The Glory of Anarakeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.225.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततोगच्छेन्महादेवि देवं चाऽनरकेश्वरम्। तस्मादुत्तरदिग्भागे सर्वपातकनाशनम्

īśvara uvāca| tatogacchenmahādevi devaṁ cā'narakeśvaram| tasmāduttaradigbhāge sarvapātakanāśanam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the god Anarakeshvara, situated to the north of that place, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.225.2)

तन्माहात्म्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु ह्येकमनाः प्रिये। मथुरानाम विख्याता नगरी धरणीतले

tanmāhātmyaṁ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇu hyekamanāḥ priye| mathurānāma vikhyātā nagarī dharaṇītale

I shall declare his glory; listen with one-pointed mind, O beloved. There is on earth a city renowned by the name Mathura.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.225.3)

तत्र विप्रोऽभवत्पूर्वं देवशर्मेति विश्रुतः। अगस्त्यगोत्रो विद्वान्वै स तु दारिद्र्यपीडितः

tatra vipro'bhavatpūrvaṁ devaśarmeti viśrutaḥ| agastyagotro vidvānvai sa tu dāridryapīḍitaḥ

There formerly lived a brahmin renowned by the name Devasharma, of the Agastya gotra, learned, yet afflicted by poverty.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.225.4)

अथापरोऽभवत्तत्र तादृग्रूपवयोऽन्वितः। तन्नाम गोत्रो देवेशि ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः

athāparo'bhavattatra tādṛgrūpavayo'nvitaḥ| tannāma gotro deveśi brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ

There was also, O goddess of the gods, another there, of like form and age, of the same name and gotra, a brahmin versed in the Veda.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.225.5)

अथ प्राह यमो दूतं रौद्रमूर्धशिरोरुहम्। गच्छ भो मथुरां शीघ्रं देवशर्माणमानय

atha prāha yamo dūtaṁ raudramūrdhaśiroruham| gaccha bho mathurāṁ śīghraṁ devaśarmāṇamānaya

Then Yama said to his messenger, terrible in form, with bristling hair: 'Go quickly to Mathura, O one, and bring Devasharma.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.225.6)

अथागत्य ततो दूतो गृहीत्वा तत्र वै गतः। तं दृष्ट्वाथ यमो नत्वा प्राह दूतं क्रुधान्वितः

athāgatya tato dūto gṛhītvā tatra vai gataḥ| taṁ dṛṣṭvātha yamo natvā prāha dūtaṁ krudhānvitaḥ

Then the messenger, having gone there, seized him and brought him. Having seen him, Yama, though angered, bowed in respect and said to the messenger:

Verse 7 (skanda.7.225.7)

नायमानेतुमादिष्टो देवशर्मां मया तव। अन्योस्ति देवशर्मा यस्त मानय गतायुषम्

nāyamānetumādiṣṭo devaśarmāṁ mayā tava| anyosti devaśarmā yasta mānaya gatāyuṣam

'This is not the one I ordered you to bring; there is another Devasharma, whose lifespan has ended—bring him.'

Verse 8 (skanda.7.225.8)

एनं विप्रं च दीर्घायुं नय तत्राविलंबितम्

enaṁ vipraṁ ca dīrghāyuṁ naya tatrāvilaṁbitam

'And take this long-lived brahmin back there without delay.'

