The Greatness of Manikarnikeshwara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.400.1)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ तीर्थं पापप्रणाशनम् । मणिकर्णिकसंज्ञं तु सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्

pulastya uvāca | tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha tīrthaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam | maṇikarṇikasaṁjñaṁ tu sarvalokeṣu viśrutam

Pulastya said: O best of kings, then one should go to the sin-destroying sacred ford, known as Manikarnika, renowned in all the worlds.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.400.2)

यत्र सिद्धिं गता राजन्वालखिल्या महर्षयः । तैस्तत्र निर्मितं कुण्डं सुरम्यं गिरिगह्वरे

yatra siddhiṁ gatā rājanvālakhilyā maharṣayaḥ | taistatra nirmitaṁ kuṇḍaṁ suramyaṁ girigahvare

O king, where the great Valakhilya sages attained accomplishment. They constructed this beautiful pool there in a mountain cave.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.400.3)

तेषां तत्रोपविष्टानां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । महाश्चर्यमभूत्तत्र तत्त्वं शृणु नराधिप

teṣāṁ tatropaviṣṭānāṁ munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām | mahāścaryamabhūttatra tattvaṁ śṛṇu narādhipa

For those sages of purified soul seated there, a great wonder occurred. O king, hear its true account.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.400.4)

किरातवनिता काचिन्नाम्ना च मणिकर्णिका । अतिकृष्णा विरूपाक्षी कराला भीषणाकृतिः

kirātavanitā kācinnāmnā ca maṇikarṇikā | atikṛṣṇā virūpākṣī karālā bhīṣaṇākṛtiḥ

There was a woman of the Kirata (hunter) tribe, named Manikarnika. She was very dark, with deformed eyes, fearsome, and of terrifying appearance.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.400.5)

तृषार्त्ता तत्र संप्राप्ता मध्यंदिनगते रवौ । ग्रस्ते च राहुणा सूर्ये प्रविष्टा सलिले तु सा

tṛṣārttā tatra samprāptā madhyaṁdinagate ravau | graste ca rāhuṇā sūrye praviṣṭā salile tu sā

Tormented by thirst, she arrived there when the sun was at midday. When the sun was seized by Rahu (in eclipse), she entered that water.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.400.6)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु दिव्यरूपवपुर्धरा । मुनीनां पश्यतां चैव विनिष्क्रांता सुमध्यमा

etasminneva kāle tu divyarūpavapurdharā | munīnāṁ paśyatāṁ caiva viniṣkrāntā sumadhyamā

At that very moment, before the sages' very eyes, that slender-waisted woman, now bearing a divine form, emerged from the water.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.400.7)

अथ तस्याः पतिः प्राप्तस्तदन्वेषणतत्परः । पप्रच्छ तां वरारोहां पत्न्या दुःखेन दुःखितः

atha tasyāḥ patiḥ prāptastadanveṣaṇatatparaḥ | papraccha tāṁ varārohāṁ patnyā duḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ

Then her husband, who was searching for her, arrived there. Grieving over his wife's plight, he asked that beautiful woman.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.400.8)

मम भार्यात्र संप्राप्ता यदि दृष्टा सुमध्यमे । शीघ्रं वद वरारोहे बालकोऽयं तदुद्भवः

mama bhāryātra samprāptā yadi dṛṣṭā sumadhyame | śīghraṁ vada varārohe bālako'yaṁ tadudbhavaḥ

O slender-waisted one, if you have seen my wife arriving here, tell me quickly, O beautiful one - this child is born of her.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.400.9)

तृषार्त्तश्च क्षुधाविष्टो रुदते च मुहुर्मुहुः । दृष्टा चेत्कथ्यतां सुभ्रूर्विनाऽयं तां मरिष्यति

tṛṣārttaśca kṣudhāviṣṭo rudate ca muhurmuhuḥ | dṛṣṭā cetkathyatāṁ subhrūrvinā'yaṁ tāṁ mariṣyati

Tormented by thirst and hunger, he weeps again and again. O fair-browed one, if you have seen her, tell me - without her, he will die.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.400.10)

स्त्र्युवाच । साऽहं ते दयिता कान्त तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । दिव्यरूपमिदं प्राप्ता देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम्

stryuvāca | sā'haṁ te dayitā kānta tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ | divyarūpamidaṁ prāptā devairapi sudurlabham

The woman said: O beloved, I am indeed your dear wife. By the power of this sacred ford, I have obtained this divine form, hard to obtain even for the gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.400.11)

त्वं चापि सलिले ह्यस्मिन्कुरु स्नानं त्वरान्वितः । प्राप्स्यसि त्वं परं रूपं यथा प्राप्तं मयाऽनघ

tvaṁ cāpi salile hyasminkuru snānaṁ tvarānvitaḥ | prāpsyasi tvaṁ paraṁ rūpaṁ yathā prāptaṁ mayā'nagha

You too, quickly, bathe in this water, O sinless one; you too shall attain a supreme form, just as I have obtained.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.400.12)

अथासौ सह पुत्रेण प्रविष्टस्तत्र निर्झरे । विमुक्ते भास्करे राजन्विरूपश्चाभवत्पुनः

athāsau saha putreṇa praviṣṭastatra nirjhare | vimukte bhāskare rājanvirūpaścābhavatpunaḥ

Then he entered that cascade together with his son, but, O king, as soon as the sun was released from the eclipse, he again became ugly.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.400.13)

दुःखेन मृत्युमापन्नस्तस्मिन्नेव जलाशये । अथ सा भर्तृशोकाच्च मरणे कृतनिश्चया

duḥkhena mṛtyumāpannastasminneva jalāśaye | atha sā bhartṛśokācca maraṇe kṛtaniścayā

In grief, he met death right there in that pool. Then, from grief for her husband, that woman resolved to die.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.400.14)

चितिं कृत्वा समं तेन ज्वालयामास पावकम् । अथ ते मुनयो दृष्ट्वा तथाशीलां शुभांगनाम्

citiṁ kṛtvā samaṁ tena jvālayāmāsa pāvakam | atha te munayo dṛṣṭvā tathāśīlāṁ śubhāṅganām

She built a funeral pyre together with him and kindled the fire. Then those sages, seeing that beautiful, virtuous woman.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.400.15)

कृपया परयाविष्टास्तामूचुर्विस्मयान्विताः । सर्वे तस्याश्च संदृष्ट्वा साहसं च नृपोत्तम

kṛpayā parayāviṣṭāstāmūcurvismayānvitāḥ | sarve tasyāśca saṁdṛṣṭvā sāhasaṁ ca nṛpottama

Filled with supreme compassion and astonishment, they spoke to her. O best of kings, seeing her boldness, all of them.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.400.16)

ऋषय ऊचुः । दिव्यरूपं त्वया प्राप्तं देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम् । कस्मादेनं सुपाप्मानमनुगच्छसि भामिनि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | divyarūpaṁ tvayā prāptaṁ devairapi sudurlabham | kasmādenaṁ supāpmānamanugacchasi bhāmini

The sages said: You have obtained this divine form, hard to attain even for the gods. O fair lady, why do you follow this most wretched (ugly) man?

Verse 17 (skanda.7.400.17)

स्त्र्युवाच । पतिव्रताहं विप्रेन्द्राः सदा भर्तृपरायणा । किं रूपेण करिष्यामि विना पत्या निजेन च

stryuvāca | pativratāhaṁ viprendrāḥ sadā bhartṛparāyaṇā | kiṁ rūpeṇa kariṣyāmi vinā patyā nijena ca

The woman said: O foremost of brahmins, I am devoted to my husband, ever intent upon him. What shall I do with beauty, without my own husband?

Verse 18 (skanda.7.400.18)

विरूपो वा सुरूपो वा दरिद्रो वा धनाधिपः । स्त्रीणामेकः पतिर्भर्त्ता गतिर्नान्या जगत्त्रये

virūpo vā surūpo vā daridro vā dhanādhipaḥ | strīṇāmekaḥ patirbhartā gatirnānyā jagattraye

Whether ugly or handsome, whether poor or a lord of wealth, for women there is only one husband as their master; there is no other refuge in the three worlds.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.400.19)

बालकोऽयं मुनिश्रेष्ठा भवच्छरणमागतः । अहं कान्तेन संयुक्ता प्रविशामि हुताशनम्

bālako'yaṁ muniśreṣṭhā bhavaccharaṇamāgataḥ | ahaṁ kāntena saṁyuktā praviśāmi hutāśanam

O best of sages, this child has come under your protection. I, united with my beloved, shall enter the fire.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.400.20)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे ज्ञात्वा तस्याः सुनिश्चयम् । कृपया परयाविष्टाः संवीक्ष्य च परस्परम्

pulastya uvāca | atha te munayaḥ sarve jñātvā tasyāḥ suniścayam | kṛpayā parayāviṣṭāḥ saṁvīkṣya ca parasparam

Pulastya said: Then, learning her firm resolve, all those sages, filled with supreme compassion, looked at one another.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.400.21)

ततो जीवापयामासुस्तत्पतिं ते मुनीश्वराः । सद्रूपेण समायुक्तं दिव्यलक्षणलक्षितम्

tato jīvāpayāmāsustatpatiṁ te munīśvarāḥ | sadrūpeṇa samāyuktaṁ divyalakṣaṇalakṣitam

Then those lords of sages restored her husband to life, endowed with a beautiful form, marked with divine signs.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.400.22)

