The Tale of Manikarnika

Verse 1 (skanda.4.26.1)

अगस्तिरुवाच॥ प्रसन्नोसि यदि स्कंद मयि प्रीतिरनुत्तमा॥ तत्समाचक्ष्व भगवंश्चिरं यन्मे हृदिस्थितम्

agastiruvāca prasannosi yadi skaṁda mayi prītiranuttamā tatsamācakṣva bhagavaṁściraṁ yanme hṛdisthitam

Agasti said: If you are pleased with me, O Skanda, and your love for me is supreme, then tell me, O Lord, what has long dwelt in my heart.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.26.2)

अविमुक्तमिदं क्षेत्रं कदारभ्य भुवस्तले॥ परां प्रथितिमापन्नं मोक्षदं चाभवत्कथम्

avimuktamidaṁ kṣetraṁ kadārabhya bhuvastale parāṁ prathitimāpannaṁ mokṣadaṁ cābhavatkatham

Since when has this field named Avimukta existed here on the surface of the earth? How did it come to attain such supreme renown, and how did it become a giver of liberation?

Verse 3 (skanda.4.26.3)

कथमेषा त्रिलोकीड्या गीयते मणिकर्णिका॥ तत्रासीत्किं पुरास्वामिन्यदा नामरनिम्नगा

kathameṣā trilokīḍyā gīyate maṇikarṇikā tatrāsītkiṁ purāsvāminyadā nāmaranimnagā

Why is this Manikarnika, praised throughout the three worlds, celebrated in song? What was there before, O Lord, when it was not yet the river of the gods?

Verse 4 (skanda.4.26.4)

वाराणसीति काशीति रुद्रावास इति प्रभो॥ अवाप नामधेयानि कथमेतानि सा पुरी॥ आनंदकाननं रम्यमविमुक्तमनंतरम्

vārāṇasīti kāśīti rudrāvāsa iti prabho avāpa nāmadheyāni kathametāni sā purī ānaṁdakānanaṁ ramyamavimuktamanaṁtaram

O Lord, how did that city come to bear the names Varanasi, Kashi, and Rudravasa — and then the delightful Anandakanana, and Avimukta as well?

Verse 5 (skanda.4.26.5)

महाश्मशान इति च कथं ख्यातं शिखिध्वज॥ एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं संदेहं मेऽपनोदय

mahāśmaśāna iti ca kathaṁ khyātaṁ śikhidhvaja etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ saṁdehaṁ me'panodaya

And how, O bearer of the peacock banner, did it come to be renowned as the Great Cremation Ground? I wish to hear all this — please dispel my doubt.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.26.6)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ प्रश्नभारोयमतुलस्त्वया यः समुदाहृतः॥ कुंभयोनेऽमुमेवार्थमप्राक्षीदंबिका हरम्

skaṁda uvāca praśnabhāroyamatulastvayā yaḥ samudāhṛtaḥ kuṁbhayone'mumevārthamaprākṣīdaṁbikā haram

Skanda said: This weighty, unparalleled question you have raised, O Jar-born one — this very question the Mother Ambika once asked of Hara.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.26.7)

यथा च देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन निवेदितम्॥ जगन्मातुः पुरस्ताच्च तथैव कथयामि ते

yathā ca devadevena sarvajñena niveditam jaganmātuḥ purastācca tathaiva kathayāmi te

Just as the omniscient God of Gods declared it before the Mother of the World, so I shall now relate it to you.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.26.8)

महाप्रलय काले च नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे॥ आसीत्तमोमयं सर्वमनर्कग्रहतारकम्

mahāpralaya kāle ca naṣṭe sthāvarajaṁgame āsīttamomayaṁ sarvamanarkagrahatārakam

At the time of the great dissolution, when all things moving and unmoving had perished, everything was wrapped in darkness — without sun, planets, or stars.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.26.9)

अचंद्रमनहोरात्रमनग्न्यनिलभूतलम्॥ अप्रधानं वियच्छून्यमन्यतेजोविवर्धितम्

acaṁdramanahorātramanagnyanilabhūtalam apradhānaṁ viyacchūnyamanyatejovivardhitam

There was no moon, no day or night, no fire, wind, or earth; not even Pradhana, the primal matter, existed; the sky itself was void, lit only by some other, transcendent radiance.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.26.10)

द्रष्टृत्वादि विहीनं च शब्दस्पर्शसमुज्झितम्॥ व्यपेतगंधरूपं च रसत्यक्तमदिङ्मुखम्॥ इत्थं सत्यंधतमसि सूचीभेद्ये निरंतरे॥ तत्सद्ब्रह्मेति यच्छ्रुत्या सदैकं प्रतिपाद्यते

draṣṭṛtvādi vihīnaṁ ca śabdasparśasamujjhitam vyapetagaṁdharūpaṁ ca rasatyaktamadiṅmukham itthaṁ satyaṁdhatamasi sūcībhedye niraṁtare tatsadbrahmeti yacchrutyā sadaikaṁ pratipādyate

There was not even the faculty of perceiving, no sound, no touch, no smell or form, no taste, no direction at all — and in that unbroken darkness, so dense a needle could not pierce it, there existed only That, the eternal Being-Brahman, which the scriptures alone declare as the sole reality.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.26.11)

अमनोगोचरोवाचां विषयं न कथंचन॥ अनामरूपवर्णं च न स्थूलं न च यत्कृशम्

amanogocarovācāṁ viṣayaṁ na kathaṁcana anāmarūpavarṇaṁ ca na sthūlaṁ na ca yatkṛśam

It lay beyond the reach of mind, never in any way an object of speech; without name, form, or colour; neither gross nor subtle.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.26.12)

अह्रस्वदीर्घमलघुगुरुत्वपरिवर्जितम्॥ न यत्रोपचयः कश्चित्तथा चापचयोपि च

ahrasvadīrghamalaghugurutvaparivarjitam na yatropacayaḥ kaścittathā cāpacayopi ca

Neither short nor long, free of lightness and heaviness; there was no increase in it whatsoever, nor any decrease.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.26.13)

अभिधत्ते स चकितं यदस्तीति श्रुतिः पुनः॥ सत्यं ज्ञानमनंतं च यदानंदं परं महः

abhidhatte sa cakitaṁ yadastīti śrutiḥ punaḥ satyaṁ jñānamanaṁtaṁ ca yadānaṁdaṁ paraṁ mahaḥ

Of which the Veda, in wonder, can only say again and again, 'It is' — the Truth, the Consciousness, the Infinite, the supreme Bliss and Light.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.26.14)

अप्रमेयमनाधारमविकारमनाकृति॥ निर्गुणं योगिगम्यं च सर्वव्याप्येककारणम्

aprameyamanādhāramavikāramanākṛti nirguṇaṁ yogigamyaṁ ca sarvavyāpyekakāraṇam

It was immeasurable, without support, unchanging, without form; without attributes, yet accessible to yogis; all-pervading, the one sole cause of all.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.26.15)

निर्विकल्पं निरारंभं निर्मायं निरुपद्रवम्॥ यस्येत्थं संविकल्प्यंते संज्ञाः संज्ञोदितस्य वै

nirvikalpaṁ nirāraṁbhaṁ nirmāyaṁ nirupadravam yasyetthaṁ saṁvikalpyaṁte saṁjñāḥ saṁjñoditasya vai

It was beyond alternatives, without beginning, without illusion, untroubled — such names as these are merely imagined for what can only ever be spoken of through names.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.26.16)

तस्यैकलस्य चरतो द्वितीयेच्छा भवत्किल॥ अमूर्तेन स्वमूर्तिश्च तेनाकल्पि स्वलीलया

tasyaikalasya carato dvitīyecchā bhavatkila amūrtena svamūrtiśca tenākalpi svalīlayā

As That moved alone in its solitary being, the desire for a second arose within it; and though formless, by its own divine play it fashioned its own form.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.26.17)

सर्वैश्वर्यगुणोपेता सर्वज्ञानमयी शुभा॥ सर्वगा सर्वरूपा च सर्वदृक्सर्वकारिणी

sarvaiśvaryaguṇopetā sarvajñānamayī śubhā sarvagā sarvarūpā ca sarvadṛksarvakāriṇī

That form was endowed with every sovereign quality, wholly made of knowledge, auspicious; all-pervading, taking every form, all-seeing, the doer of all things.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.26.18)

सर्वैकवंद्या सर्वाद्या सर्वदा सर्वसंकृतिः॥ परिकल्प्येति तां मूर्तिमीश्वरीं शुद्धरूपिणीम्

sarvaikavaṁdyā sarvādyā sarvadā sarvasaṁkṛtiḥ parikalpyeti tāṁ mūrtimīśvarīṁ śuddharūpiṇīm

She alone was worthy of worship by all, the very first of all, ever the fashioner of all things. Having thus conceived that Sovereign Form of pure nature...

Verse 19 (skanda.4.26.19)

अंतर्दधे पराख्यं यद्ब्रह्मसर्वंगमव्ययम्॥ अमूर्तं यत्पराख्यं वै तस्य मूर्तिरहं प्रिये॥ अर्वाचीनपराचीना ईश्वरं मां जगुर्बुधाः

aṁtardadhe parākhyaṁ yadbrahmasarvaṁgamavyayam amūrtaṁ yatparākhyaṁ vai tasya mūrtirahaṁ priye arvācīnaparācīnā īśvaraṁ māṁ jagurbudhāḥ

...that supreme, all-pervading, imperishable Brahman entered and became hidden within it. 'O beloved, that formless Supreme — I am its very form; sages of times both ancient and recent have called me the Lord.'

