The Great Fortune of Sukesha

Verse 1 (skanda.8.36.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । त्रिकूटशिखरे तस्मिन्नगरे देवनिर्मिते । आसीनः काञ्चने दिव्ये विमाने स्त्रीसमाकुले

sanatkumāra uvāca | trikūṭaśikhare tasminnagare devanirmite | āsīnaḥ kāñcane divye vimāne strīsamākule

Sanatkumara said: In that city upon the peak of Trikuta, fashioned by the gods, seated upon a divine golden aerial car thronged with women.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.36.2)

पितॄन सर्वान् समाहूय संपूज्य विधिवत्तदा । सुखोपविष्टान् तान् दृष्ट्वा इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

pitṝna sarvān samāhūya saṁpūjya vidhivattadā | sukhopaviṣṭān tān dṛṣṭvā idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Having summoned all his ancestors and honoured them duly, and seeing them seated at their ease, he spoke this word.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.36.3)

सुकेश उवाच । युष्माकं तेजसा सर्वमिदमैश्वर्यमीदृशम् । भवद्भिस्तत्कृतं देवा येनास्मि सुखभाक्कृतः

sukeśa uvāca | yuṣmākaṁ tejasā sarvamidamaiśvaryamīdṛśam | bhavadbhistatkṛtaṁ devā yenāsmi sukhabhākkṛtaḥ

Sukesha said: By your splendour alone has all this majesty come to be; O gods, it is you who have brought this about, by which I have been made happy.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.36.4)

पितर ऊचुः । मैवं वदानृतं पुत्र माधर्मस्ते भवेदिह । नास्मत्प्रसादादैश्वर्यं तव पुत्र कदाचन

pitara ūcuḥ | maivaṁ vadānṛtaṁ putra mādharmaste bhavediha | nāsmatprasādādaiśvaryaṁ tava putra kadācana

The ancestors said: Do not speak such an untruth, O son; unrighteousness might befall you thereby. O son, this majesty of yours has never come about by our grace.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.36.5)

वयन्तु निरये घोरे यात्यमानाः सुदारुणे । तपसा तव वीर्येण सुखमाप्म सुदुर्लभम्

vayantu niraye ghore yātyamānāḥ sudāruṇe | tapasā tava vīryeṇa sukhamāpma sudurlabham

We were being cast into a most terrible and dreadful hell; it was by your own austerity and power that we attained this rare happiness.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.36.6)

त्वया वयं सुपुत्रेण तारिता निरयाद् यथा । तथा नान्यं प्रपश्यामो धन्यो हि त्वं सुतो हि नः

tvayā vayaṁ suputreṇa tāritā nirayād yathā | tathā nānyaṁ prapaśyāmo dhanyo hi tvaṁ suto hi naḥ

As you, our excellent son, have delivered us from hell, we see no other who could have done so; blessed are you, our true son indeed.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.36.7)

अद्य वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि निरये वयम् । पच्येम घोरे दुर्वृत्ता बन्धुः स्यास्त्वं न नो यदि

adya varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni niraye vayam | pacyema ghore durvṛttā bandhuḥ syāstvaṁ na no yadi

Today we would still be roasting for many thousand years in that dreadful hell, deemed of evil conduct, had you not been our kinsman.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.36.8)

बहवः प्राणिनः पुत्र यात्यन्ते तत्र संयताः । अति घोरे सुदुर्वृत्तास्तपो येषां न विद्यते

bahavaḥ prāṇinaḥ putra yātyante tatra saṁyatāḥ | ati ghore sudurvṛttāstapo yeṣāṁ na vidyate

O son, many disciplined beings go to that most dreadful hell of evil conduct, those who possess no austerity at all.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.36.9)

सुकेश उवाच । पितरो नोक्तपूर्वं मे मृषा न च वदामि वै । यथा प्रभावाद्युष्माकमैश्वर्यं मम तत्तदा

sukeśa uvāca | pitaro noktapūrvaṁ me mṛṣā na ca vadāmi vai | yathā prabhāvādyuṣmākamaiśvaryaṁ mama tattadā

Sukesha said: O ancestors, I have never spoken falsely to you before, nor do I speak falsely now; the power by which you attained this majesty was indeed mine.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.36.10)

शृणुध्वं वदतः सम्यक् मावमध्वं वचो मम । न चावमन्ये पितरो देवताः कोवमन्यते

śṛṇudhvaṁ vadataḥ samyak māvamadhvaṁ vaco mama | na cāvamanye pitaro devatāḥ kovamanyate

Listen well to what I say; do not disregard my words. I do not disregard the ancestors -- who among the gods would disregard them?

