The Battle of the Ganas, the Defeat of Andhaka, and Brahma's Hymn

Verse 1 (skanda.8.155.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः । ब्रह्मणा सहिता जग्मुः शरण्यं शूलपाणिनम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | etasminnantare devāḥ sarve śakrapurogamāḥ | brahmaṇā sahitā jagmuḥ śaraṇyaṁ śūlapāṇinam

Sanatkumara said: Meanwhile all the gods, led by Indra, together with Brahma, went to Shiva, the trident-bearer, their refuge.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.155.2)

ते प्रणम्य महादेवमिदमूचुर्भयार्दिताः । विजिताः सर्व एव स्मः किमन्धकमुपेक्षसे

te praṇamya mahādevamidamūcurbhayārditāḥ | vijitāḥ sarva eva smaḥ kimandhakamupekṣase

Bowing to Mahadeva, stricken with fear, they said this: 'We are all utterly defeated. Why do you disregard Andhaka?'

Verse 3 (skanda.8.155.3)

देवदेवस्ततः प्राह देवान् ब्रह्मपुरोगमान् । मया दत्तवरो यस्मात् तस्माद् यूयं विनिर्जिताः

devadevastataḥ prāha devān brahmapurogamān | mayā dattavaro yasmāt tasmād yūyaṁ vinirjitāḥ

Then the God of gods said to the gods led by Brahma: 'It is because I myself granted him a boon that you have been defeated.'

Verse 4 (skanda.8.155.4)

क्रीडार्थमेव च मया संगरे स उपेक्षितः । अधुना भवतामर्थे शामयिष्येहमन्धकम्

krīḍārthameva ca mayā saṁgare sa upekṣitaḥ | adhunā bhavatāmarthe śāmayiṣyehamandhakam

Only for sport did I overlook him in that contest. Now, for your sake, I shall subdue Andhaka.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.155.5)

ततो देवः स्मितं कृत्वा पार्श्वस्थं शूलमैक्षत । देवाभिप्रायतत्त्वज्ञः शूलो जज्वाल तत्क्षणात्

tato devaḥ smitaṁ kṛtvā pārśvasthaṁ śūlamaikṣata | devābhiprāyatattvajñaḥ śūlo jajvāla tatkṣaṇāt

Then the lord smiled and glanced at the trident resting beside him. Knowing the truth of the god's intent, the trident blazed up at that very instant.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.155.6)

अभिसृत्य द्रुतञ्चैवमन्धकं जितकाशिनम् । युद्धे विक्रम्य सहसा निर्बिभेद स्तनान्तरे

abhisṛtya drutañcaivamandhakaṁ jitakāśinam | yuddhe vikramya sahasā nirbibheda stanāntare

Rushing swiftly upon Andhaka, who was flushed with the glow of triumph, it showed its valour in battle and suddenly pierced him between the breasts.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.155.7)

ततोन्धकं तदा भित्त्वा स शूलस्तं महाबलम् । दानवेन्द्रं महाकायमानिन्ये शङ्करान्तिकम्

tatondhakaṁ tadā bhittvā sa śūlastaṁ mahābalam | dānavendraṁ mahākāyamāninye śaṅkarāntikam

Having thus pierced Andhaka, the trident carried that mighty, huge-bodied lord of the danavas back to Shankara's presence.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.155.8)

तस्य भिन्नस्य शूलेन येक्षरन् रक्तबिन्दवः । पतिताः पुरुषा भूत्वा तेप्ययुध्यन्त दुस्सहाः

tasya bhinnasya śūlena yekṣaran raktabindavaḥ | patitāḥ puruṣā bhūtvā tepyayudhyanta dussahāḥ

The drops of blood that fell from him, pierced by the trident, turned into men as they touched the ground, and they too fought with unbearable ferocity.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.155.9)

तस्यैव तुल्यरूपास्ते तस्य तुल्यपराक्रमाः । नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणास्तेप्ययुध्यन् गणेश्वरैः

tasyaiva tulyarūpāste tasya tulyaparākramāḥ | nānāśastrapraharaṇāstepyayudhyan gaṇeśvaraiḥ

