The Greatness of Karnotpala-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.127.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । या सा कर्णोत्पलानाम त्वयास्माकं प्रकीर्तिता । किञ्चिज्जलाश्रयं प्राप्य तपस्तपति संस्थिता । तस्याः सर्वं समाचक्ष्व यथा तपसि सा स्थिता

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yā sā karṇotpalānāma tvayāsmākaṁ prakīrtitā kiñcijjalāśrayaṁ prāpya tapastapati saṁsthitā tasyāḥ sarvaṁ samācakṣva yathā tapasi sā sthitā

The sages said: That woman named Karnotpala, whom you have described to us, who has found a certain pond and remains there performing austerities — tell us her entire account, how she came to be established in that austerity.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.127.2)

सूत उवाच । गौरीपादकृतस्थाना श्रद्धया परया युता । तावत्तुष्टिं गता देवी गिरिजा शंकरप्रिया

sūta uvāca gaurīpādakṛtasthānā śraddhayā parayā yutā tāvattuṣṭiṁ gatā devī girijā śaṁkarapriyā

Suta said: Establishing her abode at the feet of Gauri, endowed with the highest devotion, the mountain's daughter, the goddess Girija, beloved of Shankara, thereupon became pleased with her.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.127.3)

ततः प्रोवाच ते पुत्रि तुष्टाहं वांछितं वद । येन यच्छाम्यसंदिग्धं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

tataḥ provāca te putri tuṣṭāhaṁ vāṁchitaṁ vada yena yacchāmyasaṁdigdhaṁ yadyapi syātsudurlabham

Then she said, "O daughter, I am pleased; ask for what you desire, and I shall grant it without doubt, however difficult to obtain it may be."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.127.4)

कर्णोत्पलोवाच । मम पत्युः कृते देवि मम तातः सुदुःखितः । राज्याद्भ्रष्टः सुखाच्चापि कुटुंबेन विवर्जितः

karṇotpalovāca mama patyuḥ kṛte devi mama tātaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ rājyādbhraṣṭaḥ sukhāccāpi kuṭuṁbena vivarjitaḥ

Karnotpala said: "O Goddess, because of my husband my father became greatly distressed, fell from his kingdom, and became deprived both of happiness and of family."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.127.5)

ततश्चैव तपस्तेपे वैराग्यं परमं गतः । अहं वार्द्धक्यमापन्ना कौमार्येऽपि च संस्थिता

tataścaiva tapastepe vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ ahaṁ vārddhakyamāpannā kaumārye'pi ca saṁsthitā

"Thereafter, attaining supreme dispassion, he performed austerities; I too have come to old age, even while still remaining a virgin."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.127.6)

तस्माद्भवतु मे भर्त्ता कश्चिद्रूपोत्कटः स्मृतः । सर्वेषां देवमर्त्यानां त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वरि

tasmādbhavatu me bharttā kaścidrūpotkaṭaḥ smṛtaḥ sarveṣāṁ devamartyānāṁ tvatprasādātsureśvari

"Therefore, O queen of the gods, by your grace, may I obtain a husband of exceedingly beautiful form, one to be remembered among all gods and mortals."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.127.7)

तथा स्यात्परमं रूपं तारुण्यं त्वत्प्रसादतः । यथास्य जायते सौख्यं तापसस्यापि मे पितुः

tathā syātparamaṁ rūpaṁ tāruṇyaṁ tvatprasādataḥ yathāsya jāyate saukhyaṁ tāpasasyāpi me pituḥ

"And by your very grace may I also attain supreme beauty and youth, so that my ascetic father too may find happiness in it."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.127.8)

देव्युवाच । माघमासतृतीयायां शनैश्चरदिने शुभे । नक्षत्रे वसुदैवत्ये रूपं ध्यात्वाथ यौवनम्

devyuvāca māghamāsatṛtīyāyāṁ śanaiścaradine śubhe nakṣatre vasudaivatye rūpaṁ dhyātvātha yauvanam

