The Origin of the Ghushmesha Jyotirlinga

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.33.1)

सूत उवाच । पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा कनिष्ठाया ज्येष्ठा दुःखमुपागता । विरोधं सा चकाराशु न सहन्ती च तत्सुखम् ॥ 33.1 ॥

sūta uvāca putraṁ dṛṣṭvā kaniṣṭhāyā jyeṣṭhā duḥkhamupāgatā virodhaṁ sā cakārāśu na sahantī ca tatsukham

Suta said: Seeing the younger wife's son, the elder wife fell into sorrow; unable to bear that happiness, she at once turned hostile.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.33.2)

सर्वे पुत्रप्रसूतिं तां प्रशसंसुर्निरन्तरम् । तया तत्सह्यते न स्म शिशो रूपादिकं तथा ॥ 33.2 ॥

sarve putraprasūtiṁ tāṁ praśasaṁsurnirantaram tayā tatsahyate na sma śiśo rūpādikaṁ tathā

Everyone constantly praised her for having borne a son; the elder wife could bear neither that praise nor the child's beauty and other qualities.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.33.3)

सुप्रियं तनयं तं च पित्रोः सद्गुणभाजनम् । दृष्ट्वाभवत्तदा तस्या हृदयं तप्तमग्निवत् ॥ 33.3 ॥

supriyaṁ tanayaṁ taṁ ca pitroḥ sadguṇabhājanam dṛṣṭvābhavattadā tasyā hṛdayaṁ taptamagnivat

Seeing that most beloved son, the very vessel of his parents' virtues, her heart burned as if on fire.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.33.4)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विप्राः कन्यां दातुं समागताः । विवाहं तस्य तत्रैव चकार विधिवच्च सः ॥ 33.4 ॥

etasminnantare viprāḥ kanyāṁ dātuṁ samāgatāḥ vivāhaṁ tasya tatraiva cakāra vidhivacca saḥ

Meanwhile some brahmins arrived there to give a girl in marriage; Sudharma duly performed his son's wedding then and there.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.33.5)

सुधर्मा घुश्मया सार्धमानन्दं परं गतः । सर्वे सम्बन्धिनस्तस्यां घुश्मायां मानमादधुः ॥ 33.5 ॥

sudharmā ghuśmayā sārdhamānandaṁ paraṁ gataḥ sarve sambandhinastasyāṁ ghuśmāyāṁ mānamādadhuḥ

Sudharma, together with Ghushma, was filled with supreme joy; all their kinsfolk held Ghushma in high esteem.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.33.6)

तं दृष्ट्वा सा सुदेहा हि मनसि ज्वलिता तदा । अत्यन्तं दुःखमापन्ना हा हतास्मीति वादिनी ॥ 33.6 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sā sudehā hi manasi jvalitā tadā atyantaṁ duḥkhamāpannā hā hatāsmīti vādinī

Seeing this, Sudeha burned inwardly; overcome with extreme grief, she kept crying, "Alas, I am ruined!"

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.33.7)

सुधर्मा गृहमागत्य वधूं पुत्रं विवाहितम् । उत्साहं दर्शयामास प्रियाभ्यां हर्षयन्निव ॥ 33.7 ॥

sudharmā gṛhamāgatya vadhūṁ putraṁ vivāhitam utsāhaṁ darśayāmāsa priyābhyāṁ harṣayanniva

Returning home, Sudharma showed great delight over his newly-married son and daughter-in-law, as if gladdening both his beloved wives at once.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.33.8)

अभवद् हर्षिता घुश्मा सुदेहा दुःखमागता । न सहन्ती सुखं तच्च दुःखं कृत्वापतद्भुवि ॥ 33.8 ॥

abhavad harṣitā ghuśmā sudehā duḥkhamāgatā na sahantī sukhaṁ tacca duḥkhaṁ kṛtvāpatadbhuvi

Ghushma was overjoyed, while Sudeha fell into misery; unable to endure that happiness, she collapsed to the ground in anguish.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.33.9)

