The Greatness of the Charmamunda Established by Nala

Verse 1 (skanda.6.54.1)

सूत उवाच॥ चर्ममुंडा तथा देवी तस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थिता॥ नलेन स्थापिता पूर्वं स्वयमेव महात्मना

sūta uvāca carmamuṁḍā tathā devī tasminsthāne vyavasthitā nalena sthāpitā pūrvaṁ svayameva mahātmanā

Suta said: "The goddess Charmamunda too abides in that place, established there long ago by the great-souled Nala himself."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.54.2)

अभ्यर्चयति तां भक्त्या यो महानवमी दिने॥ स कामान्वांछिताँल्लब्ध्वा पदं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम्

abhyarcayati tāṁ bhaktyā yo mahānavamī dine sa kāmānvāṁchitā~llabdhvā padaṁ prāpnoti śāśvatam

Whoever worships her with devotion on the day of Mahanavami, having obtained his desired wishes, attains the eternal abode.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.54.3)

वीरसेनसुतः पूर्वं नलोनाम महीपतिः॥ आसीत्सर्वगुणोपेतः सर्वशत्रुक्षयावहः

vīrasenasutaḥ pūrvaṁ nalonāma mahīpatiḥ āsītsarvaguṇopetaḥ sarvaśatrukṣayāvahaḥ

Long ago there was a king named Nala, son of Virasena, endowed with every virtue, one who brought about the destruction of all his enemies.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.54.4)

भार्या तस्याभवत्साध्वी प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसी॥ दमयंतीति विख्याता विदर्भाधिपतेः सुता

bhāryā tasyābhavatsādhvī prāṇebhyopi garīyasī damayaṁtīti vikhyātā vidarbhādhipateḥ sutā

His wife was a virtuous woman, dearer to him than his own life, renowned as Damayanti, daughter of the king of Vidarbha.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.54.5)

अथासौ कलिनाविष्टो द्यूतं चक्रे महीपतिः॥ पुष्करेण समं विप्रा दायादेन दिवानिशम्

athāsau kalināviṣṭo dyūtaṁ cakre mahīpatiḥ puṣkareṇa samaṁ viprā dāyādena divāniśam

Then that king, possessed by Kali, gambled day and night, O brahmins, with Pushkara, his own kinsman.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.54.6)

ततः स व्यसनासक्तो वार्यमाणोऽपि सज्जनैः॥ हारयामास सप्तांगं राज्यं मुक्त्वा च तां प्रियाम्

tataḥ sa vyasanāsakto vāryamāṇo'pi sajjanaiḥ hārayāmāsa saptāṁgaṁ rājyaṁ muktvā ca tāṁ priyām

Then, addicted to that vice, though restrained by good men, he lost his kingdom of seven limbs, and everything except his beloved wife.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.54.7)

अथ तां स समादाय प्रविष्टो गहनं वनम्॥ निर्जलं लज्जयाविष्टो दुःखव्याकुलितेंद्रियः

atha tāṁ sa samādāya praviṣṭo gahanaṁ vanam nirjalaṁ lajjayāviṣṭo duḥkhavyākuliteṁdriyaḥ

Then, taking her with him, overcome with shame, his senses distraught with sorrow, he entered a dense, waterless forest.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.54.8)

ततः स चिंतयामास यद्येषा भीममंदिरे॥ याति तन्मुच्यते कष्टाद्वनवाससमुद्भवात्

tataḥ sa ciṁtayāmāsa yadyeṣā bhīmamaṁdire yāti tanmucyate kaṣṭādvanavāsasamudbhavāt

Then he thought: "If she were to go to Bhima's palace, she would be freed from the hardship that comes from living in the forest."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.54.9)

न मया तत्र गंतव्यं कथंचिदपि मानिना॥ तस्मादेनां परित्यज्य रात्रौ गच्छामि दूरतः

na mayā tatra gaṁtavyaṁ kathaṁcidapi māninā tasmādenāṁ parityajya rātrau gacchāmi dūrataḥ

