The Description of Jnanavapi

Verse 1 (skanda.4.33.1)

॥ अगस्त्य उवाच॥ स्कंदज्ञानोदतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं वद सांप्रतम्॥ ज्ञानवापीं प्रशंसंति यतः स्वर्गौकसोप्यलम्

agastya uvāca skaṁdajñānodatīrthasya māhātmyaṁ vada sāṁpratam jñānavāpīṁ praśaṁsaṁti yataḥ svargaukasopyalam

Agastya said: O Skanda, now tell me the greatness of the Jnanoda tirtha, since even the dwellers of heaven greatly praise the Jnanavapi, the Well of Knowledge.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.33.2)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ घटोद्भव महाप्राज्ञ शृणु पापप्रणोदिनीम्॥ ज्ञानवाप्याः समुत्पत्तिं कथ्यमानां मयाधुना

skaṁda uvāca ghaṭodbhava mahāprājña śṛṇu pāpapraṇodinīm jñānavāpyāḥ samutpattiṁ kathyamānāṁ mayādhunā

Skanda said: O Ghatodbhava, greatly wise one, listen now as I tell the origin of the Jnanavapi, the driver-away of sin.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.33.3)

अनादिसिद्धे संसारे पुरा देवयुगे मुने॥ प्राप्तः कुतश्चिदीशानश्चरन्स्वैरमितस्ततः

anādisiddhe saṁsāre purā devayuge mune prāptaḥ kutaścidīśānaścaransvairamitastataḥ

In this beginningless world, of old, in the Deva Yuga, O sage, Ishana came from somewhere, wandering freely here and there.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.33.4)

न वर्षंति यदाभ्राणि न प्रावर्तंत निम्रगाः॥ जलाभिलाषो न यदा स्नानपानादि कर्मणि

na varṣaṁti yadābhrāṇi na prāvartaṁta nimragāḥ jalābhilāṣo na yadā snānapānādi karmaṇi

At a time when the clouds did not rain, when rivers did not flow, when there was no desire for water even for such acts as bathing and drinking,

Verse 5 (skanda.4.33.5)

क्षारस्वादूदयोरेव यदासीज्जलदर्शनम्॥ प्रथिव्यां नरसंचारे वतर्माने क्वचित्क्वचित्

kṣārasvādūdayoreva yadāsījjaladarśanam prathivyāṁ narasaṁcāre vatarmāne kvacitkvacit

when the sight of water existed only in the salt sea and the sweet ocean of milk, while the movement of men upon the earth continued here and there,

Verse 6 (skanda.4.33.6)

निर्वाणकमलाक्षेत्रं श्रीमदानंदकाननम्॥ महाश्मशानं सर्वेषां बीजानां परमूषरम्

nirvāṇakamalākṣetraṁ śrīmadānaṁdakānanam mahāśmaśānaṁ sarveṣāṁ bījānāṁ paramūṣaram

Ishana came to the field of the lotus-eyed one's liberation, the glorious Ananda-forest, the Great Cremation Ground, the supreme barren ground for the seeds of all karma,

Verse 7 (skanda.4.33.7)

महाशयनसुप्तानां जंतूनां प्रतिबोधकम्॥ संसारसागरावर्त पतज्जंतुतरंडकम्

mahāśayanasuptānāṁ jaṁtūnāṁ pratibodhakam saṁsārasāgarāvarta patajjaṁtutaraṁḍakam

the awakener of creatures asleep in the great sleep of ignorance, a very raft for creatures falling into the whirlpool of the ocean of worldly existence,

Verse 8 (skanda.4.33.8)

यातायातातिसंखिन्न जंतुविश्राममंडपम॥ अनेकजन्मगुणित कर्मसूत्रच्छिदाक्षुरम्

yātāyātātisaṁkhinna jaṁtuviśrāmamaṁḍapama anekajanmaguṇita karmasūtracchidākṣuram

a resting-pavilion for creatures utterly worn out by the endless coming and going of rebirth, a razor that severs the thread of karma multiplied over countless births,

Verse 9 (skanda.4.33.9)

सच्चिदानंदनिलयं परब्रह्मरसायनम्॥ सुखसंतानजनकं मोक्षसाधनसिद्धिदम्

saccidānaṁdanilayaṁ parabrahmarasāyanam sukhasaṁtānajanakaṁ mokṣasādhanasiddhidam

the abode of Sat-Chit-Ananda, the very elixir of the Supreme Brahman, the begetter of an unbroken lineage of joy, the giver of accomplishment in the means to liberation.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.33.10)

प्रविश्य क्षेत्रमेतत्स ईशानो जटिलस्तदा॥ लसत्त्रिशूलविमलरश्मिजालसमाकुलः॥ आलुलोके महालिंगं वैकुंठपरमेष्ठिनोः॥ महाहमहमिकायां प्रादुरास यदादितः

praviśya kṣetrametatsa īśāno jaṭilastadā lasattriśūlavimalaraśmijālasamākulaḥ āluloke mahāliṁgaṁ vaikuṁṭhaparameṣṭhinoḥ mahāhamahamikāyāṁ prādurāsa yadāditaḥ

Entering this sacred field, Ishana, matted-locked, thronged about with the network of pure rays gleaming from his trident, beheld the great linga which had first appeared amid the mighty rivalry between Vaikuntha and Parameshthin.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.33.11)

ज्योतिर्मयीभिर्मालाभिः परितः परिवेष्टितम्॥ वृंदैर्वृंदारकर्षीणां गणानां च निरंतरम्

jyotirmayībhirmālābhiḥ paritaḥ pariveṣṭitam vṛṁdairvṛṁdārakarṣīṇāṁ gaṇānāṁ ca niraṁtaram

encircled all about with garlands of pure light, ceaselessly surrounded by hosts of gods, sages, and ganas,

Verse 12 (skanda.4.33.12)

सिद्धानां योगिनां स्तोमैरर्च्यमानं निरंतरम्॥ गीयमानं च गंधर्वैः स्तूयमानं च चारणैः

siddhānāṁ yogināṁ stomairarcyamānaṁ niraṁtaram gīyamānaṁ ca gaṁdharvaiḥ stūyamānaṁ ca cāraṇaiḥ

ceaselessly worshipped by throngs of siddhas and yogis, sung of by the Gandharvas, praised by the Charanas,

Verse 13 (skanda.4.33.13)

अंगहारैरप्सरोभिः सेव्यमानमनेकधा॥ नीराज्यमानं सततं नागीभिर्मणिदीपकैः

aṁgahārairapsarobhiḥ sevyamānamanekadhā nīrājyamānaṁ satataṁ nāgībhirmaṇidīpakaiḥ

served in manifold ways by the graceful gestures of the Apsarases, ever waved with lamps of arati by the serpent-women with gem-set lamps,

Verse 14 (skanda.4.33.14)

विद्याधरीकिन्नरीभिस्त्रिकालं कृतमंडनम्॥ अमरीचमरीराजि वीज्यमानमितस्ततः

vidyādharīkinnarībhistrikālaṁ kṛtamaṁḍanam amarīcamarīrāji vījyamānamitastataḥ

adorned three times daily by the Vidyadhari and Kinnari women, fanned on every side by the rows of chowries held by the wives of the gods.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.33.15)

अस्येशानस्य तल्लिंगं दृष्ट्वेच्छेत्यभवत्तदा॥ स्नपयामि महल्लिंगं कलशैः शीतलैर्जलैः

asyeśānasya talliṁgaṁ dṛṣṭvecchetyabhavattadā snapayāmi mahalliṁgaṁ kalaśaiḥ śītalairjalaiḥ

Upon Ishana beholding that linga, this desire arose in him: 'Let me bathe this great linga with pots of cool water.'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.33.16)

चखान च त्रिशूलेन दक्षिणाशोपकंठतः॥ कुंडं प्रचंडवेगेन रुद्रोरुद्रवपुर्धरः

cakhāna ca triśūlena dakṣiṇāśopakaṁṭhataḥ kuṁḍaṁ pracaṁḍavegena rudrorudravapurdharaḥ

And Rudra, bearing Rudra's very own form, with tremendous force dug out a pool with his trident, near the edge of the southern quarter.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.33.17)

पृथिव्यावरणांभांसि निष्क्रांतानि तदा मुने॥ भूप्रमाणाद्दशगुणैर्यैरियं वसुधावृता

pṛthivyāvaraṇāṁbhāṁsi niṣkrāṁtāni tadā mune bhūpramāṇāddaśaguṇairyairiyaṁ vasudhāvṛtā

Then, O sage, the waters that envelop the earth burst forth — those waters, ten times the measure of the earth, which surround this world —

Verse 18 (skanda.4.33.18)

तैर्जलैः स्नापयांचक्रे त्वत्स्पृष्टैरन्यदेहिभिः॥ तुषारैर्जाड्यविधुरैर्जंजपूकौघहारिभिः

tairjalaiḥ snāpayāṁcakre tvatspṛṣṭairanyadehibhiḥ tuṣārairjāḍyavidhurairjaṁjapūkaughahāribhiḥ

with those very waters, untouched by any other embodied being, he bathed the linga — waters like frost, yet free from all dullness, waters that remove the great flood of idle gossip and evil talk,

Verse 19 (skanda.4.33.19)

सन्मनोभिरिवात्यच्छैरनच्छैर्व्योमवर्त्मवत्॥ ज्योत्स्नावदुज्ज्वलच्छायैः पावनैः शंभुनामवत्॥ पीयूषवत्स्वादुतरैः सुखस्पर्शैर्गवांगवत्॥ निष्पापधीवद्गंभीरैस्तरलैः पापिशर्मवत्

sanmanobhirivātyacchairanacchairvyomavartmavat jyotsnāvadujjvalacchāyaiḥ pāvanaiḥ śaṁbhunāmavat pīyūṣavatsvādutaraiḥ sukhasparśairgavāṁgavat niṣpāpadhīvadgaṁbhīraistaralaiḥ pāpiśarmavat

waters exceedingly clear like a virtuous mind, though as invisible as the pathway of the sky, radiant with a splendor like moonlight, purifying like the very name of Shambhu, sweeter than nectar, gentle to the touch as a cow's own body, deep as the mind of the sinless, and, like the false comfort of a sinner, ever restless —

Verse 20 (skanda.4.33.20)

विजिताब्जमहागंधैः पाटलामोदमोदिभिः॥ अदृष्टपूर्वलोकानां मनोनयनहारिभिः

vijitābjamahāgaṁdhaiḥ pāṭalāmodamodibhiḥ adṛṣṭapūrvalokānāṁ manonayanahāribhiḥ

fragrant with a scent surpassing even that of great lotuses, delighted with the fragrance of patala blossoms, ravishing the mind and eyes of people who had never before beheld such waters,

Verse 21 (skanda.4.33.21)

अज्ञानतापसंतप्त प्राणिप्राणैकरक्षिभिः॥ पंचामृतानां कलशैः स्नपनातिफलप्रदैः

ajñānatāpasaṁtapta prāṇiprāṇaikarakṣibhiḥ paṁcāmṛtānāṁ kalaśaiḥ snapanātiphalapradaiḥ

the sole protector of the very life-breath of creatures scorched by the heat of ignorance — and with pots of the five nectars, granting the highest fruit of bathing,

Verse 22 (skanda.4.33.22)

श्रद्धोपस्पर्शि दृदयलिंग त्रितयहेतुभिः॥ अज्ञानतिमिरार्काभैर्ज्ञानदान निदायकैः

śraddhopasparśi dṛdayaliṁga tritayahetubhiḥ ajñānatimirārkābhairjñānadāna nidāyakaiḥ

waters that touch the heart with faith, the cause of the union of the threefold linga, radiant as the sun amid the darkness of ignorance, the very treasury bestowing the gift of knowledge,

Verse 23 (skanda.4.33.23)

विश्वभर्तुरुमास्पर्शसुखातिसुखकारिभिः॥ महावभृथसुस्नान महाशुद्धिविधायिभिः

viśvabharturumāsparśasukhātisukhakāribhiḥ mahāvabhṛthasusnāna mahāśuddhividhāyibhiḥ

waters that bring a joy surpassing even the joy of Uma's embrace to the Sustainer of the universe, bringing about the great purification of the great avabhritha bath —

Verse 24 (skanda.4.33.24)

सहस्रधारैः कलशैः स ईशानो घटोद्भव॥ सहस्रकृत्वः स्नपयामास संहृष्टमानसः

sahasradhāraiḥ kalaśaiḥ sa īśāno ghaṭodbhava sahasrakṛtvaḥ snapayāmāsa saṁhṛṣṭamānasaḥ

O Ghatodbhava, with pots of a thousand streams, that Ishana, his heart filled with delight, bathed the linga a thousand times over.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.33.25)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्विश्वात्मा विश्वलोचनः॥ तमुवाच तदेशानं रुद्रं रुद्रवपुर्धरम्

tataḥ prasanno bhagavānviśvātmā viśvalocanaḥ tamuvāca tadeśānaṁ rudraṁ rudravapurdharam

Then the blessed Lord, the Self of the universe, the eye of the universe, pleased, spoke to that Ishana, Rudra bearing Rudra's own form:

Verse 26 (skanda.4.33.26)

तव प्रसन्नोस्मीशान कर्मणानेन सुव्रत॥ गुरुणानन्यपूर्वेण ममातिप्रीतिकारिणा

tava prasannosmīśāna karmaṇānena suvrata guruṇānanyapūrveṇa mamātiprītikāriṇā

'I am pleased with you, O Ishana, through this deed of yours, O well-vowed one — this weighty deed, unprecedented, which has brought me the greatest delight.'

Verse 27 (skanda.4.33.27)

ततस्त्वं जटिलेशान वरं ब्रूहि तपोधन॥ अदेयं न तवास्त्यद्य महोद्यमपरायण

tatastvaṁ jaṭileśāna varaṁ brūhi tapodhana adeyaṁ na tavāstyadya mahodyamaparāyaṇa

'Therefore, O matted-locked Ishana, ask for a boon, O treasure of austerity. There is nothing today that cannot be given to you, O one devoted to such great effort.'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.33.28)

॥ ईशान उवाच॥ यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश वरयोग्योस्म्यहं यदि॥ तदेतदतुलं तीर्थं तव नाम्नास्तु शंकर॥ ॥विश्वेश्वर उवाच॥ त्रिलोक्यां यानि तीर्थानि भूर्भुवःस्वः स्थितान्यपि॥ तेभ्योखिलेभ्यस्तीर्थेभ्यः शिवतीर्थमिदं परम्

īśāna uvāca yadi prasanno deveśa varayogyosmyahaṁ yadi tadetadatulaṁ tīrthaṁ tava nāmnāstu śaṁkara viśveśvara uvāca trilokyāṁ yāni tīrthāni bhūrbhuvaḥsvaḥ sthitānyapi tebhyokhilebhyastīrthebhyaḥ śivatīrthamidaṁ param

Ishana said: 'If you are pleased, O God of gods, if I am worthy of a boon, then let this incomparable tirtha bear your very name, O Shankara.' Vishveshvara said: 'Among all the tirthas in the three worlds — in Bhu, Bhuvah, and Svah — this tirtha, Shiva-tirtha, shall be supreme above them all.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.33.29)

शिवज्ञानमिति ब्रूयुः शिवशब्दार्थचिंतकाः॥ तच्च ज्ञानं द्रवीभूतमिह मे महिमोदयात्

śivajñānamiti brūyuḥ śivaśabdārthaciṁtakāḥ tacca jñānaṁ dravībhūtamiha me mahimodayāt

'Those who ponder the meaning of the word Shiva call it Shiva-jnana; and that very knowledge has become liquid here, through the rising of my own greatness.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.33.30)

अतो ज्ञानोद नामैतत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्॥ अस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

ato jñānoda nāmaitattīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam asya darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

'Therefore this tirtha shall bear the name Jnanoda, renowned throughout the three worlds. By the mere sight of it, one is released from every sin.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.33.31)

ज्ञानोदतीर्थसंस्पर्शादश्वमेधफलं लभेत्॥ स्पर्शनाचमनाभ्यां च राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः

jñānodatīrthasaṁsparśādaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet sparśanācamanābhyāṁ ca rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

'By touching the waters of the Jnanoda tirtha, one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice; by touching and sipping its waters, one obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha both.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.33.32)

फल्गुतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा संतर्प्य च पितामहान्॥ यत्फलं समवाप्नोति तदत्र श्राद्धकर्मणा

phalgutīrthe naraḥ snātvā saṁtarpya ca pitāmahān yatphalaṁ samavāpnoti tadatra śrāddhakarmaṇā

'Whatever fruit a man obtains by bathing at the Phalgu tirtha and offering tarpana to his ancestors — that fruit is obtained here through the performance of shraddha.'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.33.33)

गुरुपुष्यासिताष्टम्यां व्यतीपातो यदा भवेत्॥ तदात्र श्राद्धकरणाद्गयाकोटिगुणं भवेत्

gurupuṣyāsitāṣṭamyāṁ vyatīpāto yadā bhavet tadātra śrāddhakaraṇādgayākoṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

'When the Vyatipata yoga falls on a Thursday under the Pushya nakshatra on the dark eighth day, performing shraddha here then yields a fruit ten million times that of Gaya.'

Verse 34 (skanda.4.33.34)

यत्फलं समवाप्नोति पितॄन्संतर्प्य पुष्करे॥ तत्फलं कोटिगुणितं ज्ञानतीर्थे तिलोदकैः

yatphalaṁ samavāpnoti pitṝnsaṁtarpya puṣkare tatphalaṁ koṭiguṇitaṁ jñānatīrthe tilodakaiḥ

'Whatever fruit is obtained by offering tarpana to the ancestors at Pushkara — that fruit, multiplied ten million times, is obtained through offerings of sesame and water at the Jnana tirtha.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.33.35)

सन्निहत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे तमोग्रस्ते विवस्वति॥ यत्फलं पिंडदानेन तज्ज्ञानोदे दिने दिने

sannihatyāṁ kurukṣetre tamograste vivasvati yatphalaṁ piṁḍadānena tajjñānode dine dine

'Whatever fruit is obtained by offering pinda at Sannihatya in Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse — that same fruit is obtained at Jnanoda every single day.'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.33.36)

पिंडनिर्वपणं येषां ज्ञानतीर्थे सुतैः कृतम्॥ मोदंते शिवलोके ते यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

piṁḍanirvapaṇaṁ yeṣāṁ jñānatīrthe sutaiḥ kṛtam modaṁte śivaloke te yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

'Those for whom the offering of pinda has been performed by their sons at the Jnana tirtha rejoice in the world of Shiva until the great dissolution of beings.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.33.37)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यामुपवासी नरोत्तमः॥ प्रातः स्नात्वाथ पीतांभस्त्वंतर्लिंगमयो भवेत्॥ एकादश्यामुपोष्यात्र प्राश्नाति चुलुकत्रयम्॥ हृदये तस्य जायंते त्रीणि लिंगान्यसंशयम्

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāmupavāsī narottamaḥ prātaḥ snātvātha pītāṁbhastvaṁtarliṁgamayo bhavet ekādaśyāmupoṣyātra prāśnāti culukatrayam hṛdaye tasya jāyaṁte trīṇi liṁgānyasaṁśayam

'That best of men who, fasting on the eighth or fourteenth lunar day, bathes at dawn and drinks its waters, becomes filled inwardly with the linga. Whoever fasts on the eleventh day and drinks three handfuls of its water — in his heart, without doubt, three lingas come into being.'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.33.38)

ईशानतीर्थे यः स्नात्वा विशेषात्सोमवासरे॥ संतर्प्य देवर्षि पितॄन्दत्त्वा दानम स्वशक्तितः

īśānatīrthe yaḥ snātvā viśeṣātsomavāsare saṁtarpya devarṣi pitṝndattvā dānama svaśaktitaḥ

'Whoever bathes at the Ishana tirtha, especially on a Monday, offers tarpana to the gods, sages, and ancestors, and gives gifts according to his ability,'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.33.39)

ततः समर्च्य श्रीलिंगं महासंभारविस्तरैः॥ अत्रापि दत्त्वा नानार्थान्कृतकृत्योभवेन्नरः

tataḥ samarcya śrīliṁgaṁ mahāsaṁbhāravistaraiḥ atrāpi dattvā nānārthānkṛtakṛtyobhavennaraḥ

'— and then worships the glorious linga with an abundance of great offerings, and here too gives various gifts, becomes a man who has fulfilled all his life's purposes.'

Verse 40 (skanda.4.33.40)

उपास्य संध्यां ज्ञानोदे यत्पापं काललोपजम्॥ क्षणेन तदपाकृत्य ज्ञानवाञ्जायते द्विजः

upāsya saṁdhyāṁ jñānode yatpāpaṁ kālalopajam kṣaṇena tadapākṛtya jñānavāñjāyate dvijaḥ

'Whatever sin has arisen from the neglect of the twilight prayers, one who performs the sandhya rites at Jnanoda casts it off in an instant, and that brahmin becomes possessed of true knowledge.'

Verse 41 (skanda.4.33.41)

शिवतीर्थमिदं प्रोक्तं ज्ञानतीर्थमिदं शुभम्॥ तारकाख्यमिदं तीर्थं मोक्षतीर्थमिदं धुवम्

śivatīrthamidaṁ proktaṁ jñānatīrthamidaṁ śubham tārakākhyamidaṁ tīrthaṁ mokṣatīrthamidaṁ dhuvam

'This is called the Shiva-tirtha, this is the auspicious Jnana-tirtha; this tirtha bears the name Taraka, this is the sure tirtha of liberation.'

Verse 42 (skanda.4.33.42)

स्मरणादपि पापौघो ज्ञानोदस्य क्षयेद्ध्रुवम्॥ दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्स्नानात्पानाद्धर्मादिसंभवः

smaraṇādapi pāpaugho jñānodasya kṣayeddhruvam darśanātsparśanātsnānātpānāddharmādisaṁbhavaḥ

'By the mere remembrance of Jnanoda, the whole flood of sin is surely destroyed — how much more through sight, touch, bathing, or drinking, from which merit and the rest arise!'

Verse 43 (skanda.4.33.43)

डाकिनीशाकिनी भूतप्रेतवेतालराक्षसाः॥ ग्रहाः कूष्मांडझोटिंगाः कालकर्णी शिशुग्रहाः

ḍākinīśākinī bhūtapretavetālarākṣasāḥ grahāḥ kūṣmāṁḍajhoṭiṁgāḥ kālakarṇī śiśugrahāḥ

Dakinis, Shakinis, bhutas, pretas, vetalas, rakshasas, malevolent planetary spirits, kushmandas, jhotingas, Kalakarni, and the seizers of children —

Verse 44 (skanda.4.33.44)

ज्वरापस्मारविस्फोटद्वितीयकचतुर्थकाः॥ सर्वे प्रशममायांति शिवर्तार्थजलेक्षणात्

jvarāpasmāravisphoṭadvitīyakacaturthakāḥ sarve praśamamāyāṁti śivartārthajalekṣaṇāt

fevers, epilepsy, smallpox, tertian and quartan fevers — all of these are stilled by the mere sight of the water of the Shiva-tirtha.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.33.45)

ज्ञानोदतीर्थपानीयैर्लिंगं यः स्नापयेत्सुधीः॥ सर्वतीर्थोदकैस्तेन ध्रुवं संस्नापितं भवेत्

jñānodatīrthapānīyairliṁgaṁ yaḥ snāpayetsudhīḥ sarvatīrthodakaistena dhruvaṁ saṁsnāpitaṁ bhavet

Whatever wise man bathes the linga with the waters of the Jnanoda tirtha has surely, by that very act, bathed it with the waters of every tirtha.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.33.46)

ज्ञानरूपोह मेवात्र द्रवमूर्तिं विधाय च॥ जाड्यविध्वंसनं कुर्यां कुर्यां ज्ञानोपदेशनम्॥ कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं सोप्यमंस्तत्रिशूलभृत्

jñānarūpoha mevātra dravamūrtiṁ vidhāya ca jāḍyavidhvaṁsanaṁ kuryāṁ kuryāṁ jñānopadeśanam kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṁ sopyamaṁstatriśūlabhṛt

'Here I myself, of the very nature of knowledge, having taken on a liquid form, shall destroy the dullness of ignorance, and shall grant true instruction in knowledge.' Then that trident-bearer considered himself as one whose every purpose had been fulfilled.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.33.47)

ईशानो जटिलो रुद्रस्तत्प्राश्य परमोदकम्॥ अवाप्तवान्परं ज्ञानं येन निर्वृतिमाप्तवान्

īśāno jaṭilo rudrastatprāśya paramodakam avāptavānparaṁ jñānaṁ yena nirvṛtimāptavān

Ishana, the matted-locked Rudra, drinking that supreme water, attained supreme knowledge, by which he obtained final liberation.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.33.48)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ कलशोद्भव चित्रार्थमितिहासं पुरातनम्॥ ज्ञानवाप्यां हि यद्वृत्तं तदाख्यामि निशामय

skaṁda uvāca kalaśodbhava citrārthamitihāsaṁ purātanam jñānavāpyāṁ hi yadvṛttaṁ tadākhyāmi niśāmaya

Skanda said: O Kalashodbhava, I shall now relate an ancient tale of wondrous purport — what once happened at Jnanavapi. Listen well.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.33.49)

हरिस्वामीति विख्यातः काश्यामासीद्विजः पुरा॥ तस्यैका तनया जाता रूपेणाऽप्रतिमा भुवि

harisvāmīti vikhyātaḥ kāśyāmāsīdvijaḥ purā tasyaikā tanayā jātā rūpeṇā'pratimā bhuvi

Of old there lived in Kashi a brahmin renowned by the name Harisvami. To him was born a single daughter, of matchless beauty upon the earth.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.33.50)

न समा शीलसंपत्त्या तस्या काचन भूतले॥ कलाकलापकुशला स्वरेणजितकोकिला

na samā śīlasaṁpattyā tasyā kācana bhūtale kalākalāpakuśalā svareṇajitakokilā

No one on earth equaled her in the wealth of her virtue; skilled in the whole array of the arts, her voice surpassed even the cuckoo's.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.33.51)

न नारी तादृगस्तीह ना भरी किन्नरी न च॥ विद्याधरी न नो नागी गंधर्वी नासुरी न च

na nārī tādṛgastīha nā bharī kinnarī na ca vidyādharī na no nāgī gaṁdharvī nāsurī na ca

No woman like her exists — not among the Apsarases, not the Kinnaris, not the Vidyadharis, not the Naga-women, not the Gandharvis, not the Asura-women.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.33.52)

सर्वसौंदर्यनिलया सर्वलक्षणसत्खनिः॥ अधिशेते ध्रुवं ध्वांतं तन्मौलिं ब्रध्न साध्वसात्

sarvasauṁdaryanilayā sarvalakṣaṇasatkhaniḥ adhiśete dhruvaṁ dhvāṁtaṁ tanmauliṁ bradhna sādhvasāt

The very abode of all beauty, the true mine of every auspicious mark — I think that darkness surely dwells always upon her crown, out of fear of the sun.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.33.53)

तदास्य शरणं यातो मन्ये दर्शभयाच्छशी॥ दिवापि न त्यजेत्तां तु त्रस्तश्चंडमरीचितः

tadāsya śaraṇaṁ yāto manye darśabhayācchaśī divāpi na tyajettāṁ tu trastaścaṁḍamarīcitaḥ

And I think the moon, out of fear of the new-moon's disappearance, has taken refuge upon her very face, and, terrified of the fierce-rayed sun, does not leave her even by day.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.33.54)

तद्भ्रूर्भ्रमरराजीव गंडपत्रलतांतरे॥ उदंचन्न्यंचदुड्डीन गतेरभ्यासभाजिनी

tadbhrūrbhramararājīva gaṁḍapatralatāṁtare udaṁcannyaṁcaduḍḍīna gaterabhyāsabhājinī

Her eyebrow, like a row of bees amid the tendril-lines upon her cheek, practiced the motion of rising, dipping, and taking flight.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.33.55)

तच्चारुलोचनक्षेत्रे विचरंतौ च खंजनौ॥ सदैव शारदीं प्रीतिं निर्विशेते निजेच्छया॥ सुदत्या रदनश्रेणी छेदेषु विषमेषुणा॥ विहिता कांचनी रेखा क्वेंदावेतावती कला

taccārulocanakṣetre vicaraṁtau ca khaṁjanau sadaiva śāradīṁ prītiṁ nirviśete nijecchayā sudatyā radanaśreṇī chedeṣu viṣameṣuṇā vihitā kāṁcanī rekhā kveṁdāvetāvatī kalā

A pair of khanjana birds, roaming in the field of her lovely eyes, ever enjoyed at will the delight of autumn. In the gaps between her fine teeth, the flower-arrowed god had fashioned a golden line — where in the moon is a splendor to match even that?

Verse 56 (skanda.4.33.56)

प्रायो मदन भूपाल हर्म्य रत्नांतरे शुभे॥ जितप्रवालसुच्छाये तस्या रदनवाससी

prāyo madana bhūpāla harmya ratnāṁtare śubhe jitapravālasucchāye tasyā radanavāsasī

Her two lips, of a beauty surpassing even coral, were as though the auspicious jeweled curtains within the very palace-halls of King Kama.

Verse 57 (skanda.4.33.57)

स्वर्गे मर्त्ये च पाताले नैषा रेखा क्वचित्स्त्रियाम्॥ तत्कंठरेखात्रितय व्याजेन शपते स्मरः

svarge martye ca pātāle naiṣā rekhā kvacitstriyām tatkaṁṭharekhātritaya vyājena śapate smaraḥ

Nowhere in heaven, on earth, or in the netherworld is such a line found in any other woman — by the pretext of those three lines upon her throat, the god of love himself swears an oath of her incomparable beauty.

Verse 58 (skanda.4.33.58)

शंके चित्त भुवो राज्ञो लसत्पटकुटीद्वयम्॥ अनर्घ्यरत्नकोशाढ्यं तम्या वक्षोरुहद्वयम्

śaṁke citta bhuvo rājño lasatpaṭakuṭīdvayam anarghyaratnakośāḍhyaṁ tamyā vakṣoruhadvayam

I suspect that her two breasts are the very pair of splendid pavilion-tents of Kama, the king of the mind's own realm, rich with a treasury of priceless jewels.

Verse 59 (skanda.4.33.59)

अनंगभू नियमतोऽदृश्ये मध्ये नतभ्रुवः॥ रोमालीलक्षिकामूर्ध्वामिव यष्टिं विधिर्व्यधात्

anaṁgabhū niyamato'dṛśye madhye natabhruvaḥ romālīlakṣikāmūrdhvāmiva yaṣṭiṁ vidhirvyadhāt

It is certain that the Creator, in the middle of that arch-browed one, fashioned an invisible birthplace for the Bodiless One, marked only by the faint line of down rising above it, like a slender staff.

Verse 60 (skanda.4.33.60)

तस्या नाभीदरीं प्राप्य कंदर्पोऽनंगता गतः॥ पुनः प्राप्तुमिवांगानि तप्यते परमं तपः

tasyā nābhīdarīṁ prāpya kaṁdarpo'naṁgatā gataḥ punaḥ prāptumivāṁgāni tapyate paramaṁ tapaḥ

Kandarpa, having once entered the depths of her navel, thereby became bodiless; and it seems he now performs the greatest austerity, striving to regain his lost body once more.

Verse 61 (skanda.4.33.61)

गुरुणैतन्नितंबेन महामन्मथ दीक्षया॥ भुवि के के युवानो न स्वाधीना प्रापितादृशाम्

guruṇaitannitaṁbena mahāmanmatha dīkṣayā bhuvi ke ke yuvāno na svādhīnā prāpitādṛśām

By her heavy hips, and by the great initiation of Manmatha, what young men on this earth has she not brought entirely under her power?

Verse 62 (skanda.4.33.62)

ऊरुस्तंभेन चैतस्याः स्तंभवत्कस्यनो मनः॥ तस्तंभेन मुने वापि सुवृत्तेन सुवर्तनम्

ūrustaṁbhena caitasyāḥ staṁbhavatkasyano manaḥ tastaṁbhena mune vāpi suvṛttena suvartanam

O sage, whose mind has not been made rigid, like a very pillar, by the pillar-like column of her thigh — indeed any young man's whole conduct made to revolve around that same well-rounded pillar?

Verse 63 (skanda.4.33.63)

पादांगुष्ठनखज्योतिः प्रभया कस्य न प्रभा॥ विवेकजनिताऽध्वंसि मुने तस्या मृगीदृशः

pādāṁguṣṭhanakhajyotiḥ prabhayā kasya na prabhā vivekajanitā'dhvaṁsi mune tasyā mṛgīdṛśaḥ

O sage, whose own inner light has not been outshone by the very radiance of the light of her toenails? — that fawn-eyed girl's beauty destroyed the very discernment of all who beheld her.

Verse 64 (skanda.4.33.64)

सा प्रत्यहं ज्ञानवाप्यां स्नायं स्नायं शिवालये॥ संमार्जनादि कर्माणि कुरुतेऽनन्यमानसा॥ तत्पादप्रतिबिंबेषु रेखा शष्पांकुरं चरन्॥ नान्यद्वनांतरं याति काश्यां यूनां मनोमृगः

sā pratyahaṁ jñānavāpyāṁ snāyaṁ snāyaṁ śivālaye saṁmārjanādi karmāṇi kurute'nanyamānasā tatpādapratibiṁbeṣu rekhā śaṣpāṁkuraṁ caran nānyadvanāṁtaraṁ yāti kāśyāṁ yūnāṁ manomṛgaḥ

Every day, bathing again and again at the Jnanavapi, she would, with a mind fixed on nothing else, perform the tasks of sweeping and cleaning the Shiva temple. Grazing, as it were, on the mere line of tender grass-shoots reflected in the print of her feet, the deer that is the mind of every young man in Kashi wandered to no other forest.

Verse 65 (skanda.4.33.65)

तदास्य पंकजं हित्वा यूनां नेत्रालिमालया॥ न लतांतरमासेवि अप्यामोदप्रसूनयुक्

tadāsya paṁkajaṁ hitvā yūnāṁ netrālimālayā na latāṁtaramāsevi apyāmodaprasūnayuk

Abandoning the lotus of her face, the swarm of bees that were the eyes of every young man served no other flowering creeper, however fragrant its blossoms.

Verse 66 (skanda.4.33.66)

सुलोचनापि सा कन्या प्रेक्षेतास्यं न कस्यचित्॥ सुश्रवा अपि सा बाला नादत्ते कस्यचिद्वचः

sulocanāpi sā kanyā prekṣetāsyaṁ na kasyacit suśravā api sā bālā nādatte kasyacidvacaḥ

Yet that maiden, though so lovely-eyed, would look upon no man's face; that girl, though so gifted in hearing, would take heed of no man's words.

Verse 67 (skanda.4.33.67)

सुशीला शीलसंपन्ना रहस्तद्विरहातुरैः॥ प्रार्थितापि सुरूपाढ्यैर्नाभिलाषं बबंध सा

suśīlā śīlasaṁpannā rahastadvirahāturaiḥ prārthitāpi surūpāḍhyairnābhilāṣaṁ babaṁdha sā

Of excellent character, endowed with true virtue, though entreated in secret by handsome men tormented by longing for her, she never gave in to their desire.

Verse 68 (skanda.4.33.68)

धनैस्तस्याजनेतापि युवभिः प्रार्थितो बहु॥ नाशकत्तां सुलीलां सदातुं शीलोर्जितश्रियम्

dhanaistasyājanetāpi yuvabhiḥ prārthito bahu nāśakattāṁ sulīlāṁ sadātuṁ śīlorjitaśriyam

Even her own father was much entreated by young men with their wealth, yet he could not bring himself to give away that graceful girl, so mighty in the splendor of her virtue.

Verse 69 (skanda.4.33.69)

ज्ञानोदतीर्थभजनात्सा सुशीला कुमाग्किा॥ बहिरंतस्तदाऽद्राक्षीत्सर्वलिंगमयं जगत

jñānodatīrthabhajanātsā suśīlā kumāgkiā bahiraṁtastadā'drākṣītsarvaliṁgamayaṁ jagata

Through her devotion to the Jnanoda tirtha, that virtuous young maiden came to see the whole world, without and within, as filled entirely with the form of the linga.

Verse 70 (skanda.4.33.70)

कदाचिदेकदा तां तु प्रसुप्तां सदनांगणे॥ मोहितो रूपसंपत्त्या कश्चिद्विद्याधरोऽहरत्

kadācidekadā tāṁ tu prasuptāṁ sadanāṁgaṇe mohito rūpasaṁpattyā kaścidvidyādharo'harat

One day, as she lay asleep in the courtyard of her house, a certain Vidyadhara, enchanted by the wealth of her beauty, carried her away.

Verse 71 (skanda.4.33.71)

व्योमवर्त्मनितां रात्रौ यावन्मलयपर्वतम्॥ स निनीषति तावच्च विद्युन्माली समागतः

vyomavartmanitāṁ rātrau yāvanmalayaparvatam sa ninīṣati tāvacca vidyunmālī samāgataḥ

As, by night, he sought to carry her along the pathway of the sky to Mount Malaya, there arrived Vidyunmali,

Verse 72 (skanda.4.33.72)

राक्षसो भीषणवपुः कपालकृतकुंडलः॥ वसारुधिरलिप्तांगः श्मश्रुलः पिंगलोचनः

rākṣaso bhīṣaṇavapuḥ kapālakṛtakuṁḍalaḥ vasārudhiraliptāṁgaḥ śmaśrulaḥ piṁgalocanaḥ

a rakshasa of terrible form, wearing skulls as earrings, his limbs smeared with fat and blood, bearded, tawny-eyed.

Verse 73 (skanda.4.33.73)

राक्षस उवाच॥ ममदृग्गोचरं यातो विद्याधरकुमारक॥ अद्य त्वामेतया सार्धं प्रेषयामि यमालयम्॥ चकंपेऽतीव संभीता कदलीदलवन्मुहुः

rākṣasa uvāca mamadṛggocaraṁ yāto vidyādharakumāraka adya tvāmetayā sārdhaṁ preṣayāmi yamālayam cakaṁpe'tīva saṁbhītā kadalīdalavanmuhuḥ

The rakshasa said: 'O young Vidyadhara, you have now come within the range of my sight! Today I shall send you, together with her, to the abode of Yama!' Exceedingly terrified, she trembled again and again, like a plantain leaf.

Verse 74 (skanda.4.33.74)

निजघान त्रिशूलेन रक्षो विद्याधरं च तम्॥ विद्याधरकुमारोपि नितरां मधुराकृतिः

nijaghāna triśūlena rakṣo vidyādharaṁ ca tam vidyādharakumāropi nitarāṁ madhurākṛtiḥ

The rakshasa struck at that Vidyadhara with his trident; but the young Vidyadhara, of exceedingly graceful form, of great strength,

Verse 75 (skanda.4.33.75)

तद्भीषणत्रिशूलेन भिन्नोस्को महाबलः॥ जघान मुष्टिघातेन वज्रपातोपमेन तम्

tadbhīṣaṇatriśūlena bhinnosko mahābalaḥ jaghāna muṣṭighātena vajrapātopamena tam

though his chest was pierced by that terrible trident, struck him with a blow of his fist, like the very fall of a thunderbolt.

Verse 76 (skanda.4.33.76)

नरमांसवसामत्तं विद्युन्मालिनमाहवे॥ चूर्णितो मुष्टिपातेन सोऽपतद्वसुधातले

naramāṁsavasāmattaṁ vidyunmālinamāhave cūrṇito muṣṭipātena so'patadvasudhātale

Vidyunmali, intoxicated with human flesh and fat, in that battle, shattered by the blow of his fist, fell down upon the earth,

Verse 77 (skanda.4.33.77)

राक्षसो मृत्युवशगो वज्रेणेव महीधरः॥ विद्याधरोपि तच्छूलघातेन विकलीकृतः

rākṣaso mṛtyuvaśago vajreṇeva mahīdharaḥ vidyādharopi tacchūlaghātena vikalīkṛtaḥ

the rakshasa falling under the sway of death, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt. But the Vidyadhara too, weakened entirely by the blow of that trident,

Verse 78 (skanda.4.33.78)

उवाच गद्गदं वाक्यं विघूर्णित विलोचनः॥ प्रिये मुधा समानीता सुशित्यर्धोक्तिमुच्चरन्

uvāca gadgadaṁ vākyaṁ vighūrṇita vilocanaḥ priye mudhā samānītā suśityardhoktimuccaran

his eyes rolling, spoke with a choked voice, uttering only half his words: 'O beloved, in vain have I brought you here...'

Verse 79 (skanda.4.33.79)

जहौ प्राणान्रणे वीरस्तां प्रियां परितः स्मरन्

jahau prāṇānraṇe vīrastāṁ priyāṁ paritaḥ smaran

— and that hero gave up his life-breath in that battle, thinking wholly of his beloved to the very end.

Verse 80 (skanda.4.33.80)

अनन्यपूर्वसंस्पर्श सुखं समनुभूय सा॥ तमेव च पतिं मत्वा चक्रे शोकाग्निसात्तनुम्

ananyapūrvasaṁsparśa sukhaṁ samanubhūya sā tameva ca patiṁ matvā cakre śokāgnisāttanum

She, having experienced the joy of a touch unprecedented by any other, and considering him alone as her husband, gave her own body over to the fire of grief.

Verse 81 (skanda.4.33.81)

लिंगत्रयशरीरिण्यास्तस्याः सान्निध्यतः स हि॥ दिव्यं वपुः समासाद्य राक्षसस्त्रिदिवं ययौ

liṁgatrayaśarīriṇyāstasyāḥ sānnidhyataḥ sa hi divyaṁ vapuḥ samāsādya rākṣasastridivaṁ yayau

By the mere nearness of her, whose body itself was filled with the threefold linga, that rakshasa, attaining a divine form, went to heaven.

Verse 82 (skanda.4.33.82)

रणे पणीकृतप्राणो विद्याधरसुतोपि सः॥ अंते प्रियां स्मरन्प्राप जनुर्मलयकेतुतः॥ ध्यायंती सापि तं बाला विद्याधरकुमारकम्॥ विरहाग्नौ विसृष्टासुः कर्णाटे जन्मभागभूत्

raṇe paṇīkṛtaprāṇo vidyādharasutopi saḥ aṁte priyāṁ smaranprāpa janurmalayaketutaḥ dhyāyaṁtī sāpi taṁ bālā vidyādharakumārakam virahāgnau visṛṣṭāsuḥ karṇāṭe janmabhāgabhūt

That son of a Vidyadhara too, who had staked his very life in battle, remembering his beloved even at the end, was reborn as the son of Malayaketu. And that maiden too, meditating on that young Vidyadhara, having given up her life in the fire of separation, was reborn in the land of Karnataka.

Verse 83 (skanda.4.33.83)

सुतो मलयकेतोस्तां कालेन परिणीतवान्॥ माल्यकेतुरनंगश्रीः पित्रा दत्तां कलावतीम्

suto malayaketostāṁ kālena pariṇītavān mālyaketuranaṁgaśrīḥ pitrā dattāṁ kalāvatīm

In time, that son of Malayaketu, named Malyaketu, of the very splendor of Kama, married Kalavati, given to him by her own father.

Verse 84 (skanda.4.33.84)

सापि प्राग्वासनायोगाल्लिंगार्चनरता सती॥ हित्वा मलयजक्षोदं विभूतिं बह्वमंस्त वै

sāpi prāgvāsanāyogālliṁgārcanaratā satī hitvā malayajakṣodaṁ vibhūtiṁ bahvamaṁsta vai

She too, through the impress of her former-life impressions, remained devoted to the worship of the linga, valuing the sacred ash far more than the paste of sandalwood.

Verse 85 (skanda.4.33.85)

मुक्ता वैदूर्य माणिक्य पुष्परागेभ्य एव सा॥ मेने रुद्राक्षनेपध्यमनर्घ्यं गर्भसुंदरी

muktā vaidūrya māṇikya puṣparāgebhya eva sā mene rudrākṣanepadhyamanarghyaṁ garbhasuṁdarī

That beauty, lovely from the very womb, esteemed the ornament of rudraksha beads as more priceless than pearls, cat's-eye, ruby, or topaz.

Verse 86 (skanda.4.33.86)

कलावती माल्यकेतुं पतिं प्राप्य पतिव्रता॥ अपत्यत्रितयं लेभे दिव्यभोगसमृद्धिभाक्

kalāvatī mālyaketuṁ patiṁ prāpya pativratā apatyatritayaṁ lebhe divyabhogasamṛddhibhāk

Kalavati, devoted to her husband, having obtained Malyaketu as her spouse, bore three children, and enjoyed an abundance of celestial pleasures.

Verse 87 (skanda.4.33.87)

एकदा कश्चिदौदीच्यो माल्यकेतुं नरेश्वरम्॥ चित्रकृच्चित्रपटिकां चित्रां दर्शितवानथ

ekadā kaścidaudīcyo mālyaketuṁ nareśvaram citrakṛccitrapaṭikāṁ citrāṁ darśitavānatha

One day, a certain painter from the northern country showed King Malyaketu a wondrous painted canvas.

Verse 88 (skanda.4.33.88)

तां तु चित्रपटीं राजा कलावत्यै समर्पयत्॥ साथ चित्रपटीं रम्यां संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहा

tāṁ tu citrapaṭīṁ rājā kalāvatyai samarpayat sātha citrapaṭīṁ ramyāṁ saṁprahṛṣṭatanūruhā

The king then presented that painted canvas to Kalavati. She, the very hairs of her body standing on end with delight, gazing at that lovely painting,

Verse 89 (skanda.4.33.89)

मुहुर्मुहुः प्रपश्यंती रहसि प्राणदेवताम्॥ विसस्मार स्वमपि च समाधिस्थेव योगिनी

muhurmuhuḥ prapaśyaṁtī rahasi prāṇadevatām visasmāra svamapi ca samādhistheva yoginī

looking again and again in secret at the very deity of her life-breath, forgot even herself, like a yogini absorbed in deep meditation.

Verse 90 (skanda.4.33.90)

क्षणमुन्मील्य नयने कृत्वा नेत्रातिथिं पटीम्॥ तर्जन्यग्रमथोत्क्षिप्य स्वात्मानं समबोधयत्

kṣaṇamunmīlya nayane kṛtvā netrātithiṁ paṭīm tarjanyagramathotkṣipya svātmānaṁ samabodhayat

For a moment opening her eyes, making the painting a guest to her own gaze, she then raised the tip of her forefinger and roused herself back to awareness.

Verse 91 (skanda.4.33.91)

संभेदोयमसे रम्य उपलोलार्कमग्रतः॥ उपश्रीकेशवपदं वरणैषा सरिद्वरा॥ स्वगें प्रार्थितसंस्पर्शा सैषा स्वर्गतरंगिणी॥ उदग्वहाभिलष्यंति यां दिवोद्युसदः सदा

saṁbhedoyamase ramya upalolārkamagrataḥ upaśrīkeśavapadaṁ varaṇaiṣā saridvarā svageṁ prārthitasaṁsparśā saiṣā svargataraṁgiṇī udagvahābhilaṣyaṁti yāṁ divodyusadaḥ sadā

'This is that beautiful confluence, near the trembling sun-image, at the place of the glorious Keshava-tirtha — this is the excellent river Varana. This is that very celestial river, whose touch even the dwellers of heaven long for, that ever flows northward, that the very inhabitants of the sky forever desire.'

Verse 92 (skanda.4.33.92)

अलक्ष्यामोक्षलक्ष्मी र्या वेदांते परिपठ्यते॥ विमुक्तये सतां सैषा श्रीमती मणिकर्णिका

alakṣyāmokṣalakṣmī ryā vedāṁte paripaṭhyate vimuktaye satāṁ saiṣā śrīmatī maṇikarṇikā

'This is that glorious Manikarnika, spoken of in the Vedanta as the invisible Fortune of Liberation, for the liberation of the virtuous.'

Verse 93 (skanda.4.33.93)

मरणं मंगलं यत्र सफलं यत्र जीवितम्॥ स्वर्गस्तृणायते यत्र सैषा श्रीमणिकर्णिका

maraṇaṁ maṁgalaṁ yatra saphalaṁ yatra jīvitam svargastṛṇāyate yatra saiṣā śrīmaṇikarṇikā

'This is that glorious Manikarnika, where death itself is auspicious, where life bears fruit, where even heaven becomes as trifling as a blade of grass.'

Verse 94 (skanda.4.33.94)

यत्र संपत्तिसंभारान्विश्राण्य निधनेच्छया॥ यतिव्रतं समालंब्य तिष्ठते मूलकंदभुक्

yatra saṁpattisaṁbhārānviśrāṇya nidhanecchayā yativrataṁ samālaṁbya tiṣṭhate mūlakaṁdabhuk

'— where, having given away every store of wealth out of desire for death here, one takes up the vow of an ascetic and lives on roots and bulbs alone.'

Verse 95 (skanda.4.33.95)

यत्र त्रिमार्गं गांगं गां मार्गमाणोमृतान्हरः॥ स्वमौलिबालचंद्रेण मुक्तिमार्गं प्रदर्शयन्

yatra trimārgaṁ gāṁgaṁ gāṁ mārgamāṇomṛtānharaḥ svamaulibālacaṁdreṇa muktimārgaṁ pradarśayan

'— where Hara, seeking a path for the dead by means of the triple-pathed Ganga, shows them the path of liberation with the very crescent moon upon his own crown.'

Verse 96 (skanda.4.33.96)

संसारं यत्र दुर्वारं प्रतारयति शंकरः॥ मृता अप्यमृतायंते कर्णधाराद्यतो नराः

saṁsāraṁ yatra durvāraṁ pratārayati śaṁkaraḥ mṛtā apyamṛtāyaṁte karṇadhārādyato narāḥ

'— where Shankara ferries souls across the irresistible ocean of worldly existence, so that even men who have died become immortal, through him as their very helmsman.'

Verse 97 (skanda.4.33.97)

संसारासारपदवी यत्र स्याददवीयसी॥ कर्णे जपान्महेशानात्करुणा वरुणालयात्

saṁsārāsārapadavī yatra syādadavīyasī karṇe japānmaheśānātkaruṇā varuṇālayāt

'— where the road of empty, worthless existence becomes exceedingly far off, through the japa whispered into the ear by the great compassionate Ishana, that very ocean of compassion.'

Verse 98 (skanda.4.33.98)

अनेक भवसंभूत प्रभूत सुकृतैर्नराः॥ कर्णे जपं भवं यत्र लभंते ते भवापहम्

aneka bhavasaṁbhūta prabhūta sukṛtairnarāḥ karṇe japaṁ bhavaṁ yatra labhaṁte te bhavāpaham

'— where men, through abundant merit accumulated across countless births, obtain that ear-whispered japa which removes worldly existence itself.'

Verse 99 (skanda.4.33.99)

स्वीकृत्य क्षेत्रसंन्यासं यद्बलेन महाधियः॥ तृणं कृतातं मन्यंते सेयं श्रीमणिकर्णिका

svīkṛtya kṣetrasaṁnyāsaṁ yadbalena mahādhiyaḥ tṛṇaṁ kṛtātaṁ manyaṁte seyaṁ śrīmaṇikarṇikā

'— by whose power, great-minded souls, having taken up formal residence in this sacred field, consider even a heap of gold as no more than straw — this is that very glorious Manikarnika.'

Verse 100 (skanda.4.33.100)

तृणीकृत्य निजं देहं यत्र राजर्षिसत्तमः॥ हरिश्चंद्रः सपत्नीको व्यक्रीणाद्भूरयं हि सा॥ अभिलष्यंति यत्रत्यमपि वैकुण्ठवासिनः॥ सैकतं मृदुलं तल्पं सैषा श्रीमणिकर्णिका

tṛṇīkṛtya nijaṁ dehaṁ yatra rājarṣisattamaḥ hariścaṁdraḥ sapatnīko vyakrīṇādbhūrayaṁ hi sā abhilaṣyaṁti yatratyamapi vaikuṇṭhavāsinaḥ saikataṁ mṛdulaṁ talpaṁ saiṣā śrīmaṇikarṇikā

'— where that most excellent royal sage Harishchandra, together with his queen, counting his own body as no more than a blade of grass, sold himself into servitude — this indeed is that place. This is that very glorious Manikarnika, whose soft sandy bed even the dwellers of Vaikuntha themselves long for.'

Verse 101 (skanda.4.33.101)

अनेक जन्म जनित कर्मसूत्रनियंत्रणम्॥ उन्मुच्य यत्र मुक्ताः स्युः सैषा श्रीमणिकर्णिका

aneka janma janita karmasūtraniyaṁtraṇam unmucya yatra muktāḥ syuḥ saiṣā śrīmaṇikarṇikā

'— where, casting off the constraint of the thread of karma spun across countless births, souls become liberated — this is that very glorious Manikarnika.'

Verse 102 (skanda.4.33.102)

सत्यलोकेऽपि ये लोकास्तेऽर्थयंति निरंतरम्॥ यामहो दीर्घनिद्रायै सेयं श्रीमणिकर्णिका

satyaloke'pi ye lokāste'rthayaṁti niraṁtaram yāmaho dīrghanidrāyai seyaṁ śrīmaṇikarṇikā

'— which even the inhabitants of Satyaloka itself unceasingly beg to have, ah, for the sake of the long sleep of death there — this is that very glorious Manikarnika.'

Verse 103 (skanda.4.33.103)

अयं हि स कुलस्तंभो यत्र श्रीकालभैरवः॥ क्षेत्रपापकृतः शास्ति दर्शयंस्तीव्रयातनाम्

ayaṁ hi sa kulastaṁbho yatra śrīkālabhairavaḥ kṣetrapāpakṛtaḥ śāsti darśayaṁstīvrayātanām

'This is that very pillar of the lineage, where the glorious Kalabhairava chastises those who sin within the sacred field, showing them severe torment.'

Verse 104 (skanda.4.33.104)

अन्यत्र विहितं पापं नश्येत्काशीनिरीक्षणात्॥ काश्यां कृतानां पापानां दारुणेयं तु यातना

anyatra vihitaṁ pāpaṁ naśyetkāśīnirīkṣaṇāt kāśyāṁ kṛtānāṁ pāpānāṁ dāruṇeyaṁ tu yātanā

'Sin committed elsewhere is destroyed merely by beholding Kashi; but for sins committed within Kashi itself, this is the severe punishment.'

Verse 105 (skanda.4.33.105)

कपालमोचनं तीर्थमेतत्तदपि पावनम्॥ कपालं पतितं यत्र विधेर्भैरवपाणितः

kapālamocanaṁ tīrthametattadapi pāvanam kapālaṁ patitaṁ yatra vidherbhairavapāṇitaḥ

'This is that purifying tirtha, Kapalamochana, where the skull of Vidhi fell away from the hand of Bhairava.'

Verse 106 (skanda.4.33.106)

ऋणत्रयाद्विमुच्यंते यत्र स्नाता नरोतमाः॥ तीर्थं विशुद्धिजनकं तदेतदृणमोचनम्

ṛṇatrayādvimucyaṁte yatra snātā narotamāḥ tīrthaṁ viśuddhijanakaṁ tadetadṛṇamocanam

'This is that purifying tirtha, Rinamochana, where the best of men, bathing, are freed from the three debts.'

Verse 107 (skanda.4.33.107)

प्रणवाख्यं परंब्रह्म यत्र नित्यं प्रकाशते॥ सपंचायतनोपेत ॐकारेशोयमद्भुतः

praṇavākhyaṁ paraṁbrahma yatra nityaṁ prakāśate sapaṁcāyatanopeta oṁkāreśoyamadbhutaḥ

'This is that wondrous Omkareshvara, together with its five surrounding shrines, where the Supreme Brahman, known as Pranava, eternally shines forth.'

Verse 108 (skanda.4.33.108)

अश्च उश्च मकारश्च नादोबिंदुश्च पंचमः॥ पंचात्मकं परंब्रह्म यत्र नित्यं प्रकाशते

aśca uśca makāraśca nādobiṁduśca paṁcamaḥ paṁcātmakaṁ paraṁbrahma yatra nityaṁ prakāśate

'A, U, and Ma, then Nada, and fifth, Bindu — this is where the Supreme Brahman of these five constituents eternally shines forth.'

Verse 109 (skanda.4.33.109)

एषा मत्स्योदरी रम्या यत्स्नातो मानवोत्तमः॥ मातुर्जातूदरदरीं न विशेदेष निश्चयः॥ त्रिलोचनोयं भगवान्कुर्यादेव त्रिलोचनम्॥ निजभक्तं कृपायुक्तस्त्वपि देशातंर स्थितम्

eṣā matsyodarī ramyā yatsnāto mānavottamaḥ māturjātūdaradarīṁ na viśedeṣa niścayaḥ trilocanoyaṁ bhagavānkuryādeva trilocanam nijabhaktaṁ kṛpāyuktastvapi deśātaṁra sthitam

'This is that lovely Matsyodari, bathing at which, the best of men will surely never again enter the cave of a mother's womb. This is the blessed Trilochana, who, filled with compassion, verily makes his own devotee three-eyed, even one dwelling in a far distant land.'

Verse 110 (skanda.4.33.110)

असौ कामेश्वरो देवो यः कामान्पूरयेत्सताम्॥ दुर्वासा अपि यत्राप निजकाममहोदयम्

asau kāmeśvaro devo yaḥ kāmānpūrayetsatām durvāsā api yatrāpa nijakāmamahodayam

'This is the god Kameshvara, who fulfills the desires of the virtuous — where even Durvasa obtained the great rising of his own desire.'

Verse 111 (skanda.4.33.111)

स्वयं लीनो महेशोत्र भक्तकामसमृद्धये॥ तस्मात्स्वर्लीनसंज्ञास्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः

svayaṁ līno maheśotra bhaktakāmasamṛddhaye tasmātsvarlīnasaṁjñāsya devadevasya śūlinaḥ

'Here Mahesha himself merged, for the sake of fulfilling his devotees' desires; therefore this trident-bearing God of gods bears the name Svarlina.'

Verse 112 (skanda.4.33.112)

वाराणस्यां महादेवो यः पुराणेषु पठ्यते॥ क्षेत्राभिमानी भगवांस्तत्प्रासादोयमद्भुतः

vārāṇasyāṁ mahādevo yaḥ purāṇeṣu paṭhyate kṣetrābhimānī bhagavāṁstatprāsādoyamadbhutaḥ

'This is that wondrous temple of the blessed one spoken of in the Puranas as the very Mahadeva of Varanasi, the proud guardian of the sacred field.'

Verse 113 (skanda.4.33.113)

असौ स्कंदेश्वरो देवः श्रद्धया यद्विलोकनात्॥ आजन्मब्रह्मचर्यस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

asau skaṁdeśvaro devaḥ śraddhayā yadvilokanāt ājanmabrahmacaryasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

'This is the god Skandeshvara, by whose devoted sight a man obtains the fruit of celibacy observed from birth.'

Verse 114 (skanda.4.33.114)

विनायकेश्वरश्चायं सर्वसिद्धि प्रदायकः॥ यत्सेवया प्रणश्यंति नृणां सर्वे विनायकाः

vināyakeśvaraścāyaṁ sarvasiddhi pradāyakaḥ yatsevayā praṇaśyaṁti nṛṇāṁ sarve vināyakāḥ

'And this is Vinayakeshvara, the giver of every accomplishment, by whose service all the obstacles of men are utterly destroyed.'

Verse 115 (skanda.4.33.115)

इयं वाराणसी देवी साक्षान्मूर्त्तिमयी शुभा॥ यस्या विलोकनात्पुंसां भूयो नो गर्भसंभवः

iyaṁ vārāṇasī devī sākṣānmūrttimayī śubhā yasyā vilokanātpuṁsāṁ bhūyo no garbhasaṁbhavaḥ

'This is the goddess Varanasi herself, auspicious, embodied before our very eyes — by whose sight men never again dwell in the womb.'

Verse 116 (skanda.4.33.116)

पार्वतीश्वरलिंगस्य महदायतनं त्विदम्॥ यत्र नित्यं महेशानो गौर्या सह विमुक्तिदः

pārvatīśvaraliṁgasya mahadāyatanaṁ tvidam yatra nityaṁ maheśāno gauryā saha vimuktidaḥ

'This is the great shrine of the linga of Parvatishvara, where the great Ishana, together with Gauri, forever grants liberation.'

Verse 117 (skanda.4.33.117)

एष भृंगीश्वरः श्रीमान्महापातकनाशनः॥ जीवन्मुक्तोऽभवद्भृंगी यस्य लिंगस्य सेवया

eṣa bhṛṁgīśvaraḥ śrīmānmahāpātakanāśanaḥ jīvanmukto'bhavadbhṛṁgī yasya liṁgasya sevayā

'This is the glorious Bhringishvara, the destroyer of the greatest sins, by service to whose linga Bhringi became liberated even while living.'

Verse 118 (skanda.4.33.118)

चतुर्वेदेश्वरश्चैष चतुर्वेदधरो विधिः॥ लभेद्यद्वीक्षणाद्विप्रो वेदाध्ययनजं फलम्॥ यज्ञैः संस्थापितं चैतल्लिंगं यज्ञेश्वराभिधम्॥ यदर्चनाल्लभेन्मर्त्यः सर्वयागफलं महत्

caturvedeśvaraścaiṣa caturvedadharo vidhiḥ labhedyadvīkṣaṇādvipro vedādhyayanajaṁ phalam yajñaiḥ saṁsthāpitaṁ caitalliṁgaṁ yajñeśvarābhidham yadarcanāllabhenmartyaḥ sarvayāgaphalaṁ mahat

'This is Chaturvedeshvara, before whom Vidhi himself bore the four Vedas — by beholding which, a brahmin obtains the fruit of studying the Vedas. And this linga, established by the sacrifices themselves, bears the name Yajneshvara, by worshipping which a mortal obtains the great fruit of every sacrificial rite.'

Verse 119 (skanda.4.33.119)

पुराणेश्वर नामैतल्लिंगमष्टादशांगुलम्॥ अष्टादशानां विद्यानां स्यादाधारो यदीक्षणात्

purāṇeśvara nāmaitalliṁgamaṣṭādaśāṁgulam aṣṭādaśānāṁ vidyānāṁ syādādhāro yadīkṣaṇāt

'This linga, eighteen fingers in height, bears the name Puraneshvara, by beholding which one becomes the very foundation of the eighteen branches of knowledge.'

Verse 120 (skanda.4.33.120)

धर्मशास्त्रेश्वरश्चायं स्मृतिभिश्च प्रतिष्ठितः॥ स्मृत्यध्ययनजं पुण्यं यद्विलोकनतो भवेत्

dharmaśāstreśvaraścāyaṁ smṛtibhiśca pratiṣṭhitaḥ smṛtyadhyayanajaṁ puṇyaṁ yadvilokanato bhavet

'And this is Dharmashastreshvara, established by the Smritis themselves, by beholding which one obtains the merit born of studying the Smritis.'

Verse 121 (skanda.4.33.121)

सारस्वतमिदं लिंगं सर्वजाड्यविनाशकृत्॥ सर्वतीर्थेश्वरं लिंगमेतत्सद्यो विशुद्धिदम्

sārasvatamidaṁ liṁgaṁ sarvajāḍyavināśakṛt sarvatīrtheśvaraṁ liṁgametatsadyo viśuddhidam

'This linga, Sarasvata, destroys all mental dullness. This linga, Sarvatirtheshvara, grants instant and complete purification.'

Verse 122 (skanda.4.33.122)

शैलेश्वरस्य लिंगस्य मंडपोयं महाद्भुतः॥ सर्वेषां रत्नजातानां यो बिभर्ति परां श्रियम्

śaileśvarasya liṁgasya maṁḍapoyaṁ mahādbhutaḥ sarveṣāṁ ratnajātānāṁ yo bibharti parāṁ śriyam

'This is the wondrous pavilion of the linga of Shaileshvara, which bears the supreme splendor of every kind of gem.'

Verse 123 (skanda.4.33.123)

सप्तसागरसंज्ञं वै लिंगमेतन्मनोहरम्॥ यद्वीक्षणाल्लभेन्मर्त्यः सप्ताब्धिस्नानजं फलम्

saptasāgarasaṁjñaṁ vai liṁgametanmanoharam yadvīkṣaṇāllabhenmartyaḥ saptābdhisnānajaṁ phalam

'This lovely linga bears the name Saptasagara, by beholding which a mortal obtains the fruit of bathing in the seven oceans.'

Verse 124 (skanda.4.33.124)

असौ मंत्रेश्वरः श्रीमान्मंत्रजाप्यफलप्रदः॥ सप्तकोटिमहामंत्रैः स्थापितो यः पुरा युगे

asau maṁtreśvaraḥ śrīmānmaṁtrajāpyaphalapradaḥ saptakoṭimahāmaṁtraiḥ sthāpito yaḥ purā yuge

'This is the glorious Mantreshvara, the giver of the fruit of the japa of mantras, who was established of old, in that age, by seventy million great mantras.'

Verse 125 (skanda.4.33.125)

त्रिपुरेशस्य लिंगस्य पुरः कुंडमिदं महत्॥ त्रिपुरैः खानितं पूर्वं त्रिपुरारिप्रियं परम्

tripureśasya liṁgasya puraḥ kuṁḍamidaṁ mahat tripuraiḥ khānitaṁ pūrvaṁ tripurāripriyaṁ param

'This is the great tank before the linga of Tripureshvara, dug of old by the demons of the three cities, supremely dear to Tripurari.'

Verse 126 (skanda.4.33.126)

इदं वाणेश्वरं लिंगं सहस्रभुजपूजितम्॥ द्विभुजस्यापि बाणस्य सहस्रभुजहेतुकम्

idaṁ vāṇeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ sahasrabhujapūjitam dvibhujasyāpi bāṇasya sahasrabhujahetukam

'This is the linga Vaneshvara, worshipped by the thousand-armed one — the very cause of the thousand arms of Bana, who had originally but two.'

Verse 127 (skanda.4.33.127)

वैरोचनेश्वरश्चैष पुरः प्रह्लादकेशवात्॥ बलिकेशवनामासावेष नारदकेशवः॥ आदिकेशव पूर्वेण त्वयमादित्यकेशवः॥ भीष्मकेशवनामासौ दत्तात्रेयेश्वरस्त्वयम्

vairocaneśvaraścaiṣa puraḥ prahlādakeśavāt balikeśavanāmāsāveṣa nāradakeśavaḥ ādikeśava pūrveṇa tvayamādityakeśavaḥ bhīṣmakeśavanāmāsau dattātreyeśvarastvayam

'This is Vairochaneshvara, in front of Prahlada-Keshava; this one bears the name Bali-Keshava; this is Narada-Keshava. To the east of Adi-Keshava is this Aditya-Keshava; this one bears the name Bhishma-Keshava; and this is Dattatreyeshvara.'

Verse 128 (skanda.4.33.128)

दत्तात्रेयेश्वरात्पूर्वमेष आदि गदाधरः॥ भृगुकेशवनामासावेष वामनकेशवः

dattātreyeśvarātpūrvameṣa ādi gadādharaḥ bhṛgukeśavanāmāsāveṣa vāmanakeśavaḥ

'To the east of Dattatreyeshvara is this Adi-Gadadhara; this one bears the name Bhrigu-Keshava; this is Vamana-Keshava.'

Verse 129 (skanda.4.33.129)

नरनारायणावेतौ यज्ञवाराहकेशवः॥ विदारनारसिंहोयं गोपीगोविंद एष ह

naranārāyaṇāvetau yajñavārāhakeśavaḥ vidāranārasiṁhoyaṁ gopīgoviṁda eṣa ha

'These two are Nara and Narayana; this is Yajna-Varaha-Keshava; this is Vidara-Narasimha; and this indeed is Gopi-Govinda.'

Verse 130 (skanda.4.33.130)

एष लक्ष्मीनृसिंहस्य प्रासादो रत्नकेतनः॥ यस्य प्रसादात्प्रह्लादः पदमैंद्रमवाप्तवान्

eṣa lakṣmīnṛsiṁhasya prāsādo ratnaketanaḥ yasya prasādātprahlādaḥ padamaiṁdramavāptavān

'This is the jewel-bannered temple of Lakshmi-Narasimha, by whose grace Prahlada obtained the very rank of Indra.'

Verse 131 (skanda.4.33.131)

अखर्वसिद्धिदः पुंसामेष खर्वविनायकः॥ शेषमाधवनामासौ शेषेण स्थापितः पुरा

akharvasiddhidaḥ puṁsāmeṣa kharvavināyakaḥ śeṣamādhavanāmāsau śeṣeṇa sthāpitaḥ purā

'This is Kharva-Vinayaka, who grants unstinted accomplishment to men. This bears the name Shesha-Madhava, established of old by Shesha himself.'

Verse 132 (skanda.4.33.132)

यस्य भक्ता न दह्यंते त्वपि संवर्तवह्निना॥ शंखमाधवनामासौ शंखं हत्वात्र संस्थितः

yasya bhaktā na dahyaṁte tvapi saṁvartavahninā śaṁkhamādhavanāmāsau śaṁkhaṁ hatvātra saṁsthitaḥ

'Whose devotees are not burned even by the fire of universal dissolution. This bears the name Shankha-Madhava, established here after the slaying of the demon Shankha.'

Verse 133 (skanda.4.33.133)

इदं सारस्वतं स्रोतः परं ब्रह्मरसायनम्॥ सरस्वत्या महानद्याः संगमो यत्र गंगया

idaṁ sārasvataṁ srotaḥ paraṁ brahmarasāyanam sarasvatyā mahānadyāḥ saṁgamo yatra gaṁgayā

'This is the Sarasvata stream, the very elixir of the Supreme Brahman, where the great river Sarasvati meets the Ganga.'

Verse 134 (skanda.4.33.134)

यत्राप्लुता नरा भूयः संभवंति न भूतले॥ श्रीबिंदुमाधवस्त्वेष साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीपतिः परः

yatrāplutā narā bhūyaḥ saṁbhavaṁti na bhūtale śrībiṁdumādhavastveṣa sākṣāllakṣmīpatiḥ paraḥ

'Bathing in which, men are never again born upon this earth. This is glorious Bindu-Madhava, the supreme Lord of Lakshmi himself, manifest before us.'

Verse 135 (skanda.4.33.135)

श्रद्धया यं नमन्मर्त्यो न वसेद्गर्भवेश्मनि॥ न दारिद्र्यमवाप्नोति व्याधिभिर्नाभिभूयते

śraddhayā yaṁ namanmartyo na vasedgarbhaveśmani na dāridryamavāpnoti vyādhibhirnābhibhūyate

'The mortal who bows to him with devotion never dwells again in the house of the womb; he does not fall into poverty, nor is he overcome by disease.'

Verse 136 (skanda.4.33.136)

बिंदुमाधवभक्तो यस्तं यमोपि नमस्यति॥ प्रणवात्मा य एकोऽस्ति नादबिंदु स्वरूपधृक्॥ अमूर्तं यत्परं ब्रह्म बिंदुमाधव एव सः॥ एतत्पंचनदं तीर्थं पंचब्रह्मात्मसंज्ञकम्

biṁdumādhavabhakto yastaṁ yamopi namasyati praṇavātmā ya eko'sti nādabiṁdu svarūpadhṛk amūrtaṁ yatparaṁ brahma biṁdumādhava eva saḥ etatpaṁcanadaṁ tīrthaṁ paṁcabrahmātmasaṁjñakam

'Whoever is a devotee of Bindu-Madhava, even Yama himself bows to him. That one who alone is of the very nature of Pranava, bearing the form of Nada and Bindu, that formless Supreme Brahman — he is none other than Bindu-Madhava himself. This is the Panchanada tirtha, known by the name of the Self of the five forms of Brahman.'

Verse 137 (skanda.4.33.137)

यत्र स्नातो न गृह्णीयाच्छरीरं पांचभौतिकम्॥ एषा सा मंगलागौरी काश्यां परममंगलम्

yatra snāto na gṛhṇīyāccharīraṁ pāṁcabhautikam eṣā sā maṁgalāgaurī kāśyāṁ paramamaṁgalam

'Bathing in which, one never again takes on a body made of the five elements. This is that Mangala Gauri, the supreme auspiciousness of Kashi.'

Verse 138 (skanda.4.33.138)

यत्प्रसादादवाप्नोति नरोऽत्र च परत्र च॥ मयूखादित्यसंज्ञोयं रश्मिमाली तमोपहः

yatprasādādavāpnoti naro'tra ca paratra ca mayūkhādityasaṁjñoyaṁ raśmimālī tamopahaḥ

'By whose grace, a man obtains blessing both in this world and the next. This is Mayukhaditya, bearing the name Rashmimali, the dispeller of darkness.'

Verse 139 (skanda.4.33.139)

गभस्तीशो महालिंगमेतद्दिव्यमहःप्रदम्॥ मृकंडुसूनुनाप्यत्र तपस्तप्तं पुरा महत्

gabhastīśo mahāliṁgametaddivyamahaḥpradam mṛkaṁḍusūnunāpyatra tapastaptaṁ purā mahat

'This is the great linga Gabhastisha, the giver of divine splendor. Here, of old, the son of Mrikandu too performed great austerity.'

Verse 140 (skanda.4.33.140)

लिंगं संस्थाप्य परमं स्वनाम्नायुःप्रदं परम्॥ किरणेश्वरनामैतल्लिंगं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्

liṁgaṁ saṁsthāpya paramaṁ svanāmnāyuḥpradaṁ param kiraṇeśvaranāmaitalliṁgaṁ trailokyaviśrutam

'Having established this supreme linga under his own name, granting supreme long life — this linga, bearing the name Kirananeshvara, is renowned throughout the three worlds.'

Verse 141 (skanda.4.33.141)

सकृन्न तमिदं लोकं नयेत्किरणमालिनः॥ धौतपापेश्वरं लिंगमेतत्पातकधावनम्

sakṛnna tamidaṁ lokaṁ nayetkiraṇamālinaḥ dhautapāpeśvaraṁ liṁgametatpātakadhāvanam

'A single glance from Kiranamali will never again lead one back to this world of rebirth. This linga, Dhautapapeshvara, washes away every sin.'

Verse 142 (skanda.4.33.142)

निर्वाणनरसिंहोयं भक्तनिर्वाणकारणम्॥ मणिप्रदीपनागोयं महामणिविभूषणः

nirvāṇanarasiṁhoyaṁ bhaktanirvāṇakāraṇam maṇipradīpanāgoyaṁ mahāmaṇivibhūṣaṇaḥ

'This is Nirvana-Narasimha, the cause of liberation for his devotees. This is the serpent Manipradipa, adorned with a great jewel.'

Verse 143 (skanda.4.33.143)

यदर्चनान्नरो जातु न नागैः परिभूयते॥ कपिलेशमिदं लिंगं कपिलेन प्रतिष्ठितम्

yadarcanānnaro jātu na nāgaiḥ paribhūyate kapileśamidaṁ liṁgaṁ kapilena pratiṣṭhitam

'By worshipping whom, a man is never harmed by serpents. This linga, Kapilesha, was established by the sage Kapila.'

Verse 144 (skanda.4.33.144)

मुच्यंते कपयोप्यस्य दर्शनात्किमु मानवाः॥ प्रियव्रतेश्वरं लिंगं महदेतत्प्रकाशते

mucyaṁte kapayopyasya darśanātkimu mānavāḥ priyavrateśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ mahadetatprakāśate

'By the sight of which even monkeys are liberated — how much more, then, men! This is the great linga Priyavrateshvara, shining forth here.'

Verse 145 (skanda.4.33.145)

यस्यार्चनाल्लभेज्जंतुः प्रियत्वं सर्वजन्तुषु॥ इदमायतनं श्रेष्ठं मणिमाणिक्यनिर्मितम्॥ श्रीमतः कालराजस्य कलिकालार्तिहारिणः॥ निजभक्तं जनं पाति यः पापात्पापभक्षणः

yasyārcanāllabhejjaṁtuḥ priyatvaṁ sarvajantuṣu idamāyatanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ maṇimāṇikyanirmitam śrīmataḥ kālarājasya kalikālārtihāriṇaḥ nijabhaktaṁ janaṁ pāti yaḥ pāpātpāpabhakṣaṇaḥ

'By worshipping whom, a creature obtains the affection of all beings. This is the excellent shrine, fashioned of gems and rubies, of the glorious Kalaraja, remover of the affliction of the Kali age — Papabhakshana, who protects his own devoted people from sin,'

Verse 146 (skanda.4.33.146)

क्षेत्रविघ्नकरान्पापान्यातयन्यातना शतैः॥ इयं मंदाकिनी रम्या तपस्तप्तुमिहागता

kṣetravighnakarānpāpānyātayanyātanā śataiḥ iyaṁ maṁdākinī ramyā tapastaptumihāgatā

'punishing with a hundred torments the sins of those who cause obstruction in the sacred field. This is the lovely Mandakini, who once came here to perform austerity.'

Verse 147 (skanda.4.33.147)

काशीवाससुखं प्राप्य नाद्यापि दिवमीहते॥ स्नात्वात्र संतर्प्य पितॄञ्छ्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानतः

kāśīvāsasukhaṁ prāpya nādyāpi divamīhate snātvātra saṁtarpya pitṝñchrāddhaṁ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ

'Having attained the joy of dwelling in Kashi, she does not even now long for heaven. Bathing here, offering tarpana to the ancestors, and performing shraddha rites in due manner,'

Verse 148 (skanda.4.33.148)

नरो न नरकं पश्येदपि दुष्कृतकर्मकृत्॥ यानि कानि च लिंगानि काश्यां संति सहस्रशः

naro na narakaṁ paśyedapi duṣkṛtakarmakṛt yāni kāni ca liṁgāni kāśyāṁ saṁti sahasraśaḥ

'a man, even one who has committed evil deeds, will never see hell. Among the countless thousands of lingas that exist in Kashi,'

Verse 149 (skanda.4.33.149)

रत्नभूतमिदं तेषु लिंगं रत्नेश्वराभिधम्॥ रत्नेश्वरप्रसादेन भुक्त्वा रत्नान्यनेकशः

ratnabhūtamidaṁ teṣu liṁgaṁ ratneśvarābhidham ratneśvaraprasādena bhuktvā ratnānyanekaśaḥ

'this linga, bearing the name Ratneshvara, is like the very jewel among them. By the grace of Ratneshvara, having enjoyed manifold jewels,'

Verse 150 (skanda.4.33.150)

पुरुषार्थमहारत्नं निर्वाणं को न लब्धवान्॥ कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्यैषा महाप्रासादनिर्मितिः

puruṣārthamahāratnaṁ nirvāṇaṁ ko na labdhavān kṛttivāseśvarasyaiṣā mahāprāsādanirmitiḥ

'who has not obtained the great jewel of human life's true purpose — liberation? This is the great temple structure of Krittivaseshvara,'

Verse 151 (skanda.4.33.151)

यां दृष्ट्वापि नरो दूरात्कृत्तिवासः पदं लभेत्॥ सर्वेषामपि लिंगानां मौलित्वं कृत्तिवाससः

yāṁ dṛṣṭvāpi naro dūrātkṛttivāsaḥ padaṁ labhet sarveṣāmapi liṁgānāṁ maulitvaṁ kṛttivāsasaḥ

'beholding which, even from afar, a man attains the very rank of Krittivasa. Among all the lingas, Krittivasa holds the place of the very crown.'

Verse 152 (skanda.4.33.152)

ॐकारेशः शिखा ज्ञेया लोचनानि त्रिलोचनः॥ गोकर्णभारभूतेशौ तत्कर्णौ परिकीर्तितौ

oṁkāreśaḥ śikhā jñeyā locanāni trilocanaḥ gokarṇabhārabhūteśau tatkarṇau parikīrtitau

Omkareshvara should be known as his very crown-lock; the Trilochana shrine, his eyes. Gokarna and Bharabhutesha are declared to be his two ears.

Verse 153 (skanda.4.33.153)

विश्वेश्वराविमुक्तौ च द्वावेतौ दक्षिणौ करौ॥ धर्मेशमणिकर्णेशौ द्वौ करौ दक्षिणेतरौ

viśveśvarāvimuktau ca dvāvetau dakṣiṇau karau dharmeśamaṇikarṇeśau dvau karau dakṣiṇetarau

Vishveshvara and Avimukteshvara, these two, are his two right hands; Dharmesha and Manikarneshvara are his other two hands.

Verse 154 (skanda.4.33.154)

कालेश्वरकपर्दीशौ चरणावतिनिर्मलौ॥ ज्येष्ठेश्वरो नितंबश्च नाभिर्वै मध्यमेश्वरः॥ कपर्दोस्य महादेवः शिरोभूषा श्रुतीश्वरः॥ चंद्रेशो हृदयं तस्य आत्मा वीरेश्वरः परः

kāleśvarakapardīśau caraṇāvatinirmalau jyeṣṭheśvaro nitaṁbaśca nābhirvai madhyameśvaraḥ kapardosya mahādevaḥ śirobhūṣā śrutīśvaraḥ caṁdreśo hṛdayaṁ tasya ātmā vīreśvaraḥ paraḥ

Kaleshvara and Kapardishvara are his two utterly stainless feet; Jyeshtheshvara is his hip, and Madhyameshvara is truly his navel. Mahadeva is his matted-lock crest, Shrutishvara his crown-ornament; Chandresha is his heart, and Vireshvara, the supreme one, his very soul.

Verse 155 (skanda.4.33.155)

लिंगं तस्य तु केदारः शुक्रं शुक्रेश्वरं विदुः॥ अन्यानि यानि लिंगानि परः कोटि शतानि च

liṁgaṁ tasya tu kedāraḥ śukraṁ śukreśvaraṁ viduḥ anyāni yāni liṁgāni paraḥ koṭi śatāni ca

Kedara is known as his generative organ, and Shukreshvara as his very seed. All the other lingas — hundreds upon hundreds of millions of them —

Verse 156 (skanda.4.33.156)

ज्ञेयानि नखलोमानि वपुषो भूषणान्यपि॥ यावेतौ दक्षिणौ हस्तौ नित्यनिर्वाणदौ हि तौ

jñeyāni nakhalomāni vapuṣo bhūṣaṇānyapi yāvetau dakṣiṇau hastau nityanirvāṇadau hi tau

should be known as the very nails and hairs, the ornaments of his body. As for these two, being his right hands, they are the eternal givers of liberation.

Verse 157 (skanda.4.33.157)

जंतूनामभयं दत्त्वा पततां मोहसागरे॥ इयं दुर्गा भगवती पितृलिंगमिदं परम्

jaṁtūnāmabhayaṁ dattvā patatāṁ mohasāgare iyaṁ durgā bhagavatī pitṛliṁgamidaṁ param

granting fearlessness to creatures falling into the ocean of delusion. This is the blessed goddess Durga; this is the supreme Pitrilinga.

Verse 158 (skanda.4.33.158)

इयं हि चित्रघंटेशी घंटाकर्ण ह्रदस्त्वयम्॥ इयं सा ललिता गौरी विशालाक्षीयमद्भुता

iyaṁ hi citraghaṁṭeśī ghaṁṭākarṇa hradastvayam iyaṁ sā lalitā gaurī viśālākṣīyamadbhutā

This indeed is Chitraghanteshi; this is the pool of Ghantakarna. This is that very Lalita Gauri; this is the wondrous Vishalakshi.

Verse 159 (skanda.4.33.159)

आशाविनायकस्त्वेष धर्मकूपोयमद्भुतः॥ यत्र पिंडान्नरो दत्त्वा पितॄन्ब्रह्मपदं नयेत्

āśāvināyakastveṣa dharmakūpoyamadbhutaḥ yatra piṁḍānnaro dattvā pitṝnbrahmapadaṁ nayet

This is Ashavinayaka; this is the wondrous Dharmakupa, where a man, offering pinda, leads his ancestors to the very abode of Brahma.

Verse 160 (skanda.4.33.160)

एषा विश्वभुजा देवी विश्वैकजननी परा॥ असौ बंदी महादेवी नित्यं त्रैलोक्यवंदिता

eṣā viśvabhujā devī viśvaikajananī parā asau baṁdī mahādevī nityaṁ trailokyavaṁditā

This is the goddess Vishvabhuja, the one supreme mother of the universe. This is the great goddess Bandi, ever venerated throughout the three worlds,

Verse 161 (skanda.4.33.161)

निगडस्थानपि जनान्पाशान्मोचयति स्मृता॥ दशाश्वमेधिकं तीर्थमेतत्त्रैलोक्यवंदितम्

nigaḍasthānapi janānpāśānmocayati smṛtā daśāśvamedhikaṁ tīrthametattrailokyavaṁditam

who, merely remembered, frees even people bound in fetters from their bonds. This is the tirtha Dashashvamedhika, venerated throughout the three worlds,

Verse 162 (skanda.4.33.162)

यत्राहुतित्रयेणापि अग्निहोत्रफलं लभेत्॥ प्रयागाख्यमिदं स्रोतः सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्

yatrāhutitrayeṇāpi agnihotraphalaṁ labhet prayāgākhyamidaṁ srotaḥ sarvatīrthottamottamam

where even a mere three oblations yield the fruit of a full fire-sacrifice. This is the stream called Prayaga, the very best among all tirthas.

Verse 163 (skanda.4.33.163)

अशोकाख्यमिदं तीर्थं गंगाकेशव एष वै॥ मोक्षद्वारमिदं श्रेष्ठं स्वर्ग द्वारमिदं विदुः

aśokākhyamidaṁ tīrthaṁ gaṁgākeśava eṣa vai mokṣadvāramidaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ svarga dvāramidaṁ viduḥ

This is the tirtha called Ashoka; and this indeed is Ganga-Keshava. This is known as the supreme gateway to liberation, the very gateway to heaven.