The Invitation of the Brahmins

Verse 1 (skanda.8.160.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । आमन्त्र्य तानृषीन् सर्वान् सत्यवीर्ययशःश्रुतान् । नन्दी विसर्जितस्तैस्तु ययौ सूर्यरथं प्रति

sanatkumāra uvāca | āmantrya tānṛṣīn sarvān satyavīryayaśaḥśrutān | nandī visarjitastaistu yayau sūryarathaṁ prati

Sanatkumara said: Having invited all those sages renowned for truth, valour, and fame, and taking leave of them, Nandi set out toward the sun's chariot.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.160.2)

स तं सप्तोत्तमहयं शकुन्तवरसारथिम् । हराज्ञया रविं देवमुपासर्पत भूतपः

sa taṁ saptottamahayaṁ śakuntavarasārathim | harājñayā raviṁ devamupāsarpata bhūtapaḥ

At Hara's command, the lord of the bhutas approached the sun-god, whose chariot was drawn by seven excellent steeds and guided by his fine bird-charioteer.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.160.3)

सूर्यरश्मिसहस्रेषु तापसान् स मरीचिपान् । अपश्यत् स सुखासीनान् छायास्विव विहङ्गमान्

sūryaraśmisahasreṣu tāpasān sa marīcipān | apaśyat sa sukhāsīnān chāyāsviva vihaṅgamān

He saw ascetics who live on sunbeams sitting at ease amid the sun's thousand rays, as birds sit at ease in shade.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.160.4)

ततः सूर्यरथं शीघ्रमुपेत्यारुणसारथिम् । सोंशुमालिनमत्रिञ्च अथर्वाङ्गिरसावपि

tataḥ sūryarathaṁ śīghramupetyāruṇasārathim | soṁśumālinamatriñca atharvāṅgirasāvapi

Then, swiftly reaching the sun's chariot with its charioteer Aruna, he addressed the ray-crowned Sun, Atri, and Atharva and Angiras too -

Verse 5 (skanda.8.160.5)

देवानृषीन् भुजङ्गाँश्च अश्वाँश्चामन्त्रयच्छुभः । आदित्याश्वादिभिर्नन्दी रुद्रपिप्रीषुभिस्तदा

devānṛṣīn bhujaṅgā~śca aśvā~ścāmantrayacchubhaḥ | ādityāśvādibhirnandī rudrapiprīṣubhistadā

- the auspicious Nandi invited the gods, sages, serpents, and horses as well, eager to please Rudra, together with the sun's own steeds.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.160.6)

तथेत्युक्तोपचक्राम सूर्यवाहादथ द्रुतम् । देवानृषीन् भुजङ्गाँश्च तत आमन्त्र्य भूतपः

tathetyuktopacakrāma sūryavāhādatha drutam | devānṛṣīn bhujaṅgā~śca tata āmantrya bhūtapaḥ

On hearing 'So be it,' having thus invited the gods, sages, and serpents, the lord of the bhutas swiftly moved on from the sun's chariot.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.160.7)

स वायुरिव शीघ्रस्तु गरुडो वा यथाण्डजः । धनेशभवनं नन्दी कैलासं समुपागतः

sa vāyuriva śīghrastu garuḍo vā yathāṇḍajaḥ | dhaneśabhavanaṁ nandī kailāsaṁ samupāgataḥ

Swift as the wind, or as Garuda, king of birds, Nandi arrived at Kailasa, the abode of Kubera, lord of wealth.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.160.8)

स तं पाण्डरमेधाभं कुन्देन्दुरजतप्रभम् । पर्वतं धनदावासं पश्यमानः प्रहष्यत

sa taṁ pāṇḍaramedhābhaṁ kundendurajataprabham | parvataṁ dhanadāvāsaṁ paśyamānaḥ prahaṣyata

Beholding that mountain, white as a cloud, bright as the kunda flower, the moon, and silver, the dwelling of Kubera, he rejoiced.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.160.9)

