The Story of Mahakala and the Four Yugas

Verse 1 (skanda.1.75.1)

॥अर्जुन उवाच॥ महाकालस्त्वसौ कश्च कथं सिद्धिमुपागतः॥ अस्मिंस्तीर्थे मुनिश्रेष्ठ महदाश्चर्य मत्र मे॥

||arjuna uvāca|| mahākālastvasau kaśca kathaṁ siddhimupāgataḥ|| asmiṁstīrthe muniśreṣṭha mahadāścarya matra me||

Arjuna said: O best of sages, who is this Mahakala, and how did he attain accomplishment? I feel great wonder concerning this sacred place.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.75.2)

सर्वमेतत्समाख्याहि श्रद्दधानाय पृच्छते॥

sarvametatsamākhyāhi śraddadhānāya pṛcchate||

Tell me all of this, for I ask with faith and devotion.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.75.3)

॥नारद उवाच॥ नमस्कृत्य महाकालं वरदं स्थाणुमव्ययम्॥ शक्तितश्चरितं तस्य वक्ष्ये पांडुकुलोद्वह॥

||nārada uvāca|| namaskṛtya mahākālaṁ varadaṁ sthāṇumavyayam|| śaktitaścaritaṁ tasya vakṣye pāṁḍukulodvaha||

Narada said: Having bowed to Mahakala, the boon-giving, unchanging Sthanu, O scion of the Pandu line, I shall recount his story to the best of my ability.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.75.4)

वाराणस्यां पुरि पुरा बभूव जपतां वरः॥ रुद्रजापी महाभागो मांटिर्नाम महायशाः॥

vārāṇasyāṁ puri purā babhūva japatāṁ varaḥ|| rudrajāpī mahābhāgo māṁṭirnāma mahāyaśāḥ||

Long ago in the city of Varanasi there lived a sage named Manti, foremost among those who practiced japa — greatly blessed, highly renowned, and devoted to the repetition of Rudra's name.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.75.5)

तस्यापुत्रस्य पुत्रार्थे रुद्रान्संजपतः किल॥ गतं वर्षशतं तुष्टस्ततस्तं प्राह शंकरः॥

tasyāputrasya putrārthe rudrānsaṁjapataḥ kila|| gataṁ varṣaśataṁ tuṣṭastatastaṁ prāha śaṁkaraḥ||

Being sonless, he spent a hundred years chanting the Rudra-mantra in hope of a son. Then, well pleased, Shankara spoke to him:

Verse 6 (skanda.1.75.6)

मांटे तव सुतो धीमान्मत्प्रभावपराक्रमः॥ वंशस्य तव सर्वस्य समुद्धर्ता भविष्यति॥

māṁṭe tava suto dhīmānmatprabhāvaparākramaḥ|| vaṁśasya tava sarvasya samuddhartā bhaviṣyati||

"O Manti, you shall have a wise son, endowed with my own power and valor, who will be the deliverer of your entire lineage."

Verse 7 (skanda.1.75.7)

इति श्रुत्वा रुद्रवचो मांटिर्हर्षं परं गतः॥ ततः काले कियन्मात्रे पत्नी मांटेर्महात्मनः॥

iti śrutvā rudravaco māṁṭirharṣaṁ paraṁ gataḥ|| tataḥ kāle kiyanmātre patnī māṁṭermahātmanaḥ||

Hearing these words of Rudra, Manti was filled with great joy. Then, after some time, the wife of that noble sage —

Verse 8 (skanda.1.75.8)

दधार गर्भं चटिका तपोमूर्तिधरा यथा॥ तस्य गर्भस्य वर्षाणि चत्वारि किल संययुः॥

dadhāra garbhaṁ caṭikā tapomūrtidharā yathā|| tasya garbhasya varṣāṇi catvāri kila saṁyayuḥ||

— conceived, appearing like the very embodiment of penance. Four years passed with that child in her womb,

Verse 9 (skanda.1.75.9)

न पुनर्मातुरुदरंत्यक्त्वा निर्गच्छते बहिः॥ ततो मांटिरुपामंत्र्य सामभिस्तमवोचत॥

na punarmāturudaraṁtyaktvā nirgacchate bahiḥ|| tato māṁṭirupāmaṁtrya sāmabhistamavocata||

yet he would not leave his mother's womb and emerge. Then Manti approached and spoke to him with soothing words:

Verse 10 (skanda.1.75.10)

वत्स सामान्यपुत्रोऽपि पित्रोः सुखकरः सदा॥ शुद्धायां मातरि भवो मत्तः किं पीडयस्यलम्॥

vatsa sāmānyaputro'pi pitroḥ sukhakaraḥ sadā|| śuddhāyāṁ mātari bhavo mattaḥ kiṁ pīḍayasyalam||

"My child, even an ordinary son always brings joy to his parents. Being conceived in a pure mother, why do you needlessly torment me so?"

Verse 11 (skanda.1.75.11)

वत्स मानुष्यवासस्य स्पृहा तुभ्यं कथं न हि॥ यत्र धर्मार्थकामानां मोक्षस्यापि च संततिः॥

vatsa mānuṣyavāsasya spṛhā tubhyaṁ kathaṁ na hi|| yatra dharmārthakāmānāṁ mokṣasyāpi ca saṁtatiḥ||

"My child, why do you have no longing for human life, where there is the continual attainment of dharma, artha, kama, and even moksha?"

Verse 12 (skanda.1.75.12)

कदा मनुष्या जायेम पूजा यत्र महाफला॥ पितॄणां देवतानां च नानाधर्माश्च यत्र हि॥

kadā manuṣyā jāyema pūjā yatra mahāphalā|| pitṝṇāṁ devatānāṁ ca nānādharmāśca yatra hi||

"'When shall we be born as human beings,' beings ask, 'where worship of the ancestors and gods bears great fruit, and where manifold forms of dharma exist —'"

Verse 13 (skanda.1.75.13)

इति भूतानि शोचंति नानायोनिगतान्यपि॥ तत्त्वं मानुष्यमतुलं स्पृहणीयं दिवौकसाम्॥ अनादृत्य कथं ब्रूहि स्थितश्चोदर एव च॥

iti bhūtāni śocaṁti nānāyonigatānyapi|| tattvaṁ mānuṣyamatulaṁ spṛhaṇīyaṁ divaukasām|| anādṛtya kathaṁ brūhi sthitaścodara eva ca||

— thus even beings caught in other, lower births lament. But you scorn this incomparable human birth, coveted even by the gods, and remain lodged in the womb — tell me why.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.75.14)

॥गर्भ उवाच॥ तात जानाम्यहं सर्वमेतत्परम दुर्लभम्॥ किं तु बिभेमि चातिमात्रं कालमार्गस्य नित्यशः॥

||garbha uvāca|| tāta jānāmyahaṁ sarvametatparama durlabham|| kiṁ tu bibhemi cātimātraṁ kālamārgasya nityaśaḥ||

The unborn child said: "Father, I know all this — that this birth is exceedingly hard to attain. But I am forever exceedingly afraid of the path of Time."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.75.15)

द्वौ मार्गौ किल वेदेषु प्रोक्तौ कालोऽर्चिरेव च॥ अर्चिषा मोक्षमायांति कालमार्गेण कर्मणि॥

dvau mārgau kila vedeṣu proktau kālo'rcireva ca|| arciṣā mokṣamāyāṁti kālamārgeṇa karmaṇi||

"The Vedas declare two paths — the path of Time and the path of Light. By the path of Light beings attain liberation; by the path of Time they return, according to their deeds, to action and rebirth."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.75.16)

स्वर्गे वा नरके वापि कालमार्गगतो ह्ययम्॥ न शर्म लभते क्वापि व्याधविद्धमृगो यथा॥

svarge vā narake vāpi kālamārgagato hyayam|| na śarma labhate kvāpi vyādhaviddhamṛgo yathā||

"One who has entered upon the path of Time finds no peace anywhere, whether in heaven or in hell — like a deer pierced by a hunter's arrow."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.75.17)

तस्यैव हेतोः प्रयतेत्कोविदो यन्न दुःखवित्॥ कालेन घोररूपेण गंभीरेण समाहितः॥

tasyaiva hetoḥ prayatetkovido yanna duḥkhavit|| kālena ghorarūpeṇa gaṁbhīreṇa samāhitaḥ||

"For this very reason a wise man should strive so that, held fast by that terrible and inscrutable Time, he need not know sorrow."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.75.18)

तच्चेन्मम मनस्तात नानादोषैर्न मोह्यते॥ ततोऽहं दुर्लभं जन्म मानुष्यं शीघ्रमाप्नुयाम्॥

taccenmama manastāta nānādoṣairna mohyate|| tato'haṁ durlabhaṁ janma mānuṣyaṁ śīghramāpnuyām||

"Father, only if my mind is not deluded by manifold faults shall I quickly attain this rare human birth."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.75.19)

ततस्तस्य पिता पार्थ कांदिशीको महेश्वरम्॥ जगाम शरणं देवं त्राहित्राहि महेश्वर॥

tatastasya pitā pārtha kāṁdiśīko maheśvaram|| jagāma śaraṇaṁ devaṁ trāhitrāhi maheśvara||

Then, O Partha, the father, thrown into distress, went for refuge to the Lord Maheshvara, crying: "Save me, save me, O Maheshvara!"

Verse 20 (skanda.1.75.20)

त्वां विना कोऽपरो देव पुत्रस्याभीष्टदोऽस्ति मे॥ त्वयैव दत्तस्त्वं चामुं जन्म प्रापय मे सुतम्॥

tvāṁ vinā ko'paro deva putrasyābhīṣṭado'sti me|| tvayaiva dattastvaṁ cāmuṁ janma prāpaya me sutam||

"O Lord, who but you can grant my son his heart's desire? It was you who gave him to me — grant him now his birth."

Verse 21 (skanda.1.75.21)

ततस्तस्यातिभक्त्यासौ प्राह तुष्टो महेश्वरः॥ विभूतीः स्वा धर्मज्ञानवैराग्यैश्वर्यमेव च॥

tatastasyātibhaktyāsau prāha tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ|| vibhūtīḥ svā dharmajñānavairāgyaiśvaryameva ca||

Pleased by his intense devotion, Maheshvara then commanded his own manifest powers — Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya, and Aishvarya —

Verse 22 (skanda.1.75.22)

विपरीतश्च शीघ्रं भो मांटिपुत्रः प्रबोध्यताम्॥ ततस्ता द्योतयंत्यश्च विभूत्यो गर्भमूचिंरे॥

viparītaśca śīghraṁ bho māṁṭiputraḥ prabodhyatām|| tatastā dyotayaṁtyaśca vibhūtyo garbhamūciṁre||

— "Go quickly and instruct Manti's son, whose understanding has turned contrary." Then those radiant powers, shining forth, spoke to the child in the womb:

Verse 23 (skanda.1.75.23)

महामते मांटिपुत्र न धार्यं ते भयं हृदि॥ चत्वारस्त्वां हि धर्माद्या मनस्त्यक्ष्यामहे न ते॥

mahāmate māṁṭiputra na dhāryaṁ te bhayaṁ hṛdi|| catvārastvāṁ hi dharmādyā manastyakṣyāmahe na te||

"O wise son of Manti, hold no fear in your heart. We four — Dharma and the rest — will never abandon your mind."

Verse 24 (skanda.1.75.24)

ततोऽपरास्त्वधर्माद्याः प्रोचुर्नैव तथा वयम्॥ भविष्यामो मनस्तुभ्यमस्मत्तव भयं न हि॥

tato'parāstvadharmādyāḥ procurnaiva tathā vayam|| bhaviṣyāmo manastubhyamasmattava bhayaṁ na hi||

Then, from the other side, Adharma and its companions spoke likewise: "Nor shall we act otherwise — we will not become your mind; you need have no fear of us."

Verse 25 (skanda.1.75.25)

इत्युक्ते स विभूतीभिः शीघ्रमेव कुमारकः॥ निःससार बहिर्जातश्चकंपेति रुरोद च॥

ityukte sa vibhūtībhiḥ śīghrameva kumārakaḥ|| niḥsasāra bahirjātaścakaṁpeti ruroda ca||

When the powers had spoken thus, the boy came forth at once; and, once born, he trembled and cried out.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.75.26)

ततो विभूतयः प्राहुर्मांटे तव सुतस्त्वसौ॥ अद्यापि कालमार्गस्य भीतः कम्पति रोदिति॥

tato vibhūtayaḥ prāhurmāṁṭe tava sutastvasau|| adyāpi kālamārgasya bhītaḥ kampati roditi||

Then the powers said: "O Manti, this son of yours, even now, trembles and weeps in fear of the path of Time."

Verse 27 (skanda.1.75.27)

कालभीतिरिति ख्यातस्तस्मादेष भविष्यति॥ इति दत्त्वा वरं ताश्च महादेवांतिकं ययुः॥

kālabhītiriti khyātastasmādeṣa bhaviṣyati|| iti dattvā varaṁ tāśca mahādevāṁtikaṁ yayuḥ||

"For this reason he shall be known as Kalabhiti — 'Fear of Time.'" Having granted this boon, those powers returned to the presence of Mahadeva.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.75.28)

सोऽपि बालः प्रववृधे शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुपः॥ संस्कृतः स च संस्कारैर्धीमान्पशुपतिव्रती॥

so'pi bālaḥ pravavṛdhe śuklapakṣa ivoḍupaḥ|| saṁskṛtaḥ sa ca saṁskārairdhīmānpaśupativratī||

The boy grew like the moon in its waxing fortnight. Duly purified by the sacraments, the wise child became a devotee vowed to Pashupati.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.75.29)

पंचमंत्राञ्जपञ्छुद्धस्तीर्थयात्रापरोऽभवत्॥ रुद्रक्षेत्रेषु सस्नौ स जपन्मन्त्रांश्च भारत॥

paṁcamaṁtrāñjapañchuddhastīrthayātrāparo'bhavat|| rudrakṣetreṣu sasnau sa japanmantrāṁśca bhārata||

Pure in conduct, reciting the five sacred mantras, he devoted himself to pilgrimage. O Bharata, he bathed in the sacred fields of Rudra, ever repeating the mantras.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.75.30)

कालभीतिगुप्तक्षेत्रगुणाञ्छ्रुत्वाभ्युपाययौ॥ स्नात्वा ततो महीतोये जप्त्वा मन्त्रांश्च कोटिशः॥

kālabhītiguptakṣetraguṇāñchrutvābhyupāyayau|| snātvā tato mahītoye japtvā mantrāṁśca koṭiśaḥ||

Kalabhiti, hearing of the virtues of the hidden field, made his way there. Bathing in the waters of the river Mahi, he repeated the mantras tens of millions of times.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.75.31)

निवृत्तो नातिदूरेथ बिल्ववृक्षं ददर्श सः॥ दृष्ट्वा तं तस्य चाधस्तल्लक्षमेकं जजाप सः॥

nivṛtto nātidūretha bilvavṛkṣaṁ dadarśa saḥ|| dṛṣṭvā taṁ tasya cādhastallakṣamekaṁ jajāpa saḥ||

Returning from his bath, he saw nearby a bilva tree. On seeing it he sat beneath it and repeated the mantra a hundred thousand times.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.75.32)

जपतस्तस्य विप्रस्य इंद्रियाणि लयं ययुः॥ केवलं परमानंदस्वरूपोऽसावभूत्क्षणात्॥

japatastasya viprasya iṁdriyāṇi layaṁ yayuḥ|| kevalaṁ paramānaṁdasvarūpo'sāvabhūtkṣaṇāt||

As he chanted, that brahmin's senses dissolved into stillness; in an instant he became, purely and simply, the very form of supreme bliss.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.75.33)

तस्यानंदस्य नौपम्यं स्वर्गादीनां भवेत्क्वचित्॥ गंगोदकस्येव मानं केवलं सोऽप्यसावपि॥

tasyānaṁdasya naupamyaṁ svargādīnāṁ bhavetkvacit|| gaṁgodakasyeva mānaṁ kevalaṁ so'pyasāvapi||

That bliss could never be compared to the joys of heaven and the like — even likening it, only for illustration, to the water of the Ganga would itself be but a faint measure.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.75.34)

तत्र लीनो मुहुर्तेन पुनश्चाभूद्यथा पुरा॥ ततो विसिष्मिये पार्थ कालभीतिरुवाच ह॥

tatra līno muhurtena punaścābhūdyathā purā|| tato visiṣmiye pārtha kālabhītiruvāca ha||

Absorbed in that state for a moment, he then returned to his ordinary self. O Partha, Kalabhiti, filled with wonder, then spoke:

Verse 35 (skanda.1.75.35)

नायं मम महानन्दो वाराणस्यां न नमिषे॥ न प्रभासे न केदारे न चाप्यमरकण्टके॥

nāyaṁ mama mahānando vārāṇasyāṁ na namiṣe|| na prabhāse na kedāre na cāpyamarakaṇṭake||

"This great bliss of mine — I found nothing like it in Varanasi, nor in Naimisha, nor in Prabhasa, nor in Kedara, nor even in Amarakantaka."

Verse 36 (skanda.1.75.36)

श्रीपर्वते न चान्यत्र यादृशोद्यप्रवर्त्तते॥ निर्विकाराणि स्वच्छानि गंगांबांसीवखानि मे॥

śrīparvate na cānyatra yādṛśodyapravarttate|| nirvikārāṇi svacchāni gaṁgāṁbāṁsīvakhāni me||

"Nor on Shriparvata, nor anywhere else, does such a thing come to pass as has arisen here today. My thoughts have become changeless and clear, like the very waters of the Ganga."

Verse 37 (skanda.1.75.37)

भूतेषु परमा प्रीतिस्त्रिजगद्द्योतते स्फुटम्॥ धर्ममेकं परं मह्यं चेतश्चाप्यवगच्छति॥

bhūteṣu paramā prītistrijagaddyotate sphuṭam|| dharmamekaṁ paraṁ mahyaṁ cetaścāpyavagacchati||

"I feel the deepest love for all beings; the three worlds shine before me in utter clarity; and my mind perceives only the one supreme dharma."

