The Greatness of Kutumbeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.85.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। कुटुंबेश्वरसंज्ञं तु देवं विद्धि चतुर्दशम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण गोत्रवृद्धिश्च जायते

śrīmahādeva uvāca| kuṭuṁbeśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu devaṁ viddhi caturdaśam| yasya darśanamātreṇa gotravṛddhiśca jāyate

Shri Mahadeva said: "Know the fourteenth god by the name Kutumbeshvara; by the mere sight of whom the growth of one's lineage comes about."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.85.2)

यदा देवासुरैः पूर्वं मथितः क्षीरसागरः। तदा च निर्गतं देवि दुर्द्धरं दुःसहं विषम्

yadā devāsuraiḥ pūrvaṁ mathitaḥ kṣīrasāgaraḥ| tadā ca nirgataṁ devi durddharaṁ duḥsahaṁ viṣam

Formerly, when the gods and demons churned the ocean of milk, then, O Devi, there arose an unbearable, insufferable poison —

Verse 3 (skanda.5.85.3)

कालकूटमयं रौद्रं विषं ज्वालाविभीषणम्। दह्यते च जगत्तेन सदेवासुरमानुषम्

kālakūṭamayaṁ raudraṁ viṣaṁ jvālāvibhīṣaṇam| dahyate ca jagattena sadevāsuramānuṣam

— the dreadful poison called Kalakuta, terrifying with its flames, by which the whole world, with its gods, demons, and men, began to burn.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.85.4)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे सासुरा यक्षराक्षसाः। विषज्वालातिभीताश्च मामेव शरणं गताः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve sāsurā yakṣarākṣasāḥ| viṣajvālātibhītāśca māmeva śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, together with the demons, yakshas, and rakshasas, terrified by the flame of that poison, came to me alone for refuge.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.85.5)

स्तुतोहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैरिदमुक्तं वरानने। अमृतार्थे कृतो यत्नः संप्राप्तं मरणं विभो

stutohaṁ vividhaiḥ stotrairidamuktaṁ varānane| amṛtārthe kṛto yatnaḥ saṁprāptaṁ maraṇaṁ vibho

Praising me with various hymns, O fair-faced one, they said: "O Lord, the effort was made for the sake of nectar, but death instead has come upon us."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.85.6)

अन्यथा चिंतितं कार्यं दैवेन कृतमन्यथा। अतिमथितुमारब्धे लोभाद्वै क्षीरसागरम्

anyathā ciṁtitaṁ kāryaṁ daivena kṛtamanyathā| atimathitumārabdhe lobhādvai kṣīrasāgaram

"The deed intended one way was turned by fate another way; out of greed we began to churn the ocean of milk excessively —"

Verse 7 (skanda.5.85.7)

उत्पन्नं कालकूटं तु येन दग्धं चराचरम्। ततोऽस्माकं भयं जातं कालकूटोद्भवं प्रभो

utpannaṁ kālakūṭaṁ tu yena dagdhaṁ carācaram| tato'smākaṁ bhayaṁ jātaṁ kālakūṭodbhavaṁ prabho

"— and thereby Kalakuta was produced, by which all moving and unmoving beings are burning; from Kalakuta, O Lord, this fear has come upon us."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.85.8)

रक्षां कुरु जगन्नाथ शरणागतवत्सल। हितार्थं सर्वलोकानां यथा न प्रलयो भवेत्

rakṣāṁ kuru jagannātha śaraṇāgatavatsala| hitārthaṁ sarvalokānāṁ yathā na pralayo bhavet

"O lord of the world, gracious to those who take refuge, protect us; act for the welfare of all worlds, that dissolution not come to pass."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.85.9)

मया तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा त्रिदशानां यशस्विनि। मायूरं रूपमास्थाय देवानामनुकंपया। कंठे धृतं महारौद्रं कालकूटाह्वयं तदा

mayā teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā tridaśānāṁ yaśasvini| māyūraṁ rūpamāsthāya devānāmanukaṁpayā| kaṁṭhe dhṛtaṁ mahāraudraṁ kālakūṭāhvayaṁ tadā

O glorious one, hearing the words of those gods, out of compassion for them, and assuming a peacock's form, I then held that most terrible poison called Kalakuta in my throat.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.85.10)

त्वं भीता सहसा नष्टा रूपं दृष्ट्वा तु मामकम्। विषवृक्षमसेव्यं तु ततोऽहं दुःखितोऽभवम्

tvaṁ bhītā sahasā naṣṭā rūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā tu māmakam| viṣavṛkṣamasevyaṁ tu tato'haṁ duḥkhito'bhavam

You, seeing that form of mine, suddenly fled in fear, as though from a tree of poison, unfit to be approached; then I was grieved.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.85.11)

नदीसंघसमायुक्ता गंगा दृष्टा च पार्श्वतः। सा च प्रोक्ता मया देवि सादरं स्तुतिपूर्वकम्

nadīsaṁghasamāyuktā gaṁgā dṛṣṭā ca pārśvataḥ| sā ca proktā mayā devi sādaraṁ stutipūrvakam

Then I beheld beside me Ganga, joined with a multitude of rivers; and to her, O Devi, I spoke respectfully, with words of praise —

Verse 12 (skanda.5.85.12)

कालकूटविषं गंगे वेगान्नय महोदधिम्। नान्या शक्ता समानेतुं त्वां विना लोकपावनि

kālakūṭaviṣaṁ gaṁge vegānnaya mahodadhim| nānyā śaktā samānetuṁ tvāṁ vinā lokapāvani

"O Ganga, carry this Kalakuta poison swiftly to the great ocean; O purifier of the worlds, none other than you is capable of bearing it there."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.85.13)

गंगोवाच। नास्ति मे भगवञ्छक्तिर्विवोढुं च जगत्पते। रौद्ररूपी च दुःसेव्यो दहत्येव न संशयः

gaṁgovāca| nāsti me bhagavañchaktirvivoḍhuṁ ca jagatpate| raudrarūpī ca duḥsevyo dahatyeva na saṁśayaḥ

Ganga said: "O Lord, O master of the world, I have no power to bear it; it is fearsome in form and unapproachable — it will surely consume anyone, without doubt."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.85.14)

ततस्तु यमुना प्रोक्ता न समर्था सरस्वती। अन्याश्च विविधा नद्यो मयाहूताः पृथ क्पृथक्

tatastu yamunā proktā na samarthā sarasvatī| anyāśca vividhā nadyo mayāhūtāḥ pṛtha kpṛthak

Then Yamuna was asked, and Sarasvati too — but she was likewise unable; and I called upon various other rivers, one by one.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.85.15)

अशक्तास्ताः समानेतुं कालकूटाह्वयं विषम्। तदाहूता मया देवि शिप्रा ब्रह्मसमुद्भवा

aśaktāstāḥ samānetuṁ kālakūṭāhvayaṁ viṣam| tadāhūtā mayā devi śiprā brahmasamudbhavā

None of them was able to bear away the poison called Kalakuta; then, O Devi, I called upon Shipra, sprung from Brahma.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.85.16)

शिप्रे पुत्रि ममादेशान्महाकाल वनं व्रज। गृहीत्वा कालकूटं तु पुरः कामेश्वरस्य हि

śipre putri mamādeśānmahākāla vanaṁ vraja| gṛhītvā kālakūṭaṁ tu puraḥ kāmeśvarasya hi

"O daughter Shipra, by my command go to the Mahakala forest, taking this Kalakuta before Kameshvara —"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.85.17)

विद्यते परमं लिंगं तस्मिंल्लिंगे नियोजय। मया प्रोक्ता तदा प्राह ब्रह्मणः परमा कला

vidyate paramaṁ liṁgaṁ tasmiṁlliṁge niyojaya| mayā proktā tadā prāha brahmaṇaḥ paramā kalā

"— there stands a supreme linga; deposit it upon that very linga." Thus addressed by me, that supreme portion of Brahma, Shipra, then said —

Verse 18 (skanda.5.85.18)

एषास्मि प्रस्थिता देव तव वाक्यादसंशयम्। दुःस्पर्शः कालकूटोऽयं नूनं मां भक्षयिष्यति

eṣāsmi prasthitā deva tava vākyādasaṁśayam| duḥsparśaḥ kālakūṭo'yaṁ nūnaṁ māṁ bhakṣayiṣyati

"O Lord, at your word I do indeed set forth; but this Kalakuta, so terrible to touch, will surely consume me."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.85.19)

असेव्याहं भविष्यामि दुष्टसंपर्क योगतः। ततो मया पुनः प्रोक्ता शिप्रा पातकनाशिनी

asevyāhaṁ bhaviṣyāmi duṣṭasaṁparka yogataḥ| tato mayā punaḥ proktā śiprā pātakanāśinī

"By contact with this evil thing, I shall become unfit to be approached." Then I spoke again to sin-destroying Shipra —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.85.20)

यानि तीर्थानि भूलोके पाताले यानि संति वै। स्वर्गलोके ह्यंतरिक्षे पुण्यानि चारुहासिनि

yāni tīrthāni bhūloke pātāle yāni saṁti vai| svargaloke hyaṁtarikṣe puṇyāni cāruhāsini

"Whatever sacred tirthas exist, O sweetly-smiling one, on earth, in the netherworld, in heaven, and in the sky —"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.85.21)

तानि सर्वाणि सेवार्थमागत्य मम वाक्यतः। आज्ञां तव करिष्यंति गच्छ पुत्रि ममाज्ञया

tāni sarvāṇi sevārthamāgatya mama vākyataḥ| ājñāṁ tava kariṣyaṁti gaccha putri mamājñayā

"— all of them, at my word, shall come to attend upon you and obey your command; go now, my daughter, by my command."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.85.22)

एवमुक्ता तदा शिप्रा गृहीत्वा कालकूटकम्। समायाता वरारोहे यत्र लिंगमनुत्तमम्

evamuktā tadā śiprā gṛhītvā kālakūṭakam| samāyātā varārohe yatra liṁgamanuttamam

Thus addressed, Shipra, taking up the Kalakuta, O fair one, came to where that supreme linga stood.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.85.23)

तद्विषं कालकूटाह्वं निक्षिप्तं लिंगमूर्द्धनि। विषलिंगस्ततो जातो दृष्टो मृत्युप्रदायकः

tadviṣaṁ kālakūṭāhvaṁ nikṣiptaṁ liṁgamūrddhani| viṣaliṁgastato jāto dṛṣṭo mṛtyupradāyakaḥ

That poison called Kalakuta was placed upon the crown of the linga; and thus it became a poison-linga, the very sight of which brought death.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.85.24)

पशुः पक्षी नरो वापि यो हि पश्यति तं शिवम्। म्रियते स तदा देवि तस्य देवस्य दर्शनात्

paśuḥ pakṣī naro vāpi yo hi paśyati taṁ śivam| mriyate sa tadā devi tasya devasya darśanāt

Whether beast, bird, or man, whoever beheld that Shiva died at once, O Devi, from the very sight of that god.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.85.25)

तीर्थयात्रां ततः कर्तुं तत्रायातांस्तपोधनाः। तं च देवं ततो दृष्ट्वा मृताः सर्वे च तत्क्षणात्

tīrthayātrāṁ tataḥ kartuṁ tatrāyātāṁstapodhanāḥ| taṁ ca devaṁ tato dṛṣṭvā mṛtāḥ sarve ca tatkṣaṇāt

Ascetics rich in austerity, coming there on pilgrimage, beheld that god, and all of them died on the instant.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.85.26)

ततो हाहाकृतं देवि त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्। हाहाकारं महच्छ्रुत्वा मया ते द्विजसत्तमाः। संजीविताश्च वै सर्वे दृष्टिपातेन पार्वति

tato hāhākṛtaṁ devi trailokyaṁ sacarācaram| hāhākāraṁ mahacchrutvā mayā te dvijasattamāḥ| saṁjīvitāśca vai sarve dṛṣṭipātena pārvati

Then, O Devi, a great outcry of woe rose up through the three worlds with all that moves and does not move; hearing that great lament, O Parvati, I restored all those excellent twice-born to life by a mere glance.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.85.27)

तुष्टुवुः प्रणता विप्रा मामतो विविधैः स्तवैः। मया प्रोक्तास्तु ते विप्रा वृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम्

tuṣṭuvuḥ praṇatā viprā māmato vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ| mayā proktāstu te viprā vṛṇudhvaṁ varamuttamam

Then those brahmins, bowing low, praised me with various hymns; and I said to them: "O brahmins, choose an excellent boon."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.85.28)

तैरुक्तं प्रणतैर्देवि लोकानां च हितार्थतः। संम्रियंते प्रजा देव लिंगेनानेन शंकर

tairuktaṁ praṇatairdevi lokānāṁ ca hitārthataḥ| saṁmriyaṁte prajā deva liṁgenānena śaṁkara

Those bowed brahmins said: "O Shankara, for the welfare of the worlds we say this — people are dying because of this linga."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.85.29)

ताः संरक्ष जगन्नाथ ह्येषोऽस्माकं वरः प्रभो। प्रतिज्ञातं मया देवि लोकानामनुकंपया

tāḥ saṁrakṣa jagannātha hyeṣo'smākaṁ varaḥ prabho| pratijñātaṁ mayā devi lokānāmanukaṁpayā

"Protect them, O lord of the world; this, O Lord, is our boon." Then I, O Devi, out of compassion for the worlds, made this promise —

Verse 30 (skanda.5.85.30)

क्षेमारोग्यकरं लिंगं भविष्यति न संशयः। कायावरोहणाद्विप्राः स्वयमत्रागमिष्यति

kṣemārogyakaraṁ liṁgaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ| kāyāvarohaṇādviprāḥ svayamatrāgamiṣyati

"This linga shall certainly become one that bestows well-being and health; O brahmins, he himself shall come here from Kayavarohana."

