The Greatness of Arunachala Declared Supreme

Verse 1 (skanda.1.118.1)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । मुने मनःपरीक्षार्थं तथा त्वं भाषितो मया । तव चेन्नाभिधास्यामि कस्य वान्यस्य कथ्यते

naṁdikeśvara uvāca mune manaḥparīkṣārthaṁ tathā tvaṁ bhāṣito mayā tava cennābhidhāsyāmi kasya vānyasya kathyate

Nandikeshvara said: O sage, I spoke thus only to test your mind; if I do not declare it to you, to whom else could it be declared?

Verse 2 (skanda.1.118.2)

त्वादृगन्योस्ति किं लोके शिवधर्मपरायणः । येन स्वल्पायुषाप्येवं नित्येनाभावि भक्तितः

tvādṛganyosti kiṁ loke śivadharmaparāyaṇaḥ yena svalpāyuṣāpyevaṁ nityenābhāvi bhaktitaḥ

Is there another in this world, devoted to Shiva's dharma as you are, who, though of short life, has through devotion become as one everlasting?

Verse 3 (skanda.1.118.3)

कस्यान्यस्य कृते देवः स्वस्यैवाज्ञाकरं यमम् । क्रुद्धो नियंत्रयामास चरणांगुष्ठपीडितम्

kasyānyasya kṛte devaḥ svasyaivājñākaraṁ yamam kruddho niyaṁtrayāmāsa caraṇāṁguṣṭhapīḍitam

For whose sake else did the God, in anger, restrain Yama — his own obedient servant — pressing him beneath the very toe of his foot?

Verse 4 (skanda.1.118.4)

त्वमेव शांकरान्धर्मान्सर्वान्विद्धि रहस्यतः । योग्रेऽसि कालवद्भ्रांतः परिपक्वोसि चेतसा

tvameva śāṁkarāndharmānsarvānviddhi rahasyataḥ yogre'si kālavadbhrāṁtaḥ paripakvosi cetasā

You alone know all the Shaiva dharmas in their very secret depth; young though you are, you move like time itself, ripened in mind.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.118.5)

त्वयैवान्येन केनाहमेवं शुश्रूषितश्चिरम् । त्वयीव कस्मिन्नन्यस्मिन्ममापि प्रीतिरीदृशी

tvayaivānyena kenāhamevaṁ śuśrūṣitaściram tvayīva kasminnanyasminmamāpi prītirīdṛśī

By whom other than you have I been thus served for so long a time? Is there in any other one such affection of mine as there is in you?

Verse 6 (skanda.1.118.6)

उपदेक्ष्यामि ते क्षेत्रं गुप्तं तद्धर्मशासनैः । भक्त्यावधारणीयं यद्भक्तिकैवल्यकांक्षिभिः

upadekṣyāmi te kṣetraṁ guptaṁ taddharmaśāsanaiḥ bhaktyāvadhāraṇīyaṁ yadbhaktikaivalyakāṁkṣibhiḥ

I shall teach you that secret field, guarded by the very ordinances of dharma, to be grasped with devotion by those who desire both devotion and liberation.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.118.7)

आदरादनुयुंजानं शिष्यं यो देशिकः स्वयम् । उपदेशेन संतुष्टं न करोति स किं गुरुः

ādarādanuyuṁjānaṁ śiṣyaṁ yo deśikaḥ svayam upadeśena saṁtuṣṭaṁ na karoti sa kiṁ guruḥ

The teacher who does not himself, of his own accord, satisfy with instruction a disciple who entreats him with reverence — is he truly a guru at all?

Verse 8 (skanda.1.118.8)

समाहितमना भूत्वा विश्वासं कुरु शाश्वतम् । मयोपदिश्यमानेऽस्मिन्रहस्ये पारमेश्वरे

samāhitamanā bhūtvā viśvāsaṁ kuru śāśvatam mayopadiśyamāne'sminrahasye pārameśvare

Being collected in mind, hold everlasting trust in this secret concerning the Supreme Lord, now being taught by me.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.118.9)

स्मर स्मरांतकं देवं वंदस्वाध्याय शांकरीम् । उपांशूच्चारयोंकारं श्रेयस्ते महदागतम्

smara smarāṁtakaṁ devaṁ vaṁdasvādhyāya śāṁkarīm upāṁśūccārayoṁkāraṁ śreyaste mahadāgatam

Remember the God who ended Kama's life, offer homage and recitation to Shankari, softly utter the syllable Om — great good has already come near to you.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.118.10)

अस्ति दक्षिणदिग्भागे द्राविडेषु तपोधन । अरुणाख्यं महाक्षेत्रं तरुणेंदुशिखामणेः

asti dakṣiṇadigbhāge drāviḍeṣu tapodhana aruṇākhyaṁ mahākṣetraṁ taruṇeṁduśikhāmaṇeḥ

There is, O rich in austerity, in the southern region, among the Dravidas, the great field of the young crescent-crested one, named Aruna.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.118.11)

योजनत्रयविस्तीणमुपास्यं शिवयोगिभिः । तद्भूमेर्हृदयं विद्धि शिवस्य हृदयंगमम्

yojanatrayavistīṇamupāsyaṁ śivayogibhiḥ tadbhūmerhṛdayaṁ viddhi śivasya hṛdayaṁgamam

Extending three yojanas, worshipped by Shiva-yogis; know it to be the very heart of the earth, dear to Shiva's own heart.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.118.12)

तत्र देवः स्वयं शम्भुः पर्वताकारतां गतः । अरुणाचलसंज्ञावानस्ति लोकहितावहः

tatra devaḥ svayaṁ śambhuḥ parvatākāratāṁ gataḥ aruṇācalasaṁjñāvānasti lokahitāvahaḥ

There the God Shambhu himself, taking on the form of a mountain, bearing the name Arunachala, remains, bringing benefit to the world.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.118.13)

आवासः सर्वसिद्धानां महर्षीणां सुपर्वणाम् । विद्याधराणां यक्षाणां गंधर्वाप्सरसामपि

āvāsaḥ sarvasiddhānāṁ maharṣīṇāṁ suparvaṇām vidyādharāṇāṁ yakṣāṇāṁ gaṁdharvāpsarasāmapi

It is the dwelling-place of all the siddhas, the great sages, the gods, the vidyadharas, the yakshas, and the gandharvas and nymphs too.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.118.14)

सुमेरोरपि कैलासादप्यसौ मन्दरादपि । माननीयो महर्षीणां यः स्वयं परमेश्वरः

sumerorapi kailāsādapyasau mandarādapi mānanīyo maharṣīṇāṁ yaḥ svayaṁ parameśvaraḥ

More than Sumeru, more than Kailasa, more even than Mandara — this is that mountain, honoured by the great sages, which is itself the Supreme Lord.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.118.15)

स्पृहयंति यदीयेभ्यो जंतुभ्योपि दिवौकसः । अयत्नलभ्यमुक्तिभ्यो दिवावासप्रवंचिताः

spṛhayaṁti yadīyebhyo jaṁtubhyopi divaukasaḥ ayatnalabhyamuktibhyo divāvāsapravaṁcitāḥ

The very creatures born there are envied even by the gods of heaven, cheated by their own heavenly dwelling, deprived of an effortless liberation.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.118.16)

न कल्पवृक्षाः सदृशा यत्रत्यानां महीरुहाम् । पत्रपुष्पफलैर्नित्यं येर्चयंति गिरौ हरम्

na kalpavṛkṣāḥ sadṛśā yatratyānāṁ mahīruhām patrapuṣpaphalairnityaṁ yercayaṁti girau haram

Not even the wish-fulfilling trees equal the trees growing there, which daily worship Hara upon the mountain with leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.118.17)

हिंसैकरुचयो व्याधा अपि रूपानुसारतः । अनंता यत्र देवस्य प्रादक्षिण्यफलास्पदम्

hiṁsaikarucayo vyādhā api rūpānusārataḥ anaṁtā yatra devasya prādakṣiṇyaphalāspadam

Even hunters, whose sole delight is violence, become, merely by their own form there, the very abode of the God's endless fruit of circumambulation.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.118.18)

यदुद्देशचरा मेघाः शिखराण्यभिबंधकाः । गंगावतो हिमवतोऽप्यधिकं स्वं विजानते

yaduddeśacarā meghāḥ śikharāṇyabhibaṁdhakāḥ gaṁgāvato himavato'pyadhikaṁ svaṁ vijānate

The clouds that wander over that region, binding its peaks, deem themselves greater even than the Ganga-bearing Himalaya itself.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.118.19)

कलारावाः खगा यत्र क्वणंते कीचका अपि । यक्षकिंनरगन्धर्वैलभ्यते दुर्लभं पदम्

kalārāvāḥ khagā yatra kvaṇaṁte kīcakā api yakṣakiṁnaragandharvailabhyate durlabhaṁ padam

Where the sweet-voiced birds, and even the bamboo-reeds that rustle, attain a rank hard even for yakshas, kinnaras, and gandharvas to obtain.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.118.20)

स्मरन्तो यत्र खद्योताः कृष्णपक्षे निशागमे । आरार्तिकप्रदातॄणां देवस्याश्नुवते पदम्

smaranto yatra khadyotāḥ kṛṣṇapakṣe niśāgame ārārtikapradātṝṇāṁ devasyāśnuvate padam

The fireflies there, remembering as the night falls in the dark fortnight, attain the very rank of those who wave the lamp of worship before the God.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.118.21)

निष्प्रत्यूहकृताश्लेषा नित्यं यत्तटिनीरुहाः । सौभीग्यगर्वतो देवीमपर्णामवमन्वते

niṣpratyūhakṛtāśleṣā nityaṁ yattaṭinīruhāḥ saubhīgyagarvato devīmaparṇāmavamanvate

The river-plants there, embraced always without hindrance, out of pride in their own good fortune, disdain even the goddess Aparna herself.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.118.22)

यस्योत्तुंगस्य शृंगाग्रसंगमा अपि तारकाः । आत्मनो लब्धसामान्याश्चन्द्रेण बहु मन्वते

yasyottuṁgasya śṛṁgāgrasaṁgamā api tārakāḥ ātmano labdhasāmānyāścandreṇa bahu manvate

Even the stars that touch the very tip of its lofty peak, having attained equality with it, deem themselves superior even to the moon.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.118.23)

मृगाः सर्वेपि सततं चरंतो यत्र सानुषु । पाणिप्रणयिनं शम्भोरेणमप्यवजानते

mṛgāḥ sarvepi satataṁ caraṁto yatra sānuṣu pāṇipraṇayinaṁ śambhoreṇamapyavajānate

Where all the deer that ever roam its ridges disdain even the deer held dear in Shambhu's own hand.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.118.24)

यस्य पादांतिकचरैः प्रायेण शबरैरपि । निकुम्भकुम्भसादृश्यमयत्नादुपलभ्यते

yasya pādāṁtikacaraiḥ prāyeṇa śabarairapi nikumbhakumbhasādṛśyamayatnādupalabhyate

The very hunters who dwell near its feet attain, mostly without effort, a likeness to Nikumbha's own drum.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.118.25)

किं बहूक्त्याभ्यसूयंते द्वैमातुरकुमारयोः । यदंगरूढास्तरवस्तिर्यंचः शबरा अपि

kiṁ bahūktyābhyasūyaṁte dvaimāturakumārayoḥ yadaṁgarūḍhāstaravastiryaṁcaḥ śabarā api

What need for many words? Even the trees and the beast-like hunters that grow upon its slopes are envied by the two sons of the two mothers.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.118.26)

सिंहव्याघ्रद्विपा यस्मिन्काले त्यक्तकलेवराः । वासप्रदत्वान्मान्यंते ध्रुवं शोणाद्रिशम्भुना

siṁhavyāghradvipā yasminkāle tyaktakalevarāḥ vāsapradatvānmānyaṁte dhruvaṁ śoṇādriśambhunā

Lions, tigers, and elephants, which there give up their bodies at the time of death, are surely honoured by Shambhu of the red mountain, for having granted them that very dwelling-place.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.118.27)

अस्य भास्करनामाद्रिः पूर्वस्यां दिशि दृश्यते । यत्र स्थितः सदा वज्री सेवते शोणपर्वतम्

asya bhāskaranāmādriḥ pūrvasyāṁ diśi dṛśyate yatra sthitaḥ sadā vajrī sevate śoṇaparvatam

