The Glory of Pishacheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.139.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। अष्टषष्टिकसंख्याकं पिशाचाख्यमथेश्वरम्। शृणु देवि प्रयत्नेन दर्शनात्पापनाशनम्॥

īśvara uvāca| aṣṭaṣaṣṭikasaṁkhyākaṁ piśācākhyamatheśvaram| śṛṇu devi prayatnena darśanātpāpanāśanam||

Ishvara said: "Hear with diligence, O Devi, of the sixty-eighth lord, called Pishacha, whose very sight destroys sin."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.139.2)

आदौ कलियुगे देवि शूद्रो बहुधनोऽभवत्। सोमो नाम सुविख्यातो नास्तिको वेदनिंदकः॥

ādau kaliyuge devi śūdro bahudhano'bhavat| somo nāma suvikhyāto nāstiko vedaniṁdakaḥ||

"At the beginning of the Kali age, O Devi, there lived a shudra who was very wealthy; well known by the name Soma, he was an atheist and a reviler of the Vedas."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.139.3)

अब्रह्मण्यो नृशंसश्च कदर्यो निरपत्रपः। विश्वासघातकश्चैव परस्वहरणे रतः॥

abrahmaṇyo nṛśaṁsaśca kadaryo nirapatrapaḥ| viśvāsaghātakaścaiva parasvaharaṇe rataḥ||

"He was hostile to brahmins, cruel, miserly, shameless, a betrayer of trust, and ever intent upon seizing the wealth of others."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.139.4)

त्रिवर्गहंता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्त्तकः। स कदाचिन्मृतो देवि कष्टेन परमेण च॥

trivargahaṁtā cānyeṣāmātmakāmānuvarttakaḥ| sa kadācinmṛto devi kaṣṭena parameṇa ca||

"He was a destroyer of the triple aim of life, and ever pursued only his own selfish desires. He died once, O Devi, amid the greatest torment."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.139.5)

मरुदेशे पिशाचोऽभून्नग्नो दीनो भयावहः। नाशकृत्स पिशाचानां स्वपक्षोच्छेदकारकः॥

marudeśe piśāco'bhūnnagno dīno bhayāvahaḥ| nāśakṛtsa piśācānāṁ svapakṣocchedakārakaḥ||

"In the desert land he became a naked, wretched, terrifying pishacha; a destroyer of pishachas, one who annihilated even his own kind."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.139.6)

बहवो मर्द्दितास्तेन पिशाचा बलवत्तराः॥

bahavo mardditāstena piśācā balavattarāḥ||

"That mighty pishacha crushed many pishachas even stronger than himself."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.139.7)

अथ तेनैव मार्गेण कदाचिच्छाकटायनः। स्वाध्यायनिरतो विद्वान्वाग्ग्मी शमपरायणः॥

atha tenaiva mārgeṇa kadācicchākaṭāyanaḥ| svādhyāyanirato vidvānvāggmī śamaparāyaṇaḥ||

"Once, along that very road, there came a learned brahmin named Shakatayana, devoted to the recitation of scripture, eloquent of speech, and given wholly to tranquility."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.139.8)

उदयादित्यसंकाशो विभावसुसमद्युतिः। शकटेन सदा याति स पश्यन्पर्वतात्मजे॥

udayādityasaṁkāśo vibhāvasusamadyutiḥ| śakaṭena sadā yāti sa paśyanparvatātmaje||

"He shone like the rising sun, radiant like fire itself; O daughter of the mountain, he always traveled seated in a bullock-cart."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.139.9)

गतो ददर्श तं रौद्रं पिशाचं च भयावहम्। स पिशाचः क्षुधाविष्टो भोक्तुकामोऽभ्यधावत॥

gato dadarśa taṁ raudraṁ piśācaṁ ca bhayāvaham| sa piśācaḥ kṣudhāviṣṭo bhoktukāmo'bhyadhāvata||

"As he went along, he beheld that terrible, fearsome pishacha; and the pishacha, overcome by hunger, ran toward him, desiring to devour him."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.139.10)

दृष्ट्वा तं शकटारूढं ब्राह्मणं शाकटायनम्। शकटस्य ध्वनिं श्रुत्वा रूपं दृष्ट्वा द्विजस्य च॥

dṛṣṭvā taṁ śakaṭārūḍhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ śākaṭāyanam| śakaṭasya dhvaniṁ śrutvā rūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā dvijasya ca||

"But on seeing the brahmin Shakatayana mounted on the cart, and hearing the rumble of the cart, and beholding the form of that twice-born—"

Verse 11 (skanda.5.139.11)

तथारूपः पिशाचस्तु कर्णाभ्यां बधिरीकृतः। आत्मत्राणपरो भूत्वा नष्टः कष्टेन पार्वति। तं धावंतं समालोक्य पिशाचं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्॥

tathārūpaḥ piśācastu karṇābhyāṁ badhirīkṛtaḥ| ātmatrāṇaparo bhūtvā naṣṭaḥ kaṣṭena pārvati| taṁ dhāvaṁtaṁ samālokya piśācaṁ brāhmaṇo'bravīt||

"—that pishacha, terrible of form as he was, became as if deafened by it; overcome with fear, O Parvati, and bent solely on saving himself, he fled in great distress. Seeing that pishacha running away, the brahmin said—"

Verse 12 (skanda.5.139.12)

पिशाच त्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे। क्व धावसि समाचक्ष्व कुतस्ते भयमागतम्॥

piśāca trastarūpo'si tvaritaścaiva lakṣyase| kva dhāvasi samācakṣva kutaste bhayamāgatam||

"'O pishacha, you seem terror-stricken, and you are seen fleeing in haste; tell me, where do you run? From what has your fear arisen?'"

Verse 13 (skanda.5.139.13)

पिशाच उवाच। शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयंकरम्। कर्णाभ्यां बधिरो जातो विसंज्ञस्तव दर्शनात्॥

piśāca uvāca| śakaṭasyāsya mahato ghoṣaṁ śrutvā bhayaṁkaram| karṇābhyāṁ badhiro jāto visaṁjñastava darśanāt||

The pishacha said: "Hearing the terrible, frightening roar of this great cart, I have gone deaf in both ears, and at the sight of you I have become as one bereft of my senses."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.139.14)

ब्राह्मण उवाच। पिशाचानां बलिष्ठाश्च श्रूयंते ब्रह्मराक्षसाः। स त्वं मां भोक्तुकामोऽसि विख्यातो ब्रह्मराक्षसः॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca| piśācānāṁ baliṣṭhāśca śrūyaṁte brahmarākṣasāḥ| sa tvaṁ māṁ bhoktukāmo'si vikhyāto brahmarākṣasaḥ||

The brahmin said: "Among pishachas, it is heard that the brahmarakshasas are the mightiest; are you that renowned brahmarakshasa, who wishes to devour me?"

Verse 15 (skanda.5.139.15)

पिशाच उवाच। पिशाचानां समर्थोऽस्मि नष्टोऽहं तव दर्शनात्॥

piśāca uvāca| piśācānāṁ samartho'smi naṣṭo'haṁ tava darśanāt||

The pishacha said: "Among pishachas I am indeed mighty, yet at the very sight of you I am undone."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.139.16)

दुःखं हि मृत्युः सर्वेषां जीवितं च सुदुर्ल्लभम्। अतो भीतः पलायामि जीवहेतोः सुखार्थतः॥

duḥkhaṁ hi mṛtyuḥ sarveṣāṁ jīvitaṁ ca sudurllabham| ato bhītaḥ palāyāmi jīvahetoḥ sukhārthataḥ||

"'Death is a sorrow to all, and life is exceedingly hard to attain; therefore, in fear, I flee for the sake of my life and for the sake of happiness.'"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.139.17)

ब्राह्मण उवाच। कुतः पिशाच सौख्यं ते मरणं श्रेय एव ते। पैशाची कुत्सिता योनिः पापिनामेव जायते॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca| kutaḥ piśāca saukhyaṁ te maraṇaṁ śreya eva te| paiśācī kutsitā yoniḥ pāpināmeva jāyate||

The brahmin said: "O pishacha, whence should happiness come to you? Death alone would be better for you. This despicable pishacha-existence is born only to sinners."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.139.18)

पिशाच उवाच। सर्वत्र हि गतो जीवो भवत्येव सुखाश्रयः। तस्माज्जीवितुमिच्छामि प्रसीद ब्रह्मराक्षस॥

piśāca uvāca| sarvatra hi gato jīvo bhavatyeva sukhāśrayaḥ| tasmājjīvitumicchāmi prasīda brahmarākṣasa||

The pishacha said: "Wherever a living being goes, it finds some refuge of happiness there; therefore I wish to go on living. Be gracious to me, O brahmarakshasa."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.139.19)

ब्राह्मण उवाच। नाहं त्वां भोक्तुकामोऽस्मि ब्राह्मणोऽहं न राक्षसः। सर्वभूतहितार्थाय विचरामि महीतले॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca| nāhaṁ tvāṁ bhoktukāmo'smi brāhmaṇo'haṁ na rākṣasaḥ| sarvabhūtahitārthāya vicarāmi mahītale||

The brahmin said: "I do not wish to devour you — I am a brahmin, not a rakshasa; I wander upon the earth for the welfare of all beings."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.139.20)

सर्वेषामेव जंतूनां मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते। मा कुरुष्व भयं मत्तो मित्रभावगतो ह्यहम्॥

sarveṣāmeva jaṁtūnāṁ maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate| mā kuruṣva bhayaṁ matto mitrabhāvagato hyaham||

"'A brahmin is called the friend of all creatures; do not be afraid of me, for I stand toward you in a spirit of friendship.'"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.139.21)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पिशाचः स्वस्थमानसः। प्रणम्य प्रत्युवाचेदं ब्राह्मणं शाकटायनम्॥

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā piśācaḥ svasthamānasaḥ| praṇamya pratyuvācedaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ śākaṭāyanam||

"Hearing these words of his, the pishacha's mind grew calm; bowing down, he replied thus to the brahmin Shakatayana—"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.139.22)

यदि ते सर्वभूतानां दत्ता ह्यभयदक्षिणा। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा मित्रभावं गतो यदि॥

yadi te sarvabhūtānāṁ dattā hyabhayadakṣiṇā| karmaṇā manasā vācā mitrabhāvaṁ gato yadi||

"'—If you have truly given the gift of fearlessness to all beings as your offering, and if in deed, mind, and word you have attained a spirit of friendship—'"

Verse 23 (skanda.5.139.23)

पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग संशयो हृदये स्थितः। श्रुत्वानुकंपया सम्यक्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥

pṛcchāmi tvāṁ mahābhāga saṁśayo hṛdaye sthitaḥ| śrutvānukaṁpayā samyaktanme vyākhyātumarhasi||

"'—then I ask you, O most fortunate one: a doubt lies fixed in my heart. Hearing it with compassion, you should rightly explain it to me.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.139.24)

केन कर्मविपाकेन पैशाचं याति मानवः। पिशाचत्वात्कथं मुक्तिः प्राप्यते पापकर्मभिः॥

kena karmavipākena paiśācaṁ yāti mānavaḥ| piśācatvātkathaṁ muktiḥ prāpyate pāpakarmabhiḥ||

"'By the ripening of what deed does a man go to the pishacha-state? And how does a man of sinful deeds obtain release from that pishacha-existence?'"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.139.25)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पिशाचस्य वरानने। ममत्वेनावृतस्तस्मै प्रावोचच्छाकटायनः॥

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā piśācasya varānane| mamatvenāvṛtastasmai prāvocacchākaṭāyanaḥ||

"Having heard these words of the pishacha, O fair one, Shakatayana, filled with compassion for him, spoke in reply—"

Verse 26 (skanda.5.139.26)

अपहृत्य च विप्रस्वं देवस्वं च विशेषतः। तेन पापेन पापिष्ठाः पिशाचत्वं प्रयांति च॥

apahṛtya ca viprasvaṁ devasvaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ| tena pāpena pāpiṣṭhāḥ piśācatvaṁ prayāṁti ca||

"'—By stealing the wealth of brahmins, and especially the property of the gods, the most sinful men, through that sin, attain the pishacha-state.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.139.27)

पितरं मातरं चैव स्त्रियं बालं द्विजं तथा। वंचयित्वा हरत्यर्थं स पिशाचो भवेन्नरः॥

pitaraṁ mātaraṁ caiva striyaṁ bālaṁ dvijaṁ tathā| vaṁcayitvā haratyarthaṁ sa piśāco bhavennaraḥ||

"'The man who, by deceiving his father, mother, wife, child, or a brahmin, seizes their wealth, becomes a pishacha.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.139.28)

राजद्रव्यं गृहीत्वा तु न यजेन्न ददाति यः। आत्मानमेव पुष्णाति पिशाचत्वं स गच्छति॥

rājadravyaṁ gṛhītvā tu na yajenna dadāti yaḥ| ātmānameva puṣṇāti piśācatvaṁ sa gacchati||

"'He who takes a king's wealth yet neither performs sacrifice nor gives in charity, but nourishes only himself, goes to the pishacha-state.'"

