The Origin of the Someshvara Lingas

Verse 1 (skanda.6.63.1)

सूत उवाच॥ अथ सोमेश्वराख्यं च तत्र लिंगं सुशोभनम्॥ अस्ति ख्यातं त्रिलोकेऽत्र स्वयं सोमेन निर्मितम्

sūta uvāca atha someśvarākhyaṁ ca tatra liṁgaṁ suśobhanam asti khyātaṁ triloke'tra svayaṁ somena nirmitam

Suta said: Now, there in that place, stands a most beautiful linga named Someshvara, famed throughout the three worlds, established there by Soma, the Moon, himself.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.63.2)

सोमवारेण यस्तत्र वत्सरं यावदर्चयेत्॥ क्षणं कृत्वा स रोगेण दारुणेनापि मुच्यते

somavāreṇa yastatra vatsaraṁ yāvadarcayet kṣaṇaṁ kṛtvā sa rogeṇa dāruṇenāpi mucyate

Whoever worships there on a Monday, continuously for a full year, is freed in an instant even from a terrible disease.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.63.3)

यक्ष्मणापि न संदेहः किं पुनः कुष्ठपूर्वकैः॥ तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन रोगार्त्तस्तं प्रपूजयेत्

yakṣmaṇāpi na saṁdehaḥ kiṁ punaḥ kuṣṭhapūrvakaiḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena rogārttastaṁ prapūjayet

There is no doubt he is freed even from the wasting disease of consumption — how much more so from leprosy and the like! Therefore, one afflicted with any disease should worship it with the greatest effort.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.63.4)

तदाराध्य पुरा सोमः क्षयव्याधिसमन्वितः॥ बभूव नीरुग्देहोऽसौ यथा पांड्यो नराधिपः

tadārādhya purā somaḥ kṣayavyādhisamanvitaḥ babhūva nīrugdeho'sau yathā pāṁḍyo narādhipaḥ

By worshipping it, Soma the Moon, long ago afflicted with the wasting disease, became free of that illness in his very body — just as did the Pandya king.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.63.5)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ ओषधीनामधीशस्य कथं सोमस्य सूतज॥ क्षयव्याधिः पुरा जाता उपशांतिं कथं गतः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ oṣadhīnāmadhīśasya kathaṁ somasya sūtaja kṣayavyādhiḥ purā jātā upaśāṁtiṁ kathaṁ gataḥ

The sages said: O son of Suta, how did the wasting disease arise in Soma, lord of the herbs, in ancient times — and how was it stilled?

Verse 6 (skanda.6.63.6)

एतन्नः सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते॥ तथा तस्य महीपस्य पांड्यस्यापि कथां शुभाम्

etannaḥ sarvamācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate tathā tasya mahīpasya pāṁḍyasyāpi kathāṁ śubhām

Tell us all of this in full detail, O greatly wise one — and likewise the auspicious story of that Pandya king as well.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.63.7)

सूत उवाच॥ दक्षस्य कन्यकाः पूर्वं सप्तविंशतिसंख्यया॥ उपयेमे निशानाथो देवाग्निगुरुसंनिधौ

sūta uvāca dakṣasya kanyakāḥ pūrvaṁ saptaviṁśatisaṁkhyayā upayeme niśānātho devāgnigurusaṁnidhau

Suta said: Long ago, the lord of night, the Moon, wedded the twenty-seven daughters of Daksha, in the presence of the gods, the sacred fire, and the family preceptor.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.63.8)

नक्षत्रसंज्ञिता लोके कीर्त्यंते या द्विजोत्तमैः॥ दैवज्ञैरश्विनीपूर्वा रूपौदार्यगुणान्विताः

nakṣatrasaṁjñitā loke kīrtyaṁte yā dvijottamaiḥ daivajñairaśvinīpūrvā rūpaudāryaguṇānvitāḥ

They are known in the world by the names of the constellations, celebrated by the finest brahmins and astrologers, beginning with Ashvini, and were endowed with beauty, generosity, and every virtue.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.63.9)

अथ तासां समस्तानां मध्ये तस्य निशापतेः॥ रोहिणी वल्लभा जज्ञे प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी

atha tāsāṁ samastānāṁ madhye tasya niśāpateḥ rohiṇī vallabhā jajñe prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī

Now, among all of them, Rohini became the beloved of that lord of night, dearer to him than his own very life.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.63.10)

ततः समं परित्यज्य सर्वास्ता दक्षकन्यकाः॥ रोहिण्या सह संयुक्तः संबभूव दिवानिशम्

tataḥ samaṁ parityajya sarvāstā dakṣakanyakāḥ rohiṇyā saha saṁyuktaḥ saṁbabhūva divāniśam

Then, forsaking all the other daughters of Daksha alike, he remained joined with Rohini alone, day and night.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.63.11)

ततस्ताः काम संतप्ता दौर्भाग्येन समन्विताः॥ प्रोचुर्दुःखान्विता दक्षं गत्वा बाष्पप्लुताननाः

tatastāḥ kāma saṁtaptā daurbhāgyena samanvitāḥ procurduḥkhānvitā dakṣaṁ gatvā bāṣpaplutānanāḥ

Then, tormented by unfulfilled desire and afflicted with misfortune, they went to Daksha, sorrowful, their faces streaming with tears, and spoke.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.63.12)

वयं यस्मै त्वया दत्ताः पत्न्यर्थं तात पापिने॥ ऋतुमात्रमपि प्रीत्या सोऽस्माकं न प्रयच्छति

vayaṁ yasmai tvayā dattāḥ patnyarthaṁ tāta pāpine ṛtumātramapi prītyā so'smākaṁ na prayacchati

'O father, that wicked one to whom you gave us in marriage does not come to us with love even during our fertile season.'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.63.13)

तस्मात्प्राणान्विहास्यामः संप्रविश्य हुताशनम्॥ अविलंबान्महाभाग सत्यं ब्रूमस्तवाग्रतः

tasmātprāṇānvihāsyāmaḥ saṁpraviśya hutāśanam avilaṁbānmahābhāga satyaṁ brūmastavāgrataḥ

'Therefore, O most fortunate one, we shall cast off our lives, entering the fire without delay; we speak only the truth before you.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.63.14)

सूत उवाच॥ तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षो दुःखसमन्वितः॥ सर्वास्ताः स्वयमादाय जगाम शशिसंनिधौ

sūta uvāca tāsāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dakṣo duḥkhasamanvitaḥ sarvāstāḥ svayamādāya jagāma śaśisaṁnidhau

Suta said: Hearing their words, Daksha, overcome with grief, took all of them himself and went into the presence of the Moon.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.63.15)

ततः प्रोवाच सोऽन्वक्षं तासां दक्षः प्रजापतिः॥ भर्त्सयन्परुषैर्वाक्यैर्निशानाथं मुहुर्मुहुः

tataḥ provāca so'nvakṣaṁ tāsāṁ dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ bhartsayanparuṣairvākyairniśānāthaṁ muhurmuhuḥ

Then Daksha Prajapati, right there before them, spoke, rebuking the lord of night again and again with harsh words.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.63.16)

किमिदं युज्यते कर्तुं त्वया रात्रिपतेऽधम॥ कर्म मूढ सतां बाह्य धर्मशास्त्रविगर्हितम्

kimidaṁ yujyate kartuṁ tvayā rātripate'dhama karma mūḍha satāṁ bāhya dharmaśāstravigarhitam

'Is this fitting conduct for you, O base lord of night? This is a foolish act, outside the way of the righteous, condemned by the very scriptures of dharma.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.63.17)

ऋतुकालेऽपि संप्राप्ते सुता मम समुद्भवाः॥ यन्न संभाषसि प्रीत्या धर्मशास्त्रं न वेत्सि किम्

ṛtukāle'pi saṁprāpte sutā mama samudbhavāḥ yanna saṁbhāṣasi prītyā dharmaśāstraṁ na vetsi kim

'That you do not speak to my daughters with love even when their fertile season has arrived — do you not know the scriptures of dharma?'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.63.18)

ऋतु स्नातां तु यो भार्यां संनिधौ नोपगच्छति॥ घोरायां भ्रूणहत्यायां युज्यते नात्र संशयः

ṛtu snātāṁ tu yo bhāryāṁ saṁnidhau nopagacchati ghorāyāṁ bhrūṇahatyāyāṁ yujyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

'Whoever does not go to his wife after she has bathed following her fertile season incurs the terrible sin of the killing of an unborn child — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.63.19)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सलज्जो रात्रिनायकः॥ प्रोवाचाधोमुखो दक्षं प्रकरिष्ये वचस्तव

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā salajjo rātrināyakaḥ provācādhomukho dakṣaṁ prakariṣye vacastava

Hearing this, the lord of night, ashamed, spoke to Daksha with head bowed low: 'I shall do as you have said.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.63.20)

ततो हृष्टमना दक्षः सुताः सर्वा हिमद्युते॥ निवेद्यामंत्र्य तं पश्चाज्जगाम निजमंदिरम्

tato hṛṣṭamanā dakṣaḥ sutāḥ sarvā himadyute nivedyāmaṁtrya taṁ paścājjagāma nijamaṁdiram

Then Daksha, glad at heart, having entrusted all his daughters to the cool-rayed Moon and taken leave of him, returned to his own home.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.63.21)

चन्द्रोऽपि पूर्ववत्सर्वास्ताः परित्यज्य दक्षजाः॥ रोहिण्या सह संसर्गं प्रचकारानुरागतः

candro'pi pūrvavatsarvāstāḥ parityajya dakṣajāḥ rohiṇyā saha saṁsargaṁ pracakārānurāgataḥ

But the Moon too, just as before, forsook all the daughters of Daksha once again and continued his loving union with Rohini alone.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.63.22)

अथ ता दुःखिता भूयो जग्मुर्यत्र पिता स्थितः॥ प्रोचुश्च बाष्पपूर्णाक्षास्तत्कालसदृशं वचः

atha tā duḥkhitā bhūyo jagmuryatra pitā sthitaḥ procuśca bāṣpapūrṇākṣāstatkālasadṛśaṁ vacaḥ

Then, sorrowful once more, they went again to where their father dwelt, and, their eyes brimming with tears, spoke words fitting the occasion.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.63.23)

एतत्तात महद्दुःखमस्माकं वर्तते हृदि॥ यद्दौर्भाग्यं प्रसंजातं सर्वस्त्रीजनगर्हितम्

etattāta mahadduḥkhamasmākaṁ vartate hṛdi yaddaurbhāgyaṁ prasaṁjātaṁ sarvastrījanagarhitam

'O father, this great sorrow dwells in our hearts: that such misfortune has befallen us, a fate condemned by every woman.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.63.24)

यत्पुनस्त्वं कृतस्तेन कामुकेन दुरात्मना॥ व्यर्थश्रमोऽप्रमाणीव कृतेऽस्माकं गतः स्वयम्

yatpunastvaṁ kṛtastena kāmukena durātmanā vyarthaśramo'pramāṇīva kṛte'smākaṁ gataḥ svayam

'And whatever you said to that lustful, wicked-minded one has, as far as we are concerned, proved entirely in vain — treated by him as though it counted for nothing.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.63.25)

तद्दुःखं न वयं शक्ता हृदि धर्तुं कथंचन॥ रमते स हि रोहिण्या चंद्रमाः सहितोऽनिशम्

tadduḥkhaṁ na vayaṁ śaktā hṛdi dhartuṁ kathaṁcana ramate sa hi rohiṇyā caṁdramāḥ sahito'niśam

'We are no longer able to bear that sorrow in our hearts in any way, for the Moon dallies with Rohini alone, unceasingly, night and day.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.63.26)

विशेषात्तव वाक्येन निषिद्धो रात्रिनायकः॥ अनुज्ञां देहि तस्मात्त्वमस्माकं तत्र सांप्रतम्॥ दौर्भाग्यदुःखसंतप्तास्त्यजामो येन जीवितम्

viśeṣāttava vākyena niṣiddho rātrināyakaḥ anujñāṁ dehi tasmāttvamasmākaṁ tatra sāṁpratam daurbhāgyaduḥkhasaṁtaptāstyajāmo yena jīvitam

'Especially since the lord of night was forbidden by your own word — and still he defies it — therefore grant us your leave now, so that, consumed by the anguish of this misfortune, we may give up our lives.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.63.27)