स भूतेशो धनेशस्य गिरोशवचनङ्करः । आससाद नगस्याग्रे भवनं काञ्चनं शुभम्

sa bhūteśo dhaneśasya girośavacanaṅkaraḥ | āsasāda nagasyāgre bhavanaṁ kāñcanaṁ śubham

That lord of bhutas, executor of the mountain-lord's command, drew near the auspicious golden mansion of the lord of wealth atop the peak.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.160.10)

कैलासाग्रे सन्निविष्टं कैलासाग्रसमत्विषम् । हर्म्यप्रासादसंपन्नं सम्पन्नमिव भासितम्

kailāsāgre sanniviṣṭaṁ kailāsāgrasamatviṣam | harmyaprāsādasaṁpannaṁ sampannamiva bhāsitam

Set upon the Kailasa peak, radiant as the peak itself, rich with mansions and palaces, it shone as though wealth itself had taken form.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.160.11)

पताकाभिर्ध्वजैश्चापि किङ्किणीजालमालिभिः । हासैश्च पुरघोषाणां सन्नादितमहर्निशम्

patākābhirdhvajaiścāpi kiṅkiṇījālamālibhiḥ | hāsaiśca puraghoṣāṇāṁ sannāditamaharniśam

Adorned with banners and standards strung with garlands of tinkling bells, and resounding day and night with the mirth of the city's clamour -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.160.12)

भेर्या परमघोराणां वादित्रशतनादितम् । इज्याध्ययनसंपन्नास्तिष्ठन्त्यत्र सभासदः

bheryā paramaghorāṇāṁ vāditraśatanāditam | ijyādhyayanasaṁpannāstiṣṭhantyatra sabhāsadaḥ

- resounding with deep-toned kettledrums and a hundred instruments, there sat courtiers accomplished in sacrifice and study.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.160.13)

भाभिर्जुष्टां सभां तस्य ततो रुद्रसभासदः । आससाद स यत्रास्ते मुनेर्विश्रवसः सुतः

bhābhirjuṣṭāṁ sabhāṁ tasya tato rudrasabhāsadaḥ | āsasāda sa yatrāste munerviśravasaḥ sutaḥ

Then that attendant of Rudra entered that hall, filled with radiance, where the son of the sage Vishravas sat.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.160.14)

तमृद्ध्या परया युक्तं सेव्यमानं श्रिया तथा । अपश्यद् धनदं नन्दी दिव्यस्त्रीगणसेवितम्

tamṛddhyā parayā yuktaṁ sevyamānaṁ śriyā tathā | apaśyad dhanadaṁ nandī divyastrīgaṇasevitam

Nandi beheld Kubera, endowed with supreme prosperity, attended by Shri herself, and served by a host of divine women.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.160.15)

शुक्तिकणं शुक्तिकर्णैर्यक्षेन्द्रैरभिसंवृतम् । उपगीयमानं गन्धर्वैरेकपिङ्गायतेक्षणम्

śuktikaṇaṁ śuktikarṇairyakṣendrairabhisaṁvṛtam | upagīyamānaṁ gandharvairekapiṅgāyatekṣaṇam

Gleaming like a pearl, surrounded by shell-eared lords of the yakshas, being sung to by gandharvas, his eyes uneven - that Kubera -

Verse 16 (skanda.8.160.16)

महेश्वरसखत्वेन वरदानमदेन च । माद्यन्तं स्वर्णया नद्धमालयामललोलया

maheśvarasakhatvena varadānamadena ca | mādyantaṁ svarṇayā naddhamālayāmalalolayā

- intoxicated with the pride of Maheshvara's friendship and the boon he had received, adorned with a spotless, gleaming golden garland -

Verse 17 (skanda.8.160.17)

धनदश्चापि तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करानुचरं वरम् । पूजयञ्छङ्करं सोममुत्पपातासनाद् द्रुतम्

dhanadaścāpi taṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkarānucaraṁ varam | pūjayañchaṅkaraṁ somamutpapātāsanād drutam

Kubera too, seeing that noble attendant of Shankara, and out of reverence for Shankara and Uma, sprang up at once from his seat.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.160.18)

