Shiva's Disguised Courtship

Verse 1 (skanda.8.12.1)

ततः स भगवान्देवो ब्रह्मा तामाह सुस्वरम् । देवि येनैव सृष्टासि न विना यस्त्वया शुभे

tataḥ sa bhagavāndevo brahmā tāmāha susvaram | devi yenaiva sṛṣṭāsi na vinā yastvayā śubhe

Then the illustrious lord Brahma spoke to her in a gentle voice: 'O auspicious goddess, it was by him alone that you were created, and you exist not apart from him.'

Verse 2 (skanda.8.12.2)

स भर्ता तव देवेशो भविता मा तपः कृथाः । ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा ब्रह्मा व्यास गिरेः सुताम्

sa bhartā tava deveśo bhavitā mā tapaḥ kṛthāḥ | tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā brahmā vyāsa gireḥ sutām

The lord of the gods himself shall become your husband — cease your austerity now. Then, O Vyasa, Brahma, having circumambulated the mountain's daughter, departed.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.12.3)

जगामादर्शनं तस्याः सा चापि विरराम ह । सा देवी युक्तमित्येवमुक्त्वा स्वस्याश्रमस्य ह

jagāmādarśanaṁ tasyāḥ sā cāpi virarāma ha | sā devī yuktamityevamuktvā svasyāśramasya ha

He passed out of her sight, and she too ceased her austerity. Saying 'so be it, this is right,' the goddess went toward her own hermitage.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.12.4)

द्वारि जातमशोकं वै समुपाश्रित्य संस्थिता । अथागाच्चन्द्रतिलकस्त्रिदशार्तिहरो हरः

dvāri jātamaśokaṁ vai samupāśritya saṁsthitā | athāgāccandratilakastridaśārtiharo haraḥ

She sat resting against an ashoka tree that had sprung up at her door. Then Hara arrived, the moon-crested one, remover of the gods' afflictions.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.12.5)

विकृतं रूपमास्थाय ह्रस्वो बाहुक एव च । विभुग्ननासिको भूत्वा कुब्जः केशान्तपिङ्गलः

vikṛtaṁ rūpamāsthāya hrasvo bāhuka eva ca | vibhugnanāsiko bhūtvā kubjaḥ keśāntapiṅgalaḥ

Taking on a deformed shape — short of stature, crook-armed, his nose bent awry, hunchbacked, and with tawny hair at his temples.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.12.6)

उवाच विकृतास्यश्च देवि त्वां वरयाम्यहम् । अथोमा योगसंसिद्धा ज्ञात्वा शङ्करमागतम्

uvāca vikṛtāsyaśca devi tvāṁ varayāmyaham | athomā yogasaṁsiddhā jñātvā śaṅkaramāgatam

With his deformed face, he said: 'O goddess, I choose you as my bride.' Then Uma, perfected through yoga, recognized that it was Shankara who had come.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.12.7)

अन्तर्भावविशुद्धात्मा क्रियानुष्ठानलिप्सया । तमुवाचार्घपाद्याभ्यां मधुपर्केण चैव हि । संपूज्य सुमनोनेत्रा ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणप्रिया

antarbhāvaviśuddhātmā kriyānuṣṭhānalipsayā | tamuvācārghapādyābhyāṁ madhuparkeṇa caiva hi | saṁpūjya sumanonetrā brāhmaṇaṁ brāhmaṇapriyā

Pure of heart within, and wishing to perform the due rites, that lovely-eyed goddess, fond of brahmins, honored him — the brahmin — with offerings of water for the hands and feet and with the honey-mixture, and then spoke.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.12.8)

देव्युवाच। भगवन्न स्वतन्त्रास्मि पिता मेस्त्यरणो तथा । तौ प्रभू मम दाने वै कन्याहं द्विजपुङ्गव

devyuvāca| bhagavanna svatantrāsmi pitā mestyaraṇo tathā | tau prabhū mama dāne vai kanyāhaṁ dvijapuṅgava