Verse 20 (skanda.4.26.20)

ततस्तदैकलेनापि स्वैरं विहरतामया॥ स्वविग्रहात्स्वयं सृष्टा स्वशरीरानपायिनी

tatastadaikalenāpi svairaṁ viharatāmayā svavigrahātsvayaṁ sṛṣṭā svaśarīrānapāyinī

Then, though I still moved about freely and alone, of my own will I brought forth, from my own body, a power inseparable from my own form.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.26.21)

प्रधानं प्रकृतिं त्वां च मायां गुणवतीं पराम्॥ बुद्धि तत्त्वस्य जननीमाहुर्विकृतिवर्जिताम्

pradhānaṁ prakṛtiṁ tvāṁ ca māyāṁ guṇavatīṁ parām buddhi tattvasya jananīmāhurvikṛtivarjitām

You are called Pradhana, Prakriti, the supreme Maya endowed with the three qualities — the mother of the principle of intellect, yet yourself untouched by change.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.26.22)

युगपच्च त्वया शक्त्या साकं कालस्वरूपिणा॥ मयाऽऽद्य पुरुषेणैतत्क्षेत्रं चापि विनिर्मितम्

yugapacca tvayā śaktyā sākaṁ kālasvarūpiṇā mayā''dya puruṣeṇaitatkṣetraṁ cāpi vinirmitam

And at that very moment, I, the Primal Being in the form of Time, together with you, my Shakti, also fashioned this sacred field.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.26.23)

सा शक्तिः प्रकृतिः प्रोक्ता स पुमानीश्वरः परः॥ ताभ्यां च रममाणाभ्यां तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे घटोद्भव

sā śaktiḥ prakṛtiḥ proktā sa pumānīśvaraḥ paraḥ tābhyāṁ ca ramamāṇābhyāṁ tasminkṣetre ghaṭodbhava

That Shakti is spoken of as Prakriti, and that Being as the Supreme Lord; and as these two, O jar-born one, sported together in that field...

Verse 24 (skanda.4.26.24)

परमानंदरूपाभ्यां परमानंदरूपिणी॥ पंचक्रोशपरीमाणे स्वपादतलनिर्मिते

paramānaṁdarūpābhyāṁ paramānaṁdarūpiṇī paṁcakrośaparīmāṇe svapādatalanirmite

...both of the very nature of supreme bliss — so too is that field, itself of the nature of supreme bliss, measuring five krosha, fashioned by the sole of my own foot.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.26.25)

मुने प्रलयकालेपि न तत्क्षेत्रं कदाचन॥ विमुक्तं हि शिवाभ्यां यदविमुक्तं ततो विदुः

mune pralayakālepi na tatkṣetraṁ kadācana vimuktaṁ hi śivābhyāṁ yadavimuktaṁ tato viduḥ

O sage, even at the time of universal dissolution that field is never once forsaken by the divine Pair — hence it is known as Avimukta, 'the Never-Forsaken.'

Verse 26 (skanda.4.26.26)

न यदा भूमिवलयं न यदाऽपां समुद्भवः॥ तदा विहर्तुमीशेन क्षेत्रमेतद्विनि र्मितम्

na yadā bhūmivalayaṁ na yadā'pāṁ samudbhavaḥ tadā vihartumīśena kṣetrametadvini rmitam

When there was yet no circle of earth, no waters had yet come into being, even then this field was fashioned by the Lord for his own divine sport.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.26.27)

इदं रहस्यं क्षेत्रस्य वेद कोपि न कुंभज॥ नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यं कदाचिच्चर्मचक्षुषे

idaṁ rahasyaṁ kṣetrasya veda kopi na kuṁbhaja nāstikāya na vaktavyaṁ kadāciccarmacakṣuṣe

This secret of the field, O jar-born one, is known to hardly anyone; it must never be revealed to an unbeliever, nor to one who has only the eyes of flesh.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.26.28)

श्रद्धालवे विनीताय त्रिकालज्ञानचक्षुषे॥ शिवभक्ताय शांताय वक्तव्यं च मुमुक्षवे॥ अविमुक्तं तदरभ्य क्षेत्रमेतदुदीर्यते॥ पर्यंकभूतं शिवयोर्निरंतरसुखास्पदम्

śraddhālave vinītāya trikālajñānacakṣuṣe śivabhaktāya śāṁtāya vaktavyaṁ ca mumukṣave avimuktaṁ tadarabhya kṣetrametadudīryate paryaṁkabhūtaṁ śivayorniraṁtarasukhāspadam

It should be told only to one who is faithful, humble, endowed with the eye of knowledge spanning past, present and future, devoted to Shiva, tranquil, and seeking liberation. From that time on this field has been proclaimed Avimukta — it became, as it were, the very couch of the divine Pair, the unbroken seat of their bliss.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.26.29)

अभावः कल्प्यते मूढैर्यदा च शिवयोस्तयोः॥ क्षेत्रस्यास्य तदाभावः कल्प्यो निर्वाणकारिणः

abhāvaḥ kalpyate mūḍhairyadā ca śivayostayoḥ kṣetrasyāsya tadābhāvaḥ kalpyo nirvāṇakāriṇaḥ

Only when fools can conceive of the non-existence of that divine Pair, only then could the non-existence of this liberation-bestowing field be conceived.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.26.30)

अनाराध्य महेशानमनवाप्य च काशिकाम्॥ योगाद्युपायविज्ञोपि न निर्वाणमवाप्नुयात्

anārādhya maheśānamanavāpya ca kāśikām yogādyupāyavijñopi na nirvāṇamavāpnuyāt

Without worshipping the Great Lord, and without attaining Kashi, even one well versed in yoga and other such means cannot attain liberation.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.26.31)

अस्यानंदवनं नाम पुरा कारि पिनाकिना॥ क्षेत्रस्यानंदहेतुत्वादविमुक्तमंनतरम्

asyānaṁdavanaṁ nāma purā kāri pinākinā kṣetrasyānaṁdahetutvādavimuktamaṁnataram

Long ago the wielder of the Pinaka gave this field the name Anandavana, the Forest of Bliss; and because it is the very cause of bliss, it thereafter came to be called Avimukta as well.

Verse 32 (skanda.4.26.32)

आनंदकंदबीजानामंकुराणि यतस्ततः॥ ज्ञेयानि सर्वलिंगानि तस्मिन्नानंदकानने

ānaṁdakaṁdabījānāmaṁkurāṇi yatastataḥ jñeyāni sarvaliṁgāni tasminnānaṁdakānane

Since every Linga there is, as it were, a sprout from the seed of the root of bliss, all of them are to be understood so, within that Forest of Bliss.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.26.33)

अविमुक्तमिति ख्यातमासीदित्थं घटोद्भव॥ तथा चाख्याम्यथ मुने यथासीन्मणिकर्णिका

avimuktamiti khyātamāsīditthaṁ ghaṭodbhava tathā cākhyāmyatha mune yathāsīnmaṇikarṇikā

Thus, O jar-born one, it came to be known as Avimukta. Now, O sage, let me tell you also how Manikarnika came into being.

Verse 34 (skanda.4.26.34)

प्रागानंदवने तत्र शिवयो रममाणयोः॥ इच्छेत्यभूत्कलशज सृज्यः कोप्यपरः किल

prāgānaṁdavane tatra śivayo ramamāṇayoḥ icchetyabhūtkalaśaja sṛjyaḥ kopyaparaḥ kila

Formerly, O jar-born one, as the divine Pair sported there in that Anandavana, the wish indeed arose in them: 'Let there be some other being also, one fit to create.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.26.35)

यस्मिन्न्यस्ते महाभारे आवां स्वः स्वैरचारिणौ॥ निर्वाणश्राणनं कुर्वः केवलं काशिशायिनाम्

yasminnyaste mahābhāre āvāṁ svaḥ svairacāriṇau nirvāṇaśrāṇanaṁ kurvaḥ kevalaṁ kāśiśāyinām

'One on whom, once we set this great burden, we two might move freely at will, and do nothing but grant liberation to those who lie down to die in Kashi.'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.26.36)

स एव सर्वं कुरुते स एव परिपाति च॥ स एव संवृणोत्यंते सर्वैश्वर्यनिधिः स च

sa eva sarvaṁ kurute sa eva paripāti ca sa eva saṁvṛṇotyaṁte sarvaiśvaryanidhiḥ sa ca

'He alone does everything, he alone sustains, and he alone gathers all things back at the end — he, the very treasury of all sovereign power.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.26.37)

चेतःसमुद्रमाकुंच्य चिंताकल्लोलदोलितम्॥ सत्त्वरत्नं तमोग्राहं रजोविद्रुमवल्लितम्॥ यस्य प्रसादात्तिष्ठावः सुखमानंदकानने॥ परिक्षिप्त मनोवृत्तौ क्व हि चिंतातुरे सुखम्

cetaḥsamudramākuṁcya ciṁtākalloladolitam sattvaratnaṁ tamogrāhaṁ rajovidrumavallitam yasya prasādāttiṣṭhāvaḥ sukhamānaṁdakānane parikṣipta manovṛttau kva hi ciṁtāture sukham

'By his grace alone may we dwell happily in the Forest of Bliss, having drawn in this ocean of the mind — tossed by the waves of worry, holding within it the jewel of Sattva, the crocodile of Tamas, the coral-vine of Rajas — for where indeed is happiness for a mind whose currents run scattered and anxious?'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.26.38)

संप्रधार्येति स विभुः सर्वतश्चित्स्वरूपया॥ तया सह जगद्धात्र्या जगद्धाताऽथ धूर्जटिः

saṁpradhāryeti sa vibhuḥ sarvataścitsvarūpayā tayā saha jagaddhātryā jagaddhātā'tha dhūrjaṭiḥ

Having resolved thus, the all-pervading Dhurjati, sustainer of the world, together with her who is Consciousness itself pervading all things, the world-sustaining Goddess...

