The Glory of Kshemankareshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.127.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि क्षेमेश्वरमनुत्तमम्। तस्मादुत्तरकोणस्थं कपालेशाग्निगोचरे

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi kṣemeśvaramanuttamam| tasmāduttarakoṇasthaṁ kapāleśāgnigocare

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the incomparable Kshemeshvara, situated in the northern corner, in the direction of fire from Kapaleshvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.127.2)

धनुषां पंचदशके कपालेश्वरतः स्थितम्। लिंगं महाप्रभावं हि सर्वपातकनाशनम्

dhanuṣāṁ paṁcadaśake kapāleśvarataḥ sthitam| liṁgaṁ mahāprabhāvaṁ hi sarvapātakanāśanam

Situated fifteen bow-lengths from Kapaleshvara, that linga is of very great power, destroying every sin.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.127.3)

क्षेममूर्तिः पुरा राजा बभूव स महाबलः। तेन तत्र तपस्तप्तं चिरकालं महात्मना

kṣemamūrtiḥ purā rājā babhūva sa mahābalaḥ| tena tatra tapastaptaṁ cirakālaṁ mahātmanā

Long ago there was a mighty king named Kshemamurti; that great soul performed austerity there for a long time.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.127.4)

ततः संस्थापितं लिंगं भक्त्या भावितचेतसा। तद्दृष्ट्वा क्षेममायाति कार्यं क्षेमेण सिद्ध्यति

tataḥ saṁsthāpitaṁ liṁgaṁ bhaktyā bhāvitacetasā| taddṛṣṭvā kṣemamāyāti kāryaṁ kṣemeṇa siddhyati

Then, with a heart filled with devotion, he established the linga there; beholding it brings well-being, and one's undertakings are accomplished safely.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.127.5)

सर्वकामसमृद्धात्मा भूयाज्जन्मनिजन्मनि। एवं क्षेमेश्वरं लिंगं ख्यातं पातकनाशनम्

sarvakāmasamṛddhātmā bhūyājjanmanijanmani| evaṁ kṣemeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ khyātaṁ pātakanāśanam

One becomes rich in every desire from birth to birth; thus this Kshemeshvara linga is renowned as a destroyer of sin.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.127.6)

सर्वकामप्रदं नृणां श्रुतं सौभाग्यदायकम्। दर्शनेनापि तस्यापि गोशतस्य फलं स्मृतम्

sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇāṁ śrutaṁ saubhāgyadāyakam| darśanenāpi tasyāpi gośatasya phalaṁ smṛtam

It is said to fulfill all the desires of men and bestow good fortune; even the mere sight of it, tradition holds, yields the fruit of donating a hundred cows.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.127.7)

तस्मात्क्षेत्रफलाकांक्षी नित्यं तल्लिंगमाश्रयेत्

tasmātkṣetraphalākāṁkṣī nityaṁ talliṁgamāśrayet

Therefore, one who desires the fruit of this sacred field should ever take refuge in that linga.