The goddess said: O lord, I am not independent. I have a father, and likewise another guardian as well; it is those two who have authority over my being given in marriage, O foremost of brahmins, for I am but a maiden.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.12.9)

गत्वा याचस्व पितरं मम शैलेन्द्रमव्ययम् । स चेद्ददाति मां विप्र तुभ्यं तद्रुचितं मम

gatvā yācasva pitaraṁ mama śailendramavyayam | sa ceddadāti māṁ vipra tubhyaṁ tadrucitaṁ mama

Go and entreat my father, the imperishable lord of mountains; if he gives me to you, O brahmin, that will be agreeable to me.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.12.10)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः स भगवान् देवस्तथैव विकृतः प्रभुः । उवाच शैलराजं तमुमा मे यच्छ शैलप

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ sa bhagavān devastathaiva vikṛtaḥ prabhuḥ | uvāca śailarājaṁ tamumā me yaccha śailapa

Sanatkumara said: Then that illustrious lord, still in his deformed form, spoke to the king of the mountains: 'O lord of the mountain, give Uma to me.'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.12.11)

स तं विकृतरूपेण ज्ञात्वा रुद्रमथाव्ययम् । भीतः शापाच्च विमना इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

sa taṁ vikṛtarūpeṇa jñātvā rudramathāvyayam | bhītaḥ śāpācca vimanā idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Recognizing him, despite his deformed appearance, as the imperishable Rudra, and fearing a curse, he spoke these dispirited words.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.12.12)

भगवन्नावमन्यामि ब्राह्मणान् भूमिदैवतान् । मनीषितं तु यत् पूर्वं तच्छृणुष्व महातपः

bhagavannāvamanyāmi brāhmaṇān bhūmidaivatān | manīṣitaṁ tu yat pūrvaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva mahātapaḥ

'O lord, I do not disrespect brahmins, the gods upon earth; but hear, O one of great austerity, what I had already resolved beforehand.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.12.13)

स्वयंवरो मे दुहितुर्भविता विप्र पूजितः । वरयेद्यं स्वयं तत्र स भर्त्तास्या भवेदिति

svayaṁvaro me duhiturbhavitā vipra pūjitaḥ | varayedyaṁ svayaṁ tatra sa bharttāsyā bhavediti

'A svayamvara shall be held for my daughter, O honored brahmin; whomever she herself chooses there shall become her husband.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.12.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। तच्छ्रुत्वा शैलवचनं भगवान् गोवृषध्वजः । देव्याः समीपमागत्य इदमाह महामनाः

sanatkumāra uvāca| tacchrutvā śailavacanaṁ bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ | devyāḥ samīpamāgatya idamāha mahāmanāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing the mountain-lord's words, the illustrious bull-bannered one, magnanimous, came near the goddess and spoke as follows.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.12.15)

देवि पित्रा तवाज्ञप्तः स्वयंवर इति श्रुतम् । तत्र त्वं वरयित्री यं स ते भर्त्ता किलानघे

devi pitrā tavājñaptaḥ svayaṁvara iti śrutam | tatra tvaṁ varayitrī yaṁ sa te bharttā kilānaghe

'O goddess, I have heard that your father has ordained a svayamvara; there, O sinless one, whomever you choose shall indeed become your husband.'

Verse 16 (skanda.8.12.16)

तदापृच्छे गमिष्यामि दुर्ल्लभा त्वं वरानने । रूपवन्तं समुत्सृज्य वृणाथा मादृशं कथम्

tadāpṛcche gamiṣyāmi durllabhā tvaṁ varānane | rūpavantaṁ samutsṛjya vṛṇāthā mādṛśaṁ katham

'Then I take leave of you and shall depart, O fair one; you are hard to win — how would you choose someone like me, setting aside a handsome man?'

