Skandapurana 6.3.67

6.3.67.p1

adhyāya 67

6.3.67.1

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca -
tasyaivānantaraṃ tāta jalamadhye vyavasthitam .
luṅkeśvaramiti khyātaṃ surāsuranamaskṛtam .. 67.1 ..

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Immediately after that, my dear, situated in the midst of the water, / is the sacred ford known as Luṅkeśvara, saluted by gods and asuras.

6.3.67.2

idaṃ tīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ nānāścaryaṃ mahītale .
asya tīrthasya māhātmyamutpattiṃ śṛṇu bhārata .. 67.2 ..

This sacred ford is greatly meritorious and full of various wonders on the earth. / Hear, O descendant of Bharata, the origin and the māhātmya of this sacred ford.

6.3.67.3

āsītpurā mahāvīryo dānavo baladarpitaḥ .
kālapṛṣṭha iti khyātaḥ suto brahmasutasya ca .. 67.3 ..

Formerly there was an immensely heroic dānava, arrogant with strength, / known as Kālapṛṣṭha, who was the son of a son of Brahmā.

6.3.67.4

gaṅgātaṭaṃ samāśritya cacāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ .
adhomukho'pi saṃsthitvāpibaddhūmamaharniśam .. 67.4 ..

Resorting to the bank of the Gaṅgā, he performed extensive austerity. / Remaining head downward, he inhaled smoke day and night.

6.3.67.5

tataścānantaraṃ devastiṣṭhate hyumayā saha .
dṛṣṭvā taṃ pārvatī sā tu tapasyugre vyavasthitam .. 67.5 ..

Immediately after that, the god was staying there with Umā. / Seeing him established in such severe austerity, Pārvatī said:

6.3.67.6

paśya paśya mahādeva dhūmāśī tiṣṭhate naraḥ .
prasīda taṃ kuruṣvādya dehi śīghraṃ varaṃ vibho .. 67.6 ..

"Look, look, O Mahādeva, a man stands inhaling smoke! / Be pleased with him today; grant him a boon quickly, O all-pervading Lord!"

6.3.67.7

īśvara uvāca -
yaduktaṃ vacanaṃ devi na tanme rocate priye .
svakāryaṃ ca sadā cintyaṃ parakāryaṃ visarjayet .. 67.7 ..

Īśvara said: / "O goddess, the words you have spoken do not please me, my dear. / One should always attend to one's own concern and avoid the concern of another.

6.3.67.8

mūrkhastrībālaśatrūṇāṃ yaśchandenānuvartate .
vyasane patate ghore satyametadudīritam .. 67.8 ..

He who follows the inclination of fools, women, children, and enemies / falls into terrible calamity. This is truly stated."

6.3.67.9

devyuvāca -
bhāryayābhyarthito bhartā kāraṇaṃ bahu bhāṣate .
laghutvaṃ yāti sā nārī evaṃ śāstreṣu paṭhyate .. 67.9 ..

The goddess said: / "When a husband is requested by his wife, he speaks many arguments. / That woman falls into low esteem; thus is it read in the scriptures.

6.3.67.10

prāṇatyāgaṃ kariṣyāmi yadi māṃ tvaṃ na manyase .
pārvatyā prerito devo gato'sau dānavaṃ prati .. 67.10 ..

I will give up my life if you do not heed me." / Urged by Pārvatī, the god went toward that dānava.

6.3.67.11

īśvara uvāca -
kimarthaṃ pibase dhūmaṃ kimarthaṃ tapyase tapaḥ .
kiṃ duḥkhaṃ kiṃ nu santāpo vada kāryamabhīpsitam .. 67.11 ..

Īśvara said: / "For what purpose do you inhale smoke? For what purpose do you practice austerity? / What is your distress? What is your sorrow? State your desired objective.

6.3.67.12

yuvā tvaṃ dṛśyase'dyāpi varṣaviṃśatireva ca .
tadācakṣva hi me sarvaṃ tapasaḥ kāraṇaṃ mahat .. 67.12 ..

You appear to be young, just twenty years of age even today. / Therefore declare to me in full the great reason for your austerity."

6.3.67.13

dānava uvāca -
acalā dīyatāṃ bhaktirmama sthairyaṃ tavopari .
aparaṃ varṣasāhasraṃ nirvighnaṃ me gataṃ vibho .. 67.13 ..

The dānava said: / "Let unswerving devotion be granted to me, and my steadfastness toward you. / Another thousand years have passed without obstacle for me, O all-pervading Lord.

6.3.67.14

divasānāṃ sahasre dve pūrṇe tvattapasā mama .. 67.14 ..

Two thousand days have been completed by me in austerity toward you."

