The Sanctification of Prabhasa and the Origin of Arkasthala

Verse 1 (skanda.7.13.1)

देव्युवाच। यदा भ्रमिस्थः सविता तक्षितः क्षुरधारया। श्वशुरेण महादेव जामाता प्रीतिपूर्वकम्

devyuvāca| yadā bhramisthaḥ savitā takṣitaḥ kṣuradhārayā| śvaśureṇa mahādeva jāmātā prītipūrvakam

The Goddess said: O great God, when the Sun, mounted upon the wheel, was pared by his father-in-law, with the razor's edge, lovingly, as a son-in-law—

Verse 2 (skanda.7.13.2)

तत्तेजः शातितं भूरि प्रभासे यत्पपात वै। तदभूत्किं तदा देव प्रभासात्कथयस्व मे

tattejaḥ śātitaṁ bhūri prabhāse yatpapāta vai| tadabhūtkiṁ tadā deva prabhāsātkathayasva me

that great mass of radiance which was pared away and fell in Prabhāsa — O god, what became of it then? Tell me, starting from Prabhāsa.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.13.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि सूर्यमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। यच्छ्रुत्वा मानवो भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi sūryamāhātmyamuttamam| yacchrutvā mānavo bhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Īśvara said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall tell the supreme glory of the Sun, hearing which with devotion a man is freed from all sins.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.13.4)

देहावतारो देवस्य प्रभासेऽर्कस्थलस्य च। पुराणाख्यानमाचक्षे तव देवि यशस्विनि

dehāvatāro devasya prabhāse'rkasthalasya ca| purāṇākhyānamācakṣe tava devi yaśasvini

I shall relate to you, O glorious Goddess, this Puranic account of the god's bodily descent in Prabhāsa, and of Arkasthala.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.13.5)

शाकद्वीपे महादेवि भ्रमिस्थस्य तदा रवेः। वर्षाणां तु शतं साग्रं तक्ष्यमाणे विभावसौ

śākadvīpe mahādevi bhramisthasya tadā raveḥ| varṣāṇāṁ tu śataṁ sāgraṁ takṣyamāṇe vibhāvasau

O great Goddess, in Śākadvīpa, when the Sun, mounted on his wheel, was being pared, Vibhāvasu, for more than a hundred years—

Verse 6 (skanda.7.13.6)

यदाद्य भागजं तेजस्तत्प्रभासेऽपतत्प्रिये। पतितं तत्र तत्तेजः स्थलाकारं व्यजायत

yadādya bhāgajaṁ tejastatprabhāse'patatpriye| patitaṁ tatra tattejaḥ sthalākāraṁ vyajāyata

when the radiance born of that first portion fell in Prabhāsa, O beloved, that fallen radiance there transformed into the shape of a mound.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.13.7)

जांबूनदमयं देवि तत्पूर्वमभवत्क्षितौ। तिष्यमाहात्म्ययोगेन शैलीभूतं च सांप्रतम्

jāmbūnadamayaṁ devi tatpūrvamabhavatkṣitau| tiṣyamāhātmyayogena śailībhūtaṁ ca sāṁpratam

O Goddess, it was formerly of gold upon the earth, and now, through the influence proper to the Tiṣya (Kali) age, it has become rock.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.13.8)

तत्र चार्कमयं रूपं कृत्वा देवो दिवाकरः। उत्पन्नः सर्वभूतानां हिताय धरणीतले

tatra cārkamayaṁ rūpaṁ kṛtvā devo divākaraḥ| utpannaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ hitāya dharaṇītale

There, taking a form made of the sun's essence, the god Divākara arose upon this earthly ground for the welfare of all beings.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.13.9)

हिरण्यगर्भनामेति कृते सूर्येति कीर्तितम्। त्रेतायां सवितानाम द्वापरे भास्करः स्मृतः

hiraṇyagarbhanāmeti kṛte sūryeti kīrtitam| tretāyāṁ savitānāma dvāpare bhāskaraḥ smṛtaḥ

In the Kṛta age it was proclaimed by the name Hiraṇyagarbha and Sūrya, in Tretā it was named Savitā, and in Dvāpara it was remembered as Bhāskara.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.13.10)

