Skandapurana 6.3.48

6.3.48.p1

adhyāya 48

6.3.48.1

uttānapāda uvāca -
kasminsthāne'vasaddeva so'ndhako daityapuṃgavaḥ .
sarvāndevāṃśca nirjitya kasminsthāne samāsthitaḥ .. 48.1 ..

Uttānapāda said:
In what place did that bull among Daityas, Andhaka, reside, O god?
Having conquered all the gods, in what place did he take up his abode?

6.3.48.2

śrīmaheśa uvāca -
praviṣṭo dānavo yatra kathayāmi narādhipa .
pātālalokamāśritya kanyā vidhvaṃsate tu saḥ .. 48.2 ..

The venerable Maheśa said:
I shall tell you, O ruler of men, where the Dānava entered.
Taking refuge in the realm of Pātāla, he violated maiden girls.

6.3.48.3

tatra sthitaṃ taṃ vijñāya cāpamādāya keśavaḥ .
vyasṛjadbāṇamāgneyaṃ dahyatāmiti cintayan .. 48.3 ..

Knowing him to be stationed there, Keśava took up his bow
and discharged a fiery arrow, thinking: "Let him burn!"

6.3.48.4

dahyamāno'gninā so'pi vāruṇāstraṃ sa saṃdadhe .
vāruṇāstreṇa mahatā āgneyaṃ śamitaṃ tadā .. 48.4 ..

Being burnt by the fire, he too aimed a Vāruṇa weapon.
With that great Vāruṇa weapon, the fiery [arrow] was then extinguished.

6.3.48.5

tato'sau cintayāmāsa kena bāṇo visarjitaḥ .
kasyaiṣā pauruṣī śaktiḥ ko yāsyati yamālayam .. 48.5 ..

Then he wondered: "By whom was this arrow loosed?
Whose manly power is this? Who will go to the abode of Yama?"

6.3.48.6

tato'ndhako mṛdhe kruddho bāṇamārgeṇa nirgataḥ .
sa dṛṣṭvā bāṇamārgeṇa cāpahastaṃ janārdanam .. 48.6 ..

Then, enraged in battle, Andhaka came forth along the path of the arrow.
Having seen Janārdana bow-in-hand along the path of the arrow,

6.3.48.7

andhaka uvāca -
na śarma lapsyase hyadya mayā dṛṣṭyābhivīkṣitaḥ .
na śaknoṣi tathā gantuṃ nāgaḥ śārdūladarśanāt .. 48.7 ..

Andhaka said:
"You will not find happiness today, having been beheld by my gaze!
Just as an elephant cannot escape upon seeing a tiger, so you cannot go away.

6.3.48.8

āgacchati yathā bhakṣyaṃ mārjārasya ca mūṣikaḥ .
na śaknoṣi tathā yātuṃ saṃsthitastvaṃ mamāgrataḥ .. 48.8 ..

Just as a mouse comes forth to be the food of a cat,
so you, standing before me, cannot get away!

6.3.48.9

ahaṃ tvāṃ preṣayiṣyāmi yamamārge sudāruṇe .
ahamanveṣayiṣyāmi kila yāsyāmi te gṛham .. 48.9 ..

I shall send you along the dreadful road of Yama;
I shall track down your house and indeed go there!

6.3.48.10

upanīto'si kālena saṅgrāme mama keśava .
ye tvayā nirjitāḥ pūrvaṃ dānavā apyanekaśaḥ .. 48.10 ..

You have been brought by Time to my battle, O Keśava!
Those Dānavas who were conquered by you many times before—

6.3.48.11

na bhavanti pumāṃsaste striyastāścaiva keśava .
paraṃ na śastrasaṅgrāmaṃ kariṣyāmi tvayā saha .. 48.11 ..

they were not real men; they were merely women, O Keśava!
However, I shall not fight with weapons against you!"

