The Boons and Rivers of Nandishvara

Verse 1 (skanda.8.22.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततस्तु देवदेवेशो भक्त्या परमया युतम् । अश्रुपूर्णेक्षणं दीनं पादयोः शिरसा नतम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| tatastu devadeveśo bhaktyā paramayā yutam | aśrupūrṇekṣaṇaṁ dīnaṁ pādayoḥ śirasā natam

Sanatkumara said: Then the God of gods, beholding him endowed with supreme devotion, his eyes filled with tears, humble, his head bowed at his feet —

Verse 2 (skanda.8.22.2)

कराभ्यां सुसुखाभ्यां तं संगृह्य परमात्तिहा । उत्थाप्य नयने सोमः अश्रुपूर्णे ममार्ज ह

karābhyāṁ susukhābhyāṁ taṁ saṁgṛhya paramāttihā | utthāpya nayane somaḥ aśrupūrṇe mamārja ha

— Soma, the supreme remover of affliction, took hold of him with his two gentle hands, raised him up, and wiped his tear-filled eyes.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.22.3)

उवाच चैनं तुष्टात्मा वचसाप्याययन्निव । निरीक्ष्य गणपान् सर्वान् देव्या सह तदा प्रभुः

uvāca cainaṁ tuṣṭātmā vacasāpyāyayanniva | nirīkṣya gaṇapān sarvān devyā saha tadā prabhuḥ

The lord, pleased in heart, gazing upon all the leaders of the ganas together with the Goddess, spoke to him, as if reviving him with his words —

Verse 4 (skanda.8.22.4)

देवदेव उवाच। जाने भक्तिं तव मयि जाने चार्तिं तवानघ । तस्य सर्वस्य शैलादे उदर्कं सन्निशामय

devadeva uvāca| jāne bhaktiṁ tava mayi jāne cārtiṁ tavānagha | tasya sarvasya śailāde udarkaṁ sanniśāmaya

The God of gods said: 'I know your devotion to me, and I know your distress, O sinless one. O son of Shilada, hear now the outcome of all this.'

Verse 5 (skanda.8.22.5)

अमरो जरया त्यक्तो नित्यं दुःखविवर्जितः । अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव सपिता ससुहृज्जनः

amaro jarayā tyakto nityaṁ duḥkhavivarjitaḥ | akṣayaścāvyayaścaiva sapitā sasuhṛjjanaḥ

'You shall be immortal, free from old age, ever free from sorrow, imperishable and unchanging, together with your father and your friends.'

Verse 6 (skanda.8.22.6)

ममेष्टो गणपश्चैव मद्वीर्यो मत्पराक्रमः । इष्टो मम सदा चैव मम पार्श्वगतस्सदा

mameṣṭo gaṇapaścaiva madvīryo matparākramaḥ | iṣṭo mama sadā caiva mama pārśvagatassadā

'You shall be my beloved lord of the ganas, possessed of my own valour and my own might; ever dear to me, and ever at my side.'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.22.7)

मद्रूपश्चैव भविता महायोगबलान्वितः । ऋद्धिमच्चैव ते द्वीपं क्षीरोदममृताकरम्

madrūpaścaiva bhavitā mahāyogabalānvitaḥ | ṛddhimaccaiva te dvīpaṁ kṣīrodamamṛtākaram

'You shall assume my very form, endowed with the power of great yoga; and prosperous shall be your island — the ocean of milk, the source of ambrosia.'

Verse 8 (skanda.8.22.8)

संवासं च प्रयच्छामि तत्र रंस्यसि सर्वदा । कुशेशयमयीं मालामवमुच्यात्मनस्ततः

saṁvāsaṁ ca prayacchāmi tatra raṁsyasi sarvadā | kuśeśayamayīṁ mālāmavamucyātmanastataḥ

'I grant you dwelling there; you shall ever delight in it.' Then, taking off from himself a garland made of lotuses —

Verse 9 (skanda.8.22.9)

आबबन्ध महातेजा नन्दिने दिव्यरूपिणीम् । स तया मालया नन्दी बभौ कण्ठावसक्तया

ābabandha mahātejā nandine divyarūpiṇīm | sa tayā mālayā nandī babhau kaṇṭhāvasaktayā

— the greatly splendid one bound it, divine in form, upon Nandi. Nandi, with that garland fastened about his neck, shone forth,

Verse 10 (skanda.8.22.10)

