The Greatness of the Twin Maiden-Tirthas and the Sandal-Footprints in the Pit, Bestowing the Knowledge of Brahman

Verse 1 (skanda.6.194.1)

सूत उवाच एवं सा तान्वरान्दत्त्वा सर्वेषां शापभागिनाम् मौनव्रतपरा भूत्वा निविष्टाऽथ धरातले

sūta uvāca evaṁ sā tānvarāndattvā sarveṣāṁ śāpabhāginām maunavrataparā bhūtvā niviṣṭā'tha dharātale

Suta said: Thus, having granted those boons to all who were subject to the curse, she settled upon the earth, given over to a vow of silence.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.194.2)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे तापसाश्च महर्षयः साधुसाध्विति तां प्रोच्य ततः प्रोचुरिदं वचः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve tāpasāśca maharṣayaḥ sādhusādhviti tāṁ procya tataḥ procuridaṁ vacaḥ

Then all the hosts of gods and the ascetic great sages, exclaiming 'Well done, well done!' to her, spoke these words.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.194.3)

एतां देवीप्रसादेन ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः पूजयिष्यंति मर्त्येऽत्र सर्वे लोकाः समाहिताः

etāṁ devīprasādena brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ pūjayiṣyaṁti martye'tra sarve lokāḥ samāhitāḥ

By the grace of this goddess, all people in the mortal world, with focused minds, shall worship her — the brahmins in particular.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.194.4)

ब्रह्माणं पूजयित्वा तु पश्चादेनां सुरेश्वरीम् पूजयिष्यंति ये मर्त्यास्ते तु यांति परां गतिम्

brahmāṇaṁ pūjayitvā tu paścādenāṁ sureśvarīm pūjayiṣyaṁti ye martyāste tu yāṁti parāṁ gatim

Those mortals who, having first worshipped Brahma, afterward worship this queen of the gods, attain the supreme state.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.194.5)

या कन्या पतिसंयोगं संप्राप्यात्र समाहिता ततः पादप्रणामं च गायत्र्याश्च करिष्यति पतिं प्रजापतिं प्राप्य सा भविष्यत्यसंशयम्

yā kanyā patisaṁyogaṁ saṁprāpyātra samāhitā tataḥ pādapraṇāmaṁ ca gāyatryāśca kariṣyati patiṁ prajāpatiṁ prāpya sā bhaviṣyatyasaṁśayam

The maiden who, having here attained union with a husband, thereafter bows with composed mind at the feet of Gayatri, having obtained a husband like Prajapati himself, shall without doubt become blessed.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.194.6)

सर्वकामसुखोपेता धनधान्यसमन्विता या नारी दुर्भगा वंध्या भविष्यति च शोभना

sarvakāmasukhopetā dhanadhānyasamanvitā yā nārī durbhagā vaṁdhyā bhaviṣyati ca śobhanā

— endowed with the joy of every desire, possessed of wealth and grain. And the woman who is unfortunate or barren shall likewise become radiant and blessed.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.194.7)

ऋषय ऊचुः यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं गते पंचोत्तरे शते पद्मजानां हरः प्रादादेतत्कथमनुत्तमम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ gate paṁcottare śate padmajānāṁ haraḥ prādādetatkathamanuttamam

The sages said: That which you have related — how, after a hundred and five years had passed, did Hara bestow this supreme gift upon the lotus-born brahmins?

Verse 8 (skanda.6.194.8)

ब्राह्मणेभ्यः स संतुष्टः किंवाऽन्योऽस्ति महेश्वरः एतं नः संशयं भूयो यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sa saṁtuṣṭaḥ kiṁvā'nyo'sti maheśvaraḥ etaṁ naḥ saṁśayaṁ bhūyo yathāvadvaktumarhasi

Was Maheshvara pleased with the brahmins, or is there some other reason? You should explain this doubt of ours once more, exactly as it is.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.194.9)

आयुष्यं शंकरस्यापि यत्प्रमाणं तथा हरेः ब्रह्मणोऽपि समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः

āyuṣyaṁ śaṁkarasyāpi yatpramāṇaṁ tathā hareḥ brahmaṇo'pi samācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

Tell us also the measure of the lifespan of Shankara, and likewise of Hari and of Brahma — for we are filled with great curiosity.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.194.10)

सूत उवाच अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि विस्तरेण द्विजोत्तमाः त्रयाणामपि चायुष्यं यत्प्रमाणं व्यवस्थितम्

sūta uvāca ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi vistareṇa dvijottamāḥ trayāṇāmapi cāyuṣyaṁ yatpramāṇaṁ vyavasthitam

Suta said: O best of brahmins, I shall declare to you at length the measure that is established for the lifespan of all three gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.194.11)

निमेषस्य चतुर्भागस्त्रुटिः स्यात्तद्द्वयं लवः लवद्वयं कला प्रोक्ता काष्ठा तु दशपंचभिः

nimeṣasya caturbhāgastruṭiḥ syāttaddvayaṁ lavaḥ lavadvayaṁ kalā proktā kāṣṭhā tu daśapaṁcabhiḥ

A quarter of a blink (nimesha) is a truti; two of those make a lava. Two lavas are said to be a kala, and fifteen kalas make one kashtha.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.194.12)

त्रिंशत्काष्ठां कलामाहुः क्षणस्त्रिंशत्कलो मतः मुहूर्तमानं मौहूर्ता वदंति द्वादशक्षणम्

triṁśatkāṣṭhāṁ kalāmāhuḥ kṣaṇastriṁśatkalo mataḥ muhūrtamānaṁ mauhūrtā vadaṁti dvādaśakṣaṇam

Thirty kashthas, too, they call a kala; a kshana is held to consist of thirty kalas. Those versed in muhurtas declare a muhurta's measure to be twelve kshanas.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.194.13)

त्रिंशन्मुहूर्तमुद्दिष्टमहोरात्रं मनीषिभिः मासस्त्रिंशदहोरात्रैर्द्वौ मासावृतुसंज्ञितः

triṁśanmuhūrtamuddiṣṭamahorātraṁ manīṣibhiḥ māsastriṁśadahorātrairdvau māsāvṛtusaṁjñitaḥ

The wise have declared a day-and-night to consist of thirty muhurtas; a month consists of thirty days-and-nights, and two months are termed a ritu, a season.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.194.14)

ऋतुत्रयं चायनं च अयने द्वे तु वत्सरम् दैविकं च भवेत्तच्च ह्यहोरात्रं द्विजोत्तमाः

ṛtutrayaṁ cāyanaṁ ca ayane dve tu vatsaram daivikaṁ ca bhavettacca hyahorātraṁ dvijottamāḥ

Three ritus make one ayana, and two ayanas make a year; and that, O best of brahmins, becomes a single divine day-and-night.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.194.15)

उत्तरं चायनं तत्र दिनं रात्रिस्तथाऽपरम् लक्षैः सप्तदशाख्यैस्तु मनुष्याणां च वत्सरैः

uttaraṁ cāyanaṁ tatra dinaṁ rātristathā'param lakṣaiḥ saptadaśākhyaistu manuṣyāṇāṁ ca vatsaraiḥ

There, the northern course (uttarayana) is the day, and the other, the southern course, is the night. By seventeen lakh years of men —

Verse 16 (skanda.6.194.16)

अष्टाविंशतिभिश्चैव सहस्रैस्तु तथा परैः आद्यं कृतयुगं चैव तद्भविष्यति सद्द्विजाः

aṣṭāviṁśatibhiścaiva sahasraistu tathā paraiḥ ādyaṁ kṛtayugaṁ caiva tadbhaviṣyati saddvijāḥ

— together with a further twenty-eight thousand, O good brahmins, that becomes the measure of the first, the Krita Yuga.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.194.17)

ततो द्वादशभिर्लक्षैः षोडशानां सहस्रकैः त्रेतायुगं समादिष्टं द्वितीयं द्विजसत्तमाः

tato dvādaśabhirlakṣaiḥ ṣoḍaśānāṁ sahasrakaiḥ tretāyugaṁ samādiṣṭaṁ dvitīyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

Then, by twelve lakhs together with sixteen thousand, the Treta Yuga, the second, is declared, O foremost of brahmins.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.194.18)