एतस्मिन्नेव कालं तु विमानं मनसेप्सितम् । देवकन्यासमाकीर्णं सद्यस्तत्र समागतम्

etasminneva kālaṁ tu vimānaṁ manasepsitam | devakanyāsamākīrṇaṁ sadyastatra samāgatam

At that very moment, a celestial chariot, exactly as desired in the mind and filled with divine maidens, arrived there at once.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.400.23)

अथ तौ दंपती तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । पुरतः प्रणिपत्याथ प्रस्थितौ त्रिदिवं प्रति

atha tau daṁpatī teṣāṁ munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām | purataḥ praṇipatyātha prasthitau tridivaṁ prati

Then that couple, bowing before those sages of purified soul, set out toward heaven.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.400.24)

अथ तैर्मुनिभिः प्रोक्ता सा नारी मणिकर्णिका । वरं वरय कल्याणि सर्वे तुष्टा वयं तव

atha tairmunibhiḥ proktā sā nārī maṇikarṇikā | varaṁ varaya kalyāṇi sarve tuṣṭā vayaṁ tava

Then those sages said to that woman Manikarnika: O gracious one, ask for a boon; we are all pleased with you.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.400.25)

पतिव्रतत्वेन तुष्टाः सत्येन च विशेषतः । नास्माकं दर्शनं व्यर्थं जायते च कथंचन

pativratatvena tuṣṭāḥ satyena ca viśeṣataḥ | nāsmākaṁ darśanaṁ vyarthaṁ jāyate ca kathaṁcana

We are pleased with your devotion to your husband, and especially with your truthfulness. Our sight is never in vain, in any way.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.400.26)

मणिकर्णिकोवाच । यदि मां मुनयस्तुष्टाः प्रयच्छथ वरं मुदा । यदत्रास्ति महालिंगं मन्नाम्ना तद्भविष्यति

maṇikarṇikovāca | yadi māṁ munayastuṣṭāḥ prayacchatha varaṁ mudā | yadatrāsti mahāliṅgaṁ mannāmnā tadbhaviṣyati

Manikarnika said: O sages, if you are pleased with me and gladly grant me a boon, then let this great linga here become known by my very name.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.400.27)

एतदेव ममाभीष्टं नान्यदस्ति प्रयोजनम् । सर्वेषां च प्रसादेन स्वर्गं गच्छामि सांप्रतम्

etadeva mamābhīṣṭaṁ nānyadasti prayojanam | sarveṣāṁ ca prasādena svargaṁ gacchāmi sāmpratam

This alone is my desire; I have no other purpose. Now, by the grace of you all, I go to heaven.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.400.28)

ऋषय ऊचुः । एवं भवतु ते ख्यातिस्तीर्थलिंगे वरानने । तव नामान्वितं जातं तीर्थं वै मणिकर्णिका

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | evaṁ bhavatu te khyātistīrthaliṅge varānane | tava nāmānvitaṁ jātaṁ tīrthaṁ vai maṇikarṇikā

The sages said: O fair-faced one, so be it; may your fame remain in this sacred linga. This sacred ford is now named, after you, "Manikarnika."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.400.29)

पुलस्त्य उवाच । भर्त्रा सह दिवं प्राप्ता पुत्रेणैव समन्विता । वालखिल्यास्तपोनिष्ठा विशेषात्तत्र संस्थिताः

pulastya uvāca | bhartrā saha divaṁ prāptā putreṇaiva samanvitā | vālakhilyāstaponiṣṭhā viśeṣāttatra saṁsthitāḥ

Pulastya said: She, together with her husband and son, attained heaven. The Valakhilya sages, devoted to austerity, took up special residence there.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.400.30)

तत्र सूर्यग्रहे प्राप्ते स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः । यः करोति फलं तस्य कुरुक्षेत्रसमं भवेत्

tatra sūryagrahe prāpte snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ | yaḥ karoti phalaṁ tasya kurukṣetrasamaṁ bhavet

Whoever performs bathing, giving and other rites there during a solar eclipse obtains a fruit equal to that at Kurukshetra.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.400.31)

यं यं काममभिध्याय स्नानं तत्र करोति यः । तं तं प्राप्नोति राजेन्द्र सम्यग्ध्यानसमन्वितः

yaṁ yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya snānaṁ tatra karoti yaḥ | taṁ taṁ prāpnoti rājendra samyagdhyānasamanvitaḥ

O king of kings, whoever, meditating on whatever desire, bathes there with proper concentration, obtains that very desire.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.400.32)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । तीर्थे दानं यथाशक्त्या देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena snānaṁ tatra samācaret | tīrthe dānaṁ yathāśaktyā devarṣipitṛtarpaṇam

Therefore one should, with every effort, bathe there, and, according to one's means, give gifts and offer libations to the gods, sages, and ancestors.