The Glory of Uttareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.155.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। उत्तरेश्वरमाहात्म्यमशेषपापनाशनम्। जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिस्फोटनं शृणु पार्वति।

śrīmahādeva uvāca| uttareśvaramāhātmyamaśeṣapāpanāśanam| janmamṛtyujarāvyādhisphoṭanaṁ śṛṇu pārvati||

Shri Mahadeva said: Hear, O Parvati, the greatness of Uttareshvara, destroyer of every sin, shattering birth, death, old age, and disease.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.155.2)

अयोध्यायामतिख्यातकुलोत्पन्नश्च पार्थिवः। सुधीः परीक्षिन्नामा च मृगयामगमत्स च।

ayodhyāyāmatikhyātakulotpannaśca pārthivaḥ| sudhīḥ parīkṣinnāmā ca mṛgayāmagamatsa ca||

In Ayodhya there was a wise king, born of a most renowned lineage, named Parikshit. He went out on a hunt.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.155.3)

मृगमनुससाराथ मृगो दूरमपासरत्।

mṛgamanusasārātha mṛgo dūramapāsarat||

He pursued a deer, but the deer kept fleeing far away.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.155.4)

तदाध्वनि जातश्रमः क्षुत्तृष्णाभिभूतः कस्मिंश्चिद्वनोद्देशे नीलवनमपश्यच्चाविवेश।

tadādhvani jātaśramaḥ kṣuttṛṣṇābhibhūtaḥ kasmiṁścidvanoddeśe nīlavanamapaśyaccāviveśa||

Grown weary on that path, overcome with hunger and thirst, in a certain part of the forest he saw a lush green woodland and entered it.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.155.5)

तस्य वनखण्डस्य दक्षिणभागे सरो दृष्ट्वा साश्व एव व्यगाहत।

tasya vanakhaṇḍasya dakṣiṇabhāge saro dṛṣṭvā sāśva eva vyagāhata||

Seeing a lake in the southern part of that stretch of forest, he plunged into it together with his horse.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.155.6)

अथाश्वस्थः सन्मृणालमश्वस्याग्रतो निक्षिप्य पुष्करिणीं समुपाविशत्।

athāśvasthaḥ sanmṛṇālamaśvasyāgrato nikṣipya puṣkariṇīṁ samupāviśat||

Then, still seated on his horse, having thrown some lotus-stalks before it, he settled by the edge of that lotus pool.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.155.7)

शयितस्ततः शयानो गीतमशृणोत्।

śayitastataḥ śayāno gītamaśṛṇot||

Lying there, resting, he heard a song.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.155.8)

स श्रुत्वाचिंतयन्नेह मनुष्यगतिं प्रपश्यामि।

sa śrutvāciṁtayanneha manuṣyagatiṁ prapaśyāmi||

Hearing it, he wondered: "I see here no sign of any human passage."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.155.9)

कस्य खल्वयं गीतशब्द इत्यवलोकयामास।

kasya khalvayaṁ gītaśabda ityavalokayāmāsa||

"Whose is this sound of singing, then?" — thinking this, he looked about.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.155.10)

अथापश्यत्कन्यां परमरूपदर्शनीयां पुष्पाणि विचिन्वंतीं चाथ राजा समीपे पर्यक्रामत्।

athāpaśyatkanyāṁ paramarūpadarśanīyāṁ puṣpāṇi vicinvaṁtīṁ cātha rājā samīpe paryakrāmata||

Then he beheld a maiden, most beautiful and worthy of beholding, gathering flowers; and the king then walked toward her.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.155.11)

तामब्रवीद्राजा कस्यासि त्वं कन्या परमरूपदर्शनीया पुष्पाणि विचिन्वती।

tāmabravīdrājā kasyāsi tvaṁ kanyā paramarūpadarśanīyā puṣpāṇi vicinvatī||

The king said to her: "O maiden of most beautiful appearance, gathering flowers — whose are you?"

Verse 12 (skanda.5.155.12)

साथ राजसमीपे गत्वेति प्रोवाच कन्यास्मीति।

sātha rājasamīpe gatveti provāca kanyāsmīti||

Then, coming near the king, she said: "I am a maiden."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.155.13)

राजोवाच। अर्थी तवास्मीति।

rājovāca| arthī tavāsmīti||

The king said: "I am a suitor for you."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.155.14)

अथोवाच कन्या। समयेनाहं त्वया शक्योपालब्धुं नान्यथेति।

athovāca kanyā| samayenāhaṁ tvayā śakyopālabdhuṁ nānyatheti||

Then the maiden said: "I may be obtained by you only under a certain condition, and by no other means."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.155.15)

तां राजा समपृच्छत्कस्ते समय इति।

tāṁ rājā samapṛcchatkaste samaya iti||

The king asked her: "What is that condition of yours?"

Verse 16 (skanda.5.155.16)

ततः कन्या तमुवाच नोदकं दर्शयितव्यमिति।

tataḥ kanyā tamuvāca nodakaṁ darśayitavyamiti||

Then the maiden said to him: "Water must never be shown to me."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.155.17)

राजा बाढमित्युक्ता तां समागम्य तया सहास्ते।

rājā bāḍhamityuktā tāṁ samāgamya tayā sahāste||

The king, saying "So be it," accepted the condition, and, uniting with her, lived together with her.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.155.18)

तत्रैवासन्ने राजनि सेना त्वागच्छत् तया सहोपविष्टं राजानं परिवार्य चातिष्ठत्।

tatraivāsanne rājani senā tvāgacchat tayā sahopaviṣṭaṁ rājānaṁ parivārya cātiṣṭhata||

There, the king being nearby, his army arrived and stood surrounding the king, who sat there with her.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.155.19)

सभाजितश्च राजा तथैव शिबिकया प्रायात्। अथ झटिति तया सह स्वं नगरमनुप्राप्य रहसि तया सह रममाणः सन्नान्यं किंचिदपश्यदथ प्रधानोमात्यस्तस्याभ्याशचरास्ताः स्त्रियोऽभ्यपृच्छत्।

sabhājitaśca rājā tathaiva śibikayā prāyāt| atha jhaṭiti tayā saha svaṁ nagaramanuprāpya rahasi tayā saha ramamāṇaḥ sannānyaṁ kiṁcidapaśyadatha pradhāno'mātyastasyābhyāśacarāstāḥ striyo'bhyapṛcchat||

The king was honoured and carried off in a palanquin in the same way. Then, swiftly reaching his own city together with her, delighting with her in seclusion, he took no notice of anything else. Then his chief minister questioned the maidservants close to her.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.155.20)

किमत्र प्रयोजनं विद्यते इत्यब्रुवंस्ताः स्त्रियो पूर्वमेव पश्यामस्तदुदकं नात्राश्रियत इति।

kimatra prayojanaṁ vidyate ityabruvaṁstāḥ striyo pūrvameva paśyāmastadudakaṁ nātrāśriyata iti||

When asked, "What is the reason for this?" those women said: "We have already observed this — water is never brought near her here."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.155.21)

अथामात्यश्च निरुदकं कारयित्वा दारुवृक्षं वृद्धपुष्पफलं शरद्युपलभ्य राजानामब्रवीत्। वनमिदमनुदकं साध्वत्र रम्यतामिति।

athāmātyaśca nirudakaṁ kārayitvā dāruvṛkṣaṁ vṛddhapuṣpaphalaṁ śaradyupalabhya rājānamabravīt| vanamidamanudakaṁ sādhvatra ramyatāmiti||

Then the minister, having arranged a place free of visible water, and having found in autumn a wood of trees laden with mature flowers and fruit, said to the king: "This wood is free of water — here you may dwell most agreeably."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.155.22)

स तस्य वचनात्तयैव सह देव्या वनं प्राविशत्।

sa tasya vacanāttayaiva saha devyā vanaṁ prāviśat||

At his suggestion, the king entered that wood together with that lady.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.155.23)

सकलत्रस्तस्मिन्वने रम्ये तयैव सह रेमे।

sakalatrastasminvane ramye tayaiva saha reme||

Together with his wife, in that lovely wood, he sported with her alone.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.155.24)

प्रविश्य च राजा सह प्रियया सुधाधवलसलिलपूर्णां वापीमपश्यत्।

praviśya ca rājā saha priyayā sudhādhavalasalilapūrṇāṁ vāpīmapaśyat||

Entering further, the king, with his beloved, beheld a stepwell filled with water white as chalk.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.155.25)

