The Rise of Tripura

Verse 1 (skanda.8.168.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वा कथामायतनानुबद्धां चन्द्रार्धबिम्बा स्थितमौलिनस्तु । व्यासो मुनिस्तं वचनं बभाषे ब्रह्मात्मजं ब्रह्मविदं मुनीन्द्रम्

sūta uvāca | śrutvā kathāmāyatanānubaddhāṁ candrārdhabimbā sthitamaulinastu | vyāso munistaṁ vacanaṁ babhāṣe brahmātmajaṁ brahmavidaṁ munīndram

Suta said: Having heard this tale bound to the abodes of the half-moon-crested one, the sage Vyasa spoke this word to the son of Brahma, the knower of Brahman, lord of sages.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.168.2)

धर्म्या सुपुण्या भगवन् त्वयैषा गुह्या कथा मे विधिवत् प्रदिष्टा । स्थानानि शम्भोर्दयितानि कोन्य एवं परिज्ञातुमृषिः समर्थः

dharmyā supuṇyā bhagavan tvayaiṣā guhyā kathā me vidhivat pradiṣṭā | sthānāni śambhordayitāni konya evaṁ parijñātumṛṣiḥ samarthaḥ

This righteous, most holy tale, O Lord, has been rightly imparted to me by you as a secret; what other sage could thus come to know these beloved abodes of Shambhu?

Verse 3 (skanda.8.168.3)

इच्छामि वेत्तुं त्रिपुरं प्रदग्धमेकेषुणा दिव्यपिनाकधर्त्रा । यथा पुरा भक्तवरप्रदेन तन्मे मुने ब्रूहि यथाप्रवृत्तम्

icchāmi vettuṁ tripuraṁ pradagdhamekeṣuṇā divyapinākadhartrā | yathā purā bhaktavarapradena tanme mune brūhi yathāpravṛttam

I wish to know how Tripura was burned with a single arrow by the wielder of the divine Pinaka bow, the granter of boons to his devotees, just as it happened of old - tell me that, O sage, exactly as it occurred.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.168.4)

पृष्टस्तथैवं मुनिना मुनीन्द्रः प्रश्नं यथावत् कथयञ्चकार । दग्धं यथा तत् त्रिपुरं तथा त्वं शृणुष्व पुत्रेति वचो ब्रुवाणः

pṛṣṭastathaivaṁ muninā munīndraḥ praśnaṁ yathāvat kathayañcakāra | dagdhaṁ yathā tat tripuraṁ tathā tvaṁ śṛṇuṣva putreti vaco bruvāṇaḥ

Thus questioned by the sage, the lord of sages proceeded to relate the matter in due order: "Listen, my son," he said, "how that Tripura was burned."

Verse 5 (skanda.8.168.5)

तस्मिन् हते दैत्यवृषेन्द्रसिंहे पुरा हिरण्याक्षसुते प्रवीरे । भग्नेषु दैत्येषु सदानवेषु मयो बभूवाधृतिदुःखतप्तः

tasmin hate daityavṛṣendrasiṁhe purā hiraṇyākṣasute pravīre | bhagneṣu daityeṣu sadānaveṣu mayo babhūvādhṛtiduḥkhataptaḥ

When of old that foremost hero among the danava-bulls, the valiant son of Hiranyaksha, was slain, and the daityas, together with the danavas, lay shattered, Maya became consumed with restless grief.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.168.6)

स विश्वकृद्दानवराजलक्ष्म्या रत्येव हीनो मकरध्वजोभूत् । आदाय दैत्यं स हि तारकाक्षं विद्युत्प्रभं चेन्द्रसमप्रभावम्

sa viśvakṛddānavarājalakṣmyā ratyeva hīno makaradhvajobhūt | ādāya daityaṁ sa hi tārakākṣaṁ vidyutprabhaṁ cendrasamaprabhāvam

He, the world-maker, bereft of the danava-king's fortune, became like the flower-bannered god of love bereft of Rati; he took with him the daitya Tarakaksha,

Verse 7 (skanda.8.168.7)

