Skandapurana 8: prabhāsakhaṇḍaḥ

8.1

7.1 prabhāsakhaṇḍe prabhāsakṣetra māhātmyam

7.1 In the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, the Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya

8.2

7.2 prabhāsakhaṇḍe vastrāpathakṣetra māhātmyam

7.2 In the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, the Vastrāpathakṣetramāhātmya

8.3

7.3 prabhāsakhaṇḍe arbudakhaṇḍam

7.3 In the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, the Arbudakhaṇḍa

8.4

7.4 prabhāsakhaṇḍe dvārakāmāhātmyam

7.4 In the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, the Dvārakāmāhātmyam

8.5

prabhāsa khaṇḍasya anukramaṇikā

Table of contents of the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa

8.6

prabhāsa khaṇḍasya ekala phāīla srotaḥ

Single file source of the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa

8.9.p1

pūrvavartī pṛṣṭhaḥ (adhyāyāḥ 211 - 280)

8.9.p2

adhyāyāḥ 281 - 365

8.9.p3

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

8.9.p4

kasyacittvatha kālasya tridaśāvaśvinau priye ..kṛtābhiṣekāṃ vivṛtāṃ sukanyāṃ
tāmapaśyatām .. 1 ..

8.9.p5

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā darśanīyāṃgīṃ devarājasutāmiva .. ūcatuḥ samabhi drutya nāsatyāvaśvināvatha
.. 2 ..

8.9.p6

kasya tvamasi vāmoru kiṃ vane'smiṃścikīrṣasi.. icchāvastvāṃ ca vijñātuṃ
tattvamākhyāhi śobhane .. 3 ..

8.9.p7

tataḥ sukanyā saṃvītā tāvuvāca surottamau .. śaryātitanayāṃ vittaṃ bhāryāṃ ca cyavanasya
mām .. 4 ..

8.9.p8

tato'śvinau prahasyaināmabrūtāṃ punareva tu .. kathaṃ tvaṃ ca viditvā tu pitrā
dattā''gatā vane .. 5 ..

8.9.p9

bhrājase gaganoddeśe vidyutsaudāmanī yathā .. na deveṣvapi tulyāṃ hi tava paśyāva
bhāmini .. 6 ..

8.9.p10

sarvābharaṇasaṃpannā paramāṃbaradhāriṇī .. māmaivamanavadyāṃgi tyajainamavivekinam .. 7 ..

8.9.p11

kasmādevaṃvidhā bhūtvā jarājarjaritaṃ bhuvi .. tvamu pāsye hi kalyāṇi
kāmabhāvabahiṣkṛtam .. 8 ..

8.9.p12

asamarthaṃ paritrāṇe poṣaṇe vā śucismite .. sā tvaṃ cyavanamutsṛjya varayasvaikamāvayoḥ
.. 9 ..

8.9.p13

patyarthaṃ devagarbhābhe mā vṛthā yauvanaṃ kṛthāḥ .. evamuktā sukanyā sā surau
tāvidamabravīt ..7.1.281.10
..

8.9.p14

ratā'haṃ cyavane patyau na caivaṃ pariśaṃkatam .. tāvabrūtāṃ punaścaitāmāvāṃ devabhiṣagvarau ..
11 ..

8.9.p15

166b

8.9.p16

yuvānaṃ rūpasaṃpannaṃ kariṣyāvaḥ patiṃ tava .. tatastasyāvayoścaiva patimekatamaṃ vṛṇu .. 12 ..

8.9.p17

etena samayenāvāṃ śamaṃ naya sumadhyame .. sā tayorvacanāddevi upasaṃgamya bhārgavam ..

8.9.p18

uvāca vākyaṃ yattābhyāmuktaṃ bhṛgusutaṃ prati .. 13 ..

8.9.p19

tadvākyaṃ cyavano bhāryāmuvācādriyatāmiti .. ityuktā cyavanenātha sukanyā tāvuvāca
vai .. 14 ..

8.9.p20

evaṃ devau bhavadbhyāṃ yatproktaṃ tatkiyatāṃ laghu .. ityuktau bhiṣajau tatra tayā caiva
sukanyayā ..

8.9.p21

ūcatū rājaputrīṃ tāṃ patistava viśatvapaḥ .. 15 ..

8.9.p22

tato'paścyavanaḥ śīghraṃ rūpārthī praviveśa ha .. aśvināvapi taddevi tataḥ prāviśatāṃ
jalam .. 16 ..

8.9.p23

tato muhūrttāduttīrṇāḥ sarve te sarasastataḥ .. divyarūpadharāḥ sarve yuvāno
mṛṣṭakuṇḍalāḥ .. 17 ..

8.9.p24

divyaveṣadharāścaiva manasaḥ prītivarddhanāḥ .. te'bruvansahitāḥ sarve vṛṇīṣvānyatamaṃ
śubhe .. 18 ..

8.9.p25

asmākamīpsitaṃ bhadre yatastvaṃ varavarṇinī .. yatra vāpyabhi kāmāsi taṃ vṛṇīṣva
suśobhane .. 19 ..

8.9.p26

sā samīkṣya tu tānsarvāṃstulyarūpadharānsthitān .. niścitya manasā buddhyā devi
vavre patiṃ svakam ..
7.1.281.20 ..

8.9.p27

labdhvā tu cyavano bhāryāṃ vayorūpamavasthitaḥ .. hṛṣṭo'bravīnmahātejāstau
nāsatyāvidaṃ vacaḥ .. 21 ..

8.9.p28

yadahaṃ rūpasaṃpanno vayasā ca samanvitaḥ .. kṛto bhavadbhyāṃ vṛddhaḥ sanbhāryāṃ ca
prāptavānnijām ..

8.9.p29

tadbrūtaṃ vai vidhāsyāmi bhavatoryadabhīpsitam .. 22 ..

