The Rite of Worshipping Ishvara

Verse 1 (skanda.8.27.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अथ तस्मिन् सुखासीनौ शैलजावृषभध्वजौ । आसने काञ्चने दिव्ये नानारत्नोपशोभिते

sanatkumāra uvāca| atha tasmin sukhāsīnau śailajāvṛṣabhadhvajau | āsane kāñcane divye nānāratnopaśobhite

Sanatkumara said: Then, the daughter of the mountain and the Bull-bannered one, comfortably seated there upon a divine golden throne adorned with various gems —

Verse 2 (skanda.8.27.2)

अथाचलसुता देवी सुखासीना विभावरी । सर्वलोकपतिं प्राह गिरीन्द्रतनया पतिम्

athācalasutā devī sukhāsīnā vibhāvarī | sarvalokapatiṁ prāha girīndratanayā patim

— then the Goddess, daughter of the mountain, radiant, comfortably seated, said to her husband, the lord of all the worlds —

Verse 3 (skanda.8.27.3)

भगवन् देवतारिघ्न चन्द्रावयवभूषण । कथयैतन्मम विभो यत्त्वां पृच्छामि मानद

bhagavan devatārighna candrāvayavabhūṣaṇa | kathayaitanmama vibho yattvāṁ pṛcchāmi mānada

'O Blessed One, slayer of the enemies of the gods, adorned with a fragment of the moon; O mighty one, O giver of honour, tell me this that I ask you.'

Verse 4 (skanda.8.27.4)

किं फलं तव देवेश लभन्ते भक्तवत्सल । भक्ता ये फलमुद्दिश्य कुर्वते तन्न किञ्चन

kiṁ phalaṁ tava deveśa labhante bhaktavatsala | bhaktā ye phalamuddiśya kurvate tanna kiñcana

'O lord of gods, lover of your devotees, what fruit do your devotees obtain — those devotees who act, aiming at that fruit?'

Verse 5 (skanda.8.27.5)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। स एवमुमया प्रोक्तः शूलपाणिर्वृषध्वजः । अवोचत् सर्वमव्यग्रो देवदेवः शुभाशुभम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| sa evamumayā proktaḥ śūlapāṇirvṛṣadhvajaḥ | avocat sarvamavyagro devadevaḥ śubhāśubham

Sanatkumara said: He, the trident-bearing, Bull-bannered God of gods, thus addressed by Uma, calmly told everything, both the auspicious and the inauspicious.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.27.6)

व्यास उवाच। किन्तत् स भगवान् देवः प्रीयमाणो महातपाः । प्रणयात् स तथा देव्या पृष्टो कथयदव्ययः

vyāsa uvāca| kintat sa bhagavān devaḥ prīyamāṇo mahātapāḥ | praṇayāt sa tathā devyā pṛṣṭo kathayadavyayaḥ

Vyasa said: 'What was that which the Blessed God, greatly ascetic, pleased, being asked thus with affection by the Goddess, the imperishable one, told her?'

Verse 7 (skanda.8.27.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। मयाप्येतत् पुरा व्यास पृष्टो नन्दीश्वरः प्रभुः । यथोक्तवान् मयि ब्रह्मन् तथा तत्कथयामि ते

sanatkumāra uvāca| mayāpyetat purā vyāsa pṛṣṭo nandīśvaraḥ prabhuḥ | yathoktavān mayi brahman tathā tatkathayāmi te

Sanatkumara said: This too, O Vyasa, I once asked, and the lord Nandishvara answered; O brahmin, as he told it to me, so shall I tell it to you.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.27.8)

गणेशान पतिं शूरं सूर्यायुतसमप्रभम् । अपृच्छमहमव्यग्रो नन्दीश्वरमतिद्युतिम्

gaṇeśāna patiṁ śūraṁ sūryāyutasamaprabham | apṛcchamahamavyagro nandīśvaramatidyutim

I calmly asked the heroic lord of the ganeshas, Nandishvara, radiant as ten thousand suns, exceedingly splendid —

Verse 9 (skanda.8.27.9)

