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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 17

Chapter 17

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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 17

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।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। स मां प्रोवाच विधिवत्संपूज्यातीव भक्तिमान् ।। संप्रहस्य तदा वाक्यं स्नेहपूर्वं च वै नृप ।। १ ।। कुत आगम्यते ब्रह्मन्किचिद्दृष्टं त्वया प्रभो ।। यदर्थमिह चाऽऽयातस्तदाऽऽज्ञापय मां मुने ।।२।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। गतः कैलासशिखरं दैत्येंद्राहं यदृच्छया ।। तत्रोमया समासीनं दृष्टवानस्मि शंकरम्।।३।। योजनायुतविस्तीर्णे कल्पवृक्षमहावने ।। कामधेनुशताकीर्णे चिंतामणिसुदीपिते ।।४।। तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं विस्मयो मेऽभवत्तदा ।। क्वाऽपीदृशी भवेदृद्धिस्त्रैलोक्ये वा न वेति च ।।५।। तदा तवाऽपि दैत्येंद्र समृद्धिः संस्मृता मया ।। तद्विलोकनकामोऽस्मि त्वत्सान्निध्यमिहाऽऽगतः ।। ६ ।। त्वत्समृद्धिमिमां पश्यन्स्त्रीरत्नरहितां धुवम् ।। तर्कयामि शिवादन्यस्त्रिलोक्यां न समृद्धिमान् ।। ७ ।। अप्सरोनागकन्याद्या यद्यपि त्वद्वशे स्थिताः ।। तथाऽपि ता न पार्वत्या रूपेण सदृशा ध्रुवम् ।। ८ ।। यस्या लावण्यजलधौ निमग्नश्चतुराननः ।। स्वधैर्यममुचत्पूर्वं तया काऽन्योपमीयते ।। ९ ।। वीतरागोऽपि हि यथा मदनारिः स्वलीलया ।। सौंदर्यगहनेऽभ्रामि शफरीरूपया पुरा ।। 2.4.17.१० ।। यस्याः पुनः पुनः पश्यन्रूपं धाताऽपि सर्जने ।। ससर्जाऽप्सरसस्तासां तत्समैकाऽपि नाभवत् ।। ११ ।। अतः स्त्रीरत्नसंभोक्तुः समृद्धिस्तस्य सा वरा ।। तथा न तव दैत्येंद्र सर्वरत्नाऽधिपस्य च ।। १२ ।। एवमुक्त्वा तमामंत्र्य गते सति स दैत्यराट् ।। तद्रूप श्रवणादासीदनंगज्वरपीडितः ।। १३ ।। अथ संप्रेषयामास स दूतं सिंहिकासुतम् ।। त्र्यंबकायाऽपि च तदा विष्णुमायाविमोहितः ।। १४ ।। कैलासमगमद्राहुः कुर्वञ्छुक्लेंदुवर्चसम् ।। कार्ष्ण्येन कृष्णपक्षेन्दुवर्चसं स्वांगजेन तम् ।। १५ ।। निवेदितस्तदेशाय नंदिना प्रविवेश सः ।। त्र्यंबकभ्रूलतासंज्ञा प्रेरितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। १६ ।। ।। राहुरुवाच ।। ।। देवपन्नगसेव्यस्य त्रैलोक्याधिपतेः प्रभोः ।। सर्वरत्नेश्वरस्य त्वमाज्ञां शृणु वृषध्वज ।। १७ ।। स्मशानवासिनो नित्यमस्थिभारवहस्य च ।। दिगंबरस्य ते भार्या कथं हैमवती शुभा ।। १८ ।। अहं रत्नाधिनाथोऽस्मि सा च स्त्रीरत्नसंज्ञिका ।। तस्मान्ममैव सा योग्या नैव भिक्षाशिनस्तव ।। १९ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। वदत्येवं तदा राहौ भ्रूमध्याच्छूलपाणिनः ।। अभवत्पुरुषो रौद्रस्तीव्राशनिसमस्वनः ।। 2.4.17.२० ।। सिंहास्यः प्रललज्जिह्वः स ज्वलन्नयनो महान् ।। ऊर्ध्वकेशः शुष्कतनुर्नृसिंह इव चाऽपरः ।। २१ ।। स तं खादितुमायांतं दृष्ट्वा राहुर्भयातुरः ।। अधावत स वेगेन बहिः स च दधार तम् ।। २२ ।। स च राहुर्महाबाहो मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ।। उवाच देवदेव त्वं पाहि मां शरणागतम् ।।२३।। ब्राह्मणं मां महादेव खादितुं समुपागतः ।। महादेवो वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य तदाऽब्रवीत् ।।२४।। नैवाऽसौ वध्यतामेति दूतोऽयं परवान्यतः ।। मुंचेति पुरुषः श्रुत्वा राहुं तत्याज्य सोंऽबरे ।।२५।। राहुं त्यक्त्वाऽथ पुरुषस्तदा रुद्रं व्यजिज्ञपत् ।। ।। पुरुष उवाच ।। ।। क्षुधा मां वाधतेऽत्यंतं क्षुत्क्षामश्चाऽस्मि सर्वथा ।। २६ ।। किं भक्षयामि देवेश तदाज्ञापय मां प्रभो ।। ।। ईश्वर उवाच ।। ।। भक्षयस्वात्मनः शीघ्रं मांसं त्वं हस्तपादयोः ।। २७ ।। ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। स शिवेनैवमाज्ञप्तश्चखाद पुरुषः स्वकम्।। हस्तपादोद्भवं मांसं शिरःशेषो यथाऽभवत् ।। २८ ।। दृष्ट्वा शिरोऽवशेषं तं सुप्रसन्नस्तदा शिवः ।। उवाच भीमकर्माणं पुरुषं जातविस्मयः ।। २९ ।। ।। ईश्वर उवाच ।। ।। त्वं कीर्तिमुखसंज्ञो हि भव मद्द्वारिगः सदा ।। त्वदर्चां ये न कुर्वंति नैव ते मे प्रियंकराः ।। 2.4.17.३० ।। * ।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। तदा प्रभृति देवस्य द्वारि कीर्तिमुखः स्थितः ।। नार्चयन्तीह ये पूर्वं तेषामर्चा वृथा भवेत् ।।३१।। राहुर्विमुक्तो यस्तेन सोऽपि तद्बर्बरे स्थले ।। अतः स बर्बरोद्भूत इति भूमौ प्रथां गतः ।। ३२ ।। ततः स राहुः पुनरेव जातमात्मानमस्मिन्निति मन्यमानः ।। समेत्य सर्वं कथयांबभूव जलंधरायैव विचेष्टितं तत् ।। ३३ ।। इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये जलंधरोपाख्याने दूतवाक्यकथनंनाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ।। १७ ।।

