Andhaka's Boon from the Goddess

Verse 1 (skanda.8.157.1)

व्यास उवाच । अनुगृह्यान्धकं देवो विसृज्य सगणान् सुरान् । चराचरेशो यच्चक्रे तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः

vyāsa uvāca | anugṛhyāndhakaṁ devo visṛjya sagaṇān surān | carācareśo yaccakre tanmamācakṣva tattvataḥ

Vyasa said: Having shown grace to Andhaka and dismissed the gods together with the ganas, what did the lord of all moving and unmoving things do next? Tell me this truly.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.157.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । दिवं देवेषु यातेषु गणपे चान्धके कृते । देवेशोन्धकनन्दिभ्यां सहदेव्या

sanatkumāra uvāca | divaṁ deveṣu yāteṣu gaṇape cāndhake kṛte | deveśondhakanandibhyāṁ sahadevyā

Sanatkumara said: When the gods had gone to heaven and Andhaka had been made a lord of the ganas, the lord of gods, together with Andhaka and Nandi, and with the Goddess - the closing part of this verse is lost in the source.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.157.3)

चिरस्य चन्द्रमौलिस्तु प्रमथाधिपतिर्गृहान् । प्रविश्य रञ्जयामास म्मेरुगृहानिव

cirasya candramaulistu pramathādhipatirgṛhān | praviśya rañjayāmāsa mmerugṛhāniva

After a long while, the crescent-crested lord, ruler of the pramathas, entered his abode - the middle of this verse is lost in the source - and made it delightful, like the mansion of Meru.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.157.4)

सीमां सोमानुवदनां सोमार्धतिलको हरः । सखीनां दृश्यते मध्ये ताराणामिव रोहिणी

sīmāṁ somānuvadanāṁ somārdhatilako haraḥ | sakhīnāṁ dṛśyate madhye tārāṇāmiva rohiṇī

Hara, adorned with the crescent moon, approached moon-faced Uma - the middle line of this verse is lost in the source - she was seen amid her companions, as Rohini is seen among the stars.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.157.5)

दृष्टवा देव्यपि देवेशमुपायातं वृषध्वजम् । उत्तस्थावासनात्तूर्णं सखीभिः सहिता तदा

dṛṣṭavā devyapi deveśamupāyātaṁ vṛṣadhvajam | uttasthāvāsanāttūrṇaṁ sakhībhiḥ sahitā tadā

The Goddess too, seeing the bull-bannered lord of gods approaching, rose at once from her seat, together with her companions.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.157.6)

शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय पद्मकुड्मलसन्निभम् । ववन्दे चरणौ तस्य प्रीयमाणेन चेतसा

śirasyañjalimādhāya padmakuḍmalasannibham | vavande caraṇau tasya prīyamāṇena cetasā

Joining her palms above her head like a lotus bud, with a joyful heart she bowed to his two feet.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.157.7)

देवोपि तां समुत्थाप्य तयैव सहितः प्रभुः । निषसादासने रत्नमयूखपरिपिञ्जरे

devopi tāṁ samutthāpya tayaiva sahitaḥ prabhuḥ | niṣasādāsane ratnamayūkhaparipiñjare

The god too raised her up, and together with her, seated himself on a throne golden with the rays of gems.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.157.8)

अन्धकञ्च जितं युद्धे देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षया । शङ्करः कथयामास पुनश्च प्रवरीकृतम्

andhakañca jitaṁ yuddhe devyāḥ priyacikīrṣayā | śaṅkaraḥ kathayāmāsa punaśca pravarīkṛtam

Wishing to please the Goddess, Shankara related again how Andhaka had been conquered in battle, and told also how he had raised him to an exalted rank.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.157.9)

अन्धकोयं तव सुतो ममैव नयनोद्भवः । आसुरं त्याजितो भावं त्वामवज्ञातवान् हि यः

andhakoyaṁ tava suto mamaiva nayanodbhavaḥ | āsuraṁ tyājito bhāvaṁ tvāmavajñātavān hi yaḥ

'This Andhaka is your son, born from my own eye. He who once scorned you has now been freed from his demonic nature.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.157.10)

इत्युक्तवति देवेशे शङ्करेन्धकदानवः । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा व्यज्ञापयत पार्वतीम्

ityuktavati deveśe śaṅkarendhakadānavaḥ | praṇataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā vyajñāpayata pārvatīm

When the lord of gods had said this, the danava Andhaka, bowing, with joined palms, addressed Parvati.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.157.11)

देव्यन्धकोहं देवेन प्रकृतानुग्रहः शुभे । तव प्रेष्यत्वमायातः पश्य मां सौम्यचक्षुषा

devyandhakohaṁ devena prakṛtānugrahaḥ śubhe | tava preṣyatvamāyātaḥ paśya māṁ saumyacakṣuṣā

