The Glory of Kundala-kupa

Verse 1 (skanda.7.148.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि कूपं कुंडलसंभवम्। तस्यैव चोत्तरे भागे ब्रह्मकुण्डसमीपतः

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi kūpaṁ kuṁḍalasaṁbhavam| tasyaiva cottare bhāge brahmakuṇḍasamīpataḥ

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the well associated with the earring, in the northern part of that very place, near Brahma-kunda.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.148.2)

यत्र सिद्धो महादेवि रूपकुंडलहारकः। तत्र स्नात्वा नरो देवि मुच्येत्स्तेयकृतादघात्

yatra siddho mahādevi rūpakuṁḍalahārakaḥ| tatra snātvā naro devi mucyetsteyakṛtādaghāt

O great Goddess, where the one who stole beautiful earrings attained accomplishment, bathing there a man is freed from the sin committed by theft.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.148.3)

सप्त जन्मानि देवेशि न तस्यान्वयसंभवः। चौरः कश्चिद्भवेत्क्रूरस्तत्र स्नानप्रभावतः

sapta janmāni deveśi na tasyānvayasaṁbhavaḥ| cauraḥ kaścidbhavetkrūrastatra snānaprabhāvataḥ

O queen of gods, by the power of bathing there, for seven births no cruel thief is born in his lineage.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.148.4)

शिवरात्र्यां विशेषेण पिंडदानादिकां क्रियाम्। कुर्याच्छस्त्रहतानां च पापिनां तत्र मुक्तये

śivarātryāṁ viśeṣeṇa piṁḍadānādikāṁ kriyām| kuryācchastrahatānāṁ ca pāpināṁ tatra muktaye

Especially on Shivaratri, one should perform the rite of pinda-offering and the like, for the liberation there even of sinners slain by weapons.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.148.5)

देव्युवाच। कथं कुण्डलरूपं तु पृथिव्यां ख्यातिमागतम्। एतत्कथय मे देव विस्तराद्वदतां वर

devyuvāca| kathaṁ kuṇḍalarūpaṁ tu pṛthivyāṁ khyātimāgatam| etatkathaya me deva vistarādvadatāṁ vara

Devi said: How did this form called Kundala come to fame on earth? Tell me this, O God, O best of speakers, in detail.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.148.6)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि महापुण्यां कथां पापप्रणाशनीम्। यां श्रुत्वा मुच्यते पापान्नरो जन्मशतार्जितात्

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi mahāpuṇyāṁ kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśanīm| yāṁ śrutvā mucyate pāpānnaro janmaśatārjitāt

Ishvara said: Hear, O Devi, this most meritorious, sin-destroying story, by hearing which a man is freed from sins accumulated over a hundred births.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.148.7)

प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्याच्छिवरात्र्यामुपोषितः। आसीत्सुदर्शनो राजा पृथिव्यामेकराट् सुधीः

prabhāsakṣetramāhātmyācchivarātryāmupoṣitaḥ| āsītsudarśano rājā pṛthivyāmekarāṭ sudhīḥ

Through the greatness of the field of Prabhasa, observing a fast on Shivaratri, there was a wise sole sovereign on earth, King Sudarshana.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.148.8)

धन्यो हि स धनाढ्यश्च प्रजां यत्नैरपालयत्। राज्यं तस्य सुसंपन्नं ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम्। समृद्धमृद्धिसंयुक्तं विटतस्करवर्जितम्

dhanyo hi sa dhanāḍhyaśca prajāṁ yatnairapālayat| rājyaṁ tasya susaṁpannaṁ brāhmaṇairupaśobhitam| samṛddhamṛddhisaṁyuktaṁ viṭataskaravarjitam

He was blessed indeed and wealthy, and he protected his subjects with great care; his kingdom was prosperous, adorned with Brahmins, abundant in riches, and free from rogues and thieves.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.148.9)

तस्मिञ्जनपदे रम्ये पुरी भगवती शुभा। चातुर्वर्ण्यसमायुक्ता पुरप्राकारमंडिता

tasmiñjanapade ramye purī bhagavatī śubhā| cāturvarṇyasamāyuktā puraprākāramaṁḍitā

