The Origin of the Somanatha Jyotirlinga

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.14.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । ज्योतिषां चैव लिङ्गानां माहात्म्यं कथयाधुना । उत्पत्तिं च तथा तेषां ब्रूहि सर्वं यथाश्रुतम् ॥ 14.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ jyotiṣāṁ caiva liṅgānāṁ māhātmyaṁ kathayādhunā utpattiṁ ca tathā teṣāṁ brūhi sarvaṁ yathāśrutam

The sages said: Now tell us the greatness of the Jyotirlingas, and likewise relate their origin, all of it, just as you have heard it.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.14.2)

सूत उवाच । शृण्वन्तु विप्रा वक्ष्यामि तन्माहात्म्यं जनिं तथा । सङ्क्षेपतो यथाबुद्धि सद्गुरोश्च मया श्रुतम् ॥ 14.2 ॥

sūta uvāca śṛṇvantu viprā vakṣyāmi tanmāhātmyaṁ janiṁ tathā saṅkṣepato yathābuddhi sadgurośca mayā śrutam

Suta said: Listen, O brahmins; I shall tell their greatness and origin in brief, according to my understanding, as I have heard it from my true guru.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.14.3)

एतेषां चैव माहात्म्यं वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि । शक्यते न मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तथापि कथयामि वः ॥ 14.3 ॥

eteṣāṁ caiva māhātmyaṁ vaktuṁ varṣaśatairapi śakyate na muniśreṣṭhāstathāpi kathayāmi vaḥ

O foremost sages, even in hundreds of years it is not possible to fully describe their greatness; nevertheless I shall tell it to you.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.14.4)

सोमनाथश्च तेषां वै प्रथमः परिकीर्तितः । तन्माहात्म्यं शृणु मुने प्रथमं सावधानतः ॥ 14.4 ॥

somanāthaśca teṣāṁ vai prathamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ tanmāhātmyaṁ śṛṇu mune prathamaṁ sāvadhānataḥ

Among them, Somanatha is celebrated as the first; hear his greatness first, O sage, with careful attention.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.14.5)

सप्तविंशन्मिताः कन्या दक्षेण च महात्मना । तेन चन्द्रमसे दत्ता अश्विन्याद्या मुनीश्वराः ॥ 14.5 ॥

saptaviṁśanmitāḥ kanyā dakṣeṇa ca mahātmanā tena candramase dattā aśvinyādyā munīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, twenty-seven daughters, beginning with Ashvini, were given by the great-souled Daksha in marriage to the Moon.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.14.6)

चन्द्रं च स्वामिनं प्राप्य शोभमाना विशेषतः । चन्द्रोऽपि चैव ताः प्राप्य शोभते स्म निरन्तरम् ॥ 14.6 ॥

candraṁ ca svāminaṁ prāpya śobhamānā viśeṣataḥ candro’pi caiva tāḥ prāpya śobhate sma nirantaram

Having obtained the Moon as their lord, they shone forth especially; and the Moon too, having obtained them, shone forth continually.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.14.7)

हेम्ना चैव मणिर्भाति मणिना हेम चैव हि । एवं च समये तस्य यज्जातं श्रूयतामिति ॥ 14.7 ॥

hemnā caiva maṇirbhāti maṇinā hema caiva hi evaṁ ca samaye tasya yajjātaṁ śrūyatāmiti

Just as a jewel shines by gold, and gold too by a jewel — so it was; and now hear what happened, in due course, to him.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.14.8)

सर्वास्वपि च पत्नीषु रोहिणी नाम या स्मृता । यथैका सा प्रिया चासीत्तथान्या न कदाचन ॥ 14.8 ॥

sarvāsvapi ca patnīṣu rohiṇī nāma yā smṛtā yathaikā sā priyā cāsīttathānyā na kadācana

Among all his wives, the one known as Rohini was so dear to him as no other ever was.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.14.9)

अन्याश्च दुःखमापन्नाः पितरं शरणं ययुः । गत्वा तस्मै च यद्दुःखं तथा ताभिर्निवेदितम् ॥ 14.9 ॥

anyāśca duḥkhamāpannāḥ pitaraṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ gatvā tasmai ca yadduḥkhaṁ tathā tābhirniveditam

The other wives, falling into distress, went for refuge to their father, and going to him, related to him their grief.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.14.10)

