The Glory of Chakrapani, Established by Arjuna

Verse 1 (skanda.6.152.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः। असंख्यातानि तीर्थानि त्वयोक्ता न्यत्र सूतज ॥ देवमानुषजातानि देवतायतनानि च ॥ तथा वानरजातानि राक्षसस्थापितानि च

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ asaṁkhyātāni tīrthāni tvayoktā nyatra sūtaja devamānuṣajātāni devatāyatanāni ca tathā vānarajātāni rākṣasasthāpitāni ca

The sages said: O son of Suta, you have told us here of countless tirthas — those made by gods and by men, the abodes of deities, and those established by monkeys and by rakshasas.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.152.2)

सूतपुत्र वदास्माकं यैर्दृष्टैः स्पर्शितैरपि ॥ सर्वेषां लभ्यते पूर्णं फलं चेप्सितमत्र च

sūtaputra vadāsmākaṁ yairdṛṣṭaiḥ sparśitairapi sarveṣāṁ labhyate pūrṇaṁ phalaṁ cepsitamatra ca

O son of Suta, tell us — by merely seeing and touching which of them does one obtain here the complete and desired fruit for all?

Verse 3 (skanda.6.152.3)

सूत उवाच। सत्यमेतन्महाभागास्तत्र संख्या न विद्यते ॥ तीर्थानां चैव लिंगानामाश्र माणां तथैव च

sūta uvāca satyametanmahābhāgāstatra saṁkhyā na vidyate tīrthānāṁ caiva liṁgānāmāśra māṇāṁ tathaiva ca

Suta said: O most fortunate ones, it is true that there the tirthas, the lingas, and the hermitages are beyond counting.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.152.4)

तत्र यः कुरुते स्नानं शंखतीर्थे समाहितः ॥ एकादश्यां विशेषेण सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

tatra yaḥ kurute snānaṁ śaṁkhatīrthe samāhitaḥ ekādaśyāṁ viśeṣeṇa sarveṣāṁ labhate phalam

Whoever bathes there in Shankha-tirtha with a focused mind, especially on the eleventh lunar day (Ekadashi), obtains the fruit of them all.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.152.5)

यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या तत्रैकादशरुद्रकम् ॥ सिद्धेश्वरसमं तेन दृष्टाः सर्वे महेश्वराः

yaḥ paśyati naro bhaktyā tatraikādaśarudrakam siddheśvarasamaṁ tena dṛṣṭāḥ sarve maheśvarāḥ

The man who devotedly beholds there the Eleven Rudras — by him all the Maheshvaras have been seen, equal in merit to the sight of Siddheshvara.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.152.6)

यः पश्यति वटादित्यं षष्ठ्यां चैत्रे विशेषतः ॥ भास्कराकृत्स्नशो दृष्टास्तेन तत्रहि संस्थिताः

yaḥ paśyati vaṭādityaṁ ṣaṣṭhyāṁ caitre viśeṣataḥ bhāskarākṛtsnaśo dṛṣṭāstena tatrahi saṁsthitāḥ

Whoever beholds Vataditya, especially on the sixth day of Chaitra, by him all the forms of the Sun stationed there are seen in their entirety.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.152.7)

माहित्थां पश्यति तथा ये देवीं श्रद्धयाविताः ॥ तेन दुर्गाः समस्तास्ता वीक्षिता नात्र संशयः

māhitthāṁ paśyati tathā ye devīṁ śraddhayāvitāḥ tena durgāḥ samastāstā vīkṣitā nātra saṁśayaḥ

And those who, filled with faith, behold the goddess Mahittha — by them all the forms of Durga have indeed been beheld, of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.152.8)

यः पश्यति गणेशं च स्वर्गद्वारप्रदं नृणाम् ॥ सर्वे विनायकास्तेन दृष्टाः स्युर्नात्र संशयः

yaḥ paśyati gaṇeśaṁ ca svargadvārapradaṁ nṛṇām sarve vināyakāstena dṛṣṭāḥ syurnātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever beholds Ganesha, who opens the gate of heaven for men — by him all the Vinayakas are seen, of this there is no doubt.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.152.9)

शर्मिष्ठास्थापितां गौरीं यो ज्येष्ठां तत्र पश्यति ॥ तेन गौर्यः समस्तास्ता वीक्षिता द्विजसत्तमाः

śarmiṣṭhāsthāpitāṁ gaurīṁ yo jyeṣṭhāṁ tatra paśyati tena gauryaḥ samastāstā vīkṣitā dvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, whoever beholds there the eldest Gauri established by Sharmishtha — by him all the Gauris have been beheld.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.152.10)

चक्रपाणिं च यः पश्येत्प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः ॥ वासुदेवा समस्ताश्च तेन तत्र निरीक्षिताः

cakrapāṇiṁ ca yaḥ paśyetprātarutthāya mānavaḥ vāsudevā samastāśca tena tatra nirīkṣitāḥ

And the man who, rising in the morning, beholds Chakrapani — by him all the Vasudevas stationed there have been beheld.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.152.11)

ऋषय ऊचुः। त्वयासूत तथाऽस्माकं चक्रपाणिश्च यः स्थितः ॥ नाख्यातः स कथं तत्र विस्मृतः किं वदस्व नः ॥ कस्मिन्काले विशेषेण स द्रष्टव्यो मनीषिभिः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tvayāsūta tathā'smākaṁ cakrapāṇiśca yaḥ sthitaḥ nākhyātaḥ sa kathaṁ tatra vismṛtaḥ kiṁ vadasva naḥ kasminkāle viśeṣeṇa sa draṣṭavyo manīṣibhiḥ

The sages said: O Suta, you have told us this much, but why have you not related the account of the Chakrapani established there — how has he been overlooked? Tell us this, and at what time in particular the wise should behold him.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.152.12)

सूत उवाच। अर्जुनेनैष विप्रेन्द्राः क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ शयने बोधने चैव प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः

sūta uvāca arjunenaiṣa viprendrāḥ kṣetre'traiva pratiṣṭhitaḥ śayane bodhane caiva prātarutthāya mānavaḥ

Suta said: O foremost of brahmins, this deity was established in this very field by Arjuna. At the time of Vishnu's "sleeping" and "waking" festivals, and rising in the morning, a man —

Verse 13 (skanda.6.152.13)

स्नानं कृत्वा सुभक्त्या च यः पश्येच्चक्रपाणिनम् ॥ ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि तस्य नश्यंति तत्क्षणात्

snānaṁ kṛtvā subhaktyā ca yaḥ paśyeccakrapāṇinam brahmahatyādipāpāni tasya naśyaṁti tatkṣaṇāt

— who, having bathed, beholds Chakrapani with true devotion — his sins, beginning with the killing of a brahmin, are destroyed in that very instant.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.152.14)

भूभारोत्तारणार्थाय धर्मसंस्थापनाय च ॥ ब्रह्मणावतारितौ विप्रा नरनारायणावुभौ

bhūbhārottāraṇārthāya dharmasaṁsthāpanāya ca brahmaṇāvatāritau viprā naranārāyaṇāvubhau

O brahmins, in order to lift the burden of the earth and to establish dharma, both Nara and Narayana were sent down to incarnate by Brahma.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.152.15)

कृष्णार्जुनौ तदा मर्त्ये द्वापरांते द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ अवतीर्णो धरापृष्ठे मिथः स्नेहानुगौ तदा ॥ नरनारायणावेतौ स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितौ

kṛṣṇārjunau tadā martye dvāparāṁte dvijottamāḥ avatīrṇo dharāpṛṣṭhe mithaḥ snehānugau tadā naranārāyaṇāvetau svayameva vyavasthitau

O best of brahmins, at the end of Dvapara those very Nara and Narayana, bound to each other by mutual affection, descended themselves upon the earth in the mortal world as Krishna and Arjuna, and so remained.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.152.16)

यथा रक्षोविनाशाय रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥ अवतीर्णो धरापृष्ठे तद्वत्कृष्णोऽपि चापरः

yathā rakṣovināśāya rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ avatīrṇo dharāpṛṣṭhe tadvatkṛṣṇo'pi cāparaḥ

Just as Rama, son of Dasharatha, descended upon the earth for the destruction of the rakshasas, so too, in another form, did Krishna descend.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.152.17)

यदा पार्थः समायातस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति द्विजाः ॥ युधिष्ठिरसमादेशाच्छक्रप्रस्थात्पुरोत्तमात्

yadā pārthaḥ samāyātastīrthayātrāṁ prati dvijāḥ yudhiṣṭhirasamādeśācchakraprasthātpurottamāt

O brahmins, when, by Yudhishthira's command, Partha (Arjuna) had set out from that foremost city of Shakraprastha (Indraprastha) for a tirtha-pilgrimage —

Verse 18 (skanda.6.152.18)

द्रौपद्या सहितं दृष्ट्वा रहसि भ्रातरं द्विजम् ॥ प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा विनयावनतोऽर्जुनः

draupadyā sahitaṁ dṛṣṭvā rahasi bhrātaraṁ dvijam provāca praṇato bhūtvā vinayāvanato'rjunaḥ

— then, seeing his brother alone with Draupadi, Arjuna, bowing with humility, made obeisance and spoke.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.152.19)

अर्जुन उवाच। आयुधार्थमहं प्राप्तः सांप्रतं पार्थिवोत्तम ॥ द्विजधेनुविमोक्षाय ममाज्ञां देहि पार्थिव

arjuna uvāca āyudhārthamahaṁ prāptaḥ sāṁprataṁ pārthivottama dvijadhenuvimokṣāya mamājñāṁ dehi pārthiva

Arjuna said: O best of kings, I have come now for my weapons; O king, grant me leave to free the brahmin's cows.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.152.20)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। गच्छार्जुन द्रुतं तत्र नीयन्ते यत्र तस्करैः ॥ धेनवो द्विजवर्यस्य ता मोक्षय धनंजय

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca gacchārjuna drutaṁ tatra nīyante yatra taskaraiḥ dhenavo dvijavaryasya tā mokṣaya dhanaṁjaya

Yudhishthira said: Go swiftly, O Arjuna, to where the thieves are driving off that eminent brahmin's cows; free them, O Dhananjaya.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.152.21)

तीर्थयात्रां ततो गच्छ यावद्द्वादशवत्सरान् ॥ ततः पापविनिर्मुक्तः समेष्यसि ममांतिकम्

tīrthayātrāṁ tato gaccha yāvaddvādaśavatsarān tataḥ pāpavinirmuktaḥ sameṣyasi mamāṁtikam

Then go on a tirtha-pilgrimage for twelve years; thereafter, freed from sin, you shall return to me.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.152.22)

यः सदारं नरं पश्येदेकांतस्थं तु बुद्धिमान् ॥ अपि चात्यंतपापः स्यात्किं पुनर्निजबांधवम्

yaḥ sadāraṁ naraṁ paśyedekāṁtasthaṁ tu buddhimān api cātyaṁtapāpaḥ syātkiṁ punarnijabāṁdhavam

For even a wise man who beholds another man alone with his own wife becomes exceedingly sinful — how much more so if it be his own kinsman!

Verse 23 (skanda.6.152.23)

तस्मान्न वीक्षयेत्कञ्चिदेकांतस्थं सभार्यकम् ॥ बांधवं च विशेषेण य इच्छेच्छुभमात्मनः

tasmānna vīkṣayetkañcidekāṁtasthaṁ sabhāryakam bāṁdhavaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa ya icchecchubhamātmanaḥ

Therefore, whoever desires his own welfare should not let anyone — especially a kinsman — see him alone together with his own wife.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.152.24)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय रथमारुह्य सत्वरम् ॥ धनुरादाय बाणांश्च जगाम तदनन्तरम्

sa tatheti pratijñāya rathamāruhya satvaram dhanurādāya bāṇāṁśca jagāma tadanantaram

Saying "so be it," and taking this vow, he mounted his chariot at once, took up his bow and arrows, and departed forthwith.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.152.25)

येन मार्गेण ता गावो नीयन्ते तस्करैर्बलात् ॥ तिरस्कृत्य द्विजान्सर्वाञ्छितशस्त्रधरैर्द्विजाः

yena mārgeṇa tā gāvo nīyante taskarairbalāt tiraskṛtya dvijānsarvāñchitaśastradharairdvijāḥ

O brahmins, by the path along which the weapon-bearing thieves were forcibly driving off those cows, having scorned all the brahmins —

Verse 26 (skanda.6.152.26)

अथ हत्वा क्षणाच्चौरान्गाः सर्वाः स्वयमाहृताः ॥ स्वाः स्वा निवेदयामास ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्

atha hatvā kṣaṇāccaurāngāḥ sarvāḥ svayamāhṛtāḥ svāḥ svā nivedayāmāsa brāhmaṇānāṁ mahātmanām

— he went, and in an instant slew the thieves; he himself brought back all the cows, and restored to each of those great-souled brahmins his own.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.152.27)

ततस्तीर्थान्यनेकानि स दृष्ट्वायतनानि च ॥ क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव समायातः स्नानार्थं पांडुनन्दनः

tatastīrthānyanekāni sa dṛṣṭvāyatanāni ca kṣetre'traiva samāyātaḥ snānārthaṁ pāṁḍunandanaḥ

Thereafter, that son of Pandu, having visited many tirthas and shrines, came to this very field to bathe.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.152.28)

तेन पूर्वमपि प्रायस्तत्क्षेत्रमवलोकितम् ॥ दुर्योधनसमायुक्तो यदा तत्र समागतः

tena pūrvamapi prāyastatkṣetramavalokitam duryodhanasamāyukto yadā tatra samāgataḥ

He had already seen this field before, on an earlier occasion when he had come there together with Duryodhana.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.152.29)

अथ संपूजयामास यल्लिंगं स्थापितं पुरा ॥ अर्जुनेश्वर संज्ञं तु पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः

atha saṁpūjayāmāsa yalliṁgaṁ sthāpitaṁ purā arjuneśvara saṁjñaṁ tu puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ

Then, with flowers, incense, and unguents, he worshipped that linga named Arjuneshvara which had been established long before —

Verse 30 (skanda.6.152.30)

अन्येषां कौरवेन्द्राणां पांडवानां विशेषतः

anyeṣāṁ kauravendrāṇāṁ pāṁḍavānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

— established by the other lords of the Kurus, and especially by the Pandavas.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.152.31)

अथ संचिंतयामास मनसा पांडुनंदनः ॥ अहं नरः स्वयं साक्षात्कृष्णो नारायणः स्वयम्

atha saṁciṁtayāmāsa manasā pāṁḍunaṁdanaḥ ahaṁ naraḥ svayaṁ sākṣātkṛṣṇo nārāyaṇaḥ svayam

Then the son of Pandu reflected in his mind: "I myself am Nara in person, and Krishna himself is Narayana in person.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.152.32)

तस्मादत्र करिष्यामि चक्रपाणिं सुरेश्वरम् ॥ प्रासादो मानवश्चैव यादृङ्नास्ति धरातले

tasmādatra kariṣyāmi cakrapāṇiṁ sureśvaram prāsādo mānavaścaiva yādṛṅnāsti dharātale

Therefore here I shall install the lord of gods, Chakrapani, and I shall build a temple such as does not exist elsewhere on earth, built by human hands.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.152.33)

कल्पांतेऽपि न नाशः स्यादस्य क्षेत्रस्य कर्हिचित् ॥ प्रासादोऽपि तथाप्येवमत्र क्षेत्रे भविष्यति

kalpāṁte'pi na nāśaḥ syādasya kṣetrasya karhicit prāsādo'pi tathāpyevamatra kṣetre bhaviṣyati

Not even at the end of the kalpa shall this field ever be destroyed, and the temple too shall remain here in this field in just this way."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.152.34)

एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा स्वचित्ते पांडवानुजः ॥ प्रासादं निर्ममे पश्चाद्वैष्णवं द्विजसत्तमाः

evaṁ sa niścayaṁ kṛtvā svacitte pāṁḍavānujaḥ prāsādaṁ nirmame paścādvaiṣṇavaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, having made this resolve in his own mind, that younger brother among the Pandavas then had a Vaishnava temple built.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.152.35)

ततो विप्रान्समाहूय चमत्कारपुरोद्भवान्॥ प्रतिष्ठां कारयामास मतं तेषां समाश्रितः

tato viprānsamāhūya camatkārapurodbhavān pratiṣṭhāṁ kārayāmāsa mataṁ teṣāṁ samāśritaḥ

Then, summoning the brahmins native to Chamatkarapura, and following their counsel, he had the consecration performed.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.152.36)

दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकानि शासनानि बहूनि च ॥ अन्यच्च प्रददौ पश्चात्स तेषां तुष्टिदायकम्

dattvā dānānyanekāni śāsanāni bahūni ca anyacca pradadau paścātsa teṣāṁ tuṣṭidāyakam

He gave them many gifts and numerous land-grants, and afterward gave still more, whatever else would satisfy them.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.152.37)

ततः प्रोवाच तान्सर्वान्कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः॥ नरोऽहं ब्राह्मणाज्जातः पाण्डोर्भूमिं प्रपेदिवान्

tataḥ provāca tānsarvānkṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ naro'haṁ brāhmaṇājjātaḥ pāṇḍorbhūmiṁ prapedivān

Then, standing with joined palms, he spoke to them all: "I am Nara, born of a brahmin lineage, who has come down to earth in the family of Pandu.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.152.38)

मानुषेणैव रूपेण त्यक्त्वा तां बदरीं शुभाम् ॥ प्रसिद्ध्यर्थं मया चात्र प्रासादोऽयं विनि र्मितः ॥ मन्नाम्ना नरसंज्ञश्च श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

mānuṣeṇaiva rūpeṇa tyaktvā tāṁ badarīṁ śubhām prasiddhyarthaṁ mayā cātra prāsādo'yaṁ vini rmitaḥ mannāmnā narasaṁjñaśca śraddhāpūtena cetasā

