The Boons of Somanandi and the Goddess

Verse 1 (skanda.8.55.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । अथ तं सहसायातमपश्यत्साचलात्मजा । ऋषिभिस्तैर्महाभागैस्समन्तात्परिवारितम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| | atha taṁ sahasāyātamapaśyatsācalātmajā | ṛṣibhistairmahābhāgaissamantātparivāritam

Sanatkumara said: Then the mountain's daughter saw him arrive suddenly, surrounded on every side by those most blessed sages...

Verse 2 (skanda.8.55.2)

रश्मिभिस्तेजसां योनिं मध्याह्न इव भास्करम् । सा तमर्घेण पाद्येन मधुपर्केण चैव हि

raśmibhistejasāṁ yoniṁ madhyāhna iva bhāskaram | sā tamargheṇa pādyena madhuparkeṇa caiva hi

—radiant with rays, like the midday sun, the very source of splendor. She, with an offering of arghya, water for the feet, and madhuparka...

Verse 3 (skanda.8.55.3)

पूजयामास रुद्राणी चतुर्वक्त्रमुपागतम्

pūjayāmāsa rudrāṇī caturvaktramupāgatam

Rudrani worshipped the four-faced one, now arrived.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.55.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच लोकस्य जननी भूत्वा धारयित्वा जगत्तथा । किमिदं तपसा भूयो लोकं दग्धुमिहेच्छसि

brahmovāca lokasya jananī bhūtvā dhārayitvā jagattathā | kimidaṁ tapasā bhūyo lokaṁ dagdhumihecchasi

Brahma said: 'Being the mother of the world, and having sustained the universe, why do you now wish, through this austerity, to burn the world yet further?'

Verse 5 (skanda.8.55.5)

मा सृष्ट्वा जगदेतत्त्वं तपस्यन्ती विनाशय । बुद्ध्वैवं धारयस्वेमं लोकं देवि नमस्तव

mā sṛṣṭvā jagadetattvaṁ tapasyantī vināśaya | buddhvaivaṁ dhārayasvemaṁ lokaṁ devi namastava

'Having brought this world into being, do not destroy it through austerity. Understanding this, sustain this world, O Goddess; homage to you.'

Verse 6 (skanda.8.55.6)

त्वत्तो रुद्रेण लोकोयमहञ्चैव पुरानघे । सृष्टाः स्मो वरदे देवि मा नः कृत्वा विनाशय

tvatto rudreṇa lokoyamahañcaiva purānaghe | sṛṣṭāḥ smo varade devi mā naḥ kṛtvā vināśaya

'From you, together with Rudra, this world, and I myself, O sinless one, were created long ago; O boon-giving Goddess, having made us, do not now destroy us.'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.55.7)

तपसा तव रुद्राणि जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम् । तप्यते ग्रीष्ममध्याह्ने जलात् पद्ममिवोद्धृतम्

tapasā tava rudrāṇi jagat sthāvarajaṅgamam | tapyate grīṣmamadhyāhne jalāt padmamivoddhṛtam

'By your austerity, O Rudrani, the whole world, moving and unmoving, is scorched — like a lotus drawn out of the water at midday in summer.'

Verse 8 (skanda.8.55.8)

किं वा ते हृदये देवि यद्यपि स्यात् सुदुष्करम् । वरं वृणीहि सर्वाणि दातास्मि हिमवत्सुते

kiṁ vā te hṛdaye devi yadyapi syāt suduṣkaram | varaṁ vṛṇīhi sarvāṇi dātāsmi himavatsute

'Whatever is in your heart, O Goddess, however difficult it may be — ask your boon; I shall grant it all, O daughter of Himavat.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.55.9)

देव्युवाच वरदोसि यदीशान मम देव चतुर्मुख । अयं भक्तोनुरक्तश्च मम नित्यं प्रियः प्रभो

devyuvāca varadosi yadīśāna mama deva caturmukha | ayaṁ bhaktonuraktaśca mama nityaṁ priyaḥ prabho

