The Glory of Aruneshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.147.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। षट्सप्ततितमं देवमरुणेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। विद्धि पापहरं देवि दर्शनात्कामदं नृणाम्।

īśvara uvāca| ṣaṭsaptatitamaṁ devamaruṇeśvarasaṁjñakam| viddhi pāpaharaṁ devi darśanātkāmadaṁ nṛṇām||

Ishvara said: Know, O goddess, the seventy-sixth god by the name Aruneshvara, remover of sin, granting the wishes of men through his sight.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.147.2)

पुरा देवयुगे देवि प्रजापतिसुते शुभे। आस्तां भगिन्यौ रूपेण समुपेतेऽद्भुतेऽनघे।

purā devayuge devi prajāpatisute śubhe| āstāṁ bhaginyau rūpeṇa samupete'dbhute'naghe||

Long ago, O goddess, in the age of the gods, O auspicious one, there were two daughters of Prajapati — sisters, endowed with wondrous beauty, O sinless one.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.147.3)

ते भार्ये कश्यपस्यास्तां कद्रूश्च विनता तथा। प्रादात्ताभ्यां वरं प्रीतः प्रजापतिसमः पतिः।

te bhārye kaśyapasyāstāṁ kadrūśca vinatā tathā| prādāttābhyāṁ varaṁ prītaḥ prajāpatisamaḥ patiḥ||

They became the wives of Kashyapa — Kadru and Vinata. Their husband, equal to Prajapati himself, being pleased, granted a boon to each of them.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.147.4)

कश्यपो धर्मपत्नीभ्यां मुदा परमया युतः। वरातिसर्गं श्रुत्वैव कश्यपादुत्तमं तु ते।

kaśyapo dharmapatnībhyāṁ mudā paramayā yutaḥ| varātisargaṁ śrutvaiva kaśyapāduttamaṁ tu te||

Kashyapa, filled with the deepest joy toward his lawful wives, declared he would grant this excellent boon. As soon as they heard of this offer from Kashyapa,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.147.5)

हर्षादभ्यधिकां प्रीतिं प्रापतुः स्म वरस्त्रियौ। वव्रे कद्रूः सुतान्नागान्सहस्रं तुल्यवर्चसः।

harṣādabhyadhikāṁ prītiṁ prāpatuḥ sma varastriyau| vavre kadrūḥ sutānnāgānsahasraṁ tulyavarcasaḥ||

those excellent women were filled with exceeding joy. Kadru asked for a thousand serpent-sons, all of equal splendour.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.147.6)

द्वौ पुत्रौ विनता वव्रे कद्रूपुत्राधिकौ बले। ओजसा तेजसा चैव विक्रमेणाधिकौ च तौ।

dvau putrau vinatā vavre kadrūputrādhikau bale| ojasā tejasā caiva vikrameṇādhikau ca tau||

Vinata asked for two sons, superior in strength to Kadru's sons, and greater than them in vigour, splendour, and prowess.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.147.7)

तस्यै भर्त्ता वरं प्रादाल्लप्स्यसे पुत्रकोत्तमौ। एवमस्त्विति तां चाह कश्यपो विनतां तदा।

tasyai bharttā varaṁ prādāllapsyase putrakottamau| evamastviti tāṁ cāha kaśyapo vinatāṁ tadā||

Her husband granted her the boon: "You shall obtain two most excellent sons." Kashyapa then said to Vinata, "So be it."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.147.8)

यथा च प्रार्थितं लब्ध्वा वरं तुष्टाऽभवत्तदा। कृतकृत्या तु विनता लब्ध्वा वीर्याधिकौ सुतौ।

yathā ca prārthitaṁ labdhvā varaṁ tuṣṭā'bhavattadā| kṛtakṛtyā tu vinatā labdhvā vīryādhikau sutau||

Having obtained the boon just as she had wished, she was delighted; Vinata, gaining these two sons superior in valour, felt her purpose fulfilled.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.147.9)

कद्रूश्च लब्ध्वा पुत्राणां सहस्रं तुल्यतेजसाम्। धार्यौ गर्भौ प्रयत्नेन इत्युक्त्वा स महातपाः।

kadrūśca labdhvā putrāṇāṁ sahasraṁ tulyatejasām| dhāryau garbhau prayatnena ityuktvā sa mahātapāḥ||

And Kadru too obtained her boon of a thousand equally splendid sons. "Both of you must carry your wombs with the utmost care," said that sage of great austerity,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.147.10)

ते भार्ये वरसंहृष्टे कश्यपो वनमाविशत्। कालेन महता कद्रूर्नागानां सा शतीर्दश। जनयामास चार्वंगी द्वे चांडे विनता तदा।

te bhārye varasaṁhṛṣṭe kaśyapo vanamāviśat| kālena mahatā kadrūrnāgānāṁ sā śatīrdaśa| janayāmāsa cārvaṁgī dve cāṁḍe vinatā tadā||

and, leaving his two wives rejoicing in their boons, Kashyapa withdrew into the forest. After a long time, Kadru gave birth to a thousand serpents, and the lovely-limbed Vinata brought forth two eggs.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.147.11)

तयोरंडानि निदधुः प्रहृष्टाः परिचारिकाः। सोपस्वेदेषु भांडेषु पंचवर्षशतानि च।

tayoraṁḍāni nidadhuḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ paricārikāḥ| sopasvedeṣu bhāṁḍeṣu paṁcavarṣaśatāni ca||

Delighted attendants placed their eggs in warmed vessels, and there they remained for five hundred years.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.147.12)

ततः पंचशते काले कद्रूपुत्रा विनिर्गताः। अंडभ्यां विनतायास्तु मिथुनं न व्यदृश्यत।

tataḥ paṁcaśate kāle kadrūputrā vinirgatāḥ| aṁḍabhyāṁ vinatāyāstu mithunaṁ na vyadṛśyata||

When five hundred years had elapsed, Kadru's sons emerged, but from Vinata's two eggs no offspring appeared.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.147.13)

ततः पुत्रार्थिनी देवी व्रीडिता सा तपस्विनी। अंडं बिभेद विनता तत्र पुत्रं ददर्श ह।

tataḥ putrārthinī devī vrīḍitā sā tapasvinī| aṁḍaṁ bibheda vinatā tatra putraṁ dadarśa ha||

Then that devout woman, longing for a son and ashamed of the delay, broke open one egg, and there she beheld a son.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.147.14)

पूर्वार्द्धकायसंपन्नमितरेणाप्रकाशितम्। स पुत्रो रोषसंरब्धः शशापैनामिति श्रुतम्।

pūrvārddhakāyasaṁpannamitareṇāprakāśitam| sa putro roṣasaṁrabdhaḥ śaśāpaināmiti śrutam||

That son was fully formed in the front half of his body, but the rest remained undeveloped, unrevealed. In fury, that son, it is heard, cursed his mother thus.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.147.15)

योऽहमेवं कृतो मातस्त्वया लोभपरीतया। शरीरेणासमग्रेण तस्माद्दासी भविष्यसि।

yo'hamevaṁ kṛto mātastvayā lobhaparītayā| śarīreṇāsamagreṇa tasmāddāsī bhaviṣyasi||

"O mother, since, overcome by greed, you have thus caused me to be born with an incomplete body, therefore you shall become a slave.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.147.16)

पंचवर्षशतान्यस्या यया विस्पर्द्धसे सदा। एष ते च सुतो मातर्दास्याद्वै मोक्षयिष्यति।

paṁcavarṣaśatānyasyā yayā vispardhase sadā| eṣa te ca suto mātardāsyādvai mokṣayiṣyati||

For five hundred years you shall serve her whom you have always rivalled. But this other son of yours, O mother, shall indeed free you from that servitude.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.147.17)

यद्येनमपि मातस्त्वं मामिवांडविभेदनात्। न करिष्यस्यनंगं वा पुत्रं चातितरस्विनम्।

yadyenamapi mātastvaṁ māmivāṁḍavibhedanāt| na kariṣyasyanaṁgaṁ vā putraṁ cātitarasvinam||

But if you, O mother, do not, as with me, break open this egg and thereby maim this exceedingly powerful son —

Verse 18 (skanda.5.147.18)

प्रतिपालयितव्यस्ते जन्मकालोऽस्य धीरया। विशिष्टबलमीप्संत्या पंचवर्षशतान्यतः।

pratipālayitavyaste janmakālo'sya dhīrayā| viśiṣṭabalamīpsaṁtyā paṁcavarṣaśatānyataḥ||

then, remaining steadfast, desiring his extraordinary strength, you must patiently await his time of birth for another five hundred years.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.147.19)

एवं शप्त्वा ततो देवि विनतां मातरं स्वकम्। अरुणो विललापाथ वाष्पशोकपरिप्लुतः।

evaṁ śaptvā tato devi vinatāṁ mātaraṁ svakam| aruṇo vilalāpātha vāṣpaśokapariplutaḥ||

Having thus cursed his own mother Vinata, O goddess, Aruna then began to weep, overwhelmed with tears and grief.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.147.20)

हाहा मया नृशंसेन माता स्वजननी स्वका। शप्ता विनापराधेन कथं यास्यामि सद्गतिम्। माता देहारणिः पुंसां माता दुःखसहा परा।

hāhā mayā nṛśaṁsena mātā svajananī svakā| śaptā vināparādhena kathaṁ yāsyāmi sadgatim| mātā dehāraṇiḥ puṁsāṁ mātā duḥkhasahā parā||

"Alas, cruel that I am, I have cursed my own birth-mother without any fault of hers. How shall I ever attain a good state hereafter? A mother is the very kindling-stick from which a man's body is born; a mother endures supreme sorrow for her child.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.147.21)

गर्भक्लेशे परं दुःखं माता जानाति यादृशम्। वात्सल्यं चाधिकं मातुर्दृश्यते न तु पैतृकम्।

garbhakleśe paraṁ duḥkhaṁ mātā jānāti yādṛśam| vātsalyaṁ cādhikaṁ māturdṛśyate na tu paitṛkam||

The supreme suffering that a mother knows in the pain of pregnancy is known to no one else. A mother's tender love is seen to exceed even a father's.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.147.22)

गुरूणामेव सर्वेषां माता गुरुतरा स्मृता। एकस्यापि सुतस्यैव न दृष्टा निष्कृतिः श्रुतौ।

gurūṇāmeva sarveṣāṁ mātā gurutarā smṛtā| ekasyāpi sutasyaiva na dṛṣṭā niṣkṛtiḥ śrutau||

Among all one's elders, the mother is remembered as the most venerable. Nowhere in scripture is any means of atonement found for even a single son who wrongs his mother.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.147.23)

यदि पिंडप्रदानं तु गयायां कुरुते सुतः। गते पितरि पंचत्वं माता पुत्रस्य निर्वृतिः। न च मातृविहीनस्य ममत्वं कुरुते पिता।

yadi piṁḍapradānaṁ tu gayāyāṁ kurute sutaḥ| gate pitari paṁcatvaṁ mātā putrasya nirvṛtiḥ| na ca mātṛvihīnasya mamatvaṁ kurute pitā||

If, after the father's passing, a son offers the funeral rice-balls at Gaya, it is the mother who becomes the source of the son's peace. And a father does not feel the same tenderness for a son bereft of his mother.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.147.24)

