asurā api te sarve puradvārāṇi sarvaśaḥ | pidhāya yatnāt sannaddhāḥ prākareṣvavatasthire

Meanwhile all the asuras carefully barred every gate of the city, armed themselves, and took their stand upon the ramparts.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.108.5)

ते भीता मुक्तकेशाश्च रजोध्वस्ता भयार्दिताः । जीवितं सं परीप्सन्तः स्थिताः प्राकारगास्तदा

te bhītā muktakeśāśca rajodhvastā bhayārditāḥ | jīvitaṁ saṁ parīpsantaḥ sthitāḥ prākāragāstadā

Frightened, their hair dishevelled, covered in dust, tormented by fear, longing only to save their lives, they stood there upon the ramparts.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.108.6)

भगवानपि दीप्तार्चिर्हविषेद्ध इवानलः । भीषयानोसुरान्सर्वान् पृथिवीमन्वचिन्वत

bhagavānapi dīptārcirhaviṣeddha ivānalaḥ | bhīṣayānosurānsarvān pṛthivīmanvacinvata

The blessed lord, blazing like a fire fed with clarified butter, struck terror into all the asuras and began to search over the earth.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.108.7)

स बहिः सर्वतोन्विष्य उत्पाट्य च महीरुहान् । प्रणष्टामिव गां गोपः समन्तादन्वचिन्वत

sa bahiḥ sarvatonviṣya utpāṭya ca mahīruhān | praṇaṣṭāmiva gāṁ gopaḥ samantādanvacinvata

Searching everywhere outside, tearing up great trees as he went, he sought about on every side, like a cowherd searching for a lost cow.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.108.8)

पर्वतान्स तदोत्पाट्य दैत्योद्यानान्यचूर्णयत् । आरामान् स तडागानि बभञ्ज च ररास च

parvatānsa tadotpāṭya daityodyānānyacūrṇayat | ārāmān sa taḍāgāni babhañja ca rarāsa ca

Then, tearing up mountains, he crushed the daityas' gardens to dust; he smashed groves and lotus-pools as well, roaring all the while.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.108.9)

ततो दक्षिणतो गत्वा मुहूर्त्तं देवसत्तमः । शंखं पर्वतमासाद्य ननर्द जलदो यथा

tato dakṣiṇato gatvā muhūrttaṁ devasattamaḥ | śaṁkhaṁ parvatamāsādya nanarda jalado yathā

Then that best of gods, moving southward for a while, came upon the mountain named Shankha, and roared like a thundercloud.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.108.10)

असुरा ह्यपि ते भीताः प्राकारान्तरसंस्थिताः । अवैक्षन्त मृगेन्द्रं तं धावन्तं सर्वतोदिशः

asurā hyapi te bhītāḥ prākārāntarasaṁsthitāḥ | avaikṣanta mṛgendraṁ taṁ dhāvantaṁ sarvatodiśaḥ

The terrified asuras, standing within the ramparts, watched that lord of beasts as he ran hither and thither in every direction.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.108.11)

सोपि देवस्तदा शंखमुत्पाट्य नगमुत्तमम् । अपश्यत् पृथिवीं बद्धां रक्ष्यमाणां च दानवैः

sopi devastadā śaṁkhamutpāṭya nagamuttamam | apaśyat pṛthivīṁ baddhāṁ rakṣyamāṇāṁ ca dānavaiḥ

Then the god tore up that excellent mountain Shankha, and saw that the earth lay bound fast, guarded round by the danavas.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.108.12)

सागराम्भसि विक्षिप्य शंखं तं पर्वतोत्तमम् । अवधीद्दानवान् सर्वान् मेदिन्या येभिरक्षिणः

sāgarāmbhasi vikṣipya śaṁkhaṁ taṁ parvatottamam | avadhīddānavān sarvān medinyā yebhirakṣiṇaḥ

Hurling that excellent mountain Shankha into the waters of the ocean, he slew all the danavas who guarded the earth.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.108.13)

ततो विद्राव्य नागेन्द्रान् प्रगृह्य पृथिवीं बलात् । जगाम दैत्यान् सन्धृष्य रत्नान्यदाय सर्वशः

tato vidrāvya nāgendrān pragṛhya pṛthivīṁ balāt | jagāma daityān sandhṛṣya ratnānyadāya sarvaśaḥ

Then, driving off the great serpent-lords, he seized the earth by force, and, crushing the daityas underfoot, moved on, taking up all her jewels.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.108.14)

स तां दंष्ट्रांकुरे लग्नां वहन् भाति मृगेश्वरः । विषाणलग्नां लम्बन्तीं मृणालीं गजराडिव

sa tāṁ daṁṣṭrāṁkure lagnāṁ vahan bhāti mṛgeśvaraḥ | viṣāṇalagnāṁ lambantīṁ mṛṇālīṁ gajarāḍiva

