The Glory of Sangameshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.140.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। एकोनसप्ततिं देवि शृणु पार्वति यत्नतः। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण संगमो जायते सदा।

īśvara uvāca| ekonasaptatiṁ devi śṛṇu pārvati yatnataḥ| yasya darśanamātreṇa saṁgamo jāyate sadā||

Ishvara said: O goddess Parvati, listen carefully to the account of the sixty-ninth linga, by the mere sight of which reunion is ever attained.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.140.2)

कलिंगविषये देवि सुबाहुर्नाम पार्थिवः। बभूव भुवि विख्यातो यज्वा परमधार्मिकः।

kaliṅgaviṣaye devi subāhurnāma pārthivaḥ| babhūva bhuvi vikhyāto yajvā paramadhārmikaḥ||

In the land of Kalinga, O goddess, there was a king named Subahu, renowned on earth as a performer of sacrifices and supremely righteous.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.140.3)

तस्य पत्नी विशालाक्षी दुहिता दृढधन्वनः। कांचीपुरनिवासस्य क्षात्रव्रतरतस्य च।

tasya patnī viśālākṣī duhitā dṛḍhadhanvanaḥ| kāñcīpuranivāsasya kṣātravrataratasya ca||

His wife, Vishalakshi, was the daughter of Dridhadhanvan, a dweller of Kanchipura devoted to the warrior's vow.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.140.4)

परस्परानुरागत्वात्परा प्रीतिरभूत्तयोः। तस्य राज्ञः शिरोऽर्त्तिस्तु मध्याह्ने जायते सदा।

parasparānurāgatvātparā prītirabhūttayoḥ| tasya rājñaḥ śiro'rttistu madhyāhne jāyate sadā||

Because of their mutual affection, deep love existed between them; but the king suffered a headache every day precisely at noon.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.140.5)

आयुर्वेदविदां मुख्यैः शरीरस्य चिकित्सकैः। तैः प्रणीताः प्रिये योगा व्यथावृद्धिर्दिनेदिने।

āyurvedavidāṁ mukhyaiḥ śarīrasya cikitsakaiḥ| taiḥ praṇītāḥ priye yogā vyathāvṛddhirdinedine||

The foremost physicians, masters of Ayurveda, prepared many remedies for his body, yet day by day his pain only increased.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.140.6)

एवं बहुतरे काले गते देवि महीपतिम्। प्रत्युवाच विशालाक्षी भर्त्तुर्दुःखेन पीडिता।

evaṁ bahutare kāle gate devi mahīpatim| pratyuvāca viśālākṣī bharturduḥkhena pīḍitā||

Thus, as much time passed, Vishalakshi, pained by her husband's suffering, spoke to the king.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.140.7)

कथमेषा शिरोरोगे जरा ते पृथिवीपते। वैद्याश्च बहवो देव नानाशास्त्रविशारदाः। प्रयतंतेऽस्य नाशाय तथाप्येष न शाम्यति।

kathameṣā śiroroge jarā te pṛthivīpate| vaidyāśca bahavo deva nānāśāstraviśāradāḥ| prayataṁte'sya nāśāya tathāpyeṣa na śāmyati||

O lord of the earth, why has this headache lingered so long? Many physicians, skilled in various sciences, strive to cure it, yet still it does not subside.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.140.8)

एवं स प्रियया प्रोक्तः सुबाहुः पृथिवीपतिः। प्रत्युवाच प्रियां भार्यां प्रेम्णा प्रणयवत्सलाम्।

evaṁ sa priyayā proktaḥ subāhuḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ| pratyuvāca priyāṁ bhāryāṁ premṇā praṇayavatsalām||

Thus addressed by his beloved, King Subahu affectionately replied to his dear, loving wife.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.140.9)

सुखदुःखाश्रयं देवि शरीरं सर्वदेहिनाम्। पूर्वकर्मानुसारेण सुखं दुःखं च जायते।

sukhaduḥkhāśrayaṁ devi śarīraṁ sarvadehinām| pūrvakarmānusāreṇa sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ ca jāyate||

O goddess, the body of every embodied being is the seat of pleasure and pain; happiness and sorrow arise according to one's past deeds.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.140.10)

