The Glory of Lolarka

Verse 1 (skanda.4.46.1)

॥ स्कंद उवाच॥ गतेथ योगिनीवृंदे देवदेवो घटोद्भव॥ काशीप्रवृत्तिं जिज्ञासुः प्राहिणोदंशुमालिनम्

skaṁda uvāca gatetha yoginīvṛṁde devadevo ghaṭodbhava kāśīpravṛttiṁ jijñāsuḥ prāhiṇodaṁśumālinam

Skanda said: O Ghatodbhava, when the host of Yoginis had departed, the God of gods, wishing to learn how matters stood in Kashi, sent forth the Sun.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.46.2)

देवदेव उवाच॥ सप्ताश्व त्वरितो याहि पुरीं वाराणसीं शुभाम्॥ यत्रास्ति स दिवोदासो धर्ममूर्तिर्महीपतिः

devadeva uvāca saptāśva tvarito yāhi purīṁ vārāṇasīṁ śubhām yatrāsti sa divodāso dharmamūrtirmahīpatiḥ

The God of gods said: "O charioteer of seven horses, go swiftly to the auspicious city of Varanasi, where dwells King Divodasa, the very embodiment of dharma."

Verse 3 (skanda.4.46.3)

तस्य धर्मविरोधेन यथातत्क्षेत्रमुद्वसेत्॥ तथा कुरुष्व भो क्षिप्रं मावमंस्थाश्च तं नृपम्

tasya dharmavirodhena yathātatkṣetramudvaset tathā kuruṣva bho kṣipraṁ māvamaṁsthāśca taṁ nṛpam

"Act swiftly, so that he, through some breach of dharma, comes to abandon that land — but never disrespect that king, my friend."

Verse 4 (skanda.4.46.4)

धर्ममार्ग प्रवृत्तस्य क्रियते यावमानना॥ सा भवेदात्मनो नूनं महदेनश्च जायते

dharmamārga pravṛttasya kriyate yāvamānanā sā bhavedātmano nūnaṁ mahadenaśca jāyate

"Whatever disrespect is shown to one devoted to the path of dharma surely recoils upon oneself, and a great sin is thereby incurred."

Verse 5 (skanda.4.46.5)

तवबुद्धिविकासेन च्यवते चेत्स धर्मतः॥ तदा सा नगरी भानो त्वयोद्वास्याऽसहैः करैः

tavabuddhivikāsena cyavate cetsa dharmataḥ tadā sā nagarī bhāno tvayodvāsyā'sahaiḥ karaiḥ

"O Sun, if by the working of your own cleverness he should fall from dharma, then make that city uninhabitable through your own unbearable rays."

Verse 6 (skanda.4.46.6)

कामक्रोधौ लोभमोहौ मत्सराहंकृती अपि॥ ते तत्र न भवेतां यत्तत्कालोपि न तं जयेत्

kāmakrodhau lobhamohau matsarāhaṁkṛtī api te tatra na bhavetāṁ yattatkālopi na taṁ jayet

"Where desire and anger, greed and delusion, envy and pride do not exist — even Time itself cannot conquer such a man."

Verse 7 (skanda.4.46.7)

यावद्धर्मे स्थिराबुद्धिर्यावद्धर्मेस्थिरं मनः॥ तावद्विघ्नोदयः क्वास्ति विपद्यपि रवे नृषु

yāvaddharme sthirābuddhiryāvaddharmesthiraṁ manaḥ tāvadvighnodayaḥ kvāsti vipadyapi rave nṛṣu

"O Sun, so long as a man's intellect remains fixed in dharma, so long as his mind stays steady in dharma, how can any obstacle ever arise for him, even in calamity?"

Verse 8 (skanda.4.46.8)

सर्वेषामिह जंतूनां त्वं वेत्सि ब्रध्नचेष्टितम्॥ अतएव जगच्चक्षुर्व्रज त्वं कार्यसिद्धये

sarveṣāmiha jaṁtūnāṁ tvaṁ vetsi bradhnaceṣṭitam ataeva jagaccakṣurvraja tvaṁ kāryasiddhaye

"You alone know the doings of every creature here; therefore, O eye of the world, go forth to accomplish this task."

