Vajrangada Attains Liberation

Verse 1 (skanda.1.138.1)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । भगवन्भवमाहात्म्यरत्नाकरसुधाकरम् । नंदीश चित्रं चारित्रं श्रुतं विद्याभृतोर्द्वयोः

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca bhagavanbhavamāhātmyaratnākarasudhākaram naṁdīśa citraṁ cāritraṁ śrutaṁ vidyābhṛtordvayoḥ

Markandeya said: O venerable Nandisha, I have heard the wondrous account of the two Vidyadharas, a moon rising from the ocean of Shiva's greatness.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.138.2)

कदा वज्रांगदः सिद्धः कथं देवमपूजयत् । कथं चान्वग्रहीत्प्रह्वं देवस्तमरुणेश्वरः

kadā vajrāṁgadaḥ siddhaḥ kathaṁ devamapūjayat kathaṁ cānvagrahītprahvaṁ devastamaruṇeśvaraḥ

When did Vajrangada attain accomplishment? How did he worship the Lord? And how did the Lord of Aruna show grace to him, bowed humbly before him?

Verse 3 (skanda.1.138.3)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । निवर्त्तनेच्छां हित्वाथ नृपो निजपुरं प्रति । तस्यैव पादपर्यंते स्वस्य वासमरोचयत्

naṁdikeśvara uvāca nivarttanecchāṁ hitvātha nṛpo nijapuraṁ prati tasyaiva pādaparyaṁte svasya vāsamarocayat

Nandikeshvara said: Then the king, abandoning any desire to return to his own city, chose to make his dwelling at the very foot of that mountain.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.138.4)

अथास्य महती सेना वाहमार्गानुसारिणी । प्राप्ता शतांगमातंगतुरंगभटसंकुला

athāsya mahatī senā vāhamārgānusāriṇī prāptā śatāṁgamātaṁgaturaṁgabhaṭasaṁkulā

Then his great army, following along the route of his mount, arrived there, thronging with chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.138.5)

समदृश्यत भूपालस्तादृशो धैर्यसागरः । पुरोधोमंत्रिसामंतसेनापतिसुहृत्तमैः

samadṛśyata bhūpālastādṛśo dhairyasāgaraḥ purodhomaṁtrisāmaṁtasenāpatisuhṛttamaiḥ

The king, that very ocean of fortitude, was seen there, surrounded by his priest, ministers, vassals, army-commanders, and closest friends.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.138.6)

ततस्तामागतां सेनामवनीपतिरादृतः । अरुणाद्रेश्च सीमाया बहिरेव न्यवेशयत्

tatastāmāgatāṁ senāmavanīpatirādṛtaḥ aruṇādreśca sīmāyā bahireva nyaveśayat

Then the king, honouring the army that had arrived, had it stationed just outside the boundary of Arunachala.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.138.7)

स्वकीयमखिलं कोशं देशानपि महाफलान् । शोणाद्रिनाथपूजायै कल्पयामास भक्तिमान्

svakīyamakhilaṁ kośaṁ deśānapi mahāphalān śoṇādrināthapūjāyai kalpayāmāsa bhaktimān

The devoted king dedicated his entire treasury, and even his most fertile lands, to the worship of the Lord of the Red Mountain.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.138.8)

गौतमस्याश्रमाभ्याशे स्वयं कृततपोवनः । पुरोधोक्तः ससचिवः शिवार्चनरतोऽभवत्

gautamasyāśramābhyāśe svayaṁ kṛtatapovanaḥ purodhoktaḥ sasacivaḥ śivārcanarato'bhavat

Near the hermitage of Gautama, having himself established a penance-grove, and instructed by his priest, together with his ministers he became devoted to the worship of Shiva.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.138.9)

रत्नांगदाख्यं तनयं स्थापयित्वा निजे पदे । तत्प्रेषितैरपर्याप्तैः शोणेशं पर्यतर्पयत्

ratnāṁgadākhyaṁ tanayaṁ sthāpayitvā nije pade tatpreṣitairaparyāptaiḥ śoṇeśaṁ paryatarpayat

Having installed his son named Ratnangada upon his own throne, he satisfied the Lord of the Red Mountain with the abundant offerings sent by him.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.138.10)

