The Glory of Someshvara

Verse 1 (padma.6.161.1)

महादेव उवाच। सोमतीर्थं ततो गच्छेद्गुप्तं साभ्रमतीतटे । पातालात्तत्र निर्गत्य कालाग्निरभवद्भवः

mahādeva uvāca somatīrthaṃ tato gacchedguptaṃ sābhramatītaṭe pātālāttatra nirgatya kālāgnirabhavadbhavaḥ

Mahadeva said: One should then go to Soma-tirtha, hidden on the bank of the Sabarmati. There, having emerged from the netherworld, Bhava became the Fire of Time itself.

Verse 2 (padma.6.161.2)

सोमतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा सोमेश्वरं शिवम् । सोमपानफलं साक्षाद्भवतीति न संशयः

somatīrthe naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā someśvaraṃ śivam somapānaphalaṃ sākṣādbhavatīti na saṃśayaḥ

A man who bathes at Soma-tirtha and beholds Shiva as Someshvara obtains, in person, the very fruit of drinking soma -- there is no doubt of this.

Verse 3 (padma.6.161.3)

रूपवान्सुभगो भोगी सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । नरो भवति लोकेऽस्मिन्परत्र च शिवं व्रजेत्

rūpavānsubhago bhogī sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ naro bhavati loke'sminparatra ca śivaṃ vrajet

Such a man becomes handsome, fortunate, prosperous, and versed in every branch of knowledge in this world, and in the next attains Shiva.

Verse 4 (padma.6.161.4)

अत्रेतिहासं वक्ष्यामि शृणु सुंदरि तत्वतः । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते चात्र ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकात्

atretihāsaṃ vakṣyāmi śṛṇu suṃdari tatvataḥ yaṃ śrutvā mucyate cātra brahmahatyādipātakāt

I shall tell here a true tale connected with this place -- listen, O beautiful one -- by hearing which one is freed even from the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 5 (padma.6.161.5)

कौषीतकेन ऋषिणा तपस्तप्तं विशेषतः । निराहारी स वै जातः पर्णाशनरतः परम्

kauṣītakena ṛṣiṇā tapastaptaṃ viśeṣataḥ nirāhārī sa vai jātaḥ parṇāśanarataḥ param

The sage Kaushitaka performed here a most severe austerity; he became one who took no food at all, subsisting solely on leaves,

Verse 6 (padma.6.161.6)

वायुभक्षस्ततः कुर्वन्नात्मध्यानपरायणः । एवं बहुयुगं तत्र तप्तं तेन महत्तपः

vāyubhakṣastataḥ kurvannātmadhyānaparāyaṇaḥ evaṃ bahuyugaṃ tatra taptaṃ tena mahattapaḥ

and then, living upon air alone, wholly devoted to meditation on the self -- thus, for many ages, that great austerity was practiced by him there.

Verse 7 (padma.6.161.7)

कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन सुप्रसन्नो महेश्वरः । यं यं प्रार्थयसे विप्र तत्सर्वं प्रददाम्यहम्

kadāciddaivayogena suprasanno maheśvaraḥ yaṃ yaṃ prārthayase vipra tatsarvaṃ pradadāmyaham

At last, through the working of fate, Maheshvara, well pleased, said: 'Whatever you desire, O brahmin, all that I shall grant you.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.161.8)

कौषीतक उवाच। तव प्रसादाद्देवेश अत्र लिंगं प्रजायताम् । अत्र सोमेश्वर इति ख्यातो देवो भवेद्ध्रुवम्

kauṣītaka uvāca tava prasādāddeveśa atra liṃgaṃ prajāyatām atra someśvara iti khyāto devo bhaveddhruvam

Kaushitaka said: By your grace, O lord of the gods, let a linga come into being here. Let the god here become renowned, without fail, under the name Someshvara.

