The Glory of Kedareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.138.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। सप्तषष्टिकसंख्याकं केदारेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। देवं शृणु वरारोहे दर्शनात्पापनाशनम्॥

īśvara uvāca| saptaṣaṣṭikasaṁkhyākaṁ kedāreśvarasaṁjñakam| devaṁ śṛṇu varārohe darśanātpāpanāśanam||

Ishvara said: "Hear, O fair one, of the sixty-seventh lord, called Kedareshvara, whose very sight destroys sin."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.138.2)

सृष्टिकाले पुरा देवि देवा व्याप्ता हिमेन हि। शीतार्त्ता विह्वलाः सर्वे ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः॥

sṛṣṭikāle purā devi devā vyāptā himena hi| śītārttā vihvalāḥ sarve brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ||

"Long ago, O Devi, at the time of creation, all the gods became covered with snow; afflicted and distraught with cold, they all went for refuge to Brahma."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.138.3)

हिमाद्रिणार्दिताः सर्वे वयं देव जगत्पते। त्राहि भीतांश्चतुवक्त्र पितामह नमोऽस्तु ते॥

himādriṇārditāḥ sarve vayaṁ deva jagatpate| trāhi bhītāṁścatuvaktra pitāmaha namo'stu te||

"They said: 'O lord of the world, we are all afflicted by the Himalaya; O four-faced grandfather, protect us who are afraid — homage to you.'"

Verse 4 (skanda.5.138.4)

देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रोक्तं वै ब्रह्मणा प्रिये। पीडिता हिमशैलेन शंकरश्वशुरेण च॥

devānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā proktaṁ vai brahmaṇā priye| pīḍitā himaśailena śaṁkaraśvaśureṇa ca||

"Having heard the words of the gods, O beloved, Brahma said that he too was afflicted by the snow-mountain, the father-in-law of Shankara."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.138.5)

नाहं यातुं समर्थोऽस्मि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्। महादेव मृते देवा गतिरन्या न विद्यते॥

nāhaṁ yātuṁ samartho'smi satyametanmayoditam| mahādeva mṛte devā gatiranyā na vidyate||

"'I am not able to go there — this I have truly spoken; O gods, save for Mahadeva, there exists no other refuge.'"

Verse 6 (skanda.5.138.6)

स एव शरणं देवः सर्वेषां नो भविष्यति। तस्याज्ञया मया सर्वे पर्वता रचिताः पुरा॥

sa eva śaraṇaṁ devaḥ sarveṣāṁ no bhaviṣyati| tasyājñayā mayā sarve parvatā racitāḥ purā||

"'That god alone shall be a refuge for all of us. By his command I fashioned all these mountains in former times.'"

Verse 7 (skanda.5.138.7)

कृता बुद्धिर्विचित्रा च हिमाद्रिश्च मया कृतः। असेव्यः सर्वजंतूनामधृष्यो दुर्गमो गिरिः॥

kṛtā buddhirvicitrā ca himādriśca mayā kṛtaḥ| asevyaḥ sarvajaṁtūnāmadhṛṣyo durgamo giriḥ||

"'With wondrous design I made this Himalaya mountain, unapproachable and unassailable by all creatures, hard to traverse.'"

Verse 8 (skanda.5.138.8)

हिमाचलस्य तस्यैव शास्ता देवो महेश्वरः। तस्माद्यास्यामहे देवा कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम्॥

himācalasya tasyaiva śāstā devo maheśvaraḥ| tasmādyāsyāmahe devā kailāsaṁ parvatottamam||

"'The ruler of that very Himalaya is the god Maheshvara; therefore, O gods, let us go to Kailasa, the best of mountains—'"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.138.9)

