The Glory of Chaturdashi

Verse 1 (skanda.3.96.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ भूयोपि शिवमाहात्म्यं वक्ष्यामि परमाद्भुतम् ॥ शृण्वतां सर्वपापघ्नं भवपाशविमोचनम्

sūta uvāca bhūyopi śivamāhātmyaṁ vakṣyāmi paramādbhutam śṛṇvatāṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ bhavapāśavimocanam

Suta said: Once more I shall tell the supremely wondrous greatness of Shiva, which destroys all sin and releases from the noose of worldly existence, for those who hear it.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.96.2)

दुस्तरे दुरितांभोधौ मज्जतां विषयात्मनाम् ॥ शिवपूजां विना कश्चित्प्लवो नास्ति निरूपितः

dustare duritāṁbhodhau majjatāṁ viṣayātmanām śivapūjāṁ vinā kaścitplavo nāsti nirūpitaḥ

For those sense-bound souls drowning in the impassable ocean of sin, no other raft besides the worship of Shiva has ever been declared.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.96.3)

शिवपूजां सदा कुर्याद्बुद्धिमानिह मानवः ॥ अशक्तश्चेत्कृता पूजां पश्येद्भक्तिविनम्रधीः

śivapūjāṁ sadā kuryādbuddhimāniha mānavaḥ aśaktaścetkṛtā pūjāṁ paśyedbhaktivinamradhīḥ

A wise man in this world should always perform the worship of Shiva; and if unable to do so himself, he should, with a mind humbled by devotion, at least witness it being performed.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.96.4)

अश्रद्धयापि यः कुर्याच्छिवपूजां विमुक्तिदाम् ॥ पश्येद्वा सोपि कालेन प्रयाति परमं पदम्

aśraddhayāpi yaḥ kuryācchivapūjāṁ vimuktidām paśyedvā sopi kālena prayāti paramaṁ padam

Whoever performs, or even merely witnesses, the liberating worship of Shiva, even without faith, he too, in time, attains the supreme abode.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.96.5)

आसीत्किरातदेशेषु नाम्ना राजा विमर्दनः ॥ शूरः परमदुर्द्धर्षो जितशत्रुः प्रतापवान्

āsītkirātadeśeṣu nāmnā rājā vimardanaḥ śūraḥ paramadurddharṣo jitaśatruḥ pratāpavān

In the land of the Kiratas there was a king named Vimardana -- valiant, utterly unassailable, victorious over his enemies, and full of power.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.96.6)

सर्वदा मृगयासक्तः कृपणो निर्घृणो बली ॥ सर्वमांसाशनः क्रूरः सर्ववर्णांगनावृतः

sarvadā mṛgayāsaktaḥ kṛpaṇo nirghṛṇo balī sarvamāṁsāśanaḥ krūraḥ sarvavarṇāṁganāvṛtaḥ

Ever devoted to hunting, miserly, merciless, powerful, an eater of all kinds of flesh, cruel, and surrounded by women of every caste --

Verse 7 (skanda.3.96.7)

तथापि कुरुते शंभोः पूजां नित्यमतंद्रितः ॥ चतुर्दश्यां विशेषेण पक्षयोः शुक्लकृष्णयोः

tathāpi kurute śaṁbhoḥ pūjāṁ nityamataṁdritaḥ caturdaśyāṁ viśeṣeṇa pakṣayoḥ śuklakṛṣṇayoḥ

-- even so, he untiringly performed the worship of Shambhu daily, and especially on the fourteenth day of both the bright and dark fortnights.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.96.8)

महाविभवसंपन्नां पूजां कृत्वा स मोदते ॥ हर्षेण महताविष्टो नृत्यति स्तौति गायति

mahāvibhavasaṁpannāṁ pūjāṁ kṛtvā sa modate harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo nṛtyati stauti gāyati

Having performed worship with great splendor, he would rejoice; overcome with great joy, he would dance, praise, and sing.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.96.9)

तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य नृपतेः सर्वभक्षिणः ॥ दुराचारस्य महिषी चेष्टितेनान्वतप्यत

tasyaivaṁ vartamānasya nṛpateḥ sarvabhakṣiṇaḥ durācārasya mahiṣī ceṣṭitenānvatapyata

