The Glory of Durddharsheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.141.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु सप्ततिकं देवं दुर्द्धरेश्वरमीश्वरम्। यस्य दर्शनतो देवि नरः पापैः प्रमुच्यते।

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu saptatikaṁ devaṁ durddhareśvaramīśvaram| yasya darśanato devi naraḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate||

Ishvara said: Listen, O goddess, to the account of the seventieth god, Lord Durddhareshvara, by merely beholding whom a man is freed from sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.141.2)

दुर्द्धर्षोनाम राजाभून्नेपालविषये पुरा। पुण्यकेतुर्यशस्वी च सत्यसंधो दृढव्रतः।

durddharṣo nāma rājābhūnnepālaviṣaye purā| puṇyaketuryaśasvī ca satyasaṁdho dṛḍhavrataḥ||

Long ago, in the land of Nepal, there was a king named Durddharsha — virtuous, renowned, true to his word, and firm in his vows.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.141.3)

तिस्रस्तस्याभवन्भार्यास्तत्तुल्याः सुमनोहराः। विहरन्त वनोद्याने वसन्ते पृथिवीपतिः।

tisrastasyābhavan bhāryāstattulyāḥ sumanoharāḥ| viharanta vanodyāne vasante pṛthivīpatiḥ||

He had three wives, equally lovely and charming. In the spring season, the king would roam and sport in the forest garden.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.141.4)

कदा मृगरसाविष्टो देवाद्वै वातरंहसा। तुरगेणोहितः प्राप वनं रुचिरपादपम्।

kadā mṛgarasāviṣṭo devādvai vātaraṁhasā| turageṇohitaḥ prāpa vanaṁ ruciraṁ pādapam||

Once, seized by the passion for the deer-hunt, borne by fate upon a wind-swift steed, he arrived at a forest lovely with trees.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.141.5)

गजेंद्रमृगशार्दूलसिंहसंबरसंकुलम्। ऋक्षवानरवाराहगण्डकादिविराजितम्।

gajendramṛgaśārdūlasiṁhasaṁbarasaṁkulam| ṛkṣavānaravarāhagaṇḍakādivirājitam||

It teemed with lordly elephants, deer, tigers, lions, and sambar deer, and was adorned with bears, monkeys, boars, rhinoceroses, and the like.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.141.6)

तस्मिन्वने सुविस्तीर्णं कदलीखंडमंडितम्। हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्।

tasminvane suvistīrṇaṁ kadalīkhaṇḍamaṇḍitam| haṁsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṁ cakravākopaśobhitam||

In that forest was a vast lake, adorned with clusters of plantain trees, thronged with swans and karandava birds, and graced by ruddy geese.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.141.7)

ददर्श दर्पणस्वच्छं सरो नीरजराजितम्। स्नातसिद्धवधूवृन्दकुचकुंकुमपिंजरम्।

dadarśa darpaṇasvacchaṁ saro nīrajarājitam| snātasiddhavadhūvṛndakuṁkumapiṁjaram||

He beheld a lake, clear as a mirror, resplendent with lotuses, its waters tinged golden by the vermilion washed from the breasts of bathing Siddha maidens.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.141.8)

ददर्श कन्यां तत्रैव काननस्येव देवताम्। स तां दृष्ट्वा सुचार्वंगीं मन्मथेन प्रपीडितः।

dadarśa kanyāṁ tatraiva kānanasyeva devatām| sa tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sucārvaṅgīṁ manmathena prapīḍitaḥ||

There he saw a maiden, as if the very deity of the forest. Beholding that lovely-limbed girl, he was overwhelmed by the god of love.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.141.9)

चित्रन्यस्त इव क्षिप्रमभूद्विस्मयनिश्चलः। सा भुजंगीव संकृष्टा मन्त्रेणेवांतिकं ययौ।

citranyasta iva kṣipramabhūdvismayaniścalaḥ| sā bhujaṅgīva saṁkṛṣṭā mantreṇevāntikaṁ yayau||

At once he stood motionless with wonder, as if painted in a picture. And she, as though drawn near by a spell like a charmed serpent-maiden, approached close to him.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.141.10)

कन्दर्पकोटिसदृशं विश्रान्तं नृपमब्रवीत्। सुतां मां विद्धि राजेन्द्र कल्पस्य प्राणवल्लभाम्।

kandarpakoṭisadṛśaṁ viśrāntaṁ nṛpamabravīt| sutāṁ māṁ viddhi rājendra kalpasya prāṇavallabhām||

She said to the resting king, who resembled a myriad Kamadevas: "Know me, O king of kings, as the beloved daughter of the sage Kalpa, dear to his very life."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.141.11)

तपोरतस्य शांतस्य सर्वदा ब्रह्मचारिणः। मदर्थे प्रार्थ्यतां विप्र स मां तुभ्यं प्रदास्यति।

taporatasya śāntasya sarvadā brahmacāriṇaḥ| madarthe prārthyatāṁ vipra sa māṁ tubhyaṁ pradāsyati||

He is ever devoted to austerity, tranquil, and a perpetual celibate. Entreat that brahmin, O king, on my behalf — he shall surely give me to you.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.141.12)

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा मन्मथेनाकुलीकृतः। लज्जां त्यक्त्वा स भूपालो ययाचे विजने च ताम्।

iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā manmathenākulīkṛtaḥ| lajjāṁ tyaktvā sa bhūpālo yayāce vijane ca tām||

Hearing her words, and agitated by the god of love, that king cast off shame and, in that solitary place, began to plead with her.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.141.13)

मम प्राणव्ययः सुभ्रूस्त्वां विना समुपस्थितः। कार्याकार्यविचारो हि कस्य जीवितशांतये।

mama prāṇavyayaḥ subhrūstvāṁ vinā samupasthitaḥ| kāryākāryavicāro hi kasya jīvitaśāntaye||

O fair-browed one, without you the loss of my life is at hand. Who indeed weighs what should or should not be done, when it is a matter of saving one's very life?

Verse 14 (skanda.5.141.14)

त्यज्यते प्राप्तममृतं यदेतद्बुद्धिलाघवम्। को जानीते परे लोके कस्य किं नु भविष्यति।

tyajyate prāptamamṛtaṁ yadetadbuddhilāghavam| ko jānīte pare loke kasya kiṁ nu bhaviṣyati||

To renounce the nectar once obtained is but the folly of the intellect. Who knows what shall befall whom in the world beyond?

Verse 15 (skanda.5.141.15)

भज मामनवद्यांगि तवेतद्वदनामृतम्। न पाययसि चेन्मह्यं मृतं जानीहि मे प्रिये।

bhaja māmanavadyāṅgi tavetadvadanāmṛtam| na pāyayasi cenmahyaṁ mṛtaṁ jānīhi me priye||

Accept me, O flawless one — grant me the nectar of your lips. If you do not let me drink it, know, O beloved, that I am as good as dead.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.141.16)

स्वयं पिबामि चेद्विद्धि परलोकगतं हि माम्। श्रुत्वेति चकिता तन्वी प्रोवाच विनयान्विता।

svayaṁ pibāmi cedviddhi paralokagataṁ hi mām| śrutveti cakitā tanvī provāca vinayānvitā||

"If I take it by force myself, know that I shall have gone to the world beyond." Hearing this, the slender maiden, startled, spoke with humility.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.141.17)

भ्रष्टायां मयि तातस्य विनष्टे कन्यकाफले। कुलं पतति नः सर्वं तस्मादेतद्विचिन्त्यताम्।

bhraṣṭāyāṁ mayi tātasya vinaṣṭe kanyakāphale| kulaṁ patati naḥ sarvaṁ tasmādetadvicintyatām||

Should I fall from virtue and my father's fruit of having a daughter be ruined, our whole lineage would perish. Therefore consider this well.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.141.18)

यदि ते परमं प्रेम ममोपरि महीपते। मदर्थे प्रार्थ्यतां विप्र स मां नृनं प्रदास्यति।

yadi te paramaṁ prema mamopari mahīpate| madarthe prārthyatāṁ vipra sa māṁ nṛnaṁ pradāsyati||

If your love for me is truly supreme, O king, then plead with that brahmin on my behalf; he will surely give me to you.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.141.19)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नान्यथा मे भविष्यति। ज्ञात्वा कन्यां द्विजस्यैव कल्पस्य ब्रह्मचारिणः।

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā nānyathā me bhaviṣyati| jñātvā kanyāṁ dvijasyaiva kalpasya brahmacāriṇaḥ||

Hearing her words — knowing it could be attained no other way, and learning she was the daughter of the celibate brahmin Kalpa —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.141.20)

गत्वा ययाचे प्रणतः स्थितं निजतपोवने। मुनीन्द्रश्चंद्रवदनां स चास्मै तां ददौ मुदा।

gatvā yayāce praṇataḥ sthitaṁ nijatapovane| munīndraścandravadanāṁ sa cāsmai tāṁ dadau mudā||

He went and, bowing humbly, made his plea to the sage abiding in his own hermitage. And that lord of sages gladly gave him his moon-faced daughter.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.141.21)

तत्रैव संगतो राजा मन्मथेन वशीकृतः। रेमे रमणकैर्योगैर्न सस्मार निजं पुरम्।

tatraiva saṁgato rājā manmathena vaśīkṛtaḥ| reme ramaṇakairyogairna sasmāra nijaṁ puram||

Remaining there, that king, mastered by the god of love, delighted in her company with joyous sports and forgot his own city entirely.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.141.22)

कदलीखण्डकुञ्जेषु रम्यासु वनराजिषु। बहुलाम्रकदंबेषु राजा भेजे नवां वधूम्। सिषेवे चारु सुरतं स विदग्धोऽतिमुग्धया।

kadalīkhaṇḍakuñjeṣu ramyāsu vanarājiṣu| bahulāmrakadaṁbeṣu rājā bheje navāṁ vadhūm| siṣeve cāru surataṁ sa vidagdho'timugdhayā||

Amid the plantain groves, in the lovely woodland glades, and among the thick mango and kadamba trees, the king dallied with his new bride; that clever king enjoyed sweet love's pleasures with the enchanting maiden.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.141.23)

एवं हि वसतस्तस्य दुर्द्धर्षस्य वरानने। आजगाम सुदुर्द्धर्षो राक्षसोऽतिभयंकरः।

evaṁ hi vasatastasya durddharṣasya varānane| ājagāma sudurddharṣo rākṣaso'tibhayaṁkaraḥ||

Thus, O fair-faced one, while Durddharsha dwelt there, an exceedingly formidable and terrifying rakshasa arrived at that place.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.141.24)

ज्वलितो विकटाकारो दंष्ट्रोत्कटकटाननः। तं नृपं मोहयित्वा तु तरसा तरलेक्षणाम्। जहार मन्मथाविष्टो रूपयौवनशालिनीम्।

jvalito vikaṭākāro daṁṣṭrotkaṭakaṭānanaḥ| taṁ nṛpaṁ mohayitvā tu tarasā taralekṣaṇām| jahāra manmathāviṣṭo rūpayauvanaśālinīm||

Blazing like fire, hideous of form, his face terrible with jutting fangs — overcome by lust, he bewitched the king and swiftly carried off that bright-eyed woman, resplendent in beauty and youth.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.141.25)

राजा च तां हृतां दृष्ट्वा वियोगविषमूर्छितः। स्मृत्वास्मृत्वा सुचार्वंगीं विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः।

rājā ca tāṁ hṛtāṁ dṛṣṭvā viyogaviṣamūrchitaḥ| smṛtvāsmṛtvā sucārvaṅgīṁ vilalāpākulendriyaḥ||

Seeing her thus abducted, the king swooned as if poisoned by separation. Remembering the lovely-limbed one again and again, distraught in his senses, he wailed aloud.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.141.26)

हा प्रिये प्रेमपीयूषे प्रणयामृतदीर्घिके। हा सुन्दरि विशालाक्षि क्व गता मां विहाय वै।

hā priye premapīyūṣe praṇayāmṛtadīrghike| hā sundari viśālākṣi kva gatā māṁ vihāya vai||

"Alas, beloved, O nectar-pool of love, O long reservoir of love's ambrosia! Alas, O beautiful, wide-eyed one — where have you gone, abandoning me?"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.141.27)

पुनरिन्दुमिवानंदं कदा द्रक्ष्यामि ते मुखम्। इति प्रलापमकरोत्स्मरंस्तां चारुहासिनीम्। उन्मत्त इव बभ्राम तत्र तत्र स्मरातुरः।

punarindumivānandaṁ kadā drakṣyāmi te mukham| iti pralāpamakarotsmaraṁstāṁ cāruhāsinīm| unmatta iva babhrāma tatra tatra smarāturaḥ||

"When shall I again behold your moon-like, blissful face?" Thus lamenting, recalling her sweet smile, he wandered here and there like a madman, tormented by love.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.141.28)

एवं विलपतस्तस्य दुर्दर्षस्य नृपस्य तु। आजगाम तमुद्देशं कल्पो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः। ददर्श नृपतिं तत्र भ्रमंतं भ्रमरं यथा।

evaṁ vilapatastasya durdarṣasya nṛpasya tu| ājagāma tamuddeśaṁ kalpo brāhmaṇasattamaḥ| dadarśa nṛpatiṁ tatra bhramantaṁ bhramaraṁ yathā||

While King Durddharsha thus lamented, the eminent brahmin Kalpa arrived at that spot, and there he saw the king wandering about like a bewildered bee.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.141.29)

ज्ञात्वा जामातरं सम्यक्समाश्वास्य वचोऽब्रवीत्। एहि दुर्द्धर्ष राजेन्द्र गहना कर्मणो गतिः। क्व गतो हि महीपाल नेपालविषयस्तव।

jñātvā jāmātaraṁ samyaksamāśvāsya vaco'bravīt| ehi durddharṣa rājendra gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ| kva gato hi mahīpāla nepālaviṣayastava||

Recognizing his son-in-law well, and comforting him, he spoke: "Come, O King Durddharsha! The course of karma is deep and mysterious. Tell me, O lord of the earth, where has your kingdom of Nepal gone?"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.141.30)

कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च तिस्रो भार्याः क्व वै गताः। क्व ते राज्यं गतं भूप कुत्र पुत्री गता मम।

kulīnā rūpavatyaśca tisro bhāryāḥ kva vai gatāḥ| kva te rājyaṁ gataṁ bhūpa kutra putrī gatā mama||

"Where have your three noble, beautiful wives gone? Where has your kingdom gone, O king, and where has my own daughter gone?"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.141.31)

सर्वं विनश्वरं लोके गन्धर्वनगरोपमम्। अनित्यं जीवितं भूप राज्यं वै बुद्बुदोपमम्।

sarvaṁ vinaśvaraṁ loke gandharvanagaropamam| anityaṁ jīvitaṁ bhūpa rājyaṁ vai budbudopamam||

"Everything in this world is perishable, like a city of the Gandharvas in the sky. Life is impermanent, O king, and kingship is but like a bubble on water."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.141.32)

एवमाश्वासितो राजा कल्पेन च पुनःपुनः। सस्मार तां सुचार्वंगी मन्मथेन प्रपीडितः।

evamāśvāsito rājā kalpena ca punaḥpunaḥ| sasmāra tāṁ sucārvaṅgīṁ manmathena prapīḍitaḥ||

Though thus comforted again and again by Kalpa, the king, tormented by love, continued to remember that lovely-limbed woman.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.141.33)

ब्रूहि मे भगवन्सम्यग्यदि तेऽस्ति दया मयि। कथं राज्यं स्वकीयं स्यात्कथं मे सुहृदागमः।

brūhi me bhagavan samyagyadi te'sti dayā mayi| kathaṁ rājyaṁ svakīyaṁ syātkathaṁ me suhṛdāgamaḥ||

"Tell me truly, O venerable one, if you have compassion for me — how may I regain my own kingdom, and how may I be reunited with my beloved?

Verse 34 (skanda.5.141.34)

तिस्रो भार्याः कथं विप्र पश्यामि पृथिवीतले। लावण्यामृतशालिन्यस्तव पुत्र्या द्विजोत्तम। कथं समागमो भूयो भविष्यति मया सह।

tisro bhāryāḥ kathaṁ vipra paśyāmi pṛthivītale| lāvaṇyāmṛtaśālinyastava putryā dvijottama| kathaṁ samāgamo bhūyo bhaviṣyati mayā saha||

How, O brahmin, shall I again behold my three wives upon this earth? O best of brahmins, how shall your daughter, radiant with the nectar of loveliness, again be united with me?"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.141.35)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विप्रेणोक्तं वरानने। गच्छ भूपाल नेपालं महाकालं ततो व्रज।

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā vipreṇoktaṁ varānane| gaccha bhūpāla nepālaṁ mahākālaṁ tato vraja||

O fair one, hearing his words, the brahmin said: "Go, O king, to Nepal, and thence proceed to Mahakala.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.141.36)

तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तीर्थवरे लिंगं सर्वार्थसाधकम्। विद्यते यत्र सूर्येण तपस्तप्तं सुदुष्करम्।

tasmin kṣetre tīrthavare liṅgaṁ sarvārthasādhakam| vidyate yatra sūryeṇa tapastaptaṁ suduṣkaram||

In that most excellent sacred place is a linga that accomplishes every purpose — a place where the Sun himself performed the most arduous austerities.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.141.37)

शिप्रायास्तु तटे रम्ये पुण्ये ब्रह्मेशपश्चिमे। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण तवाभीष्टं भविष्यति।

śiprāyāstu taṭe ramye puṇye brahmeśapaścime| tasya darśanamātreṇa tavābhīṣṭaṁ bhaviṣyati||

It stands on the lovely, holy bank of the Shipra, west of Brahmeshvara. By merely beholding it, your heart's desire shall be fulfilled."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.141.38)

कल्पस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सत्वरो नृपसत्तमः। नेपालं च ततो गत्वा समाश्वास्य सुहृज्जनम्।

kalpasya vacanaṁ śrutvā satvaro nṛpasattamaḥ| nepālaṁ ca tato gatvā samāśvāsya suhṛjjanam||

Hearing Kalpa's words, that excellent king promptly went to Nepal, and having comforted his kinsfolk there,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.141.39)

सांतःपुरपरीवारो महाकालवनं गतः। सर्वदा सर्वसिद्धीनामाश्रयं विषयं श्रियः।

sāntaḥpuraparīvāro mahākālavanaṁ gataḥ| sarvadā sarvasiddhīnāmāśrayaṁ viṣayaṁ śriyaḥ||

he went, with his household and retinue, to Mahakalavana — the eternal abode of every siddhi and the domain of glory.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.141.40)

तत्र स्नात्वा जले पुण्ये शिप्रायाश्चाशुसिद्धिदे। सूर्येणाराधितं लिंगं ददर्श नृपसत्तमः।

tatra snātvā jale puṇye śiprāyāścāśusiddhide| sūryeṇārādhitaṁ liṅgaṁ dadarśa nṛpasattamaḥ||

There, having bathed in the holy waters of the Shipra, which grants swift accomplishment, the excellent king beheld the linga worshipped by the Sun.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.141.41)

पूजयामास रत्नैश्च दिव्यैर्वस्त्रैः सुभूषणैः। कर्पूरेण सुगन्धेन लिंगपूजा कृता तदा।

pūjayāmāsa ratnaiśca divyairvastraiḥ subhūṣaṇaiḥ| karpūreṇa sugandhena liṅgapūjā kṛtā tadā||

He worshipped it with jewels, celestial garments, and fine ornaments; the linga's worship was performed then also with fragrant camphor.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.141.42)

मुक्ताफलैः सुतारैश्च जलधाराभिरेव च। भक्त्या ननर्त्त तस्याग्रे संस्तुवन्विविधैः स्तवैः।

muktāphalaiḥ sutāraiśca jaladhārābhireva ca| bhaktyā nanartta tasyāgre saṁstuvanvividhaiḥ stavaiḥ||

He honoured it with pearls, bright gems, and streams of water; with devotion he danced before it, praising it with many hymns.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.141.43)

शुश्राव श्रोत्रपीयूषं गीतं देवगृहे शुभे। तच्छ्रुत्वा कौतुकाविष्टो ध्वनिं श्रुत्वा मनोरमाम्। प्रियामपश्यत्तत्रस्थां लावण्यललनावधिम्।

śuśrāva śrotrapīyūṣaṁ gītaṁ devagṛhe śubhe| tacchrutvā kautukāviṣṭo dhvaniṁ śrutvā manoramām| priyāmapaśyattatrasthāṁ lāvaṇyalalanāvadhim||

In that holy shrine, he heard a song sweet as nectar to the ears. Filled with curiosity on hearing that enchanting sound, he beheld there his beloved, the very culmination of loveliness.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.141.44)

तां दृष्ट्वा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनस्तन्मयोऽभवत्। क्षिप्रं तद्दर्शनेनैव स्मरेण तरलीकृतः।

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayotphullalocanastanmayo'bhavat| kṣipraṁ taddarśanenaiva smareṇa taralīkṛtaḥ||

Seeing her, his eyes widening in astonishment, he became utterly absorbed in her; at that very sight he was instantly stirred by the god of love.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.141.45)

ज्ञात्वा मे सैव पत्नीयं दृष्टा देवप्रसादतः। सापि लावण्यनलिनी राजहंसं विलोक्य तम्।

jñātvā me saiva patnīyaṁ dṛṣṭā devaprasādataḥ| sāpi lāvaṇyanalinī rājahaṁsaṁ vilokya tam||

Recognizing that this was indeed his own wife, seen again by the god's grace — and she too, that lotus-pool of beauty, beholding him like a royal swan,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.141.46)

क्षिप्रं पुलिकिता तस्या विरराज कुचस्थली। एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि वाणी लिंगात्समुत्थिता।

kṣipraṁ pulikitā tasyā virarāja kucasthalī| etasminnantare devi vāṇī liṅgātsamutthitā||

was suddenly filled with a thrill of joy, her breast trembling with delight. Meanwhile, O goddess, a voice arose from the linga.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.141.47)

विश्वावसोः सिद्धपतेः सुतैषा प्राणवल्लभा। कल्पेन पालिता सम्यस्त्वदर्थं नृपसत्तम।

viśvāvasoḥ siddhapateḥ sutaiṣā prāṇavallabhā| kalpena pālitā samyastvadarthaṁ nṛpasattama||

"This is the beloved daughter of Vishvavasu, lord of the Siddhas, O best of kings; she was carefully raised by Kalpa for your sake alone.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.141.48)

आनीता ते मया पत्नी हत्वा तं राक्षसाधिपम्। गृहाण च मया दत्तां भुंक्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्।

ānītā te mayā patnī hatvā taṁ rākṣasādhipam| gṛhāṇa ca mayā dattāṁ bhuṅkṣva rājyamakaṇṭakam||

I have brought back your wife, having slain that lord of rakshasas. Accept her as my gift, and enjoy your kingdom free of all obstacles."

Verse 49 (skanda.5.141.49)

इत्युक्तोऽसौ गतो देवि लब्ध्वा भार्यां प्रियां तदा। सांतःपुरपरीवारो लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः।

ityukto'sau gato devi labdhvā bhāryāṁ priyāṁ tadā| sāntaḥpuraparīvāro liṅgasyāsya prabhāvataḥ||

Thus addressed, O goddess, and having regained his beloved wife by the power of this linga, he departed with his household and retinue,

Verse 50 (skanda.5.141.50)

आराधितो नरेंद्रेण दुर्द्धर्षेण महात्मना। तदाप्रभृति देवोऽयं दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरसंज्ञकः। त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातो वांछितार्थफलप्रदः।

ārādhito narendreṇa durddharṣeṇa mahātmanā| tadāprabhṛti devo'yaṁ durddharṣeśvarasaṁjñakaḥ| triṣu lokeṣu vikhyāto vāñchitārthaphalapradaḥ||

having been worshipped by the great-souled king Durddharsha. From that time this god became known by the name Durddharsheshvara, celebrated in all three worlds, bestowing the fruit of every desire.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.141.51)

ये पश्यंति विशालाक्षि दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। ते दुर्द्धर्षा भविष्यंति शत्रूणां समरे सदा।

ye paśyanti viśālākṣi durddharṣeśvarasaṁjñakam| te durddharṣā bhaviṣyanti śatrūṇāṁ samare sadā||

O wide-eyed one, those who behold this god called Durddharsheshvara shall ever remain invincible against their foes in battle.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.141.52)

संक्रांतौ रविवारे च ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः। गत्वार्चयंति ये देवि देवं दुर्द्धर्षमीश्वरम्। ते प्रयांति विमानेन मदीयं स्थानमुत्तमम्।

saṁkrāntau ravivāre ca grahaṇe candrasūryayoḥ| gatvārcayanti ye devi devaṁ durddharṣamīśvaram| te prayānti vimānena madīyaṁ sthānamuttamam||

O goddess, those who go and worship the lord Durddharsha on the day of the solstice-transition, on Sundays, or during an eclipse of the sun or moon, ascend by celestial chariot to my supreme abode.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.141.53)

पापाचाराश्च ये जीवा दुष्कर्मनिरता नराः। मुच्यंते पातकात्सद्यो दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरदर्शनात्।

pāpācārāśca ye jīvā duṣkarmaniratā narāḥ| mucyante pātakātsadyo durddharṣeśvaradarśanāt||

Even those beings of sinful conduct, given over to evil deeds, are instantly freed from sin by the sight of Durddharsheshvara.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.141.54)

दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्सद्यो नामसंकीर्तनादपि। ब्रह्महत्यासहस्रं हि तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति।

darśanātsparśanātsadyo nāmasaṁkīrtanādapi| brahmahatyāsahasraṁ hi tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati||

By merely seeing it, touching it, or even chanting its name, the sin of a thousand brahmin-slayings is destroyed that very instant.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.141.55)

कृतघ्नो निंदको दुष्टः पापकर्मा दुरात्मवान्। परदाररतश्चौरो ब्रह्मघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरदर्शनात्।

kṛtaghno nindako duṣṭaḥ pāpakarmā durātmavān| paradāraratraścauro brahmaghno gurutalpagaḥ| mucyate sarvapāpebhyo durddharṣeśvaradarśanāt||

The ungrateful, the slanderer, the wicked, the doer of sinful deeds, the evil-minded, the adulterer, the thief, the slayer of a brahmin, and the violator of the guru's bed — all are freed from every sin by the sight of Durddharsheshvara.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.141.56)

अयने विषुवे चैव संप्राप्ते सोमपर्वणि। ये पश्यंति च दुर्द्धर्षं स्नात्वा शिप्राजले शुभे। गंगायास्त्रिगुणं पुण्यं जायते नात्र संशयः।

ayane viṣuve caiva saṁprāpte somaparvaṇi| ye paśyanti ca durddharṣaṁ snātvā śiprājale śubhe| gaṅgāyāstriguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

At the solstice, at the equinox, and on the arrival of the lunar festival, those who bathe in the holy waters of the Shipra and behold Durddharsha obtain, without doubt, thrice the merit of bathing in the Ganga.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.141.57)

तत्र यद्दीयते दानं तस्य संख्या न विद्यते। पितरस्तोषितास्तेन आत्मा वै तोषितस्ततः।

tatra yaddīyate dānaṁ tasya saṁkhyā na vidyate| pitarastoṣitāstena ātmā vai toṣitastataḥ||

Whatever gift is given there is beyond reckoning; by it the ancestors are satisfied, and thereby the soul itself finds contentment.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.141.58)

कल्पकोटिसहस्रं तु मत्पुरे पूजितो वसेत्। यदा याति च भूलोके तदासौ भूपतिर्भवेत्।

kalpakoṭisahasraṁ tu matpure pūjito vaset| yadā yāti ca bhūloke tadāsau bhūpatirbhavet||

He shall dwell, honoured, in my abode for a thousand million eons; and when he comes to the earth, he shall be born a king.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.141.59)

अधृष्यः शत्रुवर्गेण फलं प्राप्नोति चाक्षयम्। पदं यत्त्रिदशैर्वंद्यं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्।

adhṛṣyaḥ śatruvargeṇa phalaṁ prāpnoti cākṣayam| padaṁ yattridaśairvandyaṁ punarāvṛttivarjitam||

He becomes unassailable by hosts of enemies and attains an imperishable reward — that state which is venerated even by the gods and from which there is no return.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.141.60)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरदेवस्य प्रयागेशमतः शृणु।

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| durddharṣeśvaradevasya prayāgeśamataḥ śṛṇu||

Thus, O goddess, I have told you the sin-destroying greatness of the god Durddharsheshvara; now hear thereafter of Prayagesha.