The Greatness of the Shiva Linga, as Told by Karttikeya

Verse 1 (skanda.1.31.1)

॥शोनक उवाच॥ हत्वा तं तारकं संख्ये कुमारेण महात्मना॥ किं कृतं सुमहद्विप्र तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि

||śonaka uvāca|| hatvā taṃ tārakaṃ saṃkhye kumāreṇa mahātmanā|| kiṃ kṛtaṃ sumahadvipra tatsarvaṃ vaktumarhasi

Shaunaka said: 'After the great-souled Kumara slew Taraka in battle, what further great deed was done? You should tell us all of it, O brahmin.'

Verse 2 (skanda.1.31.2)

कुमारो ह्यपरः शंभुर्येन सर्वमिदं ततम्॥ तपसा तोषितः शंभुर्ददाति परमं पदम्

kumāro hyaparaḥ śaṃbhuryena sarvamidaṃ tatam|| tapasā toṣitaḥ śaṃbhurdadāti paramaṃ padam

Kumara is none other than Shambhu himself, by whom all this universe is pervaded; Shambhu, pleased by austerity, bestows the supreme state.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.31.3)

कुमारो दर्शनात्सद्यः सफलो हि नृणां सदा॥ ये पापिनो ह्यधर्म्मिष्ठाः श्वपचा अपि लोमश॥ दर्शनाद्धूतपापास्ते भवंत्येव न संशयः

kumāro darśanātsadyaḥ saphalo hi nṛṇāṃ sadā|| ye pāpino hyadharmmiṣṭhāḥ śvapacā api lomaśa|| darśanāddhūtapāpāste bhavaṃtyeva na saṃśayaḥ

The mere sight of Kumara at once bears fruit for men always; even those who are sinful, unrighteous, or outcaste dog-eaters, O Lomasha, by that sight alone become cleansed of sin — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.31.4)

शौनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा उवाच चरितं तदा॥ व्यास शिष्यो महाप्रज्ञः कुमारस्य महात्मनः

śaunakasya vacaḥ śrutvā uvāca caritaṃ tadā|| vyāsa śiṣyo mahāprajñaḥ kumārasya mahātmanaḥ

Hearing Shaunaka's words, the greatly wise disciple of Vyasa then related the further account of that great-souled Kumara.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.31.5)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ ह्ताव तं तारकं संख्ये देवानामजयं ततः॥ अवध्यं च द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कुमारो जयमाप्तवान्

||lomaśa uvāca|| htāva taṃ tārakaṃ saṃkhye devānāmajayaṃ tataḥ|| avadhyaṃ ca dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kumāro jayamāptavān

Lomasha said: 'Having slain Taraka in battle — that one unconquerable even by the gods — Kumara, O foremost of brahmins, thus won his victory.'

Verse 6 (skanda.1.31.6)

महिमा हि कुमारस्य सर्वशास्त्रेषु कथ्यते॥ वेदैश्च स्वागमैश्चापि पुराणैश्च तथैव च

mahimā hi kumārasya sarvaśāstreṣu kathyate|| vedaiśca svāgamaiścāpi purāṇaiśca tathaiva ca

The glory of Kumara is proclaimed in all the scriptures — in the Vedas, in their own Agamas, and in the Puranas likewise.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.31.7)

तथोपनिषदैश्चैव मीमांसाद्वितयेन तु॥ एवंभूतः कुमारोयमशक्यो वर्णितुं द्विजाः

tathopaniṣadaiścaiva mīmāṃsādvitayena tu|| evaṃbhūtaḥ kumāroyamaśakyo varṇituṃ dvijāḥ

And in the Upanishads too, and in both branches of Mimamsa; such is this Kumara that he cannot be fully described, O brahmins.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.31.8)

यो हि दर्शनमात्रेण पुनाति सकलं जगत्॥ त्रातारं भुवनस्यास्य निशम्य पितृराट्स्वयम्

yo hi darśanamātreṇa punāti sakalaṃ jagat|| trātāraṃ bhuvanasyāsya niśamya pitṛrāṭsvayam

He who, by the mere sight of him, purifies the whole world — hearing of him as the saviour of this world, the king of the fathers himself...

Verse 9 (skanda.1.31.9)

ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य विष्णुं चैव सवासवम्॥ स ययौ त्वरितेनैव शंकरं लोकशंकरम्॥ तृष्टाव प्रयतो भूत्वा दक्षिणाशापतिः स्वयम्

brahmāṇaṃ ca puraskṛtya viṣṇuṃ caiva savāsavam|| sa yayau tvaritenaiva śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram|| tṛṣṭāva prayato bhūtvā dakṣiṇāśāpatiḥ svayam

...placing Brahma before him, and Vishnu together with Indra, went swiftly to Shankara, the benefactor of all the worlds; and the lord of the southern quarter himself, becoming reverent, praised him.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.31.10)

नमो भर्गाय देवाय देवानां पतये नमः॥ मृत्युंजयाय रुद्राय ईशानाय कपर्द्दिने

namo bhargāya devāya devānāṃ pataye namaḥ|| mṛtyuṃjayāya rudrāya īśānāya kaparddine

'Salutation to Bharga, the god, salutation to the lord of the gods; to Mrityunjaya, to Rudra, to Ishana, to the matted-haired one.'

Verse 11 (skanda.1.31.11)

नीलकंठाय शर्वाय व्योमावयवरूपिणे॥ कालाय कालनाथाय कालरूपाय वै नमः

nīlakaṃṭhāya śarvāya vyomāvayavarūpiṇe|| kālāya kālanāthāya kālarūpāya vai namaḥ

'Salutation to the blue-throated Sharva, whose very form is the sky; salutation to Time itself, to the lord of Time, to the one whose form is Time.'

Verse 12 (skanda.1.31.12)

यमेन स्तूयमानो हि उवाच प्रभुरीश्वरः॥ किमर्थमागतोऽसि त्वं तत्सर्वं कथयस्व नः

yamena stūyamāno hi uvāca prabhurīśvaraḥ|| kimarthamāgato'si tvaṃ tatsarvaṃ kathayasva naḥ

Thus praised by Yama, the lord Ishvara spoke: 'For what reason have you come? Tell us all of it.'

Verse 13 (skanda.1.31.13)

॥यम उवाच॥ श्रूयतां देवदेवेश वाक्य वाक्यविशारद॥ तपसा परमेणैव तुष्टिं प्राप्तोसि शंकर

||yama uvāca|| śrūyatāṃ devadeveśa vākya vākyaviśārada|| tapasā parameṇaiva tuṣṭiṃ prāptosi śaṃkara

Yama said: 'Listen, O lord of the gods of gods, skilled in speech; by supreme austerity alone have you attained your contentment, O Shankara.'

Verse 14 (skanda.1.31.14)

कर्मणा परमेणैव ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः॥ तुष्टिमेति न संदेहो वराणां हि सदा प्रभुः

karmaṇā parameṇaiva brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ|| tuṣṭimeti na saṃdeho varāṇāṃ hi sadā prabhuḥ

'By supreme action alone does Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, attain contentment; there is no doubt of it, for he is ever the lord of boons.'

Verse 15 (skanda.1.31.15)

तथा विष्णुर्हि भगवान्वेदवेद्यः सनातनः॥ यज्ञैरनेकैः संतुष्ट उपवासव्रतैस्तथा

tathā viṣṇurhi bhagavānvedavedyaḥ sanātanaḥ|| yajñairanekaiḥ saṃtuṣṭa upavāsavrataistathā

'And likewise the eternal lord Vishnu, known through the Vedas, is pleased by many sacrifices and by fasts and vows.'

Verse 16 (skanda.1.31.16)

ददाति केवलं भावं येन कैवल्यमाप्नुयुः॥ नराः सर्वे मम मतं नान्यता हि वचो मम

dadāti kevalaṃ bhāvaṃ yena kaivalyamāpnuyuḥ|| narāḥ sarve mama mataṃ nānyatā hi vaco mama

'He grants purely that devotion by which men attain final liberation — this is my own view, and my word admits no other.'

Verse 17 (skanda.1.31.17)

ददाति तुष्टो वै भोगं तथा स्वर्गादिसंपदः॥ सूर्यो नमस्ययाऽरोग्यं ददातीह न चान्यथा

dadāti tuṣṭo vai bhogaṃ tathā svargādisaṃpadaḥ|| sūryo namasyayā'rogyaṃ dadātīha na cānyathā

'Being pleased, he grants enjoyment and the riches of heaven and the like; the Sun, through reverence paid to him, grants health here, and in no other way.'

Verse 18 (skanda.1.31.18)

गणेशो हि महादेव अर्घ्यपाद्यादिचंदनैः॥ मंत्रावृत्त्या तथा शंभो निर्विघ्नं च करिष्यति

gaṇeśo hi mahādeva arghyapādyādicaṃdanaiḥ|| maṃtrāvṛttyā tathā śaṃbho nirvighnaṃ ca kariṣyati

'And Ganesha, O Mahadeva, honoured with offerings of water, foot-washing, sandal-paste and the repetition of mantras, O Shambhu, shall remove all obstacles.'

Verse 19 (skanda.1.31.19)

तथान्ये लोकपाः सर्वे यथाशक्त्या फलप्रदाः॥ यज्ञाध्ययनदानाद्यैः परितुष्टाश्च शंकर

tathānye lokapāḥ sarve yathāśaktyā phalapradāḥ|| yajñādhyayanadānādyaiḥ parituṣṭāśca śaṃkara

'And likewise all the other guardians of the world grant fruit according to their power, being pleased, O Shankara, by sacrifice, study, gift-giving and such acts.'

Verse 20 (skanda.1.31.20)

महदाश्चर्य संभूतं सर्वेषां प्राणिनामिह॥ कृतं च तव पुत्रेण स्वर्गद्वारमपावृताम्

mahadāścarya saṃbhūtaṃ sarveṣāṃ prāṇināmiha|| kṛtaṃ ca tava putreṇa svargadvāramapāvṛtām

'But a great wonder has now arisen for all beings here: your son has thrown open the very door of heaven.'

Verse 21 (skanda.1.31.21)

दर्शनाच्च कुमारस्य सर्वे स्वर्गैकसो नराः॥ पापिनोऽपि महादेव जाता नास्त्यत्र संशयः

darśanācca kumārasya sarve svargaikaso narāḥ|| pāpino'pi mahādeva jātā nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ

'By the mere sight of Kumara, all men, even the sinful, O Mahadeva, have become sole possessors of heaven — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 22 (skanda.1.31.22)

मया किं क्रियतां देव कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ॥ ये सत्यशीलाः शांताश्च वदान्या निरवग्रहाः

mayā kiṃ kriyatāṃ deva kāryākāryavyavasthitau|| ye satyaśīlāḥ śāṃtāśca vadānyā niravagrahāḥ

'What then should I do, O lord, regarding the ordering of what is to be done or not done? Those who are truthful, tranquil, generous, and free of obstinacy,

Verse 23 (skanda.1.31.23)

जितेंद्रिया अलुब्धाश्च कामरागविवर्जिताः॥ याज्ञिका धर्मनिष्ठाश्च वेदवेदांगपारगाः

jiteṃdriyā alubdhāśca kāmarāgavivarjitāḥ|| yājñikā dharmaniṣṭhāśca vedavedāṃgapāragāḥ

'...self-controlled, free of greed, without desire or attachment, devoted to sacrifice and righteousness, versed in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences —'

Verse 24 (skanda.1.31.24)

यां गतिं यांति वै शंभो सर्वे सुकृतिनोपि हि॥ तां गतिं दर्शनात्सर्वे श्वपचा अधमा अपि

yāṃ gatiṃ yāṃti vai śaṃbho sarve sukṛtinopi hi|| tāṃ gatiṃ darśanātsarve śvapacā adhamā api

'— that same destination which all such virtuous men attain, O Shambhu, that very destination is now reached, by the mere sight of Kumara, even by the lowest outcastes.'

Verse 25 (skanda.1.31.25)

कुमारस्य च देवेश महदाश्चर्यकर्मणः॥ कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगसहितायां शिवस्य च

kumārasya ca deveśa mahadāścaryakarmaṇaḥ|| kārttikyāṃ kṛttikāyogasahitāyāṃ śivasya ca

'This is a great wonder, O lord of gods, wrought by Kumara — of Shiva's own son, born on the Karttiki day, joined with the conjunction of the Krittikas.'

Verse 26 (skanda.1.31.26)

शिवस्य तनयं दृष्ट्वा ते यांति स्वकुलैः सह॥ कोटिभिर्बहुभिश्चैव मत्स्थानं परिमुच्य वै

śivasya tanayaṃ dṛṣṭvā te yāṃti svakulaiḥ saha|| koṭibhirbahubhiścaiva matsthānaṃ parimucya vai

'Seeing Shiva's son, they — together with their families, by the many crores — depart, leaving my own realm behind.'

Verse 27 (skanda.1.31.27)

कुमारदर्शनात्सर्वे श्वपचा अपि यांति वै॥ सद्गतिं त्वरितेनैव किं क्रियेत मयाधुना

kumāradarśanātsarve śvapacā api yāṃti vai|| sadgatiṃ tvaritenaiva kiṃ kriyeta mayādhunā

'By the sight of Kumara, even the outcastes swiftly attain the good destination — what then am I to do now?'

Verse 28 (skanda.1.31.28)

यमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा शंकरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

yamasya vacanaṃ śrutvā śaṃkaro vākyamabravīt

Hearing Yama's words, Shankara spoke thus:

Verse 29 (skanda.1.31.29)

॥शंकर उवाच॥ येषां त्वंतगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्॥ विशुद्धभावो भो धर्म्म तेषां मनसि वर्त्तते

||śaṃkara uvāca|| yeṣāṃ tvaṃtagataṃ pāpaṃ janānāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām|| viśuddhabhāvo bho dharmma teṣāṃ manasi varttate

Shankara said: 'O Dharma, those men of virtuous deeds whose sin has been fully exhausted — in their minds alone does a purified disposition abide.'

Verse 30 (skanda.1.31.30)

सत्तीर्थगमनायैव दर्शनार्थं सतामिह॥ वांछा च महती तेषां जायते पूर्वकारिता

sattīrthagamanāyaiva darśanārthaṃ satāmiha|| vāṃchā ca mahatī teṣāṃ jāyate pūrvakāritā

'It is only for the sake of visiting true sacred places, and for the sight of the virtuous here, that so great a longing arises in them, born of their past deeds.'

Verse 31 (skanda.1.31.31)

बहूनां जन्मनामंते मयि भावोऽनुवर्त्तते॥ प्राणिनां सर्वभावेन जन्माभ्यासेनभो यम

bahūnāṃ janmanāmaṃte mayi bhāvo'nuvarttate|| prāṇināṃ sarvabhāvena janmābhyāsenabho yama

'At the end of many births, devotion to me abides in them, O Yama — through the wholehearted disposition of beings, by the habituation of many births.'

Verse 32 (skanda.1.31.32)

तस्मात्सुकृतिनः सर्वे येषां भावोऽनुवर्त्ते॥ जन्मजन्मानुवृत्तानां विस्मयं नैव कारयेत्

tasmātsukṛtinaḥ sarve yeṣāṃ bhāvo'nuvartte|| janmajanmānuvṛttānāṃ vismayaṃ naiva kārayet

'Therefore all those virtuous ones in whom this devotion continues, carried on from birth to birth — this should cause no wonder at all.'

Verse 33 (skanda.1.31.33)

स्त्रीबालशूद्राः श्वपचाधमाश्च प्राग्जन्मसंस्कारवशाद्धि धर्म्म॥ योनिं पापिषु वर्त्तमानास्तथापि शुद्धा मनुजा भवंति

strībālaśūdrāḥ śvapacādhamāśca prāgjanmasaṃskāravaśāddhi dharmma|| yoniṃ pāpiṣu varttamānāstathāpi śuddhā manujā bhavaṃti

'Women, children, shudras, and even the lowest outcastes — by the power of impressions carried from a former birth's righteousness, though dwelling in a sinful womb, such men nevertheless become pure.'

Verse 34 (skanda.1.31.34)

तथा सितेन मनसा च भवंति सर्वे सर्वेषु चैव विषयेषु भवंति तज्ज्ञाः॥ दैवेन पूर्वचरितेन भवंति सर्वे सुराश्चेंद्रादयो लोकपालाः प्राक्तनेन

tathā sitena manasā ca bhavaṃti sarve sarveṣu caiva viṣayeṣu bhavaṃti tajjñāḥ|| daivena pūrvacaritena bhavaṃti sarve surāśceṃdrādayo lokapālāḥ prāktanena

'So too, all become pure of mind, and all become knowers in every matter, by the working of destiny born of past conduct — thus all the gods, Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, have become what they are through their former deeds.'

Verse 35 (skanda.1.31.35)

जाता ह्यमी भूतगणाश्च सर्वे ह्यमी ऋषयो ह्यमी देवताश्च

jātā hyamī bhūtagaṇāśca sarve hyamī ṛṣayo hyamī devatāśca

'Thus have arisen all these hosts of beings, all these sages, and all these gods.'

Verse 36 (skanda.1.31.36)

विस्मयो नैव कर्त्तव्यस्त्वया वापि कुमारके॥ कुमारदर्शने चैव धर्मराज निबोध मे

vismayo naiva karttavyastvayā vāpi kumārake|| kumāradarśane caiva dharmarāja nibodha me

'Therefore you should feel no wonder at all regarding Kumara; understand from me, O Dharmaraja, the truth about the sight of Kumara.'

Verse 37 (skanda.1.31.37)

वचनं कर्मसंयुक्तं सर्वेषां फलदायकम्॥ सर्वतीर्थानि यज्ञाश्च दानानि विविधानि च॥ कार्याणि मनःशुद्ध्यर्थं नात्र कार्या विचारणा

vacanaṃ karmasaṃyuktaṃ sarveṣāṃ phaladāyakam|| sarvatīrthāni yajñāśca dānāni vividhāni ca|| kāryāṇi manaḥśuddhyarthaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

'Word joined with action bears fruit for all; all sacred places, sacrifices, and various forms of charity are to be undertaken for the purification of the mind — there is no need to deliberate over this.'

Verse 38 (skanda.1.31.38)

मनसा भावितो ह्यात्मा आत्मनात्मानमेव च॥ आत्मा अहं च सर्वेषआं प्राणिनां हि व्यवस्थितः

manasā bhāvito hyātmā ātmanātmānameva ca|| ātmā ahaṃ ca sarveṣaāṃ prāṇināṃ hi vyavasthitaḥ

'The Self, contemplated by the mind, is realized by the Self through the Self alone; I myself am that Self, abiding within all beings.'

Verse 39 (skanda.1.31.39)

अहं सदा भावयुक्त आत्मसंस्थो निरंतरः॥ जंगमाजंगमानां च सत्यं प्रति वदामि ते

ahaṃ sadā bhāvayukta ātmasaṃstho niraṃtaraḥ|| jaṃgamājaṃgamānāṃ ca satyaṃ prati vadāmi te

'I am ever endowed with that consciousness, abiding ceaselessly within the Self; I speak to you the truth regarding both the moving and the unmoving creation.'

Verse 40 (skanda.1.31.40)

द्वंद्वातीतो निर्विकल्पो हि साक्षात्स्वस्थो नित्यो नित्ययुक्तो निरीहः॥ कूटस्थो वै कल्पभेदप्रवादैर्बहिष्कृतो बोधबोध्यो ह्यनन्तः

dvaṃdvātīto nirvikalpo hi sākṣātsvastho nityo nityayukto nirīhaḥ|| kūṭastho vai kalpabhedapravādairbahiṣkṛto bodhabodhyo hyanantaḥ

'Beyond all pairs of opposites, free of alternatives, directly self-abiding, eternal, ever united with himself, desireless, immutable, untouched by the varied doctrines of the different ages, knowable only through pure awareness, infinite —'

Verse 41 (skanda.1.31.41)

विस्मृत्य चैनं स्वात्मानं केवलं बोधलक्षणम्॥ संसारिणो हि दृश्यंते समस्ता जीवराशयः

vismṛtya cainaṃ svātmānaṃ kevalaṃ bodhalakṣaṇam|| saṃsāriṇo hi dṛśyaṃte samastā jīvarāśayaḥ

'— having forgotten this, their own Self, whose sole nature is pure awareness, all the multitudes of living beings appear as bound to the round of birth and death.'

