The Glory of Omkara

Verse 1 (skanda.4.73.1)

॥अगस्त्य उवाच॥ त्रिलोचनं समासाद्य देवदेवः षडाननः ॥ जगदंबिकयायुक्तः किं चकाराशु तद्वद

||agastya uvāca|| trilocanaṁ samāsādya devadevaḥ ṣaḍānanaḥ || jagadaṁbikayāyuktaḥ kiṁ cakārāśu tadvada

Agastya said: Having reached Trilochana together with the mother of the universe, what did the six-faced god of gods do next? Tell me that quickly.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.73.2)

॥स्कन्द उवाच॥ मुने कलशजाख्यामि यत्पृष्टं तन्निशामय ॥ विरजःसंज्ञकं पीठं यत्प्रोक्तं सर्वसिद्धिदम्

||skanda uvāca|| mune kalaśajākhyāmi yatpṛṣṭaṁ tanniśāmaya || virajaḥsaṁjñakaṁ pīṭhaṁ yatproktaṁ sarvasiddhidam

Skanda said: O sage, jar-born one, I shall tell what you have asked — listen. The seat named Virajas, which grants every accomplishment, has been declared.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.73.3)

तत्पीठदर्शनादेव विरजा जायते नरः ॥ यत्रास्ति तन्महालिंगं वाराणस्यां त्रिलोचनम्

tatpīṭhadarśanādeva virajā jāyate naraḥ || yatrāsti tanmahāliṁgaṁ vārāṇasyāṁ trilocanam

By the mere sight of that seat, a man becomes free of impurity; there stands that great linga in Varanasi, Trilochana.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.73.4)

तीर्थं पिलिपिलाख्यं तद्द्युनद्यंभसि विश्रुतम् ॥ सर्वतीर्थमयं तीर्थं तत्काश्यां परिगीयते

tīrthaṁ pilipilākhyaṁ taddyunadyaṁbhasi viśrutam || sarvatīrthamayaṁ tīrthaṁ tatkāśyāṁ parigīyate

That sacred ford named Pilipila is renowned in the waters of the celestial river; that ford, made of all fords, is celebrated in Kashi.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.73.5)

विष्टपत्रितयांतर्ये देवर्षिमनुजोरगाः ॥ ससरित्पर्वतारण्याः संति ते तत्र यन्मुने

viṣṭapatritayāṁtarye devarṣimanujoragāḥ || sasaritparvatāraṇyāḥ saṁti te tatra yanmune

O sage, whatever gods, sages, men, and serpents, together with rivers, mountains and forests, exist within the three worlds — they are there in that ford.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.73.6)

तदारभ्य च तत्तीर्थं तच्च लिंगं त्रिलोचनम् ॥ त्रिविष्टपमिति ख्यातमतोहेतोर्महत्तरम्

tadārabhya ca tattīrthaṁ tacca liṁgaṁ trilocanam || triviṣṭapamiti khyātamatohetormahattaram

From that time, both that ford and that linga Trilochana became renowned, for this very reason, by the greater name Trivishtapa, heaven.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.73.7)

त्रिविष्टपस्य लिंगस्य महिमोक्ताः पिनाकिना ॥ जगज्जनन्याः पुरतो यथा वच्मि तथा मुने

triviṣṭapasya liṁgasya mahimoktāḥ pinākinā || jagajjananyāḥ purato yathā vacmi tathā mune

The greatness of the linga Trivishtapa was declared by the bearer of the Pinaka bow before the mother of the universe; I shall tell it, O sage, just as it was told.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.73.8)

॥देव्युवाच॥ देवदेव जगन्नाथ शर्व सर्वद सर्वग ॥ सर्वदृक्सर्वजनक किंचित्पृच्छामि तद्वद

||devyuvāca|| devadeva jagannātha śarva sarvada sarvaga || sarvadṛksarvajanaka kiṁcitpṛcchāmi tadvada

The goddess said: O god of gods, lord of the universe, Sharva, giver of all, all-pervading, all-seeing, father of all — I ask something; tell me.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.73.9)

इदं तव प्रियं क्षेत्रं कर्मबीजमहौषधम् ॥ नैःश्रेयस्याः श्रियो गेहं ममापि प्रीतिदं महत्

idaṁ tava priyaṁ kṣetraṁ karmabījamahauṣadham || naiḥśreyasyāḥ śriyo gehaṁ mamāpi prītidaṁ mahat

'This sacred field of yours, the great remedy that is the very seed against the fruit of action, is the abode of the wealth of highest bliss, and a source of great delight to me as well.'

Verse 10 (skanda.4.73.10)

यत्क्षेत्ररजसोप्यग्रे त्रिलोक्यपि तृणायते ॥ तस्याखिलस्य महिमा विष्वक्केनावगम्यते

yatkṣetrarajasopyagre trilokyapi tṛṇāyate || tasyākhilasya mahimā viṣvakkenāvagamyate

'Even the three worlds are counted as mere straw before a single grain of dust of this sacred field; who can fully comprehend the greatness of it in its entirety?'

Verse 11 (skanda.4.73.11)

यानीह संति लिंगानि तानि सर्वाण्यसंशयम् ॥ निर्वाणकारणान्येव स्वयंभून्यपि तान्यपि

yānīha saṁti liṁgāni tāni sarvāṇyasaṁśayam || nirvāṇakāraṇānyeva svayaṁbhūnyapi tānyapi

'Whatever lingas exist here, all of them, without doubt, are indeed causes of liberation, even those that are self-manifest.'

Verse 12 (skanda.4.73.12)

यद्यप्येवं तथापीश विशेषं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ काश्यामनादिसिद्धानि कानि लिंगानि शंकर

yadyapyevaṁ tathāpīśa viśeṣaṁ vaktumarhasi || kāśyāmanādisiddhāni kāni liṁgāni śaṁkara

'Although this is so, my lord, you should nonetheless tell me in particular — which lingas in Kashi are beginninglessly self-established, O Shankara?'

Verse 13 (skanda.4.73.13)

यत्र देवः सदा तिष्ठेत्संवर्तेऽपि स वल्लभः ॥ यैरियं प्रथितिं प्राप्ता काशी मुक्तिपुरीति च

yatra devaḥ sadā tiṣṭhetsaṁvarte'pi sa vallabhaḥ || yairiyaṁ prathitiṁ prāptā kāśī muktipurīti ca

'Where the god ever abides, that beloved one, even at the time of universal dissolution — by which lingas has this Kashi attained its fame as the city of liberation?'

Verse 14 (skanda.4.73.14)

येषां स्मरणतोप्यत्र भवेत्पापस्य संक्षयः ॥ दर्शनस्पर्शनाभ्यां च स्यातां स्वर्गापवर्गकौ

yeṣāṁ smaraṇatopyatra bhavetpāpasya saṁkṣayaḥ || darśanasparśanābhyāṁ ca syātāṁ svargāpavargakau

'By the mere remembrance of which sins are destroyed here, and by whose sight and touch both heaven and liberation are attained?'

Verse 15 (skanda.4.73.15)

येषां समर्चनादेव मध्ये जन्म सकृद्विभो ॥ लिंगानि पूजितानि स्युः काश्यां सर्वाणि निश्चितम्

yeṣāṁ samarcanādeva madhye janma sakṛdvibho || liṁgāni pūjitāni syuḥ kāśyāṁ sarvāṇi niścitam

'By the very worship of which, O lord, merely being born once in the midst of Kashi, all the lingas in Kashi are certainly counted as worshipped?'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.73.16)

विधाय मय्यनुक्रोशं कारुण्यामृतसागर ॥ एतदाचक्ष्व मे शंभो पादयोः प्रणतास्म्यहम्

vidhāya mayyanukrośaṁ kāruṇyāmṛtasāgara || etadācakṣva me śaṁbho pādayoḥ praṇatāsmyaham

'Showing compassion to me, O ocean of the nectar of mercy, tell me this, O Shambhu — I bow at your feet.'

Verse 17 (skanda.4.73.17)

इत्याकर्ण्य महेशानस्तस्या देव्याः सुभाषितम् ॥ कथयामास र्विध्यारे महालिंगानि सत्तम

ityākarṇya maheśānastasyā devyāḥ subhāṣitam || kathayāmāsa rvidhyāre mahāliṁgāni sattama

Hearing this excellent speech of the goddess, O foe of Vindhya, best of sages, Mahesha told her of the great lingas.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.73.18)

यन्नामाकर्णनादेव क्षीयंते पापराशयः ॥ प्राप्यते पुण्यसंभारः काश्यां निवार्णकारणम्

yannāmākarṇanādeva kṣīyaṁte pāparāśayaḥ || prāpyate puṇyasaṁbhāraḥ kāśyāṁ nivārṇakāraṇam

By the mere hearing of whose names heaps of sin are destroyed, and a great store of merit, the very cause of liberation, is obtained in Kashi.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.73.19)

॥देवदेव उवाच॥ शृणु देवि परं गुह्यं क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्मुक्तिकारणम् ॥ इदं विदंति नैवापि ब्रह्मनारायणादयः

||devadeva uvāca|| śṛṇu devi paraṁ guhyaṁ kṣetre'sminmuktikāraṇam || idaṁ vidaṁti naivāpi brahmanārāyaṇādayaḥ

The god of gods said: Listen, O goddess, to the supreme secret, the very cause of liberation in this sacred field — this even Brahma, Narayana and the others do not fully know.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.73.20)

असंख्यातानि लिंगानि पार्वत्यानंदकानने ॥ स्थूलान्यपि च सूक्ष्माणि नानारत्नमयानि च

asaṁkhyātāni liṁgāni pārvatyānaṁdakānane || sthūlānyapi ca sūkṣmāṇi nānāratnamayāni ca

O Parvati, countless lingas exist in the Grove of Bliss — gross and subtle, made of various gems.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.73.21)

नानाधातुमयानीशे दार्षदान्यप्यनेकशः ॥ स्वयंभून्यप्यनेकानि देवर्षिस्थापितान्यहो

nānādhātumayānīśe dārṣadānyapyanekaśaḥ || svayaṁbhūnyapyanekāni devarṣisthāpitānyaho

O ruler, made of various metals, and many made of stone; and many self-manifest, and many established by gods and sages.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.73.22)

सिद्धचारणगंधर्व यक्षरक्षोर्चितान्यपि ॥ असुरोरगमर्त्यैश्च दानवैरप्सरोगणैः

siddhacāraṇagaṁdharva yakṣarakṣorcitānyapi || asuroragamartyaiśca dānavairapsarogaṇaiḥ

Worshipped even by Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas, and by demons, serpents, mortals, danavas, and troops of Apsaras.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.73.23)

दिग्गजेर्गिरिभिस्तीर्थेर्ऋक्ष वानर किन्नरैः ॥ पतत्रिप्रमुखैर्देवि स्वस्वनामांकितानि वै

diggajergiribhistīrtherṛkṣa vānara kinnaraiḥ || patatripramukhairdevi svasvanāmāṁkitāni vai

O goddess, by the elephants of the directions, by mountains, sacred fords, bears, monkeys, and Kinnaras, and by birds and others, all marked with their own respective names.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.73.24)

