The Greatness of the Twin Tirthas of Shudri and Brahmani

Verse 1 (skanda.6.198.1)

सूत उवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु दशार्णाधिपतिस्तदा रत्नवत्या विवाहार्थं तत्र स्थाने समागतः

sūta uvāca etasminneva kāle tu daśārṇādhipatistadā ratnavatyā vivāhārthaṁ tatra sthāne samāgataḥ

Suta said: At this very time, the lord of Dasharna arrived at that place for the sake of marrying Ratnavati.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.198.2)

स श्रुत्वा तत्र वृत्तांतं रत्नवत्याः समुद्भवम् विरक्तिं परमां कृत्वा प्रस्थितः स्वपुरं प्रति

sa śrutvā tatra vṛttāṁtaṁ ratnavatyāḥ samudbhavam viraktiṁ paramāṁ kṛtvā prasthitaḥ svapuraṁ prati

But hearing there the whole account concerning Ratnavati, he became utterly repelled, and set out again for his own city.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.198.3)

तं श्रुत्वा प्रस्थितं भूपमानर्तः स्वपुरं प्रति पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ तस्य व्याघोटनकृते तदा

taṁ śrutvā prasthitaṁ bhūpamānartaḥ svapuraṁ prati pṛṣṭhato'nuyayau tasya vyāghoṭanakṛte tadā

Hearing that the king had thus departed for his own city, Anarta then followed after him, to plead with him and win him back.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.198.4)

अथाब्रवीच्च तं प्राप्य कस्मात्त्वं प्रस्थितो नृप पाणिग्रहमकृत्वा तु मम कन्यासमुद्भवम्

athābravīcca taṁ prāpya kasmāttvaṁ prasthito nṛpa pāṇigrahamakṛtvā tu mama kanyāsamudbhavam

Reaching him, Anarta then said: 'Why, O king, have you departed without taking the hand of my daughter in marriage?'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.198.5)

दशार्ण उवाच दूषितेयं तव सुता कन्यकात्वविवर्जिता यस्याः पीतोऽधरोऽन्येन मर्दितौ च तथा स्तनौ

daśārṇa uvāca dūṣiteyaṁ tava sutā kanyakātvavivarjitā yasyāḥ pīto'dharo'nyena marditau ca tathā stanau

The lord of Dasharna said: 'This daughter of yours has been defiled, robbed of her maidenhood — for another man has drunk from her lip, and pressed her breasts.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.198.6)

पुनर्भूरिति संज्ञा सा सञ्जाता दुहिता तव पुनर्भूर्जनयेत्पुत्रं यं कदाचित्कथंचन

punarbhūriti saṁjñā sā sañjātā duhitā tava punarbhūrjanayetputraṁ yaṁ kadācitkathaṁcana

'Your daughter has thus become what is termed a punarbhu, a twice-given woman. And should a punarbhu ever, in any way, bear a son —'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.198.7)

स पातयत्यसंदिग्धं दश पूर्वान्दशापरान् एकविंशतिमं चैव तथैवात्मानमेव च

sa pātayatyasaṁdigdhaṁ daśa pūrvāndaśāparān ekaviṁśatimaṁ caiva tathaivātmānameva ca

'— that son undoubtedly drags down ten generations before him and ten after, and the twenty-first as well, together with himself.'

Verse 8 (skanda.6.198.8)

न वरिष्याम्यहं तेन सुतां तेऽहं नरसिप निर्दाक्षिण्यमिति प्रोच्य दशार्णाधिपतिस्तदा

na variṣyāmyahaṁ tena sutāṁ te'haṁ narasipa nirdākṣiṇyamiti procya daśārṇādhipatistadā

'For this reason, O lord of men, I shall not take your daughter as my bride.' Having declared this rejection, the lord of Dasharna,

Verse 9 (skanda.6.198.9)

छंद्यमानोऽपि विविधैर्हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्वकैः अवज्ञाय महीपालं प्रस्थितः स्वपुरं प्रति

chaṁdyamāno'pi vividhairhastyaśvarathapūrvakaiḥ avajñāya mahīpālaṁ prasthitaḥ svapuraṁ prati

— though tempted with many gifts, of elephants, horses, and chariots, scorned the king and set off again for his own city.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.198.10)

अथानर्त्तो गृहं प्राप्य मृगावत्याः समाकुलः तद्वृत्तं कथयामास यदुक्तं तेन भूभुजा स्वभार्यायाः सुतायाश्च मन्त्रिणां दुःखसंयुतः

athānartto gṛhaṁ prāpya mṛgāvatyāḥ samākulaḥ tadvṛttaṁ kathayāmāsa yaduktaṁ tena bhūbhujā svabhāryāyāḥ sutāyāśca mantriṇāṁ duḥkhasaṁyutaḥ

Then Anarta, reaching home, distraught, related, sorrowfully, to his wife Mrigavati, to his daughter, and to his ministers, all that had been said by that king.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.198.11)

ते प्रोचुः संति भूपालाः संख्याहीना महीतले रूपाढ्या यौवनोपेता हस्त्यश्वरथसंयुताः

te procuḥ saṁti bhūpālāḥ saṁkhyāhīnā mahītale rūpāḍhyā yauvanopetā hastyaśvarathasaṁyutāḥ

They said: 'There are countless kings upon the earth, rich in beauty, in the prime of youth, possessed of elephants, horses, and chariots.'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.198.12)

तेषामेकतमस्य त्वं देहि कन्यां निजां विभो मा विषादे मनः कृत्वा दुःखस्य वशगो भव

teṣāmekatamasya tvaṁ dehi kanyāṁ nijāṁ vibho mā viṣāde manaḥ kṛtvā duḥkhasya vaśago bhava

'O lord, give your own daughter to any one of them — do not sink your mind into despair, do not fall prey to sorrow.'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.198.13)

आनर्तोऽपि च तच्छ्रुत्वा तेषां वाक्यं सुदुःखितम् ततः प्राह प्रहृष्टात्मा तान्सर्वान्मन्त्रिपूर्वकान्

ānarto'pi ca tacchrutvā teṣāṁ vākyaṁ suduḥkhitam tataḥ prāha prahṛṣṭātmā tānsarvānmantripūrvakān

Anarta, too, hearing that consoling word from them, though he had been greatly sorrowful, took heart, and spoke to all of them, the ministers foremost among them.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.198.14)

