The Greatness of Angaraka Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.270.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महाराज तीर्थमङ्गारकं परम्। रूपदं सर्वलोकानां विश्रुतं नर्मदातटे।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahārāja tīrthamaṅgārakaṁ param| rūpadaṁ sarvalokānāṁ viśrutaṁ narmadātaṭe||

Shri Markandeya said: Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the supreme Angaraka tirtha, bestower of beauty to all the worlds, renowned on the bank of the Narmada.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.270.2)

अङ्गारकेण राजेन्द्र पुरा तप्तं तपः किल। अर्बुदं च निखर्वं च प्रयुतं वर्षसंख्यया।

aṅgārakeṇa rājendra purā taptaṁ tapaḥ kila| arbudaṁ ca nikharvaṁ ca prayutaṁ varṣasaṁkhyayā||

O lord of kings, formerly Angaraka indeed performed austerity for a span of years counted in arbudas, nikharvas, and prayutas.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.270.3)

ततस्तुष्टो महादेवः परया कृपया नृप। प्रत्यक्षदर्शी भगवानुवाच क्षितिनन्दनम्।

tatastuṣṭo mahādevaḥ parayā kṛpayā nṛpa| pratyakṣadarśī bhagavānuvāca kṣitinandanam||

Then, O king, Mahadeva, pleased with supreme compassion, the Lord, visible in person, spoke to the son of the Earth.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.270.4)

वरदोऽस्मि महाभाग दुर्लभं त्रिदशैरपि। वरं दास्याम्यहं वत्स ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्।

varado'smi mahābhāga durlabhaṁ tridaśairapi| varaṁ dāsyāmyahaṁ vatsa brūhi yatte vivakṣitam||

'I am the giver of boons, O greatly fortunate one, rare even for the gods. I shall grant you a boon, O child; tell me what you desire.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.270.5)

अङ्गारक उवाच। तव प्रसादाद्देवेश सर्वलोकमहेश्वर। ग्रहमध्यगतो नित्यं विचरामि नभस्तले।

aṅgāraka uvāca| tava prasādāddeveśa sarvalokamaheśvara| grahamadhyagato nityaṁ vicarāmi nabhastale||

Angaraka said: 'By your grace, O Lord of gods, O great Lord of all worlds, may I ever wander in the sky, positioned among the planets -'

Verse 6 (skanda.5.270.6)

यावद्धराधरो लोके यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ। नद्यो नदाः समुद्राश्च वरो मे चाक्षयो भवेत्।

yāvaddharādharo loke yāvaccandradivākarau| nadyo nadāḥ samudrāśca varo me cākṣayo bhavet||

'- for as long as the mountains stand in the world, as long as the moon and sun, the rivers, streams and oceans endure, may my boon remain imperishable.'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.270.7)

एवमस्त्विति देवेशो दत्त्वा वरमनुत्तमम्। जगामाकाशमाविश्य वन्द्यमानः सुरासुरैः।

evamastviti deveśo dattvā varamanuttamam| jagāmākāśamāviśya vandyamānaḥ surāsuraiḥ||

'So be it,' said the Lord of gods, and having granted that unsurpassed boon, entered the sky and departed, being praised by gods and demons.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.270.8)

भूमिपुत्रस्ततस्तस्मिन्स्थापयामास शङ्करम्। गतः सुरालये लोके ग्रहभावे निवेशितः।

bhūmiputrastatastasminsthāpayāmāsa śaṅkaram| gataḥ surālaye loke grahabhāve niveśitaḥ||

The son of the Earth then installed Shankara there, and went to the abode of the gods, established in the state of a planet.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.270.9)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेत्परमेश्वरम्। हुतहोमो जितक्रोधः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्।

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayetparameśvaram| hutahomo jitakrodhaḥ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet||

Whoever bathes there at that tirtha and worships the Supreme Lord, having performed fire-oblation and conquered anger, obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.270.10)

चतुर्थ्यङ्गारके यस्तु स्नात्वा चाभ्यर्चयेद्ग्रहम्। अङ्गारकं विधानेन सप्तजन्मानि भारत।

caturthyaṅgārake yastu snātvā cābhyarcayedgraham| aṅgārakaṁ vidhānena saptajanmāni bhārata||

O Bharata, whoever bathes on the fourth lunar day under Angaraka and worships the planet Angaraka according to rule, for seven births -

Verse 11 (skanda.5.270.11)

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णे मण्डले रूपवान् भवेत्। तत्रैव ता मृतो जन्तुः कामतोऽकामतोऽपि वा। रुद्रस्यानुचरो भूत्वा तेनैव सह मोदते।

daśayojanavistīrṇe maṇḍale rūpavān bhavet| tatraiva tā mṛto jantuḥ kāmato'kāmato'pi vā| rudrasyānucaro bhūtvā tenaiva saha modate||

- becomes beautiful of form in a realm ten yojanas in extent. Whatever creature dies there, whether willingly or unwillingly, becoming an attendant of Rudra, rejoices together with him.