Verse 11 (skanda.8.36.11)

पितरः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सतां यत् संमतं भुवि । नित्यं चाशासते चैव प्रजा नः सन्तु पुष्कलाः

pitaraḥ karma kurvanti satāṁ yat saṁmataṁ bhuvi | nityaṁ cāśāsate caiva prajā naḥ santu puṣkalāḥ

Ancestors do only that deed which is approved by the virtuous in this world, and ever pray: 'May our offspring be abundant.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.36.12)

धार्मिकाश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सत्कर्मरतयस्तथा । ये नो नरकगर्तस्थान् तारयिष्यन्ति नित्यशः

dhārmikāśca kṛtajñāśca satkarmaratayastathā | ye no narakagartasthān tārayiṣyanti nityaśaḥ

Righteous, grateful, devoted to good deeds -- such sons as will forever deliver us from the pit of hell.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.36.13)

तेषां तत्कार्यकरणात् स्वधर्माच्यवनेन च । स धर्मोनुष्ठितः सम्यक् प्रजा जनयते शुभाः

teṣāṁ tatkāryakaraṇāt svadharmācyavanena ca | sa dharmonuṣṭhitaḥ samyak prajā janayate śubhāḥ

By performing that duty, and by never straying from their own righteous conduct, that duty, properly observed, brings forth virtuous offspring.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.36.14)

धार्मिकाश्च वदान्याश्च कृतज्ञाः सत्पथे स्थिताः । पितृभक्ताश्च सर्वत्र पितॄणां तारणे रताः

dhārmikāśca vadānyāśca kṛtajñāḥ satpathe sthitāḥ | pitṛbhaktāśca sarvatra pitṝṇāṁ tāraṇe ratāḥ

Righteous, generous, grateful, established on the good path, devoted everywhere to their ancestors, and intent on delivering them.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.36.15)

सोहं भवद्भिर्धर्मेण परेण च समाधिना । जनितस्तपसा युक्तो भवतामेव सर्वशः

sohaṁ bhavadbhirdharmeṇa pareṇa ca samādhinā | janitastapasā yukto bhavatāmeva sarvaśaḥ

I, that very son, was born wholly through your own righteousness and supreme meditation, endowed with your very own austerity.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.36.16)

देवमाराध्य नरकात् पितॄँस्तारितवान् पुनः । एष प्रभावो युष्माकं तपः सुचरितं च ह

devamārādhya narakāt pitṝṁstāritavān punaḥ | eṣa prabhāvo yuṣmākaṁ tapaḥ sucaritaṁ ca ha

By worshipping the God, I delivered my ancestors once more from hell; this is your own power, and your own well-practiced austerity.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.36.17)

ममात्र किं महाप्रज्ञा अनृतं वात्र किं वचः । इयंञ्च वैदिकी शुभ्रा श्रुतिर्वेदविदां वराः

mamātra kiṁ mahāprajñā anṛtaṁ vātra kiṁ vacaḥ | iyaṁñca vaidikī śubhrā śrutirvedavidāṁ varāḥ

What part is mine in this, O most wise ones? Is my word false in this? This very shining Vedic scripture, O foremost among the knowers of the Veda, says the same.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.36.18)

प्रमाणं यदि मन्यध्वं आत्मना कृतमित्युत । अङ्गादङ्गात् संभवसि हदयादधिजायसे

pramāṇaṁ yadi manyadhvaṁ ātmanā kṛtamityuta | aṅgādaṅgāt saṁbhavasi hadayādadhijāyase

