The Glory of Ishani-shikhara (The Birth of Vinayaka)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.436.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ ईशानीशिखरं महत्॥ यत्र गौर्या तपस्तप्तं सुपुण्यं लोकविश्रुतम्

|| pulastya uvāca || tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha īśānīśikharaṁ mahat|| yatra gauryā tapastaptaṁ supuṇyaṁ lokaviśrutam

Pulastya said: Thereafter, O best of kings, one should go to the great Ishani-shikhara, where Gauri performed that most sacred and world-renowned austerity.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.436.2)

यस्य संदर्शनेनापि नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते॥ लभते चातिसौभाग्यं सप्तजन्मांतराणि च

yasya saṁdarśanenāpi naraḥ pāpātpramucyate|| labhate cātisaubhāgyaṁ saptajanmāṁtarāṇi ca

By merely beholding which, a man is freed from sin, and obtains supreme good fortune through seven successive births.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.436.3)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ कस्मिन्काले तपस्तप्तं देव्या तत्र मुनीश्वर॥ किमर्थं च महत्त्वेतत्कौतुकं वक्तुमर्हसि

|| yayātiruvāca || kasminkāle tapastaptaṁ devyā tatra munīśvara|| kimarthaṁ ca mahattvetatkautukaṁ vaktumarhasi

Yayati said: O lord of sages, at what time did the goddess perform austerity there, and for what purpose was it so great? You should relate this wonder to me.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.436.4)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यामद्भुतां लोकविश्रुताम्॥ यस्याः संश्रवणादेव मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

|| pulastya uvāca || śṛṇu rājankathāṁ divyāmadbhutāṁ lokaviśrutām|| yasyāḥ saṁśravaṇādeva mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Pulastya said: Listen, O king, to this divine, wondrous, world-renowned story, by the mere hearing of which one is freed from all sins.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.436.5)

पुरा गौर्या समासक्तं ज्ञात्वा देवाः सवासवाः॥ मंत्रं चक्रुर्भयाविष्टा एकांते समुपाश्रिताः

purā gauryā samāsaktaṁ jñātvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ|| maṁtraṁ cakrurbhayāviṣṭā ekāṁte samupāśritāḥ

Long ago, knowing that Gauri was engaged in intimacy (with Shiva), the gods together with Indra became filled with fear, and taking refuge in a secret place, they deliberated together.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.436.6)

वीर्यं यदि त्रिनेत्रस्य क्षेत्रे गौर्याः पतिष्यति॥ अस्माकं पतनं नूनं जगतश्च भविष्यति

vīryaṁ yadi trinetrasya kṣetre gauryāḥ patiṣyati|| asmākaṁ patanaṁ nūnaṁ jagataśca bhaviṣyati

If the seed of the three-eyed one (Shiva) should fall into Gauri's womb, then surely our downfall, and that of the whole world, will come about.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.436.7)

संततेस्तु विनाशाय ततो गच्छामहे वयम्

saṁtatestu vināśāya tato gacchāmahe vayam

Therefore, to prevent that offspring, let us go there.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.436.8)

एवं संमंत्र्य देवास्ते कैलासं पर्वतं गताः॥ ततस्तु नंदिना सर्वे निषिद्धाः समयं विना

evaṁ saṁmaṁtrya devāste kailāsaṁ parvataṁ gatāḥ|| tatastu naṁdinā sarve niṣiddhāḥ samayaṁ vinā

Having thus deliberated, those gods went to Mount Kailasa. But there Nandi forbade all of them, since it was not the proper time.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.436.9)

॥ नंद्युवाच ॥ एकांते भगवान्रुद्रः सहगौर्या व्यवस्थितः॥ तस्माद्देवगणाः सर्वे गच्छध्वं निलयं स्वकम्

|| naṁdyuvāca || ekāṁte bhagavānrudraḥ sahagauryā vyavasthitaḥ|| tasmāddevagaṇāḥ sarve gacchadhvaṁ nilayaṁ svakam

Nandi said: The Lord Rudra is secluded together with Gauri; therefore, O all you hosts of gods, return to your own abodes.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.436.10)

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे वञ्चयित्वा च तं गणम्॥ प्रैषयंस्तत्र वायुं च गुप्तमूचुर्वचस्त्विदम्