तां च कन्यां स्थितां तत्र साम्ना परमवल्गुना पुत्रि दृष्टा महीपालाः सर्वे चित्रगतास्त्वया

tāṁ ca kanyāṁ sthitāṁ tatra sāmnā paramavalgunā putri dṛṣṭā mahīpālāḥ sarve citragatāstvayā

He addressed the maiden who sat there, with the sweetest words: 'Daughter, you have seen all the kings depicted in the paintings.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.198.15)

तेषां मध्यान्नृपं चान्यं कञ्चिद्वरय शोभने यस्ते चित्तस्य सन्तोषं कुरुते दृक्पथं गतः

teṣāṁ madhyānnṛpaṁ cānyaṁ kañcidvaraya śobhane yaste cittasya santoṣaṁ kurute dṛkpathaṁ gataḥ

'From among them, O lovely one, now choose some other king — whichever one, upon coming before your eyes, brings contentment to your heart.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.198.16)

रत्नावत्युवाच न चाहं वरयिष्यामि पतिमन्यं कथंचन दशार्णाधिपतिं मुक्त्वा श्रूयतामत्र कारणम्

ratnāvatyuvāca na cāhaṁ varayiṣyāmi patimanyaṁ kathaṁcana daśārṇādhipatiṁ muktvā śrūyatāmatra kāraṇam

Ratnavati said: 'I shall never, under any circumstance, choose any husband other than the lord of Dasharna. Hear the reason for this.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.198.17)

सकृज्जल्पंति राजानः सकृज्जल्पंति च द्विजाः सकृत्कन्याः प्रदीयंते त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत्

sakṛjjalpaṁti rājānaḥ sakṛjjalpaṁti ca dvijāḥ sakṛtkanyāḥ pradīyaṁte trīṇyetāni sakṛtsakṛt

'Kings speak but once, brahmins speak but once, and maidens are given in marriage but once — these three things happen only once, each of them.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.198.18)

एवं ज्ञात्वा न मां तात त्वमन्यस्मिन्महीपतौ दातुमर्हसि धर्मोऽयं न भवेच्छाश्वतो यतः

evaṁ jñātvā na māṁ tāta tvamanyasminmahīpatau dātumarhasi dharmo'yaṁ na bhavecchāśvato yataḥ

'Knowing this, father, you should not give me to any other king; for otherwise this eternal dharma would no longer hold true.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.198.19)

आनर्त उवाच वाङ्मात्रेण प्रदत्ता त्वं दशार्णाधिपतेर्मया न ते हस्तग्रहं प्राप्तो विप्राग्निगुरुसन्निधौ

ānarta uvāca vāṅmātreṇa pradattā tvaṁ daśārṇādhipatermayā na te hastagrahaṁ prāpto viprāgnigurusannidhau

Anarta said: 'You were given to the lord of Dasharna by word alone, on my part. Your hand has not yet been taken by him in the presence of brahmins, the sacred fire, and elders.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.198.20)

तत्कथं स पतिर्जातस्तव पुत्रि वदस्व मे

tatkathaṁ sa patirjātastava putri vadasva me

'How, then, daughter, has he become your husband? Tell me.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.198.21)

रत्नावत्युवाच मनसा चिंत्यते कार्यं सकृत्तातपुरा यतः वाचया प्रोच्यते पश्चात्कर्मणा क्रियते ततः

ratnāvatyuvāca manasā ciṁtyate kāryaṁ sakṛttātapurā yataḥ vācayā procyate paścātkarmaṇā kriyate tataḥ

Ratnavati said: 'Father, a matter is first conceived, once, in the mind; afterward it is declared in speech; and only then is it carried out in deed.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.198.22)

तन्मया मनसा दत्तस्तस्यात्माऽयं पुरा किल त्वया च वाचया चास्मै प्रदत्तास्मि तथा विभो तत्कथं न पतिर्मे स्याद्ब्रूहि वा यदि मन्यसे

tanmayā manasā dattastasyātmā'yaṁ purā kila tvayā ca vācayā cāsmai pradattāsmi tathā vibho tatkathaṁ na patirme syādbrūhi vā yadi manyase

'This self of mine was given to him by my own mind, long before; and you too, O lord, gave me to him in speech. How, then, could he not be my husband? Tell me, if you think otherwise.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.198.23)

साहं तपश्चरिष्यामि कौमारव्रतधारिणी नान्यं पतिं करिष्यामि निश्चयोऽयं मया कृतः

sāhaṁ tapaścariṣyāmi kaumāravratadhāriṇī nānyaṁ patiṁ kariṣyāmi niścayo'yaṁ mayā kṛtaḥ

'I shall therefore practise austerity, holding to the vow of maidenhood; I shall take no other husband — this is my firm resolve.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.198.24)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं रौद्रं माता तस्या मृगावती अश्रुपूर्णेक्षणा दीना वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ raudraṁ mātā tasyā mṛgāvatī aśrupūrṇekṣaṇā dīnā vākyametaduvāca ha

Hearing this harsh declaration, her mother Mrigavati, her eyes filled with tears, wretched, spoke these words.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.198.25)

मा पुत्रि साहसं कार्षीस्तपोऽर्थं त्वं कथञ्चन बाला त्वं सुकुमारांगी सदैव सुखभागिनी

mā putri sāhasaṁ kārṣīstapo'rthaṁ tvaṁ kathañcana bālā tvaṁ sukumārāṁgī sadaiva sukhabhāginī

'My daughter, do not act rashly for the sake of this austerity, in any way. You are but a child, delicate of limb, ever accustomed to comfort.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.198.26)

कथं तपः समर्थासि विधातुं त्वमनिंदिते कन्दमूलफलाहारा चीरवल्कलधारिणी

kathaṁ tapaḥ samarthāsi vidhātuṁ tvamaniṁdite kandamūlaphalāhārā cīravalkaladhāriṇī

'How, O blameless one, could you possibly perform austerity — living on roots, bulbs, and fruit, clad in bark-garments?'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.198.27)

तस्मान्मुख्यस्य भूपस्य कस्यचित्वां ददाम्यहम्

tasmānmukhyasya bhūpasya kasyacitvāṁ dadāmyaham

'Therefore I shall give you to some other foremost king.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.198.28)