घुश्मावदद्वधूपुत्रौ त्वदीयौ न मदीयकौ । वधूः पुत्रश्च तां प्रीत्या प्रसूं श्वश्रूममन्यत ॥ 33.9 ॥

ghuśmāvadadvadhūputrau tvadīyau na madīyakau vadhūḥ putraśca tāṁ prītyā prasūṁ śvaśrūmamanyata

Ghushma said, "This daughter-in-law and son are yours, not mine" — and the couple, out of affection, honored Sudeha in turn as their own mother and mother-in-law.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.33.10)

भर्ता प्रियां तां ज्येष्ठां च मेने नैव कनिष्ठिकाम् । तथापि सा तदा ज्येष्ठा स्वान्तर्मलवती ह्यभूत् ॥ 33.10 ॥

bhartā priyāṁ tāṁ jyeṣṭhāṁ ca mene naiva kaniṣṭhikām tathāpi sā tadā jyeṣṭhā svāntarmalavatī hyabhūt

Her husband held the elder wife just as dear as the younger, no less; yet even so, the elder wife's heart remained full of inner malice.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.33.11)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे ज्येष्ठा सा सुदेहा च दुःखिनी । हृदये सञ्चिचिन्तेति दुःखशान्तिः कथं भवेत् ॥ 33.11 ॥

ekasmindivase jyeṣṭhā sā sudehā ca duḥkhinī hṛdaye sañcicinteti duḥkhaśāntiḥ kathaṁ bhavet

One day the sorrowful Sudeha pondered in her heart how this grief of hers might be quenched.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.33.12)

सुदेहोवाच । मदीयो हृदयाग्निश्च घुश्मानेत्रजलेन वै । भविष्यति ध्रुवं शान्तो नान्यथा दुःखजेन हि ॥ 33.12 ॥

sudehovāca madīyo hṛdayāgniśca ghuśmānetrajalena vai bhaviṣyati dhruvaṁ śānto nānyathā duḥkhajena hi

Sudeha said: "The fire in my heart will surely be quenched only by the tears from Ghushma's own eyes — by nothing else but the sorrow inflicted on her."

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.33.13)

अतोऽहं मारयाम्यद्य तत्पुत्रं प्रियवादिनम् । अग्रे भावि भवेदेवं निश्चयः परमो मम ॥ 33.13 ॥

ato'haṁ mārayāmyadya tatputraṁ priyavādinam agre bhāvi bhavedevaṁ niścayaḥ paramo mama

"Therefore today I shall kill that sweet-spoken son of hers. Whatever comes of it hereafter, let it come — this is my firm resolve."

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.33.14)

सूत उवाच । कदर्याणां विचारश्च कृत्याकृत्ये भवेन्नहि । कठोरः प्रायशो विप्राः सापत्नो भाव आत्महा ॥ 33.14 ॥

sūta uvāca kadaryāṇāṁ vicāraśca kṛtyākṛtye bhavennahi kaṭhoraḥ prāyaśo viprāḥ sāpatno bhāva ātmahā

Suta said: The wicked give no thought to what should or should not be done; O brahmins, a co-wife's rivalry is, more often than not, cruel and self-destructive.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.33.15)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे ज्येष्ठा सुप्तं पुत्रं वधूयुतम् । चिच्छिदे निशि चाङ्गेषु गृहीत्वा छुरिकां च सा ॥ 33.15 ॥

ekasmindivase jyeṣṭhā suptaṁ putraṁ vadhūyutam cicchide niśi cāṅgeṣu gṛhītvā churikāṁ ca sā

One night the elder wife took up a knife and, in the darkness, cut into the limbs of that son as he lay asleep beside his wife.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.33.16)

सर्वाङ्गं खण्डयामास रात्रौ घुश्मासुतस्य सा । नीत्वा सरसि तत्रैवाक्षिपद् दृप्ता महाबला ॥ 33.16 ॥

sarvāṅgaṁ khaṇḍayāmāsa rātrau ghuśmāsutasya sā nītvā sarasi tatraivākṣipad dṛptā mahābalā