यत्र तिष्ठति विश्वात्मा देवदेवो महेश्वरः। एवमुक्त्वा गतो ब्रह्मा देवैः सार्द्धं ममांतिकम्। दृष्टोहं पूजितस्तैस्तु स्तुतोऽहं विविधैः स्तवैः॥

yatra tiṣṭhati viśvātmā devadevo maheśvaraḥ| evamuktvā gato brahmā devaiḥ sārddhaṁ mamāṁtikam| dṛṣṭohaṁ pūjitastaistu stuto'haṁ vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ||

"'—where dwells the soul of the universe, the god of gods, Maheshvara.' Having spoken thus, Brahma, together with the gods, came into my presence; I was beheld by them, worshipped, and praised with manifold hymns."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.138.10)

मया संमानिता देवाश्चतुवक्त्रः प्रपूजितः। पूजयित्वा मया पृष्टो ब्रह्मा गमनकारणम्॥

mayā saṁmānitā devāścatuvaktraḥ prapūjitaḥ| pūjayitvā mayā pṛṣṭo brahmā gamanakāraṇam||

"I too honored the gods and duly worshipped the four-faced one; having worshipped him, I asked Brahma the reason for his coming."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.138.11)

किं कार्यं त्रिदशैः सार्द्धमागतोऽसि पितामह। कथितं ब्रह्मणा सर्वं श्रुतं सर्वं मया प्रिये॥

kiṁ kāryaṁ tridaśaiḥ sārddhamāgato'si pitāmaha| kathitaṁ brahmaṇā sarvaṁ śrutaṁ sarvaṁ mayā priye||

"'O grandfather, on what business have you come here together with the thirty gods?' Brahma told me everything, and I, O beloved, heard it all."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.138.12)

हिमाचलं समाहूय मर्यादा च कृता मया। शैलानां राजराजत्वे हिमाद्रिश्च प्रतिष्ठितः॥

himācalaṁ samāhūya maryādā ca kṛtā mayā| śailānāṁ rājarājatve himādriśca pratiṣṭhitaḥ||

"I summoned the Himalaya and established a boundary; and I set the Himalaya in sovereignty as king of kings among the mountains."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.138.13)

देवानां विषयाश्चैव गंधर्वाणां तथैव च। यक्षाणामथ नागानां किंनराणां तथैव च॥

devānāṁ viṣayāścaiva gaṁdharvāṇāṁ tathaiva ca| yakṣāṇāmatha nāgānāṁ kiṁnarāṇāṁ tathaiva ca||

"Domains for the gods, and likewise for the gandharvas, for the yakshas, the nagas, and likewise for the kinnaras—"

Verse 14 (skanda.5.138.14)

विद्याधराणां क्रीडार्थं पृथक्पृथङ्निवेशिताः। रूपतो भाति शैलेंद्रः शुद्धस्फटिकसंनिभः॥

vidyādharāṇāṁ krīḍārthaṁ pṛthakpṛthaṅniveśitāḥ| rūpato bhāti śaileṁdraḥ śuddhasphaṭikasaṁnibhaḥ||

"—and separate places set apart for the sport of the vidyadharas. In form, the lord of mountains shines resembling pure crystal."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.138.15)

जाह्नवीनिर्झरोष्णीषः शर्वाणीजनकस्तथा॥

jāhnavīnirjharoṣṇīṣaḥ śarvāṇījanakastathā||

"The falling stream of the Jahnavi is his crown, and he is the father of Sharvani."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.138.16)

सर्वदेवमयो दिव्यः सर्वतीर्थमयः कृतः। सर्वाश्रमनिवासश्च सर्वामरनिषेवितः॥

sarvadevamayo divyaḥ sarvatīrthamayaḥ kṛtaḥ| sarvāśramanivāsaśca sarvāmaraniṣevitaḥ||

"That divine mountain was made to consist of all the gods and all the tirthas; it is the dwelling place of every hermitage, and is served by all the immortals."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.138.17)

एवं संस्थाप्य शैलेंद्रं लिंगमूर्त्तिरहं स्थितः। विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु केदारेश्वरनामतः॥

evaṁ saṁsthāpya śaileṁdraṁ liṁgamūrttirahaṁ sthitaḥ| vikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu kedāreśvaranāmataḥ||