Identical to him in form and equal in valour, wielding weapons of every kind, they too fought against the lords of the ganas.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.155.10)

जघ्नुः केचिद् गणानेव द्रवतस्ते महाबलाः

jaghnuḥ kecid gaṇāneva dravataste mahābalāḥ

Those mighty ones, weapons raised in hand - the opening line of this verse is lost in the source - some of them struck down the very ganas who were fleeing.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.155.11)

न तेषां युध्यमानानां कश्चित्तस्थौ गणेश्वरः । संग्रामे दानवेन्द्राणां भयात् सर्वे प्रदुद्रुवुः

na teṣāṁ yudhyamānānāṁ kaścittasthau gaṇeśvaraḥ | saṁgrāme dānavendrāṇāṁ bhayāt sarve pradudruvuḥ

Not one lord of the ganas could stand against them as they fought; in that battle all fled in terror of those lords of the danavas.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.155.12)

तान्दृष्ट्वा विद्रुतान् सर्वान् गणान् सह सुरेश्वरैः । महादेवोसृजत्

tāndṛṣṭvā vidrutān sarvān gaṇān saha sureśvaraiḥ | mahādevosṛjat

Seeing all the ganas fleeing thus, together with the lords of the gods, Mahadeva brought forth something - the rest of the line is lost here (as becomes clear later, he created the Mother-goddesses, the Yogeshvaris).

Verse 13 (skanda.8.155.13)

विज्ञापयामासु राज्ञां नो दातुमर्हसि

vijñāpayāmāsu rājñāṁ no dātumarhasi

This verse is very badly damaged in the source; only this much is clear - they petitioned, saying, 'You ought to grant us your command.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.155.14)

देवदेवस्तदा प्राह सर्वाः प्रहरणोद्यताः । असृग्बिन्दुसमुद्भूतान् भक्षयध्वं महासुरान्

devadevastadā prāha sarvāḥ praharaṇodyatāḥ | asṛgbindusamudbhūtān bhakṣayadhvaṁ mahāsurān

Then the God of gods said to all of them, weapons upraised: 'Devour these great asuras born from drops of blood!'

Verse 15 (skanda.8.155.15)

एवमुक्तास्तु तास्सर्वा योगेश्वर्यो महाबलाः । हत्वा हत्वासुरान् युद्धे चखादुश्च

evamuktāstu tāssarvā yogeśvaryo mahābalāḥ | hatvā hatvāsurān yuddhe cakhāduśca

Thus commanded, all those mighty Yogeshvaris slew the asuras one after another in that battle and devoured them - the rest of this line is lost in the source.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.155.16)

देवोपि ज्वलितं शूलमब्रवीदन्धकान्तकृत् । अन्धकं पच सूर्याग्नौ सहस्रं शरदां शतम्

devopi jvalitaṁ śūlamabravīdandhakāntakṛt | andhakaṁ paca sūryāgnau sahasraṁ śaradāṁ śatam

The lord, ender of Andhaka, then spoke to his blazing trident: 'Roast Andhaka in the fire of the sun for a hundred thousand years.'

Verse 17 (skanda.8.155.17)

अन्धकोपि हि शूलाग्रे पच्यमानोर्कतेजसा । पूर्णे सहस्रे वर्षाणां सात्विकं भावमभ्यगात्

andhakopi hi śūlāgre pacyamānorkatejasā | pūrṇe sahasre varṣāṇāṁ sātvikaṁ bhāvamabhyagāt

Andhaka, roasting on the trident's point in the sun's fire, when a thousand years had passed, attained the disposition of sattva.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.155.18)

सात्विकं भावमापन्नो विनिर्धूतरजस्तमः । लोकानां कारणं देवं बुबुधे गोवृषध्वजम्

sātvikaṁ bhāvamāpanno vinirdhūtarajastamaḥ | lokānāṁ kāraṇaṁ devaṁ bubudhe govṛṣadhvajam

Having attained the sattvic state, purged of rajas and tamas, he came to recognize the god of the bull-banner, the cause of all the worlds.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.155.19)