इति संबोधिता राज्ञी तेन राज्ञा वरानने। पुनः प्रोवाच हार्द्देन तमेवार्थं सुदुःखिता।

iti saṁbodhitā rājñī tena rājñā varānane| punaḥ provāca hārddena tamevārthaṁ suduḥkhitā||

Though thus consoled by the king, O fair one, the queen, greatly grieved, again spoke earnestly of the same matter.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.140.11)

यदा सा वारितात्यर्थं पृच्छत्येव पुनःपुनः। तदा राजा प्रहस्यैव तां च राज्ञीमुवाच ह।

yadā sā vāritātyarthaṁ pṛcchatyeva punaḥpunaḥ| tadā rājā prahasyaiva tāṁ ca rājñīmuvāca ha||

When, despite being dissuaded, she kept asking again and again, the king, smiling, spoke to the queen.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.140.12)

यदि त्वं श्रोतुकामासि रोगस्यास्य समुद्भवम्। कारणं तत्त्वतो देवि नाख्यास्याम्यहमत्र वै।

yadi tvaṁ śrotukāmāsi rogasyāsya samudbhavam| kāraṇaṁ tattvato devi nākhyāsyāmyahamatra vai||

If you truly wish to hear the real cause of this ailment, O queen, I shall not tell it here.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.140.13)

महाकालवनं गत्वा सिद्धगंधर्वसेवितम्। तत्र ते कथयिष्यामि यदि कौतूहलं तव।

mahākālavanaṁ gatvā siddhagandharvasevitam| tatra te kathayiṣyāmi yadi kautūhalaṁ tava||

Only on going to Mahakala-vana, frequented by siddhas and gandharvas, will I tell you there, if you are curious.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.140.14)

श्वः प्रभाते गमिष्यामि त्वया सार्द्धं शुचिस्मिते। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सा राज्ञी विस्मिता स्थिता। उत्सुका गमनार्थाय महाकालवनं शुभम्।

śvaḥ prabhāte gamiṣyāmi tvayā sārddhaṁ śucismite| iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sā rājñī vismitā sthitā| utsukā gamanārthāya mahākālavanaṁ śubham||

O fair-smiling one, tomorrow at dawn I shall go with you. Hearing this, the queen stood amazed, and grew eager to go to the auspicious Mahakala-vana.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.140.15)

अथ सा रजनी वृत्ता प्रभाते नृपसत्तमः। प्रतस्थे भार्यया सार्द्धं सैन्येन महता वृतः।

atha sā rajanī vṛttā prabhāte nṛpasattamaḥ| pratasthe bhāryayā sārddhaṁ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ||

When that night had passed, at dawn the excellent king set out with his wife, surrounded by a great army.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.140.16)

आजगाम क्रमेणैव महाकालवनं शुभम्। आवासं विदधे धीमाच्छिप्रातीरे नृपस्तदा।

ājagāma krameṇaiva mahākālavanaṁ śubham| āvāsaṁ vidadhe dhīmācchiprātīre nṛpastadā||

In due course they arrived at the auspicious Mahakala-vana, and the wise king made his encampment on the bank of the Kshipra.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.140.17)

पातालवाहिनी तत्र गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी। द्वितीया नीलगंगा च शिप्रया सह संगता।

pātālavāhinī tatra gaṅgā tripathagāminī| dvitīyā nīlagaṅgā ca śiprayā saha saṁgatā||

There the Ganga, flowing in her three courses, comes as the subterranean stream, and a second river, the Nilaganga, joins together with the Kshipra.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.140.18)

तासां च संगमस्तत्र तल्लिंगं संगमेश्वरम्। पूजितं गंगया सार्द्धं शिप्रया नीलगंगया।

tāsāṁ ca saṁgamastatra talliṅgaṁ saṁgameśvaram| pūjitaṁ gaṅgayā sārddhaṁ śiprayā nīlagaṅgayā||

At the confluence of these rivers stands the linga called Sangameshvara, worshipped there by the Ganga together with the Kshipra and the Nilaganga.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.140.19)

