The Boon Granted to Sukesha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.35.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स भगवान् देवः सुकेशं गणपं पुनः । चकार ब्राह्मणं व्यास तपः सत्यपरायणम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa bhagavān devaḥ sukeśaṁ gaṇapaṁ punaḥ | cakāra brāhmaṇaṁ vyāsa tapaḥ satyaparāyaṇam

Sanatkumara said: O Vyasa, thereupon the Lord God once again made that Brahmin Sukesha, devoted to truth in his austerities, a lord of the ganas.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.35.2)

व्यास उवाच । कथं स ब्राह्मणः पूर्वं गणेशत्वमुपागतः । केनास्य तपसा तुष्टो गणेशत्वं ददौ प्रभुः

vyāsa uvāca | kathaṁ sa brāhmaṇaḥ pūrvaṁ gaṇeśatvamupāgataḥ | kenāsya tapasā tuṣṭo gaṇeśatvaṁ dadau prabhuḥ

Vyasa said: How had that Brahmin first attained the status of a lord of the ganas? Pleased by what austerity of his did the Lord grant him that lordship?

Verse 3 (skanda.8.35.3)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । आसीद्वसिष्ठकुलजो ब्राह्मणस्सत्यवाक् शुचिः । तीर्थयात्रास्वभिरत उपवासपरायणः

sanatkumāra uvāca | āsīdvasiṣṭhakulajo brāhmaṇassatyavāk śuciḥ | tīrthayātrāsvabhirata upavāsaparāyaṇaḥ

Sanatkumara said: There was a Brahmin, born in the lineage of Vasishtha, truthful and pure, devoted to pilgrimages and given to fasting.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.35.4)

स कदाचिद्विदेशस्थो वने पश्यन् पथि स्थितम् । व्याघ्रं व्यात्ताननं घोरं नखदंष्ट्रायुधं तदा

sa kadācidvideśastho vane paśyan pathi sthitam | vyāghraṁ vyāttānanaṁ ghoraṁ nakhadaṁṣṭrāyudhaṁ tadā

Once, being in a foreign land, in a forest, he saw on the path before him a terrible tiger, its jaws agape, with claws and fangs for weapons.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.35.5)

दृष्ट्वा तं स तदा विप्रस्त्यक्त्वा पन्थानमाशुगः । विवेश महतीं घोरामटवीं प्राणिवर्जिताम्

dṛṣṭvā taṁ sa tadā viprastyaktvā panthānamāśugaḥ | viveśa mahatīṁ ghorāmaṭavīṁ prāṇivarjitām

Seeing it, that Brahmin, quick of foot, abandoned his path and entered a vast, dreadful forest, devoid of any living creature.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.35.6)

तत्रापश्यत् स पुरतो वीरणस्तम्बमाश्रितान् । पुरुषाँल्लम्बमानाँश्च क्रन्दमानान् सुदुःखितान्

tatrāpaśyat sa purato vīraṇastambamāśritān | puruṣāṁllambamānāṁśca krandamānān suduḥkhitān

There he saw before him men hanging, clinging to a clump of virana grass, crying out, greatly afflicted.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.35.7)

तानवाक्शिरसो दृष्ट्वा लम्बमानांस्तदा द्विजान् । के यूयमिति पप्रच्छ ते चैनमिदमूचिरे

tānavākśiraso dṛṣṭvā lambamānāṁstadā dvijān | ke yūyamiti papraccha te cainamidamūcire

Seeing those twice-born ones hanging, their heads downward, he asked: 'Who are you?' And they said this to him.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.35.8)

पितर ऊचुः । तव स्मः पितरस्सर्वे नरकेस्मिन्नधोमुखाः । वीरणे त्वयि लम्बामस्तव दोषेण दुर्मते

pitara ūcuḥ | tava smaḥ pitarassarve narakesminnadhomukhāḥ | vīraṇe tvayi lambāmastava doṣeṇa durmate

The ancestors said: We are all your forefathers, here in this hell, heads downward; because of your fault alone, O foolish one, we hang upon this virana grass.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.35.9)

पुत्रानिच्छन्ति मनुजास्तारयिष्यन्ति नस्त्विमे । नरकादिति स त्वन्नः पातयिष्यसि दुःखितान्

putrānicchanti manujāstārayiṣyanti nastvime | narakāditi sa tvannaḥ pātayiṣyasi duḥkhitān

