The Glory of Gauri's Grove of Austerity

Verse 1 (skanda.7.68.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। इति प्रोक्तानि ते देवि वक्त्रलिंगानि पंच वै। अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र गौर्यास्तपोवनम्। स्थानं महाप्रभावं हि सुरसिद्धनिषेवितम्

īśvara uvāca| iti proktāni te devi vaktraliṅgāni paṁca vai| atha te saṁpravakṣyāmi yatra gauryāstapovanam| sthānaṁ mahāprabhāvaṁ hi surasiddhaniṣevitam

Ishvara said: Thus, O Goddess, have the five face-lingas been told to you. Now I shall tell you of the place where Gauri's grove of austerity lies — a place of great power, frequented by gods and Siddhas.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.68.2)

सोमेशात्पूर्वदिग्भागे षष्टिधन्वंतरे स्थितम्। यत्र देव्या तपस्तप्तं सत्या वै पूर्वजन्मनि

someśātpūrvadigbhāge ṣaṣṭidhanvaṁtare sthitam| yatra devyā tapastaptaṁ satyā vai pūrvajanmani

It is situated in the eastern direction from Somesha, sixty bow-lengths away; there, in a former birth, the Goddess Sati performed austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.68.3)

कृत्वा च प्रणयात्कोपं मया सार्द्धं वरानने। प्रभासक्षेत्रमासाद्य संस्थिता सा तपस्विनी

kṛtvā ca praṇayātkopaṁ mayā sārddhaṁ varānane| prabhāsakṣetramāsādya saṁsthitā sā tapasvinī

O fair-faced one, having become angry with me out of love, she, the ascetic, went to the Prabhasa field and settled there.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.68.4)

देव्युवाच। किमर्थं सा परित्यज्य सती त्वां तपसि स्थिता। कस्मिन्स्थाने स्थिता देवी एतन्मे विस्तराद्वद

devyuvāca| kimarthaṁ sā parityajya satī tvāṁ tapasi sthitā| kasminsthāne sthitā devī etanme vistarādvada

The Goddess said: "Why did Sati abandon you and devote herself to austerity? In what place did that Goddess abide? Tell me this in detail."

Verse 5 (skanda.7.68.5)

ईश्वर उवाच। पुरासीस्त्वं महादेवि श्यामवर्णा मनस्विनी। नामार्थं च मया प्रोक्ता कालीति रहसि स्थिता

īśvara uvāca| purāsīstvaṁ mahādevi śyāmavarṇā manasvinī| nāmārthaṁ ca mayā proktā kālīti rahasi sthitā

Ishvara said: "O great Goddess, formerly you were dark-complexioned and spirited. Regarding your name, I once called you 'Kali' when we were alone."

Verse 6 (skanda.7.68.6)

सा श्रुत्वा विस्मयं वाक्यं भृशं रोषपरायणा। अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं भृकुटीकुटिलानना

sā śrutvā vismayaṁ vākyaṁ bhṛśaṁ roṣaparāyaṇā| abravītparuṣaṁ vākyaṁ bhṛkuṭīkuṭilānanā

Hearing that astonishing word, she became exceedingly angry, and with her brow furrowed, spoke harsh words.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.68.7)

यस्मात्कालीत्यहं प्रोक्ता त्वया शंभोऽतिविप्लवात्। तस्माद्यास्यामि गौरीति भविष्यामि च यत्र हि

yasmātkālītyahaṁ proktā tvayā śambho'tiviplavāt| tasmādyāsyāmi gaurīti bhaviṣyāmi ca yatra hi

"O Shambhu, since you have so improperly called me 'Kali,' I shall depart, and wherever I go, I shall become 'Gauri' (the fair one)."

Verse 8 (skanda.7.68.8)

एवमुक्त्वा महाभागा सखीगणसमावृता। गत्वा प्रभासक्षेत्रं सा प्रतिष्ठाप्य महेश्वरम्। गौरीश्वरेति विख्यातं पूजयंती विधानतः

evamuktvā mahābhāgā sakhīgaṇasamāvṛtā| gatvā prabhāsakṣetraṁ sā pratiṣṭhāpya maheśvaram| gaurīśvareti vikhyātaṁ pūjayaṁtī vidhānataḥ

Having said this, the illustrious one, surrounded by her companions, went to the Prabhasa field; and there, having established Maheshvara — renowned by the name Gaurishvara — she began to worship it according to rite.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.68.9)