The Goddess said: 'If, O lord, O four-faced god, you are indeed the giver of my boon — then know that this creature is devoted, attached to me, and ever dear to me, my lord.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.55.10)

व्याघ्रोस्य तावद्यच्छस्व ततो दास्यसि मे वरम् । अद्य वर्षसहस्रं वै स्थितस्यास्य ममाग्रतः

vyāghrosya tāvadyacchasva tato dāsyasi me varam | adya varṣasahasraṁ vai sthitasyāsya mamāgrataḥ

'First grant something to this tiger; only then give me my boon. For a thousand years now he has stood before me...'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.55.11)

ध्यायतो निमिषस्यैव स्तब्धकर्णस्य लोकप । अस्मै धत्स्व वरं देव नास्मि तावद्वरार्थिनी

dhyāyato nimiṣasyaiva stabdhakarṇasya lokapa | asmai dhatsva varaṁ deva nāsmi tāvadvarārthinī

'...meditating, unblinking, his ears held rigid in attention, O lord of the world. Grant this one a boon, O god; until then, I seek no boon for myself.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.55.12)

पितामह उवाच। । एष तिर्यग् दुरात्मा च त्वां भक्षयितुमागतः । नास्य शुद्धं मनो देवि क्रूरोयं पापचेतनः

pitāmaha uvāca| | eṣa tiryag durātmā ca tvāṁ bhakṣayitumāgataḥ | nāsya śuddhaṁ mano devi krūroyaṁ pāpacetanaḥ

The Grandsire said: 'This is but a beast, evil-souled, who has come to devour you; his mind is not pure, O Goddess — he is cruel and sinful of intent.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.55.13)

पश्यैनं दुष्टमनसं नास्य श्रेयो मनस्त्वयि

paśyainaṁ duṣṭamanasaṁ nāsya śreyo manastvayi

'See how evil his mind is; his thought toward you bodes no good.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.55.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । अथ सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा रुद्राणी लोकभावनी

sanatkumāra uvāca| | atha sā tadvacaḥ śrutvā rudrāṇī lokabhāvanī

Sanatkumara said: Then, hearing that word, Rudrani, the fashioner of the worlds...

Verse 15 (skanda.8.55.15)

दिव्येन चक्षुषापश्यदज्ञानात् कृतसाहसम्

divyena cakṣuṣāpaśyadajñānāt kṛtasāhasam

—perceived, with her divine sight, that he had acted rashly only out of ignorance.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.55.16)

अनन्यभक्तः पूर्वञ्च जातिदोषेण दूषितः

ananyabhaktaḥ pūrvañca jātidoṣeṇa dūṣitaḥ

she saw that he had been, in a former life, exclusively devoted to her, and was now tainted only by the fault of his birth as a beast.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.55.17)

विदितार्था ततो भूत्वा उवाच हिमवत्सुता

viditārthā tato bhūtvā uvāca himavatsutā

Then, having thus understood the truth, the daughter of Himavat spoke:

Verse 18 (skanda.8.55.18)

भगवन् को हि लोकेषु तिर्यक्त्वे सति निश्चलः

bhagavan ko hi lokeṣu tiryaktve sati niścalaḥ

'O lord, who indeed, in all the worlds, even while in the state of a beast, could remain so unwavering...'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.55.19)

स्तब्धकर्णेक्षणो दिव्यमहोप्येकमभोजनः

stabdhakarṇekṣaṇo divyamahopyekamabhojanaḥ

'—ears and eyes held motionless, even for a single divine day, without food...'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.55.20)

अवतिष्ठेत किं योयं सहस्रमवतिष्ठत । वर्षाणां सुमहातेजा नायं तिर्यक्षु संस्कृतः

avatiṣṭheta kiṁ yoyaṁ sahasramavatiṣṭhata | varṣāṇāṁ sumahātejā nāyaṁ tiryakṣu saṁskṛtaḥ

'—could remain so? Yet this one has remained so for a thousand years! One of such great splendor is not truly of the ordinary nature of beasts.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.55.21)

भवत्वयं दुष्टचेतास्त्वदुष्टो वा महाबलः

bhavatvayaṁ duṣṭacetāstvaduṣṭo vā mahābalaḥ

'Whether this one of great strength be evil-minded, or not evil...'

