The Glory of the Pilgrimage to Mahakaleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.23.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ यात्रां प्रवक्ष्यामि महाकालस्य यत्नतः । शिवां श्रेयस्करीं पुण्यां पुण्यलोकप्रदायिनीम्

sanatkumāra uvāca atha yātrāṁ pravakṣyāmi mahākālasya yatnataḥ śivāṁ śreyaskarīṁ puṇyāṁ puṇyalokapradāyinīm

Sanatkumāra said: "Now I shall carefully declare the pilgrimage of Mahākāla — auspicious, conducive to the highest good, holy, and the bestower of meritorious worlds."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.23.2)

स्नात्वा सरसि रुद्रस्य दृष्ट्वा कोटेश्वरं शिवम् । नमस्कृत्य ततो गच्छेन्महाकालं सनातनम्

snātvā sarasi rudrasya dṛṣṭvā koṭeśvaraṁ śivam namaskṛtya tato gacchenmahākālaṁ sanātanam

Having bathed in the lake of Rudra and beheld Śiva as Koṭeśvara, and having bowed, one should then go to the eternal Mahākāla.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.23.3)

गन्धैः पुष्पैर्नमस्कारैः संपूज्य त्रिदशेश्वरम् । प्रणिपत्य ततो गच्छेद्देवं कपालमोचनम्

gandhaiḥ puṣpairnamaskāraiḥ saṁpūjya tridaśeśvaram praṇipatya tato gaccheddevaṁ kapālamocanam

Having worshipped the lord of the thirty gods with scents, flowers, and salutations, and having prostrated, one should then go to the god Kapālamocana.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.23.4)

तत्रैव देवदेवेशः कपालं न्यस्तवान्क्षितौ । कपाले तत्क्षणान्न्यस्ते तत्राभूल्लिंगमुत्तमम्

tatraiva devadeveśaḥ kapālaṁ nyastavānkṣitau kapāle tatkṣaṇānnyaste tatrābhūlliṁgamuttamam

There the Lord of the gods of gods set down the skull upon the earth; the very moment the skull was set down, a supreme liṅga appeared there.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.23.5)

कपालमोचनं नाम सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तत्र वै स्नपनं कुर्यादाज्यपलशतेन वै

kapālamocanaṁ nāma sarvapāpapraṇāśanam tatra vai snapanaṁ kuryādājyapalaśatena vai

It is called Kapālamocana, the destroyer of all sins. There one should perform an anointing-bath with a hundred palas of ghee.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.23.6)

तदर्धार्धेन पादेन वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः । काले पूर्णे स विप्रेन्द्र शिवलोके महीयते

tadardhārdhena pādena vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ kāle pūrṇe sa viprendra śivaloke mahīyate

Or with half, or a quarter, of that amount, free from miserliness about wealth — when his time is fulfilled, O best of brāhmaṇas, he is honoured in the world of Śiva.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.23.7)

नमस्कृत्य ततो गच्छेत्कपिलेश्वरमुत्तमम् । दर्शनादस्य देवस्य मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

namaskṛtya tato gacchetkapileśvaramuttamam darśanādasya devasya mucyate brahmahatyayā

Having bowed, one should then go to the supreme Kapileśvara; by the mere sight of this god, one is freed from the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.23.8)

हनुमत्केश्वरं देवं ततो गच्छेत्समाहितः । ऐश्वर्यमतुलं व्यास दर्शनादस्य जायते

hanumatkeśvaraṁ devaṁ tato gacchetsamāhitaḥ aiśvaryamatulaṁ vyāsa darśanādasya jāyate

One should then go, composed in mind, to the god Hanumatkeśvara; O Vyāsa, incomparable lordship arises from the sight of him.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.23.9)

ततो गच्छेन्महादेवं पैप्पलाख्यं सनातनम् । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण मुक्तिः स्याद्द्विजसत्तम

tato gacchenmahādevaṁ paippalākhyaṁ sanātanam yasya darśanamātreṇa muktiḥ syāddvijasattama

Then one should go to the eternal great god called Paippala; O best of the twice-born, by the mere sight of him liberation is attained.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.23.10)

स्वप्नेश्वरं ततो गच्छेद्भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । दर्शनादस्य देवस्य दुःस्वप्नं च विनश्यति

svapneśvaraṁ tato gacchedbhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ darśanādasya devasya duḥsvapnaṁ ca vinaśyati

Then, endowed with devotion and faith, one should go to Svapneśvara; by the sight of this god, bad dreams are destroyed.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.23.11)

ततो गच्छेन्महादेवमीशानं विश्वतोमुखम् । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण विश्वस्यैव पतिर्भवेत्

tato gacchenmahādevamīśānaṁ viśvatomukham yasya darśanamātreṇa viśvasyaiva patirbhavet

Then one should go to the great god Īśāna, whose face is everywhere; by the mere sight of him, one becomes lord of the whole universe.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.23.12)

सोमेश्वरं ततो गच्छेज्जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः । कुष्ठरोगादिदोषेभ्यो दर्शनादस्य मुच्यते

someśvaraṁ tato gacchejjitakrodho jiteṁdriyaḥ kuṣṭharogādidoṣebhyo darśanādasya mucyate

Then, having conquered anger and the senses, one should go to Someśvara; by the sight of him, one is freed from leprosy and other afflictions.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.23.13)

वैश्वानरेश्वरं व्यास ततो गच्छेत्समाहितः । तस्य वृद्धिः सदा लोके जायते तस्य दर्शनात्

vaiśvānareśvaraṁ vyāsa tato gacchetsamāhitaḥ tasya vṛddhiḥ sadā loke jāyate tasya darśanāt

O Vyāsa, one should then go, composed, to Vaiśvānareśvara; through the sight of him, one's prosperity in the world ever increases.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.23.14)

बीजपूरकहस्तं तु लकु लीशं ततो व्रजेत् । रुद्रत्वं दर्शनात्तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः

bījapūrakahastaṁ tu laku līśaṁ tato vrajet rudratvaṁ darśanāttasya jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Then one should go to Lakulīśa, who holds a citron in his hand; through the sight of him, one attains the state of Rudra — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.23.15)

ततो गच्छेन्महादेवं गद्याणेश्वरमुत्तमम् । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जायंते सर्व सिद्धयः

tato gacchenmahādevaṁ gadyāṇeśvaramuttamam yasya darśanamātreṇa jāyaṁte sarva siddhayaḥ

Then one should go to the supreme great god Gadyāṇeśvara; by the mere sight of him, all accomplishments arise.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.23.16)

अभ्यर्थितः सदा देवैः पूजितः सिद्धिकारणात् । तेनाभ्यर्थितेश्वरोऽयं विख्यातो विघ्ननायकः

abhyarthitaḥ sadā devaiḥ pūjitaḥ siddhikāraṇāt tenābhyarthiteśvaro'yaṁ vikhyāto vighnanāyakaḥ

Ever entreated and worshipped by the gods for the sake of accomplishment, this god is renowned by the name Abhyarthiteśvara, the lord of obstacles.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.23.17)

वयोवृद्धं ततो गच्छेन्महाकालं सनातनम् । न रोगो न जराव्याधिर्दर्शनान्नात्र संशयः

vayovṛddhaṁ tato gacchenmahākālaṁ sanātanam na rogo na jarāvyādhirdarśanānnātra saṁśayaḥ

Then one should go to the eternal Mahākāla in the form of Vayovṛddha (aged in years); through his sight, there is neither disease nor the affliction of old age — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.23.18)

विघ्ननाशं ततो गच्छेत्प्राणीशं बलमुत्तमम् । स्नानं घटशतैस्तस्य कुर्याद्भक्त्या समाहितः

vighnanāśaṁ tato gacchetprāṇīśaṁ balamuttamam snānaṁ ghaṭaśataistasya kuryādbhaktyā samāhitaḥ

Then one should go to Vighnanāśa, the supreme lord of strength of living beings; with devotion and composure one should bathe him with a hundred jars of water.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.23.19)

तस्य चैव कृते स्नाने लभ्यंते सर्वसिद्धयः । स्वर्गश्चापि सदा व्यास दर्शनादस्य जायते

tasya caiva kṛte snāne labhyaṁte sarvasiddhayaḥ svargaścāpi sadā vyāsa darśanādasya jāyate

By performing this bathing of him, all accomplishments are obtained; and heaven too, O Vyāsa, ever arises from the sight of him.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.23.20)

तनयं तमनूल्लंघ्य दंड पाणिं ततो व्रजेत् । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण यमलोको न दृश्यते

tanayaṁ tamanūllaṁghya daṁḍa pāṇiṁ tato vrajet yasya darśanamātreṇa yamaloko na dṛśyate

Then, without passing him by, one should go to that son of his, Daṇḍapāṇi, the mace-bearer; by the mere sight of him, the world of Yama is never seen.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.23.21)

