The Glory of Kundeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.111.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। चत्वारिंशत्तमं विद्धि कुंडेश्वरमतः शृणु। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण लभ्यते सद्गतिः परा॥

īśvara uvāca| catvāriṁśattamaṁ viddhi kuṁḍeśvaramataḥ śṛṇu| yasya darśanamātreṇa labhyate sadgatiḥ parā||

Ishvara said: Know the fortieth as Kundeshvara; hear now, by the mere sight of whom the supreme good state is obtained.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.111.2)

विज्ञप्तोऽहं त्वया देवि मंदरे चारुकंदरे। वीरकं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि क्व गतो मम पुत्रकः॥

vijñapto'haṁ tvayā devi maṁdare cārukaṁdare| vīrakaṁ draṣṭumicchāmi kva gato mama putrakaḥ||

I was petitioned by you, O Devi, on Mandara in a lovely cave: "I wish to see Viraka; where has my little son gone?"

Verse 3 (skanda.5.111.3)

मया प्रोक्तं विशालाक्षि महाकालवनोत्तमे। जलमध्ये स्थितस्तेपे तपः परमदारुणम्॥

mayā proktaṁ viśālākṣi mahākālavanottame| jalamadhye sthitastepe tapaḥ paramadāruṇam||

I said, O wide-eyed one: "In the excellent Mahakala forest, standing in the midst of water, he performed the most terrible austerity."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.111.4)

मुनिभिः सहितो धीमान्भ्राजमानोंऽशुमानिव। गच्छामस्तत्र तं द्रष्टुं गणैः सार्द्धं वरानने॥

munibhiḥ sahito dhīmānbhrājamānoṁ'śumāniva| gacchāmastatra taṁ draṣṭuṁ gaṇaiḥ sārddhaṁ varānane||

"Wise, accompanied by sages, shining like the sun; let us go there to see him, together with the ganas, O fair-faced one."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.111.5)

मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वयाहं प्रेरितस्तदा। उत्तिष्ठ शम्भो गच्छामो वृषमारुह सत्वरम्॥

madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā tvayāhaṁ preritastadā| uttiṣṭha śambho gacchāmo vṛṣamāruha satvaram||

Hearing my words, you then urged me: "Rise, O Shambhu, let us go; mount the bull quickly."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.111.6)

सप्रस्नवौ स्तनौ जातौ सद्यः संस्मृत्य वीरकम्। मया स्मृतो वृषो देवि धर्मरूपी सनातनः॥

saprasnavau stanau jātau sadyaḥ saṁsmṛtya vīrakam| mayā smṛto vṛṣo devi dharmarūpī sanātanaḥ||

Your two breasts grew moist at once, recalling Viraka; I, O Devi, then recalled the eternal, righteous bull.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.111.7)

मदीयं चिंतितं ज्ञात्वा ममपार्श्वमुपागतः। आरूढोऽहं त्वया सार्द्धं तस्मिन्नेव वृषे तदा॥

madīyaṁ ciṁtitaṁ jñātvā mamapārśvamupāgataḥ| ārūḍho'haṁ tvayā sārddhaṁ tasminneva vṛṣe tadā||

Knowing my thought, he came to my side; I, together with you, then mounted that very bull.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.111.8)

प्रस्थितस्तत्क्षणाच्छीघ्रं गणैर्नानाविधैः सह। वेगात्प्रयातो वृषभस्कंधालंबितया त्वया॥

prasthitastatkṣaṇācchīghraṁ gaṇairnānāvidhaiḥ saha| vegātprayāto vṛṣabhaskaṁdhālaṁbitayā tvayā||

We set out at that very moment, quickly, together with the various ganas; as we went swiftly, you clung to the shoulders of the bull.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.111.9)

रणद्वलयबाहुभ्यां गाढमालिंगितो ह्यहम्। त्वं भीता च तदा जाता यदातीव प्रणोदितः॥

raṇadvalayabāhubhyāṁ gāḍhamāliṁgito hyaham| tvaṁ bhītā ca tadā jātā yadātīva praṇoditaḥ||

Tightly embraced by your two arms with their jingling bracelets, I went on; you then became frightened, since you were driven forward exceedingly fast.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.111.10)

वृषो मया विशालाक्षि स कृष्टो गणपैस्तदा। कृष्टं च सत्वरं दृष्ट्वा प्रोक्तं च भीतया तदा॥

vṛṣo mayā viśālākṣi sa kṛṣṭo gaṇapaistadā| kṛṣṭaṁ ca satvaraṁ dṛṣṭvā proktaṁ ca bhītayā tadā||

The bull, O wide-eyed one, was then urged on swiftly by the ganas; seeing it driven so quickly, you, frightened, then said:

Verse 11 (skanda.5.111.11)

श्रांतास्मि सांप्रतं देव वेगेनानेन भीषिता। तद्विश्रमितुमिच्छामि भूधरस्य तटे विभो॥

śrāṁtāsmi sāṁprataṁ deva vegenānena bhīṣitā| tadviśramitumicchāmi bhūdharasya taṭe vibho||

"I am now weary, O God, terrified by this speed; I wish to rest a while on the slope of this mountain, O Lord."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.111.12)

क्षणं पद्भ्यां गमिष्यामि विषमोयं गिरिर्महान्। त्वदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा बाढमुक्तं प्रिये मया॥

kṣaṇaṁ padbhyāṁ gamiṣyāmi viṣamoyaṁ girirmahān| tvadīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā bāḍhamuktaṁ priye mayā||

"For a moment I shall go on foot; this great mountain is difficult of passage." Hearing your words, "So be it," I said, O beloved.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.111.13)

मुहूर्त्तं चारुजघने शैलपादमुपाश्रिता। कुरु श्रमापनयनं यावद्वेगात्प्रयाम्यहम्॥

muhūrttaṁ cārujaghane śailapādamupāśritā| kuru śramāpanayanaṁ yāvadvegātprayāmyaham||

"For a moment rest at the foot of the mountain, O fair-hipped one; recover from your fatigue while I go on swiftly."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.111.14)

पंथानं त्वत्सुखं यत्र तं वयं मृगयावहे। एष कुण्डो गणाध्यक्षस्त्वत्समीपे वसिष्यति। त्वदाज्ञावशवर्त्ती च किंकरः स्थापितो मया॥

paṁthānaṁ tvatsukhaṁ yatra taṁ vayaṁ mṛgayāvahe| eṣa kuṇḍo gaṇādhyakṣastvatsamīpe vasiṣyati| tvadājñāvaśavarttī ca kiṁkaraḥ sthāpito mayā||

"We shall search out the path that gives you comfort. This Kunda, chief of the ganas, shall dwell near you, appointed by me as an attendant obedient to your command."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.111.15)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो देवि संस्थाप्य गणरक्षकम्। आरूढोऽहं गिरेः प्रांतमुदयाद्रिं रविर्यथा॥

evamuktvā tato devi saṁsthāpya gaṇarakṣakam| ārūḍho'haṁ gireḥ prāṁtamudayādriṁ raviryathā||

Having said this, O Devi, then, having stationed the guardian gana, I climbed to the edge of the mountain, as the sun climbs the eastern peak.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.111.16)

ततोऽवलोकितोऽत्यर्थं रमणीयो महागिरिः। इदं रम्यमिदं रम्यमित्यस्मिन्वरपर्वते॥

tato'valokito'tyarthaṁ ramaṇīyo mahāgiriḥ| idaṁ ramyamidaṁ ramyamityasminvaraparvate||

Then that great mountain, exceedingly lovely, was beheld — "This is delightful, this is delightful," thus on this excellent mountain,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.111.17)

पश्यतो मम शैलेंद्रं गताः संवत्सरा दश। त्वयाथ चिंतितं देवि क्व गतस्त्रिपुरांतकः॥

paśyato mama śaileṁdraṁ gatāḥ saṁvatsarā daśa| tvayātha ciṁtitaṁ devi kva gatastripurāṁtakaḥ||

gazing upon the lord of mountains, ten years passed for me. Then, O Devi, you thought: "Where has the destroyer of Tripura gone?"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.111.18)

नूनं न मदनातप्तां वेत्ति मां रतिवर्जिताम्। मां विहाय महादेवो निर्विशंकः क्व वर्त्तते॥

nūnaṁ na madanātaptāṁ vetti māṁ rativarjitām| māṁ vihāya mahādevo nirviśaṁkaḥ kva varttate||

"Surely he does not know that I, burning with love's fever, am bereft of union; having abandoned me, where does Mahadeva, free of all care, remain?"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.111.19)

हरस्य क्वापि यातस्य वैरं संस्मृत्य चित्तजः। बाधते मामनंगोपि चापरोपितमार्गणः। विलोकयंतीं हा दृष्ट्वा विलपंतीं पुनः पुनः॥

harasya kvāpi yātasya vairaṁ saṁsmṛtya cittajaḥ| bādhate māmanaṁgopi cāparopitamārgaṇaḥ| vilokayaṁtīṁ hā dṛṣṭvā vilapaṁtīṁ punaḥ punaḥ||

"Recalling his enmity toward Hara who has gone off somewhere, the mind-born one, Kama, though bodiless, torments me, his arrow already fitted." Seeing her thus gazing about, lamenting again and again, alas —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.111.20)

ततः कुण्डो गणाध्यक्षो ज्ञात्वा भावं त्वदीयकम्। उत्कृष्टेन स्वरेणोक्तं मा देवि विमना भव॥

tataḥ kuṇḍo gaṇādhyakṣo jñātvā bhāvaṁ tvadīyakam| utkṛṣṭena svareṇoktaṁ mā devi vimanā bhava||

then Kunda, the chief of the ganas, understanding your state of mind, said in a raised voice: "O Devi, do not be despondent;"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.111.21)

आयात एष ते भर्त्ता मा चेतः कलुषं कुरु। एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कुण्डस्य कमलानने॥

āyāta eṣa te bharttā mā cetaḥ kaluṣaṁ kuru| etacchrutvā vacastasya kuṇḍasya kamalānane||

"your husband is coming; do not let your mind be troubled." Hearing these words of Kunda, O lotus-faced one,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.111.22)

दुःखार्त्तया त्वया प्रोक्तः कुण्ड वेद्मि न शंकरम्। क्व गतः किं च कुरुते कालं दीर्घमिमं शिवः। दर्शयस्व महादेवमित्युक्तोऽसौ पुनःपुनः॥

duḥkhārttayā tvayā proktaḥ kuṇḍa vedmi na śaṁkaram| kva gataḥ kiṁ ca kurute kālaṁ dīrghamimaṁ śivaḥ| darśayasva mahādevamityukto'sau punaḥpunaḥ||

afflicted with sorrow, you said: "O Kunda, I do not know where Shankara has gone or what he is doing, spending this long time. Show me Mahadeva" — thus he was addressed again and again.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.111.23)

यदा न दर्शितस्तेन कुण्डेनाहं वरानने। तदा शप्तस्त्वया देवि क्रुद्धया गणरक्षकः॥

yadā na darśitastena kuṇḍenāhaṁ varānane| tadā śaptastvayā devi kruddhayā gaṇarakṣakaḥ||

When Kunda could not show me to you, O fair-faced one, then, O Devi, that guardian gana was cursed by you in your fury:

Verse 24 (skanda.5.111.24)

गच्छ त्वं मानुषं लोकं यस्मान्न कथितो हरः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि प्राप्तोऽहं त्वत्समीपतः॥

gaccha tvaṁ mānuṣaṁ lokaṁ yasmānna kathito haraḥ| etasminnaṁtare devi prāpto'haṁ tvatsamīpataḥ||

"Go to the world of men, since Hara was not shown by you." Meanwhile, O Devi, I arrived from your side.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.111.25)

पृष्टश्चाहं त्वया देवि विहाय क्व गतोऽसि माम्। दुर्गमे पर्वते शून्ये तस्मात्त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्॥

pṛṣṭaścāhaṁ tvayā devi vihāya kva gato'si mām| durgame parvate śūnye tasmāttyakṣyāmi jīvitam||

I was asked by you, O Devi: "Having left me, where did you go? In this impassable, desolate mountain I shall give up my life."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.111.26)

गत्वाग्रे भूधरस्यास्य किं कृतं च त्वया विभो। मया तव वचः श्रुत्वा कथितं सर्वमेव तत्॥

gatvāgre bhūdharasyāsya kiṁ kṛtaṁ ca tvayā vibho| mayā tava vacaḥ śrutvā kathitaṁ sarvameva tat||

"Going ahead of this mountain, O Lord, what did you do?" Hearing your words, I told you everything.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.111.27)

दुराधर्षतरः शैलः समंताद्दुरतिक्रमः। त्वत्प्रियार्थं महाभागे मया मार्गोऽवलोकितः॥

durādharṣataraḥ śailaḥ samaṁtādduratikramaḥ| tvatpriyārthaṁ mahābhāge mayā mārgo'valokitaḥ||

"The mountain is exceedingly hard to conquer, impassable on every side; for your sake, O most fortunate one, I searched out a path,"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.111.28)

येन मार्गेण विश्रब्धं गमिष्यामः सुमध्यमे। अयं कुण्डो गणो देवि विषण्णो व्याकुलः कृतः॥

yena mārgeṇa viśrabdhaṁ gamiṣyāmaḥ sumadhyame| ayaṁ kuṇḍo gaṇo devi viṣaṇṇo vyākulaḥ kṛtaḥ||

"by which path we shall go in safety, O slender-waisted one." And I saw that this gana Kunda, O Devi, had become despondent and troubled.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.111.29)

त्वयाप्युक्तं महादेव कुण्डः शप्तो मया गणः। ममाज्ञा न कृता यस्माद्विफलं न वचो मम। तस्माद्यातु ममादेशान्महाकालवनं शुभम्॥

tvayāpyuktaṁ mahādeva kuṇḍaḥ śapto mayā gaṇaḥ| mamājñā na kṛtā yasmādviphalaṁ na vaco mama| tasmādyātu mamādeśānmahākālavanaṁ śubham||

You too said, O great God: "This gana Kunda was cursed by me; since my command was not fulfilled, my word cannot be in vain. Therefore let him go, by my command, to the auspicious Mahakala forest —"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.111.30)

भैरवं रूपमास्थाय यत्र त्वं चोत्तरे स्थितः। तस्याग्रतः स्थितं लिंगं वर्त्तते कामदं सदा॥

bhairavaṁ rūpamāsthāya yatra tvaṁ cottare sthitaḥ| tasyāgrataḥ sthitaṁ liṁgaṁ varttate kāmadaṁ sadā||

"assuming the form of Bhairava, where you stand to the north; before that a linga stands, ever granting all desires."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.111.31)

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण गणपोऽयं भविष्यति। कुण्डेश्वरेति विख्यातः स देवो वै भविष्यति॥

tasya darśanamātreṇa gaṇapo'yaṁ bhaviṣyati| kuṇḍeśvareti vikhyātaḥ sa devo vai bhaviṣyati||

"By the mere sight of that linga, this lord of the ganas shall become renowned as Kundeshvara; he shall indeed become a God."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.111.32)

इत्युक्तः स त्वया देवि समासाद्य पुनःपुनः। प्रस्थापितस्त्वयादेशाद्व्रज कुण्ड ममाज्ञया॥

ityuktaḥ sa tvayā devi samāsādya punaḥpunaḥ| prasthāpitastvayādeśādvraja kuṇḍa mamājñayā||

Thus addressed by you, O Devi, again and again, he was sent forth by your command: "Go, Kunda, by my order,"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.111.33)

महाकालवनं शीघ्रं लिंगमाराध्य सत्वरम्। कीर्तिस्ते भविता पुत्र त्रिषु लोकेषु शाश्वती॥

mahākālavanaṁ śīghraṁ liṁgamārādhya satvaram| kīrtiste bhavitā putra triṣu lokeṣu śāśvatī||

"to the Mahakala forest swiftly; worship the linga there without delay; your fame, my son, shall be eternal in the three worlds."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.111.34)

इत्युक्तस्तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा लिङ्गं तु शाश्वतम्। उत्तरस्य शिवस्याग्रे पूजयामास भक्तितः॥

ityuktastatkṣaṇātprāpto dṛṣṭvā liṅgaṁ tu śāśvatam| uttarasya śivasyāgre pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ||

Thus addressed, he arrived there that very instant, and, having seen the eternal linga, worshipped it with devotion before the northern Shiva.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.111.35)

ततो देवाः सगंधर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। यक्षाश्चाप्सरसश्चैव समाजग्मुः सहस्रशः॥

tato devāḥ sagaṁdharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ| yakṣāścāpsarasaścaiva samājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ||

Then the gods together with the gandharvas, the siddhas and the great sages, the yakshas and the apsaras, gathered there by the thousands.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.111.36)

अथाहं तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तस्त्वया सार्द्धं गणैर्वृतः। दृष्ट्वा कुण्डं गणेशं तु लिंगाराधनतत्परम्॥

athāhaṁ tatkṣaṇātprāptastvayā sārddhaṁ gaṇairvṛtaḥ| dṛṣṭvā kuṇḍaṁ gaṇeśaṁ tu liṁgārādhanatatparam||

Then I too arrived there at that very instant, together with you, surrounded by the ganas, and beheld Kunda, the lord of the ganas, intent on worship of the linga,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.111.37)

समाधिध्याननिरतं प्रोक्तमस्माभिरादरात्। तुष्टा ते पार्वती पुत्र प्रार्थ्यतां वरमुत्तमम्॥

samādhidhyānanirataṁ proktamasmābhirādarāt| tuṣṭā te pārvatī putra prārthyatāṁ varamuttamam||

absorbed in meditation and concentration; we said to him with respect: "Parvati is pleased with you, my son; ask for an excellent boon."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.111.38)

अक्षयं तु पदं प्राप्तं त्वया लिंगस्य दर्शनात्। अद्यप्रभृति देवोऽयं ख्यातो भुवि भविष्यति। नाम्ना कुण्डेश्वरो यस्मात्सर्वसंपत्करः सदा॥

akṣayaṁ tu padaṁ prāptaṁ tvayā liṁgasya darśanāt| adyaprabhṛti devo'yaṁ khyāto bhuvi bhaviṣyati| nāmnā kuṇḍeśvaro yasmātsarvasaṁpatkaraḥ sadā||

"By the sight of the linga you have attained an imperishable station. From this day this God shall become renowned on earth by the name Kundeshvara, ever the bestower of all prosperity."

Verse 39 (skanda.5.111.39)

कुण्डेश्वरमनादिं तु भक्त्या पश्यति यो नरः। सोऽश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्स्यति नान्यथा॥

kuṇḍeśvaramanādiṁ tu bhaktyā paśyati yo naraḥ| so'śvamedhasahasrasya phalaṁ prāpsyati nānyathā||

Whatever man beholds the beginningless Kundeshvara with devotion obtains nothing less than the fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.111.40)

तस्य दानफलं सर्वं सर्वतीर्थफलं सदा। लिंगं कुण्डेश्वरं यस्तु भक्त्या संपूजयिष्यति॥

tasya dānaphalaṁ sarvaṁ sarvatīrthaphalaṁ sadā| liṁgaṁ kuṇḍeśvaraṁ yastu bhaktyā saṁpūjayiṣyati||

Whoever will worship the linga Kundeshvara with devotion obtains ever the fruit of every act of charity and the fruit of every sacred site,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.111.41)

दशानामश्वमेधानामग्निष्टोमशतस्य च। स्पर्शनात्फलमाप्नोति कुण्डेश्वरस्य सर्वदा॥

daśānāmaśvamedhānāmagniṣṭomaśatasya ca| sparśanātphalamāpnoti kuṇḍeśvarasya sarvadā||

and by merely touching Kundeshvara he ever obtains the fruit of ten horse-sacrifices and a hundred Agnishtoma sacrifices.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.111.42)

प्रातः पश्यंति ये भक्त्या कृत्वा नियमपूर्वकम्। सिद्धिं सुकामिकीं हृष्टाः संप्राप्स्यंति न संशयः॥

prātaḥ paśyaṁti ye bhaktyā kṛtvā niyamapūrvakam| siddhiṁ sukāmikīṁ hṛṣṭāḥ saṁprāpsyaṁti na saṁśayaḥ||

Those who, having observed the vow-rules, behold him with devotion in the morning, joyfully attain, without doubt, the accomplishment of their fond desires.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.111.43)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। कुण्डेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृणु लुंपेश्वरं परम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| kuṇḍeśvarasya devasya śṛṇu luṁpeśvaraṁ param||

O Devi, this sin-destroying power of the God Kundeshvara has been told to you; now hear next of Lumpeshvara.