The Origin and Greatness of Uma-Maheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.48.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तत्रैवास्य समुद्देशे हरिश्चंद्रस्य भूपतेः॥ आश्रमो ऽस्ति सुविख्यातो नानाद्रुमसमावृतः

sūta uvāca tatraivāsya samuddeśe hariścaṁdrasya bhūpateḥ āśramo 'sti suvikhyāto nānādrumasamāvṛtaḥ

Suta said: "In that very region there is the most renowned hermitage of King Harishchandra, surrounded by trees of every kind."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.48.2)

यत्र तेन तपस्तप्तं संस्थाप्योमामहेश्वरौ॥ यच्छता विविधं दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽभिवांछितम्

yatra tena tapastaptaṁ saṁsthāpyomāmaheśvarau yacchatā vividhaṁ dānaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo'bhivāṁchitam

There he performed austerities, having installed Uma and Maheshvara, and gave to the brahmins various gifts, whatever each one desired.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.48.3)

आसीद्राजा हरिश्चंद्रस्त्रिशंकुतनयः पुरा॥ अयोध्याधिपतिः श्रीमान्सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः

āsīdrājā hariścaṁdrastriśaṁkutanayaḥ purā ayodhyādhipatiḥ śrīmānsūryavaṁśasamudbhavaḥ

In ancient times there was King Harishchandra, son of Trishanku, the illustrious lord of Ayodhya, born of the solar dynasty.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.48.4)

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं ध्रुवम्॥ तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मेण न च चौरकृतं भयम्

na durbhikṣaṁ na ca vyādhirnākālamaraṇaṁ dhruvam tasmiñchāsati dharmeṇa na ca caurakṛtaṁ bhayam

While he ruled righteously, there was no famine, no disease, no untimely death, nor any fear from thieves.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.48.5)

कालवर्षी सदा मेघः सस्यानि प्रचुराणि च॥ रसवंति च तोयानि सर्वर्तुफलिता द्रुमाः

kālavarṣī sadā meghaḥ sasyāni pracurāṇi ca rasavaṁti ca toyāni sarvartuphalitā drumāḥ

The clouds always rained at the proper time, crops were abundant, the waters were sweet, and the trees bore fruit in every season.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.48.6)

दंडस्तत्राभवद्वास्तौ गृहरोधोऽक्षदेवने॥ एको दोषाकरश्चंद्रः प्रियदोषाश्च कौशिकाः

daṁḍastatrābhavadvāstau gṛharodho'kṣadevane eko doṣākaraścaṁdraḥ priyadoṣāśca kauśikāḥ

Punishment there existed only in disputes over building sites and in games of dice; the only "maker of night" was the moon, and the only "lover of night" was the owl -- that is, among the people there was neither a criminal nor a sinner.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.48.7)

स्नेहक्षयश्च दीपेषु विवाहे च करग्रहः॥ वृत्तभंगस्तथा गद्ये दानोत्थितिर्गजानने

snehakṣayaśca dīpeṣu vivāhe ca karagrahaḥ vṛttabhaṁgastathā gadye dānotthitirgajānane

The loss of oil (or affection) occurred only in lamps, never in love; the seizing of a hand occurred only at weddings, never as extortion; the breaking of meter occurred only in prose, never of conduct; and the rising of musth occurred only in elephants, never of miserliness.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.48.8)

तस्यैवं गुणयुक्तस्य सार्वभौमस्य भूपतेः॥ एक एव महानासीद्दोषः पुत्रविवर्जितः

tasyaivaṁ guṇayuktasya sārvabhaumasya bhūpateḥ eka eva mahānāsīddoṣaḥ putravivarjitaḥ

For that emperor, thus endowed with every excellence, there was but one great flaw -- he was without a son.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.48.9)

ततः पुत्रकृते गत्वा चकार सुमहत्तपः॥ चमत्कारपुरे क्षेत्रे लिंगं संस्थाप्य भक्तितः

tataḥ putrakṛte gatvā cakāra sumahattapaḥ camatkārapure kṣetre liṁgaṁ saṁsthāpya bhaktitaḥ

Then, for the sake of a son, he went to the sacred field of Chamatkarapura, and, having devoutly installed a Linga, performed great austerities.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.48.10)

पंचाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे वर्षास्वाकाशसंस्थितः॥ जलाश्रयश्च हेमंते स ध्यायति महेश्वरम्

paṁcāgnisādhako grīṣme varṣāsvākāśasaṁsthitaḥ jalāśrayaśca hemaṁte sa dhyāyati maheśvaram

In summer practicing the discipline of the five fires, in the rainy season remaining exposed beneath the open sky, and in winter standing immersed in water, he meditated upon Maheshvara.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.48.11)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तस्य तुष्टो महेश्वरः॥ प्रत्यक्षोऽभूत्समं गौर्या गणसंघैः समावृतः

tato varṣasahasrāṁte tasya tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ pratyakṣo'bhūtsamaṁ gauryā gaṇasaṁghaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ

Then, at the end of a thousand years, Maheshvara, pleased with him, appeared before him in visible form, together with Gauri, surrounded by hosts of his attendants.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.48.12)

उवाच वरदोऽस्मीति प्रार्थयस्व यथेप्सितम्॥ अहं ते संप्रदास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

uvāca varado'smīti prārthayasva yathepsitam ahaṁ te saṁpradāsyāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

He said: "I am one who grants boons; ask for whatever you desire. I shall give it to you, however hard it may be to attain."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.48.13)

ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैः स्तुत्वा सूक्तैः श्रुतैरपि॥ प्रोवाच विनयोपेतः कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

tatastaṁ praṇipatyoccaiḥ stutvā sūktaiḥ śrutairapi provāca vinayopetaḥ kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

Then, bowing low before him, praising him with hymns even from the scriptures, he spoke, standing humbly with joined palms.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.48.14)

त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरश्रेष्ठ यत्किंचिद्धरणीतले॥ तदस्ति मे गृहे सर्वं वांछितं स्वेन चेतसा

tvatprasādātsuraśreṣṭha yatkiṁciddharaṇītale tadasti me gṛhe sarvaṁ vāṁchitaṁ svena cetasā

"O best of gods, by your grace, whatever exists upon this earth, all of it is present in my house -- everything my own heart could desire."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.48.15)

सुरूपाणि कलत्राणि राज्यं निहतकंटकम्॥ शरीरं रोगनिर्मुक्तं संख्याहीनं तथा धनम्

surūpāṇi kalatrāṇi rājyaṁ nihatakaṁṭakam śarīraṁ roganirmuktaṁ saṁkhyāhīnaṁ tathā dhanam

"Beautiful wives, a kingdom free of thorns, a body free of disease, and wealth beyond counting -- all this I have."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.48.16)

एकं मे सुमहद्दुःखं यदपत्यं न विद्यते॥ तस्माद्देहि सुतं देव प्रसन्नो यदि शंकर

ekaṁ me sumahadduḥkhaṁ yadapatyaṁ na vidyate tasmāddehi sutaṁ deva prasanno yadi śaṁkara

"I have but one great sorrow -- that I have no offspring. Therefore, O Shankara, if you are pleased, grant me a son."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.48.17)

श्रीभगवानुवाच॥ अचिरेण नृपश्रेष्ठ पुत्रस्तव भविष्यति॥ मत्प्रसादान्न संदेहस्तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं गृहम्

śrībhagavānuvāca acireṇa nṛpaśreṣṭha putrastava bhaviṣyati matprasādānna saṁdehastasmādgaccha drutaṁ gṛham

The Blessed Lord said: "O best of kings, soon a son will be born to you; by my grace there is no doubt of this. Therefore go home at once."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.48.18)

सूत उवाच॥ एतस्मिन्नंतरे गौरी कोपसंरक्तलोचना॥ भर्त्सयित्वा महादेवं ततः प्रोवाच तं नृपम्

sūta uvāca etasminnaṁtare gaurī kopasaṁraktalocanā bhartsayitvā mahādevaṁ tataḥ provāca taṁ nṛpam

Suta said: "Just then Gauri, her eyes reddened with anger, rebuked Mahadeva, and then spoke thus to that king."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.48.19)

यस्मात्त्वया महामूर्ख न प्रणामः कृतो मम॥ हरादनंतरं तस्माच्छापं दास्याम्यहं तव

yasmāttvayā mahāmūrkha na praṇāmaḥ kṛto mama harādanaṁtaraṁ tasmācchāpaṁ dāsyāmyahaṁ tava

"O great fool, since, after bowing to Hara, you did not bow to me, I shall now pronounce a curse upon you."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.48.20)

तव संलप्स्यते पुत्रो यथोक्तः शूलपाणिना॥ परं तन्मृत्युजं दुःखं त्वं शिशुत्वेपि लप्स्यसे

tava saṁlapsyate putro yathoktaḥ śūlapāṇinā paraṁ tanmṛtyujaṁ duḥkhaṁ tvaṁ śiśutvepi lapsyase

"You will indeed obtain a son, just as the trident-bearer has promised, but you will experience the grief born of his death while he is yet a child."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.48.21)

एवमुक्त्वा भगवती सार्धं देवेन शंभुना॥ अदर्शनं ययौ पश्चात्तथान्यैरपि पार्श्वगैः

evamuktvā bhagavatī sārdhaṁ devena śaṁbhunā adarśanaṁ yayau paścāttathānyairapi pārśvagaiḥ

Having said this, the goddess, together with the god Shambhu and her other attendants, vanished from sight.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.48.22)

सोऽपि राजा वरं लब्ध्वा शापं च तदनंतरम्॥ न जगाम गृहं भूयश्चकार सुमहत्तपः

so'pi rājā varaṁ labdhvā śāpaṁ ca tadanaṁtaram na jagāma gṛhaṁ bhūyaścakāra sumahattapaḥ

That king too, having received both the boon and, after it, the curse, did not go home, but resumed his great austerities once more.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.48.23)

एकासनं समारूढौ कृत्वा गौरी महेश्वरौ॥ ततश्चाराधयामास समं पुष्पानुलेपनैः

ekāsanaṁ samārūḍhau kṛtvā gaurī maheśvarau tataścārādhayāmāsa samaṁ puṣpānulepanaiḥ

Then, setting Gauri and Maheshvara together upon a single seat, he worshipped them equally, with flowers and sandal-paste.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.48.24)

विशेषेण ददौ दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महीपतिः॥ भूमिशायी प्रशांतात्मा षष्ठकालकृताशनः

viśeṣeṇa dadau dānaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo mahīpatiḥ bhūmiśāyī praśāṁtātmā ṣaṣṭhakālakṛtāśanaḥ

That king gave gifts to the brahmins in great measure, slept upon the bare ground, remained tranquil of mind, and took food only once every three days.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.48.25)

ततः संवत्सरस्यांते भगवान्वृषभध्वजः॥ पार्वत्या सहितो भूयस्तस्य संदर्शनं गतः

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyāṁte bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ pārvatyā sahito bhūyastasya saṁdarśanaṁ gataḥ

Then, at the end of a year, the Lord whose banner bears the bull came once more, together with Parvati, to give him his vision.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.48.26)

ततः स नृपतिस्ताभ्यां युगपद्विधिपूर्वकम्॥ कृत्वा नतिं ततो वाक्यं विनयादिदमब्रवीत्

tataḥ sa nṛpatistābhyāṁ yugapadvidhipūrvakam kṛtvā natiṁ tato vākyaṁ vinayādidamabravīt

Then that king, bowing to both of them together with due rite, spoke these words with humility.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.48.27)

पुरा देवि मयानंदपूरे व्याकुल चेतसा॥ न नता त्वं न मे कोपं तस्मात्त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि

purā devi mayānaṁdapūre vyākula cetasā na natā tvaṁ na me kopaṁ tasmāttvaṁ kartumarhasi

"O Goddess, on that former occasion, overwhelmed with joy, my mind was distracted, and so I did not bow to you; therefore you should not hold anger against me."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.48.28)

देहार्धधारिणी देवि सदा त्वं शूलधारिणः॥ तदैकस्मिन्नते कस्मान्न नता त्वं वदस्व मे

dehārdhadhāriṇī devi sadā tvaṁ śūladhāriṇaḥ tadaikasminnate kasmānna natā tvaṁ vadasva me

"O Goddess, you always hold half the body of the trident-bearer; when I bowed to the one, tell me then, why were you not thereby bowed to as well?"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.48.29)

यस्तं नमति देवेशं तेन त्वं सर्वदा नता॥ नतायां त्वयि देवेशो नतः स्यादिति मे मतिः

yastaṁ namati deveśaṁ tena tvaṁ sarvadā natā natāyāṁ tvayi deveśo nataḥ syāditi me matiḥ

"Whoever bows to that Lord of gods has thereby always bowed to you as well; and it is my belief that when you are bowed to, the Lord of gods too is thereby bowed to."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.48.30)

तथापि च पृथक्त्वेन मया त्वं तु नता सह॥ एकासनं समारूढा तत्समं देवि पूजिता

tathāpi ca pṛthaktvena mayā tvaṁ tu natā saha ekāsanaṁ samārūḍhā tatsamaṁ devi pūjitā

