The Glory of the Wondrous Slab (Chitrashila)

Verse 1 (skanda.6.40.1)

ऋषयः उवाच । यदेषा भवता प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मी तत्र महाशिला । मोक्षदा सर्वजंतूनां तथा पातकनाशिनी

ṛṣayaḥ uvāca | yadeṣā bhavatā proktā brāhmī tatra mahāśilā | mokṣadā sarvajaṁtūnāṁ tathā pātakanāśinī

The sages said: You have said that this great slab of Brahma there grants liberation to all creatures and destroys their sins --

Verse 2 (skanda.6.40.2)

सा कथं स्थापिता तत्र किंप्रभावा च सूतज । एतन्नो ब्रूहि निःशेषं न हि तृप्यामहे वयम्

sā kathaṁ sthāpitā tatra kiṁprabhāvā ca sūtaja | etanno brūhi niḥśeṣaṁ na hi tṛpyāmahe vayam

-- how was it established there, and what is its power, O son of Suta? Tell us this in full, for we are never satisfied with hearing it.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.40.3)

सूत उवाच । ब्रह्मलोकनिविष्टस्य ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः । पुराऽभून्महती चिन्ता तीर्थयात्रासमुद्भवा

sūta uvāca | brahmalokaniviṣṭasya brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ | purā'bhūnmahatī cintā tīrthayātrāsamudbhavā

Suta said: Long ago, Brahma, dwelling in his own world, born of the Unmanifest, fell into deep contemplation over the matter of a pilgrimage.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.40.4)

सर्वेषामेव देवानां संति तीर्थानि भूतले । मुक्त्वा मां तन्मया कार्यं तीर्थमेकं धरातले

sarveṣāmeva devānāṁ saṁti tīrthāni bhūtale | muktvā māṁ tanmayā kāryaṁ tīrthamekaṁ dharātale

He thought: All the gods have their own sacred fords upon the earth, save me alone; therefore I too must establish one sacred ford upon the earth,

Verse 5 (skanda.6.40.5)

यत्र त्रिकालमासाद्य कर्म संध्यासमुद्भवम् । मर्त्यलोकं समासाद्य करोमि तदनंतरम्

yatra trikālamāsādya karma saṁdhyāsamudbhavam | martyalokaṁ samāsādya karomi tadanaṁtaram

where, coming down to the mortal world, I may then perform the ritual observances of the three daily twilights.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.40.6)

तथान्यदपि यत्किञ्चित्कर्म धर्म्यं हितावहम् । तत्करोमि यथान्येऽपि चक्रुर्देवाः शिवादयः

tathānyadapi yatkiñcitkarma dharmyaṁ hitāvaham | tatkaromi yathānye'pi cakrurdevāḥ śivādayaḥ

And I too shall perform whatever other righteous and beneficial deeds there may be, just as Shiva and the other gods have done.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.40.7)

न स्वर्गेऽस्ति हि कृत्यानामधिकारोऽत्र कश्चन । शुभानां कर्मणामेव केवलं भुज्यते फलम्

na svarge'sti hi kṛtyānāmadhikāro'tra kaścana | śubhānāṁ karmaṇāmeva kevalaṁ bhujyate phalam

For in heaven there is indeed no authority at all to perform such rites; there, one merely enjoys the fruit of righteous deeds already done.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.40.8)

तस्माद्यत्र धरापृष्ठे शिलेयं निपतिष्यति । त्रिसंध्यं तत्र गन्तव्यमनुष्ठानार्थमेव हि

tasmādyatra dharāpṛṣṭhe śileyaṁ nipatiṣyati | trisaṁdhyaṁ tatra gantavyamanuṣṭhānārthameva hi

Therefore, wherever upon the surface of the earth this slab shall fall, there I must go, precisely for the performance of the three daily rites.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.40.9)

एवमुक्त्वा सुविस्तीर्णां शिलां तामासनोद्भवाम् । प्रचिक्षेप धरापृष्ठं समुद्दिश्य पितामहः

evamuktvā suvistīrṇāṁ śilāṁ tāmāsanodbhavām | pracikṣepa dharāpṛṣṭhaṁ samuddiśya pitāmahaḥ

Having said this, the grandsire hurled that vast slab, sprung from his own seat, down toward the surface of the earth.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.40.10)

अथ सा पतिता भूमौ सर्वरत्नमयी शिला । चमत्कारपुरे क्षेत्रे सर्वक्षेत्रमहोदये

atha sā patitā bhūmau sarvaratnamayī śilā | camatkārapure kṣetre sarvakṣetramahodaye

That slab, made of every precious gem, fell upon the earth in the field of Chamatkarapura, the most exalted of all sacred fields.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.40.11)

तत आगत्य लोकेशः स्वयमेव धरातलम् । तत्क्षेत्रं वीक्षयामास व्याप्तं तीर्थैः समन्ततः

tata āgatya lokeśaḥ svayameva dharātalam | tatkṣetraṁ vīkṣayāmāsa vyāptaṁ tīrthaiḥ samantataḥ

Then the lord of the worlds himself came down to the surface of the earth and beheld that field, pervaded on every side by sacred fords.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.40.12)

ततः पुण्यतमे देशे दृष्ट्वा तां समुपस्थिताम् । शिलामानंदमापन्नः प्रोवाच तदनन्तरम्

tataḥ puṇyatame deśe dṛṣṭvā tāṁ samupasthitām | śilāmānaṁdamāpannaḥ provāca tadanantaram

Then, seeing that slab of his, arrived in that most sacred of places, he was filled with delight and thereupon said --

Verse 13 (skanda.6.40.13)

अहो धन्यतमो मत्तो नान्योऽस्ति भुवनत्रये । सर्वतीर्थमये क्षेत्रे यतो जातात्र संस्थितिः

aho dhanyatamo matto nānyo'sti bhuvanatraye | sarvatīrthamaye kṣetre yato jātātra saṁsthitiḥ

"Ah, in all the three worlds there is none more fortunate than I, for my own abode has now come to be in this field made of every sacred ford."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.40.14)

सलिलेन विना यस्मान्न क्रिया संप्रवर्तते । तस्मादत्र मया कार्यः शुचितोयो महाह्रदः

salilena vinā yasmānna kriyā saṁpravartate | tasmādatra mayā kāryaḥ śucitoyo mahāhradaḥ

"Since no ritual act can be carried out without water, I must therefore create here a great lake of pure water."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.40.15)

ततः संचिंतयामास स्वसुतां च सरस्वतीम् । जनसंस्पर्शभीत्या च पातालतलवाहिनीम्

tataḥ saṁciṁtayāmāsa svasutāṁ ca sarasvatīm | janasaṁsparśabhītyā ca pātālatalavāhinīm

Then he called to mind his own daughter Sarasvati, who, out of fear of the touch of common people, flows through the depths of the netherworld.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.40.16)

अथ भूमितलं भित्त्वा प्रादुर्भूता महानदी । तां शिलाममलैस्तोयैः क्षालयन्ती समंततः

atha bhūmitalaṁ bhittvā prādurbhūtā mahānadī | tāṁ śilāmamalaistoyaiḥ kṣālayantī samaṁtataḥ

Then that great river, bursting through the surface of the earth, appeared, washing that slab all around with her pure waters.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.40.17)

अथ मूर्तिमती भूत्वा प्रोवाच प्रपितामहम् । किमर्थं संस्मृता देवममादेशः प्रदीयताम्

atha mūrtimatī bhūtvā provāca prapitāmaham | kimarthaṁ saṁsmṛtā devamamādeśaḥ pradīyatām

Then, taking on a bodily form, she said to the great grandsire: "For what purpose was I called to mind, O god? Give me your command."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.40.18)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । त्वयात्रैव सदा स्थेयं शिलायां मम संनिधौ । संध्यात्रयेऽपि त्वत्तोयैर्येन कृत्यं करोम्यहम्

brahmā uvāca | tvayātraiva sadā stheyaṁ śilāyāṁ mama saṁnidhau | saṁdhyātraye'pi tvattoyairyena kṛtyaṁ karomyaham

