Skandapurana 6.3.3

6.3.3.p1

adhyāya 3

6.3.3.1

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca -
saptakalpakṣayā ghorāstvayā dṛṣṭā mahāmune .
na cāpīhāsti bhagavandīrghāyuriha kaścana .. 3.1 ..

Yudhiṣṭhira said:
'The terrible destructions of seven kalpas were seen by you, O great sage,
and here, O venerable one, no one possesses such long life. 3.1

6.3.3.2

tvayā hyekārṇave suptaḥ padmanābhaḥ surārihā .
dṛṣṭaḥ sahasracaraṇaḥ sahasranayanodaraḥ .. 3.2 ..

For sleeping in the single ocean, Padmanābha, the slayer of the foes of the gods,
was seen by you, having a thousand feet and a thousand eyes and bellies. 3.2

6.3.3.3

tvaṃ kilānugrahāttasya dahyamāne carācare .
na kṣayaṃ samanuprāpto varadānānmahātmanaḥ .. 3.3 ..

Indeed, by his grace, when the moving and unmoving universe was burning,
you did not undergo destruction, because of the granting of a boon by the great-souled one. 3.3

6.3.3.4

kiṃ tvayāścaryabhūtaṃ hi dṛṣṭaṃ ca bhramatānagha .
etadācakṣva bhagavanparaṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me .. 3.4 ..

What wonderful thing was seen by you, O sinless one, while wandering?
Tell this, O venerable one, for great is my curiosity. 3.4

6.3.3.5

samprāpte ca mahāghore yugasyānte mahākṣaye .
anāvṛṣṭihate loke purā varṣaśatādhike .. 3.5 ..

When the exceedingly terrible destruction at the end of the yuga arrived,
the world having been struck by drought formerly for more than a hundred years...' 3.5

6.3.3.6

auṣadhīnāṃ kṣaye ghore devadānavavarjite .
nirvīrye nirvaṣaṭkāre kalinā dūṣite bhṛśam .. 3.6 ..

When medicinal plants were terribly destroyed, when gods and Dānavas were gone, / devoid of vitality, devoid of the vaṣaṭ-call, utterly corrupted by Kali,

6.3.3.7

saritsarastaḍāgeṣu palvalopavaneṣu ca .
saṃśuṣkeṣu tadā brahmannirākāre yugakṣaye .. 3.7 ..

when rivers, lakes, ponds, pools, and groves / were completely dried up, O brāhmaṇa, during that formless destruction of the age,

6.3.3.8

janaṃ prāpte maharloke brahmakṣatraviśādayaḥ .
ṛṣayaśca mahātmāno divyatejaḥsamanvitāḥ .. 3.8 ..

when brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and others, / and the great-souled seers endowed with divine radiance reached Janaloka from Maharloka,

6.3.3.9

sthitāni kāni bhūtāni gatānyeva mahāmune .
etatsarvaṃ mahābhāga kathayasva pṛthakpṛthak .. 3.9 ..

which beings remained, and which truly perished, O great sage? / Tell all of this separately, O fortunate one!

6.3.3.10

bhūtāni kāni viprendra kathaṃ siddhimavāpnuyāt .
brahmaviṣṇvindrarudrāṇāṃ kāle prāpte sudāruṇe .. 3.10 ..

Which beings, O best of vipras, and how would they attain perfection / when the dread time comes for Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra, and the Rudras?

6.3.3.11

evamuktastataḥ so'tha dharmarājena dhīmatā .
mārkaṇḍaḥ pratyuvācedamṛṣisaṃghaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ .. 3.11 ..

Thus addressed by the wise Dharmarāja, / Mārkaṇḍeya, surrounded by multitudes of seers, replied then as follows:

6.3.3.12

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
śṛṇvantu ṛṣayaḥ sarve tvayā saha nareśvara .
mahatpurāṇaṃ pūrvoktaṃ śaṃbhunā vāyudaivate .. 3.12 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / May all the seers hear along with you, O lord of men, / the great Purāṇa formerly spoken by Śambhu to the deity Vāyu.

6.3.3.13

vāyoḥ sakāśātskandena śrutametatpurātanam .
vasiṣṭhaḥ śrutavāṃstasmātparāśarastataḥ param .. 3.13 ..

From Vāyu, this ancient text was heard by Skanda; / Vasiṣṭha heard it from him, and Parāśara after that.

6.3.3.14

tasmācca jātūkarṇyena tasmāccaiva maharṣibhiḥ .
evaṃ paramparāproktaṃ śatasaṃkhyairdvijottamaiḥ .. 3.14 ..

And from him by Jātūkarṇya, and from him by the great seers; / thus it was spoken in unbroken succession by hundreds of best twice-born.

