The Granting of Boons

Verse 1 (skanda.8.9.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ते दृष्ट्वा देवदेवेशं ब्रह्मेन्द्रप्रमुखाः सुराः । अस्तुवन् वाग्भिरिष्टाभिः प्रणम्य वृषवाहनम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| te dṛṣṭvā devadeveśaṁ brahmendrapramukhāḥ surāḥ | astuvan vāgbhiriṣṭābhiḥ praṇamya vṛṣavāhanam

Sanatkumara said: Beholding the God of gods, the celestials headed by Brahma and Indra bowed to the bull-bannered lord and praised him with pleasing words.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.9.2)

पितामह उवाच। नमः शिवाय सोमाय भक्तानां भयहारिणे । नमः शूलाग्रहस्ताय कमण्डलुधराय च

pitāmaha uvāca| namaḥ śivāya somāya bhaktānāṁ bhayahāriṇe | namaḥ śūlāgrahastāya kamaṇḍaludharāya ca

Brahma said: Salutation to Shiva, the gentle one, remover of his devotees' fear; salutation to him whose hand grasps the trident, who carries the water-pot.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.9.3)

नमस्ते नीलकण्ठाय करालदशनाय च । त्रेताग्निदीप्तनेत्राय त्रिनेत्राय हराय च

namaste nīlakaṇṭhāya karāladaśanāya ca | tretāgnidīptanetrāya trinetrāya harāya ca

Salutation to the blue-throated one and to him of fearsome teeth; to him whose eye blazes like the sacred fire, the three-eyed Hara.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.9.4)

नमः पिनाकिने चैव नमोऽस्त्वशनिधारिणे । व्यालयज्ञोपवीताय कुण्डलाभरणाय च

namaḥ pinākine caiva namo'stvaśanidhāriṇe | vyālayajñopavītāya kuṇḍalābharaṇāya ca

Salutation to the bearer of the Pinaka bow, and salutation to the wielder of the thunderbolt; to him whose sacred thread is a serpent, and who wears earrings as ornaments.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.9.5)

नमश्चक्रधरायैव व्याघ्रचर्मधराय च । कृष्णाजिनोत्तरीयाय सर्पमेखलिने तथा

namaścakradharāyaiva vyāghracarmadharāya ca | kṛṣṇājinottarīyāya sarpamekhaline tathā

Salutation to the bearer of the discus and to him clad in tiger-skin; to him whose upper garment is a black antelope's hide, and who wears a serpent as his girdle.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.9.6)

वरदात्रे च पुत्राय सरस्वतीसुवे तथा । सोमसूर्याक्षमालाय अक्षसूत्रकराय च

varadātre ca putrāya sarasvatīsuve tathā | somasūryākṣamālāya akṣasūtrakarāya ca

Salutation to the granter of boons, to the son, and to him from whom Sarasvati sprang forth; to him whose rosary is fashioned of sun and moon, and who holds the string of beads in hand.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.9.7)

ज्वालामालासहस्राय ऊर्ध्वलिङ्गाय वै नमः । नमः पर्वतवासाय शिरोहर्त्रे च मे पुरा

jvālāmālāsahasrāya ūrdhvaliṅgāya vai namaḥ | namaḥ parvatavāsāya śirohartre ca me purā

Salutation to him garlanded with a thousand flames, the urdhva-linga; salutation to the mountain-dweller who once severed my head.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.9.8)

हालाहलविनाशाय कपालवरधारिणे । विमानवरवाहाय जनकाय ममैव च

hālāhalavināśāya kapālavaradhāriṇe | vimānavaravāhāya janakāya mamaiva ca

Salutation to the destroyer of the Halahala poison, the bearer of the excellent skull-bowl; to him who rides the finest of chariots, and who is my very own father.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.9.9)

वरदाय वरिष्ठाय श्मशानरतये नमः । नमो नरस्य कर्त्रे च स्थितिकर्त्रे नमः सदा

varadāya variṣṭhāya śmaśānarataye namaḥ | namo narasya kartre ca sthitikartre namaḥ sadā

Salutation to the boon-giver, the most excellent, who delights in the cremation ground; salutation to the creator of man, and eternal salutation to the sustainer of creation.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.9.10)

उत्पत्तिप्रलयानां च कर्त्रे सर्वसहाय च । ऋषिदैवतनाथाय सर्वभूताधिपाय च । शिवः सौम्यश्च देवेश भव नो भक्तवत्सल

utpattipralayānāṁ ca kartre sarvasahāya ca | ṛṣidaivatanāthāya sarvabhūtādhipāya ca | śivaḥ saumyaśca deveśa bhava no bhaktavatsala