Brahma said: You must remain forever right here, near this slab of mine, so that at all three daily twilights I may perform my rites with your very water.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.40.19)

तथा ये मानवाः स्नानं करिष्यंति जले तव । ते यास्यंति परां सिद्धिं दुर्लभां देवा मानुषैः

tathā ye mānavāḥ snānaṁ kariṣyaṁti jale tava | te yāsyaṁti parāṁ siddhiṁ durlabhāṁ devā mānuṣaiḥ

And those humans who bathe in your waters shall attain the highest accomplishment, one rare even for gods and men.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.40.20)

सरस्वती उवाच । अहं कन्या सुरश्रेष्ठ पातालतलवाहिनी । जनस्पर्शभयाद्भीता नागच्छामि महीतले

sarasvatī uvāca | ahaṁ kanyā suraśreṣṭha pātālatalavāhinī | janasparśabhayādbhītā nāgacchāmi mahītale

Sarasvati said: O best of gods, I am a maiden, flowing through the depths of the netherworld, and, fearing the touch of people, I do not come to the surface of the earth.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.40.21)

तवादेशोऽन्यथा नैव मया कार्यः कथंचन । एवं मत्वा सुरश्रेष्ठ यद्युक्तं तत्समाचर

tavādeśo'nyathā naiva mayā kāryaḥ kathaṁcana | evaṁ matvā suraśreṣṭha yadyuktaṁ tatsamācara

Yet I can in no way disregard your command; knowing this, O best of gods, do whatever is fitting.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.40.22)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । तवार्थे कल्पयिष्यामि स्थानेऽत्रैव महाह्रदम् । अगम्यं सर्वमर्त्यानां तत्र त्वं स्थातुमर्हसि

brahmā uvāca | tavārthe kalpayiṣyāmi sthāne'traiva mahāhradam | agamyaṁ sarvamartyānāṁ tatra tvaṁ sthātumarhasi

Brahma said: For your sake I shall fashion right here a great lake, inaccessible to all mortals; there you should dwell.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.40.23)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशश्चखान च महाह्रदम् । ततः सरस्वती तत्र स्वस्थानमकरोदथ

sūta uvāca | evamuktvā sa deveśaścakhāna ca mahāhradam | tataḥ sarasvatī tatra svasthānamakarodatha

Suta said: Having said this, that lord of gods dug out a great lake, and then Sarasvati made her own dwelling there.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.40.24)

ततो दृष्टिविषान्सर्पानादिदेश पितामहः । युष्माभिः सर्वदा स्थेयं ह्रदेस्मिञ्छासनान्मम

tato dṛṣṭiviṣānsarpānādideśa pitāmahaḥ | yuṣmābhiḥ sarvadā stheyaṁ hradesmiñchāsanānmama

Then the grandsire commanded serpents whose very glance was venomous: By this command of mine, you must dwell forever in this lake,

Verse 25 (skanda.6.40.25)

यथा सरस्वतीं मर्त्या न स्पृशंति कथंचन । भवद्भिः सर्वथा कार्यं तथा पन्नगसत्तमाः

yathā sarasvatīṁ martyā na spṛśaṁti kathaṁcana | bhavadbhiḥ sarvathā kāryaṁ tathā pannagasattamāḥ

O foremost of serpents, and you must ensure by every means that mortals never in any way touch Sarasvati.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.40.26)

सूत उवाच । एवं ब्रह्मा व्यवस्थाप्य तत्र क्षेत्रे सरस्वतीम् । तां च चित्रशिलां मध्ये ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह

sūta uvāca | evaṁ brahmā vyavasthāpya tatra kṣetre sarasvatīm | tāṁ ca citraśilāṁ madhye brahmalokaṁ jagāma ha

Suta said: Thus, having established Sarasvati in that field, with the wondrous slab of Chitrashila at its center, Brahma returned to his own world.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.40.27)

