The Glory of Pratihareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.91.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। प्रतीहारेश्वरं देवि विद्धि विंशतिमं प्रिये। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण धनवानिह जायते

īśvara uvāca| pratīhāreśvaraṁ devi viddhi viṁśatimaṁ priye| yasya darśanamātreṇa dhanavāniha jāyate

Ishvara said: Know, O beloved, the twentieth deity to be Pratihareshvara — by whose mere sight one becomes wealthy in this world.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.91.2)

दक्षकोपात्त्वं च देवि पुरा प्राणैर्विसर्जितैः। हिमाचले तथा जाता मया प्राप्ता पुनः प्रिये

dakṣakopāttvaṁ ca devi purā prāṇairvisarjitaiḥ| himācale tathā jātā mayā prāptā punaḥ priye

O Devi, formerly, through Daksha's wrath, you gave up your life-breath; then, born again upon the Himalaya, I obtained you once more, O beloved.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.91.3)

प्रारब्धा च मया देवि त्वया सार्द्धं रतिस्तदा। दिव्यं वर्षशतं जातं साग्रं देवि प्रमोदतः। अनुरागवशाच्चैव मन्मथेन प्रपीडिता

prārabdhā ca mayā devi tvayā sārddhaṁ ratistadā| divyaṁ varṣaśataṁ jātaṁ sāgraṁ devi pramodataḥ| anurāgavaśāccaiva manmathena prapīḍitā

Then, O Devi, I began love's play with you; in great joy a full hundred divine years and more passed by, and, overpowered by passion, I was sorely tormented by Manmatha, the god of desire.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.91.4)

महारतिं समीक्ष्याथ देवाः संक्षुब्धमानसाः। चक्रुर्मंत्रं यथाकालं वासवाद्या यथोचितम्

mahāratiṁ samīkṣyātha devāḥ saṁkṣubdhamānasāḥ| cakrurmaṁtraṁ yathākālaṁ vāsavādyā yathocitam

Beholding that great union, the minds of the gods grew agitated; Vasava and the others, in due time, held fitting counsel.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.91.5)

दिव्यं वर्षशतं रुद्रो गौर्या सह सदा रतिम्। कुर्वंस्तिष्ठति देवोऽसौ मंदरे चारुकंदरे

divyaṁ varṣaśataṁ rudro gauryā saha sadā ratim| kurvaṁstiṣṭhati devo'sau maṁdare cārukaṁdare

The god Rudra remained in the beautiful cave of Mount Mandara, engaged unceasingly in love with Gauri for a full hundred divine years.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.91.6)

अनयोर्बीजसंपत्योः पुत्रो यो हि भवेत्तदा। विनश्येत्तेन त्रैलोक्यमखिलं च न संशयः

anayorbījasaṁpatyoḥ putro yo hi bhavettadā| vinaśyettena trailokyamakhilaṁ ca na saṁśayaḥ

'Should a son be born from the union of the seed of these two, then by him the whole triple world would surely be destroyed — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.91.7)

तस्य तेजोपि नो वोढुं समर्था निश्चितं वयम्। तस्मात्तत्क्रियतां कर्म रतिर्येनो पशाम्यति

tasya tejopi no voḍhuṁ samarthā niścitaṁ vayam| tasmāttatkriyatāṁ karma ratiryeno paśāmyati

'We are certainly incapable of bearing even his radiance; therefore let that measure be taken by which this union may be brought to an end.'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.91.8)

उपायं दृष्टवांस्तत्र देवानां गुरुरग्रणीः। बृहस्पतिर्महातेजा वेदशास्त्रार्थपारगः

upāyaṁ dṛṣṭavāṁstatra devānāṁ gururagraṇīḥ| bṛhaspatirmahātejā vedaśāstrārthapāragaḥ

There, Brihaspati, the foremost guru of the gods, of great splendor, versed in the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures, perceived a means.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.91.9)

गच्छंतु त्रिदशाः सर्वे शिवस्य तु समीपतः। स्वयं विज्ञाप्यतां देवस्तत्कर्म न करिष्यति

gacchaṁtu tridaśāḥ sarve śivasya tu samīpataḥ| svayaṁ vijñāpyatāṁ devastatkarma na kariṣyati

'Let all the thirty gods go near Shiva; let the god himself be informed — then he will not continue that act.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.91.10)

इति निश्चित्य ते देवि जग्मुः शीघ्रं सुरास्तदा। मंदराद्रेः शुभे द्वारि स्थितास्ते विस्मयान्विताः

iti niścitya te devi jagmuḥ śīghraṁ surāstadā| maṁdarādreḥ śubhe dvāri sthitāste vismayānvitāḥ

Having resolved thus, O Devi, the gods went at once, and, filled with wonder, they stood at the auspicious gate of Mount Mandara.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.91.11)

गणानामधिपो नंदी द्वारि तिष्ठति यत्नतः। त्वया सार्द्धमहं देवि कुर्वंस्तिष्ठामि तां रतिम्

gaṇānāmadhipo naṁdī dvāri tiṣṭhati yatnataḥ| tvayā sārddhamahaṁ devi kurvaṁstiṣṭhāmi tāṁ ratim

Nandi, lord of the ganas, stood diligently at the door: 'O Devi, while you two are engaged in love, I stand guard here.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.91.12)

अथ प्रवेशो देवानां दुष्करो मम पार्श्वतः। तदा चिंतयमानाश्च तत्र तिष्ठंति ते सुराः

atha praveśo devānāṁ duṣkaro mama pārśvataḥ| tadā ciṁtayamānāśca tatra tiṣṭhaṁti te surāḥ

'Then, with me present, entry for the gods is difficult' — thinking thus, those gods remained standing there.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.91.13)

अग्निना तद्धितं वाक्यमुक्तं तेषां पुरः शुभम्। हंसरूपं समास्थाय यास्यामि शिवसन्निधौ

agninā taddhitaṁ vākyamuktaṁ teṣāṁ puraḥ śubham| haṁsarūpaṁ samāsthāya yāsyāmi śivasannidhau

Before them, Agni spoke this beneficial and auspicious word: 'Taking the form of a swan, I shall go into Shiva's presence.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.91.14)

वंचयित्वा प्रतीहारं कृतं तेन तथैव च। हंसरूपेण कथितं कर्णे मम शुचिस्मिते

vaṁcayitvā pratīhāraṁ kṛtaṁ tena tathaiva ca| haṁsarūpeṇa kathitaṁ karṇe mama śucismite

Having deceived the gatekeeper Nandi, O pure-smiling one, he did just that — and, in the form of a swan, he spoke this into my ear.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.91.15)

इन्द्राद्या अमरा देवा द्वारि तिष्ठंति संयताः। श्रुत्वा तस्य च तद्वाक्यं ततोहं द्वारमागतः

indrādyā amarā devā dvāri tiṣṭhaṁti saṁyatāḥ| śrutvā tasya ca tadvākyaṁ tatohaṁ dvāramāgataḥ

'Indra and the other immortal gods stand restrained at the gate' — hearing his words, I then came to the door.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.91.16)

ततश्च तै- कुतो मह्यं प्रणामश्च यथाक्रमम्। मया दृष्टाश्च ते देवा युष्माकं किं करोम्यहम्

tataśca tai- kuto mahyaṁ praṇāmaśca yathākramam| mayā dṛṣṭāśca te devā yuṣmākaṁ kiṁ karomyaham

Then homage was duly paid to me by them in order [the Sanskrit text is broken at this point] — 'Why this obeisance to me?' I looked upon those gods: 'What shall I do for you?'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.91.17)

तैरुक्तं त्यज्यतां चैव संभोगस्तु सुदारुणः। तथा मया कृतं देवि गतास्ते त्रिदिवं पुनः

tairuktaṁ tyajyatāṁ caiva saṁbhogastu sudāruṇaḥ| tathā mayā kṛtaṁ devi gatāste tridivaṁ punaḥ

They said, 'Let this most dreadful union be abandoned.' So I did, O Devi, and those gods went back again to heaven.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.91.18)

ततः शप्तो मया नंदी भूलोकं गच्छ सत्वरम्। ततः शापपरिभ्रष्टः पृथिव्यां पतितस्तदा

tataḥ śapto mayā naṁdī bhūlokaṁ gaccha satvaram| tataḥ śāpaparibhraṣṭaḥ pṛthivyāṁ patitastadā

Then I cursed Nandi: 'Go swiftly to the earthly realm.' And, cast down by the curse, he fell at once upon the earth.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.91.19)

सोच्छ्वासहृदयो दीनो दुःखव्याकुललोचनः। विलपंश्च तथा नंदी विलुठञ्छोकतो भुवि

socchvāsahṛdayo dīno duḥkhavyākulalocanaḥ| vilapaṁśca tathā naṁdī viluṭhañchokato bhuvi

With heaving heart, wretched, his eyes bewildered with grief, Nandi lamented and rolled upon the ground in sorrow.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.91.20)

वंचितश्चाग्निना बाढं वासवेन विशेषतः। किं मया दुष्कृतं कर्म कृतं किं चित्पुरातनम्

vaṁcitaścāgninā bāḍhaṁ vāsavena viśeṣataḥ| kiṁ mayā duṣkṛtaṁ karma kṛtaṁ kiṁ citpurātanam

'By Agni, and especially by Vasava, I have been thoroughly deceived — what evil deed have I done? What ancient sin have I committed?'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.91.21)

स दृष्टो लोकपालैस्तु तामवस्थां गतो गणः। पृष्टश्च तैः कुतो नदिन्विलापं कुरुषे महत्

sa dṛṣṭo lokapālaistu tāmavasthāṁ gato gaṇaḥ| pṛṣṭaśca taiḥ kuto nadinvilāpaṁ kuruṣe mahat

That gana, fallen into such a state, was seen by the Lokapalas; they asked him, 'O Nandin, why do you lament so greatly?'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.91.22)

सर्वं निवेदितं तेन तेषामग्रे च नंदिना। उपायः कथितस्तैश्च महाकालवनं ततः

sarvaṁ niveditaṁ tena teṣāmagre ca naṁdinā| upāyaḥ kathitastaiśca mahākālavanaṁ tataḥ

Nandi told them everything, and they told him the remedy: the forest of Mahakala.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.91.23)

ततश्च वचनं श्रुत्वा नंदी रोमांचकंचुकः। महाकालवने देवि जगाम स तदा गणः। पूजयामास विधिवद्धृत्वा कपालिकीं तनुम्

tataśca vacanaṁ śrutvā naṁdī romāṁcakaṁcukaḥ| mahākālavane devi jagāma sa tadā gaṇaḥ| pūjayāmāsa vidhivaddhṛtvā kapālikīṁ tanum

Hearing their words, O Devi, that gana Nandi, his body thrilling with rapture, then went to the forest of Mahakala; and, taking on the form of a kapalika (skull-bearing ascetic), he worshipped there according to rite.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.91.24)

अशरीरसमुत्पन्ना वाणी लिंगात्तदा प्रिये। संजाता शापमोक्षस्ते प्रतीहार सुभक्तितः। पूजितोऽसौ महाभक्त्या प्रतीहारेण नंदिना

aśarīrasamutpannā vāṇī liṁgāttadā priye| saṁjātā śāpamokṣaste pratīhāra subhaktitaḥ| pūjito'sau mahābhaktyā pratīhāreṇa naṁdinā

Then, O beloved, a bodiless voice arose from the linga: 'O Pratihara, by your true devotion your release from the curse has come to pass.' And Nandi, the doorkeeper, worshipped that linga with great devotion.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.91.25)

तदाप्रभृति लोकेस्मिन्प्रतीहारेश्वरेश्वरः। मया ते कथितो देवि प्रतीहारेश्वरस्य च। प्रभावः सर्वलोकानामत्यभीष्टफलप्रदः

tadāprabhṛti lokesminpratīhāreśvareśvaraḥ| mayā te kathito devi pratīhāreśvarasya ca| prabhāvaḥ sarvalokānāmatyabhīṣṭaphalapradaḥ

From that time forth, in this world, he became known as Pratihareshvara. I have thus told you, O Devi, the glory of Pratihareshvara, which grants the most desired fruits to all the worlds.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.91.26)

पूजयिष्यंति ये भक्त्या प्रतीहारेश्वरं शिवम्। स्थानभ्रंशो वियोगश्च तेषां स्वप्नेऽपि नो भवेत्

pūjayiṣyaṁti ye bhaktyā pratīhāreśvaraṁ śivam| sthānabhraṁśo viyogaśca teṣāṁ svapne'pi no bhavet

Those who worship Pratihareshvara Shiva with devotion shall never, even in a dream, suffer loss of their station or separation from their beloved.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.91.27)

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति प्रतीहारेश्वरार्चनात्

saptajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ svalpaṁ vā yadi vā bahu| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti pratīhāreśvarārcanāt

Sin accumulated over seven births, whether little or much, is wholly destroyed through the worship of Pratihareshvara.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.91.28)

मनसा ये स्मरिष्यति प्रतीहारेश्वरं शिवम्। एवं तस्य कुलं सर्वं याति स्वर्गं न संशयः

manasā ye smariṣyati pratīhāreśvaraṁ śivam| evaṁ tasya kulaṁ sarvaṁ yāti svargaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

Those who merely remember Pratihareshvara Shiva in their mind — thus their entire family goes to heaven, without doubt.