8.9.p30

.. aśvināvūcatuḥ .. ..

8.9.p31

āvāṃ tu devabhiṣajau na ca śakraḥ karoti nau .. somapānārhatāṃ tasmātkuru nau somapāyinau ..
23 ..

8.9.p32

.. cyavana uvāca .. ..

8.9.p33

ahaṃ vāṃ yajñabhāgārhau kariṣye somapāyinau .. 24 ..

8.9.p34

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

8.9.p35

tatastau hṛṣṭamanasau nāsatyau divi jagmatuḥ .. cyavano'pi sukanyā ca surāviva vijahratuḥ
.. 25 ..

8.9.p36

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye cyavaneśvara
māhātmyavarṇanaṃnāmaikāśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. 281 .. .. cha ..

8.9.p37

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

8.9.p38

tataḥ śrutvā ca śaryātirvalabhīsthāna saṃsthitaḥ .. vayasthaṃ cyavanaṃ śrutvā
ānandodgatamānasaḥ .. 1 ..

8.9.p39

prahṛṣṭaḥ senayā sārddhaṃ sa prāyādbhārgavāśramam .. cyavanaṃ ca sukanyāṃ ca hṛṣṭāṃ
deva sutāmiva .. 2 ..

8.9.p40

gato mahīpaḥ śaryātiḥ kṛtsnānaṃdamahodadhiḥ .. ṛṣiṇā satkṛtastena sabhāryaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ ..

8.9.p41

tatropaviṣṭaḥ kalyāṇīḥ kathāścakre mahāmanāḥ .. 3 ..

8.9.p42

athainaṃ bhārgavo devi hyuvāca parisāṃtvayan .. yājayiṣyāmi rājaṃstvāṃ
saṃbhārānupakalpaya .. 4 ..

8.9.p43

tataḥ paramasaṃhṛṣṭaḥ śaryātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ .. cyavanasya mahādevi tadvākyaṃ pratyapūjayat
.. 5 ..

8.9.p44

praśaste'hani yājñīye sarvakāmasamṛddhimat .. kārayāmāsa śaryātiryajñāyatana muttamam
.. 6 ..

8.9.p45

tatraiva cyavano devi yājayāmāsa bhārgavam .. adbhutāni ca tatrāsanyāni tāni maheśvari
.. 7 ..

8.9.p46

167a

8.9.p47

agṛhṇāccyavanaḥ somamaśvinordevayostadā .. tamindro vārayāmāsa mā gṛhāṇa
tayorgraham .. 8...

8.9.p48

.. indra uvāca .. ..

8.9.p49

ubhāvetau na somārhau nāsatyāviti me matiḥ .. bhiṣa jau devatānāṃ hi karmaṇā tena garhitau
.. 9 ..

8.9.p50

.. cyavana uvāca .. ..

8.9.p51

mā'vamaṃsthā mahātmānau rūpadraviṇavarcasau .. yau cakratuśca māmadya vṛṃdā rakamivājaram ..
7.1.282.10 ..

8.9.p52

samatvenānyadevānāṃ kathaṃ vai nekṣate bhavān.. aśvināvapi devendra devau viddhi paraṃtapa
.. 11 ..

8.9.p53

.. indra uvāca .. ..

8.9.12

cikitsakau karmakarau kāmarūpasamanvitau .. loke caraṃtau martyānāṃ kathaṃ somamihārhataḥ .. 12

"Healers, manual labourers, able to assume any form at will, / wandering in the world of mortals—how are they worthy of soma here?" / 12

8.9.12_54

..

..

8.9.12_55

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.13

etadeva yadā vākyamāmreḍayati vāsavaḥ .. anādṛtya tataḥ śakraṃ grahaṃ jagrāha bhārgavaḥ .. 13

When Indra repeated this very same statement, / disregarding Indra, the descendant of Bhṛgu took the libation-cup. / 13

8.9.13_56

..

..

8.9.13_57

grahīṣyaṃtaṃ tataḥ somamaśvinoḥ sattamaṃ tadā .. samīkṣya balabhiddeva idaṃ vacanamabravīt ..
14 ..

Seeing that best of beings then about to take the soma for the Aśvins, / the god Indra, slayer of Bala, said this word: / 14

8.9.13_58

ābhyāmarthāya somaṃ tvaṃ grahīṣyasi yadi svayam .. vajraṃ te prahariṣyāmi
ghorarūpamanuttamam .. 15 ..

"If you yourself will take the soma for the sake of these two, / I will strike you with the thunderbolt, terrible and unsurpassed." / 15

8.9.13_59

evamuktaḥ svayamindra mabhivīkṣya sa bhārgavaḥ .. jagrāha vidhivatsomamaśvibhyāmuttamaṃ
graham .. 16 ..

Being thus addressed, that descendant of Bhṛgu, looking directly at Indra, / took the excellent soma libation-cup for the two Aśvins according to rule. / 16

8.9.13_60

tato'smai prāharatkopādvajramiṃdraḥ śacīpatiḥ .. tasya praharato bāhuṃ staṃbhayāmāsa
bhārgavaḥ .. 17 ..

Then in anger Indra, lord of Śacī, hurled his thunderbolt at him; / as he was hurling it, the descendant of Bhṛgu paralysed his arm. / 17

8.9.13_61

staṃbhayitvātha cyavano juhuve mantrato'nalam .. kṛtyārthī sumahātejā devaṃ
hiṃsitumudyataḥ .. 18 ..

Having paralysed it, Cyavana of great splendour then offered into the fire with mantras, / seeking to create an evil spirit, intent on destroying the god. / 18

8.9.13_62

tatra kṛtyodbhavo yajñe munestasya tapobalāt .. madonāma mahāvīryo mahākāyo mahāsuraḥ
.. 19 ..