6.3.67.15

īśvara uvāca -
yācayābhīpsitaṃ kāryaṃ tuṣṭo'haṃ tava suvrata .
devasya vacanaṃ śrutvā cintayāmāsa dānavaḥ .. 67.15 ..

Īśvara said: / "Ask for your desired objective; I am pleased with you, O man of good vows." / Hearing the god's words, the dānava thought:

6.3.67.16

kiṃ nākaṃ yācayāmyadya kimadya sakalāṃ mahīm .
evaṃ saṃcintayāmāsa kāmabāṇena pīḍitaḥ .. 67.16 ..

"Shall I ask for heaven today, or shall I ask for the entire earth today?" / Thus he reflected, afflicted by the arrow of desire.

6.3.67.17

dānava uvāca -
yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva varaṃ dāsyasi me prabho .
saṅgrāmaistu na tuṣṭo'haṃ balaṃ nāstīti kiṃcana .. 67.17 ..

The dānava said: / "If you are pleased with me, O god, and will grant me a boon, O Lord, / I am not satisfied with battles, since there is no strength whatsoever [left in them for me].

6.3.67.18

yasya mūrdhanyahaṃ deva pāṇinā samupaspṛśe .
devadānavagandharvo bhasmasādyātu tatkṣaṇāt .. 67.18 ..

Upon whosever head, O god, I touch with my hand, / let him—be he god, dānava, or gandharva—turn to ashes that very moment."

6.3.67.19

īśvara uvāca -
yattvayā cintitaṃ kiṃcittatsarvaṃ saphalaṃ tava .
uttiṣṭha gaccha śīghraṃ tvaṃ bhavanaṃ prati dānava .. 67.19 ..

Īśvara said: / "Whatever you have imagined, let all that bear fruit for you. / Rise up, go quickly to your dwelling, O dānava."

6.3.67.20

dānava uvāca -
sthīyatāṃ devadeveśa yāvajjñāsyāmi te varam .
yuṣmanmūrdhni nyase pāṇiṃ pratyayo me bhavedyathā .. 67.20 ..

The dānava said: / "Wait, O Lord of the gods of gods, until I test your boon! / I shall place my hand upon your head, so that I may have confidence [in it]."

6.3.67.21

tataścānantaraṃ devaścintayāno maheśvaraḥ .
na skando na harirbrahmā yaḥ kāryeṣu kṣamo'dhunā .. 67.21 ..

Immediately after that, the god Maheśvara reflected: / "Neither Skanda, nor Hari, nor Brahmā is capable in this matter now."

6.3.67.22

jñātvā caivāpadaṃ prāptāṃ devaḥ prārthayate vṛṣam .
anena saha pāpena yudhyasva sāmprataṃ kṣaṇam .. 67.22 ..

Recognizing that danger had arrived, the god beseeched the bull: / "Fight with this sinful one right now for a moment!"

6.3.67.23

karaṃ prāsārayaddaityo devaṃ mūrdhni kila spṛśet .
lāṅgūlenāhato daityo viṣaṇṇaḥ patito bhuvi .. 67.23 ..

The daitya stretched out his hand intending indeed to touch the god on the head. / Struck by the bull's tail, the daitya fell downcast to the ground.

6.3.67.24

devastu dakṣiṇāmāśāṃ gataścaivomayā saha .
bhayabhīto nirīkṣeta grīvāṃ bhajya punaḥpunaḥ .. 67.24 ..

The god, however, went in the southern direction together with Umā. / Terrified with fear, he looked back again and again, turning his neck.

6.3.67.25

gate cādarśanaṃ deve yuyudhe vṛṣabheṇa saḥ .
dvāvetau balināṃ śreṣṭhau yuyudhāte mahābalau .. 67.25 ..

When the god had gone out of sight, he fought with the bull. / Those two, the foremost among the strong, endowed with great strength, fought each other

6.3.67.26

prahārairvajrasadṛśaiḥ kopena ghaṭikātrayam .
pāṇibhyāṃ na spṛśedyo vai vṛṣabhasya śirastathā .. 67.26 ..

with blows like thunderbolts in anger for three ghaṭikās. / Indeed, he could not touch the bull's head with his hands.

6.3.67.27

hatvā lāṅgūlapātena āgato vṛṣabhastadā .
utthitaścāpyasau daityo vrajate vṛṣapṛṣṭhataḥ .. 67.27 ..

Striking with a sweep of his tail, the bull then returned. / That daitya too got up and pursued the bull from behind.

6.3.67.28

vāyuvegena samprāpto yatra devo maheśvaraḥ .
āgataṃ dānavaṃ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣo vacanamabravīt .. 67.28 ..

