Skandapurana 1.3

English (machine translation) 1.3

Language: English

1.3.0.p1

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

1.3.0.p2

Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20

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Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30

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Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Table of Contents

1.3.1.1

Lomaśa said: / Once, at that time, a great sacrifice was undertaken by him; / all were then summoned by that initiated ascetic. (2.1)

1.3.1.2

Various seers assembled there, headed by Vasiṣṭha: / Agastya, Kaśyapa, Atri, Vāmadeva, and Bhṛgu; (2.2)

1.3.1.3

Dadhīca, the venerable Vyāsa, Bharadvāja, and Gautama; / these and many other great seers arrived. (2.3)

1.3.1.4

Likewise all the hosts of gods, the guardians of the worlds, and others— / vidyādharas, gandharvas, and troops of kinnaras and apsarases. (2.4)

1.3.1.5

Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, was brought from the seven realms, / and Viṣṇu was brought from Vaikuṇṭha to the assembly. (2.5)

1.3.1.6

The resplendent Devendra was brought along with Indrāṇī, / and likewise the Moon with Rohiṇī, and Varuṇa with his beloved wife; (2.6)

1.3.1.7

Kubera mounted on the Puṣpaka, the Wind mounted on a deer, / Fire mounted on a he-goat, and Nirṛti mounted on a corpse. (2.7)

1.3.1.8

All these arrived at the sacrificial enclosure of the twice-born one; / they were all honored by him, the wicked-minded Dakṣa. (2.8)

1.3.1.9

Splendid, vast, and highly precious celestial dwellings / were fashioned with skill by the great-souled Tvaṣṭṛ. (2.9)

1.3.1.10

They took their seats at ease in all those mansions. (2.10)

1.3.1.11

As the great sacrifice proceeded at the sacred ford Kanakhala, / the ascetic priests, headed by Bhṛgu, were appointed by him as officiants. (2.11)

1.3.1.12

Invested with initiation, performing auspicious rites, / Dakṣa, accompanied by his wife, had benedictory mantras chanted extensively by the brahmins. (2.12)

1.3.1.13

He shone then in greatness, surrounded constantly by friends. / At that moment, Dadhīci spoke these words: (2.13)

Dadhīci said: / All these lords of gods, exalted seers, and guardians of the worlds have arrived at your [sacrifice]; / even so, the sacrifice does not shine brightly without the wielder of Pināka, that great soul. (2.14)

1.3.1.15

He through whom alone all auspicious things arise, as the great sages declare— / that ancient Person, bull-bannered, blue-throated, matted-haired, is not seen here. (2.15)

1.3.1.16

Even inauspicious things become auspicious when governed by him, O Dakṣa; / through the Three-eyed One, highly auspicious things become instantly [conferred], averting misfortune. (2.16)

1.3.1.17

Therefore, an invitation must be sent by you, by the Supreme Lord [Brahmā], / and quickly by Śakra, and by the all-powerful Viṣṇu. (2.17)

1.3.1.18

Indeed, all should go to where the god Maheśvara resides. (2.18)

1.3.1.19

Bring him along with the daughter of Dakṣa with all haste; / by that Śambhu, the yogin, everything will become exceedingly pure. (2.19)

1.3.1.20

By remembering him and uttering his name, all merit becomes complete; / therefore, with every effort, the bull-bannered one should be fetched. (2.20)

1.3.1.21

Hearing that speech of his, the wicked-minded one laughed and said: / 'Viṣṇu indeed is the root of the gods, in whom the eternal dharma abides; (2.21)

1.3.1.22

in whom the Vedas, sacrifices, and various ritual acts / are all established—that very Viṣṇu has come here. (2.22)

1.3.1.23

Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, has arrived from Satyaloka, / along with the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, and the various Āgamas. (2.23)

1.3.1.24

Likewise, the king of gods has come himself, accompanied by the heavenly hosts; / and you, seers freed from stain, have assembled. (2.24)

1.3.1.25

All those who are suitable for sacrifice and tranquil have arrived— / all of you firm in your vows, knowing the truth of the Vedas and the Vedic meaning. (2.25)

1.3.1.26

What need do we have for Rudra in this matter? / My daughter was given to him, O brahmins, only because I was urged by Brahmā. (2.26)

1.3.1.27

For he is of no noble lineage, O brahmins, ruined and ever fond of the ruined; / he is the solitary master of ghosts, spirits, and flesh-eaters, uncontrollable. (2.27)

1.3.1.28

Conceited, foolish, obstinate, taciturn, and full of malice, / he is unfit for this rite, and therefore has not been brought by me now. (2.28)

1.3.1.29

Therefore, such words must not be spoken again by you, O twice-born one; / you all should make my great sacrifice fruitful.' (2.29)

1.3.1.30

Hearing these words of his, Dadhīci spoke: (2.30)

1.3.1.31

Dadhīci said: / 'A great injustice has been committed against all the foremost seers and the purified deities / without that great soul. (2.31)

1.3.1.32

A great destruction will instantly befall those present here!' / Having spoken thus, that Dadhīca departed alone. (2.32)

1.3.1.33

And from Dakṣa’s sacrifice-enclosure, he went swiftly to his own hermitage. / When the sage had departed, Dakṣa laughed and said this:

1.3.1.34

"He who is dear to Śiva, that hero named Dadhīci by name, has gone. / Possessed in mind, dull-witted, devoted to falsehood, wicked,

1.3.1.35

outside the Vedas, of evil conduct—they are to be abandoned in this rite. / You who are devoted to Vedic doctrine, all headed by Viṣṇu,

1.3.1.36

make my sacrifice fruitful, O brahmins, without delay!" / Then all those [gods] along with the ṛṣis performed the worship of the gods.

1.3.1.37

In the meantime, there on Mount Gandhamādana, / in a water-pavilion, in an aerial chariot, surrounded by her companions,

1.3.1.38

Dakṣa’s daughter, the great goddess, then engaged in diverse / sports by the thousands, such as ball-games, seated inside the aerial chariot.

1.3.1.39

Engaged in sports, the goddess, the great Satī, then saw / the lord Soma going to the sacrifice along with Rohiṇī.

1.3.1.40

"Where is this moon going? Ask quickly, Vijayā!" / Commanded by her, the goddess Vijayā asked him as was fitting.

1.3.1.41

He related all that, namely Dakṣa’s sacrifice and the rest. / Hearing that, the swift goddess Vijayā, filled with excitement, / related fully all that had been spoken by the moon.

1.3.1.42

Considering the cause, the goddess [thought]: "Why does he not invite [me]? / My father Dakṣa and my mother—why have they forgotten me now?

1.3.1.43

Having made up my mind, I will ask Śaṃkara today about the reason." / Leaving her companions there, she went to Śaṃkara.

1.3.1.44

She saw him, the three-eyed, seated in the midst of the assembly, / surrounded then by all the gaṇas, Caṇḍa, Muṇḍa, and the others:

1.3.1.45

Bāṇa, Bhṛṅgin, and Nandī the son of Śalāda of great austerity, / Mahākāla, Mahācaṇḍa, Mahāmuṇḍa, Mahāśiras,

1.3.1.46

Dhūmrākṣa, Dhūmraketu, and likewise Dhūmrapāda. / These and many other gaṇas following Rudra,

1.3.1.47

some terrifying, dreadful, and others headless trunks, / some with strange eyes, and others without chests,

1.3.1.48

hundreds of such beings, all clad in skins, / adorned with braids of matted hair, all decorated with rudrākṣa seeds,

1.3.1.49

their senses conquered, free from passion, all enemies of sense-objects— / surrounded by all these, Śaṃkara, who brings peace to the world, / was seen by her seated on a most wondrous seat.

1.3.1.50

Agitated in mind, she swiftly approached Śiva’s presence. / She, his beloved, was placed on his lap by Śiva, full of love.

1.3.1.51

She was addressed with loving words accompanied by high respect: / "Tell me quickly, O slender-waisted lady, what is the purpose of your coming?"

1.3.1.52

Addressed thus then by him, the dark-eyed lady spoke.

1.3.1.53

Satī said: / "Why does going to my father’s great sacrifice not please you, / O god of gods? Tell all that, O Lord!

1.3.1.54

This is indeed the duty of friends: that they associate with friends, / which increases the affection of friends, O Mahādeva.

1.3.1.55

Therefore, by every effort, even though uninvited, go / today to my father’s sacrifice-enclosure at my request, O Sadāśiva!"

1.3.1.56

Hearing that speech of hers, he spoke words of truth: / "You should not go, O gentle lady, to Dakṣa’s sacrifice.

1.3.1.57

All those proud people belonging to him, along with gods and kinnaras, / they have all reached the sacrifice of your father, without doubt.

1.3.1.58

And those who go uninvited to another’s house, O fair-browed lady, / meet with dishonour, which is worse than death.