Verse 39 (skanda.4.26.39)

सव्ये व्यापारयांचक्रे दृशमंगे सुधामुचम्॥ ततः पुमानाविरासीदेकस्त्रैलोक्यसुंदरः

savye vyāpārayāṁcakre dṛśamaṁge sudhāmucam tataḥ pumānāvirāsīdekastrailokyasuṁdaraḥ

...cast his nectar-showering gaze upon his own left side; and from it there appeared a being, uniquely beautiful across the three worlds.

Verse 40 (skanda.4.26.40)

शांतः सत्त्वगुणोद्रिक्तो गांभीर्य जितसागरः॥ तथा च क्षमया युक्तो मुनेऽलब्धोपमोऽभवत्

śāṁtaḥ sattvaguṇodrikto gāṁbhīrya jitasāgaraḥ tathā ca kṣamayā yukto mune'labdhopamo'bhavat

Tranquil he was, abounding in Sattva, his depth surpassing even the ocean's; and being endowed, too, with forbearance, O sage, he became one without equal.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.26.41)

इंद्रनीलद्युतिःश्रीमान्पुंडरीकोत्तमेक्षणः॥ सुवर्णाकृति सुच्छाय दुकूलयुगलावृतः

iṁdranīladyutiḥśrīmānpuṁḍarīkottamekṣaṇaḥ suvarṇākṛti succhāya dukūlayugalāvṛtaḥ

He shone like sapphire, glorious, his eyes like the finest lotus; golden in form, radiant with beauty, and clothed in a pair of fine silk garments.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.26.42)

लसत्प्रचंडदोर्दंड युगलद्वयराजितः॥ उल्लसत्परमामोदनाभीह्रदकुशेशयः

lasatpracaṁḍadordaṁḍa yugaladvayarājitaḥ ullasatparamāmodanābhīhradakuśeśayaḥ

He shone with two pairs of powerful, mighty arms; and in the pool of his navel bloomed a lotus, radiant with the fragrance of supreme delight.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.26.43)

एकः सर्वगुणावासस्त्वेकः सर्वकलानिधिः॥ एकः सर्वोत्तमो यस्मात्ततो यः पुरुषोत्तमः

ekaḥ sarvaguṇāvāsastvekaḥ sarvakalānidhiḥ ekaḥ sarvottamo yasmāttato yaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

He alone was the abode of every virtue, he alone the treasury of every art; he alone stood supreme above all — and so he was Purushottama, the Supreme Person.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.26.44)

ततो महांतं तं वीक्ष्य महामहिमभूषणम्॥ महादेव उवाचेदं महाविष्णुर्भवाच्युत

tato mahāṁtaṁ taṁ vīkṣya mahāmahimabhūṣaṇam mahādeva uvācedaṁ mahāviṣṇurbhavācyuta

Then, beholding that great and gloriously adorned being, Mahadeva spoke thus to the great Vishnu: 'O unfailing one...'

Verse 45 (skanda.4.26.45)

तव निःश्वसितं वेदास्तेभ्यः सर्वमवैष्यसि॥ वेददृष्टेन मार्गेण कुरु सर्वं यथोचितम्

tava niḥśvasitaṁ vedāstebhyaḥ sarvamavaiṣyasi vedadṛṣṭena mārgeṇa kuru sarvaṁ yathocitam

'The Vedas are your very breath; through them you shall know all things. Follow the path shown by the Vedas, and do everything as is fitting.'

Verse 46 (skanda.4.26.46)

इत्युक्त्वा तं महेशानो बुद्धितत्त्वस्वरूपिणम्॥ शिवया सहितो रुद्रो विवेशानंदकाननम्॥ ततः स भगवान्विष्णुर्मौलावाज्ञां निधाय च॥ क्षणं ध्यानपरो भूत्वा तपस्येव मनो दधौ

ityuktvā taṁ maheśāno buddhitattvasvarūpiṇam śivayā sahito rudro viveśānaṁdakānanam tataḥ sa bhagavānviṣṇurmaulāvājñāṁ nidhāya ca kṣaṇaṁ dhyānaparo bhūtvā tapasyeva mano dadhau

Having said this to him, the very embodiment of the principle of intellect, the Great Lord Rudra entered the Anandakanana together with Shiva. Then Lord Vishnu, bearing that command upon his own head, became intent on meditation for a moment and turned his mind to austerity.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.26.47)

खनित्वा तत्र चक्रेण रम्यां पुष्करिणीं हरिः॥ निजांगस्वेदसंदोह सलिलैस्तामपूरयत्

khanitvā tatra cakreṇa ramyāṁ puṣkariṇīṁ hariḥ nijāṁgasvedasaṁdoha salilaistāmapūrayat

Hari dug there, with his own discus, a beautiful pool, and filled it with the abundant sweat that poured from his own body.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.26.48)

समाः सहस्रं पंचाशत्तप उग्रं चचार सः॥ चक्रपुष्कीरणी तीरे तत्र स्थाणुसमाकृतिः

samāḥ sahasraṁ paṁcāśattapa ugraṁ cacāra saḥ cakrapuṣkīraṇī tīre tatra sthāṇusamākṛtiḥ

There, on the bank of the Chakra-Pushkarini, he practised fierce austerity for a thousand and fifty years, standing motionless like a post.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.26.49)

ततः स भगवानीशो मृडान्या सहितो मृडः॥ दृष्ट्वा ज्वलंतं तपसा निश्चलं मीलितेक्षणम्

tataḥ sa bhagavānīśo mṛḍānyā sahito mṛḍaḥ dṛṣṭvā jvalaṁtaṁ tapasā niścalaṁ mīlitekṣaṇam

Then the blessed Lord Mrida, together with Mridani, seeing him ablaze with austerity, motionless, his eyes shut fast...

Verse 50 (skanda.4.26.50)

तमुवाच हृषीकेशं मौलिमांदोलयन्मुहुः॥ अहो महत्त्वं तपसस्त्वहो धैर्यं च चेतसः

tamuvāca hṛṣīkeśaṁ maulimāṁdolayanmuhuḥ aho mahattvaṁ tapasastvaho dhairyaṁ ca cetasaḥ

...spoke to that Hrishikesha, shaking his own head again and again: 'Ah, how great is this austerity! Ah, what steadiness of mind!'

Verse 51 (skanda.4.26.51)

अहो अनिंधनो वह्निर्ज्वलत्येष निरंतरम्॥ अलं तप्त्वा महाविष्णो वरं वरय सत्तम

aho aniṁdhano vahnirjvalatyeṣa niraṁtaram alaṁ taptvā mahāviṣṇo varaṁ varaya sattama

'Ah — here is a fire that burns on unceasingly without any fuel! Enough austerity now, O great Vishnu; choose your boon, most excellent one.'

Verse 52 (skanda.4.26.52)

मृडस्याम्रोडितमिदं प्रत्यभिज्ञाय भाषितम्॥ उन्मीलित दृगंभोजः समुत्तस्थौ चतुर्भुजः

mṛḍasyāmroḍitamidaṁ pratyabhijñāya bhāṣitam unmīlita dṛgaṁbhojaḥ samuttasthau caturbhujaḥ

Recognizing this affectionate speech of Mrida's, the four-armed Vishnu opened his lotus eyes wide and rose up.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.26.53)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच॥ यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश देवदेव महेश्वर॥ भवान्या सहितं त्वां तु द्रष्टुमिच्छामि सर्वदा

śrīviṣṇuruvāca yadi prasanno deveśa devadeva maheśvara bhavānyā sahitaṁ tvāṁ tu draṣṭumicchāmi sarvadā

Shri Vishnu said: 'If you are pleased, O Lord of the gods, God of Gods, Maheshvara, then I wish always to behold you together with Bhavani.'

Verse 54 (skanda.4.26.54)

सर्वकर्मसु सर्वत्र त्वामेव शशिशेखर॥ पुरश्चरं तं पश्यामि यथा तन्मे वरस्तथा

sarvakarmasu sarvatra tvāmeva śaśiśekhara puraścaraṁ taṁ paśyāmi yathā tanme varastathā

'In every deed, in every place, O moon-crested one, may I forever see you walking before me — let that be my boon.'

Verse 55 (skanda.4.26.55)

त्वदीय चरणांभोज मकरंदमधूत्सुकः॥ मच्चेतो भ्रमरो भ्रांतिं विहायास्तु सुनिश्चलः॥ ॥ श्रीशिव उवाच॥ एवमस्तु हृषीकेश यत्त्वयोक्तं जनार्दन॥ अन्यं वरं प्रयच्छामि तमाकर्णय सुव्रत

tvadīya caraṇāṁbhoja makaraṁdamadhūtsukaḥ macceto bhramaro bhrāṁtiṁ vihāyāstu suniścalaḥ śrīśiva uvāca evamastu hṛṣīkeśa yattvayoktaṁ janārdana anyaṁ varaṁ prayacchāmi tamākarṇaya suvrata

'And may my mind, the bee eager for the honeyed nectar of your lotus feet, cast off all confusion and become perfectly steadfast.' Shri Shiva said: 'So be it, O Hrishikesha, just as you have asked, O Janardana. I shall grant you yet another boon — listen to it, O one of noble vows.'

Verse 56 (skanda.4.26.56)

त्वदीयस्यास्य तपसो महोपचय दर्शनात्॥ यन्मयांदोलितो मौलिरहिश्रवणभूषणः

tvadīyasyāsya tapaso mahopacaya darśanāt yanmayāṁdolito maulirahiśravaṇabhūṣaṇaḥ

'Beholding the great increase of this austerity of yours, I shook my head, adorned as it was with a serpent for an ear-ornament...'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.26.57)

तदांदोलनतः कर्णात्पपात मणिकर्णिका॥ मणिभिः खचिता रम्या ततोऽस्तु मणिकर्णिका

tadāṁdolanataḥ karṇātpapāta maṇikarṇikā maṇibhiḥ khacitā ramyā tato'stu maṇikarṇikā

'...and from that shaking, a jewelled ear-ornament — a mani-karnika, lovely and studded with gems — fell from my ear; so let this place henceforth be Manikarnika.'

Verse 58 (skanda.4.26.58)

चक्रपुष्करिणी तीर्थं पुराख्यातमिदं शुभम्॥ त्वया चक्रेण खननाच्छंखचक्रगदाधर

cakrapuṣkariṇī tīrthaṁ purākhyātamidaṁ śubham tvayā cakreṇa khananācchaṁkhacakragadādhara

'This auspicious tirtha, which you dug with your own discus, O bearer of conch, discus and mace, was formerly known as Chakra-Pushkarini.'

Verse 59 (skanda.4.26.59)

मम कर्णात्पपातेयं यदा च मणिकर्णिका॥ तदाप्रभृति लोकेऽत्र ख्यातास्तु मणिकर्णिका

mama karṇātpapāteyaṁ yadā ca maṇikarṇikā tadāprabhṛti loke'tra khyātāstu maṇikarṇikā

'And since this Manikarnika fell here from my own ear, from that time on let it be renowned in this world as Manikarnika.'

Verse 60 (skanda.4.26.60)

॥ श्रीविष्णुरुवाच॥ मुक्ताकुंडलपातेन तवाद्रितनयाप्रिय॥ तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं मुक्तिक्षेत्रमिहास्तु वै

śrīviṣṇuruvāca muktākuṁḍalapātena tavādritanayāpriya tīrthānāṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ muktikṣetramihāstu vai

Shri Vishnu said: 'O beloved of the Mountain's daughter, by the falling of your pearl earring, let this place become the supreme of all tirthas, indeed a field of liberation.'

Verse 61 (skanda.4.26.61)

काशतेऽत्र यतो ज्योतिस्तदनाख्येयमीश्वरः॥ अतो नामापरं चास्तु काशीति प्रथितं विभो

kāśate'tra yato jyotistadanākhyeyamīśvaraḥ ato nāmāparaṁ cāstu kāśīti prathitaṁ vibho

'O Lord, since here that indescribable Light shines forth, let this place also become renowned by another name — Kashi.'

Verse 62 (skanda.4.26.62)

अन्यं वरं वरे देव देयः सोप्यविचारितम्॥ स ते परोपकारार्थं जगद्रक्षामणे शिव

anyaṁ varaṁ vare deva deyaḥ sopyavicāritam sa te paropakārārthaṁ jagadrakṣāmaṇe śiva

'Grant me one more boon, O God — one to be given without hesitation, for it is for the welfare of others, O Shiva, jewel of the world's protection.'

Verse 63 (skanda.4.26.63)

आब्रह्मस्तंबपर्यंतं यत्किंचिज्जंतुसंज्ञितम्॥ चतुर्षु भूतग्रामेषु काश्यां तन्मुक्तिमाप्स्यतु

ābrahmastaṁbaparyaṁtaṁ yatkiṁcijjaṁtusaṁjñitam caturṣu bhūtagrāmeṣu kāśyāṁ tanmuktimāpsyatu

'Whatever is called a living being — from Brahma down to a blade of grass, among all four classes of creatures — let it attain liberation in Kashi.'

Verse 64 (skanda.4.26.64)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे शंभो मणिश्रव णभूषणे॥ संध्यां स्नानं जपं होमं वेदाध्ययनमुत्तमम्॥ तर्पण पिंडदानं च देवतानां च पूजनम्॥ गोभूतिलहिरण्याश्वदीपान्नांबरभूषणम्॥ कन्यादानं प्रयत्नेन सप्ततंतूननेकशः

asmiṁstīrthavare śaṁbho maṇiśrava ṇabhūṣaṇe saṁdhyāṁ snānaṁ japaṁ homaṁ vedādhyayanamuttamam tarpaṇa piṁḍadānaṁ ca devatānāṁ ca pūjanam gobhūtilahiraṇyāśvadīpānnāṁbarabhūṣaṇam kanyādānaṁ prayatnena saptataṁtūnanekaśaḥ

'In this supreme tirtha, O Shambhu, adorned by the jewel that fell from your ear, whoever diligently performs the twilight rites, bathing, japa, homa, excellent study of the Veda, tarpana, the offering of pinda, worship of the gods, the gifts of cows, land, sesame, gold, horses, lamps, food, garments and ornaments, the gift of a maiden in marriage, and the many rites that extend one's lineage...

Verse 65 (skanda.4.26.65)

व्रतोत्सर्गं वृषोत्सर्गं लिंगादि स्थापनं तथा॥ करोति यो महाप्राज्ञो ज्ञात्वायुःक्षणगत्वरम्

vratotsargaṁ vṛṣotsargaṁ liṁgādi sthāpanaṁ tathā karoti yo mahāprājño jñātvāyuḥkṣaṇagatvaram

'...the completion of vows, the releasing of a bull, the installing of a Linga and such — whatever wise person does all this, knowing that life passes in an instant...

Verse 66 (skanda.4.26.66)

विपत्तिं विपुलां चापि संपत्तिमतिभंगुराम्॥ अक्षया मुक्तिरेकास्तु विपाकस्तस्य कर्मणः

vipattiṁ vipulāṁ cāpi saṁpattimatibhaṁgurām akṣayā muktirekāstu vipākastasya karmaṇaḥ

'...and knowing that misfortune is vast while prosperity is utterly fleeting — let the sole result of that person's deeds be imperishable liberation.'

Verse 67 (skanda.4.26.67)

अन्यच्चापि शुभं कर्म यदत्र श्रद्धयायुतम्॥ विनात्मघातमीशान त्यक्त्वा प्रायोपवेशनम्

anyaccāpi śubhaṁ karma yadatra śraddhayāyutam vinātmaghātamīśāna tyaktvā prāyopaveśanam

'And, O Ishana, whatever other auspicious deed is done here with faith — barring self-destruction — even setting aside a fast unto death...

Verse 68 (skanda.4.26.68)

नैःश्रेयस्याः श्रियो हेतुस्तदस्तु जगदीश्वर॥ नानुशोचति नाख्याति कृत्वा कालांतरेपि यत्

naiḥśreyasyāḥ śriyo hetustadastu jagadīśvara nānuśocati nākhyāti kṛtvā kālāṁtarepi yat

'...let it become, O Lord of the world, the very cause of supreme good fortune — a deed that, once done, one never regrets nor speaks of again, even long afterward.'

Verse 69 (skanda.4.26.69)

तदिहाक्षयतामेतु तस्येश त्वदनुग्रहात्॥ तव प्रसादात्तस्येश सर्वमक्षयमस्तु तत्

tadihākṣayatāmetu tasyeśa tvadanugrahāt tava prasādāttasyeśa sarvamakṣayamastu tat

'Let it, O Lord, become imperishable here through your grace; through your favor, O Lord, let all of it become everlasting.'

Verse 70 (skanda.4.26.70)

यदस्ति यद्भविष्यच्च यद्भूतं च सदाशिव॥ तस्मादेतच्च सर्वस्मात्क्षेत्रमस्तु शुभोदयम्

yadasti yadbhaviṣyacca yadbhūtaṁ ca sadāśiva tasmādetacca sarvasmātkṣetramastu śubhodayam

'O Sadashiva, whatever exists, whatever shall be, and whatever has been — beyond all of that, let this field be the very wellspring of blessing.'

Verse 71 (skanda.4.26.71)

यथा सदाशिव त्वत्तो न किंचिदधिकं शिवम्॥ तथानंदवनादस्मात्किंचिन्मास्त्वधिकं क्वचित्

yathā sadāśiva tvatto na kiṁcidadhikaṁ śivam tathānaṁdavanādasmātkiṁcinmāstvadhikaṁ kvacit

'Just as there is nothing more auspicious than you, O Sadashiva, so let there be nothing anywhere more excellent than this Anandavana.'