दक्षः स च तथा श्रुत्वा दुःखं च प्राप्तावांस्तदा । समागत्य द्विजाश्चन्द्रं शान्त्यावोचद् वचस्तदा ॥ 14.10 ॥

dakṣaḥ sa ca tathā śrutvā duḥkhaṁ ca prāptāvāṁstadā samāgatya dvijāścandraṁ śāntyāvocad vacastadā

O brahmins, Daksha, having heard this, was likewise filled with grief; he then went to the Moon and spoke to him gently.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.14.11)

दक्ष उवाच । विमले च कुले त्वं हि समुत्पन्नः कलानिधे । आश्रितेषु च सर्वेषु न्यूनाधिक्यं कथं तव ॥ 14.11 ॥

dakṣa uvāca vimale ca kule tvaṁ hi samutpannaḥ kalānidhe āśriteṣu ca sarveṣu nyūnādhikyaṁ kathaṁ tava

Daksha said: O treasury of digits, you were born in a spotless lineage; why then do you show favoritism among all these who depend on you?

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.14.12)

कृतं चेत्तत्कृतं तच्च न कर्तव्यं त्वया पुनः । वर्तनं विषमत्वेन नरकप्रदमीरितम् ॥ 14.12 ॥

kṛtaṁ cettatkṛtaṁ tacca na kartavyaṁ tvayā punaḥ vartanaṁ viṣamatvena narakapradamīritam

Whatever has been done is done; but you must not do it again. Unequal conduct is said to lead one to hell.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.14.13)

सूत उवाच । दक्षश्चैवं च सम्प्रार्थ्य चन्द्रं जामातरं स्वयम् । जगाम मन्दिरं स्वं वै निश्चयं परमं गतः ॥ 14.13 ॥

sūta uvāca dakṣaścaivaṁ ca samprārthya candraṁ jāmātaraṁ svayam jagāma mandiraṁ svaṁ vai niścayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Suta said: Daksha, having thus entreated his own son-in-law the Moon, went to his own dwelling, having reached this firm resolve.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.14.14)

चन्द्रोऽपि वचनं तस्य न चकार विमोहितः । शिवमायाप्रभावेण यया सम्मोहितं जगत् ॥ 14.14 ॥

candro’pi vacanaṁ tasya na cakāra vimohitaḥ śivamāyāprabhāveṇa yayā sammohitaṁ jagat

The Moon too, deluded, paid no heed to his words — by the power of Shiva's Maya, by which the whole world is deluded.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.14.15)

शुभं भावि यदा यस्य शुभं भवति तस्य वै । अशुभं च यदा भावि कथं तस्य शुभं भवेत् ॥ 14.15 ॥

śubhaṁ bhāvi yadā yasya śubhaṁ bhavati tasya vai aśubhaṁ ca yadā bhāvi kathaṁ tasya śubhaṁ bhavet

When something auspicious is destined for someone, good indeed befalls him; but when something inauspicious is destined, how can good befall him?

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.14.16)

चन्द्रोऽपि बलवद्भाविवशान्मेने न तद्वचः । रोहिण्यां च समासक्तो नान्यां मेने कदाचन ॥ 14.16 ॥

candro’pi balavadbhāvivaśānmene na tadvacaḥ rohiṇyāṁ ca samāsakto nānyāṁ mene kadācana

The Moon too, under the sway of powerful destiny, paid no heed to that advice; attached to Rohini alone, he never regarded any other.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.14.17)

तच्छ्रुत्वा पुनरागत्य स्वयं दुःखसमन्वितः । प्रार्थयामास चन्द्रं स दक्षो दक्षः सुनीतितः ॥ 14.17 ॥

tacchrutvā punarāgatya svayaṁ duḥkhasamanvitaḥ prārthayāmāsa candraṁ sa dakṣo dakṣaḥ sunītitaḥ

Hearing of this, that able and well-principled Daksha, himself filled with grief, came again and entreated the Moon.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.14.18)

दक्ष उवाच । श्रूयतां चन्द्र यत्पूर्वं प्रार्थितो बहुधा मया । न मानितं त्वया यस्मात्तस्मात्त्वं च क्षयी भव ॥ 14.18 ॥

dakṣa uvāca śrūyatāṁ candra yatpūrvaṁ prārthito bahudhā mayā na mānitaṁ tvayā yasmāttasmāttvaṁ ca kṣayī bhava