परितः शोणशैलस्य परिपूर्णजलाशयान् । अग्रहारान्बहुफलान्ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽतिसृष्टवान्

paritaḥ śoṇaśailasya paripūrṇajalāśayān agrahārānbahuphalānbrāhmaṇebhyo'tisṛṣṭavān

All around the Red Mountain, he had many water-tanks dug and filled, and he gifted to the Brahmins many fruitful agrahara lands.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.138.11)

तेजसारुणनाथस्य ज्वलनस्तंभरूपिणः । धन्वप्रायेऽपि देशेऽस्मिन्दीर्घिकाः शतशो व्यधात्

tejasāruṇanāthasya jvalanastaṁbharūpiṇaḥ dhanvaprāye'pi deśe'smindīrghikāḥ śataśo vyadhāt

By the splendour of the Lord of Aruna, who takes the form of a pillar of fire, he had hundreds of pools dug even in this land, though it was mostly desert.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.138.12)

सौंदर्यशालिनीरात्मपरिवारवरांगनाः । सेवार्थं शोणनाथस्य दत्तवान्दीर्घदर्शनः

sauṁdaryaśālinīrātmaparivāravarāṁganāḥ sevārthaṁ śoṇanāthasya dattavāndīrghadarśanaḥ

That far-sighted king dedicated even the beautiful ladies of his own household to the service of the Lord of the Red Mountain.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.138.13)

अथागतेनागस्त्येन लोपामुद्रासखेन सः । अभ्यनंद्यत शोणाद्रिनाथपूजापरायणः

athāgatenāgastyena lopāmudrāsakhena saḥ abhyanaṁdyata śoṇādrināthapūjāparāyaṇaḥ

Then he, ever devoted to the worship of the Lord of the Red Mountain, was welcomed by Agastya, who arrived there together with his wife Lopamudra.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.138.14)

प्रत्यहं नवतीर्थाख्ये सरसि स्नानमाचरन् । पापनाशप्रवालेशौ प्रयतः पर्यपूजयत्

pratyahaṁ navatīrthākhye sarasi snānamācaran pāpanāśapravāleśau prayataḥ paryapūjayat

Bathing every day in the lake called Navatirtha, he devoutly worshipped the two Lords, Papanashana and Pravalesha.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.138.15)

महिषासुरसंहारकारिणी मानवेश्वरः । नित्यमाराधयामास दुर्गां दुर्ग्गार्तिहारिणीम्

mahiṣāsurasaṁhārakāriṇī mānaveśvaraḥ nityamārādhayāmāsa durgāṁ durggārtihāriṇīm

The lord of men constantly worshipped Durga, the slayer of Mahishasura, who removes the distress of the afflicted.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.138.16)

प्रतिक्षणं ब्रह्मविष्णुपूज्यस्य लिंगरूपिणः । आदिदेवस्य विविधाः सपर्याः पर्यकल्पयत्

pratikṣaṇaṁ brahmaviṣṇupūjyasya liṁgarūpiṇaḥ ādidevasya vividhāḥ saparyāḥ paryakalpayat

He performed at every moment various rites of worship for the Primordial Lord in the form of the linga, adored even by Brahma and Vishnu.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.138.17)

प्रत्युषस्युत्थितः स्नातः पादाभ्यामेव पार्थिवः । जपन्पंचाक्षरीमंत्रमकार्षीत्त्रिः प्रदक्षिणाम्

pratyuṣasyutthitaḥ snātaḥ pādābhyāmeva pārthivaḥ japanpaṁcākṣarīmaṁtramakārṣīttriḥ pradakṣiṇām

Rising at dawn and bathing, the king, chanting the five-syllabled mantra, performed circumambulation three times, always on foot.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.138.18)

पौर्णमास्यां स कार्त्तिक्यां पार्वतीवल्लभप्रियम् । महादीपोत्सवं चक्रे महितं भुवनत्रये

paurṇamāsyāṁ sa kārttikyāṁ pārvatīvallabhapriyam mahādīpotsavaṁ cakre mahitaṁ bhuvanatraye

On the full-moon day of Karttika, he celebrated the Great Lamp Festival, dear to Parvati's beloved, honoured throughout the three worlds.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.138.19)