6.3.48.12

vadato dānavendrasya na cukopa sa keśavaḥ .
ayudhyamānaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā cintayāmāsa dānavaḥ .. 48.12 ..

While the lord of Dānavas was speaking, Keśava did not become angry.
Seeing that he would not fight, the Dānava reflected:

6.3.48.13

dvandvayuddhaṃ kariṣyāmi niścitya yuyudhe nṛpa .
sa kṛṣṇena padākṣiptaḥ patitaḥ pṛthivītale .. 48.13 ..

"I will fight in single combat"; having resolved thus, O king, he fought.
He was struck down by Kṛṣṇa's foot and fell upon the surface of the earth.

6.3.48.14

muhūrtātsa samāśvasya utthāyedaṃ vyacintayat .
aśakto dvandvayuddhāya tataḥ sāma prayuktavān .
pāṇibhyāṃ sampuṭaṃ kṛtvā sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇataḥ śuciḥ .. 48.14 ..

Reviving after a moment, he rose up and thought:
He was incapable of hand-to-hand combat; therefore, he employed conciliation.
Folding his hands in supplication, pure, he bowed down with eight limbs prostrated.

6.3.48.15

andhaka uvāca -
jaya kṛṣṇāya haraye viṣṇave jiṣṇave namaḥ .
hṛṣīkeśa jagaddhātre acyutāya mahātmane .. 48.15 ..

Andhaka said:
"Victory! Homage to Kṛṣṇa, to Hari, to Viṣṇu, the victorious one!
To Hṛṣīkeśa, the sustainer of the world, to Acyuta, the Great Soul!

6.3.48.16

namaḥ paṅkajanābhāya namaḥ paṅkajamāline .
janārdanāya śrīśāya śrīpate pītavāsase .. 48.16 ..

Homage to the lotus-navelled one, homage to the one adorned with a lotus garland,
to Janārdana, the Lord of Śrī, O consort of Śrī, clad in yellow garments!

6.3.48.17

govindāya namo nityaṃ namo jaladhiśāyine .
namaḥ karālavaktrāya narasiṃhāya nādine .. 48.17 ..

Homage always to Govinda, homage to the one lying upon the ocean;
homage to the roaring Narasiṃha of terrible face!

6.3.48.18

śārṅgiṇe sitavarṇāya śaṅkhacakragadābhṛte .
namo vāmanarūpāya yajñarūpāya te namaḥ .. 48.18 ..

To the bow-wielder, of white complexion, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace;
homage to the one whose form is Vāmana, homage to you whose form is the sacrifice!

6.3.48.19

namo varāharūpāya krāntalokatrayāya ca .
vyāptāśeṣadigantāya keśavāya namonamaḥ .. 48.19 ..

Homage to the one whose form is the Boar, who strode across the three worlds,
who pervades all ends of the directions; homage, homage to Keśava!

6.3.48.20

vāsudeva namastubhyaṃ namaḥ kaiṭabhanāśine .
lakṣmyālaya suraśreṣṭha namaste suranāyaka .. 48.20 ..

O Vāsudeva, homage to you; homage to the destroyer of Kaiṭabha!
O abode of Lakṣmī, O best among gods, homage to you, O leader of the gods!

6.3.48.21

viṣṇordevādhidevasya pramāṇaṃ ye'pi kurvate .
prajāpaterjagaddhātusteṣāmapi namāmyaham .. 48.21 ..

Even to those who show reverence to Viṣṇu, the god over all gods,
the Lord of Creatures, the sustainer of the world—to them also I bow.

6.3.48.22

samastabhūtadevasya vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ .
praṇāmaṃ ye prakurvanti teṣāmapi namāmyaham .. 48.22 ..

To those who offer salutation to wise Vāsudeva,
the god of all living beings—to them also I bow.

6.3.48.23

tasya yajñavarāhasya viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ .
praṇāmaṃ ye prakurvanti teṣāmapi namāmyaham .. 48.23 ..