Daksha said: Listen, O Moon — since, though I entreated you many times before, you paid no heed to me, therefore may you become one who wastes away.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.14.19)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्ते तेन चन्द्रो वै क्षयी जातः क्षणादिह । हाहाकारो महानासीत्तदेन्दौ क्षीणतां गते ॥ 14.19 ॥

sūta uvāca ityukte tena candro vai kṣayī jātaḥ kṣaṇādiha hāhākāro mahānāsīttadendau kṣīṇatāṁ gate

Suta said: When this was said by him, the Moon at once became one who wastes away; a great outcry of dismay arose here when the Moon fell into decline.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.14.20)

देवर्षयस्तदा सर्वे किं कार्यं हा कथं भवेत् । इति दुःखं समापन्ना विह्वला ह्यभवन्मुने ॥ 14.20 ॥

devarṣayastadā sarve kiṁ kāryaṁ hā kathaṁ bhavet iti duḥkhaṁ samāpannā vihvalā hyabhavanmune

O sage, all the gods and sages then, distressed, crying, "What is to be done? Alas, how shall this be?" — became greatly distraught.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.14.21)

विज्ञापिताश्च चन्द्रेण सर्वे शक्रादयः सुराः । ऋषयश्च वसिष्ठाद्या ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः ॥ 14.21 ॥

vijñāpitāśca candreṇa sarve śakrādayaḥ surāḥ ṛṣayaśca vasiṣṭhādyā brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

Informed by the Moon of his plight, all the gods beginning with Indra, and the sages beginning with Vasishtha, went for refuge to Brahma.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.14.22)

गत्वापि तु तदा प्रोचुस्तद् वृत्तं निखिलं मुने । ब्रह्मणे ऋषयो देवा नत्वा नुत्वातिविह्वलाः ॥ 14.22 ॥

gatvāpi tu tadā procustad vṛttaṁ nikhilaṁ mune brahmaṇe ṛṣayo devā natvā nutvātivihvalāḥ

O sage, going there, the sages and gods, greatly distraught, bowed to Brahma, praised him, and related to him the entire event.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.14.23)

ब्रह्मापि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं ययौ । शिवमायां सुप्रशस्य श्रावयंस्तानुवाच ह ॥ 14.23 ॥

brahmāpi tadvacaḥ śrutvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayau śivamāyāṁ supraśasya śrāvayaṁstānuvāca ha

Brahma too, hearing their words, was struck with the greatest astonishment; and, having duly praised Shiva's Maya, he spoke to them, letting them hear his words.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.14.24)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अहो कष्टं महज्जातं सर्वलोकस्य दुःखदम् । चन्द्रस्तु सर्वदा दुष्टो दक्षश्च शप्तवानमुम् ॥ 14.24 ॥

brahmovāca aho kaṣṭaṁ mahajjātaṁ sarvalokasya duḥkhadam candrastu sarvadā duṣṭo dakṣaśca śaptavānamum

Brahma said: Alas, a great calamity has arisen, bringing grief to all the worlds! The Moon has always been at fault, and Daksha has cursed him for it.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.14.25)

सर्वं दुष्टेन चन्द्रेण कृतं कर्माप्यनेकशः । श्रूयतामृषयो देवाश्चन्द्रकृत्यं पुरातनम् ॥ 14.25 ॥

sarvaṁ duṣṭena candreṇa kṛtaṁ karmāpyanekaśaḥ śrūyatāmṛṣayo devāścandrakṛtyaṁ purātanam

Many misdeeds indeed have been done before by the wayward Moon; hear, O sages and gods, the Moon's past conduct.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.14.26)

बृहस्पतेर्गृहं गत्वा तारा दुष्टेन वै हृता । तस्य भार्या पुनश्चैव स दैत्यान्समुपस्थितः ॥ 14.26 ॥

bṛhaspatergṛhaṁ gatvā tārā duṣṭena vai hṛtā tasya bhāryā punaścaiva sa daityānsamupasthitaḥ

That wicked one went to Brihaspati's house and abducted Tara, his wife; and he then took refuge among the demons.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.14.27)

समाश्रितस्तदा दैत्यान्युद्धं देवैश्चकार ह । मयात्रिणा निषिद्धश्च तस्मै तारां ददौ शशी ॥ 14.27 ॥

samāśritastadā daityānyuddhaṁ devaiścakāra ha mayātriṇā niṣiddhaśca tasmai tārāṁ dadau śaśī