सुगंधसारकह्लारकर्पूरजलपूरितः । सहस्रैः स्वर्णकुंभानामभ्यषिंचत्त्रियंत्रकम्

sugaṁdhasārakahlārakarpūrajalapūritaḥ sahasraiḥ svarṇakuṁbhānāmabhyaṣiṁcattriyaṁtrakam

Filled with fragrant sandal-water, water-lilies, and camphor water, he anointed the three-eyed Lord with thousands of golden pitchers.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.138.20)

प्रतिमासध्वजारोहपूर्वं तीर्थोत्सवादिकम् । त्रैलोक्याभ्यर्हितं चक्रे रथारोहं महोत्सवम्

pratimāsadhvajārohapūrvaṁ tīrthotsavādikam trailokyābhyarhitaṁ cakre rathārohaṁ mahotsavam

Every month, beginning with the raising of the flag, he performed the tirtha-festival and the rest, and celebrated the great chariot-festival, honoured throughout the three worlds.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.138.21)

अंगं प्रदक्षिणं चास्य विदधे विशदाशयः । योजनत्रितयायामव्यापिनः शोणभूभृतः

aṁgaṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ cāsya vidadhe viśadāśayaḥ yojanatritayāyāmavyāpinaḥ śoṇabhūbhṛtaḥ

With a pure heart, he also performed the special circumambulation of that Red Mountain, which extends over three yojanas.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.138.22)

अरुणाचलनाथेति करुणामृतसागरः । अरुणांवासनाथेति तुष्टाव च मुहुर्मुहुः

aruṇācalanātheti karuṇāmṛtasāgaraḥ aruṇāṁvāsanātheti tuṣṭāva ca muhurmuhuḥ

He repeatedly praised him, that ocean of the nectar of compassion, calling him Lord of Arunachala and Lord Dwelling in Aruna.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.138.23)

संलिप्य विविधैर्द्रव्यैर्नित्यं पंचामृतादिभिः । आचर्च यद्गंधसारपंकैः कर्पूरपांडुरैः

saṁlipya vividhairdravyairnityaṁ paṁcāmṛtādibhiḥ ācarca yadgaṁdhasārapaṁkaiḥ karpūrapāṁḍuraiḥ

Anointing the Lord daily with various substances beginning with the five nectars, and worshipping with sandal-paste whitened with camphor—

Verse 24 (skanda.1.138.24)

अपूजयत कल्हारैः स्रवन्मृगमदद्रवैः । प्रा तरारभ्य शोणाद्रिनायकं गणरूपिणम्

apūjayata kalhāraiḥ sravanmṛgamadadravaiḥ prā tarārabhya śoṇādrināyakaṁ gaṇarūpiṇam

—beginning early each morning, he worshipped the Lord of the Red Mountain, present in the form of Ganapati, with water-lilies dripping with musk.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.138.25)

इति वर्षत्रयं तस्य वशिनो वरिवस्यया । अरुणाद्रीश्वरस्तुष्टः प्रत्यक्षत्वमगाहत

iti varṣatrayaṁ tasya vaśino varivasyayā aruṇādrīśvarastuṣṭaḥ pratyakṣatvamagāhata

Thus, through three years of worship by that self-controlled king, the Lord of Arunachala, well pleased, manifested himself directly.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.138.26)

नीहाराचलसंकाशमारूढो वृषपुंगवम् । अन्वगासीनया देव्या कृतगाढोपगूहनः

nīhārācalasaṁkāśamārūḍho vṛṣapuṁgavam anvagāsīnayā devyā kṛtagāḍhopagūhanaḥ

Mounted on his splendid bull, resembling a snow-white mountain, the Lord was held in a close embrace by the Goddess seated behind him.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.138.27)

ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्वसिष्ठाद्यैर्नारदाद्यैर्महर्षिभिः । गणैर्निकुंभकुंभाद्यैः क्रियमाणजयस्तुतिः

brahmarṣibhirvasiṣṭhādyairnāradādyairmaharṣibhiḥ gaṇairnikuṁbhakuṁbhādyaiḥ kriyamāṇajayastutiḥ

Praised with cries of victory by brahmarshis headed by Vasishtha, by maharshis headed by Narada, and by ganas headed by Nikumbha and Kumbha—

Verse 28 (skanda.1.138.28)

करुणासिंधुकल्लोलैः कमलावासवेश्मभिः । कटाक्षपातैर्जगतां कालुष्यमिव वारयन्

karuṇāsiṁdhukallolaiḥ kamalāvāsaveśmabhiḥ kaṭākṣapātairjagatāṁ kāluṣyamiva vārayan

—as though warding off the impurity of the worlds with his glances, wave upon wave of the ocean of compassion, dwellings fit for lotus-throned Lakshmi—

Verse 29 (skanda.1.138.29)

दृष्ट्वा च देवदेवं तमष्टांगं न्यस्य भूतले । प्रणनाम परं हृष्टो वज्रांगदमहीपतिः

dṛṣṭvā ca devadevaṁ tamaṣṭāṁgaṁ nyasya bhūtale praṇanāma paraṁ hṛṣṭo vajrāṁgadamahīpatiḥ

—King Vajrangada, beholding the God of gods, prostrated himself upon the ground with all eight limbs touching, and, filled with the utmost joy, bowed down.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.138.30)

व्यज्ञापयच्च भूपालो मौलीकृतशतांजलिः । क्षालयन्निव दंतांशुजालैस्तत्पादपंकजे

vyajñāpayacca bhūpālo maulīkṛtaśatāṁjaliḥ kṣālayanniva daṁtāṁśujālaistatpādapaṁkaje

The king, with his crowned head bowed and palms joined a hundredfold, submitted his prayer, as though washing the Lord's lotus feet with the streams of light from his own teeth.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.138.31)

वज्रांगद उवाच । देवेश यदहं मोहाद्बहुपातकसंचयम् । अचारिषं स एकोऽयं क्षम्यतां मे व्यतिक्रमः

vajrāṁgada uvāca deveśa yadahaṁ mohādbahupātakasaṁcayam acāriṣaṁ sa eko'yaṁ kṣamyatāṁ me vyatikramaḥ

Vajrangada said: O Lord of gods, whatever great accumulation of sins I have committed out of delusion, may this one transgression of mine be forgiven.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.138.32)

इतिवादिनमत्यंतं दीनमेव दयानिधिः । जगाद जगतीनाथो देवः शोणाचलेश्वरः

itivādinamatyaṁtaṁ dīnameva dayānidhiḥ jagāda jagatīnātho devaḥ śoṇācaleśvaraḥ

As he spoke thus, utterly humbled, the ocean of compassion, the Lord of the world, the God who is the Lord of the Red Mountain, addressed him.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.138.33)

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच । मा भैषीर्वत्स भद्रं ते संत्यष्टौ मम मूर्त्तयः । ताः सर्वाः सर्वजंतूनामत्यर्थं परिकल्पिताः

śrīmaheśvara uvāca mā bhaiṣīrvatsa bhadraṁ te saṁtyaṣṭau mama mūrttayaḥ tāḥ sarvāḥ sarvajaṁtūnāmatyarthaṁ parikalpitāḥ

Sri Maheshvara said: Do not fear, my child; may you be blessed. I have eight forms; all of them are ordained entirely for the sake of all living beings.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.138.34)

पुरा पुरंदरस्त्वं हि कैलासशिखरे स्थितम् । गर्वितो मामवामंस्थाः स्तंभितश्च तदा मया

purā puraṁdarastvaṁ hi kailāsaśikhare sthitam garvito māmavāmaṁsthāḥ staṁbhitaśca tadā mayā

Long ago, you were Purandara; filled with pride, you had disrespected me as I stood on the peak of Kailasa, and I then made you motionless.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.138.35)

क्षणं गलितगर्वस्त्वं स्तंभना व्रीडितस्तदा । अयाचिष्ठाः शिवज्ञानमखिलैश्वर्यकारणम्

kṣaṇaṁ galitagarvastvaṁ staṁbhanā vrīḍitastadā ayāciṣṭhāḥ śivajñānamakhilaiśvaryakāraṇam

For a moment, your pride melted away, and, embarrassed by that immobilization, you then begged for knowledge of Shiva, the cause of all lordship.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.138.36)

आदिष्टस्त्वं मया वज्रिन्नवतीर्यावनिं भवान् । राजा वज्रांगदो भूत्वा लप्स्यसे मत्कृपामिति

ādiṣṭastvaṁ mayā vajrinnavatīryāvaniṁ bhavān rājā vajrāṁgado bhūtvā lapsyase matkṛpāmiti

O wielder of the thunderbolt, I then instructed you: descend to the earth, become King Vajrangada, and you shall obtain my grace.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.138.37)

जातं ततः प्रभावेण क्षेत्रमेतन्मदास्पदम् । शिक्षितोतीव मुग्धस्त्वं भक्तोसि च परं मयि

jātaṁ tataḥ prabhāveṇa kṣetrametanmadāspadam śikṣitotīva mugdhastvaṁ bhaktosi ca paraṁ mayi

Through that decree it came about that this place became my abode; though you were exceedingly naive, you have now been well instructed, and you are supremely devoted to me.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.138.38)

अधुनातिसपर्याभिस्त्वत्कृताभिरहर्निशम् । परितुष्टोस्म्यहं राजन्नतस्त्वां बोधयाम्यहम्

adhunātisaparyābhistvatkṛtābhiraharniśam parituṣṭosmyahaṁ rājannatastvāṁ bodhayāmyaham

Now, through your worship rendered day and night, O king, I am fully satisfied; therefore I shall now enlighten you.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.138.39)

खं वायुरनलो वारि भूः सूर्य शशिनौ पुमान् । इति मन्मूर्त्तिभिर्विश्वं भासते सचराचरम्

khaṁ vāyuranalo vāri bhūḥ sūrya śaśinau pumān iti manmūrttibhirviśvaṁ bhāsate sacarācaram

Ether, air, fire, water, earth, sun, moon, and the human sacrificer — through these forms of mine, the entire universe, moving and unmoving, is illumined.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.138.40)

कालो हि कालयाम्यर्थान्सत्त्वानध्वन एव च । तत्त्वातीतः शिवश्चाहं न मत्तोस्तीह किंचन

kālo hi kālayāmyarthānsattvānadhvana eva ca tattvātītaḥ śivaścāhaṁ na mattostīha kiṁcana

As Time, I set in motion all things, all beings and all paths; yet I, Shiva, am beyond the tattvas, and there exists nothing here apart from me.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.138.41)

अपर्यंतचिदानंदसिंधोर्मे केचिदूर्मयः । वेधोमुकुन्दरुद्रेंद्रमुखानाहुरुदित्वराः

aparyaṁtacidānaṁdasiṁdhorme kecidūrmayaḥ vedhomukundarudreṁdramukhānāhuruditvarāḥ

Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, and the others are said to be but a few rising waves of my boundless ocean of consciousness and bliss.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.138.42)

वाणीलक्ष्मीक्षमाश्रद्धाप्रज्ञास्वाहास्वधादयः । असंख्येयमहाशक्तेर्मम विसृष्टिशक्तयः

vāṇīlakṣmīkṣamāśraddhāprajñāsvāhāsvadhādayaḥ asaṁkhyeyamahāśaktermama visṛṣṭiśaktayaḥ

Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Kshama, Shraddha, Prajna, Svaha, Svadha, and the rest, are the creative powers of my immeasurable great Shakti.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.138.43)

इयं मम महाशक्तिर्गौरी माया जगत्प्रसूः । अनयाच्छाद्यते विश्वं शश्वद्विस्तार्यतेऽपि च

iyaṁ mama mahāśaktirgaurī māyā jagatprasūḥ anayācchādyate viśvaṁ śaśvadvistāryate'pi ca

This Gauri is my great Shakti, the Maya that gives birth to the universe; by her the universe is ever veiled, and by her too it is ever unfolded.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.138.44)

शक्त्यानयान्वितः सर्गरक्षासंहृतिविभ्रमः । विचित्रमेतत्पश्यामि जगच्चित्रं निजेच्छया

śaktyānayānvitaḥ sargarakṣāsaṁhṛtivibhramaḥ vicitrametatpaśyāmi jagaccitraṁ nijecchayā

United with this Shakti, engaged in the play of creation, preservation and dissolution, I behold, by my own will, this wondrous picture of the universe.

Verse 45 (skanda.1.138.45)

अपवाहितमोहस्त्वं महिमा मे विचारय । आत्मानमविभिन्नं मे तरंगमिव वारिधेः

apavāhitamohastvaṁ mahimā me vicāraya ātmānamavibhinnaṁ me taraṁgamiva vāridheḥ

Now that your delusion has been washed away, reflect upon my greatness; know your own self to be not different from me, as a wave is not different from the ocean.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.138.46)

ततो मद्रूपशालिन्या आधिपत्यं क्षितेर्गतः । मत्प्रसादेन राजेंद्र भुंक्ष्व भोगान्यथासुखम्

tato madrūpaśālinyā ādhipatyaṁ kṣitergataḥ matprasādena rājeṁdra bhuṁkṣva bhogānyathāsukham

Then, having attained lordship of the earth adorned with my own form, O king of kings, enjoy your pleasures freely, according to your comfort, through my grace.

Verse 47 (skanda.1.138.47)

पुनः पुरंदरत्वेन भुक्तदिव्यसुखश्चिरम् । मदेकरूपतां राजन्निश्चयात्त्वमवाप्स्यसि

punaḥ puraṁdaratvena bhuktadivyasukhaściram madekarūpatāṁ rājanniścayāttvamavāpsyasi

Then, having enjoyed divine pleasures once more for a long time as Purandara, O king, you shall surely attain oneness with my very form.

Verse 48 (skanda.1.138.48)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वांतर्हिते देवे राजा वज्रांगदः कृती । शोणेशं पूजयन्नेव सर्वान्भोगानवाप्तवान्

naṁdikeśvara uvāca ityuktvāṁtarhite deve rājā vajrāṁgadaḥ kṛtī śoṇeśaṁ pūjayanneva sarvānbhogānavāptavān

Nandikeshvara said: Having spoken thus, when the Lord disappeared, the accomplished King Vajrangada, continuing to worship the Lord of the Red Mountain, obtained all manner of enjoyments.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.138.49)

इत्थं ते कथितं साधो शिवभक्तविजृंभणम् । प्रदक्षिणाफलं चैव शोणशैलस्य शाश्वतम्

itthaṁ te kathitaṁ sādho śivabhaktavijṛṁbhaṇam pradakṣiṇāphalaṁ caiva śoṇaśailasya śāśvatam

Thus, O virtuous one, I have told you of the flowering of devotion to Shiva, and also the eternal fruit of circumambulating the Red Mountain.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.138.50)

किं वाचां विस्तरेणात्र शोणशैलप्रदक्षिणा । महतामश्वमेधानां शतादपि विशिष्यते

kiṁ vācāṁ vistareṇātra śoṇaśailapradakṣiṇā mahatāmaśvamedhānāṁ śatādapi viśiṣyate

What need is there of many words here? Circumambulation of the Red Mountain surpasses even a hundred great Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.138.51)

विषुवायनसंक्राति व्यतीपातादिपर्वसु । प्रदक्षिणाच्छोणगिरेरसंख्येयं फलं लभेत्

viṣuvāyanasaṁkrāti vyatīpātādiparvasu pradakṣiṇācchoṇagirerasaṁkhyeyaṁ phalaṁ labhet

On the occasions of the equinox, solstice, and vyatipata and other sacred conjunctions, one obtains immeasurable merit from circumambulating the Red Mountain.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.138.52)

न क्षेत्रमरुणादस्ति नास्ति देवोऽरुणेश्वरात् । नापि प्रदक्षिणादन्यद्विपद्यतेऽभ्यधिकं तपः

na kṣetramaruṇādasti nāsti devo'ruṇeśvarāt nāpi pradakṣiṇādanyadvipadyate'bhyadhikaṁ tapaḥ

There is no sacred place equal to Aruna, no god equal to Arunesvara; nor is there any austerity that yields greater fruit than circumambulation.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.138.53)

इति कथयति नंदिकेश्वरेस्मिन्पुलकितसर्ववपुर्मृकण्डुपुत्रः । मुहुरधिगतहर्षवाष्पवृष्टिर्महति निमग्न इवाभवत्सुधाब्धौ

iti kathayati naṁdikeśvaresminpulakitasarvavapurmṛkaṇḍuputraḥ muhuradhigataharṣavāṣpavṛṣṭirmahati nimagna ivābhavatsudhābdhau

As Nandikeshvara related this, the son of Mrikandu, his whole body thrilled with rapture, his eyes repeatedly streaming with tears of joy, seemed to be immersed as though in a great ocean of nectar.