The Account of the Name Kanakashringa

Verse 1 (skanda.5.40.1)

व्यास उवाच। भगवन्भवता सर्वं भवभीतिविनाशकम्। ईश्वरस्थानमाख्यातं समन्तात्साग्रयोजनम्॥

vyāsa uvāca| bhagavanbhavatā sarvaṁ bhavabhītivināśakam| īśvarasthānamākhyātaṁ samantātsāgrayojanam||

Vyasa said: O Lord, you have fully described to me Ishvara's abode, the destroyer of the fear of worldly existence, extending on every side a little more than a yojana.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.40.2)

यत्र क्षेत्रे मृता मर्त्याः सदाचारास्तथोत्तमाः। विमानस्था पुरे नूनमैश्वरे ते वसंति च॥

yatra kṣetre mṛtā martyāḥ sadācārāstathottamāḥ| vimānasthā pure nūnamaiśvare te vasaṁti ca||

In this field, mortals of good and excellent conduct who die surely dwell, borne in celestial chariots, in Ishvara's own city,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.40.3)

यत्र कीटपतंगाद्या मृता यांति परां गतिम्। किं तीर्थं पुण्यमन्यच्च महाकालवनादृते॥

yatra kīṭapataṁgādyā mṛtā yāṁti parāṁ gatim| kiṁ tīrthaṁ puṇyamanyacca mahākālavanādṛte||

where even insects and moths, dying, attain the highest state — what other tirtha is as meritorious as this, apart from Mahakalavana?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.40.4)

तस्माद्ब्रूहि ममैकं तु प्रश्नं तथ्येन सांप्रतम्। कथं कनकशृंगेति ख्याता ह्येषा पुरा मुने॥

tasmādbrūhi mamaikaṁ tu praśnaṁ tathyena sāṁpratam| kathaṁ kanakaśṛṁgeti khyātā hyeṣā purā mune||

Therefore, O sage, answer truly this one question of mine now: how did this city, in ancient times, become known by the name Kanakashringa (Golden Peak)?

Verse 5 (skanda.5.40.5)

कुशस्थली कथं नाम तथावंती कथं स्मृता। पद्मावती कथं साधो कथमुज्जयिनी तथा॥

kuśasthalī kathaṁ nāma tathāvaṁtī kathaṁ smṛtā| padmāvatī kathaṁ sādho kathamujjayinī tathā||

How did it come to be called Kushasthali? How is it remembered as Avanti? How, O virtuous one, as Padmavati? And how as Ujjayini?

Verse 6 (skanda.5.40.6)

नाम्नां हेतुमथो तेषां ब्रूहि त्वं मुनिसत्तम॥

nāmnāṁ hetumatho teṣāṁ brūhi tvaṁ munisattama||

O best of sages, tell me the reason for all these names.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.40.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा पूर्वं विरंचिना। कथितं वामदेवाय गौरकल्पे पुरातने॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa pravakṣyāmi yathā pūrvaṁ viraṁcinā| kathitaṁ vāmadevāya gaurakalpe purātane||

Sanatkumara said: Listen, Vyasa, I shall relate what was told long ago by Virinchi (Brahma) to Vamadeva, in the ancient Gaura-kalpa.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.40.8)

महेशेन भगवता विधिश्चैवात्र हेतुतः। पृष्टस्तु स्वश्च्युतानां च कुतो निवसतां सुखम्॥

maheśena bhagavatā vidhiścaivātra hetutaḥ| pṛṣṭastu svaścyutānāṁ ca kuto nivasatāṁ sukham||

There Vidhi (Brahma) was questioned by the Lord Mahesha for this reason: 'From where does happiness come to those who, fallen from heaven, dwell here?

Verse 9 (skanda.5.40.9)

स्वर्गप्राप्तिश्च भवति स्वेच्छाचारविहारिणाम्। कोऽतिपुण्यतमः श्रेष्ठः प्रदेशः पापदारकः॥

svargaprāptiśca bhavati svecchācāravihāriṇām| ko'tipuṇyatamaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pradeśaḥ pāpadārakaḥ||

How does heaven come to be attained even by those who wander freely as they please? Which is that most meritorious, excellent region that tears sin apart?

Verse 10 (skanda.5.40.10)

कुतो निवर्तितं चित्तं जायते वसतां क्वचित्। वसतामपि लोके शमैहिकं पारलौकिकम्। एतन्मे भगवन्ब्रूहि हितार्थं सर्वदेहिनाम्॥

kuto nivartitaṁ cittaṁ jāyate vasatāṁ kvacit| vasatāmapi loke śamaihikaṁ pāralaukikam| etanme bhagavanbrūhi hitārthaṁ sarvadehinām||

How does the mind of those dwelling anywhere become turned back from worldly attachment? And how, even while dwelling in the world, is peace attained both in this world and the next? Tell me this, O Lord, for the good of all embodied beings.'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.40.11)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। एवमादौ पुरा कल्पे प्रोक्तः श्रेष्ठः स शंभुना॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| evamādau purā kalpe proktaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sa śaṁbhunā||

Sanatkumara said: Thus, long ago, in an ancient kalpa, that excellent one (Brahma) was addressed by Shambhu.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.40.12)

प्रोवाच पार्वतीकांतं प्रभुः प्रीतः पितामहः। भगवन्सर्वकर्ता त्वं सर्वदर्शी सदाशिवः॥

provāca pārvatīkāṁtaṁ prabhuḥ prītaḥ pitāmahaḥ| bhagavansarvakartā tvaṁ sarvadarśī sadāśivaḥ||

The Grandsire, the Lord, pleased, replied to Parvati's beloved: 'O Lord, you are the maker of all, the all-seeing, the eternal Shiva.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.40.13)

अजानन्निव त्वं सर्वं मां पृच्छसि सनातन। यत्र कल्पांतको वह्निरधिज्वालः प्रतिष्ठितः॥

ajānanniva tvaṁ sarvaṁ māṁ pṛcchasi sanātana| yatra kalpāṁtako vahniradhijvālaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ||

O Eternal One, though you know everything, you question me as though ignorant. Where the fire that ends the kalpa, blazing upward, is established,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.40.14)

त्वमेव च महाकालः सर्वं वै ज्ञायते त्वया। नाथ ये मानवास्तत्र सदाचारास्तथा परे॥

tvameva ca mahākālaḥ sarvaṁ vai jñāyate tvayā| nātha ye mānavāstatra sadācārāstathā pare||

there you yourself are Mahakala; everything indeed is known to you. O Lord, those men of good conduct, and others, who dwell there,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.40.15)

निवसंति न ते मर्त्याः सुरास्ते वै न संशयः। लभंते च पुनः स्वर्गं मृता वै कालपर्यये॥

nivasaṁti na te martyāḥ surāste vai na saṁśayaḥ| labhaṁte ca punaḥ svargaṁ mṛtā vai kālaparyaye||

are no longer mortals — without doubt they become gods; and, dying, they attain heaven once more when their time comes.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.40.16)

वर्तते च पुरी तत्र रम्यहर्म्या सुशोभना। यस्यां भांति विचित्राणि हर्म्याणि विविधानि च॥

vartate ca purī tatra ramyaharmyā suśobhanā| yasyāṁ bhāṁti vicitrāṇi harmyāṇi vividhāni ca||

There stands a city there, beautiful with lovely mansions, in which shine forth various and wondrous palaces.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.40.17)

स्वर्णशृङ्गाश्च प्रासादा विहिता विश्वकर्मणा। देवाः संति सदा तत्र तीर्थानि विविधानि च॥

svarṇaśṛṅgāśca prāsādā vihitā viśvakarmaṇā| devāḥ saṁti sadā tatra tīrthāni vividhāni ca||

Its golden-peaked palaces were built by Vishvakarma; gods dwell there always, along with many kinds of tirthas.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.40.18)

पूर्वकल्पे स्थितोऽहं च यत्र त्वं केशवस्तथा। तामेव च पुरीं द्रष्टुं सर्वे लोका ह्यवंतिकाम्॥

pūrvakalpe sthito'haṁ ca yatra tvaṁ keśavastathā| tāmeva ca purīṁ draṣṭuṁ sarve lokā hyavaṁtikām||

In a former kalpa I dwelt there, and so did you, and Keshava as well. To behold that very city, Avantika, all the worlds,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.40.19)

तथा देवर्षयः सिद्धा यक्षकिंनरदानवाः। आजग्मुः स्थाणुना सार्धं वेधसा ब्रह्मयोनिना॥

tathā devarṣayaḥ siddhā yakṣakiṁnaradānavāḥ| ājagmuḥ sthāṇunā sārdhaṁ vedhasā brahmayoninā||

together with the divine sages, siddhas, yakshas, kinnaras and danavas, came there, accompanied by Sthanu (Shiva) and by Vedhas (Brahma), the source of creation.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.40.20)

तथैव च वरा नार्यो देवानामतिवल्लभाः। समापेतुः सहस्राणि द्रष्टुमत्यद्भुतां पुरीम्॥

tathaiva ca varā nāryo devānāmativallabhāḥ| samāpetuḥ sahasrāṇi draṣṭumatyadbhutāṁ purīm||

And likewise thousands of excellent women, greatly beloved of the gods, gathered together to see that most wondrous city.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.40.21)

आगत्य च यदा देवः सह देवैर्महेश्वरः। वीक्षते नगरीं रम्यामपश्यदावृतां तथा॥

āgatya ca yadā devaḥ saha devairmaheśvaraḥ| vīkṣate nagarīṁ ramyāmapaśyadāvṛtāṁ tathā||

When the god Maheshvara, having come there together with the gods, gazed upon that beautiful city, he beheld it thus surrounded —

Verse 22 (skanda.5.40.22)

प्रासादैः स्वर्णशृंगाढ्यैर्मणिरत्नविभूषितैः। विश्वरूपो हि भगवान्राजा विश्वैकनायकः॥

prāsādaiḥ svarṇaśṛṁgāḍhyairmaṇiratnavibhūṣitaiḥ| viśvarūpo hi bhagavānrājā viśvaikanāyakaḥ||

by palaces rich with golden peaks, adorned with jewels and gems; there the Lord of universal form, the king, the sole leader of the universe, was present.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.40.23)

तत्रास्ते शोभने दिव्ये प्रासादे मणिभूषिते। सेव्यमानः सुरैः सिद्धैर्मुनिविद्याधरोरगैः॥

tatrāste śobhane divye prāsāde maṇibhūṣite| sevyamānaḥ suraiḥ siddhairmunividyādharoragaiḥ||

There he dwelt, in a splendid, divine, jewel-adorned palace, attended by gods, siddhas, sages, vidyadharas and serpents.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.40.24)

ततो महेशश्च पितामहश्च समेत्य तं विश्वपतिं ननंदतुः। समर्चितौ तेन यथार्हमादरात्सहानुगावागमनं त्वपृच्छत्॥

tato maheśaśca pitāmahaśca sametya taṁ viśvapatiṁ nanaṁdatuḥ| samarcitau tena yathārhamādarātsahānugāvāgamanaṁ tvapṛcchat||

Then Mahesha and the Grandsire, having approached the Lord of the universe, rejoiced; honored fittingly and with respect by him, they, together with their attendants, were asked the purpose of their coming.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.40.25)

किमागतौ वा त्रिदिवान्महीतलं सहानुगावाश यकश्च कथ्यताम्। ततस्तु तावूचतुरब्जजेश्वरौ भवान्तरे यत्र च तत्र नौ रतिः॥

kimāgatau vā tridivānmahītalaṁ sahānugāvāśa yakaśca kathyatām| tatastu tāvūcaturabjajeśvarau bhavāntare yatra ca tatra nau ratiḥ||

'Why have you two come down from heaven to the earth, with your attendants? Speak your wish.' Then Brahma and Shiva both replied: 'In whatever other existence we may be, our delight lies there, with you.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.40.26)

