The Binding of Vrika

Verse 1 (skanda.8.109.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य कालेन महता रमतः शक्तिनन्दन । भार्यायां चित्रलेखायां वृकोनामाभवत्सुतः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya kālena mahatā ramataḥ śaktinandana | bhāryāyāṁ citralekhāyāṁ vṛkonāmābhavatsutaḥ

Sanatkumara said: O son of Shakti, as he sported thus for a great length of time, a son named Vrika was born to him through his wife Chitralekha.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.109.2)

स वृको बलवान्नित्यं विचरन् पृथिवीमिमाम् । नर्दमानोवधील्लोके भूतानि शतशो महान्

sa vṛko balavānnityaṁ vicaran pṛthivīmimām | nardamānovadhīlloke bhūtāni śataśo mahān

That mighty and great Vrika, forever roaming this earth, went about roaring and slaying hundreds of creatures in the world.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.109.3)

अथाससाद शैलेन्द्र हिमवन्तं महागिरिम् । गौरीकूटसमीपे च कार्तिकेयालयं शुभम्

athāsasāda śailendra himavantaṁ mahāgirim | gaurīkūṭasamīpe ca kārtikeyālayaṁ śubham

Once he came upon the great mountain Himalaya, king of hills, and reached the auspicious dwelling of Kartikeya, near the peak of Gauri.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.109.4)

तमजानँस्तदाभ्येत्य बलेनाविनयेन च । नादयानो द्रुमाञ्छुभ्रान् रत्नहेमविभूषितान्

tamajāna~stadābhyetya balenāvinayena ca | nādayāno drumāñchubhrān ratnahemavibhūṣitān

Not recognising the place, he arrived there with force and insolence, roaring, and fell upon those radiant trees adorned with jewels and gold.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.109.5)

सर्वर्तुपुष्पफलदान् सर्वकामप्रदानपि । शिलामणिमयाः शुभ्राः शातकुम्भमयास्तथा

sarvartupuṣpaphaladān sarvakāmapradānapi | śilāmaṇimayāḥ śubhrāḥ śātakumbhamayāstathā

Those trees bore flowers and fruit in every season and granted every desire; some were formed of jewelled stone, others of purest gold, and none was spared.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.109.6)

हरितालमयाश्चान्यास्तथा मानःशिलोपालान् । उत्पाट्योत्पाट्य वेगेन बभञ्ज रूषितो यथा

haritālamayāścānyāstathā mānaḥśilopālān | utpāṭyotpāṭya vegena babhañja rūṣito yathā

Others still, made of orpiment and of realgar stone, he tore up again and again, enraged, and smashed to pieces with violent force.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.109.7)

स गर्जमानः सततं गजो मत्त इवापरः । बभञ्ज तद्वनं शुभ्रं कार्तिकेस्य धीमतः

sa garjamānaḥ satataṁ gajo matta ivāparaḥ | babhañja tadvanaṁ śubhraṁ kārtikesya dhīmataḥ

Roaring incessantly like some other rutting elephant, he laid waste the wise Kartikeya's beautiful grove.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.109.8)

तस्य गर्जितशब्देन वनभङ्गस्वनेन च । स्कन्दस्य गणपः शूरो निर्जगाम स मन्दिरात्

tasya garjitaśabdena vanabhaṅgasvanena ca | skandasya gaṇapaḥ śūro nirjagāma sa mandirāt

At the sound of his roaring and the crash of the grove being destroyed, Skanda's valiant chief of the ganas came forth from his dwelling.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.109.9)

कोकवक्त्र इति ख्यातो दृढं स्कन्दस्य वल्लभः । महात्मा बलसंपन्नो गत्वा वृकमवैक्षत

kokavaktra iti khyāto dṛḍhaṁ skandasya vallabhaḥ | mahātmā balasaṁpanno gatvā vṛkamavaikṣata

Known by the name Kokavaktra, the firmly beloved and powerful favourite of Skanda, that great soul went there and beheld Vrika.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.109.10)

स तं दृष्ट्वा महाकायं तरुणं प्रियदर्शनम् । जीमूतमिव नर्दन्तं किञ्चित्प्रकुपिताननम्

sa taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahākāyaṁ taruṇaṁ priyadarśanam | jīmūtamiva nardantaṁ kiñcitprakupitānanam

Seeing him - massive in frame, youthful, pleasant to look upon, his face somewhat contorted with rage, roaring like a thundercloud -

Verse 11 (skanda.8.109.11)

उवाच वचनं हृष्टः कोकवक्त्रो हसन्निव । कस्य त्वमिह संप्राप्तो बालो देवगृहं शुभम्

uvāca vacanaṁ hṛṣṭaḥ kokavaktro hasanniva | kasya tvamiha saṁprāpto bālo devagṛhaṁ śubham

- Kokavaktra, pleased, said, almost laughing: "Whose child are you, boy, and how have you come to this holy dwelling of a god?

