The Greatness of Lokapaleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.83.1)

श्रीहर उवाच। द्वादशं विद्धि देवेशि लोकपालेश्वरं शिवम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śrīhara uvāca| dvādaśaṁ viddhi deveśi lokapāleśvaraṁ śivam| yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Shri Hara said: "Know the twelfth, O queen of gods, Shiva as Lokapaleshvara; by the mere sight of whom one is freed from all sins."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.83.2)

पुरा दैत्यगणा देवि प्रादुर्भूताः सहस्रशः। हिरण्यकशिपोर्वक्षःस्थलादतिपराक्रमाः

purā daityagaṇā devi prādurbhūtāḥ sahasraśaḥ| hiraṇyakaśiporvakṣaḥsthalādatiparākramāḥ

Long ago, O Devi, thousands of exceedingly mighty demon-hosts sprang forth from the chest of Hiranyakashipu.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.83.3)

तैरियं वसुधा व्याप्ता सशैलवनकानना। विध्वस्ताः स्वाश्रमाः सर्वे यज्ञा विध्वंसितास्तथा

tairiyaṁ vasudhā vyāptā saśailavanakānanā| vidhvastāḥ svāśramāḥ sarve yajñā vidhvaṁsitāstathā

By them this earth, with its mountains, forests, and woodlands, was overrun; all hermitages were laid waste, and sacrifices likewise destroyed.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.83.4)

ब्राह्मणा भक्षिताश्चैव वेद वेदांगपारगाः। पूरितान्यग्निकुण्डानि पांसुना मधुना तथा

brāhmaṇā bhakṣitāścaiva veda vedāṁgapāragāḥ| pūritānyagnikuṇḍāni pāṁsunā madhunā tathā

Brahmins learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences were devoured; the fire-pits were filled with dust and with honey.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.83.5)

विध्वस्ताः कलशाः सर्वे मृद्भांडादि च चूर्णितम्। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारा स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिता

vidhvastāḥ kalaśāḥ sarve mṛdbhāṁḍādi ca cūrṇitam| niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkārā svadhāsvāhāvivarjitā

All the sacred vessels were shattered, the earthen pots and the like ground to dust; the earth was left devoid of Vedic recitation, of the vashat-call, of the offerings svadha and svaha.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.83.6)

कृता च धरणी देवि नष्टयज्ञोत्सवाभवत्। लोकपालास्ततो भीता माधवं शरणं गताः

kṛtā ca dharaṇī devi naṣṭayajñotsavābhavat| lokapālāstato bhītā mādhavaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

The earth, O Devi, was reduced to this state, and its festivals of sacrifice were destroyed; then the terrified guardians of the world went for refuge to Madhava.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.83.7)

ऊचुः प्रांजलयः सर्वे क्षुधार्ता दुःखिताः कृताः। वयं ग्लानिं गता देव यज्ञभागं विना कृताः

ūcuḥ prāṁjalayaḥ sarve kṣudhārtā duḥkhitāḥ kṛtāḥ| vayaṁ glāniṁ gatā deva yajñabhāgaṁ vinā kṛtāḥ

Tormented by hunger and made wretched, they said, hands folded in supplication: "O Lord, we have grown faint, deprived of our share in the sacrifice."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.83.8)

वयं त्रातास्त्वया पूर्वं नमुचेर्वृषपर्वणः। हिरण्यकशिपो रौद्रान्नरकाच्च मुरोस्तथा। तथा रक्ष सुरश्रेष्ठ भयं नः समुपस्थितम्

vayaṁ trātāstvayā pūrvaṁ namucervṛṣaparvaṇaḥ| hiraṇyakaśipo raudrānnarakācca murostathā| tathā rakṣa suraśreṣṭha bhayaṁ naḥ samupasthitam

"You protected us formerly from Namuchi, from Vrishaparvan, from the dreadful Hiranyakashipu, from Naraka, and from Mura as well; so protect us now too, O best of gods — a great fear has come upon us."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.83.9)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शंखचक्रगदाधरः। जगाम स ततो दैत्याः प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ| jagāma sa tato daityāḥ praviṣṭā varuṇālayam

Hearing their words, Vishnu, bearer of conch, discus, and mace, went there; whereupon those demons entered the abode of Varuna.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.83.10)

ते निष्क्रम्य ततो रात्रौ निघ्नंति द्विजसत्तमान्। तापसान्दीक्षितान्देवि धर्मव्रतपरायणान्

te niṣkramya tato rātrau nighnaṁti dvijasattamān| tāpasāndīkṣitāndevi dharmavrataparāyaṇān

Then, coming forth by night, they slew the finest of the twice-born, ascetics, the consecrated, and those devoted to righteous vows, O Devi.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.83.11)

अथ स्वर्गं गताः कांते जितः शक्रो मरुत्पतिः। तथैव दक्षिणामाशां धर्मराजो जितस्ततः

atha svargaṁ gatāḥ kāṁte jitaḥ śakro marutpatiḥ| tathaiva dakṣiṇāmāśāṁ dharmarājo jitastataḥ

Then they went to heaven, O beloved, and conquered Indra, lord of the Maruts; and likewise, in the southern quarter, they conquered Dharmaraja.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.83.12)

गत्वाथ पश्चिमामाशां जलराजो विनिर्जितः। उत्तरे धनदो देवि तैर्दैत्यैः स विनिर्जितः

gatvātha paścimāmāśāṁ jalarājo vinirjitaḥ| uttare dhanado devi tairdaityaiḥ sa vinirjitaḥ

Then, going to the western quarter, they utterly defeated the lord of waters; and in the north, O Devi, they likewise utterly defeated Kubera.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.83.13)

ततस्ते व्याकुला जाता विष्णुं शरणमागताः। उपायः कथितो देवि देवेभ्यो विष्णुना तदा

tataste vyākulā jātā viṣṇuṁ śaraṇamāgatāḥ| upāyaḥ kathito devi devebhyo viṣṇunā tadā

Then, in distress, they came for refuge to Vishnu; and Vishnu then told the gods a means, O Devi.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.83.14)

महाकालवनं गत्वा देवा भक्त्या समाहिताः। आराधयत सर्वेशं शंकरं लोकशंकरम्। भवतां भविता सिद्धिस्तत्र तस्य प्रसादतः

mahākālavanaṁ gatvā devā bhaktyā samāhitāḥ| ārādhayata sarveśaṁ śaṁkaraṁ lokaśaṁkaram| bhavatāṁ bhavitā siddhistatra tasya prasādataḥ

"Go, O gods, to the Mahakala forest, and with devotion and composed minds worship Shankara, lord of all, the benefactor of the worlds; there, by his grace, your success shall come."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.83.15)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः। प्रस्थिता लोकपालास्ते महाकालवने शुभे

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā kṛṣṇasyāmitatejasaḥ| prasthitā lokapālāste mahākālavane śubhe

Having heard these words of Krishna of measureless splendor, those guardians of the world set out for the sacred Mahakala forest.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.83.16)

तावत्तत्रैव संरुद्धा दैत्यैः शस्त्रधरैस्तदा। भूयो नष्टाश्च संप्राप्ता यत्र देवो जनार्दनः

tāvattatraiva saṁruddhā daityaiḥ śastradharaistadā| bhūyo naṣṭāśca saṁprāptā yatra devo janārdanaḥ

But there they were blocked by the weapon-bearing demons, and, again routed, arrived where the god Janardana was.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.83.17)

कथयामासुरत्युग्रं यथा रुद्धं जगत्त्रयम्। नारायणेन ते प्रोक्ता लोकपालाः पुनः पुनः

kathayāmāsuratyugraṁ yathā ruddhaṁ jagattrayam| nārāyaṇena te proktā lokapālāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

They told him how terribly the three worlds had been blockaded; then Narayana spoke to those guardians of the world, again and again —

Verse 18 (skanda.5.83.18)

यूयं व्रतधरा भूत्वा कपालैश्च विभूषिताः। खट्वांगधारिणः शांताः पंचमुद्राविभूषिताः

yūyaṁ vratadharā bhūtvā kapālaiśca vibhūṣitāḥ| khaṭvāṁgadhāriṇaḥ śāṁtāḥ paṁcamudrāvibhūṣitāḥ

"— become holders of the vow, adorned with skulls, bearing the khatvanga staff, tranquil, and adorned with the five insignia —"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.83.19)

भस्मभूषितसर्वांगाः क्षुद्रघंटाविराजिताः। महाव्रतधरा भूत्वा महाकालवनो त्तमम्। गच्छध्वं ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं पादबद्धैश्च नूपुरैः

bhasmabhūṣitasarvāṁgāḥ kṣudraghaṁṭāvirājitāḥ| mahāvratadharā bhūtvā mahākālavano ttamam| gacchadhvaṁ brahmaṇā sārddhaṁ pādabaddhaiśca nūpuraiḥ

"— your limbs adorned entirely with ashes, resplendent with small bells, having taken up the great vow, anklets bound upon your feet — go, together with Brahma, to the excellent Mahakala forest."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.83.20)

अथ ते लोकपालाश्च श्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य भाषितम्। समायाता महादेवि कृत्वा कापालिकं वपुः

atha te lokapālāśca śrutvā kṛṣṇasya bhāṣitam| samāyātā mahādevi kṛtvā kāpālikaṁ vapuḥ

Then those guardians of the world, hearing the words of Krishna, having assumed the guise of Kapalikas, O Mahadevi, came there.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.83.21)

तत्र दृष्टं महल्लिंगं तेजसां राशिमद्भुतम्। स्तुतं च विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्लोकपालैः पुनःपुनः

tatra dṛṣṭaṁ mahalliṁgaṁ tejasāṁ rāśimadbhutam| stutaṁ ca vividhaiḥ stotrairlokapālaiḥ punaḥpunaḥ

There they beheld a great linga, a wondrous mass of splendor, and the guardians of the world praised it again and again with various hymns.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.83.22)

ततस्तु तस्य लिंगस्य वह्निज्वाला विनिःसृता। यया ते दानवाः सर्वे दग्धा भस्मत्वमागताः

tatastu tasya liṁgasya vahnijvālā viniḥsṛtā| yayā te dānavāḥ sarve dagdhā bhasmatvamāgatāḥ

Then a flame of fire issued forth from that linga, by which all those demons were burnt to ashes.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.83.23)

ज्ञात्वा लिंगस्य माहात्म्यं नाम चक्रुः समाहिताः। सेवितं लोकपालैस्तु लिंगं तेजोमयं परम्। लोकपालेश्वरोनाम ख्यातिं यास्यति भूतले

jñātvā liṁgasya māhātmyaṁ nāma cakruḥ samāhitāḥ| sevitaṁ lokapālaistu liṁgaṁ tejomayaṁ param| lokapāleśvaronāma khyātiṁ yāsyati bhūtale

Knowing the greatness of the linga, they, with composed minds, gave it a name; worshipped by the guardians of the world, that supreme, radiant linga became renowned on earth as Lokapaleshvara.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.83.24)

इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदशाः सर्वे लोकपालैः समावृताः। स्वस्वस्थानं गता दिव्यं यथापूर्वं मुदान्विताः

ityuktvā tridaśāḥ sarve lokapālaiḥ samāvṛtāḥ| svasvasthānaṁ gatā divyaṁ yathāpūrvaṁ mudānvitāḥ

Having said this, all the gods, surrounded by the guardians of the world, joyfully returned each to his own divine abode, as before.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.83.25)