त्र्यक्षो दशभुजः श्रीमान् द्वितीय इव शङ्करः । ततो हस्ते समादाय हस्तेन भगवान् हरः

tryakṣo daśabhujaḥ śrīmān dvitīya iva śaṅkaraḥ | tato haste samādāya hastena bhagavān haraḥ

three-eyed, ten-armed, glorious, like a second Shankara. Then the Blessed Hara, taking his hand in his own —

Verse 11 (skanda.8.22.11)

उवाच ब्रूहि किं तेऽद्य ददानि वरमुत्तमम् । आश्रमश्चायमत्यर्थं तपसा तव भावितः

uvāca brūhi kiṁ te'dya dadāni varamuttamam | āśramaścāyamatyarthaṁ tapasā tava bhāvitaḥ

— said: 'Tell me, what excellent boon shall I give you today? And this hermitage has become exceedingly hallowed by your austerity.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.22.12)

जप्येश्वर इति ख्यातो मम गुह्यो भविष्यति । समन्ताद् योजनं क्षेत्रं दिव्यं देवगणैर्वृतम्

japyeśvara iti khyāto mama guhyo bhaviṣyati | samantād yojanaṁ kṣetraṁ divyaṁ devagaṇairvṛtam

'It shall become known as Japyeshvara, my secret place; a divine field of one yojana all around, surrounded by hosts of gods.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.22.13)

सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णमप्सरोगणसेवितम् । सिद्धिक्षेत्रं परं गुह्यं भविष्यति न संशयः

siddhacāraṇasaṁkīrṇamapsarogaṇasevitam | siddhikṣetraṁ paraṁ guhyaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Thronged with siddhas and charanas, served by hosts of apsarases, it shall become a supreme and secret field of accomplishment — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.22.14)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यत्किञ्चित् कुरुते नरः । शुभं वाप्यशुभं वात्र सर्वं भवितृ तच्छुभम्

karmaṇā manasā vācā yatkiñcit kurute naraḥ | śubhaṁ vāpyaśubhaṁ vātra sarvaṁ bhavitṛ tacchubham

'Whatever a man does here, by deed, mind, or speech, whether auspicious or inauspicious, all of it shall become auspicious.'

Verse 15 (skanda.8.22.15)

जप्यमानः स तुल्यो वै रुद्राणां तु भविष्यति । यत्र तत्र मृता मर्त्या यास्यन्ति त्वत्सलोकताम्

japyamānaḥ sa tulyo vai rudrāṇāṁ tu bhaviṣyati | yatra tatra mṛtā martyā yāsyanti tvatsalokatām

'One who recites here shall become equal to the Rudras; and mortals who die here, wherever they may be, shall attain to your world.'

Verse 16 (skanda.8.22.16)

ततो जटाप्लुतं वारि गृहीत्वा हारनिर्मलम् । उक्त्वा नदी भवस्वेति विससर्ज महातपाः

tato jaṭāplutaṁ vāri gṛhītvā hāranirmalam | uktvā nadī bhavasveti visasarja mahātapāḥ

Then, taking the water that had soaked his matted locks, clear as a pearl-necklace, that great ascetic, saying 'Become a river,' released it.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.22.17)

सा ततो दिव्यतोया च पुण्या मणिजला शुभा । हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णा चक्रवाकोपशोभिता

sā tato divyatoyā ca puṇyā maṇijalā śubhā | haṁsakāraṇḍavākīrṇā cakravākopaśobhitā

That water, then possessing divine, sacred water, its water like jewels, auspicious, thronged with swans and karandava-ducks, adorned with chakravaka birds —

Verse 18 (skanda.8.22.18)

पद्मोत्पलवनोपेता प्रावर्तत महानदी । स्त्रीरूपधारिणी चैव प्राञ्जलिः शिरसानता

padmotpalavanopetā prāvartata mahānadī | strīrūpadhāriṇī caiva prāñjaliḥ śirasānatā

— endowed with groves of lotuses and blue lilies, flowed forth as a great river; and, assuming the form of a woman, with joined palms, her head bowed —

Verse 19 (skanda.8.22.19)

पद्मोत्पलदलाभाक्षी तदा देवमुपस्थिता । तामुवाच ततो देवो नदीं स्वयमुपस्थिताम्

padmotpaladalābhākṣī tadā devamupasthitā | tāmuvāca tato devo nadīṁ svayamupasthitām

— her eyes like lotus and lily petals, she then presented herself before the god. Then the god spoke to that river who had come of her own accord —

