The Glory of Kanteshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.125.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। चतुःपंचाशतं विद्धि देवं कंटेश्वरं प्रिये। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत॥

śrīmahādeva uvāca| catuḥpaṁcāśataṁ viddhi devaṁ kaṁṭeśvaraṁ priye| yasya darśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo naro bhaveta||

Shri Mahadeva said: "Know, O beloved, the fifty-fourth god, Kanteshvara, by the mere sight of whom a man becomes fulfilled."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.125.2)

आद्यकल्पे पुरा देवि राजाभूत्सत्यविक्रमः। स शत्रुभिर्जितः संख्ये हृतकोशोऽतिदुःखितः॥

ādyakalpe purā devi rājābhūtsatyavikramaḥ| sa śatrubhirjitaḥ saṁkhye hṛtakośo'tiduḥkhitaḥ||

"In the first kalpa, O Devi, there was long ago a king named Satyavikrama; defeated by his enemies in battle, his treasury seized, he was exceedingly grieved."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.125.3)

वनं जगाम गहनमेकाकी श्रमकर्शितः। तत्राश्रमं ददर्शाथ वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥

vanaṁ jagāma gahanamekākī śramakarśitaḥ| tatrāśramaṁ dadarśātha vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ||

"He went alone into a dense forest, wasted with weariness; there he beheld the hermitage of the great-souled Vasishtha."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.125.4)

तेनर्षिणा वसिष्ठेन दृष्टमात्रः स भूपतिः। पूजितो विष्टराद्येन राजार्हेण च सादरम्॥

tenarṣiṇā vasiṣṭhena dṛṣṭamātraḥ sa bhūpatiḥ| pūjito viṣṭarādyena rājārheṇa ca sādaram||

"As soon as the sage Vasishtha saw that lord of the earth, he honored him respectfully with a seat and other offerings befitting a king."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.125.5)

ज्ञात्वा तपःप्रभावेन सूर्यवंशोद्भवं नृपम्। पप्रच्छागमनं देवि कुशलं च पुनः पुनः॥

jñātvā tapaḥprabhāvena sūryavaṁśodbhavaṁ nṛpam| papracchāgamanaṁ devi kuśalaṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ||

"Knowing by the power of his austerity that the king was born of the solar dynasty, he asked again and again, O Devi, about his coming and his welfare."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.125.6)

स नृपः कथयामास वसिष्ठाय सुदुःखितः। राज्यं च सकलं ब्रह्मन्हृतं विद्वेषिभिर्मम॥

sa nṛpaḥ kathayāmāsa vasiṣṭhāya suduḥkhitaḥ| rājyaṁ ca sakalaṁ brahmanhṛtaṁ vidveṣibhirmama||

"That greatly grieved king said to Vasishtha: 'O brahmin, my entire kingdom has been seized by my enemies.'"

Verse 7 (skanda.5.125.7)

त्वामहं शरणं प्राप्तो दुःखैकायतनो यतः। निष्कण्टकं कथं राज्यं भविष्यति पुनः प्रभो। उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि॥

tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ prāpto duḥkhaikāyatano yataḥ| niṣkaṇṭakaṁ kathaṁ rājyaṁ bhaviṣyati punaḥ prabho| upadeśapradānena prasādaṁ kartumarhasi||

"'I have come to you for refuge, since I have become a mere vessel of sorrow. How, O lord, shall my kingdom again become free of thorns? By giving me your counsel, be pleased to show me grace.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.5.125.8)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। ध्यात्वा च कथयामास बहुकौतू हलान्वितः॥

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vasiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ| dhyātvā ca kathayāmāsa bahukautū halānvitaḥ||

"Having heard his words, the blessed sage Vasishtha reflected, and, filled with great curiosity, spoke."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.125.9)

महाकालवनं भूप व्रज त्वं कार्यसिद्धये। दिव्या नदी वने तत्र विश्रुता भुवनत्रये॥

mahākālavanaṁ bhūpa vraja tvaṁ kāryasiddhaye| divyā nadī vane tatra viśrutā bhuvanatraye||

"'Go, O king, to Mahakalavana for the accomplishment of your purpose. There is a divine river in that forest, renowned in the three worlds.'"

Verse 10 (skanda.5.125.10)

तस्यास्तीरे शुभं लिंगं पृथुकेश्वर दक्षिणे। द्रक्ष्यसे नृपशार्दूल तपस्यंतं च तापसम्। अस्थिचर्मावशेषं तु चीरवल्कलधारिणम्॥

tasyāstīre śubhaṁ liṁgaṁ pṛthukeśvara dakṣiṇe| drakṣyase nṛpaśārdūla tapasyaṁtaṁ ca tāpasam| asthicarmāvaśeṣaṁ tu cīravalkaladhāriṇam||

"'On its bank, to the south of Prithukeshvara, is an auspicious linga. There, O tiger among kings, you shall see an ascetic performing austerity, reduced to mere bone and skin, clad in bark garments.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.125.11)

वचनात्तस्य विप्रस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। जगाम सहसा राजा महाकालवनं शुभम्॥

vacanāttasya viprasya vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ| jagāma sahasā rājā mahākālavanaṁ śubham||

"By the word of that great-souled brahmin, Vasishtha, the king went at once to the auspicious Mahakalavana."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.125.12)

ददर्श तापसं तत्र चिरंजीविनमव्ययम्। उपवासकृतक्षामं द्वादशादित्यवर्चसम्॥

dadarśa tāpasaṁ tatra ciraṁjīvinamavyayam| upavāsakṛtakṣāmaṁ dvādaśādityavarcasam||

"There he saw the ascetic, long-lived and imperishable, emaciated by fasting, radiant with the splendor of twelve suns."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.125.13)

तापसेन नृपो दृष्टो मित्रोऽयं मम वल्लभः। प्राप्तो राज्यपरिभ्रष्टो ज्ञात्वा वचनमब्रवीत्॥

tāpasena nṛpo dṛṣṭo mitro'yaṁ mama vallabhaḥ| prāpto rājyaparibhraṣṭo jñātvā vacanamabravīt||

"The ascetic, seeing the king, [thought]: 'This is my dear friend'; knowing that he had come having fallen from his kingdom, he spoke these words."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.125.14)

एह्येहि नृपशार्दूल दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मेंऽतिके। इत्युक्त्वा तापसेनैव हुंकारश्च कृतस्तदा॥

ehyehi nṛpaśārdūla diṣṭyā prāpto'si meṁ'tike| ityuktvā tāpasenaiva huṁkāraśca kṛtastadā||

"'Come, come, O tiger among kings! By good fortune you have come near me.' Having said this, the ascetic then uttered the sound Hum."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.125.15)

तद्धुंकारात्तु पातालं भित्त्वा पंच च कन्यकाः। निर्ययुः कांचनं पीठमेका तासां प्रगृह्य वै॥

taddhuṁkārāttu pātālaṁ bhittvā paṁca ca kanyakāḥ| niryayuḥ kāṁcanaṁ pīṭhamekā tāsāṁ pragṛhya vai||

"By that Hum-sound, splitting open Patala, five maidens emerged; one of them holding a golden seat."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.125.16)

भृंगारं तु गृहीत्वान्या निःसृता जलसंभृतम्। पादप्रक्षालनार्थाय तृतीया समुपस्थिता॥

bhṛṁgāraṁ tu gṛhītvānyā niḥsṛtā jalasaṁbhṛtam| pādaprakṣālanārthāya tṛtīyā samupasthitā||

"Another emerged holding a pitcher full of water; a third came forward for the washing of his feet."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.125.17)

अन्ये द्वे व्यजने गृह्य पार्श्वाभ्यां च व्यवस्थिते। ततो हुंकारमकरोत्पुनरेव महातपाः॥

anye dve vyajane gṛhya pārśvābhyāṁ ca vyavasthite| tato huṁkāramakarotpunareva mahātapāḥ||

"The other two stood on either side, holding fans. Then the great ascetic again uttered the sound Hum."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.125.18)

तेन हुंकारशब्देन देवलोकात्समागतम्। दृष्ट्वा चाप्सरसां संघं नृत्यगीतमनो हरम्॥

tena huṁkāraśabdena devalokātsamāgatam| dṛṣṭvā cāpsarasāṁ saṁghaṁ nṛtyagītamano haram||

"By that sound of Hum, [the king] beheld a host of apsaras, come from the world of the gods, their minds enchanting with dance and song."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.125.19)

अनंतरं ददर्शाथ लिंगं ज्योतिष्करं परम्। उत्पन्नं च जगद्यस्मिँल्लीयते सचराचरम्॥

anaṁtaraṁ dadarśātha liṁgaṁ jyotiṣkaraṁ param| utpannaṁ ca jagadyasmi~llīyate sacarācaram||

"Thereafter he beheld the supreme linga, radiant with light, from which the world with all its moving and unmoving beings arises and into which it dissolves."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.125.20)

तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टो बभूव नृपसत्तमः। प्रणम्य शिरसा विप्रं किमिदं द्विजसत्तम॥

taddṛṣṭvā vismayāviṣṭo babhūva nṛpasattamaḥ| praṇamya śirasā vipraṁ kimidaṁ dvijasattama||

"Seeing that, the best of kings became filled with wonder; bowing his head to the brahmin, [he asked]: 'What is this, O best of the twice-born?'"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.125.21)

एवं पृष्टो नृपेणाथ स विप्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। सप्तजन्मानि राजेंद्र त्वयाहं परितोषितः॥

evaṁ pṛṣṭo nṛpeṇātha sa vipro vākyamabravīt| saptajanmāni rājeṁdra tvayāhaṁ paritoṣitaḥ||

"Thus questioned by the king, that brahmin spoke these words: 'Across seven births, O lord of kings, I have been gratified by you.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.125.22)

अतस्ते दर्शिता माया तपसा दुष्करेण तु। लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावेण पश्य मे तपसो बलम्॥

ataste darśitā māyā tapasā duṣkareṇa tu| liṁgasyāsya prabhāveṇa paśya me tapaso balam||

"'Therefore this illusion has been shown to you, through austerity hard to perform, by the power of this linga. Behold the strength of my austerity.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.125.23)

हुंकारेण कृता पृथ्वी जलपूर्णा तु तत्क्षणात्। हुंकाराच्च जलं ग्रस्तं मुखादग्निरजायत॥

huṁkāreṇa kṛtā pṛthvī jalapūrṇā tu tatkṣaṇāt| huṁkārācca jalaṁ grastaṁ mukhādagnirajāyata||

"'By the Hum-sound, the earth was instantly made full of water; by the Hum-sound the water was swallowed, and fire arose from my mouth.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.125.24)

हुंकारात्पृथिवी सर्वा जाता वह्निमयी तदा। संहृत्य तत्क्षणाद्वह्निं मुखाद्वायुर्विनिर्ययौ॥

huṁkārātpṛthivī sarvā jātā vahnimayī tadā| saṁhṛtya tatkṣaṇādvahniṁ mukhādvāyurviniryayau||

"'By the Hum-sound the whole earth then became made of fire; withdrawing that fire at once, wind issued forth from my mouth.'"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.125.25)

हुंकारेण कृतं सर्वं तत्क्षणादेव पार्वति। न दिशः प्रदिशो वापि न नक्षत्रग्रहास्तदा॥

huṁkāreṇa kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva pārvati| na diśaḥ pradiśo vāpi na nakṣatragrahāstadā||

"'All this was made by the Hum-sound, that very instant, O Parvati; then there were no directions nor intermediate directions, nor stars nor planets.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.5.125.26)

ततो बभ्राम तन्नास्ति स नृपो विस्मयान्वितः। चिंतयामास सहसा क्व लिंगं क्व च तापसः॥

tato babhrāma tannāsti sa nṛpo vismayānvitaḥ| ciṁtayāmāsa sahasā kva liṁgaṁ kva ca tāpasaḥ||

"Then the king wandered about, bewildered — nothing was there; filled with wonder, he suddenly thought: 'Where is the linga, and where the ascetic?'"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.125.27)

एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य ततः शब्दो महानभूत्। तस्माच्छब्दाच्च संजातं पुरं प्राकारसंवृतम्॥

evaṁ ciṁtayatastasya tataḥ śabdo mahānabhūt| tasmācchabdācca saṁjātaṁ puraṁ prākārasaṁvṛtam||

"As he was thus thinking, a great sound arose; from that sound a city, enclosed by ramparts, came into being."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.125.28)

सुहर्म्यकक्ष्यारचितं विशालं विशुद्धजांबूनदभूषितं च। दिव्यैर्जनैः सेवितमात्मविद्भिर्ददर्श राजा सहसा पुरं तत्॥

suharmyakakṣyāracitaṁ viśālaṁ viśuddhajāṁbūnadabhūṣitaṁ ca| divyairjanaiḥ sevitamātmavidbhirdadarśa rājā sahasā puraṁ tat||

"The king suddenly beheld that city, built with fine mansions and courts, vast, adorned with pure gold, attended by self-realized, divine people."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.125.29)

भूयोभवन्महाशब्दस्तस्मात्स्त्रीयुगलं वभौ। सितवस्त्रधरा चैका कृष्णवस्त्रधरा सिता॥

bhūyobhavanmahāśabdastasmātstrīyugalaṁ vabhau| sitavastradharā caikā kṛṣṇavastradharā sitā||

"Again a great sound arose, from which a pair of women shone forth — one clad in white garments, and the other, fair of form, clad in black."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.125.30)

पुनः शब्दो बभूवाथ तस्मात्पुरुषसत्तमः। द्विशिराः षण्मुखश्चैव पादैर्द्वादशभिर्युतः॥

punaḥ śabdo babhūvātha tasmātpuruṣasattamaḥ| dviśirāḥ ṣaṇmukhaścaiva pādairdvādaśabhiryutaḥ||

"Again a sound arose, from which came a most excellent being, having two heads and six faces, endowed with twelve feet."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.125.31)

पुनः शब्दाच्च संजज्ञे पुरुषः सप्तधा गतः। संहृतं हि पुनस्तच्च दर्शयित्वा द्विजेन तु। प्रोक्तमित्थं विशालाक्षि जातकंटकितं नृपम्॥

punaḥ śabdācca saṁjajñe puruṣaḥ saptadhā gataḥ| saṁhṛtaṁ hi punastacca darśayitvā dvijena tu| proktamitthaṁ viśālākṣi jātakaṁṭakitaṁ nṛpam||

"Again from a sound was born a being who became sevenfold; and that too, having been shown, was again withdrawn by the brahmin. Thus, O wide-eyed one, was it told to the king, whose body had grown thorn-like [horripilated with wonder]."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.125.32)

पश्य लोकमिमं मह्यं तपसा निर्मितं नृप। त्वत्प्रियार्थमयं लोको दर्शितस्ते नृपोत्तम॥

paśya lokamimaṁ mahyaṁ tapasā nirmitaṁ nṛpa| tvatpriyārthamayaṁ loko darśitaste nṛpottama||

"'Behold, O king, this world of mine, fashioned by austerity; this world has been shown to you, O best of kings, for your pleasure.'"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.125.33)

एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन तापसेन नराधिपः। विस्मयापन्नहृदयः पप्रच्छ प्रयतः सुधीः॥

evamuktastadā tena tāpasena narādhipaḥ| vismayāpannahṛdayaḥ papraccha prayataḥ sudhīḥ||

"Thus addressed by that ascetic, the lord of men, his heart filled with wonder, self-composed and wise, asked—"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.125.34)

भगवन्सितकृष्णे द्वे के स्त्रियौ द्विजस त्तम। कोऽसौ द्वादशपाद्विप्र द्विशिराः षण्मुखः पुनः॥

bhagavansitakṛṣṇe dve ke striyau dvijasa ttama| ko'sau dvādaśapādvipra dviśirāḥ ṣaṇmukhaḥ punaḥ||

"'O lord, best of the twice-born, who are these two women, one white and one black? Who again, O brahmin, is that being with twelve feet, two heads, and six faces?'"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.125.35)

कश्चासौ पुरुषो ब्रह्मन्य एकः सप्तधाऽभवत्। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कथयामास तापसः॥

kaścāsau puruṣo brahmanya ekaḥ saptadhā'bhavat| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kathayāmāsa tāpasaḥ||

"'And who is that being, O brahmin, who, being one, became sevenfold?' Having heard his words, the ascetic spoke."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.125.36)

एते स्त्रियौ त्वया दृष्टे सितकृष्णे नृपोत्तम। ते च रात्र्यहनी प्रोक्ते ब्रह्मणा निर्मिते पुरा॥

ete striyau tvayā dṛṣṭe sitakṛṣṇe nṛpottama| te ca rātryahanī prokte brahmaṇā nirmite purā||

"'These two women, white and black, that you have seen, O best of kings — they are declared to be Night and Day, fashioned by Brahma long ago.'"

Verse 37 (skanda.5.125.37)

शीर्षद्वयं च यद्दृष्टं तेऽयने द्वे प्रकीर्तिते। मुखानि यानि दृष्टानि षट् च ते ह्यृतवः स्मृताः। पादा द्वादश ये दृष्टा मासा द्वादश ते स्मृताः॥

śīrṣadvayaṁ ca yaddṛṣṭaṁ te'yane dve prakīrtite| mukhāni yāni dṛṣṭāni ṣaṭ ca te hyṛtavaḥ smṛtāḥ| pādā dvādaśa ye dṛṣṭā māsā dvādaśa te smṛtāḥ||

"'And the two heads you saw are declared to be the two ayanas [solstitial halves of the year]; the six faces you saw are remembered as the six seasons; the twelve feet you saw are remembered as the twelve months.'"

Verse 38 (skanda.5.125.38)

यः पुमान्सप्तधा जात एकीभूतो नरेश्वर। स समुद्रस्तु विज्ञेयः सप्तधैको व्यवस्थितः॥

yaḥ pumānsaptadhā jāta ekībhūto nareśvara| sa samudrastu vijñeyaḥ saptadhaiko vyavasthitaḥ||

"'That being who, though one, became sevenfold, O lord of men — know him to be the ocean, existing as one yet sevenfold.'"

Verse 39 (skanda.5.125.39)

एतत्संवत्सरं चक्रं त्वत्प्रियार्थं निदर्शितम्। एवं विदित्वा राजेंद्र न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि॥

etatsaṁvatsaraṁ cakraṁ tvatpriyārthaṁ nidarśitam| evaṁ viditvā rājeṁdra na śokaṁ kartumarhasi||

"'This cycle of the year has been shown for your pleasure. Knowing this, O lord of kings, you ought not to grieve.'"

Verse 40 (skanda.5.125.40)

सर्वो विनश्वरो लोकः सदेवासुरमानुषः। मया दृष्टो हि बहुशो लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः॥

sarvo vinaśvaro lokaḥ sadevāsuramānuṣaḥ| mayā dṛṣṭo hi bahuśo liṁgasyāsya prabhāvataḥ||

"'The entire world, together with gods, asuras and men, is perishable — this I have seen many times, through the power of this linga.'"

Verse 41 (skanda.5.125.41)

कुरु शत्रुविनाशाय लिंग स्यास्य च दर्शनम्। राज्यं निष्कण्टकं राजन्भविप्यति न संशयः॥

kuru śatruvināśāya liṁga syāsya ca darśanam| rājyaṁ niṣkaṇṭakaṁ rājanbhavipyati na saṁśayaḥ||

"'For the destruction of your enemies, behold this linga; your kingdom shall become free of thorns, O king, without doubt.'"

Verse 42 (skanda.5.125.42)

एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा दृष्टवाँल्लिंगमुत्तमम्। दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य कण्टका ये महीभृतः। विद्वेषिणो मृतास्तेऽपि श्रुतास्तेन महीभृता॥

evamuktastadā rājā dṛṣṭavā~lliṁgamuttamam| darśanāttasya liṁgasya kaṇṭakā ye mahībhṛtaḥ| vidveṣiṇo mṛtāste'pi śrutāstena mahībhṛtā||

"Thus addressed, the king then beheld that supreme linga; and through the sight of that linga, the malicious enemies who were thorns to kings also died — this too was heard by that king."

Verse 43 (skanda.5.125.43)

गतस्तं विषयं राजा चक्रवर्ती बभूव ह। लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावेन राज्यं कृत्वा महाधनैः॥

gatastaṁ viṣayaṁ rājā cakravartī babhūva ha| liṁgasyāsya prabhāvena rājyaṁ kṛtvā mahādhanaiḥ||

"The king, having gone to his own dominion, became a universal sovereign; and by the power of this linga, having ruled his kingdom with great treasures—"

Verse 44 (skanda.5.125.44)

यज्ञैश्च विविधैरिष्ट्वा परं निर्वाणमाप्तवान्। तापसेन श्रुतं सर्वं दृष्टं ध्यानेन तेन वै॥

yajñaiśca vividhairiṣṭvā paraṁ nirvāṇamāptavān| tāpasena śrutaṁ sarvaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ dhyānena tena vai||

"—and having offered various sacrifices, he attained supreme liberation. All this was heard and seen by that ascetic through his meditation."

Verse 45 (skanda.5.125.45)

लब्धं निष्कण्टकं राज्यं लिंगस्यास्य च दर्शनात्। मम मित्रेण सहसा राज्यभ्रष्टेन तेन वै॥

labdhaṁ niṣkaṇṭakaṁ rājyaṁ liṁgasyāsya ca darśanāt| mama mitreṇa sahasā rājyabhraṣṭena tena vai||

"'A kingdom free of thorns was obtained through the sight of this linga, by my friend who had suddenly fallen from his kingdom.'"

Verse 46 (skanda.5.125.46)

अतो नाम सुविख्यातं कण्टेश्वर इति क्षितौ। भविष्यति न संदेहो दर्शनाद्राज्यदायकः॥

ato nāma suvikhyātaṁ kaṇṭeśvara iti kṣitau| bhaviṣyati na saṁdeho darśanādrājyadāyakaḥ||

"'Therefore, on earth, the name well-renowned shall be Kanteshvara, without doubt — bestower of kingship through mere sight.'"

Verse 47 (skanda.5.125.47)

अद्यप्रभृति पश्यन्ति देवं कण्टेश्वरं शिवम्। तेषां च कण्टकाः सद्यो विनश्यन्ति न संशयः॥

adyaprabhṛti paśyanti devaṁ kaṇṭeśvaraṁ śivam| teṣāṁ ca kaṇṭakāḥ sadyo vinaśyanti na saṁśayaḥ||

"'From this day forward, those who behold the god Kanteshvara Shiva — their thorns are instantly destroyed, without doubt.'"

Verse 48 (skanda.5.125.48)

नैमिषेथ कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगाद्वारे च पुष्करे। स्नानात्संसेवनाद्वापि यत्पुण्यं च भविष्यति। तत्पुण्यं भविता सम्यक्छ्रीगणेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

naimiṣetha kurukṣetre gaṁgādvāre ca puṣkare| snānātsaṁsevanādvāpi yatpuṇyaṁ ca bhaviṣyati| tatpuṇyaṁ bhavitā samyakchrīgaṇeśvaradarśanāt||

"'Whatever merit accrues from bathing or from due service at Naimisha, Kurukshetra, Gangadvara, and Pushkara — that same merit shall fully accrue from the sight of Shri Ganeshvara.'"

Verse 49 (skanda.5.125.49)

गृहिणो लिंगिनो वापि ये पश्यंति यतव्रताः। देवं कण्टेश्वरं भक्त्या तेषां सिद्धिर्भविष्यति॥

gṛhiṇo liṁgino vāpi ye paśyaṁti yatavratāḥ| devaṁ kaṇṭeśvaraṁ bhaktyā teṣāṁ siddhirbhaviṣyati||

"'Householders or ascetics bearing the linga [mark], whoever, of restrained vows, behold the god Kanteshvara with devotion — their accomplishment (siddhi) shall come to pass.'"

Verse 50 (skanda.5.125.50)

जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम्। तत्सर्वं यास्यति क्षिप्रं श्रीकण्टेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

janmāṁtarasahasreṇa yatpāpaṁ pūrvasaṁcitam| tatsarvaṁ yāsyati kṣipraṁ śrīkaṇṭeśvaradarśanāt||

"'Whatever sin has been accumulated over a thousand former births — all of it shall depart swiftly through the sight of Shri Kanteshvara.'"

Verse 51 (skanda.5.125.51)

दत्तं जप्तं हुतं चेष्टं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। ध्यानमध्ययनं चैव सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम्॥

dattaṁ japtaṁ hutaṁ ceṣṭaṁ tapastaptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat| dhyānamadhyayanaṁ caiva sarvaṁ bhavati cākṣayam||

"'Whatever is given in charity, muttered in prayer, offered in sacrifice, performed, austerity practiced, and deeds done, meditation and study — all of these become imperishable.'"

Verse 52 (skanda.5.125.52)

एवं ब्रुवाणं तं विप्रं तापसं संशितव्रतम्। लिंगेनोक्तं विशालाक्षि तुष्टेन वरपूर्वकम्॥

evaṁ bruvāṇaṁ taṁ vipraṁ tāpasaṁ saṁśitavratam| liṁgenoktaṁ viśālākṣi tuṣṭena varapūrvakam||

"To that brahmin ascetic of firm vows, speaking thus, the linga, O wide-eyed one, pleased, spoke, granting a boon."

Verse 53 (skanda.5.125.53)

जरारोगविनिर्मुक्तः सर्वशोकविवर्जितः। भविष्यति गणाध्यक्षो वरदः सर्वपूजितः। अवध्यश्चापि सर्वेषां योगैश्वर्यसमन्वितः॥

jarārogavinirmuktaḥ sarvaśokavivarjitaḥ| bhaviṣyati gaṇādhyakṣo varadaḥ sarvapūjitaḥ| avadhyaścāpi sarveṣāṁ yogaiśvaryasamanvitaḥ||

"'Freed from old age and disease, rid of all sorrow, you shall become chief of the ganas, a bestower of boons, worshipped by all, unslayable by all, and endowed with the lordship of yoga.'"

Verse 54 (skanda.5.125.54)

एवमुक्तोऽथ लिंगेन तापसो गणतां गतः। गणैः परिवृतो देवि मम पार्श्वमुपागतः॥

evamukto'tha liṁgena tāpaso gaṇatāṁ gataḥ| gaṇaiḥ parivṛto devi mama pārśvamupāgataḥ||

"Thus addressed by the linga, the ascetic attained the state of a gana; surrounded by ganas, O Devi, he came to my side."

Verse 55 (skanda.5.125.55)

अन्धकेन पुरा युद्धे सिंहनादो यदा कृतः। तदा देवि मदीयं तु जातं कण्टकितं वपुः॥

andhakena purā yuddhe siṁhanādo yadā kṛtaḥ| tadā devi madīyaṁ tu jātaṁ kaṇṭakitaṁ vapuḥ||

"When, in the ancient battle with Andhaka, a lion's roar was made, then, O Devi, my own body became covered with thorns [horripilated]."

Verse 56 (skanda.5.125.56)

उत्पन्नं च तदा लिंगमशेषारिविनाशनम्। देवानां कण्टका ये च दग्धा लिंगाग्निना यतः। अतः कंटेश्वरो देवो विख्यातो भुवनत्रये॥

utpannaṁ ca tadā liṁgamaśeṣārivināśanam| devānāṁ kaṇṭakā ye ca dagdhā liṁgāgninā yataḥ| ataḥ kaṁṭeśvaro devo vikhyāto bhuvanatraye||

"Then a linga arose there, destroyer of all enemies; and since the thorns [foes] of the gods were burnt by the fire of that linga, therefore this god is renowned as Kanteshvara in the three worlds."

Verse 57 (skanda.5.125.57)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। कंटेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृणु सिंहेश्वरं परम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| kaṁṭeśvarasya devasya śṛṇu siṁheśvaraṁ param||

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