तस्मान्मानं परित्यज्य कामं चापि दुरात्मताम् । स्वस्थाभावविमर्शेन तत्वबुध्या स्थिरा भव
Therefore, abandoning pride and desire, as well as wickedness, become steadfast through reflection on your own well-being and understanding of truth.
अहमेतच्छरीरं वै खङ्गधारव्रतेन च । त्यक्ष्याम्यद्य वरारोहे किं चिरंजीवनेन मे
Today, O lovely one, I will renounce this body by the vow of the sword’s edge. What is the point of living long for me?
इत्युक्त्वा खङ्गमाकृष्य यावद्भिनत्ति कं स्वकम् । आगताश्च गणास्तावद्बहवः शिवनोदिताः
Having spoken thus, he drew his sword and was about to strike himself, when many hosts, sent by Śiva, arrived.
विमानानि बहून्यत्र आगतानि तदंतिके । दृष्ट्वा स चैव तान्येवं विमानानि गणांस्तथा
Many celestial vehicles came near at that moment; seeing those vehicles and the hosts, he gazed at them.
उवाच परया भक्त्या पुष्कसोऽपि च तान्प्रति । कस्मात्समागता यूयं सर्वे रुद्राक्षधारिणः
Puṣkasa, with deep devotion, spoke to them: Why have you all gathered here, you wearers of Rudrākṣa beads?
सर्वे स्फटिकसंकाशाः सर्वे चंद्रार्द्धशेखराः । कपर्दिनश्चर्मपरीतवाससो भुजंगभोगैः कृतहारभूषणाः
All were shining like crystal, all adorned with the crescent moon, their hair matted, clad in hides, and wearing garlands of serpents as ornaments.
श्रियान्विता रुद्रसमानवीर्या यथातथं भो वदतोचितं मम । पुष्कसेन तदा पृष्टा ऊचुस्ते रुद्रपार्षदाः
Endowed with splendor, equal in might to Rudra, speak to me as is fitting, O sirs. Thus questioned by Puṣkasa, the attendants of Rudra replied.
गणा ऊचुः। प्रेषितास्मो वयं चंड शिवेन परमेष्ठिना । आगच्छ त्वरितो भूत्वा सस्त्रीको यानमारुह
The hosts said: We have been sent by fierce Śiva, the supreme lord. Come quickly, board the vehicle with your wife.
लिगार्चनं कृतं यच्च त्वया रात्रौ शिवस्य च । तेन कर्मविपाकेन प्राप्तोऽसि परमां गतिम्
The worship of the liṅga that you performed at night for Śiva, by the result of that deed, you have attained the highest state.
तथोक्तो वीरभद्रेण उवाच प्रहसन्निव । किं मया सुकृतं चीर्णं पापिना पुष्कसेन हि
Thus addressed by Vīrabhadra, Puṣkasa replied, almost laughing: What good deed have I, a sinner, performed?
मृगयारसिकेनैव मूढेन च दुरात्मना । पापाचारोह्यहं नित्यं कथं स्वर्गे वसाम्यहम्
Being fond of hunting, foolish and wicked, I have always acted sinfully. How can I dwell in heaven?
कथं लिगार्चनं चाद्या कृतमस्ति तदुच्यताम् । परं कौतुकमापन्नः पृच्छामि कृपया वद
How was the worship of the liṅga performed today? Please tell me, for I am filled with great curiosity and ask you kindly.
वीरभद्र उवाच। देवदेवो महादेवो यो गंगाधरसंज्ञकः । परितुष्टोऽद्य ते चंड सभार्यस्य उमापतिः
Vīrabhadra said: The god of gods, the great god known as Gaṅgādhara, is pleased with you today, O fierce one, together with your wife, the lord of Umā.
प्रासंगिकं त्वया चाद्य कृतमर्चनमेव च । कोलं निरीक्षमाणेन बिल्वपत्राणि चैव हि
Today you performed incidental worship, while observing the kola tree and bilva leaves.
छेदितानि त्वया चंड पतितानि तदैव हि । लिंगस्य मस्तके तानि तेन त्वं सुकृती प्रभो
You cut and dropped those leaves, O fierce one, and they fell upon the head of the liṅga. By that, you are blessed, O lord.
तवैवं जागरो जातो महावृक्षोपरि ध्रुवम् । तेनैव जागरेणैव तुतोष जगदीश्वरः
Your wakefulness atop the great tree was thus established. By that very wakefulness, the lord of the universe was pleased.
छलेनैव महाभाग कोलसंदर्शनेन हि । शिवरात्रिदिनं व्याध प्रसंगेनाप्युपोषितम्
O highly fortunate one, by mere pretense—by showing the kola fruit—on the night of Shiva, even unintentionally, the hunter observed the fast.
तेनोपवासेन च जागरेणतुष्टो ह्यसौ देववरो महात्मा । तव प्रसादाय महानुभावो ददाति सर्वान्वरदो वरांश्च
By that fasting and wakefulness, the great-souled, supreme god was pleased; for your sake, the mighty bestower of boons grants all blessings.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन वीरभद्रेण धीमता । पुष्कसोऽपि विमानाग्र्यमारुरोह च पश्यताम्
Thus addressed at that time by the wise Virabhadra, Pushkasa too ascended the foremost celestial chariot before the eyes of all.
गणानां देवतानां च सर्वेषां प्राणिनामपि । तदा दुंदुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकशः
Then, kettledrums resounded, and many kinds of trumpets and musical instruments played among the hosts of gods, deities, and all living beings.
वीणावेणुमृदंगानि लास्यनाट्य युतानि च । जगुर्गंधर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः 6.154.
Veenas, flutes, and drums accompanied by dance and drama were played; the lords of the Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsaras danced.
चामरैर्विज्यमानो हि छत्रैश्च विविधैरपि । महोत्सवेन महता ह्यानीतः शिवसन्निधौ
Fanned with chowries and shaded by various parasols, he was brought with great festivity into the presence of Shiva.
पुष्कसोऽपि तदा प्राप्तस्तीर्थस्नान शिवार्चनात् । किं पुनः श्रद्धया भक्त्या शिवाय परमात्माने
Pushkasa too, having attained the merit of bathing at the holy place and worshiping Shiva, was blessed—how much more so those who worship Shiva, the supreme soul, with faith and devotion!
पुष्पादिकं फलं गंधं तांबूलाक्षतमेव च । ये प्रयच्छंति लोकेऽस्मिंस्ते रुद्रा नात्र संशयः
Those who offer flowers, fruits, fragrance, betel, or rice grains in this world—there is no doubt, they become Rudras.
महादेव उवाच। तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं खङ्गधारेति विश्रुतम् । एतत्तीर्थं कलौ गुप्तं भविष्यति सुरेश्वरि
Mahadeva said: From that time onward, that holy place has been known as Khangadhara; O queen of the gods, in the Kali age, this tirtha will remain hidden.
माघमासेऽथ वैशाखे कार्तिक्यां च विशेषतः । स्नानं येन प्रकुर्वंति मुक्तास्ते नगनंदिनि
In the months of Magha, Vaishakha, and especially Kartika, those who bathe there, O daughter of the mountain, are liberated.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । स्नानार्थे वै समायांति देवं द्रष्टुं पिनाकिनम्
Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Bharadvaja, and Gautama come there for bathing, to see the god Pinakin.
त्रियुगे वर्त्तते लिंगं कलौ नैव तु पार्वति । विश्वामित्रेण ऋषिणा दत्तशापो ह्यहं तदा
The linga remains there for three yugas, but not in the Kali age, O Parvati; at that time, I was cursed by the sage Vishvamitra.
पार्वत्युवाच। कथं शापस्तु ऋषिणा दत्तश्चैव सुरेश्वर । तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो देव न संशयः
Parvati said: How was the curse given by the sage, O lord of the gods? I wish to hear that from you, O god, without doubt.
महादेव उवाच। एकस्मिन्समये देवि विश्वामित्रो महातपाः । आगतः खङ्गधारेऽस्मिंस्तीर्थे वै परमाद्भुते
Mahadeva said: Once, O goddess, the great ascetic Vishvamitra came to this most wondrous tirtha called Khangadhara.