|| nārada uvāca || || sa māṃ provāca vidhivatsaṃpūjyātīva bhaktimān || saṃprahasya tadā vākyaṃ snehapūrvaṃ ca vai nṛpa || 1 || kuta āgamyate brahmankiciddṛṣṭaṃ tvayā prabho || yadarthamiha cā''yātastadā''jñāpaya māṃ mune ||2|| || nārada uvāca || || gataḥ kailāsaśikharaṃ daityeṃdrāhaṃ yadṛcchayā || tatromayā samāsīnaṃ dṛṣṭavānasmi śaṃkaram||3|| yojanāyutavistīrṇe kalpavṛkṣamahāvane || kāmadhenuśatākīrṇe ciṃtāmaṇisudīpite ||4|| taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ vismayo me'bhavattadā || kvā'pīdṛśī bhavedṛddhistrailokye vā na veti ca ||5|| tadā tavā'pi daityeṃdra samṛddhiḥ saṃsmṛtā mayā || tadvilokanakāmo'smi tvatsānnidhyamihā''gataḥ || 6 || tvatsamṛddhimimāṃ paśyanstrīratnarahitāṃ dhuvam || tarkayāmi śivādanyastrilokyāṃ na samṛddhimān || 7 || apsaronāgakanyādyā yadyapi tvadvaśe sthitāḥ || tathā'pi tā na pārvatyā rūpeṇa sadṛśā dhruvam || 8 || yasyā lāvaṇyajaladhau nimagnaścaturānanaḥ || svadhairyamamucatpūrvaṃ tayā kā'nyopamīyate || 9 || vītarāgo'pi hi yathā madanāriḥ svalīlayā || sauṃdaryagahane'bhrāmi śapharīrūpayā purā || 2.4.17.10 || yasyāḥ punaḥ punaḥ paśyanrūpaṃ dhātā'pi sarjane || sasarjā'psarasastāsāṃ tatsamaikā'pi nābhavat || 11 || ataḥ strīratnasaṃbhoktuḥ samṛddhistasya sā varā || tathā na tava daityeṃdra sarvaratnā'dhipasya ca || 12 || evamuktvā tamāmaṃtrya gate sati sa daityarāṭ || tadrūpa śravaṇādāsīdanaṃgajvarapīḍitaḥ || 13 || atha saṃpreṣayāmāsa sa dūtaṃ siṃhikāsutam || tryaṃbakāyā'pi ca tadā viṣṇumāyāvimohitaḥ || 14 || kailāsamagamadrāhuḥ kurvañchukleṃduvarcasam || kārṣṇyena kṛṣṇapakṣenduvarcasaṃ svāṃgajena tam || 15 || niveditastadeśāya naṃdinā praviveśa saḥ || tryaṃbakabhrūlatāsaṃjñā prerito vākyamabravīt || 16 || || rāhuruvāca || || devapannagasevyasya trailokyādhipateḥ prabhoḥ || sarvaratneśvarasya tvamājñāṃ śṛṇu vṛṣadhvaja || 17 || smaśānavāsino nityamasthibhāravahasya ca || digaṃbarasya te bhāryā kathaṃ haimavatī śubhā || 18 || ahaṃ ratnādhinātho'smi sā ca strīratnasaṃjñikā || tasmānmamaiva sā yogyā naiva bhikṣāśinastava || 19 || || nārada uvāca || || vadatyevaṃ tadā rāhau bhrūmadhyācchūlapāṇinaḥ || abhavatpuruṣo raudrastīvrāśanisamasvanaḥ || 2.4.17.20 || siṃhāsyaḥ pralalajjihvaḥ sa jvalannayano mahān || ūrdhvakeśaḥ śuṣkatanurnṛsiṃha iva cā'paraḥ || 21 || sa taṃ khāditumāyāṃtaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāhurbhayāturaḥ || adhāvata sa vegena bahiḥ sa ca dadhāra tam || 22 || sa ca rāhurmahābāho meghagambhīrayā girā || uvāca devadeva tvaṃ pāhi māṃ śaraṇāgatam ||23|| brāhmaṇaṃ māṃ mahādeva khādituṃ samupāgataḥ || mahādevo vacaḥ śrutvā brāhmaṇasya tadā'bravīt ||24|| naivā'sau vadhyatāmeti dūto'yaṃ paravānyataḥ || muṃceti puruṣaḥ śrutvā rāhuṃ tatyājya soṃ'bare ||25|| rāhuṃ tyaktvā'tha puruṣastadā rudraṃ vyajijñapat || || puruṣa uvāca || || kṣudhā māṃ vādhate'tyaṃtaṃ kṣutkṣāmaścā'smi sarvathā || 26 || kiṃ bhakṣayāmi deveśa tadājñāpaya māṃ prabho || || īśvara uvāca || || bhakṣayasvātmanaḥ śīghraṃ māṃsaṃ tvaṃ hastapādayoḥ || 27 || || nārada uvāca || || sa śivenaivamājñaptaścakhāda puruṣaḥ svakam|| hastapādodbhavaṃ māṃsaṃ śiraḥśeṣo yathā'bhavat || 28 || dṛṣṭvā śiro'vaśeṣaṃ taṃ suprasannastadā śivaḥ || uvāca bhīmakarmāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ jātavismayaḥ || 29 || || īśvara uvāca || || tvaṃ kīrtimukhasaṃjño hi bhava maddvārigaḥ sadā || tvadarcāṃ ye na kurvaṃti naiva te me priyaṃkarāḥ || 2.4.17.30 || * || nārada uvāca || || tadā prabhṛti devasya dvāri kīrtimukhaḥ sthitaḥ || nārcayantīha ye pūrvaṃ teṣāmarcā vṛthā bhavet ||31|| rāhurvimukto yastena so'pi tadbarbare sthale || ataḥ sa barbarodbhūta iti bhūmau prathāṃ gataḥ || 32 || tataḥ sa rāhuḥ punareva jātamātmānamasminniti manyamānaḥ || sametya sarvaṃ kathayāṃbabhūva jalaṃdharāyaiva viceṣṭitaṃ tat || 33 || iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye jalaṃdharopākhyāne dūtavākyakathanaṃnāma saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 17 ||

English translation

Note: This chapter reveals the mischievous genius of Nārada , the partisan of Devas . He created enmity between Jalandhara and Śiva by misguiding him to bring the jewel-like consort ( Pārvatī ) of Śiva.

Nārada said :

1. He duly and devoutly worshipped me, O king, and laughingly spoke these loving words to me:

2. “O Brāhmaṇa , where are you coming from? Has anything been seen by you, O Lord, for which you have come over here? Command me (to comply), O sage.”

Nārada said :

3-4. O leader of Daityas , I went to the peak of Kailāsa casually. There I saw Śaṅkara seated with Umā in the great forest of Kalpa -trees, which extends to ten thousand Yojanas , which is illuminated excellently with Cintāmaṇi jewels and is full of hundreds of Kāmadhenus (divine cows).

5. On seeing that great wonderful thing I was surprised. I thought that such a prosperity and glory may or may not be present (anywhere else) in all the three worlds .

6. At that time, O king of Daityas, your glory too was remembered by me. I wish to survey the same. Therefore, I have come here to you.

7. Well I have seen your glory that is certainly devoid of jewels among women. I conclude that in the three worlds there is no one more prosperous than Śiva.

8. Although the celestial damsels, Nāga maidens and others are within your control, certainly they are not like Pārvatī in beauty.

9. The Four-faced Lord himself got drowned in the ocean of her beauty and lost his courage once. Who can be compared with her?

10. The enemy of Madana is devoid of sensuous attachment. Still he was whirled formerly in the forest of beauty by her sportingly, in the form of a Śapharī [1] fish(?) [a Śabarī lass?]

11. At the time of creation, Brahmā frequently looked at her form and then created the celestial damsels. But among them there was none on a par with Pārvatī.

12. Hence the prosperity and glory (of Śiva) who enjoys the jewel among women is the most excellent one. Your glory is not like that, O king of Daityas, though you are the possessor of all jewels.

13. After saying this, I took leave of him and went away. The king of Daityas became afflicted with, the fever of love on hearing about her (Pārvatī’s) beauty.

14. Then, deluded by Viṣṇu ’s Māyā , he sent the son of Siṃhikā ( Rāhu ) as his messenger to the Three-eyed Lord too.

15. Rāhu went to Kailāsa that has the refulgence of the moon in the bright fortnight but, with the blackness arising from his own body, he made it (appear as though) it had the lustre of the moon in the dark fortnight.

16. On Īśa having been informed by Nandin , Rāhu entered. When he was urged by a gesture of the eyebrows of Śiva, he spoke these words:

Rāhu said :

17. O Bull-emblemed One, listen to the command of my lord who is worthy of being served by Devas and Serpents, who is the overlord of all the three worlds and is the possessor of all jewels.

18. “How can you have such a splendid wife as the daughter of Himavān , you who are a resident of cremation ground forever, who always bear the burden of bones and who are always naked?

19. I am the overlord of all Ratnas (jewels). She can be designated as a jewel among women. Hence she fits me and not you who beg for your own food.”

Nārada said :

20. While Rāhu was saying this, a terrible person issued forth from the middle of the eyebrows of the Trident-bearing Lord. [2] His voice resembled the sound of the powerful thunderbolt.

21. He had a leonine face with a rolling tongue and blazing eyes. He was huge with hair standing upright and the body dry and rough. He was like another Nṛsiṃha .

22. On seeing that person rushing at him in order to devour him, Rāhu became excessively frightened. He ran out quickly but the person caught hold of him (Rāhu).

23. With words as resonant and majestic as thunder, O mighty one, Rāhu said: “O lord of Devas, protect me. I have sought refuge in you.

24. (This fellow) has come here, O Mahādeva , to devour me, a Brāhmaṇa.” On hearing the words of that Brāhmaṇa, Mahādeva spoke then:

25. “He does not deserve to be killed because he is (only) a messenger and hence he is dependent. Let him go.” On hearing this, that person set Rāhu free in the open sky.

26a. After leaving off Rāhu, the person requested Rudra :

The person said :

26b-27a. Hunger afflicts me much. I am emaciated due to hunger utterly. O Lord, O Lord of Devas, what shall I eat? Command me.

Īśvara said :

27b. Eat the flesh of your own hands and feet. Be quick.

Nārada said :

28. On being commanded thus by Śiva, the person devoured the flesh of his own hands and feet till he was left with his head alone.

29. On seeing him left with his head alone, Śiva became highly delighted. Himself struck with wonder, he spoke to that person of terrible activities.

Īśvara said :

30. You are named Kīrtimukha . Be always present at my doorway. Those who do not worship you, are not liked by me.

Nārada said :

31. Ever since then Kīrtimukha is stationed at the doorway (of the temple) of the Lord. Those who do not worship (him) here at the outset, will find their worship futile.

32. Since Rāhu was set free by him at that desolate spot ( Barbara ) he became known on the earth as Barbarodbhūta.

33. Rāhu considered himself as if born again. He approached (the king of Daityas) and reported everything that happened to Jalandhara.

[1]: [1] : Probably misprint (for Śabarī ).

[2]: [2] : This is the story of the creation of Kīrtimukha, the demon-like figure which is found at the entrance of Śiva temples. He is generally worshipped before Śiva, the reason of which is explained in v 30.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22995, revision 145534 (2018-06-03T10:25:20Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371659.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.