तं बुद्ध्वा च ततो भक्त्या निर्मलेनान्तरात्मना । स्नाय्वस्थिशेषस्तुष्टाव देवं चंद्रार्धमौलिनम्

taṁ buddhvā ca tato bhaktyā nirmalenāntarātmanā | snāyvasthiśeṣastuṣṭāva devaṁ caṁdrārdhamaulinam

Recognizing him, with pure inner devotion - reduced now to mere sinew and bone - he began to praise the god who wears the crescent moon on his crown.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.155.20)

अन्धक उवाच । कृत्स्नस्य योस्य जगतः सचराचरस्य कर्ता कृतस्य च तथा सुखदुःखदाता । संहारहेतुरपि यः पुनरन्तकाले, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

andhaka uvāca | kṛtsnasya yosya jagataḥ sacarācarasya kartā kṛtasya ca tathā sukhaduḥkhadātā | saṁhāraheturapi yaḥ punarantakāle, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

Andhaka said: He who is the maker of this whole world of moving and unmoving things, who gives happiness and sorrow to what he has made, and who is also the cause of its dissolution when the end comes again - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.155.21)

यं योगिनो विगतमोहतमोरजस्का भक्त्यैकतानमनसो विनिवृत्तकामाः । ध्यायन्ति निश्चितधियामितदिव्यभावं, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

yaṁ yogino vigatamohatamorajaskā bhaktyaikatānamanaso vinivṛttakāmāḥ | dhyāyanti niścitadhiyāmitadivyabhāvaṁ, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He whom the yogis meditate upon, freed from delusion, darkness and passion, their minds fixed single-pointedly in devotion, all desires stilled, their resolute intellects dwelling on his boundless divine nature - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.155.22)

यश्चन्द्रखण्डममलं विकसन्मयूखं बध्वासयं प्रियतया शिरसा बिभर्ति । यश्चार्धदेहमददाद् गिरिराजपुत्र्यै, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

yaścandrakhaṇḍamamalaṁ vikasanmayūkhaṁ badhvāsayaṁ priyatayā śirasā bibharti | yaścārdhadehamadadād girirājaputryai, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who lovingly bears upon his head the spotless crescent moon with its unfolding rays, and who gave half of his own body to the daughter of the mountain-king - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.155.23)

यः सिद्धचारणनिषेवितचारुतोयां गङ्गां महोर्मिरभसां गगनात्पतन्तीम् । मूर्ध्ना दधे स्रजमिवाप्रतिलोलपुष्यां, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

yaḥ siddhacāraṇaniṣevitacārutoyāṁ gaṅgāṁ mahormirabhasāṁ gaganātpatantīm | mūrdhnā dadhe srajamivāpratilolapuṣyāṁ, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who bore upon his head the Ganga, served by siddhas and charanas, her waters lovely, falling from the sky in the rush of her great waves, as one wears a garland whose blossoms never stir - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.155.24)

कैलासशृङ्गशिखरं प्रविकम्प्यमानं कैलाशशृङ्गसदृशेन दशाननेन । यः पादपद्मपरिपीडनया दधार, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

kailāsaśṛṅgaśikharaṁ pravikampyamānaṁ kailāśaśṛṅgasadṛśena daśānanena | yaḥ pādapadmaparipīḍanayā dadhāra, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who, with the mere pressure of his lotus foot, held firm the peak of Kailasa as it was being shaken by ten-headed Ravana, himself huge as a peak of Kailasa - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.155.25)

येनासकृद्दितिसुताश्च दनोः सुताश्च विद्याधरोरगगणाश्च वरैस्समग्राः । संयोजिता मुनिवराः फलमूलभक्षास्तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

yenāsakṛdditisutāśca danoḥ sutāśca vidyādharoragagaṇāśca varaissamagrāḥ | saṁyojitā munivarāḥ phalamūlabhakṣāstaṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who again and again endowed the sons of Diti and Danu, the vidyadharas, and the serpent-hosts with complete boons, and likewise blessed the great sages who live on fruits and roots - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.155.26)