"But I, out of pride, must not go there under any circumstance; therefore, leaving her behind, I shall go far away in the night."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.54.10)

येन त्यक्ता मया साध्वी कुण्डिनं याति तत्पुरम्॥ स एवं निश्चयं कृत्वा सुखसुप्तां विहाय ताम्॥ प्रजगाम वनं घोरं वन्यश्वापदसंकुलम्

yena tyaktā mayā sādhvī kuṇḍinaṁ yāti tatpuram sa evaṁ niścayaṁ kṛtvā sukhasuptāṁ vihāya tām prajagāma vanaṁ ghoraṁ vanyaśvāpadasaṁkulam

"So that this virtuous woman, left by me, may go to that city of Kundina." Having made this resolve, he abandoned her as she slept peacefully, and went off into the terrible forest, filled with wild beasts.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.54.11)

प्रत्यूषे चापि सोत्थाय यावत्पश्यति भाभिनी॥ तावत्पश्यतिशून्यं स्वं पार्श्वं यत्र नलः स्थितः

pratyūṣe cāpi sotthāya yāvatpaśyati bhābhinī tāvatpaśyatiśūnyaṁ svaṁ pārśvaṁ yatra nalaḥ sthitaḥ

And at dawn, when that lovely woman rose and looked around, she found the place beside her, where Nala had been, empty.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.54.12)

ततो विलप्य दुःखार्ता करुणं तत्र कानने॥ जगाम मार्गमाश्रित्थ पितुर्हर्म्यं शनैःशनैः

tato vilapya duḥkhārtā karuṇaṁ tatra kānane jagāma mārgamāśrittha piturharmyaṁ śanaiḥśanaiḥ

Then, afflicted with sorrow, weeping piteously there in the forest, she took to the road and slowly made her way toward her father's palace.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.54.13)

नलोऽपि च वने तस्मिन्भ्रममाणो महीपतिः॥ एकाकी वृक्षकुंजानि सेवयामास सर्वदा

nalo'pi ca vane tasminbhramamāṇo mahīpatiḥ ekākī vṛkṣakuṁjāni sevayāmāsa sarvadā

And King Nala too wandered in that forest, alone, always taking shelter among the groves of trees.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.54.14)

ततस्तद्वनमुत्सृज्य जगामान्यन्महावनम्॥ नानावृक्षगणैर्युक्तं बहुश्वापदसंकुलम्

tatastadvanamutsṛjya jagāmānyanmahāvanam nānāvṛkṣagaṇairyuktaṁ bahuśvāpadasaṁkulam

Then, leaving that forest, he went to another great forest, filled with various kinds of trees and many wild beasts.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.54.15)

एवं स पृथिवीपालो भ्रममाणोवनाद्वनम्॥ हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रमाससाद ततः परम्

evaṁ sa pṛthivīpālo bhramamāṇovanādvanam hāṭakeśvarajaṁ kṣetramāsasāda tataḥ param

Thus that king, wandering from forest to forest, then at last reached the sacred field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.54.16)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तं तन्महानवमीदिनम्॥ विशेषाद्यत्र भूपालाः पूजयन्ति सुरेश्वरीम्

etasminnaṁtare prāptaṁ tanmahānavamīdinam viśeṣādyatra bhūpālāḥ pūjayanti sureśvarīm

Meanwhile the day of Mahanavami arrived, on which kings especially worship the goddess of the gods.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.54.17)

ततः स मृन्मयीं कृत्वा चर्ममुण्डधरां नृपः॥ विभवाभावतः पश्चात्फलमूलैरतर्पयत्

tataḥ sa mṛnmayīṁ kṛtvā carmamuṇḍadharāṁ nṛpaḥ vibhavābhāvataḥ paścātphalamūlairatarpayat