Verse 17 (skanda.8.12.17)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। तेनोक्ता सा तदा तत्र भावतो यत्तदीरितम् । भावञ्च रुद्रनिहितं प्रसादं मनसस्तथा

sanatkumāra uvāca| tenoktā sā tadā tatra bhāvato yattadīritam | bhāvañca rudranihitaṁ prasādaṁ manasastathā

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by him, she then truly perceived the hidden intent within Rudra, and likewise the graciousness of his mind.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.12.18)

संप्राप्योवाच देवेशं मा तेभूद् बुद्धिरन्यथा । अहं त्वां वरयिष्यामि नान्यद्भूतं कथञ्चन

saṁprāpyovāca deveśaṁ mā tebhūd buddhiranyathā | ahaṁ tvāṁ varayiṣyāmi nānyadbhūtaṁ kathañcana

Approaching him, she said to the lord of the gods: 'Let no other thought arise in your mind — I shall choose you alone, and none other whatsoever.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.12.19)

अथवा तेस्ति सन्देहो मयि विप्र कथञ्चन । इहैव त्वां महाभाग वरयामि मनोरथे

athavā testi sandeho mayi vipra kathañcana | ihaiva tvāṁ mahābhāga varayāmi manorathe

'Or, O brahmin, if you have any doubt about me, then here itself, O illustrious one, I choose you with my whole heart.'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.12.20)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। गृहीत्वा स्तबकं सा तु हस्ताभ्यां तत्र संस्थितम् । स्कन्धे शम्भोः समाधाय देवी प्राह वृतोसि मे

sanatkumāra uvāca| gṛhītvā stabakaṁ sā tu hastābhyāṁ tatra saṁsthitam | skandhe śambhoḥ samādhāya devī prāha vṛtosi me

Sanatkumara said: Taking up in both hands a cluster of blossoms that lay there, and placing it upon Shambhu's shoulder, the goddess declared: 'You have been chosen by me.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.12.21)

ततः स भगवान् देवस्तथा देव्या वृतस्तदा । उवाच तमशोकं वै वाचा संजीवयन्निव

tataḥ sa bhagavān devastathā devyā vṛtastadā | uvāca tamaśokaṁ vai vācā saṁjīvayanniva

Then that illustrious god, thus chosen by the goddess, spoke to that ashoka tree, as though reviving it with his very words.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.12.22)

यस्मात्तव सुपुष्पेण स्तबकेन वृतो ह्यहम् । तस्मात्त्वं जरया त्यक्तोऽमरः संभविष्यसि

yasmāttava supuṣpeṇa stabakena vṛto hyaham | tasmāttvaṁ jarayā tyakto'maraḥ saṁbhaviṣyasi

'Since it was by means of your beautiful cluster of blossoms that I was chosen, you shall henceforth be free from old age and become immortal.'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.12.23)

कामरूपः कामपुष्पः कामगो दयितो मम । सर्वाभरणपुष्पाढ्यः सर्ववृक्षफलोपगः

kāmarūpaḥ kāmapuṣpaḥ kāmago dayito mama | sarvābharaṇapuṣpāḍhyaḥ sarvavṛkṣaphalopagaḥ

'You shall take on any form at will, bear blossoms at will, and roam at will, dear to me — richly adorned with flowers of every kind and bearing the fruits of every tree.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.12.24)

सर्वान्नभक्षदश्चैव अमृतस्रव एव च । सर्वगन्धश्च देव्यास्त्वं भविष्यसि दृढं प्रियः

sarvānnabhakṣadaścaiva amṛtasrava eva ca | sarvagandhaśca devyāstvaṁ bhaviṣyasi dṛḍhaṁ priyaḥ

'Giver of every kind of food, flowing with nectar, and possessed of every fragrance, you shall become the steadfast beloved of the goddess.'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.12.25)

निर्भयः सर्वलोकेषु चरिष्यसि सुनिर्वृतः । आश्रमं चैनमत्यर्थं चित्रकूटेति विश्रुतम्

nirbhayaḥ sarvalokeṣu cariṣyasi sunirvṛtaḥ | āśramaṁ cainamatyarthaṁ citrakūṭeti viśrutam

'You shall roam fearlessly through all the worlds, utterly content, and this hermitage shall become widely renowned under the name Chitrakuta.'