विकलो मातृहीनस्तु पुत्रो हि प्रोच्यते तदा। यदा स वृद्धो भवति तदा भवति दुःखितः। तदा शून्यं जगत्सर्वं यदा माता वियुज्यते।

vikalo mātṛhīnastu putro hi procyate tadā| yadā sa vṛddho bhavati tadā bhavati duḥkhitaḥ| tadā śūnyaṁ jagatsarvaṁ yadā mātā viyujyate||

A son bereft of his mother is then called maimed indeed. When such a one grows old, he becomes ever more sorrowful; when a mother is lost, the whole world becomes empty.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.147.25)

सोऽहं पापसमाचारो जातो मातृविहिंसकः। मरिष्यामि न संदेहः साधयित्वा हुताशनम्।

so'haṁ pāpasamācāro jāto mātṛvihiṁsakaḥ| mariṣyāmi na saṁdehaḥ sādhayitvā hutāśanam||

I am that sinner who has become the tormentor of his own mother. Without doubt, I shall die, entering into the sacred fire.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.147.26)

जातोऽहं विकलांगस्तु प्राक्कृतेनैव कर्मणा। न माता कारणं यस्मात्स्वकीयं कर्म भुज्यते।

jāto'haṁ vikalāṁgastu prākkṛtenaiva karmaṇā| na mātā kāraṇaṁ yasmātsvakīyaṁ karma bhujyate||

It was through my own past deeds that I was born maimed; my mother is not the cause, for each being reaps only what his own actions have sown."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.147.27)

एवं विलपतस्तस्य कश्यपस्य सुतस्य च। अरुणस्य विशालाक्षि नारदः समुपागतः।

evaṁ vilapatastasya kaśyapasya sutasya ca| aruṇasya viśālākṣi nāradaḥ samupāgataḥ||

O wide-eyed one, while Kashyapa's son Aruna thus lamented, Narada came to him.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.147.28)

दृष्ट्वारुणं सुदुःखार्त्तं विलपंतं पुनःपुनः। प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा नारदः प्रहसन्निव।

dṛṣṭvāruṇaṁ suduḥkhārttaṁ vilapaṁtaṁ punaḥpunaḥ| pratyuvāca prasannātmā nāradaḥ prahasanniva||

Seeing Aruna sorely distressed and lamenting again and again, Narada, of cheerful disposition, replied to him, as if smiling.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.147.29)

अरुणोऽयमहो रौति कश्यपस्यात्मसंभवः। विनतायाः सुतो ज्येष्ठः संभूतस्तपसां निधिः।

aruṇo'yamaho rauti kaśyapasyātmasaṁbhavaḥ| vinatāyāḥ suto jyeṣṭhaḥ saṁbhūtastapasāṁ nidhiḥ||

(Narada thought:) "Why does this Aruna, own son of Kashyapa, eldest son of Vinata, born as a treasury of austerity, weep so?

Verse 30 (skanda.5.147.30)

उत्पादितोऽयमल्पाहैरर्द्धकायो महाबलः। एनमाश्वासयिष्यामि विनतागर्भसंभवम्। मोहेन विलपंतं च श्रेयो मे भविता धुवम्।

utpādito'yamalpāhairardddhakāyo mahābalaḥ| enamāśvāsayiṣyāmi vinatāgarbhasaṁbhavam| mohena vilapaṁtaṁ ca śreyo me bhavitā dhuvam||

born prematurely, half-formed in body yet mighty — I shall comfort this son born of Vinata's womb, weeping in delusion; surely that will be my own good fortune."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.147.31)

इति संचिंत्य मनसि वाक्यैर्मध्वमृतोपमैः। प्रत्युवाचारुणं तत्र नारदो द्विजसत्तमः।

iti saṁciṁtya manasi vākyairmadhvamṛtopamaiḥ| pratyuvācāruṇaṁ tatra nārado dvijasattamaḥ||

Thus reflecting within his mind, Narada, foremost of brahmins, addressed Aruna there with words as sweet as honey and nectar.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.147.32)

तात कश्यपदायाद विनतागर्भसंभव। तेजोराशे दुराधर्ष संतापं मा कृथा वृथा।

tāta kaśyapadāyāda vinatāgarbhasaṁbhava| tejorāśe durādharṣa saṁtāpaṁ mā kṛthā vṛthā||

"O son, heir of Kashyapa, born of Vinata's womb, O mass of splendour, unassailable one — do not grieve in vain.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.147.33)

भाविनोऽर्था भवंतीह दुःखस्य च सुखस्य च। यत्त्वया विनता शप्ता रहस्यं देवनिर्मितम्।

bhāvino'rthā bhavaṁtīha duḥkhasya ca sukhasya ca| yattvayā vinatā śaptā rahasyaṁ devanirmitam||

The causes of sorrow and of joy in this world are alike foreordained. The curse you have laid upon Vinata is itself a mystery fashioned by the gods.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.147.34)

यदि तेस्ति घृणा चित्ते शप्तात्मजननी त्वया। तदा गच्छ ममादेशान्महाकालवनं शुभम्।

yadi teasti ghṛṇā citte śaptātmajananī tvayā| tadā gaccha mamādeśānmahākālavanaṁ śubham||

If your heart feels compassion for the mother whom you have cursed, then go, by my instruction, to the auspicious Mahakalavana.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.147.35)

उत्तरे देवदेवस्य यात्रेशस्य च पुण्यदम्। विद्यते त्रिदशैः पूज्यं सर्वदा सर्वदं शिवम्।

uttare devadevasya yātreśasya ca puṇyadam| vidyate tridaśaiḥ pūjyaṁ sarvadā sarvadaṁ śivam||

North of the god of gods, Yatresha, there stands a meritorious, all-bestowing Shiva-linga, ever worshipped by the gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.147.36)

अरुणस्त्वेवमुक्तस्तु नारदेन महात्मना। आजगाम क्षणार्द्धेन महाकालवनं शुभम्।

aruṇastvevamuktastu nāradena mahātmanā| ājagāma kṣaṇārddhena mahākālavanaṁ śubham||

Thus told by the great-souled Narada, Aruna arrived at the auspicious Mahakalavana in but half a moment.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.147.37)

ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं तेजःकूटोपमं शुभम्। पूजयामास विधिवत्पुष्पैर्भावसमन्वितः।

dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ tejaḥkūṭopamaṁ śubham| pūjayāmāsa vidhivatpuṣpairbhāvasamanvitaḥ||

There he beheld that auspicious linga, resembling a very mountain of splendour, and worshipped it duly with flowers and heartfelt devotion.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.147.38)

लिंगेनोक्तोऽरुणो देवि सारथ्यं कुरु सर्वदा। सूर्यस्य भ्रमतस्तस्य त्वत्तुल्यो नास्ति सारथिः।

liṁgenokto'ruṇo devi sārathyaṁ kuru sarvadā| sūryasya bhramatastasya tvattulyo nāsti sārathiḥ||

O goddess, the linga said to Aruna: "Become always the charioteer of the Sun; there is no charioteer equal to you for that wandering deity.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.147.39)

मया दत्तं तु सामर्थ्यं सूर्यस्य पुरतः सदा। उदयस्तेऽरुण प्राग्वै पश्चात्सूर्य उदेष्यति।

mayā dattaṁ tu sāmarthyaṁ sūryasya purataḥ sadā| udayaste'ruṇa prāgvai paścātsūrya udeṣyati||

By the power I bestow upon you, you shall ever go before the Sun. O Aruna, you shall rise first, and afterward the Sun shall rise.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.147.40)

त्वन्नाम्ना त्रिषु लोकेषु ख्यातोऽहमरुणेश्वरः। भविष्यामि न संदेहो नृणामर्थप्रदायकः।

tvannāmnā triṣu lokeṣu khyāto'hamaruṇeśvaraḥ| bhaviṣyāmi na saṁdeho nṛṇāmarthapradāyakaḥ||