To those who offer salutation to Viṣṇu of boundless splendour,
that Sacrificial Boar—to them also I bow.

6.3.48.24

guṇānāṃ hi nidhānāya namaste'stu punaḥpunaḥ .
kāruṇyāmbunidhe deva sarvabhaktipriyāya ca .. 48.24 ..

Homage be to you again and again, the treasure-house of virtues,
O god who are an ocean of compassion and fond of all devotion!

6.3.48.25

śrībhagavānuvāca -
tuṣṭaste dānavendrāhaṃ varaṃ vṛṇu yathepsitam .
dadāmi te varaṃ nūnamapi trailokyadurlabham .. 48.25 ..

The Blessed Lord said:
I am pleased with you, O lord of Dānavas; choose a boon as you desire.
I shall certainly give you a boon, even one difficult to obtain in the three worlds.

6.3.48.26

andhaka uvāca -
yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva varaṃ dāsyasi cepsitam .
tadā dadasva me deva yuddhaṃ paramaśobhanam .
avaddhastapūto yenāhaṃ lokāngantāsmi śobhanān .. 48.26 ..

Andhaka said:
If you are pleased with me, O god, and will give a desired boon,
then grant me, O god, a supreme and splendid battle,
so that, purified by your weapon, I may go to beautiful realms.

6.3.48.27

śrībhagavānuvāca -
kathaṃ dadāmi te yuddhaṃ toṣito'haṃ tvayā punaḥ .
na tvāṃ tu prabhavetkopaḥ kathaṃ yudhyāmi te'ndhaka .. 48.27 ..

The Blessed Lord said:
How can I give you battle when I have been propitiated by you?
Anger cannot prevail against you; how can I fight with you, O Andhaka?

6.3.48.28

yadi te vartate buddhiryuddhaṃ prati na saṃśayaḥ .
tato gacchasva yuddhāya devaṃ prati maheśvaram .. 48.28 ..

If your mind is set on battle without a doubt,
then go to fight against the god Maheśvara.

6.3.48.29

andhaka uvāca -
na tatra sidhyate kāryaṃ devaṃ prati maheśvaram .. 48.29 ..

Andhaka said:
My purpose will not be accomplished there, against the god Maheśvara.

6.3.48.30

śrībhagavānuvāca -
putra tvaṃ śikharaṃ gatvā dhūnayasva balena ca .. 48.30 ..

The Blessed Lord said:
Son, go to the mountain peak and shake it with your strength.

6.3.48.31

vidhūte tatra deveśaḥ kopaṃ kartā sudāruṇam .
kopitaḥ śaṅkaro raudraṃ yuddhaṃ dāsyati dānava .. 48.31 ..

When it is shaken, the Lord of Gods will feel fierce wrath;
enraged, Śaṅkara will grant you a dreadful battle, O Dānava.

6.3.48.32

viṣṇuvākyādasau pāpo gato yatra maheśvaraḥ .
kailāsaśikharaṃ prāpya dhunoti sma muhurmuhuḥ .. 48.32 ..

At Viṣṇu's word, that sinful one went to where Maheśvara was;
reaching the peak of Kailāsa, he shook it repeatedly.

6.3.48.33

dhūnite tatra śikhare kampitaṃ bhuvanatrayam .
nipetuḥ śikharāgrāṇi kampamānānyanekaśaḥ .. 48.33 ..

When that peak was shaken, the three worlds trembled;
mountain summits, violently trembling, fell down in great numbers.

6.3.48.34

catvāraḥ sāgarāḥ kṣipramekībhūtā mahīpate .
nipeturulkāpātāśca pādapā apyanekaśaḥ .. 48.34 ..

The four oceans quickly merged into one, O king;
meteors fell, and trees tumbled in great numbers.

6.3.48.35

umayā sahito devo vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ .
gāḍhamāliṅgya girijā devaṃ vacanamabravīt .. 48.35 ..