6.3.3.15

saṃhitā śatasāhasrī puroktā śaṃbhunā kila .
āloḍya sarvaśāstrāṇi vadārthaṃ tattvataḥ purā .. 3.15 ..

A compilation of one hundred thousand verses was spoken of old by Śambhu, / having churned all scriptures to explain the truth in ancient times.

6.3.3.16

yugarūpeṇa sā paścāccaturdhā viniyojitā .
madaprajñānusāreṇa narāṇāṃ tu maharṣibhiḥ .. 3.16 ..

Afterwards it was arranged fourfold according to the ages / by the great seers, according to the diminished intellect of men.

6.3.3.17

ārādhya paśubhartāraṃ mayā pūrvaṃ maheśvaram .
purāṇaṃ śrutametaddhi tatte vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ .. 3.17 ..

Having formerly worshipped the Lord of beasts, Maheśvara, / I heard this Purāṇa; I shall relate it to you completely,

6.3.3.18

yacchrutvā mucyate jantuḥ sarvapāpairnareśvara .
mānasaiḥ karmajaiścaiva saptajanmasu saṃcitaiḥ .. 3.18 ..

hearing which a living being is freed from all sins, O lord of men, / mental and born of action, accumulated over seven births.

6.3.3.19

saptakalpakṣayā ghorā mayā dṛṣṭāḥ punaḥpunaḥ .
prasādāddevadevasya viṣṇośca parameṣṭhinaḥ .. 3.19 ..

Seven dreadful dissolutions of kalpas have been seen by me again and again / through the grace of the god of gods, Viṣṇu the Supreme Lord.

6.3.3.20

dvādaśādityanirdagdhe jagatyekārṇavīkṛte .
śrānto'haṃ vibhramaṃstatra taranbāhubhirarṇavam .. 3.20 ..

When the world was burnt by the twelve suns and turned into a single vast ocean, / I wandered there, exhausted, crossing the ocean with my arms.

6.3.3.21

athāhaṃ salile rājannādityasamarūpiṇam .
purā puruṣamadrākṣamanādinidhanaṃ prabhum .. 3.21 ..

Then in the water, O king, I saw of old a Man / who resembled the sun, the beginningless and endless Lord,

6.3.3.22

śṛṅgaṃ caivādrirājasya bhāsayantaṃ diśo daśa .
dvitīyo'nyo manurdṛṣṭaḥ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ .. 3.22 ..

and the peak of the king of mountains illuminating the ten directions. / A second one, Manu, was seen accompanied by sons and grandsons.

6.3.3.23

agādhe bhramate so'pi tamobhūte mahārṇave .
aviśramanmuhūrtaṃ tu cakrārūḍha iva bhraman .. 3.23 ..

He too wandered in that unfathomable great ocean that had become darkness, / never resting even for a moment, spinning as if mounted on a wheel.

6.3.3.24

athāhaṃ bhayādudvignastaranbāhubhirarṇavam .
tatrastho'haṃ mahāmatsyamapaśyaṃ madasaṃyutam .. 3.24 ..

Then, trembling with fear, crossing the ocean with my arms, / staying there, I saw a great fish filled with vigor.

6.3.3.25

tato'bravītsa māṃ dṛṣṭvā ehyehīti ca bhārata .
paraṃ pradhānaḥ sarveṣāṃ matsyarūpo maheśvaraḥ .. 3.25 ..

Then, seeing me, he said, “Come, come!” O Bhārata; / he was Maheśvara in the form of a fish, the supreme head of all.

6.3.3.26

tato'haṃ tvarayā gatvā tanmukhe manujeśvara .
suśrānto vigatajñānaḥ paraṃ nirvedamāgataḥ .. 3.26 ..

Then I went quickly into his mouth, O lord of men, / thoroughly exhausted, bereft of consciousness, fallen into utter despondency.

6.3.3.27

tato'drākṣaṃ samudrānte mahadāvartasaṃkulām .
udyattaraṃgasalilāṃ phenapuñjāṭṭahāsinīm .. 3.27 ..

Then at the edge of the ocean I saw a river filled with great whirlpools, / its waters surging in waves, laughing aloud with masses of foam,

6.3.3.28

nadīṃ kāmagamāṃ puṇyāṃ jhaṣamīnasamākulām .
nadyāstasyāstu madhyasthā pramadā kāmarūpiṇī .. 3.28 ..

holy, going wherever she pleased, swarming with huge fish and small fish; / and staying in the middle of that river was a woman who could take any form at will,

6.3.3.29

nīlotpaladalaśyāmā mahatprakṣobhavāhinī .
divyahāṭakacitrāṅgī kanakojjvalaśobhitā .. 3.29 ..

dark like a blue lotus petal, carrying a great agitation, / her limbs adorned with divine gold, radiant with bright gold.

