The Greatness of Sambaditya

Verse 1 (skanda.4.48.1)

स्कंद उवाच॥ शृणुष्व मैत्रावरुणे द्वारवत्यां यदूद्वहः॥ दानवानां वधार्थाय भुवोभारापनुत्तये

skaṁda uvāca śṛṇuṣva maitrāvaruṇe dvāravatyāṁ yadūdvahaḥ dānavānāṁ vadhārthāya bhuvobhārāpanuttaye

Skanda said: Listen, O son of Mitra and Varuna. In Dvaraka, for the slaying of the demons and the lifting of the earth's burden —

Verse 2 (skanda.4.48.2)

आविरासीत्स्वयं कृष्णः कृष्णवर्त्मप्रतापवान्॥ वासुदेवो जगद्धाम देवक्या वसुदेवतः

āvirāsītsvayaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇavartmapratāpavān vāsudevo jagaddhāma devakyā vasudevataḥ

— Krishna himself appeared, mighty as fire, Vasudeva, the very abode of the universe, born to Devaki through Vasudeva.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.48.3)

साशीतिलक्षं तस्यासन्कुमारा अर्कवर्चसः॥ स्वर्गे पितादृशा बालाः सुशीला न हि कुंभज

sāśītilakṣaṁ tasyāsankumārā arkavarcasaḥ svarge pitādṛśā bālāḥ suśīlā na hi kuṁbhaja

He had over eight million sons, radiant as the sun; O jar-born one, never even in heaven are children found so virtuous and so like their father.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.48.4)

अतीवरूपसंपन्ना अतीव सुमहाबलाः॥ अतीव शस्त्रशास्त्रज्ञा अतीव शुभलक्षणाः

atīvarūpasaṁpannā atīva sumahābalāḥ atīva śastraśāstrajñā atīva śubhalakṣaṇāḥ

They were exceedingly handsome, exceedingly mighty, exceedingly versed in both weapons and scripture, and exceedingly blessed with auspicious marks.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.48.5)

तांद्रष्टुं मानसः पुत्रो ब्रह्मणस्तपसांनिधिः॥ कृतवल्कलकौपीनो धृत कृष्णाजिनांबरः॥ गृहीतब्रह्मदंडश्च त्रिवृन्मौंजी सुमेखलः॥ उरस्थलस्थ तुलसी मालया समलंकृतः

tāṁdraṣṭuṁ mānasaḥ putro brahmaṇastapasāṁnidhiḥ kṛtavalkalakaupīno dhṛta kṛṣṇājināṁbaraḥ gṛhītabrahmadaṁḍaśca trivṛnmauṁjī sumekhalaḥ urasthalastha tulasī mālayā samalaṁkṛtaḥ

To see them came the mind-born son of Brahma, that treasury of austerity — Narada — clad in bark and a loincloth, wearing a robe of black antelope-hide, bearing the Brahmin's staff, girded with the triple munja-cord as a fine girdle, his chest adorned with a garland of tulasi.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.48.6)

गोपीचंदननिर्यास लसदंगविलेपनः॥ तपसा कृशसर्वांगो मूर्तो ज्वलनवज्ज्वलन्

gopīcaṁdananiryāsa lasadaṁgavilepanaḥ tapasā kṛśasarvāṁgo mūrto jvalanavajjvalan

His limbs gleaming with a smear of gopichandana sandal-paste, his whole body wasted thin by austerity, he blazed as though Fire itself had taken form.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.48.7)

आजगामांबरचरो नारदो द्वारकापुरीम्॥ विश्वकर्मविनिर्माणां जितस्वर्गपुरीश्रियम्

ājagāmāṁbaracaro nārado dvārakāpurīm viśvakarmavinirmāṇāṁ jitasvargapurīśriyam

Narada, who moves through the sky, came to the city of Dvaraka — built by Vishvakarma, and surpassing even the splendour of heaven's own city.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.48.8)

तंदृष्ट्वा नारदं सर्वे विनम्रतरकंधराः॥ प्रबद्ध मूर्धांजलयः प्रणेमुर्वृष्णिनंदनाः

taṁdṛṣṭvā nāradaṁ sarve vinamratarakaṁdharāḥ prabaddha mūrdhāṁjalayaḥ praṇemurvṛṣṇinaṁdanāḥ

Seeing Narada, all the sons of the Vrishni line, their necks bowed low, their joined hands raised to their heads, offered him reverent salutations.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.48.9)

सांबः स्वरूपसौंदर्य गर्वसर्वस्वमोहितः॥ न ननाम मुनिं तत्र हसंस्तद्रूपसंपदम्॥ सांबस्य तमभिप्रायं विज्ञाय स महामुनिः॥ विवेश सुमहारम्यं नारदः कृष्णमंदिरम्

sāṁbaḥ svarūpasauṁdarya garvasarvasvamohitaḥ na nanāma muniṁ tatra hasaṁstadrūpasaṁpadam sāṁbasya tamabhiprāyaṁ vijñāya sa mahāmuniḥ viveśa sumahāramyaṁ nāradaḥ kṛṣṇamaṁdiram

Samba, however, wholly infatuated with pride in his own beauty of form, did not bow to the sage — and instead laughed at his ascetic appearance. Perceiving Samba's intent, the great sage Narada entered Krishna's own most splendid palace.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.48.10)

कृष्णोथ दृष्ट्वाऽऽगच्छंतं प्रत्युद्गम्य च नारदम्॥ मधुपर्केण संपूज्य स्वासने चोपवेशयत्

kṛṣṇotha dṛṣṭvā''gacchaṁtaṁ pratyudgamya ca nāradam madhuparkeṇa saṁpūjya svāsane copaveśayat

Then Krishna, seeing Narada approach, rose to receive him, honoured him with the offering of madhuparka, and seated him upon his own throne.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.48.11)

कृत्वा कथा विचित्रार्थास्तत एकांतवर्तिनः॥ कृष्णस्य कर्णेऽकथयन्नारदः सांबचेष्टितम्

kṛtvā kathā vicitrārthāstata ekāṁtavartinaḥ kṛṣṇasya karṇe'kathayannāradaḥ sāṁbaceṣṭitam

After exchanging various curious stories, when they were alone together, Narada whispered into Krishna's ear the tale of Samba's behaviour.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.48.12)

अवश्यं किंचिदत्राऽस्ति यशोदानंदवर्धन॥ प्रायशस्तन्न घटतेऽसंभाव्यं नाथ वास्त्रियाम्

avaśyaṁ kiṁcidatrā'sti yaśodānaṁdavardhana prāyaśastanna ghaṭate'saṁbhāvyaṁ nātha vāstriyām

[Narada said:] "O joy of Yashoda, surely there is something amiss here; usually nothing improper occurs — yet, my lord, where a woman is concerned, nothing at all is truly beyond possibility."

Verse 13 (skanda.4.48.13)

यूनां त्रिभुवनस्थानां सांबोऽतीव सुरूपवान्॥ स्वभावचंचलाक्षीणां चेतोवृत्तिः सुचंचला

yūnāṁ tribhuvanasthānāṁ sāṁbo'tīva surūpavān svabhāvacaṁcalākṣīṇāṁ cetovṛttiḥ sucaṁcalā

"Among all the young men of the three worlds, Samba is exceedingly handsome; and the hearts of women, whose very eyes are naturally restless, are themselves exceedingly fickle."

Verse 14 (skanda.4.48.14)

अपेक्षंते न मुग्धाक्ष्यः कुलं शीलं श्रुतं धनम्॥ रूपमेव समीक्षंते विषमेषु विमोहिताः

apekṣaṁte na mugdhākṣyaḥ kulaṁ śīlaṁ śrutaṁ dhanam rūpameva samīkṣaṁte viṣameṣu vimohitāḥ

"Enchanted women pay no heed to family, character, learning, or wealth; bewildered by temptation, they look only to beauty of form."

Verse 15 (skanda.4.48.15)

अथवा विदितं नो ते वल्लवीनां विचेष्टितम्॥ विनाष्टौनायिकाः कृष्ण कामयंतेऽबलाह्यमुम्

athavā viditaṁ no te vallavīnāṁ viceṣṭitam vināṣṭaunāyikāḥ kṛṣṇa kāmayaṁte'balāhyamum

"Or perhaps, O Krishna, you already know well enough the ways of the cowherd women; apart from your eight chief queens, the rest of the weaker-hearted women desire this Samba."

Verse 16 (skanda.4.48.16)

वामभ्रुवां स्वभावाच्च नारदस्य च वाक्यतः॥ विज्ञाताऽऽखिलवृत्तांतस्तथ्यं कृष्णोप्यमन्यत

vāmabhruvāṁ svabhāvācca nāradasya ca vākyataḥ vijñātā''khilavṛttāṁtastathyaṁ kṛṣṇopyamanyata

From the very nature of fickle-eyed women, and from Narada's own words, Krishna, now made aware of the whole matter, took it to be true.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.48.17)

तावद्धैर्यंचलाक्षीणां तावच्चेतोविवेकिता॥ यावन्नार्थी विविक्तस्थो विविक्तेर्थिनि नान्यथा

tāvaddhairyaṁcalākṣīṇāṁ tāvaccetovivekitā yāvannārthī viviktastho vivikterthini nānyathā

The composure of fickle-eyed women, and the discernment of their minds, lasts only so long as no eager suitor presents himself in private; once such a one is present in solitude, it is otherwise.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.48.18)

इत्थं विवेचयंश्चित्ते कृष्णः क्रोधनदीरयम्॥ विवेकसेतुनाऽऽस्तभ्य नारदं प्राहिणोत्सुधीः॥ सांबस्य वैकृतं किंचित्क्वचित्कृष्णोनवैक्षत॥ गते देवमुनौ तस्मिन्वीक्षमाणोप्यहर्निशम्

itthaṁ vivecayaṁścitte kṛṣṇaḥ krodhanadīrayam vivekasetunā''stabhya nāradaṁ prāhiṇotsudhīḥ sāṁbasya vaikṛtaṁ kiṁcitkvacitkṛṣṇonavaikṣata gate devamunau tasminvīkṣamāṇopyaharniśam

Thus reflecting within himself, the wise Krishna, damming the current of his own anger with discernment, sent Narada away. Yet, though he watched day and night after that divine sage had left, Krishna never once perceived anything amiss in Samba's conduct.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.48.19)

कियत्यपि गते काले पुनरप्याययौ मुनिः॥ मध्ये लीलावतीनां च ज्ञात्वा कृष्णमवस्थितम्

kiyatyapi gate kāle punarapyāyayau muniḥ madhye līlāvatīnāṁ ca jñātvā kṛṣṇamavasthitam

After some time had passed, the sage came again; and, learning that Krishna was seated amid his playful consorts —

Verse 20 (skanda.4.48.20)

बहिः क्रीडंतमाहूय सांबमित्याह नारदः॥ याहि कृष्णांतिकं तूर्णं कथयागमनं मम

bahiḥ krīḍaṁtamāhūya sāṁbamityāha nāradaḥ yāhi kṛṣṇāṁtikaṁ tūrṇaṁ kathayāgamanaṁ mama

— calling out to Samba, who was playing outside, Narada said: "Go quickly to Krishna, and tell him of my arrival."

Verse 21 (skanda.4.48.21)

सांबोपि यामि नोयामि क्षणमित्थमचिंतयत्॥ कथं रहःस्थ पितरं यामि स्त्रैणसखंप्रति

sāṁbopi yāmi noyāmi kṣaṇamitthamaciṁtayat kathaṁ rahaḥstha pitaraṁ yāmi straiṇasakhaṁprati

Samba too, for a moment, hesitated: "Shall I go, or not?" — thinking, "How can I go to my own father, secluded there with his womenfolk?"

Verse 22 (skanda.4.48.22)

न यामि च कथं वाक्यादस्याहं ब्रह्मचारिणः॥ ज्वलदंगारसंकाश स्फुरत्सर्वांगतेजसः

na yāmi ca kathaṁ vākyādasyāhaṁ brahmacāriṇaḥ jvaladaṁgārasaṁkāśa sphuratsarvāṁgatejasaḥ

"And yet, how can I refuse the word of this celibate sage — glowing like a burning coal, his whole body ablaze with light?"