Salutation to the maker of creation and dissolution, and to him who sustains all; to the lord of sages and gods, and the ruler of all beings. O God of gods, be gracious and gentle to us, O lover of your devotees.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.9.11)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ब्रह्मण्यथैवं स्तुवति देवदेवः स लोकपः । उवाच तुष्टस्तान्देवानृषींश्च तप्तैधितान्

sanatkumāra uvāca| brahmaṇyathaivaṁ stuvati devadevaḥ sa lokapaḥ | uvāca tuṣṭastāndevānṛṣīṁśca taptaidhitān

Sanatkumara said: When Brahma had thus praised him, the God of gods, guardian of the worlds, being pleased, spoke to those gods and sages who had grown radiant through austerity.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.9.12)

तुष्टोस्म्यनेन वः सत्यन्तपसा ऋषिदेवताः । वरं ब्रूत प्रदास्यामि सुनिश्चित्य च उच्यताम्

tuṣṭosmyanena vaḥ satyantapasā ṛṣidevatāḥ | varaṁ brūta pradāsyāmi suniścitya ca ucyatām

"I am pleased, O sages and gods, by this true austerity of yours. Ask a boon and I shall grant it — decide well, and speak."

Verse 13 (skanda.8.9.13)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अथ सर्वानभिप्रेक्ष्य संतुष्टाः तपसैधितान् । दर्शनेनैव विप्रेन्द्र ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| atha sarvānabhiprekṣya saṁtuṣṭāḥ tapasaidhitān | darśanenaiva viprendra brahmā vacanamabravīt

Sanatkumara said: Then, O best of brahmins, beholding all of them who were content and radiant with austerity, Brahma spoke these words merely by that sight.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.9.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच। यदि तुष्टोसि देवेश यदि देयो वरश्च नः । तस्माच्छिवश्च सौम्यश्च संदृश्यश्च भवस्व नः

brahmovāca| yadi tuṣṭosi deveśa yadi deyo varaśca naḥ | tasmācchivaśca saumyaśca saṁdṛśyaśca bhavasva naḥ

Brahma said: "O Lord of gods, if you are pleased and a boon is to be granted to us, then become for us auspicious, gentle, and ever visible."

Verse 15 (skanda.8.9.15)

सुखसंव्यवहार्यश्च नित्यं तुष्टमनास्तथा । सर्वकार्येषु च सदा हितः पथ्यश्च शंकर

sukhasaṁvyavahāryaśca nityaṁ tuṣṭamanāstathā | sarvakāryeṣu ca sadā hitaḥ pathyaśca śaṁkara

"Be one easy to approach with happiness, ever content in mind; and in all endeavors, O Shankara, remain always beneficial and wholesome."

Verse 16 (skanda.8.9.16)

सह देव्या ससूनुश्च सह देवगणैरपि । एष नो दीयतां देव वरो वरसहस्रद

saha devyā sasūnuśca saha devagaṇairapi | eṣa no dīyatāṁ deva varo varasahasrada

"Together with the Goddess, with your son, and with the hosts of gods — grant us this boon, O God, giver of a thousand boons."

Verse 17 (skanda.8.9.17)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवमुक्तः स भगवान् ब्रह्मणा देवसत्तमः । स्वकं तेजो महद् दिव्यं व्यसृजत् सर्वयोगवित्

sanatkumāra uvāca| evamuktaḥ sa bhagavān brahmaṇā devasattamaḥ | svakaṁ tejo mahad divyaṁ vyasṛjat sarvayogavit

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed by Brahma, that Lord, the best of gods, knower of all yoga, released his own great and divine radiance.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.9.18)

अर्धेन तेजसस्तस्य मुखादुल्का ससर्ज ह । तामाह भव नारीति भगवान् विश्वरूपधृक्

ardhena tejasastasya mukhādulkā sasarja ha | tāmāha bhava nārīti bhagavān viśvarūpadhṛk

From half of that radiance, a meteor was born from his mouth. The Lord, bearer of the universal form, said to her, "Become a woman."