अथ प्राप्ते सुबाहौ च सा राज्ञी विस्मयान्विता। पप्रच्छ प्रणयोपेता कथ्यतामत्र कारणम्। यत्त्वयोक्तं पुरा देव कथयिष्यामि तत्र वै।

atha prāpte subāhau ca sā rājñī vismayānvitā| papraccha praṇayopetā kathyatāmatra kāraṇam| yattvayoktaṁ purā deva kathayiṣyāmi tatra vai||

When Subahu had arrived there, the astonished queen asked lovingly, 'Now tell me the reason, my lord, which you said before you would reveal once we reached here.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.140.20)

एवमुक्तः सुबाहुस्तु प्रियया पृथिवीपतिः। प्रत्युवाच प्रियां प्रेम्णा प्रहस्य च पुनःपुनः।

evamuktaḥ subāhustu priyayā pṛthivīpatiḥ| pratyuvāca priyāṁ premṇā prahasya ca punaḥpunaḥ||

Thus addressed by his beloved, King Subahu, laughing again and again, replied to her with affection.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.140.21)

सुखं स्वपिहि भद्रांगि श्रांता वयमनिंदिते। प्रभाते कथयिष्यामि शिरोरोगस्य कारणम्।

sukhaṁ svapihi bhadrāṅgi śrāntā vayamanindite| prabhāte kathayiṣyāmi śirorogasya kāraṇam||

Sleep well now, O gracious, blameless one — we are weary; at dawn I shall tell you the cause of the headache.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.140.22)

अथ सा रजनी वृत्ता प्रभाते नृपसत्तमः। कथयामास माहात्म्यं देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः।

atha sā rajanī vṛttā prabhāte nṛpasattamaḥ| kathayāmāsa māhātmyaṁ devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ||

When that night had passed, at dawn the excellent king began to relate the greatness of the supreme lord.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.140.23)

अहमासं कुशूद्रस्तु सर्वदा वेदनिंदकः। विश्वासघातको नित्यं त्वमप्येवं तथाविधा।

ahamāsaṁ kuśūdrastu sarvadā vedanindakaḥ| viśvāsaghātako nityaṁ tvamapyevaṁ tathāvidhā||

In a former life I was a base shudra, ever a scorner of the Vedas and a constant betrayer of trust; you too were of the same nature.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.140.24)

पुत्रो जातस्तु दुःशीलो देवब्राह्मणवंचकः। कुरूपः कर्कशो दुष्टः प्रकृत्या पापपूरुषः।

putro jātastu duḥśīlo devabrāhmaṇavañcakaḥ| kurūpaḥ karkaśo duṣṭaḥ prakṛtyā pāpapūruṣaḥ||

The son born to us was ill-conducted, a deceiver of gods and brahmins, ugly, harsh, wicked, and sinful by nature.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.140.25)

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन द्वादशाब्दं भयावहा। अनावृष्टिस्तु संजाता सर्वप्राणिभयंकरी।

atha dīrgheṇa kālena dvādaśābdaṁ bhayāvahā| anāvṛṣṭistu saṁjātā sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkarī||

Then, after a long time, a terrible drought lasting twelve years arose, striking fear into all living beings.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.140.26)

वियोगस्तु त्वया प्राप्तो मया सार्द्धं सुतेन च। ततोऽहं दुःखसंतप्तो वैराग्यं परमं गतः।

viyogastu tvayā prāpto mayā sārddhaṁ sutena ca| tato'haṁ duḥkhasaṁtapto vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ||

At that time you became separated from me and from our son; then, tormented by grief, I fell into utter dispassion.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.140.27)

इच्छता निधनं सद्यो मया प्रोक्तमिदं वचः। मम पुण्यविहीनस्य पापध्यानरतस्य च।

icchatā nidhanaṁ sadyo mayā proktamidaṁ vacaḥ| mama puṇyavihīnasya pāpadhyānaratasya ca||

Desiring instant death, I, devoid of merit and absorbed in sinful thought, spoke these words.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.140.28)

सुतेन भार्यया सार्द्धं संगमो दुर्लभः पुनः। कथं स्वपिति पापिष्ठः कृत्वा पापं सुदारुणम्।

sutena bhāryayā sārddhaṁ saṁgamo durlabhaḥ punaḥ| kathaṁ svapiti pāpiṣṭhaḥ kṛtvā pāpaṁ sudāruṇam||

Reunion with son and wife again is hard to attain; having committed such terrible sin, how can this utterly sinful man sleep?

