Skandapurana 7.2

7.2.p1

pūrvavartī pṛṣṭhaḥ (adhyāyāḥ 1 - 10) āgāmī pṛṣṭhaḥ (adhyāyāḥ 21 - 30)

7.2.p2

adhyāyāḥ 11 - 20

7.2.p3

41

7.2.p4

sanatkumāra uvāca

7.2.p5

kadācit svagṛhaṃ1 prāptaṃ kaśyapaṃ dvipadāmvaram2 .
apṛcchaddhimavān praśnaṃ loke khyātikaraṃ nu3 kim . . 1 . .
kenākṣayāśca lokāḥ syuḥ khyātiśca paramā mune4 .
tathaiva5 cārcanīyatvaṃ satsu tat6 kathayasva me . . 2 . .

7.2.p6

kaśyapa uvāca

7.2.p7

apatyena mahābhāga7 sarvametadavāpyate .
mama khyātirapatyena brahmaṇaścarṣibhiḥ saha . . 3 . .
kinna paśyasi śailendra yato māṃ paripṛcchasi .
varttayiṣyāmi8 taccāpi yanme dṛṣṭaṃ purācala9 . .4 . .

7.2.p8

vārāṇasīmahaṃ gacchannapaśyaṃ saṃsthitaṃ divi .
vimānaṃ svanavaddivyamanaupamyamaninditam . . 5 . .
tasyādhastādārttanādaṃ garbhasthāne10 śṛṇomyaham .
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .

7.2.p9

tānahaṃ 11 tapasā jñātvā tatraivāntarhitaḥ sthitaḥ12 . . 6 . .
athāgāttatra śailendra13 vipro niyamavān śuciḥ .
tīrthābhiṣekapūtātmā pare tapasi saṃsthita.
. .7 . .

7.2.p10

atha sa vrajamānastu vyāghreṇābhīṣito dvijaḥ .
viveśa taṃ tadā deśaṃ sā gartā14 yatra bhūdhara . .8 . .
garttāyā 15 vīraṇastambe lambamānāṃstadā munīn .
apaśyadārto 16 duḥkhārttānapṛcchattāṃśca sa dvijaḥ17 . . 9 . .

7.2.p11

ke yūyaṃ vīraṇastambe lambamānā hyadhomukhāḥ .
duḥkhitāḥ kena mokṣaśca yuṣmākaṃ bhavitānaghāḥ 18 . .
8.11.10
. .

7.2.5

1 icchayā
- gha. . 2 munipuṃgavam -
gha . 3 tu - gha . 4...
tmane - gha. . 5

[Apparatus readings]

7.2.5_12

sarvathaivā - gha. . 6 sasutaṃ -
kha, gha., satsutaṃ
( tat) - ka . 7 mahābāho -
kha gha. . 8 cātraiva -
gha . 9 tana - gha. . 10 gartta...
- kha. gha. . -
11 tathāhaṃ - ka.,
tamahaṃ - gha . 12... tāsthitān
- kha . 13 sainyeva -
gha. . 14 sagarto - gha
. 15 garttoyaṃ - gha. . .16.
.. rttān - kha. .
17... jāḥ - kha . 18.
gha - ka. ga.
.

[Apparatus readings]

7.2.5_13

42

42

7.2.5_14

pitara ūcuḥ

The ancestors said:

7.2.5_15

vayantekṛtapuṇyasya pitaraḥ sapitāmahāḥ .
prapitāmahāśca kliśyāmastava19 duṣṭena karmaṇā ...11..

"We are the fathers, along with grandfathers / and great-grandfathers, of you who have not performed merit, suffering because of your wicked deed.

7.2.5_16

narakoyaṃ mahābhāga garttārūpaṃ20 samāsthitaḥ .
tvañcāpi vīraṇastambastvayi lambāmahe vayam ..12..

This is a hell, O fortunate one, in the form of a pit; / and you are the clump of vīraṇa grass, and we hang upon you."

7.2.5_17

yāvattvaṃ jīvase vipra tāvadeva vayaṃ sthitāḥ .
mṛte tvayi gamiṣyāmo narakaṃ pāpacetasaḥ ..13..

"As long as you live, O brahmin, for that long only do we stay [here]. / When you die, we, sinners in mind, shall go to hell.13

7.2.5_18

yadi tvaṃ dārasaṃyogaṃ kṛtvāpatyaṃ guṇottaram .
utpādayasi tenāsmānmucyema vayamekaśaḥ21 ..14..

If you take a wife and produce an offspring / endowed with superior virtues, we might be freed from this, one by one.14

7.2.5_19

nānyena tapasā putra na tīrthānāṃ phalena ca .
tat kuruṣva mahābuddhe tārayasva pitṝn bhayāt ..15..

Not by any other austerity, my son, nor by the fruit of sacred fords [can we be freed]. / Therefore do this, O wise one; deliver your ancestors from fear."15

7.2.5_20

sa tatheti pratijñāya ārādhya ca vṛṣadhvajam .
pitṝn garttātsamuddhṛtya gaṇapān pracakāra ha ..16..

Having agreed with "So be it," and having worshipped the Bull-bannered [Śiva], / he raised his ancestors from the pit and made them leaders of the gaṇas.16

7.2.5_21

svayañca24 rudradayitaḥ sukeśo nāma nāmataḥ .
saṃmato balavāṃścaiva rudrasya23 ca gaṇapobhavat ..17..

And he himself, dear to Rudra, named Sukeśa by name, / honoured and mighty, became a leader of Rudra's gaṇas.17

7.2.5_22

tasmāt kṛtvā tapo ghoramapatyaṃ guṇavad bhṛśam24 .
utpādayasva śailendra tataḥ kīrtimavāpsyasi ..18..

"Therefore, performing fierce austerity, produce an offspring / exceptionally endowed with virtues, O king of mountains; then you will obtain renown."18

7.2.5_23

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.5_24

sa evamukta25 ṛṣiṇā śailendro niyame sthitaḥ .
tapaścakāra vipulaṃ yena brahmā tutoṣa ha ..19..

Thus addressed by the seer, the king of mountains, steadfast in his vow, / performed vast austerity by which Brahmā was pleased.19

7.2.5_25

tamāgatya26 tato27 brahmā varadosmītyamāṣata .
brūhi tuṣṭosmi te śaila28 tapasānena suvrata ..8.11.20..

Then Brahmā came to him and spoke, saying, "I am the granter of boons. / Speak; I am pleased with you, O mountain, by this austerity, O one of noble vows."20

7.2.5_26

19 ta...
- kha. . 20 garttārūpā -
kha. gartarūpo gha. .
21.. -maṃhasaḥ - gha.
. 22 ayañca... - gha.
. 23 varasya - gha. . 2.. .ttaram
- gha. . 25 evamukto hi -
gha.,.. .kto - ka.
kha. gha.,.. kte
- ga. . 26 tato gatvā -
gha. . 27 tada - kaḥ.
gha. . 28 śailendra -
gha. .

[Apparatus readings: 19–28]

7.2.5_27

43

43

7.2.5_28

himavānuvāca

Himavat said:

7.2.5_29

bhagavan putramicchāmi guṇaiḥ sarvairalaṃkṛtam .
etadvaraṃ29 prayacchasva yadi tuṣṭosi naḥ prabho ..21..

"O Lord, I desire a son adorned with all virtues. / Grant this boon if you are pleased with us, O Lord."21

7.2.5_30

brahmo30vāca

Brahmā said:

7.2.5_31

kanyā bhavitrī31 śailendra sutā te varavarṇinī .
yasyāḥ prabhāvāt sarvatra kīrttimāpsyasi puṣkalām ..22 . .
arcitaḥ sarvadevānāṃ tīrthakoṭīsamāvṛtaḥ32 .
pāvanaścaiva puṇyaśca33 devānāmapi sarvataḥ .

