त्वमेवास्य मुने शक्तो जीवनाय मतो मम
O sage, you alone are thought capable by me of restoring his life.
तथाऽपि त्वत्कृपाविष्ट एनं संजीवयाम्यहम्
Even so, filled with your compassion, I shall revive him.
वृंदामालिंग्य तद्वक्त्रं चुचुंब प्रीतमानसः
Embracing Vrinda, he kissed her face, his heart filled with joy.
अथ वृन्दाऽपि भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा हर्षितमानसा
Then Vrinda too, seeing her husband, was filled with happiness.
कदाचित्सुरतस्यांते दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं तमेव च
Once, at the end of their union, she saw that very Vishnu.
ज्ञातोऽसि त्वं मया सम्यङ्मायाप्रच्छन्नतापसः
You have been truly recognized by me as the ascetic concealed by illusion.
यौ त्वया मायया द्वाःस्थौ स्वकीयौ दर्शितौ मम
Those two doorkeepers of yours, shown to me by your illusion—
त्वं चाऽपि भार्यादुःखार्तो वने कपिसहायवान्
And you, afflicted by the sorrow of your wife, wandered in the forest with the help of monkeys.
इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा वृन्दा प्राविशद्धव्यवाहनम् 2.4.21.
Having spoken thus, Vrinda then entered the sacrificial fire.
ततो हरिस्तामनुसंस्मरन्मुहुर्वृंदान्वितोभस्मरजोवगुंठितः
Then Hari, repeatedly remembering her, covered with the dust of love and accompanied by Vrinda, was overcome.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये जलंधरोपाख्याने वृन्दाग्निप्रवेशवर्णनंनामैकविंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, named 'The Description of Vṛndā's Entry into Fire', in the story of Jalandhara, within the greatness of the month of Kārtika, in the second Vaiṣṇava section of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
चकार मायया गौरीं त्र्यंबकं मोहयन्निव
By his illusion, he made Gaurī appear, as if bewildering Tryambaka.
रथोपरि च तां बद्धां रुदन्तीं पार्वतीं शिवः
On the chariot, bound and weeping, was Pārvatī, with Śiva beside her.
गौरीं तथाविधां दृष्ट्वा शिवोऽप्युद्विग्नमानसः
Seeing Gaurī in such a state, Śiva too became deeply troubled in mind.
ततो जलंधरो वेगात्त्रिभिर्विव्याध सायकैः
Then Jalandhara, with speed, struck with three arrows.
ततो जज्ञे स तां मायां विष्णुना च प्रबोधितः
Then that illusion was dispelled, awakened by Viṣṇu.
तस्याऽतीव महारौद्रं रूपं दृष्ट्वा महासुराः
Seeing her exceedingly fierce form, the great demons were terrified.
ततः शापं ददौ रुद्रस्तयोः शुंभनिशुंभयोः
Then Rudra pronounced a curse upon those two, Śumbha and Niśumbha.
पुनर्जलंधरो वेगाद्ववर्ष निशितैः शरैः
Again Jalandhara, with force, showered sharp arrows.
यावद्रुद्रश्च चिच्छेद तस्य बाणगणं जवात्
Until Rudra swiftly cut down his multitude of arrows.
वृषस्तेन प्रहारेण परावृत्तो रणांगणात् 2.4.22.
The bull, struck by that blow, turned away from the battlefield.
ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो रुद्रो रौद्रवपुर्धरः
Then Rudra, extremely enraged, assumed a fierce form.
प्रदहद्रोदसी वेगात्पपात वसुधातले
Burning the heavens with speed, he fell to the earth.
रथात्कायः पपाताऽस्य नादयन्वसुधातलम्
His body fell from the chariot, resounding upon the earth.
वृन्दादेहोद्भवं तेजस्तद्गौर्यां विलयं गतम्
The energy arising from Vṛndā's body entered Gaurī and was dissolved.
प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं शशंसुर्विष्णुचेष्टितम् देवा ऊचुः महादेव त्वया देवा रक्षिताः शत्रुजाद्भयात्
Bowing their heads to Rudra, the gods reported Viṣṇu's actions. The gods said: 'Great god, by you the gods have been protected from the fear born of enemies.'
किंचिदन्यत्समुद्भूतं तत्र किं करवामहे
Something else has arisen there; what should we do?
शरण्यां मोहिनीं मायां सा वः कार्यं करिष्यति
That enchanting illusion, Mohinī, is your refuge; she will accomplish your task.
देवाश्च तुष्टुवुर्मूलप्रकृतिं भक्तवत्सलाम्
And the gods praised the primal nature, who is fond of her devotees.
यदिच्छया विश्वमिदं भवाऽभवौ तनोति मूलप्रकृतिं नताः स्म ताम्
By whose will this entire universe comes into being and ceases to be—bowing to that primal nature, we honor her.