"Having thus established the lord of mountains, I took my stand there in the form of a linga, and became renowned in the three worlds by the name Kedareshvara."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.138.18)

उदकं निर्मितं तत्र मंत्रपूर्णं मया प्रिये। माहात्म्यं विविधं प्रोक्तं लिंगस्य च जलस्य च॥

udakaṁ nirmitaṁ tatra maṁtrapūrṇaṁ mayā priye| māhātmyaṁ vividhaṁ proktaṁ liṁgasya ca jalasya ca||

"There, O beloved, I fashioned water filled with mantras; and manifold glory has been declared, both of the linga and of the water."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.138.19)

योत्रागत्य नरो भक्त्या सम्यङ्मां पूजयिष्यति। जलं योऽत्रैव गृह्णाति विधानेन वरानने। तस्योदरे भविष्यामि लिंगरूपी न संशयः॥

yotrāgatya naro bhaktyā samyaṅmāṁ pūjayiṣyati| jalaṁ yo'traiva gṛhṇāti vidhānena varānane| tasyodare bhaviṣyāmi liṁgarūpī na saṁśayaḥ||

"'Whatever man, coming here, shall duly worship me with devotion, and whoever, O fair one, shall take this water here according to rite — within his body I shall dwell in the form of the linga, without doubt.'"

Verse 20 (skanda.5.138.20)

इत्युक्ते वचने देवि सदेवासुरपन्नगाः। यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाश्च भूतवैतालकिंनराः॥

ityukte vacane devi sadevāsurapannagāḥ| yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācāśca bhūtavaitālakiṁnarāḥ||

"When these words were spoken, O Devi, the gods together with asuras and serpents, yakshas, rakshasas, pishachas, bhutas, vetalas, and kinnaras—"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.138.21)

विद्याधरगणाश्चैव मम दर्शनलालसाः। समायाता वरारोहे पीत्वा तत्र जलं शुभम्॥

vidyādharagaṇāścaiva mama darśanalālasāḥ| samāyātā varārohe pītvā tatra jalaṁ śubham||

"—and the hosts of vidyadharas too, eager for sight of me, O fair one, came together there, having drunk the auspicious water."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.138.22)

दृष्टोऽहं विधिना तैस्तु लिंगमूर्त्तिगतः प्रिये। मम तुल्याश्च ते जातास्तस्मिन्नद्रिवरे स्थिताः। जनलोकगतैः सिद्धैः पूज्यमाना वरानने॥

dṛṣṭo'haṁ vidhinā taistu liṁgamūrttigataḥ priye| mama tulyāśca te jātāstasminnadrivare sthitāḥ| janalokagataiḥ siddhaiḥ pūjyamānā varānane||

"I was beheld by them, O beloved, present in due form as the linga; and they, becoming equal to me, took up their abode on that best of mountains, worshipped, O fair one, by the siddhas dwelling in Janaloka."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.138.23)

अथ कालेन बहुना श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। केदारेश्वरदेवस्य जलस्य च विशेषतः॥

atha kālena bahunā śrutvā māhātmyamuttamam| kedāreśvaradevasya jalasya ca viśeṣataḥ||

"Then, after a long time had passed, having heard of the supreme glory of the god Kedareshvara, and especially of the water—"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.138.24)

मनुष्याः समुपायातास्ते रजोबहुला यतः। तमःप्राया विशालाक्षि तदाहं माहिषं वपुः॥

manuṣyāḥ samupāyātāste rajobahulā yataḥ| tamaḥprāyā viśālākṣi tadāhaṁ māhiṣaṁ vapuḥ||

"—men came there, O large-eyed one; but since they were full of rajas and given mostly to tamas, I then assumed the form of a buffalo—"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.138.25)

कृतवांस्तद्भयार्थाय न च ते भीतिमागताः। इह देवोत्र देवोऽत्र बभ्रमुस्ते दिदृक्षवः॥

kṛtavāṁstadbhayārthāya na ca te bhītimāgatāḥ| iha devotra devo'tra babhramuste didṛkṣavaḥ||

"—assumed in order to frighten them, yet they were not overcome by fear; saying 'the god is here,' 'the god is there,' they wandered about, eager to see him."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.138.26)

न तैर्दृष्टो महादेवि यतोऽहं महिषाकृतिः। स्थितोऽस्म्यलक्ष्यरूपेण ततस्ते दीनमानसाः। उद्विग्ना निश्वसन्तश्च वैराग्यं परमं गताः॥

na tairdṛṣṭo mahādevi yato'haṁ mahiṣākṛtiḥ| sthito'smyalakṣyarūpeṇa tataste dīnamānasāḥ| udvignā niśvasantaśca vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ||

"I was not seen by them, O great Devi, since, being in the form of a buffalo, I remained in an unmarked shape; then they, wretched at heart, agitated and sighing, fell into utter despair."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.138.27)

नात्र देवो न तीर्थानि न गंगा पुण्यदायिनी। न धर्मो न परो लोकः सर्वमे तद्विडम्बनम्॥

nātra devo na tīrthāni na gaṁgā puṇyadāyinī| na dharmo na paro lokaḥ sarvame tadviḍambanam||

"'There is no god here, no tirthas, no merit-bestowing Ganga; no dharma, no other world — all this is but a mockery.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.138.28)

एवं किल पुराणेषु श्रूयते सर्वदा श्रुतौ। हिमालये च केदारं लिंगं मोक्षप्रदायकम्॥

evaṁ kila purāṇeṣu śrūyate sarvadā śrutau| himālaye ca kedāraṁ liṁgaṁ mokṣapradāyakam||

"'Thus indeed it is ever heard in the Puranas and in the Shruti, that at the Himalaya there is a linga named Kedara, the bestower of liberation.'"

Verse 29 (skanda.5.138.29)

एवं तु वदतां तेषां मानुषाणां यशस्विनि। आकाशादुत्थिता वाणी मया प्रोक्तानुकंपया॥

evaṁ tu vadatāṁ teṣāṁ mānuṣāṇāṁ yaśasvini| ākāśādutthitā vāṇī mayā proktānukaṁpayā||

"While those men were speaking thus, O glorious one, a voice arose from the sky, spoken by me out of compassion—"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.138.30)

अमार्गं मा वदत्वत्र न निंद्याः श्रुतयोऽव्ययाः। पुराणं नान्यथा प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा॥

amārgaṁ mā vadatvatra na niṁdyāḥ śrutayo'vyayāḥ| purāṇaṁ nānyathā proktaṁ brahmaṇā lokakartṛṇā||

"—'Do not call this a wrong path here; the imperishable Shrutis are not to be reviled. The Purana was not spoken otherwise by Brahma, the creator of the world.'"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.138.31)

ये निंदंति पुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि नास्तिकाः। ते यांति नरकं घोरं यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्॥

ye niṁdaṁti purāṇāni dharmaśāstrāṇi nāstikāḥ| te yāṁti narakaṁ ghoraṁ yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam||

"'Those atheists who revile the Puranas and the Dharmashastras go to a terrible hell, until the dissolution of beings.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.138.32)

सदा देवोत्र केदारः स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकः। विद्यते त्रिदशैः पूज्यः सततं नैव दृश्यते॥

sadā devotra kedāraḥ svargamokṣapradāyakaḥ| vidyate tridaśaiḥ pūjyaḥ satataṁ naiva dṛśyate||

"'The god Kedara is ever present here, the bestower of heaven and liberation, worshipped by the gods; yet he is not always to be seen.'"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.138.33)