Verse 23 (skanda.4.48.23)

प्रणमत्सुकुमारेषु व्रीडितोयं मयैकदा॥ इदानीमपि नो यायामस्य वाक्यान्महामुनेः

praṇamatsukumāreṣu vrīḍitoyaṁ mayaikadā idānīmapi no yāyāmasya vākyānmahāmuneḥ

"Once before, when the young princes bowed to him, I felt too ashamed to do the same; shall I now, too, refuse to go, even at this great sage's own word?"

Verse 24 (skanda.4.48.24)

अत्याहितं तदस्तीह तदागोद्वयदर्शनात्॥ पितुः कोपोपि सुश्लाघ्यो मयि नो ब्राह्मणस्य तु

atyāhitaṁ tadastīha tadāgodvayadarśanāt pituḥ kopopi suślāghyo mayi no brāhmaṇasya tu

"It would indeed be most unfortunate to be seen there just then. My father's anger, I could well bear — but never a Brahmin's."

Verse 25 (skanda.4.48.25)

ब्रह्मकोपाग्निनिर्दग्धाः प्ररोहंति न जातुचित्॥ अपराग्निविनिर्दग्धारो हंते दावदग्धवत्

brahmakopāgninirdagdhāḥ prarohaṁti na jātucit aparāgnivinirdagdhāro haṁte dāvadagdhavat

"Those scorched by the fire of a Brahmin's wrath never sprout again; but those burnt by any other fire may still sprout anew, as a forest consumed by wildfire grows back."

Verse 26 (skanda.4.48.26)

इति ध्यात्वा क्षणं सांबोऽविशदंतःपुरंपितुः॥ मध्ये स्त्रैणसभंकृष्णं यावज्जांबवतीसुतः

iti dhyātvā kṣaṇaṁ sāṁbo'viśadaṁtaḥpuraṁpituḥ madhye straiṇasabhaṁkṛṣṇaṁ yāvajjāṁbavatīsutaḥ

Thus reflecting for a moment, Samba, son of Jambavati, entered his father's inner chambers, where Krishna sat in the midst of his gathering of women.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.48.27)

दूरात्प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तिं स चकार सशंकितः॥ तावत्तमन्वगच्छच्च नारदः कार्यसिद्धये॥ ससंभ्रमोथ कृष्णोपि दृष्ट्वा सांबं च नारदम्॥ समुत्तस्थौ परिदधत्पीतकौशेयमंबरम्

dūrātpraṇamya vijñaptiṁ sa cakāra saśaṁkitaḥ tāvattamanvagacchacca nāradaḥ kāryasiddhaye sasaṁbhramotha kṛṣṇopi dṛṣṭvā sāṁbaṁ ca nāradam samuttasthau paridadhatpītakauśeyamaṁbaram

Bowing from a distance, somewhat apprehensive, he delivered his message. Just then Narada, too, followed him there to accomplish his own purpose. Krishna, seeing Samba and Narada together, rose in a fluster, hurriedly putting on his yellow silk garment.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.48.28)

उत्थिते देवकीसूनौ ताः सर्वा अपि गोपिकाः॥ विलज्जिताः समुत्तस्धुर्गृह्णंत्यः स्वंस्वमंबरम्

utthite devakīsūnau tāḥ sarvā api gopikāḥ vilajjitāḥ samuttasdhurgṛhṇaṁtyaḥ svaṁsvamaṁbaram

When Devaki's son rose, all those cowherd women, flustered with embarrassment, also rose in haste, each snatching up her own garment.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.48.29)

महार्हशयनीये तं हस्ते धृत्वा महामुनिम्॥ समुपावेशयत्कृष्णः सांबश्च क्रीडितुं ययौ

mahārhaśayanīye taṁ haste dhṛtvā mahāmunim samupāveśayatkṛṣṇaḥ sāṁbaśca krīḍituṁ yayau

Taking that great sage by the hand, Krishna seated him upon a most costly couch; and Samba went off again to his play.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.48.30)

तासां स्खलितमालोक्य तिष्ठंतीनां पुरो मुनिः॥ कृष्णलीलाद्रवीभूतवरांगानां जगौ हरिम्

tāsāṁ skhalitamālokya tiṣṭhaṁtīnāṁ puro muniḥ kṛṣṇalīlādravībhūtavarāṁgānāṁ jagau harim