ईशेन यत् पुरा देव्याः कथितं गणसत्तम । तन्मे ब्रूहि यथातत्त्वं परं कौतूहलं हि मे

īśena yat purā devyāḥ kathitaṁ gaṇasattama | tanme brūhi yathātattvaṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

'O best of ganas, tell me truly what was told by Ishvara to the Goddess formerly; for great is my curiosity.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.27.10)

नन्द्युवाच। श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि पृच्छतस्ते महामुने । देवदेवेन पार्वत्या यत् पुराभिहितं हि तत्

nandyuvāca| śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi pṛcchataste mahāmune | devadevena pārvatyā yat purābhihitaṁ hi tat

Nandi said: 'Listen, O great sage; I shall tell you, since you ask, what was formerly told by the God of gods to Parvati.'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.27.11)

देवदेव उवाच। श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि यन्मां पृच्छसि सुव्रते । हिताय देवि भक्तानां पृष्टस्तत् कथयामि ते

devadeva uvāca| śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi yanmāṁ pṛcchasi suvrate | hitāya devi bhaktānāṁ pṛṣṭastat kathayāmi te

[Nandi narrated:] The God of gods said: 'Listen, O virtuous one; I shall tell you what you ask me. For the benefit of my devotees, O goddess, being asked, I shall tell you this.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.27.12)

प्रसादं यस्तु मे देवि शुभ्रं कुर्यादनिन्दिते । विदधाम्यर्जुनं तस्य गृहं शिवपुरेक्षयम्

prasādaṁ yastu me devi śubhraṁ kuryādanindite | vidadhāmyarjunaṁ tasya gṛhaṁ śivapurekṣayam

'Whoever, O blameless goddess, performs a bright, pleasing act toward me, for him I ordain a shining, imperishable house in Shivapura.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.27.13)

विधानेन यथोक्तेन लिङ्गं मे स्थापयेच्च यः । मया सहासौ चरति नित्यमष्टगुणान्वितः

vidhānena yathoktena liṅgaṁ me sthāpayecca yaḥ | mayā sahāsau carati nityamaṣṭaguṇānvitaḥ

'And whoever installs my linga according to the prescribed rite, he moves with me forever, endowed with the eightfold divine qualities.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.27.14)

काञ्चनं त्रुटिमात्रं वा यो दद्याद् बहु वा मम । तस्य हैमवते शृङ्गे ददामि गृहमुत्तमम्

kāñcanaṁ truṭimātraṁ vā yo dadyād bahu vā mama | tasya haimavate śṛṅge dadāmi gṛhamuttamam

'Whoever gives me gold, whether the smallest fragment or much, to him I give an excellent house on the peak of the Himalaya.'

Verse 15 (skanda.8.27.15)

यो मे गां वा हिरण्यं वा दद्यादविमनाः प्रिये । लोकान् ददाम्यहं तस्मै सर्वकामसमन्वितान्

yo me gāṁ vā hiraṇyaṁ vā dadyādavimanāḥ priye | lokān dadāmyahaṁ tasmai sarvakāmasamanvitān

'Whoever, O beloved, with undistracted mind, gives me a cow or gold, to him I give worlds endowed with every desired thing.'

Verse 16 (skanda.8.27.16)

वृषभं यः प्रयच्छेन्मे श्वेतं नीलमथापि वा । स कुलानामुभयतस्तारयेदेकविंशतिम्

vṛṣabhaṁ yaḥ prayacchenme śvetaṁ nīlamathāpi vā | sa kulānāmubhayatastārayedekaviṁśatim

'Whoever gives me a bull, white or even dark blue, he delivers twenty-one generations of his family on both sides.'

Verse 17 (skanda.8.27.17)

गोचर्मद्वयसां वापि यो मे दद्याद्वसुन्धराम् । स मे पुरं समासाद्य गणेशैः सह मोदते

gocarmadvayasāṁ vāpi yo me dadyādvasundharām | sa me puraṁ samāsādya gaṇeśaiḥ saha modate

'Whoever gives me land measuring even two cow-hides, he, having attained my city, rejoices together with the lords of ganas.'

