The Origin of the Six Lineages

Verse 1 (skanda.8.4.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। प्राजापत्यं ततो लब्ध्वा प्रजाः स्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे । प्रजास्ताः सृज्यमानाश्च न विवर्धन्ति तस्य ह

sanatkumāra uvāca| prājāpatyaṁ tato labdhvā prajāḥ sraṣṭuṁ pracakrame | prajāstāḥ sṛjyamānāśca na vivardhanti tasya ha

Sanatkumara said: Having obtained the office of Prajapati, Brahma set about creating beings; but the creatures he created did not increase in number.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.4.2)

स कुर्वाणस्तथा सृष्टिं शक्तिहीनः पितामहः । सृष्ट्यर्थं भूय एवाथ तपश्चर्तुं प्रचक्रमे

sa kurvāṇastathā sṛṣṭiṁ śaktihīnaḥ pitāmahaḥ | sṛṣṭyarthaṁ bhūya evātha tapaścartuṁ pracakrame

Thus engaged in creation yet lacking the power to make it succeed, the Grandsire once more began to practice austerity for the sake of creation.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.4.3)

सृष्टिहेतोस्तपस्तस्य ज्ञात्वा त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । तेजसा जगदाविश्य आजगाम तदन्तिकम्

sṛṣṭihetostapastasya jñātvā tribhuvaneśvaraḥ | tejasā jagadāviśya ājagāma tadantikam

The Lord of the three worlds, learning that this austerity was undertaken for the sake of creation, pervaded the world with his radiance and came into his presence.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.4.4)

स्रष्टा तस्य जगन्नाथो दर्शयत्स्वतनौ जगत् । महायोगबलैश्वर्यो ज्ञानसिद्धगणावृतः

sraṣṭā tasya jagannātho darśayatsvatanau jagat | mahāyogabalaiśvaryo jñānasiddhagaṇāvṛtaḥ

That world-lord and creator, possessed of the power and majesty of the great yoga and surrounded by hosts of siddhas perfected in knowledge, revealed the universe within his own body.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.4.5)

स्वयमागत्य देवेशो महाभूतपतिर्हरः । व्याप्येव हि जगत् कृत्स्नं परमेण स्वतेजसा

svayamāgatya deveśo mahābhūtapatirharaḥ | vyāpyeva hi jagat kṛtsnaṁ parameṇa svatejasā

Hara, lord of the gods and master of the great elements, having come there in person, pervaded the entire world with his own supreme radiance.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.4.6)

शम्भुः प्राह वरं वत्स याचस्वेति पितामहम् । तं ब्रह्मा लोकसृष्ट्यर्थं पुत्रत्वे मनसा वरीत्

śambhuḥ prāha varaṁ vatsa yācasveti pitāmaham | taṁ brahmā lokasṛṣṭyarthaṁ putratve manasā varīt

Shambhu said, 'Child, ask a boon.' And Brahma, for the sake of creating the worlds, mentally chose him to be his son.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.4.7)

स ज्ञात्वा तस्य संकल्पं ब्रह्मणः परमेश्वरः । मूढोयमिति सञ्चिन्त्य प्रोवाच वरदः स्वयम्

sa jñātvā tasya saṁkalpaṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameśvaraḥ | mūḍhoyamiti sañcintya provāca varadaḥ svayam

Parameshvara, perceiving Brahma's intention and thinking, 'this one is deluded,' the giver of boons himself then spoke.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.4.8)

आगतं पितरं मा त्वं यस्मात् पुत्रं समीहसे । मन्मूर्त्तिस्तनयस्तस्माद् भविष्यति ममाज्ञया

āgataṁ pitaraṁ mā tvaṁ yasmāt putraṁ samīhase | manmūrttistanayastasmād bhaviṣyati mamājñayā

'Since you desire a son from me who came here like a father, do not ask it of me directly — instead, by my own will, my very self shall become your son.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.4.9)

स च ते पुत्रतां यात्वा मदीयो गणनायकः । रुद्रो विग्रहवान् भूत्वा मूढं त्वां विनयिष्यति

sa ca te putratāṁ yātvā madīyo gaṇanāyakaḥ | rudro vigrahavān bhūtvā mūḍhaṁ tvāṁ vinayiṣyati

'He, having become your son and my own chief of ganas, taking bodily form as Rudra, will discipline you, the deluded one.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.4.10)