प्रतिष्ठितानि यानीह मुक्तिहेतूनि तान्यपि ॥ अदृश्यान्यपि दृश्यानि दुरवस्थान्यपि प्रिये

pratiṣṭhitāni yānīha muktihetūni tānyapi || adṛśyānyapi dṛśyāni duravasthānyapi priye

Whatever lingas are established here are all causes of liberation, whether invisible or visible, O beloved, even those in poor condition.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.73.25)

भग्नान्यपि च कालेन तानि पूज्यानि सुंदरि ॥ परार्धशतसंख्यानि गणितान्येकदा मया

bhagnānyapi ca kālena tāni pūjyāni suṁdari || parārdhaśatasaṁkhyāni gaṇitānyekadā mayā

Even those broken by time are to be worshipped, O beautiful one; I once counted them, and they number a hundred times a hundred billion.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.73.26)

गंगाभस्यपि तिष्ठंति षष्टिकोटिमितानिहि ॥ सिद्धलिंगानि तानीशे तिष्येऽदृश्यत्वमाययुः

gaṁgābhasyapi tiṣṭhaṁti ṣaṣṭikoṭimitānihi || siddhaliṁgāni tānīśe tiṣye'dṛśyatvamāyayuḥ

Sixty crores of them stand even in the very waters of the Ganga; O ruler, those accomplished lingas became invisible over the ages.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.73.27)

गणनादिवसादवार्ङ्ममभक्तजनैःप्रिये ॥ प्रतिष्ठितानि यानीह तेषां संख्या न विद्यते

gaṇanādivasādavārṅmamabhaktajanaiḥpriye || pratiṣṭhitāni yānīha teṣāṁ saṁkhyā na vidyate

O beloved, from the day of that counting onward, those established here by faithless people — their number is not known.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.73.28)

त्वया तु यानि पृष्टानि यैरिदं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् ॥ तानि लिंगानि वक्ष्यामि मुक्तिहेतूनि सुंदरि

tvayā tu yāni pṛṣṭāni yairidaṁ kṣetramuttamam || tāni liṁgāni vakṣyāmi muktihetūni suṁdari

But those which you have asked about, by which this sacred field is made supreme — those lingas, causes of liberation, I shall tell you, O beautiful one.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.73.29)

कलावतीव गोप्यानि भविष्यंति गिरींद्रजे ॥ परं तेषां प्रभावो यः स्वस्वस्थानं न हास्यति

kalāvatīva gopyāni bhaviṣyaṁti girīṁdraje || paraṁ teṣāṁ prabhāvo yaḥ svasvasthānaṁ na hāsyati

O daughter of the king of mountains, in the Kali age these shall become as if utterly hidden; but their power, in each of their own places, shall never diminish.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.73.30)

कलिकल्मषपुष्टा ये ये दुष्टा नास्तिकाः शठाः ॥ एतेषां सिद्धलिंगानां ज्ञास्यंत्याख्यामपीह न

kalikalmaṣapuṣṭā ye ye duṣṭā nāstikāḥ śaṭhāḥ || eteṣāṁ siddhaliṁgānāṁ jñāsyaṁtyākhyāmapīha na

Those who are nourished by the sin of the Kali age, wicked, atheistic, deceitful — they shall not even come to know the names of these accomplished lingas.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.73.31)

नामश्रवणतोपीह यल्लिंगानां शुभानने ॥ वृजिनानि क्षयं यांति वर्धंते पुण्यराशयः

nāmaśravaṇatopīha yalliṁgānāṁ śubhānane || vṛjināni kṣayaṁ yāṁti vardhaṁte puṇyarāśayaḥ

O fair-faced one, by the mere hearing of the names of these lingas here, sins come to destruction and heaps of merit increase.

Verse 32 (skanda.4.73.32)

ओंकारः प्रथमं लिंगं द्वितीयं च त्रिलोचनम् ॥ तृतीयश्च महादेवः कृत्तिवासाश्चतुर्थकम्

oṁkāraḥ prathamaṁ liṁgaṁ dvitīyaṁ ca trilocanam || tṛtīyaśca mahādevaḥ kṛttivāsāścaturthakam

Omkara is the first linga, and Trilochana the second; the third is Mahadeva, and Krittivasa the fourth.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.73.33)

रत्नेशः पंचमं लिंगं षष्ठं चंद्रेश्वराभिधम् ॥ केदारः सप्तमं लिंगं धर्मेशश्चाष्टमं प्रिये

ratneśaḥ paṁcamaṁ liṁgaṁ ṣaṣṭhaṁ caṁdreśvarābhidham || kedāraḥ saptamaṁ liṁgaṁ dharmeśaścāṣṭamaṁ priye

Ratnesha is the fifth linga, the sixth named Chandreshvara; Kedara is the seventh linga, and Dharmesha the eighth, O beloved.

Verse 34 (skanda.4.73.34)

वीरेश्वरं च नवमं कामेशं दशमं विदुः ॥ विश्वकर्मेश्वरं लिंगं शुभमेकादशं परम्

vīreśvaraṁ ca navamaṁ kāmeśaṁ daśamaṁ viduḥ || viśvakarmeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ śubhamekādaśaṁ param

Vireshvara is the ninth, and Kamesha the tenth; the linga Vishvakarmeshvara is the auspicious eleventh, the supreme one.

Verse 35 (skanda.4.73.35)

द्वादशं मणिकर्णीशमविमुक्तं त्रयोदशम् ॥ चतुर्दशं महालिंगं मम विश्वेश्वराभिधम्

dvādaśaṁ maṇikarṇīśamavimuktaṁ trayodaśam || caturdaśaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ mama viśveśvarābhidham

Manikarnisha is the twelfth, and Avimukta the thirteenth; the fourteenth is the great linga named Vishveshvara, which is myself.

Verse 36 (skanda.4.73.36)

प्रिये चतुर्दशैतानि श्रियोहेतूनि सुंदरि ॥ एतेषां समवायोयं मुक्तिक्षेत्रमिहेरितम्

priye caturdaśaitāni śriyohetūni suṁdari || eteṣāṁ samavāyoyaṁ muktikṣetramiheritam

O beloved, O beautiful one, these fourteen are the causes of prosperity; their combined presence here is what is called the field of liberation.

Verse 37 (skanda.4.73.37)

देवताः समधिष्ठात्र्यः क्षेत्रस्यास्य परा इमाः ॥ आराधिताः प्रयच्छंति नृभ्यो नैःश्रेयसीं श्रियम्

devatāḥ samadhiṣṭhātryaḥ kṣetrasyāsya parā imāḥ || ārādhitāḥ prayacchaṁti nṛbhyo naiḥśreyasīṁ śriyam

These are the supreme presiding deities of this sacred field; when worshipped, they grant to men the wealth of highest bliss.

Verse 38 (skanda.4.73.38)

आनंदकानने मुक्त्यै प्रोक्तान्येतानि सुंदरि ॥ प्रिये चतुर्दशेज्यानि महालिंगानि देहिनाम्

ānaṁdakānane muktyai proktānyetāni suṁdari || priye caturdaśejyāni mahāliṁgāni dehinām

O beautiful, O beloved one, these have been declared in the Grove of Bliss for the liberation of embodied beings — these fourteen great lingas, to be worshipped.

Verse 39 (skanda.4.73.39)

प्रतिमासं समारभ्य तिथिं प्रतिपदं शुभाम् ॥ एतेषां लिंगमुख्यानां कार्या यात्रा प्रयत्नतः

pratimāsaṁ samārabhya tithiṁ pratipadaṁ śubhām || eteṣāṁ liṁgamukhyānāṁ kāryā yātrā prayatnataḥ

Every month, beginning on the auspicious first day, a pilgrimage to these principal lingas should be diligently made.

Verse 40 (skanda.4.73.40)

अनाराध्य महादेवमेषु लिंगेषु कुंभज ॥ कः काश्यां मोक्षमाप्नोति सत्यं सत्यं पुनःपुनः

anārādhya mahādevameṣu liṁgeṣu kuṁbhaja || kaḥ kāśyāṁ mokṣamāpnoti satyaṁ satyaṁ punaḥpunaḥ

O jar-born one, without worshipping Mahadeva in these lingas, who attains liberation in Kashi? This is the truth, the truth, repeated again and again.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.73.41)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन काशीफलमभीप्सुभिः ॥ पूज्यान्येतानि लिंगानि भक्त्या परमया मुने

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāśīphalamabhīpsubhiḥ || pūjyānyetāni liṁgāni bhaktyā paramayā mune

Therefore, O sage, by those who desire the fruit of Kashi, these lingas are to be worshipped with every effort and with supreme devotion.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.73.42)

॥अगस्त्य उवाच॥ एतान्येव किमन्यानि महालिंगानि षण्मुख ॥ निर्वाणकारणानीह यदि संति तदा वद

||agastya uvāca|| etānyeva kimanyāni mahāliṁgāni ṣaṇmukha || nirvāṇakāraṇānīha yadi saṁti tadā vada

Agastya said: O six-faced one, are these the only ones, or are there other great lingas that are causes of liberation here? If there are, tell me.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.73.43)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ अन्यान्यपि च संतीह महालिंगानि सुव्रत ॥ कलिप्रभावाद्गुप्तानि भविष्यंत्येव तानि वै

||skaṁda uvāca|| anyānyapi ca saṁtīha mahāliṁgāni suvrata || kaliprabhāvādguptāni bhaviṣyaṁtyeva tāni vai

Skanda said: O one of good vows, there are indeed other great lingas here too; they shall indeed become hidden through the power of the Kali age.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.73.44)

यस्येश्वरे सदाभक्तिर्यः काशीतत्त्ववित्तमः ॥ स एवैतानि लिंगानि वेत्स्यत्यन्यो न कश्चन

yasyeśvare sadābhaktiryaḥ kāśītattvavittamaḥ || sa evaitāni liṁgāni vetsyatyanyo na kaścana

He who has constant devotion to Ishvara, who is the foremost knower of the truth of Kashi — he alone shall know these lingas; no one else at all.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.73.45)

येषां नामग्रहेणापि कलिकल्मष संक्षयः ॥ अमृतेशस्तारकेशो ज्ञानेशः करुणेश्वरः

yeṣāṁ nāmagraheṇāpi kalikalmaṣa saṁkṣayaḥ || amṛteśastārakeśo jñāneśaḥ karuṇeśvaraḥ

By the mere utterance of whose names the sin of the Kali age is destroyed: Amritesha, Tarakesha, Jnanesha, Karuneshvara —

Verse 46 (skanda.4.73.46)

मोक्षद्वारेश्वरश्चैव स्वर्गद्वारेश्वरस्तथा ॥ ब्रह्मेशो लांगलश्चैव वृद्धकालेश्वरस्तथा

mokṣadvāreśvaraścaiva svargadvāreśvarastathā || brahmeśo lāṁgalaścaiva vṛddhakāleśvarastathā

— Mokshadvareshvara, and likewise Svargadvareshvara, Brahmesha, and Langala, and likewise Vriddhakaleshvara —

Verse 47 (skanda.4.73.47)