सूत उवाच॥ तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षः कोपसमन्वितः॥ शशाप शर्वरीनाथं गत्वा तत्संनिधौ ततः

sūta uvāca tāsāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dakṣaḥ kopasamanvitaḥ śaśāpa śarvarīnāthaṁ gatvā tatsaṁnidhau tataḥ

Suta said: Hearing their words, Daksha, overcome with fury, went into the presence of the lord of night and cursed him.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.63.28)

यस्मात्पाप न मे वाक्यं त्वया धर्मसमन्वितम्॥ कृतं तस्मात्क्षयव्याधिस्त्वां ग्रसिष्यति दारुणः

yasmātpāpa na me vākyaṁ tvayā dharmasamanvitam kṛtaṁ tasmātkṣayavyādhistvāṁ grasiṣyati dāruṇaḥ

'Since, O sinner, you did not heed my righteous command, therefore a terrible wasting disease shall consume you.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.63.29)

एवमुक्त्वा ययौ दक्षश्चन्द्रोऽपि द्विजसत्तमाः॥ तत्क्षणाद्यक्ष्मणाश्लिष्टः क्षयं याति दिने दिने

evamuktvā yayau dakṣaścandro'pi dvijasattamāḥ tatkṣaṇādyakṣmaṇāśliṣṭaḥ kṣayaṁ yāti dine dine

Having spoken thus, Daksha departed; and the Moon too, O best of the twice-born, was seized that very instant by consumption, and began to waste away day after day.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.63.30)

ततोऽसौ कृशतां प्राप्तः संपरित्यज्य रोहिणीम्॥ अशक्तः सेवितुं कामं वभ्राम जगतीतले

tato'sau kṛśatāṁ prāptaḥ saṁparityajya rohiṇīm aśaktaḥ sevituṁ kāmaṁ vabhrāma jagatītale

Then, growing thin and weak, he abandoned Rohini, no longer able to take pleasure in her, and wandered over the face of the earth.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.63.31)

क्षयव्याधिप्रणाशाय पृच्छ मानश्चिकित्सकान्॥ औषधानि विचित्राणि प्रकुर्वाणो जितेन्द्रियः

kṣayavyādhipraṇāśāya pṛccha mānaścikitsakān auṣadhāni vicitrāṇi prakurvāṇo jitendriyaḥ

Seeking out physicians to be rid of the wasting disease, taking every kind of medicine, his senses restrained —

Verse 32 (skanda.6.63.32)

तथापि मुच्यते नैव यक्ष्मणा स निशापतिः॥ दक्षशापेन रौद्रेण क्षयं याति दिनेदिने

tathāpi mucyate naiva yakṣmaṇā sa niśāpatiḥ dakṣaśāpena raudreṇa kṣayaṁ yāti dinedine

— yet still that lord of night could not be freed from the wasting disease; by Daksha's terrible curse, he continued to waste away day by day.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.63.33)

ततो वैराग्यमापन्नस्तीर्थयात्रापरायणः॥ बभूव श्रद्धयायुक्तस्त्यक्त्वा भेषजमुत्तमम्

tato vairāgyamāpannastīrthayātrāparāyaṇaḥ babhūva śraddhayāyuktastyaktvā bheṣajamuttamam

Then, overtaken by renunciation, he abandoned even the finest medicines and, filled with faith, gave himself over to pilgrimage among the sacred tirthas.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.63.34)

अथासौ भ्रममाणस्तु तीर्थान्यायतनानि च॥ संप्राप्तो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः प्रभासं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

athāsau bhramamāṇastu tīrthānyāyatanāni ca saṁprāpto brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ prabhāsaṁ kṣetramuttamam

Then, wandering among the sacred fords and shrines, O best of brahmins, he came at last to Prabhasa, that most excellent of sacred fields.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.63.35)

तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा प्रभासं वीक्ष्य रात्रिपः॥ यावत्संप्रस्थितोन्यत्र तावदग्रे व्यवस्थितम्

tatra snātvā śucirbhūtvā prabhāsaṁ vīkṣya rātripaḥ yāvatsaṁprasthitonyatra tāvadagre vyavasthitam

There, having bathed and become pure, the lord of night gazed upon Prabhasa; and just as he was setting out for another place, he saw someone standing there before him.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.63.36)