Verse 22 (skanda.8.55.22)

ममानुग्राह्य इत्येव वरो ह्यस्य प्रदीयताम्

mamānugrāhya ityeva varo hyasya pradīyatām

'—he deserves my grace regardless; let a boon be granted to him.'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.55.23)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । ततः स भगवान् देवश्चतुर्वक्त्रः पितामहः । उवाच वचनं देवीमृषीणां शृण्वतां तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca| | tataḥ sa bhagavān devaścaturvaktraḥ pitāmahaḥ | uvāca vacanaṁ devīmṛṣīṇāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ tadā

Sanatkumara said: Then that blessed god, the four-faced Grandsire, spoke this word to the Goddess, as the sages listened:

Verse 24 (skanda.8.55.24)

आर्याणां दस्यवोपीह संसर्गात् सिद्धिमाप्नुयुः । यथायं क्रूरकर्मापि सिद्धिं प्राप्स्यत्यनुत्तमाम्

āryāṇāṁ dasyavopīha saṁsargāt siddhimāpnuyuḥ | yathāyaṁ krūrakarmāpi siddhiṁ prāpsyatyanuttamām

'Even robbers, through association with the noble, attain accomplishment in this world; so too shall this one, though cruel in his deeds, attain the highest accomplishment.'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.55.25)

तस्मादार्याः सदा सेव्या नित्यं पापकृतापि हि । सिद्धिमेति नरः क्षिप्रमपापानां समीपगः

tasmādāryāḥ sadā sevyā nityaṁ pāpakṛtāpi hi | siddhimeti naraḥ kṣipramapāpānāṁ samīpagaḥ

'Therefore the noble should ever be served, even by one who habitually sins; a man who draws near the sinless quickly attains accomplishment.'

Verse 26 (skanda.8.55.26)

अनुग्राह्यस्तवानिन्द्ये पापोयं दुष्टचेतनः । अतोस्मै ब्रूहि देवेशे वरो यस्तव रोचते

anugrāhyastavānindye pāpoyaṁ duṣṭacetanaḥ | atosmai brūhi deveśe varo yastava rocate

'This sinful, evil-minded one is thus worthy of your grace, O blameless one. So, O queen among goddesses, tell me what boon you wish for him.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.55.27)

देव्युवाच अमरो जरया त्यक्त अक्षयश्चाव्ययस्तथा । महायोगबलोपेतो महदैश्वर्यसंयुतः

devyuvāca amaro jarayā tyakta akṣayaścāvyayastathā | mahāyogabalopeto mahadaiśvaryasaṁyutaḥ

The Goddess said: 'Let him be immortal, free from old age, imperishable and undecaying, endowed with the power of great yoga, and joined with great lordship...'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.55.28)

गणेश्वरो ममेष्टश्च भवत्वेष यदीच्छसि

gaṇeśvaro mameṣṭaśca bhavatveṣa yadīcchasi

'—let him become a lord of my ganas, dear to me, if that is your wish.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.55.29)

पितामह उवाच। । एवं भवतु भद्रं ते सर्वमेतद् भविष्यति । जानासि ब्रह्मबन्धूनां ब्रह्मदत्तस्य मंत्रिणम्

pitāmaha uvāca| | evaṁ bhavatu bhadraṁ te sarvametad bhaviṣyati | jānāsi brahmabandhūnāṁ brahmadattasya maṁtriṇam

The Grandsire said: 'So be it; blessings upon you — all this shall come to pass. Do you know that this was once the minister of Brahmadatta, among a company of degenerate brahmins?'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.55.30)

