Expiations for the Removal of Sin

Verse 1 (skanda.1.120.1)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । विस्तरात्कथयाम्यद्य प्रायश्चित्तं महांहसाम् । सर्वेषामवधत्स्व त्वमवलंब्यास्तिकीं धियम्

naṁdikeśvara uvāca vistarātkathayāmyadya prāyaścittaṁ mahāṁhasām sarveṣāmavadhatsva tvamavalaṁbyāstikīṁ dhiyam

Nandikeshvara said: Today I shall describe at length the expiations for great sins; hold fast to a faithful mind and attend carefully to all of them.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.120.2)

ब्रह्महा प्राप्य शोणाद्रिं निमग्नः खड्गतीर्थके । जपन्पंचाक्षरं मंत्रं भस्मरुद्राक्षधारकः

brahmahā prāpya śoṇādriṁ nimagnaḥ khaḍgatīrthake japanpaṁcākṣaraṁ maṁtraṁ bhasmarudrākṣadhārakaḥ

A slayer of a brahmin who comes to the Shona mountain, bathes in Khadga-tirtha, and wearing sacred ash and rudraksha chants the five-syllabled mantra...

Verse 3 (skanda.1.120.3)

कृतोपवासः संपूज्य प्रयतः परमेश्वरम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्वर्षं भिक्षाशी नियतेंद्रियः

kṛtopavāsaḥ saṁpūjya prayataḥ parameśvaram brāhmaṇānbhojayedvarṣaṁ bhikṣāśī niyateṁdriyaḥ

...keeping fasts, worshipping the Supreme Lord with a pure heart, and for a year feeding brahmins while living himself on alms with senses controlled.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.120.4)

विशेषपूजाशुश्रूषां कुर्याद्देवस्य भक्तितः । ब्रह्महत्या विनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

viśeṣapūjāśuśrūṣāṁ kuryāddevasya bhaktitaḥ brahmahatyā vinirmukto brahmaloke mahīyate

and renders special worship and service to the Lord with devotion is freed from the sin of brahminicide and is exalted in the world of Brahma.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.120.5)

सुरापोऽप्यरुणक्षेत्रे वर्षमेकं वसन्प्रति । प्राग्वत्कृतसमाचारः संपूज्यैवं महेश्वरम्

surāpo'pyaruṇakṣetre varṣamekaṁ vasanprati prāgvatkṛtasamācāraḥ saṁpūjyaivaṁ maheśvaram

One who has drunk liquor, too, if he dwells in Arunakshetra for a full year, following the same observances as before and duly worshipping Maheshvara...

Verse 6 (skanda.1.120.6)

क्षीरेण स्नापयेद्देवं शतरुद्रीयमुच्चरन् । सुरापानोद्भवेनाशु पापेन परिमुच्यते

kṣīreṇa snāpayeddevaṁ śatarudrīyamuccaran surāpānodbhavenāśu pāpena parimucyate

...and bathes the deity in milk while reciting the Shatarudriya hymn is swiftly released from the sin born of drinking liquor.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.120.7)

सुवर्णस्तेयकृच्छोणक्षेत्रे बिल्वदलैर्हरम् । अभ्यर्च्य भोजयेद्विप्रान्पापान्मुच्येत दुष्करात्

suvarṇasteyakṛcchoṇakṣetre bilvadalairharam abhyarcya bhojayedviprānpāpānmucyeta duṣkarāt

One who has stolen gold, too, by worshipping Hara with bilva leaves in Shonakshetra and feeding brahmins, is released even from that hard-to-expiate sin.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.120.8)

गुरुदाररतिर्गत्वा कृत्तिकास्वरुणाचलम् । यथापूर्वं व्रती भूत्वा सहस्रेण प्रदीपकैः

gurudāraratirgatvā kṛttikāsvaruṇācalam yathāpūrvaṁ vratī bhūtvā sahasreṇa pradīpakaiḥ

One who has violated his guru's wife, going to Arunachala under the Krittika constellation, keeping the same vow as before, with a thousand lamps...

Verse 9 (skanda.1.120.9)

मासत्रयं समाराध्य श्रीशोणाचलशंकरम् । प्रदद्याद्भूषितां कन्यां ब्राह्मणाय सुधीमते

māsatrayaṁ samārādhya śrīśoṇācalaśaṁkaram pradadyādbhūṣitāṁ kanyāṁ brāhmaṇāya sudhīmate

...worships Shri Shonachala Shankara for three months and gives a richly adorned maiden in marriage to a learned brahmin is freed from that sin.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.120.10)

षडक्षरं जपेन्नित्यं तेन मुच्येत पाप्मना । शिवलोके च निवसेदासंसारं न संशयः

ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japennityaṁ tena mucyeta pāpmanā śivaloke ca nivasedāsaṁsāraṁ na saṁśayaḥ

One who daily recites the six-syllabled mantra is thereby freed from that sin, and without doubt dwells in Shiva's world for as long as the cosmos endures.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.120.11)

परदारापहर्त्ता च क्षेत्रेस्मिन्नियतेंद्रियः । मासमेकं नवैः पुष्पैरभ्यर्च्यारुणशंकरम्

paradārāpaharttā ca kṣetresminniyateṁdriyaḥ māsamekaṁ navaiḥ puṣpairabhyarcyāruṇaśaṁkaram

One who has abducted another's wife, too, if with restrained senses he worships Arunashankara here for a month with fresh flowers each day...