अपश्यद्रोमकंनाम स मुनि संशितव्रतम्॥ तपोवीर्यसमोपेतं सर्वसत्त्वानुकम्पकम्

apaśyadromakaṁnāma sa muni saṁśitavratam tapovīryasamopetaṁ sarvasattvānukampakam

He saw a sage named Romaka, of strict vows, possessed of the power of austerity, and compassionate toward all living beings.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.63.37)

तं दृष्ट्वा स प्रणम्योच्चै स्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्॥ क्षयव्याधियुतश्चन्द्रो निर्वेदाद्द्विजसत्तमाः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa praṇamyoccai stataḥ provāca sādaram kṣayavyādhiyutaścandro nirvedāddvijasattamāḥ

Seeing him, the Moon, afflicted with the wasting disease and sunk in despair, bowed low before him and spoke with reverence.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.63.38)

परिक्षीणोऽस्मि विप्रेंद्र क्षयव्याधिप्रभावतः॥ तस्मात्कुरु प्रतीकार महं त्वां शरणं गतः

parikṣīṇo'smi vipreṁdra kṣayavyādhiprabhāvataḥ tasmātkuru pratīkāra mahaṁ tvāṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

'O foremost of brahmins, I am utterly wasted by the power of this consuming disease; grant me, therefore, some remedy — I have come to you for refuge.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.63.39)

मया चिकित्सकाः पृष्टास्तैरुक्तं भेषजं कृतम्॥ अनेकधा महाभाग परिक्षीणो दिनेदिने

mayā cikitsakāḥ pṛṣṭāstairuktaṁ bheṣajaṁ kṛtam anekadhā mahābhāga parikṣīṇo dinedine

'O most fortunate one, I have consulted physicians and taken the many medicines they prescribed, and yet I only continue to waste away, day after day.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.63.40)

यदि नैवोपदेशं मे कञ्चित्त्वं संप्रदास्यसि॥ व्याधिनाशाय तत्तेन त्यक्ष्याम्यद्य कलेवरम्

yadi naivopadeśaṁ me kañcittvaṁ saṁpradāsyasi vyādhināśāya tattena tyakṣyāmyadya kalevaram

'If you will not give me some guidance for the destruction of this disease, then this very day I shall give up my body.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.63.41)

रोमक उवाच॥ अन्यस्यापि निशानाथ न शापः कर्तुमन्यथा॥ शक्यते किं पुनस्तस्य दक्षस्यामिततेजसः

romaka uvāca anyasyāpi niśānātha na śāpaḥ kartumanyathā śakyate kiṁ punastasya dakṣasyāmitatejasaḥ

Romaka said: 'O lord of night, even an ordinary person's curse cannot simply be undone — how much less the curse of Daksha, whose power is boundless!'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.63.42)

तस्मादत्रोपदेशं ते प्रयच्छामि सुसंमतम्॥ येन ते स्यादसंदिग्धं क्षयव्याधि परिक्षयः

tasmādatropadeśaṁ te prayacchāmi susaṁmatam yena te syādasaṁdigdhaṁ kṣayavyādhi parikṣayaḥ

'Therefore I shall give you here a teaching well approved by all, by which you shall, without any doubt, achieve the complete destruction of your wasting disease.'

Verse 43 (skanda.6.63.43)

नादेयं किंचिदस्तीह देवदेवस्य शूलिनः॥ संप्रहृष्टस्य तद्वाक्यात्तस्मादाराधयस्व तम्

nādeyaṁ kiṁcidastīha devadevasya śūlinaḥ saṁprahṛṣṭasya tadvākyāttasmādārādhayasva tam

'There is nothing at all that the trident-bearing God of gods will not grant, once he is truly pleased; therefore, worship him.'

Verse 44 (skanda.6.63.44)

अष्टषष्टिषु तीर्थेषु सत्यं वासः सदा क्षितौ॥ तेषु संस्थाप्य तल्लिंगं तस्य नाशाय रात्रिप

aṣṭaṣaṣṭiṣu tīrtheṣu satyaṁ vāsaḥ sadā kṣitau teṣu saṁsthāpya talliṁgaṁ tasya nāśāya rātripa

'In the sixty-eight sacred tirthas, his abode truly and ever dwells upon this earth; O lord of night, establish his linga in each of them, for the destruction of your disease.'

Verse 45 (skanda.6.63.45)

आराधय ततो नित्यं श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा॥ संप्राप्स्यसि न संदेहः क्षयव्याधि परिक्षयम्

ārādhaya tato nityaṁ śraddhāpūtena cetasā saṁprāpsyasi na saṁdehaḥ kṣayavyādhi parikṣayam

'Then worship him constantly, with a heart made pure by faith; you shall attain, without any doubt, the complete destruction of your wasting disease.'

Verse 46 (skanda.6.63.46)

सूत उवाच॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संप्रहृष्टो निशापतिः॥ तस्मिन्प्रभासके क्षेत्रे दिव्यलिंगानि शूलिनः॥ संस्थाप्य पूजयामास स्वनामांकानि भक्तितः

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā saṁprahṛṣṭo niśāpatiḥ tasminprabhāsake kṣetre divyaliṁgāni śūlinaḥ saṁsthāpya pūjayāmāsa svanāmāṁkāni bhaktitaḥ

Suta said: Hearing his words, the lord of night, greatly delighted, established in that field of Prabhasa divine lingas of the trident-bearer, each marked with his own name, and worshipped them with devotion.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.63.47)

ततस्तुष्टो महादेवस्तस्य संदर्शनं गतः॥ प्रोवाच वरदोऽस्मीति प्रार्थयस्व यथेप्सितम्

tatastuṣṭo mahādevastasya saṁdarśanaṁ gataḥ provāca varado'smīti prārthayasva yathepsitam

Then Mahadeva, well pleased, appeared before him and said: 'I am the giver of boons; ask for whatever you desire.'

Verse 48 (skanda.6.63.48)

चन्द्र उवाच॥ परं क्षीणोऽस्मि देवेश यक्ष्मणाहं पदांतिकम्॥ प्राप्तस्तस्मात्परित्राहि नान्यत्संप्रार्थयाम्यहम्

candra uvāca paraṁ kṣīṇo'smi deveśa yakṣmaṇāhaṁ padāṁtikam prāptastasmātparitrāhi nānyatsaṁprārthayāmyaham

The Moon said: 'O lord of the gods, I am utterly wasted by this consuming disease and have come to the very brink of death; therefore save me — I ask for nothing else.'

Verse 49 (skanda.6.63.49)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान्वृषभध्वजः॥ दक्षमाहूय तत्रैव ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ dakṣamāhūya tatraiva tataḥ provāca sādaram

Hearing his words, the blessed lord whose banner bears the bull summoned Daksha there and then spoke to him with regard.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.63.50)

एष चंद्रस्त्वया शप्तो जामाता न कृतं शुभम्॥ तस्मादनुग्रहं चास्य मम वाक्यात्समाचर

eṣa caṁdrastvayā śapto jāmātā na kṛtaṁ śubham tasmādanugrahaṁ cāsya mama vākyātsamācara

'This Moon, your own son-in-law, has been cursed by you — this was not a good deed. Therefore, at my word, show him your grace.'

Verse 51 (skanda.6.63.51)

दक्ष उवाच॥ मया धर्म्यमपि प्रोक्तो वाक्यमेष कुबुद्धिमान्॥ नाकरोन्मे पुरः प्रोच्य करिष्यामीत्य सत्यवाक्

dakṣa uvāca mayā dharmyamapi prokto vākyameṣa kubuddhimān nākaronme puraḥ procya kariṣyāmītya satyavāk

Daksha said: 'Though what I spoke to him was righteous, this evil-minded one did not act upon it; having promised before me, "I shall do so," he proved false to his own word.'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.63.52)

तेन शप्तस्तु कोपेन सुतार्थे वृषभध्वज॥ हास्येनापि मया प्रोक्तं नान्यथा संप्रजायते

tena śaptastu kopena sutārthe vṛṣabhadhvaja hāsyenāpi mayā proktaṁ nānyathā saṁprajāyate

'Therefore, O bull-bannered one, in anger for my daughters' sake, he was cursed by me; and whatever I have spoken, even if only in jest, cannot come to be otherwise.'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.63.53)

