The Greatness of Kedareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.4.77.1)

।। पार्वत्युवाच ।। ।। नमस्ते देवदेवेश प्रणमत्करुणानिधे ।। वद केदारमाहात्म्यं भक्तानामनुकंपया

|| pārvatyuvāca || || namaste devadeveśa praṇamatkaruṇānidhe || vada kedāramāhātmyaṁ bhaktānāmanukaṁpayā

Parvati said: "Salutations to you, O lord of gods, ocean of compassion for those who bow to you! Tell, out of compassion for your devotees, the greatness of Kedara."

Verse 2 (skanda.4.77.2)

तस्मिँल्लिंगे महाप्रीतिस्तव काश्यामनुत्तमा ।। तद्भक्ताश्च जना नित्यं देवदेवमहाधियः

tasmi~lliṁge mahāprītistava kāśyāmanuttamā || tadbhaktāśca janā nityaṁ devadevamahādhiyaḥ

"Your supreme delight is in that linga at Kashi; and its devotees, O god of gods, are ever people of great wisdom."

Verse 3 (skanda.4.77.3)

।। देवदेव उवाच ।। ।। शृण्वपर्णेभिधास्यामि केदारेश्वर संकथाम् ।। समाकर्ण्यापि यां पापोप्यपापो जायते क्षणात्

|| devadeva uvāca || || śṛṇvaparṇebhidhāsyāmi kedāreśvara saṁkathām || samākarṇyāpi yāṁ pāpopyapāpo jāyate kṣaṇāt

The god of gods said: "Listen, O Aparna, I shall tell the story of Kedareshvara — hearing which, even a sinner instantly becomes free of sin."

Verse 4 (skanda.4.77.4)

केदारं यातुकामस्य पुंसो निश्चितचेतसः ।। आजन्मसंचितं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति

kedāraṁ yātukāmasya puṁso niścitacetasaḥ || ājanmasaṁcitaṁ pāpaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati

"For a man who, with firm resolve, wishes to go to Kedara, the sin accumulated since birth is destroyed in that very instant."

Verse 5 (skanda.4.77.5)

गृहाद्विनिर्गते पुंसि केदारमभिनिश्चितम् ।। जन्मद्वयार्जितं पापं शरीरादपि निर्व्रजेत्

gṛhādvinirgate puṁsi kedāramabhiniścitam || janmadvayārjitaṁ pāpaṁ śarīrādapi nirvrajet

"When a man, resolved upon Kedara, sets out from his home, the sin acquired over two births departs even from his body."

Verse 6 (skanda.4.77.6)

मध्ये मार्गं प्रपन्नस्य त्रिजन्मजनितं त्वघम् ।। देहगेहाद्विनिःसृत्य निराशं याति निःश्वसत्

madhye mārgaṁ prapannasya trijanmajanitaṁ tvagham || dehagehādviniḥsṛtya nirāśaṁ yāti niḥśvasat

"For one who has reached halfway on the path, the sin born of three births, sighing, departs helplessly from the house of his body."

Verse 7 (skanda.4.77.7)

सायंकेदारकेदारकेदारेति त्रिरुच्चरन्।। गृहेपि निवसन्नूनं यात्राफलमवाप्नुयात्

sāyaṁkedārakedārakedāreti triruccaran|| gṛhepi nivasannūnaṁ yātrāphalamavāpnuyāt

"Even remaining at home, one who utters 'Kedara, Kedara, Kedara' three times in the evening surely obtains the fruit of the pilgrimage."

Verse 8 (skanda.4.77.8)

दृष्ट्वा केदारशिखरं पीत्वा तत्रत्यमंबु च ।। सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

dṛṣṭvā kedāraśikharaṁ pītvā tatratyamaṁbu ca || saptajanmakṛtātpāpānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"Having beheld the peak of Kedara and drunk the water there, one is freed from the sins of seven births — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 9 (skanda.4.77.9)

हरपापह्रदे स्नात्वा केदारेशं प्रपूज्य च ।। कोटिजन्मार्जितैनोभिर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

harapāpahrade snātvā kedāreśaṁ prapūjya ca || koṭijanmārjitainobhirmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"Bathing in the Harapapa lake and duly worshipping Kedareshvara, one is freed from sins accumulated over ten million births — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 10 (skanda.4.77.10)

सकृत्प्रणम्य केदारं हरपापकृतोदकः ।। स्थाप्य लिंगं हृदंभोजे प्रांते मोक्षं गमिष्यति

sakṛtpraṇamya kedāraṁ harapāpakṛtodakaḥ || sthāpya liṁgaṁ hṛdaṁbhoje prāṁte mokṣaṁ gamiṣyati

"Bowing to Kedara even once, having made the water-offering at Harapapa, and enshrining the linga in the lotus of his heart, he attains liberation at his end."