The queen of this king -- who ate everything and behaved so wickedly, yet lived in this way devoted to Shiva -- was troubled by his conduct.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.96.10)

सा वै कुमुद्वतीनाम राज्ञी शीलगुणान्विता ॥ एकदा पतिमासाद्य रहस्ये तदपृच्छत

sā vai kumudvatīnāma rājñī śīlaguṇānvitā ekadā patimāsādya rahasye tadapṛcchata

That queen, named Kumudvati, endowed with virtuous character, once approached her husband in private and asked him about this.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.96.11)

एतत्ते चरितं राजन्महदाश्चर्यकारणम् ॥ क्व ते महादुराचारः क्व भक्तिः परमेश्वरे

etatte caritaṁ rājanmahadāścaryakāraṇam kva te mahādurācāraḥ kva bhaktiḥ parameśvare

"O king, this conduct of yours is a source of great wonder to me. Where is your great wickedness, and where is your devotion to the Supreme Lord?"

Verse 12 (skanda.3.96.12)

सर्वदा सर्वभक्षस्त्वं सर्वस्त्रीजनलालसः ॥ सर्वहिंसापरः क्रूरः कथं भक्तिस्तवेश्वरे

sarvadā sarvabhakṣastvaṁ sarvastrījanalālasaḥ sarvahiṁsāparaḥ krūraḥ kathaṁ bhaktistaveśvare

"You are ever an eater of everything, forever craving every kind of woman, devoted to violence of every kind, cruel -- how can you have devotion to the Lord?"

Verse 13 (skanda.3.96.13)

इति पृष्टः स भूपालो विमृश्य सुचिरं ततः ॥ त्रिकालज्ञः प्रहस्यैनां प्रोवाच सुकुतूहलः

iti pṛṣṭaḥ sa bhūpālo vimṛśya suciraṁ tataḥ trikālajñaḥ prahasyaināṁ provāca sukutūhalaḥ

Thus questioned, that king, knower of the three times, reflected for a long while, and then, smiling, spoke to her, himself full of curiosity.

Verse 14 (skanda.3.96.14)

राजोवाच ॥ अहं पूर्वभवे कश्चित्सारमेयो वरानने ॥ पंपानगरमाश्रित्य पर्यटामि समंततः

rājovāca ahaṁ pūrvabhave kaścitsārameyo varānane paṁpānagaramāśritya paryaṭāmi samaṁtataḥ

The king said: In a former birth, O fair-faced one, I was a certain dog; dwelling near the city of Pampa, I used to wander about everywhere.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.96.15)

एवं कालेषु गच्छत्सु तत्रैव नगरोत्तमे ॥ कदाचिदागतः सोहं मनोज्ञं शिवमंदिरम्

evaṁ kāleṣu gacchatsu tatraiva nagarottame kadācidāgataḥ sohaṁ manojñaṁ śivamaṁdiram

As time passed thus, in that very excellent city, I once came upon a beautiful temple of Shiva.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.96.16)

पूजायां वर्तमानायां चतुर्दश्यां महातिथौ ॥ अपश्यमुत्सवं दूराद्बहिर्द्वारं समाश्रितः

pūjāyāṁ vartamānāyāṁ caturdaśyāṁ mahātithau apaśyamutsavaṁ dūrādbahirdvāraṁ samāśritaḥ

While worship was being performed there, on the great fourteenth-day festival, I watched the celebration from a distance, staying near the outer gate.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.96.17)

अथाहं परमक्रुद्धैर्दंडहस्तैः प्रधावितः ॥ तस्माद्देशादपक्रांतः प्राणरक्षापरायणः

athāhaṁ paramakruddhairdaṁḍahastaiḥ pradhāvitaḥ tasmāddeśādapakrāṁtaḥ prāṇarakṣāparāyaṇaḥ

Then I was chased away by furious men with sticks in hand, and fled from that place, intent solely on saving my life.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.96.18)

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य मनोज्ञं शिवमंदिरम् ॥ द्वारदेशं पुनः प्राप्य पुनश्चैव निवारितः

tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya manojñaṁ śivamaṁdiram dvāradeśaṁ punaḥ prāpya punaścaiva nivāritaḥ

