The Skanda Purana

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

This page describes Trishanku Attains Svarga which is chapter 7 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 seventh chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 7 - Triśaṅku Attains Svarga

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1. With a keen desire, he entered water and began to meditate. Then he created two Sandhyās (Twilights). O Brāhmaṇas, they are to be seen even today.

2-3. Thereafter all the groups of the Devas were created by that noble-souled one. Persons travelling in aerial chariots, stars and planets, human beings, serpents and Rākṣasas, creepers and trees; the seven sages (Great Bear), Dhruva and others (Pole Star etc.) and sky-walkers were created.

4-5. After creating these, the angry sage Viśvāmitra employed them in his own work. At that time two suns and two moons rose up in the sky simultaneously. There were two sets of planets. Two sets of stars along with the Great Bear came up, O Brahmana.

6. Thus they competed with one another and were seen doubled causing chaos and confusion in the minds of the people.

7. In the meantime Śakra accompanied by all the heaven-dwellers went there where the Lotus-seated Lord was present.

8. O Brāhmaṇas, he along with the Suras, eulogized him with Vedic hymns, bowed down and stood with palms joined in reverence.

Then he said:

9-10. O most excellent one among Suras, creation of human beings, Yakṣas and Serpents, of Devas, Gandharvas and Rākṣasas has been brought about by Viśvāmitra. Hence do go and restrain him yourself, O Pitāmaha, lest the entire range of mobile and immobile beings should be pervaded by his creation.

11-12. On hearing his words Vidhi (Brahmā) in the company of Śakra went to the eminent sage Viśvāmitra, the friend and well-wisher of the world, and said: “O Brāhmaṇa-Sage, at my instance check this lest all the Devas including Vāsava should perish.”

Viśvāmitra said:

13. If the excellent king Triśaṅku goes to your world along with the same physical body, I shall then desist from creation.

Brahmā said:

14-15. Let this king go to heaven along with me, O great sage. He shall go there along with his physical body, with your favour, stop your creative effort. No one else could have done this. What has never been done by anyone in the world has been achieved by you.

Viśvāmitra said:

16-17. O Lotus-born Lord, O grandfather of all the worlds, may this creation of mine (of a new world) carried out in rage by me be forgiven by you. With your favour, may this creation of mine be everlasting. O Lotus-born One, I will not repeat this again.

Brahmā said:

18. O Brāhmaṇa, what has been already created by you shall certainly come to stay. But they will never be eligible to share Yajña and all other rites.

19. After saying thus and taking Triśaṅku with him, the great Grandfather went to Brahmaloka. The delighted sage stayed there itself.

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