The Goddess said: "On the third day of the month of Magha, on the auspicious day of Saturn, under the constellation presided over by the Vasu deities (Dhanishtha), meditating upon beauty and youth,"

Verse 9 (skanda.6.127.9)

त्वया स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं सुपुण्येऽत्र जलाशये । ततो दिव्य वपुर्भूत्वा यौवनेन समन्विता । भविष्यसि न संदेहः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

tvayā snānaṁ prakartavyaṁ supuṇye'tra jalāśaye tato divya vapurbhūtvā yauvanena samanvitā bhaviṣyasi na saṁdehaḥ satyametanmayoditam

"you shall bathe in this most sacred pond; thereafter you shall become endowed with a divine body and youth — there is no doubt, this I have spoken truly."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.127.10)

अन्यापि या महाभागे नारी स्नानं करिष्यति । तस्मिन्नहनि साप्येवं रूपयुक्ता भविष्यति

anyāpi yā mahābhāge nārī snānaṁ kariṣyati tasminnahani sāpyevaṁ rūpayuktā bhaviṣyati

"O most fortunate one, whatever other woman shall bathe here on that day shall likewise become endowed with such beauty."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.127.11)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वाथ सा देवी गता चादर्शनं ततः । सापि चान्वेषयामास तृतीयां शनिना सह

sūta uvāca evamuktvātha sā devī gatā cādarśanaṁ tataḥ sāpi cānveṣayāmāsa tṛtīyāṁ śaninā saha

Suta said: Having said this, that Goddess then vanished from sight; and she too began, with great effort, to await that third lunar day together with Saturn.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.127.12)

वसुदेवात्मकेनैव नक्षत्रेण प्रयत्नतः । ध्यायमाना च तां देवीं सर्वकामप्रदायिनीम्

vasudevātmakenaiva nakṣatreṇa prayatnataḥ dhyāyamānā ca tāṁ devīṁ sarvakāmapradāyinīm

Together with the constellation belonging to the Vasu deities, with diligent effort, meditating upon that Goddess who grants every desire,

Verse 13 (skanda.6.127.13)

ततः कतिपयाहस्य जाता सा योगसंयुता । तृतीया या यथोक्ता च तया देव्या पुरा द्विजाः

tataḥ katipayāhasya jātā sā yogasaṁyutā tṛtīyā yā yathoktā ca tayā devyā purā dvijāḥ

then, after some days, O brahmins, that third lunar day, endowed with the very conjunction the Goddess had previously described, arrived.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.127.14)

ततः सा रूपसौभाग्यं यौवनं वांछितं पतिम् । ध्यायमाना जले तस्मिन्नर्द्धरात्रे विवेश च

tataḥ sā rūpasaubhāgyaṁ yauvanaṁ vāṁchitaṁ patim dhyāyamānā jale tasminnarddharātre viveśa ca

Then, meditating upon her desired beauty, good fortune, youth, and husband, she entered that water at the middle of the night.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.127.15)

ततो दिव्यवपुर्भूत्वा यौवनेन समन्विता । निष्क्रांता सलिलात्तस्माज्जनविस्मयकारिणी

tato divyavapurbhūtvā yauvanena samanvitā niṣkrāṁtā salilāttasmājjanavismayakāriṇī

Thereupon, having become endowed with a divine body and with youth, astonishing all the people, she emerged from that water.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.127.16)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो गौरीवाक्यप्रबोधितः । तदर्थं भगवान्कामः पत्न्यर्थं प्रीतिसंयुतः । अब्रवीच्च महाभागे कामोहं स्वयमागतः

etasminnaṁtare prāpto gaurīvākyaprabodhitaḥ tadarthaṁ bhagavānkāmaḥ patnyarthaṁ prītisaṁyutaḥ abravīcca mahābhāge kāmohaṁ svayamāgataḥ

Meanwhile, prompted by Gauri's word, the Lord Kamadeva, filled with love, in quest of her as his wife, arrived there and said, "O most fortunate one, I, Kama myself, have come here."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.127.17)

पार्वत्यादेशिता भार्या तस्मान्मे भव मा चिरम्

pārvatyādeśitā bhāryā tasmānme bhava mā ciram

"Parvati herself has directed you to become my wife; therefore, without delay, become mine."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.127.18)

यस्मात्प्रीत्या समायातस्तवांतिकमहं शुभे । तस्मात्प्रीतिरिति ख्याता मम भार्या भविष्यसि

yasmātprītyā samāyātastavāṁtikamahaṁ śubhe tasmātprītiriti khyātā mama bhāryā bhaviṣyasi

"O auspicious one, since I have come to you out of love, you shall become renowned by the name 'Priti' and shall become my wife."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.127.19)

कर्णोत्पलोवाच । यद्येवं स्मर मत्तातं तं गत्वा प्रार्थय स्वयम् । स्वच्छंदा स्याद्यतः कन्या न कथंचित्प्रवर्तिता

karṇotpalovāca yadyevaṁ smara mattātaṁ taṁ gatvā prārthaya svayam svacchaṁdā syādyataḥ kanyā na kathaṁcitpravartitā

Karnotpala said: "If that is so, then remember my father and go yourself and ask him; for a maiden is never independent — she never acts of her own free will."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.127.20)

य एष दृश्यते रम्यः प्रासादो नाति दूरतः । अस्यांते तिष्ठतेऽस्माकं तातस्तपसि संस्थितः

ya eṣa dṛśyate ramyaḥ prāsādo nāti dūrataḥ asyāṁte tiṣṭhate'smākaṁ tātastapasi saṁsthitaḥ

"That lovely palace which is seen not far from here — at the far end of it my father is seated, established in austerity."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.127.21)

अत्राहं पूर्वतो गत्वा तस्य तिष्ठामि चांतिके । भवानागत्य पश्चाच्च प्रार्थयिष्यति मां ततः

atrāhaṁ pūrvato gatvā tasya tiṣṭhāmi cāṁtike bhavānāgatya paścācca prārthayiṣyati māṁ tataḥ

"I shall go there first and remain near him; you shall come afterward and ask him on my behalf, and then he will grant me to you."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.127.22)

बाढमित्येव कामोक्ते गता सा तत्समीपतः । प्रणिपत्य ततः प्राह दिष्ट्या तात मया पुनः

bāḍhamityeva kāmokte gatā sā tatsamīpataḥ praṇipatya tataḥ prāha diṣṭyā tāta mayā punaḥ

When Kama said, "Very well," she went to his presence, and, bowing, then said, "O father, by good fortune, by me again,"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.127.23)

संप्राप्तं यौवनं कांतं समाराध्य हरप्रियाम् । तस्मात्कुरु विवाहं मे हृत्स्थं सुखमवाप्नुहि

saṁprāptaṁ yauvanaṁ kāṁtaṁ samārādhya harapriyām tasmātkuru vivāhaṁ me hṛtsthaṁ sukhamavāpnuhi

"having worshipped Haripriya (the beloved of Hara), a charming youth has been attained; therefore now perform my marriage, and obtain the happiness set in your own heart."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.127.24)

मदर्थे प्रेषितो भर्त्ता तया देव्याऽतिसुन्दरः । पुष्प चापः स्वयं प्राप्तः सोऽपि तात तवांतिकम्

madarthe preṣito bharttā tayā devyā'tisundaraḥ puṣpa cāpaḥ svayaṁ prāptaḥ so'pi tāta tavāṁtikam

"For my very sake that Goddess has sent a most beautiful husband — he who bears the flower-bow has himself, O father, arrived at your presence."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.127.25)

अथ तां स समालोक्य स्वां सुतां यौवनान्विताम् । हर्षेण महता युक्तां कांतयुक्तां विशेषतः । अब्रवीदद्य मे पुत्रि संजातं तपसः फलम्

atha tāṁ sa samālokya svāṁ sutāṁ yauvanānvitām harṣeṇa mahatā yuktāṁ kāṁtayuktāṁ viśeṣataḥ abravīdadya me putri saṁjātaṁ tapasaḥ phalam