एषा ते ब्राह्मणीनाम सखी परमसंमता प्रतीक्षते विवाहं ते कौमारं भावमाश्रिता

eṣā te brāhmaṇīnāma sakhī paramasaṁmatā pratīkṣate vivāhaṁ te kaumāraṁ bhāvamāśritā

'Here is your dearly cherished friend, named Brahmani, who, still holding to her maiden state, awaits your own marriage.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.198.29)

यस्य भूपस्य त्वं हर्म्ये प्रयास्यसि विवाहिता पुरोधास्तस्य यो राज्ञो भार्येयं तस्य भाविनी

yasya bhūpasya tvaṁ harmye prayāsyasi vivāhitā purodhāstasya yo rājño bhāryeyaṁ tasya bhāvinī

'To whichever king's palace you go as a bride, to the son of that king's priest, she shall become the future wife.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.198.30)

रत्नावत्युवाच न च भूयस्त्वया वाच्यं वाक्यमेवंविधं क्वचित् मदर्थे यदि मे प्राणास्त्वं वांछसि सुतैषिणी

ratnāvatyuvāca na ca bhūyastvayā vācyaṁ vākyamevaṁvidhaṁ kvacit madarthe yadi me prāṇāstvaṁ vāṁchasi sutaiṣiṇī

Ratnavati said: 'Never again speak such words as these — if, as a mother longing for your daughter's good, you truly wish for my life to continue.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.198.31)

अथवा त्वं हठार्थं च तपोविघ्नं करिष्यसि

athavā tvaṁ haṭhārthaṁ ca tapovighnaṁ kariṣyasi

'For if you should, out of obstinacy, place an obstacle before my austerity —'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.198.32)

ततस्त्यक्ष्याम्यहं देहं भक्षयित्वा महद्विषम् खंडयिष्याम्यहं जिह्वां प्रवेक्ष्यामि च वा जलम्

tatastyakṣyāmyahaṁ dehaṁ bhakṣayitvā mahadviṣam khaṁḍayiṣyāmyahaṁ jihvāṁ pravekṣyāmi ca vā jalam

'— then I shall give up this body, by swallowing deadly poison, or I shall sever my own tongue, or plunge into water.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.198.33)

एवं सा निश्चयं कृत्वा प्रोच्य तां जननीं तदा

evaṁ sā niścayaṁ kṛtvā procya tāṁ jananīṁ tadā

Having made this resolve, and having thus spoken to her mother,

Verse 34 (skanda.6.198.34)

ततः प्रोवाच तां कन्यां ब्राह्मणीं संमतां सखीम् कृतांजलिपुटा भूत्वा समालिंग्य च सादरम्

tataḥ provāca tāṁ kanyāṁ brāhmaṇīṁ saṁmatāṁ sakhīm kṛtāṁjalipuṭā bhūtvā samāliṁgya ca sādaram

— she then, with joined palms and a tender embrace, spoke to that maiden, her cherished friend Brahmani.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.198.35)

गच्छ त्वं स्वपितुर्हर्म्यं प्रेषितासि मया शुभे येन ते यच्छति पिता नागराय महात्मने

gaccha tvaṁ svapiturharmyaṁ preṣitāsi mayā śubhe yena te yacchati pitā nāgarāya mahātmane

'Go, O blessed one, to your own father's house, sent by me, so that your father may give you to some great-souled Nagara.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.198.36)

क्षमस्व यन्मया प्रोक्ता कदाचित्परुषं वचः त्वयापि यन्मम प्रोक्तं क्षांतं चैतन्मया ध्रुवम्

kṣamasva yanmayā proktā kadācitparuṣaṁ vacaḥ tvayāpi yanmama proktaṁ kṣāṁtaṁ caitanmayā dhruvam

'Forgive me for whatever harsh word I may ever have spoken to you; and whatever you have spoken to me, I too have surely forgiven.'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.198.37)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच अष्टवर्षा भवेद्गौरी नववर्षा तु रोहिणी दशवर्षा भवेत्कन्या अत ऊर्ध्वं रजस्वला

brāhmaṇyuvāca aṣṭavarṣā bhavedgaurī navavarṣā tu rohiṇī daśavarṣā bhavetkanyā ata ūrdhvaṁ rajasvalā

Brahmani said: 'At eight years a girl is called Gauri; at nine, Rohini; at ten she is termed Kanya; beyond that, she becomes rajasvala.'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.198.38)

कौमार्यं च प्रणष्टं मे त्वत्संपर्काद्वरानने जातं षोडशकं वर्षं स्त्रीधर्मेण समन्वितम्

kaumāryaṁ ca praṇaṣṭaṁ me tvatsaṁparkādvarānane jātaṁ ṣoḍaśakaṁ varṣaṁ strīdharmeṇa samanvitam

'O fair-faced one, my own maidenhood has already been lost through my closeness to you — my sixteenth year has come, and I am now subject to the way of women.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.198.39)

न मे पाणिग्रहं कश्चिन्नागरोऽत्र करिष्यति बुध्यमानस्तु स्मृत्यर्थं वक्ष्यमाणं वरानने

na me pāṇigrahaṁ kaścinnāgaro'tra kariṣyati budhyamānastu smṛtyarthaṁ vakṣyamāṇaṁ varānane

'No Nagara here, knowing this, will now take my hand in marriage — for, O fair one, here is what is declared for the sake of the law-books:'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.198.40)

रजस्वलां च यः कन्यामुद्वाहयति निर्घृणः तस्याः सन्तानमासाद्य पातयेत्पुरुषान्दश

rajasvalāṁ ca yaḥ kanyāmudvāhayati nirghṛṇaḥ tasyāḥ santānamāsādya pātayetpuruṣāndaśa

'Whatever pitiless man marries a maiden who has already reached the age of menstruation drags down ten generations of men, through the offspring born of her.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.198.41)

रजस्वला तु यः कन्यां पिता यच्छति निर्घृणः स पातयेदसंदिग्धं दश पूर्वान्दशापरान्

rajasvalā tu yaḥ kanyāṁ pitā yacchati nirghṛṇaḥ sa pātayedasaṁdigdhaṁ daśa pūrvāndaśāparān

'And whatever pitiless father gives his already-menstruating daughter in marriage undoubtedly drags down ten generations before him and ten after.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.198.42)

तस्मादहं करिष्यामि त्वया सार्धं तपः शुभे पित्रा नैव हि मे कार्यं न च मात्रा कथंचन

tasmādahaṁ kariṣyāmi tvayā sārdhaṁ tapaḥ śubhe pitrā naiva hi me kāryaṁ na ca mātrā kathaṁcana

