The Greatness of Trivishtapeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.78.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। त्रिविष्टपेश्वरं देवि सप्तमं पर्वतात्मजे। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण लभ्यते तत्त्रिविष्टपम्

śrīmahādeva uvāca| triviṣṭapeśvaraṁ devi saptamaṁ parvatātmaje| yasya darśanamātreṇa labhyate tattriviṣṭapam

Shri Mahadeva said: "The seventh, O Devi, O daughter of the mountain, is Trivishtapeshvara; by the mere sight of whom that very Trivishtapa (heaven) is attained."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.78.2)

पुरा वाराहकल्पे तु देवर्षिर्नारदोऽमलः। त्रिविष्टपं गतो देवि द्रष्टुकामः शतक्रतुम्

purā vārāhakalpe tu devarṣirnārado'malaḥ| triviṣṭapaṁ gato devi draṣṭukāmaḥ śatakratum

Formerly, in the Varaha kalpa, the stainless divine sage Narada, O Devi, went to Trivishtapa, desiring to see Shatakratu.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.78.3)

तत्रोद्यानवने रम्ये कल्पवृक्षैर्विराजिते। सर्वत्र कुसुमामोदसुखस्पर्शानिलाकुले

tatrodyānavane ramye kalpavṛkṣairvirājite| sarvatra kusumāmodasukhasparśānilākule

There, in the lovely pleasure-garden, resplendent with wish-fulfilling trees, everywhere thronged with breezes bearing the fragrance and gentle touch of flowers —

Verse 4 (skanda.5.78.4)

वीणावेणुरवैर्घुष्टे देवगंधर्वसेविते। वज्रेंद्रनीलवैदूर्यचंद्रकांतादिदीपिते

vīṇāveṇuravairghuṣṭe devagaṁdharvasevite| vajreṁdranīlavaidūryacaṁdrakāṁtādidīpite

— resounding with the notes of the vina and the flute, frequented by gods and gandharvas, ablaze with diamond, sapphire, cat's-eye, moonstone and the like —

Verse 5 (skanda.5.78.5)

ब्रह्मलोकादिभिर्लोकैरनौपम्यगुणे शुभे। ददर्श तत्र देवेशमुपविष्टं शतक्रतुम्। स्तूयमानं मुदा देवैः सिद्धचारणकिन्नरैः

brahmalokādibhirlokairanaupamyaguṇe śubhe| dadarśa tatra deveśamupaviṣṭaṁ śatakratum| stūyamānaṁ mudā devaiḥ siddhacāraṇakinnaraiḥ

— in that auspicious place, incomparable in quality even to the worlds beginning with Brahmaloka, he saw there the lord of gods, Shatakratu, seated, being joyfully praised by gods, siddhas, charanas, and kinnaras.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.78.6)

पृष्टस्तु नारदो देवि वासवेन महामुनिः। कथयामास माहात्म्यं महाकालवनस्य च

pṛṣṭastu nārado devi vāsavena mahāmuniḥ| kathayāmāsa māhātmyaṁ mahākālavanasya ca

Then the great sage Narada, questioned by Vasava, O Devi, related the greatness of the Mahakala forest —

Verse 7 (skanda.5.78.7)

महाकालवनं रम्यं सदानंदकरं शुभम्। सेव्यं पुण्यं पवित्रं च तीर्थानामुत्तमोत्तमम्

mahākālavanaṁ ramyaṁ sadānaṁdakaraṁ śubham| sevyaṁ puṇyaṁ pavitraṁ ca tīrthānāmuttamottamam

"The Mahakala forest is lovely, ever bestowing bliss, auspicious; worthy of resort, sacred and pure, the very best among all tirthas."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.78.8)

पुण्यं पश्यंति ये लोका महाकालवनं शुभम्। ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं तेषां नश्यति निश्चितम्

puṇyaṁ paśyaṁti ye lokā mahākālavanaṁ śubham| brahmahatyādikaṁ pāpaṁ teṣāṁ naśyati niścitam

"Those people who behold the sacred, auspicious Mahakala forest — their sin, beginning with brahmin-slaying, is certainly destroyed."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.78.9)

स्वयं तिष्ठति देवोऽत्र सर्वभूतगणैर्वृतः। तस्मात्तत्तीर्थमुख्यानां प्रवरं कथ्यते बुधैः

svayaṁ tiṣṭhati devo'tra sarvabhūtagaṇairvṛtaḥ| tasmāttattīrthamukhyānāṁ pravaraṁ kathyate budhaiḥ

"There the God himself dwells, surrounded by all the hosts of beings; therefore it is declared by the wise to be foremost among the chief tirthas."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.78.10)

पृथिव्यां नैमिषं पुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। तस्माद्दशगुणं प्रोक्तं पुष्करं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

pṛthivyāṁ naimiṣaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam| tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ proktaṁ puṣkaraṁ tīrthamuttamam

"On earth, Naimisha is sacred, destroying all sin; ten times greater than it is declared to be the supreme tirtha of Pushkara."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.78.11)

ततो दशगुणं प्रोक्तं प्रयागं सर्वकामिकम्। तस्माद्दशगुणं प्रोक्तं विख्यातममरेश्वरम्

tato daśaguṇaṁ proktaṁ prayāgaṁ sarvakāmikam| tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ proktaṁ vikhyātamamareśvaram

"Ten times greater than that is declared Prayaga, granter of all desires; ten times greater than that is declared the renowned Amareshvara."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.78.12)

प्राची सरस्वती पुण्या तस्माद्दशगुणा स्मृता। तस्मादशगुणं प्रोक्तं गयाकूपं विशिष्यते

prācī sarasvatī puṇyā tasmāddaśaguṇā smṛtā| tasmādaśaguṇaṁ proktaṁ gayākūpaṁ viśiṣyate

"The sacred Prachi Sarasvati is remembered as ten times that; ten times greater than that, Gayakupa is distinguished."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.78.13)

तस्माद्दशगुणं देवि कुरुक्षेत्रं विशिष्यते। कुरुक्षेत्राद्दशगुणा पुण्या वाराणसी तथा

tasmāddaśaguṇaṁ devi kurukṣetraṁ viśiṣyate| kurukṣetrāddaśaguṇā puṇyā vārāṇasī tathā

"Ten times greater than that, O Devi, Kurukshetra is distinguished; and ten times greater than Kurukshetra, sacred Varanasi likewise."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.78.14)

तस्या दशगुणं श्रेष्ठं महाकालं विशिष्यते। महाकालवनं शक्र किल त्रैलोक्यभूषणम्

tasyā daśaguṇaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ mahākālaṁ viśiṣyate| mahākālavanaṁ śakra kila trailokyabhūṣaṇam

"Ten times greater than that, the supreme Mahakala is distinguished; the Mahakala forest, O Shakra, is indeed the ornament of the three worlds."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.78.15)

षष्टिकोटिसहस्राणि षष्टिकोटिशतानि च। लिंगानि तत्र विद्यंते भुक्तिमुक्तिकराणि च

ṣaṣṭikoṭisahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭiśatāni ca| liṁgāni tatra vidyaṁte bhuktimuktikarāṇi ca

"Sixty thousand crores, and sixty hundred crores of lingas exist there, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.78.16)

शक्तयो नव कोट्यस्तु तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे वसन्ति हि

śaktayo nava koṭyastu tasminkṣetre vasanti hi

"Nine crores of Shaktis dwell in that field indeed."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.78.17)

कृमिकीटपतंगाश्च मृता यत्र ततः क्रतौ। यांति दिव्यैर्विमानैश्च रुद्रलोकं सनातनम्। माहात्म्यमद्भुतं श्रुत्वा नारदात्सुरसत्तमः

kṛmikīṭapataṁgāśca mṛtā yatra tataḥ kratau| yāṁti divyairvimānaiśca rudralokaṁ sanātanam| māhātmyamadbhutaṁ śrutvā nāradātsurasattamaḥ

"Even worms, insects, and moths that die there, through that consecrated ground, go by divine celestial cars to the eternal world of Rudra." Having heard this wondrous greatness from Narada, the foremost of gods —

Verse 18 (skanda.5.78.18)

सर्वदेवगणैः सार्द्धमाजगाम त्वरान्वितः। वासवः श्रीमहाकालवनं हर्षसमन्वितः। दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं रम्यं महाकालवनं शुभम्। त्रिविष्टपादप्यधिकं प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं स्मृतम्

sarvadevagaṇaiḥ sārddhamājagāma tvarānvitaḥ| vāsavaḥ śrīmahākālavanaṁ harṣasamanvitaḥ| dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhaṁ ramyaṁ mahākālavanaṁ śubham| triviṣṭapādapyadhikaṁ pralaye'pyakṣayaṁ smṛtam

— Vasava, together with all the hosts of gods, filled with joy, came swiftly to the glorious Mahakala forest. Beholding that lovely, auspicious Mahakala forest, remembered as greater even than Trivishtapa and imperishable even at the dissolution —

Verse 19 (skanda.5.78.19)

विचित्राणि च हर्म्याणि कांचनानि शुभानि च। प्रासादाः शतशो भौममणिविद्रुमभूषिताः

vicitrāṇi ca harmyāṇi kāṁcanāni śubhāni ca| prāsādāḥ śataśo bhaumamaṇividrumabhūṣitāḥ

— wondrous mansions, golden and auspicious; hundreds of palaces adorned with earthly gems and coral —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.78.20)

वज्रेंद्रनीलरचिताः शुद्धस्फटिकसंनिभाः। तोरणानि विचित्राणि माणिक्यरचितानि च। दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं रम्यं महाकालवनोत्तमम्

vajreṁdranīlaracitāḥ śuddhasphaṭikasaṁnibhāḥ| toraṇāni vicitrāṇi māṇikyaracitāni ca| dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhaṁ ramyaṁ mahākālavanottamam

— fashioned of diamond and sapphire, resembling pure crystal, wondrous archways wrought of ruby — beholding this lovely, excellent Mahakala forest of such a kind —

Verse 21 (skanda.5.78.21)

नारदं प्रशशंसुस्ते सर्वे देवा मुदान्विताः। देवर्षीणां महाप्राज्ञा येनेयं कथिता कथा

nāradaṁ praśaśaṁsuste sarve devā mudānvitāḥ| devarṣīṇāṁ mahāprājñā yeneyaṁ kathitā kathā

— all the gods, filled with joy, praised Narada, the most wise among the divine sages, by whom this tale had been told.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.78.22)

न कैलासं गमिष्यामो न च मेरुं तथाविधम्। न मंदरं गमिष्यामो न यास्यामस्त्रिविष्टपम्

na kailāsaṁ gamiṣyāmo na ca meruṁ tathāvidham| na maṁdaraṁ gamiṣyāmo na yāsyāmastriviṣṭapam

"We shall not go to Kailasa, nor likewise to Meru; we shall not go to Mandara, we shall not go to Trivishtapa."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.78.23)

एषामरावती श्रेष्ठा ह्येषा भोगवती शुभा। एषा पैतामहो लोको विष्णुलोकस्तथैव च

eṣāmarāvatī śreṣṭhā hyeṣā bhogavatī śubhā| eṣā paitāmaho loko viṣṇulokastathaiva ca

"This is the best Amaravati, this is auspicious Bhogavati; this is the world of the Grandsire, and likewise the world of Vishnu."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.78.24)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि शून्यं जातं त्रिविष्टपम्। ज्ञात्वा शून्यमथात्मानं चिंतयित्वा पुनःपुनः। गमनाय मतिं चक्रे कृत्वा देहमथात्मनः

etasminnaṁtare devi śūnyaṁ jātaṁ triviṣṭapam| jñātvā śūnyamathātmānaṁ ciṁtayitvā punaḥpunaḥ| gamanāya matiṁ cakre kṛtvā dehamathātmanaḥ

Meanwhile, O Devi, Trivishtapa (heaven) became empty; knowing itself empty, and reflecting again and again, it resolved to go, having assumed a body of its own.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.78.25)

त्यक्त्वा मां त्रिदशाः सर्वे महाकालवनं गताः। अहं तत्रैव यास्यामि यत्र ते त्रिदशा गताः

tyaktvā māṁ tridaśāḥ sarve mahākālavanaṁ gatāḥ| ahaṁ tatraiva yāsyāmi yatra te tridaśā gatāḥ

"Having abandoned me, all the thirty gods have gone to the Mahakala forest; I too shall go there, where those gods have gone."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.78.26)

इत्युक्त्वा तत्क्षणं प्राप्तो महाकालवनोत्तमे। कौतुकात्सोऽथ वै श्रेष्ठं तीर्थं तत्रापि भूतले। ददर्श रमणीयं तैर्देवैः परिवृतं तदा

ityuktvā tatkṣaṇaṁ prāpto mahākālavanottame| kautukātso'tha vai śreṣṭhaṁ tīrthaṁ tatrāpi bhūtale| dadarśa ramaṇīyaṁ tairdevaiḥ parivṛtaṁ tadā

Having said this, it arrived that very instant at the excellent Mahakala forest; and out of curiosity it then beheld there, on that ground, the supreme, delightful tirtha, surrounded by those gods.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.78.27)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। भोभोस्त्रिविष्टपात्रैव स्वनाम्ना स्थापयस्व माम्। कर्कोटकस्य पूर्वे तु महामायाश्च दक्षिणे

etasminneva kāle tu vāguvācāśarīriṇī| bhobhostriviṣṭapātraiva svanāmnā sthāpayasva mām| karkoṭakasya pūrve tu mahāmāyāśca dakṣiṇe

At that very moment a bodiless voice spoke: "O, O Trivishtapa! Establish me here by your own name — to the east of Karkotaka, and to the south of Mahamaya."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.78.28)

इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन हृष्टस्तद्गतचेतसा। स्वनाम्ना स्थापयामास देवं त्रिविष्टपेश्वरम्

ityukto devadevena hṛṣṭastadgatacetasā| svanāmnā sthāpayāmāsa devaṁ triviṣṭapeśvaram

Thus addressed by the God of gods, delighted, his mind fixed upon it, he established that god by his own name as Trivishtapeshvara.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.78.29)

पूजयित्वा शुभैः पुष्पैरुवाचेदं वरानने। अद्यप्रभृति भूर्लोको नाम्ना ख्यातिं गमिष्यति

pūjayitvā śubhaiḥ puṣpairuvācedaṁ varānane| adyaprabhṛti bhūrloko nāmnā khyātiṁ gamiṣyati

Having worshipped with auspicious flowers, he said this, O fair-faced one: "From this day, the mortal world shall become renowned by this name."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.78.30)

ये त्वां पश्यंति यत्नेन अपि दुष्कृतकारिणः। ते यास्यंति परं स्थानं दिव्यालंकारभूषिताः

ye tvāṁ paśyaṁti yatnena api duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ| te yāsyaṁti paraṁ sthānaṁ divyālaṁkārabhūṣitāḥ

"Those who behold you with effort, even doers of evil deeds — they shall go to the supreme abode, adorned with divine ornaments."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.78.31)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्द्दश्यां संक्रांतौ वा विशेषतः। यः करिष्यति पूजां च भक्तियुक्तो हि मानवः

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturddaśyāṁ saṁkrāṁtau vā viśeṣataḥ| yaḥ kariṣyati pūjāṁ ca bhaktiyukto hi mānavaḥ

"On the eighth, or the fourteenth, or especially on the day of sankranti, whatever man, endowed with devotion, shall perform worship —"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.78.32)

विमानवरमास्थाय कामगं रत्नभूषितम्। उदितादित्यसंकाशं मत्समीपे वसिष्यति

vimānavaramāsthāya kāmagaṁ ratnabhūṣitam| uditādityasaṁkāśaṁ matsamīpe vasiṣyati

"— he, mounting an excellent celestial car, moving at will, jewel-adorned, radiant as the risen sun, shall dwell near me."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.78.33)

किं दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः किं यज्ञैर्विविधैः कृतैः। ते प्राप्स्यंति फलं सर्वं ये त्वां द्रक्ष्यंति भक्तितः

kiṁ dānairvividhairdattaiḥ kiṁ yajñairvividhaiḥ kṛtaiḥ| te prāpsyaṁti phalaṁ sarvaṁ ye tvāṁ drakṣyaṁti bhaktitaḥ

"What need of various gifts given, what need of various sacrifices performed? Those who behold you with devotion shall obtain every such fruit."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.78.34)

यंयं काममभिध्याय पूजयिष्यंति मानवाः। तत्तन्मनोरथप्राप्तिर्भविष्यति न संशयः

yaṁyaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya pūjayiṣyaṁti mānavāḥ| tattanmanorathaprāptirbhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"Whatever desire men shall hold in mind as they worship — the attainment of that very wish shall come to pass, there is no doubt."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.78.35)

त्रिदशैश्च पुनः प्रोक्तं दृष्ट्वा मल्लिंगमुत्तमम्। त्रिविष्टपेन धन्येन स्थापितं देवमीश्वरम्

tridaśaiśca punaḥ proktaṁ dṛṣṭvā malliṁgamuttamam| triviṣṭapena dhanyena sthāpitaṁ devamīśvaram

And the gods again declared, having seen this my supreme linga, the Lord established by the blessed Trivishtapa —

Verse 36 (skanda.5.78.36)

पूजयिष्यंति ये धन्या देवं त्रिविष्टपेश्वरम्। तेषां वासोऽक्षयो दिव्यो भविष्यति त्रिविष्टपे

pūjayiṣyaṁti ye dhanyā devaṁ triviṣṭapeśvaram| teṣāṁ vāso'kṣayo divyo bhaviṣyati triviṣṭape

"— those blessed ones who shall worship the god Trivishtapeshvara, their dwelling in Trivishtapa shall become imperishable and divine."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.78.37)

इत्युक्त्वा पूजयामास भूयो लिंगं त्रिविष्टपम्। सार्द्धं त्रिविष्टपेनैव पुनः स्थानं स्वकं गतः

ityuktvā pūjayāmāsa bhūyo liṁgaṁ triviṣṭapam| sārddhaṁ triviṣṭapenaiva punaḥ sthānaṁ svakaṁ gataḥ

Having said this, he worshipped once more the linga Trivishtapa; and, together with Trivishtapa itself, returned again to his own abode.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.78.38)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। श्रवणात्कीर्त्तनाद्वापि स्वर्गलोकोऽक्षयो भवेत्

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| śravaṇātkīrttanādvāpi svargaloko'kṣayo bhavet

This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying glory told to you; by merely hearing it, or even reciting it, the world of heaven becomes imperishable.