Verse 12 (skanda.1.120.12)

माहेश्वराय वितरेद्धनं शक्त्यानुगुण्यतः । तत्क्षणेन विनिर्मुक्तस्तस्मात्पापाद्भविष्यति

māheśvarāya vitareddhanaṁ śaktyānuguṇyataḥ tatkṣaṇena vinirmuktastasmātpāpādbhaviṣyati

...and offers wealth to Maheshvara according to his means is instantly released from that sin.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.120.13)

गरदोऽप्यरुणक्षेत्रे व्रती भूत्वा यथापुरा । क्षीरोपहारं देवाय दत्त्वा दोषेण मुच्यते

garado'pyaruṇakṣetre vratī bhūtvā yathāpurā kṣīropahāraṁ devāya dattvā doṣeṇa mucyate

One who has administered poison, too, observing the same vow in Arunakshetra as before and offering an oblation of milk to the Lord, is freed from that fault.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.120.14)

पिशुनोऽप्यरुणक्षेत्रे व्रती वेदरतो नरः । अध्यापयेद्द्विजान्मुख्यांस्ततो निष्कल्मषो भवेत्

piśuno'pyaruṇakṣetre vratī vedarato naraḥ adhyāpayeddvijānmukhyāṁstato niṣkalmaṣo bhavet

A slanderous man, too, if he keeps a vow in Arunakshetra, devotes himself to Vedic study, and teaches leading brahmins, becomes free of sin.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.120.15)

अग्निदोऽप्यरुणक्षेत्रे त्रीन्मासान्पूर्ववद्व्रती । दद्याच्छैवाय निर्माय्य गृहं तत्पापशांतये

agnido'pyaruṇakṣetre trīnmāsānpūrvavadvratī dadyācchaivāya nirmāyya gṛhaṁ tatpāpaśāṁtaye

One who has set fire to a dwelling, too, keeping the same vow in Arunakshetra for three months, should build and donate a new house to a devotee of Shiva to pacify that sin.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.120.16)

धर्मनिंदाकरः शोणक्षेत्रे वर्षं व्रती वसन् । सत्रादिकं प्रकुर्वीत यथाशक्त्यघशांतये

dharmaniṁdākaraḥ śoṇakṣetre varṣaṁ vratī vasan satrādikaṁ prakurvīta yathāśaktyaghaśāṁtaye

One who has reviled dharma, dwelling as a votary in Shonakshetra for a year, should perform sattra sacrifices and the like according to his means to pacify his sin.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.120.17)

पितृद्रोह्यरुणक्षेत्रे तिष्ठन्मासमतंद्रितः । गिरीशाय द्विजेभ्योपि प्रदद्याद्गाः सहस्रशः

pitṛdrohyaruṇakṣetre tiṣṭhanmāsamataṁdritaḥ girīśāya dvijebhyopi pradadyādgāḥ sahasraśaḥ

One who has wronged his father, staying tirelessly in Arunakshetra for a month, should give thousands of cows to Girisha and to brahmins.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.120.18)

ग्रहोपरागकालेषु भोजयित्वा द्विजान्बहून् । विमुंचेद्वृषभं नीलं विमुच्येत ततोंऽहसः

grahoparāgakāleṣu bhojayitvā dvijānbahūn vimuṁcedvṛṣabhaṁ nīlaṁ vimucyeta tatoṁ'hasaḥ

During an eclipse, one should feed many brahmins and set free a blue bull; by this he is released from that sin.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.120.19)

स्त्रीघ्नश्चापि शिशुघ्नोऽपि शोणक्षेत्रमुपेयिवान् । व्यतीपाते तिलान्दद्याद्द्विजभ्यो दुरितच्छिदे

strīghnaścāpi śiśughno'pi śoṇakṣetramupeyivān vyatīpāte tilāndadyāddvijabhyo duritacchide

One who has killed a woman or an infant, too, coming to Shonakshetra, should give sesame seeds to brahmins during the vyatipata conjunction to destroy that sin.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.120.20)

प्रच्छन्नपापकृच्छोणक्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्नियतेंद्रियः । गुप्तदानानि कुर्वीत भवेद्वै गतकल्मषः

pracchannapāpakṛcchoṇakṣetre'sminniyateṁdriyaḥ guptadānāni kurvīta bhavedvai gatakalmaṣaḥ

One who has committed a hidden sin, keeping his senses restrained in this Shonakshetra, should make secret gifts; he then certainly becomes free of stain.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.120.21)

मृषाभाष्यरुणक्षेत्रे षण्मासान्निवसन्व्रती । शोणाचलेश्वरस्तोत्रपाठेन स्यादकल्मषः

mṛṣābhāṣyaruṇakṣetre ṣaṇmāsānnivasanvratī śoṇācaleśvarastotrapāṭhena syādakalmaṣaḥ

A liar, dwelling as a votary in Arunakshetra for six months and reciting the hymn to Shonachaleshvara, becomes free of sin.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.120.22)

कूपादिभेदकृच्छोणक्षेत्रमासाद्य भक्तितः । तटाकान्खानयेत्तत्र ध्रुवं निर्वृजिनो भवेत्

kūpādibhedakṛcchoṇakṣetramāsādya bhaktitaḥ taṭākānkhānayettatra dhruvaṁ nirvṛjino bhavet

One who has destroyed a well or the like, coming devotedly to Shonakshetra, should have a tank excavated there; he then certainly becomes sinless.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.120.23)

क्षेत्रापहारी देवाय क्षेत्रं दद्यान्महाफलम् । आरामकंटकोप्यस्मै दद्यादुद्यानमुत्तमम्

kṣetrāpahārī devāya kṣetraṁ dadyānmahāphalam ārāmakaṁṭakopyasmai dadyādudyānamuttamam

One who has seized another's land should give a highly fruitful field to the Lord; one who has ruined a garden should likewise offer Him a fine garden.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.120.24)

गृहापहारी कुर्वीत देवस्यायतनं नवम् । अंहसा तेन निर्मुक्तः शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

gṛhāpahārī kurvīta devasyāyatanaṁ navam aṁhasā tena nirmuktaḥ śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

One who has seized another's house should build a new temple for the Lord; freed from that sin thereby, he attains union with Shiva.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.120.25)

परद्रोही वसञ्छोणक्षेत्रे माहेश्वरान्धनैः । प्रीणयित्वा पराँल्लोकान्निःसंशयमवाप्नुयात्

paradrohī vasañchoṇakṣetre māheśvarāndhanaiḥ prīṇayitvā parā~llokānniḥsaṁśayamavāpnuyāt

One who has wronged others, dwelling in Shonakshetra and gratifying devotees of Maheshvara with gifts of wealth, undoubtedly attains the higher worlds.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.120.26)

पश्वादिमांसभुक्छोणक्षेत्रे पक्षत्रयं व्रती । प्रीणयेदरुणेशानं सोपहारैर्मनोहरैः

paśvādimāṁsabhukchoṇakṣetre pakṣatrayaṁ vratī prīṇayedaruṇeśānaṁ sopahārairmanoharaiḥ

One who has eaten the flesh of animals, keeping a vow in Shonakshetra for three fortnights, should gratify Aruneshvara with delightful offerings.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.120.27)

त्रिःशोणाचलनाथेति निनदन्ननघो भवेत् । निवसन्नरुणक्षेत्रे पूजयेदरुणेश्वरम्

triḥśoṇācalanātheti ninadannanagho bhavet nivasannaruṇakṣetre pūjayedaruṇeśvaram

One who dwells in Arunakshetra and utters "Shonachalanatha" three times becomes free of sin; let him also worship Aruneshvara.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.120.28)

अरुणेश्वरमंत्रं च जपेन्मोक्षेच्छुरादरात् । यद्यस्याभिहितं तेन पद्भ्यामेव प्रदक्षिणाम्

aruṇeśvaramaṁtraṁ ca japenmokṣecchurādarāt yadyasyābhihitaṁ tena padbhyāmeva pradakṣiṇām

One desirous of liberation should reverently recite the mantra of Aruneshvara, and along with whatever expiation is prescribed for each sin, should also circumambulate the hill on foot...

Verse 29 (skanda.1.120.29)

कुर्वतारुणशैलस्य तत्प्राप्यं शुभमंजसा । श्रुतेषु स्खलितेष्वत्याहिते दुःस्वप्नदर्शने

kurvatāruṇaśailasya tatprāpyaṁ śubhamaṁjasā śruteṣu skhaliteṣvatyāhite duḥsvapnadarśane

...one who performs this circumambulation of the Arunachala hill quickly obtains an auspicious result. Likewise when a lapse occurs in Vedic recitation, in a grave calamity, or upon seeing an evil dream...

Verse 30 (skanda.1.120.30)

प्रीत्युत्कर्षेऽपि च बुधैरुच्चार्योऽरुणशंकरः । अपि वर्णाश्रमभ्रष्टः शिवद्रोहरतोऽपि वा

prītyutkarṣe'pi ca budhairuccāryo'ruṇaśaṁkaraḥ api varṇāśramabhraṣṭaḥ śivadroharato'pi vā

...and even on occasions of great joy, the wise should utter the name of Arunashankara. Even one fallen from his varna and ashrama duties, or one intent on hostility toward Shiva...

Verse 31 (skanda.1.120.31)

त्रीण्यहान्यरुणक्षेत्रे वसन्मुच्येत पातकैः । पार्थिवः शिवलोकोऽयं मूर्त्तमेतत्त्रयीशिरः

trīṇyahānyaruṇakṣetre vasanmucyeta pātakaiḥ pārthivaḥ śivaloko'yaṁ mūrttametattrayīśiraḥ

...if he dwells in Arunakshetra for just three days, he is freed from all sins; for this earthly region is Shiva's world itself embodied, the very crown of the Vedas made manifest in form.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.120.32)

एष दक्षिणकैलासो योसावरुणपर्वतः । अन्येषु सिद्धक्षेत्रेषु तपोभिः सिद्धयो नृणाम्

eṣa dakṣiṇakailāso yosāvaruṇaparvataḥ anyeṣu siddhakṣetreṣu tapobhiḥ siddhayo nṛṇām

This Aruna mountain is verily the southern Kailasa. In other places of accomplishment, men gain their spiritual powers only through austerities...

Verse 33 (skanda.1.120.33)

अस्मिन्स्मरणमात्रेण तारतम्यं विचिंत्यताम् । यद्गंगायां प्रयागे यत्काश्यां वै पुष्करेषु यत्

asminsmaraṇamātreṇa tāratamyaṁ viciṁtyatām yadgaṁgāyāṁ prayāge yatkāśyāṁ vai puṣkareṣu yat

...but here, by mere remembrance alone, they are obtained — let this difference be pondered. Whatever merit is gained at the Ganga, at Prayaga, at Kashi, or at Pushkara...

Verse 34 (skanda.1.120.34)

कर्म सेतौ च यत्पुंसां शोणक्षेत्रे ततोऽधिकम् । अग्निष्टोमं वाजपेयं वैराजं सर्वतोमुखम्

karma setau ca yatpuṁsāṁ śoṇakṣetre tato'dhikam agniṣṭomaṁ vājapeyaṁ vairājaṁ sarvatomukham

...and whatever merit men gain at Setubandha, in Shonakshetra it is exceeded still further. Here the wise may perform the Agnishtoma, Vajapeya, Vairaja, and Sarvatomukha sacrifices...

Verse 35 (skanda.1.120.35)

राजसूयाश्वमेधौ च कुर्याच्छोणाचले बुधः । एकाहं वारुणक्षेत्रे नरो यत्स्यादुपोषितः

rājasūyāśvamedhau ca kuryācchoṇācale budhaḥ ekāhaṁ vāruṇakṣetre naro yatsyādupoṣitaḥ

...and even the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha in Shonachala itself, since these performed there bear far greater fruit. A man who observes even a single day's fast in Arunakshetra...

Verse 36 (skanda.1.120.36)

तस्य चांद्रायणशतं भवेत्सांतपनायुतम् । षोडशापि महादानान्यरुणक्षेत्रसंनिधौ

tasya cāṁdrāyaṇaśataṁ bhavetsāṁtapanāyutam ṣoḍaśāpi mahādānānyaruṇakṣetrasaṁnidhau

...gains the merit of a hundred Chandrayana vows and ten thousand Santapana vows. Likewise the sixteen great gifts, when made in the vicinity of Arunakshetra...

Verse 37 (skanda.1.120.37)

अनुष्ठितानि कल्पोक्तं कुर्वंति द्विगुणं फलम्

anuṣṭhitāni kalpoktaṁ kurvaṁti dviguṇaṁ phalam

...when performed according to the prescribed rite, yield twice their ordinary fruit.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.120.38)

इति नंदिकेश्वरमुखेन शुश्रुवान्मुनिनंदनोथ निरयप्रतिक्रियाम् । अभिनंद्य तं वद दिनर्तुवत्सरप्रमुखार्हणक्रममिति व्यजिज्ञपत्

iti naṁdikeśvaramukhena śuśruvānmuninaṁdanotha nirayapratikriyām abhinaṁdya taṁ vada dinartuvatsarapramukhārhaṇakramamiti vyajijñapat

Having thus heard from Nandikeshvara's own lips the remedies against hell, the sage's son applauded him and then made this request: "Now, pray tell me the order of worship to be performed according to day, season, and year."