By your very name I shall become renowned in the three worlds as Aruneshvara, and shall surely become the bestower of prosperity upon men.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.147.41)

ये मां पश्यंति सततं त्वन्नाम्ना चारुणेश्वरम्। ते यास्यंति परं स्थानं दाहप्रलयवर्जितम्।

ye māṁ paśyaṁti satataṁ tvannāmnā cāruṇeśvaram| te yāsyaṁti paraṁ sthānaṁ dāhapralayavarjitam||

Those who ever behold me, called Aruneshvara by your name, attain that supreme abode, free from destruction and dissolution.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.147.42)

मोदिष्यंति कुलैः सार्द्धं पितृमातृसमुद्भवैः। कल्पकोटिसहस्रं तु ये पश्यंति समाहिताः।

modiṣyaṁti kulaiḥ sārddhaṁ pitṛmātṛsamudbhavaiḥ| kalpakoṭisahasraṁ tu ye paśyaṁti samāhitāḥ||

Those who, with a composed and focused mind, behold me shall rejoice, together with their paternal and maternal lineages, for a thousand million kalpas.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.147.43)

न दुःखं जायते तेषां ये पश्यंति रवेर्द्दिने। संसारसागरोत्थं वै यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश।

na duḥkhaṁ jāyate teṣāṁ ye paśyaṁti raverddine| saṁsārasāgarotthaṁ vai yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa||

Those who behold me on Sunday shall not experience the suffering arising from the ocean of worldly existence, for the duration of fourteen Indras' reigns.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.147.44)

यः पश्यति चतुर्दश्यां कृष्णायामरुणेश्वरम्।

yaḥ paśyati caturdaśyāṁ kṛṣṇāyāmaruṇeśvaram||

Whoever beholds Aruneshvara on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight —

Verse 45 (skanda.5.147.45)

स नेष्यति पितॄन्स्वर्गे नरकस्थान्न संशयः। संक्रांतौ रविवारे च यः पश्येदरुणेश्वरम्। शुंडीरस्वामिनो यात्रा कृता तेन न संशयः।

sa neṣyati pitṝnsvarge narakasthānna saṁśayaḥ| saṁkrāṁtau ravivāre ca yaḥ paśyedaruṇeśvaram| śuṁḍīrasvāminoyātrā kṛtā tena na saṁśayaḥ||

leads even his ancestors, though dwelling in hell, up to heaven, without doubt. Whoever beholds Aruneshvara at the solstice-transition and on a Sunday has thereby, without doubt, already accomplished the pilgrimage to Shundirasvamin as well.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.147.46)

इत्युक्तस्तेन लिंगेन विनतानंदनस्तदा। आगतः कृतकृत्यात्मा यत्र देवो दिवस्पतिः।

ityuktastena liṁgena vinatānaṁdanastadā| āgataḥ kṛtakṛtyātmā yatra devo divaspatiḥ||

Thus told by that linga, Vinata's son, his purpose now fulfilled, came to where the god, lord of the sky, dwelt.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.147.47)

अस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यात्कश्यपस्यात्मसंभवः। अरुणो दृश्यते व्योम्नि सूर्यस्य पुरतः सदा।

asya liṁgasya māhātmyātkaśyapasyātmasaṁbhavaḥ| aruṇo dṛśyate vyomni sūryasya purataḥ sadā||

By the greatness of this linga, Kashyapa's son Aruna is ever seen in the sky, going before the Sun.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.147.48)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। अरुणेश्वरदेवस्य पुष्पवंतेश्वरं शृणु।

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| aruṇeśvaradevasya puṣpavaṁteśvaraṁ śṛṇu||

Thus, O goddess, I have told you the sin-destroying greatness of the god Aruneshvara; now hear of Pushpavanteshvara.