Then from the power of that sage's austerity in the sacrifice, a spirit arose, / a great Asura named Mada, of mighty valour and gigantic body, / 19

8.9.13_63

śarīraṃ yasya nirdeṣṭumaśakyaṃ ca surāsuraiḥ .. tasya pramāṇaṃ vapuṣā na tulyamiha vidyate
..
7.1.282.20 ..

whose body could not be described by gods or Asuras; / no equal to the measure of his body exists here. / 20

8.9.13_64

tasyāsyaṃcābhavedghoraṃ daṃṣṭrā durdarśanaṃ mahat .. hanurekaḥ sthitastasya bhūmāveko
divaṃ gataḥ .. 21 ..

And his mouth was terrible, dreadful to behold with tusks, and huge: / one jaw rested on the earth, and one reached the sky. / 21

8.9.13_65

catasraścāpi tā daṃṣṭrā yojanānāṃ śataṃśatam .. itare tvasya daśanā babhūburdaśayojanāḥ
..22 ..

And his four curved tusks measured a hundred yojanas each; / but his other teeth were ten yojanas long.

8.9.23

prākārasadṛśākārā mūlāgrasamadarśanāḥ .. nāmnā parvatasaṃkāśā ścāyutāyutayojanāḥ .. 23

Resembling ramparts in appearance, look identical from root to tip, / like mountains by repute, and ten thousand yojanas [in extent].

8.9.23_66

..

..

8.9.23_67

netre raviśaśiprakhye bhruvāvaṃtakasannibhe .. lelihajjihvayā vaktraṃ
vidyuccalitalolayā ..

His two eyes resembled the sun and moon; his eyebrows resembled the god of death; / he repeatedly licked his mouth with a tongue fluttering like lightning,

8.9.23_68

vyāttānano ghoradṛṣṭirgrasanniva jagadbalāt .. 24 ..

mouth agape, terrible in gaze, as though forcefully swallowing the world.

8.9.23_69

sa bhakṣayiṣyansaṃkruddhaḥ śatakratumupādravat .. mahatā ghoranādena lokāñchabdena chādayan
.. 25 ..

Intending to devour him, enraged, he rushed against Śatakratu, / covering the worlds with his sound through a terrible roar.

8.9.23_70

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye cyavaneśvaramāhātmye cyavanena nāsatyayajñabhāgapratirodhakavajra
mocanodyataśakranāśāya kṛtyodbhavamadanāmakamahā'surotpādanavṛttāntavarṇanaṃnāma
dvyaśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. 282 .. .. cha .. .. ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-second chapter, titled 'The Account of the Creation of the Great Asura Named Mada through Kṛtyā for the Destruction of Śakra Ready to Hurl the Thunderbolt Obstructing the Sacrificial Share of the Nāsatyas by Cyavana,' in the Cyavaneśvara-māhātmya, in the first Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya, in the seventh Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses.

8.9.23_71

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_72

taṃ dṛṣṭvā ghoravadanaṃ madaṃ devaḥ śatakratuḥ .. āyāṃtaṃ bhakṣayiṣyantaṃ
vyāttānanamivāntakam .. 1 ..

Seeing that terrible-faced Mada, the god Śatakratu, / [seeing him] coming, about to devour him, with mouth agape like Antaka,

8.9.23_73

bhayātstaṃbhitarūpeṇa lelihānaṃ muhurmuhuḥ .. praṇato'bravīnmahādevi cyavanaṃ bhayapīḍitaḥ
.. 2 ..

paralysed in form with fear, repeatedly licking his lips, / bowed down, O great goddess, and afflicted with terror, said to Cyavana:

8.9.23_74

somārhāvaśvināvetāvadyaprabhṛti bhārgava .. bhaviṣyataḥ sarvametadvacaḥ satyaṃ bravīmi te
.. 3 ..

'From this day forward, O descendant of Bhṛgu, these two Aśvins shall be worthy of soma; / all this will come to pass; I tell you true words.

8.9.23_75

167b

[167b]

8.9.23_76

mā te mithyā samārambho bhavatvatha tapodhana .. jānāmi cāhaṃ viprarṣe na mithyā tvaṃ
kariṣyasi .. 4 ..

Let your undertaking not be in vain, O rich in austerity; / and I know, O brahmin-seer, that you will not act in vain.

8.9.23_77

somārhāvaśvināvetau yathaivādya tvayā kṛtau .. bhūya eva tu te vīryaṃ prakāśediti
bhārgava .. 5 ..

Just as these two Aśvins have today been made worthy of soma by you, / so indeed may your prowess be revealed yet further, O descendant of Bhṛgu,

8.9.23_78

sukanyāyāḥ pituścāsya loke kīrtirbhavediti .. ato mayaitadvihitaṃ tadvīryasya
prakāśanam ..

and may there be fame in the world for the father of Sukanyā. / Therefore, this revelation of your prowess was brought about by me.

8.9.23_79

tasmātprasādaṃ kuru me bhavatvetadyathecchasi .. 6 ..

Therefore, show me grace; let this be as you desire.'

8.9.23_80

evamuktasya śakreṇa cyavanasya mahātmanaḥ .. manyurvyupāramacchīghraṃ mānaścaiva
sureśituḥ .. 7 ..

When addressed thus by Śakra, the wrath of high-souled Cyavana / quickly subsided, as did the pride of the lord of the gods.

8.9.23_81

madaṃ ca vyabhajaddevi pāne strīṣu ca vīryavān .. akṣeṣu mṛgayāyāṃ ca pūrvaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ
punaḥpunaḥ ..

And the mighty [Cyavana], O goddess, divided Mada, who was previously created, again and again / into drink, women, dice, and hunting.

8.9.23_82

tathā madaṃ vinikṣipya śakraṃ saṃtarpya ceṃdunā .. 8 ..

