The Glory of Omkareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.123.1)

श्रीविश्वेश्वर उवाच। द्व्यधिकं देवि जानीहि पंचाशत्तममीश्वरम्। ओंकारेश्वर इत्याख्या यस्यास्ति भुवनत्रये॥

śrīviśveśvara uvāca| dvyadhikaṁ devi jānīhi paṁcāśattamamīśvaram| oṁkāreśvara ityākhyā yasyāsti bhuvanatraye||

Sri Vishveshvara said: "Know, O Devi, the fifty-second Lord, whose name in the three worlds is Omkareshvara."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.123.2)

प्राकृते कल्पसंज्ञे तु प्रथमे प्रथमं मया। वक्त्रादुत्पादितो देवि पुरुषः कपिलाकृतिः॥

prākṛte kalpasaṁjñe tu prathame prathamaṁ mayā| vaktrādutpādito devi puruṣaḥ kapilākṛtiḥ||

"In the very first kalpa called Prakrita, I first brought forth from my mouth, O Devi, a being of tawny, Kapila-like form."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.123.3)

ततः स पुरुषो दिव्यः किं करोमीत्युपस्थितः। विभजात्मानमित्युक्तो मयांतर्द्धानगोऽभवत्॥

tataḥ sa puruṣo divyaḥ kiṁ karomītyupasthitaḥ| vibhajātmānamityukto mayāṁtarddhānago'bhavat||

"Then that divine being stood before me asking, 'What shall I do?' When I told him, 'Divide yourself,' he vanished from my sight."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.123.4)

निर्वाणस्येव दीपस्य गतिस्तस्य न लक्षिता। ततस्तस्याभवच्चिंता कथमात्मा विभज्यते॥

nirvāṇasyeva dīpasya gatistasya na lakṣitā| tatastasyābhavacciṁtā kathamātmā vibhajyate||

"Like the going-out of a lamp, his departure could not be traced. Then anxious thought seized him: 'How is the self to be divided?'"

Verse 5 (skanda.5.123.5)

एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य चतुर्मित्योत्थितस्ततः। त्रिवर्णस्वररूपी च चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदः॥

evaṁ ciṁtayatastasya caturmityotthitastataḥ| trivarṇasvararūpī ca caturvargaphalapradaḥ||

"As he pondered thus, a fourfold form arose from him, of triple-toned vowel-nature, bestowing the fruit of the four aims of life."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.123.6)

ऋग्यजुःसामनामा च ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः। व्याप्नुवन्सकलाँल्लोकान्प्रभावैः पृथुभिस्तदा॥

ṛgyajuḥsāmanāmā ca brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakaḥ| vyāpnuvansakalā~llokānprabhāvaiḥ pṛthubhistadā||

"Named Rig, Yajus and Sama, of the very nature of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, he then pervaded all the worlds with his vast power."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.123.7)

ओंकार इति तस्याख्या मया दता प्रसादतः। तदोक्ताभिरुदाराभिर्वाणीभिः समलंकृतः॥

oṁkāra iti tasyākhyā mayā datā prasādataḥ| tadoktābhirudārābhirvāṇībhiḥ samalaṁkṛtaḥ||

"'Omkara' was the name I graciously gave him, and he was adorned by the noble words in which it was proclaimed."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.123.8)

हृदयात्तस्य देवस्य वषट्कारः समुत्थितः। छंदसां प्रवरा देवी चतुर्विंशाक्षरा परा॥

hṛdayāttasya devasya vaṣaṭkāraḥ samutthitaḥ| chaṁdasāṁ pravarā devī caturviṁśākṣarā parā||

"From the heart of that god arose the sacred exclamation Vashatkara, and the supreme goddess of metres, of twenty-four syllables."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.123.9)

षट्कुक्षिः सा त्रिपादा च पंचशीर्षोपलक्षिता। समीपवर्त्तिनी देवी पार्श्वे तत्र व्यवस्थिता॥

ṣaṭkukṣiḥ sā tripādā ca paṁcaśīrṣopalakṣitā| samīpavarttinī devī pārśve tatra vyavasthitā||

"She, marked by six divisions, three feet, and five heads, that goddess stood there close beside him."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.123.10)

गायत्री मधुराभाषा सावित्री लोकविश्रुता। स चोंकारो मया प्रोक्तो गायत्र्या सह पार्वति। सृष्टिं कुरु ममादेशाद्विचित्रामनया सह॥

gāyatrī madhurābhāṣā sāvitrī lokaviśrutā| sa coṁkāro mayā prokto gāyatryā saha pārvati| sṛṣṭiṁ kuru mamādeśādvicitrāmanayā saha||

"Sweet-voiced Gayatri was known in the world as Savitri. And to that Omkara I said, O Parvati: 'Together with Gayatri, at my command, create the manifold universe.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.123.11)

इत्युक्तस्त्रिशिखो भूत्वा हिरण्यसदृशाकृतिः। सृष्टिमुत्पादयामास स्वशरीरान्ममाज्ञया॥

ityuktastriśikho bhūtvā hiraṇyasadṛśākṛtiḥ| sṛṣṭimutpādayāmāsa svaśarīrānmamājñayā||

"Thus commanded, he became three-crested and golden in form, and by my order brought forth creation from his own body."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.123.12)

पूर्वं देवगणाश्चैव त्रयस्त्रिंशच्च देवताः। मनुष्या ऋषयश्चैव वेदप्रामाण्यतः कृताः॥

pūrvaṁ devagaṇāścaiva trayastriṁśacca devatāḥ| manuṣyā ṛṣayaścaiva vedaprāmāṇyataḥ kṛtāḥ||

"First the hosts of gods and the thirty-three deities, and then men and sages, were made, established on the authority of the Veda."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.123.13)

तेषां देहे प्रविष्टानां प्रादुर्भावः पुनर्भवेत्। यथा सूर्यस्य सततमुदयास्तमनं भवेत्॥

teṣāṁ dehe praviṣṭānāṁ prādurbhāvaḥ punarbhavet| yathā sūryasya satatamudayāstamanaṁ bhavet||

"Having entered their bodies, his manifestation recurs again and again, just as the sun continually rises and sets."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.123.14)

संहृत्योंकारमखिलान्सदेवासुरपन्नगान्। कृतात्मगर्भे भगवानोंकारो जगतः प्रभुः॥

saṁhṛtyoṁkāramakhilānsadevāsurapannagān| kṛtātmagarbhe bhagavānoṁkāro jagataḥ prabhuḥ||

"Withdrawing into himself all beings — gods, demons and serpents — the Lord Omkara, master of the universe, gathers them within his own womb."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.123.15)

ससर्ज सर्वभूतानि कल्पांते पर्वतात्मजे। अव्यक्तः शाश्वतश्चैव तस्य सर्वमिदं जगत्॥

sasarja sarvabhūtāni kalpāṁte parvatātmaje| avyaktaḥ śāśvataścaiva tasya sarvamidaṁ jagat||

"At the end of the aeon, O daughter of the mountain, he emits forth all beings once more; unmanifest and eternal, this whole universe is his."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.123.16)

कर्त्ता चैव विकर्त्ता च संहर्ता च महांस्तु यः। ओंकारपूर्वका वेदा यज्ञाश्चोंकारपूर्वकाः॥

karttā caiva vikarttā ca saṁhartā ca mahāṁstu yaḥ| oṁkārapūrvakā vedā yajñāścoṁkārapūrvakāḥ||

"He who is the creator, the un-creator, and the great destroyer — the Vedas begin with Om, and sacrifices too begin with Om."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.123.17)

ओंकारपूर्वकं ज्ञानं तपश्चोंकारपूर्वकम्। स्वयंभूरिति विज्ञेयः स ब्रह्मा भुवनाधिपः॥

oṁkārapūrvakaṁ jñānaṁ tapaścoṁkārapūrvakam| svayaṁbhūriti vijñeyaḥ sa brahmā bhuvanādhipaḥ||

"Knowledge begins with Om, and austerity too begins with Om. He is to be known as the Self-born Brahma, lord of the worlds."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.123.18)

स वायुरिति विज्ञेयः सर्वज्ञः स प्रजाकरः। विश्वे देवास्तथा साध्या रुद्रादित्यास्तथाश्विनौ॥

sa vāyuriti vijñeyaḥ sarvajñaḥ sa prajākaraḥ| viśve devāstathā sādhyā rudrādityāstathāśvinau||

"He is to be known as the all-knowing Vayu, maker of creatures; he is the Vishvedevas, the Sadhyas, the Rudras, the Adityas and the two Ashvins."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.123.19)