"Yet even so, O Goddess, I have bowed to you separately as well; setting you both together upon a single seat, I have worshipped you equally."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.48.31)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यः पुरोक्तः पुरारिणा॥ सोस्तु वै सफलः सद्यो वरः पुत्रकृते मम

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me yaḥ puroktaḥ purāriṇā sostu vai saphalaḥ sadyo varaḥ putrakṛte mama

"Therefore be gracious to me, so that the boon for a son formerly granted to me by Purari, the enemy of the demon cities, may at once bear its fruit."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.48.32)

यया वंशधरः पुत्रो दीर्घायुर्दृढविक्रमः॥ त्वत्प्रसादाद्भवेद्देवि तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि

yayā vaṁśadharaḥ putro dīrghāyurdṛḍhavikramaḥ tvatprasādādbhaveddevi tathā tvaṁ kartumarhasi

"O Goddess, grant me, by your grace, a son who will carry on my lineage, long-lived and of firm valor -- this you should do."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.48.33)

श्रीदेव्युवाच॥ नान्यथा मे वचो राजञ्जायतेऽत्र कथंचन॥ तस्माद्बालोऽपि ते पुत्रः पंचत्वं समुपैष्यति

śrīdevyuvāca nānyathā me vaco rājañjāyate'tra kathaṁcana tasmādbālo'pi te putraḥ paṁcatvaṁ samupaiṣyati

The Goddess said: "O king, my word can in no way be otherwise; therefore your son, even while still a child, will go to his death."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.48.34)

दर्शयित्वा तु ते दुःखमल्पमृत्युसमुद्भवम्॥ भूयः संप्राप्स्यति प्राणानचिरान्मे प्रसादतः

darśayitvā tu te duḥkhamalpamṛtyusamudbhavam bhūyaḥ saṁprāpsyati prāṇānacirānme prasādataḥ

"But, having shown you the grief born of that brief death, he will, by my grace, soon regain his life once more."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.48.35)

भविष्यति च दीर्घायुस्ततो वंशधरो जयी॥ सार्वभौमप्रधानश्च दानी यज्वा च धर्मवित्

bhaviṣyati ca dīrghāyustato vaṁśadharo jayī sārvabhaumapradhānaśca dānī yajvā ca dharmavit

"Then he will become long-lived, the bearer of your lineage, victorious, foremost among universal sovereigns, generous, devoted to sacrifice, and versed in righteousness."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.48.36)

तस्माद्राजन्गृहं गत्वा कुरु राज्यमभीप्सितम्॥ संप्राप्स्यसि सुतं श्रेष्ठं यादृशं कीर्तितं मया

tasmādrājangṛhaṁ gatvā kuru rājyamabhīpsitam saṁprāpsyasi sutaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ yādṛśaṁ kīrtitaṁ mayā

"Therefore, O king, go home and rule your kingdom as you desire; you will obtain that excellent son, just as I have described."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.48.37)

अन्योऽपि मानवो यो मां रूपेणा नेनसंस्थिताम्॥ पूजयिष्यति चात्रैव समं देवेन शंभुना

anyo'pi mānavo yo māṁ rūpeṇā nenasaṁsthitām pūjayiṣyati cātraiva samaṁ devena śaṁbhunā

"Moreover, any other person who, established here in this same form, worships me together with the god Shambhu --"

Verse 38 (skanda.6.48.38)

तस्याहं संप्रदास्यामि पुत्रान्हृदयवांछितान्॥ तथान्यदपि यत्किंचिदचिरान्नात्र संशयः

tasyāhaṁ saṁpradāsyāmi putrānhṛdayavāṁchitān tathānyadapi yatkiṁcidacirānnātra saṁśayaḥ

"-- to him I shall grant sons according to his heart's desire, and whatever else he wishes, and that swiftly, without doubt."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.48.39)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच॥ भूय एव नृपश्रेष्ठ मत्तः प्रार्थय वांछितम्॥ न वृथा दर्शनं मे स्यात्सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते

śrīmahādeva uvāca bhūya eva nṛpaśreṣṭha mattaḥ prārthaya vāṁchitam na vṛthā darśanaṁ me syātsatyametadbravīmi te

Mahadeva said: "O best of kings, ask of me once again for whatever you desire; let not the sight of me go in vain -- this I tell you truly."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.48.40)