वापीं दर्दुरैः पूर्णां दृष्ट्वैव च तां तस्या एव तीरे तया देव्यातिष्ठत्।

vāpīṁ dardurairpūrṇāṁ dṛṣṭvaiva ca tāṁ tasyā eva tīre tayā devyātiṣṭhat||

Seeing that stepwell full of frogs, he stood with that lady right on its very bank.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.155.26)

अथ तां देवीं राजाब्रवीत्। शांततरं वापीसलिलमिति।

atha tāṁ devīṁ rājābravīt| śāṁtataraṁ vāpīsalilamiti||

Then the king said to that lady: "How very tranquil is this water of the stepwell!"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.155.27)

सा च तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तीर्थवापीं न्यमज्जन्न पुनरुदमज्जत्। तां मृगयमाणो राजा नापश्यत्।

sā ca tadvacaḥ śrutvā tīrthavāpīṁ nyamajjanna punarudamajjata| tāṁ mṛgayamāṇo rājā nāpaśyat||

But the moment she heard those words, she sank into that sacred stepwell and never rose again. Though the king searched for her, he could not find her.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.155.28)

वापीं दर्दुरैः पूर्णां दृष्ट्वा आज्ञापयामास भृत्यान्सर्वदर्दुरवधः क्रियतामिति।

vāpīṁ dardurairpūrṇāṁ dṛṣṭvā ājñāpayāmāsa bhṛtyānsarvadarduravadhaḥ kriyatāmiti||

Seeing the stepwell full of frogs, he commanded his servants: "Let every frog be slain."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.155.29)

यो ममार्थी स तैर्ददुरैरुपायनैर्मामनुतिष्ठेत्।

yo mamārthī sa taddaruraiḥ upāyanairmāmanutiṣṭhet||

"Whoever wishes me well, let him follow my order by bringing these very frogs as an offering."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.155.30)

अथ कश्चिन्महान्दर्दुरो दर्दुरवधे क्रियमाणे सर्वासु दिक्ष्वभ्यगात्।

atha kaścinmahāndarduro dardur avadhe kriyamāṇe sarvāsu dikṣvabhyagāt||

As the slaughter of the frogs was underway, a certain great frog came forth from every direction.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.155.31)

उपेत्य चैनमुवाचेदं ज्ञात्वा क्रोधवशंगतम्। प्रसादं कुरु नार्हसि दर्दुराणामनपराधिनां वधं कर्तुमिति।

upetya cainamuvācedaṁ jñātvā krodhavaśaṁgatam| prasādaṁ kuru nārhasi dardurāṇāmanaparādhināṁ vadhaṁ kartumiti||

Approaching him, recognizing that the king was overcome with rage, that frog said: "Be gracious — you ought not to slay these innocent frogs, guilty of no offence."

Verse 32 (skanda.5.155.32)

श्लोकश्चात्र भवति। मा दुर्दुरान्प्रभिंद्यास्त्वं कोपं संधारयाच्युत। प्रक्षीयते महाधर्मो जनानां परिजानताम्।

ślokaścātra bhavati| mā durdurānprabhiṁdyāstvaṁ kopaṁ saṁdhārayācyuta| prakṣīyate mahādharmo janānāṁ parijānatām||

Here there is a verse: "Do not destroy the frogs, O steadfast one; restrain your wrath. Great righteousness is diminished in those who, though knowing better, act thus."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.155.33)

तमेवं वादिनमिष्टजनवियोगे शाकपरीतात्मानं स राजा प्रोवाच। नहि काममप्येतन्निष्कामेन निबर्हणीया इति।

tamevaṁ vādinamiṣṭajanaviyoge śokaparītātmānaṁ sa rājā provāca| nahi kāmamapyetannniṣkāmena nibarhaṇīyā iti||

To that frog thus speaking, the king, his soul overwhelmed with grief at the loss of his beloved, replied: "Indeed, this is not to be undone even by one free of desire, let alone by desire itself."