Verse 42 (skanda.1.31.42)

अहं ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च त्रयोऽमी गुणकारिणः॥ सृष्टिपालनसंहारकारका नान्यथा भवेत्

ahaṃ brahmā ca viṣṇuśca trayo'mī guṇakāriṇaḥ|| sṛṣṭipālanasaṃhārakārakā nānyathā bhavet

'I, and Brahma, and Vishnu — these three, acting through the gunas, are the agents of creation, preservation and destruction, and in no other way is it done.'

Verse 43 (skanda.1.31.43)

अहंकारवृतेनैव कर्मणा कारितावयम्॥ यूयं च सर्वे विबुधा मनुष्याश्च खगादयः

ahaṃkāravṛtenaiva karmaṇā kāritāvayam|| yūyaṃ ca sarve vibudhā manuṣyāśca khagādayaḥ

'By action enveloped in ego alone are we made to act thus; and so too are all of you gods, and men, and birds, and the rest.'

Verse 44 (skanda.1.31.44)

पश्वादयः पृथग्भूतास्तथान्ये बहवो ह्यमी॥ पृथक्पृथक्समीचीना गुणवतश्च संसृतौ

paśvādayaḥ pṛthagbhūtāstathānye bahavo hyamī|| pṛthakpṛthaksamīcīnā guṇavataśca saṃsṛtau

'Cattle and other creatures, distinct in kind, and these many others besides — each separately fitted, according to their own qualities, into the cycle of transmigration.'

Verse 45 (skanda.1.31.45)

पतिता मृगतृष्णायां मायया च वशीकृताः॥ वयं सर्वे च विबुधाः प्राज्ञाः पंडितमानिनः

patitā mṛgatṛṣṇāyāṃ māyayā ca vaśīkṛtāḥ|| vayaṃ sarve ca vibudhāḥ prājñāḥ paṃḍitamāninaḥ

'Fallen into the mirage of illusion, subdued by maya — all of us, gods, wise men, and those who consider themselves learned,

Verse 46 (skanda.1.31.46)

परस्परं दूषयंतो मिथ्यावादरताः खलाः

parasparaṃ dūṣayaṃto mithyāvādaratāḥ khalāḥ

'— we wicked ones, delighting in false disputation, go about finding fault with one another.'

Verse 47 (skanda.1.31.47)

त्रैगुणा भवसंपन्ना अतत्तवज्ञाश्च रागिणः॥ कामक्रोधभयद्वेषमदमात्सर्यसंयुताः

traiguṇā bhavasaṃpannā atattavajñāśca rāgiṇaḥ|| kāmakrodhabhayadveṣamadamātsaryasaṃyutāḥ

'Bound by the three gunas, caught up in worldly existence, ignorant of the true reality, full of passion, joined with desire, anger, fear, hatred, pride and envy,

Verse 48 (skanda.1.31.48)

परस्परं दूषयंतो ह्यतत्त्वज्ञा बहिर्मुखाः॥ तस्मादेवं विदित्वाथ असत्यं गुणभेदतः

parasparaṃ dūṣayaṃto hyatattvajñā bahirmukhāḥ|| tasmādevaṃ viditvātha asatyaṃ guṇabhedataḥ

'— finding fault with one another, ignorant of the truth, turned outward — knowing then that this world, arising from the diversity of the gunas, is unreal,

Verse 49 (skanda.1.31.49)

गुणातीते च वस्त्वर्थे परमार्थैकदर्शनम्

guṇātīte ca vastvarthe paramārthaikadarśanam

'— one should fix one's vision solely upon the highest reality, in that essence which lies beyond the gunas.'

Verse 50 (skanda.1.31.50)

यस्मिन्भेदो ह्यभेदं च यस्मिन्रागो विरागताम्॥ क्रोधो ह्यक्रोधतां याति तद्वाम परमं श्रृणु

yasminbhedo hyabhedaṃ ca yasminrāgo virāgatām|| krodho hyakrodhatāṃ yāti tadvāma paramaṃ śrṛṇu

'Hear now, O beautiful one, of that supreme state in which difference becomes non-difference, in which passion becomes dispassion, and anger itself becomes free of anger.'

Verse 51 (skanda.1.31.51)

न तद्भासयते शब्दः कृतकत्वाद्यथा घटः॥ शब्दो हि जायते धर्म्मः प्रवृत्तिपरमो यतः

na tadbhāsayate śabdaḥ kṛtakatvādyathā ghaṭaḥ|| śabdo hi jāyate dharmmaḥ pravṛttiparamo yataḥ

'That reality is not illumined by speech, just as a pot is not, being itself a made thing; for speech itself arises as a quality whose highest nature is activity.'

Verse 52 (skanda.1.31.52)

प्रवृत्तिश्च निवृत्तिश्च तथा द्वंद्वानि सर्वशः॥ विलयं यांति यत्रैव तत्स्थानं शाश्वतं मतम्

pravṛttiśca nivṛttiśca tathā dvaṃdvāni sarvaśaḥ|| vilayaṃ yāṃti yatraiva tatsthānaṃ śāśvataṃ matam

'That place alone, wherein activity and cessation, and all the pairs of opposites entirely, come to dissolution — that alone is held to be the eternal abode.'

Verse 53 (skanda.1.31.53)

निरंतरं निर्गुणं ज्ञप्तिमात्रं निरंजनं निर्विकाशं निरीहम्॥ सत्तामात्रं ज्ञानगम्यं स्वसिद्धं स्वयंप्रभं सुप्रभं बोधगम्यम्

niraṃtaraṃ nirguṇaṃ jñaptimātraṃ niraṃjanaṃ nirvikāśaṃ nirīham|| sattāmātraṃ jñānagamyaṃ svasiddhaṃ svayaṃprabhaṃ suprabhaṃ bodhagamyam

'Unbroken, without attributes, pure awareness alone, stainless, without unfolding, desireless; sheer being, attainable only through knowledge, self-established, self-luminous, radiant, knowable only through pure understanding —'

Verse 54 (skanda.1.31.54)

एतज्ज्ञानं ज्ञानविदो वदंति सर्वात्मभावेन निरीक्षयंति॥ सर्वातीतं ज्ञानगम्यं विदित्वा येन स्वस्थाः समबुद्ध्या चरंति

etajjñānaṃ jñānavido vadaṃti sarvātmabhāvena nirīkṣayaṃti|| sarvātītaṃ jñānagamyaṃ viditvā yena svasthāḥ samabuddhyā caraṃti

'— this the knowers of knowledge call true knowledge, and they behold it with a vision of oneness with all the Self; knowing this, which transcends everything and is attainable by knowledge alone, they move about, established in themselves, with an equanimous mind.'