Bearing her, caught upon the point of his tusk, the lord of beasts shone forth like a lord of elephants bearing a lotus-stalk hanging, caught upon his tusk.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.108.15)

स तां सागरमध्येन वहन्भाति मृगेश्वरः । वराहरूपी कालान्ते ब्रह्मेव वसुधां पुरा

sa tāṁ sāgaramadhyena vahanbhāti mṛgeśvaraḥ | varāharūpī kālānte brahmeva vasudhāṁ purā

Bearing her through the midst of the ocean, that lord of beasts in his boar-form shone forth, as Brahma once did with the earth at the end of the age, long ago.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.108.16)

स सागरन्तमुत्तीर्य भगवान्नन्दिवर्धनः । स्वस्थाने स्थापयामास महीं तां पुनरेव हि

sa sāgarantamuttīrya bhagavānnandivardhanaḥ | svasthāne sthāpayāmāsa mahīṁ tāṁ punareva hi

Then, having crossed to the far shore of the ocean, the blessed Nandivardhana set the earth back once more in her own place.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.108.17)

ततः शक्राय लोकाँस्त्रीनदात् स मधुसूदनः । उवाच राजा त्वन्नोद्य मित्रञ्चाहं तवानघ

tataḥ śakrāya lokā~strīnadāt sa madhusūdanaḥ | uvāca rājā tvannodya mitrañcāhaṁ tavānagha

Then Madhusudana gave the three worlds to Shakra and said: "O sinless one, from now you are our king, and I am your friend.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.108.18)

येन्येपि तेरयः केचिद्भविष्यन्त्यसुरेश्वराः । तेषामपि वधं घोरं करिष्यामि न संशयः

yenyepi terayaḥ kecidbhaviṣyantyasureśvarāḥ | teṣāmapi vadhaṁ ghoraṁ kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

And whatever other lords of asuras become your enemies in future, of them too I shall bring about a terrible destruction, without doubt."

Verse 19 (skanda.8.108.19)

ततस्तमृषयः सर्वे देवताश्च सवासवाः । ऊचुः स्वां मूर्त्तिमास्थाय यथा पूर्वं तथा भव

tatastamṛṣayaḥ sarve devatāśca savāsavāḥ | ūcuḥ svāṁ mūrttimāsthāya yathā pūrvaṁ tathā bhava

Then all the sages and the gods together with Vasava said to him: "Resume your own true form, and be as you were before."

Verse 20 (skanda.8.108.20)

वराह उवाच । इयं मूर्त्तिर्मया देवाः प्राप्ता परमवर्च्चसा । न चानया रतिः काचित् प्राप्ता मे सदृशी भुवि

varāha uvāca | iyaṁ mūrttirmayā devāḥ prāptā paramavarccasā | na cānayā ratiḥ kācit prāptā me sadṛśī bhuvi

The Boar said: "O gods, this form I have obtained through supreme splendour, and I have found no delight upon this earth to equal what I find in it.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.108.21)

सोहं कञ्चिद्विहृत्येह कालं मूर्त्यानया सुखम् । भविष्यामि पुनर्देवः सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि वः

sohaṁ kañcidvihṛtyeha kālaṁ mūrtyānayā sukham | bhaviṣyāmi punardevaḥ satyametad bravīmi vaḥ

So for some time I shall sport happily here in this very form, and afterward become a god once more - this I tell you in truth."

Verse 22 (skanda.8.108.22)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य जग्मुः स्थानानि सर्वशः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya jagmuḥ sthānāni sarvaśaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing these words of his, all the gods together with Vasava circumambulated him and departed, each to his own abode.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.108.23)

गतेषु देवसंघेषु भगवान्नन्दिवर्धनः । विजहार सुखं तत्र हत्वा दानवपुंगवम्

gateṣu devasaṁgheṣu bhagavānnandivardhanaḥ | vijahāra sukhaṁ tatra hatvā dānavapuṁgavam

When the host of gods had gone, the blessed Nandivardhana, having slain that foremost of danavas, sported there happily.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.108.24)

तस्य तत्रोपतिष्ठन्तमृग्यो भूत्वा सहस्रशः । वैदिक्योप्सरसः शुभ्रास्ताभिस्सह रराम सः

tasya tatropatiṣṭhantamṛgyo bhūtvā sahasraśaḥ | vaidikyopsarasaḥ śubhrāstābhissaha rarāma saḥ

There the radiant Vedic apsarases, taking the form of does by the thousand, came and attended upon him, and with them he took his pleasure.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.108.25)

