सहस्रं तस्य सिंहानां तस्मिन्युक्तं रथोत्तमे। उत्पपात दिवं शुभ्रं कालेनाभिप्रचोदितम्
A thousand lions were yoked to his excellent chariot, which soared into the bright sky, urged on by time.
तेपिबन्त इवाकाशं त्रासयन्तक्षराचरान्। सिंहा नभस्यगच्छन्त नदन्तश्चारुकेसराः
The lions, with beautiful manes, went through the sky, roaring and frightening the moving and unmoving beings, as if drinking the heavens.
तस्मिन्रथे पशुपतिः स्थितो भात्युमया सह। विद्युता सहितः सूर्यः सेन्द्रचापे घने यथा
On that chariot, Pasupati shone together with Uma, like the sun with lightning and Indra's bow in a cloud.
अग्रतस्तस्य भगवान्धनेशो गुह्यकैः सह। आस्थाय रुचिरं याति पुष्पकं नरवाहनः
Ahead of him, the blessed lord of wealth, accompanied by the Guhyakas, proceeds riding the splendid Pushpaka, the vehicle of men.
ऐरावतं समास्थाय शक्रश्चापि सुरैः सह। पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ यान्तं वरदं वृषभध्वजम्
Indra, together with the gods, followed the boon-giving bull-bannered one, riding Airavata, from behind as he advanced.
जृम्भकैर्यक्षरक्षोभिः स्रग्विभिः समलंकृतः। यात्यमोघो महायक्षो दक्षिणं पक्षमास्थितः
The great Yaksha, adorned with garlands, accompanied by Jṛmbhakas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas, proceeds on the right wing, unfailing.
तस्य दक्षिणतो देवा बहवश्चित्रयोधिनः। गच्छन्ति वसुभिः सार्धं रुद्रैश्च सह संगताः
On his right, many gods, skilled in battle, go together with the Vasus and Rudras.
यमश्च मृत्युना सार्धं सर्वतः परिवारितः। घोरैर्व्याधिशतैर्याति घोररूपवपुस्तथा
Yama, surrounded on all sides by Death and hundreds of fierce diseases, advances with a terrifying form.
यमस्य पृष्ठतश्चैव रघोरस्त्रिशिखरः शितः। विजयो नाम रुद्रस्य याति शूलः स्वलंकृतः
Behind Yama, the sharp three-pronged spear called Vijaya, belonging to Rudra, splendidly proceeds.
तमुग्रपाशो वरुणो भगवान्सलिलेश्वरः। परिवार्य शनैर्याति यादोभिर्विविधैर्वृतः
Varuna, the blessed lord of waters, with his fierce noose, surrounded by various Yadus, advances slowly, encircling him.
पृष्ठतोविजयस्यापि याति रुद्रस्य पट्टसः। गदामुसलशक्त्याद्यैर्वृतः प्रहरणोत्तमैः
Even behind Vijayā, the sword of Rudra proceeds, surrounded by the finest weapons—maces, clubs, spears, and others.
पट्टसं त्वन्वगाद्राजंश्छत्रं रौद्रं महाप्रभम्। कमण्डलुश्चाप्यनु तं महर्षिगणसेवितः
The sword, O King, followed the royal parasol of Rudra, resplendent and radiant; and after it came the water-pot, attended by hosts of great sages.
तस्य दक्षिणतो भाति दण्डो गच्छञ्श्रिया वृतः। भृग्वङ्गिरोभिः सहितो दैधतैश्चानुपूजितः
To his right shines the staff, advancing, adorned with splendor, accompanied by the Bhṛgus and Aṅgiras, and worshipped by the twice-born.
एषां तु पृष्ठतो रुद्रो विमले स्यन्दने स्थितः। याति संहर्षयन्सर्वांस्तेजसा त्रिदिवौकसः
Behind all these, Rudra himself stands upon a spotless chariot, delighting all the dwellers of heaven with his radiance.
ऋषयश्चापि देवाश्च गन्धर्वा भुजगास्तथा। नद्यो ह्रदाःसमुद्राश्चतथैवाप्सरसां गणाः
The seers, the gods, the Gandharvas, the serpents, the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, and the hosts of Apsarases also follow.
नक्षत्राणि ग्रहाश्चैवदेवानां शिशवश्च ये। स्त्रियश्च विविधाकारा यान्ति रुद्रस्य पृष्ठतः
The stars and planets, the children of the gods, and women of various forms all proceed behind Rudra.
सृजन्त्यः पुष्पवर्षाणि चारुरूपा वराङ्गनाः। पर्जन्यश्चाप्यनुययौ नमस्कृत्य पिनाकिनम्
Exquisite women, creating showers of flowers, follow; and Parjanya too follows, having bowed to Pinākin.
छत्रं च पाण्डुरं सोमस्तस्य मूर्धन्यधारयत्। चामरे चापि वायुश्च गृहीत्वाऽग्निश्च धिष्ठितौ
Soma placed a white parasol upon his head; and both Vāyu and Agni stood holding the fly-whisks.
शक्रश्च पृष्ठतस्तस्य याति राजञ्छ्रिया वृतः। सहराजर्षिभिः सर्वैः स्तुवानो वृषकेतनम्
Indra, adorned with splendor, follows behind him, O King, praising the Bull-bannered One along with all the royal sages.
गौरी विद्याऽथ गान्धारी केशिनी मित्रसाह्वया। सावित्र्या सह सर्वास्ताः पार्वत्या यान्ति पृष्ठतः
Gaurī, Vidyā, Gāndhārī, Keśinī, Mitrasāhvayā, and all the others, together with Sāvitrī and Pārvatī, proceed behind.
तत्र विद्यागणाः सर्वेये केचित्कविभिः स्मृताः। तस्य कुर्वन्ति वचनं सेन्द्रा देवाश्चमूमुखे
There, all the groups of Vidyās, whatever are remembered by poets, obey his command, and the gods with Indra at their head stand at the front of the host.
गृहीत्वा तु पताकां वै यात्यग्रे राक्षसो ग्रहः। व्यापृतस्तु श्मशाने यो नित्यं रुद्रस् वै सखा। पिङ्गलो नाम यक्षेन्द्रो लोकस्यानन्ददायकः
A Rākṣasa, who is Rudra’s constant companion in the cremation ground, named Piṅgala, lord of the Yakṣas and bringer of joy to the world, goes at the front holding the banner.
एबिश्च सहितो देवस्तत्रयाति यथासुखम्। अग्रतः पृष्ठतस्चैवं न हि तस्य गतिर्ध्रुवा
Accompanied by these, the god proceeds there as he pleases, both at the front and the rear; for his movement is never fixed.
रुद्रं सत्कर्मभिर्मर्त्याः पूजयन्तीह दैवतम्। शिवमित्येव यं प्राहुरीशं रुद्रं पिनाकिनम्
Here, mortals worship Rudra, the god, with righteous acts—him whom they call Śiva, the Lord, Rudra, Pinākin.
एवं सर्वे सुरगणास्तदा वै प्रीतमानसाः'। भावैस्तु विविधाकारैः पूजयन्ति महेश्वरम्
Thus, all the hosts of gods, their minds filled with joy, worship Maheśvara with various forms of devotion.
कदेवसेनापतिस्त्वं देवसेनाभिरावृतः। अनुदच्छति देवेशं ब्रह्मण्यः कृत्तिकासुतः
You, commander of the divine armies, surrounded by the hosts of gods, follow the Lord of the gods—O son of Kṛttikā, upholder of righteousness.
अथाब्रवीन्महासेनं महादेवो बृहद्वचः। सप्तमं मारुतस्कन्धं रक्ष नित्यमतन्द्रितः
Then Mahādeva spoke these great words to Mahāsena: 'Always protect the seventh troop of the Maruts, without fatigue.'
सप्तमं मारुतस्कन्धं पालयिष्याम्यहं प्रभो। यदन्यदपि मे कार्यं देव तद्वद माचिरम्
'I will protect the seventh troop of the Maruts, O Lord. Tell me quickly, O god, whatever else I must do.'
कार्येष्वहं त्वया पुत्र संद्रष्टव्यः सदैव हि। दर्शनान्मम भक्त्या च श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यसि
In all your undertakings, my son, you must always look to me; by seeing me and through devotion to me, you will attain the highest good.
इत्युक्त्वा विससर्जैनं परिष्यज्य महेश्वरः। `स्कन्दं सहोमया प्रीतो ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा
Having spoken thus, the great Lord Maheshvara, pleased, released Skanda, who was shining with energy, together with Uma.