"A maiden shall be your daughter, O king of mountains, a fair-complexioned one, / through whose power you will obtain abundant renown everywhere;22 / worshipped by all the gods, surrounded by crores of sacred fords, / purifying and holy, everywhere even for the gods.

7.2.5_32

jyeṣṭhā ca sā34 bhavitrī35 te anye cānu tataḥ36 śubhe37 ..23 ..

And she shall be your eldest [daughter], and after her two other auspicious ones."23

7.2.5_33

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.5_34

evamuktvā tato brahmā tatraivāntaradhīyata .
sopi kālena śailendro menāyāmudapādayat38 ..24..

Having spoken thus, Brahmā vanished right there. / And in course of time, that king of mountains begot upon Menā24

7.2.5_35

aparṇāmekaparṇāṃ ca tathā cāpyekapāṭalām .
nyagrodhamekaparṇā tu pāṭalaṃ39 caikapāṭalā ..25..

Aparṇā, Ekaparṇā, and also Ekapāṭalā. / Ekaparṇā took recourse to a banyan tree, and Ekapāṭalā to a trumpet-flower tree.25

7.2.5_36

āśrite dve hyaparṇā tu aniketā tapocarat .
śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ duścaraṃ devadānavaiḥ ..26..

The two took shelter [there], but Aparṇā, homeless, performed austerity / difficult to be performed by gods and demons, for a hundred thousand years.26

7.2.5_37

āhāramekaparṇena saikaparṇā samācarat .
pāṭalena tathaikena vyadadhāccaikapāṭalā40 ..27..

That Ekaparṇā lived on a diet of a single leaf; / and Ekapāṭalā sustained herself on a single trumpet-flower.27

7.2.5_38

pūrṇe pūrṇe sahasre tu āhāraṃ te ca cakratuḥ41 .
aparṇā42
tu nirāhārā43 tāṃ mātā44 pratyabhāṣata ..28..

Every full thousand [years], the two took food; / but Aparṇā was without food. Her mother spoke to her,28

7.2.5_39

niṣedhayantītyumeti mātṛsnehena duḥkhitā .
sā tathoktā tadā mātrā devī duścaracāriṇī .
tenaiva nāmnā lokeṣu vikhyātā surapūjitā . .29..

Forbidding her, saying: "O mā" (Oh, do not!), afflicted by motherly affection. / Addressed thus by her mother at that time, the goddess, practising severe [austerities], / became celebrated in the worlds and worshipped by the gods by that very name [Umā].29

7.2.40

29 evaṃ varaṃ
- ka. ga. gha.
. 20 pitāmaha - ka. .
31.. tā - gha.
. 32 samanvitaḥ - gha.
. 33 pūta ... - gha. . 34 sā ca
- gha . 35 savitrī - ka . 36 gate -
gha. . 37 śubhā - ka.,
sute - gha. . 38 mupa...
ka. kha. . 39...
lāṃ caiva - gha. . 40

[Apparatus readings: 29–40]

7.2.40_40

vidadhātyeka... ka. kha.
gha. . 41.. .raśca
tayā kṛtaḥ - gha. . 42.. .rṇā
- gha. . 43.. .rāṃ
- ka. . 44 mātā tāṃ -
ka. .

[Apparatus readings: 41–44]

7.2.40_41

44

44

7.2.40_42

etat tattri45 kumārīkaṃ46
jagat sthāvarajaṅgamam .
etāsāṃ tapasā lokān47 yāvad bhūmirdhariṣyati . .8.11.3
0 ..

This world of moving and unmoving beings is guarded by the three maidens. / By the austerity of these [maidens], as long as the earth endures, [she] will sustain the worlds.30

7.2.40_43

tapaḥśarīrāstāḥ sarvāstisro yogabalānvitāḥ .
sarvāścaiva mahāyogāḥ48 sarvāśca49 sthirayauvanāḥ50 ..3 1 ..

All three had bodies made of austerity, endowed with the power of yoga; / and all were great yoginīs, all of constant youth.31

7.2.40_44

lokānāṃ mātara51 ścaiva brahmacāriṇya eva ca .
anugṛhṇanti lokāṃśca tapasā svena sarvadā ..3 2 ..

They are the mothers of the worlds and celibates as well; / and they constantly bless the worlds with their own austerity.32

7.2.40_45

umā tāsāṃ variṣṭhā ca śreṣṭhā52 ca varavarṇinī .
mahāyogabanopetā mahādevamupasthitā ..3 3 . .
dattakaścośanāstasyāḥ53 putraḥ sa bhṛgunandanaḥ .
asitasyai54 kavarṇā tu devalaṃ suṣuve sutam . .34..

Among them, Umā is the most excellent and the eldest, fair-complexioned, / possessed of the power of great yoga, who attended upon Mahādeva. / And Uśanas, that son of Bhṛgu, became her adopted son. / Ekaparṇā, however, gave birth to a son, Devala, [begotten] by Asita.33-34

7.2.40_46

yā tu tāsāṃ kumārīṇāṃ tṛtīyā hyekapāṭalā .
putraṃ śataśalākasya jaigīṣavyamupasthitā .. 35 ..

The third of those maidens, Ekapāṭalā, / approached Jaigīṣavya, the son of Śataśalāka.35

7.2.40_47

tasyāpi śaṃkhalikhitau smṛtau putrāvayonijau .
umā tu yā55 mayā tubhyaṃ kīrtitā varavarṇinī ..3 6..

His sons Śaṅkha and Likhita are known to have not been born of a womb. / But that fair-complexioned Umā whom I mentioned to you—36

7.2.40_48

atha tasyāstapo56 yogāt trailokyamakhilaṃ tadā .
pradhūpitaṃ samālakṣya brahmā vacanamabravīt .. 37. .
brahmovāca

Then, perceiving the entire triple world scorched / by the power of her austerity, Brahmā spoke [these] words:37 / Brahmā said:

7.2.40_49

devi kiṃ tapasā lokān tāpayiṣyasi śobhane .
tvayā sṛṣṭamidaṃ viśvaṃ mā kṛtvaitad57 vināśaya ..38 ..

"O goddess, why will you scorch the worlds with your austerity, O fair one? / This universe was created by you; having made it, do not destroy it.38

7.2.49

tvaṃ hi dhārayase lokānimān sarvān svatejasā .
brūhi kinte jaganmātaḥ prārthitaṃ saṃprasīda naḥ58 . .3 9. .
45 tvadri
- gha. . 46 ṇā - kha.
. 47 dugdha - ka . 48..
bhāgā - kha. . 49

For you sustain all these worlds with your own splendour. / Speak, O mother of the world, what is sought by you? Be gracious to us."39

7.2.49_50

stathā ca - ka. . 50 tapodhanāḥ -
kha. . 51.. ta. loka
- ka. . 52 jyeṣṭhā -
gha. . 53 dattaścāśanasā tasyāḥ. -
ka gha., tasya - kha.
. 54... ñcaika... -
ka. gha,.. ñcaika (?)
. 55 mā... - ka,
56 stāpa - gha. . 57 kṛtvā ta
ka, kṛtāntavi.. -
kha., hṛtā tva.. - gha . 58 hra
- ka; .

