The Glory of Gandharveshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.54.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि गंधर्वेश्वरमुत्तमम्। दण्डपाणेस्तु भवनादुत्तरे निकटे स्थितम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi gaṁdharveśvaramuttamam| daṇḍapāṇestu bhavanāduttare nikaṭe sthitam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the excellent Gandharveshvara, situated nearby to the north of Dandapani's abode.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.54.2)

यत्र गंधर्वराजो वै घनवाहेति विश्रुतः। तस्य गंधर्वसेनेति ख्याता पुत्री महाप्रभा

yatra gaṁdharvarājo vai ghanavāheti viśrutaḥ| tasya gaṁdharvaseneti khyātā putrī mahāprabhā

There was a Gandharva king renowned by the name Ghanavaha; his daughter, famed by the name Gandharvasena, was of great splendor.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.54.3)

शिखंडिना गणेनैव सा शप्ता रूपगर्विता। ततो गोशृंगऋषिणा दत्तस्तस्या अनुग्रहः

śikhaṁḍinā gaṇenaiva sā śaptā rūpagarvitā| tato gośṛṁgaṛṣiṇā dattastasyā anugrahaḥ

Proud of her beauty, she was cursed by a gana named Shikhandin; then the sage Goshringa granted her his grace, a means of release.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.54.4)

सोमवारव्रतेनैव सोमेशाराधनं प्रति। ततः क्षेत्रं समागत्य तपः कृत्वा सुदुश्चरम्

somavāravratenaiva someśārādhanaṁ prati| tataḥ kṣetraṁ samāgatya tapaḥ kṛtvā suduścaram

Through the observance of the Monday (Somavara) vow, worshipping Somesha, and thereafter coming to the sacred field and performing extremely arduous austerity,

Verse 5 (skanda.7.54.5)

लिंगं प्रतिष्ठयामास तत्र गंधर्वराट् स्वयम्। तथैव पुत्र्या तस्यैव तत्र लिंगं प्रतिष्ठितम्

liṅgaṁ pratiṣṭhayāmāsa tatra gaṁdharvarāṭ svayam| tathaiva putryā tasyaiva tatra liṅgaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

the Gandharva king himself installed a linga there; and likewise, his own daughter too installed a linga there.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.54.6)

अथ तत्रैव देवेशि दंडपाणेः समीपतः। घनवाहेश्वरं नाम यो लिंगं यत्नतोऽर्चयेत्

atha tatraiva deveśi daṁḍapāṇeḥ samīpataḥ| ghanavāheśvaraṁ nāma yo liṅgaṁ yatnato'rcayet

Now, O Goddess of gods, right there near Dandapani, whoever diligently worships the linga named Ghanavaheshvara,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.54.7)

गंधर्वलोकमाप्नोति दृष्ट्वा स प्रयतः शुचिः। इति ते कथितं देवि गांधर्वं लिंगमुत्तमम्

gaṁdharvalokamāpnoti dṛṣṭvā sa prayataḥ śuciḥ| iti te kathitaṁ devi gāṁdharvaṁ liṅgamuttamam

attains, upon seeing it while pure and disciplined, the world of the Gandharvas. Thus, O Goddess, has this excellent Gandharva linga been told to you.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.54.8)

तृतीयं सर्वपापानां नाशनं पुण्यवर्द्धनम्। अग्नितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा पूज्य गंधर्वपूजितम्

tṛtīyaṁ sarvapāpānāṁ nāśanaṁ puṇyavarddhanam| agnitīrthe naraḥ snātvā pūjya gaṁdharvapūjitam

This is the third linga, destroyer of all sins and increaser of merit. A man, having bathed at Agni-tirtha and worshipped this linga honored by the Gandharvas,

Verse 9 (skanda.7.54.9)

अयने चोत्तरे प्राप्ते निर्वाणमधिगच्छति। श्रुत्वाऽभिनंद्य माहात्म्यं मुच्यते महतो भयात्

ayane cottare prāpte nirvāṇamadhigacchati| śrutvā'bhinaṁdya māhātmyaṁ mucyate mahato bhayāt

attains liberation when the northern solstice (Uttarayana) arrives. Having heard and rejoiced in this glory, one is freed from great fear.