The Origin of Krittivasa

Verse 1 (skanda.4.68.1)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ अन्यच्च शृणु विप्रेंद्र वृत्तातं तत्र संभवम् ॥ महाश्चर्यप्रजननं महापातकहारि च

||skaṁda uvāca|| anyacca śṛṇu vipreṁdra vṛttātaṁ tatra saṁbhavam || mahāścaryaprajananaṁ mahāpātakahāri ca

Skanda said: Hear also, O best of brahmins, another event that occurred there — one producing great wonder, and removing great sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.68.2)

इत्थं कथां प्रकुर्वाणे रत्नशेस्य महेश्वरे ॥ कोलाहलो महानासीत्त्रातत्रातेति सर्वतः

itthaṁ kathāṁ prakurvāṇe ratnaśesya maheśvare || kolāhalo mahānāsīttrātatrāteti sarvataḥ

While the great Lord Ratnesha was thus telling this story, a great uproar arose on every side, voices crying, 'Save us, save us!'

Verse 3 (skanda.4.68.3)

महिषासुरपुत्रोसौ समायाति गजासुरः ॥ प्रमथन्प्रमथान्सर्वान्निजवीर्य मदोद्धतः

mahiṣāsuraputrosau samāyāti gajāsuraḥ || pramathanpramathānsarvānnijavīrya madoddhataḥ

It was because Gajasura, the son of Mahishasura, intoxicated with the pride of his own strength, was approaching, crushing all the Pramathas as he came.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.68.4)

यत्रयत्र धरायां स चरणं प्रमिणोति हि ॥ अचलोल्लोलयांचक्रे तत्रतत्रास्य भारतः

yatrayatra dharāyāṁ sa caraṇaṁ pramiṇoti hi || acalollolayāṁcakre tatratatrāsya bhārataḥ

Wherever on earth he set down his foot, there and then his weight caused the mountains to shake.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.68.5)

ऊरुवेगेन तरवः पतंति शिखरैः सह ॥ यस्य दोर्दंडघातेन चूर्णाः स्युश्च शिलोच्चयाः

ūruvegena taravaḥ pataṁti śikharaiḥ saha || yasya dordaṁḍaghātena cūrṇāḥ syuśca śiloccayāḥ

By the force of his thighs, trees fell along with mountain-peaks; by the blow of his mighty arms, whole rock-masses were pulverized.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.68.6)

यस्य मौलिजसंघर्षाद्घ(?)नाव्योम त्यजंत्यपि ॥ नीलिमानं न चाद्यापि जह्युस्तक्लेशसंगजम्

yasya maulijasaṁgharṣādgha(?)nāvyoma tyajaṁtyapi || nīlimānaṁ na cādyāpi jahyustakleśasaṁgajam

By the friction of his crown against the dense clouds, they scattered apart; yet even today the sky has not lost the blueness born of that contact.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.68.7)

यस्य निःश्वाससंभारैरुत्तरंगा महाब्धयः ॥ नद्योप्यमंदकल्लोला भवंति तिमिभिः सह

yasya niḥśvāsasaṁbhārairuttaraṁgā mahābdhayaḥ || nadyopyamaṁdakallolā bhavaṁti timibhiḥ saha

By the mass of his breaths, the great oceans grew waves, and even the rivers, with their great fish, became turbulent with unceasing billows.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.68.8)

योजनानां सहस्राणि नवयस्य समुच्छ्रयः ॥ तावानेव हि विस्तारस्तनोर्मायाविनोस्य हि

yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi navayasya samucchrayaḥ || tāvāneva hi vistārastanormāyāvinosya hi

Nine thousand yojanas was the height of that illusion-wielder; just so great, indeed, was the breadth of his body.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.68.9)

यन्नेत्रयोः पिंगलिमा तथा तरलिमा पुनः ॥ विद्युता नोज्झ्यतेऽद्यापि सोयमायाति सत्वरः

yannetrayoḥ piṁgalimā tathā taralimā punaḥ || vidyutā nojjhyate'dyāpi soyamāyāti satvaraḥ

The tawny colour and flickering restlessness of his two eyes — not even now has lightning relinquished that quality it borrowed from him; that same one was coming swiftly on.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.68.10)

यांयां दिशं समभ्येति सोयं दुःसह दानवः ॥ सासा समी भवेदस्य साध्वसादिव दिग्ध्रुवम्

yāṁyāṁ diśaṁ samabhyeti soyaṁ duḥsaha dānavaḥ || sāsā samī bhavedasya sādhvasādiva digdhruvam

Whatever direction that unbearable demon approached, that direction, as if out of terror of him, became still and windless, without fail.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.68.11)

ब्रह्मलब्धवरश्चायं तृणीकृतजगत्त्रयः ॥ अवध्योहं भवामीति स्त्रीपुंसैः कामनिर्जितैः

brahmalabdhavaraścāyaṁ tṛṇīkṛtajagattrayaḥ || avadhyohaṁ bhavāmīti strīpuṁsaiḥ kāmanirjitaiḥ

Having obtained a boon from Brahma, and regarding the three worlds as mere straw, he thought: 'I shall be unslayable by any woman or man overcome by desire.'

Verse 12 (skanda.4.68.12)

ततस्त्रिशूलहेतिस्तमायांतं दैत्यपुंगवम् ॥ विज्ञायावध्यमन्येन शूलेनाभिजघान तम्

tatastriśūlahetistamāyāṁtaṁ daityapuṁgavam || vijñāyāvadhyamanyena śūlenābhijaghāna tam

Then he, whose weapon is the trident, knowing that foremost of demons, as he approached, to be unslayable by any other weapon, struck him with his trident.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.68.13)

प्रोतस्तेन त्रिशूलेन स च दैत्यो गजासुरः ॥ छत्रीकृतमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो जगौ हरम्

protastena triśūlena sa ca daityo gajāsuraḥ || chatrīkṛtamivātmānaṁ manyamāno jagau haram

Pierced through by that trident, the demon Gajasura, considering himself as if made into a canopy raised aloft on it, spoke to Hara.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.68.14)

॥गजासुर उवाच॥ त्रिशूलपाणे देवेश जाने त्वां स्मरहारिणम् ॥ तव हस्ते मम वधः श्रेयानेव पुरांतक

||gajāsura uvāca|| triśūlapāṇe deveśa jāne tvāṁ smarahāriṇam || tava haste mama vadhaḥ śreyāneva purāṁtaka

Gajasura said: 'O god of gods, trident-bearer, I know you as the destroyer of Kama; my death at your hand, O ender of Tripura, is indeed for the best.'

Verse 15 (skanda.4.68.15)

किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुमिच्छामि अवधेहि ममेरितम् ॥ सत्यं ब्रवीमि नासत्यं मृत्युंजय विचारय

kiṁcidvijñaptumicchāmi avadhehi mameritam || satyaṁ bravīmi nāsatyaṁ mṛtyuṁjaya vicāraya

'I wish to submit something to you — hear what I say. I speak the truth, not falsehood — O conqueror of death, consider it.'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.68.16)

त्वमेको जगतां वंद्यो विश्वस्योपरि संस्थितः ॥ अहं त्वदुपरिष्टाच्च स्थितोस्मी ति जितं मया

tvameko jagatāṁ vaṁdyo viśvasyopari saṁsthitaḥ || ahaṁ tvadupariṣṭācca sthitosmī ti jitaṁ mayā

'You alone are worshipped by all worlds, established above the universe; and I too am now established above you — thus have I won a kind of victory.'

Verse 17 (skanda.4.68.17)

धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि त्वत्त्रिशूलाग्रसंस्थितः ॥ कालेन सर्वैर्मर्तव्यं श्रेयसे मृत्युरीदृशः

dhanyosmyanugṛhītosmi tvattriśūlāgrasaṁsthitaḥ || kālena sarvairmartavyaṁ śreyase mṛtyurīdṛśaḥ

'Established at the very tip of your trident, I am blessed, I am favoured; in time all must die — for the good, let death be of just this kind.'

Verse 18 (skanda.4.68.18)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदेवः कृपानिधिः ॥ प्रोवाच प्रहसञ्छंभुर्घटोद्भव गजासुरम्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devadevaḥ kṛpānidhiḥ || provāca prahasañchaṁbhurghaṭodbhava gajāsuram

Hearing these words of his, the god of gods, the treasury of compassion, Shambhu, smiling, spoke, O jar-born one, to Gajasura.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.68.19)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ गजासुर प्रसन्नोस्मि महापौरुषशेवधे ॥ स्वानुकूल वरं ब्रूहि ददामि सुमतेऽसुर

||īśvara uvāca|| gajāsura prasannosmi mahāpauruṣaśevadhe || svānukūla varaṁ brūhi dadāmi sumate'sura

Ishvara said: 'O Gajasura, treasury of great valour, I am pleased; speak a boon favourable to yourself, O well-minded demon — I shall grant it.'

Verse 20 (skanda.4.68.20)

इत्याकर्ण्य स दैत्येंद्रः प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरम् ॥ ॥गजासुर उवाच॥ यदि प्रसन्नो दिग्वासस्तदा नित्यं वसान मे

ityākarṇya sa daityeṁdraḥ pratyuvāca maheśvaram || ||gajāsura uvāca|| yadi prasanno digvāsastadā nityaṁ vasāna me

Hearing this, that lord of demons replied to Maheshvara. Gajasura said: 'If you are pleased, O one clad in the directions, then wear forever —'

Verse 21 (skanda.4.68.21)

इमां कृत्तिं विरूपाक्ष त्वत्त्रिशूलाग्निपाविताम् ॥ स्वप्रमाणां सुखस्पर्शां रणांगणपणीकृताम्

imāṁ kṛttiṁ virūpākṣa tvattriśūlāgnipāvitām || svapramāṇāṁ sukhasparśāṁ raṇāṁgaṇapaṇīkṛtām

'- this hide of mine, O many-eyed one, purified by the fire of your trident, made to your own measure, pleasant to the touch, offered as a wager on the battlefield.'

Verse 22 (skanda.4.68.22)

इष्टगंधिः सदैवास्तु सदैवास्त्वतिकोमला ॥ सदैव निर्मला चास्तु सदैवास्त्वतिमंडनम्

iṣṭagaṁdhiḥ sadaivāstu sadaivāstvatikomalā || sadaiva nirmalā cāstu sadaivāstvatimaṁḍanam

'May it be ever pleasantly fragrant, may it be ever exceedingly soft, may it be ever spotless, and may it ever be a supreme ornament.'

Verse 23 (skanda.4.68.23)

महातपोऽनलज्वालाः प्राप्यापि सुचिरं विभो ॥ न दग्धा कृत्तिरेषा मे पुण्यगंधनिधिस्ततः

mahātapo'nalajvālāḥ prāpyāpi suciraṁ vibho || na dagdhā kṛttireṣā me puṇyagaṁdhanidhistataḥ

'O lord, even after enduring for a very long time the flames of great austerity-fire, this hide of mine was not burnt — hence it is a treasury of sacred fragrance.'

Verse 24 (skanda.4.68.24)

यदि पुण्यवती नैषा ममकृत्तिर्दिगंबर ॥ तदा त्वदंगसंगोस्याः कथं जातो रणांगणे

yadi puṇyavatī naiṣā mamakṛttirdigaṁbara || tadā tvadaṁgasaṁgosyāḥ kathaṁ jāto raṇāṁgaṇe

'O naked one, if this hide of mine were not meritorious, then how could it have come to touch your body on the battlefield?'

Verse 25 (skanda.4.68.25)

अन्यं च मे वरं देहि यदि तुष्टोसि शंकर ॥ नामास्तु कृत्तिवासास्ते प्रारभ्याद्यतनं दिनम्

anyaṁ ca me varaṁ dehi yadi tuṣṭosi śaṁkara || nāmāstu kṛttivāsāste prārabhyādyatanaṁ dinam

'And grant me one more boon, O Shankara, if you are pleased — let your name from this very day onward be Krittivasa, wearer of the hide.'

Verse 26 (skanda.4.68.26)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथेत्युक्त्वा च शंकरः ॥ पुनःप्रोवाच तं दैत्यं भक्तिनिर्मलमानसम्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā tathetyuktvā ca śaṁkaraḥ || punaḥprovāca taṁ daityaṁ bhaktinirmalamānasam

Hearing these words of his, Shankara, saying 'So be it,' spoke again to that demon, whose mind was purified by devotion.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.68.27)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ शृणु पुण्यनिधे दैत्य वरमन्यं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे रण त्यक्त कलेवर

||īśvara uvāca|| śṛṇu puṇyanidhe daitya varamanyaṁ sudurlabham || avimukte mahākṣetre raṇa tyakta kalevara

Ishvara said: 'Listen, O demon, treasury of merit, to another most rare boon — O you who have cast off your body in battle in the great field of Avimukta —'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.68.28)

इदं पुण्यशरीरं ते क्षेत्रेस्मिन्मुक्तिसाधने ॥ मम लिंगं भवत्वत्र सर्वेषांमुक्तिदायकम्

idaṁ puṇyaśarīraṁ te kṣetresminmuktisādhane || mama liṁgaṁ bhavatvatra sarveṣāṁmuktidāyakam

'- this holy body of yours, in this field that is the very means of liberation, shall become my linga here, granting liberation to all.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.68.29)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं नाम महापातकनाशनम् ॥ सर्वेषामेव लिंगानां शिरोभूतमिदं वरम्

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ nāma mahāpātakanāśanam || sarveṣāmeva liṁgānāṁ śirobhūtamidaṁ varam

'Named Krittivaseshvara, destroying great sins, this shall be, as it were, the very head among all lingas.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.68.30)

यावंति संति लिंगानि वाराणस्यां महांत्यपि ॥ उत्तमं तावतामेतदुत्तमांगवदुत्तमम्

yāvaṁti saṁti liṁgāni vārāṇasyāṁ mahāṁtyapi || uttamaṁ tāvatāmetaduttamāṁgavaduttamam

'Of however many great lingas there are in Varanasi, this one is supreme among them, supreme as the head is supreme among the limbs.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.68.31)

मानवानां हितायात्र स्थास्येहं सपरिग्रहः ॥ दृष्टेनानेन लिंगेन पूजितेन स्तुतेन च ॥ कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यः संसारं न विशेत्पुनः

mānavānāṁ hitāyātra sthāsyehaṁ saparigrahaḥ || dṛṣṭenānena liṁgena pūjitena stutena ca || kṛtakṛtyo bhavenmartyaḥ saṁsāraṁ na viśetpunaḥ

'For the benefit of mankind, I shall dwell here, together with my retinue; by beholding, worshipping, and praising this linga, a mortal becomes fulfilled, and enters worldly existence no more.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.68.32)

रुद्राः पाशुपताः सिद्धा ऋषयस्तत्त्वचिंतकाः ॥ शांता दांता जितक्रोधा निर्द्वंद्वा निष्परिग्रहाः

rudrāḥ pāśupatāḥ siddhā ṛṣayastattvaciṁtakāḥ || śāṁtā dāṁtā jitakrodhā nirdvaṁdvā niṣparigrahāḥ

'Rudras, Pashupatas, Siddhas, sages contemplating truth, tranquil, self-controlled, having conquered anger, beyond the pairs of opposites, without possessions —'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.68.33)

अविमुक्ते स्थिता ये तु मम भक्ता मुमुक्षवः ॥ मानापमानयोस्तुल्याः समलोष्टाश्मकांचनाः

avimukte sthitā ye tu mama bhaktā mumukṣavaḥ || mānāpamānayostulyāḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāṁcanāḥ

'- those who dwell in Avimukta as my devotees seeking liberation, equal to honour and dishonour, regarding clod, stone, and gold alike —'

Verse 34 (skanda.4.68.34)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरे लिंगे स्थास्येहं तदनुग्रहे ॥ दशकोटिसहस्राणि तीर्थानि प्रतिवासरम्

kṛttivāseśvare liṁge sthāsyehaṁ tadanugrahe || daśakoṭisahasrāṇi tīrthāni prativāsaram

'- for their grace, I shall dwell in the linga Krittivaseshvara. Ten thousand crores of sacred fords —'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.68.35)

त्रिकालमागमिष्यंति कृत्तिवासे न संशयः ॥ कलिद्वापरसंभूता नराः कल्मषबुद्धयः

trikālamāgamiṣyaṁti kṛttivāse na saṁśayaḥ || kalidvāparasaṁbhūtā narāḥ kalmaṣabuddhayaḥ

'- shall come to Krittivasa three times a day, without doubt. Men born in the Kali and Dvapara ages, of sinful mind —'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.68.36)

सदाचारविनिर्मुक्ताः सत्यशौचपराङ्मुखाः ॥ मायया दंभलोभाभ्यां मोहाहंकृतिसंयुताः

sadācāravinirmuktāḥ satyaśaucaparāṅmukhāḥ || māyayā daṁbhalobhābhyāṁ mohāhaṁkṛtisaṁyutāḥ

'- devoid of good conduct, averse to truth and purity, joined with deceit, hypocrisy, greed, delusion and pride —'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.68.37)

शूद्रान्नसेविनो विप्रा जिह्वाला अतिलालसाः ॥ संध्यास्नानजपेज्यासु दूरीकृत मनोधियः

śūdrānnasevino viprā jihvālā atilālasāḥ || saṁdhyāsnānajapejyāsu dūrīkṛta manodhiyaḥ

'- brahmins who eat the food of shudras, lustful of tongue, exceedingly greedy, their minds far removed from the twilight-rites, bathing, recitation and worship —'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.68.38)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं प्राप्य सर्वपापविवर्जिताः ॥ सुखेन मोक्षमेष्यंति यथा सुकृतिनस्तथा

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ prāpya sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ || sukhena mokṣameṣyaṁti yathā sukṛtinastathā

'- having reached Krittivaseshvara, freed of all sin, shall attain liberation with ease, just as the virtuous do.'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.68.39)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं सेव्यं काश्यां ततो नरैः ॥ जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु मोक्षोन्यत्र सुदुर्लभः

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ sevyaṁ kāśyāṁ tato naraiḥ || janmāṁtarasahasreṣu mokṣonyatra sudurlabhaḥ

'The linga Krittivaseshvara is therefore to be served by men in Kashi; elsewhere, liberation is most difficult to attain even in a thousand other births.'

Verse 40 (skanda.4.68.40)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरे लिंगे लभ्यस्त्वेकेन जन्मना ॥ पृर्वजन्मकृतं पापं तपोदानादिभिः शनैः ॥ नश्येत्सद्यो विनश्येत कृत्तिवासे श्वरेक्षणात्

kṛttivāseśvare liṁge labhyastvekena janmanā || pṛrvajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tapodānādibhiḥ śanaiḥ || naśyetsadyo vinaśyeta kṛttivāse śvarekṣaṇāt

'At the linga Krittivaseshvara it is attainable in a single birth. Sin committed in a former birth, which is destroyed slowly by austerity and gifting, is destroyed instantly by the mere sight of Krittivaseshvara.'

Verse 41 (skanda.4.68.41)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं येर्चयिष्यंति मानवाः ॥ प्रविष्टास्ते शरीरे मे तेषां नास्ति पुनर्भवः

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ yercayiṣyaṁti mānavāḥ || praviṣṭāste śarīre me teṣāṁ nāsti punarbhavaḥ

'Those men who shall worship the linga Krittivaseshvara have entered into my very body; for them there is no rebirth.'

Verse 42 (skanda.4.68.42)

अविमुक्तेऽत्र वस्तव्यं जप्तव्यं शतरुद्रियम् ॥ कृत्तिवासेश्वरो देवो द्रष्टव्यश्च पुनःपुनः

avimukte'tra vastavyaṁ japtavyaṁ śatarudriyam || kṛttivāseśvaro devo draṣṭavyaśca punaḥpunaḥ

'One must dwell here in Avimukta, must recite the Shatarudriya, and must behold the god Krittivaseshvara again and again.'

Verse 43 (skanda.4.68.43)

सप्तकोटिमहारुद्रैः सुजप्तैर्यत्फलं भवेत् ॥ तत्फलं लभ्यते काश्यां पूजनात्कृत्तिवाससः

saptakoṭimahārudraiḥ sujaptairyatphalaṁ bhavet || tatphalaṁ labhyate kāśyāṁ pūjanātkṛttivāsasaḥ

'Whatever fruit is obtained by seven crores of well-recited Maha-Rudra mantras — that same fruit is obtained in Kashi by the worship of Krittivasa.'

Verse 44 (skanda.4.68.44)

माघ कृष्णचतुर्दश्यामुपोष्य निशि जागृयात् ॥ कृत्तिवासेशमभ्यर्च्य यः स यायात्परां गतिम्

māgha kṛṣṇacaturdaśyāmupoṣya niśi jāgṛyāt || kṛttivāseśamabhyarcya yaḥ sa yāyātparāṁ gatim

'Fasting on the dark fourteenth day of Magha, keeping vigil through the night, having worshipped Krittivasesha — he attains the supreme goal.'

Verse 45 (skanda.4.68.45)

शुक्लायां पंचदश्यां यश्चैत्र्यां कर्ता महोत्सवम् ॥ कृत्तिवासेश्वरे लिंगे न स गर्भं प्रवक्ष्येते

śuklāyāṁ paṁcadaśyāṁ yaścaitryāṁ kartā mahotsavam || kṛttivāseśvare liṁge na sa garbhaṁ pravakṣyete

'He who holds a great festival for the linga Krittivaseshvara on the full moon of Chaitra shall not enter the womb again.'

Verse 46 (skanda.4.68.46)

कथयित्वेति देवेशस्तत्कृत्तिं परिगृह्य च ॥ गजासुरस्य महतीं प्रावृणोद्धरिदंबरः

kathayitveti deveśastatkṛttiṁ parigṛhya ca || gajāsurasya mahatīṁ prāvṛṇoddharidaṁbaraḥ

Having said this, the lord of gods took that hide, and the tawny-golden one put on that great hide of Gajasura.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.68.47)

महामहोत्सवो जातस्तस्मिन्नहनि कुंभज ॥ कृत्तिवासत्वमापेदे यस्मिन्देवो दिगंबरः

mahāmahotsavo jātastasminnahani kuṁbhaja || kṛttivāsatvamāpede yasmindevo digaṁbaraḥ

O jar-born one, a great festival arose on that day on which the naked god took on the state of being Krittivasa.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.68.48)

यत्रच्छत्रीकृतो दैत्यः शूलमारोप्य भूतले ॥ तच्छूलोत्पाटनाज्जातं तत्र कुंडं महत्तरम्

yatracchatrīkṛto daityaḥ śūlamāropya bhūtale || tacchūlotpāṭanājjātaṁ tatra kuṁḍaṁ mahattaram

Where the demon was made into a canopy, with the trident planted upon the ground, from the drawing-out of that trident a great tank was formed.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.68.49)

तस्मिन्कुंडे नरः स्नात्वा कृत्वा च पितृतर्पणम् ॥ कृत्तिवासेश्वरं दृष्ट्वा कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत्

tasminkuṁḍe naraḥ snātvā kṛtvā ca pitṛtarpaṇam || kṛttivāseśvaraṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛtakṛtyo naro bhavet

A man, bathing in that tank, performing the offering to the ancestors, and beholding Krittivaseshvara, becomes fulfilled.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.68.50)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यद्वृत्तं तदगस्ते निशामय ॥ काका हंसत्वमापन्नास्तत्तीर्थस्य प्रभावतः

||skaṁda uvāca|| tasmiṁstīrthe tu yadvṛttaṁ tadagaste niśāmaya || kākā haṁsatvamāpannāstattīrthasya prabhāvataḥ

Skanda said: Listen, O Agastya, to what occurred at that sacred ford — crows attained the state of swans through its power.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.68.51)

एकदा कृत्तिवासे तु चैत्र्यां यात्राऽभवत्पुरा ॥ अन्नं राशीकृतं तत्र ह्युपहारसमुद्भवम्

ekadā kṛttivāse tu caitryāṁ yātrā'bhavatpurā || annaṁ rāśīkṛtaṁ tatra hyupahārasamudbhavam

Once, formerly, on the pilgrimage-festival at Krittivasa in the month of Chaitra, food offered as oblation was heaped up there.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.68.52)

बहुदेवलकैर्विप्र तं दृष्ट्वा पक्षिणो मिलन् ॥ परस्परं तदन्नार्थं युध्यंतो व्योमवर्त्मनि

bahudevalakairvipra taṁ dṛṣṭvā pakṣiṇo milan || parasparaṁ tadannārthaṁ yudhyaṁto vyomavartmani

O brahmin, seeing that food brought by many devotees, birds gathered together and, fighting one another for it, clashed in the pathway of the sky.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.68.53)

बलिपुष्टैरपुष्टांगा रटतः करटाः कटु ॥ वलिभिश्चातिपुष्टांगैरबलाश्चंचुभिर्हताः

balipuṣṭairapuṣṭāṁgā raṭataḥ karaṭāḥ kaṭu || valibhiścātipuṣṭāṁgairabalāścaṁcubhirhatāḥ

The crows grown plump on the offerings struck the thin, hungry, harshly-cawing crows with their beaks, and the weaker ones were beaten down.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.68.54)

ते हन्यमाना न्यपतंस्तस्मिन्कुंडे नभोंगणात् ॥ आयुःशेषेण संत्राता हंसीभूतास्तु वायसाः

te hanyamānā nyapataṁstasminkuṁḍe nabhoṁgaṇāt || āyuḥśeṣeṇa saṁtrātā haṁsībhūtāstu vāyasāḥ

Those crows, being struck, fell from the courtyard of the sky into that tank; saved by the remainder of their lifespan, the crows became transformed into swans.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.68.55)

आश्चर्यवंतस्तत्रत्या यात्रायां मिलिता जनाः ॥ ऊचुरंगुलिनिर्देशैरहो पश्यत पश्यत

āścaryavaṁtastatratyā yātrāyāṁ militā janāḥ || ūcuraṁgulinirdeśairaho paśyata paśyata

The people gathered there for the pilgrimage, filled with wonder, said, pointing with their fingers: 'Oh, look, look!'

Verse 56 (skanda.4.68.56)

अस्मासु वीक्षमाणेषु काकाः कुंडेत्र ये पतन् ॥ धार्तराष्ट्रास्तु ते जातास्तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः

asmāsu vīkṣamāṇeṣu kākāḥ kuṁḍetra ye patan || dhārtarāṣṭrāstu te jātāstīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ

'While we were watching, the crows that fell here into the tank became swans, through the power of this sacred ford!'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.68.57)

हंसतीर्थं तदारभ्य कृत्तिवास समीपतः ॥ नाम्ना ख्यातमभूल्लोके तत्कुंडं कलशोद्भव

haṁsatīrthaṁ tadārabhya kṛttivāsa samīpataḥ || nāmnā khyātamabhūlloke tatkuṁḍaṁ kalaśodbhava

O jar-born one, from that time onward, that tank near Krittivasa became known in the world by the name Hansatirtha, the Swan Ford.

Verse 58 (skanda.4.68.58)

अतीव मलिनात्मानो महामलिन कर्मभिः ॥ क्षणान्निर्मलतां यांति हंसतीर्थकृतोदकाः

atīva malinātmāno mahāmalina karmabhiḥ || kṣaṇānnirmalatāṁ yāṁti haṁsatīrthakṛtodakāḥ

Even those exceedingly stained of soul by great and defiling deeds attain purity in an instant, once they have performed the water-rite at Hansatirtha.

Verse 59 (skanda.4.68.59)

काश्यां सदैव वस्तव्यं स्नातव्यं हंसतीर्थके ॥ द्रष्टव्यः कृत्तिवासेशः प्राप्तव्यं परमं पदम्

kāśyāṁ sadaiva vastavyaṁ snātavyaṁ haṁsatīrthake || draṣṭavyaḥ kṛttivāseśaḥ prāptavyaṁ paramaṁ padam

One must ever dwell in Kashi, must bathe at Hansatirtha, must behold Krittivasesha, and must attain the supreme state.

Verse 60 (skanda.4.68.60)

काश्यां लिंगान्यनेकानि मुने संति पदेपदे ॥ कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं सर्वलिंगशिरः स्मृतम्

kāśyāṁ liṁgānyanekāni mune saṁti padepade || kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ sarvaliṁgaśiraḥ smṛtam

O sage, in Kashi there are many lingas at every step; the linga Krittivaseshvara is remembered as the very head of all lingas.

Verse 61 (skanda.4.68.61)

कृत्तिवासं समाराध्य भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा ॥ सर्वलिंगाराधनजं फलं काश्यामवाप्यते

kṛttivāsaṁ samārādhya bhaktiyuktena cetasā || sarvaliṁgārādhanajaṁ phalaṁ kāśyāmavāpyate

Having worshipped Krittivasa with a devoted heart, the fruit born of worshipping all the lingas in Kashi is obtained.

Verse 62 (skanda.4.68.62)

जपो दानं तपो होमस्तर्पणं देवतार्चनम् ॥ समीपे कृत्तिवासस्य कृतं सर्वमनंतकम्

japo dānaṁ tapo homastarpaṇaṁ devatārcanam || samīpe kṛttivāsasya kṛtaṁ sarvamanaṁtakam

Recitation, gifting, austerity, fire-offering, water-libation, and worship of deities — all performed near Krittivasa become endless in their fruit.

Verse 63 (skanda.4.68.63)

तीर्थं त्वनादिसंसिद्धमेतत्कलशसंभव ॥ पुनर्देवस्य सान्निध्यादाविरासीन्महेशितुः

tīrthaṁ tvanādisaṁsiddhametatkalaśasaṁbhava || punardevasya sānnidhyādāvirāsīnmaheśituḥ

O jar-born one, this sacred ford is beginninglessly self-established, and manifested again through the presence of the great lord.

Verse 64 (skanda.4.68.64)

एतानि सिद्धलिंगानिच्छन्नानि स्युर्युगेयुगे ॥ अवाप्य शंभुसान्निध्यं पुनराविर्भवंति हि

etāni siddhaliṁgānicchannāni syuryugeyuge || avāpya śaṁbhusānnidhyaṁ punarāvirbhavaṁti hi

These accomplished lingas become hidden in age after age, and, upon obtaining Shambhu's presence, manifest again.

Verse 65 (skanda.4.68.65)

हंसतीर्थस्य परितो लिंगानामयुतं मुने ॥ प्रतिष्ठितं मुनिवरैरत्रास्ति द्विशतोत्तरम्

haṁsatīrthasya parito liṁgānāmayutaṁ mune || pratiṣṭhitaṁ munivarairatrāsti dviśatottaram

Around Hansatirtha, O sage, ten thousand and two hundred lingas stand established there, set up by the finest sages.

Verse 66 (skanda.4.68.66)

एकैकं सिद्धिदं नृणामविमुक्तनिवासिनाम् ॥ लिंगं कात्यायनेशादि च्यवनेशां तमेव हि

ekaikaṁ siddhidaṁ nṛṇāmavimuktanivāsinām || liṁgaṁ kātyāyaneśādi cyavaneśāṁ tameva hi

Each one grants accomplishment to men who dwell in Avimukta — the linga Katyayanesha and the rest, and likewise Chyavaneshvara.

Verse 67 (skanda.4.68.67)

लोमशेशं महालिंगं लोमशेन प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ कृत्तिवासः प्रतीच्यां तु तद्दृष्ट्वा क्वांतकाद्भयम्

lomaśeśaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ lomaśena pratiṣṭhitam || kṛttivāsaḥ pratīcyāṁ tu taddṛṣṭvā kvāṁtakādbhayam

The great linga Lomashesha, established by the sage Lomasha, is to the west of Krittivasa; having seen it, where then is fear of death?

Verse 68 (skanda.4.68.68)

मालतीशं शुभं लिंगं कृत्तिवासोत्तरे महत् ॥ सपर्ययित्वा तल्लिंगं राजा गजपतिर्भवेत्

mālatīśaṁ śubhaṁ liṁgaṁ kṛttivāsottare mahat || saparyayitvā talliṁgaṁ rājā gajapatirbhavet

To the north of Krittivasa is the great, auspicious linga Malatisha; having worshipped that linga, one becomes a king, lord of elephants.

Verse 69 (skanda.4.68.69)

अंतकेश्वर संज्ञं च लिंगं तद्रुद्रदिक्स्थितम् ॥ अतिपापोपि निष्पापो जायते तद्विलोकनात्

aṁtakeśvara saṁjñaṁ ca liṁgaṁ tadrudradiksthitam || atipāpopi niṣpāpo jāyate tadvilokanāt

The linga named Antakeshvara stands in the direction of Rudra; even one exceedingly sinful becomes sinless by beholding it.

Verse 70 (skanda.4.68.70)

जनकेशं महालिंगं तत्पार्श्वे ज्ञानदं परम् ॥ तल्लिंग वरिवस्यातो ब्रह्मज्ञानमवाप्यते

janakeśaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ tatpārśve jñānadaṁ param || talliṁga varivasyāto brahmajñānamavāpyate

Beside it is the great linga Janakesha, supremely granting knowledge; by the worship of that linga, knowledge of Brahman is attained.

Verse 71 (skanda.4.68.71)

तदुत्तरे महामूर्तिरसितांगोस्ति भैरवः ॥ तस्य दर्शनतः पुंसां न भवेद्यमदर्शनम्

taduttare mahāmūrtirasitāṁgosti bhairavaḥ || tasya darśanataḥ puṁsāṁ na bhavedyamadarśanam

To its north is the great-formed Bhairava named Asitanga; by beholding him, men need not see Yama.

Verse 72 (skanda.4.68.72)

शुष्कोदरी च तत्रास्ति देवी विकटलोचना ॥ कृत्तिवासादुदीच्यां तु काशीप्रत्यूह भक्षिणी

śuṣkodarī ca tatrāsti devī vikaṭalocanā || kṛttivāsādudīcyāṁ tu kāśīpratyūha bhakṣiṇī

There too is the goddess Shushkodari, of terrible eyes, devourer of obstacles to Kashi, to the north of Krittivasa.

Verse 73 (skanda.4.68.73)

अग्निजिह्वोस्ति वेतालस्तस्या देव्यास्तु नैर्ऋते ॥ ददाति वांछितां सिद्धिं सोर्चितो भौमवासरे

agnijihvosti vetālastasyā devyāstu nairṛte || dadāti vāṁchitāṁ siddhiṁ sorcito bhaumavāsare

To the southwest of that goddess is the Vetala named Agnijihva; worshipped on Tuesday, he grants the desired accomplishment.

Verse 74 (skanda.4.68.74)

वेतालकुंडं तत्रास्ति सर्वव्याधिविघातकृत् ॥ तत्कुंडोदकसंस्पर्शाद्व्रणविस्फोटरुग्व्रजेत्

vetālakuṁḍaṁ tatrāsti sarvavyādhivighātakṛt || tatkuṁḍodakasaṁsparśādvraṇavisphoṭarugvrajet

There is the Vetala-kunda there, destroying every disease; by the touch of the water of that tank, the disease of wounds and boils departs.

Verse 75 (skanda.4.68.75)

वेतालकुंडे सुस्नातो वेतालं प्रणिपत्य च ॥ लभेत वांछितां सिद्धिं दुर्लभां सर्वदेहिभिः

vetālakuṁḍe susnāto vetālaṁ praṇipatya ca || labheta vāṁchitāṁ siddhiṁ durlabhāṁ sarvadehibhiḥ

One who has bathed well in the Vetala-kunda, and bowed to Vetala, obtains the desired accomplishment, one hard to attain for all embodied beings.

Verse 76 (skanda.4.68.76)

गणोस्ति तत्र द्विभुजश्चतुष्पात्पंचशीर्षकः ॥ तस्य संवीक्षणादेव पापं याति सहस्रधा

gaṇosti tatra dvibhujaścatuṣpātpaṁcaśīrṣakaḥ || tasya saṁvīkṣaṇādeva pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā

There is an attendant there, two-armed, four-footed, five-headed; by the mere sight of him, sin departs a thousandfold.

Verse 77 (skanda.4.68.77)

तदुत्तरे मुने रुद्रश्तुःशृंगोस्ति भीषणः ॥ त्रिपादस्तु द्विशीर्षा च हस्ताः स्युः सप्त एव हि

taduttare mune rudraśtuḥśṛṁgosti bhīṣaṇaḥ || tripādastu dviśīrṣā ca hastāḥ syuḥ sapta eva hi

To its north, O sage, is a terrible Rudra with four horns, three-footed, two-headed, and having exactly seven hands.

Verse 78 (skanda.4.68.78)

रोरूयते वृषाकारस्त्रिधा बद्धः स कुंभज ॥ काशीविघ्रकरा ये च ये काश्यां पापबुद्धयः

rorūyate vṛṣākārastridhā baddhaḥ sa kuṁbhaja || kāśīvighrakarā ye ca ye kāśyāṁ pāpabuddhayaḥ

O jar-born one, he roars, bull-formed, bound in three places; those who cause obstacles in Kashi, and those in Kashi of sinful mind —

Verse 79 (skanda.4.68.79)

तेषां च संछिदां कर्तुमहं धृतकुठारकः ॥ ये काश्यां विघ्नहर्तारो ये काश्यां धर्मबुद्धयः

teṣāṁ ca saṁchidāṁ kartumahaṁ dhṛtakuṭhārakaḥ || ye kāśyāṁ vighnahartāro ye kāśyāṁ dharmabuddhayaḥ

'- for their destruction I hold this axe' he declares; those who remove obstacles in Kashi, those of righteous mind in Kashi —

Verse 80 (skanda.4.68.80)

सुधाघटकरश्चाहं तद्वंशपरिषेककृत् ॥ तं दृष्ट्वा वृषरुद्रं वै पूजयित्वा तु भक्तितः

sudhāghaṭakaraścāhaṁ tadvaṁśapariṣekakṛt || taṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣarudraṁ vai pūjayitvā tu bhaktitaḥ

'- for them I hold a pot of nectar, to sprinkle their lineage' — having seen and worshipped with devotion that bull-formed Rudra —

Verse 81 (skanda.4.68.81)

महामहोपचारैश्च न विघ्नैरभिभूयते ॥ मणिप्रदीपो नागोऽस्ति तस्माद्रुद्रादुदग्दिशि

mahāmahopacāraiśca na vighnairabhibhūyate || maṇipradīpo nāgo'sti tasmādrudrādudagdiśi

— with grand rites, one is not overcome by obstacles. To the north of that Rudra is the serpent named Manipradipa.

Verse 82 (skanda.4.68.82)

मणिकुंडं तदग्रे तु विषव्याधिहरं परम् ॥ तस्मिन्कुंडे कृतस्नानस्तं नागं परिवीक्ष्य च

maṇikuṁḍaṁ tadagre tu viṣavyādhiharaṁ param || tasminkuṁḍe kṛtasnānastaṁ nāgaṁ parivīkṣya ca

Before it is the Manikunda, supremely removing the disease of poison; having bathed in that tank and beheld that serpent —

Verse 83 (skanda.4.68.83)

मणिमाणिक्यसंपूर्ण गजाश्वरथसंकुलम् ॥ स्त्रीरत्नपुत्ररत्नैश्च समृद्धं राज्यमाप्नुयात्

maṇimāṇikyasaṁpūrṇa gajāśvarathasaṁkulam || strīratnaputraratnaiśca samṛddhaṁ rājyamāpnuyāt

— one obtains a kingdom full of gems and rubies, thronged with elephants, horses and chariots, prospering with a jewel of a wife and a jewel of a son.

Verse 84 (skanda.4.68.84)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं काश्यां यैर्न विलोकितम् ॥ ते मर्त्यलोके भाराय भुवो भूता न संशयः

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ kāśyāṁ yairna vilokitam || te martyaloke bhārāya bhuvo bhūtā na saṁśayaḥ

Those by whom the linga Krittivaseshvara in Kashi has not been beheld — they, born in the world of mortals, are without doubt but a burden upon the earth.

Verse 85 (skanda.4.68.85)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ कृत्तिवासः समुत्पत्तिं ये श्रोष्यंतीह मानवाः ॥ तल्लिंगदर्शनाच्छ्रेयो लप्स्यंते नात्र संशयः

||skaṁda uvāca|| kṛttivāsaḥ samutpattiṁ ye śroṣyaṁtīha mānavāḥ || talliṁgadarśanācchreyo lapsyaṁte nātra saṁśayaḥ

Skanda said: Those men who shall hear here the origin of Krittivasa shall obtain the same blessing as from beholding that linga — of this there is no doubt.