The Signs of Approaching Death, and Kashi as Freedom from Time

Verse 1 (skanda.4.42.1)

॥ अगस्तिरुवाच॥ कथं निकटतः कालो ज्ञायते हरनंदन॥ तानि चिह्नानि कतिचिद्ब्रूहि मे परिपृच्छतः

agastiruvāca kathaṁ nikaṭataḥ kālo jñāyate haranaṁdana tāni cihnāni katicidbrūhi me paripṛcchataḥ

Agastya said: "O son of Hara, how may the nearness of Time be known? Tell me some of those signs, as I ask of you."

Verse 2 (skanda.4.42.2)

॥ कुमार उवाच॥ वदामि कालचिह्नानि जायंते यानि देहिनाम्॥ मृत्यौ निकटमापन्ने मुने तानि निशामय

kumāra uvāca vadāmi kālacihnāni jāyaṁte yāni dehinām mṛtyau nikaṭamāpanne mune tāni niśāmaya

Kumara said: "O sage, I shall declare the signs of Time that arise for embodied beings when death draws near; listen to them."

Verse 3 (skanda.4.42.3)

याम्यनासापुटे यस्य वायुर्वाति दिवानिशम्॥ अखंडमेव तस्यायुः क्षयत्यब्दत्रयेण हि

yāmyanāsāpuṭe yasya vāyurvāti divāniśam akhaṁḍameva tasyāyuḥ kṣayatyabdatrayeṇa hi

He in whose left nostril the breath flows continuously, day and night, without interruption -- his life certainly wanes away within three years.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.42.4)

अहोरात्रं त्र्यहोरात्रं रविर्वहति संततम्॥ अब्दमेकं च तस्येह जीवनावधिरुच्यते

ahorātraṁ tryahorātraṁ ravirvahati saṁtatam abdamekaṁ ca tasyeha jīvanāvadhirucyate

If the breath flows continuously through the right nostril for a day and night, or for three days and nights, then his lifespan here is said to be limited to one more year.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.42.5)

वहेन्नासापुटयुगे दशाहानि निरंतरम्॥ वातश्चेत्सह संक्रांतिस्तया जीवेद्दिनत्रयम्

vahennāsāpuṭayuge daśāhāni niraṁtaram vātaścetsaha saṁkrāṁtistayā jīveddinatrayam

If the breath flows continuously through both nostrils together for ten days, and this coincides with a solar transition, he will live only three more days.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.42.6)

नासावर्त्म द्वयं हित्वा मातरिश्वा मुखाद्वहेत्॥ शंसेद्दिनद्वयादर्वाक्प्रयाणं तस्य चाध्वनि

nāsāvartma dvayaṁ hitvā mātariśvā mukhādvahet śaṁseddinadvayādarvākprayāṇaṁ tasya cādhvani

If the breath, abandoning both paths of the nostrils, begins to flow from the mouth, this signals that his final journey will come within two days.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.42.7)

अकस्मादेवयत्काले मृत्युः सन्निहितो भवेत्॥ चिंतनीयः प्रयत्नेन स कालो मृत्युभीरुणा

akasmādevayatkāle mṛtyuḥ sannihito bhavet ciṁtanīyaḥ prayatnena sa kālo mṛtyubhīruṇā

One who fears death should diligently and carefully consider that time in which death may come upon him suddenly, without warning.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.42.8)

सूर्ये सप्तमराशिस्थे जन्मर्क्षस्थे निशाकरे॥ पौष्णः स कालो द्रष्टव्यो यदा याम्ये रविर्वहेत्

sūrye saptamarāśisthe janmarkṣasthe niśākare pauṣṇaḥ sa kālo draṣṭavyo yadā yāmye ravirvahet

When the sun stands in the seventh sign from one's birth-sign, the moon is in one's birth-constellation, and the breath flows through the left nostril, that time should be recognized as a death-signaling period.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.42.9)

अकस्माद्वीक्षते यस्तु पुरुषं कृष्णपिंगलम्॥ तस्मिन्नेव क्षणेऽरूपं स जीवेद्वत्सरद्वयम्

akasmādvīkṣate yastu puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇapiṁgalam tasminneva kṣaṇe'rūpaṁ sa jīvedvatsaradvayam

One who suddenly beholds a dark, tawny-hued figure, which in that very instant seems to lose all form -- he will live only two more years.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.42.10)

यस्य बीजं मलं मूत्रं क्षुतं मूत्रं मलं तु वा॥ इहैकदा पतेद्यस्य अब्दं तस्यायुरिष्यते॥ इंद्रनीलनिभं व्योम्नि नागवृंदं य ईक्षते॥ इतस्ततः प्रसृमरं षण्मासं न स जीवति

yasya bījaṁ malaṁ mūtraṁ kṣutaṁ mūtraṁ malaṁ tu vā ihaikadā patedyasya abdaṁ tasyāyuriṣyate iṁdranīlanibhaṁ vyomni nāgavṛṁdaṁ ya īkṣate itastataḥ prasṛmaraṁ ṣaṇmāsaṁ na sa jīvati

One whose semen, excrement, urine, or sneeze falls, of its own accord, even once -- his remaining lifespan is reckoned as one year. One who sees, in the sky, a swarm of serpents dark as sapphire, spreading here and there, does not live beyond six months.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.42.11)

व्यभ्रेह्नि वारिपूर्णास्यः पृष्ठीकृत्य दिवाकरम्॥ फूत्कृत्याश्विंद्रचापं न पश्येत्षण्मासजीवितः

vyabhrehni vāripūrṇāsyaḥ pṛṣṭhīkṛtya divākaram phūtkṛtyāśviṁdracāpaṁ na paśyetṣaṇmāsajīvitaḥ

On a cloudless day, one who fills his mouth with water, turns his back to the sun, and blows a spray, but fails to see a rainbow appear, has only six months of life remaining.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.42.12)

अरुंधतीं ध्रुवं चैव विष्णोस्त्रीणिपदानि च॥ आसन्नमृत्युर्नोपश्येच्चतुर्थं मातृमंडलम्

aruṁdhatīṁ dhruvaṁ caiva viṣṇostrīṇipadāni ca āsannamṛtyurnopaśyeccaturthaṁ mātṛmaṁḍalam

One whose death draws near cannot see the star Arundhati, nor the polestar Dhruva, nor the three strides of Vishnu, nor the fourth, the constellation of the Mothers.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.42.13)

अरुंधती भवेज्जिह्वा ध्रुवो नासाग्रमुच्यते॥ विष्णोः पदानि भ्रूमध्ये नेत्रयोर्मातृमंडलम्

aruṁdhatī bhavejjihvā dhruvo nāsāgramucyate viṣṇoḥ padāni bhrūmadhye netrayormātṛmaṁḍalam

[In one's own reflected face] Arundhati corresponds to the tongue; Dhruva is said to be the tip of the nose; the strides of Vishnu are between the eyebrows; and the constellation of the Mothers lies in the two eyes.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.42.14)

वेत्ति नीलादिवर्णस्य कटम्लादिरसस्यहि॥ अकस्मादन्यथाभावं षण्मासेन स मृत्युभाक्

vetti nīlādivarṇasya kaṭamlādirasasyahi akasmādanyathābhāvaṁ ṣaṇmāsena sa mṛtyubhāk

One who suddenly perceives an unaccountable change in the appearance of colors such as blue, or in tastes such as pungent and sour, becomes subject to death within six months.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.42.15)

षण्मासमृत्योर्मर्त्यस्य कंठोष्ठरसना रदाः॥ शुष्यंति सततं तद्वद्विच्छायास्तालुपंचमाः

ṣaṇmāsamṛtyormartyasya kaṁṭhoṣṭharasanā radāḥ śuṣyaṁti satataṁ tadvadvicchāyāstālupaṁcamāḥ

For a mortal fated to die within six months, the throat, lips, tongue, and teeth constantly grow dry; and likewise, fifth, the palate loses its luster.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.42.16)

रेतः करजनेत्रांता नीलिमानं भजंति चेत्॥ तर्हि कीनाशनगरीं षष्ठेमासि व्रजेन्नरः

retaḥ karajanetrāṁtā nīlimānaṁ bhajaṁti cet tarhi kīnāśanagarīṁ ṣaṣṭhemāsi vrajennaraḥ

If the semen, the nails, and the corners of the eyes begin to take on a bluish tinge, that man will go to the city of the Lord of Death within the sixth month.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.42.17)

संप्रवृत्ते निधुवने मध्येंते क्षौति चेन्नरः॥ निश्चितं पंचमे मासि धर्मराजातिथिर्भवेत्

saṁpravṛtte nidhuvane madhyeṁte kṣauti cennaraḥ niścitaṁ paṁcame māsi dharmarājātithirbhavet

If a man sneezes during, or at the conclusion of, intercourse, he will certainly become a guest of the Lord of Dharma within the fifth month.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.42.18)

द्रुतमारुह्यशरठस्त्रिवर्णो यस्य मस्तके॥ प्रयाति याति तस्यायुः षण्मासेन परिक्षयम्

drutamāruhyaśaraṭhastrivarṇo yasya mastake prayāti yāti tasyāyuḥ ṣaṇmāsena parikṣayam

He upon whose head a swift-moving, three-colored creature climbs and then quickly departs -- his life comes to its full end within six months.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.42.19)

सुस्नातस्यापि यस्याशु हृदयं परिशुष्यति॥ चरणौ च करौ वापि त्रिमासं तस्य जीवितम्॥ प्रतिबिंबं भवेद्यस्य पदखंडपदाकृति॥ पांसौ वा कर्दमे वापि पंचमासान्स जीवति

susnātasyāpi yasyāśu hṛdayaṁ pariśuṣyati caraṇau ca karau vāpi trimāsaṁ tasya jīvitam pratibiṁbaṁ bhavedyasya padakhaṁḍapadākṛti pāṁsau vā kardame vāpi paṁcamāsānsa jīvati

One whose chest, feet, or hands quickly dry out even after a thorough bath has only three months of life remaining. One whose reflection, in dust or in mud, appears broken like a fragmented footprint lives five months.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.42.20)

छाया प्रकंपते यस्य देहबंधेपि निश्चले॥ कृतांतदूता बध्नंति चतुर्थे मासि तं नरम्

chāyā prakaṁpate yasya dehabaṁdhepi niścale kṛtāṁtadūtā badhnaṁti caturthe māsi taṁ naram

The man whose shadow trembles even though his body remains perfectly still is bound by the messengers of Death within the fourth month.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.42.21)

निजस्य प्रतिबिंबस्य नीराज्यमुकुरादिषु॥ उत्तमांगं न यः पश्येत्समासेन विनश्यति

nijasya pratibiṁbasya nīrājyamukurādiṣu uttamāṁgaṁ na yaḥ paśyetsamāsena vinaśyati

One who cannot see the head of his own reflection in the water of an arati-lamp, in a mirror, or in similar means, perishes within a month.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.42.22)

मतिर्भ्रश्येत्स्खलेद्वाणी धनुरैद्रं निरक्षितै॥ रात्रौ चंद्रद्वयं चापि दिवा द्वौ च दिवाकरौ

matirbhraśyetskhaledvāṇī dhanuraidraṁ nirakṣitai rātrau caṁdradvayaṁ cāpi divā dvau ca divākarau

His intellect grows confused, his speech falters, he fails to see Indra's rainbow though he searches for it; he sees two moons at night, and two suns by day.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.42.23)

दिवा च तारकाचक्रं रात्रौ व्योमवितारकम्॥ युगपच्च चतुर्दिक्षु शाक्रं कोदंडमंडलम्

divā ca tārakācakraṁ rātrau vyomavitārakam yugapacca caturdikṣu śākraṁ kodaṁḍamaṁḍalam

He sees a whole wheel of stars by day, and the sky devoid of stars by night; and simultaneously, in all four directions, he sees a ring of rainbows.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.42.24)

भूरुहे भूधराग्रे च गंधर्वनगरालयम्॥ दिवापिशाच नृत्यं च एते पंचत्वहेतवः

bhūruhe bhūdharāgre ca gaṁdharvanagarālayam divāpiśāca nṛtyaṁ ca ete paṁcatvahetavaḥ

The mirage-city of the Gandharvas appears atop a tree or mountain-peak, and ghosts are seen dancing in broad daylight -- these are all portents of impending death.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.42.25)

सर्वेष्वेतेषु चिह्नेषु यद्येकमपि वीक्षते॥ तदा मासावधिं मृत्युः प्रतीक्षेत न चाधिकम्

sarveṣveteṣu cihneṣu yadyekamapi vīkṣate tadā māsāvadhiṁ mṛtyuḥ pratīkṣeta na cādhikam

If even a single one of all these signs is perceived, one should expect death within the span of a month, and no longer.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.42.26)

करावरुद्ध श्रवणः शृणोति न यदा ध्वनिम्॥ स्थूलः कृशः कृशस्थूलस्तदामासान्निवर्तते

karāvarudda śravaṇaḥ śṛṇoti na yadā dhvanim sthūlaḥ kṛśaḥ kṛśasthūlastadāmāsānnivartate

When, even with the ears blocked by the hands, the inner sound cannot be heard -- whether the person is stout, thin, or something between -- he then departs within a month.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.42.27)

यः पश्येदात्मनश्छायां दक्षिणाशा समाश्रिताम्॥ दिनानि पंच जीवित्वा पंचत्वमुपयाति सः

yaḥ paśyedātmanaśchāyāṁ dakṣiṇāśā samāśritām dināni paṁca jīvitvā paṁcatvamupayāti saḥ

One who sees his own shadow falling toward the southern direction lives only five more days before he passes into final dissolution.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.42.28)

प्रोह्यते भक्ष्यते वापि पिशाचासुरवायसैः॥ भूतैः प्रेतैः श्वभिर्गृध्रैर्गोमायुखरसूकरैः॥ रासभैः करभैः कीशैः श्वेनैरश्वतरैर्बकैः॥ स्वप्ने स जीवितं त्यक्त्वा वर्षांते यममीक्षते

prohyate bhakṣyate vāpi piśācāsuravāyasaiḥ bhūtaiḥ pretaiḥ śvabhirgṛdhrairgomāyukharasūkaraiḥ rāsabhaiḥ karabhaiḥ kīśaiḥ śvenairaśvatarairbakaiḥ svapne sa jīvitaṁ tyaktvā varṣāṁte yamamīkṣate

One who, in a dream, sees himself carried off or devoured by ghouls, demons, or crows, by spirits, by the dead, by dogs, vultures, jackals, donkeys, pigs, camels, monkeys, hawks, mules, or cranes, will lose his life and behold Yama at the end of one year.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.42.29)

गंधपुष्पांशुकैः शोणैः स्वां तनुं भूषितां नरः॥ यः पश्येत्स्वप्नसमये सोऽष्टौ मासाननित्यहो

gaṁdhapuṣpāṁśukaiḥ śoṇaiḥ svāṁ tanuṁ bhūṣitāṁ naraḥ yaḥ paśyetsvapnasamaye so'ṣṭau māsānanityaho

The man who, in a dream, sees his own body adorned with fragrance, red flowers, and red garments will not, alas, live beyond eight months.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.42.30)

पांसुराशि च वल्मीकं यूपदंडमथापि वा॥ योधिरोहति वै स्वप्ने स षष्ठे मासि नश्यति

pāṁsurāśi ca valmīkaṁ yūpadaṁḍamathāpi vā yodhirohati vai svapne sa ṣaṣṭhe māsi naśyati

One who, in a dream, climbs upon a heap of dust, an anthill, or a sacrificial post perishes within the sixth month.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.42.31)

रासभारूढमात्मानं तैलाभ्यक्तं च मुंडितम्॥ नीयमानं यमाशां यः स्वप्ने पश्येत्स्वपूर्वजान्

rāsabhārūḍhamātmānaṁ tailābhyaktaṁ ca muṁḍitam nīyamānaṁ yamāśāṁ yaḥ svapne paśyetsvapūrvajān

One who, in a dream, sees himself mounted on a donkey, anointed with oil and shaven-headed, being led toward the realm of Yama by his own departed ancestors...

Verse 32 (skanda.4.42.32)

स्वमौलौ स्वतनौ वापि यः पश्येत्स्वप्नगो नरः॥ तृणानि शुष्ककाष्ठानि षष्ठे मासि न तिष्ठति

svamaulau svatanau vāpi yaḥ paśyetsvapnago naraḥ tṛṇāni śuṣkakāṣṭhāni ṣaṣṭhe māsi na tiṣṭhati

...or who, while dreaming, sees dry grass or dried wood upon his own head or his own body, does not survive past the sixth month.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.42.33)

लोहदंडधरं कृष्णं पुरुषं कृष्णवाससम्॥ स्वयं योग्रे स्थितं पश्येत्स त्रीन्मासान्न लंघयेत्

lohadaṁḍadharaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇavāsasam svayaṁ yogre sthitaṁ paśyetsa trīnmāsānna laṁghayet

One who beholds, standing right before him, a dark man clad in black, bearing an iron staff, does not outlast three months.

Verse 34 (skanda.4.42.34)

काली कुमारी यं स्वप्ने बद्नीयाद्बाहु पाशकैः॥ स मासेन समीक्षेत नगरींशमनोषिताम्

kālī kumārī yaṁ svapne badnīyādbāhu pāśakaiḥ sa māsena samīkṣeta nagarīṁśamanoṣitām

One whom a dark maiden binds in a dream with the noose of her arms will, within a month, behold the city where the Lord of Death dwells.

Verse 35 (skanda.4.42.35)

नरो यो वानरारूढो यायात्प्राचीदिशं स्वपन्॥ दिनैः स पंचभिरेव पश्येत्संयमिनीं पुरीम्

naro yo vānarārūḍho yāyātprācīdiśaṁ svapan dinaiḥ sa paṁcabhireva paśyetsaṁyaminīṁ purīm

The man who dreams that, mounted on a monkey, he is traveling toward the eastern direction will, within just five days, behold Samyamani, the City of Restraint.

Verse 36 (skanda.4.42.36)

कृपणोपि वदान्यः स्याद्वदान्यः कृपणो यदि॥ प्रकृतेर्विकृतिश्चेत्स्यात्तदा पंचत्वमृच्छति

kṛpaṇopi vadānyaḥ syādvadānyaḥ kṛpaṇo yadi prakṛtervikṛtiścetsyāttadā paṁcatvamṛcchati

If a miserly man suddenly becomes generous, or a generous man suddenly becomes miserly -- if such a reversal occurs in one's very nature -- then that man approaches his final dissolution.

Verse 37 (skanda.4.42.37)

एतानि कालचिह्नानि संत्यन्यानि बहून्यपि॥ ज्ञात्वाभ्यसेन्नरो योगमथवाकाशिकां श्रयेत्॥ न कालवंचनोपायं मुनेन्यमवयाम्यहम्॥ विना मृत्युजयं काशीनाथं गर्भावरोधकम्

etāni kālacihnāni saṁtyanyāni bahūnyapi jñātvābhyasennaro yogamathavākāśikāṁ śrayet na kālavaṁcanopāyaṁ munenyamavayāmyaham vinā mṛtyujayaṁ kāśīnāthaṁ garbhāvarodhakam

These are the signs of Time, and there are yet many others besides. Knowing them, a man should either practice yoga, or take refuge in Kashi. O sage, I know of no means to outwit Time other than the Lord of Kashi, the very blocker of rebirth in the womb, the conqueror of death.

Verse 38 (skanda.4.42.38)

तावद्गर्जंति पापानि तावद्गर्जेद्यमो नृपः॥ यावद्विश्वेशशरणं नरो न निरतो व्रजेत्

tāvadgarjaṁti pāpāni tāvadgarjedyamo nṛpaḥ yāvadviśveśaśaraṇaṁ naro na nirato vrajet

Sins roar, and King Yama roars, only so long as a man has not gone, with full devotion, for refuge to Vishvesha.

Verse 39 (skanda.4.42.39)

प्राप्तविश्वेश्वरावासः पीतोत्तरवहापयाः॥ स्पृष्ट विश्वेशसल्लिंगः कश्च याति न वंद्यताम्

prāptaviśveśvarāvāsaḥ pītottaravahāpayāḥ spṛṣṭa viśveśasalliṁgaḥ kaśca yāti na vaṁdyatām

One who has attained residence with Vishveshvara, who has drunk the water of the northward-flowing Ganga, and who has touched the true Linga of Vishvesha -- who indeed does not become worthy of homage?

Verse 40 (skanda.4.42.40)

करिष्येत्कुपितःकालः किंकाशीवासिनां नृणाम्॥ काले शिवः स्वयं कर्णे यत्र मंत्रोपदेशकः

kariṣyetkupitaḥkālaḥ kiṁkāśīvāsināṁ nṛṇām kāle śivaḥ svayaṁ karṇe yatra maṁtropadeśakaḥ

What indeed can angry Time do to men who dwell in Kashi, where, at the hour of death, Shiva himself becomes the very whisperer of the sacred mantra into their ear?

Verse 41 (skanda.4.42.41)

यथा प्रयाति शिशुता कौमारं च यथा गतम्॥ सत्वरं गत्वरं तद्वद्यौवनं चापि वार्धकम

yathā prayāti śiśutā kaumāraṁ ca yathā gatam satvaraṁ gatvaraṁ tadvadyauvanaṁ cāpi vārdhakama

Just as infancy passes away, and just as childhood too passes swiftly, so too do youth and old age pass just as fleetingly.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.42.42)

यावन्नहि जराक्रांतिर्यावन्नेंद्रियवैक्लवम्॥ तावत्सर्वं फल्गुरूपं हित्वा काशीं श्रयेत्सुधीः

yāvannahi jarākrāṁtiryāvanneṁdriyavaiklavam tāvatsarvaṁ phalgurūpaṁ hitvā kāśīṁ śrayetsudhīḥ

As long as the assault of old age has not yet come, and as long as the senses have not yet grown feeble, the wise man should abandon this whole trivial, fleeting world and take refuge in Kashi.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.42.43)

अन्यानि काललक्ष्माणि तिष्ठंतु कलशोद्भव॥ जरैव प्रथमं लक्ष्म चित्रं तत्रापि भीर्नहि

anyāni kālalakṣmāṇi tiṣṭhaṁtu kalaśodbhava jaraiva prathamaṁ lakṣma citraṁ tatrāpi bhīrnahi

O Kalashodbhava, let the other signs of Time stand aside for now; old age itself is the very first sign, and strangely enough, even there people feel no fear.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.42.44)

पराभूतो हि जरया सर्वैश्च परिभूयते॥ हृततारुण्यमाणिक्यो धनहीनः पुमानिव

parābhūto hi jarayā sarvaiśca paribhūyate hṛtatāruṇyamāṇikyo dhanahīnaḥ pumāniva

A man overcome by old age is disregarded by everyone, just as a man stripped of the ruby-jewel of his youth and also of his wealth is disregarded.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.42.45)

सुतावाक्यं न कुर्वंति पत्नी प्रेमापि मुंचति॥ बांधवा नैव मन्यंते जरसाश्लेषितं नरम्

sutāvākyaṁ na kurvaṁti patnī premāpi muṁcati bāṁdhavā naiva manyaṁte jarasāśleṣitaṁ naram

The words of a man embraced by old age are not heeded even by his own children; his wife too withdraws her love; and his kinsmen no longer hold him in regard.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.42.46)

आश्लिष्टं जरया दृष्ट्वा परयोषिद्विशंकिता॥ भवेत्पराङ्मुखी नित्यं प्रणयिन्यपि कामिनी॥ न जरा सदृशो व्याधिर्न दुःखं जरया समम्॥ कारयित्र्यपमानस्य जरैव मरणं नृणाम्

āśliṣṭaṁ jarayā dṛṣṭvā parayoṣidviśaṁkitā bhavetparāṅmukhī nityaṁ praṇayinyapi kāminī na jarā sadṛśo vyādhirna duḥkhaṁ jarayā samam kārayitryapamānasya jaraiva maraṇaṁ nṛṇām

Seeing him embraced by old age, even a woman once devoted and loving grows wary, and forever turns her face away. There is no disease like old age, no sorrow equal to old age; old age, the very cause of humiliation, is itself death for men.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.42.47)