दक्षाध्वरं च नयनञ्च तथा भगस्य पूष्णस्तदा दशनपंक्तिमशातयच्च । व्यष्टम्भयत् कुलिशयुक्तमहेन्द्रबाहुं, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

dakṣādhvaraṁ ca nayanañca tathā bhagasya pūṣṇastadā daśanapaṁktimaśātayacca | vyaṣṭambhayat kuliśayuktamahendrabāhuṁ, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, tore out Bhaga's eye, and knocked out Pusha's row of teeth, and who also stayed the thunderbolt-wielding arm of great Indra - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.155.27)

त्रिविधबन्धविमोक्षभावा ज्ञानान्वयश्रुतगुणैरपि नैव युक्ताः । यं संश्रिताः सुखभुजः पुरुषा भवन्ति, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

trividhabandhavimokṣabhāvā jñānānvayaśrutaguṇairapi naiva yuktāḥ | yaṁ saṁśritāḥ sukhabhujaḥ puruṣā bhavanti, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

The opening of this verse is lost in the source - those persons who, even without the merits of knowledge, lineage, or scriptural learning, take refuge in him, freed thereby from the threefold bondage, become enjoyers of happiness - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.155.28)

अग्रे मृतस्य रविकोटिसमानतेजः सन्त्रासनं विबुधसत्तमदानवानाम् । यः कालकूटमपिबत् समुदीर्णवेगं, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

agre mṛtasya ravikoṭisamānatejaḥ santrāsanaṁ vibudhasattamadānavānām | yaḥ kālakūṭamapibat samudīrṇavegaṁ, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who, blazing with the splendour of a myriad suns, terrifying even the foremost gods and danavas, drank the kalakuta poison as it surged forth with fearsome violence, though death stood before him - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.155.29)

ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्णुमरुतां च सषण्मुखानां योदाद् वरान् सुबहुशो भगवान्महेशः । नन्दिञ्च मृत्युवदनात्प्रभुरुज्जहार, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

brahmendraviṣṇumarutāṁ ca saṣaṇmukhānāṁ yodād varān subahuśo bhagavānmaheśaḥ | nandiñca mṛtyuvadanātprabhurujjahāra, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He, the blessed Great Lord, who granted boons again and again to Brahma, Indra, Vishnu, the Maruts, and the six-faced Kartikeya, and who as sovereign rescued Nandi even from the mouth of death - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.155.30)

कामश्च कार्मुकधरो भुवि पञ्चबाणो हास्यात्कृतो भगवता स तदा विदेहः । एकेषुणा त्रिपुरमेव पुरा जघान, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

kāmaśca kārmukadharo bhuvi pañcabāṇo hāsyātkṛto bhagavatā sa tadā videhaḥ | ekeṣuṇā tripurameva purā jaghāna, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who, in mere sport of laughter, once turned Kama, the bow-bearing, five-arrowed god upon earth, into a bodiless one, and who long ago slew the triple city with a single arrow - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.155.31)

आराधितः सुतपसा हिमवन्निकुञ्जे धूमव्रतेन मनसापि परैरगम्ये । सञ्जीवनीमदित यः परमार्थगम्यस्तस्मै नमः शिवकराय शिवाय नित्यम्

ārādhitaḥ sutapasā himavannikuñje dhūmavratena manasāpi parairagamye | sañjīvanīmadita yaḥ paramārthagamyastasmai namaḥ śivakarāya śivāya nityam

Worshipped in the glades of the Himalaya with fierce austerity and the vow of enduring smoke - a discipline unreachable even in the minds of others - he, attainable only through the highest truth, granted the power of restoring life. Salutation forever to that auspicious, ever-blessed Shiva.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.155.32)

नानाविधैर्गजविडालसमानवक्त्रैर्दक्षाध्वरप्रमथनैर्वलिभिर्गणैन्द्रैः । योभ्यर्च्यतेमरगणः सहलोकपालैस्तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

nānāvidhairgajaviḍālasamānavaktrairdakṣādhvarapramathanairvalibhirgaṇaindraiḥ | yobhyarcyatemaragaṇaḥ sahalokapālaistaṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He who is worshipped by mighty lords of the ganas of varied faces, elephant-headed and cat-headed, who ravaged Daksha's sacrifice, and by the hosts of the gods together with the world-guardians - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.155.33)