Verse 9 (skanda.4.46.9)

रविरादाय देवाज्ञां मूर्तिमन्यां प्रकल्प्य च॥ नभोध्वगामहोरात्रं काशीमभिमुखोऽभवत्

ravirādāya devājñāṁ mūrtimanyāṁ prakalpya ca nabhodhvagāmahorātraṁ kāśīmabhimukho'bhavat

Receiving the god's command, the Sun assumed another form, and, travelling through the sky day and night, set out towards Kashi.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.46.10)

मनसातीवलोलोऽभूत्काशीदर्शनलालसः॥ सहस्रचरणोप्यैच्छत्तदा खे नैकपादताम्॥ हंसत्वं तस्य सूर्यस्य तदा सफलतामगात्॥ सदा नभोध्वनीनस्य काशीं प्रति यियासतः

manasātīvalolo'bhūtkāśīdarśanalālasaḥ sahasracaraṇopyaicchattadā khe naikapādatām haṁsatvaṁ tasya sūryasya tadā saphalatāmagāt sadā nabhodhvanīnasya kāśīṁ prati yiyāsataḥ

His mind grew utterly restless, longing to see Kashi; and though possessed of a thousand rays, he wished, as it were, for countless more feet to speed him through the sky. The very swiftness of that Sun, ever coursing the heavens, found its true fulfilment then, as he hastened eagerly towards Kashi.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.46.11)

अथ काशीं समासाद्य रविरंतर्बहिश्चरन्॥ मनागपि न तद्भूपे धर्मध्वस्तिमवेक्षत

atha kāśīṁ samāsādya raviraṁtarbahiścaran manāgapi na tadbhūpe dharmadhvastimavekṣata

Having reached Kashi, the Sun, ranging everywhere within and without, could not perceive in that king even the slightest crack in his dharma.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.46.12)

विभावसुर्वसन्काश्यां नानारूपेण वत्सरम्॥ क्वचिन्नावसरं प्राप तत्र राज्ञि सुधर्मिणि

vibhāvasurvasankāśyāṁ nānārūpeṇa vatsaram kvacinnāvasaraṁ prāpa tatra rājñi sudharmiṇi

Dwelling in Kashi for a whole year, taking on many different forms, Vibhavasu could find no opportunity at all against that most righteous king.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.46.13)

कदाचिदतिथिर्भूतो दुर्लभं प्रार्थयन्रविः॥ न तस्य राज्ञो विषये दुर्लभं किंचिदैक्षत

kadācidatithirbhūto durlabhaṁ prārthayanraviḥ na tasya rājño viṣaye durlabhaṁ kiṁcidaikṣata

Sometimes becoming a guest and asking for some rare thing, the Sun found nothing at all that was rare in that king's realm.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.46.14)

कदाचिद्याचको जातो बहुदोपि कदाप्यभूत्॥ कदाचिद्दीनतां प्राप्तः कदाचिद्गणकोप्यभूत्

kadācidyācako jāto bahudopi kadāpyabhūt kadāciddīnatāṁ prāptaḥ kadācidgaṇakopyabhūt

Sometimes he became a beggar, sometimes an extravagant giver; sometimes he took on the guise of the destitute, and sometimes that of an astrologer.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.46.15)

वेदबाह्यां क्रियां चापि कदाचित्प्रत्यपादयत्॥ कदाचित्स्थापयामास दृष्टप्रत्ययमैहिकम्

vedabāhyāṁ kriyāṁ cāpi kadācitpratyapādayat kadācitsthāpayāmāsa dṛṣṭapratyayamaihikam

Sometimes he propounded rites contrary to the Vedas; sometimes he set forth doctrines resting only on worldly, visible proof.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.46.16)

कदाचिज्जटिलो जातः कदाचिच्च दिगंबरः॥ स कदाचिज्जांगुलिको विषविद्याविशारदः

kadācijjaṭilo jātaḥ kadācicca digaṁbaraḥ sa kadācijjāṁguliko viṣavidyāviśāradaḥ

Sometimes he became a matted-locked ascetic, sometimes a naked mendicant; sometimes a snake-charmer, expert in the lore of poison.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.46.17)

सर्वपाषंडधर्मज्ञः कदाचिद्ब्रह्मवाद्यभूत्॥ ऐंद्रजालिक आसीच्च कदाचिद्भ्रामयञ्जनान्

sarvapāṣaṁḍadharmajñaḥ kadācidbrahmavādyabhūt aiṁdrajālika āsīcca kadācidbhrāmayañjanān

Versed in the doctrines of every heretical sect, he sometimes became a debater on the nature of Brahman, and sometimes a conjuror, bewildering the people with illusions.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.46.18)

नानाव्रतोपदेशैश्च कदाचित्स पतिव्रताः॥ क्षोभयामास बहुशः सदृष्टांत कथानकैः

nānāvratopadeśaiśca kadācitsa pativratāḥ kṣobhayāmāsa bahuśaḥ sadṛṣṭāṁta kathānakaiḥ

Sometimes, through teachings on various vows and through tales full of persuasive examples, he repeatedly tried to unsettle the chaste and devoted wives.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.46.19)

कापालिक व्रतधरः कदाचिच्चाभवद्द्विजः॥ कदाचिदपि विज्ञानी धातुवादी कदाचन॥ क्वचिद्विप्रः क्वचिद्राजपुत्रो वैश्योंत्यजः क्वचित॥ ब्रह्मचारी क्वचिदभूद्गृही वनचरः क्वचित्

kāpālika vratadharaḥ kadāciccābhavaddvijaḥ kadācidapi vijñānī dhātuvādī kadācana kvacidvipraḥ kvacidrājaputro vaiśyoṁtyajaḥ kvacita brahmacārī kvacidabhūdgṛhī vanacaraḥ kvacit

Sometimes a Kapalika ascetic, sometimes a twice-born Brahmin; sometimes a man of learning, sometimes an alchemist; sometimes a Brahmin, sometimes a prince, sometimes a merchant, sometimes an outcaste; sometimes a celibate student, sometimes a householder, sometimes a forest-dweller —

Verse 20 (skanda.4.46.20)

यतिः कदाचिदिति सरूपैरभ्रामयज्जनान्॥ सर्वविद्यासु कुशलः सर्वज्ञश्चाभवत्क्वचित्

yatiḥ kadāciditi sarūpairabhrāmayajjanān sarvavidyāsu kuśalaḥ sarvajñaścābhavatkvacit

and sometimes a renunciant — in these various guises he sought to bewilder the people; skilled in every field of knowledge, he even became, in one form, an all-knowing sage.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.46.21)

इति नानाविधै रूपैश्चरन्काश्यां ग्रहेश्वरः॥ न कदापि जने क्वापि च्छिद्रं प्राप कदाचन

iti nānāvidhai rūpaiścarankāśyāṁ graheśvaraḥ na kadāpi jane kvāpi cchidraṁ prāpa kadācana

Thus, roaming through Kashi in manifold forms, that lord of the planets could never, at any time, find the smallest flaw in anyone at all.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.46.22)

ततो निनिंद चात्मानं चिंतार्तः कश्यपात्मजः॥ धिक्परप्रेष्यतां यस्यां यशो लभ्येत न क्वचित्

tato niniṁda cātmānaṁ ciṁtārtaḥ kaśyapātmajaḥ dhikparapreṣyatāṁ yasyāṁ yaśo labhyeta na kvacit

Then, tormented with anxiety, Kashyapa's son began to reproach himself: "Shame on this service to another, in which no glory whatsoever is to be won!"

Verse 23 (skanda.4.46.23)

॥ मार्तंड उवाच॥ मंदरं यदि याम्यद्य सद्यस्तत्क्रुद्ध्यतीश्वरः॥ अनिष्पादितकार्यार्थे मयि सामान्यभृत्यवत्

mārtaṁḍa uvāca maṁdaraṁ yadi yāmyadya sadyastatkruddhyatīśvaraḥ aniṣpāditakāryārthe mayi sāmānyabhṛtyavat

Martanda said: "If I go to Mandara today, having failed to accomplish this task, the Lord will surely grow angry with me at once, as with any common servant."

Verse 24 (skanda.4.46.24)

कोपमप्युररीकृत्य यदि यायां कथंचन॥ कथं तिष्ठे पुरस्तस्य तर्हि वै मूढभृत्यवत्

kopamapyurarīkṛtya yadi yāyāṁ kathaṁcana kathaṁ tiṣṭhe purastasya tarhi vai mūḍhabhṛtyavat

"And even if I somehow went, accepting his anger, how could I then stand before him, like some foolish, bungling servant?"

Verse 25 (skanda.4.46.25)

अथोंकृत्यावहेलं वा यामि चेच्च कथंचन॥ क्रोधान्निरीक्षेत्त्र्यक्षो मां विषं पेयं तदा मया

athoṁkṛtyāvahelaṁ vā yāmi cecca kathaṁcana krodhānnirīkṣettryakṣo māṁ viṣaṁ peyaṁ tadā mayā

"Or if I go somehow, with disregard for his displeasure, and the three-eyed one looks upon me in wrath, then I would rather drink poison than face that."

Verse 26 (skanda.4.46.26)

हरकोपानले नूनं यदि यातः पतंगताम्॥ पितामहोपि मां त्रातुं तदा शक्ष्यति नस्फुटम्

harakopānale nūnaṁ yadi yātaḥ pataṁgatām pitāmahopi māṁ trātuṁ tadā śakṣyati nasphuṭam

"If I were truly consumed like a mere moth in the fire of Hara's wrath, then not even the Grandsire himself, it is plain, would be able to save me."

Verse 27 (skanda.4.46.27)

स्थास्याम्यत्रैव तन्नित्यं न त्यक्ष्यामि कदाचन॥ क्षेत्रसंन्यासविधिना वाराणस्यां कृताश्रमः

sthāsyāmyatraiva tannityaṁ na tyakṣyāmi kadācana kṣetrasaṁnyāsavidhinā vārāṇasyāṁ kṛtāśramaḥ

"Therefore I shall remain right here forever, and never leave. Taking up my dwelling in Varanasi according to the rite of settling permanently in this sacred field —"

Verse 28 (skanda.4.46.28)

पुरः पुरारेः कायार्थमनिवेद्येह तिष्ठतः॥ यत्पापं भावि मे तस्य काशीपापस्यनिष्कृतिः॥ अन्यान्यपि च पापानि महांत्यल्पानि यानि च॥ क्षयंति तानि सर्वाणि काशीं प्रविशतां सताम्

puraḥ purāreḥ kāyārthamanivedyeha tiṣṭhataḥ yatpāpaṁ bhāvi me tasya kāśīpāpasyaniṣkṛtiḥ anyānyapi ca pāpāni mahāṁtyalpāni yāni ca kṣayaṁti tāni sarvāṇi kāśīṁ praviśatāṁ satām

"— whatever sin may fall on me for staying here without reporting to Purari, Kashi herself is the very expiation for it. And every other sin besides, great or small, is destroyed for the righteous who enter Kashi."

Verse 29 (skanda.4.46.29)

बुद्धिपूर्वं मया चैतन्न पापं समुपार्जितम्॥ पुरारिणैव हि पुराऽऽशासि धर्मो हि रक्ष्यताम्

buddhipūrvaṁ mayā caitanna pāpaṁ samupārjitam purāriṇaiva hi purā''śāsi dharmo hi rakṣyatām

"And besides, this sin has not been knowingly incurred by me at all; for it was Purari himself who long ago commanded: 'Let dharma be protected.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.4.46.30)

धर्मो हि रक्षितो येन देहे सत्वरगत्वरे॥ त्रैलोक्यरक्षितं तेन किं कामार्थैः सुरक्षितैः

dharmo hi rakṣito yena dehe satvaragatvare trailokyarakṣitaṁ tena kiṁ kāmārthaiḥ surakṣitaiḥ

"Whoever protects dharma within this swiftly passing body has, in effect, protected the three worlds themselves; what need has such a one of desire and wealth, however well guarded?"

Verse 31 (skanda.4.46.31)

रक्षणीयो यदि भवेत्कामः कामारिणा कथम्॥ क्षणादनंगतां नीतो बहूनां सुखकार्यपि

rakṣaṇīyo yadi bhavetkāmaḥ kāmāriṇā katham kṣaṇādanaṁgatāṁ nīto bahūnāṁ sukhakāryapi

"If desire were truly worth protecting, how could the Enemy of Kama have reduced him to bodilessness in an instant — even though he was, for so many, the very cause of pleasure?"

Verse 32 (skanda.4.46.32)

अर्थश्चेत्सर्वथारक्ष्य इति कैश्चिदुदाहृतम्॥ तत्कथं न हरिश्चंद्रोऽरक्षत्कुशिकनंदने

arthaścetsarvathārakṣya iti kaiścidudāhṛtam tatkathaṁ na hariścaṁdro'rakṣatkuśikanaṁdane

"And if some say that wealth must be protected at all costs, why then did Harishchandra not protect his own wealth before Kushika's son, Vishvamitra?"

Verse 33 (skanda.4.46.33)

धर्मस्तु रक्षितः सर्वैरपिदेहव्ययेन च॥ शिबिप्रभृतिभूपालैर्दधीचिप्रमुखैर्द्विजैः

dharmastu rakṣitaḥ sarvairapidehavyayena ca śibiprabhṛtibhūpālairdadhīcipramukhairdvijaiḥ

"But dharma has been protected by all, even at the cost of the body — by kings like Shibi, and by Brahmins headed by Dadhichi."

Verse 34 (skanda.4.46.34)

अयमेव हि वै धर्मः काशीसेवनसंभवः॥ रुषितादपि रुद्रान्मां रक्षिष्यति न संशयः

ayameva hi vai dharmaḥ kāśīsevanasaṁbhavaḥ ruṣitādapi rudrānmāṁ rakṣiṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"This very dharma, born of service to Kashi, will surely protect me — without any doubt — even from an angered Rudra."

Verse 35 (skanda.4.46.35)

अवाप्य काशीं दुष्प्रापां को जहाति सचेतनः॥ रत्नं करस्थमुत्सृज्य कः काचं संजिघृक्षति

avāpya kāśīṁ duṣprāpāṁ ko jahāti sacetanaḥ ratnaṁ karasthamutsṛjya kaḥ kācaṁ saṁjighṛkṣati

"What sentient being, having won the hard-won Kashi, would ever abandon her? Who, having a jewel already in hand, would cast it away to grasp at glass?"

Verse 36 (skanda.4.46.36)

वाराणसीं समुत्सृज्य यस्त्वन्यत्र यियासति॥ हत्वा निधानं पादेन सोर्थमिच्छति भिक्षया

vārāṇasīṁ samutsṛjya yastvanyatra yiyāsati hatvā nidhānaṁ pādena sorthamicchati bhikṣayā

"Whoever abandons Varanasi to seek fortune elsewhere is like one who kicks away a buried treasure with his own foot, only to go begging for wealth instead."

Verse 37 (skanda.4.46.37)

पुत्रमित्रकलत्राणि क्षेत्राणि च धनानि च॥ प्रतिजन्मेह लभ्यंते काश्येका नैव लभ्यते॥ येन लब्धा पुरी काशी त्रैलोक्योद्धरणक्षमा॥ त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यदुष्प्रापं तेन लब्धं महासुखम्

putramitrakalatrāṇi kṣetrāṇi ca dhanāni ca pratijanmeha labhyaṁte kāśyekā naiva labhyate yena labdhā purī kāśī trailokyoddharaṇakṣamā trailokyaiśvaryaduṣprāpaṁ tena labdhaṁ mahāsukham

"Sons, friends, wives, lands, and wealth are gained in every birth; Kashi alone is never so easily gained. Whoever has attained the city of Kashi — capable of redeeming all three worlds — has thereby won that great bliss which even the wealth of all three worlds could scarcely secure."

Verse 38 (skanda.4.46.38)

कुपितोपि हि मे रुद्रस्तेजोहानिं विधास्यति॥ काश्यां च लप्स्ये तत्तेजो यद्वै स्वात्मावबोधजम्

kupitopi hi me rudrastejohāniṁ vidhāsyati kāśyāṁ ca lapsye tattejo yadvai svātmāvabodhajam

"Even should an angry Rudra diminish my own splendour, in Kashi I shall gain that other splendour — the one born of the knowledge of one's own true self."