Then, having circled the beautiful temple of Shiva, I reached the gateway again, and was again driven away.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.96.19)

पुनः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य तदेव शिवमन्दिरम् ॥ बलिपिंडादिलोभेन पुनर्द्वारमुपागतः

punaḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya tadeva śivamandiram balipiṁḍādilobhena punardvāramupāgataḥ

Circling that same temple of Shiva once more, out of longing for the offering-cakes and the like, I came again to the gate.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.96.20)

एवं पुनःपुनस्तत्र कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणाम् ॥ द्वारदेशे समासीनं निजघ्नुर्निशितैः शरैः

evaṁ punaḥpunastatra kṛtvā kṛtvā pradakṣiṇām dvāradeśe samāsīnaṁ nijaghnurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Thus, again and again circling around that place, when I sat down at the gate they struck me down with sharp arrows.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.96.21)

स विद्धगात्रः सहसा शिवद्वारि गतासुकः ॥ जातोऽस्म्यहं कुले राज्ञां प्रभावाच्छिवसन्निधेः

sa viddhagātraḥ sahasā śivadvāri gatāsukaḥ jāto'smyahaṁ kule rājñāṁ prabhāvācchivasannidheḥ

With my body pierced, my life left me suddenly right there at Shiva's gate; by the power of that nearness to Shiva, I was born into a royal family.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.96.22)

दृष्ट्वा चतुर्दशीपूजां दीपमाला विलोकिताः ॥ तेन पुण्येन महता त्रिकालज्ञोऽस्मि भामिनि

dṛṣṭvā caturdaśīpūjāṁ dīpamālā vilokitāḥ tena puṇyena mahatā trikālajño'smi bhāmini

By that great merit of having seen the fourteenth-day worship and having beheld the rows of lamps, O beautiful one, I am now one who knows the three times.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.96.23)

प्राग्जन्मवासनाभिश्च सर्वभक्षोऽस्मि निर्घृणः ॥ विदुषामपि दुर्लंघ्या प्रकृतिर्वासनामयी

prāgjanmavāsanābhiśca sarvabhakṣo'smi nirghṛṇaḥ viduṣāmapi durlaṁghyā prakṛtirvāsanāmayī

And by the residual impressions from that former birth, I am an eater of everything, without mercy; for even for the wise, one's nature made of past impressions is hard to overcome.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.96.24)

अतोऽहमर्चयामीशं चतुर्दश्यां जगद्गुरुम् ॥ त्वमपि श्रद्धया भद्रे भज देवं पिनाकिनम्

ato'hamarcayāmīśaṁ caturdaśyāṁ jagadgurum tvamapi śraddhayā bhadre bhaja devaṁ pinākinam

Therefore I worship the Lord, the Guru of the universe, on the fourteenth day; you too, O gentle one, with faith, worship the god who bears the Pinaka bow.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.96.25)

राज्ञ्युवाच ॥ त्रिकालज्ञोऽसि राजेन्द्र प्रसादाद्गिरिजापतेः ॥ मत्पूर्वजन्मचरितं वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वतः

rājñyuvāca trikālajño'si rājendra prasādādgirijāpateḥ matpūrvajanmacaritaṁ vaktumarhasi tattvataḥ

The queen said: O king of kings, since by the grace of the Lord of Girija you are a knower of the three times, you should tell me truly the story of my own former birth.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.96.26)

राजोवाच ॥ त्वं तु पूर्वभवे काचित्कपोती व्योमचारिणी ॥ क्वापि लब्धवती किंचिन्मां सपिंडं यदृच्छया

rājovāca tvaṁ tu pūrvabhave kācitkapotī vyomacāriṇī kvāpi labdhavatī kiṁcinmāṁ sapiṁḍaṁ yadṛcchayā

The king said: In your former birth, you were a certain dove that traveled through the sky; somewhere, by chance, you happened to find a lump of meat, of which I was a part.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.96.27)

