The Glory of Kundaleshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.196.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेच्च राजेन्द्र कुण्डलेश्वरमुत्तमम्। यत्र सिद्धो महायक्षः कुण्डधारो नृपोत्तम

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gaccheccha rājendra kuṇḍaleśvaramuttamam| yatra siddho mahāyakṣaḥ kuṇḍadhāro nṛpottama

Shri Markandeya said: O Rajendra, one should next go to the excellent Kundaleshvara tirtha, O best of kings, where the great yaksha Kundadhara attained perfection.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.196.2)

तपः कृत्वा सुविपुलं सुरासुरभयंकरम्। पौलस्त्यमन्दिरे चैव चिक्रीड नृपसत्तम

tapaḥ kṛtvā suvipulaṁ surāsurabhayaṁkaram| paulastyamandire caiva cikrīḍa nṛpasattama

O best of kings, having performed extensive austerity that struck fear into gods and demons alike, he then sported in the abode of Paulastya, that is, Kubera.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.196.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कस्मिन्युगे समुत्पन्नः कस्य पुत्रो महामतिः। तपस्तप्त्वा सुविपुलं तोषितो येन शङ्करः

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kasminyuge samutpannaḥ kasya putro mahāmatiḥ| tapastaptvā suvipulaṁ toṣito yena śaṅkaraḥ

Yudhishthira said: In which age was that wise one born, whose son was he, and by what vast austerity did he please Shankara?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.196.4)

एतद्विस्तरतस्तात कथयस्व ममानघ। शृण्वतश्च न तृप्तिर्मे कथामृतमनुत्तमम्

etadvistaratastāta kathayasva mamānagha| śṛṇvataśca na tṛptirme kathāmṛtamanuttamam

O sinless father, tell me this in full detail; hearing this supreme, nectar-like tale, I am never satisfied.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.196.5)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। त्रेतायुगे ब्रह्मसमः पौलस्त्योनाम विश्रवाः। तपः कृत्वा सुविपुलं भरद्वाजसुतोद्भवः

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tretāyuge brahmasamaḥ paulastyo nāma viśravāḥ| tapaḥ kṛtvā suvipulaṁ bharadvājasutodbhavaḥ

Shri Markandeya said: In the Treta Yuga, there was a sage of the Paulastya line, named Vishravas, equal to Brahma, born of Bharadvaja's son, who, performing extensive austerity,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.196.6)

पुत्रं पौत्रगणैर्युक्तं पत्न्या भक्त्या सुतोषितः। धनदं जनयामास सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्

putraṁ pautragaṇairyuktaṁ patnyā bhaktyā sutoṣitaḥ| dhanadaṁ janayāmāsa sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam

being greatly pleased by his devoted wife, begot a son, Dhanada, Kubera, endowed with every auspicious mark, destined to have a host of descendants.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.196.7)

जातमात्रं तु तं ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। चकार नाम सुप्रीत ऋषिदेवसमन्वितः

jātamātraṁ tu taṁ jñātvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| cakāra nāma suprīta ṛṣidevasamanvitaḥ

Knowing of him as soon as he was born, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, greatly pleased, together with sages and gods, gave him his name.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.196.8)

यस्माद्विश्रवसो जातो मम पौत्रत्वमागतः। तस्माद्वैश्रवणो नाम तव दत्तं मयानघ

yasmādviśravaso jāto mama pautratvamāgataḥ| tasmādvaiśravaṇo nāma tava dattaṁ mayānagha

Since you were born of Vishravas and have thereby become my grandson, therefore, O sinless one, I have given you the name Vaishravana.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.196.9)

तथा त्वं सर्वदेवानां धनगोप्ता भविष्यसि। चतुर्थो लोकपालानामक्षयश्चाव्ययो भुवि

tathā tvaṁ sarvadevānāṁ dhanagoptā bhaviṣyasi| caturtho lokapālānāmakṣayaścāvyayo bhuvi

And you shall become the guardian of the wealth of all the gods, the fourth among the guardians of the quarters, imperishable and unchanging upon the earth.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.196.10)

तस्य भार्या महाराज ईश्वरीति च विश्रुता। यक्षो यक्षाधिपः श्रेष्ठस्तस्य कुण्डोऽभवत्सुतः

tasya bhāryā mahārāja īśvarīti ca viśrutā| yakṣo yakṣādhipaḥ śreṣṭhastasya kuṇḍo'bhavatsutaḥ

O great king, his wife was renowned by the name Ishvari; their son was Kunda, foremost among yakshas, the lord of the yakshas.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.196.11)

स च रूपं परं प्राप्य मातापित्रोरनुज्ञया। तपश्चचार विपुलं नर्मदातटमाश्रितः

sa ca rūpaṁ paraṁ prāpya mātāpitroranujñayā| tapaścacāra vipulaṁ narmadātaṭamāśritaḥ

Having attained a supremely handsome form, and with his parents' permission, he too took refuge on the bank of the Narmada and performed extensive austerity.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.196.12)

ग्रीष्मे पञ्चाग्निसंतप्तो वर्षासु स्थण्डिलेशयः। हेमन्ते जलमध्यस्थो वायुभक्षः शतं समाः

grīṣme pañcāgnisaṁtapto varṣāsu sthaṇḍileśayaḥ| hemante jalamadhyastho vāyubhakṣaḥ śataṁ samāḥ

In summer, scorched by the five fires; in the rains, lying exposed on the bare ground; in winter, standing in the midst of water, subsisting on air alone, for a hundred years,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.196.13)

एवं वर्षशते पूर्णे एकाङ्गुष्ठेऽभवन्नृप। अस्थिभूतः परं तात ऊर्ध्वबाहुस्ततः परम्

evaṁ varṣaśate pūrṇe ekāṅguṣṭhe'bhavannṛpa| asthibhūtaḥ paraṁ tāta ūrdhvabāhustataḥ param

O king, thus when a hundred years had passed, he stood upon a single toe; O child, thereafter he was reduced to mere bone and stood with arms raised aloft.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.196.14)

अतपच्च घृतश्वासः कुण्डलो भरतर्षभ। चतुर्थे वर्षशतके तुतोष वृषवाहनः

atapacca ghṛtaśvāsaḥ kuṇḍalo bharatarṣabha| caturthe varṣaśatake tutoṣa vṛṣavāhanaḥ

O bull of the Bharatas, Kundala performed austerity with laboured breath; in the fourth century of years, the bull-borne Shiva became satisfied.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.196.15)

वरं वृणीष्व भो वत्स यत्ते मनसि रोचते। ददामि ते न सन्देहस्तपसा तोषितो ह्यहम्

varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bho vatsa yatte manasi rocate| dadāmi te na sandehastapasā toṣito hyaham

O child, ask for whatever boon pleases your heart; I shall grant it without doubt, for I am well pleased by your austerity.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.196.16)

कुण्डल उवाच। यक्षाधिपप्रसादेन तस्यैवानुचरः पुरे। विचरामि यथाकाममवध्यः सर्वशत्रुषु

kuṇḍala uvāca| yakṣādhipaprasādena tasyaivānucaraḥ pure| vicarāmi yathākāmamavadhyaḥ sarvaśatruṣu

Kundala said: By the favour of the lord of the yakshas, may I roam freely as his attendant in his own city, unassailable by all enemies.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.196.17)

तथेत्युक्त्वा महादेवः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः। जगामाकाशमाविश्य कैलासं धरणीधरम्

tathetyuktvā mahādevaḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ| jagāmākāśamāviśya kailāsaṁ dharaṇīdharam

Saying "So be it," Mahadeva, saluted by all the worlds, rose into the sky and departed for the mountain Kailasa.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.196.18)

गते चादर्शनं देवे सोऽपि यक्षो मुदान्वितः। स्थापयामास देवेशं कुण्डलेश्वरमुत्तमम्

gate cādarśanaṁ deve so'pi yakṣo mudānvitaḥ| sthāpayāmāsa deveśaṁ kuṇḍaleśvaramuttamam

When the god had vanished from sight, that yaksha too, filled with joy, established the lord of gods there as the excellent Kundaleshvara.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.196.19)

अलंकृत्वा जगन्नाथं पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः। विमानैश्चामरैश्छत्रैस्तथा वै लिङ्गपूरणैः

alaṁkṛtvā jagannāthaṁ puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ| vimānaiścāmaraiśchatraistathā vai liṅgapūraṇaiḥ

Adorning the lord of the universe with flowers, incense, and unguents, with aerial canopies, whisks, parasols, and the full array of offerings for the linga,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.196.20)