Verse 29 (skanda.5.140.29)

कुटुंबार्थे करोत्येवमेकाकी निस्तरत्यसौ। धर्म एव परो बंधुर्धर्म एव परा गतिः। धर्मेण साध्यते सर्वं तस्माद्धर्मं समाश्रयेत्।

kuṭuṁbārthe karotyevamekākī nistaratyasau| dharma eva paro bandhurdharma eva parā gatiḥ| dharmeṇa sādhyate sarvaṁ tasmāddharmaṁ samāśrayet||

A man acts thus for the sake of his family, yet he crosses over alone in the end; dharma alone is the highest kinsman, dharma alone is the highest goal; everything is accomplished through dharma, therefore one should resort to dharma alone.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.140.30)

इति चिंतयतोऽत्यर्थं मम प्राणा गताः प्रिये। विविधा यातना प्राप्ता मया नरककोटिषु।

iti ciṁtayato'tyarthaṁ mama prāṇā gatāḥ priye| vividhā yātanā prāptā mayā narakakoṭiṣu||

Thus deeply brooding, O beloved, my life left me, and I underwent manifold torments in millions of hells.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.140.31)

अंतकालेऽपि धर्मस्य प्रशंसा या मया कृता। मत्स्योऽहं तेन पुण्येन जातः शिप्राजले शुभे।

aṁtakāle'pi dharmasya praśaṁsā yā mayā kṛtā| matsyo'haṁ tena puṇyena jātaḥ śiprājale śubhe||

Yet because at the very hour of death I had praised dharma, by that merit I was born a fish in the sacred waters of the Kshipra.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.140.32)

त्वं च श्येनी ततो जाता तस्मिन्नेव वनोत्तमे। प्रावृट्कालेऽथ संप्राप्ते आश्लेषानुगते रवौ।

tvaṁ ca śyenī tato jātā tasminneva vanottame| prāvṛṭkāle'tha saṁprāpte āśleṣānugate ravau||

And you were born a female falcon in that same excellent forest; then, when the rainy season arrived, with the sun in the Ashlesha asterism.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.140.33)

नदीत्रयरयेणैव निःसृतोऽहं जलात्ततः। त्वया शिरसि संप्राप्तो नखैर्विद्धोऽस्मि सुंदरि।

nadītrayarayeṇaiva niḥsṛto'haṁ jalāttataḥ| tvayā śirasi saṁprāpto nakhairviddho'smi suṁdari||

Swept out of the water by the force of the confluent rivers, I emerged; then, O beautiful one, you seized me by the head and pierced me with your talons.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.140.34)

आनीतोऽहं त्वया देवि संगमेश्वरसंनिधौ। कैवर्तैर्निधनं प्राप्तं त्वया सार्द्धं वरानने।

ānīto'haṁ tvayā devi saṁgameśvarasaṁnidhau| kaivartairnidhanaṁ prāptaṁ tvayā sārddhaṁ varānane||

You carried me, O goddess, and dropped me near Sangameshvara; there, O fair one, we both met death together at the hands of fishermen.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.140.35)

म्रियमाणेन मे दृष्टो देवोऽसौ संगमेश्वरः। शिप्रया स्नापितोऽत्यर्थं गंगया नीलगंगया।

mriyamāṇena me dṛṣṭo devo'sau saṁgameśvaraḥ| śiprayā snāpito'tyarthaṁ gaṅgayā nīlagaṅgayā||

As I lay dying, I beheld that god Sangameshvara, thoroughly bathed by the waters of the Kshipra, the Ganga, and the Nilaganga.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.140.36)

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जातोऽहं पृथिवीपतिः। कलिंगविषये देवि सर्वभूपालवंदितः।

tasya darśanamātreṇa jāto'haṁ pṛthivīpatiḥ| kaliṅgaviṣaye devi sarvabhūpālavaṁditaḥ||