In that lovely land was an auspicious, resplendent city, inhabited by all four varnas, adorned with city ramparts.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.148.10)

तस्मिन्पुरवरे रम्ये राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्। करोति बान्धवैः सार्द्धमृद्धियुक्तः सुदर्शनः। हिरण्यदत्तस्य सुतो जातो गांधारकन्यया

tasminpuravare ramye rājyaṁ nihatakaṇṭakam| karoti bāndhavaiḥ sārddhamṛddhiyuktaḥ sudarśanaḥ| hiraṇyadattasya suto jāto gāṁdhārakanyayā

In that lovely, excellent city, Sudarshana, endowed with prosperity, ruled a kingdom free of troubles, together with his kinsmen; he was the son of Hiranyadatta, born of a Gandhara princess.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.148.11)

तस्य भार्या प्रिया साध्वी भर्तृव्रतपरायणा। सुनंदा नामविख्याता काशिराजसुता शुभा

tasya bhāryā priyā sādhvī bhartṛvrataparāyaṇā| sunaṁdā nāmavikhyātā kāśirājasutā śubhā

His beloved wife, virtuous and devoted to the vow of fidelity to her husband, famed by the name Sunanda, was an auspicious daughter of the king of Kashi.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.148.12)

तया सार्धं हि राजेन्द्रो भोगान्स बुभुजे सदा। भुंजमानस्य भोगान्वै चिरकालो गतस्तदा

tayā sārdhaṁ hi rājendro bhogānsa bubhuje sadā| bhuṁjamānasya bhogānvai cirakālo gatastadā

With her, that lord of kings always enjoyed the pleasures of life; and while he was enjoying those pleasures, a long time passed.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.148.13)

अकरोत्स महायज्ञान्ददौ दानानि भूरिशः। एवं कालो गतस्तस्य भार्यया सह सुव्रते

akarotsa mahāyajñāndadau dānāni bhūriśaḥ| evaṁ kālo gatastasya bhāryayā saha suvrate

He performed great sacrifices and gave abundant gifts; thus, O virtuous one, his time passed together with his wife.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.148.14)

कदाचिन्माघमासे तु शिवरात्र्यां वरानने। सस्मार पूर्वजातिं स भार्यामाहूय चाब्रवीत्

kadācinmāghamāse tu śivarātryāṁ varānane| sasmāra pūrvajātiṁ sa bhāryāmāhūya cābravīt

Once, O fair-faced one, in the month of Magha, on Shivaratri, he remembered his former birth, and, calling his wife, spoke:

Verse 15 (skanda.7.148.15)

सुदर्शन उवाच। शिवरात्रिव्रतं देवि मया कार्यं वरानने। व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन प्राप्तं राज्यं मया किल

sudarśana uvāca| śivarātrivrataṁ devi mayā kāryaṁ varānane| vratasyāsya prabhāvena prāptaṁ rājyaṁ mayā kila

Sudarshana said: O Devi, O fair-faced one, the vow of Shivaratri must be performed by me; indeed, by the power of this very vow have I obtained this kingdom.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.148.16)

राज्ञ्युवाच। महान्प्रभावो राजेन्द्र एवमुक्तं त्वया मम। एतन्मे कारणं ब्रूहि आश्चर्यं हृदि वर्तते

rājñyuvāca| mahānprabhāvo rājendra evamuktaṁ tvayā mama| etanme kāraṇaṁ brūhi āścaryaṁ hṛdi vartate

The Queen said: 'Great is its power,' O lord of kings—thus you have spoken to me; tell me the reason for this; wonder abides in my heart.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.148.17)

राजोवाच। शृणु तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं शिवरात्रिमुपोषणात्। तस्मिञ्छिवपुरे रम्ये स्वर्गद्वारे सुशोभने

rājovāca| śṛṇu tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ śivarātrimupoṣaṇāt| tasmiñchivapure ramye svargadvāre suśobhane

