The Glory of Ekanamsha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.18.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एकानंशां नमस्कृत्य देवीं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुताम्। पूजां कृत्वा विधानेन सर्वसिद्धिफलं लभेत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| ekānaṁśāṁ namaskṛtya devīṁ trailokyaviśrutām| pūjāṁ kṛtvā vidhānena sarvasiddhiphalaṁ labhet

Sanatkumara said: Having saluted the goddess Ekanamsha, renowned throughout the three worlds, and having worshipped her according to rule, one obtains the fruit of every accomplishment.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.18.2)

अणिमादिगुणान्सर्वान्गुटिकासिद्धिमंजनम्। खड्गं च पादुके चैव विलवासं रसायनम्। सर्वं तुष्टा प्रयच्छेत नात्र कार्या विचारणा

aṇimādiguṇānsarvānguṭikāsiddhimaṁjanam| khaḍgaṁ ca pāduke caiva vilavāsaṁ rasāyanam| sarvaṁ tuṣṭā prayaccheta nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Every power beginning with Anima, the accomplishment of the wonder-pill, the collyrium, the sword, the sandals, dwelling at will, and the elixir of rejuvenation—all of this, when pleased, that goddess grants; no doubt need be entertained here.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.18.3)

सुरामांसोपहारैश्च भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च पूजिता। सर्वान्कामान्नृणां देवी तुष्टा दद्याच्च सर्वदा

surāmāṁsopahāraiśca bhakṣyabhojyaiśca pūjitā| sarvānkāmānnṛṇāṁ devī tuṣṭā dadyācca sarvadā

Worshipped with offerings of liquor and meat, and with food and drink, the goddess, when pleased, ever grants to men all that they desire.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.18.4)

महानवम्यां यो देवीं महिषेण प्रपूजयेत्। मेषेण वा यथालाभं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुया त्

mahānavamyāṁ yo devīṁ mahiṣeṇa prapūjayet| meṣeṇa vā yathālābhaṁ sarvānkāmānavāpnuyā t

Whoever, on Mahanavami, worships the goddess with a buffalo, or with a ram as may be obtained, attains all his desires.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.18.5)

व्यास उवाच। कथं देवी समुत्पन्ना एकानंशेति विश्रुता। तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी

vyāsa uvāca| kathaṁ devī samutpannā ekānaṁśeti viśrutā| tatsarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi sarvapāpapraṇāśinī

Vyasa said: How did that goddess renowned by the name Ekanamsha come into being? I wish to hear all of it—she who is the destroyer of every sin.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.18.6)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। निशां सस्मार भगवान्स्वां तनूं पूर्वसंभवाम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| purā kṛtayugasyādau brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| niśāṁ sasmāra bhagavānsvāṁ tanūṁ pūrvasaṁbhavām

Sanatkumara said: Formerly, at the beginning of the Krita age, the blessed Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, remembered his own former form, Night.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.18.7)

ततो भगवती रात्रिरुपतस्थे पितामहम्। तां विविक्ते समालोक्य ब्रह्मोवाच विभावरीम्

tato bhagavatī rātrirupatasthe pitāmaham| tāṁ vivikte samālokya brahmovāca vibhāvarīm

Then the blessed Night presented herself before the Grandsire; and beholding her alone in solitude, Brahma spoke to that Vibhavari.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.18.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच। विभावरी महामाये विबुधानामुपस्थितम्। यत्कर्तव्यं त्वया देवि शृणु चार्थस्य निश्चयम्

brahmovāca| vibhāvarī mahāmāye vibudhānāmupasthitam| yatkartavyaṁ tvayā devi śṛṇu cārthasya niścayam

Brahma said: O Vibhavari, O great illusion, hear now the resolve of the matter—what is presently needed by the wise gods, and the task, O goddess, that must be done by you.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.18.9)

तारकोनाम दैत्येंद्रः सुरशत्रुरनिर्जितः। तस्य भयेन वै देवास्त्रस्ताः सर्वे दिवौकसः

tārakonāma daityeṁdraḥ suraśatruranirjitaḥ| tasya bhayena vai devāstrastāḥ sarve divaukasaḥ

There is a lord of demons named Taraka, an unconquered enemy of the gods; from fear of him all the celestial gods are terrified.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.18.10)

तस्माद्भद्रे महेशो वै जनयिष्यति चेद्वरम्। सुतं स भविता तस्य तारकस्यांतकः किल

tasmādbhadre maheśo vai janayiṣyati cedvaram| sutaṁ sa bhavitā tasya tārakasyāṁtakaḥ kila

Therefore, O gracious one, should Mahesha beget a son, that son shall indeed become the destroyer of that Taraka.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.18.11)

शंकरम्याभवत्पत्नी सती दक्षसुता तु या। सा पितुः कुपिता भद्रे कस्मिंश्चित्कारणांतरे

śaṁkaramyābhavatpatnī satī dakṣasutā tu yā| sā pituḥ kupitā bhadre kasmiṁścitkāraṇāṁtare

She who was Sati, daughter of Daksha, and had become the wife of Shankara—she, O gracious one, grew angry at her father for some particular reason...

Verse 12 (skanda.5.18.12)

भवित्री हिमशैलस्य दुहिता लोकपावनी। विरहेण हरस्तस्या मत्वा शून्यंजगत्त्रयम्

bhavitrī himaśailasya duhitā lokapāvanī| viraheṇa harastasyā matvā śūnyaṁjagattrayam

...she shall become the daughter of the Himalaya, the purifier of the world; and Hara, deeming the three worlds empty through separation from her...

Verse 13 (skanda.5.18.13)

अतपद्धिमशैलस्य कंदरे सिद्धसेविते। प्रतीक्षमाणस्तज्जन्म किंचित्कालं वसिष्यति

atapaddhimaśailasya kaṁdare siddhasevite| pratīkṣamāṇastajjanma kiṁcitkālaṁ vasiṣyati

...shall practise austerity in a cave of the Himalaya frequented by Siddhas; and, awaiting her birth, shall dwell there for some time.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.18.14)

तस्मात्सुतप्ततपसोर्भविता यो महाप्रभुः। स भविष्यति दैत्यस्य तारकस्य निवारकः

tasmātsutaptatapasorbhavitā yo mahāprabhuḥ| sa bhaviṣyati daityasya tārakasya nivārakaḥ

From the intense austerity of those two, the mighty Lord who shall be born shall become the restrainer of the demon Taraka.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.18.15)

जातमात्रा तु सा देवी स्वल्पसंज्ञैव भामिनी। विरहोत्कंठिता गाढं हरसंगमलालसा

jātamātrā tu sā devī svalpasaṁjñaiva bhāminī| virahotkaṁṭhitā gāḍhaṁ harasaṁgamalālasā

That goddess, though newly born and still of feeble consciousness, that lovely one, shall be intensely longing in her separation, eager for union with Hara.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.18.16)

तयोः सुतप्ततपसोः संयोगः स्यात्सुयुक्तयोः। पार्वतीहरयोस्तस्मात्सुरतं शक्तिकारणम्

tayoḥ sutaptatapasoḥ saṁyogaḥ syātsuyuktayoḥ| pārvatīharayostasmātsurataṁ śaktikāraṇam

Those two, their austerities intensely matched and well joined, shall come together; and that union of Parvati and Hara shall become the cause of a great power.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.18.17)

भवेत्तत्र सुराणां च कार्यार्थे विप्रमाचर। विघ्नं त्वया विधातव्यं यथा ताभ्यां तथा शृणु

bhavettatra surāṇāṁ ca kāryārthe vipramācara| vighnaṁ tvayā vidhātavyaṁ yathā tābhyāṁ tathā śṛṇu

There, for the sake of the gods' purpose, act with discretion; an obstacle is to be created by you between the two of them—hear how.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.18.18)

गर्भस्थानेऽथ तां मातः स्वेन रूपेण रंजय। ततो रहसि शर्वस्तां बिभ्रदानंदपूर्वकम्

garbhasthāne'tha tāṁ mātaḥ svena rūpeṇa raṁjaya| tato rahasi śarvastāṁ bibhradānaṁdapūrvakam

O mother, then, at the moment of union, delight her with your own form; then, in secret, Sharva, holding her with joy...

Verse 19 (skanda.5.18.19)

हासयिष्यति कालीति ततः सा कुपिता सती। प्रयास्यति तपः कर्तुं ततः सा तपसा युता

hāsayiṣyati kālīti tataḥ sā kupitā satī| prayāsyati tapaḥ kartuṁ tataḥ sā tapasā yutā

...shall cause her to laugh, calling her 'Kali'; then Sati, offended, shall go to perform austerity; and she, given over to that austerity...

Verse 20 (skanda.5.18.20)

जनयिष्यति यं शर्वादिंदुवज्ज्योतिमंड लम्। स भविष्यति हंता वै सुरारीणां न संशयः

janayiṣyati yaṁ śarvādiṁduvajjyotimaṁḍa lam| sa bhaviṣyati haṁtā vai surārīṇāṁ na saṁśayaḥ

...shall bring forth from Sharva a disc of light like the moon; and that son shall indeed become, without doubt, the slayer of the enemies of the gods.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.18.21)

त्वयापि दानवा देवि हंतव्या लोकदुर्जयाः। यावच्च न सती देहे संक्रांतगुणसंचया

tvayāpi dānavā devi haṁtavyā lokadurjayāḥ| yāvacca na satī dehe saṁkrāṁtaguṇasaṁcayā

You too, O goddess, must slay the demons unconquerable by the world, for so long as Sati's body has not yet received that accumulated store of power...

Verse 22 (skanda.5.18.22)

तत्संगमेन तावत्त्वं दैत्यान्हंतुं भविष्यसि। एवं कृते त्वया देवि तपः काली करिष्यति

tatsaṁgamena tāvattvaṁ daityānhaṁtuṁ bhaviṣyasi| evaṁ kṛte tvayā devi tapaḥ kālī kariṣyati

...until then, through union with him, you shall be able to slay the demons. When you have done this, O goddess, Kali shall undertake her austerity.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.18.23)

समाप्तनियमा सा च यदा गौरी भविष्यति। तदा तवापि सारूप्यं शैलजा संप्रदास्यति

samāptaniyamā sā ca yadā gaurī bhaviṣyati| tadā tavāpi sārūpyaṁ śailajā saṁpradāsyati

And when she, her vow completed, becomes Gauri, then the mountain's daughter shall grant you too a form equal to her own.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.18.24)

ततस्तवापि सहजा सैकानंशा भविष्यति। रूपांशेन च संयुक्ता त्वमुमाख्या भविष्यसि

tatastavāpi sahajā saikānaṁśā bhaviṣyati| rūpāṁśena ca saṁyuktā tvamumākhyā bhaviṣyasi

Then you too shall become her own sister, called Ekanamsha; and, joined with a portion of her form, you shall become renowned by the name Uma.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.18.25)

एकानंशेति लोकस्त्वां वरदे पूजयिष्यति। भेदैर्बहुविधाकारैः सर्वगां कामसाधनीम्। ॐकारवक्त्रा गायत्री त्वमेव ब्रह्मवादिनी। आक्रांतरुचिराकारा राज्ञां चाहवशालिनी

ekānaṁśeti lokastvāṁ varade pūjayiṣyati| bhedairbahuvidhākāraiḥ sarvagāṁ kāmasādhanīm| ॐkāravaktrā gāyatrī tvameva brahmavādinī| ākrāṁtarucirākārā rājñāṁ cāhavaśālinī

Under the name Ekanamsha, O boon-giver, the world shall worship you; all-pervading, in many kinds and manifold forms, the accomplisher of every desire. As Gayatri, whose mouth is the syllable Om, you alone are the speaker of Brahman; of surpassing, lovely form, and the giver of victory in battle to kings.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.18.26)

विशां त्वं कमलादेवी शूद्राणां जननी स्वयम्। ज्ञानिनां ज्ञेयरूपा त्वं त्वं गतिः सर्वदेहिनाम्

viśāṁ tvaṁ kamalādevī śūdrāṇāṁ jananī svayam| jñānināṁ jñeyarūpā tvaṁ tvaṁ gatiḥ sarvadehinām

To the Vaishyas you are the goddess Kamala; to the Shudras you are yourself their mother; to the wise you are the very form to be known; you are the destiny of every embodied being.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.18.27)

त्वं च कीर्तिमतां कीर्तिस्त्वं भूतिः सर्वदेहिनाम्। रतिदा रक्तचित्तानां प्रीतिस्त्वं स्नेहवर्तिनाम्

tvaṁ ca kīrtimatāṁ kīrtistvaṁ bhūtiḥ sarvadehinām| ratidā raktacittānāṁ prītistvaṁ snehavartinām

You are the fame of the famous, and the prosperity of all embodied beings; the giver of delight to those whose hearts are enamoured, and the very affection of those bound in love.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.18.28)

त्वं कांतिः कृतभूषाणां त्वं शांतिर्हृष्टकर्मणाम्। त्वं च भ्रांतिरबोधानां त्वं कीर्तिः क्रमयाजिनाम्

tvaṁ kāṁtiḥ kṛtabhūṣāṇāṁ tvaṁ śāṁtirhṛṣṭakarmaṇām| tvaṁ ca bhrāṁtirabodhānāṁ tvaṁ kīrtiḥ kramayājinām

You are the beauty of the adorned, the peace of those whose deeds bring delight; you are also the delusion of the unaware, and the fame of those who sacrifice in due order.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.18.29)

महावेला समुद्राणां विलासस्त्वं विलासिनाम्। संभूतिस्त्वं पदार्थानां स्थितिस्त्वं लोकशालिनाम्

mahāvelā samudrāṇāṁ vilāsastvaṁ vilāsinām| saṁbhūtistvaṁ padārthānāṁ sthitistvaṁ lokaśālinām

You are the great tide of the oceans, the pleasure of those who take pleasure; you are the origin of all things, and the stability of those who sustain the world.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.18.30)

इत्यनेकविधैर्देवि रूपैर्लोकेषु चर्चिता। ये त्वां पश्यंति वरदे पूजयिष्यंति चापि ये। कामा नाप्स्यंति ते सर्वे नियतं नात्र संशयः

ityanekavidhairdevi rūpairlokeṣu carcitā| ye tvāṁ paśyaṁti varade pūjayiṣyaṁti cāpi ye| kāmā nāpsyaṁti te sarve niyataṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

Thus, O goddess, are you worshipped in the worlds under many kinds of forms; and, O boon-giver, those who behold you, and those who worship you as well, shall all surely attain their desires—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.18.31)

इत्येवं सा समुत्पन्ना ब्रह्मणा संस्तुता सती। एकानंशा महादेवी ध्यातव्या सापि भक्तितः

ityevaṁ sā samutpannā brahmaṇā saṁstutā satī| ekānaṁśā mahādevī dhyātavyā sāpi bhaktitaḥ

Thus, praised by Brahma, did that Sati come into being; and that great goddess Ekanamsha too is worthy of devout meditation.