Then the king made a clay image of her, bearing skin and skulls, and, for lack of resources, offered her fruits and roots.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.54.18)

ततस्तस्याः स्तुतिं कृत्वा पुरः स्थित्वा कृतांजलिः॥ श्रद्धया परया युक्तो निषधाधिपतिः स्वयम्

tatastasyāḥ stutiṁ kṛtvā puraḥ sthitvā kṛtāṁjaliḥ śraddhayā parayā yukto niṣadhādhipatiḥ svayam

Then, standing before her with folded hands and filled with supreme faith, the lord of Nishadha himself offered her this praise:

Verse 19 (skanda.6.54.19)

जय सर्वगते देवि चर्ममुण्डधरे वरे॥ जय दैत्यकुलोच्छेददक्षे दक्षात्मजे शुभे

jaya sarvagate devi carmamuṇḍadhare vare jaya daityakulocchedadakṣe dakṣātmaje śubhe

"'Victory to you, all-pervading goddess, excellent one who bears skin and skulls! Victory to you, skilled in destroying the race of daityas, auspicious daughter of Daksha!'"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.54.20)

कालरात्रि जयाचिन्त्ये नवम्यष्टमिवल्लभे॥ त्रिनेत्रे त्र्यंबकाभीष्टे जय देवि सुरार्चिते

kālarātri jayācintye navamyaṣṭamivallabhe trinetre tryaṁbakābhīṣṭe jaya devi surārcite

"'Victory to you, O Kalaratri, inconceivable one, beloved of the ninth and eighth tithis! O three-eyed one, beloved of Tryambaka, victory to you, goddess worshipped by the gods!'"

Verse 21 (skanda.6.54.21)

भीमरूपे सुरूपे च महाविद्ये महाबले॥ महोदये महाकाये जयदेवि महाव्रते

bhīmarūpe surūpe ca mahāvidye mahābale mahodaye mahākāye jayadevi mahāvrate

"'O one of terrible form and yet of beautiful form, great in knowledge, great in strength, of great prosperity, of great body, O goddess of great vows, victory to you!'"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.54.22)

नित्यरूपे जगद्धात्रि सुरामांसवसाप्रिये॥ विकरालि महाकालि जय प्रेतजनानुगे

nityarūpe jagaddhātri surāmāṁsavasāpriye vikarāli mahākāli jaya pretajanānuge

"'O eternal one, sustainer of the world, fond of wine, flesh, and marrow, O terrible-faced one, O Mahakali, victory to you, followed by hosts of pretas!'"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.54.23)

शवयानरते रम्ये भुजंगाभरणान्विते॥ पाशहस्ते महाहस्ते रुधिरौघकृतास्पदे

śavayānarate ramye bhujaṁgābharaṇānvite pāśahaste mahāhaste rudhiraughakṛtāspade

"'O beautiful one who delights in a corpse for a vehicle, adorned with serpents, holding a noose in hand, great-armed, whose dwelling is made of streams of blood --'"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.54.24)

फेत्कारा रवशोभिष्ठे गीतवाद्यविराजिते॥ जयानाद्ये जय ध्येये भर्गदेहार्धसंश्रये

phetkārā ravaśobhiṣṭhe gītavādyavirājite jayānādye jaya dhyeye bhargadehārdhasaṁśraye

"'O you who delight in the fierce howling cry, resplendent with song and music, victory to you, beginningless, worthy of meditation, dwelling in half of Bharga's body!'"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.54.25)

त्वं रतिस्त्वं धृतिस्तुष्टिस्त्वं गौरी त्वं सुरेश्वरी॥ त्वं लक्ष्मीस्त्वं च सावित्री गायत्री त्वमसंशयम्

tvaṁ ratistvaṁ dhṛtistuṣṭistvaṁ gaurī tvaṁ sureśvarī tvaṁ lakṣmīstvaṁ ca sāvitrī gāyatrī tvamasaṁśayam