Verse 26 (skanda.8.12.26)

योभियास्यति पुण्यार्थी सोश्वमेधमवाप्स्यति । यत्र तत्र मृतश्चापि ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यति

yobhiyāsyati puṇyārthī sośvamedhamavāpsyati | yatra tatra mṛtaścāpi brahmalokaṁ gamiṣyati

'Whoever comes here seeking merit shall gain the fruit of an ashvamedha sacrifice; and whoever dies here, in any spot, shall go to the world of Brahma.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.12.27)

यश्चात्र नियमैर्युक्तः प्राणान् सम्यक् परित्यजेत् । स देव्यास्तपसा युक्तो महागणपतिर्भवेत्

yaścātra niyamairyuktaḥ prāṇān samyak parityajet | sa devyāstapasā yukto mahāgaṇapatirbhavet

'And whoever, keeping the proper vows here, duly relinquishes his life, shall, endowed with the goddess's austerity, become a great lord of the ganas.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.12.28)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा ततो देव आपृच्छ्य हिमवत्सुताम् । अन्तर्दधे जगत्स्रष्टा सर्वभूतपः ईश्वरः

sanatkumāra uvāca| evamuktvā tato deva āpṛcchya himavatsutām | antardadhe jagatsraṣṭā sarvabhūtapaḥ īśvaraḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having spoken thus, that god, taking leave of the daughter of Himavat, vanished — the creator of the universe, lord and protector of all beings.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.12.29)

सापि देवी गते तस्मिन् भगवत्यमितात्मनि । तत एवोन्मुखी स्थित्वा शिलायां संविवेश ह

sāpi devī gate tasmin bhagavatyamitātmani | tata evonmukhī sthitvā śilāyāṁ saṁviveśa ha

That goddess too, once the illustrious one of boundless soul had departed, stood there gazing upward, and then settled upon a rock.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.12.30)

उन्मुखी सा गते तस्मिन्महेष्वासे प्रजापतौ । निशेव चन्द्ररहिता बभूव विमनास्तदा

unmukhī sā gate tasminmaheṣvāse prajāpatau | niśeva candrarahitā babhūva vimanāstadā

When that great bowman, lord of creatures, had gone, she, gazing upward, became despondent then, like a night bereft of the moon.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.12.31)

अथ शुश्राव सा शब्दं बालस्यार्त्तस्य शैलजा । सरस्युदकसंपूर्णे समीपे स्वाश्रमस्य ह

atha śuśrāva sā śabdaṁ bālasyārttasya śailajā | sarasyudakasaṁpūrṇe samīpe svāśramasya ha

Then the mountain-born goddess heard the cry of a child in distress, near a lake brimming with water, close to her own hermitage.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.12.32)

स कृत्वा बालरूपं तु देवदेवः स्वयं शिवः । क्रीडाहेतोः सरोमध्ये ग्राहग्रस्तोभवत्तदा

sa kṛtvā bālarūpaṁ tu devadevaḥ svayaṁ śivaḥ | krīḍāhetoḥ saromadhye grāhagrastobhavattadā

That god of gods, Shiva himself, having taken the form of a child for the sake of play, then let himself be seized by a crocodile in the middle of the lake.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.12.33)

योगमायामथास्थाथ प्रपञ्चोद्भवकारणः । तद्रूपं सरसो मध्ये कृत्वेदं समभाषत

yogamāyāmathāsthātha prapañcodbhavakāraṇaḥ | tadrūpaṁ saraso madhye kṛtvedaṁ samabhāṣata

He then resorted to his power of yogic illusion — he who is the very cause of the manifest world's arising — and, in that form in the middle of the lake, spoke thus.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.12.34)

त्रातु मां कश्चिदेत्येह ग्राहेण हृतचेतसम् । धिक्कष्टं बाल एवाहमप्राप्तोथ मनोरथम्

trātu māṁ kaścidetyeha grāheṇa hṛtacetasam | dhikkaṣṭaṁ bāla evāhamaprāptotha manoratham

'Let someone come and save me — the crocodile has seized my senses! Alas, what misery — I am but a child, and have not even attained my heart's desire!'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.12.35)

यास्यामि निधनं वक्त्रे ग्राहस्यास्य दुरात्मनः । शोचामि न स्वकं देहं ग्राहग्रस्तोपि दुःखितः

yāsyāmi nidhanaṁ vaktre grāhasyāsya durātmanaḥ | śocāmi na svakaṁ dehaṁ grāhagrastopi duḥkhitaḥ

'I shall meet my death in the mouth of this wicked crocodile. Though seized by the crocodile and in pain, I do not grieve for my own body.'