Then, seeing his youthful daughter, filled with great joy and especially beautiful, he said, "O daughter, today the fruit of my austerity has come to me,"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.127.26)

जीवितस्य च कल्याणि यत्वं प्राप्ता नवं वयः । भर्तारं च तथाभीष्टं देव्या दत्तं मनोभवम्

jīvitasya ca kalyāṇi yatvaṁ prāptā navaṁ vayaḥ bhartāraṁ ca tathābhīṣṭaṁ devyā dattaṁ manobhavam

"and also, O auspicious one, this new youth that you have attained for your life, together with that desired husband, Kamadeva himself, granted by the Goddess."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.127.27)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे कामस्तस्यांतिकमुपाद्रवत् । अब्रवीद्देहि मे भूप स्वां कन्यां चारुहासिनीम्

etasminnaṁtare kāmastasyāṁtikamupādravat abravīddehi me bhūpa svāṁ kanyāṁ cāruhāsinīm

Meanwhile Kamadeva came into his presence and said, "O king, give me your beautiful, sweetly-smiling daughter."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.127.28)

अस्या अर्थेऽहमादिष्टः स्वयं गौर्या नृपोत्तम । कामदेव इति ख्यातस्त्रैलोक्यं येन मोहितम्

asyā arthe'hamādiṣṭaḥ svayaṁ gauryā nṛpottama kāmadeva iti khyātastrailokyaṁ yena mohitam

"O foremost of kings, for this very purpose I have been directed by Gauri herself; I am he who is renowned by the name Kamadeva, by whom the entire three worlds have been enchanted."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.127.29)

ततस्तामर्पयामास तां कन्यां स महीपतिः । कृत्वाग्निं साक्षिणं वाक्याद्ब्राह्मणानां द्विजोत्तमाः

tatastāmarpayāmāsa tāṁ kanyāṁ sa mahīpatiḥ kṛtvāgniṁ sākṣiṇaṁ vākyādbrāhmaṇānāṁ dvijottamāḥ

Thereupon that king, making Fire his witness and following the word of the brahmins, O excellent brahmins, gave that maiden to him.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.127.30)

सा चास्य चाभवत्प्रीतिस्थानं यस्मात्सुलोचना । रतेरनंतरा तस्मात्प्रीतिनामाऽभवच्छुभा

sā cāsya cābhavatprītisthānaṁ yasmātsulocanā rateranaṁtarā tasmātprītināmā'bhavacchubhā

Since that fair-eyed one had become the seat of his love, thereafter she became known by the auspicious name 'Priti', next after Rati.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.127.31)

एवं तया तपस्तप्तं तस्मात्तत्र जलाशये । तन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमायातं समस्तेऽत्र महीतले

evaṁ tayā tapastaptaṁ tasmāttatra jalāśaye tannāmnā khyātimāyātaṁ samaste'tra mahītale

Thus did she perform austerities there in that pond; and for this very reason it has become renowned by her name throughout this entire earth.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.127.32)

सकलं माघमासं च या स्त्री स्नानं समाचरेत् । पुमान्वा प्रातरुत्थाय स प्रयागफलं लभेत्

sakalaṁ māghamāsaṁ ca yā strī snānaṁ samācaret pumānvā prātarutthāya sa prayāgaphalaṁ labhet

Whatever woman bathes there throughout the entire month of Magha, or whatever man, rising at dawn, bathes there, attains the same merit as bathing at Prayaga.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.127.33)

रूपवाञ्जायते दक्षः सदा जन्मनि जन्मनि । न वियोगमवाप्नोति कदात्रिद्बांधवैः सह

rūpavāñjāyate dakṣaḥ sadā janmani janmani na viyogamavāpnoti kadātridbāṁdhavaiḥ saha

Such a person is born beautiful and accomplished in birth after birth, and never suffers separation from his kinsfolk.