The Origin of Nimbeshvara and Shakambhari

Verse 1 (skanda.6.275.1)

सूत उवाच दुःशीलोऽपि च तत्कृत्वा गुरोर्नाम्ना शिवालयम् निम्बेश्वर इति ख्यातं दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रितम्

sūta uvāca duḥśīlo'pi ca tatkṛtvā gurornāmnā śivālayam nimbeśvara iti khyātaṁ dakṣiṇāṁ diśamāśritam

Suta said: Dushila too, having thus built the temple of Shiva in his guru's name, known as Nimbeshvara, situated toward the southern direction...

Verse 2 (skanda.6.275.2)

चकार परया भक्त्या तत्पादाब्जमनुस्मरन् तथा तस्य तु भार्या या नाम्ना शाकंभरी स्मृता

cakāra parayā bhaktyā tatpādābjamanusmaran tathā tasya tu bhāryā yā nāmnā śākaṁbharī smṛtā

...performed his worship there with supreme devotion, ever remembering his guru's lotus feet. And his wife, remembered by the name Shakambhari...

Verse 3 (skanda.6.275.3)

स्वनामांका तत्र दुर्गा तथा संस्थापिता तया ततस्तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां किचिच्छेषं व्यवस्थितम्

svanāmāṁkā tatra durgā tathā saṁsthāpitā tayā tatastu taddhanaṁ tābhyāṁ kiciccheṣaṁ vyavasthitam

...established there a form of Durga marked with her own name. Then, whatever remained of that wealth for the two of them...

Verse 4 (skanda.6.275.4)

पूजार्थं देवताभ्यां च ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समर्पितम् भिक्षाभुजौ ततो जातौ दम्पती तौ ततः परम्

pūjārthaṁ devatābhyāṁ ca brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samarpitam bhikṣābhujau tato jātau dampatī tau tataḥ param

...was offered for the worship of the two deities and given to brahmins; thereafter that couple lived on alms alone.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.275.5)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दुःशीलो निधनं गतः

kasyacittvatha kālasya duḥśīlo nidhanaṁ gataḥ

After some time, Dushila passed away.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.275.6)

शाकंभर्यपि तत्कायं गृहीत्वा हव्यवाहनम् प्रविष्टा नृपशार्दूल निर्विकल्पेन चेतसा

śākaṁbharyapi tatkāyaṁ gṛhītvā havyavāhanam praviṣṭā nṛpaśārdūla nirvikalpena cetasā

O tiger among kings, Shakambhari too, taking his body, entered the sacred fire, with a mind free of doubt.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.275.7)

ततो विमानमारुह्य वराप्सरःसुसेवितम् गतौ तौ द्वावपि स्वर्गं संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहौ

tato vimānamāruhya varāpsaraḥsusevitam gatau tau dvāvapi svargaṁ saṁprahṛṣṭatanūruhau

Then, mounting a celestial chariot well attended by the finest apsarases, both of them went to heaven, their bodies thrilled with joy.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.275.8)

एतं दुःशीलजं यस्तु पठेदाख्यानमुत्तमम् स सर्वैर्मुच्यते पापैरज्ञानविहितैर्नृप

etaṁ duḥśīlajaṁ yastu paṭhedākhyānamuttamam sa sarvairmucyate pāpairajñānavihitairnṛpa

O king, whoever recites this excellent tale born of Dushila's story is freed from all sins committed through ignorance.