सर्वविद्याधिपत्यं च योगानां चैव सर्वशः । बलस्याधिपतित्वं च अस्त्राणां च प्रयोक्तृता

sarvavidyādhipatyaṁ ca yogānāṁ caiva sarvaśaḥ | balasyādhipatitvaṁ ca astrāṇāṁ ca prayoktṛtā

'Supremacy over all sciences and all forms of yoga, lordship over strength, and mastery in the wielding of weapons — I bestow these upon him.'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.4.11)

मया दत्तानि तस्याशु उपस्थास्यन्ति सर्वशः । धनुः पिनाकः शूलं च खङ्गः परशुरेव च

mayā dattāni tasyāśu upasthāsyanti sarvaśaḥ | dhanuḥ pinākaḥ śūlaṁ ca khaṅgaḥ paraśureva ca

'Given by me, these shall promptly come to serve him in every way: the bow Pinaka, the trident, the sword, and the axe.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.4.12)

कमण्डलुस्तथा दण्ड अस्त्रं पाशुपतं तथा । संवर्त्तकाशनिश्चैव चक्रं च प्रतिसर्गिकम्

kamaṇḍalustathā daṇḍa astraṁ pāśupataṁ tathā | saṁvarttakāśaniścaiva cakraṁ ca pratisargikam

'The water-pot and staff, the Pashupata weapon, the thunderbolt-like Samvartaka missile, and the discus named Pratisargika [shall also be his].'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.4.13)

एवं सर्वद्धिसंपन्नः सुतस्ते स भविष्यति । एवमुक्त्वा गते तस्मिन्नन्तर्धानं महात्मनि

evaṁ sarvaddhisaṁpannaḥ sutaste sa bhaviṣyati | evamuktvā gate tasminnantardhānaṁ mahātmani

'Thus your son will be endowed with every prosperity.' Having said this, that great being vanished from that place.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.4.14)

ब्रह्मा चक्रे तदा चेष्टिं पुत्रकामः प्रजापतिः । स जुह्वञ्छ्रमसंयुक्तः प्रतिघातसमन्वितः

brahmā cakre tadā ceṣṭiṁ putrakāmaḥ prajāpatiḥ | sa juhvañchramasaṁyuktaḥ pratighātasamanvitaḥ

Then Prajapati Brahma, desiring a son, performed a sacrificial rite; wearied by his effort, he offered oblations amid some resistance.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.4.15)

समिद्युक्तेन हस्तेन ललाटं प्रममार्ज ह । समित्संयोगजस्तस्य स्वेदबिन्दुर्ललाटजः

samidyuktena hastena lalāṭaṁ pramamārja ha | samitsaṁyogajastasya svedabindurlalāṭajaḥ

With the hand that held the sacred kindling-stick he wiped his brow, and a drop of sweat, produced by that very contact, formed upon his forehead.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.4.16)

पपात ज्वलने तस्मिन् द्विगुणं तस्य तेजसा । तद्धि माहेश्वरं तेजः सन्धितं ब्रह्मणि स्रुतम्

papāta jvalane tasmin dviguṇaṁ tasya tejasā | taddhi māheśvaraṁ tejaḥ sandhitaṁ brahmaṇi srutam

That drop fell into the fire, doubled by its own radiance; for it was in truth the energy of Maheshvara, which had merged with Brahma and now flowed forth.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.4.17)

प्रेरितं देवदेवेन निपपात हविर्भुजि । क्षणे तस्मिन्महेशेन स्मृत्वा तं वरमुत्तमम्

preritaṁ devadevena nipapāta havirbhuji | kṣaṇe tasminmaheśena smṛtvā taṁ varamuttamam

Impelled by the god of gods, it fell into the oblation-fire; at that very moment Mahesha, recalling his excellent promise,

Verse 18 (skanda.8.4.18)

प्रेषितो गणपो रुद्रः सद्य एवाभवत् तदा । तच्च संस्वेदजं तेजः पूर्वं ज्वलनयोजितम्

preṣito gaṇapo rudraḥ sadya evābhavat tadā | tacca saṁsvedajaṁ tejaḥ pūrvaṁ jvalanayojitam

...dispatched Rudra as lord of the ganas, who was born there at once. That radiance, born of the sweat and first kindled by the fire,

