The Greatness of Damarukeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.75.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। ख्यातोऽवंत्यां चतुर्थोऽसौ देवो डमरुकेश्वरः। दृष्टे यस्मिञ्जगन्नाथे याति पापं च संक्षयम्

śrīmahādeva uvāca| khyāto'vaṁtyāṁ caturtho'sau devo ḍamarukeśvaraḥ| dṛṣṭe yasmiñjagannāthe yāti pāpaṁ ca saṁkṣayam

Shri Mahadeva said: "Renowned in Avanti is this fourth god, Damarukeshvara; when this Lord of the world is beheld, sin goes to its destruction."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.75.2)

पुरा वैवस्वते कल्पे रुरुर्नाम महासुरः। तस्य पुत्रो महाबाहुर्वज्रोनाम महाबलः। बभूव सुमहाकायस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो भयंकरः

purā vaivasvate kalpe rururnāma mahāsuraḥ| tasya putro mahābāhurvajronāma mahābalaḥ| babhūva sumahākāyastīkṣṇadaṁṣṭro bhayaṁkaraḥ

Long ago, in the Vaivasvata kalpa, there was a great asura named Ruru; his son, mighty-armed and of great strength, named Vajra, was of huge body, sharp-fanged, and terrifying.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.75.3)

तेन देवाः स्वाधिकाराच्चालितास्त्रिदशालयात्

tena devāḥ svādhikārāccālitāstridaśālayāt

By him the gods were driven from their own domain, from the abode of the thirty gods.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.75.4)

ततो नीतं धनं तेषां ब्रह्माणं ते ततो ययुः। ब्रह्मापि भयसंविग्नो बभूवाकुलितेंद्रियः

tato nītaṁ dhanaṁ teṣāṁ brahmāṇaṁ te tato yayuḥ| brahmāpi bhayasaṁvigno babhūvākuliteṁdriyaḥ

Then their wealth was seized; thereupon they went to Brahma. Brahma too, shaken with fear, became one whose senses were distraught.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.75.5)

ज्ञात्वावध्यं सुरैः सार्धं सर्वैः सोऽथ महाबलः। तेषु नष्टेषु ये विप्रा यज्वानोऽथ तपस्विनः। ताञ्जघान स दुष्टात्मा ये चान्ये धर्मचारिणः

jñātvāvadhyaṁ suraiḥ sārdhaṁ sarvaiḥ so'tha mahābalaḥ| teṣu naṣṭeṣu ye viprā yajvāno'tha tapasvinaḥ| tāñjaghāna sa duṣṭātmā ye cānye dharmacāriṇaḥ

That mighty, evil-souled one, knowing himself unslayable even by all the gods together, when they had fled, slew the brahmins who were sacrificers and ascetics, and other doers of dharma besides.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.75.6)

निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं तदासीद्धरणीतलम्। नष्टयज्ञोत्सवं देवि हाहाभूतमचेतनम्

niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāraṁ tadāsīddharaṇītalam| naṣṭayajñotsavaṁ devi hāhābhūtamacetanam

Then the surface of the earth became void of Vedic recitation and the cry of "vashat"; O Devi, its sacrificial festivals destroyed, it became filled with lamentation, as though lifeless.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.75.7)

ततः प्रव्यथिता देवास्तथा सर्वे महर्षयः। समेत्यामंत्रयन्मंत्रं वधार्थं तस्य दुर्मतेः

tataḥ pravyathitā devāstathā sarve maharṣayaḥ| sametyāmaṁtrayanmaṁtraṁ vadhārthaṁ tasya durmateḥ

Then the distressed gods, and all the great sages too, assembled and took counsel together for the slaying of that evil-minded one.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.75.8)

ततः कायोऽभवत्सद्यः सर्वेषां पुरतस्तदा। तेषां चिंतयतां देवि तेजःपुंजेन चावृतः

tataḥ kāyo'bhavatsadyaḥ sarveṣāṁ puratastadā| teṣāṁ ciṁtayatāṁ devi tejaḥpuṁjena cāvṛtaḥ

Then, instantly, before all of them, as they pondered, O Devi, a body arose, enveloped in a mass of splendor.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.75.9)

तस्मात्कृत्या समुत्पन्ना दिव्या कमललोचना। द्योतयंती दिशः सर्वाः स्वतेजोभिः समंततः

tasmātkṛtyā samutpannā divyā kamalalocanā| dyotayaṁtī diśaḥ sarvāḥ svatejobhiḥ samaṁtataḥ

From it, a divine created being (kritya) arose, lotus-eyed, illuminating every quarter with her own splendor on every side.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.75.10)

साब्रवीत्त्रिदशान्सर्वान्कस्मात्सृष्टा ह्यहं सुराः। यत्कर्तव्यं मया कर्म तच्छीघ्रं संनिवेद्यताम्

sābravīttridaśānsarvānkasmātsṛṣṭā hyahaṁ surāḥ| yatkartavyaṁ mayā karma tacchīghraṁ saṁnivedyatām

She said to all the gods: "For what purpose have I been created, O gods? Let the task I must perform be quickly declared to me."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.75.11)

ततस्तु त्रिदशाः सर्वे श्रुत्वा तस्याः शुभा गिरः। आचख्युः सकलं तस्यै तदा वज्रस्य चेष्टितम्

tatastu tridaśāḥ sarve śrutvā tasyāḥ śubhā giraḥ| ācakhyuḥ sakalaṁ tasyai tadā vajrasya ceṣṭitam

Then all the gods, hearing her auspicious speech, related to her the entire conduct of Vajra.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.75.12)

श्रुत्वा जहास सा देवी साट्टहासं मुहुर्मुहुः। तस्या हसंत्या निःसस्रुः कन्याः कमललोचनाः

śrutvā jahāsa sā devī sāṭṭahāsaṁ muhurmuhuḥ| tasyā hasaṁtyā niḥsasruḥ kanyāḥ kamalalocanāḥ

Hearing this, that goddess laughed loudly, again and again; and from her, as she laughed, lotus-eyed maidens streamed forth.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.75.13)

पाशांकुशधरा रौद्रा ज्वालामालावृताननाः। फेत्कारेण च संनादैश्चालयंत्यश्चराचरम्

pāśāṁkuśadharā raudrā jvālāmālāvṛtānanāḥ| phetkāreṇa ca saṁnādaiścālayaṁtyaścarācaram

Bearing noose and goad, fierce of form, their faces wreathed in garlands of flame, they shook the moving and unmoving world with shrieking cries and roars.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.75.14)

गताः सर्वा महादेवि यत्र वज्रो महासुरः। युद्धं तु तुमुलं जातं ताभिस्तस्य भयावहम्

gatāḥ sarvā mahādevi yatra vajro mahāsuraḥ| yuddhaṁ tu tumulaṁ jātaṁ tābhistasya bhayāvaham

All of them, O great Devi, went to where the great asura Vajra was; a tumultuous, terrifying battle arose between them and him.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.75.15)

शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैर्व्याप्तं चैव दिगंतरम्। संनद्धाखिलसैन्यास्ते युयुधुः समरे भृशम्

śastrāstrairbahudhā muktairvyāptaṁ caiva digaṁtaram| saṁnaddhākhilasainyāste yuyudhuḥ samare bhṛśam

The intervening quarters were filled with weapons and missiles released in many ways; those armies, all arrayed for war, fought fiercely in the battle.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.75.16)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तया देव्या सुरद्विषाम्। ततो मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्द्दयन्तं महासुरान्। पराङ्मुखं बलं दृष्ट्वा वज्रो मायामथासृजत्

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṁ tayā devyā suradviṣām| tato mātṛgaṇaṁ kruddhaṁ marddayantaṁ mahāsurān| parāṅmukhaṁ balaṁ dṛṣṭvā vajro māyāmathāsṛjat

Then the battle of that goddess against the foes of the gods proceeded; then, seeing the enraged company of Mothers crushing the great asuras, and his own army turning back, Vajra conjured up an illusion —

Verse 17 (skanda.5.75.17)

तामसीं नाम दुःसाध्यां यया मुह्यति कन्यकाः

tāmasīṁ nāma duḥsādhyāṁ yayā muhyati kanyakāḥ

— called Tamasi, hard to overcome, by which the maidens became bewildered.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.75.18)

तमोभूते ततस्तस्मिन्सा देवी भयविह्वला। ताभिः सार्द्धं समायाता महाकालवनोत्तमम्

tamobhūte tatastasminsā devī bhayavihvalā| tābhiḥ sārddhaṁ samāyātā mahākālavanottamam

When that place had become enveloped in darkness, that goddess, overcome with fear, came together with them to the excellent Mahakala forest —

Verse 19 (skanda.5.75.19)

कपालवान्हरो यत्र लिंगाकारेण संस्थितः। ज्ञात्वा मातृगणं नष्टं ततो मायाप्रभावतः

kapālavānharo yatra liṁgākāreṇa saṁsthitaḥ| jñātvā mātṛgaṇaṁ naṣṭaṁ tato māyāprabhāvataḥ

— where Hara, bearing the skull, is present in the form of a linga — knowing that the company of Mothers had scattered there, through the power of the illusion.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.75.20)

वज्रोऽपि त्रिदशाञ्ज्ञात्वा देव्या सार्द्धमथोपितान्। आजगाम तमुद्देशं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः

vajro'pi tridaśāñjñātvā devyā sārddhamathopitān| ājagāma tamuddeśaṁ svasainyaparivāritaḥ

Vajra too, learning that the gods had settled there together with the goddess, came to that place, surrounded by his own army.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.75.21)

महाकालवने दिव्ये रथकोटिशतैर्वृतः। समंताच्च वनं देवि तत्क्रुद्धो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

mahākālavane divye rathakoṭiśatairvṛtaḥ| samaṁtācca vanaṁ devi tatkruddho vākyamabravīt

In the divine Mahakala forest, surrounded by hundreds of millions of chariots, encircling the forest on every side, O Devi, he spoke these enraged words —

Verse 22 (skanda.5.75.22)

अद्य देवान्हनिष्यामि तया साकं सुदुष्टया। कन्याभिः सह या नष्टा तमोमायाबलेन तु

adya devānhaniṣyāmi tayā sākaṁ suduṣṭayā| kanyābhiḥ saha yā naṣṭā tamomāyābalena tu

"Today I shall slay the gods, together with that most wicked goddess, along with the maidens who vanished by the power of the illusion of darkness."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.75.23)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे काले नारदो मुनिसत्तमः। सोत्सुकस्तु समायातो मंदरे चारुकंदरे

etasminnaṁtare kāle nārado munisattamaḥ| sotsukastu samāyāto maṁdare cārukaṁdare

Meanwhile, at that time, Narada, foremost of sages, eager, came to the lovely cave on Mount Mandara.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.75.24)

कथयामास देवानां वज्राद्देवपराभवम्

kathayāmāsa devānāṁ vajrāddevaparābhavam

He told of the defeat of the gods at the hands of Vajra —

Verse 25 (skanda.5.75.25)

महाकालवने देव ताडितास्त्रिदशाः प्रभो। वज्रेण रुरुपुत्रेण तस्माद्याहि महेश्वर

mahākālavane deva tāḍitāstridaśāḥ prabho| vajreṇa ruruputreṇa tasmādyāhi maheśvara

"In the Mahakala forest, O Lord, the gods have been struck down by Vajra, son of Ruru, O Master; therefore go there, O Maheshvara."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.75.26)

नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ततोऽहं परमेश्वरि। मंदरादागतस्तूर्णं कृत्वा रूपं सुभैरवम्

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā tato'haṁ parameśvari| maṁdarādāgatastūrṇaṁ kṛtvā rūpaṁ subhairavam

Hearing Narada's words, then I, O Supreme Goddess, came swiftly from Mandara, having assumed a most fearsome, bhairava form —

Verse 27 (skanda.5.75.27)

सर्पैर्लसद्भिरत्युग्रैर्भीषणैर्गणसंवृतः। अग्रे दृष्टं महत्सैन्यं दानवानां भयावहम्

sarpairlasadbhiratyugrairbhīṣaṇairgaṇasaṁvṛtaḥ| agre dṛṣṭaṁ mahatsainyaṁ dānavānāṁ bhayāvaham

— gleaming with exceedingly fierce and terrifying serpents, surrounded by my ganas; ahead I beheld that vast, terrifying army of the danavas.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.75.28)

महाकालवनं रुद्धं समंतादसुरेण तु। वज्रेण रुरुपुत्रेण दुःसहेन यशस्विनि

mahākālavanaṁ ruddhaṁ samaṁtādasureṇa tu| vajreṇa ruruputreṇa duḥsahena yaśasvini

The Mahakala forest had been besieged on every side, O glorious one, by that unbearable asura Vajra, son of Ruru.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.75.29)

तदागत्य मया ताड्य रौद्रं डमरुकं तथा। मोहितं सहसा सैन्यं वज्रस्यैव दुरात्मनः

tadāgatya mayā tāḍya raudraṁ ḍamarukaṁ tathā| mohitaṁ sahasā sainyaṁ vajrasyaiva durātmanaḥ

Arriving there, I struck my fierce damaru; and at once the army of that evil-souled Vajra was thrown into confusion.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.75.30)

डमरुकस्य नादेन ह्युत्थितं लिंगमुत्तमम्। विदार्य वसुधां देवि ज्वालामालाकुलं तदा

ḍamarukasya nādena hyutthitaṁ liṁgamuttamam| vidārya vasudhāṁ devi jvālāmālākulaṁ tadā

By the sound of the damaru there arose a supreme linga, splitting open the earth, O Devi, then wreathed in garlands of flame.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.75.31)

तस्य लिंगस्य च तदा महाज्वाला विनिर्गता। एकदेशाद्वरारोहे ब्रह्मांडव्यापिनी तथा

tasya liṁgasya ca tadā mahājvālā vinirgatā| ekadeśādvarārohe brahmāṁḍavyāpinī tathā

O fair-hipped one, from one side of that linga a great flame then issued forth, pervading the whole cosmic egg.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.75.32)

लिंगस्यान्यप्रदेशात्तु वायुः समभवन्महान्

liṁgasyānyapradeśāttu vāyuḥ samabhavanmahān

And from another side of the linga, a great wind arose.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.75.33)

तेजोज्वालासमूहेन वातेन प्रेरितेन च। सह चक्रेण तत्सैन्यं दग्धं भस्मत्वमागतम्

tejojvālāsamūhena vātena preritena ca| saha cakreṇa tatsainyaṁ dagdhaṁ bhasmatvamāgatam

By that mass of blazing splendor and by the driving wind, together with the discus, that army was burnt and reduced to ashes.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.75.34)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः। नमश्चक्रुर्ह ते तस्मिन्रुरुपुत्रे महाबले

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve harṣanirbharamānasāḥ| namaścakrurha te tasminruruputre mahābale

Then all the hosts of gods, their hearts filled with joy, made obeisance there, now that the mighty son of Ruru had thus been consumed.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.75.35)

अस्य देवस्य माहात्म्याद्दग्धो वज्रो महाबलः। ससैन्योभूत्ततस्तस्मादेष डमरुकेश्वरः। ख्यातिं यास्यति लोकेस्मिन्सर्वकामफलप्रदः

asya devasya māhātmyāddagdho vajro mahābalaḥ| sasainyobhūttatastasmādeṣa ḍamarukeśvaraḥ| khyātiṁ yāsyati lokesminsarvakāmaphalapradaḥ

By the greatness of this god, the mighty Vajra, together with his army, was burnt; therefore from then on this linga shall become renowned in this world as Damarukeshvara, bestower of the fruit of every desire.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.75.36)

डमरुकस्य तु नादेन जातो यस्मान्महीतले। अतः पूज्यवरो देवो भविष्यति न संशयः

ḍamarukasya tu nādena jāto yasmānmahītale| ataḥ pūjyavaro devo bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Since it arose on the earth from the sound of the damaru, this god shall be most worthy of worship — there is no doubt of it.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.75.37)

दृष्ट्वा ये पूजयिष्यंति देवं डमरुकेश्वरम्। ते सर्वे दुःखनिर्मुक्ता भविष्यंति गतज्वराः

dṛṣṭvā ye pūjayiṣyaṁti devaṁ ḍamarukeśvaram| te sarve duḥkhanirmuktā bhaviṣyaṁti gatajvarāḥ

Those who, having beheld it, shall worship the god Damarukeshvara — all of them shall become free of suffering, their fevers gone.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.75.38)

चांद्रायणानां विधिवच्छतानामथ यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति डमरुकेश्वरपूजनात्

cāṁdrāyaṇānāṁ vidhivacchatānāmatha yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti ḍamarukeśvarapūjanāt

Whatever fruit comes from a hundred duly performed Chandrayana observances — that same fruit one obtains from the worship of Damarukeshvara.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.75.39)

अस्मिन्स्थाने स्थितं लिंगं भक्त्या डमरुकेश्वरम्। प्रसंगादपि पश्यंति ह्यपि पापपरा नराः

asminsthāne sthitaṁ liṁgaṁ bhaktyā ḍamarukeśvaram| prasaṁgādapi paśyaṁti hyapi pāpaparā narāḥ

Even men given over to sin, who behold with devotion the linga Damarukeshvara standing in this place, even if only in passing —

Verse 40 (skanda.5.75.40)

तेऽप्यवश्यं तु यास्यंति रुद्रलोकं सनातनम्। भक्ताः स्तोष्यंति ये लिंगं ख्यातं डमरुकेश्वरम्

te'pyavaśyaṁ tu yāsyaṁti rudralokaṁ sanātanam| bhaktāḥ stoṣyaṁti ye liṁgaṁ khyātaṁ ḍamarukeśvaram

— they too shall surely go to the eternal world of Rudra. The devotees who shall praise the renowned linga Damarukeshvara —

Verse 41 (skanda.5.75.41)

मानसैः पातकैर्मुक्ता यास्यंति परमं पदम्। अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु वाजपेयशतं भवेत्। गोसहस्रफलं चात्र दृष्ट्वा प्राप्स्यंति मानवाः

mānasaiḥ pātakairmuktā yāsyaṁti paramaṁ padam| aśvamedhasahasraṁ tu vājapeyaśataṁ bhavet| gosahasraphalaṁ cātra dṛṣṭvā prāpsyaṁti mānavāḥ

— freed even from mental sins, shall go to the supreme abode. The fruit of a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices, of a hundred Vajapeya rites, and of a thousand cows given in gift — men obtain here by mere sight.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.75.42)

यो याति संगरे धीरो दृष्ट्वा डमरुकेश्वरम्। जयेद्रिपूनथांते स रुद्रलोके महीयते

yo yāti saṁgare dhīro dṛṣṭvā ḍamarukeśvaram| jayedripūnathāṁte sa rudraloke mahīyate

The steadfast man who, having beheld Damarukeshvara, goes into battle, conquers his enemies; and at the end he is exalted in the world of Rudra.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.75.43)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। स्तुतस्तु कीर्तितश्चैव सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदः

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| stutastu kīrtitaścaiva sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradaḥ

This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying glory told to you; when praised and proclaimed, it bestows the fruit of every desire.