The Glory of Ghanteshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.128.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। सप्तपंचाशतं विद्धि घंटेश्वरमथो शृणु। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कामावाप्तिश्च जायते॥

īśvara uvāca| saptapaṁcāśataṁ viddhi ghaṁṭeśvaramatho śṛṇu| yasya darśanamātreṇa kāmāvāptiśca jāyate||

Ishvara said: "Know the fifty-seventh; now hear of Ghanteshvara, by the mere sight of whom the attainment of desires is born."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.128.2)

घंटोनाम गणश्रेष्ठो बभूव मम वल्लभः। चाक्षुषस्य मनोः काले कौतुकार्थं यदृच्छया। प्रस्थितो ब्रह्मसदनं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमव्ययम्॥

ghaṁṭonāma gaṇaśreṣṭho babhūva mama vallabhaḥ| cākṣuṣasya manoḥ kāle kautukārthaṁ yadṛcchayā| prasthito brahmasadanaṁ draṣṭuṁ brahmāṇamavyayam||

"There was a chief among the ganas named Ghanta, my beloved; in the time of Chakshusha Manu, out of curiosity, on his own accord, he set out for the abode of Brahma, to see the imperishable Brahma."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.128.3)

अथायान्तं समालोक्य गन्धर्वं गीतकोविदम्। चित्रसेनं गणश्रेष्ठः पप्रच्छ कुशलं मुदा॥

athāyāntaṁ samālokya gandharvaṁ gītakovidam| citrasenaṁ gaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ papraccha kuśalaṁ mudā||

"Then, seeing the gandharva Chitrasena, skilled in song, coming along, that chief of ganas asked joyfully of his welfare."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.128.4)

मया तत्रैव गन्तव्यं सदने परमेष्ठिनः। गीतैराराधयिष्यामि ब्रह्माणं जगतां पतिम्॥

mayā tatraiva gantavyaṁ sadane parameṣṭhinaḥ| gītairārādhayiṣyāmi brahmāṇaṁ jagatāṁ patim||

"'I too must go there, to the abode of the supreme lord; I shall propitiate Brahma, lord of the worlds, with songs.'"

Verse 5 (skanda.5.128.5)

चित्रसेनोऽथ तं देवि प्रत्युक्तो घंटमब्रवीत्। पद्मयोनिः सुरैः सार्धं गुह्यं मन्त्रमचीकरत्॥

citraseno'tha taṁ devi pratyukto ghaṁṭamabravīt| padmayoniḥ suraiḥ sārdhaṁ guhyaṁ mantramacīkarat||

"Chitrasena then, O Devi, thus addressed, spoke to Ghanta: 'The lotus-born [Brahma], together with the gods, is holding a secret council.'"

Verse 6 (skanda.5.128.6)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा गणो घंटस्तस्थौ विस्मितमानसः। मूहूर्तं चिंतयामास प्रतिहारनिवारितः॥

etacchrutvā gaṇo ghaṁṭastasthau vismitamānasaḥ| mūhūrtaṁ ciṁtayāmāsa pratihāranivāritaḥ||

"Having heard this, the gana Ghanta stood still, his mind filled with wonder; barred by the door-keeper, he reflected for a moment."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.128.7)

हित्वा स्वामिनमीशानं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमागतः। प्रवेशोपि न लभ्येत प्रसादो दूरतः स्थितः॥

hitvā svāminamīśānaṁ draṣṭuṁ brahmāṇamāgataḥ| praveśopi na labhyeta prasādo dūrataḥ sthitaḥ||

"'Having left my own lord Ishana, I have come to see Brahma; yet I cannot even gain entry — his favour stands far off.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.5.128.8)

एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः। घंटस्य ब्रह्मणो द्वारि प्रवेशो देवि नाभवत्॥

evaṁ ciṁtayatastasya sāgraḥ saṁvatsaro gataḥ| ghaṁṭasya brahmaṇo dvāri praveśo devi nābhavat||

"Thus thinking, a full year and more passed for him; O Devi, Ghanta gained no entry at the door of Brahma."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.128.9)

निर्गच्छतमथालोक्य वीणाहस्तं समुत्सुकम्। नारदं स गणश्रेष्ठः पद्मयोनिं गृहोदरात्॥

nirgacchatamathālokya vīṇāhastaṁ samutsukam| nāradaṁ sa gaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ padmayoniṁ gṛhodarāt||

"Then, seeing Narada, vina in hand, eager, coming out from within the house of the lotus-born [Brahma], that chief of ganas—"

Verse 10 (skanda.5.128.10)

प्रोक्तो घंटेन सहसा मां निवेदय नारद। गणोऽहं गीततत्त्वज्ञो महादेवस्य वल्लभः॥

prokto ghaṁṭena sahasā māṁ nivedaya nārada| gaṇo'haṁ gītatattvajño mahādevasya vallabhaḥ||

"—was suddenly addressed by Ghanta: 'Announce me, O Narada. I am a gana, versed in the essence of song, beloved of Mahadeva.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.128.11)

दर्शनार्थं समायातो ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। घंटस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रीतिमानभवन्मुनिः। नारदः प्रत्युवाचेदं समाश्वास्य सकैतवम्॥

darśanārthaṁ samāyāto brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ| ghaṁṭasya vacanaṁ śrutvā prītimānabhavanmuniḥ| nāradaḥ pratyuvācedaṁ samāśvāsya sakaitavam||

"'I have come for the sight of Brahma, the supreme lord.' Having heard Ghanta's words, the sage was pleased; Narada, comforting him, replied deceitfully with these words."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.128.12)

अहं बृहस्पतेः पार्श्वे प्रेषितोऽस्मि गणाधिप। किंचित्कार्यांतरं प्रष्टुं ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा। आयास्यामि क्षणेनैव तावत्कालं प्रतीक्ष्यताम्॥

ahaṁ bṛhaspateḥ pārśve preṣito'smi gaṇādhipa| kiṁcitkāryāṁtaraṁ praṣṭuṁ brahmaṇā lokakartṛṇā| āyāsyāmi kṣaṇenaiva tāvatkālaṁ pratīkṣyatām||

"'O lord of ganas, I have been sent to the side of Brihaspati, to inquire of some other matter, by Brahma, maker of the worlds. I shall return in but a moment — wait until then.'"

Verse 13 (skanda.5.128.13)

इत्युक्त्वा नारदो देवि मम पार्श्वमुपागतः। वृत्तांतं कथयामास घंटस्य मुनिसत्तमः॥

ityuktvā nārado devi mama pārśvamupāgataḥ| vṛttāṁtaṁ kathayāmāsa ghaṁṭasya munisattamaḥ||

"Having said this, O Devi, Narada came to my side; that best of sages told me the whole account of Ghanta."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.128.14)

ईदृशो दुर्ल्लभो भृत्यो घंटेन सदृशः प्रभो। यस्त्वां त्यक्त्वा गणो देव सेवायै परमेष्ठिनः। स्थितः संवत्सरं साग्रं प्रवेशं न च लब्धवान्॥

īdṛśo durllabho bhṛtyo ghaṁṭena sadṛśaḥ prabho| yastvāṁ tyaktvā gaṇo deva sevāyai parameṣṭhinaḥ| sthitaḥ saṁvatsaraṁ sāgraṁ praveśaṁ na ca labdhavān||

"'O Lord, such a rare servant as Ghanta — who, having left you, O god, waited a full year and more for the service of the supreme lord [Brahma], yet gained no entry.'"

Verse 15 (skanda.5.128.15)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य नारदस्य मुनेस्तदा। मया शप्तस्तु कोपेन पत घण्ट महीतले॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya nāradasya munestadā| mayā śaptastu kopena pata ghaṇṭa mahītale||

"Having heard those words of the sage Narada, I then, in anger, cursed him: 'Fall, O Ghanta, to the surface of the earth!'"

Verse 16 (skanda.5.128.16)

मां त्यक्त्वा हि गतोन्यत्र सेवार्थं परवेश्मनि। मयेत्युक्ते च वचने ब्रह्माद्वारि स्थितोऽपि सन्॥

māṁ tyaktvā hi gatonyatra sevārthaṁ paraveśmani| mayetyukte ca vacane brahmādvāri sthito'pi san||

"'—for having left me and gone elsewhere, to another's house, for the sake of service.' As these words were spoken by me, though he was standing at Brahma's door—"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.128.17)

पतितो भूतले घंटो देवदारुवनांतिके। आत्मानं पतितं दृष्ट्वा भूमौ घंटेन पार्वति॥

patito bhūtale ghaṁṭo devadāruvanāṁtike| ātmānaṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhūmau ghaṁṭena pārvati||

"—Ghanta fell to the earth, near Devadaruvana. Seeing himself fallen upon the ground, O Parvati, Ghanta—"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.128.18)

प्रोक्तं शोकोत्तरेणैव वचनं गद्गदाक्षरम्। सेवार्थं याति योऽन्यत्र परिहृत्य स्वकं प्रभुम्॥

proktaṁ śokottareṇaiva vacanaṁ gadgadākṣaram| sevārthaṁ yāti yo'nyatra parihṛtya svakaṁ prabhum||

"—spoke, choked with grief, words faltering: 'Whoever, forsaking his own master, goes elsewhere for the sake of service—'"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.128.19)

स याति नरकं घोरमपकीर्तिं च विंदति। नारदेन मम त्वद्य वंचितस्य द्वयं गतम्। यस्मात्स्वामी न मे ब्रह्मा न च देवो महेश्वरः॥

sa yāti narakaṁ ghoramapakīrtiṁ ca viṁdati| nāradena mama tvadya vaṁcitasya dvayaṁ gatam| yasmātsvāmī na me brahmā na ca devo maheśvaraḥ||

"'—he goes to terrible hell and obtains infamy. By Narada I have today been deceived; both are lost to me, since neither Brahma is my lord, nor the god Maheshvara.'"

Verse 20 (skanda.5.128.20)

एवं विलपतस्तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः। आजगाम तमुद्देशं यत्र घंटो व्यवस्थितः॥

evaṁ vilapatastasya nārado munisattamaḥ| ājagāma tamuddeśaṁ yatra ghaṁṭo vyavasthitaḥ||

"As he thus lamented, Narada, best of sages, arrived at the very place where Ghanta stood."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.128.21)

देवदारुवने देवि दर्शनार्थं तपस्विनाम्। घंटेन नारदो दृष्टो भीतेनाकुलचेतसा॥

devadāruvane devi darśanārthaṁ tapasvinām| ghaṁṭena nārado dṛṣṭo bhītenākulacetasā||

"In Devadaruvana, O Devi, for the sight of the ascetics, Narada was seen by Ghanta, frightened, his mind distraught."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.128.22)

अवस्थामीदृशीं कृत्वा किमन्यन्मे करिष्यति। एवं तं चिंतयानं तु नारदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

avasthāmīdṛśīṁ kṛtvā kimanyanme kariṣyati| evaṁ taṁ ciṁtayānaṁ tu nārado vākyamabravīt||

"[Ghanta thought:] 'Having brought me to such a state, what more will he do to me?' As he thought thus, Narada spoke these words."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.128.23)

गणाध्यक्ष न ते कार्यो मन्युः पुण्यविनाशनः। कीर्त्यर्थं पतितो घंट प्रायश्चित्तार्थमेव च॥

gaṇādhyakṣa na te kāryo manyuḥ puṇyavināśanaḥ| kīrtyarthaṁ patito ghaṁṭa prāyaścittārthameva ca||

"'O chief of ganas, you should not harbor anger, which destroys merit. O Ghanta, you have fallen for the sake of your fame, and for the sake of expiation alone.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.128.24)

प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धात्मा प्रभुं प्राप्स्यसि शंकरम्। तस्माद्गच्छ ममादेशान्महाकालवनं शुभम्॥

prāyaścittaviśuddhātmā prabhuṁ prāpsyasi śaṁkaram| tasmādgaccha mamādeśānmahākālavanaṁ śubham||

"'Purified in soul through this expiation, you shall attain the lord Shankara. Therefore go, by my command, to the auspicious Mahakalavana.'"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.128.25)

रेवंतेश्वर पूर्वे तु विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्। सर्वसंपत्करं दिव्यं त्वन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यति॥

revaṁteśvara pūrve tu vidyate liṁgamuttamam| sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ divyaṁ tvannāmnā khyātimeṣyati||

"'To the east of Revanteshvara there exists a supreme linga, divine, bringing all prosperity; it shall attain renown by your name.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.5.128.26)

इत्युक्तो नारदेनैव जैगीषव्यः समागतः। तेनापि कथितं सर्वं सत्यमुक्तमनेन वै॥

ityukto nāradenaiva jaigīṣavyaḥ samāgataḥ| tenāpi kathitaṁ sarvaṁ satyamuktamanena vai||

"Thus addressed by Narada, Jaigishavya then arrived; he too confirmed everything — 'this one [Narada] has spoken the truth.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.128.27)

नारदेन गणाध्यक्ष कीर्त्तिस्ते भविताऽक्षया। कश्यपेन मृकण्डेन कण्वेन जमदग्निना॥

nāradena gaṇādhyakṣa kīrttiste bhavitā'kṣayā| kaśyapena mṛkaṇḍena kaṇvena jamadagninā||

"'O chief of ganas, through Narada your fame shall become imperishable.' [So too said] Kashyapa, Mrikanda, Kanva, and Jamadagni,"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.128.28)

अत्रिणा भृगुणा देवि लोमशेन सुरर्षिणा। प्रोक्तो घंटो गतः शीघ्रं महाकालवनं शुभम्॥

atriṇā bhṛguṇā devi lomaśena surarṣiṇā| prokto ghaṁṭo gataḥ śīghraṁ mahākālavanaṁ śubham||

"—and by Atri, Bhrigu, and the divine sage Lomasha, O Devi — Ghanta, thus addressed, went swiftly to the auspicious Mahakalavana."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.128.29)

यत्र घंटानिनादेन युध्यतो मम संयुगे। पापक्षयकरं देवि संभूतं लिंगमुत्तमम्। दृष्टं तत्र गणेनैव लिंगं तेजोमयं शुभम्॥

yatra ghaṁṭāninādena yudhyato mama saṁyuge| pāpakṣayakaraṁ devi saṁbhūtaṁ liṁgamuttamam| dṛṣṭaṁ tatra gaṇenaiva liṁgaṁ tejomayaṁ śubham||

"There, where a supreme linga, destroying sin, had arisen from the peal of the bell (ghanta) as I fought in battle, O Devi, that gana beheld the auspicious, radiant linga."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.128.30)

दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य भूयो घंटो गणोऽभवत्। लक्ष्म्या कांत्या समायुक्तः सहस्रकिरणाकृतिः॥

darśanāttasya liṁgasya bhūyo ghaṁṭo gaṇo'bhavat| lakṣmyā kāṁtyā samāyuktaḥ sahasrakiraṇākṛtiḥ||

"Through the sight of that linga, Ghanta once again became a gana, endowed with splendor and radiance, of a form like a thousand rays."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.128.31)

घण्टोभिनंदितोऽत्यर्थं विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः। मम पार्श्वं समायातो ममातीव प्रियोऽभवत्॥

ghaṇṭobhinaṁdito'tyarthaṁ vimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ| mama pārśvaṁ samāyāto mamātīva priyo'bhavat||

"Ghanta, greatly welcomed with celestial chariots that grant every desire, came to my side, and became exceedingly dear to me."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.128.32)

ये पश्यन्ति विशालाक्षि देवं घण्डेश्वरं शिवम्। ते घण्टाभिर्नादितास्तु विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः॥

ye paśyanti viśālākṣi devaṁ ghaṇḍeśvaraṁ śivam| te ghaṇṭābhirnāditāstu vimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ||

"Those, O wide-eyed one, who behold the god Ghanteshvara Shiva — resounding with bells, upon chariots that grant every desire—"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.128.33)

यास्यंति सुचिरं कालं मम लोकं सनातनम्। घण्टेश्वरं परं लिंगं नाख्येयं यस्यकस्यचित्॥

yāsyaṁti suciraṁ kālaṁ mama lokaṁ sanātanam| ghaṇṭeśvaraṁ paraṁ liṁgaṁ nākhyeyaṁ yasyakasyacit||

"—shall go for a very long time to my eternal world. This supreme linga, Ghanteshvara, is not to be disclosed to just anyone."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.128.34)

व्याधितो यदि वा दीनो दुःखितो वा भवेन्नरः। यः पश्यति प्रसंगेन देवं घण्टेश्वरं प्रिये। दीप्तकांचनवर्णाभैर्विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः॥

vyādhito yadi vā dīno duḥkhito vā bhavennaraḥ| yaḥ paśyati prasaṁgena devaṁ ghaṇṭeśvaraṁ priye| dīptakāṁcanavarṇābhairvimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ||

"If a man be diseased, or wretched, or sorrowful, and beholds, even by chance, the god Ghanteshvara, O dear one, then by celestial chariots gleaming like radiant gold, granting every desire—"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.128.35)

गंधर्वाप्सरसां मध्ये स्वर्गे मोदति मानवः। ईप्सिताँल्लभते कामान्वीणावेणुविनोदितः॥

gaṁdharvāpsarasāṁ madhye svarge modati mānavaḥ| īpsitā~llabhate kāmānvīṇāveṇuvinoditaḥ||

"—that man rejoices in heaven amidst gandharvas and apsaras; delighted by vina and flute, he obtains all his desired wishes."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.128.36)

ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः सर्वैश्वर्यसमन्वितः। हिरण्यधान्यसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले। राजा वा राजतुल्यो वा जंबूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्॥

tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭaḥ sarvaiśvaryasamanvitaḥ| hiraṇyadhānyasaṁpūrṇe samṛddhe jāyate kule| rājā vā rājatulyo vā jaṁbūdvīpapatirbhavet||

"Then, having fallen from heaven, endowed with all lordship, he is born into a prosperous family, full of gold and grain; he becomes a king, or one equal to a king, or lord of Jambudvipa."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.128.37)

यः पूजयति देवेशं श्रद्धया परया युतः। स याति परमं स्थानमपुनर्भवकारणम्॥

yaḥ pūjayati deveśaṁ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānamapunarbhavakāraṇam||

"Whoever, endowed with supreme faith, worships this lord of gods, goes to the supreme abode that causes no further rebirth."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.128.38)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। घण्टेश्वरस्य देवस्य प्रयागेशमथो शृणु॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| ghaṇṭeśvarasya devasya prayāgeśamatho śṛṇu||

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