The Telling of the Glory of Kumudvati

Verse 1 (skanda.5.45.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणुष्वावहितो व्यास कथां पापहरां पराम्। एषा कुमुद्वती जाता यथा पद्मावती पुरी। तथाहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथा मे लोमशोऽब्रवीत्॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇuṣvāvahito vyāsa kathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām| eṣā kumudvatī jātā yathā padmāvatī purī| tathāhaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi yathā me lomaśo'bravīt||

Sanatkumara said: Listen attentively, O Vyasa, to this supreme, sin-removing tale — how the city of Padmavati came to be called Kumudvati; I shall relate it just as Lomasha told it to me.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.45.2)

लोमश उवाच। शृणु वत्स मया दृष्टा बहुपुण्यतमा पुरी। एकदा तीर्थयात्रायां गतोऽहं वै कुशस्थलीम्। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं स्थानं यत्र संनिहितो हरः॥

lomaśa uvāca| śṛṇu vatsa mayā dṛṣṭā bahupuṇyatamā purī| ekadā tīrthayātrāyāṁ gato'haṁ vai kuśasthalīm| guhyādguhyataraṁ sthānaṁ yatra saṁnihito haraḥ||

Lomasha said: Listen, my child — I once beheld that most meritorious city. On a pilgrimage I went to Kushasthali, a place more secret than the secret, where Hara is ever present.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.45.3)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति। यत्र तत्र स्थिता विप्रा ब्रह्मघोषमकुर्वत॥

yasya darśanamātreṇa brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati| yatra tatra sthitā viprā brahmaghoṣamakurvata||

By the mere sight of him even the sin of killing a Brahmin is wiped away; there, everywhere, brahmins stationed about made the sound of Vedic recitation.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.45.4)

यज्ञांश्चैव तथा चित्रानृत्विजोदारकर्मणः। ऋषयश्च महाभागाः प्रकुर्वंति समाहिताः॥

yajñāṁścaiva tathā citrānṛtvijodārakarmaṇaḥ| ṛṣayaśca mahābhāgāḥ prakurvaṁti samāhitāḥ||

Great and fortunate sages, with composed minds, were performing wondrous sacrifices through priests of noble deeds.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.45.5)

ऋषिपत्न्यस्तथा साध्व्यः परिचर्यां प्रकुर्वते। दश विष्णुसमाः ख्यातास्तत्रैव निवसंति ते॥

ṛṣipatnyastathā sādhvyaḥ paricaryāṁ prakurvate| daśa viṣṇusamāḥ khyātāstatraiva nivasaṁti te||

The virtuous wives of the sages performed attendant duties; and ten beings renowned as equal to Vishnu dwelt right there.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.45.6)

रुद्रा ह्येकादश प्रोक्ता द्वादशार्कास्तथैव च। अष्टौ च वसवः ख्याता विश्वे देवास्त्रयोदश॥

rudrā hyekādaśa proktā dvādaśārkāstathaiva ca| aṣṭau ca vasavaḥ khyātā viśve devāstrayodaśa||

The eleven Rudras were told of there, and likewise the twelve Suns; the eight renowned Vasus, and the thirteen Vishvedevas.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.45.7)

अष्टौ च दिग्गजाश्चैव मनवश्च चतुर्दश। मरुद्गणाश्च ते सर्वे तत्रैवेंद्रपुरोगमाः॥

aṣṭau ca diggajāścaiva manavaśca caturdaśa| marudgaṇāśca te sarve tatraiveṁdrapurogamāḥ||

The eight elephants of the directions, and the fourteen Manus; and all the hosts of Maruts, led by Indra, were there too.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.45.8)

गंधर्वासरसश्चैव किंनरोरगराक्षसाः। सिद्धास्तपस्विनो वत्स तत्रैव समुपस्थिताः॥

gaṁdharvāsarasaścaiva kiṁnaroragarākṣasāḥ| siddhāstapasvino vatsa tatraiva samupasthitāḥ||

Gandharvas and apsaras, kinnaras, serpents and rakshasas, siddhas and ascetics, my child, were all present there.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.45.9)

अष्टौ वै भैरवाः ख्याताश्चत्वारः पवनात्मजाः। विनायकाश्च षट् प्रोक्ता देव्यश्च चतुर्विंशतिः॥

aṣṭau vai bhairavāḥ khyātāścatvāraḥ pavanātmajāḥ| vināyakāśca ṣaṭ proktā devyaśca caturviṁśatiḥ||

The eight renowned Bhairavas, the four sons of the Wind, the six Vinayakas, and the twenty-four goddesses were told of there.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.45.10)

एते देवगणाः प्रोक्ता रौद्राश्चैव तथा गणाः। ब्रह्मा वेदविदां श्रेष्ठो मरिचिकश्यपादयः॥

ete devagaṇāḥ proktā raudrāścaiva tathā gaṇāḥ| brahmā vedavidāṁ śreṣṭho maricikaśyapādayaḥ||

These are told of as the hosts of gods, and likewise as the Raudra hosts; Brahma, foremost among the knowers of the Veda, and the sages beginning with Marichi and Kashyapa.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.45.11)

दक्षः प्रजापतिश्रेष्ठो दितिर्वै देवमातरः। सुरभीप्रमुखा गावः स्थावराणि चराणि च॥

dakṣaḥ prajāpatiśreṣṭho ditirvai devamātaraḥ| surabhīpramukhā gāvaḥ sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca||

Daksha, best of the Prajapatis, and Diti, mother of the gods; the cows headed by Surabhi, and all things moving and unmoving.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.45.12)

तीर्थानि यानि सर्वाणि नद्यः प्रस्रवणानि च। क्षेत्राणि चैव सर्वाणि भुवि पुण्यतमानि वै॥

tīrthāni yāni sarvāṇi nadyaḥ prasravaṇāni ca| kṣetrāṇi caiva sarvāṇi bhuvi puṇyatamāni vai||

All the tirthas whatsoever, the rivers and the springs, and all the most meritorious sacred fields on earth were present there too.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.45.13)

सप्त पुर्यस्त्रयो ग्रामा नवारण्या नवोषराः। चतुर्दशानि गुह्यानि मुक्तिद्वाराणि भूतले॥

sapta puryastrayo grāmā navāraṇyā navoṣarāḥ| caturdaśāni guhyāni muktidvārāṇi bhūtale||

The seven sacred cities, the three villages, the nine forests, the nine barren lands, and the fourteen secret gateways to liberation on earth.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.45.14)

समुद्राश्चैव चत्वारो रत्नानि विविधानि च। सती पतिव्रताः साध्व्यस्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः। राजर्षयस्तथा शांता ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः॥

samudrāścaiva catvāro ratnāni vividhāni ca| satī pativratāḥ sādhvyastathā brahmarṣayo'malāḥ| rājarṣayastathā śāṁtā brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ||

The four oceans, various kinds of jewels, virtuous, chaste wives devoted to their husbands, and the stainless brahmin-sages; the peaceful royal sages, and brahmins learned in the Veda.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.45.15)

वेदाः पुराणस्मृतयो गाथा गीतिप्रहेलिकाः। उपासांचक्रिरे तस्य देवदेवेडुमापतेः॥

vedāḥ purāṇasmṛtayo gāthā gītiprahelikāḥ| upāsāṁcakrire tasya devadeveḍumāpateḥ||

The Vedas, the Puranas, the Smritis, ballads, songs and riddles — all of these worshipped that god of gods, the Lord of Uma.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.45.16)

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जातोऽहं विज्वरोऽमलः। दीर्घायुर्दीर्घतपसा जरारोगविवर्जितः॥

tasya darśanamātreṇa jāto'haṁ vijvaro'malaḥ| dīrghāyurdīrghatapasā jarārogavivarjitaḥ||