Observing the disarray of those women standing there before him, their fine bodies still languid from Krishna's own sport, the sage spoke to Hari.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.48.31)

पश्यपश्य महाबुद्धे दृष्ट्वा जांबवतीसुतम्॥ इमाः स्खलितमापन्नास्तद्रूपक्षुब्धचेतसः

paśyapaśya mahābuddhe dṛṣṭvā jāṁbavatīsutam imāḥ skhalitamāpannāstadrūpakṣubdhacetasaḥ

[Narada said:] "Look, look, O wise one! At the very sight of Jambavati's son, these women fell into disarray, their hearts thrown into turmoil by his beauty."

Verse 32 (skanda.4.48.32)

कृष्णोपि सांबमाहूय सहसैवाशपत्सुतम्॥ सर्वा जांबवतीतुल्याः पश्यंतमपि दुर्विधेः

kṛṣṇopi sāṁbamāhūya sahasaivāśapatsutam sarvā jāṁbavatītulyāḥ paśyaṁtamapi durvidheḥ

Krishna, too, calling Samba to him, at once cursed his own son — driven by the working of fate — even though he saw all those women as no different, to Samba, than Jambavati herself.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.48.33)

यस्मात्त्वद्रूपमालोक्य गोपाल्यः स्खलिता इमाः॥ तस्मात्कुष्ठी भव क्षिप्रमकांडागमनेन च

yasmāttvadrūpamālokya gopālyaḥ skhalitā imāḥ tasmātkuṣṭhī bhava kṣipramakāṁḍāgamanena ca

[Krishna said:] "Since, at the sight of your beauty, these cowherd women fell into disarray, because of this untimely intrusion of yours, become a leper at once."

Verse 34 (skanda.4.48.34)

वेपमानो महाव्याधिभयात्सांबोपि दारुणात्॥ कृष्णं प्रसादयामास बहुशः पापशांतये

vepamāno mahāvyādhibhayātsāṁbopi dāruṇāt kṛṣṇaṁ prasādayāmāsa bahuśaḥ pāpaśāṁtaye

Samba, too, trembling in fear of that terrible, dreaded disease, repeatedly sought to placate Krishna, that his sin might be undone.

Verse 35 (skanda.4.48.35)

कृष्णोप्यनेन संजानन्सांबं स्वसुतमौरसम्॥ अब्रवीत्कुष्ठमोक्षाय व्रज वैश्वेश्वरीं पुरीम्

kṛṣṇopyanena saṁjānansāṁbaṁ svasutamaurasam abravītkuṣṭhamokṣāya vraja vaiśveśvarīṁ purīm

Krishna too, knowing well through all this that Samba was indeed his own begotten son, said: "For release from your leprosy, go to the city of Vishveshvari, Kashi."

Verse 36 (skanda.4.48.36)

तत्र ब्रध्नं समाराध्य प्रकृतिं स्वामवाप्स्यसि॥ महैनसां क्षयो यत्र नास्ति वाराणसीं विना॥ यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्र स्वर्गापगा च सा॥ येषां महैनसां दृष्टा मुनिभिर्नैव निष्कृतिः॥ तेषां विशुद्धिरस्त्येव प्राप्य वाराणसीं पुरीम्

tatra bradhnaṁ samārādhya prakṛtiṁ svāmavāpsyasi mahainasāṁ kṣayo yatra nāsti vārāṇasīṁ vinā yatra viśveśvaraḥ sākṣādyatra svargāpagā ca sā yeṣāṁ mahainasāṁ dṛṣṭā munibhirnaiva niṣkṛtiḥ teṣāṁ viśuddhirastyeva prāpya vārāṇasīṁ purīm

"There, worshipping the Sun, you shall regain your own true form. Nowhere but in Varanasi is there destruction of great sins — where Vishveshvara himself dwells, and where that river of heaven flows. Even sins for which sages themselves have found no expiation are surely purified upon reaching the city of Varanasi."

