The Greatness of the Lingas and the Shakti-Chidra Ford Established by Kumara

Verse 1 (skanda.1.68.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततस्तं गिरिवर्ष्माणं पतितं वसुधोपरि॥ आलिंगितमिव पृथ्व्या गुणिन्या गुणिनं यथा

nārada uvāca tatastaṁ girivarṣmāṇaṁ patitaṁ vasudhopari āliṁgitamiva pṛthvyā guṇinyā guṇinaṁ yathā

Narada said: Then, seeing him — his form vast as a mountain — fallen upon the earth, as if embraced by the virtuous earth, as a virtuous woman embraces a man of virtue,

Verse 2 (skanda.1.68.2)

दृष्ट्वा देवा विस्मितास्ते जयं जगुस्तथा मुहुः॥ केचित्समीपमागंतुं बिभ्यति त्रिदिवौकसः

dṛṣṭvā devā vismitāste jayaṁ jagustathā muhuḥ kecitsamīpamāgaṁtuṁ bibhyati tridivaukasaḥ

the astonished gods repeatedly cried out "Victory!"; yet some among the dwellers of the triple heaven still feared to approach him.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.68.3)

उत्थाय तारको दैत्यः कदा चिन्नो निहंति चेत्॥ तं तथा पतितं दृष्ट्वा वसुधामण्डले गुहः

utthāya tārako daityaḥ kadā cinno nihaṁti cet taṁ tathā patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā vasudhāmaṇḍale guhaḥ

thinking, "What if the demon Taraka should rise up and slay us yet?" Seeing him thus fallen upon the circle of the earth, Guha —

Verse 4 (skanda.1.68.4)

आसीद्दीनमनाः पार्थ शुशोच च महामतिः॥ स्तवनं चापि देवानां वारयित्वा वचोऽब्रवीत्

āsīddīnamanāḥ pārtha śuśoca ca mahāmatiḥ stavanaṁ cāpi devānāṁ vārayitvā vaco'bravīt

— became downcast in mind, O Partha, and grieved, that great-minded one. Stopping the praise of the gods, he spoke these words:

Verse 5 (skanda.1.68.5)

शोच्यं पातकिनं मां च संस्तुवध्वं कथं सुराः॥ पंचानामपि यो भर्ता प्राकृतोऽसौ न कीर्त्यते

śocyaṁ pātakinaṁ māṁ ca saṁstuvadhvaṁ kathaṁ surāḥ paṁcānāmapi yo bhartā prākṛto'sau na kīrtyate

"How can you praise me, a sinner deserving of grief, O gods? He who is the lord even of the five elements is not called merely common."

Verse 6 (skanda.1.68.6)

स तु रुद्रांशजः प्रोक्तस्तस्य द्रुह्यन्न रुद्रँवत्॥ स्वायंभुवेन गीतश्च श्लोकः संश्रूयते तथा

sa tu rudrāṁśajaḥ proktastasya druhyanna rudram̐vat svāyaṁbhuvena gītaśca ślokaḥ saṁśrūyate tathā

"He is declared to be born of a portion of Rudra; harming him is like harming Rudra himself. And a verse sung by Svayambhu is likewise heard —"

Verse 7 (skanda.1.68.7)

वीरं हि पुरुषं हत्वा गोसहस्रेण मुच्यते॥ यथाकथंचित्पुरुषो न हंतव्यस्ततो बुधैः

vīraṁ hi puruṣaṁ hatvā gosahasreṇa mucyate yathākathaṁcitpuruṣo na haṁtavyastato budhaiḥ

"— that having slain a heroic man, one is freed of the sin by a thousand cows; therefore, by whatever means, a man is not to be slain by the wise."

Verse 8 (skanda.1.68.8)

पापशीलस्य हनने दोषो यद्यपि नास्ति च॥ तथापि रुद्रभक्तोऽयं संस्मरन्निति शोचिमि

pāpaśīlasya hanane doṣo yadyapi nāsti ca tathāpi rudrabhakto'yaṁ saṁsmaranniti śocimi

"Even though there is no fault in the slaying of one of sinful nature, still, remembering that he was a devotee of Rudra, I grieve."