Verse 39 (skanda.4.46.39)

इतराणीह तेजांसि भासंते तावदेव हि॥ खद्योताभानि यावन्नो जृंभते काशिजं महः

itarāṇīha tejāṁsi bhāsaṁte tāvadeva hi khadyotābhāni yāvanno jṛṁbhate kāśijaṁ mahaḥ

"All other splendours here shine only as fireflies do — only until the great light born of Kashi itself blazes forth."

Verse 40 (skanda.4.46.40)

इति काशीप्रभावज्ञो जगच्चक्षुस्तमोनुदः॥ कृत्वा द्वादशधात्मानं काशीपुर्यां व्यवस्थितः

iti kāśīprabhāvajño jagaccakṣustamonudaḥ kṛtvā dvādaśadhātmānaṁ kāśīpuryāṁ vyavasthitaḥ

Thus, knowing the power of Kashi, the eye of the world, dispeller of darkness, divided himself into twelve forms and settled in the city of Kashi.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.46.41)

लोलार्क उत्तरार्कश्च सांबादित्यस्तथैव च॥ चतुर्थो द्रुपदादित्यो मयूखादित्य एव च

lolārka uttarārkaśca sāṁbādityastathaiva ca caturtho drupadādityo mayūkhāditya eva ca

Lolarka, Uttararka, and Sambaditya as well; the fourth, Drupadaditya, and Mayukhaditya too —

Verse 42 (skanda.4.46.42)

खखोल्कश्चारुणादित्यो वृद्धकेशवसंज्ञकौ॥ दशमो विमलादित्यो गंगादित्यस्तथैव च

khakholkaścāruṇādityo vṛddhakeśavasaṁjñakau daśamo vimalādityo gaṁgādityastathaiva ca

Khakholka and Arunaditya; the two named Vriddha and Keshava; the tenth, Vimaladitya, and Gangaditya as well —

Verse 43 (skanda.4.46.43)

द्वादशश्च यमादित्यः काशिपुर्यां घटोद्भव॥ तमोऽधिकेभ्यो दुष्टेभ्यः क्षेत्रं रक्षंत्यमी सदा

dvādaśaśca yamādityaḥ kāśipuryāṁ ghaṭodbhava tamo'dhikebhyo duṣṭebhyaḥ kṣetraṁ rakṣaṁtyamī sadā

and the twelfth, Yamaditya — O Ghatodbhava, in the city of Kashi, these twelve suns forever guard the sacred field against the wicked, overcome as they are by darkness.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.46.44)

तस्यार्कस्य मनोलोलं यदासीत्काशिदर्शने॥ अतो लोलार्क इत्याख्या काश्यां जाता विवस्वतः

tasyārkasya manololaṁ yadāsītkāśidarśane ato lolārka ityākhyā kāśyāṁ jātā vivasvataḥ

Since that Sun's mind had grown so restless with longing to behold Kashi, the name "Lolarka" — "the restless Sun" — came to be given him in Kashi.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.46.45)

लोलार्कस्त्वसिसंभेदे दक्षिणस्यां दिशिस्थितः॥ योगक्षेमं सदा कुर्यात्काशीवासि जनस्य च

lolārkastvasisaṁbhede dakṣiṇasyāṁ diśisthitaḥ yogakṣemaṁ sadā kuryātkāśīvāsi janasya ca

Lolarka, stationed at the confluence of the Asi stream in the southern quarter, forever secures the welfare and well-being of the people who dwell in Kashi.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.46.46)

मार्गशीर्षस्य सप्तम्यां षष्ठ्यां वा रविवासरे॥ विधाय वार्षिकीं यात्रां नरः पापै प्रमुच्यते॥ कृतानि यानि पापानि नरैः संवत्सरावधि॥ नश्यंति क्षणतस्तानि षष्ठ्यर्के लोलदर्शनात्

mārgaśīrṣasya saptamyāṁ ṣaṣṭhyāṁ vā ravivāsare vidhāya vārṣikīṁ yātrāṁ naraḥ pāpai pramucyate kṛtāni yāni pāpāni naraiḥ saṁvatsarāvadhi naśyaṁti kṣaṇatastāni ṣaṣṭhyarke loladarśanāt

By undertaking the yearly pilgrimage on the seventh or sixth day of Margashirsha, on a Sunday, a man is freed from his sins. Whatever sins men have committed over the course of a whole year are destroyed in an instant by beholding Lolarka on that sixth-day sun-festival.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.46.47)

नरः स्नात्वासिसंभेदे संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः॥ श्राद्धं विधाय विधिना पित्रानृण्यमवाप्नुयात्

naraḥ snātvāsisaṁbhede saṁtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ śrāddhaṁ vidhāya vidhinā pitrānṛṇyamavāpnuyāt

A man who bathes at the confluence of the Asi, offers libations to the gods and ancestors, and performs the shraddha rite according to proper form, is freed from his debt to his forefathers.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.46.48)

लोलार्कसंगमे स्नात्वा दानं होमं सुरार्चनम्॥ यत्किंचित्क्रियते कर्म तदानंत्याय कल्पते

lolārkasaṁgame snātvā dānaṁ homaṁ surārcanam yatkiṁcitkriyate karma tadānaṁtyāya kalpate

Bathing at the confluence of Lolarka, whatever act one performs — charity, oblation, or worship of the gods — becomes the source of everlasting merit.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.46.49)

सूर्योपरागे लोलार्के स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः॥ कुरुक्षेत्राद्दशगुणा भवंतीह न संशयः

sūryoparāge lolārke snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ kurukṣetrāddaśaguṇā bhavaṁtīha na saṁśayaḥ

During a solar eclipse, rites of bathing and giving alms at Lolarka become, without doubt, ten times as meritorious here as at Kurukshetra.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.46.50)

लोलार्के रथसप्तम्यां स्नात्वा गंगासिसंगमे॥ सप्तजन्मकृतैः पापैर्मुक्तो भवति तत्क्षणात्

lolārke rathasaptamyāṁ snātvā gaṁgāsisaṁgame saptajanmakṛtaiḥ pāpairmukto bhavati tatkṣaṇāt

Bathing at Lolarka on Ratha-saptami, at the meeting of the Ganga and the Asi, one is instantly freed from the sins of seven births.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.46.51)

प्रत्यर्कवारं लोलार्कं यः पश्यति शुचिव्रतः॥ न तस्य दुःखं लोकेस्मिन्कदाचित्संभविष्यति

pratyarkavāraṁ lolārkaṁ yaḥ paśyati śucivrataḥ na tasya duḥkhaṁ lokesminkadācitsaṁbhaviṣyati

Whoever, keeping a vow of purity, beholds Lolarka every Sunday shall never know sorrow in this world.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.46.52)

न तस्य दुःखं नो पामा न दद्रुर्न विचर्चिका॥ लोलार्कमर्के यः पश्येत्तत्पादोदकसेवकः

na tasya duḥkhaṁ no pāmā na dadrurna vicarcikā lolārkamarke yaḥ paśyettatpādodakasevakaḥ

For one who beholds Lolarka on a Sunday and partakes of the water that has bathed his feet, there is neither sorrow, nor scabies, nor ringworm, nor any skin ailment.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.46.53)

वाराणस्यामुषित्वापि यो लोलार्कं न सेवते॥ सेवंते तं नरं नूनं क्लेशाः क्षुद्व्याधिसंभवाः

vārāṇasyāmuṣitvāpi yo lolārkaṁ na sevate sevaṁte taṁ naraṁ nūnaṁ kleśāḥ kṣudvyādhisaṁbhavāḥ

Whoever, though dwelling in Varanasi, fails to worship Lolarka — upon that man, surely, afflictions born of hunger and disease will come to attend.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.46.54)

सर्वेषां काशितीर्थानां लोलार्कः प्रथमं शिरः॥ ततोंऽगान्यन्यतीर्थानि तज्जलप्लावितानिहि

sarveṣāṁ kāśitīrthānāṁ lolārkaḥ prathamaṁ śiraḥ tatoṁ'gānyanyatīrthāni tajjalaplāvitānihi

Among all the sacred sites of Kashi, Lolarka is the very foremost, its head; all the other sacred places are, as it were, its limbs, bathed by its own waters.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.46.55)

तीर्थांतराणि सर्वाणि भूमीवलयगान्यपि॥ असिसंभेदतीर्थस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्॥ सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां स्नानाद्यल्लभ्यते फलम्॥ तत्फलं सम्यगाप्येत नरैर्गंगासिसंगमे

tīrthāṁtarāṇi sarvāṇi bhūmīvalayagānyapi asisaṁbhedatīrthasya kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm sarveṣāmeva tīrthānāṁ snānādyallabhyate phalam tatphalaṁ samyagāpyeta narairgaṁgāsisaṁgame

All other holy places, even those scattered across the whole earth, do not equal even a sixteenth part of the sacred site at Asi-sangam. Whatever merit is gained by bathing at every other sacred place, that same merit, in full, is obtained by men simply at the confluence of the Ganga and the Asi.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.46.56)

नार्थवादोयमुदितः स्तुतिवादो न वै मुने॥ सत्यं यथार्थवादोयं श्रद्धेयः सद्भिरादरात्

nārthavādoyamuditaḥ stutivādo na vai mune satyaṁ yathārthavādoyaṁ śraddheyaḥ sadbhirādarāt

O sage, this is not spoken as mere rhetorical flourish, nor as empty praise — this is the plain and simple truth, and the virtuous should hold it in reverent faith.

Verse 57 (skanda.4.46.57)

यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्र स्वर्गतरंगिणी॥ मिथ्या तत्रानुमन्यंते तार्किकाश्चानुसूयकाः

yatra viśveśvaraḥ sākṣādyatra svargataraṁgiṇī mithyā tatrānumanyaṁte tārkikāścānusūyakāḥ

Where Vishveshvara himself dwells in person, where the celestial river Ganga flows — only the sophist and the envious would ever suppose such a place's glory to be false.

Verse 58 (skanda.4.46.58)

उदाहरंति ये मूढाः कुतर्कबलदर्पिताः॥ काश्यां सर्वेर्थवादोयं ते विट्कीटा युगेयुगे

udāharaṁti ye mūḍhāḥ kutarkabaladarpitāḥ kāśyāṁ sarverthavādoyaṁ te viṭkīṭā yugeyuge

Those fools who, swollen with the pride of their own sophistry, declare all this about Kashi to be mere exaggeration — they are reborn, age after age, as worms in filth.

Verse 59 (skanda.4.46.59)

कस्यचित्काशितीर्थस्य महिम्नो महतस्तुलाम्॥ नाधिरोहेन्मुने नूनमपि त्रैलोक्यमंडपः

kasyacitkāśitīrthasya mahimno mahatastulām nādhirohenmune nūnamapi trailokyamaṁḍapaḥ

O sage, not even the whole vast pavilion of the three worlds could rise to equal the great glory of even a single one of Kashi's sacred places.

Verse 60 (skanda.4.46.60)

नास्तिका वेदबाह्याश्च शिश्नोदरपरायणाः॥ अंत्यजाताश्च ये तेषां पुरः काशी न वर्ण्यताम्

nāstikā vedabāhyāśca śiśnodaraparāyaṇāḥ aṁtyajātāśca ye teṣāṁ puraḥ kāśī na varṇyatām

Before atheists, those outside the fold of the Veda, those given over solely to belly and lust, and outcastes — Kashi's glory should never be described at all.

Verse 61 (skanda.4.46.61)

लोलार्ककरनिष्टप्ता असिधार विखंडिताः॥ काश्यां दक्षिणदिग्भागे न विशेयुर्महामलाः

lolārkakaraniṣṭaptā asidhāra vikhaṁḍitāḥ kāśyāṁ dakṣiṇadigbhāge na viśeyurmahāmalāḥ

Scorched by the rays of Lolarka and cut down as if by the edge of a sword, the deeply impure can never gain entry into the southern quarter of Kashi.

Verse 62 (skanda.4.46.62)

महिमानमिमं श्रुत्वा लोलार्कस्य नरोत्तमः॥ न दुःखी जायते क्वापि संसारे दुःखसागरे

mahimānamimaṁ śrutvā lolārkasya narottamaḥ na duḥkhī jāyate kvāpi saṁsāre duḥkhasāgare

Having heard this glory of Lolarka, the best of men never becomes sorrowful anywhere, even in this world, which is an ocean of sorrow.