'O gracious Goddess, I, Andhaka, favoured by god, have come into your service - look upon me with a gentle eye.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.157.12)

अम्ब तन्मे व्यतिक्रान्तं यन्मे दानवजं तव । देवेनानुगृहीतोहं तव हासश्च किङ्करः

amba tanme vyatikrāntaṁ yanme dānavajaṁ tava | devenānugṛhītohaṁ tava hāsaśca kiṅkaraḥ

'O Mother, whatever offence, natural to a danava, I once committed against you, has now passed away. Favoured by the god, I am the servant even of your smile.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.157.13)

क्षान्तं दान्तञ्च भक्तञ्च त्ददाश्रयपरायणम् । विद्धि मामम्ब शुद्धेन भावेन समवस्थितम्

kṣāntaṁ dāntañca bhaktañca tdadāśrayaparāyaṇam | viddhi māmamba śuddhena bhāvena samavasthitam

'Know me to be forbearing, self-controlled, devoted, wholly given to your refuge - recognize me, O Mother, as one established in a pure disposition.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.157.14)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा गिरिजां गिरिकूटनिभोन्धकः । वाग्भिराहवनीयाभिरस्तुवत् प्राञ्जलिर्नतः

ityevamuktvā girijāṁ girikūṭanibhondhakaḥ | vāgbhirāhavanīyābhirastuvat prāñjalirnataḥ

Having thus spoken to the mountain-born Goddess, Andhaka, huge as a mountain-crag, joined his palms, bowed low, and began to praise her with sacrificial-toned words.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.157.15)

विभावरी वारिचरी शर्वरी शर्ववल्लभा । धृतिर्मतिस्तथा कीर्तिर्दीप्तिः प्राप्तिः प्रमोहिनी

vibhāvarī vāricarī śarvarī śarvavallabhā | dhṛtirmatistathā kīrtirdīptiḥ prāptiḥ pramohinī

Vibhavari, Varichari, Sharvari, Sharvavallabha, Dhriti, Mati, Kirti, Dipti, Prapti, Pramohini -

Verse 16 (skanda.8.157.16)

मेधा सुधा तथा साध्वी स्वधा स्वाहा महाद्युतिः । पुष्टिरिष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिर्गृष्टिर्दृष्टिस्त्रुटिस्तडित्

medhā sudhā tathā sādhvī svadhā svāhā mahādyutiḥ | puṣṭiriṣṭistathā tuṣṭirgṛṣṭirdṛṣṭistruṭistaḍit

Medha, Sudha, Sadhvi, Svadha, Svaha, Mahadyuti, Pushti, Ishti, Tushti, Grishti, Drishti, Truti, Tadit -

Verse 17 (skanda.8.157.17)

स्मृतिः प्रीतिः स्पृहा हानिर्वाणी ग्लानिर्दया क्रिया । लक्ष्मीः श्रीः सन्नतिः श्रद्धा माया मायाधरार्चिता

smṛtiḥ prītiḥ spṛhā hānirvāṇī glānirdayā kriyā | lakṣmīḥ śrīḥ sannatiḥ śraddhā māyā māyādharārcitā

Smriti, Priti, Sprha, Hani, Vani, Glani, Daya, Kriya, Lakshmi, Shri, Sannati, Shraddha, Maya, and she who is worshipped by Mayadhara, Vishnu -

Verse 18 (skanda.8.157.18)

अदितिर्दितिस्तथा कद्रूः सिंहिका सुरसा दनुः । राका कुहूः सिनीवाली चर्षणी सुखदायिनी

aditirditistathā kadrūḥ siṁhikā surasā danuḥ | rākā kuhūḥ sinīvālī carṣaṇī sukhadāyinī

Aditi, Diti, Kadru, Simhika, Surasa, Danu, Raka, Kuhu, Sinivali, Charshani, Sukhadayini -

Verse 19 (skanda.8.157.19)

दीक्षा दक्षावरा रक्षा शिक्षा कक्षनिकेतना । सुगन्धा सुभगा भव्या भूतभव्यभवत्करी

dīkṣā dakṣāvarā rakṣā śikṣā kakṣaniketanā | sugandhā subhagā bhavyā bhūtabhavyabhavatkarī

Diksha, Dakshavara, Raksha, Shiksha, Kakshaniketana, Sugandha, Subhaga, Bhavya, and Bhutabhavyabhavatkari, maker of past, future, and present -

Verse 20 (skanda.8.157.20)

धरणी धारणी धन्या वीरणी वै गुहारणी । ला गोला तथा चैव मङ्गलाविधा तथा

dharaṇī dhāraṇī dhanyā vīraṇī vai guhāraṇī | lā golā tathā caiva maṅgalāvidhā tathā