Accompanied by Umā, the god was filled with supreme astonishment.
Clasping the god tightly, the mountain-born goddess spoke [these] words:

6.3.48.36

kimarthaṃ kampate śailaḥ kimarthaṃ kampate dharā .
kimarthaṃ kampate nāgo martyaḥ pātālameva ca .
kiṃ vā yugakṣayo deva tanmamākhyātumarhasi .. 48.36 ..

"Why does the mountain shake? Why does the earth tremble? / Why do the serpent, mortals, and even Pātāla quake? / Or is it the destruction of an age, O Lord? You should tell me that." 48.36

6.3.48.37

īśvara uvāca -
kasyaiṣā durmatirjātā kṣiptaḥ sarpamukhe karaḥ .
lalāṭe ca kṛtaṃ varma sa yāsyati yamālayam .. 48.37 ..

Īśvara said: / "Whose wicked idea was this? A hand has been thrust into the serpent's mouth; / armor has been placed on the forehead! He will go to Yama's abode. 48.37

6.3.48.38

kailāsamāśrito yena supto'haṃ yena bodhitaḥ .
taṃ vadhiṣye na sandehaḥ sammukho vā bhavedyadi .. 48.38 ..

He who approached Kailāsa and woke me while I slept, / him shall I kill, there is no doubt, if he stands facing me." 48.38

6.3.48.39

cintayāmāsa deveśo hyandhako'yaṃ na saṃśayaḥ .
upāyaṃ cintayāmāsa yenāsau vadhyate kṣaṇāt .. 48.39 ..

The Lord of the gods thought, "This is Andhaka, without a doubt." / He considered a means by which he might be killed in an instant. 48.39

6.3.48.40

āgatāśca surāḥ sarve brahmādyā vasubhiḥ saha .
rathaṃ devamayaṃ kṛtvā sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam .. 48.40 ..

And all the gods, led by Brahmā along with the Vasus, arrived / having made a chariot composed of the gods, endowed with all auspicious marks. 48.40

6.3.48.41

keciddevāḥ sthitāścakre kecittuṇḍāgrapārśvayoḥ .
kecinnābhyāṃ sthitā devāḥ keciddhuryeṣu saṃsthitāḥ .. 48.41 ..

Some gods stood upon the wheel, some at the sides of the chariot-front; / some gods stood at the hub, and some stood upon the yokes. 48.41

6.3.48.42

dhurīṣu niścalāḥ kecitkecidyūpeṣu saṃsthitāḥ .
kecitsyandanasaṃstambhāḥ kecitsyandanaveṣṭakāḥ .. 48.42 ..

Some were motionless on the axle-poles, some stood upon the posts; / some were pillars of the chariot, some were coverings of the chariot. 48.42

6.3.48.43

āmalasārake'nye'pi anye'pi kalaśe sthitāḥ .
riporbhayaṃkaraṃ divyaṃ dhvajamālādiśobhitam .. 48.43 ..

Others stood on the finial, and others on the pot, / terrifying to the enemy, divine, adorned with garlands of banners and the like. 48.43

6.3.48.44

rathaṃ devamayaṃ kṛtvā tamārūḍho jagadguruḥ .
niryayau dānavo yatra kopāviṣṭo maheśvaraḥ .. 48.44 ..

Having made the chariot composed of gods, the Guru of the universe mounted it; / filled with wrath, Maheśvara set forth where the Dānava was. 48.44

6.3.48.45

tiṣṭha tiṣṭhetyuvācātha kva prayāsyasi durmate .
śarāsanaṃ kare gṛhya śarāṃścikṣepa dānave .. 48.45 ..

He said, "Halt, halt! Where will you go, wicked-minded one?" / Taking the bow in his hand, he shot arrows at the Dānava. 48.45

6.3.48.46

dānave'dhiṣṭhite yuddhe śaraiścicheda sāyakān .
śarāsaneṇa tatraiva andhakaśchāditastadā .. 48.46 ..

As the Dānava stood in battle, he cut off the arrows with arrows; / then Andhaka was covered right there by [Śiva's] bow[-shot arrows]. 48.46

6.3.48.47

na tatra dṛśyate sūryo nākāśaṃ na ca candramāḥ .
āgneyamastraṃ vyasṛjaddānavo'pi śivaṃ prati .. 48.47 ..

The sun could not be seen there, nor the sky, nor the moon. / The Dānava also discharged a fiery weapon against Śiva. 48.47

6.3.48.48

dahyamānāḥ śarāṅgāraistatrasuḥ sarvadevatāḥ .
rakṣa rakṣa mahādeva dahyamānāṃstu dānavāt .. 48.48 ..

Burnt by the arrow-coals, all the deities became terrified: / "Protect, protect us, O Mahādeva, who are being burnt by the Dānava!" 48.48

6.3.48.49

tato devādhidevo'sau vāruṇāstramayo'jayat .
vāruṇāstreṇa nimiṣādāgneyaṃ nāśitaṃ tadā .. 48.49 ..

Then that God of gods, wielding the watery weapon, conquered [it]; / by the watery weapon, the fiery [one] was destroyed in an instant. 48.49

6.3.48.50

dānavena tadā muktaṃ vāyavyāstraṃ raṇājire .
vāruṇaṃ ca gataṃ tāta vāyavyāstravināśitam .. 48.50 ..

Then the airy weapon was released by the Dānava on the field of battle, / and the watery [weapon], my dear, was destroyed by the airy weapon. 48.50

6.3.48.51

devo vyasarjayatsārpaṃ krodhāviṣṭena cetasā .
mārutaṃ nāśitaṃ bāṇaiḥ sarpaistatra na saṃśayaḥ .. 48.51 ..

With his mind seized with anger, the Lord released the serpent weapon; / the wind was destroyed there by the snake-arrows, of this there is no doubt. 48.51

6.3.48.52

dānavena tato muktaṃ garuḍāstraṃ ca līlayā .
gāruḍāstraṃ ca taddṛṣṭvā sārpaṃ naiva vyadṛśyata .. 48.52 ..

Then the Garuḍa weapon was released playfully by the Dānava; / and seeing that Garuḍa weapon, the serpent [weapon] was no longer seen. 48.52

6.3.48.53

tato devādhidevena nārasiṃhaṃ visarjitam .
nārasiṃhāstrabāṇena gāruḍāstraṃ praśāmitam .. 48.53 ..

Then the Nārasiṃha weapon was discharged by the God of gods; / by the Nārasiṃha weapon's arrow, the Garuḍa weapon was subdued. 48.53

6.3.48.54

astramastreṇa śamyeta na bādhyeta parasparam .
mahadyuddhamabhūttātasurāsurabhayaṃkaram .. 48.54 ..

Weapon was quenched by weapon, neither prevailing over the other. / A great battle took place, my dear, terrifying to gods and asuras, 48.54

6.3.48.55

cakranālīkanārācaistomaraiḥ khaḍgamudgaraiḥ .
vatsadantaistathā bhallaiḥ karṇikāraiśca śobhanaiḥ .. 48.55 ..

with discs, reeds, iron arrows, javelins, swords, and mallets, / with calf-tooth arrows, spears, and beautiful karṇikāra arrows. 48.55

6.3.48.56

evaṃ na śakyate hantuṃ dānavo vividhāyudhaiḥ .
tadā jvālākarālāśca khaḍganārācatomarāḥ .. 48.56 ..

Thus the Dānava could not be slain with various weapons. / Then swords, iron arrows, and javelins, formidable with flames, 48.56

6.3.48.57

vṛṣāṅkena vimuktāstu samare dānavaṃ prati .
na saṃspṛśanti śastrāṇi gātraṃ gauḍavadhūriva .. 48.57 ..

were hurled in the battle against the Dānava by the bull-bannered [Śiva]; / the weapons did not touch his body, like [a bashful] Gauḍa bride. 48.57

6.3.48.58

āyudhāni tatastyaktvā bāhuyuddhamupasthitau .
karaṃ kareṇa saṃgṛhya praharantau svamuṣṭibhiḥ .
raṇaprayogairyudhyantau yuyudhāte śivāndhakau .. 48.58 ..

Then, having cast aside weapons, they engaged in hand-to-hand combat; / gripping hand with hand, striking with their own fists, / fighting with combat maneuvers, Śiva and Andhaka fought. 48.58

6.3.48.59

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
andhakaṃ prati deveśaścintayāmāsa nigraham .
haniṣyāmi na sandeho duṣṭātmānaṃ na saṃśayaḥ .. 48.59 ..

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: / The Lord of the gods contemplated the suppression of Andhaka: / "I shall kill the evil-minded one, there is no doubt, without a doubt." 48.59

6.3.48.60

sa śivena yadā kṣiptaḥ patitaḥ pṛthivītale .
ūrdhvabāhuradhovaktro dānavo nṛpasattama .. 48.60 ..

When he was thrown down by Śiva, he fell onto the surface of the earth, / with his arms raised and face downward, O best of kings. 48.60

6.3.48.61

krodhāviṣṭena deveśaḥ saṅgrāme devaśatruṇā .
kakṣayoḥ kuhare kṣiptvā bandhenākramya pīḍitaḥ .. 48.61 ..

Filled with anger, the enemy of the gods in battle seized the Lord of the gods, / hurled him into the hollow of his armpits, and oppressed him, holding him bound. 48.61

6.3.48.62

nispandaścābhavaddevo mūrcchāyukto maheśvaraḥ .
mūrcchāpannaṃ tu taṃ jñātvā cintayāmāsa dānavaḥ .. 48.62 ..

The Lord became motionless; Maheśvara was overtaken by a swoon. / But knowing him to be fallen into a swoon, the Dānava reflected: 48.62

6.3.48.63

hāhā kaṣṭaṃ kṛtaṃ me'dya duṣkṛtaṃ pāpakarmaṇā .
kiṃ karomi kathaṃ karma kasminsthāne tu mocaye .. 48.63 ..

"Alas, a terrible misdeed has been done today by me, an evil-doer! / What shall I do? How can this act [be undone]? In what place should I release him?" 48.63

6.3.48.64

gṛhītvā devamutsaṅge gataḥ kailāsaparvatam .
śayyāyāṃ śaṅkaraṃ nyasya niryayau daityarāṭtataḥ .. 48.64 ..

Taking the Lord upon his lap, he went to Mount Kailāsa; / having laid Śaṅkara upon his bed, the king of Daityas then departed. 48.64

6.3.48.65

śayyāyāṃ patito devaḥ prapede vedanāṃ tataḥ .
tāvaddadarśa cātmānaṃ svakīyabhavanasthitam .. 48.65 ..

Fallen upon the bed, the God then felt pain; / then he saw himself situated in his own abode. 48.65

6.3.48.66

parābhavaḥ kṛto madyaṃ kathaṃ tena durātmanā .
krodhavegasamāviṣṭo niryayau dānavaṃ prati .. 48.66 ..

"How was defeat inflicted upon me today by that wicked soul?" / Seized by the force of anger, he went out toward the Dānava. 48.66

6.3.48.67

āyasīṃ laguḍīṃ gṛhya prabhurbhārasahasrajām .
dānavaṃ ca tato dṛṣṭvā prākṣipattasya mūrdhani .. 48.67 ..

Taking an iron club forged of a thousand bhāras, / the Lord saw the Dānava and hurled it at his head. 48.67

6.3.48.68

khaḍgena tāḍayāmāsa dānavaḥ prahasanraṇe .
devenāthasmṛtaṃ cāstraṃ kauccherākhyaṃ mahāhave .. 48.68 ..

