The Glory of Naradeshvara-Bhairava

Verse 1 (skanda.7.152.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। तृतीयो भैरवः प्रोक्तश्चतुर्थं भैरवं शृणु। ब्रह्मेशात्पश्चिमे भागे धनुषां त्रितये स्थितम्

īśvara uvāca| tṛtīyo bhairavaḥ proktaścaturthaṁ bhairavaṁ śṛṇu| brahmeśātpaścime bhāge dhanuṣāṁ tritaye sthitam

Ishvara said: The third Bhairava has been described; now hear of the fourth Bhairava, situated in the western part from Brahmesha, at a distance of three bow-lengths,

Verse 2 (skanda.7.152.2)

सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्। नारदेश्वरनामानं स्थापितं नारदेन वै

sarvapāpapraśamanaṁ sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām| nāradeśvaranāmānaṁ sthāpitaṁ nāradena vai

the queller of all sins, the granter of every desire of men—named Naradeshvara, indeed established by Narada.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.152.3)

ब्रह्मलोके स्थितः पूर्वं नारदो भगवानृषिः। तत्र दृष्ट्वा महावीणां दिव्यां तंत्र्ययुतैर्युताम्

brahmaloke sthitaḥ pūrvaṁ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ| tatra dṛṣṭvā mahāvīṇāṁ divyāṁ taṁtryayutairyutām

Formerly, the illustrious sage Narada, dwelling in the world of Brahma, saw there a great, divine vina, furnished with ten thousand strings,

Verse 4 (skanda.7.152.4)

सरस्वत्या विनिर्मुक्तां ब्रह्मलोके महाप्रभाम्। तेनासौ कौतुकाविष्टो वादयामास तां तदा

sarasvatyā vinirmuktāṁ brahmaloke mahāprabhām| tenāsau kautukāviṣṭo vādayāmāsa tāṁ tadā

which Sarasvati had set aside in the world of Brahma, and which was of great splendor; overcome with curiosity at it, he then played upon it.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.152.5)

तंत्रीभ्यो वाद्यमानाभ्यो ब्राह्मणाः पतिता भुवि। सप्त स्वरास्ते विख्याता मूर्च्छिताः षड्जकादयः

taṁtrībhyo vādyamānābhyo brāhmaṇāḥ patitā bhuvi| sapta svarāste vikhyātā mūrcchitāḥ ṣaḍjakādayaḥ

As the strings were played, Brahmins fell to the ground—those renowned seven notes, beginning with Shadja, fell fainting.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.152.6)

तान्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टो मुक्त्वा वीणां प्रयत्नतः। पप्रच्छ देवं ब्रह्माणं किमिदं कौतुकं विभो

tāndṛṣṭvā vismayāviṣṭo muktvā vīṇāṁ prayatnataḥ| papraccha devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ kimidaṁ kautukaṁ vibho

Seeing them, overcome with astonishment, he set aside the vina with effort, and asked the god Brahma: 'What is this wonder, O mighty one?'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.152.7)

वाद्यमानासु तन्त्रीषु पतिता ब्राह्मणा भुवि। क एते ब्राह्मणा देव किं मृता इव शेरते

vādyamānāsu tantrīṣu patitā brāhmaṇā bhuvi| ka ete brāhmaṇā deva kiṁ mṛtā iva śerate

'As the strings were played, Brahmins fell to the ground; who are these Brahmins, O god? Do they lie as if dead?'

Verse 8 (skanda.7.152.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच। एते स्वरा महाभाग मूर्च्छिताः पतिता भुवि। अज्ञानवादनेनैव पापं जातं तवाधुना

brahmovāca| ete svarā mahābhāga mūrcchitāḥ patitā bhuvi| ajñānavādanenaiva pāpaṁ jātaṁ tavādhunā

Brahma said: 'These, O illustrious one, are the notes, fallen fainting to the ground. Through your playing in ignorance, sin has now arisen for you.'

Verse 9 (skanda.7.152.9)

सप्तब्राह्मणविध्वंसपातकं ते समागतम्। तस्माच्छीघ्रं व्रज मुने प्रभासं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

saptabrāhmaṇavidhvaṁsapātakaṁ te samāgatam| tasmācchīghraṁ vraja mune prabhāsaṁ kṣetramuttamam

'The sin of destroying seven Brahmins has come upon you; therefore, O sage, go quickly to the excellent field of Prabhasa.'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.152.10)

समाराधय देवेशं सर्वपापविशुद्धये। इत्युक्तो नारदस्तत्र संतप्य च मुहुर्मुहुः

samārādhaya deveśaṁ sarvapāpaviśuddhaye| ityukto nāradastatra saṁtapya ca muhurmuhuḥ

'Worship the lord of gods there for the purification of all sin.' Thus addressed, Narada, tormented there again and again,

Verse 11 (skanda.7.152.11)

कृत्वा विषादं बहुशः प्रभासं क्षेत्रमागतः। तत्रैव ब्रह्मकुण्डं तु समासाद्य प्रयत्नतः

kṛtvā viṣādaṁ bahuśaḥ prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāgataḥ| tatraiva brahmakuṇḍaṁ tu samāsādya prayatnataḥ

and having grieved much, came to the field of Prabhasa; and there, having with effort reached the Brahma-kunda,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.152.12)

भैरवं पूजयामास दिव्याब्दानां शतं प्रिये। ततो निष्कल्मषो भूत्वा गीतज्ञश्चाभवत्तथा

bhairavaṁ pūjayāmāsa divyābdānāṁ śataṁ priye| tato niṣkalmaṣo bhūtvā gītajñaścābhavattathā

O beloved, he worshipped Bhairava for a hundred divine years; then, having become free of stain, he likewise became a master of song.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.152.13)

ततः प्रभृति तल्लिंगं नारदेश्वरभैरवम्। ख्यातं लोके महादेवि सर्वपातकनाशनम्

tataḥ prabhṛti talliṁgaṁ nāradeśvarabhairavam| khyātaṁ loke mahādevi sarvapātakanāśanam

From then on, that linga became known in the world, O great Goddess, as Naradeshvara-Bhairava, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.152.14)

अज्ञानाद्वादयेद्यस्तु वीणां चैव तथा स्वरान्। स तत्पातकशुद्ध्यर्थं तत्र गच्छेन्महेश्वरि

ajñānādvādayedyastu vīṇāṁ caiva tathā svarān| sa tatpātakaśuddhyarthaṁ tatra gacchenmaheśvari

O Maheshvari, whoever plays the vina and likewise the notes out of ignorance—for the purification of that sin he should go there.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.152.15)

माघे मासि जिताहारस्त्रिकालं योऽर्चयेत्ततः। नारदेशं भैरवं स स्वर्गरामामनोहरः

māghe māsi jitāhārastrikālaṁ yo'rcayettataḥ| nāradeśaṁ bhairavaṁ sa svargarāmāmanoharaḥ

Whoever, restraining his diet in the month of Magha, worships Naradesha Bhairava thrice daily, becomes charming even to the nymphs of heaven.