तपश्चचारोग्रमहीनकर्मा दैत्यौ च तावन्धकतुल्यवीर्यौ । ते शीतकाले हिमपर्वतस्था ग्रीष्मे च पञ्चज्वलनाभितप्ताः

tapaścacārogramahīnakarmā daityau ca tāvandhakatulyavīryau | te śītakāle himaparvatasthā grīṣme ca pañcajvalanābhitaptāḥ

and Vidyunprabha, of splendor equal to Indra - performing fierce, flawless austerity - and those two daityas of might equal to Andhaka's - in the cold season they stood upon snow-mountains, and in summer, scorched by the five fires, upon a cloudless, water-flooded stretch of earth,

Verse 8 (skanda.8.168.8)

व्यभ्रे पयःप्लावितभूमिभागे चेरुस्तपः प्रावृषि च प्रयत्ताः । तेषामगाद्दिव्यसमासहस्स्रं तथा सुतीव्रे तपसि स्थितानाम्

vyabhre payaḥplāvitabhūmibhāge cerustapaḥ prāvṛṣi ca prayattāḥ | teṣāmagāddivyasamāsahassraṁ tathā sutīvre tapasi sthitānām

and in the rains too they strove, performing austerity. A thousand divine years passed for them, thus fixed in most severe penance.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.168.9)

चर्मास्थिशेषा ज्वलनप्रभावास्तपो विशेषाद् दितिपुत्रसिंहाः । आदित्यतेजःप्रतिमानवीरा बभूवुरादित्यवपुःप्रकाशाः

carmāsthiśeṣā jvalanaprabhāvāstapo viśeṣād ditiputrasiṁhāḥ | ādityatejaḥpratimānavīrā babhūvurādityavapuḥprakāśāḥ

Reduced to mere skin and bone, blazing with the special power of their austerity, those lion-like sons of Diti, heroes matching the sun's own splendor, became radiant with the very brilliance of the sun.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.168.10)

पितामहस्तानभिगम्य सर्वान् प्रियं बहूक्त्वा वचनं बभाषे । तप्तं तपो वो विगतप्रमोहा वरं त्विदानीं वृणुतेति हृष्टाः

pitāmahastānabhigamya sarvān priyaṁ bahūktvā vacanaṁ babhāṣe | taptaṁ tapo vo vigatapramohā varaṁ tvidānīṁ vṛṇuteti hṛṣṭāḥ

The Grandfather, approaching all of them and speaking many kind words, said: "Your austerity is accomplished; now, freed from delusion, choose a boon" - and they were overjoyed.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.168.11)

तं प्राञ्जलिर्भूमिनिविष्टजानुर्मयः सुरेशं प्रणतोभ्युवाच । अवध्यतामप्रतिमं बलञ्च ज्ञानं च दिव्यं परमं सुखं च

taṁ prāñjalirbhūminiviṣṭajānurmayaḥ sureśaṁ praṇatobhyuvāca | avadhyatāmapratimaṁ balañca jñānaṁ ca divyaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ ca

Maya, with joined palms, his knee set upon the ground, bowing low, said to the lord of the gods: "Invincibility unmatched, strength, divine knowledge, and supreme happiness -

Verse 12 (skanda.8.168.12)

मृत्युर्यथा नो न भवेच्च देव वरं प्रयच्छैनमभीप्सितं नः । करोम्यहं यच्च सुरेश दुर्गं त्रिभिः पुरैर्दिव्यविमानकल्पैः

mṛtyuryathā no na bhavecca deva varaṁ prayacchainamabhīpsitaṁ naḥ | karomyahaṁ yacca sureśa durgaṁ tribhiḥ purairdivyavimānakalpaiḥ

and, O god, let death never come upon us; grant us this our desired boon. And, O lord of the gods, the stronghold that I shall build, of three cities resembling divine chariots -

Verse 13 (skanda.8.168.13)

तन्मे भवेत् सर्वसुरैरगम्यं स्वच्छन्दसंस्थानगतिप्रचारम् । इत्येवमुक्तो दनुजाधिपेन ब्रह्मा वचस्तं मयमाबभाषे

tanme bhavet sarvasurairagamyaṁ svacchandasaṁsthānagatipracāram | ityevamukto danujādhipena brahmā vacastaṁ mayamābabhāṣe

let that be inaccessible to all the gods, moving freely at will in its own course." Thus addressed by the lord of the danavas, Brahma spoke this word to Maya:

Verse 14 (skanda.8.168.14)

दातुं न शक्यो वर एष तुभ्यं तस्मात् परं सान्तरमेव चान्यम् । त्वं पुत्र याचस्व ततः प्रदास्ये चिन्ता च ते मा दनुजान्यथाभूत्

dātuṁ na śakyo vara eṣa tubhyaṁ tasmāt paraṁ sāntarameva cānyam | tvaṁ putra yācasva tataḥ pradāsye cintā ca te mā danujānyathābhūt

"This exact boon cannot be granted to you; instead, another boon, related to it - ask, my son, and I shall grant it; let there be no anxiety in you danavas."