Verse 19 (skanda.8.4.19)

भूत्वा लोहितमाश्वेव पुनर्नीलमभूत्तदा । नीललोहित इत्वेव तेनासावभवत् प्रभुः

bhūtvā lohitamāśveva punarnīlamabhūttadā | nīlalohita itveva tenāsāvabhavat prabhuḥ

swiftly turned red, then turned blue once more; and thus that lord came to be called Nilalohita, 'the blue-red one.'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.4.20)

त्र्यक्षो दशभुजः श्रीमान् ब्रह्माणं छादयन्निव । शर्वाद्यैर्न्नामभिर्ब्रह्मा तनूभिश्च जलादिभिः

tryakṣo daśabhujaḥ śrīmān brahmāṇaṁ chādayanniva | śarvādyairnnāmabhirbrahmā tanūbhiśca jalādibhiḥ

Three-eyed and ten-armed, resplendent, seeming almost to eclipse Brahma himself; Brahma gave him names beginning with Sharva, and bodies formed of water and the other elements.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.4.21)

स्तुत्वा तं सर्वगं देवं नीललोहितमव्ययम् । ज्ञात्वा सर्वसृजं पश्चान्महाभूतप्रतिष्ठतम्

stutvā taṁ sarvagaṁ devaṁ nīlalohitamavyayam | jñātvā sarvasṛjaṁ paścānmahābhūtapratiṣṭhatam

Having praised that all-pervading, imperishable deity Nilalohita, and recognizing him thereafter as the maker of all things, established in the great elements,

Verse 22 (skanda.8.4.22)

असृजद्विविधास्त्वन्याः प्रजाः स जगति प्रभुः । सोपि योगं समास्थाय ऐश्वर्येण समन्वितः

asṛjadvividhāstvanyāḥ prajāḥ sa jagati prabhuḥ | sopi yogaṁ samāsthāya aiśvaryeṇa samanvitaḥ

...that Lord went on to create various other kinds of beings in the world; and he too, endowed with lordly power, betook himself to yoga.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.4.23)

लोकान्सर्वान्समाविश्य धारयामास सर्वदा । ब्रह्मणोपि ततः पुत्रा दक्षधर्मादयः शुभाः

lokānsarvānsamāviśya dhārayāmāsa sarvadā | brahmaṇopi tataḥ putrā dakṣadharmādayaḥ śubhāḥ

Pervading all the worlds, he sustained them continually. From Brahma too were then born sons - Daksha, Dharma, and other auspicious beings.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.4.24)

असृज्यन्त प्रजास्सर्वा देवमानुषसंकुलाः । अथ कालेन महता कल्पेतीते पुनः पुनः

asṛjyanta prajāssarvā devamānuṣasaṁkulāḥ | atha kālena mahatā kalpetīte punaḥ punaḥ

All the creatures, teeming with gods and men, were brought into being. Then, as vast ages passed, kalpa after kalpa came repeatedly to its end,

Verse 25 (skanda.8.4.25)

प्रजा धारयतो योगादस्मिन्कल्प उपस्थिते । प्रतिष्ठितायां वार्तायां प्रवृत्ते सृष्टिसर्जने

prajā dhārayato yogādasminkalpa upasthite | pratiṣṭhitāyāṁ vārtāyāṁ pravṛtte sṛṣṭisarjane

...as he sustained the creatures by his yogic power, when the present kalpa arrived, worldly order was reestablished, and the creation of beings was under way,

Verse 26 (skanda.8.4.26)

प्रजासु च विवृद्धासु प्रयागे यजतश्च ह । ब्रह्मणः षट्कुलीयास्ते ऋषयः शंसितव्रताः

prajāsu ca vivṛddhāsu prayāge yajataśca ha | brahmaṇaḥ ṣaṭkulīyāste ṛṣayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ

...when creatures had greatly increased, while Brahma was performing a sacrifice at Prayaga, the sages of his six lineages, disciplined in their vows, arrived.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.4.27)

मरीचयोत्रयश्चैव वसिष्ठाः क्रतवस्तथा । भृगवोङ्गिरसश्चैव तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषाः

marīcayotrayaścaiva vasiṣṭhāḥ kratavastathā | bhṛgavoṅgirasaścaiva tapasā dagdhakilbiṣāḥ