With the speed of wind he reached where the god Maheśvara was. / Seeing the Dānava coming, the bull spoke these words:

6.3.67.29

āruhya pṛṣṭhe me deva śīghrameva hi gamyatām .
āruhya vṛṣabhaṃ devo jagāma comayā saha .. 67.29 ..

"Mounting my back, O god, you must go at once!" / Mounting the bull, the god went away together with Umā.

6.3.67.30

nākaṃ prāptastato devo gataḥ śakrasya mandiram .
nātyajaddevapṛṣṭhaṃ tu dānavo baladarpitaḥ .. 67.30 ..

Then the god reached heaven and went to Śakra's mansion; / yet the Dānava, arrogant with power, did not leave the god's trail.

6.3.67.31

indralokaṃ parityajya brahmalokaṃ gatastadā .
yatrayatra vrajeddevo bhayātsaha divaukasaiḥ .. 67.31 ..

Leaving Indra's world, he then went to Brahmā's world. / Wherever the god went in fear together with the gods,

6.3.67.32

apaśyattatra tatraiva pṛṣṭhe lagnaṃ tu dānavam .
sarvāṃllokān bhramitvā tu devo vismayamāgataḥ .. 67.32 ..

right there he saw the Dānava clinging to his back. / Having wandered through all the worlds, the god was filled with astonishment:

6.3.67.33

na sthānaṃ vidyate kiṃcidyatra viśramyate kṣaṇam .
devadānavayostatra yuddhaṃ jñātvā sudāruṇam .. 67.33 ..

"There is no place whatsoever where I may rest for a moment!" / Knowing that a dreadful conflict had arisen between the god and the Dānava,

6.3.67.34

harṣitātmā munistatra ciraṃ nṛtyati nāradaḥ .
dhanyo'hamadya me janma jīvitaṃ ca sujīvitam .. 67.34 ..

the sage Nārada danced there for a long time, his heart rejoicing: / "Blessed am I today! My birth and my life have been well lived!"

6.3.67.35

mahāntaṃ ca kaliṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃtoṣaḥ paramo'bhavat .
devadānavayostatra yuddhaṃ tyaktvā ca nāradaḥ .. 67.35 ..

Beholding this great quarrel, his satisfaction was supreme. / Leaving the battle there between the god and the Dānava, Nārada

6.3.67.36

ājagāma tato vipro yatra devo maheśvaraḥ .
dṛṣṭvā devo'tha taṃ vipraṃ pratipūjyābravīdidam .. 67.36 ..

the brahmin then came to where the god Maheśvara was. / Seeing that brahmin, the god honored him and said this:

6.3.67.37

bho nārada muniśreṣṭha jānīṣe keśavaṃ kvacit .
gatvā tatra ca śīghraṃ tvaṃ keśavāya nivedaya .. 67.37 ..

"O Nārada, best of sages, do you know where Keśava is? / Go there quickly and report to Keśava!"

6.3.67.38

nārada uvāca -
devadānavasiddhānāṃ gandharvoragarakṣasām .
sarveṣāmeva deveśo harate dhruvamāpadam .. 67.38 ..

Nārada said: / "Of the gods, Dānavas, siddhas, Gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas— / of all of them, the Lord of gods surely removes distress.

6.3.67.39

asaṃbhāvyaṃ na vaktavyaṃ manasāpi na cintayet .
īdṛśīṃ naiva budhyāmi āpadaṃ ca vibho tava .. 67.39 ..

This is unthinkable; it should not be spoken, nor should one even imagine it in mind. / I cannot comprehend such distress of yours, O Lord!"

6.3.67.40

īśvara uvāca -
gaccha nārada śīghraṃ tvaṃ yatra devo janārdanaḥ .
viditaṃ ca tvayā sarvaṃ yatkṛtaṃ dānavena tu .. 67.40 ..

Īśvara said: / "Go quickly, Nārada, to where the god Janārdana is. / All that has been done by the Dānava is known to you.

6.3.67.41

avadhyo dānavo hyeṣa sendrairapi marudgaṇaiḥ .
gatvā tu keśavaṃ devaṃ nivedaya mahāmune .. 67.41 ..

Indeed, this Dānava cannot be slain even by the hosts of Maruts led by Indra. / Having gone to the god Keśava, report it, O great sage!"

6.3.67.42

nārada uvāca -
na tu gacchāmyahaṃ deva suptaḥ kṣīrodadhau sukhī .
keśavaḥ preraṇe hyeṣāmādeśo dīyatāṃ prabho .. 67.42 ..

Nārada said: / "I will not go, O god! Sleeping happily in the Ocean of Milk, / Keśava is resting; give an order to dispatch others, O Lord!

6.3.67.43

mātrā svasrā duhitrā vā rājānaṃ ca tathā prabhum .
guruṃ caivāditaḥ kṛtvā śayānaṃ na prabodhayet .. 67.43 ..

