The Greatness of Manmatheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.257.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच - मन्मथेशं ततो गच्छेत्सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम्। स्नानमात्रान्नरो राजन्यमलोकं न पश्यति

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca - manmatheśaṁ tato gacchetsarvadevanamaskṛtam| snānamātrānnaro rājanyamalokaṁ na paśyati

Markandeya said: "Then one should go to Manmathesha, saluted by all the gods; by bathing alone, a man, O king, does not behold the world of Yama."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.257.2)

अनपत्या या च नारी स्नायाद्वै पाण्डुनन्दन। पुत्रं सा लभते पार्थ सत्यसङ्घं दृढव्रतम्

anapatyā yā ca nārī snāyādvai pāṇḍunandana| putraṁ sā labhate pārtha satyasaṅghaṁ dṛḍhavratam

And whatever childless woman, O joy of Pandu, bathes there — she, O Partha, obtains a son true to his word and firm in his vows.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.257.3)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजञ्छुचिः प्रयतमानसः। उपोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

tatra snātvā naro rājañchuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ| upoṣya rajanīmekāṁ gosahasraphalaṁ labhet

Having bathed there, O king, a man, pure and of controlled mind, having fasted a single night, obtains the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.257.4)

कामिकं तीर्थराजं तु तादृशं न भविष्यति। त्रिरात्रं कुरुते राजन्स गोलक्षफलं लभेत्

kāmikaṁ tīrtharājaṁ tu tādṛśaṁ na bhaviṣyati| trirātraṁ kurute rājansa golakṣaphalaṁ labhet

No other ford granting desires will be its equal; O king, whoever keeps a three-night vow there obtains the fruit of the gift of a hundred thousand cows.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.257.5)

तत्र नृत्यं प्रकर्तव्यं तुष्यते परमेश्वरः। गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषै रात्रौ जागरणेन च

tatra nṛtyaṁ prakartavyaṁ tuṣyate parameśvaraḥ| gītavāditranirghoṣai rātrau jāgaraṇena ca

Dance should be performed there; Parameshvara is pleased by the resounding of songs and instruments, and by keeping vigil through the night.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.257.6)

एरण्ड्यां च महादेवो दृष्टो मे मन्मथेश्वरः। किं समर्थो यमो रुष्टो भद्रो भद्राणि पश्यति

eraṇḍyāṁ ca mahādevo dṛṣṭo me manmatheśvaraḥ| kiṁ samartho yamo ruṣṭo bhadro bhadrāṇi paśyati

"Upon the castor plant I beheld Mahadeva Manmatheshvara. What can even wrathful Yama do? The auspicious one beholds only auspicious things."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.257.7)

कामेन स्थापितः शम्भुरेतस्मात्कामदो नृप। सोपानः स्वर्गमार्गस्य पृथिव्यां मन्मथेश्वरः

kāmena sthāpitaḥ śambhuretasmātkāmado nṛpa| sopānaḥ svargamārgasya pṛthivyāṁ manmatheśvaraḥ

By Kama, Shambhu was established here; hence he is the granter of desires, O king; on earth, Manmatheshvara is a stairway upon the path to heaven.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.257.8)

विशेषश्चात्र सन्ध्यायां श्राद्धदाने च भारत। अन्नदानेन राजेन्द्र कीर्तितं फलमुत्तमम्

viśeṣaścātra sandhyāyāṁ śrāddhadāne ca bhārata| annadānena rājendra kīrtitaṁ phalamuttamam

There is a special merit here at the twilight worship and in the giving of shraddha, O Bharata; by the gift of food, O Rajendra, the supreme fruit has been declared.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.257.9)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं तव भक्त्या तु भारत। पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां प्रख्यातो मन्मथेश्वरः

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ tava bhaktyā tu bhārata| pṛthivyāṁ sāgarāntāyāṁ prakhyāto manmatheśvaraḥ

All this, O Bharata, has been declared to you out of devotion; upon this earth, unto the ocean's end, Manmatheshvara is renowned.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.257.10)

गोदानं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ त्रयोदश्यां प्रकारयेत्। चैत्रे मासि सिते पक्षे तत्र गत्वा जितेन्द्रियः

godānaṁ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha trayodaśyāṁ prakārayet| caitre māsi site pakṣe tatra gatvā jitendriyaḥ

O best of the Pandavas, the gift of a cow should be made on the thirteenth; in the month of Chaitra, in the bright fortnight, having gone there with senses subdued,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.257.11)

रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा देवस्याग्रे नृपोत्तम। दीपं भक्त्या घृतेनैव देवस्याग्रे निवेदयेत्

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā devasyāgre nṛpottama| dīpaṁ bhaktyā ghṛtenaiva devasyāgre nivedayet

and having kept vigil at night before the god, O best of kings, one should devotedly offer a lamp of ghee before the god.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.257.12)

स्त्र्यथ वा पुरुषो वापि सममेतत्फलं स्मृतम्

stryatha vā puruṣo vāpi samametatphalaṁ smṛtam

Whether woman or man, the fruit of this is declared to be the same.