Verse 11 (skanda.4.77.11)

हरपापह्रदे श्राद्धं श्रद्धया यः करिष्यति ।। उद्धृत्य सप्तपुरुषान्स मे लोकं गमिष्यति

harapāpahrade śrāddhaṁ śraddhayā yaḥ kariṣyati || uddhṛtya saptapuruṣānsa me lokaṁ gamiṣyati

"Whoever performs the shraddha rite at the Harapapa lake with faith delivers seven generations of ancestors, and himself goes to my world."

Verse 12 (skanda.4.77.12)

पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे यदभूदत्र तच्छृणु ।। अपर्णे दत्तकर्णा त्वं वर्णयामि तवाग्रतः

purā rāthaṁtare kalpe yadabhūdatra tacchṛṇu || aparṇe dattakarṇā tvaṁ varṇayāmi tavāgrataḥ

"Hear now what happened here long ago, in the Rathantara kalpa; O Aparna, lend your ear — I shall narrate it before you."

Verse 13 (skanda.4.77.13)

एको ब्राह्मणदायाद उज्जयिन्या इहागतः ।। कृतोपनयनः पित्रा ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतेस्थितः

eko brāhmaṇadāyāda ujjayinyā ihāgataḥ || kṛtopanayanaḥ pitrā brahmacaryavratesthitaḥ

"A certain brahmin's son came here from Ujjayini, having been invested with the sacred thread by his father, and stood firm in the vow of celibacy."

Verse 14 (skanda.4.77.14)

स्थलीं पाशुपतीं काशीं स विलोक्य समंततः।। द्विजैः पाशुपतैः कीर्णां जटामुकुटभूषितैः

sthalīṁ pāśupatīṁ kāśīṁ sa vilokya samaṁtataḥ|| dvijaiḥ pāśupataiḥ kīrṇāṁ jaṭāmukuṭabhūṣitaiḥ

"He beheld the land of Kashi, sacred to Pashupati, filled on every side with brahmin Pashupata-ascetics, adorned with crowns of matted hair,"

Verse 15 (skanda.4.77.15)

कृतलिंगसमर्चैश्च भूतिभूषितवर्ष्मभिः ।। भिक्षाहृतान्नसंतुष्टैः पुष्टैर्गंगामृतोदकैः

kṛtaliṁgasamarcaiśca bhūtibhūṣitavarṣmabhiḥ || bhikṣāhṛtānnasaṁtuṣṭaiḥ puṣṭairgaṁgāmṛtodakaiḥ

"who worshipped the linga, their bodies adorned with sacred ash, content with the food brought by begging, nourished by the nectar-water of the Ganga."

Verse 16 (skanda.4.77.16)

बभूवानंदितमना व्रतं जग्राह चोत्तमम्।। हिरण्यगर्भादाचार्यान्महत्पाशुपताभिधम्

babhūvānaṁditamanā vrataṁ jagrāha cottamam|| hiraṇyagarbhādācāryānmahatpāśupatābhidham

"His mind filled with joy, he took up the great vow called Pashupata from the teacher Hiranyagarbha."

Verse 17 (skanda.4.77.17)

स च शिष्यो वशिष्ठोभूत्सर्वपाशुपतोत्तमः ।। स्नात्वा ह्रदे हरपापे नित्यप्रातः समुत्थितः

sa ca śiṣyo vaśiṣṭhobhūtsarvapāśupatottamaḥ || snātvā hrade harapāpe nityaprātaḥ samutthitaḥ

"That disciple, named Vashishtha, became foremost among all Pashupatas; rising daily at dawn, he would bathe in the Harapapa lake."

Verse 18 (skanda.4.77.18)

विभूत्याहरहः स्नाति त्रिकालं लिंगमर्चयन् ।। नांतरं स विजानाति शिवलिंगे गुरौ तथा

vibhūtyāharahaḥ snāti trikālaṁ liṁgamarcayan || nāṁtaraṁ sa vijānāti śivaliṁge gurau tathā

"Every day he applied sacred ash, worshipping the linga at the three junctures of the day; he knew no difference between the Shiva-linga and his guru."

Verse 19 (skanda.4.77.19)

स द्वादशाब्ददेशीयो वशिष्ठो गुरुणा सह ।। ययौ केदारयात्रार्थं गिरिं गौरीगुरोर्गुरुम्

sa dvādaśābdadeśīyo vaśiṣṭho guruṇā saha || yayau kedārayātrārthaṁ giriṁ gaurīgurorgurum

"That Vashishtha, then twelve years in age, went together with his guru toward the mountain, the guru of Gauri's own father, for the pilgrimage to Kedara."

