Brahma's Arrival on Mount Mandara

Verse 1 (skanda.8.54.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततस्तेन विमानेन सर्वसृक् चतुराननः

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tatastena vimānena sarvasṛk caturānanaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then, in that celestial car, the four-faced creator of all...

Verse 2 (skanda.8.54.2)

जगाम मन्दरं धीमान् विचित्रोपलकन्दरम्

jagāma mandaraṁ dhīmān vicitropalakandaram

the wise one, went to Mandara, a mountain of wondrous rocky caverns.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.54.3)

स तमासाद्य विस्तीर्णमनौपम्यमतिप्रभम् । दूराद् दृष्टिसुखं दृष्टवा सभास्थानिदमब्रवीत्

sa tamāsādya vistīrṇamanaupamyamatiprabham | dūrād dṛṣṭisukhaṁ dṛṣṭavā sabhāsthānidamabravīt

Reaching it — vast, incomparable, most splendid, pleasing to the eye even from a distance — he, there in that assembly, spoke this:

Verse 4 (skanda.8.54.4)

इदं रुद्रगृहं शुभ्रमदृश्यं सुकृतामपि

idaṁ rudragṛhaṁ śubhramadṛśyaṁ sukṛtāmapi

'This is Rudra's radiant abode, unseen even by the righteous.'

Verse 5 (skanda.8.54.5)

देवानामपि पश्यध्वं भास्कराकारवर्चसम्

devānāmapi paśyadhvaṁ bhāskarākāravarcasam

'Behold — its splendor is like the very form of the sun, even to the gods.'

Verse 6 (skanda.8.54.6)

इदं प्रविश्य देवानां यज्ञश्रीर्नापसर्पति । जयश्च नित्यं युद्धेषु धर्मश्च सुमहानपि

idaṁ praviśya devānāṁ yajñaśrīrnāpasarpati | jayaśca nityaṁ yuddheṣu dharmaśca sumahānapi

'Having entered here, the glory of the gods' sacrifice never departs; and victory ever attends them in battle, along with the greatest dharma.'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.54.7)

एतत् सृष्टं स्वयं तेन मनसानुपमद्युति । न ह्यस्य सदृशं किञ्चिदण्डेस्मिन् विद्यते गृहम्

etat sṛṣṭaṁ svayaṁ tena manasānupamadyuti | na hyasya sadṛśaṁ kiñcidaṇḍesmin vidyate gṛham

'This dwelling, of incomparable splendor, was created by him himself, by mind alone; there exists no other abode like it in this whole universe.'

Verse 8 (skanda.8.54.8)

इदं प्रविश्य धर्मात्मा भूयो दुःखं न विन्दति

idaṁ praviśya dharmātmā bhūyo duḥkhaṁ na vindati

'Having entered here, the righteous soul finds no sorrow ever again.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.54.9)

न चापि जन्म प्राप्नोति नित्यमैश्वर्यगो हि सः

na cāpi janma prāpnoti nityamaiśvaryago hi saḥ

'Nor does he undergo birth again; for he goes on, ever endowed with lordship.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.54.10)

अनिर्देश्यमिदं योगाद् योगिनामपि नित्यशः । अन्यस्तु कुत एवेदं वर्णयीत महानपि

anirdeśyamidaṁ yogād yogināmapi nityaśaḥ | anyastu kuta evedaṁ varṇayīta mahānapi

'This is beyond description, even by yoga, even for the yogis, always; how then could anyone else, however great, ever describe it?'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.54.11)

एतदस्मद्विमानस्य वायुनाभ्याहतं रुषा । वर्धते गिरिणा सार्धं विन्ध्यस्य शिखरं यथा

etadasmadvimānasya vāyunābhyāhataṁ ruṣā | vardhate giriṇā sārdhaṁ vindhyasya śikharaṁ yathā

'This, struck by the wind of our celestial car as if in anger, swells up together with the mountain, like the peak of Vindhya.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.54.12)

एतदस्मद्विमानस्य मार्गमावृत्यधिष्ठितम् । ऊर्ध्वं तिर्यगधस्ताच्च देवदेवस्य तेजसा

etadasmadvimānasya mārgamāvṛtyadhiṣṭhitam | ūrdhvaṁ tiryagadhastācca devadevasya tejasā

'This has taken its stand, blocking the path of our celestial car, above, across, and below, by the power of the God of gods.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.54.13)

एतदन्धं तमः कृत्वा मेधोसौ जीवनः स्वयम् । वज्रोद्यतकरः स्रग्वी प्रत्युद्यात्यभिनादयन्

etadandhaṁ tamaḥ kṛtvā medhosau jīvanaḥ svayam | vajrodyatakaraḥ sragvī pratyudyātyabhinādayan