Having thus distributed Mada and satisfied Śakra with soma,

8.9.23_83

aśvibhyāṃ sahitānsarvānyājayitvā ca taṃ nṛpam .. vikhyāpya vīryaṃ sarveṣu lokeṣu
varavarṇini .. 9 ..

and having caused that king to sacrifice together with all accompanied by the two Aśvins, / having proclaimed his power in all worlds, O lady of fair complexion,

8.9.23_84

sukanyayā mahāraṇye kṣetre'sminvijahāra saḥ .. tasyaitaddevi saṃyuktaṃ
cyavaneśvaranāmabhṛt ..
7.1.283.10 ..

he sported with Sukanyā in this sacred field in the great forest. / Linked with him, O goddess, bearing the name Cyavaneśvara,

8.9.23_85

liṃgaṃ mahāpāpaharaṃ cyava nena pratiṣṭhitam .. pūjayettaṃ vidhānena so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet
..11..

is the liṅga installed by Cyavana, which removes great sins. / Whoever worships it according to rule obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha.

8.9.23_86

tasmāccandramasastīrthamṛṣayaḥ paryupāsate .. vaikhānasākhyā ṛṣayo vālakhilyāsta thaiva ca ..
12 ..

Therefore seers wait upon Candramasastīrtha, / seers named Vaikhānasa and likewise Vālakhilyas.

8.9.23_87

atrāśvine māsi naraḥ paurṇamāsyāṃ viśeṣataḥ .. śrāddhaṃ kuryādvidhānena
brāhmaṇānbhojayetpṛthak ..

A man who performs a śrāddha here according to rule, particularly on the full moon in the month of Āśvina, / and feeds brahmins separately,

8.9.23_88

koṭitīrthaphalaṃ tasya bhavennai'vātra saṃśayaḥ .. 13 ..

shall obtain the fruit of ten million tīrthas; of this there is no doubt.

8.9.23_89

ya imāṃ śṛṇuyāddevi kathāṃ pātakanāśinīm .. samastajanmasaṃbhūtātpāpānmukto bhavennaraḥ
.. 14 ..

A person who listens to this story which destroys sins, O goddess, / will be liberated from sin generated in all births.

8.9.23_90

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye cyavaneśvaramāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma
tryaśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ ..283 .. ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-third chapter, titled 'Description of the Glory of Cyavaneśvara,' in the first Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya, in the seventh Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses.

8.9.23_91

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_92

tato gacchenmahādevi sukanyāsara utamam .. yatrāśvinau nimagnau tau cyavanena sahāṃbike ..

Then, O great goddess, one should go to the excellent pool of Sukanyā, / where the two Aśvins submerged themselves along with Cyavana, O Ambikā,

8.9.23_93

samānarūpo hyabhavaccyavano yatra so'śvinā .. 1 ..

where Cyavana became equal in form to the Aśvins.

8.9.23_94

yatra prāptavatī kāmaṃ sukanyā varavarṇinī .. saraḥsnānaprabhāvena tena kanyāsaraḥ smṛtam
..

Where Sukanyā of fair complexion obtained her desire / through the power of bathing in the pool; hence it is called Kanyāsaras.

8.9.23_95

tatra snātā śubhā nārī tṛtīyāyāṃ viśeṣataḥ .. 2 ..

An auspicious woman who bathes there, especially on the third lunar day,

8.9.23_96

saptajanmasahasrāṇi gṛhabhaṃgaṃ na cāpnuyāt .. daridro vikalo dīno nāṃdhastasyā
bhavetpatiḥ .. 3 ..

shall not suffer the ruin of her household for seven thousand births, / nor will her husband become poor, deformed, miserable, or blind.

8.9.23_97

iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye cyavaneśvaramāhātmye sukanyāsaromāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma
caturaśītyuttara dviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ .. 284 .. .. cha ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-fourth chapter, titled 'Description of the Glory of Sukanyāsaras,' in the Cyavaneśvara-māhātmya, in the first Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya, in the seventh Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses.

8.9.23_98

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_99

tato gacchenmahādevi punarnyaṃkumatīṃ nadīm .. tatra kṛtvā gayāśrāddhaṃ goṣpade
tīrtha uttame .. 1 ..

Then, O great goddess, one should go again to the Nyaṅkumatī river; / having performed the Gayā-śrāddha there at the excellent Goṣpada tīrtha,

8.9.23_100

tataḥ paśyedvarāhaṃ tu tasmāddharigṛhaṃ vrajet .. tatra mātṛstu saṃpūjya snātvā
sāgarasaṃgame .. 2 ..

one should then view Varāha, and from there go to the abode of Hari. / Having worshipped the Mothers there and bathed at the confluence with the ocean,

8.9.23_101

nyaṃkumatyarṇavopete tataḥ pūrvamanu vrajet .. agasterāśramaṃ divyaṃ
kṣudhāharamitismṛtam .. 3 ..

where the Nyaṅkumatī meets the sea, one should then proceed towards the east / to the divine hermitage of Agastya, known as that which removes hunger,

8.9.23_102

yatrelvalaṃ ca vātāpiṃ saṃhṛtya bhagavānmuniḥ .. muktvā''padbhyo brāhmaṇāṃśca
tebhyaḥ sthānaṃ tato dadau .. 4 ..

where the venerable sage, having slain Ilvala and Vātāpi, / and having freed the brahmins from dangers, then gave them that place.

8.9.23_103

168a

[168a]

8.9.23_104

agastyāśramametaddhi agastipriyamuttamam .. nyaṃkumatyāstaṭe ramye sarvapātakanāśane
.. 5 ..

This is indeed the hermitage of Agastya, beloved of Agasti and most excellent, / on the delightful bank of the Nyaṅkumatī, destroying all sins.

8.9.23_105

.. devyuvāca .. ..

