The Glory of Uttareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.115.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। चत्वारिंशत्तमं विद्धि चतुर्भिरधिकं परम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण समीहितफलं लभेत्। उत्तरेशमिति ख्यातं समीहितफलप्रदम्॥

īśvara uvāca| catvāriṁśattamaṁ viddhi caturbhiradhikaṁ param| yasya darśanamātreṇa samīhitaphalaṁ labhet| uttareśamiti khyātaṁ samīhitaphalapradam||

Ishvara said: Know the forty-fourth, O supreme one, by the mere sight of whom the desired fruit is obtained — known as Uttaresha, the granter of the fruit of desire.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.115.2)

पुरा नियुक्ताः शक्रेण ये मेघा वृष्टिकारकाः। तैः प्लावितं जगत्सर्वं सपर्वतमहीतलम्॥

purā niyuktāḥ śakreṇa ye meghā vṛṣṭikārakāḥ| taiḥ plāvitaṁ jagatsarvaṁ saparvatamahītalam||

Formerly, the clouds, rain-makers, were appointed by Shakra; by them the entire world, together with its mountains and lands, was flooded.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.115.3)

एकार्णवे ततो जाते देवा भीता वरानने। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्काराः स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिताः॥

ekārṇave tato jāte devā bhītā varānane| niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkārāḥ svadhāsvāhāvivarjitāḥ||

Then, when it had become a single ocean, the gods, O fair-faced one, grew afraid, deprived of Vedic recitation and the sacred exclamation "vashat," bereft of the oblations "svadha" and "svaha."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.115.4)

नैवाप्यायनमस्माकं विना होमेन जायते। वयमाप्यायिता विप्रैर्यज्ञभागैर्यथोचितैः॥

naivāpyāyanamasmākaṁ vinā homena jāyate| vayamāpyāyitā viprairyajñabhāgairyathocitaiḥ||

"Our nourishment does not come about at all without oblation; we are nourished by Brahmins, through the due sacrificial portions."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.115.5)

तेषां वयं प्रयच्छामः कामान्यज्ञादिपूजिताः। नास्ति तत्सर्वमेवैतदन्योन्यमवदन्सुराः॥

teṣāṁ vayaṁ prayacchāmaḥ kāmānyajñādipūjitāḥ| nāsti tatsarvamevaitadanyonyamavadansurāḥ||

"To them we grant desires, honoured by sacrifices and the like; now all of that is gone" — thus the gods said to one another.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.115.6)

दृष्ट्वा पृथ्वीं जले मग्नां ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः। कथयामासुरत्युग्रं नमस्कृत्य पितामहम्॥

dṛṣṭvā pṛthvīṁ jale magnāṁ brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ| kathayāmāsuratyugraṁ namaskṛtya pitāmaham||

Seeing the earth submerged in water, they took refuge in Brahma; having bowed to the grandsire, they told him this most terrible thing.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.115.7)

एकार्णवा मही जाता विनष्टाः क्रतवः प्रभो। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं जगज्जातं पितामह॥

ekārṇavā mahī jātā vinaṣṭāḥ kratavaḥ prabho| niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāraṁ jagajjātaṁ pitāmaha||

"The earth has become a single ocean, O Lord; the sacrifices have been destroyed; the world, O grandsire, has become devoid of Vedic recitation and the sacred exclamation."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.115.8)

देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। मुहूर्त्तं चिंतयामास किमेतदिति विस्मितः॥

devānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| muhūrttaṁ ciṁtayāmāsa kimetaditi vismitaḥ||

Hearing the words of the gods, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, reflected for a moment, astonished, wondering "What is this?"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.115.9)

अकाले प्रलयः कस्मान्निमग्ना पृथिवी जले। गता सृष्टिर्मदीया तु व्यर्थं जातं वचो मम॥

akāle pralayaḥ kasmānnimagnā pṛthivī jale| gatā sṛṣṭirmadīyā tu vyarthaṁ jātaṁ vaco mama||

"Why has an untimely dissolution occurred? Why is the earth submerged in water? My creation is gone; my very word has become in vain."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.115.10)

इति संचिंत्य हृदये सस्मार बलसूदनम्। स्मृतमात्रस्तु बलहा ह्याजगाम पितामहम्॥

iti saṁciṁtya hṛdaye sasmāra balasūdanam| smṛtamātrastu balahā hyājagāma pitāmaham||

