The Manifestation of Dandapani

Verse 1 (skanda.4.32.1)

॥ अगस्त्य उवाच॥ बर्हियान समाचक्ष्व हरिकेशसमुद्भवम्॥ कोसौ कस्य सुतः श्रीमान्कीदृगस्य तपो महत्

agastya uvāca barhiyāna samācakṣva harikeśasamudbhavam kosau kasya sutaḥ śrīmānkīdṛgasya tapo mahat

Agastya said: O peacock-borne one, tell me of the origin of Harikesha. Who is he? Whose glorious son is he? What was his great austerity?

Verse 2 (skanda.4.32.2)

कथं च देवदेवस्य प्रियत्वं समुपेयिवान्॥ काशीवासिजनीनोभूत्कथं वा दंडनायकः

kathaṁ ca devadevasya priyatvaṁ samupeyivān kāśīvāsijanīnobhūtkathaṁ vā daṁḍanāyakaḥ

And how did he come to attain the love of the God of gods? How did he become beneficial to the people of Kashi, and how did he become the Lord of the Staff?

Verse 3 (skanda.4.32.3)

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं प्रसादं कुरु मे विभो॥ अन्नदत्वं च संप्राप्तः कथमेष महामतिः

etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ prasādaṁ kuru me vibho annadatvaṁ ca saṁprāptaḥ kathameṣa mahāmatiḥ

This I wish to hear; grant me your grace, O Lord. And how did this great-minded one attain the state of being the giver of food?

Verse 4 (skanda.4.32.4)

संभ्रमो विभ्रमश्चोभौ कथं तदनुगामिनौ॥ विभ्रांतिकारिणौ क्षेत्रवैरिणां सर्वदा नृणाम्

saṁbhramo vibhramaścobhau kathaṁ tadanugāminau vibhrāṁtikāriṇau kṣetravairiṇāṁ sarvadā nṛṇām

How did both Sambhrama and Vibhrama become his two attendants, ever causing bewilderment to men who are enemies of the sacred field?

Verse 5 (skanda.4.32.5)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ सम्यगापृच्छि भवता काशीवासिसमाहितम्॥ कुंभसंभव विप्रर्षे दंडपाणि कथानकम्

skaṁda uvāca samyagāpṛcchi bhavatā kāśīvāsisamāhitam kuṁbhasaṁbhava viprarṣe daṁḍapāṇi kathānakam

Skanda said: You have asked well, O sage born of the pot, the tale of Dandapani, which is deeply connected with dwelling in Kashi.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.32.6)

यदाकर्ण्य नरः प्राज्ञ काशीवासस्य यत्फलम्॥ निष्प्रत्यूहं तदाप्नोति विश्वभर्त्तुरनुग्रहात्

yadākarṇya naraḥ prājña kāśīvāsasya yatphalam niṣpratyūhaṁ tadāpnoti viśvabhartturanugrahāt

Hearing which, O wise one, a man obtains, without any obstacle, the fruit of dwelling in Kashi, by the grace of the Sustainer of the universe.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.32.7)

रत्नभद्र इति ख्यातः पर्वते गंधमादने॥ यक्षः सुकृतलक्षश्रीः पुरा परम धार्मिकः

ratnabhadra iti khyātaḥ parvate gaṁdhamādane yakṣaḥ sukṛtalakṣaśrīḥ purā parama dhārmikaḥ

Of old, on Mount Gandhamadana, there lived a yaksha named Ratnabhadra, endowed with the splendor of a hundred thousand merits, exceedingly righteous.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.32.8)

ीपूर्णभद्रं सुतं प्राप्य सोऽभूत्पूर्णमनोरथः॥ वयश्चरममासाद्य भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकशः

īpūrṇabhadraṁ sutaṁ prāpya so'bhūtpūrṇamanorathaḥ vayaścaramamāsādya bhuktvā bhogānanekaśaḥ

Having obtained a son, Purnabhadra, he became one whose every desire was fulfilled; and having reached the last stage of life, having enjoyed manifold pleasures,

Verse 9 (skanda.4.32.9)

शांभवेनाथ योगेन देहमुत्सृज्य पार्थिवम्॥ आससादाशवं शांतं शांतसर्वेंद्रियार्थकः

śāṁbhavenātha yogena dehamutsṛjya pārthivam āsasādāśavaṁ śāṁtaṁ śāṁtasarveṁdriyārthakaḥ

he, through the Shambhava yoga, cast off his earthly body, and attained a peaceful state, all his senses and their objects stilled.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.32.10)

पितर्युपरतेसोऽथ पूर्णभद्रो महायशाः॥ सुकृतोपात्तविभव भवसंभोगभुक्तिभाक्॥ सर्वान्मनोरथाँल्लेभे विना स्वर्गैकसाधनम्॥ गार्हस्थ्याश्रम नेपथ्यं पथ्यं पैतामहं महत्

pitaryuparateso'tha pūrṇabhadro mahāyaśāḥ sukṛtopāttavibhava bhavasaṁbhogabhuktibhāk sarvānmanorathā~llebhe vinā svargaikasādhanam gārhasthyāśrama nepathyaṁ pathyaṁ paitāmahaṁ mahat

When his father had thus departed, Purnabhadra, of great renown, possessed of prosperity gained through merit, partaking of the enjoyments of worldly life, obtained every desire of his heart — except the one means to heaven, that great, wholesome ornament of the householder's life, inherited from his father.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.32.11)

संसारतापसंतप्तावयवामृतसीकरम्॥ अपत्यं पततां पोतं बहुक्लेशमहार्णवे

saṁsāratāpasaṁtaptāvayavāmṛtasīkaram apatyaṁ patatāṁ potaṁ bahukleśamahārṇave

For a child is like a drop of nectar upon limbs scorched by the heat of worldly existence, a very boat for those sinking in the great ocean of manifold afflictions.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.32.12)

पूर्णभद्रोऽथ संवीक्ष्य मंदिरं सर्वसुंदरम्॥ तद्बालकोमलालाप विकलं त्यक्तमंगलम्

pūrṇabhadro'tha saṁvīkṣya maṁdiraṁ sarvasuṁdaram tadbālakomalālāpa vikalaṁ tyaktamaṁgalam

O Ghatodbhava, Purnabhadra, looking upon his mansion — beautiful in every way, yet bereft of the soft prattle of a child, devoid of auspiciousness,

Verse 13 (skanda.4.32.13)

शून्यं दरिद्रहृदिव जीर्णारण्यमिवाथवा॥ पांथवत्प्रांतरमिव खिन्नोऽतीवानपत्यवान्

śūnyaṁ daridrahṛdiva jīrṇāraṇyamivāthavā pāṁthavatprāṁtaramiva khinno'tīvānapatyavān

empty like the heart of a poor man, or like a decayed forest, or like a wilderness traversed by a lone traveler — he, utterly childless, grew exceedingly despondent.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.32.14)

आहूय गृहिणी सोऽथ यक्षः कनककुंडलाम्॥ उवाच यक्षिणीं श्रेष्ठां पूर्णभद्रो घटोद्भव

āhūya gṛhiṇī so'tha yakṣaḥ kanakakuṁḍalām uvāca yakṣiṇīṁ śreṣṭhāṁ pūrṇabhadro ghaṭodbhava

O Ghatodbhava, that yaksha Purnabhadra then called his wife, the excellent yakshini Kanakakundala, and said:

Verse 15 (skanda.4.32.15)

न हर्म्यं सुखदं कांते दर्पणोदरसुंदरम्॥ मुक्ता गवाक्षसुभगं चंद्रकांतशिलाजिरम्

na harmyaṁ sukhadaṁ kāṁte darpaṇodarasuṁdaram muktā gavākṣasubhagaṁ caṁdrakāṁtaśilājiram

'This mansion, O beloved, beautiful as the inside of a mirror, its windows graced with pearls, its courtyard of moonstone, brings me no joy —'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.32.16)

पद्मरागेंद्रनीलार्चिरर्चिताट्टालकं क्वणत्॥ विद्रुमस्तंभशोभाढ्यं स्फुरत्स्फटिककुड्यवत्

padmarāgeṁdranīlārcirarcitāṭṭālakaṁ kvaṇat vidrumastaṁbhaśobhāḍhyaṁ sphuratsphaṭikakuḍyavat

'— its turrets adorned with the radiance of ruby and sapphire, resounding with music, rich with the beauty of coral pillars, its walls of gleaming crystal,'

Verse 17 (skanda.4.32.17)

प्रेंखत्पताकानिकरं मणिमाणिक्यमालितम्॥ कृष्णागुरुमहाधूप बहुलामोदमोदितम्

preṁkhatpatākānikaraṁ maṇimāṇikyamālitam kṛṣṇāgurumahādhūpa bahulāmodamoditam

'— its multitude of fluttering banners, garlanded with gems and rubies, delighted with the abundant fragrance of great incense of black aloewood,'

Verse 18 (skanda.4.32.18)

अनर्घ्यासनसंयुक्तं चारुपर्यंकभूषितम्॥ रम्यार्गलकपाटाढ्यं दुकूलच्छन्नमंडपम्

anarghyāsanasaṁyuktaṁ cāruparyaṁkabhūṣitam ramyārgalakapāṭāḍhyaṁ dukūlacchannamaṁḍapam

'— furnished with priceless seats, adorned with beautiful couches, rich with lovely bolted doors, its pavilions draped in fine cloth,'

Verse 19 (skanda.4.32.19)

सुरम्यरतिशालाढ्यं वाजिराजिविराजितम्॥ दासदासीशताकीर्णं किंकिणीनादनादितम्॥ नूपुरारावसोत्कंठ केकिकेकारवाकुलम्॥ कूजत्पारावत कुलं गुरुसारीकथावरम्

suramyaratiśālāḍhyaṁ vājirājivirājitam dāsadāsīśatākīrṇaṁ kiṁkiṇīnādanāditam nūpurārāvasotkaṁṭha kekikekāravākulam kūjatpārāvata kulaṁ gurusārīkathāvaram

'— rich with delightful chambers, resplendent with rows of horses, thronged with hundreds of maids and servants, ringing with the sound of tinkling bells; astir with the calls of peacocks eager at the sound of anklets, filled with the cooing of doves, and excellent with the fine speech of trained mynah birds,'

Verse 20 (skanda.4.32.20)

खेलन्मरालयुगलं जीवं जीवककांतिमत्॥ माल्याहूत द्विरेफाणां मंजुगुंजारवावृतम्

khelanmarālayugalaṁ jīvaṁ jīvakakāṁtimat mālyāhūta dvirephāṇāṁ maṁjuguṁjāravāvṛtam

'— with a pair of playful swans, alive with the beauty of the jivanjiva bird, filled with the sweet humming of bees drawn to its garlands,'

Verse 21 (skanda.4.32.21)

कर्पूरैण मदामोद सोदरानिलवीजितम्॥ क्रीडामर्कटदंष्ट्राग्री कृतमाणिक्यदाडिमम्

karpūraiṇa madāmoda sodarānilavījitam krīḍāmarkaṭadaṁṣṭrāgrī kṛtamāṇikyadāḍimam

'— fanned by breezes bearing the fragrance of camphor and musk mixed together, its playful pet monkeys holding pomegranate seeds like rubies between their teeth,'

Verse 22 (skanda.4.32.22)

दाडिमीबीजसंभ्रांतशुकतुंडात्तमौक्तिकम्॥ धनधान्यसमृद्धं च पद्मालयमिवापरम्

dāḍimībījasaṁbhrāṁtaśukatuṁḍāttamauktikam dhanadhānyasamṛddhaṁ ca padmālayamivāparam

'— its parrots, mistaking pearls for pomegranate seeds, snatching them up with their beaks; rich with wealth and grain, like a second abode of Lakshmi,'

Verse 23 (skanda.4.32.23)

कमलामोदगर्भं च गर्भरूपं विना प्रिये॥ गर्भरूपमुखं प्रेक्ष्ये कथं कनककुडले

kamalāmodagarbhaṁ ca garbharūpaṁ vinā priye garbharūpamukhaṁ prekṣye kathaṁ kanakakuḍale

'— fragrant as the very heart of a lotus — yet, O beloved, without a child of my own! O Kanakakundala, how shall I ever behold the face of my own offspring?'

Verse 24 (skanda.4.32.24)

यद्युपायोऽस्ति तद्ब्रूहि धिगपुत्रस्य जीवितम्॥ सर्वशून्यमिवाभाति गृहमेतदनंगजम्

yadyupāyo'sti tadbrūhi dhigaputrasya jīvitam sarvaśūnyamivābhāti gṛhametadanaṁgajam

'If there is any means, tell me. Cursed is the life of a man without a son! This house, without a child, seems utterly empty to me.'

Verse 25 (skanda.4.32.25)

धिगेतत्सौधसौंदर्यं धिगेतद्धनसंचयम्॥ विनापत्यं प्रियतमे जीवितं च धिगावयोः

dhigetatsaudhasauṁdaryaṁ dhigetaddhanasaṁcayam vināpatyaṁ priyatame jīvitaṁ ca dhigāvayoḥ

'Cursed be this beauty of my palace, cursed be this accumulated wealth! Without a child, O dearest, cursed be our very lives!'

Verse 26 (skanda.4.32.26)

प्रलपंतमिव प्रोच्चैः प्रियं कनककुंडला॥ बभाषेंऽतर्विनिःश्वस्य यक्षिणी सा पतिव्रता

pralapaṁtamiva proccaiḥ priyaṁ kanakakuṁḍalā babhāṣeṁ'tarviniḥśvasya yakṣiṇī sā pativratā

As her beloved lamented thus, loudly, that devoted yakshini Kanakakundala, sighing inwardly, spoke to him.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.32.27)

॥ कनककुंडलोवाच॥ किमर्थं खिद्यसे कांत ज्ञानवानसि यद्भवान्॥ अत्रोपायोऽस्त्यपत्याप्त्यै विस्रब्धमवधारय

kanakakuṁḍalovāca kimarthaṁ khidyase kāṁta jñānavānasi yadbhavān atropāyo'styapatyāptyai visrabdhamavadhāraya

Kanakakundala said: 'Why do you grieve, my beloved, when you are yourself a man of wisdom? There is indeed a means to obtain a child — listen to it calmly.'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.32.28)

किमुद्यमवतां पुंसां दुर्लभं हि चराचरे॥ ईश्वरार्पितबुद्धीनां स्फुंरंत्यग्रे मनोरथाः॥ दैवं हेतुं वदंत्येवं भृशं कापुरुषाः पते॥ स्वयं पुराकृतं कर्म दैवं तच्च न हीतरत्

kimudyamavatāṁ puṁsāṁ durlabhaṁ hi carācare īśvarārpitabuddhīnāṁ sphuṁraṁtyagre manorathāḥ daivaṁ hetuṁ vadaṁtyevaṁ bhṛśaṁ kāpuruṣāḥ pate svayaṁ purākṛtaṁ karma daivaṁ tacca na hītarat

'What is truly unattainable, in all this moving and unmoving world, for men who make the effort? For those whose minds are devoted to the Lord, their heart's desires manifest right before them. It is only cowardly men who so readily blame fate, my husband — but fate is nothing other than one's own deeds done in a former life.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.32.29)

ततः पौरुषमालंब्य तत्कर्म परिशांतये॥ ईश्वरं शरणं यायात्सर्वकारणकारणम्

tataḥ pauruṣamālaṁbya tatkarma pariśāṁtaye īśvaraṁ śaraṇaṁ yāyātsarvakāraṇakāraṇam

'Therefore, taking hold of manly effort, to bring that old karma to an end, one should take refuge in Ishvara, the cause of all causes.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.32.30)

अपत्यं द्रविणं दारा हारा हर्म्य हया गजाः॥ सुखानि स्वर्गमोक्षौ च न दूरे शिवभक्तितः

apatyaṁ draviṇaṁ dārā hārā harmya hayā gajāḥ sukhāni svargamokṣau ca na dūre śivabhaktitaḥ

'Children, wealth, a wife, necklaces, mansions, horses, elephants, every happiness, heaven itself, and even liberation — none of these is far from devotion to Shiva.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.32.31)

विधातुः शांभवीं भक्तिं प्रिय सर्वे मनोरथाः॥ सिद्धयोष्टौ गृहद्वारं सेवंते नात्र संशयः

vidhātuḥ śāṁbhavīṁ bhaktiṁ priya sarve manorathāḥ siddhayoṣṭau gṛhadvāraṁ sevaṁte nātra saṁśayaḥ

'O beloved, once one has performed devotion to Shambhu, all one's heart's desires — and even the eight siddhis — attend at the very door of one's house; of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.32.32)

नारायणोपि भगवानंतरात्मा जगत्पतिः॥ चराचराणामविता जातः श्रीकंठसेवया

nārāyaṇopi bhagavānaṁtarātmā jagatpatiḥ carācarāṇāmavitā jātaḥ śrīkaṁṭhasevayā

'Even the blessed Narayana, the inner Self, the Lord of the universe, the protector of all moving and unmoving beings, became so through service to Shrikantha.'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.32.33)

ब्रह्मणः सृष्टिकर्त्तृत्वं दत्तं तेनैव शंभुना॥ इंद्रादयो लोकपाला जाता शंभोरनुग्रहात्

brahmaṇaḥ sṛṣṭikarttṛtvaṁ dattaṁ tenaiva śaṁbhunā iṁdrādayo lokapālā jātā śaṁbhoranugrahāt

'Brahma's very role as creator was granted by that same Shambhu; Indra and the other guardians of the world attained their status through Shambhu's grace.'

Verse 34 (skanda.4.32.34)

मृत्युंजयं सुतं लेभे शिलादोप्यनपत्यवान्॥ श्वेतकेतुरपि प्राप जीवितं कालपाशतः

mṛtyuṁjayaṁ sutaṁ lebhe śilādopyanapatyavān śvetaketurapi prāpa jīvitaṁ kālapāśataḥ

'Even the childless Shilada obtained a son, Mrityunjaya; and Shvetaketu obtained his life back even from the noose of Death.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.32.35)

क्षीरार्णवाधिपतितामुपमन्युरवाप्तवान्॥ अंधकोप्यभवद्भृंगी गाणपत्यपदोर्जितः

kṣīrārṇavādhipatitāmupamanyuravāptavān aṁdhakopyabhavadbhṛṁgī gāṇapatyapadorjitaḥ

'Upamanyu attained the sovereignty of the Ocean of Milk; and Andhaka became Bhringi, mighty in the rank of a ganapati.'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.32.36)

जिगाय शार्ङ्गिणं संख्ये दधीचिः शंभुसेवया॥ प्राजापत्यपदं प्राप दक्षः संशील्य शंकरम्

jigāya śārṅgiṇaṁ saṁkhye dadhīciḥ śaṁbhusevayā prājāpatyapadaṁ prāpa dakṣaḥ saṁśīlya śaṁkaram

'Dadhichi conquered even the wielder of the Sharnga bow in battle, through his service to Shambhu; and Daksha attained the rank of a Prajapati by honoring Shankara.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.32.37)

मनोरथपथातीतं यच्च वाचामगोचरम्॥ गोचरो गोचरीकुर्यात्तत्पदं क्षणतो मृडः॥ अनाराध्य महेशानं सर्वदं सर्वदेहिनाम्॥ कोपि क्वापि किमप्यत्र न लभेतेति निश्चितम्

manorathapathātītaṁ yacca vācāmagocaram gocaro gocarīkuryāttatpadaṁ kṣaṇato mṛḍaḥ anārādhya maheśānaṁ sarvadaṁ sarvadehinām kopi kvāpi kimapyatra na labheteti niścitam

'Mrida can, in an instant, bring even that state which transcends the very path of desire, which lies beyond the reach of words, within one's grasp. Without worshipping the great Ishana, the giver of all things to every embodied being, no one, anywhere, can obtain anything at all in this world — this is certain.'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.32.38)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन शंकरं शरणं व्रज॥ यदिच्छसि प्रियं पुत्रं प्रियसर्वजनीनकम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena śaṁkaraṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja yadicchasi priyaṁ putraṁ priyasarvajanīnakam

'Therefore, with every effort, take refuge in Shankara, if you desire a beloved son, dear to all people.'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.32.39)

आराध्य श्रीमहादेवं गीतज्ञो गीतविद्यया

ārādhya śrīmahādevaṁ gītajño gītavidyayā

Purnabhadra, skilled in the art of music, then worshipped the glorious Mahadeva through the art of song —

Verse 40 (skanda.4.32.40)

दिनैः कतिपयैरेव परिपूर्णमनोरथः॥ पुत्रकाममवापोच्चैस्तस्यां पत्न्यां दृढव्रतः

dinaiḥ katipayaireva paripūrṇamanorathaḥ putrakāmamavāpoccaistasyāṁ patnyāṁ dṛḍhavrataḥ

and within just a few days, his heart's desire fully accomplished, this man of firm resolve obtained the desire for a son through that wife of his.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.32.41)

नादेश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य कैः कैर्नापि स्वचिंतितम्॥ तस्मात्काश्यां प्रयत्नेन सेव्यो नादेश्वरो नृभिः

nādeśvaraṁ samabhyarcya kaiḥ kairnāpi svaciṁtitam tasmātkāśyāṁ prayatnena sevyo nādeśvaro nṛbhiḥ

By worshipping Nadeshvara, the Lord of Sound, who is there who has not obtained their heart's desire? Therefore Nadeshvara should be diligently served by men in Kashi.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.32.42)

अंतर्वत्न्यथ कालेन तत्पत्नी सुषुवे सुतम्॥ तस्य नाम पिता चक्रे हरिकेश इति द्विज

aṁtarvatnyatha kālena tatpatnī suṣuve sutam tasya nāma pitā cakre harikeśa iti dvija

In time, his wife, having conceived, gave birth to a son. His father gave him, O brahmin, the name Harikesha.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.32.43)

प्रीतिदायं ददौ चाथ भूरिपुत्राननेक्षणात्॥ पूर्णभद्रस्तथागस्त्य हृष्टा कनककुंडला

prītidāyaṁ dadau cātha bhūriputrānanekṣaṇāt pūrṇabhadrastathāgastya hṛṣṭā kanakakuṁḍalā

And, O Agastya, Purnabhadra, overjoyed at the sight of his son at last, gave lavish gifts of joy; and Kanakakundala too rejoiced greatly.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.32.44)

बालोऽपि पूर्णचंद्राभ वदनो मदनोपमः॥ वृद्धिं प्रतिक्षणं प्राप शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुराट्

bālo'pi pūrṇacaṁdrābha vadano madanopamaḥ vṛddhiṁ pratikṣaṇaṁ prāpa śuklapakṣa ivoḍurāṭ

The boy, his face radiant as the full moon, as beautiful as Kama himself, grew greater with every moment, like the moon waxing in the bright fortnight.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.32.45)

यदाष्टवर्षदेशीयो हरिकेशोऽभवच्छिशुः॥ नित्यं तदाप्रभृत्येवं शिवमेकममन्यत

yadāṣṭavarṣadeśīyo harikeśo'bhavacchiśuḥ nityaṁ tadāprabhṛtyevaṁ śivamekamamanyata

When the child Harikesha reached about eight years of age, from that time onward he considered Shiva alone as everything.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.32.46)

पांसुक्रीडनसक्तोपि कुर्याल्लिंगं रजोमयम्॥ शाद्वलैः कोमलतृणैः पूजयेच्च स कौतुकम्॥ आकारयति मित्राणि शिवनाम्नाऽखिलानि सः॥ चंद्रशेखरभूतेश मृत्युंजय मृडेश्वरः

pāṁsukrīḍanasaktopi kuryālliṁgaṁ rajomayam śādvalaiḥ komalatṛṇaiḥ pūjayecca sa kautukam ākārayati mitrāṇi śivanāmnā'khilāni saḥ caṁdraśekharabhūteśa mṛtyuṁjaya mṛḍeśvaraḥ

Even while absorbed in playing with dust, he would fashion a linga out of the very sand, and playfully worship it with soft green grass. He would call out to all his friends by names of Shiva: 'Chandrashekhara! Bhutesha! Mrityunjaya! Mrideshvara!'

Verse 47 (skanda.4.32.47)

धूर्जटे खंडपरशो मृडानीश त्रिलोचन॥ भर्गशंभोपशुपते पिनाकिन्नुग्रशंकर

dhūrjaṭe khaṁḍaparaśo mṛḍānīśa trilocana bhargaśaṁbhopaśupate pinākinnugraśaṁkara

'Dhurjati! Khandaparashu! Mridani-isha! Trilochana! Bharga! Shambhu! Pashupati! Pinakin! Ugra-Shankara!'

Verse 48 (skanda.4.32.48)

श्रीकंठनीलकंठेश स्मरारे पार्वतीपते॥ कपालिन्भालनयन शूलपाणे महेश्वर

śrīkaṁṭhanīlakaṁṭheśa smarāre pārvatīpate kapālinbhālanayana śūlapāṇe maheśvara

'Shrikantha! Nilakanthesha! Smarari! Parvatipati! Kapalin! Bhalanayana! Shulapani! Maheshvara!'

Verse 49 (skanda.4.32.49)

अजिनांबरदिग्वासः स्वर्धुनी क्लिन्नमौलिज॥ विरूपाक्षाहिनेपथ्य गृणन्नामावलीमिमाम्

ajināṁbaradigvāsaḥ svardhunī klinnamaulija virūpākṣāhinepathya gṛṇannāmāvalīmimām

'Ajinambara! Digvasa! You whose crown is wet with the celestial river! Virupaksha! You adorned with serpents!' — reciting this very garland of names,

Verse 50 (skanda.4.32.50)

सवयस्कानिति मुहुः समाह्वयति लालयन्॥ शब्दग्रहौ न गृह्णीतस्तस्यान्याख्यां हरादृते

savayaskāniti muhuḥ samāhvayati lālayan śabdagrahau na gṛhṇītastasyānyākhyāṁ harādṛte

he would fondly call out again and again to his playmates by these very names. His ears would grasp no name at all, other than the names of Hara.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.32.51)

पद्भ्यां न पद्यते चान्यदृते भूतेश्वराजिरात्॥ द्रष्टुं रूपांतरं तस्य वीक्षणेन विचक्षणे

padbhyāṁ na padyate cānyadṛte bhūteśvarājirāt draṣṭuṁ rūpāṁtaraṁ tasya vīkṣaṇena vicakṣaṇe

His feet would carry him nowhere but to the courtyard of Bhuteshvara; his discerning eyes desired to behold no other form.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.32.52)

रसयेत्तस्य रसना हरनामाक्षरामृतम्॥ शिवांघ्रिकमलामोदाद्घ्राणं नैव जिघृक्षति

rasayettasya rasanā haranāmākṣarāmṛtam śivāṁghrikamalāmodādghrāṇaṁ naiva jighṛkṣati

His tongue tasted nothing but the nectar of the syllables of Hara's name; his nose desired to smell nothing but the fragrance of Shiva's lotus feet.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.32.53)

करौ तत्कौतुककरौ मनो मनति नापरम्॥ शिवसात्कृत्यपेयानि पीयते तेन सद्धिया

karau tatkautukakarau mano manati nāparam śivasātkṛtyapeyāni pīyate tena saddhiyā

His two hands were engaged only in Shiva's playful worship; his mind thought of nothing else. Whatever he drank, he drank only after first offering it to Shiva, with a right-minded devotion.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.32.54)

भक्ष्यते सर्वभक्ष्याणि त्र्यक्षप्रत्यक्षगान्यपि॥ सर्वावस्थासु सर्वत्र न स पश्येच्छिवं विना

bhakṣyate sarvabhakṣyāṇi tryakṣapratyakṣagānyapi sarvāvasthāsu sarvatra na sa paśyecchivaṁ vinā

Whatever food he ate, he ate only after it had first been offered before the Three-eyed One; in every state, everywhere, he would see nothing at all apart from Shiva.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.32.55)

गच्छन्गायन्स्वपंस्तिष्ठञ्च्छयानोऽदन्पिबन्नपि॥ परितस्त्र्यक्षमैक्षिष्ट नान्यं भावं चिकेति सः॥ क्षणदासु प्रसुप्तोपि क्व यासीति वदन्मुहुः॥ क्षणं त्र्यक्ष प्रतीक्षस्व बुध्यतीति स बालकः

gacchangāyansvapaṁstiṣṭhañcchayāno'danpibannapi paritastryakṣamaikṣiṣṭa nānyaṁ bhāvaṁ ciketi saḥ kṣaṇadāsu prasuptopi kva yāsīti vadanmuhuḥ kṣaṇaṁ tryakṣa pratīkṣasva budhyatīti sa bālakaḥ

Walking, singing, sleeping, standing, lying down, eating, or drinking — all around, he saw only the Three-eyed One, aware of no other reality at all. Even while asleep at night, he would murmur again and again, as if to Shiva departing, 'Where are you going? Wait a moment, O Three-eyed One!' — and then this child would wake.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.32.56)

स्पष्टां चेष्टां विलोक्येति हरिकेशस्य तत्पिता॥ अशिक्षयत्सुतं सोऽथ गृहकर्मरतो भव

spaṣṭāṁ ceṣṭāṁ vilokyeti harikeśasya tatpitā aśikṣayatsutaṁ so'tha gṛhakarmarato bhava

Seeing this evident behavior of Harikesha, his father then instructed his son: 'Become devoted instead to the affairs of the household.'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.32.57)

एते तुरंगमा वत्स तवैतेऽश्वकिशो रकाः॥ चित्राणीमानि वासांसि सुदुकूलान्यमूनि च

ete turaṁgamā vatsa tavaite'śvakiśo rakāḥ citrāṇīmāni vāsāṁsi sudukūlānyamūni ca

'These horses, my child, are yours, and these are their foals; these are wondrous garments, and these are fine silks —'

Verse 58 (skanda.4.32.58)

रत्नान्याकरशुद्धानि नानाजातीन्यनेकशः॥ कुप्यं बहुविधं चैतद्गोधनानि महांति च

ratnānyākaraśuddhāni nānājātīnyanekaśaḥ kupyaṁ bahuvidhaṁ caitadgodhanāni mahāṁti ca

'— these are gems, pure from the mines, of many different kinds; this is manifold base-metal wealth, and these are great herds of cattle —'

Verse 59 (skanda.4.32.59)

अमत्राणि महार्हाणि रौप्य कांस्यमयानि च॥ पणनीयानि वस्तूनि नानादेशोद्भवान्यपि

amatrāṇi mahārhāṇi raupya kāṁsyamayāni ca paṇanīyāni vastūni nānādeśodbhavānyapi

'— these are precious vessels of silver and bronze, and these are trade goods brought from many different lands —'

Verse 60 (skanda.4.32.60)

चामराणि विचित्राणि गंधद्रव्याण्यनेकशः॥ एतान्यन्यानि बहुशस्त्वनेके धान्यराशयः

cāmarāṇi vicitrāṇi gaṁdhadravyāṇyanekaśaḥ etānyanyāni bahuśastvaneke dhānyarāśayaḥ

'— these are wondrous chowries, these are manifold fragrant substances, and these many other things, and these countless heaps of grain —'

Verse 61 (skanda.4.32.61)

एतत्त्वदीयं सकलंवस्तुजातं समंततः॥ अर्थोपार्जनविद्याश्च सर्वाः शिक्षस्व पुत्रक

etattvadīyaṁ sakalaṁvastujātaṁ samaṁtataḥ arthopārjanavidyāśca sarvāḥ śikṣasva putraka

'— all of this, every kind of thing, all around, is yours. Learn, my son, all the arts of earning wealth.'

Verse 62 (skanda.4.32.62)

चेष्टास्त्यज दरिद्राणां धूलिधूसरिणाममूः॥ अभ्यस्यविद्याः सकला भोगान्निर्विश्य चोत्तमान्

ceṣṭāstyaja daridrāṇāṁ dhūlidhūsariṇāmamūḥ abhyasyavidyāḥ sakalā bhogānnirviśya cottamān

'Abandon these habits fit for the dust-covered poor. Master every branch of learning, and enjoy the finest pleasures.'

Verse 63 (skanda.4.32.63)

तां दशां चरमां प्राप्य भक्तियोगं ततश्चर॥ असकृच्छिक्षितः पित्रेत्यवमन्य गुरोर्गिरम्

tāṁ daśāṁ caramāṁ prāpya bhaktiyogaṁ tataścara asakṛcchikṣitaḥ pitretyavamanya gurorgiram

'Only having reached that final stage of life should you practice the yoga of devotion.' Thus repeatedly instructed by his father, but disregarding his elder's words,

Verse 64 (skanda.4.32.64)

रुष्टदृष्टिं च जनकं कदाचिदवलोक्य सः॥ निर्जगाम गृहाद्भीतो हरिकेश उदारधीः॥ ततश्चिंतामवापोच्चैर्दिग्भ्रांतिमपि चाप्तवान्॥ अहो बालिशबुद्धित्वात्कुतस्त्यक्तं गृहं मया

ruṣṭadṛṣṭiṁ ca janakaṁ kadācidavalokya saḥ nirjagāma gṛhādbhīto harikeśa udāradhīḥ tataściṁtāmavāpoccairdigbhrāṁtimapi cāptavān aho bāliśabuddhitvātkutastyaktaṁ gṛhaṁ mayā

One day, seeing his father's angry glare, Harikesha, of noble mind, fled the house in fear. Then he fell into great anxiety, and also lost his sense of direction: 'Ah, out of childish foolishness, why have I abandoned my home?'

Verse 65 (skanda.4.32.65)

क्व यामि क्व स्थिते शंभो मम श्रेयो भविष्यति॥ पित्रा निर्वासितश्चाहं न च वेद्म्यथ किंचन

kva yāmi kva sthite śaṁbho mama śreyo bhaviṣyati pitrā nirvāsitaścāhaṁ na ca vedmyatha kiṁcana

'Where shall I go? Where, dwelling, shall my highest good, O Shambhu, come to be? Cast out by my father, I know nothing at all of what to do now.'

Verse 66 (skanda.4.32.66)

गदतस्तातपुरतः कस्यचिद्वचनं स्फुटम्

gadatastātapurataḥ kasyacidvacanaṁ sphuṭam

As he wandered thus, he heard, before some elder's presence, a clear voice speaking these words:

Verse 67 (skanda.4.32.67)

मात्रा पित्रा परित्यक्ता ये त्यक्ता निजबंधुभिः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः

mātrā pitrā parityaktā ye tyaktā nijabaṁdhubhiḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those who have been forsaken by mother and father, forsaken by their own kinsmen, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 68 (skanda.4.32.68)

जरया परिभूता ये ये व्याधिविकलीकृताः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः

jarayā paribhūtā ye ye vyādhivikalīkṛtāḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those overcome by old age, those made helpless by disease, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 69 (skanda.4.32.69)

पदे पदे समाक्रांता ये विपद्भिरहर्निशम्॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषांवाराणसी गतिः

pade pade samākrāṁtā ye vipadbhiraharniśam yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁvārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those beset at every step by calamities day and night, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 70 (skanda.4.32.70)

पापराशिभिराक्रांता ये दारिद्र्य पराजिताः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः

pāparāśibhirākrāṁtā ye dāridrya parājitāḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those overwhelmed by heaps of sin, those conquered by poverty, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 71 (skanda.4.32.71)

संसार भयभीताय ये ये बद्धाः कर्मबंधनैः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः

saṁsāra bhayabhītāya ye ye baddhāḥ karmabaṁdhanaiḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those terrified by worldly existence, those bound by the fetters of karma, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 72 (skanda.4.32.72)

श्रुतिस्मृतिविहीना ये शौचाचारविवर्जिताः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः

śrutismṛtivihīnā ye śaucācāravivarjitāḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ

'Those devoid of the Shruti and Smriti, those bereft of purity and right conduct, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge.'

Verse 73 (skanda.4.32.73)

ये च योगपरिभ्रष्टास्तपो दान विवर्जिताः॥ येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी गतिः॥ मध्ये बंधुजने येषामपमानं पदे पदे॥ तेषामानंददं चैकं शंभोरानंदकाननम्

ye ca yogaparibhraṣṭāstapo dāna vivarjitāḥ yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī gatiḥ madhye baṁdhujane yeṣāmapamānaṁ pade pade teṣāmānaṁdadaṁ caikaṁ śaṁbhorānaṁdakānanam

'Those who have fallen away from yoga, those devoid of austerity and charity, those who have no refuge anywhere at all — for them, Varanasi is the refuge. Those who suffer insult at every step even amid their own kinsfolk — for them, the one giver of joy is Shambhu's own Ananda-forest.'

Verse 74 (skanda.4.32.74)

आनंदकानने येषां रुचिर्वै वसतां सताम्॥ विश्वेशानुगृहीतानां तेषामानंदजोदयः

ānaṁdakānane yeṣāṁ rucirvai vasatāṁ satām viśveśānugṛhītānāṁ teṣāmānaṁdajodayaḥ

'For those good souls who delight in dwelling in the Ananda-forest, blessed by Vishvesha's grace, joy is born within them.'

Verse 75 (skanda.4.32.75)

भर्ज्यते कर्मबीजानि यत्र विश्वेशवह्निना॥ अतो महाश्मशानं तदगतीनां परा गतिः

bharjyate karmabījāni yatra viśveśavahninā ato mahāśmaśānaṁ tadagatīnāṁ parā gatiḥ

'There, the very seeds of karma are roasted away by the fire of Vishvesha; therefore, that Great Cremation Ground is the supreme refuge for the refugeless.'

Verse 76 (skanda.4.32.76)

हरिकेशो विचार्येति यातो वाराणसीं पुरीम्॥ यत्राविमुक्ते जंतूनां त्यजतां पार्थिवीं तनुम्

harikeśo vicāryeti yāto vārāṇasīṁ purīm yatrāvimukte jaṁtūnāṁ tyajatāṁ pārthivīṁ tanum

Reflecting thus, Harikesha went to the city of Varanasi, where, in Avimukta, creatures who cast off their earthly bodies —

Verse 77 (skanda.4.32.77)

पुनर्नो तनुसंबंधस्तनुद्वेषिप्रसादतः॥ आनंदवनमासाद्य स तपः शरणं गतः

punarno tanusaṁbaṁdhastanudveṣiprasādataḥ ānaṁdavanamāsādya sa tapaḥ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

— by the grace of the Foe of Bodily Existence, have no further connection to a body again. Reaching the Ananda-forest, he took refuge in austerity.

Verse 78 (skanda.4.32.78)

अथ कालांतरे शंभुः प्रविश्यानंदकानमम्॥ पार्वत्यै दर्शयामास निजमाक्रीडकाननम्

atha kālāṁtare śaṁbhuḥ praviśyānaṁdakānamam pārvatyai darśayāmāsa nijamākrīḍakānanam

Then, after some time, Shambhu, entering the Ananda-forest, showed Parvati his own pleasure-garden.

Verse 79 (skanda.4.32.79)

अमंदामोदमंदारं कोविदारपरिष्कृतम्॥ चारुचंपकचूताढ्यं प्रोत्फुल्लनवमल्लिकम्

amaṁdāmodamaṁdāraṁ kovidārapariṣkṛtam cārucaṁpakacūtāḍhyaṁ protphullanavamallikam

richly fragrant with mandara trees, adorned with kovidara trees, abounding in lovely champaka and mango trees, bright with freshly blossomed jasmine,

Verse 80 (skanda.4.32.80)

विकसन्मालतीजालं करवीरविराजितम्॥ प्रस्फुटत्केतकिवनं प्रोद्यत्कुरबकोर्जितम्

vikasanmālatījālaṁ karavīravirājitam prasphuṭatketakivanaṁ prodyatkurabakorjitam

thick with blooming jasmine-creepers, resplendent with oleander, its groves of ketaki flowers bursting open, rich with kurabaka blossoms bursting into flower,

Verse 81 (skanda.4.32.81)

जृंभद्विचकिलामोदं लसत्कंकेलिपल्लवम्॥ नवमल्लीपरिमलाकृष्टषट्पदनादितम्

jṛṁbhadvicakilāmodaṁ lasatkaṁkelipallavam navamallīparimalākṛṣṭaṣaṭpadanāditam

fragrant with spreading vichakila flowers, radiant with the young leaves of the ashoka tree, humming with bees drawn by the scent of fresh jasmine,

Verse 82 (skanda.4.32.82)

पुष्प्यपुन्नागनिकरं बकुलामोदमोदितम्॥ मेदस्विपाटलामोद सदामोदित दिङ्मुखम्॥ बहुशोलंबिरोलंब मालामालितभूतलम्॥ चलच्चंदनशाखाग्र रममाणपि काकुलम्

puṣpyapunnāganikaraṁ bakulāmodamoditam medasvipāṭalāmoda sadāmodita diṅmukham bahuśolaṁbirolaṁba mālāmālitabhūtalam calaccaṁdanaśākhāgra ramamāṇapi kākulam

with flowering thickets of punnaga trees, delighted by the fragrance of bakula blossoms, every direction perfumed forever by rich patala flowers, its ground garlanded everywhere with hanging swarms of bees, its swaying sandalwood branch-tips alive with playing crows,

Verse 83 (skanda.4.32.83)

गुरुणाऽगुरुणामत्त भद्रजातिविहंगमम्॥ नागकेसरशाखास्थ शालभंजि विनोदितम्

guruṇā'guruṇāmatta bhadrajātivihaṁgamam nāgakesaraśākhāstha śālabhaṁji vinoditam

heavy with the scent of aloewood, its noble birds intoxicated by it, delighted by dancing figures perched upon the branches of the nagakesara tree,

Verse 84 (skanda.4.32.84)

मेरुतुंग नमेरुस्थच्छायाक्रीडितकिंनरम्॥ किंनरीमिथुनोद्गीतं गानवच्छुककिंशुकम्

merutuṁga namerusthacchāyākrīḍitakiṁnaram kiṁnarīmithunodgītaṁ gānavacchukakiṁśukam

with kinnaras sporting in the shade of the towering Nameru trees, ringing with the songs of kinnara couples, its parrots singing amid the flame-red kimshuka blossoms,

Verse 85 (skanda.4.32.85)

कदंबानां कदंबेषु गुंजद्रोलंबयुग्मकम्॥ जितसौवर्णवर्णोच्च कर्णिकारविराजितम्

kadaṁbānāṁ kadaṁbeṣu guṁjadrolaṁbayugmakam jitasauvarṇavarṇocca karṇikāravirājitam

with pairs of bees humming among clusters of kadamba trees, resplendent with karnikara trees whose lofty hue outshines even gold,

Verse 86 (skanda.4.32.86)

शालतालतमालाली हिंताली लकुचावृतम्॥ लसत्सप्तच्छदामोदं खर्जूरीराजिराजितम्॥ नारिकेल तरुच्छन्न नारंगीरागरंजितम्

śālatālatamālālī hiṁtālī lakucāvṛtam lasatsaptacchadāmodaṁ kharjūrīrājirājitam nārikela tarucchanna nāraṁgīrāgaraṁjitam

thick with rows of sala, tala, tamala, hintala and lakucha trees, fragrant with radiant sapta-cchada trees, resplendent with rows of date-palms, canopied with coconut trees, glowing with the ripe hue of orange trees,

Verse 87 (skanda.4.32.87)

फलिजंबीरनिकरं मधूकमधुपाकुलम्॥ शाल्मली शीतलच्छायं पिचुमंद महावनम्

phalijaṁbīranikaraṁ madhūkamadhupākulam śālmalī śītalacchāyaṁ picumaṁda mahāvanam

abounding in fruit-laden lime trees, its mahua trees swarming with bees, a great forest cool with the shade of the silk-cotton and neem trees,

Verse 88 (skanda.4.32.88)

मधुरामोद दमनच्छन्नं मरुबनोदितम्॥ लवलीलोललीलाभृन्मंदमारुतलोलितम्

madhurāmoda damanacchannaṁ marubanoditam lavalīlolalīlābhṛnmaṁdamārutalolitam

covered with sweet-scented damanaka herbs, alive with marjoram groves, its lavali creepers swaying playfully in the gentle breeze,

Verse 89 (skanda.4.32.89)

भिल्ली हल्लीसकप्रीति झिल्लीरावविराविणम्॥ क्वचित्सरः परिसरक्रीडत्क्रोडकदंबकम्

bhillī hallīsakaprīti jhillīrāvavirāviṇam kvacitsaraḥ parisarakrīḍatkroḍakadaṁbakam

delighted by the circle-dances of forest women, resounding with the chirping of crickets, and here and there, around its lakes, herds of playful boars,

Verse 90 (skanda.4.32.90)

मरालीगलनालीस्थ बिसासक्तसितच्छदम्॥ विशोककोकमिथुनक्रीडाक्रेंकारसुंदरम्

marālīgalanālīstha bisāsaktasitacchadam viśokakokamithunakrīḍākreṁkārasuṁdaram

its white lotus-petals caught in the throats of swans reaching for lotus-stalks, beautiful with the cries of playful pairs of chakravaka birds untouched by sorrow,

Verse 91 (skanda.4.32.91)

बकशावकसंचारं लक्ष्मणासक्त सारसम्॥ मत्तबर्हिणसंघुष्टं कपिंजलकुलाकुलम्॥ जीवंजीवलसज्जीवं क्वणत्कारंडवोत्कटम्॥ दीर्घिकावारिसंचारि शीतमारुत वीजितम्

bakaśāvakasaṁcāraṁ lakṣmaṇāsakta sārasam mattabarhiṇasaṁghuṣṭaṁ kapiṁjalakulākulam jīvaṁjīvalasajjīvaṁ kvaṇatkāraṁḍavotkaṭam dīrghikāvārisaṁcāri śītamāruta vījitam

alive with young herons, its cranes devoted to their mates, resounding with the calls of intoxicated peacocks, thronging with flocks of francolin partridges, alive with the jivanjiva bird, loud with the calling of karandava ducks, its lake-waters stirred by cool breezes,

Verse 92 (skanda.4.32.92)

मदांदोलितकह्लार परागपरिपिंगलम्॥ उल्लसत्पंकजमुखं नीलेंदीवरलोचनम्

madāṁdolitakahlāra parāgaparipiṁgalam ullasatpaṁkajamukhaṁ nīleṁdīvaralocanam

tawny with the pollen of red-lotuses scattered in the intoxicated stir of the waters, its face radiant with lotuses, its eyes as it were of blue water-lilies —

Verse 93 (skanda.4.32.93)

तमालकबरीभारं विलसद्दाडिमीरदम्॥ भ्रमरालीलसद्भ्रूकं शुकनासाविराजितम्

tamālakabarībhāraṁ vilasaddāḍimīradam bhramarālīlasadbhrūkaṁ śukanāsāvirājitam

with tamala trees like heavy tresses, radiant with pomegranate teeth, its rows of bees like glistening eyebrows, resplendent with a parrot's beak like a nose,

Verse 94 (skanda.4.32.94)

महांधुश्रवणं दूर्वा श्मश्रुभिः परिशोभितम्॥ कमलामोदनिःश्वासं बिंबीफल रदच्छदम्

mahāṁdhuśravaṇaṁ dūrvā śmaśrubhiḥ pariśobhitam kamalāmodaniḥśvāsaṁ biṁbīphala radacchadam

with great wells like ears, adorned with beards of durva grass, its breath the fragrance of lotuses, its lips the red bimba fruit,

Verse 95 (skanda.4.32.95)

सुपद्मपत्रवसनं कर्णिकारविभूषणम्॥ कम्रकंबु लसत्कंठं शंकरस्कंध बंधुरम्

supadmapatravasanaṁ karṇikāravibhūṣaṇam kamrakaṁbu lasatkaṁṭhaṁ śaṁkaraskaṁdha baṁdhuram

clothed in lotus-petal garments, adorned with karnikara ornaments, its throat lovely as a conch-shell, graceful as Shankara's own shoulder,

Verse 96 (skanda.4.32.96)

गंधसारसमासक्ता हीन दोर्दंडमंडितम्॥ अशोकपल्लवांगुष्ठं केतकीनखरोज्ज्वलम्

gaṁdhasārasamāsaktā hīna dordaṁḍamaṁḍitam aśokapallavāṁguṣṭhaṁ ketakīnakharojjvalam

adorned with arms like branches heavy with fragrant sandal, its thumbs the tender leaves of the ashoka, its nails bright as ketaki petals,

Verse 97 (skanda.4.32.97)

लसत्कंठीरवोरस्कं गंडशैलपृथूदरम्॥ जलावर्तलसन्नाभि तरुजंघा युगान्वितम्

lasatkaṁṭhīravoraskaṁ gaṁḍaśailapṛthūdaram jalāvartalasannābhi tarujaṁghā yugānvitam

its chest broad as a lion's, its belly vast as a mountain-slope, its navel like a whirling eddy of water, its two calves like tree-trunks,

Verse 98 (skanda.4.32.98)

स्थलभाक्पद्मचरणं मत्तमातंगगामिनम्॥ लसत्कदलिकेदारदलच्चीनांशुकावृतम्

sthalabhākpadmacaraṇaṁ mattamātaṁgagāminam lasatkadalikedāradalaccīnāṁśukāvṛtam

its feet like land-lotuses, its gait like an intoxicated elephant, clothed in fine silk like the leaves of the plantain grove,

Verse 99 (skanda.4.32.99)

नानासुकुममालाभिर्मालितं च समंततः॥ अकंटकितरुच्छन्नं महिष श्वापदावृतम्

nānāsukumamālābhirmālitaṁ ca samaṁtataḥ akaṁṭakitarucchannaṁ mahiṣa śvāpadāvṛtam

garlanded all around with manifold lovely flower-garlands, canopied by thornless trees, and roamed by buffaloes and wild beasts —

Verse 100 (skanda.4.32.100)

चंद्रकांतशिलासुप्तकृष्णैणहरितोडुपम्॥ तरुप्रकीर्णकुसुम जितस्वर्लोकतारकम्॥ दर्शयन्नित्थमाक्रीडं देव्यै देवोविशद्वनम्॥ ॥ देवदेव उवाच॥ यथाप्रियतमा देवि मम त्वं सर्वसुंदरि॥ तथा प्रियतरं चैतन्मे सदानंदकाननम्

caṁdrakāṁtaśilāsuptakṛṣṇaiṇaharitoḍupam taruprakīrṇakusuma jitasvarlokatārakam darśayannitthamākrīḍaṁ devyai devoviśadvanam devadeva uvāca yathāpriyatamā devi mama tvaṁ sarvasuṁdari tathā priyataraṁ caitanme sadānaṁdakānanam

with black antelope sleeping upon slabs of moonstone, its scattered forest flowers surpassing even the stars of heaven — showing this pleasure-garden thus to the Goddess, the God entered the forest. The God of gods said: 'Just as you, O Goddess, all-beautiful, are my most beloved, so too, even more dear to me, is this eternal Ananda-forest.'

Verse 101 (skanda.4.32.101)

अत्रानंदवने देवि मृतानां मदनुग्रहात्॥ वपुस्त्वमृततां प्राप्तमपुनर्भविनस्तु ते

atrānaṁdavane devi mṛtānāṁ madanugrahāt vapustvamṛtatāṁ prāptamapunarbhavinastu te

'Here in this Ananda-forest, O Goddess, by my grace, the very body of those who die attains immortality, and they are never born again.'

Verse 102 (skanda.4.32.102)

भविनो ये विपद्यंते वाराणस्यां ममाज्ञया॥ तेषां बीजानि दग्धानि श्मशानज्वलदग्निना

bhavino ye vipadyaṁte vārāṇasyāṁ mamājñayā teṣāṁ bījāni dagdhāni śmaśānajvaladagninā

'Whoever, still bound to worldly existence, dies in Varanasi by my command — their very seeds of karma are burnt away by the blazing fire of the cremation ground.'

Verse 103 (skanda.4.32.103)

महाश्मशाने ये प्राप्ता दीर्घनिद्रां गिरींद्रजे॥ न पुनर्गर्भशयने ते स्वपंति कदाचन

mahāśmaśāne ye prāptā dīrghanidrāṁ girīṁdraje na punargarbhaśayane te svapaṁti kadācana

'O daughter of the mountain king, whoever has attained the long sleep in the Great Cremation Ground never again sleeps in the bed of the womb.'

Verse 104 (skanda.4.32.104)

ब्रह्मज्ञानेन मुच्यंते नान्यथा जंतवः क्वचित्॥ ब्रह्मज्ञानमये क्षेत्रे प्रयागे वा तनुत्यजः

brahmajñānena mucyaṁte nānyathā jaṁtavaḥ kvacit brahmajñānamaye kṣetre prayāge vā tanutyajaḥ

'Elsewhere, creatures are freed only through the knowledge of Brahman, never otherwise — whether one dies in a field made of Brahman-knowledge, or in Prayaga.'

Verse 105 (skanda.4.32.105)

ब्रह्मज्ञानं तदेवाहं काशीसंस्थितिभागिनाम्॥ दिशामि तारकं प्रांते मुच्यंते ते तु तत्क्षणात्

brahmajñānaṁ tadevāhaṁ kāśīsaṁsthitibhāginām diśāmi tārakaṁ prāṁte mucyaṁte te tu tatkṣaṇāt

'But to those who partake of dwelling in Kashi, I myself grant that same knowledge of Brahman — the Taraka mantra — at the moment of their end, and they are freed that very instant.'

Verse 106 (skanda.4.32.106)

गृह्णीयुः पापकर्माणि काशीमृतविनिंदकाः॥ सुकृतानि स्तुतिकृतो मुच्यंते तेऽत्र जंतवः

gṛhṇīyuḥ pāpakarmāṇi kāśīmṛtaviniṁdakāḥ sukṛtāni stutikṛto mucyaṁte te'tra jaṁtavaḥ

'Those who deride one who has died in Kashi take on that person's sinful deeds themselves; those who praise such a one take on their merits — either way, those creatures are liberated here.'

Verse 107 (skanda.4.32.107)

ब्रह्मज्ञानं कुतो देवि कलिनोपहतात्मनाम्॥ स्वभावचंचलाक्षाणां तद्ब्रह्मेह दिशाम्यहम्

brahmajñānaṁ kuto devi kalinopahatātmanām svabhāvacaṁcalākṣāṇāṁ tadbrahmeha diśāmyaham

'How, O Goddess, could beings whose very souls are struck down by the Kali age, whose eyes are by nature restless, ever attain knowledge of Brahman on their own? That very Brahman-knowledge I myself grant here.'

Verse 108 (skanda.4.32.108)

योगिनो योगविभ्रष्टाः पतंत्यैश्वर्यमोहिताः॥ काश्यां पतित्वा न पुनः पतंत्यपि महालये

yogino yogavibhraṣṭāḥ pataṁtyaiśvaryamohitāḥ kāśyāṁ patitvā na punaḥ pataṁtyapi mahālaye

'Yogis who fall away from yoga, deluded by worldly power, fall into rebirth; but having fallen (died) in Kashi, they fall no more, even at the great dissolution.'

Verse 109 (skanda.4.32.109)

ब्रह्मज्ञानं न विंदंति योगैरेकेन जन्मना॥ जन्मनैकेन मुच्यंते काश्यामंतकृतो जनाः॥ यथेह मुच्यते जंतुर्गिरिजे मदनुग्रहात्॥ अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे न तथान्यत्र कुत्रचित्

brahmajñānaṁ na viṁdaṁti yogairekena janmanā janmanaikena mucyaṁte kāśyāmaṁtakṛto janāḥ yatheha mucyate jaṁturgirije madanugrahāt avimukte mahākṣetre na tathānyatra kutracit

'Elsewhere, through yoga in a single lifetime, one does not attain knowledge of Brahman — yet in Kashi, those who die there are freed within that single lifetime. O daughter of the mountain, just as a creature is liberated here, by my grace, in the great field of Avimukta, it is liberated nowhere else at all.'

Verse 110 (skanda.4.32.110)

बहुजन्मसमभ्यासाद्योगी मुच्येत वा न वा॥ मृतमात्रो विमुच्येत काश्यामेकेन जन्मना

bahujanmasamabhyāsādyogī mucyeta vā na vā mṛtamātro vimucyeta kāśyāmekena janmanā

'A yogi, even through the practice of many lifetimes, may or may not be liberated; but the moment one dies in Kashi, one is liberated within a single lifetime.'

Verse 111 (skanda.4.32.111)

न सिध्यति कलौ योगो न सिध्यति कलौ तपः॥ न्यायार्जितधनोत्सर्गः सद्यः सिध्येत्कलौ नरः

na sidhyati kalau yogo na sidhyati kalau tapaḥ nyāyārjitadhanotsargaḥ sadyaḥ sidhyetkalau naraḥ

'In the Kali age, yoga does not succeed; in the Kali age, austerity does not succeed. But the gift of wealth earned by righteous means brings a man instant success in the Kali age.'

Verse 112 (skanda.4.32.112)

न व्रतं न तपो नेज्या न जपो न सुरार्चनम्॥ दानमेव कलौ मुक्त्यै काशीदानैरवाप्यते

na vrataṁ na tapo nejyā na japo na surārcanam dānameva kalau muktyai kāśīdānairavāpyate

'Not vows, not austerity, not sacrifice, not japa, not the worship of the gods — only charity in the Kali age leads to liberation, and this is obtained through gifts given in Kashi.'

Verse 113 (skanda.4.32.113)

कलौ विश्वेश्वरो देवः कलौ वाराणसी पुरी॥ कलौ भागीरथी गंगा कलौ दानं विशिष्यते

kalau viśveśvaro devaḥ kalau vārāṇasī purī kalau bhāgīrathī gaṁgā kalau dānaṁ viśiṣyate

'In the Kali age, the God Vishveshvara is supreme; in the Kali age, the city of Varanasi is supreme; in the Kali age, the Bhagirathi Ganga is supreme; in the Kali age, charity is especially exalted.'

Verse 114 (skanda.4.32.114)

गंगोत्तरवहाकाश्यां लिंगं विश्वेश्वरं मम॥ उभे विमुक्तिदे पुंसां प्राप्ये दानबलात्कलौ

gaṁgottaravahākāśyāṁ liṁgaṁ viśveśvaraṁ mama ubhe vimuktide puṁsāṁ prāpye dānabalātkalau

'The northward-flowing Ganga in Kashi, and my own linga Vishveshvara — both these grant liberation to men, attained in the Kali age through the strength of charitable giving.'

Verse 115 (skanda.4.32.115)

पुण्यवानितरो वापि मम क्षेत्रस्य सेवया॥ मुक्तो भवति देवेशि नात्र कार्या विचारणा

puṇyavānitaro vāpi mama kṣetrasya sevayā mukto bhavati deveśi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

'Whether meritorious or otherwise, O Queen of gods, through service to my sacred field, one becomes liberated — no doubt need be entertained about this.'

Verse 116 (skanda.4.32.116)

अविमुक्तस्य माहात्म्यात्पुण्यपापेन कर्मणा॥ देवि प्रभवतः पुंसामपिजन्मशतार्जिते

avimuktasya māhātmyātpuṇyapāpena karmaṇā devi prabhavataḥ puṁsāmapijanmaśatārjite

'Through the greatness of Avimukta, O Goddess, even the effect born of merit and sin accumulated by a man's deeds over a hundred lifetimes,'

Verse 117 (skanda.4.32.117)

अविमुक्तं न मोक्तव्यं तस्माद्देवि मुमुक्षुणा॥ हन्यमानेन बहुधा ह्युपसर्गशतैरपि

avimuktaṁ na moktavyaṁ tasmāddevi mumukṣuṇā hanyamānena bahudhā hyupasargaśatairapi

'Therefore, O Goddess, one who desires liberation should never abandon Avimukta, even though beset in manifold ways by hundreds of calamities.'

Verse 118 (skanda.4.32.118)

विधाय क्षेत्रसंन्यासं ये वसंतीह मानवाः॥ जीवन्मुक्तास्तु ते देवि तेषां विघ्नं हराम्यहम्॥ न योगिनां हृदाकाशे न कैलासे न मंदरे॥ तथा वासरतिर्मेऽस्ति यथा काश्यां रतिर्मम

vidhāya kṣetrasaṁnyāsaṁ ye vasaṁtīha mānavāḥ jīvanmuktāstu te devi teṣāṁ vighnaṁ harāmyaham na yogināṁ hṛdākāśe na kailāse na maṁdare tathā vāsaratirme'sti yathā kāśyāṁ ratirmama

'Whatever people dwell here, having taken up formal residence in this sacred field, are liberated even while living, O Goddess, and I myself remove every obstacle for them. Not in the inner sky of the yogis' hearts, not on Kailasa, not on Mandara, do I take such delight in dwelling as I take delight in dwelling in Kashi.'

Verse 119 (skanda.4.32.119)

काशीवासि जनो देवि मम गर्भे वसेत्सदा॥ अतस्तं मोचयाम्यंते प्रतिज्ञेयं यतो मम

kāśīvāsi jano devi mama garbhe vasetsadā atastaṁ mocayāmyaṁte pratijñeyaṁ yato mama

'Whoever dwells in Kashi, O Goddess, dwells ever within my own womb; therefore I release him at the end, for that is my own solemn vow.'

Verse 120 (skanda.4.32.120)

तामसीं प्रकृतिं प्राप्य कालो भूत्वा चराचरम्॥ ग्रसामि लीलया देवि काशीं रक्षामि यत्नतः

tāmasīṁ prakṛtiṁ prāpya kālo bhūtvā carācaram grasāmi līlayā devi kāśīṁ rakṣāmi yatnataḥ

'Taking on the nature of Tamas, becoming Time itself, I devour the whole moving and unmoving world in play, O Goddess — yet I guard Kashi with the utmost care.'

Verse 121 (skanda.4.32.121)

प्रेमपात्रद्वयं देवि नितरां नेतरन्मम॥ त्वं वा तपोधने गौरि काशी वानंदभूमिका

premapātradvayaṁ devi nitarāṁ netaranmama tvaṁ vā tapodhane gauri kāśī vānaṁdabhūmikā

'There are only two vessels of my supreme love, O Goddess, and no other — you, O treasure of austerity, Gauri, or Kashi, the very ground of bliss.'

Verse 122 (skanda.4.32.122)

विना काशी न मे स्थानं विना काशी न मे रतिः॥ विना काशी न निर्वाणं सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

vinā kāśī na me sthānaṁ vinā kāśī na me ratiḥ vinā kāśī na nirvāṇaṁ satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

'Without Kashi, I have no true abode; without Kashi, I have no delight; without Kashi, there is no liberation — truly, truly, I say this to you.'

Verse 123 (skanda.4.32.123)

ब्रह्मांडगोलके यद्वन्मुक्तिः काश्यां व्यवस्थिता॥ अष्टांगयोगयुक्त्या वा न तथा हेलयाऽन्यतः

brahmāṁḍagolake yadvanmuktiḥ kāśyāṁ vyavasthitā aṣṭāṁgayogayuktyā vā na tathā helayā'nyataḥ

'In this entire sphere of the universe, liberation is established firmly in Kashi as nowhere else — not through the practice of eightfold yoga, nor with ease anywhere else.'

Verse 124 (skanda.4.32.124)

मध्ये वनं तपस्यंतमशोकतरुमूलगम्

madhye vanaṁ tapasyaṁtamaśokatarumūlagam

As Shiva spoke thus, they beheld, in the midst of the forest, one performing austerity at the foot of an ashoka tree —

Verse 125 (skanda.4.32.125)

शुष्कस्नायुपिनद्धास्थि संचयं निश्चलाकृतिम्॥ वल्मीककीटकाकोटिशोषितासृगसृग्धरम्

śuṣkasnāyupinaddhāsthi saṁcayaṁ niścalākṛtim valmīkakīṭakākoṭiśoṣitāsṛgasṛgdharam

his mass of bones bound together with dried sinews, motionless in form, his blood dried up entirely by millions of ants and insects from an anthill,

Verse 126 (skanda.4.32.126)

निर्मांसकीकसचयं स्फटिकोपलनिश्चलम्॥ शंखकुंदेंदुतुहिन महाशंखलसच्छ्रियम्

nirmāṁsakīkasacayaṁ sphaṭikopalaniścalam śaṁkhakuṁdeṁdutuhina mahāśaṁkhalasacchriyam

his flesh entirely wasted away, still as a block of crystal, radiant with the great beauty of conch, jasmine, moon, and frost,

Verse 127 (skanda.4.32.127)

सत्वावलंबितप्राणमायुःशेषेणरक्षितम्॥ निःश्वासोच्छासपवनवृत्तिसूचितजीवितम्॥ निमेषोन्मेषसंचार पिशुनीकृतजंतुकम्॥ पिंगतारस्फुरद्रश्मि नेत्रदीपित दिङ्मुखम्

satvāvalaṁbitaprāṇamāyuḥśeṣeṇarakṣitam niḥśvāsocchāsapavanavṛttisūcitajīvitam nimeṣonmeṣasaṁcāra piśunīkṛtajaṁtukam piṁgatārasphuradraśmi netradīpita diṅmukham

his very breath sustained only by the strength of his soul, kept alive only by the remainder of his allotted years, his life betrayed only by the slight motion of his breathing in and out, his living presence revealed only by the flickering of his eyelids, every direction lit by the flashing tawny rays of his eyes —

Verse 128 (skanda.4.32.128)

तत्तपोग्निशिखादाव चुंबितम्लानकाननम्॥ तत्सौम्यदृक्सुधावर्ष संसिक्ताऽखिलभूरुहम्

tattapogniśikhādāva cuṁbitamlānakānanam tatsaumyadṛksudhāvarṣa saṁsiktā'khilabhūruham

the surrounding forest withered by the touch of the wildfire-flame of his austerity, yet every tree drenched by the rain of nectar from his gentle gaze —

Verse 129 (skanda.4.32.129)

साक्षात्तपस्यंतमिव तपो धृत्वा नराकृतिम्॥ निराकृतिं निराकांक्षं कृत्वा भक्तिं च कांचन

sākṣāttapasyaṁtamiva tapo dhṛtvā narākṛtim nirākṛtiṁ nirākāṁkṣaṁ kṛtvā bhaktiṁ ca kāṁcana

as though austerity itself, in human form, sat performing austerity — devoid of any ulterior form, free of any desire, his devotion directed toward nothing else in particular —

Verse 130 (skanda.4.32.130)

कुरंगशावैर्गणशो भ्रमद्भिः परिवारितम्॥ नितांतभीषणास्यैश्च पंचास्यैः परिरक्षितम्

kuraṁgaśāvairgaṇaśo bhramadbhiḥ parivāritam nitāṁtabhīṣaṇāsyaiśca paṁcāsyaiḥ parirakṣitam

surrounded by herds of young deer wandering about him, guarded by fierce-faced lions.

Verse 131 (skanda.4.32.131)

तं तथाभूतमालोक्य देवी देवं व्यजिज्ञपत्॥ वरेणच्छंदयेशामुं निजभक्तं तपस्विनम्

taṁ tathābhūtamālokya devī devaṁ vyajijñapat vareṇacchaṁdayeśāmuṁ nijabhaktaṁ tapasvinam

Beholding him thus, the Goddess petitioned the God: 'Grant a boon, O Lord, to this your own devoted ascetic.'

Verse 132 (skanda.4.32.132)

त्वदेकचित्तं त्वदधीनजीवितं त्वदेककर्माणममुं त्वदाश्रयम्॥ तीव्रैस्तपोभिः परिशुष्कविग्रहं कुरुष्व यक्षस्य वरैरनुग्रहम्

tvadekacittaṁ tvadadhīnajīvitaṁ tvadekakarmāṇamamuṁ tvadāśrayam tīvraistapobhiḥ pariśuṣkavigrahaṁ kuruṣva yakṣasya varairanugraham

'His mind fixed on you alone, his very life dependent on you, his every deed for you alone, his refuge in you alone — his body utterly wasted by fierce austerities — grant, with your boons, your grace upon this yaksha.'

Verse 133 (skanda.4.32.133)

देवो वृषेंद्रादवरुह्य देव्या शैलादिना दत्तकरावलंबः॥ समाधिसंकोचितनेत्रपत्रं पस्पर्श हस्तेन दयार्द्रचेताः

devo vṛṣeṁdrādavaruhya devyā śailādinā dattakarāvalaṁbaḥ samādhisaṁkocitanetrapatraṁ pasparśa hastena dayārdracetāḥ

The God, descending from his great Bull, his hand supported by the daughter of the mountain, his heart melting with compassion, touched with his own hand Harikesha, his lotus-eyes closed in deep meditation.

Verse 134 (skanda.4.32.134)

ततः स यक्षो विनिमील्य चक्षुषी त्र्यक्षं पुरो वीक्ष्य समक्षमात्मनः॥ उद्यत्सहस्रांशु सहस्रतेजसं जगाद हर्षाकुल गद्गदाक्षरम्

tataḥ sa yakṣo vinimīlya cakṣuṣī tryakṣaṁ puro vīkṣya samakṣamātmanaḥ udyatsahasrāṁśu sahasratejasaṁ jagāda harṣākula gadgadākṣaram

Then that yaksha, opening his eyes, and seeing right before him the Three-eyed One, of a splendor like a thousand rising suns, spoke — his words choked and broken with overwhelming joy:

Verse 135 (skanda.4.32.135)

जयेश शंभो गिरिजेश शंकर त्रिशूलपाणे शशिखंडशेखर॥ स्पर्शत्कृपालो तव पाणिपंकजं प्राप्यामृतीभूततनूलतोऽभवम्

jayeśa śaṁbho girijeśa śaṁkara triśūlapāṇe śaśikhaṁḍaśekhara sparśatkṛpālo tava pāṇipaṁkajaṁ prāpyāmṛtībhūtatanūlato'bhavam

'Victory to you, O Lord Shambhu! O Lord of the mountain's daughter! O Shankara! O trident-bearer! O you crowned with the crescent moon! By the touch of your compassionate lotus hand, my very body, this frail creeper, has become immortal.'

Verse 136 (skanda.4.32.136)

श्रुत्वोदितां तस्य महेश्वरो गिरं मृद्वीकया साम्यमुपेयुषीं मृदु॥ भक्तस्य धीरस्य महातपोनिधे ददौ वराणां निकर तदा मुदा॥ क्षेत्रस्य यक्षास्य मम प्रियस्य मे भवाधुना दंडधरो वरान्मम॥ स्थिरस्त्वमद्यादि दुरात्मदंडकः सुपालकः पुण्यकृतां च मत्प्रियः

śrutvoditāṁ tasya maheśvaro giraṁ mṛdvīkayā sāmyamupeyuṣīṁ mṛdu bhaktasya dhīrasya mahātaponidhe dadau varāṇāṁ nikara tadā mudā kṣetrasya yakṣāsya mama priyasya me bhavādhunā daṁḍadharo varānmama sthirastvamadyādi durātmadaṁḍakaḥ supālakaḥ puṇyakṛtāṁ ca matpriyaḥ

Hearing these words of his, spoken as sweetly as though rivaling the very grape, Maheshvara then, with joy, granted a whole cluster of boons to that steadfast devotee, that treasury of great austerity: 'O yaksha, dear to me, treasure of this sacred field — by my boon, become now the very bearer of the staff of this field. From this day forward, be steadfast, the chastiser of the wicked-minded, the good protector, and my own beloved, of the virtuous.'

Verse 137 (skanda.4.32.137)

त्वं दंडपाणिर्भव नामतोऽधुना सर्वान्गणाञ्छाधि ममाज्ञयोत्कटान्॥ गणाविमौ त्वामनुयायिनौ सदा नाम्ना यथार्थौ नृषु संभ्रमोद्भ्रमौ

tvaṁ daṁḍapāṇirbhava nāmato'dhunā sarvāngaṇāñchādhi mamājñayotkaṭān gaṇāvimau tvāmanuyāyinau sadā nāmnā yathārthau nṛṣu saṁbhramodbhramau

'Be, from this moment, Dandapani by name; by my own command, rule over all my fierce ganas. And these two ganas shall ever follow you, aptly named as they are, causing bewilderment and confusion among men who oppose the sacred field.'

Verse 138 (skanda.4.32.138)

त्वमंत्यभूषां कुरु काशिवासिनां गले सुनीलां भुजगेंद्र कंकणाम्॥ भालेसु नेत्रां करिकृत्तिवाससं वामेक्षणालक्षित वामभागाम्

tvamaṁtyabhūṣāṁ kuru kāśivāsināṁ gale sunīlāṁ bhujageṁdra kaṁkaṇām bhālesu netrāṁ karikṛttivāsasaṁ vāmekṣaṇālakṣita vāmabhāgām

'Fashion the final ornament for the people of Kashi: a beautiful dark serpent-lord as their bracelet at the throat, an eye upon their brow, an elephant-hide as their garment, a left half marked by a glance from a left eye.'

Verse 139 (skanda.4.32.139)

मौलौ लसत्पिंगकपर्दभारिणी विभूतिसंक्षालित पुण्यविग्रहाम्॥ अहोहिमांशोः कलया लसच्छ्रियं वृषेंद्रलीला गतिमंदगामिनीम्

maulau lasatpiṁgakapardabhāriṇī vibhūtisaṁkṣālita puṇyavigrahām ahohimāṁśoḥ kalayā lasacchriyaṁ vṛṣeṁdralīlā gatimaṁdagāminīm

'Give them a crest bearing radiant tawny matted locks, a holy form washed clean with sacred ash, splendor shining, ah, with a digit of the cool-rayed moon, and a slow, graceful gait like the sportive gait of the great Bull.'

Verse 140 (skanda.4.32.140)

त्वमन्नदः काशिनिवासिनां सदा त्वं प्राणदो ज्ञानद एक एव हि॥ त्वं मोक्षदो मन्मुखसूपदेशतस्त्वं निश्चलां सद्वसतिं विधास्यसि

tvamannadaḥ kāśinivāsināṁ sadā tvaṁ prāṇado jñānada eka eva hi tvaṁ mokṣado manmukhasūpadeśatastvaṁ niścalāṁ sadvasatiṁ vidhāsyasi

'You shall be, forever, the giver of food to the residents of Kashi; you alone shall be the giver of life-breath and of knowledge. You shall be the giver of liberation, through instruction issuing from my own mouth; you shall establish for them a secure and lasting dwelling.'

Verse 141 (skanda.4.32.141)

त्वं विघ्नपूगैः परिपीड्य पापिनः संभ्रातिमुत्पाद्य विनेष्यसे बहिः॥ आनीय भक्तान्क्षणतोपिदूरतो मुक्तिं परां दापयितासि पिंगल

tvaṁ vighnapūgaiḥ paripīḍya pāpinaḥ saṁbhrātimutpādya vineṣyase bahiḥ ānīya bhaktānkṣaṇatopidūrato muktiṁ parāṁ dāpayitāsi piṁgala

'You shall afflict sinners with hosts of obstacles, and drive them out, throwing them into confusion; but, O Pingala, you shall bring your devotees near — even from far away, in an instant — and grant them supreme liberation.'

Verse 142 (skanda.4.32.142)

त्वत्सात्कृते क्षेत्रवरे हि यक्षराट्कस्त्वामनाराध्य विमुक्तिभाजनम्॥ सभाजनं पूर्वत एव ते चरेत्ततः समर्चां मम भक्त आचरेत्

tvatsātkṛte kṣetravare hi yakṣarāṭkastvāmanārādhya vimuktibhājanam sabhājanaṁ pūrvata eva te carettataḥ samarcāṁ mama bhakta ācaret

'In this excellent field, made yours, O king of yakshas, who could ever become a vessel of liberation without first worshipping you? Therefore, my devotee should first pay homage to you, and only then perform worship of me.'

Verse 143 (skanda.4.32.143)

त्वं ग्रामवासप्रद एव मे पुरेऽध्यक्षस्त्वमेधीह च दंडनायकः॥ दुष्टान्समुद्घाटय काशिवैरिणः काशीं पुरीं रक्ष सदा मुदान्वितः

tvaṁ grāmavāsaprada eva me pure'dhyakṣastvamedhīha ca daṁḍanāyakaḥ duṣṭānsamudghāṭaya kāśivairiṇaḥ kāśīṁ purīṁ rakṣa sadā mudānvitaḥ

'You shall be the very grantor of residence in my city; be here the overseer and the Dandanayaka. Root out the wicked, the enemies of Kashi; guard the city of Kashi always, filled with joy.'

Verse 144 (skanda.4.32.144)

पूर्णभद्रसुतदंडनायक त्र्यक्षयक्षहरिकेश पिंगल॥ काशिवास वसतां सदान्नदज्ञानमोक्षदगणाग्रणीर्भव

pūrṇabhadrasutadaṁḍanāyaka tryakṣayakṣaharikeśa piṁgala kāśivāsa vasatāṁ sadānnadajñānamokṣadagaṇāgraṇīrbhava

'O son of Purnabhadra, O Dandanayaka, O three-eyed yaksha, Harikesha, Pingala — be forever the foremost among my ganas, granting food, knowledge, and liberation to those who dwell in Kashi.'

Verse 145 (skanda.4.32.145)

मद्भक्तियुक्तोपि विना त्वदीयां भक्तिं न काशी वसतिं लभेत॥ गणेषु देवेषु हि मानवेषु तदग्रमान्यो भव दंडपाणे॥ ज्ञानोदतीर्थे विहितोदकक्रियो यस्त्वां समाराधयिता गणेशम्॥ स एव लोके कृतकृत्यतामगान्ममातुलानुग्रहतोऽत्र पुण्यवान्

madbhaktiyuktopi vinā tvadīyāṁ bhaktiṁ na kāśī vasatiṁ labheta gaṇeṣu deveṣu hi mānaveṣu tadagramānyo bhava daṁḍapāṇe jñānodatīrthe vihitodakakriyo yastvāṁ samārādhayitā gaṇeśam sa eva loke kṛtakṛtyatāmagānmamātulānugrahato'tra puṇyavān

'Even one devoted to me, without devotion to you, shall not obtain residence in Kashi. Be, therefore, O Dandapani, held foremost in honor among my ganas, among the gods, and among men. Whoever performs the water-rites at the Jnanoda tirtha and worships you, the Ganesha, he alone in this world attains the fulfillment of all his purposes here, blessed by my own boundless grace.'

Verse 146 (skanda.4.32.146)

त्वं दक्षिणस्यां दिशि दंडपाणे सदैव मे नेत्रसमक्षमत्र॥ त्वं दंडयन्प्राणभृतो दुरीहानिहास्वनॄन्स्वानभयं दिशन्वै

tvaṁ dakṣiṇasyāṁ diśi daṁḍapāṇe sadaiva me netrasamakṣamatra tvaṁ daṁḍayanprāṇabhṛto durīhānihāsvanṝnsvānabhayaṁ diśanvai

'You, O Dandapani, shall stand ever in the southern direction, always here before my very eyes — punishing those beings of evil intent, and granting fearlessness to your own faithful ones.'

Verse 147 (skanda.4.32.147)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ वृषेंद्रमधिरुह्याथ विवेशानंदकाननम्

skaṁda uvāca vṛṣeṁdramadhiruhyātha viveśānaṁdakānanam

Skanda said: Shiva, then mounting his great Bull, entered again the Ananda-forest.

Verse 148 (skanda.4.32.148)

कुंभोद्भव तदारभ्य यक्षराड्दंडनायकः॥ पुरीं वाराणसीं सम्यगनुशास्ति निदेशतः

kuṁbhodbhava tadārabhya yakṣarāḍdaṁḍanāyakaḥ purīṁ vārāṇasīṁ samyaganuśāsti nideśataḥ

O Kumbhodbhava, from that time onward, the king of yakshas, the Dandanayaka, duly rules over the city of Varanasi at Shiva's command.

Verse 149 (skanda.4.32.149)

अहमप्यत्र वसतिं चक्रे तदनुसूयया॥ वसन्नपि मया काश्यां यतः संभावितो न सः

ahamapyatra vasatiṁ cakre tadanusūyayā vasannapi mayā kāśyāṁ yataḥ saṁbhāvito na saḥ

I too once took up residence here, but out of resentment — for even though I dwelt in Kashi, I had not at first shown him due regard,

Verse 150 (skanda.4.32.150)

मुने क्षेत्रं यदत्याक्षीस्त्वमप्येवंविधो वशी॥ शंके तत्राहमेवाद्धा कामं तस्यैव विक्रियाम्

mune kṣetraṁ yadatyākṣīstvamapyevaṁvidho vaśī śaṁke tatrāhamevāddhā kāmaṁ tasyaiva vikriyām

O sage, if you too, though a master of your senses, should ever have to leave this field, I suspect it would be, in truth, entirely because of my own neglect of Dandapani and his displeasure.

Verse 151 (skanda.4.32.151)

मनाग्विरुद्धाचरणं यदि द्विज विलक्षयेत्॥ हरिकेशस्तदा काश्यां क्व स्थितिः क्व च निर्वृतिः

manāgviruddhācaraṇaṁ yadi dvija vilakṣayet harikeśastadā kāśyāṁ kva sthitiḥ kva ca nirvṛtiḥ

If, O brahmin, Harikesha should perceive even the slightest contrary conduct, then where indeed could there be any residence in Kashi, or any peace at all?

Verse 152 (skanda.4.32.152)

दंडपाणिमनाराध्य कः काश्यां सुखमाप्नुयात्॥ प्रविविक्षुरहं काशीं दूरगोपि भजामि तम्

daṁḍapāṇimanārādhya kaḥ kāśyāṁ sukhamāpnuyāt pravivikṣurahaṁ kāśīṁ dūragopi bhajāmi tam

Without worshipping Dandapani, who could ever obtain happiness in Kashi? I myself, desiring to enter Kashi, worship him, even from afar.

Verse 153 (skanda.4.32.153)

रत्नभद्रांगजोद्भूतं पूर्णभद्रसुतोत्तम॥ निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे यक्ष काशीवासं शिवाप्तये

ratnabhadrāṁgajodbhūtaṁ pūrṇabhadrasutottama nirvighnaṁ kuru me yakṣa kāśīvāsaṁ śivāptaye

'O excellent son born of Purnabhadra, son of Ratnabhadra's line, O yaksha, make my residence in Kashi free of all obstacles, that I may attain Shiva.'

Verse 154 (skanda.4.32.154)

धन्यो यक्षः पूर्णभद्रो धन्या कांचनकुंडला॥ ययोर्जठरपीठेभूर्दंडपाणे महामते॥ जय यक्षपते धीर जय पिंगललोचन॥ जय पिंगजटाभार जय दंड महायुध

dhanyo yakṣaḥ pūrṇabhadro dhanyā kāṁcanakuṁḍalā yayorjaṭharapīṭhebhūrdaṁḍapāṇe mahāmate jaya yakṣapate dhīra jaya piṁgalalocana jaya piṁgajaṭābhāra jaya daṁḍa mahāyudha

Blessed is the yaksha Purnabhadra, blessed is Kanchanakundala, from whose very womb you sprang, O Dandapani, O great-minded one! Victory to you, O lord of yakshas, O steadfast one! Victory to you, O tawny-eyed one! Victory to you, of tawny, matted locks! Victory to you, whose great weapon is the staff!

Verse 155 (skanda.4.32.155)

अविमुक्त महाक्षेत्र सूत्रधारोग्रतापस॥ दंडनायक भीमास्य जय विश्वेश्वरप्रिय

avimukta mahākṣetra sūtradhārogratāpasa daṁḍanāyaka bhīmāsya jaya viśveśvarapriya

O director of the great field of Avimukta, O one of fierce austerity! O Dandanayaka of terrible countenance! Victory to you, beloved of Vishveshvara!

Verse 156 (skanda.4.32.156)

सौम्यानां सौम्यवदन भीषणानां भयानक॥ क्षेत्रपापधियां काल महाकालमहाप्रिय

saumyānāṁ saumyavadana bhīṣaṇānāṁ bhayānaka kṣetrapāpadhiyāṁ kāla mahākālamahāpriya

Gentle-faced to the gentle, fearsome to the fearsome, O Time itself to those with sinful minds within the field, O great beloved of Mahakala!

Verse 157 (skanda.4.32.157)

जयप्राणद यक्षेंद्र काशीवासान्नमोक्षद॥ महारत्नस्फुरद्रश्मि चयचर्चित विग्रह

jayaprāṇada yakṣeṁdra kāśīvāsānnamokṣada mahāratnasphuradraśmi cayacarcita vigraha

Victory to you, O giver of life, O lord of yakshas! O giver of food and liberation to those who dwell in Kashi! Your form is anointed with the flashing rays of great jewels!

Verse 158 (skanda.4.32.158)

महासंभ्रातिजनक महोद्भ्रांति प्रदायक॥ अभक्तानां च भक्तानां संभ्रात्युद्भ्रांति नाशक

mahāsaṁbhrātijanaka mahodbhrāṁti pradāyaka abhaktānāṁ ca bhaktānāṁ saṁbhrātyudbhrāṁti nāśaka

O begetter of great confusion, O giver of great bewilderment! O destroyer of the confusion and bewilderment of your true devotees!

Verse 159 (skanda.4.32.159)

प्रांतनेपथ्यचतुर जयज्ञाननिधिप्रद॥ जयगौरीपदाब्जाले मोक्षेक्षणविचक्षण

prāṁtanepathyacatura jayajñānanidhiprada jayagaurīpadābjāle mokṣekṣaṇavicakṣaṇa

O skillful arranger of the final rites at the end of life! Victory to you, giver of the treasure of knowledge! Victory to you, expert in bestowing the sight of liberation at Gauri's lotus feet!

Verse 160 (skanda.4.32.160)

यक्षराजाष्टकं पुण्यमिदं नित्यं त्रिकालतः॥ जपामि मैत्रावरुणे वाराणस्याप्तिकारणम्

yakṣarājāṣṭakaṁ puṇyamidaṁ nityaṁ trikālataḥ japāmi maitrāvaruṇe vārāṇasyāptikāraṇam

I recite daily, at all three times, this holy Ashtaka of the King of Yakshas, the very means of attaining Varanasi.

Verse 161 (skanda.4.32.161)

दंडपाण्यष्टकं धीमाञ्जपन्विघ्नैर्न जातुचित्॥ श्रद्धया परिभूयेत काशीवासफलं लभेत

daṁḍapāṇyaṣṭakaṁ dhīmāñjapanvighnairna jātucit śraddhayā paribhūyeta kāśīvāsaphalaṁ labheta

A wise man who recites this Ashtaka of Dandapani is never overcome by obstacles; reciting it with faith, he obtains the very fruit of dwelling in Kashi.

Verse 162 (skanda.4.32.162)

प्रादुर्भावं दंडपाणेः शृण्वन्तोत्रमिदं गृणन्॥ विपत्तिमन्यतः प्राप्य काशीं जन्मांतरे लभेत्

prādurbhāvaṁ daṁḍapāṇeḥ śṛṇvantotramidaṁ gṛṇan vipattimanyataḥ prāpya kāśīṁ janmāṁtare labhet

Whoever hears of the manifestation of Dandapani, reciting this hymn — even if he meets calamity elsewhere, he shall attain Kashi in his next birth.

Verse 163 (skanda.4.32.163)

श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं दंडपाणिसमुद्भवम्॥ पठित्वा पाठयित्वापि न र्विघ्रैरभिभूयतै

śrutvādhyāyamimaṁ puṇyaṁ daṁḍapāṇisamudbhavam paṭhitvā pāṭhayitvāpi na rvighrairabhibhūyatai

Whoever hears this holy chapter, the origin of Dandapani, or recites it, or causes it to be recited, is never overcome by obstacles.