Verse 29 (skanda.5.139.29)

विश्वासघातका ये च परदाररताश्च ये। प्राप्नुवंति पिशाचत्वं तथा ये वेदनिंदकाः॥

viśvāsaghātakā ye ca paradāraratāśca ye| prāpnuvaṁti piśācatvaṁ tathā ye vedaniṁdakāḥ||

"'Those who betray trust, those who are given to other men's wives, and likewise those who revile the Vedas, attain the pishacha-state.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.139.30)

निंदंति ये पुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वदा। ते भवंति पिशाचाश्च ये सदा पिशुना नराः॥

niṁdaṁti ye purāṇāni dharmaśāstrāṇi sarvadā| te bhavaṁti piśācāśca ye sadā piśunā narāḥ||

"'Those who ever revile the Puranas and the Dharmashastras, and men who are ever slanderous, also become pishachas.'"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.139.31)

इति ते कथितं सर्वं वेदप्रामाण्यतोऽधुना। इदानीं कथयिष्यामि यस्त्वं जातोसि तच्छृणु॥

iti te kathitaṁ sarvaṁ vedaprāmāṇyato'dhunā| idānīṁ kathayiṣyāmi yastvaṁ jātosi tacchṛṇu||

"'Thus, on the authority of the Veda, I have now told you all this; now I shall tell you the reason for which you were born as you are — hear it.'"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.139.32)

सोमको नाम शूद्रस्त्वं परमर्मप्रकाशकः। विश्वासघातको जातो देवब्राह्मणदूषकः॥

somako nāma śūdrastvaṁ paramarmaprakāśakaḥ| viśvāsaghātako jāto devabrāhmaṇadūṣakaḥ||

"'You were, in your former birth, a shudra named Somaka, one who exposed others' secrets, a betrayer of trust, and a defiler of gods and brahmins."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.139.33)

नास्तिको भिन्नमर्यादो जन्मन्यत्रापि सप्तमे। सकुलं पातयित्वात्र नरके दारुणे भृशम्॥

nāstiko bhinnamaryādo janmanyatrāpi saptame| sakulaṁ pātayitvātra narake dāruṇe bhṛśam||

"an atheist, a transgressor of bounds — and so you remained even in this seventh birth. Having cast your whole lineage down into a most dreadful hell—"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.139.34)

पिशाचयोनिं संप्राप्तः पुनः प्राप्स्यसि रौरवम्। महारौरवसंज्ञं तु क्रकचं कालसूत्रकम्। यंत्रपीडनकं रौद्रं मथनं कुम्भवालुकम्॥

piśācayoniṁ saṁprāptaḥ punaḥ prāpsyasi rauravam| mahārauravasaṁjñaṁ tu krakacaṁ kālasūtrakam| yaṁtrapīḍanakaṁ raudraṁ mathanaṁ kumbhavālukam||

"'—you attained the pishacha-existence, and now you shall attain again the hell called Raurava, and that called Maharaurava, and the hell of the saw, the hell called Kalasutraka, the dreadful hell of the crushing machines, the hell of churning, and the hell of the pot of scalding sand.'"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.139.35)

इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनि। सस्मार प्राक्तनं जन्म सत्संगात्कुत्सितं स्वकम्॥

ityevaṁ vadatastasya brāhmaṇasya yaśasvini| sasmāra prāktanaṁ janma satsaṁgātkutsitaṁ svakam||

"As the brahmin spoke thus, O illustrious one, through the power of that holy company he remembered his own despicable former birth."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.139.36)

दुःखाभिभूतो निश्चेष्टो धिग्धिगित्यसकृद्ब्रुवन्। पतितो भूतले देवि इदं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्॥

duḥkhābhibhūto niśceṣṭo dhigdhigityasakṛdbruvan| patito bhūtale devi idaṁ vākyamathābravīt||

"Overwhelmed with sorrow and motionless, O Devi, crying again and again 'Shame, shame upon me!', he fell to the ground, and then spoke these words—"

Verse 37 (skanda.5.139.37)

अहो केनापि पुण्येन भवता सह दर्शनम्। जातं ममाल्पपुण्यस्य दीनस्य कृपणस्य च॥

aho kenāpi puṇyena bhavatā saha darśanam| jātaṁ mamālpapuṇyasya dīnasya kṛpaṇasya ca||

"'—Ah! It is only through some merit that I, a man of scant virtue, wretched and pitiable, have obtained sight of you.'"

Verse 38 (skanda.5.139.38)

नास्ति धर्मसमं मित्रं नास्ति धर्मसमा गतिः। नास्ति धर्मसम्ं त्राणं स च नास्ति मम प्रभो॥

nāsti dharmasamaṁ mitraṁ nāsti dharmasamā gatiḥ| nāsti dharmasamṁ trāṇaṁ sa ca nāsti mama prabho||

"'There is no friend equal to Dharma, no refuge equal to Dharma, no protection equal to Dharma — and yet, O Lord, even that I do not possess.'"

Verse 39 (skanda.5.139.39)

मग्नोऽहं दुःखजलधौ मग्नोऽहं पापकर्दमे। भ्रांतोऽहमंधतमसि ततस्त्वां शरणं गतः॥

magno'haṁ duḥkhajaladhau magno'haṁ pāpakardame| bhrāṁto'hamaṁdhatamasi tatastvāṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ||

"'I am sunk in the ocean of sorrow, sunk in the mire of sin, wandering lost in blinding darkness; therefore I have come to you for refuge.'"

Verse 40 (skanda.5.139.40)

नमस्तेऽस्तु महाभाग किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्। तत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं प्राप्तं मयाऽधुना॥

namaste'stu mahābhāga kiṁ karomi praśādhi mām| tattapobalanirdiṣṭamidaṁ prāptaṁ mayā'dhunā||

"'Homage to you, O most fortunate one; tell me what I should do, instruct me. This state I have now attained was ordained by the strength of my own past deeds.'"

Verse 41 (skanda.5.139.41)

एवं निगदतस्तस्य पिशाचस्य वरानने। कथयामास माहात्म्यं स विप्रः शाकटायनः॥

evaṁ nigadatastasya piśācasya varānane| kathayāmāsa māhātmyaṁ sa vipraḥ śākaṭāyanaḥ||

"As the pishacha spoke thus, O fair one, the brahmin Shakatayana related to him this glory—"

Verse 42 (skanda.5.139.42)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि आसमुद्रगतानि वै। क्षेत्राणि यानि संतीह तेषां क्षेत्रं सुपुण्यदम्॥

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni āsamudragatāni vai| kṣetrāṇi yāni saṁtīha teṣāṁ kṣetraṁ supuṇyadam||

"'—Of all the tirthas on earth, extending as far as the ocean, and of all the sacred fields that exist, there is one field that bestows the greatest merit—'"

Verse 43 (skanda.5.139.43)

महाकालवनं क्षेत्रं प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं गतम्। लिंगं तत्र महाक्षेत्रे पिशाचत्वविनाशनम्॥

mahākālavanaṁ kṣetraṁ pralaye'pyakṣayaṁ gatam| liṁgaṁ tatra mahākṣetre piśācatvavināśanam||

"'—the field of Mahakalavana, which remains imperishable even at the time of dissolution; in that great field stands a linga which destroys the pishacha-condition.'"

Verse 44 (skanda.5.139.44)

ढुंढेश्वरस्य देवस्य दक्षिणे त्रिदशार्चितम्। पैशाचं विद्यते भूयः पिशाचयोनिनाशनम्। तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पिशाचत्वात्प्रमोक्ष्यसे॥

ḍhuṁḍheśvarasya devasya dakṣiṇe tridaśārcitam| paiśācaṁ vidyate bhūyaḥ piśācayonināśanam| tasya darśanamātreṇa piśācatvātpramokṣyase||

"'To the south of the god Dhundeshvara stands that Pishacha linga, worshipped by the gods, which destroys the pishacha-existence; by the mere sight of it you shall be freed from your pishacha-condition.'"