Reflecting thus in his heart, he recalled the slayer of Bala; the very moment he was thought of, the slayer of Bala came to the grandsire.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.115.11)

प्रोवाच वचनं श्रुत्वा नमस्कृत्य पितामहम्। स्मृतोऽहं केन कार्येण देह्याज्ञां मे पितामह॥

provāca vacanaṁ śrutvā namaskṛtya pitāmaham| smṛto'haṁ kena kāryeṇa dehyājñāṁ me pitāmaha||

Hearing his words, and bowing to the grandsire, he said: "For what task have I been remembered? Give me your command, O grandsire."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.115.12)

ब्रह्मणोक्तस्तदा शक्रः किमर्थं प्लाविता मही। असंबद्धैस्त्वदीयैश्च मेघैः किं सहसा कृतम्॥

brahmaṇoktastadā śakraḥ kimarthaṁ plāvitā mahī| asaṁbaddhaistvadīyaiśca meghaiḥ kiṁ sahasā kṛtam||

Shakra was then asked by Brahma: "Why has the earth been flooded? What has been suddenly done by your unregulated clouds?"

Verse 13 (skanda.5.115.13)

ततः सर्वे समाहूता मेघाः शक्रेण पार्वति। पितामहसमक्षं तु समायाताश्च तत्क्षणात्॥

tataḥ sarve samāhūtā meghāḥ śakreṇa pārvati| pitāmahasamakṣaṁ tu samāyātāśca tatkṣaṇāt||

Then, O Parvati, all the clouds were summoned by Shakra, and came at that very instant into the presence of the grandsire.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.115.14)

पितामहेन शक्रेण मर्यादा च कृता तदा। गजोनाम महामेघः पूर्वस्यां दिशि निर्मितः॥

pitāmahena śakreṇa maryādā ca kṛtā tadā| gajonāma mahāmeghaḥ pūrvasyāṁ diśi nirmitaḥ||

Then a boundary was fixed by the grandsire and Shakra: a great cloud named Gaja was appointed to the eastern direction,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.115.15)

गजाकारैस्ततो मेघैः सहस्रैर्दशभिर्वृतः। गवयो दक्षिणामाशां षट्सहस्राधिपः कृतः॥

gajākāraistato meghaiḥ sahasrairdaśabhirvṛtaḥ| gavayo dakṣiṇāmāśāṁ ṣaṭsahasrādhipaḥ kṛtaḥ||

surrounded by ten thousand clouds of elephant-shape; Gavaya was made lord of six thousand clouds over the southern quarter.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.115.16)

शरभः पश्चिमामाशां सहस्राधिपतिः कृतः। उत्तरोनाम यो मेघो मेघैः कोटिभिरावृतः॥

śarabhaḥ paścimāmāśāṁ sahasrādhipatiḥ kṛtaḥ| uttaronāma yo megho meghaiḥ koṭibhirāvṛtaḥ||

Shabara was made lord of a thousand over the western quarter; the cloud named Uttara, surrounded by tens of millions of clouds,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.115.17)

उत्तरस्यां दिशि तदा प्रभुत्वे संप्रतिष्ठितः। मर्यादा च कृता देवि ब्रह्मणा वासवेन तु॥

uttarasyāṁ diśi tadā prabhutve saṁpratiṣṭhitaḥ| maryādā ca kṛtā devi brahmaṇā vāsavena tu||

was then established in authority over the northern direction; and a boundary was set, O Devi, by Brahma and by Vasava:

Verse 18 (skanda.5.115.18)

प्रावृट्काले च वर्षध्वं नक्षत्रैर्जलजैद्रुतम्। आर्द्रादिस्वातिपर्यंतं नक्षत्रदशकं स्मृतम्॥

prāvṛṭkāle ca varṣadhvaṁ nakṣatrairjalajaidrutam| ārdrādisvātiparyaṁtaṁ nakṣatradaśakaṁ smṛtam||

"In the rainy season you shall rain quickly, guided by the water-born constellations; the ten constellations from Ardra up to Svati are so designated."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.115.19)

ब्रह्मशक्रवचः श्रुत्वा तथेति कृतनिश्चयाः। ववृषुर्नियते काले तन्नामानि भवंति हि॥

brahmaśakravacaḥ śrutvā tatheti kṛtaniścayāḥ| vavṛṣurniyate kāle tannāmāni bhavaṁti hi||

Hearing the words of Brahma and Shakra, having resolved "so be it," they rained at the appointed time; those rules became their designations.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.115.20)

एवं व्यवस्थिते लोके मर्यादायां स्थिता घनाः। ब्राह्मणा विज्वरा जातास्त्रिदशा मुदिता भृशम्॥

evaṁ vyavasthite loke maryādāyāṁ sthitā ghanāḥ| brāhmaṇā vijvarā jātāstridaśā muditā bhṛśam||

Thus, when the world was regulated, the clouds remained within the boundary; the Brahmins became free of distress, and the gods rejoiced greatly.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.115.21)

क्रूरग्रहैरथो रुद्धास्ते मेघा वृष्टिकारकाः। शनैश्चरेण भौमेन भास्करेणाथ केतुना॥

krūragrahairatho ruddhāste meghā vṛṣṭikārakāḥ| śanaiścareṇa bhaumena bhāskareṇātha ketunā||

Then, obstructed by cruel planets — by Shanaishchara, by Bhauma, and by Bhaskara and Ketu — those rain-making clouds,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.115.22)

पीडिताः शरणं जग्मुर्वासवं भयविह्वलाः। निवेदितं भयात्सर्वं नमस्कृत्य पुनःपुनः॥

pīḍitāḥ śaraṇaṁ jagmurvāsavaṁ bhayavihvalāḥ| niveditaṁ bhayātsarvaṁ namaskṛtya punaḥpunaḥ||

afflicted, went for refuge to Vasava, overwhelmed with fear; all their fear was reported, bowing again and again.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.115.23)

मेघानां वचनं श्रुत्वा संत्रस्तो वासवस्तदा। उवाच वचनं तेषां नाहं शक्तो निवारणे। ग्रहाणामसमर्थोऽहं सर्वदैव पयोधराः॥

meghānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā saṁtrasto vāsavastadā| uvāca vacanaṁ teṣāṁ nāhaṁ śakto nivāraṇe| grahāṇāmasamartho'haṁ sarvadaiva payodharāḥ||

Hearing the words of the clouds, Vasava, terrified then, said to them: "I am not able to prevent this; I am always powerless against the planets, O clouds."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.115.24)

अहं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टः कृतः क्रूरग्रहैः पुरा। स्थापितोऽहं कदाचिच्च सुप्रसन्नैर्ग्रहैः पदे॥

ahaṁ rājyātparibhraṣṭaḥ kṛtaḥ krūragrahaiḥ purā| sthāpito'haṁ kadācicca suprasannairgrahaiḥ pade||

"I was formerly cast down from my kingdom by the cruel planets; and once I was restored to my position by the graciousness of favourable planets."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.115.25)

मम मान्याश्च पूज्याश्च ग्रहा एव यतोधिकाः। ग्रहाः सर्वहराः प्रोक्ता इति मे वर्त्तते मतिः॥

mama mānyāśca pūjyāśca grahā eva yatodhikāḥ| grahāḥ sarvaharāḥ proktā iti me varttate matiḥ||

"Since the planets are the more honoured and revered by me, my opinion stands that the planets are declared the takers of all."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.115.26)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे भूमौ संजाता शतवार्षिकी। अनावृष्टिर्महारौद्रा सर्वप्राणिविनाशिनी॥

etasminnaṁtare bhūmau saṁjātā śatavārṣikī| anāvṛṣṭirmahāraudrā sarvaprāṇivināśinī||

Meanwhile, on the earth there occurred a hundred-year, most terrible drought, destructive of all living beings.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.115.27)

अस्थिकंकालशकला श्वेतपर्वतसन्निभा। पृथिवी तत्क्षणाज्जाता विना तोयेन पार्वति॥

asthikaṁkālaśakalā śvetaparvatasannibhā| pṛthivī tatkṣaṇājjātā vinā toyena pārvati||

The earth, O Parvati, at once became like fragments of bone-skeletons, resembling a white mountain, devoid of water.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.115.28)

देवाः सर्वे पुनर्भीता ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः। ऊचुश्च प्रणताः सर्वे त्राहि नः शरणागतान्॥

devāḥ sarve punarbhītā brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ| ūcuśca praṇatāḥ sarve trāhi naḥ śaraṇāgatān||

All the gods, frightened once more, took refuge in Brahma, and, bowing down, all said: "Save us, who have come for refuge!"