Having taken refuge among the demons, he then fought a war against the gods; forbidden by the sage Atri, the Moon finally gave Tara back to Brihaspati.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.14.28)

तां च गर्भवतीं दृष्ट्वा न गृह्णामीति सोऽब्रवीत् । अस्माभिर्वारितो जीवः कृच्छ्राज्जग्राह तां तदा ॥ 14.28 ॥

tāṁ ca garbhavatīṁ dṛṣṭvā na gṛhṇāmīti so’bravīt asmābhirvārito jīvaḥ kṛcchrājjagrāha tāṁ tadā

Seeing her pregnant, he said, "I shall not accept her"; but restrained by us, Jiva then, with great reluctance, took her back.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.14.29)

यदि गर्भं जहातीह गृह्णामीत्यब्रवीत्पुनः । गर्भे मया पुनस्तत्र त्याजिते मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 14.29 ॥

yadi garbhaṁ jahātīha gṛhṇāmītyabravītpunaḥ garbhe mayā punastatra tyājite munisattamāḥ

"If she abandons this pregnancy, I shall accept her," he said again; and, O foremost sages, when I then had that pregnancy set aside —

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.14.30)

कस्यायं च पुनर्गर्भः सोमस्येति च साब्रवीत् । पश्चात्तेन गृहीता सा मया च वारितेन वै ॥ 14.30 ॥

kasyāyaṁ ca punargarbhaḥ somasyeti ca sābravīt paścāttena gṛhītā sā mayā ca vāritena vai

— asked, "Whose is this pregnancy?" and she said, "It is the Moon's." Afterward, restrained by me, he indeed accepted her.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.14.31)

एवंविधानि चन्द्रस्य दुश्चरित्राण्यनेकशः । वर्ण्यन्ते किं पुनस्तानि सोऽद्यापि कुरुते कथम् ॥ 14.31 ॥

evaṁvidhāni candrasya duścaritrāṇyanekaśaḥ varṇyante kiṁ punastāni so’dyāpi kurute katham

Such misdeeds of the Moon are many; why should I recount them all? Even today, how could he act in such a way again?

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.14.32)

यज्जातं तत् सुसञ्जातं नान्यथा भवति ध्रुवम् । अतः परमुपायं वो वक्ष्यामि शृणुतादरात् ॥ 14.32 ॥

yajjātaṁ tat susañjātaṁ nānyathā bhavati dhruvam ataḥ paramupāyaṁ vo vakṣyāmi śṛṇutādarāt

What has happened has happened well; it certainly cannot be otherwise. Now, therefore, I shall tell you the remedy for it — listen with reverence.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.14.33)

प्रभासके शुभे क्षेत्रे व्रजेश्चन्द्रः सदैवतैः । शिवमाराधयेत्तत्र मृत्युञ्जयविधानतः ॥ 14.33 ॥

prabhāsake śubhe kṣetre vrajeścandraḥ sadaivataiḥ śivamārādhayettatra mṛtyuñjayavidhānataḥ

Let the Moon go, along with the gods, to the auspicious holy place of Prabhasa; let him worship Shiva there according to the rite of the Mrityunjaya.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.14.34)

निधायेशं पुरस्तत्र चन्द्रस्तपतु नित्यशः । प्रसन्नश्च शिवः पश्चादक्षयं तं करिष्यति ॥ 14.34 ॥

nidhāyeśaṁ purastatra candrastapatu nityaśaḥ prasannaśca śivaḥ paścādakṣayaṁ taṁ kariṣyati

Placing the Lord before him there, let the Moon perform tapas daily; Shiva, afterward becoming pleased, will make him free from decay.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.14.35)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मणस्ते सुरर्षयः । सन्निवृत्याययुः सर्वे यत्र दक्षविधू ततः ॥ 14.35 ॥

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya brahmaṇaste surarṣayaḥ sannivṛtyāyayuḥ sarve yatra dakṣavidhū tataḥ

Suta said: Hearing these words of Brahma, all those gods and sages then turned back and went to where Daksha and the Moon were.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.14.36)

गृहीत्वा ते ततश्चन्द्रं दक्षं चाश्वास्य निर्जराः । प्रभासे ऋषयश्चक्रुस्तत्र गत्वाखिलाश्च वै ॥ 14.36 ॥

gṛhītvā te tataścandraṁ dakṣaṁ cāśvāsya nirjarāḥ prabhāse ṛṣayaścakrustatra gatvākhilāśca vai