The goddess said:

8.9.23_106

agastineha vātāpiḥ kimarthamupaśāmitaḥ .. atra vai kiṃprabhāvaśca sa daityo brāhmaṇāṃtakaḥ
..

Why was Vātāpi destroyed here by Agastya? / What was the power of that Daitya who was the destroyer of brahmins here?

8.9.23_107

kimarthaṃ codgato manyuragastestu mahātmanaḥ ..6..

And for what reason did the anger of high-souled Agasti arise?

8.9.23_108

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_109

ilvalo nāma daityendra āsīdvai varavarṇini .. maṇimatyāṃ purā puryāṃ vātāpistasya
cānujaḥ .. 7 ..

Formerly, in the city of Maṇimatī, O lady of fair complexion, there was a lord of Daityas named Ilvala, / and Vātāpi was his younger brother.

8.9.23_110

sa brāhmaṇaṃ tapoyuktamuvāca ditinaṃdanaḥ .. putra me bhagavannekamiṃdratulyaṃ prayacchatu
..8..

That son of Diti said to a brahmin endowed with austerity: / 'O venerable one, grant me a son equal to Indra.'

8.9.23_111

tasminsa brāhmaṇo naicchatputraṃ dātuṃ tathāvidham .. cukrodha ditijastasya
brāhmaṇasya tato bhṛśam .. 9 ..

When that brahmin did not wish to give such a son to him, / the son of Diti became intensely angry with that brahmin.

8.9.23_112

prabhāsakṣetramāsādya sa daityaḥ pāpabuddhimān .. meṣarūpī ca vātāpiḥ
kāmarūpo'bhavatkṣaṇāt ..
7.1.285.10 ..

Having arrived at Prabhāsa-kṣetra, that evil-minded Daitya— / and Vātāpi took the form of a ram, capable of assuming any form at will in an instant—

8.9.23_113

saṃskṛtya bhojayettatra viprānsa ca jighāṃsati .. samā hvayati taṃ vācā gataṃ caiva tataḥ
kṣayam .. 11 ..

wishing to kill brahmins there, he would cook [him] and feed them; / and then he would summon by speech the one who had met destruction.

8.9.23_114

sa punardehamāsthāya jīvansma pratyadṛśyata .. tato vātāpirapi taṃ chāgaṃ kṛtvā
susaṃskṛtam ..

Assuming his body again, he would appear alive. / Then Vātāpi, having turned himself into a well-cooked goat,

8.9.23_115

brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayitvā tu punareva samāhvayat .. 12 ..

after feeding the brahmin, [Ilvala] would summon him again.

8.9.23_116

sa tasya pārśvaṃ nirbhidya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ .. vātāpiḥ prahasaṃstatra
niścakrāma dvijodarāt .. 13 ..

Tearing open the side of that great-souled brahmin, / laughing aloud, Vātāpi came forth there from the twice-born's belly.

8.9.23_117

evaṃ sa brāhmaṇāndevi bhojayitvā punaḥpunaḥ .. vinirbhidyodaraṃ teṣāmevaṃ haṃti
dvijānbahūn ..14..

Thus feeding the brahmins again and again, O goddess, / and bursting open their bellies, he would slay many twice-borns.

8.9.23_118

tato vai brāhmaṇāḥ sarve bhayabhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ .. agaste rāśramaṃ jagmuḥ
kathayāmāsuragrataḥ .. 15 ..

Then indeed, terrified with fear, all the brahmins fled. / They went to the hermitage of Agastya and spoke before [him]:

8.9.23_119

bhagavañchṛṇu no vākyamasmākaṃ tu bhayāvaham .. nimaṃtritāḥ sma sarve vā ilvalena vayaṃ
prabho .. 16 ..

“O lord, hear our words, bringing terror to us! / We have all been invited, O master, by Ilvala.

8.9.23_120

asmākaṃ mṛtyurūpaṃ tadbhojanaṃ nāsti saṃśayaḥ .. tadasmānrakṣa bhagavanviṣaṇṇāgatacetasaḥ ..
17 ..

That meal is the form of death for us; there is no doubt. / Therefore protect us, O lord, whose minds are dejected and despairing!”

8.9.23_121

tataḥ prabhāsamāsādya yatra tau daityapuṃgavau .. brahmaghrau pāpaniratau dadarśa sa mahāmuniḥ ..
18 ..

Then having arrived at Prabhāsa, where those two foremost daityas were, / killers of brahmins and delighting in sin, that great sage beheld them.

8.9.23_122

vātāpiṃ saṃskṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā meṣarūpaṃ mahāsuram .. uvāca dehi me bhojyaṃ bubhukṣā mama
vartate .. 19 ..

Having seen that great asura Vātāpi prepared in the form of a ram, / he said: “Give me food; hunger has come upon me.”

8.9.23_123

ityuktau svāgataṃ tatra cakrāte munaye tadā .. bhagavanbhojanaṃ tubhyaṃ dāsye'haṃ
bahuvistaram ..

Being thus spoken to, the two then bid welcome to the sage there: / “O lord, I shall give you food in great abundance.

8.9.23_124

kiyanmānastavāhārastāvanmānaṃ pacāmyaham ..
7.1.285.20 ..

Of what measure is your food? So much measure shall I cook.”

8.9.23_125

.. agastya uvāca .. ..

Agastya said:

8.9.23_126

annaṃ pacasva daityendra kiṃcittṛptirbhaviṣyati .. evamastviti daityendraḥ
pakvamāha mahāmune ..21..

“Cook the food, O king of daityas; there will be some satisfaction.” / Saying “So be it,” the king of daityas said it was cooked, O great sage.

8.9.23_127

āsyatāmāsanamidaṃ bhujyatāṃ svecchayā mune .. ityukto'ghoramaṃtraṃ sa
japankalpāṃtakārakam ..