हरिश्चंद्र उवाच॥ कृतकृत्योस्मि देवेश सर्वमस्ति गृहे मम॥ पुत्रं त्यक्त्वा त्वया सोऽपि दत्तो वंशधरो जयी

hariścaṁdra uvāca kṛtakṛtyosmi deveśa sarvamasti gṛhe mama putraṁ tyaktvā tvayā so'pi datto vaṁśadharo jayī

Harishchandra said: "O Lord of gods, my purpose is fulfilled; everything exists in my house. And the son too -- you yourself have now granted him to me, one who will carry on my line and be victorious."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.48.41)

तथापि न तवादेशो व्यर्थः कार्यः कथंचन॥ एतस्मात्कारणाद्देव याचयिष्यामि वांछितम्

tathāpi na tavādeśo vyarthaḥ kāryaḥ kathaṁcana etasmātkāraṇāddeva yācayiṣyāmi vāṁchitam

"Even so, your command should in no way go unfulfilled; for this reason, O Lord, I shall ask for what I desire."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.48.42)

राजसूयकृतेऽस्माकं सदा बुद्धिः प्रवर्तते॥ निषेधयंति मां सर्वे मन्त्रिणः सुहृदस्तदा

rājasūyakṛte'smākaṁ sadā buddhiḥ pravartate niṣedhayaṁti māṁ sarve mantriṇaḥ suhṛdastadā

"My mind is always set upon performing the Rajasuya sacrifice, but all my ministers and well-wishing friends restrain me from it."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.48.43)

सर्वैस्तैर्जायते यज्ञः पार्थिवैः करदीकृतैः॥ युद्धं विना करं तेऽपि न यच्छन्ति यतो विभो

sarvaistairjāyate yajñaḥ pārthivaiḥ karadīkṛtaiḥ yuddhaṁ vinā karaṁ te'pi na yacchanti yato vibho

"O mighty one, that sacrifice can be accomplished only when all kings have been made tributary; but they will not pay tribute without war."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.48.44)

ततो युद्धार्थिनं मां ते वारयंति हितैषिणः॥ कृतोत्साहं मखप्राप्तौ नीतिमार्गसमाश्रिताः

tato yuddhārthinaṁ māṁ te vārayaṁti hitaiṣiṇaḥ kṛtotsāhaṁ makhaprāptau nītimārgasamāśritāḥ

"Therefore my well-wishers restrain me, though I am eager for war, even as they themselves, following the path of good policy, are keen for the sacrifice to be accomplished."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.48.45)

तस्मात्तव प्रसादेन राजसूयो भवेन्मखः॥ अविघ्नः सिद्धिमायातु मम नान्यद्वृणोम्यहम्

tasmāttava prasādena rājasūyo bhavenmakhaḥ avighnaḥ siddhimāyātu mama nānyadvṛṇomyaham

"Therefore, by your grace, may this Rajasuya sacrifice come to its fulfillment without obstacle; I ask for nothing else."

Verse 46 (skanda.6.48.46)

सूत उवाच॥ स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय जगामादर्शन हरः॥ सोऽपि लब्धवरो भूपः स्वमेव भवनं गतः

sūta uvāca sa tatheti pratijñāya jagāmādarśana haraḥ so'pi labdhavaro bhūpaḥ svameva bhavanaṁ gataḥ

Suta said: "'So be it,' said Hara, and he vanished from sight; and that king too, having obtained his boon, returned to his own palace."

Verse 47 (skanda.6.48.47)

एवं तेन नरेन्द्रेण पूर्वं तत्र विनिर्मितौ॥ उमामहेश्वरौ पश्चान्निर्मितावितरैरपि

evaṁ tena narendreṇa pūrvaṁ tatra vinirmitau umāmaheśvarau paścānnirmitāvitarairapi

Thus, by that king, images of Uma and Maheshvara were first fashioned there, and afterward, by others as well.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.48.48)

यस्ताभ्यां कुरुते पूजां संप्राप्ते पंचमी दिने॥ फलैः सर्वेषु गात्रेषु यावत्संवत्सरं द्विजाः॥ सुतं प्राप्नोति सोऽभीष्टं स्ववंशोद्धरणक्षमम्

yastābhyāṁ kurute pūjāṁ saṁprāpte paṁcamī dine phalaiḥ sarveṣu gātreṣu yāvatsaṁvatsaraṁ dvijāḥ sutaṁ prāpnoti so'bhīṣṭaṁ svavaṁśoddharaṇakṣamam

O brahmins, whoever, on each Panchami day as it comes, throughout the course of a full year, worships them both, offering fruits upon every part of their images, obtains the desired son, one capable of upholding his lineage.