Verse 9 (skanda.7.225.9)

ईश्वर उवाच। अथाब्रवीद्ब्राह्मणो वै नाहं यास्ये गृहं विभो। दारिद्र्येणातिनिर्विण्णो यावज्जीवं सुरेश्वर

īśvara uvāca| athābravīdbrāhmaṇo vai nāhaṁ yāsye gṛhaṁ vibho| dāridryeṇātinirviṇṇo yāvajjīvaṁ sureśvara

Ishvara said: Then that brahmin said: 'O mighty one, I shall not go home; utterly wearied by poverty, O lord of gods, for as long as I live,'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.225.10)

इहैव क्षपयिष्यामि शेषमायुस्तवांतिके

ihaiva kṣapayiṣyāmi śeṣamāyustavāṁtike

'I shall spend here, near you, whatever remains of my span of life.'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.225.11)

यम उवाच। अकाले नात्र चायाति कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणसत्तम। मुहूर्तमपि नो जीवेत्पूर्णकालेन वै भुवि

yama uvāca| akāle nātra cāyāti kaścidbrāhmaṇasattama| muhūrtamapi no jīvetpūrṇakālena vai bhuvi

Yama said: 'No one comes here before their time, O best of brahmins; not even for a moment can one live beyond one's full allotted span on earth,'

Verse 12 (skanda.7.225.12)

अत एव हि मे नाम धर्मराजेति विश्रुतम्। न मे सुहृन्न मे द्वेष्यः कश्चिदस्ति धरातले

ata eva hi me nāma dharmarājeti viśrutam| na me suhṛnna me dveṣyaḥ kaścidasti dharātale

'and for this very reason my name is renowned as Dharmaraja; on this earth there is for me neither a friend nor an enemy.'

Verse 13 (skanda.7.225.13)

विद्धः शरशतेनापि नाऽकाले म्रियते यतः। कुशाग्रेणापि विद्धः सन्काले पूर्णे न जीवति

viddhaḥ śaraśatenāpi nā'kāle mriyate yataḥ| kuśāgreṇāpi viddhaḥ sankāle pūrṇe na jīvati

'For even one pierced by a hundred arrows does not die out of season; and even one pierced by a mere blade of kusha-grass does not live once the time is full.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.225.14)

तस्माद्गच्छ द्विजश्रेष्ठ यावद्गात्रं न दह्यते। अथाब्रवीद्ब्राह्मणोऽसौ यदि प्रेषयसे प्रभो

tasmādgaccha dvijaśreṣṭha yāvadgātraṁ na dahyate| athābravīdbrāhmaṇo'sau yadi preṣayase prabho

'Therefore go, O best of brahmins, before your body is cremated.' Then that brahmin said: 'If you would send me away, O lord,'

Verse 15 (skanda.7.225.15)

प्रश्नमेकं मया पृष्टो यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि। न वृथा जायते देव साधूनां दर्शनं क्वचित्

praśnamekaṁ mayā pṛṣṭo yathāvadvaktumarhasi| na vṛthā jāyate deva sādhūnāṁ darśanaṁ kvacit

'then you should duly answer one question I ask; for, O god, the sight of the good is never in vain anywhere,'

Verse 16 (skanda.7.225.16)

युष्माकं च विशेषेण तस्मादेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्। एते ये नरका रौद्रा दृश्यन्ते च सुदारुणाः

yuṣmākaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa tasmādetadbravīmyaham| ete ye narakā raudrā dṛśyante ca sudāruṇāḥ

'and especially the sight of you; therefore I say this—these hells, terrible and utterly dreadful, that are seen here,'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.225.17)

कर्मणा केन कं गच्छेन्मानवो नरकं यम। कति संख्याः स्युरेते च नरकाः किंप्रमाणतः

karmaṇā kena kaṁ gacchenmānavo narakaṁ yama| kati saṁkhyāḥ syurete ca narakāḥ kiṁpramāṇataḥ

'by which deed does a man go to which hell, O Yama? And how many are these hells in number, and of what extent?'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.225.18)

एतत्सर्वं सुरश्रेष्ठ यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

etatsarvaṁ suraśreṣṭha yathāvadvaktumarhasi

'All this, O best of gods, you should duly declare.'

Verse 19 (skanda.7.225.19)

यम उवाच। शृणु देव प्रवक्ष्यामि यावन्तो नरकाः स्थिताः। कर्मणा येन गच्छेत मानवो द्विजसत्तम

yama uvāca| śṛṇu deva pravakṣyāmi yāvanto narakāḥ sthitāḥ| karmaṇā yena gaccheta mānavo dvijasattama

Yama said: 'Listen, O best of brahmins, I shall declare how many hells there are, and by which deed a man goes to them.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.225.20)

एकविंशत्समाख्याता नरका मम मन्दिरे। यानेतान्प्रेक्षसे विप्र यंत्र मध्ये व्यवस्थितान्

ekaviṁśatsamākhyātā narakā mama mandire| yānetānprekṣase vipra yaṁtra madhye vyavasthitān

'Twenty-one hells are declared to exist in my abode. Those which you see, O brahmin, stationed there in their midst—'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.225.21)

पीड्यमानान्किंकरैर्मे कृतघ्नान्पा पसंयुतान्। लोहास्यवायसा येषां नेत्रोद्धारं प्रकुर्वते

pīḍyamānānkiṁkarairme kṛtaghnānpā pasaṁyutān| lohāsyavāyasā yeṣāṁ netroddhāraṁ prakurvate

'—tormented by my servants, they are the ungrateful ones joined with sin. Those whose eyes are torn out by iron-beaked crows'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.225.22)

एतैर्निरीक्षितान्येव कलत्राणि दुरात्मभिः। परेषां द्विजशार्दूल सरागैः पापि भिः सदा

etairnirīkṣitānyeva kalatrāṇi durātmabhiḥ| pareṣāṁ dvijaśārdūla sarāgaiḥ pāpi bhiḥ sadā

'—those, O tiger among brahmins, are the evil-souled ones who, ever lustful and sinful, gazed with desire upon the wives of others.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.225.23)

कुम्भीपाकगतानेतानथ पश्यसि पापिनः। कूटसाक्ष्यरता ह्येते कटुवाङ्निरतास्तथा

kumbhīpākagatānetānatha paśyasi pāpinaḥ| kūṭasākṣyaratā hyete kaṭuvāṅniratāstathā

'And those sinners you see gone into the Kumbhipaka hell are they devoted to false witness, and likewise given to harsh speech.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.225.24)

एते लोहमयास्तम्भान्संतप्तान्पावकप्र भान्। आलिंगंति दुरात्मानः परदाररतास्तु ये

ete lohamayāstambhānsaṁtaptānpāvakapra bhān| āliṅgaṁti durātmānaḥ paradāraratāstu ye

'These evil-souled ones who embrace red-hot iron pillars, glowing like fire, are they devoted to the wives of others.'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.225.25)

एते वैतरणीमध्ये पूयशोणितसंकुले। ये तिष्ठंति द्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वे विश्वासघातकाः

ete vaitaraṇīmadhye pūyaśoṇitasaṁkule| ye tiṣṭhaṁti dvijaśreṣṭha sarve viśvāsaghātakāḥ

'Those, O best of brahmins, who remain amid the Vaitarani river, thronged with pus and blood, are all betrayers of trust.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.225.26)

असिपत्रवने घोरे भिद्यन्ते ये तु खण्डशः। ते नष्टाः स्वामिनं त्यक्त्वा संग्रामे समुपस्थिते

asipatravane ghore bhidyante ye tu khaṇḍaśaḥ| te naṣṭāḥ svāminaṁ tyaktvā saṁgrāme samupasthite

'Those who are cut to pieces in the terrible forest of sword-leaves are the ruined men who, when battle was at hand, abandoned their master and fled.'

Verse 27 (skanda.7.225.27)

अंगारराशीन्वै दीप्तान्ये गाहन्ते नराधमाः। स्वामिद्रोहरता ह्येते तथा हेतुप्रवादकाः

aṁgārarāśīnvai dīptānye gāhante narādhamāḥ| svāmidroharatā hyete tathā hetupravādakāḥ

'Those base men who plunge into heaps of blazing embers are they given to treachery against their master, and likewise to laying false accusations.'

Verse 28 (skanda.7.225.28)

लोहशंकुभिराकीर्णमाक्रमन्ति नराधमाः। क्रन्दमाना द्विजश्रेष्ठ उपानद्दानवर्जिताः

lohaśaṁkubhirākīrṇamākramanti narādhamāḥ| krandamānā dvijaśreṣṭha upānaddānavarjitāḥ

'Those base men, crying aloud, O best of brahmins, who walk over ground strewn with iron spikes, are they who withheld the gift of sandals.'

Verse 29 (skanda.7.225.29)

अधोमुखा निबद्धा ये वृक्षाग्रे पावकोपरि। ब्रह्महत्यान्विताः सर्व एते चैव नराधमाः

adhomukhā nibaddhā ye vṛkṣāgre pāvakopari| brahmahatyānvitāḥ sarva ete caiva narādhamāḥ

'Those base men who are bound head-downward atop a tree above fire are all of them men joined with the sin of brahminicide.'

Verse 30 (skanda.7.225.30)

मशकैर्मत्कुणैः काकैर्ये भक्ष्यंते विहंगमैः। व्रतभंगरता ह्येते व्रतिना चैव हिंसकाः

maśakairmatkuṇaiḥ kākairye bhakṣyaṁte vihaṁgamaiḥ| vratabhaṁgaratā hyete vratinā caiva hiṁsakāḥ

'Those who are devoured by mosquitoes, bed-bugs, crows, and other birds are they devoted to breaking vows, and violent toward those who keep them.'

Verse 31 (skanda.7.225.31)

कुठारकण्ठिता ह्येते भूयः संति तथाविधाः। गोहन्तारो दुरात्मानो देवब्राह्मणानिंदका

kuṭhārakaṇṭhitā hyete bhūyaḥ saṁti tathāvidhāḥ| gohantāro durātmāno devabrāhmaṇāniṁdakā

'There are, moreover, others of that same kind whose necks are struck again and again with axes—the evil-souled slayers of cows and revilers of gods and brahmins.'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.225.32)

ये भक्ष्यंते शृगालैश्च वृकैर्लोहमयैर्मुखैः। परस्वानां च हर्तारः परस्त्रीणां च हर्तृकाः

ye bhakṣyaṁte śṛgālaiśca vṛkairlohamayairmukhaiḥ| parasvānāṁ ca hartāraḥ parastrīṇāṁ ca hartṛkāḥ

'Those devoured by jackals and wolves with mouths of iron are the stealers of others' wealth and the abductors of others' wives.'

Verse 33 (skanda.7.225.33)

आत्ममांसानि ये पापा भक्षयंति बुभुक्षिताः। न दत्तमन्नमेतैस्तु कदाचिद्वै द्विजोत्तम

ātmamāṁsāni ye pāpā bhakṣayaṁti bubhukṣitāḥ| na dattamannametaistu kadācidvai dvijottama

'Those sinners, O best of brahmins, who, tormented by hunger, devour their own flesh, are they who never at any time gave food to another.'

Verse 34 (skanda.7.225.34)

रुधिरं ये पिबंत्येते वसापूयपरिप्लुतम्। ब्राह्मणानां विनाशाय गवामेते सदा स्थिताः

rudhiraṁ ye pibaṁtyete vasāpūyapariplutam| brāhmaṇānāṁ vināśāya gavāmete sadā sthitāḥ

'Those who drink blood mingled with fat and pus are they who ever stood ready for the destruction of brahmins and cows.'

Verse 35 (skanda.7.225.35)

कूटशाल्मलिबद्धाश्च तीक्ष्णकण्टकपीडिताः। छिद्रान्वेषणसंयुक्ताः परेषां नित्यसंस्थिताः

kūṭaśālmalibaddhāśca tīkṣṇakaṇṭakapīḍitāḥ| chidrānveṣaṇasaṁyuktāḥ pareṣāṁ nityasaṁsthitāḥ

'Those bound to the deceptive silk-cotton tree, tormented by sharp thorns, are they who were ever occupied in seeking out the faults of others.'