कलौ चार्कस्थलोनाम त्रिषु लोकेषु कीर्तितः। अवतीर्णमिदं देवि स्वयमेव प्रतिष्ठितम्

kalau cārkasthalonāma triṣu lokeṣu kīrtitaḥ| avatīrṇamidaṁ devi svayameva pratiṣṭhitam

In Kali it is proclaimed throughout the three worlds by the name Arkasthala. This has descended and become established of its own accord, O Goddess.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.13.11)

यदा स्वारोचिषो देवि द्वितीयोऽभून्मनुः पुरा। तस्मिन्कालेऽवतीर्णोऽसौ देवस्तत्र दिवाकरः

yadā svārociṣo devi dvitīyo'bhūnmanuḥ purā| tasminkāle'vatīrṇo'sau devastatra divākaraḥ

O Goddess, when in ancient time Svārociṣa became the second Manu, in that very age the god Divākara descended there.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.13.12)

भक्तिमुक्ति प्रदो देवि व्याधिदुःखविनाशकृत्। तस्य तेजोद्भवैर्व्याप्तं रेणुभिः पञ्चयोजनम्

bhaktimukti prado devi vyādhiduḥkhavināśakṛt| tasya tejodbhavairvyāptaṁ reṇubhiḥ pañcayojanam

O Goddess, bestowing devotion and liberation, destroying disease and suffering — the area pervaded by the dust-particles born of his radiance extends five yojanas.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.13.13)

दक्षिणोत्तरतो देवि पञ्चपूर्वापरेण तु। उत्तरेण समुद्रस्य यावन्माहेश्वरी नदी

dakṣiṇottarato devi pañcapūrvāpareṇa tu| uttareṇa samudrasya yāvanmāheśvarī nadī

O Goddess, five yojanas from south to north, and five likewise from east to west; to the north, from the ocean up to the river Māheśvarī.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.13.14)

न्यंकुमत्याश्चापरतो यावदेव कृतस्मरम्। एतद्व्याप्तं महादेवि तत्तेजोरेणुभिः शुभैः

nyaṁkumatyāścāparato yāvadeva kṛtasmaram| etadvyāptaṁ mahādevi tattejoreṇubhiḥ śubhaiḥ

And from the west of the Nyaṅkumatī river up to Kṛtasmara — all this, O great Goddess, is pervaded by the auspicious particles of that radiance.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.13.15)

तस्य सूक्ष्मा प्रभा या तु आदितेजोविनिःसृता। तया व्याप्तं महादेवि यावद्द्वादशयोजनम्

tasya sūkṣmā prabhā yā tu āditejoviniḥsṛtā| tayā vyāptaṁ mahādevi yāvaddvādaśayojanam

His subtle radiance, which issued forth from the primal light, pervades, O great Goddess, an area of twelve yojanas.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.13.16)

उत्तरे भास्करसुता दक्षिणे सरितां पतिः। पूर्वपश्चिमतो देवि रुक्मिणीद्वितयं स्मृतम्

uttare bhāskarasutā dakṣiṇe saritāṁ patiḥ| pūrvapaścimato devi rukmiṇīdvitayaṁ smṛtam

To the north, the daughter of Bhāskara (the river); to the south, the lord of rivers (the ocean); to the east and west, O Goddess, the two Rukmiṇī rivers are remembered.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.13.17)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवि सौरं तेजः प्रसर्प्पितम्। तेन पावित्र्यमानीतं क्षेत्रं द्वादशयोजनम्

etasminnantare devi sauraṁ tejaḥ prasarppitam| tena pāvitryamānītaṁ kṣetraṁ dvādaśayojanam

Within this span, O Goddess, the Sun's radiance has spread, by which this field of twelve yojanas has been brought to purity.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.13.18)

तस्य मध्यस्य यन्मध्यं तद्गृहं मम सुन्दरि। तेजोमण्डलमध्यस्थं मम स्थानं महेश्वरि

tasya madhyasya yanmadhyaṁ tadgṛhaṁ mama sundari| tejomaṇḍalamadhyasthaṁ mama sthānaṁ maheśvari

The center of its center is my dwelling, O beautiful one; established in the middle of that orb of radiance is my abode, O great Goddess.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.13.19)

चक्षुर्मंडलमध्ये तु यथा देवि कनीनिका। पूर्वपश्चिमतो देवि गोमुखादाऽऽश्वमेधिकम्

cakṣurmaṁḍalamadhye tu yathā devi kanīnikā| pūrvapaścimato devi gomukhādā'śvamedhikam

Just as the pupil rests in the middle of the circle of the eye, so, O Goddess, from east to west, from Gomukha to Aśvamedhika.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.13.20)

दक्षिणोत्तरतो देवि समुद्रात्कौरवेश्वरीम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे क्षेत्रे क्षेत्रज्ञोऽहं वरानने

dakṣiṇottarato devi samudrātkauraveśvarīm| etasminnaṁtare kṣetre kṣetrajño'haṁ varānane

From south to north, O Goddess, from the ocean to Kauraveśvarī — within this field I myself am the knower of the field, O fair-faced one.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.13.21)

यस्मादर्कस्य तेजोभिर्भासितं मम तद्गृहम्। तस्मात्प्रभासनामेति कल्पेऽस्मिन्प्रथितं प्रिये

yasmādarkasya tejobhirbhāsitaṁ mama tadgṛham| tasmātprabhāsanāmeti kalpe'sminprathitaṁ priye

Since my dwelling was illumined by the radiance of the Sun, therefore, O beloved, it became renowned in this kalpa by the name Prabhāsa.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.13.22)

तत्र पश्यति यः सूर्यमर्क्करूपं नरोत्तमः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः सूर्यलोके महीयते

tatra paśyati yaḥ sūryamarkkarūpaṁ narottamaḥ| sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ sūryaloke mahīyate

Whatever excellent man beholds the Sun there in his solar form, freed from all sin, he is glorified in the world of the Sun.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.13.23)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु तेन चेष्टं महामखैः। सर्वदानानि दत्तानि पूर्वजास्तेन तोषिताः

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu tena ceṣṭaṁ mahāmakhaiḥ| sarvadānāni dattāni pūrvajāstena toṣitāḥ

He has, as it were, bathed in all sacred fords; he has, as it were, performed all great sacrifices. All gifts have been given by him; his ancestors are satisfied through him.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.13.24)

अर्करूपी यतः सूर्यस्तत्र जातो महीतले। तस्मात्त्याज्यः सदा चार्को भोजनेऽत्र न संशयः

arkarūpī yataḥ sūryastatra jāto mahītale| tasmāttyājyaḥ sadā cārko bhojane'tra na saṁśayaḥ

Since the Sun, in his form as Arka, was born there upon this earth, therefore the arka plant must always be avoided in food here; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.13.25)

यो दृष्ट्वार्कस्थलं मर्त्त्यश्चार्कपत्रेषु भुंजति। गोमांसभक्षणं तेन कृतं भवति भामिनि

yo dṛṣṭvārkasthalaṁ marttyaścārkapatreṣu bhuṁjati| gomāṁsabhakṣaṇaṁ tena kṛtaṁ bhavati bhāmini

Whatever mortal, having beheld Arkasthala, eats upon arka leaves, O radiant one, is to be understood as having, in effect, eaten the flesh of a cow.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.13.26)

भक्षितो भास्करस्तेन स कुष्ठी जायते नरः। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन चार्कपत्राणि वर्जयेत्

bhakṣito bhāskarastena sa kuṣṭhī jāyate naraḥ| tasmātsarvaprayatnena cārkapatrāṇi varjayet

By that act he has, as it were, devoured Bhāskara himself; that man becomes a leper. Therefore, by every effort, arka leaves must be avoided.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.13.27)

यात्रायां प्रथमं देवि दृष्टो येनार्कभास्करः। तं दृष्ट्वा महिषीं दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय विपश्चिते

yātrāyāṁ prathamaṁ devi dṛṣṭo yenārkabhāskaraḥ| taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahiṣīṁ dadyādbrāhmaṇāya vipaścite

O Goddess, whoever first beholds Arka-Bhāskara during the pilgrimage, having seen him, should give a she-buffalo to a learned brāhmaṇa.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.13.28)

ताम्रवर्णं रक्तवस्त्रं ततस्तुष्यति भास्करः। तस्य चैव तु सांनिध्ये वह्निकोणे व्यवस्थितम्

tāmravarṇaṁ raktavastraṁ tatastuṣyati bhāskaraḥ| tasya caiva tu sāṁnidhye vahnikoṇe vyavasthitam

Copper-colored objects and red cloth — then Bhāskara becomes pleased. In close proximity to him, established in the southeast direction.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.13.29)

नातिदूरे महाभागे सिद्धेश्वरमिति स्मृतम्। सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं देवि लिंगं त्रैलोक्यपूजितम्

nātidūre mahābhāge siddheśvaramiti smṛtam| sarvasiddhipradaṁ devi liṁgaṁ trailokyapūjitam

Not far off, O most fortunate one, is what is remembered as Siddheśvara, a liṅga bestowing every perfection, worshipped throughout the three worlds.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.13.30)

जैगीषव्येश्वरंनाम पूर्वं कृतयुगेऽभवत्। कलौ सिद्धेश्वरमिति प्रसिद्धिमगमत्प्रिये

jaigīṣavyeśvaraṁnāma pūrvaṁ kṛtayuge'bhavat| kalau siddheśvaramiti prasiddhimagamatpriye

In former time, in the Kṛta age, its name was Jaigīṣavyeśvara. In the Kali age, O beloved, it attained renown as Siddheśvara.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.13.31)

तं दृष्ट्वा मनुजो देवि सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्। तत्रैव देवदेवेशि नातिदूरे व्यवस्थितम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā manujo devi sarvasiddhimavāpnuyāt| tatraiva devadeveśi nātidūre vyavasthitam

Having beheld it, O Goddess, a man attains every perfection. Right there, O sovereign of the gods, not far off, is established—

Verse 32 (skanda.7.13.32)

सूर्यदक्षिणनैर्ऋत्ये पातालविवरं प्रिये। मंदेहा राक्षसा यत्र तथा शालकटंकटाः

sūryadakṣiṇanairṛtye pātālavivaraṁ priye| maṁdehā rākṣasā yatra tathā śālakaṭaṁkaṭāḥ

To the south-southwest of the Sun, O beloved, is an opening to the netherworld, where the Mandeha demons and the Śālakaṭaṅkaṭa demons dwelt.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.13.33)

सूर्यस्य तेजसा दग्धाः पातालमगमन्पुरा। कलौ तद्द्वारमेवास्ति न पाताले गतिः प्रिये

sūryasya tejasā dagdhāḥ pātālamagamanpurā| kalau taddvāramevāsti na pātāle gatiḥ priye

Scorched by the Sun's radiance, they fled to the netherworld in former time. In the Kali age that doorway still exists, but passage to the netherworld through it is no longer possible, O beloved.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.13.34)

योगिन्यस्तत्र रक्षंति ब्राह्म्याद्या मातरस्तथा। माघेकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां रात्रौ मातृगणान्यजेत्। बलिपुष्पोपहारैश्च ततः सिद्धिर्भविष्यति

yoginyastatra rakṣaṁti brāhmyādyā mātarastathā| māghekṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṁ rātrau mātṛgaṇānyajet| balipuṣpopahāraiśca tataḥ siddhirbhaviṣyati

There yoginīs and the Mātṛs, beginning with Brāhmī, keep guard. On the night of the dark fourteenth of Māgha, one should worship the host of Mātṛs. Through offerings of oblation, flowers, and gifts, perfection shall then be attained.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.13.35)

इति हि सकलधर्मभावहेतोर्हरकमलासनविष्णुसंस्तुतस्य। तनुपरिलिखनं निशम्य भानोर्व्रजति दिवाकरलोकमायुषोंऽते

iti hi sakaladharmabhāvahetorharakamalāsanaviṣṇusaṁstutasya| tanuparilikhanaṁ niśamya bhānorvrajati divākaralokamāyuṣoṁ'te

Thus, having heard this account of the paring of the body of the Sun — the cause of all righteous conduct, praised by Hara, by the lotus-seated Brahmā, and by Viṣṇu — one goes, at the end of life, to the world of Divākara.