The Glory of Meghanada Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.190.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। जलमध्ये महादेवः केन तिष्ठति हेतुना। उत्तरं दक्षिणं कूलं वर्जयित्वा द्विजोत्तम

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| jalamadhye mahādevaḥ kena tiṣṭhati hetunā| uttaraṁ dakṣiṇaṁ kūlaṁ varjayitvā dvijottama

Yudhishthira said: O best of the twice-born, for what reason does Mahadeva stand in the middle of the water, forsaking both the northern and southern banks?

Verse 2 (skanda.5.190.2)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। एतदाख्यानमतुलं पुण्यं श्रुतिमुखावहम्। पुराणे यच्छ्रुतं तात तत्ते वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| etadākhyānamatulaṁ puṇyaṁ śrutimukhāvaham| purāṇe yacchrutaṁ tāta tatte vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ

Shri Markandeya said: This unequalled and sacred tale is worthy of being heard; O child, whatever I have heard in the Purana, I shall tell you in full.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.190.3)

त्रेतायुगे महाभाग रावणो देवकण्टकः। त्रैलोक्यविजयी रौद्रः सुरासुरभयंकरः

tretāyuge mahābhāga rāvaṇo devakaṇṭakaḥ| trailokyavijayī raudraḥ surāsurabhayaṁkaraḥ

O illustrious one, in the Treta Yuga, Ravana was a thorn to the gods — a fierce conqueror of the three worlds, terrifying to both gods and demons.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.190.4)

देवदानवगन्धर्वैरृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः। अवध्योऽथ विमानेन यावत्पर्यटते महीम्

devadānavagandharvairṛṣibhiśca tapodhanaiḥ| avadhyo'tha vimānena yāvatparyaṭate mahīm

Unslayable by gods, danavas, gandharvas, or ascetic sages, he would roam the earth in his aerial chariot.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.190.5)

तावद्विन्ध्यगिरेर्मध्ये दानवो बलदर्पितः। मयो नामेति विख्यातो गुहावासी तपश्चरन्

tāvadvindhyagirermadhye dānavo baladarpitaḥ| mayo nāmeti vikhyāto guhāvāsī tapaścaran

At that time, in the middle of the Vindhya mountains, a danava renowned by the name Maya, proud of his strength, dwelt in a cave performing austerities.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.190.6)

तस्य पार्श्वगतो रक्षो विनयादवनिं गतः। पूजितो दानसन्मानैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

tasya pārśvagato rakṣo vinayādavaniṁ gataḥ| pūjito dānasanmānairidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Coming to his side, the rakshasa humbly bowed to the ground, and being honoured with gifts and reverence, spoke these words.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.190.7)

कस्येयं पद्मपत्राक्षी पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना। किंनामधेया तपति तप उग्रं कथं विभो

kasyeyaṁ padmapatrākṣī pūrṇacandranibhānanā| kiṁnāmadheyā tapati tapa ugraṁ kathaṁ vibho

O lord, whose is this maiden with lotus-petal eyes and a face like the full moon? What is her name, and why does she perform such fierce austerity?

Verse 8 (skanda.5.190.8)

मय उवाच। दानवानां पतिः श्रेष्ठो मयोऽहं नाम नामतः। भार्या तेजोवती नाम तस्यास्तु तनया शुभा

maya uvāca| dānavānāṁ patiḥ śreṣṭho mayo'haṁ nāma nāmataḥ| bhāryā tejovatī nāma tasyāstu tanayā śubhā

Maya said: I am called Maya, foremost among the danavas. My wife's name is Tejovati, and this is her auspicious daughter.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.190.9)

मन्दोदरीति विख्याता तपते भर्तृकारणात्। आराधयन्ती भर्तारमुमाया दयितं शुभम्

mandodarīti vikhyātā tapate bhartṛkāraṇāt| ārādhayantī bhartāramumāyā dayitaṁ śubham

Known as Mandodari, she performs austerities for the sake of a husband, worshipping the auspicious, beloved consort of Uma.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.190.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य रावणो मदमोहितः। प्रसृतः प्रणतो भूत्वा मयं वचनमब्रवीत्

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya rāvaṇo madamohitaḥ| prasṛtaḥ praṇato bhūtvā mayaṁ vacanamabravīt

Hearing his words, Ravana, intoxicated with pride, came forward, and bowing humbly, spoke these words to Maya.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.190.11)

पौलस्त्यान्वयसंजातो देवदानवदर्पहा। प्रार्थयामि महाभाग सुतां त्वं दातुमर्हसि

paulastyānvayasañjāto devadānavadarpahā| prārthayāmi mahābhāga sutāṁ tvaṁ dātumarhasi

Born of the lineage of Pulastya, crusher of the pride of gods and danavas — O illustrious one, I entreat you: you should give me your daughter.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.190.12)

ज्ञात्वा पैतामहं वृत्तं मयेनापि महात्मना। रावणाय सुता दत्ता पूजयित्वा विधानतः

jñātvā paitāmahaṁ vṛttaṁ mayenāpi mahātmanā| rāvaṇāya sutā dattā pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ

Knowing his lineage connected to the grandsire Brahma, the great-souled Maya, having duly honoured him, gave his daughter to Ravana according to the proper rites.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.190.13)

गृहीत्वा तां तदा रक्षोऽभ्यर्च्यमानो निशाचरैः। देवोद्याने विमानैश्च क्रीडते स तया सह

gṛhītvā tāṁ tadā rakṣo'bhyarcyamāno niśācaraiḥ| devodyāne vimānaiśca krīḍate sa tayā saha

Having received her, the rakshasa, honoured by the night-wanderers, sported with her in the gardens of the gods and in aerial chariots.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.190.14)

केनचित्त्वथ कालेन रावणो लोकरावणः। पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठो जनयामास भारत

kenacittvatha kālena rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ| putraṁ putravatāṁ śreṣṭho janayāmāsa bhārata

O Bharata, after some time, Ravana, terror of the worlds, foremost among those blessed with sons, begot a son.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.190.15)

तेनैव जातमात्रेण रावो मुक्तो महात्मना। संवर्तकस्य मेघस्य तेन लोका जडीकृताः

tenaiva jātamātreṇa rāvo mukto mahātmanā| saṁvartakasya meghasya tena lokā jaḍīkṛtāḥ

The moment he was born, that great-souled child let out a roar like the world-dissolving storm-cloud, which stunned all the worlds into stillness.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.190.16)

श्रुत्वा तन्नर्दितं घोरं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। नाम चक्रे तदा तस्य मेघनादो भविष्यति

śrutvā tannarditaṁ ghoraṁ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| nāma cakre tadā tasya meghanādo bhaviṣyati

Hearing that terrible roar, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, then gave him his name: he shall be called Meghanada.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.190.17)

एवंनामा कृतः सोऽपि परमं व्रतमास्थितः। तोषयामास देवेशमुमया सह शङ्करम्

evaṁnāmā kṛtaḥ so'pi paramaṁ vratamāsthitaḥ| toṣayāmāsa deveśamumayā saha śaṅkaram

Bearing this name, he too undertook supreme vows, and pleased the lord of gods, Shankara, together with Uma.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.190.18)

व्रतैर्नियमदानैश्च होमजाप्यविधानतः। कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणैर्नित्यं कृशं कुर्वन्कलेवरम्

vratairniyamadānaiśca homajāpyavidhānataḥ| kṛcchracāndrāyaṇairnityaṁ kṛśaṁ kurvankalevaram

Through vows, disciplines, gifts, the rites of oblation and recitation, and through the Krichchhra and Chandrayana fasts, he daily made his body lean.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.190.19)

एवमन्यद्दिने तात कैलासं धरणीधरम्। गत्वा लिङ्गद्वयं गृह्य प्रस्थितो दक्षिणामुखः

evamanyaddine tāta kailāsaṁ dharaṇīdharam| gatvā liṅgadvayaṁ gṛhya prasthito dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

O child, thus one day he went to Mount Kailasa, took two lingas, and set out facing southward.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.190.20)

नर्मदातटमाश्रित्य स्नातुकामो महाबलः। निक्षिप्य पूजयन् देवं कृतजाप्यो नरेश्वर

narmadātaṭamāśritya snātukāmo mahābalaḥ| nikṣipya pūjayan devaṁ kṛtajāpyo nareśvara

O lord of men, reaching the bank of the Narmada, that mighty one, desiring to bathe, set down the lingas, worshipped the god, and performed his recitations.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.190.21)

तत्रायतनावासेन स्नातो हुतहुताशनः। कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मानयित्वा निशाचरः

tatrāyatanāvāsena snāto hutahutāśanaḥ| kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṁ mānayitvā niśācaraḥ

There, having bathed by his sheltered abode and made offerings into the sacred fire, the night-wanderer, considering himself blessed with fulfilment,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.190.22)

गन्तुकामः परं मार्गं लङ्कायां नृपसत्तम। एकमुद्धरतो लिङ्गं प्रणतः सव्यपाणिना

gantukāmaḥ paraṁ mārgaṁ laṅkāyāṁ nṛpasattama| ekamuddharato liṅgaṁ praṇataḥ savyapāṇinā

O best of kings, wishing to proceed onward on the road to Lanka, he raised one linga with his left hand, having bowed to it.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.190.23)

द्वितीयं तु द्वितीयेन भक्त्या पौलस्त्यनन्दनः। तावदेव महालिङ्गं पतितं नर्मदांभसि

dvitīyaṁ tu dvitīyena bhaktyā paulastyanandanaḥ| tāvadeva mahāliṅgaṁ patitaṁ narmadāmbhasi

and with the other hand, devotedly, took up the second — but right then that great linga slipped from the grasp of Meghanada, descendant of Pulastya, and fell into the waters of the Narmada.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.190.24)

याहि याहीति चेत्युक्त्वा जलमध्ये प्रतिष्ठितः। नमित्वा रावणिस्तस्य देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः

yāhi yāhīti cetyuktvā jalamadhye pratiṣṭhitaḥ| namitvā rāvaṇistasya devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ

Saying "Go, go!" it settled fixed in the midst of the water; and Ravani (Meghanada) bowed to that supreme lord.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.190.25)

जगामाकाशमाविश्य पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः। तदा प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं मेघनादेति विश्रुतम्

jagāmākāśamāviśya pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ| tadā prabhṛti tattīrthaṁ meghanādeti viśrutam

He then departed, moving through the sky, honoured by the night-wanderers; and from that time onward, that tirtha became renowned as Meghanada.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.190.26)

पूर्वं तु गर्जनं नाम सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र यस्तु स्नानं समाचरेत्

pūrvaṁ tu garjanaṁ nāma sarvapāpakṣayaṁkaram| tasmiṁstīrthe tu rājendra yastu snānaṁ samācaret

Earlier its name was Garjana, "the Roaring", destroyer of all sins. O Rajendra, whoever performs a bath at that tirtha,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.190.27)

अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्। पिण्डदानं तु यः कुर्यात्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप

ahorātroṣito bhūtvā aśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet| piṇḍadānaṁ tu yaḥ kuryāttasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa

fasting there day and night, obtains the merit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. And O lord of men, whoever performs the pinda-offering at that tirtha,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.190.28)

यत्फलं सत्त्रयज्ञेन तद्भवेन्नात्र संशयः। तेन द्वादशवर्षाणि पितरः संप्रतर्पिताः

yatphalaṁ sattrayajñena tadbhavennātra saṁśayaḥ| tena dvādaśavarṣāṇi pitaraḥ saṁpratarpitāḥ

attains the fruit of a Sattra sacrifice, without doubt; through it, his ancestors are satisfied for twelve years.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.190.29)

यस्तु भोजयते विप्रं षड्रसात्रेन भारत। अक्षयपुण्यमाप्नोति तत्र तीर्थे नरोत्तम

yastu bhojayate vipraṁ ṣaḍrasātrena bhārata| akṣayapuṇyamāpnoti tatra tīrthe narottama

O Bharata, whoever feeds a brahmin with food of the six flavours there, O best of men, attains imperishable merit at that tirtha.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.190.30)

प्राणत्यागं तु यः कुर्याद्भावितो भावितात्मना। स वसेच्छाङ्करे लोके यावदा भूतसम्प्लवम्

prāṇatyāgaṁ tu yaḥ kuryādbhāvito bhāvitātmanā| sa vasecchāṅkare loke yāvadā bhūtasamplavam

Whoever, with a purified soul, gives up his life there, dwells in the world of Shankara until the dissolution of the universe.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.190.31)

एषा ते नरशार्दूल गर्जनोत्पत्तिरुत्तमा। कथिता स्नेहबन्धेन सर्वपापक्षयकरी

eṣā te naraśārdūla garjanotpattiruttamā| kathitā snehabandhena sarvapāpakṣayakarī

O tiger among men, this is the supreme origin-tale of Garjana, destroyer of every sin, told to you out of affection.