The Manifestation of Satishvara

Verse 1 (skanda.4.93.1)

।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। नर्मदेशस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुतं कल्मषनाशनम् ।। इदानीं कथय स्कंद सतीश्वर समुद्भवम्

|| agastya uvāca || || narmadeśasya māhātmyaṁ śrutaṁ kalmaṣanāśanam || idānīṁ kathaya skaṁda satīśvara samudbhavam

Agastya said: The sin-destroying glory of Narmadesha has been heard; now, O Skanda, tell of the origin of Satishvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.93.2)

स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। मित्रावरुणसंभूत कथयामि कथां शृणु ।। यथा सतीश्वरं लिंगं काश्यामाविर्बभूव ह

skaṁda uvāca || || mitrāvaruṇasaṁbhūta kathayāmi kathāṁ śṛṇu || yathā satīśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ kāśyāmāvirbabhūva ha

Skanda said: O son of Mitra-Varuna, I shall tell the story — listen how the linga Satishvara appeared in Kashi.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.93.3)

पुरा तताप सुमहत्तपः शतधृतिर्मुने ।। तपसा तेन देवेशः संतुष्टो वरदोऽभवत्

purā tatāpa sumahattapaḥ śatadhṛtirmune || tapasā tena deveśaḥ saṁtuṣṭo varado'bhavat

Formerly, Shatadhriti performed very great austerity, O sage; pleased by that austerity, the lord of gods became a boon-giver.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.93.4)

उवाच चापि ब्रह्माणं नितरां ब्राह्मणप्रियः ।। सर्वज्ञनाथो लोकात्मा वरं वरय लोककृत्

uvāca cāpi brahmāṇaṁ nitarāṁ brāhmaṇapriyaḥ || sarvajñanātho lokātmā varaṁ varaya lokakṛt

And that lover of brahmins, the all-knowing, world-souled creator of worlds, said earnestly to Brahma: "Choose a boon."

Verse 5 (skanda.4.93.5)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश वरं दास्यसि वांछितम् ।। तदा त्वं मे भव सुतो देवी दक्षसुताऽस्तु च

|| brahmovāca || || yadi prasanno deveśa varaṁ dāsyasi vāṁchitam || tadā tvaṁ me bhava suto devī dakṣasutā'stu ca

Brahma said: "If you are pleased, O lord of gods, and will give the boon I desire, then become my son, and let the goddess be Daksha's daughter."

Verse 6 (skanda.4.93.6)

इति श्रुत्वा महादेवः सर्वदो ब्रह्मणो वरम् ।। स्मित्वा देवीमुखं वीक्ष्य प्रोवाच चतुराननम्

iti śrutvā mahādevaḥ sarvado brahmaṇo varam || smitvā devīmukhaṁ vīkṣya provāca caturānanam

Hearing this, the great god, giver of all, smiled, and looking at the goddess's face, said to the four-faced one —

Verse 7 (skanda.4.93.7)

ब्रह्मंस्त्वद्वांछितं भूयात्किमदेयं पितामह ।। इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मणो भालादाविरासीच्छशांकभृत्

brahmaṁstvadvāṁchitaṁ bhūyātkimadeyaṁ pitāmaha || ityuktvā brahmaṇo bhālādāvirāsīcchaśāṁkabhṛt

"O Brahma, let your desire be fulfilled; what indeed, O Grandsire, is undeniable to me?" Having said this, from Brahma's forehead there appeared the moon-bearer.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.93.8)

रुदन्स उत्तानशयो ब्रह्मणो मुखमैक्षत ।। ततो ब्रह्मापि तं बालं रुदंतं प्रविलोक्य च

rudansa uttānaśayo brahmaṇo mukhamaikṣata || tato brahmāpi taṁ bālaṁ rudaṁtaṁ pravilokya ca

He, lying on his back, weeping, gazed at Brahma's face. Then Brahma too, seeing that weeping child —

Verse 9 (skanda.4.93.9)

किं मां जनकमाप्यापि त्वं रोदिषि मुहुर्मुहुः ।। श्रुत्वेति पृथुकः प्राह यथोक्तं परमेष्ठिना

kiṁ māṁ janakamāpyāpi tvaṁ rodiṣi muhurmuhuḥ || śrutveti pṛthukaḥ prāha yathoktaṁ parameṣṭhinā

"— [said]: 'Even having found me as your father, why do you weep again and again?' Hearing this, the child spoke, as if at Parameshthin's own prompting —"

Verse 10 (skanda.4.93.10)

नाम्ने रोदिमि मे स्रष्टुर्नाम देहि पितामह ।। रोदनाद्रुद्र इत्याख्यां समाया डिंभको लभत्

nāmne rodimi me sraṣṭurnāma dehi pitāmaha || rodanādrudra ityākhyāṁ samāyā ḍiṁbhako labhat

"I weep for my name; O Creator, O Grandsire, give me a name." From that weeping (rodana), the infant at once obtained the name 'Rudra.'

