The Origin of Yameshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.12.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। या संज्ञा सा स्मृता राज्ञी छाया या सा तु निक्षुभा। राजृ दीप्तौ स्मृतो धातू राजा राजति यः सदा

īśvara uvāca| yā saṁjñā sā smṛtā rājñī chāyā yā sā tu nikṣubhā| rājṛ dīptau smṛto dhātū rājā rājati yaḥ sadā

Īśvara said: She who is Saṁjñā is remembered as the queen; she who is Chāyā is Nikṣubhā. The root 'rāj' is remembered in the sense of shining; he who ever shines is the king.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.12.2)

अधिकं सर्वभूतेभ्यस्तस्माद्राजा स उच्यते। राजपत्नी तु सा यस्मात्तस्माद्राज्ञी प्रकीर्तिता

adhikaṁ sarvabhūtebhyastasmādrājā sa ucyate| rājapatnī tu sā yasmāttasmādrājñī prakīrtitā

Because he surpasses all beings, he is called rājā. And since she is the wife of the rājā, she is proclaimed as rājñī.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.12.3)

क्षुभ संचलने धातुर्निश्चला तेन निक्षुभा। भवंति ह्यथवा यस्मात्स्वांगीयाः क्षुद्विवर्जिताः

kṣubha saṁcalane dhāturniścalā tena nikṣubhā| bhavaṁti hyathavā yasmātsvāṁgīyāḥ kṣudvivarjitāḥ

The root 'kṣubh' means to be agitated; since she is unmoving, she is Nikṣubhā. Or else, because her own offspring are free from hunger.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.12.4)

छाया तां विशते दिव्या स्मृता सा तेन निक्षुभा। सांप्रतं वर्तते योऽयं मनुर्लोके महामते

chāyā tāṁ viśate divyā smṛtā sā tena nikṣubhā| sāṁprataṁ vartate yo'yaṁ manurloke mahāmate

The divine shadow enters into her, and for this she is remembered as Nikṣubhā. O great-minded one, this Manu who now exists in the world—

Verse 5 (skanda.7.12.5)

तस्यान्ववाये जातस्तु शंखचकगदाधरः। यमस्तु मात्रा संशप्तो हीनपादो धरातले

tasyānvavāye jātastu śaṁkhacakagadādharaḥ| yamastu mātrā saṁśapto hīnapādo dharātale

In his very lineage was born one bearing the conch, discus, and mace. And Yama, cursed by his mother, deprived of a foot upon the surface of the earth—

Verse 6 (skanda.7.12.6)

प्रभासक्षेत्रमासाद्य चचार विपुलं तपः। वर्षाणामयुतं साग्रं लिंगं पूजितवान्प्रिये

prabhāsakṣetramāsādya cacāra vipulaṁ tapaḥ| varṣāṇāmayutaṁ sāgraṁ liṁgaṁ pūjitavānpriye

reached the field of Prabhāsa and performed extensive austerity, O beloved, worshipping the liṅga for more than ten thousand years.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.12.7)

तुष्टश्चाहं ततस्तस्य वराणां च शतं ददौ। अद्यापि तत्र देवेशि यमेश्वरमिति श्रुतम्। यमद्वितीयायां दृष्ट्वा यमलोकं न पश्यति

tuṣṭaścāhaṁ tatastasya varāṇāṁ ca śataṁ dadau| adyāpi tatra deveśi yameśvaramiti śrutam| yamadvitīyāyāṁ dṛṣṭvā yamalokaṁ na paśyati

I became pleased and granted him a hundred boons. O sovereign Goddess, even today it is heard there by the name Yameśvara. Whoever beholds it on Yamadvitīyā does not behold the world of Yama.