The Glory of Narmadeshvara Tirtha (the Pine Forest Episode)

Verse 1 (skanda.5.193.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र गुहावासीति चोत्तमम्। यत्र सिद्धो महादेवो गुहावासी समार्बुदम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gaccheta rājendra guhāvāsīti cottamam| yatra siddho mahādevo guhāvāsī samārbudam

Shri Markandeya said: O Rajendra, one should next go to the excellent Guhavasi tirtha, where, near Mount Arbuda, Mahadeva became established as Guhavasi, "the cave-dweller".

Verse 2 (skanda.5.193.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। केन कार्येण भो तात महादेवो जगद्गुरुः। गुहायामनयत्कालं सुदीर्घं द्विजसत्तम

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kena kāryeṇa bho tāta mahādevo jagadguruḥ| guhāyāmanayat kālaṁ sudīrghaṁ dvijasattama

Yudhishthira said: O father, for what purpose did Mahadeva, guru of the universe, spend so long a time in the cave, O best of the twice-born?

Verse 3 (skanda.5.193.3)

एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं कथयस्व ममानघ। श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं सर्वपरं कौतूहलं हि मे

etadvistarataḥ sarvaṁ kathayasva mamānagha| śrotumicchāmyahaṁ sarvaparaṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

O sinless one, tell me all this in full detail; I wish to hear it, for I am filled with the greatest curiosity.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.193.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। साधु प्रश्नो महाराज पृष्टो यो वै त्वयोत्तमः। पुराणे विस्तरो ह्यस्य न शक्यो हि मयाधुना

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| sādhu praśno mahārāja pṛṣṭo yo vai tvayottamaḥ| purāṇe vistaro hyasya na śakyo hi mayādhunā

Markandeya said: O great king, the question you have asked is excellent and worthy. Its full extent as told in the Purana is not something I can now recount in entirety.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.193.5)

कथितुं वृद्धभावत्वादतीतो बहुकालिकः। संक्षेपात्तेन ते तात कथयामि निबोध मे

kathituṁ vṛddhabhāvatvādatīto bahukālikaḥ| saṁkṣepāttena te tāta kathayāmi nibodha me

Because it belongs to a very ancient time and is a lengthy tale, I shall relate it to you in brief. O child, attend to me.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.193.6)

पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्नासीद्दारुवनं महत्। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानावल्ल्युपशोभितम्

purā kṛtayuge rājannāsīddāruvanaṁ mahat| nānādrumalatākīrṇaṁ nānāvallyupaśobhitam

O king, in ancient times, in the Krita Yuga, there existed the great Daruvana, the Pine Forest, filled with countless trees and creepers, adorned with various vines.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.193.7)

सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च गजैः खड्गैर्निषेवितम्। बहुपक्षियुतं दिव्यं यथा चैत्ररथं वनम्

siṁhavyāghravarāhaiśca gajaiḥ khaḍgairniṣevitam| bahupakṣiyutaṁ divyaṁ yathā caitrarathaṁ vanam

Frequented by lions, tigers, boars, elephants, and rhinoceroses, filled with many birds, that divine forest was like the celestial Chaitraratha grove.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.193.8)

तत्र केचिन्महाप्राज्ञा वसन्ति संशितव्रताः। वसन्ति परया भक्त्या चतुराश्रमभाविताः

tatra kecinmahāprājñā vasanti saṁśitavratāḥ| vasanti parayā bhaktyā caturāśramabhāvitāḥ

There dwelt certain highly wise men of severe vows, established in the four ashramas, living with supreme devotion.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.193.9)

ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो यतिस्तथा। स्वधर्मनिरताः सर्वे वाञ्छन्तः परमं पदम्

brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprastho yatistathā| svadharmaniratāḥ sarve vāñchantaḥ paramaṁ padam

Celibate students, householders, forest-dwellers, and renunciants — all were devoted to their own duties, aspiring to the supreme state.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.193.10)

तावद्वसन्तसमये कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे। विमानस्थो महादेवो गच्छन्वै ह्युमया सह

tāvadvasantasamaye kasmiṁścitkāraṇāntare| vimānastho mahādevo gacchanvai hyumayā saha

Meanwhile, once in the spring season, for some reason, Mahadeva, seated in his aerial chariot, was travelling along with Uma,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.193.11)

ददर्श तत्राश्रममृक्सामयजुर्नादितम्। अलक्ष्यागतनिर्गम्यं सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्

dadarśa tatrāśramamṛksāmayajurnāditam| alakṣyāgatanirgamyaṁ sarvapāpakṣayaṁkaram

he saw there that hermitage, resounding with the chant of the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas, entered and left unseen, destroyer of every sin.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.193.12)

तं दृष्ट्वा मुदिता देवी हर्षगद्गदया गिरा। पप्रच्छ देवदेवेशं शशाङ्ककृतभूषणम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā muditā devī harṣagadgadayā girā| papraccha devadeveśaṁ śaśāṅkakṛtabhūṣaṇam

Seeing it, the delighted goddess, her voice choked with joy, questioned the lord of gods who wears the crescent moon as his ornament.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.193.13)

देव्युवाच। कस्यायमाश्रमो देव वेदध्वनिनिनादितः। यं दृष्ट्वा क्षुत्पिपासाद्यैः श्रमैश्च परिहीयते

devyuvāca| kasyāyamāśramo deva vedadhvaninināditaḥ| yaṁ dṛṣṭvā kṣutpipāsādyaiḥ śramaiśca parihīyate

The Goddess said: O Lord, whose is this hermitage, resounding with Vedic recitation, at whose very sight hunger, thirst, and fatigue depart?

Verse 14 (skanda.5.193.14)

महेश्वर उवाच। किं त्वया न श्रुतं देवि महादारुवनं महत्। बहुविप्रजनो यत्र गृहधर्मेण वर्तते

maheśvara uvāca| kiṁ tvayā na śrutaṁ devi mahādāruvanaṁ mahat| bahuviprajano yatra gṛhadharmeṇa vartate

Maheshvara said: O Devi, have you not heard of the great Daruvana, the mighty forest, where many brahmins live according to householder duty?

Verse 15 (skanda.5.193.15)

अत्र यः स्त्रीजनः कश्चिद्भर्तृशुश्रूषणे रतः। नान्यो देवो न वै धर्मो ज्ञायते शैलनन्दिनि

atra yaḥ strījanaḥ kaścidbhartṛśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ| nānyo devo na vai dharmo jñāyate śailanandini

O daughter of the mountain, the women here are so devoted to serving their husbands that they know no other god or duty.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.193.16)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा परं वाक्यं देवदेवेन भाषितम्। कौतूहलसमाविष्टा शङ्करं पुनरब्रवीत्

etacchrutvā paraṁ vākyaṁ devadevena bhāṣitam| kautūhalasamāviṣṭā śaṅkaraṁ punarabravīt

Hearing this excellent statement spoken by the god of gods, the goddess, filled with curiosity, spoke again to Shankara.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.193.17)

यत्त्वयोक्तं महादेव पतिधर्मरताः स्त्रियः। तासां त्वं मदनो भूत्वा चारित्रं क्षोभय प्रभो

yattvayoktaṁ mahādeva patidharmaratāḥ striyaḥ| tāsāṁ tvaṁ madano bhūtvā cāritraṁ kṣobhaya prabho

O Mahadeva, since you have said these women are devoted to their duty toward their husbands — O lord, become Desire itself and disturb their virtue.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.193.18)

ईश्वर उवाच। यत्त्वयोक्तं च वचनं न हि मे रोचते प्रिये। ब्राह्मणा हि महद्भूतं न चैषां विप्रियं चरेत्

īśvara uvāca| yattvayoktaṁ ca vacanaṁ na hi me rocate priye| brāhmaṇā hi mahadbhūtaṁ na caiṣāṁ vipriyaṁ caret

Ishvara said: O beloved, what you have said does not please me; brahmins are a mighty force, and one should not act against their good.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.193.19)

मन्युप्रहरणा विप्राश्चक्रप्रहरणो हरिः। चक्रात्क्रूरतरो मन्युस्तस्माद्विप्रं न कोपयेत्

manyupraharaṇā viprāścakrapraharaṇo hariḥ| cakrātkrūrataro manyustasmādvipraṁ na kopayet

The weapon of brahmins is wrath, the weapon of Hari is the discus; but wrath is crueler than the discus, so one should never provoke a brahmin's anger.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.193.20)