Verse 20 (skanda.4.77.20)

यत्र गत्वा न शोचंति किंचित्संसारिणः क्वचित ।। प्राश्योदकं लिंगरूपं लिंगरूपत्वमागताः

yatra gatvā na śocaṁti kiṁcitsaṁsāriṇaḥ kvacita || prāśyodakaṁ liṁgarūpaṁ liṁgarūpatvamāgatāḥ

"Having gone there, worldly beings grieve no more at all; having drunk the water that is itself of the form of the linga, they attain the very form of the linga."

Verse 21 (skanda.4.77.21)

असिधारं गिरिं प्राप्य वशिष्ठस्य तपस्विनः ।। गुरुर्हिरण्यगर्भाख्यः पंचत्वमगमत्तदा

asidhāraṁ giriṁ prāpya vaśiṣṭhasya tapasvinaḥ || gururhiraṇyagarbhākhyaḥ paṁcatvamagamattadā

"Having reached the sword-edge mountain, the guru of the ascetic Vashishtha, named Hiranyagarbha, then met his death."

Verse 22 (skanda.4.77.22)

पश्यतां तापसानां च विमाने सार्वकामिके ।। आरोप्य तं पारिषदाः कैलासमनयन्मुदा

paśyatāṁ tāpasānāṁ ca vimāne sārvakāmike || āropya taṁ pāriṣadāḥ kailāsamanayanmudā

"Before the very eyes of the ascetics, Shiva's attendants set him upon a wish-granting celestial chariot and joyfully bore him off to Kailasa."

Verse 23 (skanda.4.77.23)

यस्तु केदारमुद्दिश्य गेहादर्धपथेप्यहो ।। अकातरस्त्यजेत्प्राणान्कैलासे स चिरं वसेत्

yastu kedāramuddiśya gehādardhapathepyaho || akātarastyajetprāṇānkailāse sa ciraṁ vaset

"Ah, whoever, setting out toward Kedara from home, gives up his life without fear even halfway on the path — he dwells long in Kailasa."

Verse 24 (skanda.4.77.24)

तदाश्चर्यं समालोक्य स वशिष्ठस्तपोधनः ।। केदारमेव लिंगेषु बह्वमंस्त सुनिश्चितम्

tadāścaryaṁ samālokya sa vaśiṣṭhastapodhanaḥ || kedārameva liṁgeṣu bahvamaṁsta suniścitam

"Beholding that wonder, the ascetic Vashishtha, rich in austerity, thereafter held Kedara in the highest regard among all lingas, quite firmly."

Verse 25 (skanda.4.77.25)

अथ कृत्वा स कैदारीं यात्रां वाराणसीमगात् ।। अग्रहीन्नियमं चापि यथार्थं चाकरोत्पुनः ।।

atha kṛtvā sa kaidārīṁ yātrāṁ vārāṇasīmagāt || agrahīnniyamaṁ cāpi yathārthaṁ cākarotpunaḥ ||

"Then, having completed the pilgrimage to Kedara, he went to Varanasi; and there he took a vow, and duly kept it thereafter."

Verse 26 (skanda.4.77.26)

प्रति चैत्रं सदा चैत्र्यां यावज्जीवमहं ध्रुवम् ।। विलोकयिष्ये केदारं वसन्वाराणसीं पुरीम्

prati caitraṁ sadā caitryāṁ yāvajjīvamahaṁ dhruvam || vilokayiṣye kedāraṁ vasanvārāṇasīṁ purīm

"'Every year, always in Chaitra, as long as I live, dwelling in the city of Varanasi, I shall surely go to behold Kedara.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.4.77.27)

तेन यात्राः कृताः सम्यक् षष्टिरेकाधिका मुदा ।। आनंदकानने नित्यं वसता ब्रह्मचारिणा

tena yātrāḥ kṛtāḥ samyak ṣaṣṭirekādhikā mudā || ānaṁdakānane nityaṁ vasatā brahmacāriṇā

"By him, dwelling always as a celibate in Anandavana, sixty-one pilgrimages were duly made with joy."

Verse 28 (skanda.4.77.28)

पुनर्यात्रां स वै चक्रे मधौ निकटवर्तिनि ।। परमोत्साहसंतुष्टः पलिता कलितोप्यलम्

punaryātrāṁ sa vai cakre madhau nikaṭavartini || paramotsāhasaṁtuṣṭaḥ palitā kalitopyalam

"He undertook the pilgrimage yet again, when Chaitra drew near, filled with the highest zeal, even though he had by then grown grey with age."

Verse 29 (skanda.4.77.29)

तपोधनैस्तन्निधनं शंकमानैर्निवारितः ।। कारुण्यपूर्णहृदयैरन्यैरपि च संगिभिः

tapodhanaistannidhanaṁ śaṁkamānairnivāritaḥ || kāruṇyapūrṇahṛdayairanyairapi ca saṁgibhiḥ

"Fearing his death on the journey, the ascetics, their hearts full of compassion, along with other companions, tried to dissuade him."

Verse 30 (skanda.4.77.30)

ततोपि न तदुत्साहभंगोभूद्दृढचेतसः ।। मध्ये मार्गं मृतस्यापि गुरोरिव गतिर्मम

tatopi na tadutsāhabhaṁgobhūddṛḍhacetasaḥ || madhye mārgaṁ mṛtasyāpi guroriva gatirmama

"Yet, being firm of mind, his zeal was not broken by this. He said: 'Even if I die midway on the path, my fate shall be as my guru's was.'"

Verse 31 (skanda.4.77.31)

इति निश्चितचेतस्के वशिष्ठे तापसे शुचौ ।। अशूद्रान्न परीपुष्टे तुष्टोहं चंडिकेऽभवम्

iti niścitacetaske vaśiṣṭhe tāpase śucau || aśūdrānna parīpuṣṭe tuṣṭohaṁ caṁḍike'bhavam

"When Vashishtha, thus resolute of mind, that pure ascetic, nourished on food not from shudras, was thus determined — I, O Chandika, became pleased with him."

Verse 32 (skanda.4.77.32)

स्वप्रेमया स संप्रोक्तो वशिष्ठस्तापसोत्तमः ।। दृढव्रत प्रसन्नोस्मि केदारं विद्धि मामिह

svapremayā sa saṁprokto vaśiṣṭhastāpasottamaḥ || dṛḍhavrata prasannosmi kedāraṁ viddhi māmiha

"Out of my own love, I spoke to that best of ascetics, Vashishtha: 'O firm in your vow, I am pleased. Know me here as Kedara himself.'"

Verse 33 (skanda.4.77.33)

अभीष्टं च वरं मत्तः प्रार्थयस्वाविचारितम् ।। इत्युक्तवत्यपि मयि स्वप्नो मिथ्येति सोब्रवीत्

abhīṣṭaṁ ca varaṁ mattaḥ prārthayasvāvicāritam || ityuktavatyapi mayi svapno mithyeti sobravīt

"'Ask of me, without hesitation, whatever boon you desire.' Even when I had said this, he replied, 'This is but a false dream.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.4.77.34)

ततोपि स मया प्रोक्तः स्वप्नो मिथ्याऽशुचिष्मताम् ।। भवादृशाममिथ्यैव स्वाख्या सदृशवर्तिनाम्

tatopi sa mayā proktaḥ svapno mithyā'śuciṣmatām || bhavādṛśāmamithyaiva svākhyā sadṛśavartinām

"Then I said to him again: 'Dreams are false only for the impure; for one like you, of pure conduct, one's own self-revelation is no falsehood.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.4.77.35)

वरं ब्रूहि प्रसन्नोस्मि स्वप्नशंकां त्यज द्विज ।। तव सत्त्ववतः किंचिन्मयादेयं न किंचन

varaṁ brūhi prasannosmi svapnaśaṁkāṁ tyaja dvija || tava sattvavataḥ kiṁcinmayādeyaṁ na kiṁcana

"'Speak your boon, I am pleased; abandon your doubt that this is a dream, O brahmin. For one of your virtue, there is nothing at all that I would refuse to give.'"

Verse 36 (skanda.4.77.36)

इत्युक्तं मे समाकर्ण्य वरयामास मामिति ।। शिष्यो हिरण्यगर्भस्य तपस्विजनसत्तमः

ityuktaṁ me samākarṇya varayāmāsa māmiti || śiṣyo hiraṇyagarbhasya tapasvijanasattamaḥ

"Hearing me speak thus, that disciple of Hiranyagarbha, foremost among ascetics, asked of me this boon:"

Verse 37 (skanda.4.77.37)

यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश तदा मे सानुगा इमे ।। सर्वे शूलिन्नुग्राह्या एष एव वरो मम

yadi prasanno deveśa tadā me sānugā ime || sarve śūlinnugrāhyā eṣa eva varo mama

"'If you are pleased, O lord of gods, then let all these my companions, O trident-bearer, be graciously accepted by you — this alone is my boon.'"

