Vayu Purana

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। तस्मात् पृच्छन्ति वै वायुं वायुपर्णाम्बुभोजनाः ।। ५४.

Eighty-eight thousand sages, with their seed retained upwards, who subsist on air, leaves, and water, then questioned Vayu.

नीलकण्ठेति यत् प्रोक्तं त्वया पवनसत्तम। एतद्दुह्यं पवित्राणां पुण्यं पुण्यकृतां वराः ।। ५४.

O best of winds, what you have spoken about Nilakantha is secret among the pure, meritorious among the virtuous.

तद्वयं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रभञ्जन। नीलता येन कण्ठस्य कारणेनाम्बिकापतेः ।। ५४.

Therefore, O Prabhanjana, by your grace, we wish to hear the reason for the blue throat of Ambika's Lord.

श्रोतुमिच्छा महे सम्यक् तव वक्राद्विशेषतः। यावद्वाचः प्रवर्त्तन्ते सार्थास्ताश्च त्वयेरिताः ।। ५४.

We wish to hear this in detail from your speech, O great one, for as long as your words continue, they are meaningful.

वर्णस्थानगते वायौ वाग्विधिः संप्रवर्तते। ज्ञानं पूर्वमथोत्साह स्त्वत्तो वायो प्रवर्तते ।। ५४.१३ . त्वयि निष्पन्दमाने तु शेषा वर्णप्रवृत्तयः। यत्र वाचो निवर्तन्ते देहबन्धाश्च दुर्लभाः ।। ५४.

When Vayu is present in the proper place of sound, speech arises; first comes knowledge, then enthusiasm, both proceeding from you, O Vayu. When you are inactive, the other movements of sound cease; there, speech turns back, and bodily bonds become difficult to maintain.

तत्रापि तेऽस्ति सद्भावः सर्वगस्त्वं सदानिल। नान्यः सर्वगतो देवस्त्वदृतेश़स्ति समीरण ।। ५४.

Even there, your presence remains, O ever-pervading Wind; there is no other all-pervading deity besides you, O Samiraṇa.

एष वै जीवलोकस्ते प्रत्यक्षः सर्वतोऽनिल। वेत्थ वाचस्पतिं देवं मनोनायकमीस्वरम् ।। ५४.

You are indeed the vital air in all living beings, manifest everywhere; you know Vachaspati, the Lord of Speech, the ruler of the mind.

ब्रूहि तत्कण्ठदेशस्य किं कृता रूपविक्रिया। श्रुत्वा वाक्यन्ततस्तेषामृषीणां भावितात्मानाम्। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वायुर्लोक नमस्कृतः ।। ५४.

Tell us, what transformation occurred at the region of the throat? Hearing the end of the words of those sages of concentrated mind, the illustrious Vayu, honored by the world, replied.

पुरा कृतयुगे विप्रो वेदनिर्णयतत्परः। वसिष्ठो नाम धर्मात्मा मानसो वै प्रजापतेः ।। ५४.

In ancient times, in the Krita Yuga, there was a Brahmin named Vasistha, devoted to the determination of the Vedas, righteous, and mind-born son of the Lord of Creatures.

प्रपच्छ कार्तिकेयं वै मयूरवरवाहनम्। महिषासुरनारीणां नयनाञ्जनतस्करम् ।। ५४.

He questioned Kartikeya, the one with the peacock as his excellent mount, who steals the collyrium from the eyes of the women of Mahishasura.

महासेनं महात्मानं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्। उमामनःप्रहर्षेण बालकं छझरूपिणम् ।। ५४.

He questioned Mahasena, the great-souled one, whose voice is like the rumble of clouds, who, as a child, delighted Uma's heart, and who has a form with six faces.

क्रौञ्चजीवितहर्त्तारं पार्वतीहृदि नन्दनम्। वसिष्ठः पृच्छते भक्त्या कार्तिकेयं महाबलम् ।। ५४.

The slayer of Krauncha, the delight of Parvati's heart—Vasistha, with devotion, questioned Kartikeya, the mighty one.

नमस्ते हरनन्दाय उमागर्भ नमो ऽस्तु ते। नमस्ते अग्निगर्भाय गङ्गागर्भ नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.

Salutations to the joy of Hara, to the womb of Uma, I bow to you; salutations to the one born of Agni, to the one born of Ganga, I bow to you.

नमस्ते शरगर्भाय नमस्ते कृत्तिकासुत। नमो द्वादशनेत्राय षण्मुखाय नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.

Salutations to the one born of the arrow, salutations to the son of the Krittikas; salutations to the twelve-eyed one, to the six-faced one, I bow to you.

