The Glory of Nupureshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.118.1)

श्रीदेवदेव उवाच। सप्ताधिकं विजानीहि नूपुरेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण प्राप्यंते सर्वसिद्धयः॥

śrīdevadeva uvāca| saptādhikaṁ vijānīhi nūpureśvarasaṁjñakam| yasya darśanamātreṇa prāpyaṁte sarvasiddhayaḥ||

Shri Devadeva said: Know the forty-seventh, named Nupureshvara, by the mere sight of whom all accomplishments are obtained.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.118.2)

पुरा राथन्तरे कल्पे नूपुरोनाम वै गणः। रुद्रभक्तिपरोनित्यं पंचमुद्राविभूषितः॥

purā rāthantare kalpe nūpuronāma vai gaṇaḥ| rudrabhaktiparonityaṁ paṁcamudrāvibhūṣitaḥ||

Formerly, in the Rathantara kalpa, there was a gana named Nupura, ever devoted to devotion to Rudra, adorned with the five sacred marks.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.118.3)

स एकदा कुबेरस्य सभायां प्राप्य संस्थितः। द्रष्टुं महोत्सवं तत्र अप्सरोभिः कृतं तदा॥

sa ekadā kuberasya sabhāyāṁ prāpya saṁsthitaḥ| draṣṭuṁ mahotsavaṁ tatra apsarobhiḥ kṛtaṁ tadā||

He once, having arrived, was present in the assembly of Kubera, to witness a great festival held there by the apsaras.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.118.4)

ननृतुश्चापरास्तत्र ह्युर्वशी योषितां वरा। रंभा तिलोत्तमा मेना ननृतुर्हर्षसंयुताः॥

nanṛtuścāparāstatra hyurvaśī yoṣitāṁ varā| raṁbhā tilottamā menā nanṛturharṣasaṁyutāḥ||

There others also danced — Urvashi, foremost of women, Rambha, Tilottama, and Mena danced, filled with joy.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.118.5)

तासां नृत्यं तदा वीक्ष्य नूपुरो गणपस्तदा। कामबाणार्दितो नूनं तासां मध्ये ननर्त्त ह॥

tāsāṁ nṛtyaṁ tadā vīkṣya nūpuro gaṇapastadā| kāmabāṇārdito nūnaṁ tāsāṁ madhye nanartta ha||

Watching their dance then, the lord of the ganas Nupura, surely tormented by the arrow of Kama, danced in their very midst.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.118.6)

नृत्यमानस्ततो हृष्टः पुष्पगुच्छेन वक्षसि। उर्वशीं ताडयामास कामबाणप्रपीडितः॥

nṛtyamānastato hṛṣṭaḥ puṣpagucchena vakṣasi| urvaśīṁ tāḍayāmāsa kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ||

While dancing, then, delighted, tormented by the arrow of Kama, he struck Urvashi on the chest with a bunch of flowers.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.118.7)

उर्वशी तु ततः क्रुद्धा पुष्पगुच्छेन ताडिता। जगाम शरणं देवं धनदं सर्वकामदम्॥

urvaśī tu tataḥ kruddhā puṣpagucchena tāḍitā| jagāma śaraṇaṁ devaṁ dhanadaṁ sarvakāmadam||

Urvashi, then enraged, struck by the bunch of flowers, went for refuge to the god Dhanada, the granter of all desires.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.118.8)

उवाच धनदस्तत्र क्रोधेनाकुलमानसः॥

uvāca dhanadastatra krodhenākulamānasaḥ||

Dhanada, his mind troubled with anger, spoke there —

Verse 9 (skanda.5.118.9)

यस्मात्त्वया रंगभंगः कृतः कामार्द्दितेन वै। तस्मात्त्वं मानुषे लोके पतस्व पापपूरुष॥

yasmāttvayā raṁgabhaṁgaḥ kṛtaḥ kāmārdditena vai| tasmāttvaṁ mānuṣe loke patasva pāpapūruṣa||

"Since, tormented by desire, you have caused this disruption of the festival, therefore, O sinful one, fall into the world of men."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.118.10)

कुबेरस्य च शापात्तु जगाम धरणीतलम्। विललाप सुदुःखार्त्तः किं कृतं पापिना मया॥

kuberasya ca śāpāttu jagāma dharaṇītalam| vilalāpa suduḥkhārttaḥ kiṁ kṛtaṁ pāpinā mayā||

By the curse of Kubera he fell to the surface of the earth; deeply afflicted with sorrow, he lamented — "What sin have I, wretched one, done?"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.118.11)