'Having made this blinding darkness, that living cloud itself, its arm raised as if wielding a thunderbolt, garlanded, advances, roaring.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.54.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततः स भगवान्देवो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । विष्टभ्य तत् विमानाग्य्रमवतस्थे कृताञ्जलिः

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tataḥ sa bhagavāndevo brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | viṣṭabhya tat vimānāgyramavatasthe kṛtāñjaliḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then that blessed god Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, halted that foremost celestial car and stood still, with joined palms.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.54.15)

तुष्टाव च तदा देवं शर्वमुग्रं कपर्दिनम् । ते चैव ऋषयः सर्वे विमानस्था सुसंयताः

tuṣṭāva ca tadā devaṁ śarvamugraṁ kapardinam | te caiva ṛṣayaḥ sarve vimānasthā susaṁyatāḥ

He then praised the god Sharva, the fierce, matted-haired one; and all the sages there in the celestial car, well composed...

Verse 16 (skanda.8.54.16)

प्रकाशं चक्रिरे सर्वं जगत् स्थावरजंगमम् । ततस्स मेघः स्वं स्थानमगमद् वृष्टिसर्जनः

prakāśaṁ cakrire sarvaṁ jagat sthāvarajaṁgamam | tatassa meghaḥ svaṁ sthānamagamad vṛṣṭisarjanaḥ

—made the whole world, both moving and unmoving, radiant with light. Then that rain-bearing cloud withdrew to its own place.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.54.17)

दिशश्च विमलाः सर्वाः प्रकाशश्चाभवद् भृशम् । तं जपन्तं विदित्वा च भगवान् गोवृषध्वजः

diśaśca vimalāḥ sarvāḥ prakāśaścābhavad bhṛśam | taṁ japantaṁ viditvā ca bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ

All the directions became clear, and light shone forth abundantly. And, knowing him to be engaged in prayer, the blessed one whose banner bears the bull...

Verse 18 (skanda.8.54.18)

नन्दिनं द्वारदेशस्थमिदमाह सुरेश्वरः

nandinaṁ dvāradeśasthamidamāha sureśvaraḥ

the lord of gods spoke this to Nandin, stationed at the gate:

Verse 19 (skanda.8.54.19)

एष ब्रह्मा विमानेन मामिह द्रष्टुमागतः

eṣa brahmā vimānena māmiha draṣṭumāgataḥ

'This is Brahma, come here in his celestial car to see me.'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.54.20)

ब्रूहि येनागतोसीह कार्येण विदितोसि मे । कुरु तद् गच्छ शीघ्रं तु कालस्तस्यायमागतः

brūhi yenāgatosīha kāryeṇa viditosi me | kuru tad gaccha śīghraṁ tu kālastasyāyamāgataḥ

'Ask him for what purpose he has come here, and let it be told to me. Do this, and go quickly — his time has come.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.54.21)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । स एवमुक्तो रुद्रेण नन्दी प्रमथनायकः

sanatkumāra uvāca| | sa evamukto rudreṇa nandī pramathanāyakaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by Rudra, Nandi, leader of the Pramathas...

Verse 22 (skanda.8.54.22)

द्वाःस्थ एव विमानस्थं ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत्

dvāḥstha eva vimānasthaṁ brahmāṇamidamabravīt

—remaining right there at the gate, spoke this to Brahma in his celestial car:

Verse 23 (skanda.8.54.23)

नन्द्युवाच यूयं ज्ञाता भगवता येन कार्येण चागताः । कुरुध्वं किल तच्छीघ्रं कालोयं तस्य वर्तते

nandyuvāca yūyaṁ jñātā bhagavatā yena kāryeṇa cāgatāḥ | kurudhvaṁ kila tacchīghraṁ kāloyaṁ tasya vartate

Nandi said: 'The Lord already knows for what purpose you have come. Do it swiftly indeed — this is its appointed time.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.54.24)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततः स कृत्वा मनसा नमस्कारं हि शम्भवे । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य मन्दरं प्रजगाम ह

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tataḥ sa kṛtvā manasā namaskāraṁ hi śambhave | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya mandaraṁ prajagāma ha

Sanatkumara said: Then, having made obeisance in his mind to Shambhu, and having circled the place in reverence, he departed from Mandara.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.54.25)

स मन्दरगिरिं सर्वं परिहृत्य महामनाः । शाकद्वीपस्य मध्येन जम्बूद्वीपमुपागमत्

sa mandaragiriṁ sarvaṁ parihṛtya mahāmanāḥ | śākadvīpasya madhyena jambūdvīpamupāgamat

That great-souled one, leaving the whole of Mount Mandara behind, came, through the middle of Shakadvipa, to Jambudvipa.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.54.26)