Verse 15 (skanda.8.168.15)

ततो मयः प्राह वचो विमूढो वरो यथा मार्गित एव नोस्तु । ब्रवीमि यच्चान्यदहं सुरेश तन्मेर्हसि त्वं प्रददातु मद्य

tato mayaḥ prāha vaco vimūḍho varo yathā mārgita eva nostu | bravīmi yaccānyadahaṁ sureśa tanmerhasi tvaṁ pradadātu madya

Then Maya, deluded, said: "Let the boon be just as it was first sought; but hear this other thing I say, O lord of the gods, which you should grant me today -

Verse 16 (skanda.8.168.16)

पूर्णे सहस्रे त्रिपुरं समानां समेष्यते ह्यर्धनिमेषमात्रम्। तस्मिन्क्षणे यस्त्रिषु संगतेषु पुरेषु दिव्येषु सुरप्रवीर

pūrṇe sahasre tripuraṁ samānāṁ sameṣyate hyardhanimeṣamātram| tasminkṣaṇe yastriṣu saṁgateṣu pureṣu divyeṣu surapravīra

when a full thousand years have passed, Tripura will come together for half the space of an instant; at that moment, when the three divine cities stand joined, O foremost of gods -

Verse 17 (skanda.8.168.17)

एकेषुणा तत् त्रिपुरं दहेत स नो विनाशी त्रिपुरस्य भूयात् । श्रुत्वा ततस्तद्वचनं मयस्य ब्रह्मा वरं तं हृषितान्तरात्मा । प्रादादभीष्टं दनुजाधिपाय दत्त्वा च तूर्णं स्वपुरे जगाम

ekeṣuṇā tat tripuraṁ daheta sa no vināśī tripurasya bhūyāt | śrutvā tatastadvacanaṁ mayasya brahmā varaṁ taṁ hṛṣitāntarātmā | prādādabhīṣṭaṁ danujādhipāya dattvā ca tūrṇaṁ svapure jagāma

whoever pierces that Tripura with a single arrow, he alone shall become the destroyer of Tripura." Having heard this speech of Maya's, Brahma, his heart delighted, granted the lord of the danavas his desired boon, and having granted it, swiftly returned to his own abode.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.168.18)

ततो मयस्तत्त्रिपुरं ससर्ज जगद्विधातेव पुरादिकल्पे । अयोमयं तत्प्रथमं चकार ततोपरं राजतमद्रिकल्पम्

tato mayastattripuraṁ sasarja jagadvidhāteva purādikalpe | ayomayaṁ tatprathamaṁ cakāra tatoparaṁ rājatamadrikalpam

Then Maya fashioned that Tripura, like the world's own maker at the dawn of creation; he first made one city of iron, then next one resembling a silver mountain,

Verse 19 (skanda.8.168.19)

तृतीयमन्यत्पुरमाशु हैमं ससर्ज मेरोरिव शृङ्गमुच्चम् । सृष्टं ततस्तत्त्रिपुरं मयेन स्वर्गस्य रूपं प्रजहार दिव्यम्

tṛtīyamanyatpuramāśu haimaṁ sasarja meroriva śṛṅgamuccam | sṛṣṭaṁ tatastattripuraṁ mayena svargasya rūpaṁ prajahāra divyam

and swiftly created a third, golden city, like the towering peak of Meru. That Tripura, thus created by Maya, then stole away the very divine beauty of heaven,

Verse 20 (skanda.8.168.20)