In the night she hacked Ghushma's son's whole body to pieces; and that arrogant, powerful woman carried the pieces off and cast them into that very lake.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.33.17)

यत्र क्षिप्तानि लिङ्गानि घुश्मया नित्यमेव हि । तत्र क्षिप्त्वा समायाता सुष्वाप सुखमागता ॥ 33.17 ॥

yatra kṣiptāni liṅgāni ghuśmayā nityameva hi tatra kṣiptvā samāyātā suṣvāpa sukhamāgatā

Right where Ghushma daily immersed her worshipped lingas, there she threw the pieces; then she returned and slept soundly, quite at ease.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.33.18)

प्रातश्चैव समुत्थाय घुश्मा नित्यं तथाकरोत् । सुधर्मा च स्वयं श्रेष्ठो नित्यकर्म समाचरत् ॥ 33.18 ॥

prātaścaiva samutthāya ghuśmā nityaṁ tathākarot sudharmā ca svayaṁ śreṣṭho nityakarma samācarat

Rising at dawn, Ghushma carried out her daily observance just as always, and the noble Sudharma too performed his own daily duties as usual.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.33.19)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे सा च ज्येष्ठा कार्यं गृहस्य वै । चकारानन्दसंयुक्ता सुशान्तहृदयानला ॥ 33.19 ॥

etasminnantare sā ca jyeṣṭhā kāryaṁ gṛhasya vai cakārānandasaṁyuktā suśāntahṛdayānalā

Meanwhile the elder wife went about her household chores full of contentment, the fire within her heart now, it seemed, well satisfied.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.33.20)

प्रातःकाले समुत्थाय वधूः शय्यां विलोक्य सा । रुधिरार्द्रां देहखण्डैर्युक्तां दुःखमुपागता ॥ 33.20 ॥

prātaḥkāle samutthāya vadhūḥ śayyāṁ vilokya sā rudhirārdrāṁ dehakhaṇḍairyuktāṁ duḥkhamupāgatā

Rising in the morning, the daughter-in-law looked at the bed — it was drenched in blood and strewn with pieces of flesh — and she fell into anguish.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.33.21)

श्वश्रूं निवेदयामास पुत्रस्ते च कुतो गतः । शय्या च रुधिरार्द्रा वै दृश्यन्ते देहखण्डकाः ॥ 33.21 ॥

śvaśrūṁ nivedayāmāsa putraste ca kuto gataḥ śayyā ca rudhirārdrā vai dṛśyante dehakhaṇḍakāḥ

She cried out to her mother-in-law, "Where has your son gone? The bed is soaked in blood, and pieces of flesh are lying here!"

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.33.22)

हा हतास्मि कृतं केन दुष्टं कर्म शुचिव्रते । इत्युच्चार्य रुरोदाति विविधं तत्प्रिया च सा ॥ 33.22 ॥

hā hatāsmi kṛtaṁ kena duṣṭaṁ karma śucivrate ityuccārya rurodāti vividhaṁ tatpriyā ca sā

"Alas, I am ruined! Who has done this wicked deed, O woman of pure vows?" — crying out thus, that beloved wife wept in many ways.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.33.23)

ज्येष्ठा दुःखं तदापन्ना हा हतास्मि किलेति च । बहिर्दुःखं चकारासौ मनसा हर्षसंयुता ॥ 33.23 ॥

jyeṣṭhā duḥkhaṁ tadāpannā hā hatāsmi kileti ca bahirduḥkhaṁ cakārāsau manasā harṣasaṁyutā

The elder wife too then feigned grief, crying, "Alas, I too am ruined!" — outwardly she displayed sorrow, but inwardly her heart was full of joy.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.33.24)

घुश्मा चापि तदा तस्या वध्वा दुःखं निशम्य सा । न चचाल व्रतात्तस्मान्नित्यपार्थिवपूजनात् ॥ 33.24 ॥

ghuśmā cāpi tadā tasyā vadhvā duḥkhaṁ niśamya sā na cacāla vratāttasmānnityapārthivapūjanāt

Ghushma, for her part, hearing this grief from her daughter-in-law, did not waver in the least from her vow of daily worshipping the clay Shiva-lingas.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.33.25)