Verse 12 (skanda.8.109.12)

न जानीषे किमेतत्त्वं स्कन्दस्य सुमहात्मनः । वेश्म देवैस्सगन्धर्वैः सयक्षोरगकिन्नरैः

na jānīṣe kimetattvaṁ skandasya sumahātmanaḥ | veśma devaissagandharvaiḥ sayakṣoragakinnaraiḥ

Do you not know that this is the dwelling of the great-souled Skanda, along with gods, gandharvas, yakshas, serpents, and kinnaras -

Verse 13 (skanda.8.109.13)

कृतं दयितभत्यर्थं गणैश्चापि सुपूजितम् । कुमारो मन्दरं यातः सर्वैस्सह गणेश्वरैः

kṛtaṁ dayitabhatyarthaṁ gaṇaiścāpi supūjitam | kumāro mandaraṁ yātaḥ sarvaissaha gaṇeśvaraiḥ

- made for the sake of his beloved attendants, and honoured well by the ganas? The prince has gone to Mount Mandara with all his lords of the ganas,

Verse 14 (skanda.8.109.14)

रक्षार्थं मामिह स्थाप्य वारयामि ततो हि ते । तुष्टोस्मि तव रूपेण बलेन वपुषा तथा

rakṣārthaṁ māmiha sthāpya vārayāmi tato hi te | tuṣṭosmi tava rūpeṇa balena vapuṣā tathā

leaving me here to guard the place, and so I stop you. Yet I confess I am pleased with your beauty, your strength, and your bearing.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.109.15)

उपारमस्व तेन त्वा ब्रवीमि सुमहाबल । अहं करिष्ये यद् भग्नं तथैव पुनरेव हि

upāramasva tena tvā bravīmi sumahābala | ahaṁ kariṣye yad bhagnaṁ tathaiva punareva hi

Therefore, O mighty one, I tell you - desist now. Whatever you have broken, I shall have restored just as it was before,

Verse 16 (skanda.8.109.16)

वक्ष्ये देवं च तं सम्यक् त्वदर्थं शूकरेश्वर । यथा न कुप्यते तुभ्यं प्रसादं ते करोति च

vakṣye devaṁ ca taṁ samyak tvadarthaṁ śūkareśvara | yathā na kupyate tubhyaṁ prasādaṁ te karoti ca

and, O son of the boar-lord, I shall speak well of you to that god, so that he will not be angered with you but will show you his favour instead."

Verse 17 (skanda.8.109.17)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वृकः संरक्तलोचनः । उवाच कोकवदनमिदं मृगपतिस्तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vṛkaḥ saṁraktalocanaḥ | uvāca kokavadanamidaṁ mṛgapatistadā

Sanatkumara said: Hearing his words, Vrika, that lord among beasts, his eyes red with fury, said this to the koka-faced one -

Verse 18 (skanda.8.109.18)

न बिभेमि कुमारस्य तव वा पापचेतसः । बले मम कुमारोसौ न तुल्यः सगणेश्वरः

na bibhemi kumārasya tava vā pāpacetasaḥ | bale mama kumārosau na tulyaḥ sagaṇeśvaraḥ

"I fear neither the prince nor you, evil-minded one. In strength that prince, even with all his lords of the ganas, is no match for me.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.109.19)

यद्वो बलञ्च दर्पश्च तत् कुरुध्वमशंकिताः । नामावशेषमेतद्वः कर्ताहं वनमन्ततः

yadvo balañca darpaśca tat kurudhvamaśaṁkitāḥ | nāmāvaśeṣametadvaḥ kartāhaṁ vanamantataḥ

Whatever strength and pride you possess, display it without hesitation; in the end I shall reduce you all to a mere name, and this grove besides."