करोति पूजां हिमवान्मासानष्टौ च शाश्वतान्। हिमाद्रिस्तेन पुण्येन नगेन्द्रस्तु कृतो नगैः। सेव्यश्च रमणीयश्च सर्वतीर्थनमस्कृतः॥

karoti pūjāṁ himavānmāsānaṣṭau ca śāśvatān| himādristena puṇyena nagendrastu kṛto nagaiḥ| sevyaśca ramaṇīyaśca sarvatīrthanamaskṛtaḥ||

"'Himavan performs worship for eight everlasting months; by that merit the Himalaya was made lord of mountains by the mountains themselves — to be resorted to, delightful, and saluted by all the tirthas.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.138.34)

सर्वरत्ननिधानश्च देवानां वल्लभस्तथा। ग्रीष्मे चैव वसन्ते च देवदेवोऽत्र दृश्यते॥

sarvaratnanidhānaśca devānāṁ vallabhastathā| grīṣme caiva vasante ca devadevo'tra dṛśyate||

"'It is a treasury of every gem, and beloved of the gods; in summer and in spring the god of gods is seen here.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.138.35)

नियतेनैव कालेन मानुषाणां च सर्वदा। यदि बुद्धिः परा जाता सर्वदा मम दर्शने॥

niyatenaiva kālena mānuṣāṇāṁ ca sarvadā| yadi buddhiḥ parā jātā sarvadā mama darśane||

"'At the appointed time, if the resolve of men should ever be set supremely upon beholding me—'"

Verse 36 (skanda.5.138.36)

आख्यास्ये तदुपायं च श्रूयतां सावधानतः। मा विकल्पोऽत्र कर्त्तव्यः सर्वान्कामानवाप्स्यथ॥

ākhyāsye tadupāyaṁ ca śrūyatāṁ sāvadhānataḥ| mā vikalpo'tra karttavyaḥ sarvānkāmānavāpsyatha||

"'—then I shall declare the means to that; let it be heard attentively. Let no doubt be entertained here; you shall obtain all your desires.'"

Verse 37 (skanda.5.138.37)

क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं क्षेत्रं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्। प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं प्रोक्तं महाकालवनं नराः॥

kṣetrāṇāmuttamaṁ kṣetraṁ bhuktimuktipradāyakam| pralaye'pyakṣayaṁ proktaṁ mahākālavanaṁ narāḥ||

"'The best of sacred fields, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation, declared imperishable even at the dissolution — that, O men, is Mahakalavana.'"

Verse 38 (skanda.5.138.38)

तत्राहं संभविष्यामि लोकानामनुकंपया। लिंगरूपेण शिप्रायास्तटे पुण्ये सुशोभने॥

tatrāhaṁ saṁbhaviṣyāmi lokānāmanukaṁpayā| liṁgarūpeṇa śiprāyāstaṭe puṇye suśobhane||

"'There, out of compassion for the worlds, I shall come into being in the form of a linga, on the sacred and lovely bank of the Shipra.'"

Verse 39 (skanda.5.138.39)

सोमेश्वरस्य देवस्य पश्चिमे स्थानमुत्तमम्। प्रसिद्धमुपयास्यामि केदारेश्वरनामतः॥

someśvarasya devasya paścime sthānamuttamam| prasiddhamupayāsyāmi kedāreśvaranāmataḥ||

"'At that supreme and renowned place to the west of the god Someshvara, I shall come to be known by the name Kedareshvara.'"

Verse 40 (skanda.5.138.40)

सर्वदा दर्शनं तत्र मया सार्द्धं भविष्यति। सर्वेषां च प्रदास्यामि सर्वा न्कामान्न संशयः॥

sarvadā darśanaṁ tatra mayā sārddhaṁ bhaviṣyati| sarveṣāṁ ca pradāsyāmi sarvā nkāmānna saṁśayaḥ||

"'There, sight of me shall ever be granted to all; and I shall bestow upon all their every desire, without doubt.'"