द्वारैर्मनोज्ञैर्वडभीगवाक्षैर्बीथ्यङ्गणैर्हेममयैः सुयुक्तम् । चन्द्रांशुसंसृष्टतलैश्च हर्म्यैः शीतानिलाह्लादसुखप्रवेशैः

dvārairmanojñairvaḍabhīgavākṣairbīthyaṅgaṇairhemamayaiḥ suyuktam | candrāṁśusaṁsṛṣṭatalaiśca harmyaiḥ śītānilāhlādasukhapraveśaiḥ

fitted with lovely gateways, balconies, and lattice-windows, with golden streets and courtyards, its mansions floored with moonbeam-mingled stone, delightful to enter in the cool, pleasant breeze -

Verse 21 (skanda.8.168.21)

मुक्ताप्रवालैर्मणिखण्डचित्रै रालम्बितैश्चित्रतडित्प्रकाशैः । ध्वजैर्विचित्रैः पवनावधूतैश्चलत्पताकाभिरतीव रेजे

muktāpravālairmaṇikhaṇḍacitrai rālambitaiścitrataḍitprakāśaiḥ | dhvajairvicitraiḥ pavanāvadhūtaiścalatpatākābhiratīva reje

adorned with strings of pearl and coral, bright with fragments of gems, hung with wondrous banners bright as lightning, it shone exceedingly with fluttering flags stirred by the wind.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.168.22)

प्रासादपंक्तिस्थितरत्नखण्डै र्महामणीन्दुद्युतिसन्निकाशैः । सतोरणाभ्युच्छ्रितहर्म्यपृष्ठैरलकृतं तत् त्रिपुरं रराज

prāsādapaṁktisthitaratnakhaṇḍai rmahāmaṇīndudyutisannikāśaiḥ | satoraṇābhyucchritaharmyapṛṣṭhairalakṛtaṁ tat tripuraṁ rarāja

With rows of palaces set with fragments of jewels resembling the splendor of great gems and the moon, with archways and towering palace-roofs - thus adorned, that Tripura shone forth.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.168.23)

सर्वर्तुपुष्पैः फलितैर्मनोज्ञैर्वृतं समन्तात्तरुभिर्महोच्चैः । रम्यस्तथोद्यानशतैरुपेतं प्रभ्रान्तषट्पादमयूरहंसैः

sarvartupuṣpaiḥ phalitairmanojñairvṛtaṁ samantāttarubhirmahoccaiḥ | ramyastathodyānaśatairupetaṁ prabhrāntaṣaṭpādamayūrahaṁsaiḥ

Surrounded on every side by tall, delightful trees bearing the flowers and fruits of every season, furnished with hundreds of charming gardens thronged with wandering bees, peacocks, and swans -

Verse 24 (skanda.8.168.24)

वापीभिराक्रान्तविहङ्गमाभिः प्रफुल्लनीलोत्पलसंवृताभिः । दैत्यालयं तच्छुशुभे तथैव प्रनृत्तकेकाविहगैस्सरोभिः

vāpībhirākrāntavihaṅgamābhiḥ praphullanīlotpalasaṁvṛtābhiḥ | daityālayaṁ tacchuśubhe tathaiva pranṛttakekāvihagaissarobhiḥ

with ponds thronged with waterfowl, covered with blooming blue lotuses, that dwelling of the daityas shone forth as well, with lakes where birds danced and called.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.168.25)

तथा नखोद्भिन्नपयोधराभिराकर्णरक्तान्तविलोचनाभिः । सव्रीडमीषच्चपलेक्षिताभिर्योषिद्भिराकीर्णमतीव रेजे

tathā nakhodbhinnapayodharābhirākarṇaraktāntavilocanābhiḥ | savrīḍamīṣaccapalekṣitābhiryoṣidbhirākīrṇamatīva reje

And it shone forth, thronged too with women whose breasts bore the marks of nails, their eyes reddened to the corners, their glances shy and faintly restless.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.168.26)

लौहं पुरं यत्तदधश्चकार तत्तारकाक्षाय मयः प्रदत्वा । पुर द्वितीयं रजतामयं यद्विद्युत्प्रभायासुरराजभर्त्रे

lauhaṁ puraṁ yattadadhaścakāra tattārakākṣāya mayaḥ pradatvā | pura dvitīyaṁ rajatāmayaṁ yadvidyutprabhāyāsurarājabhartre

That lower city, made of iron, Maya gave to Tarakaksha; the second city, made of silver, radiant as lightning, he gave to the lord of the asura-king,

Verse 27 (skanda.8.168.27)

