The Glory of Khandeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.102.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। एकत्रिंशत्तमं विद्धि देवं खंडेश्वरं प्रिये। संपूर्णं जायते यस्य दर्शाद्दानव्रतादिकम्

śrīmahādeva uvāca| ekatriṁśattamaṁ viddhi devaṁ khaṁḍeśvaraṁ priye| saṁpūrṇaṁ jāyate yasya darśāddānavratādikam

Shri Mahadeva said: Know, O beloved, the thirty-first deity as Khandeshvara — by whose sight one's incomplete gifts, vows, and the like become whole.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.102.2)

आसीत्त्रेतायुगे देवि भद्राश्वोनाम पार्थिवः। यस्य नाम्नाऽभवद्वर्षं भद्राश्वंनाम नामतः

āsīttretāyuge devi bhadrāśvonāma pārthivaḥ| yasya nāmnā'bhavadvarṣaṁ bhadrāśvaṁnāma nāmataḥ

In the Treta Yuga, O Devi, there was a king named Bhadrashva, by whose name a land came to be called Bhadrashva.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.102.3)

तस्यागस्त्यः कदाचित्तु गृहमागम्य सत्तमः। उवाच सप्तरात्रं तु वसामि भवतो गृहे

tasyāgastyaḥ kadācittu gṛhamāgamya sattamaḥ| uvāca saptarātraṁ tu vasāmi bhavato gṛhe

Once, that most excellent sage Agastya, coming to his house, said: 'I shall dwell seven nights in your house.'

Verse 4 (skanda.5.102.4)

तं राजा शिरसा नत्वा स्वास्यतामित्यभाषत। तस्य कांतिमतीनाम भार्या परमशोभना

taṁ rājā śirasā natvā svāsyatāmityabhāṣata| tasya kāṁtimatīnāma bhāryā paramaśobhanā

The king, bowing his head to him, said: 'Be seated.' He had a most beautiful wife named Kantimati.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.102.5)

तस्यास्तेजः समभवद्द्वादशादित्यसंनिभम्। सपत्नीनां शतं तस्या विद्यते वरवर्णिनि

tasyāstejaḥ samabhavaddvādaśādityasaṁnibham| sapatnīnāṁ śataṁ tasyā vidyate varavarṇini

O fair one, her radiance was equal to twelve suns; she had a hundred co-wives.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.102.6)

ता दास्य इव कर्माणि कुर्वंत्यहरहः सदा। कांतिमत्याः प्रभावेन भयोत्त्र स्ताः सुलोचनाः

tā dāsya iva karmāṇi kurvaṁtyaharahaḥ sadā| kāṁtimatyāḥ prabhāvena bhayottra stāḥ sulocanāḥ

They, like maidservants, performed tasks day after day; those lovely-eyed co-wives were struck with awe by the power of Kantimati.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.102.7)

तामगस्त्यस्तथा दृष्ट्वा तन्मुखासक्तलोचनाम्। एवंभूतां तथा दृष्ट्वा राज्ञीं परमशोभनाम्। साधुसाधु जगन्नाथेत्यगस्त्यः प्राह हर्षितः

tāmagastyastathā dṛṣṭvā tanmukhāsaktalocanām| evaṁbhūtāṁ tathā dṛṣṭvā rājñīṁ paramaśobhanām| sādhusādhu jagannāthetyagastyaḥ prāha harṣitaḥ

Agastya, seeing her thus, his eyes fixed upon her face, seeing that most beautiful queen in such a state, said, delighted: 'Excellent, excellent, O Lord of the world!'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.102.8)

द्वितीये दिवसेप्येवं राज्ञीं दृष्ट्वा महाप्रभाम्। अहो ह्यंगनया मुष्टं जगदेतच्चराचरम्

dvitīye divasepyevaṁ rājñīṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāprabhām| aho hyaṁganayā muṣṭaṁ jagadetaccarācaram

On the second day too, seeing the queen of great splendor thus, he exclaimed: 'Ah, this whole moving and unmoving world has been stolen away by this woman!'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.102.9)

इत्यगस्त्यो द्वितीयेऽह्नि राज्ञीं दृष्टेत्युवाच ह। तृतीयेऽह्नि च तां दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवमुवाच ह

ityagastyo dvitīye'hni rājñīṁ dṛṣṭetyuvāca ha| tṛtīye'hni ca tāṁ dṛṣṭvā punarevamuvāca ha

Thus Agastya, on the second day, having seen the queen, spoke so; and on the third day too, seeing her again, he spoke likewise.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.102.10)

अहो मूढा न जानंति लिंगमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। महाकालवने क्षेत्रे च्यवनेशस्य पूर्वतः

aho mūḍhā na jānaṁti liṁgamāhātmyamuttamam| mahākālavane kṣetre cyavaneśasya pūrvataḥ