Leaving that sacred Badari (Badarikashrama), in this very human form, and with a heart purified by devotion, I have had this temple built here for the sake of my own renown, to be known by my name as 'Nara.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.152.39)

तस्मादेष भवद्भिश्च चक्रपाणिरिति द्विजाः ॥ कीर्तनीयः सदा येन मम नाम प्रकाश्य ताम्

tasmādeṣa bhavadbhiśca cakrapāṇiriti dvijāḥ kīrtanīyaḥ sadā yena mama nāma prakāśya tām

Therefore, O brahmins, let this deity always be proclaimed by you as 'Chakrapani,' so that my name may forever be made known —

Verse 40 (skanda.6.152.40)

विष्णुलोके ध्वनिर्याति यावच्चंद्रदिवाकरौ

viṣṇuloke dhvaniryāti yāvaccaṁdradivākarau

— so that this fame may resound even in Vishnu's world, as long as the sun and moon endure.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.152.41)

तथा महोत्सवः कार्यः शयने बोधने हरेः ॥ चैत्रमासे विशेषेण संप्राप्ते विष्णुवासरे

tathā mahotsavaḥ kāryaḥ śayane bodhane hareḥ caitramāse viśeṣeṇa saṁprāpte viṣṇuvāsare

And a great festival should be held at the times of Hari's 'lying down' and 'awakening,' especially in the month of Chaitra when the day sacred to Vishnu arrives.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.152.42)

एतेषु त्रिषु लोकेषु त्यक्त्वेमां बदरीमहम् ॥ पूजामस्य करिष्यामि स्वयं विष्णोर्द्विजोत्तमाः

eteṣu triṣu lokeṣu tyaktvemāṁ badarīmaham pūjāmasya kariṣyāmi svayaṁ viṣṇordvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, in these three worlds, leaving aside this Badari, I myself shall accept this worship of Vishnu here.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.152.43)

यस्तत्र दिवसे मर्त्यः पूजामस्य विधा स्यति ॥ सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स यास्यति

yastatra divase martyaḥ pūjāmasya vidhā syati sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇulokaṁ sa yāsyati

Whatever mortal performs worship of him on that day shall, freed from every sin, go to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.152.44)

तथा ये वासुदेवस्य क्षेत्रे केचिद्व्यवस्थिताः ॥ तेषां प्रदर्शनं श्रेयो नित्यं दृष्ट्वा च लप्स्यते

tathā ye vāsudevasya kṣetre kecidvyavasthitāḥ teṣāṁ pradarśanaṁ śreyo nityaṁ dṛṣṭvā ca lapsyate

And whatever other forms of Vasudeva stand established in this field — the sight of them too is auspicious; by beholding them daily one shall likewise obtain that benefit."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.152.45)

सूत उवाच। बाढमित्येव तैरुक्तो दाशार्हः पांडुनंदनः॥ तेषां तद्भारमावेश्य प्रशांतेनांतरात्मना॥ ययौ तीर्थानि चान्यानि कृतकृत्यस्ततः परम्

sūta uvāca bāḍhamityeva tairukto dāśārhaḥ pāṁḍunaṁdanaḥ teṣāṁ tadbhāramāveśya praśāṁtenāṁtarātmanā yayau tīrthāni cānyāni kṛtakṛtyastataḥ param

Suta said: When the brahmins had answered "so be it," that son of Pandu of the Dasharha line entrusted that responsibility to them, and with a tranquil heart, his purpose fulfilled, went on thereafter to other tirthas.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.152.46)

एवं तत्र स्थितो देवश्चक्रपाणिवपुर्द्धरः॥ स्वयमेव हृषीकेशो जंतूनां पापनाशनः

evaṁ tatra sthito devaścakrapāṇivapurddharaḥ svayameva hṛṣīkeśo jaṁtūnāṁ pāpanāśanaḥ

Thus the god himself stands established there, bearing the form of Chakrapani — Hrishikesha himself, the destroyer of the sins of all creatures.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.152.47)

अद्याऽपि च कला विष्णोः प्राप्ते चैकादशीत्रये ॥ पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन तस्माच्छ्रद्धासमन्वितैः ॥ सदैव पूजनीयश्च वन्दनीयो विशेषतः

adyā'pi ca kalā viṣṇoḥ prāpte caikādaśītraye pūrvoktena vidhānena tasmācchraddhāsamanvitaiḥ sadaiva pūjanīyaśca vandanīyo viśeṣataḥ

Even today that portion (kala) of Vishnu remains present there; therefore, when the three Ekadashis arrive, according to the rite described above, he should always be worshipped, and especially revered, by those endowed with faith.