The Greatness of Ishaneshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.87.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ईशानेश्वरसंज्ञं तु षोडशं विद्धि पार्वति। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण ऐश्वर्यं जायते नृणाम्

īśvara uvāca| īśāneśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu ṣoḍaśaṁ viddhi pārvati| yasya darśanamātreṇa aiśvaryaṁ jāyate nṛṇām

Ishvara said: "Know the sixteenth, O Parvati, by the name Ishaneshvara; by the mere sight of whom prosperity is born for men."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.87.2)

तुहुंडेन पुरा देवि सर्वे ह्युपद्रुताः सुराः। ऋषयश्च महाभागा यक्षगन्धर्वकि न्नराः

tuhuṁḍena purā devi sarve hyupadrutāḥ surāḥ| ṛṣayaśca mahābhāgā yakṣagandharvaki nnarāḥ

Formerly, O Devi, all the gods, the illustrious sages, the yakshas, gandharvas, and kinnaras, were oppressed by the demon Tuhunda.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.87.3)

नंदनाख्यं वनं सर्वं तदधीनमभूत्किल। ऐरावणं द्विपेन्द्रं च जित्वा द्वारि समादधत्

naṁdanākhyaṁ vanaṁ sarvaṁ tadadhīnamabhūtkila| airāvaṇaṁ dvipendraṁ ca jitvā dvāri samādadhat

The entire Nandana grove had indeed come under his sway; and, having conquered the lord of elephants, Airavata, he had chained him at his gate.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.87.4)

उच्चैःश्रवससंज्ञं तु हृतवान्दानवेश्वरः। देवांगनानां सर्वासां विध्वंसं कर्तुमुद्यतः

uccaiḥśravasasaṁjñaṁ tu hṛtavāndānaveśvaraḥ| devāṁganānāṁ sarvāsāṁ vidhvaṁsaṁ kartumudyataḥ

That lord of demons had also carried off the horse named Uchchaihshravas, and stood ready to violate all the celestial women.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.87.5)

स्वर्गमार्गः खिलीभूतस्तद्भयेन ह्यभूत्सति। हृताधिकारा देवाश्च मंत्रं समुपचक्रमुः

svargamārgaḥ khilībhūtastadbhayena hyabhūtsati| hṛtādhikārā devāśca maṁtraṁ samupacakramuḥ

Through fear of him the pathway to heaven had become blocked; the gods, stripped of their offices, began to take counsel among themselves.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.87.6)

तस्मिन्काले च कालज्ञो नारदोऽथ महामुनिः। आजगाम महातेजा भ्रममाणश्च मंत्रिभिः

tasminkāle ca kālajño nārado'tha mahāmuniḥ| ājagāma mahātejā bhramamāṇaśca maṁtribhiḥ

At that very time the sage Narada, knower of the right season, of great splendor, arrived there in his wanderings, among those counsellors.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.87.7)

देवैर्नमस्कृतः सोऽथ पूजितश्च यथाविधि। निवेदितं यथावृत्तं तुहुण्डस्य विचेष्टितम्

devairnamaskṛtaḥ so'tha pūjitaśca yathāvidhi| niveditaṁ yathāvṛttaṁ tuhuṇḍasya viceṣṭitam

The gods bowed to him and duly honored him, and related to him, just as it had occurred, the whole misconduct of Tuhunda.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.87.8)

पप्रच्छुरथ ते मंत्रं नारदं मुनिसत्तमम्। कथयस्व महाबुद्धे सर्वं जानासि सर्व्वतः

papracchuratha te maṁtraṁ nāradaṁ munisattamam| kathayasva mahābuddhe sarvaṁ jānāsi sarvvataḥ

Then they asked Narada, foremost of sages, for counsel: "Tell us, O wise one, for you know everything, everywhere."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.87.9)

ईदृक्काले समायाते किं कर्त्तव्यं महामुने। नाज्ञातं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचिद्देवर्षिसत्तम

īdṛkkāle samāyāte kiṁ karttavyaṁ mahāmune| nājñātaṁ triṣu lokeṣu kiṁciddevarṣisattama

"When such a time has come, O great sage, what is to be done? O foremost of divine sages, nothing in the three worlds is unknown to you."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.87.10)

मुहूर्तं ध्यानमालंब्य किंचिन्मील्य च लोचने। उपायं कथयामास सर्वदुःखविनाशनम्

muhūrtaṁ dhyānamālaṁbya kiṁcinmīlya ca locane| upāyaṁ kathayāmāsa sarvaduḥkhavināśanam

Fixing himself in meditation for a moment, closing his eyes briefly, he then declared a remedy that destroys every sorrow.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.87.11)

महाकालवने रम्ये शीघ्रं गच्छंतु विह्वलाः। इन्द्रद्युम्नेश्वरस्यैव पश्चाद्भागे व्यवस्थिताः। सेवध्वं परमं लिंगमीशानेश्वरसंज्ञकम्

mahākālavane ramye śīghraṁ gacchaṁtu vihvalāḥ| indradyumneśvarasyaiva paścādbhāge vyavasthitāḥ| sevadhvaṁ paramaṁ liṁgamīśāneśvarasaṁjñakam

"Go swiftly, you who are so distraught, to the lovely Mahakala forest; there, situated behind Indradyumneshvara, worship the supreme linga named Ishaneshvara."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.87.12)

पुरा चेशानकल्पे तु ईशानेन सुखेन हि। मुनिना श्रोत्रियेणैव वेदाभ्यासरतेन वै। उत्तमांगपदं लब्धं शंकरस्य च मूर्द्धनि

purā ceśānakalpe tu īśānena sukhena hi| muninā śrotriyeṇaiva vedābhyāsaratena vai| uttamāṁgapadaṁ labdhaṁ śaṁkarasya ca mūrddhani

"Long ago, in the Ishana kalpa, the happy sage named Ishana, learned in the scriptures, devoted to the study of the Veda, attained the foremost place upon the very head of Shankara."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.87.13)

तस्याराधनमात्रेण मनोऽभीष्टं हि लभ्यते

tasyārādhanamātreṇa mano'bhīṣṭaṁ hi labhyate

"By his worship alone one's heart's desire is obtained."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.87.14)

नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवा मुदितमानसाः। जग्मुर्यत्र महल्लिंगं स्तुतिं सर्वेऽप्यकुर्वत

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā devā muditamānasāḥ| jagmuryatra mahalliṁgaṁ stutiṁ sarve'pyakurvata

Hearing Narada's words, the gods, their minds rejoicing, went to where that great linga stood, and all together offered hymns of praise.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.87.15)

ईशानेशान ईशान तत्पुरुष नमोऽस्तु ते। नमो वाम महाघोर सद्योमुख नमोनमः

īśāneśāna īśāna tatpuruṣa namo'stu te| namo vāma mahāghora sadyomukha namonamaḥ

"O Ishaneshana, O Ishana, O Tatpurusha, homage to you. Homage to Vama, to Mahaghora, to Sadyojata-face — homage again and again."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.87.16)

त्र्यक्ष भर्ग महादेव उमाकांत नमोनमः। नमः शिव नमो भीम नमः सर्व नमोनमः

tryakṣa bharga mahādeva umākāṁta namonamaḥ| namaḥ śiva namo bhīma namaḥ sarva namonamaḥ

"O three-eyed one, O Bharga, O Mahadeva, O beloved of Uma, homage again and again. Homage to Shiva, homage to Bhima, homage to Sarva, again and again."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.87.17)

नमः शंभो नमो रुद्र विरूपाक्ष नमोनमः। त्वया देव प्रजाः सर्वाः सदेवासुरमानुषाः

namaḥ śaṁbho namo rudra virūpākṣa namonamaḥ| tvayā deva prajāḥ sarvāḥ sadevāsuramānuṣāḥ

"Homage to Shambhu, homage to Rudra, to Virupaksha, again and again. By you, O god, all creatures, with gods, demons, and men —"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.87.18)

स्थावराणि च भूतानि जंगमानि चराणि च। ब्रह्म वेदाश्च वेद्यं च त्वया सृष्टं महेश्वर

sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni jaṁgamāni carāṇi ca| brahma vedāśca vedyaṁ ca tvayā sṛṣṭaṁ maheśvara

"— the beings both fixed and moving, Brahman, the Vedas, and all that is to be known — all these have been created by you, O Maheshvara."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.87.19)

शिरस्ते गगनं देवा नेत्रे शशिदिवाकरौ। निःश्वासः पवनश्चापि तेजोऽग्निश्च तवाच्युतः

śiraste gaganaṁ devā netre śaśidivākarau| niḥśvāsaḥ pavanaścāpi tejo'gniśca tavācyutaḥ

"The sky is your head, the moon and sun your eyes; the wind is your breath, and fire is your unfailing splendor."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.87.20)

बाहवस्ते दिशः सर्वाः कुक्षिश्चैव महार्णवः। उरू ते पर्वता देव चरणौ पृथिवी मता

bāhavaste diśaḥ sarvāḥ kukṣiścaiva mahārṇavaḥ| urū te parvatā deva caraṇau pṛthivī matā

"All the quarters are your arms, and the great ocean your belly; the mountains, O god, are your thighs, and the earth is held to be your feet."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.87.21)

इंद्रसोमाग्निवरुणा देवासुरमहोरगाः। प्रह्वास्त्वामनुतिष्ठंति स्तुवंतो विविधैः स्तवैः

iṁdrasomāgnivaruṇā devāsuramahoragāḥ| prahvāstvāmanutiṣṭhaṁti stuvaṁto vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ

"Indra, Soma, Agni, Varuna, gods, demons, and great serpents, all bow low and attend upon you, praising you with manifold hymns."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.87.22)

त्वया व्याप्तानि भूतानि सर्वाणि भुवनेश्वर। त्वयि तुष्टे जगत्तुष्टं त्वयि क्रुद्धे महद्भयम्

tvayā vyāptāni bhūtāni sarvāṇi bhuvaneśvara| tvayi tuṣṭe jagattuṣṭaṁ tvayi kruddhe mahadbhayam

"By you, O lord of the worlds, all beings are pervaded; when you are pleased the world is pleased, when you are angered a great terror arises."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.87.23)

भयानामपनेतासि त्वमेकः शत्रुसूदनः। असुराणां समर्थानां विनाशश्च त्वया कृतः

bhayānāmapanetāsi tvamekaḥ śatrusūdanaḥ| asurāṇāṁ samarthānāṁ vināśaśca tvayā kṛtaḥ

"You alone remove all fears, the slayer of enemies; the destruction of the mighty demons too has been wrought by you."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.87.24)

न च विक्रमणैर्देव निर्वाणमगमत्परम्। त्वं हि कर्त्ता विकर्त्ता च भूतानामिह सर्वशः

na ca vikramaṇairdeva nirvāṇamagamatparam| tvaṁ hi karttā vikarttā ca bhūtānāmiha sarvaśaḥ

"O god, by valor alone one does not attain the supreme cessation; you alone are the maker and unmaker of all beings, in every way."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.87.25)

आराधयित्वा सर्वे ते नमस्यंति च सर्वशः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि लिंगमध्यात्समुत्थिता

ārādhayitvā sarve te namasyaṁti ca sarvaśaḥ| etasminnaṁtare devi liṁgamadhyātsamutthitā

Having worshipped him, all bow to him in every way. Meanwhile, O Devi, there arose from the midst of the linga —

Verse 26 (skanda.5.87.26)

धूमावृता महा ज्वाला यया दग्धः स दानवः। तुहुण्डो मुंडपुत्रस्तु ससैन्यपरिवारितः

dhūmāvṛtā mahā jvālā yayā dagdhaḥ sa dānavaḥ| tuhuṇḍo muṁḍaputrastu sasainyaparivāritaḥ

— a great flame, wreathed in smoke, by which the demon Tuhunda, son of Munda, was burnt to ashes, together with his army and retinue.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.87.27)

स्वाधिकारांश्च संप्रापुर्लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः। सुरैश्चाख्या समादिष्टा लिंगस्यास्यैव हर्षितः

svādhikārāṁśca saṁprāpurliṁgasyāsya prabhāvataḥ| suraiścākhyā samādiṣṭā liṁgasyāsyaiva harṣitaḥ

Through the power of this linga the gods regained their own offices; and, rejoicing, they gave this very linga its name —

Verse 28 (skanda.5.87.28)

ऐश्वर्यशीलमस्यास्तीत्यस्माकं च विनिश्चितम्। ईशान इति विख्यातस्त्रैलोक्ये च भविष्यति

aiśvaryaśīlamasyāstītyasmākaṁ ca viniścitam| īśāna iti vikhyātastrailokye ca bhaviṣyati

"— 'This one possesses the nature of sovereignty,' we have all determined; therefore he shall become renowned throughout the three worlds as Ishana."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.87.29)

ईशानेश्वरसंज्ञं तु ये समाराधयंति च। कीर्तिर्लक्ष्मीर्ध्रुवा तेषां सिद्धिः प्रीतिर्भविष्यति

īśāneśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu ye samārādhayaṁti ca| kīrtirlakṣmīrdhruvā teṣāṁ siddhiḥ prītirbhaviṣyati

Those who worship the god named Ishaneshvara shall have unfailing fame and fortune, and accomplishment and delight besides.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.87.30)

पूज्यमानः सदा देवैर्गंधर्वाप्सरसांगणैः। स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यंति विमानैरुज्ज्वलैर्मुदा

pūjyamānaḥ sadā devairgaṁdharvāpsarasāṁgaṇaiḥ| svargalokaṁ gamiṣyaṁti vimānairujjvalairmudā

Ever honored by the gods, the gandharvas, and the hosts of apsarases, they shall go joyfully to the world of heaven in resplendent celestial cars.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.87.31)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राः स्त्रियः कुमारिकाः। यथाभिलषितान्कामानाप्नुवंति न संशयः

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ striyaḥ kumārikāḥ| yathābhilaṣitānkāmānāpnuvaṁti na saṁśayaḥ

Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras, women, and maidens — all obtain whatever desires they wish for, without doubt.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.87.32)

यः करोति नरः सम्यग्दर्शनं नियमस्थितः। न कुत्र तस्य हानिः स्याद्यावजन्मशतं भवेत्

yaḥ karoti naraḥ samyagdarśanaṁ niyamasthitaḥ| na kutra tasya hāniḥ syādyāvajanmaśataṁ bhavet

The man who, keeping to his vows, performs this sight rightly, suffers no loss anywhere for the span of a hundred births.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.87.33)

सर्वदा सर्वकार्येषु ते समर्था यशस्विनि। ईशानेश्वरसंज्ञं तु ये पश्यंति दिनेदिने

sarvadā sarvakāryeṣu te samarthā yaśasvini| īśāneśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu ye paśyaṁti dinedine

O glorious one, those who behold the god named Ishaneshvara day after day are ever capable in every undertaking.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.87.34)

एवं ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। ईशानेश्वरदेवस्य श्रूयतामप्सरेश्वरः

evaṁ te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| īśāneśvaradevasya śrūyatāmapsareśvaraḥ

Thus, O Devi, I have told you the sin-destroying glory of the god Ishaneshvara; now hear of Apsareshvara.