अथ मंकणकोनाम महर्षिः संशितव्रतः । क्षेत्रे तत्र समायातो विषविद्याविचक्षणः

atha maṁkaṇakonāma maharṣiḥ saṁśitavrataḥ | kṣetre tatra samāyāto viṣavidyāvicakṣaṇaḥ

Then a great sage named Mankanaka, of firm vows and skilled in the science of poisons, arrived in that field.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.40.28)

सक्रमाद्भ्रममाणस्तु तस्मिन्सर्पाभिरक्षिते । तं मुनिं वेष्टयामासुर्बबन्धुश्चैव पाशकैः

sakramādbhramamāṇastu tasminsarpābhirakṣite | taṁ muniṁ veṣṭayāmāsurbabandhuścaiva pāśakaiḥ

Wandering there, step by step, in that lake guarded by the serpents, they encircled that sage and bound him fast with their coils.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.40.29)

सोऽपि विद्याबलात्सर्पान्निर्विषांस्तांश्चकारह । तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कृत्वा च पितृतर्पणम् । निष्क्रांतः सलिलात्तस्मात्कृतकृत्यो मुदान्वितः

so'pi vidyābalātsarpānnirviṣāṁstāṁścakāraha | tatra snātvā śucirbhūtvā kṛtvā ca pitṛtarpaṇam | niṣkrāṁtaḥ salilāttasmātkṛtakṛtyo mudānvitaḥ

He, too, by the power of his own learning, rendered those serpents free of venom, and, having bathed there, become pure, and performed the offering to his ancestors, emerged from that water, his purpose fulfilled, filled with joy.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.40.30)

ततश्चक्रे मुनिर्यावत्सम्यक्कुशपरिग्रहम् । दर्भाग्रेणास्य हस्ताग्रं पाटितं तावदेव हि

tataścakre muniryāvatsamyakkuśaparigraham | darbhāgreṇāsya hastāgraṁ pāṭitaṁ tāvadeva hi

Then, just as that sage carefully gathered up a handful of kusha grass, at that very instant the sharp tip of the darbha grass cut the end of his finger.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.40.31)

अथ तस्मात्क्षताज्जातस्तस्य शाकरसो महान् । तं दृष्ट्वा स विशेषेण हर्षितो विस्मयान्वितः

atha tasmātkṣatājjātastasya śākaraso mahān | taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa viśeṣeṇa harṣito vismayānvitaḥ

From that cut there flowed, in place of blood, a great quantity of vegetable-sap; seeing this, he was filled with particular delight and astonishment.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.40.32)

सिद्धोऽहमिति विज्ञाय नृत्यं चक्रे ततः परम् । ब्राह्मीं शिलां समारुह्य आनंदाश्रुपरिप्लुतः

siddho'hamiti vijñāya nṛtyaṁ cakre tataḥ param | brāhmīṁ śilāṁ samāruhya ānaṁdāśrupariplutaḥ

Knowing "I have attained perfection," and his eyes streaming with tears of joy, he climbed upon Brahma's slab and began to dance.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.40.33)

अथैवं नृत्यमानस्य मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः । लास्यं चक्रे ततः सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्

athaivaṁ nṛtyamānasya munestasya mahātmanaḥ | lāsyaṁ cakre tataḥ sarvaṁ jagatsthāvarajaṁgamam

As that great-souled sage danced thus, the entire universe, all that moves and all that is still, took up the dance along with him.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.40.34)

चमत्कारपुरं कृत्स्नं भग्नं नष्टा द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रासादैर्ध्वंसितैस्तत्र हाहाकारो महानभूत्

camatkārapuraṁ kṛtsnaṁ bhagnaṁ naṣṭā dvijottamāḥ | prāsādairdhvaṁsitaistatra hāhākāro mahānabhūt

The whole of Chamatkarapura began to shatter, its excellent brahmins to perish, its temples to crumble in ruin, and a great cry of dismay arose there on every side.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.40.35)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे तद्दृष्ट्वा तस्य चेष्टितम् । लास्यस्य वारणार्थाय प्रोचुर्वृषभवाहनम्

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve taddṛṣṭvā tasya ceṣṭitam | lāsyasya vāraṇārthāya procurvṛṣabhavāhanam

Then all the hosts of gods, seeing his behavior, spoke to the bull-mounted Shiva in order to have that dance stopped --

Verse 36 (skanda.6.40.36)

अनेन नृत्यमानेन जगत्स्थावरजंगमम् । नृत्यं करोति देवेश तस्माद्गत्वा निवारय

anena nṛtyamānena jagatsthāvarajaṁgamam | nṛtyaṁ karoti deveśa tasmādgatvā nivāraya

"O lord of gods, because of this man's dancing, the entire universe, both moving and unmoving, is dancing along with him; therefore go and stop him."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.40.37)

नान्यः शक्तः सुरश्रेष्ठ मुनिमेनं कथंचन । निषेधयितुमीशान ततः कुरु जगद्धितम्

nānyaḥ śaktaḥ suraśreṣṭha munimenaṁ kathaṁcana | niṣedhayitumīśāna tataḥ kuru jagaddhitam

"O Ishana, O best of gods, no one but you is able to restrain this sage in any way; therefore you alone must act for the good of the world."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.40.38)

सूत उवाच । अथ तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वृषभध्वजः । कृत्वा रूपं द्विजेंद्रस्य तत्सकाशमुपाद्रवत्

sūta uvāca | atha teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | kṛtvā rūpaṁ dvijeṁdrasya tatsakāśamupādravat

Suta said: Hearing their words, the blessed bull-bannered god, assuming the form of a foremost brahmin, hastened to that place --

Verse 39 (skanda.6.40.39)

अब्रवीच्च मुने कस्मात्त्वयैतन्नृत्यतेऽधुना । तस्मात्कार्यं वदाशु त्वं परं कौतूहलं हि नः

abravīcca mune kasmāttvayaitannṛtyate'dhunā | tasmātkāryaṁ vadāśu tvaṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

-- and said: "O sage, why do you dance in this way just now? Tell me the reason quickly, for we are most eager to know."

Verse 40 (skanda.6.40.40)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्तः स विप्रेंद्रः शंकरेण द्विजोत्तमाः । हस्तं संदर्शयामास तस्य शाकरसान्वितम्

sūta uvāca | evamuktaḥ sa vipreṁdraḥ śaṁkareṇa dvijottamāḥ | hastaṁ saṁdarśayāmāsa tasya śākarasānvitam

O best of brahmins, thus questioned by Shankara, that foremost sage showed him his own hand, flowing with vegetable-sap.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.40.41)

किं नपश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्कराच्छाकरसो महान् । संजातः क्षतवक्त्रेण तस्मात्सिद्धिरुपस्थिता

kiṁ napaśyasi me brahmankarācchākaraso mahān | saṁjātaḥ kṣatavaktreṇa tasmātsiddhirupasthitā

"Do you not see, O brahmin, this great flow of vegetable-sap that has come from the wound on my hand? By this it is proven that accomplishment has come upon me."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.40.42)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्विप्र नृत्यमेतत्करोम्यहम् । आनंदं परमं प्राप्य सिद्धिजं सिद्धसत्तम

etasmātkāraṇādvipra nṛtyametatkaromyaham | ānaṁdaṁ paramaṁ prāpya siddhijaṁ siddhasattama

"For this very reason, O brahmin, O foremost of the accomplished, having attained the supreme joy born of accomplishment, I perform this dance."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.40.43)

सूत उवाच । एवं तु वदतस्तस्य भगवान्वृषभध्वजः । अंगुष्ठं ताडयामास स्वांगुल्यग्रेण तत्क्षणात्

sūta uvāca | evaṁ tu vadatastasya bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | aṁguṣṭhaṁ tāḍayāmāsa svāṁgulyagreṇa tatkṣaṇāt

Suta said: Even as he spoke thus, the blessed bull-bannered god, at that very instant, struck his own thumb with the tip of his own finger.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.40.44)

निश्चक्राम ततो भस्म हिमस्फटिकसंनिभम् । क्षताग्रात्सहसा तस्य महाविस्मयकारकम्

niścakrāma tato bhasma himasphaṭikasaṁnibham | kṣatāgrātsahasā tasya mahāvismayakārakam

From the tip of that cut there at once issued forth ash, white as snow or crystal, causing him the greatest astonishment.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.40.45)

ततः प्रोवाच तं विप्रं स देवो द्विजसत्तमाः । यस्यांगुष्ठाग्रतो मह्यं निष्क्रांतं भस्म पांडुरम्

tataḥ provāca taṁ vipraṁ sa devo dvijasattamāḥ | yasyāṁguṣṭhāgrato mahyaṁ niṣkrāṁtaṁ bhasma pāṁḍuram

O foremost of brahmins, then that god said to that brahmin: From the very tip of my thumb has come forth this white ash --

Verse 46 (skanda.6.40.46)

तथाप्यहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ न नृत्यं कर्तुमुत्सहे । त्वं पुनर्नृत्यसे कस्मादपि शाकरसेक्षणात्

tathāpyahaṁ muniśreṣṭha na nṛtyaṁ kartumutsahe | tvaṁ punarnṛtyase kasmādapi śākarasekṣaṇāt

"-- and yet, O foremost of sages, I do not think to dance because of it; why then do you dance merely at the sight of vegetable-sap?"

Verse 47 (skanda.6.40.47)

विरामं कुरु तस्मात्त्वं नृत्यादस्माद्विगर्हितात् । तपः क्षरति विप्रेन्द्र नृत्यगीताद्द्विजन्मनः

virāmaṁ kuru tasmāttvaṁ nṛtyādasmādvigarhitāt | tapaḥ kṣarati viprendra nṛtyagītāddvijanmanaḥ

"Therefore desist from this disgraceful dancing; O foremost of brahmins, a brahmin's austerity is drained away by dance and song."

Verse 48 (skanda.6.40.48)

अथासौ तत्समुद्वीक्ष्य क्षताद्भस्मविसर्जनम् । नृत्यं व्रीडान्वितस्त्यक्त्वा तस्य चक्रे नमस्कृतिम्

athāsau tatsamudvīkṣya kṣatādbhasmavisarjanam | nṛtyaṁ vrīḍānvitastyaktvā tasya cakre namaskṛtim

Then, seeing that ash issuing from the wound, he, filled with shame, gave up his dancing and bowed down before him.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.40.49)

अब्रवीत्त्वामहं मन्ये नान्यं देवान्महेश्वरात् । तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यथा न स्यात्तपःक्षतिः

abravīttvāmahaṁ manye nānyaṁ devānmaheśvarāt | tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me yathā na syāttapaḥkṣatiḥ

He said: I know you to be none other than the great god Maheshvara himself; therefore show me your grace, so that my austerity may suffer no loss.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.40.50)

श्रीभगवान् उवाच । तपस्ते मत्प्रसादेन वृद्धिं शस्यति नित्यशः । स्थानेऽत्र भवता सार्धमहं स्थास्यामि सर्वदा

śrībhagavān uvāca | tapaste matprasādena vṛddhiṁ śasyati nityaśaḥ | sthāne'tra bhavatā sārdhamahaṁ sthāsyāmi sarvadā

The blessed lord said: By my grace your austerity shall ever go on increasing; in this very place, I shall dwell together with you forever.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.40.51)

आनन्दितेन भवता प्रार्थितोऽहं यतो मुने । आनन्देश्वरसंज्ञस्तु ख्यातिं यास्यामि भूतले । एतत्पुरं च मे नाम्ना आनन्दाख्यं भविष्यति

ānanditena bhavatā prārthito'haṁ yato mune | ānandeśvarasaṁjñastu khyātiṁ yāsyāmi bhūtale | etatpuraṁ ca me nāmnā ānandākhyaṁ bhaviṣyati

O sage, since you, in your joy, have entreated me thus, I shall become renowned upon the earth by the name Anandeshvara, and this city too shall become known, by that very name of mine, as Ananda.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.40.52)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो गतश्चादर्शनं ततः । सोऽपि मंकणकस्तत्र तपस्तेपे मुनीश्वरः

sūta uvāca | evamuktvā mahādevo gataścādarśanaṁ tataḥ | so'pi maṁkaṇakastatra tapastepe munīśvaraḥ

Suta said: Having said this, the great god vanished from that place, and that lord of sages, Mankanaka, remained there and continued his austerity.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.40.53)

अथ ते पन्नगाः प्रोचुः प्रणिपत्य मुनीश्वरम् । भगवन्निर्विषाः सर्वे वयं हि भवता कृताः

atha te pannagāḥ procuḥ praṇipatya munīśvaram | bhagavannirviṣāḥ sarve vayaṁ hi bhavatā kṛtāḥ

Then those serpents, bowing to that lord of sages, said: O lord, you have made all of us entirely free of venom.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.40.54)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं नो यथा स्याद्दारुणं विषम् । नो चेद्वयं गमिष्यामः सर्वलोकपराभवम्

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ no yathā syāddāruṇaṁ viṣam | no cedvayaṁ gamiṣyāmaḥ sarvalokaparābhavam

"Therefore show us your grace, so that our terrible venom may be restored to us; otherwise we shall suffer disgrace before the whole world."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.40.55)

मंकणक उवाच । अनृतं न मया प्रोक्तं स्वैरेणापि कदाचन । तस्मादेवंविधाः सर्वे जलसर्पा भविष्यथ

maṁkaṇaka uvāca | anṛtaṁ na mayā proktaṁ svaireṇāpi kadācana | tasmādevaṁvidhāḥ sarve jalasarpā bhaviṣyatha

Mankanaka said: Never, even of my own free will, have I spoken an untruth; therefore all of you shall henceforth become water-serpents of this very form.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.40.56)

सूत उवाच । ततःप्रभृति संजाता जलसर्पा महीतले । तद्वद्रूपा द्विजिह्वाश्च केवलं विषवर्जिताः

sūta uvāca | tataḥprabhṛti saṁjātā jalasarpā mahītale | tadvadrūpā dvijihvāśca kevalaṁ viṣavarjitāḥ

Suta said: From that time onward, water-serpents came into being upon the earth, of that very form, forked-tongued, but simply without venom.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.40.57)

अथ तस्मिन्ह्रदे मर्त्याः स्नात्वा सारस्वते शुभे । स्पृष्ट्वा चित्रशिलां तां च प्रयांति परमां गतिम्

atha tasminhrade martyāḥ snātvā sārasvate śubhe | spṛṣṭvā citraśilāṁ tāṁ ca prayāṁti paramāṁ gatim

Bathing in that sacred lake of Sarasvati, and touching that wondrous slab, mortals attain the highest state.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.40.58)

अथ भीतः सहस्राक्षो गत्वा देवं पितामहम् । यमेन सहितस्तूर्णं प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा

atha bhītaḥ sahasrākṣo gatvā devaṁ pitāmaham | yamena sahitastūrṇaṁ provācedaṁ vacastadā

Then, in alarm, thousand-eyed Indra, together with Yama, went at once to the grandsire god and spoke these words --

Verse 59 (skanda.6.40.59)

त्वत्प्रसादात्समुद्वीक्ष्य गच्छंति मनुजा दिवम् । पितामह महातीर्थं यत्त्वया विहितं क्षितौ । सारस्वतं नरास्तत्र स्नात्वा यांति त्रिविष्टपम्

tvatprasādātsamudvīkṣya gacchaṁti manujā divam | pitāmaha mahātīrthaṁ yattvayā vihitaṁ kṣitau | sārasvataṁ narāstatra snātvā yāṁti triviṣṭapam

"O grandsire, through your very grace, seeing this great sacred ford established by you upon the earth, men go straight to heaven; bathing there in that Sarasvati ford, they go directly to the third heaven."

Verse 60 (skanda.6.40.60)

अपि पापसमाचाराः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृताः । तत्र स्नात्वा शिलां स्पृष्ट्वा तदैवायांति सद्गतिम्

api pāpasamācārāḥ sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtāḥ | tatra snātvā śilāṁ spṛṣṭvā tadaivāyāṁti sadgatim

"Even men of sinful conduct, entirely cast out from all righteousness, upon bathing there and touching that slab, attain a blessed state that very instant."

Verse 61 (skanda.6.40.61)

यमः उवाच । अप्रमाणं विभो कर्म संप्रयातं ममोचितम् । शुभाशुभपरिज्ञानं सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम्

yamaḥ uvāca | apramāṇaṁ vibho karma saṁprayātaṁ mamocitam | śubhāśubhaparijñānaṁ sarveṣāmeva dehinām

Yama said: O lord, my own proper function -- the knowledge of the good and evil deeds of all embodied beings -- has now become void of authority.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.40.62)

तस्मात्त्यज त्वं मां देव यद्वा तत्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । यत्प्रभावाज्जनैर्हीनाः संजाता नरका मम

tasmāttyaja tvaṁ māṁ deva yadvā tattīrthamuttamam | yatprabhāvājjanairhīnāḥ saṁjātā narakā mama

"Therefore, O god, either abandon me, or else remove that excellent sacred ford, by whose power my hells have become emptied of people."

Verse 63 (skanda.6.40.63)

सूत उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यमस्य प्रपितामहः । प्राह पार्श्वस्थितं शक्रं तत्तीर्थं नय संक्षयम्

sūta uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā yamasya prapitāmahaḥ | prāha pārśvasthitaṁ śakraṁ tattīrthaṁ naya saṁkṣayam

Suta said: Hearing these words of Yama, the great grandsire Brahma said to Indra, standing nearby: Bring that sacred ford to ruin.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.40.64)

ततः शक्रो ह्रदं गत्वा पूरयामास पांसुभिः । ह्रदं सारस्वतं तं च तां च चित्रशिलां द्विजाः

tataḥ śakro hradaṁ gatvā pūrayāmāsa pāṁsubhiḥ | hradaṁ sārasvataṁ taṁ ca tāṁ ca citraśilāṁ dvijāḥ

O brahmins, then Indra went to that lake, and filled that Sarasvati lake, together with that wondrous slab, with dust.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.40.65)

अद्यापि मनुजः सम्यक्तस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितः । यः करोति तपश्चर्यां स शीघं सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्

adyāpi manujaḥ samyaktasminsthāne vyavasthitaḥ | yaḥ karoti tapaścaryāṁ sa śīghaṁ siddhimāpnuyāt

Even today, the man who properly establishes himself in that place and performs austerity swiftly attains accomplishment.

Verse 66 (skanda.6.40.66)

सोऽपि मंकणकस्तत्र सार्द्धं देवेन शंभुना । तिष्ठत्यद्यापि विप्रेंद्र पूरितं चैव पांसुभिः

so'pi maṁkaṇakastatra sārddhaṁ devena śaṁbhunā | tiṣṭhatyadyāpi vipreṁdra pūritaṁ caiva pāṁsubhiḥ

O foremost of brahmins, that Mankanaka, too, together with the god Shambhu, still dwells there today, even in that place now filled with dust.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.40.67)

लिंगं मंकणकन्यस्तं तत्रास्ति सुमहोदयम् । तत्स्पृष्ट्वा मानवाः पापैर्मुच्यंते द्विजसत्तमाः

liṁgaṁ maṁkaṇakanyastaṁ tatrāsti sumahodayam | tatspṛṣṭvā mānavāḥ pāpairmucyaṁte dvijasattamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, there stands the linga established by Mankanaka, of the very greatest majesty; touching it, men are freed from their sins.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.40.68)

माघ शुक्लचतुर्दश्यां यस्तं पूजयते नरः । स पापैरपि संयुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते

māgha śuklacaturdaśyāṁ yastaṁ pūjayate naraḥ | sa pāpairapi saṁyuktaḥ śivaloke mahīyate

The man who worships it on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight of Magha is honored in the world of Shiva, even though he be burdened with sins.