“Let this seat be taken; eat according to your wish, O sage!” / Being thus spoken to, muttering the Aghora mantra that brings about the end of an aeon,

8.9.23_128

dhuryāsanamathāsādya niṣasāda mahāmuniḥ .. 22 ..

and then taking a prominent seat, the great sage sat down.

8.9.23_129

taṃ paryaveṣaddaityeṃdra ilvalaḥ prahasanniva .. śataha stapramāṇena rāśimannasya so'karot
.. 23 ..

Ilvala, the king of daityas, served him as if laughing. / He made a heap of food a hundred cubits in measure.

8.9.23_130

tato haṣṭamanā'gastyaḥ prāgrasatkavaladvayam .. rūpaṃ kṛtvā mahattadvadyadvatsāgaraśoṣaṇe
.. 24 ..

Then, delighted in mind, Agastya swallowed two mouthfuls, / having assumed a vast form just as in the drying up of the ocean.

8.9.23_131

samastameva tadbhojyaṃ vātāpiṃ bubhuje tataḥ .. bhuktavatyasuro hvānamakarottasya ilvalaḥ ..
25 ..

Then he consumed the whole of that food, [namely] Vātāpi. / When he had eaten, the asura Ilvala called out to him.

8.9.23_132

tato'sau dattavānannamagastyasya mahātmanaḥ .. bhasmīcakāra sarvaṃ sa tadannaṃ ca sadānavam
..26..

Then he who had given the food to the great-souled Agastya— / he reduced to ashes all that food together with the dānava.

8.9.23_133

ilvalaṃ krodhamuṣṭyā tu bhasmīcakre mahāmuniḥ .. tato hāhāravaṃ kṛtvā sarve daityā
nanaṃśire .. 27 ..

With a fist of wrath, the great sage reduced Ilvala to ashes. / Then, raising a cry of lamentation, all the daityas perished.

8.9.23_134

168b

[Folio] 168b

8.9.23_135

tato'gastyo mahātejā āhūya dvijapuṃgavān .. tatsthānaṃ ca dadau tebhyo daityrānāṃ
dravyapūritam.. 28 ..

Then Agastya of great splendor summoned the foremost of the twice-born / and gave them that place, filled with the wealth of the daityas.

8.9.23_136

kṣudhā hṛtā tato devi tatrāgastyasya dānavaiḥ .. tena kṣudhā haraṃnāma
sthānamāsīdvijanmanām .. 29 ..

Because the hunger of Agastya was removed there by the dānavas, O goddess, / therefore there arose the place of the twice-born named Kṣudhāhara.

8.9.23_137

tasya paścimabhāge tu nātidūre vyavasthitam .. gaṃgeśvaramiti khyātaṃ gaṃgayā
yatpratiṣṭhitam ..
7.1.285.30 .. vātāpibhakṣaṇepūrvamagastyena
mahātmanā .. daityasaṃbhakṣaṇotpannasarvapātakaśuddhaye ..

On the western side of it, situated not very far away, / is that known as Gaṅgeśvara, which was established by Gaṅgā. / Formerly, at the eating of Vātāpi, by the great-souled Agastya, / for the purification of all sin born of consuming the daitya,

8.9.23_138

samāhūtā mahādevi gaṃgāpātakanāśinī .. 31 ..

Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sin, was summoned, O great goddess.

8.9.23_139

tato devi samā yātā gaṃgā pātakanāśinī .. śuddhiṃ cakāra tasyarṣestatra sthāne
sthitā'bhavat ..32..

Then, O goddess, Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sin, arrived. / She effected the purification of that ṛṣi and remained standing in that place,

8.9.23_140

agastyasyā''śrame ramye nṛṇāṃ pāpabhayāpahe .. tatra gaṃgeśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā
abhakṣyodbhavapātakāt..

in the charming hermitage of Agastya, which removes the fear of sin for men. / Having seen Gaṅgeśvara there, from the sin arising from eating the uneatable

8.9.23_141

mucyate nātra saṃdehaḥ snānadānajapādinā .. 33 ..

one is freed through ritual ablution, giving of gifts, muttering of mantras, and the like; there is no doubt in this.

8.9.23_142

iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe
prathameprabhāsakṣetramāhātmye
nyaṃkumatīmāhātmye'gastyāśramagaṃgeśvaramāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma
pañcāśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ.. 285 ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-fifth chapter, titled “Description of the Māhātmya of Agastya's Hermitage and Gaṅgeśvara,” in the Māhātmya of Nyaṅkumatī, in the first [part], the Māhātmya of the Prabhāsakṣetra, in the seventh [book], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa, the collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

8.9.23_143

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_144

tato gacchenmahādevi bālārkaṃ pāpanāśanam .. agastyāśramato devi uttare nātidūrataḥ ..
1 ..

Then one should go, O great goddess, to Bālārka, which destroys sins, / not very far to the north from the hermitage of Agastya, O goddess,

8.9.23_145

bāla eva tu yatrārkastapastepe purā priye .. tena bālārka ityetannāma khyātaṃ
dharātale .. 2 ..

where the sun, while still a boy, formerly performed austerity, O dear one; / therefore this name “Bālārka” became famous on the earth.

8.9.23_146

taṃ dṛṣṭvā ravivāreṇa na kuṣṭhī jāyate naraḥ .. bālānāṃ rogajā pīḍā na saṃbhūyātkadācana ..
3 ..

Beholding him on a Sunday, a man does not become afflicted with leprosy; / the suffering born of disease among children shall never occur.

8.9.23_147

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetra māhātmye bālārkamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma ṣaḍaśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
.. 286 .. .. cha ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-sixth chapter, titled “Description of the Māhātmya of Bālārka,” in the first [part], the Māhātmya of the Prabhāsakṣetra, in the seventh [book], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa, the collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

8.9.23_148

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_149

tato gacchenmahādevi ajāpāleśvarīṃ śubhām .. agastyasthānapūrveṇa nātidūre
vyavasthitām .. 1 ..