ये पश्यंति नरा देवि लोकपालेश्वरं शिवम्। समृद्धिभिः सुसंपन्ना भवेयुर्जन्मजन्मसु

ye paśyaṁti narā devi lokapāleśvaraṁ śivam| samṛddhibhiḥ susaṁpannā bhaveyurjanmajanmasu

O Devi, those men who behold Shiva Lokapaleshvara become richly endowed with prosperity in birth after birth.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.83.26)

न दारिद्र्यं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं तथा। ऐश्वर्यं चातुलं तेषां जायते दर्शनात्सदा

na dāridryaṁ na ca vyādhirnākālamaraṇaṁ tathā| aiśvaryaṁ cātulaṁ teṣāṁ jāyate darśanātsadā

For them there is no poverty, no disease, no untimely death; they ever attain matchless prosperity through this sight.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.83.27)

यो यमुद्दिश्य वै कामं दर्शनं तु करिष्यति। तस्य तज्जायते सर्वं मृतस्य परमा गतिः

yo yamuddiśya vai kāmaṁ darśanaṁ tu kariṣyati| tasya tajjāyate sarvaṁ mṛtasya paramā gatiḥ

Whoever, aiming at some particular desire, performs this sight, has that whole desire fulfilled, and upon death attains the supreme state.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.83.28)

अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य सम्यगिष्टस्य यत्फलम्। तत्फलं लभते देवि लोकपाले श्वरार्चनात्

aśvamedhasya yajñasya samyagiṣṭasya yatphalam| tatphalaṁ labhate devi lokapāle śvarārcanāt

Whatever fruit is obtained from the horse-sacrifice duly and fully performed, that same fruit, O Devi, is obtained by the worship of Lokapaleshvara.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.83.29)

प्रसंगेनापि यः पश्येल्लोकपालेश्वरं शिवम्। मोदते स्वर्गलोके स लोकपालैः समं सदा

prasaṁgenāpi yaḥ paśyellokapāleśvaraṁ śivam| modate svargaloke sa lokapālaiḥ samaṁ sadā

Whoever beholds Shiva Lokapaleshvara even incidentally rejoices ever after in the heaven-world together with the guardians of the world.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.83.30)

संक्रांतौ सोमवारे च चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः। ये पश्यंति नरा भक्त्या ह्यष्टम्यामयनद्वये

saṁkrāṁtau somavāre ca caturdaśyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| ye paśyaṁti narā bhaktyā hyaṣṭamyāmayanadvaye

Those men who behold him with devotion on sankranti, on Monday, especially on the fourteenth, and on the eighth of both solstices —

Verse 31 (skanda.5.83.31)

ते दुर्द्धर्षा भवंतीह शत्रूणां संगरे तथा। मृता यांति विमानेन शक्रलोकं सुदुर्लभम्

te durddharṣā bhavaṁtīha śatrūṇāṁ saṁgare tathā| mṛtā yāṁti vimānena śakralokaṁ sudurlabham

— become unassailable to their foes in battle here; and after death, go by celestial car to the rare and difficult world of Indra.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.83.32)

क्रमेण वारुणं लोकं धनदस्य यथासुखम्। पुनः पैतामहं यांति लोकं देवैः सुदुर्लभम्

krameṇa vāruṇaṁ lokaṁ dhanadasya yathāsukham| punaḥ paitāmahaṁ yāṁti lokaṁ devaiḥ sudurlabham

Then, in due course, to the world of Varuna, then at ease to the world of Kubera, and thereafter to the world of the Grandsire, rare even for the gods.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.83.33)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। दुर्लभः परमो गुह्यं कामेश्वरमथो शृणु

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| durlabhaḥ paramo guhyaṁ kāmeśvaramatho śṛṇu

This, O Devi, is the rare and supremely secret, sin-destroying glory that I have told you; now hear of Kameshvara.