मनश्चैवोत्सुकं नैव जातं तस्या मनागपि । भर्तापि च तथैवासीद्यावद् व्रतविधिर्भवेत् ॥ 33.25 ॥

manaścaivotsukaṁ naiva jātaṁ tasyā manāgapi bhartāpi ca tathaivāsīdyāvad vratavidhirbhavet

Her mind was not disturbed even in the slightest, and her husband too remained just as composed, until the rite of her vow was completed.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.33.26)

मध्याह्ने पूजनान्ते च दृष्ट्वा शय्यां भयावहाम् । तथापि न तदा किञ्चित्कृतं दुःखं हि घुश्मया ॥ 33.26 ॥

madhyāhne pūjanānte ca dṛṣṭvā śayyāṁ bhayāvahām tathāpi na tadā kiñcitkṛtaṁ duḥkhaṁ hi ghuśmayā

At midday, after finishing her worship, she saw that terrifying bed — yet even then Ghushma showed not the slightest sign of grief.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.33.27)

येनैव चार्पितश्चायं स वै रक्षां करिष्यति । भक्तप्रियः स विख्यातः कालकालः सतां गतिः ॥ 33.27 ॥

yenaiva cārpitaścāyaṁ sa vai rakṣāṁ kariṣyati bhaktapriyaḥ sa vikhyātaḥ kālakālaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

She said: "He to whom this son was offered will surely protect him — he who is renowned as beloved of his devotees, the Death of Death, the sole refuge of the virtuous."

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.33.28)

यदि नो रक्षिता शम्भुरीश्वरः प्रभुरेकलः । मालाकार इवासौ यान्युङ्क्ते तान्वियुनक्ति च ॥ 33.28 ॥

yadi no rakṣitā śambhurīśvaraḥ prabhurekalaḥ mālākāra ivāsau yānyuṅkte tānviyunakti ca

"And if the sole Lord Shambhu himself does not protect us — well, like a garland-maker, he who strings the flowers together also unstrings them."

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.33.29)

अद्य मे चिन्तया किं स्यादिति तत्त्वं विचार्य सा । न चकार तदा दुःखं शिवे धैर्यं समागता ॥ 33.29 ॥

adya me cintayā kiṁ syāditi tattvaṁ vicārya sā na cakāra tadā duḥkhaṁ śive dhairyaṁ samāgatā

Reflecting, "What use is my anxiety today?" — pondering this truth, she did not grieve, but found steadfastness through her faith in Shiva.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.33.30)

पार्थिवांश्च गृहीत्वा सा पूर्ववत्स्वस्थमानसा । शम्भोर्नामान्युच्चरन्ती जगाम सरसस्तटे ॥ 33.30 ॥

pārthivāṁśca gṛhītvā sā pūrvavatsvasthamānasā śambhornāmānyuccarantī jagāma sarasastaṭe

Taking up the clay lingas, her mind composed as always, uttering the names of Shambhu, she went to the bank of the lake.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.33.31)

क्षिप्त्वा च पार्थिवांस्तत्र परावर्तत सा यदा । तदा पुत्रस्तडागस्थो दृश्यते स्म तटे तया ॥ 33.31 ॥

kṣiptvā ca pārthivāṁstatra parāvartata sā yadā tadā putrastaḍāgastho dṛśyate sma taṭe tayā

There, having immersed the clay lingas, as she turned to go back, she saw her son standing right there at the lake's edge.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.33.32)

पुत्र उवाच । मातरेहि मिलिष्यामि मृतोऽहं जीवितोऽधुना । तव पुण्यप्रभावाद्धि कृपया शङ्करस्य वै ॥ 33.32 ॥

putra uvāca mātarehi miliṣyāmi mṛto'haṁ jīvito'dhunā tava puṇyaprabhāvāddhi kṛpayā śaṅkarasya vai

The son said: "Mother, come, embrace me! I who was dead am now alive — through the power of your merit and by Shankara's grace."

