The Greatness of Dharmeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.4.78.1)

।। पार्वत्युवाच ।। आनंदकानने शंभो यल्लिंगं पुण्यवर्धनम् ।। यन्नामस्मरणादेव महापातकसंक्षयः

|| pārvatyuvāca || ānaṁdakānane śaṁbho yalliṁgaṁ puṇyavardhanam || yannāmasmaraṇādeva mahāpātakasaṁkṣayaḥ

Parvati said: "O Shambhu, in Anandavana, that linga which increases merit, by mere remembrance of whose name great sins are destroyed —"

Verse 2 (skanda.4.78.2)

यत्सेव्यं साधकैर्नित्यं यत्र प्रीतिरनुत्तमा ।। यत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तं ध्यातं भवति चाक्षयम्

yatsevyaṁ sādhakairnityaṁ yatra prītiranuttamā || yatra dattaṁ hutaṁ japtaṁ dhyātaṁ bhavati cākṣayam

"— which is ever served by aspirants, where your delight is supreme, where whatever is given, offered in fire, recited, or meditated upon becomes imperishable —"

Verse 3 (skanda.4.78.3)

यस्य संस्मरणादेव यल्लिंगस्य विलोकनात् ।। यल्लिंगप्रणतेश्चापि यस्य संस्पर्शनादपि

yasya saṁsmaraṇādeva yalliṁgasya vilokanāt || yalliṁgapraṇateścāpi yasya saṁsparśanādapi

"— by mere remembrance of which, by beholding which linga, by bowing to which linga, and even by touching it —"

Verse 4 (skanda.4.78.4)

पंचामृतादि स्नपनपूर्वाद्यस्यार्चनादपि ।। तल्लिंगं कथयेशान भवेच्छ्रेयः परंपरा

paṁcāmṛtādi snapanapūrvādyasyārcanādapi || talliṁgaṁ kathayeśāna bhavecchreyaḥ paraṁparā

"— and by worship of it, beginning with bathing it in the five nectars, one's welfare continues unbroken — tell me of that linga, O Lord."

Verse 5 (skanda.4.78.5)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। इति देवीसमुदितं समाकर्ण्य वटोद्भव ।। सर्वज्ञेन यदाख्यातं तदाख्यास्यामि ते शृणु

|| skaṁda uvāca || || iti devīsamuditaṁ samākarṇya vaṭodbhava || sarvajñena yadākhyātaṁ tadākhyāsyāmi te śṛṇu

Skanda said: Having heard this spoken by the goddess, O banyan-born one, I shall now tell you what the omniscient one narrated in reply — listen.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.78.6)

देवदेव उवाच ।। ।। उमे भवत्या यत्पृष्टं भवबंधविमोक्षकृत् ।। ततोऽहं कथयिष्यामि लिंगं स्थिरमना भव

devadeva uvāca || || ume bhavatyā yatpṛṣṭaṁ bhavabaṁdhavimokṣakṛt || tato'haṁ kathayiṣyāmi liṁgaṁ sthiramanā bhava

The god of gods said: "O Uma, what you have asked of me effects release from the bonds of worldly existence; I shall now tell of that linga — steady your mind and listen."

Verse 7 (skanda.4.78.7)

आनंदकानने चात्र रहस्यं परमं मम ।। न मया कस्यचित्ख्यातं न प्रष्टुं वेत्ति कश्चन

ānaṁdakānane cātra rahasyaṁ paramaṁ mama || na mayā kasyacitkhyātaṁ na praṣṭuṁ vetti kaścana

"Here in Anandavana is my supreme secret; I have never revealed it to anyone, nor does anyone know even to ask about it."

Verse 8 (skanda.4.78.8)

संति लिंगान्यनेकानि ममानंदवने प्रिये।। परं त्वया यथा पृष्टं यथावत्तद्ब्रवीमि ते

saṁti liṁgānyanekāni mamānaṁdavane priye|| paraṁ tvayā yathā pṛṣṭaṁ yathāvattadbravīmi te

"There are many lingas in my Anandavana, my dear; but I shall tell you exactly of the one you have asked about."

