The Glory of Prithukeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.120.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु पंचाशदेकोनं देवेशं पृथुकेश्वरम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सार्वभौमो नरो भवेत्॥

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu paṁcāśadekonaṁ deveśaṁ pṛthukeśvaram| yasya darśanamātreṇa sārvabhaumo naro bhavet||

Ishvara said: Hear of the forty-ninth, the Lord of gods, Prithukeshvara, by the mere sight of whom a man becomes a universal sovereign.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.120.2)

वंशे स्वायंभुवे देवि ह्यंगो राजा बभूव ह। मृत्योस्तु दुहिता तेन परिणीता सुदुर्मुखा॥

vaṁśe svāyaṁbhuve devi hyaṁgo rājā babhūva ha| mṛtyostu duhitā tena pariṇītā sudurmukhā||

In the lineage of Svayambhuva, O Devi, there was a king named Anga; by him the daughter of Mrityu, of evil countenance, was married.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.120.3)

वेननामा सुतो जातो नास्तिको धर्मदूषकः। देवब्रह्मस्वहारी च परभार्यापहारकः॥

venanāmā suto jāto nāstiko dharmadūṣakaḥ| devabrahmasvahārī ca parabhāryāpahārakaḥ||

A son was born named Vena, an atheist, a defiler of dharma, a stealer of the wealth of gods and Brahmins, and a ravisher of others' wives.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.120.4)

स च शप्तो द्विजैर्देवि तत्क्षणान्निधनं गतः। तदूरोर्मथ्यमानात्तु निपेतुर्म्लेछजातयः॥

sa ca śapto dvijairdevi tatkṣaṇānnidhanaṁ gataḥ| tadūrormathyamānāttu nipeturmlechajātayaḥ||

He, O Devi, was cursed by the Brahmins and met his death at that very instant; when his thigh was then churned, the mleccha races fell forth,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.120.5)

शरीरे मातुरंशेन कृष्णांजनचयप्रभाः। पितुरंशात्समुत्पन्नो धार्मिको द्विजसत्तमैः। मथिताद्दक्षिणाद्धस्तात्पृथुः प्रथितविक्रमः॥

śarīre māturaṁśena kṛṣṇāṁjanacayaprabhāḥ| pituraṁśātsamutpanno dhārmiko dvijasattamaiḥ| mathitāddakṣiṇāddhastātpṛthuḥ prathitavikramaḥ||

dark in body, like a mass of black collyrium, sprung from his mother's portion; and from his father's portion arose the righteous one, honoured by the foremost of the twice-born — Prithu, of renowned valour, when his right hand was churned.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.120.6)

स विप्रैरभिषिक्तश्च तपः कृत्वा सुदुष्करम्। विष्णोर्वरेण महता प्रभुत्वमगमन्नृपः॥

sa viprairabhiṣiktaśca tapaḥ kṛtvā suduṣkaram| viṣṇorvareṇa mahatā prabhutvamagamannṛpaḥ||

He was anointed by the Brahmins, and, having performed most severe austerity, by the great boon of Vishnu, that king attained sovereignty.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.120.7)

स च स्वाध्यायरहिता निर्वषट्कारनिर्द्धनाः। हाहाभूताः प्रजा दृष्ट्वा ततोऽभूद्दुःखितो नृपः॥

sa ca svādhyāyarahitā nirvaṣaṭkāranirddhanāḥ| hāhābhūtāḥ prajā dṛṣṭvā tato'bhūdduḥkhito nṛpaḥ||

Seeing his subjects devoid of Vedic study, without the sacred exclamation, destitute, crying out in distress, that king then became sorrowful,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.120.8)

स दोग्धुमैच्छत्त्रैलोक्यं सदेवासुरमानुषम्॥

sa dogdhumaicchattrailokyaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam||

and desired to milk the threefold world, together with gods, asuras, and men.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.120.9)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो नारदो मुनिसत्तयः। क्रोधाविष्टं पृथुं दृष्ट्वा वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह॥

etasminnaṁtare prāpto nārado munisattayaḥ| krodhāviṣṭaṁ pṛthuṁ dṛṣṭvā vākyaṁ cedamuvāca ha||

Meanwhile the sage Narada, foremost of sages, arrived; seeing Prithu overcome with anger, he spoke these words:

Verse 10 (skanda.5.120.10)

लोकत्रयविनाशाय मा कोपं कुरु भूपते। पृथ्व्यानया ग्रासितानि सस्यानि विविधानि च। गिलितानि च अन्नानि विद्ध्येवैतन्मतं मम॥

lokatrayavināśāya mā kopaṁ kuru bhūpate| pṛthvyānayā grāsitāni sasyāni vividhāni ca| gilitāni ca annāni viddhyevaitanmataṁ mama||

"For the destruction of the three worlds, do not be angry, O king; know that by this earth various crops have been devoured, and grains have been swallowed — this is my opinion."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.120.11)

नारदस्य च वाक्येन क्रोधं चक्रे पृथुस्तदा। निर्दग्धुमैच्छत्पृथिवीं सशैलवनकाननाम्॥

nāradasya ca vākyena krodhaṁ cakre pṛthustadā| nirdagdhumaicchatpṛthivīṁ saśailavanakānanām||

But by Narada's words, Prithu then became angry; he desired to burn up the earth, together with its mountains, forests and woodlands.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.120.12)

मुमोच शस्त्रमाग्नेयं तेन सा धरणी तदा। दह्यमाना भयार्त्ता च गौर्भूत्वा पृधुमभ्यगात्॥

mumoca śastramāgneyaṁ tena sā dharaṇī tadā| dahyamānā bhayārttā ca gaurbhūtvā pṛdhumabhyagāt||

He released a fire-weapon; then that earth, being burned, terrified, taking the form of a cow, approached Prithu.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.120.13)

सा वध्यमाना तेनैव नृपं वचनमब्रवीत्। शरणं समनुप्राप्ता गौरहं नृपसत्तम॥

sā vadhyamānā tenaiva nṛpaṁ vacanamabravīt| śaraṇaṁ samanuprāptā gaurahaṁ nṛpasattama||

Being thus assailed, she spoke these words to the king: "I have come to your refuge, being a cow, O foremost of kings —"

Verse 14 (skanda.5.120.14)

गौरवध्या महीपाल वत्सं कृत्वा च दुग्धि माम्॥

gauravadhyā mahīpāla vatsaṁ kṛtvā ca dugdhi mām||

"a cow is not to be slain, O lord of the earth; make me a calf, and milk me."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.120.15)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुदोह नृपसत्तमः। भास्वद्रत्नानि सस्यानि कृत्वा वत्सं हिमालयम्॥

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā dudoha nṛpasattamaḥ| bhāsvadratnāni sasyāni kṛtvā vatsaṁ himālayam||

Hearing her words, that best of kings milked her, making the crops into shining jewels, and the Himalaya into the calf.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.120.16)

जाताः प्रजाश्च सुमुखाः प्रवृत्तश्च महोत्सवः। प्रवृत्ता यागदानादि क्रिया मगलपूर्विकाः॥

jātāḥ prajāśca sumukhāḥ pravṛttaśca mahotsavaḥ| pravṛttā yāgadānādi kriyā magalapūrvikāḥ||

His subjects became joyful, and a great festival began; sacrifices, gifts and auspicious rites began to be performed.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.120.17)

राजाथ चिंतयामास मया पापमिदं कृतम्। अवध्याश्च स्त्रियः प्रोक्ता गौरवध्या द्विजस्तथा॥

rājātha ciṁtayāmāsa mayā pāpamidaṁ kṛtam| avadhyāśca striyaḥ proktā gauravadhyā dvijastathā||

Then the king reflected: "I have committed this sin — women are declared inviolable, and likewise a cow is declared inviolable, as is a Brahmin;"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.120.18)

स्त्रीरूपधारिणी पृथ्वी मोहादेषा मया हता। गोवधे च कृता बुद्धिरहो पापपरंपरा। तस्माद्वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि चितां कृत्वा न संशयः॥

strīrūpadhāriṇī pṛthvī mohādeṣā mayā hatā| govadhe ca kṛtā buddhiraho pāpaparaṁparā| tasmādvahniṁ pravekṣyāmi citāṁ kṛtvā na saṁśayaḥ||

"this earth, bearing the form of a woman, was struck by me out of delusion; and the resolve to slay a cow was made — ah, what a chain of sin! Therefore I shall enter fire, making a pyre, without doubt."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.120.19)

एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य पृथोरमिततेजसः। आजगाम पुनस्तत्र नारदो भगवानृषिः॥

evaṁ ciṁtayatastasya pṛthoramitatejasaḥ| ājagāma punastatra nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ||

While Prithu of boundless splendour was thus reflecting, once again the venerable sage Narada arrived there.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.120.20)

दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं दीनं चिंतयानं पृथुं प्रिये। उवाच नारदो धीमान्किमेतदिति पार्थिव॥

dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhaṁ dīnaṁ ciṁtayānaṁ pṛthuṁ priye| uvāca nārado dhīmānkimetaditi pārthiva||

Seeing Prithu in such a wretched state, O beloved, sunk in thought, the wise Narada said: "What is this, O king?"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.120.21)

ततः स कथयामास मया पापमिदं कृतम्। अवध्या स्त्री हता विप्र कृता बुद्धिश्च गोवधे॥

tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa mayā pāpamidaṁ kṛtam| avadhyā strī hatā vipra kṛtā buddhiśca govadhe||

Then he told him: "I have committed this sin — a woman was slain, O Brahmin, and the resolve to slay a cow was formed;"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.120.22)

काँल्लोकानु गमिष्यामि कृत्वा कर्म सुदारुणम्। मरिष्यामि न संदेहो ब्रह्महा पापपूरुषः॥

kā̃llokānu gamiṣyāmi kṛtvā karma sudāruṇam| mariṣyāmi na saṁdeho brahmahā pāpapūruṣaḥ||

"having done so terrible a deed, to what worlds shall I go? I shall die, without doubt, a sinful man, a slayer of a Brahmin."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.120.23)

अथ चेष्टोपदेशेन दुःखादुद्धर मां द्विज। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कथयामास नारदः। महापापप्रशमनं लिंगमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्॥

atha ceṣṭopadeśena duḥkhāduddhara māṁ dvija| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kathayāmāsa nāradaḥ| mahāpāpapraśamanaṁ liṁgamāhātmyamuttamam||

"Now, by teaching me a remedy, deliver me from this sorrow, O Brahmin." Hearing his words, Narada told him of the excellent greatness of a linga, the appeaser of great sin.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.120.24)

महाकालवने लिंगमभयेश्वरपश्चिमे। महापापक्षयकरं विद्यते तत्र भूपते। गच्छ त्वं सहसा राजंस्तत्र पूतो भविष्यसि॥

mahākālavane liṁgamabhayeśvarapaścime| mahāpāpakṣayakaraṁ vidyate tatra bhūpate| gaccha tvaṁ sahasā rājaṁstatra pūto bhaviṣyasi||

"In the Mahakala forest there is a linga, west of Abhayeshvara, the destroyer of great sin, existing there, O lord of the earth; go there at once, O king, and you shall become purified."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.120.25)

नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पृधुस्तत्र जगाम सः। दृष्ट्वा लिंगं च वै रम्यं विपापस्तत्क्षणादभूत्॥

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā pṛdhustatra jagāma saḥ| dṛṣṭvā liṁgaṁ ca vai ramyaṁ vipāpastatkṣaṇādabhūt||

Hearing Narada's words, Prithu went there; seeing that delightful linga, he became sinless at that very instant.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.120.26)

द्वादशादित्यसंकाशो बभूव पृथिवीपतिः॥

dvādaśādityasaṁkāśo babhūva pṛthivīpatiḥ||

The lord of the earth became radiant as twelve suns.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.120.27)

ततोंऽतरिक्षगैर्देवि कृतं नाम वरानने। पृथुना पूजितो यस्माद्भविष्यति महीतले। अद्यप्रभृति विख्यातो देवोऽयं पृथुकेश्वरः॥

tatoṁ'tarikṣagairdevi kṛtaṁ nāma varānane| pṛthunā pūjito yasmādbhaviṣyati mahītale| adyaprabhṛti vikhyāto devo'yaṁ pṛthukeśvaraḥ||

Then, O Devi, by the sky-dwelling gods, a name was given, O fair-faced one: "Since he shall be worshipped by Prithu on earth, from this day this God shall become renowned as Prithukeshvara."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.120.28)

ये च द्रक्ष्यंति देवेशं पृथुकेश्वरमीश्वरम्। ते सर्वकामसंपूर्णा भविष्यंति महीतले॥

ye ca drakṣyaṁti deveśaṁ pṛthukeśvaramīśvaram| te sarvakāmasaṁpūrṇā bhaviṣyaṁti mahītale||

Those who will behold the Lord of gods, the Lord Prithukeshvara, shall become full of every desire on earth.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.120.29)

अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यत्पापं जायते नृणाम्। तत्पापं यास्यति क्षिप्रं पृथुकेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

ajñānājjñānato vāpi yatpāpaṁ jāyate nṛṇām| tatpāpaṁ yāsyati kṣipraṁ pṛthukeśvaradarśanāt||

Whatever sin arises for men, knowingly or unknowingly, that sin shall quickly depart by the sight of Prithukeshvara.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.120.30)

वाचिकं मानसं वापि कायिकं गुह्यसंभवम्। प्रकाशं वा कृतं पापं प्रसंगादपि यत्कृतम्। तत्सर्वं यास्यति क्षिप्रं पृथुकेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

vācikaṁ mānasaṁ vāpi kāyikaṁ guhyasaṁbhavam| prakāśaṁ vā kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ prasaṁgādapi yatkṛtam| tatsarvaṁ yāsyati kṣipraṁ pṛthukeśvaradarśanāt||

Whether verbal, mental, or bodily, born in secret, or committed openly, or done merely incidentally, all of that shall quickly depart by the sight of Prithukeshvara.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.120.31)

पूजयिष्यंति ये भक्त्या देवं वै पृधुकेश्वरम्। राज्यं प्राप्स्यंति ते सम्यङ्नृलोके च त्रिविष्टपे॥

pūjayiṣyaṁti ye bhaktyā devaṁ vai pṛdhukeśvaram| rājyaṁ prāpsyaṁti te samyaṅnṛloke ca triviṣṭape||

Those who will worship the God Prithukeshvara with devotion shall fully obtain kingship, both in the world of men and in heaven.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.120.32)

भुक्त्वा राज्यं मनुष्याणां देवानां च महीतले। यास्यंति परमं स्थानं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः॥

bhuktvā rājyaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ devānāṁ ca mahītale| yāsyaṁti paramaṁ sthānaṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ||

Having enjoyed the kingship of men, and of gods, on earth, they shall go to the supreme abode of Brahma, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.120.33)

इत्युक्त्वा देवसंघैश्च पूजितः पृथुकेश्वरः। पृथुः शशास पृथिवीं सपत्तनां सपर्वताम्॥

ityuktvā devasaṁghaiśca pūjitaḥ pṛthukeśvaraḥ| pṛthuḥ śaśāsa pṛthivīṁ sapattanāṁ saparvatām||

Having thus spoken, Prithukeshvara was worshipped by the hosts of gods; Prithu ruled the earth, together with its cities and mountains.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.120.34)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। पृथुकेश्वर देवस्य शृणु वै स्थावरेश्वरम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| pṛthukeśvara devasya śṛṇu vai sthāvareśvaram||

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