द्वापरं चाष्टभिर्लक्षैस्तृतीयं परिकीर्तितम् चतुःषष्टिसहस्रैस्तु यथावत्परिसंख्यया

dvāparaṁ cāṣṭabhirlakṣaistṛtīyaṁ parikīrtitam catuḥṣaṣṭisahasraistu yathāvatparisaṁkhyayā

The Dvapara, the third, is proclaimed as eight lakhs together with sixty-four thousand, according to due reckoning.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.194.19)

चतुर्लक्षं समादिष्टं युगं कलिसमुद्भवम् द्वात्रिंशता सहस्रैस्तु चतुर्थं तद्विदुर्बुधाः

caturlakṣaṁ samādiṣṭaṁ yugaṁ kalisamudbhavam dvātriṁśatā sahasraistu caturthaṁ tadvidurbudhāḥ

The fourth yuga, arising as the Kali, the wise know to be declared as four lakhs together with thirty-two thousand years.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.194.20)

चतुर्युगसहस्रेण दिनं पैतामहं भवेत् तेषां त्रिंशद्दिनैर्मासो मासैर्द्वादशभिर्वत्सरो भवेत्

caturyugasahasreṇa dinaṁ paitāmahaṁ bhavet teṣāṁ triṁśaddinairmāso māsairdvādaśabhirvatsaro bhavet

By a thousand such fourfold-yugas, one day of Brahma the Grandsire comes to be; by thirty of such days, a month occurs, and by twelve months, a year.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.194.21)

ब्रह्मा तेषां शतं यावत्स जीवति पितामहः सांप्रतं चाष्टवर्षीयः षण्मासश्चैव संस्थितः

brahmā teṣāṁ śataṁ yāvatsa jīvati pitāmahaḥ sāṁprataṁ cāṣṭavarṣīyaḥ ṣaṇmāsaścaiva saṁsthitaḥ

Brahma, the Grandsire, lives for a hundred of such years; and at present he stands at eight years and six months of his own life.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.194.22)

प्रतिपद्दिवसस्यास्य प्रथमस्य तथा गतम् यामद्वयं शुक्रवारे वर्तमाने महात्मनः

pratipaddivasasyāsya prathamasya tathā gatam yāmadvayaṁ śukravāre vartamāne mahātmanaḥ

Of the first pratipada day of that great soul, two yamas (watches) have likewise passed, it now being a Friday.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.194.23)

ब्रह्मणो वर्षमात्रेण दिनं वैष्णवमुच्यते

brahmaṇo varṣamātreṇa dinaṁ vaiṣṇavamucyate

By a single year of Brahma, one day of Vishnu is said to be measured.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.194.24)

सोपि वर्षशतंयावदात्ममानेन जीवति पंचपचाशदादिष्टास्तस्य जातस्य वत्सराः

sopi varṣaśataṁyāvadātmamānena jīvati paṁcapacāśadādiṣṭāstasya jātasya vatsarāḥ

He too lives for a hundred years by his own measure; of him, since his birth, fifty-five years are declared to have passed.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.194.25)

तिथयः पंच यामार्द्धं सोमवारेण संगतम् वैष्णवेन तु वर्षेण दिनं माहेश्वरं भवेत्

tithayaḥ paṁca yāmārddhaṁ somavāreṇa saṁgatam vaiṣṇavena tu varṣeṇa dinaṁ māheśvaraṁ bhavet

— along with five tithis and half a yama, coinciding with a Monday. And by one year of Vishnu, a day of Maheshvara, Shiva, comes to be.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.194.26)

शिवो वर्षशतं यावत्तेन रूपेण च स्थितः यावदुच्छ्वसितं वक्त्रं सदाशिवसमुद्भवम्

śivo varṣaśataṁ yāvattena rūpeṇa ca sthitaḥ yāvaducchvasitaṁ vaktraṁ sadāśivasamudbhavam

Shiva remains in that form for a hundred years, for as long as the mouth arising from Sadashiva keeps breathing out.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.194.27)

पश्चाच्छक्तिं समभ्येति यावन्निश्वसितं भवेत् निश्वासोच्छ्वसितानां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम्

paścācchaktiṁ samabhyeti yāvanniśvasitaṁ bhavet niśvāsocchvasitānāṁ ca sarveṣāmeva dehinām