देवदेव उवाच॥ अद्यप्रभृति सर्वास्ताः सुता एष निशाकरः॥ समाः संवीक्षते नित्यं मम वाक्यादसंशयम्

devadeva uvāca adyaprabhṛti sarvāstāḥ sutā eṣa niśākaraḥ samāḥ saṁvīkṣate nityaṁ mama vākyādasaṁśayam

The God of gods said: 'From this day forward, at my word, without any doubt, this maker of night shall always look equally upon all your daughters.'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.63.54)

तस्मात्पक्षं क्षयं यातु पक्षं वृद्धिं प्रगच्छतु॥ येन ते स्याद्वचः सत्यं मत्प्रसादसमन्वितम्

tasmātpakṣaṁ kṣayaṁ yātu pakṣaṁ vṛddhiṁ pragacchatu yena te syādvacaḥ satyaṁ matprasādasamanvitam

'Therefore let him wane through one fortnight and wax through the other, so that your word remains true and my grace abides with him as well.'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.63.55)

ततो दक्षस्तथेत्युक्त्वा जगाम निजमन्दिरम्॥ देवोऽपि शंकरो भूयः प्रोवाच शशलांछनम्

tato dakṣastathetyuktvā jagāma nijamandiram devo'pi śaṁkaro bhūyaḥ provāca śaśalāṁchanam

Then Daksha, saying 'so be it,' returned to his own abode; and the god Shankara spoke once more to the Moon, marked with the hare.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.63.56)

भूयोऽपि प्रार्थयाभीष्टं मत्तस्त्वं शशलांछन॥ येन सर्वं प्रयच्छामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

bhūyo'pi prārthayābhīṣṭaṁ mattastvaṁ śaśalāṁchana yena sarvaṁ prayacchāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'O moon, ask of me once more whatever you desire, and I shall grant you all of it, however difficult it may be to obtain.'

Verse 57 (skanda.6.63.57)

चन्द्र उवाच॥ यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम॥ तत्स्थापितेषु लिंगेषु मया सर्वेषु सर्वदा॥ संनिधानं त्वया कार्यं लोकानां हित काम्यया

candra uvāca yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa yadi deyo varo mama tatsthāpiteṣu liṁgeṣu mayā sarveṣu sarvadā saṁnidhānaṁ tvayā kāryaṁ lokānāṁ hita kāmyayā

The Moon said: 'O lord of gods, if you are pleased and wish to grant me a boon, then may you always remain present in all the lingas I have established, for the welfare of all the world.'

Verse 58 (skanda.6.63.58)

देव उवाच॥ अष्टषष्टिषु लिंगेषु स्थापितेषु त्वया विभो॥ सोमवारेण सांनिध्यं करिष्ये वचनात्तव

deva uvāca aṣṭaṣaṣṭiṣu liṁgeṣu sthāpiteṣu tvayā vibho somavāreṇa sāṁnidhyaṁ kariṣye vacanāttava

The Lord said: 'O sovereign one, in the sixty-eight lingas that you have established, I shall, at your word, grant my presence there on Mondays.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.63.59)

एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः॥ चन्द्रोऽपि हर्षसंयुक्तः समं पश्यति तास्ततः

evamuktvā sa deveśastataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ candro'pi harṣasaṁyuktaḥ samaṁ paśyati tāstataḥ

Having spoken thus, that lord of gods vanished from sight; and the Moon too, filled with joy, from then on looked upon all of them equally.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.63.60)

सुता दक्षस्य विप्रेंद्रा शंकरस्य वचः स्मरन्॥ ततो हर्ष समायुक्ता वभूवुस्तदनंतरम्

sutā dakṣasya vipreṁdrā śaṁkarasya vacaḥ smaran tato harṣa samāyuktā vabhūvustadanaṁtaram

O foremost of brahmins, the daughters of Daksha too, recalling Shankara's word, became filled with joy from that time on.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.63.61)

एवं सोमेश्वरास्तत्र बभूवुर्द्विजसत्तमाः॥ अष्टषष्टिषु तीर्थेषु तथान्येषु ततः परम्

evaṁ someśvarāstatra babhūvurdvijasattamāḥ aṣṭaṣaṣṭiṣu tīrtheṣu tathānyeṣu tataḥ param

Thus, O best of the twice-born, the Someshvara lingas came to be established there in the sixty-eight tirthas, and thereafter in other places as well.