Skandapurana 4.16
English (machine translation) 4.16
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4.16.4
The two gaṇas said: / 'O Śivaśarman of great intellect, this is the marvelous realm of Śukra. / Here dwells Kavi, the guru of the dānavas and daityas, / who, having inhaled the smoke of chaff, exceedingly unbearable, for a thousand years, / obtained from Hara the great vidyā that revives the dead. / Even the preceptor of the gods does not know this exceedingly difficult vidyā, / except for the Conqueror of Death, Skanda, Pārvatī, and the elephant-faced god.' / Śivaśarman said: / 'Who is this one known as Śukra, whose unexcelled realm this is? / And how was the vidyā that revives the dead obtained by him from Hara?
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Tell this, O two lordly gods, if you have affection for me.'
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Then those two gods related the supreme story of Śukra,
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hearing which with faith, people are freed from untimely deaths,
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and no fear arises from bhūtas, pretas, or piśācas.
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When a battle was taking place between Andhaka and the enemy of Andhaka,
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the leaders of the impenetrable mountain battle-array and diamond battle-array,
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then Andhaka, withdrawing from the battle, came into the presence of Śukra
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and, having stepped down from his chariot, spoke as follows:
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'O venerable one, having taken refuge in you, we consider the gods and their followers,
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even those beginning with Rudra and Upendra, as equal to blades of grass.
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As elephants fear lions, as snakes fear Garuḍas,
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the gods fear us, O guru, through your grace.
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The daityas and dānavas entered the impenetrable diamond battle-array,
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scattering the army of the pramathas, like those tormented by heat enter a lake.
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Having taken refuge in you, standing firm like mountains,
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we roam fearlessly in the great battle, O foremost of brahmins.
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And with devotion as your own people, we, together with our wives and sons,
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serve your bliss-bestowing feet day and night.
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Protect completely those who have sought refuge, O gracious brahmin! / Behold Huṇḍa and Tuhuṇḍa, Kujambha and Jambha,
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Behold Huṇḍa, and Tuhuṇḍa, Kujambha, and Jambha!
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Pāka and Kārtasvana, Vipāka, Pākahārin,
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and that Candradamana, the hero who tears apart heroic immortals,
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overcome by the pramathas of terrible prowess who crush death itself,
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slain and fallen like sandalwood trees by Southerners.
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The excellent vidyā that was acquired by you formerly after inhaling the smoke of chaff for a thousand autumns—
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the time for it has now arrived.
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Now let that fruit of your vidyā revive the daityas;
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let all the pramathas see these [warriors] revived by you.'
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Having heard these words of Andhaka, the sage Bhārgava of firm intellect,
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smiling slightly then, said to the lord of the dānavas:
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'O lord of dānavas, everything spoken by you is true.
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Indeed, this acquisition of the vidyā was accomplished by me for the sake of the dānavas.
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Having inhaled the smoke of chaff, exceedingly unbearable, for a thousand years,
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this vidyā bringing happiness to kinsmen was obtained from Īśvara.
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With this vidyā, I shall raise those crushed in battle by the pramathas,
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as a raincloud raises withered grains.
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Without wounds, free from sickness, healthy, as if having merely slept, risen again—
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in this very moment you will see the dānavas risen, O king!'
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Having spoken thus to the lord of the dānavas, Kavi recited the vidyā.
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Designating each daitya one by one, they arose bearing their weapons,
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like the Vedas constantly recited, or like rainclouds in the proper season,
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or like wealth given with faith to brahmins in great calamity.
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Seeing those great asuras, Tuhuṇḍa and the others, revived,
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those elder gods roared like clouds filled with water.
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Seeing those dānavas revived by Śukra, the lords of the gaṇas,
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saying, 'This must indeed be reported to the Lord of Gods,' spoke thus to one another.
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While that wondrous sacrifice of battle of the lords of pramathas was thus proceeding,
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the son of Śilāda, indignant upon seeing the deed of Bhārgava, approached Maheśvara.