The King said: Hear the greatness of the tirtha, obtained through the fast of Shivaratri, in that lovely, beautifully adorned city of Shiva, the gateway to heaven—

Verse 18 (skanda.7.148.18)

आदितीर्थे प्रभासे तु कामिके तीर्थ उत्तमे

āditīrthe prabhāse tu kāmike tīrtha uttame

—that is, in Prabhasa, the primeval tirtha, the excellent tirtha that fulfils desires.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.148.19)

ऋद्धियुक्ते पुरे तस्मिन्नित्यं धर्मानुसेविते। शिवरात्र्यां गतो राज्ञि तिथीनामुत्तमा तिथिः

ṛddhiyukte pure tasminnityaṁ dharmānusevite| śivarātryāṁ gato rājñi tithīnāmuttamā tithiḥ

O queen, in that prosperous city, ever devoted to dharma, when Shivaratri arrived—the best of all lunar days—

Verse 20 (skanda.7.148.20)

मानवास्तत्र ये केचित्पुरराष्ट्रनिवासिनः। तत्रागता वरारोहे शिवरात्र्यामुपोषितुम्

mānavāstatra ye kecitpurarāṣṭranivāsinaḥ| tatrāgatā varārohe śivarātryāmupoṣitum

O fair-hipped one, whatever people there were, dwellers of the city and the realm, all of them came there to observe the fast of Shivaratri.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.148.21)

धननामा वणिक्कश्चित्तत्रैव वसते सदा। धनाढ्यः स तु धर्मात्मा सदा धर्मपरायणः

dhananāmā vaṇikkaścittatraiva vasate sadā| dhanāḍhyaḥ sa tu dharmātmā sadā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ

A certain merchant named Dhana always dwelt right there; he was wealthy, righteous, and ever devoted to dharma.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.148.22)

स भार्यासहितस्तत्र शिवरात्रिमुपोषितः। तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी रूपयौवनसंवृता

sa bhāryāsahitastatra śivarātrimupoṣitaḥ| tasya bhāryā'bhavatsādhvī rūpayauvanasaṁvṛtā

He, together with his wife, observed the fast of Shivaratri there; his wife was virtuous, and endowed with beauty and youth,

Verse 23 (skanda.7.148.23)

प्रचलन्मेखलाहारा सर्वाभरणभूषिता। स तया भार्यया सार्धं कामक्रोधविवर्जितः

pracalanmekhalāhārā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā| sa tayā bhāryayā sārdhaṁ kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ

wearing a swaying girdle and necklace, adorned with every ornament; he, together with that wife, free from passion and anger,

Verse 24 (skanda.7.148.24)

प्रभासस्याग्रतो भूत्वा स्नातः शुक्लांबरः शुचिः। यथोक्तेन विधानेन भक्त्या निद्राविवर्जितः

prabhāsasyāgrato bhūtvā snātaḥ śuklāṁbaraḥ śuciḥ| yathoktena vidhānena bhaktyā nidrāvivarjitaḥ

having bathed, clad in white garments, pure, he stood before Prabhasa, keeping the vigil without sleep, with devotion, according to the prescribed rule.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.148.25)

तत्राहं चौररूपेण पापः स्तैन्यं समाश्रितः। सच्छूद्राणां कुले जातो देवब्राह्मणपूजकः

tatrāhaṁ caurarūpeṇa pāpaḥ stainyaṁ samāśritaḥ| sacchūdrāṇāṁ kule jāto devabrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ

There I, sinful, in the guise of a thief, resorted to theft—though born in a family of good Shudras, and a worshipper of gods and Brahmins,

Verse 26 (skanda.7.148.26)

पूर्वकर्मानुसंयोगाद्विकर्मणि रतः सदा। तस्यां रात्र्यामहं तत्र जनमध्ये तु संस्थितः

pūrvakarmānusaṁyogādvikarmaṇi rataḥ sadā| tasyāṁ rātryāmahaṁ tatra janamadhye tu saṁsthitaḥ

through the connection of my former deeds, ever devoted to forbidden action; on that night I stood there right in the midst of the people,