'Ah, fools do not know the supreme glory of the linga — in the field of Mahakalavana, to the east of Chyavaneshvara —'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.102.11)

खंडव्रतानि जायंते पूर्णानि दर्शनाद्यदः। चतुर्थे दिवसे हस्तावुत्क्षिप्य पुनरब्रवीत्

khaṁḍavratāni jāyaṁte pūrṇāni darśanādyadaḥ| caturthe divase hastāvutkṣipya punarabravīt

'by whose sight, broken vows become complete.' On the fourth day, raising both hands, he spoke again:

Verse 12 (skanda.5.102.12)

साधुसाधु जगन्नाथ साधु भद्राश्व सुव्रत। पंचमे दिवसेऽप्येवं षष्ठे चैव पुनःपुनः

sādhusādhu jagannātha sādhu bhadrāśva suvrata| paṁcame divase'pyevaṁ ṣaṣṭhe caiva punaḥpunaḥ

'Excellent, excellent, O Lord of the world! Excellent, O Bhadrashva of good vows!' So too on the fifth day, and on the sixth, again and again.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.102.13)

नृत्यंतं सप्तमे दृष्ट्वा दिने पत्न्या समन्वितः। प्रोवाच चैनं राजा स विस्मितेनांतरात्मना। किं हर्षकारणं ब्रह्मन्येन नृत्यसमन्वितः

nṛtyaṁtaṁ saptame dṛṣṭvā dine patnyā samanvitaḥ| provāca cainaṁ rājā sa vismitenāṁtarātmanā| kiṁ harṣakāraṇaṁ brahmanyena nṛtyasamanvitaḥ

On the seventh day, seeing him dancing, the king, together with his queen, astonished at heart, said to him: 'O Brahmin, what is the reason for this joy, that has you dancing?'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.102.14)

अगस्त्य उवाच। अहो भूपाल मूढस्त्वं महामूर्खाश्च मंत्रिणः। अहो पुरोहितो मुग्धो ये न जानंति मे मतम्

agastya uvāca| aho bhūpāla mūḍhastvaṁ mahāmūrkhāśca maṁtriṇaḥ| aho purohito mugdho ye na jānaṁti me matam

Agastya said: 'Ah, O king, you are a fool, and your ministers are utter dolts; ah, foolish is your priest too — none of you understand my meaning.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.102.15)

ईदृशा अपि जायंते राजानो यस्य दर्शनात्। एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा कृतांजलिरभाषत

īdṛśā api jāyaṁte rājāno yasya darśanāt| evamuktastato rājā kṛtāṁjalirabhāṣata

'By whose sight even such kings as this one come to be born.' Thus addressed, the king, with joined palms, said:

Verse 16 (skanda.5.102.16)

न जानीमो वयं ब्रह्मन्नभिप्रायं तवाधुना। कथयस्व महाभाग यद्यनुग्रहकृद्भवान्

na jānīmo vayaṁ brahmannabhiprāyaṁ tavādhunā| kathayasva mahābhāga yadyanugrahakṛdbhavān

'O Brahmin, we do not now know your intent; tell us, O most fortunate one, if you would be gracious.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.102.17)

अगस्त्य उवाच। इयं राज्ञी त्वदीयाभूद्दासी वैश्यस्य वैदिशे। नगरे हरिदत्तस्य त्वमस्याः पतिरेव च। खंडव्रतप्रभावेन जातः कर्मकरो भवान्

agastya uvāca| iyaṁ rājñī tvadīyābhūddāsī vaiśyasya vaidiśe| nagare haridattasya tvamasyāḥ patireva ca| khaṁḍavrataprabhāvena jātaḥ karmakaro bhavān

Agastya said: 'This queen of yours was formerly the maidservant of a Vaishya named Haridatta in the city of Vaidisha; and you were her husband, likewise a servant, both now made king and queen through the power of the linga's Khanda-vrata.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.102.18)

स च वैश्यो महाकाले गत्वा देवं महेश्वरम्। अर्चयामास विविवद्गंधपुष्पादिभिः शुभैः

sa ca vaiśyo mahākāle gatvā devaṁ maheśvaram| arcayāmāsa vivivadgaṁdhapuṣpādibhiḥ śubhaiḥ

'That Vaishya, having gone to Mahakala, worshipped the great god Maheshvara with various auspicious offerings of scent, flowers, and the like.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.102.19)

अभ्यर्च्य तु गृहं यावद्भवंतौ रक्षपालकौ। ततः कालेन महता मृतौ द्वावपि दंपती

abhyarcya tu gṛhaṁ yāvadbhavaṁtau rakṣapālakau| tataḥ kālena mahatā mṛtau dvāvapi daṁpatī

'As long as you two were his guardians until he returned home from his worship — then, after a long time, both of that couple died.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.102.20)

तेन पुण्येन ते जन्म प्रियव्रतगृहेऽभवत्। इयं च पत्नी ते जाता पुरा वैश्यप्रदासिका

tena puṇyena te janma priyavratagṛhe'bhavat| iyaṁ ca patnī te jātā purā vaiśyapradāsikā

'By that merit, your birth occurred in the household of Priyavrata; and this your wife, who was formerly the Vaishya's maidservant, was born as queen.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.102.21)

परकीयप्रसंगेन संजाता भूभिरुत्तमा। राज्यं पत्नी सुता साधुरित्युक्तं वचनं मया

parakīyaprasaṁgena saṁjātā bhūbhiruttamā| rājyaṁ patnī sutā sādhurityuktaṁ vacanaṁ mayā

'Through connection with another's merit she became the foremost among women on earth. Kingdom, wife, son, virtue — such is the word I have spoken.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.102.22)

तस्य देवस्य माहात्म्याद्यजंतं विविधैर्मखैः। पश्यामि त्वां महीपाल भूपालशतवेदितम्

tasya devasya māhātmyādyajaṁtaṁ vividhairmakhaiḥ| paśyāmi tvāṁ mahīpāla bhūpālaśataveditam

'By the greatness of that god, O king, I now see you, worshipped with various sacrifices, known to a hundred kings.'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.102.23)

अतः साधुपुरा प्रोक्तं मया तव महीपते

ataḥ sādhupurā proktaṁ mayā tava mahīpate

'Therefore, O king, I earlier said the word excellent to you.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.102.24)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कुंभयोनेर्महात्मनः। महाकालवने गंतुं मतिं चक्रे महीपतिः। ततः सांतःपुरः प्रायात्तेन सार्द्धं महर्षिणा

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā kuṁbhayonermahātmanaḥ| mahākālavane gaṁtuṁ matiṁ cakre mahīpatiḥ| tataḥ sāṁtaḥpuraḥ prāyāttena sārddhaṁ maharṣiṇā

Hearing these words of that great-souled Kumbhayoni (Agastya), the king resolved to go to Mahakalavana; then, with his royal household, he set out together with that great sage.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.102.25)

अगस्त्यकथितं लिंगं ददर्श श्रद्धया पुनः। पूजयामास विधिवत्पत्न्या सार्द्धं महीपतिः

agastyakathitaṁ liṁgaṁ dadarśa śraddhayā punaḥ| pūjayāmāsa vidhivatpatnyā sārddhaṁ mahīpatiḥ

He beheld with faith the linga that Agastya had spoken of, and the king, together with his queen, worshipped it according to rite.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.102.26)

ततस्तुष्टस्तदा देवो नृपं प्राहामितद्युतिः। मनोऽभीष्टं तपस्तेस्तु भोगमैश्वर्यमेव च

tatastuṣṭastadā devo nṛpaṁ prāhāmitadyutiḥ| mano'bhīṣṭaṁ tapastestu bhogamaiśvaryameva ca

Then the god, pleased, of measureless splendor, said to the king: 'Your austerity shall bear the fruit your heart desires — enjoyment and sovereignty,'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.102.27)

कुलं प्रभावं सौभाग्यं दीर्घमायुररोगिताम्। निःसपत्नं ततो राज्यं कृत्वा स्वर्गमवाप्स्यति

kulaṁ prabhāvaṁ saubhāgyaṁ dīrghamāyurarogitām| niḥsapatnaṁ tato rājyaṁ kṛtvā svargamavāpsyati

'lineage, glory, fortune, long life, and freedom from illness shall all be yours; and having ruled a kingdom free of rivals, you shall attain heaven.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.102.28)

इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन् गतोऽसौ विषयं स्वकम्। निष्कंटकं ततो राज्यं कृत्वा स्वर्गं गतः प्रिये

ityukto devadeven gato'sau viṣayaṁ svakam| niṣkaṁṭakaṁ tato rājyaṁ kṛtvā svargaṁ gataḥ priye

Thus addressed by the God of gods, he returned to his own realm; and, O beloved, having ruled his kingdom free of thorns, he attained heaven.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.102.29)

अनेकजन्मचरितं खंडव्रतकदम्बकम्। संपूर्णमभवद्देवि लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः

anekajanmacaritaṁ khaṁḍavratakadambakam| saṁpūrṇamabhavaddevi liṁgasyāsya prabhāvataḥ

O Devi, the accumulated broken vows performed across many births became complete by the power of this linga.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.102.30)

अतः खण्डेश्वरो देवो विख्यातो भुवनत्रये। ये पश्यंति नरा देवि देवं खण्डेश्वरं शिवम्

ataḥ khaṇḍeśvaro devo vikhyāto bhuvanatraye| ye paśyaṁti narā devi devaṁ khaṇḍeśvaraṁ śivam

Therefore this god became renowned as Khandeshvara in the three worlds. Those men, O Devi, who behold the god Khandeshvara Shiva —

Verse 31 (skanda.5.102.31)

खण्डव्रतानि पूर्णानि तेषामाशु भवंति हि। तपःखण्डं व्रते खण्डं दानखंडं च यत्कृ तम्। तत्सर्वं पूर्णतां याति श्रीखंडेश्वरदर्शनात्

khaṇḍavratāni pūrṇāni teṣāmāśu bhavaṁti hi| tapaḥkhaṇḍaṁ vrate khaṇḍaṁ dānakhaṁḍaṁ ca yatkṛ tam| tatsarvaṁ pūrṇatāṁ yāti śrīkhaṁḍeśvaradarśanāt

their broken vows swiftly become whole; whatever deficiency there be in austerity, in vows, or in charity performed — all of it attains completeness through the sight of Shri Khandeshvara.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.102.32)

दृष्ट्वा खंडेश्वरं देवं पापविघ्नैः प्रमुच्यते। सप्तजन्मकृतैर्देवि मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः

dṛṣṭvā khaṁḍeśvaraṁ devaṁ pāpavighnaiḥ pramucyate| saptajanmakṛtairdevi manovākkāyakarmabhiḥ

Having beheld the god Khandeshvara, one is freed from sins and obstacles, O Devi — even those committed across seven births through deed, word, and thought.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.102.33)

दृष्ट्वा खण्डेश्वरं देवं कृतकृत्यत्वमाप्यते। तस्य नश्यति दौर्भाग्यं सप्तजन्मोद्भवं प्रिये

dṛṣṭvā khaṇḍeśvaraṁ devaṁ kṛtakṛtyatvamāpyate| tasya naśyati daurbhāgyaṁ saptajanmodbhavaṁ priye

Having beheld the god Khandeshvara, one attains the state of having accomplished all one's purpose; O beloved, his misfortune, born of seven births, is destroyed.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.102.34)

खंडेश्वरेऽर्चिते देवे सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः। संतुष्टा वरदाश्चैव भवंति वरवर्णिनि

khaṁḍeśvare'rcite deve sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ| saṁtuṣṭā varadāścaiva bhavaṁti varavarṇini

O fair one, when the god Khandeshvara is worshipped, all the gods together with Indra become satisfied and grant their boons.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.102.35)

देवं खंडेश्वरं ये वै यजंति श्रद्धया प्रिये। पुण्यैर्नानाविधैः स्नानैः सुगन्धैश्च विशेषतः

devaṁ khaṁḍeśvaraṁ ye vai yajaṁti śraddhayā priye| puṇyairnānāvidhaiḥ snānaiḥ sugandhaiśca viśeṣataḥ

Those who, O beloved, worship the god Khandeshvara with faith, with various sacred bathings and especially with fragrant offerings,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.102.36)

धूप दीपैर्नमस्कारैर्जपैः स्तोत्रैः पृथग्विधैः। ते सर्वे कामसंपन्नाः श्रीमन्तो राज्यसंयुताः

dhūpa dīpairnamaskārairjapaiḥ stotraiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ| te sarve kāmasaṁpannāḥ śrīmanto rājyasaṁyutāḥ

with incense, lamps, obeisances, japa, and various hymns — all of them become endowed with their desires, prosperous, and joined with kingship.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.102.37)

दीर्घायुषः शुभाचारा जायंते देहिनोऽमलाः। अति श्रेष्ठा गतिस्तेषां विशोका नित्यमक्षयाः। खंडेश्वरप्रसादेन जायंते नात्र संशयः

dīrghāyuṣaḥ śubhācārā jāyaṁte dehino'malāḥ| ati śreṣṭhā gatisteṣāṁ viśokā nityamakṣayāḥ| khaṁḍeśvaraprasādena jāyaṁte nātra saṁśayaḥ

Such embodied beings become long-lived, of pure conduct, and stainless; their destiny is most excellent, sorrow-free, and eternally imperishable — this comes about through the grace of Khandeshvara, without doubt.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.102.38)

एते च विष्णुब्रह्मेंद्रकुवेरदहनादयः। परां सिद्धिं सुसंप्राप्ताः खंडेश्वरसमर्चनात्

ete ca viṣṇubrahmeṁdrakuveradahanādayaḥ| parāṁ siddhiṁ susaṁprāptāḥ khaṁḍeśvarasamarcanāt

Even these — Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Kubera, Agni, and the rest — attained supreme accomplishment through the worship of Khandeshvara.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.102.39)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। खंडेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृणु वै पत्तनेश्वरम्

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| khaṁḍeśvarasya devasya śṛṇu vai pattaneśvaram

This sin-destroying glory of the god Khandeshvara, O Devi, has thus been told to you; now hear of Pattaneshvara.