The Glory of Anandeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.104.1)

श्रीहर उवाच। त्रयस्त्रिंशत्तमं देवमानंदेश्वरमीश्वरम्। विद्धि पापहरं पुण्यं सर्वसंपत्करं सदा

śrīhara uvāca| trayastriṁśattamaṁ devamānaṁdeśvaramīśvaram| viddhi pāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ sadā

Shri Hara said: Know the thirty-third deity, Lord Anandeshvara, ever sin-destroying, meritorious, and the bestower of all prosperity.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.104.2)

पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे बभूव पृथिवीपतिः। अनमित्र इति ख्यातः सार्वभौमो महीतले

purā rāthaṁtare kalpe babhūva pṛthivīpatiḥ| anamitra iti khyātaḥ sārvabhaumo mahītale

Long ago, in the Rathantara kalpa, there was a lord of the earth, known as Anamitra, a universal sovereign upon this world.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.104.3)

धर्मात्मा महात्मा च पराक्रमधनो नृपः। अतीत्य सर्वभूतानि बभौ भानुरिवाव्ययः

dharmātmā mahātmā ca parākramadhano nṛpaḥ| atītya sarvabhūtāni babhau bhānurivāvyayaḥ

That righteous and great-souled king, whose wealth was valor, shone forth surpassing all beings, like the imperishable sun.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.104.4)

समः शत्रौ च पुत्रे च मित्रे च परधर्म्मवित्। गिरिभद्रा गिरेः पुत्री तेनोढा वरवर्णिनी

samaḥ śatrau ca putre ca mitre ca paradharmmavit| giribhadrā gireḥ putrī tenoḍhā varavarṇinī

Equanimous alike toward foe, son, and friend, and knowing the duties of others — he married Giribhadra, the fair daughter of the mountain king.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.104.5)

अतीव वल्लभा सा च प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी। आनंद इति पुत्रोऽभूत्तस्य ज्ञानरतः सुधीः

atīva vallabhā sā ca prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī| ānaṁda iti putro'bhūttasya jñānarataḥ sudhīḥ

She was exceedingly beloved to him, dearer even than his own life. A son was born to him named Ananda, wise and devoted to knowledge.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.104.6)

जातमात्रो निजोत्संगे स्थिरमुल्लाप्य वै पुनः। परिष्वजति हार्देन उल्लापयति पुनःपुनः

jātamātro nijotsaṁge sthiramullāpya vai punaḥ| pariṣvajati hārdena ullāpayati punaḥpunaḥ

As soon as he was born, his mother, holding him steadily upon her lap, spoke soothing words to him again, embraced him with affection, and coaxed him again and again.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.104.7)

स जातिस्मरणो जातो मातुरुत्संगमास्थितः। जहास च तदा माता संक्षुब्धा वाक्यमव्रवीत्

sa jātismaraṇo jāto māturutsaṁgamāsthitaḥ| jahāsa ca tadā mātā saṁkṣubdhā vākyamavravīt

He, born with memory of his past births, seated on his mother's lap, laughed; and the mother, disturbed, then spoke these words:

Verse 8 (skanda.5.104.8)

भीतास्मि किमिदं वत्स हासो यद्वदने तव। अकालबोधः संजातः किंस्वित्पश्यसि शोभनम्

bhītāsmi kimidaṁ vatsa hāso yadvadane tava| akālabodhaḥ saṁjātaḥ kiṁsvitpaśyasi śobhanam

'I am afraid, my child — what is this laughter upon your face? Has an untimely awakening occurred in you? What auspicious thing do you see?'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.104.9)

इत्युक्तो मातरं प्राह सर्वोऽपि स्वार्थमीहते। मां नेतुमिच्छति पुरो मार्जारी किं न पश्यसि। अंतर्धानगता चेयं द्वितीया जातहारिणी

ityukto mātaraṁ prāha sarvo'pi svārthamīhate| māṁ netumicchati puro mārjārī kiṁ na paśyasi| aṁtardhānagatā ceyaṁ dvitīyā jātahāriṇī

Thus addressed, he said to his mother: 'Everyone pursues their own interest. Do you not see that cat before you, wishing to carry me off? She has now vanished — this is the very same Jataharini as before.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.104.10)

