The Glory of Yameshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.146.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि धर्मराजप्रतिष्ठितम्। यमेश्वरं महादेवं तस्यैवोत्तरतः स्थितम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi dharmarājapratiṣṭhitam| yameśvaraṁ mahādevaṁ tasyaivottarataḥ sthitam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the great god Yameshvara, established by Dharmaraja, situated to the north of that very place.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.146.2)

यदा शप्तो धर्मराजश्छायया वरवर्णिनि। तदा तस्यापतत्पादः स च दुःखान्वितोऽभवत्

yadā śapto dharmarājaśchāyayā varavarṇini| tadā tasyāpatatpādaḥ sa ca duḥkhānvito'bhavat

O fair-complexioned one, when Dharmaraja was cursed by Chhaya, then his foot fell away, and he became overcome with sorrow.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.146.3)

ततः प्राभासिके क्षेत्रे तपस्तेपे महातपाः। स्थापयामास लिंगं तु तत्र देवस्य शूलिनः

tataḥ prābhāsike kṣetre tapastepe mahātapāḥ| sthāpayāmāsa liṁgaṁ tu tatra devasya śūlinaḥ

Then that one of great austerity performed tapas in the field of Prabhasa, and established there the linga of the trident-bearing god.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.146.4)

तस्य तुष्टो महादेवस्ततः प्रत्यक्षतां गतः। अब्रवीद्धर्म भद्रं ते वरं वरय चेप्सितम्

tasya tuṣṭo mahādevastataḥ pratyakṣatāṁ gataḥ| abravīddharma bhadraṁ te varaṁ varaya cepsitam

Mahadeva, pleased with him, then became visibly manifest, and said: 'O Dharma, blessings upon you; choose the boon you desire.'

Verse 5 (skanda.7.146.5)

तदाऽब्रवीद्धर्मराजः पादः प्रपतितो मम। प्रसादात्तव देवेश जायतां पुनरेव हि

tadā'bravīddharmarājaḥ pādaḥ prapatito mama| prasādāttava deveśa jāyatāṁ punareva hi

Then Dharmaraja said: 'My foot has fallen away; by your grace, O lord of gods, let it be restored again indeed.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.146.6)

एतल्लिंगं सुरश्रेष्ठ यन्मया निर्मितं तव। एतद्ये भक्तिसंयुक्ताः पश्यंति प्राणिनो भुवि

etalliṁgaṁ suraśreṣṭha yanmayā nirmitaṁ tava| etadye bhaktisaṁyuktāḥ paśyaṁti prāṇino bhuvi

'O best of gods, this linga of yours which has been made by me — whatever beings on earth, endowed with devotion, behold it,'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.146.7)

तेषां तव प्रसादेन भूयात्पापविमोक्षणम्

teṣāṁ tava prasādena bhūyātpāpavimokṣaṇam

'for them, by your grace, may there be release from sin.'

Verse 8 (skanda.7.146.8)

एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्ता ह्यन्तर्धानं गतो हरः। यमोऽपि लब्धपादस्तु पुनरेव दिवं ययौ

evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktā hyantardhānaṁ gato haraḥ| yamo'pi labdhapādastu punareva divaṁ yayau

Having said 'so shall it be,' Hara vanished from sight; and Yama too, having regained his foot, went again to heaven.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.146.9)

तस्मिन्दृष्टे सुरश्रेष्ठ यमलोकसमुद्भवम्। न भयं विद्यते नृणामपि दुष्कृतकारिणाम्

tasmindṛṣṭe suraśreṣṭha yamalokasamudbhavam| na bhayaṁ vidyate nṛṇāmapi duṣkṛtakāriṇām

O best of gods, when that linga is beheld, men — even those who commit evil deeds — have no fear arising from the realm of Yama.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.146.10)

भ्रातृद्वितीयासंयोगे स्नात्वा पुष्करिणीजले। यमेश्वरसमीपस्थो यमेशमवलोकयेत्

bhrātṛdvitīyāsaṁyoge snātvā puṣkariṇījale| yameśvarasamīpastho yameśamavalokayet

On the occasion of Bhratri-dvitiya, having bathed in the water of the sacred pool, one should stand near Yameshvara and behold Yamesha.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.146.11)

तिलपात्रं प्रदातव्यं दीपं गाः कांचनादिकम्। यमदेवं समुद्दिश्य मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

tilapātraṁ pradātavyaṁ dīpaṁ gāḥ kāṁcanādikam| yamadevaṁ samuddiśya mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

A vessel of sesame, a lamp, cows, gold and the like should be given, dedicated to the god Yama; thereby one is freed from all sins.