Verse 9 (skanda.4.78.9)

यत्र मुक्तिस्वरूपा त्वं स्वयं तिष्ठसि विश्वगे ।। यत्र ते नंदनश्चास्ति क्षेत्रं विघ्नविघातकृत्

yatra muktisvarūpā tvaṁ svayaṁ tiṣṭhasi viśvage || yatra te naṁdanaścāsti kṣetraṁ vighnavighātakṛt

"There, O all-pervading one, you yourself abide in the very form of liberation; there too is the field that destroys the obstacles of your son."

Verse 10 (skanda.4.78.10)

ममापि येन त्रिपुरं समरे जयकांक्षिणः ।। जयाशा पूरिता स्तुत्या बहुमोदकदानतः

mamāpi yena tripuraṁ samare jayakāṁkṣiṇaḥ || jayāśā pūritā stutyā bahumodakadānataḥ

"There too, when I desired victory over Tripura in battle, my hope of victory was fulfilled, through praise of that place and the giving of many sweet offerings."

Verse 11 (skanda.4.78.11)

यत्रास्ति तीर्थमघहृत्पितृप्रीतिविवर्धनम् ।। यत्स्नानाद्वृत्रहा वृत्रवधपापाद्विमुक्तवान्

yatrāsti tīrthamaghahṛtpitṛprītivivardhanam || yatsnānādvṛtrahā vṛtravadhapāpādvimuktavān

"There is a tirtha there that removes sin and increases the delight of the ancestors, by bathing in which Indra, slayer of Vritra, was freed from the sin of killing him."

Verse 12 (skanda.4.78.12)

धर्माधिकरणं यत्र धर्मराजोप्यवाप्तवान् ।। सुदुष्करं तपस्तप्त्वा परमेण समाधिना

dharmādhikaraṇaṁ yatra dharmarājopyavāptavān || suduṣkaraṁ tapastaptvā parameṇa samādhinā

"There too Dharmaraja obtained his office as lord of dharma, having performed the most difficult austerity with supreme concentration."

Verse 13 (skanda.4.78.13)

पक्षिणोपि हि यत्रापुर्ज्ञानं संसारमोचनम् ।। रम्यो हिरण्मयो यत्र बभूव बहुपाद्द्रुमः ।।

pakṣiṇopi hi yatrāpurjñānaṁ saṁsāramocanam || ramyo hiraṇmayo yatra babhūva bahupāddrumaḥ ||

"There even birds obtained the knowledge that releases from worldly bondage; and there stood a lovely golden tree of many branches."

Verse 14 (skanda.4.78.14)

यल्लिंगदर्शनादेव दुर्दमो नाम पार्थिवः ।। उद्वेजकोपि लोकानां क्षणाद्धर्ममतिस्त्वभूत्

yalliṁgadarśanādeva durdamo nāma pārthivaḥ || udvejakopi lokānāṁ kṣaṇāddharmamatistvabhūt

"By the mere sight of that linga, a king named Durdama, though a terror to the world, in an instant became inclined to righteousness."

Verse 15 (skanda.4.78.15)

तस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यमाविर्भावं च सुंदरि ।। निशामयाभिधास्यामि महापातक नाशनम्

tasya liṁgasya māhātmyamāvirbhāvaṁ ca suṁdari || niśāmayābhidhāsyāmi mahāpātaka nāśanam

"Listen, O beautiful one, I shall tell you of the greatness and the manifestation of that linga, which destroys the greatest sins."

Verse 16 (skanda.4.78.16)

धर्मपीठं तदुद्दिष्टमत्रानंदवने मम ।। तत्पीठदर्शनादेव नरः पापैः प्रमुच्यते

dharmapīṭhaṁ taduddiṣṭamatrānaṁdavane mama || tatpīṭhadarśanādeva naraḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate

"That is called Dharma-pitha, here in my Anandavana; by the mere sight of that seat, a man is freed from his sins."

Verse 17 (skanda.4.78.17)

पुरा विवस्वतः पुत्रो यमः परमसंयमी ।। तपस्तताप विपुलं विशालाक्षि तवाग्रतः

purā vivasvataḥ putro yamaḥ paramasaṁyamī || tapastatāpa vipulaṁ viśālākṣi tavāgrataḥ

"Long ago, Yama, the son of Vivasvan the Sun, supremely self-controlled, performed vast austerity here, O wide-eyed one — I shall tell you of it."

Verse 18 (skanda.4.78.18)

शिशिरे जलमध्यस्थो वर्षास्वभ्रावकाशकः ।। तपर्तौ पंचवह्निस्थः कदाचिदिति तप्तवान्

śiśire jalamadhyastho varṣāsvabhrāvakāśakaḥ || tapartau paṁcavahnisthaḥ kadāciditi taptavān

"In winter standing in water, in the rains exposed under the open sky, in the hot season amid five fires — thus at times he practiced austerity."

Verse 19 (skanda.4.78.19)

पादाग्रांगुष्ठभूस्पर्शी बहुकालं स तस्थिवान् ।। एकपादस्थितः सोपि कदाचिद्बह्वनेहसम्

pādāgrāṁguṣṭhabhūsparśī bahukālaṁ sa tasthivān || ekapādasthitaḥ sopi kadācidbahvanehasam

"Touching the ground only with the tip of his big toe, he stood thus for a long time; and at times he stood on a single foot for many years."

Verse 20 (skanda.4.78.20)

समीराभ्यवहर्तासीद्बहुदिष्टं सदिष्टवान् ।। पपौ स तु पिपासुः सन्कुशाग्रजलविप्रुषः

samīrābhyavahartāsīdbahudiṣṭaṁ sadiṣṭavān || papau sa tu pipāsuḥ sankuśāgrajalavipruṣaḥ

"He lived on air alone for long periods, having so resolved; and when thirsty, he drank only the drops of water clinging to the tips of kusha grass."

Verse 21 (skanda.4.78.21)

दिव्यां चतुर्युगीमित्थं स निनाय तपश्चरन् ।। चतुर्गुणं दिदृक्षुर्मां परमेण समाधिना

divyāṁ caturyugīmitthaṁ sa nināya tapaścaran || caturguṇaṁ didṛkṣurmāṁ parameṇa samādhinā

"Thus performing austerity, he passed one full divine cycle of the four ages, desiring to behold me, fourfold as I am, through supreme meditation."

Verse 22 (skanda.4.78.22)

ततोहं तस्य तपसा संतुष्टः स्थिरचेतसः ।। ययौ तस्मै वरान्दातुं शमनाय महात्मने

tatohaṁ tasya tapasā saṁtuṣṭaḥ sthiracetasaḥ || yayau tasmai varāndātuṁ śamanāya mahātmane

"Then I, pleased by the austerity of that steady-minded great soul, went to grant boons to Shamana, the restrainer."

Verse 23 (skanda.4.78.23)

वटः कांचनशाखाख्यो यस्तपस्तापसंततिम् ।। दूरीचकार सुच्छायो बहुद्विजसमाश्रयः

vaṭaḥ kāṁcanaśākhākhyo yastapastāpasaṁtatim || dūrīcakāra succhāyo bahudvijasamāśrayaḥ

"There stood a banyan tree named Kanchanashakha, of lovely shade, home to many birds, which dispelled the heat-torment of ascetics."

Verse 24 (skanda.4.78.24)

मंदमद मरुल्लोल पल्लवैः करपल्लवैः ।। योध्वगानध्वसंतप्तानाह्वये दिवतापहृत्

maṁdamada marullola pallavaiḥ karapallavaiḥ || yodhvagānadhvasaṁtaptānāhvaye divatāpahṛt

"With its sprout-like hands trembling gently in the soft breeze, it seemed to beckon travellers scorched by the heat of the road, removing the heat of day."

Verse 25 (skanda.4.78.25)

स्वानुरागैः सुरभिभिः स्वादुभिश्च पचेलिमैः ।। प्रीणयेदर्थिसार्थं यो वृत्तैर्निजफलैरलम्

svānurāgaiḥ surabhibhiḥ svādubhiśca pacelimaiḥ || prīṇayedarthisārthaṁ yo vṛttairnijaphalairalam

"With its own affection, it would delight the throng of seekers abundantly with its fragrant, sweet, ripened round fruits."

Verse 26 (skanda.4.78.26)

तदधस्तात्परं वीक्ष्य तमहं तपनांगजम् ।। स्थाणुनिश्चल वर्ष्माणं नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनम्

tadadhastātparaṁ vīkṣya tamahaṁ tapanāṁgajam || sthāṇuniścala varṣmāṇaṁ nāsāgranyastalocanam

"Beneath that tree I beheld that son of the Sun, his body motionless as a post, his eyes fixed upon the tip of his nose,"

Verse 27 (skanda.4.78.27)

तपस्तेजोभिरुद्यद्भिः परितः परिधीकृतम् ।। भानुमंतमिवाकाशे सुनीले स्वेन तेजसा

tapastejobhirudyadbhiḥ paritaḥ paridhīkṛtam || bhānumaṁtamivākāśe sunīle svena tejasā

"encircled on every side by the blazing radiance of his austerity, like the sun itself in the deep blue sky, ringed by his own splendour."

Verse 28 (skanda.4.78.28)

स्वाख्यांकितं महालिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्यातिभक्तितः ।। स्वच्छ सूर्योपलमयतेजः पुंजैरिवार्चितम्

svākhyāṁkitaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ pratiṣṭhāpyātibhaktitaḥ || svaccha sūryopalamayatejaḥ puṁjairivārcitam

"He had, with great devotion, installed a great linga marked with his own name, worshipped as if with heaps of radiance from clear sun-crystals."

Verse 29 (skanda.4.78.29)

साक्षीकृत्येव तल्लिंगं तप्यमानं महत्तपः ।। प्रत्यवोचं धर्मराजं वरं ब्रूहीति भास्करे

sākṣīkṛtyeva talliṁgaṁ tapyamānaṁ mahattapaḥ || pratyavocaṁ dharmarājaṁ varaṁ brūhīti bhāskare

"Making that very linga my witness, as he practised his great austerity, I said to Dharmaraja: 'Ask your boon.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.4.78.30)

अलं तप्त्वा महाभाग प्रसन्नोस्मि शुभव्रत ।। निशम्य शमनश्चेति दृष्ट्वा मां प्रणनाम ह

alaṁ taptvā mahābhāga prasannosmi śubhavrata || niśamya śamanaśceti dṛṣṭvā māṁ praṇanāma ha

"'Enough austerity now, O fortunate one of pure vows; I am pleased.' Hearing this and beholding me, Shamana bowed down."

Verse 31 (skanda.4.78.31)

चकार स्तवनं चापि परिहृष्टेंद्रियेश्वरः ।। निर्व्याजं स समाधिं च विसृज्य ब्रध्ननंदनः

cakāra stavanaṁ cāpi parihṛṣṭeṁdriyeśvaraḥ || nirvyājaṁ sa samādhiṁ ca visṛjya bradhnanaṁdanaḥ

And that son of the Sun, his senses filled with delight, breaking his deep and sincere meditation, offered this hymn of praise:

Verse 32 (skanda.4.78.32)

धर्म उवाच ।। ।। नमोनमः कारणकारणानां नमोनमः कारणवर्जिताय ।। नमोनमः कार्यमयाय तुभ्यं नमोनमः कार्यविभिन्नरूप

dharma uvāca || || namonamaḥ kāraṇakāraṇānāṁ namonamaḥ kāraṇavarjitāya || namonamaḥ kāryamayāya tubhyaṁ namonamaḥ kāryavibhinnarūpa

Dharma said: "Salutation, salutation to the cause of causes! Salutation, salutation to you who are beyond all cause! Salutation, salutation to you who consist wholly of effects! Salutation, salutation to you whose form is distinct from every effect!"

Verse 33 (skanda.4.78.33)

अरूपरूपाय समस्तरूपिणे पराणुरूपाय परापराय ।। अपारपाराय पराब्धिपार प्रदाय तुभ्यं शशिमौलये नमः।।

arūparūpāya samastarūpiṇe parāṇurūpāya parāparāya || apārapārāya parābdhipāra pradāya tubhyaṁ śaśimaulaye namaḥ||

"To you, whose form is formless yet is every form, subtler than the subtlest atom, both transcendent and immanent, boundless yet the boundary itself, the giver of passage across the farthest ocean, moon-crested one — salutation!"

