The Glory of Mahakala-vana

Verse 1 (skanda.5.1.1)

श्रीगणेशाय नमः। श्रीजगदंबायै नमः। अथावन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं प्रारभ्यते। व्यास उवाच। स्रष्टारोऽपि प्रजानां प्रबलभवभयाद्यं नमस्यंति देवा यो ह्यव्यक्ते प्रविष्टः प्रविहितमनसां ध्यानयुक्तात्मनां च। लोकानामादिदेवः स जयतु भगवाञ्छ्रीमहा कालनामा बिभ्राणः सोमलेखामहिवलययुतं व्यक्तलिंगं कपालम्

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ| śrījagadaṁbāyai namaḥ| athāvantyakhaṇḍe'vantīkṣetramāhātmyaṁ prārabhyate| vyāsa uvāca| sraṣṭāro'pi prajānāṁ prabalabhavabhayādyaṁ namasyaṁti devā yo hyavyakte praviṣṭaḥ pravihitamanasāṁ dhyānayuktātmanāṁ ca| lokānāmādidevaḥ sa jayatu bhagavāñchrīmahā kālanāmā bibhrāṇaḥ somalekhāmahivalayayutaṁ vyaktaliṁgaṁ kapālam

Salutations to Sri Ganesha; salutations to Sri Jagadamba. Thus begins the Avanti-kshetra-mahatmya of the Avantya-khanda. Vyasa said: even the creators of beings bow before him from fear of mighty worldly existence, whom the gods worship, who has entered the unmanifest and dwells in the minds of those absorbed in meditation. Victorious is that primal God of all the worlds, glorious Mahakala, who wears the crescent moon and coiled serpent, and whose linga stands manifest.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.1.2)

उमोवाच। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्याश्च सरितस्तथा। कथ्यंतां तानि यत्नेन श्रद्धा येषु प्रजायते

umovāca| pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni puṇyāśca saritastathā| kathyaṁtāṁ tāni yatnena śraddhā yeṣu prajāyate

Uma said: Tell me carefully of the sacred tirthas and holy rivers upon the earth, in which faith is born.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.1.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। अस्ति लोकेषु विख्याता गंगा त्रिपथगा नदी। सेविता देवगन्धर्वैर्मुनिभिश्च निषेविता

īśvara uvāca| asti lokeṣu vikhyātā gaṁgā tripathagā nadī| sevitā devagandharvairmunibhiśca niṣevitā

Ishvara said: Famed among the worlds is the river Ganga, who flows through the three paths, served by gods and gandharvas and attended by sages.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.1.4)

तपनस्य सुता देवी यमुना लोकपावनी। पितॄणां वल्लभा देवी महापातकनाशिनी

tapanasya sutā devī yamunā lokapāvanī| pitṝṇāṁ vallabhā devī mahāpātakanāśinī

The daughter of the Sun, goddess Yamuna, is the purifier of the world, beloved of the ancestors, and destroyer of great sins.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.1.5)

चन्द्रभागा वितस्ता च नर्मदाऽमरकण्टके। कुरुक्षेत्रं गया देवि प्रभासं नैमिषं तथा

candrabhāgā vitastā ca narmadā'marakaṇṭake| kurukṣetraṁ gayā devi prabhāsaṁ naimiṣaṁ tathā

Chandrabhaga, Vitasta, and Narmada at Amarakantaka; O Devi, Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prabhasa, and Naimisha are likewise sacred.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.1.6)

केदारं पुष्करं चैव तथा कायावरोहणम्। तथा पुण्यतमं देवि महाकालवनं शुभम्

kedāraṁ puṣkaraṁ caiva tathā kāyāvarohaṇam| tathā puṇyatamaṁ devi mahākālavanaṁ śubham

Kedara and Pushkara too, and likewise Kayavarohana; and, O Devi, the most sacred and auspicious Mahakala-vana as well.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.1.7)