पुष्पदन्तं ततो गच्छेद्भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

puṣpadantaṁ tato gacchedbhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ yasya darśanamātreṇa mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Then, endowed with devotion and faith, one should go to Puṣpadanta; by the mere sight of him, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.23.22)

गुह्यं चैव महाकालं ततो गच्छेत्समाहितः । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण गुह्यपापैः प्रमुच्यते

guhyaṁ caiva mahākālaṁ tato gacchetsamāhitaḥ yasya darśanamātreṇa guhyapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Then, composed, one should go to Guhya-Mahākāla; by the mere sight of him, one is freed from hidden sins.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.23.23)

ततो गच्छेत्समाधिस्थो दुर्वासेश्वरमुत्तमम् । यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत्

tato gacchetsamādhistho durvāseśvaramuttamam yasya darśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo naro bhavet

Then, fixed in meditation, one should go to the supreme Durvāseśvara; by the mere sight of him, a man becomes one whose purpose is fulfilled.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.23.24)

श्वासावरोधनं कृत्वा दुर्वाससः समीपतः । गौरीं गत्वा महादुर्गां त्यजेच्छ्वासमनंतरम्

śvāsāvarodhanaṁ kṛtvā durvāsasaḥ samīpataḥ gaurīṁ gatvā mahādurgāṁ tyajecchvāsamanaṁtaram

Having held one's breath near Durvāsas, and having gone to Gaurī in the form of Mahādurgā, one should then release the breath.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.23.25)

तत्रोच्छ्वासो विमोक्त्यस्तामभ्यर्च्य तु सर्वथा । कालेश्वरं ततो गच्छेद्देवदेवं महेश्वरम्

tatrocchvāso vimoktyastāmabhyarcya tu sarvathā kāleśvaraṁ tato gaccheddevadevaṁ maheśvaram

There the breath is to be released, having worshipped her in every way. Then one should go to Kāleśvara, the great god of gods.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.23.26)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण यमलोकं न पश्यति । विधीशं च ततो गच्छेद्देवदेवं महेश्वरम्

yasya darśanamātreṇa yamalokaṁ na paśyati vidhīśaṁ ca tato gaccheddevadevaṁ maheśvaram

By the mere sight of him, one does not see the world of Yama. Then one should go to Vidhīśa, the great god of gods.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.23.27)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण बधिरत्वं न जायते । कीर्तयेदात्मनो नाम स्थानं गोत्रं च तस्य वै

yasya darśanamātreṇa badhiratvaṁ na jāyate kīrtayedātmano nāma sthānaṁ gotraṁ ca tasya vai

By the mere sight of him, deafness never arises. One should then proclaim one's own name, place, and lineage.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.23.28)

न कीर्तयेद्यदा नाम सा यात्रा विफली भवेत् । देवस्याग्रे ततो व्यास उपविश्य समाहितः

na kīrtayedyadā nāma sā yātrā viphalī bhavet devasyāgre tato vyāsa upaviśya samāhitaḥ

If one does not proclaim one's name, that pilgrimage becomes fruitless. Then, O Vyāsa, sitting composed before the god --

Verse 29 (skanda.5.23.29)

भक्तियुक्तस्ततो ब्रूयान्नमस्कृत्वा पुनःपुनः । मया समर्पिता यात्रा त्वत्प्रसादान्महेश्वर

bhaktiyuktastato brūyānnamaskṛtvā punaḥpunaḥ mayā samarpitā yātrā tvatprasādānmaheśvara

-- endowed with devotion, having bowed again and again, one should say: "By your grace, O Maheśvara, this pilgrimage has been completed and offered by me."

Verse 30 (skanda.5.23.30)

संसारसागराद्धोरान्मामुद्धर जगत्पते । अनेन विधिना यस्तु महाकालं प्रदक्षयेत्

saṁsārasāgarāddhorānmāmuddhara jagatpate anena vidhinā yastu mahākālaṁ pradakṣayet

"Deliver me, O Lord of the world, from this terrible ocean of saṃsāra." Whoever circumambulates Mahākāla according to this rite --

Verse 31 (skanda.5.23.31)

प्रदक्षिणीकृता तेन सप्तद्वीपा वसुंधरा । गोलक्षं द्विजलक्षाय दत्त्वा यल्लभते फलम्

pradakṣiṇīkṛtā tena saptadvīpā vasuṁdharā golakṣaṁ dvijalakṣāya dattvā yallabhate phalam

"-- by him the earth with its seven continents is deemed circumambulated. Whatever fruit is obtained by giving a hundred thousand cows to a hundred thousand brāhmaṇas --"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.23.32)