Verse 36 (skanda.7.225.36)

क्रकचेन तु छिद्यन्ते य इमे द्विजसत्तम। अभक्ष्यनिरता ह्येते स्वधर्मस्य विदूषकाः

krakacena tu chidyante ya ime dvijasattama| abhakṣyaniratā hyete svadharmasya vidūṣakāḥ

'Those, O best of brahmins, who are sawn asunder are they devoted to forbidden food, corrupters of their own dharma.'

Verse 37 (skanda.7.225.37)

कन्याविक्रयकर्त्तारः कन्यानां जीवभंजकाः। पुरीषमध्यगा ह्येते पच्यंते मम किंकरैः

kanyāvikrayakarttāraḥ kanyānāṁ jīvabhaṁjakāḥ| purīṣamadhyagā hyete pacyaṁte mama kiṁkaraiḥ

'The sellers of maidens, the destroyers of maidens' lives—these are cooked by my servants while immersed amid excrement.'

Verse 38 (skanda.7.225.38)

संदेशैर्दारुणैर्जिह्वा येषामुत्पाट्यते मुहुः। वाग्लोपनिरता ह्येते मृषावादपरायणाः

saṁdeśairdāruṇairjihvā yeṣāmutpāṭyate muhuḥ| vāglopaniratā hyete mṛṣāvādaparāyaṇāḥ

'Those whose tongues are repeatedly torn out at cruel commands are they given to destroying speech through slander, intent upon falsehood.'

Verse 39 (skanda.7.225.39)

ये शीतेन प्रबाध्यंते वेप माना मुहुर्मुहुः। देवस्वानां च हर्तारो ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

ye śītena prabādhyaṁte vepa mānā muhurmuhuḥ| devasvānāṁ ca hartāro brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

'Those who are afflicted by cold, trembling again and again, are the stealers of the wealth of gods, and especially of brahmins.'

Verse 40 (skanda.7.225.40)

तेषां शिरसि निक्षिप्तो भूरिभारो द्विजोत्तम। अतोऽमी ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ पूत्का रयन्ति भैरवम्

teṣāṁ śirasi nikṣipto bhūribhāro dvijottama| ato'mī brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha pūtkā rayanti bhairavam

'On their heads, O best of brahmins, a heavy burden is placed—therefore, O best of brahmins, they cry out in terror.'

Verse 41 (skanda.7.225.41)

यम उवाच। एवमेतत्समाख्यातं तव सर्वं द्विजोत्तम। नरकाणां स्वरूपं तु कर्मणां वै यथाक्रमम्

yama uvāca| evametatsamākhyātaṁ tava sarvaṁ dvijottama| narakāṇāṁ svarūpaṁ tu karmaṇāṁ vai yathākramam

Yama said: 'Thus, O best of brahmins, all this has been duly declared to you—the nature of the hells, and their order according to deeds.'

Verse 42 (skanda.7.225.42)

गच्छ शीघ्रं महाभाग यावत्कायो न दह्यते

gaccha śīghraṁ mahābhāga yāvatkāyo na dahyate

'Now go quickly, O illustrious one, before your body is cremated.'

Verse 43 (skanda.7.225.43)

ब्राह्मण उवाच। कथय त्वं सुरश्रेष्ठ मम सर्वं समाहितः। न गच्छेत्कर्मणा येन नरकं मानवः क्वचित्

brāhmaṇa uvāca| kathaya tvaṁ suraśreṣṭha mama sarvaṁ samāhitaḥ| na gacchetkarmaṇā yena narakaṁ mānavaḥ kvacit

The brahmin said: 'O best of gods, tell me attentively—by what deed should a man never go to hell,'

Verse 44 (skanda.7.225.44)

सतां सप्तपदं मैत्रमित्याहुर्बुद्धिकोविदाः। मित्रतां च पुरस्कृत्य समासाद्वक्तुमर्हसि

satāṁ saptapadaṁ maitramityāhurbuddhikovidāḥ| mitratāṁ ca puraskṛtya samāsādvaktumarhasi

'—for the wise, learned in judgment, say that seven steps taken together constitute friendship among the good; so, honoring that friendship, you should tell me in brief.'