स दृश्यमानो देवैश्च मुनिभिश्च यतव्रतैः । हिमवन्तं गिरिश्रेष्ठमुपागम्येदमब्रवीत्

sa dṛśyamāno devaiśca munibhiśca yatavrataiḥ | himavantaṁ giriśreṣṭhamupāgamyedamabravīt

Seen by the gods and by sages of restrained vows, he approached Himavat, foremost of mountains, and spoke this:

Verse 27 (skanda.8.54.27)

एतद्धिमवतः शृङ्गमुच्छ्रितं कान्तिमत् स्थितम् । युगान्तादित्यसंकाशं दूरात् समभिलक्ष्यते

etaddhimavataḥ śṛṅgamucchritaṁ kāntimat sthitam | yugāntādityasaṁkāśaṁ dūrāt samabhilakṣyate

'This is the peak of Himavat, standing tall and radiant, resembling the sun at the end of an age, visible even from a distance.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.54.28)

अत्र सा जगतो धात्री धात्री पुत्रमिवौरसम् । पालयन्ती जगत् सर्वं तपस्तप्यति शैलजा

atra sā jagato dhātrī dhātrī putramivaurasam | pālayantī jagat sarvaṁ tapastapyati śailajā

'Here that nurturer of the world, the mountain's daughter, protecting the whole world as a nurse protects her own child, performs her austerity.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.54.29)

अहो नु शिखरं पुण्यं भाग्यवच्चापि सर्वथा । यदेनं गिरिपुत्र्यर्थे वरैर्योक्ष्यति कामहा

aho nu śikharaṁ puṇyaṁ bhāgyavaccāpi sarvathā | yadenaṁ giriputryarthe varairyokṣyati kāmahā

'Ah, how holy, and how altogether fortunate is this peak, since the Slayer of Desire shall, for the mountain-daughter's sake, bless it with boons!'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.54.30)

पश्यध्वं तपसो वीर्यं देव्याः सुचरितस्य वै । यदेतच्छिखरं दृष्टवा न पश्याम पुनर्भवम्

paśyadhvaṁ tapaso vīryaṁ devyāḥ sucaritasya vai | yadetacchikharaṁ dṛṣṭavā na paśyāma punarbhavam

'Behold the power of the Goddess's austerity, of her righteous conduct — for, having seen this peak, we shall not behold rebirth again.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.54.31)

स एवं कथयन्नेव विमानेन चतुर्मुखः । ऋषिभिः सहितः सर्वैः शिखरद्वारमागतः

sa evaṁ kathayanneva vimānena caturmukhaḥ | ṛṣibhiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ śikharadvāramāgataḥ

Even as he spoke thus, the four-faced Brahma, in his celestial car, together with all the sages, arrived at the gate of the peak.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.54.32)

तत्रैनं रुद्रसचिवा उद्यतायुधपाणयः

tatrainaṁ rudrasacivā udyatāyudhapāṇayaḥ

There, Rudra's attendants, weapons raised in hand...

Verse 33 (skanda.8.54.33)

भर्त्सयन्तोभ्यवर्तन्त तिष्ठतिष्ठेतिवादिनः

bhartsayantobhyavartanta tiṣṭhatiṣṭhetivādinaḥ

advanced toward him, threatening, shouting 'Stop! Stop!'

Verse 34 (skanda.8.54.34)

तान् ब्रह्मा श्लक्ष्णाया वाचा सान्त्वपूर्वमुवाच ह । प्रशंसमानस्तान्सर्वान् प्राञ्जलिर्मुक्तमानसः

tān brahmā ślakṣṇāyā vācā sāntvapūrvamuvāca ha | praśaṁsamānastānsarvān prāñjalirmuktamānasaḥ

Brahma addressed them with gentle, conciliatory words, praising them all, with joined palms, his mind at ease.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.54.35)

ब्रह्मोवाच यूयं सर्वे महात्मनान ऐश्वर्येण समन्विताः । अक्षया ह्यमराश्चैव तथाप्रतिहताश्च ह

brahmovāca yūyaṁ sarve mahātmanāna aiśvaryeṇa samanvitāḥ | akṣayā hyamarāścaiva tathāpratihatāśca ha

Brahma said: 'You are all great souls, endowed with lordship; imperishable, immortal indeed, and likewise unopposed.'