Verse 27 (skanda.7.148.27)

कुण्डलीनः स्थितस्तत्र रंध्रापेक्षी वरानने। वणिजस्तस्य भार्यायाश्छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परः

kuṇḍalīnaḥ sthitastatra raṁdhrāpekṣī varānane| vaṇijastasya bhāryāyāśchidrānveṣaṇatatparaḥ

O fair-faced one, I stood there crouched, watching for an opening, intent upon finding a chance regarding that merchant's wife.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.148.28)

सा रात्रिर्जाग्रतस्तस्य गता मे विजने तथा। गीतनृत्यादिनिर्घोषैर्वेदमंगलपाटकैः

sā rātrirjāgratastasya gatā me vijane tathā| gītanṛtyādinirghoṣairvedamaṁgalapāṭakaiḥ

That night passed for me, wide awake, in a lonely place, amid the sounds of singing and dancing and the chants of the reciters of Vedic benedictions,

Verse 29 (skanda.7.148.29)

तालशब्दैस्तथा बन्धैः पुस्तकानां च वाचकैः। एवं रात्र्यां तु शेषायां यावत्तिष्ठति तत्र वै

tālaśabdaistathā baṁdhaiḥ pustakānāṁ ca vācakaiḥ| evaṁ rātryāṁ tu śeṣāyāṁ yāvattiṣṭhati tatra vai

and with the sounds of cymbals and the compositions and reciters of texts; thus, as the remaining night wore on, while she still stood there,

Verse 30 (skanda.7.148.30)

निरोधेन समायुक्ता पीड्यमाना शुचिस्मिता। धनिभार्या निरोधार्ता देवागाराद्बहिर्गता

nirodhena samāyuktā pīḍyamānā śucismitā| dhanibhāryā nirodhārtā devāgārādbahirgatā

overcome by bodily need and distressed, that fair-smiling wife of the merchant, afflicted by that urgency, went out from the temple.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.148.31)

तस्याः कर्णौ त्रोटयित्वा पुप्लुवेऽहं जले स्थितः। ततः कोलाहलस्तत्र कृतस्तत्पुरवासिभिः

tasyāḥ karṇau troṭayitvā pupluve'haṁ jale sthitaḥ| tataḥ kolāhalastatra kṛtastatpuravāsibhiḥ

Having torn off her two ears, I leapt into the water and hid there; then an uproar was raised there by the inhabitants of that city.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.148.32)

श्रुत्वा कोलाहलं शब्दं कर्णत्रोटनजं तदा। धाविता रक्षकास्तत्र राजशासनकारकाः

śrutvā kolāhalaṁ śabdaṁ karṇatroṭanajaṁ tadā| dhāvitā rakṣakāstatra rājaśāsanakārakāḥ

Hearing that clamor arising from the tearing of her ears, the guards who enforced the king's command ran there then.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.148.33)

तैरहं शस्त्रहस्तैश्च उल्काहस्तैः समंततः। निरीक्षितोऽथ न प्राप्तं सुवर्णं मन्मुखे स्थितम्

tairahaṁ śastrahastaiśca ulkāhastaiḥ samaṁtataḥ| nirīkṣito'tha na prāptaṁ suvarṇaṁ manmukhe sthitam

With weapons in hand and torches in hand, they searched for me on every side; but the gold, held in my mouth, was not found.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.148.34)

खड्गेन तीक्ष्णधारेण छित्त्वा शीर्षं तदा मम। उल्काहस्ता निरीक्षन्तो नापश्यन्स्वर्णमण्वपि

khaḍgena tīkṣṇadhāreṇa chittvā śīrṣaṁ tadā mama| ulkāhastā nirīkṣanto nāpaśyansvarṇamaṇvapi

With a sharp-edged sword they then cut off my head; searching with torches in hand, they did not see even a speck of the gold.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.148.35)

हित्वा मां ते गताः सर्वे गत्वा राज्ञे न्यवेदयन्। न किञ्चित्तत्र संप्राप्तं हतोऽस्माभिश्च तत्क्षणात्

hitvā māṁ te gatāḥ sarve gatvā rājñe nyavedayan| na kiñcittatra saṁprāptaṁ hato'smābhiśca tatkṣaṇāt

Leaving me, they all departed and, going to the king, reported: 'Nothing whatsoever was found there, and we slew him on the spot.'