स्वर्णादुत्पतमानस्तु आसनाद् धनदो बभौ । साशोकादिव पुष्पाढ्यादुदग्रात् पर्वताद्रविः

svarṇādutpatamānastu āsanād dhanado babhau | sāśokādiva puṣpāḍhyādudagrāt parvatādraviḥ

Rising from his golden seat, Kubera shone forth like the sun rising from a lofty mountain rich with blossoming ashoka trees.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.160.19)

तमुत्पतन्तमुत्पेतुर्यक्षा यक्षपतिं द्रुतम् । ग्रहा यथा दीप्यमाना दिनहानौ ग्रहाधिपम्

tamutpatantamutpeturyakṣā yakṣapatiṁ drutam | grahā yathā dīpyamānā dinahānau grahādhipam

As their lord of yakshas rose, the yakshas rose swiftly with him, as gleaming planets rise with their sovereign at the day's decline.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.160.20)

नन्दिने स तदार्घञ्च पाद्यञ्चावेद्य वित्तदः । सपुत्रदारः सामात्यः प्रणेमे मनसा हरम्

nandine sa tadārghañca pādyañcāvedya vittadaḥ | saputradāraḥ sāmātyaḥ praṇeme manasā haram

That giver of wealth offered Nandi arghya and water for the feet, and, with his sons, wife, and ministers, bowed in his heart to Hara.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.160.21)

ततः कथा बहुविधाः कृत्वोद्दिश्य महेश्वरम् । पप्रच्छ धनदो नन्दिं चिरस्यागमनं कृतम्

tataḥ kathā bahuvidhāḥ kṛtvoddiśya maheśvaram | papraccha dhanado nandiṁ cirasyāgamanaṁ kṛtam

Then, after speaking of Maheshvara at some length, Kubera asked Nandi the reason for this visit after so long a time.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.160.22)

नन्द्युवाच । अशोकतरुकं पुत्रं गिरिपुत्री ग्रहीष्यति । निमन्त्रयति तत्र त्वां द्रविणेश महेश्वरः

nandyuvāca | aśokatarukaṁ putraṁ giriputrī grahīṣyati | nimantrayati tatra tvāṁ draviṇeśa maheśvaraḥ

Nandi said: 'The mountain's daughter is going to take the ashoka tree as her son. Maheshvara invites you there, O lord of riches.'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.160.23)

श्वः सपुत्रः सदारश्च सानुगः साप्सरोगणः । मन्दरं याहि वित्तेश देवेशः प्रीयते त्वया

śvaḥ saputraḥ sadāraśca sānugaḥ sāpsarogaṇaḥ | mandaraṁ yāhi vitteśa deveśaḥ prīyate tvayā

'O lord of wealth, go tomorrow to Mount Mandara with your sons, your wife, your attendants, and your host of apsarases; the lord of gods shall be pleased with you.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.160.24)

एवमामन्त्र्य धनदं धनदेन विसर्जितः । ययौ संयमनीं नन्दी यमस्य यमसन्निभः

evamāmantrya dhanadaṁ dhanadena visarjitaḥ | yayau saṁyamanīṁ nandī yamasya yamasannibhaḥ

Having thus invited Kubera, and taking leave of him, self-disciplined Nandi went on to Samyamani, the city of Yama.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.160.25)

स यमं धर्मवक्तारं हर्तारं प्राणिनां प्रभुम् । साग्निं सधर्मं सव्याधिमपश्यद् गणनायकः

sa yamaṁ dharmavaktāraṁ hartāraṁ prāṇināṁ prabhum | sāgniṁ sadharmaṁ savyādhimapaśyad gaṇanāyakaḥ

That leader of the ganas beheld Yama, the proclaimer of dharma, sovereign who takes away living beings, attended by Agni, Dharma, and Disease.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.160.26)

आयांतं नन्दिनं दृष्ट्वा यमो भूतशतावृतः । पादाभ्यां नन्दिनः सोथ निपपात तुतोष च

āyāṁtaṁ nandinaṁ dṛṣṭvā yamo bhūtaśatāvṛtaḥ | pādābhyāṁ nandinaḥ sotha nipapāta tutoṣa ca