Verse 34 (skanda.5.155.34)

एतैर्दुरात्मभिर्मम स्त्री भक्षिता सर्वथैव त्विमे वध्या दर्दुराः। नार्हसि विद्वन्नुपरोद्धुमिति।

etairdurātmabhirmama strī bhakṣitā sarvathaiva tvime vadhyā dardurāḥ| nārhasi vidvannuparoddhumiti||

"By these very wicked frogs my wife has been devoured; therefore these frogs, every one of them, deserve to die. You, O learned one, ought not to obstruct this."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.155.35)

स तद्वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य व्यथितेंद्रियमनाः प्रोवाच प्रसीद राजन्नहमायुर्नामभूपालः।

sa tadvākyamupaśrutya vyathiteṁdriyamanāḥ provāca prasīda rājannahamāyurnāmabhūpālaḥ||

Hearing his words, distressed in mind and senses, that frog said: "Be gracious, O king; I am a king named Ayu.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.155.36)

प्राप्ता सा मम दुहिता। सा कन्या नागलोकं गता। अत्रास्ते नागचूडो नागराजः। स्मृता आगमिष्यति।

prāptā sā mama duhitā| sā kanyā nāgalokaṁ gatā| atrāste nāgacūḍo nāgarājaḥ| smṛtā āgamiṣyati||

That maiden whom you obtained was my own daughter. She has gone to the world of the nagas. Here dwells the naga-king Nagachuda. If remembered rightly, she shall return.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.155.37)

तामब्रवीद्राजा तां स्मृत्वानीय मे दीयतामिति।

tāmabravīdrājā tāṁ smṛtvānīya me dīyatāmiti||

The king said: "Remember her, bring her, and give her to me."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.155.38)

अथैनां स्मृत्वा राज्ञे अदात्। अब्रवीच्च।

athaināṁ smṛtvā rājñe adāt| abravīcca||

Then, calling her to mind, he gave her to the king, and also said this.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.155.39)

मयावहसितो गालवो महान्मुनिः तपसा कर्शितांगः। क्षमेश्वरो दर्दुरबाल्यात्प्रकोपितः तेनाहं शप्तः यन्मामनादृत्य दर्दुरबाल्यादवहसितस्तस्माद्दर्दुरो भविष्यसि।

mayāvahasito gālavo mahānmuniḥ tapasā karśitāṁgaḥ| kṣameśvaro dardurabālyātprakopitaḥ tenāhaṁ śaptaḥ yanmāmanādṛtya dardurabālyādavahasitastasmāddarduro bhaviṣyasi||

I once mocked the great sage Galava, his body emaciated by austerity. Though ever forgiving, he grew angry at being mocked with childish disdain, and cursed me: 'Since, disregarding me, you mocked me out of childish folly, you shall become a frog.'

Verse 40 (skanda.5.155.40)

प्रसादितस्तु विप्रः प्रत्युवाच।

prasāditastu vipraḥ pratyuvāca||

When appeased, that brahmin then replied further.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.155.41)

अवितथोऽयं मम शापस्तस्मादन्यजन्मनि दर्दुरराजो भूत्वा त्वं हि दुहितरमिक्ष्वाकुकुलोत्पन्नाय सर्वगुणान्विताय दत्त्वा यदा यास्यसि महाकालवने तस्योत्तरदिग्भागे तदा लिंगस्य दर्शनेन मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि।

avitatho'yaṁ mama śāpastasmādanyajanmani dardurarājo bhūtvā tvaṁ hi duhitaramikṣvākukulotpannāya sarvaguṇānvitāya dattvā yadā yāsyasi mahākālavane tasyottaradigbhāge tadā liṁgasya darśanena muktimavāpsyasi||

This curse of mine cannot be false; therefore, in another birth, becoming the king of frogs, when you have given your daughter to a virtuous king born of the Ikshvaku lineage, and go to the northern part of Mahakalavana, you shall then attain liberation through the sight of the linga there."

