Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 73

SkP-RK 73.1

मार्कण्डेय उवाच: ततो गच्छेच् च राजेन्द्र मेघनादम् इति स्मृतम् । जलमध्ये महादेवो यत्र तिष्ठत्य् अदर्शितः

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: tato gacchec ca rājendra meghanādam iti smṛtam / jalamadhye mahādevo yatra tiṣṭhaty adarśitaḥ

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, O lord of kings, one should go to what is known as Meghanāda, where the Great God stands unseen in the midst of the water.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.2

युधिष्ठिर उवाच: जलमध्ये महादेवस् तिष्ठते केन हेतुना । उत्तरं दक्षिणं कूलं वर्जयित्वा द्विजोत्तम

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: jalamadhye mahādevas tiṣṭhate kena hetunā / uttaraṃ dakṣiṇaṃ kūlaṃ varjayitvā dvijottama

Yudhiṣṭhira said: For what reason does the Great God stand in the midst of the water, avoiding both the northern and the southern bank, O best of the twice-born?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.3

मार्कण्डेय उवाच: एतद् आख्यानम् अतुलं पुण्यं श्रुतिसुखावहम् । पुराणे यच्छ्रुतं तात तत् ते वक्ष्याम्य् अशेषतः

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: etad ākhyānam atulaṃ puṇyaṃ śrutisukhāvaham / purāṇe yacchrutaṃ tāta tat te vakṣyāmy aśeṣataḥ

Mārkaṇḍeya said: This story is incomparable, meritorious, pleasant to the ear; what I heard in the Purāṇa, my dear, that I shall tell you in full.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.4

पुरा त्रेतायुगे तात पौलस्त्यो देवकण्टकः । त्रिलोकविजयी रौद्रः सुरासुरभयंकरः

purā tretāyuge tāta paulastyo devakaṇṭakaḥ / trilokavijayī raudraḥ surāsurabhayaṃkaraḥ

Long ago in the Tretā age, my dear, (there was) the son of Pulastya's line, a thorn to the gods, conqueror of the three worlds, fierce, terrifying to gods and demons alike.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.5

देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो वरदानेन यत्र पर्यटते महीम्

devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ gandharvoragarakṣasām / avadhyo varadānena yatra paryaṭate mahīm

Unslayable by gods, dānavas, yakṣas, gandharvas, serpents and rākṣasas through the granting of a boon, he roamed the earth wherever (he pleased).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.6

तत्र देवगिरौ रम्ये दानवो बलदर्पितः । मयो नामेति विख्यातो महानासीन् नृपेश्वर

tatra devagirau ramye dānavo baladarpitaḥ / mayo nāmeti vikhyāto mahānāsīn nṛpeśvara

There on the lovely Devagiri, O lord of men, was a great dānava proud of his strength, renowned by the name of Maya.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.7

रावणस् तं ततो गत्वा विनयावनतः स्थितः । पूजितो दानसंमानैर् मयं वचनम् अब्रवीत्

rāvaṇas taṃ tato gatvā vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ / pūjito dānasaṃmānair mayaṃ vacanam abravīt

Then Rāvaṇa went to him and stood bowed in humility; honoured with gifts and marks of respect, he spoke these words to Maya:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.8

कस्येयं पद्मपत्राक्षी पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना । किं नामधेया तपते तप उग्रं कथं विभो

kasyeyaṃ padmapatrākṣī pūrṇacandranibhānanā / kiṃ nāmadheyā tapate tapa ugraṃ kathaṃ vibho

"Whose is this lotus-petal-eyed girl, with a face like the full moon? What is her name, and why, lord, does she practise fierce austerity?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.9

मय उवाच: दानवानां पतिः श्रेष्ठो मयो ऽहं नामनामतः । भार्या तेजवती नाम ममेयं तनया शुभा

maya uvāca: dānavānāṃ patiḥ śreṣṭho mayo 'haṃ nāmanāmataḥ / bhāryā tejavatī nāma mameyaṃ tanayā śubhā

Maya said: I am the foremost lord of the dānavas, Maya by name; my wife is named Tejavatī, and this is my lovely daughter.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.10

मन्दोदरीति विख्याता तपते पतिकारणात् । श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य रावणो मददर्पितः

mandodarīti vikhyātā tapate patikāraṇāt / śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya rāvaṇo madadarpitaḥ

She is known as Mandodarī; she practises austerity for the sake of a husband. But hearing his words, Rāvaṇa, arrogant with pride,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.11

प्रश्रितः प्रणतो भूत्वा मयं वचनम् अब्रवीत् । पौलस्त्यो नाम राजाहं देवदानवदर्पहा

praśritaḥ praṇato bhūtvā mayaṃ vacanam abravīt / paulastyo nāma rājāhaṃ devadānavadarpahā

became deferential and bowed, and spoke these words to Maya: "I am the king named Paulastya, destroyer of the pride of gods and dānavas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.12

प्रार्थयामि महाभाग सुतां त्वं दातुम् अर्हसि । ज्ञात्वा पैतामहं वंशं मयेनापि महात्मना

prārthayāmi mahābhāga sutāṃ tvaṃ dātum arhasi / jñātvā paitāmahaṃ vaṃśaṃ mayenāpi mahātmanā

I ask, O greatly fortunate one: you should give me your daughter." And Maya too, the great-souled one, knowing (his) descent from the Grandfather,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.13

सुता दत्ता रावणाय कृत्वा विधिविधानतः । गृहीत्वा तां तदा रक्षः पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः

sutā dattā rāvaṇāya kṛtvā vidhividhānataḥ / gṛhītvā tāṃ tadā rakṣaḥ pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ

gave his daughter to Rāvaṇa, doing so according to the prescribed rite. Then that rākṣasa, taking her, honoured by the night-rangers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.14

दिव्यैर् यानैर् विमानैश् च क्रीडते तु तया सह । पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठो जनयामास भारत

divyair yānair vimānaiś ca krīḍate tu tayā saha / putraṃ putravatāṃ śreṣṭho janayāmāsa bhārata

sported with her in divine vehicles and aerial cars; and that best of those who have sons begot a son, O Bhārata.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.15

तेनैव जातमात्रेण रवो मुक्तो महात्मना । संवर्तकस्य मेघस्य येन लोको जडीकृतः

tenaiva jātamātreṇa ravo mukto mahātmanā / saṃvartakasya meghasya yena loko jaḍīkṛtaḥ

By him, the great one, as soon as he was born, a roar was let loose, that of the cloud of the world's dissolution, by which the world was stupefied.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.16

श्रुत्वा तन्निनदं घोरं त्रस्तो लोकपितामहः । नाम चक्रे तदा तस्य मेघनादो भविष्यति

śrutvā tanninadaṃ ghoraṃ trasto lokapitāmahaḥ / nāma cakre tadā tasya meghanādo bhaviṣyati

Hearing that dreadful roar, the grandfather of the worlds was terrified, and he then gave him a name: "He shall be Meghanāda (Cloud-roar)."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.17

एतन् नामकृतं सो ऽपि परमं व्रतम् आस्थितः । भावयामास देवेशम् उमया सह शङ्करम्

etan nāmakṛtaṃ so 'pi paramaṃ vratam āsthitaḥ / bhāvayāmāsa deveśam umayā saha śaṅkaram

He, whose name had thus been given, undertook the highest vow, and meditated upon Śaṅkara, the lord of the gods, together with Umā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.18

व्रतैर् नियमदानैश् च होमैर् जाप्यैर्विधानतः । कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणैर् दिव्यैः क्लिश्यते च कलेवरम्

vratair niyamadānaiś ca homair jāpyairvidhānataḥ / kṛcchracāndrāyaṇair divyaiḥ kliśyate ca kalevaram

With vows, with restraints and gifts, with oblations and recitations according to rule, with the divine kṛcchra and cāndrāyaṇa penances, his body was worn down.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.19

एवम् अन्यद् दिने तात कैलासं धरणीधरम् । गत्वा लिङ्गम् अयं प्राप्य प्रस्थितो दक्षिणामुखः

evam anyad dine tāta kailāsaṃ dharaṇīdharam / gatvā liṅgam ayaṃ prāpya prasthito dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

Thus, on another day, dear one, having gone to Kailāsa, the upholder of the earth, and having obtained this liṅga, he set out facing south.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.20

नर्मदातटम् आश्रित्य स्नातुकामो महाबलः । निक्षिप्यापूजयद् देवं कृत्वा जाप्यं जनेश्वरः

narmadātaṭam āśritya snātukāmo mahābalaḥ / nikṣipyāpūjayad devaṃ kṛtvā jāpyaṃ janeśvaraḥ

Resorting to the bank of the Narmadā, wishing to bathe, the greatly powerful lord of men set (the liṅga) down and worshipped the god, performing his recitation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.21

गन्तुकामः परं मार्गं लङ्कायां नृपसत्तम । एकं समुद्धृतं लिङ्गं गृहितं सव्यपाणिना

gantukāmaḥ paraṃ mārgaṃ laṅkāyāṃ nṛpasattama / ekaṃ samuddhṛtaṃ liṅgaṃ gṛhitaṃ savyapāṇinā

Wishing to go on the further road to Laṅkā, O best of kings, one liṅga, lifted up, was grasped by him with his left hand.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.22