तर्पयित्वा द्विजान्सम्यगन्नपानादिभूषणैः। प्रीणयित्वा महादेवं ततः स्वभवनं ययौ

tarpayitvā dvijānsamyagannapānādibhūṣaṇaiḥ| prīṇayitvā mahādevaṁ tataḥ svabhavanaṁ yayau

duly satisfying the brahmins with food, drink, and ornaments, and having pleased Mahadeva, he then returned to his own dwelling.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.196.21)

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्। उत्तमं परमं पुण्यं कुण्डलेश्वरनामतः

tadāprabhṛti tattīrthaṁ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam| uttamaṁ paramaṁ puṇyaṁ kuṇḍaleśvaranāmataḥ

From that time onward, that tirtha became renowned in the three worlds under the name Kundaleshvara, excellent and supremely sacred.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.196.22)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः कश्चिदुपवासपरायणः। अर्चयेद्देवमीशानं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ kaścidupavāsaparāyaṇaḥ| arcayeddevamīśānaṁ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whoever, at that tirtha, devoted to fasting, worships the lord Ishana, is freed from every sin.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.196.23)

सुवर्णं रजतं वापि मणिं मौक्तिकमेव च। दद्याद्भोज्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः स सुखी मोदते दिवि

suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ vāpi maṇiṁ mauktikameva ca| dadyādbhojyaṁ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sa sukhī modate divi

Whoever gives gold, silver, gems, or pearls, along with food, to brahmins, becomes happy and rejoices in heaven.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.196.24)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा ऋग्यजुःसामगोऽपि वा। ऋचमेकां जपित्वा तु सकलं फलमश्नुते

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā ṛgyajuḥsāmago'pi vā| ṛcamekāṁ japitvā tu sakalaṁ phalamaśnute

Whoever, having bathed at that tirtha, being versed in the Rig, Yajur, or Sama, recites even a single verse, obtains the complete fruit.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.196.25)

गां प्रयच्छति विप्रेभ्यस्तत्फलं शृणु पाण्डव। यावन्ति तस्या रोमाणि तत्प्रसूतिकुलेषु च

gāṁ prayacchati viprebhyastatphalaṁ śṛṇu pāṇḍava| yāvanti tasyā romāṇi tatprasūtikuleṣu ca

O Pandava, hear the fruit of giving a cow to brahmins: as many hairs as that cow has, and as many generations as spring from her offspring,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.196.26)

तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते। स्वर्गे वासो भवेत्तस्य पुत्रपौत्रैः समन्वितः

tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate| svarge vāso bhavettasya putrapautraiḥ samanvitaḥ

for that many thousands of years he is glorified in the heavenly world; his dwelling in heaven is shared together with his sons and grandsons.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.196.27)

तावन्ति वर्षाणि महानुभावः स्वर्गे वसेत्पुत्रपौत्रैश्च सार्द्धम्। तत्रान्नदो याति महेशलोकमसंख्यवर्षाणि न संशयोऽत्र

tāvanti varṣāṇi mahānubhāvaḥ svarge vasetputrapautraiśca sārddham| tatrānnado yāti maheśalokamasaṁkhyavarṣāṇi na saṁśayo'tra

For that many years the illustrious one dwells in heaven together with sons and grandsons; and whoever gives food there goes to the world of Mahesha for countless years — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.196.28)

स वै सुखी मोदते स्वर्गलोके गन्धर्वसिद्धाप्सरःसम्प्रगीते। एवं तु ते धर्मसुत प्रभावस्तीर्थस्य सर्वः कथितश्च पार्थ

sa vai sukhī modate svargaloke gandharvasiddhāpsaraḥsampragīte| evaṁ tu te dharmasuta prabhāvastīrthasya sarvaḥ kathitaśca pārtha

He rejoices happily in the heavenly world, where gandharvas, siddhas, and apsaras sing; thus, O son of Dharma, O Partha, the entire glory of this tirtha has been told to you.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.196.29)

श्रुत्वा स्तुवन्मुच्यते सर्वपापैः पुनस्त्रिलोकीमिह तत्प्रभावात्

śrutvā stuvanmucyate sarvapāpaiḥ punastrilokīmiha tatprabhāvāt

By hearing this and praising it, one is freed from all sins, and by its power, one again attains a high state within these three worlds.