The Greatness of Dhundheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.74.1)

श्रीरुद्र उवाच। ढुंढेश्वरं तृतीयं तु सुखस्वर्गफलप्रदम्। सर्वपापहरं लिंगं नृणां दुष्कृतनाशनम्

śrīrudra uvāca| ḍhuṁḍheśvaraṁ tṛtīyaṁ tu sukhasvargaphalapradam| sarvapāpaharaṁ liṁgaṁ nṛṇāṁ duṣkṛtanāśanam

Shri Rudra said: "The third is Dhundheshvara, bestowing the fruit of happiness and heaven — a linga that removes all sin, destroying the misdeeds of men."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.74.2)

ढुंढश्चासीत्पुरा देवि कैलासे गणनायकः। स च कामी दुराचारो व्यसनोपहतेन्द्रियः

ḍhuṁḍhaścāsītpurā devi kailāse gaṇanāyakaḥ| sa ca kāmī durācāro vyasanopahatendriyaḥ

Formerly, O Devi, there was on Kailasa a leader of the ganas named Dhundha; he was lustful, of bad conduct, his senses overpowered by vice.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.74.3)

गतोऽसौ शक्रलोकं तु कौतुकार्थं यदृच्छया। यत्र नृत्यति सा रंभा शक्रस्याग्रे विवृण्वती

gato'sau śakralokaṁ tu kautukārthaṁ yadṛcchayā| yatra nṛtyati sā raṁbhā śakrasyāgre vivṛṇvatī

He went, by chance, out of curiosity, to Indra's world, where Rambha was dancing, displaying her art before Indra.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.74.4)

भावान्बहुविधान्रम्यान्दृष्टिहस्तादिकाञ्छुभान्। सूचीविद्धादिकरणान्पताकादिकहस्तकान्। नृत्यं हस्तादिसंयुक्तं लयतालानुगं तथा

bhāvānbahuvidhānramyāndṛṣṭihastādikāñchubhān| sūcīviddhādikaraṇānpatākādikahastakān| nṛtyaṁ hastādisaṁyuktaṁ layatālānugaṁ tathā

She displayed many delightful expressions, auspicious poses of eye and hand, the sucī-viddha and other technical movements, the pataka and other hand-gestures — dance joined with the hands, following rhythm and beat.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.74.5)

शक्रोऽपि त्रिदशैः सार्द्धं तन्मुखासक्तलोचनः। बभूव हृष्टचेता वै हृषितांगरुहाननः

śakro'pi tridaśaiḥ sārddhaṁ tanmukhāsaktalocanaḥ| babhūva hṛṣṭacetā vai hṛṣitāṁgaruhānanaḥ

Indra too, together with the gods, his eyes fastened upon her face, became delighted at heart, his face and body-hairs thrilling with joy.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.74.6)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि ढुंढस्तल्ललितेन तु। कामरागवशेनैव भाव्यर्थेन च मोहितः

etasminnaṁtare devi ḍhuṁḍhastallalitena tu| kāmarāgavaśenaiva bhāvyarthena ca mohitaḥ

Meanwhile, O Devi, Dhundha, by her graceful charm, overcome by the power of lust and passion, and by her expressive art, became infatuated.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.74.7)

तेन रंगरता रंभा पुष्पगुच्छेन ताडिता। स शप्तो वासवेनैव दृष्ट्वाऽन्यायं गणस्य तु

tena raṁgaratā raṁbhā puṣpagucchena tāḍitā| sa śapto vāsavenaiva dṛṣṭvā'nyāyaṁ gaṇasya tu

By him, Rambha, absorbed in the performance, was struck with a bunch of flowers; seeing this wrong done by the gana, he was cursed by Vasava (Indra) himself —

Verse 8 (skanda.5.74.8)

पत त्वं मानुषं लोकं रंगभंगस्त्वया कृतः। इति शप्तो गणो देवि शक्रेणामिततेजसा

pata tvaṁ mānuṣaṁ lokaṁ raṁgabhaṁgastvayā kṛtaḥ| iti śapto gaṇo devi śakreṇāmitatejasā

"Fall to the world of men! You have broken up this performance!" — thus, O Devi, was the gana cursed by Shakra of boundless splendor.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.74.9)

पतितो मानुषे लोके विसंज्ञो विह्वलेन्द्रियः। कादिग्भूतो हतोत्साहो विललाप पुनःपुनः

patito mānuṣe loke visaṁjño vihvalendriyaḥ| kādigbhūto hatotsāho vilalāpa punaḥpunaḥ

Fallen into the human world, senseless, his faculties bewildered, disoriented, robbed of vigor, he lamented again and again —

Verse 10 (skanda.5.74.10)

अहोऽन्यायफलं प्राप्तं मया मोहादनुष्ठितम्। तस्मान्नीतिर्विधातव्या पुरुषेण विजानता

aho'nyāyaphalaṁ prāptaṁ mayā mohādanuṣṭhitam| tasmānnītirvidhātavyā puruṣeṇa vijānatā

"Ah, I have reaped the fruit of the wrong I committed out of delusion! Therefore a discerning man should observe the path of right conduct —"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.74.11)

न्यायमार्गं समाश्रित्य येन सिद्धिर्भवेन्मम

nyāyamārgaṁ samāśritya yena siddhirbhavenmama

"— taking refuge in the path of righteousness, by which accomplishment may come to me."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.74.12)

इत्युक्त्वा स तपस्तेपे महेंद्रे पर्वतोत्तमे। श्रीशैले मलये विंध्ये पारियात्रे यमालये

ityuktvā sa tapastepe maheṁdre parvatottame| śrīśaile malaye viṁdhye pāriyātre yamālaye

Having said this, he performed austerity on Mahendra, foremost of mountains, and on Shrishaila, Malaya, Vindhya, Pariyatra, and Yamalaya.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.74.13)

नो सिद्धोऽसौ यदा देवि तदा गंगामहत्तटम्। यमुनां चंद्रभागां च वितस्तां नर्मदां नदीम्

no siddho'sau yadā devi tadā gaṁgāmahattaṭam| yamunāṁ caṁdrabhāgāṁ ca vitastāṁ narmadāṁ nadīm

When he did not attain accomplishment thereby, O Devi, he went then to the great bank of the Ganga, and to the Yamuna, the Chandrabhaga, the Vitasta, and the river Narmada —

Verse 14 (skanda.5.74.14)

गोदावरीं भीमरथीं कौशिकीं शारदां शिवाम्। चर्मण्वतीं समासाद्य स्नात्वा त्यक्तक्रियोऽभवत्

godāvarīṁ bhīmarathīṁ kauśikīṁ śāradāṁ śivām| carmaṇvatīṁ samāsādya snātvā tyaktakriyo'bhavat

— reaching the Godavari, the Bhimarathi, the Kaushiki, the auspicious Sharada, and the Charmanvati, and bathing in them, he abandoned ritual observance.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.74.15)

तीर्थं व्यर्थं तपो व्यर्थं तीर्थयात्राफलं यतः। न प्राप्तं च मयाभीष्टमटता कर्मभूमिषु

tīrthaṁ vyarthaṁ tapo vyarthaṁ tīrthayātrāphalaṁ yataḥ| na prāptaṁ ca mayābhīṣṭamaṭatā karmabhūmiṣu

"Vain is the tirtha, vain the austerity, vain the fruit of pilgrimage — for wandering through the lands of karma, I have still not gained what I desired."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.74.16)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। आश्वासयंती गणपं महाकालायने व्रज

etasminnaṁtare devi vāguvācāśarīriṇī| āśvāsayaṁtī gaṇapaṁ mahākālāyane vraja

Meanwhile, O Devi, a bodiless voice spoke, consoling the lord of the ganas: "Go to the abode of Mahakala —"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.74.17)

प्रयागाद्यानि तीर्थानि पृथिव्यां यानि संति वै। सदा सिद्धिकरं तेषां महाकालं विशिष्यते

prayāgādyāni tīrthāni pṛthivyāṁ yāni saṁti vai| sadā siddhikaraṁ teṣāṁ mahākālaṁ viśiṣyate

"— of all the tirthas on earth, beginning with Prayaga, Mahakala is distinguished as the ever accomplishment-giving one among them."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.74.18)

तत्रास्ते सुमहापुण्यं लिंगं सर्वार्थसाधकम्। पिशाचेश्वरसांनिध्ये तमाराधय सत्वरम्

tatrāste sumahāpuṇyaṁ liṁgaṁ sarvārthasādhakam| piśāceśvarasāṁnidhye tamārādhaya satvaram

"There stands a most sacred linga, accomplisher of all aims, near Pishacheshvara — worship it swiftly."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.74.19)

प्रसादात्तस्य लिंगस्य पुनर्यास्यसि शांकरम्। लोकं तेजस्विनां गम्यं दुर्लभं पापिनां सदा

prasādāttasya liṁgasya punaryāsyasi śāṁkaram| lokaṁ tejasvināṁ gamyaṁ durlabhaṁ pāpināṁ sadā

"By the grace of that linga you shall go again to the world of Shankara — accessible to the radiant, and ever hard to attain for sinners."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.74.20)

इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाणीमाकाशस्थां गणस्तदा। आजगाम मुदा युक्तो महाकालवनोत्तमे

iti śrutvā tato vāṇīmākāśasthāṁ gaṇastadā| ājagāma mudā yukto mahākālavanottame

Hearing that voice which came from the sky, the gana then, filled with joy, arrived at the excellent Mahakala forest.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.74.21)

ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं सर्वसंपत्करं शुभम्। पूजयामास देवेशं भक्त्या परमया युतः

dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ sarvasaṁpatkaraṁ śubham| pūjayāmāsa deveśaṁ bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ

There he beheld that auspicious linga, bestower of all prosperity; endowed with supreme devotion, he worshipped the Lord of gods.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.74.22)

लिंगमध्यात्ततो वाणी निःसृता पर्वतात्मजे। अहो तुष्टोस्मि ते वत्स किं कामं प्रददाम्यहम्

liṁgamadhyāttato vāṇī niḥsṛtā parvatātmaje| aho tuṣṭosmi te vatsa kiṁ kāmaṁ pradadāmyaham

Then, O daughter of the mountain, a voice issued from the midst of the linga: "Ah, my child, I am pleased with you; what desire shall I grant you?"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.74.23)

ढुंढ उवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश शरणागतवत्सल। त्वत्पादपंकजे भूयाद्भक्तिर्मेऽविचला सदा

ḍhuṁḍha uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa śaraṇāgatavatsala| tvatpādapaṁkaje bhūyādbhaktirme'vicalā sadā

Dhundha said: "If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, kind to those who take refuge in you, then may my devotion at your lotus feet remain ever unwavering —"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.74.24)

वरमेनं प्रयच्छाशु यदि तुष्टो महेश्वरः

varamenaṁ prayacchāśu yadi tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ

"— grant me this boon swiftly, if Maheshvara is pleased —"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.74.25)

ये च त्वां मानवा देव पश्यंति परमेश्वर। पापात्सद्यो विनिर्मुक्तास्ते भवंतु महीतले

ye ca tvāṁ mānavā deva paśyaṁti parameśvara| pāpātsadyo vinirmuktāste bhavaṁtu mahītale

"— and, O Supreme Lord, may those men who behold you be instantly freed from sin here on earth."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.74.26)

ढुंढस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लिंगेनोक्तं यशस्विनि। ये च मां पूजयिष्यंति श्रद्धया परया पुनः। ते भविष्यंति सततं सदा पातकवर्जिताः

ḍhuṁḍhasya bhāṣitaṁ śrutvā liṁgenoktaṁ yaśasvini| ye ca māṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti śraddhayā parayā punaḥ| te bhaviṣyaṁti satataṁ sadā pātakavarjitāḥ

Hearing Dhundha's words, the linga spoke, O glorious one: "Those who shall worship me again and again with the highest faith — they shall ever remain constantly free from sin —"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.74.27)

लप्स्यंति ते परान्कामान्भविष्यंति गणोत्तमाः। पूज्याः सर्वेषु लोकेषु सर्वालंकारभूषिताः

lapsyaṁti te parānkāmānbhaviṣyaṁti gaṇottamāḥ| pūjyāḥ sarveṣu lokeṣu sarvālaṁkārabhūṣitāḥ

"— they shall attain their highest desires, become foremost among the ganas, worshipped in all worlds, adorned with every ornament."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.74.28)

एवं लब्धवरो ढुंढः प्रांजलिः पुनरब्रवीत्। मन्नाम्ना प्रथितं लिंगं संभूयाद्भुवने सदा

evaṁ labdhavaro ḍhuṁḍhaḥ prāṁjaliḥ punarabravīt| mannāmnā prathitaṁ liṁgaṁ saṁbhūyādbhuvane sadā

Dhundha, having thus obtained the boon, with joined palms spoke again: "May this linga become ever renowned in the world by my name."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.74.29)

एवमस्त्विति लिंगेन प्रोक्तं तुष्टेन पार्वति। तदाप्रभृति विख्यातो देवो ढुंढेश्वरः परः

evamastviti liṁgena proktaṁ tuṣṭena pārvati| tadāprabhṛti vikhyāto devo ḍhuṁḍheśvaraḥ paraḥ

"So be it," said the linga, pleased, O Parvati — and from that time the supreme god became renowned as Dhundheshvara.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.74.30)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सदा सिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्

yasya darśanamātreṇa sadā siddhirbhavennṛṇām

By the mere sight of whom, accomplishment ever comes to men.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.74.31)

भक्त्या ये पूजयिष्यंति देवं ढुंढेश्वरं परम्। आजन्मप्रभवं पापं तेषां यास्यति तत्क्षणात्

bhaktyā ye pūjayiṣyaṁti devaṁ ḍhuṁḍheśvaraṁ param| ājanmaprabhavaṁ pāpaṁ teṣāṁ yāsyati tatkṣaṇāt

Those who shall worship with devotion the supreme god Dhundheshvara — the sin that has arisen since their birth shall depart from them at that very instant.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.74.32)

स एव सुकृती लोके स एव मम वल्लभः। यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या लिंगं ढुंढेश्वरं परम्

sa eva sukṛtī loke sa eva mama vallabhaḥ| yaḥ paśyati naro bhaktyā liṁgaṁ ḍhuṁḍheśvaraṁ param

He alone is meritorious in this world, he alone is dear to me, the man who beholds the supreme linga Dhundheshvara with devotion.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.74.33)

राजसूयशतेनैव यत्पुण्यं च भविष्यति। ततो भविष्यत्यधिकं ढुंढेश्वरनिरीक्षणात्

rājasūyaśatenaiva yatpuṇyaṁ ca bhaviṣyati| tato bhaviṣyatyadhikaṁ ḍhuṁḍheśvaranirīkṣaṇāt

Whatever merit would arise from a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, a greater merit than that shall arise from beholding Dhundheshvara.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.74.34)

मानसं वाचिकं वापि कायिकं गुह्यसंभवम्। प्रकाशं वाऽप्रकाशं च प्रसंगादपि यत्कृतम्। तत्सर्वं यास्यति क्षिप्रं ढुंढेश्वरस्य दर्शनात्

mānasaṁ vācikaṁ vāpi kāyikaṁ guhyasaṁbhavam| prakāśaṁ vā'prakāśaṁ ca prasaṁgādapi yatkṛtam| tatsarvaṁ yāsyati kṣipraṁ ḍhuṁḍheśvarasya darśanāt

Whatever sin, mental, verbal, or bodily, arisen in secrecy, whether open or hidden, done even incidentally — all of it swiftly departs through the sight of Dhundheshvara.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.74.35)

इत्युक्तस्तु मया देवि स ढुंढो गणनायकः। कृतो लिंगस्य माहात्म्याद्गतो लोके मदीयके। रेजे च गणपैः सार्द्धं ममाभीष्टतरोऽभवत्

ityuktastu mayā devi sa ḍhuṁḍho gaṇanāyakaḥ| kṛto liṁgasya māhātmyādgato loke madīyake| reje ca gaṇapaiḥ sārddhaṁ mamābhīṣṭataro'bhavat

Thus addressed by me, O Devi, that lord of the ganas, Dhundha, by the greatness of the linga, was brought to my world; he shone together with the leaders of the ganas, and became exceedingly dear to me.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.74.36)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। श्रवणात्कीर्त्तनाद्वापि मम लोके महीयते

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| śravaṇātkīrttanādvāpi mama loke mahīyate

This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying glory that has been told to you; by merely hearing it, or even by proclaiming it, one is glorified in my world.