The Glory of Shuleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.122.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। एकाधिकं विजानीहि पंचाशत्तममीश्वरम्। देवं शूलेश्वरं देवि सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्॥

īśvara uvāca| ekādhikaṁ vijānīhi paṁcāśattamamīśvaram| devaṁ śūleśvaraṁ devi sarvavyādhivināśanam||

Ishvara said: Know the fifty-first, the God Shuleshvara, O Devi, destroyer of every disease.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.122.2)

आद्ये कल्पे प्रवृत्ते च राज्यहेतोर्वरानने। देवानां दानवानां च युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम्। दैत्यानामीश्वरे जंभे देवानां च शचीपतौ॥

ādye kalpe pravṛtte ca rājyahetorvarānane| devānāṁ dānavānāṁ ca yuddhamāsītsudāruṇam| daityānāmīśvare jaṁbhe devānāṁ ca śacīpatau||

In the first kalpa, O fair-faced one, when it had proceeded, for the sake of kingship, a most terrible war took place between the gods and the danavas, with Jambha as lord of the daityas and Shachipati as lord of the gods.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.122.3)

ततो देवाः पराभूता दैत्या विजयिनोऽभवन्। अंधको मंदरं प्राप्तो दूतं मे प्राहिणोत्तदा॥

tato devāḥ parābhūtā daityā vijayino'bhavan| aṁdhako maṁdaraṁ prāpto dūtaṁ me prāhiṇottadā||

Then the gods were defeated, and the daityas became victorious; Andhaka reached Mandara and sent a messenger to me then.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.122.4)

स दूतो मामुवाचोच्चैः सगर्वो दुष्टमानसः। अन्धकेनाहमादिष्टः शृणु शंकर मद्वचः॥

sa dūto māmuvācoccaiḥ sagarvo duṣṭamānasaḥ| andhakenāhamādiṣṭaḥ śṛṇu śaṁkara madvacaḥ||

That messenger, arrogant and evil-minded, said to me loudly: "I have been commanded by Andhaka; hear my words, O Shankara —"

Verse 5 (skanda.5.122.5)

गौरीं मे देहि पत्न्यर्थं मंदरस्त्यज्यतामयम्। एवं कृते कृतार्थस्त्वमन्यथा नास्ति ते गतिः॥

gaurīṁ me dehi patnyarthaṁ maṁdarastyajyatāmayam| evaṁ kṛte kṛtārthastvamanyathā nāsti te gatiḥ||

"Give me Gauri for a wife; let this Mandara be abandoned. If you do so, you shall be blessed; otherwise there is no refuge for you."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.122.6)

उक्तोऽहं तेन दूतेन त्वया सह महागिरौ। स्मिताननः क्षणं भूत्वा मया प्रोक्तमिदं वचः॥

ukto'haṁ tena dūtena tvayā saha mahāgirau| smitānanaḥ kṣaṇaṁ bhūtvā mayā proktamidaṁ vacaḥ||

I was addressed thus by that messenger, on the great mountain, together with you; having smiled for a moment, I said these words:

Verse 7 (skanda.5.122.7)

गच्छ दूत ममादेशादंधकं ब्रूहि सत्वरम्। इहाभ्येत्याहवं कृत्वा जित्वेमां सुन्दरीं नय॥

gaccha dūta mamādeśādaṁdhakaṁ brūhi satvaram| ihābhyetyāhavaṁ kṛtvā jitvemāṁ sundarīṁ naya||

"Go, O messenger, by my command; tell Andhaka quickly: come here, wage battle, and, having won, take this beauty away."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.122.8)

इत्युक्तः प्रययौ दूतस्तेनाख्यातं वचो मम। अन्धकोऽपि तदा दैत्यः समरार्थी तु मन्दरम्। समायातः सहामात्यो बलेन चतुरंगिणा॥

ityuktaḥ prayayau dūtastenākhyātaṁ vaco mama| andhako'pi tadā daityaḥ samarārthī tu mandaram| samāyātaḥ sahāmātyo balena caturaṁgiṇā||

Thus addressed, the messenger departed and told him my words; Andhaka too, that daitya, then eager for battle, reached Mandara, accompanied by his ministers, with a fourfold army;

Verse 9 (skanda.5.122.9)

मया सह ततस्तस्य घोरं युद्धमभूच्चिरम्। अन्धकस्य रथो घोरश्छिन्नो भिन्नः समं ततः॥

mayā saha tatastasya ghoraṁ yuddhamabhūcciram| andhakasya ratho ghoraśchinno bhinnaḥ samaṁ tataḥ||

then a terrible battle raged between him and me for a long time; Andhaka's terrible chariot was smashed to pieces and split apart.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.122.10)

ततः कुद्धोंऽधको देवि रथात्तस्मादवप्लुतः। मद्रथं बलवान्गृह्य मया सह बलोत्कटः। युयुधे स महादैत्यः शूलेन ताडितो मया॥

tataḥ kuddhoṁ'dhako devi rathāttasmādavaplutaḥ| madrathaṁ balavāngṛhya mayā saha balotkaṭaḥ| yuyudhe sa mahādaityaḥ śūlena tāḍito mayā||

Then, O Devi, enraged Andhaka leapt down from that chariot; that powerful one, exceedingly strong, seized my chariot and fought with me, that great daitya, and was struck by my trident.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.122.11)

मया धृतोन्तरिक्षे स शूलप्रोतो महासुरः। शूलप्रोतोऽथ वै दुष्टस्तावत्स भ्रामितो मया॥

mayā dhṛtontarikṣe sa śūlaproto mahāsuraḥ| śūlaproto'tha vai duṣṭastāvatsa bhrāmito mayā||

Held aloft by me in the sky, that great demon, pierced by the trident — then, thus pierced, that wicked one was swung around by me.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.122.12)

सुस्राव तस्य गात्रेभ्यः शोणितोघस्ततो महान्। बिन्दौबिन्दौ तु रक्तस्य तत्तुल्या दानवास्तथा॥

susrāva tasya gātrebhyaḥ śoṇitoghastato mahān| bindaubindau tu raktasya tattulyā dānavāstathā||

A great flood of blood then flowed from his limbs; and from every drop of that blood, demons equal to him,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.122.13)

संभूताः कोटिशो देवि तैरहं पुनरर्द्दितः। किं कर्त्तव्यमिति ध्यायन्स्थितोऽहं तत्र भामिनि॥

saṁbhūtāḥ koṭiśo devi tairahaṁ punarardditaḥ| kiṁ karttavyamiti dhyāyansthito'haṁ tatra bhāmini||

were born by the millions, O Devi; by them I was afflicted once again. Pondering what should be done, I stood there, O gracious lady.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.122.14)

मया चोत्पादिता दुर्गा रक्तदंता सुभीषणा। अन्धकस्य तदा पीतं रक्तं वहुविधं तया॥

mayā cotpāditā durgā raktadaṁtā subhīṣaṇā| andhakasya tadā pītaṁ raktaṁ vahuvidhaṁ tayā||

By me was then created Durga, red-fanged, most terrible; by her Andhaka's blood, in its manifold flow, was drunk.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.122.15)

तस्मिन्पीते ततो रक्ते नोत्तस्थुर्देवि चापरे। पूर्वोत्थितास्तयैवाशु निहता दानवाधिपाः। तेन शूलवरेणैव तत्क्षणान्निधनं गताः॥

tasminpīte tato rakte nottasthurdevi cāpare| pūrvotthitāstayaivāśu nihatā dānavādhipāḥ| tena śūlavareṇaiva tatkṣaṇānnidhanaṁ gatāḥ||

When that blood was drunk, then, O Devi, no others arose; those already risen were quickly slain by her; and by that excellent trident they too, at that very instant, met their death.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.122.16)

स मामुवाच हृष्टात्मा कृतांजलिपुटोंऽधकः। त्वयि भक्तिः सदा मेस्तु दुर्लभं तव दर्शनम्॥

sa māmuvāca hṛṣṭātmā kṛtāṁjalipuṭoṁ'dhakaḥ| tvayi bhaktiḥ sadā mestu durlabhaṁ tava darśanam||

He, Andhaka, his soul rejoicing, with joined palms, said to me: "May my devotion to you be constant; hard to attain is your sight."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.122.17)

स्वामिना निहतश्चाहं कोऽन्यो धन्यतरो हि मत्। त्वच्छूलेन विनिर्भिन्नो ह्यन्तरिक्षे ततोऽप्यहम्॥

svāminā nihataścāhaṁ ko'nyo dhanyataro hi mat| tvacchūlena vinirbhinno hyantarikṣe tato'pyaham||

"Slain by my own Lord, who else is more blessed than I? Pierced by your trident, then, even in the sky, I —"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.122.18)

संकल्पाक्षेपविक्षेपं कल्पकार्यप्रवर्त्तकम्। सहस्रवक्त्रशिरसं त्वामहं शरणं व्रजे॥

saṁkalpākṣepavikṣepaṁ kalpakāryapravarttakam| sahasravaktraśirasaṁ tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraje||

"I go for refuge to you, the one who impels the projection and withdrawal of intention, the promoter of the work of the kalpa, of a thousand faces and heads."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.122.19)

गिरींद्रतनयानाथं गिरींद्रशिखरालयम्। महालयकृतावासं त्वामहं शरणं व्रजे॥

girīṁdratanayānāthaṁ girīṁdraśikharālayam| mahālayakṛtāvāsaṁ tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraje||

"I go for refuge to you, the lord of the mountain-king's daughter, the dweller on the peak of the mountain-king, whose abode is made in the great temple."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.122.20)

एवं स्तुतोऽहं दैत्येन शूलप्रोतेन सुन्दरि। ततो मे करुणा जाता कृतोंधको गणस्तदा॥

evaṁ stuto'haṁ daityena śūlaprotena sundari| tato me karuṇā jātā kṛtoṁdhako gaṇastadā||

Thus praised by the daitya, pierced by the trident, O beautiful one, then compassion arose in me, and Andhaka was made a gana.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.122.21)

स च शूलवरो देवि मया प्रोक्तो मुदा तदा। एहि शूल हतो दैत्यस्त्वया दुष्टोंधको मृधे॥

sa ca śūlavaro devi mayā prokto mudā tadā| ehi śūla hato daityastvayā duṣṭoṁdhako mṛdhe||

And that excellent trident too, O Devi, was then joyfully addressed by me: "Come, O Shula; the wicked Andhaka has been slain by you in battle;"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.122.22)

परितुष्टः प्रयच्छामि परमं स्थानमुत्तमम्। न देवैर्न च गन्धर्वैर्नापि तत्परमर्षिभिः॥

parituṣṭaḥ prayacchāmi paramaṁ sthānamuttamam| na devairna ca gandharvairnāpi tatparamarṣibhiḥ||

"well pleased, I grant you a supreme, excellent place — one attainable neither by gods, nor by gandharvas, nor even by great sages,"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.122.23)

संप्राप्यं मामनाराध्य तथा विध्वस्तकल्मषैः। मामुवाच ततः शूलः प्रणम्यानतकन्धरः॥

saṁprāpyaṁ māmanārādhya tathā vidhvastakalmaṣaiḥ| māmuvāca tataḥ śūlaḥ praṇamyānatakandharaḥ||

"attainable without worshipping me, even by those whose sins are destroyed." Then the Trident, bowing, his neck bent, said to me:

Verse 24 (skanda.5.122.24)

यदि प्रसन्नो भगवन्करुणा मयि ते यदि। कथयस्व परं स्थानं मनो मे यत्र शुद्ध्यति। दुष्टसंपर्कसंजातमन्यत्पातकमात्मनः॥

yadi prasanno bhagavankaruṇā mayi te yadi| kathayasva paraṁ sthānaṁ mano me yatra śuddhyati| duṣṭasaṁparkasaṁjātamanyatpātakamātmanaḥ||

"If you are pleased, O Lord, if you have compassion for me, tell me of a supreme place, where my mind may be purified of any other sin arising from wicked contact."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.122.25)

ततो मया समादिष्टः करुणाश्लिष्टचेतसा। महाकालवनं रम्यमतिपुण्यफलप्रदम्॥

tato mayā samādiṣṭaḥ karuṇāśliṣṭacetasā| mahākālavanaṁ ramyamatipuṇyaphalapradam||

Then, with a heart embraced by compassion, I instructed him: "The delightful Mahakala forest, granter of the most meritorious fruit —"

Verse 26 (skanda.5.122.26)

तत्रास्मत्प्राप्तिदं लिंगं लोकानुग्रहकारकम्। पृधुकेश्वरपूर्वेण तदाराधय यत्नतः॥

tatrāsmatprāptidaṁ liṁgaṁ lokānugrahakārakam| pṛdhukeśvarapūrveṇa tadārādhaya yatnataḥ||

"there is a linga that grants attainment of me, working the world's welfare; east of Prithukeshvara — worship it with effort."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.122.27)

मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा स जगाम त्वरान्वितः। ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगमनेकफलदायकम्॥

madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā sa jagāma tvarānvitaḥ| dadarśa tatra talliṁgamanekaphaladāyakam||

Hearing my words, he went there with haste; he beheld there that linga, bestower of manifold fruit.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.122.28)

लिंगेन च पुनर्दृष्टः शूलः शंकरवल्लभः। संभूतोऽनेकवक्त्रस्तु हर्षाद्विस्मितमानसः॥

liṁgena ca punardṛṣṭaḥ śūlaḥ śaṁkaravallabhaḥ| saṁbhūto'nekavaktrastu harṣādvismitamānasaḥ||

And seen again by the linga, the Trident, dear to Shankara, having become many-faced, his mind astonished with joy,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.122.29)