6.3.3.30

dvābhyāṃ saṃgṛhya jānubhyāṃ mahatpotaṃ vyavasthitā .
tāṃ manuḥ pratyuvācedaṃ kā tvaṃ divyavarāṅgane .. 3.30 ..

Grasping a great boat between her two knees, she stood firm. / Manu addressed her with these words: “Who are you, divine and excellent woman?

6.3.3.31

tiṣṭhase kena kāryeṇa tvamatra surasundari .
surāsuragaṇe naṣṭe bhramase līlayārṇave .. 3.31 ..

For what purpose do you stand here, O celestial beauty? / When the host of gods and demons has perished, you wander playfully on the ocean.

6.3.3.32

saritaḥ sāgarāḥ śailāḥ kṣayaṃ prāptā hyanekaśaḥ .
tvamekā tu kathaṃ sādhvi tiṣṭhase kāraṇaṃ mahat .
śrotumicchāmyahaṃ devi kathayasva hyaśeṣataḥ .. 3.32 ..

Rivers, oceans, and mountains have perished many times over. / But how do you stand alone, O virtuous lady? There must be a great reason. / I wish to hear it, O goddess; tell it completely!”

6.3.3.33

abalovāca -
īśvarāṅgasamudbhūtā hyamṛtānāma viśrutā .
saritpāpaharā puṇyā māmāśritya bhayaṃ kutaḥ .. 3.33 ..

The woman said: / “Born from the body of Īśvara, celebrated indeed by the name Amṛtā, / I am a holy river destroying sins; having taken refuge in me, whence fear?

6.3.3.34

sāhaṃ potamimaṃ tubhyaṃ gṛhītvā hyāgatā dvija .
na hyasya potasya kṣayo yatra tiṣṭhati śaṃkaraḥ .. 3.34 ..

Taking this boat, I have come for you, O twice-born. / For there is no destruction of this boat wherein Śaṃkara abides.”

6.3.3.35

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā vismayotphullalocanaḥ .
manunā saha rājendra potārūḍho hyahaṃ tadā .. 3.35 ..

Hearing her words, his eyes wide with wonder, / along with Manu I then boarded the boat, O royal sage.

6.3.3.36

kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā praṇamya śirasā vibhum .
vyāpinaṃ parameśānamastauṣamabhayapradam .. 3.36 ..

Joining my palms in reverence, bowing my head to the all-pervading Lord, / the Supreme Ruler who grants fearlessness, I praised him:

6.3.3.37

sadyojātāya devāya vāmadevāya vai namaḥ .
bhave bhave namastubhyaṃ bhaktigamyāya te namaḥ .. 3.37 ..

“Homage to the god Sadyojāta, to Vāmadeva indeed homage! / Homage to you in every existence, homage to you who are attained through devotion!

6.3.3.38

bhūrbhuvāya namastubhyaṃ rāmajyeṣṭhāya vai namaḥ .
namaste bhadrakālāya kalirūpāya vai namaḥ .. 3.38 ..

Homage to you, earth and atmosphere, homage to the elder brother of Rāma! / Homage to you, Bhadrakāla, homage to the embodiment of Kali!

6.3.3.39

acintyāvyaktarūpāya mahādevāya dhāmane .
vidmahe devadevāya tanno rudra namonamaḥ .. 3.39 ..

To the abode who is Mahādeva, of inconceivable and unmanifest form, / we know the god of gods; homage, homage to you, Rudra!

6.3.3.40

jagatsṛṣṭivināśānāṃ kāraṇāya namonamaḥ .
evaṃ stuto mahādevaḥ pūrvaṃ sṛṣṭayā mayānagha .. 3.40 ..

Homage, homage to the cause of the creation and destruction of the universe!” / When Mahādeva was thus praised of old by me, the created one, O sinless one,

6.3.3.41

prasanno māvadatpaścādvaraṃ varaya suvrata .. 3.41 ..

pleased, he then said to me: “Choose a boon, O you of noble vows!”

6.3.3.41_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe narmadāmāhātmye mārkaṇḍeyadharmarājasaṃvāde kalpakṣaye mārkaṇḍeyakṛtapotārdhārohaṇavṛttāntavarṇanaṃnāma tṛtīyo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the third chapter, named ‘Description of Mārkaṇḍeya's Boarding the Boat at the Dissolution of the Kalpa,’ in the conversation between Mārkaṇḍeya and Dharmarāja, in the Revākhaṇḍa of the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the Narmadāmāhātmya, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.