If you accept as authority that this was done by the self alone, then hear this: you are born from limb after limb, and you take birth from the very heart as well.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.36.19)

आत्मा वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदां शतम् । अङ्गेभ्योहं समुत्पन्नो युष्माकं हदयाच्च ह

ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradāṁ śatam | aṅgebhyohaṁ samutpanno yuṣmākaṁ hadayācca ha

A son is but another name for one's own self; may he live a hundred autumns. I too was born from your limbs and from your heart.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.36.20)

आत्मनाहं तथात्मानं युष्माँस्तारिवाँस्ततः । तस्माद् भवन्तो मन्यन्तां सर्व एव समाधिना

ātmanāhaṁ tathātmānaṁ yuṣmāṁstārivāṁstataḥ | tasmād bhavanto manyantāṁ sarva eva samādhinā

By the self alone did I deliver you, who are but my own self; therefore let all of you consider this well, with a composed mind.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.36.21)

तस्माद्धि घोरान्तरकात्तारिताः स्वेन कर्मणा । न चान्यकर्मणा कश्चिदन्यस्तरति दुर्मतिः । स्वकर्मणा हि जन्तूनां फलपाको विधीयते

tasmāddhi ghorāntarakāttāritāḥ svena karmaṇā | na cānyakarmaṇā kaścidanyastarati durmatiḥ | svakarmaṇā hi jantūnāṁ phalapāko vidhīyate

Therefore you were delivered from that dreadful hell by your own deed; no foolish being is ever delivered by another's deed. It is by one's own deeds alone that the ripening of the fruit of action is ordained for all creatures.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.36.22)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्त एवं पितरस्तेन प्रोक्ता महात्मना । हर्षेण साश्रुनयना इदमूचुस्तदा वचः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatasta evaṁ pitarastena proktā mahātmanā | harṣeṇa sāśrunayanā idamūcustadā vacaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then, thus addressed by that great-souled one, the ancestors, filled with joy, their eyes brimming with tears, spoke this word.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.36.23)

पितर ऊचुः । त्वदन्यः को वदेदेवं यो न स्यादीशसंमतः । युक्तमेतत्तव वचो धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः

pitara ūcuḥ | tvadanyaḥ ko vadedevaṁ yo na syādīśasaṁmataḥ | yuktametattava vaco dhārmikasya mahātmanaḥ

The ancestors said: Who but you could speak thus, one not approved by the Lord? O great-souled one, this righteous word of yours is fitting.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.36.24)

यो न स्यादीदृशः पुत्र कथं तं सवदेवपः । इष्टैस्तु योजयेत् सम्यग् यथा त्वां गोवृषध्वजः

yo na syādīdṛśaḥ putra kathaṁ taṁ savadevapaḥ | iṣṭaistu yojayet samyag yathā tvāṁ govṛṣadhvajaḥ

O son, how could one who is not such as you be joined by the protector of the gods with what is desired, as the bull-bannered one has joined you?

Verse 25 (skanda.8.36.25)

त्वं धाता त्वं हि नो बन्धुस्त्वं जनेता महामते । पिता त्वमेव पुत्रा हि वयं तव न संशयः

tvaṁ dhātā tvaṁ hi no bandhustvaṁ janetā mahāmate | pitā tvameva putrā hi vayaṁ tava na saṁśayaḥ

O wise one, you are our sustainer, you are our kinsman, you are our very begetter; you alone are the father, and we, without doubt, are your sons.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.36.26)

अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामः पुरावृत्तं महामते । श्रुतौ स्मृतौ च यद् गीतं तन्नस्त्वं मन्तुमर्हसि

atra te vartayiṣyāmaḥ purāvṛttaṁ mahāmate | śrutau smṛtau ca yad gītaṁ tannastvaṁ mantumarhasi

O wise one, we shall here recount to you an ancient account, sung in the Shruti and the Smriti; deem it worthy of your attention.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.36.27)

पितर ऊचुः । पुत्रा हि ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा देवा यजत मामिति । ते यजन्त तदात्मानं तेषां ब्रह्मा चुकोप ह

pitara ūcuḥ | putrā hi brahmaṇā sṛṣṭā devā yajata māmiti | te yajanta tadātmānaṁ teṣāṁ brahmā cukopa ha

The ancestors said: The gods, sons created by Brahma, said, 'Worship me'; they then worshipped their own selves, at which Brahma grew angry.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.36.28)

उवाच चेनान् संरब्धो नष्टसंज्ञा भविष्यथ । ते शप्ताः ब्रह्मणा सर्वे समेत्य च दिवौकसः

uvāca cenān saṁrabdho naṣṭasaṁjñā bhaviṣyatha | te śaptāḥ brahmaṇā sarve sametya ca divaukasaḥ

Enraged, he said: 'You shall lose all memory.' Thus cursed by Brahma, all those dwellers of heaven gathered together.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.36.29)

दुःखशोकसमायुक्ता दीनास्तं तुष्टुवुस्तदा । प्रसन्नं तं समालक्ष्य त ऊचुः शिरसा नताः

duḥkhaśokasamāyuktā dīnāstaṁ tuṣṭuvustadā | prasannaṁ taṁ samālakṣya ta ūcuḥ śirasā natāḥ

Overcome with grief and sorrow, humbled, they then praised him; and seeing him appeased, they spoke, their heads bowed.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.36.30)

नष्टसंज्ञा वयं देव तान्नो यच्छ पुनः प्रभो । तत् क्षमस्व च देवेश अज्ञानाद्यत् कृतं हि नः

naṣṭasaṁjñā vayaṁ deva tānno yaccha punaḥ prabho | tat kṣamasva ca deveśa ajñānādyat kṛtaṁ hi naḥ

O God, we have lost our memory; O Lord, restore it to us once more. O Lord of gods, forgive whatever we have done out of ignorance.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.36.31)

अथैवमुक्तो देवैस्तैर्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । उवाच प्रणतान् देवान् सानुक्रोशमिदं वचः

athaivamukto devaistairbrahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | uvāca praṇatān devān sānukrośamidaṁ vacaḥ

Thus addressed by those gods, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, spoke this word with compassion to the gods who bowed before him.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.36.32)

ब्रह्मोवाच । प्रायश्चित्तं महासत्वाश्चरध्वं नियमेन ह । व्यभिचारकृतं सर्वं ततः पापं प्रहास्यथ

brahmovāca | prāyaścittaṁ mahāsatvāścaradhvaṁ niyamena ha | vyabhicārakṛtaṁ sarvaṁ tataḥ pāpaṁ prahāsyatha

Brahma said: O mighty ones, perform penance according to rule; then this entire sin, born of your transgression, shall be dispelled.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.36.33)

देवा ऊचुः । सैव संज्ञा न नो देव विद्यते सर्वसृक् प्रभो । यया ज्ञास्यामहे तानि प्रायश्चित्तानि लोकप

devā ūcuḥ | saiva saṁjñā na no deva vidyate sarvasṛk prabho | yayā jñāsyāmahe tāni prāyaścittāni lokapa

The gods said: O Lord, creator of the universe, O guardian of the world, we do not even possess that very memory by which we might know those penances.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.36.34)

ब्रह्मोवाच । स्वान् पुत्रान् परिपृच्छध्वं ततः श्रेयमवाप्स्यथ । पुनः संज्ञां च धर्मज्ञा मा कुरुध्वमतोन्यथा

brahmovāca | svān putrān paripṛcchadhvaṁ tataḥ śreyamavāpsyatha | punaḥ saṁjñāṁ ca dharmajñā mā kurudhvamatonyathā

Brahma said: Ask your own sons; only then shall you attain your good. O knowers of righteousness, once you have regained memory, do nothing contrary to this.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.36.35)

पितर ऊचुः । ततस्ते सुरशार्दूलाः पप्रच्छुः स्वान् सुताँस्तदा । प्रायश्चित्तानि धर्माँश्च वेदान् साङ्गान् सविस्तरान्

pitara ūcuḥ | tataste suraśārdūlāḥ papracchuḥ svān sutāṁstadā | prāyaścittāni dharmāṁśca vedān sāṅgān savistarān