Then one should go, O great goddess, to auspicious Ajāpāleśvarī, / situated not very far to the east of the site of Agastya.

8.9.23_150

raghuvaṃśasamudbhūto hyajāpālo nṛpottamaḥ .. sa tatra devī mārādhya pāparogavaśaṃkarīm .. 2

Ajāpāla, the best of kings, was born in the lineage of Raghu; / he, having worshipped the goddess there, who subjugates sins and diseases,

8.9.23_151

..

8.9.23_152

ajārūpāṃśca rogānvai cārayāmāsa bhūmipaḥ .. tatra tāṃ sthāpayāmāsa svanāmnā
pāpanāśinīm ... .. 3 ..

the king indeed grazed the diseases that had assumed the form of goats. / There he installed that destroyer of sin under his own name.

8.9.23_153

yastāṃ pūjayate bhaktyā tṛtīyāyāṃ vidhānataḥ .. bala burddhiyaśo vidyāṃ saubhāgyaṃ
prāpnuyānnaraḥ .. 4 ..

A man who worships her with devotion according to the rite on the third lunar day / shall attain strength, intellect, fame, learning, and good fortune.

8.9.23_154

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśīti sāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṃḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye'jāpāleśvarīmāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma
saptāśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ ta. 287 .. ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-seventh chapter, titled “Description of the Māhātmya of Ajāpāleśvarī,” in the first [part], the Māhātmya of the Prabhāsakṣetra, in the seventh [book], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa, the collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

8.9.23_155

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_156

tato gacchenmahādevi bālādityamiti śrutam .. agatsyasthānataḥ pūrve
gavyūtidvitayena tu.. 1 ..

Then one should go, O great goddess, to that known as Bālāditya, / two gavyūtis to the east of the site of Agastya.

8.9.23_157

sthānaṃ sapāṭikānāma tasyadakṣiṇataḥ sthitam .. gavyūtimātraṃ deveśi bālārka iti
viśrutam .. 2 ..

To the south of that place named Sapāṭikā is situated, / at a distance of a single gavyūti, O ruler of the gods, the one well known as Bālārka,

8.9.23_158

yatra cārādhitā vidyā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā .. saṃsthāpya liṃgatritayaṃ pratiṣṭhāpya
tathā ravim .. 3 ..

where learning was worshipped by the wise Viśvāmitra; / having set up a triad of liṅgas and having likewise installed the sun,

8.9.23_159

vidyāyāḥ sādhanaṃ cakre siddhiṃ sūryādavāptavān . bālādityeti tenāsau tataḥ
khyātimagātprabhuḥ .. 4 ..

he performed the accomplishment of the lore and attained perfection from the sun. / Therefore that lord attained renown as “Bālāditya” from that time on.

8.9.23_160

169a

[Folio] 169a

8.9.23_161

taṃ dṛṣṭvā mānavo devi bhāskarapāpataskaram.. na dāridryamavāpnoti yāvajjīvati mānavaḥ
.. 5 ..

Beholding him, O goddess, the sun that steals away sins, / a man does not suffer poverty as long as he lives.

8.9.23_162

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye bālārkamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāmāṣṭāśītyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
.. 288 .. ..
.. ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-eighth chapter, titled “Description of the Māhātmya of Bālārka,” in the first [part], the Māhātmya of the Prabhāsakṣetra, in the seventh [book], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa, the collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

8.9.23_163

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_164

tasyaiva dakṣiṇe devi tasmādgavyūtimātrataḥ .. pātālagāminī gaṃgā saṃsthitā pāpanāśinī
.. 1 ..

To the south of that very place, O goddess, just a gavyūti away from it, / the Gaṅgā flowing to Pātāla is situated, destroying sins.

8.9.23_165

viśvāmitreṇa cāhūtā snānārthaṃ varavarṇini .. tatra snātvā mahādevi mucyate
sarvapātakaiḥ .. 2 ..

And it was invoked by Viśvāmitra for bathing, O lady of fair complexion! / Having bathed there, O great goddess, one is freed from all sins. // 2

8.9.23_166

tatra gaṃgeśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā viśvāmitreśvaraṃ tathā .. bāleśvaraṃ ca saṃprekṣya
sarvānkāmāna vāpnuyāt .. 3 ..

Seeing Gaṅgeśvara there, and likewise Viśvāmitreśvara, / and beholding Bāleśvara, one obtains all desires. // 3

8.9.23_167

iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ sahitāyāṃ saptame prabhāsakhaṇḍe prathame
prabhāsakṣetramāhātmye bālārkamāhātmye pātāla
gaṃgeśvaraviśvāmitreśvarabāleśvarābhidhaliṃgatrayamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāmaikonanavatyuttaradviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
.. 289 .. cha ..

Thus ends the two hundred and eighty-ninth chapter, entitled "Description of the Greatness of the Three Liṅgas Named Pātālagaṅgeśvara, Viśvāmitreśvara, and Bāleśvara" in the Greatness of Bālārka in the Greatness of Prabhāsakṣetra, the first [part] in the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, the seventh [book] in the Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses. // 289

8.9.23_168

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_169

tato gacchenmahādevi kuberasthānamuttamam .. yatra siddhaḥ purā devi kubero dhanado'bhavat
.. 1 ..

Then, O great goddess, one should go to the supreme abode of Kubera, / where of old, O goddess, Kubera became perfected as Dhanada. // 1

8.9.23_170

brāhmaṇaścaurarūpeṇa tatra sthāne'vasatpurā .. sa ca me bhaktiyogena purā vai dhanadaḥ kṛtaḥ..
2 ..

