Sukesha's Penance for the Deliverance of the Hell-Beings

Verse 1 (skanda.8.51.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । सुकेशस्तु ततो व्यास पितुः श्रुत्वा सुदीनवत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| | sukeśastu tato vyāsa pituḥ śrutvā sudīnavat

Sanatkumara said: Then, O Vyasa, Sukesha, having heard it from his father in a most piteous way...

Verse 2 (skanda.8.51.2)

दुःखित श्चिन्तयामास जन्तुना तां गतिं तदा

duḥkhita ścintayāmāsa jantunā tāṁ gatiṁ tadā

in sorrow, he then reflected upon that fate suffered by creatures.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.51.3)

चिन्तयाभिपरीतात्मा दुःखेन च समाहतः

cintayābhiparītātmā duḥkhena ca samāhataḥ

his mind overwhelmed with anxious thought, and stricken with grief...

Verse 4 (skanda.8.51.4)

जन्तूनां मोक्षणोपायं मूढचेता न जज्ञिवान्

jantūnāṁ mokṣaṇopāyaṁ mūḍhacetā na jajñivān

his mind bewildered, he could not discover any means to deliver creatures from hell.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.51.5)

चिन्तापन्नः स तु यदा पितॄँ स्तान्नाभ्यभाषत

cintāpannaḥ sa tu yadā pitṝ~ stānnābhyabhāṣata

When, sunk in anxious thought, he did not speak to those ancestors...

Verse 6 (skanda.8.51.6)

तदा ते पितरः सर्वे सुकेशमिदमूचिरे

tadā te pitaraḥ sarve sukeśamidamūcire

then all those ancestors spoke thus to Sukesha:

Verse 7 (skanda.8.51.7)

पितर ऊचुः। । अतीव किं चिन्तयसि कुतश्चिन्ता तवानघ । ईश्वरस्य सतः पुत्र नेदं तव विधीयते

pitara ūcuḥ| | atīva kiṁ cintayasi kutaścintā tavānagha | īśvarasya sataḥ putra nedaṁ tava vidhīyate

The forefathers said: Why do you grieve so exceedingly? Whence comes this anxiety of yours, O sinless one? O son of the Lord, such grief does not become you.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.51.8)

सुकेश उवाच। । जन्तूनां कर्मजं क्लेशं श्रुत्वा युष्माभिरीरितम् । चिन्तयामि कथं तेषां मोक्षोपायो भवेदिति

sukeśa uvāca| | jantūnāṁ karmajaṁ kleśaṁ śrutvā yuṣmābhirīritam | cintayāmi kathaṁ teṣāṁ mokṣopāyo bhavediti

Sukesha said: Having heard from you of the suffering, born of karma, that creatures endure, I am pondering how there might be a means for their release.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.51.9)

पितर ऊचुः। । अनादृत्य क्षयं पुत्र मोक्षस्तेषां न विद्यते । कर्मणः स्वकृतस्येह स च भोगात् क्षयो मतः

pitara ūcuḥ| | anādṛtya kṣayaṁ putra mokṣasteṣāṁ na vidyate | karmaṇaḥ svakṛtasyeha sa ca bhogāt kṣayo mataḥ

The forefathers said: Short of its exhaustion, O son, there is no release for them; and the exhaustion of one's self-made karma is held to come about only through its being experienced.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.51.10)

भोगश्च नरकेवश्यं जन्तुना सं विधीयते । न च ते नारकाः शक्या हर्त्तुं कर्मक्षयं विना

bhogaśca narakevaśyaṁ jantunā saṁ vidhīyate | na ca te nārakāḥ śakyā harttuṁ karmakṣayaṁ vinā

And that experience is necessarily undergone by the creature in hell; and those beings in hell cannot be delivered without the exhaustion of their karma.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.51.11)

अशक्याः खलु ये ह्यर्था न तान् प्राज्ञस्समारभेत् । अर्णवस्य प्रतरणं यथा त्वां मृत्युमृच्छति

aśakyāḥ khalu ye hyarthā na tān prājñassamārabhet | arṇavasya prataraṇaṁ yathā tvāṁ mṛtyumṛcchati

Indeed, the wise should not undertake tasks that are impossible — just as, were you to attempt to swim across the ocean, death alone would come to you.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.51.12)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । एवमुक्तः स तेजस्वी पितॄँ स्तान् हॄच्छयावृतः

sanatkumāra uvāca| | evamuktaḥ sa tejasvī pitṝ~ stān hṝcchayāvṛtaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed, that radiant one, his heart overcome with sorrow, spoke to those forefathers...

Verse 13 (skanda.8.51.13)

उवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा मावमध्वं सुतं हि माम्

uvāca praṇato bhūtvā māvamadhvaṁ sutaṁ hi mām

...said, bowing low: 'Do not think lightly of me, your own son.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.51.14)

का शक्तिर्मम तान् जन्तून् बलात् तारयितुं शुभान्

kā śaktirmama tān jantūn balāt tārayituṁ śubhān

What power indeed is mine, to save those blessed creatures by force?

Verse 15 (skanda.8.51.15)

महादेवप्रसादस्तान् तारयिष्यति दुर्गतीन्

mahādevaprasādastān tārayiṣyati durgatīn

It is the grace of Mahadeva alone that will deliver those fallen into evil states.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.51.16)

यूयं यथैव तीर्णाः स्थ नरकस्था विचेतसः

yūyaṁ yathaiva tīrṇāḥ stha narakasthā vicetasaḥ

Just as you yourselves, senseless there in hell, have nonetheless been delivered...

Verse 17 (skanda.8.51.17)

तथा ते जन्तवस्सर्वे तरिष्यन्ति न संशयः

tathā te jantavassarve tariṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ

so too shall all those creatures be delivered — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.51.18)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततस्तान् स तदामन्त्र्य महात्मा गणनायकः । संप्रविश्य समुद्राम्भो ह्यन्तर्जलगतस्तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tatastān sa tadāmantrya mahātmā gaṇanāyakaḥ | saṁpraviśya samudrāmbho hyantarjalagatastadā

Sanatkumara said: Then, taking leave of them, that great-souled leader of the ganas entered the waters of the ocean, going down deep within it...

Verse 19 (skanda.8.51.19)

जजाप रुद्रान् शुद्धात्मा निश्चलः सुसमाहितः । जपतस्तस्य योगेन युक्तस्य च महात्मनः

jajāpa rudrān śuddhātmā niścalaḥ susamāhitaḥ | japatastasya yogena yuktasya ca mahātmanaḥ

With a purified spirit, motionless, deeply composed, he recited the Rudra-mantras; and as that great soul, absorbed in yoga, recited...

Verse 20 (skanda.8.51.20)

त्रैलोक्यमखिलं व्यास तपसाभूत् प्रतापितम्

trailokyamakhilaṁ vyāsa tapasābhūt pratāpitam

the entire triple world, O Vyasa, was scorched by his austerity.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.51.21)

ततो देवास्तदा सर्वे पितामहमथाब्रुवन्

tato devāstadā sarve pitāmahamathābruvan

Then all the gods spoke to the Grandsire, Brahma:

Verse 22 (skanda.8.51.22)

किमिदं भगवन् सर्वे तप्याम विवशा वयम् । कस्येदं तपसो वीर्यं कस्य योगोयमीदृशः

kimidaṁ bhagavan sarve tapyāma vivaśā vayam | kasyedaṁ tapaso vīryaṁ kasya yogoyamīdṛśaḥ

'What is this, O lord? We are all being scorched, helpless. Whose is this power of austerity? Whose is this kind of yoga?'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.51.23)

क एष सुरशार्दूल तपस्तप्यति दारुणम्

ka eṣa suraśārdūla tapastapyati dāruṇam

'Who is this, O foremost among gods, performing such terrible austerity?'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.51.24)

यावदेवं न दहति यावन्नैव न कुप्यते

yāvadevaṁ na dahati yāvannaiva na kupyate

'Before this heat consumes us further, before he becomes angered...'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.51.25)

तावत् सर्वानभिप्रायान् तस्य संपादय प्रभो । स एवमुक्तो देवैस्तैर्भगवान् देवसत्तमः

tāvat sarvānabhiprāyān tasya saṁpādaya prabho | sa evamukto devaistairbhagavān devasattamaḥ

'...fulfil all his desires right now, O lord.' Thus addressed by the gods, that blessed one, the greatest among gods...

Verse 26 (skanda.8.51.26)

उवाच मा भयं वोस्तु नायं कश्चिदसंमतः । स एष देवदेवस्य महात्मा गणनायकः

uvāca mā bhayaṁ vostu nāyaṁ kaścidasaṁmataḥ | sa eṣa devadevasya mahātmā gaṇanāyakaḥ

...said: 'Have no fear; this is no unworthy being. He is the great-souled leader of the ganas, dear to the God of gods.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.51.27)

समुद्रान्तर्जलासीनो रुद्रान् जपति योगवान् । न चास्य दुष्टोभिप्रायो लोकान्प्रति महाबलाः

samudrāntarjalāsīno rudrān japati yogavān | na cāsya duṣṭobhiprāyo lokānprati mahābalāḥ

'Seated within the waters of the ocean, absorbed in yoga, he is reciting the names of Rudra; and, O mighty ones, he holds no evil intent toward the worlds.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.51.28)

नारकानेव नरकादुद्धर्तुमभिमन्यते । तद् यूयं यदि मन्यध्वे गत्वा रुद्रं प्रणम्य च

nārakāneva narakāduddhartumabhimanyate | tad yūyaṁ yadi manyadhve gatvā rudraṁ praṇamya ca

'He intends only to raise up the beings of hell out of hell. So, if you agree, go and, having bowed to Rudra...'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.51.29)

अर्थयामोस्य देवस्य क्रियतामीप्सितो वरः । एवमस्त्विति ते सर्वे ब्रह्मणा सह संगताः

arthayāmosya devasya kriyatāmīpsito varaḥ | evamastviti te sarve brahmaṇā saha saṁgatāḥ

'...let us ask that this god's desired boon be fulfilled.' 'So be it,' said they all, and, joining together with Brahma...

Verse 30 (skanda.8.51.30)

गता मन्दरमव्यग्रा नन्दिना संप्रवेशिताः । ते दृष्टवा देवमीशानं स्तुत्वेदमब्रुवन् विभुम्

gatā mandaramavyagrā nandinā saṁpraveśitāḥ | te dṛṣṭavā devamīśānaṁ stutvedamabruvan vibhum

they went, undisturbed, to Mount Mandara, and were ushered in by Nandi. Beholding the lord Ishana, they praised him and spoke thus to that mighty one:

Verse 31 (skanda.8.51.31)

सुकेशो भगवन् तुभ्यं वल्लभो गणनायकः । कारुण्यं प्राणिनां कृत्वा तपस्तप्यति दुश्चरम्

sukeśo bhagavan tubhyaṁ vallabho gaṇanāyakaḥ | kāruṇyaṁ prāṇināṁ kṛtvā tapastapyati duścaram

'O lord, your beloved leader of the ganas, Sukesha, moved by compassion for all creatures, is performing austerity most difficult to accomplish.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.51.32)

तस्य कामं सकामं त्वं कुरुष्व भुवनेश्वर । तेषां विज्ञप्तिमाकर्ण्य देवदेवस्ततो भवः

tasya kāmaṁ sakāmaṁ tvaṁ kuruṣva bhuvaneśvara | teṣāṁ vijñaptimākarṇya devadevastato bhavaḥ

'Fulfil his desire, O lord of the worlds.' Having heard their entreaty, the god of gods, Bhava...

Verse 33 (skanda.8.51.33)

ब्रह्माद्यैः सहितोभ्यागात् सुकेशस्य तदान्तिकम्

brahmādyaiḥ sahitobhyāgāt sukeśasya tadāntikam

...accompanied by Brahma and the others, went then to Sukesha's presence.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.51.34)

समुद्रस्तत्र ये चान्ये मुनयः शंसितव्रताः

samudrastatra ye cānye munayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ

the Ocean himself, and whatever other sages of pure vows were there...

Verse 35 (skanda.8.51.35)

अर्ध्यमादाय शतशो नेमुः शङ्करमागतम् । तमसौ गणपश्रेष्ठं देवदेव इदं वचः

ardhyamādāya śataśo nemuḥ śaṅkaramāgatam | tamasau gaṇapaśreṣṭhaṁ devadeva idaṁ vacaḥ

...taking up offerings of arghya, bowed by the hundreds to Shankara as he came. Then the god of gods spoke this word to that foremost of the ganas...

Verse 36 (skanda.8.51.36)

प्रोवाच मधुरं व्यास मनःश्रोत्रसुखावहम् । वत्सोत्तिष्ठ सुकेश त्वं प्रार्थयस्व यथेप्सितम्

provāca madhuraṁ vyāsa manaḥśrotrasukhāvaham | vatsottiṣṭha sukeśa tvaṁ prārthayasva yathepsitam

he spoke sweetly, O Vyasa, in words pleasing to mind and ear: 'Rise, my child Sukesha; ask for whatever you desire.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.51.37)

सर्वं तत् संप्रदास्यामि त्वं हि नन्दिसमो मम । ततः सुकेश उत्थाय स्तुत्वा च वृषभध्वजम्

sarvaṁ tat saṁpradāsyāmi tvaṁ hi nandisamo mama | tataḥ sukeśa utthāya stutvā ca vṛṣabhadhvajam

'I shall grant you all of it, for you are as dear to me as Nandi.' Then Sukesha, rising up and praising the Bull-bannered one...

Verse 38 (skanda.8.51.38)

प्रणिपत्य पुनर्वव्रे कामं पूर्वसमीहितम्

praṇipatya punarvavre kāmaṁ pūrvasamīhitam

having bowed down once more, he asked for the boon he had desired from the start.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.51.39)

नरकेषु नरा देव यात्यन्ते पापकारिणः

narakeṣu narā deva yātyante pāpakāriṇaḥ

'O god, sinful men go to the hells...'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.51.40)

तेषामुपरि चेतो मे दुःखेनार्दितमीश्वर

teṣāmupari ceto me duḥkhenārditamīśvara

'...my heart, O lord, is stricken with grief for them.'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.51.41)

ते यथा प्रतिमुच्यन्ते सर्व एव जगत्प्रभोः

te yathā pratimucyante sarva eva jagatprabhoḥ

'That all of them, O lord of the world, might be set free...'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.51.42)

तथा कुरु ममाद्यैव वर एष मयार्थितः

tathā kuru mamādyaiva vara eṣa mayārthitaḥ

'...grant that this very day; this is the boon I ask of you.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.51.43)

ये चाधुना नरा देव यात्यन्ते नरकेषु वै

ye cādhunā narā deva yātyante narakeṣu vai

'And, O god, those men who are even now going to the hells...'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.51.44)

तेषान्तु प्रतिमोक्षार्थं याचेहं त्वां सुरेश्वर

teṣāntu pratimokṣārthaṁ yācehaṁ tvāṁ sureśvara

'...for their release, O lord of the gods, I beg this of you.'

Verse 45 (skanda.8.51.45)

ततस्तदर्थितं देवः प्रयच्छन्निदमब्रवीत्

tatastadarthitaṁ devaḥ prayacchannidamabravīt

Then the god, granting what had been requested, said this:

Verse 46 (skanda.8.51.46)

एवं भवतु ते वत्स मुक्ता नारकिणो नराः । अनयापि च भक्त्या त्वं कारुण्येन च वल्लभः

evaṁ bhavatu te vatsa muktā nārakiṇo narāḥ | anayāpi ca bhaktyā tvaṁ kāruṇyena ca vallabhaḥ

'So be it, my child: let the men in hell be freed. And through this very devotion and compassion, you are dear to me.'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.51.47)

सुतरां भव निर्व्यग्रः परमैश्वर्यसंयुतः । ततस्ते नारकाः सर्वे विमानानि समाश्रिताः

sutarāṁ bhava nirvyagraḥ paramaiśvaryasaṁyutaḥ | tataste nārakāḥ sarve vimānāni samāśritāḥ

'Be free of all anxiety, endowed with supreme lordship.' Then all those hell-beings, mounted upon celestial cars...

Verse 48 (skanda.8.51.48)

देवदेवं ततोभ्येत्य सुकेशञ्च प्रणेमिरे । तमुवाच पुनर्देवः सुकेशं गणनायकम्

devadevaṁ tatobhyetya sukeśañca praṇemire | tamuvāca punardevaḥ sukeśaṁ gaṇanāyakam

then came before the God of gods and bowed also to Sukesha. The god spoke again to Sukesha, leader of the ganas...

Verse 49 (skanda.8.51.49)

यो हि तारयते जन्तूनापदः काँश्चिदेव तु । तेषां धर्मपिता भूत्वा संसारं न स पश्यति

yo hi tārayate jantūnāpadaḥ kā~ścideva tu | teṣāṁ dharmapitā bhūtvā saṁsāraṁ na sa paśyati

'Whoever delivers creatures, even a few, from calamity, becomes their father in dharma, and never again beholds this world of rebirth.'

Verse 50 (skanda.8.51.50)

मनसापि हि यः प्राणी क्लेशाज्जन्तून्सदेच्छति

manasāpi hi yaḥ prāṇī kleśājjantūnsadecchati

'Indeed, even the person who, in mind alone, ever wishes creatures to be freed from suffering...'

Verse 51 (skanda.8.51.51)

विमोक्तुं सोपि धर्मात्मा सर्वदुःखैः प्रमुच्यते

vimoktuṁ sopi dharmātmā sarvaduḥkhaiḥ pramucyate

'...he too, righteous of soul, is released from all sorrows.'

Verse 52 (skanda.8.51.52)

यश्चोपार्ज्य स्वयं धर्मं जन्तुभ्यः संप्रयच्छति । सुखार्थं सोपि सर्वेभ्यो दुःखेभ्यः संप्रमुच्यते

yaścopārjya svayaṁ dharmaṁ jantubhyaḥ saṁprayacchati | sukhārthaṁ sopi sarvebhyo duḥkhebhyaḥ saṁpramucyate

'And he who, having himself earned merit, bestows it upon creatures for their happiness — he too is released from all sorrows.'

Verse 53 (skanda.8.51.53)

स त्वं परेण योगेन ऐश्वर्येण च संयुतः । जन्तूनां तारणे युक्तस्त्वयान्यः कः समो भुवि

sa tvaṁ pareṇa yogena aiśvaryeṇa ca saṁyutaḥ | jantūnāṁ tāraṇe yuktastvayānyaḥ kaḥ samo bhuvi

'You, endowed with supreme yoga and with lordship, devoted to the deliverance of creatures — who else on earth is your equal?'

Verse 54 (skanda.8.51.54)

सुकेश उवाच। । भगवन् त्वत्प्रसादान्मे सर्वमेतद् भविष्यति । शक्तिर्मम कुतो देव त्वयैवैतत् कृतं विभो

sukeśa uvāca| | bhagavan tvatprasādānme sarvametad bhaviṣyati | śaktirmama kuto deva tvayaivaitat kṛtaṁ vibho

Sukesha said: 'O lord, all this shall come about only through your grace; what power have I, O god? It is you alone, O mighty one, who have accomplished this.'

Verse 55 (skanda.8.51.55)

दनचान्यदस्ति कर्त्तव्यं कृत्यं यन्मे मनोगतम् । तवास्मि किङ्करो दासो नाश्चर्यं यन्ममेदृशम्

danacānyadasti karttavyaṁ kṛtyaṁ yanme manogatam | tavāsmi kiṅkaro dāso nāścaryaṁ yanmamedṛśam

'There is nothing else left for me to accomplish; whatever purpose was in my mind is fulfilled. I am your servant, your slave — it is no wonder that such grace should come to me.'

Verse 56 (skanda.8.51.56)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततः स भगवान् देवो विसृज्य गणनायकम् । अभ्यगात् मन्दरं व्यास वृतः सर्वामरैस्तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tataḥ sa bhagavān devo visṛjya gaṇanāyakam | abhyagāt mandaraṁ vyāsa vṛtaḥ sarvāmaraistadā

Sanatkumara said: Then that blessed god, taking leave of the leader of the ganas, returned, O Vyasa, to Mount Mandara, surrounded then by all the immortals.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.51.57)

देवा अपि विमानस्थान् नारकान् वीक्ष्य सर्वशः । शान्तं च जगतो दुःखं दृष्ट्वा जग्मुर्यथागतम्

devā api vimānasthān nārakān vīkṣya sarvaśaḥ | śāntaṁ ca jagato duḥkhaṁ dṛṣṭvā jagmuryathāgatam

The gods too, having seen on all sides those hell-beings now seated in celestial cars, and having seen the world's sorrow now calmed, returned the way they had come.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.51.58)

य इमं नारकोत्तारं शृणुयाद्वा पठेत वा । स दुःखं समनुप्राप्य नावसीदति कर्हिचित्

ya imaṁ nārakottāraṁ śṛṇuyādvā paṭheta vā | sa duḥkhaṁ samanuprāpya nāvasīdati karhicit

Whoever hears or recites this account of the deliverance from hell, even upon encountering sorrow, never sinks into despair.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.51.59)

एतद्योगविधानसर्वसमयं श्रुत्वा नरो नित्यशः पापात्मापि सुनिर्घृणं प्रतिभयं नाभ्येति पापाश्रयम् । किन्त्वेतद् य इहाभ्युपेत्य सततं शौचान्वितः श्रावयेत् देवब्रह्मणवैद्यसंसदि दृढं भक्तः सदा शङ्करम्

etadyogavidhānasarvasamayaṁ śrutvā naro nityaśaḥ pāpātmāpi sunirghṛṇaṁ pratibhayaṁ nābhyeti pāpāśrayam | kintvetad ya ihābhyupetya satataṁ śaucānvitaḥ śrāvayet devabrahmaṇavaidyasaṁsadi dṛḍhaṁ bhaktaḥ sadā śaṅkaram

Having always heard this whole account of this method of yoga, a man, even one sinful of soul, does not go to that utterly pitiless, terrible abode of sin. But rather, whoever comes to this teaching, ever pure, and, steadfast in devotion to Shankara, always recites it in an assembly of gods, brahmins, and physicians...