विलप्य सुभृशं सोऽथ शरणं परमेश्वरीम्। जगाम मनसा देवि त्वां स वै वरदायिनीम्॥

vilapya subhṛśaṁ so'tha śaraṇaṁ parameśvarīm| jagāma manasā devi tvāṁ sa vai varadāyinīm||

Having lamented most bitterly, he then went, in his mind, O Devi, for refuge to you, the supreme goddess, the granter of boons.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.118.12)

त्वं तुष्टा तु तदा जाता प्रत्यक्षा परमेश्वरी। उवाच गणपं प्रीत्या भक्तिनम्रं तदा भुवि॥

tvaṁ tuṣṭā tu tadā jātā pratyakṣā parameśvarī| uvāca gaṇapaṁ prītyā bhaktinamraṁ tadā bhuvi||

You then, pleased, became visibly present, the supreme goddess; you spoke with affection to the lord of the ganas, then bowed in devotion upon the earth.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.118.13)

गच्छ पुत्र ममादेशान्महाकालवनं शुभम्। प्राचीसरस्वती तत्र वाप्याकारा च विद्यते॥

gaccha putra mamādeśānmahākālavanaṁ śubham| prācīsarasvatī tatra vāpyākārā ca vidyate||

"Go, my son, by my command, to the auspicious Mahakala forest; there exists a Prachi-Sarasvati, shaped like a well."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.118.14)

तस्या दक्षिणतो वत्स विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्। वाप्यां स्नात्वा च तल्लिंगं समाराधय भक्तितः॥

tasyā dakṣiṇato vatsa vidyate liṁgamuttamam| vāpyāṁ snātvā ca talliṁgaṁ samārādhaya bhaktitaḥ||

"South of it, my child, exists an excellent linga; having bathed in the well, worship that linga with devotion."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.118.15)

सा प्राची स च देवेशस्त्वन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यति। इत्युक्तो नूपुरो देवि महाकालवनं गतः॥

sā prācī sa ca deveśastvannāmnā khyātimeṣyati| ityukto nūpuro devi mahākālavanaṁ gataḥ||

"That Prachi and that Lord of gods shall become renowned by your name." Thus addressed, O Devi, Nupura went to the Mahakala forest.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.118.16)

त्वया च प्रेरितो देवि कीर्त्यर्थं तत्र गम्यताम्। इत्युक्तो नूपुरो दिव्यो गणो हृष्टः कृतांजलिः॥

tvayā ca prerito devi kīrtyarthaṁ tatra gamyatām| ityukto nūpuro divyo gaṇo hṛṣṭaḥ kṛtāṁjaliḥ||

"And urged by you, O Devi, let him go there for the sake of fame." Thus addressed, that divine gana Nupura, delighted, with joined palms,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.118.17)

महाकालवनं रम्यं देवगंधर्वसेवितम्। ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं सुरगन्धर्वसेवितम्॥

mahākālavanaṁ ramyaṁ devagaṁdharvasevitam| dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ suragandharvasevitam||

beheld the delightful Mahakala forest, served by gods and gandharvas, and there saw that linga, served by gods and gandharvas.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.118.18)

प्राची सरस्वती तत्र वाप्याकारा च संस्थिता। तस्यां स्नात्वा ततो देवं पूजयामास नूपुरः॥

prācī sarasvatī tatra vāpyākārā ca saṁsthitā| tasyāṁ snātvā tato devaṁ pūjayāmāsa nūpuraḥ||

There stood Prachi-Sarasvati, in the shape of a well; bathing in it, Nupura then worshipped the God.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.118.19)

ततो देवः प्रसन्नात्मा प्रत्युवाचाथ नूपुरम्। साधु नूपुर भद्रं ते स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि सर्वदा॥

tato devaḥ prasannātmā pratyuvācātha nūpuram| sādhu nūpura bhadraṁ te svasti prāpnuhi sarvadā||

Then the God, his heart pleased, replied to Nupura: "Well done, Nupura; blessed be you; may you attain welfare always."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.118.20)

भविता वल्लभो देव्याः पार्वत्याः शंकरस्य च। इत्युक्तस्तेन लिंगेन तत्क्षणान्नूपुरः प्रिये॥

bhavitā vallabho devyāḥ pārvatyāḥ śaṁkarasya ca| ityuktastena liṁgena tatkṣaṇānnūpuraḥ priye||

"You shall become the beloved of the Devi Parvati and of Shankara." Thus addressed by that linga, O beloved, at that very instant Nupura,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.118.21)