Verse 38 (skanda.4.77.38)

देवि तस्येदमाकर्ण्य परोपकृतिशालिनः ।। वचनं नितरां प्रीतस्तथेति तमुवाच ह

devi tasyedamākarṇya paropakṛtiśālinaḥ || vacanaṁ nitarāṁ prītastatheti tamuvāca ha

"O goddess, hearing this request of his, so full of concern for the good of others, I, exceedingly pleased, said to him, 'So be it.'"

Verse 39 (skanda.4.77.39)

पुनः परोपकरणात्तत्तपो द्विगुणीकृतम् ।। तेन पुण्येन स मया पुनः प्रोक्तो वरं वृणु

punaḥ paropakaraṇāttattapo dviguṇīkṛtam || tena puṇyena sa mayā punaḥ prokto varaṁ vṛṇu

"By this act of helping others, his austerity was doubled in merit; by that merit I said to him again, 'Choose another boon.'"

Verse 40 (skanda.4.77.40)

स वशिष्ठो महाप्राज्ञो दृढ पाशुपतव्रतः ।। देवि मे प्रार्थयामास हिमशैलादिह स्थितिम्

sa vaśiṣṭho mahāprājño dṛḍha pāśupatavrataḥ || devi me prārthayāmāsa himaśailādiha sthitim

"That greatly wise Vashishtha, firm in his Pashupata vow, O goddess, then asked of me my abiding presence here, just as on the snow-mountain."

Verse 41 (skanda.4.77.41)

ततस्तत्तपसाकृष्टः कलामात्रेण तत्र हि ।। हिमशैले ततश्चात्र सर्वभावेन संस्थितः

tatastattapasākṛṣṭaḥ kalāmātreṇa tatra hi || himaśaile tataścātra sarvabhāvena saṁsthitaḥ

"Then, drawn by that austerity of his, I remained there at Kedarnath only by a fraction of myself, and here at Kashi I became established with my whole being."

Verse 42 (skanda.4.77.42)

ततः प्रभाते संजाते सर्वेषां पश्यतामहम् ।। हिमाद्रे प्रस्थितः प्राप्तस्तूयमानः सुरर्षिभिः

tataḥ prabhāte saṁjāte sarveṣāṁ paśyatāmaham || himādre prasthitaḥ prāptastūyamānaḥ surarṣibhiḥ

"Then, at daybreak, before the eyes of all, I set out from the snow-mountain and arrived here, praised by gods and sages."

Verse 43 (skanda.4.77.43)

वशिष्ठं पुरतः कृत्वा सर्वसार्थसमायुतम् ।। हरपापह्रदे तीर्थे स्थितोहं तद्नुग्रहात्

vaśiṣṭhaṁ purataḥ kṛtvā sarvasārthasamāyutam || harapāpahrade tīrthe sthitohaṁ tadnugrahāt

"Placing Vashishtha at the head, together with his entire company, I took my stand, by his grace, at the tirtha of Harapapa."

Verse 44 (skanda.4.77.44)

मत्परिग्रहतः सर्वे हरपापे कृतोदकाः ।। आराध्य मामनेनैव वपुषा सिद्धिमागताः

matparigrahataḥ sarve harapāpe kṛtodakāḥ || ārādhya māmanenaiva vapuṣā siddhimāgatāḥ

"By my acceptance, all of them, having made the water-offering at Harapapa and worshipped me, attained perfection in this very body."

Verse 45 (skanda.4.77.45)

तदा प्रभृति लिंगेस्मिन्स्थितः साधकसिद्धये ।। अविमुक्ते परे क्षेत्रे कलिकाले विशेषतः

tadā prabhṛti liṁgesminsthitaḥ sādhakasiddhaye || avimukte pare kṣetre kalikāle viśeṣataḥ

"From that time on, I have remained in this linga for the perfection of aspirants, here in Avimukta, the supreme field, especially in the Kali age."

Verse 46 (skanda.4.77.46)

तुषाराद्रिं समारुह्य केदारं वीक्ष्य यत्फलम् ।। तत्फलं सप्तगुणितं काश्यां केदारदर्शने

tuṣārādriṁ samāruhya kedāraṁ vīkṣya yatphalam || tatphalaṁ saptaguṇitaṁ kāśyāṁ kedāradarśane

"Whatever fruit is gained by climbing the snow-mountain and beholding Kedara there, that same fruit is multiplied sevenfold by beholding Kedara here at Kashi."

Verse 47 (skanda.4.77.47)

गौरीकुंडं यथा तत्र हंसतीर्थं च निर्मलम् ।। यथा मधुस्रवा गंगा काश्यां तदखिलं तथा

gaurīkuṁḍaṁ yathā tatra haṁsatīrthaṁ ca nirmalam || yathā madhusravā gaṁgā kāśyāṁ tadakhilaṁ tathā

"Just as there is Gaurikunda, and the pure Hansatirtha, and the Ganga flowing sweet as honey — all of that is here at Kashi too, just the same."

Verse 48 (skanda.4.77.48)

इदं तीर्थं हरपापं सप्तजन्माघनाशनम् ।। गंगायां मिलितं पश्चाज्जन्मकोटिकृताघहम्

idaṁ tīrthaṁ harapāpaṁ saptajanmāghanāśanam || gaṁgāyāṁ militaṁ paścājjanmakoṭikṛtāghaham

"This tirtha, Harapapa, destroys the sin of seven births; and once it joins the Ganga, it destroys the sin accumulated over ten million births."

Verse 49 (skanda.4.77.49)

अत्र पूर्वं तु काकोलौ युध्यतौ खान्निपेततुः ।। पश्यतां तत्र संस्थानां हंसौ भूत्वा विनिर्गतौ

atra pūrvaṁ tu kākolau yudhyatau khānnipetatuḥ || paśyatāṁ tatra saṁsthānāṁ haṁsau bhūtvā vinirgatau

"Here formerly, two crows, fighting, fell from the sky; and before the eyes of those standing there, they emerged again, having become two swans."

Verse 50 (skanda.4.77.50)

गौरि त्वया कृतं पूर्वं स्नानमत्र महाह्रदे ।। गौरीतीर्थं ततः ख्यातं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्

gauri tvayā kṛtaṁ pūrvaṁ snānamatra mahāhrade || gaurītīrthaṁ tataḥ khyātaṁ sarvatīrthottamottamam

"O Gauri, you yourself once bathed here in this great lake; hence it became famed as Gauri-tirtha, the very best of all tirthas."

Verse 51 (skanda.4.77.51)

अत्रामृतस्रवा गंगा महामोहांधकारहृत् ।। अनेकजन्मजनित जाड्यध्वंसविधायिनी

atrāmṛtasravā gaṁgā mahāmohāṁdhakārahṛt || anekajanmajanita jāḍyadhvaṁsavidhāyinī

"Here the Ganga flows as nectar, destroying the great darkness of delusion, dispelling the dullness born of many births."

Verse 52 (skanda.4.77.52)

सरसा मानसेनात्र पूर्वं तप्तं महातपः ।। अतस्तु मानसं तीर्थं जने ख्यातिमिदं गतम्

sarasā mānasenātra pūrvaṁ taptaṁ mahātapaḥ || atastu mānasaṁ tīrthaṁ jane khyātimidaṁ gatam

"Here formerly great austerity was performed by the sage Manasa, with his mind absorbed; hence this tirtha became known among people as Manasa-tirtha."

Verse 53 (skanda.4.77.53)

अत्र पूर्वं जनः स्नानमात्रेणैव प्रमुच्यते ।। पश्चात्प्रसादितश्चाहं त्रिदशैर्मुक्तिदुर्दृशैः

atra pūrvaṁ janaḥ snānamātreṇaiva pramucyate || paścātprasāditaścāhaṁ tridaśairmuktidurdṛśaiḥ

"Formerly here, people were liberated by mere bathing; but afterward I was entreated by the thirty gods, for whom liberation is hard to attain."

Verse 54 (skanda.4.77.54)

सर्वे मुक्तिं गमिष्यंति यदि देवेह मानवाः ।। केदारकुंडे सुस्नातास्तदोच्छित्तिर्भविष्यति

sarve muktiṁ gamiṣyaṁti yadi deveha mānavāḥ || kedārakuṁḍe susnātāstadocchittirbhaviṣyati

"The gods said: 'O god, if all men here attain liberation simply by bathing well in Kedara-kunda, then our own race will face extinction.'"

Verse 55 (skanda.4.77.55)

सर्वेषामेव वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च धर्मिणाम्।। तस्मात्तनुविसर्गेत्र मोक्षं दास्यति नान्यथा

sarveṣāmeva varṇānāmāśramāṇāṁ ca dharmiṇām|| tasmāttanuvisargetra mokṣaṁ dāsyati nānyathā

"So I ordained: 'For all the righteous of every caste and stage of life, liberation shall be granted here only at the shedding of the body, not otherwise.'"