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.33.33)

सूत उवाच । जीवितं तं सुतं दृष्ट्वा घुश्मा सा तत्प्रसूर्द्विजाः । प्रहृष्टा नाभवत्तत्र दुःखिता न यथा पुरा ॥ 33.33 ॥

sūta uvāca jīvitaṁ taṁ sutaṁ dṛṣṭvā ghuśmā sā tatprasūrdvijāḥ prahṛṣṭā nābhavattatra duḥkhitā na yathā purā

Suta said: O brahmins, seeing her son alive, that mother Ghushma showed neither great elation nor the grief she had shown before — she remained even-minded.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.33.34)

एतस्मिन्समये तत्र स्वाविरासीच्छिवो द्रुतम् । ज्योतीरूपो महेशश्च सन्तुष्टः प्रत्युवाच ह ॥ 33.34 ॥

etasminsamaye tatra svāvirāsīcchivo drutam jyotīrūpo maheśaśca santuṣṭaḥ pratyuvāca ha

At that very moment, Mahesha, radiant as light, swiftly appeared there of his own accord and, well pleased, spoke to her.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.33.35)

शिव उवाच । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं ब्रूहि दुष्टया मारितो ह्ययम् । एनां च मारयिष्यामि त्रिशूलेन वरानने ॥ 33.35 ॥

śiva uvāca prasanno'smi varaṁ brūhi duṣṭayā mārito hyayam enāṁ ca mārayiṣyāmi triśūlena varānane

Shiva said: "I am pleased; ask a boon. This son was killed by that wicked woman — I shall now slay her with my trident, O fair-faced one."

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.33.36)

सूत उवाच । घुश्मा तदा वरं वव्रे सुप्रणम्य शिवं नता । रक्षणीया त्वया नाथ सुदेहेयं स्वसा मम ॥ 33.36 ॥

sūta uvāca ghuśmā tadā varaṁ vavre supraṇamya śivaṁ natā rakṣaṇīyā tvayā nātha sudeheyaṁ svasā mama

Suta said: Then Ghushma, bowing low in deep reverence to Shiva, asked her boon: "O Lord, this Sudeha, who is to me as a sister, must be protected by you."

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.33.37)

शिव उवाच । अपकारः कृतस्तस्यामुपकारः कथं त्वया । क्रियते हननीया च सुदेहा दुष्टकारिणी ॥ 33.37 ॥

śiva uvāca apakāraḥ kṛtastasyāmupakāraḥ kathaṁ tvayā kriyate hananīyā ca sudehā duṣṭakāriṇī

Shiva said: "She has done you harm — how then can you do her good in return? This wicked-acting Sudeha deserves only to be slain."

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.33.38)

घुश्मोवाच ॥ तव दर्शनमात्रेण पातकं नैव तिष्ठति । इदानीं त्वां च वै दृष्ट्वा तत्पापं भस्मतां व्रजेत् ॥ 33.38 ॥

ghuśmovāca tava darśanamātreṇa pātakaṁ naiva tiṣṭhati idānīṁ tvāṁ ca vai dṛṣṭvā tatpāpaṁ bhasmatāṁ vrajet

Ghushma said: "By the mere sight of you, no sin can remain standing; now that she too has seen you, let that sin of hers be reduced to ashes."

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.33.39)

अपकारेषु यश्चैव ह्युपकारं करोति च । तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पापं दूरतरं व्रजेत् ॥ 33.39 ॥

apakāreṣu yaścaiva hyupakāraṁ karoti ca tasya darśanamātreṇa pāpaṁ dūrataraṁ vrajet

"And whoever returns good even for harm done — by the mere sight of such a person, sin flees far, far away."

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.33.40)

इति श्रुतं मया देव भगवद्वाक्यमद्भुतम् । तस्माच्चैवं कृतं येन क्रियतां च सदाशिव ॥ 33.40 ॥

iti śrutaṁ mayā deva bhagavadvākyamadbhutam tasmāccaivaṁ kṛtaṁ yena kriyatāṁ ca sadāśiva

"O Lord, I have heard this very wondrous saying of yours; therefore, O Sadashiva, let it be done accordingly — let mercy, not vengeance, prevail."