Verse 45 (skanda.5.139.45)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स पिशाचो वरानने। आजगाम त्वरायुक्तो नमस्कृत्य द्विजं तदा॥

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sa piśāco varānane| ājagāma tvarāyukto namaskṛtya dvijaṁ tadā||

"Hearing these words, O fair one, the pishacha, bowing to the brahmin, hastened at once to that place."

Verse 46 (skanda.5.139.46)

महाकालवने पुण्ये समीहितफलप्रदे। ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं स्नात्वा शिप्राजले शुभे॥

mahākālavane puṇye samīhitaphalaprade| dadarśa tatra talliṁgaṁ snātvā śiprājale śubhe||

"Arriving in the sacred Mahakalavana, which grants the fruits one desires, and bathing in the auspicious waters of the Shipra, he beheld that linga there."

Verse 47 (skanda.5.139.47)

दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य स पिशाचो वरानने। तत्क्षणाद्दिव्यदेहस्तु दिव्याभरणभूषितः॥

darśanāttasya liṁgasya sa piśāco varānane| tatkṣaṇāddivyadehastu divyābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ||

"By the mere sight of that linga, O fair one, the pishacha at that very instant obtained a divine body, adorned with divine ornaments—"

Verse 48 (skanda.5.139.48)

दिव्यं विमानमारूढो गतो लोके सनातने। उद्धृत्य सकलं गोत्रं मातृकं पैतृकं तथा॥

divyaṁ vimānamārūḍho gato loke sanātane| uddhṛtya sakalaṁ gotraṁ mātṛkaṁ paitṛkaṁ tathā||

"—and, mounting a divine celestial chariot, he departed for the eternal world, delivering also his entire lineage, both maternal and paternal."

Verse 49 (skanda.5.139.49)

दृष्ट्वा तन्महदाश्चर्यं माहात्म्यातिशयं श्रिये। प्रोक्तं देवैर्विमानस्थैः सिद्धैराकाशगैस्तथा॥

dṛṣṭvā tanmahadāścaryaṁ māhātmyātiśayaṁ śriye| proktaṁ devairvimānasthaiḥ siddhairākāśagaistathā||

"Beholding that great wonder, that surpassing glory, the gods seated in their celestial chariots, and the siddhas moving through the sky, declared—"

Verse 50 (skanda.5.139.50)

पिशाचोपि गतः स्वर्गमस्य लिंगस्य दर्शनात्। अतो देवः स विख्यातो भविष्यति महीतले। पिशाचेश्वरसंज्ञस्तु सर्वपापप्रणाशनः॥

piśācopi gataḥ svargamasya liṁgasya darśanāt| ato devaḥ sa vikhyāto bhaviṣyati mahītale| piśāceśvarasaṁjñastu sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ||

"'—Even this pishacha has gone to heaven merely through the sight of this linga; therefore this god shall become renowned on earth by the name Pishacheshvara, the destroyer of all sins.'"

Verse 51 (skanda.5.139.51)

ये पश्यंति नरा देवि पिशाचेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। तेषां हि पितरः सद्यो ये चापि निरये स्थिताः। पिशाचत्वाद्विमुच्यंते स्वर्गं यांति न संशयः॥

ye paśyaṁti narā devi piśāceśvarasaṁjñakam| teṣāṁ hi pitaraḥ sadyo ye cāpi niraye sthitāḥ| piśācatvādvimucyaṁte svargaṁ yāṁti na saṁśayaḥ||

"O Devi, the men who behold the linga named Pishacheshvara — their forefathers, even those lying in hell, are at once released from the pishacha-condition and go to heaven, without doubt."

Verse 52 (skanda.5.139.52)

अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य सम्यगिष्टस्य यत्फलम्। तत्फलं लभते सोऽपि पिशाचेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

aśvamedhasya yajñasya samyagiṣṭasya yatphalam| tatphalaṁ labhate so'pi piśāceśvaradarśanāt||

"The fruit obtained from the proper performance of the horse-sacrifice, that same fruit is obtained through the sight of Pishacheshvara."