Verse 42 (skanda.5.155.42)

दुहिता कियत्पातालं यास्यति स्मृता चागमिष्यति। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु साधयिष्यामि कार्याणि, इत्युक्त्वा दर्दुरो महाकालवनमगच्छत्।

duhitā kiyatpātālaṁ yāsyati smṛtā cāgamiṣyati| svasti te'stu sādhayiṣyāmi kāryāṇi, ityuktvā darduro mahākālavanamagacchat||

"My daughter shall go for a time to the netherworld, and, when remembered, shall return. May you fare well; I shall now accomplish my own purpose." Having said this, the frog departed for Mahakalavana.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.155.43)

तस्योत्तरे लिंगं ददर्श तस्य दर्शनादनेकमाणिक्यरचितं सिद्धगन्धर्वसेवितं विमानवरमारुह्य शक्रलोकं गतः।

tasyottare liṁgaṁ dadarśa tasya darśanādanekamāṇikyaracitaṁ siddhagaṁdharvasevitaṁ vimānavaramāruhya śakralokaṁ gataḥ||

In the northern part he beheld the linga; by that very sight, he mounted an excellent celestial chariot fashioned of many rubies, attended by siddhas and gandharvas, and went to the world of Indra.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.155.44)

तस्य माहात्म्यमवलोक्य देवाचार्यो बृहस्पतिर्वाक्यं जगाद।

tasya māhātmyamavalokya devācāryo bṛhaspatirvākyaṁ jagāda||

Beholding his greatness, Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, spoke these words.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.155.45)

अहो लिंगस्य माहात्म्यमहो लिंगस्य वैभवम्। संप्राप्तो वासवं लोकं शापभ्रष्टो हि दर्दुरः।

aho liṁgasya māhātmyamaho liṁgasya vaibhavam| saṁprāpto vāsavaṁ lokaṁ śāpabhraṣṭo hi darduraḥ||

"Ah, what greatness in this linga! Ah, what splendour in this linga! Even this frog, fallen through a curse, has attained the very world of Indra!

Verse 46 (skanda.5.155.46)

आयुराख्यो हि भूपालो मुक्तो दर्दुरतां गतः।

āyurākhyo hi bhūpālo mukto dardurataṁ gataḥ||

The king named Ayu, who had come to the state of a frog, is now liberated."

Verse 47 (skanda.5.155.47)

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवाचार्यस्य पार्वति। देवास्ते हृष्टमनसो नाम चकुः समाहिताः।

iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devācāryasya pārvati| devāste hṛṣṭamanaso nāma cakuḥ samāhitāḥ||

Hearing these words of the preceptor of the gods, O Parvati, the gods, with joyful hearts, with focused minds, gave the linga its name.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.155.48)

यस्माद्दर्दुरभूपालो मुक्तो दर्दुरयोनितः। दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य तस्मात्ख्यातो भविष्यति।

yasmāddardurabhūpālo mukto dardurayonitaḥ| darśanāttasya liṁgasya tasmātkhyāto bhaviṣyati||

"Since this frog-king was freed from his frog-birth through the sight of this linga, therefore this linga shall become renowned for this very reason,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.155.49)

उत्तरेश्वरदेवश्च शापपापप्रणोदकः। इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदशैः सर्वैः पूजितो ह्युत्तरेश्वरः।

uttareśvaradevaśca śāpapāpapraṇodakaḥ| ityuktvā tridaśaiḥ sarvaiḥ pūjito hyuttareśvaraḥ||

as the god Uttareshvara, dispeller of both curse and sin." Having said this, Uttareshvara was worshipped by all the gods.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.155.50)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदो देवि महापातकनाशनः। क्षेत्रस्य रक्षणार्थाय नियुक्तो यो मया गणः। दर्दुरो हि दुराधर्षः स चापीश्वरतां गतः।

bhuktimuktipradodevi mahāpātakanāśanaḥ| kṣetrasya rakṣaṇārthāya niyukto yo mayā gaṇaḥ| darduro hi durādharṣaḥ sa cāpīśvaratāṁ gataḥ||

O goddess, he grants both enjoyment and liberation, and destroys the greatest sins. The gana whom I appointed for the protection of this region, the formidable Durdarsha, also attained the state of a lord.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.155.51)

उत्तराशामथो गत्वा यः पश्येदुत्तरेश्वरम्। स सर्वैश्वर्यसंयुक्तो याति लोकमथोत्तरम्।

uttarāśāmatho gatvā yaḥ paśyeduttareśvaram| sa sarvaiśvaryasaṁyukto yāti lokamathottaram||