1.3.1.59

Even Indra, having reached the house of others, would suffer humiliation. / Therefore you must not go, O auspicious lady, to Dakṣa’s sacrifice."

1.3.1.60

Addressed thus by that great-souled Maheśa, Satī, / best among those who know speech, uttered words full of anger:

1.3.1.61

"You are indeed the sacrifice itself in the world, you the supreme lord of the gods! / You have not been invited today by him, my father of perverted conduct. / I wish to know all of that: the intention of that wicked one.

1.3.1.62

Therefore, I am going this very day to my father’s sacrifice-enclosure. / Grant me permission, my lord, god of gods, ruler of the universe!"

1.3.1.63

Having been spoken to thus by that goddess, the blessed Rudra, Śiva himself, / the knower, the all-seeing seer, the blessed source of all beings,

1.3.1.64

he, the lord of the gods, Maheśa, giver of all perfections, said to her: / "Go, O goddess, with haste, at my word, O lady of good vows!

1.3.1.65

Mounting this Nandī, accompanied by various gaṇas." / Sixty thousand Rudra-gaṇas went by Śiva’s command.

1.3.1.66

Surrounded by those gaṇas, the goddess went to her father’s abode. / Looking at that entire host, Mahādeva was greatly astonished.

1.3.1.67

Costly ornaments for them and for the goddess, that scorcher of foes, / Mahādeva, composed in mind, sent behind them.

1.3.1.68

Reflecting entirely on the goddess’s departure to her father’s house, the blessed Maheśa / then declared to his own city: "Satī, Dakṣa’s daughter, insulted by her father, will not return."

1.3.1.68_1

Thus ends the second chapter, named 'Description of the Goddess Satī’s Departure to Dakṣa’s Sacrifice', in the Kedārakhaṇḍa of the first [part], the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.

1.3.2.1

Lomaśa said: / Hearing the words spoken by Viṣṇu, Dakṣa said these words: / "You have rendered the Vedas invalid, O Madhusūdana!

1.3.2.2

And abandoning Vedic action, how could one attain the state of being with the Lord? / Let that be spoken, O Mahāviṣṇu, by which dharma is established!"

1.3.2.3

Addressed by Dakṣa, Mahāviṣṇu spoke, pacifying him: / "The Vedas have the three guṇas as their domain; they cannot be otherwise.

1.3.2.4

How can rites proclaimed in the Vedas bear fruit without Īśvara? / They will indeed be entirely fruitless.

1.3.2.5

Therefore, by every effort, take refuge in Īśvara!" / While Govinda was speaking thus, an ocean of an army arrived, / resembling Vīrabhadra; then the gods saw it.

1.3.2.6

Laughing at Viṣṇu, who was then engaged in asserting his own doctrine, / Indra, thunderbolt in hand, together with the gods, desired to fight.

1.3.2.7

Driven on quickly by Bhṛgu, intent on expulsion, / the attendants then fought against the gods, surrounded by their retinues.

1.3.2.8

They struck one another with arrows, javelins, and iron darts; / conches sounded repeatedly in that great festival of battle.

1.3.2.9

Likewise kettle-drums, wardrums, and small drums resounded. / Praised by that mighty noise, the gods then, / joined with the world-guardians, struck down those servants of Śiva.

1.3.2.10

Some were slain with swords and others crushed with maces; / all the attendants, by hundreds and thousands, were defeated by the gods.

1.3.2.11

Those attendants were turned back by the world-guardians headed by Indra, / and routed instantly by the power of Bhṛgu's mantra.

1.3.2.12

Their expulsion was then performed by the sacrificer Bhṛgu / for the sake of the sacrifice and for the satisfaction of the consecrated Dakṣa.

1.3.2.13

By that alone, the gods became victorious at that very moment. / Seeing the defeat of his own forces, Vīrabhadra, filled with wrath,

1.3.2.14

placing behind him the spirits, ghosts, and fiends, / placing before him those mounted on bulls, the mighty one himself / took up a sharp trident and threw them down in battle.

1.3.2.15

Against the gods, yakṣas, fiends, guhyakas, and rākṣasas, / with blows of tridents, all those attendants struck down the gods.

1.3.2.16

Some were cut in two with swords and others beaten with clubs; / some were chopped into pieces with battle-axes on the battleground.

1.3.2.17

Hundreds were pierced with pikes, and some were smashed to bits. / Thus defeated, they all became intent on flight.

1.3.2.18

Embracing one another, they fled even to heaven. / Only the world-guardians headed by Indra remained, anxious, / asking Bṛhaspati: “Whence may victory be ours?”