Laughing in battle, the Dānava struck it with his sword. / Then in that great battle, the God remembered the weapon named Kauccheira. 48.68

6.3.48.69

dīpyamānaṃ samutsṛjya hṛdaye tāḍitaḥ kṣaṇāt .
tataḥ sa tāḍitastena rudhirodgāramudvaman .. 48.69 ..

Having hurled the blazing [weapon], he struck him instantly in the chest; / then, struck by that, vomiting a gush of blood, 48.69

6.3.48.70

patito'dhomukho bhūtvā tataḥ śūlena bheditaḥ .
punaśca devadevena śūlena dvidalīkṛtaḥ .. 48.70 ..

he fell face downward, and then was pierced by the trident; / and again he was cleaved in two with the trident by the God of gods. 48.70

6.3.48.71

śūlāgre'sau sthitaḥ pāpo bhrāntavāṃścakravattadā .
ye ye bhūmyāṃ patanti sma tatkāyādraktabindavaḥ .. 48.71 ..

Impaled on the tip of the trident, that wicked one then spun like a wheel. / Whichever drops of blood fell to the ground from his body, 48.71

6.3.48.72

te te sarve samuttasthurdānavāḥ śāstrapāṇayaḥ .
vyākulastu tato devo dānavena tarasvinā .. 48.72 ..

all those arose as Dānavas with weapons in their hands. / Then the Lord was perturbed by that mighty Dānava. 48.72

6.3.48.73

devenātha smṛtā durgā cāmuṇḍā bhīṣaṇānanā .
āyātā bhīṣaṇākārā nānāyudhavirājitā .. 48.73 ..

Then the God remembered Durgā, Cāmuṇḍā of terrifying face; / she arrived, of formidable form, resplendent with diverse weapons, 48.73

6.3.48.74

mahādaṃṣṭrā mahākāyā piṅgākṣī lambakarṇikā .
ādeśo dīyatāṃ deva ko yāsyati yamālayam .. 48.74 ..

with huge fangs, a massive body, yellow-red eyes, and pendulous ears: / "Let the command be given, O God! Who shall go to Yama's abode?" 48.74

6.3.48.75

īśvara uvāca -
pibāsya rudhiraṃ bhadre yatheṣṭaṃ dānavasya ca .
nipatadrudhiraṃ bhūmau durge gṛhṇīṣva māciram .. 48.75 ..

Īśvara said: / "Drink the blood of this Dānava as you please, O gentle one; / O Durgā, catch the blood falling to the ground without delay! 48.75

6.3.48.76

nihanmi dānavaṃ yāvatsāhāyyaṃ kuru sundari .
evamuktā tu sā durgā papau ca rudhiraṃ tataḥ .. 48.76 ..

Give assistance, O beautiful one, while I slay the Dānava." / Thus addressed, Durgā then drank the blood. 48.76

6.3.48.77

nihatā dānavāḥ sarve deveśena sahasraśaḥ .
andhako'pi ca tān dṛṣṭvā dānavānavaniṃ gatān .
tato vāgbhiḥ pratuṣṭāva devadevaṃ maheśvaram .. 48.77 ..

All the Dānavas were slain by thousands by the Lord of the gods. / And Andhaka, seeing those Dānavas fallen to the earth, / then praised Maheśvara, the God of gods, with words. 48.77

6.3.48.78

andhaka uvāca -
jayasva devadeveśa umārdhārdhāśarīradhṛk .
namaste devadeveśa sarvāya triguṇātmane .. 48.78 ..

Andhaka said:
Be victorious, O Lord of the gods of gods, bearing a body that is half Umā's half!
Salutations to you, O Lord of the gods of gods, to Sarva, the embodiment of the three guṇas!

6.3.48.79

vṛṣabhāsanamārūḍha śaśāṅkakṛtaśekhara .
jaya khaṭvāṅgahastāya gaṅgādhara namo'stu te .. 48.79 ..

Mounted on the seat of the bull, your crest formed by the moon!
Victory to him with the skull-staff in hand; O Gaṅgādhara, salutations to you!