Marichi and Atri, likewise Vasishtha and Kratu, and Bhrigu and Angiras, whose sins had been consumed by their austerities —

Verse 28 (skanda.8.4.28)

ऊचुर्ब्रह्माणमभ्येत्य सहिताः कर्मणोन्तरे । भगवन्नन्धकारेण महता स्मः समावृताः

ūcurbrahmāṇamabhyetya sahitāḥ karmaṇontare | bhagavannandhakāreṇa mahatā smaḥ samāvṛtāḥ

...having come to Brahma together in the midst of the rite, said: 'O Lord, we find ourselves enveloped in a great darkness.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.4.29)

खिन्ना विवदमानाश्च न च पश्याम यत्परम् । एतन्नः संशयं देव चिरं हृदि समास्थितम्

khinnā vivadamānāśca na ca paśyāma yatparam | etannaḥ saṁśayaṁ deva ciraṁ hṛdi samāsthitam

'Troubled and disputing among ourselves, we cannot perceive what is truly supreme. This doubt has long lain fixed within our hearts.'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.4.30)

त्वं हि वेत्थ यथातत्त्वं कारणं परमं हि नः । किं परं सर्वभूतानां बलीयाँश्चापि सर्वतः

tvaṁ hi vettha yathātattvaṁ kāraṇaṁ paramaṁ hi naḥ | kiṁ paraṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ balīyā~ścāpi sarvataḥ

'You truly know the reality, the supreme cause for us: what is supreme among all beings, and mightiest of all?'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.4.31)

केन चाधिष्ठितं विश्वं को नित्यः कश्च शाश्वतः । कः स्रष्टा सर्वभूतानां प्रकृतेश्च प्रवर्तकः

kena cādhiṣṭhitaṁ viśvaṁ ko nityaḥ kaśca śāśvataḥ | kaḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ prakṛteśca pravartakaḥ

'By whom is the universe ruled? Who is eternal and who is everlasting? Who is the creator of all beings, and the mover of Prakriti?'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.4.32)

कोस्मान् सर्वेषु कार्येषु प्रयुनक्ति महामनाः । कस्य भूतानि वश्यानि कः सर्वविनियोजकः

kosmān sarveṣu kāryeṣu prayunakti mahāmanāḥ | kasya bhūtāni vaśyāni kaḥ sarvaviniyojakaḥ

'Who, of vast intelligence, engages us in all our actions? Whose creatures are all subject to him, and who governs everything?'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.4.33)

कथं पश्येम तञ्चैव एतन्नः शंस सर्वशः । एवमुक्तस्ततो ब्रह्मा सर्वेषामेव सन्निधौ

kathaṁ paśyema tañcaiva etannaḥ śaṁsa sarvaśaḥ | evamuktastato brahmā sarveṣāmeva sannidhau

'How may we see him? Tell us this in full.' Thus questioned, Brahma then, in the presence of them all —

Verse 34 (skanda.8.4.34)

देवानां च ऋषीणां च गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । यक्षाणामसुराणां च ये च भूत प्रवर्त्तकाः

devānāṁ ca ṛṣīṇāṁ ca gandharvoragarakṣasām | yakṣāṇāmasurāṇāṁ ca ye ca bhūta pravarttakāḥ

before the gods and sages, the gandharvas, serpents and rakshasas, the yakshas and asuras, and whoever else furthers the being of creatures —

Verse 35 (skanda.8.4.35)

राक्षसानां सपिशाचानां ये चान्ये तत्समीपगाः । उत्थाय प्राञ्जलिः प्राह रुद्रेति त्रिःप्लुतं वचः

rākṣasānāṁ sapiśācānāṁ ye cānye tatsamīpagāḥ | utthāya prāñjaliḥ prāha rudreti triḥplutaṁ vacaḥ

and the rakshasas together with the pishachas, and whatever others stood close by — Brahma rose with palms joined and uttered the word 'Rudra' thrice, drawn out in a prolonged cry.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.4.36)

स चापि तपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुं नान्येन केनचित् । सः स्रष्टा सर्वभूतानां बलवांश्चापि स स्मृतः

sa cāpi tapasā śakyo draṣṭuṁ nānyena kenacit | saḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ balavāṁścāpi sa smṛtaḥ

'He alone can be attained through austerity, by no other means; he is known as the creator of all beings, and as supreme in might.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.4.37)

