The Greatness of Skanda Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.266.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। स्कन्देन निर्मितं पूर्वं तपः कृत्वा सुदारुणम्।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| narmadādakṣiṇe kūle tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| skandena nirmitaṁ pūrvaṁ tapaḥ kṛtvā sudāruṇam||

Shri Markandeya said: On the southern bank of the Narmada there is a most beautiful tirtha, made formerly by Skanda after performing terrible austerity.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.266.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। स्कन्दस्य चरितं सर्वमाजन्म द्विजसत्तम। तीर्थस्य च विधिं पुण्यं कथयस्व यथार्थतः।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| skandasya caritaṁ sarvamājanma dvijasattama| tīrthasya ca vidhiṁ puṇyaṁ kathayasva yathārthataḥ||

Yudhishthira said: O best of the twice-born, tell me truly the entire life-story of Skanda from birth, and the sacred procedure of the tirtha.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.266.3)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। देवदेवेन वै तप्तं तपः पूर्वं युधिष्ठिर। विज्ञप्तेन सुरैः सर्वैरुमादेवी विवाहिता।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| devadevena vai taptaṁ tapaḥ pūrvaṁ yudhiṣṭhira| vijñaptena suraiḥ sarvairumādevī vivāhitā||

Shri Markandeya said: O Yudhishthira, formerly, when requested by all the gods, the God of gods performed austerity, having married the goddess Uma.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.266.4)

नास्ति सेनापतिः कश्चिद्देवानां सुरसत्तम। नीयन्ते दानवैर्घोरैः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः।

nāsti senāpatiḥ kaściddevānāṁ surasattama| nīyante dānavairghoraiḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ||

'O best of gods, there is no commander for the gods; all the gods, together with Vasava, are being routed by the terrible demons.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.266.5)

यथा निशा विना चन्द्रं दिवसो भास्करं विना। न शोभते मुहूर्तं वै तथा सेना विनायका।

yathā niśā vinā candraṁ divaso bhāskaraṁ vinā| na śobhate muhūrtaṁ vai tathā senā vināyakā||

'Just as the night is not beautiful without the moon, nor the day without the sun, even for a moment, so an army is not beautiful without a leader.'

Verse 6 (skanda.5.266.6)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महादेव परया दयया विभो। सेनानीर्दीयतां कश्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः।

evaṁ jñātvā mahādeva parayā dayayā vibho| senānīrdīyatāṁ kaścittriṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ||

'Knowing this, O Mahadeva, O Lord, with supreme compassion, let some commander be given, renowned in the three worlds.'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.266.7)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं देवानां परमेश्वरः। कामयान उमां देवीं सस्मार मनसा स्मरम्।

etacchrutvā śubhaṁ vākyaṁ devānāṁ parameśvaraḥ| kāmayāna umāṁ devīṁ sasmāra manasā smaram||

Having heard this auspicious speech of the gods, the Supreme Lord, desiring the goddess Uma, remembered Kama in his mind.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.266.8)

तेन मूर्छितसर्वाङ्गः कामरूपो जगद्गुरुः। कामयामास रुद्राणीं दिव्यं वर्षशतं किल।

tena mūrchitasarvāṅgaḥ kāmarūpo jagadguruḥ| kāmayāmāsa rudrāṇīṁ divyaṁ varṣaśataṁ kila||

By that, with all his limbs overcome, the world-guru, assuming the form of desire, made love to Rudrani for a divine hundred years.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.266.9)

देवराजस्ततो ज्ञात्वा महामैथुनगं हरम्। संमन्त्र्य दैवतैः सार्द्धं प्रैषयज्जातवेदसम्।

devarājastato jñātvā mahāmaithunagaṁ haram| saṁmantrya daivataiḥ sārddhaṁ praiṣayajjātavedasam||

The king of gods, then learning that Hara was engaged in extended union, having consulted with the deities, sent forth the Fire-god.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.266.10)

तेन गत्वा महादेवः परमानन्दसंस्थितः। सहसा तेन दृष्टोऽसौ हाहेत्युक्त्वा समुत्थितः।

tena gatvā mahādevaḥ paramānandasaṁsthitaḥ| sahasā tena dṛṣṭo'sau hāhetyuktvā samutthitaḥ||

Having gone there, Mahadeva, established in supreme bliss, was suddenly seen by him; saying 'Alas!' Shiva rose up.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.266.11)

ततः क्रुद्धा महादेवी शापवाचमुवाच ह। वेपमाना महाराज शृणु यत्ते वदाम्यहम्।

tataḥ kruddhā mahādevī śāpavācamuvāca ha| vepamānā mahārāja śṛṇu yatte vadāmyaham||

Then the great goddess, enraged and trembling, uttered a word of curse: 'O great king, hear what I say to you.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.266.12)

अहं यस्मात्सुरैः सर्वैर्याचिता पुत्रजन्मनि। कृता रतिश्च विफला संप्रेष्य जातवेदसम्।

ahaṁ yasmātsuraiḥ sarvairyācitā putrajanmani| kṛtā ratiśca viphalā saṁpreṣya jātavedasam||

'Since I, though besought by all the gods for the birth of a son, have had my union made fruitless by the sending of the Fire-god -'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.266.13)

तस्मात्सर्वे पुत्रहीना भविष्यन्ति न संशयः। हरेणोक्तस्ततो वह्निरस्माकं बीजमावह।

tasmātsarve putrahīnā bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ| hareṇoktastato vahnirasmākaṁ bījamāvaha||

'- therefore all the gods shall become sonless, there is no doubt.' Then Hara said to Agni: 'Bear our seed -'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.266.14)

यथा भवति लोकेषु तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि। मम तेजस्त्वया शक्यं गृहीतुं सुरसत्तम। देवकार्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं नान्यः शक्तो जगत्त्रये।

yathā bhavati lokeṣu tathā tvaṁ kartumarhasi| mama tejastvayā śakyaṁ gṛhītuṁ surasattama| devakāryārthasiddhyarthaṁ nānyaḥ śakto jagattraye||

'- in whatever manner it may come to be in the worlds, you are capable of doing that. My energy can be received by you, O best of gods; for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose, no other in the three worlds is capable.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.266.15)

अग्निरुवाच। तेजसस्तव मे देव का शक्तिर्धारणे विभो। करोति भस्मसात्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्।

agniruvāca| tejasastava me deva kā śaktirdhāraṇe vibho| karoti bhasmasātsarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram||

Agni said: O god, O Lord, what power do I have to hold your energy? It could reduce to ashes the whole of the three worlds, with all that moves and moves not.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.266.16)

ईश्वर उवाच। उदरस्थेन बीजेन यदि ते जायते रुजा। तदा क्षिपस्व तत्तेजो गङ्गातोये हुताशन।

īśvara uvāca| udarasthena bījena yadi te jāyate rujā| tadā kṣipasva tattejo gaṅgātoye hutāśana||

Ishvara said: If, from the seed lodged in your belly, sickness arises for you, then, O Fire, cast that energy into the waters of the Ganga.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.266.17)

एवमुक्त्वा महादेवोऽमोघं बीजमुत्तमम्। हव्यवाहमुखे सर्वं प्रक्षिप्यान्तरधीयत।

evamuktvā mahādevo'moghaṁ bījamuttamam| havyavāhamukhe sarvaṁ prakṣipyāntaradhīyata||

Having said this, Mahadeva cast that unfailing, supreme seed entirely into the mouth of the fire-bearer, and vanished.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.266.18)

गते चादर्शनं देवे दह्यमानो हुताशनः। गङ्गातोये विनिक्षिप्य जगाम स्वंनिवेशनम्।

gate cādarśanaṁ deve dahyamāno hutāśanaḥ| gaṅgātoye vinikṣipya jagāma svaṁniveśanam||

When the god had vanished from sight, the Fire-god, being burned by that energy, cast it into the waters of the Ganga and went to his own abode.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.266.19)

असहन्ती तु तत्तेजो गङ्गापि सरितां वरा। शरस्तम्बे विनिक्षिप्य जगामाशु यथागतम्।

asahantī tu tattejo gaṅgāpi saritāṁ varā| śarastambe vinikṣipya jagāmāśu yathāgatam||

Unable to bear that energy, Ganga too, best of rivers, cast it into a clump of reeds and quickly went back the way she had come.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.266.20)

तत्र जातं तु तद्दृष्ट्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः। कृत्तिकां प्रेषयामासुः स्तन्यं पाययितुं तदा।

tatra jātaṁ tu taddṛṣṭvā sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ| kṛttikāṁ preṣayāmāsuḥ stanyaṁ pāyayituṁ tadā||

Seeing what was born there, all the gods, together with Vasava, sent the Krittikas to give it milk to drink.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.266.21)

दृष्ट्वा ता आगताः सर्वा गङ्गागर्भे महामतेः। षण्मुखैः षण्मुखो भूत्वा पिपासुरपिबत्स्तनम्।

dṛṣṭvā tā āgatāḥ sarvā gaṅgāgarbhe mahāmateḥ| ṣaṇmukhaiḥ ṣaṇmukho bhūtvā pipāsurapibatstanam||

Seeing all of them arrive, in the womb of Ganga, the great-minded one, thirsty, becoming six-faced, drank from every breast at once.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.266.22)

जातकर्मादिसंस्कारान्वेदोक्तान्पद्मसम्भवः। चकार सर्वान्दाजेन्द्र विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा।

jātakarmādisaṁskārānvedoktānpadmasambhavaḥ| cakāra sarvāndājendra vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā||

The lotus-born one performed all the birth-rites and other sacraments enjoined by the Veda, O lord of kings, with duly prescribed ritual.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.266.23)

षण्मुखात्षण्मुखो नाम कार्त्तिकेयस्तु कृत्तिकात्। कुमारश्च कुमारत्वाद्गङ्गागर्भोऽग्निजोऽपरः।

ṣaṇmukhātṣaṇmukho nāma kārttikeyastu kṛttikāt| kumāraśca kumāratvādgaṅgāgarbho'gnijo'paraḥ||

From having six faces, he was called Shanmukha; from the Krittikas, Karttikeya; from his youthfulness, Kumara; and another name, Agnija, from being born of Ganga's womb and of Agni.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.266.24)

एवं कुमारः सम्भूतो ह्यनधीत्य स वेदवित्। शास्त्राण्यनेकानि वेद चचार विपुलं तपः।

evaṁ kumāraḥ sambhūto hyanadhītya sa vedavit| śāstrāṇyanekāni veda cacāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ||

Thus was Kumara born; and, though he had not formally studied, he, knower of the Veda, knew many scriptures, and performed extensive austerity.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.266.25)

देवारण्येषु सर्वेषु नदीषु च नदेषु च। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि समुद्राद्यानि भारत।

devāraṇyeṣu sarveṣu nadīṣu ca nadeṣu ca| pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni samudrādyāni bhārata||

In all the divine forests, in rivers and streams, and, O Bharata, whatever tirthas are on the earth beginning with the ocean -

Verse 26 (skanda.5.266.26)

ततः पर्याययोगेन नर्मदातटमाश्रितः। नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले चचार विपुलं तपः।

tataḥ paryāyayogena narmadātaṭamāśritaḥ| narmadādakṣiṇe kūle cacāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ||

- then, in due course, taking refuge on the bank of the Narmada, on its southern bank he performed extensive austerity.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.266.27)

ऋग्यजुःसामविहितं जपञ्जाप्यमहर्निशम्। ध्यायमानो महादेवं शुचिर्धमनिसंततः।

ṛgyajuḥsāmavihitaṁ japañjāpyamaharniśam| dhyāyamāno mahādevaṁ śucirdhamanisaṁtataḥ||

Reciting day and night the japa prescribed by the Rig, Yajur, and Sama, pure, his body wasted to the veins, meditating upon Mahadeva -

Verse 28 (skanda.5.266.28)

ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते पूर्णे देवो महेश्वरः। उमया सहितः काले तदा वचनमब्रवीत्।

tato varṣasahasrānte pūrṇe devo maheśvaraḥ| umayā sahitaḥ kāle tadā vacanamabravīt||

- then, at the end of a thousand years, when the time was complete, the god Maheshvara, together with Uma, spoke these words.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.266.29)

ईश्वर उवाच। अहं ते वरदस्तात गौरी माता पिता ह्यहम्। वरं वृणीष्व यच्चेष्टं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम्।

īśvara uvāca| ahaṁ te varadastāta gaurī mātā pitā hyaham| varaṁ vṛṇīṣva yacceṣṭaṁ triṣu lokeṣu durlabham||

Ishvara said: O son, I am the giver of boons to you; Gauri is your mother, and I am your father. Choose the boon you desire, even one rare in the three worlds.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.266.30)

षण्मुख उवाच। यदि तुष्टो महादेव उमया सह शङ्कर। वृणोमि मातापितरौ नान्या गतिर्मतिर्मम।

ṣaṇmukha uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo mahādeva umayā saha śaṅkara| vṛṇomi mātāpitarau nānyā gatirmatirmama||

Shanmukha said: If you are pleased, O Mahadeva, O Shankara, together with Uma, I choose only my mother and father; I have no other refuge, no other thought.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.266.31)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं पुत्रस्य वदनाच्च्युतम्। तथेत्युक्त्वा तु स्नेहेन प्रेम्णा तं परिषस्वजे।

etacchrutvā śubhaṁ vākyaṁ putrasya vadanāccyutam| tathetyuktvā tu snehena premṇā taṁ pariṣasvaje||

Having heard this auspicious speech that fell from his son's mouth, saying 'So be it,' he embraced him with affection and love.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.266.32)

ततस्तं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय ह्युमयोवाच शङ्करः।

tatastaṁ mūrdhnyupāghrāya hyumayovāca śaṅkaraḥ||

Then, having kissed his head, Shankara spoke to him, together with Uma.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.266.33)

ईश्वर उवाच। अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव सेनानीस्त्वं भविष्यसि।

īśvara uvāca| akṣayaścāvyayaścaiva senānīstvaṁ bhaviṣyasi||

Ishvara said: You shall be the commander, imperishable and immutable.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.266.34)

