The Glory of Shandilyeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.126.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि शांडिल्येश्वरमुत्तमम्। ब्रह्मणः पश्चिमे भागे धनुषां षोडशांतरे

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi śāṁḍilyeśvaramuttamam| brahmaṇaḥ paścime bhāge dhanuṣāṁ ṣoḍaśāṁtare

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the supreme Shandilyeshvara, situated sixteen bow-lengths to the west of the Brahma-linga.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.126.2)

महाप्रभावं लिङ्गं तद्दर्शनात्पापनाशनम्

mahāprabhāvaṁ liṅgaṁ taddarśanātpāpanāśanam

That linga is of great power, destroying sin by the very sight of it.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.126.3)

शांडिल्योनाम ब्रह्मर्षिः सारथिर्ब्रह्मणः स्मृतः। तपस्वी स महातेजा ज्ञाननिष्ठो जितेन्द्रियः

śāṁḍilyonāma brahmarṣiḥ sārathirbrahmaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ| tapasvī sa mahātejā jñānaniṣṭho jitendriyaḥ

The brahmin sage named Shandilya, remembered as the charioteer of Brahma, was a greatly radiant ascetic, devoted to knowledge and master of his senses.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.126.4)

स प्रभासं समासाद्य तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्। प्रतिष्ठाप्य महालिंगं सोमेशादुत्तरे स्थितम्

sa prabhāsaṁ samāsādya tapastepe sudāruṇam| pratiṣṭhāpya mahāliṁgaṁ someśāduttare sthitam

Coming to Prabhasa, he performed most severe austerity, and established a great linga to the north of Someshvara.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.126.5)

स स्वयं पूजयामास दिव्याब्दानां शतं प्रिये। ततोऽभिलषितं प्राप्य कृतकृत्यो बभूव ह

sa svayaṁ pūjayāmāsa divyābdānāṁ śataṁ priye| tato'bhilaṣitaṁ prāpya kṛtakṛtyo babhūva ha

O beloved, he himself worshipped it for a hundred divine years; thereafter, obtaining what he desired, he became fulfilled.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.126.6)

नन्दीश्वरप्रसादेन अणिमादिगुणैर्युतः। तं दृष्ट्वा तु नरः सद्यो विपापः संप्रजायते

nandīśvaraprasādena aṇimādiguṇairyutaḥ| taṁ dṛṣṭvā tu naraḥ sadyo vipāpaḥ saṁprajāyate

By the grace of Nandishvara he became endowed with the powers of minuteness and the like. A man beholding that linga instantly becomes free of sin.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.126.7)

बाल्ये वयसि यत्पापं वार्धक्ये यौवनेऽपि वा। अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वाऽपि यः करोति नरः प्रिये। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति शांडिल्येश्वरदर्शनात्

bālye vayasi yatpāpaṁ vārdhakye yauvane'pi vā| ajñānājjñānato vā'pi yaḥ karoti naraḥ priye| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti śāṁḍilyeśvaradarśanāt

O beloved, whatever sin a man commits in childhood, old age, or youth, whether unknowingly or knowingly, all of it is destroyed by the sight of Shandilyeshvara.