Skandapurana 2.9.10

English (machine translation) 2.9.10

Language: English

2.9.10.2

How was Fortune, which had gone to the ocean, obtained again by Indra, O Skanda? / Tell me all of this story that rests on Nārāyaṇa.

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Deprived of Fortune, the king of the gods, even by the Dānavas who were [likewise] deprived of fortune,

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was defeated, stripped of his abode, and had all his possessions lost.

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In mountain caves and thickets, and here and there in forests,

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he wandered together with the guardians of the directions, Varuṇa and the others.

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Clothed in garments of bark and antelope skins, feeding on the flesh of beasts and birds,

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the gods, Daityas, humans, and Nāgas had identical conduct and accoutrements.

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The vessels in the dwellings of everyone were only earthen;

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all the people were wretched, and the women were like goblin-witches.

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In the beginning there was a drought of twelve years upon the earth;

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afterwards, rain fell in some places in small amounts, and in some places not at all.

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Thus a hundred years passed for them amidst the miseries of poverty.

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Having powerful past karma already begun, they did not die even in the midst of extreme misery.

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They lived like the almost dead, like dwellers in hell within the hells.

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Even while striving to obtain Fortune through sacrifices and other means, they did not obtain her.

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Then, at the end of a thousand years, they went for refuge to Mount Meru;

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because of the curse of Durvāsas, all the gods, [now] ill-clad, went to Brahmā.

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Bowing to him, Indra and the others reported their misery;

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for right from the beginning he knew the misfortune of the gods due to his omniscience.

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Then, having rebuked Indra, Brahmā, together with Śiva,

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unable to avert that misery, wished to propitiate Viṣṇu.

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Then, intending to worship with austerity him who is fond of austerity,

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he approached the Ocean of Milk, accompanied by the host of all the gods.

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On its delightful northern shore, they all, observing a vow of fasting,

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standing on one foot with upraised arms, performed austerity.

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In their hearts they meditated upon Keśava, the destroyer of all distress,

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upon Vāsudeva, the husband of Lakṣmī, with their minds made one-pointed.

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Then, at the end of a hundred years, Lord Viṣṇu, glorious Kṛṣṇa himself,

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showed compassion to the wretched gods who had fallen into extreme peril.

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He whose form is invisible even to knowers of the self through abundant austerities,

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manifested there through grace, possessing the radiance of a million suns.

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First, suddenly flashing forth, only a great orb of light,

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white, dense, and peerless, did all the gods see.

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In the middle of it, Brahmā and Śiva saw the husband of Ramā,

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dark as a rain-cloud, four-armed, holding a mace, a lotus, and the discus,

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adorned with a diadem, girdle, bracelets, earrings, and other ornaments,

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clothed in yellow silk, possessing a divine and beautiful form.

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Their minds overcome with joy, the two bowed down like a staff;

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and then, by his will, the gods also, seeing him, bowed with joy.

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They became exceedingly joyful, like the penniless upon finding a treasure.

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All the gods, joining their palms in reverence, praised him with devotion:

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Oṃ! Homage to the Blessed One, to you, Vāsudeva; we meditate upon [you].

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To Pradyumna and Aniruddha, and homage to Saṃkarṣaṇa. // 22

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To the one whose form is the syllable Oṃ and Brahman, whose form is manifested in three ways,

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to the cause of the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the cosmic egg, and to the one devoid of qualities. // 23

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To the one whose form brings delight to the eyes, who destroys the suffering of those who bow down,

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homage to you, Keśava, whose form is the independent sovereign Lord! // 24

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To the one who brings joy to all his devotees, who deludes time, māyā, and the rest,

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to Kṛṣṇa, eternal bliss, homage to the one abiding in true righteousness! // 25

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To the one whose renown is able to deliver those submerged in the ocean of worldly existence,

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to you of wondrous form, dark as a rain-cloud, homage! // 26

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Bearing mace, lotus, conch, and discus with long arms,

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to you, protector of the gods, cows, brahmins, and righteousness, homage, homage! // 27

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To the most excellent, bestower of desired boons to those who surrender,

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to you, known through the Vedas and scriptures, the womb of the Vedas, homage! // 28

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To the one seated in the midst of the orb of light, whose divine form is beautiful,

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we bow to you, Viṣṇu, who are higher than the highest! // 29

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To the one whose greatness lies far beyond speech and mind, whose form is the imperishable,

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to the inner controller of all, and to the immense one, homage, homage! // 2.9.10.30

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You alone are the giver of happiness to those who have taken refuge in you; therefore we,

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exceedingly afflicted by a great calamity, have approached you for refuge. // 31

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Because of our offense toward Durvāsas, your devotee and a devotee of the God of gods,

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we have been deprived of fortune and have fallen into this miserable plight. // 32

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When we were deprived of clothing, food, drink, abode, and other things, O Lord, even dharma

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abandoned us and departed along with Fortune; you are the Lord capable of protecting them. // 33

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For we and dharma are known to be yours;

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therefore, you alone ought to make us happy as before. // 34

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Thus entreated by the gods, the Blessed One, that ocean of compassion,

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spoke, delighting the gods with a voice deep as a thundercloud. // 35

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O gods, I know all your distress arising from your offense against a virtuous one.

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This very day apply the means that I tell you for its cessation. // 36

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Having cast all medicinal herbs into the ocean, using Mount Mandara

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with the king of serpents as the churning-rope, churn it together with the asuras. // 37

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First making peace with the Danujas, carry out the churning of the ocean.

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I will give you assistance; you need have no distress in that regard. // 38

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Having obtained the nectar and the glance of Fortune, with your vigor greater than before,

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you shall be [victorious]; but the Daityas, being averse to me, shall partake only of misery. // 39

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Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu, who destroys the distress of devotees, vanished.

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The gods, having bowed to him, began to do what he had told them. // 2.9.10.40

Thus ends the tenth chapter, titled “Setting Forth the Grace of Śrī Vāsudeva,” in the Śrīvāsudevamāhātmya in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the venerable Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses. // 10

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit