The Glory of Shakreshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.216.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत्परं पुण्यं नर्मदादक्षिणे तटे। शक्रतीर्थं सुविख्यातमशेषाघविनाशनम्॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchetparaṁ puṇyaṁ narmadādakṣiṇe taṭe| śakratīrthaṁ suvikhyātamaśeṣāghavināśanam||

Shri Markandeya said: "Thereafter one should go to the supreme and sacred Shakratirtha on the southern bank of the Narmada, well renowned, destroyer of all sin without remainder.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.216.2)

पुरा शक्रेण तत्रैव तपो वै दुरतिक्रमम्। प्रारब्धं परया भक्त्या देवं प्रति महेश्वरम्॥

purā śakreṇa tatraiva tapo vai duratikramam| prārabdhaṁ parayā bhaktyā devaṁ prati maheśvaram||

Of old, Shakra himself began there insurmountable austerity, with the highest devotion, toward the God Maheshvara.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.216.3)

ततः संतोषितो देव उमापतिर्नराधिप। देवेन्द्रत्वं वरं राज्यं दानवानां वधं ददौ॥

tataḥ saṁtoṣito deva umāpatirnarādhipa| devendratvaṁ varaṁ rājyaṁ dānavānāṁ vadhaṁ dadau||

Then, O lord of men, the God, husband of Uma, being satisfied, granted him the sovereignty of the gods, an excellent kingdom, and the slaying of the Danavas.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.216.4)

लब्धं शक्रेण नृपते नर्मदातीर्थभावतः। ततः पुण्यतमं तीर्थं संजातं वसुधातले॥

labdhaṁ śakreṇa nṛpate narmadātīrthabhāvataḥ| tataḥ puṇyatamaṁ tīrthaṁ saṁjātaṁ vasudhātale||

O king, this was obtained by Shakra through the power of the tirtha of the Narmada; thence a most sacred tirtha came into being upon the earth.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.216.5)

कार्त्तिकस्य तु मासस्य कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदशीम्। उपोष्य वै नरो भक्त्या सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥

kārttikasya tu māsasya kṛṣṇapakṣe trayodaśīm| upoṣya vai naro bhaktyā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate||

Whoever fasts with devotion on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Karttika is freed from all sins —

Verse 6 (skanda.5.216.6)

दुःस्वप्नसम्भवैः पापैर्दुर्निमित्तसमुद्भवैः। ग्रहशाकिनिसम्भूतैर्मुच्यते पाण्डुनन्दन॥

duḥsvapnasambhavaiḥ pāpairdurnimittasamudbhavaiḥ| grahaśākinisambhūtairmucyate pāṇḍunandana||

from sins arising from bad dreams, from those born of evil omens, and from those caused by planetary afflictions and by shakini-spirits, O joy of Pandu.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.216.7)

शक्रेश्वरं नृपश्रेष्ठ ये प्रपश्यन्ति भक्तितः। तेषां जन्मकृतं पापं नश्यते नात्र संशयः॥

śakreśvaraṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha ye prapaśyanti bhaktitaḥ| teṣāṁ janmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ naśyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

O best of kings, for those who behold Shakreshvara with devotion, the sin committed since birth is destroyed; there is no doubt of it.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.216.8)

अगम्यागमने चैव अवाह्ये चैव वाहिते। स्वामिमित्रविघाते यन्नश्यते नात्र संशयः॥

agamyāgamane caiva avāhye caiva vāhite| svāmimitravighāte yannaśyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

Whatever sin arises from going where one should not go, from being carried by what should not carry one, or from the betrayal of one's master or friend, is destroyed; there is no doubt.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.216.9)

गोप्रदानं प्रकर्तव्यं शुभं ब्राह्मणपुंगवे। धुर्यं वा दापयेत्तस्मिन् सर्वाङ्गरुचिरं नृप॥

gopradānaṁ prakartavyaṁ śubhaṁ brāhmaṇapuṁgave| dhuryaṁ vā dāpayettasmin sarvāṅgaruciraṁ nṛpa||

An auspicious gift of a cow should be made to an excellent brahmin; or, O king, a beast of burden, handsome in every limb, should be given there.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.216.10)

दातव्यं परया भक्त्या स्वर्गे वासमभीप्सता। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शक्रेश्वरफलं नृप॥

dātavyaṁ parayā bhaktyā svarge vāsamabhīpsatā| etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ śakreśvaraphalaṁ nṛpa||

It should be given with the highest devotion by one desirous of dwelling in heaven. This, O king, is the entire fruit of Shakreshvara that has been told to you."