तस्य वश्यानि भूतानि तेनेदं धार्यते जगत् । सर्वे ते नमश्चक्रुर्महात्मने

tasya vaśyāni bhūtāni tenedaṁ dhāryate jagat | sarve te namaścakrurmahātmane

'All beings are under his sway; by him alone is this world upheld.' — and all present there bowed down to that great being.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.4.38)

ऋषय ऊचुः। किं तन्महत्तपो देव येन दृश्येत स प्रभुः । तन्नो वदस्व देवेश वरदं चाभिधत्स्व नः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| kiṁ tanmahattapo deva yena dṛśyeta sa prabhuḥ | tanno vadasva deveśa varadaṁ cābhidhatsva naḥ

The sages said: 'What is that great austerity, O god, by which that lord may be seen? Tell us this, lord of the gods, and grant us that boon.'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.4.39)

पितामह उवाच। सत्रं महत्समासध्वं वाङ्मनोदोषवर्जिताः । देशं च वः प्रवक्ष्यामि यस्मिन्देशे चरिष्यथ

pitāmaha uvāca| satraṁ mahatsamāsadhvaṁ vāṅmanodoṣavarjitāḥ | deśaṁ ca vaḥ pravakṣyāmi yasmindeśe cariṣyatha

The Grandsire said: 'Undertake a great sacrificial session, free of any fault of speech or mind. I shall tell you the place in which you are to perform it.'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.4.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततो मनोमयं चक्रं स सृष्ट्वा तानुवाच ह । क्षिप्तमेतन्मया चक्रमनुव्रजत मा चिरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| tato manomayaṁ cakraṁ sa sṛṣṭvā tānuvāca ha | kṣiptametanmayā cakramanuvrajata mā ciram

Sanatkumara said: Then Brahma, having fashioned a wheel formed of his mind, said to them: 'This wheel has been set in motion by me; follow after it without delay.'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.4.41)

यत्रास्य नेमिः शीर्येत स देशस्तपसः शुभः । ततो मुमोच तच्चक्रं ते च तत्समनुव्रजन्

yatrāsya nemiḥ śīryeta sa deśastapasaḥ śubhaḥ | tato mumoca taccakraṁ te ca tatsamanuvrajan

'Wherever its rim breaks, that place is auspicious for austerity.' Then he sent the wheel forth, and they set out following it.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.4.42)

तस्य वै व्रजतः क्षिप्रं यत्र नेमिरशीर्यत । नैमिशन्तत् स्मृतं नाम्ना पुण्यं सर्वत्र पूजितम्

tasya vai vrajataḥ kṣipraṁ yatra nemiraśīryata | naimiśantat smṛtaṁ nāmnā puṇyaṁ sarvatra pūjitam

As it moved swiftly, the very spot where its rim broke came to be known by the name Naimisha — a sacred place, honoured everywhere.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.4.43)

तत्पूजितन्देवमनुष्यसिद्धै रक्षोभिरुग्रैरुरगैश्च दिव्यैः । यक्षैः सगन्धर्वपिशाचसंघैः सर्वाप्सरोभिश्च दितेः सुतैश्च

tatpūjitandevamanuṣyasiddhai rakṣobhirugrairuragaiśca divyaiḥ | yakṣaiḥ sagandharvapiśācasaṁghaiḥ sarvāpsarobhiśca diteḥ sutaiśca

That revered spot was honoured by gods, men and siddhas, by fierce rakshasas and divine serpents, by yakshas with gandharvas and hosts of pishachas, by all the apsaras and by the sons of Diti,

Verse 44 (skanda.8.4.44)

विप्रैश्च दान्तैः शमयोगयुक्तैस्तीर्थैश्च सर्वैरपि चावनीध्रैः । गन्धर्वविद्याधरचारणंश्च साध्यैश्च विश्वैः पितृभिः स्तुतञ्च

vipraiśca dāntaiḥ śamayogayuktaistīrthaiśca sarvairapi cāvanīdhraiḥ | gandharvavidyādharacāraṇaṁśca sādhyaiśca viśvaiḥ pitṛbhiḥ stutañca

...by self-controlled brahmins devoted to tranquility and yoga, by every sacred ford and every mountain, by gandharvas, vidyadharas and charanas, by the sadhyas and vishvadevas, and it was praised also by the ancestral spirits.