Of old, a brahmin in the form of a thief dwelt in that place; / and by devotion to me he was indeed made Dhanada of old. // 2

8.9.23_171

.. devyuvāca .. ..

The goddess said:

8.9.23_172

kathaṃ sa brāhmaṇo bhūtvā caurarūpo narādhamaḥ .. tanme kathaya deveśa dhanadaḥ sa yathā'bhavat .. 3 ..

How did he, having been a brahmin, become a thief, the lowest of men? / Tell me that, O Lord of the gods, how he became Dhanada. // 3

8.9.23_173

.. īśvara uvāca .. ..

Īśvara said:

8.9.23_174

tasminnarthe mahādevi yadvṛttaṃ cauttameṃ'tare .. kathayiṣyāmi tatsarvaṃ
śivamāhātmyasūcakam .. 4 ..

Regarding that matter, O great goddess, what happened in the reign of Uttama [Manu], / I will narrate all that, indicating the greatness of Śiva. // 4

8.9.23_175

kaścidāsīddvijo devi devaśarmeti viśrutaḥ .. prabhāsakṣetranilayo
nyaṃkumatyāstaṭe'vasat .. 5 ..

There was a certain twice-born, O goddess, renowned by the name Devaśarman; / residing in the Prabhāsakṣetra, he dwelt on the bank of the Nyaṅkumatī. // 5

8.9.23_176

putrakṣetrakalatrādivyāpāraikarataḥ sadā .. vihāyātha sa gārhasthyaṃ dhanārthaṃ lobha mohitaḥ
..

Ever devoted solely to business concerning his sons, fields, wife, and the like, / he then abandoned householdership, deluded by greed for wealth;

8.9.23_177

pracacāra mahīmetāṃ sagrāmanagarāṃtarām .. 6 ..

he wandered through this earth along with its villages and towns. // 6

8.9.23_178

bhāryā tasya vilolākṣī tasya gehādvinirgatā .. svacchaṃdacāriṇī nityaṃ nityaṃ
cānaṃgamo hitā .. 7 ..

His wife, having tremulous eyes, went out from his house; / always wandering at her own will, she was continually infatuated by love. // 7

8.9.23_179

tasyāṃ kadācitputrastu śūdrājjāto vidhervaśāt .. duṣṭātmā'tīva nirmukto
nāmnā duḥsaha ityataḥ .. 8 ..

From her, by the power of destiny, a son was once born from a śūdra; / extremely wicked-minded, unrestrained, he was therefore named Duḥsaha. // 8

8.9.23_180

so'tha kālena mahatā nāmakarmapra vartitaḥ .. vyasanopahataḥ pāpastyakto bandhujanaistathā .. 9

Then, with the passage of much time, he engaged in deeds fitting his name; / stricken by vices, sinful, he was abandoned likewise by his kinsfolk. // 9

8.9.23_181

..

..

8.9.23_182

pūjopakaraṇaṃ dravyaṃ sa kasmiṃścicchivālaye .. bahudoṣāmukhe dṛṣṭvā
hartukāmo'viśattataḥ... ..
7.1.290.10..

Seeing in a certain temple of Śiva wealth serving as articles of worship, / at the beginning of the thick of night, desiring to steal it, he entered then. // 10

8.9.23_183

yāvaddīpo gataprāyo vartticchedo'bhavatkila .. tāvattena daśā dattā
dravyānveṣaṇakāraṇāt .. 11 ..

As the lamp was almost extinguished, its wick about to be cut, / a wick was offered by him for the sake of searching for the wealth. // 11

8.9.23_184

prabuddhaścotthitastatra devapūjākaro naraḥ .. ko'yaṃ koyamiti
proccairvyāharatparighāyudhaḥ ..12..

Awakened, the man performing the worship of the deity rose there; / holding an iron bar as a weapon, he cried out loudly: "Who is this? Who is this?" // 12

8.9.23_185

sa ca prāṇabhayānnaṣṭaḥ śūdrajaścāpi mūḍhadhīḥ .. vinindannātmano janma karma cāpi
suduḥkhita..13..

And he, born of a śūdra, fled out of fear for his life, dull-witted, / reviling his own birth and deeds, exceedingly sorrowful. // 13

8.9.23_186

purapālairhato'vanyāṃ mṛtaḥ kālādabhūcca saḥ.. gaṃdhāraviṣaye rājā khyāto nāmnā
sudurmukhaḥ..14..

Struck down on the earth by the city guards, he died from the passage of time. / He became a king in the region of Gandhāra, celebrated by the name Sudurmukha. // 14

8.9.23_187

gītavādyaratastatra veśyāsu nirato bhṛśam.. prajopadravakṛnmūrkhaḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ
.. 15 ..

There, fond of singing and instrumental music, he was exceedingly attached to courtesans; / causing distress to his subjects, foolish, he was excluded from all dharma. // 15

8.9.23_188

169b

169b

8.9.23_189

kintvarcayansadaivāsau liṃgaṃ rājyakramāgatam ..
puṣpasragdhūpanaivedyagaṃdhādibhiramantravat ..16 ..

Nevertheless, he constantly worshipped the liṅga inherited through his royal lineage / without mantras, using flower garlands, incense, food offerings, perfumes, and the like. // 16

8.9.23_190

mukhyeṣu ca sadā kāle devatāyataneṣu ca .. dadyātsa bahulāndīpānvartibhiśca
samujjvalān .. 17 ..

And at principal times, in the temples of the deities, / he would always offer abundant lamps, blazing with wicks. // 17

8.9.23_191

kadācinmṛgayāsakto babhrāma
sa ca vīryavān.. prabhāsa kṣetramāgātya pūrvasaṃskārabhāvitaḥ .. 18

Once, intent on hunting, that powerful man roamed about; / coming to Prabhāsakṣetra, influenced by former impressions, // 18