Then those immortal ones, taking the Moon with them, and consoling Daksha, along with all the sages, went to Prabhasa.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.14.37)

आवाह्य तीर्थवर्याणि सरस्वत्यादिकानि च । पार्थिवेन तदा पूजां मृत्युञ्जयविधानतः ॥ 14.37 ॥

āvāhya tīrthavaryāṇi sarasvatyādikāni ca pārthivena tadā pūjāṁ mṛtyuñjayavidhānataḥ

Invoking the excellent holy waters, beginning with the Sarasvati, they then performed worship of an earthen linga, according to the rite of the Mrityunjaya.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.14.38)

ते देवाश्च तदा सर्वे ऋषयो निर्मलाशयाः । स्थाप्य चन्द्रं प्रभासे च स्वं स्वं धाम ययुर्मुदा ॥ 14.38 ॥

te devāśca tadā sarve ṛṣayo nirmalāśayāḥ sthāpya candraṁ prabhāse ca svaṁ svaṁ dhāma yayurmudā

Then all those gods and pure-minded sages, having established the Moon at Prabhasa, joyfully departed each to his own abode.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.14.39)

चन्द्रेण च तपस्तप्तं षण्मासं च निरन्तरम् । मृत्युञ्जयेन मन्त्रेण पूजितो वृषभध्वजः ॥ 14.39 ॥

candreṇa ca tapastaptaṁ ṣaṇmāsaṁ ca nirantaram mṛtyuñjayena mantreṇa pūjito vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

The Moon then performed austerity continuously for six months, and worshipped the Bull-Bannered Lord with the Mrityunjaya mantra.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.14.40)

दशकोटिमितं मन्त्रं समावृत्य शशी च तम् । ध्यात्वा मृत्युञ्जयं मन्त्रं तस्थौ निश्चलमानसः ॥ 14.40 ॥

daśakoṭimitaṁ mantraṁ samāvṛtya śaśī ca tam dhyātvā mṛtyuñjayaṁ mantraṁ tasthau niścalamānasaḥ

The Moon, having recited that mantra ten crore times, and meditating upon the Mrityunjaya mantra, remained with an unwavering mind.

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.14.41)

तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करो देवः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्ततः प्रभुः । आविर्भूय विधुं प्राह स्वभक्तं भक्तवत्सलः ॥ 14.41 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaro devaḥ prasanno’bhūttataḥ prabhuḥ āvirbhūya vidhuṁ prāha svabhaktaṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Seeing him, the god Shankara became pleased; the Lord, affectionate to his devotees, appeared and spoke to the Moon, his own devotee.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.14.42)

शङ्कर उवाच । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते मनसा यत्समीप्सितम् । प्रसन्नोऽहं शशिन्सर्वं दास्ये वरमनुत्तमम् ॥ 14.42 ॥

śaṅkara uvāca varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te manasā yatsamīpsitam prasanno’haṁ śaśinsarvaṁ dāsye varamanuttamam

Shankara said: Choose a boon — blessings upon you — whatever you truly desire in your heart. I am pleased, O Moon; I shall grant you every unsurpassed boon.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.14.43)

चन्द्र उवाच । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश किमसाध्यं भवेन्मम । तथापि मे शरीरस्य क्षयं वारय शङ्कर ॥ 14.43 ॥

candra uvāca yadi prasanno deveśa kimasādhyaṁ bhavenmama tathāpi me śarīrasya kṣayaṁ vāraya śaṅkara

The Moon said: If you are pleased, O lord of gods, what could be unattainable for me? Yet still, O Shankara, put an end to the wasting of my body.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.14.44)

क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधश्च कल्याणं कुरु सर्वदा । इत्युक्ते च तदा तेन शिवो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 14.44 ॥

kṣantavyo me’parādhaśca kalyāṇaṁ kuru sarvadā ityukte ca tadā tena śivo vacanamabravīt

May my offense be forgiven; grant me welfare always. When this was said by him, Shiva then spoke these words.

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.14.45)

शिव उवाच । पक्षे च क्षीयतां चन्द्र कला ते च दिने दिने । पुनश्च वर्धतां पक्षे सा कला च निरन्तरम् ॥ 14.45 ॥

śiva uvāca pakṣe ca kṣīyatāṁ candra kalā te ca dine dine punaśca vardhatāṁ pakṣe sā kalā ca nirantaram

Shiva said: O Moon, let your digit wane day by day in one fortnight; and let that digit continually wax again in the other fortnight.

