The Description of Dharakshetra

Verse 1 (skanda.3.72.1)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । यत्रासौ शंकरो देवः पुनर्जन्मधरोऽभवत् ।

vyāsa uvāca ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi śivatīrthamanuttamam yatrāsau śaṁkaro devaḥ punarjanmadharo'bhavat

Vyasa said: Now I shall next relate that most excellent Shiva-tirtha, where the god Shankara became, as it were, one born again.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.72.2)

कीलितो देवदेवेशः शंकरश्च त्रिलोचनः । गिरिजया महाभाग पातितो भूमिमंडले ।

kīlito devadeveśaḥ śaṁkaraśca trilocanaḥ girijayā mahābhāga pātito bhūmimaṁḍale

The three-eyed Shankara, lord of gods, was pinned down by Girija (Parvati), O illustrious one, and thus caused to fall to the surface of the earth.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.72.3)

छलितो मुह्यमानस्तु दिवारात्रिं न वेत्ति च । पुंस्त्रीनपुंसकाश्चैव जडीभूतस्त्रिलोचनः ।

chalito muhyamānastu divārātriṁ na vetti ca puṁstrīnapuṁsakāścaiva jaḍībhūtastrilocanaḥ

Deceived and bewildered, the three-eyed one lost even the knowledge of day and night, could no longer distinguish male, female, or eunuch, and became as if inert.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.72.4)

कल्पांतमिव संजातं तदा तस्मिंश्च कीलिते । पार्वत्या सहसा तस्य कृत कीलनकं तदा ।

kalpāṁtamiva saṁjātaṁ tadā tasmiṁśca kīlite pārvatyā sahasā tasya kṛta kīlanakaṁ tadā

When he was thus pinned down, it seemed as though the very end of the kalpa had come. It was Parvati herself who had suddenly worked this pinning upon him.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.72.5)

।। युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।। एतदाश्चर्यमतुलं वचनं यत्त्वयोदितम् । यो गुरुः सर्वदेवानां योगिनां चैव सर्वदा ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca etadāścaryamatulaṁ vacanaṁ yattvayoditam yo guruḥ sarvadevānāṁ yogināṁ caiva sarvadā

Yudhishthira said: This account you have just told is a wonder beyond compare — that he who is ever the guru of all the gods and of all yogis —

Verse 6 (skanda.3.72.6)

पार्वत्या कीलितः कस्मान्नष्टवृत्तिः शिवः कथम् । कारणं कथ्यतां तत्र परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।

pārvatyā kīlitaḥ kasmānnaṣṭavṛttiḥ śivaḥ katham kāraṇaṁ kathyatāṁ tatra paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

— how was he pinned down by Parvati, and how did Shiva lose all his faculties? Tell me the cause of this, for I am filled with the greatest curiosity.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.72.7)

।। व्यास उवाच ।। मन्त्रौघा विविधा राजञ्छंकरेण प्रकाशिताः । पार्वत्यग्रे महाराज अथर्वणोपवेदजाः ।

vyāsa uvāca mantraughā vividhā rājañchaṁkareṇa prakāśitāḥ pārvatyagre mahārāja atharvaṇopavedajāḥ

Vyasa said: O king, before Parvati, Shankara revealed a great multitude of mantras of many kinds, born from the upaveda of the Atharva Veda.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.72.8)

शाकिनी डाकिनी चैव काकिनी हाकिनी तथा । एकिनी लाकिनी ह्येताः षट्भेदास्तत्र कीर्तिताः ।

śākinī ḍākinī caiva kākinī hākinī tathā ekinī lākinī hyetāḥ ṣaḍbhedāstatra kīrtitāḥ

Shakini, Dakini, Kakini, Hakini, Ekini, and Lakini — these six categories were then declared.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.72.9)

बीजान्युद्धृत्य वै ताभ्यो माला चैकवृता कृता । शंभुना कथिता चैव पार्वत्यग्रे नृपोत्तम ।

bījānyuddhṛtya vai tābhyo mālā caikavṛtā kṛtā śaṁbhunā kathitā caiva pārvatyagre nṛpottama

Extracting the seed-syllables from these, a single unified garland of mantras was formed. O best of kings, Shambhu declared this before Parvati.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.72.10)

तैश्चैव अष्टा भवति मंत्रोद्धारः कृतस्तु सा । साधयेत्सा महादुष्टा शाकिनी प्रमदानघे ।

taiścaiva aṣṭā bhavati mantroddhāraḥ kṛtastu sā sādhayetsā mahāduṣṭā śākinī pramadānaghe

From these was drawn out an eight-syllabled mantra. O sinless lady, by that mantra even that most fearsome Shakini can be mastered.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.72.11)

।। श्रीपार्वत्युवाच ।। प्रकाशितास्त्वया नाथ भेदा ह्येते षडेव हि । षड्विधाः शक्तयो नाथ अगम्यायोगमालिनीः । षड्विधोक्तं त्वयैकेन कूटात्कृतं वदस्व माम् ।

śrīpārvatyuvāca prakāśitāstvayā nātha bhedā hyete ṣaḍeva hi ṣaḍvidhāḥ śaktayo nātha agamyāyogamālinīḥ ṣaḍvidhoktaṁ tvayaikena kūṭātkṛtaṁ vadasva mām

Shri Parvati said: O lord, you have revealed only these six categories — the sixfold shaktis, forming an unfathomable garland of yoga. Tell me, O lord, how you yourself formed this sixfold teaching from a single seed-cluster.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.72.12)

।। श्रीमहादेव उवाच ।। अप्रकाशो महादेवि देवासुरैस्तु मानवैः ।

śrīmahādeva uvāca aprakāśo mahādevi devāsuraistu mānavaiḥ

Shri Mahadeva said: O great goddess, this is not to be revealed to gods, demons, or men.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.72.13)

।। पार्वत्युवाच ।। नमस्ते सर्वरूपाय नमस्ते वृषभध्वज । जटिलेश नमस्तुभ्यं नीलकण्ठ नमोस्तुते ।

pārvatyuvāca namaste sarvarūpāya namaste vṛṣabhadhvaja jaṭileśa namastubhyaṁ nīlakaṇṭha namostute

Parvati said: Salutations to you, the all-form. Salutations to you, bearer of the bull-banner. Salutations to you, lord of matted locks. Salutations to you, blue-throated one.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.72.14)

कृपासिंधो नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्ते कालरूपिणे । एतैश्च बहुभिर्वाक्यैः कोमलैः करुणानिधिम् ।

kṛpāsiṁdho namastubhyaṁ namaste kālarūpiṇe etaiśca bahubhirvākyaiḥ komalaiḥ karuṇānidhim

O ocean of compassion, salutations to you. O embodiment of Time, salutations to you. With these and many other such gentle words, she —

Verse 15 (skanda.3.72.15)

तोषयित्वाद्रितनया दण्डवत्प्रणिपत्य च । जग्राह पादयुगलं तां प्रोवाच दयापरः ।

toṣayitvādritanayā daṇḍavatpraṇipatya ca jagrāha pādayugalaṁ tāṁ provāca dayāparaḥ

— pleased that ocean of mercy; the mountain-king's daughter prostrated herself fully upon the ground and clasped his two feet. Then that compassionate lord spoke to her.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.72.16)

किमर्थं स्तूयसे भद्रे याच्यतां मनसीप्सितम् ।

kimarthaṁ stūyase bhadre yācyatāṁ manasīpsitam

'Why do you praise me so, gracious one? Ask for whatever your heart desires.'

Verse 17 (skanda.3.72.17)

।। पार्वत्युवाच ।। समाहारं च सध्यानं कथयस्व सविस्तरम् । असंदेहमशेषं च यद्यहं वल्लभा तव ।

pārvatyuvāca samāhāraṁ ca sadhyānaṁ kathayasva savistaram asaṁdehamaśeṣaṁ ca yadyahaṁ vallabhā tava

Parvati said: Tell me the full compilation and meditation in every detail, without any doubt and without omission — if indeed I am your beloved.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.72.18)

।। श्रीरुद्र उवाच ।। न प्रकाश्यं त्वया देवि समाहारोद्भवं फलम् । सर्वं तत्त्वमहं वक्ष्ये मंत्रकूटाद्यमेव हि ।

śrīrudra uvāca na prakāśyaṁ tvayā devi samāhārodbhavaṁ phalam sarvaṁ tattvamahaṁ vakṣye maṁtrakūṭādyameva hi

Shri Rudra said: O goddess, the fruit born of this compilation is never to be revealed by you to others. I shall tell you the entire truth of this mantra-cluster.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.72.19)

मायाबीजं तु सर्वेषां कूटानां हि वरानने । सर्वेषां मध्यमो वर्णो बिंदुना दादिशोभितः ।

māyābījaṁ tu sarveṣāṁ kūṭānāṁ hi varānane sarveṣāṁ madhyamo varṇo biṁdunā dādiśobhitaḥ

O fair-faced one, the maya-seed is the very root of all these clusters. The middle syllable of each is adorned with the anusvara-dot and the like.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.72.20)

वह्निबीजं सवातं च कूर्मबीजसमन्वितम् । आदित्यप्रभवं बीजं शक्तिबीजोद्भवं सदा ।

vahnibījaṁ savātaṁ ca kūrmabījasamanvitam ādityaprabhavaṁ bījaṁ śaktibījodbhavaṁ sadā

The fire-seed joined with the wind-seed, and combined with the tortoise-seed; the seed born of the sun ever arises together with the seed of shakti.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.72.21)

एतत्कूटं चाद्यबीजं द्वितीयं च विभोर्मतम् । तृतीयं चाग्निबीजं तु संयुक्तं बिंदुनेंदुना ।

etatkūṭaṁ cādyabījaṁ dvitīyaṁ ca vibhormatam tṛtīyaṁ cāgnibījaṁ tu saṁyuktaṁ biṁdunendunā

This cluster is the first seed, the second is held to be the teaching of the mighty lord; the third is the fire-seed, joined with the anusvara-dot and the crescent moon.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.72.22)

चतुर्थं युक्तं शेषेण ब्रह्मबीजमृषिस्तथा । पंचमं कालबीजं च षष्ठं पार्थिव बीजकम् ।

caturthaṁ yuktaṁ śeṣeṇa brahmabījamṛṣistathā paṁcamaṁ kālabījaṁ ca ṣaṣṭhaṁ pārthiva bījakam

The fourth, joined with Shesha the serpent, is the Brahma-seed, in which the rishi too is contained; the fifth is the Time-seed, and the sixth the earth-seed.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.72.23)

सप्तमे चाष्टमे बाह्यं नृसिंहेन समन्वितम् । नवमे द्वितीयमेकं च दशमे चाष्टकूटकम् ।

saptame cāṣṭame bāhyaṁ nṛsiṁhena samanvitam navame dvitīyamekaṁ ca daśame cāṣṭakūṭakam

In the seventh and eighth, the outer element is joined with Nrisimha; in the ninth stands the second one alone, and in the tenth, the eighth cluster.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.72.24)

विपरीतं तयोर्बीजं रुद्राक्षे वर चारिणि । चतुर्दशे चतुर्थ्यर्थं पृथ्वीबीजेन संयुतम् ।

viparītaṁ tayorbījaṁ rudrākṣe vara cāriṇi caturdaśe caturthyarthaṁ pṛthvībījena saṁyutam

O gracious one, in the rudraksha the seed of those two is reversed. In the fourteenth, for the sake of the fourth case, it is joined with the earth-seed.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.72.25)

कूटाः शेषाक्षराः केचिद्रक्षिता मेनकात्मजे । सा पपात यदोर्व्यां हि शिवपत्नी तदा नृप ।

kūṭāḥ śeṣākṣarāḥ kecidrakṣitā menakātmaje sā papāta yadorvyāṁ hi śivapatnī tadā nṛpa

O daughter of Menaka, some of the remaining syllable-clusters have been kept concealed. O king, when Shiva's own consort thus fell to the earth —

Verse 26 (skanda.3.72.26)

रामेणाश्वासिता तत्र प्रहसंस्त्रिपुरांतकः । भद्रे यस्मात्त्वया पन्नं जंवशक्तिर्भविष्यति ।

rāmeṇāśvāsitā tatra prahasaṁstripurāṁtakaḥ bhadre yasmāttvayā pannaṁ jaṁvaśaktirbhaviṣyati

— Rama (Rudra) himself, the destroyer of Tripura, consoled her there, laughing, and said: 'O gracious one, since you have thus obtained this knowledge, a mighty jamva-shakti shall arise within you.'

Verse 27 (skanda.3.72.27)

मारणे मोहने वश्ये आकर्षणे च क्षोभणे । यंयं कामयते नूनं ततत्सिद्धिर्भविष्यति ।

māraṇe mohane vaśye ākarṣaṇe ca kṣobhaṇe yaṁyaṁ kāmayate nūnaṁ tatattatsiddhirbhaviṣyati

'In the rites of subjugation, delusion, control, attraction, and agitation — whatever you set your heart upon, in that you shall surely attain success.'

Verse 28 (skanda.3.72.28)

इति श्रुत्वा तदा देवी दुष्टचित्ता शुचिस्मिता । कूटशेषास्ततो वीराः प्रोक्तास्तस्यै तु शंभुना ।

iti śrutvā tadā devī duṣṭacittā śucismitā kūṭaśeṣāstato vīrāḥ proktāstasyai tu śaṁbhunā

Hearing this, that goddess, her mind now stirred and her smile pure, was then told by Shambhu of the remaining hero-clusters as well.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.72.29)

उवाच च कृपासिंधुः साधयस्व यथाविधि । कैलासात्तु हरस्तत्र धर्मारण्यं गतो भृशम् ।

uvāca ca kṛpāsiṁdhuḥ sādhayasva yathāvidhi kailāsāttu harastatra dharmāraṇyaṁ gato bhṛśam

That ocean of compassion said, 'Practice this according to the proper rite.' Then Hara departed swiftly from Kailasa toward Dharmaranya.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.72.30)

ज्ञात्वा देवी ययौ तत्र यत्रासौ वृषभध्वजः । तत्क्षणात्पतितो भूमौ धर्मारण्ये नृपोत्तम ।

jñātvā devī yayau tatra yatrāsau vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ tatkṣaṇātpatito bhūmau dharmāraṇye nṛpottama

Learning of this, the goddess too went to that place where the bull-bannered god had gone. O best of kings, at that very moment, he fell to the ground in Dharmaranya.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.72.31)

जटा चंद्रोरगाः शूलं वृषभाद्यायुधानि । मुंडमाला च कौपीनं कपालं ब्रह्मणस्तु वै ।

jaṭā caṁdrorogāḥ śūlaṁ vṛṣabhādyāyudhāni muṁḍamālā ca kaupīnaṁ kapālaṁ brahmaṇastu vai

His matted locks, the crescent moon, the serpents, the trident, the bull and other weapons, the garland of skulls, the loincloth, and Brahma's own skull-bowl —

Verse 32 (skanda.3.72.32)

गता गणाश्च सर्वत्र भूतप्रेता दिशो दश । विसंज्ञं च स्वमात्मानं ज्ञात्वा देवो महेश्वरः ।

gatā gaṇāśca sarvatra bhūtapretā diśo daśa visaṁjñaṁ ca svamātmānaṁ jñātvā devo maheśvaraḥ

— all these scattered in every direction, along with his hosts of ghosts and spirits, in all ten directions. Realizing that he himself had lost all consciousness, the great god Maheshvara —

Verse 33 (skanda.3.72.33)

स्वेदजास्तु समुत्पन्ना गणाः कूटादयस्तथा । पंचकूटान्समुत्पाद्य तस्मात्तदाधमूलिने ।

svedajāstu samutpannā gaṇāḥ kūṭādayastathā paṁcakūṭānsamutpādya tasmāttadādhamūline

— then from his very sweat arose hosts of attendants and mantra-clusters. From this, five clusters were generated, from that same primordial root —

Verse 34 (skanda.3.72.34)

साधकास्ते महाराज जपहोमपरायणाः । प्रेतासनास्तु ते सर्वे कालकूटोपरि स्थिताः ।

sādhakāste mahārāja japahomaparāyaṇāḥ pretāsanāstu te sarve kālakūṭopari sthitāḥ

O great king, those practitioners are devoted to japa and fire-offerings. All of them, seated upon a corpse-seat, abide atop the Kalakuta itself.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.72.35)

कथयंति स्वमात्मानं येन मोक्षः पिनाकिनः । ततः कष्टसमाविष्टा गौरी वह्निभयातुरा ।

kathayaṁti svamātmānaṁ yena mokṣaḥ pinākinaḥ tataḥ kaṣṭasamāviṣṭā gaurī vahnibhayāturā

They alone know within themselves that by which the liberation of the bearer of Pinaka is achieved. Then Gauri, overwhelmed with distress and afflicted by fear of the fire —

Verse 36 (skanda.3.72.36)

सभाजितः शिवस्तैश्च गौरी ह्रीणा त्वधोमुखी । तपस्तेपे च तत्रस्था शंकरादेशकारिणी ।

sabhājitaḥ śivastaiśca gaurī hrīṇā tvadhomukhī tapastepe ca tatrasthā śaṁkarādeśakāriṇī

— as Shiva was honored by them, ashamed Gauri, her face lowered, remained there and performed austerities, carrying out Shankara's own command.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.72.37)

पंचाग्निसेवनं कृत्वा धूम्रपानमधोमुखी । कूटाक्षरैः स्तुतस्तैस्तु तोषितो वृषभध्वजः ।

paṁcāgniṣevanaṁ kṛtvā dhūmrapānamadhomukhī kūṭākṣaraiḥ stutastaistu toṣito vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Performing the austerity of the five fires, her face bowed low, inhaling the smoke — praised with those very seed-syllable clusters, the bull-bannered lord became content.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.72.38)

धराक्षेत्रमिदं राजन्पापघ्नं सर्वकामदम् । देवमज्जनकं शुभ्रं स्थानकेऽस्मिन्विराजते ।

dharākṣetramidaṁ rājanpāpaghnaṁ sarvakāmadam devamajjanakaṁ śubhraṁ sthānake'sminvirājate

O king, this Dharakshetra destroys sin and grants every wish. In this place shines the pure Devamajjanaka, the sacred bathing-place of the gods.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.72.39)

आश्विने कृष्णपक्षे च चतुर्दश्या दिने नृप । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

āśvine kṛṣṇapakṣe ca caturdaśyā dine nṛpa tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

O king, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashvina, one who bathes there and drinks of its water is freed from every sin.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.72.40)

पूजयित्वा च देवेशमुपोष्य च विधानतः । शाकिनी डाकिनी चैव वेतालाः पितरो ग्रहाः ।

pūjayitvā ca deveśamupoṣya ca vidhānataḥ śākinī ḍākinī caiva vetālāḥ pitaro grahāḥ

Having worshipped the lord of the gods and fasted according to the proper rite — shakinis, dakinis, vetalas, ancestral spirits, and planetary grahas —

Verse 41 (skanda.3.72.41)

ग्रहा धिष्ण्या न पीड्यंते सत्यंसत्यं वरानने । सांगं रुद्रजपं तत्र कृत्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

grahā dhiṣṇyā na pīḍyaṁte satyaṁsatyaṁ varānane sāṁgaṁ rudrajapaṁ tatra kṛtvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate

— none of these, nor any resident planetary influence, shall afflict him, O fair-faced one; this is the truth, the very truth. By performing the full ritual japa of Rudra there, one is freed from sins.

Verse 42 (skanda.3.72.42)

नश्यंति त्रिविधा रोगाः सत्यंसत्यं च भूपते । एतत्सर्वं मया ख्यातं देवमज्जनकं शृणु ।

naśyaṁti trividhā rogāḥ satyaṁsatyaṁ ca bhūpate etatsarvaṁ mayā khyātaṁ devamajjanakaṁ śṛṇu

Diseases of all three kinds are destroyed, O king; this is the truth, the very truth. I have now told you all this — hear further of the Devamajjanaka.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.72.43)

अश्वमेधसहस्रैस्तु कृतैस्तु भूरिदक्षिणैः । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति श्रोता श्रावयिता नरः ।

aśvamedhasahasraistu kṛtaistu bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti śrotā śrāvayitā naraḥ

Whatever merit is obtained from performing a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices, replete with abundant gifts, that very merit is obtained by the man who hears this and recounts it to others.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.72.44)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात् । आयुरारोग्यमैश्वर्यं लभते नात्र संशयः ।

aputro labhate putrānnirdhano dhanamāpnuyāt āyurārogyamaiśvaryaṁ labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ

The childless obtain sons, the poor obtain wealth; long life, health, and prosperity are obtained without any doubt.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.72.45)

मनोवाक्कायजनितं पातकं त्रिविधं च यत् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति स्मरणात्कीर्तनान्नृप ।

manovākkāyajanitaṁ pātakaṁ trividhaṁ ca yat tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti smaraṇātkīrtanānnṛpa

O king, whatever threefold sin arises from mind, speech, or body — all of it is destroyed by mere remembrance and recitation of this tale.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.72.46)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सुखसंतानदायकम् । माहात्म्यं शृणुयाद्वत्स सर्वसौख्यान्वितो भवेत् ।

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sukhasaṁtānadāyakam māhātmyaṁ śṛṇuyādvatsa sarvasaukhyānvito bhavet

My child, whoever hears this account, so auspicious, glory-bringing, life-lengthening, and bestowing happiness and offspring, becomes endowed with every joy.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.72.47)

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम् । सर्वयज्ञैश्च यत्पुण्यं जायते श्रवणान्नृप ।

sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ sarvadāneṣu yatphalam sarvayajñaiśca yatpuṇyaṁ jāyate śravaṇānnṛpa

O king, whatever merit is gained at all the tirthas, whatever fruit is gained from all charitable gifts, and whatever merit is gained from all sacrifices — all of it arises from the mere hearing of this account.