नमस्ते शक्तिहस्ताय दिव्यघण्टापताकिने। एवं स्तुत्वा महासेनं पप्रच्छ शिखिवाहनम् ।। ५४.

Salutations to the one holding the spear, to the one with the divine bell and banner; thus praising Mahasena, he questioned the one who rides the peacock.

यदेतद्दृश्यते वर्णं शुभं शुभ्राञ्जनप्रभम्। तत्किमर्थं समुत्पन्नं कण्ठे कुन्देन्दुसंप्रभे ।। ५४.

That radiant color which is seen, shining like pure white collyrium— for what reason has it arisen on the neck, which is resplendent like jasmine and the moon?

एतदाप्ताय भक्ताय दान्ताय ब्रूहि पृच्छते। कथां मङ्गलसंयुक्तां पवित्रां पापनाशिनीम् । मत्प्रियार्थं महाभाग वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।। ५४.

To this worthy, devoted, and self-controlled questioner, speak the auspicious, sacred, and sin-destroying story, for my sake, O greatly fortunate one, you ought to tell it in full.

श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततस्तस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः सुरारिबलसूदनः ।। ५४.

Hearing these words of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the mighty and radiant destroyer of the host of gods' enemies replied.

श्रृणुष्व वदतां श्रेष्ठ कथ्यमानं वचो मम। उमोत्सङ्गनिविष्टेन मया पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम् ।। ५४.

Listen, best of speakers, to my words as I recount what I formerly heard while seated on Umā’s lap.

पार्वत्या सह संवादः शर्वस्य च महात्मनः। तदहङ्कीर्त्तयिष्यामि त्वत्प्रियार्थं महामुने ।। ५४.

The conversation between Pārvatī and the great-souled Śarva— that I shall now relate for your pleasure, O great sage.

कैलासशिखरे रम्ये नानाधातुविचित्रिते। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णे चक्रवाकोपशोभिते ।। ५४.

On the delightful summit of Kailāsa, adorned with various minerals, thick with many kinds of trees and vines, and beautified by flocks of cakravāka birds,

षट्‌पदोद्गीतबहुले धारासम्पातनादिते। मत्तक्रौञ्चमयूराणां नादैरुद्घुष्टकन्दरे ।। ५४.

Abundant with the humming of bees, where streams cascade down, and the caves resound with the calls of intoxicated krauñca and peacock birds,

अप्सरोगणसङ्कीर्णे किन्नरैश्चोपशोभिते । जीवञ्जीवकजातीनां वीरुद्भिरुपशोभिते ।। ५४.

Crowded with groups of apsarases, beautified by kinnara musicians, and adorned with living plants of the jīvañjīvika species,

कोकिलारावमधुरे सिद्ध चारणसेविते। सौरभैयीनिनादाढ्ये अधस्तनितनिःस्वने ।। ५४.

Sweet with the cooing of cuckoos, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas, filled with the cries of Saurabheya birds, and the rumble of thunder below,

विनायकभयोद्विग्ने कुञ्जरैर्युक्तकन्दरे। वीणावादित्रनिर्घोषैः श्रोत्रेन्द्रियमनोरमैः ।। ५४.

Where caves are filled with elephants made anxious by the fear of Vināyaka, and the delightful sounds of vīṇā and drums charm the senses and the mind,

दोलालम्बितसम्पाते वनितासङ्घसेविते। ध्वजैर्लम्बितदोलानां घण्ठानां निनदाकुले ।। ५४.

Where swings are suspended, attended by groups of women, and the banners of the swings are hung with bells, filling the place with their ringing,

मुखमर्दलवादित्रैर्बलिनां स्फोटितैस्तथा। क्रीडारवविचाराणां निर्घोषैः पूर्णमन्दिरे ।। ५४.

With the sounds of hand-drums and other instruments struck by the strong, and the resounding cries of those engaged in play, the palace is filled with noise.

हासैः सन्त्रासजननैर्विकरालमुखैस्तथा। देहगन्धैर्विचित्रैश्च प्रक्रीडितगणेश्चरैः ।। ५४.

With laughter, faces distorted in fear and excitement, and bodies fragrant with various scents, as the attendants of Gaṇeśa sport and play,

वज्रस्फटिकसोपान चित्रपट्टिशिलातलैः। व्याध्रसिंहमुखैशचवान्यैर्गजवाजिमुखैस्तथा ।। ५४.

With stairways of diamond and crystal, floors of inlaid stone, and images of tigers, lions, elephants, and horses,