Verse 36 (skanda.8.54.36)

महायोगबलोपेता अजय्या युधि केनचित् । को युष्मानतिवर्तेत शक्रोपि प्रवरेश्वराः

mahāyogabalopetā ajayyā yudhi kenacit | ko yuṣmānativarteta śakropi pravareśvarāḥ

'Endowed with the power of great yoga, unconquerable in battle by anyone — who could overcome you, O foremost of lords? Not even Indra.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.54.37)

देवदेवाज्ञया योहमागतो मन्दरादिह । देव्या वरप्रदानार्थमनुज्ञा क्रियतां मम

devadevājñayā yohamāgato mandarādiha | devyā varapradānārthamanujñā kriyatāṁ mama

'By the command of the God of gods, I have come here from Mandara, for the purpose of granting a boon to the Goddess; grant me your leave.'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.54.38)

गणेश्वरा ऊचुः। । देव्या दाता स्वयं देवो वरानिष्टान् महामनाः । वरं हि देवी त्वन्यस्मान् मनसापि न चिन्तयेत्

gaṇeśvarā ūcuḥ| | devyā dātā svayaṁ devo varāniṣṭān mahāmanāḥ | varaṁ hi devī tvanyasmān manasāpi na cintayet

The lords of the ganas said: 'The great-souled god himself is the giver of the boons desired by the Goddess; indeed the Goddess would not, even in her mind, think of receiving a boon from anyone but him.'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.54.39)

शक्तो देवोनुग्रहीतुं जगत्सर्वं महेश्वरः

śakto devonugrahītuṁ jagatsarvaṁ maheśvaraḥ

'The god Maheshvara is capable of showing grace to the entire world.'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.54.40)

त्वामप्येषोनुगृहणाति किमु देवीं जगत्पतिः

tvāmapyeṣonugṛhaṇāti kimu devīṁ jagatpatiḥ

'He, lord of the universe, shows grace even to you — how much more, then, to the Goddess?'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.54.41)

पितामह उवाच। । अशक्तो न महादेवो वरं दातुं महामनाः । य एवं चिन्तयेद् देवं न भवेत् स कथञ्चन

pitāmaha uvāca| | aśakto na mahādevo varaṁ dātuṁ mahāmanāḥ | ya evaṁ cintayed devaṁ na bhavet sa kathañcana

The Grandsire said: 'It is not that the great-souled Mahadeva is unable to grant the boon; whoever should think thus of the god would be quite wrong to do so.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.54.42)

न देवी भगवत्पार्श्वादिच्छते किल पार्वती

na devī bhagavatpārśvādicchate kila pārvatī

'Indeed, Parvati does not wish to receive it directly from the Lord himself...'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.54.43)

वरानिष्टाँस्ततो देवो मामिह प्रैषयच्छिवः

varāniṣṭā~stato devo māmiha praiṣayacchivaḥ

'—therefore the god Shiva has sent me here with the desired boons.'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.54.44)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । अथ ते युक्तमनसो युक्तं प्रत्यक्षमीश्वराः । महेश्वरमपश्यन्त कृतानुज्ञं च लोकपम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| | atha te yuktamanaso yuktaṁ pratyakṣamīśvarāḥ | maheśvaramapaśyanta kṛtānujñaṁ ca lokapam

Sanatkumara said: Then those lords, their minds now convinced, understood as though seeing it directly that Maheshvara, guardian of the world, had granted his permission.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.54.45)

नियुक्ताश्च पुनः सर्वे ब्रह्माणं लोककारणम् । ऊचुर्गणेश्वराँस्तत्र विदितार्था महामुने

niyuktāśca punaḥ sarve brahmāṇaṁ lokakāraṇam | ūcurgaṇeśvarā~statra viditārthā mahāmune

And so, O great sage, all those lords of the ganas, their purpose now understood, spoke there to Brahma, the cause of the worlds:

Verse 46 (skanda.8.54.46)

प्रेषितो देवदेवेन ज्ञातोस्माभिः पितामह । त्वं विशस्वाधुना देव पार्वत्या वरदित्सया

preṣito devadevena jñātosmābhiḥ pitāmaha | tvaṁ viśasvādhunā deva pārvatyā varaditsayā

'That you were sent by the God of gods — this we now understand, O Grandsire. Enter now, O god, with the wish to grant a boon to Parvati.'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.54.47)

अवतीर्य विमानात्तु ततः शीघ्रं पितामहः । निलिल्ये शिखरे तस्मिन्नानाधातुविचित्रिते

avatīrya vimānāttu tataḥ śīghraṁ pitāmahaḥ | nililye śikhare tasminnānādhātuvicitrite

Then, descending swiftly from his celestial car, the Grandsire hid himself upon that peak, richly variegated with many minerals.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.54.48)

अथ सोपलधातुनिर्झरो गिरिराजोतिमहाशिलोच्चयः

atha sopaladhātunirjharo girirājotimahāśiloccayaḥ

Then that king of mountains — with its rocky minerals and waterfalls, a vast mass of great stones...

Verse 49 (skanda.8.54.49)

विनिसृष्टदिवाकरामलो दिदिवे दिव्य इवोदयाचलः

vinisṛṣṭadivākarāmalo didive divya ivodayācalaḥ

—touched now by the immaculate rays of the sun, it shone like the divine Mountain of Sunrise itself.