यत्रास्ते श्रीमहाकालः पापेन्धनहुताशनः। क्षेत्रं योजनपर्यंतं ब्रह्महत्यादिनाशनम्

yatrāste śrīmahākālaḥ pāpendhanahutāśanaḥ| kṣetraṁ yojanaparyaṁtaṁ brahmahatyādināśanam

Where glorious Mahakala dwells, who is the fire consuming the fuel of sin—that field extends a full yojana, and it destroys sins such as the killing of a brahmin.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.1.8)

भुक्तिदं मुक्तिदं क्षेत्रं कलिकल्मषनाशनम्। प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं देवि दुष्प्रापं त्रिदशैरपि

bhuktidaṁ muktidaṁ kṣetraṁ kalikalmaṣanāśanam| pralaye'pyakṣayaṁ devi duṣprāpaṁ tridaśairapi

That field bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation, and destroys the impurity of the Kali age; O Devi, it remains imperishable even at cosmic dissolution, and is hard to attain even for the gods.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.1.9)

उमोवाच। प्रभावः कथ्यतां देव क्षेत्रस्यास्य महेश्वर। यानि तीर्थानि विद्यन्ते यानि लिंगानि संति वै

umovāca| prabhāvaḥ kathyatāṁ deva kṣetrasyāsya maheśvara| yāni tīrthāni vidyante yāni liṁgāni saṁti vai

Uma said: O Lord Maheshvara, tell me the glory of this field; tell also what tirthas exist here, and what lingas are present.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.1.10)

तान्यहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे

tānyahaṁ śrotumicchāmi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

I wish to hear all of this carefully; indeed I feel the greatest curiosity.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.1.11)

महादेव उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रयत्नेन प्रभावं पापनाशनम्। क्षेत्रमाद्यं महादेवि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

mahādeva uvāca| śṛṇu devi prayatnena prabhāvaṁ pāpanāśanam| kṣetramādyaṁ mahādevi sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

Mahadeva said: Listen carefully, O Devi, to this sin-destroying glory. O great Devi, this is the foremost field, destroyer of all sins.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.1.12)

श्रीमेरोः संनिधाने च शिखरं रत्नचिह्नितम्। अनेकाश्चर्यनिलयं बहुपादपसंकुलम्

śrīmeroḥ saṁnidhāne ca śikharaṁ ratnacihnitam| anekāścaryanilayaṁ bahupādapasaṁkulam

Near Mount Meru is a peak marked with jewels, the abode of many wonders, thickly covered with trees.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.1.13)

विचित्रधातुभिश्चित्रं स्वच्छस्फटिकवेदिकम्। विचित्रवर्णशोभाढ्यमृषिसंघनिनादितम्

vicitradhātubhiścitraṁ svacchasphaṭikavedikam| vicitravarṇaśobhāḍhyamṛṣisaṁghanināditam

It is colourful with various minerals and set with platforms of clear crystal; rich with the splendour of many hues, and resounding with the voices of assemblies of sages.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.1.14)

मृगनागेन्द्रसंयुक्तं गजयूथसमाकुलम्। निर्झरांबुप्रपातोत्थशीकराकरसंकुलम्

mṛganāgendrasaṁyuktaṁ gajayūthasamākulam| nirjharāṁbuprapātotthaśīkarākarasaṁkulam

It is filled with deer and great serpents, thronged with herds of elephants, and pervaded by the spray rising from cascading mountain streams.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.1.15)

वाताहततरुव्रातप्रसूनास्थानचित्रितम्। मृगनाभिवरामोदवासिता शेषकाननम्

vātāhatataruvrātaprasūnāsthānacitritam| mṛganābhivarāmodavāsitā śeṣakānanam

Its resting-places are adorned with the blossoms of trees stirred by the wind; the whole forest is fragrant with the fine scent of musk-deer.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.1.16)

लतागृहरतिस्थानं सिद्धविद्याधराश्रयम्। प्रवीणकिन्नरव्रातमधुरध्वनिनादितम्

latāgṛharatisthānaṁ siddhavidyādharāśrayam| pravīṇakinnaravrātamadhuradhvanināditam

