The Origin of Kshemankari and Raivateshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.118.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः। यत्त्वया सूतज प्रोक्तं तक्षकः संभविष्यति। सौराष्ट्रविषये राजा रैवताख्यो महाबलः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yattvayā sūtaja proktaṁ takṣakaḥ saṁbhaviṣyati saurāṣṭraviṣaye rājā raivatākhyo mahābalaḥ

The sages said: "O son of Suta, you have said that Takshaka shall become a mighty king named Raivata in the country of Saurashtra."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.118.2)

तथा तस्य प्रिया भार्या नाम्ना क्षेमंकरीति या। आनर्ताधिपतेर्हर्म्ये संभविष्यति भामिनी

tathā tasya priyā bhāryā nāmnā kṣemaṁkarīti yā ānartādhipaterharmye saṁbhaviṣyati bhāminī

"And his beloved wife, that lovely woman named Kshemankari, shall be born in the palace of the lord of Anarta."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.118.3)

ताभ्यां सर्वं समाचक्ष्व वृत्तांतं सूतनंदन। अत्र नः कौतुकं जातं विचित्रं जल्पतस्तव

tābhyāṁ sarvaṁ samācakṣva vṛttāṁtaṁ sūtanaṁdana atra naḥ kautukaṁ jātaṁ vicitraṁ jalpatastava

"O son of Suta, relate to us the whole account concerning these two; a great curiosity has arisen in us as you speak of these wondrous things."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.118.4)

केदारश्च श्रुतोऽस्माभिः सूतपुत्र हिमाचले। स कथं तत्र संजातः सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

kedāraśca śruto'smābhiḥ sūtaputra himācale sa kathaṁ tatra saṁjātaḥ sarvaṁ vistarato vada

"O son of Suta, we have heard of Kedara as being on the Himalaya mountain — how did he come to exist here? Tell us all this in detail."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.118.5)

सूत उवाच। अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि सर्वं ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः। यथा मया श्रुतं पूर्वं निजतातमुखाद्द्विजाः

sūta uvāca atra vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi sarvaṁ brāhmaṇasattamāḥ yathā mayā śrutaṁ pūrvaṁ nijatātamukhāddvijāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, I shall relate to you all of this, just as I heard it earlier from my own father's own mouth, O brahmins.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.118.6)

पूर्वं तच्छापदोषेण तक्षको धरणीतले। सौराष्ट्राधिपतेर्हर्म्ये रैवताख्यो बभूव ह

pūrvaṁ tacchāpadoṣeṇa takṣako dharaṇītale saurāṣṭrādhipaterharmye raivatākhyo babhūva ha

Formerly, through that curse's effect, Takshaka came to be, upon this earth, named Raivata, in the palace of the lord of Saurashtra.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.118.7)

आनर्त्ताधिपतेश्चापि संजाता तनया गृहे। तस्याश्चापि सुविख्यातं नाम जातं धरातले

ānarttādhipateścāpi saṁjātā tanayā gṛhe tasyāścāpi suvikhyātaṁ nāma jātaṁ dharātale

And in the house of the lord of Anarta too, a daughter was born; and for her too a well-known name came to exist on this earth.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.118.8)

क्षेमंकरीति विप्रेन्द्राः कर्मणा प्रकटीकृतम्। आनर्ताधिपतिः पूर्वमासीद्राजा प्रभंजनः

kṣemaṁkarīti viprendrāḥ karmaṇā prakaṭīkṛtam ānartādhipatiḥ pūrvamāsīdrājā prabhaṁjanaḥ

O lords of brahmins, "Kshemankari" — a name made manifest by her deeds. There was formerly a king of Anarta named Prabhanjana.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.118.9)

तस्य वैरं समुत्पन्नं बहुभिः सह भूमिपैः। ततो निर्वास्यते देशो नीयते पशवो बलात्। शत्रुभिर्जायते युद्धं दिवा नक्तं द्विजोत्तमाः

tasya vairaṁ samutpannaṁ bahubhiḥ saha bhūmipaiḥ tato nirvāsyate deśo nīyate paśavo balāt śatrubhirjāyate yuddhaṁ divā naktaṁ dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, enmity arose between him and many kings; the country was thereby laid waste, cattle were carried off by force, and battle with enemies raged day and night.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.118.10)

ततः कतिपयाहस्य तस्य भार्या प्रियंवदा। ऋतुस्नाता दधाराथ गर्भं पुण्यं निजोदरे

tataḥ katipayāhasya tasya bhāryā priyaṁvadā ṛtusnātā dadhārātha garbhaṁ puṇyaṁ nijodare

Then, after some days, his sweet-spoken wife, having bathed after her season, conceived a blessed child in her own womb.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.118.11)

यतः प्रभृति तस्याः स गर्भोऽभूदुदराश्रयः। ततः प्रभृति राष्ट्रस्य क्षेमं जातं तथा पुरे

yataḥ prabhṛti tasyāḥ sa garbho'bhūdudarāśrayaḥ tataḥ prabhṛti rāṣṭrasya kṣemaṁ jātaṁ tathā pure

From the moment that child came to rest as an embryo in her womb, from that time onward, welfare came upon the kingdom and the city alike.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.118.12)

एके संख्ये जिताः स्तेन शत्रवोऽपि सुदुर्जयाः। निहताश्च तथैवान्ये मित्रभावं समाश्रिताः

eke saṁkhye jitāḥ stena śatravo'pi sudurjayāḥ nihatāśca tathaivānye mitrabhāvaṁ samāśritāḥ

Some enemies, even the most difficult to conquer, were defeated by him in battle; others were slain, while yet others turned to friendship.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.118.13)

ततो जज्ञे शुभा कन्या तस्याः पद्मायतेक्षणा। अंधकारेऽपि यद्रात्र्यां द्योतितं सूतिकागृहम्

tato jajñe śubhā kanyā tasyāḥ padmāyatekṣaṇā aṁdhakāre'pi yadrātryāṁ dyotitaṁ sūtikāgṛham

Then to her was born an auspicious daughter, her eyes wide as lotus petals — one by whose radiance the birthing-chamber shone even in the darkness of night.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.118.14)

अथाऽसौ पार्थिवश्चक्रे सुतवत्सुमहोत्सवम्। तस्यास्तोषसमायुक्तो गीतवाद्यादिनिस्वनैः

athā'sau pārthivaścakre sutavatsumahotsavam tasyāstoṣasamāyukto gītavādyādinisvanaiḥ

Then that king, filled with joy for her, held a great festival, as if for a son, with the sounds of songs, music, and the like.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.118.15)

दिने त्रयोदशे प्राप्ते नाम तस्या यथोचितम्। विहितं भूभुजा तेन विप्राणां पुरतो द्विजाः

dine trayodaśe prāpte nāma tasyā yathocitam vihitaṁ bhūbhujā tena viprāṇāṁ purato dvijāḥ

O brahmins, when the thirteenth day came, that king gave her a fitting name, before the assembled brahmins.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.118.16)

यस्मात्क्षेमं समुत्पन्नं गर्भवासेऽपि संस्थया। अनया क्षेमंकरीनाम तस्मादेषाभवेद्द्विजाः

yasmātkṣemaṁ samutpannaṁ garbhavāse'pi saṁsthayā anayā kṣemaṁkarīnāma tasmādeṣābhaveddvijāḥ

O brahmins, since welfare had come about by her presence, even while she still dwelt in the womb, therefore she was given the name Kshemankari — "she who brings welfare."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.118.17)

एवं सुविहिता ख्याता वृद्धिं याति दिनेदिने। शुक्लपक्षे कला चेन्दोर्यथैव गगनांगणे

evaṁ suvihitā khyātā vṛddhiṁ yāti dinedine śuklapakṣe kalā cendoryathaiva gaganāṁgaṇe

Thus properly named and renowned, she grew day by day, just as the moon's digit grows in the courtyard of the sky during the bright fortnight.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.118.18)

ततस्तां यौवनोपेतां रैवताय महीपतिः। ददौ सौराष्ट्रनाथाय काले वैवाहिके शुभे

tatastāṁ yauvanopetāṁ raivatāya mahīpatiḥ dadau saurāṣṭranāthāya kāle vaivāhike śubhe

Then, when she had come of age, the king gave her, at the auspicious time for marriage, to Raivata, the lord of Saurashtra.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.118.19)

अथ ताभ्यां सुता जाता रेवतीनाम विश्रुता। भट्टिकाशापदोषेण शेषपत्नी यशस्विनी

atha tābhyāṁ sutā jātā revatīnāma viśrutā bhaṭṭikāśāpadoṣeṇa śeṣapatnī yaśasvinī

To the two of them was born a daughter, renowned by the name Revati — that celebrated one who, through the effect of Bhattika's curse, had been Shesha's wife.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.118.20)

या तूढा रामरूपेण नागराजेन धीमता। पुत्रपौत्रवती जाता सौभाग्यमदगर्विता

yā tūḍhā rāmarūpeṇa nāgarājena dhīmatā putrapautravatī jātā saubhāgyamadagarvitā

She, wedded by the wise serpent-king in his form as Rama (Balarama), became blessed with sons and grandsons, proud in the pride of her good fortune.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.118.21)

न च ताभ्यां सुतो जातः कथंचिदपि वंशजः। वयसोंऽतेऽपि विप्रेंद्रास्ततो दुःखं व्यजायत

na ca tābhyāṁ suto jātaḥ kathaṁcidapi vaṁśajaḥ vayasoṁ'te'pi vipreṁdrāstato duḥkhaṁ vyajāyata

O lords of brahmins, but no son was ever born to that couple to continue their lineage; and so, even in their old age, grief arose from this.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.118.22)

अथ तौ मंत्रिवर्गस्य राज्यं सर्वमशेषतः। अर्पयित्वा तु पुत्रार्थं तपोऽर्थमिह चागतौ

atha tau maṁtrivargasya rājyaṁ sarvamaśeṣataḥ arpayitvā tu putrārthaṁ tapo'rthamiha cāgatau

Then the two of them, having entrusted the entire kingdom completely to the council of ministers, came here for the sake of austerity, in order to obtain a son.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.118.23)