Dharani, Dharani the Sustainer, Dhanya, Virani, Guharani, La, Gola, and Mangalavidha -

Verse 21 (skanda.8.157.21)

रोवृता सता सक्षत्रनन्दिनी । नक्षत्रचित्रा द्यौः पृथ्वी क्रिया स्मृतिरलोलुपा

rovṛtā satā sakṣatranandinī | nakṣatracitrā dyauḥ pṛthvī kriyā smṛtiralolupā

The first line of this verse is lost in the source, of which only this can be made out - enveloped, chaste, star-daughter. In the second line - Nakshatrachitra, Dyau, Prithvi, Kriya, and unswerving Smriti -

Verse 22 (skanda.8.157.22)

शुद्धा शुद्धिः सुधीः कीर्तिः कृत्तिवासोधरप्रिया । धनुर्ज्या जयिनी पूज्या ईज्या व्रज्या जयप्रदा

śuddhā śuddhiḥ sudhīḥ kīrtiḥ kṛttivāsodharapriyā | dhanurjyā jayinī pūjyā ījyā vrajyā jayapradā

Shuddha, Shuddhi, Sudhi, Kirti, the beloved of hide-clad Shiva, Dhanurjya, Jayini, Pujya, Ijya, Vrajya, Jayaprada -

Verse 23 (skanda.8.157.23)

वरावरेण्या वरदा वरनारी वचोरणि । भूतिर्भूताधिजननी सुकृतिः सुमना रतिः

varāvareṇyā varadā varanārī vacoraṇi | bhūtirbhūtādhijananī sukṛtiḥ sumanā ratiḥ

Varavarenya, Varada, Varanari, Vachorani, Bhuti, Bhutadhijanani, mother of all beings, Sukriti, Sumana, Rati -

Verse 24 (skanda.8.157.24)

भारती भासमायुक्ता युक्तरक्तवचोधरी । आज्ञा प्रज्ञा तथा संज्ञा उल्का नासासमुद्भवा । वेदमातथ गायत्री दुर्गा सावित्र्यथापि च

bhāratī bhāsamāyuktā yuktaraktavacodharī | ājñā prajñā tathā saṁjñā ulkā nāsāsamudbhavā | vedamātatha gāyatrī durgā sāvitryathāpi ca

Bharati, Bhasamayukta, Yuktaraktavachodhari, Ajna, Prajna, Sanjna, Ulka, Nasasamudbhava, the Mother of the Vedas, Gayatri, Durga, and Savitri too -

Verse 25 (skanda.8.157.25)

धर्म्मिणी धर्मजननी तेजनी तेजसां वरा । रजनी रञ्जनी धीरा योनिर्वनजलोचना

dharmmiṇī dharmajananī tejanī tejasāṁ varā | rajanī rañjanī dhīrā yonirvanajalocanā

Dharmini, Dharmajanani, Tejani, foremost among the radiant, Rajani, Ranjani, Dhira, and lotus-eyed Yoni, the source of creation -

Verse 26 (skanda.8.157.26)

श्रदर्थिनी दनुनदी श्रुतार्था श्रुतवत्तरा । बलयालातकधरा मेखला मेखलाधरा

śradarthinī danunadī śrutārthā śrutavattarā | balayālātakadharā mekhalā mekhalādharā

Shradarthini, Danunadi, Shrutartha, Shrutavattara, bearer of bracelet and firebrand, Mekhala, Mekhaladhara -

Verse 27 (skanda.8.157.27)

प्रीयतां मे जगद्धात्री श्यामा श्यामाम्बरा ह्युमा । इत्येवमन्धकेनेशा स्तुता स्तुतिशतस्तुता

prīyatāṁ me jagaddhātrī śyāmā śyāmāmbarā hyumā | ityevamandhakeneśā stutā stutiśatastutā

'O sustainer of the world! O dark-hued one! Uma clad in blue - be pleased with me.' Thus the Goddess, praised with a hundred hymns, was extolled by Andhaka.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.157.28)

अन्धकस्य तुतोषाति तुष्टा चेदमुवाच तम् । प्रीतास्मि पुत्र यत् प्राप्तं गाणपत्यं त्वया शुभम् । प्रियोधुना वरस्तूर्णं व्रियतां प्रवरोत्तम

andhakasya tutoṣāti tuṣṭā cedamuvāca tam | prītāsmi putra yat prāptaṁ gāṇapatyaṁ tvayā śubham | priyodhunā varastūrṇaṁ vriyatāṁ pravarottama

Well pleased by Andhaka's praise, the Goddess said to him: 'I am delighted, my son, that you have attained this auspicious rank of a ganapati. You are dear to me now; ask swiftly for a boon, O best of beings.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.157.29)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । भवानीं वरदां दृष्टवा सोन्धको गणपोत्तमः । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिः प्राह हिमवत्तनयामुमाम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | bhavānīṁ varadāṁ dṛṣṭavā sondhako gaṇapottamaḥ | praṇataḥ prāñjaliḥ prāha himavattanayāmumām