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And saying 'Victory!', Nandī, radiant like gold, spoke to the fierce Source of Victory:
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'O God, that exploit in battle of the gaṇa leaders, which is difficult even for the gods led by Indra,
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has today been rendered futile for us by Bhārgava, by reviving those enemies dead in battle!'
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Reciting the spell that gives life to the dead, one by one, with ease, O Lord! 4.1.16.30
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The great lords of asuras—Tuhuṇḍa, Huṇḍa and the others, Jambha, Jambhavipāka, Pāka and the rest—
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having returned today from the abode of Yama, now wander about scattering the pramathas! 31
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If he continues to revive those struck-down foremost daityas again and again here,
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how will there be victory for us, O Maheśa? From where can there be peace for the lords of the gaṇas? 32
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Addressed thus by Nandin, lord of the pramathas, the Lord of the pramatha-lords,
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the God, smiling, then said to Nandin, king of all the lords of the gaṇas: 33
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“Nandin, go forth with supreme haste, snatch the best of twice-born lords from the midst of the sons of Diti,
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and bring him here swiftly, just as a hawk carries off a quail chick!” 34
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Addressed in this manner by the bull-bannered [Śiva], Nandin, whose roar was like a bull’s and a lion’s, roared;
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and swiftly plunging into the army, he went to where the beacon of the Bhṛgu race was. 35
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Though he was guarded by all the sons of Diti, holding nooses, swords, trees, stones, and mountains in hand,
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that mighty Nandin threw the daityas into turmoil and seized Kāvya, like a śarabha [seizing] an elephant. 36
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His clothes falling, his ornaments slipping off, his hair unbound, grasped by the mighty one,
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the enemies of the gods followed, shouting lion-like roars, intent on rescuing him. 37
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Of thunderbolts, tridents, swords, axes, formidable discus-missiles, stones, and missiles of shaking,
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the lords of the dānavas poured a fierce shower upon Nandīśvara, like clouds [raining down]. 38
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Having seized that descendant of Bhṛgu, the king of the gaṇas burned hundreds of weapons with the fire from his mouth,
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and as the battle between asuras and gods raged on, having afflicted the enemy's army, he arrived at Bhava’s side. 39
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“Here is that Śukra, O Lord!”—thus he promptly announced to Bhava;
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and the God of gods took Śukra, like an offering presented by a pure person. 4.1.16.40
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Saying nothing at all, the guardian of the spirits tossed the foremost of sages into his mouth like a fruit;
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and a loud cry of ‘alas, alas!’ was raised exceedingly by all those asuras, ‘Ha! Ha! Ha!’ 41
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When Kāvya was swallowed by the Lord of the daughter of the mountain, the daityas were left devoid of hope of victory,
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like lordly elephants deprived of their trunks, or bulls deprived of their horns; 42
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like crowds of embodied souls deprived of bodies, or brahmins devoid of study; / like virtues of goodness lacking exertion, or efforts devoid of good fortune; 43
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[as above]
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like women deprived of a husband, or showers of arrows lacking feathers; / like lifespans devoid of merits, or sacred learnings lacking good conduct; 44
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[as above]
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just as multiple actions are devoid of their results without the single power of royal majesty,
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even so, without that single foremost among the twice-born, the daityas turned away from any hope of victory. 45
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When Śukra was carried away by Nandin and swallowed by the consumer of poison,
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the daityas fell into dejection, their joy for battle failing them. 46
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Seeing them drained of enthusiasm, Andhaka addressed them:
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“We have been deceived by Nandin, who carried off the poet through sheer prowess! 47
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Our life-breaths have been stolen today by him without [taking] our bodies!
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Steadfastness, vigor, course of action, fame, courage, splendor, and valor— 48
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all has been taken from us at once, when that one descendant of Bhṛgu was seized!
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Fie on us, by whom that one best of the lineage, worshipful to the family,
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the guru, fully capable in all matters, the protector, was not protected in adversity! 49
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Therefore, taking hold of steadfastness here, fight with the enemies!