Verse 38 (skanda.1.75.38)

अहो स्थानप्रभावोऽयं स्फुटं चाप्यत्र प्रोच्यते॥ निर्दोषं यच्छुचि स्तान सर्वोपद्रववर्जितम्॥

aho sthānaprabhāvo'yaṁ sphuṭaṁ cāpyatra procyate|| nirdoṣaṁ yacchuci stāna sarvopadravavarjitam||

"Ah, this is surely the power of this very place — it is plainly declared here — for this spot is faultless, pure, and free of all disturbance."

Verse 39 (skanda.1.75.39)

तत्र स्थितस्य धर्मार्थस्तद्वद्भूयात्सहस्रधा॥ तदस्माच्च प्रभावाद्धि जानामीतः स्वचेतसि॥

tatra sthitasya dharmārthastadvadbhūyātsahasradhā|| tadasmācca prabhāvāddhi jānāmītaḥ svacetasi||

"Whatever merit of dharma is accomplished while dwelling here shall bear fruit a thousandfold — this I now perceive in my own heart, through the power of this place."

Verse 40 (skanda.1.75.40)

विशिष्टं काशिमुख्येभ्यस्तीर्थेभ्यः स्थानकं त्विदम्॥ तस्मादत्रैव संस्थोहं तपस्तप्स्यामि पुष्कलम्॥

viśiṣṭaṁ kāśimukhyebhyastīrthebhyaḥ sthānakaṁ tvidam|| tasmādatraiva saṁsthohaṁ tapastapsyāmi puṣkalam||

"This place surpasses even the foremost tirthas such as Kashi. Therefore I shall settle here and perform abundant austerity."

Verse 41 (skanda.1.75.41)

इदं चेदं तीर्थमिति सदा यस्तृषितश्चरेत्॥ न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति क्लेशेनैव म्रियेत सः॥

idaṁ cedaṁ tīrthamiti sadā yastṛṣitaścaret|| na sa siddhimavāpnoti kleśenaiva mriyeta saḥ||

"One who wanders forever, thirsting after tirtha after tirtha, never attains accomplishment — he only dies of the very weariness of the search."

Verse 42 (skanda.1.75.42)

इति संचिंत्य बिल्वस्य वृक्षस्याधो व्यवस्थितः॥ जजाप मन्त्रान्रुद्रस्य अंगुष्ठाग्रेण धिष्ठितः॥

iti saṁciṁtya bilvasya vṛkṣasyādho vyavasthitaḥ|| jajāpa mantrānrudrasya aṁguṣṭhāgreṇa dhiṣṭhitaḥ||

Thinking thus, he settled beneath that bilva tree, and, standing balanced on the tip of his big toe, began to chant the mantras of Rudra.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.75.43)

गृहीत्वा नियमं तोयबिंदुं वर्षशतेऽग्निवत्॥ ततो वर्षशते याते जपतस्तस्य भारत॥

gṛhītvā niyamaṁ toyabiṁduṁ varṣaśate'gnivat|| tato varṣaśate yāte japatastasya bhārata||

He took a vow to live for a hundred years like a sacred fire, sustained by no more than a drop of water. O Bharata, when a hundred years had passed in his ceaseless chanting —

Verse 44 (skanda.1.75.44)

कश्चित्तोयभृतं कुम्भं गृहीत्वा नर आव्रजत्॥ सतं प्रणम्य प्राहेदं कालभीतिं प्रहर्षतः॥

kaścittoyabhṛtaṁ kumbhaṁ gṛhītvā nara āvrajat|| sataṁ praṇamya prāhedaṁ kālabhītiṁ praharṣataḥ||

— a certain man arrived carrying a pot filled with water. Bowing before that holy man, he spoke to Kalabhiti with great joy:

Verse 45 (skanda.1.75.45)

अद्य ते नियमः पूर्णस्तोयमेतन्महामते॥ गृहाण सफलं मह्यं श्रमं कर्तुमिहार्हसि॥

adya te niyamaḥ pūrṇastoyametanmahāmate|| gṛhāṇa saphalaṁ mahyaṁ śramaṁ kartumihārhasi||

"O wise one, today your vow is complete. Accept this water, and be so kind as to make my labor here worthwhile."

Verse 46 (skanda.1.75.46)

॥कालभीतिरुवाच॥ को भवान्वर्णतो ब्रूहि किमाचारश्च तत्त्वतः॥ जन्माचारौ विदित्वा ते ग्रहीष्याम्यन्यथा न हि॥

||kālabhītiruvāca|| ko bhavānvarṇato brūhi kimācāraśca tattvataḥ|| janmācārau viditvā te grahīṣyāmyanyathā na hi||

Kalabhiti said: "Tell me, who are you by caste, and what truly is your conduct? Only after learning of your birth and conduct will I accept this — not otherwise."

Verse 47 (skanda.1.75.47)

॥नर उवाच॥ न जाने पितरौ स्वीयौ नष्टौ वा सर्वथा न हि॥ एवमेवापि पश्यामि सर्वदाऽहं स एव च॥

||nara uvāca|| na jāne pitarau svīyau naṣṭau vā sarvathā na hi|| evamevāpi paśyāmi sarvadā'haṁ sa eva ca||

The man said: "I do not know my own parents, though they are not, in truth, wholly lost to me either. I see, always and everywhere, that same one reality."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.75.48)

आचारैश्चापि धर्मैश्च न कार्यं मम किंचन॥ तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि नाप्येतन्न चाप्यस्मि समाचरे॥

ācāraiścāpi dharmaiśca na kāryaṁ mama kiṁcana|| tasmādvakṣyāmi nāpyetanna cāpyasmi samācare||

"I have no concern whatever with rules of conduct or with formal dharma. Therefore I will not tell you this, nor do I follow any such observance."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.75.49)

॥कालभीतिरुवाच॥ यद्येवं नोदकं तुभ्यं ग्रहीष्याम्यस्मि कर्हिचित्॥ श्रृणुष्वात्र वचो यन्मे गुरुराह श्रुतीरितम्॥

||kālabhītiruvāca|| yadyevaṁ nodakaṁ tubhyaṁ grahīṣyāmyasmi karhicit|| śrṛṇuṣvātra vaco yanme gururāha śrutīritam||

Kalabhiti said: "If that is so, I will never accept your water. Listen, then, to what my teacher told me, in accordance with the scriptures."

Verse 50 (skanda.1.75.50)

न ज्ञायते कुलं यस्य बीजशुद्धिं विना ततः॥ तस्य खादन्पिबन्वापि साधुः सीदति तत्क्षणात्॥

na jñāyate kulaṁ yasya bījaśuddhiṁ vinā tataḥ|| tasya khādanpibanvāpi sādhuḥ sīdati tatkṣaṇāt||

"Without knowledge of the purity of one's lineage, one's family cannot be known; and a virtuous man who eats or drinks from such a person falls at once."

Verse 51 (skanda.1.75.51)

यश्च रुद्रं न जानाति रुद्रभक्तश्च यो नहि॥ अन्नोदकं तस्य भुञ्जन्पातकी स्यान्न संशयः॥

yaśca rudraṁ na jānāti rudrabhaktaśca yo nahi|| annodakaṁ tasya bhuñjanpātakī syānna saṁśayaḥ||

"Whoever does not know Rudra, and is not a devotee of Rudra — one who partakes of that person's food or water becomes, without doubt, a sinner."

Verse 52 (skanda.1.75.52)

अज्ञात्वा यः शिवं भुंक्ते कथ्यते सोऽत्र ब्रह्महा॥ मार्ष्टि च ब्रह्महान्नादे तस्मात्तस्य न भक्षयेत्॥

ajñātvā yaḥ śivaṁ bhuṁkte kathyate so'tra brahmahā|| mārṣṭi ca brahmahānnāde tasmāttasya na bhakṣayet||

"One who eats without knowing Shiva is here declared to be as one guilty of killing a brahmin. Eating a brahmin-slayer's food only compounds the guilt — therefore one should never eat it."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.75.53)

गंगोदकुम्भः स्याद्यद्वत्तन्मध्ये मद्यबिंदुना॥ अशिवज्ञस्य यो भुंक्ते शिवज्ञोऽपि तथैव सः॥

gaṁgodakumbhaḥ syādyadvattanmadhye madyabiṁdunā|| aśivajñasya yo bhuṁkte śivajño'pi tathaiva saḥ||

"Just as a single drop of liquor pollutes a whole pot of Ganga water, so too does even a knower of Shiva become polluted the moment he partakes of the food of one who does not know Shiva."

Verse 54 (skanda.1.75.54)

हीनवर्णश्च यः स्याद्धि शिवभक्तोऽपि नैव सः॥ प्रतिगृह्यौ गुणौ तस्माद्विलोक्यौ द्वौ प्रतिग्रहे॥

hīnavarṇaśca yaḥ syāddhi śivabhakto'pi naiva saḥ|| pratigṛhyau guṇau tasmādvilokyau dvau pratigrahe||

"One of low birth, even if devoted to Shiva, is still not fit to be received from. Therefore, when accepting anything from another, these two qualities — lineage and devotion — must both be examined."

Verse 55 (skanda.1.75.55)

॥नर उवाच॥ एतेन तव वाक्येन हास्यं संजायते मम॥ अहो मुग्धोऽसि मिथ्या त्वमपस्मारी जडोऽपि च॥

||nara uvāca|| etena tava vākyena hāsyaṁ saṁjāyate mama|| aho mugdho'si mithyā tvamapasmārī jaḍo'pi ca||

The man said: "Your words make me laugh. Ah, you are deluded, mistaken, as if afflicted by a fit of epilepsy, and dull-witted besides."

Verse 56 (skanda.1.75.56)

सदा सर्वेषु भूतेषु शिवो वसति नित्यशः॥ साध्वसाधु ततो वाक्यं नैव निन्दा शिवस्य सा॥

sadā sarveṣu bhūteṣu śivo vasati nityaśaḥ|| sādhvasādhu tato vākyaṁ naiva nindā śivasya sā||

"Shiva dwells always and eternally within all beings. To speak, then, of one as 'good' and another as 'bad' — what is that if not a disparagement of Shiva himself?"

Verse 57 (skanda.1.75.57)

आत्मनश्च परस्यापि यः करोत्यंतरो हरम्॥ तस्य भिन्नदृशो मृत्युर्विदधे भयमुल्बणम्॥

ātmanaśca parasyāpi yaḥ karotyaṁtaro haram|| tasya bhinnadṛśo mṛtyurvidadhe bhayamulbaṇam||

"One who sees Hara as different in himself and in another — for such a man of divided vision, death itself becomes a source of terrible dread."

Verse 58 (skanda.1.75.58)

अथवा का हि पानीये भवेदशुचिता वद॥ मृत्तिकोद्भवकुम्भोऽयं पावकेनापि पाचितः॥

athavā kā hi pānīye bhavedaśucitā vada|| mṛttikodbhavakumbho'yaṁ pāvakenāpi pācitaḥ||

"Or tell me — how could there be any impurity in water at all? This pot is made merely of clay, and has even been fired in flame."

Verse 59 (skanda.1.75.59)

पूर्णश्च पयसा कस्मिन्नेषामशुचिता कुतः॥

pūrṇaśca payasā kasminneṣāmaśucitā kutaḥ||

"And it is filled with water — so where, then, could any impurity in these be found?"

Verse 60 (skanda.1.75.60)

अथ चेन्मम संसर्गादशुचित्वं च मीयते॥ तदस्यां संस्थितः पृथ्व्यामहंत्वं च कुतो वद॥

atha cenmama saṁsargādaśucitvaṁ ca mīyate|| tadasyāṁ saṁsthitaḥ pṛthvyāmahaṁtvaṁ ca kuto vada||

"And if impurity is thought to arise from mere contact with me, then tell me — how, dwelling upon this very earth as you do, are you yourself pure?"

Verse 61 (skanda.1.75.61)

कुतः पृथिव्यां चरसि खे त्वं नैव चरस्युत॥ एवं विचार्यमाणे ते भाषितं मुग्धवद्भवेत्॥

kutaḥ pṛthivyāṁ carasi khe tvaṁ naiva carasyuta|| evaṁ vicāryamāṇe te bhāṣitaṁ mugdhavadbhavet||

"You walk upon the earth, after all — you do not move through the sky. When examined thus, your argument proves nothing but folly."

Verse 62 (skanda.1.75.62)

॥कालभीतिरुवाच॥ सर्वभूतेषु चेदेवं शिव एवेति चोच्यते॥ नास्तिकां मृत्तिका कस्माद्भक्षयंति नभस्यके॥

||kālabhītiruvāca|| sarvabhūteṣu cedevaṁ śiva eveti cocyate|| nāstikāṁ mṛttikā kasmādbhakṣayaṁti nabhasyake||

Kalabhiti said: "Even granting that Shiva alone pervades all beings, why then do the very birds that fly through the sky refuse to eat impure earth?"

Verse 63 (skanda.1.75.63)

शुद्ध्यर्थं तेन विश्वस्य स्थापिता संस्थितिर्यथा॥ फलेन पालिता सा च नान्यथा तां श्रृणुष्व च॥

śuddhyarthaṁ tena viśvasya sthāpitā saṁsthitiryathā|| phalena pālitā sā ca nānyathā tāṁ śrṛṇuṣva ca||

"For the sake of purity, that same Lord established the order of the world in a particular way, an order upheld only through its consequences, and not otherwise — hear this now."

Verse 64 (skanda.1.75.64)

ससर्जेति पुरा धाता रूपात्मकमिदं जगत्॥ तच्च नामप्रपञ्चेन बद्धं दाम्ना च गौर्यथा॥

sasarjeti purā dhātā rūpātmakamidaṁ jagat|| tacca nāmaprapañcena baddhaṁ dāmnā ca gauryathā||

"Long ago, the Creator fashioned this world of form. And it is bound by the web of names, just as a cow is bound by a rope."

Verse 65 (skanda.1.75.65)

स च नामप्रपञ्चस्तु चतुर्द्धा भिद्यते किल॥ ध्वनिर्वर्णाः पदं वाक्यमित्यास्पदचतुष्टयम्॥

sa ca nāmaprapañcastu caturddhā bhidyate kila|| dhvanirvarṇāḥ padaṁ vākyamityāspadacatuṣṭayam||

"That web of names is said to divide into four: sound, syllable, word, and sentence — these are its four seats."

Verse 66 (skanda.1.75.66)

तत्र ध्वनिर्नादमयो वर्णाश्चाकारपूर्वकाः॥ पदं `श वमि' ति प्रोक्तं वाक्यं चेति शिवं' भजेत्॥

tatra dhvanirnādamayo varṇāścākārapūrvakāḥ|| padaṁ `śa vami' ti proktaṁ vākyaṁ ceti śivaṁ' bhajet||

"Of these, sound is of the nature of pure resonance, and syllables begin with the letter 'a.' The mere word alone is known as a 'corpse' — lifeless without the union of Shakti — but joined into a sentence, as 'let one worship Shiva,' it comes alive through that very union."

Verse 67 (skanda.1.75.67)

तच्चापि वाक्यं त्रिविधं भवेदिति श्रुतेर्मतम्॥ प्रभुसम्मतमेकं च सुहृत्संमतमेव च॥

taccāpi vākyaṁ trividhaṁ bhavediti śrutermatam|| prabhusammatamekaṁ ca suhṛtsaṁmatameva ca||

"That sentence, too, is of three kinds, according to the teaching of the scriptures — one is the command of a master, another is the counsel of a friend,"

Verse 68 (skanda.1.75.68)

कांतासंमतमेवापि वाक्यं हि त्रिविधं विदुः॥ प्रभुः स्वामी यथा भृत्यमादिशत्येतदाचर॥

kāṁtāsaṁmatamevāpi vākyaṁ hi trividhaṁ viduḥ|| prabhuḥ svāmī yathā bhṛtyamādiśatyetadācara||

"— and the third is the endearment of a beloved — thus speech is known to be threefold. Just as a master commands his servant, 'do this,'"

Verse 69 (skanda.1.75.69)

तथा श्रुतिस्मृती चोभे प्राहतुः प्रभुसंमतम्॥ इतिहासपुराणादि सुहृत्संमतमुच्यते॥

tathā śrutismṛtī cobhe prāhatuḥ prabhusaṁmatam|| itihāsapurāṇādi suhṛtsaṁmatamucyate||

"so too do both the Shruti and the Smriti constitute the command of a master. The Itihasas and Puranas are called the counsel of a friend."

Verse 70 (skanda.1.75.70)

सुहृद्वत्प्रतिबोध्यैनं प्रवर्तयति तत्त्वतः॥ काव्यालापादिकं यच्च कांतासंमतमुच्यते॥

suhṛdvatpratibodhyainaṁ pravartayati tattvataḥ|| kāvyālāpādikaṁ yacca kāṁtāsaṁmatamucyate||

"Like a true friend, they instruct and truly set one upon the right path. And poetry and its like are called the endearment of a beloved."

Verse 71 (skanda.1.75.71)

प्रभुवाक्यं स्मृतं यच्च सबाह्याभ्यंतरं शुचि॥ सुहृद्वाक्यं तथा शौचं पालयेत्स्वर्गकांक्षया॥

prabhuvākyaṁ smṛtaṁ yacca sabāhyābhyaṁtaraṁ śuci|| suhṛdvākyaṁ tathā śaucaṁ pālayetsvargakāṁkṣayā||

"What is declared in the master's word is pure both outwardly and inwardly. And, according to the friend's counsel too, one should observe purity in the hope of attaining heaven."