Whether by mother, sister, or daughter, likewise a king and a master, / and beginning with a guru—one should not awaken one who is sleeping."

6.3.67.44

īśvara uvāca -
yadi kvacidagāreṣu vahnirutpadyate mahān .
nidhanaṃ yānti tatrasthā yadbudhyerannasūrayaḥ .. 67.44 ..

Īśvara said: / "If a great fire breaks out somewhere in a house, / those inside meet their end if the unwise do not wake up."

6.3.67.45

nārada uvāca -
śīghraṃ gaccha mahādeva ātmānaṃ rakṣa suprabho .
gacchāmyahaṃ na sandeho yatra devo janārdanaḥ .. 67.45 ..

Nārada said: / "Go quickly, Mahādeva; protect yourself, O glorious lord! / I am going, there is no doubt, to where the god Janārdana is."

6.3.67.46

tato nandimahākālau stambhahastau bhayānakau .
jaghnaturdānavaṃ tatra mudgarādibhirāyudhaiḥ .. 67.46 ..

Then Nandin and Mahākāla, terrifying with clubs in their hands, / struck the Dānava there with weapons such as maces.

6.3.67.47

trayo'pi ca mahākāyāḥ saptatālapramāṇakāḥ .
na śamo jāyate teṣāṃ yudhyatāṃ ca parasparam .. 67.47 ..

All three had huge bodies, the height of seven palm trees; / no peace arose among them as they fought one another.

6.3.67.48

tataścānantaraṃ vipro'gacchattaṃ keśavaṃ prati .
suptaṃ kṣīrārṇave'paśyaccheṣaparyaṅkasaṃsthitam .. 67.48 ..

Immediately after that, the brahmin went to Keśava. / He saw him sleeping in the Ocean of Milk, resting on the couch of Śeṣa,

6.3.67.49

lakṣmyā pādayugaṃ gṛhya ūrūpari niveśitam .
apsarogīyamānaṃ tu bhaktyānamya ca keśavam .. 67.49 ..

his two feet held by Lakṣmī and placed upon her thighs, / being sung to by apsarases; and having bowed down to Keśava with devotion, [he said:]

6.3.67.50

adya me saphalaṃ janma jīvitaṃ ca sujīvitam .
utthāpayasva deveśaṃ lakṣmi tvamaviśaṅkitā .. 67.50 ..

"Today my birth is fruitful, and my life is well lived! / Awaken the Lord of gods, O Lakṣmī, without hesitation!"

6.3.67.51

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā padāṅguṣṭhaṃ vyamardayat .
nāradastiṣṭhate dvāri uttiṣṭha madhusūdana .. 67.51 ..

Hearing Nārada's words, she pressed his big toe: / "Nārada is standing at the door; arise, O Madhusūdana!"

6.3.67.52

devo'pi nāradaṃ dṛṣṭvā paraṃ harṣamupāgataḥ .
svāgataṃ tu muniśreṣṭha suprabhātādya śarvarī .. 67.52 ..

Seeing Nārada, the god too attained supreme joy: / "Welcome, best of sages! The night has become a beautiful dawn today."

6.3.67.53

nārada uvāca -
adya me saphalaṃ deva prabhātaṃ tava darśanāt .
kuśalaṃ ca na devānāṃ śīghramuttiṣṭha gamyatām .. 67.53 ..

Nārada said: / "Today my dawn is fruitful, O god, from your darśana. / But there is no welfare for the gods; arise quickly and let us go!"

6.3.67.54

śrīviṣṇuruvāca -
brahmā cendraśca rudraśca ye cānye tu marudgaṇāḥ .
āpadaḥ kāraṇaṃ yacca tatsamākhyātumarhasi .. 67.54 ..

The venerable Viṣṇu said: / "Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, and whatever other hosts of Maruts there are— / you ought to explain the cause of their distress."

6.3.67.55

nārada uvāca -
dānavena mahātīvraṃ tapastaptaṃ sudāruṇam .
rudreṇa ca varo datto bhasmatvaṃ manasepsitam .. 67.55 ..

Nārada said: / "An exceedingly severe and dreadful austerity was performed by the Dānava, / and Rudra granted a boon: the turning to ashes [of anyone], as desired in his mind.

6.3.67.56

varadānabalenaiva sa devaṃ hantumarhati .
īdṛśaṃ ceṣṭitaṃ jñātvā nīto devo'maraiḥ saha .. 67.56 ..

By the power of that boon alone he is fit to kill the god. / Learning of such an attempt, the god was led away along with the immortals."