स ताभिर्विचरन्देवो महात्मा नन्दिवर्धनः । रेमे मत्तो महानागो यथारण्ये करेणुभिः

sa tābhirvicarandevo mahātmā nandivardhanaḥ | reme matto mahānāgo yathāraṇye kareṇubhiḥ

The great god Nandivardhana, roaming about with them, took his delight as a mighty rutting elephant delights among she-elephants in the forest.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.108.26)

स सिंह इव सिंहीभिः शार्दूल इव चोन्नदनन् । रराम सागरानूपे ऐरावत इवापरः

sa siṁha iva siṁhībhiḥ śārdūla iva connadanan | rarāma sāgarānūpe airāvata ivāparaḥ

Like a lion among lionesses, roaring like a tiger, he took his pleasure in the marshes by the sea, like a very Airavata.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.108.27)

रममाणस्य सिद्धाश्च ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । पुष्पाणां रुचिरा वृष्टीः पातयन्ति वियत्स्थिताः

ramamāṇasya siddhāśca ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | puṣpāṇāṁ rucirā vṛṣṭīḥ pātayanti viyatsthitāḥ

As he sported thus, siddhas and sages rich in austerity, standing in the sky above, rained down lovely showers of flowers upon him.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.108.28)

तुष्टुवुश्चापरे नित्यं चक्रुश्चैनं प्रदक्षिणम् । देवदुन्दुभयो नित्यं सर्व एवान्ववादयन्

tuṣṭuvuścāpare nityaṁ cakruścainaṁ pradakṣiṇam | devadundubhayo nityaṁ sarva evānvavādayan

Others ceaselessly sang his praises and walked around him in reverence, while divine kettledrums resounded continually.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.108.29)

नृत्यन्त्यप्सरसश्चास्य वराहस्याग्रतस्तदा । वादयन्ति च गन्धर्वा गायन्ति च महात्मनः

nṛtyantyapsarasaścāsya varāhasyāgratastadā | vādayanti ca gandharvā gāyanti ca mahātmanaḥ

Apsarases danced before that great-souled Boar, and gandharvas played their instruments and sang.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.108.30)

रमयन्तो वराहन्तं देवाश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमाः । यक्षाः पुण्यजनना ये च तथा देवजनाश्च ये

ramayanto varāhantaṁ devāścendrapurogamāḥ | yakṣāḥ puṇyajananā ye ca tathā devajanāśca ye

The gods headed by Indra, the yakshas, the punyajanas, and the other folk of heaven too came there, delighting that Boar.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.108.31)

यातुधानाश्च ये केचिद् ब्रह्मधानाश्च सर्वशः । मनुष्याः पशवश्चैव ऋषयश्चैव सर्वशः

yātudhānāśca ye kecid brahmadhānāśca sarvaśaḥ | manuṣyāḥ paśavaścaiva ṛṣayaścaiva sarvaśaḥ

Whatever yatudhanas and brahmadhanas there were, and men and beasts and sages of every kind, all came there too.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.108.32)

राजन्याः क्षत्रियाः सर्वे निकायाश्चैव सर्वशः । तत्राजग्मुर्निरीक्षन्तो वराहस्योत्सवं शुभम्

rājanyāḥ kṣatriyāḥ sarve nikāyāścaiva sarvaśaḥ | tatrājagmurnirīkṣanto varāhasyotsavaṁ śubham

All the royal folk, the kshatriyas, and every other order of beings came there to behold the auspicious festival of the Boar.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.108.33)

बह्वाश्चर्यसमाकीर्णं बह्वालक्ष्य सदैव च । एवं तस्याभवद् व्यास वराहस्य महात्मनः । उत्सवः सुमहान् दिव्यः प्रत्यहं नन्दिवर्धनः

bahvāścaryasamākīrṇaṁ bahvālakṣya sadaiva ca | evaṁ tasyābhavad vyāsa varāhasya mahātmanaḥ | utsavaḥ sumahān divyaḥ pratyahaṁ nandivardhanaḥ

Filled with countless marvels, ever offering wonders to behold - thus, O Vyasa, did this exceedingly great and divine festival of the great-souled Boar Nandivardhana take place, day after day.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.108.34)

तस्योत्सोवोसौ ऋषिसंघजुष्टः सदा सुरैः सिद्धजनैश्च जुष्टः । गन्धर्वयक्षोरगराक्षसैश्च विद्याधरैश्चैव सहाप्सरोभिः

tasyotsovosau ṛṣisaṁghajuṣṭaḥ sadā suraiḥ siddhajanaiśca juṣṭaḥ | gandharvayakṣoragarākṣasaiśca vidyādharaiścaiva sahāpsarobhiḥ

That festival was ever attended by hosts of sages, always frequented by gods and siddhas, and joined too by gandharvas, yakshas, serpents, rakshasas, vidyadharas, and apsarases together.