क्रीडार्थमेव भगवान् भुवनानि सप्त नानानदीविहगपादपमण्डितानि । सब्रह्मकानि ससृजे सुकृतेहितानि, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

krīḍārthameva bhagavān bhuvanāni sapta nānānadīvihagapādapamaṇḍitāni | sabrahmakāni sasṛje sukṛtehitāni, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He, the blessed one, who out of mere sport created the seven worlds, together with Brahma, adorned with many rivers, birds, and trees, ordained for meritorious deeds - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.155.34)

यस्याखिलं जगदिदं वशवर्ति नित्यं योष्टाभिरेव तनुभिर्भुवनानि भुंक्ते । यः कारणं सुमहतामपि कारणानां, तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

yasyākhilaṁ jagadidaṁ vaśavarti nityaṁ yoṣṭābhireva tanubhirbhuvanāni bhuṁkte | yaḥ kāraṇaṁ sumahatāmapi kāraṇānāṁ, taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

He under whose sway this entire universe ever remains, who enjoys the worlds through his own eight forms alone, and who is the cause even of the greatest of causes - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.155.35)

आसज्य मां क्षितिधरेन्द्रसुतानुयात विभूषणाङ्गं तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

āsajya māṁ kṣitidharendrasutānuyāta vibhūṣaṇāṅgaṁ taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

This verse survives only in fragments in the source; what remains speaks of - having joined me, following the mountain-king's daughter, his limbs adorned with ornaments - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.155.36)

श्वेतं मुनिं यमनियोगपरायणैस्तैर्भीमैर्महोग्रपुरुषैः प्रतिनीयमानम् । बद्ध्वा तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

śvetaṁ muniṁ yamaniyogaparāyaṇaistairbhīmairmahograpuruṣaiḥ pratinīyamānam | baddhvā taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

Sage Shveta was being led away, bound, by those fearsome, most terrible men intent upon carrying out Yama's command - the following line is lost in the source - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.155.37)

परिचिन्त्यमानं तं शङ्करं शरणदं शरणं व्रजामि

paricintyamānaṁ taṁ śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇadaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

This verse too is almost entirely lost in the source; only the words 'being meditated upon' and the refuge-formula survive - to that refuge-giving Shankara I go for refuge.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.155.38)

विमूढा, जानन्ति नास्य जगतो भवबन्धरूपाः । ऐश्वर्यदोषविषये भिबद्धा, निर्यातमाद्यनुभवन्ति यथाहमेव

vimūḍhā, jānanti nāsya jagato bhavabandharūpāḥ | aiśvaryadoṣaviṣaye bhibaddhā, niryātamādyanubhavanti yathāhameva

The opening of this verse is lost in the source - those deluded beings who do not know the true nature of this world's bondage, bound fast in the fault that is worldly lordship, undergo the very same fate that I myself have undergone.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.155.39)

प्रसादाद्धि शुभकर्मा शिवलोकमकल्पयः

prasādāddhi śubhakarmā śivalokamakalpayaḥ

This verse is very badly damaged in the source; only a hint survives - that by grace, then, one of auspicious deeds was granted Shivaloka.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.155.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्यैवं स्तुवतो देवः शूलपाणिर्वृषध्वजः । पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु प्रीतः प्रोवाच शङ्करः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasyaivaṁ stuvato devaḥ śūlapāṇirvṛṣadhvajaḥ | pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu prītaḥ provāca śaṅkaraḥ

Sanatkumara said: As he thus praised him, the trident-bearing, bull-bannered lord Shankara, when the thousand years were complete, spoke to him, well pleased.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.155.41)

पुत्र तुष्टोस्मि भद्रं ते जातस्त्वं निर्मलोधुना । दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मां दानवेश्वर

putra tuṣṭosmi bhadraṁ te jātastvaṁ nirmalodhunā | divyaṁ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya māṁ dānaveśvara

'My son, I am pleased with you; may all be well with you. You have now become pure. I grant you divine sight - behold me, lord of danavas.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.155.42)

