The Glory of Prithvishvara (Chandreshvara)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.98.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि चंडेश्वरमिति श्रुतम्। सोमेशाद्वायवे भागे धनुषां षष्टिभिः स्थितम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi caṇḍeśvaramiti śrutam| someśādvāyave bhāge dhanuṣāṁ ṣaṣṭibhiḥ sthitam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to what is known as Chandeshvara — situated to the northwest of Somesha, at a distance of sixty bows.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.98.2)

दिव्यं लिंगं महादेवि सर्वपातकनाशनम्। तत्पूर्वे तु युगे ख्यातं मनोः स्वायंभुवांतरे

divyaṁ liṅgaṁ mahādevi sarvapātakanāśanam| tatpūrve tu yuge khyātaṁ manoḥ svāyaṁbhuvāntare

A divine Linga, O great Goddess, destroyer of all sin; it was known in a former age, in the Svayambhuva Manvantara.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.98.3)

त्रेतायुगमुखे देवि पृथिव्या संप्रतिष्ठितम्। पूर्वमन्वंतरे चास्मिँल्लिङ्गं पृथ्वीश्वरं प्रिये

tretāyugamukhe devi pṛthivyā saṁpratiṣṭhitam| pūrvamanvantare cāsminliṅgaṁ pṛthvīśvaraṁ priye

At the dawn of the Treta Yuga, established by the Earth; in that former Manvantara, O beloved, the Linga was called Prithvishvara.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.98.4)

पुनश्चंद्रेण तत्प्राप्तं लिंगं चंद्रेश्वरं प्रिये। ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां नाशनं पुण्यवर्द्धनम्

punaścandreṇa tatprāptaṁ liṅgaṁ candreśvaraṁ priye| brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ nāśanaṁ puṇyavarddhanam

Again, when attained by Chandra, the Linga became Chandreshvara, O beloved — destroyer of sins such as the slaying of a brahmin, and increaser of merit.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.98.5)

तं दृष्ट्वा मानवो देवि सप्तजन्मसमुद्भवैः। मुच्यते कल्मषैः सर्वैः कृतकृत्यस्तु जायते

taṁ dṛṣṭvā mānavo devi saptajanmasamudbhavaiḥ| mucyate kalmaṣaiḥ sarvaiḥ kṛtakṛtyastu jāyate

Having beheld him, a man, O Goddess, is freed from all the taints arising across seven births, and becomes one whose purpose is fulfilled.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.98.6)

देव्युवाच। कथं पृथ्वीश्वरं ख्यातं तल्लिंगं पाप नाशनम्। कथं पुनः समाख्यातं चन्द्रेश्वरमिति प्रभो। एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि श्रोतुकामाहमादरात्

devyuvāca| kathaṁ pṛthvīśvaraṁ khyātaṁ talliṅgaṁ pāpa nāśanam| kathaṁ punaḥ samākhyātaṁ candreśvaramiti prabho| etadvistarato brūhi śrotukāmāhamādarāt

The Goddess said: How did that sin-destroying Linga come to be known as Prithvishvara? How again was it called Chandreshvara, O Lord? Tell me this at length; I wish to hear it with reverence.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.98.7)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कथा पापप्रणाशिनीम्। यां श्रुत्वा मुच्यते जंतुस्त्रिविधैः कर्मबन्धनैः

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi kathā pāpapraṇāśinīm| yāṁ śrutvā mucyate jantustrividhaiḥ karmabandhanaiḥ

Ishvara said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall tell the tale that destroys sin, by hearing which a creature is freed from the threefold bonds of karma.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.98.8)

आसीत्पूर्वं महादेवि दैत्यभारार्द्दिता मही। साऽधो व्रजंती सहसा गोरूपा संबभूव ह

āsītpūrvaṁ mahādevi daityabhārārdditā mahī| sā'dho vrajaṁtī sahasā gorūpā saṁbabhūva ha

Formerly, O great Goddess, the Earth, afflicted by the burden of the Daityas, suddenly, while sinking down, became transformed into the form of a cow.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.98.9)

इतस्ततो धावमाना न लेभे निर्वृतिं क्वचित्। ततो वर्षशते पूर्णे भ्रममाणा क्वचित्क्वचित्

itastato dhāvamānā na lebhe nirvṛtiṁ kvacit| tato varṣaśate pūrṇe bhramamāṇā kvacitkvacit

Running here and there, she found peace nowhere; then, after a full hundred years, wandering about here and there —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.98.10)

आससाद महाक्षेत्रं प्रभासमिति विश्रुतम्। देवदानवगंधर्वैः सेवितं पापनाशनम्

āsasāda mahākṣetraṁ prabhāsamiti viśrutam| devadānavagandharvaiḥ sevitaṁ pāpanāśanam

