Skandapurana 1.2.15
English (machine translation) 1.2.15
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Nandikeśvara said:
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Bursting through the pillar of fire like the moon breaking through evening clouds,
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He mounted the lord of bulls, white as a peak of Kailāsa, // 1
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with matted locks, His head crowned by the crescent moon,
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wearing a garland of Brahmā's skulls and a wreath of cassia blossoms, // 2
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with serpent-earrings, eyes shining upon the surfaces of His foreheads,
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with five radiant faces and His neck dark with poison, // 3
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bearing with His arms a trident, a skull-bowl, a ḍamaru drum, a deer, an axe, a bow,
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a spotless khaṭvāṅga staff, a sword, and a serpent. // 4
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His form was covered with ash scattered by his breath, and he wore an upper garment of elephant skin.
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Endowed with all ornaments, he was praised by all the gods. (5)
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Wearing a tiger skin as a lower garment, he was beheld by the two of them.
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Beholding that form, the lotus-eyed one danced with joy. (6)
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Knowing nothing at all, the lotus-born [Brahmā] was bewildered. (7)
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Welcoming Mādhava with a gracious gaze, Maheśvara
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then raised up the four-faced one with an angry roar, (8)
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and said: “You two became arrogant out of pride in your authority.
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Yet neither of you need feel ashamed here; this is the nature of those who hold power. (9)
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Having tested my sovereignty, Hari gained enlightenment.
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This lotus-born one never did; deceitful in mind, he is wicked-souled. (10)
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His five-headedness was punished when I was mocked by him;
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and again, when he lusted after his own daughter, he was disciplined by me. (11)
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This is his third offense—how indeed can it be tolerated?
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Therefore, let there be no worshipful consecration anywhere for this Vidhi [Brahmā]! (12)
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And as for this petal of the ketaka flower, since it gave false testimony,
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from now on it shall never rest upon my head!” (13)
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Having thus cursed these two, Giriśa spoke affectionately to Viṣṇu: (14)
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Glorious Maheśvara said:
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“Child, do not fear! I am pleased with you, who possess devotion.
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Indeed, you were born from my limb, and you are especially endowed with sattva.
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You are the foremost of the devotees of Maheśvara in the world, just as before. (15)
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Henceforth, your devotion to me shall never diminish;
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increasing at every moment, it will bring about liberation.” (16)
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When the Three-Eyed One had thus shown grace to Hari, who was devoted and free from egoism,
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Vidhi, terrified and bowed low, having performed his obeisance, began to praise him: (17)
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Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, named ‘Description of the Undertaking of the Praise of Śiva by Brahmā,’ in the second half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya in the first [section, the] Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses. (15)
Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit