The Glory of Nilakantha

Verse 1 (skanda.1.92.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ ततो विप्रा नारदश्च समाराध्य महेश्वरम्॥ महीनगरके पुण्ये स्थापयामास शंकरम्

nārada uvāca tato viprā nāradaśca samārādhya maheśvaram mahīnagarake puṇye sthāpayāmāsa śaṁkaram

Narada said: "Then the brahmins, and I, Narada, too, having worshipped Maheshvara, established Shankara in sacred Mahinagaraka."

Verse 2 (skanda.1.92.2)

लोकानां च हितार्थाय केदारं लिंगमुत्तमम्॥ अत्रीशादुत्तरे भागे महापातकनाशनम्

lokānāṁ ca hitārthāya kedāraṁ liṁgamuttamam atrīśāduttare bhāge mahāpātakanāśanam

"For the welfare of the worlds, the excellent linga called Kedara, destroyer of great sins, was established to the north of Atrishvara."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.92.3)

अत्रिकुण्डे नरः स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथाविधि॥ अत्रीशं च नमस्कृत्य केदारं यः प्रपश्यति

atrikuṇḍe naraḥ snātvā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi atrīśaṁ ca namaskṛtya kedāraṁ yaḥ prapaśyati

"A man who bathes in the Atri-kunda, performs the shraddha according to rule, bows to Atrishvara, and then beholds Kedara—"

Verse 4 (skanda.1.92.4)

मातुः स्तन्यं पुनर्नैव स पिबेन्मुक्तिभाग्भवेत्॥ ततो रुद्रो नीलकंठं नारदाय महात्मने

mātuḥ stanyaṁ punarnaiva sa pibenmuktibhāgbhavet tato rudro nīlakaṁṭhaṁ nāradāya mahātmane

"—never again suckles at a mother's breast, that is, is never reborn, and becomes a partaker of liberation. Then Rudra, to the great-souled Narada—"

Verse 5 (skanda.1.92.5)

स्वयं दत्त्वा स्वयं तस्थौ महीनगरके शुभे॥ कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा नीलकंठं प्रपश्यति

svayaṁ dattvā svayaṁ tasthau mahīnagarake śubhe koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā nīlakaṁṭhaṁ prapaśyati

"—having himself bestowed the linga Nilakantha, himself remained established in sacred Mahinagaraka. A man who bathes at Koti-tirtha and beholds Nilakantha—"

Verse 6 (skanda.1.92.6)

जयादित्यं नमस्कृत्य रुद्रलोकमवाप्नुयात्॥ जयादित्यं पूजयंति कूपे स्नात्वा नरोत्तमाः

jayādityaṁ namaskṛtya rudralokamavāpnuyāt jayādityaṁ pūjayaṁti kūpe snātvā narottamāḥ

"—and bows to Jayaditya, thereby attains the world of Rudra. The best of men, having bathed in the well, worship Jayaditya there,"

Verse 7 (skanda.1.92.7)

न तेषां वंशनाशोऽस्ति जयादित्यप्रसादतः॥ इदं ते कथितं पार्थ महीनगरकस्य च

na teṣāṁ vaṁśanāśo'sti jayādityaprasādataḥ idaṁ te kathitaṁ pārtha mahīnagarakasya ca

"—and, by the grace of Jayaditya, their lineage never comes to ruin. This, O Partha, has been told to you concerning Mahinagaraka."

Verse 8 (skanda.1.92.8)

आख्यानं सकलं श्रुत्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

ākhyānaṁ sakalaṁ śrutvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

"Whoever hears this entire narrative in full is released from every sin."