शिखी च ते वाहनं दिव्यरूपो दत्तो मया शक्तिधरस्य संख्ये। सुरासुरादींश्च जयेति चोक्त्वा जगाम कैलासवरं महात्मा।

śikhī ca te vāhanaṁ divyarūpo datto mayā śaktidharasya saṁkhye| surāsurādīṁśca jayeti coktvā jagāma kailāsavaraṁ mahātmā||

'The peacock shall be your vehicle; a divine, spear-bearing form has been given by me to you for battle. Go and conquer the gods, demons and all!' Having said this, the great-souled one went to the excellent Kailasa.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.266.35)

गते चादर्शनं देवे तदा स शिखिवाहनः। स्थापयित्वा महादेवं जगाम सुरसन्निधौ।

gate cādarśanaṁ deve tadā sa śikhivāhanaḥ| sthāpayitvā mahādevaṁ jagāma surasannidhau||

When the god had vanished from sight, then he, mounted on the peacock, having installed an image of Mahadeva there, went into the presence of the gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.266.36)

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं स्कन्दतीर्थमिति श्रुतम्। सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं मर्त्यानां भुवि दुर्लभम्।

tadāprabhṛti tattīrthaṁ skandatīrthamiti śrutam| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ martyānāṁ bhuvi durlabham||

From that time onward, that tirtha became known as Skanda-tirtha, meritorious, removing all sin, rare for mortals on this earth.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.266.37)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यो राजन्भक्त्या स्नात्वार्चयेच्छिवम्। गन्धमाल्याभिषेकैश्च याज्ञिकं स लभेत्फलम्।

tatra tīrthe tu yo rājanbhaktyā snātvārcayecchivam| gandhamālyābhiṣekaiśca yājñikaṁ sa labhetphalam||

O king, whoever bathes there at that tirtha with devotion and worships Shiva with fragrance, garlands, and consecration-bathing, obtains the fruit of a sacrificial rite.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.266.38)

स्कन्दतीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेत्पितृदेवताः। तिलमिश्रेण तोयेन तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु।

skandatīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayetpitṛdevatāḥ| tilamiśreṇa toyena tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu||

Whoever bathes at Skanda-tirtha and worships the ancestor-deities with water mixed with sesame - hear the meritorious fruit of that.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.266.39)

पिण्डदानेन चैकेन विधियुक्तेन भारत। द्वादशाब्दानि तुष्यन्ति पितरो नात्र संशयः।

piṇḍadānena caikena vidhiyuktena bhārata| dvādaśābdāni tuṣyanti pitaro nātra saṁśayaḥ||

O Bharata, by a single pinda-offering performed according to rule, the ancestors are satisfied for twelve years, there is no doubt.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.266.40)

तत्र तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र शुभं वा यादि वाशुभम्। इह लोके परे चैव तत्सर्वं जायतेऽक्षयम्।

tatra tīrthe tu rājendra śubhaṁ vā yādi vāśubham| iha loke pare caiva tatsarvaṁ jāyate'kṣayam||

O lord of kings, at that tirtha, whether auspicious or inauspicious, all of it becomes imperishable, both in this world and the next.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.266.41)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः कश्चित्प्राणत्यागं करिष्यति। शास्त्रयुक्तेन विधिना स गच्छेच्छिवमन्दिरम्।

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ kaścitprāṇatyāgaṁ kariṣyati| śāstrayuktena vidhinā sa gacchecchivamandiram||

Whoever there gives up their life according to the scripturally prescribed rite goes to the abode of Shiva.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.266.42)

कल्पमेकं वसित्वा तु देवगन्धर्वपूजितः। अत्र भारतवर्षे तु जायते विमले कुले।

kalpamekaṁ vasitvā tu devagandharvapūjitaḥ| atra bhāratavarṣe tu jāyate vimale kule||

Having dwelt there for one kalpa, honoured by gods and gandharvas, he is then born again in this Bharatavarsha, in a pure family.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.266.43)

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञः सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः। जीवेद्वर्षशतं साग्रं पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः।

vedavedāṅgatattvajñaḥ sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ| jīvedvarṣaśataṁ sāgraṁ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ||

Knower of the truth of the Vedas and Vedangas, free from all disease, he lives more than a hundred years, accompanied by sons and grandsons.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.266.44)

इदं ते कथितं राजन्स्कन्दतीर्थस्य सम्भवम्। धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वदुःखघ्नमुत्तमम्। सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं देवदेवेन भाषितम्।

idaṁ te kathitaṁ rājanskandatīrthasya sambhavam| dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sarvaduḥkhaghnamuttamam| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ devadevena bhāṣitam||

This, O king, has been told to you - the origin of Skanda-tirtha, blessed, fame-bestowing, life-giving, destroyer of all sorrows, a supreme sin-removing merit, as spoken by the God of gods.