Verse 11 (skanda.4.93.11)

।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। अर्भकत्वं गतोपीशः किं रुरोद षडानन ।। यदि वेत्सि तदाचक्ष्व महत्कौतूहलं हि मे

|| agastya uvāca || || arbhakatvaṁ gatopīśaḥ kiṁ ruroda ṣaḍānana || yadi vetsi tadācakṣva mahatkautūhalaṁ hi me

Agastya said: Even having become a child, why did Isha weep, O six-faced one? If you know, tell me — for I have great curiosity.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.93.12)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। सर्वज्ञस्य कुमारत्वात्किंचित्किंचिदवैम्यहम् ।। रोदने कारणं वच्मि शृणु कुंभसमुद्भव

|| skaṁda uvāca || || sarvajñasya kumāratvātkiṁcitkiṁcidavaimyaham || rodane kāraṇaṁ vacmi śṛṇu kuṁbhasamudbhava

Skanda said: Because of the all-knowing one's state as an infant, I too know only a little; I shall tell the reason for his weeping — listen, O pot-born one.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.93.13)

मनसीति विचारोभूद्देवस्य परमात्मनः ।। बुद्धिवैभवमस्याहो वीक्षितुं परमेष्ठिनः

manasīti vicārobhūddevasya paramātmanaḥ || buddhivaibhavamasyāho vīkṣituṁ parameṣṭhinaḥ

This thought arose in the mind of that god, the supreme soul: "Ah, I wish to behold the majestic wisdom of this Grandsire,"

Verse 14 (skanda.4.93.14)

सत्यलोकाधिनाथस्य चतुरास्यस्य वेधसः ।। इत्यानंदात्समुद्भूतो वाष्पपूरो महेशितुः

satyalokādhināthasya caturāsyasya vedhasaḥ || ityānaṁdātsamudbhūto vāṣpapūro maheśituḥ

"— of the lord of Satyaloka, the four-faced Creator." From this very joy, a flood of tears welled up in the great Lord.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.93.15)

।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। किं बुद्धिवैभवं धातुः शंभुना मनसीक्षितम् । येनानंदाश्रु संभारो बाल्येप्यभवदीशितुः

|| agastya uvāca || || kiṁ buddhivaibhavaṁ dhātuḥ śaṁbhunā manasīkṣitam | yenānaṁdāśru saṁbhāro bālyepyabhavadīśituḥ

Agastya said: What wisdom of the Creator did Shambhu behold in his mind, that even in infancy a flood of tears of joy welled up in the Lord?

Verse 16 (skanda.4.93.16)

एतत्कथय मे प्राज्ञ सर्वज्ञानंदवर्धन ।। श्रुत्वागस्त्युदितं वाक्यं तारकारिरुवाच ह

etatkathaya me prājña sarvajñānaṁdavardhana || śrutvāgastyuditaṁ vākyaṁ tārakāriruvāca ha

Tell me this, O wise one, increaser of the bliss of the all-knowing. Hearing this word of Agastya, the foe of Taraka said —

Verse 17 (skanda.4.93.17)

देवे न मनसि ध्यातमिति कुंभजने मुने ।। विनापत्यं जनेतारं क उद्धर्तुमिह प्रभुः

deve na manasi dhyātamiti kuṁbhajane mune || vināpatyaṁ janetāraṁ ka uddhartumiha prabhuḥ

"This was not a mere idle thought in the god's mind, O pot-born sage: without offspring, who here is able to deliver a father?"

Verse 18 (skanda.4.93.18)

एको मनोरथश्चायं द्वितीयोयं सुनिश्चितम् ।। अपत्यत्वं गते चास्मिन्स्मर्तुरुत्पत्तिहारिणि

eko manorathaścāyaṁ dvitīyoyaṁ suniścitam || apatyatvaṁ gate cāsminsmarturutpattihāriṇi

"This was one wish, and this second one was quite certain — having attained sonship to this Creator, the one who removes [the pain of] birth,"

Verse 19 (skanda.4.93.19)

क्षणंक्षणं समालोक्यमंगस्पर्शे क्षणंक्षणम् ।। एकशय्यासनाहारं लप्स्यतेऽनेन क्षणेक्षणे !

kṣaṇaṁkṣaṇaṁ samālokyamaṁgasparśe kṣaṇaṁkṣaṇam || ekaśayyāsanāhāraṁ lapsyate'nena kṣaṇekṣaṇe !

"— being gazed upon moment by moment, being touched limb by limb moment by moment, he shall by this very means obtain a shared bed, seat, and food, moment by moment!"

Verse 20 (skanda.4.93.20)

योयं न गोचरः क्वापि वाणीमनसयोरपि ।। स मेऽपत्यत्वमासाद्य किं न दास्यति चिंतितम्

yoyaṁ na gocaraḥ kvāpi vāṇīmanasayorapi || sa me'patyatvamāsādya kiṁ na dāsyati ciṁtitam

"This one who is nowhere within the reach of speech or mind — having attained sonship to me, will he not grant whatever is desired?"

Verse 21 (skanda.4.93.21)

योऽमुं सकृत्स्पृशेज्जंतुर्योमुं पश्येत्सकृन्मुदा । न स भूयोभिजायेत भवेच्चानंदमेदुरः

yo'muṁ sakṛtspṛśejjaṁturyomuṁ paśyetsakṛnmudā | na sa bhūyobhijāyeta bhaveccānaṁdameduraḥ

"Whatever creature shall touch this one even once, or shall see this one even once with joy, shall not be born again, and shall become full of bliss."

Verse 22 (skanda.4.93.22)

गृहक्रीडनकं मे सौ यदि भूयात्कथंचन ।। तदापरस्य सौख्यस्य निधानं स्यामसंशयम्

gṛhakrīḍanakaṁ me sau yadi bhūyātkathaṁcana || tadāparasya saukhyasya nidhānaṁ syāmasaṁśayam

"If somehow this one becomes a plaything of my home, then I shall doubtlessly become a treasure-house of unparalleled happiness."

Verse 23 (skanda.4.93.23)

विधेः समीहितं चेति नूनं ज्ञात्वा स सर्ववित् ।। आनंदवाष्पकलितं चक्षुस्त्रयमदीधरत्

vidheḥ samīhitaṁ ceti nūnaṁ jñātvā sa sarvavit || ānaṁdavāṣpakalitaṁ cakṣustrayamadīdharat

Knowing this intention of Brahma's for certain, that all-knowing one held all three of his eyes brimming with tears of bliss.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.93.24)

श्रुत्वैत्यगस्तिः स्कंदस्य भाषितं पर्यमूमुदत् ।। ननाम चांघ्री प्रोवाच जयसर्वज्ञनंदन

śrutvaityagastiḥ skaṁdasya bhāṣitaṁ paryamūmudat || nanāma cāṁghrī provāca jayasarvajñanaṁdana

Hearing this, Agastya rejoiced greatly at Skanda's words; he bowed at his feet and said: "Victory to you, O son of the all-knowing one!"

Verse 25 (skanda.4.93.25)

विधेरपि मनोज्ञातं शंभोरपि मनोगतम् । । सम्यक्चित्तं त्वया ज्ञातं नमस्तुभ्यं चिदात्मने

vidherapi manojñātaṁ śaṁbhorapi manogatam | | samyakcittaṁ tvayā jñātaṁ namastubhyaṁ cidātmane

"What was known in Brahma's mind, and what was in Shambhu's mind — you have rightly known that thought; salutations to you, O consciousness-embodied one!"

Verse 26 (skanda.4.93.26)

स्कंदोपि नितरां तुष्टःश्रोतुरानंददर्शनात् ।। धन्योस्यगस्त्य धन्योसि श्रोतुं जानासि तत्त्वतः

skaṁdopi nitarāṁ tuṣṭaḥśroturānaṁdadarśanāt || dhanyosyagastya dhanyosi śrotuṁ jānāsi tattvataḥ

Skanda too was exceedingly pleased, seeing the listener's joy: "Blessed are you, O Agastya, blessed indeed — you truly know how to listen."

Verse 27 (skanda.4.93.27)

न मे श्रमो वृथा जातो ब्रुवतस्ते पुरः कथाम् ।। इत्यगस्तिं समाभाष्य पुनः प्राह षडाननः

na me śramo vṛthā jāto bruvataste puraḥ kathām || ityagastiṁ samābhāṣya punaḥ prāha ṣaḍānanaḥ

"My effort in telling this story before you has not gone in vain." Having thus addressed Agastya, the six-faced one spoke again —

Verse 28 (skanda.4.93.28)

। देवे रुद्रत्वमापन्ने देवी दक्षसुताभवत् ।। सापि तप्त्वा तपस्तीव्रं सती काश्यां वरार्थिनी

| deve rudratvamāpanne devī dakṣasutābhavat || sāpi taptvā tapastīvraṁ satī kāśyāṁ varārthinī

"When the god attained the state of Rudra, the goddess became Daksha's daughter. She too, Sati, performed intense austerity in Kashi, desiring a boon,"

Verse 29 (skanda.4.93.29)

ददर्श लिंगरूपेण प्रादुर्भूतं हरं पुरः ।। अलं तप्त्वा महादेवि प्रोक्तवंतमिति स्फुटम्

dadarśa liṁgarūpeṇa prādurbhūtaṁ haraṁ puraḥ || alaṁ taptvā mahādevi proktavaṁtamiti sphuṭam

"and beheld Hara, manifest before her in the form of a linga. 'Enough austerity now, O great goddess' — he said clearly —"

Verse 30 (skanda.4.93.30)

इदं सतीश्वरं लिंगं तव नाम्ना भविष्यति .।। यथा मनोरथस्तेऽत्र फलितो दक्षकन्यके

idaṁ satīśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ tava nāmnā bhaviṣyati .|| yathā manorathaste'tra phalito dakṣakanyake

"'This linga will be named Satishvara after you. Just as your desire has here been fulfilled, O daughter of Daksha,'"

Verse 31 (skanda.4.93.31)

तथैतल्लिंगमाराध्यान्यस्यापि हि फलिष्यति ।। कुमारी प्राप्स्यति पतिं मनसोपि समुच्छ्रितम्

tathaitalliṁgamārādhyānyasyāpi hi phaliṣyati || kumārī prāpsyati patiṁ manasopi samucchritam

"'so too, worshipping this linga, another's wish shall likewise be fulfilled. A maiden shall obtain a husband even beyond her mind's aspiration.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.4.93.32)

एतल्लिंगं समाराध्य कुमारोपि वरांगनाम् ।। यस्य यस्य हि यः कामस्तस्य तस्य हि स ध्रुवम्

etalliṁgaṁ samārādhya kumāropi varāṁganām || yasya yasya hi yaḥ kāmastasya tasya hi sa dhruvam

"'Having worshipped this linga, a young man too shall obtain an excellent bride. Whatever the desire of whoever it may be, that very desire, surely,'"

Verse 33 (skanda.4.93.33)

भविष्यति न संदेहः सतीश्वरसमर्चगात् ।। सतीश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य यो यो यं यं समीहते

bhaviṣyati na saṁdehaḥ satīśvarasamarcagāt || satīśvaraṁ samabhyarcya yo yo yaṁ yaṁ samīhate

"'shall be fulfilled through worship of Satishvara, without doubt. Whoever, having worshipped Satishvara well, desires whatever thing,'"

Verse 34 (skanda.4.93.34)

तस्य तस्य स स क्षिप्रं भविष्यति मनोरथः

tasya tasya sa sa kṣipraṁ bhaviṣyati manorathaḥ

"'that very desire of that very person shall swiftly come to be.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.4.93.35)

इतोष्टमे च दिवसे त्वज्जनेता प्रजापतिः ।। मह्यं दास्यति कन्यां त्वां सफलस्ते मनोरथः ।। इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशस्तत्रैवांतर्हितोभवत्

itoṣṭame ca divase tvajjanetā prajāpatiḥ || mahyaṁ dāsyati kanyāṁ tvāṁ saphalaste manorathaḥ || ityuktvā devadeveśastatraivāṁtarhitobhavat

"'And on the eighth day from now, Prajapati, your begetter, shall give you to me; your wish is fulfilled.' Having said this, the god of gods disappeared right there."

Verse 36 (skanda.4.93.36)

। सापि स्वभवनं याता सती दाक्षायणी मुदा । । पितापि तस्मै प्रादात्तां रुद्राय दिवसेष्टमे

| sāpi svabhavanaṁ yātā satī dākṣāyaṇī mudā | | pitāpi tasmai prādāttāṁ rudrāya divaseṣṭame

She too, Sati, daughter of Daksha, joyfully returned to her own home; and her father too, on the eighth day, gave her to Rudra.

Verse 37 (skanda.4.93.37)

।। स्कंद उवाव ।। ।। इत्थं सतीश्वरं लिंगं काश्यां प्रादुरभून्मुने ।। स्मरणादपि लिंगं च दद्यात्सत्त्वगुणं परम्

|| skaṁda uvāva || || itthaṁ satīśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ kāśyāṁ prādurabhūnmune || smaraṇādapi liṁgaṁ ca dadyātsattvaguṇaṁ param

Skanda said: Thus, O sage, the linga Satishvara appeared in Kashi; even by mere remembrance, this linga bestows the supreme quality of sattva.

Verse 38 (skanda.4.93.38)

रत्नेशात्पूर्वतो भागे दृष्ट्वा लिंगं सतीश्वरम् । । मुच्यते पातकैः सद्यः क्रमाज्ज्ञानं च विंदति

ratneśātpūrvato bhāge dṛṣṭvā liṁgaṁ satīśvaram | | mucyate pātakaiḥ sadyaḥ kramājjñānaṁ ca viṁdati

In the region east of Ratnesha, having seen the linga Satishvara, one is instantly freed from sins, and by degrees attains knowledge.