Men desire sons because sons deliver them from hell; but you, it seems, shall only cast us, wretched as we are, down further.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.35.10)

विप्र उवाच । मया तीर्थाभिगमनात् तपो यत् समुपार्जितम् । जन्मप्रभृति यच्चापि मया किञ्चित् कृतं शुभम् । तेन यूयमितो गर्त्तादुद्धरध्वं पितामहाः

vipra uvāca | mayā tīrthābhigamanāt tapo yat samupārjitam | janmaprabhṛti yaccāpi mayā kiñcit kṛtaṁ śubham | tena yūyamito garttāduddharadhvaṁ pitāmahāḥ

The Brahmin said: By the austerity I have earned through pilgrimages, and by whatever merit I have gained since birth, by that, O forefathers, rise up out of this pit.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.35.11)

पितर ऊचुः । न वयं तपसा शक्या न यज्ञैर्नाप्यतोन्यथा । गर्त्तादस्मात्समुद्धर्तुं यद् ब्रूमस्तत्कुरुष्व नः

pitara ūcuḥ | na vayaṁ tapasā śakyā na yajñairnāpyatonyathā | garttādasmātsamuddhartuṁ yad brūmastatkuruṣva naḥ

The ancestors said: Neither by austerity, nor by sacrifices, nor by any other means can we be lifted from this pit; do as we now tell you.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.35.12)

अपत्यं गुणसंयुक्तमुत्पादय तपोयुतम् । ततो वयमितो गर्त्तान्मुच्येम यदि मन्यसे

apatyaṁ guṇasaṁyuktamutpādaya tapoyutam | tato vayamito garttānmucyema yadi manyase

Beget a virtuous, ascetic offspring; only then may we be freed from this pit, if you would consider it.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.35.13)

विप्र उवाच । ऊर्ध्वरेताहमित्येतन्मया व्रतमुपाकृतम् । न दारानाहरिष्यामि तारयिष्ये च वै पितॄन्

vipra uvāca | ūrdhvaretāhamityetanmayā vratamupākṛtam | na dārānāhariṣyāmi tārayiṣye ca vai pitṝn

The Brahmin said: I have taken the vow of celibacy, my seed unspent; I shall not take a wife, yet I shall still deliver my ancestors.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.35.14)

ततस्स तान् तथोत्सृज्य दुःखेन महता वृतः । जगाम रुद्रं शरणं पितरोन्तर्हितास्ततः

tatassa tān tathotsṛjya duḥkhena mahatā vṛtaḥ | jagāma rudraṁ śaraṇaṁ pitarontarhitāstataḥ

Leaving them there in this state, overwhelmed with great sorrow, he went for refuge to Rudra, and then the ancestors vanished from sight.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.35.15)

पितृष्वन्तर्हितेष्वेवं वायुभक्षस्तदा द्विजः । काष्ठलोष्ठोपलीभूतो निरुच्छ्वासोवतिष्ठत

pitṛṣvantarhiteṣvevaṁ vāyubhakṣastadā dvijaḥ | kāṣṭhaloṣṭhopalībhūto nirucchvāsovatiṣṭhata

When the ancestors had vanished, that twice-born one began to live on air alone, and, become as motionless as wood, a clod, or a stone, stood without breathing.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.35.16)

सन्धाय मानसं रुद्रे निश्चलः सुसमाहितः । हृदयेन जपन् रुद्रानाकाशे समतिष्ठत

sandhāya mānasaṁ rudre niścalaḥ susamāhitaḥ | hṛdayena japan rudrānākāśe samatiṣṭhata

Fixing his mind upon Rudra, unwavering and deeply composed, murmuring the name of Rudra in his heart, he remained standing, as it were, in the very sky.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.35.17)

तस्य पूर्णे तदा मासि वातवर्षमभून्महत् । सर्वसत्वप्रमथनं दुस्सहं भीमशब्दवत्

tasya pūrṇe tadā māsi vātavarṣamabhūnmahat | sarvasatvapramathanaṁ dussahaṁ bhīmaśabdavat

When a month had passed for him, a great tempest of wind and rain arose, churning all living beings, unbearable, roaring with a terrible sound.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.35.18)

