The Glory of Simheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.126.1)

श्रीईश्वर उवाच। पंचाधिकं विजानीहि पंचाशत्तममीश्वरम्। सिंहेश्वरं वरारोहे महाभयविनाशनम॥

śrīīśvara uvāca| paṁcādhikaṁ vijānīhi paṁcāśattamamīśvaram| siṁheśvaraṁ varārohe mahābhayavināśanama||

Shri Ishvara said: "Know, O fair-limbed one, the fifty-fifth lord, Simheshvara, destroyer of great fear."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.126.2)

सद्यःकल्पे त्वया देवि मदर्थं हि महत्तपः। कृतं नीलोत्पलापांगि भीषणं संशितव्रतम्। तपसा तव रौद्रेण दग्धं हि भुवनत्रयम्॥

sadyaḥkalpe tvayā devi madarthaṁ hi mahattapaḥ| kṛtaṁ nīlotpalāpāṁgi bhīṣaṇaṁ saṁśitavratam| tapasā tava raudreṇa dagdhaṁ hi bhuvanatrayam||

"In the present kalpa, O Devi, you performed great austerity for my sake, O one whose eyes are like the corners of a blue lotus — a fierce and rigorous vow; by your terrible austerity the three worlds were scorched."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.126.3)

दुष्करं हि तपो ज्ञात्वा भगवां श्चतुराननः। आगत्योवाच देवेशो देवि त्वां शुभया गिरा॥

duṣkaraṁ hi tapo jñātvā bhagavāṁ ścaturānanaḥ| āgatyovāca deveśo devi tvāṁ śubhayā girā||

"Knowing that austerity to be exceedingly difficult, the blessed four-faced lord of the gods [Brahma] came and spoke to you, O Devi, with auspicious words."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.126.4)

किं पुत्रि प्राप्तुकामासि किमलभ्यं ददामि ते। विरम्यतामतिक्लेशात्त पसोऽस्मान्ममाज्ञया॥

kiṁ putri prāptukāmāsi kimalabhyaṁ dadāmi te| viramyatāmatikleśātta paso'smānmamājñayā||

"'What do you desire to obtain, O daughter? What is unattainable that I may not give you? Desist from this excessive suffering of austerity, by my command.'"

Verse 5 (skanda.5.126.5)

त्वया च वचनं श्रुत्वा गुरोर्गौरवगर्भितम्। प्रियं तथ्यं हितं तत्र वर्णनिर्णीतवांछितम्॥

tvayā ca vacanaṁ śrutvā gurorgauravagarbhitam| priyaṁ tathyaṁ hitaṁ tatra varṇanirṇītavāṁchitam||

"And you, having heard the guru's word, weighty with reverence, [replied] there with words dear, true, and beneficial, wherein your desire was clearly declared."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.126.6)

प्रत्युक्तः स तदा ब्रह्मा प्रणामनम्रया त्वया। तपसा दुष्करेणाप्तः पतित्वे शंकरो मया॥

pratyuktaḥ sa tadā brahmā praṇāmanamrayā tvayā| tapasā duṣkareṇāptaḥ patitve śaṁkaro mayā||

"You then, bowed in obeisance, replied to Brahma: 'Through hard austerity, may Shankara be attained by me as husband.'"

Verse 7 (skanda.5.126.7)

स मां श्यामलवर्णेति बहुशः प्रोक्तवान्भवः। श्यामाहं कांचनाकारा वल्लभेन च संयुता। भर्त्ता भूतपतिर्वश्यः कथं स्यादिति मे तपः॥

sa māṁ śyāmalavarṇeti bahuśaḥ proktavānbhavaḥ| śyāmāhaṁ kāṁcanākārā vallabhena ca saṁyutā| bharttā bhūtapatirvaśyaḥ kathaṁ syāditi me tapaḥ||

"'He, Bhava, has often called me dark-hued. Though I am dark, may I become golden of form, and united with my beloved — how might my husband, lord of all beings, become devoted to me? For this is my austerity.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.5.126.8)

त्वदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा वरार्हो वरदः प्रभुः। एवं भविष्यतीत्याह ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः॥

tvadīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā varārho varadaḥ prabhuḥ| evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyāha brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ||

"Having heard your words, that worthy, boon-bestowing lord, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, said: 'So shall it be.'"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.126.9)

कियता चैव कालेन वांछासिद्धिर्भविष्यति। गौरीनाम्ना तु ते मूर्त्तिः कांत्या दीप्ता भविष्यति॥

kiyatā caiva kālena vāṁchāsiddhirbhaviṣyati| gaurīnāmnā tu te mūrttiḥ kāṁtyā dīptā bhaviṣyati||

"'In some span of time, your desire shall be accomplished; your form, by the name Gauri, shall become radiant with splendor.'"

Verse 10 (skanda.5.126.10)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा त्वया वाक्यं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। क्रुद्धा त्वं गिरिजेऽत्यर्थं कालेऽभीष्टं भविष्यति॥

etacchrutvā tvayā vākyaṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ| kruddhā tvaṁ girije'tyarthaṁ kāle'bhīṣṭaṁ bhaviṣyati||

"Having heard this word of Brahma, the supreme lord, you, O Girija, became exceedingly angry: '[Only] in time shall my desire be fulfilled?'"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.126.11)

क्रोधात्सिंहः समुद्भूतो वदनात्ते भयावहः। विवृतास्यो महारौद्रो जटाजटिलकंधरः॥

krodhātsiṁhaḥ samudbhūto vadanātte bhayāvahaḥ| vivṛtāsyo mahāraudro jaṭājaṭilakaṁdharaḥ||

"From your wrath a lion sprang forth from your very face, terrifying, gaping-mouthed, most fierce, his neck matted with tangled mane."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.126.12)

प्रोद्धूतवल्गुलांगूलो दंष्ट्रोत्कटमुखोत्कटः। तस्यास्ये पतितुं देवि व्यवसायः कृतस्त्वया॥

proddhūtavalgulāṁgūlo daṁṣṭrotkaṭamukhotkaṭaḥ| tasyāsye patituṁ devi vyavasāyaḥ kṛtastvayā||

"His bushy tail raised high, his face fierce with jutting fangs — your resolve, O Devi, was to fall upon his [Brahma's] face."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.126.13)

सोऽपि सिंहः क्षुधाविष्टस्त्वां भक्षयितुमुद्यतः। न चैवासौ समर्थोऽभूद्वीक्षितुं वा तपोधिकाम्॥

so'pi siṁhaḥ kṣudhāviṣṭastvāṁ bhakṣayitumudyataḥ| na caivāsau samartho'bhūdvīkṣituṁ vā tapodhikām||

"That lion too, overcome with hunger, was intent on devouring you; yet he was not even able to look upon you, so surpassing was your austerity."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.126.14)

स दह्यमानः सहसा तेजसा तपसा तव। पराङ्मुखः समभवत्प्राणत्राणपरायणः॥

sa dahyamānaḥ sahasā tejasā tapasā tava| parāṅmukhaḥ samabhavatprāṇatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ||

"Suddenly scorched by the fiery power of your austerity, he turned his face away, intent only on saving his life."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.126.15)

ततस्तवाभूत्करुणा सिंहं प्रति यतव्रते। क्षुधितस्य त्वया तस्य क्षीरं ह्यमृतसन्निभम्॥

tatastavābhūtkaruṇā siṁhaṁ prati yatavrate| kṣudhitasya tvayā tasya kṣīraṁ hyamṛtasannibham||

"Then compassion arose in you, O one of restrained vows, toward the lion; for that hungry one, you produced milk resembling nectar."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.126.16)

उत्पादितं स्तनाभ्यां तु तस्य सिंहस्य कारणात। तथापि दह्यतेऽत्यर्थं दुष्टभावं यतो गतः॥

utpāditaṁ stanābhyāṁ tu tasya siṁhasya kāraṇāta| tathāpi dahyate'tyarthaṁ duṣṭabhāvaṁ yato gataḥ||

"It was produced from your two breasts for that lion's sake; yet still he burned exceedingly, because he had entertained a wicked intent."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.126.17)

तेनोक्तं दह्यमानेन मातर्दग्धोस्मि तेजसा। त्वदीयेन दुराचारो दुष्टोहं पापविग्रहः॥

tenoktaṁ dahyamānena mātardagdhosmi tejasā| tvadīyena durācāro duṣṭohaṁ pāpavigrahaḥ||

"Burning thus, he said: 'O mother, I am consumed by your very own splendor; I am ill-conducted, wicked, my very body sinful.'"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.126.18)

त्वामत्तुकामो दुष्टात्मा त्वयाहं जनितोऽधुना। तस्माद्यास्यामि नरकं मातृहा गुरुघातकः॥

tvāmattukāmo duṣṭātmā tvayāhaṁ janito'dhunā| tasmādyāsyāmi narakaṁ mātṛhā gurughātakaḥ||

"'Wicked of soul, I wished to devour you, and now I have been born of you — therefore I shall go to hell, a slayer of my mother, a killer of my guru.'"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.126.19)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुःखितस्य सुतस्य तु। ममत्वेन विशालाक्षि सिंहस्य कथितं त्वया॥

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā duḥkhitasya sutasya tu| mamatvena viśālākṣi siṁhasya kathitaṁ tvayā||

"Having heard those words of your grieving son, out of maternal affection, O wide-eyed one, you spoke to the lion."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.126.20)

अधमं विद्यते क्षेत्रं महाकालवनं सुत। तत्र गच्छ ममादे शाच्छीघ्रं देवविनिमितम्॥

adhamaṁ vidyate kṣetraṁ mahākālavanaṁ suta| tatra gaccha mamāde śācchīghraṁ devavinimitam||

"'O son, there exists a sacred field for even the most fallen — Mahakalavana; go there swiftly, by my command, that place fashioned by the gods.'"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.126.21)

कंटेश्वरस्य देवस्य समीपे लिंगमुत्तमम्। सिंहनादात्समुत्पन्नं शंकरस्य महात्मनः॥

kaṁṭeśvarasya devasya samīpe liṁgamuttamam| siṁhanādātsamutpannaṁ śaṁkarasya mahātmanaḥ||

"'Near the god Kanteshvara there is a supreme linga, which arose from the lion-roar of the great-souled Shankara.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.126.22)

अंधकासुरयुद्धे वै पीडिते वासवे पुरा। त्वदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा सिंहस्त्वरितविक्रमः॥

aṁdhakāsurayuddhe vai pīḍite vāsave purā| tvadīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā siṁhastvaritavikramaḥ||

"'—in the ancient battle with the demon Andhaka, when Vasava [Indra] was afflicted.' Having heard your words, the lion of swift valor—"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.126.23)

गतो महाकालवनं दृष्टो देवोऽथ तत्क्षणात्। दिव्यदेहो मृगारिस्तु जातो लिंगस्य दर्शनात्॥

gato mahākālavanaṁ dṛṣṭo devo'tha tatkṣaṇāt| divyadeho mṛgāristu jāto liṁgasya darśanāt||

"—went to Mahakalavana; the god [linga] was beheld that very instant. The lion, foe of deer, attained a divine body through the sight of the linga."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.126.24)

ममत्वात्तस्य लिंगस्य त्वं गता तत्र पार्वति। सिंहिकारूपमास्थाय शीघ्रं सिंहस्त्वया प्रिये॥

mamatvāttasya liṁgasya tvaṁ gatā tatra pārvati| siṁhikārūpamāsthāya śīghraṁ siṁhastvayā priye||

"Out of attachment to that linga, you too went there, O Parvati; assuming the form of a lioness, swiftly, O dear one, you [beheld] the lion."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.126.25)

दृष्टो दिव्यशरीरस्तु लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः। तव तुष्टिः परा जाता दृष्ट्वा सिंहं महाद्युतिम्॥

dṛṣṭo divyaśarīrastu liṁgasyāsya prabhāvataḥ| tava tuṣṭiḥ parā jātā dṛṣṭvā siṁhaṁ mahādyutim||

"He was seen with a divine body, through the power of this linga; your supreme joy arose upon seeing the lion of great splendor."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.126.26)

कृतं नाम त्वया देवि लिंगस्यास्य वरानने। दिव्यदेहस्तु सिहोयं जातो लिंगस्य दर्शनात्॥

kṛtaṁ nāma tvayā devi liṁgasyāsya varānane| divyadehastu sihoyaṁ jāto liṁgasya darśanāt||

"The name of this linga was given by you, O Devi, O fair one: 'This lion, of divine body, was born through the sight of the linga.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.126.27)

अतः सिंहेश्वरो देवो भुवि ख्यातो भविष्यति। एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मा संप्राप्तस्तत्र सुव्रते। उवाच त्वां वरारोहे देवैः परिवृतस्तदा॥

ataḥ siṁheśvaro devo bhuvi khyāto bhaviṣyati| etasminnaṁtare brahmā saṁprāptastatra suvrate| uvāca tvāṁ varārohe devaiḥ parivṛtastadā||

"'Therefore this god shall become renowned on earth as Simheshvara.' Meanwhile, O one of good vows, Brahma arrived there and, surrounded by the gods, spoke to you, O fair one:"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.126.28)

य एष सिंहः संभूतस्तव क्रोधात्सुतो यतः। ततोऽसौ वाहनो देवि भविष्यति न संशयः॥

ya eṣa siṁhaḥ saṁbhūtastava krodhātsuto yataḥ| tato'sau vāhano devi bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ||

"'This lion who has come into being, born as your son from your wrath, shall henceforth become [my] vahana, O Devi, without doubt.'"

Verse 29 (skanda.5.126.29)

लिंगं सिंहेश्वरं भक्त्या यः पश्यति समाहितः। तस्य वासोऽक्षयो दिव्यो भविष्यति त्रिविष्टपे॥

liṁgaṁ siṁheśvaraṁ bhaktyā yaḥ paśyati samāhitaḥ| tasya vāso'kṣayo divyo bhaviṣyati triviṣṭape||

"'Whoever, composed in mind, beholds the linga Simheshvara with devotion, his dwelling shall be imperishable and divine, in heaven.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.126.30)

कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापाद्दृष्ट्वा भद्राणि पश्यति। स्पर्शनादस्य लिंगस्य पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम्॥

kīrtanānmucyate pāpāddṛṣṭvā bhadrāṇi paśyati| sparśanādasya liṁgasya punātyāsaptamaṁ kulam||

"'By praising it one is freed from sin; by seeing it, one beholds auspicious things. By touching this linga, one purifies one's family up to the seventh generation.'"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.126.31)

मनसा चिंतितान्कामांस्तांश्च प्राप्नोति पुष्कलान्। तदैव पुरुषो मुक्तो जन्मदुःखजरादिभिः॥

manasā ciṁtitānkāmāṁstāṁśca prāpnoti puṣkalān| tadaiva puruṣo mukto janmaduḥkhajarādibhiḥ||

"'He obtains in abundance the desires he has thought of in his mind; that very moment a man is freed from birth, sorrow, old age, and the rest.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.126.32)

यदा पश्यति सिंहेशं संसारार्णवतारकम्। व्यालव्याघ्रादयश्चौरास्तथा साहसिकाश्च ये॥

yadā paśyati siṁheśaṁ saṁsārārṇavatārakam| vyālavyāghrādayaścaurāstathā sāhasikāśca ye||

"'When he beholds Simhesha, the ferryman across the ocean of samsara — from serpents, tigers and the like, from thieves, and from reckless men—'"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.126.33)

तेभ्यो भयं न भवति श्रीसिंहेश्वरदर्शनात्। यज्ञानां तपसां चैव दानादीनां च यत्फलम्। तत्फलं जायते सम्यग्दृष्ट्वा सिंहेश्वरं शिवम्॥

tebhyo bhayaṁ na bhavati śrīsiṁheśvaradarśanāt| yajñānāṁ tapasāṁ caiva dānādīnāṁ ca yatphalam| tatphalaṁ jāyate samyagdṛṣṭvā siṁheśvaraṁ śivam||

"'—from them there is no fear, through the sight of Shri Simheshvara. Whatever fruit accrues from sacrifices, austerities, and gifts and the like — that same fruit arises fully through the true sight of Simheshvara Shiva.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.126.34)

मदीयं लोकमाप्नोति सुरासुरनमस्कृतम्। यः पश्यति प्रयत्नेन देवं सिंहेश्वरं तदा॥

madīyaṁ lokamāpnoti surāsuranamaskṛtam| yaḥ paśyati prayatnena devaṁ siṁheśvaraṁ tadā||

"'He attains my world, honored by gods and asuras, whoever with effort beholds the god Simheshvara.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.126.35)

इत्युक्त्वासौ जगामाथ ब्रह्मा लोके स्वकं प्रिये। यद्वपुस्तव पूर्वं स्यात्कालकांतिकलंकितम्। प्रभावात्तपसस्तस्य गौरत्वं प्राप्तमद्भुतम्॥

ityuktvāsau jagāmātha brahmā loke svakaṁ priye| yadvapustava pūrvaṁ syātkālakāṁtikalaṁkitam| prabhāvāttapasastasya gauratvaṁ prāptamadbhutam||

"Having spoken thus, Brahma then went to his own world, O dear one. Your form, which before had been tinged with a dark hue, through the power of that austerity attained a wondrous golden fairness."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.126.36)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। सिंहेश्वरस्य देवस्य रेवंतेशमतः शृणु॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| siṁheśvarasya devasya revaṁteśamataḥ śṛṇu||

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