Verse 20 (skanda.8.22.20)

यस्माज्जटोदकाद् देवि प्रवृत्ता त्वं शुभानने । तस्माज्जटोदा नाम्ना त्वं भविष्यसि सरिद्वरा

yasmājjaṭodakād devi pravṛttā tvaṁ śubhānane | tasmājjaṭodā nāmnā tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi saridvarā

'Since you, O goddess of beautiful face, have arisen from the water of my matted locks, therefore you shall become, by that name, Jatoda, the foremost of rivers.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.22.21)

त्वयि स्नानं तु यः कुर्याच्छुचिः प्रयतमानसः । सोऽश्वमेधफलं प्राप्य रुद्रलोके महीयते

tvayi snānaṁ tu yaḥ kuryācchuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ | so'śvamedhaphalaṁ prāpya rudraloke mahīyate

'Whoever bathes in you, pure and with a controlled mind, obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice and is exalted in the world of Rudra.'

Verse 22 (skanda.8.22.22)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। ततो देव्या नन्दीश्वरमतिप्रभम् । पुत्रस्तेऽयमिति प्रोच्य पादयोस्तं व्यनामयत्

sanatkumāra uvāca| tato devyā nandīśvaramatiprabham | putraste'yamiti procya pādayostaṁ vyanāmayat

Sanatkumara said: Then by the Goddess (a portion of the text is lost here) the exceedingly radiant Nandishvara — saying, 'This is your son,' Shiva made him bow at her feet.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.22.23)

सा तमाघ्राय शिरसि पाणिभ्यां परिमार्जती । पुत्रप्रेम्णाभ्यषिञ्चत्तं स्रोतोभिः स्तनजैस्त्रिभिः

sā tamāghrāya śirasi pāṇibhyāṁ parimārjatī | putrapremṇābhyaṣiñcattaṁ srotobhiḥ stanajaistribhiḥ

She, smelling his head and stroking it with her two hands, out of a mother's love anointed him with three streams flowing from her breasts.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.22.24)

पयसा शंखगौरेण देवी देवं निरीक्षती । तानि स्रोतांसि त्रीण्यस्याः स्रुतान्योघवती नदी

payasā śaṁkhagaureṇa devī devaṁ nirīkṣatī | tāni srotāṁsi trīṇyasyāḥ srutānyoghavatī nadī

The Goddess, gazing at the god, anointed him with milk white as a conch; those three streams of hers that flowed became a river of great current.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.22.25)

नदीं त्रिस्रोतसीं पुण्यां ततस्तामवदद्धरः । त्रिस्रोतसां नदीं दृष्ट्वा वृषं परमहर्षितः

nadīṁ trisrotasīṁ puṇyāṁ tatastāmavadaddharaḥ | trisrotasāṁ nadīṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣaṁ paramaharṣitaḥ

Then Hara named that sacred river Trisrotasi, 'of the three streams.' Seeing the river of the three streams, the bull, greatly delighted,

Verse 26 (skanda.8.22.26)

ननर्द नादात् तस्माच्च सरिदन्या ततोऽभवत् । यस्माद् वृषभनादेन प्रवृत्ता सा महानदी

nanarda nādāt tasmācca saridanyā tato'bhavat | yasmād vṛṣabhanādena pravṛttā sā mahānadī

— bellowed forth a roar; and from that roar another river then came into being. Since that great river arose from the bull's roar —

Verse 27 (skanda.8.22.27)

तस्माड्ढित्किरिकान्तां वै उवाच वृषभध्वजः । जाम्बूनदमयं चित्रं स्वं देवः परमाद्भुतम्

tasmāḍḍhitkirikāntāṁ vai uvāca vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | jāmbūnadamayaṁ citraṁ svaṁ devaḥ paramādbhutam

— the Bull-bannered one called her by that roar-derived name (this verse is uncertain in the source). The god then gave him his own wondrous ornament made of jambunada gold.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.22.28)

मुकुटञ्चाबबन्धास्य कुण्डले चामृतोद्भवे । तं तथाभ्यर्चितं व्योम्नि दृष्टवा मेघः प्रभाकरः

mukuṭañcābabandhāsya kuṇḍale cāmṛtodbhave | taṁ tathābhyarcitaṁ vyomni dṛṣṭavā meghaḥ prabhākaraḥ

He bound upon him a crown, and two earrings born of nectar. Seeing him thus adorned in the sky, the radiant Cloud —

Verse 29 (skanda.8.22.29)

देवोपवाह्यः सिषिवे सनादः सतडिद्गुणः । तस्याभिषिक्तस्य तदा प्रवृत्ते स्रोतसी भृशम्

devopavāhyaḥ siṣive sanādaḥ sataḍidguṇaḥ | tasyābhiṣiktasya tadā pravṛtte srotasī bhṛśam

— the god who serves as the mount, roaring, accompanied by lightning, became united with him. Then, from him thus anointed, two streams flowed forth abundantly.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.22.30)

यस्माच्च कुण्डलात् स्वर्णात् नद्येका संप्रवर्तत । स्वर्णोदकेति नाम्ना तां महादेवोऽभ्यभाषत

yasmācca kuṇḍalāt svarṇāt nadyekā saṁpravartata | svarṇodaketi nāmnā tāṁ mahādevo'bhyabhāṣata

And from the golden earring, one river came forth; Mahadeva named her by the name Svarnodaka.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.22.31)

जम्बूनदमया द्यस्माद् द्वितीया मुकुटाच्छुभात् । प्रावर्तत नदी पुण्या प्राह जाम्बूनदीति ताम्

jambūnadamayā dyasmād dvitīyā mukuṭācchubhāt | prāvartata nadī puṇyā prāha jāmbūnadīti tām

And since a second, sacred river flowed forth from the auspicious crown made of jambunada gold, he called her Jambunadi.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.22.32)

एतत्पञ्चनदं नाम जप्येश्वरसमीपगम् । व्याख्यातं फलमेतासां जटोदया महात्मना

etatpañcanadaṁ nāma japyeśvarasamīpagam | vyākhyātaṁ phalametāsāṁ jaṭodayā mahātmanā

This group, called Panchanada, 'the five rivers,' flows near Japyeshvara. The fruit of these rivers, beginning with Jatoda, has been explained by that great soul.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.22.33)

तच्च पञ्चनदं दिव्यं देवं जप्येश्वरं च तम् । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो गत्वा स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य च शूलिनम्

tacca pañcanadaṁ divyaṁ devaṁ japyeśvaraṁ ca tam | trirātropoṣito gatvā snātvābhyarcya ca śūlinam

Having fasted for three nights, and having gone to that divine Panchanada and to the god Japyeshvara, having bathed and worshipped the trident-bearer —

Verse 34 (skanda.8.22.34)

ब्राह्मणाँस्तर्पयित्वा च यत्र तत्र मृतो नरः । नन्दीश्वरस्यानुचरः क्षीरोदनिलयो भवेत्

brāhmaṇā~starpayitvā ca yatra tatra mṛto naraḥ | nandīśvarasyānucaraḥ kṣīrodanilayo bhavet

— and having satisfied brahmins with offerings, a man who dies anywhere thereafter becomes a follower of Nandishvara, dwelling in the ocean of milk.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.22.35)

यस्तु जप्येश्वरे प्राणान् परित्यजति दुस्त्यजान् । नियमेनान्यथा वापि स मे गणपतिर्भवेत्

yastu japyeśvare prāṇān parityajati dustyajān | niyamenānyathā vāpi sa me gaṇapatirbhavet

But whoever, at Japyeshvara, gives up his life-breaths, so hard to relinquish, whether through observance of vows or otherwise, becomes one of my ganapatis.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.22.36)

नन्दीश्वरसमो नित्यं शाश्वतो ह्यक्षयोऽव्ययः । मम पार्श्वेऽप्यनुचरः प्रियः सन्मत एव च

nandīśvarasamo nityaṁ śāśvato hyakṣayo'vyayaḥ | mama pārśve'pyanucaraḥ priyaḥ sanmata eva ca

Equal always to Nandishvara, eternal, imperishable, undying; a follower at my very side, dear and well-regarded.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.22.37)

जप्येश्वरं पंचनदं च तद्वै यो मानवोऽभ्येत्य जहाति देहम् । स मे सदा स्याद् गणपो वरिष्ठस्त्वष्ट्रा समः कान्तवपुश्च नित्यम्

japyeśvaraṁ paṁcanadaṁ ca tadvai yo mānavo'bhyetya jahāti deham | sa me sadā syād gaṇapo variṣṭhastvaṣṭrā samaḥ kāntavapuśca nityam

Whatever man comes to Japyeshvara and the Panchanada and there gives up his body, he shall ever be for me the most excellent lord of ganas, equal to Tvashtri, and of lovely form forever.