The Glory of Kapitirtha, Rameshvara, Lakshmaneshvara and Kumbheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.239.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। कैलासे पृच्छते भक्त्या षण्मुखाय शिवोदितम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam| kailāse pṛcchate bhaktyā ṣaṇmukhāya śivoditam

Shri Markandeya said: Here they cite this ancient tale, told by Shiva on Kailasa to Shanmukha, who asked with devotion.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.239.2)

ईश्वर उवाच। पूर्वं त्रेतायुगे स्कन्द हतो रामेण रावणः। चतुर्दश तदा कोट्यो निहता ब्रह्मरक्षसाम्

īśvara uvāca| pūrvaṁ tretāyuge skanda hato rāmeṇa rāvaṇaḥ| caturdaśa tadā koṭyo nihatā brahmarakṣasām

Ishvara said: Long ago, O Skanda, in the Treta age, Ravana was slain by Rama; at that time fourteen crores of brahmin-demons were killed.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.239.3)

हतेषु तेषु वै तत्र रक्षणाय दिवौकसाम्। महानन्दस्तदा जातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु पुत्रक

hateṣu teṣu vai tatra rakṣaṇāya divaukasām| mahānandastadā jātastriṣu lokeṣu putraka

When they were slain, for the protection of the celestials there, my son, great rejoicing then arose in the three worlds.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.239.4)

ततः सीतां समासाद्य समं वानरपुंगवैः। रामोऽप्ययोध्यामायातो भरतेन कृतोत्सवः। तस्मै समर्पयामास स राज्यं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः

tataḥ sītāṁ samāsādya samaṁ vānarapuṁgavaiḥ| rāmo'pyayodhyāmāyāto bharatena kṛtotsavaḥ| tasmai samarpayāmāsa sa rājyaṁ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ

Then, having recovered Sita, Rama, together with the foremost of monkeys, returned to Ayodhya, where Bharata held a festival. He offered the kingdom to Lakshmana's elder brother.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.239.5)

तस्मिन्प्रशासति ततो राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्। कृतकार्योऽथ हनुमान्कैलासमगात्पुरा

tasminpraśāsati tato rājyaṁ nihatakaṇṭakam| kṛtakāryo'tha hanumānkailāsamagātpurā

When he began to rule that kingdom, now free of thorns, Hanuman, his task fulfilled, then went to ancient Kailasa.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.239.6)

ततो नन्दी प्रतीहारो रुद्रांशमपि तं कपिम्। न च संगमयामास रुद्रेणाघौघहारिणा

tato nandī pratīhāro rudrāṁśamapi taṁ kapim| na ca saṁgamayāmāsa rudreṇāghaughahāriṇā

Then Nandi, the gatekeeper, did not allow even that monkey, though himself a portion of Rudra, to meet Rudra, remover of every mass of sin.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.239.7)

तेन पृष्टस्तदा नन्दी किं मया पातकं कृतम्। येन रुद्रवपुः पुण्यं न पश्याम्यम्बिकान्वितम्

tena pṛṣṭastadā nandī kiṁ mayā pātakaṁ kṛtam| yena rudravapuḥ puṇyaṁ na paśyāmyambikānvitam

Then, questioned by him — "What sin have I committed, that I cannot behold the sacred form of Rudra together with Ambika?" —

Verse 8 (skanda.5.239.8)

नन्द्युवाच। त्वयावतरणं चक्रे कपीन्द्रामरहेतुना। तथापि हि कृतं पापमुपभोगेन शाम्यति

nandyuvāca| tvayāvataraṇaṁ cakre kapīndrāmarahetunā| tathāpi hi kṛtaṁ pāpamupabhogena śāmyati

Nandi said: "O lord of monkeys, you took incarnation for the sake of the immortals; yet even so, sin once committed is pacified only through its consequence being borne."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.239.9)