[Apparatus readings: 45–58]

7.2.49_51

45

45

7.2.49_52

devyuvāca59

The goddess said:

7.2.49_53

yadarthantapaso hyasya caraṇaṃ me pitāmaha .
jānīṣe tattvatastanme tataḥ pṛcchasi kiṃ punaḥ ..8.11.40
..

"The purpose for which this practice of austerity is undertaken by me, O grandfather, / you know truly; why then do you ask me again?"40

7.2.49_54

brahmovāca61

Brahmā said:

7.2.49_55

yadartha devi tapasā śrāmyase lokabhāvani62 .
sa tvāṃ63 svayaṃ samāgamya64 ihaiva varayiṣyati . .41 ..

"The purpose for which, O goddess, you wear yourself out with austerity, O creator of worlds, / he himself, having come, will choose you as bride right here.41

7.2.49_56

sarvadevapatiḥ65 śreṣṭhaḥ sarvalokeśvareśvaraḥ .
vayaṃ sadevā yasyeśe vaśyāḥ kiṅkaravādinaḥ66 ..42..

The lord of all gods, the highest, the ruler of rulers of all worlds, / under whose control we, along with the gods, speak as servants, O ruler.42

7.2.49_57

sadevadevaḥ parameśvare67śvaraḥ svayaṃ68
tavāyāsyati69 lokapontikam .
udārarūpo vikṛto70 bhirūpavān71 samānarūpo hi narasya72 kasyacit73 ..43 ..

That God of gods, ruler of the supreme lords, protector of the worlds, will himself come to you: / noble in form, deformed, handsome, resembling any ordinary man;43

7.2.49_58

maheśvaraḥ parvatalokavāsī carācareśaḥ prathamo74 prameyaḥ .
vinendunāpīndu74 samānavaktro vibhīṣaṇaṃ rūpamihāsthitogryam76 ..44..

Maheśvara, dwelling in the mountain-world, the lord of moving and unmoving beings, the first, immeasurable; / with a face like the moon even without the moon, assuming a dreadful, fierce form here."44

7.2.49_59

iti skandapurāṇe devyā varapradānaṃ77 nāma ekādaśodhyāyaḥ

Thus ends the eleventh chapter, named "The Granting of the Boon to the Goddess," in the Skandapurāṇa.

7.2.49_60

tataḥ sa bhagavāndevo brahmā tāmāha susvaram .
devi yenaiva sṛṣṭāsi na vinā yastvayā śubhe1 ..1 . .
sa bhartā tava deveśo2 bhavitā mā tapaḥ kṛthā3.
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā brahmā vyāsa gireḥ sutām ..2..

Then that blessed god Brahmā said to her in a gentle voice:
“O goddess, by whom indeed you were created, and who is not without you, O auspicious lady,
he, the lord of gods, shall be your husband; do not perform tapas.”
Then, having circumambulated the daughter of the mountain, O Vyāsa, Brahmā

7.2.63

59 umovāca
- gha . 60 tattbametanme - kha . 61 pitāmaha u0
- gha. . . 62 bhāvini -
ka., bhāvinī gha. . 63

[...] Umā said: [...] this truth to me [...] Grandfather said [...] O noble lady [...]

7.2.63_61

tvā - kha. . 64..
tya - kha . 65... ti
- ka. . 66 vā (mā
, ninaḥ- kha, vāṇi va.-
gha. . 67.. raḥ svayaṃ
- kha . 68 haro - gha . 61 tavaiyaṃ mā.. -
kha. . 70 tā - ka .
71 tirūpaḥ... - ka, mirūpaḥ -
gha . 72 nahi yasya - ka.,.
ṇi. - gha . 73 kaścit - ?
. 74... mā - ka.
. 75 hī... - ka.,
tī. - dha . 76.. graṃ -
ka.,... grata sthita -
kha . 77 umātapasi brahāvacano - gha.
.

[...] Hara himself [...] whose form [...] facing in front [...] Brahmā's words in Umā's tapas [...]

7.2.63_62

1 manasā yastvayā vrata-
- kha . 2 .śi - kha.
. 3 stathā - kha .
46

[...] which you mentally [...] vow [...] likewise [...] 46

7.2.63_63

jagāmādarśanaṃ tasyāḥ sā cāpi virarāma ha .
sā devī yuktamityevamuktvā svasyāśramasya ha ..3..

vanished from her sight, and she too desisted.
That goddess, saying “It is proper,” indeed went to her own hermitage,

7.2.63_64

dvāri jātamaśokaṃ vai samupāśritya saṃsthitā .
athāgāccandratilakastridaśārtiharo haraḥ ..4..

and stood leaning on an aśoka tree that grew by the door.
Then Hara, who has the moon as his forehead-mark and removes the affliction of the thirty [gods], arrived

7.2.63_65

vikṛtaṃ rūpamāsthāya hrasvo bāhuka eva ca .
vibhugnanāsiko bhūtvā kubjaḥ keśāntapiṅgalaḥ ..5..

assuming a deformed body, short and with [stunted] arms,
with a crooked nose, hunchbacked, and with reddish-brown hair-tips.

7.2.63_66

uvāca vikṛtāsyaśca devi tvāṃ4 varayāmyaham .
athomā yogasaṃsiddhā5 jñātvā śaṅkaramāgatam ..6..

With a deformed face, he said: “O goddess, I choose you [as bride].”
Then Umā, perfected in yoga, realizing that Śaṅkara had arrived,

7.2.63_67

antarbhāvaviśuddhātmā kriyānuṣṭhānalipsayā .
tamuvācārghapādyābhyāṃ6 madhuparkeṇa caiva hi .
saṃpūjya sumanonetrā7 brāhmaṇaṃ brāhmaṇapriyā ..7..

with her inner heart completely pure, desiring to perform the ritual duties,
said to him after honoring the brahmin with water for the feet, argha offering, and madhuparka—she of beautiful eyes, dear to brahmins:

7.2.63_68

devyuvāca

The goddess said:

7.2.63_69

bhagavanna svatantrāsmi pitā mestyaraṇo tathā .
tau prabhū mama dāne vai kanyāhaṃ dvijapuṅgava ..8..

“O lord, I am not independent; my father and mother are [my authorities].
They are the masters regarding my giving away; I am a maiden, O best of the twice-born.

7.2.63_70

gatvā yācasva pitaraṃ mama śailendramavyayam .
sa ceddadāti māṃ vipra tubhyaṃ tadrucitaṃ mama ..9.

Go and ask my father, the imperishable king of mountains.
If he gives me to you, O vipra, that is pleasing to me.”

7.2.63_71

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_72

tataḥ sa bhagavān devastathaiva vikṛtaḥ prabhuḥ .
uvāca śailarājaṃ tamumā8 me yaccha śailapa9 ..8.12.1
0 ..

Then that blessed god, the lord, deformed just in that way,
said to that king of mountains: “O protector of the mountain, give me Umā.”

7.2.63_73

sa taṃ vikṛtarūpeṇa jñātvā rudramathāvyayam .
bhītaḥ śāpācca vimanā idaṃ vacanabravīt ..11 ..

Recognizing him in deformed form to be the imperishable Rudra,
and afraid of a curse, dejected in mind, he spoke this word:

7.2.63_74

bhagavannāvamanyāmi brāhmaṇān bhūmi10 daivatān11 .
manīṣitaṃ tu yat pūrvaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva mahātapaḥ12 ..12..

“O lord, I do not disregard brahmins, the deities on earth.
Yet hear what was previously resolved, O you of great tapas:

7.2.63_75

4 tvā
- kha. . 5... ddhyā
- ka. . 6...
rdhyamānāyya - kha. . 7 sumanā natvā
- gha. . 8 ntāmumāṃ -
ka. ṭi. . 9

[...]