Verse 36 (skanda.7.148.36)

कथयित्वा तु ते सर्वे यथादेशं गताः पुनः। ततो वै बन्धुना तत्र भयभीतेन चेतसा

kathayitvā tu te sarve yathādeśaṁ gatāḥ punaḥ| tato vai bandhunā tatra bhayabhītena cetasā

Having said this, all of them returned again to their respective posts; then, indeed, by a kinsman there, with a heart terrified by fear,

Verse 37 (skanda.7.148.37)

निखातं मम तत्रैव शिरः कायेन संयुतम्। खातं कृत्वा प्रिये तत्र ब्रह्मतीर्थस्य चोत्तरे

nikhātaṁ mama tatraiva śiraḥ kāyena saṁyutam| khātaṁ kṛtvā priye tatra brahmatīrthasya cottare

my head, together with my body, was buried there, O beloved—a pit having been dug to the north of Brahma-tirtha.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.148.38)

पिहितोऽहं तु तत्रैव प्रभासे तीर्थ उत्तमे। शिवरात्रिप्रभावेन तज्जातिस्मरतां गतः

pihito'haṁ tu tatraiva prabhāse tīrtha uttame| śivarātriprabhāvena tajjātismaratāṁ gataḥ

I was buried there in that very excellent tirtha of Prabhasa; and by the power of Shivaratri I have attained the recollection of that former birth.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.148.39)

राज्यं निष्कण्टकं प्राप्तं समृद्धं वरवर्णिनि। एतत्प्रभासमाहात्म्यं शिवरात्रेरुपोषणात्। एतत्फलं मया लब्धं गत्वा तस्मादुपोषये

rājyaṁ niṣkaṇṭakaṁ prāptaṁ samṛddhaṁ varavarṇini| etatprabhāsamāhātmyaṁ śivarātreruposaṇāt| etatphalaṁ mayā labdhaṁ gatvā tasmādupoṣaye

O fair-complexioned one, a prosperous kingdom free of troubles has been obtained—this is the glory of Prabhasa through the fasting of Shivaratri; this fruit have I obtained; therefore let us go there and keep the fast.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.148.40)

राज्ञ्युवाच। गच्छावस्तत्र यत्रैव कपालं पतितं तव। स्फोटिते च कपाले च हिरण्यं दृश्यते यदि। प्रत्ययो मे भवेत्पश्चात्तव वाक्यं न संशयः

rājñyuvāca| gacchāvastatra yatraiva kapālaṁ patitaṁ tava| sphoṭite ca kapāle ca hiraṇyaṁ dṛśyate yadi| pratyayo me bhavetpaścāttava vākyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

The Queen said: Let us go there, to the very place where your skull fell; if, when the skull is broken open, the gold is seen, then I shall have faith — your word will thereafter be beyond doubt.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.148.41)

राजोवाच। कल्पं हि तिष्ठते चास्थि यावद्भूमिविपर्ययः। उत्तिष्ठ व्रज भद्रं ते प्रभासं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

rājovāca| kalpaṁ hi tiṣṭhate cāsthi yāvadbhūmiviparyayaḥ| uttiṣṭha vraja bhadraṁ te prabhāsaṁ kṣetramuttamam

The King said: The bone indeed remains, unchanged, for a whole kalpa, until the dissolution of the earth. Arise—blessings upon you—let us go to the excellent field of Prabhasa.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.148.42)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यद्राज्ञा समुदीरितम्। गमनाय मतिं चक्रे शिवरात्र्या उपोषणे

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā yadrājñā samudīritam| gamanāya matiṁ cakre śivarātryā upoṣaṇe

Having heard those words spoken by the king, she resolved upon going, for the observance of the Shivaratri fast.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.148.43)

