The Glory of Kanthadeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.105.1)

श्रीहर उवाच। चतुस्त्रिंशत्तमं विद्धि देवं वै कंथडेश्वरम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śrīhara uvāca| catustriṁśattamaṁ viddhi devaṁ vai kaṁthaḍeśvaram| yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Shri Hara said: Know, O Devi, the thirty-fourth deity as Kanthadeshvara — by whose mere sight one is freed from all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.105.2)

वितस्तायास्तटे रम्ये ब्राह्मणो निवसन्पुरा। बभूव पांडवोनाम दरिद्रेणातिपीडितः

vitastāyāstaṭe ramye brāhmaṇo nivasanpurā| babhūva pāṁḍavonāma daridreṇātipīḍitaḥ

On the lovely bank of the Vitasta, there once dwelt a Brahmin named Pandava, greatly afflicted by poverty.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.105.3)

ज्ञातिभिश्च परित्यक्तो दुष्टया भार्यया तथा। कंथाप्येका स्थिता यस्य सर्वस्वप्रेमधारिणी

jñātibhiśca parityakto duṣṭayā bhāryayā tathā| kaṁthāpyekā sthitā yasya sarvasvapremadhāriṇī

Abandoned by his kinsmen, and by his wicked wife as well, he possessed only a single patched blanket, which he cherished as his all.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.105.4)

तेनाहं सुतकामेन तोषितो गिरिगह्वरे। मयाप्युक्तं विशालाक्षि पुत्रस्तव भविष्यति

tenāhaṁ sutakāmena toṣito girigahvare| mayāpyuktaṁ viśālākṣi putrastava bhaviṣyati

By him, desiring a son, I was pleased in a mountain cave; and I too said, O wide-eyed one: 'A son shall be born to you.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.105.5)

तस्य पुत्रः समुत्पन्नः कंथामध्यादयो निजः। शीतोष्णवारिणी कंथा तस्य पुत्रस्य साऽभवत्

tasya putraḥ samutpannaḥ kaṁthāmadhyādayo nijaḥ| śītoṣṇavāriṇī kaṁthā tasya putrasya sā'bhavat

A son was born to him, arising, as it were, from within that very blanket; and that blanket became a source of both hot and cold water for his son.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.105.6)

स च लब्धः प्रसादेन मदीयेन वरानने। रुद्रेण च वरो दत्तः कंथाया भविता पुनः

sa ca labdhaḥ prasādena madīyena varānane| rudreṇa ca varo dattaḥ kaṁthāyā bhavitā punaḥ

O fair-faced one, that son was obtained by my grace; and by Rudra a further boon was granted, that the like blessing should again arise from the blanket.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.105.7)

अथ षष्ठे गते वर्षे मौंजीबंधमचिंतयत्। तदामंत्र्य मुनीन्सर्वान्प्रसाद्य च पुनः पुनः। नमस्कृत्य ऋषीन्सर्वान्पूजयामास भक्तितः

atha ṣaṣṭhe gate varṣe mauṁjībaṁdhamaciṁtayat| tadāmaṁtrya munīnsarvānprasādya ca punaḥ punaḥ| namaskṛtya ṛṣīnsarvānpūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Then, when the sixth year had passed, he resolved upon the sacred-thread ceremony; having then invited all the sages and repeatedly propitiated them, he bowed to all the rishis and worshipped them with devotion.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.105.8)

फलैर्वित्तानुसारेण मौंजी तस्याप्यबंधत। तेऽप्युक्ता मुनयः सर्वे प्रसाद्य च पुनःपुन

phalairvittānusāreṇa mauṁjī tasyāpyabaṁdhata| te'pyuktā munayaḥ sarve prasādya ca punaḥpuna

With fruits, according to his means, the thread ceremony of that boy too was performed. Then, having again and again propitiated all those sages, they were addressed:

Verse 9 (skanda.5.105.9)

दीयतामाशिषो ह्यस्मै पुत्राय मुनिसत्तमाः। मम पुत्रस्य पुत्रोऽयं दीर्घायुर्जायतां चिरम्

dīyatāmāśiṣo hyasmai putrāya munisattamāḥ| mama putrasya putro'yaṁ dīrghāyurjāyatāṁ ciram

'O best of sages, grant your blessings to this son; may this grandson of mine become long-lived, for a long time.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.105.10)

तूष्णींभूयः स्थिताः सर्वे तच्छ्रुत्वा नोत्तरं ददुः। यदा ते नोत्तरं प्रोचुस्तदा मुनिवरः स्वयम्। ध्यानेन चिंतयामास नूनमल्पायुषं सुतम्

tūṣṇīṁbhūyaḥ sthitāḥ sarve tacchrutvā nottaraṁ daduḥ| yadā te nottaraṁ procustadā munivaraḥ svayam| dhyānena ciṁtayāmāsa nūnamalpāyuṣaṁ sutam

Hearing this, all of them fell silent and gave no answer. When they gave no reply, that best of sages himself, through meditation, reflected: 'Surely this son is short-lived.'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.105.11)

इति ज्ञात्वा तु संमोहमगमत्सहसा मुनिः। विललाप स दुःखार्त्तः सुतस्नेहेन दुःखितः

iti jñātvā tu saṁmohamagamatsahasā muniḥ| vilalāpa sa duḥkhārttaḥ sutasnehena duḥkhitaḥ

Knowing this, the sage suddenly fell into confusion; stricken with grief, he lamented, sorrowful out of love for his son.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.105.12)

वाडव उवाच। दत्तः स्वयं महेशेन ममाल्पायुः कथं सुतः। रुद्रेण च वरो दत्तः प्रसन्नेन पुरा मम

vāḍava uvāca| dattaḥ svayaṁ maheśena mamālpāyuḥ kathaṁ sutaḥ| rudreṇa ca varo dattaḥ prasannena purā mama

The Brahmin said: 'How can my son, given by Mahesha himself, be short-lived? Long ago, Rudra, being pleased, granted me a boon:'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.105.13)

मत्तुल्यवीर्यः पुत्रस्ते कंथामध्याद्भ विष्यति। जातं च दत्त्वा ह्यल्पायुं मिथ्या त्र्यक्षस्य तद्वचः

mattulyavīryaḥ putraste kaṁthāmadhyādbha viṣyati| jātaṁ ca dattvā hyalpāyuṁ mithyā tryakṣasya tadvacaḥ

'A son equal to me in valor shall be born to you from within the blanket — but if, having given him birth, he grants only a short life, then the word of the three-eyed god is false.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.105.14)

पितरं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा तूष्णींभूतो मुनिस्तदा। स बालः सहसा वाक्यं बभाषे हर्षवर्द्धनम्

pitaraṁ duḥkhitaṁ dṛṣṭvā tūṣṇīṁbhūto munistadā| sa bālaḥ sahasā vākyaṁ babhāṣe harṣavarddhanam

Seeing his father grieving, and the sage falling silent, that boy suddenly spoke words that increased their joy:

Verse 15 (skanda.5.105.15)

त्यजत भयमिदानीं यन्ममार्थे विषण्णा विनिहतनिजयत्नं प्रेतराजं करोमि। शृणुत मम गिरं भोः सेश्वरा लोकपालाः पितृपतिविजयार्थं सत्प्रतिज्ञा ममैषा

tyajata bhayamidānīṁ yanmamārthe viṣaṇṇā vinihatanijayatnaṁ pretarājaṁ karomi| śṛṇuta mama giraṁ bhoḥ seśvarā lokapālāḥ pitṛpativijayārthaṁ satpratijñā mamaiṣā

'Abandon now the fear you feel dejectedly on my account — I shall render the Lord of the Dead's own effort defeated. Hear my word, O guardians of the world together with Ishvara — this is my true vow, made for the sake of conquering the Lord of the Fathers.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.105.16)

अतिविषमतपोभिः शंकरं तोषयित्वा स्वपितुरपि च भक्त्या हन्मि मृत्योर्जयाशाम्। किमतिशयविषाद व्याकुलास्तात सर्वे सपदि पितृपतिं तं स्वे वशे स्थापयामि

ativiṣamatapobhiḥ śaṁkaraṁ toṣayitvā svapiturapi ca bhaktyā hanmi mṛtyorjayāśām| kimatiśayaviṣāda vyākulāstāta sarve sapadi pitṛpatiṁ taṁ sve vaśe sthāpayāmi

'Through the most arduous austerities, having pleased Shankara, and out of devotion to my own father as well, I shall destroy the hope of Death's victory. Why, O father, are you all so overwhelmed with excessive despair? I shall at once bring that Lord of the Fathers under my own control.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.105.17)

प्रयामि रुद्रं शरणं महेश्वरं देवं वरं चाप्युमयाऽविहीनम्। शृण्वंतु सर्वे मुनयः समंतान्न मादृशे मृत्युपराभवोस्ति

prayāmi rudraṁ śaraṇaṁ maheśvaraṁ devaṁ varaṁ cāpyumayā'vihīnam| śṛṇvaṁtu sarve munayaḥ samaṁtānna mādṛśe mṛtyuparābhavosti

'I go for refuge to Rudra, the great god, supreme, and never separate from Uma. Let all the sages, gathered round about, hear this: for one such as me, there is no defeat by Death.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.105.18)

तपोभिरुग्रैः शितिकंठपादौ प्रसाद्य मृत्युं न चिराद्विनेष्ये। कंथाजवाक्यामृतलोलनेत्राः संजातरोमां चलसत्स्वदेहाः

tapobhirugraiḥ śitikaṁṭhapādau prasādya mṛtyuṁ na cirādvineṣye| kaṁthājavākyāmṛtalolanetrāḥ saṁjātaromāṁ calasatsvadehāḥ

'By fierce austerities, having propitiated the feet of the blue-throated Lord, I shall soon vanquish Death.' Hearing the nectar-like words of the blanket-born child, their eyes grew wide, their hair stood on end, their bodies trembled,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.105.19)

पप्रच्छुरेनं मुनयः शिशुं तं जानासि रुद्रं परमं कथं त्वम्। वयं चिरं कालमुपासमानास्तपोभिरुग्रैर्व्रतसंचयैश्च

papracchurenaṁ munayaḥ śiśuṁ taṁ jānāsi rudraṁ paramaṁ kathaṁ tvam| vayaṁ ciraṁ kālamupāsamānāstapobhirugrairvratasaṁcayaiśca

the sages questioned that child: 'How do you, a mere infant, know the supreme Rudra? We ourselves, though worshipping him for a long time with fierce austerities and accumulated vows,'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.105.20)

तथापि विद्मो न वयं महेशं ज्ञातस्त्वयासौ कथमर्भकेण। ईहामहे तं किल पुत्र सम्यक्छ्रोतुं प्रहर्षाद्भुतजातरोमाः

tathāpi vidmo na vayaṁ maheśaṁ jñātastvayāsau kathamarbhakeṇa| īhāmahe taṁ kila putra samyakchrotuṁ praharṣādbhutajātaromāḥ

'still do not truly know Mahesha — how then has he been known by you, a mere child? We greatly desire, O son, to properly hear of this,' they said, filled with wonder and delight.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.105.21)

ज्ञातस्त्वया कुत्र कथं महेशो महेश्वरो वै भुवनैकनाथः

jñātastvayā kutra kathaṁ maheśo maheśvaro vai bhuvanaikanāthaḥ

'Where and how have you come to know Mahesha, the great lord, the sole master of the worlds?'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.105.22)

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। स बालः कथयामास वृत्तांतं पर्वतात्मजे

iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām| sa bālaḥ kathayāmāsa vṛttāṁtaṁ parvatātmaje

Hearing these words of the sages of purified souls, O daughter of the mountain, that boy related the account:

Verse 23 (skanda.5.105.23)

ममात्र क्रीडतः सिद्धः सिद्धिदः समुपागतः। विज्ञायाल्पायुषं मां तु वात्सल्यादब्रवीदिदम्

mamātra krīḍataḥ siddhaḥ siddhidaḥ samupāgataḥ| vijñāyālpāyuṣaṁ māṁ tu vātsalyādabravīdidam

'As I was playing here, a Siddha, a bestower of accomplishment, came to me; knowing that I was short-lived, he spoke to me out of affection, saying:'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.105.24)

गच्छ पुत्र ममादेशान्महाकालवनोत्तमे। दक्षिणे चास्ति यल्लिंगमानंदेश्वरलिंगतः

gaccha putra mamādeśānmahākālavanottame| dakṣiṇe cāsti yalliṁgamānaṁdeśvaraliṁgataḥ

'Go, my son, at my command, to the excellent Mahakalavana; there, to the south of the linga of Anandeshvara, is a linga —'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.105.25)

तमाराधय शीघ्रं त्वं चिरजीवी भविष्यसि। तस्योपदेशदानेन ज्ञातं सम्यङ्महेश्वरात्

tamārādhaya śīghraṁ tvaṁ cirajīvī bhaviṣyasi| tasyopadeśadānena jñātaṁ samyaṅmaheśvarāt

'worship that swiftly, and you shall become long-lived.' Through his instruction, I have come to know Maheshvara truly.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.105.26)

नान्यो देवोस्ति लोकेषु सत्यं सत्यं मुनीश्वराः। तस्मादद्यैव यास्यामि महाकालवने शुभे

nānyo devosti lokeṣu satyaṁ satyaṁ munīśvarāḥ| tasmādadyaiva yāsyāmi mahākālavane śubhe

'There is no other god in all the worlds — this is true, most true, O lords among sages. Therefore I shall go this very day to the auspicious Mahakalavana.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.105.27)

लिंगमाराधयिष्यामि विषादस्त्यज्यतामिह। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तेन सार्द्धं महर्षयः

liṁgamārādhayiṣyāmi viṣādastyajyatāmiha| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tena sārddhaṁ maharṣayaḥ

'I shall worship the linga; let all despair here be abandoned.' Hearing his words, the great sages, together with him,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.105.28)

पिता च विस्मितो देवि सर्व एव समागताः। देवमाराधयामास बालः कालजिघांसया

pitā ca vismito devi sarva eva samāgatāḥ| devamārādhayāmāsa bālaḥ kālajighāṁsayā

and his astonished father, O Devi, all came together; and the boy, desiring to conquer Death, worshipped the god.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.105.29)

लिंगमध्यात्ततो वाणी निःसृता पर्वतात्मजे। अहो तुष्टोस्मि ते वत्स कं कामं प्रददाम्यहम्

liṁgamadhyāttato vāṇī niḥsṛtā parvatātmaje| aho tuṣṭosmi te vatsa kaṁ kāmaṁ pradadāmyaham

Then, O daughter of the mountain, a voice issued from within the linga: 'Ah, I am pleased with you, my child; what desire shall I grant you?'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.105.30)

बाल उवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव ये त्वां पश्यंति शंकर। पापकंथाविनिर्मुक्तास्ते संतु चिरजीविनः

bāla uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva ye tvāṁ paśyaṁti śaṁkara| pāpakaṁthāvinirmuktāste saṁtu cirajīvinaḥ

The boy said: 'If you are pleased with me, O God, O Shankara, let those who behold you be freed from the burden of sin, and become long-lived.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.105.31)

बालस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लिंगे नोक्तं यशस्विनि। ये च मां पूजयिष्यंति श्रद्धया परया युताः। ते भविष्यंति सततं जरामरणवर्जिताः

bālasya bhāṣitaṁ śrutvā liṁge noktaṁ yaśasvini| ye ca māṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ| te bhaviṣyaṁti satataṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitāḥ

Hearing the boy's words, O renowned one, it was declared from the linga: 'Those who worship me endowed with the highest faith shall ever be free from old age and death.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.105.32)

लप्स्यंते परमान्कामान्भविष्यंति गणोत्तम। पूज्याः सर्वेषु लोकेषु सर्वालंकारभूषिताः

lapsyaṁte paramānkāmānbhaviṣyaṁti gaṇottama| pūjyāḥ sarveṣu lokeṣu sarvālaṁkārabhūṣitāḥ

'O best among my hosts, they shall obtain their supreme desires; they shall be worthy of worship in all worlds, adorned with every ornament.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.105.33)

एवं लब्धवरः कंथः प्रांजलिः समुपस्थितः। लिंगेनोक्तः प्रसन्नेन भूयो वरय सुव्रत

evaṁ labdhavaraḥ kaṁthaḥ prāṁjaliḥ samupasthitaḥ| liṁgenoktaḥ prasannena bhūyo varaya suvrata

Thus having received the boon, Kantha stood before the linga with joined palms; and, pleased, the linga said to him: 'Ask yet another boon, O one of good vows.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.105.34)

वरो वै दुर्लभो लोके देवदानवगुह्यकैः। मयावतारितो यस्मान्नास्त्यदेयं तवाधुना

varo vai durlabho loke devadānavaguhyakaiḥ| mayāvatārito yasmānnāstyadeyaṁ tavādhunā

'A boon that is hard to obtain in this world even by gods, demons, and Guhyakas — since I have manifested myself here, there is nothing now that cannot be given to you.'

Verse 35 (skanda.5.105.35)

बालेनोक्तो महादेव यदि देयो वरः पुनः। मन्नाम्ना देव ते ख्यातिर्भूयात्त्रिभुवने भुवि

bālenokto mahādeva yadi deyo varaḥ punaḥ| mannāmnā deva te khyātirbhūyāttribhuvane bhuvi

The boy said: 'O great god, if a further boon is to be given, then, O Lord, let your fame upon earth be established by my very name throughout the three worlds.'

Verse 36 (skanda.5.105.36)

एवमस्त्विति लिंगेन प्रोक्तं तुष्टेन पार्वति। तदाप्रभृति देवेशो विख्यातः कंथडेश्वरः। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण चिरायुर्जायते नरः

evamastviti liṁgena proktaṁ tuṣṭena pārvati| tadāprabhṛti deveśo vikhyātaḥ kaṁthaḍeśvaraḥ| yasya darśanamātreṇa cirāyurjāyate naraḥ

'So be it,' said the linga, being pleased, O Parvati. From that time onward, this Lord of gods became renowned as Kanthadeshvara — by whose mere sight a man becomes long-lived.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.105.37)

यः समीक्षति तल्लिंगं कंथडेश्वरमीश्वरम्

yaḥ samīkṣati talliṁgaṁ kaṁthaḍeśvaramīśvaram

He who beholds that linga, the Lord Kanthadeshvara,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.105.38)

पापकंथाविनिर्मुक्तो मुक्तिं यास्यति गौरि सः। पुण्यं यशस्यं गेयं तल्लिंगं पापप्रणाशनम्। पुनाति पातकान्सर्वान्मम नामानुकीर्तनात्

pāpakaṁthāvinirmukto muktiṁ yāsyati gauri saḥ| puṇyaṁ yaśasyaṁ geyaṁ talliṁgaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam| punāti pātakānsarvānmama nāmānukīrtanāt

O Gauri, he, freed from the burden of sin, attains liberation. That sacred, glorious, and worthy-to-be-sung linga destroys sin; it purifies from all transgressions through the recitation of my name.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.105.39)

तेऽधन्याः पुरुषा लोके तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्। यैर्न दृष्टो महाकाले देवोऽसौ कंथडेश्वरः

te'dhanyāḥ puruṣā loke teṣāṁ janma nirarthakam| yairna dṛṣṭo mahākāle devo'sau kaṁthaḍeśvaraḥ

Those men in this world are unfortunate, and their birth is in vain, by whom that god Kanthadeshvara has not been seen in Mahakala.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.105.40)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। कंथडेश्वरदेवस्य इन्द्रेश्वरमथो शृणु

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| kaṁthaḍeśvaradevasya indreśvaramatho śṛṇu

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