The Conclusion of the Shalagrama Narrative and the Fruit of Hearing It

Verse 1 (skanda.6.260.1)

गालव उवाच । इति ते कथितं सर्वं शालग्रामकथानकम् । महेश्वरस्य चोत्पत्तिर्यथा लिंगत्वमाप सः

gālava uvāca iti te kathitaṁ sarvaṁ śālagrāmakathānakam maheśvarasya cotpattiryathā liṁgatvamāpa saḥ

Galava said: Thus has the whole narrative of the Shalagrama been told to you, and how Maheshvara came to attain the state of the linga.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.260.2)

तस्माद्वरं लिंगरूपं शालग्रामगतं हरिम् । येऽर्चयंति नरा भक्त्या न तेषां दुःखयातनाः

tasmādvaraṁ liṁgarūpaṁ śālagrāmagataṁ harim ye'rcayaṁti narā bhaktyā na teṣāṁ duḥkhayātanāḥ

Therefore, those men who worship with devotion Hari present in his excellent linga-form within the Shalagrama — for them there is no torment of sorrow.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.260.3)

चातुर्मास्ये समायाते विशेषात्पूजयेच्च तौ । अर्चितौ यावभेदेन स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकौ

cāturmāsye samāyāte viśeṣātpūjayecca tau arcitau yāvabhedena svargamokṣapradāyakau

When Chaturmasya has arrived, one should worship those two especially; worshipped without distinction between them, they bestow both heaven and liberation.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.260.4)

देवौ हरिहरौ भक्त्या विप्रवह्निगवां गतौ । येऽर्चयंति महाशूद्र तेषां मोक्षप्रदोहरिः

devau hariharau bhaktyā vipravahnigavāṁ gatau ye'rcayaṁti mahāśūdra teṣāṁ mokṣapradohariḥ

O great Shudra, those who worship with devotion the two gods Hari and Hara, who dwell within brahmins, fire, and cows — for them Hari becomes the bestower of liberation.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.260.5)

वेदोक्तं कारयेत्कर्म पूर्तेष्टं वेदतत्परः । पंचायतनपूजा च सत्यवादो ह्यलोलता

vedoktaṁ kārayetkarma pūrteṣṭaṁ vedatatparaḥ paṁcāyatanapūjā ca satyavādo hyalolatā

One devoted to the Veda should perform the rites enjoined by it, both the works of public merit and private sacrifice; the worship of the five shrines, truthfulness, and freedom from greed should likewise be observed.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.260.6)

विवेकादिगुणैर्युक्तः स शूद्रो याति सद्गतिम् । ब्रह्मचर्यं तपो नान्यद्द्वादशाक्षरचिंतनात्

vivekādiguṇairyuktaḥ sa śūdro yāti sadgatim brahmacaryaṁ tapo nānyaddvādaśākṣaraciṁtanāt

That shudra who is endowed with discernment and the other virtues attains the good goal; there is no austerity other than celibacy and meditation upon the twelve-syllabled mantra.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.260.7)

मन्त्रैर्विना षोडश सोपचारैः कार्या सुपूजा नरकादिहंतुः । यथा तथा वै गिरिजापतेश्च कार्या महा शूद्र महाघहंत्री

mantrairvinā ṣoḍaśa sopacāraiḥ kāryā supūjā narakādihaṁtuḥ yathā tathā vai girijāpateśca kāryā mahā śūdra mahāghahaṁtrī

O great Shudra, without the [Vedic] mantras, excellent worship, which destroys hell and the like, should be performed with the sixteen offerings; in just the same way, worship should be performed of the Lord of Girija too, that great destroyer of great sin.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.260.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवं कथयतोरेषा रजनी क्षयमाययौ । सच्छूद्रो गालवश्चैव शिष्यैश्च परिवारितः

brahmovāca evaṁ kathayatoreṣā rajanī kṣayamāyayau sacchūdro gālavaścaiva śiṣyaiśca parivāritaḥ

Brahma said: Thus, as the two of them conversed, that night came to its end; the virtuous shudra, and Galava surrounded by his disciples —

Verse 9 (skanda.6.260.9)

स तेन पूजितो विप्रो ययौ शीघ्रं निजाश्रमम्

sa tena pūjito vipro yayau śīghraṁ nijāśramam

— that brahmin, honored by him, quickly departed to his own hermitage.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.260.10)

य इमं श्रुणुयान्मर्त्यो वाचयेत्पाठयेच्च वा । श्लोकं वा सर्वमपि च तस्य पुण्यक्षयो न हि

ya imaṁ śruṇuyānmartyo vācayetpāṭhayecca vā ślokaṁ vā sarvamapi ca tasya puṇyakṣayo na hi

Whatever mortal shall hear this, or shall recite it or teach it to others — whether a single verse or the whole of it — his merit shall never diminish.