The Origin of Shivaganga Kunda

Verse 1 (skanda.7.422.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ कुंडं तु शिवलिंगाख्यं ततो गच्छेन्महीपते । यत्र सा जाह्नवी गुप्ता तिष्ठते भूपसत्तम

pulastya uvāca | kuṇḍaṁ tu śivaliṅgākhyaṁ tato gacchenmahīpate | yatra sā jāhnavī guptā tiṣṭhate bhūpasattama

Pulastya said: Then, O king, one should go to the pool named after the Shiva-linga, where, O best of kings, that hidden Jahnavi (Ganga) dwells.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.422.2)

तस्यां स्नातो नरः सम्यक्सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत् । मुच्यते पातकात्कृत्स्नादाजन्ममरणांतिकात्

tasyāṁ snāto naraḥ samyaksarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet | mucyate pātakātkṛtsnādājanmamaraṇāntikāt

A man who duly bathes in it obtains the fruit of all sacred fords; he is freed from all sin, from birth to the end of death.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.422.3)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ किमर्थं तत्र सा गुप्ता जाह्नवी तिष्ठते विभो । कस्मिन्काले समायाता परं कौतूहलं हि मे

yayātiruvāca | kimarthaṁ tatra sā guptā jāhnavī tiṣṭhate vibho | kasminkāle samāyātā paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

Yayati said: O lord, why does that Jahnavi dwell there hidden? At what time did she come? Great is my curiosity about this.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.422.4)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ यदा प्रसादितो देवैर्भगवान्वृषभध्वजः । अर्बुदेऽस्मिन्सदा स्थेयमचलेन त्वया विभो

pulastya uvāca | yadā prasādito devairbhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | arbude'sminsadā stheyamacalena tvayā vibho

Pulastya said: When the Lord bearing the bull-banner was propitiated by the gods, with the words: "O lord, you must abide forever, immovable, on this Arbuda —"

Verse 5 (skanda.7.422.5)

तत्र संस्थापिते लिंगे स्वयं देवेन शंभुना । यत्पातितं पुरा लिंगं वालखिल्यैर्महर्षिभिः

tatra saṁsthāpite liṅge svayaṁ devena śambhunā | yatpātitaṁ purā liṅgaṁ vālakhilyairmaharṣibhiḥ

"— there, by Lord Shambhu himself, the linga was established, that same linga which had formerly been cast down by the great sages, the Valakhilyas —"

Verse 6 (skanda.7.422.6)

अतिकोपसमायुक्तैः कस्मिंश्चित्कारणांतरे । तदा देवेन प्रतिज्ञातं सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम्

atikopasamāyuktaiḥ kasmiṁścitkāraṇāntare | tadā devena pratijñātaṁ sarveṣāṁ tridivaukasām

"— who were filled with great anger for some reason. At that time, before all the celestial dwellers, the god made this vow:"

Verse 7 (skanda.7.422.7)

अचले तु मयात्रैव स्थातव्यं नात्र संशयः । ततः कालेन महता वसतस्तस्य तत्र च

acale tu mayātraiva sthātavyaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ | tataḥ kālena mahatā vasatastasya tatra ca

"'On this very mountain, without moving, I must abide — of this there is no doubt.'" Then, after a great length of time, as he dwelt there —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.422.8)

अचलेश्वररूपस्य गंगा चित्ते व्यजायत । कथं नित्यं तया सार्द्धं भविष्यति समागमः

acaleśvararūpasya gaṅgā citte vyajāyata | kathaṁ nityaṁ tayā sārddhaṁ bhaviṣyati samāgamaḥ

— in the mind of him, now in the form of the Immovable Lord, thought of Ganga arose: "How shall there constantly be union with her?"

Verse 9 (skanda.7.422.9)

अथ जानाति नो गौरी मानिनी परमेश्वरी । तस्यैवं चिन्तयानस्य बहुशो नृपसत्तम

atha jānāti no gaurī māninī parameśvarī | tasyaivaṁ cintayānasya bahuśo nṛpasattama

"And let the proud, supreme goddess Gauri not know of it." O best of kings, as he thus pondered this repeatedly —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.422.10)

उपायं सुमहद्ध्यात्वा जाह्नवीसंगसंभवम् । तेनादिष्टा गणाः सर्वे नंदिभृङ्गिपुरःसराः

upāyaṁ sumahaddhyātvā jāhnavīsaṅgasaṁbhavam | tenādiṣṭā gaṇāḥ sarve nandibhṛṅgipuraḥsarāḥ

— having devised a great scheme for union with Jahnavi, he commanded all the ganas, headed by Nandi and Bhringi.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.422.11)

अभिप्रायोऽस्ति मे कश्चिज्जलाश्रयव्रतोद्भवः । क्रियतामुत्तमं कुण्डमस्मिन्पर्वतरोधसि

abhiprāyo'sti me kaściajjalāśrayavratodbhavaḥ | kriyatāmuttamaṁ kuṇḍamasminparvatarodhasi

"I have some intention arising from a vow requiring a body of water; let an excellent pool be made on this mountain slope."

Verse 12 (skanda.7.422.12)

तत्राहं जलमध्यस्थः स्थास्यामि जलतत्परः । तच्छ्रुत्वा त्वरितं चक्रुर्गणाः कुण्डमनेकशः

tatrāhaṁ jalamadhyasthaḥ sthāsyāmi jalatatparaḥ | tacchrutvā tvaritaṁ cakrurgaṇāḥ kuṇḍamanekaśaḥ

"There, devoted to water, I shall stand in the midst of the water." Hearing this, the ganas swiftly made the pool with great care.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.422.13)

स्वच्छोदकसमाकीर्णं सुतीर्थं सुसुखावहम् । ततो गौरीमनुज्ञाप्य जाह्नवीसंगलालसः

svacchodakasamākīrṇaṁ sutīrthaṁ susukhāvaham | tato gaurīmanujñāpya jāhnavīsaṅgalālasaḥ

It became a fine ford, filled with clear water, bringing great comfort. Then, having taken leave of Gauri, longing for union with Jahnavi —

Verse 14 (skanda.7.422.14)

व्रतव्याजेन देवेशो विवेश तदनन्तरम् । चिन्तयामास तत्रस्थो गंगां त्रैलोक्यपाविनीम्

vratavyājena deveśo viveśa tadanantaram | cintayāmāsa tatrastho gaṅgāṁ trailokyapāvinīm

— the lord of gods, under the pretext of a vow, then entered the pool; standing there, he meditated upon Ganga, the purifier of the three worlds.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.422.15)

सा ध्याता तत्क्षणात्तत्र शिवेन सह संगता । एवं स भगवांस्तत्र जाह्नवीं भजते सदा

sā dhyātā tatkṣaṇāttatra śivena saha saṅgatā | evaṁ sa bhagavāṁstatra jāhnavīṁ bhajate sadā

She, being meditated upon, was at that very moment united there with Shiva. Thus that Lord constantly enjoyed Jahnavi there.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.422.16)

व्रतव्याजेन राजेन्द्र न तु गौरी व्यजानत । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य नारदो भगवान्मुनिः । कैवल्यज्ञानसंपन्नस्तत्रायातः परिभ्रमन्

vratavyājena rājendra na tu gaurī vyajānata | kasyacittvatha kālasya nārado bhagavānmuniḥ | kaivalyajñānasaṁpannastatrāyātaḥ paribhraman

O lord of kings, because of the pretext of the vow, Gauri did not know of it. Then, after some time, the divine sage Narada, endowed with the knowledge of liberation, wandering about, arrived there.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.422.17)

स तु दृष्ट्वा महादेवं जलस्थं व्रतधारिणम् । कामजैरिंगितैर्युक्तं तत्राऽसौ विस्मयान्वितः

sa tu dṛṣṭvā mahādevaṁ jalasthaṁ vratadhāriṇam | kāmajairiṅgitairyuktaṁ tatrā'sau vismayānvitaḥ

Seeing Mahadeva standing in the water, holding his vow, yet exhibiting signs born of desire, he was filled with wonder there.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.422.18)

वक्त्रनेत्रविकारोऽयं किमस्य व्रतधारिणः । ईदृक्कामसमायुक्तस्ततो ध्यानस्थितो मुनिः

vaktranetravikāro'yaṁ kimasya vratadhāriṇaḥ | īdṛkkāmasamāyuktastato dhyānasthito muniḥ

"What is this change in the face and eyes of this vow-keeper, thus filled with desire?" Then the sage settled into meditation.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.422.19)

अथाऽपश्यद्ध्यानदृष्ट्या गंगासक्तं महेश्वरम् । गौर्या भयेन सव्याजं ततो विस्मयमागतः

athā'paśyaddhyānadṛṣṭyā gaṅgāsaktaṁ maheśvaram | gauryā bhayena savyājaṁ tato vismayamāgataḥ

Then, with the eye of meditation, he saw Maheshvara attached to Ganga, proceeding under a pretext out of fear of Gauri; he then fell into wonder.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.422.20)

तदा स कथयामास सर्वं हरविचेष्टितम्

tadā sa kathayāmāsa sarvaṁ haraviceṣṭitam

Then he related everything, the whole conduct of Hara.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.422.21)

ततो देवी त्वरायुक्ता ययौ यत्र महेश्वरः । आताम्रनयना रोषाद्वेपमाना मुहुर्मुहुः

tato devī tvarāyuktā yayau yatra maheśvaraḥ | ātāmranayanā roṣādvepamānā muhurmuhuḥ

Then the Goddess, hastening, went to where Maheshvara was, her eyes reddened with anger, trembling again and again.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.422.22)

तां दृष्ट्वा कोपसंयुक्तां समायातां महेश्वरीम् । उवाच जाह्नवी भीता ज्ञात्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā kopasaṁyuktāṁ samāyātāṁ maheśvarīm | uvāca jāhnavī bhītā jñātvā divyena cakṣuṣā

Seeing that Maheshvari, arriving, filled with anger, Jahnavi, having recognized her with her divine eye, spoke, afraid.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.422.23)

आवयोः संगमे देवी नारदेन निवेदिता । सेयं रुष्टा समायाति कुरुष्व यदनन्तरम्

āvayoḥ saṅgame devī nāradena niveditā | seyaṁ ruṣṭā samāyāti kuruṣva yadanantaram

"Our union has been reported to the Goddess by Narada; she, enraged, is coming here. Do whatever is fitting now."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.422.24)

॥ श्रीमहादेव उवाच ॥ कर्त्तव्यं जाह्नवि श्रेयः पुरो गत्वा नगात्मजाम् । अत्यर्थं मानिनी ह्येषा साम्ना च वशवर्तिनी

śrīmahādeva uvāca | karttavyaṁ jāhnavi śreyaḥ puro gatvā nagātmajām | atyarthaṁ māninī hyeṣā sāmnā ca vaśavartinī

Sri Mahadeva said: "O Jahnavi, what is best to do is to go before the mountain's daughter; she is exceedingly proud, yet she is won over by conciliation."

Verse 25 (skanda.7.422.25)

तत्क्षणाज्जायते साध्वी तस्मात्सामपरा भव । नो चेच्छापं मया सार्धं तव दास्यत्यसंशयम्

tatkṣaṇājjāyate sādhvī tasmātsāmaparā bhava | no cecchāpaṁ mayā sārdhaṁ tava dāsyatyasaṁśayam

"At once she becomes gentle; therefore be devoted to conciliation. Otherwise, she will certainly give a curse to both you and me."