Verse 36 (skanda.8.12.36)

यथा शोचामि पितरं मातरञ्च तपस्विनीम् । मां श्रुत्वा ग्राहवदने प्राप्तं निधनमुत्सुकौ

yathā śocāmi pitaraṁ mātarañca tapasvinīm | māṁ śrutvā grāhavadane prāptaṁ nidhanamutsukau

'Rather, I grieve for my father, and for my ascetic mother — who, hearing that I have died in the crocodile's jaws, will both be overwhelmed with anguish!'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.12.37)

प्रियपुत्रावेकपुत्रौ प्राणान्नूनं विहास्यतः । अहो बत महत् कष्टं योहं बालोकृतव्रतः । अतप्त्वा तप एवायं यास्यामि निधनं हतः

priyaputrāvekaputrau prāṇānnūnaṁ vihāsyataḥ | aho bata mahat kaṣṭaṁ yohaṁ bālokṛtavrataḥ | ataptvā tapa evāyaṁ yāsyāmi nidhanaṁ hataḥ

'Grieving for their beloved only son, they will surely give up their lives. Alas, what great misery — that I, a mere child who had performed no vow, without ever having practiced austerity, shall go to my death, slain here!'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.12.38)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। श्रुत्वा तु देवी तन्नादं विप्रस्यार्त्तस्य शोभना । उत्थाय प्रद्रुता तत्र यत्र तिष्ठत्यसौ द्विजः

sanatkumāra uvāca| śrutvā tu devī tannādaṁ viprasyārttasya śobhanā | utthāya pradrutā tatra yatra tiṣṭhatyasau dvijaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing that cry of the anguished brahmin child, the lovely goddess rose and ran swiftly to where that twice-born boy stood.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.12.39)

सापश्यदिन्दुवदना बालकञ्चारुरूपिणम् । ग्राहेण ग्रस्यमानं तं वेपमानमवस्थितम्

sāpaśyadinduvadanā bālakañcārurūpiṇam | grāheṇa grasyamānaṁ taṁ vepamānamavasthitam

She, the moon-faced one, saw that beautiful child, seized by the crocodile, standing there trembling.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.12.40)

सोपि ग्राहवरः श्रीमान् दृष्ट्वा देवीमुपागताम् । तं गृहीत्वा द्रुतं यातो मध्यं सरस एव हि

sopi grāhavaraḥ śrīmān dṛṣṭvā devīmupāgatām | taṁ gṛhītvā drutaṁ yāto madhyaṁ sarasa eva hi

That splendid crocodile-king, too, on seeing the goddess approach, seized him and swiftly made for the very middle of the lake.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.12.41)

स कृष्यमाणस्तेजस्वी नादमार्त्तन्तदा करोत् । अथाह देवी दुःखार्त्ता बालं दृष्ट्वा महाव्रता

sa kṛṣyamāṇastejasvī nādamārttantadā karot | athāha devī duḥkhārttā bālaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāvratā

Being dragged along, that radiant child let out a cry of pain. Then the sorrowing goddess, of great vows, seeing the child, spoke.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.12.42)

ग्राहराज महासत्व बालकं ह्येकपुत्रकम् । विसृजैनं महादंष्ट्र क्षिप्रं भीमपराक्रम

grāharāja mahāsatva bālakaṁ hyekaputrakam | visṛjainaṁ mahādaṁṣṭra kṣipraṁ bhīmaparākrama

'O king of crocodiles, mighty one — this child is an only son! O great-fanged, terrible one of fearsome might, release him quickly!'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.12.43)