प्रथमं च द्वितीयं च भक्त्या पौलस्त्यनन्दनः । तदा देवमहालिङ्गं पतितं नर्मदाम्भसि

prathamaṃ ca dvitīyaṃ ca bhaktyā paulastyanandanaḥ / tadā devamahāliṅgaṃ patitaṃ narmadāmbhasi

The son of Paulastya (took up) the first and the second with devotion; then the god's great liṅga fell into the water of the Narmadā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.23

पाहि पाहीति तेनोक्तो लिङ्गेन परमेष्ठिना । द्वितीयं पतितं तावद् उत्तरे नर्मदातटे

pāhi pāhīti tenokto liṅgena parameṣṭhinā / dvitīyaṃ patitaṃ tāvad uttare narmadātaṭe

"Save (me), save (me)!" — thus was he addressed by that liṅga of the Supreme One; and meanwhile the second fell on the northern bank of the Narmadā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.24

मेघनादेति विख्यातं लिङ्गं तत्र सुशोभनम् । मध्यमेश्वरनामेति जलमध्ये व्यवस्थितम्

meghanādeti vikhyātaṃ liṅgaṃ tatra suśobhanam / madhyameśvaranāmeti jalamadhye vyavasthitam

There the beautiful liṅga is renowned as Meghanāda; (the other), by the name Madhyameśvara, is established in the midst of the water.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.25

यावद् उद्धर्तुकामो ऽसौ सप्तपातालम् आगमत् । देवयोर् निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा निवृत्तो ऽसौ निशाचरः

yāvad uddhartukāmo 'sau saptapātālam āgamat / devayor niścayaṃ jñātvā nivṛtto 'sau niśācaraḥ

When he wished to pull (it) up, it went down to the seventh netherworld; recognising the two gods' resolve, that night-roamer turned back.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.26

जगामाकाशम् आविश्य पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः । तदा प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं मेघनादेति विश्रुतम्

jagāmākāśam āviśya pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ / tadā prabhṛti tattīrthaṃ meghanādeti viśrutam

He entered the sky and went (off), being honoured by the night-roamers; from that time on that sacred ford has been known as Meghanāda.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.27

मेघारवेति विख्यातम् उत्तरे खेटकः शुभः । पूर्वे तु गर्जनं नाम सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्

meghāraveti vikhyātam uttare kheṭakaḥ śubhaḥ / pūrve tu garjanaṃ nāma sarvapāpakṣayaṃkaram

To the north is the auspicious village renowned as Meghārava, and to the east (a place) named Garjana, which destroys all sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.28

तस्मिंस् तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र यस् तु स्नानं समाचरेत् । अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा स लभेच्छाश्वतं शुभम्

tasmiṃs tīrthe tu rājendra yas tu snānaṃ samācaret / ahorātroṣito bhūtvā sa labhecchāśvataṃ śubham

But whoever, O lord of kings, performs a bath at that ford, having fasted for a day and a night, he obtains everlasting good.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.29

पिण्डदानं तु यः कुर्यात् तस्मिंस् तीर्थे नराधिप । तेन द्वादश वर्षाणि पितरस् तर्पिता दिवि

piṇḍadānaṃ tu yaḥ kuryāt tasmiṃs tīrthe narādhipa / tena dvādaśa varṣāṇi pitaras tarpitā divi

But whoever offers piṇḍa at that ford, O ruler of men, by him the fathers are refreshed in heaven for twelve years.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.30

यस् तु भोजयते विप्रांस् तस्मिंस् तीर्थे नराधिप । यत्फलं योगिनां तत्र लभते नात्र संशयः

yas tu bhojayate viprāṃs tasmiṃs tīrthe narādhipa / yatphalaṃ yogināṃ tatra labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ

But whoever feeds brahmins at that ford, O ruler of men, obtains there the fruit that belongs to yogins — there is no doubt in this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 73.31

अग्निवेशं जले वापि अथवापि ह्य् अनाशकम् । अनिवर्तिका गतिस् तस्य स्याद् इदं शङ्करो ऽब्रवीत्

agniveśaṃ jale vāpi athavāpi hy anāśakam / anivartikā gatis tasya syād idaṃ śaṅkaro 'bravīt

(Whether by) entering the fire, or in the water, or else by fasting to death, his going forth would be without return — this Śaṅkara declared.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SkP-RK 73.32

एवं ते नरशार्दूल गर्जितेश्वरम् उत्तमम् । कथितं स्मरणाद् एव सर्वपापक्षयं करम्

evaṃ te naraśārdūla garjiteśvaram uttamam / kathitaṃ smaraṇād eva sarvapāpakṣayaṃ karam

Thus, O tiger among men, the excellent Garjiteśvara has been recounted to you, which by mere remembrance destroys all sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition