The Glory of Someshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.97.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। विद्धि षड्विंशकं देवि देवं सोमेश्वरं परम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण निष्कलंको नरो भवेत्

īśvara uvāca| viddhi ṣaḍviṁśakaṁ devi devaṁ someśvaraṁ param| yasya darśanamātreṇa niṣkalaṁko naro bhavet

Ishvara said: Know, O Devi, the twenty-sixth supreme deity as Someshvara — by whose mere sight a man becomes free from all blemish.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.97.2)

अत्रिर्नाम महाभागो ब्रह्मणो मानसः सुतः। प्रजापतिरभूद्देवि कल्पे वाराहसंज्ञके

atrirnāma mahābhāgo brahmaṇo mānasaḥ sutaḥ| prajāpatirabhūddevi kalpe vārāhasaṁjñake

There was a glorious sage named Atri, mind-born son of Brahma, who became a Prajapati, O Devi, in the kalpa called Varaha.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.97.3)

तस्य पुत्रोऽभवत्सोमो दक्षोथ मातृभागतः। सप्तविंशतिर्याः कन्या दाक्षायण्यः प्रकीर्तिताः

tasya putro'bhavatsomo dakṣotha mātṛbhāgataḥ| saptaviṁśatiryāḥ kanyā dākṣāyaṇyaḥ prakīrtitāḥ

His son was Soma, the Moon; and Daksha, through the bond of marriage, gave him the twenty-seven maidens renowned as the Dakshayanis.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.97.4)

सोमपत्न्यो हि मंतव्यास्तासां श्रेष्ठा तु रोहिणी। तामेव भजते सोमो नेतरां इति शुश्रुम

somapatnyo hi maṁtavyāstāsāṁ śreṣṭhā tu rohiṇī| tāmeva bhajate somo netarāṁ iti śuśruma

These are to be known as the wives of Soma; among them Rohini is the foremost. Soma loves her alone, not the others — thus have we heard.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.97.5)

इतराः प्रोचुरागत्य दक्षस्याग्रे यथातथम्। दक्षोऽथ स तदागत्य तमुवाच स नाकरोत्

itarāḥ procurāgatya dakṣasyāgre yathātatham| dakṣo'tha sa tadāgatya tamuvāca sa nākarot

The other wives came and told Daksha exactly what had happened; then Daksha himself went to Soma and spoke to him, but Soma did not comply.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.97.6)

यदा न वारितस्तस्थौ दक्षः कुद्धस्तदा प्रिये। शशाप सोमं संक्रुद्धः शीघ्रमंतर्हितो भव

yadā na vāritastasthau dakṣaḥ kuddhastadā priye| śaśāpa somaṁ saṁkruddhaḥ śīghramaṁtarhito bhava

When Soma, unrestrained, remained as he was, Daksha, O beloved, grew furious and, in great anger, cursed Soma: 'Vanish at once!'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.97.7)

एवं शप्तस्तु सोमो वै तदा ह्यंतर्हितोऽभवत्। शशाप सोमो दक्षं तु भवानपि भविष्यति

evaṁ śaptastu somo vai tadā hyaṁtarhito'bhavat| śaśāpa somo dakṣaṁ tu bhavānapi bhaviṣyati

Thus cursed, Soma at once vanished; and Soma in turn cursed Daksha: 'You too shall become...'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.97.8)

अनेकत्वं विहायैतज्जलदेहं सनातनम्। अतः प्राचेतसो दक्षो ब्रह्मपुत्रोऽपि गीयते

anekatvaṁ vihāyaitajjaladehaṁ sanātanam| ataḥ prācetaso dakṣo brahmaputro'pi gīyate

'...abandoning your manifold single form, become this eternal body of water.' Hence Daksha, son of Prachetas, though born of Brahma, is likewise glorified in this form.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.97.9)

एवमंतर्हितः सोमो गतो वै दक्षशापतः। देवाश्च नागा यक्षाश्च गंधर्वाः पितृभिः सह। वैराजं ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्माणं समुपस्थिताः

evamaṁtarhitaḥ somo gato vai dakṣaśāpataḥ| devāśca nāgā yakṣāśca gaṁdharvāḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha| vairājaṁ brahmasadanaṁ brahmāṇaṁ samupasthitāḥ

Thus vanished through Daksha's curse, Soma departed. Then the gods, Nagas, Yakshas and Gandharvas, together with the Pitris, came before Brahma in his abode, Vairaja.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.97.10)

तस्याग्रे कथयामासुर्नमस्कृत्य पुनःपुनः। भगवन्सर्वभूतानामादिकर्त्ता स्वयंभुवः

tasyāgre kathayāmāsurnamaskṛtya punaḥpunaḥ| bhagavansarvabhūtānāmādikarttā svayaṁbhuvaḥ

Bowing again and again before him, they said: 'O Lord, primal creator of all beings, self-born one...'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.97.11)

स्रष्टा च हव्यकव्यानां पाहि नः शरणागतान्। देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ज्ञात्वा देवः प्रजापतिः

sraṣṭā ca havyakavyānāṁ pāhi naḥ śaraṇāgatān| devānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā jñātvā devaḥ prajāpatiḥ

'...creator of oblations to gods and ancestors, protect us who have taken refuge in you.' Having heard and understood the words of the gods, the divine Prajapati Brahma...

Verse 12 (skanda.5.97.12)

आश्वासयामास सुरान्सुश्लिष्टैर्वचनांबुभिः। अवश्यं त्रिदशास्तेन प्राप्तव्यं कर्मणः फलम्

āśvāsayāmāsa surānsuśliṣṭairvacanāṁbubhiḥ| avaśyaṁ tridaśāstena prāptavyaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam

...consoled the gods with gentle, soothing words: 'O gods, this fruit of action must inevitably be undergone.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.97.13)

शापांतं भगवान्देवो विष्णुरेव करिष्यति। एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो देवा वाक्यं पंकजजन्मनः। शरण्यं शरणं विष्णुमुपतस्थुर्गतव्यथाः

śāpāṁtaṁ bhagavāndevo viṣṇureva kariṣyati| etacchrutvā tato devā vākyaṁ paṁkajajanmanaḥ| śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ viṣṇumupatasthurgatavyathāḥ

'The blessed Lord Vishnu alone will end the curse.' Hearing this word of the lotus-born one, the gods, their distress dispelled, went for refuge to Vishnu, the refuge of all.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.97.14)

ब्रह्मणा सहिता देवि स्तुतिं चक्रुः समाहिताः। नमस्ते देवदेवेश नमस्ते विश्वभावन। नमस्तेऽस्तु हृषीकेश महापुरुषपूर्वज

brahmaṇā sahitā devi stutiṁ cakruḥ samāhitāḥ| namaste devadeveśa namaste viśvabhāvana| namaste'stu hṛṣīkeśa mahāpuruṣapūrvaja

Together with Brahma, the gods, with focused minds, offered this hymn of praise: 'Salutations to you, Lord of gods; salutations, O sustainer of the universe; salutations to you, O Hrishikesha, forefather of the great Purusha.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.97.15)

नारायण जगन्नाथ देवास्त्वां शरणं गताः। त्वं हि नः परमो ध्येय स्त्वं हि नः परमो गुरुः

nārāyaṇa jagannātha devāstvāṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ| tvaṁ hi naḥ paramo dhyeya stvaṁ hi naḥ paramo guruḥ

'O Narayana, Lord of the universe, we gods have come to you for refuge. You alone are our supreme object of meditation; you alone are our supreme teacher.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.97.16)

त्वं हि नः परमो देवो ब्रह्मादीनां सुरोत्तम। अंतर्धानं गतः सोमो दक्षशापाज्जनार्द्दन

tvaṁ hi naḥ paramo devo brahmādīnāṁ surottama| aṁtardhānaṁ gataḥ somo dakṣaśāpājjanārddana

'You alone are our supreme deity, best among the gods beginning with Brahma. O Janardana, Soma has vanished through Daksha's curse.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.97.17)

विना सोमेन चौषध्यो नष्टा देव महीतले। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वचनमव्रवीत्

vinā somena cauṣadhyo naṣṭā deva mahītale| teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā viṣṇurvacanamavravīt

'Without Soma, O Lord, the herbs upon the earth have perished.' Hearing their words, Vishnu spoke.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.97.18)

भयं त्यजध्वममरा अभयं वो ददाम्यहम्। नष्टं चंद्रमसं शीघ्रं मानयिष्याम्यसंशयम्

bhayaṁ tyajadhvamamarā abhayaṁ vo dadāmyaham| naṣṭaṁ caṁdramasaṁ śīghraṁ mānayiṣyāmyasaṁśayam

'Cast away your fear, O immortals; I grant you freedom from fear. I shall, without doubt, quickly restore the lost Moon to honor.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.97.19)

एवमुक्त्वा तु भगवान्विसृज्य त्रिदशेश्वरान्। सोमं सस्मार सहसा शंखचक्रगदाधरः

evamuktvā tu bhagavānvisṛjya tridaśeśvarān| somaṁ sasmāra sahasā śaṁkhacakragadādharaḥ

So saying, the Lord, bearer of conch, discus and mace, dismissed the lords of the gods and at once called Soma to mind.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.97.20)

यदा स्मृतो न चाभ्येति तदा क्रुद्धो जनार्दनः। पुराणपुरुषो देवो ब्रह्माणमिदमव्रवीत्

yadā smṛto na cābhyeti tadā kruddho janārdanaḥ| purāṇapuruṣo devo brahmāṇamidamavravīt

When, though remembered, Soma did not appear, Janardana, the ancient Purusha, grew angry and spoke thus to Brahma.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.97.21)

देवैरसुरसंघैश्च मथ्यतां कलशोदधिः। भविष्यति पुनश्चंद्रो मथ्यमाने महोदधौ

devairasurasaṁghaiśca mathyatāṁ kalaśodadhiḥ| bhaviṣyati punaścaṁdro mathyamāne mahodadhau

'Let the ocean of milk be churned by the gods together with the hosts of Asuras; when the great ocean is churned, the Moon will reappear.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.97.22)

अमृतं तत्र लप्स्यध्वं रत्नानि विविधानि च। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वासुदेवस्य पार्वति

amṛtaṁ tatra lapsyadhvaṁ ratnāni vividhāni ca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vāsudevasya pārvati

'There you shall obtain the nectar of immortality and manifold jewels.' Hearing these words of Vasudeva, O Parvati...

Verse 23 (skanda.5.97.23)

मंथानं मंदरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। देवा मथितुमारब्धाः समुद्रं निधिमंभसाम्

maṁthānaṁ maṁdaraṁ kṛtvā netraṁ kṛtvā ca vāsukim| devā mathitumārabdhāḥ samudraṁ nidhimaṁbhasām

...making Mount Mandara the churning-rod and Vasuki the cord, the gods began to churn the ocean, the reservoir of waters.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.97.24)

सोमार्थे च पुरा देवि तथैवासुरदानवाः। एतैर्मुखमुपाश्लिष्टौ नाग राजो महेर्ष्यया

somārthe ca purā devi tathaivāsuradānavāḥ| etairmukhamupāśliṣṭau nāga rājo maherṣyayā

For the sake of the Moon, O Devi, the Asuras and Danavas joined in as well; in great rivalry, they seized the mouth-end of the serpent-king.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.97.25)

विबुधाः सहिताः सर्वे यतः पुच्छं ततः स्थिताः। अतो वै भगवान्देवो यतो नारायणस्ततः

vibudhāḥ sahitāḥ sarve yataḥ pucchaṁ tataḥ sthitāḥ| ato vai bhagavāndevo yato nārāyaṇastataḥ

All the gods together stationed themselves at the tail end; and there, where Lord Narayana was, there they too remained.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.97.26)

शिरस्युद्यम्य नाग स्य पुनः पुनरवाक्षिपत्। उदधौ मथ्यमाने वै महाञ्छब्दो बभूव ह

śirasyudyamya nāga sya punaḥ punaravākṣipat| udadhau mathyamāne vai mahāñchabdo babhūva ha

Lifting up the serpent's head again and again, they cast it down; and as the ocean was churned, a mighty roar arose.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.97.27)

तत्र नानाजलचरा विनिष्पिष्टा महाद्रिणा। विलयं समुपाजग्मुः शतशोथ सहस्रशः

tatra nānājalacarā viniṣpiṣṭā mahādriṇā| vilayaṁ samupājagmuḥ śataśotha sahasraśaḥ

There, many creatures of the waters, crushed by the great mountain, perished by the hundreds and by the thousands.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.97.28)

तस्मिंस्तु मथिते देवि प्रयत्नात्केशवस्य च। प्रसन्नात्मा समुत्पन्नः सोमः शीतांशुरुज्वलः

tasmiṁstu mathite devi prayatnātkeśavasya ca| prasannātmā samutpannaḥ somaḥ śītāṁśurujvalaḥ

As the ocean was thus churned, O Devi, through the effort of Keshava, the cool-rayed, radiant Soma arose, serene of spirit.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.97.29)

तमेव देवा मनुजाः पितरश्च यशस्विनि। उपजीवंति वृक्षाश्च तथैवौषधयो विधुम्

tameva devā manujāḥ pitaraśca yaśasvini| upajīvaṁti vṛkṣāśca tathaivauṣadhayo vidhum

O renowned one, on him alone do gods, men and ancestors depend for life, and trees too, and likewise the herbs, depend upon the Moon.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.97.30)

समुत्पन्नमथो दृष्ट्वा भगवान्प्राह केशवः। पालयेमाः प्रजाश्चंद्र त्वं ज्येष्ठो जगतो भव

samutpannamatho dṛṣṭvā bhagavānprāha keśavaḥ| pālayemāḥ prajāścaṁdra tvaṁ jyeṣṭho jagato bhava

Seeing him thus arisen, the blessed Keshava said: 'O Moon, protect these creatures; become the eldest of the world.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.97.31)

इत्युक्तो वासुदेवेन प्रजाः पालयितुं शशी। पूर्वं सोमोपि यो नष्टः प्रविष्टो गहनं वनम्

ityukto vāsudevena prajāḥ pālayituṁ śaśī| pūrvaṁ somopi yo naṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo gahanaṁ vanam

Thus commanded by Vasudeva to protect creatures, the Moon — who before this had vanished — entered a dense forest.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.97.32)

तस्याग्रे नारदः सर्वं कथयामास सत्वरम्। देवर्षेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदस्य महात्मनः

tasyāgre nāradaḥ sarvaṁ kathayāmāsa satvaram| devarṣervacanaṁ śrutvā nāradasya mahātmanaḥ

Before him, Narada swiftly recounted everything. Having heard the words of the great-souled divine sage Narada...

Verse 33 (skanda.5.97.33)

पीडितो दक्षशापेन सोमोऽप्यंतर्हितस्तदा। जगाम शरणं देवि ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्

pīḍito dakṣaśāpena somo'pyaṁtarhitastadā| jagāma śaraṇaṁ devi brahmāṇaṁ parameṣṭhinam

...Soma, tormented by Daksha's curse and once vanished, then went, O Devi, for refuge to Brahma, the supreme lord.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.97.34)

तत्र गत्वा यथाशापं कथयामास गद्गदः। पूर्वचंद्रवचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

tatra gatvā yathāśāpaṁ kathayāmāsa gadgadaḥ| pūrvacaṁdravacaḥ śrutvā brahmā vacanamabravīt

Going there, with voice choked, he told of the curse as it had happened. Hearing the Moon's earlier words, Brahma spoke.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.97.35)

अयं मे प्रथमः पुत्रः पीडितः शशिना भृशम्। नवेनोदधिजातेन किं मया क्रियते पुनः

ayaṁ me prathamaḥ putraḥ pīḍitaḥ śaśinā bhṛśam| navenodadhijātena kiṁ mayā kriyate punaḥ

'This, my firstborn son, has been sorely afflicted by the new Moon, born of the ocean — what more can I now do?'

Verse 36 (skanda.5.97.36)

विष्णुना च बलं दत्तमस्मै चंद्रमसे दृढम्। तस्माद्यास्यामि तत्राहं यत्र देवो जनार्दनः

viṣṇunā ca balaṁ dattamasmai caṁdramase dṛḍham| tasmādyāsyāmi tatrāhaṁ yatra devo janārdanaḥ

'And Vishnu has granted firm strength to this Moon; therefore I shall go there, where the god Janardana is.'

Verse 37 (skanda.5.97.37)

तं दृष्ट्वा मधुहंतारं ब्रह्मा विष्णुमुवाच ह। त्वदादेशाजगन्नाथ एष चंद्रः कृतो मया

taṁ dṛṣṭvā madhuhaṁtāraṁ brahmā viṣṇumuvāca ha| tvadādeśājagannātha eṣa caṁdraḥ kṛto mayā

Seeing Vishnu, slayer of Madhu, Brahma said to him: 'O Lord of the universe, at your command I created this Moon.'

Verse 38 (skanda.5.97.38)

स चायं पीडितो देव शशांकेन नवेन वै। इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा देवि वासुदेवो जगत्पतिः। वृत्तांतं कथयामास ब्रह्माग्रे च पुनःपुन.

sa cāyaṁ pīḍito deva śaśāṁkena navena vai| ityukto brahmaṇā devi vāsudevo jagatpatiḥ| vṛttāṁtaṁ kathayāmāsa brahmāgre ca punaḥpuna.

'And this one has now been afflicted by the new Moon, O Lord.' Thus addressed by Brahma, O Devi, Vasudeva, Lord of the world, related the whole matter before Brahma again and again.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.97.39)

ब्रह्मापि पूर्वचंद्रार्थे विष्णुं लोकनमस्कृतम्। तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रांजलिः प्रणतः स्थितः

brahmāpi pūrvacaṁdrārthe viṣṇuṁ lokanamaskṛtam| tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā prāṁjaliḥ praṇataḥ sthitaḥ

Then Brahma too, for the sake of the former Moon, bowing before Vishnu whom all the worlds revere, praised him with joined palms, standing bowed.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.97.40)

नमः कृष्ण नमो विष्णो नमो जिष्णो नमोनमः। नमो वामन गोविंद नमोऽनंत नमोऽच्युत

namaḥ kṛṣṇa namo viṣṇo namo jiṣṇo namonamaḥ| namo vāmana goviṁda namo'naṁta namo'cyuta

'Salutations, O Krishna; salutations, O Vishnu; salutations, O Jishnu, again and again. Salutations, O Vamana, O Govinda; salutations, O Ananta; salutations, O Achyuta.'

Verse 41 (skanda.5.97.41)

जयस्व गोविंद महानुभाव जयस्व विश्णो जय पद्मनाभ। जयस्व सर्वाद्य गदाधरेश जयस्व विश्वेश्वर विश्वमूर्त्ते

jayasva goviṁda mahānubhāva jayasva viśṇo jaya padmanābha| jayasva sarvādya gadādhareśa jayasva viśveśvara viśvamūrtte

'Victory to you, O Govinda of great glory; victory to you, O Vishnu; victory, O Padmanabha. Victory to you, O first of all, Lord of the mace; victory to you, O Lord of the universe, whose form is the universe.'

Verse 42 (skanda.5.97.42)

एवं स्तुतस्तदा देवि ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा। समीपस्थं समालोक्य सोमं वचनम ब्रवीत्

evaṁ stutastadā devi brahmaṇā lokakāriṇā| samīpasthaṁ samālokya somaṁ vacanama bravīt

Thus praised by Brahma, the maker of the worlds, O Devi, Vishnu looked upon Soma standing nearby and spoke these words.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.97.43)

गच्छ सोम ममादेशान्महाकालवनोत्तमे। उत्तरे मुक्तिलिंगस्य लिंगं कातिकरं परम्। तमाराधय यत्नेन स ते देहं प्रदास्यति

gaccha soma mamādeśānmahākālavanottame| uttare muktiliṁgasya liṁgaṁ kātikaraṁ param| tamārādhaya yatnena sa te dehaṁ pradāsyati

'Go, O Soma, at my command, to the excellent Mahakala forest; to the north of the Muktilinga there is a supreme, glory-bestowing linga. Worship him with diligence; he will grant you back your form.'

Verse 44 (skanda.5.97.44)

इत्युक्तो वासुदेवेन ब्रह्मणा च पुनः पुनः। आजगाम महादेवि महाकालवनोत्तमे। लिंगं दृष्ट्वा च तुष्टाव स्तोत्रेणानेन सुव्रते

ityukto vāsudevena brahmaṇā ca punaḥ punaḥ| ājagāma mahādevi mahākālavanottame| liṁgaṁ dṛṣṭvā ca tuṣṭāva stotreṇānena suvrate

Thus commanded again and again by Vasudeva and Brahma, O great Devi, he came to the excellent Mahakala forest, and, beholding the linga, praised him, O one of noble vows, with this hymn.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.97.45)

चंद्र उवाच। नमो देवाधिदेवाय त्रिनेत्राय महात्मने। रक्तपिंगलनेत्राय जटामुकुटधारिणे

caṁdra uvāca| namo devādhidevāya trinetrāya mahātmane| raktapiṁgalanetrāya jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇe

Chandra said: 'Salutations to the Lord of gods, the great-souled one with three eyes, whose eyes are red-tawny, who bears matted locks as a crown.'

Verse 46 (skanda.5.97.46)

भूतवेतालजुष्टाय महादेवाय शूलिने। भीमाट्टहासयुक्ताय कपर्दिस्थाणवे नमः

bhūtavetālajuṣṭāya mahādevāya śūline| bhīmāṭṭahāsayuktāya kapardisthāṇave namaḥ

'Salutations to him who is attended by Bhutas and Vetalas, the great god who bears the trident, whose laughter is terrible and loud, the matted-haired, immovable one.'

Verse 47 (skanda.5.97.47)

पूष्णो दंतविनाशाय तथांधकविनाशिने। कैलासवरवासाय सर्वदेवायते नमः

pūṣṇo daṁtavināśāya tathāṁdhakavināśine| kailāsavaravāsāya sarvadevāyate namaḥ

'Salutations to the destroyer of Pushan's teeth, and to the destroyer of Andhaka; who dwells on excellent Kailasa; salutations to you, the god of all gods.'

Verse 48 (skanda.5.97.48)

विकरालोर्द्ध्वकेशाय भैरवाय नमोनमः। अग्निज्वालाकरालाय कलिधर्मविवासिने

vikarālorddhvakeśāya bhairavāya namonamaḥ| agnijvālākarālāya kalidharmavivāsine

'Salutations again and again to the fearsome Bhairava, whose hair stands upright and terrible; who is dreadful as flames of fire, who banishes the ways of Kali, the age of discord.'

Verse 49 (skanda.5.97.49)

तथा दारुवनध्वंसकारिणे तिग्मशूलिने। कृतकंकणभोगींद्रकंठसूत्राय शूलिने

tathā dāruvanadhvaṁsakāriṇe tigmaśūline| kṛtakaṁkaṇabhogīṁdrakaṁṭhasūtrāya śūline

'And to the destroyer of the Devadaru forest, the sharp trident-bearer, who wears the king of serpents as bracelet and as the sacred thread around his neck, the trident-holder.'

Verse 50 (skanda.5.97.50)

प्रचंडदंडहस्ताय वडवाग्निमुखाय च। वेदांतवेद्याय नमो यज्ञमूर्ते नमोनमः

pracaṁḍadaṁḍahastāya vaḍavāgnimukhāya ca| vedāṁtavedyāya namo yajñamūrte namonamaḥ

'Salutations to him whose hand bears the fierce staff, whose face is the submarine fire; salutations to him who is known through Vedanta, whose form is the sacrifice, again and again.'

Verse 51 (skanda.5.97.51)

दक्षयज्ञविनाशाय जगद्भयकराय च। विश्वेश्वराय देवाय स्थूलसूक्ष्माय शंभवे। कपर्दिने करालाय सर्वदेवाय ते नमः

dakṣayajñavināśāya jagadbhayakarāya ca| viśveśvarāya devāya sthūlasūkṣmāya śaṁbhave| kapardine karālāya sarvadevāya te namaḥ

'Salutations to the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, who strikes fear into the world; to the Lord of the universe, gross and subtle, to Shambhu, matted-haired and terrible — salutations to you, the god of all gods.'

Verse 52 (skanda.5.97.52)

एवं स्तुतस्तदा देवि चंद्रेणांतर्हितेन च। लिंगरूपी महादेवस्तुष्टो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

evaṁ stutastadā devi caṁdreṇāṁtarhitena ca| liṁgarūpī mahādevastuṣṭo vākyamathābravīt

Thus praised, O Devi, by the vanished Chandra, the great god in the form of the linga, well pleased, spoke these words.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.97.53)

स्तोत्रेणानेन तुष्टोऽस्मि ब्रूहि सोम किमिच्छसि। यत्तेभिलषितं सर्वं तत्कर्त्तास्मि न संशयः

stotreṇānena tuṣṭo'smi brūhi soma kimicchasi| yattebhilaṣitaṁ sarvaṁ tatkarttāsmi na saṁśayaḥ

'I am pleased by this hymn; speak, O Soma, what you desire. Whatever you wish for, I shall grant, without doubt.'

Verse 54 (skanda.5.97.54)

सोम उवाच। यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे प्रभो। कांत्या दीप्त्या तथा मूर्त्या तथा रूपेण च प्रभो

soma uvāca| yadi tvahamanugrāhyo yadi tuṣṭo'si me prabho| kāṁtyā dīptyā tathā mūrtyā tathā rūpeṇa ca prabho

Soma said: 'If I am worthy of your grace, if you are pleased with me, O Lord — then in radiance, in brilliance, in form and shape...'

Verse 55 (skanda.5.97.55)

स्वपदं कर्त्तुमिच्छामि त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वर। एवमस्त्विति लिंगेन तत्क्षणाद्रजनीचर

svapadaṁ karttumicchāmi tvatprasādānmaheśvara| evamastviti liṁgena tatkṣaṇādrajanīcara

'...I wish, by your grace, O Maheshvara, to regain my own true place.' 'So be it,' said the linga at that very moment.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.97.56)

द्विजराजेन तत्प्राप्तं लिंगस्यास्य प्रसादतः। सोमेनाराधितो यस्माद्देवदेवो महेश्वरि

dvijarājena tatprāptaṁ liṁgasyāsya prasādataḥ| somenārādhito yasmāddevadevo maheśvari

By the grace of this linga, the king of the twice-born obtained that; and since the god of gods was worshipped by Soma, O great goddess...

Verse 57 (skanda.5.97.57)

तेन सोमेश्वरोनाम विख्यातो भुवनत्रये। येऽर्चयंति महादेवि देवं सोमेश्वरंपरम्

tena someśvaronāma vikhyāto bhuvanatraye| ye'rcayaṁti mahādevi devaṁ someśvaraṁparam

...he became renowned in the three worlds by the name Someshvara. O great Devi, those who worship the supreme god Someshvara...

Verse 58 (skanda.5.97.58)

कृत पुण्या नरा मर्त्यास्ते यांति परमं पदम्। यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या लिंगं सोमेश्वरं प्रिये

kṛta puṇyā narā martyāste yāṁti paramaṁ padam| yaḥ paśyati naro bhaktyā liṁgaṁ someśvaraṁ priye

...those meritorious mortals attain the supreme abode. O beloved, whoever beholds, with devotion, the linga Someshvara...

Verse 59 (skanda.5.97.59)

विमुक्तो जन्मदुःखाद्यैर्लीयते मयि मानवः। ते नराः पशवो लोके किं तेषां जीविते फलम्

vimukto janmaduḥkhādyairlīyate mayi mānavaḥ| te narāḥ paśavo loke kiṁ teṣāṁ jīvite phalam

...that man, freed from the sorrows of birth and the rest, merges into me. Those who do not do so are but beasts in this world — what is the fruit of their living?

Verse 60 (skanda.5.97.60)

यैश्च सोमेश्वरो देवो न दृष्टो न च पूजितः। संसारेऽस्मिन्महाघोरे जन्मरोगभयाकुले

yaiśca someśvaro devo na dṛṣṭo na ca pūjitaḥ| saṁsāre'sminmahāghore janmarogabhayākule

Those by whom the god Someshvara is neither seen nor worshipped, in this most terrible worldly existence, filled with the fear of birth and disease...

Verse 61 (skanda.5.97.61)

एकः सोमेश्वरः पूज्यः कुष्ठरोगविनाशनः। स एव सुकृती लोके कुलं तेनाभ्यलंकृतम्

ekaḥ someśvaraḥ pūjyaḥ kuṣṭharogavināśanaḥ| sa eva sukṛtī loke kulaṁ tenābhyalaṁkṛtam

...Someshvara alone is worthy of worship, the destroyer of the disease of leprosy; he alone is truly meritorious in this world, and by him is his lineage adorned.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.97.62)

आधारः सर्वलोकानां येन सोमेश्वरो ऽर्चितः। सकृदभ्यर्च्य सोमेशं बिल्वपत्रेण मानवः। मुक्तो भोगी निरातंको मम लोके वसेच्चिरम्

ādhāraḥ sarvalokānāṁ yena someśvaro 'rcitaḥ| sakṛdabhyarcya someśaṁ bilvapatreṇa mānavaḥ| mukto bhogī nirātaṁko mama loke vasecciram

He by whom Someshvara, the support of all the worlds, is worshipped — a man who worships Someshvara even once with a bilva leaf becomes liberated, enjoys all pleasures, is free from affliction, and dwells long in my world.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.97.63)

कांचनैः कुसुमैर्देवि लिंगं सोमेश्वरं प्रिये। पूजयंति नरा भक्त्या ते यांति परमां गतिम्

kāṁcanaiḥ kusumairdevi liṁgaṁ someśvaraṁ priye| pūjayaṁti narā bhaktyā te yāṁti paramāṁ gatim

Those men, O Devi, O beloved, who worship the linga Someshvara with devotion, using golden flowers, attain the supreme goal.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.97.64)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। सोमेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृणुष्वानरकेश्वरम्

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| someśvarasya devasya śṛṇuṣvānarakeśvaram

This sin-destroying glory of the god Someshvara has thus been told to you, O Devi; now hear of Anarakeshvara.