ग्राह उवाच। यो देवि दिवसे षष्ठे प्रथमे समुपैति माम् । स आहारो मम पुरा विहितो लोककर्तृभिः

grāha uvāca| yo devi divase ṣaṣṭhe prathame samupaiti mām | sa āhāro mama purā vihito lokakartṛbhiḥ

The crocodile said: 'O goddess, whoever comes to me first on the sixth day — he has, since ancient times, been ordained by the makers of the world to be my food.'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.12.44)

सोयं मम महाभागे षष्ठेहनि गिरीन्द्रजे । ब्रह्मणा प्रहितो नूनं नैनं मोक्ष्ये कथञ्चन

soyaṁ mama mahābhāge ṣaṣṭhehani girīndraje | brahmaṇā prahito nūnaṁ nainaṁ mokṣye kathañcana

'This one, O illustrious daughter of the mountain-king, has come to me on the sixth day — surely sent by Brahma himself; I shall not release him under any circumstances.'

Verse 45 (skanda.8.12.45)

देव्युवाच। यन्मया हिमवच्छृङ्गे चरितं तप उत्तमम् । तेन बालमिमं मुञ्च ग्राहराज नमोस्तु ते

devyuvāca| yanmayā himavacchṛṅge caritaṁ tapa uttamam | tena bālamimaṁ muñca grāharāja namostu te

The goddess said: 'By the supreme austerity I performed on the peak of Himavat, by that merit, O king of crocodiles, release this child — homage to you.'

Verse 46 (skanda.8.12.46)

ग्राह उवाच। मा व्ययं तपसो देवि कार्षीः शैलेन्द्रनन्दने । नैनं मोचयितुं शक्तो देवराजोपि यः स्वयम्

grāha uvāca| mā vyayaṁ tapaso devi kārṣīḥ śailendranandane | nainaṁ mocayituṁ śakto devarājopi yaḥ svayam

The crocodile said: 'Do not squander your austerity, O goddess, daughter of the lord of mountains; not even the king of the gods himself is able to free him.'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.12.47)

मह्यमीशेन तुष्टेन शर्वेणोग्रेण शूलिना । अमरत्वमवध्यत्वमक्षयं बलमेव च

mahyamīśena tuṣṭena śarveṇogreṇa śūlinā | amaratvamavadhyatvamakṣayaṁ balameva ca

'To me, the fierce trident-bearing Sharva, being pleased, granted immortality, invulnerability, and unfailing strength.'

Verse 48 (skanda.8.12.48)

स्वयं ग्रहणमोक्षश्च ज्ञानञ्चैवाव्ययं पुनः । दत्तं ततो ब्रवीमि त्वां नायं मोक्षमवाप्स्यति

svayaṁ grahaṇamokṣaśca jñānañcaivāvyayaṁ punaḥ | dattaṁ tato bravīmi tvāṁ nāyaṁ mokṣamavāpsyati

'The power to seize and release at will, and imperishable knowledge besides, were granted to me; therefore I tell you, this one shall not gain release.'

Verse 49 (skanda.8.12.49)

अथवा ते कृपा देवि भृशं बाले शुभानने । ब्रवीमि यत् कुरु तथा ततो मोक्षमवाप्स्यति

athavā te kṛpā devi bhṛśaṁ bāle śubhānane | bravīmi yat kuru tathā tato mokṣamavāpsyati

'Or else, O fair-faced goddess, since your compassion for this child is so great, I shall tell you what to do; do as I say, and then he shall gain release.'

Verse 50 (skanda.8.12.50)

देव्युवाच। ग्राहाधिप वदस्वाशु यत् सतामविगर्हितम् । तत् कृतं नात्र सन्देहो मान्या मे ब्राह्मणा दृढम्

devyuvāca| grāhādhipa vadasvāśu yat satāmavigarhitam | tat kṛtaṁ nātra sandeho mānyā me brāhmaṇā dṛḍham

The goddess said: 'O lord of crocodiles, speak quickly whatever is not condemned by the virtuous; it shall surely be done, have no doubt — brahmins are, to me, firmly worthy of honor.'