Verse 45 (skanda.7.225.45)

यम उवाच। प्रभासं क्षेत्रमासाद्या नरकेश्वरमुत्तमम्। यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या नरकं स न पश्यति

yama uvāca| prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāsādyā narakeśvaramuttamam| yaḥ paśyati naro bhaktyā narakaṁ sa na paśyati

Yama said: 'That man who, having reached the field of Prabhasa, beholds with devotion the excellent Narakeshvara, he does not behold hell.'

Verse 46 (skanda.7.225.46)

स्थापितं यन्मया लिंगं शिवभक्त्या युतेन च। एतद्गुह्यं मया प्रोक्तं तव प्रीत्यै द्विजोत्तम

sthāpitaṁ yanmayā liṅgaṁ śivabhaktyā yutena ca| etadguhyaṁ mayā proktaṁ tava prītyai dvijottama

'The linga that I established, filled with devotion to Shiva—this secret, O best of brahmins, I have declared for your pleasure.'

Verse 47 (skanda.7.225.47)

गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन मम वाक्यादसंशयम्। एवमुक्तस्तदा विप्रः स्वयमेवावनिं ययौ

gopanīyaṁ prayatnena mama vākyādasaṁśayam| evamuktastadā vipraḥ svayamevāvaniṁ yayau

'By my word, it should without doubt be carefully guarded as a secret.' Thus addressed, the brahmin then himself returned to the earth.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.225.48)

लब्ध्वा कलेवरं सोऽथ विस्मयं परमं गतः। तत्स्मृत्वा वचनं सर्वं धर्मराजस्य धीमतः

labdhvā kalevaraṁ so'tha vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ| tatsmṛtvā vacanaṁ sarvaṁ dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ

Having regained his body, he was then struck with the greatest astonishment; and, recalling all the words of the wise Dharmaraja,

Verse 49 (skanda.7.225.49)

गत्वा तत्र स नित्यं वै पूजयामास तं प्रभुम्। यावज्जीवं वरारोहे ततः सिद्धिं परां गतः

gatvā tatra sa nityaṁ vai pūjayāmāsa taṁ prabhum| yāvajjīvaṁ varārohe tataḥ siddhiṁ parāṁ gataḥ

he went there and constantly worshipped that lord; and, O fair-hipped one, having done so for as long as he lived, he thereafter attained the highest perfection.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.225.50)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भक्त्या तमवलोकयन्। अपि पातकयुक्तोऽपि न याति नरके नरः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena bhaktyā tamavalokayan| api pātakayukto'pi na yāti narake naraḥ

Therefore a man who, with every effort and devotion, beholds him, does not go to hell even though laden with sin.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.225.51)

आश्वयुक्कृष्णपक्षे तु चतुर्दश्यां विधानतः। यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

āśvayukkṛṣṇapakṣe tu caturdaśyāṁ vidhānataḥ| yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

He who duly performs shraddha there on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashvayuja obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.225.52)

कृष्णाजिनं तत्र देयं ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे। यावत्तिलानां संख्यानं तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते

kṛṣṇājinaṁ tatra deyaṁ brāhmaṇe vedapārage| yāvattilānāṁ saṁkhyānaṁ tāvatsvarge mahīyate

There a black antelope-skin should be given in gift to a brahmin learned in the Veda; for as many sesame seeds as are given, for so long is one glorified in heaven.