To its east is seen a mountain named Bhaskara, where the wielder of the thunderbolt, ever stationed there, serves the mountain of the red hue.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.118.28)

प्रतीच्यां दिशि दंडाद्रिरिति कश्चिन्महीधरः । प्राचेतसस्तदगगः सेवतेऽरुणपर्वतम्

pratīcyāṁ diśi daṁḍādririti kaścinmahīdharaḥ prācetasastadagagaḥ sevate'ruṇaparvatam

In the western direction is a mountain named Dandadri; the son of Prachetas, established there, serves the mountain Aruna.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.118.29)

दक्षिणस्यां च शोणाद्रेरद्रिरस्त्यमराचलः । कालः शोणाद्रिसेवार्थमध्यास्ते तदधित्यकाम्

dakṣiṇasyāṁ ca śoṇādreradrirastyamarācalaḥ kālaḥ śoṇādrisevārthamadhyāste tadadhityakām

To the south of Shonadri is a mountain named Amarachala; upon its plateau Kala dwells, for the sake of serving Shonadri.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.118.30)

उत्तरेऽस्मिन्हरिद्भागे सिद्धाध्यासितकन्दरः । विराजते त्रिशूलाद्रिः श्रीदेन परिपालितः

uttare'sminharidbhāge siddhādhyāsitakandaraḥ virājate triśūlādriḥ śrīdena paripālitaḥ

In this northern quarter, its caverns dwelt in by siddhas, shines the mountain Trishuladri, guarded by Shrida.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.118.31)

तत्पर्यंतप्रभूतानामन्येषामपि भूभृताम् । तटकेष्वपरे चैव दिक्पालाः पर्युपासते

tatparyaṁtaprabhūtānāmanyeṣāmapi bhūbhṛtām taṭakeṣvapare caiva dikpālāḥ paryupāsate

On the other mountains too, situated at its boundaries, upon their slopes, the other guardians of the directions perform their worship.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.118.32)

धारिता येन सततं सर्वेपि धरणीरुहाः । आराधनादप्यधिकमधिगच्छंति वैभवम्

dhāritā yena satataṁ sarvepi dharaṇīruhāḥ ārādhanādapyadhikamadhigacchaṁti vaibhavam

By which all the trees that grow upon the earth are ever sustained, and thereby attain a majesty even greater than through mere worship.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.118.33)

यस्मिन्गिरीशे संदृष्टे मेनातुहिनभूभृतोः । समानसंबंधतया प्रमोदो वर्द्धतेतराम्

yasmingirīśe saṁdṛṣṭe menātuhinabhūbhṛtoḥ samānasaṁbaṁdhatayā pramodo varddhatetarām

Beholding this Lord of the mountain, both Mena and the snowy mountain feel their joy grow all the more, through their shared kinship with him.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.118.34)

तरुपल्लवलक्षेण लक्ष्यमाणजटाधरः । स्थावरोयं स्वयं शम्भुरिहेश इव जंगमः

tarupallavalakṣeṇa lakṣyamāṇajaṭādharaḥ sthāvaroyaṁ svayaṁ śambhuriheśa iva jaṁgamaḥ

Marked, as it were, by matted locks known through its million tree-shoots, this unmoving one is itself Shambhu, as if a moving Lord were present here.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.118.35)

ज्योतिष्मत्तोयशृंगस्य द्विपार्श्वस्थेन्दुभास्करः । व्यनक्ति स्वस्य लोकेभ्यस्तेजस्त्रितयनेत्रताम्

jyotiṣmattoyaśṛṁgasya dvipārśvasthendubhāskaraḥ vyanakti svasya lokebhyastejastritayanetratām

With the sun and moon on the two sides of its luminous, water-bearing peak, it displays to the world its own threefold, eye-like radiance.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.118.36)

वर्षासु शिखराधस्तादभिनीलबलाहकः । विराजते यः कण्ठेन कालकूटमिवोद्वहन्

varṣāsu śikharādhastādabhinīlabalāhakaḥ virājate yaḥ kaṇṭhena kālakūṭamivodvahan

In the rainy season, beneath its peak, wrapped in clouds dark as deep blue, it shines forth as if bearing the very poison Kalakuta in its throat.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.118.37)