Verse 19 (skanda.8.9.19)

साकाशं द्यां च भूमिञ्च महिम्ना व्याप्य धिष्ठिता । उपतस्थे च देवेशं दीप्यमाना यथा तडित्

sākāśaṁ dyāṁ ca bhūmiñca mahimnā vyāpya dhiṣṭhitā | upatasthe ca deveśaṁ dīpyamānā yathā taḍit

Pervading sky, heaven, and earth with her splendor, she stood there, and, blazing like lightning, drew near to the Lord of gods.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.9.20)

तामाह प्रहसन् देवो देवीं कमललोचनाम् । ब्रह्माणं देवि वरदमाराधय शुचिस्मिते

tāmāha prahasan devo devīṁ kamalalocanām | brahmāṇaṁ devi varadamārādhaya śucismite

Smiling, the Lord said to that lotus-eyed goddess, "O pure-smiling one, worship Brahma, the giver of boons."

Verse 21 (skanda.8.9.21)

सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय तपस्तप्तुं प्रचक्रमे । रुद्रश्च तानृषीनाह शृणुध्वं मम तोषणे

sā tatheti pratijñāya tapastaptuṁ pracakrame | rudraśca tānṛṣīnāha śṛṇudhvaṁ mama toṣaṇe

Saying "So be it," she made her resolve and began to perform austerity. And Rudra said to those sages, "Listen, for my pleasure."

Verse 22 (skanda.8.9.22)

फलं फलवतां श्रेष्ठा यद् ब्रवीमि तपोधनाः । अमरा जरया त्यक्ता अरोगा जन्मवर्जिताः

phalaṁ phalavatāṁ śreṣṭhā yad bravīmi tapodhanāḥ | amarā jarayā tyaktā arogā janmavarjitāḥ

"O ascetics rich in austerity, hear the fruit of what I declare: you shall become immortal, free from old age, free from disease, and freed from birth."

Verse 23 (skanda.8.9.23)

मद्भक्तास्तपसा युक्ता इहैव च निवत्स्यथ । अयं चैवाश्रमः श्रेष्ठः स्वर्णशृङ्गोचलोत्तमः

madbhaktāstapasā yuktā ihaiva ca nivatsyatha | ayaṁ caivāśramaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ svarṇaśṛṅgocalottamaḥ

"Devoted to me and endowed with austerity, you shall dwell right here; and this hermitage, on the finest of the golden-peaked mountains, shall be supremely excellent."

Verse 24 (skanda.8.9.24)

पुण्यं पवित्रं स्थानं वै भविष्यति न संशयः । मैनाके पर्वते ह्यस्मिन् स्वर्णाक्षोहं यतः स्थितः

puṇyaṁ pavitraṁ sthānaṁ vai bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ | maināke parvate hyasmin svarṇākṣohaṁ yataḥ sthitaḥ

"This place shall become sacred and pure, without doubt; for on this Mount Mainaka I dwell as Svarnaksha."

Verse 25 (skanda.8.9.25)

स्वर्णाक्षीं चासृजं देवीं स्वर्णाक्षं तेन तत्स्मृतम् । स्वर्णाक्ष ऋषयो यूयं षट्कुलीयास्तपोधनाः

svarṇākṣīṁ cāsṛjaṁ devīṁ svarṇākṣaṁ tena tatsmṛtam | svarṇākṣa ṛṣayo yūyaṁ ṣaṭkulīyāstapodhanāḥ

"And I brought forth the goddess Svarnakshi — hence this place is known as Svarnaksha. O sages of the six lineages, rich in austerity, you belong here at Svarnaksha."

Verse 26 (skanda.8.9.26)

निवत्स्यथ मयाज्ञप्ताः स्वर्णाक्षं वै ततश्च ह । समन्ताद्योजनं क्षेत्रं पवित्रं तन्न संशयः

nivatsyatha mayājñaptāḥ svarṇākṣaṁ vai tataśca ha | samantādyojanaṁ kṣetraṁ pavitraṁ tanna saṁśayaḥ

"By my command you shall dwell at Svarnaksha; and the sacred field extending a yojana all around shall be pure — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 27 (skanda.8.9.27)

देवगन्धर्वचरितमप्सरोगणसेवितम् । सिंहेभशरभाकीर्णं शार्दूलर्क्षमृगाकुलम्

devagandharvacaritamapsarogaṇasevitam | siṁhebhaśarabhākīrṇaṁ śārdūlarkṣamṛgākulam

"It shall be frequented by gods and gandharvas, attended by hosts of apsaras, filled with lions, elephants, and sharabhas, thronged with tigers, bears, and deer."

