The Glory of Brahma-kunda and Brahma's Release from the Curse

Verse 1 (skanda.3.14.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच। स्नात्वा त्वमृत वाप्यां वै सेवित्वैकांतराघवम्। जितेंद्रियो नरः स्नातुं ब्रह्मकुंडं ततो व्रजेत्

śrīsūta uvāca snātvā tvamṛta vāpyāṁ vai sevitvaikāṁtarāghavam jiteṁdriyo naraḥ snātuṁ brahmakuṁḍaṁ tato vrajet

Suta said: Having bathed in the Amrita reservoir and worshipped Ekanta-Raghava, a man of controlled senses should then go to bathe in Brahma-kunda.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.14.2)

सेतुमध्ये महातीर्थं गंधमादनपर्वते। ब्रह्मकुंडमिति ख्यातं सर्व दारिद्र्यभेषजम्

setumadhye mahātīrthaṁ gaṁdhamādanaparvate brahmakuṁḍamiti khyātaṁ sarva dāridryabheṣajam

In the midst of Setu, on Mount Gandhamadana, there is a great tirtha known as Brahma-kunda, the remedy for all poverty.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.14.3)

विद्यते ब्रह्महत्यानामयुतायुतनाशनम्। दर्शनं ब्रह्मकुंडस्य सर्वपापौघनाशनम्

vidyate brahmahatyānāmayutāyutanāśanam darśanaṁ brahmakuṁḍasya sarvapāpaughanāśanam

It destroys innumerable sins of slaying a brahmin; the mere sight of Brahma-kunda destroys the whole flood of sin.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.14.4)

किं तस्य बहुभिस्तीर्थैः किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः। महादानैश्च किं तस्य ब्रह्मकुंडविलोकिनः

kiṁ tasya bahubhistīrthaiḥ kiṁ tapobhiḥ kimadhvaraiḥ mahādānaiśca kiṁ tasya brahmakuṁḍavilokinaḥ

What need has one who has beheld Brahma-kunda for many other tirthas, austerities, sacrifices, or great gifts?

Verse 5 (skanda.3.14.5)

ब्रह्मकुंडे सकृत्स्नानं वैकुंठप्राप्तिकारणम्। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतं भस्म येन धृतं द्विजाः।

brahmakuṁḍe sakṛtsnānaṁ vaikuṁṭhaprāptikāraṇam brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtaṁ bhasma yena dhṛtaṁ dvijāḥ

A single bath in Brahma-kunda is the cause of attaining Vaikuntha; O brahmins, one who has worn the ash born of Brahma-kunda —

Verse 6 (skanda.3.14.6)

तस्यानुगास्त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतभस्मना यस्त्रिपुंड्रकम्

tasyānugāstrayo devā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtabhasmanā yastripuṁḍrakam

the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara become his followers. Whoever marks the triple line (tripundra) with ash born of Brahma-kunda —

Verse 7 (skanda.3.14.7)

करोति तस्य कैवल्यं करस्थं नात्र संशयः। तद्भस्मपरमाणुर्वा यो ललाटे धृतो भवेत्

karoti tasya kaivalyaṁ karasthaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ tadbhasmaparamāṇurvā yo lalāṭe dhṛto bhavet

his liberation becomes as if held in his own hand — of this there is no doubt. Even a single grain of that ash, if worn upon the forehead,

Verse 8 (skanda.3.14.8)

तावदेवास्य मुक्तिः स्यान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा। तत्कुंडभस्मना मर्त्यः कुर्यादुद्धूलनं तु यः

tāvadevāsya muktiḥ syānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā tatkuṁḍabhasmanā martyaḥ kuryāduddhūlanaṁ tu yaḥ

grants him liberation that very instant — no deliberation is needed here. Whatever mortal besmears his body with the ash of that kunda,

Verse 9 (skanda.3.14.9)

तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं शंकरो वेत्ति वा न वा। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतं भस्म यो नैव धारयेत्

tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ śaṁkaro vetti vā na vā brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtaṁ bhasma yo naiva dhārayet

even Shankara may or may not be able to describe the fruit of his merit. But whoever never wears the ash born of Brahma-kunda,

Verse 10 (skanda.3.14.10)

रौरवे नरके सोऽयं पतेदाचंद्रतारकम्। उद्धूलनं त्रिपुंड्रं वा ब्रह्मकुंडस्थभस्मना

raurave narake so'yaṁ patedācaṁdratārakam uddhūlanaṁ tripuṁḍraṁ vā brahmakuṁḍasthabhasmanā

he falls into Raurava hell for as long as the moon and stars endure. Whichever base man performs neither the besmearing nor the tripundra with the ash of Brahma-kunda,

Verse 11 (skanda.3.14.11)

नराधमो न कुर्याद्यः सुखं नास्य कदाचन। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतभस्मनिंदारतस्तु यः

narādhamo na kuryādyaḥ sukhaṁ nāsya kadācana brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtabhasmaniṁdāratastu yaḥ

he never attains happiness. And whoever takes delight in reviling the ash born of Brahma-kunda —

Verse 12 (skanda.3.14.12)

उत्पत्तौ तस्य सांकर्यमनुमेयं विपश्चिता। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतं भस्मैतल्लोकपावनम्

utpattau tasya sāṁkaryamanumeyaṁ vipaścitā brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtaṁ bhasmaitallokapāvanam

the wise should infer that there was confusion of parentage at his very birth. This ash born of Brahma-kunda purifies the world;

Verse 13 (skanda.3.14.13)

अन्यभस्मसमं यस्तु न्यूनं वा वक्ति मानवः। उत्पत्तौ तस्य सांकर्य मनुमेयं विपश्चिता

anyabhasmasamaṁ yastu nyūnaṁ vā vakti mānavaḥ utpattau tasya sāṁkarya manumeyaṁ vipaścitā

whatever man declares it equal to, or lesser than, other ash — the wise should likewise infer confusion at his birth.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.14.14)

ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतेऽप्यस्मिन्भस्मनि जाग्रति। भस्मांतरेण मनुजो धारयेद्यस्त्रिपुंड्रकम्

brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūte'pyasminbhasmani jāgrati bhasmāṁtareṇa manujo dhārayedyastripuṁḍrakam

Even while this ash born of Brahma-kunda is at hand, whatever man wears the tripundra with some other ash instead —

Verse 15 (skanda.3.14.15)

उत्पत्तौ तस्य सांक र्यमनुमेयं विपश्चिता। कदाचिदपि यो मर्त्यो भस्मैतत्तु न धारयेत्

utpattau tasya sāṁka ryamanumeyaṁ vipaścitā kadācidapi yo martyo bhasmaitattu na dhārayet

the wise should infer confusion at his birth. And whatever mortal never at any time wears this ash,

Verse 16 (skanda.3.14.16)

उत्पत्तौ तस्य सांकर्यमनुमेयं विपश्चिता। ब्रह्मकुंडसमुद्भूतं भस्म दद्याद्द्विजाय यः

utpattau tasya sāṁkaryamanumeyaṁ vipaścitā brahmakuṁḍasamudbhūtaṁ bhasma dadyāddvijāya yaḥ

the wise should likewise infer confusion at his birth. Whoever gives the ash born of Brahma-kunda to a brahmin,

Verse 17 (skanda.3.14.17)

चतुरर्णवपर्यंता तेन दत्ता वसुन्धरा। संदेहो नात्र कर्तव्यस्त्रिर्वा शपथयाम्यहम्

caturarṇavaparyaṁtā tena dattā vasundharā saṁdeho nātra kartavyastrirvā śapathayāmyaham

by him the whole earth bounded by the four oceans has, as it were, been given away; let there be no doubt of this — I swear it three times over.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.14.18)

सत्यंसत्यं पुनः सत्यमुद्धृत्य भुजमुच्यते। ब्रह्मकुंडोद्भवं भस्म धारयध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः

satyaṁsatyaṁ punaḥ satyamuddhṛtya bhujamucyate brahmakuṁḍodbhavaṁ bhasma dhārayadhvaṁ dvijottamāḥ

Truly, truly, and yet again truly this is declared with arm upraised: O best of brahmins, wear the ash born of Brahma-kunda.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.14.19)

एतद्धि पावनं भस्म ब्रह्मयज्ञसमुद्भवम्। पुरा हि भगवान्ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः

etaddhi pāvanaṁ bhasma brahmayajñasamudbhavam purā hi bhagavānbrahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ

For this purifying ash arose from Brahma's own sacrifice. Long ago, the illustrious Brahma, grandfather of all the worlds,

Verse 20 (skanda.3.14.20)