Verse 34 (skanda.4.78.34)

अनीश्वरस्त्वं जगदीश्वरस्त्वं गुणात्मकस्त्वं गुणवर्जितस्त्वम् ।। कालात्परस्त्वं प्रकृतेः परस्त्वं कालाय कालात्प्रकृते नमस्ते

anīśvarastvaṁ jagadīśvarastvaṁ guṇātmakastvaṁ guṇavarjitastvam || kālātparastvaṁ prakṛteḥ parastvaṁ kālāya kālātprakṛte namaste

"You are without a lord over you, yet you are the lord of the universe; you consist of the gunas, yet you are free of the gunas; you are beyond time, you are beyond nature — salutation to you, who are both time and beyond time, both nature and beyond nature."

Verse 35 (skanda.4.78.35)

त्वमेव निर्वाणपद प्रदोसि त्वमेव निर्वाणमनंतशक्ते ।। त्वमात्मरूपः परमात्मरूपस्त्वमंतरात्मासि चराचरस्य

tvameva nirvāṇapada pradosi tvameva nirvāṇamanaṁtaśakte || tvamātmarūpaḥ paramātmarūpastvamaṁtarātmāsi carācarasya

"You alone bestow the state of liberation; you yourself, O infinite power, are liberation itself. You are the form of the self, the form of the supreme self; you are the inner self of all that moves and moves not."

Verse 36 (skanda.4.78.36)

त्वत्तो जगत्त्वं जगदेवसाक्षाज्जगत्त्वदीयं जगदेकबंधो ।। हर्ताविता त्वं प्रथमो विधाता विधातृविष्ण्वीश नमो नमस्ते

tvatto jagattvaṁ jagadevasākṣājjagattvadīyaṁ jagadekabaṁdho || hartāvitā tvaṁ prathamo vidhātā vidhātṛviṣṇvīśa namo namaste

"From you comes the world; you yourself are the world manifest; the world is yours, O sole kinsman of the world. You are its destroyer, its protector, and its first creator — O lord of Brahma and Vishnu, salutation, salutation to you!"

Verse 37 (skanda.4.78.37)

मृडस्त्वमेव श्रुतिवर्त्मगेषु त्वमेव भीमोऽश्रुतिवर्त्मगेषु ।। त्वं शंकरः सोमसुभक्तिभाजामुग्रोसि रुद्र त्वमभक्तिभाजाम्

mṛḍastvameva śrutivartmageṣu tvameva bhīmo'śrutivartmageṣu || tvaṁ śaṁkaraḥ somasubhaktibhājāmugrosi rudra tvamabhaktibhājām

"You are gracious Mrida to those who walk the path of the Vedas; you are terrible to those who do not. You are gentle Shankara to those blessed with true devotion; you are fierce Rudra to those without devotion."

Verse 38 (skanda.4.78.38)

त्वमेव शूली द्विषतां त्वमेव विनम्रचेतो वचसां शिवोसि ।। श्रीकंठ एकः स्वपदश्रितानां दुरात्मनां हालहलोग्रकंठः

tvameva śūlī dviṣatāṁ tvameva vinamraceto vacasāṁ śivosi || śrīkaṁṭha ekaḥ svapadaśritānāṁ durātmanāṁ hālahalograkaṁṭhaḥ

"You alone are the trident-wielder to your enemies; you alone are Shiva, the gracious one, to the humble in mind and speech. You alone, glorious-throated, are the sole refuge of those who take shelter at your feet, yet the fierce halahala-throated one to the wicked."

Verse 39 (skanda.4.78.39)

नमोस्तु ते शंकर शांतशंभो नमोस्तु ते चंद्रकलावतंस ।। नमोस्तु तुभ्यं फणिभूषणाय पिनाकपाणेंऽधकवैरिणे नमः

namostu te śaṁkara śāṁtaśaṁbho namostu te caṁdrakalāvataṁsa || namostu tubhyaṁ phaṇibhūṣaṇāya pinākapāṇeṁ'dhakavairiṇe namaḥ

"Salutation to you, Shankara, tranquil Shambhu! Salutation to you, crowned with the crescent moon! Salutation to you, adorned with serpents! Salutation to you, wielder of the Pinaka bow, enemy of Andhaka!"