'Therefore, O blessed one, I shall practise austerity together with you. I shall have nothing more to do with my father, nor with my mother, in any way.'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.198.43)

सूत उवाच एवं ते निश्चयं कृत्वा कन्यके द्वे द्विजोतमाः गते यत्र स्थितः साक्षाद्भर्तृयज्ञो महामुनिः

sūta uvāca evaṁ te niścayaṁ kṛtvā kanyake dve dvijotamāḥ gate yatra sthitaḥ sākṣādbhartṛyajño mahāmuniḥ

Suta said: Having thus made their resolve, O best of brahmins, the two maidens went to where the great sage Bhartriyajna himself dwelt.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.198.44)

स्थितो वास्तुपदे रम्ये सर्वतीर्थमये शुभे तस्य तपःप्रभावेन जातु कोपो न दृश्यते

sthito vāstupade ramye sarvatīrthamaye śubhe tasya tapaḥprabhāvena jātu kopo na dṛśyate

He dwelt in a lovely settlement, blessed with the presence of every tirtha; by the power of his austerity, anger was never once to be seen there —

Verse 45 (skanda.6.198.45)

कस्यचित्क्वापि मर्त्यस्य तिर्यग्योनिगतस्य च

kasyacitkvāpi martyasya tiryagyonigatasya ca

— not in any mortal being, nor in any creature of the animal realm, whosoever they might be.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.198.46)

क्रीडंति नकुलाः सर्पैर्मार्जाराः सह मूषकैः सारंगा द्वीपिभिः सार्धं काकाश्च सह कौशिकैः भर्तृयज्ञं सुखासीनं तत्र गत्वा तु ते शुभे प्रोचतुर्विनयोपेते कृतांजलिपुटे स्थिते

krīḍaṁti nakulāḥ sarpairmārjārāḥ saha mūṣakaiḥ sāraṁgā dvīpibhiḥ sārdhaṁ kākāśca saha kauśikaiḥ bhartṛyajñaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ tatra gatvā tu te śubhe procaturvinayopete kṛtāṁjalipuṭe sthite

Mongooses played there with snakes, cats with mice, deer together with leopards, and crows together with owls. There, the two blessed maidens, approaching Bhartriyajna as he sat at ease, stood humbly with joined palms, and spoke.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.198.47)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच अहं सख्या समं याता ह्यनया राजकन्यया तपोऽर्थे तव पादांते तद्ब्रूहि तपसो विधिम्

brāhmaṇyuvāca ahaṁ sakhyā samaṁ yātā hyanayā rājakanyayā tapo'rthe tava pādāṁte tadbrūhi tapaso vidhim

Brahmani said: 'I have come here together with this friend of mine, the king's daughter, for the sake of austerity, to your very feet. Tell us, then, the rule of the austerity.'

Verse 48 (skanda.6.198.48)

वदस्व येन तत्कृत्स्नं प्रकरोमि महामते

vadasva yena tatkṛtsnaṁ prakaromi mahāmate

'Tell us this, O wise one, so that I may carry it out in its entirety.'

Verse 49 (skanda.6.198.49)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच अहं ते कथयिष्यामि तपश्चर्याविधिं पृथक् येन संप्राप्यते मोक्षः कि पुनस्त्रिदशालयः

bhartṛyajña uvāca ahaṁ te kathayiṣyāmi tapaścaryāvidhiṁ pṛthak yena saṁprāpyate mokṣaḥ ki punastridaśālayaḥ

Bhartriyajna said: 'I shall declare to you separately the rule for the practice of austerity, by which liberation is attained — how much more, then, the world of the gods!'

Verse 50 (skanda.6.198.50)

चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि तथा सांतपनानि च षष्ठे काले तथा भोज्यं दिनांतरितमेव च

cāṁdrāyaṇāni kṛcchrāṇi tathā sāṁtapanāni ca ṣaṣṭhe kāle tathā bhojyaṁ dināṁtaritameva ca

'The Chandrayana fasts, the Krichchhra penances, and the Santapana penances; eating only every sixth mealtime, and also eating only on alternate days;

Verse 51 (skanda.6.198.51)

ब्रह्मकूर्चं त्रिरात्रं च एकभक्तमयाचितम् तपोद्वाराणि सर्वाणि कृतान्येतानि वेधसा

brahmakūrcaṁ trirātraṁ ca ekabhaktamayācitam tapodvārāṇi sarvāṇi kṛtānyetāni vedhasā

'the Brahma-kurcha, the three-night fast, taking a single unbegged meal a day — all these gateways of austerity have been established by the Creator.'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.198.52)

स्वशक्त्या चैव कार्याणि रागद्वेषविवर्जितैः वांछितव्यं फलं चैव सर्वेषामेव पुत्रिके ततः सिद्धिमवाप्नोति या सदा मनसि स्थिता

svaśaktyā caiva kāryāṇi rāgadveṣavivarjitaiḥ vāṁchitavyaṁ phalaṁ caiva sarveṣāmeva putrike tataḥ siddhimavāpnoti yā sadā manasi sthitā

'Each, according to one's own strength, is to be undertaken free from attachment and aversion, my daughters; the fruit desired should be held ever in mind, and thereby one attains the accomplishment that is fixed in the mind.'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.198.53)

समत्वं शत्रुमित्राभ्यां तथा पाषाणरत्नयोः यदा संजायते चित्ते तदा मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

samatvaṁ śatrumitrābhyāṁ tathā pāṣāṇaratnayoḥ yadā saṁjāyate citte tadā mokṣamavāpnuyāt

'When equanimity toward both friend and foe, and toward a mere stone and a precious jewel alike, arises in the mind, then one attains liberation.'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.198.54)

यो लिंगग्रहणं कृत्वा ततः कोपपरो भवेत् तस्य वृथा हि तत्सर्वं यथा भस्महुतं तथा

yo liṁgagrahaṇaṁ kṛtvā tataḥ kopaparo bhavet tasya vṛthā hi tatsarvaṁ yathā bhasmahutaṁ tathā

'Whoever, having taken up the outward marks of asceticism, thereafter succumbs to anger — all of that becomes as fruitless for him as an oblation poured into ashes.'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.198.55)

सूत उवाच सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय ब्राह्मणी सहिता तया रत्नावत्या जगामाथ किंचिच्चैव जलाशयम्

sūta uvāca sā tatheti pratijñāya brāhmaṇī sahitā tayā ratnāvatyā jagāmātha kiṁciccaiva jalāśayam

Suta said: Brahmani, promising 'So be it,' together with Ratnavati, then went to a certain lake —

Verse 56 (skanda.6.198.56)

स्वच्छोदकेन संपूर्णं पद्मिनीषंडमंडितम् ततश्चांद्रायणं चक्रे तपसः प्रथमं व्रतम्

svacchodakena saṁpūrṇaṁ padminīṣaṁḍamaṁḍitam tataścāṁdrāyaṇaṁ cakre tapasaḥ prathamaṁ vratam

— full of clear water, adorned with clusters of lotus plants. There she first performed the Chandrayana fast, as the first vow of her austerity.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.198.57)

ततः कृच्छ्रव्रतं चक्रे ततः सांतपनं च सा षष्ठान्नकालभोज्या च सा चाभूद्वत्सरत्रयम्

tataḥ kṛcchravrataṁ cakre tataḥ sāṁtapanaṁ ca sā ṣaṣṭhānnakālabhojyā ca sā cābhūdvatsaratrayam

Then she performed the Krichchhra vow, and then the Santapana; and for three full years she ate only at every sixth mealtime.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.198.58)

त्रिरात्रोपोषणं पश्चाद्यावद्वर्षत्रयं तथा एकान्तरोपवासैश्च साऽनयद्वत्सरत्रयम्

trirātropoṣaṇaṁ paścādyāvadvarṣatrayaṁ tathā ekāntaropavāsaiśca sā'nayadvatsaratrayam

Afterward, for another three years, she kept the three-night fast, and passed three more years fasting on alternate days.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.198.59)

हेमंते जलमध्यस्था सा बभूव तपस्विनी पंचाग्निसाधका ग्रीष्मे सा बभूव यशस्विनी

hemaṁte jalamadhyasthā sā babhūva tapasvinī paṁcāgnisādhakā grīṣme sā babhūva yaśasvinī

In winter, that ascetic stood immersed in water; in summer, that renowned woman practised the discipline of the five fires.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.198.60)

निराश्रयाऽभवत्साध्वी वर्षाकाल उपस्थिते ध्यायमाना दिवानक्तं देवदेवं जनार्दनम्

nirāśrayā'bhavatsādhvī varṣākāla upasthite dhyāyamānā divānaktaṁ devadevaṁ janārdanam

When the rainy season came, that virtuous woman remained without shelter, meditating day and night upon Janardana, the god of gods.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.198.61)

यद्यद्व्रतं पुरा चक्रे ब्राह्मणी सा च सुव्रता अन्यं जलाशयं प्राप्य सा तच्चक्रे नृपात्मजा प्रीत्या परमया युक्ता तदा सा द्विजसत्तमाः

yadyadvrataṁ purā cakre brāhmaṇī sā ca suvratā anyaṁ jalāśayaṁ prāpya sā taccakre nṛpātmajā prītyā paramayā yuktā tadā sā dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, whatever vow that well-vowed Brahmani had performed before, that same vow the king's daughter also performed, going to a different lake, with the deepest devotion.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.198.62)

ततो वर्षशतं सार्धं फलाहारा बभूव सा शीर्णपर्णाशना पश्चात्तावन्मात्रं व्यवस्थिता

tato varṣaśataṁ sārdhaṁ phalāhārā babhūva sā śīrṇaparṇāśanā paścāttāvanmātraṁ vyavasthitā

Then, for a full hundred years, she lived on fruit alone; and afterward, for the same span, she lived only on withered fallen leaves.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.198.63)

ततश्चैव जलाहारा यावद्वर्षशतानि षट् वायुभक्षा बभूवाथ सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्

tataścaiva jalāhārā yāvadvarṣaśatāni ṣaṭ vāyubhakṣā babhūvātha sahasraṁ parivatsarān

Then, for six hundred years, she took water alone as her food; and after that, for a thousand years, she lived on air alone.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.198.64)

यथायथा तपश्चक्रे सा कुमारी द्विजोत्तमाः तथातथाऽभवत्तस्यास्तेजोवृद्धिरनुत्तमा

yathāyathā tapaścakre sā kumārī dvijottamāḥ tathātathā'bhavattasyāstejovṛddhiranuttamā

O best of brahmins, in whatever measure that maiden performed her austerity, in that same measure her radiance grew, unsurpassed.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.198.65)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भगवाञ्छशिशेखरः

etasminneva kāle tu bhagavāñchaśiśekharaḥ

At this very time, the blessed Shashishekhara, crowned with the crescent moon —

Verse 66 (skanda.6.198.66)

गौर्या सह प्रसन्नात्मा तस्या गोचरमागतः मेघगंभीरया वाचा ततोवचनमब्रवीत्

gauryā saha prasannātmā tasyā gocaramāgataḥ meghagaṁbhīrayā vācā tatovacanamabravīt

— his heart well pleased, together with Gauri, appeared before her, and then spoke these words in a voice deep as thunder.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.198.67)

वत्से तपोनिवृत्तिं त्वं कुरुष्व वचनान्मम प्रार्थयस्व मनोऽभीष्टं येन सर्वं ददामि ते

vatse taponivṛttiṁ tvaṁ kuruṣva vacanānmama prārthayasva mano'bhīṣṭaṁ yena sarvaṁ dadāmi te

'My child, at my word, now bring your austerity to an end. Ask for whatever your heart desires, and I shall grant you all of it.'

Verse 68 (skanda.6.198.68)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच अभीष्टमेतदेवं मे यत्त्वं दृष्टोऽसि शंकर स्वप्नेऽपि दर्शनं देव दुर्लभं ते नृणां यतः

brāhmaṇyuvāca abhīṣṭametadevaṁ me yattvaṁ dṛṣṭo'si śaṁkara svapne'pi darśanaṁ deva durlabhaṁ te nṛṇāṁ yataḥ

Brahmani said: 'This alone is my heart's desire — that I have beheld you, O Shankara; for even in a dream, O lord, your vision is hard for men to attain.'

