The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Attainment of a Boon by Vishvamitra which is chapter 6 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 sixth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 6 - Attainment of a Boon by Viśvāmitra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

1-3. On hearing the words of Triśaṅku, Viśvāmitra the eminent sage, became a little ashamed and spoke these words: “O king, grieve not on this account. I shall take you to heaven along with your physical body. I shall cany out the different riles for the sake of heaven, O king. I shall either accomplish your desired object or face my personal destruction.”

4-5. After saying thus, the sage became all the more furious with the Heaven-dwellers. Within the direct presence of the king he spoke: “Just as the status of a Brāhmaṇa was forcibly achieved by my own effort, so also I will undoubtedly cause my own creation.”

6. Thereafter viewing the Moon-crested Lord Śaṅkara the great sage duly bowed down with devotion and eulogized him.

Viśvāmitra said:

7-8. Be victorious, O lover of Pārvatī; be victorious, O Lord beyond the pale of thought or mind. Be victorious, O Kṛṣṇa, the Lord protector of the universe and the preceptor of the world. O incomprehensible one, be victorious. O immeasurable one, be victorious. O infinite one, be victorious. O unswerving one, be victorious. O immortal one, be victorious. O unconquerable one, be victorious. O immutable one, O Lord of Suras, be victorious.

9-14. Be victorious, O omnipresent one, O Lord of all. Be victorious, O Lord worthy of being meditated upon by all, be victorious, O destroyer of the sins of all. You are the creator and the dispenser; you are the creator and the protector of the groups of living beings of four types, O Śaṅkara, O Lord of Devas. Just as oil is present in gingelly seed or ghee in curds, so also you invisibly are present in the entire universe on which you preside. You are Brahmā; you are Hṛṣīkeśa; you are Śakra; you are Hutāśana (Fire god); you are Yajña; you are Vaṣaṭkāra. You are the Moon. You are the Sun. Or, of what avail is a eulogy of thine, O Lord, in too many words? I shall briefly mention your glorious power as recounted by Śruti. Whatever is mobile and immobile in all the three words, O Lord, is pervaded by you, like fuel by fire.”

Śrī Bhagavān (Lord) said:

15. Welfare unto you, O excellent sage, I am pleased with you. Request for your boon; whatever has been present in your heart for long, I shall undoubtedly grant to you.

Viśvāmitra said:

16. ‘O Lord of Devas, if you are pleased, if a boon has to be given to me, O Maheśvara, let me have the great ability of creation with your favour.

17. After saying “Let it be so” the holy Bull-emblemed Lord vanished from there along with all the Gaṇas (attendants).

18. Viśvāmitra stationed himself there with due meditation. Rivalling with Brahmā, the Lord moving about on his Swan, he began the creation of four types.’

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