By the mere sight of that deity, I was born a king in the land of Kalinga, O goddess, honored by all other kings.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.140.37)

सुता त्वं वल्लभा जाता कांचीपुरनिवासिनः। क्षात्रव्रतरतस्यैव सुभगा दृढधन्वनः।

sutā tvaṁ vallabhā jātā kāñcīpuranivāsinaḥ| kṣātravrataratasyaiva subhagā dṛḍhadhanvanaḥ||

And you, by that same grace, were born the beloved, fortunate daughter of Dridhadhanvan, the dweller of Kanchipura devoted to the warrior's vow.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.140.38)

आवां राजत्वमापन्नौ तस्य लिंगस्य दर्शनात्। त्वया कररुहैर्विद्धो मारितो लगुडैश्च तैः।

āvāṁ rājatvamāpannau tasya liṅgasya darśanāt| tvayā kararuhairviddho māritō laguḍaiśca taiḥ||

By the sight of that linga we both attained royal birth; in that same encounter you had pierced me with your claws, and those fishermen had killed me with their clubs.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.140.39)

मध्याह्ने कदनं स्मृत्वा ततो मे शिरसि व्यथा। स्मरामि जातिमात्मीयामस्य देवस्य दर्शनात्।

madhyāhne kadanaṁ smṛtvā tato me śirasi vyathā| smarāmi jātimātmīyāmasya devasya darśanāt||

It is the memory of that carnage at midday that causes the pain in my head; and it is by the sight of this very deity that I now recall my former birth.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.140.40)

एतत्ते कथितं देवि पृष्टोऽहं यत्त्वया पुरा। गच्छ सुंदरि भद्रं ते यत्र ते वर्त्तते मनः।

etatte kathitaṁ devi pṛṣṭo'haṁ yattvayā purā| gaccha suṁdari bhadraṁ te yatra te varttate manaḥ||

This, O goddess, I have told you, which you had earlier asked. Go now, beautiful one, blessings upon you, wherever your heart desires.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.140.41)

स्थातव्यं च मयात्रैव सेव्योऽसौ संगमेश्वरः।

sthātavyaṁ ca mayātraiva sevyo'sau saṁgameśvaraḥ||

But I myself shall remain right here, for this Sangameshvara alone deserves to be served.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.140.42)

ततः सा निरवद्यांगी नीलोत्पलविलोचना। करुणं सुस्वरं कृत्वा भर्त्तार मिदमब्रवीत्।

tataḥ sā niravadyāṁgī nīlotpalavilocanā| karuṇaṁ susvaraṁ kṛtvā bharttāra midamabravīt||

Then she, of flawless limbs and eyes like blue lotuses, spoke to her husband in a sweet, sorrowful voice.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.140.43)

मयापि संस्मृतं देव पूर्वजन्मनि चेष्टितम्। अस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यात्तिर्यग्योनिगतावपि।

mayāpi saṁsmṛtaṁ deva pūrvajanmani ceṣṭitam| asya liṅgasya māhātmyāttiryagyonigatāvapi||

I too, my lord, now recall the events of our former birth; by the greatness of this linga, though we had fallen into an animal womb.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.140.44)

प्राप्तावावां मनुष्यत्वं निर्मलेषु कुलेषु च। प्राप्ता श्रीरतुला लोके प्राप्तं राज्यमकंटकम्।

prāptāvāvāṁ manuṣyatvaṁ nirmaleṣu kuleṣu ca| prāptā śrīratulā loke prāptaṁ rājyamakaṁṭakam||

We both attained human birth in spotless families, gained peerless glory in the world, and obtained an unopposed kingdom.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.140.45)

प्राप्ता भार्या प्रियाहं ते त्वं च प्राप्तो मया नृप। ख्यातोयं त्रिषु लोकेषु नामतः संगमेश्वरः।

prāptā bhāryā priyāhaṁ te tvaṁ ca prāpto mayā nṛpa| khyātoyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu nāmataḥ saṁgameśvaraḥ||

I became your beloved wife, and you, O king, became mine; this deity is famed in all three worlds by the name Sangameshvara.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.140.46)

अस्य देवस्य माहात्म्याद्वियोगो न भविष्यति। यथा कृष्णस्य लक्ष्म्या च पार्वत्या च शिवस्य च।

asya devasya māhātmyādviyogo na bhaviṣyati| yathā kṛṣṇasya lakṣmyā ca pārvatyā ca śivasya ca||

By the greatness of this god there shall be no more separation for us, just as there is none between Krishna and Lakshmi, or between Parvati and Shiva.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.140.47)

पुनः प्रणम्य प्रणता सहसा मन्मथाकुला। भर्त्ता सुबाहुर्मे भूयादन्यस्मिन्निह जन्मनि।

punaḥ praṇamya praṇatā sahasā manmathākulā| bharttā subāhurme bhūyādanyasminniha janmani||

Bowing low once more, suddenly overcome with love, she said in homage: may Subahu be my husband again in another birth too.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.140.48)

तव देवप्रसादेन यदि त्वं संगमेश्वरः। ततो विलोक्य सोन्मेषं कुसुमेषुतरंगिताम्। कांतां पिबन्निव दृशा प्राह तां तरलेक्षणाम्।

tava devaprasādena yadi tvaṁ saṁgameśvaraḥ| tato vilokya sonmeṣaṁ kusumeṣutaraṁgitām| kāntāṁ pibanniva dṛśā prāha tāṁ taralekṣaṇām||

'—by your grace, my lord, if indeed you are Sangameshvara.' Then, gazing steadily at his love, stirred as she was by desire, restless-eyed, the king spoke to her as though drinking her in with his eyes.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.140.49)

सहजेनाभिजन्येन गुणैः कांत्या विभूषिता। मया प्राप्ता विशालाक्षि प्राप्तं मज्जन्मनः फलम्।

sahajenābhijanyena guṇaiḥ kāṁtyā vibhūṣitā| mayā prāptā viśālākṣi prāptaṁ majjanmanaḥ phalam||

O wide-eyed one, having won you, adorned by innate nobility, virtue, and beauty, the fruit of my birth is attained.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.140.50)

ततस्तां भयसंत्रस्तां कंपिताधरपल्लवाम्। गृहीत्वा च करे कांतां जगामांतःपुरं निजम्।

tatastāṁ bhayasaṁtrastāṁ kaṁpitādharapallavām| gṛhītvā ca kare kāṁtāṁ jagāmāṁtaḥpuraṁ nijam||

Then, taking by the hand his fear-struck beloved, her lips trembling, he went to his own inner chambers.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.140.51)

वदन्कंदर्पसर्पेण दष्टोऽहं दैवतोऽधुना। चचार तत्र निःसारं संसारं कलयन्धिया।

vadankaṁdarpasarpeṇa daṣṭo'haṁ daivatodhunā| cacāra tatra niḥsāraṁ saṁsāraṁ kalayandhiyā||

Saying, 'I am now, by the god's doing, bitten by the serpent of desire,' he moved through that place, even while knowing the world to be without substance.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.140.52)

पुरे मम वरारोहे चिरं रेमे तया सह। एवं राजा प्रियां प्राप्य निवेद्य च निजां कथाम्।

pure mama varārohe ciraṁ reme tayā saha| evaṁ rājā priyāṁ prāpya nivedya ca nijāṁ kathām||

In his city he long delighted with that beautiful woman. Thus, having won his beloved and related his own story.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.140.53)

भेजे राज्यं तया सार्द्धं विस्तारितमहोत्सवः। अशाश्वतमिदं ज्ञात्वा अर्थिभ्योऽपि ददौ धनम्।

bheje rājyaṁ tayā sārddhaṁ vistāritamahotsavaḥ| aśāśvatamidaṁ jñātvā arthibhyo'pi dadau dhanam||

He enjoyed the realm together with her, holding grand festivities; and knowing this world to be fleeting, he gave wealth even to petitioners.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.140.54)

अपूर्वत्यागिना तेन त्रैलोक्यं विस्मयं ययौ। राज्यं कृत्वा चिरं कालं सभार्यो नृपसत्तमः।

apūrvatyāginā tena trailokyaṁ vismayaṁ yayau| rājyaṁ kṛtvā ciraṁ kālaṁ sabhāryo nṛpasattamaḥ||