हैमं तृतीयं स्वयमेव दिव्यं जग्राह राजा मय आत्मनोर्थे । अधिष्ठितं तत्त्रिपुरं तदाभूत्समं त्रिभिस्तैर्दनुराजसिंहैः

haimaṁ tṛtīyaṁ svayameva divyaṁ jagrāha rājā maya ātmanorthe | adhiṣṭhitaṁ tattripuraṁ tadābhūtsamaṁ tribhistairdanurājasiṁhaiḥ

the third, the golden, divine city, King Maya kept for himself. That Tripura, thus occupied, then came to be held equally by those three lion-like lords of the danavas.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.168.28)

ते सर्वतः स्वः प्रभवान् विजित्य प्रियासहायाः सहमित्रभृत्यैः । सुखानि तस्मिन् विविधान्यवापु स्त्रैलोक्यचिन्तामविचिन्तयन्तः

te sarvataḥ svaḥ prabhavān vijitya priyāsahāyāḥ sahamitrabhṛtyaiḥ | sukhāni tasmin vividhānyavāpu strailokyacintāmavicintayantaḥ

They, having conquered on every side the domains of the gods, together with their beloved companions, friends, and servants, enjoyed manifold pleasures there, giving no thought to the three worlds.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.168.29)

ते दर्पमोहप्रतिबद्धरागा न्यूनानमन्यन्त बलेन देवान् । मत्वा च तेषां प्रसभं निपत्य नानाविधाश्चक्रुरतीव पीडाः

te darpamohapratibaddharāgā nyūnānamanyanta balena devān | matvā ca teṣāṁ prasabhaṁ nipatya nānāvidhāścakruratīva pīḍāḥ

They, their passions bound up with pride and delusion, despised the gods as weaker in strength; and, thinking of them thus, falling upon them by force, they inflicted manifold and excessive torments.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.168.30)

वनानि वैभ्राजपुरस्सराणि संछिन्नवीरुत्कुसुमानि चक्रुः । वापीः प्रचक्रुः कमलैर्विहीना जह्रुश्च रम्भादिपुरस्सरास्ताः

vanāni vaibhrājapurassarāṇi saṁchinnavīrutkusumāni cakruḥ | vāpīḥ pracakruḥ kamalairvihīnā jahruśca rambhādipurassarāstāḥ

They ravaged the forests, Vaibhraja foremost among them, stripping away the flowering creepers; they laid waste the lotus-ponds and carried off Rambha and the other celestial nymphs first of all.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.168.31)

सन्त्रस्तगात्रीः सुरयोषितस्तैरन्याश्च चक्रुर्महतीः प्रपीडाः । तेषामतीतः सुमहानथैवं प्रकुर्वतां देवविनाशनानि

santrastagātrīḥ surayoṣitastairanyāśca cakrurmahatīḥ prapīḍāḥ | teṣāmatītaḥ sumahānathaivaṁ prakurvatāṁ devavināśanāni

They terrified the bodies of the celestial women and inflicted other great torments as well. A very long time passed for them thus, as they went on committing these outrages against the gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.168.32)

कालो मयं प्रत्यथ जातकोपाः संगत्य सर्वे त्रिदिवौकसेशाः । वृत्तं यथा सर्वमशेषतस्तन्न्यवेदयन्नाशु पितामहाय

kālo mayaṁ pratyatha jātakopāḥ saṁgatya sarve tridivaukaseśāḥ | vṛttaṁ yathā sarvamaśeṣatastannyavedayannāśu pitāmahāya

Then Time, growing wrathful, and all the lords of the celestials, gathering together against Maya, quickly reported to the Grandfather everything that had happened, in full.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.168.33)

तानाह देवः कमलासनस्थः सर्वान्सुरेशान्परिसान्त्वयित्वा । महाबलास्ते त्रिपुरासुरेन्द्रा हन्तुं न शक्या हि बलाद्भवद्भिः

tānāha devaḥ kamalāsanasthaḥ sarvānsureśānparisāntvayitvā | mahābalāste tripurāsurendrā hantuṁ na śakyā hi balādbhavadbhiḥ

The god seated on the lotus-seat, having consoled all those lords of the gods, said to them: "These mighty lords of the Tripura-asuras cannot be slain by you through force.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.168.34)

तस्मादयं विष्णुरहञ्च युष्मान् प्रगृह्य शम्भुं शरणं प्रयाम । गतिः सदा नः शशिभृत् सुरेशाः स तान् बलाद्धंस्यति शूलपाणिः

tasmādayaṁ viṣṇurahañca yuṣmān pragṛhya śambhuṁ śaraṇaṁ prayāma | gatiḥ sadā naḥ śaśibhṛt sureśāḥ sa tān balāddhaṁsyati śūlapāṇiḥ

Therefore this Vishnu and I, taking all of you with us, shall go for refuge to Shambhu; he, the moon-bearer, is ever our refuge, O lords of gods; he, the trident-wielder, shall by force destroy them."

