The Glory of Kama-kunda

Verse 1 (skanda.7.200.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवं विध्वंसिते यज्ञे गतास्ते ब्राह्मणा गृहम्। अप्राप्तकामना देवि ये चान्ये तत्र वै गताः

īśvara uvāca| evaṁ vidhvaṁsite yajñe gatāste brāhmaṇā gṛham| aprāptakāmanā devi ye cānye tatra vai gatāḥ

Ishvara said: With the sacrifice thus destroyed, those Brahmins returned to their homes; and, O Goddess, the others who had gone there also departed with their wishes unfulfilled.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.200.2)

हरोऽपि विगतामर्षः कैलासं पर्वतं गतः

haro'pi vigatāmarṣaḥ kailāsaṁ parvataṁ gataḥ

Hara too, his fury spent, departed for Mount Kailasa.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.200.3)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु तारकोनाम दानवः। उत्पन्नः स महाबाहुर्देवानां बलदर्पहा

etasminneva kāle tu tārakonāma dānavaḥ| utpannaḥ sa mahābāhurdevānāṁ baladarpahā

At that very time there arose a demon named Taraka, mighty-armed, the crusher of the gods' pride in strength.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.200.4)

तेन इन्द्रादिकान्सर्वान्सुराञ्जित्वा महाहवे। स्वर्गः स्वैर्व्यापितो देवि ब्रह्मलोकं ततो गताः। ऊचुः सुरा दुःखयुक्ता ब्रह्माणं पर्वतात्मजे

tena indrādikānsarvānsurāñjitvā mahāhave| svargaḥ svairvyāpito devi brahmalokaṁ tato gatāḥ| ūcuḥ surā duḥkhayuktā brahmāṇaṁ parvatātmaje

Having conquered Indra and all the other gods in a great battle, he filled heaven with his own followers; then, O Goddess, the distressed gods went to the world of Brahma and, O mountain-born one, spoke to Brahma in their sorrow:

Verse 5 (skanda.7.200.5)

तारकेण सुरश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गान्निर्वासिता वयम्। स्वयमिन्द्रः समभवद्वसवोऽन्ये तथा कृताः

tārakeṇa suraśreṣṭha svargānnirvāsitā vayam| svayamindraḥ samabhavadvasavo'nye tathā kṛtāḥ

O best of gods, Taraka has banished us from heaven; he himself has become Indra, and he has done likewise to the other Vasus.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.200.6)

रुद्राः साध्यास्तथा विश्वे अश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा। आदित्याश्च वधोपायं तस्माद्वद पितामह

rudrāḥ sādhyāstathā viśve aśvinau marutastathā| ādityāśca vadhopāyaṁ tasmādvada pitāmaha

The Rudras, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts, and the Adityas — over all of them he has taken dominion; therefore, O grandsire, tell us the means of slaying him.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.200.7)

ब्रह्मोवाच। अवध्यः स तु सर्वेषां देवानामिति मे मतिः। ऋते तु शांकरं तेजो नान्येन विनिपात्यते। तस्माद्गच्छत भद्रं वो देवदेवं महेश्वरम्

brahmovāca| avadhyaḥ sa tu sarveṣāṁ devānāmiti me matiḥ| ṛte tu śāṅkaraṁ tejo nānyena vinipātyate| tasmādgacchata bhadraṁ vo devadevaṁ maheśvaram

Brahma said: It is my judgment that he is unslayable by all the gods; only by the radiance of Shankara, and by none other, can he be brought down. Therefore go, and blessings upon you, to the god of gods, Maheshvara.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.200.8)

तस्य भार्या मृता पूर्वं जाता हिमवतो गृहे। तस्यां च जायते पुत्रः स हनिष्यति तारकम्। तस्मात्प्रसादयध्वं वै तदर्थं शूलपाणिनम्

tasya bhāryā mṛtā pūrvaṁ jātā himavato gṛhe| tasyāṁ ca jāyate putraḥ sa haniṣyati tārakam| tasmātprasādayadhvaṁ vai tadarthaṁ śūlapāṇinam

His former wife, who died before, has now been born in the house of Himavan; from her a son shall be born who will slay Taraka. Therefore, for this very purpose, propitiate the trident-bearer.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.200.9)

ततो देवैः समादिष्टः कामदेवो वरानने। मृतभार्यं हरं गत्वा ततः पीडय सायकैः

tato devaiḥ samādiṣṭaḥ kāmadevo varānane| mṛtabhāryaṁ haraṁ gatvā tataḥ pīḍaya sāyakaiḥ

O fair-faced one, thereupon the gods instructed Kamadeva: 'Go to Hara, who has lost his wife, and afflict him with your arrows.'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.200.10)

येनासौ कामसंतप्तो भार्यार्थं यत्नवान्भवेत्। अयं गच्छतु ते भ्राता वसंतश्च मनोहरः

yenāsau kāmasaṁtapto bhāryārthaṁ yatnavānbhavet| ayaṁ gacchatu te bhrātā vasaṁtaśca manoharaḥ

So that, tormented by desire, he might strive to take a wife; let your brother, the enchanting Vasanta, go along with you.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.200.11)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय कैलासं पर्वतं गतः। ततो दृष्ट्वा महादेवः कामदेवं धृतायुधम्

sa tatheti pratijñāya kailāsaṁ parvataṁ gataḥ| tato dṛṣṭvā mahādevaḥ kāmadevaṁ dhṛtāyudham

He agreed, saying 'So be it,' and went to Mount Kailasa; then Mahadeva beheld Kamadeva, weapon in hand,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.200.12)

वसन्तसहितं देवि रुद्रोऽन्धकनिषूदनः। गंगाद्वारमनुप्राप्य अपश्यद्यावदग्रतः

vasantasahitaṁ devi rudro'ndhakaniṣūdanaḥ| gaṅgādvāramanuprāpya apaśyadyāvadagrataḥ

O Goddess, accompanied by Vasanta — Rudra, the destroyer of Andhaka, having reached Gangadvara, saw him standing right before him.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.200.13)

दत्तायुधं कामदेवं दुद्रुवे स भयात्पुनः। ततो वाराणसीं गत्वा नैमिषं पुष्करं तथा

dattāyudhaṁ kāmadevaṁ dudruve sa bhayātpunaḥ| tato vārāṇasīṁ gatvā naimiṣaṁ puṣkaraṁ tathā

Beholding that armed Kamadeva, he fled again in fear, and went to Varanasi, then to Naimisha and Pushkara,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.200.14)

श्रीकंठं रुद्रकोटिं च कुरुक्षेत्रं गयां तथा। ज्वालामार्गं प्रयागं च विशालामर्बुदं शुभम्

śrīkaṁṭhaṁ rudrakoṭiṁ ca kurukṣetraṁ gayāṁ tathā| jvālāmārgaṁ prayāgaṁ ca viśālāmarbudaṁ śubham

then to Shrikantha, Rudrakoti, Kurukshetra, and Gaya, to Jvalamarga, Prayaga, Vishala, and the auspicious Arbuda.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.200.15)

बहून्वर्षगणानेवं भ्रमन्स धरणीतले। कामदेवभयाद्देवि देवदेवो महेश्वरः

bahūnvarṣagaṇānevaṁ bhramansa dharaṇītale| kāmadevabhayāddevi devadevo maheśvaraḥ

Thus wandering over the earth for many years, O Goddess, the god of gods, Maheshvara, out of fear of Kamadeva —

Verse 16 (skanda.7.200.16)

अवैक्षत तदा कामं विस्फार्य नयनं तदा। तृतीयं देवदेवेशि देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः

avaikṣata tadā kāmaṁ visphārya nayanaṁ tadā| tṛtīyaṁ devadeveśi devadevastrilocanaḥ

—at last, O queen of the gods, that three-eyed god of gods opened wide his third eye and looked upon Kama.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.200.17)

तस्य तं वीक्षमाणस्य संजाताः पावकार्चिषः। ताभिः स धनुषा युक्तो भस्मसात्समपद्यत

tasya taṁ vīkṣamāṇasya saṁjātāḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ| tābhiḥ sa dhanuṣā yukto bhasmasātsamapadyata

