The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Parvati Goes to the Mountain for Penance which is chapter 28 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the twenty-eighth chapter of the Kaumarika-khanda of the Maheshvara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 28 - Pārvatī Goes to the Mountain for Penance
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Nārada said:
1. After saying thus, the daughter of Himādri went out of the mansion. As she proceeded ahead, the Gaṇas made a hue and cry.
2. “Where are you going, mother?”, saying this and crying loudly, they ran forward. Vīraka grasped the feet of the goddess and said in a faltering voice choked with tears:
3-4. “O Mother, what is this? Where are you going in great fury? Why are you hurrying away? I will follow you, my mother, very affectionate towards me. If I am forsaken by you, I will not be able to bear the harshness of Giriśa. A son will always be the victim of the harshness of his father if he has no mother.”
5-10. With her right hand, the mother lifted up his face and said to Vīraka: “O son, do not feel sorry. (If bereaved of the mother) It is not proper to fall down from the top of the mountain. It is not justifiable for you to go with me. I shall tell you, my son, a befitting job; listen. I have been called Kṛṣṇā (‘Black’) by Hara and censured. I was treated with contempt. I shall therefore perform a penance and acquire white complexion. This (Lord) is enamoured of women of white complexion. After I have gone, you must guard the entrance continuously looking for even the smallest aperture. See that no women enters and approaches Hara. If you happen to see any other woman here, tell me, dear son. Thereupon I shall do what is suitable.” Vīraka, the son devoid of ailments and delighted in every limb said, “Let it be so” (i.e. your order is proper, I shall abide by it).
11. He had his person dipped in the pond of nectar in the form of the mother’s order. His fever (i.e. heated feelings) got subsided. After paying obeisance to his mother, he went to see the Three-eyed god.
12-14. When the Elephant-faced One bowed down and stood there with the throat choked with tears requesting, “O Pārvatī, take me too,” she said, “O boy, since you are elephantfaced, he will laugh at you as at me. Hence come along with me. Let my state or fate be that of yours too. Death is better than discomfiture at the hands of knaves, dear son”. Saying thus and taking (the Elephant-faced One) with her, she went to the mountain Himādri.