न ते देवा न ते लोका न ते नगा न चासुराः। दृश्यन्ते त्रिषु लोकेषु ये तैर्दृष्टैर्न नाशिताः

na te devā na te lokā na te nagā na cāsurāḥ| dṛśyante triṣu lokeṣu ye tairdṛṣṭairna nāśitāḥ

In the three worlds, there is neither a god, a world, a mountain, nor an asura to be found which has not been destroyed once seen by their wrathful gaze.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.193.21)

तेषां मोक्षस्तथा स्वर्गो भूमिर्मर्त्ये फलानि च। येषां तुष्टा महाभागा ब्राह्मणाः क्षितिदेवताः

teṣāṁ mokṣastathā svargo bhūmirmartye phalāni ca| yeṣāṁ tuṣṭā mahābhāgā brāhmaṇāḥ kṣitidevatāḥ

Only those with whom the illustrious brahmins, gods upon earth, are pleased, attain liberation, heaven, and every fruit in the mortal world.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.193.22)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभागे असद्ग्राहं परित्यज। तत्र लोके विरुद्धं वै कुप्यन्ते येन वै द्विजाः

evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāge asadgrāhaṁ parityaja| tatra loke viruddhaṁ vai kupyante yena vai dvijāḥ

Knowing this, O illustrious one, abandon this wrongful obsession; do not act contrary to that community in a way that would provoke the twice-born to anger.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.193.23)

देव्युवाच। नाहं ते दयिता देव नाहं ते वशवर्तिनी। अकृत्वाधश्च वै तासां मानं सुरसुपूजितम्

devyuvāca| nāhaṁ te dayitā deva nāhaṁ te vaśavartinī| akṛtvādhaśca vai tāsāṁ mānaṁ surasupūjitam

The Goddess said: O Lord, unless the pride of those women — honoured even by the gods — is brought low, I shall be neither your beloved nor your obedient consort.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.193.24)

लोकलोके महादेव अशक्यं नास्ति ते प्रभो। क्रियतां मम चैवैकमेतत्कार्यं सुरोत्तम

lokaloke mahādeva aśakyaṁ nāsti te prabho| kriyatāṁ mama caivaikametatkāryaṁ surottama

O Mahadeva, O lord, nothing is impossible for you in all creation; O best of gods, accomplish this one task for me.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.193.25)

एवमुक्तो महादेवो देव्या वाक्यहिते रतः। कृत्वा कापालिकं रूपं ययौ दारुवनं प्रति

evamukto mahādevo devyā vākyahite rataḥ| kṛtvā kāpālikaṁ rūpaṁ yayau dāruvanaṁ prati

Thus addressed, Mahadeva, intent on fulfilling the goddess's wish, assumed the form of a Kapalika ascetic and set out toward Daruvana.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.193.26)

महाहितजटाजूटं नियम्य शशिभूषणम्। कण्ठत्राणं परं कृत्वा धारयन् कर्णकुण्डले

mahāhitajaṭājūṭaṁ niyamya śaśibhūṣaṇam| kaṇṭhatrāṇaṁ paraṁ kṛtvā dhārayan karṇakuṇḍale

Binding up his great matted locks, wearing the moon as an ornament, adorning his throat with a fine collar, and wearing earrings,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.193.27)

व्याघ्रचर्मपरीधानो मेखलाहारभूषितः। नूपुरध्वनिनिघोषैः कम्पयन् वै वसुंधराम्

vyāghracarmaparīdhāno mekhalāhārabhūṣitaḥ| nūpuradhvaninighoṣaiḥ kampayan vai vasuṁdharām

clad in a tiger-skin, adorned with a girdle and garland, making the earth tremble with the ringing of his anklets,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.193.28)

महानूर्द्ध्वजटामाली कृत्तिभस्मानुलेपनः। कृत्वा हस्ते कपालं तु ब्रह्मणश्च महात्मनः

mahānūrdhvajaṭāmālī kṛttibhasmānulepanaḥ| kṛtvā haste kapālaṁ tu brahmaṇaśca mahātmanaḥ

with a garland of towering matted hair, smeared with hide and ash, holding in his hand the skull of the great-souled Brahma,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.193.29)

महाडमरुघोषेण कम्पयन् वै वसुंधराम्। प्रभातसमये प्राप्तो महादारुवनं प्रति

mahāḍamaraghoṣeṇa kampayan vai vasuṁdharām| prabhātasamaye prāpto mahādāruvanaṁ prati

making the earth tremble with the great sound of his damaru drum, he arrived at the mighty Daruvana at dawn.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.193.30)