Verse 72 (skanda.4.26.72)

विना सांख्येन योगेन विना स्वात्मावलोकनम्॥ विना व्रत तपो दानैः श्रेयोऽस्तु प्राणिनामिह

vinā sāṁkhyena yogena vinā svātmāvalokanam vinā vrata tapo dānaiḥ śreyo'stu prāṇināmiha

'Without Sankhya, without Yoga, without vision of one's own Self, without vows, austerity, or gifts — let beings here attain the highest good regardless.'

Verse 73 (skanda.4.26.73)

शशका मशका कीटाः पतं गास्तुरगोरगाः॥ पंचक्रोश्यां मृताः काश्यां संतु निर्वाणदीक्षिताः॥ नामापि गृह्णतां काश्याः सदैवास्त्वेनसः क्षयः

śaśakā maśakā kīṭāḥ pataṁ gāsturagoragāḥ paṁcakrośyāṁ mṛtāḥ kāśyāṁ saṁtu nirvāṇadīkṣitāḥ nāmāpi gṛhṇatāṁ kāśyāḥ sadaivāstvenasaḥ kṣayaḥ

'Hares, mosquitoes, insects, moths, horses, serpents — whatever dies within the five-krosha circuit of Kashi, let it be initiated into liberation. And for those who merely utter the name of Kashi, let their sins forever be destroyed.'

Verse 74 (skanda.4.26.74)

सदा कृतयुगं चास्तु सदाचास्तूत्तरायणम्॥ सदा महोदयश्चास्तु काश्यां निवसतां सताम्

sadā kṛtayugaṁ cāstu sadācāstūttarāyaṇam sadā mahodayaścāstu kāśyāṁ nivasatāṁ satām

'For the good who dwell in Kashi, let it always be the Krita Yuga, let it always be Uttarayana, let it always be the great auspicious Mahodaya.'

Verse 75 (skanda.4.26.75)

यानि कानि पवित्राणि श्रुत्युक्तानि सदाशिव॥ तेभ्योऽधिकतरं चास्तु क्षेत्रमेतत्त्रिलोचन

yāni kāni pavitrāṇi śrutyuktāni sadāśiva tebhyo'dhikataraṁ cāstu kṣetrametattrilocana

'Whatever sacred places the scriptures speak of, O Sadashiva, let this field, O Three-Eyed One, surpass them all.'

Verse 76 (skanda.4.26.76)

चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पुण्यमध्ययनाच्च यत्॥ तत्पुण्यं जायतां काश्यां गायत्रीलक्ष जाप्यतः

caturṇāmapi vedānāṁ puṇyamadhyayanācca yat tatpuṇyaṁ jāyatāṁ kāśyāṁ gāyatrīlakṣa jāpyataḥ

'Whatever merit comes from studying all four Vedas, let that merit be gained in Kashi through the recitation of a hundred thousand Gayatri mantras.'

Verse 77 (skanda.4.26.77)

अष्टांगयोगाभ्यासेन यत्पुण्यमपि जायतेः॥ तत्पुण्यं साधिकं भूयाच्छ्रद्धाकाशीनिषेवणात्

aṣṭāṁgayogābhyāsena yatpuṇyamapi jāyateḥ tatpuṇyaṁ sādhikaṁ bhūyācchraddhākāśīniṣevaṇāt

'Whatever merit arises from the practice of the eightfold Yoga, let even greater merit come from simply dwelling faithfully in Kashi.'

Verse 78 (skanda.4.26.78)

कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणाद्यैश्च यच्छ्रेयः समुपार्ज्यते॥ तदेकेनोपवासेन भवत्वानंदकानने

kṛcchracāṁdrāyaṇādyaiśca yacchreyaḥ samupārjyate tadekenopavāsena bhavatvānaṁdakānane

'Whatever merit is earned through the Krichchhra, the Chandrayana, and similar austerities, let it be gained by a single fast in the Forest of Bliss.'

Verse 79 (skanda.4.26.79)

अन्यत्र यत्तपस्तप्त्वा श्रेयः स्याच्छरदां शतम्॥ तदस्तु काश्यां वर्षेण भूमिशय्या व्रतेन हि

anyatra yattapastaptvā śreyaḥ syāccharadāṁ śatam tadastu kāśyāṁ varṣeṇa bhūmiśayyā vratena hi

'Whatever good comes elsewhere from a hundred years of austerity, let it be gained in Kashi through a single year's vow of sleeping upon the bare ground.'

Verse 80 (skanda.4.26.80)

आजन्म मौनव्रततो यदन्यत्रफलं स्मृतम्॥ तदस्तु काश्यां पक्षाहः सत्यवाक्परिभाषणात्

ājanma maunavratato yadanyatraphalaṁ smṛtam tadastu kāśyāṁ pakṣāhaḥ satyavākparibhāṣaṇāt

'Whatever result is said to come, elsewhere, from a lifelong vow of silence, let it be gained in Kashi within a fortnight, merely by speaking nothing but truth.'

Verse 81 (skanda.4.26.81)

अन्यत्र दत्त्वा सर्वस्वं सुकृतं यत्समीरितम्॥ सहस्रभोजनात्काश्यां तद्भूयादयुताधिकम्

anyatra dattvā sarvasvaṁ sukṛtaṁ yatsamīritam sahasrabhojanātkāśyāṁ tadbhūyādayutādhikam

'Whatever merit is said to come, elsewhere, from giving away all one possesses, let it, in Kashi, be surpassed ten-thousandfold simply by feeding a thousand people.'

Verse 82 (skanda.4.26.82)

मुक्तिक्षेत्राणि सर्वाणि यत्संसेव्योदितं फलम्॥ पंचरात्रात्तदत्रास्तु निषेव्य मणिकर्णिकाम्॥ प्रयागस्नानपुण्येन यत्पुण्यं स्याच्छिवप्रदम्॥ काशीदर्शनमात्रेण तत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयास्त्विह

muktikṣetrāṇi sarvāṇi yatsaṁsevyoditaṁ phalam paṁcarātrāttadatrāstu niṣevya maṇikarṇikām prayāgasnānapuṇyena yatpuṇyaṁ syācchivapradam kāśīdarśanamātreṇa tatpuṇyaṁ śraddhayāstviha

'Whatever fruit comes from serving all the fields of liberation, let it be gained here in five nights simply by resorting to Manikarnika. Whatever auspicious merit comes from bathing at Prayaga, let that same merit come here through the mere sight of Kashi, offered with faith.'

Verse 83 (skanda.4.26.83)

यत्पुण्यमश्वमेधेन यत्पुण्यं राजसूयतः॥ काश्यां तत्पुण्यमाप्नोतु त्रिरात्रशयनाद्यमी

yatpuṇyamaśvamedhena yatpuṇyaṁ rājasūyataḥ kāśyāṁ tatpuṇyamāpnotu trirātraśayanādyamī

'Whatever merit comes from the Ashvamedha sacrifice, whatever merit comes from the Rajasuya, let one gain that same merit in Kashi merely by keeping vigil there for three nights.'

Verse 84 (skanda.4.26.84)

तुलापुरुषदानेन यत्पुण्यं सम्यगाप्यते॥ काशीदर्शनमात्रेण तत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयास्तु वै

tulāpuruṣadānena yatpuṇyaṁ samyagāpyate kāśīdarśanamātreṇa tatpuṇyaṁ śraddhayāstu vai

'Whatever merit is fully earned by the Tulapurusha gift, let that same merit indeed be gained through the mere sight of Kashi, offered with faith.'

Verse 85 (skanda.4.26.85)

उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा तथाऽस्तु मधुसूदन

uvāca ca prasannātmā tathā'stu madhusūdana

Well pleased at heart, Shiva said: 'So be it, O Madhusudana.'

Verse 86 (skanda.4.26.86)

॥ श्रीमहादेव उवाच॥ शृणु विष्णो महाबाहो जगतः प्रभवाप्यय॥ विधेहि सृष्टिं विविधां यथावत्त्वं श्रुतीरिताम्

śrīmahādeva uvāca śṛṇu viṣṇo mahābāho jagataḥ prabhavāpyaya vidhehi sṛṣṭiṁ vividhāṁ yathāvattvaṁ śrutīritām

Shri Mahadeva said: 'Listen, O mighty-armed Vishnu, you who are the source of the world's arising and its dissolution. Carry out the manifold creation properly, just as the scriptures declare.'

Verse 87 (skanda.4.26.87)

पितेव सर्वभूतानां धर्मतः पालको भव॥ विध्वंसनीया विविधा धर्मध्वंसविधायिनः

piteva sarvabhūtānāṁ dharmataḥ pālako bhava vidhvaṁsanīyā vividhā dharmadhvaṁsavidhāyinaḥ

'Be, like a father, the righteous guardian of all beings; and let those who bring about the ruin of Dharma in various ways be, in turn, destroyed.'

Verse 88 (skanda.4.26.88)

धर्मेतरपथस्थानामुपसंहृतये हरे॥ हेतुमात्रं भवान्यस्मात्स्वकर्मनिहता हि ते

dharmetarapathasthānāmupasaṁhṛtaye hare hetumātraṁ bhavānyasmātsvakarmanihatā hi te

'O Hari, in destroying those who walk the path opposed to Dharma, you are merely the instrumental cause — for it is truly by their own deeds that they are struck down.'