6.3.67.57

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā jagāma samunirhariḥ .
dṛṣṭvā devastamīśānaṃ gacchantaṃ diśamuttarām .. 67.57 ..

Hearing Nārada's words, Hari went along with the sage. / The god saw Īśāna going toward the northern direction.

6.3.67.58

dṛṣṭvā devaṃ ca rudro'tha pariṣvajya punaḥpunaḥ .
namaskṛtya jagannāthaṃ devaṃ ca madhusūdanaḥ .. 67.58 ..

Seeing the god, Rudra embraced him again and again; / and Madhusūdana bowed down to the god, the Lord of the universe.

6.3.67.59

viṣṇuruvāca -
bhayasya kāraṇaṃ deva kathyatāṃ ca maheśvara .
devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ preṣayeyaṃ yamālayam .. 67.59 ..

Viṣṇu said: / "Let the cause of fear be told, O god, O Maheśvara! / Whether of gods, Dānavas, or yakṣas, I will send them to Yama's abode.

6.3.67.60

lalāṭe ca kṛto dharmo yuṣmākaṃ ca maheśvara .
chittvā śirastathāṅgāni indriyāṇi na saṃśayaḥ .. 67.60 ..

The duty was placed upon your forehead, O Maheśvara, / after cutting off the head, the limbs, and the senses, no doubt."

6.3.67.61

īśvara uvāca -
nāsti saukhyaṃ ca mūrkheṣu nāsti saukhyaṃ ca rogiṣu .
parādhīnena saukhyaṃ tu strījite ca viśeṣataḥ .. 67.61 ..

Īśvara said: / "There is no happiness among fools, nor is there happiness among the sick; / there is no happiness for one subject to another, and especially for one conquered by a woman.

6.3.67.62

strījitena mayā viṣṇo varo dattastu dānave .
yasya mūrdhni nyasetpāṇiṃ sa bhavedbhasmapuṃjavat .. 67.62 ..

Conquered by a woman, O Viṣṇu, a boon was granted by me to the Dānava: / 'On whose head he places his hand, that one shall become like a heap of ashes.'

6.3.67.63

ajeyaścāmaraścaiva mayā hyuktaḥ sa keśava .
hantumicchati māṃ pāpa upāyastava vidyate .. 67.63 ..

He was declared by me to be invincible and immortal, O Keśava. / That sinful one wishes to kill me; do you have a remedy?"

6.3.67.64

viṣṇuruvāca -
gacchantu amarāḥ sarve yuṣmābhiḥ saha śaṅkara .
upāyaṃ sarjayāmyadya vadhārthaṃ dānavasya ca .. 67.64 ..

Viṣṇu said: / "Let all the immortals go together with you, O Śaṅkara. / Today I shall devise a means for slaying the Dānava.

6.3.67.65

revāyāśca taṭe tiṣṭha deva tvamamaraiḥ saha .
kālakṣepo na kartavyo gamyatāṃ tvaritaṃ prabho .. 67.65 ..

Stay on the bank of the Revā, O god, together with the immortals. / No delay should be made; go swiftly, O Lord!

6.3.67.66

dakṣiṇā yatra gaṅgā ca revā caiva mahānadī .
yatrayatra ca dṛśyeta prācī caiva sarasvatī .. 67.66 ..

Where the southern Gaṅgā and the great river Revā are, / and wherever the eastward-flowing Sarasvatī is seen,

6.3.67.67

tatsamaṃ ca mahātīrthaṃ na martye caiva dṛśyate .
snānaṃ ye tatra kurvanti dānaṃ caiva tu bhaktitaḥ .. 67.67 ..

no great sacred ford equal to that is seen among mortals. / Those who perform ritual ablution and donation there with devotion,

6.3.67.68

saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ naśyate nātra saṃśayaḥ .
etattīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvapātakanāśanam .. 67.68 ..

their sin committed in seven lifetimes is destroyed, there is no doubt of this. / This sacred ford is of great merit, destroying all sins.

6.3.67.69

gamyatāṃ tatra deveśa luṅkeśaṃ tvaṃ sahāmaraiḥ .
viṣṇostu vacanādeva praviṣṭo hradamuttamam .. 67.69 ..

Go there, O Lord of gods, to Luṅkeśa together with the immortals." / At the very word of Viṣṇu, [the god] entered the excellent pool.

6.3.67.70

ratiṃ sumahatīṃ cakre saha tatra marudgaṇaiḥ .
tataścānantaraṃ devo māyāṃ kṛtvā hyanekadhā .. 67.70 ..

He took great delight there together with the host of Maruts. / Then, right after that, the god created illusions of many kinds. 67.70

6.3.67.71

vasantamāsaṃ saṃsṛjya udyānavanaśobhitam .
aśokairbakulaiścaiva brahmavṛkṣaiḥ suśobhanaiḥ .. 67.71 ..

Bringing forth the spring month, beautified with pleasure gardens and forests, / with aśoka trees, bakulas, and very lovely brahmavṛkṣas, 67.71

6.3.67.72

śrīvṛkṣaiśca kapitthaiśca śirīṣairrājacampakaiḥ .
śrīphalaiśca tathā tālaiḥ kadambodumbaraistathā .. 67.72 ..

with śrīvṛkṣas, kapitīhas, śirīṣas, and rājacampakas, / with bilvas, and likewise palmyra palms, kadambas, and udumbaras, 67.72

6.3.67.73

aśvatthādidrumaiścaiva nānāvṛkṣairanekaśaḥ .
nānāpuṣpaiḥ sugandhāḍhyairbhramaraiśca nināditam .. 67.73 ..

with sacred figs and various other trees in abundance, / rich in fragrant flowers of various kinds, and made resonant with bees. 67.73

6.3.67.74

tasminmadhye mahāvṛkṣo nyagrodhaśca suśobhanaḥ .
bahupakṣisamāyuktaḥ kokilārāvanāditaḥ .. 67.74 ..

In the midst of that was a great, very lovely banyan tree, / filled with many birds and echoing with the cries of cuckoos. 67.74

6.3.67.75

kṛṣṇena ca kṛtaṃ tasminkanyārūpaṃ ca tatkṣaṇāt .
na tasyāḥ sadṛśī kanyā trailokye sacarācare .. 67.75 ..

And there Kṛṣṇa assumed in an instant the form of a maiden; / in the three worlds, with moving and unmoving beings, there was no maiden equal to her. 67.75

6.3.67.76

anyāśca kanyakāḥ sapta surūpāḥ śubhalocanāḥ .
divyarūpadharāḥ sarvā divyābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ .. 67.76 ..

And there were seven other maidens, shapely and fair-eyed, / all bearing celestial forms and adorned with celestial ornaments, 67.76

6.3.67.77

pumāṃsamabhikāṅkṣantyo yadyekaḥ kāmayetstriyaḥ .
mauktikairratnamāṇikyairvaiḍūryaiśca suśobhanaiḥ .. 67.77 ..

desiring a man, if one were to desire women. / With pearls, precious jewels, rubies, and very lovely beryls, 67.77

6.3.67.78

kāmahāraiśca vaṃśaiśca baddho hindolakaḥ kṛtaḥ .
ārūḍhāśca mahākanyā gāyante susvaraṃ tadā .. 67.78 ..

and with lovely garlands and bamboo poles, a swing was fashioned and fastened. / Having mounted it, the stately maidens then sang melodiously. 67.78

6.3.67.79

mārutaḥ śītalo vāti vanaṃ spṛṣṭvā suśobhanam .
vātena prerito gandho dānavo ghrāṇapīḍitaḥ .. 67.79 ..

A cool breeze blew, touching the very lovely forest. / Urged by the wind, the scent struck the dānava's nostrils. 67.79

6.3.67.80

tataḥ kusumagandhena vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ .
āghrāya cedṛśaṃ puṇyaṃ na dṛṣṭaṃ na śrutaṃ mayā .. 67.80 ..

Then, having smelled the fragrance of the blossoms, he was filled with supreme wonder: / 'Having smelled such holy scent, the like of which I have never seen or heard before!' 67.80

6.3.67.81

vane cintayataḥ kiṃciddhvanigītaṃ suśobhanam .
gītasya ca dhvaniṃ śrutvā mohito māyayā hareḥ .. 67.81 ..

As he was pondering something in the forest, there came a very beautiful sound of singing. / Having heard the sound of the song, he was enchanted by the illusion of Hari. 67.81

6.3.67.82

vyādhasyaiva mahākūṭe patanti ca yathā mṛgāḥ .
kālaspṛṣṭastathā kṛṣṇe patitaśca narādhipa .. 67.82 ..

Just as deer fall into the great snare of a hunter, / so, touched by death, he fell into [the snare of] Kṛṣṇa, O king. 67.82

6.3.67.83

dṛṣṭvā kanyāṃ ca tāṃ daityo mūrcchayā patito bhuvi .
patitena tu dṛṣṭaikā kanyā vaṭatale sthitā .. 67.83 ..

Having seen that maiden, the daitya fell in a swoon to the ground. / Having fallen, he beheld that single maiden standing at the foot of the banyan tree. 67.83

6.3.67.84

āsyaṃ dṛṣṭvā tu nārīṇāṃ punaḥ kāmena pīḍitaḥ .
gṛhītvā hemadaṇḍaṃ tu tāṃ pātayitumicchati .. 67.84 ..

Having looked upon the face of the women, he was once again afflicted with passion. / Grasping a golden rod, he wished to bring her down. 67.84

6.3.67.85

kanyovāca -
mā mānusparśayatvaṃ hi kumāryahaṃ kulottama .
bho muñca muñca māṃ śīghraṃ yāvadgacchāmyahaṃ gṛham .. 67.85 ..

The maiden said: / 'Do not touch me! I am an unmarried girl, O best of your lineage. / Hey, let me go, let me go quickly, so that I may go home!' 67.85

6.3.67.86

dānava uvāca -
ahaṃ vivāhamicchāmi tvayā saha suśobhane .
bhūpṛṣṭhe sakale rājñī bhavasyevaṃ na saṃśayaḥ .. 67.86 ..

The dānava said: / 'I desire marriage with you, O very lovely one. / You will surely become the queen over the entire face of the earth, there is no doubt.' 67.86

6.3.67.87

kanyovāca -
pitā rakṣati kaumārye bhartā rakṣati yauvane .
putro rakṣati vṛddhatve na strī svātantryamarhati .. 67.87 ..

The maiden said: / 'A father protects in childhood, a husband protects in youth, / a son protects in old age; a woman does not deserve independence. 67.87

6.3.67.88

na svātantryaṃ mamaivāsti utpannāhaṃ mahatkule .
yācyastu matpitā bhrātā mātāpi hi tathaiva ca .. 67.88 ..

I have no independence of my own; I was born in a noble family. / My father must be asked, as must my brother and my mother too.' 67.88

6.3.67.89

dānava uvāca -
yadi māṃ necchase tvadya svātantryaṃ nāvalambase .
mamāpi ca tadā hatyā satyaṃ ca śubhalocane .. 67.89 ..

The dānava said: / 'If you do not desire me today and do not assert your independence, / then I will surely kill myself, truly, O fair-eyed one.' 67.89

6.3.67.90

kanyovāca -
viśvāso naiva kartavyo yādṛśe tādṛśe nare .
narāḥ strīṣu vicitrāśca lampaṭāḥ kāmamohitāḥ .. 67.90 ..

The maiden said: / 'Trust should never be placed in just any man. / Men are treacherous towards women, dissolute and infatuated with passion. 67.90

6.3.67.91

pariṇīya tu māṃ tvaṃ hi bhuṅkṣva bhogānmayā saha .
janmanāśo bhavetpaścānna tvaṃ nānyo bhavenmama .. 67.91 ..

Only after having married me may you enjoy pleasures with me. / If my life were to end afterwards, there would be neither you nor any other for me. 67.91

6.3.67.92

brāhmaṇī kṣatriṇī vaiśī śūdrī yāvattathaiva ca .
dvitīyo na bhavedbhartā ekākī ceha janmani .. 67.92 ..

Whether a brahmin woman, a kṣatriya woman, a vaiśya woman, or even a śūdra woman, / she should not have a second husband in this life, remaining faithful to one.' 67.92

6.3.67.93

dānava uvāca -
yattvayā gaditaṃ vākyaṃ tanmayā dhāritaṃ hṛdi .
pratyayaṃ me kuruṣvādya yatte manasi rocate .. 67.93 ..

The dānava said: / 'Whatever word you have spoken, I have taken it to heart. / Give me an oath today, whatever pleases your mind.' 67.93

6.3.67.94

kanyovāca -
jānīṣva gopakanyāṃ māṃ krīḍāmi sakhibhiḥ saha .
asmatkuleṣu yaddivyaṃ tatkuruṣva yathāvidhi .. 67.94 ..

The maiden said: / 'Know me to be a cowherd's daughter; I am playing with my friends. / Whatever is the ordeal in our families, perform that according to rule. 67.94

6.3.67.95

na taddivyaṃ kule'smākaṃ viṣaṃ kośaṃ na tattulā .
gopānvayeṣu sarveṣu hastaḥ śirasi dīyate .. 67.95 ..

In our family, poison is not the ordeal, nor the sacred water, nor the balance. / Among all cowherd lineages, a hand is placed upon the head.' 67.95

6.3.67.96

kāmāndhenaiva rājendra nikṣipto mastake karaḥ .
tatkṣaṇādbhasmasādbhūto dagdhastṛṇacayo yathā .. 67.96 ..

Blinded by desire, O best of kings, his hand was placed upon his head. / In an instant he was reduced to ashes, burned like a heap of straw. 67.96

6.3.67.97

keśavopari devaistu puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ śubhā kṛtā .
hṛṣṭāḥ sarve'gamandevāḥ svasthānaṃ vigatajvarāḥ .. 67.97 ..

An auspicious shower of flowers was made upon Keśava by the gods. / Delighted, all the gods went to their own abode, freed from distress. 67.97

6.3.67.98

kṣīrodaṃ keśavo gacchatkālapṛṣṭhe nipātite .
ya idaṃ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā caritaṃ dānavasya ca .. 67.98 ..

Keśava went to the Milk Ocean when Kālapṛṣṭha had been struck down. / Whoever hears this deed of the dānava with devotion 67.98

6.3.67.99

sa jayī jāyate nityaṃ śaṅkarasya vaco yathā .
etasmātkāraṇādrājaṃlliṅgeśvaramiti śrutam .. 67.99 ..

becomes ever victorious, according to the word of Śaṅkara. / For this reason, O king, it is renowned as Liṅgeśvara. 67.99

6.3.67.100

līnaṃ ca pātakaṃ yasmātsnānamātreṇa naśyati .
tvagasthi śoṇitaṃ māṃsaṃ medaḥsnāyustathaiva ca .. 67.100 ..

And because sin dissolves [there], it is destroyed merely by bathing. / Skin, bone, blood, flesh, fat, and sinew, 67.100

6.3.67.101

majjāśukragataṃ pāpaṃ naśyate janmakoṭijam .
luṅkeśvare mahārāja toyaṃ pibati bhaktitaḥ .. 67.101 ..

and the sin residing in the marrow and semen, born of ten million births, is destroyed / when one drinks the water with devotion at Luṅkeśvara, O great king. 67.101

6.3.67.102

tribhiḥ prasṛtimātrābhiḥ pāpaṃ yāti sahasradhā .
viśeṣeṇa caturdaśyāmubhau pakṣau tu cāṣṭamī .. 67.102 ..

By merely three handfuls, sin disperses in a thousand ways, / especially on the fourteenth day and on the eighth day of both fortnights. 67.102

6.3.67.103

upoṣya yo naro bhaktyā pitḥṇāṃ pāṇḍunandana .
uddhṛtāstena te sarve nārakīyāḥ pitāmahāḥ .. 67.103 ..

That person who, having fasted, [offers water] with devotion to the ancestors, O son of Pāṇḍu, / by him all those grandfathers who were in hell are delivered. 67.103

6.3.67.104

kākiṇīṃ caiva yo dadyādbrāhmaṇe vedapārage .
tena dānaphalaṃ sarvaṃ kurukṣetrādikaṃ ca yat .. 67.104 ..

And whoever gives even a single cowrie to a brahmin who has mastered the Vedas, / by him is obtained the entire fruit of giving at Kurukṣetra and other places; 67.104

6.3.67.105

prāptaṃ tu nānyathā rājañchaṅkaro vadate tvidam .
sparśaliṅgamidaṃ rājañchaṅkareṇa tu nirmitam .. 67.105 ..

it is obtained, not otherwise, O king; this is what Śaṅkara declares. / This touchstone liṅga was fashioned by Śaṅkara, O king. 67.105

6.3.67.106

sparśamātre manuṣyāṇāṃ rudravāso'bhijāyate .
tena dānaphalaṃ sarvaṃ kurukṣetrādikaṃ ca yat .. 67.106 ..

By mere touch, an abode with Rudra is attained by men. / By it, the entire fruit of giving at Kurukṣetra and other places [is gained]. 67.106

6.3.67.107

etasmātkāraṇādrājaṃllokapālāśca rakṣakāḥ .
durgā ca rakṣaṇe sṛṣṭā caturhastadharā śubhā .. 67.107 ..

For this reason, O king, the world-protectors are its guardians, / and the auspicious Durgā, bearing four arms, was created to protect it. 67.107

6.3.67.108

dhanado lokapāleśo rakṣakaśceśvarasya ca .
rakṣati ca sadā kālaṃ grahavyāpārarūpataḥ .. 67.108 ..

Kubera, the lord of the world-protectors, is also a guardian of Īśvara; / and he protects it at all times through the agency of the planets, 67.108

6.3.67.109

putrabhrātṛsamārūpaiḥ svāmisambandharūpibhiḥ .
laṅkeśvaraṃ ca rājendra devairnādyāpi mucyate .. 67.109 ..

in forms resembling sons and brothers, having the nature of relations with their lord. / And Laṅkeśvara, O best of kings, is not abandoned by the gods even today. 67.109

6.3.67.109_2

.. iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ pañcama āvantyakhaṇḍe revākhaṇḍe luṅkeśvaratīrthamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma saptaṣaṣṭitamo'dhyāyaḥ ..

Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter, entitled the description of the māhātmya of Luṅkeśvara tīrtha, in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth Avantī section in the glorious Skanda Purāṇa, the collection of eighty-one thousand verses.