The Greatness of Indradyumneshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.86.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। इंद्रद्युम्नेश्वरं विद्धि शिवं पंचदशं प्रिये। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण यशः कीर्तिश्च जायते

śrīmahādeva uvāca| iṁdradyumneśvaraṁ viddhi śivaṁ paṁcadaśaṁ priye| yasya darśanamātreṇa yaśaḥ kīrtiśca jāyate

Shri Mahadeva said: "Know the fifteenth Shiva, O beloved, as Indradyumneshvara; by the mere sight of whom fame and renown are born."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.86.2)

आसीद्राजा पुरा देवि इंद्रद्युम्नो महीपतिः। येनेयं रक्षिता पृथ्वी पिता पुत्रमिवौरसम्

āsīdrājā purā devi iṁdradyumno mahīpatiḥ| yeneyaṁ rakṣitā pṛthvī pitā putramivaurasam

Formerly, O Devi, there was a king named Indradyumna, lord of the earth, who protected this earth as a father protects his own son.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.86.3)

दृष्ट्वा सोऽथ बहून्यज्ञान्भूमौ प्रचुरदक्षिणान्। गतः स्वर्गं महात्मा वै सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

dṛṣṭvā so'tha bahūnyajñānbhūmau pracuradakṣiṇān| gataḥ svargaṁ mahātmā vai sarvakāmaphalapradam

Having performed many sacrifices on earth with abundant sacrificial fees, that great soul went to heaven, the granter of every desired fruit.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.86.4)

स चाथ प्रत्युतः स्वर्गान्नष्टकीर्तिर्यदा क्षितौ। पपात भूमौ सहसा गतपुण्यो नरा धिपः। पतितश्चिंतयामास भ्रशं शोकपरिप्लुतः

sa cātha pratyutaḥ svargānnaṣṭakīrtiryadā kṣitau| papāta bhūmau sahasā gatapuṇyo narā dhipaḥ| patitaściṁtayāmāsa bhraśaṁ śokapariplutaḥ

But when his fame on earth had faded, he was sent back from heaven; his merit spent, that lord of men fell suddenly to the earth. As he fell, plunged in grief, cast down, he reflected —

Verse 5 (skanda.5.86.5)

कृतस्य कर्मणस्त्वत्र भुज्यते यत्फलं दिवि। न चान्यत्क्रियते तद्यद्भूतलस्थेन भुज्यते

kṛtasya karmaṇastvatra bhujyate yatphalaṁ divi| na cānyatkriyate tadyadbhūtalasthena bhujyate

"The fruit of a deed done here is enjoyed there in heaven; but nothing further is done that could be enjoyed once one is again upon the earth."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.86.6)

सोऽत्र दोषो मतस्तस्यामतस्तत्पतनं च यत्। पतनात्तु महद्दुःखं परितापश्च जायते

so'tra doṣo matastasyāmatastatpatanaṁ ca yat| patanāttu mahadduḥkhaṁ paritāpaśca jāyate

"This is deemed the very flaw — this is the fall; and from that fall great sorrow and anguish arise."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.86.7)

स्वर्गभाजो भवंतीह यावत्कीर्तिश्च जायते। दिवं स्पृशति भूमिं च शब्दः पुण्यस्य कर्मणः। यावत्स शब्दो भवति तावत्पुरुष उच्यते

svargabhājo bhavaṁtīha yāvatkīrtiśca jāyate| divaṁ spṛśati bhūmiṁ ca śabdaḥ puṇyasya karmaṇaḥ| yāvatsa śabdo bhavati tāvatpuruṣa ucyate

"A man remains a sharer in heaven only so long as his fame endures; the report of a meritorious deed touches both heaven and earth — so long as that report lasts, so long is he called a true man."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.86.8)

अकीर्तिः कीर्त्यते यस्य लोके भूतस्य कस्यचित्। स पतत्यधमाँल्लोकान्यावच्छब्दोऽस्य कीर्त्तितः

akīrtiḥ kīrtyate yasya loke bhūtasya kasyacit| sa patatyadhamā~llokānyāvacchabdo'sya kīrttitaḥ

"Whoever, among beings, has only ill-repute recounted of him in the world, falls into the lower worlds for as long as that report is told."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.86.9)

तस्मात्कल्याणवृत्तः स्यादन्यथा पतनं भुवि। विधाय वृत्तं पापिष्ठं कीर्तिमेवाभिवर्द्धयेत्

tasmātkalyāṇavṛttaḥ syādanyathā patanaṁ bhuvi| vidhāya vṛttaṁ pāpiṣṭhaṁ kīrtimevābhivarddhayet

"Therefore a man should be of virtuous conduct — otherwise there follows a fall to the earth; even where sinful conduct has been done, one should still strive to increase one's fame."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.86.10)

अत्यंतं श्लाघयाम्यत्र कीर्त्तिं स्वर्गकरां पराम्। देवैरपि हि सा कीर्तिः कांक्ष्यते परमा यतः

atyaṁtaṁ ślāghayāmyatra kīrttiṁ svargakarāṁ parām| devairapi hi sā kīrtiḥ kāṁkṣyate paramā yataḥ

"I here praise most highly that supreme fame which brings about heaven, for even the gods themselves long for that supreme fame."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.86.11)

यावत्कीर्त्तिर्मनुष्याणां वर्त्तते भुवि चाक्षया। तेजः पुंजेन युक्तानि शरीराणि भवंति हि

yāvatkīrttirmanuṣyāṇāṁ varttate bhuvi cākṣayā| tejaḥ puṁjena yuktāni śarīrāṇi bhavaṁti hi

"So long as the fame of men remains imperishable upon the earth, their bodies remain endowed with a mass of splendor."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.86.12)

न स्वेदो न च दौर्गंध्यं पुरीषं मूत्रमेव वा। तेषां निर्वचनं राजा विधाता च त्रिविष्टपे। उह्यंते ते विमानैश्च नानाभरणभूषिताः

na svedo na ca daurgaṁdhyaṁ purīṣaṁ mūtrameva vā| teṣāṁ nirvacanaṁ rājā vidhātā ca triviṣṭape| uhyaṁte te vimānaiśca nānābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ

"They know no sweat, no foul odor, no excretion of waste — such is the account given of a king and of the Creator in heaven; and they are borne about by celestial cars, adorned with manifold ornaments."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.86.13)

एवं विमृश्य नृपतिरिंद्रद्युम्नो वरानने। स्वर्गकामो जगामाथ हिमवंतं नगोत्तमम्

evaṁ vimṛśya nṛpatiriṁdradyumno varānane| svargakāmo jagāmātha himavaṁtaṁ nagottamam

Having thus reflected, O fair-faced one, King Indradyumna, desiring heaven, went then to the Himalaya, best of mountains.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.86.14)

यत्र तेपे तपस्तीव्रं मार्कण्डेयो महामुनिः। दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा साष्टांगं च पुनःपुनः। पप्रच्छ विनयोपेतस्तमृषिं शंसितव्रतम्

yatra tepe tapastīvraṁ mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ| dṛṣṭvā praṇamya śirasā sāṣṭāṁgaṁ ca punaḥpunaḥ| papraccha vinayopetastamṛṣiṁ śaṁsitavratam

There the great sage Markandeya was performing severe austerity; beholding him, bowing again and again with head and body prostrate, the king, with humility, questioned that sage of firm vows —

Verse 15 (skanda.5.86.15)

विदितास्तव धर्मज्ञ देवदानवराक्षसाः। राजवंशाश्च विविधा ऋषिवंशाश्च शाश्वताः

viditāstava dharmajña devadānavarākṣasāḥ| rājavaṁśāśca vividhā ṛṣivaṁśāśca śāśvatāḥ

"O knower of righteousness, you know the gods, the demons, the rakshasas, the various royal lineages, and the eternal lineages of the sages."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.86.16)

न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किञ्चिदस्मिँल्लोके द्विजोत्तम। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तत्त्वेन कथ्यतां त्वया

na te'styaviditaṁ kiñcidasmi~lloke dvijottama| etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ tattvena kathyatāṁ tvayā

"O best of the twice-born, nothing in this world is unknown to you; I wish to hear this — tell me truly —"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.86.17)

कथं कीर्त्तिर्ध्रुवा लोके जायते किं तपःफलात्। मार्कण्डेय उवाच। हंत ते कथयिष्यामि यतः कीर्तिं समीहसे

kathaṁ kīrttirdhruvā loke jāyate kiṁ tapaḥphalāt| mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| haṁta te kathayiṣyāmi yataḥ kīrtiṁ samīhase

"— how does enduring fame arise in the world? Through what fruit of austerity?" Markandeya said: "Well then, I shall tell you, since you desire fame."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.86.18)

यावत्कीर्तिर्भूमिसंस्था तावद्वस सुरैः सह। तद्गच्छ शीघ्रं धर्मज्ञ महाकालवनोत्तमम्

yāvatkīrtirbhūmisaṁsthā tāvadvasa suraiḥ saha| tadgaccha śīghraṁ dharmajña mahākālavanottamam

"So long as fame stands rooted upon the earth, so long shall you dwell with the gods; therefore go, O knower of righteousness, swiftly to the excellent Mahakala forest."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.86.19)

कल्कलेश्वरदेवस्य समीपे वाम भागतः। लिंगं पापहरं तत्र समाराधय यत्नतः

kalkaleśvaradevasya samīpe vāma bhāgataḥ| liṁgaṁ pāpaharaṁ tatra samārādhaya yatnataḥ

"There, near the god Kalkaleshvara, on the left side, stands a sin-removing linga; worship it there with diligence."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.86.20)

तस्याभ्यर्चनमात्रेण लप्स्यसे कीर्तिमुत्तमाम्। स्वर्गं सनातनं चैव यत्सुरैरपि दुर्ल्लभम्

tasyābhyarcanamātreṇa lapsyase kīrtimuttamām| svargaṁ sanātanaṁ caiva yatsurairapi durllabham

"By the mere worship of it you shall obtain excellent fame, and the eternal heaven besides, which is hard to attain even for the gods."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.86.21)

गत्वा स पूजयामास तल्लिंगं कीर्तितं त्विदम्। ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रशस्य च मुदान्विताः

gatvā sa pūjayāmāsa talliṁgaṁ kīrtitaṁ tvidam| tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ praśasya ca mudānvitāḥ

Having gone there, he worshipped that linga as described; then the gods, together with the gandharvas, filled with joy, praising him —

Verse 22 (skanda.5.86.22)

अन्तरिक्षे विमानस्था प्रोचुर्वाचं नराधिपम्। त्वत्कीर्त्तिर्निर्मला जाता लिंगस्यास्य समर्चनात्

antarikṣe vimānasthā procurvācaṁ narādhipam| tvatkīrttirnirmalā jātā liṁgasyāsya samarcanāt

— standing in their celestial cars in the sky, spoke this word to the king: "By the due worship of this linga, your fame has become spotless."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.86.23)

अद्यप्रभृति राजेंद्र लिंगं त्वन्नाम नामतः। ख्यातिं यास्यति लोकेऽस्मिन्निंद्रद्युम्नेति निश्चितम्

adyaprabhṛti rājeṁdra liṁgaṁ tvannāma nāmataḥ| khyātiṁ yāsyati loke'sminniṁdradyumneti niścitam

"O lord of kings, from this day this linga shall become renowned in this world by your very name, as Indradyumna, without doubt."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.86.24)

इन्द्रद्युम्नेश्वरं देवं पूजयिष्यंति ये नराः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता विमानैः सर्वकामिकैः

indradyumneśvaraṁ devaṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti ye narāḥ| sarvapāpavinirmuktā vimānaiḥ sarvakāmikaiḥ

Those men who shall worship the god Indradyumneshvara, freed from all sin, by celestial cars that grant every wish —

Verse 25 (skanda.5.86.25)

स्वर्गं यास्यंति ते हृष्टाः स्तूयमानाः सुरर्षिभिः। किंचिच्च दुर्लभं लोके तेषां नैव भविष्यति

svargaṁ yāsyaṁti te hṛṣṭāḥ stūyamānāḥ surarṣibhiḥ| kiṁcicca durlabhaṁ loke teṣāṁ naiva bhaviṣyati

— shall go joyfully to heaven, praised by the divine sages; and nothing in the world shall remain hard to attain for them.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.86.26)

दर्शनं ये करिष्यंति लोभाद्वापि प्रसंगतः। तेषां कीर्तिर्यशः पुण्यं धर्मश्चैवं भविष्यति

darśanaṁ ye kariṣyaṁti lobhādvāpi prasaṁgataḥ| teṣāṁ kīrtiryaśaḥ puṇyaṁ dharmaścaivaṁ bhaviṣyati

Even those who perform this sight out of greed or merely incidentally shall likewise attain fame, renown, merit, and righteousness.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.86.27)

न स्वर्गात्पतनं तेषां यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्द्दश। ये च पूजां करिष्यंति चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः। ते कुलं तारयिष्यंति मातृकं पैतृकं सदा

na svargātpatanaṁ teṣāṁ yāvadiṁdrāścaturddaśa| ye ca pūjāṁ kariṣyaṁti caturdaśyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| te kulaṁ tārayiṣyaṁti mātṛkaṁ paitṛkaṁ sadā

They shall not fall from heaven for the span of fourteen Indras; and those who worship especially on the fourteenth shall ever deliver both their maternal and paternal lineages.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.86.28)

इत्युक्ता त्रिदशाः सर्वे लिंगं संपूज्य यत्नतः। इंद्रद्युम्नेन सहिताः पुनः स्वर्गं गताः प्रिये

ityuktā tridaśāḥ sarve liṁgaṁ saṁpūjya yatnataḥ| iṁdradyumnena sahitāḥ punaḥ svargaṁ gatāḥ priye

Having said this, all the gods, having duly worshipped the linga, together with Indradyumna, returned once more to heaven, O beloved.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.86.29)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। इन्द्रद्युम्नेशदेवस्य श्रूयतामपरः प्रिये

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| indradyumneśadevasya śrūyatāmaparaḥ priye

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