यत्किञ्चित् कांक्षितं फलमुत्तमम् । तत्सर्वमेव दास्यामि ब्रूहि दानवसत्तम

yatkiñcit kāṁkṣitaṁ phalamuttamam | tatsarvameva dāsyāmi brūhi dānavasattama

The opening of this verse is lost in the source - 'Whatever excellent boon you desire, I shall grant it all; speak, best of danavas.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.155.43)

ब्राह्मं वैष्णवमैन्द्रं वा पदं विबुधदुर्लभम् । अथवा सर्वलोकानां भव राजा यथा पुरा

brāhmaṁ vaiṣṇavamaindraṁ vā padaṁ vibudhadurlabham | athavā sarvalokānāṁ bhava rājā yathā purā

'Ask for the station of Brahma, Vishnu, or Indra, rare even for the gods, or else become king of all the worlds as before.'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.155.44)

अन्धक उवाच । ब्राह्मं वैष्णवमैन्द्रञ्च पदमावृत्तिलक्षणम् । विदितं मम तत्सर्वं मनसापि

andhaka uvāca | brāhmaṁ vaiṣṇavamaindrañca padamāvṛttilakṣaṇam | viditaṁ mama tatsarvaṁ manasāpi

Andhaka said: The states of Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra, all marked by return to rebirth - I know them all; not even in my mind have I chosen them - the closing words of this verse are lost in the source.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.155.45)

यदि तुष्टोसि देवेश गाणपत्यं विधत्स्व मे । अविशेष्यं विशुद्धञ्च तदक्षय्यं च सर्वदा

yadi tuṣṭosi deveśa gāṇapatyaṁ vidhatsva me | aviśeṣyaṁ viśuddhañca tadakṣayyaṁ ca sarvadā

'O lord of gods, if you are pleased, grant me the rank of a ganapati - undifferentiated, utterly pure, and imperishable forever.'

Verse 46 (skanda.8.155.46)

देवदेव उवाच । सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः

devadeva uvāca | sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ

The God of gods said: This verse is almost entirely lost in the source; only this survives - that he would be '...revered by all the worlds.'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.155.47)

कामरूपी महायोगी सहासत्वो महाबलः । अणिमादिगुणैर्युक्तः प्रियः पुरुषसत्तमः

kāmarūpī mahāyogī sahāsatvo mahābalaḥ | aṇimādiguṇairyuktaḥ priyaḥ puruṣasattamaḥ

'You shall be able to take any form at will, a great yogi, of cheerful nature, mighty, endowed with the powers of animan and the rest, beloved, and foremost among beings.'

Verse 48 (skanda.8.155.48)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततो वरं दत्त्वा सुदुर्लभम् । महादेवः भूत्वा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

sanatkumāra uvāca | tato varaṁ dattvā sudurlabham | mahādevaḥ bhūtvā tatraivāntaradhīyata

Sanatkumara said: The opening of this verse is lost in the source - then, having granted this most rare boon, Mahadeva vanished right there.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.155.49)

वरेण्यं वरदं देवं ब्रह्मण्यममितौजसम् । आगत्य चैव

vareṇyaṁ varadaṁ devaṁ brahmaṇyamamitaujasam | āgatya caiva

This verse breaks off in the source partway through; what is clear is that, having come to that adorable, boon-granting god, friend of brahmins, of measureless splendour -

Verse 50 (skanda.8.155.50)

शूलं परमं विक्रमैः स्तम्भयित्वा

śūlaṁ paramaṁ vikramaiḥ stambhayitvā

This verse is almost entirely lost in the source; only this fragment remains - 'the trident... having checked it by supreme valour...'

Verse 51 (skanda.8.155.51)

वाङ्मनोभिः

vāṅmanobhiḥ

This verse is almost entirely lost in the source; only a single word survives - 'by speech and mind.'

