The Destruction of Daksha's Sacrifice

Verse 1 (skanda.8.32.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु व्यास दक्षः प्रजापतिः । अयजत् सोश्वमेधेन राजा प्राचेतसात्मजः

sanatkumāra uvāca | etasminneva kāle tu vyāsa dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ | ayajat sośvamedhena rājā prācetasātmajaḥ

Sanatkumara said: At this very time, O Vyasa, Daksha Prajapati, king, son of Prachetas, performed a sacrifice with an Ashvamedha.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.32.2)

तत्र देवनिकायानां भागधेयानि सर्वशः । हव्यवाहस्तदा तत्रावहन्मन्त्रैस्समीरितः

tatra devanikāyānāṁ bhāgadheyāni sarvaśaḥ | havyavāhastadā tatrāvahanmantraissamīritaḥ

There, the shares of all the hosts of gods were being carried by Agni, urged on by the mantras.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.32.3)

वहन्तं तमपश्यच्च देवी गिरिवरात्मजा । अनुस्मरन्ती तद्वैरं शापकारणमेव च

vahantaṁ tamapaśyacca devī girivarātmajā | anusmarantī tadvairaṁ śāpakāraṇameva ca

The Goddess, daughter of the best of mountains, saw him carrying the offerings, and remembered that old enmity and the reason for the curse.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.32.4)

उवाच चैनं गिरिजा बोधयन्ती पुरातनम् । श्लिष्टं मधुरया वाचा कारणेन समन्वितम्

uvāca cainaṁ girijā bodhayantī purātanam | śliṣṭaṁ madhurayā vācā kāraṇena samanvitam

Girija spoke to him, reminding him of that ancient matter, with sweet, gentle words, together with its reason.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.32.5)

त्वं देवः सर्वदेवानां गतिश्च शरणं तथा । त्वया विना कथं यज्ञो वर्तते सर्वदेवप

tvaṁ devaḥ sarvadevānāṁ gatiśca śaraṇaṁ tathā | tvayā vinā kathaṁ yajño vartate sarvadevapa

You are the god, the refuge and shelter of all the gods; without you, O lord of all gods, how does the sacrifice proceed?

Verse 6 (skanda.8.32.6)

देवानां भागधेयानि वहत्यग्निरयं भव । नायं तव महेशान किं कारणमतिद्युते

devānāṁ bhāgadheyāni vahatyagnirayaṁ bhava | nāyaṁ tava maheśāna kiṁ kāraṇamatidyute

This fire, O Bhava, is carrying the shares of the gods - this is not you, O great Lord! What is the reason, O radiant one?

Verse 7 (skanda.8.32.7)

न साम्ना सिध्यते कार्यं विक्रमेण विना प्रभो । अयं मूढोवलिप्तश्च राजा प्राचेतसात्मजः

na sāmnā sidhyate kāryaṁ vikrameṇa vinā prabho | ayaṁ mūḍhovaliptaśca rājā prācetasātmajaḥ

O Lord, a task is not accomplished by conciliation alone, without valor. This foolish and arrogant king, son of Prachetas...

Verse 8 (skanda.8.32.8)

अनुस्मरन् पूर्ववैरं नैव दास्यत्यशासितः । दधीचस्य वरश्चापि त्वया दत्तस्तदा प्रभो । तस्यायमागतः कालस्तदर्थेन विधीयताम्

anusmaran pūrvavairaṁ naiva dāsyatyaśāsitaḥ | dadhīcasya varaścāpi tvayā dattastadā prabho | tasyāyamāgataḥ kālastadarthena vidhīyatām

...remembering the old enmity, will never give your share unless chastised. And the boon that You gave to Dadhichi then, O Lord - its time has now come; let action be taken for that purpose.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.32.9)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्तस्तदा व्यास भगवान् वृषभध्वजः । उवाच प्रहसन् देवीं पिता तव शुचिस्मिते

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktastadā vyāsa bhagavān vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | uvāca prahasan devīṁ pitā tava śucismite

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed, O Vyasa, the Blessed bull-bannered Lord, laughing, said to the Goddess: O smiling one, he is your own father.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.32.10)

पूर्वजन्मनि सुश्रोणि प्रजापतिसुतः शुभे । मम त्वं भावविज्ञानं कुर्वती देवि भाषसे

pūrvajanmani suśroṇi prajāpatisutaḥ śubhe | mama tvaṁ bhāvavijñānaṁ kurvatī devi bhāṣase

In a former birth, O fair one, he was a son of Prajapati. O Goddess, you speak as though testing my feeling.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.32.11)

नहि दुःखं पितुर्लोके कश्चिदिच्छति भामिनि । एवमुक्ता तदा व्यास देवेन विमलात्मना

nahi duḥkhaṁ piturloke kaścidicchati bhāmini | evamuktā tadā vyāsa devena vimalātmanā

No one, O lovely one, wishes suffering upon a father in this world. Thus addressed then, O Vyasa, by the pure-souled God...

Verse 12 (skanda.8.32.12)

ललाटे भृकुटीं कृत्वा ततो देव्यायतेक्षणा । क्रोधात् करेण नासाग्रं संममर्द शुचिस्मिता

lalāṭe bhṛkuṭīṁ kṛtvā tato devyāyatekṣaṇā | krodhāt kareṇa nāsāgraṁ saṁmamarda śucismitā

...the wide-eyed, smiling Goddess, frowning on her forehead, in anger, pressed the tip of her nose with her hand.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.32.13)

तस्यां संमृद्यमानायां नासिकायामतिप्रभा । जज्ञे स्त्री भृकुटीवक्त्रा चतुर्दंष्ट्रा त्रिलोचना । बद्धगोधांगुलित्रा च कवचा बद्धमेखला

tasyāṁ saṁmṛdyamānāyāṁ nāsikāyāmatiprabhā | jajñe strī bhṛkuṭīvaktrā caturdaṁṣṭrā trilocanā | baddhagodhāṁgulitrā ca kavacā baddhamekhalā

As her nose was being pressed, from it a woman of exceeding radiance was born - her face frowning, four-fanged, three-eyed, with a bound leather finger-guard, armored, girdled.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.32.14)

सखङ्गा सधनुष्का च सतूणीरा पताकिनी । द्वादशास्या दशभुजा तनुमध्या तमोनिभा

sakhaṅgā sadhanuṣkā ca satūṇīrā patākinī | dvādaśāsyā daśabhujā tanumadhyā tamonibhā

With a sword, a bow, a quiver, bearing a banner; twelve-faced, ten-armed, slender-waisted, dark as tamas.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.32.15)

घनस्तनी पृथुकटी नागनासोरुरव्यया । भद्रकालीति तां प्राह देवीं देवी शुभानना

ghanastanī pṛthukaṭī nāganāsoruravyayā | bhadrakālīti tāṁ prāha devīṁ devī śubhānanā

Full-breasted, broad-hipped, with thighs like an elephant's trunk, imperishable; the fair-faced Goddess called her 'Bhadrakali.'

Verse 16 (skanda.8.32.16)

ततोब्रवीत् तदा देवमेषा सृष्टा मया प्रभो । त्वमप्यन्यं सृज गणमनुरूपं नमोस्तुते

tatobravīt tadā devameṣā sṛṣṭā mayā prabho | tvamapyanyaṁ sṛja gaṇamanurūpaṁ namostute

Then she said to the God: 'O Lord, she has been created by me; you too create another gana, a fitting one - salutation to you.'

Verse 17 (skanda.8.32.17)

ततो देवस्तदा स्कन्धं स्वमवैक्षत भास्वरम् । तस्माज्जज्ञे पुमान् दिव्यस्त्रैलोक्यं प्रदहन्निव

tato devastadā skandhaṁ svamavaikṣata bhāsvaram | tasmājjajñe pumān divyastrailokyaṁ pradahanniva

Then the God looked at His own radiant shoulder; from it was born a divine man, as if burning up the three worlds.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.32.18)

भृकुटीभूषितास्यश्च बद्धगोधांगुलित्रवान् । कवची बद्धतूणीरः शरी खङ्गी शरासनी

bhṛkuṭībhūṣitāsyaśca baddhagodhāṁgulitravān | kavacī baddhatūṇīraḥ śarī khaṅgī śarāsanī

His face adorned with a frown, wearing a bound leather finger-guard, armored, with a bound quiver, arrows, sword, and bow.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.32.19)

त्र्यक्षश्चतुर्भुजश्चैव वज्रसंहननो युवा । स सृष्टः प्रणतो भूत्वा हरिर्नाम्ना गणेश्वरः

tryakṣaścaturbhujaścaiva vajrasaṁhanano yuvā | sa sṛṣṭaḥ praṇato bhūtvā harirnāmnā gaṇeśvaraḥ

Three-eyed, four-armed, of adamantine build, youthful - thus created, he, named Hari, a lord of the ganas, having bowed...

Verse 20 (skanda.8.32.20)

उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा देवदेवं सहोमया । आज्ञापय सुरेशान यत् कर्तव्यं मया विभो

uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā devadevaṁ sahomayā | ājñāpaya sureśāna yat kartavyaṁ mayā vibho

...with folded hands, said to the God of gods, together with Uma: 'Command me, O Lord of gods, whatever is to be done by me, O all-pervading one.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.32.21)

ततस्स भगवानाह हरिं तं गणनायकम् । प्राचेतससुतस्यास्य यज्ञं गच्छ विनाशय

tatassa bhagavānāha hariṁ taṁ gaṇanāyakam | prācetasasutasyāsya yajñaṁ gaccha vināśaya

Then the Blessed Lord said to Hari, that leader of the ganas: 'Go, destroy the sacrifice of this son of Prachetas.'

Verse 22 (skanda.8.32.22)

भद्रकाल्या सहाशु त्वमेतत् कृत्यं गणेश्वर । ततः स भगवान् देवो गणेशान् कामरूपिणः

bhadrakālyā sahāśu tvametat kṛtyaṁ gaṇeśvara | tataḥ sa bhagavān devo gaṇeśān kāmarūpiṇaḥ

'Quickly, together with Bhadrakali, accomplish this task, O lord of ganas.' Then the Blessed Lord God created gana-lords of changeable form...

Verse 23 (skanda.8.32.23)

स्वगात्रेभ्योसृजद् धीमान् नाना रूपधरान् गणान् । पस्पर्श बाहुं सम्यक् च तस्मा ज्जाता महाबलाः

svagātrebhyosṛjad dhīmān nānā rūpadharān gaṇān | pasparśa bāhuṁ samyak ca tasmā jjātā mahābalāḥ

...the wise Lord created from His own limbs ganas bearing various forms; He touched His arm well, and from it were born beings of great strength.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.32.24)

कोट्यस्ता नवतिश्चैव शतञ्चैव तदा प्रभोः । स ताँश्चोवाच भगवान् यज्ञं प्रमथतानघाः

koṭyastā navatiścaiva śatañcaiva tadā prabhoḥ | sa tā~ścovāca bhagavān yajñaṁ pramathatānaghāḥ

Then, of the Lord, there arose ninety crores and a hundred ganas. The Blessed Lord said to them: 'O sinless ones, go destroy the sacrifice.'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.32.25)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्तौ तेन सैन्येन महताभिसमावृतौ । जग्मतुः सागरोन्नाद मेघाशनिनिनादितैः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatastau tena sainyena mahatābhisamāvṛtau | jagmatuḥ sāgaronnāda meghāśaninināditaiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then the two, Hari and Bhadrakali, surrounded by that great army, resounding like the ocean, with sounds like thunderclouds, set forth.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.32.26)

देवोपि सह पार्वत्या रैभ्याश्रमसमीपतः । स्थित्वापश्यद् गणेशानां कर्म तद् यज्ञनाशनम्

devopi saha pārvatyā raibhyāśramasamīpataḥ | sthitvāpaśyad gaṇeśānāṁ karma tad yajñanāśanam

The God too, together with Parvati, standing near the ashram of Raibhya, watched that deed of the gana-lords - the destruction of the sacrifice.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.32.27)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । वृक्षाः कनखलेयास्तु गङ्गाद्वारसमीपगाः । सुवर्णशृंगश्च गिरिर्मेरुपर्वतसन्निभः

sanatkumāra uvāca | vṛkṣāḥ kanakhaleyāstu gaṅgādvārasamīpagāḥ | suvarṇaśṛṁgaśca girirmeruparvatasannibhaḥ

Sanatkumara said: The trees of Kanakhala, near Gangadwara, and the golden-peaked mountain resembling Mount Meru...

Verse 28 (skanda.8.32.28)

तस्मिन् प्रदेशे दक्षस्य यज्ञोसावभवत्तदा । गणेश्वरबलं चागाद् भीमं कालीपुरोगमम्

tasmin pradeśe dakṣasya yajñosāvabhavattadā | gaṇeśvarabalaṁ cāgād bhīmaṁ kālīpurogamam

...in that region was Daksha's sacrifice at that time. And the terrible army of the gana-lords arrived, with Kali leading.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.32.29)

ते संप्राप्य महाभागाः सर्वे दीप्तानलप्रभाः । ऊचुस्तं यजमानञ्च ऋत्विजोथ मुनीन् सुरान्

te saṁprāpya mahābhāgāḥ sarve dīptānalaprabhāḥ | ūcustaṁ yajamānañca ṛtvijotha munīn surān

Having arrived, all those illustrious ones, radiant as blazing fire, spoke to the sacrificer, the officiating priests, the sages, and the gods.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.32.30)

वयं ह्यनुचराः सर्वे शर्वस्य परमात्मनः । इहाभिलिप्सवः प्राप्ता भागान् यच्छध्वमीप्सितान्

vayaṁ hyanucarāḥ sarve śarvasya paramātmanaḥ | ihābhilipsavaḥ prāptā bhāgān yacchadhvamīpsitān

'We are all attendants of Sharva, the Supreme Self; we have come here desiring shares. Give us the shares we desire.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.32.31)

तपसा यज्ञभागार्हा बलेन नियमेन वा । ऐश्वर्येणाथ योगेन येन तेन पुरो हि वः

tapasā yajñabhāgārhā balena niyamena vā | aiśvaryeṇātha yogena yena tena puro hi vaḥ

'Whether by austerity we are worthy of a share of the sacrifice, or by strength, by discipline, by sovereignty, or by yoga - by whatever means, we are before you.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.32.32)

सर्वञ्चास्मास्वपि हि तद् वयमप्यंशभागिनः । अथ चेत् स्वामिनो देवास्तेन भागार्हतां गताः

sarvañcāsmāsvapi hi tad vayamapyaṁśabhāginaḥ | atha cet svāmino devāstena bhāgārhatāṁ gatāḥ

'And all that too resides in us; we too are entitled to a share. But if the gods are regarded as the masters, then by that they have become worthy of shares.'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.32.33)

स्वामित्वे च बलं हेतुस्तपो वा नात्र संशयः । अस्मास्वेवोभयं तच्च स्वामित्वं तेन नो वरम्

svāmitve ca balaṁ hetustapo vā nātra saṁśayaḥ | asmāsvevobhayaṁ tacca svāmitvaṁ tena no varam

'In lordship, strength or austerity is the cause - there is no doubt of this. Both of these are in us alone; therefore lordship is rightfully ours.'