Verse 9 (skanda.1.68.9)

तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रायाश्चित्तं च किंचन॥ प्रायश्चित्तैरपैत्येनो यतोपि महदर्जितम्

tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi prāyāścittaṁ ca kiṁcana prāyaścittairapaityeno yatopi mahadarjitam

"So I wish to hear of some expiation. By acts of expiation, even sin greatly incurred is removed."

Verse 10 (skanda.1.68.10)

इति संशोचतस्तस्य शिवपुत्रस्य धीमतः॥ वासुदेवो गुरुः पुंसां देवमध्ये वचोऽब्रवीत्

iti saṁśocatastasya śivaputrasya dhīmataḥ vāsudevo guruḥ puṁsāṁ devamadhye vaco'bravīt

As Shiva's wise son grieved thus, Vasudeva, the guru of men, spoke these words in the midst of the gods:

Verse 11 (skanda.1.68.11)

श्रुतिः स्मृतिश्चेतिहासाः पुराणं च शिवात्मज॥ प्रमाणं चेत्ततो दुष्टवधे दोषो न विद्यते

śrutiḥ smṛtiścetihāsāḥ purāṇaṁ ca śivātmaja pramāṇaṁ cettato duṣṭavadhe doṣo na vidyate

"O son of Shiva, if the Shruti, the Smriti, the Itihasas, and the Puranas are authority, then there is no fault at all in the slaying of the wicked."

Verse 12 (skanda.1.68.12)

स्वप्राणान्यः परप्राणैः प्रपुष्णात्यघृणः पुमान्॥ तद्वधस्तस्य हि श्रेयो यद्दोषाद्यात्यधः पुमान्

svaprāṇānyaḥ paraprāṇaiḥ prapuṣṇātyaghṛṇaḥ pumān tadvadhastasya hi śreyo yaddoṣādyātyadhaḥ pumān

"A man without pity, who nourishes his own life by taking the lives of others — the slaying of such a man is indeed a benefit, for by his fault he drags others down."

Verse 13 (skanda.1.68.13)

अन्नादे भ्रूणहा मार्ष्टि पत्यौ भार्या पचारिणी॥ गुरौ शिष्यश्च याज्यश्च स्तेनो राजनि किल्बिषम्

annāde bhrūṇahā mārṣṭi patyau bhāryā pacāriṇī gurau śiṣyaśca yājyaśca steno rājani kilbiṣam

"The sin of killing an embryo attaches to the one who eats wrongfully; that of a wife's misconduct, to the husband; the fault of a disciple and of one who performs sacrifice, to the teacher; and that of a thief, to the king,"

Verse 14 (skanda.1.68.14)

पापिनं पुरुषं यो हि समर्थो न निहंति च॥ तस्य तावंति पापानि तदर्धं सोऽप्यवाश्रुते

pāpinaṁ puruṣaṁ yo hi samartho na nihaṁti ca tasya tāvaṁti pāpāni tadardhaṁ so'pyavāśrute

"— likewise whoever, though capable, does not slay a sinful man incurs half of all that man's sins upon himself."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.68.15)

पापिनो यदि वध्यंते नैव पालनसंस्थितैः॥ ततोऽयमक्षमो लोकः कं याति शरणं गुह

pāpino yadi vadhyaṁte naiva pālanasaṁsthitaiḥ tato'yamakṣamo lokaḥ kaṁ yāti śaraṇaṁ guha

"If sinners are not slain by those established in the duty of protection, then this helpless world — to what refuge, O Guha, shall it go?"

Verse 16 (skanda.1.68.16)

कथं यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च वर्तते विश्वधारकाः॥ तस्मात्त्वया पुण्यमाप्तं न च पापं कथंचन

kathaṁ yajñāśca vedāśca vartate viśvadhārakāḥ tasmāttvayā puṇyamāptaṁ na ca pāpaṁ kathaṁcana

"How then would sacrifices and the Vedas, the sustainers of the universe, continue? Therefore you have gained only merit, and no sin whatsoever."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.68.17)

अथ चेद्रुद्रभक्तेषु बहुमानस्तव प्रभो॥ तत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि प्रायश्चित्तं महोत्तमम्

atha cedrudrabhakteṣu bahumānastava prabho tatra te kīrtayiṣyāmi prāyaścittaṁ mahottamam

"Yet, O lord, if you still hold great reverence for devotees of Rudra, then I shall declare to you a most excellent expiation for it."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.68.18)

आजन्मसंभवैः पापैः पुमान्येन विमुच्यते॥ आकल्पांत च वा येन रुद्रलोके प्रमोदते

ājanmasaṁbhavaiḥ pāpaiḥ pumānyena vimucyate ākalpāṁta ca vā yena rudraloke pramodate

"By which a man is freed from all sins accumulated since birth, and by which he rejoices in Rudra's world until the end of the kalpa."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.68.19)

कृते पापेऽनुतापो वै यस्य स्कन्द प्रजायते॥ रुद्राराधनतोऽन्यच्च प्रायश्तित्तं परं न हि

kṛte pāpe'nutāpo vai yasya skanda prajāyate rudrārādhanato'nyacca prāyaśtittaṁ paraṁ na hi

"O Skanda, for one in whom remorse arises after a sin is committed, there is truly no higher expiation than the worship of Rudra."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.68.20)

न यस्यालमपि ब्रह्मामहिमानं विवर्णितुम्॥ श्रुतिश्च भीता यं वक्ति किं तस्मात्परमं भवेत्

na yasyālamapi brahmāmahimānaṁ vivarṇitum śrutiśca bhītā yaṁ vakti kiṁ tasmātparamaṁ bhavet

"He whose greatness even Brahma is unable fully to describe, of whom even the Shruti speaks with awe — what could be higher than him?"

Verse 21 (skanda.1.68.21)

अकांडे यच्च ब्रह्मांडक्षयोद्युक्तं हलाहलम्॥ कण्ठे दधार श्रीकण्ठः कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्

akāṁḍe yacca brahmāṁḍakṣayodyuktaṁ halāhalam kaṇṭhe dadhāra śrīkaṇṭhaḥ kastasmātparamo bhavet

"He who, when the Halahala poison arose unseasonably, intent on destroying the universe, bore it in his throat, becoming Shrikantha — what could be higher than him?"

Verse 22 (skanda.1.68.22)

दुःखतांडवदीनोऽभूदण्डसंकीर्णमानसः॥ मारमारश्च यो देवः कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्

duḥkhatāṁḍavadīno'bhūdaṇḍasaṁkīrṇamānasaḥ māramāraśca yo devaḥ kastasmātparamo bhavet

"He who became sorrowful in the tandava, his mind filled with anguished resolve, and who is the very slayer of Mara, the god of desire — what could be higher than him?"

Verse 23 (skanda.1.68.23)

वियद्व्यापी सुरसरित्प्रवाहो विप्रुषाकृतिः॥ बभूव यस्य शिरसि कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्

viyadvyāpī surasaritpravāho vipruṣākṛtiḥ babhūva yasya śirasi kastasmātparamo bhavet

"He upon whose head the sky-pervading stream of the celestial river became but a single drop — what could be higher than him?"

Verse 24 (skanda.1.68.24)

यज्ञादिकाश्च ये धर्मा विना यस्यार्चनं वृथा॥ दक्षोऽत्र सत्यदृष्टांतः कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्

yajñādikāśca ye dharmā vinā yasyārcanaṁ vṛthā dakṣo'tra satyadṛṣṭāṁtaḥ kastasmātparamo bhavet

"He without whose worship all religious rites, sacrifices and the rest, become futile — Daksha stands here as the true example. What could be higher than him?"

Verse 25 (skanda.1.68.25)

क्षोणी रथो विधिर्यंता शरोऽहं मन्दरो धनुः॥ रथांगे चापि चंद्रार्कौ युद्धे यस्य च त्रैपुरे

kṣoṇī ratho vidhiryaṁtā śaro'haṁ mandaro dhanuḥ rathāṁge cāpi caṁdrārkau yuddhe yasya ca traipure

"In whose battle against Tripura the earth was his chariot, Brahma his charioteer, I myself his arrow, Mandara his bow, and the Moon and Sun the wheels of his chariot,"

Verse 26 (skanda.1.68.26)

आराधनं तस्य केचिद्योगमार्गेण कुर्वते॥ दुःखसाध्यं हि तत्तेषां नित्यं शून्यमुपासताम्

ārādhanaṁ tasya kecidyogamārgeṇa kurvate duḥkhasādhyaṁ hi tatteṣāṁ nityaṁ śūnyamupāsatām

"— some worship him by the path of yoga, but that is hard for them to accomplish, ever meditating on emptiness alone."

Verse 27 (skanda.1.68.27)

तस्मात्तस्यार्चयेल्लिंगं भुक्तिमुक्ती य इच्छति॥ सृष्ट्यादौ लिंगरूपी स विवादो मम ब्रह्मणः

tasmāttasyārcayelliṁgaṁ bhuktimuktī ya icchati sṛṣṭyādau liṁgarūpī sa vivādo mama brahmaṇaḥ

"Therefore, whoever desires both enjoyment and liberation should worship his linga. At the beginning of creation he took the form of the linga — this was the point of dispute between him and me, Brahma —"

Verse 28 (skanda.1.68.28)

अभूद्यस्य परिच्छेदे नालमावां बभूविव॥ चराचरं जगत्सर्वं यतो लीनं सदात्र च

abhūdyasya paricchede nālamāvāṁ babhūviva carācaraṁ jagatsarvaṁ yato līnaṁ sadātra ca

"— whose measure neither of us could ascertain. And into whom the whole moving and unmoving universe always dissolves —"

Verse 29 (skanda.1.68.29)

तस्माल्लिंगमिति प्रोक्तं देवै रुद्रस्य धीमतः॥ तोयेन स्नापयेल्लिंगं श्रद्धया शुचिना च यः

tasmālliṁgamiti proktaṁ devai rudrasya dhīmataḥ toyena snāpayelliṁgaṁ śraddhayā śucinā ca yaḥ

"— therefore this form of the wise Rudra is called the linga, by the gods themselves. Whoever bathes the linga with water, with faith and purity,"

Verse 30 (skanda.1.68.30)

ब्रह्मादितृणपर्यंतं तेनेदं तर्पितं जगत्॥ पंचामृतेन तल्लिंगं स्नापयेद्यश्च बुद्धिमान्

brahmāditṛṇaparyaṁtaṁ tenedaṁ tarpitaṁ jagat paṁcāmṛtena talliṁgaṁ snāpayedyaśca buddhimān

"— by him this entire world, from Brahma down to the very blades of grass, is satisfied. And whoever, being wise, bathes that linga with the five nectars,"

Verse 31 (skanda.1.68.31)

तर्पितं तेन विश्वं स्यात्सुधया पितृभिः समम्॥ पुष्पैरभ्यर्चयेल्लिंगं यथाकालोद्भवैश्चयः

tarpitaṁ tena viśvaṁ syātsudhayā pitṛbhiḥ samam puṣpairabhyarcayelliṁgaṁ yathākālodbhavaiścayaḥ

"— by him the universe is satisfied as if with nectar, together with the ancestors. And whoever worships the linga with flowers born in their proper season,"

Verse 32 (skanda.1.68.32)

तेन संपूजितं विश्वं सकलं नात्र संशयः॥ नैवेद्यं तत्र यो दद्याल्लिंगस्याग्रे विचक्षणः

tena saṁpūjitaṁ viśvaṁ sakalaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ naivedyaṁ tatra yo dadyālliṁgasyāgre vicakṣaṇaḥ

"— by him the entire universe is worshipped, without doubt. And the wise one who offers naivedya before the linga —"

Verse 33 (skanda.1.68.33)

भोजितं तेन विश्वं स्याल्लिंगस्यैवं फलं महत्॥ किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन स्वल्पं वा यदि व बहु

bhojitaṁ tena viśvaṁ syālliṁgasyaivaṁ phalaṁ mahat kimatra bahunoktena svalpaṁ vā yadi va bahu

"— by him the whole universe is fed; such is the great fruit of the linga. What need is there of saying more here, whether little or much?"

Verse 34 (skanda.1.68.34)

लिंगस्य क्रियते यच्च तत्सर्वं विश्वप्रीतिदम्॥ तच्च लिगं स्थापयेद्यः शुचौ देशे सुभक्तितः

liṁgasya kriyate yacca tatsarvaṁ viśvaprītidam tacca ligaṁ sthāpayedyaḥ śucau deśe subhaktitaḥ

"Whatever is done for the linga, all of it delights the entire universe. And whoever establishes that linga in a pure place, with great devotion,"

Verse 35 (skanda.1.68.35)

स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तो रुद्रलोके प्रमोदते॥ यन्नित्यं यजतो यज्ञैः फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः

sa sarvapāpanirmukto rudraloke pramodate yannityaṁ yajato yajñaiḥ phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

"— he, freed from all sin, rejoices in Rudra's world. That fruit which the wise declare to belong to one who ever sacrifices with sacrifices,"

Verse 36 (skanda.1.68.36)

तच्च स्थापयतो लिंगं शिवस्य शुभलक्षणम्॥ यथाग्निः सर्वदेवानां मुखं स्कन्द प्रकीर्त्यते

tacca sthāpayato liṁgaṁ śivasya śubhalakṣaṇam yathāgniḥ sarvadevānāṁ mukhaṁ skanda prakīrtyate

"— that same fruit belongs to one who establishes the auspicious linga of Shiva. Just as Fire, O Skanda, is proclaimed to be the mouth of all the gods,"

Verse 37 (skanda.1.68.37)

तथैव सर्वजगतां मुखं लिंगं न संशयः॥ प्रारंभान्मुच्यते पापैः सर्वजन्मकृतैरपि

tathaiva sarvajagatāṁ mukhaṁ liṁgaṁ na saṁśayaḥ prāraṁbhānmucyate pāpaiḥ sarvajanmakṛtairapi

"— even so, without doubt, the linga is the mouth of all the worlds. From its very establishment onward, one is freed from sins committed even across all one's births,"

Verse 38 (skanda.1.68.38)

अतीतं च तथागामि कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्॥ मृन्मयं काष्ठनिष्पन्नं पक्वेष्टं शैलमेव च

atītaṁ ca tathāgāmi kulānāṁ tārayecchatam mṛnmayaṁ kāṣṭhaniṣpannaṁ pakveṣṭaṁ śailameva ca

"— and he saves a hundred generations, both past and to come. Whether the linga is made of clay, of wood, of fired brick, or of stone,"

Verse 39 (skanda.1.68.39)

कृतमायतनं दद्यात्क्रमाच्छतगुणं फलम्॥ कलशं तत्र चारोप्य एकविंशत्कुलैर्युतः

kṛtamāyatanaṁ dadyātkramācchataguṇaṁ phalam kalaśaṁ tatra cāropya ekaviṁśatkulairyutaḥ

"— building a shrine for it grants a hundredfold greater fruit in succession. And installing a finial-vessel there brings salvation together with twenty-one generations of one's family,"

Verse 40 (skanda.1.68.40)

आकल्पांतं रुद्रलोके मोदते रुद्रवत्सुखी॥ एवंविधफलं लिंगमतो भूयोऽप्यधो न हि

ākalpāṁtaṁ rudraloke modate rudravatsukhī evaṁvidhaphalaṁ liṁgamato bhūyo'pyadho na hi

"— one rejoices in Rudra's world until the end of the kalpa, blissful as Rudra himself, and never again falls downward. Such is the fruit of the linga."

Verse 41 (skanda.1.68.41)

तस्मादत्र महासेन लिंगं स्थापितुमर्हसि॥ यदुक्तमेतदश्लीलं यदि किंचन चात्र चेत्

tasmādatra mahāsena liṁgaṁ sthāpitumarhasi yaduktametadaślīlaṁ yadi kiṁcana cātra cet

"Therefore, O Mahasena, you should establish a linga here. If anything in what I have said seems in any way improper —"

Verse 42 (skanda.1.68.42)

तद्ब्रवीतु महा सेन स्वयं साक्षी महेश्वरः॥ एवं वदति गोविंदे साधुवादो महानभूत्

tadbravītu mahā sena svayaṁ sākṣī maheśvaraḥ evaṁ vadati goviṁde sādhuvādo mahānabhūt

"— then let Maheshvara himself, O Mahasena, bear witness and speak." As Govinda spoke thus, a great cry of approval arose.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.68.43)

महादेवो ह्यथालिंग्य स्कन्दं वचनब्रवीत्॥ यद्भवान्मम भक्तेषु प्रकरोति कृपां पराम्

mahādevo hyathāliṁgya skandaṁ vacanabravīt yadbhavānmama bhakteṣu prakaroti kṛpāṁ parām

Then Mahadeva, embracing Skanda, spoke this word: "That you show such supreme compassion toward my devotees —"

Verse 44 (skanda.1.68.44)

तेनापि परमा प्रीतिर्मम जाता तवोपरि॥ किं तु यद्भगवानाह वासुदेवो जगद्गुरुः

tenāpi paramā prītirmama jātā tavopari kiṁ tu yadbhagavānāha vāsudevo jagadguruḥ

"— by that alone my supreme delight in you has arisen. But as for what the blessed Vasudeva, the guru of the world, has said —"

Verse 45 (skanda.1.68.45)

तत्त्था नान्यथा किंचिदत्र प्रोक्तं हि विष्णुना॥ यो ह्यहं स हरिर्ज्ञेयो यो हरिः सोऽहमित्युता

tattthā nānyathā kiṁcidatra proktaṁ hi viṣṇunā yo hyahaṁ sa harirjñeyo yo hariḥ so'hamityutā

"— that is exactly so, and not otherwise in any way, for it was Vishnu himself who spoke it. He who is myself is to be known as Hari, and he who is Hari is myself —"

Verse 46 (skanda.1.68.46)

नावयोरंतरं किंचिद्दीपयोरिव सुव्रत॥ एनं द्वेष्टि स मां द्वेष्टियोन्वेत्येनं स माऽनुगः

nāvayoraṁtaraṁ kiṁciddīpayoriva suvrata enaṁ dveṣṭi sa māṁ dveṣṭiyonvetyenaṁ sa mā'nugaḥ

"— there is no difference at all between us, O virtuous one, like two lamps. Whoever hates him hates me; whoever follows him follows me."

Verse 47 (skanda.1.68.47)

इति स्कन्द विजानाति स मद्भक्तोन्यथा न हि

iti skanda vijānāti sa madbhaktonyathā na hi

"One who understands this, O Skanda, is truly my devotee; not otherwise."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.68.48)

॥स्कन्द उवाच॥ एवमेवास्मि जानामि त्वां च विष्णुं च शंकर

skanda uvāca evamevāsmi jānāmi tvāṁ ca viṣṇuṁ ca śaṁkara

Skanda said: "Just so do I understand it, that you and Vishnu, O Shankara, are one."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.68.49)

यच्च लिंगकृते प्राह हरिर्मां धर्मवत्सलः॥ खे वाणी तारकवधे एवमेव पुराह माम्

yacca liṁgakṛte prāha harirmāṁ dharmavatsalaḥ khe vāṇī tārakavadhe evameva purāha mām

"And what Hari, the lover of dharma, has said to me about the linga — a voice from the sky, before Taraka's death, had said the very same thing to me,"

Verse 50 (skanda.1.68.50)

लिंगं संस्थापयिष्यामि सर्वपापा पहं ततः॥ एकं यत्र प्रतिज्ञा मे गृहीतास्य वधाय च

liṁgaṁ saṁsthāpayiṣyāmi sarvapāpā pahaṁ tataḥ ekaṁ yatra pratijñā me gṛhītāsya vadhāya ca

saying, "You shall establish a linga, the remover of all sin." So I shall establish three lingas: one where my vow was made to slay him,

Verse 51 (skanda.1.68.51)