Whoever goes to the northern quarter and beholds Uttareshvara, endowed with every majesty, attains the supreme world beyond.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.155.52)

सुभगः सर्वदा दांतः सुरूपः पुत्रवानिति। नीरोगः पुण्यशीलश्च जायते सप्तजन्म च।

subhagaḥ sarvadā dāṁtaḥ surūpaḥ putravāniti| nīrogaḥ puṇyaśīlaśca jāyate saptajanma ca||

He becomes ever fortunate, self-controlled, handsome, blessed with sons, free from disease, and of virtuous conduct, for seven successive births.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.155.53)

या वृद्धिस्तु कुबेरस्य शक्रस्य च यमस्य च। वरुणस्य च या वृद्धिः सा वृद्धिरुत्तरोत्तरा। जायते नात्र सन्देह उत्तरेश्वरदर्शनात्।

yā vṛddhistu kuberasya śakrasya ca yamasya ca| varuṇasya ca yā vṛddhiḥ sā vṛddhiruttarottarā| jāyate nātra saṁdeha uttareśvaradarśanāt||

Whatever prosperity belongs to Kubera, to Indra, to Yama, and to Varuna — that same ever-increasing prosperity arises, without doubt, from the sight of Uttareshvara.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.155.54)

कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां ये पश्यंति यशस्विनि। उत्तरेश्वरसंज्ञं तु ते कृतार्थाः कलौ युगे।

kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ ye paśyaṁti yaśasvini| uttareśvarasaṁjñaṁ tu te kṛtārthāḥ kalau yuge||

O renowned one, those who behold this god called Uttareshvara on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight become fulfilled even in the Kali age.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.155.55)

किं दानैः किं तपोभिश्च किं यज्ञैर्बहुदक्षिणैः। दर्शनाल्लभते राज्यं स्वर्गं मोक्षं क्रमेण तु।

kiṁ dānaiḥ kiṁ tapobhiśca kiṁ yajñairbahudakṣiṇaiḥ| darśanāllabhate rājyaṁ svargaṁ mokṣaṁ krameṇa tu||

What need is there of gifts, of austerities, or of sacrifices with abundant offerings, when by this sight alone one obtains, in due order, kingship, heaven, and liberation?

Verse 56 (skanda.5.155.56)

आजन्म च कृतं पापं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति उत्तरेश्वरदर्शनात्।

ājanma ca kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ svalpaṁ vā yadi vā bahu| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti uttareśvaradarśanāt||

Whatever sin has been committed since birth, be it small or great, all of it is destroyed through the sight of Uttareshvara.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.155.57)

इत्येवं चतुराशीतिः संख्याता ईश्वरास्तव। कथिता ये त्वया पृष्टा महाकालवने मया।

ityevaṁ caturāśītiḥ saṁkhyātā īśvarāstava| kathitā ye tvayā pṛṣṭā mahākālavane mayā||

Thus have I recounted to you the eighty-four lords, which you asked of me, and which I have described as they abide in Mahakalavana.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.155.58)

य एतेषां देवि यात्रां प्रतिलोमानुलोमतः। करिष्यंति नरा भक्त्या ते यास्यंति परं पदम्।

ya eteṣāṁ devi yātrāṁ pratilomānulomataḥ| kariṣyaṁti narā bhaktyā te yāsyaṁti paraṁ padam||

O goddess, whatever men undertake the pilgrimage of all these, in forward or reverse order, with devotion, shall attain the supreme state.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.155.59)

यश्चापि पूजयेत्तत्र लिंगं भक्त्या तु मानवः। स कुलं तारयत्येव पैतृकं मातृकं शतम्।

yaścāpi pūjayettatra liṁgaṁ bhaktyā tu mānavaḥ| sa kulaṁ tārayatyeva paitṛkaṁ mātṛkaṁ śatam||

And whatever man worships even a single one of these lingas with devotion surely delivers a hundred generations of both his paternal and maternal lineages.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.155.60)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। चतुराशीतिलिंगानां किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि।

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| caturāśītiliṁgānāṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi||

Thus, O goddess, I have told you the sin-destroying greatness of the eighty-four lingas. What more do you now wish to hear?