Verse 56 (skanda.4.77.56)

ततस्तदुपरोधेन तथेति च मयोदितम् ।। तदारभ्य महादेवि स्नानात्केदारकुंडतः।

tatastaduparodhena tatheti ca mayoditam || tadārabhya mahādevi snānātkedārakuṁḍataḥ|

"Then, at their entreaty, I said, 'So be it.' From that time onward, O great goddess, mere bathing at Kedara-kunda alone does not grant liberation —"

Verse 57 (skanda.4.77.57)

समर्चनाच्च भक्त्या वै मम नाम जपादपि ।। नैःश्रेयसीं श्रियं दद्यामन्यत्रापि तनुत्यजाम

samarcanācca bhaktyā vai mama nāma japādapi || naiḥśreyasīṁ śriyaṁ dadyāmanyatrāpi tanutyajāma

"— but through devoted worship, and even through the japa of my name, I grant the supreme fortune of liberation to those who shed their body elsewhere too."

Verse 58 (skanda.4.77.58)

केदारतीर्थे यः स्नात्वा पिंडान्दास्यति चात्वरः ।। एकोत्तरशतं वंश्यास्तस्य तीर्णा भवांबुधिम्

kedāratīrthe yaḥ snātvā piṁḍāndāsyati cātvaraḥ || ekottaraśataṁ vaṁśyāstasya tīrṇā bhavāṁbudhim

"Whoever, without delay, bathes at the Kedara tirtha and offers pindas there — a hundred and one generations of his lineage cross over the ocean of worldly existence."

Verse 59 (skanda.4.77.59)

भौमवारे यदा दर्शस्तदा यः श्राद्धदो नरः ।। केदारकुंडमासाद्य गयाश्राद्धेन किं ततः

bhaumavāre yadā darśastadā yaḥ śrāddhado naraḥ || kedārakuṁḍamāsādya gayāśrāddhena kiṁ tataḥ

"When the new-moon day falls on a Tuesday, whatever man performs the shraddha rite, having come to Kedara-kunda — what further need has he of the shraddha at Gaya?"

Verse 60 (skanda.4.77.60)

केदारं गंतुकामस्य बुद्धिर्देया नरैरियम् ।। काश्यां स्पृशंस्त्वं केदारं कृतकृत्यो भविष्यसि

kedāraṁ gaṁtukāmasya buddhirdeyā narairiyam || kāśyāṁ spṛśaṁstvaṁ kedāraṁ kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyasi

"This understanding should be given by men to one who wishes to go to Kedara: 'By touching Kedara at Kashi itself, you shall become fulfilled.'"

Verse 61 (skanda.4.77.61)

चैत्रकृष्णचतुर्दश्यामुपवासं विधाय च ।। त्रिगंडूषान्पिबन्प्रातर्हृल्लिंगमधितिष्ठति

caitrakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāmupavāsaṁ vidhāya ca || trigaṁḍūṣānpibanprātarhṛlliṁgamadhitiṣṭhati

"Having observed a fast on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Chaitra, and, sipping three mouthfuls in the morning, one bears the linga established in his heart."

Verse 62 (skanda.4.77.62)

केदारोदकपानेन यथा तत्र फलं भवेत् ।। तथात्र जायते पुंसां स्त्रीणां चापि न संशयः

kedārodakapānena yathā tatra phalaṁ bhavet || tathātra jāyate puṁsāṁ strīṇāṁ cāpi na saṁśayaḥ

"Whatever fruit arises there from drinking the water of Kedara, the very same fruit arises here too, for both men and women — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 63 (skanda.4.77.63)

केदारभक्तं संपूज्य वासोन्नद्रविणादिभिः ।। आजन्मजनितं पापं त्यक्त्वा याति ममालयम् ।।

kedārabhaktaṁ saṁpūjya vāsonnadraviṇādibhiḥ || ājanmajanitaṁ pāpaṁ tyaktvā yāti mamālayam ||

"By worshipping a devotee of Kedara with clothing, food, wealth, and such, one, casting off the sin accumulated since birth, goes to my abode."

Verse 64 (skanda.4.77.64)

आषण्मासं त्रिकालं यः केदारेशं नमस्यति ।। तं नमस्यंति सततं लोकपाला यमादयः

āṣaṇmāsaṁ trikālaṁ yaḥ kedāreśaṁ namasyati || taṁ namasyaṁti satataṁ lokapālā yamādayaḥ

"Whoever bows to Kedareshvara three times a day for six months — to him the guardians of the world, Yama and the rest, ever bow in turn."

Verse 65 (skanda.4.77.65)

कलौ केदारमाहात्म्यं योपि कोपि न वेत्स्यति ।। यो वेत्स्यति सुपुण्यात्मा सर्वं वेत्स्यति स ध्रुवम्

kalau kedāramāhātmyaṁ yopi kopi na vetsyati || yo vetsyati supuṇyātmā sarvaṁ vetsyati sa dhruvam

"In the Kali age, whoever does not come to know the greatness of Kedara remains ignorant of much; whoever does come to know it is a truly meritorious soul, and shall surely come to know everything."