Seeing Nandi approaching, Yama, surrounded by hundreds of bhutas, fell at his two feet and rejoiced.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.160.27)

रुद्रस्येव यमस्तस्य पूजां कृत्वा ह्यनुत्तमाम् । पप्रच्छ नन्दिनं यत्नाच्चिरस्यागमनं कृतम्

rudrasyeva yamastasya pūjāṁ kṛtvā hyanuttamām | papraccha nandinaṁ yatnāccirasyāgamanaṁ kṛtam

Honouring him with supreme reverence, as though honouring Rudra himself, Yama carefully asked Nandi the reason for his coming after so long.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.160.28)

नन्द्युवाच । अशोकतरुकं पुत्रं गिरिपुत्री ग्रहीष्यति । तत्र त्वां सानुगं देवो निमन्त्रयति शङ्करः

nandyuvāca | aśokatarukaṁ putraṁ giriputrī grahīṣyati | tatra tvāṁ sānugaṁ devo nimantrayati śaṅkaraḥ

Nandi said: 'The mountain's daughter is going to take the ashoka tree as her son. There the god Shankara invites you, together with your attendants.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.160.29)

ये चैव विषये ह्यस्मिन् निवसन्ति द्विजातयः । ताँश्चामन्त्रयते देवः संमान्य बहुमानतः

ye caiva viṣaye hyasmin nivasanti dvijātayaḥ | tā~ścāmantrayate devaḥ saṁmānya bahumānataḥ

'And whatever twice-born ones dwell in this domain, the god invites them too, with the highest honour and respect.'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.160.30)

कल्यं स भगवान् कल्यः कालः कालप्रियं गिरिम् । मानयन् प्रभुमीशानं गन्तुमर्हसि मन्दरम्

kalyaṁ sa bhagavān kalyaḥ kālaḥ kālapriyaṁ girim | mānayan prabhumīśānaṁ gantumarhasi mandaram

'You, blessed and hale, O Time, should go tomorrow at dawn to that mountain dear even to Time, to pay homage to lord Ishana.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.160.31)

तथेत्युक्तो यमेनाथ तैश्चाग्निसदृशैर्द्विजैः । सूर्यात्मजगृहान्नन्दी शक्रलोकं ततो गतः

tathetyukto yamenātha taiścāgnisadṛśairdvijaiḥ | sūryātmajagṛhānnandī śakralokaṁ tato gataḥ

When Yama and those fire-like brahmins had said 'So be it,' Nandi departed from the abode of the sun's son and went on to Indra's world.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.160.32)

सुकृतीनां तमावासं वासवं लोकमद्भुतम् । विवेश त्वरितं नन्दी दितिगर्भं यथाहिहा

sukṛtīnāṁ tamāvāsaṁ vāsavaṁ lokamadbhutam | viveśa tvaritaṁ nandī ditigarbhaṁ yathāhihā

Into that wondrous abode of the meritorious, the realm of Vasava, Nandi entered swiftly, as the serpent-slayer once entered the womb of Diti.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.160.33)

स सुधर्मा सुधर्मायां सुधर्मममरैर्वृतम् । गान्धर्वमुपशृण्वानं नन्दी शक्रमपश्यत

sa sudharmā sudharmāyāṁ sudharmamamarairvṛtam | gāndharvamupaśṛṇvānaṁ nandī śakramapaśyata

Righteous Nandi beheld Indra, righteous himself, seated in his Sudharma assembly-hall, surrounded by the immortals, listening to gandharva music.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.160.34)

शक्रश्च नन्दिनं देवं देवदेवस्य किङ्करम् । हर्षान्नेत्रसहस्रस्थं कृत्वा सम्यगपश्यत

śakraśca nandinaṁ devaṁ devadevasya kiṅkaram | harṣānnetrasahasrasthaṁ kṛtvā samyagapaśyata

Indra too, seeing Nandi, servant of the God of gods, gazed fully upon him with joy, his thousand eyes fixed on him.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.160.35)