Verse 29 (skanda.5.115.29)

अनावृष्ट्या जगत्सर्वं पीडितं च पितामह। अकाले प्रलयो जातः पुनरेव च तादृशः॥

anāvṛṣṭyā jagatsarvaṁ pīḍitaṁ ca pitāmaha| akāle pralayo jātaḥ punareva ca tādṛśaḥ||

"The entire world, O grandsire, is afflicted by drought; an untimely dissolution has occurred, once again of that same kind."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.115.30)

त्वया च वासवेनैव नियुक्ता ये पयोधराः। क्रूरग्रहैरतीवोग्रैः पीडितास्ते पितामह॥

tvayā ca vāsavenaiva niyuktā ye payodharāḥ| krūragrahairatīvograiḥ pīḍitāste pitāmaha||

"Those very clouds appointed by you and by Vasava himself have been afflicted, O grandsire, by exceedingly fierce cruel planets."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.115.31)

देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। अहं बिभेमि भो देवा ग्रहैस्तैर्बलवत्तरैः॥

devānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| ahaṁ bibhemi bho devā grahaistairbalavattaraiḥ||

Hearing the words of the gods, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, said: "I too fear those exceedingly powerful planets, O gods."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.115.32)

सर्वं जानामि माहात्म्यं ग्रहाणां क्रूरचेतसाम्। शनैश्चरेण वक्रेण भवंतः पीडिताः सदा॥

sarvaṁ jānāmi māhātmyaṁ grahāṇāṁ krūracetasām| śanaiścareṇa vakreṇa bhavaṁtaḥ pīḍitāḥ sadā||

"I know the entire greatness of the cruel-minded planets; by the retrograde Shanaishchara you are ever afflicted;"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.115.33)

वरुणो यादसां नाथो मंगलेन प्रपीडितः। राज्यभ्रष्टस्तु बहुधा केतुना वासवः कृतः॥

varuṇo yādasāṁ nātho maṁgalena prapīḍitaḥ| rājyabhraṣṭastu bahudhā ketunā vāsavaḥ kṛtaḥ||

"Varuna, lord of the aquatic beings, was greatly afflicted by Mangala; Vasava was cast from his kingdom many times by Ketu."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.115.34)

शिरश्छेदो मया प्राप्तो वक्रेण रविणा पुरा। एकैकशः समर्थास्ते किं पुनः संघशस्त्वमी। तस्मात्सर्वे महादेवं गच्छामः शरणं वयम्॥

śiraśchedo mayā prāpto vakreṇa raviṇā purā| ekaikaśaḥ samarthāste kiṁ punaḥ saṁghaśastvamī| tasmātsarve mahādevaṁ gacchāmaḥ śaraṇaṁ vayam||

"My own head was once severed by the retrograde Sun; if they are capable one by one, what then of them united? Therefore let us all go for refuge to Mahadeva."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.115.35)

ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः। ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य मामव शरणं गताः॥

brahmaṇo vacanaṁ śrutvā sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ| brahmāṇaṁ ca puraskṛtya māmava śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ||

Hearing Brahma's words, all the gods, together with Vasava, placing Brahma at their head, came to me for refuge.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.115.36)

उक्तोऽहं त्रिदशैः सर्वैः पाहि नः शरणागतान्। त्वं नो धाता विधाता च सृष्टिसंहारकारकः॥

ukto'haṁ tridaśaiḥ sarvaiḥ pāhi naḥ śaraṇāgatān| tvaṁ no dhātā vidhātā ca sṛṣṭisaṁhārakārakaḥ||

I was addressed by all the gods: "Protect us, who have come for refuge; you are our sustainer and ordainer, the maker of creation and dissolution."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.115.37)

क्रूरग्रहैर्महादेव रुद्धा मेघाः समंततः। न कुर्वंति प्रभो वृष्टिमनावृष्टिः सुदारुणा। सर्वप्राणिविनाशाय संजाता शतवार्षिकी॥

krūragrahairmahādeva ruddhā meghāḥ samaṁtataḥ| na kurvaṁti prabho vṛṣṭimanāvṛṣṭiḥ sudāruṇā| sarvaprāṇivināśāya saṁjātā śatavārṣikī||

"O Mahadeva, the clouds are blocked on every side by cruel planets; they do not make rain, O Lord; a most terrible drought, for the destruction of all living beings, has arisen for a hundred years."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.115.38)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मया ज्ञातं वरानने। क्रूरग्रहाणां सामर्थ्यं यथा च विदितं मम॥

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā mayā jñātaṁ varānane| krūragrahāṇāṁ sāmarthyaṁ yathā ca viditaṁ mama||

Hearing their words, I understood, O fair-faced one, the power of the cruel planets, as it became known to me.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.115.39)

इति ज्ञात्वा महादेवि उपायश्चिंतितो मया। उत्तरो नाम यो मेघो मेघैः कोटिभिरावृतः। आहूतस्तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तः किं करोमीत्युवाच ह॥

iti jñātvā mahādevi upāyaściṁtito mayā| uttaro nāma yo megho meghaiḥ koṭibhirāvṛtaḥ| āhūtastatkṣaṇātprāptaḥ kiṁ karomītyuvāca ha||

Knowing this, O Mahadevi, a remedy was devised by me: the cloud named Uttara, surrounded by tens of millions of clouds, was summoned; he arrived at that very instant and said, "What shall I do?"

Verse 40 (skanda.5.115.40)

मया प्रोक्तो ममादेशाद्गच्छ त्वं घनसंयुतः। महाकालवनं रम्यं वांछितार्थफलप्रदम्॥

mayā prokto mamādeśādgaccha tvaṁ ghanasaṁyutaḥ| mahākālavanaṁ ramyaṁ vāṁchitārthaphalapradam||

I said to him: "By my command, go, together with the clouds, to the delightful Mahakala forest, the granter of the fruit of every desire;"

Verse 41 (skanda.5.115.41)

गंगेश्वरस्य देवस्य दक्षिणे लिंगमुत्तमम्। तमाराधय यत्नेन स ते दास्यति वांछितम्॥

gaṁgeśvarasya devasya dakṣiṇe liṁgamuttamam| tamārādhaya yatnena sa te dāsyati vāṁchitam||

"south of the God Gangeshvara there is an excellent linga; worship it with effort, and it will grant you your desire."

Verse 42 (skanda.5.115.42)

एवमुक्तो मया मेघ उत्तरो मेघसंयुतः। जगाम त्वरया युक्तो महाकालवनोत्तमे॥

evamukto mayā megha uttaro meghasaṁyutaḥ| jagāma tvarayā yukto mahākālavanottame||

Thus addressed by me, the cloud Uttara, together with the clouds, went with haste to the excellent Mahakala forest.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.115.43)

दृष्ट्वा वृष्टिकरं लिंगं पूजयामास भक्तितः। शिप्राजलं गृहीत्वा तु स्नात्वा स्नात्वा प्रयत्नतः। तावद्यावज्जलं शिप्रां पुनरेवागतं प्रिये॥

dṛṣṭvā vṛṣṭikaraṁ liṁgaṁ pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ| śiprājalaṁ gṛhītvā tu snātvā snātvā prayatnataḥ| tāvadyāvajjalaṁ śiprāṁ punarevāgataṁ priye||

Seeing the rain-giving linga, he worshipped it with devotion; taking the water of the Shipra, he bathed again and again with effort — as much of the Shipra's water as was used, it came back again, O beloved.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.115.44)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तस्मादुद्भूतं धूममंडलम्। लिंगमध्याद्वरारोहे ज्वालामालाकुलं महत्॥

etasminnaṁtare tasmādudbhūtaṁ dhūmamaṁḍalam| liṁgamadhyādvarārohe jvālāmālākulaṁ mahat||

Meanwhile, from that linga a great mass of smoke arose, O fair-hipped one, filled with garlands of flame.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.115.45)

ततो ज्वालामयं सर्वमभूदम्बरगोचरम्। तस्य ज्वालासमूहेन दग्धं वै ग्रहमंडलम्॥

tato jvālāmayaṁ sarvamabhūdambaragocaram| tasya jvālāsamūhena dagdhaṁ vai grahamaṁḍalam||

Then everything visible in the sky became filled with flame; by the mass of that flame the entire orb of the planets was scorched,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.115.46)

सनक्षत्रपथं यावत्ततो भीता ग्रहाः प्रिये। तमेव शरणं प्राप्ता धूमज्वालाकुलाननाः॥

sanakṣatrapathaṁ yāvattato bhītā grahāḥ priye| tameva śaraṇaṁ prāptā dhūmajvālākulānanāḥ||

up to the path of the constellations; then the planets, O beloved, terrified, took refuge in that very linga, their faces enveloped in smoke and flame.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.115.47)

ततो ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च तद्दृष्ट्वा महदद्भुतम्। देवैर्वृतः सहस्राक्षो लिंगांतिकमुपागतः॥

tato brahmā ca viṣṇuśca taddṛṣṭvā mahadadbhutam| devairvṛtaḥ sahasrākṣo liṁgāṁtikamupāgataḥ||

Then Brahma and Vishnu, seeing that great wonder, together with the gods, and the thousand-eyed one, came near to the linga.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.115.48)

तल्लिंगं सुमहाज्वालं ज्वालाभिः पूरितांबरम्। दुःप्रेक्ष्यं दुर्विदं भीमं वर्द्धमानं ददर्श सः॥

talliṁgaṁ sumahājvālaṁ jvālābhiḥ pūritāṁbaram| duḥprekṣyaṁ durvidaṁ bhīmaṁ varddhamānaṁ dadarśa saḥ||

He beheld that linga, with a very great flame, filling the sky with flames, hard to gaze upon, hard to comprehend, terrible, ever growing.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.115.49)

अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण ववृधे योजनायुतम्। दृष्ट्वा तु वर्द्धमानस्य लिंगस्यात्यद्भुताकृतिम्। सुरेशो मोहमापन्नो विसंज्ञाश्च ग्रहास्तदा॥

akṣṇornimeṣamātreṇa vavṛdhe yojanāyutam| dṛṣṭvā tu varddhamānasya liṁgasyātyadbhutākṛtim| sureśo mohamāpanno visaṁjñāśca grahāstadā||

In the mere blink of an eye it grew by ten thousand yojanas; seeing the exceedingly wondrous form of that growing linga, the lord of the gods fell into confusion, and the planets became senseless.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.115.50)

ततस्तु तस्य लिंगस्य वारिधारा विनिःसृताः। एकोद्देशाद्वरारोहे धरा त्वेकार्णवीकृता॥

tatastu tasya liṁgasya vāridhārā viniḥsṛtāḥ| ekoddeśādvarārohe dharā tvekārṇavīkṛtā||

Then from that linga streams of water gushed forth; from one region, O fair-hipped one, the earth was turned into a single ocean.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.115.51)

लिंगस्यान्यप्रदेशात्तु वायुः समभवन्महान्। इतरस्मिन्प्रदेशे तु समूहस्तडितामभूत्॥

liṁgasyānyapradeśāttu vāyuḥ samabhavanmahān| itarasminpradeśe tu samūhastaḍitāmabhūt||

From another region of the linga a mighty wind arose; in yet another region there occurred a mass of lightning.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.115.52)

सधूमा समभूज्ज्वाला लिंगस्यान्यप्रदेशतः॥

sadhūmā samabhūjjvālā liṁgasyānyapradeśataḥ||

A smoky flame arose from another region of the linga.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.115.53)

एवमत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा वर्द्धमानं समंततः। लिङ्गमव्यक्तमुद्भूतमापूरितनभोऽन्तरम्॥

evamatyadbhutaṁ dṛṣṭvā varddhamānaṁ samaṁtataḥ| liṅgamavyaktamudbhūtamāpūritanabho'ntaram||

Thus, seeing this exceedingly wondrous, growing, unmanifest linga on every side, having arisen and filled the expanse of the sky,

Verse 54 (skanda.5.115.54)

ग्रहाश्च विह्वला जाता धूमेनाकुलितेन्द्रियाः। तुष्टुवुश्च तदा लिंगं दह्यमानाः समंततः॥

grahāśca vihvalā jātā dhūmenākulitendriyāḥ| tuṣṭuvuśca tadā liṁgaṁ dahyamānāḥ samaṁtataḥ||

the planets became bewildered, their senses disturbed by smoke; and then, being scorched on every side, they praised the linga.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.115.55)

ग्रहा ऊचुः। नमः सुरूपाय सुरार्चिताय नमो विरूपप्रकृतिक्रियाय। नमोनमो रूपनिराश्रयाय जलस्वरूपाय नमो नमस्ते॥

grahā ūcuḥ| namaḥ surūpāya surārcitāya namo virūpaprakṛtikriyāya| namonamo rūpanirāśrayāya jalasvarūpāya namo namaste||

The planets said: "Salutation to the beautiful-formed one, worshipped by the gods; salutation to the one whose nature and action are of formless kind; salutation, salutation to the one beyond form, of watery form — salutation, salutation to you."