Verse 35 (skanda.8.168.35)

तथेति तेपि प्रणिपत्य देवा ब्रह्मार्कशक्रानिलपावकाद्याः । कैलासमागम्य सुरेश्वरेशं दृष्टवा हरं तुष्टुवुरादृतार्थाः

tatheti tepi praṇipatya devā brahmārkaśakrānilapāvakādyāḥ | kailāsamāgamya sureśvareśaṁ dṛṣṭavā haraṁ tuṣṭuvurādṛtārthāḥ

"So be it," said those gods as well, and, bowing down - Brahma, Surya, Indra, Vayu, Agni, and the rest - having come to Kailasa, the lord of the lords of gods, seeing Hara, praised him with hearts full of reverence:

Verse 36 (skanda.8.168.36)

नमस्त्रिलोकेश्वरवन्दिताय प्रियाधरायामितविक्रमाय । नमोस्तु चन्द्रार्धजटाकलापकान्ति प्रभोद्योतितशेखराय

namastrilokeśvaravanditāya priyādharāyāmitavikramāya | namostu candrārdhajaṭākalāpakānti prabhodyotitaśekharāya

"Salutation to him honored by the lord of the three worlds, dear to his beloved, of measureless valor; salutation to him whose crest is lit by the splendor of his mass of matted locks bearing the crescent moon.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.168.37)

त्रैलोक्यदेवाय नमोस्तु नित्यं पिनाकचापाय नमस्तथैव । नमः प्रदीप्तासिपरश्वधाय त्रिशूलहस्ताय नमोस्तु नित्यम्

trailokyadevāya namostu nityaṁ pinākacāpāya namastathaiva | namaḥ pradīptāsiparaśvadhāya triśūlahastāya namostu nityam

Salutation ever to the god of the three worlds; salutation likewise to the wielder of the Pinaka bow; salutation to the bearer of the blazing sword and axe; salutation ever to the one with the trident in hand.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.168.38)

नमो नमो नन्दिवरप्रदाय जगच्छरण्याय सुरेश्वराय । नमः सदा भक्तवरप्रदाय नमोस्तु यक्षेशवरप्रदाय

namo namo nandivarapradāya jagaccharaṇyāya sureśvarāya | namaḥ sadā bhaktavarapradāya namostu yakṣeśavarapradāya

Salutation, salutation to the giver of the finest boon to Nandi, refuge of the world, lord of the gods; salutation ever to the giver of boons to devotees; salutation to the giver of boons to the lord of the yakshas.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.168.39)

स्थिताय नित्यं हिमवद्गिरीन्द्रे कैलासवासाय नमस्सदैव । नमो विमुक्ते शनिकेतनाय स्थिताय सर्वत्र च ते नमोस्तु

sthitāya nityaṁ himavadgirīndre kailāsavāsāya namassadaiva | namo vimukte śaniketanāya sthitāya sarvatra ca te namostu

Salutation ever to the one dwelling forever on the Himalaya, king of mountains, resident of Kailasa; salutation to the one enshrined at Vimukta; salutation to you who dwell everywhere.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.168.40)

भस्माङ्गलिप्ताय कपर्दिने च नमोस्तु नित्यं वृषभस्थिताय । दिग्वाससे श्वेतवरप्रदाय सर्वर्द्धियुक्ताय जगद्विधात्रे

bhasmāṅgaliptāya kapardine ca namostu nityaṁ vṛṣabhasthitāya | digvāsase śvetavarapradāya sarvarddhiyuktāya jagadvidhātre

Salutation to the one smeared with ashes, the matted-haired one; salutation ever to the one seated upon the bull; salutation to the one clad in the quarters, giver of the boon to Shveta, endowed with every majesty, the maker of the world.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.168.41)