स पूजां रुद्रसदृशीमवाप्य त्रिदशेश्वरात् । उपाविशदमेयात्मा शक्राभ्यासे वरासने

sa pūjāṁ rudrasadṛśīmavāpya tridaśeśvarāt | upāviśadameyātmā śakrābhyāse varāsane

Receiving honour equal to Rudra's from the lord of the thirty gods, boundless-souled Nandi took his seat on a fine throne beside Indra.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.160.36)

तमासीनमुपासीनः शतक्रतुररिन्दमः । पिबन्नेत्रसहस्रेण न तृप्तिं सोभ्यगच्छत

tamāsīnamupāsīnaḥ śatakraturarindamaḥ | pibannetrasahasreṇa na tṛptiṁ sobhyagacchata

Foe-taming Shatakratu, seated near him, drinking him in as it were with his thousand eyes, never attained his fill.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.160.37)

ततो वृत्रबलारिस्तं नन्दिनं दिनकृत्प्रभम् । पर्यपृच्छत हर्षेण किं चिरादागतो भवान्

tato vṛtrabalāristaṁ nandinaṁ dinakṛtprabham | paryapṛcchata harṣeṇa kiṁ cirādāgato bhavān

Then Indra, foe of Vritra and Bala, joyfully asked sun-radiant Nandi: 'What has brought you here after so long a time?'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.160.38)

इत्युक्तः स तु देवेन देवः स्वर्गनिवासिना । मन्दारवासितोव्यग्रः प्रोवाच कुलिशाधरः

ityuktaḥ sa tu devena devaḥ svarganivāsinā | mandāravāsitovyagraḥ provāca kuliśādharaḥ

Thus questioned by that heaven-dwelling god, the god Nandi, unperturbed, spoke to the thunderbolt-bearer, fragrant with mandara blossoms.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.160.39)

अशोकतरुकं पुत्रं गिरिपुत्री ग्रहीष्यति । तत्र त्वां सामरं देवो निमन्त्रयति भूतपः

aśokatarukaṁ putraṁ giriputrī grahīṣyati | tatra tvāṁ sāmaraṁ devo nimantrayati bhūtapaḥ

'The mountain's daughter is going to take the ashoka tree as her son. The lord of the bhutas invites you there, together with the gods.'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.160.40)

द्विजपूर्वं द्विजा ये च तवालयनिवासिनः । सपुत्रदाराँस्ताँश्चापि निमन्त्रयति शङ्करः

dvijapūrvaṁ dvijā ye ca tavālayanivāsinaḥ | saputradārā~stā~ścāpi nimantrayati śaṅkaraḥ

'And the brahmins who dwell in your realm too, together with their sons and wives, Shankara invites.'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.160.41)

श्वस्सपुत्रः सदारस्त्वं देवदेवस्य शासनात् । मन्दरं गच्छ देवेश गिरीशमभिनन्दय

śvassaputraḥ sadārastvaṁ devadevasya śāsanāt | mandaraṁ gaccha deveśa girīśamabhinandaya

'O lord of gods, by the command of the God of gods, go tomorrow with your sons and wife to Mount Mandara and offer your congratulations to Girisha.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.160.42)

त्वयि याते सुरश्रेष्ठ अशोकतरुकोत्सवे । प्रीतिं यास्यति देवेशः परां सुरनरार्त्तिहा

tvayi yāte suraśreṣṭha aśokatarukotsave | prītiṁ yāsyati deveśaḥ parāṁ suranarārttihā

'O foremost of the gods, when you arrive at the festival of the ashoka tree, the lord of gods, who ends the sorrow of gods and men, will be supremely pleased.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.160.43)

शितशूलधरं पिनाकिनं गिरिराजेन्द्रसुतापतिं प्रभुम् । प्रणिपत्य महेशमूर्जितं पुनरेवैष्यसि नाकसंसदम्

śitaśūladharaṁ pinākinaṁ girirājendrasutāpatiṁ prabhum | praṇipatya maheśamūrjitaṁ punarevaiṣyasi nākasaṁsadam

'Having bowed to the mighty lord Mahesha, bearer of the sharp trident and the bow Pinaka, husband of the daughter of the lord of mountains, you shall return once more to the assembly of heaven.'