सहस्रपादः साहस्रशीर्षो यः पर्वतेश्वरः । उक्तो न केवलं श्रुत्या साक्षादप्युपलक्ष्यते

sahasrapādaḥ sāhasraśīrṣo yaḥ parvateśvaraḥ ukto na kevalaṁ śrutyā sākṣādapyupalakṣyate

Thousand-footed, thousand-headed, this lord of mountains is spoken of not merely in the Vedas, but is beheld directly too.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.118.38)

शिरोलीनामरसरित्स्रोताः प्रागिति नाद्भुतम् । गिरीशोऽद्यापि यः शृंगलीनानेकसरिद्गणः

śirolīnāmarasaritsrotāḥ prāgiti nādbhutam girīśo'dyāpi yaḥ śṛṁgalīnānekasaridgaṇaḥ

That the streams of the celestial rivers lay hidden of old within its very peak is no wonder — for even now this lord of the mountain conceals within its summits a whole gathering of rivers.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.118.39)

आसादितापकटकः शारदैर्यः पयोधरैः । विडंबयति गोश्रेष्ठमारूढवृषपुंगवम्

āsāditāpakaṭakaḥ śāradairyaḥ payodharaiḥ viḍaṁbayati gośreṣṭhamārūḍhavṛṣapuṁgavam

Reached by the autumn clouds upon its high, cool crests, this mountain mocks even the finest of cows mounted by its foremost bull.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.118.40)

यत्र शृङ्गाग्रसंलग्रसंलग्ननीललोहितः । स्थाणुत्वं स्थावरत्वेन गहनत्वेन भीमताम्

yatra śṛṅgāgrasaṁlagrasaṁlagnanīlalohitaḥ sthāṇutvaṁ sthāvaratvena gahanatvena bhīmatām

Where, joined to a dark-red hue at the very tip of its peak, it takes on stillness through its unmoving nature, denseness through its very thickness, and awesomeness —

Verse 41 (skanda.1.118.41)

सुदुर्गमत्वादुग्रत्वमपि धत्ते न नामतः । क्षुद्राः सरीसृपा यत्र कटकेषु कृतास्पदाः

sudurgamatvādugratvamapi dhatte na nāmataḥ kṣudrāḥ sarīsṛpā yatra kaṭakeṣu kṛtāspadāḥ

— through its own utter inaccessibility, and not merely in name; small reptiles have made their home upon its ridges.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.118.42)

तक्षकानंतसर्पाद्यैः स्पर्धन्ते भुजगेश्वरैः । अष्टाभिर्योऽभितः कोणैराविभूर्तो विभूतिभिः

takṣakānaṁtasarpādyaiḥ spardhante bhujageśvaraiḥ aṣṭābhiryo'bhitaḥ koṇairāvibhūrto vibhūtibhiḥ

— rivaling even the serpent-lords Takshaka and Ananta; surrounded on every side by eight distinct corners, endowed with manifold glories, this mountain —

Verse 43 (skanda.1.118.43)

सुस्पष्टं विशिनष्टीव स्वकीयामष्टमूर्तिताम् । येर्ण्याशक्तितरंगिण्यो इडापिंगलयोः स्वयम्

suspaṣṭaṁ viśinaṣṭīva svakīyāmaṣṭamūrtitām yerṇyāśaktitaraṁgiṇyo iḍāpiṁgalayoḥ svayam

— seems, as it were, to reveal quite clearly its own eightfold form; its two flowing streams, of the very nature of Ida and Pingala —

Verse 44 (skanda.1.118.44)

शिवस्य शृङ्गतो मध्ये सुषुम्ना कमलापगा । ज्योतिःस्तंभस्वरूपस्य मूलाग्रे यस्य वीक्षतुम्

śivasya śṛṅgato madhye suṣumnā kamalāpagā jyotiḥstaṁbhasvarūpasya mūlāgre yasya vīkṣatum

— and, in the middle of Shiva's own peak, flows the Sushumna, the very river of the lotus; to behold the root and tip of this form of a pillar of light —

Verse 45 (skanda.1.118.45)