As he gazed thus, flames of fire sprang forth; by those flames Kama, bow in hand, was reduced to ashes.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.200.18)

तं दग्ध्वा भगवाञ्छंभुर्गत्वा रोषस्य निर्णयम्। निवासमकरोत्तत्र क्षेत्रे प्राभासिके शुभे

taṁ dagdhvā bhagavāñchaṁbhurgatvā roṣasya nirṇayam| nivāsamakarottatra kṣetre prābhāsike śubhe

Having burned him to ashes, the lord Shambhu, his anger thus resolved, went and took up his abode there, in that auspicious field of Prabhasa.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.200.19)

तस्मिन्दग्धे तदा कामे रतिः शोकपरायणा। विललाप सुदुःखार्ता पतिभक्तिपरायणा

tasmindagdhe tadā kāme ratiḥ śokaparāyaṇā| vilalāpa suduḥkhārtā patibhaktiparāyaṇā

When Kama was thus burned to ashes, Rati, devoted wholly to her husband, gave herself over to grief and, overwhelmed with sorrow, lamented:

Verse 20 (skanda.7.200.20)

हा नाथनाथ भोः स्वामिन्किं जहासि पतिव्रताम्। पतिव्रतां पतिप्राणां कस्मान्मां त्यजसि प्रभो

hā nāthanātha bhoḥ svāminkiṁ jahāsi pativratām| pativratāṁ patiprāṇāṁ kasmānmāṁ tyajasi prabho

Alas, my lord! O my master! Why do you abandon your devoted wife? O Lord, why do you forsake me, chaste and devoted, whose very life breath rests in her husband?

Verse 21 (skanda.7.200.21)

एवं विलपतीं तां तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। मा त्वं रुद विशालाक्षि पुनरेव पतिस्तव

evaṁ vilapatīṁ tāṁ tu vāguvācāśarīriṇī| mā tvaṁ ruda viśālākṣi punareva patistava

As she lamented thus, a bodiless voice spoke to her: 'Do not weep, O wide-eyed one; your husband shall be restored to you once again.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.200.22)

प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य उच्छ्वास्यति शिवस्य तु। एतां वाचं रतिः श्रुत्वा ततः स्वस्था बभूव ह

prasādāddevadevasya ucchvāsyati śivasya tu| etāṁ vācaṁ ratiḥ śrutvā tataḥ svasthā babhūva ha

By the grace of Shiva, god of gods, he shall breathe again.' Hearing this voice, Rati became composed once more.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.200.23)

ततो देवाः शिवं नत्वा प्रार्थयामासुरीश्वरि। कलत्रसंग्रहं देव कुरु कार्यार्थसंग्रहे

tato devāḥ śivaṁ natvā prārthayāmāsurīśvari| kalatrasaṁgrahaṁ deva kuru kāryārthasaṁgrahe

Then the gods bowed to Shiva and made this prayer, O sovereign lady: 'O Lord, for the accomplishment of our purpose, take a wife.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.200.24)

एष कामस्त्वया दग्धः क्रोधेन महता स्वयम्। विना तेन विभो नष्टा सृष्टिर्वै धरणीतले

eṣa kāmastvayā dagdhaḥ krodhena mahatā svayam| vinā tena vibho naṣṭā sṛṣṭirvai dharaṇītale

This Kama has been burned by you yourself in your great wrath; O mighty Lord, without him creation upon the earth would perish.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.200.25)

भगवानुवाच। एष कामो मया दग्धः क्रोधेन सुरसत्तमाः। तस्मादनंग एवैष प्रजासु प्रचरिष्यति। तद्वीर्यस्तत्प्रभावश्च विना देहं भविष्यति

bhagavānuvāca| eṣa kāmo mayā dagdhaḥ krodhena surasattamāḥ| tasmādanaṅga evaiṣa prajāsu pracariṣyati| tadvīryastatprabhāvaśca vinā dehaṁ bhaviṣyati

The Lord said: O best of gods, this Kama has been burned by my wrath; therefore, bodiless, he shall henceforth move among creatures as Ananga, the limbless one. His power and his influence shall remain, though without a body.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.200.26)

