More Attendants Establish Lingas, and Shiva Sends Ganesha to Kashi

Verse 1 (skanda.4.55.1)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ अन्येपि ये गणास्तत्र काश्यां लिंगानि चक्रिरे ॥ तांश्च ते कथयिष्यामि कुंभयोने निशामय

||skaṁda uvāca|| anyepi ye gaṇāstatra kāśyāṁ liṁgāni cakrire || tāṁśca te kathayiṣyāmi kuṁbhayone niśāmaya

Skanda said: There were other attendants too, who established lingas there in Kashi; I shall tell you of them as well, O jar-born one — listen.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.55.2)

गणेन पिंगलाख्येन पिंगलाख्येशसंज्ञितम् ॥ लिंगं प्रतिष्ठितं शंभोः कपर्दीशादुदग्दिशि

gaṇena piṁgalākhyena piṁgalākhyeśasaṁjñitam || liṁgaṁ pratiṣṭhitaṁ śaṁbhoḥ kapardīśādudagdiśi

By the attendant named Pingala, a linga of Shambhu named Pingalakeshvara was established, to the north of Kapardisha.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.55.3)

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पापानां जायते क्षयः ॥ वीरभद्रो महाप्रीतो देवदेवस्य शूलिनः

tasya darśanamātreṇa pāpānāṁ jāyate kṣayaḥ || vīrabhadro mahāprīto devadevasya śūlinaḥ

By the mere sight of it, the destruction of sins comes about. Virabhadra, exceedingly dear to the trident-bearing God of gods—

Verse 4 (skanda.4.55.4)

वीरभद्रेश्वरं लिंगं ध्यायेदद्यापि निश्चलः ॥ तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण वीरसिद्धिः प्रजायते

vīrabhadreśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ dhyāyedadyāpi niścalaḥ || tasya darśanamātreṇa vīrasiddhiḥ prajāyate

—meditates, unwavering, even to this day, upon the linga of Virabhadreshvara; by the mere sight of it, the perfection of heroism is attained.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.55.5)

अविमुक्तेश्वरात्पश्चाद्वीरभद्रेश्वरं नरः ॥ समर्च्य न रणे भंगं कदाचिदपि चाप्नुयात्

avimukteśvarātpaścādvīrabhadreśvaraṁ naraḥ || samarcya na raṇe bhaṁgaṁ kadācidapi cāpnuyāt

A man who worships Virabhadreshvara, west of Avimukteshvara, never at any time suffers defeat in battle.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.55.6)

वीरभद्रः स्वयं साक्षाद्वीरमूर्तिधरो मुने ॥ संहरेद्विप्रसंघातमविमुक्तनिवासिनाम

vīrabhadraḥ svayaṁ sākṣādvīramūrtidharo mune || saṁharedviprasaṁghātamavimuktanivāsināma

Virabhadra himself, O sage, visibly bearing his heroic form, could, on behalf of the Brahmins dwelling in Avimukta, destroy even a whole host of foes, were he so inclined.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.55.7)

भद्रया भद्रकाल्या च भार्यया शुभया युतम् ॥ वीरभद्रं नरोभ्यर्च्य काशीवासफलं लभेत्

bhadrayā bhadrakālyā ca bhāryayā śubhayā yutam || vīrabhadraṁ narobhyarcya kāśīvāsaphalaṁ labhet

Worshipping Virabhadra together with his auspicious consort, Bhadra Bhadrakali, a man obtains the very fruit of dwelling in Kashi.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.55.8)

किरातेन किरातेशं लिंगं काश्यां प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ केदाराद्दक्षिणे भागे भक्तानामभयप्रदम्

kirātena kirāteśaṁ liṁgaṁ kāśyāṁ pratiṣṭhitam || kedārāddakṣiṇe bhāge bhaktānāmabhayapradam

By Kirata, the linga of Kirateshvara was established in Kashi, to the south of Kedara, granting fearlessness to devotees.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.55.9)

चतुर्मुखो गणः श्रीमान्वृद्धकालेश सन्निधौ ॥ चतुर्मुखेश्वरं लिंगं ध्यायेदद्यापि निश्चलः

caturmukho gaṇaḥ śrīmānvṛddhakāleśa sannidhau || caturmukheśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ dhyāyedadyāpi niścalaḥ

