The Greatness of Agastyeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.72.1)

उमोवाच। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्याश्च सरितस्तथा। कथ्यतां तानि यत्नेन श्राद्धं येषु प्रदीयते

umovāca| pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni puṇyāśca saritastathā| kathyatāṁ tāni yatnena śrāddhaṁ yeṣu pradīyate

Uma said: "Tell me carefully of the sacred fords on this earth, and the holy rivers as well, in which the ancestral offering (shraddha) is given."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.72.2)

ईश्वर उवाच। अस्ति लोकेषु विख्याता गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी। सेविता देवगंधर्वैर्मुनिभिश्च निषेविता

īśvara uvāca| asti lokeṣu vikhyātā gaṁgā tripathagāminī| sevitā devagaṁdharvairmunibhiśca niṣevitā

Ishvara said: "Renowned among the worlds is the Ganga, who courses along three paths; she is served by gods and gandharvas, and attended by sages."

Verse 3 (skanda.5.72.3)

तपनस्य सुता देवी यमुना लोकपावनी। पितॄणां वल्लभा देवि महापातकहारिणी

tapanasya sutā devī yamunā lokapāvanī| pitṝṇāṁ vallabhā devi mahāpātakahāriṇī

The goddess Yamuna, daughter of the Sun, purifier of the worlds, is beloved of the ancestors, O Devi, and takes away great sins.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.72.4)

चन्द्रभागा वितस्ता च नर्मदाऽमरकंटके। कुरुक्षेत्रं गया देवि प्रभासं नैमिषं तथा

candrabhāgā vitastā ca narmadā'marakaṁṭake| kurukṣetraṁ gayā devi prabhāsaṁ naimiṣaṁ tathā

Chandrabhaga, and Vitasta, and Narmada at Amarakantaka; Kurukshetra, Gaya, O Devi, Prabhasa, and Naimisha as well.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.72.5)

केदारं पुष्करं चैव तथा कायावरोहणम्। तथा पुण्यतमं देवि महाकालवनं शुभम्

kedāraṁ puṣkaraṁ caiva tathā kāyāvarohaṇam| tathā puṇyatamaṁ devi mahākālavanaṁ śubham

Kedara, and Pushkara too, and likewise Kayavarohana; and most sacred of all, O Devi, is the auspicious Mahakala forest.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.72.6)

यत्रास्ते श्रीमहाकालः पापेंधनहुताशनः। क्षेत्रं योजनपर्यंतं ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम्

yatrāste śrīmahākālaḥ pāpeṁdhanahutāśanaḥ| kṣetraṁ yojanaparyaṁtaṁ brahmahatyāvināśanam

There dwells Shri Mahakala, the fire that burns sin as its fuel; a field extending one yojana, destroying the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.72.7)

भुक्तिदं मुक्तिदं क्षेत्रं कलिकल्मषनाशनम्। प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं देवि दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिदशैरपि

bhuktidaṁ muktidaṁ kṣetraṁ kalikalmaṣanāśanam| pralaye'pyakṣayaṁ devi duṣprāpyaṁ tridaśairapi

That field grants enjoyment and grants liberation, and destroys the taints of the Kali age; it is imperishable even at cosmic dissolution, O Devi, and hard to attain even for the thirty gods.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.72.8)

उमोवाच। प्रभावः कथ्यतां देव क्षेत्रस्यास्य महेश्वर

umovāca| prabhāvaḥ kathyatāṁ deva kṣetrasyāsya maheśvara

Uma said: "O Maheshvara, tell me the glory of this field, O God!"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.72.9)

यानि तीर्थानि वंद्यानि यानि लिंगानि संति वै। तान्यहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे

yāni tīrthāni vaṁdyāni yāni liṁgāni saṁti vai| tānyahaṁ śrotumicchāmi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

I wish to hear of the venerable tirthas and the lingas that are there; my curiosity about this is great indeed.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.72.10)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रयत्नेन प्रभावं पापनाशनम्। क्षेत्रमाद्यं महादेवि ममातीव प्रियं सदा

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi prayatnena prabhāvaṁ pāpanāśanam| kṣetramādyaṁ mahādevi mamātīva priyaṁ sadā

Ishvara said: "Listen carefully, O Devi, to this sin-destroying glory. This is the first field, O Mahadevi, ever exceedingly dear to me."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.72.11)

यत्रास्ति च महापुण्या सर्वपापहरा परा। तथा गंधवती पुण्या दिव्या नवनदीप्रिया

yatrāsti ca mahāpuṇyā sarvapāpaharā parā| tathā gaṁdhavatī puṇyā divyā navanadīpriyā

There is the greatly sacred, supreme river that removes all sins, and also the holy, divine Gandhavati, beloved among the nine rivers.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.72.12)

नीलगंगा चतुर्थी तु श्रेष्ठा नद्यः प्रकीर्तिताः। आसां तु संगमे स्नात्वा श्राद्धं यः कुरुते नरः

nīlagaṁgā caturthī tu śreṣṭhā nadyaḥ prakīrtitāḥ| āsāṁ tu saṁgame snātvā śrāddhaṁ yaḥ kurute naraḥ

And Nilaganga is the fourth — these are proclaimed the foremost of rivers. The man who bathes at their confluence and performs the ancestral rite there —

Verse 13 (skanda.5.72.13)

गंगायास्त्रिगुणं देवि चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्। क्षेत्रं योजनपर्यंतमवंत्या विद्धि सुव्रते

gaṁgāyāstriguṇaṁ devi caturvargaphalapradam| kṣetraṁ yojanaparyaṁtamavaṁtyā viddhi suvrate

— obtains a merit threefold that of the Ganga, O Devi, bestowing the fruit of the four aims of life. Know, O one of good vows, that this field of Avanti extends one yojana.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.72.14)

सिद्धलिंगानि तिष्ठंति भुक्तिमुक्तिकराणि च। ईश्वराश्चतुराशीतिस्तथाष्टौ संति भैरवाः

siddhaliṁgāni tiṣṭhaṁti bhuktimuktikarāṇi ca| īśvarāścaturāśītistathāṣṭau saṁti bhairavāḥ

Siddha-lingas stand there, bestowing enjoyment and liberation; there are eighty-four Ishvaras, and eight Bhairavas as well.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.72.15)

एकादश तथा रुद्रा आदित्या द्वादश स्मृताः। षड्वै विनायकाश्चात्र चतुर्विंशतिमातरः

ekādaśa tathā rudrā ādityā dvādaśa smṛtāḥ| ṣaḍvai vināyakāścātra caturviṁśatimātaraḥ

Also the eleven Rudras, and the twelve Adityas are recalled; six Vinayakas are there too, and twenty-four Mothers.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.72.16)

यदाहं गतवांस्तत्र महाकालवने शुभे। ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादयः सर्वे तत्राजग्मुर्मुदान्विताः

yadāhaṁ gatavāṁstatra mahākālavane śubhe| brahmaviṣṇvādayaḥ sarve tatrājagmurmudānvitāḥ

When I went there, to the auspicious Mahakala forest, Brahma, Vishnu, and all the others came there too, filled with joy.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.72.17)

एभिर्व्याप्तं क्षेत्रमिदं देवि योजनमायतम्। दश स्थानगतो विष्णुः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः

ebhirvyāptaṁ kṣetramidaṁ devi yojanamāyatam| daśa sthānagato viṣṇuḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ

This field, one yojana in extent, O Devi, is pervaded by all these; Vishnu is present there in ten stations, destroying all sin.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.72.18)

एतन्नामानि योऽधीते प्रभाते भक्तितः पुमान्। विमुक्तः सर्वपापैस्तु रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति

etannāmāni yo'dhīte prabhāte bhaktitaḥ pumān| vimuktaḥ sarvapāpaistu rudralokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever recites these names with devotion at dawn is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Rudra.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.72.19)

उमोवाच। चतुराशीतिलिंगानि त्वयोक्तानीह यानि तु। तानि विस्तरतो ब्रूहि सर्वपापहराणि तु

umovāca| caturāśītiliṁgāni tvayoktānīha yāni tu| tāni vistarato brūhi sarvapāpaharāṇi tu

Uma said: "Those eighty-four lingas which you have spoken of here, which remove all sins — tell me of them at length."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.72.20)

हर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि तेषां नामानि यानि च। ख्यातं पृथिव्यां प्रथममगस्त्येश्वरमुत्तमम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत्

hara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi teṣāṁ nāmāni yāni ca| khyātaṁ pṛthivyāṁ prathamamagastyeśvaramuttamam| yasya darśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo naro bhavet

Hara said: "Listen, O Devi, I shall tell their names. Renowned on earth as the first is the excellent Agastyeshvara, by the mere sight of whom a man becomes fulfilled."

Verse 21 (skanda.5.72.21)

उमोवाच। अगस्त्येश्वरनामेह कथं लब्धमनेन वै। कस्मिन्स्थाने कथं जातं विस्तराद्वक्तुमर्हसि

umovāca| agastyeśvaranāmeha kathaṁ labdhamanena vai| kasminsthāne kathaṁ jātaṁ vistarādvaktumarhasi

Uma said: "How did this one obtain the name Agastyeshvara here? In what place, and how did it come about? You should tell me at length."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.72.22)

हर उवाच। शृणु देवि महाभागे कथामस्य पुरातनीम्। सर्वपापप्रशमनीं समीहितफलप्रदाम्

hara uvāca| śṛṇu devi mahābhāge kathāmasya purātanīm| sarvapāpapraśamanīṁ samīhitaphalapradām

Hara said: "Listen, O fortunate Devi, to this ancient tale, which pacifies all sins and grants the fruit that is desired."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.72.23)

पुराऽसुरैर्जिता देवा निरुत्साहाश्च ते ततः। भागाश्चैषां हृताः सर्वे निराशाः पितरः कृताः। भ्रष्टैश्वर्य्यास्तदा देवि चेरुर्देवा महीतले

purā'surairjitā devā nirutsāhāśca te tataḥ| bhāgāścaiṣāṁ hṛtāḥ sarve nirāśāḥ pitaraḥ kṛtāḥ| bhraṣṭaiśvaryyāstadā devi cerurdevā mahītale

Long ago the gods were conquered by the asuras, and thereby lost all vigor; all their sacrificial shares were seized, and the ancestors were left without hope. Bereft of their sovereignty then, O Devi, the gods wandered upon the earth.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.72.24)

ततः कदाचित्ते दीना दीप्तमादित्यवर्चसम्। ददृशुस्तेजसायुक्तमगस्त्यं विपुलव्रतम्

tataḥ kadācitte dīnā dīptamādityavarcasam| dadṛśustejasāyuktamagastyaṁ vipulavratam

Then once, in their wretched state, they beheld Agastya, glowing with the splendor of the sun, endowed with radiance, of vast vows.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.72.25)

अभिवाद्य ततो देवा दृष्ट्वा तं तेजसा वृतम्। इदमूचुर्महात्मानमगस्त्यं लोकविश्रुतम्

abhivādya tato devā dṛṣṭvā taṁ tejasā vṛtam| idamūcurmahātmānamagastyaṁ lokaviśrutam

The gods, seeing him surrounded by splendor, bowed to him, and spoke thus to that great soul, Agastya, renowned throughout the worlds:

Verse 26 (skanda.5.72.26)

दानवैर्निर्जिता युद्धे सर्वे स्वर्गाच्च पातिताः। ततस्त्वं नो भयात्तीव्रात्त्रायस्व मुनिपुंगव

dānavairnirjitā yuddhe sarve svargācca pātitāḥ| tatastvaṁ no bhayāttīvrāttrāyasva munipuṁgava

"We have all been conquered in battle by the danavas and cast down from heaven; O foremost of sages, save us from this terrible fear!"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.72.27)

इत्युक्तः स तदा देवैरगस्त्यः कुपितोऽभवत्। प्रजज्वाल च तेजस्वी कालाग्निरिव संक्षये

ityuktaḥ sa tadā devairagastyaḥ kupito'bhavat| prajajvāla ca tejasvī kālāgniriva saṁkṣaye

Thus addressed by the gods, Agastya became enraged, and the radiant one blazed forth like the fire of time at the dissolution of the world.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.72.28)

तदा दीप्तांशुजालेन निर्दग्धा दानवास्तथा। अंतरिक्षान्महादेवि पतिताश्च सहस्रशः

tadā dīptāṁśujālena nirdagdhā dānavāstathā| aṁtarikṣānmahādevi patitāśca sahasraśaḥ

Then, by his mass of blazing rays, the danavas were burnt up, and, O Mahadevi, thousands of them fell from the sky.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.72.29)

दह्यमानास्ततो दैत्यास्तस्यागस्त्यस्य तेजसा। ऋषेश्च दानवाः सर्वे पातालं वव्रजुर्भयात्

dahyamānāstato daityāstasyāgastyasya tejasā| ṛṣeśca dānavāḥ sarve pātālaṁ vavrajurbhayāt

Burning thus from the splendor of that sage Agastya, all the daityas and danavas, out of fear, fled down into Patala.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.72.30)

ततोऽगस्त्यो महात्मा वै तान्हत्वा शोकमूर्छितः। बभूवातिशयं चासौ चिंतयोद्विग्नमानसः

tato'gastyo mahātmā vai tānhatvā śokamūrchitaḥ| babhūvātiśayaṁ cāsau ciṁtayodvignamānasaḥ

Then the great soul Agastya, having slain them, fell into a swoon of grief; he became exceedingly troubled, his mind agitated with anxious thought.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.72.31)

कृतं घोरं महत्पापं हता यद्दानवा मया। अहिंसा परमो धर्मो मनुना कथ्यते यतः। किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं शुध्येय चाप्यहम्

kṛtaṁ ghoraṁ mahatpāpaṁ hatā yaddānavā mayā| ahiṁsā paramo dharmo manunā kathyate yataḥ| kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kathaṁ śudhyeya cāpyaham

"A terrible, great sin have I committed, in that I have slain the danavas — for non-violence is declared by Manu to be the highest dharma. What shall I do? Where shall I go? How indeed shall I be purified?"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.72.32)

एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य समागच्छत्पितामहः। प्रोवाच स मुनिं तत्र कस्मात्त्वं शोकविह्वलः

evaṁ ciṁtayatastasya samāgacchatpitāmahaḥ| provāca sa muniṁ tatra kasmāttvaṁ śokavihvalaḥ

While he was thinking thus, the Grandsire Brahma approached, and there spoke to the sage: "Why are you so overcome with grief?"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.72.33)

लक्ष्यसे मुनिशार्दूल कारणं कथ्यतां त्वरम्। स ब्रह्माणं नमस्कृत्य कथयामास पृच्छतः

lakṣyase muniśārdūla kāraṇaṁ kathyatāṁ tvaram| sa brahmāṇaṁ namaskṛtya kathayāmāsa pṛcchataḥ

"You appear troubled, O tiger among sages — tell me the reason quickly." He, bowing to Brahma, told the reason to him who was asking.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.72.34)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ दाहोऽन्तर्मानसं मम। ब्रह्महत्या समायाता यन्मया दानवा हताः

devadeva jagannātha dāho'ntarmānasaṁ mama| brahmahatyā samāyātā yanmayā dānavā hatāḥ

"O God of gods, Lord of the world, there is burning within my mind — for since I have slain the danavas, the sin of killing a brahmin has come upon me."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.72.35)

ममोपायं समाचक्ष्व प्रसादत्सुरसत्तम। बहुकालार्जितं देव गतं मे संक्षयं तपः

mamopāyaṁ samācakṣva prasādatsurasattama| bahukālārjitaṁ deva gataṁ me saṁkṣayaṁ tapaḥ

"Tell me, out of grace, a remedy, O best of gods; O God, my austerity, gathered over a long time, has gone to ruin."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.72.36)

प्रोवाचेदं सुरश्रेष्ठः शृणु त्वं यत्नतः परम्। उपायं सर्वपापस्य क्षयो येन भवेद्ध्रुवम्

provācedaṁ suraśreṣṭhaḥ śṛṇu tvaṁ yatnataḥ param| upāyaṁ sarvapāpasya kṣayo yena bhaveddhruvam

The best of gods spoke thus: "Listen most attentively to the remedy, by which the destruction of all sin will certainly come about."

Verse 37 (skanda.5.72.37)

महाकालवने दिव्ये यक्षगंधर्वसेविते। उत्तरे वटयक्षिण्या यत्तल्लिंगमनुत्तमम्

mahākālavane divye yakṣagaṁdharvasevite| uttare vaṭayakṣiṇyā yattalliṁgamanuttamam

"In the divine Mahakala forest, served by yakshas and gandharvas, to the north of Vata-yakshini, there is that unsurpassed linga —"

Verse 38 (skanda.5.72.38)

पिशाचस्यापि तीर्थस्य भागे दक्षिणतः स्थितम्। तं समाराध्य ततः सर्वं पापं नाशमवाप्नुयात्

piśācasyāpi tīrthasya bhāge dakṣiṇataḥ sthitam| taṁ samārādhya tataḥ sarvaṁ pāpaṁ nāśamavāpnuyāt

"— situated to the south of the Pishacha tirtha as well. By worshipping it, all sin will thereafter attain destruction."

Verse 39 (skanda.5.72.39)

आराधय शुभं लिंगं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। बाढं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा महाकालवनं ययौ

ārādhaya śubhaṁ liṁgaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam| bāḍhaṁ provāca dharmātmā mahākālavanaṁ yayau

"Worship that auspicious linga, the destroyer of all sins." "So be it," said the righteous-souled one, and went to the Mahakala forest.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.72.40)

तस्मिन्स लिंगे देवेशि समाराधनतत्परः। बभूवाहर्निशं भक्त्या तद्ध्यानैकरतो मुनिः

tasminsa liṁge deveśi samārādhanatatparaḥ| babhūvāharniśaṁ bhaktyā taddhyānaikarato muniḥ

There, O Goddess of gods, that sage became devoted to the worship of that linga, day and night absorbed with devotion in meditation upon it alone.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.72.41)

अहं तुष्टस्तदा देवि मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः

ahaṁ tuṣṭastadā devi munestasya mahātmanaḥ

I then, O Devi, became pleased with that great-souled sage.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.72.42)

प्रोक्तं मया महाभाग मुने शृणु समाहितः। वरं वरय विप्रेंद्र यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते

proktaṁ mayā mahābhāga mune śṛṇu samāhitaḥ| varaṁ varaya vipreṁdra yatte manasi varttate

I said to him: "O fortunate one, O sage, listen with a composed mind. Choose a boon, O best of brahmins, whatever is in your heart."

Verse 43 (skanda.5.72.43)

तुष्टोऽहमनया भक्त्या तपसा दुष्करेण तु। लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावेण जातस्त्वं निर्मलोऽधुना

tuṣṭo'hamanayā bhaktyā tapasā duṣkareṇa tu| liṁgasyāsya prabhāveṇa jātastvaṁ nirmalo'dhunā

"I am pleased by this devotion of yours and by your difficult austerity; by the power of this linga, you have now become pure."

Verse 44 (skanda.5.72.44)

प्रणष्टा ब्रह्महत्या ते दानवोत्था मुनीश्वर। मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा तेनोक्तं वरवर्णिनि

praṇaṣṭā brahmahatyā te dānavotthā munīśvara| madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā tenoktaṁ varavarṇini

"Your sin of killing the danavas — the brahmahatya — has been destroyed, O lord of sages." Hearing my words, O fair one, he then said:

Verse 45 (skanda.5.72.45)

यदि देव प्रसन्नस्त्वं शरणागतवत्सलः। त्वदंघ्रियुगले भूयान्मम भक्तिर्महेश्वर

yadi deva prasannastvaṁ śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ| tvadaṁghriyugale bhūyānmama bhaktirmaheśvara

"If you are pleased, O God, kind to those who take refuge in you, then, O Maheshvara, may I have unceasing devotion at your pair of feet."

Verse 46 (skanda.5.72.46)

तपस्यथ तथा धर्मे न मे विघ्नो भवेदिति। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कुंभयोनेर्महात्मनः। मया प्रोक्तं विशालाक्षि मुने एवं भविष्यति

tapasyatha tathā dharme na me vighno bhavediti| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kuṁbhayonermahātmanaḥ| mayā proktaṁ viśālākṣi mune evaṁ bhaviṣyati

"And may there be no obstacle for me in austerity and in dharma." Hearing this word of the great-souled Kumbhayoni (Agastya, jar-born), O wide-eyed one, I said: "O sage, so it shall be."

Verse 47 (skanda.5.72.47)

यस्त्वया पूजितो देवो ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनः। त्वन्नाम्ना त्रिषु लोकेषु सोऽहं ख्यातो भविष्यति

yastvayā pūjito devo brahmahatyāvināśanaḥ| tvannāmnā triṣu lokeṣu so'haṁ khyāto bhaviṣyati

"This God whom you have worshipped, destroyer of the sin of brahmin-killing — I shall become renowned by your name in the three worlds."

Verse 48 (skanda.5.72.48)

अगस्त्येश्वरदेवोऽपि विख्यातो भुवनत्रये। एवमुक्तो मया देवि स विप्रस्तत्र संस्थितः। कृपया तस्य लिंगस्य पंचमुद्राविभूषितः

agastyeśvaradevo'pi vikhyāto bhuvanatraye| evamukto mayā devi sa viprastatra saṁsthitaḥ| kṛpayā tasya liṁgasya paṁcamudrāvibhūṣitaḥ

"As the god Agastyeshvara I shall be renowned throughout the three worlds." Having been thus told by me, O Devi, that brahmin remained established there, adorned, by the grace of that linga, with the five sacred marks.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.72.49)

ये नरास्तन्महालिंगं निरीक्षिष्यंति भक्तितः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः सर्वकामैरलंकृताः

ye narāstanmahāliṁgaṁ nirīkṣiṣyaṁti bhaktitaḥ| sarvapāpavinirmuktāḥ sarvakāmairalaṁkṛtāḥ

Those men who behold that great linga with devotion shall be freed from all sins and adorned with all desired things.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.72.50)

भविष्यंति महात्मानः पुत्रैश्वर्यसमन्विताः। अंतकाले च मां यांति विमानैः सर्वकामदैः

bhaviṣyaṁti mahātmānaḥ putraiśvaryasamanvitāḥ| aṁtakāle ca māṁ yāṁti vimānaiḥ sarvakāmadaiḥ

They shall become great souls, endowed with sons and prosperity; and at the time of death they come to me in celestial cars that grant every desire.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.72.51)

स्तुता गंधर्वमुख्यैश्च रुद्रलोके च शाश्वते। येऽर्चयंति सदा देवमगस्त्येश्वरसंज्ञकम्

stutā gaṁdharvamukhyaiśca rudraloke ca śāśvate| ye'rcayaṁti sadā devamagastyeśvarasaṁjñakam

They are praised by the chief gandharvas in the eternal world of Rudra — those who ever worship the god called Agastyeshvara.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.72.52)

कृतपुण्या नरा मर्त्यास्ते यांति परमं पदम्। संस्मृते देवदेवेशे नराणां कोटिजन्मजम्

kṛtapuṇyā narā martyāste yāṁti paramaṁ padam| saṁsmṛte devadeveśe narāṇāṁ koṭijanmajam

Mortal men of accumulated merit go to the supreme abode; when the Lord of gods and Lord of lords is remembered, the sin accumulated over crores of births for men —

Verse 53 (skanda.5.72.53)

अशुभं क्षयमाप्नोति कस्तं न प्रणमेच्छिवम्। यः प्रणम्य नरो भक्त्या देवं तं च निषेवते

aśubhaṁ kṣayamāpnoti kastaṁ na praṇamecchivam| yaḥ praṇamya naro bhaktyā devaṁ taṁ ca niṣevate

— that inauspicious sin attains destruction. Who would not bow to that Shiva? The man who, having bowed with devotion, serves that God —

Verse 54 (skanda.5.72.54)

मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकैर्नरकप्रदैः

mucyate brahmahatyādipātakairnarakapradaiḥ

— is freed from the sins beginning with brahmin-killing, which lead to hell.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.72.55)

राजसूयशतेनैव यत्पुण्यं च भविष्यति। तत्पुण्यमधिकं देवि दर्शनाच्च भविष्यति

rājasūyaśatenaiva yatpuṇyaṁ ca bhaviṣyati| tatpuṇyamadhikaṁ devi darśanācca bhaviṣyati

Whatever merit would come from a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, O Devi, an even greater merit than that comes from beholding this linga.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.72.56)

किं तीर्थैर्विविधैः स्नानैः किं दानैर्विविधैः कृतैः। ते प्राप्स्यंति फलं सर्वे मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः

kiṁ tīrthairvividhaiḥ snānaiḥ kiṁ dānairvividhaiḥ kṛtaiḥ| te prāpsyaṁti phalaṁ sarve matprasādānna saṁśayaḥ

What need is there of bathing at various tirthas, what need of various gifts given? By my grace they shall obtain every such fruit, without doubt.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.72.57)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां दिने सोमस्य शक्तितः। यः करिष्यति लिंगस्य पूजां भक्तिसमन्वितः। कुलानां तारयत्येव मातृकं पितृकं शतम्

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ dine somasya śaktitaḥ| yaḥ kariṣyati liṁgasya pūjāṁ bhaktisamanvitaḥ| kulānāṁ tārayatyeva mātṛkaṁ pitṛkaṁ śatam

On the eighth or fourteenth lunar day, or on Monday, whoever, according to his ability and with devotion, worships this linga, saves a hundred generations of his family, both maternal and paternal.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.72.58)

ये च पश्यंति पुरुषा भावहीनाः प्रसंगतः। न ते पश्यंति संसारे नरकं वै कदाचन

ye ca paśyaṁti puruṣā bhāvahīnāḥ prasaṁgataḥ| na te paśyaṁti saṁsāre narakaṁ vai kadācana

And even those men who see it without faith, merely in passing, shall never in this world of transmigration behold hell.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.72.59)

एतत्ते कथितं देवि लिंगमहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। प्रथमं कथितं लोके द्वितीयं शृणु यत्नतः

etatte kathitaṁ devi liṁgamahātmyamuttamam| prathamaṁ kathitaṁ loke dvitīyaṁ śṛṇu yatnataḥ

This, O Devi, is the supreme greatness of the linga that I have told you — the first has been told in the world; now listen carefully to the second.