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve vañcayitvā ca taṁ gaṇam|| praiṣayaṁstatra vāyuṁ ca guptamūcurvacastvidam

Then all the hosts of gods, having deceived that attendant, sent the wind-god there, and secretly spoke this word to him.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.436.11)

गत्वा वायो भवं ब्रूहि न कार्या संततिस्त्वया॥ एवं देवगणा देव प्रार्थयंति भयातुराः

gatvā vāyo bhavaṁ brūhi na kāryā saṁtatistvayā|| evaṁ devagaṇā deva prārthayaṁti bhayāturāḥ

'Go, O Wind, and tell Bhava (Shiva): "You must not beget offspring." O god, the hosts of gods, distressed with fear, make this plea.'

Verse 12 (skanda.7.436.12)

ततो वायुर्द्रुतं गत्वा स्थितो यत्र महेश्वरः॥ उच्चैर्जगाद तद्वाक्यं यदुक्तं त्रिदशालयैः

tato vāyurdrutaṁ gatvā sthito yatra maheśvaraḥ|| uccairjagāda tadvākyaṁ yaduktaṁ tridaśālayaiḥ

Then the Wind, going swiftly to where Maheshvara was situated, spoke aloud that very message which the dwellers of heaven had uttered.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.436.13)

ततस्तु भगवाञ्छर्वो व्रीडया परया युतः॥ गौरीं त्यक्त्वा समुत्तस्थौ बाढमित्येव चाब्रवीत्

tatastu bhagavāñcharvo vrīḍayā parayā yutaḥ|| gaurīṁ tyaktvā samuttasthau bāḍhamityeva cābravīt

Then the Lord Sharva (Shiva), overcome with great shame, rose up, leaving Gauri, and said only, 'So be it.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.436.14)

ततो गौरी सुदुःखार्ता शशाप त्रिदशालयान्

tato gaurī suduḥkhārtā śaśāpa tridaśālayān

Then Gauri, tormented with great sorrow, cursed the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.436.15)

॥ गौर्युवाच ॥ यस्मादहं कृता देवैः पुत्रहीना समागतैः॥ तस्मात्तेऽपि भविष्यन्ति सन्तानेन विवर्ज्जिताः

|| gauryuvāca || yasmādahaṁ kṛtā devaiḥ putrahīnā samāgataiḥ|| tasmātte'pi bhaviṣyanti santānena vivarjjitāḥ

Gauri said: Since the assembled gods have made me childless, they too shall become bereft of offspring.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.436.16)

यस्माद्वायो समायातः स्थानेऽस्मिञ्जनवर्जिते॥ तस्मात्कायविनिर्मुक्तस्त्वं भविष्यसि सर्वदा

yasmādvāyo samāyātaḥ sthāne'smiñjanavarjite|| tasmātkāyavinirmuktastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi sarvadā

And since you, O Wind, came into this secluded, unpeopled place, you shall forever remain without bodily form.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.436.17)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो दीर्घं भर्तुः कोपपरायणा॥ त्यक्त्वा पार्श्वं गता राजन्नर्बुदं नगसत्तमम्

evamuktvā tato dīrghaṁ bhartuḥ kopaparāyaṇā|| tyaktvā pārśvaṁ gatā rājannarbudaṁ nagasattamam

Having spoken thus at length, and full of anger toward her husband, O king, she left his side and went to Arbuda, the foremost of mountains.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.436.18)

सुतार्थं सा तपस्तेपे यतवाक्कायमानसा॥ ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते देवदेवो महेश्वरः

sutārthaṁ sā tapastepe yatavākkāyamānasā|| tato varṣasahasrānte devadevo maheśvaraḥ

For the sake of a son, she performed austerity, restraining speech, body, and mind. Then, at the end of a thousand years, Maheshvara, the god of gods —

Verse 19 (skanda.7.436.19)

इन्द्राद्यैर्विबुधैः सार्द्धं तदंतिकमुपागमत्॥ अथ शक्रो विनीतात्मा देवीं ता प्रत्यभाषत

iṁdrādyairvibudhaiḥ sārddhaṁ tadaṁtikamupāgamat|| atha śakro vinītātmā devīṁ tā pratyabhāṣata

came near her, together with Indra and the other gods. Then Indra, with a humbled heart, addressed the goddess.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.436.20)

