The Greatness of Guheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.73.1)

श्रीरुद्र उवाच। शृणु गुहेश्वरं लिंगं द्वितीयं पापनाशनम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जायते सिद्धिरुत्तमा

śrīrudra uvāca| śṛṇu guheśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ dvitīyaṁ pāpanāśanam| yasya darśanamātreṇa jāyate siddhiruttamā

Shri Rudra said: "Listen now to the Guheshvara linga, the second, destroyer of sin, by the mere sight of which supreme accomplishment (siddhi) is born."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.73.2)

पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे देवदारुवने शुभे। ऋषिर्मंकणकोनाम वेदवेदांगपारगः। योगाभ्यासरतो नित्यं शांतिदांतिसमास्थितिः

purā rāthaṁtare kalpe devadāruvane śubhe| ṛṣirmaṁkaṇakonāma vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ| yogābhyāsarato nityaṁ śāṁtidāṁtisamāsthitiḥ

Long ago, in the Rathantara kalpa, in the auspicious Devadaru forest, there lived a sage named Mankanaka, versed in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, ever devoted to the practice of yoga, established in peace and self-restraint.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.73.3)

सिद्धिकामस्तपस्तेपे कथं सिद्धो भवाम्यहम्। रक्तमयविकारोयं कथं यास्यति संक्षयम्

siddhikāmastapastepe kathaṁ siddho bhavāmyaham| raktamayavikāroyaṁ kathaṁ yāsyati saṁkṣayam

Desiring accomplishment, he performed austerity, thinking: "How shall I become perfected? How shall this affliction that is made of blood come to its end?"

Verse 4 (skanda.5.73.4)

इति संचिंत्य हृदये प्रारब्धं तप उत्तमम्। बहून्यब्दसहस्राणि तस्यातीतानि पार्वति

iti saṁciṁtya hṛdaye prārabdhaṁ tapa uttamam| bahūnyabdasahasrāṇi tasyātītāni pārvati

Thinking thus in his heart, he began a supreme austerity; O Parvati, many thousands of years passed for him.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.73.5)

कस्मिंश्चिदथ काले तु विद्धस्य पर्वतात्मजे। कराच्छाकरसो जातः कुशाग्रेण तदैव हि

kasmiṁścidatha kāle tu viddhasya parvatātmaje| karācchākaraso jātaḥ kuśāgreṇa tadaiva hi

Then at a certain time, O daughter of the mountain, when his hand was pierced by the tip of a kusha blade, at that very moment plant-sap issued from his hand.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.73.6)

स च दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यं विस्मयं परमं गतः। मेने सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तां सगर्वो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

sa ca dṛṣṭvā tadāścaryaṁ vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ| mene siddhiṁ parāṁ prāptāṁ sagarvo vākyamabravīt

Seeing that wonder, he became filled with the utmost astonishment; taking it that he had attained supreme accomplishment, he spoke, swollen with pride:

Verse 7 (skanda.5.73.7)

अहो तपःप्रभावोऽयं प्राप्ता सिद्धिर्मयाद्य वै। मत्तुल्यो नास्ति वै विप्रो येन सिद्धिः समागता

aho tapaḥprabhāvo'yaṁ prāptā siddhirmayādya vai| mattulyo nāsti vai vipro yena siddhiḥ samāgatā

"Ah, this is the power of my austerity! Today indeed I have attained perfection. There is no brahmin equal to me, by whom such accomplishment has been reached."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.73.8)

शरीरं कुत्सितं चेदं मलमूत्रेण संयुतम्। मेदस्नायुवसापृक्तमांसशोणितपूरितम्। हर्षेण महता युक्तः स ननर्त्त द्विजस्तथा

śarīraṁ kutsitaṁ cedaṁ malamūtreṇa saṁyutam| medasnāyuvasāpṛktamāṁsaśoṇitapūritam| harṣeṇa mahatā yuktaḥ sa nanartta dvijastathā

"This body is a vile thing, joined with filth and urine, filled with fat, sinew, flesh and blood" — so thinking, that twice-born one, overcome with great joy, began to dance.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.73.9)

एतस्मिन्नृत्यति विप्रे जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्। अनृत्यद्रागसंयुक्तं प्रभावात्तस्य वै मुनेः

etasminnṛtyati vipre jagatsthāvarajaṁgamam| anṛtyadrāgasaṁyuktaṁ prabhāvāttasya vai muneḥ

As that brahmin danced, through the power of that sage, the whole world, moving and unmoving, danced along, seized with the same passion.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.73.10)

न स्वाध्यायो वषट्कारः कर्मकांडो न च क्वचित्

na svādhyāyo vaṣaṭkāraḥ karmakāṁḍo na ca kvacit

Nowhere was there any more Vedic recitation, nor the ritual cry of "vashat", nor any rite of the karma-kanda.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.73.11)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिपुरःसराः। मामूचुर्विस्मिताः सर्वे नाथ नृत्यं तदा कुरु

etasminnaṁtare devā brahmaviṣṇvādipuraḥsarāḥ| māmūcurvismitāḥ sarve nātha nṛtyaṁ tadā kuru

Meanwhile the gods, led by Brahma and Vishnu, all astonished, said to me: "O Lord, do something now about this dance —"

Verse 12 (skanda.5.73.12)

ऋषौ मंकणके देव नृत्यति नृत्यति सर्वतः। सदेवासुरमानुष्यं सर्वं लोकत्रयं विभो

ṛṣau maṁkaṇake deva nṛtyati nṛtyati sarvataḥ| sadevāsuramānuṣyaṁ sarvaṁ lokatrayaṁ vibho

"— for as the sage Mankanaka dances, O Lord, all the three worlds, with gods, asuras and men, dance everywhere along with him."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.73.13)

चलिताः पर्वताः स्थानात्क्षुभिता मेघपंक्तयः। शिखराणि विशीर्यंते धरणी पीडिता भृशम्

calitāḥ parvatāḥ sthānātkṣubhitā meghapaṁktayaḥ| śikharāṇi viśīryaṁte dharaṇī pīḍitā bhṛśam

"The mountains have shifted from their places, the ranks of clouds are in turmoil, the peaks are crumbling, the earth is grievously afflicted."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.73.14)

स्रोतोमात्रा महानद्यो ग्रहा उन्मार्गतः स्थिताः

srotomātrā mahānadyo grahā unmārgataḥ sthitāḥ

"The great rivers have left their very channels, the planets stand off their courses."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.73.15)

त्रैलोक्यं व्याकुलीभूतं यावन्नायाति संक्षयम्। तावन्निवारयस्वैनं नान्यः शक्तो विना त्वया

trailokyaṁ vyākulībhūtaṁ yāvannāyāti saṁkṣayam| tāvannivārayasvainaṁ nānyaḥ śakto vinā tvayā

"The three worlds have become distraught; before they go to utter ruin, restrain him — none but you is capable of it."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.73.16)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा त्रिदशानां यशस्विनि। प्रतिज्ञातं मयात्यर्थं गत्वा तस्य समीपतः

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tridaśānāṁ yaśasvini| pratijñātaṁ mayātyarthaṁ gatvā tasya samīpataḥ

Hearing that speech of the thirty gods, O glorious one, I firmly resolved, and went close to him.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.73.17)

द्विजरूपं समास्थाय मया पृष्टो द्विजोत्तमः। किमर्थं नृत्यसि ब्रह्मन्कस्मात्ते हर्ष आगतः

dvijarūpaṁ samāsthāya mayā pṛṣṭo dvijottamaḥ| kimarthaṁ nṛtyasi brahmankasmātte harṣa āgataḥ

Assuming the form of a brahmin, I asked that foremost of the twice-born: "Why do you dance, O Brahmin? From where has this joy come to you?"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.73.18)

विरुद्धमृषिधर्माणां कामरागेण नर्त्तनम्। गीतं च नर्त्तनं चैव युवतीजनवल्लभम्

viruddhamṛṣidharmāṇāṁ kāmarāgeṇa narttanam| gītaṁ ca narttanaṁ caiva yuvatījanavallabham

"Dancing born of passion and desire is contrary to the dharma of sages; song and dance are things dear to young women —"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.73.19)

ब्राह्मणस्य तपोभ्रंशः सदाचारस्य सत्तम। इति मत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ किमर्थं नृत्यसे भृशम्

brāhmaṇasya tapobhraṁśaḥ sadācārasya sattama| iti matvā dvijaśreṣṭha kimarthaṁ nṛtyase bhṛśam

"— for a brahmin, O worthy one, they ruin austerity and good conduct. Thinking thus, O foremost of the twice-born, why do you dance so excessively?"

Verse 20 (skanda.5.73.20)

ऋषिरुवाच। किं न पश्यसि भो ब्रह्मन्कराच्छाकरसं च्युतम्। अतएव हि मे नृत्यं सिद्धोऽहं नात्र संशयः

ṛṣiruvāca| kiṁ na paśyasi bho brahmankarācchākarasaṁ cyutam| ataeva hi me nṛtyaṁ siddho'haṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

The sage said: "Do you not see, O Brahmin, the plant-sap that has fallen from my hand? This is precisely why I dance — I am a siddha, there is no doubt of it."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.73.21)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हासोऽतीव मया कृतः। अंगुष्ठस्ताडितः स्वीयोंगुल्यग्रेण च पार्वति

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā hāso'tīva mayā kṛtaḥ| aṁguṣṭhastāḍitaḥ svīyoṁgulyagreṇa ca pārvati

Hearing his words, I laughed greatly; and, O Parvati, I struck my own thumb with the tip of my finger.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.73.22)

ततो विनिर्गतं भस्म तत्क्षणाद्धिमपांडुरम्। हासेनोक्तो विशालाक्षि सगर्वो ब्राह्मणो मया

tato vinirgataṁ bhasma tatkṣaṇāddhimapāṁḍuram| hāsenokto viśālākṣi sagarvo brāhmaṇo mayā

Then, at that very instant, ash white as snow issued forth. Laughing, O wide-eyed one, I spoke to that proud brahmin —

Verse 23 (skanda.5.73.23)

पश्य मेंऽगुष्ठतो ब्रह्मन्भूरि भस्म विनिर्गतम्। न नृत्येहं न मे हर्षस्तथापि मुनिस्समः

paśya meṁ'guṣṭhato brahmanbhūri bhasma vinirgatam| na nṛtyehaṁ na me harṣastathāpi munissamaḥ

"Behold, O Brahmin — from my very thumb abundant ash has come forth; yet I do not dance, nor do I feel any joy — even so, I remain a sage of even mind."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.73.24)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं लज्जितो द्विजसत्तमः। धैर्यं च तादृशं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṁ lajjito dvijasattamaḥ| dhairyaṁ ca tādṛśaṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Seeing that great wonder, the foremost of the twice-born felt ashamed; and beholding such composure, he became utterly astonished.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.73.25)

अब्रवीत्प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा विस्मितेनांतरात्मना। नान्यं देवमहं मन्ये त्वां मुक्त्वा वृषभध्वजम्

abravītprāṁjalirbhūtvā vismitenāṁtarātmanā| nānyaṁ devamahaṁ manye tvāṁ muktvā vṛṣabhadhvajam

With joined palms, his inmost self astonished, he said: "I acknowledge no other god but you, O bull-bannered one."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.73.26)

नान्यस्य विद्यते शक्तिरीदृशी भुवनत्रये। तस्मात्क्षमस्व देवेश मयाज्ञानादनुष्ठितम्

nānyasya vidyate śaktirīdṛśī bhuvanatraye| tasmātkṣamasva deveśa mayājñānādanuṣṭhitam

"No other has such power in the three worlds. Therefore forgive, O Lord of gods, what has been done by me out of ignorance."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.73.27)

तपःक्षयकरं कर्म विरुद्धं नर्त्तनं सताम्। बहुकालार्जितं पुण्यं तपसा दुष्करेण तु। तद्गतं सहसा देव मदीयं नर्त्तनेन तु

tapaḥkṣayakaraṁ karma viruddhaṁ narttanaṁ satām| bahukālārjitaṁ puṇyaṁ tapasā duṣkareṇa tu| tadgataṁ sahasā deva madīyaṁ narttanena tu

"This act of dancing, contrary to the way of the virtuous, destroys austerity; the merit gained over a long time by hard penance, O God, has suddenly been lost through this dancing of mine."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.73.28)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मयोक्तो द्विजसत्तमः। वरं वरय भद्रं ते तुष्टोऽहं द्विजसत्तम

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā mayokto dvijasattamaḥ| varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te tuṣṭo'haṁ dvijasattama