The ancestors said: Then those foremost of gods asked their own sons about the penances, the sacred laws, and the Vedas with their limbs, in full detail.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.36.36)

ते च तेभ्यस्तदा पुत्रा आचुख्युः प्रयताः शुभाः । याथातथ्येन तत्सर्वं परमेण समाधिना

te ca tebhyastadā putrā ācukhyuḥ prayatāḥ śubhāḥ | yāthātathyena tatsarvaṁ parameṇa samādhinā

Then those sons, disciplined and virtuous, explained all of it to them truly, with the utmost composure.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.36.37)

अथ ते लब्धसंज्ञाश्च लब्धकामास्तथैव च । स्वान्पुत्रानभ्यभाषन्त प्रीयमाणा मुदा युताः

atha te labdhasaṁjñāśca labdhakāmāstathaiva ca | svānputrānabhyabhāṣanta prīyamāṇā mudā yutāḥ

Then, having regained their memory and attained their desire, they, pleased and filled with joy, spoke to their own sons.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.36.38)

देवा ऊचुः । पुत्रा न यूयमस्माकं वयं पुत्रा हि वः सुताः । यैर्ज्ञानं नष्टसंज्ञानां कृतमस्माकमव्ययम्

devā ūcuḥ | putrā na yūyamasmākaṁ vayaṁ putrā hi vaḥ sutāḥ | yairjñānaṁ naṣṭasaṁjñānāṁ kṛtamasmākamavyayam

The gods said: You are not our sons -- rather, we are your sons, since it is you who have restored knowledge to us, the imperishable ones who had lost our memory.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.36.39)

तैरेवमुक्ते तत्रागाद् ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । उवाच चेदं तान्देवान् सर्वानेव महायशाः

tairevamukte tatrāgād brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | uvāca cedaṁ tāndevān sarvāneva mahāyaśāḥ

When they had spoken thus, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, came there and spoke this to those most illustrious gods.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.36.40)

ब्रह्मोवाच । वदन्ति नानृतं देवाः सत्यं देवेषु वर्तते । सुताश्चोक्ता हि वः सर्वे पितरो नानृतं हि तत्

brahmovāca | vadanti nānṛtaṁ devāḥ satyaṁ deveṣu vartate | sutāścoktā hi vaḥ sarve pitaro nānṛtaṁ hi tat

Brahma said: The gods never speak untruth; truth alone abides among the gods. That all of you have been called sons -- that too is no untruth.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.36.41)

तस्मात् पितृत्वं युष्माकं पुत्राणां नित्यमव्ययम् । भविष्यति न सन्देहो यूयं पुत्राश्च सर्वशः

tasmāt pitṛtvaṁ yuṣmākaṁ putrāṇāṁ nityamavyayam | bhaviṣyati na sandeho yūyaṁ putrāśca sarvaśaḥ

Therefore, O sons, your fatherhood shall remain ever imperishable, without doubt; and you too are, in every way, sons as well.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.36.42)

नह्य शिष्याय कथ्यन्ते रहस्यानि कथंचन । एकार्थौ पुत्रशिष्यौ च तस्मात् पुत्राः स्थ सर्वशः

nahya śiṣyāya kathyante rahasyāni kathaṁcana | ekārthau putraśiṣyau ca tasmāt putrāḥ stha sarvaśaḥ

Secret mysteries are never told even to a disciple; a son and a disciple share the same meaning -- therefore all of you are, in every respect, sons.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.36.43)

तरन्ति पुत्रैः पितरः पुत्राँस्तान् तारयन्ति च । तारयित्वा पितृत्वञ्च कर्मणा तेन यान्ति ते

taranti putraiḥ pitaraḥ putrāṁstān tārayanti ca | tārayitvā pitṛtvañca karmaṇā tena yānti te

Fathers are delivered by their sons, and they in turn deliver their sons; and having delivered them, by that very deed they attain fatherhood again.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.36.44)

यूयञ्च तारिताः पुत्रैरज्ञानान्नरकात्तथा । तस्मादिमे हि पितरो यूयं पुत्राश्च सर्वशः

yūyañca tāritāḥ putrairajñānānnarakāttathā | tasmādime hi pitaro yūyaṁ putrāśca sarvaśaḥ