ततः स्वमाश्रमं गत्वा स्थितौ तत्र समाहितौ। देवीं कात्यायनीं स्थाप्य तदाराधनतत्परौ

tataḥ svamāśramaṁ gatvā sthitau tatra samāhitau devīṁ kātyāyanīṁ sthāpya tadārādhanatatparau

Then, going to their own hermitage, they remained there with focused minds, having installed the goddess Katyayani, devoted to her worship.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.118.24)

यया विनिहतो रौद्रो महिषाख्यो महासुरः। कौमारव्रतधारिण्या तस्मिन्विन्ध्ये महाचले

yayā vinihato raudro mahiṣākhyo mahāsuraḥ kaumāravratadhāriṇyā tasminvindhye mahācale

By her, holder of the vow of eternal virginity, the fierce great demon named Mahisha had been slain, upon that great Vindhya mountain.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.118.25)

ततस्ताभ्यां ददौ तुष्टा सा पुत्रं वंशवर्धनम्। नाम्ना क्षेमजितं ख्यातं परपक्षक्षयावहम्

tatastābhyāṁ dadau tuṣṭā sā putraṁ vaṁśavardhanam nāmnā kṣemajitaṁ khyātaṁ parapakṣakṣayāvaham

Then that goddess, pleased with them, gave to the two of them a lineage-continuing son, renowned by the name Kshemajit, one who would bring destruction upon the ranks of his enemies.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.118.26)

ततः स्वं राज्यमासाद्य भूयोऽपि स महीपतिः। स्वपुत्रं वर्धयामास हर्षेण महतान्वितः

tataḥ svaṁ rājyamāsādya bhūyo'pi sa mahīpatiḥ svaputraṁ vardhayāmāsa harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ

Then, returning again to his own kingdom, that king, filled with great joy, raised his own son.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.118.27)

यदा स यौवनोपेतः सञ्जातः क्षेमजित्सुतः। तं च राज्ये नियोज्याऽथ स्वस्थानं स पुनर्ययौ

yadā sa yauvanopetaḥ sañjātaḥ kṣemajitsutaḥ taṁ ca rājye niyojyā'tha svasthānaṁ sa punaryayau

When his son Kshemajit had come of age, he installed him in the kingdom, and then went again to his own retreat.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.118.28)

हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं तदेतद्द्विजसत्तमाः। भार्यया सहितस्त्यक्त्वा शेषमन्यं परिच्छदम्

hāṭakeśvarajaṁ kṣetraṁ tadetaddvijasattamāḥ bhāryayā sahitastyaktvā śeṣamanyaṁ paricchadam

O best of brahmins, together with his wife, abandoning all his remaining other retinue, he came to this very sacred field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.118.29)

तत्र संस्थापयामास लिंगं देवस्य शूलिनः। प्रासादं च मनोहारि ततश्चक्रे समाहितः

tatra saṁsthāpayāmāsa liṁgaṁ devasya śūlinaḥ prāsādaṁ ca manohāri tataścakre samāhitaḥ

There he installed a linga of the trident-bearing god, and then, with focused mind, built for it a delightful temple.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.118.30)

रैवतेश्वरमित्युक्तं सर्वपातकनाशनम्। दर्शनादेव सर्वेषां देहिनां द्विजसत्तमाः

raivateśvaramityuktaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam darśanādeva sarveṣāṁ dehināṁ dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, it is called Raivateshvara, the destroyer of all sins for every embodied being through sight alone.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.118.31)

या पूर्वं स्थापिता दुर्गा तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महीभुजा। तस्याः क्षेमंकरी चक्रे प्रासादं श्रद्धयान्विता

yā pūrvaṁ sthāpitā durgā tasminkṣetre mahībhujā tasyāḥ kṣemaṁkarī cakre prāsādaṁ śraddhayānvitā

For the goddess Durga previously established in that field by that king, Kshemankari, filled with faith, built a temple.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.118.32)

सापि क्षेमंकरीनाम ततः प्रभृति कीर्त्यते। कात्यायन्यपि या प्रोक्ता महिषासुरमर्दिनी

sāpi kṣemaṁkarīnāma tataḥ prabhṛti kīrtyate kātyāyanyapi yā proktā mahiṣāsuramardinī

She too, from then on, is celebrated by the name Kshemankari — she who is also called Katyayani, the slayer of the buffalo-demon.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.118.33)

यस्तां चैत्रसिते पक्षे संपश्येदष्टमीदिने। तस्याभीष्टा भवेत्सिद्धिः सर्वदैव द्विजोत्तमाः

yastāṁ caitrasite pakṣe saṁpaśyedaṣṭamīdine tasyābhīṣṭā bhavetsiddhiḥ sarvadaiva dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, whoever beholds her on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, his cherished desire is ever fulfilled.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.118.34)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं रैवतेश्वरवर्णनम्। क्षेमंकर्याः प्रभावं च सर्वपातकनाशनम्

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ raivateśvaravarṇanam kṣemaṁkaryāḥ prabhāvaṁ ca sarvapātakanāśanam

All this has been related to you — the description of Raivateshvara, and the power of Kshemankari, which destroys all sins.