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.14.46)

सूत उवाच । एवं सति तदा देवा हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः । ऋषयश्च तथा सर्वे समाजग्मुर्द्रुतं द्विजाः ॥ 14.46 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ sati tadā devā harṣanirbharamānasāḥ ṛṣayaśca tathā sarve samājagmurdrutaṁ dvijāḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, when this came to pass, then the gods, their minds filled with joy, and likewise all the sages, swiftly gathered there.

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.14.47)

आगत्य च तदा सर्वे चन्द्रायाशिषमब्रुवन् । शिवं नत्वा करौ बद्ध्वा प्रार्थयामासुरादरात् ॥ 14.47 ॥

āgatya ca tadā sarve candrāyāśiṣamabruvan śivaṁ natvā karau baddhvā prārthayāmāsurādarāt

Coming there, all of them then gave blessings to the Moon; and, bowing to Shiva with folded hands, they reverently made this entreaty.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.14.48)

देवाः ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव परमेश नमोऽस्तु ते । उमया सहितः शम्भो स्वामिन्नत्र स्थिरो भव ॥ 14.48 ॥

devāḥ ūcuḥ devadeva mahādeva parameśa namo’stu te umayā sahitaḥ śambho svāminnatra sthiro bhava

The gods said: O god of gods, Mahadeva, Supreme Lord, salutations to you! O Shambhu, together with Uma, O Lord, remain here forever, established.

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.14.49)

सूत उवाच । ततश्चन्द्रेण सद्भक्त्या संस्तुतः शङ्करः पुरा । निराकारश्च साकारः पुनश्चैवाभवत्प्रभुः ॥ 14.49 ॥

sūta uvāca tataścandreṇa sadbhaktyā saṁstutaḥ śaṅkaraḥ purā nirākāraśca sākāraḥ punaścaivābhavatprabhuḥ

Suta said: Then, praised with true devotion by the Moon, Shankara, previously without form, once more became the Lord possessed of form.

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.14.50)

प्रसन्नश्च स देवानां क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यहेतवे । चन्द्रस्य यशसे तत्र नाम्ना चन्द्रस्य शङ्करः ॥ 14.50 ॥

prasannaśca sa devānāṁ kṣetramāhātmyahetave candrasya yaśase tatra nāmnā candrasya śaṅkaraḥ

Pleased with the gods, and for the sake of that holy place's greatness, and for the Moon's glory, Shankara took his name there, called after the Moon.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.14.51)

सोमेश्वरश्च नाम्नासीद्विख्यातो भुवनत्रये । क्षयकुष्ठादिरोगाणां नाशकः पूजनाद् द्विजाः ॥ 14.51 ॥

someśvaraśca nāmnāsīdvikhyāto bhuvanatraye kṣayakuṣṭhādirogāṇāṁ nāśakaḥ pūjanād dvijāḥ

O brahmins, he became renowned by the name Someshvara throughout the three worlds, destroyer, through his worship, of consumption, leprosy, and other diseases.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.14.52)

धन्योऽयं कृतकृत्योऽयं यन्नाम्ना शङ्करः स्वयम् । स्थितश्च जगतां नाथः पावयञ्जगतीतलम् ॥ 14.52 ॥

dhanyo’yaṁ kṛtakṛtyo’yaṁ yannāmnā śaṅkaraḥ svayam sthitaśca jagatāṁ nāthaḥ pāvayañjagatītalam

Blessed and fulfilled is this place, in whose name Shankara himself, the Lord of the worlds, remains established, purifying the surface of the earth.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.14.53)

तत्कुण्डं तैश्च तत्रैव सर्वैर्देवैः प्रतिष्ठितम् । शिवेन ब्रह्मणा तत्र ह्यविभक्तं तु तत्पुनः ॥ 14.53 ॥

tatkuṇḍaṁ taiśca tatraiva sarvairdevaiḥ pratiṣṭhitam śivena brahmaṇā tatra hyavibhaktaṁ tu tatpunaḥ

That sacred pool was established there by all those gods themselves; it was, moreover, established there undivided, by Shiva together with Brahma.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.14.54)

चन्द्रकुण्डं प्रसिद्धं च पृथिव्यां पापनाशनम् । तत्र स्नाति नरो यः स सर्वैः पापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ 14.54 ॥

candrakuṇḍaṁ prasiddhaṁ ca pṛthivyāṁ pāpanāśanam tatra snāti naro yaḥ sa sarvaiḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate

It became renowned on earth as Chandrakunda, destroyer of sin; whatever man bathes there is freed from all sins.