पुत्रप्रीत्या च मातस्त्वमतः स्वार्थं समीहसे। उल्लाप्योल्लाप्य बहुशः परिष्वजसि मां बत

putraprītyā ca mātastvamataḥ svārthaṁ samīhase| ullāpyollāpya bahuśaḥ pariṣvajasi māṁ bata

'Out of love for a son, O mother, you too thus pursue your own interest; coaxing me again and again, you embrace me — ah!'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.104.11)

उद्भूते बालके स्नेहात्संभ्रमात्स्त्रीजनोऽप्ययम्। ततोयमागतो हासः शृणु चाप्यत्र कारणम्

udbhūte bālake snehātsaṁbhramātstrījano'pyayam| tatoyamāgato hāsaḥ śṛṇu cāpyatra kāraṇam

'When a child is born, women too, out of affection and excitement, act thus. That is the reason for this laughter of mine — hear the cause of it.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.104.12)

स्वार्थे प्रसक्ता मार्जारी लोलुपा मामवेक्षते। तथांतर्द्धानगा चेयं द्वितीया जातहारिणी

svārthe prasaktā mārjārī lolupā māmavekṣate| tathāṁtarddhānagā ceyaṁ dvitīyā jātahāriṇī

'That cat, intent on her own gain, greedily eyes me; and she has vanished — she is the same Jataharini as before, in a second encounter.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.104.13)

त्वं तु क्रमेणोपभोग्यं मत्तः फलमभीप्ससि। न मां जानासि कोऽप्येवं न वै चोपकृतं मया

tvaṁ tu krameṇopabhogyaṁ mattaḥ phalamabhīpsasi| na māṁ jānāsi ko'pyevaṁ na vai copakṛtaṁ mayā

'You too, in due course, desire from me the fruit that is to be enjoyed in old age; you do not truly know me thus — nor have I yet done anything for you.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.104.14)

संगतिर्नाति बालानां पंचसप्तदिनात्मकम्। तथापि स्निह्यसि प्रीत्या परिष्व जसि संततम्

saṁgatirnāti bālānāṁ paṁcasaptadinātmakam| tathāpi snihyasi prītyā pariṣva jasi saṁtatam

'The bond with infants scarcely lasts five or seven days; yet still you love me with affection, and embrace me continually.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.104.15)

ततेति वत्स भो भद्र इत्यलीकं ब्रवीषि माम्। पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रुद्धा माताऽब्रवीदिदम्

tateti vatsa bho bhadra ityalīkaṁ bravīṣi mām| putrasya vacanaṁ śrutvā kruddhā mātā'bravīdidam

'Calling me child, good one, and the like, you speak falsely of me.' Hearing her son's words, the mother, angered, said this:

Verse 16 (skanda.5.104.16)

नाहं त्वामुपकारार्थं वत्स प्रीत्या परिष्वजे। स्वार्थो मया परित्यक्तो यस्त्वत्तो मे भविष्यति

nāhaṁ tvāmupakārārthaṁ vatsa prītyā pariṣvaje| svārtho mayā parityakto yastvatto me bhaviṣyati

'My child, I do not embrace you with love for the sake of any benefit; I have renounced whatever self-interest might come to me from you.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.104.17)

इत्युक्त्वा सा तमुत्सृज्य निष्क्रांता सूतिकागृहात्। जहार तत्परित्यक्तं सा तदा जातहारिणी

ityuktvā sā tamutsṛjya niṣkrāṁtā sūtikāgṛhāt| jahāra tatparityaktaṁ sā tadā jātahāriṇī

Having said this, she abandoned him and left the birthing-chamber; and then that Jataharini carried off the child thus abandoned.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.104.18)

सा हृत्वा तं तदा बालं पूर्वजातिस्मरं प्रिये। हैमिन्याः शयने न्यस्यद्विक्रांतस्य महीभृतः

sā hṛtvā taṁ tadā bālaṁ pūrvajātismaraṁ priye| haiminyāḥ śayane nyasyadvikrāṁtasya mahībhṛtaḥ

Having stolen that child, who remembered his former birth, O beloved, she placed him upon the bed of Haimini, wife of the mighty king Vikranta.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.104.19)

मत्वा स्वकीयं पुत्रं तु विक्रांतेन महीभृता। कृतं वै नामकरणमानंद इति विश्रुतम्

matvā svakīyaṁ putraṁ tu vikrāṁtena mahībhṛtā| kṛtaṁ vai nāmakaraṇamānaṁda iti viśrutam

Believing him to be his own son, King Vikranta performed the naming ceremony, and he became renowned by the name Ananda.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.104.20)

विक्रांतस्य सुतो नीतो बोधस्य च द्विजन्मनः। चैत्रनामा कृतस्तेन संस्कृतो वेदमंत्रकैः

vikrāṁtasya suto nīto bodhasya ca dvijanmanaḥ| caitranāmā kṛtastena saṁskṛto vedamaṁtrakaiḥ

King Vikranta's own son was carried off and given to a twice-born named Bodha; he was named Chaitra, and was consecrated with Vedic mantras.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.104.21)

तृतीयं भक्षयामास बोधपुत्रं निशाचरी। जातिस्मरोऽप्यथानंदः कृतोपनयनस्तदा

tṛtīyaṁ bhakṣayāmāsa bodhaputraṁ niśācarī| jātismaro'pyathānaṁdaḥ kṛtopanayanastadā

That night-demoness then devoured a third child, the son of Bodha. Ananda, who remembered his past births, then underwent the sacred-thread ceremony.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.104.22)

गुरुणा समनुज्ञातं क्रियतामभिवादनम्। जनन्याः प्रागुपस्थानमित्युक्तो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

guruṇā samanujñātaṁ kriyatāmabhivādanam| jananyāḥ prāgupasthānamityukto vākyamabravīt

Permitted by his teacher, being told 'Perform the salutation — first present yourself before your mother' — thus instructed, he spoke these words:

Verse 23 (skanda.5.104.23)

वंद्या मे कतमा माता जनित्री पालिनी च वा। आनंदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गुरुर्वचनमब्रवीत्

vaṁdyā me katamā mātā janitrī pālinī ca vā| ānaṁdasya vacaḥ śrutvā gururvacanamabravīt

'Which mother am I to venerate — the one who bore me, or the one who has nurtured me?' Hearing Ananda's words, the teacher spoke:

Verse 24 (skanda.5.104.24)

नन्वियं ते महाभाग जनित्री जनकात्मजा। विक्रांतस्याग्रमहिषी हैमिनीनाम नामतः

nanviyaṁ te mahābhāga janitrī janakātmajā| vikrāṁtasyāgramahiṣī haiminīnāma nāmataḥ

'Surely, O most fortunate one, this is your birth-mother, daughter of a king, the chief queen of Vikranta, named Haimini.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.104.25)

आनंद उवाच। चैत्रस्य प्रसवित्रीयं चैत्रोऽयं द्विजवेश्मनि। संस्कृतो ब्राह्मणैर्मंत्रैर्गिरिभद्रासुतस्त्वहम्

ānaṁda uvāca| caitrasya prasavitrīyaṁ caitro'yaṁ dvijaveśmani| saṁskṛto brāhmaṇairmaṁtrairgiribhadrāsutastvaham

Ananda said: 'This one is the birth-mother of Chaitra; and this Chaitra was consecrated with Brahmin mantras in the house of a twice-born; but I am truly the son of Giribhadra.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.104.26)

गुरुराह ततः कस्त्वं चैत्रः को वा त्वयोच्यते। ततः स कथयामास पूर्ववृत्तांतमादितः

gururāha tataḥ kastvaṁ caitraḥ ko vā tvayocyate| tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa pūrvavṛttāṁtamāditaḥ

The teacher then said: 'Who are you, then, and who is this Chaitra you speak of?' Then he related the whole account from the beginning.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.104.27)

।। गुरुरुवाच ।।। अतीव गहनं वत्स संकटं महदागतम्। न वेद्मि किंचिन्मोहेन भ्रमंति मम बुद्धयः

|| gururuvāca ||| atīva gahanaṁ vatsa saṁkaṭaṁ mahadāgatam| na vedmi kiṁcinmohena bhramaṁti mama buddhayaḥ

The teacher said: 'This is exceedingly deep and difficult, my child; a great crisis has arisen. I know nothing; my understanding wanders, bewildered.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.104.28)

आनंद उवाच। मोहस्यावसरः कोऽत्र जगत्येवं व्यवस्थितः। कः कस्य पुत्रो विप्रर्षे को वा कस्य न बांधवः

ānaṁda uvāca| mohasyāvasaraḥ ko'tra jagatyevaṁ vyavasthitaḥ| kaḥ kasya putro viprarṣe ko vā kasya na bāṁdhavaḥ

Ananda said: 'What occasion is there here for confusion, when the world is thus constituted? O sage among Brahmins, who indeed is anyone's son, or who is not related to whom?'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.104.29)

अतः संसारता हंति संसारं प्राणिनामिह। महामोहहतं चेतश्चित्रमत्र कथं गुरो

ataḥ saṁsāratā haṁti saṁsāraṁ prāṇināmiha| mahāmohahataṁ cetaścitramatra kathaṁ guro

'Thus the very nature of worldly existence destroys creatures caught in this world; how strange, O teacher, that the mind is overcome by such great delusion!'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.104.30)

ब्रह्मपुत्रस्य दुष्टस्य दुःसहस्य सुता भुवि। जातहारिणिकानाम परिवर्त्तयते सुतान्

brahmaputrasya duṣṭasya duḥsahasya sutā bhuvi| jātahāriṇikānāma parivarttayate sutān

'The wicked and unbearable daughter of a son of Brahma, known upon earth as Jataharini, exchanges the children of others.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.104.31)

मातृद्वयं मया प्राप्तमस्मिन्नेव हि जन्मनि। मातृद्वयमथो प्राप्तं जातिं संस्मरता सता

mātṛdvayaṁ mayā prāptamasminneva hi janmani| mātṛdvayamatho prāptaṁ jātiṁ saṁsmaratā satā

'I have obtained two mothers in this very birth; and, remembering my past birth, I, being of good conduct, have thus obtained a pair of mothers.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.104.32)

सोऽहं तपः करिष्यामि चैत्र आनीयतामिति। ततः सुविस्मितो राजा सभार्यः सह बंधुभिः

so'haṁ tapaḥ kariṣyāmi caitra ānīyatāmiti| tataḥ suvismito rājā sabhāryaḥ saha baṁdhubhiḥ

'Therefore I shall perform austerities; let Chaitra be brought here.' Then the king, greatly astonished, together with his queen and kinsmen,

Verse 33 (skanda.5.104.33)

तस्मान्निवर्त्त्य ममता मनुमेने च तं प्रति। चैत्रमानीय तनयं राज्ययोग्यं चकार सः

tasmānnivarttya mamatā manumene ca taṁ prati| caitramānīya tanayaṁ rājyayogyaṁ cakāra saḥ

turned his affection away from Ananda and accepted this truth regarding him; and, bringing Chaitra, he made him fit for the kingdom as his rightful son.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.104.34)

सन्मान्य ब्राह्मणं येन पुत्रबुद्ध्या स पालितः। सोऽप्यानंदस्तपस्तेपे महाकालवने शुभे

sanmānya brāhmaṇaṁ yena putrabuddhyā sa pālitaḥ| so'pyānaṁdastapastepe mahākālavane śubhe

Having honored the Brahmin by whom Chaitra had been raised with the thought of a son — Ananda, for his part, performed austerities in the auspicious Mahakalavana.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.104.35)

इंद्रेश्वरस्य देवस्य पश्चिमे लिंगमुत्तमम्। भक्त्या ह्याराधयामास तपसा दुष्करेण तु

iṁdreśvarasya devasya paścime liṁgamuttamam| bhaktyā hyārādhayāmāsa tapasā duṣkareṇa tu

To the west of the god Indreshvara stood a supreme linga; with devotion, and through arduous austerity, he worshipped it.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.104.36)

तपस्यंतं ततस्तं तु देवः प्राह शुचिस्मिते। किमर्थं तप्यसे वत्स तपस्तीव्रं ब्रवीमि ते

tapasyaṁtaṁ tatastaṁ tu devaḥ prāha śucismite| kimarthaṁ tapyase vatsa tapastīvraṁ bravīmi te

As he practiced austerity, the god said to him — O one of pure smile — 'Why do you practice such fierce austerity, my child? Tell me.'

Verse 37 (skanda.5.104.37)

मनुना भवता भाव्यं षष्ठेन व्रज तत्कुरु। अलं ते तपसा तस्मिंस्ततो मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि

manunā bhavatā bhāvyaṁ ṣaṣṭhena vraja tatkuru| alaṁ te tapasā tasmiṁstato muktimavāpsyasi

'You are destined to become the sixth Manu; go and fulfill that role. Enough of this austerity — thereby you shall attain liberation.'

Verse 38 (skanda.5.104.38)

इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन तथेत्याह महामतिः। बभूव स मनुर्देवि ब्रह्मतुल्यो महायशाः

ityukto devadevena tathetyāha mahāmatiḥ| babhūva sa manurdevi brahmatulyo mahāyaśāḥ

Thus addressed by the God of gods, that wise one said, 'So be it.' He became, O Devi, that Manu, equal to Brahma, of great renown.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.104.39)

पुत्रानुत्पादयामास लिंगस्यास्य समर्चनात्। कृतं नाम तदा देवैरानंदेश्वरमुत्तमम्

putrānutpādayāmāsa liṁgasyāsya samarcanāt| kṛtaṁ nāma tadā devairānaṁdeśvaramuttamam

Through the worship of this linga, he begot sons; then the gods gave it the supreme name Anandeshvara.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.104.40)

आनंदेन यतः प्राप्ता सिद्धिर्देवि सुदुर्ल्लभा। अतो नाम सुविख्यातमानंदेश्वरमीक्ष्यताम्

ānaṁdena yataḥ prāptā siddhirdevi sudurllabhā| ato nāma suvikhyātamānaṁdeśvaramīkṣyatām

Since Ananda, through it, attained an accomplishment most difficult to attain, O Devi, therefore let its name, well-renowned as Anandeshvara, be known.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.104.41)

ये पश्यंति विशालाक्षि आनंदेश्वरमीश्वरम्। ते पुत्रपौत्रसंपन्ना भविष्यंति महीतले

ye paśyaṁti viśālākṣi ānaṁdeśvaramīśvaram| te putrapautrasaṁpannā bhaviṣyaṁti mahītale

Those, O wide-eyed one, who behold the Lord Anandeshvara shall become blessed with sons and grandsons upon this earth.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.104.42)

येषां क्षीणं नृणां पापं कोटिजन्मशतोद्भवम्। तेषां भवति सा भक्तिरानंदेश्वरदर्शनात्

yeṣāṁ kṣīṇaṁ nṛṇāṁ pāpaṁ koṭijanmaśatodbhavam| teṣāṁ bhavati sā bhaktirānaṁdeśvaradarśanāt

Those men whose sin, accumulated across a hundred million births, has been diminished — theirs is that devotion attained through the sight of Anandeshvara.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.104.43)

तदैव पुरुषो मुक्तो जन्ममृत्युजरादिभिः। यदा पश्यति देवेशमानंदेश्वरसंज्ञकम्

tadaiva puruṣo mukto janmamṛtyujarādibhiḥ| yadā paśyati deveśamānaṁdeśvarasaṁjñakam

That very moment a man is freed from birth, death, old age, and the rest, when he beholds the lord of gods known as Anandeshvara.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.104.44)

मयोक्तं मुक्तिदं नृणामानन्देश्वरदर्शनम्। स्वर्गापवर्गदं देवमानंदं लिंगमुत्तमम्। अत्र देवैर्विशालाक्षि पूजितं लिंगमुत्तमम्

mayoktaṁ muktidaṁ nṛṇāmānandeśvaradarśanam| svargāpavargadaṁ devamānaṁdaṁ liṁgamuttamam| atra devairviśālākṣi pūjitaṁ liṁgamuttamam

I have declared that the sight of Anandeshvara grants liberation to men; this supreme linga, called Ananda, bestows both heaven and final release. Here, O wide-eyed one, this supreme linga has been worshipped by the gods.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.104.45)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। आनंदेश्वरदेवस्य शृणु त्वं कंथडेश्वरम्

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| ānaṁdeśvaradevasya śṛṇu tvaṁ kaṁthaḍeśvaram

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