Verse 18 (skanda.8.27.18)

यो मे पुण्यफलं दद्यादात्मना पूर्वमर्जितम् । सोनन्त फलमाप्नोति मोदते च त्रिविष्टपे

yo me puṇyaphalaṁ dadyādātmanā pūrvamarjitam | sonanta phalamāpnoti modate ca triviṣṭape

'Whoever gives me the fruit of merit he himself formerly earned, obtains endless fruit and rejoices in heaven.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.27.19)

योनुयानं चतुर्दश्यां कृष्णायां कुरुते मम । रथेन वृषयुक्तेन मम लोके स मोदते

yonuyānaṁ caturdaśyāṁ kṛṣṇāyāṁ kurute mama | rathena vṛṣayuktena mama loke sa modate

'Whoever performs a procession for me on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, with a chariot yoked to a bull, rejoices in my world.'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.27.20)

महिमानोपचारैश्च यो मां जप्यैश्च पूजयेत् । ददामि ब्रह्मणो लोके वासं तस्य सुपूजितम्

mahimānopacāraiśca yo māṁ japyaiśca pūjayet | dadāmi brahmaṇo loke vāsaṁ tasya supūjitam

'Whoever worships me with great honours, offerings, and recitations, I grant him a most honoured dwelling in the world of Brahma.'

Verse 21 (skanda.8.27.21)

मनसा चिन्तयेद् यश्च पूजयेयमहं हरम् । अशक्तो नास्ति च द्रव्यं यस्य नित्यं सुमध्यमे

manasā cintayed yaśca pūjayeyamahaṁ haram | aśakto nāsti ca dravyaṁ yasya nityaṁ sumadhyame

And whoever, though unable, and lacking material means, constantly thinks in his mind, 'I would worship Hara,' O fair-waisted one —

Verse 22 (skanda.8.27.22)

स तया श्रद्धया पूतो विमुक्तः सर्वपातकैः । मम लोकमवाप्नोति भिन्ने देहे न संशयः

sa tayā śraddhayā pūto vimuktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ | mama lokamavāpnoti bhinne dehe na saṁśayaḥ

'— he, purified by that faith, freed from all sins, attains my world when the body is broken — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.27.23)

स्नातो यः पूर्वसंध्यायां सदा मामभिगच्छति । स मित्रं यक्षराजस्य यक्षो भवति वीर्यवान्

snāto yaḥ pūrvasaṁdhyāyāṁ sadā māmabhigacchati | sa mitraṁ yakṣarājasya yakṣo bhavati vīryavān

'Whoever, having bathed at the morning twilight, ever approaches me, becomes a mighty yaksha, a friend of the king of yakshas.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.27.24)

संमार्जनं पंचशतं सहस्रमुपलेपनम् । गन्धाश्च दशसाहस्रा अनन्तं चार्चनं स्मृतम्

saṁmārjanaṁ paṁcaśataṁ sahasramupalepanam | gandhāśca daśasāhasrā anantaṁ cārcanaṁ smṛtam

'Sweeping my shrine is reckoned as five hundred merits; smearing it with cow-dung, a thousand; anointing with perfumes, ten thousand; and worship itself is reckoned endless.'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.27.25)

अभ्यङ्गोष्टशतं चैव स्नपनं त्रिशतं भवेत् । गन्धोदकं पंचशतं पञ्चगव्यं तथैव च

abhyaṅgoṣṭaśataṁ caiva snapanaṁ triśataṁ bhavet | gandhodakaṁ paṁcaśataṁ pañcagavyaṁ tathaiva ca

'Anointing with oil is eight hundred; bathing the image is three hundred; scented water is five hundred; and likewise the five products of the cow —'

Verse 26 (skanda.8.27.26)

क्षीरं पञ्चगुणं देवि तस्माद् भूयश्च कापिलम् । तस्माच्च सर्पिषा स्नानं भूयः पंचगुणं तथा

kṣīraṁ pañcaguṇaṁ devi tasmād bhūyaśca kāpilam | tasmācca sarpiṣā snānaṁ bhūyaḥ paṁcaguṇaṁ tathā

