The Glory of Kalakaleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.89.1)

श्रीशिव उवाच। देवमष्टादशं विद्धि ख्यातं कलकलेश्वरम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कलहो नैव जायते

śrīśiva uvāca| devamaṣṭādaśaṁ viddhi khyātaṁ kalakaleśvaram| yasya darśanamātreṇa kalaho naiva jāyate

Shri Shiva said: Know the eighteenth deity, renowned as Kalakaleshvara — by whose mere sight quarrel never arises.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.89.2)

सर्वदुःखोपशमनं सर्वपाप प्रमोचनम्। व्याधिसर्पाग्निचौराणां शमनं वांछितप्रदम्

sarvaduḥkhopaśamanaṁ sarvapāpa pramocanam| vyādhisarpāgnicaurāṇāṁ śamanaṁ vāṁchitapradam

He pacifies every sorrow and frees one from every sin; he calms the fear of disease, serpents, fire and thieves, and grants every desire.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.89.3)

मम देवि त्वया सार्द्धं कलहः समपद्यत। पुरा विस्तरतो वच्मि शृण्वेकाग्रमनाः शुभे

mama devi tvayā sārddhaṁ kalahaḥ samapadyata| purā vistarato vacmi śṛṇvekāgramanāḥ śubhe

O Devi, once, long ago, a quarrel arose between you and me. I shall tell it now in full — listen, O gracious one, with a focused mind.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.89.4)

यदा त्वं हिमशैलस्य दुहिता वरवर्णिनि। तदा विवाहितं कांते यथोक्तविधिना मया

yadā tvaṁ himaśailasya duhitā varavarṇini| tadā vivāhitaṁ kāṁte yathoktavidhinā mayā

When you were the daughter of the Himalaya, O fair one, then, O beloved, I married you according to the prescribed rites.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.89.5)

विनिवृत्ते विवाहे च त्वया सार्द्धं वरानने। महाकालीति नाम्ना वै वर्णेनापि च तादृशी

vinivṛtte vivāhe ca tvayā sārddhaṁ varānane| mahākālīti nāmnā vai varṇenāpi ca tādṛśī

When the wedding was over, you, O fair-faced one, came to be known by the name Mahakali, and were of that same dark hue.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.89.6)

नीलोत्पलनिभप्रख्या नीलकुंचितमूर्द्धजा। अप्येकस्मिंस्तदा त्वं हि मातॄणां मंडपे शुभे। मध्ये समुपविष्टासि कृष्णांजनसमप्रभा

nīlotpalanibhaprakhyā nīlakuṁcitamūrddhajā| apyekasmiṁstadā tvaṁ hi mātṝṇāṁ maṁḍape śubhe| madhye samupaviṣṭāsi kṛṣṇāṁjanasamaprabhā

Dark as a blue lotus, with curling black locks — once, seated in the midst of the pavilion of the Mother-goddesses, you shone like black collyrium.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.89.7)

कालि सुंदरि मत्पार्श्वे वल्लभे त्वमुपाविश। शरीरे मम तन्वंगि सिते भास्यसितद्युतिः

kāli suṁdari matpārśve vallabhe tvamupāviśa| śarīre mama tanvaṁgi site bhāsyasitadyutiḥ

I said: 'O Kali, O beauty, O beloved, come sit beside me — O slender one, your dark radiance will shine all the more against my white body.'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.89.8)

भुजंगीवासिता शुभ्रे संश्लिष्टा चंदने तरौ। रजनीवासिते पक्षे दृष्टिदोषहरासि मे

bhujaṁgīvāsitā śubhre saṁśliṣṭā caṁdane tarau| rajanīvāsite pakṣe dṛṣṭidoṣaharāsi me

Like a dark serpent entwined upon a white sandal tree, or like the dark night within the bright fortnight, O radiant one, you ward off the evil eye from me.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.89.9)

इत्युक्तासि मया देवि गिरिजे चारुहासिनि। तदा प्रोक्तं त्वया वाक्यं मामुद्दिश्य सगद्गदम्

ityuktāsi mayā devi girije cāruhāsini| tadā proktaṁ tvayā vākyaṁ māmuddiśya sagadgadam

Thus I spoke to you, O Girija of the lovely smile; and then, your voice choked with feeling, you said these words to me.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.89.10)

यदा त्वया मदर्थे हि प्रेरिता वेदपारगाः। सप्तर्षयो महाभागाः किंकृते न तदात्थ माम्

yadā tvayā madarthe hi preritā vedapāragāḥ| saptarṣayo mahābhāgāḥ kiṁkṛte na tadāttha mām

'When, for my sake, you sent the glorious Seven Sages, masters of the Veda — why did you not say such things to me then?'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.89.11)

तदा त्वया मदर्थेऽपि प्रार्थितो जनको मम। हिमाद्रिराजो यत्नेन किं काली न तदात्थ माम्

tadā tvayā madarthe'pi prārthito janako mama| himādrirājo yatnena kiṁ kālī na tadāttha mām

'Then too, for my sake, you diligently entreated my father, the king of the Himalayas — why did you not say this to me then?'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.89.12)

यदाप्युक्तं त्वया दैन्यान्मदर्थे गच्छ नारद। प्रार्थ्यतां पार्वती शीघ्रं किं काली न तदात्थ माम्

yadāpyuktaṁ tvayā dainyānmadarthe gaccha nārada| prārthyatāṁ pārvatī śīghraṁ kiṁ kālī na tadāttha mām

'When, out of desperation, you said, "Go, O Narada, for my sake — quickly entreat Parvati" — why did you not say this to me then?'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.89.13)

सत्येयं लौकिकी गाथा न वृथा परिजायते। स्वकृतेन जनः सर्वो जाड्येन परि भूयते

satyeyaṁ laukikī gāthā na vṛthā parijāyate| svakṛtena janaḥ sarvo jāḍyena pari bhūyate

'True is this worldly saying, and it is not said in vain: every person is overtaken by folly through their own doing.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.89.14)

अवश्यमर्थी प्राप्नोति खंडनां तुंडमुंडनाम्। तपोतिदीर्घचारैर्तयत्त्वां प्रार्थितवत्यहम्

avaśyamarthī prāpnoti khaṁḍanāṁ tuṁḍamuṁḍanām| tapotidīrghacārairtayattvāṁ prārthitavatyaham

'The suitor inevitably meets with rebuff — and yet, through such long and arduous striving, it was I who sought you.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.89.15)

तस्या मे नियतस्त्वेष ह्यवमानः पदेपदे। नैवास्मि कुटिला रौद्रा विषमा न च धूर्जटे

tasyā me niyatastveṣa hyavamānaḥ padepade| naivāsmi kuṭilā raudrā viṣamā na ca dhūrjaṭe

'O Dhurjati, this scorn toward me has been constant, at every step — and yet I am neither crooked, nor fierce, nor unjust.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.89.16)

नाकुलीना वृथाचारा न दुष्टा न समत्सरा। सविषस्त्वं यतः ख्यातो व्यक्तं दोषा कराश्रयः

nākulīnā vṛthācārā na duṣṭā na samatsarā| saviṣastvaṁ yataḥ khyāto vyaktaṁ doṣā karāśrayaḥ

'I am not lowborn, nor of vain conduct, nor wicked, nor envious — but you are the one renowned as venomous; clearly the fault lies in your own hand.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.89.17)

अकुलीनो वृथाचारो मात्सर्येणाश्रितः सदा। नाहं मुष्णामि नयने तत्र हंता त्वमेव च

akulīno vṛthācāro mātsaryeṇāśritaḥ sadā| nāhaṁ muṣṇāmi nayane tatra haṁtā tvameva ca

'You yourself are lowborn, of vain conduct, ever possessed by envy — I do not rob anyone of their sight; it is you who is the destroyer there.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.89.18)

आदित्यस्त्वां विजानातु भगवान्द्वादशात्मकः। मया नोत्पाटिता दंताः कस्यापि निरपत्रप

ādityastvāṁ vijānātu bhagavāndvādaśātmakaḥ| mayā notpāṭitā daṁtāḥ kasyāpi nirapatrapa

'O shameless one, let the blessed twelve-fold Aditya know the truth about you — I have never knocked out anyone's teeth.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.89.19)

पूषादेवो विजानाति द्वादशात्मा दिवाकरः। मूर्ध्नि शूलं तव यतः स्वैदोषैर्मामधिक्षिपः

pūṣādevo vijānāti dvādaśātmā divākaraḥ| mūrdhni śūlaṁ tava yataḥ svaidoṣairmāmadhikṣipaḥ

'The god Pushan, the twelve-fold sun, knows the truth — the affliction rests on your own head, for it is your own faults for which you reproach me.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.89.20)