त्वद्गृहीतमथालोक्य गृध्रः कोप्यामिषं बली । निरामिषः स्वयं वेगाभिदुद्राव भीषणः

tvadgṛhītamathālokya gṛdhraḥ kopyāmiṣaṁ balī nirāmiṣaḥ svayaṁ vegābhidudrāva bhīṣaṇaḥ

Seeing that flesh taken by you, some powerful vulture, itself without flesh, swiftly and fiercely charged toward you.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.96.28)

ततस्तं वीक्ष्य वित्रस्ता विद्रुतासि वरानने ॥ तेनानुयाता घोरेण मांसपिंडजिघृक्षया

tatastaṁ vīkṣya vitrastā vidrutāsi varānane tenānuyātā ghoreṇa māṁsapiṁḍajighṛkṣayā

Then, seeing it, terrified, you fled, O fair-faced one, pursued by that terrible bird, who wished to snatch away the piece of meat.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.96.29)

दिष्ट्या श्रीगिरिमासाद्य श्रांता तत्र शिवालयम् ॥ प्रदक्षिणं परिक्रम्य ध्वजाग्रे समुपस्थिता

diṣṭyā śrīgirimāsādya śrāṁtā tatra śivālayam pradakṣiṇaṁ parikramya dhvajāgre samupasthitā

By good fortune, reaching the sacred mountain, exhausted, you circled a temple of Shiva there and came to rest upon the top of its flagpole.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.96.30)

अथानुसृत्य सहसा तीक्ष्णतुंडो विहंगमः ॥ त्वां निहत्य निपात्याधो मांसमादाय जग्मिवान्

athānusṛtya sahasā tīkṣṇatuṁḍo vihaṁgamaḥ tvāṁ nihatya nipātyādho māṁsamādāya jagmivān

Then, having followed you, that sharp-beaked bird suddenly struck you down, felling you below, and made off with the flesh.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.96.31)

प्रदक्षिणप्रक्रमणाद्देवदेवस्य शूलिनः॥ तस्याग्रे मरणाच्चैव जातासीह नृपांगना

pradakṣiṇaprakramaṇāddevadevasya śūlinaḥ tasyāgre maraṇāccaiva jātāsīha nṛpāṁganā

By the merit of circumambulating the trident-bearing God of gods, and by dying there in front of him, you were born here as this royal lady.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.96.32)

राज्ञ्युवाच ॥ श्रुतं सर्वमशेषेण प्राग्जन्मचरेितं मया ॥ जातं च महदाश्चर्यं भक्तिश्च मम चेतसि ॥ अथान्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि त्रिकालज्ञ महामते ॥ इदं शरीरमुत्सृज्य यास्यावः कां गतिं पुनः । |

rājñyuvāca śrutaṁ sarvamaśeṣeṇa prāgjanmacareitaṁ mayā jātaṁ ca mahadāścaryaṁ bhaktiśca mama cetasi athānyacchrotumicchāmi trikālajña mahāmate idaṁ śarīramutsṛjya yāsyāvaḥ kāṁ gatiṁ punaḥ |

The queen said: I have heard in full my entire former-birth history; great wonder has arisen, and devotion too, in my heart. Now, O wise knower of the three times, I wish to hear something more: when we leave this body, to what state shall we go next?

Verse 33 (skanda.3.96.33)

राजोवाच ॥ अतो भवे जनिष्येऽहं द्वितीये सैंधवो नृपः

rājovāca ato bhave janiṣye'haṁ dvitīye saiṁdhavo nṛpaḥ

The king said: From this life, in a second birth, I shall be born as a king of Sindhu.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.96.34)

सृंजयेशसुता त्वं हि मामेव प्रतिपत्स्यसे ॥ तृतीये तु भवे राजा सौराष्ट्रे भविताऽस्म्यहम्

sṛṁjayeśasutā tvaṁ hi māmeva pratipatsyase tṛtīye tu bhave rājā saurāṣṭre bhavitā'smyaham

You shall be the daughter of the king of Srinjaya, and you shall attain me again as your husband. Then, in a third birth, I shall become a king in Saurashtra.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.96.35)

कलिंगराजतनया त्वं मे पत्नी भविष्यसि ॥ चतुर्थे तु भविष्यामि भवे गांधारभूमिपः

kaliṁgarājatanayā tvaṁ me patnī bhaviṣyasi caturthe tu bhaviṣyāmi bhave gāṁdhārabhūmipaḥ

As the daughter of the king of Kalinga, you shall be my wife. Then, in a fourth birth, I shall become the lord of the land of Gandhara.

Verse 36 (skanda.3.96.36)

मागधी राजतनया तत्र त्वं मम गेहिनी ॥ पंचमेऽवंतिनाथोऽहं भविष्यामि भवांतरे

māgadhī rājatanayā tatra tvaṁ mama gehinī paṁcame'vaṁtinātho'haṁ bhaviṣyāmi bhavāṁtare

As the daughter of the king of Magadha, you shall there be my wife. In a fifth existence, I shall become the lord of Avanti.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.96.37)

दाशार्हराजतनया त्वमेव मम वल्लभा॥ अस्माज् जन्मनि षष्ठेऽहमानर्ते भविता नृपः

dāśārharājatanayā tvameva mama vallabhā asmāj janmani ṣaṣṭhe'hamānarte bhavitā nṛpaḥ

As the daughter of the king of the Dasharhas, you alone shall be my beloved. In the sixth birth from this one, I shall become a king in Anarta.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.96.38)

ययातिवंशजा कन्या भूत्वा मामेव यास्यसि ॥ पांड्यराजकुमारोऽहँ सप्तमे भविता भवे

yayātivaṁśajā kanyā bhūtvā māmeva yāsyasi pāṁḍyarājakumāro'ham̐ saptame bhavitā bhave

Becoming a maiden born in the lineage of Yayati, you shall come to me again. In the seventh birth, I shall become a Pandya prince.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.96.39)

तत्र मत्सदृशो नान्यो रूपौदार्यगुणादिभिः ॥ सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो बलवान्दृढविक्रमः

tatra matsadṛśo nānyo rūpaudāryaguṇādibhiḥ sarvaśāstrārthatattvajño balavāndṛḍhavikramaḥ

There, no other shall equal me in beauty, generosity, and other virtues; I shall be one who knows the truth of the meaning of all scriptures, powerful, of firm valor,

Verse 40 (skanda.3.96.40)

सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वलोकमनोरमः ॥ पद्मवर्ण इति ख्यातः पद्ममित्रसमद्युतिः

sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannaḥ sarvalokamanoramaḥ padmavarṇa iti khyātaḥ padmamitrasamadyutiḥ

endowed with every auspicious mark, delightful to all the world, known by the name Padmavarna, of splendor equal to the sun.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.96.41)

भविता त्वं च वैदर्भी रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि ॥ नाम्ना वसुमती ख्याता रूपावयवशोभिनी

bhavitā tvaṁ ca vaidarbhī rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi nāmnā vasumatī khyātā rūpāvayavaśobhinī

And you shall be a princess of Vidarbha, unequaled in beauty on earth, known by the name Vasumati, your limbs radiant with loveliness,

Verse 42 (skanda.3.96.42)

सर्व राजकुमाराणां मनोनयननंदिनी ॥ सा त्वं स्वयंवरे सर्वान्विहाय नृपनंदनान्

sarva rājakumārāṇāṁ manonayananaṁdinī sā tvaṁ svayaṁvare sarvānvihāya nṛpanaṁdanān

the delight of the minds and eyes of all the princes. At your svayamvara, you, having passed over all those princes,

Verse 43 (skanda.3.96.43)

वरं प्राप्स्यसि मामेव दमयंतीव नैषधम् ॥ सोऽहं जित्वा नृपान्सर्वान्प्राप्य त्वां वरवर्णिनीम्

varaṁ prāpsyasi māmeva damayaṁtīva naiṣadham so'haṁ jitvā nṛpānsarvānprāpya tvāṁ varavarṇinīm

shall choose me alone as your husband, as Damayanti chose the king of Nishadha. I, having conquered all those kings and having won you, the fairest of women,

Verse 44 (skanda.3.96.44)