"'You are Rati, you are Dhriti, you are Tushti, you are Gauri, you are Sureshvari; you are Lakshmi, and you are Savitri and Gayatri, without doubt.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.54.26)

यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु स्त्रीरूपं देवि दृश्यते॥ तत्सर्वं त्वन्मयं नात्र विकल्पोऽस्ति मम क्वचित्

yatkiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu strīrūpaṁ devi dṛśyate tatsarvaṁ tvanmayaṁ nātra vikalpo'sti mama kvacit

"'Whatever form of woman is seen in the three worlds, O goddess, all of it consists of you; in this I have no doubt whatsoever.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.54.27)

येन सत्येन तेन त्वमत्रावासं द्रुतं कुरु॥ सान्निध्यं भक्तितस्तुष्टा सुरासुरनमस्कृते

yena satyena tena tvamatrāvāsaṁ drutaṁ kuru sānnidhyaṁ bhaktitastuṣṭā surāsuranamaskṛte

"'By whatever truth there is, by that truth make your dwelling here swiftly; O you who are worshipped by gods and demons, be pleased by my devotion and grant your presence.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.54.28)

सूत उवाच॥ एवं स्तुता च सा देवी नलेन पृथिवीभुजा॥ प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा तं नृपं भक्तवत्सला

sūta uvāca evaṁ stutā ca sā devī nalena pṛthivībhujā provāca darśanaṁ gatvā taṁ nṛpaṁ bhaktavatsalā

Suta said: "Thus praised by King Nala, that goddess, ever affectionate to her devotees, appeared before that king and said:"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.54.29)

श्रीदेव्युवाच॥ परितुष्टाऽस्मि ते वत्स स्तोत्रेणानेन सांप्रतम्॥ तस्माद्गृहाण मत्तस्त्वं वरं मनसि संस्थितम्

śrīdevyuvāca parituṣṭā'smi te vatsa stotreṇānena sāṁpratam tasmādgṛhāṇa mattastvaṁ varaṁ manasi saṁsthitam

The goddess said: "I am now pleased with you, child, by this hymn; therefore accept from me the boon that is fixed in your mind."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.54.30)

नल उवाच॥ दमयन्तीति मे भार्या प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी॥ सा मया निर्जने मुक्ता वने व्यालगणान्विते

nala uvāca damayantīti me bhāryā prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī sā mayā nirjane muktā vane vyālagaṇānvite

Nala said: "My wife, named Damayanti, dearer to me than my own life, was abandoned by me in a lonely forest full of serpents and beasts."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.54.31)

अखण्डशीलां निर्दोषां यथाहं त्वत्प्रसादतः॥ लभे भूयोऽपि तां देवि तथात्र कुरु सत्वरम्

akhaṇḍaśīlāṁ nirdoṣāṁ yathāhaṁ tvatprasādataḥ labhe bhūyo'pi tāṁ devi tathātra kuru satvaram

O goddess, grant it swiftly that I may, by your grace, find her again, unblemished in character and free of any fault.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.54.32)

स्तोत्रेणानेन यो देवि स्तुतिं कुर्यात्पुरस्तव॥ तत्रैव दिवसे तस्मै त्वया देयं मनोगतम्

stotreṇānena yo devi stutiṁ kuryātpurastava tatraiva divase tasmai tvayā deyaṁ manogatam

O goddess, whoever recites this hymn of praise before you, to him, on that very day, may his heart's desire be granted by you.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.54.33)

सूत उवाच॥ सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय जगामादर्शनं ततः॥ सोऽपि पार्थिवशार्दूलो लेभे सर्वं तयोदितम्

sūta uvāca sā tatheti pratijñāya jagāmādarśanaṁ tataḥ so'pi pārthivaśārdūlo lebhe sarvaṁ tayoditam

Suta said: "She, agreeing 'so be it,' then vanished from sight; and that tiger among kings obtained everything just as she had said."