एष देवः शिवः प्राप्तस्तव पार्श्वं स्वलज्जया॥ नायाति तत्प्रसादोऽस्य क्रियता महती भव

eṣa devaḥ śivaḥ prāptastava pārśvaṁ svalajjayā|| nāyāti tatprasādo'sya kriyatā mahatī bhava

'This lord Shiva, out of his own shame, does not come near you. Therefore, O Bhavani, show him grace — be greatly gracious.'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.436.21)

॥ देव्युवाच ॥ त्यक्ताऽहं तव वाक्येन पतिना समयान्विता॥ पुत्रं लब्ध्वा प्रयास्यामि तस्य पार्श्वे सुरेश्वर

|| devyuvāca || tyaktā'haṁ tava vākyena patinā samayānvitā|| putraṁ labdhvā prayāsyāmi tasya pārśve sureśvara

The Goddess said: It was because of your own word, O lord of gods, that my husband, under compulsion, left me. Only upon obtaining a son shall I go to his side.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.436.22)

तस्यास्तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा स्वयं देवः समाययौ॥ अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यं प्रसादः क्रियतामिति

tasyāstaṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā svayaṁ devaḥ samāyayau|| abravītprahasanvākyaṁ prasādaḥ kriyatāmiti

Knowing her firm resolve, the Lord himself came there and, smiling, spoke these words: 'Let there be reconciliation.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.436.23)

दृष्टिदानेन देवेशि भाषणेन वरानने॥ मया देवहितं कार्यं सर्वावस्थासु पार्वति

dṛṣṭidānena deveśi bhāṣaṇena varānane|| mayā devahitaṁ kāryaṁ sarvāvasthāsu pārvati

O queen of the gods, O fair-faced one, through the giving of a glance and through speech, O Parvati, I must, in every circumstance, act for the welfare of the gods.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.436.24)

अकाले तेन मुक्ताऽसि निवृत्तिः सुरते कृता॥ पुत्रार्थं ते समारंभो यतश्चासीत्सुरेश्वरि

akāle tena muktā'si nivṛttiḥ surate kṛtā|| putrārthaṁ te samārambho yataścāsītsureśvari

That is why I had to release you before the proper time and withdraw from union. O queen of gods, since your endeavor was undertaken for the sake of a son —

Verse 25 (skanda.7.436.25)

तस्मात्ते भविता पुत्रो निजदेहसमुद्भवः॥ मत्प्रसादादसंदिग्धं चतुर्थे दिवसे प्रिये

tasmātte bhavitā putro nijadehasamudbhavaḥ|| matprasādādasaṁdigdhaṁ caturthe divase priye

Therefore, O beloved, by my grace, without doubt, on the fourth day a son shall be born, arising from your own body.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.436.26)

निजांगमलमादाय यादृग्रूपं सुरेश्वरि॥ करिष्यसि न सन्देहस्तादृगेव भविष्यति

nijāṁgamalamādāya yādṛgrūpaṁ sureśvari|| kariṣyasi na saṁdehastādṛgeva bhaviṣyati

O queen of gods, whatever form you shall fashion, taking the impurity of your own limbs, without doubt it shall become exactly that.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.436.27)

सद्यो देवगणानां च दैत्यानां च विशेषतः॥ तथा वै सर्वमर्त्त्यानां सिद्धिदो बहुरूपधृक्

sadyo devagaṇānāṁ ca daityānāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ|| tathā vai sarvamarttyānāṁ siddhido bahurūpadhṛk

He shall become, at once, a bestower of accomplishment for the hosts of gods and especially for the daityas, and likewise for all mortals, and he shall bear many forms.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.436.28)

एवमुक्ता त्रिनेत्रेण परितुष्टा सुरेश्वरी॥ आलापं पतिना चक्रे सार्द्धं हर्षसमन्विता

evamuktā trinetreṇa parituṣṭā sureśvarī|| ālāpaṁ patinā cakre sārddhaṁ harṣasamanvitā

Thus addressed by the three-eyed one, the queen of the gods, well satisfied, engaged in joyful conversation with her husband.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.436.29)

चतुर्थे दिवसे प्राप्ते ततः स्नात्वा शिवा नृप॥ तदोद्वर्त्तनजं लेपं गृहीत्वा कौतुकात्किल॥ चतुर्भुजं चकाराऽथ हरवाक्याद्विनायकम्

caturthe divase prāpte tataḥ snātvā śivā nṛpa|| tadodvarttanajaṁ lepaṁ gṛhītvā kautukātkila|| caturbhujaṁ cakārā'tha haravākyādvināyakam

O king, when the fourth day arrived, Shiva (Parvati), having bathed, took, out of curiosity, the paste formed from the unguent of her own body, and then, by the word of Hara, fashioned the four-armed Vinayaka.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.436.30)

ततः सजीवतां प्राप्य हरवाक्येन तं तदा॥ विशेषेण महाराज नायकोऽसौ कृतः क्षितौ॥ सर्वेषां चैव मर्त्यानां ततः ख्यातो बभूव ह

tataḥ sajīvatāṁ prāpya haravākyena taṁ tadā|| viśeṣeṇa mahārāja nāyako'sau kṛtaḥ kṣitau|| sarveṣāṁ caiva martyānāṁ tataḥ khyāto babhūva ha

Then, by the word of Hara, he attained life, O great king, and was made especially the leader upon the earth. Thereafter he became renowned among all mortals.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.436.31)

विनायक इति श्रीमान्पूज्यस्त्रैलोक्यवासिनाम्॥ सर्वेषां देवमुख्यानां बभूव हि विनायकः

vināyaka iti śrīmānpūjyastrailokyavāsinām|| sarveṣāṁ devamukhyānāṁ babhūva hi vināyakaḥ

Under the name Vinayaka, that glorious one became worthy of worship for the dwellers of the three worlds, and he indeed became the Vinayaka (leader) of all the chief gods.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.436.32)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे देवीप्रियहिते रताः॥ तस्मै ददुर्वरान्दिव्यान्प्रोचुर्देवीं च पार्थिव

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve devīpriyahite ratāḥ|| tasmai dadurvarāndivyānprocurdevīṁ ca pārthiva

Then all the hosts of gods, devoted to what was dear and beneficial to the Goddess, gave him divine boons and spoke to the Goddess, O king —

Verse 33 (skanda.7.436.33)

॥ देवा ऊचुः ॥ तवायं तनयो देवि सर्वेषां नः पुरःसरः॥ प्रथमं पूजिते चास्मिन्पूजा ग्राह्या ततः सुरैः

|| devā ūcuḥ || tavāyaṁ tanayo devi sarveṣāṁ naḥ puraḥsaraḥ|| prathamaṁ pūjite cāsminpūjā grāhyā tataḥ suraiḥ

The gods said: O goddess, this son of yours is the foremost among all of us. Only when he is worshipped first shall worship be accepted by the gods.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.436.34)

एतच्छृंगं गिरे रम्यं तव संसेवनाच्छुभे॥ सर्वपापहरं नृणां दर्शनाच्च भविष्यति

etacchṛṁgaṁ gire ramyaṁ tava saṁsevanācchubhe|| sarvapāpaharaṁ nṛṇāṁ darśanācca bhaviṣyati

This lovely peak of the mountain, O auspicious one, because of your presence upon it, shall become, merely by being seen, a destroyer of all sins for men.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.436.35)

येऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यन्ति सुपुण्ये सलिलाश्रये॥ ते यांस्यंति परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

ye'tra snānaṁ kariṣyanti supuṇye salilāśraye|| te yāṁsyaṁti paraṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

Those who bathe here in this most sacred pool of water shall attain the supreme abode, free from old age and death.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.436.36)

माघमासे तृतीयायां शुक्लायां ये समाहिताः॥ सप्तजन्मांतराण्येव भविष्यन्ति सुखान्विताः

māghamāse tṛtīyāyāṁ śuklāyāṁ ye samāhitāḥ|| saptajanmāṁtarāṇyeva bhaviṣyanti sukhānvitāḥ

Those who, with focused mind, come here on the third day of the bright fortnight of Magha shall remain endowed with happiness for seven successive births.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.436.37)

एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे स्वस्थानं तु ततो गताः॥ देवोऽपि सहितो देव्या कैलासं पर्वतं गतः

evamuktvā surāḥ sarve svasthānaṁ tu tato gatāḥ|| devo'pi sahito devyā kailāsaṁ parvataṁ gataḥ

Having spoken thus, all the gods then departed to their own abodes. The Lord too, together with the Goddess, went to Mount Kailasa.