The Glory of Sundara-kunda and the Pishachamochana Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.53.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि तानि सर्वाणि सुव्रत। अवंत्यां सुन्दरे तीर्थे तिष्ठंति सर्वदा भुवि॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni tāni sarvāṇi suvrata| avaṁtyāṁ sundare tīrthe tiṣṭhaṁti sarvadā bhuvi||

Sanatkumara said: O one of good vows, whatever tirthas exist on this earth, all of them dwell forever, on this very ground, in the Sundara tirtha of Avanti.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.53.2)

व्यास उवाच। किमिदं सुन्दरं कुण्डं कदाकालेऽभवत्क्षितौ। निर्मितं केन को देवः किं वा तस्य फलं स्मृतम्॥

vyāsa uvāca| kimidaṁ sundaraṁ kuṇḍaṁ kadākāle'bhavatkṣitau| nirmitaṁ kena ko devaḥ kiṁ vā tasya phalaṁ smṛtam||

Vyasa said: What is this Sundara-kunda, at what time did it come to be on this earth? By whom was it made, which deity, and what fruit is remembered of it?

Verse 3 (skanda.5.53.3)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु पुण्यतमे क्षेत्रे सुन्दराख्यं यदाऽभवत्। सर्वपापप्रशमनं वांछितार्थफलप्रदम्॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu puṇyatame kṣetre sundarākhyaṁ yadā'bhavat| sarvapāpapraśamanaṁ vāṁchitārthaphalapradam||

Sanatkumara said: Hear how, in that most sacred field, the one named Sundara came to be — the calmer of all sin, the giver of the fruit of every desired object,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.53.4)

यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या व्यपोहति। अश्वमेधादिकं पुण्यं वाजपेयशताधिकम्॥

yasya śravaṇamātreṇa brahmahatyā vyapohati| aśvamedhādikaṁ puṇyaṁ vājapeyaśatādhikam||

—by merely hearing of which even the sin of killing a Brahmin is wiped away; merit like that of a horse-sacrifice, and more than a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.53.5)

पुरा कल्पक्षये व्यास नष्टकल्पा च मेदिनी। प्रचण्डवातवर्षाभ्यां चूर्णितो मेरुपर्वतः॥

purā kalpakṣaye vyāsa naṣṭakalpā ca medinī| pracaṇḍavātavarṣābhyāṁ cūrṇito meruparvataḥ||

Long ago, O Vyasa, at the destruction of the kalpa, the earth having lost its former kalpa, Mount Meru was pulverized by furious winds and rains.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.53.6)

तदात्र पतितं व्यास वैकुण्ठशिखरोत्तमम्। महाकालवने घोरे गुह्ये चाव्ययके ध्रुवे॥

tadātra patitaṁ vyāsa vaikuṇṭhaśikharottamam| mahākālavane ghore guhye cāvyayake dhruve||

Then, O Vyasa, the supreme peak of Vaikuntha fell here, in the terrible, secret, imperishable, eternal Mahakalavana.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.53.7)

तत्क्षणात्पतिते शृंगे कुण्डं जातं सुनिश्चितम्। रत्नसोपानमच्छोदं मुक्तासैकतपूरितम्॥

tatkṣaṇātpatite śṛṁge kuṇḍaṁ jātaṁ suniścitam| ratnasopānamacchodaṁ muktāsaikatapūritam||

At the very instant that peak fell, a kunda arose, most certainly — its steps of gems, its water clear, filled with sands of pearl.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.53.8)

जांबूनदकरारोहं हेमपद्मविराजितम्। कल्पद्रुमकृतच्छायं चिंतामणिसमुच्छ्रितम्॥

jāṁbūnadakarārohaṁ hemapadmavirājitam| kalpadrumakṛtacchāyaṁ ciṁtāmaṇisamucchritam||

Its banks of refined gold, resplendent with golden lotuses, shaded by wish-fulfilling trees, elevated with the wish-granting gem.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.53.9)

हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्। बीजौषधिगणाकीर्णं सर्वतत्त्वाभिसंयुतम्॥

haṁsakāraṁḍavākīrṇaṁ cakravākopaśobhitam| bījauṣadhigaṇākīrṇaṁ sarvatattvābhisaṁyutam||

Thronged with swans and karandava-ducks, adorned with chakravaka birds, filled with seeds and herbs, endowed with the totality of all principles.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.53.10)

कल्पक्षये न क्षीयंते यानि तत्त्वानि सर्वशः। तानि तत्र प्रतिष्ठंति मूर्तिमंति पराणि च॥

kalpakṣaye na kṣīyaṁte yāni tattvāni sarvaśaḥ| tāni tatra pratiṣṭhaṁti mūrtimaṁti parāṇi ca||

Those principles which are never destroyed at the dissolution of the kalpa, in every respect — they abide there, in supreme, embodied forms.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.53.11)

वेदशास्त्रपुराणानि गाथागीतिक्षराक्षराः। ॐकारश्च वषट्कारो गायत्री त्रिपदा परा॥

vedaśāstrapurāṇāni gāthāgītikṣarākṣarāḥ| oṁkāraśca vaṣaṭkāro gāyatrī tripadā parā||

The Vedas, the shastras, the Puranas, ballads and songs, the perishable and imperishable syllables; the syllable Om, the exclamation Vashat, and the supreme three-footed Gayatri,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.53.12)

कलाः काष्ठा मुहूर्ताश्च लवत्रुटिपलं घटिः। अहर्निशश्च यामाश्च पक्षमासावृतुस्तथा॥

kalāḥ kāṣṭhā muhūrtāśca lavatruṭipalaṁ ghaṭiḥ| aharniśaśca yāmāśca pakṣamāsāvṛtustathā||

the kalas, kashthas, muhurtas, the lava, truti, pala and ghati; the day and night, the watches, the fortnight, the month, and likewise the season,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.53.13)

संवत्सरयुगाश्चैव कुण्डे तिष्ठंति मूर्तितः। देवा यक्षाश्च नागाश्च गुह्यकाः किन्नरास्तथा॥

saṁvatsarayugāścaiva kuṇḍe tiṣṭhaṁti mūrtitaḥ| devā yakṣāśca nāgāśca guhyakāḥ kinnarāstathā||

the year and the yugas — all abide, embodied, in that kunda; gods, yakshas, serpents, guhyakas, and likewise kinnaras,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.53.14)

गंधर्वाप्सरसो यक्षाः सिद्धाः किंपुरुषास्तथा। उपासांचक्रिरे तस्य कल्पदोषभयातुराः॥

gaṁdharvāpsaraso yakṣāḥ siddhāḥ kiṁpuruṣāstathā| upāsāṁcakrire tasya kalpadoṣabhayāturāḥ||

gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas, siddhas, and likewise kimpurushas — fearful and troubled by the taint of the dissolving kalpa, they worshipped it.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.53.15)

ब्रह्मा रुद्रश्च कालश्च लोकपाला महौजसः। केचिद्ध्यानपराः सिद्धास्तापसाः शंसितव्रताः॥

brahmā rudraśca kālaśca lokapālā mahaujasaḥ| keciddhyānaparāḥ siddhāstāpasāḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ||

Brahma, Rudra, Kala, and the mighty guardians of the worlds; some remained there intent in meditation, siddhas, ascetics of firm vows,

Verse 16 (skanda.5.53.16)

तिष्ठंति बहुयुग व्यास यावत्कल्पः समाप्यते। सुदर्शनसमाकारं पूरितं चामृतांबुभिः॥

tiṣṭhaṁti bahuyuga vyāsa yāvatkalpaḥ samāpyate| sudarśanasamākāraṁ pūritaṁ cāmṛtāṁbubhiḥ||

abiding there for many yugas, O Vyasa, until the kalpa is completed. It is beautiful in form to behold, filled with the waters of nectar,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.53.17)

दिव्यपादपसंयुक्तं पारिजातगुणान्वितम्। दिव्यस्त्रीस्नानगंधोदैर्वासितोद्गारिसौरभम्॥

divyapādapasaṁyuktaṁ pārijātaguṇānvitam| divyastrīsnānagaṁdhodairvāsitodgārisaurabham||

joined with divine trees, endowed with the qualities of the Parijata; scented and exuding fragrance from the perfumed bathing-waters of divine women.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.53.18)

क्वचिन्मयूरा नृत्यंति क्वचित्कूजंति कोकिलाः। क्वचित्केकारवाः क्वापि मेघघोषसमाकुलम्॥

kvacinmayūrā nṛtyaṁti kvacitkūjaṁti kokilāḥ| kvacitkekāravāḥ kvāpi meghaghoṣasamākulam||

Here peacocks danced, there cuckoos cooed; here their cries resounded, and there it was filled with the rumble of clouds.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.53.19)

सुन्दरं सुन्दराकारं सुन्दरं तेन चोच्यते। बहुपुण्यकरं व्यास सर्वपापहरं परम्॥

sundaraṁ sundarākāraṁ sundaraṁ tena cocyate| bahupuṇyakaraṁ vyāsa sarvapāpaharaṁ param||

It is beautiful, of beautiful form, and by that it is called Sundara; a great bestower of merit, O Vyasa, the supreme remover of all sin,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.53.20)

यत्र संनिहितो विष्णुः शिवः शक्त्या युतो वशी। उपासांचक्रिरे शश्वत्सर्वकालेषु सर्वदा॥

yatra saṁnihito viṣṇuḥ śivaḥ śaktyā yuto vaśī| upāsāṁcakrire śaśvatsarvakāleṣu sarvadā||

where Vishnu is ever present, and self-controlled Shiva, together with his Shakti; it has been worshipped forever, at all times, always.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.53.21)

पक्षार्धं पक्षमेकं च सुन्दरकुण्डे नरो वसेत्। वैकुण्ठे नियतं वासो यावत्कल्पशतं भवेत्॥

pakṣārdhaṁ pakṣamekaṁ ca sundarakuṇḍe naro vaset| vaikuṇṭhe niyataṁ vāso yāvatkalpaśataṁ bhavet||

If a man dwells at Sundara-kunda for half a fortnight, or a whole fortnight, his fixed residence in Vaikuntha shall last for a hundred kalpas.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.53.22)

पक्षिकीटपतंगाश्च मृता यांति शिवालयम्। किं पुनर्मानवा लोके स्नानपूताश्च तत्र वै॥

pakṣikīṭapataṁgāśca mṛtā yāṁti śivālayam| kiṁ punarmānavā loke snānapūtāśca tatra vai||

Birds, insects and moths, upon death, go to Shiva's abode; how much more, then, men in this world who have become pure through bathing there?

Verse 23 (skanda.5.53.23)

ये ददति तिलान्धेनुं गजवाजिरथावनीः। दासीर्दासान्सुवर्णं च रत्नानि विविधानि च॥

ye dadati tilāndhenuṁ gajavājirathāvanīḥ| dāsīrdāsānsuvarṇaṁ ca ratnāni vividhāni ca||

Those who give sesame, a cow, an elephant, a horse, a chariot, land, maidservants, menservants, gold, and various jewels,

Verse 24 (skanda.5.53.24)

शय्यादानविमानानि दानानि विविधानि च। न तेषां दानजं वेद्मि कीदृग्व्यास फलं भवेत्॥

śayyādānavimānāni dānāni vividhāni ca| na teṣāṁ dānajaṁ vedmi kīdṛgvyāsa phalaṁ bhavet||

the gift of a bed, of chariots, and various other gifts — I do not even know, O Vyasa, what kind of fruit arises from their giving there, so great is it.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.53.25)

भूयः शृणु परं व्यास सुन्दरकुण्डफलं स्मृतम्। एकदा बहुपापेन पतितः पापयोनिषु॥

bhūyaḥ śṛṇu paraṁ vyāsa sundarakuṇḍaphalaṁ smṛtam| ekadā bahupāpena patitaḥ pāpayoniṣu||

Hear further, O Vyasa, the supreme fruit remembered of Sundara-kunda. Once, through much sin, one who had fallen into a sinful birth,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.53.26)

पिशाचो मोक्षमापन्नः शिवरूपधरो गतः। पिशाचमोचने स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम्॥

piśāco mokṣamāpannaḥ śivarūpadharo gataḥ| piśācamocane snātvā dṛṣṭvā devaṁ maheśvaram||

a ghost, attained liberation and departed bearing the form of Shiva; having bathed at Pishachamochana and beheld the god Maheshvara,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.53.27)

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो यद्यपि ब्रह्महा भवेत्॥

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo yadyapi brahmahā bhavet||

one is freed from all sins, even if one were the killer of a Brahmin.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.53.28)

व्यास उवाच। कोऽसौ पिशाच इति ख्यातः किं तेन दुष्कृतं कृतम्। येन पापप्रसंगेन पिशाचत्वमुपागतः॥

vyāsa uvāca| ko'sau piśāca iti khyātaḥ kiṁ tena duṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam| yena pāpaprasaṁgena piśācatvamupāgataḥ||

Vyasa said: Who was this one known as a pishacha? What evil deed did he do, by which occasion of sin he came to the state of a pishacha?

Verse 29 (skanda.5.53.29)

कथं तीर्थप्रसंगोऽस्य जातो वै द्विजसत्तम। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदांवर॥

kathaṁ tīrthaprasaṁgo'sya jāto vai dvijasattama| etadveditumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṁvara||

O best of the twice-born, how did his connection with this tirtha come about? This I wish to know from you, O best of the knowers of Brahman.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.53.30)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास महाख्यानं तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa mahākhyānaṁ tīrthamāhātmyamuttamam| yasya śravaṇamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet||

Sanatkumara said: Listen, O Vyasa, to this great narrative, the supreme glory of the tirtha, merely by hearing which the destruction of all sin comes about.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.53.31)

ब्राह्मणो देवलो नाम दाक्षिणात्यो द्विजाधमः। सदा पापरतो लोभी कूटसाक्षी च लंपटः॥

brāhmaṇo devalo nāma dākṣiṇātyo dvijādhamaḥ| sadā pāparato lobhī kūṭasākṣī ca laṁpaṭaḥ||

There was a brahmin named Devala, from the south, the worst of the twice-born, ever devoted to sin, greedy, a false witness, and lustful,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.53.32)

गुरुद्रोही कितवो धूर्तो गुरुहा गुरुतल्पगः। हेमहारी सुरापी च ब्रह्महा स्वामिद्रोहकः॥

gurudrohī kitavo dhūrto guruhā gurutalpagaḥ| hemahārī surāpī ca brahmahā svāmidrohakaḥ||

a betrayer of his guru, a gambler, a rogue, a slayer of his guru, a violator of his guru's bed, a thief of gold, a drinker of liquor, a killer of brahmins, a betrayer of his master,

Verse 33 (skanda.5.53.33)

अभक्ष्यभक्षकश्चैव वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितः। अनेकजन्मार्जितपापी सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः॥

abhakṣyabhakṣakaścaiva vedaśāstravivarjitaḥ| anekajanmārjitapāpī sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtaḥ||

an eater of forbidden food, devoid of Vedic learning, a sinner through the accumulated deeds of many births, cast out from all dharma,

Verse 34 (skanda.5.53.34)

विश्वासघातको मानी चोरसंगरतः खलः। देशांतरगतो मंदश्चौरकार्यार्थसाधकः॥

viśvāsaghātako mānī corasaṁgarataḥ khalaḥ| deśāṁtaragato maṁdaścaurakāryārthasādhakaḥ||

a betrayer of trust, arrogant, that wicked one delighting in the company of thieves; that dull-witted one, having gone to another land, engaged in accomplishing thieves' purposes.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.53.35)

बहवो निहता मार्गे पापाचारेण जंतवः। मगधे स गतो दुष्टः प्रसंगात्पापकारिणाम्॥

bahavo nihatā mārge pāpācāreṇa jaṁtavaḥ| magadhe sa gato duṣṭaḥ prasaṁgātpāpakāriṇām||

Many creatures were slain by him on the road through his sinful conduct; that wicked one went to Magadha, in the company of evildoers.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.53.36)

तत्रैको ब्राह्मणो दांतो वेदवेदांगपारगः। साग्निकः शुद्धसत्त्वस्थो ब्रह्मकर्मरतः सदा॥

tatraiko brāhmaṇo dāṁto vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ| sāgnikaḥ śuddhasattvastho brahmakarmarataḥ sadā||

There was a self-controlled brahmin there, learned in the Veda and its ancillary sciences, tending his sacred fire, established in pure being, ever devoted to Brahmanical duties.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.53.37)

श्वशुरगृहे स्थिता भार्या तामादाय यशस्विनीम्। चलितो यानमारुह्य तेन पापेन घातितः॥

śvaśuragṛhe sthitā bhāryā tāmādāya yaśasvinīm| calito yānamāruhya tena pāpena ghātitaḥ||

His glorious wife was staying at her father's house; taking her with him and setting out mounted on a conveyance, he was slain by that sinful one.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.53.38)

तस्य स्त्री च वरारोहा रूपलावण्यशालिनी। पतिव्रता महाभागा दृढचित्ता शुचिस्मिता॥

tasya strī ca varārohā rūpalāvaṇyaśālinī| pativratā mahābhāgā dṛḍhacittā śucismitā||

His wife, of excellent form, adorned with beauty and grace, devoted to her husband, of great fortune, firm of mind, of pure smile,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.53.39)

हते भर्तरि दुःखार्ता पतिविरहकातरा। वने घोरे परिभ्रष्टा काष्ठान्यादाय भामिनी॥

hate bhartari duḥkhārtā pativirahakātarā| vane ghore paribhraṣṭā kāṣṭhānyādāya bhāminī||

when her husband was slain, was overcome with grief, distressed by separation from him; that lovely woman, abandoned in the terrible forest, gathering pieces of wood,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.53.40)

आरुरोह चितां दीप्तां पतिना हृष्टमानसा। स च दुष्टतरः सर्वं तस्य विप्रस्य जीवनम्॥

āruroha citāṁ dīptāṁ patinā hṛṣṭamānasā| sa ca duṣṭataraḥ sarvaṁ tasya viprasya jīvanam||

mounted the blazing funeral pyre with her husband, her heart glad. And that most wicked one, having taken all of that brahmin's wealth,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.53.41)

गृहीत्वा चलितो मार्गे गृहीतो राजकिंकरैः। बंधयित्वा च तैः सर्वैस्तेन वित्तेन वै सह। नीतोऽसौ राजभवनं निवेदितो राजसंनिधौ॥

gṛhītvā calito mārge gṛhīto rājakiṁkaraiḥ| baṁdhayitvā ca taiḥ sarvaistena vittena vai saha| nīto'sau rājabhavanaṁ nivedito rājasaṁnidhau||

and set off along the road, but was captured by the king's men. Bound by all of them, together with that wealth, he was led to the royal palace and presented before the king.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.53.42)

पातितो वै गले बद्ध्वा रज्जुना वृक्षकोटरे। चांडालैर्घृष्टितो भूमावितस्ततः श्वपाकिभिः॥

pātito vai gale baddhvā rajjunā vṛkṣakoṭare| cāṁḍālairghṛṣṭito bhūmāvitastataḥ śvapākibhiḥ||

Bound with a rope about the neck, he was hung down into a hollow of a tree; dragged upon the ground here and there by chandalas, the dog-cookers.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.53.43)

तेन कर्मविपाकेन रौरवं नरकं गतः। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां कृमितां गतः॥

tena karmavipākena rauravaṁ narakaṁ gataḥ| ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi viṣṭhāyāṁ kṛmitāṁ gataḥ||

By the ripening of that deed he went to the hell called Raurava; for sixty thousand years he was made a worm in excrement.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.53.44)

ततोऽन्यं नरकं प्राप्तो यमशासनकारकैः। असिपत्रवनं घोरमायसं तप्तसायकम्॥

tato'nyaṁ narakaṁ prāpto yamaśāsanakārakaiḥ| asipatravanaṁ ghoramāyasaṁ taptasāyakam||

Then he obtained another hell, at the command of the agents of Yama's rule — the terrible forest of sword-leaves, made of iron, its arrows heated red-hot.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.53.45)

मुद्गरैस्ताड्यमानो हि शृंखलाभिश्च किंकरैः। कुंभीपाकगतौ रौति वैतरण्यां सुपीडितः॥

mudgaraistāḍyamāno hi śṛṁkhalābhiśca kiṁkaraiḥ| kuṁbhīpākagatau rauti vaitaraṇyāṁ supīḍitaḥ||

Struck by mace-bearing servants, with chains, he wailed while cast into the cauldron of Kumbhipaka, greatly tormented in the Vaitarani.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.53.46)

एवं बहुविधान्कुण्डान्भुक्त्वा पापी नवान्नवान्। ततः प्रेतत्वमापन्नो युगानां पंचसप्ततिम्॥

evaṁ bahuvidhānkuṇḍānbhuktvā pāpī navānnavān| tataḥ pretatvamāpanno yugānāṁ paṁcasaptatim||

Thus, having suffered many different cauldrons, one new after another, that sinner then attained the state of a preta for seventy-five yugas.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.53.47)

महाकायो महारावो महोदरः सूचीमुखः। क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां च पराक्रांतो मरुदेशं समाश्रितः॥

mahākāyo mahārāvo mahodaraḥ sūcīmukhaḥ| kṣuttṛḍbhyāṁ ca parākrāṁto marudeśaṁ samāśritaḥ||

Of vast body, of a great wail, huge-bellied, needle-mouthed; overcome by hunger and thirst, he took refuge in the desert land.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.53.48)

ततः कष्टतरां प्राप्य पैशाचीं तनुमाश्रितः। कुटिलो दुष्टभावश्च दुष्टचारी दिगंबरः॥

tataḥ kaṣṭatarāṁ prāpya paiśācīṁ tanumāśritaḥ| kuṭilo duṣṭabhāvaśca duṣṭacārī digaṁbaraḥ||

Then, having obtained a still more miserable existence, he took on the form of a pishacha — crooked, wicked-minded, evil-conducted, naked,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.53.49)

विण्मूत्रदूषितोच्छिष्टपूतिपर्युष्टभोजनः। श्मशानोच्छिष्टभोजी च कृत्तिवासा विलोचनः॥

viṇmūtradūṣitocchiṣṭapūtiparyuṣṭabhojanaḥ| śmaśānocchiṣṭabhojī ca kṛttivāsā vilocanaḥ||

eating stale, rotten food defiled with excrement and urine and leftovers; feeding on the leavings of the cremation-ground, clad in a hide, his eyes wild.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.53.50)

भग्नवापीतडागे च शुष्कवृक्षे निरूदके। प्राकारपरिखागारे शून्यागारे नदीतटे॥

bhagnavāpītaḍāge ca śuṣkavṛkṣe nirūdake| prākāraparikhāgāre śūnyāgāre nadītaṭe||

In broken step-wells and tanks, in withered, waterless trees, in the ditches by ramparts, in empty dwellings, on riverbanks—

Verse 51 (skanda.5.53.51)

निवासो रोचते तस्य सर्वदा सर्वसंधिषु। एवं बहुयुगे याते महाकालवने गतः॥

nivāso rocate tasya sarvadā sarvasaṁdhiṣu| evaṁ bahuyuge yāte mahākālavane gataḥ||

—dwelling in every such junction pleased him always. Thus, after many yugas had passed, he came to Mahakalavana,

Verse 52 (skanda.5.53.52)

यत्र माहेश्वरं लिंगं सुन्दरं कुंडमुत्तमम्। तत्रोषितत्वमात्रेण सिंहेन विनिपातितः॥

yatra māheśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ sundaraṁ kuṁḍamuttamam| tatroṣitatvamātreṇa siṁhena vinipātitaḥ||

where the Maheshvara linga and the excellent Sundara-kunda are; and merely by residing there, he was struck down by a lion.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.53.53)

घातयित्वा च तं पापं जलार्थी कुंडमाविशत्। दंष्ट्रांतरगतं चास्थ्यपतत्तस्य मुखाज्जले॥

ghātayitvā ca taṁ pāpaṁ jalārthī kuṁḍamāviśat| daṁṣṭrāṁtaragataṁ cāsthyapatattasya mukhājjale||

Having killed that sinful one, the lion, seeking water, entered the kunda; a bone caught between its fangs fell from its mouth into the water.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.53.54)

तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन सर्वपापं क्षयं गतम्। मृतमात्रे च लिंगं तन्नेत्रांतरगतं तदा॥

tena puṇyaprabhāvena sarvapāpaṁ kṣayaṁ gatam| mṛtamātre ca liṁgaṁ tannetrāṁtaragataṁ tadā||

By the power of that merit, all his sin was destroyed; and, at the very moment of death, that linga then came within the range of his sight.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.53.55)

हित्वा पैशाचकं देहं ज्योतिस्तल्लिंगमाविशत्। तदारभ्य परं व्यास तीर्थं पैशाचमोचनम्॥

hitvā paiśācakaṁ dehaṁ jyotistalliṁgamāviśat| tadārabhya paraṁ vyāsa tīrthaṁ paiśācamocanam||

Abandoning his ghostly body, a light entered into that linga. From that time on, O Vyasa, this supreme tirtha has been called Pishachamochana.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.53.56)

पिशाचमोचनेशेति देवः ख्यातिं ततो गतः। तावद्गर्जंति पापानि मदोन्मत्तगजा यथा॥

piśācamocaneśeti devaḥ khyātiṁ tato gataḥ| tāvadgarjaṁti pāpāni madonmattagajā yathā||

The god thence attained fame as Pishachamochanesha. Sins roar like rutting, maddened elephants,

Verse 57 (skanda.5.53.57)

यावन्नायाति शिप्रायास्तीर्थे पैशाचमोचने। पिशाचमोचने स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः॥

yāvannāyāti śiprāyāstīrthe paiśācamocane| piśācamocane snātvā śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ||

—but only until one comes to the Pishachamochana tirtha of the Shipra. Having bathed at Pishachamochana, becoming pure and composed,

Verse 58 (skanda.5.53.58)

पिशाचमोचनं देवं पूजयित्वा यथाविधि। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा जायते नात्र संशयः॥

piśācamocanaṁ devaṁ pūjayitvā yathāvidhi| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

and having worshipped the god Pishachamochana according to rule, one's soul becomes wholly purified of all sin — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.53.59)

पिशाचमोचने व्यास महादानानि कारयेत्। न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः शिवलोकात्कदाचन॥

piśācamocane vyāsa mahādānāni kārayet| na tasya punarāvṛttiḥ śivalokātkadācana||

O Vyasa, one should perform great acts of giving at Pishachamochana; there is never any return to rebirth for him from Shiva's world.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.53.60)

पिशाचमोचनकथां पवित्रां पापहारिणीम्। यः पठेच्छृणुयाच्चैव हयमेधफलं लभेत्॥

piśācamocanakathāṁ pavitrāṁ pāpahāriṇīm| yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyāccaiva hayamedhaphalaṁ labhet||

Whoever recites or hears this pure, sin-removing tale of Pishachamochana obtains the merit of a horse-sacrifice.