Verse 31 (skanda.5.85.31)

लकुलीशस्तदा चायं देवः स्पृश्यो भविष्यति। वृद्धिकारी कुटुम्बस्य भविष्यति न संशयः

lakulīśastadā cāyaṁ devaḥ spṛśyo bhaviṣyati| vṛddhikārī kuṭumbasya bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"Then this god shall become one fit to be touched by Lakulisha; and he shall certainly become one who increases family and household."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.85.32)

कुटुंबेश्वर इति नाम्ना लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यति। इत्युक्तास्ते मया विप्रास्तत्रैव तपसि स्थिताः

kuṭuṁbeśvara iti nāmnā loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati| ityuktāste mayā viprāstatraiva tapasi sthitāḥ

"He shall become renowned in the world by the name Kutumbeshvara." Having thus spoken to those brahmins, I left them established there in austerity.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.85.33)

लकुलीशोऽथ तल्लिंगमारुरोह ममाज्ञया। जनयन्विस्मयं लोके कीर्तिं जनपदे तथा

lakulīśo'tha talliṁgamāruroha mamājñayā| janayanvismayaṁ loke kīrtiṁ janapade tathā

Then Lakulisha, by my command, ascended that linga, awakening wonder in the world and renown throughout the land.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.85.34)

कुटुम्बेश्वरसंज्ञं तु ये पश्यंति यशस्विनि। तेषां कुले तु वृद्धिः स्यात्कुटुंबस्य न संशयः

kuṭumbeśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu ye paśyaṁti yaśasvini| teṣāṁ kule tu vṛddhiḥ syātkuṭuṁbasya na saṁśayaḥ

O glorious one, those who behold the god named Kutumbeshvara — in their lineage there certainly comes an increase of family, without doubt.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.85.35)

आश्विनासितपंचम्यां दर्श नं यः करिष्यति। बहुपुत्रो बहुधनो भविष्यति न संशयः

āśvināsitapaṁcamyāṁ darśa naṁ yaḥ kariṣyati| bahuputro bahudhano bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever performs this sight on the fifth of the dark fortnight of Ashvina shall certainly have many sons and much wealth.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.85.36)

महतीं श्रियमाप्नोति रोगैश्चापि प्रमुच्यते। सर्वकामसमृद्धोऽसौ मम लोके स मोदते

mahatīṁ śriyamāpnoti rogaiścāpi pramucyate| sarvakāmasamṛddho'sau mama loke sa modate

He obtains great fortune and is freed even from diseases; rich in the fulfilment of every desire, he rejoices in my world.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.85.37)

दर्शनं ये करिष्यंति स्पर्शनं यजनं तथा। ते सर्वे कामसंपूर्णाः प्रयांति मम मंदिरम्

darśanaṁ ye kariṣyaṁti sparśanaṁ yajanaṁ tathā| te sarve kāmasaṁpūrṇāḥ prayāṁti mama maṁdiram

Those who perform this sight, this touching, and this worship, all attain the fulfilment of their desires and go to my own abode.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.85.38)

समीपे तु सरिच्छिप्रा वापीकूपेन संयुता। यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते

samīpe tu saricchiprā vāpīkūpena saṁyutā| yasyā darśanamātreṇa naraḥ pāpātpramucyate

Nearby flows the river Shipra, joined with a step-well and a well; by the mere sight of her, a man is freed from sin.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.85.39)

सोमवारेर्कवारे च स्नात्वा तस्यां समाहितः। अष्टम्यां वा चतुर्दश्यां यः पश्येत्कुटुंबेश्वरम्

somavārerkavāre ca snātvā tasyāṁ samāhitaḥ| aṣṭamyāṁ vā caturdaśyāṁ yaḥ paśyetkuṭuṁbeśvaram

Whoever bathes in her on Monday or Sunday, and, with composed mind, beholds Kutumbeshvara on the eighth or the fourteenth —

Verse 40 (skanda.5.85.40)

राजसूयसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च। फलं स लभते देवि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

rājasūyasahasrasya vājapeyaśatasya ca| phalaṁ sa labhate devi satyametanmayoditam

— obtains the fruit of a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices and a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices; this, O Devi, is true, spoken by me myself.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.85.41)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। कुटुंबेश्वरदेवस्य त्विंद्रद्युम्नेश्वरं शृणु

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| kuṭuṁbeśvaradevasya tviṁdradyumneśvaraṁ śṛṇu

This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying glory of the god Kutumbeshvara that I have told you; now hear of Indradyumneshvara.