The Origin of Dhara and Her Glory

Verse 1 (skanda.6.169.1)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ ॥ कस्मात्सा तुष्टिदा प्रोक्ता नागराणां विशेषतः ॥ धारानामेति विख्याता कस्मात्सा धरणीतले

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kasmātsā tuṣṭidā proktā nāgarāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ dhārānāmeti vikhyātā kasmātsā dharaṇītale

The sages said: Why has she been declared especially satisfying to the Nagaras? And why is she renowned upon this earth by the name Dhara?

Verse 2 (skanda.6.169.2)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ चमत्कारपुरे पूर्वं धारानामेति विश्रुता ॥ आसीत्तपस्विनी साध्वी नागरी ब्राह्मणोत्तमा ॥ तस्याः सख्यमरुन्धत्या आसीत्पूर्वं सुमेधया

sūta uvāca camatkārapure pūrvaṁ dhārānāmeti viśrutā āsīttapasvinī sādhvī nāgarī brāhmaṇottamā tasyāḥ sakhyamarundhatyā āsītpūrvaṁ sumedhayā

Suta said: Formerly, at Chamatkarapura, there lived an ascetic and virtuous woman, a Nagara of the finest brahmin lineage, renowned by the name Dhara; she, of excellent wisdom, had formerly a friendship with Arundhati.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.169.3)

अरुन्धती यदा प्राप्ता चमत्कारपुरे शुभे ॥ स्नानार्थं शंखतीर्थं तु वसिष्ठेन समागता

arundhatī yadā prāptā camatkārapure śubhe snānārthaṁ śaṁkhatīrthaṁ tu vasiṣṭhena samāgatā

When Arundhati arrived at the auspicious Chamatkarapura, coming together with Vasishtha to Shankhatirtha for the sake of bathing,

Verse 4 (skanda.6.169.4)

तया दृष्टाथ सा तत्र अंगुष्ठाग्रेण संस्थिता ॥ वायुभक्षा निराहारा दिव्येन वपुषान्विता

tayā dṛṣṭātha sā tatra aṁguṣṭhāgreṇa saṁsthitā vāyubhakṣā nirāhārā divyena vapuṣānvitā

there she saw her, standing on the very tip of her toe, subsisting on air, taking no food, and endowed with a divine form.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.169.5)

तया पृष्टा च सा साध्वी का त्वं कस्य सुता शुभे ॥ किमर्थं तु स्थिता चोग्रे तपसि ब्रूहि मे शुभे

tayā pṛṣṭā ca sā sādhvī kā tvaṁ kasya sutā śubhe kimarthaṁ tu sthitā cogre tapasi brūhi me śubhe

She asked that virtuous woman: 'Who are you, O auspicious one, and whose daughter? And why do you stand engaged in such fierce austerity? Tell me, O gracious one.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.169.6)

॥ धारोवाच ॥ ॥ देवशर्माख्यविप्रस्य सुताहं नागरस्य च ॥ बालत्वे वर्तमानाया वैधव्यं मे व्यवस्थितम्

dhārovāca devaśarmākhyaviprasya sutāhaṁ nāgarasya ca bālatve vartamānāyā vaidhavyaṁ me vyavasthitam

Dhara said: I am the daughter of a brahmin named Devasharma, a Nagara; while I was still a child, widowhood came upon me.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.169.7)

शंखतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा शंखेश्वरस्य च ॥ ततोऽहं संस्थिता ह्यत्र तस्यैवाराधने स्थिता

śaṁkhatīrthasya māhātmyaṁ śrutvā śaṁkheśvarasya ca tato'haṁ saṁsthitā hyatra tasyaivārādhane sthitā

Having heard of the greatness of Shankhatirtha and of Shankheshvara, I settled here, and remain devoted solely to his worship.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.169.8)

॥ अरुन्धत्युवाच ॥ ॥ तवोपरि महान्स्नेहो दर्शनात्ते व्यवस्थितः ॥ तस्मादागच्छ गच्छावो ममाश्रमपदं शुभम्

arundhatyuvāca tavopari mahānsneho darśanātte vyavasthitaḥ tasmādāgaccha gacchāvo mamāśramapadaṁ śubham

Arundhati said: A great affection for you has arisen in me at the very sight of you; therefore come, let us go together to my auspicious hermitage.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.169.9)

सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभ्रे सर्वपातकनाशने ॥ शास्त्रगोष्ठीरता नित्यं तत्र तिष्ठ मया सह

sarasvatyāstaṭe śubhre sarvapātakanāśane śāstragoṣṭhīratā nityaṁ tatra tiṣṭha mayā saha

There, on the bright bank of the Sarasvati, destroyer of every sin, remain always with me, devoted to discourse on the scriptures.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.169.10)

ततः संप्रस्थिता सा तु तया सार्धं तपस्विनी ॥ अनुज्ञाता स्वपित्रा तु जनन्या बांधवैस्तथा

tataḥ saṁprasthitā sā tu tayā sārdhaṁ tapasvinī anujñātā svapitrā tu jananyā bāṁdhavaistathā

Then that ascetic woman, having taken leave of her own father, mother, and kinsfolk, set out together with her.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.169.11)

तस्याः सख्यं चिरं कालं तया सह बभूव ह ॥ कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सा शक्तिस्तत्र चागता

tasyāḥ sakhyaṁ ciraṁ kālaṁ tayā saha babhūva ha kasyacittvatha kālasya sā śaktistatra cāgatā

Her friendship with Arundhati continued for a long time; then, after some while, that power arrived there.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.169.12)

विश्वामित्रेण संसृष्टा वसिष्ठस्य वधाय च ॥ सा स्तंभिता वसिष्ठेन कृता देवीस्वरूपिणी ॥ संपूज्या देवमर्त्यानां सर्वरक्षाप्रदा शुभा

viśvāmitreṇa saṁsṛṣṭā vasiṣṭhasya vadhāya ca sā staṁbhitā vasiṣṭhena kṛtā devīsvarūpiṇī saṁpūjyā devamartyānāṁ sarvarakṣāpradā śubhā

— fashioned by Vishvamitra for the destruction of Vasishtha; she was made motionless by Vasishtha and transformed into a goddess in form, worthy of worship by both gods and mortals, auspicious, and a granter of protection to all.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.169.13)

ततस्तु धारया तस्याः कैलासशिखरोपमः ॥ प्रासादो निर्मितो विप्रा नानारत्नविचित्रितः

tatastu dhārayā tasyāḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ prāsādo nirmito viprā nānāratnavicitritaḥ

Then, O brahmins, Dhara had a temple built for her, resembling the peak of Kailasa, adorned with a variety of jewels.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.169.14)

चकाराथ ततः स्तोत्रं तस्याः सा च तपस्विनी

cakārātha tataḥ stotraṁ tasyāḥ sā ca tapasvinī

And then that ascetic woman composed a hymn of praise to her.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.169.15)

नमस्ते परमे ब्राह्मि धारयोगे नमोनमः ॥ अर्धमात्रे परे शून्ये तस्यार्धार्धे नमोस्तु ते

namaste parame brāhmi dhārayoge namonamaḥ ardhamātre pare śūnye tasyārdhārdhe namostu te

'Salutation to you, O supreme Brahmi, dwelling in the yoga of steadfastness — salutation, salutation! O supreme half-measure, O the Void, O half of that half, salutation be to you.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.169.16)

नमस्ते जगदाधारे नमस्ते भूतधारिणि ॥ नमस्ते पद्मपत्राक्षि नमस्ते कांचनद्युते

namaste jagadādhāre namaste bhūtadhāriṇi namaste padmapatrākṣi namaste kāṁcanadyute

'Salutation to you, O support of the world; salutation to you, O sustainer of all beings; salutation to you, O lotus-petal-eyed one; salutation to you, O golden-radiant one.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.169.17)

नमस्ते सिंहयानाढ्ये नमस्तेऽस्तुमहाभुजे ॥ नमस्ते देवताभीष्टे नमस्ते दैत्यसूदिनि

namaste siṁhayānāḍhye namaste'stumahābhuje namaste devatābhīṣṭe namaste daityasūdini

'Salutation to you, O splendid one who rides the lion; salutation be to you, O mighty-armed one; salutation to you, O beloved of the gods; salutation to you, O destroyer of demons.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.169.18)

नमस्ते महिषाक्रांतशरीरच्छिन्नमस्तके ॥ नमस्ते विंध्यनिरते सुरामांसबलिप्रिये

namaste mahiṣākrāṁtaśarīracchinnamastake namaste viṁdhyanirate surāmāṁsabalipriye

'Salutation to you, whose form tramples the body of the buffalo-demon, and who, as Chinnamasta, bears a severed head; salutation to you, who delight in the Vindhya hills, who love offerings of wine and flesh.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.169.19)

त्वं लक्ष्मीस्त्वं शची गौरी त्वं सिद्धिस्त्वं विभावरी ॥ त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा तुष्टिस्त्वं पुष्टिस्त्वं सुरेश्वरी

tvaṁ lakṣmīstvaṁ śacī gaurī tvaṁ siddhistvaṁ vibhāvarī tvaṁ svāhā tvaṁ svadhā tuṣṭistvaṁ puṣṭistvaṁ sureśvarī

'You are Lakshmi, you are Shachi, Gauri; you are Siddhi, you are Night; you are Svaha, you are Svadha, Tushti; you are Pushti; you are the sovereign goddess of the gods.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.169.20)

शक्तिरूपासि देवि त्वं सृष्टिसंहारकारिणी ॥ त्वयि दृष्टमिदं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

śaktirūpāsi devi tvaṁ sṛṣṭisaṁhārakāriṇī tvayi dṛṣṭamidaṁ sarvaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

'You are of the very form of Shakti, O goddess, the doer of creation and dissolution; within you is seen this entire threefold world, moving and unmoving.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.169.21)

यथा तिलेस्थितं तैलं दधिसंस्थं यथा घृतम् ॥ हविर्भुजश्च काष्ठस्थः सुगुप्तं लभ्यते न हि

yathā tilesthitaṁ tailaṁ dadhisaṁsthaṁ yathā ghṛtam havirbhujaśca kāṣṭhasthaḥ suguptaṁ labhyate na hi

'As oil lies hidden within the sesame seed, as ghee lies hidden within curd, as the fire-eater lies hidden within wood and is not found without effort —'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.169.22)

तथा त्वमपि देवेशि सर्वगापि न लक्ष्यसे

tathā tvamapi deveśi sarvagāpi na lakṣyase

'— so too, O sovereign goddess, though you pervade everything, you are not to be perceived.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.169.23)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ एतेन स्तोत्रमुख्येन स्मृता सा परमेश्वरी ॥ बहूनि वर्षपूगानि पूजयंत्या दिनेदिने

sūta uvāca etena stotramukhyena smṛtā sā parameśvarī bahūni varṣapūgāni pūjayaṁtyā dinedine

Suta said: By this excellent hymn, that supreme goddess was remembered; and day after day, for many years together, she worshipped her.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.169.24)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य चैत्रशुक्लाष्टमी सिता ॥ तस्मिन्नहनि देवी सा नद्यां संस्नाप्य पूजिता

kasyacittvatha kālasya caitraśuklāṣṭamī sitā tasminnahani devī sā nadyāṁ saṁsnāpya pūjitā

Then, after some time, on the bright eighth of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, on that day the goddess was bathed in the river and worshipped.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.169.25)

बलिपूजां ततो दत्त्वा स्तोत्रेणानेन च स्तुता ॥ ततः प्रत्यक्षतां गत्वा तामुवाच तपस्विनीम्

balipūjāṁ tato dattvā stotreṇānena ca stutā tataḥ pratyakṣatāṁ gatvā tāmuvāca tapasvinīm

Then, having offered the ritual gift and worship, and having been extolled with this hymn, the goddess became manifest and spoke to that ascetic woman:

Verse 26 (skanda.6.169.26)

पुत्रि तुष्टास्मि भद्रं ते स्तोत्रेणानेन चानघे ॥ वरं वरय भद्रं ते तव दास्यामि वांछितम्

putri tuṣṭāsmi bhadraṁ te stotreṇānena cānaghe varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te tava dāsyāmi vāṁchitam

'O daughter, O sinless one, I am pleased by this hymn of yours; blessings upon you. Choose a boon — blessings upon you — I shall grant you your desire.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.169.27)

॥ धारोवाच ॥ ॥ यदि तुष्टासि मे देवि यदि देयो वरो मम ॥ तन्मे नाम तवाप्यस्तु प्रासादेऽत्र हि केवलम्

dhārovāca yadi tuṣṭāsi me devi yadi deyo varo mama tanme nāma tavāpyastu prāsāde'tra hi kevalam

Dhara said: If you are pleased with me, O goddess, if a boon is to be given to me, then let my own name also become yours, here in this temple alone.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.169.28)

अपरं नागरो योऽत्र त्वस्मिन्नहनि संस्थिते ॥ प्रदक्षिणात्रयं कृत्वा तव दत्त्वा फलत्रयम्

aparaṁ nāgaro yo'tra tvasminnahani saṁsthite pradakṣiṇātrayaṁ kṛtvā tava dattvā phalatrayam

Further, whatever Nagara, on this very day, having performed three circumambulations and offered you three fruits,

Verse 29 (skanda.6.169.29)

स्तोत्रेणानेन भवतीं स्तुत्वा च कुरुते नतिम् ॥ तस्य संवत्सरंयावद्रोगो रक्ष्यस्त्वयाऽखिलः

stotreṇānena bhavatīṁ stutvā ca kurute natim tasya saṁvatsaraṁyāvadrogo rakṣyastvayā'khilaḥ

praises you with this hymn and bows down before you — for him, throughout a whole year, let every illness be warded off by your protection.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.169.30)

या च वंध्या भवेन्नारी सा भूयात्पुत्रसंयुता ॥ दुर्भगा च ससौभाग्या कुरूपा रूपसंभवा ॥ रोगिणी रोगनिर्मुक्ता सर्वसौख्यसमन्विता

yā ca vaṁdhyā bhavennārī sā bhūyātputrasaṁyutā durbhagā ca sasaubhāgyā kurūpā rūpasaṁbhavā rogiṇī roganirmuktā sarvasaukhyasamanvitā

And whatever woman is barren, let her become blessed with sons; the unfortunate, blessed with good fortune; the ill-favoured, endowed with beauty; the sick, freed from illness — let her be endowed with every happiness.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.169.31)

॥ देव्युवाच ॥ ॥ अहं धारेति विख्याता प्रासादेऽत्र त्वया कृते ॥ भविष्यामि न सन्देहस्तव कीर्तिकृते सदा

devyuvāca ahaṁ dhāreti vikhyātā prāsāde'tra tvayā kṛte bhaviṣyāmi na sandehastava kīrtikṛte sadā

The goddess said: I shall become renowned by the name Dhara, here in this temple built by you, for the sake of your fame, forever — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.169.32)

अत्र यो नागरो भक्त्या समागत्य तपस्विनि ॥ प्रदक्षिणात्रयं कुर्याद्दत्त्वा मम फलत्रयम्

atra yo nāgaro bhaktyā samāgatya tapasvini pradakṣiṇātrayaṁ kuryāddattvā mama phalatrayam

'O ascetic one, whatever Nagara comes here with devotion and, having offered me three fruits, performs three circumambulations —'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.169.33)

सोऽपि संवत्सरं यावद्भविता रोगवर्जितः ॥ एवमुक्ता तु सा देवीततश्चादर्शनं गता

so'pi saṁvatsaraṁ yāvadbhavitā rogavarjitaḥ evamuktā tu sā devītataścādarśanaṁ gatā

'— he too shall remain free of illness for a whole year.' Having said this, that goddess then vanished from sight.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.169.34)

धारापि संस्थिता तत्र अरुन्धत्या समन्विता ॥ अद्यापि दृश्यते व्योम्नि तस्याश्चापि समीपगा

dhārāpi saṁsthitā tatra arundhatyā samanvitā adyāpi dṛśyate vyomni tasyāścāpi samīpagā

Dhara too remained established there, together with Arundhati; even today she is seen in the sky, close beside her.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.169.35)

एतद्धारोद्भवं योऽत्र वृत्तांतं कीर्तयिष्यति ॥ शृणुयाद्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठा मुच्येत्पापाद्दिनोद्भवात्

etaddhārodbhavaṁ yo'tra vṛttāṁtaṁ kīrtayiṣyati śṛṇuyādvā dvijaśreṣṭhā mucyetpāpāddinodbhavāt

O best of brahmins, whoever shall recite or hear this account of Dhara's origin shall be freed from the sin accrued during the day.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.169.36)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पठनीयं विशेषतः ॥ श्रोतव्यं च प्रभक्त्येदं नागरैश्च विशेषतः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena paṭhanīyaṁ viśeṣataḥ śrotavyaṁ ca prabhaktyedaṁ nāgaraiśca viśeṣataḥ

Therefore this should be read with every effort, especially, and heard with the deepest devotion, especially by the Nagaras.