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I shall destroy all the pramathas along with Nandin! 4.1.16.50
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Today, slaying these helpless ones together with the gods and Indra,
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I shall release the descendant of Bhṛgu, as a yogin releases the soul from karma! 51
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And may that master, being a yogin himself through yoga,
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come forth from his body, preserved by our fury!” 52
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Hearing these words of Andhaka, the dānavas, sounding like thunder-clouds,
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tormented the pramathas, having resolved upon death: 53
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“As long as lifespan remains, the pramathas could never prevail over us by force;
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and when lifespan is exhausted, what is gained by fleeing and abandoning one's master in battle? 54
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Those who, treasuring honor, abandon their master in battle,
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they assuredly go to the abode of Blind Darkness (Andhatāmisra). 55
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Staining their renown greatly with the darkness of infamy,
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those routed from the battlefield could not find happiness in this world or the next! 56
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What need of gifts? What need of austerities? What need of immersions in sacred fords,
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if one has bathed in the sacred ford of the earth, which removes the defilement of rebirth?” 57
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Deliberating thus among themselves, those daityas and dānujas
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crushed the pramathas in battle, beating their war-drums; 58
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there, with torrents of arrows, swords, thunderbolts, and rocky crags,
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with bhuśuṇḍīs, bhindipālas, spears, bhalla arrows, and axes. 59
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with skull-topped clubs, spears, tridents, bludgeons, and heavy pestles in abundance,
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striking one another, they wrought a great slaughter.
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There arose the twang of drawn bows and the sound of falling arrows,
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of slings and bhuśuṇḍi-missiles, and of war-cries.
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With the blare of war-trumpets and the frequent trumpeting of elephants,
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and the neighing of horses, a tremendous uproar arose.
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The space between heaven and earth was filled with echoes,
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and both the fearless and the fearful had their hair stand on end.
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Their grasp on weapons loosening amidst the loud cries of elephants and horses,
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their banners and flags shattered, their weapons exhausted,
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variegated with gouts of blood, their horses, elephants, and chariots destroyed,
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the thirsty armies fainted on both sides.
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Seeing his army being broken on all sides by the Pramathas,
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Andhaka himself mounted his chariot and rushed against the Gaṇas.
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Under those strikes of his thunderbolt-like arrows, as mountains struck by lightning-bolts,
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the Pramathas could not hold their ground, like waterless clouds before the winds.
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Observing each one retreating, advancing, far away, or near at hand,
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Andhaka then pierced each of them with as many arrows as the number of his body hairs.
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By Vināyaka, Skanda, Nandin, Somanandin,
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Naigameya, Śākha, and the mighty Viśākha,
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and by other fierce Gaṇas like these, even Andhaka was blinded [by fury],
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as they showered down torrents of tridents, javelins, and volleys of arrows.
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Then an uproar arose between the armies of the Pramathas and the Asuras.
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At that tremendous sound, Śukra, who was inside Śambhu's belly,
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wandering about searching for an opening, homeless like the wind,
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beheld the seven worlds together with their guardians within Rudra's body.
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He saw the manifold realms of Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and Indra, and of the suns and the water-gods,
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as well as the battle between the Pramathas and the Asuras.
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Wandering all around within Bhava's belly for a hundred years,
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he found no opening in him, just as a wicked man finds no flaw in an honest one.
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Then, through the yoga of Śambhu, the descendant of Bhṛgu in the form of semen
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fell forth and bowed low; then the god spoke to him:
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“Since you came forth like semen (śukra), O son of Bhṛgu,
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by this act you are Śukra, and you are my son; now depart.”
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When Śukra emerged from his belly, the god too rejoiced greatly:
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“It has turned out well for me while wandering, that the twice-born did not die in my belly.”
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Having been spoken to thus by the god, Śukra, radiant like the sun,
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entered the Dānava host like the moon entering a bank of clouds.