7.2.63_76

.. rāṭ - kha. . 10

[...]

7.2.63_77

bhuvi - gha. . 11 devatān -
ka. - tāṃ - kha.
. 12... pa - kha.
.

[...]

7.2.63_78

47

47

7.2.63_79

svayaṃvaro me duhiturbhavitā vipra pūjitaḥ .
varayedyaṃ svayaṃ tatra sa bharttāsyā bhavediti ..13..

‘A svayaṃvara, honored [by all], shall be held for my daughter, O vipra;
whomsoever she chooses there herself, he shall be her husband.’ ”

7.2.63_80

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_81

tacchrutvā śailavacanaṃ bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ .
devyāḥ samīpamāgatya idamāha mahāmanāḥ ..14..

Hearing the words of the mountain, the blessed one whose emblem is the bull,
having approached the goddess, the high-minded one said this:

7.2.63_82

devi pitrā tavājñaptaḥ13 svayaṃvara iti śrutam .
tatra tvaṃ varayitrī yaṃ sa te bharttā kilānaghe ..15..

“O goddess, I have heard that a svayaṃvara has been ordered by your father.
Whomsoever you choose there, he shall indeed be your husband, O sinless lady.

7.2.63_83

tadāpṛcche gamiṣyāmi durllabhā tvaṃ varānane .
rūpavantaṃ samutsṛjya vṛṇāthā mādṛśaṃ14 katham ..16..

Therefore, taking my leave, I shall go; you are difficult to attain, O fair-faced one.
Discarding a handsome man, how would you choose one like me?”

7.2.63_84

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_85

tenoktā sā tadā tatra bhāvato yattadīritam15 .
bhāvañca rudranihitaṃ prasādaṃ16 manasastathā ..17..

Addressed by him then in that place, she, understanding what he meant with sincerity,
and seeing his affection fixed on Rudra as well as the grace of his mind,

7.2.63_86

saṃprāpyovāca deveśaṃ mā tebhūd buddhiranyathā .
ahaṃ tvāṃ varayiṣyāmi nānyadbhūtaṃ kathañcana ..18..

attained it and said to the lord of gods: “Let your mind not think otherwise.
I shall choose you; there is no other being whatsoever.

7.2.63_87

athavā testi sandeho mayi vipra kathañcana .
ihaiva tvāṃ mahābhāga varayāmi manorathe17 ..19..

Or if you have any doubt concerning me, O vipra,
here itself, O highly fortunate one, I choose you in accordance with my desire.”

7.2.63_88

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_89

gṛhītvā stabakaṃ sā tu hastābhyāṃ tatra saṃsthitam18 .
skandhe śambhoḥ samādhāya19 devī prāha vṛtosi me ..8.12.20
..

Taking with both hands a cluster [of blossoms] that was there,
and placing it on the shoulder of Śambhu, the goddess said: “You are chosen by me.”

7.2.63_90

tataḥ sa bhagavān devastathā devyā20 vṛtastadā21 .
uvāca tamaśokaṃ22 vai vācā saṃjīvayanniva23 ..21 ..

Then that blessed god, having thus been chosen by the goddess then,
spoke indeed to that aśoka tree, as if reviving it with his voice:

7.2.63_91

13 samā
.. - gha. . 14.. .ṣe
- kha. . 15 bhava pantyā udīritam -
gha. . 16... dān
- gha . 17... tha 18...
tā- ka 19.. .dāya
- ka. gha. . 20 vo
devyā tatra- gha . 21 nta... - gha.
. 22 tā - gha. . 23

[...]

7.2.63_92

saṃcāra... gha. .
48

[...] 48

7.2.63_93

yasmāttava supuṣpeṇa stabakena vṛto hyaham .
tasmāttvaṃ jarayā tyaktaḥ24
amaraḥ saṃbhaviṣyasi ..22..

“Because I have been chosen by a bunch of your beautiful flowers,
therefore you shall be freed from old age and become immortal.

7.2.63_94

kāmarūpaḥ kāmapuṣpaḥ kāmago dayito mama .
sarvābharaṇapuṣpāḍhyaḥ sarvavṛkṣaphalopagaḥ ..23..

Assuming forms at will, blossoming at will, moving at will, dear to me,
filled with flowers [adorned like] all ornaments, bearing the fruits of all trees,

7.2.63_95

sarvānnabhakṣadaścaiva amṛtasrava eva ca .
sarvagandhaśca devyāstvaṃ bhaviṣyasi dṛḍhaṃ priyaḥ ..24..

bestowing all kinds of food, flowing with nectar,
and possessing all fragrances, you shall be exceedingly dear to the goddess.

7.2.63_96

nirbhayaḥ sarvalokeṣu25 cariṣyasi sunirvṛtaḥ .
āśramaṃ caina26matyarthaṃ27 citrakūṭeti viśrutam ..25 ..

Without fear among all worlds you shall wander, well contented.
And this hermitage, famed as Citrakūṭa,

7.2.63_97

yobhiyāsyati puṇyārthī sośvamedhamavāpsyati .
yatra tatra mṛtaścāpi brahmalokaṃ gamiṣyati ..26..

whoever approaches seeking merit, shall obtain [the fruit of] an Aśvamedha;
and dying anywhere [here], he shall go to the world of Brahmā.

7.2.63_98

yaścātra niyamairyuktaḥ prāṇān samyak parityajet .
sa devyāstapasā yukto mahāgaṇapatirbhavet ..27..

And whoever, observing restrictions here, properly casts off his life-breaths,
endowed with the tapas of the goddess, shall become a great leader of the Gaṇas.”

7.2.63_99

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_100

evamuktvā tato28 deva āpṛcchya himavatsutām .
antardadhe jagatsraṣṭā sarvabhūtapa īśvaraḥ29 ..22..

Having spoken thus, the god, the creator of the universe, the lord and master of all beings,
took leave of the daughter of the Himavat and vanished.

7.2.63_101

sāpi devī gate tasmin bhagavatyamitātmani .
tata evonmukhī sthitvā śilāyāṃ saṃviveśa ha ..29..

And that goddess, when that blessed one of boundless soul had gone,
sat down upon a rock, gazing upward in that very direction.

7.2.63_102

unmukhī sā gate tasminmaheṣvāse prajāpatau .
niśeva candrarahitā babhūva30 vimanāstadā31 ..8.12.30..

Gazing upward when that great archer, the lord of creatures, had departed,
she then became sorrowful, like a night deprived of the moon.

7.2.63_103

atha śuśrāva sā śabdaṃ bālasyārttasya śailajā .
sarasyudakasaṃpūrṇe samīpe svāḥ32śramasya ha ..31..

Then the mountain-born goddess heard the cry of a distressed child
in a lake filled with water near her own hermitage.

7.2.63_104

sa kṛtvā bālarūpaṃ tu devadevaḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ .
krīḍāhetoḥ saromadhye grāhagrastobhavattadā ..32. .
24 mukto-
gha. . 25 bhūteṣu -gha.
. 26 caiva-ka, cama-gha.
. 27 mā.. - gha. .
28 tadā-- gha. 29... tīśvaraḥ gha.
. 30 sā babhau - ka. gha.
. 31. taḥ -ka . 32

Assuming the form of a child for the purpose of sport, the god of gods, Śiva himself,
was then seized by a crocodile in the midst of the lake. / [...]

7.2.63_105

cā- ka .
49

[...] 49

7.2.63_106

yogamāyāmathāsthātha prapañcodbhavakāraṇaḥ .
tadrūpaṃ saraso madhye kṛtvedaṃ33 samabhāṣata ..3 3 ..

Then, having assumed his yogamāyā, he who is the cause of the cosmos's manifestation, / having taken that form in the middle of the lake, cried out: // 33

7.2.63_107

trātu māṃ kaścidetyeha grāheṇa hṛtacetasam .
dhikkaṣṭaṃ bāla evāhamaprāptotha manoratham34 .. 34. .
yāsyāmi nidhanaṃ vaktre grāhasyāsya durātmanaḥ .
śocāmi na svakaṃ dehaṃ grāhagrastopi duḥkhitaḥ ..35..

"Let someone come here and rescue me, whose wits are lost to a crocodile! / Alas, what sorrow! I am only a child, my desires unfulfilled; // 34 // / I shall meet destruction in the maw of this wicked crocodile. / Seized by the crocodile, though suffering, I do not grieve for my own body // 35

7.2.63_108

yathā śocāmi pitaraṃ mātarañca tapasvinīm35
.
māṃ śrutvā grāhavadane prāptaṃ nidhanamutsukau ..3 6. .
priyaputrāvekaputrau prāṇānnūnaṃ vihāsyataḥ .

as I grieve for my father and my ascetic mother. / Hearing that I have met destruction in the crocodile's jaws, anxious, // 36 // / loving their son, their only son, they will surely abandon their lives.

7.2.63_109

aho bata mahat kaṣṭaṃ yohaṃ bālokṛtavrataḥ

Alas, what great sorrow that I, a boy who has not performed his vows,

7.2.63_110

ataptvā tapa evāyaṃ yāsyāmi nidhanaṃ hataḥ . .37. .
sanatkumāra uvāca

without having performed austerity itself, slain, shall meet destruction!" // 37 // / Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.63_111

śrutvā tu devī tannādaṃ viprasyārttasya śobhanā .
utthāya pradrutā tatra yatra tiṣṭhatyasau dvijaḥ . .38 . .
sāpaśyadinduvadanā bālakañcārurūpiṇam .
grāheṇa grasyamānaṃ taṃ vepamānamavasthitam ..3 9..

Hearing that cry of the distressed brahmin, the lovely Goddess / arose and ran to where that twice-born stood. // 38 // / The moon-faced [Goddess] saw the child of charming form / being devoured by the crocodile, standing trembling. // 39

7.2.63_112

sopi grāhavaraḥ śrīmān dṛṣṭvā devīmupāgatām .
taṃ gṛhītvā drutaṃ yāto37 madhyaṃ sarasa eva hi38..8.12.40
..

That splendid, noble crocodile, seeing the Goddess approach, / seized him and went swiftly into the very middle of the lake. // 40

7.2.63_113

sa kṛṣyamāṇastejasvī nādamārttantadā39karot .
athāha devī duḥkhārttā bālaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāvratā ..41..

Being dragged along, the radiant boy then made a cry of distress. / Then the Goddess, afflicted with grief upon seeing the boy, she of great vows, said: // 41

7.2.63_114

grāharāja mahāsatva40 bālakaṃ hyekaputrakam .
visṛjainaṃ mahādaṃṣṭra kṣipraṃ bhīmaparākrama
.42.

"O king of crocodiles, creature of great might, this boy is an only son! / Release him quickly, O great-fanged one of terrible valor!" // 42

7.2.63_115

grāha uvāca

The crocodile said:

7.2.63_116

yo devi divase ṣaṣṭhe prathame samupaiti mām .
sa āhāro mama purā vihito lokakartṛbhiḥ ..43 ..

"Whoever, O Goddess, on the sixth or the first day comes to me, / he was ordained of old as my food by the creators of the world. // 43

7.2.63_117

33 kṛtvaiva
(vaṃ) - gha. . 34

33 kṛtvaiva(vaṃ) - gha. . 34

7.2.63_118

maprāptātma.. - gha, maprāpyātha?
. 35... no - ka.
. 36 śca jvālī. - gha.
. 37 sroto - ka. .
38 ha - pha. . 39 ptathā? -
gha. . 80... tmañca?
- ka .

maprāptātma.. - gha, maprāpyātha? . 35... no - ka. . 36 śca jvālī. - gha. . 37 sroto - ka. . 38 ha - pha. . 39 ptathā? - gha. . 80... tmañca? - ka .

7.2.63_119

50

50

7.2.63_120

soyaṃ mama mahābhāge ṣaṣṭhehani girīndraje .
brahmaṇā prahito41 nūnaṃ nainaṃ mokṣye42 kathañcana ..44. .
devyuvāca

This one, O fortunate one, daughter of the mountain king, on the sixth day / was surely sent by Brahmā; I will not release him by any means." // 44 // / The Goddess said:

7.2.63_121

yanmayā himavacchṛṅge caritaṃ tapa uttamam .
tena bāla43 mimaṃ muñca grāharāja namostu te ..45..

"By whatever supreme austerity was practiced by me on the peak of the Himālaya, / by that, release this child, O king of crocodiles! Homage to you!" // 45

7.2.63_122

grāha uvāca

The crocodile said:

7.2.63_123

mā vyayaṃ tapaso devi kārṣīḥ śailendranandane44 .
nainaṃ mocayituṃ śakto devarājopi yaḥ45 svayam ..46..

"Do not waste your austerity, O Goddess, daughter of the mountain king! / Even the king of gods himself is not able to release him. // 46

7.2.63_124

mahyamīśena tuṣṭena śarveṇogreṇa śūlinā .
amaratvamavadhyatvamakṣayaṃ balameva ca ..47..

To me, pleased Īśa, Śarva, the fierce trident-bearer, / gave immortality, invulnerability, and imperishable strength, // 47

7.2.63_125

svayaṃ grahaṇamokṣaśca jñānañcaivāvyayaṃ punaḥ .
dattaṃ tato bravīmi tvāṃ46 nāyaṃ mokṣamavāpsyati ..48..

as well as seizing and releasing by my own will, and imperishable knowledge besides. / Therefore I tell you: he will not attain release. // 48

7.2.63_126

athavā te kṛpā devi bhṛśaṃ bāle śubhānane47 .
bravīmi yat kuru tathā tato mokṣamavāpsyati ..49

Or if, O fair-faced Goddess, you have great pity for the child, / do as I say; then he will obtain release." // 49

7.2.63_127

devyuvāca

The Goddess said:

7.2.63_128

grāhādhipa vadasvāśu48 yat satāmavigarhitam .
tat kṛtaṃ nātra sandeho mānyā me brāhmaṇā49 dṛḍham ..8.12.50
..

"O lord of crocodiles, speak quickly! Whatever is not blameworthy to the virtuous, / that is done, no doubt of this; brahmins are firmly revered by me." // 50

7.2.63_129

grāha uvāca

The crocodile said:

7.2.63_130

yat kṛtaṃ vai tapaḥ kiñcidbhavatyā svalpamantataḥ50 .
tat sarvaṃ me prayacchasva tato mokṣamavāpsyati ..51 ..

"Whatever austerity has been performed by you, even the least amount, / give all of that to me; then he will obtain release." // 51

7.2.63_131

devyuvāca

The Goddess said:

7.2.63_132

janmaprabhṛti yat puṇyaṃ mahāgrāha kṛtaṃ mayā51 .
tatte sarva mayā dattaṃ bālaṃ muñca mamāgrataḥ ..52..

"Whatever merit has been performed by me from birth onward, O great crocodile, / all that has been given by me to you; release the child before me!" // 52

7.2.63_133

41 vihito
- ka- gha. . 42 na
mokṣyehaṃ - gha., . kṣe -
ka. . 43 sattva - gha.
. 44 cikīrṣīrvyarthameva hi - gha.
. 45 sa - ka. . 46

41 vihito - ka- gha. . 42 na mokṣyehaṃ - gha., . kṣe - ka. . 43 sattva - gha. . 44 cikīrṣīrvyarthameva hi - gha. . 45 sa - ka. . 46

7.2.63_134

tvā - ka . 47 hatā... - gha . 48

tvā - ka . 47 hatā... - gha . 48

7.2.75

vadāmyā... - gha. . 49 mano me
brāhmaṇe - gha. . .75

vadāmyā... - gha. . 49 mano me brāhmaṇe - gha. . .75

7.2.75_135

0... lpamanantaśaḥ - gha.
. 51 mayā kṛtam - gha.
.
51

0... lpamanantaśaḥ - gha. . 51 mayā kṛtam - gha. . 51

7.2.75_136

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.75_137

prajajvāla tato grāhastapasā tena bṛṃhitaḥ .
āditya iva madhyāhne durnirīkṣyastadābhavat ...53..

Then the crocodile blazed, magnified by that austerity; / like the sun at midday, he then became difficult to look upon. // 53

7.2.75_138

uvāca cedaṃ hṛṣṭātmā devīṃ lokasya dhāriṇīm .
devi kiṃ kṛtametatte aniścitya52 mahāvrate ..54..

And joyful at heart, he spoke this to the Goddess, the supporter of the world: / "O Goddess of great vows, what is this you have done without deliberation? // 54

7.2.75_139

tapaso hyarjanaṃ duḥkhaṃ tasya tyāgo na śasyate .
gṛhāṇa tapa etacca53 bālaṃ cemaṃ śucismite54 ..55..

For the acquisition of austerity is difficult; its abandonment is not praised. / Take back this austerity, and this boy as well, O lady of pure smile! // 55

7.2.75_140

tuṣṭosmi te viprabhaktyā varaṃ tasmāddadāmi te55 .
sā tvevamuktā grāheṇa uvācedaṃ mahāvratā . .56..

I am pleased by your devotion to brahmins; therefore I give you a boon." / But addressed thus by the crocodile, she of great vows said this: // 56

7.2.75_141

suvicintya56 mahāgrāha kṛtaṃ bālasya mokṣaṇam .
na viprebhyastapaḥ śreṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhā me brāhmaṇā matāḥ ..57..

"Having deliberated well, O great crocodile, the release of the boy was done. / No austerity is superior to brahmins; brahmins are held supreme by me. // 57

7.2.75_142

dattvā cāhaṃ57 na gṛhṇāmi grāhendra viditaṃ hi te .
na hi kaścinnaro grāha pradattaṃ punarāharet ..58..

And having given, I do not take back, O lord of crocodiles, as is known to you; / for no person, O crocodile, takes back what has been bestowed. // 58

7.2.75_143

dattametanmayā tubhyaṃ nādadāmi58 hi tatpunaḥ .
tvayyeva ramatāmetad59 bālaścāyaṃ vimucyatām ..59..

This has been given by me to you; I certainly will not take it back. / Let this delight in you alone, and let this boy be released!" // 59

7.2.75_144

tathoktastāṃ praśasyātha60 muktvā61 bālaṃ namasya ca .
devīmādityasadbhāsaṃ62 tatraivāntaradhīyata ..8.12.60
..

Addressed thus, praising her, releasing the boy and bowing to the Goddess / who had the genuine radiance of the sun, he vanished right there. // 60

7.2.75_145

bālopi sarasastīre mukto grāheṇa vai tadā .
svapnalabdha ivārtho yastatraivāntaradhīyata ..61. .
tapasotha vyayaṃ matvā devī himagirīndrajā .
bhūya eva tapaḥ kartumārebhe yatnamāsthitā ..62..

The boy too, released by the crocodile upon the bank of the lake, / like wealth gained in a dream, vanished right there. // 61 // / Considering the loss of her austerity, the Goddess, daughter of the mountain king, / taking up exertion, began once more to perform austerity. // 62

7.2.75_146

kartukāmāṃ tapo bhūyo jñātvā tāṃ śaṃkaraḥ svayam .
provāca vacanaṃ vyāsa63 mā kṛthāstapa ityuta64 ..63..

Knowing her desirous of performing austerity again, Śaṃkara himself / spoke a word, O Vyāsa: "Do not perform austerity!" // 63

7.2.75_147

52 anivāhya
- gha.,.. .ntya - ka
. 53 evainaṃ - gha. . 54.. .vṛte
gha. . 55 viprabhaktyā varaṃ tasmād dadāmi suvrate tava
- gha. . 56 suniścitya -
. 57 haṃ nahi - gha. .
58... ni - ka., ..
mīha - gha . 59 tvayaiva varamāhātmyaṃ -
gha. . 60 prasanno -
gha. . 61 tyaktvā - gha . 62...
vajvālaṃ - gha . 63 bhūyo -
gha. .

52 anivāhya - gha.,.. .ntya - ka . 53 evainaṃ - gha. . 54.. .vṛte gha. . 55 viprabhaktyā varaṃ tasmād dadāmi suvrate tava - gha. . 56 suniścitya - . 57 haṃ nahi - gha. . 58... ni - ka., .. mīha - gha . 59 tvayaiva varamāhātmyaṃ - gha. . 60 prasanno - gha. . 61 tyaktvā - gha . 62... vajvālaṃ - gha . 63 bhūyo - gha. .

7.2.75_148

64 ityume
- gha. .
52

64 ityume - gha. . 52

7.2.75_149

mahyametattapo65 devi tvayā66 dattaṃ mahāvrate .
tenaitadakṣayaṃ67 tubhyaṃ bhaviṣyati sahasradhā ..64..

"This austerity, O Goddess of great vows, was given by you to me; / therefore, it will become thousandfold and imperishable for you." // 64

7.2.75_150

iti labdhvā varaṃ devī tapasokṣayyamuttamam .
svayaṃvaramudīkṣantī tasthau prītiyutā satī68 ..65..

Having thus obtained the supreme boon of imperishable austerity, the Goddess, / the virtuous Satī, awaiting her svayaṃvara, remained filled with joy. // 65

7.2.75_151

idaṃ paṭhedyo hi naraḥ sadaiva bālānubhāvācaraṇaṃ69 hi śambhoḥ .
sa dehabhedaṃ samavāpya pūto bhaved gaṇastasya kumāratulyaḥ ..66..

Whatever man reads this deed of Śambhu's childhood manifestation always, / he, having met the dissolution of his body, purified, will become his gaṇa, equal to Kumāra. // 66

7.2.75_152

iti skandapurāṇe dvādaśodhyāyaḥ

Thus ends the twelfth chapter in the Skandapurāṇa.

7.2.75_153

sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.75_154

vistṛte himavatpṛṣṭhe vimānaśatasaṃkule .
abhavat sa tu kālena śailaputryāḥ svayaṃvaraḥ ..1..

On the vast back of the Himālaya, crowded with hundreds of aerial chariots, / the svayaṃvara of the Mountain's daughter took place in course of time.

7.2.75_155

atha parvatarājosau himavān dhyānakovidaḥ .
duhiturdevadevena jñātvā tadabhimantritam ..2..

Then Himavān, king of mountains, skilled in meditation, / having learned through that counsel that his daughter was sought by the God of gods,

7.2.75_156

jānannapi mahāśailaḥ samācārakriyepsayā .
svayaṃvaraṃ tato devyāḥ sarvalokeṣvaghoṣayat ..3 ..

though knowing [this], the great mountain, desiring to follow traditional custom, / proclaimed the svayaṃvara of the goddess throughout all the worlds:

7.2.75_157

devadānavasiddhānāṃ sarvalokanivāsinām .
vṛṇuyāt parameśānaṃ samakṣaṃ yena me sutā ..4..

“So that before gods, dānavas, and siddhas who inhabit all worlds, / my daughter may choose the Supreme Lord,

7.2.75_158

tadeva2 sukṛtaṃ ślāghyaṃ mamābhyudayasammatam .
iti saṃcintya śailendraḥ kṛtvā hṛdi maheśvaram ..5..

that will be a praiseworthy good deed, approved for my prosperity.” / Thinking thus, the lord of mountains, holding Maheśvara in his heart,

7.2.75_159

ābrahmakeṣu3 lokeṣu devyāḥ śailendrasattamaḥ .
kṛtvā ratnākulaṃ4 deśaṃ svayaṃvaramacīkarat5 ..6..

making the place strewn with jewels, for the goddess, / throughout worlds reaching up to Brahmā, that best of mountain lords held the svayaṃvara.

7.2.75_160

65 tvayā
- gha. . 66 tapo - gha
. 67... vamakṣayaṃ - ka.,
vada - gha. 68
prītimudā yuta -gha . 69 va cava ra ca -
dha. . 1 bhaga.. - gha.
. 1.. baṃ - gha.
. 3 apekṣya lokān - dha.
. 8 kṛtvā vatarasvayaṃ - gha.
. 5 mathākarot - dha
.

[Critical apparatus]

7.2.75_161

53

53

7.2.75_162

??
athaivamāghoṣitamātra eva svayaṃvare vyāsa mahīdhraputryāḥ .
devādayaḥ sarvajagannivāsāḥ samāyayurdivyagṛhītaveṣāḥ6 ..7. .
praphullapadmāsanasanniviṣṭaḥ siddhairvṛto yogibhiraprameyaiḥ7 .

Then, as soon as the svayaṃvara of the Mountain's daughter was thus proclaimed, O Vyāsa, / the gods and other inhabitants of the whole universe arrived, clad in divine attire. / Seated upon an expanded lotus seat, surrounded by siddhas and immeasurable yogins,

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vijñāpitastena mahīdhrarājā8 pitāmahastatra samājagāma ..8..

solicited by that king of mountains, the Grandfather [Brahmā] arrived there.

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akṣṇāṃ sahasraṃ surarāṭ sa bibhrad divyā9ṅgahārasragudāttarūpaḥ .
airāvataṃ sarvagajendramukhyaṃ sravanmadāsārakṛtapravāham ..9..

Bearing a thousand eyes, the king of gods, noble in appearance with divine gestures and garlands, / [mounted] Airāvata, foremost among all lordly elephants, who created a flowing stream of rut-juice;

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āruhya sarvāmararāṭ sa vajraṃ bibhratsamāgāt purataḥ surāṇām .
tejaḥ pratāpā10 'dhikadivyarūpaḥ11 prodbhāsayan sarvadiśo vivasvān ..8.13.10..

having mounted him, bearing his thunderbolt, that king of all immortals arrived before the gods. / Vivasvān, divine in form, supreme in fiery brilliance and majesty, illuminating all directions,

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haimaṃ vimānaṃ sa calatpatāka12 māruhya13 āgāt tvaritaṃ javena .
maṇipradīptojjvalakuṇḍalaśca vahnyarkatejaḥpratime vimāne ..11..

having mounted a golden aerial chariot with fluttering banners, arrived swiftly with great speed. / Wearing brilliant ear-rings blazing with gems, upon an aerial chariot resembling the brilliance of fire and sun,

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samabhyagāt kaśyapaviprasūnurāditya ārād 14 bhaganāmadhārī .
pīnāṅgayaṣṭiḥ sukṛtāṅgaḥhārastejobalājñāsadṛśaprabhāvaḥ ..12..

the son of the sage Kaśyapa, the āditya bearing the name Bhaga, approached near, / his staff-like limbs plump, his movements graceful, endowed with power equal to his brilliance, strength, and command.

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daṇḍaṃ samādāya kṛtānta āgādāruhya bhīmaṃ mahiṣaṃ javena .
mahāmahīdhrocchraya15 pīnagātraḥ svarṇādiratnā16 citacāruveṣaḥ17 ..13..

Taking his staff, the End-Maker [Yama] arrived swiftly, mounted upon a dreadful buffalo, / his stout body resembling the height of a great mountain, his beautiful attire adorned with gold and other gems.

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samīraṇaḥ sarvajagadvibharttā vimānamāruhya samabhyagāddhi .
santāpayansarvasurāsureśām̐stejodhika18 stejasi sanniviśya19 ..14..

Mounted upon an aerial chariot, the Wind, sustainer of the whole universe, indeed arrived, / scorching all the lords of gods and asuras, entering into brilliance as one possessing supreme brilliance.

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vahniḥ samabhyetya surendramadhye jvalan pratasthau varaveṣadhārī .
nānāmaṇiprajvalitāṅgayaṣṭirjagaccarandivyavimānamagryam ..15..

Fire, having arrived in the midst of the gods' lords, stood blazing, dressed in splendid garments, / his staff-like limbs flaming with various jewels; wandering the universe, mounting a supreme divine aerial chariot,

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āruhya sarvadraviṇādhipeśaḥ sa rājarājastvaritobhyagācca .
āpyāyayan sarvasurāsureśān kāntyā ca veṣeṇa20 ca cārurūpaḥ ..16..
jvalanmahāratnavicitrarūpaṃ21 vimānamāruhya śaśī
samāgāt .

that king of kings, the lord of all lords of wealth, arrived swiftly, / delighting all lords of gods and asuras with his radiance and dress, handsome in appearance. / Mounting an aerial chariot made diverse with blazing great gems, the Moon arrived,

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śyāmāṅgayaṣṭiḥ suvicitraveṣaḥ sarva22 sragābaddhasugandhimālaḥ23 ..17..

his staff-like limbs dark, his dress most variegated, bound with every fragrant wreath and garland.

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6,.
śāḥ - kha gha. . 7...
yaḥ - gha. . 8..
.jñā - ka. kha.
gha . 9... ndi - ka,
ra - ka ra -
gha. . 10 prabhāvā -
gha. . 11... paṃ -
gha. . 12 sapatākadaṇḍa -
gha. . 13 ārūḍha - gha .
14... āgād - ka.
kha. . 15.?. dhrāśra...
- gha- . 16... tno...
- gha . 17.. śaḥ - kha
. 18.. .pa - gha.
. 19... veśya - gha.,...
veśaḥ - kha. . 20...
tha rūpeṇa - gha . 21. (tri)..
.tāṃgaṃ - kha . 22...
śītaḥ - dha . 23... sugandhimālyaḥ
- gha sugandhamālī - kha.
.

[Critical apparatus]

7.2.75_174

54

54

7.2.75_175

tārkṣyaṃ samāruhya mahīdhrakalpaṃ gadādharosau tvaritaṃ sametaḥ .
tathāśvinau devabhiṣagvarau tau24 ekaṃ25 vimānaṃ tvarayābhiruhya ..18..
manoharāvujjvalacāruveṣāvājagmaturdevasadaḥ26 suvīrau .
śeṣaḥ sahasraṃ sphuradagnivarṇaṃ bibhrat phaṭānāṃ jvalanārkatejāḥ . .19..

Mounted upon Tārkṣya, who was like a mountain, that Bearer of the Mace [Viṣṇu] arrived swiftly. / Likewise the two Aśvins, those excellent physicians to the gods, mounting a single aerial chariot in haste, / handsome, dressed in brilliant, charming attire, those two heroes came to the assembly of gods. / Śeṣa, possessing the brilliance of a blazing sun, bearing a thousand hoods resembling flashing fire,

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sārdhaṃ sa nāgairaparairmahātmā vimānamāruhya samabhyagācca .
diteḥ sutānāṃ ca mahāsurāṇāṃ vahnyarkaśakrānila27 tulyabhāsām ..8.13.20..

mounted an aerial chariot and approached along with other noble nāgas. / And a host of sons of Diti, great asuras, with a brilliance equal to fire, sun, Śakra, and the wind,

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varānurūpaṃ pravidhāya veṣaṃ28 vṛndaṃ samāgāt purataḥ surāṇām .
gandharvarājaḥ sa ca cārurūpī divyāṅgano divyavimānacārī ..21 ..

having assumed attire suited for a suitor, arrived before the gods. / And the handsome king of gandharvas, accompanied by divine women, travelling in a divine aerial chariot,

7.2.75_178

gandharvasaṃghaiḥ sahitopsarobhiḥ śakrājñayā tatra samājagāma .
anye ca devāstridivaukaseśāḥ pṛthak pṛthak cārugṛhītaveṣāḥ ..22..

came there along with hosts of gandharvas and apsarases, by command of Śakra. / And other gods, lords of the dwellers of heaven, each individually assuming charming attire,

7.2.75_179

ājagmurāruhya vimānapṛṣṭhaṃ gandharvayakṣoragakinnarāśca29 .
śacīpatistatra surendrasaṃghe30 rājādhikārādhikalakṣyamūrttiḥ ..23..

as well as gandharvas, yakṣas, uragas, and kinnaras, arrived, having mounted the decks of aerial chariots. / There, in that throng of lords of gods, Śacī's husband [Indra], a figure singularly noticeable by his royal rank,

7.2.75_180

rājñāṃ balaiśvaryakṛtapramoho vṛthādhikaṃ yatnamupācakāra31 .
hetustrilokasya jagatprasūti32 rmātā ca teṣāṃ sasurāsurāṇām ..24..

deluded by the strength and sovereignty of kings, made a great effort in vain. / For she is the cause of the three worlds, the source of the universe, and the mother of them, both gods and asuras;

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patnī ca śaṃbhoḥ puruṣasya dhāmno33 gītā purāṇaiḥ34 prakṛtiḥ parārthā .
dakṣasya kopād himavadgṛhaṃ sā kāryārthamāgāt parameśapatnī ..25..

and she is the wife of Śambhu, the supreme Puruṣa, sung by the Purāṇas as Prakṛti acting for the sake of another; / because of Dakṣa's anger, she, the wife of the Supreme Lord, had come to the abode of Himavān for a purpose.

7.2.75_182

evaṃ yata35stānna viduḥ sureśā mohastatastānpara āviveśa .
varārthamājagmu36 rato vimūḍhā īśena yasmād vṛḍitāḥ37 kṛtāste ..26..

Because they did not know her thus, extreme delusion entered the lords of the gods; / therefore they came, deluded, as suitors, since they were confounded by the Lord.

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tataḥ pranṛttābhi38 rathāpsarobhirgandharvasaṃghaiśca sugītaśabdaiḥ .
sthitaiśca nānāvidharūpaveṣai39 devāsurāditridivokasaṃghaiḥ40..27..

Then, while apsarases danced, hosts of gandharvas produced sweet sounds of song, / and hosts of dwellers of heaven—gods, asuras, and others—stood present in forms and dress of diverse kinds,

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vimānapṛṣṭhe maṇihemacitre sthitā calaccāmarabījitāṅgī .
sarvartupuṣpāṃ41 susugandhamālāṃ42 pragṛhya devī43 prasabhaṃ pratasthe44..28..

standing on the deck of an aerial chariot variegated with jewels and gold, her limbs fanned with waving fly-whisks, / holding a garland of blossoms from every season, wonderfully fragrant, the goddess stepped forward resolutely.

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24 tu.
- ka. gha. . 25...
vaṃ - ka. . 26.
sabhā - gha . 27...
śani... - gha. . 20 dehaṃ -
gha . 29.. kṣoraga -
ka . 30... madhye - kha . 31 cacāra
- kha. . 32... te
- kha. . 33 cāgryā -
dha. . 34... ṇe
- ka. gha. . 35 svata
- kha. . 36 tata samājagmu -
ka . 37 kupitāḥ - gha.
. 38 pravṛ... - ka.
. 31 ro (gī)taiśca nānā vidadhe
(vidha) śarāgai - gha .
40 tridiveśa - gha. . 41...
ṣyaṃ - gha. . 42..
.lya - gha. . 43 mā
(bā ?) lā - kha.
. 44... sthau - ka.
.

[…]

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55

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sanatkumāra uvāca

Sanatkumāra said:

7.2.75_188

mālāṃ pragṛhya devyāntu sthitāyāṃ devasaṃsadi .
śakrādyairāgatairdevaiḥ svayaṃvara upāgataiḥ45 ..29..

While the goddess stood holding the garland in the assembly of the gods, / when the gods headed by Śakra had arrived, having gathered for the svayaṃvara,

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devyā jijñāsayā śambhurbhūtvā pañcaśikhaḥ śiśuḥ .
utsaṅgatalasaṃsupto babhūva sahasā vibhuḥ ..8.13.3
0..

out of a desire to test the goddess, Śambhu, the all-pervading Lord, became a child with five tufts of hair / and suddenly fell fast asleep in her lap.

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akasmādatha taṃ devī śiśuṃ pañcaśikhaṃ sthitam .
jñātvā yogasamādhānājjahṛṣe prītisaṃyutā ..3 1..

Then the goddess, suddenly recognizing that child with five tufts lying there / through yogic absorption, rejoiced, filled with affection.

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atha sā śuddhasaṃkalpā kāṃkṣitaprāptasatphalā .
nirvṛteva tadā tasthau kṛtvā hṛdi tameva tu ..32 ..

Then she, of pure resolve, having attained the noble fruit she had desired, / remained as if contented, having held him alone in her heart.

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tato dṛṣṭavā śiśuṃ devā devyā utsaṅgavarttinam .
koyamatreti saṃmantrya cukrudhu46 rbhṛśamarditāḥ ..33..

Then, seeing the child resting in the goddess's lap, / the gods conferred, saying, "Who is this here?" and became exceedingly afflicted and enraged.

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vajramākā47 rayattasya bāhumutkṣipya vṛtrahā .
sa bāhurutthita48stasya tathaiva samatiṣṭhana ..34..

The slayer of Vṛtra raised his arm and summoned his thunderbolt against him; / that arm of his remained lifted up, frozen just like that.

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stambhitaḥ śiśurūpeṇa devadevena śambhunā .
vajraṃ kṣeptuṃ no49 śaśāka bāhuñcālayituṃ na ca ..35..

Paralyzed by Śambhu, the god of gods in the form of a child, / he was unable to throw the thunderbolt, nor could he move his arm.

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bhago nāma tato deva ādityaḥ kāśyapo balī .
utkṣipya muśalaṃ dīptaṃ kṣeptumaicchadvimohitaḥ ..36..

Then the powerful god, the Āditya born of Kaśyapa named Bhaga, / bewildered, raised a blazing club and wished to throw it.