उदितादित्यसंकाशो विभावसुसमद्युतिः। तेजोराशिश्च संजातो दुर्निरीक्ष्यस्त्रिविष्टपैः॥

uditādityasaṁkāśo vibhāvasusamadyutiḥ| tejorāśiśca saṁjāto durnirīkṣyastriviṣṭapaiḥ||

became like the risen sun, radiant as fire, a mass of splendour, hard to gaze upon even for the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.118.22)

प्रभावं तादृशं दृष्ट्वा देवैरुक्तं वरानने। अहो लिंगस्य माहात्म्यं दृश्यतेत्यद्भुतं भुवि॥

prabhāvaṁ tādṛśaṁ dṛṣṭvā devairuktaṁ varānane| aho liṁgasya māhātmyaṁ dṛśyatetyadbhutaṁ bhuvi||

Seeing such power, O fair-faced one, the gods said: "Ah, how wondrous is the greatness of this linga, seen on earth!"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.118.23)

प्राप्ता च कामिकी सिद्धिर्नूपुरेण च दर्शनात्। अतो देवोऽद्यप्रभृति विख्यातो भूतलेऽभवत्॥

prāptā ca kāmikī siddhirnūpureṇa ca darśanāt| ato devo'dyaprabhṛti vikhyāto bhūtale'bhavat||

And by the mere sight of him, the accomplishment of desire was attained by Nupura; therefore, from this day, the God became renowned on earth,

Verse 24 (skanda.5.118.24)

सर्वकामप्रदो नित्यं नूपुरेश्वर नामतः। दर्शनं ये करिष्यंति स्नात्वा वाप्यां समाहिताः॥

sarvakāmaprado nityaṁ nūpureśvara nāmataḥ| darśanaṁ ye kariṣyaṁti snātvā vāpyāṁ samāhitāḥ||

ever the granter of all desires, by the name Nupureshvara. Those who will behold him, having bathed in the well, with a composed mind,

Verse 25 (skanda.5.118.25)

नूपुरेश्वररुद्रस्य ते यांति परमं पदम्। ये च पूजां करिष्यंति भक्तिभावसमन्विताः। वसंति मुदिताः सर्वे यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्॥

nūpureśvararudrasya te yāṁti paramaṁ padam| ye ca pūjāṁ kariṣyaṁti bhaktibhāvasamanvitāḥ| vasaṁti muditāḥ sarve yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam||

shall go to the supreme abode of Rudra Nupureshvara; and those who will worship him, filled with a devoted heart, shall dwell rejoicing, all of them, until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.118.26)

जन्ममृत्युजरारोगदुःखानि विविधानि च। प्रयांति विलयं सद्यः पूजिते नूपुरेश्वरे॥

janmamṛtyujarārogaduḥkhāni vividhāni ca| prayāṁti vilayaṁ sadyaḥ pūjite nūpureśvare||

Birth, death, old age, disease, and various sorrows come at once to dissolution when Nupureshvara is worshipped.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.118.27)

वापी गंगासमा सा तु स्वयमेव शुभेक्षणे। संगमस्तु वितस्तायां यमुनायास्तु सुव्रते। प्रयागमेतज्जानीहि भूधरेंद्रांगसंभवे॥

vāpī gaṁgāsamā sā tu svayameva śubhekṣaṇe| saṁgamastu vitastāyāṁ yamunāyāstu suvrate| prayāgametajjānīhi bhūdhareṁdrāṁgasaṁbhave||

That well itself, O auspicious-eyed one, is equal to the Ganga; and there is a confluence, O virtuous one, of the Vitasta and the Yamuna — know this as Prayaga, sprung from the body of the lord of mountains.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.118.28)

सोमतीर्थं तदा देवि सर्वपातकनाशनम्। तत्र स्नात्वा पुमान्देवि वाजपेयफलं लभेत्॥

somatīrthaṁ tadā devi sarvapātakanāśanam| tatra snātvā pumāndevi vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet||

There is the Soma-tirtha too, O Devi, destroyer of all sins; bathing there, a man, O Devi, obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.118.29)

कृष्णाष्टम्यां च यः स्नात्वा पूजयेन्नूपुरेश्वरम्। कुलं वै तारयेत्सोपि मातृकं पितृकं शतम्॥

kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ ca yaḥ snātvā pūjayennūpureśvaram| kulaṁ vai tārayetsopi mātṛkaṁ pitṛkaṁ śatam||

Whoever, having bathed on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, worships Nupureshvara, saves his lineage — a hundred generations on the mother's side and the father's side.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.118.30)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। नूपुरेश्वरदेवस्य श्रूयतामभयेश्वरम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| nūpureśvaradevasya śrūyatāmabhayeśvaram||

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