The Manifestation of Amriteshvara and Other Lingas

Verse 1 (skanda.4.94.1)

।। स्कंद उवाच । । ।। अन्यान्यपि च लिंगानि कथयामि महामुने ।। अमृतेशमुखादीनि यन्नामाप्यमृतप्रदम्

|| skaṁda uvāca | | || anyānyapi ca liṁgāni kathayāmi mahāmune || amṛteśamukhādīni yannāmāpyamṛtapradam

Skanda said: I shall tell you of other lingas too, O great sage, beginning with Amriteshvara, whose very name bestows immortality.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.94.2)

पुरा सनारु नामासीन्मुनिरत्र गृहाश्रमी ।। ब्रह्मयज्ञरतो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिदैवतः

purā sanāru nāmāsīnmuniratra gṛhāśramī || brahmayajñarato nityaṁ nityaṁ cātithidaivataḥ

Formerly there was a sage named Sanaru here, a householder, ever devoted to the Brahma-yajna, ever regarding the guest as a deity,

Verse 3 (skanda.4.94.3)

लिंगपूजारतो नित्यं नित्यं तीर्थाप्रतिग्रही ।। तस्यर्षेरभवत्पुत्रः सनारोरुपजंघनिः

liṁgapūjārato nityaṁ nityaṁ tīrthāpratigrahī || tasyarṣerabhavatputraḥ sanārorupajaṁghaniḥ

ever devoted to linga-worship, ever accepting nothing but what was rightly due. That sage Sanaru had a son, Upajanghani.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.94.4)

स कदाचिद्गतोरण्यं तत्र दष्टः पृदाकुना ।। अथ तत्स वयोभिश्च स आनीतः स्वमाश्रमम्

sa kadācidgatoraṇyaṁ tatra daṣṭaḥ pṛdākunā || atha tatsa vayobhiśca sa ānītaḥ svamāśramam

He once went to the forest, and there was bitten by a serpent. Then he was brought by his companions to his own hermitage.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.94.5)

सनारुणा समुच्छ्वस्य नीतः स उपजंघनिः ।। महाश्मशानभूभागं स्वर्गद्वारसमीपतः

sanāruṇā samucchvasya nītaḥ sa upajaṁghaniḥ || mahāśmaśānabhūbhāgaṁ svargadvārasamīpataḥ

Sighing, Sanaru carried that Upajanghani to that part of the great cremation-ground near the gate of heaven.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.94.6)

तत्रासीच्छ्रीफलाकारं लिंगमेकं सुगुप्तवत् ।। निधाय तत्र तं यावच्छवं संचिंतयेत्सुधीः

tatrāsīcchrīphalākāraṁ liṁgamekaṁ suguptavat || nidhāya tatra taṁ yāvacchavaṁ saṁciṁtayetsudhīḥ

There was, well hidden, a linga shaped like a shriphala. Placing him there, as long as the wise Sanaru pondered over that corpse —

Verse 7 (skanda.4.94.7)

सर्पदष्टस्य संस्कारः कथं भवति चेति वै ।। तावत्स जीवन्नुत्तस्थौ सुप्तवच्चौपजंघनिः

sarpadaṣṭasya saṁskāraḥ kathaṁ bhavati ceti vai || tāvatsa jīvannuttasthau suptavaccaupajaṁghaniḥ

"How indeed is the last rite performed for one who has died of snakebite?" — even as he thought this, that Upajanghani, as if merely asleep, rose up alive.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.94.8)

अथ तं वीक्ष्य स मुनिः सनारुरुपजंघनिम् ।। पुनः प्राणितसंपन्नं विस्मयं प्राप्तवान्परम्

atha taṁ vīkṣya sa muniḥ sanārurupajaṁghanim || punaḥ prāṇitasaṁpannaṁ vismayaṁ prāptavānparam

Then the sage Sanaru, seeing his son Upajanghani alive again, was struck with the utmost astonishment.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.94.9)

प्राणितव्येऽत्र को हेतुर्मच्छिशोरुपजंघनेः ।। क्षेत्राद्बहिरहिर्यं हि दष्टा नैषीत्परासु ताम्

prāṇitavye'tra ko heturmacchiśorupajaṁghaneḥ || kṣetrādbahirahiryaṁ hi daṣṭā naiṣītparāsu tām

"What indeed is the cause here of my child Upajanghani's coming back to life? For the serpent that bit him outside the sacred field did not take away his life-breath [as it should have]."

Verse 10 (skanda.4.94.10)

इति यावत्स संधत्ते धियं तज्जीवितैकिकाम्।। तावत्पिपीलिका त्वेका मृतं क्वापि पिपीलिकम्

iti yāvatsa saṁdhatte dhiyaṁ tajjīvitaikikām|| tāvatpipīlikā tvekā mṛtaṁ kvāpi pipīlikam

As he was forming this single thought over the matter, an ant, meanwhile, brought a dead ant of its own —

Verse 11 (skanda.4.94.11)

आनिनाय च तत्रैव सोप्य नन्निर्गतस्ततः ।। अथ विज्ञाय स मुनिस्तत्त्वं जीवितसूचितम्

ānināya ca tatraiva sopya nannirgatastataḥ || atha vijñāya sa munistattvaṁ jīvitasūcitam

— to that very spot, and it too came back out alive. Then that sage, understanding the truth this life indicated,

Verse 12 (skanda.4.94.12)

मृदु हस्ततलेनैव यावत्खनति वै मुनिः ।। तावच्छ्रीफलमात्रं हि लिंगं तेन समीक्षितम्

mṛdu hastatalenaiva yāvatkhanati vai muniḥ || tāvacchrīphalamātraṁ hi liṁgaṁ tena samīkṣitam

as he dug gently with just the palm of his hand, he beheld there a linga the size of a shriphala.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.94.13)

सनारुणाथ तल्लिंगं तेन तत्र समर्चितम् ।। चिरकालीन लिंगस्य कृतं नामापि सान्वयम्

sanāruṇātha talliṁgaṁ tena tatra samarcitam || cirakālīna liṁgasya kṛtaṁ nāmāpi sānvayam

Then Sanaru worshipped that linga there, and gave that ancient linga a fitting name too —

Verse 14 (skanda.4.94.14)

अमृतेश्वरनामेदं लिंगमानंदकानने ।। एतल्लिंगस्य संस्पर्शादमृतत्वं लभेद्ध्रुवम्

amṛteśvaranāmedaṁ liṁgamānaṁdakānane || etalliṁgasya saṁsparśādamṛtatvaṁ labheddhruvam

"Amriteshvara" — this is the name of this linga in Anandakanana; by the mere touch of this linga, one certainly attains immortality.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.94.15)

अमृतेशं समभ्यर्च्य जीवत्पुत्रः स वै मुनिः।। स्वास्पदं समनुप्राप्तो दृष्टआश्चर्यवज्जनैः

amṛteśaṁ samabhyarcya jīvatputraḥ sa vai muniḥ|| svāspadaṁ samanuprāpto dṛṣṭaāścaryavajjanaiḥ

Having worshipped Amritesha well, that sage, his son now alive, returned to his own abode, watched by people as if a wonder.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.94.16)

तदाप्रभृति तल्लिंगममृतेशं मुनीश्वर ।। काश्यां सिद्धिप्रदं नृणां कलौ गुप्तं भवेत्पुनः

tadāprabhṛti talliṁgamamṛteśaṁ munīśvara || kāśyāṁ siddhipradaṁ nṛṇāṁ kalau guptaṁ bhavetpunaḥ

From that time on, that linga Amritesha, O lord of sages, bestower of success upon men in Kashi, will become hidden again in the Kali age.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.94.17)