Verse 69 (skanda.6.198.69)

भगवानुवाच न मे स्याद्दर्शनं व्यर्थं कथंचित्सुतपस्विनि तस्माद्वरय भद्रं ते वरं येन ददाम्यहम्

bhagavānuvāca na me syāddarśanaṁ vyarthaṁ kathaṁcitsutapasvini tasmādvaraya bhadraṁ te varaṁ yena dadāmyaham

The Blessed Lord said: 'My vision should never, in any way, be in vain, O truest of ascetics. Therefore choose a boon, and blessings upon you, so that I may grant it to you.'

Verse 70 (skanda.6.198.70)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच एषा मे सुसखी साध्वी राजपुत्री यशस्विनी ख्याता रत्नावतीनाम प्राणेभ्योऽपिगरीयसी

brāhmaṇyuvāca eṣā me susakhī sādhvī rājaputrī yaśasvinī khyātā ratnāvatīnāma prāṇebhyo'pigarīyasī

Brahmani said: 'This is my dearest friend, virtuous, the renowned daughter of a king, known by the name Ratnavati, dearer to me even than my own life.'

Verse 71 (skanda.6.198.71)

मम तुल्यं तपश्चक्रे शूद्रयोनावपि स्थिता निवर्तते तु यद्येषा तपसस्तु निवर्तनम् करोम्यद्य जगन्नाथ तदहं संशयं विना

mama tulyaṁ tapaścakre śūdrayonāvapi sthitā nivartate tu yadyeṣā tapasastu nivartanam karomyadya jagannātha tadahaṁ saṁśayaṁ vinā

'Though set even within a shudra birth, she has performed austerity equal to my own. O lord of the world, if she should now turn back, then I too, without any doubt, shall turn back from my own austerity this very day.'

Verse 72 (skanda.6.198.72)

अस्याः स्नेहेन संत्यक्तो मया भर्ता सुरेश्वर तस्माद्देव वरं देहि त्वमस्या मनसि स्थितम्

asyāḥ snehena saṁtyakto mayā bhartā sureśvara tasmāddeva varaṁ dehi tvamasyā manasi sthitam

'Out of my love for her, O lord of the gods, I have given up all thought of a husband. Therefore, O god, grant her the boon that is fixed in her own heart.'

Verse 73 (skanda.6.198.73)

सूत उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवाञ्छशिशेखरः अब्रवीद्राजपुत्रीं तां मेघगंभीरया गिरा वत्से मद्वचनादद्य तपस्त्वं त्यक्तुमर्हसि

sūta uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhagavāñchaśiśekharaḥ abravīdrājaputrīṁ tāṁ meghagaṁbhīrayā girā vatse madvacanādadya tapastvaṁ tyaktumarhasi

Suta said: Hearing her words, the blessed Shashishekhara spoke to that king's daughter, in a voice deep as thunder: 'My child, at my word, you too should now bring your austerity to an end.'

Verse 74 (skanda.6.198.74)

वरं वरय कल्याणि नित्यं मनसि संस्थितम् अदेयमपि दास्यामि सांप्रतं तव भामिनि

varaṁ varaya kalyāṇi nityaṁ manasi saṁsthitam adeyamapi dāsyāmi sāṁprataṁ tava bhāmini

'Choose a boon, O auspicious one, whatever is ever fixed in your heart. Even what should not be given, I shall now give you, O lovely one.'

Verse 75 (skanda.6.198.75)

रत्नावत्युवाच एतज्जलाशयं पुण्यं पद्मिनीषण्डमण्डितम्

ratnāvatyuvāca etajjalāśayaṁ puṇyaṁ padminīṣaṇḍamaṇḍitam

Ratnavati said: 'Let this sacred lake, adorned with clusters of lotus plants —'

Verse 76 (skanda.6.198.76)

यत्रैषा ब्राह्मणी साध्वी नित्यं च तपसि स्थिता अस्या नाम्ना च विख्यातिं तीर्थमेतत्प्रपद्यताम्

yatraiṣā brāhmaṇī sādhvī nityaṁ ca tapasi sthitā asyā nāmnā ca vikhyātiṁ tīrthametatprapadyatām

'— where this virtuous Brahmani has ever remained fixed in austerity, let this tirtha attain renown by her very name.'

Verse 77 (skanda.6.198.77)

अत्र यः कुरुते स्नानं श्रद्धया परया युतः तस्य भूयात्सदा वासो देवदेव त्रिविष्टपे

atra yaḥ kurute snānaṁ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ tasya bhūyātsadā vāso devadeva triviṣṭape

'Whoever bathes here, filled with the deepest faith, O god of gods — let him ever after dwell in the world of the gods.'

Verse 78 (skanda.6.198.78)

मदीयं मम नाम्ना तु शूद्रासंज्ञं तु जायताम् तस्य तुल्यप्रभावं तु तीर्थस्य प्रतिपद्यताम्

madīyaṁ mama nāmnā tu śūdrāsaṁjñaṁ tu jāyatām tasya tulyaprabhāvaṁ tu tīrthasya pratipadyatām

'And let my own lake, too, come to bear my name, known as Shudra; let it attain a power equal to that of the other tirtha.'

Verse 79 (skanda.6.198.79)

आवाभ्यां नित्यशः कार्यं कुमारत्वे महत्तपः आराध्यस्त्वं सुरश्रेष्ठो वाङ्मनःकर्मभिस्तथा

āvābhyāṁ nityaśaḥ kāryaṁ kumāratve mahattapaḥ ārādhyastvaṁ suraśreṣṭho vāṅmanaḥkarmabhistathā

'We two shall ever perform this great austerity in our maidenhood; and you, O best of gods, shall be worshipped by us in word, mind, and deed.'

Verse 80 (skanda.6.198.80)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु निर्भिद्य धरणीतलम् लिंगं माहेश्वरं विप्रा निष्क्रांतं सूर्यसंनिभम्

etasminneva kāle tu nirbhidya dharaṇītalam liṁgaṁ māheśvaraṁ viprā niṣkrāṁtaṁ sūryasaṁnibham

O brahmins, at this very moment, splitting open the surface of the earth, a linga of Maheshvara, radiant as the sun, arose.

Verse 81 (skanda.6.198.81)

ततः प्रोवाच ते देवः स्वयमेव महेश्वरः ताभ्यां सुतपसा तुष्टः सादरं भक्तवत्सलः

tataḥ provāca te devaḥ svayameva maheśvaraḥ tābhyāṁ sutapasā tuṣṭaḥ sādaraṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Then Maheshvara himself, that god so loving toward his devotees, well pleased with the great austerity of those two, spoke to them with tender regard.