त्वया विना नैव सुरालये सुखं महीतले वाथ रसातलेऽस्ति नः। कदा त्वया कांचनशेखरा पुरी निवेशिता वेश्मवती विचित्रिता॥

tvayā vinā naiva surālaye sukhaṁ mahītale vātha rasātale'sti naḥ| kadā tvayā kāṁcanaśekharā purī niveśitā veśmavatī vicitritā||

'Without you we find no happiness — neither in the abode of the gods, nor on earth, nor in the netherworld. When did you establish this golden-crested city, filled with wondrous dwellings?'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.40.27)

हरिरुवाच। त्वदर्थमेवेश विशेषशालिनी सृष्टा हि वै सर्वगुणाकरा मया। प्रयच्छ विश्वेश्वर चावयोरिह स्थानं च तीर्थं प्रलयेऽक्षयं च॥

hariruvāca| tvadarthameveśa viśeṣaśālinī sṛṣṭā hi vai sarvaguṇākarā mayā| prayaccha viśveśvara cāvayoriha sthānaṁ ca tīrthaṁ pralaye'kṣayaṁ ca||

Hari said: 'O Lord, it was for your sake alone that I created this excellent city, a mine of every virtue. O Lord of the universe, grant us both a place here, and a tirtha that remains imperishable even at the dissolution.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.40.28)

ददाम्यभीष्टं युवयोरिहालयं प्रजापते ह्युत्तरतस्तव स्थितिः। महेश्वर त्वं व्रज दक्षिणालयं स्थानं सुदत्तं युवयोः सुशोभनम्॥

dadāmyabhīṣṭaṁ yuvayorihālayaṁ prajāpate hyuttaratastava sthitiḥ| maheśvara tvaṁ vraja dakṣiṇālayaṁ sthānaṁ sudattaṁ yuvayoḥ suśobhanam||

'I grant you both your desired abode here: O Prajapati, your place shall be to the north; O Maheshvara, you go to the southern abode. This beautiful place is well given to you both.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.40.29)

महाकालो ह्यधोज्वालो जगदात्मा प्रभुः स्थितः। गणैरनेकसाहस्रैरादृतः परमेश्वरः॥

mahākālo hyadhojvālo jagadātmā prabhuḥ sthitaḥ| gaṇairanekasāhasrairādṛtaḥ parameśvaraḥ||

Thus Mahakala, the flame that blazes below, the Soul of the universe, the Lord, took his place there — that Supreme Lord honored by many thousands of ganas.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.40.30)

क्रीडार्थं नगरी सृष्टा सर्वभूतहितैषिणा। मयाद्य युवयोर्दत्ता विहायाऽचलमात्मनः॥

krīḍārthaṁ nagarī sṛṣṭā sarvabhūtahitaiṣiṇā| mayādya yuvayordattā vihāyā'calamātmanaḥ||

'This city, created by me, who wish well of all beings, for the sake of sport, I today give to you both, having relinquished my own unshakable claim to it.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.40.31)

भवद्भ्यां हेमशृंगेति यस्माच्च समुदीरिता। पुरी कनकशृंगेति लोके ख्याता भविष्यति॥

bhavadbhyāṁ hemaśṛṁgeti yasmācca samudīritā| purī kanakaśṛṁgeti loke khyātā bhaviṣyati||

'And because you two called it "Hemashringa," this city shall become known in the world by the name Kanakashringa.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.40.32)

एवं कनकशृङ्गेति प्रथमं नाम कथ्यते॥

evaṁ kanakaśṛṅgeti prathamaṁ nāma kathyate||

Thus is told the first of its names, Kanakashringa.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.40.33)

जपंतश्च स्थिता यत्र ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः। नित्यं रमंति भक्तानां सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदाः॥

japaṁtaśca sthitā yatra brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ| nityaṁ ramaṁti bhaktānāṁ sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradāḥ||

Where Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara remain, engaged in japa, they ever delight there, granting their devotees the fruit of all their desires.