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That great ocean of the Dānavas felt joy at Śukra's rising,
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just as the great ocean garlanded with waves rejoices at the rising of the moon.
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While the great battle between Andhaka and the slayer of Andhaka was going on,
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in this way that descendant of Bhṛgu came to be named Śukra.
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How he obtained that supreme secret knowledge that revives the dead (mṛtasaṃjīvanī)
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by Śambhu's grace, hear that, O one of good vows.
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The two Gaṇas said:
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In ancient times, this heir of Bhṛgu, having gone to the city of Vārāṇasī,
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which grants the highest destination to egg-born, sweat-born, plant, and womb-born beings,
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installed a liṅga of glorious Śambhu, dug a well before it,
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and performed austerity for a long time, meditating on Lord Viśveśvara.
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With royal campaka, dhattūra, red oleander, and blue water-lilies,
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with mālatī and karṇikāra, kadamba, bakula, and night-lotuses,
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with mallikā jasmine and hundred-petaled lotuses, sinduvāra and kiṃśuka,
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with aśoka, karuṇa flowers, punnāga, and nāgakesara,
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with kṣudrā, mādhavī creepers, pāṭalā, bilva, and campaka,
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with fresh jasmine, vicikila, kunda, and mucukunda,
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with mandāra, bilva leaves, droṇa, marubaka, and baka,
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with granthiparṇa, damanaka, and heavenly fragrant mango shoots,
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with tulasī, devagandhārī, broad leaves, and sprouts of kuśa grass,
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with nadyāvarta, agastya, śāla, and deodar trees,
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with kāñcanāra, kurabaka, shoots of dūrvā grass, and kuraṇṭaka—
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With each of these flowers, with sprouts, and with other
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leaves by the hundreds of thousands, he worshipped Śaṃkara.
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With pañcāmṛta measured by droṇas, a hundred thousand times, with great effort,
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he bathed the Lord of Gods with many fragrant ceremonial baths.
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A thousand times, the Lord of Gods with sandalpastes and yakṣa-kardama [ointments]—
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he anointed the Lord of Gods, followed by fragrant rubbings.
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With offerings of song and dance, and with many hymns proclaimed in the Vedas,
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and with other thousands of names and hymns of praise, he extolled Śaṃkara.
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Thus worshipping for five thousand autumns, Śukra,
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when he did not see the god inclined in the least toward granting a boon,
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then undertook another dreadful, exceedingly unbearable observance.
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Having washed away entirely the great impurity of the mind called fickleness
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with the waters of meditation repeatedly, together with the senses,
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and making that jewel of the mind pure, offering it to the Wielder of Pināka,
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the sage drank a stream of grain-husk smoke for a thousand autumns.
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Then the god was pleased with the great-souled Bhārgava.
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Emerging from that liṅga, surpassing the splendour of a thousand suns,
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Virūpākṣa, the husband of Dākṣāyaṇī in bodily form, spoke:
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“O treasury of austerity, I am pleased; choose a boon, O Bhārgava!”
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Hearing this speech of Śambhu, the lotus-eyed twice-born,
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his body bristling with horripilation from a surging abundance of bliss,
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delighted, the corners of his eyes wide open, praised the eight-formed god,
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placing his folded hands upon his head and crying, “Victory, victory!”
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Bhārgava said:
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“Overcoming all darkness with these rays of yours, you bring an end to the desires of the night-roamers; / you shine in the sky as a jewel for the welfare of the three worlds, O Lord of the Universe, therefore homage to you!
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You shine as a jewel in the sky for the benefit of the three worlds, O Lord of the Universe, therefore homage to you!
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With your exceedingly boundless, great splendours, you create boundless joy for the night-lotuses, like an ocean; / having dispelled all darkness, O cool-rayed moon, filled with an abundance of nectar, homage to you!
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By whom all darkness is dispelled, who have pure light, cool-rayed, filled with a flood of nectar, therefore homage to you!
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit