The Telling of the Name Pratikalpa

Verse 1 (skanda.5.48.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणुष्वावहितो व्यास स्थितिमेकाग्रमानसः। मया व्यासमुखात्प्राप्ता कल्पभेदे कथा शुभा॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇuṣvāvahito vyāsa sthitimekāgramānasaḥ| mayā vyāsamukhātprāptā kalpabhede kathā śubhā||

Sanatkumara said: Listen attentively, O Vyasa, with a one-pointed mind, to this account of its endurance; I received this auspicious tale of the kalpa-cycles from the mouth of Vyasa.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.48.2)

गुह्याद्गुह्यतरा श्रेष्ठा न देया यस्य कस्यचित्। नास्तिकाय कृतघ्नाय नाशिष्याय कदाचन॥

guhyādguhyatarā śreṣṭhā na deyā yasya kasyacit| nāstikāya kṛtaghnāya nāśiṣyāya kadācana||

More secret than the secret, most excellent — it should not be given to just anyone: never to an unbeliever, an ingrate, or to one who is not a disciple.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.48.3)

एषा पुण्यतमा व्यास कथा पापहरा परा। यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण कल्पदोषो न बाधते॥

eṣā puṇyatamā vyāsa kathā pāpaharā parā| yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa kalpadoṣo na bādhate||

This, O Vyasa, is the most meritorious, supremely sin-removing tale; by merely hearing it, the taint of the kalpa can afflict one no more.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.48.4)

प्रमाणं कल्पपर्यंतं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। मन्वंतरेषु सर्वेषु कल्पकल्पांतरेषु च॥

pramāṇaṁ kalpaparyaṁtaṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ| manvaṁtareṣu sarveṣu kalpakalpāṁtareṣu ca||

I shall relate the measure, up to the end of the kalpa, of Brahma the Supreme, throughout all the Manvantaras and the successive kalpas.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.48.5)

यावत्संख्या परिमिता तावती शृणु सत्तम। अहोरात्रं च भजते सूर्यो मानुषदैवतम्॥

yāvatsaṁkhyā parimitā tāvatī śṛṇu sattama| ahorātraṁ ca bhajate sūryo mānuṣadaivatam||

Hear, O excellent one, that reckoning exactly as it stands. The sun, the deity of human time, determines the day and the night.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.48.6)

तामुपादाय गणनां शृणु संख्या द्विजोत्तम। निमेषैः पंचदशभिः काष्ठा त्रिंशत्तु ताः कला॥

tāmupādāya gaṇanāṁ śṛṇu saṁkhyā dvijottama| nimeṣaiḥ paṁcadaśabhiḥ kāṣṭhā triṁśattu tāḥ kalā||

Taking up that count, hear the reckoning, O best of the twice-born: fifteen nimeshas make one kashtha, and thirty kashthas make one kala.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.48.7)

त्रिंशत्कला मुहूर्तस्तु त्रिंशता तैर्मनीषिणः। अहोरात्रमिति प्राहुश्चंद्रादित्यगतिस्तदा॥

triṁśatkalā muhūrtastu triṁśatā tairmanīṣiṇaḥ| ahorātramiti prāhuścaṁdrādityagatistadā||

Thirty kalas make one muhurta; and by thirty of these, the wise declare a day-and-night to be made, determined then by the course of moon and sun.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.48.8)

रविर्गतिविशेषेण सन्ध्यायां याति नित्यशः। तदहस्तु मनुष्याणां रात्रिश्चैव तु तादृशी॥

ravirgativiśeṣeṇa sandhyāyāṁ yāti nityaśaḥ| tadahastu manuṣyāṇāṁ rātriścaiva tu tādṛśī||

The sun, by its particular motion, ever passes through twilight; that period is the day of men, and the night is likewise of that same measure.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.48.9)

पक्षौ मासा ऋतुश्चाब्दमयने च प्रकीर्तिते। पितॄणां चैव देवानां ब्रह्मणश्च यथातथम्॥

pakṣau māsā ṛtuścābdamayane ca prakīrtite| pitṝṇāṁ caiva devānāṁ brahmaṇaśca yathātatham||

The fortnights, months, seasons, year, and the two solstices are declared thus; and likewise, exactly, for the ancestors, the gods, and for Brahma.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.48.10)

यावत्संख्या समाख्याता आयुरंतश्च तादृशः। अहोरात्राः पंचदश पक्ष इत्यभिशब्दितः॥

yāvatsaṁkhyā samākhyātā āyuraṁtaśca tādṛśaḥ| ahorātrāḥ paṁcadaśa pakṣa ityabhiśabditaḥ||

The reckoning is thus declared, and the span of life likewise; fifteen days-and-nights are termed a paksha, a fortnight.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.48.11)

पक्षौ द्वौ तौ कृतौ मासौ मासौ द्वावृतुरुच्यते। अयनं चर्तुभिस्त्रिभिरब्दं द्वे अयने स्मृतम्॥

pakṣau dvau tau kṛtau māsau māsau dvāvṛturucyate| ayanaṁ cartubhistribhirabdaṁ dve ayane smṛtam||

Those two fortnights make a month; two months are called a season; three seasons make an ayana, and a year is remembered as two ayanas.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.48.12)

दक्षिणं चोत्तरं चैव संख्यातत्त्वविशारदैः। मानेनानेन यो मासः पक्षद्वयसमन्वितः॥

dakṣiṇaṁ cottaraṁ caiva saṁkhyātattvaviśāradaiḥ| mānenānena yo māsaḥ pakṣadvayasamanvitaḥ||

These, declared by those skilled in the truth of reckoning, are the southern and the northern; by this measure, the month, made up of two fortnights,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.48.13)

पितॄणां तदहोरात्रमिति कालविदो विदुः। शुक्लपक्षस्त्वहस्तेषां कृष्णपक्षस्तु शर्वरी॥

pitṝṇāṁ tadahorātramiti kālavido viduḥ| śuklapakṣastvahasteṣāṁ kṛṣṇapakṣastu śarvarī||

—is, the knowers of time declare, a single day-and-night of the ancestors. The bright fortnight is their day, and the dark fortnight their night.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.48.14)

कृष्णपक्षे त्विह श्राद्धं पितॄणां वर्तते द्विज। मानुषेण तु मानेन यो वै संवत्सरः स्मृतः॥

kṛṣṇapakṣe tviha śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ vartate dvija| mānuṣeṇa tu mānena yo vai saṁvatsaraḥ smṛtaḥ||

Therefore, O twice-born, shraddha for the ancestors is properly performed in the dark fortnight. And what is remembered, by human measure, as a full year,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.48.15)

देवानां तदहोरात्रं दिवा चैवोत्तरायणम्। दक्षिणायनं स्मृता रात्रिः प्राज्ञैस्तत्त्वार्थकोविदैः॥

devānāṁ tadahorātraṁ divā caivottarāyaṇam| dakṣiṇāyanaṁ smṛtā rātriḥ prājñaistattvārthakovidaiḥ||

—that is a single day-and-night of the gods; Uttarayana, the northern course, is their day, and Dakshinayana is remembered as their night, by the wise skilled in the truth of things.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.48.16)

दिव्यमब्दं शतगुणं दिव्यमब्दसहस्रकम्। मुनिभिश्चैव तत्त्वज्ञैरहोरात्रं मनोः स्मृतम्॥

divyamabdaṁ śataguṇaṁ divyamabdasahasrakam| munibhiścaiva tattvajñairahorātraṁ manoḥ smṛtam||

A divine year is a hundredfold measure; a thousand divine years, the sages who know the truth declare, make one day-and-night of Manu.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.48.17)

अहोरात्रं दशगुणं मानवः पक्ष उच्यते। पक्षाद्दशगुणो मासो मासा द्वादशभिर्गुणैः॥

ahorātraṁ daśaguṇaṁ mānavaḥ pakṣa ucyate| pakṣāddaśaguṇo māso māsā dvādaśabhirguṇaiḥ||

Ten times that day-and-night is called Manu's fortnight; ten times the fortnight is his month; and the month multiplied by twelve—

Verse 18 (skanda.5.48.18)

ऋतुर्मनूनां संप्रोक्तः प्राज्ञैस्तत्त्वार्थदर्शिभिः। षड्भिस्तैर्वर्षं संप्रोक्तं तेन संख्या निबध्यते॥

ṛturmanūnāṁ saṁproktaḥ prājñaistattvārthadarśibhiḥ| ṣaḍbhistairvarṣaṁ saṁproktaṁ tena saṁkhyā nibadhyate||

—is declared by the truth-seeing wise to be Manu's season; by six such seasons his year is declared, and by this the reckoning is bound together.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.48.19)

चत्वार्येव सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तु कृतं युगम्। तावती तु भवेत्संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथाविधः॥

catvāryeva sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ tu kṛtaṁ yugam| tāvatī tu bhavetsaṁdhyā saṁdhyāṁśaśca tathāvidhaḥ||

Four thousand years alone make the Krita Yuga; its twilight is of that same measure, and its twilight-portion likewise.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.48.20)

त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि त्रेता तत्परिमाणतः। तस्याश्च त्रिशती संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथा परः॥

trīṇi varṣasahasrāṇi tretā tatparimāṇataḥ| tasyāśca triśatī saṁdhyā saṁdhyāṁśaśca tathā paraḥ||

By that same measure, three thousand years make the Treta; its twilight is three hundred, and its twilight-portion likewise so.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.48.21)

तथा वर्षसहस्रे द्वे द्वापरं परिकीर्तितम्। तस्य च द्विशती संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथा परः॥

tathā varṣasahasre dve dvāparaṁ parikīrtitam| tasya ca dviśatī saṁdhyā saṁdhyāṁśaśca tathā paraḥ||

Likewise, two thousand years are proclaimed as the Dvapara; its twilight is two hundred, and its twilight-portion likewise so.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.48.22)

कलिर्वर्षसहस्रं तु संख्या चोक्ता मनीषिभिः। तस्य चैकशती संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथाविधः॥

kalirvarṣasahasraṁ tu saṁkhyā coktā manīṣibhiḥ| tasya caikaśatī saṁdhyā saṁdhyāṁśaśca tathāvidhaḥ||

The Kali Yuga is a thousand years, as the number is declared by the wise; its twilight is one hundred, and its twilight-portion of that same measure.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.48.23)

एषा द्वादशसाहस्री युगसंख्या प्रकीर्तिता। दिव्येनानेन मानेन युगसंख्यां निबोध मे॥

eṣā dvādaśasāhasrī yugasaṁkhyā prakīrtitā| divyenānena mānena yugasaṁkhyāṁ nibodha me||

This is the reckoning of the Yugas together, declared as twelve thousand years; understand from me this reckoning of the yugas, by this divine measure.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.48.24)

ससर्ज स पुनस्तात जगत्सर्वमिदं ततः। कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चैव चतुर्युगम्॥

sasarja sa punastāta jagatsarvamidaṁ tataḥ| kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliścaiva caturyugam||

Then, my child, he created again this entire world; Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali — together these are the four Yugas.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.48.25)

युगं तदेकसप्तत्या गुणितं द्विजसत्तम। मन्वंतरमिति प्रोक्तं संख्यानार्थविशारदैः॥

yugaṁ tadekasaptatyā guṇitaṁ dvijasattama| manvaṁtaramiti proktaṁ saṁkhyānārthaviśāradaiḥ||

That set of Yugas, multiplied by seventy-one, O best of the twice-born, is declared a Manvantara by those skilled in the science of reckoning.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.48.26)

अयनं चापि तत्प्रोक्तं द्वेऽयने दक्षिणोत्तरे। मनुः प्रलीयते ह्यत्र संप्राप्ते जगतः प्रभौ॥

ayanaṁ cāpi tatproktaṁ dve'yane dakṣiṇottare| manuḥ pralīyate hyatra saṁprāpte jagataḥ prabhau||

That too is declared in terms of the ayana, the two solstices, southern and northern. Here, when the Lord of the world's allotted span is reached, Manu dissolves.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.48.27)

ततोऽपरो मनुः कालमेतावन्तं भवेत्पुनः। समतीते तु राजेंद्र प्रोक्तः संवत्सरस्य वै॥

tato'paro manuḥ kālametāvantaṁ bhavetpunaḥ| samatīte tu rājeṁdra proktaḥ saṁvatsarasya vai||

Then another Manu arises again, for that same span of time. And when it has fully passed, O king of kings, that which is proclaimed of the year...

Verse 28 (skanda.5.48.28)

तदैव चायनं प्रोक्तं मुनिना तत्त्वदर्शिना। ब्रह्मणस्तदहः प्रोक्तं कल्पश्चेति स उच्यते॥

tadaiva cāyanaṁ proktaṁ muninā tattvadarśinā| brahmaṇastadahaḥ proktaṁ kalpaśceti sa ucyate||

—that too is declared, by the truth-seeing sage, as an ayana. That period, called a day of Brahma, is termed a kalpa.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.48.29)

सहस्रयुगपर्यंतं सा निशा प्रोच्यते बुधैः। निमज्जत्यत्र चोर्वी सा सशैलवनकानना॥

sahasrayugaparyaṁtaṁ sā niśā procyate budhaiḥ| nimajjatyatra corvī sā saśailavanakānanā||

That which lasts a thousand yugas is declared by the wise to be Brahma's night; in it the earth, with its mountains, forests and woodlands, is submerged.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.48.30)

तस्मिन्युगसहस्रे तु पूर्णे वै द्विजसत्तम। ब्राह्मे दिवसपर्यंते कल्पो निःशेष उच्यते॥

tasminyugasahasre tu pūrṇe vai dvijasattama| brāhme divasaparyaṁte kalpo niḥśeṣa ucyate||

O best of the twice-born, when that thousand-yuga period is complete, at the end of Brahma's day, it is called the total conclusion of a kalpa.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.48.31)

युगानि सप्ततिं तानि साग्राणि कथितानि ते। कृतत्रेतादियुक्तानि मनोरंतर मुच्यते॥

yugāni saptatiṁ tāni sāgrāṇi kathitāni te| kṛtatretādiyuktāni manoraṁtara mucyate||

Those seventy-one yugas, with a bit more, comprising Krita, Treta and the others, have been told to you; this is called the interval of one Manu.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.48.32)

चतुर्दशैते मनवः कथिताः कीर्तिवर्धनाः। वेदेषु सपुराणेषु सर्वेषु प्रभविष्णवः॥

caturdaśaite manavaḥ kathitāḥ kīrtivardhanāḥ| vedeṣu sapurāṇeṣu sarveṣu prabhaviṣṇavaḥ||

These fourteen Manus, glory-increasing, are told of in the Vedas together with the Puranas — all of them mighty and powerful.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.48.33)

प्रजानां पतयो व्यास धन्यमेषां प्रकीर्तनम्॥

prajānāṁ patayo vyāsa dhanyameṣāṁ prakīrtanam||

O Vyasa, they are the lords of creatures; blessed is the proclaiming of their names.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.48.34)

मन्वंतरेषु संहाराः संहारांतेषु संभवाः। न शक्यमंतस्तेषां वै वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि॥

manvaṁtareṣu saṁhārāḥ saṁhārāṁteṣu saṁbhavāḥ| na śakyamaṁtasteṣāṁ vai vaktuṁ varṣaśatairapi||

Within the Manvantaras occur dissolutions, and at the end of dissolutions, new creations; their full extent cannot be told even across hundreds of years.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.48.35)

विसर्गश्च प्रजानां वै संहारस्य च भारत। मन्वंतरेषु संहारः श्रूयते भरतर्षभ॥

visargaśca prajānāṁ vai saṁhārasya ca bhārata| manvaṁtareṣu saṁhāraḥ śrūyate bharatarṣabha||

The emanation of creatures, O Bharata, and of dissolution too — a dissolution occurring within the Manvantaras is spoken of, O bull among the Bharatas.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.48.36)

यत्र तिष्ठंति वै देवाः सर्वे सप्तर्षिभिः सह। तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण श्रुतेन च समन्विताः॥

yatra tiṣṭhaṁti vai devāḥ sarve saptarṣibhiḥ saha| tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śrutena ca samanvitāḥ||

Where all the gods dwell, together with the Seven Sages, endowed with austerity, celibacy, and sacred learning—

Verse 37 (skanda.5.48.37)

पूर्णे युगसहस्रे तु कल्पो निःशेष उच्यते। तत्र सर्वाणि भूतानि दग्धान्यादित्यरश्मिभिः॥

pūrṇe yugasahasre tu kalpo niḥśeṣa ucyate| tatra sarvāṇi bhūtāni dagdhānyādityaraśmibhiḥ||

—when a thousand yugas are complete, the kalpa is said to reach its close; then all beings are burned by the rays of the sun,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.48.38)

ब्रह्माणमग्रतः कृत्वा सहादित्यैर्गणैर्द्विज। प्रविशंति सुरश्रेष्ठं हरिं नारायणं प्रभुम्॥

brahmāṇamagrataḥ kṛtvā sahādityairgaṇairdvija| praviśaṁti suraśreṣṭhaṁ hariṁ nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum||

and, placing Brahma before them, O twice-born, together with the hosts of Adityas, they enter into the best of gods, the Lord Hari Narayana.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.48.39)

स स्रष्टा सर्वभूतानां कल्पांते तु पुनःपुनः। अव्यक्तः शाश्वतो देवस्तस्य सर्वमिदं जगत्॥

sa sraṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ kalpāṁte tu punaḥpunaḥ| avyaktaḥ śāśvato devastasya sarvamidaṁ jagat||

He is the creator of all beings, again and again, at the end of every kalpa; unmanifest, eternal, the God to whom this whole world belongs.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.48.40)

स एव विद्यते व्यास महेशा सह संयुतः। महाकालवने वासं चकार जगदीश्वरः॥

sa eva vidyate vyāsa maheśā saha saṁyutaḥ| mahākālavane vāsaṁ cakāra jagadīśvaraḥ||

That very one, O Vyasa, exists united together with Mahesha; the Lord of the world made his dwelling in Mahakalavana.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.48.41)

प्रलयो न बाधते व्यास महाकालवनोत्तमे। कल्पे कल्पे च वै रम्या पुरी ह्येषा कुशस्थली॥

pralayo na bādhate vyāsa mahākālavanottame| kalpe kalpe ca vai ramyā purī hyeṣā kuśasthalī||

Dissolution does not touch, O Vyasa, the supreme Mahakalavana; in kalpa after kalpa, this lovely city of Kushasthali remains.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.48.42)

निरामया निरातंका निर्विकारा युगेयुगे। मार्कण्डेयोपदिष्टानि कल्पानि संभवंति च॥

nirāmayā nirātaṁkā nirvikārā yugeyuge| mārkaṇḍeyopadiṣṭāni kalpāni saṁbhavaṁti ca||

Free from disease, free from affliction, unchanging, age after age; the kalpas taught by Markandeya also arise there.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.48.43)

अत्रैव च वने रम्ये ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। प्रजानां पतयो ये ते दक्षः प्राचेतसस्तथा॥

atraiva ca vane ramye brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| prajānāṁ patayo ye te dakṣaḥ prācetasastathā||

In this very lovely forest, Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, dwells; and the lords of creatures, such as Daksha, son of Prachetas,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.48.44)

मरीचिः कश्यपो रुद्रो येऽन्ये भृग्वादयस्तथा। कल्पादौ ससृजे लोकांश्चराचरान्यथा तथा॥

marīciḥ kaśyapo rudro ye'nye bhṛgvādayastathā| kalpādau sasṛje lokāṁścarācarānyathā tathā||

Marichi, Kashyapa, Rudra, and the others beginning with Bhrigu — at the start of the kalpa they created the worlds, moving and unmoving, just as before.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.48.45)

एवमादौ पुरा व्यास कल्पं कल्पायते तदा। वाराहवामनविष्णुपितॄणां वै तथैव च॥

evamādau purā vyāsa kalpaṁ kalpāyate tadā| vārāhavāmanaviṣṇupitṝṇāṁ vai tathaiva ca||

Thus, O Vyasa, from ancient times the kalpa is fashioned anew each time; and likewise of the Varaha, Vamana and Vishnu kalpas, and of the Pitri-kalpa.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.48.46)

कल्पभेदाः समाख्याता महाकालवने शुभे। चतुराशीतिकल्पानि संजातानि द्विजोत्तम॥

kalpabhedāḥ samākhyātā mahākālavane śubhe| caturāśītikalpāni saṁjātāni dvijottama||

The various kalpas are thus told of in the auspicious Mahakalavana; eighty-four kalpas, O best of the twice-born, have arisen there.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.48.47)

तावंति योगलिंगानि वने तिष्ठन्ति सत्तम। पुनर्जाता पुनर्नष्टा महीसागरपर्वताः॥

tāvaṁti yogaliṁgāni vane tiṣṭhanti sattama| punarjātā punarnaṣṭā mahīsāgaraparvatāḥ||

Just as many Yoga-lingas, O excellent one, stand in that forest; earth, oceans and mountains, born again and destroyed again,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.48.48)