Verse 72 (skanda.1.75.72)

तदेतत्पालनीयं स्याद्भूमिजानां श्रुतिर्वदेत्॥ त्वया नास्तिक्यवाक्येन चेदेतदभिधीयते॥

tadetatpālanīyaṁ syādbhūmijānāṁ śrutirvadet|| tvayā nāstikyavākyena cedetadabhidhīyate||

"Therefore this is to be observed — so the scriptures declare for all who dwell upon this earth. And if you deny this with words of unbelief —"

Verse 73 (skanda.1.75.73)

एतेन श्रुतिशास्त्राणि पुराणं च वृतैव किम्॥ अग्रे सप्तर्षिपूर्वा ये ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया भवन्॥

etena śrutiśāstrāṇi purāṇaṁ ca vṛtaiva kim|| agre saptarṣipūrvā ye brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā bhavan||

"— then were the scriptures and the Puranas composed for nothing? All the brahmins and kshatriyas of old, beginning with the Seven Sages —"

Verse 74 (skanda.1.75.74)

मुग्धाः सर्वेऽभवन्दक्षा ये हि वेदं गता ह्यनु॥ तथा वेदांतवचनं सत्त्वस्था ह्यूर्ध्वगामिनः॥

mugdhāḥ sarve'bhavandakṣā ye hi vedaṁ gatā hyanu|| tathā vedāṁtavacanaṁ sattvasthā hyūrdhvagāminaḥ||

"— were all those learned men who followed the Veda mere fools? So too the teaching of the Vedanta holds that those established in sattva rise upward,"

Verse 75 (skanda.1.75.75)

तिष्ठंति राजसा मध्ये ह्यधो गच्छंति तामसाः॥ सत्त्वाहारैः सत्त्ववृत्त्या स्वर्गगामी भवेत्ततः॥

tiṣṭhaṁti rājasā madhye hyadho gacchaṁti tāmasāḥ|| sattvāhāraiḥ sattvavṛttyā svargagāmī bhavettataḥ||

"the rajasic remain in the middle, and the tamasic fall downward. Only through sattvic food and sattvic conduct does one become fit to go to heaven."

Verse 76 (skanda.1.75.76)

न चैतदप्य सूयामो यद्भूतेषु शिवो न हि॥ अस्त्येव सर्वभूतेषु श्रृण्वत्राप्युपमानकम्॥

na caitadapya sūyāmo yadbhūteṣu śivo na hi|| astyeva sarvabhūteṣu śrṛṇvatrāpyupamānakam||

"Nor do we deny that Shiva does not dwell in all beings — he indeed exists within every creature. Hear, in this regard, an illustration."

Verse 77 (skanda.1.75.77)

यथा सुवर्णजातानि भूषणानि बहूनि च॥ कानिचिच्छुद्धरूपाणि हीनरूपाणि कानिचित्॥

yathā suvarṇajātāni bhūṣaṇāni bahūni ca|| kānicicchuddharūpāṇi hīnarūpāṇi kānicit||

"Just as there are many ornaments made of gold — some of pure form, and some of debased, impure form —"

Verse 78 (skanda.1.75.78)

स्वर्णं सर्वेषु चास्त्येव तथैव स सदाशिवः॥ हीनरूपं शोधितं सच्छुद्धिमेति न चैकताम्॥

svarṇaṁ sarveṣu cāstyeva tathaiva sa sadāśivaḥ|| hīnarūpaṁ śodhitaṁ sacchuddhimeti na caikatām||

"— gold is present in all of them alike, and so too does that Sadashiva dwell in all. Yet a debased ornament, once refined, attains purity, but does not become one with the pure gold until it is so refined."

Verse 79 (skanda.1.75.79)

तथेदं शोधितं देहं शुद्धं दिवि व्रजेत्स्फुटम्॥ तस्मात्सर्वात्मना हीनान्न ग्राह्यं बत धीमता॥

tathedaṁ śodhitaṁ dehaṁ śuddhaṁ divi vrajetsphuṭam|| tasmātsarvātmanā hīnānna grāhyaṁ bata dhīmatā||

"Just so, this body, once purified, becomes plainly pure and journeys to heaven. Therefore a wise man should never, under any circumstances, accept anything from one who is impure."

Verse 80 (skanda.1.75.80)

चेदिदं शोधयेद्देहं नैव ग्राह्यं समंततः॥ सर्वतो यः प्रतिग्राही निहाराहारयोर्न च॥

cedidaṁ śodhayeddehaṁ naiva grāhyaṁ samaṁtataḥ|| sarvato yaḥ pratigrāhī nihārāhārayorna ca||

"If one wishes to purify this body, one must accept nothing at all indiscriminately. He who accepts food and gifts from every quarter without discrimination cannot become pure."

Verse 81 (skanda.1.75.81)

शुचिः स्यादल्पदिवसात्पाषाणोऽसौ भवेत्स्फुटम्॥ तस्मात्सर्वात्मना नैव ग्रहीष्येहं जलं स्फुटम्॥

śuciḥ syādalpadivasātpāṣāṇo'sau bhavetsphuṭam|| tasmātsarvātmanā naiva grahīṣyehaṁ jalaṁ sphuṭam||

"In a few days he becomes, quite plainly, as insensate as stone. Therefore I will not, under any circumstance whatever, accept this water of yours."

Verse 82 (skanda.1.75.82)

साधुवाप्यथवाऽसाधु प्रमाणं नः श्रुतिः परा॥ एवमुक्ते स च नरः प्रहसन्दक्षिणेन च॥

sādhuvāpyathavā'sādhu pramāṇaṁ naḥ śrutiḥ parā|| evamukte sa ca naraḥ prahasandakṣiṇena ca||

"Be it good or bad, for us the supreme authority is the scripture alone." When this was said, that man, laughing, with his right hand —

Verse 83 (skanda.1.75.83)

अंगुष्ठेन लिखन्भूमिं चक्रे गर्तं महोत्तमम्॥ तत्र चिक्षेप तत्तोयं तेन गर्तः स्म पूरितः॥

aṁguṣṭhena likhanbhūmiṁ cakre gartaṁ mahottamam|| tatra cikṣepa tattoyaṁ tena gartaḥ sma pūritaḥ||

— scratched the earth with his thumb and made a very large pit. Into it he poured that water, and the pit was filled.

Verse 84 (skanda.1.75.84)

अत्यरिच्यत तोयं च चक्रे पादेन संलिखन्॥ चक्रे सरः पूरितं चाप्यतिरिक्तजलेन तत्॥

atyaricyata toyaṁ ca cakre pādena saṁlikhan|| cakre saraḥ pūritaṁ cāpyatiriktajalena tat||

Yet water still remained over. So he scored the ground with his foot and made a lake, and even that was filled by the surplus water.

Verse 85 (skanda.1.75.85)

तदद्भुतं महद्दृष्ट्वा नैव विप्रो विसिष्मिये॥ यतो बहुविधं चित्रं भवेद्भूताद्युपासिषु॥

tadadbhutaṁ mahaddṛṣṭvā naiva vipro visiṣmiye|| yato bahuvidhaṁ citraṁ bhavedbhūtādyupāsiṣu||

Seeing that great wonder, the brahmin was not in the least astonished, for many kinds of marvels are seen even among the worshippers of spirits and lesser powers.

Verse 86 (skanda.1.75.86)

तच्चित्रेण न जह्याच्च श्रुतिमार्गं सनातनम्॥

taccitreṇa na jahyācca śrutimārgaṁ sanātanam||

One should never abandon the eternal path of the scriptures merely on account of such a wonder.

Verse 87 (skanda.1.75.87)

॥नर उवाच॥ अतिमूर्खोसि विप्र त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे॥ किं न श्रुतस्त्वया श्लोकः पुराविद्भिरुदीरितः॥ कूपोन्यस्य घटोऽन्यस्य रज्जुरन्यस्य भारत॥

||nara uvāca|| atimūrkhosi vipra tvaṁ prajñāvādāṁśca bhāṣase|| kiṁ na śrutastvayā ślokaḥ purāvidbhirudīritaḥ|| kūponyasya ghaṭo'nyasya rajjuranyasya bhārata||

The man said: "You are exceedingly foolish, brahmin, even as you utter such lofty wisdom. Have you not heard the verse spoken by the ancients, O Bharata: 'The well belongs to one, the pot to another, the rope to yet another —'"

Verse 88 (skanda.1.75.88)

पायंत्यन्ये पिबंत्यन्ये सर्वे ते समभागिनः॥ तज्जलं मम कस्मात्त्वं धर्मज्ञो न पिबस्यसि॥

pāyaṁtyanye pibaṁtyanye sarve te samabhāginaḥ|| tajjalaṁ mama kasmāttvaṁ dharmajño na pibasyasi||

"— some give the water to drink, others drink it, yet all share equally in it. So, O knower of dharma, why do you refuse to drink this water of mine?"

Verse 89 (skanda.1.75.89)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततो विममृशे श्लोको बहुधा समभागिनाम्॥ अनिश्चयाद्विचार्यासौ घटाद्यैः समभागिता॥

||nārada uvāca|| tato vimamṛśe śloko bahudhā samabhāginām|| aniścayādvicāryāsau ghaṭādyaiḥ samabhāgitā||

Narada said: Then he pondered that verse deeply, reflecting in many ways on the notion of equal share. Being uncertain, he considered that equal participation could indeed occur through the pot and the like.

Verse 90 (skanda.1.75.90)

बहुपोतद्रव्यक्षेपः सर्वैः सा समभागिता॥ एवं कर्तुः फलैः सर्वैः समं स्याच्च पुनःपुनः॥

bahupotadravyakṣepaḥ sarvaiḥ sā samabhāgitā|| evaṁ kartuḥ phalaiḥ sarvaiḥ samaṁ syācca punaḥpunaḥ||

Just as when goods are loaded together onto a great vessel, all who contribute share equally in it, so too does the doer come to share equally, again and again, in the resulting fruit with all others involved.

Verse 91 (skanda.1.75.91)

यः शुचिश्च शिवं ध्यायन्प्रासादकूपकर्तरि॥ जलप्रतिग्रहाभावात्पिबतोऽस्य समं फलम्॥

yaḥ śuciśca śivaṁ dhyāyanprāsādakūpakartari|| jalapratigrahābhāvātpibato'sya samaṁ phalam||

One who, remaining pure and meditating upon Shiva, aids the builder of a temple or a well obtains, even without ever accepting the water himself, a merit equal to that of one who actually drinks it.

Verse 92 (skanda.1.75.92)

इति निश्चित्य प्रोवाच कालभीतिर्नरं च तम्॥ सत्यमेत्किं तु कुंभपयसा गर्तपूरणे॥

iti niścitya provāca kālabhītirnaraṁ ca tam|| satyametkiṁ tu kuṁbhapayasā gartapūraṇe||

Having settled this in his mind, Kalabhiti said to that man: "This much is true — but as for filling the pit with the pot's water —"

Verse 93 (skanda.1.75.93)

दृष्ट्वा प्रत्यक्षतो मादृक्कथं पिबति भो वद॥ साधु वाप्यथवाऽसाधु न पिबेयं कथंचन॥

dṛṣṭvā pratyakṣato mādṛkkathaṁ pibati bho vada|| sādhu vāpyathavā'sādhu na pibeyaṁ kathaṁcana||

"— tell me, how could someone like myself drink it, having witnessed this with my own eyes? Whether it be good or bad, I will not drink it under any circumstances."

Verse 94 (skanda.1.75.94)

एवं विनिश्चयं दृष्ट्वास्य स्थिरं कुरुनंदन॥ पुरुषोऽसौ प्रहस्यैव क्षणादंतर्दधे ततः॥

evaṁ viniścayaṁ dṛṣṭvāsya sthiraṁ kurunaṁdana|| puruṣo'sau prahasyaiva kṣaṇādaṁtardadhe tataḥ||

O scion of Kuru, seeing his resolve so firm, that man merely laughed, and in an instant vanished from sight.

Verse 95 (skanda.1.75.95)

कालभीतिश्च परमं विस्मयं समुपागतः॥ वृत्तांतः कोयमित्येव चिंतयामास भूयसा॥

kālabhītiśca paramaṁ vismayaṁ samupāgataḥ|| vṛttāṁtaḥ koyamityeva ciṁtayāmāsa bhūyasā||

Kalabhiti was struck with the greatest wonder, and pondered again and again what this strange event could mean.

Verse 96 (skanda.1.75.96)

ततश्चिंतयतस्तस्य बिल्वाधस्तात्सुशोभनम्॥ उच्छ्रितं सुमहालिंगं पृथिव्या द्योतयद्दिशः॥

tataściṁtayatastasya bilvādhastātsuśobhanam|| ucchritaṁ sumahāliṁgaṁ pṛthivyā dyotayaddiśaḥ||

As he pondered thus, from beneath the bilva tree a most beautiful and immense linga rose up out of the earth, its radiance illuminating every quarter.

Verse 97 (skanda.1.75.97)

प्रादुर्भावे ततस्तस्य महालिंगस्य भारत॥ ननर्त खेप्सरोवृंदं गधर्वा ललितं जगुः॥

prādurbhāve tatastasya mahāliṁgasya bhārata|| nanarta khepsarovṛṁdaṁ gadharvā lalitaṁ jaguḥ||

O Bharata, at the appearance of that great linga, troops of apsaras danced in the sky, and gandharvas sang sweetly.

Verse 98 (skanda.1.75.98)

पारिजातमयीं पुष्पवृष्टिमिंद्रो मुमोच ह॥ जयेति देवा मुनयस्तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तवैः॥

pārijātamayīṁ puṣpavṛṣṭimiṁdro mumoca ha|| jayeti devā munayastuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stavaiḥ||

Indra rained down a shower of parijata blossoms, and the gods and sages praised him with cries of "Victory!" and with many hymns of praise.

Verse 99 (skanda.1.75.99)

तस्मिन्महति कौरव्य वर्तमाने महोत्सवे॥ कालभीतिः प्रमुदितः प्रणम्य स्तोत्रमैरयत्॥

tasminmahati kauravya vartamāne mahotsave|| kālabhītiḥ pramuditaḥ praṇamya stotramairayat||

O descendant of Kuru, amid that great celebration, Kalabhiti, filled with joy, bowed down and began to recite a hymn of praise.

Verse 100 (skanda.1.75.100)

पापस्य कालं भवपंककालं कलाकलं कालमार्गस्य कालम्॥ देवं महाकालमहं प्रपद्ये श्रीकालकंठं भवकालरूपम्॥

pāpasya kālaṁ bhavapaṁkakālaṁ kalākalaṁ kālamārgasya kālam|| devaṁ mahākālamahaṁ prapadye śrīkālakaṁṭhaṁ bhavakālarūpam||

I take refuge in the god Mahakala — who is Death itself to sin, Death to the mire of worldly existence, the sum and fragment of all time, Death even to the path of Time — the glorious dark-throated one, whose very form is the Time governing all becoming.

Verse 101 (skanda.1.75.101)

ईशानवक्त्रं प्रणमामि त्वाहं स्तौति श्रुतिः सर्वविद्येश्वरस्त्वम्॥ भूतेश्वरस्त्वं प्रपितामहस्त्वं तस्मै नमस्तेस्तु महेश्वराय॥

īśānavaktraṁ praṇamāmi tvāhaṁ stauti śrutiḥ sarvavidyeśvarastvam|| bhūteśvarastvaṁ prapitāmahastvaṁ tasmai namastestu maheśvarāya||

I bow to your Ishana face. The Vedas themselves praise you — you are the lord of all knowledge, the lord of all beings, the great primal grandfather of all. Salutation to you, O Maheshvara.

Verse 102 (skanda.1.75.102)

यं स्तौति वेदस्तमहं प्रपद्ये तत्पुरुषसंज्ञं शरणं द्वितीयम्॥ त्वां विद्महे तच् नस्त्वं प्रदेहि श्रीरुद्र देवेश नमोनमस्ते॥

yaṁ stauti vedastamahaṁ prapadye tatpuruṣasaṁjñaṁ śaraṇaṁ dvitīyam|| tvāṁ vidmahe tac nastvaṁ pradehi śrīrudra deveśa namonamaste||

I take refuge in him whom the Veda praises — the second abode, known as Tatpurusha. 'We know you' — grant us that very knowledge, O glorious Rudra, Lord of gods; salutation, salutation to you.

Verse 103 (skanda.1.75.103)

अघोरवक्त्रं त्रितयं प्रपद्ये अथर्वजुष्टं तव रूपकाणि॥ अघोरघोराणि च घोरघोराण्यहं सदानौमि भूतानि तुभ्यम्॥

aghoravaktraṁ tritayaṁ prapadye atharvajuṣṭaṁ tava rūpakāṇi|| aghoraghorāṇi ca ghoraghorāṇyahaṁ sadānaumi bhūtāni tubhyam||

I take refuge in the threefold Aghora face, honored by the Atharva Veda. I ever bow to your forms both gentle and terrible, and to your hosts of beings.

Verse 104 (skanda.1.75.104)

चतुर्थवक्त्रं च सदा प्रपद्ये सद्योभिजाताय नमोनमस्ते॥ भवेभवेनादिभवो भवस्व भवोद्भवो मां शिव तत्रतत्र॥

caturthavaktraṁ ca sadā prapadye sadyobhijātāya namonamaste|| bhavebhavenādibhavo bhavasva bhavodbhavo māṁ śiva tatratatra||

I take refuge always in your fourth face, Sadyojata — salutation, salutation to you. O Shiva, birth after birth, beginningless yet ever arising as becoming itself, be my protector in every one of those births.

Verse 105 (skanda.1.75.105)

नमोस्तु ते वामदेवाय ज्येष्ठरुद्राय कालाय कलाविकारिणे॥ बलंकरायापि बलप्रमाथिने भूतानि हंत्रे च मनोन्मनाय॥

namostu te vāmadevāya jyeṣṭharudrāya kālāya kalāvikāriṇe|| balaṁkarāyāpi balapramāthine bhūtāni haṁtre ca manonmanāya||

Salutation to you, O Vamadeva, eldest of the Rudras, O Time itself, transformer of all the arts and elements; giver of strength, destroyer of strength; slayer of all beings, O Manonmana, mind beyond mind.

Verse 106 (skanda.1.75.106)

त्रियंबकं त्वां च यजामहे वयं सुपुण्यगंधैः शिवपुष्टिवर्धनम्॥ उर्वारुकं पक्वमिवोग्रबंधनाद्रक्षस्व मां त्र्यंबक मृत्युमार्गात्॥

triyaṁbakaṁ tvāṁ ca yajāmahe vayaṁ supuṇyagaṁdhaiḥ śivapuṣṭivardhanam|| urvārukaṁ pakvamivograbaṁdhanādrakṣasva māṁ tryaṁbaka mṛtyumārgāt||

We worship you, O Tryambaka, with the finest fragrant offerings, you who increase all wellbeing and abundance. As a ripe cucumber falls free of its bond with ease, so may you, O Tryambaka, free me from the bond of death, and never sever me from immortality.