हर्यर्कशक्राग्निपितामहानां स्रष्ट्रे नमो देव राय । सूक्ष्माय नित्यं परमेश्वराय नित्यं नमः सर्वगताय धात्रे

haryarkaśakrāgnipitāmahānāṁ sraṣṭre namo deva rāya | sūkṣmāya nityaṁ parameśvarāya nityaṁ namaḥ sarvagatāya dhātre

Salutation to the creator of Hari, Surya, Indra, Agni, and the Grandfather, the god [a portion of the text is lost here] ...; salutation ever to the subtle, supreme Lord; salutation ever to the all-pervading Sustainer.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.168.42)

नमः परायातिपरे पुमांसे पुराय षड्विंशकसंज्ञिताय । नमोस्तु शर्वाय धनुर्धराय सर्वाय सर्वप्रभवाय नित्यम्

namaḥ parāyātipare pumāṁse purāya ṣaḍviṁśakasaṁjñitāya | namostu śarvāya dhanurdharāya sarvāya sarvaprabhavāya nityam

Salutation to the Person beyond the beyond, the ancient one called the Twenty-Sixth; salutation to Sharva, the bow-bearer, to the All, the source of all things, ever.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.168.43)

सोमानिलार्कज्वलनाम्बुभूमिव्योमात्मकायादिसृजे नमोस्तु । पूष्णो नमो दन्तविनाशनाय कामाङ्गनाशाय नमोस्तु नित्यम्

somānilārkajvalanāmbubhūmivyomātmakāyādisṛje namostu | pūṣṇo namo dantavināśanāya kāmāṅganāśāya namostu nityam

Salutation to the creator of Soma, Vayu, Surya, Agni, water, earth, and space, the primal source; salutation to the destroyer of Pushan's teeth; salutation ever to the destroyer of Kama's body.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.168.44)

नमः प्रधानाय पराय पुंसे योगाधिगम्याय सदा नमोस्तु । रौद्राय सौम्याय वपुष्मते च नमो नमः सर्वजगत्सृजे च

namaḥ pradhānāya parāya puṁse yogādhigamyāya sadā namostu | raudrāya saumyāya vapuṣmate ca namo namaḥ sarvajagatsṛje ca

Salutation to the Primal Cause, the Supreme Person, attainable ever through yoga; salutation to the fierce and to the gentle, the embodied one; salutation, salutation to the creator of the whole world.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.168.45)

विद्यासृजे धर्मसृजे नमोस्तु स्रष्ट्रे नमो यज्ञसुरासुराणाम् । नमस्तृतीयेक्षणधारिणे च नमो नमो नीलशिखण्डिने च

vidyāsṛje dharmasṛje namostu sraṣṭre namo yajñasurāsurāṇām | namastṛtīyekṣaṇadhāriṇe ca namo namo nīlaśikhaṇḍine ca

Salutation to the creator of knowledge, the creator of dharma; salutation to the Creator; salutation to the god of the sacrifices of gods and demons; salutation to the bearer of the third eye; salutation, salutation to the one with the blue crest-plume.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.168.46)

नमोस्तु नित्यं पुरुषोत्तमाय श्मशानवासाय नमः सदैव । नमोस्तु दैत्यान्धकनाशनाय नमः सदा मोहविनाशनाय

namostu nityaṁ puruṣottamāya śmaśānavāsāya namaḥ sadaiva | namostu daityāndhakanāśanāya namaḥ sadā mohavināśanāya

Salutation ever to Purushottama; salutation ever to the dweller in cremation grounds; salutation to the destroyer of the daitya Andhaka; salutation ever to the destroyer of delusion.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.168.47)

तमोविनाशाय नमोस्तु नित्यमज्ञाननाशाय नमोस्तु नित्यम । नमः सदा मोक्षवरप्रदाय नमः सदायामृतसंस्थिताय

tamovināśāya namostu nityamajñānanāśāya namostu nityama | namaḥ sadā mokṣavarapradāya namaḥ sadāyāmṛtasaṁsthitāya

Salutation ever to the destroyer of darkness; salutation ever to the destroyer of ignorance; salutation ever to the giver of the boon of liberation; salutation ever to the one abiding forever in immortality.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.168.48)