कोलहंसाकृती नालं ब्रह्मविष्णू बभूवतुः । ताभ्यां च प्रार्थितः शम्भुस्तस्मिन्सांनिध्यवानभूत्

kolahaṁsākṛtī nālaṁ brahmaviṣṇū babhūvatuḥ tābhyāṁ ca prārthitaḥ śambhustasminsāṁnidhyavānabhūt

— even Brahma and Vishnu, taking the forms of a swan and a boar, were unable. Entreated by them both, Shambhu became present there.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.118.46)

अरुणाचलनाथाख्यं प्रपन्नः प्रमदैः समम् । गौतमस्तत्र योगींद्रः सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्

aruṇācalanāthākhyaṁ prapannaḥ pramadaiḥ samam gautamastatra yogīṁdraḥ sahasraṁ parivatsarān

Taking refuge in this place named Lord of Arunachala, joyfully, Gautama, lord of yogis, there for a thousand years —

Verse 47 (skanda.1.118.47)

तप्त्वा तपांसि तीव्राणि साक्षाच्चक्रे सदाशिवम् । प्रालेयशैलकन्यापि तत्र कृत्वा तपः पुरा

taptvā tapāṁsi tīvrāṇi sākṣāccakre sadāśivam prāleyaśailakanyāpi tatra kṛtvā tapaḥ purā

— performing intense austerity, made Sadashiva directly manifest. The mountain's daughter too, having performed austerity there of old,

Verse 48 (skanda.1.118.48)

अलब्ध वामदेहार्द्धं मन्मथारेः प्रसेदुषः । गौर्या प्रतिष्ठितं तत्र प्रवालाद्रीश्वराभिधम्

alabdha vāmadehārddhaṁ manmathāreḥ praseduṣaḥ gauryā pratiṣṭhitaṁ tatra pravālādrīśvarābhidham

obtained the left half of the body of the foe of the god of love, made gracious; there, by Gauri, was established the linga named Lord of the Coral Mountain.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.118.49)

लिंगं भोगप्रदं पुंसां कैवल्याय प्रकल्पते । तत्र गौरीनिदेशेन दुर्गा महिषमर्दिनी

liṁgaṁ bhogapradaṁ puṁsāṁ kaivalyāya prakalpate tatra gaurīnideśena durgā mahiṣamardinī

This linga grants men both worldly enjoyment and liberation; there, by Gauri's own direction, Durga, slayer of Mahisha,

Verse 50 (skanda.1.118.50)

साक्षाद्भूय सतां दत्ते मन्त्रसिद्धिमविघ्नतः । खड्गतीर्थमिति ख्यातं तत्र गौर्याश्रमे नवम्

sākṣādbhūya satāṁ datte mantrasiddhimavighnataḥ khaḍgatīrthamiti khyātaṁ tatra gauryāśrame navam

personally present, grants to the virtuous, without hindrance, the accomplishment of their mantras; there, in Gauri's own hermitage, is the ninth ford, renowned by the name Sword-ford.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.118.51)

सकृन्निमज्जनान्नॄणां पंचपातकनाशनम् । दुर्गया चार्चितं लिंगं पापनाशननामकम्

sakṛnnimajjanānnṝṇāṁ paṁcapātakanāśanam durgayā cārcitaṁ liṁgaṁ pāpanāśananāmakam

By a single immersion alone it destroys the five great sins of men; the linga worshipped there by Durga bears the very name Destroyer of Sin.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.118.52)

सकृत्प्रणाममात्रेण सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तत्र वज्रांगदो राजा वित्तसारो व्यतिक्रमात्

sakṛtpraṇāmamātreṇa sarvapāpapraṇāśanam tatra vajrāṁgado rājā vittasāro vyatikramāt

By a single prostration alone it destroys every sin; there King Vajrangada, rich in wealth, through some offence,

Verse 53 (skanda.1.118.53)

पुनस्तद्भक्तिमाहात्म्याच्छिवसायुज्यमाप्तवान् । तस्य प्रदक्षिणेनैव कांतिशालिकलाधरौ

punastadbhaktimāhātmyācchivasāyujyamāptavān tasya pradakṣiṇenaiva kāṁtiśālikalādharau

regained, once more, through the greatness of devotion to that very linga, union with Shiva. By mere circumambulation of it alone, two radiant moon-bearing —

