The Greatness of Trinetra at Bhadrakarna Lake

Verse 1 (skanda.7.392.1)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ भद्रकर्णं महाह्रदम् । त्रिनेत्राभाः शिला यत्र दृश्यंतेऽद्यापि भूरिशः

pulastya uvāca | tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha bhadrakarṇaṁ mahāhradam | trinetrābhāḥ śilā yatra dṛśyante'dyāpi bhūriśaḥ

Pulastya said: O best of kings, then one should go to the great lake called Bhadrakarna, where even today many rocks resembling the three-eyed Lord can be seen.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.392.2)

तस्यैव पश्चिमे भागे लिंगमस्ति पिनाकिनः । यं दृष्ट्वा मानवस्तत्र त्रिनेत्रसदृशो भवेत्

tasyaiva paścime bhāge liṅgamasti pinākinaḥ | yaṁ dṛṣṭvā mānavastatra trinetrasadṛśo bhavet

In the western part of that very lake stands the linga of the wielder of the Pinaka, seeing which a man there becomes like the three-eyed Lord.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.392.3)

भद्रकर्णगणोनाम पुरासीच्छिववल्लभः । तेनात्र स्थापितं लिंगं ह्रदश्चैव विनिर्मितः

bhadrakarṇagaṇo nāma purāsīcchivavallabhaḥ | tenātra sthāpitaṁ liṅgaṁ hradaścaiva vinirmitaḥ

Long ago there was a gana, an attendant beloved of Shiva, named Bhadrakarna. It was he who established this linga here and formed this lake.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.392.4)

केनचित्त्वथ कालेन संग्रामे दानवैः सह । युयुधे पुरतः शंभोर्नानागणसमन्वितः

kenacittvatha kālena saṁgrāme dānavaiḥ saha | yuyudhe purataḥ śambhornānāgaṇasamanvitaḥ

At some point, in a battle, he, along with many ganas, fought against the danavas in the presence of Shambhu.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.392.5)

नष्टे स्कंदे हते सैन्ये वीरभद्रे पराजिते । गतास्ते भयसंत्रस्ता महाकाले विनिर्जिते

naṣṭe skande hate sainye vīrabhadre parājite | gatāste bhayasaṁtrastā mahākāle vinirjite

When Skanda was defeated, the army was slain, Virabhadra was overcome, and Mahakala too was vanquished, they all fled, terrified with fear.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.392.6)

बलवान्नमुचिर्नाम दानवो बलवत्तरः । खड्गचर्मधरः शीघ्रं महेश्वरमुपाद्रवत्

balavānnamucirnāma dānavo balavattaraḥ | khaḍgacarmadharaḥ śīghraṁ maheśvaramupādravat

There was an exceedingly mighty demon named Namuchi. Bearing sword and shield, he swiftly rushed to attack Maheshwara.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.392.7)

भद्रकर्णस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा दानवं तदनंतरम् । पतंतं संमुखस्तस्य तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्

bhadrakarṇastu taṁ dṛṣṭvā dānavaṁ tadanaṁtaram | patantaṁ saṁmukhastasya tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cābravīt

Then Bhadrakarna, seeing that demon rushing forward, stood before him and said: "Stop, stop!"

Verse 8 (skanda.7.392.8)

छित्त्वाऽसिमसिना तस्य चर्म चापि महाबलः । स्तनयोरंतरे दैत्यं कोपाविष्टोऽहनन्नृप

chittvā'simasinā tasya carma cāpi mahābalaḥ | stanayoraṁtare daityaṁ kopāviṣṭo'hanannṛpa

That mighty one cut through his shield with his own sword, and, filled with wrath, struck the demon between his breasts.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.392.9)

अथासौ निहतस्तेन प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः । निपपात महीपृष्ठे वायुभग्न इव द्रुमः । वधं प्राप्तस्तु दैत्योऽसौ नत्वा हरमसौ स्थितः । सत्ये स्थितं च तं दृष्ट्वा ततस्तुष्टो महेश्वरः

athāsau nihatastena praviśya vipulaṁ tamaḥ | nipapāta mahīpṛṣṭhe vāyubhagna iva drumaḥ | vadhaṁ prāptastu daityo'sau natvā haramasau sthitaḥ | satye sthitaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā tatastuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ

Then, slain by him, that demon fell to the ground, sinking into vast darkness, like a tree broken by the wind. Even as he met death, that demon remained bowing to Hara. Beholding him steadfast in truth, Maheshwara was pleased.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.392.10)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । तव वीर्येण संतुष्टो धर्मेण च विशेषतः । वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो हृदये स्थितः

śrībhagavānuvāca | tava vīryeṇa saṁtuṣṭo dharmeṇa ca viśeṣataḥ | varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te nityaṁ yo hṛdaye sthitaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: I am pleased with your valor, and especially with your righteousness. May all be well with you; ask for that which ever dwells in your heart, as a boon.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.392.11)

भद्रकर्णं उवाच । यन्मया स्थापितं लिंगमर्बुदे सुरसत्तम । अत्रास्तु तव सांनिध्यं ह्रदेऽस्मिंश्च स्थिरो भव

bhadrakarṇamuvāca | yanmayā sthāpitaṁ liṅgamarbude surasattama | atrāstu tava sāṁnidhyaṁ hrade'sminśca sthiro bhava

Bhadrakarna said: O best of gods, may your presence remain in this linga which I have established at Arbuda; be steadfast here in this lake.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.392.12)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । माघमासे चतुर्द्दश्यां कृष्णपक्षे सदा मम । सांनिध्यं च विशेषेण ह्रदे लिंगे भविष्यति

śrībhagavānuvāca | māghamāse caturddaśyāṁ kṛṣṇapakṣe sadā mama | sāṁnidhyaṁ ca viśeṣeṇa hrade liṅge bhaviṣyati

The Blessed Lord said: On the fourteenth of the dark fortnight of Magha, my presence shall especially and always remain in this lake and linga.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.392.13)

भद्रकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा त्रिनेत्रं यः समाहितः । द्रक्ष्यते स तु मे स्थानं शाश्वतं यास्यति धुवम्

bhadrakarṇahrade snātvā trinetraṁ yaḥ samāhitaḥ | drakṣyate sa tu me sthānaṁ śāśvataṁ yāsyati dhruvam

Whoever, having bathed in Bhadrakarna Lake, beholds the three-eyed Lord with focused mind shall certainly attain my eternal abode.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.392.14)

तस्मात्सर्वत्र यत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पूजयित्वा च तल्लिंगं शिवलोकं स गच्छति

tasmātsarvatra yatnena snānaṁ tatra samācaret | pūjayitvā ca talliṅgaṁ śivalokaṁ sa gacchati

Therefore one should bathe there with every effort. Having worshipped that linga, a man attains Shivaloka.