द्वितीयं यत्र निःसत्त्वसत्यक्तः शक्त्याऽसुरोऽभवत्॥ तृतीयं यत्र निहतो हत्या पापोपशांतिदम्

dvitīyaṁ yatra niḥsattvasatyaktaḥ śaktyā'suro'bhavat tṛtīyaṁ yatra nihato hatyā pāpopaśāṁtidam

a second where the demon, abandoned by his own Shakti, became lifeless, and a third, the giver of peace from the sin of the killing, where he was actually slain.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.68.52)

इत्युक्त्वा विश्वकर्माणमाहूय प्राह पावकिः॥ त्रीणि लिंगानि शुद्धानि शीघ्रं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि

ityuktvā viśvakarmāṇamāhūya prāha pāvakiḥ trīṇi liṁgāni śuddhāni śīghraṁ tvaṁ kartumarhasi

Having said this, the son of Fire summoned Vishvakarma and said: "You should quickly make three pure lingas."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.68.53)

वचनाद्बाहुलेयस्य निर्ममे देववर्द्धकिः॥ त्रीणि लिंगानि शुद्धानि न्यवेदयत तानि च

vacanādbāhuleyasya nirmame devavarddhakiḥ trīṇi liṁgāni śuddhāni nyavedayata tāni ca

At the word of the son of Bahula, the divine architect fashioned three pure lingas and presented them.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.68.54)

ततो ब्रह्मादिभिः सार्धं विष्णुना शंकरेण च॥ पूर्वं संस्थापयामास पश्चिमायामदूरतः

tato brahmādibhiḥ sārdhaṁ viṣṇunā śaṁkareṇa ca pūrvaṁ saṁsthāpayāmāsa paścimāyāmadūrataḥ

Then, together with Brahma and the others, with Vishnu and with Shankara, he established the first one not far to the west,

Verse 55 (skanda.1.68.55)

प्रतिज्ञेश्वरमित्येव लिंगं परमशोभनम्॥ अष्टम्यां बहुले चात्र चैत्रे स्नात्वा उपोष्य च

pratijñeśvaramityeva liṁgaṁ paramaśobhanam aṣṭamyāṁ bahule cātra caitre snātvā upoṣya ca

the most beautiful linga named Pratijnyeshvara. On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Chaitra, here, having bathed and fasted,

Verse 56 (skanda.1.68.56)

पूजां च जागरं कृत्वा मुच्येत्पारुष्यपापतः॥ इत्याह स्कंदप्रीत्यर्थं स्वयं तत्र महेश्वरः

pūjāṁ ca jāgaraṁ kṛtvā mucyetpāruṣyapāpataḥ ityāha skaṁdaprītyarthaṁ svayaṁ tatra maheśvaraḥ

and performing worship and a night-vigil, one is freed from the sin of cruelty — so said Maheshvara himself there, for Skanda's delight.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.68.57)

ततो द्वितीयं लिंगं तु वह्निकोणाश्रितं तथा॥ स्थापयामास सरसो यत्र शक्तिर्विनिर्ययौ

tato dvitīyaṁ liṁgaṁ tu vahnikoṇāśritaṁ tathā sthāpayāmāsa saraso yatra śaktirviniryayau

Then he established the second linga in the fire-direction, at the place by the lake from which the Shakti had departed,

Verse 58 (skanda.1.68.58)

कपालेश्वरमित्येव लिंगं पापापहं शुभम्॥ शक्तिं च तामभिष्टूय स्थापयामास तत्र च

kapāleśvaramityeva liṁgaṁ pāpāpahaṁ śubham śaktiṁ ca tāmabhiṣṭūya sthāpayāmāsa tatra ca

the auspicious, sin-removing linga named Kapaleshvara. And, having praised that Shakti, he established there —

Verse 59 (skanda.1.68.59)

कपालेश्वरसांनिध्यं देवीं कापालिकेश्वरीम्॥ तत्र चोत्तरदिग्भागे शक्तिच्छिद्रं प्रचक्षते

kapāleśvarasāṁnidhyaṁ devīṁ kāpālikeśvarīm tatra cottaradigbhāge śakticchidraṁ pracakṣate

— the goddess Kapalikeshvari, near Kapaleshvara. And there, in the northern region, they proclaim the ford called Shakti-Chidra, Shakti's Aperture,

Verse 60 (skanda.1.68.60)

पातालगंगा यत्रास्तिं सर्वपापहरा शिवा॥ तत्र स्नात्वा ददौ स्कंदः कृपयाभिपरिप्लुतः

pātālagaṁgā yatrāstiṁ sarvapāpaharā śivā tatra snātvā dadau skaṁdaḥ kṛpayābhipariplutaḥ

where the auspicious Patala-Ganga exists, the remover of all sins. Bathing there, Skanda, overflowing with compassion, offered —

Verse 61 (skanda.1.68.61)

तदा तोयं तारकाय सहितः सर्वदैवतैः

tadā toyaṁ tārakāya sahitaḥ sarvadaivataiḥ

— that water then for Taraka, together with all the gods.

Verse 62 (skanda.1.68.62)

काश्यपेयाय वज्रांगतनयाय महात्मने॥ रुद्रभक्ताय सतिलमक्षय्योदकमस्त्विति

kāśyapeyāya vajrāṁgatanayāya mahātmane rudrabhaktāya satilamakṣayyodakamastviti

"For the great-souled descendant of Kashyapa, son of Vajranga, the devotee of Rudra, let this water with sesame be his imperishable offering," he said.

Verse 63 (skanda.1.68.63)

ततो महेश्वरः प्रीतः प्राह स्कंदस्य श्रृण्वतः॥ चतुर्दश्यां कृष्णपक्षे मधौ चैवात्र यो नरः॥ स्नात्वोपोष्य समभ्यर्च्य कपालेश्वरमीश्वरीम्

tato maheśvaraḥ prītaḥ prāha skaṁdasya śrṛṇvataḥ caturdaśyāṁ kṛṣṇapakṣe madhau caivātra yo naraḥ snātvopoṣya samabhyarcya kapāleśvaramīśvarīm

Then Maheshvara, pleased, spoke to Skanda, who was listening: "On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Chaitra, whatever man here, having bathed, fasted, and worshipped Kapaleshvara and the goddess,"

Verse 64 (skanda.1.68.64)

तेजोवधसमुद्भूतपातकेन स मुच्यते

tejovadhasamudbhūtapātakena sa mucyate

"— he is freed from the sin arising from the killing of one of great splendor."

Verse 65 (skanda.1.68.65)

अस्यामेव तिथौ सोमः शिवयोगश्च तैतिलम्॥ षड्योगः शक्तिच्छिद्रेयो दिनं रुद्रं जपन्निशि॥ स्नात्वात्र सशरीरो वै रुद्रलोकं व्रजीष्यति

asyāmeva tithau somaḥ śivayogaśca taitilam ṣaḍyogaḥ śakticchidreyo dinaṁ rudraṁ japanniśi snātvātra saśarīro vai rudralokaṁ vrajīṣyati

"On this very lunar day, when the Moon, the Shiva-yoga, and the Taitila are combined — a sixfold conjunction — whoever, at Shakti-Chidra, bathes here by day and chants Rudra's name through the night, shall go, even in his own body, to Rudra's world."

Verse 66 (skanda.1.68.66)

कपालेशस्य सांनिध्ये शक्तिच्छिद्रं हि कीर्त्यते॥ तस्य तुल्यं परं तीर्थं पृथिव्यां नैव विद्यते

kapāleśasya sāṁnidhye śakticchidraṁ hi kīrtyate tasya tulyaṁ paraṁ tīrthaṁ pṛthivyāṁ naiva vidyate

"Near Kapalesha, this Shakti-Chidra is renowned; no other sacred ford equal to it exists anywhere on this earth."

Verse 67 (skanda.1.68.67)

इति श्रुत्वा रुद्रवाक्यं स्कंदः प्रीतोऽभवद्भृशम्॥ देवाश्च मुदिताः सर्वे साधुसाध्विति ते जगुः

iti śrutvā rudravākyaṁ skaṁdaḥ prīto'bhavadbhṛśam devāśca muditāḥ sarve sādhusādhviti te jaguḥ

Hearing these words of Rudra, Skanda became greatly delighted; and all the gods, rejoicing, cried out, "Well done, well done!"