Verse 51 (skanda.8.12.51)

ग्राह उवाच। यत् कृतं वै तपः किञ्चिद्भवत्या स्वल्पमन्ततः । तत् सर्वं मे प्रयच्छस्व ततो मोक्षमवाप्स्यति

grāha uvāca| yat kṛtaṁ vai tapaḥ kiñcidbhavatyā svalpamantataḥ | tat sarvaṁ me prayacchasva tato mokṣamavāpsyati

The crocodile said: 'Whatever austerity, however small, you have finally performed — give all of it to me; then he shall obtain release.'

Verse 52 (skanda.8.12.52)

देव्युवाच। जन्मप्रभृति यत् पुण्यं महाग्राह कृतं मया । तत्ते सर्व मया दत्तं बालं मुञ्च ममाग्रतः

devyuvāca| janmaprabhṛti yat puṇyaṁ mahāgrāha kṛtaṁ mayā | tatte sarva mayā dattaṁ bālaṁ muñca mamāgrataḥ

The goddess said: 'O great crocodile, whatever merit I have gathered since my birth — all of it I now give to you; release the child before me.'

Verse 53 (skanda.8.12.53)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। प्रजज्वाल ततो ग्राहस्तपसा तेन बृंहितः । आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने दुर्निरीक्ष्यस्तदाभवत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| prajajvāla tato grāhastapasā tena bṛṁhitaḥ | āditya iva madhyāhne durnirīkṣyastadābhavat

Sanatkumara said: Then the crocodile blazed up, swelled by that austerity, and became then unbearable to behold, like the midday sun.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.12.54)

उवाच चेदं हृष्टात्मा देवीं लोकस्य धारिणीम् । देवि किं कृतमेतत्ते अनिश्चित्य महाव्रते

uvāca cedaṁ hṛṣṭātmā devīṁ lokasya dhāriṇīm | devi kiṁ kṛtametatte aniścitya mahāvrate

And, his heart delighted, he said this to the goddess, sustainer of the world: 'O goddess of great vows, what is this you have done without due thought?'

Verse 55 (skanda.8.12.55)

तपसो ह्यर्जनं दुःखं तस्य त्यागो न शस्यते । गृहाण तप एतच्च बालं चेमं शुचिस्मिते

tapaso hyarjanaṁ duḥkhaṁ tasya tyāgo na śasyate | gṛhāṇa tapa etacca bālaṁ cemaṁ śucismite

'The earning of austerity is truly hard, and giving it up is not to be commended. Take back this austerity, O sweetly-smiling one, and take back this child as well.'

Verse 56 (skanda.8.12.56)

तुष्टोस्मि ते विप्रभक्त्या वरं तस्माद्ददामि ते । सा त्वेवमुक्ता ग्राहेण उवाचेदं महाव्रता

tuṣṭosmi te viprabhaktyā varaṁ tasmāddadāmi te | sā tvevamuktā grāheṇa uvācedaṁ mahāvratā

'I am pleased by your devotion to brahmins; therefore I grant you a boon.' Thus addressed by the crocodile, she of great vows spoke as follows.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.12.57)

सुविचिन्त्य महाग्राह कृतं बालस्य मोक्षणम् । न विप्रेभ्यस्तपः श्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठा मे ब्राह्मणा मताः

suvicintya mahāgrāha kṛtaṁ bālasya mokṣaṇam | na viprebhyastapaḥ śreṣṭhaṁ śreṣṭhā me brāhmaṇā matāḥ

'Having considered it well, O great crocodile, the child's release is accomplished. Austerity is not greater than brahmins — to me, brahmins are held supreme.'

Verse 58 (skanda.8.12.58)

दत्त्वा चाहं न गृह्णामि ग्राहेन्द्र विदितं हि ते । न हि कश्चिन्नरो ग्राह प्रदत्तं पुनराहरेत्

dattvā cāhaṁ na gṛhṇāmi grāhendra viditaṁ hi te | na hi kaścinnaro grāha pradattaṁ punarāharet

'And having once given, I do not take back, O lord of crocodiles — this you well know. For no one, O crocodile, takes back what has already been given.'