Verse 20 (skanda.8.109.20)

ततः स वृक्षमुत्पाट्य हैमं वैदूर्यपल्लवम् । कोकवक्त्राय चिक्षेप ननाद च यथा वृषः

tataḥ sa vṛkṣamutpāṭya haimaṁ vaidūryapallavam | kokavaktrāya cikṣepa nanāda ca yathā vṛṣaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then he tore up a golden tree with leaves of cat's-eye gem and hurled it at Kokavaktra, roaring like a bull as he did so.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.109.21)

ततः प्रहस्य कोकास्यस्तमेवोद्गृह्य पादपम् । वृकं तं तेन संक्रुद्धः शिरस्यभिजघान ह

tataḥ prahasya kokāsyastamevodgṛhya pādapam | vṛkaṁ taṁ tena saṁkruddhaḥ śirasyabhijaghāna ha

Then Kokavaktra, laughing, seized that very tree, and, enraged, struck Vrika on the head with it.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.109.22)

स तेन सुप्रहारेण भ्रमित्वा मण्डलं मृगः । पपात भूमौ निःसंज्ञो यथा शक्रध्वजो महान्

sa tena suprahāreṇa bhramitvā maṇḍalaṁ mṛgaḥ | papāta bhūmau niḥsaṁjño yathā śakradhvajo mahān

By that heavy blow the beast, reeling in a circle, fell senseless to the ground, like some great banner of Indra toppled down.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.109.23)

ततस्तं पतितं दृष्टवा कोकास्यः प्रहसँस्तदा । बबन्ध पाशैर्बहुभिर्वेश्म चैव प्रवेशयत्

tatastaṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭavā kokāsyaḥ prahasa~stadā | babandha pāśairbahubhirveśma caiva praveśayat

Then, seeing him fallen, Kokavaktra, laughing, bound him fast with many ropes and carried him into his dwelling.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.109.24)

तं वद्धं पतितं दृष्टवा सहायास्तस्य ते मृगाः । प्रद्रुता सहसा सर्वे भयार्ता जीवितैषिणः

taṁ vaddhaṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭavā sahāyāstasya te mṛgāḥ | pradrutā sahasā sarve bhayārtā jīvitaiṣiṇaḥ

Seeing him bound and fallen, his companion beasts, terror-stricken and desiring only to save their lives, at once all fled.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.109.25)

अथागात्तेन कालेन गणपैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । कार्तिकेयो मयूरेण कूजमानेन सानुगः

athāgāttena kālena gaṇapairbahubhirvṛtaḥ | kārtikeyo mayūreṇa kūjamānena sānugaḥ

Meanwhile, at that very time, Kartikeya arrived, surrounded by many chiefs of the ganas, mounted on his cooing peacock, with his followers about him.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.109.26)

तस्य तत् कथयामास कोकवक्त्रो गणेश्वरः । वृकं च दर्शयामास पाशैर्बद्धं महाबलम्

tasya tat kathayāmāsa kokavaktro gaṇeśvaraḥ | vṛkaṁ ca darśayāmāsa pāśairbaddhaṁ mahābalam

Kokavaktra, lord of the ganas, related the whole matter to him, and showed him that mighty Vrika, bound fast with ropes.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.109.27)

कोकवक्त्र उवाच । भगवन् वराहरूपस्य सुतः श्रीमान् वृकः किल । हिरण्याक्षो हतो येन दानवो देवकण्टकः

kokavaktra uvāca | bhagavan varāharūpasya sutaḥ śrīmān vṛkaḥ kila | hiraṇyākṣo hato yena dānavo devakaṇṭakaḥ

Kokavaktra said: "Lord, this glorious Vrika is indeed the son of him who bears the Boar's form - of the one by whom the danava Hiranyaksha, thorn in the side of the gods, was slain.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.109.28)

बभञ्जायं सुदुष्टात्मा सहितोन्यैर्वनं तव । ततः पाशैर्मया बद्धः क्रियतामस्य यत् परम्

babhañjāyaṁ suduṣṭātmā sahitonyairvanaṁ tava | tataḥ pāśairmayā baddhaḥ kriyatāmasya yat param

This wicked-souled one, along with others, has laid waste your grove; therefore I have bound him fast with ropes. Now let whatever is fitting be done with him."

Verse 29 (skanda.8.109.29)

स्कन्द उवाच । नायं शक्यो मयाद्येह मोक्तुं मृगकुलाधमः । मुक्ते वक्तव्यता लोके भविष्यति न संशय

skanda uvāca | nāyaṁ śakyo mayādyeha moktuṁ mṛgakulādhamaḥ | mukte vaktavyatā loke bhaviṣyati na saṁśaya

Skanda said: "This lowest of the deer tribe I cannot set free here today; were he released, there would surely be reproach in the world, without doubt.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.109.30)

देवो मां वक्ष्यते व्यक्तं स्कन्दो भीतो न संशयः । यो मुमोच सुतं तस्य वराहस्य कृतागसम्

devo māṁ vakṣyate vyaktaṁ skando bhīto na saṁśayaḥ | yo mumoca sutaṁ tasya varāhasya kṛtāgasam