हनुमानुवाच। किं मयाकारि तत्पापं नन्दिन्देवार्थकारिणा। राक्षसाश्च हता दुष्टा विप्रयज्ञाङ्गघातिनः

hanumānuvāca| kiṁ mayākāri tatpāpaṁ nandindevārthakāriṇā| rākṣasāśca hatā duṣṭā viprayajñāṅgaghātinaḥ

Hanuman said: "O Nandin, what sin did I commit while acting for the sake of the gods? The wicked demons who were slain were the destroyers of the brahmins' sacrificial rites."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.239.10)

ततस्तदालापकुतूहली हरो निजांशभाजं कपिमुग्रतेजसम्। उवाच द्वारान्तरदत्तदृष्टिः पुरःस्थितं प्रेक्ष्य कपीश्वरं पुनः

tatastadālāpakutūhalī haro nijāṁśabhājaṁ kapimugratejasam| uvāca dvārāntaradattadṛṣṭiḥ puraḥsthitaṁ prekṣya kapīśvaraṁ punaḥ

Then Hara, curious at that conversation, casting his glance through the doorway, and beholding that fiercely radiant lord of monkeys — his own portion — standing before him, spoke again:

Verse 11 (skanda.5.239.11)

ईश्वर उवाच। गङ्गा गया कपे रेवा यमुना च सरस्वती। सर्वपापहरा नद्यस्तासु स्नानं समाचर

īśvara uvāca| gaṅgā gayā kape revā yamunā ca sarasvatī| sarvapāpaharā nadyastāsu snānaṁ samācara

Ishvara said: "O monkey, the Ganga, Gaya, Reva, Yamuna, and Sarasvati are rivers that remove every sin; bathe in them."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.239.12)

नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। सोमनाथसमीपस्थं तत्र त्वं गच्छ वानर

narmadādakṣiṇe kūle tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| somanāthasamīpasthaṁ tatra tvaṁ gaccha vānara

"On the southern bank of the Narmada, near Somanatha, is a most beautiful tirtha; go there, O monkey."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.239.13)

तत्र स्नात्वा महापापं गमिष्यति ममाज्ञया। उत्पत्य वेगाद्धनुमाञ्छ्रीरेवादक्षिणे तटे

tatra snātvā mahāpāpaṁ gamiṣyati mamājñayā| utpatya vegāddhanumāñchrīrevādakṣiṇe taṭe

"Bathing there, by my decree, even the gravest sin shall depart." Flying swiftly, Hanuman, to the southern bank of the sacred Reva,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.239.14)

जगाम सुमहानादस्तपश्चक्रे सुदुष्करम्। तस्य वै तप्यमानस्य रक्षोवधकृतं तमः

jagāma sumahānādastapaścakre suduṣkaram| tasya vai tapyamānasya rakṣovadhakṛtaṁ tamaḥ

went with a mighty roar, and performed austerity most difficult to accomplish; and as he practiced this austerity, the darkness born of the slaying of the demons

Verse 15 (skanda.5.239.15)

विलीनं पार्थ कालेन कियतेशप्रसादतः। ततो देवैः समं देवस्तत्तीर्थमगमद्धरः

vilīnaṁ pārtha kālena kiyateśaprasādataḥ| tato devaiḥ samaṁ devastattīrthamagamaddharaḥ

dissolved, O Partha, in a short time, by the grace of the Lord. Then the god Hara, together with the gods, came to that tirtha.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.239.16)

कपिमालिङ्गयामास वरं तस्मै प्रदत्तवान्। अद्यप्रभृति ते तीर्थं भविष्यति न संशयः

kapimāliṅgayāmāsa varaṁ tasmai pradattavān| adyaprabhṛti te tīrthaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

He embraced the monkey and granted him a boon: "From today, this tirtha shall be known by your name, without doubt."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.239.17)

कपितीर्थं ततो जातं तस्थौ तत्र स्वयं हरः। हनूमन्तेश्वरो नाम्ना सर्वहत्याहरस्तदा

kapitīrthaṁ tato jātaṁ tasthau tatra svayaṁ haraḥ| hanūmanteśvaro nāmnā sarvahatyāharastadā