Sanatkumara said: Seeing Bhavani ready to grant a boon, that Andhaka, foremost among the ganapatis, bowed, joined his palms, and spoke to Uma, daughter of the Himalaya.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.157.30)

यञ्च त्वं मे वरं देवि ददासीशानबल्लभे । मम तेन समस्तेन त्वयि भक्तिः स्थिरा भवेत्

yañca tvaṁ me varaṁ devi dadāsīśānaballabhe | mama tena samastena tvayi bhaktiḥ sthirā bhavet

'O Goddess, beloved of Ishana, whatever boon you give me, let it be this: that my devotion to you remain ever steadfast through it.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.157.31)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवत्यपराजिता । उवाचान्धकमासाद्य प्रीयमाणा पुनस्तदा

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhagavatyaparājitā | uvācāndhakamāsādya prīyamāṇā punastadā

Hearing his words, the unconquerable and blessed Parvati, drawing close to Andhaka, spoke again, greatly pleased.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.157.32)

ज्ञानेनानेन तुष्टास्मि तव पुत्र शुभेन वै । यन्मत्तोर्थितवानद्य त्वं भक्तिं प्रवरेश्वर

jñānenānena tuṣṭāsmi tava putra śubhena vai | yanmattorthitavānadya tvaṁ bhaktiṁ pravareśvara

'My son, I am pleased by this auspicious wisdom of yours, that today you have asked of me nothing but devotion, O noblest of lords!'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.157.33)

मच्छन्दादेव चाप्येतद् गाणपत्यं तवानघ । दत्तं देवाधिदेवेन तेन चास्मि सुतोषिता

macchandādeva cāpyetad gāṇapatyaṁ tavānagha | dattaṁ devādhidevena tena cāsmi sutoṣitā

'O sinless one, this rank of a ganapati was given to you by the God of gods through my own wish as well, and so I too am content.'

Verse 34 (skanda.8.157.34)

तस्माच्चादित्यपाकात्ते सुयुद्धेन च पुत्रक । पापव्ययो महानासीत् तेनासि प्रवरीकृतः

tasmāccādityapākātte suyuddhena ca putraka | pāpavyayo mahānāsīt tenāsi pravarīkṛtaḥ

'O son, through being scorched in the sun's fire and through your fierce battle with Nandi, a great destruction of your sins took place, and by that you have been raised to this exalted state.'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.157.35)

अमरो जरया त्यक्तो बली बलवतामपि । तपस्वी ह्यक्षयो जेता नन्दिवत्त्वं भविष्यसि

amaro jarayā tyakto balī balavatāmapi | tapasvī hyakṣayo jetā nandivattvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

'You shall be immortal, free from old age, mighty even among the mighty, an ascetic, imperishable, and victorious, just as Nandi is.'

Verse 36 (skanda.8.157.36)

मम देवस्य चापीष्टः किङ्करो मम चाप्यथ । भव त्वमनघः श्रीमान् गणेश्वरगणेश्वरः

mama devasya cāpīṣṭaḥ kiṅkaro mama cāpyatha | bhava tvamanaghaḥ śrīmān gaṇeśvaragaṇeśvaraḥ

'Become the beloved servant of both myself and the god Shiva. O sinless one, become glorious, and lord even over the lords of the ganas.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.157.37)

ये च त्वां कीर्त्तयिष्यन्ति दिवा रात्रावथापि वा । तेषां कीर्त्तिर्यशः स्वर्गो धर्मश्चैव भविष्यति

ye ca tvāṁ kīrttayiṣyanti divā rātrāvathāpi vā | teṣāṁ kīrttiryaśaḥ svargo dharmaścaiva bhaviṣyati

'Whoever shall glorify you, by day or by night, shall gain fame, glory, heaven, and merit as well.'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.157.38)

स त्वेवमुक्तः पार्वत्या अन्धकोर्चितमानितः । अनुज्ञातश्च पार्वत्या मुमुदे हरपार्श्वगः

sa tvevamuktaḥ pārvatyā andhakorcitamānitaḥ | anujñātaśca pārvatyā mumude harapārśvagaḥ

Thus honoured and respected by Parvati, Andhaka, now stationed beside Hara, rejoiced greatly.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.157.39)

इत्येवमन्धकं देवस्तमोरिकृतभूषणः । अनुगृह्य गिरौ तस्मिन् विजहार यथासुखम्

ityevamandhakaṁ devastamorikṛtabhūṣaṇaḥ | anugṛhya girau tasmin vijahāra yathāsukham

Thus the lord Shiva, dispeller of the darkness of the asura Andhaka, having shown him grace, sported happily upon that very mountain.