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.33.41)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तस्तु तया तत्र प्रसन्नोऽत्यभवत्पुनः । महेश्वरः कृपासिन्धुः तामूचे भक्तवत्सलः ॥ 33.41 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktastu tayā tatra prasanno'tyabhavatpunaḥ maheśvaraḥ kṛpāsindhuḥ tāmūce bhaktavatsalaḥ

Suta said: When she spoke thus, Maheshvara, the ocean of compassion who loves his devotees, grew exceedingly pleased once more and spoke to her.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.33.42)

शिव उवाच । अन्यद्वरं ब्रूहि घुश्मे ददामि च हितं तव । त्वद्भक्त्या सुप्रसन्नोऽस्मि निर्विकारस्वभावतः ॥ 33.42 ॥

śiva uvāca anyadvaraṁ brūhi ghuśme dadāmi ca hitaṁ tava tvadbhaktyā suprasanno'smi nirvikārasvabhāvataḥ

Shiva said: "Ask another boon, O Ghushma, and I shall grant what is good for you. By your devotion I am greatly pleased, though by nature I am beyond all change."

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.33.43)

सूत उवाच । सोवाच तद्वचः श्रुत्वा यदि देवो वरस्त्वया । लोकानां चैव रक्षार्थमत्र स्थेयं मदाख्यया ॥ 33.43 ॥

sūta uvāca sovāca tadvacaḥ śrutvā yadi devo varastvayā lokānāṁ caiva rakṣārthamatra stheyaṁ madākhyayā

Suta said: Hearing this word, she said, "O Lord, if indeed you would grant a boon, then for the protection of the worlds, remain here forever under my name."

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.33.44)

तदोवाच शिवस्तत्र सुप्रसन्नो महेश्वरः । स्थास्येऽत्र तव नाम्नाहं घुश्मेशाख्यः सुखप्रदः ॥ 33.44 ॥

tadovāca śivastatra suprasanno maheśvaraḥ sthāsye'tra tava nāmnāhaṁ ghuśmeśākhyaḥ sukhapradaḥ

Then Maheshvara, greatly pleased, said: "I shall remain here under your name, known as Ghushmesha, the bestower of happiness."

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.33.45)

घुश्मेशाख्यं सुप्रसिद्धं लिङ्गं मे जायतां शुभम् । इदं सरस्तु लिङ्गानामालयं जायतां सदा ॥ 33.45 ॥

ghuśmeśākhyaṁ suprasiddhaṁ liṅgaṁ me jāyatāṁ śubham idaṁ sarastu liṅgānāmālayaṁ jāyatāṁ sadā

"Let this auspicious linga of mine become famed by the name Ghushmesha; and let this lake forever remain the abiding place of all these Shiva-lingas."

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.33.46)

तस्माच्छिवालयं नाम प्रसिद्धं भुवनत्रये । सर्वकामप्रदं ह्येतद्दर्शनात्स्यात्सदा सरः ॥ 33.46 ॥

tasmācchivālayaṁ nāma prasiddhaṁ bhuvanatraye sarvakāmapradaṁ hyetaddarśanātsyātsadā saraḥ

"Therefore it shall be renowned in the three worlds by the name Shivalaya, and this lake, by the mere sight of it, shall forever grant every desire."

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.33.47)

तव वंशे शतं चैकं पुरुषावधि सुव्रते । ईदृशाः पुत्रकाः श्रेष्ठा भविष्यन्ति न संशयः ॥ 33.47 ॥

tava vaṁśe śataṁ caikaṁ puruṣāvadhi suvrate īdṛśāḥ putrakāḥ śreṣṭhā bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ

"O woman of noble vows, in your lineage, for a hundred and one generations, sons as excellent as this shall be born — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.33.48)

सुस्त्रीकाः सुधनाश्चैव स्वायुष्याश्च विचक्षणाः । विद्यावन्तो ह्युदाराश्च भुक्तिमुक्तिफलाप्तये ॥ 33.48 ॥

sustrīkāḥ sudhanāścaiva svāyuṣyāśca vicakṣaṇāḥ vidyāvanto hyudārāśca bhuktimuktiphalāptaye