Verse 55 (shiva.kotirudra.14.55)

रोगाः सर्वे क्षयाद्याश्च ह्यसाध्या ये भवन्ति वै । ते सर्वे च क्षयं यान्ति षण्मासं स्नानमात्रतः ॥ 14.55 ॥

rogāḥ sarve kṣayādyāśca hyasādhyā ye bhavanti vai te sarve ca kṣayaṁ yānti ṣaṇmāsaṁ snānamātrataḥ

All diseases, consumption and the rest, even those that are incurable — all of them come to an end merely by six months of bathing there.

Verse 56 (shiva.kotirudra.14.56)

प्रभासं च परिक्रम्य पृथिवीक्रमसम्भवम् । फलं प्राप्नोति शुद्धात्मा मृतः स्वर्गे महीयते ॥ 14.56 ॥

prabhāsaṁ ca parikramya pṛthivīkramasambhavam phalaṁ prāpnoti śuddhātmā mṛtaḥ svarge mahīyate

Having circumambulated Prabhasa, one obtains the merit arising from circumambulating the whole earth; with a purified soul, at death, one is glorified in heaven.

Verse 57 (shiva.kotirudra.14.57)

सोमलिङ्गं नरो दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते । लब्ध्वा फलं मनोऽभीष्टं मृतः स्वर्गं समीहते ॥ 14.57 ॥

somaliṅgaṁ naro dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpātpramucyate labdhvā phalaṁ mano’bhīṣṭaṁ mṛtaḥ svargaṁ samīhate

A man, having beheld the Soma-linga, is freed from all sin; having obtained the fruit desired in his heart, at death he attains heaven.

Verse 58 (shiva.kotirudra.14.58)

यद्यत्फलं समुद्दिश्य कुरुते तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्तत्फलमवाप्नोति सर्वथा नात्र संशयः ॥ 14.58 ॥

yadyatphalaṁ samuddiśya kurute tīrthamuttamam tattatphalamavāpnoti sarvathā nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whatever fruit one intends when performing pilgrimage to this excellent holy place, that very fruit he obtains — in every way, without any doubt.

Verse 59 (shiva.kotirudra.14.59)

इति ते ऋषयो देवाः फलं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् । मुदा शिवं नमस्कृत्य गृहीत्वा चन्द्रमक्षयम् ॥ 14.59 ॥

iti te ṛṣayo devāḥ phalaṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāvidham mudā śivaṁ namaskṛtya gṛhītvā candramakṣayam

Thus, those sages and gods, having witnessed such a result, joyfully bowed to Shiva, and taking with them the now unwaning Moon —

Verse 60 (shiva.kotirudra.14.60)

परिक्रम्य च तत्तीर्थं प्रशंसन्तश्च ते ययुः । चन्द्रश्चापि स्वकीयं च कार्यं चक्रे पुरातनम् ॥ 14.60 ॥

parikramya ca tattīrthaṁ praśaṁsantaśca te yayuḥ candraścāpi svakīyaṁ ca kāryaṁ cakre purātanam

— circumambulated that holy place, and, praising it, departed; and the Moon too resumed his ancient function.

Verse 61 (shiva.kotirudra.14.61)

इति सर्वः समाख्यातः सोमेशस्य समुद्भवः । एवं सोमेश्वरं लिङ्गं समुत्पन्नं मुनीश्वराः ॥ 14.61 ॥

iti sarvaḥ samākhyātaḥ someśasya samudbhavaḥ evaṁ someśvaraṁ liṅgaṁ samutpannaṁ munīśvarāḥ

Thus the entire origin of Somesha has been told; O lords of sages, in this way the Someshvara linga came into being.

Verse 62 (shiva.kotirudra.14.62)

यः शृणोति तदुत्पत्तिं श्रावयेद्वा परान्नरः । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ 14.62 ॥

yaḥ śṛṇoti tadutpattiṁ śrāvayedvā parānnaraḥ sarvānkāmānavāpnoti sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whoever hears this origin, or causes others to hear it, obtains all desires and is freed from all sins.