Verse 34 (skanda.8.32.34)

अथ चेत् कस्यचिदियमाज्ञा मुनिसुरोत्तमाः । भागो भवद्भ्यो देयस्तु नास्मभ्यमिति कथ्यताम्

atha cet kasyacidiyamājñā munisurottamāḥ | bhāgo bhavadbhyo deyastu nāsmabhyamiti kathyatām

'But if this is anyone's command, O best of sages and gods, that a share is to be given to you, but not to us - let it be declared.'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.32.35)

तं ब्रूत यो ज्ञापयति वेत्स्यामो हि वयं ततः । एवमुक्तास्तु हरिणा सर्वे देवपुरस्सराः

taṁ brūta yo jñāpayati vetsyāmo hi vayaṁ tataḥ | evamuktāstu hariṇā sarve devapurassarāḥ

'Tell us who ordains this, so that we may know it.' Thus addressed by Hari, all the priests, with the gods at their head...

Verse 36 (skanda.8.32.36)

ऊचुर्मन्त्राः प्रमाणं वो भागं प्रति गणेश्वराः । मन्त्राप्यूचुः सुरान् यूयं तमोपहतचेतसः

ūcurmantrāḥ pramāṇaṁ vo bhāgaṁ prati gaṇeśvarāḥ | mantrāpyūcuḥ surān yūyaṁ tamopahatacetasaḥ

...said: 'The mantras are your authority regarding the share, O lords of ganas.' The mantras themselves then said to the gods: 'You are of minds overcome by darkness...'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.32.37)

येन प्रथमभागार्हं नायजध्वं महेश्वरम् । मन्त्रैस्ते प्रोच्यमानापि नैव भागान् ददुर्यदा

yena prathamabhāgārhaṁ nāyajadhvaṁ maheśvaram | mantraiste procyamānāpi naiva bhāgān daduryadā

'...since you did not first offer sacrifice to Maheshvara, who deserves the first share.' Though thus told by the mantras, when they still did not give the shares...

Verse 38 (skanda.8.32.38)

तदा यातास्ततो मन्त्रा ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम् । ततः शक्रादयो देवाः सर्वे ऊचुर्गणेश्वरान्

tadā yātāstato mantrā brahmalokaṁ sanātanam | tataḥ śakrādayo devāḥ sarve ūcurgaṇeśvarān

...then the mantras went to the eternal world of Brahma. Then Indra and the other gods all said to the lords of ganas...

Verse 39 (skanda.8.32.39)

त्यक्त्वा । युष्मान्निहन्मो विक्रम्य सर्वानेवागतान् युधि

tyaktvā | yuṣmānnihanmo vikramya sarvānevāgatān yudhi

'...having renounced you [the rest of this line is lost in the source]. We shall overpower and slay all of you who have come here to fight.'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.32.40)

तेषां सगर्वं तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा हरिरमित्रजित् । उवाच प्रहसन् सर्वानिदं वचनसूर्जितम्

teṣāṁ sagarvaṁ tad vākyaṁ śrutvā hariramitrajit | uvāca prahasan sarvānidaṁ vacanasūrjitam

Hearing their proud words, Hari, conqueror of foes, laughing, said this forceful word to them all.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.32.41)

मन्त्राः प्रमाणं न कृता युष्माभिर्बलगर्वितैः । यस्मात् प्रसह्य तस्माद्वो नाशयाम्यद्य गर्जितान्

mantrāḥ pramāṇaṁ na kṛtā yuṣmābhirbalagarvitaiḥ | yasmāt prasahya tasmādvo nāśayāmyadya garjitān

'Since you, proud of your strength, did not accept the mantras as authority, therefore, by force, I shall today destroy you, roaring ones.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.32.42)

ऋत्विग्भिर्भागधेयैश्च सह यज्ञेन चोद्यतः । येषां च लवत्ता वस्तान् सर्वान् नाशयाम्यहम्

ṛtvigbhirbhāgadheyaiśca saha yajñena codyataḥ | yeṣāṁ ca lavattā vastān sarvān nāśayāmyaham

'Along with the priests, the shares, and the sacrifice itself, all whose portion this is - all of them I shall destroy.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.32.43)

एवमुक्त्वा स तेजस्वी हरिभद्रः प्रतापवान् । भद्रकाली च संक्रुद्धा अभिदुद्रुवतुः सुरान्

evamuktvā sa tejasvī haribhadraḥ pratāpavān | bhadrakālī ca saṁkruddhā abhidudruvatuḥ surān

Having said this, the radiant, mighty Haribhadra, and the enraged Bhadrakali, rushed at the gods.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.32.44)

गणेश्वराश्च संक्रुद्धा यूपानुत्पाट्य चिक्षिपुः । प्रस्थात्रा सह होतारमश्वं चैव गणेश्वराः

gaṇeśvarāśca saṁkruddhā yūpānutpāṭya cikṣipuḥ | prasthātrā saha hotāramaśvaṁ caiva gaṇeśvarāḥ

The enraged lords of ganas uprooted the sacrificial posts and hurled them. The gana-lords, together with the prastota priest and the hotri-priest, and the horse...

Verse 45 (skanda.8.32.45)

गृहीत्वा कुपिताः सर्वे गङ्गास्रोतसि चिक्षिपुः । यजमानञ्च पाशेन बद्ध्वा निन्युर्यथासुखम्

gṛhītvā kupitāḥ sarve gaṅgāsrotasi cikṣipuḥ | yajamānañca pāśena baddhvā ninyuryathāsukham

...seizing them, all in fury threw them into the Ganges' current. And having bound the sacrificer with a noose, they dragged him about as they pleased.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.32.46)

वेदीमन्ये कुशानन्ये स्रुचोन्ये चमसान् परे । व्यनाशयँश्चिक्षिपुश्च शालाश्चान्येभ्यदीपयन्

vedīmanye kuśānanye sruconye camasān pare | vyanāśaya~ścikṣipuśca śālāścānyebhyadīpayan

Some destroyed the altar, others the kusha grass, others the ladles, others the cups, throwing them about; and others set fire to the sacrificial halls.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.32.47)

हरिभद्रोपि दीप्तात्मा शक्रस्योद्यच्छतः करम् । व्यष्टंभयददीनात्मा तथान्येषां दिवौकसाम्

haribhadropi dīptātmā śakrasyodyacchataḥ karam | vyaṣṭaṁbhayadadīnātmā tathānyeṣāṁ divaukasām

Haribhadra too, blazing, undaunted, paralyzed the raised hand of Indra, and likewise of the other gods.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.32.48)

भगस्य नेत्रे पूष्णश्च दशनान् रुषिताननः । धनुष्कोट्या समाहत्य मिषतां संन्यपातयत्

bhagasya netre pūṣṇaśca daśanān ruṣitānanaḥ | dhanuṣkoṭyā samāhatya miṣatāṁ saṁnyapātayat

His face enraged, striking with the tip of his bow, he knocked out the eyes of Bhaga and the teeth of Pushan, before the very eyes of all watching.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.32.49)

विष्णोश्चक्रं च तद् घोरं युगान्तादित्यवर्चसम् । व्यष्टम्भयददीनात्मा करस्थं न चचाल ह

viṣṇoścakraṁ ca tad ghoraṁ yugāntādityavarcasam | vyaṣṭambhayadadīnātmā karasthaṁ na cacāla ha

And that terrible discus of Vishnu, radiant as the sun at the end of an age, he, undaunted, immobilized even in Vishnu's hand - it did not move at all.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.32.50)

तुषिताँश्च तथा देवानुद्युक्तान् युद्धलालसान् । वायव्यास्त्रेण संहत्य पृथिव्यां तान्न्यपातयत्

tuṣitā~śca tathā devānudyuktān yuddhalālasān | vāyavyāstreṇa saṁhatya pṛthivyāṁ tānnyapātayat

And the Tushita gods too, roused, eager for battle, he struck down with the wind-weapon and felled to the earth.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.32.51)

अन्याँश्च देवान् देवोसौ सर्वान् युद्धाय संस्थितान् । मोहनेनास्त्रवर्येणे समोहयदनिन्दितः

anyā~śca devān devosau sarvān yuddhāya saṁsthitān | mohanenāstravaryeṇe samohayadaninditaḥ

And the other gods too, all who had taken their stand for battle, that blameless god bewildered with the excellent Mohana weapon.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.32.52)

राजानश्चापि ये केचित् तत्रायाता दिदृक्षवः । तान्सर्वानस्त्रवीर्येण स्वगृहाननयद् बलात्

rājānaścāpi ye kecit tatrāyātā didṛkṣavaḥ | tānsarvānastravīryeṇa svagṛhānanayad balāt

And whatever kings had come there merely to watch, all of them he forcibly sent back to their own homes by the power of his weapon.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.32.53)

तद् प्रविध्वस्तकलशं भग्नयूपसतोरणम् । प्रदीपितमहाशालं दृष्टवा यज्ञोभिदुद्रुवे

tad pravidhvastakalaśaṁ bhagnayūpasatoraṇam | pradīpitamahāśālaṁ dṛṣṭavā yajñobhidudruve

Seeing that ground with its vessels shattered, its posts and gateway broken, its great hall ablaze, the personified Sacrifice fled.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.32.54)

तं तदा मृगरूपेण धावन्तं गगनं प्रति । हरिः शरं स सन्धाय विशिरस्कमथाकरोत्

taṁ tadā mṛgarūpeṇa dhāvantaṁ gaganaṁ prati | hariḥ śaraṁ sa sandhāya viśiraskamathākarot

As he fled in the form of a deer toward the sky, Hari, fitting an arrow, made him headless.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.32.55)

शरं चापरमादाय वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् । पलायमानं तं यज्ञं ससार मृगरूपिणम् । नक्षत्रसमतां यातुं द्वाबद्धं वीतमभ्यगात्

śaraṁ cāparamādāya vīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān | palāyamānaṁ taṁ yajñaṁ sasāra mṛgarūpiṇam | nakṣatrasamatāṁ yātuṁ dvābaddhaṁ vītamabhyagāt

Taking up another arrow, the mighty Virabhadra pursued the fleeing Yajna in deer-form, as he went to become equal to the constellations.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.32.56)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं ते निकृता व्यास गणैः काल्या तथैव च । हरिणा चैव देवेन सर्वे शरणमागताः

sanatkumāra uvāca | evaṁ te nikṛtā vyāsa gaṇaiḥ kālyā tathaiva ca | hariṇā caiva devena sarve śaraṇamāgatāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus humiliated, O Vyasa, by the ganas, by Kali, and by the god Hari, they all came for refuge.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.32.57)

तान् प्रपन्नान् तदा सर्वान् देवान् समुनिलोकपान् । हरिः काल्या सहैवाह गच्छध्वं सोममव्यम् । प्रसादयध्वं देवेशं ततो वो भविता शमः

tān prapannān tadā sarvān devān samunilokapān | hariḥ kālyā sahaivāha gacchadhvaṁ somamavyam | prasādayadhvaṁ deveśaṁ tato vo bhavitā śamaḥ

To all those gods, together with the sages and world-guardians, who had thus taken refuge, Hari, together with Kali, said: 'Go to the imperishable Soma; propitiate the God of gods - then you shall have peace.'

Verse 58 (skanda.8.32.58)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । त एवमुक्ता हरिणा जग्मुर्देवं प्रमन्यवः । प्रसादयितुमव्यग्रा दुःखशोकसमन्विताः

sanatkumāra uvāca | ta evamuktā hariṇā jagmurdevaṁ pramanyavaḥ | prasādayitumavyagrā duḥkhaśokasamanvitāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by Hari, they, full of distress, went to the God, undistracted, for the purpose of propitiating Him, filled with sorrow and grief.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.32.59)

ततस्ते नातिदूरे तु साम्बं सगणमीश्वरम् । अपश्यन्त महात्मानः सर्वे तद्गतमानसाः

tataste nātidūre tu sāmbaṁ sagaṇamīśvaram | apaśyanta mahātmānaḥ sarve tadgatamānasāḥ

Then, not far off, those great-souled ones, their minds fixed upon Him, all beheld the Lord together with Uma and His ganas.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.32.60)

ते तं दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्योच्चै स्तुष्टुवुर्दीप्ततेजसम् । वाग्भिराहवनीयाभिः कृत्वा ब्रह्माणमग्रतः

te taṁ dṛṣṭvā praṇamyoccai stuṣṭuvurdīptatejasam | vāgbhirāhavanīyābhiḥ kṛtvā brahmāṇamagrataḥ

Having seen and bowed to Him loudly, they praised the blazingly radiant one with fitting words, having placed Brahma at their head.

Verse 61 (skanda.8.32.61)

देवा ऊचुः । नमस्ते सुरशत्रुध्न सुरयज्ञप्रमर्दक । महायज्ञ महासत्व महाक्रतुशतस्तुत

devā ūcuḥ | namaste suraśatrudhna surayajñapramardaka | mahāyajña mahāsatva mahākratuśatastuta

The gods said: Salutation to you, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, crusher of the gods' own sacrifice; great sacrifice yourself, of great being, praised in a hundred great rites.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.32.62)

नमो यज्ञविनाशाय वेदसर्वस्वदाय च । शिपि विष्टकृते विष्णोर्नरसिंहाभिघातिने

namo yajñavināśāya vedasarvasvadāya ca | śipi viṣṭakṛte viṣṇornarasiṁhābhighātine

Salutation to the destroyer of the sacrifice, and the giver of the whole essence of the Veda; to the one dwelling in radiance, and the striker of Vishnu's Narasimha form.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.32.63)

मन्दराद्रिनिवासाय शुभसर्वस्वदाय च । महाविमानयानाय ऋतुविघ्नकराय च

mandarādrinivāsāya śubhasarvasvadāya ca | mahāvimānayānāya ṛtuvighnakarāya ca

To the dweller of Mount Mandara, giver of all auspiciousness, rider of the great celestial chariot, and disruptor of seasonal rites.

Verse 64 (skanda.8.32.64)

मन्त्रान्तः करणयैव मन्त्रव्रतकराय च । पूष्णो दन्तविनाशाय भगनेत्रहराय च

mantrāntaḥ karaṇayaiva mantravratakarāya ca | pūṣṇo dantavināśāya bhaganetraharāya ca

To the one who is the inner controller by the mantras themselves, ordainer of mantra-vows; destroyer of Pushan's teeth, and taker of Bhaga's eyes.

Verse 65 (skanda.8.32.65)

विष्टम्भनाय शक्रस्य विष्णोश्चक्रस्य चैव हि । नमो यज्ञप्रणेत्रे च यज्ञोत्पत्तिकराय च

viṣṭambhanāya śakrasya viṣṇoścakrasya caiva hi | namo yajñapraṇetre ca yajñotpattikarāya ca

To the one who paralyzed Indra and the discus of Vishnu; salutation to the leader of the sacrifice, and to the one who causes the sacrifice's origin.

Verse 66 (skanda.8.32.66)

वरदानाधिगम्याय ब्रह्मणो जनकाय च । व्याघ्रचर्मभृते तुभ्यं कृष्णचर्माम्बराय च

varadānādhigamyāya brahmaṇo janakāya ca | vyāghracarmabhṛte tubhyaṁ kṛṣṇacarmāmbarāya ca

To the one attainable through the granting of boons, the father of Brahma; to you, wearer of the tiger-skin, clad in the black antelope-hide.

Verse 67 (skanda.8.32.67)

नमः स्रग्वरमालाय नरपित्रे तथैव च । उत्पादकाय विष्णोश्च जयाय विजयाय च

namaḥ sragvaramālāya narapitre tathaiva ca | utpādakāya viṣṇośca jayāya vijayāya ca

Salutation to the one wearing an excellent garland, likewise the father of men; to the begetter of Vishnu, to Jaya and to Vijaya.

Verse 68 (skanda.8.32.68)

नमो मन्युविनाशाय वीरभद्रप्रजाय च । नमो हर्षाय कोपाय गणेश्वरसृजे नमः

namo manyuvināśāya vīrabhadraprajāya ca | namo harṣāya kopāya gaṇeśvarasṛje namaḥ

Salutation to the destroyer of wrath, and to the one whose offspring is Virabhadra; salutation to joy, to anger, salutation to the creator of the lords of ganas.

Verse 69 (skanda.8.32.69)

नमो देवानुतापाय मृगबाणार्पणाय च । नमस्ते भगवन् देव नमस्ते भगवञ्छिव

namo devānutāpāya mṛgabāṇārpaṇāya ca | namaste bhagavan deva namaste bhagavañchiva

Salutation to the one who causes the gods' remorse, and to the one who shot the arrow at the deer; salutation to you, Blessed God, salutation to you, Blessed Shiva.

Verse 70 (skanda.8.32.70)

नमस्ते सर्वलोकेश नमस्ते लोकभावन । त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं यज्ञो देवाश्च यज्ञहन् । प्रसीद मा क्रुधोस्माकं मा नः कृत्वा विनाशय

namaste sarvalokeśa namaste lokabhāvana | tvayā sṛṣṭamidaṁ viśvaṁ yajño devāśca yajñahan | prasīda mā krudhosmākaṁ mā naḥ kṛtvā vināśaya

Salutation to you, Lord of all worlds, salutation to you, nurturer of the worlds. This universe, the sacrifice, and the gods, were created by You, O destroyer of the sacrifice. Be gracious; be not angry with us; having made us, do not destroy us.

Verse 71 (skanda.8.32.71)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । य इमं पठते नित्यं प्रयतः प्रातरुत्थितः । न तस्य विघ्नरूपाणि कदाचित् संभवन्त्युत

sanatkumāra uvāca | ya imaṁ paṭhate nityaṁ prayataḥ prātarutthitaḥ | na tasya vighnarūpāṇi kadācit saṁbhavantyuta

Sanatkumara said: Whoever, rising early and disciplined, always recites this - for him, obstacles never arise.

Verse 72 (skanda.8.32.72)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स एवमुक्तो देवेशस्तदा तान् स्तुवतः स्थितान् । उवाच प्रहसन् वाक्यं सर्वात्मा सर्वभावनः

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa evamukto deveśastadā tān stuvataḥ sthitān | uvāca prahasan vākyaṁ sarvātmā sarvabhāvanaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus praised, the God of gods, the Self of all, the creator of all, then, laughing, spoke to those who stood there praising Him.

Verse 73 (skanda.8.32.73)

देवदेव उवाच । नाहं क्रुद्धो भवन्तो मे नित्यमेवातिवल्लभाः । क्रुद्धे हि मयि युष्माकं न स्याज्जीवं क्षणान्तरे

devadeva uvāca | nāhaṁ kruddho bhavanto me nityamevātivallabhāḥ | kruddhe hi mayi yuṣmākaṁ na syājjīvaṁ kṣaṇāntare

The God of gods said: I am not angry - you are always exceedingly dear to me. For if I were angry, none of you would remain alive even for a moment.

Verse 74 (skanda.8.32.74)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा तदा देवः सुराणां हितकाम्यया । प्रावेशयत् सुरान् सर्वान् ततस्तान् योगमायया

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktvā tadā devaḥ surāṇāṁ hitakāmyayā | prāveśayat surān sarvān tatastān yogamāyayā

Sanatkumara said: Having said this, the God, desiring the welfare of the gods, then, by His yogic power, caused all those gods to enter Him.

Verse 75 (skanda.8.32.75)

स्वे शरीरे महादेवो विस्मापयितुमोजसा । ते प्रविष्टास्तदा देहमीश्वरस्य महात्मनः

sve śarīre mahādevo vismāpayitumojasā | te praviṣṭāstadā dehamīśvarasya mahātmanaḥ

Mahadeva, by His power, in order to astonish them, drew them into His own body; they then entered the body of the great-souled Lord.

Verse 76 (skanda.8.32.76)

सप्तलोकसमायुक्तमपश्यन् जगदद्भुतम् । ते परिभ्रम्य ताँल्लोकान् कृत्स्नान् सर्वे भयान्विताः

saptalokasamāyuktamapaśyan jagadadbhutam | te paribhramya tā~llokān kṛtsnān sarve bhayānvitāḥ

They beheld a wondrous world containing all seven worlds; wandering through all those worlds entirely, they all became filled with fear.

Verse 77 (skanda.8.32.77)

पञ्चाक्षं गणपं वीरं तत्रापश्यन् समागताः । तेन ते सुरशार्दूलाः सर्वे ह्यूर्ध्वमतन्द्रिताः

pañcākṣaṁ gaṇapaṁ vīraṁ tatrāpaśyan samāgatāḥ | tena te suraśārdūlāḥ sarve hyūrdhvamatandritāḥ

There, having come together, they saw the heroic gana-lord Panchaksha; by him, all those tigers among gods, unwearied, were carried upward.

Verse 78 (skanda.8.32.78)

आक्षिप्तास्तन्मुहूर्तेन लोकमन्यमुपागताः । अपश्यंस्ते महाभागा नगरं सूर्यसन्निभम्

ākṣiptāstanmuhūrtena lokamanyamupāgatāḥ | apaśyaṁste mahābhāgā nagaraṁ sūryasannibham

Snatched away in that instant, they arrived at another world; those illustrious ones beheld a city resembling the sun.

Verse 79 (skanda.8.32.79)

स्फाटिकेनातिमहता प्राकारेणाभिसंवृतम् । शृंगैश्च विविधैश्चित्रैर्मणिहेमोज्ज्वलैः शुभैः

sphāṭikenātimahatā prākāreṇābhisaṁvṛtam | śṛṁgaiśca vividhaiścitrairmaṇihemojjvalaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Enclosed by an immense crystal rampart, with various wondrous, auspicious turrets, gleaming with jewels and gold.

Verse 80 (skanda.8.32.80)

ततोपरमपश्यँस्ते तन्मध्ये सुरसत्तमाः । सप्तयोजनकोटीकं समन्तान्नगरं शुभम्

tatoparamapaśya~ste tanmadhye surasattamāḥ | saptayojanakoṭīkaṁ samantānnagaraṁ śubham

Then, beyond that, those best of gods saw, within it, another auspicious city, seven crores of yojanas in extent all around.

Verse 81 (skanda.8.32.81)

राजतेनावृतं दिव्यं प्राकारेणेन्दुवर्चसा । तस्य मध्ये परं चोर्ध्वं षट्कोट्या विस्तृतं पुरम्

rājatenāvṛtaṁ divyaṁ prākāreṇenduvarcasā | tasya madhye paraṁ cordhvaṁ ṣaṭkoṭyā vistṛtaṁ puram

Divine, enclosed by a silver rampart radiant as the moon; within it, further and higher, a city extending six crores of yojanas.

Verse 82 (skanda.8.32.82)

जाम्बूनदमयेनैव प्राकारेण सुसंवृतम् । तस्य मध्ये ततश्चान्यत् पंचकोटी प्रमाणतः

jāmbūnadamayenaiva prākāreṇa susaṁvṛtam | tasya madhye tataścānyat paṁcakoṭī pramāṇataḥ

Well enclosed by a rampart made of gold; within that, in turn, another city, five crores in measure.

Verse 83 (skanda.8.32.83)

इन्द्रनीलोपलेनैव प्राकारेण समावृतम् । तस्य मध्ये ह्यपश्यंस्ते विबुधा मुनिसत्तम

indranīlopalenaiva prākāreṇa samāvṛtam | tasya madhye hyapaśyaṁste vibudhā munisattama

Enclosed by a rampart of sapphire stone; within it, O best of sages, those gods saw...

Verse 84 (skanda.8.32.84)

चतुर्योजनकोटीकं विस्तारायामतः समम् । वैदूर्योपलयुक्तेन प्राकारेणाभिसंवृतम्

caturyojanakoṭīkaṁ vistārāyāmataḥ samam | vaidūryopalayuktena prākāreṇābhisaṁvṛtam

...a city four crores of yojanas, equal in breadth and length, enclosed by a rampart set with beryl stone.

Verse 85 (skanda.8.32.85)

नगरं तस्य मध्ये च त्रिकोटीयोजनं शुभम् । सर्वरत्नविचित्रेण प्राकारेणाभिसंवृतम्

nagaraṁ tasya madhye ca trikoṭīyojanaṁ śubham | sarvaratnavicitreṇa prākāreṇābhisaṁvṛtam

And within it, an auspicious city of three crores of yojanas, enclosed by a rampart adorned with every kind of jewel.

Verse 86 (skanda.8.32.86)

तेषां मध्ये जनपदाः सर्वदुःखविवर्जिताः । शुक्लाभिजनसंपन्नाः सर्वे च स्थिरयौवनाः

teṣāṁ madhye janapadāḥ sarvaduḥkhavivarjitāḥ | śuklābhijanasaṁpannāḥ sarve ca sthirayauvanāḥ

Amidst these were realms free from all suffering, endowed with pure lineages, all of unfading youth.

Verse 87 (skanda.8.32.87)

क्षुत्पिसाविनिर्मुक्ता रोगशोकविवजिताः । अमरा जरया त्यक्ता नित्यं मुदितमानसाः

kṣutpisāvinirmuktā rogaśokavivajitāḥ | amarā jarayā tyaktā nityaṁ muditamānasāḥ

Free from hunger and thirst, freed from disease and sorrow, immortal, untouched by old age, ever joyful in mind.

Verse 88 (skanda.8.32.88)

दीर्घिकाभिर्विचित्राभिर्वापीभिश्चाप्यलंकृताः । वक्षैर्नानाविधैश्चित्रैः सदा पुष्पफलोपगैः

dīrghikābhirvicitrābhirvāpībhiścāpyalaṁkṛtāḥ | vakṣairnānāvidhaiścitraiḥ sadā puṣpaphalopagaiḥ

Adorned with wondrous lakes and stepped wells, and with various wondrous trees, always laden with flowers and fruits.

Verse 89 (skanda.8.32.89)

सर्वभक्षान् प्रसूयन्ते वृक्षास्तत्रापरे शुभाः । अपरे चाप्यलंकारान् सर्ववासांसि चापरे

sarvabhakṣān prasūyante vṛkṣāstatrāpare śubhāḥ | apare cāpyalaṁkārān sarvavāsāṁsi cāpare

There, some auspicious trees produced all kinds of food; others produced ornaments; and others, all kinds of garments.

Verse 90 (skanda.8.32.90)

अपरे सर्वपुष्पाणि सर्वाण्येव फलानि च । सर्वभावाँस्तथा चान्ये मधु चामाक्षिकं शुभम्

apare sarvapuṣpāṇi sarvāṇyeva phalāni ca | sarvabhāvā~stathā cānye madhu cāmākṣikaṁ śubham

Others, all flowers and all fruits; and others still, all manner of things, and pure honey as well.

Verse 91 (skanda.8.32.91)

अपरे क्षीरिणस्तत्र वृक्षा व्यास महाप्रभाः । क्षीरं क्षरन्ति ते नित्यं सर्वे गव्यं समन्विताः

apare kṣīriṇastatra vṛkṣā vyāsa mahāprabhāḥ | kṣīraṁ kṣaranti te nityaṁ sarve gavyaṁ samanvitāḥ

There too, O Vyasa, were other milk-yielding trees of great splendor; they all continuously flowed with milk, of the quality of cow's milk.

Verse 92 (skanda.8.32.92)

सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः शुभा काञ्चनवालुका । उद्भिदान्युदकान्यत्र गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च

sarvā maṇimayī bhūmiḥ śubhā kāñcanavālukā | udbhidānyudakānyatra giri prasravaṇāni ca

The whole ground was made of jewels, its auspicious sand of gold; there were springs of water, and mountain streams.

Verse 93 (skanda.8.32.93)

न तेषु क्रोधो लोभो वा युद्धं द्वेषोथ मत्सरः । न मोहो नैव च स्तम्भो न दोषास्तत्र चापरे

na teṣu krodho lobho vā yuddhaṁ dveṣotha matsaraḥ | na moho naiva ca stambho na doṣāstatra cāpare

In the beings there, there was neither anger nor greed, nor war, nor hatred, nor envy; nor delusion, nor arrogance, nor any other faults.

Verse 94 (skanda.8.32.94)

तस्य मध्ये पुरं चान्यद् द्विकोटीविस्तृतं शुभम् । पद्मरागमयेनैव प्राकारेण परिष्कृतम्

tasya madhye puraṁ cānyad dvikoṭīvistṛtaṁ śubham | padmarāgamayenaiva prākāreṇa pariṣkṛtam

Within it, another auspicious city, two crores in extent, adorned with a rampart made entirely of ruby.

Verse 95 (skanda.8.32.95)

ईदृशानि पुराणि स्म व्यतिक्रम्य सुरास्ततः । कोटीयोजनविस्तीर्णं समन्ताद् वह्निनावृतम्

īdṛśāni purāṇi sma vyatikramya surāstataḥ | koṭīyojanavistīrṇaṁ samantād vahnināvṛtam

Passing beyond such cities, the gods then came to a place extending a crore of yojanas, entirely surrounded by fire.

Verse 96 (skanda.8.32.96)

संवर्तकानलाकारं दुर्निरीक्ष्यं पुरं महत् । अद्वारं ददृशुर्दिव्यमनन्तं ते सुरोत्तमाः

saṁvartakānalākāraṁ durnirīkṣyaṁ puraṁ mahat | advāraṁ dadṛśurdivyamanantaṁ te surottamāḥ

Those best of gods beheld a great divine city, in form like the cosmic-dissolution fire, unbearable to look upon, gateless, and endless.

Verse 97 (skanda.8.32.97)

दृष्टवा जग्मुः परं चैव विस्मयं भयमेव च । तान् भीतवदनान् व्यास वेपमानान् सुरेश्वरान् । पञ्चाक्षो गणपः प्राह मा भीर्भवतु वः सुराः

dṛṣṭavā jagmuḥ paraṁ caiva vismayaṁ bhayameva ca | tān bhītavadanān vyāsa vepamānān sureśvarān | pañcākṣo gaṇapaḥ prāha mā bhīrbhavatu vaḥ surāḥ

Seeing it, they were overcome with great astonishment and fear. To them, O Vyasa, their faces afraid, trembling, the gana-lord Panchaksha said: 'Fear not, O gods.'

Verse 98 (skanda.8.32.98)

इदन्तत् सुमहद् घोरं पुरं घोरानलावृतम् । द्रष्ट्व्यं वो महात्मानो यत्कृते चागतास्त्विह

idantat sumahad ghoraṁ puraṁ ghorānalāvṛtam | draṣṭvyaṁ vo mahātmāno yatkṛte cāgatāstviha

'This is that very great, terrible city, surrounded by dreadful fire, which you great souls must see, for the sake of which you have come here.'

Verse 99 (skanda.8.32.99)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा स पंचाक्षः शूलेनानलवर्चसा । पश्यतां सुरसंघानां द्वारं चक्रे महाबलः

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktvā sa paṁcākṣaḥ śūlenānalavarcasā | paśyatāṁ surasaṁghānāṁ dvāraṁ cakre mahābalaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having said this, the mighty Panchaksha, before the eyes of the assembled gods, made a gateway with his trident blazing like fire.

Verse 100 (skanda.8.32.100)

ते प्रविष्टा महात्मानः पञ्चाक्षसहिताः सुराः । दिव्यं ददृशिरे पूर्णं सिंहानां तत् पुरं महत्

te praviṣṭā mahātmānaḥ pañcākṣasahitāḥ surāḥ | divyaṁ dadṛśire pūrṇaṁ siṁhānāṁ tat puraṁ mahat

Those great-souled gods, entering together with Panchaksha, beheld that great divine city, full of lions.

Verse 101 (skanda.8.32.101)

मेरुमन्दरकल्पानां नखदंष्ट्रावतां तथा । घोराणामग्निवर्णानां क्रुद्धानामतितेजसाम्

merumandarakalpānāṁ nakhadaṁṣṭrāvatāṁ tathā | ghorāṇāmagnivarṇānāṁ kruddhānāmatitejasām

Those lions were like Meru and Mandara, with claws and fangs, terrible, fire-colored, enraged, of exceeding splendor.

Verse 102 (skanda.8.32.102)

तेषामेकस्तदासिंहश्छित्त्वा बन्धनमूर्जितः । अन्वधावत संक्रुद्धः प्रलम्बितमहासटः

teṣāmekastadāsiṁhaśchittvā bandhanamūrjitaḥ | anvadhāvata saṁkruddhaḥ pralambitamahāsaṭaḥ

One of those lions, mighty, having broken his bonds, enraged, his great mane streaming, ran after them.

Verse 103 (skanda.8.32.103)

तस्य सिंहस्य नादेन भैरवेण दिवौकसः । विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे पञ्चाक्षं शरणं ययुः

tasya siṁhasya nādena bhairaveṇa divaukasaḥ | viṣaṇṇavadanāḥ sarve pañcākṣaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

At that lion's terrifying roar, the gods, their faces downcast, all went to Panchaksha for refuge.

Verse 104 (skanda.8.32.104)

पञ्चाक्ष उवाच । न भेतव्यं सुरा देवं दर्शयाम्यधुना हि वः

pañcākṣa uvāca | na bhetavyaṁ surā devaṁ darśayāmyadhunā hi vaḥ

Panchaksha said: 'Do not be afraid, O gods; I shall now show you the God.'

Verse 105 (skanda.8.32.105)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्ता ददृशुः शर्वं सहसा ते सहोमया । न चैव तत्पुरं व्यास न सिंहं नापि किञ्चन

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityuktā dadṛśuḥ śarvaṁ sahasā te sahomayā | na caiva tatpuraṁ vyāsa na siṁhaṁ nāpi kiñcana

Sanatkumara said: Thus told, they suddenly beheld Sharva together with Uma; and, O Vyasa, neither that city, nor the lion, nor anything else remained.

Verse 106 (skanda.8.32.106)

वेपमाना भयेनेशं शरणं पर्युपागताः । तान् शरण्यः स भगवानुवाच प्रहसँस्तदा

vepamānā bhayeneśaṁ śaraṇaṁ paryupāgatāḥ | tān śaraṇyaḥ sa bhagavānuvāca prahasa~stadā

Trembling with fear, they came for refuge to the Lord; to them, the Blessed one, worthy of granting refuge, laughing, then spoke.

Verse 107 (skanda.8.32.107)

आमंत्र्य सर्वान् देवेशो भयत्रस्तान् दिवौकसः । दृष्टा हि वो मम क्रोधाः सिंहरूपा भयानकाः

āmaṁtrya sarvān deveśo bhayatrastān divaukasaḥ | dṛṣṭā hi vo mama krodhāḥ siṁharūpā bhayānakāḥ

Addressing all the fear-stricken gods, the Lord of gods said: 'You have seen my wraths in fearsome lion-form.'

Verse 108 (skanda.8.32.108)

एकेन तेषां रौद्रेण यूयं सर्वेपि तर्जिताः । यदि सर्वानहं क्रोधाद् विसृजेयं कदाचन

ekena teṣāṁ raudreṇa yūyaṁ sarvepi tarjitāḥ | yadi sarvānahaṁ krodhād visṛjeyaṁ kadācana

'By just one of those fierce wraths you were all terrified; if I were ever to release all of them in anger...'

Verse 109 (skanda.8.32.109)

न भवेत न सन्देहः सर्वे यूयं क्षणान्तरे । इयन्तु देवी युष्माकं कुपिता पर्वतात्मजा । एतां प्रसादयत व नाहं कुप्यामि वः सुराः

na bhaveta na sandehaḥ sarve yūyaṁ kṣaṇāntare | iyantu devī yuṣmākaṁ kupitā parvatātmajā | etāṁ prasādayata va nāhaṁ kupyāmi vaḥ surāḥ

'...there would be no doubt - all of you would perish in an instant. Rather, it is this Goddess, the mountain's daughter, who is angry with you; propitiate her - I am not angry with you, O gods.'

Verse 110 (skanda.8.32.110)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्तवति स्वामिन्युद्धता ताम्रलोचना । देवी देवीं मुखाद् घोरां ससृजे भयवर्द्धनीम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktavati svāminyuddhatā tāmralocanā | devī devīṁ mukhād ghorāṁ sasṛje bhayavarddhanīm

Sanatkumara said: When the Lord had thus spoken, the proud, copper-eyed Goddess created from her mouth a terrible goddess, increaser of fear.

Verse 111 (skanda.8.32.111)

दंष्ट्राकरालवदनां बहुपादकरांगुलिम् । धनुपरशुखड्गोग्र चक्रशूलेषुधारिणीम्

daṁṣṭrākarālavadanāṁ bahupādakarāṁgulim | dhanuparaśukhaḍgogra cakraśūleṣudhāriṇīm

Her face terrible with fangs, with many feet, hands and fingers; bearing a bow, axe, sword, fierce discus, trident, and arrows.

Verse 112 (skanda.8.32.112)

ज्वलर्दकसहस्रांशुतेजसं विश्वरूपिणीम् । दशयोजनसाहस्र स्तस्या देहः प्रमाणतः

jvalardakasahasrāṁśutejasaṁ viśvarūpiṇīm | daśayojanasāhasra stasyā dehaḥ pramāṇataḥ

Blazing with the splendor of a thousand rays, of universal form; her body, in extent, was ten thousand yojanas.

Verse 113 (skanda.8.32.113)

तयाभिभूतास्ते देवा वध्यमानाश्च सर्वशः । न शेकुः पुरतः स्थातुं व्याघ्राद् मृगगणा इव

tayābhibhūtāste devā vadhyamānāśca sarvaśaḥ | na śekuḥ purataḥ sthātuṁ vyāghrād mṛgagaṇā iva

Overwhelmed by her, being struck down on every side, the gods could not stand before her, like herds of deer before a tiger.

Verse 114 (skanda.8.32.114)

ततो व्यथितचित्तास्ते कालकर्णीभयात् सुराः । भस्मराशिं स्थितं पार्श्वे देवस्य विविशुर्भयात्

tato vyathitacittāste kālakarṇībhayāt surāḥ | bhasmarāśiṁ sthitaṁ pārśve devasya viviśurbhayāt

Then, their minds distressed by fear of Kalakarni, the gods, out of fear, entered a heap of ash lying beside the God.

Verse 115 (skanda.8.32.115)

तान् दृष्टवा भस्मकूटं तु प्रविष्टान् शरणार्थिनः । सुरान् भस्मविलिप्ताङ्गान् देवी देवीं न्यषेधयत्

tān dṛṣṭavā bhasmakūṭaṁ tu praviṣṭān śaraṇārthinaḥ | surān bhasmaviliptāṅgān devī devīṁ nyaṣedhayat

Seeing those gods, seeking refuge, having entered the heap of ash, their bodies smeared with ash, the Goddess restrained Kalakarni.

Verse 116 (skanda.8.32.116)

देव्युवाच । कालकर्णि निवर्तस्व मा वधीः सुरसत्तमान् । एते पाशुपती भूता भस्मना दिग्धमूर्तयः

devyuvāca | kālakarṇi nivartasva mā vadhīḥ surasattamān | ete pāśupatī bhūtā bhasmanā digdhamūrtayaḥ

The Goddess said: 'O Kalakarni, desist; do not slay these best of gods. These beings have become Pashupata devotees, their bodies smeared with ash.'

Verse 117 (skanda.8.32.117)

एतत् पशुपतिप्रोक्तं व्रतं पाशुपतं पुरा । यद् भस्मना पवित्रेण स्नानं स्नानेभ्य उत्तमम्

etat paśupatiproktaṁ vrataṁ pāśupataṁ purā | yad bhasmanā pavitreṇa snānaṁ snānebhya uttamam

'This is the Pashupata vow declared by Pashupati of old, wherein bathing with pure ash is the best of all baths.'

Verse 118 (skanda.8.32.118)

एते भगवतोवश्य मनुग्राह्याः सुरोत्तमाः । भस्म येन प्रविष्टास्तु तस्मान्मैतान् विनाशय

ete bhagavatovaśya manugrāhyāḥ surottamāḥ | bhasma yena praviṣṭāstu tasmānmaitān vināśaya

'These best of gods, subject to the Lord, are to be shown grace; since through ash they have entered refuge, therefore do not destroy them.'

Verse 119 (skanda.8.32.119)

रौद्राः पशव एते हि प्रवेशाद् भस्मसोधुना । जाताश्च गणपाः सर्वे हन्तव्या न त्वयेश्वरि

raudrāḥ paśava ete hi praveśād bhasmasodhunā | jātāśca gaṇapāḥ sarve hantavyā na tvayeśvari

'These, having now entered the ash, have become Rudra's own creatures and all become gana-lords; they are not to be slain by you, O Goddess.'

Verse 120 (skanda.8.32.120)

नैषां मृत्युः प्रभवति शङ्करार्पितचेतसाम् । मया ह्येतत् व्रतं शर्वं चरितं सार्वकामिकम्

naiṣāṁ mṛtyuḥ prabhavati śaṅkarārpitacetasām | mayā hyetat vrataṁ śarvaṁ caritaṁ sārvakāmikam

'Death has no power over those whose minds are devoted to Shankara. This vow, granting all desires, has been practiced by me for Sharva's sake.'

Verse 121 (skanda.8.32.121)

इत्युक्ता कालकर्णी तु देव्या भैरवरूपिणी । न्यवर्तत सुरेभ्यस्तु कोपं तत्याज चोत्थितम्

ityuktā kālakarṇī tu devyā bhairavarūpiṇī | nyavartata surebhyastu kopaṁ tatyāja cotthitam

Thus addressed, the fearsome Kalakarni desisted from attacking the gods, and abandoned the anger that had arisen.

Verse 122 (skanda.8.32.122)

कालकर्णीं निवृत्तां तु दृष्ट्वा तेपि सुरास्ततः । शान्तञ्च भयमत्युग्रं तुष्टुवुर्हिमवत्सुताम्

kālakarṇīṁ nivṛttāṁ tu dṛṣṭvā tepi surāstataḥ | śāntañca bhayamatyugraṁ tuṣṭuvurhimavatsutām

Seeing Kalakarni withdrawn, and their exceedingly fierce fear now calmed, the gods then praised the daughter of Himavat.