'— milk is five times that, O goddess; and from a tawny cow, still more; and bathing with clarified butter is likewise five times more than that.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.27.27)

क्षमामि देवि चास्याहमपराधान् बहूनपि । भस्माभिषेकमानन्त्यं गुह्यं चैव मम प्रिये

kṣamāmi devi cāsyāhamaparādhān bahūnapi | bhasmābhiṣekamānantyaṁ guhyaṁ caiva mama priye

'And, O goddess, I forgive him even many offences if he does this. Anointing with ash is of infinite merit, and a secret rite dear to me, O beloved.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.27.28)

अगुरुर्दशसाहस्रं षट्साहस्रं तु चन्दनम् । चतुर्दशसहस्राणि धूपः कालागरोः स्मृतः

agururdaśasāhasraṁ ṣaṭsāhasraṁ tu candanam | caturdaśasahasrāṇi dhūpaḥ kālāgaroḥ smṛtaḥ

'Aloewood incense is reckoned at ten thousand; sandalwood at six thousand; and incense of black agaru is reckoned at fourteen thousand.'

Verse 29 (skanda.8.27.29)

अक्षयास्तण्डुलयवाः शालयो द्विशताः स्मृताः । आनन्त्यो गुग्गुलुश्चैव सहाज्येन सुधूपितः

akṣayāstaṇḍulayavāḥ śālayo dviśatāḥ smṛtāḥ | ānantyo gugguluścaiva sahājyena sudhūpitaḥ

'Offerings of rice-grains and barley are of imperishable merit; rice is reckoned at two hundred; and guggulu incense, well fumed together with ghee, is of infinite merit.'

Verse 30 (skanda.8.27.30)

द्वे सहस्रे पलानां तु महिषाक्षस्य यो दहेत् । देवि संवत्सरं पूर्णं समे नन्दिसमो भवेत्

dve sahasre palānāṁ tu mahiṣākṣasya yo dahet | devi saṁvatsaraṁ pūrṇaṁ same nandisamo bhavet

'Whoever burns two thousand palas of resin-incense for a full year, O goddess, on my festival day, becomes equal to Nandi.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.27.31)

दक्षिणायान्तु यो मूर्तौ पायसं सघृतं शुभे । निवेदयेद्वर्षमेकं स च नन्दिसमो भवेत्

dakṣiṇāyāntu yo mūrtau pāyasaṁ saghṛtaṁ śubhe | nivedayedvarṣamekaṁ sa ca nandisamo bhavet

'And whoever, O auspicious one, offers rice-pudding with ghee to my image during the southern course of the sun, for one year, he too becomes equal to Nandi.'

Verse 32 (skanda.8.27.32)

चरवो दशसाहस्रा यावकश्च चतुर्गुणः । शेषाश्च चरवः सर्वे यावकार्धेन संमिताः

caravo daśasāhasrā yāvakaśca caturguṇaḥ | śeṣāśca caravaḥ sarve yāvakārdhena saṁmitāḥ

'Ten thousand oblation-cakes, and barley-porridge four times that merit; and all the remaining oblation-cakes are reckoned at half of the barley-porridge's merit.'

Verse 33 (skanda.8.27.33)

घृतपात्रमसंख्येयमिह प्रेत्य च शाश्वतम् । प्रीणाति च पितॄन् सर्वान विमाने चैव मोदते

ghṛtapātramasaṁkhyeyamiha pretya ca śāśvatam | prīṇāti ca pitṝn sarvāna vimāne caiva modate

'A vessel of ghee given as offering yields merit uncountable here and eternal hereafter; it satisfies all the ancestors, and the giver rejoices in a celestial car.'

Verse 34 (skanda.8.27.34)

छत्रं पताकानिचयं शोभयित्वा ददाति यः । सोपि संदीप्यते भूयो रविवत्तेजसा दिवि

chatraṁ patākānicayaṁ śobhayitvā dadāti yaḥ | sopi saṁdīpyate bhūyo ravivattejasā divi

'Whoever gives an umbrella, and a cluster of banners, having adorned the shrine, he too shines forth in splendour in heaven, like the sun.'

Verse 35 (skanda.8.27.35)

उभौ पक्षौ त्रयोदश्यामष्टम्यां चोपवासिकः । उपतिष्ठेत मां भक्त्या सोपहारमनिन्दिते

ubhau pakṣau trayodaśyāmaṣṭamyāṁ copavāsikaḥ | upatiṣṭheta māṁ bhaktyā sopahāramanindite

'Whoever, fasting, on the thirteenth day of both fortnights and on the eighth day, waits upon me with devotion and offerings, O blameless one —'

Verse 36 (skanda.8.27.36)

ददाम्यस्य स्वकं लोकं तुष्टोहं देवि शाश्वतम् । रक्तपीतकवासोभिः पुष्पैश्च विविधैरपि । पूजितोहं सदा भक्त्या पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामि तम्

dadāmyasya svakaṁ lokaṁ tuṣṭohaṁ devi śāśvatam | raktapītakavāsobhiḥ puṣpaiśca vividhairapi | pūjitohaṁ sadā bhaktyā putratve kalpayāmi tam

'— to him I grant my own eternal world, O goddess, being pleased. When I am worshipped ever with devotion, red and yellow garments, and various flowers, I regard him as a son to me.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.27.37)

एकरात्रं च यो मर्त्यो दीपं धारयति स्थितः । सर्वयज्ञफलं तस्य ददाम श्रियमेव च

ekarātraṁ ca yo martyo dīpaṁ dhārayati sthitaḥ | sarvayajñaphalaṁ tasya dadāma śriyameva ca

'And whatever mortal keeps a lamp lit, standing, for a single night, to him I give the fruit of all sacrifices, and prosperity too.'

Verse 38 (skanda.8.27.38)

मयैव मोहिताः सर्वे लोकाः सजडपण्डिताः । न मां पश्यन्ति रागान्धास्तमसा बहुलीकृताः

mayaiva mohitāḥ sarve lokāḥ sajaḍapaṇḍitāḥ | na māṁ paśyanti rāgāndhāstamasā bahulīkṛtāḥ

'By me alone are all beings deluded, the dull and the wise alike; blinded by passion, overwhelmed by darkness, they do not see me.'

Verse 39 (skanda.8.27.39)

ध्यानिनो योगयुक्ता ये सत्यधर्मपरायणाः । एकाग्रमनसो दान्तास्ते मां पश्यन्ति नित्यदा

dhyānino yogayuktā ye satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ | ekāgramanaso dāntāste māṁ paśyanti nityadā

'Those who meditate, who are joined in yoga, devoted to truth and dharma, single-minded and self-controlled — they see me always.'

Verse 40 (skanda.8.27.40)

ये मे भक्ताः सदा चैव सांख्ययोगविशारदाः । सर्वं पश्यन्ति मयि च मां च सर्वत्र योगतः

ye me bhaktāḥ sadā caiva sāṁkhyayogaviśāradāḥ | sarvaṁ paśyanti mayi ca māṁ ca sarvatra yogataḥ

'Those who are ever my devotees, skilled in Sankhya and Yoga, see everything in me, and me everywhere, through yoga.'

Verse 41 (skanda.8.27.41)

त्रींल्लोकान् समतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं तथैव च । गच्छन्ति मम ते लोकं तमो भित्वा सुदुर्भिदम्

trīṁllokān samatikramya brahmalokaṁ tathaiva ca | gacchanti mama te lokaṁ tamo bhitvā sudurbhidam

'Having passed beyond the three worlds, and likewise the world of Brahma, they go to my world, piercing the darkness so hard to pierce.'