यत्तु मामाह कृष्णेति महाकालेति विश्रुतः। इत्यथापि प्रवादोऽयं प्रवरः ख्यामि ते हर

yattu māmāha kṛṣṇeti mahākāleti viśrutaḥ| ityathāpi pravādo'yaṁ pravaraḥ khyāmi te hara

'As for calling me "Krishna" and "renowned as Mahakali" — that is merely a common saying, O Hara; let me tell you its truer meaning.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.89.21)

निदर्शनार्थं न द्वेषाच्छ्रुत्वा तं क्षंतुमर्हसि। विरूपो यावदादर्शे नात्मनः पश्यते मुखम्

nidarśanārthaṁ na dveṣācchrutvā taṁ kṣaṁtumarhasi| virūpo yāvadādarśe nātmanaḥ paśyate mukham

'This is said only to illustrate, not out of malice — having heard it, you should forgive me. As long as an ugly man does not see his own face in a mirror...'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.89.22)

मन्यते तावदात्मानमन्येभ्यो रूपवत्तमम्। यदा तु मुखमादर्शे विकृतं सोऽभिवीक्षते

manyate tāvadātmānamanyebhyo rūpavattamam| yadā tu mukhamādarśe vikṛtaṁ so'bhivīkṣate

'...he goes on thinking himself more handsome than everyone else; but the moment he sees his own distorted face in the mirror...'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.89.23)

तदेतरं विजानाति ह्यात्मानं नेतरं जनम्। सत्यधर्मच्युतात्पुंसः क्षुद्रादाशीविषादिव

tadetaraṁ vijānāti hyātmānaṁ netaraṁ janam| satyadharmacyutātpuṁsaḥ kṣudrādāśīviṣādiva

'...then he truly knows himself as apart from others. People shrink away from a man who has fallen from truth and dharma, just as from a lowly venomous serpent.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.89.24)

स नास्तिकोप्युद्विजते जनः किं पुनरास्तिकः। इत्युक्तोऽहं त्वया देवि मया कोलाहलः कृतः

sa nāstikopyudvijate janaḥ kiṁ punarāstikaḥ| ityukto'haṁ tvayā devi mayā kolāhalaḥ kṛtaḥ

'Even a non-believer recoils from such a man — how much more a believer!' Thus you spoke to me, O Devi, and I raised an uproar.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.89.25)

अनात्मज्ञासि गिरिजे मृडे पंडितमानिनि। सत्यं सर्वैरवयवैः स्तुतोऽपि सदृशः पितुः

anātmajñāsi girije mṛḍe paṁḍitamānini| satyaṁ sarvairavayavaiḥ stuto'pi sadṛśaḥ pituḥ

I said: 'O Girija, O gentle one who thinks herself so wise — you do not know yourself! It is true that even when praised in every limb, a child still resembles its father...'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.89.26)

काठिन्यं कष्टमभ्येति धातुभ्यो बहुघातिता। कुटिलत्वं च सर्वेभ्योऽसेव्यत्वं च हिमादिव

kāṭhinyaṁ kaṣṭamabhyeti dhātubhyo bahughātitā| kuṭilatvaṁ ca sarvebhyo'sevyatvaṁ ca himādiva

'...hardness comes, painfully, from the mountain's own rock, harshness from being ceaselessly struck, and crookedness and unapproachability from the snow of your father, the Himalaya — just so, you too bear your father's faults.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.89.27)

इत्युक्ताऽसि मया देवि पुनः प्रोक्तं त्वया वचः। तथापि दुष्टसंसर्गात्संक्रांतं सर्वमेव हि

ityuktā'si mayā devi punaḥ proktaṁ tvayā vacaḥ| tathāpi duṣṭasaṁsargātsaṁkrāṁtaṁ sarvameva hi

Thus, O Devi, I spoke to you; and again you answered: 'And yet, indeed, it is only through evil company that all such faults are truly transmitted.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.89.28)

व्यालेभ्योऽनेकजिह्वत्वं भस्मतः स्नेहवर्जनम्। हृत्कालुष्यं शशांकाद्वै दुर्बोधत्वं वृषादपि

vyālebhyo'nekajihvatvaṁ bhasmataḥ snehavarjanam| hṛtkāluṣyaṁ śaśāṁkādvai durbodhatvaṁ vṛṣādapi

'From serpents you got many-tonguedness, from ashes the loss of affection, from the moon the impurity of heart, and from the bull, dullness of understanding.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.89.29)

श्मशानवासाद्भीरुत्वं नग्नत्वं च न लज्जया। निर्घृणत्वं कपालाच्च दया ते विगता चिरम्

śmaśānavāsādbhīrutvaṁ nagnatvaṁ ca na lajjayā| nirghṛṇatvaṁ kapālācca dayā te vigatā ciram

'From dwelling in the cremation ground, dreadfulness; from going naked without shame, shamelessness; and from the skull, mercilessness — your compassion, indeed, departed long ago.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.89.30)

एवं तदाभवद्रौद्रः कलहो भयकृच्छुभे। एवं प्रवृत्ते तु तदा कंपितं भुवनत्रयम्

evaṁ tadābhavadraudraḥ kalaho bhayakṛcchubhe| evaṁ pravṛtte tu tadā kaṁpitaṁ bhuvanatrayam

Thus, O gracious one, that fierce and fearsome quarrel came about; and as it broke out, the three worlds trembled.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.89.31)

भीताश्च देवगंधर्वा यक्षगंधर्वराक्षसाः। तस्मात्कोलाहलो भूमिं भित्त्वा लिंगमभूत्तदा

bhītāśca devagaṁdharvā yakṣagaṁdharvarākṣasāḥ| tasmātkolāhalo bhūmiṁ bhittvā liṁgamabhūttadā

The gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshasas were struck with fear; and from that very uproar, splitting open the earth, a linga appeared.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.89.32)

लिंगमध्यात्समुत्पन्ना वाणी सुखकरी शुभा। आश्वासयंती देवान्वै त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

liṁgamadhyātsamutpannā vāṇī sukhakarī śubhā| āśvāsayaṁtī devānvai trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

From within that linga arose a blissful, auspicious voice, reassuring the gods and the whole moving and unmoving triple world.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.89.33)

नामास्य चक्रुर्देवेशास्तदा कलकलेश्वरम्। स्वरनामासौ ततोऽभूच्छङ्करो भुवि विश्रुतः

nāmāsya cakrurdeveśāstadā kalakaleśvaram| svaranāmāsau tato'bhūcchaṅkaro bhuvi viśrutaḥ

The lords of the gods then gave it the name Kalakaleshvara; and from that sound-born name, this form of Shankara became renowned on earth.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.89.34)

यस्तमर्चयते भक्त्या देवं कलकलेश्वरम्। न राक्षसाः पिशाचाश्च न भूता न विनायकाः। विप्रं कुर्युर्वरारोहे कलहो न भवेद्गृहे

yastamarcayate bhaktyā devaṁ kalakaleśvaram| na rākṣasāḥ piśācāśca na bhūtā na vināyakāḥ| vipraṁ kuryurvarārohe kalaho na bhavedgṛhe

O fair-hipped one, whoever worships this god Kalakaleshvara with devotion — neither Rakshasas, nor Pishachas, nor Bhutas, nor Vinayakas can trouble that Brahmin, and quarrel never arises in his household.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.89.35)

सुशीला गृहिणी तस्य सुरूपा सुभगा प्रिये। बहुपुत्रा बहुधना जायते दर्शनात्तथा

suśīlā gṛhiṇī tasya surūpā subhagā priye| bahuputrā bahudhanā jāyate darśanāttathā

O beloved, by the power of that sight, his wife becomes good-natured, beautiful, fortunate, and blessed with many sons and much wealth.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.89.36)

ये पश्यंति चतुर्द्दश्यां देवं कलकलेश्वरम्। न दुःखं न जराव्याधिर्नाकालमरणं तथा

ye paśyaṁti caturddaśyāṁ devaṁ kalakaleśvaram| na duḥkhaṁ na jarāvyādhirnākālamaraṇaṁ tathā

Those who behold the god Kalakaleshvara on the fourteenth lunar day suffer neither sorrow, nor old age or disease, nor untimely death.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.89.37)

न च शत्रुभयं तेषां जायते गिरिपुत्रके। लोकोऽक्षयो भवेद्देवि यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्द्दश

na ca śatrubhayaṁ teṣāṁ jāyate giriputrake| loko'kṣayo bhaveddevi yāvadiṁdrāścaturddaśa

O daughter of the mountain, they have no fear of enemies either; O Devi, their world remains imperishable for as long as fourteen Indras reign.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.89.38)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण क्षेममत्र परत्र च

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| yasya śravaṇamātreṇa kṣemamatra paratra ca

This sin-destroying glory, O Devi, has thus been told to you; merely by hearing it, one attains well-being both in this world and the next.