Verse 55 (skanda.1.31.55)

अतीत्य संसारमनादिमूलं मायामयं मायया दुर्विचार्यम्॥ मायां त्यक्त्वा निर्ममा वीतरागा गच्छंति ते प्रेतराणिनर्विकल्पम्

atītya saṃsāramanādimūlaṃ māyāmayaṃ māyayā durvicāryam|| māyāṃ tyaktvā nirmamā vītarāgā gacchaṃti te pretarāṇinarvikalpam

'Transcending this world of transmigration, whose root is beginningless, wholly made of maya, hard to fathom through maya itself — abandoning maya, free of possessiveness, free of passion, they go, O king of the departed, to that state beyond all distinction.'

Verse 56 (skanda.1.31.56)

संसृतिः कल्पनामूलं कल्पना ह्यमृतोपमा॥ यैः कल्पना परित्यक्ता ते यांति परमां गतिम्

saṃsṛtiḥ kalpanāmūlaṃ kalpanā hyamṛtopamā|| yaiḥ kalpanā parityaktā te yāṃti paramāṃ gatim

'This transmigratory existence is rooted in mental construction; and yet even that construction seems as sweet as nectar. Those who abandon such construction attain the highest goal.'

Verse 57 (skanda.1.31.57)

शुक्त्यां रजतबुद्धिश्च रज्जुबुद्धिर्यर्थोरणे॥ मरीचौ जलबुद्धिश्च मिथ्या मिथ्यैव नान्यथा

śuktyāṃ rajatabuddhiśca rajjubuddhiryarthoraṇe|| marīcau jalabuddhiśca mithyā mithyaiva nānyathā

'The perception of silver in a shell, of a snake in a rope, and of water in a mirage — these are simply false, false alone, and nothing else.'

Verse 58 (skanda.1.31.58)

सिद्धिः स्वच्छंदवर्त्तित्वं पारतंत्र्यं हि वै मृषा॥ बद्धो हि परतंत्राख्यो मुक्तः स्वातंत्र्यभावनः

siddhiḥ svacchaṃdavarttitvaṃ pārataṃtryaṃ hi vai mṛṣā|| baddho hi parataṃtrākhyo muktaḥ svātaṃtryabhāvanaḥ

'Perfection is to act freely of one's own accord; dependence upon another is indeed false. He who is called dependent on another is bound; he who realizes his own independence is free.'

Verse 59 (skanda.1.31.59)

एको ह्यात्मा विदित्वाथ निर्ममो निरवग्रहः॥ कुतस्तेषां बंधनं च यथाखे पुष्पमेव च

eko hyātmā viditvātha nirmamo niravagrahaḥ|| kutasteṣāṃ baṃdhanaṃ ca yathākhe puṣpameva ca

'Having realized the one Self, free of possessiveness, free of all constraint — how then can there be bondage for them, any more than a flower can grow in the sky?'

Verse 60 (skanda.1.31.60)

शशविषाणमेवैतज्त्रानं संसार एव च॥ किं कार्यं बहुनोक्तेन वचसा निष्फलेन हि

śaśaviṣāṇamevaitajtrānaṃ saṃsāra eva ca|| kiṃ kāryaṃ bahunoktena vacasā niṣphalena hi

'This world itself is like the horn of a hare — what use is there in saying much more, in fruitless words?'

Verse 61 (skanda.1.31.61)

ममतां च निराकृत्य प्राप्तुकामाः परं पदम्॥ ज्ञानिनस्ते हि विद्वांसो वीतरागा जितेंद्रियाः

mamatāṃ ca nirākṛtya prāptukāmāḥ paraṃ padam|| jñāninaste hi vidvāṃso vītarāgā jiteṃdriyāḥ

'Casting off possessiveness, desiring to attain the highest state — such men of knowledge are the truly learned, free of passion, self-controlled.'

Verse 62 (skanda.1.31.62)

यैस्त्यक्तो ममताभावो लोभकोपौ निराकृतौ॥ ते यांति परमं स्थानं कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः

yaistyakto mamatābhāvo lobhakopau nirākṛtau|| te yāṃti paramaṃ sthānaṃ kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ

'Those by whom the sense of possessiveness has been abandoned, greed and anger cast off — they, free of desire and anger, attain the supreme abode.'

Verse 63 (skanda.1.31.63)

यावत्कामश्च लोभश्च रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ॥ नाप्नुवंति च तां सिद्धिं शब्दमात्रैकबोधकाः

yāvatkāmaśca lobhaśca rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau|| nāpnuvaṃti ca tāṃ siddhiṃ śabdamātraikabodhakāḥ

'So long as desire and greed, passion and hatred remain established within, those who know only through words alone can never attain that perfection.'

Verse 64 (skanda.1.31.64)

॥यम उवाच॥ शब्दाच्छब्दः प्रवर्त्तेत निःशब्दं ज्ञानमेव च॥ अनित्यत्वं हि शब्दस्य कथं प्रोक्तं त्वया प्रभो

||yama uvāca|| śabdācchabdaḥ pravartteta niḥśabdaṃ jñānameva ca|| anityatvaṃ hi śabdasya kathaṃ proktaṃ tvayā prabho

Yama said: 'From word arises word, and yet knowledge itself is beyond words — how then, O lord, have you declared that words are impermanent?'

Verse 65 (skanda.1.31.65)

अक्षरं ब्रह्मपरमं शब्दो वै ह्यरात्मकः॥ तस्माच्छब्दस्त्वया प्रोक्तो निरीक्षक इति श्रुतम्

akṣaraṃ brahmaparamaṃ śabdo vai hyarātmakaḥ|| tasmācchabdastvayā prokto nirīkṣaka iti śrutam

'The imperishable is the supreme Brahman; sound too is of that very nature — therefore I have heard it said by you that word itself is the witness.'

Verse 66 (skanda.1.31.66)

प्रतिपाद्यं हि यत्किंचिच्छब्देनैव विना कथम्॥ तत्सर्वं कथ्यतां शंभो कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ

pratipādyaṃ hi yatkiṃcicchabdenaiva vinā katham|| tatsarvaṃ kathyatāṃ śaṃbho kāryākāryavyavasthitau

'Whatever indeed is to be established, how can it be done without word at all? Tell us all of this, O Shambhu, concerning what is to be done and not done.'

Verse 67 (skanda.1.31.67)

॥शंकर उवाच॥ श्रृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा परमार्धयुतं वचः॥ यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ज्ञातव्यं नावशिष्यते

||śaṃkara uvāca|| śrṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā paramārdhayutaṃ vacaḥ|| yasya śravaṇamātreṇa jñātavyaṃ nāvaśiṣyate

Shankara said: 'Listen attentively to this word joined with the highest truth, by merely hearing which nothing further remains to be known.'

Verse 68 (skanda.1.31.68)

ज्ञानप्रवादिनः सर्व ऋषयो वीतकल्मषाः॥ ज्ञानाभ्यासेन वर्त्तंते ज्ञानं ज्ञानविदो विदुः

jñānapravādinaḥ sarva ṛṣayo vītakalmaṣāḥ|| jñānābhyāsena varttaṃte jñānaṃ jñānavido viduḥ

'All the sages who expound knowledge, being free of all taint, abide through the practice of knowledge; and those who know knowledge understand it truly.'

Verse 69 (skanda.1.31.69)

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं ज्ञात्वा च परिगीयते॥ कथं केन च ज्ञातव्यं किं तद्वक्तुं विवक्षितम्

jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ jñānagamyaṃ jñātvā ca parigīyate|| kathaṃ kena ca jñātavyaṃ kiṃ tadvaktuṃ vivakṣitam

'Knowledge, the knowable, that which is attainable through knowledge — having known it, it is celebrated; but how, and by whom, is it to be known? What is it that one truly wishes to say of it?'

Verse 70 (skanda.1.31.70)

एतत्सर्वं समासेन कथयामि निबोध मे॥ एको ह्यनेकधा चैव दृश्यते भेदभावनः

etatsarvaṃ samāsena kathayāmi nibodha me|| eko hyanekadhā caiva dṛśyate bhedabhāvanaḥ

'All of this I shall tell you in brief; understand from me. The One alone appears as many, through the notion of difference.'

Verse 71 (skanda.1.31.71)

यथा भ्रमरिकादृष्टा भ्रम्यते च मही यम॥ तथात्मा भेदबुद्ध्या च प्रतिभाति ह्यनेकधा

yathā bhramarikādṛṣṭā bhramyate ca mahī yama|| tathātmā bhedabuddhyā ca pratibhāti hyanekadhā

'Just as, to one whirling in a spinning motion, the earth itself seems to whirl, O Yama, so too the Self, through the notion of difference, appears as manifold.'

Verse 72 (skanda.1.31.72)

तस्माद्विमृश्य तेनैव ज्ञातव्यः श्रवणेन च॥ मंतव्यः सुप्रयोगेण मननेन विशेषतः

tasmādvimṛśya tenaiva jñātavyaḥ śravaṇena ca|| maṃtavyaḥ suprayogeṇa mananena viśeṣataḥ

'Therefore, having reflected upon it, that Self is to be known by hearing, and, through right application, especially to be contemplated by reflection.'

Verse 73 (skanda.1.31.73)

निर्द्धार्य चात्मनात्मानं सुखं बंधात्प्रमुच्यते॥ मायाजालमिदं सर्वं जगदेतच्चाराचरम्

nirddhārya cātmanātmānaṃ sukhaṃ baṃdhātpramucyate|| māyājālamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadetaccārācaram

'Having thus ascertained the Self by the Self, one is happily released from bondage; for this entire world, moving and unmoving, is nothing but a net of maya.'

Verse 74 (skanda.1.31.74)

मायामयोऽयं संसारो ममतालक्षणो महान्॥ ममतां च बहिः कृत्वा सुखं बंधात्प्रमुच्यते

māyāmayo'yaṃ saṃsāro mamatālakṣaṇo mahān|| mamatāṃ ca bahiḥ kṛtvā sukhaṃ baṃdhātpramucyate

'This great world of transmigration, made of maya, has possessiveness as its very nature; casting that possessiveness away, one is happily released from bondage.'

Verse 75 (skanda.1.31.75)

कोऽहं कस्त्वं कुतश्चान्ये महामायावलंबिनः॥ अजागलस्तनस्येव प्रपंचोऽयं निरर्थकः

ko'haṃ kastvaṃ kutaścānye mahāmāyāvalaṃbinaḥ|| ajāgalastanasyeva prapaṃco'yaṃ nirarthakaḥ

'Who am I, who are you, and whence come all these others, dependent upon the great maya? This whole manifest world is as useless as the udder on a goat's neck.'

Verse 76 (skanda.1.31.76)

निष्फलोऽयं निराभासो निःसारो धूमडंबरः॥ तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन आत्मानं स्मर वै यम

niṣphalo'yaṃ nirābhāso niḥsāro dhūmaḍaṃbaraḥ|| tasmātsarvaprayatnena ātmānaṃ smara vai yama

'It is fruitless, without true appearance, without substance, mere smoke and ostentation. Therefore, O Yama, with every effort, remember the Self alone.'

Verse 77 (skanda.1.31.77)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ एवं प्रचोदितस्तेन शंभुना प्रेतराट् स्वयम्॥ बुद्धो भूत्वा यमः साक्षादात्मभूतोऽभवत्तदा

||lomaśa uvāca|| evaṃ pracoditastena śaṃbhunā pretarāṭ svayam|| buddho bhūtvā yamaḥ sākṣādātmabhūto'bhavattadā

Lomasha said: Thus instructed by Shambhu, the king of the departed himself, Yama, became enlightened, and at once realized his own identity with the Self.

Verse 78 (skanda.1.31.78)

कर्म्मणां हि च सर्वेषां शास्ता कर्मानुसारतः॥ बभूव डंबरो नॄणां भूतानां च समाहितः

karmmaṇāṃ hi ca sarveṣāṃ śāstā karmānusārataḥ|| babhūva ḍaṃbaro nṝṇāṃ bhūtānāṃ ca samāhitaḥ

Yet, as the ordainer of all deeds, he continued, in accordance with each one's karma, to be the composed overseer of the outward show of men and beings.

Verse 79 (skanda.1.31.79)

॥ऋषय ऊचुः॥ हत्वा तु तारकं युद्धे कुमारेण महात्मना॥ अत ऊर्ध्वं कथ्यतां भोः किं कृतं महदद्भुतम्

||ṛṣaya ūcuḥ|| hatvā tu tārakaṃ yuddhe kumāreṇa mahātmanā|| ata ūrdhvaṃ kathyatāṃ bhoḥ kiṃ kṛtaṃ mahadadbhutam

The sages said: 'After the great-souled Kumara slew Taraka in battle, what great and wondrous deed followed thereafter? Tell us, O sir.'

Verse 80 (skanda.1.31.80)

॥सूत उवाच॥ हते तु तारके दैत्ये हिमवन्प्रमुखाद्रयः॥ कार्त्तिकेयं समागत्य गीर्भी रम्याभिरैडयन्

||sūta uvāca|| hate tu tārake daitye himavanpramukhādrayaḥ|| kārttikeyaṃ samāgatya gīrbhī ramyābhiraiḍayan

Suta said: 'When the daitya Taraka was slain, Himavan and the other foremost mountains came to Karttikeya and praised him with delightful hymns of speech.'

Verse 81 (skanda.1.31.81)

॥गिरय ऊचुः॥ नमः कल्याणरूपाय नमस्ते विश्वमंगल॥ विश्वबंधो नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्ते विश्वभावन

||giraya ūcuḥ|| namaḥ kalyāṇarūpāya namaste viśvamaṃgala|| viśvabaṃdho namaste'stu namaste viśvabhāvana

The mountains said: 'Salutation to you, of auspicious form; salutation to you, O well-being of the universe; O kinsman of the universe, salutation be to you; salutation to you, O creator of the universe.'

Verse 82 (skanda.1.31.82)

वरीष्ठाः श्वपचा येन कृता वै दर्शनात्त्वया॥ त्वां नमामो जगद्बंधुं त्वां वयं शरणागताः

varīṣṭhāḥ śvapacā yena kṛtā vai darśanāttvayā|| tvāṃ namāmo jagadbaṃdhuṃ tvāṃ vayaṃ śaraṇāgatāḥ

'By whose very sight even outcastes have been made most exalted — to you, kinsman of the universe, we bow; to you we come as our refuge.'

Verse 83 (skanda.1.31.83)

नमस्ते पार्वतीपुत्र शंकरात्मज ते नमः॥ नमस्ते कृत्तिकासूनो अग्निभूत नमोस्तु ते

namaste pārvatīputra śaṃkarātmaja te namaḥ|| namaste kṛttikāsūno agnibhūta namostu te

'Salutation to you, son of Parvati; salutation to you, child of Shankara; salutation to you, son of the Krittikas; salutation to you, born of fire.'

Verse 84 (skanda.1.31.84)

नमोस्तु ते देववरैः सुपूज्य नमोऽस्तु ते ज्ञानविदां वरिष्ठ॥ नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद शरण्य सर्वार्तिविनाशदक्ष

namostu te devavaraiḥ supūjya namo'stu te jñānavidāṃ variṣṭha|| namo'stu te devavara prasīda śaraṇya sarvārtivināśadakṣa

'Salutation to you, well worshipped by the foremost of gods; salutation to you, most eminent among the knowers of knowledge; salutation to you, O best of gods — be gracious, O refuge, O skilled destroyer of all sorrow.'

Verse 85 (skanda.1.31.85)

एवं स्तुतो गिरिभिः कार्त्तिकेयो ह्युमासुतः॥ तान्गिरीन्सुप्रसन्नात्मा वरं दातुं समुत्सुकः

evaṃ stuto giribhiḥ kārttikeyo hyumāsutaḥ|| tāngirīnsuprasannātmā varaṃ dātuṃ samutsukaḥ

Thus praised by the mountains, Karttikeya, the son of Uma, his heart deeply pleased, grew eager to grant those mountains a boon.

Verse 86 (skanda.1.31.86)

॥कार्त्तिकेय उवाच॥ भोभो गिरिवरा यूयं श्रृणुध्वं मद्वचोऽधुना॥ कर्मिभिर्ज्ञानिभिश्चैव सेव्यमाना भविष्यथ

||kārttikeya uvāca|| bhobho girivarā yūyaṃ śrṛṇudhvaṃ madvaco'dhunā|| karmibhirjñānibhiścaiva sevyamānā bhaviṣyatha

Karttikeya said: 'O foremost of mountains, listen now to my words: you shall become worthy of veneration by both men of works and men of knowledge.'

Verse 87 (skanda.1.31.87)

भवत्स्वेव हि वर्त्तते दृषदो यत्नसेविताः॥ पुनंतु विश्चं वचनान्मम ता नात्र संशयः

bhavatsveva hi varttate dṛṣado yatnasevitāḥ|| punaṃtu viścaṃ vacanānmama tā nātra saṃśayaḥ

'Upon you yourselves shall abide those sacred stones, honoured with careful devotion; by my word they shall purify the universe — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 88 (skanda.1.31.88)

पर्वतीयानि तीर्थानि भविष्यंति न चान्यथा॥ शिवालयानि दिव्यानि दिव्यान्यायतनानि च

parvatīyāni tīrthāni bhaviṣyaṃti na cānyathā|| śivālayāni divyāni divyānyāyatanāni ca

'Sacred places belonging to the mountains shall come into being, and in no other way; divine abodes of Shiva, and divine sanctuaries too.'

Verse 89 (skanda.1.31.89)

अयनानि विचित्राणि शोभनानि महांति च॥ भविष्यंति न संदेहः पर्वता वचनान्मम

ayanāni vicitrāṇi śobhanāni mahāṃti ca|| bhaviṣyaṃti na saṃdehaḥ parvatā vacanānmama

'Wondrous, beautiful and great sanctuaries shall come to be, O mountains, by my word — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 90 (skanda.1.31.90)

योऽयं मातामहो मेऽद्य हिमवान्पर्वतोत्तमः॥ तपस्विनां महाभागः फलदो हि भविष्यति

yo'yaṃ mātāmaho me'dya himavānparvatottamaḥ|| tapasvināṃ mahābhāgaḥ phalado hi bhaviṣyati

'This one, Himavan, foremost of mountains, who is my own maternal grandfather, shall become the most blessed bestower of fruit for ascetics.'

Verse 91 (skanda.1.31.91)

मेरुश्च गिरिराजोऽयमाश्रयो हि भविष्यति॥ लोकालोको गिरिवर उदयाद्रिर्महायशः

meruśca girirājo'yamāśrayo hi bhaviṣyati|| lokāloko girivara udayādrirmahāyaśaḥ

'And Meru, this king of mountains, shall become a refuge; and Lokaloka, that foremost of mountains, and the greatly renowned Udayagiri.'

Verse 92 (skanda.1.31.92)

लिंगरूपो हि भगवान्भविष्यति न चान्यथा॥ श्रीशैलो हि महेंद्रश्च तथा सह्याचलोगिरिः

liṃgarūpo hi bhagavānbhaviṣyati na cānyathā|| śrīśailo hi maheṃdraśca tathā sahyācalogiriḥ

'The lord shall assume the form of a linga there, and in no other way; and so shall Shrishaila, and Mahendra, and likewise the Sahya mountain.'

Verse 93 (skanda.1.31.93)

माल्यवान्मलयो विन्ध्यस्तथासौ गंधमादनः॥ श्वेतकूटस्त्रिकूटो हि तथा दर्दुरपर्वतः

mālyavānmalayo vindhyastathāsau gaṃdhamādanaḥ|| śvetakūṭastrikūṭo hi tathā darduraparvataḥ

'Malyavan, Malaya, Vindhya, and likewise Gandhamadana; Shvetakuta, Trikuta, and likewise the Dardura mountain —'

Verse 94 (skanda.1.31.94)

एते चान्ये च बहवः पर्वता लिंगरूपिणः॥ मम वाक्याद्भविष्यंति पापक्षयकरा ह्यमी

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ parvatā liṃgarūpiṇaḥ|| mama vākyādbhaviṣyaṃti pāpakṣayakarā hyamī

'— these and many other mountains shall, by my word, become bearers of the linga's form, destroyers of sin.'

Verse 95 (skanda.1.31.95)

एवं वरं ददौ तेभ्यः पर्वतेभ्यश्च शांकरिः॥ ततो नंदीह्युवाचाथ सर्वागमपुरस्कृतम्

evaṃ varaṃ dadau tebhyaḥ parvatebhyaśca śāṃkariḥ|| tato naṃdīhyuvācātha sarvāgamapuraskṛtam

Thus did Shankara's son grant that boon to the mountains; then Nandi spoke, honouring all the sacred traditions:

Verse 96 (skanda.1.31.96)

॥नंद्युवाच॥ त्वया कृता हि गिरयो लिंगरूपिण एव ते॥ शिवालयाः कथं नाथ पूज्याः स्युःसर्वदैवतैः

||naṃdyuvāca|| tvayā kṛtā hi girayo liṃgarūpiṇa eva te|| śivālayāḥ kathaṃ nātha pūjyāḥ syuḥsarvadaivataiḥ

Nandi said: 'You have made the mountains bear the very form of the linga; but how, O lord, do the shrines of Shiva come to be worshipped by all the gods?'

Verse 97 (skanda.1.31.97)

॥कुमार उवाच॥ लिंगं शिवालयं ज्ञेयं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः॥ सर्वैर्नृभिर्दैवतैश्च ब्रह्मादिभिरतांद्रितैः

||kumāra uvāca|| liṃgaṃ śivālayaṃ jñeyaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ|| sarvairnṛbhirdaivataiśca brahmādibhiratāṃdritaiḥ

Kumara said: 'The linga is to be known as the very abode of Shiva, the god of gods who bears the trident, worthy of tireless worship by all men and gods, by Brahma and the rest.'

Verse 98 (skanda.1.31.98)

नीलं मुक्ता प्रवालं च वैडूर्यं चंद्रमेव च॥ गोमेदं पद्मरागं च मारतं कांचनं तथा

nīlaṃ muktā pravālaṃ ca vaiḍūryaṃ caṃdrameva ca|| gomedaṃ padmarāgaṃ ca mārataṃ kāṃcanaṃ tathā

'Sapphire, pearl, coral, cat's-eye, and moonstone as well; gomeda, ruby, and marakata, and gold likewise —'

Verse 99 (skanda.1.31.99)

राजतं ताम्रमारं च तथा नागमयं परम्॥ रत्नधातुमयान्येव लिंगानि कथितानि ते

rājataṃ tāmramāraṃ ca tathā nāgamayaṃ param|| ratnadhātumayānyeva liṃgāni kathitāni te

'— silver, copper, and likewise lead — of jewels and metals of every kind, such lingas have been described to you.'

Verse 100 (skanda.1.31.100)

पवित्राण्येव पूज्यानि सर्वकामप्रदानि च॥ एतेषामपि सर्वेषां काश्मीरं हि विशिष्यते

pavitrāṇyeva pūjyāni sarvakāmapradāni ca|| eteṣāmapi sarveṣāṃ kāśmīraṃ hi viśiṣyate

'All of these are sacred and worthy of worship, granting every desire; but among all of these, the Kashmira linga is most excellent.'

Verse 101 (skanda.1.31.101)

ऐहिकामुष्मिकं सर्वं पूजाकर्तुः प्रयच्छति

aihikāmuṣmikaṃ sarvaṃ pūjākartuḥ prayacchati

'It bestows upon its worshipper everything, both in this world and in the next.'

Verse 102 (skanda.1.31.102)

॥नंद्युवाच॥ लिंगानामपि पूज्यं स्याद्बाणलिंगं त्वया कथम्॥ कथितं चोत्तमत्वेन तत्सर्वं वदसुव्रत

||naṃdyuvāca|| liṃgānāmapi pūjyaṃ syādbāṇaliṃgaṃ tvayā katham|| kathitaṃ cottamatvena tatsarvaṃ vadasuvrata

Nandi said: 'Among lingas too, why have you declared the Banalinga worthy of worship, and spoken of it as supreme? Tell us all of this, O virtuous one.'

Verse 103 (skanda.1.31.103)

॥कुमार उवाच॥ रेवायां तोयमध्ये च दृश्यंते दृषदो हि याः॥ शिवप्रसादात्तास्तु स्युर्लिंगरूपा न चान्यथा

||kumāra uvāca|| revāyāṃ toyamadhye ca dṛśyaṃte dṛṣado hi yāḥ|| śivaprasādāttāstu syurliṃgarūpā na cānyathā

Kumara said: 'Those stones which are seen amid the waters of the Reva river — by Shiva's own grace they become of the linga's very form, and in no other way.'

Verse 104 (skanda.1.31.104)

श्लक्ष्णमूलाश्च कर्तव्याः पिंडिकोपरि संस्थिताः॥ पूजनीयाः प्रयत्नेन शिवदीक्षायुतेन हि

ślakṣṇamūlāśca kartavyāḥ piṃḍikopari saṃsthitāḥ|| pūjanīyāḥ prayatnena śivadīkṣāyutena hi

'Their base should be made smooth, and they should be placed upon a pedestal; they are to be worshipped with care, by one who has undergone initiation into Shiva's discipline.'

Verse 105 (skanda.1.31.105)

पिंडीयुक्तं च शास्त्रेण विधिना च यजेच्छिवम्॥ वरदो हि जगन्नाथः पूजकस्य न चान्यथा

piṃḍīyuktaṃ ca śāstreṇa vidhinā ca yajecchivam|| varado hi jagannāthaḥ pūjakasya na cānyathā

'Placed upon its pedestal, Shiva should be worshipped according to scripture and prescribed rite; the lord of the universe grants boons to his worshipper, and in no other way.'

Verse 106 (skanda.1.31.106)

पंचाक्षरी यस्य मुखे स्थिता सदा चेतोनिवृत्तिः शिवचिंतने च॥ भूतेषुः साम्यं परिवादमूकता षंढत्वमेव परयोषितासु

paṃcākṣarī yasya mukhe sthitā sadā cetonivṛttiḥ śivaciṃtane ca|| bhūteṣuḥ sāmyaṃ parivādamūkatā ṣaṃḍhatvameva parayoṣitāsu

'He in whose mouth the five-syllabled mantra ever abides, whose mind ever withdraws into contemplation of Shiva, who holds equanimity toward all beings, who is silent toward slander, and who is, as it were, impotent toward the wives of others —'