Verse 52 (skanda.8.155.52)

येन्ये कुशास्त्रमलपङ्कविमग्नदेहा मोक्षेप्यतस्तव विभो चरणा । ते वो स्तुवन्ति मूढा मृगा इव वने मृगतृष्णिकाभिः

yenye kuśāstramalapaṅkavimagnadehā mokṣepyatastava vibho caraṇā | te vo stuvanti mūḍhā mṛgā iva vane mṛgatṛṣṇikābhiḥ

Those others, their bodies sunk in the mire of corrupt doctrines, do not know your feet, O lord, even in seeking liberation; those fools go about praising in vain, as deer in the forest chase after mirages.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.155.53)

पूषा करोति विमलं किरणौघजालैः

pūṣā karoti vimalaṁ kiraṇaughajālaiḥ

This verse is very badly damaged in the source; only this is clear - that Pusha, the sun, purifies something with the mass of his rays.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.155.54)

पक्षे तपश्चरति येन कलावशेषश्चन्द्रोपि ते हरतवोत्तमपादमूले । नक्तं तु शूलहसितै रजमीमुखानि सम्पूर्णमण्डलवपुर्धवलीकरोति

pakṣe tapaścarati yena kalāvaśeṣaścandropi te haratavottamapādamūle | naktaṁ tu śūlahasitai rajamīmukhāni sampūrṇamaṇḍalavapurdhavalīkaroti

By whose grace even the moon, reduced to a single digit, performs austerity, O Hara, at the root of your excellent feet during the dark fortnight; and at night, with a laughter bright as your trident, brightens the faces of the quarters with his body grown to a full orb.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.155.55)

वसवो मरुतोश्विनौ च । भृग्वादयश्च ऋषयस्तत्र देव सिद्धाः सिद्धिं गताश्चरणपद्मवरप्रसादात्

vasavo marutośvinau ca | bhṛgvādayaśca ṛṣayastatra deva siddhāḥ siddhiṁ gatāścaraṇapadmavaraprasādāt

The opening of this verse is lost - the Vasus, the Maruts, and the two Ashvins, and the sages headed by Bhrigu, O god, attained perfection there, becoming siddhas by the grace of your lotus feet.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.155.56)

कैलास द्रवाय देवाय लयलाङ्कितमेखलाय । बद्घ्वासनं परममुन्नतचारुमूर्तिं योगेश्वरं दिभुमहद् भुवनस्य भूत्यै

kailāsa dravāya devāya layalāṅkitamekhalāya | badghvāsanaṁ paramamunnatacārumūrtiṁ yogeśvaraṁ dibhumahad bhuvanasya bhūtyai

The first line of this verse is very badly damaged in the source - on Kailasa, to the god of melting compassion, his girdle marked with dissolution. The second line is clear - for the prosperity of the world, that lofty, beautiful-formed, great and divine lord of yogis took up his supreme seat.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.155.57)

सासि पूर्वमदृष्टपूर्वा सा सा स्पृहां प्रकुरषे महतीं जनस्य । तस्माज्जटेन्दुरिवजार्धशरीरयोगाद् गङ्गां च देव भजसे त्वमपूर्ववत्ताम्

sāsi pūrvamadṛṣṭapūrvā sā sā spṛhāṁ prakuraṣe mahatīṁ janasya | tasmājjaṭendurivajārdhaśarīrayogād gaṅgāṁ ca deva bhajase tvamapūrvavattām

The opening of this verse is lost - that splendour, never beheld before, is what stirs such great longing in people. Therefore, through the union of the moon in your matted locks and Parvati in half your body, you, O god, bear the Ganga too, and so possess an unprecedented glory.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.155.58)

संस्थैः सम्यग्वरेश्वररुषा सदसोग्रकण्ठ । ते देव लोकविजयं तव देव यावद् दुष्टस्य वक्त्रकमलानि निवेदितानि

saṁsthaiḥ samyagvareśvararuṣā sadasograkaṇṭha | te deva lokavijayaṁ tava deva yāvad duṣṭasya vaktrakamalāni niveditāni

The first line of this verse is very badly damaged in the source. The second line is clear enough - O god, your conquest of the world was not complete, O lord, until the lotus-faces of that wicked one were offered up to your wrath.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.155.59)

कैलासमेरुमलयोदरमन्दरेषु विद्याधरैर्मुनिमहोरगकिन्नरैश्च । अभ्यर्च्यसे मधुरैर्वचोभिः

kailāsamerumalayodaramandareṣu vidyādharairmunimahoragakinnaraiśca | abhyarcyase madhurairvacobhiḥ