By the mere sight of him, I became free of all affliction, stainless, long-lived through long austerity, and free from old age and disease.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.45.17)

स्नातोऽहं सर्वतीर्थेषु शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः। प्रसन्नमानसो जातः सर्वपापपराङ्मुखः॥

snāto'haṁ sarvatīrtheṣu śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ| prasannamānaso jātaḥ sarvapāpaparāṅmukhaḥ||

I bathed in all the tirthas, becoming pure and composed; my mind grew serene, turned away from every sin.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.45.18)

दृष्ट्वा पद्मावतीं शुद्धां सर्वकामवरप्रदाम्। न यत्र दृश्यते कश्चिच्छोकरोगपरो जनः॥

dṛṣṭvā padmāvatīṁ śuddhāṁ sarvakāmavarapradām| na yatra dṛśyate kaścicchokarogaparo janaḥ||

I beheld that pure Padmavati, the giver of every desired boon, where no one afflicted by grief or disease is ever to be seen.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.45.19)

न दुःखी न च दारिद्रो न मूर्खो नाजितेंद्रियः। परस्परविरोधी न नृतिर्य्यक्षु च दृश्यते॥

na duḥkhī na ca dāridro na mūrkho nājiteṁdriyaḥ| parasparavirodhī na nṛtiryyakṣu ca dṛśyate||

No one sorrowful, no one poor, no one foolish or unrestrained in the senses; no mutual hostility is seen there, even among beasts.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.45.20)

अन्योन्यं सर्वमित्राणि अन्योन्यं चोपकारिणः। सर्वे दांताश्च शांताश्च सर्वे विद्योपदेशिनः॥

anyonyaṁ sarvamitrāṇi anyonyaṁ copakāriṇaḥ| sarve dāṁtāśca śāṁtāśca sarve vidyopadeśinaḥ||

All are friends to one another, and all are helpers to one another; all are self-controlled and peaceful, all instructors in learning.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.45.21)

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि वनान्युपवनानि च। हर्म्याणि च सुशुभ्राणि श्रेणीबद्धानि भांति वै॥

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi vanānyupavanāni ca| harmyāṇi ca suśubhrāṇi śreṇībaddhāni bhāṁti vai||

Delightful gardens, forests and groves, and gleaming white mansions arrayed in rows shine forth there.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.45.22)

नानारत्नसमाकीर्णैर्हेमकुंभैः सुशोभनैः। विराजंते विचित्राणि गीतवाद्यमहोत्सवैः॥

nānāratnasamākīrṇairhemakuṁbhaiḥ suśobhanaiḥ| virājaṁte vicitrāṇi gītavādyamahotsavaiḥ||

Adorned with beautiful golden vessels set with various jewels, wondrous dwellings shine forth, filled with song, music, and great festivity.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.45.23)

सदैव वसते यत्र उमया सह शंकरः। चंद्रचूडः कृत्तिवासाश्चिताभस्मांगलेपनः॥

sadaiva vasate yatra umayā saha śaṁkaraḥ| caṁdracūḍaḥ kṛttivāsāścitābhasmāṁgalepanaḥ||

There Shankara ever dwells together with Uma — the moon-crested one, clad in a hide, his limbs smeared with the ash of the funeral pyre.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.45.24)

चंद्रज्योत्स्नाकलापूर्णमरीचिभिः सदा बभौ। यत्र नो कृष्णपक्षोऽभून्नामावास्या न वै तमः॥

caṁdrajyotsnākalāpūrṇamarīcibhiḥ sadā babhau| yatra no kṛṣṇapakṣo'bhūnnāmāvāsyā na vai tamaḥ||

It ever shone, filled with the rays of the full moon's own light, where there was never a dark fortnight, nor a new moon, nor darkness at all.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.45.25)

सदैव पुष्पिता श्यामा बाल्यरूपवती यथा। हर्म्यपृष्ठे गवाक्षे च द्वाराजिरगृहांतरे॥

sadaiva puṣpitā śyāmā bālyarūpavatī yathā| harmyapṛṣṭhe gavākṣe ca dvārājiragṛhāṁtare||

Ever blossoming, dark and lovely, as though in the beauty of youth — upon rooftops, in lattice-windows, at doorways, courtyards and within the houses,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.45.26)

गिरिगह्वरकुंजेषु गुहाध्वांतांतरेषु च। आश्रमेषु च रम्येषु वनेषूपवनेषु च॥

girigahvarakuṁjeṣu guhādhvāṁtāṁtareṣu ca| āśrameṣu ca ramyeṣu vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca||

in mountain caverns and thickets, within the darkness of caves, in lovely hermitages, in forests and groves,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.45.27)

गृहदीर्घिकासु रम्यासु शालामालासु सर्वतः। चंद्रज्योत्स्नासमापूर्णा दृश्यंते धवला दिशः॥

gṛhadīrghikāsu ramyāsu śālāmālāsu sarvataḥ| caṁdrajyotsnāsamāpūrṇā dṛśyaṁte dhavalā diśaḥ||

in the lovely household pools, and everywhere among the rows of halls — filled with moonlight, every direction appeared white.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.45.28)

कुमुद्वतीप्रफुल्लानि विराजंते सरांसि च। ज्योतिर्गणसमाकीर्णं शरदीव नभःस्थलम्॥

kumudvatīpraphullāni virājaṁte sarāṁsi ca| jyotirgaṇasamākīrṇaṁ śaradīva nabhaḥsthalam||

The lakes shone forth, blossoming with kumuda flowers, as though it were the autumn sky filled with stars.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.45.29)

नद्यः सरांसि सर्वाणि वापीकूपसुपल्वलाः। कुमुद्वत्या समाकीर्णा आसीच्चांद्रमसी मही॥

nadyaḥ sarāṁsi sarvāṇi vāpīkūpasupalvalāḥ| kumudvatyā samākīrṇā āsīccāṁdramasī mahī||

The rivers, all the lakes, the step-wells, wells and pools were filled with kumuda-lotuses; the earth became as though made of moonlight.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.45.30)

यस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु प्रफुल्ला च कुमुद्वती। तस्मात्पद्मावती ह्येषा जाता कुमुद्वती पुरी॥

yasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu praphullā ca kumudvatī| tasmātpadmāvatī hyeṣā jātā kumudvatī purī||

Because kumuda-lotuses bloomed here at every season, this city of Padmavati therefore became known as the city of Kumudvati.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.45.31)

कुमुद्वत्यां नरा ये तु श्राद्धं कुर्युः समाहिताः। न तेषां पितरः स्वर्गाच्च्यवंते हि कदाचन॥

kumudvatyāṁ narā ye tu śrāddhaṁ kuryuḥ samāhitāḥ| na teṣāṁ pitaraḥ svargāccyavaṁte hi kadācana||

Those men who, with composed minds, perform shraddha rites in Kumudvati — their ancestors never fall from heaven.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.45.32)

अक्षयं लभते श्राद्धं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्। स्नानं दानं तथा होमो देवताराधनं तथा॥

akṣayaṁ labhate śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam| snānaṁ dānaṁ tathā homo devatārādhanaṁ tathā||

The shraddha they offer becomes imperishable, and whatever is given to the ancestors becomes imperishable; bathing, giving, oblation, and the worship of the gods likewise—

Verse 33 (skanda.5.45.33)

यत्किंचित्क्रियते कर्म तत्सर्वं चाक्षयं भवेत्। एवं कुमुद्वती जाता पुरी व्यास सनातनी॥

yatkiṁcitkriyate karma tatsarvaṁ cākṣayaṁ bhavet| evaṁ kumudvatī jātā purī vyāsa sanātanī||

—whatever act is performed here, all of it becomes imperishable. Thus, O Vyasa, this eternal city came to be Kumudvati.