Verse 26 (skanda.7.422.26)

एवमुक्ता च रुद्रेण जाह्नवी नृपसत्तम । कुण्डान्निर्गत्य सा गंगा सम्मुखं प्रययौ तदा

evamuktā ca rudreṇa jāhnavī nṛpasattama | kuṇḍānnirgatya sā gaṅgā sammukhaṁ prayayau tadā

O best of kings, thus addressed by Rudra, Jahnavi, that Ganga, emerging from the pool, then went forth to face her.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.422.27)

प्रत्युद्ययौ सलज्जा च कृतांजलिपुरःसरा । प्रणम्य शिरसा चेयं ततः प्राह स्वलंकृता

pratyudyayau salajjā ca kṛtāñjalipuraḥsarā | praṇamya śirasā ceyaṁ tataḥ prāha svalaṁkṛtā

Shyly she came forward to meet her, hands folded in salutation; bowing with her head, thus adorned, she spoke.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.422.28)

पुराऽहं तव कांतेन निपतन्ती नभस्तलात् । धृता देवि तवाप्येतद्विदितं नृपतेः कृते

purā'haṁ tava kāntena nipatantī nabhastalāt | dhṛtā devi tavāpyetadviditaṁ nṛpateḥ kṛte

"Formerly, as I was falling from the vault of the sky, I was held by your beloved, O Goddess; this too is known to you, for the sake of that king."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.422.29)

भगीरथाभिधानस्य ततः स्नेहो व्यवर्धत । आवयोस्तव भीत्या च नाभूत्क्वापि समागमः

bhagīrathābhidhānasya tataḥ sneho vyavardhata | āvayostava bhītyā ca nābhūtkvāpi samāgamaḥ

"— for the one named Bhagiratha, from then on, affection grew. Yet between us two, out of fear of you, there was never any union."

Verse 30 (skanda.7.422.30)

अधुना तव वाक्येन जानेऽहं न सुरेश्वरि । समाहूताऽस्मि रुद्रेण किं वा स्वच्छन्दतः शुभे

adhunā tava vākyena jāne'haṁ na sureśvari | samāhūtā'smi rudreṇa kiṁ vā svacchandataḥ śubhe

"Now, by your own word, O queen of gods, I do not know — was I summoned by Rudra, or, O auspicious one, did I come of my own accord?"

Verse 31 (skanda.7.422.31)

त्रैलोक्यस्य प्रभुरयं तन्निष्क्रम्य कथञ्चन । तस्मादत्रैव संप्राप्ता सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

trailokyasya prabhurayaṁ tanniṣkramya kathañcana | tasmādatraiva saṁprāptā satyametanmayoditam

"He is the lord of the three worlds; going out from anywhere in any way as he wills — therefore I have arrived right here. This truth I have spoken."

Verse 32 (skanda.7.422.32)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ततो देवी प्रहर्षिता । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं सत्यमेतत्त्वयोदितम्

pulastya uvāca | tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā tato devī praharṣitā | provāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ satyametattvayoditam

Pulastya said: Hearing her words, the Goddess was then delighted, and spoke sweet words: "True is this that you have spoken."

Verse 33 (skanda.7.422.33)

तस्माद्वरय भद्रं ते वरं मत्तो यथेप्सितम् । मुक्त्वैकं पतिधर्म्मत्वे मम कांतं महेश्वरम्

tasmādvaraya bhadraṁ te varaṁ matto yathepsitam | muktvaikaṁ patidharmmatve mama kāntaṁ maheśvaram

"Therefore choose — blessings on you — whatever boon you desire from me, save only my beloved Maheshvara in the matter of husbandhood."