स्वराष्ट्रस्थोऽखिलान्भोगान्भोक्ष्ये वर्षगणान्बहून् ॥ इष्ट्वा च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्वाजिमेधादिभिः शुभैः

svarāṣṭrastho'khilānbhogānbhokṣye varṣagaṇānbahūn iṣṭvā ca vividhairyajñairvājimedhādibhiḥ śubhaiḥ

shall enjoy, remaining in my own kingdom, every pleasure for many years, and, having performed various auspicious sacrifices such as the horse-sacrifice,

Verse 45 (skanda.3.96.45)

संतर्प्य पितृदेवर्षीन्दानैश्च द्विजसत्तमान् ॥ संपूज्य देवदेवेशं शंकरं लोकशंकरम्

saṁtarpya pitṛdevarṣīndānaiśca dvijasattamān saṁpūjya devadeveśaṁ śaṁkaraṁ lokaśaṁkaram

having satisfied the ancestors, gods, and sages, and, with gifts, the finest of brahmins, and having worshipped the Lord of the gods of gods, Shankara, the benefactor of the world,

Verse 46 (skanda.3.96.46)

पुत्रे राज्यधुरं न्यस्य गंतास्मि तपसे वनम् ॥ तत्रागस्त्यान्मुनिवराद्ब्रह्मज्ञानमवाप्य च

putre rājyadhuraṁ nyasya gaṁtāsmi tapase vanam tatrāgastyānmunivarādbrahmajñānamavāpya ca

I shall place the burden of the kingdom upon my son and go to the forest for austerity. There, having obtained knowledge of Brahman from the excellent sage Agastya,

Verse 47 (skanda.3.96.47)

त्वया सह गमिष्यामि शिवस्य परमं पदम् । चतुर्दश्यां चतुर्दश्यामेवं संपूज्य शंकरम्

tvayā saha gamiṣyāmi śivasya paramaṁ padam caturdaśyāṁ caturdaśyāmevaṁ saṁpūjya śaṁkaram

I shall go, together with you, to the supreme abode of Shiva. Thus, having worshipped Shankara on every fourteenth day,

Verse 48 (skanda.3.96.48)

सप्तजन्मसु राजस्त्वं भविष्यति वरानने ॥ इत्येतत्सुकृतं लब्धं पूज़ादर्शनमात्रतः ॥ क्व सारमेयो दुष्टात्मा क्वेदृशी बत सङ्गतिः

saptajanmasu rājastvaṁ bhaviṣyati varānane ityetatsukṛtaṁ labdhaṁ pūja़ādarśanamātrataḥ kva sārameyo duṣṭātmā kvedṛśī bata saṅgatiḥ

"across seven births you shall be a queen, O fair one" -- thus, this merit was obtained merely through the sight of that worship. Where was I, a wicked dog, and where is such a fortunate destiny -- how strange this turn of events!

Verse 49 (skanda.3.96.49)

सूत उवाच॥ इत्युक्तो निजनाथेन सा राज्ञी शुभलक्षणा

sūta uvāca ityukto nijanāthena sā rājñī śubhalakṣaṇā

Suta said: Thus addressed by her own lord, that queen of auspicious marks --

Verse 50 (skanda.3.96.50)

परं विस्मयमापन्ना पूजयामास तं मुदा ॥ सोऽपि राजा तया सार्द्धं भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथेप्सितान्

paraṁ vismayamāpannā pūjayāmāsa taṁ mudā so'pi rājā tayā sārddhaṁ bhuktvā bhogānyathepsitān

-- overcome with great astonishment, joyfully worshipped him. That king too, together with her, enjoyed whatever pleasures he desired,

Verse 51 (skanda.3.96.51)

जगाम सप्तजन्मांते शंभोस्तत्परमं पदम् ॥ य एतच्छिवपूजाया माहात्म्यं परमाद्भुतम् ॥ शृणुयात्कीर्तयेद्वापि स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्

jagāma saptajanmāṁte śaṁbhostatparamaṁ padam ya etacchivapūjāyā māhātmyaṁ paramādbhutam śṛṇuyātkīrtayedvāpi sa gacchetparamaṁ padam

and, at the end of seven births, attained that supreme abode of Shambhu. Whoever hears, or even recites, this supremely wondrous greatness of the worship of Shiva, attains the supreme abode.