That god will plainly say of me: 'This Skanda grew afraid' - there is no doubt of it - should I release this guilty son of the Boar.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.109.31)

उक्तो गतश्चाहमद्य स्थाणुना परमात्मना । मा क्षमेथा वराहस्य तनुं त्वासौ ह्वयेद्यदि

ukto gataścāhamadya sthāṇunā paramātmanā | mā kṣamethā varāhasya tanuṁ tvāsau hvayedyadi

Only today the supreme Sthanu himself said to me: 'Do not forgive him, even should the Boar himself come to plead for his son' - and it was upon that command that I came here.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.109.32)

इयञ्च मम तेनाद्य शक्तिर्दत्तातिभास्वरा । संवर्त्तिकेति विख्याता सर्वास्त्रबलनाशनी

iyañca mama tenādya śaktirdattātibhāsvarā | saṁvarttiketi vikhyātā sarvāstrabalanāśanī

And it is he who this very day gave me this exceedingly radiant spear, known by the name Samvartika, which destroys the strength of every weapon.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.109.33)

सोयं दुरात्मा दुर्वृत्तः सर्वलोकप्रबाधकः । गृह्यतां वध्यतां चैव क्षिप्रमाविष्कृतं बलात्

soyaṁ durātmā durvṛttaḥ sarvalokaprabādhakaḥ | gṛhyatāṁ vadhyatāṁ caiva kṣipramāviṣkṛtaṁ balāt

This evil-souled, evil-conducted one afflicts every world; let him be seized at once, and let him be openly and forcibly put to death."

Verse 34 (skanda.8.109.34)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तत एनं बहिस्सर्वे स्कन्दस्य गणनायकाः । बद्ध्वा बहुविधैः पाशैर्यातयन्त सहस्रशः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tata enaṁ bahissarve skandasya gaṇanāyakāḥ | baddhvā bahuvidhaiḥ pāśairyātayanta sahasraśaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then the leaders of Skanda's ganas took him outside, bound him fast with ropes of many kinds, and tormented him with a thousand blows.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.109.35)

स यात्यमानो दुःखार्त्तो विललाप यथा नरः । निरयस्थो दुराचारः कर्मभिः स्वैः सुपाशितः

sa yātyamāno duḥkhārtto vilalāpa yathā naraḥ | nirayastho durācāraḥ karmabhiḥ svaiḥ supāśitaḥ

Tormented thus, he lamented in his anguish, like some evil-doer cast into hell, tightly bound in the fetters of his own deeds.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.109.36)

तं यात्यमानं सन्दृश्य नारदः सुमहातपाः । गत्वा न्यवेदयत्तस्य वराहस्यामितात्मनः

taṁ yātyamānaṁ sandṛśya nāradaḥ sumahātapāḥ | gatvā nyavedayattasya varāhasyāmitātmanaḥ

Seeing him tormented thus, Narada, of great austerity, went and reported the whole matter to the Boar, whose soul was measureless -

Verse 37 (skanda.8.109.37)

एष पुत्रो वृकस्तुभ्यं बद्धः पाशैरनेकशः । यात्यते कार्तिकेयस्य किङ्करैर्दुष्कृती यथा

eṣa putro vṛkastubhyaṁ baddhaḥ pāśairanekaśaḥ | yātyate kārtikeyasya kiṅkarairduṣkṛtī yathā

"This your son Vrika, bound fast with many ropes, is being tormented by Kartikeya's servants, as though he were some heinous wrongdoer.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.109.38)

न नाम तव देवस्य लोकार्थायोद्यतस्य च । करोति सन्नतिं स्कन्दो बालभावाच्च रोषतः

na nāma tava devasya lokārthāyodyatasya ca | karoti sannatiṁ skando bālabhāvācca roṣataḥ

Not even to you, a god ever intent upon the world's welfare, does Skanda show any deference - out of childish temper and anger.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.109.39)

अथवा स्वमलं स्कन्दो मन्यते बलवत्तरम् । त्वत्तोत्मनस्ततः पुत्रं तव पाशैर्बबन्ध ह

athavā svamalaṁ skando manyate balavattaram | tvattotmanastataḥ putraṁ tava pāśairbabandha ha

Or perhaps Skanda considers his own might greater than your own, and that is why he has bound your son with ropes.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.109.40)

तद्यावदेव तं नासौ प्रमापयति देवप । तावदेव भवान् गत्वा विमोचयतु मा चिरम्

tadyāvadeva taṁ nāsau pramāpayati devapa | tāvadeva bhavān gatvā vimocayatu mā ciram

Therefore, O lord of gods, before he actually kills him, go there yourself and free him at once, without delay."