Verse 40 (skanda.4.78.40)

स एव धन्यस्तव भक्तिभाग्यस्तवार्चको यः सुकृती स एव ।। तवस्तुतिं यः कुरुते सदैव स स्तूयते दुश्च्यवनादि देवैः

sa eva dhanyastava bhaktibhāgyastavārcako yaḥ sukṛtī sa eva || tavastutiṁ yaḥ kurute sadaiva sa stūyate duścyavanādi devaiḥ

"Blessed indeed is he who has the good fortune of devotion to you; blessed indeed is that virtuous one who worships you. Whoever forever praises you is himself praised by the gods, Dushcyavana and the rest."

Verse 41 (skanda.4.78.41)

कस्त्वामिह स्तोतुमनंतशक्ते शक्नोति मादृग्लघुबुद्धिवैभवः ।। प्राचां न वाचामिहगोचरो यः स्तुतिस्त्वयीयं नतिरेव यावत्

kastvāmiha stotumanaṁtaśakte śaknoti mādṛglaghubuddhivaibhavaḥ || prācāṁ na vācāmihagocaro yaḥ stutistvayīyaṁ natireva yāvat

"O infinite power, who is capable of praising you here, with a small intellect such as mine? You who are beyond the reach of even the ancient sages' words — my only praise of you is this very act of bowing."

Verse 42 (skanda.4.78.42)

स्कंद उवाच।। ।। उदीर्य सूर्यस्य सुतोतिभक्त्या नमः शिवायेति समुच्चरन्सः ।। इलामिलन्मौलिरतीव हृष्टः सहस्रकृत्वः प्रणनाम शंभुम्

skaṁda uvāca|| || udīrya sūryasya sutotibhaktyā namaḥ śivāyeti samuccaransaḥ || ilāmilanmauliratīva hṛṣṭaḥ sahasrakṛtvaḥ praṇanāma śaṁbhum

Skanda said: Having recited this, the son of the Sun, with great devotion, uttering "Namah Shivaya" again and again, his crown touching the earth, exceedingly delighted, bowed to Shambhu a thousand times.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.78.43)

ततः शिवस्तं तपसातिखिन्नं निवार्य ताभ्यः प्रणतिभ्य ईश्वरः ।। वरान्ददौ सप्ततुरंगसूनवे त्वं धर्मराजो भव नामतोपि

tataḥ śivastaṁ tapasātikhinnaṁ nivārya tābhyaḥ praṇatibhya īśvaraḥ || varāndadau saptaturaṁgasūnave tvaṁ dharmarājo bhava nāmatopi

Then Shiva, the Lord, stopping him — worn as he was from his austerity and his repeated bowing — granted this boon to the son of the Sun: "Become Dharmaraja, in name as well as in fact."

Verse 44 (skanda.4.78.44)

त्वमेव धर्माधिकृतौ समस्त शरीरिणां स्थावरजंगमानाम् ।। मया नियुक्तोद्य दिनादिकृत्यः प्रशाधि सर्वान्मम शासनेन

tvameva dharmādhikṛtau samasta śarīriṇāṁ sthāvarajaṁgamānām || mayā niyuktodya dinādikṛtyaḥ praśādhi sarvānmama śāsanena

"You alone shall have authority over dharma, for all embodied beings, moving and unmoving. Appointed by me from this day on, govern all according to my ordinance."

Verse 45 (skanda.4.78.45)

त्वं दक्षिणायाश्च दिशोधिनाथस्त्वं कर्मसाक्षी भव सर्वजंतोः ।। त्वद्दर्शिताध्वान इतो व्रजंतु स्वकर्मयोग्यां गतिमुत्तमाधमाः

tvaṁ dakṣiṇāyāśca diśodhināthastvaṁ karmasākṣī bhava sarvajaṁtoḥ || tvaddarśitādhvāna ito vrajaṁtu svakarmayogyāṁ gatimuttamādhamāḥ

"You shall be the lord of the southern quarter; you shall be the witness of the deeds of every creature. By the path you show, let all beings, from the highest to the lowest, go henceforth to the destiny fitting their own deeds."

Verse 46 (skanda.4.78.46)

त्वया यदेतन्ममभक्तिभाजा लिंगं समाराधितमत्र धर्म ।। तद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शनतोऽर्चनाच्च सिद्धिर्भविष्यत्यचिरेण पुंसाम्

tvayā yadetanmamabhaktibhājā liṁgaṁ samārādhitamatra dharma || taddarśanātsparśanato'rcanācca siddhirbhaviṣyatyacireṇa puṁsām

"This linga which you, devoted to me, have worshipped here, O Dharma — by seeing it, by touching it, and by worshipping it, men shall attain perfection without delay."