Verse 89 (skanda.4.26.89)

यथा परिणतं सस्यं पतेत्प्रसवबंधनात्॥ ते परीणतपाप्मानः पतिष्यंति तथा स्वयम्

yathā pariṇataṁ sasyaṁ patetprasavabaṁdhanāt te parīṇatapāpmānaḥ patiṣyaṁti tathā svayam

'Just as ripened grain falls of itself from the bond that held it, so too will those whose sin has ripened fall away, quite on their own.'

Verse 90 (skanda.4.26.90)

ये च त्वामवमन्यंते दर्पिताः स्वतपोबलैः॥ तेषां चैवोपसंहृत्यै प्रभविष्याम्यहं हरे

ye ca tvāmavamanyaṁte darpitāḥ svatapobalaiḥ teṣāṁ caivopasaṁhṛtyai prabhaviṣyāmyahaṁ hare

'And, O Hari, as for those who, swollen with pride in their own ascetic power, show you disrespect — for their destruction too, I myself shall be able.'

Verse 91 (skanda.4.26.91)

उपपातकिनो ये च महापातकिनश्च ये॥ तेपि काशीं समासाद्य भविष्यंति गतैनसः॥ इदं मम प्रियं क्षेत्रं पंचक्रोशीपरीमितम्॥ ममाज्ञा प्रभवेदत्र नान्याज्ञा प्रभवेदिह

upapātakino ye ca mahāpātakinaśca ye tepi kāśīṁ samāsādya bhaviṣyaṁti gatainasaḥ idaṁ mama priyaṁ kṣetraṁ paṁcakrośīparīmitam mamājñā prabhavedatra nānyājñā prabhavediha

'Whoever is guilty of minor sins, and whoever of the gravest sins — even they, on reaching Kashi, shall become free of all sin. This field of mine, measuring five krosha, is dear to me; here my command alone prevails, no other's command has any force.'

Verse 92 (skanda.4.26.92)

पुनर्विष्णुर्मया प्रोक्तो मृडानि शुभलोचने॥ अत्युग्रतेजसा तेजो भ्रमंस्त्रैलोक्यविभ्रमः

punarviṣṇurmayā prokto mṛḍāni śubhalocane atyugratejasā tejo bhramaṁstrailokyavibhramaḥ

'And I spoke again to Vishnu, O fair-eyed Mridani — that though blazing with fiercest splendor, roaming and dazzling the three worlds...

Verse 93 (skanda.4.26.93)

पापिनामपि जंतूनामविमुक्तनिवासिनाम्॥ नान्यः शासयिता विप्णो तेषां शास्ताऽहमेव हि

pāpināmapi jaṁtūnāmavimuktanivāsinām nānyaḥ śāsayitā vipṇo teṣāṁ śāstā'hameva hi

'...even over the sinful creatures who dwell in Avimukta, O Vishnu, there is no other ruler — I alone am their ruler.'

Verse 94 (skanda.4.26.94)

योजनानां शतस्थोपि योऽविमुक्तं स्मरेद्धृदि॥ बहुपातकपूर्णोपि न स पापैः प्रबाध्यते

yojanānāṁ śatasthopi yo'vimuktaṁ smareddhṛdi bahupātakapūrṇopi na sa pāpaiḥ prabādhyate

'Even one who is a hundred yojanas away, if he remembers Avimukta in his heart, is not oppressed by his sins, however many they be.'

Verse 95 (skanda.4.26.95)

मम प्रियस्य क्षेत्रस्य योऽविमुक्तस्य संस्मरेत्॥ प्राण प्रयाणसमये दूरगोप्यघवानपि

mama priyasya kṣetrasya yo'vimuktasya saṁsmaret prāṇa prayāṇasamaye dūragopyaghavānapi

'Whoever, at the very moment the life-breath departs, calls to mind my beloved field of Avimukta — however far away, however burdened with sin...

Verse 96 (skanda.4.26.96)

स पापपूगमुत्सृज्य स्वर्गभोगान्समश्नुते॥ काशीस्मरणपुण्येन स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो हि जायते

sa pāpapūgamutsṛjya svargabhogānsamaśnute kāśīsmaraṇapuṇyena svargādbhraṣṭo hi jāyate

'...he casts off his whole mass of sin and enjoys the pleasures of heaven; yet by the mere merit of remembering Kashi, he in time falls even from heaven — rising higher still.'

Verse 97 (skanda.4.26.97)

पृथिव्यामेकराड्भूत्वा भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकशः॥ प्राप्याविमुक्तं तत्पुण्यान्निर्वाणपदभाग्भवेत्

pṛthivyāmekarāḍbhūtvā bhuktvā bhogānanekaśaḥ prāpyāvimuktaṁ tatpuṇyānnirvāṇapadabhāgbhavet

'He becomes a sole sovereign upon the earth, enjoys manifold pleasures, and then, attaining Avimukta once more, becomes through that merit a sharer in the state of liberation.'

Verse 98 (skanda.4.26.98)

बहुकालमुषित्वाऽत्र नियतेंद्रियमानसः॥ यद्यन्यत्र विपद्येत दैवयोगाच्छुचिस्मिते

bahukālamuṣitvā'tra niyateṁdriyamānasaḥ yadyanyatra vipadyeta daivayogācchucismite

'O fair-smiling one, if someone who has dwelt here long, with senses and mind restrained, should by chance of fate happen to die elsewhere...

Verse 99 (skanda.4.26.99)

सोपि स्वर्गसुखं भुक्त्वा भूत्वा क्षितिपतीश्वरः॥ पुनः काशीमवाप्याथ विंदेन्नैःश्रेयसीं श्रियम्

sopi svargasukhaṁ bhuktvā bhūtvā kṣitipatīśvaraḥ punaḥ kāśīmavāpyātha viṁdennaiḥśreyasīṁ śriyam

'...he too, after enjoying the bliss of heaven and becoming a lord of kings, will attain Kashi once again, and there obtain the glory of the highest good.'

Verse 100 (skanda.4.26.100)

विष्णोऽविमुक्ते संवासः कर्मनिर्मूलनक्षमः॥ द्वित्राणां हि पवित्राणां निर्वाणा येह जायते॥ विष्णुरुवाच॥ देवेशक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं यो न जानाति तत्त्वतः॥ न श्रद्दधाति म्रियते मृते तस्येह का गतिः

viṣṇo'vimukte saṁvāsaḥ karmanirmūlanakṣamaḥ dvitrāṇāṁ hi pavitrāṇāṁ nirvāṇā yeha jāyate viṣṇuruvāca deveśakṣetramāhātmyaṁ yo na jānāti tattvataḥ na śraddadhāti mriyate mṛte tasyeha kā gatiḥ

'O Vishnu, dwelling in Avimukta has the power to uproot all past karma; here even the pure of two or three lifetimes attain liberation.' Vishnu said: 'O Lord of the gods, one who does not truly know the greatness of this field, who has no faith, and who dies here regardless — what becomes of him after death?'

Verse 101 (skanda.4.26.101)

॥ शिव उवाच॥ अन्यत्र कृत्वा पापानि बहूनि सुमहांति च॥ अश्रद्दधानोऽतत्त्वज्ञो यद्यत्र च विपद्यते

śiva uvāca anyatra kṛtvā pāpāni bahūni sumahāṁti ca aśraddadhāno'tattvajño yadyatra ca vipadyate

Shiva said: 'If someone who has committed many grave sins elsewhere — faithless, and ignorant of the truth — should happen to die here...

Verse 102 (skanda.4.26.102)

महिमन्यनभिज्ञोपि क्षेत्रस्यास्य जनार्दन॥ तस्य या गतिरुद्दिष्टा तां निशामय सुव्रत

mahimanyanabhijñopi kṣetrasyāsya janārdana tasya yā gatiruddiṣṭā tāṁ niśāmaya suvrata

'...O Janardana, even though he is ignorant of this field's greatness, O one of noble vows, hear now the destiny appointed for him.'

Verse 103 (skanda.4.26.103)

पंचक्रोशीं प्रविशतस्तस्य पातकसंततिः॥ बहिरेव प्रतिष्ठेत नांतर्निर्विशते क्वचित्

paṁcakrośīṁ praviśatastasya pātakasaṁtatiḥ bahireva pratiṣṭheta nāṁtarnirviśate kvacit

'As soon as he enters the five-krosha circuit, the whole train of his sins remains fixed outside it — never once does it enter within.'

Verse 104 (skanda.4.26.104)

भयाद्बहिः स्थितायां च तस्य पातकसंततौ॥ त्रिशूलपाशपाणीनां गणानां सीमचारिणाम्

bhayādbahiḥ sthitāyāṁ ca tasya pātakasaṁtatau triśūlapāśapāṇīnāṁ gaṇānāṁ sīmacāriṇām

'And that mass of sins stands outside in terror, kept there by the trident- and noose-bearing hosts who patrol the boundary...

Verse 105 (skanda.4.26.105)

प्रवेशमात्रादनघ सर्वैरेनोभिरुज्झितः॥ संस्नाय मणिकर्णिक्यां पुण्यं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्

praveśamātrādanagha sarvairenobhirujjhitaḥ saṁsnāya maṇikarṇikyāṁ puṇyaṁ prāpnotyanuttamam

'...merely by entering, O sinless one, he is freed of every sin, and bathing in Manikarnika he gains merit unequalled.'

Verse 106 (skanda.4.26.106)

सर्वतीर्थेषुसंस्नानाद्यत्पुण्यं समवाप्यते॥ तत्पुण्यमाप्यते सम्यङ्मणिकर्ण्येक मज्जनात्

sarvatīrtheṣusaṁsnānādyatpuṇyaṁ samavāpyate tatpuṇyamāpyate samyaṅmaṇikarṇyeka majjanāt

'Whatever merit is fully gained from bathing in every tirtha, that same merit is fully gained through a single dip in Manikarnika alone.'

Verse 107 (skanda.4.26.107)

विधिना तत्र संस्नाय मृद्गोमयकुशादिभिः॥ स्वशाखावारुणैर्मंत्रैर्दूर्वापामार्गदर्भकैः

vidhinā tatra saṁsnāya mṛdgomayakuśādibhiḥ svaśākhāvāruṇairmaṁtrairdūrvāpāmārgadarbhakaiḥ

'Bathing there according to due rite, with clay, cow-dung, kusha grass and the like, with the Varuna mantras proper to one's own Vedic branch, with durva, apamarga, and darbha grass...

Verse 108 (skanda.4.26.108)

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम्॥ मणिकर्ण्यां विधिस्नातः श्रद्धया तदवाप्नुयात्

sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ sarvadāneṣu yatphalam maṇikarṇyāṁ vidhisnātaḥ śraddhayā tadavāpnuyāt

'...whatever merit lies in all the tirthas, whatever fruit lies in all gifts — one who bathes in Manikarnika duly and with faith obtains it all.'

Verse 109 (skanda.4.26.109)

अश्रद्धयापि यः स्नातो मणिकर्ण्यां विधानतः॥ सोपि पुण्यमवाप्नोति स्वर्गप्राप्तिकरं परम्॥ श्रद्धया विधिवत्स्नात्वा कृत्वा देवादितर्पणम्॥ तिलबर्हिर्यवैः सम्यक्सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्

aśraddhayāpi yaḥ snāto maṇikarṇyāṁ vidhānataḥ sopi puṇyamavāpnoti svargaprāptikaraṁ param śraddhayā vidhivatsnātvā kṛtvā devāditarpaṇam tilabarhiryavaiḥ samyaksarvayajñaphalaṁ labhet

'Even one who bathes in Manikarnika by rite, without faith, still obtains merit sufficient to grant heaven. But one who bathes duly with faith, and offers tarpana to the gods and others with sesame, kusha-tips and barley, gains fully the fruit of every sacrifice.'

Verse 110 (skanda.4.26.110)

श्रद्दधानो विधिस्नातः कृत सर्वोदकक्रियः॥ जपन्देवान्समभ्यर्च्य सर्वमंत्रफलं लभेत्

śraddadhāno vidhisnātaḥ kṛta sarvodakakriyaḥ japandevānsamabhyarcya sarvamaṁtraphalaṁ labhet

'The faithful one, having bathed by rite and performed all the water-rites, worshipping the gods while reciting japa, obtains the fruit of every mantra there is.'

Verse 111 (skanda.4.26.111)

स्नात्वा मौनेन विश्वेश दर्शना न्नियतेंद्रियः॥ सर्वव्रतकृतं श्रेयो लभेद्वाचंयमः शिवे

snātvā maunena viśveśa darśanā nniyateṁdriyaḥ sarvavratakṛtaṁ śreyo labhedvācaṁyamaḥ śive

'O Shiva, having bathed, with senses restrained, through the mere sight of Vishveshvara kept in silence, the one who holds his tongue obtains the merit of every vow ever performed.'

Verse 112 (skanda.4.26.112)

स्नाने देवार्चने जप्ये मलमूत्रविसर्जने॥ मौनं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नेन दंतधावनहोमयोः

snāne devārcane japye malamūtravisarjane maunaṁ kuryātprayatnena daṁtadhāvanahomayoḥ

'One should carefully keep silence during bathing, worship of the gods, japa, the relieving of nature, tooth-cleaning, and the fire-offering.'

Verse 113 (skanda.4.26.113)

विश्वेश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य सूपचारैर्विधानतः॥ यावज्जीवं शिवार्चायाः फलमाप्नोति वै सकृत्

viśveśvaraṁ samabhyarcya sūpacārairvidhānataḥ yāvajjīvaṁ śivārcāyāḥ phalamāpnoti vai sakṛt

'Worshipping Vishveshvara with fine offerings according to rite, one truly gains, in that single act, the fruit of a lifetime's devotion to Shiva.'

Verse 114 (skanda.4.26.114)

दत्त्वाल्पमपि देवेशि न्यायेनोपार्जितं धनम्॥ अविमुक्ते मम क्षेत्रे न दरिद्रो भवेत्क्वचित्

dattvālpamapi deveśi nyāyenopārjitaṁ dhanam avimukte mama kṣetre na daridro bhavetkvacit

'O Queen of the gods, whoever gives even a little wealth, righteously earned, here in my field of Avimukta, shall never become poor.'

Verse 115 (skanda.4.26.115)

विविधं धनमावर्ज्य योऽविमुक्ते न यच्छति॥ संप्राप्य निधनं मूढोऽन्यत्र शोचति सर्वदा

vividhaṁ dhanamāvarjya yo'vimukte na yacchati saṁprāpya nidhanaṁ mūḍho'nyatra śocati sarvadā

'One who amasses various wealth yet does not give it away in Avimukta — that fool, once he meets death, grieves forever elsewhere.'

Verse 116 (skanda.4.26.116)

रम्याणि यानि रत्नानि गोगजाश्वांबराण्यपि॥ कृतानि तानि श्रेयोर्थमविमुक्तनिवासिनाम्

ramyāṇi yāni ratnāni gogajāśvāṁbarāṇyapi kṛtāni tāni śreyorthamavimuktanivāsinām

'Whatever beautiful jewels, cattle, elephants, horses and garments exist, all of them were made for the welfare of those who dwell in Avimukta.'

Verse 117 (skanda.4.26.117)

विश्वेशप्रीणनार्थाय धनं निधनमेव वा॥ न्यायेन काश्यां यः कुर्यात्स धन्यः स च धर्मवित्

viśveśaprīṇanārthāya dhanaṁ nidhanameva vā nyāyena kāśyāṁ yaḥ kuryātsa dhanyaḥ sa ca dharmavit

'Whoever in Kashi rightly devotes his wealth to the pleasing of Vishvesha — even to his very last breath — he is blessed indeed, and he alone truly knows Dharma.'

Verse 118 (skanda.4.26.118)

योसौ विश्वेश्वरो देवः काशीपुर्यामुमे स्थितः॥ लिंगरूपधरः साक्षान्मम श्रेयास्पदं हि तत्॥ अविमुक्तं महत्क्षेत्रं पंचक्रोशपरीमितम्॥ ज्योतिर्लिगं तदेकं हि ज्ञेयं विश्वेश्वराभिधम्

yosau viśveśvaro devaḥ kāśīpuryāmume sthitaḥ liṁgarūpadharaḥ sākṣānmama śreyāspadaṁ hi tat avimuktaṁ mahatkṣetraṁ paṁcakrośaparīmitam jyotirligaṁ tadekaṁ hi jñeyaṁ viśveśvarābhidham

'O Uma, that God Vishveshvara who stands visibly present in the city of Kashi, wearing the form of a Linga, is indeed my own true abode of glory. This great field of Avimukta, measuring five krosha, is itself to be known as the one Jyotirlinga, called Vishveshvara.'

Verse 119 (skanda.4.26.119)

एकदेशस्थितमपि यथा मार्तंडमंडलम्॥ दृश्यते सर्वगं सर्वैः काश्यां विश्वेश्वरस्तथा

ekadeśasthitamapi yathā mārtaṁḍamaṁḍalam dṛśyate sarvagaṁ sarvaiḥ kāśyāṁ viśveśvarastathā

'Just as the orb of the sun, though fixed in a single place, is seen by everyone as reaching all things, so too is Vishveshvara there in Kashi.'

Verse 120 (skanda.4.26.120)

निष्प्रत्यूहेन योगेन नानाजन्मार्जितेन च॥ यत्फलं लभ्यतेऽन्यत्र तत्काश्यां त्यजतस्तनुम

niṣpratyūhena yogena nānājanmārjitena ca yatphalaṁ labhyate'nyatra tatkāśyāṁ tyajatastanuma

'Whatever fruit is gained elsewhere through unobstructed Yoga practiced across many births, that very fruit is gained in Kashi by one who merely gives up the body there.'

Verse 121 (skanda.4.26.121)

तप्त्वा तपांसि सर्वाणि बहुकालं जितेंद्रियैः॥ यत्फलं लभ्यतेऽन्यत्र तत्काश्यामेकरात्रतः

taptvā tapāṁsi sarvāṇi bahukālaṁ jiteṁdriyaiḥ yatphalaṁ labhyate'nyatra tatkāśyāmekarātrataḥ

'Whatever fruit is gained elsewhere by those of mastered senses through long years of every austerity, that same fruit is gained in Kashi within a single night.'