Verse 41 (skanda.5.138.41)

इह यावत्फलं तस्माद्दास्यामि ह्यधिकं ततः। इति ते मानवाः सर्वे श्रुत्वा वाणीं मनोरमाम्। आकाशादुत्थितां दिव्यां मनःप्रह्रादकारिकाम्॥

iha yāvatphalaṁ tasmāddāsyāmi hyadhikaṁ tataḥ| iti te mānavāḥ sarve śrutvā vāṇīṁ manoramām| ākāśādutthitāṁ divyāṁ manaḥprahrādakārikām||

"'Whatever fruit is gained here, I shall give even more than that.' Having heard this delightful, divine voice, gladdening the mind, arising from the sky, all those men—"

Verse 42 (skanda.5.138.42)

गता वनं महाकालं संस्मरन्तो महेश्वरम्। विकल्पेन विचित्रेण सत्यमेवेति नान्यथा॥

gatā vanaṁ mahākālaṁ saṁsmaranto maheśvaram| vikalpena vicitreṇa satyameveti nānyathā||

"—set out for the Mahakala forest, remembering Maheshvara, and, their wondering doubts laid aside, resolved that this alone was true, and not otherwise."

Verse 43 (skanda.5.138.43)

स्नात्वा शिप्राजले पुण्ये यावत्पश्यन्ति भास्करम्। तावदृष्टिपथोत्पन्नं लिंगं पापप्रणाशनम्॥

snātvā śiprājale puṇye yāvatpaśyanti bhāskaram| tāvadṛṣṭipathotpannaṁ liṁgaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam||

"Having bathed in the sacred waters of the Shipra, just as they looked toward the sun, at that very moment the sin-destroying linga arose within the path of their sight."

Verse 44 (skanda.5.138.44)

अथ ते हर्षिताः प्रोचुः केदारोऽयं न संशयः। दृष्टोऽस्माकं न सन्देहो गंगा शिप्राजले स्थिता॥

atha te harṣitāḥ procuḥ kedāro'yaṁ na saṁśayaḥ| dṛṣṭo'smākaṁ na sandeho gaṁgā śiprājale sthitā||

"Then, rejoicing, they said: 'This indeed is Kedara, without doubt; we have beheld him, there is no question — the Ganga herself abides in the waters of the Shipra.'"

Verse 45 (skanda.5.138.45)

ततस्ते पूजयामासुः पुष्पैर्नानाविधैस्तथा। पूजितोऽहं विशालाक्षि तेषां तुष्टो वरानने॥

tataste pūjayāmāsuḥ puṣpairnānāvidhaistathā| pūjito'haṁ viśālākṣi teṣāṁ tuṣṭo varānane||

"Then they worshipped, O large-eyed one, with flowers of many kinds; worshipped by them, O fair one, I became pleased."

Verse 46 (skanda.5.138.46)

दुर्लभोऽतिवरो दत्तः कैलासे स्थानमुत्तमम्। अक्षयं च पदं दत्तं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्॥

durlabho'tivaro dattaḥ kailāse sthānamuttamam| akṣayaṁ ca padaṁ dattaṁ punarāvṛttivarjitam||

"A boon most rare and excellent was granted them — a supreme abode on Kailasa; and an imperishable state was given, free from return to rebirth."

Verse 47 (skanda.5.138.47)

अतोऽहं त्रिदशैः प्रोक्तः केदारेश्वरना मतः। प्रार्थितः परया भक्त्या लोकानामनुकंपया॥

ato'haṁ tridaśaiḥ proktaḥ kedāreśvaranā mataḥ| prārthitaḥ parayā bhaktyā lokānāmanukaṁpayā||

"Therefore I was addressed by the gods as Kedareshvara, and, out of compassion for the worlds, entreated with the utmost devotion—"

Verse 48 (skanda.5.138.48)

इहागत्य नरा ये च त्वां पश्यंति सुभक्तितः। तेषां फलं त्वया देव दातव्यमधिकं यतः॥

ihāgatya narā ye ca tvāṁ paśyaṁti subhaktitaḥ| teṣāṁ phalaṁ tvayā deva dātavyamadhikaṁ yataḥ||

"'—O god, whatever men come here and behold you with true devotion, to them a greater fruit should be granted by you.'"