तत्फलं देवदेवस्य सकृद्दत्त्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । भक्त्या परमया युक्तो महाकालं प्रदक्षयेत्

tatphalaṁ devadevasya sakṛddattvā pradakṣiṇam bhaktyā paramayā yukto mahākālaṁ pradakṣayet

"-- that same fruit is obtained by giving even a single circumambulation to the God of gods. One endowed with supreme devotion should circumambulate Mahākāla."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.23.33)

पदेपदे यज्ञफलमिति मे शंकरोऽब्रवीत् । षष्टिकोटि सहस्राणि षष्टिकोटिशतानि च

padepade yajñaphalamiti me śaṁkaro'bravīt ṣaṣṭikoṭi sahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭiśatāni ca

"'At every step there is the fruit of a sacrifice' — thus Śaṅkara told me. Sixty thousand crores, and sixty hundred crores --"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.23.34)

पूजितानि भवंत्यत्र यात्रेश्वरसमर्चनात् । य एवं कुरुते यात्रां शिवध्यानपरायणः

pūjitāni bhavaṁtyatra yātreśvarasamarcanāt ya evaṁ kurute yātrāṁ śivadhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

"-- of deities are deemed worshipped here through the worship of the lord of the pilgrimage. He who thus performs the pilgrimage, wholly devoted to meditation on Śiva --"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.23.35)

सहस्रदक्षिणां दद्यात्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

sahasradakṣiṇāṁ dadyāttasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu saptajanmakṛtātpāpānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"-- it is as if he gave a thousand sacrificial fees; hear the meritorious fruit of this: he is freed from sins committed across seven births — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.23.36)

एवं यात्रां समाप्याथ गत्वा निजगृहं नरः । यात्रादैवत संख्यान्वै षड्विंशतिद्विजोत्तमान्

evaṁ yātrāṁ samāpyātha gatvā nijagṛhaṁ naraḥ yātrādaivata saṁkhyānvai ṣaḍviṁśatidvijottamān

Having thus completed the pilgrimage, the man, upon returning to his own home, should feed twenty-six excellent brāhmaṇas, equal in number to the deities of the pilgrimage --

Verse 37 (skanda.5.23.37)

भोजयेच्छिवभक्तांश्च शिवध्यानपरायणान् । सवस्त्रां दक्षिणां दत्त्वा प्राप्यानुज्ञां विसर्जयेत्

bhojayecchivabhaktāṁśca śivadhyānaparāyaṇān savastrāṁ dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā prāpyānujñāṁ visarjayet

"-- devotees of Śiva who are devoted to meditation on Śiva. Having given them a fee together with garments, and having obtained their leave, he should dismiss them."

Verse 38 (skanda.5.23.38)

यात्राक्रमेण चैकैकं द्वारांतरमनुव्रजेत् । धर्मोपदेशके पश्चात्सर्वोपस्करसंयुताम्

yātrākrameṇa caikaikaṁ dvārāṁtaramanuvrajet dharmopadeśake paścātsarvopaskarasaṁyutām

In the order of the pilgrimage, one should go on to each shrine-gateway in turn; afterward, to the teacher of the sacred law, together with all its equipage --

Verse 39 (skanda.5.23.39)

धेनुं पयस्विनीं दद्याद्वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः । भुञ्जीताथ स्वयं व्यास सर्वभृत्यसमन्वितः

dhenuṁ payasvinīṁ dadyādvittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ bhuñjītātha svayaṁ vyāsa sarvabhṛtyasamanvitaḥ

"-- one should give a milk-yielding cow, free from any stinginess about wealth. Then, O Vyāsa, one should himself eat, together with all his servants."

Verse 40 (skanda.5.23.40)

दीनानाथदरिद्रांधविकलाद्यांश्च भोजयेत् । यदत्र फलमुद्दिष्टं तद्वदामि शृणुष्व मे

dīnānāthadaridrāṁdhavikalādyāṁśca bhojayet yadatra phalamuddiṣṭaṁ tadvadāmi śṛṇuṣva me

One should feed the poor, the helpless, the destitute, the blind, the crippled, and others. I shall now tell what fruit is prescribed for this — listen to me.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.23.41)

कुलानां शतमुद्धृत्य मातापित्रोः समाहितः । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि शिवलोके स मोदते

kulānāṁ śatamuddhṛtya mātāpitroḥ samāhitaḥ kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi śivaloke sa modate

Having, with composed mind, delivered a hundred generations of both his mother's and his father's lineages, he rejoices in the world of Śiva for a thousand crore kalpas.