त्वयि भक्तिः पुराप्यस्य शापाद् व्याघ्रगतिं गतः । पञ्चालस्य च यक्षोयं प्रतीहारोभवत् पुरा

tvayi bhaktiḥ purāpyasya śāpād vyāghragatiṁ gataḥ | pañcālasya ca yakṣoyaṁ pratīhārobhavat purā

'Devotion to you was already his in a former life; through a curse he came to the state of a tiger. And this one had once been a Yaksha, a gate-keeper of the Panchala king.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.55.31)

त्वया मया यदद्यास्य कृतेयं नन्दिरीदृशी । तस्माद् गमिष्यति ख्यातिं सोमनन्दीति नामतः

tvayā mayā yadadyāsya kṛteyaṁ nandirīdṛśī | tasmād gamiṣyati khyātiṁ somanandīti nāmataḥ

'Since today, by you and by me, this favor has been shown to him — making him like Nandi — he shall henceforth become renowned by the name Somanandi.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.55.32)

यश्चैनं कीर्तयेद् दुर्गे कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । शार्दूलसिंहद्वीपिभ्यो न भयं तस्य जानते

yaścainaṁ kīrtayed durge kāntāreṣu bhayeṣu ca | śārdūlasiṁhadvīpibhyo na bhayaṁ tasya jānate

'And whoever invokes his name in difficult places, in forests, and in times of danger, shall know no fear from tigers, lions, or leopards.'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.55.33)

वद त्वमपि चेशानि यस्ते प्रियमनोरथः । यावद् ददामि सर्वन्ते नियोगात् पारमेश्वरात्

vada tvamapi ceśāni yaste priyamanorathaḥ | yāvad dadāmi sarvante niyogāt pārameśvarāt

'Now you too, O queen, tell me whatever wish is dear to your heart; by the authority granted to me by the Supreme Lord, I shall give you everything.'

Verse 34 (skanda.8.55.34)

देव्युवाच इच्छामि भगवन् दिव्यं वर्णं कनकसप्रभम् । गौरीति लोके ख्याता च भवेयं कमलोद्भव

devyuvāca icchāmi bhagavan divyaṁ varṇaṁ kanakasaprabham | gaurīti loke khyātā ca bhaveyaṁ kamalodbhava

The Goddess said: 'O lord, I desire a divine complexion, radiant as gold; and, O lotus-born one, may I become known in the world by the name Gauri.'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.55.35)

पितामह उवाच। । एवमस्तु जगन्मातर्यदिच्छसि तपोधने

pitāmaha uvāca| | evamastu jaganmātaryadicchasi tapodhane

The Grandsire said: 'So be it, O mother of the world — whatever you desire, O you rich in austerity.'

Verse 36 (skanda.8.55.36)

अन्यं वरय भद्रन्ते वरं देवि ददामि ते

anyaṁ varaya bhadrante varaṁ devi dadāmi te

'Choose yet another boon too, blessed one; I grant it to you, O Goddess.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.55.37)

महद्धीदं तपस्तप्तं भवत्या लोकभावनम् । नानुरूपो वरस्तस्य तस्मादन्योपि मृग्यताम्

mahaddhīdaṁ tapastaptaṁ bhavatyā lokabhāvanam | nānurūpo varastasya tasmādanyopi mṛgyatām

'For this austerity you have performed is truly great, the very foundation of the worlds' being; no single boon could match it — so seek another as well.'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.55.38)

देव्युवाच इच्छामि भगवन्पुत्रं सर्वधर्मभृतां वरम् । महाबलं महोत्साहं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्

devyuvāca icchāmi bhagavanputraṁ sarvadharmabhṛtāṁ varam | mahābalaṁ mahotsāhaṁ sarvalokanamaskṛtam

The Goddess said: 'O lord, I desire a son, best among all upholders of dharma, of great strength, of great vigor, revered by all the worlds.'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.55.39)

पितामह उवाच। । पुत्रस्ते भविता देवि महायोगबलान्वितः । अजेय स्सर्वभूतानामष्टैश्वर्यगुणान्वितः

pitāmaha uvāca| | putraste bhavitā devi mahāyogabalānvitaḥ | ajeya ssarvabhūtānāmaṣṭaiśvaryaguṇānvitaḥ