By his unprecedented generosity the three worlds were amazed; thus the excellent king, together with his queen, ruled the realm for a long time.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.140.55)

भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगांस्तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं गतः। अतो देवि सुविख्यातो देवोऽसौ संगमेश्वरः।

bhuktvā ca vipulānbhogāṁstasmilliṅge layaṁ gataḥ| ato devi suvikhyāto devo'sau saṁgameśvaraḥ||

Having enjoyed abundant pleasures, he finally merged into that very linga; hence, O goddess, that deity became widely renowned as Sangameshvara.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.140.56)

यः पश्येत्परया भक्त्या तल्लिंगं संगमेश्वरम्। न वियोगो भवेत्तस्य पुत्रभ्रातृप्रियादिभिः।

yaḥ paśyetparayā bhaktyā talliṅgaṁ saṁgameśvaram| na viyogo bhavettasya putrabhrātṛpriyādibhiḥ||

Whoever beholds that Sangameshvara linga with supreme devotion shall never suffer separation from son, brother, beloved, or kin.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.140.57)

नियमेन तु यः पश्येत्तल्लिंगं संगमेश्वरम्। राजसूयसहस्रस्य फलं तस्याधिकं भवेत्।

niyamena tu yaḥ paśyettalliṅgaṁ saṁgameśvaram| rājasūyasahasrasya phalaṁ tasyādhikaṁ bhavet||

Whoever beholds that Sangameshvara linga with due discipline gains a fruit greater than a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.140.58)

गांगं च सफलं पुण्यं यामुनं नामर्दं तथा। जायते चांद्रभागं च संगमेश्वरदर्शनात्।

gāṁgaṁ ca saphalaṁ puṇyaṁ yāmunaṁ nāmardaṁ tathā| jāyate cāṁdrabhāgaṁ ca saṁgameśvaradarśanāt||

The full merit of bathing in the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Narmada, and the Chandrabhaga alike is obtained through the sight of Sangameshvara.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.140.59)

यः पश्येच्छ्रावणे मासि तल्लिंगं संगमेश्वरम्। कार्तिकस्वामिनो यात्रा कृता तेन न संशयः।

yaḥ paśyecchrāvaṇe māsi talliṅgaṁ saṁgameśvaram| kārtikasvāmino yātrā kṛtā tena na saṁśayaḥ||

Whoever beholds that Sangameshvara linga in the month of Shravana has, without doubt, thereby accomplished the pilgrimage to Kartikasvamin.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.140.60)

मासि चाश्वयुजे देवं यः पश्येत्संगमेश्वरम्। कृतं तेन सहस्रं तु वाजपेयं वरानने।

māsi cāśvayuje devaṁ yaḥ paśyetsaṁgameśvaram| kṛtaṁ tena sahasraṁ tu vājapeyaṁ varānane||

O fair one, whoever beholds the god Sangameshvara in the month of Ashvina has thereby performed, as it were, a thousand Vajapeya sacrifices.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.140.61)

यः पश्येत्कार्त्तिके मासि तल्लिंगं संगमेश्वरम्। राजसूयसहस्रं तु कृतं तेन न संशयः।

yaḥ paśyetkārttike māsi talliṅgaṁ saṁgameśvaram| rājasūyasahasraṁ tu kṛtaṁ tena na saṁśayaḥ||

Whoever beholds that Sangameshvara linga in the month of Kartika has, without doubt, thereby performed a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.140.62)

चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्यः पश्येत्संगमेश्वरम्। स याति परमं स्थानं ममाभीष्टतरं प्रिये।

caturo vārṣikānmāsānyaḥ paśyetsaṁgameśvaram| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ mamābhīṣṭataraṁ priye||

Whoever beholds Sangameshvara throughout the four months of the rainy season attains, O beloved, that supreme abode most dear to me.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.140.63)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। संगमेश्वरदेवस्य शृणु दुर्द्धर्षमीश्वरम्।

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| saṁgameśvaradevasya śṛṇu durddharṣamīśvaram||

Thus, O goddess, I have told you the sin-destroying greatness of the god Sangameshvara; now hear of Durddharsheshvara.