Verse 123 (skanda.8.32.123)

देवा ऊचुः हरवरमहिषीं महादेवपत्नीं प्रियां त्र्यम्बकस्याम्बिकां वाचमेकाक्षरां लोकसंहारकर्त्रीमुमां । देवदेवस्य पात्नीं शुभां शंखकुन्देन्दुहाराम्बुगौरोग्रदंष्ट्रां जयामाहवे दुर्निरीक्ष्यामचिन्त्योग्रदृष्टिं । विशालेक्षणां पीतकोशेयवस्त्रां महाशूलघण्टापताकाध्वजां दिव्यगन्धाज्यधूपप्रियां कालदण्डासिचर्मोग्रहस्तां । वपाशोणितान्त्रवसापूर्णभाण्डां दिशां दक्षिणां चारुचामीकराबद्धपट्टां युगान्तानलाभेक्षणामट्टहासान्सृजंतीं । यथाकामकर्त्रीमनङ्गायुधावि क्षतां शूरसेनां नदीं विश्रुतां मन्दरावासनित्यां दिविष्ठां प्रपद्यामहे । कानसी ष्टि मसुरमहिषदारणीं दारणीं दुन्दुभेः सुन्दमारीं निशुम्भस्य मृत्युं विभां सोमसूर्याग्निभासां । सृज त्कान्तिमिष्टप्रदां शोकदुःखार्तिहर्त्रीं विशेकामघोरांघनामन्तकस्या न्तकर्त्री मुनेर्जामदग्न्यस्य । चोर्ज्जां तथा राजराज्ञीं मनोज्ञां करालां क्षपां दण्डनीतिं स्थितिं सिद्धिमिष्टां शुभां कालरात्रीमपर्णां । समाधिं शरण्यां नगेन्द्राधिवासप्रियां क्षीरोदनित्यां शुभां महाकिंकिणीकां प्रकीर्णोर्ध्वकेशीं । प्रदीप्ताग्निसन्ध्याभ्ररागत्विषं बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रां त्रिनेत्रां जटाकेशरक्ताम्बुजाबद्धमालां । विशल्यामनङ्गारिनेत्रोल्कजां हेममालानिबद्धस्रजां दीर्घवेणीं सुवेणीं यशःकीर्तियुक्तां मयूराङ्गजाबद्धचित्रध्वजां । राजसां शान्तिकर्त्रीं प्रपद्येहमेकां सदा भुजङ्गशतकृताङ्गदां महादानवप्राणशौण्डां चिताभस्मरूक्षाङ्गकेशीं । महाजानुलम्बो दरां सर्पयज्ञोपवीतर्द्ध वक्त्रोद्धृताक्षार्द्ध पादार्द्र हस्तावतंसां महामेखलादामलम्बद्विचित्रस्रजां । महामेघतूर्योग्रवादित्रनृत्तप्रियां गीतहास्यप्रलापप्रमोदप्रियां जाप्यहोमोपवासादवासाप्रवासाधिवासातिरिक्तां । महायोगविज्ञातसारा नुसारोग्रसारां धृतिं ज्यानुघण्टा वबद्धोग्रशब्दां महामेघवज्रप्रपातोदधिप्रख्यतीव्रोग्रघोषां । क्रियां दीक्षितानाञ्च दीक्षां विरूपाक्षभार्यां हरस्यार्धदेहाधिवासां प्रप्रद्ये मुखोल्कोद्भवां । देवीमाद्यां परां पार्वतीं सर्वविद्याधिदेवीं गतिं यमनियमदमात्मभूतां पितॄणां च कन्यां शुभां । पर्वतेन्द्रात्मजां दक्षयज्ञान्तकर्त्रीं भवस्यार्धदेहाश्रितादित्यदन्तावपातां सुरेन्द्राग्रहस्तप्रतिस्तम्भनीं । विष्णुकेशापहर्त्रीं महासिहयुक्तातिवाहां महाभैरवां भीषितां स्कन्दचन्द्रारणीं मातरं हस्तिवक्त्रस्य । चाग्र्यां विशाखस्य जन्मारणीं नन्दिनो नैगमेषस्य चोत्पादनीं सर्वलोकस्य चाद्यारणीं पूज्यां मातरं । योगिनां योगिनीं ध्यायमानां धृतिं देवविप्रैर्महा योगतर्कैरगम्यां विशिष्टेष्टशिष्टाधिवासां च । लक्ष्मीं नरी भूर्भुवःस्वर्जनस्सत्यवैराजमाहात्म्यलोकारणीं कारणीमिन्द्रियाणामहङ्कारतन्मात्रकर्त्रीं । तमस्सत्वरागप्रवृत्तिं पराञ्च प्रवृत्तिं महेशस्य शक्तिं तथा चेतनां सर्वविज्ञानचिन्त्यां प्रपद्याम । देवीं उमां मातरं दिश त्वं सुखं मातरस्मासु तुष्टा महादेवपत्नीं शुभां यां वयं चिन्तयामैकया संविदा । ध्यायमानाः सदा दारुणं चापि सर्वं कृतं यत्त्वया तच्च नो नाशयाम्बाद्य तुष्टा यथा वै तुषारं महासूर्यदेहोद्भवा । तच्च नो जातिकोटीसहस्रेषु पूर्वं कृतं यत् करिष्याम यत्कुर्म तत्सर्वमेवञ्च दद्याश्च नः सर्वमर्थं । सकामं तथारोग्यमूर्जां श्रियं ज्ञानविज्ञानमेधास्तथा धारणां तर्कमूहामपोहं धृतिं चार्यभावं गतिञ्चैव । दिव्यां तथा धर्मनित्यत्वमेताँश्च ये चाप्यतोन्ये गुणास्ताँश्च सर्वान् जुषस्वाद्य देवि तुभ्यं । नमः

devā ūcuḥ haravaramahiṣīṁ mahādevapatnīṁ priyāṁ tryambakasyāmbikāṁ vācamekākṣarāṁ lokasaṁhārakartrīmumāṁ | devadevasya pātnīṁ śubhāṁ śaṁkhakundenduhārāmbugaurogradaṁṣṭrāṁ jayāmāhave durnirīkṣyāmacintyogradṛṣṭiṁ | viśālekṣaṇāṁ pītakośeyavastrāṁ mahāśūlaghaṇṭāpatākādhvajāṁ divyagandhājyadhūpapriyāṁ kāladaṇḍāsicarmograhastāṁ | vapāśoṇitāntravasāpūrṇabhāṇḍāṁ diśāṁ dakṣiṇāṁ cārucāmīkarābaddhapaṭṭāṁ yugāntānalābhekṣaṇāmaṭṭahāsānsṛjaṁtīṁ | yathākāmakartrīmanaṅgāyudhāvi kṣatāṁ śūrasenāṁ nadīṁ viśrutāṁ mandarāvāsanityāṁ diviṣṭhāṁ prapadyāmahe | kānasī ṣṭi masuramahiṣadāraṇīṁ dāraṇīṁ dundubheḥ sundamārīṁ niśumbhasya mṛtyuṁ vibhāṁ somasūryāgnibhāsāṁ | sṛja tkāntimiṣṭapradāṁ śokaduḥkhārtihartrīṁ viśekāmaghorāṁghanāmantakasyā ntakartrī munerjāmadagnyasya | corjjāṁ tathā rājarājñīṁ manojñāṁ karālāṁ kṣapāṁ daṇḍanītiṁ sthitiṁ siddhimiṣṭāṁ śubhāṁ kālarātrīmaparṇāṁ | samādhiṁ śaraṇyāṁ nagendrādhivāsapriyāṁ kṣīrodanityāṁ śubhāṁ mahākiṁkiṇīkāṁ prakīrṇordhvakeśīṁ | pradīptāgnisandhyābhrarāgatviṣaṁ baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṁ trinetrāṁ jaṭākeśaraktāmbujābaddhamālāṁ | viśalyāmanaṅgārinetrolkajāṁ hemamālānibaddhasrajāṁ dīrghaveṇīṁ suveṇīṁ yaśaḥkīrtiyuktāṁ mayūrāṅgajābaddhacitradhvajāṁ | rājasāṁ śāntikartrīṁ prapadyehamekāṁ sadā bhujaṅgaśatakṛtāṅgadāṁ mahādānavaprāṇaśauṇḍāṁ citābhasmarūkṣāṅgakeśīṁ | mahājānulambo darāṁ sarpayajñopavītarddha vaktroddhṛtākṣārddha pādārdra hastāvataṁsāṁ mahāmekhalādāmalambadvicitrasrajāṁ | mahāmeghatūryogravāditranṛttapriyāṁ gītahāsyapralāpapramodapriyāṁ jāpyahomopavāsādavāsāpravāsādhivāsātiriktāṁ | mahāyogavijñātasārā nusārograsārāṁ dhṛtiṁ jyānughaṇṭā vabaddhograśabdāṁ mahāmeghavajraprapātodadhiprakhyatīvrograghoṣāṁ | kriyāṁ dīkṣitānāñca dīkṣāṁ virūpākṣabhāryāṁ harasyārdhadehādhivāsāṁ prapradye mukholkodbhavāṁ | devīmādyāṁ parāṁ pārvatīṁ sarvavidyādhidevīṁ gatiṁ yamaniyamadamātmabhūtāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca kanyāṁ śubhāṁ | parvatendrātmajāṁ dakṣayajñāntakartrīṁ bhavasyārdhadehāśritādityadantāvapātāṁ surendrāgrahastapratistambhanīṁ | viṣṇukeśāpahartrīṁ mahāsihayuktātivāhāṁ mahābhairavāṁ bhīṣitāṁ skandacandrāraṇīṁ mātaraṁ hastivaktrasya | cāgryāṁ viśākhasya janmāraṇīṁ nandino naigameṣasya cotpādanīṁ sarvalokasya cādyāraṇīṁ pūjyāṁ mātaraṁ | yogināṁ yoginīṁ dhyāyamānāṁ dhṛtiṁ devaviprairmahā yogatarkairagamyāṁ viśiṣṭeṣṭaśiṣṭādhivāsāṁ ca | lakṣmīṁ narī bhūrbhuvaḥsvarjanassatyavairājamāhātmyalokāraṇīṁ kāraṇīmindriyāṇāmahaṅkāratanmātrakartrīṁ | tamassatvarāgapravṛttiṁ parāñca pravṛttiṁ maheśasya śaktiṁ tathā cetanāṁ sarvavijñānacintyāṁ prapadyāma | devīṁ umāṁ mātaraṁ diśa tvaṁ sukhaṁ mātarasmāsu tuṣṭā mahādevapatnīṁ śubhāṁ yāṁ vayaṁ cintayāmaikayā saṁvidā | dhyāyamānāḥ sadā dāruṇaṁ cāpi sarvaṁ kṛtaṁ yattvayā tacca no nāśayāmbādya tuṣṭā yathā vai tuṣāraṁ mahāsūryadehodbhavā | tacca no jātikoṭīsahasreṣu pūrvaṁ kṛtaṁ yat kariṣyāma yatkurma tatsarvamevañca dadyāśca naḥ sarvamarthaṁ | sakāmaṁ tathārogyamūrjāṁ śriyaṁ jñānavijñānamedhāstathā dhāraṇāṁ tarkamūhāmapohaṁ dhṛtiṁ cāryabhāvaṁ gatiñcaiva | divyāṁ tathā dharmanityatvametā~śca ye cāpyatonye guṇāstā~śca sarvān juṣasvādya devi tubhyaṁ | namaḥ

The gods said: We take refuge in her - the supreme queen of Hara, the wife of Mahadeva, the beloved of Tryambaka, Ambika, the single imperishable syllable Om, the doer of the dissolution of the worlds, Uma, the auspicious consort of the God of gods, fair as a conch, jasmine, or the moon, her fangs terrible, victorious, unbearable to behold in battle, of inconceivable and fierce gaze, wide-eyed, clad in yellow silken garments, bearing a great trident, bell, banner and flag, fond of divine incense, ghee and fragrance, her hand terrible with the staff of death, sword, and shield, her vessel full of fat, blood and entrails, bound with a bright golden sash toward the southern quarter, her eyes like the fire at the end of an age, uttering peals of laughter, granting desires at will, unwounded by the arrows of the bodiless Kama, the renowned river Shurasena, ever dwelling on Mandara, abiding in heaven; the slayer of the buffalo-demon, the render of asuras, the death of Dundubhi, the destroyer of Nishumbha, radiant with the light of the sun and moon and fire, granting the desired splendor, remover of sorrow, grief and affliction, terrible and vast, the ender of Antaka himself, the might of the sage Jamadagni, the queen of kings, lovely yet terrible, the night, the rule of law, stability, accomplishment, the desired and auspicious Kalaratri, Aparna, meditation, the refuge, fond of dwelling on the lord of mountains, ever abiding in the ocean of milk, wearing great tinkling anklets, her hair scattered upward, gleaming with the colors of blazing fire and evening clouds, wearing a bound leather finger-guard, three-eyed, her matted locks bound with a garland of red lotuses, free from all affliction, born from the fiery glance that slew Kama, her garland bound with gold, long-braided, of beautiful braids, endowed with fame and glory, bearing a banner marked with a peacock's form, calm, bringer of peace - we take refuge in her alone, ever adorned with armlets made of a hundred serpents, the pride and life-breath of great demons, her hair rough with the ash of the funeral pyre, her belly great, her knees hanging low, wearing the sacred thread of serpents, her belt-string bright with a varied garland, fond of the dance and the fierce sound of great clouds, drums and instruments, fond of song, laughter, and joyful talk, devoted to muttered prayer, fire-offering, fasting, and dwelling in seclusion, beyond travel and residence, known through the essence of great yoga, upholding endurance bound with the sound of bell and bow-string, terrible with the sound like the roar of the ocean at the fall of a great cloud-borne thunderbolt, the initiation and the initiated of sacred rites, the wife of Virupaksha, abiding in half of Hara's body, born from the fiery brow, the primal Goddess, supreme Parvati, the presiding deity of all knowledge, the path, the self of restraint, discipline and self-control, the auspicious daughter of the Fathers, the daughter of the lord of mountains, the ender of Daksha's sacrifice, she at whose feet Aditya's teeth fell, upon the half-body of Bhava, the paralyzer of the raised hand of the king of gods, the taker of Vishnu's hair, borne swiftly upon a great lion, the great and terrifying one, the cause of Skanda and the moon, the mother, foremost of the elephant-faced one's forms, the source of Vishakha's birth, the begetter of Nandin and Naigamesha, the primal source of all the worlds, the venerable mother, meditated upon by yogis as the Yogini, the endurance unattainable even by gods and sages through the highest yogic reasoning, dwelling among the chosen and virtuous, Lakshmi, the woman who is the essence of earth, sky and heaven, the truthful, the noble, the source of the glory of the worlds, the cause, the maker of the ego and the subtle elements of the senses, the movement of tamas, sattva and rajas, and beyond, the power of Mahesha, and consciousness itself, to be contemplated through all knowledge - we take refuge in the Goddess, in Uma, the Mother. Grant us happiness, O Mother, being pleased with us. The auspicious wife of Mahadeva, whom we contemplate with a single, unwavering awareness always meditating upon her - whatever terrible thing has been done by you, may it, being now pleased, be undone for us. As frost vanishes before the great sun's rising, so may whatever we have done in thousands of crores of past births, and whatever we shall do, all of it - may you grant us all objects, with our desires fulfilled, and health, vigor, prosperity, knowledge, discernment, intelligence, memory, the power of reasoning, deliberation and its removal, steadfastness, noble conduct, and the divine path, and constancy in dharma, and whatever other virtues there may be beyond these - enjoy them all today, O Goddess. Salutation to you.

Verse 124 (skanda.8.32.124)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं सा संस्तुता देवी देवैर्हृष्टेन चेतसा । त्र्यम्बकानुग्रहाच्चैव देवाँस्तुष्टाब्रवीदिदम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | evaṁ sā saṁstutā devī devairhṛṣṭena cetasā | tryambakānugrahāccaiva devā~stuṣṭābravīdidam

Sanatkumara said: Thus praised, the Goddess, her heart delighted, and pleased by Tryambaka's grace, spoke this to the gods, satisfied.

Verse 125 (skanda.8.32.125)

देव्युवाच । गच्छध्वं विज्वराः सर्वे तुष्टाहं वो न संशयः । मैवं कार्ष्ट पुनर्देवा मा विनाशो हि वो भवेत्

devyuvāca | gacchadhvaṁ vijvarāḥ sarve tuṣṭāhaṁ vo na saṁśayaḥ | maivaṁ kārṣṭa punardevā mā vināśo hi vo bhavet

The Goddess said: Go, all of you, free from affliction; I am pleased with you, without doubt. Do not act like this again, O gods, lest destruction come upon you.

Verse 126 (skanda.8.32.126)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स देवः प्रहसन् कपर्दी नीललोहितः । प्रकृतिस्थान् सुरान् सर्वांश्चकार सुरशत्रुहा

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa devaḥ prahasan kapardī nīlalohitaḥ | prakṛtisthān surān sarvāṁścakāra suraśatruhā

Sanatkumara said: Then the God, matted-locked, blue-red, slayer of the enemies of the gods, laughing, restored all the gods to their natural state.

Verse 127 (skanda.8.32.127)

उवाच चैतान् देवेशो गच्छध्वं विगतज्वराः । यज्ञश्चैव यदा कृत्यं तदायं भविता हि वः

uvāca caitān deveśo gacchadhvaṁ vigatajvarāḥ | yajñaścaiva yadā kṛtyaṁ tadāyaṁ bhavitā hi vaḥ

And the God of gods said to them: 'Go, free from affliction; and when the sacrifice's proper rite is performed, then this share shall be yours.'

Verse 128 (skanda.8.32.128)

सशिरस्को दितेः पुत्रा मन्त्रेणानेन सन्धितः । ततः स्तोत्रं च मन्त्रं च सन्धानकरमव्ययम् । ददावाथर्वणं देवः प्रोवाचेदं च सुस्वरम्

saśirasko diteḥ putrā mantreṇānena sandhitaḥ | tataḥ stotraṁ ca mantraṁ ca sandhānakaramavyayam | dadāvātharvaṇaṁ devaḥ provācedaṁ ca susvaram

With his head, he, the son of Diti, was rejoined by this mantra. Then the God gave the imperishable Atharvan hymn and mantra that brings reunion, and spoke it in a sweet voice.

Verse 129 (skanda.8.32.129)

देवदेव उवाच । नक्षत्रसमतां यातु यज्ञोयं सुरसत्तमाः । मृगानुसारी देवोपि हरिरस्य भवत्वयम्

devadeva uvāca | nakṣatrasamatāṁ yātu yajñoyaṁ surasattamāḥ | mṛgānusārī devopi harirasya bhavatvayam

The God of gods said: 'Let this sacrifice go to become equal with the constellations, O best of gods; and let this god Hari become the pursuer of the deer.'

Verse 130 (skanda.8.32.130)

भद्रकाली हरिश्चैव गणाश्चेमे महाबलाः । सर्वे भद्रा भविष्यन्ति युष्माकममरास्सदा

bhadrakālī hariścaiva gaṇāśceme mahābalāḥ | sarve bhadrā bhaviṣyanti yuṣmākamamarāssadā

'Bhadrakali, Hari, and these mighty ganas - all shall become auspicious to you, immortal ones, forever.'

Verse 131 (skanda.8.32.131)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्ता भगवता देवास्ते ब्रह्माणा सह । शिरोभिः प्रणतास्सर्वे शर्वमूचुरिदं वचः

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktā bhagavatā devāste brahmāṇā saha | śirobhiḥ praṇatāssarve śarvamūcuridaṁ vacaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by the Blessed Lord, those gods, together with Brahma, all bowing their heads, said this word to Sharva.

Verse 132 (skanda.8.32.132)

एष तावत् क्रतु श्रेष्ठस्तवैव भवतु प्रभो । सर्वः सुरपते देव शतमभ्यर्च्यतेव्यय

eṣa tāvat kratu śreṣṭhastavaiva bhavatu prabho | sarvaḥ surapate deva śatamabhyarcyatevyaya

'Let this excellent sacrifice, O Lord, be entirely Yours alone, O Lord of gods, O imperishable God, honored a hundredfold.'

Verse 133 (skanda.8.32.133)

भागानां सर्वयज्ञेषु तुभ्यं सर्वं ददामहे । एवमुक्तोथ देवेशः सुरैः सर्वैः सुरेश्वरः

bhāgānāṁ sarvayajñeṣu tubhyaṁ sarvaṁ dadāmahe | evamuktotha deveśaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiḥ sureśvaraḥ

'We give to You all the shares in all sacrifices.' Thus addressed by all the gods, the Lord of gods, Sureshvara...

Verse 134 (skanda.8.32.134)

चकार रूपं परमं सर्वदेवमयं शुभम् । स्वात्मानन्ते तदा देवा ह्यपश्यन्त महेश्वरे

cakāra rūpaṁ paramaṁ sarvadevamayaṁ śubham | svātmānante tadā devā hyapaśyanta maheśvare

...assumed a supreme, auspicious form, consisting of all the gods; then the gods beheld their own selves within Maheshvara.

Verse 135 (skanda.8.32.135)

शिरोबाहूरुपादेषु वस्तिहस्तोदरादिषु । अवस्थितान् महात्मानो मुनीँश्चैव तपोधनान्

śirobāhūrupādeṣu vastihastodarādiṣu | avasthitān mahātmāno munī~ścaiva tapodhanān

...situated in His head, arms, thighs, feet, waist, hands, belly and other limbs - great souls, and sages rich in austerity.

Verse 136 (skanda.8.32.136)

स तद्रूपं तदा कृत्वा देवान् प्रोवाच शंकरः । सर्वे यूयं महात्मानो मच्छरीरसमुद्भवाः

sa tadrūpaṁ tadā kṛtvā devān provāca śaṁkaraḥ | sarve yūyaṁ mahātmāno maccharīrasamudbhavāḥ

Having assumed that form, Shankara then said to the gods: 'All of you great souls have arisen from My own body.'

Verse 137 (skanda.8.32.137)

युष्माकञ्च शरीराणि मन्मयानि प्रपश्यत । ततस्ते देवता व्यास सर्वं रुद्रात्मकं जगत्

yuṣmākañca śarīrāṇi manmayāni prapaśyata | tataste devatā vyāsa sarvaṁ rudrātmakaṁ jagat

'And behold, your bodies too are made of Me.' Then those gods, O Vyasa, beheld the entire universe as consisting of Rudra...

Verse 138 (skanda.8.32.138)

आत्मानं चाप्यपश्यन्त विस्मयापन्नचेतसः । एवं स तेषां देवेशो दर्शयित्वात्मनो बलम्

ātmānaṁ cāpyapaśyanta vismayāpannacetasaḥ | evaṁ sa teṣāṁ deveśo darśayitvātmano balam

...and, their minds filled with astonishment, they beheld even their own selves as Rudra. Thus, the Lord of gods, having shown them His own power...

Verse 139 (skanda.8.32.139)

उवाच सुरशार्दूलान् दृष्टा ह्येता विभूतयः । यो यां पूजयते मूर्तिं भक्त्या परममया युतः

uvāca suraśārdūlān dṛṣṭā hyetā vibhūtayaḥ | yo yāṁ pūjayate mūrtiṁ bhaktyā paramamayā yutaḥ

...said to those tigers among gods: 'These glories have now been seen by you. Whoever, endowed with supreme devotion, worships whichever form...'

Verse 140 (skanda.8.32.140)

तस्य तां मूर्त्तिमास्थाय पूजां गृह्णाम्यहं सुराः । न भागधेयैः कृत्यं मे भागधेयानि वस्मुराः । सर्वाण्येव ददाम्यद्य यात सर्वे गतज्वराः

tasya tāṁ mūrttimāsthāya pūjāṁ gṛhṇāmyahaṁ surāḥ | na bhāgadheyaiḥ kṛtyaṁ me bhāgadheyāni vasmurāḥ | sarvāṇyeva dadāmyadya yāta sarve gatajvarāḥ

'...I, taking on that very form, receive his worship, O gods. I have no need of shares - your shares, O gods, are yours all; I grant them all to you today - go, all of you, free from affliction.'

Verse 141 (skanda.8.32.141)

देवा ऊचुः । गुह्यमेतत् परं देव त्वयास्माकं निदर्शितम् । एवं यो वेत्स्यते मर्त्यः स लोकान् प्राप्स्यतेव्ययान्

devā ūcuḥ | guhyametat paraṁ deva tvayāsmākaṁ nidarśitam | evaṁ yo vetsyate martyaḥ sa lokān prāpsyatevyayān

The gods said: 'This supreme secret has been shown to us by You, O God. Whatever mortal comes to know this shall attain imperishable worlds.'

Verse 142 (skanda.8.32.142)

इदं च भगवन् स्थानं भद्रेश्वरमिति श्रुतम् । भविष्यति जगच्छ्रेष्ठं पुण्येभ्यः पुण्यवत्तमम्

idaṁ ca bhagavan sthānaṁ bhadreśvaramiti śrutam | bhaviṣyati jagacchreṣṭhaṁ puṇyebhyaḥ puṇyavattamam

'And this place, O Lord, known as Bhadreshvara, shall become the foremost in the world, the most meritorious among meritorious places.'

Verse 143 (skanda.8.32.143)

समन्ताद् योजनं चैवं रुद्रक्षेत्रं सनातनम् । मृतोत्र गणपो देव वल्लभस्ते भविष्यति

samantād yojanaṁ caivaṁ rudrakṣetraṁ sanātanam | mṛtotra gaṇapo deva vallabhaste bhaviṣyati

'All around, for a yojana, this shall be the eternal field of Rudra; whoever dies here, O God, shall become a beloved gana-lord of Yours.'

Verse 144 (skanda.8.32.144)

यश्चेदं कीर्त्तयेन्नित्यं कल्य उत्थाय यज्ञहन् । श्रावयेच्चापि विप्रेभ्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

yaścedaṁ kīrttayennityaṁ kalya utthāya yajñahan | śrāvayeccāpi viprebhyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

'Whoever, O destroyer of sacrifice, rising early, recites this daily, and also causes it to be heard by Brahmins, is freed from all sins.'

Verse 145 (skanda.8.32.145)

भद्रकर्णह्रदे चास्मिन् स्नात्वा योभ्यर्चयेद्धरम् । साधयित्वा चरुं चैव भोजयेद् ब्राह्मणान् शुचिः

bhadrakarṇahrade cāsmin snātvā yobhyarcayeddharam | sādhayitvā caruṁ caiva bhojayed brāhmaṇān śuciḥ

'Whoever bathes in this Bhadrakarna lake and worships Hara, and, having prepared a charu-offering, purely feeds Brahmins...'

Verse 146 (skanda.8.32.146)

स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तो. यत्र तत्र मृतो नरः । मोदतेप्सरसां मध्ये दिवि देव इवापरः

sa sarvapāpanirmukto. yatra tatra mṛto naraḥ | modatepsarasāṁ madhye divi deva ivāparaḥ

'...that man, freed from all sin, wherever he dies, delights among the apsaras in heaven, like another god.'

Verse 147 (skanda.8.32.147)

यत्र चोक्तं त्वया देव स्थितेन भगवन् प्रभो । हरभद्रेति पुण्योयं त्वत्प्रसादाद् भवत्वज

yatra coktaṁ tvayā deva sthitena bhagavan prabho | harabhadreti puṇyoyaṁ tvatprasādād bhavatvaja

'And, O Lord, since You, standing here, spoke the word Harabhadra, let this place, O Unborn one, become sacred by Your grace.'

Verse 148 (skanda.8.32.148)

अश्वमेधस्य यत्पुण्यं सम्यगिष्टस्य यज्ञहन् । तदत्र देव भवतु नरस्याभ्यर्चतः सदा

aśvamedhasya yatpuṇyaṁ samyagiṣṭasya yajñahan | tadatra deva bhavatu narasyābhyarcataḥ sadā

'Whatever merit belongs to a properly performed Ashvamedha, O destroyer of sacrifice, let that always be here for the man who worships, O God.'

Verse 149 (skanda.8.32.149)

परित्यक्ष्यति यश्चात्र कश्चित् प्राणान् नरोत्तमः । हरिभद्रस्य स गणो भविष्यति महाबलः

parityakṣyati yaścātra kaścit prāṇān narottamaḥ | haribhadrasya sa gaṇo bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ

'And whatever best of men gives up his life here shall become a mighty gana of Haribhadra.'

Verse 150 (skanda.8.32.150)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमस्त्विति स प्रोच्य मन्दरं चारुकन्दरम् । जगाम भगवान् शर्वः सोमो गणशतैर्वृतः

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamastviti sa procya mandaraṁ cārukandaram | jagāma bhagavān śarvaḥ somo gaṇaśatairvṛtaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Saying 'So be it,' the Blessed Sharva, with Uma, surrounded by hundreds of ganas, set out for Mandara of the lovely caves.

Verse 151 (skanda.8.32.151)

देवापि राज्ञा सहितास्तस्मिँस्थाने यथासुखम् । तस्थुर्ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च जग्मतुर्देवपृष्ठतः

devāpi rājñā sahitāstasmi~sthāne yathāsukham | tasthurbrahmā ca viṣṇuśca jagmaturdevapṛṣṭhataḥ

The gods too, together with the king Daksha, remained happily in that place; and Brahma and Vishnu went behind the God.

Verse 152 (skanda.8.32.152)

स गत्वा स्तोकमध्वानमुभाभ्यां सहितः प्रभुः । नातिदूरे ततः प्राह तिष्ठ विष्णो महाबल

sa gatvā stokamadhvānamubhābhyāṁ sahitaḥ prabhuḥ | nātidūre tataḥ prāha tiṣṭha viṣṇo mahābala

Having gone a short distance, together with the two of them, the Lord, not far off, then said: 'Stay here, O mighty Vishnu.'

Verse 153 (skanda.8.32.153)

स प्रणम्य ततः पादौ हरस्य पुरुषोत्तमः । तस्थावाम्रं समालम्ब्य स कुब्जस्समपद्यत

sa praṇamya tataḥ pādau harasya puruṣottamaḥ | tasthāvāmraṁ samālambya sa kubjassamapadyata

Then, bowing at Hara's feet, the Supreme Person stood there, leaning on a mango tree, and became bent.

Verse 154 (skanda.8.32.154)

यस्मादाम्रं समालम्ब्य तस्मिन् देशे स्थितो हरिः । निरीक्षमाणो देवेशं देशस्तस्मादभूदसौ

yasmādāmraṁ samālambya tasmin deśe sthito hariḥ | nirīkṣamāṇo deveśaṁ deśastasmādabhūdasau

Since Hari stood in that place leaning on the mango, watching the God of gods, that place became known from that.

Verse 155 (skanda.8.32.155)

कुव्जाम्रक इति ख्यातो विष्णोः क्षेत्रं समृद्धिमत् । पुण्यं निवर्तनाद्विष्णो गोसहस्रफलप्रदम्

kuvjāmraka iti khyāto viṣṇoḥ kṣetraṁ samṛddhimat | puṇyaṁ nivartanādviṣṇo gosahasraphalapradam

It became known as Kubjamraka, Vishnu's prosperous field, sacred, granting the fruit of a thousand cows for turning back there for Vishnu's sake.

Verse 156 (skanda.8.32.156)

नातिदूरं ततो गत्वा भूयो देवः पितामहम् । निवर्त्तेत्यब्रवीद् व्यास गगनञ्च समाविशत्

nātidūraṁ tato gatvā bhūyo devaḥ pitāmaham | nivarttetyabravīd vyāsa gaganañca samāviśat

Then, having gone a little further, the God again said to the Grandsire, 'Turn back,' O Vyasa, and entered the sky.

Verse 157 (skanda.8.32.157)

तस्मिन् वियद्गते देवे ब्रह्मा प्राञ्जलिरुन्मुखः । प्रदक्षिणं समावृत्य प्रणम्य प्रययौ ततः

tasmin viyadgate deve brahmā prāñjalirunmukhaḥ | pradakṣiṇaṁ samāvṛtya praṇamya prayayau tataḥ

When the God had gone into the sky, Brahma, with folded hands, face upturned, having circumambulated Him and bowed, then departed.

Verse 158 (skanda.8.32.158)

यस्मात्तत्र हरं तेन कुर्वता वै प्रदक्षिणम् । आवर्त्तः स्वशरीरस्य प्रकृतः पुण्यकर्मणा

yasmāttatra haraṁ tena kurvatā vai pradakṣiṇam | āvarttaḥ svaśarīrasya prakṛtaḥ puṇyakarmaṇā

Since there, by him performing circumambulation of Hara, a turning of his own body was made by that meritorious act...

Verse 159 (skanda.8.32.159)

तस्मात् स देशो विख्यातो ब्रह्मावर्त्तेति शोभनः । अश्वमेधफलं तत्र स्नातः प्राप्नोति मानवः

tasmāt sa deśo vikhyāto brahmāvartteti śobhanaḥ | aśvamedhaphalaṁ tatra snātaḥ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

...therefore that beautiful place became known as Brahmavarta. A man who bathes there obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha.

Verse 160 (skanda.8.32.160)

साधयित्वा चरुं चात्र भोजयित्वा तथा द्विजान् । प्राणान् परित्यज्य ततो ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात्

sādhayitvā caruṁ cātra bhojayitvā tathā dvijān | prāṇān parityajya tato brahmalokamavāpnuyāt

Having prepared a charu-offering here and fed Brahmins, and then giving up his life, he attains the world of Brahma.

Verse 161 (skanda.8.32.161)

ततोभ्येत्य सुरैस्सार्धं ब्रह्मा विष्णुपुरस्सरैः । भद्रेश्वरे पशुपतेर्महिमानमथाकरोत्

tatobhyetya suraissārdhaṁ brahmā viṣṇupurassaraiḥ | bhadreśvare paśupatermahimānamathākarot

Then Brahma, together with the gods, with Vishnu at their head, having returned, established the glory of Pashupati at Bhadreshvara.

Verse 162 (skanda.8.32.162)

स लिङ्गः तत्र संस्थाप्य पूजां कृत्वातिभास्वराम् । भद्रकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा सह देवैर्दिवं ययौ

sa liṅgaḥ tatra saṁsthāpya pūjāṁ kṛtvātibhāsvarām | bhadrakarṇahrade snātvā saha devairdivaṁ yayau

Having established a Linga there and performed a most radiant worship, having bathed in the Bhadrakarna lake, he went to heaven together with the gods.

Verse 163 (skanda.8.32.163)

तं प्रयान्तं तदा दक्षो ब्रह्माणमिदमूचिवान् । कर्तव्यं किं मया देव मम तद् ब्रूहि पृच्छतः

taṁ prayāntaṁ tadā dakṣo brahmāṇamidamūcivān | kartavyaṁ kiṁ mayā deva mama tad brūhi pṛcchataḥ

As he was departing, Daksha then said this to Brahma: 'O God, what is to be done by me? Tell me, as I ask.'

Verse 164 (skanda.8.32.164)

पितामह उवाच । प्रसादय महेष्वासं शर्वमुग्रं कपर्दिनम् । ततो यज्ञसमाप्तिं च लोकांश्च प्राप्स्यसे क्षयान्

pitāmaha uvāca | prasādaya maheṣvāsaṁ śarvamugraṁ kapardinam | tato yajñasamāptiṁ ca lokāṁśca prāpsyase kṣayān

The Grandsire said: 'Propitiate the great archer, the fierce, matted-locked Sharva; then you shall attain the completion of the sacrifice and imperishable worlds.'

Verse 165 (skanda.8.32.165)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स एवमुक्तो देवेन ब्रह्मणा व्यास तत्त्वतः । लिंगं कनखले कृत्वा रुद्रमभ्यर्चयत् तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa evamukto devena brahmaṇā vyāsa tattvataḥ | liṁgaṁ kanakhale kṛtvā rudramabhyarcayat tadā

Sanatkumara said: Thus truly instructed by the God Brahma, O Vyasa, he established a Linga at Kanakhala and worshipped Rudra.

Verse 166 (skanda.8.32.166)

तस्य संवत्सरशते पूर्णे दिव्ये प्रजापतेः । महादेवोद्रिजां प्राह प्रहसन् गिरिमूर्धनि

tasya saṁvatsaraśate pūrṇe divye prajāpateḥ | mahādevodrijāṁ prāha prahasan girimūrdhani

When a hundred divine years of Prajapati had been completed, Mahadeva, on the mountain-peak, laughing, said to the mountain's daughter...

Verse 167 (skanda.8.32.167)

प्राचेतसात्मजो देवि स्थितस्तपसि संयतः । पश्यैनं मद्गतेनेशे चेतसा समवस्थितम्

prācetasātmajo devi sthitastapasi saṁyataḥ | paśyainaṁ madgateneśe cetasā samavasthitam

'O Goddess, the son of Prachetas stands, self-controlled, in austerity. Behold him, fixed in mind upon Me alone.'

Verse 168 (skanda.8.32.168)

ततो दृष्ट्वा महादेवी वायुभक्षमवस्थितम् । लिङ्गेपरमया भक्त्या पूजयन्तं महेश्वरम्

tato dṛṣṭvā mahādevī vāyubhakṣamavasthitam | liṅgeparamayā bhaktyā pūjayantaṁ maheśvaram

Then the great Goddess, seeing him, subsisting on air alone, worshipping Maheshvara at the Linga with supreme devotion...

Verse 169 (skanda.8.32.169)

उवाच हृषिता देवी देवं सर्वसुरार्चितम् । कृताञ्जलिपुटा व्यास सर्वदेवपतिं पतिम्

uvāca hṛṣitā devī devaṁ sarvasurārcitam | kṛtāñjalipuṭā vyāsa sarvadevapatiṁ patim

...O Vyasa, the delighted Goddess, hands folded, said to the God worshipped by all the gods, her own Lord, the Lord of all gods.

Verse 170 (skanda.8.32.170)

देव्युवाच । क्षुद्रोयं दुष्टचेताश्च स्तब्धो मानी च दुर्मतिः । विष्ट्या त्वया विनिकृत स्त्वामेव शरणं गतः

devyuvāca | kṣudroyaṁ duṣṭacetāśca stabdho mānī ca durmatiḥ | viṣṭyā tvayā vinikṛta stvāmeva śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

The Goddess said: 'This mean, evil-minded, stubborn, proud, foolish one, humiliated by You through this affliction, has come to You alone for refuge.'

Verse 171 (skanda.8.32.171)

तदस्य दुष्टभावस्य प्रपन्नस्य महेश्वर । क्षन्तुमर्हसि भक्तस्य त्वामस्यार्थे प्रसादये

tadasya duṣṭabhāvasya prapannasya maheśvara | kṣantumarhasi bhaktasya tvāmasyārthe prasādaye

'Therefore, O Maheshvara, of this evil-natured one who has taken refuge, you should forgive him as a devotee; I entreat You on his behalf.'

Verse 172 (skanda.8.32.172)

देवदेव उवाच । त्वमेव देवि यच्छास्मै वरानिष्टान् यथासुखम् । अनुज्ञाता मया सुभ्रु त्वमेवास्य वरं दिश

devadeva uvāca | tvameva devi yacchāsmai varāniṣṭān yathāsukham | anujñātā mayā subhru tvamevāsya varaṁ diśa

The God of gods said: 'You yourself, O Goddess, grant him whatever desired boons you wish; O fair-browed one, with My permission, you yourself give him the boon.'

Verse 173 (skanda.8.32.173)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्तौ देवदेवेशौ सङ्गतौ स्वगणैर्वृतौ । ऊचतुः पश्य दक्षावां तुष्टौ दिव्येन चक्षुषा

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatastau devadeveśau saṅgatau svagaṇairvṛtau | ūcatuḥ paśya dakṣāvāṁ tuṣṭau divyena cakṣuṣā

Sanatkumara said: Then those two Lords of gods, united, surrounded by Their ganas, said: 'Behold us, Daksha, pleased, with divine sight.'

Verse 174 (skanda.8.32.174)

प्राचेतस महाभाग वरदौ स्वो महातपः

prācetasa mahābhāga varadau svo mahātapaḥ

'O son of Prachetas, of great fortune, we two, boon-givers, are pleased by your great austerity...' [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source]

Verse 175 (skanda.8.32.175)

शापशान्त्यर्थमेत् ते वरं दद्मि तवेप्सितम् । यस्ते यज्ञो गणैर्ध्वस्तः फलं तस्य त्वमाप्नुहि

śāpaśāntyarthamet te varaṁ dadmi tavepsitam | yaste yajño gaṇairdhvastaḥ phalaṁ tasya tvamāpnuhi

'...for the sake of appeasing the curse, I give you the boon you desire; obtain the fruit of that sacrifice of yours which was destroyed by the ganas.'

Verse 176 (skanda.8.32.176)

कामरूपधरः श्रीमान् गणेशश्च भवस्व मे । अक्षयश्चामरश्चैव दुःखशोकविवर्जितः । भविष्यसि महाभाग मम चैव समीपगः

kāmarūpadharaḥ śrīmān gaṇeśaśca bhavasva me | akṣayaścāmaraścaiva duḥkhaśokavivarjitaḥ | bhaviṣyasi mahābhāga mama caiva samīpagaḥ

'Become, glorious one, a shape-shifting gana-lord of Mine; you shall be imperishable and immortal, free from sorrow and grief, O illustrious one, and ever near to Me.'

Verse 177 (skanda.8.32.177)

देव्युवाच । शृणुष्व भूयः किं चान्यत् प्रयच्छतु महेश्वरः । सुदुष्करमपि ह्येष वरं दद्यात् त्वयार्थितः

devyuvāca | śṛṇuṣva bhūyaḥ kiṁ cānyat prayacchatu maheśvaraḥ | suduṣkaramapi hyeṣa varaṁ dadyāt tvayārthitaḥ

The Goddess said: 'Hear further, what else Maheshvara might grant; even a very difficult boon, if asked by you, he would give.'

Verse 178 (skanda.8.32.178)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्तस्तदा दक्षो हिमवत्सुतया तया । प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा इदमाह महामतिः

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamuktastadā dakṣo himavatsutayā tayā | prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā idamāha mahāmatiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by the daughter of Himavat, Daksha, the wise one, with folded hands, bowing, said this.

Verse 179 (skanda.8.32.179)

दक्ष उवाच । यो देवस्त्रिभुवनजन्मनाशकर्ता यं मूढा न विदुरनुक्तमेकमेव । भक्तानामशुभहरं पिनाकपाणिं तं देवं शरणगता वयं सभार्म्

dakṣa uvāca | yo devastribhuvanajanmanāśakartā yaṁ mūḍhā na viduranuktamekameva | bhaktānāmaśubhaharaṁ pinākapāṇiṁ taṁ devaṁ śaraṇagatā vayaṁ sabhārm

Daksha said: 'That God who is the maker of the birth and dissolution of the three worlds, whom the foolish do not know as the sole, unspoken One, who removes inauspiciousness from His devotees, the wielder of the Pinaka bow - to that God, together with my wife, we have come for refuge.'

Verse 180 (skanda.8.32.180)

योज्ञानादसुरतयातिमानमोहान्नास्माभिस्सह खलु पूजितोद्रिपुत्र्या । यश्शापं मम रुषितो ददौ सुरेशस्तं देवं शरणगता वयं सभार्यम्

yojñānādasuratayātimānamohānnāsmābhissaha khalu pūjitodriputryā | yaśśāpaṁ mama ruṣito dadau sureśastaṁ devaṁ śaraṇagatā vayaṁ sabhāryam

'He who, through my ignorance, through excessive pride and delusion, was indeed not worshipped by us together with the mountain's daughter; he, the Lord of gods, enraged, gave me a curse - to that God we have come for refuge, together with my wife.'

Verse 181 (skanda.8.32.181)

यस्स्रष्टा सुरगणयक्षराक्षसानां सिद्धानां दितिसुतदानवेन्द्रनॄणाम् । भूतानां पशुमृगपक्षिपत्तगानां तं देवं शरणगता वयं सभार्यम्

yassraṣṭā suragaṇayakṣarākṣasānāṁ siddhānāṁ ditisutadānavendranṝṇām | bhūtānāṁ paśumṛgapakṣipattagānāṁ taṁ devaṁ śaraṇagatā vayaṁ sabhāryam

'He who is the creator of the hosts of gods, yakshas, rakshasas, siddhas, the sons of Diti, the lords of danavas, and men, of beings, of beasts, deer, birds, and serpents - to that God we have come for refuge, together with my wife.'

Verse 182 (skanda.8.32.182)

यः कोधान्महदसृजद् गणेश्वरेशं सिंहेन्द्रं हरिममितप्रभावरूपम् । पत्नीं चाप्यमितगुणप्रभावयुक्तां तं देवं शरणगता वयं सभार्यम्

yaḥ kodhānmahadasṛjad gaṇeśvareśaṁ siṁhendraṁ harimamitaprabhāvarūpam | patnīṁ cāpyamitaguṇaprabhāvayuktāṁ taṁ devaṁ śaraṇagatā vayaṁ sabhāryam

'He who in anger created the great lord of gana-lords, the lion-like Hari, of measureless power and form, and also a consort endowed with measureless qualities and power - to that God we have come for refuge, together with my wife.'

Verse 183 (skanda.8.32.183)

यो देवान् सहवरुणान् सवित्तगोपान् सब्रह्मान् सशतमखान् सविष्णुवायून् । इन्द्राग्र्यान् समुनिमहायुधान् विजिग्ये तं देवं शरणगता वयं सभार्यम्

yo devān sahavaruṇān savittagopān sabrahmān saśatamakhān saviṣṇuvāyūn | indrāgryān samunimahāyudhān vijigye taṁ devaṁ śaraṇagatā vayaṁ sabhāryam

'He who conquered the gods together with Varuna, with the guardian of wealth, with Brahma, with Indra, with Vishnu and Vayu, the foremost led by Indra, together with the sages and their great weapons - to that God we have come for refuge, together with my wife.'