देवा ऊचुः। भगवन्कुरु पूर्वं त्वं संस्मरस्व रतीश्वरम्। हिताय सर्व लोकानां यथा नः प्रत्ययो भवेत्

devā ūcuḥ| bhagavankuru pūrvaṁ tvaṁ saṁsmarasva ratīśvaram| hitāya sarva lokānāṁ yathā naḥ pratyayo bhavet

The gods said: O Lord, first call to mind again the lord of Rati himself, so that, for the welfare of all the worlds, our confidence may be restored.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.200.27)

ततः स स्मृतवान्कामं स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः। ततस्तच्छाश्वतं लिंगं समुत्तस्थौ महीतले

tataḥ sa smṛtavānkāmaṁ svayaṁ devo maheśvaraḥ| tatastacchāśvataṁ liṅgaṁ samuttasthau mahītale

Then the god Maheshvara himself called Kama to mind; and thereupon that eternal linga rose up upon the earth.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.200.28)

कृतस्मरः पुनस्तत्र अनंगो बलवांस्तथा। तेनोढा शैलजा तेन शंकरेण महात्मना

kṛtasmaraḥ punastatra anaṅgo balavāṁstathā| tenoḍhā śailajā tena śaṅkareṇa mahātmanā

Thus, once again, the powerful Ananga was there called to mind; and by that great-souled Shankara the mountain's daughter was then taken in marriage.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.200.29)

जातः स्कन्दः सुरश्रेष्ठस्तारको येन सूदितः। पतितेनैव लिंगेन यस्माच्चैव कृतस्मरः

jātaḥ skandaḥ suraśreṣṭhastārako yena sūditaḥ| patitenaiva liṅgena yasmāccaiva kṛtasmaraḥ

From them was born Skanda, foremost among the gods, by whom Taraka was slain; and because it was by that very fallen linga that Kama's memory was restored,

Verse 30 (skanda.7.200.30)

तस्मात्कृतस्मरो लोके कीर्त्यते स महीतले। तं दृष्ट्वा न जडो नांधो नासुखी न च दुर्भगः। जायते तु कदा मर्त्यो न दरिद्रो न रोगवान्

tasmātkṛtasmaro loke kīrtyate sa mahītale| taṁ dṛṣṭvā na jaḍo nāṁdho nāsukhī na ca durbhagaḥ| jāyate tu kadā martyo na daridro na rogavān

Therefore it became renowned in the world, upon the earth, by the name Kritasmara. A man who beholds it never becomes dull-witted, nor blind, nor unhappy, nor unfortunate; nor does he ever become poor or diseased.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.200.31)

एवं ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। दग्धो यथा स्मरः पूर्वं पुनर्वीर्यान्वितः स्थितः

evaṁ te sarvamākhyātaṁ yanmāṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi| dagdho yathā smaraḥ pūrvaṁ punarvīryānvitaḥ sthitaḥ

Thus I have told you all that you asked of me — how Smara, once burned to ashes, came again to be established, endowed once more with his generative power.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.200.32)

ईश्वर उवाच। तत्रैव संस्थितं कुण्डं दक्षिणेन कृतस्मरात्। कामकुंडेति वै नाम यत्रोद्भूतः पुनः स्मरः

īśvara uvāca| tatraiva saṁsthitaṁ kuṇḍaṁ dakṣiṇena kṛtasmarāt| kāmakuṁḍeti vai nāma yatrodbhūtaḥ punaḥ smaraḥ

Ishvara said: In that very place, to the south of Kritasmara, stands a sacred pool named Kama-kunda, where Smara arose again.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.200.33)

अनंगरूपी देव्यत्र स्नानाद्वै रूपवान्भवेत्। इक्षवस्तत्र वै देयाः सुवर्णं गास्तथैव च। वस्त्राणि चैव विधिवद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे

anaṅgarūpī devyatra snānādvai rūpavānbhavet| ikṣavastatra vai deyāḥ suvarṇaṁ gāstathaiva ca| vastrāṇi caiva vidhivadbrāhmaṇe vedapārage

O Goddess, by bathing here, even one without beauty becomes handsome; there one should duly give sugarcane, gold, cows, and garments to a Brahmin well-versed in the Vedas.