Verse 107 (skanda.1.75.107)

षडक्षरं मंत्रवरं तवेश जपंति ये मुनयो वीतरागाः॥ तेषां प्रसन्नोऽसि जपामहेतं त्वोंकारपूर्वं च नमः शिवाय॥

ṣaḍakṣaraṁ maṁtravaraṁ taveśa japaṁti ye munayo vītarāgāḥ|| teṣāṁ prasanno'si japāmahetaṁ tvoṁkārapūrvaṁ ca namaḥ śivāya||

O Lord, you are pleased with those passion-free sages who chant your supreme six-syllabled mantra. We too repeat it, preceded by Om: 'Namah Shivaya.'

Verse 108 (skanda.1.75.108)

एवं स्तुतो महादेवो लिंगान्निःसृत्य भारत॥ त्रिजगद्द्योतयन्मभासा प्रत्यक्षः प्राह च द्विजम्॥

evaṁ stuto mahādevo liṁgānniḥsṛtya bhārata|| trijagaddyotayanmabhāsā pratyakṣaḥ prāha ca dvijam||

O Bharata, thus praised, Mahadeva emerged visibly from the linga, his radiance illuminating the three worlds, and spoke to the brahmin:

Verse 109 (skanda.1.75.109)

यत्त्वयात्र महातीर्थे भृशमाराधितो द्विज॥ तेनाति तुष्टस्ते वत्स नेशः कालः कथंचन॥

yattvayātra mahātīrthe bhṛśamārādhito dvija|| tenāti tuṣṭaste vatsa neśaḥ kālaḥ kathaṁcana||

"O twice-born, you have worshipped me most intensely at this great tirtha. I am therefore exceedingly pleased with you, my child; Time now holds no mastery over you whatsoever."

Verse 110 (skanda.1.75.110)

अहं च नररूपी यो दृष्ट्वा ते धर्मसंस्थितिम्॥ धन्यस्तद्धर्ममार्गोऽयं पाल्यते यद्भवद्विधैः॥

ahaṁ ca nararūpī yo dṛṣṭvā te dharmasaṁsthitim|| dhanyastaddharmamārgo'yaṁ pālyate yadbhavadvidhaiḥ||

"It was I who appeared before you in that human form, to test your steadfastness in dharma. Blessed indeed is that path of righteousness which is upheld by ones such as you."

Verse 111 (skanda.1.75.111)

सर्वतीर्थोदकैर्गरतः पूरितो मे सरस्तथा॥ जलमेतन्महापुण्यं त्वदर्थं मे समाहृतम्॥

sarvatīrthodakairgarataḥ pūrito me sarastathā|| jalametanmahāpuṇyaṁ tvadarthaṁ me samāhṛtam||

"That lake has been filled by me with the waters of every sacred tirtha. This most meritorious water I gathered together for your sake alone."

Verse 112 (skanda.1.75.112)

सप्तमंत्ररहस्यं च यत्कृतं स्तवनं मम॥ अनेन पठ्यमानेन सप्तमंत्रफलं भवेत्॥

saptamaṁtrarahasyaṁ ca yatkṛtaṁ stavanaṁ mama|| anena paṭhyamānena saptamaṁtraphalaṁ bhavet||

"This hymn of praise you have composed to me holds within it the secret essence of the seven mantras. Whoever recites it shall obtain the fruit of all seven mantras."

Verse 113 (skanda.1.75.113)

अभीष्टं च वरं मत्तो वृणीष्व मनसेप्सितम्॥ त्वयातितोषितो ह्यस्मिनादेयं विद्यते तव॥

abhīṣṭaṁ ca varaṁ matto vṛṇīṣva manasepsitam|| tvayātitoṣito hyasminādeyaṁ vidyate tava||

"Ask of me any boon your heart desires. You have pleased me so greatly that there is nothing I would withhold from you."

Verse 114 (skanda.1.75.114)

॥कालभीतिरुवाच॥ धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यत्त्वं तुष्टोऽसि शंकर॥ त्वत्तोषात्सफला धर्माः श्रमायैवान्यतामताः॥

||kālabhītiruvāca|| dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi yattvaṁ tuṣṭo'si śaṁkara|| tvattoṣātsaphalā dharmāḥ śramāyaivānyatāmatāḥ||

Kalabhiti said: "O Shankara, I am blessed, I am truly favored, that you are pleased with me. It is only through your favor that acts of dharma bear fruit; otherwise they remain mere labor and nothing more."

Verse 115 (skanda.1.75.115)

यदि तुष्टोऽसि सांनिद्यं लिंगेऽत्र क्रियतां सदा॥ अक्षयं तत्कृतं चास्तु यल्लिंगे क्रियतेऽत्र च॥

yadi tuṣṭo'si sāṁnidyaṁ liṁge'tra kriyatāṁ sadā|| akṣayaṁ tatkṛtaṁ cāstu yalliṁge kriyate'tra ca||

"If you are indeed pleased, then let your abiding presence be established forever in this linga. And let whatever is done here, before this linga, become imperishable."

Verse 116 (skanda.1.75.116)

जपतो यत्फलं देवपंचमंत्रायुतेन च॥ तत्फलं जायतां नणामस्य लिंगस्य दर्शने॥

japato yatphalaṁ devapaṁcamaṁtrāyutena ca|| tatphalaṁ jāyatāṁ naṇāmasya liṁgasya darśane||

"O Lord, let the very merit that comes from chanting the five sacred mantras ten thousand times be granted to men merely from the sight of this linga."

Verse 117 (skanda.1.75.117)

कालमार्गादहं यस्मान्मोचितोऽहं महेश्वर॥ महाकालमिति ख्यातं लिंगं तस्माद्भवत्विदम्॥

kālamārgādahaṁ yasmānmocito'haṁ maheśvara|| mahākālamiti khyātaṁ liṁgaṁ tasmādbhavatvidam||

"O Maheshvara, since it was here that I was freed from the path of Time, let this linga henceforth be known by the name Mahakala."

Verse 118 (skanda.1.75.118)

अस्मिंश्च कूपे यो मर्त्यः स्नात्वा तर्पयते पितॄन्॥ सर्वतीर्थफलं चास्तु पितॄणामक्षया गतिः॥

asmiṁśca kūpe yo martyaḥ snātvā tarpayate pitṝn|| sarvatīrthaphalaṁ cāstu pitṝṇāmakṣayā gatiḥ||

"And whatever mortal bathes in this well and offers tarpana to his ancestors shall receive the merit of every sacred tirtha, and his ancestors shall attain an imperishable state."

Verse 119 (skanda.1.75.119)

इति तस्यवचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतस्तं शंकरोऽब्रवीत्॥ स्वायंभुवं यत्र लिंगं तत्र नित्यं वसाम्यहम्॥

iti tasyavacaḥ śrutvā prītastaṁ śaṁkaro'bravīt|| svāyaṁbhuvaṁ yatra liṁgaṁ tatra nityaṁ vasāmyaham||

Narada said: Hearing these words, Shankara, well pleased, said to him: "Wherever a self-manifest linga stands, there I dwell forever."

Verse 120 (skanda.1.75.120)

स्वयंभुबाणरत्नोत्थदातुपाषाणलोहजम्॥ लिंगं क्रमेण फलदमंत्यात्पूर्वं दशोत्तरम्॥

svayaṁbhubāṇaratnotthadātupāṣāṇalohajam|| liṁgaṁ krameṇa phaladamaṁtyātpūrvaṁ daśottaram||

"Self-manifest lingas, those arisen from the bana-jewel, those fashioned of ore and stone, and those made of metal — in this order, going backward, each surpasses the one before it tenfold in the merit it bestows."

Verse 121 (skanda.1.75.121)

आकाशे तारकालिंगं पाताले हाटकेश्वरम्॥ स्वायंभुवं धारपृष्ठे तदेतत्त्रितयं समम्॥

ākāśe tārakāliṁgaṁ pātāle hāṭakeśvaram|| svāyaṁbhuvaṁ dhārapṛṣṭhe tadetattritayaṁ samam||

"In the sky is the Tarakalinga, in the netherworld is Hatakeshvara, and here on the surface of the earth is this self-manifest linga — these three are equal in their merit."

Verse 122 (skanda.1.75.122)

विशेषात्प्रार्थितं यच्च तच्च भविष्यति॥ अत्र पुष्पं फलं पूजा नैवेद्यं स्तवनक्रिया॥

viśeṣātprārthitaṁ yacca tacca bhaviṣyati|| atra puṣpaṁ phalaṁ pūjā naivedyaṁ stavanakriyā||

"And whatever is specially prayed for here shall come to pass. Whatever flowers, fruit, worship, offerings of food, or hymns of praise are offered here,"

Verse 123 (skanda.1.75.123)

दानं वान्यश्च यत्किंचिदक्षयं तद्भविष्यति॥ माघासितचतुर्दश्यां शिवयोगे च पुत्रक॥

dānaṁ vānyaśca yatkiṁcidakṣayaṁ tadbhaviṣyati|| māghāsitacaturdaśyāṁ śivayoge ca putraka||

"— or any gift whatever offered here shall become imperishable. My son, on the dark fourteenth day of the month of Magha, in the conjunction sacred to Shiva,"

Verse 124 (skanda.1.75.124)

लिंगाच्च पूर्वतः कूपेस्नात्वा यस्तर्पयेत्पितॄन्॥ सर्वतीर्थफलावाप्तिः पितॄणां चाक्षया गतिः॥

liṁgācca pūrvataḥ kūpesnātvā yastarpayetpitṝn|| sarvatīrthaphalāvāptiḥ pitṝṇāṁ cākṣayā gatiḥ||

"— whoever bathes in the well east of this linga and offers tarpana to his ancestors shall obtain the merit of all sacred tirthas, and his ancestors shall attain an imperishable state."

Verse 125 (skanda.1.75.125)

तस्यां रात्रौ महाकालं यामेयामे प्रपूजयेत्॥ यः क्षिपेत्सर्वलिंगेषु स जागरफलं लभेत्॥

tasyāṁ rātrau mahākālaṁ yāmeyāme prapūjayet|| yaḥ kṣipetsarvaliṁgeṣu sa jāgaraphalaṁ labhet||

"Whoever worships Mahakala through every watch of that night, and makes offerings upon all the lingas, obtains the full merit of the sacred night-vigil."

Verse 126 (skanda.1.75.126)

जितेंद्रियश्च यो नित्यं मां लिंगेत्र प्रपूजयेत्॥ भुक्तिमुक्ती न दूरस्थे तस्य नित्यं द्विजोत्तम॥

jiteṁdriyaśca yo nityaṁ māṁ liṁgetra prapūjayet|| bhuktimuktī na dūrasthe tasya nityaṁ dvijottama||

"O best of the twice-born, for him who, with senses subdued, ever worships me in this linga, both worldly enjoyment and final liberation remain forever within easy reach."

Verse 127 (skanda.1.75.127)

माघे चतुर्दश्यष्टम्यां सोमवारे च पर्वणि॥ स्नात्वा सरसि योऽभ्यर्च्य लिंगमेतच्छिवं व्रजेत्॥

māghe caturdaśyaṣṭamyāṁ somavāre ca parvaṇi|| snātvā sarasi yo'bhyarcya liṁgametacchivaṁ vrajet||

"Whoever, on the fourteenth or eighth day of Magha, on a Monday, or on any sacred festival, bathes in this lake and worships this linga attains the world of Shiva."

Verse 128 (skanda.1.75.128)

दानं तपो रुद्रजापः सर्वमक्षयमेव च॥ त्वं च नन्दी द्वितीयो मे प्रतीहारो भविष्यसि॥

dānaṁ tapo rudrajāpaḥ sarvamakṣayameva ca|| tvaṁ ca nandī dvitīyo me pratīhāro bhaviṣyasi||

"Whatever gift, penance, or repetition of Rudra's name is performed here shall all become imperishable. And you shall become my second Nandi — my gatekeeper."

Verse 129 (skanda.1.75.129)

कालमार्गजयाद्वत्स महाकाला भिधश्चिरम्॥ करंधमोऽत्र राजर्षिरचिरादागमिष्यति॥

kālamārgajayādvatsa mahākālā bhidhaściram|| karaṁdhamo'tra rājarṣiracirādāgamiṣyati||

"My child, having conquered the path of Time, you shall be known for ages to come by the name Mahakala. The royal sage Karandhama shall arrive here before long."

Verse 130 (skanda.1.75.130)

तस्य प्रोच्य भवान्धर्मांस्ततो मल्लोकमाव्रज॥ इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्रुद्रो लिंगमध्ये न्यलीयत॥

tasya procya bhavāndharmāṁstato mallokamāvraja|| ityuktvā bhagavānrudro liṁgamadhye nyalīyata||

"After instructing him in the ways of dharma, you shall then attain my own world." Having said this, Lord Rudra dissolved into the linga.

Verse 131 (skanda.1.75.131)

महाकालोऽपि मुदितस्तत्र तेपे महत्तपः॥

mahākālo'pi muditastatra tepe mahattapaḥ||

Mahakala too, filled with joy, remained there and performed great austerities.

Verse 132 (skanda.1.75.132)

॥इति महाकालप्रादुर्भावः॥ ॥नारद उवाच॥ अथ केनापि कालेन पार्थ राजा करंधमः॥ विशेषमिच्छुर्धर्मेषु श्रुत्वा तीर्थमहागुणान्॥

||iti mahākālaprādurbhāvaḥ|| ||nārada uvāca|| atha kenāpi kālena pārtha rājā karaṁdhamaḥ|| viśeṣamicchurdharmeṣu śrutvā tīrthamahāguṇān||

Thus is told the manifestation of Mahakala. Narada continued: O Partha, after some time had passed, King Karandhama, desiring special understanding in matters of dharma, having heard of the great virtues of this tirtha —

Verse 133 (skanda.1.75.133)

महाकालचरित्रं च तत्रैव समुपाययौ॥ महीसागर तोयेऽसौ स्नात्वा लिंगान्यथार्चयत्॥

mahākālacaritraṁ ca tatraiva samupāyayau|| mahīsāgara toye'sau snātvā liṁgānyathārcayat||

— and having heard the story of Mahakala, made his way there. Bathing in the waters of the Mahisagara, he duly worshipped the lingas.

Verse 134 (skanda.1.75.134)

महाकालमनुप्राप्य परमां प्रीतिमागतः॥ स पश्यन्सुमहालिंगं नातृप्यत जनेश्वरः॥

mahākālamanuprāpya paramāṁ prītimāgataḥ|| sa paśyansumahāliṁgaṁ nātṛpyata janeśvaraḥ||

On reaching Mahakala, he was filled with the deepest joy. Gazing upon that great linga, the lord of men could not have his fill of the sight.

Verse 135 (skanda.1.75.135)

यथा दरिद्रः कृपणो निधिकुम्भमवाप्य च॥ सफलं जीवितं मेने महाकालं निरीक्ष्य सः॥

yathā daridraḥ kṛpaṇo nidhikumbhamavāpya ca|| saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ mene mahākālaṁ nirīkṣya saḥ||

Just as a poor, wretched man rejoices on finding a pot full of treasure, so too, on beholding Mahakala, did that king consider his life fulfilled.

Verse 136 (skanda.1.75.136)

पंचमंत्रायुतजपफलं यस्येह दर्शनात्॥ ततः सपर्ययाक्ष्यर्च्य महत्यासौ प्रणम्य च॥

paṁcamaṁtrāyutajapaphalaṁ yasyeha darśanāt|| tataḥ saparyayākṣyarcya mahatyāsau praṇamya ca||

Merely by beholding him one obtains the merit of chanting the five sacred mantras ten thousand times; so, with full devotion, he worshipped and bowed before that great one.

Verse 137 (skanda.1.75.137)

श्रुत्वा च लिंगप्रवरं महाकालमुपासदत्॥ ततो रुद्रवचः स्मृत्वा महाकालः स्मयन्निव॥

śrutvā ca liṁgapravaraṁ mahākālamupāsadat|| tato rudravacaḥ smṛtvā mahākālaḥ smayanniva||

Hearing of the greatness of that supreme linga, he devoted himself to its worship. Then, recalling Rudra's words, Mahakala, as if smiling —

Verse 138 (skanda.1.75.138)

प्रत्युद्गम्य नृपं पूजामर्घं च प्रत्यपादयत्॥ ततः कुशलप्रश्नादि कृत्वा शांतमुखं नृपः॥

pratyudgamya nṛpaṁ pūjāmarghaṁ ca pratyapādayat|| tataḥ kuśalapraśnādi kṛtvā śāṁtamukhaṁ nṛpaḥ||

— came forward to meet the king and honored him with worship and the offering of arghya. Then, after exchanging courteous inquiries, the king, his face calm and composed —

Verse 139 (skanda.1.75.139)

महाकालमुपामंत्र्य कथांते वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ भगवन्संशयो मह्यं सदाऽयं परिवर्तते॥

mahākālamupāmaṁtrya kathāṁte vākyamabravīt|| bhagavansaṁśayo mahyaṁ sadā'yaṁ parivartate||

— addressed Mahakala and, at the close of their conversation, spoke these words: "O revered one, a certain doubt has always troubled my mind —"

Verse 140 (skanda.1.75.140)

यदिदं तर्पणंनाम पितॄणां क्रियते नृभिः॥ जलमध्ये जलं याति कथं तृप्यंति पूर्वजाः॥

yadidaṁ tarpaṇaṁnāma pitṝṇāṁ kriyate nṛbhiḥ|| jalamadhye jalaṁ yāti kathaṁ tṛpyaṁti pūrvajāḥ||

"— when men perform this rite called tarpana for their ancestors, water is simply offered into water — how, then, do the forefathers become satisfied?"

Verse 141 (skanda.1.75.141)

एवं पिंडादिपूजा च सर्वमत्रैव दृश्यते॥ कथमेवं स्म मन्यामः पित्राद्यैरुपभुज्यते॥

evaṁ piṁḍādipūjā ca sarvamatraiva dṛśyate|| kathamevaṁ sma manyāmaḥ pitrādyairupabhujyate||

"In the same way, the offering of pindas and all such rites are seen to occur only here, in this world. How then are we to believe that they are actually partaken of by the ancestors and the rest?"

Verse 142 (skanda.1.75.142)

न चैतदस्ति यत्तेषां नोपतिष्ठति किंचन॥ स्वप्ने यथाक्रम्य नरं दृश्यंते याचकाश्च ते॥

na caitadasti yatteṣāṁ nopatiṣṭhati kiṁcana|| svapne yathākramya naraṁ dṛśyaṁte yācakāśca te||

"And yet it is not that nothing at all reaches them — for in dreams they are seen approaching a man, as if begging, appearing before him."

Verse 143 (skanda.1.75.143)

देवानां चापि दृश्यंते प्रत्यक्षाः प्रत्ययाः सदा॥ तत्कथं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति मनो मेऽत्र प्रमुह्यति॥

devānāṁ cāpi dṛśyaṁte pratyakṣāḥ pratyayāḥ sadā|| tatkathaṁ pratigṛhṇanti mano me'tra pramuhyati||

"And the gods too are always seen to give direct, visible signs. How, then, do they actually receive these offerings? My mind is utterly perplexed on this matter."

Verse 144 (skanda.1.75.144)

॥महाकाल उवाच॥ योनिरेवंविदा तेषां पितॄणां च दिवौकसाम्॥ दूरोक्तं दूरपूजा च दूरस्तुतिरथापि यत्॥

||mahākāla uvāca|| yonirevaṁvidā teṣāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca divaukasām|| dūroktaṁ dūrapūjā ca dūrastutirathāpi yat||

Mahakala said: "The nature of the ancestors and the celestial beings should be understood thus. A word spoken from afar, worship offered from afar, and praise sung from afar —"

Verse 145 (skanda.1.75.145)

भव्यं भूतं भविष्यच्च सर्वं जानंति यांति च॥ पंचतन्मात्ररूपं च मनोबुद्धिरहंजडाः॥

bhavyaṁ bhūtaṁ bhaviṣyacca sarvaṁ jānaṁti yāṁti ca|| paṁcatanmātrarūpaṁ ca manobuddhirahaṁjaḍāḥ||

"— all of it, whether present, past, or future, they know and reach at once. Their form is composed of the five subtle elements, along with mind, intellect, and the sense of self."

Verse 146 (skanda.1.75.146)

नवतत्त्वमयं देहं दशमः पुरुषो मतः॥ तस्माद्गंधेन तृप्यंति रसतत्त्वेन ते तथा॥

navatattvamayaṁ dehaṁ daśamaḥ puruṣo mataḥ|| tasmādgaṁdhena tṛpyaṁti rasatattvena te tathā||

"Their body is made of nine subtle elements, and the tenth is held to be the Purusha, the self. Therefore they are satisfied by fragrance, and likewise by the essence of taste,"

Verse 147 (skanda.1.75.147)

शब्दतत्त्वेन तुष्यंति स्पर्शतत्त्वं च गृह्णते॥ शुचि दृष्ट्वा त तुष्यंति नात्र राजन्भवेन्मृषा॥

śabdatattvena tuṣyaṁti sparśatattvaṁ ca gṛhṇate|| śuci dṛṣṭvā ta tuṣyaṁti nātra rājanbhavenmṛṣā||

"— they are gratified by the essence of sound, and take in the essence of touch as well. Merely by seeing a pure offering they are satisfied, O king; there is nothing false in this."

Verse 148 (skanda.1.75.148)

यथा तृणं पशूनां च नराणामन्नमुच्यते॥ एवं दैवतयोनीनामन्नसारस्य भोजनम्॥

yathā tṛṇaṁ paśūnāṁ ca narāṇāmannamucyate|| evaṁ daivatayonīnāmannasārasya bhojanam||

"Just as grass is the food said to belong to animals, and grain to human beings, so too does the subtle essence of food constitute the proper nourishment of divine beings."

Verse 149 (skanda.1.75.149)

शक्तयः सर्वभावानामचिंत्या ज्ञानगोचराः॥ तस्मात्तत्त्वं प्रगृह्णन्ति शेषमत्रैव दृश्यते॥

śaktayaḥ sarvabhāvānāmaciṁtyā jñānagocarāḥ|| tasmāttattvaṁ pragṛhṇanti śeṣamatraiva dṛśyate||

"The powers inherent in all things are inconceivable, perceivable only through knowledge. Therefore they take in only the subtle essence, while the remaining gross portion continues to be seen here in this world."

Verse 150 (skanda.1.75.150)

॥करंधम उवाच॥ पितृभ्यो दीयते श्राद्धं स्वकर्मवशगाश्च ते॥ स्वर्गस्था नरकस्था वा कथं तैरुपभुज्यते॥

||karaṁdhama uvāca|| pitṛbhyo dīyate śrāddhaṁ svakarmavaśagāśca te|| svargasthā narakasthā vā kathaṁ tairupabhujyate||

Karandhama said: "Shraddha offerings are given to the ancestors, yet they remain bound by their own past deeds. Whether they dwell in heaven or in hell, how can they possibly partake of that offering?"

Verse 151 (skanda.1.75.151)

अथ स्वर्गेऽथ नरेक स्थिताः कर्माभियंत्रिताः॥ शक्नुवंति वरानेतान्दातुं ते चेश्वराः कथम्॥

atha svarge'tha nareka sthitāḥ karmābhiyaṁtritāḥ|| śaknuvaṁti varānetāndātuṁ te ceśvarāḥ katham||

"If they are bound by their deeds, whether in heaven or in hell, how could they, as if sovereign masters, grant boons such as long life and the rest?"

Verse 152 (skanda.1.75.152)

आयुः प्रजां धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुकानि च॥ प्रयच्छन्तु तथा राज्यं प्रीता नॄणां पितामहाः॥

āyuḥ prajāṁ dhanaṁ vidyāṁ svargaṁ mokṣaṁ sukāni ca|| prayacchantu tathā rājyaṁ prītā nṝṇāṁ pitāmahāḥ||

"How is it that our forefathers, once pleased, can bestow upon men long life, offspring, wealth, learning, heaven, liberation, happiness, and even sovereignty?"

Verse 153 (skanda.1.75.153)

॥महाकाल उवाच॥ सत्यमेततस्वकर्मस्थाः पितरो यन्नृपोत्तम॥ किं तु देवासुराणां च यक्षादीनाममूर्तकाः॥

||mahākāla uvāca|| satyametatasvakarmasthāḥ pitaro yannṛpottama|| kiṁ tu devāsurāṇāṁ ca yakṣādīnāmamūrtakāḥ||

Mahakala said: "It is true, O best of kings, that the ancestors remain bound within their own deeds. But among the gods, the asuras, the yakshas, and the rest, some are formless,"

Verse 154 (skanda.1.75.154)

मूर्ताश्चतुर्णां वर्णानां पितरः सप्तधा स्मृताः॥ ते हि सर्वे प्रयच्छंति दातुं सर्वं यतोप्सितम्॥

mūrtāścaturṇāṁ varṇānāṁ pitaraḥ saptadhā smṛtāḥ|| te hi sarve prayacchaṁti dātuṁ sarvaṁ yatopsitam||

"— and some possess form. The ancestors of the four varnas are recounted as sevenfold. All of these are able, according to their desire, to bestow anything whatsoever."

Verse 155 (skanda.1.75.155)

एकत्रिंशद्गणा येषां पितॄणां प्रबला नृप॥ कृतं च तदिदं श्राद्धं तर्पयेत्तान्परान्पितॄन्॥

ekatriṁśadgaṇā yeṣāṁ pitṝṇāṁ prabalā nṛpa|| kṛtaṁ ca tadidaṁ śrāddhaṁ tarpayettānparānpitṝn||

"O king, those ancestors who have thirty-one hosts are exceedingly powerful. The shraddha offering performed satisfies those supreme ancestors,"

Verse 156 (skanda.1.75.156)

ते तृप्तास्तर्पयन्त्यस्य पूर्वजान्यत्र संस्थितान्॥ एवं स्वानां चोपतिष्ठेच्छ्राद्धं यच्छंति ते वरान्॥

te tṛptāstarpayantyasya pūrvajānyatra saṁsthitān|| evaṁ svānāṁ copatiṣṭhecchrāddhaṁ yacchaṁti te varān||

"— and, once satisfied, they in turn satisfy their own forefathers stationed there. In this way the shraddha reaches one's own ancestors, and they grant their boons."

Verse 157 (skanda.1.75.157)

॥राजोवाच॥ भूतादिभ्यो यथा विप्र नाम्ना वोद्दिश्य दीयते॥ सुरादीनां कथं चैव संक्षेपेण न दीयते॥

||rājovāca|| bhūtādibhyo yathā vipra nāmnā voddiśya dīyate|| surādīnāṁ kathaṁ caiva saṁkṣepeṇa na dīyate||

The king said: "O brahmin, just as offerings are made to spirits and the like, specifically naming them, why is it that offerings are not likewise given briefly, in summary, to the gods and the rest?"

Verse 158 (skanda.1.75.158)

इदं पितृभ्यो देवेभ्यो द्विजेभ्यः पावकाय च॥ एवं कस्माद्विस्तराः स्युर्मनः कायादिकष्टदाः॥

idaṁ pitṛbhyo devebhyo dvijebhyaḥ pāvakāya ca|| evaṁ kasmādvistarāḥ syurmanaḥ kāyādikaṣṭadāḥ||

"Why can it not simply be said, 'This is for the ancestors, this for the gods, this for the brahmins, this for the sacred fire' — why, instead, must there be such elaborate detail, which burdens both mind and body?"

Verse 159 (skanda.1.75.159)

॥महाकाल उवाच॥ उचिता प्रतिपत्तिश्च कार्या सर्वेषु नित्यशः॥ प्रतिपत्तिं चोचितां ते विना गृह्णन्ति नैव च॥

||mahākāla uvāca|| ucitā pratipattiśca kāryā sarveṣu nityaśaḥ|| pratipattiṁ cocitāṁ te vinā gṛhṇanti naiva ca||

Mahakala said: "One must always observe the proper mode of reception toward each and every one. Without that proper reception, they simply do not accept the offering at all."

Verse 160 (skanda.1.75.160)

यथा श्वा गृहद्वारस्थो बलिं गृह्णाति किं तथा॥ प्रधानपुरुषो राजन्गृह्णाति च शुना समः॥

yathā śvā gṛhadvārastho baliṁ gṛhṇāti kiṁ tathā|| pradhānapuruṣo rājangṛhṇāti ca śunā samaḥ||

"Just as a dog sitting at the door of a house snatches up an offering — would a great and noble being, O king, accept it in that same manner, like a dog?"

Verse 161 (skanda.1.75.161)

एवं ते भूतवद्देवा न हि गृह्णन्ति कर्हिचित्॥ शुचि कामं जुषंते न हविरश्रद्दधानतः॥

evaṁ te bhūtavaddevā na hi gṛhṇanti karhicit|| śuci kāmaṁ juṣaṁte na haviraśraddadhānataḥ||

"In the same way, the gods never accept an offering as a mere spirit would. They accept only what is pure and offered with love, never an oblation given without faith."

Verse 162 (skanda.1.75.162)

विना मंत्रैश्च यद्दत्तं न तद्गृह्णन्ति तेऽमलाः॥ श्रुतिरप्यत्र प्राहेदं मंत्राणां विषये नृप॥

vinā maṁtraiśca yaddattaṁ na tadgṛhṇanti te'malāḥ|| śrutirapyatra prāhedaṁ maṁtrāṇāṁ viṣaye nṛpa||

"Whatever is offered without the accompanying mantras, those pure ones do not accept. On this matter, O king, the scripture itself declares the following regarding mantras —"

Verse 163 (skanda.1.75.163)

"मंत्रा दैवता यद्यद्विद्वान्मन्त्रवत्करोति देवताभिरेव तत्करोति यद्ददानि देवताभिरेव तद्ददाति यत्प्रतिगृह्णाति देवताभिरेव तत्प्रतिगृह्णाति तस्मान्नामन्त्रवत्प्रतिगृह्णीयात् नामन्त्रवत्प्रतिपद्यते" इति॥

"maṁtrā daivatā yadyadvidvānmantravatkaroti devatābhireva tatkaroti yaddadāni devatābhireva taddadāti yatpratigṛhṇāti devatābhireva tatpratigṛhṇāti tasmānnāmantravatpratigṛhṇīyāt nāmantravatpratipadyate" iti||

"'The mantras themselves are the deities. Whatever a learned man does in accordance with mantra, he does through the deities themselves; whatever he gives, he gives through the deities themselves; and whatever he receives, he receives through the deities themselves. Therefore one should never accept anything without mantra, nor accept anything in any other way' — thus it is said.

Verse 164 (skanda.1.75.164)

तस्मान्मंत्रैः सदा देयं पौराणैर्वैदिकैरपि॥ अन्यथा ते न गृह्णन्ति भूतानामुपतिष्ठति॥

tasmānmaṁtraiḥ sadā deyaṁ paurāṇairvaidikairapi|| anyathā te na gṛhṇanti bhūtānāmupatiṣṭhati||

"Therefore one should always offer gifts accompanied by mantras, whether Puranic or Vedic. Otherwise the gods do not accept it, and it reaches only spirits and lesser beings instead."

Verse 165 (skanda.1.75.165)

॥राजोवाच॥ दर्भांस्तिलानक्षतांश्च तोयं चैतैः सुसंयुतम्॥ कस्मात्प्रदीयते दानं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि कारणम्॥

||rājovāca|| darbhāṁstilānakṣatāṁśca toyaṁ caitaiḥ susaṁyutam|| kasmātpradīyate dānaṁ jñātumicchāmi kāraṇam||

The king said: "Why is a gift always given accompanied by kusha grass, sesame seeds, unbroken rice, and water? I wish to know the reason for this."

Verse 166 (skanda.1.75.166)

॥महाकाल उवाच॥ पुरा किल प्रदत्तानि भूमेर्दानानि भूरिशः॥ प्रत्यगृह्णन्त दैत्याश्च प्रविश्याभ्यंतरं बलात्॥

||mahākāla uvāca|| purā kila pradattāni bhūmerdānāni bhūriśaḥ|| pratyagṛhṇanta daityāśca praviśyābhyaṁtaraṁ balāt||

Mahakala said: "Long ago, many gifts used to be given upon the earth. The daityas, by force, would enter into them and seize them for themselves."

Verse 167 (skanda.1.75.167)

ततो देवाश्च पितरः प्रत्यूचुः पद्मसंभवम्॥

tato devāśca pitaraḥ pratyūcuḥ padmasaṁbhavam||

Then the gods and the ancestors spoke thus to Brahma, the lotus-born:

Verse 168 (skanda.1.75.168)

स्वामिन्नः पश्यतामेव सर्वं दैत्यैः प्रगृह्यते॥ विधेहि रक्षां तेषां त्वं न नष्टः स्मो यथा वयम्॥

svāminnaḥ paśyatāmeva sarvaṁ daityaiḥ pragṛhyate|| vidhehi rakṣāṁ teṣāṁ tvaṁ na naṣṭaḥ smo yathā vayam||

"O lord, before our very eyes everything is being seized by the daityas. Devise some means to protect these offerings, that we may not be utterly destroyed."

Verse 169 (skanda.1.75.169)

ततो विमृश्यैव विधी रक्षोपायमचीकरत्॥ तिलैर्युक्तं पितॄणां च देवानामक्षतैः सह॥

tato vimṛśyaiva vidhī rakṣopāyamacīkarat|| tilairyuktaṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca devānāmakṣataiḥ saha||

Then, after due reflection, Brahma devised a means of protection — ordaining that offerings to the ancestors be joined with sesame, and to the gods with unbroken rice,

Verse 170 (skanda.1.75.170)

तोयं दर्भांश्च सर्वत्र एवं गृह्णन्ति नासुराः॥ एतान्विना प्रदत्तं यत्फलं दैत्यैः प्रगृह्यते॥

toyaṁ darbhāṁśca sarvatra evaṁ gṛhṇanti nāsurāḥ|| etānvinā pradattaṁ yatphalaṁ daityaiḥ pragṛhyate||

— and water and kusha grass everywhere as well, so that the asuras could not seize it. Whatever merit is given without these is instead taken away by the daityas.

Verse 171 (skanda.1.75.171)

निःश्वस्य पितरो देवा यांति दातुः फलं न हि॥ तस्माद्युगेषु सर्वेषु दानमेव प्रदीयते॥

niḥśvasya pitaro devā yāṁti dātuḥ phalaṁ na hi|| tasmādyugeṣu sarveṣu dānameva pradīyate||

The ancestors and gods can then do nothing but sigh, and the giver receives no benefit at all. Therefore, in every age, gifts have continued to be given in this same manner.

Verse 172 (skanda.1.75.172)

॥करंधम उवाच॥ चतुर्युगव्यवस्थानं श्रोतुमिच्छमि तत्त्वतः॥ महतीयं विवित्सा मे सदैव परिवर्तते॥

||karaṁdhama uvāca|| caturyugavyavasthānaṁ śrotumicchami tattvataḥ|| mahatīyaṁ vivitsā me sadaiva parivartate||

Karandhama said: "I wish to hear, in its true nature, the order and arrangement of the four ages. This great curiosity ever stirs within my mind."

Verse 173 (skanda.1.75.173)

॥महाकाल उवाच॥ आद्यं कृतयुगं विद्धिततस्त्रेतायुगं स्मृतम्॥ द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चत्वारश्च समासतः॥

||mahākāla uvāca|| ādyaṁ kṛtayugaṁ viddhitatastretāyugaṁ smṛtam|| dvāparaṁ ca kaliśceti catvāraśca samāsataḥ||

Mahakala said: "Know first the Krita age, followed by what is called the Treta age, then the Dvapara, and then the Kali — these four, in brief, are the ages."

