The Birth of Man (Nara)

Verse 1 (skanda.8.6.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततः स भगवान्देवः कपर्दी नीललोहितः । आज्ञया परमेशस्य जग्राह ब्रह्मणः शिरः

sanatkumāra uvāca| tataḥ sa bhagavāndevaḥ kapardī nīlalohitaḥ | ājñayā parameśasya jagrāha brahmaṇaḥ śiraḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then the matted-haired, blue-throated blessed god, by the command of the Supreme Lord, took up Brahma's skull.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.6.2)

तद् गृहीत्वा शिरो दीप्तं रूपं विकृतमास्थितः । योगक्रीडां समास्थाय भैक्षाय प्रचचार ह

tad gṛhītvā śiro dīptaṁ rūpaṁ vikṛtamāsthitaḥ | yogakrīḍāṁ samāsthāya bhaikṣāya pracacāra ha

Taking up that blazing skull, he assumed a fearsome form; entering into the sport of yoga, he went about begging for alms.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.6.3)

स देववेश्मनि तथा भिक्षार्थमगमद् द्विजाः । न चास्य कश्चित्तां भिक्षामनुरूपामदाद्विभोः

sa devaveśmani tathā bhikṣārthamagamad dvijāḥ | na cāsya kaścittāṁ bhikṣāmanurūpāmadādvibhoḥ

O brahmins, in this way he went to the dwellings of the gods seeking alms, but none gave that mighty lord alms fitting for him.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.6.4)

अथ संचक्रमे देवो वेश्म विष्णोर्महात्मनः । तस्यातिष्ठत् स द्वारि भिक्षामुच्चारयन् शुभाम्

atha saṁcakrame devo veśma viṣṇormahātmanaḥ | tasyātiṣṭhat sa dvāri bhikṣāmuccārayan śubhām

Then the god proceeded to the abode of the great-souled Vishnu, and stood at his door, crying out the auspicious plea for alms.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.6.5)

स दृष्ट्वा तत्रस्थं तं विष्णुर्वै योगचक्षुषा । शिवलीलां समाज्ञाय रक्तधारामपातयत्

sa dṛṣṭvā tatrasthaṁ taṁ viṣṇurvai yogacakṣuṣā | śivalīlāṁ samājñāya raktadhārāmapātayat

Seeing him standing there with his yogic eye, Vishnu, recognizing it as Shiva's divine play, let fall a stream of blood.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.6.6)

पपात सा च विस्तीर्णा योजनार्द्ध शतं तदा । तया पतन्त्या विप्रेन्द्रा बहून्यब्दानि धारया

papāta sā ca vistīrṇā yojanārddha śataṁ tadā | tayā patantyā viprendrā bahūnyabdāni dhārayā

That stream fell, spreading out to fifty yojanas across; O best of brahmins, by that falling stream, it flowed on for many years.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.6.7)

पितामहकपालस्य नार्धमप्यभिपूरितम् । तमुवाच ततो देवः प्रहस्य वचनं शुभम्

pitāmahakapālasya nārdhamapyabhipūritam | tamuvāca tato devaḥ prahasya vacanaṁ śubham

Yet not even half the Grandsire's skull was filled. Then the god (Vishnu) smiled and spoke this auspicious word to him.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.6.8)

सकृत्कन्याः प्रदीयन्ते सकृदग्निश्च जायते । सकृद्राजानो ब्रुवते सकृद् भिक्षा प्रदीयते

sakṛtkanyāḥ pradīyante sakṛdagniśca jāyate | sakṛdrājāno bruvate sakṛd bhikṣā pradīyate

Maidens are given away but once, the sacred fire is kindled but once, kings give their word but once, and alms are given but once.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.6.9)

तुष्टोस्मि तव दानेन युक्तेनानेन मानद । वरं वृणीष्व देवेश वरदोस्मि तवाद्य वै

tuṣṭosmi tava dānena yuktenānena mānada | varaṁ vṛṇīṣva deveśa varadosmi tavādya vai

I am pleased, O giver of honor, with this fitting gift of yours; choose a boon, O lord of the gods — today I am indeed your boon-giver.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.6.10)

विष्णुरुवाच। एष एव वरः श्लाघ्यो यदहं देवताधिपम् । पश्यामि शंकरं दीप्तं कपर्दिनम्

viṣṇuruvāca| eṣa eva varaḥ ślāghyo yadahaṁ devatādhipam | paśyāmi śaṁkaraṁ dīptaṁ kapardinam

Vishnu said: This alone is the praiseworthy boon — that I may behold the radiant, matted-haired Shankara, lord of the gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.6.11)

देवश्छायां ततो वीक्ष्य कपालस्थे तदा रसे । ससर्ज पुरुषं दिव्यं विष्णोः सदृशमूर्जितम्

devaśchāyāṁ tato vīkṣya kapālasthe tadā rase | sasarja puruṣaṁ divyaṁ viṣṇoḥ sadṛśamūrjitam

The god then, beholding Vishnu's reflection in the liquid gathered in the skull, created from it a divine and mighty being resembling Vishnu.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.6.12)

तमाह चाक्षयश्चासि अजरोमर एव च । युद्धेषु चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो सखा विष्णोरनन्तरः

tamāha cākṣayaścāsi ajaromara eva ca | yuddheṣu cāpratidvandvo sakhā viṣṇoranantaraḥ

He said to him: You are indeed imperishable, and both ageless and immortal; unrivaled in battle, you shall be the close companion of Vishnu.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.6.13)

देवकार्यकरः श्रीमान्महासेनपरं वचः । नारासु जन्म यस्मात्ते वियुद्धे हो भवान्वचः । नरस्तस्माद्धि नाम्ना त्वं प्रियश्चास्य भविष्यसि

devakāryakaraḥ śrīmānmahāsenaparaṁ vacaḥ | nārāsu janma yasmātte viyuddhe ho bhavānvacaḥ | narastasmāddhi nāmnā tvaṁ priyaścāsya bhaviṣyasi

You shall be glorious, a doer of the work of the gods; and since your birth took place amid the waters (nara), therefore by name you shall be called 'Nara,' and you shall be dear to him (Vishnu).

Verse 14 (skanda.8.6.14)

वायुरुवाच। तं तदा श्वास्य विक्षिप्य नरं विष्णोरनन्तरम् । अगमद् ब्रह्मसदनं तौ चाप्याविशतुर्गृहम्

vāyuruvāca| taṁ tadā śvāsya vikṣipya naraṁ viṣṇoranantaram | agamad brahmasadanaṁ tau cāpyāviśaturgṛham

Vayu said: Then, having breathed life into Nara, the companion of Vishnu, and released him, he (Rudra) went to Brahma's abode, and the two (Vishnu and Nara) entered their own dwelling.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.6.15)

य इदं नरजन्मेह शृणुयाद्वा पठेत वा । स कीर्त्या परया युक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते

ya idaṁ narajanmeha śṛṇuyādvā paṭheta vā | sa kīrtyā parayā yukto viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Whoever hears or recites this account of the birth of Nara becomes endowed with supreme glory and is honored in the world of Vishnu.