The Glory of the Origin of Shulabheda

Verse 1 (skanda.5.204.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। अन्धकं तु निहत्याथ देवदेवो महेश्वरः। उमया सहितो रुद्रः कैलासमगमन्नगम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| andhakaṁ tu nihatyātha devadevo maheśvaraḥ| umayā sahito rudraḥ kailāsamagamannagam

Markandeya said: Having slain Andhaka, the god of gods, Maheshvara, that is Rudra, together with Uma, departed for Mount Kailasa.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.204.2)

आगताश्च ततो देवा ब्रह्माद्याश्च सवासवाः। हृष्टास्तुष्टाश्च ते सर्वे प्रणेमुः पार्वतीपतिम्

āgatāśca tato devā brahmādyāśca savāsavāḥ| hṛṣṭāstuṣṭāśca te sarve praṇemuḥ pārvatīpatim

Then Brahma and the other gods, together with Vasava, arrived there; all of them, delighted and content, bowed down to the lord of Parvati.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.204.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। उपाविशन्तु ते सर्वे ये केचन समागताः। निहतो दानवो ह्येष गीर्वाणार्थे पितामह

īśvara uvāca| upāviśantu te sarve ye kecana samāgatāḥ| nihato dānavo hyeṣa gīrvāṇārthe pitāmaha

Ishvara said: Let all of you who have gathered here be seated; O grandsire, this danava has been slain for the sake of the gods.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.204.4)

रक्तेन तस्य मे शूलं निर्मलं नैव जायते। शुभव्रततपोजप्यरतो ब्रह्मन्मया हतः

raktena tasya me śūlaṁ nirmalaṁ naiva jāyate| śubhavratatapojapyarato brahmanmayā hataḥ

My trident never becomes clean of his blood; O Brahma, I have slain that one who was devoted to auspicious vows, austerity, and recitation.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.204.5)

कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं सम्यक्तीर्थयानं चतुर्मुख। आगच्छन्तु मया सार्द्धं ये यूयमिह संगताः

kartumicchāmyahaṁ samyaktīrthayānaṁ caturmukha| āgacchantu mayā sārddhaṁ ye yūyamiha saṅgatāḥ

O four-faced one, I wish to undertake a proper pilgrimage to the tirthas; let all of you who have gathered here come with me.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.204.6)

इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशः प्रभासं प्रतिनिर्ययौ। प्रभासाद्यानि तीर्थानि गङ्गासागरमध्यतः

ityuktvā devadeveśaḥ prabhāsaṁ pratiniryayau| prabhāsādyāni tīrthāni gaṅgāsāgaramadhyataḥ

Having said this, the lord of the gods of gods set forth toward Prabhasa; passing through tirthas from Prabhasa onward, through to the midst of the Ganga-sagara,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.204.7)

अवगाह्यापि सर्वाणि नैर्मल्यं नाभवन्नृप। नर्मदायां ततो गत्वा देवो देवैः समन्वितः

avagāhyāpi sarvāṇi nairmalyaṁ nābhavannṛpa| narmadāyāṁ tato gatvā devo devaiḥ samanvitaḥ

O king, though he bathed in all of them, he found no purification; then the god, together with the gods, went to the Narmada.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.204.8)

उत्तरं दक्षिणं कूलमवागाहत्प्रियव्रतः। गतस्तु दक्षिणे कूले पर्वते भृगुसंज्ञितम्

uttaraṁ dakṣiṇaṁ kūlamavāgāhatpriyavrataḥ| gatastu dakṣiṇe kūle parvate bhṛgusaṁjñitam

That one of faithful vows bathed at both the northern and southern banks; then he went to the southern bank, to the mountain called Bhrigu.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.204.9)

तत्र स्थित्वा महादेवो देवैः सह महीपते। भ्रान्त्वा भ्रान्त्वा चिरं श्रान्तो निर्विण्णो निषसाद ह

tatra sthitvā mahādevo devaiḥ saha mahīpate| bhrāntvā bhrāntvā ciraṁ śrānto nirviṇṇo niṣasāda ha

O lord of the earth, standing there, Mahadeva, together with the gods, having wandered about for a long time, tired and dejected, sat himself down.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.204.10)

मनोहारि यतः स्थानं सर्वेषां वै दिवौकसाम्। तीर्थं विशिष्टं तन्मत्वा स्थितो देवो महेश्वरः

manohāri yataḥ sthānaṁ sarveṣāṁ vai divaukasām| tīrthaṁ viśiṣṭaṁ tanmatvā sthito devo maheśvaraḥ

Since that place was delightful to all the dwellers of heaven, considering it a distinguished tirtha, the god Maheshvara settled there.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.204.11)

गिरिं विव्याध शूलेन भिन्नं तेन रसातलम्। निर्मलं चाभवच्छूलं न लेपो दृश्यते क्वचित्

giriṁ vivyādha śūlena bhinnaṁ tena rasātalam| nirmalaṁ cābhavacchūlaṁ na lepo dṛśyate kvacit

He pierced the mountain with his trident, cleaving through to the netherworld beneath; and thereby his trident became clean — no stain was visible upon it anywhere.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.204.12)

देवैराह्वानिता तत्र महापुण्या च भारती। पर्वतान्निःसृता तत्र महापुण्या सरस्वती

devairāhvānitā tatra mahāpuṇyā ca bhāratī| parvatānniḥsṛtā tatra mahāpuṇyā sarasvatī

Invoked there by the gods, the most sacred Bharati, Sarasvati; from that mountain, the highly sacred Sarasvati issued forth there.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.204.13)

द्वितीयः सङ्गमस्तत्र यथा वेण्यां सितासितः। तत्र ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवो ब्रह्मेशं लिङ्गमुत्तमम्

dvitīyaḥ saṅgamastatra yathā veṇyāṁ sitāsitaḥ| tatra brahmā svayaṁ devo brahmeśaṁ liṅgamuttamam

A second confluence formed there, like the meeting of pale and dark waters at the Veni river; there the god Brahma himself established the excellent Brahmesha linga,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.204.14)

संस्थापयामास पुण्यं सर्वदुःखघ्नमुत्तमम्। तस्य याम्ये दिशो भागे स्वयं देवो जनार्दनः

saṁsthāpayāmāsa puṇyaṁ sarvaduḥkhaghnamuttamam| tasya yāmye diśo bhāge svayaṁ devo janārdanaḥ

sacred, supreme, and the destroyer of every sorrow. To its southern side, the god Janardana himself,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.204.15)

तिष्ठते च सदा तत्र विष्णुपादाग्रसंस्थिता। अम्भसो न भवेन्मार्गः कुण्डमध्यस्थितस्य च

tiṣṭhate ca sadā tatra viṣṇupādāgrasaṁsthitā| ambhaso na bhavenmārgaḥ kuṇḍamadhyasthitasya ca

dwells there always, established at the very tip of Vishnu's foot; and there is no outlet for the water of that place situated in the midst of the pool.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.204.16)

शूलाग्रेण कृता रेखा ततस्तोयं वहेन्नृप। तत्तोयं च गतं तत्र यत्र रेवा महानदी

śūlāgreṇa kṛtā rekhā tatastoyaṁ vahennṛpa| tattoyaṁ ca gataṁ tatra yatra revā mahānadī

O king, a line was drawn by the tip of the trident, through which the water there flows; and that water goes to join the great river Reva.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.204.17)

जललिङ्गं महापुण्यं चकतीर्थं नृपोत्तम। शूलभेदे च देवेशः स्नानं कुर्याद्यथाविधि

jalaliṅgaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ cakatīrthaṁ nṛpottama| śūlabhede ca deveśaḥ snānaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi

O best of kings, that water-linga is exceedingly sacred, the Chaka-tirtha; and at Shulabheda, the lord of gods duly performed his bath.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.204.18)

आत्मानं मन्यते शुद्धं न किंचित्कल्मषं कृतम्। तस्यैवोत्तरकाष्ठायां देवदेवो जगद्गुरुः

ātmānaṁ manyate śuddhaṁ na kiṁcitkalmaṣaṁ kṛtam| tasyaivottarakāṣṭhāyāṁ devadevo jagadguruḥ

He considered himself pure, as though he had committed no wrong at all; and in the northern direction of that very place, the god of gods, guru of the universe,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.204.19)

आत्मना देवदेवेशः शूलपाणिः प्रतिष्ठितः। सर्वतीर्थेषु तत्तीर्थं सर्वदेवमयं परम्

ātmanā devadeveśaḥ śūlapāṇiḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ| sarvatīrtheṣu tattīrthaṁ sarvadevamayaṁ param

the trident-bearing lord of the gods of gods, established himself in his own form there. Among all tirthas, that tirtha is supreme, embodying all the gods.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.204.20)

सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं सर्वदुःखघ्नमुत्तमम्। तत्र तीर्थे प्रतिष्ठाप्य देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम्

sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvaduḥkhaghnamuttamam| tatra tīrthe pratiṣṭhāpya devadevaṁ jagadgurum

It removes every sin, is sacred, destroys every sorrow, and is supreme. Having established the god of gods, the guru of the universe, at that tirtha,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.204.21)

रक्षापालांस्ततो मुक्त्वा शतं साष्टविनायकान्। क्षेत्रपालाः शतं साष्टं तद्रक्षन्ति प्रयत्नतः

rakṣāpālāṁstato muktvā śataṁ sāṣṭavināyakān| kṣetrapālāḥ śataṁ sāṣṭaṁ tadrakṣanti prayatnataḥ

then one hundred and eight guardian Vinayakas were appointed there; one hundred and eight field-guardians diligently protect it.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.204.22)

विघ्नास्तस्योपजायन्ते यस्तत्र स्थातुमिच्छति। केचित्कुटुम्बात्ततासु व्याग्राः केचित्कृषीषु च

vighnāstasyopajāyante yastatra sthātumicchati| kecitkuṭumbāttatāsu vyāgrāḥ kecitkṛṣīṣu ca

Obstacles arise for whoever wishes to remain there — some become entangled in family matters, some grow absorbed in farming,

Verse 23 (skanda.5.204.23)

केचित्सभां प्रकुर्वन्ति केचिद्द्रव्यार्जने रताः। परोक्षवादं कुर्वन्ति केऽपि हिंसारताः सदा

kecitsabhāṁ prakurvanti kecidravyārjane ratāḥ| parokṣavādaṁ kurvanti ke'pi hiṁsāratāḥ sadā

some become engaged in assemblies, some devoted to earning wealth; some engage in gossip behind others' backs, and some remain forever devoted to violence.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.204.24)

परदाररताः केचित्केचिद्वृत्तिविहिंसकाः। अन्ये केचिद्वदन्त्येवं कथं तीर्थेषु गम्यते

paradāraratāḥ kecitkecidvṛttivihiṁsakāḥ| anye kecidvadantyevaṁ kathaṁ tīrtheṣu gamyate

some are given to adultery, some do violence for their livelihood; and others say, "How is one to go on pilgrimage at all?"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.204.25)

क्षुधया पीड्यते भार्या पुत्रभृत्यादयस्तदा। मोहजालेषु योज्यन्ते एवं देवगणैर्नराः

kṣudhayā pīḍyate bhāryā putrabhṛtyādayastadā| mohajāleṣu yojyante evaṁ devagaṇairnaraiḥ

They think: "My wife, sons, and servants will suffer from hunger." In this way, men are entangled in nets of delusion by the divine attendants there.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.204.26)

पापाचाराश्च ये मर्त्याः स्नानं तेषां न जायते। संरक्षन्ति च तत्तीर्थं देवभृत्यगणाः सदा

pāpācārāśca ye martyāḥ snānaṁ teṣāṁ na jāyate| saṁrakṣanti ca tattīrthaṁ devabhṛtyagaṇāḥ sadā

For those mortals of sinful conduct, bathing there does not come to pass; the divine attendants always guard that tirtha.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.204.27)

धन्याः पुण्याश्च ये मर्त्यास्तेषां स्नानं प्रजायते। सरस्वत्या भोगवत्या देवनद्या विशेषतः

dhanyāḥ puṇyāśca ye martyāsteṣāṁ snānaṁ prajāyate| sarasvatyā bhogavatyā devanadyā viśeṣataḥ

Only for those mortals who are blessed and virtuous does the bathing come to pass, especially in the waters of the Sarasvati, the Bhogavati, and the celestial river.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.204.28)

अयं तु सङ्गमः पुण्यो यथा वेण्यां सितासितः। दृष्ट्वा तीर्थं तु ते सर्वे गीर्वाणा हृष्टचेतसः

ayaṁ tu saṅgamaḥ puṇyo yathā veṇyāṁ sitāsitaḥ| dṛṣṭvā tīrthaṁ tu te sarve gīrvāṇā hṛṣṭacetasaḥ

This is a sacred confluence, like the meeting of pale and dark waters at the Veni. Beholding this tirtha, all those gods became joyful of heart.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.204.29)

देवस्य सन्निधौ भूत्वा वर्णयामासुरुत्तमम्। इदं तीर्थं तु देवेश गयातीर्थेन ते समम्

devasya sannidhau bhūtvā varṇayāmāsuruttamam| idaṁ tīrthaṁ tu deveśa gayātīrthena te samam

Standing in the presence of the god, they praised it thus: O lord of gods, this tirtha is equal to the tirtha of Gaya.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.204.30)

गुह्याद्गुह्यतमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति। शूलपाणिः समभ्यर्च्य इन्द्राद्यैरप्सरोगणैः

guhyādguhyatamaṁ tīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati| śūlapāṇiḥ samabhyarcya indrādyairapsarogaṇaiḥ

This tirtha is more secret than the secret; none like it has ever been, nor shall ever be. The trident-bearer was duly worshipped by Indra and the rest, together with the hosts of apsaras.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.204.31)

यक्षकिन्नरगन्धर्वैर्दिक्पालैर्लोकपैरपि। नृत्यगीतैस्तथा स्तोत्रैः सर्वैश्चापि सुरासुरैः

yakṣakinnaragandharvairdikpālairlokapairapi| nṛtyagītaistathā stotraiḥ sarvaiścāpi surāsuraiḥ

By yakshas, kinnaras, gandharvas, the guardians of the directions, and the world-protectors as well, with dance, song, and hymns, and by all the gods and asuras together,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.204.32)

पूज्यमानो गणैः सर्वैः सिद्धैर्नागैर्महेश्वरः। देवेन भेदितं तत्र शूलाग्रेण नराधिप

pūjyamāno gaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ siddhairnāgairmaheśvaraḥ| devena bheditaṁ tatra śūlāgreṇa narādhipa

Maheshvara was worshipped by all the ganas, siddhas, and nagas. O lord of men, that place was cleft there by that god with the tip of his trident.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.204.33)

त्रिधा यत्रेक्ष्यतेऽद्यापि ह्यावर्तः सुरपूरितः। कुण्डत्रयं नरव्याघ्र महत्कलकलान्वितम्

tridhā yatrekṣyate'dyāpi hyāvartaḥ surapūritaḥ| kuṇḍatrayaṁ naravyāghra mahatkalakalānvitam

O tiger among men, where even today a threefold whirlpool, filled with the gods, is visible — those three pools resound with great tumult.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.204.34)

सर्वपापक्षयकरं सर्वदुःखघ्नमुत्तमम्। तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नाति उपवासपरायणः

sarvapāpakṣayakaraṁ sarvaduḥkhaghnamuttamam| tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snāti upavāsaparāyaṇaḥ

It destroys every sin, destroys every sorrow, and is supreme. Whoever, devoted to fasting, bathes at that tirtha,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.204.35)

दीक्षामन्त्रविहीनोऽपि मुच्यते चाब्दिकादघात्। ये पुनर्विधिवत्स्नान्ति मन्त्रैः पञ्चभिरेव च

dīkṣāmantravihīno'pi mucyate cābdikādaghāt| ye punarvidhivatsnānti mantraiḥ pañcabhireva ca

even without initiation or mantra, is freed from a year's accumulated sin. Those who, moreover, bathe duly with the five mantras,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.204.36)

वेदोक्तैः पञ्चभिर्मन्त्रैः सहिरण्यघटैः शुभैः। अक्षरैर्दशभिश्चैव षड्भिर्वा त्रिभिरेव वा

vedoktaiḥ pañcabhirmantraiḥ sahiraṇyaghaṭaiḥ śubhaiḥ| akṣarairdaśabhiścaiva ṣaḍbhirvā tribhireva vā

with the five Vedic mantras, together with auspicious golden vessels, and with ten syllables, or six, or even three,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.204.37)

पृथग्भूतैर्द्विजातीनां तीर्थे कार्यं नराधिप। ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां वापि स्त्रीशूद्राणां तथैव च

pṛthagbhūtairdvijātīnāṁ tīrthe kāryaṁ narādhipa| brahmakṣatraviśāṁ vāpi strīśūdrāṇāṁ tathaiva ca

O lord of men, this rite should be performed separately for the twice-born at the tirtha, and likewise for brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, women, and shudras.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.204.38)

पुरुषाणां त्रयीं ध्यात्वा स्नानं कुर्याद्यथाविधि। दशाक्षरेण मन्त्रेण ये पिबन्ति जलं नराः

puruṣāṇāṁ trayīṁ dhyātvā snānaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi| daśākṣareṇa mantreṇa ye pibanti jalaṁ narāḥ

Meditating on the threefold sacred verse for men, one should bathe according to the proper rite. Those men who drink the water while reciting the ten-syllabled mantra,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.204.39)

ते गच्छन्ति परं लोकं यत्र देवो महेश्वरः। केदारे च यथा पीतं रुद्रकुण्डे तथैव च

te gacchanti paraṁ lokaṁ yatra devo maheśvaraḥ| kedāre ca yathā pītaṁ rudrakuṇḍe tathaiva ca

they attain the supreme world, where the god Maheshvara resides; just as the water is drunk at Kedara, so too at Rudrakunda.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.204.40)