भर्त्रे नमो भूमिधरेन्द्रपुत्र्याः पित्रे कुमारस्य नमोस्तु नित्यम् । नमोस्तु वित्तेशवरप्रदाय नमः सदा शुक्रवरप्रदाय

bhartre namo bhūmidharendraputryāḥ pitre kumārasya namostu nityam | namostu vitteśavarapradāya namaḥ sadā śukravarapradāya

Salutation to the husband of the mountain-lord's daughter; salutation ever to the father of Kumara; salutation to the giver of the boon to the lord of wealth; salutation ever to the giver of the boon to Shukra.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.168.49)

ब्रह्मात्मने ब्रह्मसृजे नमोस्तु नमो नमो देवसृजे विधात्रे । नमोस्तु दक्षामरयज्ञहन्त्रे नमोस्तु चण्डेशवरप्रद्राय

brahmātmane brahmasṛje namostu namo namo devasṛje vidhātre | namostu dakṣāmarayajñahantre namostu caṇḍeśavarapradrāya

Salutation to the Self of Brahman, creator of Brahma; salutation, salutation to the Ordainer, creator of the gods; salutation to the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice with its immortals; salutation to the giver of the boon to Chandesha.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.168.50)

योगेश्वरायामरसंस्तुताय नमोस्तु रुद्राय पराय धाम्ने । हराथ शर्वाय शिवाय गोप्त्रे नमोस्तु भीमाय च शम्भवे च

yogeśvarāyāmarasaṁstutāya namostu rudrāya parāya dhāmne | harātha śarvāya śivāya goptre namostu bhīmāya ca śambhave ca

Salutation to the lord of yoga, praised by the immortals; salutation to Rudra, the supreme abode; salutation to Hara, then to Sharva, to Shiva, the protector; salutation to the terrible one, and to Shambhu.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.168.51)

गुणैर्विहीनाय गुणोत्कटाय गुणेष्वतीताय गुणास्थिताय । गीताय सांख्ये पुरुषाय नित्यं नमोस्तु योगोपनिषत्स्थिताय

guṇairvihīnāya guṇotkaṭāya guṇeṣvatītāya guṇāsthitāya | gītāya sāṁkhye puruṣāya nityaṁ namostu yogopaniṣatsthitāya

Salutation to the one devoid of qualities, and supreme in qualities; transcending the qualities, yet abiding in the qualities; salutation ever to the one sung in Sankhya as Purusha, established in the Yoga-Upanishads.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.168.52)

महापुराणाय परात्पराय स्थूलाय सूक्ष्माय नमस्सदैव । प्रसाद्यमानः कुरु नः प्रसादं तुष्टः परेशान वरं प्रयच्छ । शम्भुस्तथैवं स्तुवतां सुराणां ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्ण्वर्कपुरःसराणाम्

mahāpurāṇāya parātparāya sthūlāya sūkṣmāya namassadaiva | prasādyamānaḥ kuru naḥ prasādaṁ tuṣṭaḥ pareśāna varaṁ prayaccha | śambhustathaivaṁ stuvatāṁ surāṇāṁ brahmendraviṣṇvarkapuraḥsarāṇām

Salutation ever to the great Purana himself, the Supreme beyond the supreme, the gross and the subtle. Being propitiated, show us your grace; being pleased, O Supreme Lord, grant your boon." Thus Shambhu was praised by the gods, led by Brahma, Indra, Vishnu, and Surya.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.168.53)

प्रीतस्तया स्तोत्रविशेषभक्त्या जगाद वाक्यं परमाद्भुतार्थम । तुष्टोस्मि देवा शृणुताद्य शीघ्रं समीहितं वो यदि किञ्चिदस्ति । दातास्मि सर्वं तदशेषतोद्य किञ्चिन्न युष्मभ्यमदेयमस्ति

prītastayā stotraviśeṣabhaktyā jagāda vākyaṁ paramādbhutārthama | tuṣṭosmi devā śṛṇutādya śīghraṁ samīhitaṁ vo yadi kiñcidasti | dātāsmi sarvaṁ tadaśeṣatodya kiñcinna yuṣmabhyamadeyamasti

Pleased by that special devotion shown in their hymn, he spoke a word of most wondrous import: "I am well pleased, O gods; hear now at once - whatever you desire, I shall grant it all to you today in full; there is nothing that cannot be given to you."