Verse 37 (skanda.4.48.37)

न केवलं हि पापेभ्यो वाराणस्यां विमुच्यते॥ प्राकृतेभ्योपि पापेभ्यो मुच्यते शंकराज्ञया

na kevalaṁ hi pāpebhyo vārāṇasyāṁ vimucyate prākṛtebhyopi pāpebhyo mucyate śaṁkarājñayā

"For in Varanasi one is released not only from ordinary sins; by Shankara's own command, one is freed even from the deepest, most fundamental sins."

Verse 38 (skanda.4.48.38)

पुरा पुरारिणा सृष्टमविमुक्तं विमुक्तये॥ सर्वेषामेव जंतूनां कृपयांते तनुत्यजाम्

purā purāriṇā sṛṣṭamavimuktaṁ vimuktaye sarveṣāmeva jaṁtūnāṁ kṛpayāṁte tanutyajām

"Long ago Purari created Avimukta, out of sheer compassion, for the liberation of every creature at the moment it gives up its body."

Verse 39 (skanda.4.48.39)

तत्रानंदवने शंभोस्तवशाप निराकृतिः॥ सांब तत्त्वेरितं याहि नान्यथा शापनिर्वृतिः

tatrānaṁdavane śaṁbhostavaśāpa nirākṛtiḥ sāṁba tattveritaṁ yāhi nānyathā śāpanirvṛtiḥ

"There, in Shambhu's own Anandavana, your curse shall find its release. O Samba, go exactly as I have told you truly; there is no other way for freedom from this curse."

Verse 40 (skanda.4.48.40)

ततः कृष्णं समापृच्छ्य कर्मनिर्मुक्तचेष्टितः॥ नारदः कृतकृत्यः सन्ययावाकाशवर्त्मना

tataḥ kṛṣṇaṁ samāpṛcchya karmanirmuktaceṣṭitaḥ nāradaḥ kṛtakṛtyaḥ sanyayāvākāśavartmanā

Then, taking leave of Krishna, Narada, his purpose now fulfilled, his task complete, departed by the pathway of the sky.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.48.41)

सांबो वाराणसीं प्राप्य समाराध्यांशुमालिनम्॥ कुंडं तत्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा निजां प्रकृतिमाप्तवान्

sāṁbo vārāṇasīṁ prāpya samārādhyāṁśumālinam kuṁḍaṁ tatpṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā nijāṁ prakṛtimāptavān

Samba, reaching Varanasi, worshipped the Sun there, and, with the pool set behind him, regained his own true form.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.48.42)

सांबादित्यस्तदारभ्य सर्वव्याधिहरो रविः॥ ददाति सर्वभक्तेभ्योऽनामयाः सर्वसंपदः

sāṁbādityastadārabhya sarvavyādhiharo raviḥ dadāti sarvabhaktebhyo'nāmayāḥ sarvasaṁpadaḥ

From that time on, the Sun, as Sambaditya, remover of every disease, grants all his devotees freedom from illness, and every kind of prosperity.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.48.43)

सांबकुंडे नरः स्नात्वा रविवारेऽरुणोदये॥ सांबादित्यं च संपूज्य व्याधिभिर्नाभिभूयते

sāṁbakuṁḍe naraḥ snātvā ravivāre'ruṇodaye sāṁbādityaṁ ca saṁpūjya vyādhibhirnābhibhūyate

A man who bathes in Samba-kunda at dawn on a Sunday, and worships Sambaditya properly, is never overcome by disease.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.48.44)

न स्त्री वैधव्यमाप्नोति सांबादित्यस्य सेवनात्॥ वंध्या पुत्रं प्रसूयेत शुद्धरूपसमन्वितम्

na strī vaidhavyamāpnoti sāṁbādityasya sevanāt vaṁdhyā putraṁ prasūyeta śuddharūpasamanvitam

Through the worship of Sambaditya, a woman is never widowed; and even a barren woman gives birth to a son of pure and flawless form.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.48.45)

शुक्लायां द्विज सप्तम्यां माघे मासि रवेर्दिने॥ महापर्व समाख्यातं रविपर्व समं शुभम्॥ महारोगात्प्रमुच्येत तत्र स्नात्वारुणोदये॥ सांबादित्यं प्रपूज्यापि धर्ममक्षयमाप्नुयात्