सन्निधौ सर्वदेवानां पर्वते गंधमादने। ईशशापनिवृत्त्यर्थं क्रतून्सर्वान्समातनोत्

sannidhau sarvadevānāṁ parvate gaṁdhamādane īśaśāpanivṛttyarthaṁ kratūnsarvānsamātanot

on Mount Gandhamadana, in the presence of all the gods, performed all manner of sacrifices in order to be released from Ishvara's curse.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.14.21)

विधाय विधिवत्सर्वानध्वरान्बहुदक्षिणान्। मुमुचे सहसा ब्रह्मा शंभुशापाद्द्विजोत्तमाः

vidhāya vidhivatsarvānadhvarānbahudakṣiṇān mumuce sahasā brahmā śaṁbhuśāpāddvijottamāḥ

Having duly performed all the sacrifices with abundant gifts of dakshina, O best of brahmins, Brahma was at once freed from Shambhu's curse.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.14.22)

तदेतत्तीर्थमासाद्य स्नानं कुर्वंति ये नराः। ते महादेवसायुज्यं प्राप्नुवंति न संशयः

tadetattīrthamāsādya snānaṁ kurvaṁti ye narāḥ te mahādevasāyujyaṁ prāpnuvaṁti na saṁśayaḥ

Whatever men come to this very tirtha and bathe there attain union (sayujya) with Mahadeva — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.14.23)

ऋषय ऊचुः। व्यासशिष्य महाप्राज्ञ पुराणार्थविशारद। चतुर्दशानां लोकानां स्रष्टारं चतुराननम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vyāsaśiṣya mahāprājña purāṇārthaviśārada caturdaśānāṁ lokānāṁ sraṣṭāraṁ caturānanam

The sages said: O highly wise disciple of Vyasa, skilled in the meaning of the Puranas — the four-faced creator of the fourteen worlds —

Verse 24 (skanda.3.14.24)

शंभुः केनापराधेन शप्तवान्भारतीपतिम्। शापश्च कीदृशस्तस्य पुरा दत्तो हरेण वै। एतत्सर्वं मुने ब्रूहि तत्त्वतोऽस्माकमादरात्

śaṁbhuḥ kenāparādhena śaptavānbhāratīpatim śāpaśca kīdṛśastasya purā datto hareṇa vai etatsarvaṁ mune brūhi tattvato'smākamādarāt

for what offense did Shambhu curse the lord of Bharati (Brahma)? And of what nature was that curse given long ago by Hara? Tell us all of this truthfully, O sage, out of regard for us.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.14.25)

श्रीसूत उवाच। पुरा बभूव कलहो ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः परस्परम्

śrīsūta uvāca purā babhūva kalaho brahmaviṣṇvoḥ parasparam

Suta said: Long ago a quarrel arose between Brahma and Vishnu,

Verse 26 (skanda.3.14.26)

कंचिद्धेतुं समुद्दिश्य स्पर्धया श्लाघमानयोः। अहं कर्त्ता न मत्तोऽन्यः कर्त्तास्ति जगतीतले।

kaṁciddhetuṁ samuddiśya spardhayā ślāghamānayoḥ ahaṁ karttā na matto'nyaḥ karttāsti jagatītale

occasioned by some cause, as each boastfully vied with the other: 'I alone am the creator; there is no other creator than me on this earth.'

Verse 27 (skanda.3.14.27)

एवमाह हरिं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माणं च हरिस्तथा। एवं विवादः सुमहान्प्रावर्त्तत पुरा तयोः

evamāha hariṁ brahmā brahmāṇaṁ ca haristathā evaṁ vivādaḥ sumahānprāvarttata purā tayoḥ

Thus Brahma spoke to Hari, and likewise Hari spoke to Brahma. In this way a very great dispute arose between the two of old.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.14.28)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे विप्राः कुर्वतोः कलहं मिथः। तयोर्गर्वविनाशाय प्रबोधार्थं च देवयोः

etasminnaṁtare viprāḥ kurvatoḥ kalahaṁ mithaḥ tayorgarvavināśāya prabodhārthaṁ ca devayoḥ

O brahmins, meanwhile, while the two were quarrelling with one another, for the destruction of the pride of those two gods and for their enlightenment,

Verse 29 (skanda.3.14.29)

मध्ये प्रादुरभूल्लिंगं स्वयंज्योतिरनामयम्। तौ दृष्ट्वा विस्मितौ लिंगं ब्रह्मविष्णु परस्परम्

madhye prādurabhūlliṁgaṁ svayaṁjyotiranāmayam tau dṛṣṭvā vismitau liṁgaṁ brahmaviṣṇu parasparam

a self-luminous, imperishable Linga appeared between them. Seeing that Linga, Brahma and Vishnu, both astonished, said to one another —

Verse 30 (skanda.3.14.30)

समयं चक्रतुर्विप्रा देवानां सन्निधौ पुरा। अनाद्यंतं महालिंगं यदेतद्दृश्यते पुरः

samayaṁ cakraturviprā devānāṁ sannidhau purā anādyaṁtaṁ mahāliṁgaṁ yadetaddṛśyate puraḥ

O brahmins, the two made a pact in the presence of the gods long ago: 'This great beginningless, endless Linga that is seen before us,

Verse 31 (skanda.3.14.31)

अनंतादित्यसंका शमनंताग्निसमप्रभम्। आवयोरस्य लिंगस्य योंऽतमादिं च द्रक्ष्यति

anaṁtādityasaṁkā śamanaṁtāgnisamaprabham āvayorasya liṁgasya yoṁ'tamādiṁ ca drakṣyati

resembling countless suns and blazing like countless fires — whichever of us two beholds the end or the beginning of this Linga,

Verse 32 (skanda.3.14.32)

स भवेदधिको लोके लोककर्ता च स प्रभुः। अहमूर्ध्वं गमिष्यामि लिंगस्यातं गवेषयन्

sa bhavedadhiko loke lokakartā ca sa prabhuḥ ahamūrdhvaṁ gamiṣyāmi liṁgasyātaṁ gaveṣayan

he alone shall be the greater in the world, and he alone the Lord and creator of the worlds. I shall go upward, seeking the end of the Linga;

Verse 33 (skanda.3.14.33)

गवेषणाय मूलस्य त्वमधस्ताद्धरे व्रज। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथे त्याह रमापतिः

gaveṣaṇāya mūlasya tvamadhastāddhare vraja iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā tathe tyāha ramāpatiḥ

you, O Hari, go downward in search of its root.' Hearing his words, the husband of Lakshmi said, 'So be it.'

Verse 34 (skanda.3.14.34)

एवं तौ समयं कृत्वा मार्गणाय विनिर्गतौ। विष्णुर्वराहरूपेण गतोऽधस्ताद्गवेषितुम्

evaṁ tau samayaṁ kṛtvā mārgaṇāya vinirgatau viṣṇurvarāharūpeṇa gato'dhastādgaveṣitum

Having thus made their pact, the two set out in search. Vishnu, taking the form of a boar, went downward to search;

Verse 35 (skanda.3.14.35)

हंसतां भारतीजानिः स्वीकृत्योपरि निर्ययौ। अधो लोकान्विचित्याथो विष्णुर्वर्षगणान्बहून्। यथास्थानं समागत्य वभाषे देवसन्निधौ

haṁsatāṁ bhāratījāniḥ svīkṛtyopari niryayau adho lokānvicityātho viṣṇurvarṣagaṇānbahūn yathāsthānaṁ samāgatya vabhāṣe devasannidhau

the husband of Bharati (Brahma) took the form of a swan and went upward. Having searched the worlds below and wandered for many years, Vishnu

Verse 36 (skanda.3.14.36)

विष्णुरुवाच। अहं लिंगस्य नाद्राक्षमादिमस्येति सत्यवाक्

viṣṇuruvāca ahaṁ liṁgasya nādrākṣamādimasyeti satyavāk

returned to his own place and spoke in the presence of the gods. Vishnu said, truthfully: 'I did not see the beginning of this Linga.'

Verse 37 (skanda.3.14.37)

ऊर्ध्वं गवेषयित्वाथ ब्रह्माप्यागच्छदत्र सः। आगत्य च वचः प्राह छद्मना चतुराननः।

ūrdhvaṁ gaveṣayitvātha brahmāpyāgacchadatra saḥ āgatya ca vacaḥ prāha chadmanā caturānanaḥ

Then, having searched upward, Brahma too came back there; and having come, the four-faced one spoke deceitfully —

Verse 38 (skanda.3.14.38)

ब्रह्मोवाच। अहमद्राक्षमस्यांतं लिंगस्येति मृषा पुनः। तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा व्रह्मविष्ण्वोर्महेश्वरः। मिथ्यावादिनमाहेदं प्रहस्य चतुराननम्

brahmovāca ahamadrākṣamasyāṁtaṁ liṁgasyeti mṛṣā punaḥ tayostadvacanaṁ śrutvā vrahmaviṣṇvormaheśvaraḥ mithyāvādinamāhedaṁ prahasya caturānanam

