The Jyotirlingas and the Tale of Sundari

Verse 1 (skanda.1.7.1)

॥लोमश उवाच॥ तदा च ते सुराः सर्व ऋषयोपि भयान्विताः॥ ईडिरे लिंगमैशं च ब्रह्माद्या ज्ञानविह्वलाः

||lomaśa uvāca|| tadā ca te surāḥ sarva ṛṣayopi bhayānvitāḥ|| īḍire liṃgamaiśaṃ ca brahmādyā jñānavihvalāḥ

Lomasha said: Then all the gods, and the sages too, filled with fear, praised the Lord's linga — Brahma and the rest, their understanding bewildered.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.7.2)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ त्वं लिंगरूपी तु महाप्रभावो वेदांतवेद्योसि महात्मरूपि॥ येनैव सर्वे जगदात्ममूलं कृतं सदानंदपरेण नित्यम्

||brahmovāca|| tvaṃ liṃgarūpī tu mahāprabhāvo vedāṃtavedyosi mahātmarūpi|| yenaiva sarve jagadātmamūlaṃ kṛtaṃ sadānaṃdapareṇa nityam

Brahma said: "You, in the form of the linga, are of great majesty, known through the Vedanta, of the very nature of the Great Self; by you alone, ever intent on bliss, has this entire universe been rooted in the Self."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.7.3)

त्वं साक्षी सर्वलोकानां हर्ता त्वं च विचक्षणः॥ रक्षणोसि महादेव भैरवोसि जगत्पते

tvaṃ sākṣī sarvalokānāṃ hartā tvaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ|| rakṣaṇosi mahādeva bhairavosi jagatpate

"You are the witness of all worlds, and also their destroyer, the discerning one; you are the protector, O Mahadeva; you are Bhairava, O Lord of the universe."

Verse 4 (skanda.1.7.4)

त्वया लिंगस्वरूपेण व्याप्तमेतज्जगत्त्रयम्॥ क्षुद्राश्चैव वयं नाथ मायामोहितचेतसः

tvayā liṃgasvarūpeṇa vyāptametajjagattrayam|| kṣudrāścaiva vayaṃ nātha māyāmohitacetasaḥ

"By you, in the form of the linga, these three worlds are pervaded; and we, O Lord, are but insignificant, our minds deluded by maya."

Verse 5 (skanda.1.7.5)

अहं सुराऽसुराः सर्वे यक्षगंधर्वराक्षसाः॥ पन्नगाश्च पिशाचाश्च तथा विद्याधरा ह्यमी

ahaṃ surā'surāḥ sarve yakṣagaṃdharvarākṣasāḥ|| pannagāśca piśācāśca tathā vidyādharā hyamī

"I, and all the gods and demons, yakshas, gandharvas, rakshasas, serpents, pishachas, and these vidyadharas too —"

Verse 6 (skanda.1.7.6)

त्वंहि विश्वसृजां स्रष्टा त्वं हि देवो जगत्पतिः॥ कर्ता त्वं भुवनस्यास्य त्वं हर्ता पुरुषः परः

tvaṃhi viśvasṛjāṃ sraṣṭā tvaṃ hi devo jagatpatiḥ|| kartā tvaṃ bhuvanasyāsya tvaṃ hartā puruṣaḥ paraḥ

"You are the creator of the creators of the universe, you are the God, Lord of the world; you are the maker of this world, and you are its destroyer, the Supreme Person."

Verse 7 (skanda.1.7.7)

त्राह्यस्माकं महादेव देवदेव नमोऽस्तु ते॥ एवं स्तुतो हि वै धात्रा लिंगरूपी महेश्वरः

trāhyasmākaṃ mahādeva devadeva namo'stu te|| evaṃ stuto hi vai dhātrā liṃgarūpī maheśvaraḥ

"Save us, O Mahadeva; O God of gods, salutation to you." Thus praised by the Creator, that Maheshvara in the form of the linga —

Verse 8 (skanda.1.7.8)

ऋषयः स्तोतुकामास्ते महेश्वरमकल्मषम्॥ अस्तुवन्गीर्भिरग्र्याभिः श्रुतिगीताभिरादृताः

ṛṣayaḥ stotukāmāste maheśvaramakalmaṣam|| astuvangīrbhiragryābhiḥ śrutigītābhirādṛtāḥ

wishing likewise to praise that stainless Maheshvara, the sages too honored him with excellent hymns drawn from the Vedas.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.7.9)

॥ऋषय ऊचुः॥ अज्ञानिनो वयं कामान्न विंदामोऽस्य संस्थितिम्॥ त्वं ह्यात्मा परमात्मा च प्रकृतिस्त्वं विभाविनी

||ṛṣaya ūcuḥ|| ajñānino vayaṃ kāmānna viṃdāmo'sya saṃsthitim|| tvaṃ hyātmā paramātmā ca prakṛtistvaṃ vibhāvinī

The sages said: "We are without knowledge; even out of desire we cannot grasp your true nature. You alone are the Self and the Supreme Self, and you are radiant Prakriti herself."

Verse 10 (skanda.1.7.10)

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बंधुश्च सखा त्वमे॥ त्वमीश्वरो वेदविदेकरूपो महानुभावैः परिचिंत्यमानः

tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva tvameva baṃdhuśca sakhā tvame|| tvamīśvaro vedavidekarūpo mahānubhāvaiḥ pariciṃtyamānaḥ

"You alone are mother, and father; you alone are kinsman and friend; you are Ishvara, one with the knower of the Veda, contemplated by great souls."

Verse 11 (skanda.1.7.11)

त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानामेको ज्योतिरिवैधसाम्॥ सर्वं भवति यस्मात्त्वत्तस्मात्सर्वोऽसि नित्यदा

tvamātmā sarvabhūtānāmeko jyotirivaidhasām|| sarvaṃ bhavati yasmāttvattasmātsarvo'si nityadā

"You are the Self of all beings, the one light amid all kindling; since all things arise from you, therefore you are ever 'Sarva,' the All."

Verse 12 (skanda.1.7.12)

यस्माच्च संभवत्येतत्तस्माच्छंभुरिति प्रभुः

yasmācca saṃbhavatyetattasmācchaṃbhuriti prabhuḥ

"And since all this arises from you, therefore, O Lord, you are called Shambhu."

Verse 13 (skanda.1.7.13)

त्वत्पादपंकजं प्राप्ता वयं सर्वे सुरादयः॥ ऋषयो देवगंधर्वा विद्याधरमहोरगाः

tvatpādapaṃkajaṃ prāptā vayaṃ sarve surādayaḥ|| ṛṣayo devagaṃdharvā vidyādharamahoragāḥ

"We all — gods, sages, celestial gandharvas, vidyadharas, and great serpents — have come to your lotus feet."

Verse 14 (skanda.1.7.14)

तस्माच्च कृपया शंभो पाह्यस्माञ्जगतः पते

tasmācca kṛpayā śaṃbho pāhyasmāñjagataḥ pate

"Therefore, O Shambhu, out of compassion, protect us, O Lord of the universe."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.7.15)

॥महादेव उवाच॥ श्रृणुध्वं तु वचो मेऽद्य क्रियतां च त्वरान्वितैः॥ विष्णुं सर्वे प्रार्थयंतु त्वरितेन तपोधनाः

||mahādeva uvāca|| śrṛṇudhvaṃ tu vaco me'dya kriyatāṃ ca tvarānvitaiḥ|| viṣṇuṃ sarve prārthayaṃtu tvaritena tapodhanāḥ

Mahadeva said: "Listen to my words today, and act upon them swiftly; O sages of great austerity, all of you entreat Vishnu at once."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.7.16)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शंकरस्य महात्मनः॥ विष्णुं सर्वे नमस्कृत्य ईडिरे च तदा सुराः

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śaṃkarasya mahātmanaḥ|| viṣṇuṃ sarve namaskṛtya īḍire ca tadā surāḥ

Hearing these words of the great-souled Shankara, all the gods bowed to Vishnu and praised him.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.7.17)

॥देव ऊचुः॥ विद्याधराः सुरगणा ऋषयश्च सर्वे त्रातास्त्वयाद्य सकलाजगदेकबंधो॥ तद्वत्कृपाकरजनान्परिपालयाद्य त्रैलोक्यनाथ जगदीश जगन्निवास

||deva ūcuḥ|| vidyādharāḥ suragaṇā ṛṣayaśca sarve trātāstvayādya sakalājagadekabaṃdho|| tadvatkṛpākarajanānparipālayādya trailokyanātha jagadīśa jagannivāsa

The gods said: "O sole kinsman of the entire universe, vidyadharas, gods, and all the sages have today been saved by you; likewise now, O Lord of the three worlds, Lord of the universe, Abode of the universe, protect your compassionate people too."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.7.18)

प्रहस्य भगवन्विष्णुरुवाचेदं वचस्तदा॥ दैत्यैः प्रपीडिता यूयं रक्षिताश्च पुरा मया

prahasya bhagavanviṣṇuruvācedaṃ vacastadā|| daityaiḥ prapīḍitā yūyaṃ rakṣitāśca purā mayā

Then the Blessed Lord Vishnu, smiling, spoke these words: "When you were afflicted by the daityas, you were protected by me before."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.7.19)

अद्यैव भयमुत्पन्नं लिंगादस्माच्चिरंतनम्॥ न शक्यते मया त्रातुमस्माल्लिंगभयात्सुराः

adyaiva bhayamutpannaṃ liṃgādasmācciraṃtanam|| na śakyate mayā trātumasmālliṃgabhayātsurāḥ

"But today a fear has arisen from this ancient linga of a kind that I, O gods, am unable to protect you from."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.7.20)

अच्युतेनैवमुक्तास्ते देवा श्चिंतान्विताभवन्॥ तदा नभोगता वाणी उवाचाश्वास्य वै सुरान्

acyutenaivamuktāste devā ściṃtānvitābhavan|| tadā nabhogatā vāṇī uvācāśvāsya vai surān

Thus addressed by Achyuta, the gods fell into anxious thought. Then a voice from the sky spoke, comforting the gods —

Verse 21 (skanda.1.7.21)

एतल्लिंगं संवृणुष्व पूजनाय जनार्दन॥ पिंडिभूत्वा महाबाहो रक्षस्व सचराचरम्॥ तथेति मत्वा बगवान्वीरभद्रोऽभ्यपूजयत्

etalliṃgaṃ saṃvṛṇuṣva pūjanāya janārdana|| piṃḍibhūtvā mahābāho rakṣasva sacarācaram|| tatheti matvā bagavānvīrabhadro'bhyapūjayat

"Enclose this linga for worship, O Janardana; taking the form of a compact mass, O mighty-armed one, protect all that moves and moves not." Accepting this, the Blessed Virabhadra worshipped it.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.7.22)

ब्रह्मादिभः सुरगणैः सहितैस्तदानीं संपूजितः शिवविधानरतो महात्मा॥ स्रवीरभद्रः शशिशेखरोऽसौ शिवप्रियो रुद्रसमस्त्रिलोक्याम्

brahmādibhaḥ suragaṇaiḥ sahitaistadānīṃ saṃpūjitaḥ śivavidhānarato mahātmā|| sravīrabhadraḥ śaśiśekharo'sau śivapriyo rudrasamastrilokyām

Then, worshipped by Brahma and the other gods together, that great soul Virabhadra, devoted to Shiva's ordinance — moon-crested, beloved of Shiva, in the three worlds equal to Rudra himself —

Verse 23 (skanda.1.7.23)

लिंगस्यार्चनयुक्तोऽसौ वीरभद्रोऽभवत्तदा॥ तद्रूपस्यैव लिंगस्य येन सर्वमिदं जगत्

liṃgasyārcanayukto'sau vīrabhadro'bhavattadā|| tadrūpasyaiva liṃgasya yena sarvamidaṃ jagat

became devoted to the worship of that linga. From that very linga, in that very form, this entire world —

Verse 24 (skanda.1.7.24)

उद्भाति स्थितिमाप्नोति तथा विलयमेति च॥ तल्लिंगं लिंगमित्याहुर्लयनात्तत्त्ववित्तमाः

udbhāti sthitimāpnoti tathā vilayameti ca|| talliṃgaṃ liṃgamityāhurlayanāttattvavittamāḥ

comes into manifestation, is maintained in existence, and likewise passes into dissolution; that is why the knowers of truth call it "linga," from "laya," dissolution.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.7.25)

ब्रह्माण्डागोलकैर्व्याप्तं तथा रुद्राक्षभूषितम्॥ तथा लिंगं महज्जातं सर्वेषां दुरतिक्रमम्

brahmāṇḍāgolakairvyāptaṃ tathā rudrākṣabhūṣitam|| tathā liṃgaṃ mahajjātaṃ sarveṣāṃ duratikramam

Pervading the spheres of the universe and adorned with rudraksha, that linga became so vast that it was insurmountable to all.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.7.26)

तदा सर्वेऽथ विबुधा ऋषो वै महाप्रभाः॥ तुष्टुवुश्च महालिंगं वेदावादैः पृथक्पृथक्

tadā sarve'tha vibudhā ṛṣo vai mahāprabhāḥ|| tuṣṭuvuśca mahāliṃgaṃ vedāvādaiḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Then all the wise sages, of great splendor, began to praise that great linga, each separately, with the utterances of the Veda.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.7.27)

अणोरणीयांस्त्वं देव तथा त्वं महतो महान्॥ तस्मात्त्वया विधातव्यं सर्वैषां लिंगपूजनम्

aṇoraṇīyāṃstvaṃ deva tathā tvaṃ mahato mahān|| tasmāttvayā vidhātavyaṃ sarvaiṣāṃ liṃgapūjanam

"O God, you are subtler than the subtlest, and yet you are also greater than the greatest; therefore the worship of the linga by all must be ordained by you."

Verse 28 (skanda.1.7.28)

तदानीमेव सर्वेण लिंगं च बहुशः कृतम्॥ सत्ये ब्रह्मेश्वरं लिंगं वैकुण्ठे च सदाशिवः

tadānīmeva sarveṇa liṃgaṃ ca bahuśaḥ kṛtam|| satye brahmeśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ vaikuṇṭhe ca sadāśivaḥ

At that very time, the linga was made by everyone, in many forms: in Satyaloka, the linga Brahmeshvara; and in Vaikuntha, Sadashiva;

Verse 29 (skanda.1.7.29)

अमरावत्यां सुप्रतिष्ठममरेश्वरसंज्ञकम्॥ वरुणेश्वरं च वारुण्यां याम्यां कालेश्वरं प्रभुम्

amarāvatyāṃ supratiṣṭhamamareśvarasaṃjñakam|| varuṇeśvaraṃ ca vāruṇyāṃ yāmyāṃ kāleśvaraṃ prabhum

in Amaravati, the well-established Amareshvara; Varuneshvara in Varuna's quarter; in the southern quarter, the Lord Kaleshvara;

Verse 30 (skanda.1.7.30)

नैर्ऋतेश्वरं च नैर्ऋत्यां वायव्यां पावनेश्वरम्॥ केदारं मृत्युलोके च तथैव अमरेश्वरम्

nairṛteśvaraṃ ca nairṛtyāṃ vāyavyāṃ pāvaneśvaram|| kedāraṃ mṛtyuloke ca tathaiva amareśvaram

Nairriteshvara in the southwest quarter; Pavaneshvara in the northwest quarter; Kedara in the mortal world, and likewise Amareshvara again;

Verse 31 (skanda.1.7.31)

ओंकारं नर्मदायां च महाकालं तथैव च॥ काश्यां विश्वेश्वरं देवं प्रयागे ललितेश्वरम्

oṃkāraṃ narmadāyāṃ ca mahākālaṃ tathaiva ca|| kāśyāṃ viśveśvaraṃ devaṃ prayāge laliteśvaram

Omkara on the Narmada, and likewise Mahakala; in Kashi, the God Vishveshvara; in Prayaga, Laliteshvara;

Verse 32 (skanda.1.7.32)

त्रियम्बकं ब्रह्मगिरौ कलौ भद्रेश्वरं तथा॥ द्राक्षारामेश्वरं लिंगं गंगासागरसंगमे

triyambakaṃ brahmagirau kalau bhadreśvaraṃ tathā|| drākṣārāmeśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ gaṃgāsāgarasaṃgame

Tryambaka on Brahmagiri; Bhadreshvara in Kali; the linga Draksharameshvara at the confluence of the Ganga and the sea;

Verse 33 (skanda.1.7.33)

सौराष्ट्रे च तथा लिंगं सोमेश्वरमिति स्मृतम्॥ तथा सर्वेश्वरं विन्ध्ये श्रीशैले शिखरेश्वरम्॥ कान्त्यामल्लालनाथं च सिंहनाथं च सिंगले

saurāṣṭre ca tathā liṃgaṃ someśvaramiti smṛtam|| tathā sarveśvaraṃ vindhye śrīśaile śikhareśvaram|| kāntyāmallālanāthaṃ ca siṃhanāthaṃ ca siṃgale

and, in Saurashtra, the linga remembered by the name Someshvara; likewise Sarveshvara in the Vindhyas, Shikhareshvara at Shrishaila; Mallalanatha in Kanti, and Simhanatha in Simhala;

Verse 34 (skanda.1.7.34)

विरूपाक्षं तथा लिंगं कोटिशङ्करमेव च॥ त्रिपुरान्तकं भीमेशममरेश्वरमेव च

virūpākṣaṃ tathā liṃgaṃ koṭiśaṅkarameva ca|| tripurāntakaṃ bhīmeśamamareśvarameva ca

and likewise the linga Virupaksha, and Koti-Shankara too; Tripurantaka, Bhimesha, and Amareshvara as well;

Verse 35 (skanda.1.7.35)

भोगेश्वरं च पाताले हाटकेश्वरमेव च॥ एवमादीन्यनेकानि लिंगानि भुवनत्रये॥ स्थापितानि तदा देवैर्विश्वोपकृतिहेतवे

bhogeśvaraṃ ca pātāle hāṭakeśvarameva ca|| evamādīnyanekāni liṃgāni bhuvanatraye|| sthāpitāni tadā devairviśvopakṛtihetave

Bhogeshvara in Patala, and likewise Hatakeshvara — thus these and many other lingas were established by the gods in the three worlds, for the benefit of the universe.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.7.36)

लिंगेशैश्च तथा सर्वैः पूर्णमासीज्जगत्त्रयम्॥ तथा च वीरभद्रांशाः पूजार्थममरैः कृताः॥ तत्र विंशतिसंस्कारास्तेषामष्टाधिकाभवन्॥ कथिताः शंकरेणैव लिंगस्याचनसूचकाः

liṃgeśaiśca tathā sarvaiḥ pūrṇamāsījjagattrayam|| tathā ca vīrabhadrāṃśāḥ pūjārthamamaraiḥ kṛtāḥ|| tatra viṃśatisaṃskārāsteṣāmaṣṭādhikābhavan|| kathitāḥ śaṃkareṇaiva liṃgasyācanasūcakāḥ

With all these lords of the linga, the three worlds became complete; and likewise the gods made portions of Virabhadra for the sake of worship. There, twenty-eight consecratory rites, indicative of the worship of the linga, were declared by Shankara himself.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.7.37)

संति रुद्रेण कथिताः शिवधर्मा सनातनाः॥ वीरभद्रो यथा रुद्रस्तथान्ये गुरवः स्मृताः

saṃti rudreṇa kathitāḥ śivadharmā sanātanāḥ|| vīrabhadro yathā rudrastathānye guravaḥ smṛtāḥ

The eternal dharmas of Shiva, spoken by Rudra, exist; as Virabhadra is (a form of) Rudra, so other teachers too are remembered in that lineage.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.7.38)

गुरोर्जाताश्च गुरवो विख्याता भुवनत्रये॥ लिंगस्य महिमान तु नन्दी जानाति तत्त्वतः

gurorjātāśca guravo vikhyātā bhuvanatraye|| liṃgasya mahimāna tu nandī jānāti tattvataḥ

From that guru arose further gurus, renowned throughout the three worlds; but the true greatness of the linga, Nandi alone knows in its full reality.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.7.39)

तथा स्कन्दो हि भगवान्न्ये ते नामधारकाः॥ यथोक्ताः शिवधरमा हि नन्दिना परिकीर्त्तिताः

tathā skando hi bhagavānnye te nāmadhārakāḥ|| yathoktāḥ śivadharamā hi nandinā parikīrttitāḥ

Likewise the Blessed Skanda, and other bearers of that name — the dharmas of Shiva thus spoken were proclaimed by Nandi.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.7.40)

शैलादेन महाभागा विचित्रा लिंगधारकाः॥ शवस्योपरि लिंगं च ध्रियते च पुरातनैः

śailādena mahābhāgā vicitrā liṃgadhārakāḥ|| śavasyopari liṃgaṃ ca dhriyate ca purātanaiḥ

By the most fortunate Shailada, wondrous bearers of the linga were established; from ancient times the linga is worn even upon a corpse.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.7.41)

लिंगेन सह पञ्चत्वं लिंगेन सह जीवितम्॥ एते धर्माः सुप्रतिष्ठाः शैलादेन प्रतिष्ठिताः

liṃgena saha pañcatvaṃ liṃgena saha jīvitam|| ete dharmāḥ supratiṣṭhāḥ śailādena pratiṣṭhitāḥ

"With the linga comes death, with the linga comes life" — these well-established observances were instituted by Shailada.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.7.42)

धर्मः पाशुपतः श्रेष्ठः स्कन्देन प्रतिपालितः

dharmaḥ pāśupataḥ śreṣṭhaḥ skandena pratipālitaḥ

The Pashupata dharma, foremost of all, was upheld by Skanda.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.7.43)

शुद्धापञ्चाक्षरीविद्याप्रासादी तदनन्तरम्॥ षडक्षरी तथा विद्या प्रासादस्य च दीपिका

śuddhāpañcākṣarīvidyāprāsādī tadanantaram|| ṣaḍakṣarī tathā vidyā prāsādasya ca dīpikā

The pure five-syllabled doctrine, and thereafter the Prasada mantra; and likewise the six-syllabled doctrine, the illuminator of the Prasada —

Verse 44 (skanda.1.7.44)

स्कन्दात्तत्समनुप्राप्तमगस्त्येन महात्मना॥ पश्चादाचार्यभेदेन ह्यागमा बहवोऽभवन्

skandāttatsamanuprāptamagastyena mahātmanā|| paścādācāryabhedena hyāgamā bahavo'bhavan

this, in due succession, was received from Skanda by the great sage Agastya; afterward, through differences among teachers, many Agamas came into being.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.7.45)

किं तु वै बहुनोक्तेन श्वि इत्यक्षरद्वयम्॥ उच्चारयंति स नित्यं ते रुद्रा नात्र संशयः

kiṃ tu vai bahunoktena śvi ityakṣaradvayam|| uccārayaṃti sa nityaṃ te rudrā nātra saṃśayaḥ

But what use in saying more? Those who ever utter that pair of sacred syllables are themselves indeed Rudras, without doubt.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.7.46)

सतां मार्गं पुरस्कृत्य ये सर्वे ते पुरांतकाः॥ वीरा माहेश्वराज्ञेयाः पापक्षयकरा नृणाम्

satāṃ mārgaṃ puraskṛtya ye sarve te purāṃtakāḥ|| vīrā māheśvarājñeyāḥ pāpakṣayakarā nṛṇām

Those who, placing the path of the good foremost, follow that heroic Shaiva way — they, heroes known to Maheshvara, are destroyers of men's sins.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.7.47)

प्रसंगेनानुपंक्षेण श्रद्वया च यदृच्छया॥ शिवभक्तिं प्रकुर्वन्ति ये वै ते यांति सद्गतिम्

prasaṃgenānupaṃkṣeṇa śradvayā ca yadṛcchayā|| śivabhaktiṃ prakurvanti ye vai te yāṃti sadgatim

Whether by mere association, without full understanding, or through faith, or by mere chance, whoever performs devotion to Shiva attains the good goal.

Verse 48 (skanda.1.7.48)

श्रृणुध्वं कथयामीह इतिहासं पुरातनम्॥ कृतं शिवालयं यच्च पतंग्या मार्जनं पुरा

śrṛṇudhvaṃ kathayāmīha itihāsaṃ purātanam|| kṛtaṃ śivālayaṃ yacca pataṃgyā mārjanaṃ purā

Listen, I shall tell here an ancient legend — how, long ago, a Shiva temple was swept by a female moth.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.7.49)

आगता भक्षणार्थं हि नैवेद्यं केन चार्पितम्॥ मार्जनं रजस्तस्याः पक्षाभ्यामभवत्पुरा

āgatā bhakṣaṇārthaṃ hi naivedyaṃ kena cārpitam|| mārjanaṃ rajastasyāḥ pakṣābhyāmabhavatpurā

She had come to eat the naivedya offered by someone; in ancient times, her sweeping came about merely from the dust stirred by her two wings.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.7.50)

तेन कर्मविपाकेन उत्तमं स्वर्गमागता॥ भुक्त्वा स्वर्गसुखं चोग्रं पुनः संसारमागता

tena karmavipākena uttamaṃ svargamāgatā|| bhuktvā svargasukhaṃ cograṃ punaḥ saṃsāramāgatā

By the ripening of that very action, she attained the most excellent heaven; having enjoyed the intense pleasures of heaven, she returned again to worldly existence,

Verse 51 (skanda.1.7.51)

काशिराजसुता जाता सुन्दरीनाम विश्रुता॥ पूर्वाभ्यासाच्च कल्याणी बभूव परमा सती

kāśirājasutā jātā sundarīnāma viśrutā|| pūrvābhyāsācca kalyāṇī babhūva paramā satī

and was born as the daughter of the king of Kashi, renowned by the name Sundari; through the impression of her former practice, she became a supremely auspicious and devoted sati.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.7.52)

उषस्युषसि तन्वंगी शिवद्वाररता सदा॥ संमार्जनं च कुरुते भक्त्या परमया युता

uṣasyuṣasi tanvaṃgī śivadvāraratā sadā|| saṃmārjanaṃ ca kurute bhaktyā paramayā yutā

That slender-bodied girl, rising each dawn, ever devoted to Shiva's door, performed the sweeping there, filled with the highest devotion.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.7.53)

स्वयमेव तदा देवी सुन्दरी राजकन्यका॥ तथाभूतां च तां दृष्ट्वा ऋषिरुद्दालकोऽब्रवीत्

svayameva tadā devī sundarī rājakanyakā|| tathābhūtāṃ ca tāṃ dṛṣṭvā ṛṣiruddālako'bravīt

The goddess-like princess Sundari did this herself. Seeing her thus, the sage Uddalaka said —

Verse 54 (skanda.1.7.54)

सुकुमारी सती बाले स्वयमेव कथं शुभे॥ संमार्जनं च कुरुषे कन्यके त्वं शुचिस्मिते

sukumārī satī bāle svayameva kathaṃ śubhe|| saṃmārjanaṃ ca kuruṣe kanyake tvaṃ śucismite

"O auspicious one, O delicate and virtuous girl, why do you, a mere princess, perform this sweeping yourself, O pure-smiling maiden?"

Verse 55 (skanda.1.7.55)

दासी दास्यश्च बहवः संति देवि तवाग्रतः॥ तवाज्ञया करिष्यंति सर्वं संमार्जनादिकम्

dāsī dāsyaśca bahavaḥ saṃti devi tavāgrataḥ|| tavājñayā kariṣyaṃti sarvaṃ saṃmārjanādikam

"You have, O goddess, many maidservants before you; at your command they would perform all this sweeping and the rest."

Verse 56 (skanda.1.7.56)

ऋषेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्येदमुवाच ह

ṛṣestadvacanaṃ śrutvā prahasyedamuvāca ha

Hearing the sage's words, she, smiling, replied thus.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.7.57)

शिवसेवां प्रकुर्वाणाः शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः॥ ये नराश्चैव नार्य्यश्च शिवलोकं व्रजंति वै

śivasevāṃ prakurvāṇāḥ śivabhaktipuraskṛtāḥ|| ye narāścaiva nāryyaśca śivalokaṃ vrajaṃti vai

"Those men and women who perform Shiva's service, holding devotion to Shiva foremost, indeed go to Shiva's world."

Verse 58 (skanda.1.7.58)

संमार्जनं च पाणिभ्यां पद्भ्यां यानं शिवालये॥ तस्मान्मया च क्रियते संमार्जनमतंद्रितम्

saṃmārjanaṃ ca pāṇibhyāṃ padbhyāṃ yānaṃ śivālaye|| tasmānmayā ca kriyate saṃmārjanamataṃdritam

"Sweeping with one's own hands, and going on foot to Shiva's temple — for this reason I myself perform the sweeping, without laziness."

Verse 59 (skanda.1.7.59)

अन्यत्किञ्चिन्न जानामि एकं संमार्जनं विना॥ ऋषिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मनसा च विमृश्य हि

anyatkiñcinna jānāmi ekaṃ saṃmārjanaṃ vinā|| ṛṣistadvacanaṃ śrutvā manasā ca vimṛśya hi

"Apart from this one act of sweeping, I know nothing else at all." Hearing her words, the sage, reflecting in his mind —

Verse 60 (skanda.1.7.60)

अनया किं कृतं पूर्वं केयं कस्य प्रसादतः॥ तदा ज्ञानं च ऋषिणा तत्सर्वं ज्ञानचक्षुषा॥ विस्मयेन समाविष्टस्तूष्णींभूतोऽभवत्तदा

anayā kiṃ kṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ keyaṃ kasya prasādataḥ|| tadā jñānaṃ ca ṛṣiṇā tatsarvaṃ jñānacakṣuṣā|| vismayena samāviṣṭastūṣṇīṃbhūto'bhavattadā

"What did she do before? Who is she, and by whose grace is she thus?" Then the sage, with his eye of knowledge, came to know all of this; filled with wonder, he fell silent.

Verse 61 (skanda.1.7.61)

सविस्मयोऽभूदथ तद्विदित्वा उद्दालको ज्ञानवतां वरिष्ठः॥ शिवप्रभावं मनसा विचिंत्य ज्ञानात्परं बोधमवाप शांतः

savismayo'bhūdatha tadviditvā uddālako jñānavatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ|| śivaprabhāvaṃ manasā viciṃtya jñānātparaṃ bodhamavāpa śāṃtaḥ

Filled with wonder at learning this, Uddalaka, foremost among the knowing, having pondered Shiva's power in his mind, attained a supreme understanding beyond mere knowledge, and became at peace.