The glorious attendant Chaturmukha meditates, unwavering, even to this day, upon the linga of Chaturmukheshvara, near Vriddhakalesha.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.55.10)

भक्ताश्चतुर्मुखेशस्य चतुराननवद्दिवि ॥ पूज्यंते सुरसंघातैः सर्वभोगसमन्विताः॥ निकुंभेश्वरमालोक्य निकुंभगणपूजितम् ॥ पूजयित्वा व्रजन्ग्रामं कार्यसिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥ कुबेरेश समीपेतु शिवलोके महीयते

bhaktāścaturmukheśasya caturānanavaddivi || pūjyaṁte surasaṁghātaiḥ sarvabhogasamanvitāḥ|| nikuṁbheśvaramālokya nikuṁbhagaṇapūjitam || pūjayitvā vrajangrāmaṁ kāryasiddhimavāpnuyāt || kubereśa samīpetu śivaloke mahīyate

Devotees of Chaturmukheshvara are worshipped in heaven by hosts of gods, like the four-faced Brahma himself, endowed with every enjoyment. Beholding Nikumbheshvara, worshipped by the host of Nikumbha, and worshipping it before setting out for one's village, one obtains success in one's undertaking; dwelling near Kubereshvara, one is exalted in the world of Shiva.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.55.11)

पंचाक्षेशं महालिंगं महादेवस्य दक्षिणे ॥ समभ्यर्च्य नरः काश्यां जातिस्मृतिमवाप्नुयात्

paṁcākṣeśaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ mahādevasya dakṣiṇe || samabhyarcya naraḥ kāśyāṁ jātismṛtimavāpnuyāt

Worshipping the great linga of Panchaksheshvara, south of Mahadeva, a man in Kashi obtains the memory of his past births.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.55.12)

भारभूतेश्वरं लिंगं भारभूतगणार्चितम्॥ अंतर्गृहोत्तरद्वारि ध्यात्वा शिवपुरे वसेत्

bhārabhūteśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ bhārabhūtagaṇārcitam|| aṁtargṛhottaradvāri dhyātvā śivapure vaset

Meditating upon the linga of Bharabhuteshvara, worshipped by the host of Bharabhuta, at the northern gate of the inner sanctum, one comes to dwell in the city of Shiva.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.55.13)

भारभूतेश्वरं लिंगं यैः काश्यां न विलोकितम् ॥ भारभूताः पृथिव्यास्तेऽवकेशिन इव द्रुमाः

bhārabhūteśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ yaiḥ kāśyāṁ na vilokitam || bhārabhūtāḥ pṛthivyāste'vakeśina iva drumāḥ

Those by whom the linga of Bharabhuteshvara in Kashi has not been beheld are but a burden upon the earth, like leafless trees.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.55.14)

गणेन त्र्यक्षसंज्ञेन लिंगं त्र्यक्षेश्वरं परम् ॥ त्रिलोचनपुरोभागे शील्येताद्यापि कुंभज

gaṇena tryakṣasaṁjñena liṁgaṁ tryakṣeśvaraṁ param || trilocanapurobhāge śīlyetādyāpi kuṁbhaja

By the attendant named Tryaksha, the supreme linga of Tryaksheshvara is served, O jar-born one, even to this day, before Trilochana.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.55.15)

तस्य लिंगस्य ये भक्तास्ते तु देहावसानतः ॥ त्र्यक्षा एव प्रजायंते नात्र कार्या विचारणा

tasya liṁgasya ye bhaktāste tu dehāvasānataḥ || tryakṣā eva prajāyaṁte nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Those who are devotees of that linga, upon the ending of the body, are born as three-eyed beings themselves — of this there is no need for doubt.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.55.16)

क्षेमको नाम गणपः काश्यां मूर्तिधरः स्वयम् ॥ विश्वेश्वरं सर्वगतं ध्यायेदद्यापि निश्चलः

kṣemako nāma gaṇapaḥ kāśyāṁ mūrtidharaḥ svayam || viśveśvaraṁ sarvagataṁ dhyāyedadyāpi niścalaḥ

The lord of a host named Kshemaka, himself embodied in Kashi, meditates, unwavering, even to this day, upon the all-pervading Vishveshvara.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.55.17)

क्षेमकं पूजयेद्यस्तु वाराणस्यां महागणम् ॥ विघ्नास्तस्य प्रलीयंते क्षेमं स्याच्च पदेपदे

kṣemakaṁ pūjayedyastu vārāṇasyāṁ mahāgaṇam || vighnāstasya pralīyaṁte kṣemaṁ syācca padepade

He who worships Kshemaka, the great attendant, in Varanasi — his obstacles dissolve, and at every step there comes safety.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.55.18)

देशांतरं गतो यस्तु तस्यागमनकाम्यया ॥ क्षेमकं पूजनीयोत्र क्षेमेणाशु स आव्रजेत्

deśāṁtaraṁ gato yastu tasyāgamanakāmyayā || kṣemakaṁ pūjanīyotra kṣemeṇāśu sa āvrajet

One who has gone to another land — for the sake of his safe return, Kshemaka should be worshipped here, and he shall speedily come back in safety.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.55.19)

लांगलीश्वरमालोक्य लिंगं लांगलिनार्चितम् ॥ विश्वेशादुत्तरेभागे न नरो रोगभाग्भवेत्

lāṁgalīśvaramālokya liṁgaṁ lāṁgalinārcitam || viśveśāduttarebhāge na naro rogabhāgbhavet

Beholding the linga of Langalishvara, worshipped by Langalin, in the northern part from Vishvesha, a man never becomes subject to disease.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.55.20)

लांगलीशं सकृत्पूज्य पंचलांगलदानजम् ॥ फलं प्राप्नोत्यविकलं सर्वसंपत्करं परम्

lāṁgalīśaṁ sakṛtpūjya paṁcalāṁgaladānajam || phalaṁ prāpnotyavikalaṁ sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ param

Worshipping Langalisha even once, one obtains, entire and undiminished, that supreme fruit born of the gift of five plows, which bestows every prosperity.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.55.21)

विराधेश्वरमाराध्य विराधगणपूजितम्॥ सर्वापराधयुक्तोपि नापराध्यति कुत्रचित्

virādheśvaramārādhya virādhagaṇapūjitam|| sarvāparādhayuktopi nāparādhyati kutracit

Worshipping Viradheshvara, revered by the attendant Viradha, even one laden with every offense commits no offense anywhere thereafter.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.55.22)

दिनेदिनेपराधो यः क्रियते काशिवासिभिः ॥ स याति संक्षयं क्षिप्रं विराधेश समर्चनात्

dinedineparādho yaḥ kriyate kāśivāsibhiḥ || sa yāti saṁkṣayaṁ kṣipraṁ virādheśa samarcanāt

Whatever offense is committed day after day by the residents of Kashi swiftly comes to destruction through the worship of Viradhesha.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.55.23)

नैर्ऋते दंढपाणस्तु विराधेशं प्रयत्नतः॥ नत्वा सर्वापराधेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

nairṛte daṁḍhapāṇastu virādheśaṁ prayatnataḥ|| natvā sarvāparādhebhyo mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

One who, in the southwest, bearing the staff, diligently bows to Viradhesha, is freed from every offense — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.55.24)

सुमुखेशं महालिंगं सुमुखाख्यगणार्चितम् ॥ पश्चिमाभिमुखं लिंगं दृष्ट्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते

sumukheśaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ sumukhākhyagaṇārcitam || paścimābhimukhaṁ liṁgaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Beholding the great linga of Sumukhesha, worshipped by the attendant named Sumukha, facing westward, one is freed from sins.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.55.25)

स्नात्वा पिलिपिला तीर्थे सुमुखेशं विलोक्य च ॥ सदैव सुमुखं पश्येद्धर्मराजं न दुर्मुखम्

snātvā pilipilā tīrthe sumukheśaṁ vilokya ca || sadaiva sumukhaṁ paśyeddharmarājaṁ na durmukham

Bathing at the tirtha of Pilipila and beholding Sumukhesha, one shall ever behold Dharmaraja with a gracious, not a wrathful, face.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.55.26)

आषाढिनार्चितं लिंगमाषाढीश्वरसंज्ञकम् ॥ दृष्ट्वाषाढयां नरो भक्त्या सर्वैः पापैः प्रमुच्यते

āṣāḍhinārcitaṁ liṁgamāṣāḍhīśvarasaṁjñakam || dṛṣṭvāṣāḍhayāṁ naro bhaktyā sarvaiḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Beholding with devotion, on the day of Ashadhi, the linga worshipped by Ashadhin and named Ashadhishvara, a man is freed from all sins.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.55.27)

उदीच्यां भारभूतेशादाषाढीशं समर्चयन् ॥ आषाढ्यां पंचदश्यां वै न पापैः परितप्यते

udīcyāṁ bhārabhūteśādāṣāḍhīśaṁ samarcayan || āṣāḍhyāṁ paṁcadaśyāṁ vai na pāpaiḥ paritapyate

Worshipping Ashadhisha, to the north of Bharabhutesha, on the fifteenth day of Ashadha, one is never afflicted by sins.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.55.28)

शुचिशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां पंचदश्यामथापि वा ॥ कृत्वा सांवत्सरीं यात्रामनेना जायते नरः

śuciśuklacaturdaśyāṁ paṁcadaśyāmathāpi vā || kṛtvā sāṁvatsarīṁ yātrāmanenā jāyate naraḥ

By performing this annual pilgrimage-observance on the fourteenth or fifteenth of the bright fortnight of the month of Shuchi, a man is reborn to a purified state.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.55.29)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ मुने गणेषु चैतेषु वाराणस्यां स्थितेष्विति ॥ स्वनाम्ना स्थाप्य लिंगानि विश्वेशपरितुष्टये

||skaṁda uvāca|| mune gaṇeṣu caiteṣu vārāṇasyāṁ sthiteṣviti || svanāmnā sthāpya liṁgāni viśveśaparituṣṭaye

Skanda said: O sage, when these attendants had thus settled in Varanasi, having established lingas each in his own name for the satisfaction of Vishvesha—

Verse 30 (skanda.4.55.30)

विश्वेशश्चिंतयां चक्रे पुनः काशीप्रवृत्तये ॥ कं वा हितं प्रहित्याद्य निर्वृतिं परमां भजे

viśveśaściṁtayāṁ cakre punaḥ kāśīpravṛttaye || kaṁ vā hitaṁ prahityādya nirvṛtiṁ paramāṁ bhaje

—Vishvesha again began to reflect on the news of Kashi: 'Whom now should I send, considering him dear to me, that I might attain supreme peace?'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.55.31)

योगिन्यस्तिग्मगुर्वेधाः शंकुकर्णमुखागणाः ॥ व्यावृत्त्यनागताः काश्याः सिंधुगा इव सिंधवः

yoginyastigmagurvedhāḥ śaṁkukarṇamukhāgaṇāḥ || vyāvṛttyanāgatāḥ kāśyāḥ siṁdhugā iva siṁdhavaḥ

'The Yoginis, the fierce-rayed Sun, Vidhi, the attendants headed by Shankukarna — none have returned or come back from Kashi, like rivers flowing into the ocean.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.55.32)

धुवं काश्यां प्रविष्टा ये ते प्रविष्टा ममोदरे ॥ तेषां विनिर्गमो नास्ति दीप्तेग्नौ हविषामिव

dhuvaṁ kāśyāṁ praviṣṭā ye te praviṣṭā mamodare || teṣāṁ vinirgamo nāsti dīptegnau haviṣāmiva

'Surely those who have entered Kashi have entered my very own being; for them there is no coming out again, just as oblations poured into a blazing fire never emerge.'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.55.33)

येषां हि संस्थितिः काश्यां लिंगार्चनरतात्मनाम् ॥ त एव मम लिंगानि जंगमानि न संशयः

yeṣāṁ hi saṁsthitiḥ kāśyāṁ liṁgārcanaratātmanām || ta eva mama liṁgāni jaṁgamāni na saṁśayaḥ

'Those whose abode is in Kashi, their minds devoted to the worship of the linga — they themselves are my own moving lingas; of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 34 (skanda.4.55.34)

स्थावरा जंगमाः काश्यामचेतनसचेतनाः ॥ सर्वे ममैव लिंगानि तेभ्यो द्रुह्यंति दुर्धियः

sthāvarā jaṁgamāḥ kāśyāmacetanasacetanāḥ || sarve mamaiva liṁgāni tebhyo druhyaṁti durdhiyaḥ

'All things in Kashi, moving and unmoving, sentient and insentient, are my very own lingas; only the evil-minded do harm to them.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.55.35)

वाचि वाराणसी येषां श्रुतौ वैश्वेश्वरी कथा ॥ त एव काशी लिंगानि वराण्यर्च्यान्यहं यथा

vāci vārāṇasī yeṣāṁ śrutau vaiśveśvarī kathā || ta eva kāśī liṁgāni varāṇyarcyānyahaṁ yathā

'Those upon whose tongue is Varanasi, and in whose ears is the tale of Vishveshvara — they themselves are the excellent lingas of Kashi, to be worshipped just as I am.'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.55.36)

वाराणसीति काशीति रुद्रावास इति स्फुटम् ॥ मुखाद्विनिर्गतं येषां तेषां न प्रभवेद्यमः

vārāṇasīti kāśīti rudrāvāsa iti sphuṭam || mukhādvinirgataṁ yeṣāṁ teṣāṁ na prabhavedyamaḥ

'From whose mouth has clearly issued the word Varanasi, or Kashi, or the abode of Rudra — over them Yama has no power.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.55.37)

आनंदकाननं प्राप्य ये निरानंदभूमिकाम् ॥ अन्यां हृदापि वांछंति निरानंदाः सदात्र ते

ānaṁdakānanaṁ prāpya ye nirānaṁdabhūmikām || anyāṁ hṛdāpi vāṁchaṁti nirānaṁdāḥ sadātra te

'Those who, having attained the Grove of Bliss, yet in their heart still desire some other joyless realm — such men remain forever joyless.'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.55.38)

अद्यैव वास्तुमरणं बहुकालांतरेपि वा॥ कलिकाल भिया पुंसां काशी त्याज्या न कर्हिचित्

adyaiva vāstumaraṇaṁ bahukālāṁtarepi vā|| kalikāla bhiyā puṁsāṁ kāśī tyājyā na karhicit

'Whether death in dwelling here comes even today, or only after a very long interval, out of fear of the Kali age men should never at any time forsake Kashi.'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.55.39)

अवश्यंभाविनो भावा भविष्यंति पदेपदे ॥ सलक्ष्मीनिलयां काशीं ते त्यजंति कुतो धियः

avaśyaṁbhāvino bhāvā bhaviṣyaṁti padepade || salakṣmīnilayāṁ kāśīṁ te tyajaṁti kuto dhiyaḥ

'Events that must inevitably occur will occur at every step; how, then, would those of true understanding ever forsake Kashi, the very abode of fortune?'

Verse 40 (skanda.4.55.40)

वरं विघ्नसहस्राणि सोढव्यानि पदेपदे ॥ काश्यां नान्यत्र निर्विघ्नं वांछेद्राज्यमपि क्वचित्

varaṁ vighnasahasrāṇi soḍhavyāni padepade || kāśyāṁ nānyatra nirvighnaṁ vāṁchedrājyamapi kvacit

'Better to endure a thousand obstacles at every step in Kashi than to desire an unobstructed kingdom anywhere else.'

Verse 41 (skanda.4.55.41)

कियन्निमेषसंभोग्याः संति लक्ष्म्याः पदेपदे ॥ परं निरंतरसुखाऽमुत्राप्यत्रापि का शिका

kiyannimeṣasaṁbhogyāḥ saṁti lakṣmyāḥ padepade || paraṁ niraṁtarasukhā'mutrāpyatrāpi kā śikā

'How brief, enjoyable only for the blink of an eye, are the fortunes found elsewhere at every step; but here in Kashika is unbroken joy, both in this world and the next — what rival has she?'

Verse 42 (skanda.4.55.42)

विश्वनाथो ह्यहं नाथः काशिकामुक्तिकाशिका ॥ सुधातरंगा स्वर्गंगा त्रय्येषा किन्न यच्छति

viśvanātho hyahaṁ nāthaḥ kāśikāmuktikāśikā || sudhātaraṁgā svargaṁgā trayyeṣā kinna yacchati

'I myself, Vishvanatha, am her Lord; Kashika is the very light of liberation; does not this celestial Ganga of nectar-waves grant even the fruit of the three Vedas?'

Verse 43 (skanda.4.55.43)

पंचक्रोश्यापरिमिता तनुरेषा पुरी मम ॥ अविच्छिन्नप्रमाणर्धिर्भक्तनिर्वाणकारणम्

paṁcakrośyāparimitā tanureṣā purī mama || avicchinnapramāṇardhirbhaktanirvāṇakāraṇam

'This city, measuring five krosha, is my very body, of unbroken and ever-abundant measure, the cause of liberation for my devotees.'

Verse 44 (skanda.4.55.44)

संसारभारखिन्नानां यातायातकृतां सदा ॥ एकैव मे पुरी काशी ध्रुवं विश्रामभृमिका

saṁsārabhārakhinnānāṁ yātāyātakṛtāṁ sadā || ekaiva me purī kāśī dhruvaṁ viśrāmabhṛmikā

'For those wearied by the burden of worldly existence, ever engaged in the coming and going of birth and death, my one city of Kashi is surely their resting place.'

Verse 45 (skanda.4.55.45)

मंडपः कल्पवल्लीनां मनोरथफलैरलम् ॥ फलितः काशिकाख्योयं संसाराध्वजुषां सदा

maṁḍapaḥ kalpavallīnāṁ manorathaphalairalam || phalitaḥ kāśikākhyoyaṁ saṁsārādhvajuṣāṁ sadā

'This place named Kashika is a pavilion of wishing-vines, ever laden with fruits that are the fulfilled desires of those who travel the road of worldly existence.'

Verse 46 (skanda.4.55.46)

चक्रवर्तेरियं छत्रं विचित्रं सर्वतापहृत् ॥ काशीनिर्वाणराजस्य ममशूलोच्च दंडवत्

cakravarteriyaṁ chatraṁ vicitraṁ sarvatāpahṛt || kāśīnirvāṇarājasya mamaśūlocca daṁḍavat

'This is the wondrous royal parasol, remover of every torment, of the sovereign of liberation seated in Kashi — like the raised staff of my own trident.'

Verse 47 (skanda.4.55.47)

निर्वाणलक्ष्मीं ये पुण्याः परिवांछंति लीलया ॥ निरंतरसुखप्राप्त्यै काशी त्याज्या न तै नृभिः

nirvāṇalakṣmīṁ ye puṇyāḥ parivāṁchaṁti līlayā || niraṁtarasukhaprāptyai kāśī tyājyā na tai nṛbhiḥ

'Those righteous ones who, even in play, long for the fortune of liberation — by them, for the attainment of unbroken bliss, Kashi should never be forsaken.'

Verse 48 (skanda.4.55.48)

ममानंदवने ये वै निरं तर वनौकसः ॥ मोक्षलक्ष्मीफलान्यत्र सुस्वादूनि लभंति ते

mamānaṁdavane ye vai niraṁ tara vanaukasaḥ || mokṣalakṣmīphalānyatra susvādūni labhaṁti te

'Those who dwell continually as forest-folk in my Grove of Bliss obtain here the most delicious fruits, which are the fortune of liberation.'

Verse 49 (skanda.4.55.49)

निर्ममं चापि निर्मोहं या मामपि विमोहयेत् ॥ कैर्न संस्मरणीया सा काशी विश्वविमोहिनी

nirmamaṁ cāpi nirmohaṁ yā māmapi vimohayet || kairna saṁsmaraṇīyā sā kāśī viśvavimohinī

'By whom should she not be remembered — that Kashi, the enchantress of the universe, who bewitches even me, though I am free of possessiveness and free of delusion?'

Verse 50 (skanda.4.55.50)

नामापि मधुरं यस्याः परानंदप्रकाशकम् ॥ काश्याः काशीति काशीति सा कैः पुण्यैर्न जप्यते

nāmāpi madhuraṁ yasyāḥ parānaṁdaprakāśakam || kāśyāḥ kāśīti kāśīti sā kaiḥ puṇyairna japyate

'Whose very name is sweet, revealing the supreme bliss — by what fortunate, meritorious souls is Kashi, Kashi not chanted?'

Verse 51 (skanda.4.55.51)

काशीनामसुधापानं ये कुर्वंति निरंतरम् ॥ तेषां वर्त्म भवत्येव सुधाम वसुधामयम्

kāśīnāmasudhāpānaṁ ye kurvaṁti niraṁtaram || teṣāṁ vartma bhavatyeva sudhāma vasudhāmayam

'Those who continually drink the nectar of Kashi's name — for them the very path of the earth becomes made of nectar.'

Verse 52 (skanda.4.55.52)

ममतारहितस्यापि मम सर्वात्मनो ध्रुवम् ॥ त एव मामका लोके ये काशीनाम जापकाः

mamatārahitasyāpi mama sarvātmano dhruvam || ta eva māmakā loke ye kāśīnāma jāpakāḥ

'Though I, the Self of all, am surely free of any sense of possessiveness — yet in this world, they alone are truly mine who chant the name of Kashi.'

Verse 53 (skanda.4.55.53)

रहस्यमिति विज्ञाय वाराणस्या गणेश्वरैः ॥ सब्रह्मयोगिनी ब्रध्रैः स्थितं तत्रैव नान्यथा

rahasyamiti vijñāya vārāṇasyā gaṇeśvaraiḥ || sabrahmayoginī bradhraiḥ sthitaṁ tatraiva nānyathā

'Knowing this secret of Varanasi, the lords of my attendants, together with Brahma, the Yoginis, and the Sun, have remained there and nowhere else.'

Verse 54 (skanda.4.55.54)

अन्यथा ताश्च योगिन्यः सरविः सपितामहः ॥ ते गणा मां परित्यज्य कथं तिष्ठेयुरन्यतः

anyathā tāśca yoginyaḥ saraviḥ sapitāmahaḥ || te gaṇā māṁ parityajya kathaṁ tiṣṭheyuranyataḥ

'How else could those Yoginis, together with the Sun and with Brahma, and those attendants, forsaking me, remain anywhere else?'

Verse 55 (skanda.4.55.55)

अतीव भद्रं संजातं काश्यां तिष्ठत्सु तेषु हि ॥ एकोपि भेद प्रभवेद्राज्ये राज्यांतरं विना

atīva bhadraṁ saṁjātaṁ kāśyāṁ tiṣṭhatsu teṣu hi || ekopi bheda prabhavedrājye rājyāṁtaraṁ vinā

'A very great good has indeed come about through their dwelling in Kashi; for even a single division would never arise in one realm without a rival kingdom.'

Verse 56 (skanda.4.55.56)

लब्धप्रवेशास्तावंतस्ते सर्वे मत्स्वरूपिणः ॥ यतिष्यंति यतोवश्यं मदागमनहेतवे

labdhapraveśāstāvaṁtaste sarve matsvarūpiṇaḥ || yatiṣyaṁti yatovaśyaṁ madāgamanahetave

'All those who have thus gained entry there, being of my own very nature, will surely strive, of necessity, to bring about my own coming.'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.55.57)

अन्यानपि प्रेषयामि मत्पार्श्वपरिवर्तिनः ॥ ये ते तत्र स्थिताः श्रेष्ठा अपिगंतास्म्यहं ततः

anyānapi preṣayāmi matpārśvaparivartinaḥ || ye te tatra sthitāḥ śreṣṭhā apigaṁtāsmyahaṁ tataḥ

'I shall send yet others, those who move constantly at my side; when those excellent ones too have taken up residence there, I myself shall then go there also.'

Verse 58 (skanda.4.55.58)

विचार्येति महादेवः समाहूय गजाननम् ॥ प्राहिणोत्कथयित्वेति गच्छ काशीमितः सुत

vicāryeti mahādevaḥ samāhūya gajānanam || prāhiṇotkathayitveti gaccha kāśīmitaḥ suta

Reflecting thus, Mahadeva summoned Gajanana, and, having spoken to him, sent him forth, saying: 'Go, my son, from here to Kashi.'

Verse 59 (skanda.4.55.59)

तत्रस्थितोपि संसिद्धयै यतस्व सहितो गणैः ॥ निर्विघ्नं कुरु चास्माकं नृपे विघ्नं समाचर

tatrasthitopi saṁsiddhayai yatasva sahito gaṇaiḥ || nirvighnaṁ kuru cāsmākaṁ nṛpe vighnaṁ samācara

'Even while stationed there, strive along with the attendants for our success; keep our own path free of obstacles, and bring about obstacles for the king.'

Verse 60 (skanda.4.55.60)

आधाय शासनं मूर्ध्नि गणाधीशोथ धूर्जटेः ॥ प्रतस्थे त्वरितः काशीं स्थितिज्ञः स्थितिहेतवे

ādhāya śāsanaṁ mūrdhni gaṇādhīśotha dhūrjaṭeḥ || pratasthe tvaritaḥ kāśīṁ sthitijñaḥ sthitihetave

Taking the command of Dhurjati upon his head, the lord of the attendants, knowing well how things stood, set out swiftly for Kashi, for the sake of establishing himself there.