Brahma said, falsely: 'I have seen the end of this Linga.' Having heard that speech of Brahma and Vishnu, Maheshvara,

Verse 39 (skanda.3.14.39)

ईश्वर उवाच। असत्यं यदवोचस्त्वं चतुरानन मत्पुरः

īśvara uvāca asatyaṁ yadavocastvaṁ caturānana matpuraḥ

laughing, said this to the false-speaking four-faced one. Ishvara said: 'Because, O four-faced one, you have spoken an untruth before me,'

Verse 40 (skanda.3.14.40)

तस्मात्पूजा न ते भूयाल्लोके सर्वत्र सर्वदा। अथ विष्णुं पुनः प्राह भगवान्परमेश्वरः

tasmātpūjā na te bhūyālloke sarvatra sarvadā atha viṣṇuṁ punaḥ prāha bhagavānparameśvaraḥ

'therefore you shall have no worship anywhere in the world, at any time.' Then the illustrious Supreme Lord spoke again to Vishnu —

Verse 41 (skanda.3.14.41)

यस्मात्सत्यमवोचस्त्वं कमलायाः पते हरे। तस्मात्ते मत्समा पूजा भविष्यति न संशयः

yasmātsatyamavocastvaṁ kamalāyāḥ pate hare tasmātte matsamā pūjā bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Because, O Hari, husband of Kamala, you have spoken the truth, therefore your worship shall be equal to mine — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 42 (skanda.3.14.42)

ततो ब्रह्मा विषण्णः सञ्छंकरं प्रत्यभाषत। स्वामिन्ममापराधं त्वं क्षमस्व करुणानिधे

tato brahmā viṣaṇṇaḥ sañchaṁkaraṁ pratyabhāṣata svāminmamāparādhaṁ tvaṁ kṣamasva karuṇānidhe

Then Brahma, dejected, spoke to Shankara: 'O Lord, O ocean of compassion, forgive my offense.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.14.43)

एकोपराधः क्षंतव्यः स्वामि भिर्जगदीश्वरैः। ततो महेश्वरोऽवादीद्ब्रह्माणं परिसांत्वयन्

ekoparādhaḥ kṣaṁtavyaḥ svāmi bhirjagadīśvaraiḥ tato maheśvaro'vādīdbrahmāṇaṁ parisāṁtvayan

A single offense ought to be forgiven by masters, by lords of the universe.' Then Maheshvara, consoling Brahma, said —

Verse 44 (skanda.3.14.44)

ईश्वर उवाच। न मिथ्यावचनं मे स्याद्ब्रह्मन्वक्ष्यामि ते शृणु। गच्छ त्वं सहसा वत्स गन्धमादनपर्वतम्

īśvara uvāca na mithyāvacanaṁ me syādbrahmanvakṣyāmi te śṛṇu gaccha tvaṁ sahasā vatsa gandhamādanaparvatam

Ishvara said: 'My word cannot be false, O Brahma; listen, I shall tell you what to do. Go at once, O child, to Mount Gandhamadana;

Verse 45 (skanda.3.14.45)

तत्र क्रतून्कुरुष्व त्वं मिथ्यादोषप्रशांतये। ततो विधूतपापस्त्वं भविष्यसि न संशयः।

tatra kratūnkuruṣva tvaṁ mithyādoṣapraśāṁtaye tato vidhūtapāpastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ

there perform sacrifices for the pacification of the fault of falsehood. Thereupon you shall surely become one whose sin is shaken off.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.14.46)

तेन श्रौतेषु ते ब्रह्मन्स्मार्तेष्वपि च कर्मसु। पूजा भविष्यति सदा न पूजा प्रतिमासु ते

tena śrauteṣu te brahmansmārteṣvapi ca karmasu pūjā bhaviṣyati sadā na pūjā pratimāsu te

By that, O Brahma, your worship shall always be in Vedic and Smarta rites, but there shall be no worship of you in images.'

Verse 47 (skanda.3.14.47)

इत्युक्त्वा भगवानीशस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत। ततो ब्रह्मा ययौ विप्रा गंधमादनपर्वतम्

ityuktvā bhagavānīśastatraivāṁtaradhīyata tato brahmā yayau viprā gaṁdhamādanaparvatam

Having said this, the illustrious Ishvara vanished then and there. Then, O brahmins, Brahma went to Mount Gandhamadana,

Verse 48 (skanda.3.14.48)

ईजे च क्रतुकर्तारं क्रतुभिः पार्वतीपतिम्। अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि वर्षाणि मुनिपुंगवाः

īje ca kratukartāraṁ kratubhiḥ pārvatīpatim aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi varṣāṇi munipuṁgavāḥ

and worshipped with sacrifices the husband of Parvati, the very performer of sacrifices, O foremost of sages, for eighty-eight thousand years,

Verse 49 (skanda.3.14.49)

पौंडरीकादिभिः सर्वैरध्वरैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः। इन्द्रादिसर्वदेवानां सन्निधावयजच्छिवम्। तेन तुष्टोभवच्छंभुर्वरमस्मै प्रदत्तवान्

pauṁḍarīkādibhiḥ sarvairadhvarairbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ indrādisarvadevānāṁ sannidhāvayajacchivam tena tuṣṭobhavacchaṁbhurvaramasmai pradattavān

with all rites beginning with the Paundarika, abounding in gifts of dakshina, worshipping Shiva in the presence of Indra and all the gods. Pleased by this, Shambhu granted him a boon.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.14.50)

ईश्वर उवाच। मिथ्योक्तिदोषस्ते नष्टः कृतैरेतैर्मखैरिह

īśvara uvāca mithyoktidoṣaste naṣṭaḥ kṛtairetairmakhairiha

Ishvara said: 'By these sacrifices performed here, your fault of speaking falsehood has been destroyed.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.14.51)

चतुरानन ते पूजा श्रौतस्मार्तेषु कर्मसु। भविष्यत्यमला ब्रह्मन्न पूजा प्रतिमासु ते

caturānana te pūjā śrautasmārteṣu karmasu bhaviṣyatyamalā brahmanna pūjā pratimāsu te

O four-faced one, your worship in Vedic and Smarta rites shall be pure, O Brahma, though there shall be no worship of you in images.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.14.52)

यागस्थलमिदं तेऽद्य ब्रह्मकुण्डमिति प्रथाम्। गमिष्यति त्रिलोकेस्मिन्पुण्यं पापविनाशनम्

yāgasthalamidaṁ te'dya brahmakuṇḍamiti prathām gamiṣyati trilokesminpuṇyaṁ pāpavināśanam

This sacrificial ground of yours shall today attain the fame of Brahma-kunda in these three worlds — a holy place, a destroyer of sin.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.14.53)

ब्रह्मकुण्डाभिधे तीर्थे सकृद्यः स्नानमा चरेत्। मुक्तिद्वारार्गलं तस्य भिद्यते तत्क्षणाद्विधे

brahmakuṇḍābhidhe tīrthe sakṛdyaḥ snānamā caret muktidvārārgalaṁ tasya bhidyate tatkṣaṇādvidhe

Whoever bathes even once at the tirtha called Brahma-kunda — for him, O Vidhe, the bolt of the door of liberation is broken open that very instant.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.14.54)

ब्रह्मकुण्डसमुद्भूतं ललाटे भस्म धारयन्। मायाकपाटं निर्भिद्य मुक्तिद्वारं प्रया स्यति

brahmakuṇḍasamudbhūtaṁ lalāṭe bhasma dhārayan māyākapāṭaṁ nirbhidya muktidvāraṁ prayā syati

Wearing on the forehead the ash born of Brahma-kunda, one shall shatter the door-panel of Maya and go to the door of liberation.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.14.55)

ब्रह्मकुण्डोत्थितं भस्म ललाटे यो न धारयेत्। स्वपितुर्बीजसंभूतो न मातरि सुतस्तु सः

brahmakuṇḍotthitaṁ bhasma lalāṭe yo na dhārayet svapiturbījasaṁbhūto na mātari sutastu saḥ

Whoever does not wear on his forehead the ash risen from Brahma-kunda — he is not truly a son born of his father's seed in his mother.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.14.56)

ब्रह्मकुण्डसमुद्भूतभस्मधारणतो विधे। ब्रह्महत्यायुतं नश्येत्सुरापानायुतं तथा

brahmakuṇḍasamudbhūtabhasmadhāraṇato vidhe brahmahatyāyutaṁ naśyetsurāpānāyutaṁ tathā

O Vidhe, from wearing the ash born of Brahma-kunda, ten thousand sins of slaying a brahmin are destroyed, and likewise ten thousand sins of drinking liquor,

Verse 57 (skanda.3.14.57)

गुरुतल्पायुतं नश्येत्स्वर्णस्तेयायुतं तथा। तत्संसर्गायुतं नश्येत्सत्यमुक्तं मया विधे।

gurutalpāyutaṁ naśyetsvarṇasteyāyutaṁ tathā tatsaṁsargāyutaṁ naśyetsatyamuktaṁ mayā vidhe

ten thousand sins of violating the guru's bed are destroyed, likewise those of stealing gold, and ten thousand sins of associating with such offenders — this I have spoken truly, O Vidhe.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.14.58)

ब्रह्मकुण्डसमुद्भूतभस्मधारणवैभवात्। भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्या नश्यंति क्षणमात्रतः

brahmakuṇḍasamudbhūtabhasmadhāraṇavaibhavāt bhūtapretapiśācādyā naśyaṁti kṣaṇamātrataḥ

From the majesty of wearing the ash born of Brahma-kunda, bhutas, pretas, pishachas and the like perish in a mere instant.'

Verse 59 (skanda.3.14.59)

इत्युक्त्वा भगवानीशस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत। यज्ञेष्वथ समाप्तेषु मुनयश्च जितेंद्रियाः

ityuktvā bhagavānīśastatraivāṁtaradhīyata yajñeṣvatha samāpteṣu munayaśca jiteṁdriyāḥ

Having said this, the illustrious Ishvara vanished then and there. Then, when the sacrifices were concluded, the sages of controlled senses,

Verse 60 (skanda.3.14.60)

इन्द्रादिदेवताश्चैव सिद्धचारणकिन्नराः। अन्ये च देवनिवहा गंधमादनपर्वते

indrādidevatāścaiva siddhacāraṇakinnarāḥ anye ca devanivahā gaṁdhamādanaparvate

and the gods headed by Indra, and the Siddhas, Charanas and Kinnaras, and other hosts of gods on Mount Gandhamadana,

Verse 61 (skanda.3.14.61)

तां यज्ञभूमिमाश्रित्य स्वयं रुद्रेण सेविताम्। निरंतरमवर्तंत विदित्वा तस्य वैभवम्

tāṁ yajñabhūmimāśritya svayaṁ rudreṇa sevitām niraṁtaramavartaṁta viditvā tasya vaibhavam

resorting to that sacrificial ground, itself frequented by Rudra, dwelt there continually, having come to know its majesty.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.14.62)

यथाविधि ततो यज्ञान्समाप्य बहुदक्षिणान्। सत्यलोकमगाद्ब्रह्मा शिवाल्लब्धमनोरथः

yathāvidhi tato yajñānsamāpya bahudakṣiṇān satyalokamagādbrahmā śivāllabdhamanorathaḥ

Then, having duly concluded the sacrifices abounding in gifts, Brahma, having obtained the fulfilment of his desire from Shiva, went to Satyaloka.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.14.63)

तदाप्रभृति देवाश्च मुनयश्च द्विजोत्तमाः। ब्रह्मकुण्डं समासाद्य चक्रुर्यागान्विधानतः

tadāprabhṛti devāśca munayaśca dvijottamāḥ brahmakuṇḍaṁ samāsādya cakruryāgānvidhānataḥ

From that time onward, O best of brahmins, the gods and sages and twice-born have come to Brahma-kunda and duly performed sacrifices there.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.14.64)

तस्मादियक्षवो मर्त्याः कुर्युर्यज्ञानिहैव हि

tasmādiyakṣavo martyāḥ kuryuryajñānihaiva hi

Therefore mortals who desire to perform sacrifice should perform it right here indeed.

Verse 65 (skanda.3.14.65)

मनुजदेवमुनीश्वरवंदितं सकलसंसृतिनाशकरं द्विजाः। जलजसंभवकुण्डमिदं शुभं सकल पापहरं सकलार्थदम्

manujadevamunīśvaravaṁditaṁ sakalasaṁsṛtināśakaraṁ dvijāḥ jalajasaṁbhavakuṇḍamidaṁ śubhaṁ sakala pāpaharaṁ sakalārthadam

O brahmins, this auspicious kunda, born of water, revered by men, gods, and lords of sages, destroys the whole round of transmigration, removes all sin, and bestows every desired end.