The Grandsire said: 'A son shall be born to you, O Goddess, endowed with the power of great yoga, unconquerable by all beings, possessed of the eight qualities of lordship...'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.55.40)

जेता हन्ता तथा देष्टा अजरोवध्य एव च । अनादेश्यश्च सततं सर्वेषां प्राणिनां वरः

jetā hantā tathā deṣṭā ajarovadhya eva ca | anādeśyaśca satataṁ sarveṣāṁ prāṇināṁ varaḥ

'—a conqueror, a destroyer, and a commander; unaging and unslayable; forever beyond command by others, and foremost among all beings.'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.55.41)

सदा बालोथ सुभगो धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः । देवब्राह्मणगोप्ता च विद्वान् सर्वज्ञ एव च

sadā bālotha subhago dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ | devabrāhmaṇagoptā ca vidvān sarvajña eva ca

'—ever youthful, fortunate, knowing dharma, devoted to dharma; protector of gods and brahmins, learned, and all-knowing.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.55.42)

षण्मुखो द्वादशभुजः शक्तिपाणिस्तथैव च । ब्रह्मण्यश्च शारण्यश्च देवद्विट्संघहा तथा

ṣaṇmukho dvādaśabhujaḥ śaktipāṇistathaiva ca | brahmaṇyaśca śāraṇyaśca devadviṭsaṁghahā tathā

'—six-faced, twelve-armed, and bearing the spear in hand; devoted to brahmins, a refuge for those who seek shelter, and the destroyer of hosts of gods' enemies.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.55.43)

अयोनिजो महातेजा लोकानां सुखकृच्च हि

ayonijo mahātejā lokānāṁ sukhakṛcca hi

'—not born from a womb, of great splendor, and truly the bringer of happiness to the worlds.'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.55.44)

शनैरेतदुवाचासौ ततश्च विरराम ह

śanairetaduvācāsau tataśca virarāma ha

He spoke this slowly, and then fell silent.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.55.45)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । वरान् स दत्त्वा देवेशः कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणाम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| | varān sa dattvā deveśaḥ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇām

Sanatkumara said: Having granted the boons, that lord of gods, having also circled her in reverence...

Verse 46 (skanda.8.55.46)

विमानं तं समारुह्य स्वं लोकमगमत्तदा

vimānaṁ taṁ samāruhya svaṁ lokamagamattadā

—mounting that celestial car, then departed for his own world.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.55.47)

रुद्राण्यपि गते तस्मिन् सोमनन्दिपुरःसरा । स्थिताकाशं समास्थाय रोहिणीव बुधानुगा

rudrāṇyapi gate tasmin somanandipuraḥsarā | sthitākāśaṁ samāsthāya rohiṇīva budhānugā

And when he had departed, Rudrani too, with Somanandi going before her, stationed in the sky, shone like Rohini followed by Budha.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.55.48)

मन्त्रानुगेव गायत्री जयन्तेन शची यथा । तथा सा भाति रुद्राणी सोमनन्दिपुरःसरा

mantrānugeva gāyatrī jayantena śacī yathā | tathā sā bhāti rudrāṇī somanandipuraḥsarā

—like Gayatri accompanied by her own mantra, or Shachi with Jayanta; so did Rudrani shine, with Somanandi going before her.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.55.49)

य इमं पठते सदा विपश्चित् पुरुषः प्रातरतन्द्रितो हि कश्चित्

ya imaṁ paṭhate sadā vipaścit puruṣaḥ prātaratandrito hi kaścit

Whatever wise man ever recites this at dawn, diligent and unwearied...

Verse 50 (skanda.8.55.50)

कुरुते न भयं हि सोमनन्दिर्वरदस्तस्य हरश्च सोमनन्दी

kurute na bhayaṁ hi somanandirvaradastasya haraśca somanandī

—for him Somanandi, the boon-giver, brings no fear; Hara, together with Somanandi, watches over him.