śuklāyāṁ dvija saptamyāṁ māghe māsi raverdine mahāparva samākhyātaṁ raviparva samaṁ śubham mahārogātpramucyeta tatra snātvāruṇodaye sāṁbādityaṁ prapūjyāpi dharmamakṣayamāpnuyāt

O Brahmin, the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Magha, falling on a Sunday, is proclaimed a great festival, equal in auspiciousness to the Sun's own Ratha-saptami. Bathing there at dawn, one is freed from grave disease; and by worshipping Sambaditya there, one attains imperishable merit besides.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.48.46)

सन्निहत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे यत्पुण्यं राहुदर्शने॥ तत्पुण्यं रविसप्तम्यां माघे काश्यां न संशयः

sannihatyāṁ kurukṣetre yatpuṇyaṁ rāhudarśane tatpuṇyaṁ ravisaptamyāṁ māghe kāśyāṁ na saṁśayaḥ

Whatever merit is gained at Sannihatya in Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse — that same merit is gained, without doubt, in Kashi on the seventh day of the Sun in the month of Magha.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.48.47)

मधौमासि रवेर्वारे यात्रा सांवत्सरी भवेत्॥ अशोकैस्तत्र संपूज्य कुंडे स्नात्वा विधानतः

madhaumāsi ravervāre yātrā sāṁvatsarī bhavet aśokaistatra saṁpūjya kuṁḍe snātvā vidhānataḥ

The yearly pilgrimage should take place in the month of Madhu, on a Sunday; worshipping there with Ashoka blossoms, and bathing in the pool according to due rite —

Verse 48 (skanda.4.48.48)

सांबादित्यं नरो जातु न शोकैरभिभूयते॥ संवत्सरकृतात्पापाद्बहिर्भवति तत्क्षणात्

sāṁbādityaṁ naro jātu na śokairabhibhūyate saṁvatsarakṛtātpāpādbahirbhavati tatkṣaṇāt

— worshipping Sambaditya, a man is never overwhelmed by sorrow; he is freed at once from whatever sin he has accumulated over the whole year.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.48.49)

विश्वेशात्पश्चिमाशायां सांबेनात्र महात्मना॥ सम्यगाराधिता मूर्तिरादित्यस्य शुभप्रदा

viśveśātpaścimāśāyāṁ sāṁbenātra mahātmanā samyagārādhitā mūrtirādityasya śubhapradā

In the western quarter from Vishvesha, here, stands the auspicious image of the Sun, duly consecrated by the great-souled Samba.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.48.50)

इयं भविष्या तन्मूर्तिरगस्ते त्वत्पुरोऽकथि॥ तामभ्यर्च्य नमस्कृत्य कृत्वाष्टौ च प्रदक्षिणाः॥ नरो भवति निष्पापः काशीवास फलं लभेत्

iyaṁ bhaviṣyā tanmūrtiragaste tvatpuro'kathi tāmabhyarcya namaskṛtya kṛtvāṣṭau ca pradakṣiṇāḥ naro bhavati niṣpāpaḥ kāśīvāsa phalaṁ labhet

O Agasti, this image, yet to come, has thus been described to you. Worshipping it, bowing before it, and performing eight circumambulations around it, a man becomes free of sin and attains the very fruit of dwelling in Kashi.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.48.51)

सांबादित्यस्य माहात्म्यं कथितं ते महामते॥ यच्छ्रुत्वापि नरो जातु यमलोकं न पश्यति

sāṁbādityasya māhātmyaṁ kathitaṁ te mahāmate yacchrutvāpi naro jātu yamalokaṁ na paśyati

O great-minded one, the glory of Sambaditya has now been told to you; whoever merely hears it never beholds the realm of Yama.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.48.52)

इदानीं द्रौपदादित्यं कथयिष्यामि तेनघ॥ तथा द्रौपदआदित्यः संसेव्यो भक्तसिद्धिदः

idānīṁ draupadādityaṁ kathayiṣyāmi tenagha tathā draupadaādityaḥ saṁsevyo bhaktasiddhidaḥ

Now, O sinless one, I shall tell you of Draupadaditya; he too, granter of accomplishment to his devotees, is worthy of devoted service.