Verse 122 (skanda.4.26.122)

अक्षेत्रमहिमज्ञोपि श्रद्धाहीनोपि कालतः॥ काशीप्रवेशादनघोऽमृतत्वं लभतेमृतः

akṣetramahimajñopi śraddhāhīnopi kālataḥ kāśīpraveśādanagho'mṛtatvaṁ labhatemṛtaḥ

'Even one who does not know this field's greatness, even one without faith, when his time comes and he dies having entered Kashi, becomes free of sin and attains immortality.'

Verse 123 (skanda.4.26.123)

कृत्वाप्येनांसि चोग्राणि कालात्प्राप्याथ काशिकाम्॥ त्यक्त्वा तनुं प्रसादान्मे मामेव प्रतिपद्यते

kṛtvāpyenāṁsi cogrāṇi kālātprāpyātha kāśikām tyaktvā tanuṁ prasādānme māmeva pratipadyate

'Even one who has committed terrible sins, once he reaches Kashi in time and gives up the body there, attains, by my grace, none other than myself.'

Verse 124 (skanda.4.26.124)

विना मम प्रसादं वै कः काशीं प्रतिपद्यते॥ विना ब्रध्नं विशालाक्षि दिनकृत्क इहोच्यते

vinā mama prasādaṁ vai kaḥ kāśīṁ pratipadyate vinā bradhnaṁ viśālākṣi dinakṛtka ihocyate

'Without my grace indeed, who can attain Kashi? O wide-eyed one, without the sun itself, who here could be called the maker of the day?'

Verse 125 (skanda.4.26.125)

अप्राप्य काशीं को देवि निरंतर सुखं लभेत्॥ बह्माद्याः प्राकृतैः पाशैर्यतो बद्धा निरंतरम्

aprāpya kāśīṁ ko devi niraṁtara sukhaṁ labhet bahmādyāḥ prākṛtaiḥ pāśairyato baddhā niraṁtaram

'O Goddess, without attaining Kashi, who could gain unbroken happiness — when even Brahma and the rest remain forever bound by the fetters of Prakriti?'

Verse 126 (skanda.4.26.126)

चतुर्विंशतिभिः पाशैस्त्रिगुणैः क्रियया दृढैः॥ कंठे बद्धा विमुच्यंते कथं काशीं विना जनाः

caturviṁśatibhiḥ pāśaistriguṇaiḥ kriyayā dṛḍhaiḥ kaṁṭhe baddhā vimucyaṁte kathaṁ kāśīṁ vinā janāḥ

'Bound at the throat by twenty-four fetters, woven of the three gunas and made firm by action — how could people ever be released from them, without Kashi?'

Verse 127 (skanda.4.26.127)

बहूपसर्गो योगोयं कृच्छ्रसाध्यं तपो हि यत्॥ योगाद्भ्रष्टस्तपोभ्रष्टो गर्भक्लेशसहःपुनः॥ कृत्वापि काश्यां पापानि काश्यामेव म्रियेत चेत्॥ भूत्वा रुद्रपिशाचोपि पुनर्मुक्तिमवाप्स्यति

bahūpasargo yogoyaṁ kṛcchrasādhyaṁ tapo hi yat yogādbhraṣṭastapobhraṣṭo garbhakleśasahaḥpunaḥ kṛtvāpi kāśyāṁ pāpāni kāśyāmeva mriyeta cet bhūtvā rudrapiśācopi punarmuktimavāpsyati

'This Yoga is beset with many obstacles, and austerity too is achieved only through great difficulty; and one who falls from Yoga, who falls from austerity, must again endure the suffering of the womb. But if someone commits sins even in Kashi, and yet dies there in Kashi itself, then, even after becoming a Rudra-ghost, he shall attain liberation once more.'

Verse 128 (skanda.4.26.128)

काश्यां मृतानां जंतूनां दैवात्पापकृतामपि॥ न पातो नरके तेषां तेषां शास्ताहमेव यत्

kāśyāṁ mṛtānāṁ jaṁtūnāṁ daivātpāpakṛtāmapi na pāto narake teṣāṁ teṣāṁ śāstāhameva yat

'For creatures who die in Kashi — even those who, by chance of fate, have committed sin — there is no falling into hell, for I myself am their sovereign.'

Verse 129 (skanda.4.26.129)

कायं विज्ञाय सापायं स्मृत्वा गर्भस्य वेदनाम्॥ त्यक्त्वा राज्यमपि प्राज्यं सेव्या काशी निरंतरम्

kāyaṁ vijñāya sāpāyaṁ smṛtvā garbhasya vedanām tyaktvā rājyamapi prājyaṁ sevyā kāśī niraṁtaram

'Knowing the body to be perishable, and remembering the agony of the womb, one should give up even a vast kingdom and dwell in the service of Kashi without ceasing.'

Verse 130 (skanda.4.26.130)

अतर्कितं समभ्येत्य यमदूताः सुदारुणाः॥ बद्ध्वा पाशैर्हनिष्यंति क्षिप्रं काशीं ततः श्रयेत

atarkitaṁ samabhyetya yamadūtāḥ sudāruṇāḥ baddhvā pāśairhaniṣyaṁti kṣipraṁ kāśīṁ tataḥ śrayeta

'Since Yama's terrible messengers will come without warning, bind one with their nooses, and strike swiftly, one should therefore take refuge in Kashi at once.'

Verse 131 (skanda.4.26.131)

न पापेभ्यो भयं यत्र न भयं यत्र वै यमात्॥ न गर्भवासभीर्यत्र तां काशीं को न संश्रयेत्

na pāpebhyo bhayaṁ yatra na bhayaṁ yatra vai yamāt na garbhavāsabhīryatra tāṁ kāśīṁ ko na saṁśrayet

'Where there is no fear of sin, no fear of Yama at all, no dread of dwelling in the womb — who would not take refuge in that Kashi?'

Verse 132 (skanda.4.26.132)

अद्य प्रातः परश्वो वा मरणं प्राप्यमेव च॥ यावत्कालविलंबोस्ति तावत्काशीं समाश्रयेत्

adya prātaḥ paraśvo vā maraṇaṁ prāpyameva ca yāvatkālavilaṁbosti tāvatkāśīṁ samāśrayet

'Whether today, tomorrow morning, or the day after — death is certain to come; so for as long as any time remains, one should take refuge in Kashi.'

Verse 133 (skanda.4.26.133)

प्राप्ते तु मरणे पुंसां पुनर्जन्म पुनर्मृतिः॥ अपुनर्भवभूमिं च तस्मात्काशीं श्रयेद्बुधः

prāpte tu maraṇe puṁsāṁ punarjanma punarmṛtiḥ apunarbhavabhūmiṁ ca tasmātkāśīṁ śrayedbudhaḥ

'For when death comes to men, it only means birth again, and death again; therefore the wise should take refuge in Kashi, the very ground of never being born again.'

Verse 134 (skanda.4.26.134)

पुत्रक्षेत्रकलत्राख्यां त्यक्त्वा मायां हि वैष्णवीम्॥ भवांतरेनेकरूपां भवघ्नीं काशिकां श्रयेत्

putrakṣetrakalatrākhyāṁ tyaktvā māyāṁ hi vaiṣṇavīm bhavāṁtarenekarūpāṁ bhavaghnīṁ kāśikāṁ śrayet

'Giving up the Vaishnavi Maya that takes the names of son, land and wife — assuming many forms across successive lives — one should take refuge in Kashika, the destroyer of worldly existence.'

Verse 135 (skanda.4.26.135)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ दूरं मे मरणंयुवाहमधुना धार्यं न चित्तेत्विति श्रोतव्यो निभृतं कृतांत महिषग्रैवेयघंटारवः॥ नैकट्यात्प्रकटोत्कटश्रमघटामप्राप्य हित्वा द्रुतं जीर्णां पर्णकुटीं ततः पटुमतिर्गच्छेत्पुरीं धूर्जटेः

skaṁda uvāca dūraṁ me maraṇaṁyuvāhamadhunā dhāryaṁ na cittetviti śrotavyo nibhṛtaṁ kṛtāṁta mahiṣagraiveyaghaṁṭāravaḥ naikaṭyātprakaṭotkaṭaśramaghaṭāmaprāpya hitvā drutaṁ jīrṇāṁ parṇakuṭīṁ tataḥ paṭumatirgacchetpurīṁ dhūrjaṭeḥ

Skanda said: 'One should never think, "Death is far off, I am young now, no need to dwell on it" — rather, one should quietly listen for the sound of the bell at the neck of Death's buffalo. Before its nearness brings on the terrible ordeal of dying, let the wise-minded person swiftly abandon this decaying leaf-hut of a body, and set out instead for the city of Dhurjati.'

Verse 136 (skanda.4.26.136)

व्यास उवाच॥ अगस्त्यस्य पुरः सूत कथयित्वा कथामिमाम्॥ सर्वपापप्रशमनीं पुनः स्कंद उवाच ह

vyāsa uvāca agastyasya puraḥ sūta kathayitvā kathāmimām sarvapāpapraśamanīṁ punaḥ skaṁda uvāca ha

Vyasa said: 'O Suta, having thus told this tale — one that quells all sin — before Agastya, Skanda spoke on once more.'