1.3.2.19

Bṛhaspati then spoke quickly to the king of the gods: / Bṛhaspati said: / “What Viṣṇu spoke previously has indeed come true today.

1.3.2.20

If there is any lord who bestows the fruit of action, / he attends to the agent; he is surely not a master over one who does nothing.

1.3.2.21

Neither all mantras and herbs, nor sorceries, nor worldly means, / nor rituals, nor the Vedas, nor the two Mīmāṃsās,

1.3.2.22

are capable of knowing [him]. But he can be known through single-minded devotion; / Sadāśiva is to be known through supreme peace and satisfaction.

1.3.2.23

Through him the entire world, consisting of pleasure and pain, comes into being. / Nevertheless, I shall speak out of a desire to distinguish what should and should not be done.

1.3.2.24

You, Indra, acting like a fool together with the world-guardians, / have arrived here today as a fool. What will you do now?

1.3.2.25

These highly glorious attendants are the helpers of Rudra; / when enraged, these illustrious ones leave no remainder.”

1.3.2.26

Hearing this speech of Bṛhaspati, those dwellers of heaven, / all the great world-guardians, fell into anxiety.

1.3.2.27

Then Vīrabhadra, closely surrounded by the attendants, said: / “All of you have come out of foolishness for your sacrificial portions.

1.3.2.28

I shall give you your portions swiftly for your satisfaction.” / Having spoken thus, filled with rage, he then struck with sharp arrows.

1.3.2.29

Struck down by those arrows, they all fled to the ten directions.

1.3.2.30

When the world-guardians had departed and the gods were dispersed, / Vīrabhadra, accompanied by the attendants, arrived at the sacrificial enclosure.

1.3.2.31

Then all those seers, desiring to entreat the supreme Lord of all, / quickly spoke thus to Janārdana:

1.3.2.32

“Protect Dakṣa’s sacrifice, for you are the sacrifice without doubt.” / Hearing this word of the seers, Janārdana,

1.3.2.33

Viṣṇu, who illuminates inner truth, stood in battle wishing to fight. / The mighty-armed Vīrabhadra addressed a speech to Keśava:

1.3.2.34

“Why have you come here, Viṣṇu, who know my great power? / Taking Dakṣa's side, how will you conquer? Tell me that!

1.3.2.35

Have you not seen what was done by Satī, O sinless one? / And you too have come to Dakṣa's sacrifice for a portion; / I will give a portion to you as well, O mighty-armed one!”

1.3.2.36

Having spoken thus, first bowing to Viṣṇu whose form is equal, / Vīrabhadra stepped forward and then addressed words to Viṣṇu:

1.3.2.37

“Just as Śambhu is, so indeed are you; there is no doubt of this in my mind. / Nevertheless, O mighty-armed one, you stand before me wishing to fight. / I will dispatch you to non-return if you stand your ground.”

1.3.2.38

Hearing those words of the wise Vīrabhadra, / the god Viṣṇu, supreme Lord of all, laughed and spoke:

1.3.2.39

Viṣṇu said: / “You are born from the fiery energy of Rudra; you are pure, O noble-minded one! / I was requested previously and repeatedly by Dakṣa for the sake of the sacrifice.

1.3.2.40

I am dependent on devotees, and so is Maheśvara; / for that very reason, I have come here to Dakṣa's sacrifice,

1.3.2.41

O Vīrabhadra, who arose from the wrath of Rudra! / I will ward you off, or you ward me off.”

1.3.2.42

When Govinda had spoken thus, the mighty-armed one laughed, / bowed with modesty, and spoke this to Janārdana:

1.3.2.43

“Just as Śiva is, so indeed are you; and just as you are, so is Śiva. / We are all the servants of you or of Śaṃkara.”

1.3.2.44

Hearing those words of his, the imperishable Acyuta laughed, / and the supreme lord Viṣṇu spoke this momentous word:

1.3.2.45

“Fight with me without fear, O mighty-armed one! / Being covered by your weapons, I shall go to my own abode.”

1.3.2.46

Saying “So be it,” that hero, the mighty Vīrabhadra, / took up supreme weapons and roared with lion-roars.

1.3.2.47

Viṣṇu too made a loud sound with the blast of his conch; / hearing that, the gods who had fled, having left the battle, returned once again.

1.3.2.48

Then all the world-protectors, led by Indra, formed a battle array. / At that, Nandin was struck by Indra with his hundred-jointed thunderbolt.