Verse 9 (padma.6.161.9)

यत्र स्नात्वा च भुक्त्वा च वांछितं फलमाप्नुयात् । अत्र स्थाने विशेषेण रुद्रजाप्यादिकं यदि

yatra snātvā ca bhuktvā ca vāṃchitaṃ phalamāpnuyāt atra sthāne viśeṣeṇa rudrajāpyādikaṃ yadi

Bathing here, and partaking of food here, may one obtain the fruit desired. If, at this place, the repetition of Rudra's name and the like

Verse 10 (padma.6.161.10)

कारयंति नरश्रेष्ठा धर्मानर्थाल्लँभंति ते । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निर्धनो लभते धनम्

kārayaṃti naraśreṣṭhā dharmānarthālla~bhaṃti te aputro labhate putraṃ nirdhano labhate dhanam

is performed by the best of men, may they obtain dharma and artha. May the sonless obtain a son, the poor obtain wealth,

Verse 11 (padma.6.161.11)

राज्यकामी तु तद्राज्यं लभते नात्र संशयः । यदि चेत्त्वं प्रसन्नोऽसि तत्सर्वं देहि मे प्रभो

rājyakāmī tu tadrājyaṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ yadi cettvaṃ prasanno'si tatsarvaṃ dehi me prabho

and may one who desires a kingdom obtain that kingdom -- there is no doubt of this. If you are indeed pleased, O lord, grant me all of this.

Verse 12 (padma.6.161.12)

ईश्वर उवाच। तदा चैव सुरेशेन सर्वं दत्तं द्विजन्मने । तदा प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं सोमलिंगेति विश्रुतम्

īśvara uvāca tadā caiva sureśena sarvaṃ dattaṃ dvijanmane tadā prabhṛti tattīrthaṃ somaliṃgeti viśrutam

Mahadeva said: Then indeed all this was granted by the Lord of the gods to that twice-born one. From that time this tirtha became renowned as Soma-linga.

Verse 13 (padma.6.161.13)

चंदनैर्वा बिल्वपत्रैयेऽर्चयंति सदाशिवम् । लभंते मानुषे देहे सौख्यं पुत्रादिसंभवम्

caṃdanairvā bilvapatraiye'rcayaṃti sadāśivam labhaṃte mānuṣe dehe saukhyaṃ putrādisaṃbhavam

Those who worship Sadashiva with sandal-paste or bilva leaves obtain, in their human body, happiness together with the blessing of sons.

Verse 14 (padma.6.161.14)

सोमवारे तथा प्राप्ते यो गच्छति हरालयम् । वाछितं लभते नित्यं सोमलिंग प्रसादतः

somavāre tathā prāpte yo gacchati harālayam vāchitaṃ labhate nityaṃ somaliṃga prasādataḥ

Whoever goes to the abode of Hara when a Monday arrives always obtains his desire through the grace of Soma-linga.

Verse 15 (padma.6.161.15)

अत्र गत्वा तु यो देवि यद्ददाति फलादिकम् । यया कामनया चैव तं तं प्राप्नोति निश्चितम्

atra gatvā tu yo devi yaddadāti phalādikam yayā kāmanayā caiva taṃ taṃ prāpnoti niścitam

O goddess, whoever comes here and offers fruit and the like, obtains most certainly whatever desire is held in mind.

Verse 16 (padma.6.161.16)

श्वेतैर्वा करवीरैश्च पारिजातैस्तथा पुनः । येऽर्चयंति च तं देवं श्रीमहेशं पिनाकिनम्

śvetairvā karavīraiśca pārijātaistathā punaḥ ye'rcayaṃti ca taṃ devaṃ śrīmaheśaṃ pinākinam

Those who worship that god, Shri Mahesha, the bearer of the Pinaka bow, with white oleander flowers, or again with parijata blossoms,

Verse 17 (padma.6.161.17)

ते लभंते सुरश्रेष्ठे शैवं पदमनुत्तमम्

te labhaṃte suraśreṣṭhe śaivaṃ padamanuttamam

obtain, O best of gods, the unsurpassed state of Shiva.