— she came upon the great field renowned as Prabhasa, served by gods, danavas, and gandharvas, the destroyer of sin.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.98.11)

तत्र स्थित्वा महाक्षेत्रे कृत्वा मनसि निश्चयम्। लिंगं प्रतिष्ठयामास भक्त्या परमया युता

tatra sthitvā mahākṣetre kṛtvā manasi niścayam| liṅgaṁ pratiṣṭhayāmāsa bhaktyā paramayā yutā

Remaining there, in the great field, having made a resolve in her mind, she established a Linga, filled with the utmost devotion.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.98.12)

वर्षाणां च शतं साग्रं कृते तपसि दुश्चरे। तुतोष भगवान्रुद्रो धरित्रीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

varṣāṇāṁ ca śataṁ sāgraṁ kṛte tapasi duścare| tutoṣa bhagavānrudro dharitrīṁ vākyamabravīt

When a hundred years and more had passed in the performance of that difficult austerity, the Lord Rudra became satisfied, and spoke this word to the Earth.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.98.13)

देवि विश्वंभरे सर्वं तपः सुचरितं त्वया। मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि भविष्यति तवेप्सितम्

devi viśvaṁbhare sarvaṁ tapaḥ sucaritaṁ tvayā| mā śokaṁ kuru kalyāṇi bhaviṣyati tavepsitam

'O Goddess, O bearer of the world, all your austerity has been well performed; do not grieve, O auspicious one — your desire shall be fulfilled.'

Verse 14 (skanda.7.98.14)

दैत्या नाशं गमिष्यंति विष्णुना निहता भुवि। भवित्री त्वं महादेवि दैत्यभारविवर्जिता

daityā nāśaṁ gamiṣyaṁti viṣṇunā nihatā bhuvi| bhavitrī tvaṁ mahādevi daityabhāravivarjitā

'The Daityas shall go to destruction, slain by Vishnu upon the earth; you, O great Goddess, shall become free of the burden of the Daityas.'

Verse 15 (skanda.7.98.15)

इदं त्वया स्थापितं यल्लिंगं परमशोभनम्। धरित्रीनाम्ना विख्यातं लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यति

idaṁ tvayā sthāpitaṁ yalliṅgaṁ paramaśobhanam| dharitrīnāmnā vikhyātaṁ loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati

'This supremely beautiful Linga which has been established by you shall become known in the world by the name Dharitri, and shall attain renown.'

Verse 16 (skanda.7.98.16)

अत्राहं संस्थितो नित्यं लिंगरूपी महाप्रभुः। स्थास्यामि कल्पेकल्पे वै नृणां पापापहारकः

atrāhaṁ saṁsthito nityaṁ liṅgarūpī mahāprabhuḥ| sthāsyāmi kalpekalpe vai nṛṇāṁ pāpāpahārakaḥ

'Here I shall abide forever, the great Lord embodied in the Linga; I shall remain, kalpa after kalpa, the remover of the sins of men.'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.98.17)

मूर्त्यष्टकसमायुक्तो लिंगेऽस्मिन्संस्थितः सदा। नृणां नाशयिता पापं पूर्वजन्मशतार्जितम्

mūrtyaṣṭakasamāyukto liṅge'sminsaṁsthitaḥ sadā| nṛṇāṁ nāśayitā pāpaṁ pūrvajanmaśatārjitam

'Endowed with the eight forms, ever established in this Linga, I shall be the destroyer of the sin accumulated by men across a hundred former births.'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.98.18)

भाद्रे कृष्णतृतीयायां यश्चैतं पूजयिष्यति। सोऽश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलमाप्स्यत्यसंशयम्

bhādre kṛṣṇatṛtīyāyāṁ yaścaitaṁ pūjayiṣyati| so'śvamedhasahasrasya phalamāpsyatyasaṁśayam

'He who shall worship this Linga on the dark third day of Bhadrapada shall obtain, without doubt, the fruit of a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices.'

Verse 19 (skanda.7.98.19)

सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकस्य सर्वेषां दानकर्मणाम्। भविष्यति फलं तस्य लिंगस्यैवास्य पूजनात्

sarvatīrthābhiṣekasya sarveṣāṁ dānakarmaṇām| bhaviṣyati phalaṁ tasya liṅgasyaivāsya pūjanāt

'The fruit of bathing at all the tirthas, and of every act of giving, shall accrue to him through the worship of this Linga alone.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.98.20)

धनुषां षोडशं यावत्समंतात्परिमंडलम्। क्षेत्रमस्य समाख्यातं प्राणिनां मुक्तिदायकम्

dhanuṣāṁ ṣoḍaśaṁ yāvatsamaṁtātparimaṇḍalam| kṣetramasya samākhyātaṁ prāṇināṁ muktidāyakam

'Its field, extending all around to a boundary of sixteen bows, is declared, bestowing liberation upon living beings.'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.98.21)

तस्मिन्मृताः प्राणिनो ये कामतो वाप्यकामतः। कृमि कीटसमा वापि ते यांति परमां गतिम्

tasminmṛtāḥ prāṇino ye kāmato vāpyakāmataḥ| kṛmi kīṭasamā vāpi te yāṁti paramāṁ gatim

'Whatever creatures die there, whether willingly or unwillingly, even if they be like worms or insects, they go to the supreme state.'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.98.22)

यो दद्यात्काञ्चनं मेरुं कृत्स्नां वाऽपि वसुन्धराम्। यः पूजयति पृथ्वीशं स तयोरधिकः स्मृतः

yo dadyātkāñcanaṁ meruṁ kṛtsnāṁ vā'pi vasundharām| yaḥ pūjayati pṛthvīśaṁ sa tayoradhikaḥ smṛtaḥ

'Whoever would give the golden Mount Meru, or the entire earth, and whoever worships Prithvisha — he is remembered as greater than the two combined.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.98.23)

ईश्वर उवाच। इति दत्त्वा वरान्देवस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत। पृथिवीश्वरनामाभूत्तत्प्रभृत्येव शंकरः

īśvara uvāca| iti dattvā varāndevastatraivāntaradhīyata| pṛthivīśvaranāmābhūttatprabhṛtyeva śaṁkaraḥ

Ishvara said: Having thus granted the boons, the god vanished there itself; from that time forth, Shankara became known by the name Prithivishvara.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.98.24)

पुनरस्मिन्महाकल्पे वाराह इति विश्रुते। कदाचिद्दक्षशापेन क्षीणश्चन्द्रो बभूव ह

punarasminmahākalpe vārāha iti viśrute| kadācidddakṣaśāpena kṣīṇaścandro babhūva ha

Again, in this great Kalpa known as Varaha, at one time, through the curse of Daksha, the moon became waned.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.98.25)

पपात भूतले देवि यक्ष्मणा पीडितः शशी। क्षेत्रं प्रभासमासाद्य तन्महोदधिसंनिधौ

papāta bhūtale devi yakṣmaṇā pīḍitaḥ śaśī| kṣetraṁ prabhāsamāsādya tanmahodadhisaṁnidhau

The moon, afflicted with consumption, fell upon the surface of the earth, O Goddess, having reached the field of Prabhasa, near that great ocean.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.98.26)

दृष्ट्वा पृथ्वीश्वरं लिंगं सप्रभावं महाप्रभम्। तत्पूजानिरतो भूत्वा वर्षाणां तु सहस्रकम्

dṛṣṭvā pṛthvīśvaraṁ liṅgaṁ saprabhāvaṁ mahāprabham| tatpūjānirato bhūtvā varṣāṇāṁ tu sahasrakam

Beholding the Prithvishvara Linga, powerful and greatly radiant, and devoting himself to its worship, for a thousand years —

Verse 27 (skanda.7.98.27)

अतपत्स तपो रौद्रं शीर्णपर्णांबुभक्षकः। यतः समभवद्दीप्त्या सर्वाह्लादकरः शशी

atapatsa tapo raudraṁ śīrṇaparṇāṁbubhakṣakaḥ| yataḥ samabhavaddīptyā sarvāhlādakaraḥ śaśī

— he performed terrible austerity, subsisting on withered leaves and water; whereby the moon, through his radiance, became the delighter of all.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.98.28)

तल्लिंगस्यैव माहात्म्यात्ततश्चंद्रेश्वरोऽभवत्। तस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्याच्चंद्रमा गतकल्मषः

talliṅgasyaiva māhātmyāttataścandreśvaro'bhavat| tasya liṅgasya māhātmyāccandramā gatakalmaṣaḥ

By the very glory of that Linga, it thereafter became Chandreshvara; by the glory of that Linga, the moon, freed from his taint —

Verse 29 (skanda.7.98.29)

अवाप सिद्धिमत्युग्रां स्पर्शलिंगप्रकाशिनीम्। सोमनाथेति यां प्राहुः प्रसिद्धां लिंगरूपिणीम्

avāpa siddhimatyugrāṁ sparśaliṅgaprakāśinīm| somanātheti yāṁ prāhuḥ prasiddhāṁ liṅgarūpiṇīm

— obtained a most exalted accomplishment, the radiant power of that touch-hallowed Linga, which they call the renowned, Linga-embodied Somanatha.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.98.30)

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं माहात्म्यं चन्द्रदैवतम्। श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथाऽऽरोग्यं प्रयच्छति

iti saṁkṣepataḥ proktaṁ māhātmyaṁ candradaivatam| śrutaṁ harati pāpāni tathā'rogyaṁ prayacchati

Thus has been told, in brief, this glory belonging to the moon-deity; when heard, it removes sins and likewise bestows health.