The Glory of the Ganga near Sangaleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.304.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि गंगां त्रिपथगामिनीम्। संगालेशादथैशान्यां धनुषां सप्तके स्थिताम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi gaṁgāṁ tripathagāminīm| saṁgāleśādathaiśānyāṁ dhanuṣāṁ saptake sthitām

Ishvara said: Then go, O great Goddess, to the Ganga, the triple-pathed one, situated to the northeast of Sangalesha, within seven bow-lengths.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.304.2)

तस्यां त्रिनेत्रा मत्स्याः स्युर्नित्यमांभसिकाः प्रिये। कलौयुगेऽपि दृश्यंते सत्यंसत्यं मयोदितम्

tasyāṁ trinetrā matsyāḥ syurnityamāṁbhasikāḥ priye| kalauyuge'pi dṛśyaṁte satyaṁsatyaṁ mayoditam

In her, O dear one, there are ever three-eyed fish dwelling in the water; even in the Kali age they are seen—truly, truly have I spoken this.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.304.3)

तस्यां स्नात्वा महादेवि मुच्यते पञ्चपातकैः

tasyāṁ snātvā mahādevi mucyate pañcapātakaiḥ

O great Goddess, bathing in her, one is freed from the five great sins.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.304.4)

सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मिता गिरिजा सती। उवाच तं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रचलच्चंद्रशेखरम्

sūta uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vismitā girijā satī| uvāca taṁ dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ pracalaccaṁdraśekharam

Suta said: Having heard his words, the chaste Girija, astonished, spoke to him, the moon-crested, restless one, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.304.5)

पार्वत्युवाच। कथं तत्र समायाता गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी। कथं त्रिनेत्राः संजाता मत्स्या आंभसिकाः शिव

pārvatyuvāca| kathaṁ tatra samāyātā gaṁgā tripathagāminī| kathaṁ trinetrāḥ saṁjātā matsyā āṁbhasikāḥ śiva

Parvati said: O Shiva, how did the Ganga, the triple-pathed one, come there? And how did the fish dwelling in the water become three-eyed?

Verse 6 (skanda.7.304.6)

एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि यद्यहं ते प्रिया विभो

etadvistarato brūhi yadyahaṁ te priyā vibho

Tell me this in detail, O Lord, if indeed I am dear to you.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.304.7)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि यदि पृच्छसि मां शुभे। आस्तिकाः श्रद्दधानाश्च भवंतीति मतिर्मम

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi yadi pṛcchasi māṁ śubhe| āstikāḥ śraddadhānāśca bhavaṁtīti matirmama

Ishvara said: Listen, O auspicious one, I shall tell you, since you ask me; it is my view that through such accounts the faithful become believing.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.304.8)

यदा शप्तो महादेवो ह्यज्ञानतिमिरावृतैः। ऋषिभिः कोपयुक्तैश्च कस्मिंश्चित्कारणांतरे

yadā śapto mahādevo hyajñānatimirāvṛtaiḥ| ṛṣibhiḥ kopayuktaiśca kasmiṁścitkāraṇāṁtare

When Mahadeva was once cursed, for some other reason, by sages enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and overcome with anger,

Verse 9 (skanda.7.304.9)

तदा ते मुनयः सर्वे शप्तं ज्ञात्वा महेश्वरम्। निरानंदं जगत्सर्वं दृष्ट्वा चात्मानमेव च

tadā te munayaḥ sarve śaptaṁ jñātvā maheśvaram| nirānaṁdaṁ jagatsarvaṁ dṛṣṭvā cātmānameva ca

then all those sages, knowing that Maheshvara had been cursed, and seeing the whole world—and themselves—joyless,

Verse 10 (skanda.7.304.10)

आराध्य परमेशानं दधतं गजरूपकम्। उन्नतं स्थानमानीय सानंदं चक्रिरे द्विजाः

ārādhya parameśānaṁ dadhataṁ gajarūpakam| unnataṁ sthānamānīya sānaṁdaṁ cakrire dvijāḥ

having worshipped the Supreme Lord who bore an elephant's form, and having brought him to an elevated place, the twice-born enshrined him there with joy.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.304.11)

ततः प्रभृति सर्वे ते शिवद्रोहकरं परम्। आत्मानं मेनिरे नित्यं प्रसन्नेऽपि महेश्वरे

tataḥ prabhṛti sarve te śivadrohakaraṁ param| ātmānaṁ menire nityaṁ prasanne'pi maheśvare

From then on, even though Maheshvara had become gracious again, all of them ever considered themselves guilty of the gravest offense against Shiva.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.304.12)

महोदयान्महातीर्थं सर्व आगत्य सत्वरम्। तपस्तेपुर्महाघोरं संगालेश्वरसन्निधौ

mahodayānmahātīrthaṁ sarva āgatya satvaram| tapastepurmahāghoraṁ saṁgāleśvarasannidhau

Having quickly come from Mahodaya, the great tirtha, all of them performed extremely severe austerity in the presence of Sangaleshvara.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.304.13)

संगालेश्वरनामानं सर्वे पूज्य यथाविधि। भृगुरत्रिस्तथा मंकिः कश्यपः कण्व एव च

saṁgāleśvaranāmānaṁ sarve pūjya yathāvidhi| bhṛguratristathā maṁkiḥ kaśyapaḥ kaṇva eva ca

Having duly worshipped the one named Sangaleshvara, all of them—Bhrigu, Atri, Manki, Kashyapa, and Kanva too,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.304.14)

गौतमः कौशिकश्चैव कुशिकश्च महातपाः। शूकरोऽथ भरद्वाजो भार्गविश्च महातपाः

gautamaḥ kauśikaścaiva kuśikaśca mahātapāḥ| śūkaro'tha bharadvājo bhārgaviśca mahātapāḥ

Gautama, and Kaushika, and Kushika of great austerity, Shukara, and Bharadvaja, and Bhargava of great austerity,

Verse 15 (skanda.7.304.15)

जातूकर्ण्यो वसिष्ठश्च सावर्णिश्च पराशरः। शांडिल्यश्च पुलस्त्यश्च वत्सश्चैव महातपाः

jātūkarṇyo vasiṣṭhaśca sāvarṇiśca parāśaraḥ| śāṁḍilyaśca pulastyaśca vatsaścaiva mahātapāḥ

Jatukarnya, and Vasishtha, and Savarni, and Parashara, Shandilya, and Pulastya, and Vatsa of great austerity—

Verse 16 (skanda.7.304.16)

एते चान्ये च बहवो ह्यसंख्याता महर्षयः

ete cānye ca bahavo hyasaṁkhyātā maharṣayaḥ

these, and many other innumerable great sages,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.304.17)

संगालेश्वरमासाद्य प्रभासे पापनाशने। तपः कुर्वंति सततं प्रतिष्ठाप्य महेश्वरम्

saṁgāleśvaramāsādya prabhāse pāpanāśane| tapaḥ kurvaṁti satataṁ pratiṣṭhāpya maheśvaram

having come to Sangaleshvara in sin-destroying Prabhasa, performed austerity continually, having installed Maheshvara there.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.304.18)

ततः कालेन महता ते सर्वे मुनिपुंगवाः। ध्यानात्त्रिलोचनस्यैव अदृष्टे तु महेश्वरे

tataḥ kālena mahatā te sarve munipuṁgavāḥ| dhyānāttrilocanasyaiva adṛṣṭe tu maheśvare

Then, after a very long time, all those foremost sages, through meditation on the Three-eyed One alone—though Maheshvara remained unseen—

Verse 19 (skanda.7.304.19)

त्रिनेत्रत्वमनुप्राप्तास्तपोनिष्ठास्तपोधनाः। परस्परं वीक्षमाणास्त्रिनेत्रस्याभिशंकया

trinetratvamanuprāptāstaponiṣṭhāstapodhanāḥ| parasparaṁ vīkṣamāṇāstrinetrasyābhiśaṁkayā

themselves attained the state of three-eyedness, devoted to austerity, rich in austerity; looking at one another in suspicion over their three-eyedness,

Verse 20 (skanda.7.304.20)

स्तुवंति विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्मन्यमाना महेश्वरम्। ज्ञात्वा ध्यानेन देवस्य त्रिनेत्रत्वमुपागताः

stuvaṁti vividhaiḥ stotrairmanyamānā maheśvaram| jñātvā dhyānena devasya trinetratvamupāgatāḥ

they praised Maheshvara with various hymns, honoring him alone; having realized through meditation that they had attained the god's own three-eyedness,

Verse 21 (skanda.7.304.21)

चकुरुग्रं तपस्ते तु पूजां देवस्य शूलिनः। तेषु वै तप्यमानेषु कृपाविष्टो महेश्वरः

cakurugraṁ tapaste tu pūjāṁ devasya śūlinaḥ| teṣu vai tapyamāneṣu kṛpāviṣṭo maheśvaraḥ

they performed fierce austerity and worship of the trident-bearing god. While they were thus practicing austerity, Maheshvara, filled with compassion,

Verse 22 (skanda.7.304.22)

उवाच तान्मुनीन्सर्वाञ्छृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम्। प्रसन्नोऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तपसा पूजयापि च

uvāca tānmunīnsarvāñchṛṇudhvaṁ varamuttamam| prasanno'haṁ muniśreṣṭhāstapasā pūjayāpi ca

said to all those sages: 'Listen, ask for the highest boon; O best of sages, I am pleased both by your austerity and by your worship.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.304.23)

ऋषय ऊचुः। यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश वरं नो दातुमर्हसि। गंगामानय वेगेन ह्यभिषेकाय नो हर

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| yadi prasanno deveśa varaṁ no dātumarhasi| gaṁgāmānaya vegena hyabhiṣekāya no hara

The Rishis said: 'O Lord of gods, if you are pleased, you should grant us a boon: bring the Ganga swiftly, O Hara, for our ablution.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.304.24)

तस्यां कृताभिषेकास्तु तव द्रोहकरा वयम्। अज्ञानभावात्पूतत्वं यास्यामः पृथिवीतले

tasyāṁ kṛtābhiṣekāstu tava drohakarā vayam| ajñānabhāvātpūtatvaṁ yāsyāmaḥ pṛthivītale

'Having performed ablution in her, we, who through ignorance became offenders against you, shall attain purity on this earth.'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.304.25)

ईश्वर उवाच। यूयं पवित्रकरणाः पावनानां च पावनाः। गंगां चैवानयिष्यामि युष्माकं चित्ततुष्टये

īśvara uvāca| yūyaṁ pavitrakaraṇāḥ pāvanānāṁ ca pāvanāḥ| gaṁgāṁ caivānayiṣyāmi yuṣmākaṁ cittatuṣṭaye

Ishvara said: 'You are the makers of purity, and the purifiers of the pure themselves; I shall indeed bring the Ganga, for the satisfaction of your hearts.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.304.26)

पावित्र्याद्भवतां जातं त्रैनेत्र्यं मुनिसत्तमाः। एवमुक्त्वा ततः शंभुर्ध्यानस्तिमितलोचनः। सस्मार क्षणमात्रेण गंगां मीनकुलावृताम्

pāvitryādbhavatāṁ jātaṁ trainetryaṁ munisattamāḥ| evamuktvā tataḥ śaṁbhurdhyānastimitalocanaḥ| sasmāra kṣaṇamātreṇa gaṁgāṁ mīnakulāvṛtām

'O best of sages, from your very purity has arisen your three-eyedness.' Having said this, Shambhu, his eyes fixed in meditation, in but a moment called to mind the Ganga, surrounded by shoals of fish.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.304.27)

स्मृतमात्रा तदा देवी गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी। भित्वा भूमितलं प्राप्ता तत्र मीनकुलावृता

smṛtamātrā tadā devī gaṁgā tripathagāminī| bhitvā bhūmitalaṁ prāptā tatra mīnakulāvṛtā

As soon as she was called to mind, the goddess Ganga, the triple-pathed one, splitting the surface of the earth, arrived there, surrounded by shoals of fish.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.304.28)

ऋषिभिश्च यदा दृष्टा गंगा मीनयुता शुभा। दृष्टमात्रास्तु ते मत्स्यास्त्रिनेत्रत्वमुपागताः

ṛṣibhiśca yadā dṛṣṭā gaṁgā mīnayutā śubhā| dṛṣṭamātrāstu te matsyāstrinetratvamupāgatāḥ

And when the sages beheld the auspicious Ganga accompanied by fish, those very fish, the moment they were seen, attained the state of three-eyedness.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.304.29)

ईश्वर उवाच। युष्माकं दर्शनाद्विप्रास्त्रिनेत्रत्वमुपागताः। एतन्निदर्शनं सर्वं लोकानां च प्रदर्शनम्

īśvara uvāca| yuṣmākaṁ darśanādviprāstrinetratvamupāgatāḥ| etannidarśanaṁ sarvaṁ lokānāṁ ca pradarśanam

Ishvara said: 'By the sight of you, O brahmins, they attained three-eyedness; this whole occurrence is a sign, a demonstration for all the worlds.'

Verse 30 (skanda.7.304.30)

ऋषय ऊचुः। अस्मिन्कुंडे महादेव मत्स्यानां संततिः सदा। त्रिनेत्रा त्वत्प्रसादेन भूयात्सर्वा युगेयुगे

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| asminkuṁḍe mahādeva matsyānāṁ saṁtatiḥ sadā| trinetrā tvatprasādena bhūyātsarvā yugeyuge

The Rishis said: 'O great god, in this pool may the progeny of these fish, by your grace, ever remain three-eyed, in every age.'

Verse 31 (skanda.7.304.31)

अस्मिन्कुंडे समागत्य नरः स्नानं करोति यः। ददाति हेम विप्राय गाश्च वस्त्रं तथा तिलान्

asminkuṁḍe samāgatya naraḥ snānaṁ karoti yaḥ| dadāti hema viprāya gāśca vastraṁ tathā tilān

Whatever man comes to this pool and bathes, and gives a brahmin gold, cows, cloth, and sesame,

Verse 32 (skanda.7.304.32)

अमावास्यां विशेषेण त्रिनेत्रः स प्रजायताम्। एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा ह्यन्तर्धानं गतो हरः

amāvāsyāṁ viśeṣeṇa trinetraḥ sa prajāyatām| evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā hyantardhānaṁ gato haraḥ

especially on the new-moon day, let him become three-eyed [in merit].' Having said, 'So it shall be,' Hara vanished from sight.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.304.33)

ब्राह्मणास्तुष्टिसंयुक्ता गताः सर्वे महोदयम्

brāhmaṇāstuṣṭisaṁyuktā gatāḥ sarve mahodayam

Filled with satisfaction, all the brahmins went to Mahodaya.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.304.34)

एतत्ते कथितं देवि गंगामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। श्रुतं पापप्रशमनं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

etatte kathitaṁ devi gaṁgāmāhātmyamuttamam| śrutaṁ pāpapraśamanaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

This, O Goddess, has been told to you—the excellent glory of the Ganga—which, when heard, allays sin and grants the fruit of all desires.