"They shall have good wives, good wealth, full lifespans, wisdom, learning, and generosity — and shall attain the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.33.49)

शतमेकोत्तरं चैव भविष्यन्ति गुणाधिकाः । ईदृशो वंशविस्तारो भविष्यति सुशोभनः ॥ 33.49 ॥

śatamekottaraṁ caiva bhaviṣyanti guṇādhikāḥ īdṛśo vaṁśavistāro bhaviṣyati suśobhanaḥ

"A hundred and one such virtuous men there shall be; such shall be the splendid extension of your lineage."

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.33.50)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च शिवस्तत्र लिङ्गरूपोऽभवत्तदा । घुश्मेशो नाम विख्यातः सरश्चैव शिवालयम् ॥ 33.50 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā ca śivastatra liṅgarūpo'bhavattadā ghuśmeśo nāma vikhyātaḥ saraścaiva śivālayam

Suta said: Having said this, Shiva there assumed the form of a linga, renowned by the name Ghushmesha, and that lake itself became known as Shivalaya.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.33.51)

सुधर्मा स च घुश्मा च सुदेहा च समागताः । प्रदक्षिणं शिवस्याशु शतमेकोत्तरं दधुः ॥ 33.51 ॥

sudharmā sa ca ghuśmā ca sudehā ca samāgatāḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ śivasyāśu śatamekottaraṁ dadhuḥ

Sudharma, Ghushma, and Sudeha, all coming together there, at once performed a hundred and one circumambulations of Shiva.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.33.52)

पूजां कृत्वा महेशस्य मिलित्वा च परस्परम् । हित्वा चान्तर्मलं तत्र लेभिरे परमं सुखम् ॥ 33.52 ॥

pūjāṁ kṛtvā maheśasya militvā ca parasparam hitvā cāntarmalaṁ tatra lebhire paramaṁ sukham

Having worshipped Mahesha and, coming together with one another there, having cast off the malice within their hearts, they attained supreme happiness.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.33.53)

पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा सुदेहा सा जीवितं लज्जिताभवत् । तौ क्षमाप्याचरद्विप्रा निजपापापहं व्रतम् ॥ 33.53 ॥

putraṁ dṛṣṭvā sudehā sā jīvitaṁ lajjitābhavat tau kṣamāpyācaradviprā nijapāpāpahaṁ vratam

Seeing her son alive, Sudeha was overcome with shame; O brahmins, begging forgiveness from them both, she took up a vow to wash away her own sin.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.33.54)

घुश्मेशाख्यमिदं लिङ्गमित्थं जातं मुनीश्वराः । तद् दृष्ट्वा पूजयित्वा हि सुखं संवर्धते सदा ॥ 33.54 ॥

ghuśmeśākhyamidaṁ liṅgamitthaṁ jātaṁ munīśvarāḥ tad dṛṣṭvā pūjayitvā hi sukhaṁ saṁvardhate sadā

O great sages, thus did this linga named Ghushmesha come into being; seeing it and worshipping it, one's happiness only ever increases.

Verse 55 (shiva.kotirudra.33.55)

इति वश्च समाख्याता ज्योतिर्लिङ्गावली मया । द्वादशप्रमिता सर्वकामदा भुक्तिमुक्तिदा ॥ 33.55 ॥

iti vaśca samākhyātā jyotirliṅgāvalī mayā dvādaśapramitā sarvakāmadā bhuktimuktidā

Thus have I recounted to you this complete sequence of the twelve Jyotirlingas, granters of every desire and bestowers of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 56 (shiva.kotirudra.33.56)

एतज्ज्योतिर्लिङ्गकथां यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति ॥ 33.56 ॥

etajjyotirliṅgakathāṁ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi mucyate sarvapāpebhyo bhuktiṁ muktiṁ ca vindati

Whoever reads or even hears this account of the Jyotirlingas is freed from all sins and attains both enjoyment and liberation.