Verse 56 (skanda.5.115.56)

इति स्तुतो यदा देवि ग्रहैः क्रूरैस्तदा प्रिये। लिंगात्प्रादुरभूत्खस्थः स्वरूपो विग्रहाकृतिः॥

iti stuto yadā devi grahaiḥ krūraistadā priye| liṁgātprādurabhūtkhasthaḥ svarūpo vigrahākṛtiḥ||

Thus praised, O Devi, by the cruel planets, then, O beloved, from the linga, established in the sky, a personal form arose,

Verse 57 (skanda.5.115.57)

भस्मधूसरसर्वांगो भोगिभोगांगदोज्ज्वलः। हिमराशिनिभाकारो रजताचलनिर्मलः। उवाच चैतान्प्रणतान्ग्रहान्कंपितकन्धरान्॥

bhasmadhūsarasarvāṁgo bhogibhogāṁgadojjvalaḥ| himarāśinibhākāro rajatācalanirmalaḥ| uvāca caitānpraṇatāngrahānkaṁpitakandharān||

his whole body grey with ashes, resplendent with the coiled bodies of serpents as ornaments, in appearance like a mass of snow, spotless as the silver mountain; he spoke to those planets, who bowed with trembling necks:

Verse 58 (skanda.5.115.58)

किं वा कामं मनोऽभीष्टं भवद्भ्यो यद्ददाम्यहम्। ममामोघमिदं सर्वं दर्शनं चातिदुर्लभम्॥

kiṁ vā kāmaṁ mano'bhīṣṭaṁ bhavadbhyo yaddadāmyaham| mamāmoghamidaṁ sarvaṁ darśanaṁ cātidurlabham||

"Whatever wish, whatever is desired in the mind, that I shall give to you; this vision of mine is unfailing and exceedingly hard to attain."

Verse 59 (skanda.5.115.59)

भवद्भ्यो लोकतुष्ट्यर्थं दर्शनं हि ददाम्यहम्। एवमुक्त्वा ग्रहाः सर्वे प्रोचुः प्रांजलयस्तदा॥

bhavadbhyo lokatuṣṭyarthaṁ darśanaṁ hi dadāmyaham| evamuktvā grahāḥ sarve procuḥ prāṁjalayastadā||

"For the satisfaction of the world I grant you this vision." Having thus spoken, all the planets then said, with joined palms:

Verse 60 (skanda.5.115.60)

यदि देयो वरो देव यदि तुष्टोऽसि शंकर। कर्मारंभेषु सर्वेषु पूजाऽस्माकं यथा भवेत्। तथा कुरु महादेव तेन तृप्तिर्भविष्यति॥

yadi deyo varo deva yadi tuṣṭo'si śaṁkara| karmāraṁbheṣu sarveṣu pūjā'smākaṁ yathā bhavet| tathā kuru mahādeva tena tṛptirbhaviṣyati||

"If a boon is to be given, O God, if you are pleased, O Shankara, then, O Mahadeva, so act that in all undertakings of action there may be worship for us; by that, satisfaction shall be ours."

Verse 61 (skanda.5.115.61)

एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा मेघं चोत्तरमुक्तवान्। तुष्टोऽस्म्यहं तु ते वत्स गृहाण वरमीप्सितम्॥

evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā meghaṁ cottaramuktavān| tuṣṭo'smyahaṁ tu te vatsa gṛhāṇa varamīpsitam||

"So be it," I said, and spoke to the cloud Uttara: "I am pleased with you, my child; take the boon you desire."

Verse 62 (skanda.5.115.62)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तत्र ह्युत्तरः प्राह हर्षितः। यन्मे तुष्टोऽसि भगवंस्तन्मह्यं दीयतां वरम्॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tatra hyuttaraḥ prāha harṣitaḥ| yanme tuṣṭo'si bhagavaṁstanmahyaṁ dīyatāṁ varam||

Hearing these words there, Uttara, joyfully, said: "Since you are pleased with me, O Lord, may that boon be given to me:"

Verse 63 (skanda.5.115.63)

यदास्माकं महाबाधां कदा कोपि करिष्यति। तदा वृष्टिर्विधातब्या त्वया देव सदा भुवि॥

yadāsmākaṁ mahābādhāṁ kadā kopi kariṣyati| tadā vṛṣṭirvidhātabyā tvayā deva sadā bhuvi||

"Whenever anyone shall cause us great distress, then rain should ever be made by you upon the earth, O God."

Verse 64 (skanda.5.115.64)

रक्षा कार्या च मेघानां रक्षणीयास्त्वया वयम्। एवमस्त्विति तेनोक्तं लिंगेन नगगात्रजे॥

rakṣā kāryā ca meghānāṁ rakṣaṇīyāstvayā vayam| evamastviti tenoktaṁ liṁgena nagagātraje||

"Protection of the clouds should be given; we should be protected by you." "So be it," said that linga, O daughter of the mountain.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.115.65)

अद्यप्रभृति ते नाम्ना ख्यातिं यास्यामि भूतले। उत्तरेश्वरसंज्ञोऽहं प्रभविष्यामि न संशयः॥

adyaprabhṛti te nāmnā khyātiṁ yāsyāmi bhūtale| uttareśvarasaṁjño'haṁ prabhaviṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ||

"From this day I shall become renowned by your name on earth; I shall become known by the name Uttareshvara — there is no doubt of it."

Verse 66 (skanda.5.115.66)

ये मां संपूजयिष्यंति भक्त्या परमया युताः। तेषां दास्यामि सततं वांछितार्थफलं भुवि॥

ye māṁ saṁpūjayiṣyaṁti bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ| teṣāṁ dāsyāmi satataṁ vāṁchitārthaphalaṁ bhuvi||

"Those who will worship me, endowed with supreme devotion, to them I shall ever grant the fruit of their desired object on earth."

Verse 67 (skanda.5.115.67)

पश्यंति प्रयता ये मां कृत्वा नियमपूर्वकम्। ते यास्यंति पुरं शैवं यावत्कल्पाष्टकायुतम्॥

paśyaṁti prayatā ye māṁ kṛtvā niyamapūrvakam| te yāsyaṁti puraṁ śaivaṁ yāvatkalpāṣṭakāyutam||

"Those who, restrained and observant of rule, behold me, shall go to the abode of Shiva, for as long as eight thousand kalpas,"

Verse 68 (skanda.5.115.68)

आरूढाः सूर्यसंकाशैर्विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः। रुद्रकन्यासमाकीर्णैर्हंससारससंयुतैः॥

ārūḍhāḥ sūryasaṁkāśairvimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ| rudrakanyāsamākīrṇairhaṁsasārasasaṁyutaiḥ||

"mounted on chariots resembling the sun, granting every desire, thronged with the daughters of Rudra, accompanied by swans and cranes,"

Verse 69 (skanda.5.115.69)

नृत्यवादित्रनिर्घुष्टैरुत्कटध्वनिनादितैः। दोधूयमानैश्च नरैः स्तूयमानाः सुरासुरैः॥

nṛtyavāditranirghuṣṭairutkaṭadhvanināditaiḥ| dodhūyamānaiśca naraiḥ stūyamānāḥ surāsuraiḥ||

"resounding with dance and music, echoing with tremendous sounds, fanned by attendants, praised by gods and asuras."

Verse 70 (skanda.5.115.70)

प्रसंगाद्भक्तिहीनोऽपि यो मां पश्यत्यशाठ्यतः। ऐश्वर्यं तस्य दास्यामि ह्युत्तरेषु कुरुष्वथ॥

prasaṁgādbhaktihīno'pi yo māṁ paśyatyaśāṭhyataḥ| aiśvaryaṁ tasya dāsyāmi hyuttareṣu kuruṣvatha||

"Even one devoid of devotion, who beholds me merely incidentally, without deceit, to him I shall grant lordship among the Uttara Kurus."

Verse 71 (skanda.5.115.71)

स्मरिष्यति च यो नित्यं प्रभाते चोत्तरेश्वरम्। स याति परमं स्थानं दाहप्रलयवर्जितम्॥

smariṣyati ca yo nityaṁ prabhāte cottareśvaram| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ dāhapralayavarjitam||

"And he who will remember Uttareshvara daily at dawn shall go to the supreme abode, free from the burning of dissolution."

Verse 72 (skanda.5.115.72)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। उत्तरेश्वरदेवस्य शृणु त्रिलोचनेश्वरम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| uttareśvaradevasya śṛṇu trilocaneśvaram||

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