Verse 53 (skanda.5.139.53)

गयायां पिंडदानेन यत्पुण्यं समुदाहृतम्। तत्पुण्यमधिकं ज्ञेयं पिशाचेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

gayāyāṁ piṁḍadānena yatpuṇyaṁ samudāhṛtam| tatpuṇyamadhikaṁ jñeyaṁ piśāceśvaradarśanāt||

"The merit declared for offering the funeral rice-balls at Gaya — know that even greater merit is obtained through the sight of Pishacheshvara."

Verse 54 (skanda.5.139.54)

ये पश्यंति चतुर्दश्यां पिशाचेश्वरसंज्ञकम्। प्रेतत्वं च पिशाचत्वं कुले तेषां न जायते॥

ye paśyaṁti caturdaśyāṁ piśāceśvarasaṁjñakam| pretatvaṁ ca piśācatvaṁ kule teṣāṁ na jāyate||

"Those who behold the one named Pishacheshvara on the fourteenth lunar day — in their family neither the state of a preta nor of a pishacha is ever born."

Verse 55 (skanda.5.139.55)

न वियोनिं नरो याति नरकं च न पश्यति। प्रसंगेनापि यः पश्येत्पिशाचेश्वरसंज्ञकम्॥

na viyoniṁ naro yāti narakaṁ ca na paśyati| prasaṁgenāpi yaḥ paśyetpiśāceśvarasaṁjñakam||

"Even the man who beholds the one named Pishacheshvara only incidentally, in passing, never goes to a lower birth, nor does he behold hell."

Verse 56 (skanda.5.139.56)

सर्वैश्वर्यसमायुक्तः सर्वबन्धुसमन्वितः। मोदते पितृलोके स पिशाचेश्वरदर्शनात्॥

sarvaiśvaryasamāyuktaḥ sarvabandhusamanvitaḥ| modate pitṛloke sa piśāceśvaradarśanāt||

"Through the sight of Pishacheshvara, a man, endowed with every prosperity and surrounded by all his kinsfolk, rejoices in the world of the ancestors."

Verse 57 (skanda.5.139.57)

कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापाद्दृष्ट्वा स्वर्गं च गच्छति। स्पर्शनादस्य लिंगस्य पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम्॥

kīrtanānmucyate pāpāddṛṣṭvā svargaṁ ca gacchati| sparśanādasya liṁgasya punātyāsaptamaṁ kulam||

"By merely proclaiming its name a man is freed from sin, and by beholding it he goes to heaven; by touching this linga, seven generations of one's lineage are purified."

Verse 58 (skanda.5.139.58)

तदैव स नरो मुक्तः संसारनिगडादिभिः। यदैव वीक्षते लिंगं पिशाचेश्वरसंज्ञकम्॥

tadaiva sa naro muktaḥ saṁsāranigaḍādibhiḥ| yadaiva vīkṣate liṁgaṁ piśāceśvarasaṁjñakam||

"The very moment a man beholds the linga named Pishacheshvara, at that very moment he is freed from the fetters of worldly existence and the like."

Verse 59 (skanda.5.139.59)

यज्ञानां तपसां चैव दानानां चैव यत्फलम्। तत्फलं कोटिगुणितं जायते तस्य दर्शनात्॥

yajñānāṁ tapasāṁ caiva dānānāṁ caiva yatphalam| tatphalaṁ koṭiguṇitaṁ jāyate tasya darśanāt||

"Whatever fruit is gained through sacrifices, austerities, and acts of charity, that fruit becomes multiplied a million-fold through sight of it."

Verse 60 (skanda.5.139.60)

यदि पश्येच्चतुर्दश्यां वैशाखे कार्त्तिके तथा। तस्य पुण्यमसंख्यातं जायते नात्र संशयः॥

yadi paśyeccaturdaśyāṁ vaiśākhe kārttike tathā| tasya puṇyamasaṁkhyātaṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

"If one beholds it on the fourteenth day of the months of Vaishakha or Kartika, his merit becomes uncountable — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 61 (skanda.5.139.61)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। पिशाचेश्वरदेवस्य श्रूयतां संगमेश्वरम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| piśāceśvaradevasya śrūyatāṁ saṁgameśvaram||

"This, O Devi, is the sin-destroying power of the god Pishacheshvara that I have told you; now hear of Sangameshvara."