It is a place of delight amid arbours of creepers, a refuge for the Siddhas and Vidyadharas, resounding with the sweet music of skilled bands of Kinnaras.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.1.17)

तस्मिन्वने महारम्ये शोभिताशेषभूमिकम्। वैराजं नाम भवनं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

tasminvane mahāramye śobhitāśeṣabhūmikam| vairājaṁ nāma bhavanaṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

In that great and delightful forest, its entire ground resplendent, stands the palace named Viraja belonging to Brahma, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.1.18)

तत्र दिव्यांगनागीतमधुरध्वनिनादिता। पारिजाततरुच्छन्नमंजरीदामशोभिता

tatra divyāṁganāgītamadhuradhvanināditā| pārijātatarucchannamaṁjarīdāmaśobhitā

There it resounds with the sweet melodies sung by celestial women, and it is adorned with garlands woven from the blossoms of Parijata trees.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.1.19)

बहुवाद्यसमुन्नद्धमहास्वननिनादिता। लयतालयुतानेकगीतवादित्रनादिता

bahuvādyasamunnaddhamahāsvananināditā| layatālayutānekagītavāditranāditā

It resounds with the great sound raised by many instruments, ringing with numerous songs and instrumental music set to rhythm and beat.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.1.20)

विन्यस्ता कोटिभिः स्तंभैर्निर्मलादर्शशोभिता। लयतालयुतानेकमहाकौतुकसंयुता

vinyastā koṭibhiḥ staṁbhairnirmalādarśaśobhitā| layatālayutānekamahākautukasaṁyutā

It is arrayed with countless pillars and resplendent with spotless mirrors, endowed with numerous great and wondrous delights set to rhythm.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.1.21)

अप्सरोनृत्यविन्यासविलासोल्लासशोभिता। सभा कांतिमतीनाम देवानां हर्षदायिका

apsaronṛtyavinyāsavilāsollāsaśobhitā| sabhā kāṁtimatīnāma devānāṁ harṣadāyikā

It is resplendent with the graceful arrangements of the Apsarases' dancing; that radiant assembly gives joy to the gods.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.1.22)

ऋषिसंघसमाकीर्णा मुनिवृन्दनिषेविता। द्विजातिवेदशब्देन नादिताऽनंददायिका

ṛṣisaṁghasamākīrṇā munivṛndaniṣevitā| dvijātivedaśabdena nāditā'naṁdadāyikā

It is thronged with assemblies of sages and frequented by hosts of munis; resounding with the Vedic chant of the twice-born, it bestows bliss.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.1.23)

तस्यां निविष्टं वागीशं शंकराराधने रतम्। सनत्कुमारं ब्रह्मर्षिं ब्रह्मणो मानसं सुतम्

tasyāṁ niviṣṭaṁ vāgīśaṁ śaṁkarārādhane ratam| sanatkumāraṁ brahmarṣiṁ brahmaṇo mānasaṁ sutam

In that assembly sat the Lord of Speech, Sanatkumara, devoted to the worship of Shankara—a brahmin-sage, the mind-born son of Brahma.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.1.24)

मुनिमध्यात्समुत्थाय कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः। पराशरसुतो व्यासः प्रणिपत्य यथाविधि

munimadhyātsamutthāya kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ| parāśarasuto vyāsaḥ praṇipatya yathāvidhi

Rising from the midst of the sages, the sage Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, son of Parashara, bowed down according to due rite.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.1.25)

कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा भवभक्त्यानुभावितः। पप्रच्छ परया तुष्ट्या हर्षितांगरुहाननः

kṛtāṁjalipuṭo bhūtvā bhavabhaktyānubhāvitaḥ| papraccha parayā tuṣṭyā harṣitāṁgaruhānanaḥ

With joined palms, moved by devotion to Bhava, he asked his question with the greatest joy, his face beaming and the hairs of his body thrilling with delight.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.1.26)

महाकालस्य माहात्म्यं प्राणिनां मोहनाशनम्। व्यास उवाच। महाकालवनं कस्मात्प्रोच्यते सर्वतो वरम्

mahākālasya māhātmyaṁ prāṇināṁ mohanāśanam| vyāsa uvāca| mahākālavanaṁ kasmātprocyate sarvato varam

...the glory of Mahakala, which destroys the delusion of living beings. Vyasa said: Why is the forest of Mahakala declared supreme above all?

Verse 27 (skanda.5.1.27)

भगवन्क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं महाकालस्य कथ्यताम्। कथं गुह्यवनं प्रोक्तं पीठत्वमूषरं तथा

bhagavankṣetramāhātmyaṁ mahākālasya kathyatām| kathaṁ guhyavanaṁ proktaṁ pīṭhatvamūṣaraṁ tathā

O Lord, tell me the glory of the field of Mahakala. Why is it called the 'secret forest', and how does it come to be a 'seat' and a 'barren ground'?

Verse 28 (skanda.5.1.28)

फलं यथात्र वसतां मृतानां च गतिर्यथा। स्नानेन यद्भवेत्पुण्यं दानेनापि च यत्फलम्

phalaṁ yathātra vasatāṁ mṛtānāṁ ca gatiryathā| snānena yadbhavetpuṇyaṁ dānenāpi ca yatphalam

What is the reward for those who dwell there, and what is the destiny of those who die there? What merit comes from bathing there, and what fruit from giving gifts?

Verse 29 (skanda.5.1.29)

कथमेतत्स्मशानं च क्षेत्रं प्रोक्तं यथा तथा। पृष्टं मे शंकरे भक्त्या ब्रूहि त्वं शास्त्रकोविद

kathametatsmaśānaṁ ca kṣetraṁ proktaṁ yathā tathā| pṛṣṭaṁ me śaṁkare bhaktyā brūhi tvaṁ śāstrakovida

How is it called a cremation-ground, and how is it called a field in just this way? Out of devotion I have asked Shankara this; tell me, O you who are versed in the scriptures.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.1.30)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। क्षीयते पातकं यत्र तेनेदं क्षेत्रमुच्यते। यस्मात्स्थानं च मातॄणां पीठं तेनैव कथ्यते

sanatkumāra uvāca| kṣīyate pātakaṁ yatra tenedaṁ kṣetramucyate| yasmātsthānaṁ ca mātṝṇāṁ pīṭhaṁ tenaiva kathyate

Sanatkumara said: Because sin is destroyed here, it is called a 'kshetra' (field); and because it is the abode of the Mother-goddesses, it is called a 'pitha' (seat).

Verse 31 (skanda.5.1.31)

मृताः पुनर्न जायंते तेनेदमूषरं स्मृतम्। गुह्यमेतत्प्रियं नित्यं क्षेत्रं शंभोर्महात्मनः

mṛtāḥ punarna jāyaṁte tenedamūṣaraṁ smṛtam| guhyametatpriyaṁ nityaṁ kṣetraṁ śaṁbhormahātmanaḥ

Here the dead are not born again, and so it is remembered as 'ushara' (barren of rebirth); this is ever the dear and secret field of the great-souled Shambhu.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.1.32)

यस्मादिष्टं हि भूतानां स्मशानमतिवल्लभम्। महाकालवनं यच्च तथा चैवाविमुक्तिकम्

yasmādiṣṭaṁ hi bhūtānāṁ smaśānamativallabham| mahākālavanaṁ yacca tathā caivāvimuktikam

Because it is dear to all beings, this cremation-ground is most beloved; the forest of Mahakala is therefore also called Avimuktika, the never-forsaken.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.1.33)

एकाम्रकं भद्रकालं करवीरवनमेव च। कोलागिरिस्तथा काशी प्रयागममरेश्वरम्

ekāmrakaṁ bhadrakālaṁ karavīravanameva ca| kolāgiristathā kāśī prayāgamamareśvaram

Ekamraka, Bhadrakala, and Karavira-vana too; Kolagiri, and likewise Kashi, Prayaga, and Amareshvara.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.1.34)

भरथं चैव केदारं दिव्यं रुद्रमहालयम्। दिव्यस्मशानान्येतानि रुद्रस्येष्टानि नित्यशः

bharathaṁ caiva kedāraṁ divyaṁ rudramahālayam| divyasmaśānānyetāni rudrasyeṣṭāni nityaśaḥ

Bharatha too, and Kedara, the divine great abode of Rudra; these are the divine cremation-grounds, ever beloved of Rudra.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.1.35)

रमते भगवानेषु सिद्धक्षेत्रेषु सर्वदा। पृथिव्यां नैमिषं तीर्थमुत्तमं तीर्थपुष्करम्

ramate bhagavāneṣu siddhakṣetreṣu sarvadā| pṛthivyāṁ naimiṣaṁ tīrthamuttamaṁ tīrthapuṣkaram

The Lord ever delights in these perfected fields; on this earth, Naimisha is the foremost tirtha, and Pushkara the best among tirthas.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.1.36)

त्रयाणामपि लोकानां कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रशस्यते। कुरुक्षेत्राद्दशगुणा पुण्या वाराणसी मता

trayāṇāmapi lokānāṁ kurukṣetraṁ praśasyate| kurukṣetrāddaśaguṇā puṇyā vārāṇasī matā

Among all three worlds, Kurukshetra is most praised; ten times more sacred than Kurukshetra is reckoned Varanasi.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.1.37)

तस्या दशगुणं व्यास महाकालवनोत्तमम्। प्रभासाद्यानि तीर्थानि पृथिव्यामिह यानि तु

tasyā daśaguṇaṁ vyāsa mahākālavanottamam| prabhāsādyāni tīrthāni pṛthivyāmiha yāni tu

Ten times more than that, O Vyasa, is the supreme forest of Mahakala—greater than all the tirthas on this earth, beginning with Prabhasa.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.1.38)

प्रभासमुत्तमं तीर्थं क्षेत्रमाद्यं पिनाकिनः। श्रीशैलमुत्तमं तीर्थं देवदारुवनं तथा

prabhāsamuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ kṣetramādyaṁ pinākinaḥ| śrīśailamuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ devadāruvanaṁ tathā

Prabhasa is the foremost tirtha, the first field of Pinakin; Shrishaila is a foremost tirtha, and Devadaru-vana likewise.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.1.39)

तस्मादप्युत्तमं व्यास पुण्या वाराणसी मता। तस्माद्दशगुणं प्रोक्तं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं यतः

tasmādapyuttamaṁ vyāsa puṇyā vārāṇasī matā| tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ proktaṁ sarvatīrthottamaṁ yataḥ

More supreme even than that, O Vyasa, is reckoned holy Varanasi; ten times greater still is it declared, for it is supreme among all tirthas.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.1.40)

महाकालवनं गुह्यं सिद्धक्षेत्रं तथोषरम्। किंचिद्गुह्यान्यथान्यानि स्मशानान्यूषराणि च

mahākālavanaṁ guhyaṁ siddhakṣetraṁ tathoṣaram| kiṁcidguhyānyathānyāni smaśānānyūṣarāṇi ca

The forest of Mahakala is secret, a perfected field, and also 'ushara'; a few other places too are secret, cremation-grounds, and 'ushara'.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.1.41)

सर्वतस्तु समाख्यातं महाकालवनं मुने। स्मशानमूषरक्षेत्रं पीठं तु वनमेव च

sarvatastu samākhyātaṁ mahākālavanaṁ mune| smaśānamūṣarakṣetraṁ pīṭhaṁ tu vanameva ca

In every way, O sage, Mahakala-vana is thus proclaimed to be a cremation-ground, an 'ushara' field, a 'pitha', and also a forest.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.1.42)

पंचैकत्र न लभ्यंते महाकालपुरादृते

paṁcaikatra na labhyaṁte mahākālapurādṛte

All five of these together are found nowhere else except in Mahakalapura.