Verse 28 (skanda.8.9.28)

अनेकविहगाकीर्णं लतावृक्षक्षुपाकुलम् । ब्रह्मचारी नियमवान् जितक्रोधो जितात्मवान्

anekavihagākīrṇaṁ latāvṛkṣakṣupākulam | brahmacārī niyamavān jitakrodho jitātmavān

"Teeming with many kinds of birds, dense with creepers, trees, and shrubs. He who is celibate, disciplined, who has conquered anger and mastered his self —"

Verse 29 (skanda.8.9.29)

उपोष्य त्रिगुणां रात्रिं चरुं कृत्वा निवेद्य च । यत्र तत्र मृतः सोपि ब्रह्मलोके निवत्स्यति

upoṣya triguṇāṁ rātriṁ caruṁ kṛtvā nivedya ca | yatra tatra mṛtaḥ sopi brahmaloke nivatsyati

"— having fasted three nights, prepared and offered the sacred oblation, wherever he then dies, he too shall dwell in the world of Brahma."

Verse 30 (skanda.8.9.30)

योप्येवमेवाकामान्मां पश्येदत्र वृषध्वजम् । गोसहस्रफलं सोपि मत्प्रसादादवाप्स्यति

yopyevamevākāmānmāṁ paśyedatra vṛṣadhvajam | gosahasraphalaṁ sopi matprasādādavāpsyati

"And whoever, free of desire, beholds me here, the bull-bannered one, shall likewise obtain, by my grace, the merit of donating a thousand cows."

Verse 31 (skanda.8.9.31)

नियमेन मृतश्चात्र मया सह चरिष्यति । यावत् स्थास्यन्ति लोकाश्च मैनाकश्चाप्ययं गिरिः

niyamena mṛtaścātra mayā saha cariṣyati | yāvat sthāsyanti lokāśca mainākaścāpyayaṁ giriḥ

"He who dies here in observance of discipline shall walk with me, for as long as the worlds endure and this Mount Mainaka remains."

Verse 32 (skanda.8.9.32)

तावत् सह मया देवा मत्प्रसादाच्चरिष्यथ । एवं स तानृषीनुक्त्वा दृष्टवा सौम्येन चक्षुषा । पश्यतामेव सर्वेषां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

tāvat saha mayā devā matprasādāccariṣyatha | evaṁ sa tānṛṣīnuktvā dṛṣṭavā saumyena cakṣuṣā | paśyatāmeva sarveṣāṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

"For so long, O gods, you shall move about with me by my grace." Having spoken thus to those sages and looked upon them with a gentle gaze, he vanished right there before the eyes of them all.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.9.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। य इमां शृणुयान्मर्त्यो द्विजातीञ्छ्रावयीत वा । सोपि तत्फलमासाद्य चरेन्मृत्युविवर्जितः

sanatkumāra uvāca| ya imāṁ śṛṇuyānmartyo dvijātīñchrāvayīta vā | sopi tatphalamāsādya carenmṛtyuvivarjitaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Whatever mortal hears this account, or causes brahmins to hear it, he too, having gained its fruit, shall live free from death.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.9.34)

जयति जलदवाहः सर्वभूतान्तकालः । शमदमनिरतानां क्लेशहर्ता यतीनाम् । जननमरणहर्ता चेष्टतां धार्मिकाणाम् । विविधकरणयुक्तः खेचरः पादचारी

jayati jaladavāhaḥ sarvabhūtāntakālaḥ | śamadamaniratānāṁ kleśahartā yatīnām | jananamaraṇahartā ceṣṭatāṁ dhārmikāṇām | vividhakaraṇayuktaḥ khecaraḥ pādacārī

Victorious is he who rides upon the rain-cloud, the end of all beings at the last hour; remover of affliction for ascetics devoted to calm and restraint; remover of birth and death for the righteous who strive; endowed with manifold powers, moving through the sky and yet walking on foot.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.9.35)

मदनपुरविदारी नेत्रदन्तापहारी । विगतभयविषादः सर्वभूतप्रणेता । सततमभिदधानश्चेकितानात्मचितः । करचरणललामः सर्वदृग् देवदेवः

madanapuravidārī netradantāpahārī | vigatabhayaviṣādaḥ sarvabhūtapraṇetā | satatamabhidadhānaścekitānātmacitaḥ | karacaraṇalalāmaḥ sarvadṛg devadevaḥ

Destroyer of Madana's city, taker of the eye and the teeth (of the sacrifice); free of fear and sorrow, the guide of all beings; ever proclaiming, of vigilant and gathered mind; adorned in hand and foot, the all-seeing God of gods.