अमृतेश्वर संस्पर्शान्मृता जीवंति तत्क्षणात् ।। अमृतत्वं भजंतेऽत्र जीवंतः स्पर्शमात्रतः

amṛteśvara saṁsparśānmṛtā jīvaṁti tatkṣaṇāt || amṛtatvaṁ bhajaṁte'tra jīvaṁtaḥ sparśamātrataḥ

By the touch of Amriteshvara, the dead come alive instantly; and the living, by mere touch, attain immortality here.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.94.18)

अमृतेश समं लिंगं नास्ति क्वापि महीतले।। तल्लिंगं शंभुना तिष्ये कृतं गुप्तं प्रयत्नतः

amṛteśa samaṁ liṁgaṁ nāsti kvāpi mahītale|| talliṁgaṁ śaṁbhunā tiṣye kṛtaṁ guptaṁ prayatnataḥ

There is no linga equal to Amritesha anywhere on earth; Shambhu has kept that linga hidden with effort in this age.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.94.19)

अमृतेश्वर नामापि ये काश्यां परिगृह्णते ।। न तेषामुपसर्गोत्थं भयं क्वापि भविष्यति

amṛteśvara nāmāpi ye kāśyāṁ parigṛhṇate || na teṣāmupasargotthaṁ bhayaṁ kvāpi bhaviṣyati

Whoever take even the name of Amriteshvara in Kashi shall never have any fear arising from calamity anywhere.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.94.20)

मुनेऽन्यच्च महालिंगं करुणेश्वरसंज्ञितम्।। मोक्षद्वार समीपे तु मोक्षद्वारेश्वराग्रतः

mune'nyacca mahāliṁgaṁ karuṇeśvarasaṁjñitam|| mokṣadvāra samīpe tu mokṣadvāreśvarāgrataḥ

O sage, there is another great linga named Karuneshvara, near the gate of liberation, in front of Mokshadvareshvara.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.94.21)

दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य महाकारुणिकस्य वै ।। न क्षेत्रान्निर्गमो जातु बहिर्भवति कस्यचित्

darśanāttasya liṁgasya mahākāruṇikasya vai || na kṣetrānnirgamo jātu bahirbhavati kasyacit

By the sight of that linga of the greatly compassionate one, no one ever departs from this sacred field unprotected.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.94.22)

स्नातव्यं मणिकर्ण्यां च द्रष्टव्यः करुणेश्वरः ।। क्षेत्रोपसर्गजा भीतिर्हातव्या परया मुदा

snātavyaṁ maṇikarṇyāṁ ca draṣṭavyaḥ karuṇeśvaraḥ || kṣetropasargajā bhītirhātavyā parayā mudā

One should bathe in Manikarnika and see Karuneshvara; the fear born of calamity in this sacred field should be abandoned with the utmost joy.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.94.23)

सोमवासरमासाद्य एकभक्तव्रतं चरेत् ।। यष्टव्यः करुणापुष्पैर्व्रतिना करुणेश्वरः

somavāsaramāsādya ekabhaktavrataṁ caret || yaṣṭavyaḥ karuṇāpuṣpairvratinā karuṇeśvaraḥ

Having come upon a Monday, one should observe the vow of eating once a day; the vow-observer should worship Karuneshvara with flowers of compassion.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.94.24)

तेन व्रतेन संतुष्टः करुणेशः कदाचन ।। न तं क्षेत्राद्बहिः कुर्यात्तस्मात्कार्यं व्रतं त्विदम्

tena vratena saṁtuṣṭaḥ karuṇeśaḥ kadācana || na taṁ kṣetrādbahiḥ kuryāttasmātkāryaṁ vrataṁ tvidam

Pleased by that vow, Karunesha never casts him out of the sacred field; therefore this vow should be performed.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.94.25)

तत्पत्रैस्तत्फलैर्वापि संपूज्यः करुणेश्वरः ।। यो न जानाति तल्लिंगं सम्यग्ज्ञानविवर्जितः

tatpatraistatphalairvāpi saṁpūjyaḥ karuṇeśvaraḥ || yo na jānāti talliṁgaṁ samyagjñānavivarjitaḥ

Karuneshvara should be worshipped with his own leaves and fruits. Whoever does not know this linga is devoid of true knowledge.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.94.26)

तेनार्च्यः करुणावृक्षो देवेशः प्रीयतामिति ।। यो वर्षं सोमवारस्य व्रतं कुर्यादिति द्विजः

tenārcyaḥ karuṇāvṛkṣo deveśaḥ prīyatāmiti || yo varṣaṁ somavārasya vrataṁ kuryāditi dvijaḥ

He should worship him saying, "May this tree of compassion, lord of gods, be pleased." Whoever twice-born performs the Monday-vow for a year,

Verse 27 (skanda.4.94.27)

प्रसन्नः करुणेशोत्र तस्य दास्यति वांछितम् ।। द्रष्टव्यः करुणेशोत्र काश्यां यत्नेन मानवैः

prasannaḥ karuṇeśotra tasya dāsyati vāṁchitam || draṣṭavyaḥ karuṇeśotra kāśyāṁ yatnena mānavaiḥ

Karunesha, pleased with him, gives him whatever he desires. Karunesha should be seen here in Kashi by men with effort.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.94.28)

इति ते करुणेशस्य महिमोक्तो महत्तरः ।। यं श्रुत्वा नोपसर्गोत्थं भयं काश्यां भविष्यति

iti te karuṇeśasya mahimokto mahattaraḥ || yaṁ śrutvā nopasargotthaṁ bhayaṁ kāśyāṁ bhaviṣyati

Thus the greater glory of Karunesha has been told to you; hearing which, no fear arising from calamity shall come in Kashi.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.94.29)

मोक्षद्वारेश्वरं चैव स्वर्गद्वोरेश्वरं तथा ।। उभौ काश्यां नरो दृष्ट्वा स्वर्गं मोक्षं च विंदति

mokṣadvāreśvaraṁ caiva svargadvoreśvaraṁ tathā || ubhau kāśyāṁ naro dṛṣṭvā svargaṁ mokṣaṁ ca viṁdati

Having seen both Mokshadvareshvara and Svargadvareshvara in Kashi, a man obtains both heaven and liberation.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.94.30)

ज्योतीरूपेश्वरं लिंगं काश्यामन्यत्प्रकाशते ।। तस्य संपूजनाद्भक्ता ज्योतीरूपा भवंति हि

jyotīrūpeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ kāśyāmanyatprakāśate || tasya saṁpūjanādbhaktā jyotīrūpā bhavaṁti hi

Another linga named Jyotirupeshvara shines forth in Kashi; by worship of it, devotees indeed attain a form of light.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.94.31)

चक्रपुष्करिणी तीरे ज्योतीरूपेश्वरं परम् ।। समभ्यर्च्याप्नुयान्मर्त्यो ज्योतीरूपं न संशयः

cakrapuṣkariṇī tīre jyotīrūpeśvaraṁ param || samabhyarcyāpnuyānmartyo jyotīrūpaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

On the bank of Chakrapushkarini, having worshipped that supreme Jyotirupeshvara well, a mortal attains a form of light — no doubt.

Verse 32 (skanda.4.94.32)

यदा भागीरथी गंगा तत्र प्राप्ता सरिद्वरा ।। तदारभ्यार्चयेन्नित्यं तल्लिंगं स्वर्धुनी मुदा

yadā bhāgīrathī gaṁgā tatra prāptā saridvarā || tadārabhyārcayennityaṁ talliṁgaṁ svardhunī mudā

When Bhagirathi Ganga, best of streams, arrived there, from then on the celestial river worships that linga daily, with joy.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.94.33)

पुरा विष्णौ तपत्यत्र तल्लिंगं स्वयमेव हि ।। तत्राविरासीत्तेजस्वि तेन क्षेत्रमिदं शुभम्

purā viṣṇau tapatyatra talliṁgaṁ svayameva hi || tatrāvirāsīttejasvi tena kṣetramidaṁ śubham

Formerly, when Vishnu performed austerity there, that linga itself, of its own accord, appeared there radiant; by that, this sacred field became auspicious.

Verse 34 (skanda.4.94.34)

चक्रपुष्करिणी तीरे ज्योतीरूपेश्वरं तदा ।। दूरस्थोपीह यो ध्यायेत्तस्य सिद्धिरदूरतः

cakrapuṣkariṇī tīre jyotīrūpeśvaraṁ tadā || dūrasthopīha yo dhyāyettasya siddhiradūrataḥ

Then, on the bank of Chakrapushkarini, whoever meditates on that Jyotirupeshvara, even while remaining far away, his success is not far off.

Verse 35 (skanda.4.94.35)

एतेष्वपि च लिंगेषु चतुर्दशसु सत्तम।। लिंगाष्टकं महावीर्यं कर्मबीजदवानलम्

eteṣvapi ca liṁgeṣu caturdaśasu sattama|| liṁgāṣṭakaṁ mahāvīryaṁ karmabījadavānalam

Besides these fourteen lingas too, O best one, there is a group of eight lingas of great potency, a forest-fire to the very seed of karma.

Verse 36 (skanda.4.94.36)

ओंकारादीनि लिंगानि यान्युक्तानि चतुर्दश ।। तथा दक्षेश्वरादीनि लिंगान्यष्टौ महांति च

oṁkārādīni liṁgāni yānyuktāni caturdaśa || tathā dakṣeśvarādīni liṁgānyaṣṭau mahāṁti ca

The Omkara and other lingas which have been declared, numbering fourteen; likewise Dakshesvara and other great lingas, eight in number;

Verse 37 (skanda.4.94.37)

शैलैशादीनि लिंगानि तथा यानि चतुर्दश ।। पुनः षट्त्रिंशदेतानि क्षेत्रसंसिद्धि हेतवे

śailaiśādīni liṁgāni tathā yāni caturdaśa || punaḥ ṣaṭtriṁśadetāni kṣetrasaṁsiddhi hetave

and Shailesha and other lingas, likewise fourteen more — these thirty-six together exist for the accomplishment of the sacred field.

Verse 38 (skanda.4.94.38)

षदत्रिंशत्तत्त्वरूपोसौ लिगेष्वेषु सदाशिवः ।। अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे वसन्नित्यं तारकं ज्ञानमादिशेत्

ṣadatriṁśattattvarūposau ligeṣveṣu sadāśivaḥ || asminkṣetre vasannityaṁ tārakaṁ jñānamādiśet

In these lingas, Sadashiva himself abides in the form of the thirty-six tattvas; dwelling ever in this sacred field, he bestows the liberating knowledge that carries one across.

Verse 39 (skanda.4.94.39)

क्षेत्रस्य तत्त्वमेतद्धि षट्त्रिंशल्लिंगरूप्यहो ।। एतेषां भजनात्पुंसां न भवेद्दुर्गतिः क्वचित्

kṣetrasya tattvametaddhi ṣaṭtriṁśalliṁgarūpyaho || eteṣāṁ bhajanātpuṁsāṁ na bhaveddurgatiḥ kvacit

This is the very essence of the sacred field — ah, in the form of thirty-six lingas! By worship of these, men never come to any evil state.

Verse 40 (skanda.4.94.40)

मुने रहस्यभूतानि र्लिगान्येतानि निश्चितम्।। एतल्लिंगप्रभावाच्च मुक्तिरत्र सुनिश्चिता

mune rahasyabhūtāni rligānyetāni niścitam|| etalliṁgaprabhāvācca muktiratra suniścitā

O sage, these lingas are indeed of a mysterious, secret nature; through the power of these lingas, liberation here is quite certain.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.94.41)

मोक्षक्षेत्रमिंदं काशी लिंगैरेतैर्मेहामते ।। एतान्यन्यानि सिद्धानि संभवंति युगेयुगे

mokṣakṣetramiṁdaṁ kāśī liṁgairetairmehāmate || etānyanyāni siddhāni saṁbhavaṁti yugeyuge

This Kashi is a field of liberation through these lingas, O great-minded one; other accomplished lingas continue to come into being age after age.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.94.42)

आनंदकाननं शंभोः क्षेत्रमेतदनादिमत्।। अत्र संस्थितिमापन्ना मुक्ता एव न संशयः

ānaṁdakānanaṁ śaṁbhoḥ kṣetrametadanādimat|| atra saṁsthitimāpannā muktā eva na saṁśayaḥ

This Anandakanana, the field of Shambhu, is without beginning; those who attain a fixed abode here are, without doubt, liberated indeed.

Verse 43 (skanda.4.94.43)

योगसिद्धिरिहास्त्येव तपःसिद्धिरिहैव हि ।। व्रतसिद्धिर्मंत्रसिद्धिस्तीर्थसिद्धिः सुनिश्चितम्

yogasiddhirihāstyeva tapaḥsiddhirihaiva hi || vratasiddhirmaṁtrasiddhistīrthasiddhiḥ suniścitam

Success in yoga certainly exists here, success in austerity too is here; success in vows, success in mantras, success in pilgrimage — all quite certain.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.94.44)

सिद्ध्यष्टकं तु यत्प्रोक्तमणिमादि महत्तरम् ।। तज्जन्मभूमिरेषैव शंभोरानंदवाटिका

siddhyaṣṭakaṁ tu yatproktamaṇimādi mahattaram || tajjanmabhūmireṣaiva śaṁbhorānaṁdavāṭikā

The group of eight siddhis that has been declared, beginning with Anima and greater still — their very birthplace is this pleasure-garden of Shambhu.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.94.45)

निर्वाणलक्ष्म्याः सदनमेतदानंदकाननम् ।। एतत्प्राप्य न मोक्तव्यं पुण्यैः संसारभीरुणा

nirvāṇalakṣmyāḥ sadanametadānaṁdakānanam || etatprāpya na moktavyaṁ puṇyaiḥ saṁsārabhīruṇā

This Anandakanana is the abode of the goddess of liberation; having attained this, one who fears samsara and possesses merit should never let it go.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.94.46)

अयमेव महालाभ इदमेव परं तपः ।। एतदेव महत्पुण्यं लब्धा वाराणसीह यत् ।।

ayameva mahālābha idameva paraṁ tapaḥ || etadeva mahatpuṇyaṁ labdhā vārāṇasīha yat ||

This alone is the great gain, this alone is the supreme austerity, this alone is the great merit — that Varanasi has been obtained here.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.94.47)

अवश्यं जन्मिनो मृत्युर्यत्र कुत्र भविष्यति ।। कर्मानुसारिणी लभ्या गतिः पश्चाच्छुभाशुभा

avaśyaṁ janmino mṛtyuryatra kutra bhaviṣyati || karmānusāriṇī labhyā gatiḥ paścācchubhāśubhā

Death of a born being will surely occur, somewhere or other; afterward, a destiny — auspicious or inauspicious — is obtained, following one's karma.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.94.48)

मृत्युं विज्ञाय नियतं गतिकर्मानुसारिणीम् ।। अवश्यं काशिका सेव्या सर्वकर्मनिवारिणी

mṛtyuṁ vijñāya niyataṁ gatikarmānusāriṇīm || avaśyaṁ kāśikā sevyā sarvakarmanivāriṇī

Knowing death, and the destiny that follows karma, to be certain, one should surely take refuge in Kashika, the remover of all karma.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.94.49)