Thus Kapitirtha, the Monkey's Tirtha, came into being, and Hara himself dwelt there — under the name Hanumanteshvara, thenceforth the remover of every sin of killing.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.239.18)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा भक्त्या लिङ्गं प्रपूजयेत्। सर्वपापानि नश्यन्ति हरस्य वचनं यथा

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā bhaktyā liṅgaṁ prapūjayet| sarvapāpāni naśyanti harasya vacanaṁ yathā

There at that tirtha, whoever bathes and, with devotion, worships the linga — all his sins are destroyed, as Hara's own word declares.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.239.19)

तत्रास्थीनि विलीयन्ते पिण्डदानेऽक्षया गतिः। यत्किंचिद्दीयते तत्र तद्धि कोटिगुणं भवेत्

tatrāsthīni vilīyante piṇḍadāne'kṣayā gatiḥ| yatkiṁciddīyate tatra taddhi koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

There, bones dissolve away, and through the pinda-offering an imperishable state is attained; whatever is given there becomes multiplied a hundred million times.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.239.20)

हनुमानप्ययोध्यायां रामं द्रष्टुमथागमत्। चकार कुशलप्रश्नं स्वस्वरूपं न्यवेदयत्

hanumānapyayodhyāyāṁ rāmaṁ draṣṭumathāgamat| cakāra kuśalapraśnaṁ svasvarūpaṁ nyavedayat

Hanuman then also went to Ayodhya to see Rama; he made inquiries after his welfare, and related his own whole account.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.239.21)

श्रीराम उवाच। कुर्वतो देवकार्यं ते मम कार्यं च कुर्वतः। ततोऽहमपि पापीयांस्तपस्तप्स्याम्यसंशयम्

śrīrāma uvāca| kurvato devakāryaṁ te mama kāryaṁ ca kurvataḥ| tato'hamapi pāpīyāṁstapastapsyāmyasaṁśayam

Shri Rama said: "If, while doing the work of the gods and doing my own work as well, sin has clung to you — then I too, thinking myself no less sinful, shall without doubt undertake austerity."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.239.22)

तत्रैव दक्षिणे कूले रेवायाः पापहारिणि। चतुर्विंशतिवर्षाणि तपस्तेपेऽथ राघवः

tatraiva dakṣiṇe kūle revāyāḥ pāpahāriṇi| caturviṁśativarṣāṇi tapastepe'tha rāghavaḥ

On that very southern bank of the sin-removing Reva, Raghava then performed austerity for twenty-four years.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.239.23)

ज्योतिष्मतीपुरीसंस्थः श्रीरेवास्नानमाचरन्। तस्य शुश्रूषणं चक्रे लक्ष्मणोऽपि तदाज्ञया

jyotiṣmatīpurīsaṁsthaḥ śrīrevāsnānamācaran| tasya śuśrūṣaṇaṁ cakre lakṣmaṇo'pi tadājñayā

Dwelling in the city of Jyotishmati, and bathing in the sacred Reva, Lakshmana too, at his command, served him there.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.239.24)

स्थापयामासतुर्लिङ्गे तौ तदा रामलक्ष्मणौ। प्रभावात्सत्यतपसो रेवातीरे महामती। निष्पापतां तदा वीरौ जग्मतू रामलक्ष्मणौ

sthāpayāmāsaturliṅge tau tadā rāmalakṣmaṇau| prabhāvātsatyatapaso revātīre mahāmatī| niṣpāpatāṁ tadā vīrau jagmatū rāmalakṣmaṇau

At that time, those two great-minded heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, installed a linga there on the bank of the Reva; and by the power of their true austerity, both heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, became sinless.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.239.25)

ततस्तदा देवपुरोगमो हरो गतो हि वै पुण्यमुनीश्वरैः सह। आगत्य तीर्थं च वरं ददौ तदा निजां कलां तत्र विमुच्य तीर्थे

tatastadā devapurogamo haro gato hi vai puṇyamunīśvaraiḥ saha| āgatya tīrthaṁ ca varaṁ dadau tadā nijāṁ kalāṁ tatra vimucya tīrthe