Verse 47 (skanda.4.78.47)

धर्मेश्वरं यः सकृदेव मर्त्यो विलोकयिष्यत्यवदातबुद्धिः ।। स्नात्वा पुरस्तेऽत्र च धर्मतीर्थे न तस्य दूरे पुरुषार्थसिद्धिः

dharmeśvaraṁ yaḥ sakṛdeva martyo vilokayiṣyatyavadātabuddhiḥ || snātvā puraste'tra ca dharmatīrthe na tasya dūre puruṣārthasiddhiḥ

"Whatever mortal, pure of understanding, beholds Dharmeshvara even once, and bathes here beforehand in this Dharma-tirtha — the fulfilment of his life's purpose is not far from him."

Verse 48 (skanda.4.78.48)

कृत्वाप्यघानामिह यः सहस्रं धर्मेश्वरं पश्यति दैवयोगात्।। सहेतनो जातु स नारकीं व्यथां कथां तदीयां दिविकुर्वतेमराः

kṛtvāpyaghānāmiha yaḥ sahasraṁ dharmeśvaraṁ paśyati daivayogāt|| sahetano jātu sa nārakīṁ vyathāṁ kathāṁ tadīyāṁ divikurvatemarāḥ

"Even one who has committed a thousand sins, if by the working of fate he beholds Dharmeshvara here, shall never, while alive, suffer the pain of hell — of this the very gods speak with wonder in heaven."

Verse 49 (skanda.4.78.49)

यो धर्मपीठं प्रतिलभ्य काश्यां स्वश्रेयसे नो यततेऽत्र मर्त्यः ।। कथं स धर्मत्वमिवातितेजाः करिष्यति स्वं कृतकृत्यमेव ।। त्वया यथाप्ता इह धर्मराज मनोरथास्ते गुरुभिस्तपोभिः ।। तथैव धर्मेश्वरभक्तिभाजां कामाः फलिष्यंति न संशयोत्र

yo dharmapīṭhaṁ pratilabhya kāśyāṁ svaśreyase no yatate'tra martyaḥ || kathaṁ sa dharmatvamivātitejāḥ kariṣyati svaṁ kṛtakṛtyameva || tvayā yathāptā iha dharmarāja manorathāste gurubhistapobhiḥ || tathaiva dharmeśvarabhaktibhājāṁ kāmāḥ phaliṣyaṁti na saṁśayotra

"Whatever mortal, having reached the Dharma-seat at Kashi, does not strive here for his own welfare — how, though so radiant, shall he ever fulfil himself? Just as you, O Dharmaraja, attained your desires here through great austerities, so too, without doubt, shall the desires of those devoted to Dharmeshvara be fulfilled."

Verse 50 (skanda.4.78.50)

कृत्वाप्यघान्येव महांत्यपीह धर्मेश्वरार्चां सकृदेव कुर्वन् ।। कुतो बिभेति प्रियबंधुरेव तव त्वदीयार्चित लिंगभक्तः

kṛtvāpyaghānyeva mahāṁtyapīha dharmeśvarārcāṁ sakṛdeva kurvan || kuto bibheti priyabaṁdhureva tava tvadīyārcita liṁgabhaktaḥ

"Even one who has committed great sins, if he but once performs worship of Dharmeshvara — why should he fear anything, being now your own dear kinsman, a devotee of the linga you yourself worship?"

Verse 51 (skanda.4.78.51)

पत्रेण पुष्पेण जलेन दूर्वया यो धर्मधर्मेश्वरमर्चयिष्यति ।। समर्चयिष्यंत्यमृतांधसस्तं मंदारमालाभिरतिप्रहृष्टाः

patreṇa puṣpeṇa jalena dūrvayā yo dharmadharmeśvaramarcayiṣyati || samarcayiṣyaṁtyamṛtāṁdhasastaṁ maṁdāramālābhiratiprahṛṣṭāḥ

"Whoever worships Dharmeshvara, the very embodiment of dharma, with a leaf, a flower, water, or durva grass — the drinkers of nectar themselves shall, with great delight, worship him in turn with garlands of mandara flowers."

Verse 52 (skanda.4.78.52)

त्वत्तो विभेष्यंति कृतैनसो ये भयं न तेषां भविता कदाचित् ।। धर्मेश्वरार्चा रचनां करिष्यतां हरिष्यतां बंधुतयामनस्ते

tvatto vibheṣyaṁti kṛtainaso ye bhayaṁ na teṣāṁ bhavitā kadācit || dharmeśvarārcā racanāṁ kariṣyatāṁ hariṣyatāṁ baṁdhutayāmanaste

"Those who, though sinners, fear you, shall never have any fear at all thereafter; for those who arrange the worship of Dharmeshvara, you shall carry off their sins as a true kinsman would."

Verse 53 (skanda.4.78.53)

यदत्र दास्यंति हि धर्मपीठे नरा द्युनद्यां कृतमज्जनाश्च ।। तदक्षयं भावि युगांतरेपि कृतप्रणामास्तव धर्मलिंगे

yadatra dāsyaṁti hi dharmapīṭhe narā dyunadyāṁ kṛtamajjanāśca || tadakṣayaṁ bhāvi yugāṁtarepi kṛtapraṇāmāstava dharmaliṁge

"Whatever gifts men give here at the Dharma-seat, having bathed in the heavenly river, and whatever bows they offer at your Dharma-linga — that merit shall remain imperishable even into other ages."

Verse 54 (skanda.4.78.54)

ये कार्तिके मासि सिताष्टमी तिथौ यात्रां करिष्यंति नरा उपोषिताः ।। रात्रौ च वै जागरणं महोत्सवैर्धर्मेश्वरे तेन पुनर्भवा भुवि

ye kārtike māsi sitāṣṭamī tithau yātrāṁ kariṣyaṁti narā upoṣitāḥ || rātrau ca vai jāgaraṇaṁ mahotsavairdharmeśvare tena punarbhavā bhuvi

"Those men who, fasting, undertake the pilgrimage on the eighth day of the bright half of Kartika, and keep a night-vigil at Dharmeshvara with great festivities — they shall be freed from further rebirth upon this earth."

Verse 55 (skanda.4.78.55)

स्तुतिं च ये वै त्वदुदीरितामिमां नराः पठिष्यंति तवाग्रतः क्वचित् ।। निरेनसस्ते मम लोकगामिनः प्राप्स्यंति ते वैभवतः सखित्वम्

stutiṁ ca ye vai tvadudīritāmimāṁ narāḥ paṭhiṣyaṁti tavāgrataḥ kvacit || nirenasaste mama lokagāminaḥ prāpsyaṁti te vaibhavataḥ sakhitvam

"And whatever men recite this very hymn uttered by you, before you, at any time — they, freed from sin, go to my world, and attain companionship with me in all its glory."

Verse 56 (skanda.4.78.56)

पुनर्वरं ब्रूहि यथेप्सितं ददे तेजोनिधेर्नंदन धर्मराज ।। अदेयमत्रास्ति न किंचिदेव ते विधेहि वागुद्यममात्रमेव

punarvaraṁ brūhi yathepsitaṁ dade tejonidhernaṁdana dharmarāja || adeyamatrāsti na kiṁcideva te vidhehi vāgudyamamātrameva

"Ask yet another boon, whatever you desire, and I shall grant it, O Dharmaraja, son of the treasure of splendour. There is nothing at all here that I would refuse you — only make the effort to speak it."

Verse 57 (skanda.4.78.57)

प्रसन्नमूर्तिं स विलोक्य शंकरं कारुण्यपूर्णं स्वमनोरथाभिदम् ।। आनंदसंदोहसरोनिमग्नो वक्तुं क्षणं नैव शशाक किंचित्

prasannamūrtiṁ sa vilokya śaṁkaraṁ kāruṇyapūrṇaṁ svamanorathābhidam || ānaṁdasaṁdohasaronimagno vaktuṁ kṣaṇaṁ naiva śaśāka kiṁcit

Beholding Shankara's gracious form, so full of compassion, granting his heart's desire, he, sunk in a lake of overflowing bliss, was for that moment unable to speak anything at all.