तेन वर्षेण महता नैव तस्याभवत्तदा । दुःखं वाप्यथवा भङ्गः सम्यगेवावतस्थिवान्

tena varṣeṇa mahatā naiva tasyābhavattadā | duḥkhaṁ vāpyathavā bhaṅgaḥ samyagevāvatasthivān

Even from that great deluge no suffering came to him then, nor any disturbance; he remained perfectly steadfast.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.35.19)

अथ तं भगवान् देवो मासे वर्तति सप्तमे । विष्णुरूपधरो भूत्वा प्रोवाच द्विजसत्तमम्

atha taṁ bhagavān devo māse vartati saptame | viṣṇurūpadharo bhūtvā provāca dvijasattamam

Then, when the seventh month was passing, the Lord God, assuming the form of Vishnu, spoke to that excellent twice-born one.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.35.20)

तुष्टोस्मि तव भद्रन्ते तपसानेन सुव्रत । वरं वरय विप्रर्षे यस्ते मनसि वर्तते

tuṣṭosmi tava bhadrante tapasānena suvrata | varaṁ varaya viprarṣe yaste manasi vartate

O one of good vows, I am pleased by this austerity of yours; may all be well with you. O sage among Brahmins, ask for the boon that is in your heart.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.35.21)

सुकेशस्तु ततो दृष्ट्वा नारायणमुपागतम् । अब्रवीच्छङ्करादिच्छे वरं न भवतो ह्यहम्

sukeśastu tato dṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇamupāgatam | abravīcchaṅkarādicche varaṁ na bhavato hyaham

Then Sukesha, beholding Narayana who had appeared before him, said: 'I desire no boon from you save that of Shankara.'

Verse 22 (skanda.8.35.22)

विष्णुरुवाच । अलमेतेन विप्रर्षे निर्बन्धेन हरं प्रति । देवैरपि न शक्योसौ द्रष्टुं किमुत मानुषैः

viṣṇuruvāca | alametena viprarṣe nirbandhena haraṁ prati | devairapi na śakyosau draṣṭuṁ kimuta mānuṣaiḥ

Vishnu said: O sage among Brahmins, give up this insistence regarding Hara; even the gods are not able to behold him -- how much less mortal men!

Verse 23 (skanda.8.35.23)

सुकेश उवाच । द्रष्टुं शक्यो न वा शक्यः किमेभिर्वो विचारितैः । कुग्रहः सुग्रहो वाहं तथापीशे मनो मम

sukeśa uvāca | draṣṭuṁ śakyo na vā śakyaḥ kimebhirvo vicāritaiḥ | kugrahaḥ sugraho vāhaṁ tathāpīśe mano mama

Sukesha said: What concern is it of mine whether he can be seen or not? Whether my star be ill-fated or fortunate, still my mind is fixed on him alone.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.35.24)

शंकरादेव चक्रेश शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् । वरं कांक्षे न च त्वत्तो न चान्यस्मात् कथञ्चन

śaṁkarādeva cakreśa śubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham | varaṁ kāṁkṣe na ca tvatto na cānyasmāt kathañcana

O wielder of the discus, from Shankara alone -- be it auspicious or inauspicious -- I desire a boon, never from you nor from anyone else.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.35.25)

भवन्तोपि हि तं देवं यस्मात् सर्वे समाहिताः । अर्चयध्वे स्तुवध्वे च तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठः स उच्यते

bhavantopi hi taṁ devaṁ yasmāt sarve samāhitāḥ | arcayadhve stuvadhve ca tasmācchreṣṭhaḥ sa ucyate

You yourselves, too, worship and praise that very God, toward whom all beings turn their minds; that is why he alone is called the highest.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.35.26)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तन्निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा संतुष्टो भगवान् हरः । विष्णुरूपं परित्यज्य स्वं रूप प्रत्यपद्यत

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasya tanniścayaṁ jñātvā saṁtuṣṭo bhagavān haraḥ | viṣṇurūpaṁ parityajya svaṁ rūpa pratyapadyata

Sanatkumara said: Knowing his firm resolve, the Lord Hara was well pleased, and, casting off the form of Vishnu, resumed his own true form.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.35.27)

उवाच चैनं विप्रेन्द्र गणपो मे भवाक्षयः । अमरो जरया त्यक्तः सर्वदुःविवर्जितः

uvāca cainaṁ viprendra gaṇapo me bhavākṣayaḥ | amaro jarayā tyaktaḥ sarvaduḥvivarjitaḥ