स्नेहात्संश्लेषितोऽत्यर्थं पृष्टस्तु कुशलं पुनः। कथितं तेन शूलेन दुष्टांधक वधं तदा॥

snehātsaṁśleṣito'tyarthaṁ pṛṣṭastu kuśalaṁ punaḥ| kathitaṁ tena śūlena duṣṭāṁdhaka vadhaṁ tadā||

was embraced most affectionately, and asked again of his welfare; then he told of the slaying of the wicked Andhaka,

Verse 30 (skanda.5.122.30)

प्रभुणा प्रेरितोऽत्यर्थं शुद्ध्यर्थं भवतोंतिके। त्वद्दर्शनेन पूतोऽहं यास्यामि शिवसंनिधौ। अद्यप्रभृति भूलोके मन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यसि॥

prabhuṇā prerito'tyarthaṁ śuddhyarthaṁ bhavatoṁtike| tvaddarśanena pūto'haṁ yāsyāmi śivasaṁnidhau| adyaprabhṛti bhūloke mannāmnā khyātimeṣyasi||

"and, exceedingly urged by my Lord, for the sake of purification, I came near you. Purified by your sight, I shall go into Shiva's presence. From this day, in the mortal world, you shall become renowned by my name."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.122.31)

ततो भविष्यत्यधिकं दर्शनात्ते वृणोम्यहम्। किं तीर्थैर्विविधैः स्नातैः किं दानैर्विविधैः कृतैः॥

tato bhaviṣyatyadhikaṁ darśanātte vṛṇomyaham| kiṁ tīrthairvividhaiḥ snātaiḥ kiṁ dānairvividhaiḥ kṛtaiḥ||

"Then, from beholding you, I shall grant something even greater still — what need is there of bathing at various sacred fords, what need of various gifts given?"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.122.32)

ते प्राप्स्यंति फलं सर्वं ये त्वां द्रक्ष्यंति भक्तितः॥

te prāpsyaṁti phalaṁ sarvaṁ ye tvāṁ drakṣyaṁti bhaktitaḥ||

They shall obtain every fruit, those who behold you with devotion.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.122.33)

यः करिष्यति ते पूजां भक्तियुक्तोऽपि मानवः। अष्टम्यां वा चतुर्दश्यां दिने भौमस्य भक्तितः॥

yaḥ kariṣyati te pūjāṁ bhaktiyukto'pi mānavaḥ| aṣṭamyāṁ vā caturdaśyāṁ dine bhaumasya bhaktitaḥ||

Whatever man, endowed with devotion, will perform your worship, on the eighth or fourteenth day, on Tuesday, with devotion,

Verse 34 (skanda.5.122.34)

विमानवरमास्थाय कामगं रत्नभूषितम्। उदितादित्यसंकाशं स मुदा विचरिष्यति॥

vimānavaramāsthāya kāmagaṁ ratnabhūṣitam| uditādityasaṁkāśaṁ sa mudā vicariṣyati||

mounted on an excellent chariot, moving at will, adorned with jewels, radiant as the risen sun, he shall wander about joyfully.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.122.35)

त्वन्नाम ये ग्रहीष्यंति सर्वदा भयपीडिताः। व्याधिभिः पीडिता नित्यं दुःखैर्वा क्लेशिता भृशम्। न भविष्यति भीस्तेषां घोरसंसारसागरे॥

tvannāma ye grahīṣyaṁti sarvadā bhayapīḍitāḥ| vyādhibhiḥ pīḍitā nityaṁ duḥkhairvā kleśitā bhṛśam| na bhaviṣyati bhīsteṣāṁ ghorasaṁsārasāgare||

Those who will take your name, ever afflicted by fear, constantly afflicted by diseases, or greatly troubled by sorrows — for them there shall be no fear in the terrible ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.122.36)

ये त्वां द्रक्ष्यंति पुरुषा भावहीनाः प्रसंगतः। न पतिष्यंति संसारे नरके चातिदारुणे॥

ye tvāṁ drakṣyaṁti puruṣā bhāvahīnāḥ prasaṁgataḥ| na patiṣyaṁti saṁsāre narake cātidāruṇe||

Those men, even devoid of true feeling, who behold you merely incidentally, shall not fall into worldly existence or into the most terrible hell.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.122.37)

इत्युक्तं तेन शूलेन लिंगमाश्लिष्य यत्नतः॥

ityuktaṁ tena śūlena liṁgamāśliṣya yatnataḥ||

Having said this, that Trident embraced the linga with effort.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.122.38)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। शूलेश्वरस्य देवस्य अथोंकारेश्वरं शृणु॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| śūleśvarasya devasya athoṁkāreśvaraṁ śṛṇu||

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