Chapter 131 - Greatness of Dhruveśvara (Dhruva-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Devī said:

1. How did that shrine and Liṅga mentioned by your worship as well-known by the name Nāleśvara become Liṅga Dhruveśvara?

Īśvara said:

2. Listen, O goddess, I shall explain the greatness of Dhruveśvara, on listening to which a man is released from the bondage of the worldly existence.

3. There was a son of a king named Uttānapāda. He was called Dhruva. He was a noble soul richly endowed with perfect knowledge. He was omniscient and had a pleasant appearance.

4. O goddess, once he came to Prabhāsa, the excellent holy spot. O fair lady, he performed an elaborate and extremely terrible penance.

5. After installing Maheśvara, he devoutly worshipped him for a period of a thousand years according to the divine reckoning and eulogized with various kinds of hymns and prayers.

6. I shall recite to you that prayer whereby I became delighted.

Dhruva said:

[Dhruva’s Prayer:]

7. I seek refuge in Śaṅkara who bestows succour and who, by pressing with his lotus-like feet, steadied the lofty-peaked Kailāsa that was being shaken by the ten-headed Rāvaṇa resembling the peak of Kailāsa.

8. I seek refuge in Śaṅkara who bestows succour and by whom all Asuras and Dānavas surrounded by the Vidyādharas and groups of Uragas (serpents) were denied the fruit further but rendered free from attachment to the results of their actions, by making them Jīvanmukta (souls free from Saṃsāra while alive).

9. I seek refuge in that Śaṅkara who bestows succour, under whose control the entire visible universe remains forever, who enjoys (makes use of) all the worlds by means of his eight cosmic bodies, and who is the cause of the great causes of all causes.

10. I seek refuge in that Śaṅkara who bestows succour and who formerly became extremely angry and cut off the tender lotus-like fifth head of Brahmā by means of the tip of the nail of the lotus-like left hand.

11. I seek refuge in that Śaṅkara who bestows succour. Lord Śaṅkara is the bestower of boons. The blazing Vivasvān (Sun-god) devoutly bows down to his feet and eulogizes with words without impurities and free from lethargy and weariness. Thereby he can dispels darkness by means of his rays.

12. A man who restrains himself and always remains pure and perfect, recites, in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas this prayer of sweet import, composed by Dhruva, goes to the beginningless Śivaloka.

13. O goddess, I became pleased with the noble-souled Dhruva of sanctified heart, even as he eulogized thus. When the thousand years were concluded, I spoke to Dhruva:

14-16. “Dear son, welfare unto you. I am pleased with you. Now you have become free from impurities. I shall give you divine vision. Look at me freed from all ailments.

Whatever excellent benefit has been all along cherished by you mentally, I shall grant unto you. Do tell me quickly.

I have been devoutly propitiated by you. There is no doubt about it. I shall grant you even that inaccessible region whether of Brahmā or Viṣṇu or Śakra or another.”

Dhruva said:

17. It is known to me that the region of Brahmā, of Viṣṇu and of Mahendra is characterized by a return (unto this world therefrom). I do not even mentally covet all these.

18. If you are pleased with me, O Lord, do grant me devotion fully free from impurities. O Bull-emblemed One, do stay in this Liṅga always.

Īśvara said:

19. Everything requested thus was granted indeed. His abode was rendered steady and permanent. That is the great region of Viṣṇu (too).

20. He who worships that Liṅga on the New-Moon day of the month of Śrāvaṇa or on the Full-Moon day in the month of Aśvayuk, obtains the merit of a horse-sacrifice.

21. A man without a son gets a son. One who seeks wealth obtains wealth. He becomes handsome and fortunate and enjoys all pleasures. He becomes an expert in all scriptural texts. He goes to Rudraloka by means of an aerial chariot yoked with swans. He is honoured there.

22. He who expounds or listens to this beautiful glory of Dhruva honoured by groups of both Asuras and Suras, becomes quiescent and goes to Rudraloka, the eternal abode of all happiness. He is honoured by the leaders of the groups of Suras and Dānavas.