Verse 41 (skanda.8.109.41)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वराहो नन्दिवर्धनः । जीमूत इव कालान्ते ननाद रूषिताननः

sanatkumāra uvāca | nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā varāho nandivardhanaḥ | jīmūta iva kālānte nanāda rūṣitānanaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing Narada's words, the Boar Nandivardhana, his face contorted with rage, roared like a thundercloud at the end of the age.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.109.42)

तस्य क्रोधात्तदा वह्निर्नेत्राभ्यामति दीप्तिमान् । निश्चक्राम जगत् सर्वं संहरन्निव तेजसा

tasya krodhāttadā vahnirnetrābhyāmati dīptimān | niścakrāma jagat sarvaṁ saṁharanniva tejasā

From his wrath a most brilliant fire burst forth from his two eyes, as though about to consume the whole world with its radiance.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.109.43)

उत्थाय चासनाद्देवः सहसैवोन्निरीक्षणः । प्रतस्थे शिखरं दिव्यं गौर्या मृगपतिः स्वयम्

utthāya cāsanāddevaḥ sahasaivonnirīkṣaṇaḥ | pratasthe śikharaṁ divyaṁ gauryā mṛgapatiḥ svayam

Rising suddenly from his seat, his gaze cast upward, that lord of beasts himself set out for Gauri's divine peak.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.109.44)

स कम्पयन्महीं सर्वां स्तूयमानो महात्मभिः । उत्पातानुत्थितान् पश्यन् जगामाविनिवारितः

sa kampayanmahīṁ sarvāṁ stūyamāno mahātmabhiḥ | utpātānutthitān paśyan jagāmāvinivāritaḥ

Making the whole earth tremble, praised by great souls, and seeing the ill omens that arose, he went on all the same, unhindered.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.109.45)

गच्छतस्तस्य देवस्य पन्थानं भुजगोच्छिनत् । दंष्ट्रा च वृक्षमापत्य पपात धरणीतले

gacchatastasya devasya panthānaṁ bhujagocchinat | daṁṣṭrā ca vṛkṣamāpatya papāta dharaṇītale

A serpent crossed the path of that god as he went, and his tusk, striking against a tree, fell to the ground.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.109.46)

रुधिरं चास्रवद्वक्त्राद्धृदयञ्च प्रवेपत । भयञ्चास्याभवत्तत्र वेगो येनाभिहन्यते

rudhiraṁ cāsravadvaktrāddhṛdayañca pravepata | bhayañcāsyābhavattatra vego yenābhihanyate

Blood flowed from his mouth, his heart trembled, and a sudden fear came upon him there, as though he had been struck by some violent force.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.109.47)

वायवः प्रतिलोमाश्च उरसा चापतद् भुवि । स्नेहश्चास्य प्रियां स्मृत्वा तदात्यर्थमजायत

vāyavaḥ pratilomāśca urasā cāpatad bhuvi | snehaścāsya priyāṁ smṛtvā tadātyarthamajāyata

Contrary winds blew, he fell forward onto the earth upon his chest, and just then a surge of deep affection arose in him as he thought of his beloved.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.109.48)

एताँश्चान्यान् सुबहुश उत्पातान् भयसूचकान् । अनादृत्य मृगेन्द्रोसौ जगामैव महाबलः

etā~ścānyān subahuśa utpātān bhayasūcakān | anādṛtya mṛgendrosau jagāmaiva mahābalaḥ

Disregarding these and many other omens portending danger, that mighty lord of beasts pressed on nonetheless.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.109.49)

तं प्रस्थितमभिप्रेक्ष्य निमित्तानि च सुव्रत । पूजां सज्जामकुर्वन्ते देवलोके दिवौकसः

taṁ prasthitamabhiprekṣya nimittāni ca suvrata | pūjāṁ sajjāmakurvante devaloke divaukasaḥ

O good sage, seeing him set forth thus, and seeing those omens, the dwellers of heaven began to make ready worship for him in the world of the gods.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.109.50)

स सिद्धसंघैरनुगम्यमानो यक्षैश्च गन्धर्वमहोरगैश्च । रक्षोगणैश्चारणकिन्नरैश्च जगाम गौरीशिखरं महात्मा

sa siddhasaṁghairanugamyamāno yakṣaiśca gandharvamahoragaiśca | rakṣogaṇaiścāraṇakinnaraiśca jagāma gaurīśikharaṁ mahātmā

Followed by hosts of siddhas, by yakshas, gandharvas, great serpents, hosts of rakshasas, charanas, and kinnaras, that great soul made his way to Gauri's peak.