And you too, out of ignorance, were delivered from hell by your sons; therefore these are indeed your fathers, and you are, in every way, sons.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.36.45)

पाति यस्मात् पिता तस्माज् जनयत्यपि वा पिता । पुत्रेषु चैतदुभयं पितरस्तेन वो मताः

pāti yasmāt pitā tasmāj janayatyapi vā pitā | putreṣu caitadubhayaṁ pitarastena vo matāḥ

Because he protects, he is called father; and because he also begets, he too is father. Since both these are found in sons as well, they too are deemed your fathers.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.36.46)

ततस्ते ब्रह्म

tataste brahma

Thereafter, that Brahma... [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source -- a folio is damaged in the manuscript]

Verse 47 (skanda.8.36.47)

बलाः । पितरस्तान् वरैरिष्टैश्छन्दयामासुः

balāḥ | pitarastān varairiṣṭaiśchandayāmāsuḥ

[the opening of this verse is lost in the source] ...mighty ones. The ancestors gratified them with the boons they desired.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.36.48)

पितरश्च ततो वव्रुरग्रे यजनमात्मनः । यो नोनिष्ट्वा यजेद्देवान् न स तत्फलमाप्नुयात्

pitaraśca tato vavruragre yajanamātmanaḥ | yo noniṣṭvā yajeddevān na sa tatphalamāpnuyāt

Then the ancestors chose first the worship of themselves; whoever worships the ancestors without first worshipping the gods does not obtain its fruit.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.36.49)

एनसा चाभिसंयुक्तो मह

enasā cābhisaṁyukto maha

And, joined with sin, the great... [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source]

Verse 50 (skanda.8.36.50)

यथागतं ततो जग्मुर्ब्रह्मणा सह सर्वशः

yathāgataṁ tato jagmurbrahmaṇā saha sarvaśaḥ

[the opening of this verse is lost in the source] ...then all of them, together with Brahma, departed just as they had come.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.36.51)

पितर ऊचुः । यथा वयं त्वया पुत्र नरकान्नष्टचेतसः । तारिताश्चेतनावन्तः पुनश्च प्रवरीकृताः

pitara ūcuḥ | yathā vayaṁ tvayā putra narakānnaṣṭacetasaḥ | tāritāścetanāvantaḥ punaśca pravarīkṛtāḥ

The ancestors said: O son, just as you delivered us, who had lost our senses and fallen into hell, restoring us to consciousness once more, and made us excellent again.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.36.52)

पिता ततो भवान् पूज्यो योनुयासि महा

pitā tato bhavān pūjyo yonuyāsi mahā

Therefore you are our venerable father, whom the great... [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source]

Verse 53 (skanda.8.36.53)

सत्तमः । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा पितॄन् वचनमब्रवीत्

sattamaḥ | praṇataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā pitṝn vacanamabravīt

[the opening of this verse is lost in the source] ...the most excellent. Bowing down, with joined palms, he spoke this word to the ancestors.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.36.54)

एवमेतद्यथोक्तं वो नानृतं वो वचः शुभम् । परस्पर पितृत्वं हि सर्वेषां समुदाहृतम्

evametadyathoktaṁ vo nānṛtaṁ vo vacaḥ śubham | paraspara pitṛtvaṁ hi sarveṣāṁ samudāhṛtam

Just as it has been said, so it is true; this auspicious word of yours is no untruth. Thus has the mutual fatherhood of all been declared.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.36.55)

वरं भूय इमं मह्यं प्रयच्छत गणेश्वराः । एतेन प्रश्नमिष्टं हि कथितं द्विजसत्तम

varaṁ bhūya imaṁ mahyaṁ prayacchata gaṇeśvarāḥ | etena praśnamiṣṭaṁ hi kathitaṁ dvijasattama

O lords of the ganas, grant me one more boon... [some portion in the middle of this verse is lost in the source] ...O best of the twice-born, by this question what was desired has been stated.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.36.56)