He said to him: 'O foremost of Brahmins, become my lord of ganas, undecaying, immortal, free from old age, and delivered from every sorrow.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.35.28)

ऐश्वर्येण च संयुक्तः प्रियो मम पुरस्सरः । इमं च मत्कृतं दिव्यं त्रिकूटं नाम पर्वतम्

aiśvaryeṇa ca saṁyuktaḥ priyo mama purassaraḥ | imaṁ ca matkṛtaṁ divyaṁ trikūṭaṁ nāma parvatam

Endowed with majesty, become my beloved foremost attendant; and accept too this divine mountain fashioned by me, named Trikuta.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.35.29)

भवनैः काञ्चनैर्युक्तं कामगं ते वदाम्यहम् । येषां कृते च पुत्र त्वं मां तोषयितुमुद्यतः

bhavanaiḥ kāñcanairyuktaṁ kāmagaṁ te vadāmyaham | yeṣāṁ kṛte ca putra tvaṁ māṁ toṣayitumudyataḥ

Set with mansions of gold and moving at will -- this I grant you. O son, those for whose sake you strove to please me.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.35.30)

ते चेमे पितरस्सर्वे सुपुत्रेण त्वयानघ । तारिता नरकाद् घोराद् गणेशं त्वामुपस्थिताः

te ceme pitarassarve suputreṇa tvayānagha | tāritā narakād ghorād gaṇeśaṁ tvāmupasthitāḥ

O sinless one, all those ancestors, delivered by so excellent a son from the terrible hell, now stand present before you, who have become a lord of the ganas.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.35.31)

किंकरास्ते भविष्यन्ति नित्यं दुःखविवर्जिताः । गणेश्वरास्तवैवेमे भविष्यन्ति वशानुगाः

kiṁkarāste bhaviṣyanti nityaṁ duḥkhavivarjitāḥ | gaṇeśvarāstavaiveme bhaviṣyanti vaśānugāḥ

They shall become your servants, ever free from sorrow; all these shall become gana-lords under your own command.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.35.32)

सुकेश इति नाम्ना च प्रथितस्त्वं भविष्यसि । सदा चाष्टगुणैश्वर्यसमायुक्तश्चरिष्यसि

sukeśa iti nāmnā ca prathitastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi | sadā cāṣṭaguṇaiśvaryasamāyuktaścariṣyasi

You shall become renowned by the name Sukesha, and shall ever move about endowed with majesty possessing the eight qualities.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.35.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्स दृष्ट्वाथ पितॄन्नरकात् ससुहृज्जनान् । तीर्णान् गणेश्वरत्वेन पुनः पूज्येन संयुतान्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatassa dṛṣṭvātha pitṝnnarakāt sasuhṛjjanān | tīrṇān gaṇeśvaratvena punaḥ pūjyena saṁyutān

Sanatkumara said: Then, beholding his forefathers, together with their kinsfolk, delivered from hell and now once more endowed with the honoured status of gana-lords.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.35.34)

महेश्वरं हृष्टमनाः शिरसा प्राञ्जलिर्गतः । उवाच हृष्यमाणास्यस्तदा वचनकोविदः

maheśvaraṁ hṛṣṭamanāḥ śirasā prāñjalirgataḥ | uvāca hṛṣyamāṇāsyastadā vacanakovidaḥ

With a joyful mind he bowed his head to Maheshvara, joined his palms, and, skilled in speech, with a beaming face, spoke thus.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.35.35)

सुकेश उवाच । भगवन् गणपत्वं च लब्धमैश्वर्यमेव च । अमरत्वं तथाक्षय्यं तथैवाजरता वरा

sukeśa uvāca | bhagavan gaṇapatvaṁ ca labdhamaiśvaryameva ca | amaratvaṁ tathākṣayyaṁ tathaivājaratā varā

Sukesha said: O Lord, I have obtained the status of a gana-lord, and majesty too, imperishable immortality, and likewise excellent freedom from old age.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.35.36)

पितरस्तारिताश्चेमे गणपाश्चैव मे कृताः । नगश्च कामगो ह्येष लब्धो मे त्वत्प्रसादतः

pitarastāritāśceme gaṇapāścaiva me kṛtāḥ | nagaśca kāmago hyeṣa labdho me tvatprasādataḥ