Afterward he merges into Shakti, for as long as the in-breath lasts. And of the in-breaths and out-breaths of all embodied beings —

Verse 28 (skanda.6.194.28)

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानां च गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् एकविंशत्सहस्राणि शतैः षड्भिः शतानि च

brahmaviṣṇuśivānāṁ ca gandharvoragarakṣasām ekaviṁśatsahasrāṇi śataiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ śatāni ca

— of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and of gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas — twenty-one thousand six hundred such breaths

Verse 29 (skanda.6.194.29)

अहोरात्रेण चोक्तानि प्रमाणे द्विजसत्तमाः षड्भिरुच्छ्वासनिश्वासैः पलमेकं प्रवर्तते

ahorātreṇa coktāni pramāṇe dvijasattamāḥ ṣaḍbhirucchvāsaniśvāsaiḥ palamekaṁ pravartate

— O foremost of brahmins, are said to be the measure within a single day-and-night. By six such in-breaths and out-breaths, one pala elapses.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.194.30)

नाडी षष्टिपला प्रोक्ता तासां षष्ट्या दिनं निशा निश्वासोच्छ्वसितानां च परिसंख्या न विद्यते सदाशिवसमुत्थानामेतस्मात्सोऽक्षयः स्मृतः

nāḍī ṣaṣṭipalā proktā tāsāṁ ṣaṣṭyā dinaṁ niśā niśvāsocchvasitānāṁ ca parisaṁkhyā na vidyate sadāśivasamutthānāmetasmātso'kṣayaḥ smṛtaḥ

A nadi is said to consist of sixty palas, and sixty such nadis make one day and night. But of the breaths that arise from Sadashiva there is no such reckoning at all — for this very reason he is remembered as imperishable.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.194.31)

अन्येऽपि ये प्रगच्छंति ब्रह्मज्ञानसमन्विताः अक्षयास्तेऽपि जायंते सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

anye'pi ye pragacchaṁti brahmajñānasamanvitāḥ akṣayāste'pi jāyaṁte satyametanmayoditam

Others too, who advance endowed with the knowledge of Brahman, likewise become imperishable — this is the truth I have spoken.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.194.32)

ऋषय ऊचुः यद्येवं सूतपुत्रात्र ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः आत्मवर्षशते पूर्णे यांति नाशमसंशयम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadyevaṁ sūtaputrātra brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ ātmavarṣaśate pūrṇe yāṁti nāśamasaṁśayam

The sages said: O son of Suta, if it is so that Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, when their own hundred years are complete, undoubtedly go to destruction —

Verse 33 (skanda.6.194.33)

तत्कथं मानुषाणां च मर्त्यलोकेल्पजीविनाम् कथयंति च ये मुक्तिं विद्वांसश्चैव सूतज

tatkathaṁ mānuṣāṇāṁ ca martyalokelpajīvinām kathayaṁti ca ye muktiṁ vidvāṁsaścaiva sūtaja

— then how, O son of Suta, is it that scholars speak of liberation even for short-lived mortal men of this world of death?

Verse 34 (skanda.6.194.34)

नूनं तेषां मृषा वादो मोक्षमार्गसमुद्भवः

nūnaṁ teṣāṁ mṛṣā vādo mokṣamārgasamudbhavaḥ

Surely, then, their talk about the path of liberation must be mere falsehood.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.194.35)

सूत उवाच अनादिनिधनः कालः संख्यया परिवर्जितः असंख्याता गता मोक्षं ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः

sūta uvāca anādinidhanaḥ kālaḥ saṁkhyayā parivarjitaḥ asaṁkhyātā gatā mokṣaṁ brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ

Suta said: Time is without beginning or end, beyond all counting; countless Brahmas, Vishnus, and Maheshvaras have already attained liberation.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.194.36)

निजे वर्षशते पूर्णे वालुकारेणवो यथा निजमानेन या श्रद्धा ब्रह्मज्ञानसमुद्भवा तेषां चेन्मानुषाणां च तन्मुक्तिः स्यादसंशयम्

nije varṣaśate pūrṇe vālukāreṇavo yathā nijamānena yā śraddhā brahmajñānasamudbhavā teṣāṁ cenmānuṣāṇāṁ ca tanmuktiḥ syādasaṁśayam

— as numberless as grains of sand, when their own hundred years are complete. And for men too, if by their own measure faith born of the knowledge of Brahman arises in them, liberation shall come to them as well, without doubt.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.194.37)

यथैते दंशमशका मानुषाणां च कीटकाः जायंते च म्रियंते च गण्यंते नैव कुत्रचित् इन्द्रादीनां तथा मर्त्याः संभाव्या जगतीतले

yathaite daṁśamaśakā mānuṣāṇāṁ ca kīṭakāḥ jāyaṁte ca mriyaṁte ca gaṇyaṁte naiva kutracit indrādīnāṁ tathā martyāḥ saṁbhāvyā jagatītale

Just as these gnats, mosquitoes, and the small creatures upon men are born and die and are never counted anywhere, so too are mortal men to be regarded upon the earth in relation to Indra and the other gods.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.194.38)

देवानां च यथा मर्त्याः कीटस्थाने च संस्थिताः तथा देवा अपि ज्ञेया ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

devānāṁ ca yathā martyāḥ kīṭasthāne ca saṁsthitāḥ tathā devā api jñeyā brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ

And just as mortals stand in the place of vermin in relation to the gods, so too are the gods themselves to be understood in relation to Brahma, whose birth is unmanifest.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.194.39)

ब्रह्मणस्तु यथा देवाः कीटस्थाने व्यवस्थिताः तथा ब्रह्मापि विष्णोश्च कीटस्थाने व्यवस्थितः

brahmaṇastu yathā devāḥ kīṭasthāne vyavasthitāḥ tathā brahmāpi viṣṇośca kīṭasthāne vyavasthitaḥ

And just as the gods stand in the place of vermin in relation to Brahma, so too does Brahma himself stand in the place of vermin in relation to Vishnu.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.194.40)

पितामहो यथा विष्णोः कीटस्थाने व्यवस्थितः तथा स शिवशक्तिभ्यां परिज्ञेयो द्विजोत्तमाः

pitāmaho yathā viṣṇoḥ kīṭasthāne vyavasthitaḥ tathā sa śivaśaktibhyāṁ parijñeyo dvijottamāḥ

And just as the Grandsire Brahma stands in the place of vermin in relation to Vishnu, so, O best of brahmins, is Vishnu himself to be understood in relation to Shiva and Shakti.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.194.41)

यथा विष्णुः कृमिर्ज्ञेयस्ताभ्यामेव द्विजोत्तमाः सदाशिवस्य विज्ञेयौ तथा तौ कृमिरूपकौ

yathā viṣṇuḥ kṛmirjñeyastābhyāmeva dvijottamāḥ sadāśivasya vijñeyau tathā tau kṛmirūpakau

Just as, O best of brahmins, Vishnu is to be known as a worm in relation to those two, Shiva and Shakti, so too are those two themselves to be understood as taking the form of a worm in relation to Sadashiva.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.194.42)

एवं च विविधैर्यज्ञैः श्रद्धा पूतेन चेतसा ब्रह्मज्ञानात्परं यांति सदाशिवसमुद्भवम्

evaṁ ca vividhairyajñaiḥ śraddhā pūtena cetasā brahmajñānātparaṁ yāṁti sadāśivasamudbhavam

Thus, through various sacrifices and with a mind purified by faith, beings attain, by the knowledge of Brahman, that supreme state which arises from Sadashiva.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.194.43)

अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैः कृतैः संपूर्णदक्षिणैः तदर्थं ते दिवं यांति भुक्त्वा भोगान्पृथग्विधान्

agniṣṭomādibhiryajñaiḥ kṛtaiḥ saṁpūrṇadakṣiṇaiḥ tadarthaṁ te divaṁ yāṁti bhuktvā bhogānpṛthagvidhān

By sacrifices such as the Agnishtoma, performed with full sacrificial fees, they go for that purpose to heaven, and there enjoy various kinds of pleasures.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.194.44)

क्षये च पुनरायांति सुकृतस्य महीतले ब्रह्मज्ञानात्परं प्राप्य पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

kṣaye ca punarāyāṁti sukṛtasya mahītale brahmajñānātparaṁ prāpya punarjanma na vidyate

But when their merit is exhausted, they return again to the surface of the earth. Having attained the supreme through the knowledge of Brahman, however, there is no rebirth.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.194.45)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्राभ्यासं समाचरेत् जन्मभिर्बहुभिः पश्चाच्छनैर्मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena tatrābhyāsaṁ samācaret janmabhirbahubhiḥ paścācchanairmuktimavāpnuyāt

Therefore one should, with every effort, practice diligently toward that goal; then, after many births, one gradually attains liberation.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.194.46)

एकजन्मनि संप्राप्तो लेशो ज्ञानस्य तस्य च द्वितीये द्विगुणस्तस्य तृतीये त्रिगुणो भवेत्

ekajanmani saṁprāpto leśo jñānasya tasya ca dvitīye dviguṇastasya tṛtīye triguṇo bhavet

The fragment of that knowledge attained in one birth becomes doubled in the second birth, and threefold in the third.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.194.47)

एकोत्तरो भवेदेवं सदा जन्मनिजन्मनि

ekottaro bhavedevaṁ sadā janmanijanmani

Thus it goes on increasing by one degree more, ever, from birth to birth.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.194.48)

ऋषय ऊचुः ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य संप्राप्तिर्मर्त्यानां जायते कथम् एतन्नः सर्वमाचक्ष्व यदि त्वं वेत्सि सूतज

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ brahmajñānasya saṁprāptirmartyānāṁ jāyate katham etannaḥ sarvamācakṣva yadi tvaṁ vetsi sūtaja

The sages said: How does the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman come about for mortals? Tell us all of this, O son of Suta, if you know it.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.194.49)

सूत उवाच का शक्तिर्मम वक्तव्ये ज्ञाने मर्त्यसमुद्भवे स्वयमेव न यो वेत्ति स परस्य वदेत्कथम्

sūta uvāca kā śaktirmama vaktavye jñāne martyasamudbhave svayameva na yo vetti sa parasya vadetkatham

Suta said: What power do I have to speak of that knowledge which arises for mortals? How could one who does not himself know it speak of it to another?

Verse 50 (skanda.6.194.50)

उपदेशः परं यो मे पित्रा दत्तो द्विजोत्तमाः तमहं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मज्ञानसमुद्भवम्

upadeśaḥ paraṁ yo me pitrā datto dvijottamāḥ tamahaṁ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi brahmajñānasamudbhavam

But the supreme teaching that was given to me by my own father, O best of brahmins — that teaching, giving rise to the knowledge of Brahman, I shall declare to you.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.194.51)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे ह्यस्ति तीर्थद्वयं शुभम् कुमारिकाभ्यां विहितं ब्रह्मज्ञानप्रदं नृणाम्

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre hyasti tīrthadvayaṁ śubham kumārikābhyāṁ vihitaṁ brahmajñānapradaṁ nṛṇām

In the sacred field born at Hatakeshvara, there exist two auspicious tirthas, established by two maidens, which bestow the knowledge of Brahman upon men.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.194.52)

ब्राह्मण्या चैव शूद्र्या च कुमारीभ्यां विनिर्मितम् अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां यस्ताभ्यां स्नानमाचरेत्

brāhmaṇyā caiva śūdryā ca kumārībhyāṁ vinirmitam aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ yastābhyāṁ snānamācaret

They were fashioned by two maidens, one born a brahmin and one a shudra. Whoever bathes in them on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days,

Verse 53 (skanda.6.194.53)

पश्चात्पूजयते भक्त्या प्रसिद्धे सिद्धिपादुके सुगुप्ते गर्तमध्यस्थे कुमार्या परिपूजिते

paścātpūjayate bhaktyā prasiddhe siddhipāduke sugupte gartamadhyasthe kumāryā paripūjite

and afterward, with devotion, worships the renowned Siddhi-paduka, the well-hidden sandal-footprints set in the midst of the pit, worshipped by the maiden,

Verse 54 (skanda.6.194.54)

तस्य संवत्सरस्यान्ते ब्रह्मज्ञानं प्रजायते शक्त्या विनिहिते ते च स्वदर्शनविवृद्धये

tasya saṁvatsarasyānte brahmajñānaṁ prajāyate śaktyā vinihite te ca svadarśanavivṛddhaye

— for him, at the end of a year, the knowledge of Brahman is born. Those footprints were set down by Shakti herself, for the increase of the vision of her own true nature,

Verse 55 (skanda.6.194.55)

लोकानां मुक्तिकामानां ब्रह्मज्ञानसुखावहे मम तातो गतस्तत्र ततश्च ज्ञानवान्स्थितः

lokānāṁ muktikāmānāṁ brahmajñānasukhāvahe mama tāto gatastatra tataśca jñānavānsthitaḥ

bringing the joy of Brahman's knowledge to people desirous of liberation. My own father went there, and thereafter stood established, a man possessed of knowledge.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.194.56)

तस्यादेशादहं तत्र गतः संवत्सरं स्थितः पादुके पूजयामास ततो ज्ञानं च संस्थितम्

tasyādeśādahaṁ tatra gataḥ saṁvatsaraṁ sthitaḥ pāduke pūjayāmāsa tato jñānaṁ ca saṁsthitam

By his instruction, I too went there and remained for a year. I worshipped the sandal-footprints, and thereafter knowledge became established in me.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.194.57)

यत्किञ्चिद्वा श्रुतं लोके पुराणाग्र्यं व्यवस्थितम् वर्तमानं भविष्यच्च तदहं वेद्मि भो द्विजाः

yatkiñcidvā śrutaṁ loke purāṇāgryaṁ vyavasthitam vartamānaṁ bhaviṣyacca tadahaṁ vedmi bho dvijāḥ

Whatever has been heard in this world, established as the foremost of the Puranas — past, present, and future — that, O brahmins, I know.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.194.58)

तत्प्रसादादसंदिग्धं प्रमाणं चात्र संस्थितम् मुक्त्वैकं वेदपठनं सूतत्वं च यतो मयि

tatprasādādasaṁdigdhaṁ pramāṇaṁ cātra saṁsthitam muktvaikaṁ vedapaṭhanaṁ sūtatvaṁ ca yato mayi

By that grace, an undoubted authority is established in me here — excepting only the recitation of the Veda, since the status of a suta persists in me.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.194.59)

तस्यापि वेद्मि सर्वार्थं भर्तृयज्ञो यथा मुनिः अस्मादत्रैव गच्छध्वं यदि मुक्तेः प्रयोजनम्

tasyāpi vedmi sarvārthaṁ bhartṛyajño yathā muniḥ asmādatraiva gacchadhvaṁ yadi mukteḥ prayojanam

Even of that I know the entire meaning, like the sage Bhartriyajna. So go there directly from here, if liberation is your purpose.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.194.60)

किमेतैः स्वर्गदैः सत्रैः पुनरावृत्तिकारकैः आराधयध्वं ते गत्वा पादुके सिद्धिदे नृणाम् येन संवत्सरस्यान्ते ब्रह्मज्ञानं प्रजायते

kimetaiḥ svargadaiḥ satraiḥ punarāvṛttikārakaiḥ ārādhayadhvaṁ te gatvā pāduke siddhide nṛṇām yena saṁvatsarasyānte brahmajñānaṁ prajāyate

What use are these sacrificial sessions that grant only heaven and bring about a return to rebirth? Go there and worship those two footprints that grant attainment to men, by which, at the end of a year, the knowledge of Brahman is born.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.194.61)

ऋषय ऊचुः साधुसाधु महाभाग ह्युपदेशः कृतो महान् तेन संतारिताः सर्वे वयं संसारसागरात्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sādhusādhu mahābhāga hyupadeśaḥ kṛto mahān tena saṁtāritāḥ sarve vayaṁ saṁsārasāgarāt

The sages said: Well done, well done, O most fortunate one — a great teaching has been given. By it, all of us have been carried across the ocean of transmigration.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.194.62)

यास्यामोऽपि वयं तत्र सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके समाप्तेऽस्मिन्न संदेहः सर्वे च कृतनिश्चयाः

yāsyāmo'pi vayaṁ tatra satre dvādaśavārṣike samāpte'sminna saṁdehaḥ sarve ca kṛtaniścayāḥ

We too shall go there, once this twelve-year sacrificial session is complete — without doubt, all of us, having made this resolve.