Hearing his words, I said to that foremost brahmin: "Choose a boon, may it be well with you; I am pleased, O best of the twice-born."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.73.29)

ज्ञानेनानेन विप्रेंद्र कं ते कामं करोम्यहम्

jñānenānena vipreṁdra kaṁ te kāmaṁ karomyaham

"By this knowledge now gained, O lord among brahmins, what desire of yours shall I fulfill?"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.73.30)

ऋषिरुवाच। यदि देव प्रसन्नस्त्वं शरणागतवत्सल। यथा न स्यात्तपोहानिस्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्

ṛṣiruvāca| yadi deva prasannastvaṁ śaraṇāgatavatsala| yathā na syāttapohānistathā nītirvidhīyatām

The sage said: "If you are pleased, O God, kind to those who take refuge in you, then ordain such a course that there be no loss of my austerity."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.73.31)

मया प्रोक्तं प्रसन्नेन तस्य विप्रस्य पार्वति। तपस्ते वर्द्धतां विप्र महाकालवनं व्रज

mayā proktaṁ prasannena tasya viprasya pārvati| tapaste varddhatāṁ vipra mahākālavanaṁ vraja

Being pleased, I said to that brahmin, O Parvati: "May your austerity increase, O brahmin; go to the Mahakala forest."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.73.32)

तत्रास्ते सर्वदा पुण्या सप्तकल्पोद्भवा गुहा। पिशाचेश्वरदेवस्य उत्तरेण व्यवस्थिता

tatrāste sarvadā puṇyā saptakalpodbhavā guhā| piśāceśvaradevasya uttareṇa vyavasthitā

"There stands ever the sacred cave, existing since seven kalpas, situated to the north of the god Pishacheshvara."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.73.33)

तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि यल्लिंगं सप्तकल्पोद्भवं शुभम्। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण तपस्ते वृद्धिमेष्यति

tatra drakṣyasi yalliṁgaṁ saptakalpodbhavaṁ śubham| tasya darśanamātreṇa tapaste vṛddhimeṣyati

"There you shall see that auspicious linga, arisen since seven kalpas; by the mere sight of it, your austerity shall increase."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.73.34)

कामक्रोधोद्भवं पापं लोभमोहसमन्वितम्। ईर्ष्यामत्सरजं चैव नाशं याति च किल्बिषम्

kāmakrodhodbhavaṁ pāpaṁ lobhamohasamanvitam| īrṣyāmatsarajaṁ caiva nāśaṁ yāti ca kilbiṣam

"Sin born of desire and anger, joined with greed and delusion, and the taint born of envy and malice — all shall go to destruction."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.73.35)

मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा स विप्रो वेदपारगः। श्रुत्वा च नियमं देवि मदुक्तं स ततो द्विजः

madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā sa vipro vedapāragaḥ| śrutvā ca niyamaṁ devi maduktaṁ sa tato dvijaḥ

Having heard my words, that brahmin who was versed in the Vedas — having heard, O Devi, the rule spoken by me, that twice-born one —

Verse 36 (skanda.5.73.36)

निःसृतो नियतो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्य पुनःपुनः। आजगाम गुहां यत्र महाकालवनोत्तमे

niḥsṛto niyato bhūtvā namaskṛtya punaḥpunaḥ| ājagāma guhāṁ yatra mahākālavanottame

— set out, having become disciplined, bowing again and again, and arrived at the cave in the excellent Mahakala forest.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.73.37)

ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं तपसो वर्द्धनं परम्। द्वादशादित्यसंकाशो जातो वै लिंगदर्शनात्

dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ tapaso varddhanaṁ param| dvādaśādityasaṁkāśo jāto vai liṁgadarśanāt

There he beheld that linga, the supreme increaser of austerity; from the sight of the linga he became radiant as twelve suns.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.73.38)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि देवैरुक्तं नभस्तले। गोप्यं लिंगं गुहोत्थं तु दृष्टं मंकणकेन तु

etasminnaṁtare devi devairuktaṁ nabhastale| gopyaṁ liṁgaṁ guhotthaṁ tu dṛṣṭaṁ maṁkaṇakena tu

Meanwhile, O Devi, it was said by the gods in the sky: "That secret linga arisen from the cave has indeed been seen by Mankanaka —"

Verse 39 (skanda.5.73.39)

सिद्धिः प्राप्ता द्विजेनैव दर्शनेन सुदुर्लभा। तस्माद्गुहेश्वरो देवि भविष्यति महीतले

siddhiḥ prāptā dvijenaiva darśanena sudurlabhā| tasmādguheśvaro devi bhaviṣyati mahītale

"— and that most rare accomplishment has been attained by the brahmin through sight alone. Therefore, O Devi, this linga shall become known on earth as Guheshvara."

Verse 40 (skanda.5.73.40)

भक्त्या परमयोपेता ये द्रक्ष्यंति गुहेश्वरम्। न तेषां जायते विघ्नो धर्मस्य तपसस्तथा

bhaktyā paramayopetā ye drakṣyaṁti guheśvaram| na teṣāṁ jāyate vighno dharmasya tapasastathā

Those who, endowed with supreme devotion, behold Guheshvara — for them no obstacle arises, either to dharma or to austerity.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.73.41)

अष्टम्यां वा चतुर्दश्यां दर्शनं यः करिष्यति। ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यंति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः

aṣṭamyāṁ vā caturdaśyāṁ darśanaṁ yaḥ kariṣyati| brahmalokaṁ gamiṣyaṁti pitarastasya dehinaḥ

Whoever shall behold it on the eighth or the fourteenth lunar day — his ancestors, though embodied, shall go to the world of Brahma.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.73.42)

अत्रागत्य प्रयत्नेन दर्शनं यः करिष्यति। उद्धरिष्यति चात्मानं पुरुषानेकविंशतिम्

atrāgatya prayatnena darśanaṁ yaḥ kariṣyati| uddhariṣyati cātmānaṁ puruṣānekaviṁśatim

Whoever, having come here with effort, shall behold it — he shall deliver himself, and twenty-one generations of forebears with him.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.73.43)

कृत्वा पापसहस्राणि दर्शनं यः करिष्यति। स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र देवो महेश्वरः

kṛtvā pāpasahasrāṇi darśanaṁ yaḥ kariṣyati| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra devo maheśvaraḥ

Even one who has committed thousands of sins, if he beholds it, goes to that supreme abode where the god Maheshvara dwells.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.73.44)

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वंगनागमः। दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य सर्वं यास्यति संक्षयम्

brahmahatyā surāpānaṁ steyaṁ gurvaṁganāgamaḥ| darśanāttasya liṁgasya sarvaṁ yāsyati saṁkṣayam

The killing of a brahmin, the drinking of liquor, theft, and violating the teacher's marriage-bed — by the sight of that linga, all these come to destruction.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.73.45)

यत्किंचिदशुभं कर्म जन्मकोटिशतार्जितम्। क्षयं यास्यति तत्सर्वं स्पर्शमात्रेण नान्यथा

yatkiṁcidaśubhaṁ karma janmakoṭiśatārjitam| kṣayaṁ yāsyati tatsarvaṁ sparśamātreṇa nānyathā

Whatever inauspicious deed has been accrued over a hundred crore births — all of it goes to destruction by mere touch of the linga, and not otherwise.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.73.46)

महापातकयुक्ता हि देहिनो ये महीतले। तेऽपि लिंगं समासाद्य मुच्यंते सर्वपातकैः

mahāpātakayuktā hi dehino ye mahītale| te'pi liṁgaṁ samāsādya mucyaṁte sarvapātakaiḥ

Even those embodied beings on earth who are joined with the great sins — they too, upon reaching this linga, are freed from all sins.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.73.47)

इत्युक्त्वा स द्विजो देवि दिव्यो मंकणको मुनिः। कृत्वाश्रमपदं पुण्यं तत्रैव तपसि स्थितः

ityuktvā sa dvijo devi divyo maṁkaṇako muniḥ| kṛtvāśramapadaṁ puṇyaṁ tatraiva tapasi sthitaḥ

Having spoken thus, O Devi, that divine twice-born sage Mankanaka made his sacred hermitage there itself, and remained fixed in austerity.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.73.48)

एष वै कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। श्रवणात्कीर्त्तनाद्वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

eṣa vai kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| śravaṇātkīrttanādvāpi sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying glory that has been told; by merely hearing it, or even reciting it, one is freed from all sins.