Then Hara, foremost among the gods, came there together with the lords of the sacred sages; arriving at the tirtha, he released a portion of his own being there, and granted a boon.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.239.26)

मुनिभिः सर्वतीर्थानां क्षिप्तं कुम्भोदकं भुवि। एकस्थं लिङ्गनामाथ कलाकुम्भस्तथाभवत्

munibhiḥ sarvatīrthānāṁ kṣiptaṁ kumbhodakaṁ bhuvi| ekasthaṁ liṅganāmātha kalākumbhastathābhavat

By the sages, the waters of every tirtha, gathered in pots, were poured out together in one place upon the linga; thus it became known as "Kalakumbha."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.239.27)

कुम्भेश्वर इति ख्यातस्तदा देवगणार्चितः। रामोऽपि पूजयामास तल्लिङ्गं देवसेविवतम्

kumbheśvara iti khyātastadā devagaṇārcitaḥ| rāmo'pi pūjayāmāsa talliṅgaṁ devasevitam

From then on it became renowned as "Kumbheshvara," worshipped by the hosts of gods; Rama too worshipped that linga, served by the gods.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.239.28)

ततो वरं ददौ देवो रामकीर्त्यभिवृद्धये। चतुर्विंशतिमे वर्षे रामो निष्पापतां गतः

tato varaṁ dadau devo rāmakīrtyabhivṛddhaye| caturviṁśatime varṣe rāmo niṣpāpatāṁ gataḥ

Then the god granted a boon for the increase of Rama's fame; in the twenty-fourth year, Rama attained sinlessness.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.239.29)

यदा कन्यागतः पङ्गुर्गुरुणा सहितो भवेत्। तदेव देवयात्रेयमिति देवा जगुर्मुदा

yadā kanyāgataḥ paṅgurguruṇā sahito bhavet| tadeva devayātreyamiti devā jagurmudā

"Only when the Sun — he of the lame charioteer — enters Virgo together with Jupiter shall this pilgrimage of the gods take place" — thus the gods joyfully proclaimed.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.239.30)

यथा गोदावरीतीर्थे सर्वतीर्थफलं भवेत्। तथात्र रेवास्नानेन लिङ्गानां दर्शनैर्नृणाम्

yathā godāvarītīrthe sarvatīrthaphalaṁ bhavet| tathātra revāsnānena liṅgānāṁ darśanairnṛṇām

Just as at the Godavari tirtha the fruit of every tirtha is obtained, so too here, through bathing in the Reva and beholding these lingas, men obtain that same fruit.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.239.31)

करिष्यन्त्यत्र ये श्राद्धं पितॄणां नर्मदातटे। कुम्भेश्वरसमीपस्थास्तत्फलं शृणु षण्मुख

kariṣyantyatra ye śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ narmadātaṭe| kumbheśvarasamīpasthāstatphalaṁ śṛṇu ṣaṇmukha

Those who perform the shraddha for their ancestors here on the bank of the Narmada, near Kumbheshvara — hear its fruit, O Shanmukha.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.239.32)

यावन्तो रोमकूपाः स्युः शरीरे सर्वदेहिनाम्। तावद्वर्षप्रमाणेन पितॄणामक्षया गतिः

yāvanto romakūpāḥ syuḥ śarīre sarvadehinām| tāvadvarṣapramāṇena pitṝṇāmakṣayā gatiḥ

As many hair-pores as exist on the body of every embodied being — for that many years, the ancestors attain an imperishable state.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.239.33)

पृथिव्यां देवताः सर्वाः सर्वतीर्थानि यानि तु। लभन्ते तत्फलं मर्त्या लिङ्गत्रयविलोकनात्

pṛthivyāṁ devatāḥ sarvāḥ sarvatīrthāni yāni tu| labhante tatphalaṁ martyā liṅgatrayavilokanāt