6.3.48.80

namo ḍamaruhastāya namaḥ kapālamāline .
smaradehavināśāya maheśāya namo'stu te .. 48.80 ..

Salutations to him with the ḍamaru drum in hand, salutations to him wearing a garland of skulls!
To the destroyer of Smara's body, to the great lord, salutations be to you!

6.3.48.81

pūṣṇo dantanipātāya gaṇanāthāya te namaḥ .
jaya svarūpadehāya arūpabahurūpiṇe .. 48.81 ..

Salutations to you, the knock-downer of Pūṣan's teeth, the lord of the gaṇas!
Victory to him whose body is his own true form, who is formless and multiform!

6.3.48.82

uttamāṅgavināśāya viriñcerapi śaṅkara .
śmaśānavāsine nityaṃ nityaṃ bhairavarūpiṇe .. 48.82 ..

To the destroyer of the head even of Viriñci, O Śaṅkara;
to the one who dwells constantly in the cremation ground, whose form is eternally Bhairava!

6.3.48.83

tvaṃ sarvago'si tvaṃ kartā tvaṃ hartā nānya eva ca .
tvaṃ bhūmistvaṃ diśaścaiva tvaṃ gururbhārgavastathā .. 48.83 ..

You are omnipresent, you are the maker, you are the destroyer, none other at all.
You are the earth, and you are the directions; you are Bṛhaspati and Bhārgava as well;

6.3.48.84

sauristvaṃ devadeveśa bhūmiputrastathaiva ca .
ṛkṣagrahādikaṃ sarvaṃ yaddṛśyaṃ tattvameva ca .. 48.84 ..

You are Śani, O Lord of the gods of gods, and likewise the son of the earth (Mars);
asterisms, planets, and all else that is visible—that is you alone!

6.3.48.85

evaṃ stutiṃ tadā kṛtvā devaṃ prati sa dānavaḥ .
saṃhatābhyāṃ tu pāṇibhyāṃ praṇanāma maheśvaram .. 48.85 ..

Having thus offered praise to the god, that Dānava
bowed down to Maheśvara with clasped hands.

6.3.48.86

īśvara uvāca -
sādhu sādhu mahāsattva varaṃ yācasva dānava .
dātāhaṃ yācakastvaṃ hi dadāmīha yathepsitam .. 48.86 ..

Īśvara said:
Well done, well done, O one of great fortitude! Ask a boon, O Dānava.
I am the giver and you are the petitioner; I grant here whatever you desire.

6.3.48.87

andhaka uvāca -
yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa yadi deyo varo mama .
tadātmasadṛśo'haṃ te kartavyo nāparo varaḥ .. 48.87 ..

Andhaka said:
If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, if a boon is to be given to me,
then I should be made similar to yourself; no other boon [do I ask].

6.3.48.88

bhasmī jaṭī trinetrī ca triśūlī ca caturbhujaḥ .
vyāghracarmottarīyaśca nāgayajñopavītakaḥ .. 48.88 ..

Smeared with ashes, having matted hair, three-eyed, holding a trident, four-armed,
with a tiger-skin upper garment, and with a serpent sacred thread—

6.3.48.89

etadicchāmyahaṃ sarvaṃ yadi tuṣṭo maheśvara .. 48.89 ..

all this I desire, O Maheśvara, if you are pleased.

6.3.48.90

īśvara uvāca -
dadāmi te varaṃ hyadya yastvayā yācito'nagha .
gaṇeṣu me sthitaḥ putra bhṛṅgīśastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi .. 48.90 ..

Īśvara said:
I indeed grant you today the boon that has been asked by you, O sinless one.
Abiding among my gaṇas, O son, you shall become Bhṛṅgīśa.

6.3.48.90_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe'ndhakavadhatadvarapradānavarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭacatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, named 'Description of the Slaying of Andhaka and Granting Him a Boon', in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth, Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.