पुनःपुनर्भविष्यंति पुरी ह्येषाऽचला स्मृता। तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु सर्वलोकेषु गीयते॥

punaḥpunarbhaviṣyaṁti purī hyeṣā'calā smṛtā| tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu sarvalokeṣu gīyate||

and shall arise again and again; yet this city alone is remembered as unmoving. Therefore, at all times, it is sung of in all the worlds.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.48.49)

प्रतिकल्पेति विख्याता भुवि व्यास भविष्यति। येऽस्यां वै मानवा दांताः स्नानदानादिकं तथा॥

pratikalpeti vikhyātā bhuvi vyāsa bhaviṣyati| ye'syāṁ vai mānavā dāṁtāḥ snānadānādikaṁ tathā||

It shall become renowned on earth, O Vyasa, by the name Pratikalpa ('in every kalpa'). Whatever self-controlled men here perform — bathing, giving, and the like,

Verse 50 (skanda.5.48.50)

जपं होमं तथा श्राद्धं पितॄनुद्दिश्य देवताः। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कोटिकल्पशतैरपि॥

japaṁ homaṁ tathā śrāddhaṁ pitṝnuddiśya devatāḥ| na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiḥ koṭikalpaśatairapi||

—japa, oblation, and shraddha directed to the gods and to the ancestors — for them there is no return to rebirth, even after a hundred crore kalpas.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.48.51)

प्रतिकल्पामनुप्राप्य दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम्। वैशाखे पौर्णमास्यां वै स्नापयंत्येकवासरम्॥

pratikalpāmanuprāpya dṛṣṭvā devaṁ maheśvaram| vaiśākhe paurṇamāsyāṁ vai snāpayaṁtyekavāsaram||

Having reached Pratikalpa and beheld the god Maheshvara, those who bathe him for a single day on the full-moon day of Vaishakha,

Verse 52 (skanda.5.48.52)

प्रसंगतो रजः क्लांतः शिप्रांभसि च मानवाः। न तेषां दुष्कृतं किंचिद्विष्णुलोके वसंति ते॥

prasaṁgato rajaḥ klāṁtaḥ śiprāṁbhasi ca mānavāḥ| na teṣāṁ duṣkṛtaṁ kiṁcidviṣṇuloke vasaṁti te||

or men wearied by worldly dust who, even by mere occasion, bathe in the waters of the Shipra — no evil deed touches them at all; they dwell in Vishnu's world.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.48.53)

मन्वंतरसहस्रेषु काशिवासेषु यत्फलम्। तत्फलं प्राप्नुयाज्जंतुः प्रतिकल्पं क्षणादपि॥

manvaṁtarasahasreṣu kāśivāseṣu yatphalam| tatphalaṁ prāpnuyājjaṁtuḥ pratikalpaṁ kṣaṇādapi||

Whatever fruit is gained through a thousand Manvantaras of dwelling in Kashi, that same fruit a creature obtains through even a moment in Pratikalpa.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.48.54)

प्रतिकल्पे च कल्पांते सैवासीच्च पुरी शुभा। तस्मात्सर्वजनैः ख्याता प्रतिकल्पा द्विजोत्तम॥

pratikalpe ca kalpāṁte saivāsīcca purī śubhā| tasmātsarvajanaiḥ khyātā pratikalpā dvijottama||

O best of the twice-born, at Pratikalpa, and at the end of every kalpa, that same auspicious city remains; therefore it is renowned by all people as Pratikalpa.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.48.55)

ये चैतस्य महाभागाः प्रीतिं कुर्वंति मानवाः। न तेषां कल्पभेदोऽयं स्वप्नवज्जायते क्षणात्॥

ye caitasya mahābhāgāḥ prītiṁ kurvaṁti mānavāḥ| na teṣāṁ kalpabhedo'yaṁ svapnavajjāyate kṣaṇāt||

O fortunate ones, those men who hold affection for this place — for them, this passage of kalpas becomes, in an instant, as fleeting as a dream.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.48.56)

यः शृणोति कथां पुण्यां प्रतिकल्पोद्भवां शुभाम्। श्रावयेद्वा प्रयत्नेन ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति॥

yaḥ śṛṇoti kathāṁ puṇyāṁ pratikalpodbhavāṁ śubhām| śrāvayedvā prayatnena brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati||

Whoever hears this meritorious, auspicious tale of the origin of Pratikalpa, or diligently causes it to be heard by others, wipes away even the sin of killing a Brahmin.