Verse 42 (skanda.8.27.42)

न शक्योस्म्यतपोयुक्तैर्द्रष्टुं मुनिगणैरपि । ध्यानिनो नित्ययुक्ताश्च देवि पश्यन्ति मां बुधाः

na śakyosmyatapoyuktairdraṣṭuṁ munigaṇairapi | dhyānino nityayuktāśca devi paśyanti māṁ budhāḥ

'I cannot be seen even by hosts of sages who lack austerity. Only meditators, ever disciplined, and the wise, O goddess, see me.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.27.43)

एतानि चैव सर्वाणि कृत्वा कर्माणि सुन्दरि । मनसा सुप्रशान्तेन करुणचेतसा

etāni caiva sarvāṇi kṛtvā karmāṇi sundari | manasā supraśāntena karuṇacetasā

'Having performed all these deeds, O beautiful one, with a mind well-tranquil, and a heart full of compassion —'

Verse 44 (skanda.8.27.44)

काञ्चनं भूमिगोदानं विप्रे च प्रतिपादयन् । रुद्रो मे प्रीयतु इति ह्यतुलं फलमश्नुते

kāñcanaṁ bhūmigodānaṁ vipre ca pratipādayan | rudro me prīyatu iti hyatulaṁ phalamaśnute

— bestowing gold, land, and cattle upon a brahmin, thinking, 'May Rudra be pleased with me' — he obtains incomparable fruit.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.27.45)

यानि लोकेषु तीर्थानि देवतायतनानि च । पादयोस्तानि सुश्रोणि सदा सन्निहितानि मे

yāni lokeṣu tīrthāni devatāyatanāni ca | pādayostāni suśroṇi sadā sannihitāni me

'Whatever sacred fords there are in the worlds, and temples of the gods, O fair-hipped one, they are all ever present at my feet.'

Verse 46 (skanda.8.27.46)

ब्राह्मणानां तथा चैव करे दक्षिणतः स्थिताः । यो मां सर्वगतं चैव सर्वं च मयि पश्यति

brāhmaṇānāṁ tathā caiva kare dakṣiṇataḥ sthitāḥ | yo māṁ sarvagataṁ caiva sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati

'And likewise present in the right hand of brahmins. Whoever sees me as all-pervading, and everything within me —'

Verse 47 (skanda.8.27.47)

मय्यर्पितमना नित्यं तथा मद्भावभावितः । ममैव स प्रभावेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

mayyarpitamanā nityaṁ tathā madbhāvabhāvitaḥ | mamaiva sa prabhāvena sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

'— his mind ever fixed on me, imbued with my nature, he, by my very power, is freed from all sins.'

Verse 48 (skanda.8.27.48)

सर्वथा वर्तमानोपि देवि यो मां स्मरेत्सदा । कल्मषेण न युज्येत नरः कर्ता कदाचन

sarvathā vartamānopi devi yo māṁ smaretsadā | kalmaṣeṇa na yujyeta naraḥ kartā kadācana

'Even one who conducts himself in any way whatsoever, O goddess, if he ever remembers me — that man, whatever he does, is never touched by taint.'

Verse 49 (skanda.8.27.49)

सर्वावस्थोपि पापात्मा ज्ञाननिद्रेण चेतसा । योभ्यर्चयति मां नित्यं स ममात्मसमो भवेत्

sarvāvasthopi pāpātmā jñānanidreṇa cetasā | yobhyarcayati māṁ nityaṁ sa mamātmasamo bhavet

'Even a sinful soul, in whatever condition, if with a mind awakened by knowledge he worships me constantly, becomes equal to my own self.'

Verse 50 (skanda.8.27.50)

षडङ्गेन च योगेन यो मामभ्यर्चयेत्सदा । प्रविशेत स मां क्षिप्रमत्र नास्ति विचारणा

ṣaḍaṅgena ca yogena yo māmabhyarcayetsadā | praviśeta sa māṁ kṣipramatra nāsti vicāraṇā

'And whoever ever worships me through the sixfold yoga, he swiftly enters into me — there is no doubt of this.'

Verse 51 (skanda.8.27.51)

योप्यसज्जनरतो वियोनिजः पातकैरपि समन्वितस्सदा । सोपि मद्गतमना मदर्पणो याति देवि गतिमप्रतर्किताम्

yopyasajjanarato viyonijaḥ pātakairapi samanvitassadā | sopi madgatamanā madarpaṇo yāti devi gatimapratarkitām

'And even one devoted to wicked company, born from a lowly womb, ever accompanied by sins — he too, his mind fixed on me, offering himself to me, attains, O goddess, an inconceivable destiny.'