ततोऽश्वैर्जवनैर्युक्तं रथं हेमविभूषितम्। आस्थाय सह पत्न्या च प्रभासं क्षेत्रमेयिवान्

tato'śvairjavanairyuktaṁ rathaṁ hemavibhūṣitam| āsthāya saha patnyā ca prabhāsaṁ kṣetrameyivān

Then, mounting a chariot yoked with swift horses and adorned with gold, together with his wife, he arrived at the field of Prabhasa.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.148.44)

व्रतं कृत्वा प्रभासे तु यथोक्तं वरवर्णिनि। ब्रह्मतीर्थे समागत्य उद्धृत्य सकलं ततः

vrataṁ kṛtvā prabhāse tu yathoktaṁ varavarṇini| brahmatīrthe samāgatya uddhṛtya sakalaṁ tataḥ

O fair-complexioned one, having performed the vow at Prabhasa as prescribed, and having come to Brahma-tirtha, and dug up the whole of it there,

Verse 45 (skanda.7.148.45)

हिरण्यं दर्शयामास स्फोटयित्वा शवं स्वयम्

hiraṇyaṁ darśayāmāsa sphoṭayitvā śavaṁ svayam

he himself, having broken open the corpse, showed the gold.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.148.46)

ईश्वर उवाच। जातसंप्रत्यया भार्या तस्य राज्ञो बभूव ह। जगाम परमं स्थानं यत्र कल्याणमुत्तमम्

īśvara uvāca| jātasaṁpratyayā bhāryā tasya rājño babhūva ha| jagāma paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra kalyāṇamuttamam

Ishvara said: Thus was faith born in the wife of that king, and she went to that supreme abode where the highest bliss is.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.148.47)

जनोऽपि विस्मितः सर्वो दृष्ट्वा चित्रं तदद्भुतम्

jano'pi vismitaḥ sarvo dṛṣṭvā citraṁ tadadbhutam

All the people too were astonished, seeing that wondrous marvel.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.148.48)

नदी चित्रपथा नाम तत्रोत्पन्ना वरानने। चित्रादित्यस्य पूर्वेण ब्रह्मतीर्थस्य चोत्तरे

nadī citrapathā nāma tatrotpannā varānane| citrādityasya pūrveṇa brahmatīrthasya cottare

O fair-faced one, there arose the river named Chitrapatha, to the east of Chitraditya and to the north of Brahma-tirtha.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.148.49)

तस्यां तत्तिष्ठते तत्र सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

tasyāṁ tattiṣṭhate tatra sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

That which destroys all sin stands there in it.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.148.50)

श्रावणे मासि संप्राप्ते तस्मिन्कूपे विधानतः। यः स्नानं कुरुते देवि श्राद्धं तत्र विशेषतः

śrāvaṇe māsi saṁprāpte tasminkūpe vidhānataḥ| yaḥ snānaṁ kurute devi śrāddhaṁ tatra viśeṣataḥ

When the month of Shravana arrives, whoever, O Devi, performs bathing according to rule in that well, and especially performs shraddha there,

Verse 51 (skanda.7.148.51)

चित्रादित्यं तु संपूज्य शिवलोके महीयते

citrādityaṁ tu saṁpūjya śivaloke mahīyate

and, having worshipped Chitraditya, is glorified in the world of Shiva.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.148.52)

एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं शिवरात्र्या महत्फलम्। भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं पुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

etatte kathitaṁ sarvaṁ śivarātryā mahatphalam| bhuktimuktipradaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

This has been told to you in full—the great fruit of Shivaratri, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation, meritorious, and destructive of all sin.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.148.53)

य इदं पठते नित्यं शृणुयाद्वापि मानवः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो रुद्रलोके महीयते

ya idaṁ paṭhate nityaṁ śṛṇuyādvāpi mānavaḥ| sarvapāpavinirmukto rudraloke mahīyate

Whatever man daily recites this, or even merely hears it, freed from all sin, is glorified in the world of Rudra.