ततो लिंगसमीपस्था एकपादे स्थिता सती। लिंगमाराधयंती सा चकार सुमहत्तपः

tato liṅgasamīpasthā ekapāde sthitā satī| liṅgamārādhayaṁtī sā cakāra sumahattapaḥ

Then Sati, standing near the linga on one foot, worshipping the linga, performed very great austerity.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.68.10)

पंचाग्निसाधिका देवी ग्रीष्मे जाप्यपरायणा। वर्षास्वाकाशशयना हेमंते सलिलाशया

paṁcāgnisādhikā devī grīṣme jāpyaparāyaṇā| varṣāsvākāśaśayanā hemaṁte salilāśayā

The Goddess practiced the five-fires austerity, devoted to japa in summer, sleeping under the open sky in the rains, and dwelling in water during winter.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.68.11)

यथा यथा तपो वृद्धिं याति तस्या महाप्रभा। तथातथा शरीरस्य गौरत्वं प्रतिपद्यते

yathā yathā tapo vṛddhiṁ yāti tasyā mahāprabhā| tathātathā śarīrasya gauratvaṁ pratipadyate

As her great austerity increased more and more, her body correspondingly attained fairness of complexion.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.68.12)

कालेन महता गौरी सर्वांगेणाथ साऽभवत्। ततो विहस्य भगवानुवाच शशिशेखरः

kālena mahatā gaurī sarvāṁgeṇātha sā'bhavat| tato vihasya bhagavānuvāca śaśiśekharaḥ

After a long time, Gauri became fair-complexioned in her entire body. Then the Lord, crowned with the crescent moon, smiled and said,

Verse 13 (skanda.7.68.13)

गौरीति च मुहुर्वाक्यमुत्तिष्ठ व्रज मन्दिरम्। वरं वरय कल्याणि यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते

gaurīti ca muhurvākyamuttiṣṭha vraja maṁdiram| varaṁ varaya kalyāṇi yatte manasi varttate

repeating the word "Gauri" — "Arise, come to the abode. O auspicious one, ask for whatever boon is in your mind."

Verse 14 (skanda.7.68.14)

गौर्युवाच। यो मामत्र स्थितां पश्येन्नारी वा पुरुषोऽथ वा। स भूयात्सुतसौभाग्यैः सप्तजन्मानि संयुतः

gauryuvāca| yo māmatra sthitāṁ paśyennārī vā puruṣo'tha vā| sa bhūyātsutasaubhāgyaiḥ saptajanmāni saṁyutaḥ

Gauri said: "Whoever, woman or man, beholds me established here, shall be endowed with sons and good fortune for seven births."

Verse 15 (skanda.7.68.15)

गीतवाद्यादिकं नृत्यं यः कुर्यात्पुरतो मम। तस्यान्वये न दौर्भाग्यं भूयात्तव प्रसादतः

gītavādyādikaṁ nṛtyaṁ yaḥ kuryātpurato mama| tasyānvaye na daurbhāgyaṁ bhūyāttava prasādataḥ

"Whoever performs song, music, and dance before me — by your grace, misfortune shall never occur in his lineage."

Verse 16 (skanda.7.68.16)

मया प्रतिष्ठितं लिंगं पूर्वमभ्यर्च्य मां ततः। पूजयिष्यति यो भक्त्या स यास्यति परं पदम्

mayā pratiṣṭhitaṁ liṅgaṁ pūrvamabhyarcya māṁ tataḥ| pūjayiṣyati yo bhaktyā sa yāsyati paraṁ padam

"Whoever first worships the linga established by me, and then worships me with devotion, shall attain the supreme abode."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.68.17)

गौरीश्वरेति विख्यातं नाम तस्य भवेत्प्रभो। तथेत्यहं प्रतिज्ञाय तत्र स्थाने स्थितोऽभवम्

gaurīśvareti vikhyātaṁ nāma tasya bhavetprabho| tathetyahaṁ pratijñāya tatra sthāne sthito'bhavam

"O Lord, let this become renowned by the name Gaurishvara." "So be it," I promised, and I remained established in that very place,

Verse 18 (skanda.7.68.18)

देव्या सह महादेवि प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना। अद्यापि अयने प्राप्ते उत्तरे दक्षिणेऽपि वा

devyā saha mahādevi prahṛṣṭenāṁtarātmanā| adyāpi ayane prāpte uttare dakṣiṇe'pi vā

together with the Goddess, O great Goddess, with a joyful inner spirit. Even today, when the solstice arrives, whether the northern or the southern,

Verse 19 (skanda.7.68.19)

गौरींस्थानं समभ्येति तत्र देव गुणैर्युतः। तस्मिन्नहनि यस्तत्र विशिष्टानि फलानि च। संप्रयच्छति विप्रेभ्यस्तस्य पुत्रा भवंति च

gaurīṁsthānaṁ samabhyeti tatra deva guṇairyutaḥ| tasminnahani yastatra viśiṣṭāni phalāni ca| saṁprayacchati viprebhyastasya putrā bhavaṁti ca

one endowed with virtues comes there to Gauri's place. On that day, whoever offers special fruits there to Brahmins is blessed with sons.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.68.20)

पुत्रहीना तु या नारी नालिकेरं प्रयच्छति। पुत्रं सा लभते शीघ्रं सबलं लक्षणान्वितम्

putrahīnā tu yā nārī nālikeraṁ prayacchati| putraṁ sā labhate śīghraṁ sabalaṁ lakṣaṇānvitam

Whatever woman, lacking a son, offers a coconut quickly obtains a son endowed with strength and auspicious marks.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.68.21)

घृतेन दीपकं तत्र या नारी संप्रयच्छति। रक्तवर्त्त्या महादेवि यावत्तस्यैव तंतवः

ghṛtena dīpakaṁ tatra yā nārī saṁprayacchati| raktavarttyā mahādevi yāvattasyaiva taṁtavaḥ

O great Goddess, whatever woman offers a lamp there with ghee and a red wick — for as many threads as are in that wick,

Verse 22 (skanda.7.68.22)

तावज्जन्मांतराण्येव सा सौभाग्यमवाप्नुयात्

tāvajjanmāṁtarāṇyeva sā saubhāgyamavāpnuyāt

for that many births she shall obtain good fortune.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.68.23)

या नृत्यं कुरुते तत्र भक्त्या परमया युता। आरोग्यसुखसौभाग्यैः संयुक्ता सा भवेच्चिरम्

yā nṛtyaṁ kurute tatra bhaktyā paramayā yutā| ārogyasukhasaubhāgyaiḥ saṁyuktā sā bhavecciram

Whatever woman performs dance there, filled with supreme devotion, shall long remain endowed with health, happiness, and good fortune.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.68.24)

तत्रांते सुमहत्कुडं तीर्थं स्वच्छोदपूरितम्। यः स्नानमाचरेत्तत्र मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

tatrāṁte sumahatkuḍaṁ tīrthaṁ svacchodapūritam| yaḥ snānamācarettatra mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Nearby there is a very great tank-tirtha filled with clear water; whoever bathes there is freed from all sins.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.68.25)

यः श्राद्धं कुरुते तत्र पितॄनुद्दिश्य भक्तितः। स याति परमं स्थानं पितृभिः सह पुण्यभाक्

yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute tatra pitṝnuddiśya bhaktitaḥ| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ pitṛbhiḥ saha puṇyabhāk

Whoever performs shraddha there for the sake of the ancestors with devotion goes, blessed with merit, to the supreme abode together with his ancestors.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.68.26)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत्। गीतवाद्यादिभिर्नृत्यै रात्रौ कुर्वीत जागरम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena śrāddhaṁ tatra samācaret| gītavādyādibhirnṛtyai rātrau kurvīta jāgaram

Therefore one should perform shraddha there with every possible effort. One should keep a night-vigil with song, music, and dance.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.68.27)

दंपत्योः परिधानं च तत्र देयं सदक्षिणम्। यश्चैतत्पठते नित्यं तृतीयायां विशेषतः। पार्वत्याः पुरतो देवि स सौभाग्यमवाप्नुयात्

daṁpatyoḥ paridhānaṁ ca tatra deyaṁ sadakṣiṇam| yaścaitatpaṭhate nityaṁ tṛtīyāyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| pārvatyāḥ purato devi sa saubhāgyamavāpnuyāt

Clothing, together with a sacrificial fee, should be given there to a married couple. Whoever regularly recites this, especially on the tritiya, before Parvati, O Goddess, obtains good fortune.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.68.28)

शृणुयाद्वाऽपि यो भक्त्या सम्यग्भक्तिपरायणः। सोऽपि सौभाग्यमाप्नोति यावज्जीवं न संशयः

śṛṇuyādvāpi yo bhaktyā samyagbhaktiparāyaṇaḥ| so'pi saubhāgyamāpnoti yāvajjīvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

And whoever, truly devoted, hears this with devotion, he too obtains good fortune for as long as he lives — there is no doubt.