Verse 66 (skanda.4.77.66)

केदारेशं सकृद्दृष्ट्वा देवि मेऽनुचरो भवेत् ।। तस्मात्काश्यां प्रयत्नेन केदारेशं विलोकयेत्

kedāreśaṁ sakṛddṛṣṭvā devi me'nucaro bhavet || tasmātkāśyāṁ prayatnena kedāreśaṁ vilokayet

"O goddess, having beheld Kedareshvara even once, one becomes my own attendant; therefore Kedareshvara should be beheld at Kashi with every effort."

Verse 67 (skanda.4.77.67)

चित्रांगदेश्वरं लिंगं केदारादुत्तरे शुभम् ।। तस्यार्चनान्नरो नित्यं स्वर्गभोगानुपाश्नुते

citrāṁgadeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ kedārāduttare śubham || tasyārcanānnaro nityaṁ svargabhogānupāśnute

"To the north of Kedara is the auspicious linga of Chitrangadeshvara; by worshipping it, a man perpetually enjoys the pleasures of heaven."

Verse 68 (skanda.4.77.68)

केदाराद्दक्षिणे भागे नीलकंठ विलोकनात् ।। संसारोरगदष्टस्य तस्य नास्ति विषाद्भयम्

kedārāddakṣiṇe bhāge nīlakaṁṭha vilokanāt || saṁsāroragadaṣṭasya tasya nāsti viṣādbhayam

"To the south of Kedara, by beholding Nilakantha, one who has been bitten by the serpent of worldly existence has no more fear of its poison."

Verse 69 (skanda.4.77.69)

तद्वायव्यंबरीषेशो नरस्तदवलोकनात् ।। गर्भवासं न चाप्नोति संसारे दुःखसंकुले

tadvāyavyaṁbarīṣeśo narastadavalokanāt || garbhavāsaṁ na cāpnoti saṁsāre duḥkhasaṁkule

"To its northwest is Ambarisheshvara; by beholding it, a man never again dwells in the womb, in this world crowded with sorrow."

Verse 70 (skanda.4.77.70)

इंद्रद्युम्नेश्वरं लिंगं तत्समीपे समर्च्य च ।। तेजोमयेन यानेन स स्वर्ग भुवि मोदते

iṁdradyumneśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ tatsamīpe samarcya ca || tejomayena yānena sa svarga bhuvi modate

"By duly worshipping the linga of Indradyumneshvara nearby, one rejoices in a chariot of splendour, in heaven as on earth."

Verse 71 (skanda.4.77.71)

तद्दक्षिणे नरो दृष्ट्वा लिंगं कालंजरेश्वरम् ।। जरां कालं विनिर्जित्य मम लोके वसेच्चिरम्

taddakṣiṇe naro dṛṣṭvā liṁgaṁ kālaṁjareśvaram || jarāṁ kālaṁ vinirjitya mama loke vasecciram

"To its south, a man who beholds the linga of Kalanjareshvara conquers old age and death, and dwells long in my world."

Verse 72 (skanda.4.77.72)

दृष्ट्वा क्षेमेश्वरं लिंगमुद्क्चित्रांगदेश्वरात् ।। सर्वत्र क्षेममाप्नोति लोकेऽत्र च परत्र च

dṛṣṭvā kṣemeśvaraṁ liṁgamudkcitrāṁgadeśvarāt || sarvatra kṣemamāpnoti loke'tra ca paratra ca

"By beholding the linga of Kshemeshvara, to the north of Chitrangadeshvara, one attains well-being everywhere, in this world and the next."

Verse 73 (skanda.4.77.73)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। देवदेवेन विंध्यारे केदार महिमा महान् ।। इत्याख्यायि पुरांबायै मया तेपि निरूपितः

|| skaṁda uvāca || || devadevena viṁdhyāre kedāra mahimā mahān || ityākhyāyi purāṁbāyai mayā tepi nirūpitaḥ

Skanda said: "Thus, O foe of the Vindhya, was the great glory of Kedara told by the god of gods to the mother of the city; and I too have now expounded it to you."

Verse 74 (skanda.4.77.74)

केदारेश्वरलिंगस्य श्रुत्वोत्पत्तिं कृती नरः ।। शिवलोकमवाप्नोति निष्पापो जायते क्षणात्

kedāreśvaraliṁgasya śrutvotpattiṁ kṛtī naraḥ || śivalokamavāpnoti niṣpāpo jāyate kṣaṇāt

"A righteous man who hears of the origin of the Kedareshvara linga attains the world of Shiva, and instantly becomes free of sin."