Verse 174 (skanda.1.75.174)

सत्त्वं कृतं रजस्त्रेता द्वापरं च रजस्तमः॥ कलिस्तमस्तु विज्ञेयं युगवृत्तं युगेषु च॥

sattvaṁ kṛtaṁ rajastretā dvāparaṁ ca rajastamaḥ|| kalistamastu vijñeyaṁ yugavṛttaṁ yugeṣu ca||

"The Krita age is governed by sattva, the Treta by rajas, the Dvapara by a mixture of rajas and tamas, and the Kali age should be known as governed by tamas — such is the character prevailing in each age."

Verse 175 (skanda.1.75.175)

ध्यानं परं कृतयुगे त्रेतायां यज्ञ उच्यते॥ वृत्तं च द्वापरे सत्यं दानमेव कलौ युगे॥

dhyānaṁ paraṁ kṛtayuge tretāyāṁ yajña ucyate|| vṛttaṁ ca dvāpare satyaṁ dānameva kalau yuge||

"In the Krita age, supreme meditation is declared the chief means; in the Treta age, sacrifice; in the Dvapara age, righteous conduct and truthfulness; and in the Kali age, giving alone."

Verse 176 (skanda.1.75.176)

कृते तु मानसी सृष्टिर्वृत्तिः साक्षाद्रसोल्लसा॥ तेजोमय्यः प्रजास्तृप्ताः सदानंदाश्च भोगिनः॥

kṛte tu mānasī sṛṣṭirvṛttiḥ sākṣādrasollasā|| tejomayyaḥ prajāstṛptāḥ sadānaṁdāśca bhoginaḥ||

"In the Krita age, creation arose purely through the mind, and life's sustenance itself overflowed with pure essence. All beings were radiant with light, ever satisfied, joyous, and abundantly content."

Verse 177 (skanda.1.75.177)

अधमोत्तमो न तासां ता निर्विशेषाः प्रजाः शुभाः॥ तुल्यमायुः सुखं रूपं तासां तस्मिन्कृते युगे॥

adhamottamo na tāsāṁ tā nirviśeṣāḥ prajāḥ śubhāḥ|| tulyamāyuḥ sukhaṁ rūpaṁ tāsāṁ tasminkṛte yuge||

"Among them none was low and none was high — all beings alike were auspicious and undivided. In that Krita age, their lifespan, their happiness, and their beauty were all equal."

Verse 178 (skanda.1.75.178)

न चाप्रीतिर्न च द्वंद्वो न द्वेषो नापि च क्लमः॥ पर्वतोदधिवासिन्यो ह्यनुक्रोशप्रियास्तु ताः॥

na cāprītirna ca dvaṁdvo na dveṣo nāpi ca klamaḥ|| parvatodadhivāsinyo hyanukrośapriyāstu tāḥ||

"There was among them no discontent, no strife, no hatred, and no weariness. They dwelled near mountains and oceans, and loved compassion above all."

Verse 179 (skanda.1.75.179)

वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्था च तदासीन्न हि संकरः॥ एकमन्यं न ध्यायंति परमं ते सदा शिवम्॥

varṇāśramavyavasthā ca tadāsīnna hi saṁkaraḥ|| ekamanyaṁ na dhyāyaṁti paramaṁ te sadā śivam||

"At that time the order of varna and ashrama existed, yet there was no confusion of castes among them. They meditated on nothing other than the Supreme Shiva alone."

Verse 180 (skanda.1.75.180)

चतुर्थे च ततः पादे नष्ट साऽभूद्रसोल्लसा॥ प्रादुरासंस्ततस्तासां वृक्षाश्वगृहसंज्ञिताः॥

caturthe ca tataḥ pāde naṣṭa sā'bhūdrasollasā|| prādurāsaṁstatastāsāṁ vṛkṣāśvagṛhasaṁjñitāḥ||

"Then, in the fourth quarter of that age, that overflowing essence was lost. In its place there appeared for them trees that served as their very houses,"

Verse 181 (skanda.1.75.181)

वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयंते फलान्याभरणानि च॥ तेष्वेव जायते तासां गंधवर्णरसान्वितम्॥

vastrāṇi ca prasūyaṁte phalānyābharaṇāni ca|| teṣveva jāyate tāsāṁ gaṁdhavarṇarasānvitam||

"— trees that yielded garments, fruits, and ornaments. From those very trees arose for them all things endowed with fragrance, color, and flavor."

Verse 182 (skanda.1.75.182)

सुमाक्षिकं महावीर्यं पुटके पुटके मधु॥ तेन ता वर्तयंति स्म कृतस्यांते प्रजास्तदा॥

sumākṣikaṁ mahāvīryaṁ puṭake puṭake madhu|| tena tā vartayaṁti sma kṛtasyāṁte prajāstadā||

Fine honey of great potency filled every pod of those trees, and it was on this alone that people sustained themselves at the close of the Krita age.

Verse 183 (skanda.1.75.183)

हृष्टपुष्टास्तथा वृद्धाः प्रजा वै विगतज्वराः॥ ततः कालेन केनापि तासां वृद्धे रसेंद्रिये॥

hṛṣṭapuṣṭāstathā vṛddhāḥ prajā vai vigatajvarāḥ|| tataḥ kālena kenāpi tāsāṁ vṛddhe raseṁdriye||

Those beings were content, healthy, and vigorous, entirely free from illness. Then, after some time, when their senses grew inordinately hungry for taste,

Verse 184 (skanda.1.75.184)

युगभावात्तथा ध्याने स्वल्पीभूते शिवस्य च॥ वृक्षांस्तान्पर्यगृह्णंत मधु वा माक्षिकं बलात्॥

yugabhāvāttathā dhyāne svalpībhūte śivasya ca|| vṛkṣāṁstānparyagṛhṇaṁta madhu vā mākṣikaṁ balāt||

— and, owing to the changing nature of the age, their meditation upon Shiva grew slack, they began to seize those trees and forcibly extract the honey from them.

Verse 185 (skanda.1.75.185)

तासां तेनोपचारेण लोभदोषकृतेन वै॥ प्रनष्टा मधुना सार्धं कल्पवृक्षाः क्वचित्क्वचित्॥

tāsāṁ tenopacāreṇa lobhadoṣakṛtena vai|| pranaṣṭā madhunā sārdhaṁ kalpavṛkṣāḥ kvacitkvacit||

Owing to this conduct born of the fault of greed, those wish-fulfilling trees, together with their honey, began to vanish, one by one, here and there.

Verse 186 (skanda.1.75.186)

तस्यां चाप्यल्पशिष्टायां द्वंद्वान्यभ्युत्थितानि वै॥ शीतातपैर्मनोदुःखैस्ततस्ता दुःखिता भृशम्॥

tasyāṁ cāpyalpaśiṣṭāyāṁ dvaṁdvānyabhyutthitāni vai|| śītātapairmanoduḥkhaistatastā duḥkhitā bhṛśam||

When only a few of them remained, the pairs of opposites — cold and heat — arose. Afflicted by cold, heat, and mental suffering, those beings became exceedingly distressed.

Verse 187 (skanda.1.75.187)

चक्रुरावरणार्थं हि केतनानि ततस्ततः॥ ततः प्रदुर्बभौ तासां सिद्धिस्त्रेतायुगे पुनः॥

cakrurāvaraṇārthaṁ hi ketanāni tatastataḥ|| tataḥ pradurbabhau tāsāṁ siddhistretāyuge punaḥ||

For shelter, they then built dwellings here and there. After this, in the Treta age, prosperity again appeared for them.

Verse 188 (skanda.1.75.188)

वृष्ट्या बभूवुरौषध्यो ग्राम्यारण्याश्चतुर्दश॥ अकृष्टपच्यानूप्तास्तोयभूमिसमागमात्॥

vṛṣṭyā babhūvurauṣadhyo grāmyāraṇyāścaturdaśa|| akṛṣṭapacyānūptāstoyabhūmisamāgamāt||

From the rains arose fourteen kinds of grains, both cultivated and wild, which ripened of their own accord — unplowed, unsown — through the mere union of water and earth.

Verse 189 (skanda.1.75.189)

ऋतु पुष्पफलैश्चैव वृक्षगुल्माश्च जज्ञिरे॥ तैश्च वृत्तिरभूत्तासां धान्यैः पुष्पैः फलैस्तथा॥

ṛtu puṣpaphalaiścaiva vṛkṣagulmāśca jajñire|| taiśca vṛttirabhūttāsāṁ dhānyaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaistathā||

Trees and shrubs bearing seasonal flowers and fruits also sprang up. On these grains, flowers, and fruits, those people then came to sustain their lives.

Verse 190 (skanda.1.75.190)

ततः पुनरभूत्तासां रागो लोभश्च सर्वतः॥ कालवीर्येण वा गृह्य नदीक्षेत्राणि पर्वतान्॥

tataḥ punarabhūttāsāṁ rāgo lobhaśca sarvataḥ|| kālavīryeṇa vā gṛhya nadīkṣetrāṇi parvatān||

After this, attachment and greed once again arose in them on every side. By the power of Time, they took possession of rivers, fields, and mountains,

Verse 191 (skanda.1.75.191)

वृक्षगुल्मौषधीश्चैव प्रसह्याशु यथाबलम्॥ विपर्ययेण चौषध्यः प्रनष्टाश्च चतुर्दश॥

vṛkṣagulmauṣadhīścaiva prasahyāśu yathābalam|| viparyayeṇa cauṣadhyaḥ pranaṣṭāśca caturdaśa||

and, according to their strength, seized the trees, shrubs, and grains by force as well. Owing to this perverse conduct, those fourteen kinds of grain vanished entirely.

Verse 192 (skanda.1.75.192)

नत्वा धरां प्रविष्टास्ता ओषध्यः पीडिताः प्रजाः॥ दुदोह गां पृथुर्वैन्यः सर्वभूतहिताय वै॥

natvā dharāṁ praviṣṭāstā oṣadhyaḥ pīḍitāḥ prajāḥ|| dudoha gāṁ pṛthurvainyaḥ sarvabhūtahitāya vai||

Those grains sank down and entered the earth, leaving the people distressed. Then, for the welfare of all beings, King Prithu, son of Vena, milked the earth as one would milk a cow.

Verse 193 (skanda.1.75.193)

तदा प्रभृति चौषध्यः फालकृष्टाः प्रजास्ततः॥ वार्त्तया वर्तयंति स्म पाल्यमानाश्च क्षत्रियैः॥

tadā prabhṛti cauṣadhyaḥ phālakṛṣṭāḥ prajāstataḥ|| vārttayā vartayaṁti sma pālyamānāśca kṣatriyaiḥ||

From that time onward, grains have been grown by plowing the earth, and, protected by the kshatriyas, the people have sustained themselves through agriculture and trade.

Verse 194 (skanda.1.75.194)

वर्णाश्रमप्रतिष्ठा च यज्ञस्त्रेतासु चोच्यते॥ सदाशिवध्यानमयं त्यक्त्वा मोक्षमचेतनाः॥

varṇāśramapratiṣṭhā ca yajñastretāsu cocyate|| sadāśivadhyānamayaṁ tyaktvā mokṣamacetanāḥ||

In the Treta age, the order of varna and ashrama was established, and sacrifice was declared the foremost means. Yet the unheeding, abandoning the liberation found in meditation upon Sadashiva,

Verse 195 (skanda.1.75.195)

पुष्पितां वाचमाश्रित्य रागात्स्वर्गमसाधयन्॥ द्वापरे च प्रवर्तंते मतिभेदास्ततो नृणाम्॥

puṣpitāṁ vācamāśritya rāgātsvargamasādhayan|| dvāpare ca pravartaṁte matibhedāstato nṛṇām||

— took refuge instead in flowery, self-serving speech, and, driven by attachment, strove only to attain heaven. In the Dvapara age, differences of opinion then began to arise among men.

Verse 196 (skanda.1.75.196)

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा कृच्छ्राद्वार्ता प्रसिध्यति॥ लोभोऽधृतिः शिवं त्यक्त्वा धर्माणां संकरस्तथा॥

manasā karmaṇā vācā kṛcchrādvārtā prasidhyati|| lobho'dhṛtiḥ śivaṁ tyaktvā dharmāṇāṁ saṁkarastathā||

"Livelihood, through mind, speech, and action, will be attained only with great difficulty. Greed, impatience, the abandonment of Shiva, and the intermixture of duties —"

Verse 197 (skanda.1.75.197)

वर्णाश्रमपरिध्वंसाः प्रवर्तंते च द्वापरे॥ तदा व्यासैश्चतुर्द्धा च व्यस्यते द्वापरात्ततः॥

varṇāśramaparidhvaṁsāḥ pravartaṁte ca dvāpare|| tadā vyāsaiścaturddhā ca vyasyate dvāparāttataḥ||

"— and the collapse of the varna-ashrama order, all these will come to prevail in the Dvapara age. Then, from that Dvapara age onward, the Veda will be divided into four parts by the Vyasas."

Verse 198 (skanda.1.75.198)

एको वेदश्चतुष्पादैः क्रियते द्विजहेतवे॥ इतिहासपुराणानि भिद्यंते लोकगौरवात्॥

eko vedaścatuṣpādaiḥ kriyate dvijahetave|| itihāsapurāṇāni bhidyaṁte lokagauravāt||

"The single Veda is divided into four branches for the benefit of the twice-born. The Itihasas and Puranas, too, are divided into many parts, for the sake of the world's welfare."

Verse 199 (skanda.1.75.199)

ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं भागवतं तथा॥ तथान्यन्नारदीय च मार्कंडेयं च सप्तमम॥

brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca śaivaṁ bhāgavataṁ tathā|| tathānyannāradīya ca mārkaṁḍeyaṁ ca saptamama||

"The Brahma, the Padma, the Vaishnava, the Shaiva, the Bhagavata — then the Naradiya, and the seventh, the Markandeya —"

Verse 200 (skanda.1.75.200)

आग्नेयमष्टमं प्रोक्तं भविष्यं नवमं स्मृतम्॥ दशमं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैंगमेकादशं तथा॥

āgneyamaṣṭamaṁ proktaṁ bhaviṣyaṁ navamaṁ smṛtam|| daśamaṁ brahmavaivartaṁ laiṁgamekādaśaṁ tathā||

"The eighth is declared to be the Agneya, and the ninth is held to be the Bhavishya. The tenth is the Brahmavaivarta, and the eleventh the Linga —"

Verse 201 (skanda.1.75.201)

वाराहं द्वादशं चैव स्कांदं चैव त्रयोदशम्॥ चतुर्दशं वामनं च कौर्मं पंचदशं स्मृतम्॥

vārāhaṁ dvādaśaṁ caiva skāṁdaṁ caiva trayodaśam|| caturdaśaṁ vāmanaṁ ca kaurmaṁ paṁcadaśaṁ smṛtam||

"The twelfth is the Varaha, the thirteenth the Skanda — the fourteenth the Vamana, and the fifteenth is held to be the Kaurma."

Verse 202 (skanda.1.75.202)

मात्स्यं षोडशकं प्रोक्तं गारुडं च ततः परम्॥ अतः परं तु ब्रह्मांडमेवञ्चाष्टादशानि हि॥

mātsyaṁ ṣoḍaśakaṁ proktaṁ gāruḍaṁ ca tataḥ param|| ataḥ paraṁ tu brahmāṁḍamevañcāṣṭādaśāni hi||

"The sixteenth is declared to be the Matsya, and after that the Garuda. After this comes the Brahmanda — thus these are the eighteen Puranas."

Verse 203 (skanda.1.75.203)

अस्मिन्वाराहकल्पे च व्यासानाकर्णयस्व च॥ ऋतुः सत्यो भार्गवश्च अंगिराः सविता तथा॥

asminvārāhakalpe ca vyāsānākarṇayasva ca|| ṛtuḥ satyo bhārgavaśca aṁgirāḥ savitā tathā||

"Now hear also of the Vyasas who have appeared within this Varaha-kalpa — Ritu, Satya, Bhargava, Angira, Savita,"

Verse 204 (skanda.1.75.204)

मृत्युः शतक्रतुर्धीमान्वसिष्ठो भविताऽधुना॥ सारस्वतस्त्रिधामा च वेदवित्त्रिवृतो मुनिः॥

mṛtyuḥ śatakraturdhīmānvasiṣṭho bhavitā'dhunā|| sārasvatastridhāmā ca vedavittrivṛto muniḥ||

"Mrityu, Shatakratu, the wise Vasishtha who is soon to come, Sarasvata, Tridhama, and the Veda-knowing sage Trivrita,"

Verse 205 (skanda.1.75.205)

शततेजाः स्वयं विष्णुर्नारायण इति स्मृतः॥ करकश्चारुणिर्धीमास्तथा देव ऋतंजयः॥

śatatejāḥ svayaṁ viṣṇurnārāyaṇa iti smṛtaḥ|| karakaścāruṇirdhīmāstathā deva ṛtaṁjayaḥ||

"Shatatejas, Lord Vishnu himself who shall be remembered by the name Narayana, Karaka, the wise Aruni, and the divine Ritanjaya,"

Verse 206 (skanda.1.75.206)

कृतंजयो भरद्वाजो गौतमः कविसत्तमः॥ वाजश्रवा मुनिश्चैव तथा युष्मायणो मुनिः॥

kṛtaṁjayo bharadvājo gautamaḥ kavisattamaḥ|| vājaśravā muniścaiva tathā yuṣmāyaṇo muniḥ||

"Kritanjaya, Bharadvaja, Gautama the foremost among poets, the sage Vajashrava, and the sage Yushmayana,"

Verse 207 (skanda.1.75.207)

तृणबिंदुस्तथा ऋक्षः शक्तिः पाराशरस्तथा॥ जातूकर्ण्योऽथ विष्णुश्च स्वयंद्वैपायनो मुनिः॥

tṛṇabiṁdustathā ṛkṣaḥ śaktiḥ pārāśarastathā|| jātūkarṇyo'tha viṣṇuśca svayaṁdvaipāyano muniḥ||

"Trinabindu, Riksha, Shakti, Parashara, Jatukarnya, Vishnu, and Dvaipayana himself —"

Verse 208 (skanda.1.75.208)

अश्वत्थाममुखाश्चैते भविष्याः सूचितास्तव॥ धर्मशास्त्राणि लोकार्थं भिद्यंते चापि द्वापरे॥

aśvatthāmamukhāścaite bhaviṣyāḥ sūcitāstava|| dharmaśāstrāṇi lokārthaṁ bhidyaṁte cāpi dvāpare||

"Ashvatthama and others yet to come have thus been indicated to you. In the Dvapara age, the dharma-shastras too are divided for the benefit of the world."

Verse 209 (skanda.1.75.209)

मन्वत्रिविष्णुहारितयाज्ञवल्क्योशनोंगिराः॥ यमापस्तंबसंवर्ताः कात्यायनबृहस्पती॥

manvatriviṣṇuhāritayājñavalkyośanoṁgirāḥ|| yamāpastaṁbasaṁvartāḥ kātyāyanabṛhaspatī||

"Manu, Atri, Vishnu, Harita, Yajnavalkya, Ushana, Angira, Yama, Apastamba, Samvarta, Katyayana, Brihaspati,"

Verse 210 (skanda.1.75.210)

पराशरव्यासशंखलिखिता दक्षगौतमौ॥ शातातपो वसिष्ठश्च धर्मशास्त्रप्रयोजकाः॥

parāśaravyāsaśaṁkhalikhitā dakṣagautamau|| śātātapo vasiṣṭhaśca dharmaśāstraprayojakāḥ||

"Parashara, Vyasa, Shankha, Likhita, Daksha, Gautama, Shatatapa, and Vasishtha — these are the composers of the dharma-shastras."

Verse 211 (skanda.1.75.211)

ततो द्वापरसंध्यायां प्रवर्तति कलौ युगे॥ नश्यमाने शैवयोगे जायंते योगनंदनाः॥

tato dvāparasaṁdhyāyāṁ pravartati kalau yuge|| naśyamāne śaivayoge jāyaṁte yoganaṁdanāḥ||

"Then, in the twilight of the Dvapara age, as the Kali age begins and the Shaiva discipline starts to wane, teachers who delight in yoga will be born."

Verse 212 (skanda.1.75.212)

आद्ये श्वेतकलौरुद्रः सुतारस्तारणस्तथा॥ सुहोत्रः कंकणश्चैव लोकाख्यश्च महामुनिः॥

ādye śvetakalaurudraḥ sutārastāraṇastathā|| suhotraḥ kaṁkaṇaścaiva lokākhyaśca mahāmuniḥ||

"At the beginning of the Kali age, Shveta Rudra, Sutara, Tarana, Suhotra, Kankana, and the great sage Lokakhya —"

Verse 213 (skanda.1.75.213)

जैगीषव्यश्च भाव्यो वै भगवान्दधिवाहनः॥ ऋषभश्च मुनिर्धर्मउग्रश्चात्रिः सबालकः॥

jaigīṣavyaśca bhāvyo vai bhagavāndadhivāhanaḥ|| ṛṣabhaśca munirdharmaugraścātriḥ sabālakaḥ||

"Jaigishavya, the future Lord Dadhivahana, the sage Rishabha, Dharma, Ugra, Atri together with Balaka,"

Verse 214 (skanda.1.75.214)

गौतमौ वेदशीर्णश्च गोकर्णश्च शिखंडिभृत्॥ गृहावासी जटामाली अट्टहासश्च दारुणः॥

gautamau vedaśīrṇaśca gokarṇaśca śikhaṁḍibhṛt|| gṛhāvāsī jaṭāmālī aṭṭahāsaśca dāruṇaḥ||

"the two Gautamas, Vedashirna, Gokarna, Shikhandibhrit, Grihavasin, Jatamalin, Attahasa, and Daruna,"

Verse 215 (skanda.1.75.215)

लांगली संयमी शूली डिंडी जुण्डीश्वरः स्वयम्॥ सहिष्णुः सोमशर्मा च लकुलीशश्च पार्थिव॥

lāṁgalī saṁyamī śūlī ḍiṁḍī juṇḍīśvaraḥ svayam|| sahiṣṇuḥ somaśarmā ca lakulīśaśca pārthiva||

"Langali, Samyamin, Shulin, Dindin, Jundishvara himself, Sahishnu, Somasharma, and, O king, Lakulisha —"

Verse 216 (skanda.1.75.216)

कायावरोहणो भावीत्याद्या योगेश्वराः क्रमात्॥ एते संक्षिप्त वक्ष्यंति शिवधर्मं कलौ युगे॥

kāyāvarohaṇo bhāvītyādyā yogeśvarāḥ kramāt|| ete saṁkṣipta vakṣyaṁti śivadharmaṁ kalau yuge||

"— and Kayavarohana, who is yet to come — these, one after another, shall be masters of yoga. They shall teach, in brief, the Shaiva dharma during the Kali age."

Verse 217 (skanda.1.75.217)

एवं कलियुगे राजञ्छास्त्रसंक्षेप उच्यते॥ श्रृणु तिष्यप्रवृत्तिं च हर्षोद्वेगकरीं किल॥

evaṁ kaliyuge rājañchāstrasaṁkṣepa ucyate|| śrṛṇu tiṣyapravṛttiṁ ca harṣodvegakarīṁ kila||

"O king, thus has the abridgment of the scriptures in the Kali age been told. Now hear of the condition prevailing in the Tishya period, which brings both joy and dismay."

Verse 218 (skanda.1.75.218)

तिष्ये मायामसूयां च वधं चैव तपस्विनाम्॥ साधयंति नरास्तत्र तमसा व्याकुलेंद्रियाः॥

tiṣye māyāmasūyāṁ ca vadhaṁ caiva tapasvinām|| sādhayaṁti narāstatra tamasā vyākuleṁdriyāḥ||

"In that Tishya period, men, their senses thrown into confusion by the force of tamas, take to deceit, envy, and even the slaying of ascetics."

Verse 219 (skanda.1.75.219)

कलौ प्रमाथको रागः सततं क्षुद्भयानि च॥ अनावृष्टिभयं घोरं देशानां च विपर्ययः॥

kalau pramāthako rāgaḥ satataṁ kṣudbhayāni ca|| anāvṛṣṭibhayaṁ ghoraṁ deśānāṁ ca viparyayaḥ||

"In the Kali age there will be turbulent passion, constant fear of hunger, the terrible fear of drought, and the overturning of the order of nations."

Verse 220 (skanda.1.75.220)

न प्रमाणं श्रुतेरस्ति नृणां चाधर्मसेवनात्॥ अधार्मिकास्त्वनाचारा महाकोपाल्पतेजसः॥

na pramāṇaṁ śruterasti nṛṇāṁ cādharmasevanāt|| adhārmikāstvanācārā mahākopālpatejasaḥ||

"The scriptures will no longer serve as authority for men, given over as they are to unrighteousness. They will be irreligious, devoid of proper conduct, prone to great anger, and lacking in vigor."

Verse 221 (skanda.1.75.221)

अनृतं ब्रुवते लुब्धा नारीप्रायाश्च दुष्प्रजाः॥ दुरिष्टैर्दुरधीतैश्च दुराचारैर्दुरागमैः॥

anṛtaṁ bruvate lubdhā nārīprāyāśca duṣprajāḥ|| duriṣṭairduradhītaiśca durācārairdurāgamaiḥ||

"The greedy will speak falsehoods, and people will become largely womanish in temperament and depraved. Through corrupted rites, corrupted learning, evil conduct, and corrupted teachings —"

Verse 222 (skanda.1.75.222)

विप्राणां कर्मदोषैश्च प्रजानां जायते क्षयः॥ उत्सीदंति क्षत्रविशो वर्धंते शूद्रविप्रकाः॥

viprāṇāṁ karmadoṣaiśca prajānāṁ jāyate kṣayaḥ|| utsīdaṁti kṣatraviśo vardhaṁte śūdraviprakāḥ||

"— and through the faults of the brahmins' own conduct, the people will decline. Kshatriyas and vaishyas will dwindle, while shudra-brahmins increase."

Verse 223 (skanda.1.75.223)

शूद्रा विप्रैः सहासंते शयनासनभोजनैः॥ शूद्राश्च ब्राह्मणाचाराः शूद्राचाराश्च ब्राह्मणाः॥

śūdrā vipraiḥ sahāsaṁte śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ|| śūdrāśca brāhmaṇācārāḥ śūdrācārāśca brāhmaṇāḥ||

"Shudras will share the same beds, seats, and meals with brahmins. Shudras will take up the conduct of brahmins, and brahmins the conduct of shudras."

Verse 224 (skanda.1.75.224)

राजवृत्त्यां स्थिताश्चौराश्चौराचाराश्च पार्थिवाः॥ एकपत्न्यो न शिष्यंति वर्धयंत्यभिसारिकाः॥

rājavṛttyāṁ sthitāścaurāścaurācārāśca pārthivāḥ|| ekapatnyo na śiṣyaṁti vardhayaṁtyabhisārikāḥ||

"Thieves will occupy the position of kings, and kings will take up the conduct of thieves. Women faithful to a single husband will scarcely remain, while women who go out to secret lovers will multiply."

Verse 225 (skanda.1.75.225)

तदा ह्यल्पफला भूमिः क्वचिच्चापि महाफला॥ अरक्षितारो हर्तारो राजानः पापनिर्भयाः॥

tadā hyalpaphalā bhūmiḥ kvaciccāpi mahāphalā|| arakṣitāro hartāro rājānaḥ pāpanirbhayāḥ||

"At that time the earth will yield scant produce in some places and abundant produce in others, at random. Kings, rather than protectors, will become plunderers, and they will commit sin without any fear."

Verse 226 (skanda.1.75.226)

अक्षत्रियास्तु राजानो विप्राः शूद्रोपजीविनः॥ शूद्रा विवादिनः सर्वे ब्राह्मणैरभिनंदिताः॥

akṣatriyāstu rājāno viprāḥ śūdropajīvinaḥ|| śūdrā vivādinaḥ sarve brāhmaṇairabhinaṁditāḥ||

"Kings will not be of kshatriya lineage; brahmins will earn their living by serving shudras. Shudras will be contentious in argument, yet all will be honored even by brahmins."

Verse 227 (skanda.1.75.227)

आसनस्थान्द्विजान्दृष्ट्वा चलंत्यत्यल्पबुद्धयः॥ आस्ये निधाय वै हस्तं कर्णे शूद्रास्य च द्विजाः॥

āsanasthāndvijāndṛṣṭvā calaṁtyatyalpabuddhayaḥ|| āsye nidhāya vai hastaṁ karṇe śūdrāsya ca dvijāḥ||

"On seeing brahmins seated in a place of honor, the foolish will simply walk away. Brahmins will be seen whispering into a shudra's ear, hand cupped at the mouth —"

Verse 228 (skanda.1.75.228)

नीचस्यापि तदा वाक्यं वक्ष्यंति विनयेन तम्॥ उच्चासनस्थाञ्छूद्रांश्च द्विजानां पश्यतामपि॥

nīcasyāpi tadā vākyaṁ vakṣyaṁti vinayena tam|| uccāsanasthāñchūdrāṁśca dvijānāṁ paśyatāmapi||

"— and will at that time meekly accept the word even of a low-born man. Even as brahmins look on, shudras will occupy the seats of honor,"

Verse 229 (skanda.1.75.229)

ज्ञात्वा न हिंसते राजा पश्य कालबलं नृप॥ पुष्पैः शुभसितैश्चैव तथान्यैर्मंडनैर्द्विजाः॥

jñātvā na hiṁsate rājā paśya kālabalaṁ nṛpa|| puṣpaiḥ śubhasitaiścaiva tathānyairmaṁḍanairdvijāḥ||

"and the king, though aware of it, will not punish it — behold, O king, the sheer power of Time! Brahmins, adorned with auspicious white flowers and other ornaments —"

Verse 230 (skanda.1.75.230)

शूद्रानभ्यर्चयंत्यल्पश्रुतभाग्यबलान्विताः॥ पाषंडिनां च गृह्णंति ब्राह्मणाः कुप्रतिग्रहम्॥

śūdrānabhyarcayaṁtyalpaśrutabhāgyabalānvitāḥ|| pāṣaṁḍināṁ ca gṛhṇaṁti brāhmaṇāḥ kupratigraham||

"— will pay homage to shudras, even while themselves possessing learning, fortune, and strength. Brahmins will accept improper gifts even from heretics,"

Verse 231 (skanda.1.75.231)

येन ते रौरवं यांति सुदुस्तारं द्विजाधमाः॥ तपोयज्ञफलानां च विक्रेतारो द्विजास्तथा॥

yena te rauravaṁ yāṁti sudustāraṁ dvijādhamāḥ|| tapoyajñaphalānāṁ ca vikretāro dvijāstathā||

"— through which those degraded brahmins will fall into the terrible, well-nigh unescapable hell of Raurava. There will also be brahmins who sell the fruits of penance and sacrifice,"

Verse 232 (skanda.1.75.232)

यतयश्च भविष्यंति बहवः कोटिशः कलौ॥ पुरुषाल्पबहुस्त्रीको नृणां चापत्यसंभवः॥

yatayaśca bhaviṣyaṁti bahavaḥ koṭiśaḥ kalau|| puruṣālpabahustrīko nṛṇāṁ cāpatyasaṁbhavaḥ||

"In the Kali age there will be false ascetics numbering in the tens of millions. Men will be few and women many, and the begetting of offspring among men will grow difficult."

Verse 233 (skanda.1.75.233)

निंदंति वेदवाक्यानि वेदार्थांश्च कलौ युगे॥ शूद्रैः स्वयं निर्मितं यत्प्रमाणं शास्त्रमेव तत्॥

niṁdaṁti vedavākyāni vedārthāṁśca kalau yuge|| śūdraiḥ svayaṁ nirmitaṁ yatpramāṇaṁ śāstrameva tat||

"In the Kali age people will disparage the words of the Veda and their true meanings. Whatever scripture shudras themselves compose, that alone they will regard as authoritative."

Verse 234 (skanda.1.75.234)

श्वापदप्रबलत्वं च गवां चापि परिक्षयः॥ कस्यचिद्दानप्रभृतिधर्मस्यास्ति न शुद्धता॥

śvāpadaprabalatvaṁ ca gavāṁ cāpi parikṣayaḥ|| kasyaciddānaprabhṛtidharmasyāsti na śuddhatā||

"Wild beasts of prey will grow strong, while cattle diminish. No act of dharma — giving and the rest — will retain any purity."

Verse 235 (skanda.1.75.235)

साधूनां बहवो नाशाः पार्थिवाश्चाप्यरक्षिणः॥ अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूलाश्चतुष्पथाः॥

sādhūnāṁ bahavo nāśāḥ pārthivāścāpyarakṣiṇaḥ|| aṭṭaśūlā janapadāḥ śivaśūlāścatuṣpathāḥ||

"Many virtuous men will perish, and kings will fail to protect. Towns will bristle with instruments of torment, and even the crossroads will bear tridents raised in violence."

Verse 236 (skanda.1.75.236)

प्रमदाः केशशूलिन्यो भविष्यंति कलौ युगे॥ स्त्रीप्रधानानि गेहानि कुचैलास्ताश्च कर्कशाः॥

pramadāḥ keśaśūlinyo bhaviṣyaṁti kalau yuge|| strīpradhānāni gehāni kucailāstāśca karkaśāḥ||

"In the Kali age women will wear their hair disheveled and unkempt. Households will be dominated by women, who will go about in unclean garments and be harsh of temperament."

Verse 237 (skanda.1.75.237)

बहुभक्ष्यावलिप्ताश्च कृत्या इव भवंति च॥ सर्वे वणिग्जनाश्चापि चित्रवर्षी च वासवः॥

bahubhakṣyāvaliptāśca kṛtyā iva bhavaṁti ca|| sarve vaṇigjanāścāpi citravarṣī ca vāsavaḥ||

"Smeared and steeped in many indulgences, they will become almost like malevolent sorceresses. Everyone will act like a shrewd merchant, and Indra will send rain only erratically."

Verse 238 (skanda.1.75.238)

कुशीलचर्यापाषंडैर्वृथारूपैः समावृतः॥ बहुयाचनको लोको भविष्यति परस्परी॥

kuśīlacaryāpāṣaṁḍairvṛthārūpaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ|| bahuyācanako loko bhaviṣyati parasparī||

"The world will be enveloped in evil conduct, hypocrisy, and empty pretense, and people will be forever begging things of one another."

Verse 239 (skanda.1.75.239)

अशंकश्चैव पापेषु तदा लोको भविष्यति॥ हर्तारः पररत्नानां परदारप्रधर्षकाः॥

aśaṁkaścaiva pāpeṣu tadā loko bhaviṣyati|| hartāraḥ pararatnānāṁ paradārapradharṣakāḥ||

"At that time people will feel no hesitation whatever in sin. They will be plunderers of others' wealth and violators of others' wives."

Verse 240 (skanda.1.75.240)

ऊनषोडशवर्षाश्च प्रजायंते युगक्षये॥ तथा द्वादशवर्षाश्च प्रसवंति स्त्रियस्तदा॥

ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣāśca prajāyaṁte yugakṣaye|| tathā dvādaśavarṣāśca prasavaṁti striyastadā||

"As the age declines, men will beget children before the age of sixteen, and women will bear children even at the age of twelve."

Verse 241 (skanda.1.75.241)

चौराश्चौरस्य हर्तारो हर्तुर्हर्त्ता तथापरः॥ ज्ञानकर्मण्युपरते लोके निष्क्रियतां गते॥

caurāścaurasya hartāro harturharttā tathāparaḥ|| jñānakarmaṇyuparate loke niṣkriyatāṁ gate||

"There will be thieves who rob other thieves, and yet others who rob those very robbers. With both knowledge and rightful action having died out, the world will sink into utter inaction."

Verse 242 (skanda.1.75.242)

कीटमूषकसर्पाश्च धर्षयिष्यंति मानवान्॥ वर्णाश्रमाणां ये चान्ये पाषंडाः परिपंथिनः॥

kīṭamūṣakasarpāśca dharṣayiṣyaṁti mānavān|| varṇāśramāṇāṁ ye cānye pāṣaṁḍāḥ paripaṁthinaḥ||

"Insects, rats, and serpents will torment mankind. And whatever other heretics stand opposed to the order of varna and ashrama,"

Verse 243 (skanda.1.75.243)

ते तदा प्रोद्भविष्यंति तेषआं वृद्धिश्च पार्थिव॥ दुःखं पुत्रकलत्राद्यं देहोत्सादः सरोगता॥

te tadā prodbhaviṣyaṁti teṣaāṁ vṛddhiśca pārthiva|| duḥkhaṁ putrakalatrādyaṁ dehotsādaḥ sarogatā||

"— O king, they will arise then in great numbers and flourish. Sorrow through sons and wives, the wasting of the body, and affliction by disease —"

Verse 244 (skanda.1.75.244)

अधर्माभिनिवेशत्वात्तमसो जायते कलौ॥ कलेर्दोषनिधेश्चैव श्रृणुष्वैवं महागुणम्॥

adharmābhiniveśatvāttamaso jāyate kalau|| kalerdoṣanidheścaiva śrṛṇuṣvaivaṁ mahāguṇam||

"— all this will arise in the Kali age owing to the dominance of tamas and attachment to unrighteousness. Yet hear also of one great virtue possessed even by this treasury of faults, the Kali age."

Verse 245 (skanda.1.75.245)

तदाल्पेनैव काले न सिद्धिं गच्छंति मानवाः॥ त्रियुगीना वदंत्येवं धन्या धर्मं चरंति ये॥

tadālpenaiva kāle na siddhiṁ gacchaṁti mānavāḥ|| triyugīnā vadaṁtyevaṁ dhanyā dharmaṁ caraṁti ye||

"In that age, men attain accomplishment within a remarkably short span. For this reason the wise declare that those who practice dharma in the Kali age are blessed, and are called 'Triyugin' — as if reaping the fruit of all three ages combined."

Verse 246 (skanda.1.75.246)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणोक्तं कलौ श्रद्धापरायणाः॥ त्रेतायां वार्षिको धर्मो द्वापरे मासिकः स्मृतः॥

śrutismṛtipurāṇoktaṁ kalau śraddhāparāyaṇāḥ|| tretāyāṁ vārṣiko dharmo dvāpare māsikaḥ smṛtaḥ||

"It is said in the Shruti, Smriti, and Puranas that in the Kali age people will devote themselves wholly to faith. The dharma that bears fruit in a year in the Treta age is held to bear fruit in a month in the Dvapara age,"

Verse 247 (skanda.1.75.247)

यथा क्लेशं चरन्प्राज्ञस्तदह्ना प्राप्यते कलौ॥ युगत्रयेण तावंतः सिद्धिं गच्छंति पार्थिवः॥

yathā kleśaṁ caranprājñastadahnā prāpyate kalau|| yugatrayeṇa tāvaṁtaḥ siddhiṁ gacchaṁti pārthivaḥ||

"— and whatever a wise man attains elsewhere through prolonged hardship, that very fruit is attained in the Kali age within a single day. O king, however many attain accomplishment across the three preceding ages combined,"

Verse 248 (skanda.1.75.248)

यावंतः सिद्धिमायांति कलौ हरिहरव्रताः॥ अष्टाविंशे कलौ यच्च भावि तत्त्वं निबोध मे॥

yāvaṁtaḥ siddhimāyāṁti kalau hariharavratāḥ|| aṣṭāviṁśe kalau yacca bhāvi tattvaṁ nibodha me||

"— that same number attain it in the Kali age merely through devotion to Hari and Hara. Now hear from me the truth of what is to come in this twenty-eighth Kali age."

Verse 249 (skanda.1.75.249)

त्रिषु वर्षसहस्रेषु कलेर्यातेषु पार्थिवः॥ त्रिशतेषु दशन्यूनेष्वस्यां भुवि भविष्यति॥

triṣu varṣasahasreṣu kaleryāteṣu pārthivaḥ|| triśateṣu daśanyūneṣvasyāṁ bhuvi bhaviṣyati||

"When three thousand years of the Kali age have passed, and three hundred less ten years besides, there will arise upon this earth a king —"

Verse 250 (skanda.1.75.250)

शूद्रकोनाम वीराणामधिपः सिद्धिमत्र सः॥ चर्चितायां समाराध्य लप्स्यते भूभरापहः॥

śūdrakonāma vīrāṇāmadhipaḥ siddhimatra saḥ|| carcitāyāṁ samārādhya lapsyate bhūbharāpahaḥ||

"— named Shudraka, lord of warriors, who will attain accomplishment by worshipping at this revered tirtha, and will relieve the earth of its burden."

Verse 251 (skanda.1.75.251)

ततस्त्रिषु सहस्रेषु दशाधिकशतत्रये॥ भविष्यं नंदराज्यं च चाणक्यो यान्हनिष्यति॥

tatastriṣu sahasreṣu daśādhikaśatatraye|| bhaviṣyaṁ naṁdarājyaṁ ca cāṇakyo yānhaniṣyati||

"After this, when three thousand three hundred and ten years have passed, the rule of the Nanda dynasty will come to be, which Chanakya shall bring to an end."

Verse 252 (skanda.1.75.252)

शुक्लतीर्थे सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तिं योऽभिलप्स्यति॥ ततस्त्रिषु सहस्रेषु विंशत्या चाधिकेषु च॥

śuklatīrthe sarvapāpanirmuktiṁ yo'bhilapsyati|| tatastriṣu sahasreṣu viṁśatyā cādhikeṣu ca||

He will obtain release from all sins by bathing at Shukla-tirtha. After this, when three thousand and twenty years have passed —

Verse 253 (skanda.1.75.253)

भविष्यं विक्रमादित्यराज्यं सोऽथ प्रलप्स्यते॥ सिदधिप्रसादाद्दुर्गाणां दीनान्यो ह्युद्धरिष्यति॥

bhaviṣyaṁ vikramādityarājyaṁ so'tha pralapsyate|| sidadhiprasādāddurgāṇāṁ dīnānyo hyuddhariṣyati||

— the reign of Vikramaditya will come to pass, who, by the grace of his spiritual attainment, will rescue the wretched and afflicted from places of great hardship.

Verse 254 (skanda.1.75.254)

ततः शतसहस्रेषु शतेनाप्यधिकेषु च॥ शकोनाम भविष्यश्च योऽतिदारिद्र्यहारकः॥

tataḥ śatasahasreṣu śatenāpyadhikeṣu ca|| śakonāma bhaviṣyaśca yo'tidāridryahārakaḥ||

After this, when a hundred thousand and a further hundred years have passed, there will be a king named Shaka, who will banish the direst poverty.

Verse 255 (skanda.1.75.255)

ततस्त्रिषु सहस्रेषु षट्शतैरधिकेषु च॥ मागधे हेमसदनादंजन्यां प्रभविष्यति॥

tatastriṣu sahasreṣu ṣaṭśatairadhikeṣu ca|| māgadhe hemasadanādaṁjanyāṁ prabhaviṣyati||

After this, when three thousand six hundred years have passed, there shall arise, in the land of Magadha, from Hemasadana in Anjani —

Verse 256 (skanda.1.75.256)

विष्णोरंशो धर्मपाता बुधः साक्षात्स्वयं प्रभुः॥ तस्य कर्माणि भूरिणि भविष्यंति महात्मनः॥

viṣṇoraṁśo dharmapātā budhaḥ sākṣātsvayaṁ prabhuḥ|| tasya karmāṇi bhūriṇi bhaviṣyaṁti mahātmanaḥ||

— one who will be a portion of Lord Vishnu, protector of dharma, wise, the very Lord himself. Many will be the deeds of that great soul.

Verse 257 (skanda.1.75.257)

ज्योतिर्बिदुमुखानुग्रान्स हनिष्यति कोटिशः॥ चतुःषष्टिं स वर्षाणि भुक्त्वा द्वीपानि सप्त च॥

jyotirbidumukhānugrānsa haniṣyati koṭiśaḥ|| catuḥṣaṣṭiṁ sa varṣāṇi bhuktvā dvīpāni sapta ca||

He will destroy, in the tens of millions, cruel beings led by Jyotirbindu and the like. Having enjoyed dominion over the seven continents for sixty-four years,

Verse 258 (skanda.1.75.258)

भक्तेभ्यः स्वयशो मुक्त्वा दिवं पश्चाद्गमिष्यति॥ सर्वेषां चावताराणआं गुणैः समधिको यतः॥

bhaktebhyaḥ svayaśo muktvā divaṁ paścādgamiṣyati|| sarveṣāṁ cāvatārāṇaāṁ guṇaiḥ samadhiko yataḥ||

After leaving his fame behind for his devotees, he will thereafter depart for heaven, for in his qualities he shall surpass even all the other divine incarnations.

Verse 259 (skanda.1.75.259)

ततो वक्ष्यंति तं भक्त्या सर्वपापहरं बुधम्॥ चतुर्षु च सहस्रेषु शतेष्वपि चतुर्षु च॥

tato vakṣyaṁti taṁ bhaktyā sarvapāpaharaṁ budham|| caturṣu ca sahasreṣu śateṣvapi caturṣu ca||

Then people will devotedly call him Budha, the destroyer of all sin. After this, when four thousand four hundred years have passed,

Verse 260 (skanda.1.75.260)

साधिकेषु महान्राजा प्रमितिः प्रभविष्यति॥ गोत्रेषु वै चंद्रमसो बहुसेनापतिर्बली॥

sādhikeṣu mahānrājā pramitiḥ prabhaviṣyati|| gotreṣu vai caṁdramaso bahusenāpatirbalī||

— and a few years more besides, a great king named Pramiti will arise, born in the lunar dynasty, mighty and commander of vast armies.

Verse 261 (skanda.1.75.261)

म्लेच्छान्स कोटिशो हत्वा पाषंडानि च सर्वशः॥ वैदिकं केवलं शुद्धं सद्धर्मं वर्तयिष्यति॥

mlecchānsa koṭiśo hatvā pāṣaṁḍāni ca sarvaśaḥ|| vaidikaṁ kevalaṁ śuddhaṁ saddharmaṁ vartayiṣyati||

Slaying barbarians in the tens of millions and putting an end to every heresy, he will establish and uphold the pure Vedic dharma alone.

Verse 262 (skanda.1.75.262)

गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये निष्ठां यास्यति पार्थिवः॥ ततः प्रजाश्च कालेन केनापि भृशपीडिताः॥

gaṁgāyamunayormadhye niṣṭhāṁ yāsyati pārthivaḥ|| tataḥ prajāśca kālena kenāpi bhṛśapīḍitāḥ||

That king will establish his firm seat in the land between the Ganga and the Yamuna. After this, at some point, the people will become gravely afflicted,

Verse 263 (skanda.1.75.263)

घोरं वा धर्ममाश्रित्य शाठ्येन च भवंति ताः॥ अप्रग्रहास्ततस्ता वै लोभाविष्टाश्च वृंदशः॥

ghoraṁ vā dharmamāśritya śāṭhyena ca bhavaṁti tāḥ|| apragrahāstatastā vai lobhāviṣṭāśca vṛṁdaśaḥ||

taking refuge in some fearsome creed and behaving with deceit. Thereafter, ungoverned, they will fall prey to greed in great multitudes,

Verse 264 (skanda.1.75.264)

उपहिंसंति चान्योन्यं व्याकुलाः श्रमपीडिताः॥ नष्टे श्रौते तथा स्मार्ते परस्परहतास्तदा॥

upahiṁsaṁti cānyonyaṁ vyākulāḥ śramapīḍitāḥ|| naṣṭe śraute tathā smārte parasparahatāstadā||

and injure one another, distraught and worn down by toil. With both the Shruti and Smriti traditions lost, they will then destroy one another in mutual strife.

Verse 265 (skanda.1.75.265)

निर्मर्यादा निष्करुणा निस्स्नेहा निरपत्रपाः॥ गृहदाराणि संत्यज्य ह्रस्वकाः पंटविंशतिः॥

nirmaryādā niṣkaruṇā nissnehā nirapatrapāḥ|| gṛhadārāṇi saṁtyajya hrasvakāḥ paṁṭaviṁśatiḥ||

They will become boundless in transgression, merciless, devoid of affection, and shameless. Abandoning home and family, stunted in stature and living but twenty-five years,

Verse 266 (skanda.1.75.266)

हाहाभूताश्चरिष्यंति विषादव्याकुलेंद्रियाः॥ अनावृष्टिहताश्चैव वार्तामुत्सृज्य दुःखिताः॥

hāhābhūtāścariṣyaṁti viṣādavyākuleṁdriyāḥ|| anāvṛṣṭihatāścaiva vārtāmutsṛjya duḥkhitāḥ||

— they will wander about lamenting, their senses thrown into turmoil by anguish. Struck down by drought, and abandoning their livelihoods in misery,

Verse 267 (skanda.1.75.267)

प्रत्यंतांस्ता निषेवंति हित्वा जनपदान्स्वकान्॥ सरित्सागरकूलांश्च सेवंते पर्वतांस्तथा॥

pratyaṁtāṁstā niṣevaṁti hitvā janapadānsvakān|| saritsāgarakūlāṁśca sevaṁte parvatāṁstathā||

— they will forsake their own lands and take refuge in the borderlands. They will seek shelter along the banks of rivers and seas, and among the mountains.

Verse 268 (skanda.1.75.268)

मांसैर्मूलफलैस्चैव वर्तयंति सुदुःखिताः॥ चीरपत्राजिनधरा निष्क्रिया निष्परिग्रहाः॥

māṁsairmūlaphalaiscaiva vartayaṁti suduḥkhitāḥ|| cīrapatrājinadharā niṣkriyā niṣparigrahāḥ||

In deep distress, they will subsist on flesh, roots, and wild fruit. Clad in bark, leaves, and animal hides, they will become inactive and utterly without possessions.

Verse 269 (skanda.1.75.269)

धर्मस्य वासमात्रं च शाल्वो म्लेच्छो हनिष्यति॥ उत्तमाधममध्यत्वं सर्वमुच्छिद्य घोरकृत्॥

dharmasya vāsamātraṁ ca śālvo mleccho haniṣyati|| uttamādhamamadhyatvaṁ sarvamucchidya ghorakṛt||

Then even that last vestige of dharma will be destroyed by a barbarian named Shalva. That doer of terrible deeds will annihilate high, middle, and low alike, making no distinction whatever.

Verse 270 (skanda.1.75.270)

ततस्तस्य वधार्थाय विष्णुः साक्षाज्जगत्पतिः॥ शंभले विष्णुयशसो भूत्वा पुत्रो नृपोत्तम॥

tatastasya vadhārthāya viṣṇuḥ sākṣājjagatpatiḥ|| śaṁbhale viṣṇuyaśaso bhūtvā putro nṛpottama||

Then, for that tyrant's destruction, Lord Vishnu himself, master of the universe, O best of kings, will take birth in the village of Shambhala as the son of Vishnuyashas.

Verse 271 (skanda.1.75.271)

द्विजोत्तमैः परिवृतः शाल्वं तं संहरिष्यति॥ कोटिशोऽर्बुदशः पापान्निहत्य च निखर्वशः॥

dvijottamaiḥ parivṛtaḥ śālvaṁ taṁ saṁhariṣyati|| koṭiśo'rbudaśaḥ pāpānnihatya ca nikharvaśaḥ||

Surrounded by the foremost of brahmins, he will destroy that Shalva. Having slain sinners numbering in the tens of millions, the hundreds of millions, and beyond,

Verse 272 (skanda.1.75.272)

पालयिष्यति तं धर्मं यो धर्मः श्रुतिपूर्वकः॥

pālayiṣyati taṁ dharmaṁ yo dharmaḥ śrutipūrvakaḥ||

he will establish and uphold that dharma which is founded upon the scriptures.

Verse 273 (skanda.1.75.273)

कृत्वा पोतं धर्मरूपं साधूनां परमेश्वरः॥ गमिष्यति परं लोकं कृत्वा कर्माणि भूरिशः॥

kṛtvā potaṁ dharmarūpaṁ sādhūnāṁ parameśvaraḥ|| gamiṣyati paraṁ lokaṁ kṛtvā karmāṇi bhūriśaḥ||

That supreme lord of the virtuous, having fashioned dharma itself into a vessel of deliverance and accomplished many great deeds, will then depart for the highest world.

Verse 274 (skanda.1.75.274)

ततः कृतयुगं भूयः प्रवर्तिष्यति पार्थिव॥ आद्यं कृतयुगं चान्यं तदन्येभ्यो विशिष्यते॥

tataḥ kṛtayugaṁ bhūyaḥ pravartiṣyati pārthiva|| ādyaṁ kṛtayugaṁ cānyaṁ tadanyebhyo viśiṣyate||

O king, after this the Krita age will once more come into being. Yet this new Krita age will differ, distinguished in its own way, from the very first Krita age and from all the others.

Verse 275 (skanda.1.75.275)

अष्टाविंशकलिश्चैव शेषः प्रावर्त अन्यतः॥ ततः कृते सूर्यवंशः प्रवत्स्यति॥

aṣṭāviṁśakaliścaiva śeṣaḥ prāvarta anyataḥ|| tataḥ kṛte sūryavaṁśaḥ pravatsyati||

This is the twenty-eighth Kali age, and the remainder of the Manvantara will unfold in its own course thereafter. In that coming Krita age, the solar dynasty shall flourish.

Verse 276 (skanda.1.75.276)

मरुराजाच्च देवापेः श्रुतदेवाच्च ब्राह्मणाः॥ इति चातुर्युगी राजन्व्यवस्था परिवर्तते॥ चतुर्युगे च ते धन्या ये भजंति हराच्युतौ॥

marurājācca devāpeḥ śrutadevācca brāhmaṇāḥ|| iti cāturyugī rājanvyavasthā parivartate|| caturyuge ca te dhanyā ye bhajaṁti harācyutau||

From King Maru and Devapi, and from Shrutadeva, brahmins shall arise. Thus, O king, does the order of the four ages continue to turn. And in every one of these four ages, blessed indeed are those who worship both Hara and Achyuta together.