मानुष्यं प्राप्य यं मूढा निमेषमितजीवितम् ।। न सेवंते पुरीं काशीं ते मुष्टा मंदबुद्धयः

mānuṣyaṁ prāpya yaṁ mūḍhā nimeṣamitajīvitam || na sevaṁte purīṁ kāśīṁ te muṣṭā maṁdabuddhayaḥ

Having obtained this human birth, whose life is measured in a mere blink, those fools who do not serve the city of Kashi are cheated, dull-witted ones.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.94.50)

दुर्लभं जन्म मानुष्यं दुर्लभा काशिकापुरी ।। उभयोः संगमासाद्य मुक्ता एव न संशयः

durlabhaṁ janma mānuṣyaṁ durlabhā kāśikāpurī || ubhayoḥ saṁgamāsādya muktā eva na saṁśayaḥ

Human birth is hard to obtain, the city of Kashika is hard to obtain; having attained the union of both, one is, without doubt, liberated indeed.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.94.51)

क्व च तादृक्तपांसीह क्व तादृग्योग उत्तमः ।। यादृग्भिः प्राप्यते मुक्तिः काश्यां मोक्षोत्तमोत्तमः

kva ca tādṛktapāṁsīha kva tādṛgyoga uttamaḥ || yādṛgbhiḥ prāpyate muktiḥ kāśyāṁ mokṣottamottamaḥ

Where else is such austerity here, where else such supreme yoga, as that liberation attained in Kashi — the very best of the best liberations?

Verse 52 (skanda.4.94.52)

सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं सत्यपूर्वं पुनःपुनः ।। न काशी सदृशी मुक्त्यै भूमिरन्या महीतले

satyaṁ satyaṁ punaḥ satyaṁ satyapūrvaṁ punaḥpunaḥ || na kāśī sadṛśī muktyai bhūmiranyā mahītale

Truly, truly, again truly, truthfully again and again — there is no other land on earth equal to Kashi for liberation.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.94.53)

विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नित्यं मुक्त्यै चोत्तरवाहिनी ।। आनंदकानने मुक्तिर्मुक्तिर्नान्यत्र कुत्रचित्

viśveśo muktido nityaṁ muktyai cottaravāhinī || ānaṁdakānane muktirmuktirnānyatra kutracit

Vishvesha is ever the giver of liberation; and for liberation there is also the north-flowing Ganga; in Anandakanana is liberation — liberation nowhere else at all.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.94.54)

एक एव हि विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नान्य एव हि ।। स एव काशीं प्रापय्य मुक्तिं यच्छति नान्यतः

eka eva hi viśveśo muktido nānya eva hi || sa eva kāśīṁ prāpayya muktiṁ yacchati nānyataḥ

Vishvesha alone indeed is the giver of liberation, none other; he alone, having brought one to Kashi, grants liberation, not from elsewhere.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.94.55)

सायुज्यमुक्तिरत्रैव सान्निध्यादिरथान्यतः ।। सुलभा सापि नो नूनं काश्यां मोक्षोस्ति हेलया

sāyujyamuktiratraiva sānnidhyādirathānyataḥ || sulabhā sāpi no nūnaṁ kāśyāṁ mokṣosti helayā

Sayujya-liberation is here alone; nearness and other forms are easily had elsewhere too; but that union is not so easily had elsewhere — in Kashi alone, liberation exists as mere play.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.94.56)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। शृण्वगस्त्य महाभाग भविष्यं कथयाम्यहम् ।। कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासोऽकथयद्यन्महद्वचः ।। निश्चिकेतुमनाः पश्चाद्यत्करिष्यति तच्छृणु

|| skaṁda uvāca || || śṛṇvagastya mahābhāga bhaviṣyaṁ kathayāmyaham || kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāso'kathayadyanmahadvacaḥ || niściketumanāḥ paścādyatkariṣyati tacchṛṇu

Skanda said: Listen, O greatly fortunate Agastya, I shall now tell you of what is to come. Hear that great word which Krishna-Dvaipayana Vyasa spoke, and what, resolved in mind, he did thereafter.