Verse 34 (skanda.7.422.34)

॥ गंगोवाच ॥ अपि दौर्भाग्ययुक्ताऽहं भार्या जाताऽस्मि शूलिनः । तस्मादेकं दिनं देहि क्रीडनार्थमनेन तु

gaṅgovāca | api daurbhāgyayuktā'haṁ bhāryā jātā'smi śūlinaḥ | tasmādekaṁ dinaṁ dehi krīḍanārthamanena tu

Ganga said: "Although I am ill-fated, I have become a wife of the trident-bearer. Therefore grant me one day for sporting with him."

Verse 35 (skanda.7.422.35)

चैत्रशुक्लत्रयोदश्यामहोरात्रं सुरेश्वरि । शिवकुंडं तथास्त्वेतन्मया यस्मात्समावृतम्

caitraśukalatrayodaśyāmahorātraṁ sureśvari | śivakuṇḍaṁ tathāstvetanmayā yasmātsamāvṛtam

"On the thirteenth of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, for a full day and night, O queen of gods. And since this pool has been filled by me, let it be thus —"

Verse 36 (skanda.7.422.36)

शिवगंगाभिधानं च तस्मात्कुण्डं धरातले । ख्यातिं यातु प्रसादेन तव पर्वतनंदिनि

śivagaṅgābhidhānaṁ ca tasmātkuṇḍaṁ dharātale | khyātiṁ yātu prasādena tava parvatanandini

"— by your grace, O daughter of the mountain, let this pool attain fame on earth by the name Shivaganga."

Verse 37 (skanda.7.422.37)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमस्त्विति सा देवी प्रोच्य गंगां महानदीम् । ततो विसर्जयामास तामालिंग्य मुहुर्मुहुः

pulastya uvāca | evamastviti sā devī procya gaṅgāṁ mahānadīm | tato visarjayāmāsa tāmāliṅgya muhurmuhuḥ

Pulastya said: "So be it," said the Goddess to Ganga, the great river; and then, embracing her again and again, she took leave of her.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.422.38)

गतायामथ गंगायामधोवक्त्रं सुलज्जितम् । पाणौ गृह्य ययौ रुद्रं भ्रममाणा गृहं प्रति

gatāyāmatha gaṅgāyāmadhovaktraṁ sulajjitam | pāṇau gṛhya yayau rudraṁ bhramamāṇā gṛhaṁ prati

When Ganga had departed, she, with downcast face, deeply abashed, taking Shiva by the hand, wandering along, went with Rudra toward home.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.422.39)

एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं तस्मिन्कुण्डे नराधिप । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन चतुर्द्दश्यां समाहितः

evametatpurāvṛttaṁ tasminkuṇḍe narādhipa | tasmātsarvaprayatnena caturddaśyāṁ samāhitaḥ

Thus, O lord of men, this event occurred of old in that pool. Therefore, with all effort, composed in mind, on the fourteenth —

Verse 40 (skanda.7.422.40)

शुक्लायां चैत्रमासे तु स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । सांनिध्याद्देवदेवस्य गंगायाश्च नृपोत्तम

śuklāyāṁ caitramāse tu snānaṁ tatra samācaret | sānnidhyāddevadevasya gaṅgāyāśca nṛpottama

— of the bright fortnight, in the month of Chaitra, one should bathe there, O best of kings, due to the presence there of the god of gods and of Ganga.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.422.41)

यत्र संक्षयमायाति सर्वं तत्राशुभं कृतम् । तत्र यो वृषभं दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय नृपोत्तम । तद्रोमसंख्ययास्वर्गे स पुमान्वसति ध्रुवम्

yatra saṁkṣayamāyāti sarvaṁ tatrāśubhaṁ kṛtam | tatra yo vṛṣabhaṁ dadyādbrāhmaṇāya nṛpottama | tadromasaṁkhyayāsvarge sa pumānvasati dhruvam

There, whatever inauspicious deed has been done comes utterly to naught. O best of kings, he who gives a bull to a brahmin there dwells certainly in heaven for as many years as there are hairs on that bull's body.