Verse 82 (skanda.6.198.82)

एतत्तीर्थद्वयं ख्यातं त्रैलोक्येपि भविष्यति शूद्रीनाम त्वदीयं तु ब्राह्मणी च सखी तव

etattīrthadvayaṁ khyātaṁ trailokyepi bhaviṣyati śūdrīnāma tvadīyaṁ tu brāhmaṇī ca sakhī tava

'This pair of tirthas shall become renowned even throughout the three worlds — yours named Shudri, and your friend's named Brahmani.'

Verse 83 (skanda.6.198.83)

तीर्थद्वयेऽपि यः स्नात्वा एतस्मिञ्छ्रद्धयाऽन्वितः त्वत्तः पद्मानि संगृह्य अस्यास्तोयं च निर्मलम् एतच्च मामकं लिंगं स्नापयित्वाऽर्चयिष्यति

tīrthadvaye'pi yaḥ snātvā etasmiñchraddhayā'nvitaḥ tvattaḥ padmāni saṁgṛhya asyāstoyaṁ ca nirmalam etacca māmakaṁ liṁgaṁ snāpayitvā'rcayiṣyati

'Whoever, bathing at both these tirthas, filled with faith, gathers lotus-flowers from yours, and the pure water from hers, and, having bathed my linga with these, worships it,'

Verse 84 (skanda.6.198.84)

पश्चात्पद्मैश्चतुर्दश्यां शुक्लायां सोमवासरे चैत्रे मासि च संप्राप्ते चिरायुः स भविष्यति

paścātpadmaiścaturdaśyāṁ śuklāyāṁ somavāsare caitre māsi ca saṁprāpte cirāyuḥ sa bhaviṣyati

'— and afterward, on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, on a Monday, when the month of Chaitra has come, worships it with those lotuses, that man shall attain long life.'

Verse 85 (skanda.6.198.85)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो यद्यपि स्यात्सुपापकृत्

sarvapāpavinirmukto yadyapi syātsupāpakṛt

'He shall be freed from all sin, even if he had once committed the gravest of sins.'

Verse 86 (skanda.6.198.86)

एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः तत्र नित्यं च तपसि स्थिते सख्यावुभावपि

evamuktvā sa bhagavāṁstataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ tatra nityaṁ ca tapasi sthite sakhyāvubhāvapi

Having said this, that blessed lord then vanished from sight. There, both those friends remained ever established in their austerity —

Verse 87 (skanda.6.198.87)

यावत्कल्पशतं तावज्जरामरणवर्जिते अद्यापि गगने ते च दृश्येते तारकात्मके

yāvatkalpaśataṁ tāvajjarāmaraṇavarjite adyāpi gagane te ca dṛśyete tārakātmake

— free from old age and death for a hundred kalpas; and to this day the two of them are seen in the sky, in the form of stars.

Verse 88 (skanda.6.198.88)

ततःप्रभृति तत्ख्यातं तीर्थयुग्मं धरातले आगत्याथ नरो दूरात्ताभ्यां कृत्वा निमज्जनम्

tataḥprabhṛti tatkhyātaṁ tīrthayugmaṁ dharātale āgatyātha naro dūrāttābhyāṁ kṛtvā nimajjanam

From that time onward, this pair of tirthas has been renowned upon the earth. A man, coming even from afar, having bathed in them,

Verse 89 (skanda.6.198.89)

पूजयित्वा तु तल्लिंगं ततो याति दिवालयम् महापातकयुक्तोऽपि तत्प्रभावादसंशयम्

pūjayitvā tu talliṁgaṁ tato yāti divālayam mahāpātakayukto'pi tatprabhāvādasaṁśayam

— and having worshipped that linga, thereafter goes to the abode of the gods, even one burdened with the gravest sins, without doubt, by its power.

Verse 90 (skanda.6.198.90)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे मर्त्ये नष्टा धर्मस्य च क्रिया यज्ञदानकृता या च देवार्चनसमुद्भवा

etasminnaṁtare martye naṣṭā dharmasya ca kriyā yajñadānakṛtā yā ca devārcanasamudbhavā

Meanwhile, in the world of mortals, the performance of dharma had all but vanished — the rites of sacrifice and giving, and those arising from the worship of the gods —

Verse 91 (skanda.6.198.91)

व्याप्तस्तथाखिलः स्वर्गो मानवैः स्पर्धयान्वितैः सार्धं देवैर्विमानस्थैरप्सरोगणसेवितैः

vyāptastathākhilaḥ svargo mānavaiḥ spardhayānvitaiḥ sārdhaṁ devairvimānasthairapsarogaṇasevitaiḥ

— for heaven itself had become filled with men, vying for space together with the gods, seated in their heavenly chariots, attended by hosts of apsarases.

Verse 92 (skanda.6.198.92)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु धर्मराजः समाययौ यत्र वेदध्वनिर्ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं समाश्रितः

etasminneva kāle tu dharmarājaḥ samāyayau yatra vedadhvanirbrahmā brahmalokaṁ samāśritaḥ

At this very time, Dharmaraja came to where Brahma, resounding with the sound of the Vedas, dwelt in the world of Brahma.

Verse 93 (skanda.6.198.93)

अब्रवीद्दुःखितो दीनः क्षिप्त्वाग्रे पत्रकद्वयम् एकं पापसमुद्भूतमन्यद्धर्मसमुद्भवम्

abravīdduḥkhito dīnaḥ kṣiptvāgre patrakadvayam ekaṁ pāpasamudbhūtamanyaddharmasamudbhavam

Sorrowful and wretched, he spoke, having cast down before him two documents — one arising from sin, the other from dharma.

Verse 94 (skanda.6.198.94)

चित्रेण लिखितं यच्च विचित्रेण तथा परम् हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे देवतीर्थयुगं स्थितम्

citreṇa likhitaṁ yacca vicitreṇa tathā param hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre devatīrthayugaṁ sthitam

On one was recorded, in ordinary manner, and on the other, in a wondrous manner, that in the sacred field born at Hatakeshvara there stands a pair of divine tirthas —

Verse 95 (skanda.6.198.95)

शूद्राख्यं ब्राह्मणीनाम तथान्यत्पद्ममंडितम् तथा तत्रास्ति लिंगं च पुण्यं माहेश्वरं महत्

śūdrākhyaṁ brāhmaṇīnāma tathānyatpadmamaṁḍitam tathā tatrāsti liṁgaṁ ca puṇyaṁ māheśvaraṁ mahat

— one named Shudra, the other Brahmani, adorned with lotuses; and there stands too the great and sacred linga of Maheshvara.

Verse 96 (skanda.6.198.96)

त्रयाणामथ तेषां च प्रभावात्सर्वमानवाः अपि पापसमायुक्ताः प्रयांति त्रिदशालयम्

trayāṇāmatha teṣāṁ ca prabhāvātsarvamānavāḥ api pāpasamāyuktāḥ prayāṁti tridaśālayam

'By the power of these three, all men, even those burdened with sin, go to the abode of the thirty gods.'

Verse 97 (skanda.6.198.97)

शून्या मे नरका जाताः सर्वे ते रौरवादयः

śūnyā me narakā jātāḥ sarve te rauravādayaḥ

'All my hells have become empty — Raurava and the rest, every one of them.'

Verse 98 (skanda.6.198.98)

न कश्चिद्यजनं चक्रे न दानं न च तर्पणम् देवतानां पितॄणां च मनुष्याणां विशेषतः

na kaścidyajanaṁ cakre na dānaṁ na ca tarpaṇam devatānāṁ pitṝṇāṁ ca manuṣyāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ

'No one performs sacrifice any longer, nor charity, nor the tarpana-offering — neither to the gods, nor to the ancestors, and especially not among men.'

Verse 99 (skanda.6.198.99)

तस्मान्मुक्तो मया सर्वो योऽधिकारस्तवोद्भवः नियोजयस्व तत्रान्यं कञ्चिच्छक्ततमं ततः

tasmānmukto mayā sarvo yo'dhikārastavodbhavaḥ niyojayasva tatrānyaṁ kañcicchaktatamaṁ tataḥ

'Therefore I have relinquished this entire office of mine, which arose from you. Appoint, then, someone else, whoever is most capable, in my place.'

Verse 100 (skanda.6.198.100)

अप्रमाणं स्थितं सर्वमेतत्पत्रद्वयं मम तच्छ्रुत्वा पद्मजः प्राह समानीय शतक्रतुम्

apramāṇaṁ sthitaṁ sarvametatpatradvayaṁ mama tacchrutvā padmajaḥ prāha samānīya śatakratum

'These two documents of mine now stand entirely without validity.' Hearing this, the lotus-born Brahma, having summoned Indra, spoke.

Verse 101 (skanda.6.198.101)

गत्वा शीघ्रतमं मर्त्ये त्वं शक्र वचनान्मम हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तीर्थद्वयमनुत्तमम्

gatvā śīghratamaṁ martye tvaṁ śakra vacanānmama hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre tīrthadvayamanuttamam

'Go at once, O Shakra, to the world of mortals, at my command — to the sacred field born at Hatakeshvara, where stands that peerless pair of tirthas —'

Verse 102 (skanda.6.198.102)

शूद्र्याख्यं ब्राह्मणीत्येव यच्च लिंगमनुत्तमम् तत्रस्थं नाशय क्षिप्रं कृत्वा पांसुप्रवर्षणम्

śūdryākhyaṁ brāhmaṇītyeva yacca liṁgamanuttamam tatrasthaṁ nāśaya kṣipraṁ kṛtvā pāṁsupravarṣaṇam

'— named Shudri and Brahmani — and that peerless linga standing there; destroy them at once, by raining down dust upon them.'

Verse 103 (skanda.6.198.103)

सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्वरं शक्रो गत्वा भूमितलं ततः पांसुभिः पूरयामास ते तीर्थे लिंगमेव च

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā satvaraṁ śakro gatvā bhūmitalaṁ tataḥ pāṁsubhiḥ pūrayāmāsa te tīrthe liṁgameva ca

Suta said: Hearing this, Shakra swiftly went to the surface of the earth and filled those two tirthas, and the linga as well, with dust.

Verse 104 (skanda.6.198.104)

अद्यापि कलिकालेऽस्मिन्द्वाभ्यां गृह्य सुमृत्तिकाम् स्नात्वा च तिलकं कार्यं सर्वपापविशुद्धये

adyāpi kalikāle'smindvābhyāṁ gṛhya sumṛttikām snātvā ca tilakaṁ kāryaṁ sarvapāpaviśuddhaye

Even now, in this Kali age, one should take fine clay from both places, bathe, and mark oneself with tilaka, for the purification of every sin.

Verse 105 (skanda.6.198.105)

चतुर्दशीदिने प्राप्ते सोमवारे च संस्थिते द्वाभ्यां यः कुरुते श्राद्धं श्रद्धया परया युतः गयाश्राद्धेन किं तस्य मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत्

caturdaśīdine prāpte somavāre ca saṁsthite dvābhyāṁ yaḥ kurute śrāddhaṁ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ gayāśrāddhena kiṁ tasya manuḥ svāyaṁbhuvo'bravīt

When the fourteenth day comes, falling upon a Monday, whoever, filled with the deepest faith, performs the shraddha-rite at both these places — of what further use to him is the shraddha at Gaya? So declared Svayambhuva Manu himself.

Verse 106 (skanda.6.198.106)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तमाः यथा सा ब्राह्मणी जाता शूद्री चापि तथापरा

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'smi dvijottamāḥ yathā sā brāhmaṇī jātā śūdrī cāpi tathāparā

O best of brahmins, all this has now been told to you, as you asked — how Brahmani came to be, and likewise the other, Shudri.

Verse 107 (skanda.6.198.107)

यश्चैतच्छृणुयाद्भक्त्या पठेद्वा द्विजसत्तमाः सोऽपि तद्दिनजात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

yaścaitacchṛṇuyādbhaktyā paṭhedvā dvijasattamāḥ so'pi taddinajātpāpānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

O best of brahmins, whoever hears this with devotion, or recites it, is freed even from the sins of that very day — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 108 (skanda.6.198.108)

एवं नरो न कः सिद्धस्तस्य लिंगस्य पूजनात् चिरायुश्च तथा जातो यथान्यो नात्र विद्यते

evaṁ naro na kaḥ siddhastasya liṁgasya pūjanāt cirāyuśca tathā jāto yathānyo nātra vidyate

Thus, what man does not attain accomplishment through the worship of that linga? And he becomes as long-lived as no other is found to be.