तावत्पुण्यजनः सर्वपुष्पपत्रफलार्थिकः। निर्गतो बहुभिः सार्द्धं पवमानः समन्ततः

tāvatpuṇyajanaḥ sarvapuṣpapatraphalārthikaḥ| nirgato bahubhiḥ sārddhaṁ pavamānaḥ samantataḥ

Just then, the pious folk, in search of flowers, leaves, and fruits, had gone out in numbers all around, moving like a purifying breeze.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.193.31)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं रूपं देवस्य भारत। युवतीनां मनस्तासां कामेन कलुषीकृतम्

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṁ rūpaṁ devasya bhārata| yuvatīnāṁ manastāsāṁ kāmena kaluṣīkṛtam

O Bharata, seeing the wondrous form of that god, the minds of those young women became disturbed by desire.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.193.32)

शोभनं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा सर्वा अपि वराङ्गनाः। क्लेदभावं ततो जग्मुर्मुदा दारुवनस्त्रियः

śobhanaṁ puruṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvā api varāṅganāḥ| kledabhāvaṁ tato jagmurmudā dāruvanastriyaḥ

Seeing that beautiful man, all the fair women of Daruvana were, in their delight, overcome and melted with longing.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.193.33)

विकारा बहवस्तासां देवं दृष्ट्वा महाद्भुतम्। संजाता विप्रपत्नीनां तदा तासु नरोत्तम

vikārā bahavastāsāṁ devaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahādbhutam| saṁjātā viprapatnīnāṁ tadā tāsu narottama

O best of men, on seeing that most wondrous god, many disturbances arose then in those brahmin wives.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.193.34)

परिधानं न जानन्ति काश्चिद्दृष्ट्वा वराङ्गनाः। उत्तरीयं तथा चान्या महामोहसमन्विताः

paridhānaṁ na jānanti kāścid dṛṣṭvā varāṅganāḥ| uttarīyaṁ tathā cānyā mahāmohasamanvitāḥ

Some fair women, on beholding him, forgot how to put on their lower garments; others, overcome with great confusion, forgot their upper wraps.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.193.35)

केशभारपरिभ्रष्टा काचिदेवासनोत्थिता। दातुकामा तदा भैक्ष्यं चेष्टितुं नैव चाशकत्

keśabhāraparibhraṣṭā kācidevāsanotthitā| dātukāmā tadā bhaikṣyaṁ ceṣṭituṁ naiva cāśakat

One woman's hair-mass fell loose; another, having risen from her seat, wishing to give alms, was quite unable to move at all.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.193.36)

काचिद्दृष्ट्वा महादेवं रूपयौवनगर्विता। उत्सङ्गे संस्थितं बालं विस्मृता पायितुं स्तनम्

kācid dṛṣṭvā mahādevaṁ rūpayauvanagarvitā| utsaṅge saṁsthitaṁ bālaṁ vismṛtā pāyituṁ stanam

Another, proud of her beauty and youth, on seeing Mahadeva, forgot to nurse the infant seated in her lap.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.193.37)

कामबाणहता चान्या बाहुभ्यां पीड्य सुस्तनौ। निःश्वसन्ती तदा चोष्णं न किंचित्प्रतिजल्पति

kāmabāṇahatā cānyā bāhubhyāṁ pīḍya sustanau| niḥśvasantī tadā coṣṇaṁ na kiṁcitpratijalpati

Another, struck by the arrow of desire, pressing her lovely breasts with both arms, sighing hot breaths, said nothing at all in reply.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.193.38)

एवं संक्षोभ्य तं सर्वं स्त्रीजनं परमेश्वरः। जगाम तत्र वै तासां क्षोभं कृत्वा महाद्भुतम्

evaṁ saṁkṣobhya taṁ sarvaṁ strījanaṁ parameśvaraḥ| jagāma tatra vai tāsāṁ kṣobhaṁ kṛtvā mahādbhutam

Having thus stirred up all the womenfolk, having produced this astonishing turmoil among them, the supreme lord then departed from that place.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.193.39)

तावत्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे भ्रमित्वा काननं महत्। आगताः स्वगृहे दारान् ददृशुश्च हतौजसः

tāvatte brāhmaṇāḥ sarve bhramitvā kānanaṁ mahat| āgatāḥ svagṛhe dārān dadṛśuśca hataujasaḥ

Meanwhile, all those brahmins, having wandered through the great forest, returned to their homes and found their wives bereft of their usual vitality.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.193.40)

यासां पूर्वतरा भक्तिः पातिव्रत्ये पतीन्प्रति। चलितास्ता विदित्वाशु निर्जग्मुर्द्विजसत्तमाः

yāsāṁ pūrvatarā bhaktiḥ pātivratye patīnprati| calitāstā viditvāśu nirjagmurdvijasattamāḥ

Realizing at once that these women, whose devotion had earlier been unwavering in their wifely fidelity toward their husbands, had now become disturbed, those foremost brahmins rushed out.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.193.41)

संविदं परमां कृत्वा ज्ञात्वा देवं महेश्वरम्। क्षोभयित्वा मनस्तासां ततश्चादर्शनं गतम्

saṁvidaṁ paramāṁ kṛtvā jñātvā devaṁ maheśvaram| kṣobhayitvā manastāsāṁ tataścādarśanaṁ gatam

Fully aware and knowing him to be the god Maheshvara, having disturbed their minds, he then vanished from sight.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.193.42)

क्रोधाविष्टो द्विजः कश्चिद्दण्डमुद्यम्य धावति। कल्माषयष्टिमन्ये च तथान्ये दर्भमुष्टिकाम्

krodhāviṣṭo dvijaḥ kaścid daṇḍamudyamya dhāvati| kalmāṣayaṣṭimanye ca tathānye darbhamuṣṭikām

One brahmin, filled with rage, raised his staff and rushed forward; others took up mottled rods, and yet others grasped fistfuls of kusha grass.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.193.43)

इतश्चेतश्च ते सर्वे भ्रमित्वा काननं नृप। एकीभूत्वा महात्मानो व्याजह्रुश्च रुषा गिरम्

itaścetaśca te sarve bhramitvā kānanaṁ nṛpa| ekībhūtvā mahātmāno vyājahruśca ruṣā giram

O king, all those great souls, having wandered here and there through the forest, gathered together at one place and spoke out in fury.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.193.44)

यदिदं च हुतं किंचिद्गुरवस्तोषिता यदि। तेन सत्येन देवस्य लिङ्गं पततु चोत्तमम्

yadidaṁ ca hutaṁ kiṁcidguravastoṣitā yadi| tena satyena devasya liṅgaṁ patatu cottamam

If we have offered any oblation, if we have pleased our teachers, then by that truth, let that god's supreme linga fall.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.193.45)

आश्रमादाश्रमं सर्वे न त्यजामो विधिक्रमात्। तेन सत्येन देवस्य लिङ्गं पततु भूतले

āśramādāśramaṁ sarve na tyajāmo vidhikramāt| tena satyena devasya liṅgaṁ patatu bhūtale

We have never abandoned the prescribed sequence from one life-stage to the next; by that truth, let that god's linga fall to the earth.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.193.46)

एवं सत्यप्रभावेन त्रिरुक्तेन द्विजन्मनाम्। शिवस्य पश्यतो लिङ्गं पतितं धरणीतले

evaṁ satyaprabhāvena triruktena dvijanmanām| śivasya paśyato liṅgaṁ patitaṁ dharaṇītale

Thus, by the power of the truth proclaimed three times by the twice-born, before Shiva's very eyes, his linga fell to the ground.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.193.47)

हाहाकारो महानासील्लोकालोकेऽपि भारत। देवस्य पतिते लिङ्गे जगतश्च महाक्षये

hāhākāro mahānāsīllokāloke'pi bhārata| devasya patite liṅge jagataśca mahākṣaye

O Bharata, when the god's linga fell, a great cry of dismay arose throughout all the worlds, as though the great dissolution of the universe had come.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.193.48)

पतमानस्य लिङ्गस्य शब्दोऽभूच्च सुदारुणः। उल्कापाता दिशां हाहा भूमिकम्पाश्च दारुणाः

patamānasya liṅgasya śabdo'bhūcca sudāruṇaḥ| ulkāpātā diśāṁ hāhā bhūmikampāśca dāruṇāḥ

The sound of the falling linga was terrifying; meteors fell in every direction, cries of woe arose, and dreadful earthquakes shook the earth.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.193.49)

पतन्ति पर्वताग्राणि शोषं यान्ति च सागराः। देवस्य पतिते लिङ्गे देवा विमनसोऽभवन्

patanti parvatāgrāṇi śoṣaṁ yānti ca sāgarāḥ| devasya patite liṅge devā vimanaso'bhavan

Mountain peaks began to crumble, oceans began to dry up; when the god's linga fell, the gods themselves became dispirited.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.193.50)

समेत्य सहिताः सर्वे ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्। कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे स्तुवन्ति विविधैः स्तवैः

sametya sahitāḥ sarve brahmāṇaṁ parameṣṭhinam| kṛtāñjaliputāḥ sarve stuvanti vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ

All the gods, gathering together, came before the supreme lord Brahma, and with joined palms, praised him with various hymns.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.193.51)

ततस्तुष्टो जगन्नाथश्चतुर्वदनपङ्कजः। आर्तान्प्राह सुरान्सर्वान्मा विषादं गमिष्यथ

tatastuṣṭo jagannāthaścaturvadanapaṅkajaḥ| ārtānprāha surānsarvānmā viṣādaṁ gamiṣyatha

Then the lord of the universe, whose four faces are like lotuses, was pleased, and said to the distressed gods: Do not fall into despair.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.193.52)

ब्रह्मशापाभिभूतोऽसौ देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः। तुष्टैस्तैस्तपसा युक्तैः पुनर्मोक्षं गमिष्यति

brahmaśāpābhibhūto'sau devadevastrilocanaḥ| tuṣṭaistaistapasā yuktaiḥ punarmokṣaṁ gamiṣyati

That three-eyed god of gods has been overcome by the brahmins' curse; once those very brahmins, appeased through austerity, are satisfied, he shall again be released.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.193.53)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ययुर्देवा यथागतमरिन्दम। भावयित्वा ततः सर्वे मुनयश्चैव भारत

etacchrutvā yayurdevā yathāgatamarindama| bhāvayitvā tataḥ sarve munayaścaiva bhārata

O tamer of foes, hearing this, the gods departed the way they had come. O Bharata, then all the sages, after deliberation,

Verse 54 (skanda.5.193.54)

विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठाद्या जाबालिरथ कश्यपः। समेत्य सहिताः सर्वे तमूचुस्त्रिपुरान्तकम्

viśvāmitravasiṣṭhādyā jābāliratha kaśyapaḥ| sametya sahitāḥ sarve tamūcustripurāntakam

Vishvamitra, Vasishtha and others, along with Jabali and Kashyapa — all gathered together and addressed the destroyer of Tripura.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.193.55)

ब्रह्मतेजो हि बलवद्द्विजानां हि सुरेश्वर। क्षान्तियुक्तस्तपस्तप्त्वा भविष्यसि गतक्लमः

brahmatejo hi balavaddvijānāṁ hi sureśvara| kṣāntiyuktastapastaptvā bhaviṣyasi gataklamaḥ

O lord of gods, the spiritual power of brahmins is mighty indeed; by performing austerity with forbearance, you will become free of this affliction.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.193.56)

यतः क्षोभादृषीणां च तदेवं लिङ्गमुत्तमम्। पतितं ते महादेव न तत्पूज्यं भविष्यति

yataḥ kṣobhādṛṣīṇāṁ ca tadevaṁ liṅgamuttamam| patitaṁ te mahādeva na tatpūjyaṁ bhaviṣyati

O Mahadeva, since this supreme linga has fallen because of the wrath of the sages, it shall not be worshipped in this fallen form.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.193.57)

न तच्छ्रेयोऽग्निहोत्रेण नाग्निष्टोमेन लभ्यते। प्राप्नुवन्ति च यच्छ्रेयो मानवा लिङ्गपूजने

na tacchreyo'gnihotreṇa nāgniṣṭomena labhyate| prāpnuvanti ca yacchreyo mānavā liṅgapūjane

The merit that men attain through worship of the linga cannot be obtained through the Agnihotra ritual, nor through the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.193.58)

देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। वचनेन तु विप्राणामेतत्पूज्यं भविष्यति

devadānavayakṣāṇāṁ gandharvoragarakṣasām| vacanena tu viprāṇāmetatpūjyaṁ bhaviṣyati

For gods, danavas, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas alike — by the pronouncement of the brahmins, this shall become an object of worship.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.193.59)

ब्रह्मविष्ण्विन्द्रचन्द्राणामेतत्पूज्यं भविष्यति। यत्फलं तव लिङ्गस्य इह लोके परत्र च

brahmaviṣṇvindracandrāṇāmetatpūjyaṁ bhaviṣyati| yatphalaṁ tava liṅgasya iha loke paratra ca

It shall become worthy of worship for Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, and Chandra as well; and the fruit of your linga will be attained both in this world and the next.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.193.60)

एवमुक्तो जगन्नाथः प्रणिपत्य द्विजोत्तमान्। मुदा परमया युक्तः कृताञ्जलिरभाषत

evamukto jagannāthaḥ praṇipatya dvijottamān| mudā paramayā yuktaḥ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata

Thus addressed, the lord of the universe bowed to those excellent brahmins, and filled with the greatest joy, spoke with joined palms.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.193.61)

ब्राह्मणा जङ्गमं तीर्थं निर्जलं सार्वकामिकम्। येषां वाक्योदकेनैव शुध्यन्ति मलिनो जनाः

brāhmaṇā jaṅgamaṁ tīrthaṁ nirjalaṁ sārvakāmikam| yeṣāṁ vākyodakenaiva śudhyanti malino janāḥ

Brahmins are a moving tirtha, waterless yet fulfilling every desire — by the mere water of whose speech impure people are purified.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.193.62)

न तत्क्षेत्रं न तत्तीर्थमूषरं पुष्कराणि च। ब्राह्मणे मन्युमुत्पाद्य यत्र गत्वा स शुध्यति

na tatkṣetraṁ na tattīrthamūṣaraṁ puṣkarāṇi ca| brāhmaṇe manyumutpādya yatra gatvā sa śudhyati

There is no field, no tirtha, no barren land, nor even Pushkara, where a man who has aroused a brahmin's wrath can go and be purified.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.193.63)

न तच्छास्त्रं यन्न विप्रप्रणीतं न तद्दानं यन्न विप्रप्रदेयम्। न तत्सौख्यं यन्न विप्रप्रसादान्न तद्दुःखं यन्न विप्रप्रकोपात्

na tacchāstraṁ yanna viprapraṇītaṁ na taddānaṁ yanna viprapradeyam| na tatsaukhyaṁ yanna vipraprasādānna tadduḥkhaṁ yanna vipraprakopāt

There is no scripture that was not composed by a brahmin; no gift that is not properly bestowed upon a brahmin; no happiness that does not come from a brahmin's favour; no sorrow that does not come from a brahmin's wrath.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.193.64)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि गङ्गाद्याः सरितस्तथा। एकस्य विप्रवाक्यस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni gaṅgādyāḥ saritastathā| ekasya vipravākyasya kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

Whatever tirthas exist on earth, and rivers such as the Ganga — none of them, together, are worth even a sixteenth part of a single word spoken by a brahmin.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.193.65)

अभिनन्द्य द्विजान्सर्वाननुज्ञातो महर्षिभिः। ततोऽगमत्तदा देवो नर्मदातटमुत्तमम्

abhinandya dvijānsarvānanujñāto maharṣibhiḥ| tato'gamattadā devo narmadātaṭamuttamam

Having praised all the brahmins and been given leave by the great sages, the god then departed for the excellent bank of the Narmada.

Verse 66 (skanda.5.193.66)

परमं व्रतमास्थाय गुहावासी समार्बुदम्। तपश्चचार भगवाञ्जपस्नानरतः सदा

paramaṁ vratamāsthāya guhāvāsī samārbudam| tapaścacāra bhagavāñjapasnānarataḥ sadā

Undertaking supreme vows, dwelling in a cave near Mount Arbuda, the lord performed austerity, ever devoted to bathing and recitation.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.193.67)

समाप्ते नियमे तात स्थापयित्वा महेश्वरम्। वन्द्यमानः सुरैः सार्द्धं कैलासमगमत्प्रभुः

samāpte niyame tāta sthāpayitvā maheśvaram| vandyamānaḥ suraiḥ sārddhaṁ kailāsamagamatprabhuḥ

O child, when the vow was completed, Maheshvara established himself there, and, venerated by the gods, the lord departed for Kailasa.