पितर ऊचुः । नास्ति किंचिदविदितं भवतः प्रवरेश्वर । भवानस्मत्प्रमाणार्थं व्याख्यातत्त्वमिहेच्छसि

pitara ūcuḥ | nāsti kiṁcidaviditaṁ bhavataḥ pravareśvara | bhavānasmatpramāṇārthaṁ vyākhyātattvamihecchasi

The ancestors said: O most excellent lord, nothing whatsoever is unknown to you; it is only for our own certainty that you wish this truth to be expounded here.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.36.57)

ब्रूहि यद्विदितं नोस्ति कथायिष्याम तद्धि ते । श्रुतं वाप्यनुभूतं वा यथाशक्ति यथातथम्

brūhi yadviditaṁ nosti kathāyiṣyāma taddhi te | śrutaṁ vāpyanubhūtaṁ vā yathāśakti yathātatham

Tell us whatever is not known to you, and we shall surely relate it to you -- whether heard or experienced, as best we can, truthfully... [the remainder of this verse is lost in the source]

Verse 58 (skanda.8.36.58)

सुकेश उवाच । भवन्तो नरके घोरे परिक्लिष्टाः सुदारुणे । अतः श्रुतिज्ञाः सर्वेषां नरकाणामसंशयम्

sukeśa uvāca | bhavanto narake ghore parikliṣṭāḥ sudāruṇe | ataḥ śrutijñāḥ sarveṣāṁ narakāṇāmasaṁśayam

Sukesha said: You have all suffered affliction in that most terrible and dreadful hell; therefore, without doubt, you know all the hells through direct experience.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.36.59)

तेषां सतत्त्वं योगञ्च कालभेदं तथा क्रमम् । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे

teṣāṁ satattvaṁ yogañca kālabhedaṁ tathā kramam | tatsarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

Their true nature, their sequence, and the distinctions of time in them -- all this I wish to hear; I have the greatest curiosity about it.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.36.60)

कियन्तो नरकास्ते च किं प्रमाणाः किमाश्रयाः । किं रूपा के च यात्यन्ते कथं चैव सुदुःखिताः

kiyanto narakāste ca kiṁ pramāṇāḥ kimāśrayāḥ | kiṁ rūpā ke ca yātyante kathaṁ caiva suduḥkhitāḥ

How many are those hells, what is their measure, what is their foundation, what form do they take, and who are those that go there, and in what manner do they suffer so greatly?

Verse 61 (skanda.8.36.61)

कथं च तप्यते जन्तुर्वाच्यते च कथं तथा । कियता चैव कालेन नरकात् स विमुच्यते । मुक्तश्चोत्तिष्ठते केन कथं संसरते पुनः

kathaṁ ca tapyate janturvācyate ca kathaṁ tathā | kiyatā caiva kālena narakāt sa vimucyate | muktaścottiṣṭhate kena kathaṁ saṁsarate punaḥ

How is a being tormented there, and how is it described, and after how much time is he released from hell? Freed, in what form does he rise, and how does he wander again in the round of rebirth?

Verse 62 (skanda.8.36.62)

एतत्सर्वमशेषेण विस्तरेण यथातथम् । कथयध्वं महाप्रज्ञाः परं कौतूहलं हि मे

etatsarvamaśeṣeṇa vistareṇa yathātatham | kathayadhvaṁ mahāprajñāḥ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

All of this, without omission, at length, exactly as it is, O most wise ones, relate to me; I have the greatest curiosity about it.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.36.63)

तमुपेन्द्रपितामहेश्वरेशप्रवरेशं विदितार्थतत्त्वकोशम् । दुरितांकित मुक्तयोगं प्रतियोगं त्विदमाहुरग्रयोगम्

tamupendrapitāmaheśvareśapravareśaṁ viditārthatattvakośam | duritāṁkita muktayogaṁ pratiyogaṁ tvidamāhuragrayogam

Him -- who is Upendra, the Grandsire, the Lord of lords, the foremost of the foremost, who has known the treasury of the truth of all things, marked by sins... [a small portion is lost in the source] ...possessed of the yoga of liberation, the counter-yoga -- this they call the foremost yoga.