वृषेशश्चैव चंडीशो नंदिकेशो महेश्वरः ॥ ज्योतीरूपेश्वरं लिंगं ख्यातमत्र चतुर्दशम्

vṛṣeśaścaiva caṁḍīśo naṁdikeśo maheśvaraḥ || jyotīrūpeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ khyātamatra caturdaśam

— and Vrisesha, and Chandisha, Nandikesha, Mahesvara, and the linga Jyotirupeshvara, renowned here as the fourteenth.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.73.48)

काश्यां चतुर्दशैतानि महालिंगानि सुंदरि ॥ इमानि मुक्तिहेतूनि लिंगान्यानंदकानने

kāśyāṁ caturdaśaitāni mahāliṁgāni suṁdari || imāni muktihetūni liṁgānyānaṁdakānane

O beautiful one, these fourteen great lingas in Kashi, in the Grove of Bliss, are causes of liberation.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.73.49)

कलिकल्मषबुद्धीनां नाख्येयानि कदाचन ॥ एतान्याराधयेद्यस्तु लिंगानीह चतुर्दश

kalikalmaṣabuddhīnāṁ nākhyeyāni kadācana || etānyārādhayedyastu liṁgānīha caturdaśa

They should never be revealed to those whose minds are stained by the sin of the Kali age. Whoever worships these fourteen lingas here —

Verse 50 (skanda.4.73.50)

न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः संसाराध्वनि कर्हिचित् ॥ काशीकोशोयमतुलो न प्रकाश्यो यतस्ततः

na tasya punarāvṛttiḥ saṁsārādhvani karhicit || kāśīkośoyamatulo na prakāśyo yatastataḥ

— for him there is never again a return on the road of worldly existence. This is Kashi's incomparable treasury, and therefore it is not to be openly revealed.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.73.51)

एतल्लिंगाभिधा देवि महापद्यपि दुःखहृत् ॥ रहस्यं परमं चैतत्क्षेत्रस्यास्य वरानने

etalliṁgābhidhā devi mahāpadyapi duḥkhahṛt || rahasyaṁ paramaṁ caitatkṣetrasyāsya varānane

O goddess, the mere naming of this linga removes sorrow even in great calamity; O fair-faced one, this is the supreme secret of this sacred field.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.73.52)

चतुर्दशापि लिंगानि मत्सान्निध्यकराणि हि ॥ अविमुक्तस्य हृदयमेतदेव गिरींद्रजे

caturdaśāpi liṁgāni matsānnidhyakarāṇi hi || avimuktasya hṛdayametadeva girīṁdraje

All fourteen lingas indeed bring about my presence; O daughter of the king of mountains, this is the very heart of Avimukta.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.73.53)

इमानि यानि लिंगानि सर्वेषां मुक्तिदानि हि ॥ एकैकभुवनस्येह सारमादाय सर्वतः ॥ मयैतानि कृतान्येव महाभक्तिकृपावशात्

imāni yāni liṁgāni sarveṣāṁ muktidāni hi || ekaikabhuvanasyeha sāramādāya sarvataḥ || mayaitāni kṛtānyeva mahābhaktikṛpāvaśāt

Whatever lingas grant liberation to all — these have been made by me, taking here the very essence from every single world, out of the power of great compassion and devotion.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.73.54)

अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे ध्रुवं मुक्तिरिति या प्रथिति प्रिये ॥ कारणं तत्र लिंगानि ममैतानि चतुर्दश

asminkṣetre dhruvaṁ muktiriti yā prathiti priye || kāraṇaṁ tatra liṁgāni mamaitāni caturdaśa

O beloved, the very fame that liberation is certain in this sacred field — the cause of that is these fourteen lingas of mine.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.73.55)

त एव व्रतिनः कांते त एव च तपस्विनः ॥ ध्यातान्येतानि यैर्भक्तैर्लिंगान्यानंदकानने

ta eva vratinaḥ kāṁte ta eva ca tapasvinaḥ || dhyātānyetāni yairbhaktairliṁgānyānaṁdakānane

O beloved, those devotees by whom these lingas in the Grove of Bliss are meditated upon — they alone are true keepers of vows, they alone are true ascetics.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.73.56)

त एवाभ्यस्तसद्योगा दत्तदानास्त एव हि ॥ काश्यामिमानि लिंगानि यैर्दृष्टान्यपि दूरतः

ta evābhyastasadyogā dattadānāsta eva hi || kāśyāmimāni liṁgāni yairdṛṣṭānyapi dūrataḥ

Those by whom these lingas in Kashi have been seen, even from a distance — they alone have truly practised good yoga, they alone have truly given gifts.

Verse 57 (skanda.4.73.57)

इष्टापूर्ताश्च ये धर्माः प्रणीता मुनिसत्तमैः ॥ ते सर्वे तेन विहिता यावज्जीवं निरेनसा

iṣṭāpūrtāśca ye dharmāḥ praṇītā munisattamaiḥ || te sarve tena vihitā yāvajjīvaṁ nirenasā

Whatever meritorious acts of sacrifice and public works have been ordained by the best of sages — all of them have been performed, throughout one's life, sinlessly, by that person.

Verse 58 (skanda.4.73.58)

येनाविमुक्तमासाद्य महालिंगानि पार्वति ॥ सकृदभ्यर्चितानीह स मुक्तो नात्र संशयः

yenāvimuktamāsādya mahāliṁgāni pārvati || sakṛdabhyarcitānīha sa mukto nātra saṁśayaḥ

O Parvati, he by whom, having reached Avimukta, these great lingas have been worshipped even once — he is liberated, there is no doubt of this.

Verse 59 (skanda.4.73.59)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ अन्यान्यपि च विंध्यारे देव्यै प्रोक्तानि शंभुना ॥ स्वभक्तानां हिताथार्य तान्यथाकर्णयाग्रज

||skaṁda uvāca|| anyānyapi ca viṁdhyāre devyai proktāni śaṁbhunā || svabhaktānāṁ hitāthārya tānyathākarṇayāgraja

Skanda said: O foe of Vindhya, other lingas too were declared by Shambhu to the goddess, for the benefit of his own devotees; hear them now, O elder brother.

Verse 60 (skanda.4.73.60)

शैलेशः संगमेशश्च स्वर्लीनो मध्यमेश्वरः ॥ हिरण्यगर्भ ईशानो गोप्रेक्षो वृषभध्वजः

śaileśaḥ saṁgameśaśca svarlīno madhyameśvaraḥ || hiraṇyagarbha īśāno goprekṣo vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Shailesha, and Sangamesha, Svarlina, Madhyameshvara, Hiranyagarbha, Ishana, Gopreksha, Vrishabhadhvaja —

Verse 61 (skanda.4.73.61)

उपशांत शिवो ज्येष्ठो निवासेश्वर एव च ॥ शुक्रेशो व्याघ्रलिंगं च जंबुकेशं चतुर्दशम्

upaśāṁta śivo jyeṣṭho nivāseśvara eva ca || śukreśo vyāghraliṁgaṁ ca jaṁbukeśaṁ caturdaśam

— Upashantashiva, Jyeshtha, and likewise Nivaseshvara, Shukresha, and the linga Vyaghra, and Jambukesha the fourteenth.

Verse 62 (skanda.4.73.62)

मुने चतुर्दशैतानि महांत्यायतनानि वै ॥ एतेषामपि सेवातो नरो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

mune caturdaśaitāni mahāṁtyāyatanāni vai || eteṣāmapi sevāto naro mokṣamavāpnuyāt

O sage, these fourteen are indeed great abodes; by service to these too, a man attains liberation.

Verse 63 (skanda.4.73.63)

चैत्रकृष्णप्रतिपदं समारभ्य प्रयत्नतः ॥ आ चतुर्दशिपूज्यानि लिंगान्येतानि सत्तमैः

caitrakṛṣṇapratipadaṁ samārabhya prayatnataḥ || ā caturdaśipūjyāni liṁgānyetāni sattamaiḥ

Beginning diligently from the dark first day of Chaitra, up to the fourteenth day, these lingas are to be worshipped by the best of men.

Verse 64 (skanda.4.73.64)

एतेषां वार्षिकी यात्रा सुमहोत्सवपूर्वकम् ॥ कार्या मुमुक्षुभिः सम्यक्क्षेत्रसंसिद्धिदायिनी

eteṣāṁ vārṣikī yātrā sumahotsavapūrvakam || kāryā mumukṣubhiḥ samyakkṣetrasaṁsiddhidāyinī

An annual pilgrimage to these, preceded by a great festival, should be duly made by those seeking liberation, granting perfect accomplishment in the sacred field.

Verse 65 (skanda.4.73.65)

मुने चतुर्दशैतानि महालिंगानि यत्नतः ॥ दृष्ट्वा न जायते जंतुः संसारे दुःखसागरे

mune caturdaśaitāni mahāliṁgāni yatnataḥ || dṛṣṭvā na jāyate jaṁtuḥ saṁsāre duḥkhasāgare

O sage, having diligently beheld these fourteen great lingas, a creature is not born again into the ocean of sorrow that is worldly existence.

Verse 66 (skanda.4.73.66)

क्षेत्रस्य परमं तत्त्वमेतदेव प्रिये ध्रुवम् ॥ संसाररोगग्रस्तानामिदमेव महौषधम्

kṣetrasya paramaṁ tattvametadeva priye dhruvam || saṁsārarogagrastānāmidameva mahauṣadham

This alone, O beloved, is certainly the supreme truth of the sacred field; this alone is the great remedy for those afflicted with the disease of worldly existence.

Verse 67 (skanda.4.73.67)

क्षेत्रस्योपनिषच्चैषा मुक्तिबीजमिदं परम् ॥ कर्मकाननदावाग्निरेषा लिंगावलिः प्रिये

kṣetrasyopaniṣaccaiṣā muktibījamidaṁ param || karmakānanadāvāgnireṣā liṁgāvaliḥ priye

This is the very secret teaching of the sacred field, the supreme seed of liberation; O beloved, this row of lingas is like a forest-fire consuming the woodland of karma.

Verse 68 (skanda.4.73.68)

एकैकस्यास्य लिंगस्य महिमाद्यंत वर्जितः ॥ मयैव ज्ञायते देवि सम्यङ्नान्येन केनचित्

ekaikasyāsya liṁgasya mahimādyaṁta varjitaḥ || mayaiva jñāyate devi samyaṅnānyena kenacit

O goddess, the greatness of each single one of these lingas, without beginning or end, is known fully by me alone, and by no one else at all.

Verse 69 (skanda.4.73.69)

इति श्रुत्वा मुने प्राह देवी हृष्टतनूरुहा ॥ प्रणम्य देवमीशानं सर्वज्ञं सर्वदं शिवम्

iti śrutvā mune prāha devī hṛṣṭatanūruhā || praṇamya devamīśānaṁ sarvajñaṁ sarvadaṁ śivam

Hearing this, O sage, the goddess, her body thrilled with joy, having bowed to the omniscient, all-giving lord Ishana, spoke.

Verse 70 (skanda.4.73.70)

॥देव्युवाच॥ रहस्यं परमं काश्यां यदेतत्समुदीरितम् ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वोत्सुकतां प्राप्तं मनो मेतीव वल्लभ

||devyuvāca|| rahasyaṁ paramaṁ kāśyāṁ yadetatsamudīritam || tacchrutvotsukatāṁ prāptaṁ mano metīva vallabha

The goddess said: 'O beloved, having heard this supreme secret that has been declared of Kashi, my mind has become filled with eager longing.'

Verse 71 (skanda.4.73.71)

यदुक्तं लिगमेकैकं महासारतरं परम् ॥ काश्यां परमनिर्वाणकारणं कारणेश्वर

yaduktaṁ ligamekaikaṁ mahāsārataraṁ param || kāśyāṁ paramanirvāṇakāraṇaṁ kāraṇeśvara

'O lord of causes, you said that each single linga is of the greatest, supreme essence, and the very cause of supreme liberation in Kashi.'

Verse 72 (skanda.4.73.72)

प्रत्येकं महिमानं मे ब्रूह्येषां भुवनेश्वर ॥ चतुर्दशानां लिंगानां श्रवणादघहारिणाम्

pratyekaṁ mahimānaṁ me brūhyeṣāṁ bhuvaneśvara || caturdaśānāṁ liṁgānāṁ śravaṇādaghahāriṇām

'O lord of the worlds, tell me the greatness of each of these fourteen lingas, whose very hearing removes sin.'

Verse 73 (skanda.4.73.73)

ओंकारेशस्य लिंगस्य कथमत्र समागमः ॥ अतिपुण्यतमात्तस्मात्क्षेत्रादमरकंटकात्

oṁkāreśasya liṁgasya kathamatra samāgamaḥ || atipuṇyatamāttasmātkṣetrādamarakaṁṭakāt

'How did the linga Omkaresha come to be here, from that most holy field, Amarakantaka?'

Verse 74 (skanda.4.73.74)

किमात्मकोऽयमोंकारो महिमास्य च को हर ॥ केनाराधि पुरा चैष ददावाराधितश्च किम्

kimātmako'yamoṁkāro mahimāsya ca ko hara || kenārādhi purā caiṣa dadāvārādhitaśca kim

'What is the nature of this Omkara, and what is his greatness, O Hara? By whom was he worshipped in ancient times, and what did he grant when worshipped?'

Verse 75 (skanda.4.73.75)

मृडानीवाक्सुधामेतां विधाय श्रुतिगोचराम् ॥ कथामकथयद्देव ओंकारस्यमहाद्भुताम्

mṛḍānīvāksudhāmetāṁ vidhāya śrutigocarām || kathāmakathayaddeva oṁkārasyamahādbhutām

Having thus made this nectar-speech reach his ears, the god then told the most wondrous tale of Omkara.

Verse 76 (skanda.4.73.76)

॥देवदेव उवाच॥ कथामाकर्णयापर्णे वर्णयामि तवाग्रतः ॥ यथोंकारस्य लिंगस्य प्रादुर्भाव इहाभवत्

||devadeva uvāca|| kathāmākarṇayāparṇe varṇayāmi tavāgrataḥ || yathoṁkārasya liṁgasya prādurbhāva ihābhavat

The god of gods said: Listen to the tale, O Aparna, I shall relate before you how the manifestation of the linga Omkara came to be here.

Verse 77 (skanda.4.73.77)

पुरानंदवने चात्र ब्रह्मणा विश्वयोनिना ॥ तपस्तप्तं महादेवि समाधिं दधतापरम्

purānaṁdavane cātra brahmaṇā viśvayoninā || tapastaptaṁ mahādevi samādhiṁ dadhatāparam

Formerly, here in the Grove of Bliss, by Brahma, the very womb of the universe, austerity was performed, O great goddess, while he held to unbroken absorption.

Verse 78 (skanda.4.73.78)

पूर्णे युगसहस्रेऽथ भित्त्वा पातालसप्तकम् ॥ उदतिष्ठत्पुरोज्योतिर्विद्योतित हरिन्मुखम्

pūrṇe yugasahasre'tha bhittvā pātālasaptakam || udatiṣṭhatpurojyotirvidyotita harinmukham

When a thousand ages had been completed, splitting through the seven netherworlds, a light rose up before him, illumining the eastern quarter.

Verse 79 (skanda.4.73.79)

यदंतराविरभवन्निर्व्याजेन समाधिना ॥ तदेव परमं धाम बहिराविरभूद्विधेः

yadaṁtarāvirabhavannirvyājena samādhinā || tadeva paramaṁ dhāma bahirāvirabhūdvidheḥ

That which had manifested within, through his unfeigned absorption — that very supreme abode manifested outwardly before Vidhi.

Verse 80 (skanda.4.73.80)

योभूच्चटचटाशब्दः स्फुटतो भूमिभागतः ॥ तच्छब्दाद्व्यसृजद्वेधाः समाधिं क्रमतो वशी

yobhūccaṭacaṭāśabdaḥ sphuṭato bhūmibhāgataḥ || tacchabdādvyasṛjadvedhāḥ samādhiṁ kramato vaśī

There arose a crackling sound from the earth as it split open; at that sound, the self-controlled Creator gradually released his absorption.

Verse 81 (skanda.4.73.81)

स्रष्टाविसृष्ट तद्ध्यानो यावदुन्मील्यलोचने ॥ पुरः पश्येद्ददर्शाग्रे तावदक्षरमादिमम्

sraṣṭāvisṛṣṭa taddhyāno yāvadunmīlyalocane || puraḥ paśyeddadarśāgre tāvadakṣaramādimam

As soon as the Creator, his meditation released, opened his eyes to look before him, he beheld right there the primordial imperishable syllable.

Verse 82 (skanda.4.73.82)

अकारं सत्त्वसंपन्नमृक्क्षेत्रं सृष्टिपालकम् ॥ नारायणात्मकं साक्षात्तमः पारे प्रतिष्ठितम्

akāraṁ sattvasaṁpannamṛkkṣetraṁ sṛṣṭipālakam || nārāyaṇātmakaṁ sākṣāttamaḥ pāre pratiṣṭhitam

— the letter A, full of the quality of sattva, the very field of the Rig Veda, the protector of creation, of the very nature of Narayana, established beyond darkness.

Verse 83 (skanda.4.73.83)

उकारमथ तस्याग्रे रजोरूपं यजुर्जनिम् ॥ विधातारं समस्तस्य स्वाकारमिव बिंबितम्

ukāramatha tasyāgre rajorūpaṁ yajurjanim || vidhātāraṁ samastasya svākāramiva biṁbitam

And then, before it, the letter U, of the nature of rajas, the source of the Yajur Veda, the ordainer of all things, reflected as if it were his own form.

Verse 84 (skanda.4.73.84)

नीरवध्वांतसंकेत सदनाभं तदग्रतः ॥ मकारं स ददर्शाथ तमोरूपं विशेषतः

nīravadhvāṁtasaṁketa sadanābhaṁ tadagrataḥ || makāraṁ sa dadarśātha tamorūpaṁ viśeṣataḥ

Before that, resembling an abode marked by silent darkness, he then beheld the letter M, of the nature of tamas in particular.

Verse 85 (skanda.4.73.85)

साम्नो योनिं लये हेतुं साक्षाद्रुद्रस्वरूपिणम् ॥ अथ तत्पुरतो ध्याता व्यधात्स्वनयनातिथिम्

sāmno yoniṁ laye hetuṁ sākṣādrudrasvarūpiṇam || atha tatpurato dhyātā vyadhātsvanayanātithim

the very source of the Sama Veda, the cause of dissolution, of the direct form of Rudra himself; and before that, the meditator made a guest to his own eyes —

Verse 86 (skanda.4.73.86)

विश्वरूपमयाकारं सगुणं वापि निर्गुणम् ॥ अनाख्यनादसदनं परमानंदविग्रहम्

viśvarūpamayākāraṁ saguṇaṁ vāpi nirguṇam || anākhyanādasadanaṁ paramānaṁdavigraham

— of universal form, without shape, endowed with qualities or without qualities, the unnamed abode of primordial sound, the very embodiment of supreme bliss.

Verse 87 (skanda.4.73.87)

शव्दब्रह्मेति यत्ख्यातं सर्ववाङ्मयकारणम् ॥ अथोपरिष्टान्नादस्य बिंदुरूपं परात्परम्

śavdabrahmeti yatkhyātaṁ sarvavāṅmayakāraṇam || athopariṣṭānnādasya biṁdurūpaṁ parātparam

That which is known as the Word-Absolute, the very cause of all speech; and then, above the primordial Sound, in the form of the Bindu, the supreme of the supreme —

Verse 88 (skanda.4.73.88)

कारणं कारणानां च जगद्योनिं च तं परम् ॥ विधिर्विलोकयांचक्रे तपसागोचरीकृतम्

kāraṇaṁ kāraṇānāṁ ca jagadyoniṁ ca taṁ param || vidhirvilokayāṁcakre tapasāgocarīkṛtam

— the very cause of causes, and the womb of the universe, that supreme one — Vidhi beheld him, brought within his range by austerity.

Verse 89 (skanda.4.73.89)

अवनादोमिति ख्यातं सर्वस्यास्य प्रभावतः ॥ भक्तमुन्नयते यस्मात्तदोमिति य ईरितः

avanādomiti khyātaṁ sarvasyāsya prabhāvataḥ || bhaktamunnayate yasmāttadomiti ya īritaḥ

'From protecting, it is known as Om, through the power of this entire syllable; since it raises up the devotee, it is thus declared to be Om.'

Verse 90 (skanda.4.73.90)

अरूपोपि सरूपाढ्यः स धात्रा नेत्रगीकृतः ॥ तारयेद्यद्भवांभोधेः स्वजपासक्तमानसम् ॥ ततस्तार इति ख्यातो यस्तं ब्रह्मा व्यलोकयत्

arūpopi sarūpāḍhyaḥ sa dhātrā netragīkṛtaḥ || tārayedyadbhavāṁbhodheḥ svajapāsaktamānasam || tatastāra iti khyāto yastaṁ brahmā vyalokayat

Though formless, he was made present, endowed with form, to the sight of the Creator; since he ferries across the ocean of worldly existence the mind devoted to reciting him, he is known as Tara, the Ferryer — him did Brahma behold.

Verse 91 (skanda.4.73.91)

प्रणूयते यतः सर्वैः परनिर्वाणकामुकैः ॥ सर्वेभ्योभ्यधिकस्तस्मात्प्रणवो यैः प्रकीर्तितः

praṇūyate yataḥ sarvaiḥ paranirvāṇakāmukaiḥ || sarvebhyobhyadhikastasmātpraṇavo yaiḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Since he is bowed to by all who desire supreme liberation, and since he is proclaimed by all to be superior to everything, he is thus called Pranava.

Verse 92 (skanda.4.73.92)

स्वसेवितारं पुरुषं प्रणयेद्यः परंपदम् ॥ अतस्तप्रणवं शांतं प्रत्यक्षीकृतवान्विधिः

svasevitāraṁ puruṣaṁ praṇayedyaḥ paraṁpadam || atastapraṇavaṁ śāṁtaṁ pratyakṣīkṛtavānvidhiḥ

Since he leads the person who serves him to the supreme state, he is thus called Pranava, the tranquil one; and Vidhi made him manifest before his very eyes.

Verse 93 (skanda.4.73.93)

त्रयीमयस्तुरीयोयस्तुर्यातीतोखिलात्मकः ॥ नादबिंदुस्वरूपो यः स प्रैक्षि द्विजगामिना

trayīmayasturīyoyasturyātītokhilātmakaḥ || nādabiṁdusvarūpo yaḥ sa praikṣi dvijagāminā

He who is made of the triple Veda, who is the fourth state, who is beyond the fourth state, the self of all, of the very form of Sound and Bindu — he was beheld by the one whose vehicle is a bird.

Verse 94 (skanda.4.73.94)

प्रावर्तंत यतो वेदाः सांगाः सर्वस्य योनयः ॥ सवेदादिः पद्मभुवा पुरस्तादवलोकितः

prāvartaṁta yato vedāḥ sāṁgāḥ sarvasya yonayaḥ || savedādiḥ padmabhuvā purastādavalokitaḥ

From whom the Vedas, together with their limbs, the very source of all, proceeded — he, the very origin of the Vedas, was beheld before the lotus-born one.

Verse 95 (skanda.4.73.95)

वृषभो यस्त्रिधाबद्धो रोरवीति महोमयः ॥ सनेत्रविषयी चक्रे परमः परमेष्ठिना

vṛṣabho yastridhābaddho roravīti mahomayaḥ || sanetraviṣayī cakre paramaḥ parameṣṭhinā

He who, in bull-form, bound in three places, roars, made of great splendour — that supreme one was made the object of sight by Parameshthin.

Verse 96 (skanda.4.73.96)

शृंगश्चत्वारि यस्यासन्हस्तासः सप्त एव च ॥ द्वे शीर्षे च त्रयः पादाः स देवो विधिनैक्षत

śṛṁgaścatvāri yasyāsanhastāsaḥ sapta eva ca || dve śīrṣe ca trayaḥ pādāḥ sa devo vidhinaikṣata

He who had four horns, and seven hands indeed, two heads and three feet — that god was beheld by Vidhi.

Verse 97 (skanda.4.73.97)

यदंतर्लीनमखिलं भूतं भावि भवत्पुनः ॥ तद्बीजं बीजरहितं द्रुहिणेन विलोकितम्

yadaṁtarlīnamakhilaṁ bhūtaṁ bhāvi bhavatpunaḥ || tadbījaṁ bījarahitaṁ druhiṇena vilokitam

That within which all that has been, will be, and is again, lies dissolved — that seed, itself without a seed, was beheld by Druhina.

Verse 98 (skanda.4.73.98)

लीनं मृग्येत यत्रैतदाब्रह्मस्तंबभाजनम् ॥ अतः स भाज्यते सद्भिर्यल्लिंगं तद्विलोकितम्

līnaṁ mṛgyeta yatraitadābrahmastaṁbabhājanam || ataḥ sa bhājyate sadbhiryalliṁgaṁ tadvilokitam

That in which, dissolved, this universe, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, is to be sought — since it is thus worshipped by the virtuous, that linga was beheld.

Verse 99 (skanda.4.73.99)

पंचार्था यत्र भासंते पंचब्रह्ममयं हि यत् ॥ आदिपंचस्वरूपंयन्निरैक्षि ब्रह्मणा हि तत्

paṁcārthā yatra bhāsaṁte paṁcabrahmamayaṁ hi yat || ādipaṁcasvarūpaṁyanniraikṣi brahmaṇā hi tat

That in which the five subtle realities shine forth, which is made of the five forms of Brahman, of the very form of the primordial five — that indeed was beheld by Brahma.

Verse 100 (skanda.4.73.100)

तमालोक्य ततो वेधा लिंगरूपिणमीश्वरम् ॥ पंचाक्षरं प्रपंचाच्च भिन्नं तुष्टाव शंकरम्

tamālokya tato vedhā liṁgarūpiṇamīśvaram || paṁcākṣaraṁ prapaṁcācca bhinnaṁ tuṣṭāva śaṁkaram

Having beheld him, the Creator then praised Ishvara, of linga-form, the five-syllabled Shankara, distinct from the manifest universe.

Verse 101 (skanda.4.73.101)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ नम ओंकाररूपाय नमोऽक्षरवपुर्धृते ॥ नमोऽकारादिवर्णानां प्रभवाय सदाशिव

||brahmovāca|| nama oṁkārarūpāya namo'kṣaravapurdhṛte || namo'kārādivarṇānāṁ prabhavāya sadāśiva

Brahma said: Homage to you of the form of Om, homage to you who bear the imperishable body; homage, O eternal Shiva, to you, the source of the letters beginning with A.

Verse 102 (skanda.4.73.102)

अकारस्त्वमुकारस्त्वं मकारस्त्वमनाकृते ॥ ऋग्यजुः सामरूपाय रूपातीताय ते नमः

akārastvamukārastvaṁ makārastvamanākṛte || ṛgyajuḥ sāmarūpāya rūpātītāya te namaḥ

You are the letter A, you are the letter U, you are the letter M, O you of formless form; homage to you, of the form of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas, beyond all form.

Verse 103 (skanda.4.73.103)

नमो नादात्मने तुभ्यं नमो बिंदुकलात्मने ॥ अलिंगलिंगरूपाय सर्वरूपस्वरूपिणे

namo nādātmane tubhyaṁ namo biṁdukalātmane || aliṁgaliṁgarūpāya sarvarūpasvarūpiṇe

Homage to you, whose very self is Sound; homage to you, whose self is the Bindu and Kala; homage to you of the form both without and with the linga, of the form of every form.

Verse 104 (skanda.4.73.104)

नमस्ते धाम निधये निधनादिविवर्जित ॥ नमो भवाय रुद्राय शर्वाय च नमोस्तुते

namaste dhāma nidhaye nidhanādivivarjita || namo bhavāya rudrāya śarvāya ca namostute

Homage to you, treasury of splendour, free from death and its causes; homage to Bhava, to Rudra, and homage be to you, Sharva.

Verse 105 (skanda.4.73.105)

नम उग्राय भीमाय पशूनां पतये नमः ॥ नमस्तारस्वरूपाय संभवाय नमोस्तु ते

nama ugrāya bhīmāya paśūnāṁ pataye namaḥ || namastārasvarūpāya saṁbhavāya namostu te

Homage to Ugra, to Bhima, homage to the lord of creatures; homage to you of the form of Tara, homage be to you, Sambhava.

Verse 106 (skanda.4.73.106)

अमायाय नमस्तुभ्यं नमः शिवतराय ते ॥ कपर्दिने नमस्तुभ्यं शितिकंठ नमोस्तु ते

amāyāya namastubhyaṁ namaḥ śivatarāya te || kapardine namastubhyaṁ śitikaṁṭha namostu te

Homage to you who are beyond illusion, homage to you, most auspicious one; homage to you, matted-locked one; homage be to you, blue-throated one.

Verse 107 (skanda.4.73.107)

मीढुष्टमाय गिरिश शिपिविष्टाय ते नमः ॥ नमोऽह्रस्वाय खर्वाय बृहते वृद्धरूपिणे

mīḍhuṣṭamāya giriśa śipiviṣṭāya te namaḥ || namo'hrasvāya kharvāya bṛhate vṛddharūpiṇe

O lord of the mountain, homage to you, most generous rain-giver, homage to you, who pervade all with light; homage to you, neither short nor dwarfish, vast, of ancient form.

Verse 108 (skanda.4.73.108)

कुमारगुरवे तुभ्यं कुमारवपुषे नमः ॥ नमः श्वेताय कृष्णाय पीतायारुणमूर्तये

kumāragurave tubhyaṁ kumāravapuṣe namaḥ || namaḥ śvetāya kṛṣṇāya pītāyāruṇamūrtaye

Homage to you, teacher of Kumara, of youthful form; homage to the white one, to the black one, to the yellow one, to the red-formed one.

Verse 109 (skanda.4.73.109)

धूम्रवर्णाय पिंगाय नमः किर्मीरवर्चसे ॥ नमः पाटलवर्णाय नमो हरिततेजसे

dhūmravarṇāya piṁgāya namaḥ kirmīravarcase || namaḥ pāṭalavarṇāya namo haritatejase

Homage to the smoke-coloured one, to the tawny one, homage to the one of variegated hue; homage to the pink-coloured one, homage to the one of green splendour.

Verse 110 (skanda.4.73.110)

नानावर्णस्वरूपाय वर्णानां पतये नमः ॥ नमस्ते स्वररूपाय नमो व्यंजनरूपिणे

nānāvarṇasvarūpāya varṇānāṁ pataye namaḥ || namaste svararūpāya namo vyaṁjanarūpiṇe

Homage to you of the form of every colour, homage to the lord of the letters; homage to you of the form of the vowels, homage to you of the form of the consonants.

Verse 111 (skanda.4.73.111)

उदात्तायानुदात्ताय स्वरिताय नमो नमः ॥ ह्रस्वदीर्घप्लुतेशाय सविसर्गाय ते नमः

udāttāyānudāttāya svaritāya namo namaḥ || hrasvadīrghapluteśāya savisargāya te namaḥ

Homage, homage to the Udatta, to the Anudatta, and to the Svarita; homage to you, lord of the short, long and prolated vowels, together with the Visarga.

Verse 112 (skanda.4.73.112)

अनुस्वारस्वरूपाय नमस्ते सानुनासिक ॥ नमो निरनुनासाय दंत्यतालव्यरूपिणे

anusvārasvarūpāya namaste sānunāsika || namo niranunāsāya daṁtyatālavyarūpiṇe

Homage to you of the form of the Anusvara, homage to you with the nasal sound; homage to you without the nasal sound, of the form of the dental and palatal letters.

Verse 113 (skanda.4.73.113)

ओष्ठ्योरस्यस्वरूपाय नम ऊष्मस्वरूपिणे ॥ अंतस्थाय नमस्तुभ्यं पंचमाय पिनाकिने

oṣṭhyorasyasvarūpāya nama ūṣmasvarūpiṇe || aṁtasthāya namastubhyaṁ paṁcamāya pinākine

Homage to you of the form of the labial and guttural sounds, homage to you of the form of the sibilants; homage to you of the semivowels, and to the fifth nasal class, O bearer of the Pinaka.

Verse 114 (skanda.4.73.114)

निषादाय नमस्तुभ्यं निषादपतये नमः ॥ वीणावेणुमृदंगादि वाद्यरूपाय ते नमः

niṣādāya namastubhyaṁ niṣādapataye namaḥ || vīṇāveṇumṛdaṁgādi vādyarūpāya te namaḥ

Homage to you, the musical note Nishada, homage to the lord of Nishada; homage to you of the form of the Vina, flute, drum, and other instruments.

Verse 115 (skanda.4.73.115)

नमस्ताराय मंद्राय घोरायाघोरमूर्तये ॥ नमस्तानस्वरूपाय मूर्च्छनां पतये नमः

namastārāya maṁdrāya ghorāyāghoramūrtaye || namastānasvarūpāya mūrcchanāṁ pataye namaḥ

Homage to the high note, to the low note, to the terrible one, and to the form of the non-terrible one; homage to you of the form of musical tone, homage to the lord of melodic modes.

Verse 116 (skanda.4.73.116)

स्थायिसंचारिभेदेन नमो भावस्वरूपिणे ॥ तालप्रियाय तालाय लास्यतांडवजन्मने

sthāyisaṁcāribhedena namo bhāvasvarūpiṇe || tālapriyāya tālāya lāsyatāṁḍavajanmane

Homage to you of the very form of emotion, in its distinction as the abiding and the transient; homage to the one fond of rhythm, to rhythm itself, and to the source of the dances Lasya and Tandava.

Verse 117 (skanda.4.73.117)

तौर्यत्रिकस्वरूपाय तौर्यत्रिकमहाप्रिय ।। तौर्यत्रिककृतांभक्त्या निर्वाणश्रीप्रदायक

tauryatrikasvarūpāya tauryatrikamahāpriya || tauryatrikakṛtāṁbhaktyā nirvāṇaśrīpradāyaka

Homage to you of the form of the triple art of song, dance and instrumental music, O you who greatly delight in that triple art; O granter of the glory of liberation to those who perform that triple art with devotion.

Verse 118 (skanda.4.73.118)

स्थूलसूक्ष्मस्वरूपाय दृश्यादृश्य स्वरूपिणे ॥ अर्वाचीनाय च नमः पराचीनाय ते नमः

sthūlasūkṣmasvarūpāya dṛśyādṛśya svarūpiṇe || arvācīnāya ca namaḥ parācīnāya te namaḥ

Homage to you of gross and subtle form, of visible and invisible form; homage to you, the immanent one, and homage to you, the transcendent one.

Verse 119 (skanda.4.73.119)

वाक्प्रपंच स्वरूपाय वाक्प्रपंच पराय च ॥ एकायानेकभेदाय सदसत्पतये नमः

vākprapaṁca svarūpāya vākprapaṁca parāya ca || ekāyānekabhedāya sadasatpataye namaḥ

Homage to you of the very form of the manifestation of speech, and beyond the manifestation of speech; homage to the One, and to the many in distinction, homage to the lord of being and non-being.

Verse 120 (skanda.4.73.120)

शब्दब्रह्म नमस्तुभ्यं परब्रह्म नमोस्तुते ॥ नमो वेदांतवेद्याय वेदानां पतये नमः

śabdabrahma namastubhyaṁ parabrahma namostute || namo vedāṁtavedyāya vedānāṁ pataye namaḥ

Homage to you, the Word-Absolute; homage be to you, the Supreme Absolute; homage to you, known through Vedanta; homage to the lord of the Vedas.

Verse 121 (skanda.4.73.121)

नमो वेदस्वरूपाय वेदगोचरमूर्तये ॥ पार्वतीश नमस्तुभ्यं जगदीश नमोस्तु ते

namo vedasvarūpāya vedagocaramūrtaye || pārvatīśa namastubhyaṁ jagadīśa namostu te

Homage to you of the very form of the Vedas, of the form that is the domain of the Vedas; O lord of Parvati, homage to you; O lord of the universe, homage be to you.

Verse 122 (skanda.4.73.122)

नमस्ते देवदेवेश देव दिव्यपदप्रद ॥ शंकराय नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं महेश्वर

namaste devadeveśa deva divyapadaprada || śaṁkarāya namastubhyaṁ namastubhyaṁ maheśvara

Homage to you, O lord of the gods, O god, giver of the divine state; homage to you, Shankara; homage to you, Maheshvara.

Verse 123 (skanda.4.73.123)

नमस्ते जगदानंद नमस्ते शशिशेखर ॥ मृत्युंजय नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्ते त्र्यंबकाय च

namaste jagadānaṁda namaste śaśiśekhara || mṛtyuṁjaya namastubhyaṁ namaste tryaṁbakāya ca

Homage to you, O bliss of the universe; homage to you, O moon-crested one; homage to you, O conqueror of death; and homage to you, O three-eyed one.

Verse 124 (skanda.4.73.124)

नमः पिनाकहस्ताय त्रिशूलायुधधारिणे ॥ नमस्त्रिपुरहंत्रे च नमोंधक निषूदन

namaḥ pinākahastāya triśūlāyudhadhāriṇe || namastripurahaṁtre ca namoṁdhaka niṣūdana

Homage to you, the Pinaka-bearer, wielder of the trident weapon; and homage to the destroyer of Tripura; homage, O slayer of Andhaka.

Verse 125 (skanda.4.73.125)

कंदर्पदर्पदलन नमोजालंधरारये ॥ कालाय कालकालाय कालकूटविषादिने

kaṁdarpadarpadalana namojālaṁdharāraye || kālāya kālakālāya kālakūṭaviṣādine

O crusher of the pride of Kama, homage, O enemy of Jalandhara; homage to Time, to the Time of Time, to the eater of the Kalakuta poison.

Verse 126 (skanda.4.73.126)

विषादहंत्रे भक्तानामभक्तैक विषादद ॥ ज्ञानाय ज्ञानरूपाय सर्वज्ञाय नमोऽस्तुते

viṣādahaṁtre bhaktānāmabhaktaika viṣādada || jñānāya jñānarūpāya sarvajñāya namo'stute

O remover of sorrow for your devotees, O giver of sorrow to the non-devoted alone; homage be to you, who are knowledge, of the form of knowledge, all-knowing.

Verse 127 (skanda.4.73.127)

योगसिद्धिप्रदोसि त्वं योगिनां योगसत्तम ॥ तपसां फलदोसि त्वं तपस्विभ्यस्तपोधन

yogasiddhipradosi tvaṁ yogināṁ yogasattama || tapasāṁ phaladosi tvaṁ tapasvibhyastapodhana

O best of yogis in yoga, you are the giver of accomplishment in yoga; O treasury of austerity, you are the giver of the fruit of austerities to ascetics.

Verse 128 (skanda.4.73.128)

त्वमेव मंत्ररूपोसि मंत्राणां फलदो भवान् ॥ महादानफलं त्वं वै महादानप्रदो भवान्

tvameva maṁtrarūposi maṁtrāṇāṁ phalado bhavān || mahādānaphalaṁ tvaṁ vai mahādānaprado bhavān

You alone are of the very form of mantras, and you are the giver of the fruit of mantras; you indeed are the fruit of great charity, and you are the giver of great charity.

Verse 129 (skanda.4.73.129)

महायज्ञस्त्वमेवेश महायज्ञ फलप्रद ॥ त्वं सर्वः सर्वगस्त्वं वै सर्वदः सर्वदृग्भवान्

mahāyajñastvameveśa mahāyajña phalaprada || tvaṁ sarvaḥ sarvagastvaṁ vai sarvadaḥ sarvadṛgbhavān

O lord, you alone are the great sacrifice, the giver of the fruit of the great sacrifice; you are all, you indeed are all-pervading, you are the giver of all, you are all-seeing.

Verse 130 (skanda.4.73.130)

सर्वभुक्सर्वकर्ता त्वं सर्वसंहारकारक ॥ योगिनां हृदयाकाश कृतालय नमोस्तु ते

sarvabhuksarvakartā tvaṁ sarvasaṁhārakāraka || yogināṁ hṛdayākāśa kṛtālaya namostu te

You are the enjoyer of all, the doer of all, the causer of the destruction of all; homage be to you, who have made your abode in the sky of the hearts of yogis.

Verse 131 (skanda.4.73.131)

त्वमेव विष्णुरूपेण शंखचक्रगदाधर ॥ त्रिलोकीं त्रायसे त्रातः सत्त्वमूर्ते नमोस्तु ते

tvameva viṣṇurūpeṇa śaṁkhacakragadādhara || trilokīṁ trāyase trātaḥ sattvamūrte namostu te

You alone, in the form of Vishnu, bearer of conch, discus and mace, protect the three worlds, O protector; homage be to you, embodiment of goodness.

Verse 132 (skanda.4.73.132)

त्वमेव विदधास्ये तद्विधिर्भूत्वा विधानवित् ॥ रजोरूपं समालंब्य नीरजस्कपदप्रद

tvameva vidadhāsye tadvidhirbhūtvā vidhānavit || rajorūpaṁ samālaṁbya nīrajaskapadaprada

You alone, having become Vidhi, knower of ordinances, ordain that creation; taking on the form of rajas, you grant the passionless state.

Verse 133 (skanda.4.73.133)

त्वमेव हि महारुद्रस्त्वं महोग्रो भुजंगभृत् ॥ त्वमेव हि महाभीमो महापितृवनेचर

tvameva hi mahārudrastvaṁ mahogro bhujaṁgabhṛt || tvameva hi mahābhīmo mahāpitṛvanecara

You indeed are the great Rudra, you the most fierce one, bearer of serpents; you indeed are the greatly terrible one, dweller in the great forest of the ancestors.

Verse 134 (skanda.4.73.134)

तामसीं तनुमाश्रित्य त्वं कृतांत कृतांतक ॥ कालाग्निरुद्रो भूऽत्वांते त्वं संवर्त प्रवर्तकः

tāmasīṁ tanumāśritya tvaṁ kṛtāṁta kṛtāṁtaka || kālāgnirudro bhū'tvāṁte tvaṁ saṁvarta pravartakaḥ

Resorting to your form of tamas, you are the ender, the ender of the ender itself; having become Kalagnirudra at the end, you set in motion universal dissolution.

Verse 135 (skanda.4.73.135)

त्वं पुंप्रकृतिरूपाभ्यां महदाद्यखिलं जगत् ॥ अक्षिपक्ष्मसमुत्क्षेपात्पुनराविः करोप्यज

tvaṁ puṁprakṛtirūpābhyāṁ mahadādyakhilaṁ jagat || akṣipakṣmasamutkṣepātpunarāviḥ karopyaja

O unborn one, through your two forms of Purusha and Prakriti, you again bring forth this entire universe, from Mahat onward, by the mere raising of your eyelash.

Verse 136 (skanda.4.73.136)

उन्मेषविनिमेषौ ते सर्गासर्गैककारणम् ॥ कपालमालाखेलोयं भवतः स्वैरचारिणः

unmeṣavinimeṣau te sargāsargaikakāraṇam || kapālamālākheloyaṁ bhavataḥ svairacāriṇaḥ

The opening and closing of your eyes are the sole cause of creation and its cessation; this play with the garland of skulls is that of you, who move as you will.

Verse 137 (skanda.4.73.137)

त्वत्कंठे नृकरोटीयं धूर्जटे या विभासते ॥ सर्वेषामंतदग्धानां सास्फुटं बीजमालिका

tvatkaṁṭhe nṛkaroṭīyaṁ dhūrjaṭe yā vibhāsate || sarveṣāmaṁtadagdhānāṁ sāsphuṭaṁ bījamālikā

O matted-locked one, this garland of human skulls that shines upon your neck — it is, unmistakably, a rosary made of the seeds of all beings who have finally been consumed.

Verse 138 (skanda.4.73.138)

त्वत्तः सर्वमिदं शंभो त्वयि सर्वं चराचरम् ॥ कस्त्वां स्तोतुं विजानाति पुरां वाचामगोचरम्

tvattaḥ sarvamidaṁ śaṁbho tvayi sarvaṁ carācaram || kastvāṁ stotuṁ vijānāti purāṁ vācāmagocaram

O Shambhu, from you comes this entire universe, and in you rests everything, moving and unmoving; who indeed knows how to praise you, beyond the reach of words?

Verse 139 (skanda.4.73.139)

स्तोता त्वं हि स्तुतिस्त्वं हि नित्यं स्तुत्यस्त्वमेव च ॥ वेद्म्यों नमः शिवायेति नान्यद्वेऽद्म्येव किंचन

stotā tvaṁ hi stutistvaṁ hi nityaṁ stutyastvameva ca || vedmyoṁ namaḥ śivāyeti nānyadve'dmyeva kiṁcana

You alone are the one who praises, you alone are the very praise, and you alone are the ever-praiseworthy one; I know only 'Om, homage to Shiva' — I know nothing else at all.

Verse 140 (skanda.4.73.140)

त्वमेव हि शरण्यं मे त्वमेव हि गतिः परा ॥ त्वामेव प्रणमामीश नमस्तुभ्यं नमो नमः

tvameva hi śaraṇyaṁ me tvameva hi gatiḥ parā || tvāmeva praṇamāmīśa namastubhyaṁ namo namaḥ

You alone are indeed my refuge, you alone are my supreme goal; you alone, O lord, I bow to — homage to you, homage, homage again.

Verse 141 (skanda.4.73.141)

इत्युदीर्यासकृद्वेधाः प्रणनाम महेश्वरम् ॥ प्रणवाख्यं महालिंगरूपिणं दंडवत्क्षितौ

ityudīryāsakṛdvedhāḥ praṇanāma maheśvaram || praṇavākhyaṁ mahāliṁgarūpiṇaṁ daṁḍavatkṣitau

Having thus spoken, the Creator bowed again and again, prostrating flat like a staff upon the ground, to Maheshvara, in the form of the great linga named Pranava.

Verse 142 (skanda.4.73.142)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ ततो गिरींद्रतनये श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मस्तुतिं पराम् ॥ परमैश्वर्यसंपत्ति हेतुं तुष्टोहमद्भुतम्

||īśvara uvāca|| tato girīṁdratanaye śrutvā brahmastutiṁ parām || paramaiśvaryasaṁpatti hetuṁ tuṣṭohamadbhutam

Ishvara said: Then, O daughter of the king of mountains, having heard that supreme, wondrous hymn of Brahma, the very cause of supreme majesty and prosperity, I was pleased.

Verse 143 (skanda.4.73.143)

अमूर्तोऽहं ततो लिंगान्मूर्तिमास्थाय शांकरीम् ॥ प्रसन्नोस्मि वरं ब्रूहीत्युवाच चतुराननम्

amūrto'haṁ tato liṁgānmūrtimāsthāya śāṁkarīm || prasannosmi varaṁ brūhītyuvāca caturānanam

Then I, formless, having taken on a Shiva-form arising from the linga, said to the four-faced one: 'I am pleased; ask a boon.'

Verse 144 (skanda.4.73.144)

चतुर्वक्त्रः समुत्थाय प्रत्यक्षं वीक्ष्य मामथ ॥ पुनर्जयजयेत्युक्त्वा प्रणनाम कृतांजलिः

caturvaktraḥ samutthāya pratyakṣaṁ vīkṣya māmatha || punarjayajayetyuktvā praṇanāma kṛtāṁjaliḥ

The four-faced one, rising up, beholding me directly, then, crying 'Victory, victory!' again, bowed with joined palms.

Verse 145 (skanda.4.73.145)

आनंदबाष्पसलिलनेत्रो हृष्टतनूरुहः ॥ गद्गदेन स्वरेणाथ प्रोवाच जलजासनः

ānaṁdabāṣpasalilanetro hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ || gadgadena svareṇātha provāca jalajāsanaḥ

With eyes filled with the tears of joy, his body thrilled with delight, the one enthroned on the lotus then spoke with a choked voice.

Verse 146 (skanda.4.73.146)

॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम ॥ तदेतस्मिन्महालिंगे सान्निध्यं तेऽस्तु शंकर

||brahmovāca|| yadi prasanno deveśa yadi deyo varo mama || tadetasminmahāliṁge sānnidhyaṁ te'stu śaṁkara

Brahma said: 'If you are pleased, O god of gods, and if a boon is to be granted to me, then, O Shankara, let your abiding presence be in this great linga.'

Verse 147 (skanda.4.73.147)

अयमेव वरो देयो नान्यं वरमहं वृणे ॥ ओंकारेश्वरनामैतदस्तु भक्तैकमुक्तिदम्

ayameva varo deyo nānyaṁ varamahaṁ vṛṇe || oṁkāreśvaranāmaitadastu bhaktaikamuktidam

'This alone is the boon to be granted; I ask no other boon. Let this be named Omkareshvara, the sole liberator of devotees.'

Verse 148 (skanda.4.73.148)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ विध्युक्तमिति विप्रर्षे समाकर्ण्य तदेशिता ॥ उवाच वचनं चैतत्तथास्तु चतुराननम्

||skaṁda uvāca|| vidhyuktamiti viprarṣe samākarṇya tadeśitā || uvāca vacanaṁ caitattathāstu caturānanam

Skanda said: O sage among brahmins, hearing this said by Vidhi, the ruler spoke this word to the four-faced one: 'So be it.'

Verse 149 (skanda.4.73.149)

वरानन्यानपि विभुः प्रसन्नस्तत्क्षणाद्ददौ ॥ विधये दीर्घतपसे तया स्तुत्यातितोषितः

varānanyānapi vibhuḥ prasannastatkṣaṇāddadau || vidhaye dīrghatapase tayā stutyātitoṣitaḥ

The mighty one, well pleased, having become exceedingly gratified by that hymn, granted at that very instant other boons besides to Vidhi, of long austerity.

Verse 150 (skanda.4.73.150)

॥ईश्वर उवाच॥ सुरश्रेष्ठ तपःश्रेष्ठ सर्वाम्नाय निधिर्भव ॥ सृष्टेःकरणसामर्थ्यं तवास्तु मदनुग्रहात्

||īśvara uvāca|| suraśreṣṭha tapaḥśreṣṭha sarvāmnāya nidhirbhava || sṛṣṭeḥkaraṇasāmarthyaṁ tavāstu madanugrahāt

Ishvara said: 'O best of gods, best in austerity, become the treasury of every sacred tradition; may the power to bring about creation be yours, by my grace.'

Verse 151 (skanda.4.73.151)

पितामहस्त्वं सर्वेषां सर्वेषां मान्यभूर्भवान् ॥ त्वत्तपःफलदानार्थं यदेतल्लिंगमुत्थितम्

pitāmahastvaṁ sarveṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ mānyabhūrbhavān || tvattapaḥphaladānārthaṁ yadetalliṁgamutthitam

'You shall become the grandfather of all, and you shall be honoured by all. For the sake of giving you the fruit of your austerity, this linga has arisen.'

Verse 152 (skanda.4.73.152)

परमोंकाररूपं च शब्दब्रह्ममयं विधे ॥ अस्याराधनतः पुंसां न दूरं ब्रह्मणः पदम्

paramoṁkārarūpaṁ ca śabdabrahmamayaṁ vidhe || asyārādhanataḥ puṁsāṁ na dūraṁ brahmaṇaḥ padam

'O Vidhi, this is the supreme form of Omkara, made of the Word-Absolute; for men, through the worship of this, the state of Brahman is not far off.'

Verse 153 (skanda.4.73.153)

अकाराख्यमिदं लिंगमुकाराख्यमिदं परम् ॥ मकाराह्वयमेतच्च नादाख्यं बिंदुसंज्ञकम्

akārākhyamidaṁ liṁgamukārākhyamidaṁ param || makārāhvayametacca nādākhyaṁ biṁdusaṁjñakam

'This linga is named A; this next is named U; and this is called M, and there is one called Nada, and one named Bindu.'

Verse 154 (skanda.4.73.154)

पंचायतनमीशानमित्थमेतदुदीरितम् ॥ मोक्षाय सर्वजंतूनामस्मिन्नानंदकानने

paṁcāyatanamīśānamitthametadudīritam || mokṣāya sarvajaṁtūnāmasminnānaṁdakānane

'Thus is this fivefold seat of the Lord declared, for the liberation of all creatures, here in the Grove of Bliss.'

Verse 155 (skanda.4.73.155)

स्नात्वा मत्स्योदरी तीर्थे विलोक्योंकारमीश्वरम् ॥ न जातु जायते जंतुर्जननी जठरे क्वचित्

snātvā matsyodarī tīrthe vilokyoṁkāramīśvaram || na jātu jāyate jaṁturjananī jaṭhare kvacit

'Having bathed at the sacred ford Matsyodari, and beheld Ishvara Omkara, a creature is never again born in a mother's womb.'

Verse 156 (skanda.4.73.156)

एतन्नादेश्वरं लिंगमेतल्लिंगं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ रम्ये मत्स्योदरी तीरे दृष्टं स्पृष्टं विमुक्तिदम्

etannādeśvaraṁ liṁgametalliṁgaṁ sudurlabham || ramye matsyodarī tīre dṛṣṭaṁ spṛṣṭaṁ vimuktidam

'This is the linga Nadeshvara, this most rare linga; seen and touched on the lovely bank of Matsyodari, it grants liberation.'

Verse 157 (skanda.4.73.157)

यदेतत्कापिलं ज्योतिरेतल्लिंगे विलोक्यते ॥ अतस्तु कपिलेशाख्यमेतल्लिंगं सुदुर्लभम्

yadetatkāpilaṁ jyotiretalliṁge vilokyate || atastu kapileśākhyametalliṁgaṁ sudurlabham

'Since this tawny light is beheld in this linga, this most rare linga is therefore named Kapilesha.'

Verse 158 (skanda.4.73.158)

मत्स्योदरी यदा गंगा कपिलेश्वर सन्निधौ ॥ तदा तत्र नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

matsyodarī yadā gaṁgā kapileśvara sannidhau || tadā tatra naraḥ snātvā brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati

'When Matsyodari, the Ganga, flows near Kapileshvara, then a man bathing there washes away even the sin of killing a brahmin.'

Verse 159 (skanda.4.73.159)

वरणोत्सिक्तपानीये द्युनदीतोयमिश्रिते ॥ स्नात्वा नादेश्वरं दृष्ट्वा नरः किमनुशोचति

varaṇotsiktapānīye dyunadītoyamiśrite || snātvā nādeśvaraṁ dṛṣṭvā naraḥ kimanuśocati

'Bathing in the water risen from the Varana, mingled with the water of the celestial river, and beholding Nadeshvara — what does a man have left to grieve over?'

Verse 160 (skanda.4.73.160)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तीर्थानि सह सागरैः ॥ षष्टि कोटि सहस्राणि मत्स्योदर्यां विशंति हि

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ tīrthāni saha sāgaraiḥ || ṣaṣṭi koṭi sahasrāṇi matsyodaryāṁ viśaṁti hi

'On the eighth and fourteenth days, sixty thousand crores of sacred fords, together with the oceans, indeed enter into Matsyodari.'

Verse 161 (skanda.4.73.161)

प्रणवेश समीपे तु यदा गंगा समेष्यति ॥ तदा पुण्यतमः कालो देवर्षि पितृवल्लभः

praṇaveśa samīpe tu yadā gaṁgā sameṣyati || tadā puṇyatamaḥ kālo devarṣi pitṛvallabhaḥ

'And when the Ganga comes near Pranavesha, then that is the most sacred time, beloved of gods, sages, and ancestors.'

Verse 162 (skanda.4.73.162)

तत्र स्नानं जपोदानं हवनं देवतार्चनम् ॥ मत्स्योदर्यामक्षयं स्यादोंकारेश्वरसन्निधौ

tatra snānaṁ japodānaṁ havanaṁ devatārcanam || matsyodaryāmakṣayaṁ syādoṁkāreśvarasannidhau

'Bathing there, recitation, giving, fire-offering, and worship of deities, in Matsyodari near Omkareshvara, become imperishable in their fruit.'

Verse 163 (skanda.4.73.163)

ओंकारदर्शनादेव वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् ॥ तस्मात्काश्यां प्रयत्नेन दृश्य ओंकार ईश्वरः

oṁkāradarśanādeva vājimedhaphalaṁ labhet || tasmātkāśyāṁ prayatnena dṛśya oṁkāra īśvaraḥ

'By the mere sight of Omkara, one obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice; therefore, Ishvara Omkara in Kashi is to be diligently sought and seen.'

Verse 164 (skanda.4.73.164)

दुर्लभं मानवं जन्म चतुर्वर्गैकसाधनम् ॥ जलबुद्बुदवत्तत्स्यान्नादेशो येन नेक्षितः

durlabhaṁ mānavaṁ janma caturvargaikasādhanam || jalabudbudavattatsyānnādeśo yena nekṣitaḥ

'Human birth, the sole means to the four aims of life, is hard to attain; for one by whom Nadesha has not been seen, that birth becomes as fleeting as a bubble on water.'

Verse 165 (skanda.4.73.165)

निरीक्ष्य कपिलेशानं स्नात्वा मत्स्योदरीजले ॥ कृत्वा पिंडप्रदानानि पितॄणामनृणो भवेत्

nirīkṣya kapileśānaṁ snātvā matsyodarījale || kṛtvā piṁḍapradānāni pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavet

'Having beheld Kapileshana, and bathed in the waters of Matsyodari, and having offered the ritual rice-balls, one becomes free of debt to one's ancestors.'

Verse 166 (skanda.4.73.166)

कृत्वापि मोहात्पापानि भूरीण्येव महांत्यपि ॥ काश्यामोंकारमालोक्य कुतस्त्रस्यति वै यमात्

kṛtvāpi mohātpāpāni bhūrīṇyeva mahāṁtyapi || kāśyāmoṁkāramālokya kutastrasyati vai yamāt

'Even having committed, out of delusion, many great sins, having beheld Omkara in Kashi, why indeed would one fear Yama?'

Verse 167 (skanda.4.73.167)

ओंकारयात्राभिमुखं नरं वीक्ष्य पितामहाः ॥ परिनृत्यंति मुदिताः स्वसंतानसमुद्भवम्

oṁkārayātrābhimukhaṁ naraṁ vīkṣya pitāmahāḥ || parinṛtyaṁti muditāḥ svasaṁtānasamudbhavam

'Beholding a man setting forth on pilgrimage to Omkara, his ancestors, born of that same lineage, dance about, filled with joy.'

Verse 168 (skanda.4.73.168)

यस्य यस्य च वै नाम स्मृत्वा स्मृत्वा नमस्यति ॥ तं तमुन्नयते प्राज्ञः पितरं ब्रह्मणः पदम्

yasya yasya ca vai nāma smṛtvā smṛtvā namasyati || taṁ tamunnayate prājñaḥ pitaraṁ brahmaṇaḥ padam

'Whatever ancestor's name he recalls again and again, and to whom he bows — that wise ancestor he raises up to the state of Brahman.'

Verse 169 (skanda.4.73.169)

रुद्राणां नियुतं जप्त्वा यत्फलं सम्यगाप्यते ॥ तत्फलं लभते नूनं भक्त्योंकार विलोकनात्

rudrāṇāṁ niyutaṁ japtvā yatphalaṁ samyagāpyate || tatphalaṁ labhate nūnaṁ bhaktyoṁkāra vilokanāt

'The fruit that is fully obtained by reciting the Rudra-mantra ten million times — that same fruit is surely obtained by the devoted sight of Omkara.'

Verse 170 (skanda.4.73.170)

केवलं भूमिभाराय जन्मिनो जन्म तस्य वै ॥ येनानंदवने दृष्टो नोंकारः सर्वकामदः

kevalaṁ bhūmibhārāya janmino janma tasya vai || yenānaṁdavane dṛṣṭo noṁkāraḥ sarvakāmadaḥ

'The birth of one born is merely a burden upon the earth, if by him Omkara, the fulfiller of every desire, has not been seen in the Grove of Bliss.'

Verse 171 (skanda.4.73.171)

एकमोंकारमालोक्य समस्ते क्षोणिमंडले ।। लिं ॥ गजातानि सर्वाणि दृष्टानि स्युर्न संशयः

ekamoṁkāramālokya samaste kṣoṇimaṁḍale || liṁ || gajātāni sarvāṇi dṛṣṭāni syurna saṁśayaḥ

'Having beheld the one Omkara, all the lingas that exist throughout the entire earth are, without doubt, as if beheld.'

Verse 172 (skanda.4.73.172)

प्रणवेशं प्रणम्याथ यद्यन्यत्र विपद्यते ॥ स्वर्गलोकमवाप्याथ काश्यां मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

praṇaveśaṁ praṇamyātha yadyanyatra vipadyate || svargalokamavāpyātha kāśyāṁ muktimavāpnuyāt

'Having bowed to Pranavesha, even if one then dies elsewhere, having first attained the world of heaven, one afterward attains liberation in Kashi.'

Verse 173 (skanda.4.73.173)

अस्मिँल्लिंगे सदा ब्रह्मन्स्थास्यामीति विनिश्चितम् ॥ दास्यामि च सदा मोक्षमेतल्लिंगार्चकाय वै

asmi~lliṁge sadā brahmansthāsyāmīti viniścitam || dāsyāmi ca sadā mokṣametalliṁgārcakāya vai

'O Brahman, I have resolved that I shall dwell forever in this linga; and I shall ever grant liberation to the worshipper of this linga.'

Verse 174 (skanda.4.73.174)

ओंकारं सकृदप्यत्र नरो नत्वा प्रयत्नतः ॥ कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नूनं परमान्मदनुग्रहात

oṁkāraṁ sakṛdapyatra naro natvā prayatnataḥ || kṛtakṛtyo bhavennūnaṁ paramānmadanugrahāta

'A man who diligently bows to Omkara here, even once, surely becomes fulfilled, through my supreme grace.'

Verse 175 (skanda.4.73.175)

ओंकारपश्चिमे भागे तारतीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ कृतोदकक्रियस्तत्र नरस्तरति दुर्गतिम्

oṁkārapaścime bhāge tāratīrthamanuttamam || kṛtodakakriyastatra narastarati durgatim

'To the west of Omkara is the unsurpassed sacred ford Tara-tirtha; a man who performs the water-rite there crosses over evil destiny.'

Verse 176 (skanda.4.73.176)

ओंकारेशस्य ये भक्ता ज्ञेयास्ते नैव मानवाः ॥ मनुष्यचर्मणा नद्धास्ते रुद्रा मोक्षगामिनः

oṁkāreśasya ye bhaktā jñeyāste naiva mānavāḥ || manuṣyacarmaṇā naddhāste rudrā mokṣagāminaḥ

'Those who are devotees of Omkaresha are to be known as not mere humans at all; they are Rudras, bound in human skin, bound for liberation.'

Verse 177 (skanda.4.73.177)

अस्य लिंगस्य महिमा नान्यैरत्रावगम्यते ॥ त्वत्पुण्योदयतो यस्माद्विधेत्राविरभूदिदम्

asya liṁgasya mahimā nānyairatrāvagamyate || tvatpuṇyodayato yasmādvidhetrāvirabhūdidam

'The greatness of this linga is not comprehended here by others; for it is through the arising of your merit, O Vidhi, that this manifested.'

Verse 178 (skanda.4.73.178)

एतल्लिंगप्रभावाच्च सर्वं ज्ञास्यसि तत्त्वतः ॥ विधे विधेहि तस्मात्त्वं सर्वमेतच्चराचरम्

etalliṁgaprabhāvācca sarvaṁ jñāsyasi tattvataḥ || vidhe vidhehi tasmāttvaṁ sarvametaccarācaram

'And by the power of this linga, you shall know everything in truth. Therefore, O Vidhi, you shall ordain all this, moving and unmoving.'

Verse 179 (skanda.4.73.179)

इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मै ब्रह्मणे पद्मसंभवे ॥ तस्मिन्नेव महालिंगे शंभुर्लीनो बभूव ह

iti dattvā varaṁ tasmai brahmaṇe padmasaṁbhave || tasminneva mahāliṁge śaṁbhurlīno babhūva ha

Having thus granted this boon to Brahma, the lotus-born one, Shambhu became merged into that very great linga.

Verse 180 (skanda.4.73.180)

॥स्कंद उवाच॥ ब्रह्मापि भजतेद्यापि तल्लिंगं कलशोद्भव ॥ स्तुवन्ब्रह्म स्तवेनैव स्वात्मना विहितेन हि

||skaṁda uvāca|| brahmāpi bhajatedyāpi talliṁgaṁ kalaśodbhava || stuvanbrahma stavenaiva svātmanā vihitena hi

Skanda said: O jar-born one, even to this day Brahma still worships that linga, praising it with the very hymn composed by himself.

Verse 181 (skanda.4.73.181)

ब्रह्मस्तवं जपन्मर्त्यः सर्वैः पापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ पूर्यते च महापुण्यैर्ज्ञानं प्राप्नोति सत्तमम्

brahmastavaṁ japanmartyaḥ sarvaiḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate || pūryate ca mahāpuṇyairjñānaṁ prāpnoti sattamam

A mortal who recites the hymn of Brahma is freed from all sins, and is filled with great merit, and obtains the highest knowledge.

Verse 182 (skanda.4.73.182)

ब्रह्मस्तवमिमं जप्त्वा त्रिकालं परिवत्सरम् ॥ अंतकाले भवेज्ज्ञानं येन बंधात्प्रमुच्यते

brahmastavamimaṁ japtvā trikālaṁ parivatsaram || aṁtakāle bhavejjñānaṁ yena baṁdhātpramucyate

He who recites this hymn of Brahma three times a day for a full year — at the time of death, knowledge arises in him, by which he is freed from bondage.