प्रजानां पतयश्चैव सप्त चैव महर्षयः। वसवोऽप्सरसश्चैव गंधर्वाश्चैव राक्षसाः॥

prajānāṁ patayaścaiva sapta caiva maharṣayaḥ| vasavo'psarasaścaiva gaṁdharvāścaiva rākṣasāḥ||

"He is the Prajapatis and the seven great sages; he is the Vasus, the Apsarases, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.123.20)

दैत्याः पिशाचा रक्षांसि भूतानि विविधानि च। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा म्लेच्छादयो भुवि। सर्वे चतुष्पदाश्चैव तिर्यग्योनिगतास्तदा॥

daityāḥ piśācā rakṣāṁsi bhūtāni vividhāni ca| brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā mlecchādayo bhuvi| sarve catuṣpadāścaiva tiryagyonigatāstadā||

"He is the Daityas, the Pishachas, the demons, and manifold spirits; the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and outcastes on earth; and all four-footed creatures born into animal wombs."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.123.21)

जंगमानि च सत्त्वानि यच्चान्यज्जीवसंज्ञकम्। कृत्वा सर्वमशेषं च ममांतिकमुपागतः॥

jaṁgamāni ca sattvāni yaccānyajjīvasaṁjñakam| kṛtvā sarvamaśeṣaṁ ca mamāṁtikamupāgataḥ||

"Having made all moving creatures and whatever else bears the name of a living being — everything, without exception — he came into my presence."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.123.22)

प्रणम्य प्रयतो भूत्वा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्। कृता सृष्टिर्मया देव त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वर॥

praṇamya prayato bhūtvā vacanaṁ cedamabravīt| kṛtā sṛṣṭirmayā deva tvatprasādānmaheśvara||

"Bowing down, self-composed, he spoke these words: 'By your grace, O Great Lord, the creation has been made by me.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.123.23)

देहि मे परमं स्थानं यथा कीर्त्तिर्ध्रुवा भवेत्। ओंकारस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मया प्रोक्तं वरानने॥

dehi me paramaṁ sthānaṁ yathā kīrttirdhruvā bhavet| oṁkārasya vacaḥ śrutvā mayā proktaṁ varānane||

"'Grant me a supreme abode, so that my fame may stand eternal.' Hearing Omkara's words, O fair-faced one, I said—"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.123.24)

ममाभीष्टकरं स्थानं नित्यमव्ययमक्षयम्। महाकालवनं दिव्यं सर्वसंपत्करं शुभम्॥

mamābhīṣṭakaraṁ sthānaṁ nityamavyayamakṣayam| mahākālavanaṁ divyaṁ sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ śubham||

"—'There is a place dear to my heart, eternal, imperishable and undecaying: the divine Mahakala-vana, auspicious and bestower of all prosperity.'"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.123.25)

तत्र ते भविता कीर्त्तिः शाश्वती नात्र संशयः। शूलेश्वरस्य देवस्य पूर्वभागे व्यव स्थितम्॥

tatra te bhavitā kīrttiḥ śāśvatī nātra saṁśayaḥ| śūleśvarasya devasya pūrvabhāge vyava sthitam||

"'There your fame shall be everlasting, of this there is no doubt — it lies to the east of the god Shuleshvara.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.5.123.26)

त्रिकल्पप्रभवं लिंगं त्वन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यति। ओंकारेश्वर इत्याख्या भविष्यति जगत्त्रये॥

trikalpaprabhavaṁ liṁgaṁ tvannāmnā khyātimeṣyati| oṁkāreśvara ityākhyā bhaviṣyati jagattraye||

"'A linga, arisen across three kalpas, shall become famed by your name; in the three worlds it shall be known as Omkareshvara.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.123.27)

इत्युक्तो हि मया देवि ओंकारो हृष्टमानसः। ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं गतः॥

ityukto hi mayā devi oṁkāro hṛṣṭamānasaḥ| dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ tasmi~lliṁge layaṁ gataḥ||

"Thus addressed by me, O Devi, Omkara, his heart rejoicing, beheld that linga there, and was absorbed into it."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.123.28)

ततः प्रभृति वेदेषु ओंकारः क्रियते द्विजैः। पुण्यार्थं मंगलार्थं च प्रथमं सर्ववस्तुषु॥

tataḥ prabhṛti vedeṣu oṁkāraḥ kriyate dvijaiḥ| puṇyārthaṁ maṁgalārthaṁ ca prathamaṁ sarvavastuṣu||

"From that time on, the twice-born utter Om at the start of the Vedas, and first of all things, for the sake of merit and auspiciousness."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.123.29)

लयंगतो यदोंकारस्तदाप्रभृति पार्वति। मयोच्यमानं लिंगस्य प्रभावातिशयं शृणु॥

layaṁgato yadoṁkārastadāprabhṛti pārvati| mayocyamānaṁ liṁgasya prabhāvātiśayaṁ śṛṇu||

"From the moment Omkara was absorbed, O Parvati, hear now the surpassing power of this linga, as I relate it."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.123.30)

यद्युगादिसहस्रेषु व्यतीपातशतेषु च। अयनानां सहस्रेषु यत्पुण्यं समुदाहृतम्। तत्पुण्यमधिकं देवि ॐकारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

yadyugādisahasreṣu vyatīpātaśateṣu ca| ayanānāṁ sahasreṣu yatpuṇyaṁ samudāhṛtam| tatpuṇyamadhikaṁ devi oṁkāreśvaradarśanāt||

"Whatever merit is declared to accrue from a thousand yuga-beginnings, from hundreds of vyatipata days, or from a thousand solstices — that merit, O Devi, is exceeded by the mere sight of Omkareshvara."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.123.31)

चतुर्ष्वपि च वेदेषु समधीतेषु यत्फलम्। ततोऽधिकं फलं प्रोक्तमोंकारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

caturṣvapi ca vedeṣu samadhīteṣu yatphalam| tato'dhikaṁ phalaṁ proktamoṁkāreśvaradarśanāt||

"The fruit obtained from thoroughly studying all four Vedas — a still greater fruit is declared to come from the sight of Omkareshvara."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.123.32)

ब्रह्मचर्येण यत्पुण्यं यावज्जीवं कृतेन च। तत्पुण्यमधिकं प्रोक्तमोंकारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

brahmacaryeṇa yatpuṇyaṁ yāvajjīvaṁ kṛtena ca| tatpuṇyamadhikaṁ proktamoṁkāreśvaradarśanāt||

"The merit gained by lifelong observance of celibacy — that too is said to be exceeded by the sight of Omkareshvara."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.123.33)

करीषसाधने पुण्यं यच्च पुण्यमनाशके। तत्पुण्यमधिकं देवि ॐकारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

karīṣasādhane puṇyaṁ yacca puṇyamanāśake| tatpuṇyamadhikaṁ devi oṁkāreśvaradarśanāt||

"The merit of hard ascetic practice and the merit of fasting unto death — that too, O Devi, is exceeded by the sight of Omkareshvara."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.123.34)

पूजायां यत्फलं प्रोक्तं तस्य संख्या न विद्यते॥

pūjāyāṁ yatphalaṁ proktaṁ tasya saṁkhyā na vidyate||

"The fruit declared for worshipping him has no measure at all."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.123.35)

किं यज्ञैर्बहुवित्ताढ्यैः किं तपोभिः सुदुष्करैः। ॐकारदर्शनादेव तत्फलं लभते यतः॥

kiṁ yajñairbahuvittāḍhyaiḥ kiṁ tapobhiḥ suduṣkaraiḥ| oṁkāradarśanādeva tatphalaṁ labhate yataḥ||

"What use are sacrifices rich with wealth, what use the harshest austerities, when that very fruit is obtained simply by the sight of Omkara?"

Verse 36 (skanda.5.123.36)

पूजनात्स्पर्शनाद्वापि कीर्त्तनाच्छ्रवणात्तथा। ॐकारेश्वरदेवस्य नराः स्युर्मुक्तिभाजनाः॥

pūjanātsparśanādvāpi kīrttanācchravaṇāttathā| oṁkāreśvaradevasya narāḥ syurmuktibhājanāḥ||

"By worshipping, or even by touching, by praising, or by hearing of the god Omkareshvara, men become fit vessels for liberation."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.123.37)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। ॐकारेश्वरदेवस्य शृणु विश्वेश्वरं परम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| oṁkāreśvaradevasya śṛṇu viśveśvaraṁ param||

"This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying power of the god Omkareshvara that I have told you; now hear of the supreme Vishveshvara."