Whatever gods there are on earth, and whatever tirthas there are — mortals obtain the fruit of all of them merely by beholding these three lingas.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.239.34)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात्। सरोगो मुच्यते रोगान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

aputro labhate putraṁ nirdhano dhanamāpnuyāt| sarogo mucyate rogānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

The sonless obtain a son, the poor obtain wealth; the diseased are freed from disease — there should be no doubt about this.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.239.35)

सिंहराशिं गते जीवे यत्स्याद्गोदावरीफलम्। तद्द्वादशगुणं स्कन्द कुम्भेश्वरसमीपतः

siṁharāśiṁ gate jīve yatsyādgodāvarīphalam| taddvādaśaguṇaṁ skanda kumbheśvarasamīpataḥ

O Skanda, whatever fruit is obtained at the Godavari when Jupiter is in Leo — that same fruit, twelvefold, is obtained near Kumbheshvara.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.239.36)

ये जानन्ति न पश्यन्ति कुम्भशम्भुमुमापतिम्। नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्

ye jānanti na paśyanti kumbhaśambhumumāpatim| narmadādakṣiṇe kūle teṣāṁ janma nirarthakam

Those who, knowing of Kumbha-Shambhu, the lord of Uma, on the southern bank of the Narmada, yet do not behold him — their birth is in vain.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.239.37)

यथा गोदावरीयात्रा कर्तव्या मुनिशासनात्। चतुर्विंशतिमे वर्षे तथेयं देवभाषितम्

yathā godāvarīyātrā kartavyā muniśāsanāt| caturviṁśatime varṣe tatheyaṁ devabhāṣitam

Just as the pilgrimage to the Godavari is to be undertaken by the ordinance of the sages, so too this pilgrimage, in the twenty-fourth year — so the gods declared.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.239.38)

यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावद्वै दिवि तारकः। तावत्तदक्षयं दानं रेवाकुम्भेश्वरान्तिके

yāvaccandraśca sūryaśca yāvadvai divi tārakaḥ| tāvattadakṣayaṁ dānaṁ revākumbheśvarāntike

As long as the moon and sun endure, and as long as the stars remain in the sky, so long does a gift made near Reva-Kumbheshvara remain imperishable.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.239.39)

महादानानि देयानि तत्र लौकैर्विचक्षणैः। गोदानमत्र शंसन्ति सौवर्णं राजतं तथा

mahādānāni deyāni tatra laukairvicakṣaṇaiḥ| godānamatra śaṁsanti sauvarṇaṁ rājataṁ tathā

Great gifts should be made there by discerning people; the gift of a cow is praised there, and likewise gifts of gold and silver.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.239.40)

यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण नश्यते पापसञ्चयः। स्नानेन किं पुनः स्कन्द ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa naśyate pāpasañcayaḥ| snānena kiṁ punaḥ skanda brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati

O Skanda, by the mere remembrance of her, a whole accumulation of sin is destroyed; how much more, then, does bathing in her dispel even the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.239.41)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कुर्याद्युधिष्ठिर। एकोत्तरं कुलशतमुद्धरेच्छिवशासनात्

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā śrāddhaṁ kuryādyudhiṣṭhira| ekottaraṁ kulaśatamuddharecchivaśāsanāt

O Yudhishthira, whoever bathes at that tirtha and performs the shraddha delivers, by Shiva's own decree, a hundred and one lineages.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.239.42)

यानि कानि च तीर्थानि चासमुद्रसरांसि च। शिवलिङ्गार्चनस्येह कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्

yāni kāni ca tīrthāni cāsamudrasarāṁsi ca| śivaliṅgārcanasyeha kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

Whatever tirthas there are, and whatever lakes exist as far as the ocean, they are not worth even a sixteenth part of the merit of worshipping the Shiva-linga here.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.239.43)