Verse 59 (skanda.8.12.59)

दत्तमेतन्मया तुभ्यं नाददामि हि तत्पुनः । त्वय्येव रमतामेतद् बालश्चायं विमुच्यताम्

dattametanmayā tubhyaṁ nādadāmi hi tatpunaḥ | tvayyeva ramatāmetad bālaścāyaṁ vimucyatām

'This has already been given by me to you; I will not take it back again. Let it remain with you, and let this child now be set free.'

Verse 60 (skanda.8.12.60)

तथोक्तस्तां प्रशस्याथ मुक्त्वा बालं नमस्य च । देवीमादित्यसद्भासं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

tathoktastāṁ praśasyātha muktvā bālaṁ namasya ca | devīmādityasadbhāsaṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Thus addressed, the crocodile praised her, released the child, and, bowing to the goddess of sun-like splendor, vanished then and there.

Verse 61 (skanda.8.12.61)

बालोपि सरसस्तीरे मुक्तो ग्राहेण वै तदा । स्वप्नलब्ध इवार्थो यस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

bālopi sarasastīre mukto grāheṇa vai tadā | svapnalabdha ivārtho yastatraivāntaradhīyata

The child too, freed there by the crocodile on the shore of the lake, vanished on the spot, like something gained in a dream.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.12.62)

तपसोथ व्ययं मत्वा देवी हिमगिरीन्द्रजा । भूय एव तपः कर्तुमारेभे यत्नमास्थिता

tapasotha vyayaṁ matvā devī himagirīndrajā | bhūya eva tapaḥ kartumārebhe yatnamāsthitā

Then, believing her austerity to have been used up, the goddess, daughter of the lord of the Himalayan mountains, resolved once more to undertake the effort of austerity.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.12.63)

कर्तुकामां तपो भूयो ज्ञात्वा तां शंकरः स्वयम् । प्रोवाच वचनं व्यास मा कृथास्तप इत्युत

kartukāmāṁ tapo bhūyo jñātvā tāṁ śaṁkaraḥ svayam | provāca vacanaṁ vyāsa mā kṛthāstapa ityuta

Knowing that she wished to perform austerity once more, Shankara himself spoke these words to her, O Vyasa: 'Do not perform austerity again.'

Verse 64 (skanda.8.12.64)

मह्यमेतत्तपो देवि त्वया दत्तं महाव्रते । तेनैतदक्षयं तुभ्यं भविष्यति सहस्रधा

mahyametattapo devi tvayā dattaṁ mahāvrate | tenaitadakṣayaṁ tubhyaṁ bhaviṣyati sahasradhā

'This austerity, O goddess of great vows, has already been given by you to me; therefore it shall become imperishable for you, a thousandfold.'

Verse 65 (skanda.8.12.65)

इति लब्ध्वा वरं देवी तपसोक्षय्यमुत्तमम् । स्वयंवरमुदीक्षन्ती तस्थौ प्रीतियुता सती

iti labdhvā varaṁ devī tapasokṣayyamuttamam | svayaṁvaramudīkṣantī tasthau prītiyutā satī

Having thus obtained this excellent and imperishable boon regarding her austerity, the virtuous goddess remained, filled with joy, awaiting her svayamvara.

Verse 66 (skanda.8.12.66)

इदं पठेद्यो हि नरः सदैव बालानुभावाचरणं हि शम्भोः । स देहभेदं समवाप्य पूतो भवेद् गणस्तस्य कुमारतुल्यः

idaṁ paṭhedyo hi naraḥ sadaiva bālānubhāvācaraṇaṁ hi śambhoḥ | sa dehabhedaṁ samavāpya pūto bhaved gaṇastasya kumāratulyaḥ

Whoever reads this account of the power and conduct of Shambhu in his child-form shall, upon the dissolution of the body, become purified and attain the state of a gana equal to Kumara himself.