Verse 49 (skanda.5.138.49)

हिमाद्रौ हिमनाथस्य यात्रायाः प्रत्यहं फलम्। लभन्ते च नरा नित्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥

himādrau himanāthasya yātrāyāḥ pratyahaṁ phalam| labhante ca narā nityaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā||

"'The fruit that men obtain daily and ever, from pilgrimage to the lord of snow at the Himalaya — that same fruit let them obtain here; on this no doubt need be entertained.'"

Verse 50 (skanda.5.138.50)

ब्रह्महा वा सुरापो वा स्ते यी वा गुरुतल्पगः। तत्संपर्की नरो यस्तु त्वां दृष्ट्वा किल्विषाकरः॥

brahmahā vā surāpo vā ste yī vā gurutalpagaḥ| tatsaṁparkī naro yastu tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā kilviṣākaraḥ||

"'Whether a slayer of a brahmin, or a drinker of liquor, or a thief, or a violator of his guru's bed — the man who has had contact with such a sinner, laden with guilt, upon beholding you—'"

Verse 51 (skanda.5.138.51)

सोऽपि याति परं स्थानं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्। चांद्रायणानां विधि वच्छतानां चैव यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति केदारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

so'pi yāti paraṁ sthānaṁ punarāvṛttivarjitam| cāṁdrāyaṇānāṁ vidhi vacchatānāṁ caiva yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti kedāreśvaradarśanāt||

"'—he too attains the supreme abode, free from return; and whatever fruit is gained by the due performance of a hundred chandrayana vows, that same fruit is obtained through sight of Kedareshvara.'"

Verse 52 (skanda.5.138.52)

ते नराः पशवो लोके तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्। यैर्न दृष्टो महाकाले केदारेश्वरसंज्ञकः॥

te narāḥ paśavo loke teṣāṁ janma nirarthakam| yairna dṛṣṭo mahākāle kedāreśvarasaṁjñakaḥ||

"Those men are but beasts in this world, their birth is fruitless, by whom the linga named Kedareshvara has not been beheld at Mahakala."

Verse 53 (skanda.5.138.53)

कौमारे यौवने बाल्ये वार्द्धके यदुपार्जितम्। तत्पापं संक्षयं याति केदारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

kaumāre yauvane bālye vārddhake yadupārjitam| tatpāpaṁ saṁkṣayaṁ yāti kedāreśvaradarśanāt||

"Whatever sin has been accumulated in infancy, boyhood, youth, or old age, that sin goes to utter destruction through sight of Kedareshvara."

Verse 54 (skanda.5.138.54)

हिमालयकृता यात्रा तस्याः प्रोक्तं च यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति केदारेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

himālayakṛtā yātrā tasyāḥ proktaṁ ca yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti kedāreśvaradarśanāt||

"Whatever fruit has been declared for pilgrimage made to the Himalaya, that same fruit is obtained through sight of Kedareshvara."

Verse 55 (skanda.5.138.55)

इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा देवि देवैः प्रणतिपूर्वकम्। तथेति च मया प्रोक्तं तेऽपि देवा दिवं गताः॥

ityukto'haṁ tadā devi devaiḥ praṇatipūrvakam| tatheti ca mayā proktaṁ te'pi devā divaṁ gatāḥ||

"Thus addressed then, O Devi, by the gods with reverent obeisance, I said 'so be it'; and those gods too went to heaven."

Verse 56 (skanda.5.138.56)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। केदारेश्वरदेवस्य पिशाचाख्यमतः शृणु॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| kedāreśvaradevasya piśācākhyamataḥ śṛṇu||

"This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying power of the god Kedareshvara that I have told you; now hear of the one called Pishacha."