Verse 54 (skanda.1.118.54)

विद्याधरेश्वरौ मुक्तौ दुर्वासःशापबन्धनात् । नास्ति शोणाद्रितः क्षेत्रं नास्ति पंचाक्षरान्मनुः

vidyādhareśvarau muktau durvāsaḥśāpabandhanāt nāsti śoṇādritaḥ kṣetraṁ nāsti paṁcākṣarānmanuḥ

— lords of the vidyadharas were freed from the bondage of Durvasas's curse. There is no field like Shonadri; there is no mantra like the five-syllabled one.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.118.55)

नास्ति माहेश्वराद्धर्मो नास्ति देवो महेश्वरात् । नास्ति ज्ञानं शिवज्ञानान्नास्ति श्रीरुद्रतः श्रुतिः

nāsti māheśvarāddharmo nāsti devo maheśvarāt nāsti jñānaṁ śivajñānānnāsti śrīrudrataḥ śrutiḥ

There is no dharma like the dharma of Maheshvara, no god like Maheshvara; no knowledge like Shiva-knowledge, no scripture like glorious Rudra.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.118.56)

नास्ति शैवाग्रणीर्विष्णोर्नास्ति रक्षा विभूतितः । नास्ति भक्तेः सदाचारो नास्ति रक्षाकराद्गुरुः

nāsti śaivāgraṇīrviṣṇornāsti rakṣā vibhūtitaḥ nāsti bhakteḥ sadācāro nāsti rakṣākarādguruḥ

There is none above Vishnu, foremost among Shaivas; no protection like majesty; no good conduct like devotion; no guru like a protector.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.118.57)

नास्ति रुद्राक्षतो भूषा नास्ति शास्त्रं शिवागमात् । नास्ति बिल्वदलात्पत्रं नास्ति पुष्पं सुवर्णकात्

nāsti rudrākṣato bhūṣā nāsti śāstraṁ śivāgamāt nāsti bilvadalātpatraṁ nāsti puṣpaṁ suvarṇakāt

There is no ornament like rudraksha, no scripture like the Shaiva Agamas; no leaf like the bilva leaf, no flower like gold.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.118.58)

नास्ति वैराग्यतः सौख्यं नास्ति मुक्तेः परं पदम् । नारुणाद्रेः समो मेरुर्न कैलासो न मंदरः

nāsti vairāgyataḥ saukhyaṁ nāsti mukteḥ paraṁ padam nāruṇādreḥ samo merurna kailāso na maṁdaraḥ

There is no happiness like dispassion, no state higher than liberation; neither Meru, nor Kailasa, nor Mandara equals Arunadri.

Verse 59 (skanda.1.118.59)

ते निवासा गिरिव्याप्ताः सोऽयं तु गिरिशः स्वयम्

te nivāsā girivyāptāḥ so'yaṁ tu giriśaḥ svayam

Those others are but dwelling-places pervaded by mountains alone; but this one is Girisha himself.

Verse 60 (skanda.1.118.60)

इति वदति शिलादनंदने मुदितमनाः स मृकण्डुनंदनः । पुनरपि बहुशः प्रणम्य तं चकितमना भवतो व्यजिज्ञपत्

iti vadati śilādanaṁdane muditamanāḥ sa mṛkaṇḍunaṁdanaḥ punarapi bahuśaḥ praṇamya taṁ cakitamanā bhavato vyajijñapat

As the son of Shilada spoke thus, the son of Mrikandu, his mind gladdened, bowed to him again and again, and, his mind filled with wonder, made this further entreaty.

Verse 61 (skanda.1.118.61)

किं किं नृणां कर्म भवाय जायते कथं नु तत्तन्नरकाय श्रूयते । तेषां च तेषां च कथं प्रतिक्रिया कथं नु तत्तन्मम कथ्यतामिति

kiṁ kiṁ nṛṇāṁ karma bhavāya jāyate kathaṁ nu tattannarakāya śrūyate teṣāṁ ca teṣāṁ ca kathaṁ pratikriyā kathaṁ nu tattanmama kathyatāmiti

'What deeds of men lead to worldly bondage, and how, in each case, are they said to lead to hell? And what is the remedy for each — tell me that too.'