On Kailasa, Meru, Malaya, and Mandara, in their valleys, you are worshipped by vidyadharas, sages, great serpents, and kinnaras, with sweet words - the closing portion of this verse is lost in the source.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.155.60)

ये भक्त्या सर्व मजरं मात्मवेद्यम् । पश्यन्ति सत्वमचलास्तव योगदृष्ट्या त्वामेव ते शिव विशन्त्यनिवर्तनाय

ye bhaktyā sarva majaraṁ mātmavedyam | paśyanti satvamacalāstava yogadṛṣṭyā tvāmeva te śiva viśantyanivartanāya

The first part of this verse is lost - those who, through devotion, behold with the eye of yoga your ageless, unmoving essence, known only to the self, O Shiva, are the ones who enter into you, never to return.

Verse 61 (skanda.8.155.61)

विद्यावयो स्य समेत्य शक्तास्तेजःसृजाशुगमित

vidyāvayo sya sametya śaktāstejaḥsṛjāśugamita

This verse is almost entirely lost in the source; only a handful of disconnected word-fragments survive, touching on knowledge, age, meeting, power, and the creation of radiance, but no coherent sense can be recovered.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.155.62)

दक्षाध्वरस्सुरवरैः कृतसर्वरक्षो भृग्वादिभिर्मुनिवरैरुपगीतवेदः । क्रोधोद्भवेन तव देव हतस्सलीलमेकेन शूलवरचक्रभृता गणेन

dakṣādhvarassuravaraiḥ kṛtasarvarakṣo bhṛgvādibhirmunivarairupagītavedaḥ | krodhodbhavena tava deva hatassalīlamekena śūlavaracakrabhṛtā gaṇena

Daksha's sacrifice, guarded on every side by the foremost gods, its Vedic hymns chanted by great sages headed by Bhrigu - even that, O god, was destroyed with effortless ease by a single gana born of your wrath, bearing the fine trident and discus.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.155.63)

लिङ्गस्य यो हर हरिः अधस्तादूर्ध्वन्त्वहं ब्रुबाणः । रवन्दतवादिमध्ये कोन्यः प्रवीण इह वक्ष्यति तेल्पबुद्धिः

liṅgasya yo hara hariḥ adhastādūrdhvantvahaṁ brubāṇaḥ | ravandatavādimadhye konyaḥ pravīṇa iha vakṣyati telpabuddhiḥ

O Hara - Hari below and Brahma above, they said, seeking the two ends of the blazing linga - this verse is badly damaged, yet it hints that amid that dispute, what dull-witted person, however skilled, could presume to say anything further here about your true nature?

Verse 64 (skanda.8.155.64)

शर्वोसि सर्वगतससर्वफलप्रदोसि योगोसि योगधर योगविदां वरोसि । मातापितासि जगतः प्रभुरव्ययोसि शान्तः शिवोसि परमोसि शिवङ्करोसि

śarvosi sarvagatasasarvaphalapradosi yogosi yogadhara yogavidāṁ varosi | mātāpitāsi jagataḥ prabhuravyayosi śāntaḥ śivosi paramosi śivaṅkarosi

You are Sharva, you are all-pervading and the giver of every fruit; you are yoga itself, O upholder of yoga, foremost among the knowers of yoga. You are the mother and father of the world, the imperishable lord; you are peace, you are Shiva, you are the supreme, you are the bringer of blessing.

Verse 65 (skanda.8.155.65)

स्तवमिमममलार्थ ब्रह्मणा गीतमग्र्यं द्विजसदसि पठेद्यः कल्यमुत्थाय शश्वत् । इह सुखमनुभूय प्रेत्य चाग्रे च तस्य धनकनकसमृद्धे जायते जन्म वंशे

stavamimamamalārtha brahmaṇā gītamagryaṁ dvijasadasi paṭhedyaḥ kalyamutthāya śaśvat | iha sukhamanubhūya pretya cāgre ca tasya dhanakanakasamṛddhe jāyate janma vaṁśe

Whoever, rising early each day, ever recites in an assembly of brahmins this pure, excellent hymn sung by Brahma, having enjoyed happiness here in this world, is born hereafter into a lineage rich in wealth and gold.