पञ्चरेफसमायुक्तं क्षकारं सुरपूजितम्। ओङ्कारेण समायुक्तमेतद्वेद्यं प्रकीर्तितम्

pañcarephasamāyuktaṁ kṣakāraṁ surapūjitam| oṅkāreṇa samāyuktametadvedyaṁ prakīrtitam

Joined with five repetitions of the syllable "ra," the god-worshipped syllable "ksha," joined together with the syllable "Om" — this is what is declared to be known.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.204.41)

यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानं विधियुक्तो जितेन्द्रियः। तिलमिश्रेण तोयेन तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः

yastatra kurute snānaṁ vidhiyukto jitendriyaḥ| tilamiśreṇa toyena tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ

Whoever bathes there duly, with senses subdued, and offers libations to the ancestral deities with water mixed with sesame,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.204.42)

कुलानां तारयेद्विंशं दशपूर्वान्दशापरान्। गयादिपञ्चस्थानेषु यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नरः

kulānāṁ tārayedviṁśaṁ daśapūrvāndaśāparān| gayādipañcasthāneṣu yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute naraḥ

he ferries across twenty generations of his lineage — ten before and ten after. Whatever man performs the shraddha rite at the five sites beginning with Gaya,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.204.43)

स तत्र फलमाप्नोति शूलभेदे न संशयः। यस्तत्र विधिना युक्तो दद्याद्दानानि भक्तितः

sa tatra phalamāpnoti śūlabhede na saṁśayaḥ| yastatra vidhinā yukto dadyāddānāni bhaktitaḥ

he obtains that same fruit at Shulabheda too, without doubt. Whoever, duly and with devotion, gives gifts there,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.204.44)

तुदक्षयं फलं तत्र सुकृतं दुष्कृतं तथा। गयाशिरो यथा पुण्यं पितृकार्येषु सर्वदा

tudakṣayaṁ phalaṁ tatra sukṛtaṁ duṣkṛtaṁ tathā| gayāśiro yathā puṇyaṁ pitṛkāryeṣu sarvadā

his fruit there becomes imperishable, whether it be good deed or ill. Just as Gayashira is ever sacred in matters concerning the ancestors,

Verse 45 (skanda.5.204.45)

शूलभेदं तथा पुण्यं स्नानदानादितर्पणैः। भक्त्या ददाति यस्तत्र काञ्चनं गां महीं तिलान्

śūlabhedaṁ tathā puṇyaṁ snānadānāditarpaṇaiḥ| bhaktyā dadāti yastatra kāñcanaṁ gāṁ mahīṁ tilān

so too is Shulabheda sacred through bathing, giving, and libations. Whoever there devotedly gives gold, a cow, land, and sesame,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.204.46)

आसनोपानहौ शय्यां वराश्वान् क्षत्रियस्तथा। वस्त्रयुग्मं च धान्यं च गृहं पूर्णं प्रयत्नतः

āsanopānahau śayyāṁ varāśvān kṣatriyastathā| vastrayugmaṁ ca dhānyaṁ ca gṛhaṁ pūrṇaṁ prayatnataḥ

a seat, sandals, a bed, fine horses — as befits a kshatriya — a pair of garments, grain, and a house fully stocked, all diligently given,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.204.47)

सयोक्त्रं लाङ्गलं दद्यात्कृष्टां चैव वसुंधराम्। दानान्येतानि यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे

sayoktraṁ lāṅgalaṁ dadyātkṛṣṭāṁ caiva vasuṁdharām| dānānyetāni yo dadyādbrāhmaṇe vedapārage

a plough with its yoke-strap and tilled land — whoever gives all these gifts to a brahmin learned in the Vedas,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.204.48)

श्रोत्रिये कुलसम्पन्ने शुचिष्मति जितेन्द्रिये। श्रुताध्ययनसम्पन्ने दम्भहीने क्रियान्विते। त्रयोदशाहःस्वेकैकं त्रयोदशगुणं भवेत्

śrotriye kulasampanne śuciṣmati jitendriye| śrutādhyayanasampanne dambhahīne kriyānvite| trayodaśāhaḥsvekaikaṁ trayodaśaguṇaṁ bhavet

who is learned in the Vedas, of good family, pure, self-controlled, versed in scriptural study, free of pride, and devoted to proper rites — each gift given on any of the thirteen days becomes thirteenfold in its fruit.