These forefathers of mine have been delivered, and made lords of the ganas by me as well; and by your grace I have gained this mountain that moves at will.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.35.37)

इच्छामि त्वां महादेव सोमं सप्रवरेश्वरम् । सदा सुमुखमत्यर्थं सुदृश्यं चैव कामद

icchāmi tvāṁ mahādeva somaṁ sapravareśvaram | sadā sumukhamatyarthaṁ sudṛśyaṁ caiva kāmada

O Mahadeva, O granter of desires, I wish that you, the Moon-crested Lord, together with your excellent hosts, remain ever most gracious of countenance and easily beheld by me.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.35.38)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स एवमुक्तो भगवान् सुकेशेन महात्मना । उवाचैव मिदं सर्वं भविष्यति गणेश्वर

sanatkumāra uvāca | sa evamukto bhagavān sukeśena mahātmanā | uvācaiva midaṁ sarvaṁ bhaviṣyati gaṇeśvara

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by the great-souled Sukesha, the Lord said: 'O lord of the ganas, all this shall come to pass.'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.35.39)

इमं गिरिं समाश्रित्य सहैभिः प्रवरैर्वरैः । गच्छ स्वेष्टां गतिं वत्स देवान् विप्राँश्च पालय

imaṁ giriṁ samāśritya sahaibhiḥ pravarairvaraiḥ | gaccha sveṣṭāṁ gatiṁ vatsa devān viprāṁśca pālaya

Taking refuge in this mountain, together with these excellent boons, O child, go to the destination you desire, and protect the gods and the Brahmins.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.35.40)

विसृज्य तं ततो देवः सुकेशं गणनायकम् । जगामादर्शनं सोमः सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम्

visṛjya taṁ tato devaḥ sukeśaṁ gaṇanāyakam | jagāmādarśanaṁ somaḥ sarveṣāmeva paśyatām

Thereupon, having taken leave of Sukesha, the lord of the ganas, Soma the God vanished from sight before the eyes of all.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.35.41)

सुकेशोपि गिरौ तस्मिन्नगरे स्वर्गसन्निभे । नरकाणां स तत्त्वार्थं पितॄन् पप्रच्छ यत्नतः

sukeśopi girau tasminnagare svargasannibhe | narakāṇāṁ sa tattvārthaṁ pitṝn papraccha yatnataḥ

Sukesha too, on that mountain with its city resembling heaven, earnestly questioned his forefathers concerning the true nature of the hells.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.35.42)

व्यास उवाच । किमर्थं गणपो ब्रह्मन् तान् पितॄन् पर्यपृच्छत । कथञ्च पितरस्तत्र आचख्युस्तस्य धीमतः

vyāsa uvāca | kimarthaṁ gaṇapo brahman tān pitṝn paryapṛcchata | kathañca pitarastatra ācakhyustasya dhīmataḥ

Vyasa said: O Brahmin, for what purpose did that lord of the ganas question his forefathers thus? And how did those wise ancestors explain it to him there?

Verse 43 (skanda.8.35.43)

एतद्विस्तरशस्तात संक्षेपाद्वा यथातथम् । त्वत्तोहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि हितं सर्वसुखावहम्

etadvistaraśastāta saṁkṣepādvā yathātatham | tvattohaṁ śrotumicchāmi hitaṁ sarvasukhāvaham

O father, this, whether at length or in brief, just as it truly is, I wish to hear from you -- that which is beneficial and brings happiness to all.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.35.44)

सूत उवाच । स एवमुक्तः सुरसृक्सुतः प्रभुर्विमानकर्ता विगतप्रयोजनः । जगाद वाक्यं सुरलोकवर्धनः पुराकृतं दुष्कृतसर्वनाशनम्

sūta uvāca | sa evamuktaḥ surasṛksutaḥ prabhurvimānakartā vigataprayojanaḥ | jagāda vākyaṁ suralokavardhanaḥ purākṛtaṁ duṣkṛtasarvanāśanam

Suta said: Thus addressed, that Lord -- offspring of the creator of the gods, maker of celestial cars, free of any selfish purpose, augmenter of the world of the gods -- spoke this word, the destroyer of all sins committed in ages past.