Verse 184 (skanda.8.32.184)

यत्किञ्चित्त्वयि कलुषं कृतं च दुष्टं ह्यज्ञानादपि च हि रागदोषमोहात् । तत्सर्वं मम सह भार्ययाद्य शर्वो विश्वात्मा क्षमतु महानुभावभावात्

yatkiñcittvayi kaluṣaṁ kṛtaṁ ca duṣṭaṁ hyajñānādapi ca hi rāgadoṣamohāt | tatsarvaṁ mama saha bhāryayādya śarvo viśvātmā kṣamatu mahānubhāvabhāvāt

'Whatever impurity, whatever evil, has been done toward You, whether from ignorance or from the fault of passion and delusion - may Sharva, the Self of the universe, out of His great and noble nature, forgive it all today, together with my wife.'

Verse 185 (skanda.8.32.185)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तत एवं स देवेशं स्तुत्वा सास्राविलेक्षणः । प्रसार्य बाहू सर्वेण शरीरेणापतद् भुवि

sanatkumāra uvāca | tata evaṁ sa deveśaṁ stutvā sāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ | prasārya bāhū sarveṇa śarīreṇāpatad bhuvi

Sanatkumara said: Then, having thus praised the God of gods, his eyes dimmed with tears, stretching out his arms, he fell to the ground with his whole body.

Verse 186 (skanda.8.32.186)

तं प्रपन्नं तदा देवो दक्षं सास्राविलेक्षणम् । देव्या सह महाभाग स्वयमुत्थापयद् बली

taṁ prapannaṁ tadā devo dakṣaṁ sāsrāvilekṣaṇam | devyā saha mahābhāga svayamutthāpayad balī

Then the mighty God, together with the Goddess, Himself raised up that suppliant Daksha, his eyes filled with tears, O illustrious one.

Verse 187 (skanda.8.32.187)

तस्याश्रूण्यपतन्भूमौ बिन्दुभूतानि तत्र वै । तानि संहत्य विप्रेन्द्र नदी तु समपद्यत

tasyāśrūṇyapatanbhūmau bindubhūtāni tatra vai | tāni saṁhatya viprendra nadī tu samapadyata

His tears fell to the ground there in the form of drops; those, having gathered together, O foremost of Brahmins, became a river.

Verse 188 (skanda.8.32.188)

तामुवाच ततो देवो नदीं वै पुण्यलक्षणाम् । अर्जुनादश्रुबिन्दोस्त्वं यस्माद् देवि विनिःसृता

tāmuvāca tato devo nadīṁ vai puṇyalakṣaṇām | arjunādaśrubindostvaṁ yasmād devi viniḥsṛtā

Then the God said to that sacred, auspicious river: 'Since, O Goddess, you have arisen from the clear tear-drop...'

Verse 189 (skanda.8.32.189)

तस्मात् ख्याता भवित्री त्वमर्जुना नामतः शुभा । पर्वपर्व समासाद्य वहिष्यसि महायशे

tasmāt khyātā bhavitrī tvamarjunā nāmataḥ śubhā | parvaparva samāsādya vahiṣyasi mahāyaśe

'...therefore you shall become renowned by the auspicious name Arjuna; O greatly glorious one, reaching each sacred period, you shall flow.'

Verse 190 (skanda.8.32.190)

अश्वमेधफलं चापि त्वयि स्नातो ह्यवाप्स्यति । मृतश्च तव तीरेस्मिन् नियमेनेतरेण वा

aśvamedhaphalaṁ cāpi tvayi snāto hyavāpsyati | mṛtaśca tava tīresmin niyamenetareṇa vā

'And whoever bathes in you shall obtain the fruit of an Ashvamedha; and whoever dies on this, your bank, whether by discipline or otherwise...'

Verse 191 (skanda.8.32.191)

न पुनर्जन्म मानुष्ये दुर्गतिञ्चोपलप्स्यते । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो यश्च चरुं कृत्वा निवेद्य च

na punarjanma mānuṣye durgatiñcopalapsyate | trirātropoṣito yaśca caruṁ kṛtvā nivedya ca

'...shall not obtain rebirth in human form nor ill fate again. And whoever, having fasted three nights, and having prepared and offered a charu...'

Verse 192 (skanda.8.32.192)

ब्राह्मणं भोजयेत् स्नातस्त्वयि सोपि गमिष्यति । गवां लोकं महातेजा न च तस्मात् पतिष्यति

brāhmaṇaṁ bhojayet snātastvayi sopi gamiṣyati | gavāṁ lokaṁ mahātejā na ca tasmāt patiṣyati

'...and, having bathed in you, feeds a Brahmin, he too, of great splendor, shall go to the world of cows, and shall never fall from there.'

Verse 193 (skanda.8.32.193)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं स सृष्ट्वा सरितं कृत्वा चैवाप्यनुग्रहम् । तमाश्वास्य सुरेशस्तु दक्षं प्राह नृपं तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca | evaṁ sa sṛṣṭvā saritaṁ kṛtvā caivāpyanugraham | tamāśvāsya sureśastu dakṣaṁ prāha nṛpaṁ tadā

Sanatkumara said: Thus, having created the river and having also shown grace, the Lord of gods, consoling him, then said to King Daksha.

Verse 194 (skanda.8.32.194)

देवदेव उवाच । गतं तस्माद् भयं तेस्तु गणेशो मे भव प्रियः । ब्रूहि किन्ते पुनस्साधो ददानि वरमीप्सितम्

devadeva uvāca | gataṁ tasmād bhayaṁ testu gaṇeśo me bhava priyaḥ | brūhi kinte punassādho dadāni varamīpsitam

The God of gods said: 'Let your fear be gone; become My beloved gana-lord. Tell me, O virtuous one, what else you wish - I shall give you the desired boon.'

Verse 195 (skanda.8.32.195)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ दक्षस्तदोवाच प्रणम्य शुभया गिरा । भूयो भूयस्समाश्वस्य निरीक्ष्य च पुनः पुनः

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha dakṣastadovāca praṇamya śubhayā girā | bhūyo bhūyassamāśvasya nirīkṣya ca punaḥ punaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then Daksha, bowing, spoke with auspicious words, again and again taking heart, and looking again and again.

Verse 196 (skanda.8.32.196)

दक्ष उवाच । यदि तुष्टोसि मे देव भवत्वेतद् तवाव्यय । स्थानं पवित्रं पुण्यं च वर एषोस्तु मे शिव

dakṣa uvāca | yadi tuṣṭosi me deva bhavatvetad tavāvyaya | sthānaṁ pavitraṁ puṇyaṁ ca vara eṣostu me śiva

Daksha said: 'If You are pleased with me, O imperishable God, let this be so; O Shiva, let this be my boon - a pure and sacred place.'

Verse 197 (skanda.8.32.197)

देवदेव उवाच । एते च मुनिकन्ये द्वे तप आस्थाय दुष्करम् । कणैस्संवत्सरे पूर्ण्णे खलेन च यतोशनम्

devadeva uvāca | ete ca munikanye dve tapa āsthāya duṣkaram | kaṇaissaṁvatsare pūrṇṇe khalena ca yatośanam

The God of gods said: 'These two sage-daughters, having undertaken difficult austerity, subsisting on grains for a full year, and threshed grain...'

Verse 198 (skanda.8.32.198)

कृतवत्यौ महाभागे त्वं च दक्ष यतः स्थितः । इदं कनखलं तस्मान्मम स्थानं भविष्यति

kṛtavatyau mahābhāge tvaṁ ca dakṣa yataḥ sthitaḥ | idaṁ kanakhalaṁ tasmānmama sthānaṁ bhaviṣyati

'...performed this austerity, O illustrious ones; and since you, Daksha, have stood in penance here, this Kanakhala shall therefore become My own place.'

Verse 199 (skanda.8.32.199)

तीर्थञ्चैव महत्पुण्यं गङ्गासागरसन्निभम् । नात्र पापा न च शठा नास्तिका न च मानिनः

tīrthañcaiva mahatpuṇyaṁ gaṅgāsāgarasannibham | nātra pāpā na ca śaṭhā nāstikā na ca māninaḥ

'And it shall become a great and sacred tirtha, comparable to the meeting of Ganga and the sea. Here neither sinners, nor deceitful ones, nor atheists, nor the arrogant...'

Verse 200 (skanda.8.32.200)

लप्स्यन्ते वै सदा गन्तुं न च वस्तुं कथंचन । मृतोत्र न पुनर्जन्म लप्स्यते मम तेजसा

lapsyante vai sadā gantuṁ na ca vastuṁ kathaṁcana | mṛtotra na punarjanma lapsyate mama tejasā

'...shall ever be able to go there or dwell there in any way. Whoever dies here shall never again obtain rebirth, by My power.'

Verse 201 (skanda.8.32.201)

अत्राभिगम्य स्नात्वा च चरुं कृत्वा तथैव च । सर्वपापविमुक्तात्मा शक्रलोके महीयते

atrābhigamya snātvā ca caruṁ kṛtvā tathaiva ca | sarvapāpavimuktātmā śakraloke mahīyate

'Whoever comes here, bathes, and likewise prepares a charu-offering, his self freed from all sin, is honored in Indra's world.'

Verse 202 (skanda.8.32.202)

ततो गणपतिं तत्र हरिभद्रमयोजयत् । कालीञ्चास्मै ददौ प्रीत्या भार्यां सर्वगुणोदिताम्

tato gaṇapatiṁ tatra haribhadramayojayat | kālīñcāsmai dadau prītyā bhāryāṁ sarvaguṇoditām

Then He appointed Haribhadra as gana-lord there, and lovingly gave him Kali as his wife, endowed with all virtues.

Verse 203 (skanda.8.32.203)

वराँश्च .विपुलान् दिव्यान् द्वीपञ्चापि घृतोदकम् । बाहुजेभ्यश्च सुबहून् गणेभ्यः प्रददौ वरान्

varā~śca .vipulān divyān dvīpañcāpi ghṛtodakam | bāhujebhyaśca subahūn gaṇebhyaḥ pradadau varān

He also bestowed abundant divine boons, and the Ghritodaka island, and gave many boons to the ganas born from His arms.

Verse 204 (skanda.8.32.204)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं स दक्षयज्ञो वै विध्वस्तो व्यास शम्भुना । यज्ञस्य च शिरश्छिन्नं यथैतत् कथितं तव

sanatkumāra uvāca | evaṁ sa dakṣayajño vai vidhvasto vyāsa śambhunā | yajñasya ca śiraśchinnaṁ yathaitat kathitaṁ tava

Sanatkumara said: Thus, O Vyasa, was Daksha's sacrifice destroyed by Shambhu, and the head of the Sacrifice cut off, as this has been told to you.

Verse 205 (skanda.8.32.205)

व्यास उवाच । सा देवीमुखजा घोरा दिव्या देव भयंकरी । क्व वा गता कथं वापि ह्येतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्

vyāsa uvāca | sā devīmukhajā ghorā divyā deva bhayaṁkarī | kva vā gatā kathaṁ vāpi hyetadicchāmi veditum

Vyasa said: 'That terrible, divine, fearsome one, born from the Goddess's mouth, O God - where did she go, and how? This I wish to know.'

Verse 206 (skanda.8.32.206)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स्तुता यदा भगवती प्रणतै स्सुरसत्तमैः । तदास्य साम्बिका प्राह ब्रूहि किङ्करवाण्यहम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | stutā yadā bhagavatī praṇatai ssurasattamaiḥ | tadāsya sāmbikā prāha brūhi kiṅkaravāṇyaham

Sanatkumara said: When the Blessed Goddess was praised by the bowing best of gods, then Ambika said: 'Tell me, what shall I do?'

Verse 207 (skanda.8.32.207)

ततो ब्रह्मा महादेवीं प्रणम्य बहुमानतः । उवाच दुहितृत्वे मे भवत्वेषा सुरेश्वरि

tato brahmā mahādevīṁ praṇamya bahumānataḥ | uvāca duhitṛtve me bhavatveṣā sureśvari

Then Brahma, bowing to the great Goddess with great honor, said: 'O Sureshvari, let this one be a daughter to me.'

Verse 208 (skanda.8.32.208)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमस्त्वित्युमा प्रोच्य तां देवीं प्रददौ सुताम् । मृत्युस्त्वमिति सोप्युक्त्वा घोरे कर्मण्ययोजयत्

sanatkumāra uvāca | evamastvityumā procya tāṁ devīṁ pradadau sutām | mṛtyustvamiti sopyuktvā ghore karmaṇyayojayat

Sanatkumara said: Saying 'So be it,' Uma gave that goddess as a daughter; and he, saying 'You are Mrityu,' appointed her to a terrible task.

Verse 209 (skanda.8.32.209)

सर्वप्राणभृतां देवीम् प्राणापहरणे शुभाम् । सापि तत्कार्यकरणे नियुक्ता ब्रह्मणा स्वयम् । ऊर्ध्वबाहुः सदेवेशा सदोद्युक्ता त्वया मया

sarvaprāṇabhṛtāṁ devīm prāṇāpaharaṇe śubhām | sāpi tatkāryakaraṇe niyuktā brahmaṇā svayam | ūrdhvabāhuḥ sadeveśā sadodyuktā tvayā mayā

The goddess, auspicious in the taking of life-breath, was appointed over all living beings; she too, appointed by Brahma Himself to that task, remains, O Lord of gods, with raised arms, ever engaged, by you and by me.

Verse 210 (skanda.8.32.210)

य इदं दक्षयज्ञस्य विध्वंसनमनुत्तमम् । भद्रेश्वरप्रतिष्ठाञ्च दक्षानुग्रहमेव च

ya idaṁ dakṣayajñasya vidhvaṁsanamanuttamam | bhadreśvarapratiṣṭhāñca dakṣānugrahameva ca

Whoever recites, hears, or causes Brahmins to hear this supreme account of the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, and the establishment of Bhadreshvara, and the grace shown to Daksha...

Verse 211 (skanda.8.32.211)

पठेद् वा शृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयीत द्विजानपि । स सर्वपापविर्मुक्तः स्वर्गलोके महीयते

paṭhed vā śṛṇuyādvāpi śrāvayīta dvijānapi | sa sarvapāpavirmuktaḥ svargaloke mahīyate

...he, freed from all sin, is honored in the world of heaven.

Verse 212 (skanda.8.32.212)

भगनयननिपातं दक्षयज्ञे दवाग्निं । मदनपुरहुताशं चन्द्रलेखोज्ज्वलाङ्गम् । सुरगुरुमखकालं सप्तलोकाधिपालं । शरणमुपगतोहं शङ्करं शर्महेतोः

bhaganayananipātaṁ dakṣayajñe davāgniṁ | madanapurahutāśaṁ candralekhojjvalāṅgam | suragurumakhakālaṁ saptalokādhipālaṁ | śaraṇamupagatohaṁ śaṅkaraṁ śarmahetoḥ

I have taken refuge, for the sake of happiness, in Shankara - the feller of Bhaga's eyes, the forest-fire in Daksha's sacrifice, the fire that consumed the city of Madana, whose body is radiant with the crescent moon, the doom of the sacrifice of the gods' preceptor, the protector-lord of the seven worlds.