न जीयते तथा कालस्तपसा योगयुक्तिभिः॥ यथा चिरेणकालेन काशीवासाद्विजीयते

na jīyate tathā kālastapasā yogayuktibhiḥ yathā cireṇakālena kāśīvāsādvijīyate

Time is not conquered by austerity and yogic disciplines the way it is conquered, over the course of time, simply by dwelling in Kashi.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.42.48)

विनायज्ञैर्विनादानैर्विना व्रतजपादिभिः॥ विनातिपुण्यसंभारैः कः काशीं प्राप्तुमीहते

vināyajñairvinādānairvinā vratajapādibhiḥ vinātipuṇyasaṁbhāraiḥ kaḥ kāśīṁ prāptumīhate

Without sacrifices, without gifts, without vows and recitation and the like, without a vast accumulation of merit -- who indeed can hope to attain Kashi?

Verse 49 (skanda.4.42.49)

काशीप्राप्तिरयं योगःकाथीप्राप्तिरिदं तपः॥ काशीप्राप्तिरिदं दानं काशीप्राप्तिः शिवैकता

kāśīprāptirayaṁ yogaḥkāthīprāptiridaṁ tapaḥ kāśīprāptiridaṁ dānaṁ kāśīprāptiḥ śivaikatā

The attainment of Kashi is itself yoga; the attainment of Kashi is itself austerity; the attainment of Kashi is itself charity; and the attainment of Kashi is itself oneness with Shiva.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.42.50)

कः कलिकोथवा कालः का जरा किं च दुष्कृतम्॥ का रुजः केंतराया वा श्रिता वाराणसी यदि

kaḥ kalikothavā kālaḥ kā jarā kiṁ ca duṣkṛtam kā rujaḥ keṁtarāyā vā śritā vārāṇasī yadi

If one has taken refuge in Varanasi, then what is Kali to him, what is Time, what is old age, and what is sin? What are diseases, or obstacles?

Verse 51 (skanda.4.42.51)

कलिस्तानेव बाधेत कालस्तांश्च जिघांसति

kalistāneva bādheta kālastāṁśca jighāṁsati

Kali afflicts only those, and Time too seeks to slay only those...

Verse 52 (skanda.4.42.52)

एनांसि तांश्च बाधंते ये न काशीं समाश्रिताः॥ काशीसमाश्रिता यैश्च यैश्च विश्वेश्वरोर्चितः॥ तारकं ज्ञानमासाद्य ते मुक्ताः कर्मपाशतः

enāṁsi tāṁśca bādhaṁte ye na kāśīṁ samāśritāḥ kāśīsamāśritā yaiśca yaiśca viśveśvarorcitaḥ tārakaṁ jñānamāsādya te muktāḥ karmapāśataḥ

...and sins too afflict only those who have not taken refuge in Kashi. But those who have taken refuge in Kashi, and by whom Vishveshvara has been worshipped, attain the liberating knowledge and are freed from the very noose of karma.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.42.53)

धनिनो न तथा सौख्यं प्राप्नुवंति नराः क्वचित्॥ यथा निधनतः काश्यां लभते सुखमव्ययम्

dhanino na tathā saukhyaṁ prāpnuvaṁti narāḥ kvacit yathā nidhanataḥ kāśyāṁ labhate sukhamavyayam

Wealthy men never attain such happiness anywhere as a penniless man attains, in Kashi, an imperishable happiness.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.42.54)

वरं काशीसमावासी नासीनो द्युसदां पदम्॥ दुःखांतं लभते पूर्वः सुखांतं लभते परः

varaṁ kāśīsamāvāsī nāsīno dyusadāṁ padam duḥkhāṁtaṁ labhate pūrvaḥ sukhāṁtaṁ labhate paraḥ

Better to dwell in Kashi than to sit enthroned in the very seat of the gods; the former attains the end of sorrow, while the latter attains only the end of happiness.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.42.55)

स्थितोपि भगवनीशो मंदरं चारुकंदरम्॥ काशीं विना रतिं नाऽऽप दिवोदासनृपोषिताम्

sthitopi bhagavanīśo maṁdaraṁ cārukaṁdaram kāśīṁ vinā ratiṁ nā''pa divodāsanṛpoṣitām

Even while dwelling upon Mandara, that mountain of lovely caves, the Blessed Lord never attained, without Kashi, the delight he had once known there, nurtured by King Divodasa.