एवं देवा वरं दत्त्वा हरीश्वरपुरोगमाः। स्वस्थानमगमन् पूर्वं मुक्त्वा तन्नाम चोत्तमम्

evaṁ devā varaṁ dattvā harīśvarapurogamāḥ| svasthānamagaman pūrvaṁ muktvā tannāma cottamam

Thus, having granted this boon, the gods, led by Hari and Ishvara, returned to their own abodes, having first established that excellent name.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.239.44)

तीर्थस्यास्य वरं दत्त्वा स रामो लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। अयोध्यां प्रविवेशासौ निष्पापो नर्मदाजलात्

tīrthasyāsya varaṁ dattvā sa rāmo lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ| ayodhyāṁ praviveśāsau niṣpāpo narmadājalāt

Having granted a boon to this tirtha, Rama, Lakshmana's elder brother, now sinless through the water of the Narmada, entered Ayodhya.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.239.45)

सौवर्णीं च ततः कृत्वा सीतां यज्ञं चकार सः। अनुमन्त्र्य मुनींल्लोकान्देवताश्च निजं कुलम्

sauvarṇīṁ ca tataḥ kṛtvā sītāṁ yajñaṁ cakāra saḥ| anumantrya munīnllokāndevatāśca nijaṁ kulam

Then, having fashioned a golden image of Sita, he performed a sacrifice, invoking the sages, the worlds, the gods, and his own lineage.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.239.46)

पुरा त्रेतायुगे जातं तत्तीर्थं स्कन्दनामकम्। नियमेन ततो लोकैः कर्तव्यं लिङ्गदर्शनम्

purā tretāyuge jātaṁ tattīrthaṁ skandanāmakam| niyamena tato lokaiḥ kartavyaṁ liṅgadarśanam

That tirtha, which arose long ago in the Treta age, is known by the name of Skanda; therefore people should, according to rule, undertake the sight of these lingas.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.239.47)

तावत्पापानि देहेषु महापातकजान्यपि। यावन्न प्रेक्षते जन्तुस्तत्तीर्थं देवसेवितम्

tāvatpāpāni deheṣu mahāpātakajānyapi| yāvanna prekṣate jantustattīrthaṁ devasevitam

So long as a being does not behold that god-served tirtha, the sins in his body, even those born of the gravest transgressions, remain.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.239.48)

ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तेषां जन्म सुजीवितम्। ज्योतिष्मतीपुरीसंस्थं ये द्रक्ष्यन्ति हरं परम्

te dhanyāste mahātmānasteṣāṁ janma sujīvitam| jyotiṣmatīpurīsaṁsthaṁ ye drakṣyanti haraṁ param

Blessed are they, great souls indeed, and their birth is truly worthwhile, who shall behold the supreme Hara dwelling in the city of Jyotishmati.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.239.49)

तस्मान्मोहं परित्यज्य जनैर्गन्तव्यमादरात्। तीर्थाशेषफलावाप्त्यै तीर्थं कुम्भेश्वराह्वयम्

tasmānmohaṁ parityajya janairgantavyamādarāt| tīrthāśeṣaphalāvāptyai tīrthaṁ kumbheśvarāhvayam

Therefore, casting aside delusion, people should go with reverence to this tirtha called Kumbheshvara, in order to obtain the entire fruit of all tirthas.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.239.50)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। श्रुत्वेति शम्भुवचसा स षडाननोऽथ नत्वा पितुः पदयुगाम्बुजमादरेण। सम्प्राप्य दक्षिणतटं गिरिशस्रवन्त्याः कीशाग्र्यरामकलशाख्यशिवान् ददर्श

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śruteti śambhuvacasā sa ṣaḍānano'tha natvā pituḥ padayugāmbujamādareṇa| samprāpya dakṣiṇataṭaṁ giriśasravantyāḥ kīśāgryarāmakalaśākhyaśivān dadarśa

Markandeya said: Having heard this from Shambhu's own words, six-faced Kartikeya bowed with reverence to his father's lotus feet, and, reaching the southern bank of that river of the mountain-lord, beheld the Shiva-forms known as Kapi, Rama, and Kalasha.