Verse 68 (skanda.5.193.68)

नर्मदायास्तटे तेन स्थापितः परमेश्वरः। तेनैव कारणेनासौ नर्मदेश्वर उच्यते

narmadāyāstaṭe tena sthāpitaḥ parameśvaraḥ| tenaiva kāraṇenāsau narmadeśvara ucyate

On the bank of the Narmada, the supreme lord established himself there — and for this very reason he is called Narmadeshvara.

Verse 69 (skanda.5.193.69)

योऽर्चयेन्नर्मदेशानं यतिर्वै संजितेन्द्रियः। स्नात्वा चैव महादेवमश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

yo'rcayennarmadeśānaṁ yatirvai saṁjitendriyaḥ| snātvā caiva mahādevamaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

Whatever restrained ascetic worships Narmadeshvara, and bathing, honours Mahadeva, obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 70 (skanda.5.193.70)

ददाति यः पितृभ्यस्तु तिलपुष्पकुशोदकम्। त्रिःसप्तपूर्वजास्तस्य स्वर्गे मोदन्ति पाण्डव

dadāti yaḥ pitṛbhyastu tilapuṣpakuśodakam| triḥsaptapūrvajāstasya svarge modanti pāṇḍava

O Pandava, whoever offers sesame, flowers, kusha grass, and water to the ancestors, his forebears — twenty-one generations — rejoice in heaven.

Verse 71 (skanda.5.193.71)

यस्तु भोजयते विप्रांस्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप। पायसं घृतमिश्रं तु स लभेत्कोटिजं फलम्

yastu bhojayate viprāṁstasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa| pāyasaṁ ghṛtamiśraṁ tu sa labhetkoṭijaṁ phalam

O lord of men, whoever feeds brahmins there with rice-pudding mixed with ghee, obtains a ten-million-fold fruit.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.193.72)

सुवर्णं रजतं वापि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिर। ददाति तोयमध्यस्थः सोऽग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्

suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ vāpi brāhmaṇebhyo yudhiṣṭhira| dadāti toyamadhyasthaḥ so'gniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet

O Yudhishthira, whoever, standing in the water, gives gold or silver to brahmins, obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 73 (skanda.5.193.73)

अष्टम्यां वा चतुर्दश्यां निराहारो वसेत्तु यः। नर्मदेश्वरमासाद्य प्राप्नुयाज्जन्मनः फलम्

aṣṭamyāṁ vā caturdaśyāṁ nirāhāro vasettu yaḥ| narmadeśvaramāsādya prāpnuyājjanmanaḥ phalam

Whoever remains fasting on the eighth or fourteenth lunar day, dwelling near Narmadeshvara, attains the fruit of his birth.

Verse 74 (skanda.5.193.74)

अग्निप्रवेशं यः कुर्यात्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप। तस्य व्याधिभयं न स्यात्सप्तजन्मसु भारत

agnipraveśaṁ yaḥ kuryāttasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa| tasya vyādhibhayaṁ na syātsaptajanmasu bhārata

O lord of men, whoever enters fire at that tirtha, O Bharata, need not fear disease for seven lifetimes.

Verse 75 (skanda.5.193.75)

अनाशकं तु यः कुर्यात्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप। अनिवर्तिका गतिस्तस्य रुद्रलोके भविष्यति

anāśakaṁ tu yaḥ kuryāttasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa| anivartikā gatistasya rudraloke bhaviṣyati

O lord of men, whoever undertakes fasting unto death at that tirtha, attains an irreversible destination in Rudra's world.

Verse 76 (skanda.5.193.76)

एष ते विधिरुद्दिष्टस्तस्योत्पत्तिर्नरोत्तम। पुराणे विहिता तात संज्ञा तस्य तु विस्तरात्

eṣa te vidhiruddiṣṭastasyotpattirnarottama| purāṇe vihitā tāta saṁjñā tasya tu vistarāt

O best of men, this rite and its origin have been declared to you; O child, its name is thus laid down in full in the Purana.

Verse 77 (skanda.5.193.77)

एतं कीर्तयते यस्तु नर्मदेश्वरसम्भवम्। भक्त्या शृणोति च नरः सोऽपि स्नानफलं लभेत्

etaṁ kīrtayate yastu narmadeśvarasambhavam| bhaktyā śṛṇoti ca naraḥ so'pi snānaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever recites this origin-story of Narmadeshvara, and whatever person hears it with devotion, also obtains the fruit of a sacred bath.