1.3.2.49

And Indra was struck by Nandin with a trident between the breasts. / And Bhṛṅgin was struck by Vāyu, and Vāyu was struck down by Bhṛṅgin.

1.3.2.50

Equipped with a sharp-edged spear, the powerful Mahākāla / [fought] in battle with Yama, who carried a staff.

1.3.2.51

And meeting Kubera, the lord of the kūṣmāṇḍas himself [fought him]. / And the exceedingly strong Muṇḍa fought a duel with Varuṇa,

1.3.2.52

Fighting with supreme power, as if astonishing the three worlds. / Encountering Nairṛta, the exceedingly powerful Caṇḍa,

1.3.2.53

Fought with a supreme weapon, deriding Nairṛta. / Accompanied by a circle of yoginīs, the great leader Bhairava,

1.3.2.54

Tearing apart all the gods, drank the extraordinary blood. / Likewise, other kṣetrapālas, bhūtas, pramathas, and guhyakas,

1.3.2.55

Fierce śākinīs, ḍākinīs, the nine Durgās as well, / yoginīs and yātudhānīs, and likewise kūṣmāṇḍas and the rest / roared, drank blood, and ate much flesh.

1.3.2.56

Seeing his army being devoured then, the king of the gods himself / left Nandin behind and rushed toward Vīrabhadra.

1.3.2.57

Leaving Viṣṇu aside, Vīrabhadra set upon the lord of the gods. / A terrible battle ensued between the two, like that between Mercury and Mars.

1.3.2.58

When Indra, filled with haste, desired to kill Vīrabhadra, / [Vīrabhadra] immediately covered Indra, seated on his elephant, with arrows.

1.3.2.59

Filled with rage, Vīrabhadra was irresistible and of great might. / Then he was swiftly struck by Indra with his hundred-jointed thunderbolt.

1.3.2.60

He prepared to swallow Indra along with his elephant and his thunderbolt. / A great cry of woe arose among the beings watching there.

1.3.2.61

Seeing Vīrabhadra acting in such a way, desiring to slay Purandara, / Viṣṇu, hurrying at that moment, stood in front of Vīrabhadra.

1.3.2.62

Placing Indra behind him, he then fought [with him]. / Then a supreme battle took place between Vīrabhadra and Viṣṇu.

1.3.2.63

The two then fought with weapons and missiles of various forms. / Seeing Nandin again, Indra, skilled in combat, [resumed fighting].

1.3.2.64

A tumultuous duel took place between the gods and the pramathas. / Crushed by the gods, all those pramathas fled from the battle.

1.3.2.65

Seeing the gaṇas turn their backs, all the diseases / born of Rudra's anger also fled from the gods.

1.3.2.66

Seeing the gods afflicted by fevers, Viṣṇu, as if laughing, / captured those gods alive, one by one.

1.3.2.67

Then, having summoned the divine Aśvins to destroy the diseases, / the highly intelligent [Viṣṇu] attentively paid wages to both of them, counting it out.

1.3.2.68

Then, seizing all the fevers, deliria, and other afflictors of creatures, / those two Aśvins, filled with joy, / freed the gods from fever and rejoiced for a long time.

1.3.2.69

They conquered the circle of yoginīs and threw Bhairava into disarray. / With sharp-pointed arrows, they also struck down the troops of bhūtas.

1.3.2.70

Seeing the army routed by the gods and fallen upon the earth, / Vīrabhadra, filled with wrath, addressed Viṣṇu with these words:

1.3.2.71

"You are a hero, O mighty-armed one; you are indeed the protector of the gods! / Fight with me diligently, if such is your desire!"

1.3.2.72

Having said this, approaching Viṣṇu, the lord of all lords, / the mighty Vīrabhadra showered him with sharpened arrows.

1.3.2.73

Then the Blessed One struck Vīrabhadra with his discus. / Seeing the discus approaching, he swallowed it that very moment.

1.3.2.74

Seeing the discus swallowed, Viṣṇu, the conqueror of enemy citadels, / stroked his face, and Viṣṇu caused it to be vomited forth again.

1.3.2.75

Taking his discus, the glorious sole master of the worlds then departed to heaven, / and knowing all this, the capable Viṣṇu [knew] that an unbearable deed had been done by the enemies.

1.3.2.75_1

Thus ends the fourth chapter, named 'Description of the Battle of Vīrabhadra and Others with Viṣṇu and Others', in the Kedārakhaṇḍa of the first [section], the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit