The Glory of the Prabhasa-panchaka

Verse 1 (skanda.7.187.1)

ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि सर्वकामफलप्रदम्। प्रभासपंचकं पुण्यमाद्यं तत्र व्यवस्थितम्

tato gacchenmahādevi sarvakāmaphalapradam| prabhāsapaṁcakaṁ puṇyamādyaṁ tatra vyavasthitam

Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the Prabhasa-panchaka (the five Prabhasas), which grants the fruit of all desires; its holy first one stands there.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.187.2)

तस्यैव पश्चिमे भागे प्रभास इति चोच्यते। वृद्धप्रभासश्च ततो दक्षिणे नातिदूरतः

tasyaiva paścime bhāge prabhāsa iti cocyate| vṛddhaprabhāsaśca tato dakṣiṇe nātidūrataḥ

In the western part of that very place is what is called Prabhasa; and not far to the south of that is Vriddhaprabhasa.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.187.3)

जलप्रभासश्च ततो दक्षिणेन वरानने। कृतस्मरप्रभासश्च श्मशानं यत्र भैरवम्

jalaprabhāsaśca tato dakṣiṇena varānane| kṛtasmaraprabhāsaśca śmaśānaṁ yatra bhairavam

O fair-faced one, to the south of that is Jalaprabhasa, and Kritasmaraprabhasa, where the terrible cremation ground of Bhairava lies.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.187.4)

एवं पंचप्रभासान्यः पश्येद्भक्त्या समन्वितः। स याति परमं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्

evaṁ paṁcaprabhāsānyaḥ paśyedbhaktyā samanvitaḥ| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ jarāmaraṇavarjitam

Thus whoever, endowed with devotion, beholds these five Prabhasas attains the supreme abode, free from old age and death.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.187.5)

न निवर्तति यत्प्राप्य दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिदशैरपि। प्रभासं प्रथमं तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्

na nivartati yatprāpya duṣprāpyaṁ tridaśairapi| prabhāsaṁ prathamaṁ tīrthaṁ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam

Having attained which one does not return, hard to attain even for the gods — that Prabhasa is the foremost tirtha, renowned in the three worlds.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.187.6)

देवानामपि दुष्प्राप्यं महापातकनाशनम्। प्रभासे त्वेकरात्रेण अमावास्यां कृतोदकः

devānāmapi duṣprāpyaṁ mahāpātakanāśanam| prabhāse tvekarātreṇa amāvāsyāṁ kṛtodakaḥ

Hard to attain even for the gods, destroying great sins — at Prabhasa, by offering water-libations for a single night on the new-moon day,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.187.7)

मुच्यते पातकैः सर्वैः शिवलोकं स गच्छति। सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं गंगासागरसंगमे

mucyate pātakaiḥ sarvaiḥ śivalokaṁ sa gacchati| saptajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ gaṁgāsāgarasaṁgame

one is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Shiva. The sin committed over seven births, at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.187.8)

जन्मनां च सहस्रेण यत्पापं कुरुते नरः। स्नानादेवास्य नश्येत सागरे लवणांभसि

janmanāṁ ca sahasreṇa yatpāpaṁ kurute naraḥ| snānādevāsya naśyeta sāgare lavaṇāṁbhasi

and whatever sin a man commits over a thousand births — all of it is destroyed by the mere act of bathing in the salt water of the ocean.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.187.9)

चतुर्दश्याममावास्यां पञ्चदश्यां विशेषतः। अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा ब्राह्मणान्भोज्य शक्तितः

caturdaśyāmamāvāsyāṁ pañcadaśyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| ahorātroṣito bhūtvā brāhmaṇānbhojya śaktitaḥ

On the fourteenth day, on the new moon, or especially on the full moon, having fasted a full day and night, and having fed brahmins according to one's ability,

Verse 10 (skanda.7.187.10)

दत्त्वा गां कांचनं तेभ्यः शिवः प्रीतो भवत्विति। एवं कृत्वा नरो देवि कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्

dattvā gāṁ kāṁcanaṁ tebhyaḥ śivaḥ prīto bhavatviti| evaṁ kṛtvā naro devi kulānāṁ tārayecchatam

and giving them a cow and gold, praying 'may Shiva be pleased' — O goddess, by doing this, a man delivers a hundred families.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.187.11)

देव्युवाच। प्रभासपंचकं ह्येतद्यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम्। कथमत्र समुद्भूतमेतन्मे कौतुकं महत्

devyuvāca| prabhāsapaṁcakaṁ hyetadyattvayā parikīrtitam| kathamatra samudbhūtametanme kautukaṁ mahat

The Goddess said: This Prabhasa-panchaka that you have described — how did it arise here? I have great curiosity about this.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.187.12)

एक एव श्रुतोऽस्माभिः प्रभासस्तीर्थवासितः। प्रभासाः पंच देवेश यत्त्वया परिकीर्तिताः

eka eva śruto'smābhiḥ prabhāsastīrthavāsitaḥ| prabhāsāḥ paṁca deveśa yattvayā parikīrtitāḥ

O lord of the gods, we have heard of only one Prabhasa as the dwelling tirtha, yet you have declared five Prabhasas.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.187.13)

एतन्मे संशयं सर्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

etanme saṁśayaṁ sarvaṁ yathāvadvaktumarhasi

You are worthy to fully resolve this entire doubt of mine, exactly as it is.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.187.14)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशनीम्। यां श्रुत्वा मानवो भक्त्या प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम्

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśanīm| yāṁ śrutvā mānavo bhaktyā prāpnoti paramāṁ gatim

Ishvara said: Listen, O goddess, I shall tell a sin-destroying tale, hearing which with devotion a man attains the supreme goal.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.187.15)

पुरा महेश्वरो देवश्चचार वसुधामिमाम्। दिव्यरूपधरः कान्तो दिग्वासाः स यदृच्छया

purā maheśvaro devaścacāra vasudhāmimām| divyarūpadharaḥ kānto digvāsāḥ sa yadṛcchayā

Long ago, the god Maheshvara, bearing a divine and enchanting form, clad only in the directions (naked), wandered this earth of his own free will.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.187.16)

एवं च रममाणस्तु ऋषीणामाश्रमं महत्। जगाम कौतुकाविष्टो भिक्षार्थं दारुके वने

evaṁ ca ramamāṇastu ṛṣīṇāmāśramaṁ mahat| jagāma kautukāviṣṭo bhikṣārthaṁ dāruke vane

Thus wandering, filled with curiosity, he went, for the sake of alms, to the great hermitage of the sages in the Daruka forest.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.187.17)

भ्रममाणस्य तस्याथ दृष्ट्वा रूपमनुत्तमम्। ता नार्यः कामसंतप्ता बभूवुर्व्यथितेन्द्रियाः

bhramamāṇasya tasyātha dṛṣṭvā rūpamanuttamam| tā nāryaḥ kāmasaṁtaptā babhūvurvyathitendriyāḥ

Beholding his incomparable form as he wandered about, those women became inflamed with desire, their senses thrown into turmoil.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.187.18)

सानुरागास्ततः सर्वा अनुगच्छंति तं सदा। समालिंगंति ताः काश्चित्काश्च वीक्षंति रागतः

sānurāgāstataḥ sarvā anugacchaṁti taṁ sadā| samāliṁgaṁti tāḥ kāścitkāśca vīkṣaṁti rāgataḥ

Then, filled with passion, they all began following him constantly; some of them embraced him, while others gazed at him with longing.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.187.19)

प्रार्थयंति तथा चान्याः परित्यज्य गृहान्स्वकान्

prārthayaṁti tathā cānyāḥ parityajya gṛhānsvakān

And others, abandoning their own homes, began to entreat him.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.187.20)

एवं तासां स्वरूपं ते दृष्ट्वा सर्वे महर्षयः। कोपेन महता युक्ताः शेपुस्तं वृषभध्वजम्

evaṁ tāsāṁ svarūpaṁ te dṛṣṭvā sarve maharṣayaḥ| kopena mahatā yuktāḥ śepustaṁ vṛṣabhadhvajam

Seeing this state of their women, all those great sages, filled with great fury, cursed that bull-bannered god.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.187.21)

यस्मात्त्वं नग्नतामेत्य आश्रमेऽस्मिन्ममागतः। मोहयानः स्त्रियोऽस्माकं लज्जां नैवं करोषि च। तस्मात्ते पतताल्लिंगं सद्य एव वृषध्वज

yasmāttvaṁ nagnatāmetya āśrame'sminmamāgataḥ| mohayānaḥ striyo'smākaṁ lajjāṁ naivaṁ karoṣi ca| tasmātte patatālliṁgaṁ sadya eva vṛṣadhvaja

'Since you have come naked into this hermitage of ours, bewitching our women, and feel no shame at all in doing so — therefore, O bull-bannered one, may your linga fall this very instant!'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.187.22)

ततस्तत्पतितं लिंगं तत्क्षणाच्छंकरस्य च। तस्मिन्प्रपतिते भूमौ प्राकंपत वसुंधरा

tatastatpatitaṁ liṁgaṁ tatkṣaṇācchaṁkarasya ca| tasminprapatite bhūmau prākaṁpata vasuṁdharā

Then, at that very instant, Shankara's linga fell; as it fell to the ground, the earth began to tremble.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.187.23)

क्षुभिताः सागराः सर्वे मर्यादा विजहुस्तदा। शीर्णानि गिरिशृंगाणि त्रस्ताः सर्वे दिवौकसः

kṣubhitāḥ sāgarāḥ sarve maryādā vijahustadā| śīrṇāni giriśṛṁgāṇi trastāḥ sarve divaukasaḥ

All the oceans, agitated, abandoned their bounds; mountain peaks shattered, and all the dwellers of heaven became terrified.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.187.24)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः समहोरगकिन्नराः। ऊचुः पितामहं गत्वा किमेतत्कारणं विभो

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ samahoragakinnarāḥ| ūcuḥ pitāmahaṁ gatvā kimetatkāraṇaṁ vibho

Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, great serpents, and kinnaras, went to the Grandsire (Brahma) and said: 'O lord, what is the cause of this?'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.187.25)

सागराः क्षुभिता येन प्लावयंति वसुंधराम्। शीर्यंते गिरिशृङ्गाणि कंपते च वसुंधरा

sāgarāḥ kṣubhitā yena plāvayaṁti vasuṁdharām| śīryaṁte giriśṛṅgāṇi kaṁpate ca vasuṁdharā

Because of which the agitated oceans are inundating the earth, mountain peaks are crumbling, and the earth is trembling,

Verse 26 (skanda.7.187.26)

चिह्नानि लोकनाशाय दृश्यन्ते दारुणानि च। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मलोके पितामहः

cihnāni lokanāśāya dṛśyaṁte dāruṇāni ca| teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā brahmaloke pitāmahaḥ

and terrible signs portending the destruction of the world are appearing.' Having heard their words, the Grandsire, in the world of Brahma,

Verse 27 (skanda.7.187.27)

ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह। शिवलिंगं निपतितं पृथिव्यां सुरसत्तमाः

dhyātvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ vākyametaduvāca ha| śivaliṁgaṁ nipatitaṁ pṛthivyāṁ surasattamāḥ

having meditated for a long while, spoke these words: 'O best of gods, Shiva's linga has fallen upon the earth.'

Verse 28 (skanda.7.187.28)

शापेन ऋषिमुख्यानां भार्गवाणां महात्मनाम्। तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

śāpena ṛṣimukhyānāṁ bhārgavāṇāṁ mahātmanām| tasminnipatite bhūmau trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

(This has happened) through the curse of the great-souled foremost sages of the Bhargava lineage. As it fell upon the earth, the three worlds, with all that moves and does not move,

Verse 29 (skanda.7.187.29)

एतदवस्थतां प्राप्तं तस्मात्तत्रैव गम्यताम्। विष्णुना सह गीर्वाणास्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्

etadavasthatāṁ prāptaṁ tasmāttatraiva gamyatām| viṣṇunā saha gīrvāṇāstathā nītirvidhīyatām

has come to this condition. Therefore, O gods, go there together with Vishnu, and let a proper course of action be arranged.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.187.30)

ततः क्षीरोदधिं जग्मुर्ब्रह्माद्यास्त्रिदिवौकसः। यत्र शेते चतुर्बाहुर्योगनिद्रां च संगतः

tataḥ kṣīrodadhiṁ jagmurbrahmādyāstridivaukasaḥ| yatra śete caturbāhuryoganidrāṁ ca saṁgataḥ

Then Brahma and the other celestial dwellers went to the Ocean of Milk, where the four-armed one lay, immersed in yogic slumber.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.187.31)

तस्मै सर्वं समाचख्युस्तेनैव सहितास्ततः। जग्मुर्यत्र महादेवो लिंगेन रहितो विभुः

tasmai sarvaṁ samācakhyustenaiva sahitāstataḥ| jagmuryatra mahādevo liṁgena rahito vibhuḥ

They told him everything; then, together with him, they went to where the mighty Mahadeva stood, bereft of his linga.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.187.32)

ऊचुः समाहिताः सर्वे प्रणिपत्य दिवौकसः

ūcuḥ samāhitāḥ sarve praṇipatya divaukasaḥ

All the celestial dwellers, composed in mind, bowed down and said —

Verse 33 (skanda.7.187.33)

लिंगमुत्क्षिप्यतामेतद्यत्क्षितौ पतितं विभो। एते महार्णवाः सर्वे प्लावयंति वसुंधराम्

liṁgamutkṣipyatāmetadyatkṣitau patitaṁ vibho| ete mahārṇavāḥ sarve plāvayaṁti vasuṁdharām

'O lord, let this linga, which has fallen upon the earth, be lifted up, for all these great oceans are flooding the world.'

Verse 34 (skanda.7.187.34)

भगवानुवाच। ऋषिभिः पातितं ह्येतन्मम लिंगं सुरेश्वराः। न तु शक्यो मया कर्तुं बाधस्तेषां महात्मनाम्

bhagavānuvāca| ṛṣibhiḥ pātitaṁ hyetanmama liṁgaṁ sureśvarāḥ| na tu śakyo mayā kartuṁ bādhasteṣāṁ mahātmanām

The Lord said: O lords of the gods, it is by the sages that this linga of mine has been felled; yet it is not possible for me to cause harm to those great souls.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.187.35)

शापो हि भार्गवेन्द्राणामतो मे श्रूयतां वचः। पूजयध्वं सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरस्सराः

śāpo hi bhārgavendrāṇāmato me śrūyatāṁ vacaḥ| pūjayadhvaṁ surāḥ sarve brahmaviṣṇupurassarāḥ

For this is the curse of the foremost Bhargavas; therefore hear my word: all you gods, with Brahma and Vishnu leading, worship it.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.187.36)

लिंगमेतत्ततः सर्वे सर्वं लिप्सथ सत्तमाः। प्रकृतिं सागराः सर्वे यास्यंति गिरयस्तथा

liṁgametattataḥ sarve sarvaṁ lipsatha sattamāḥ| prakṛtiṁ sāgarāḥ sarve yāsyaṁti girayastathā

O best of beings, then all of you together take up this linga entirely; then all the oceans and mountains will return to their natural state.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.187.37)

एतत्पुण्यतमे क्षेत्रे धृत्वा सर्वे समाहिताः। अथोद्धृत्य सुराः सर्वे प्रभासं क्षेत्रमागताः

etatpuṇyatame kṣetre dhṛtvā sarve samāhitāḥ| athoddhṛtya surāḥ sarve prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāgatāḥ

'Hold it in this most sacred field.' Then, composed in mind, having lifted it up, all the gods came to the field of Prabhasa.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.187.38)

तत्रैव निदधुः सर्वे ततः पूजां प्रचक्रिरे। ब्रह्मणा पूजितं लिंगं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना

tatraiva nidadhuḥ sarve tataḥ pūjāṁ pracakrire| brahmaṇā pūjitaṁ liṁgaṁ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā

There they all installed it, and then performed worship; the linga was worshipped by Brahma and by the mighty Vishnu.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.187.39)

शक्रेणाथ कुबेरेण यमेन वरुणेन च। ऊचुश्चैव ततो देवा लिंगं संपूज्य भक्तितः

śakreṇātha kubereṇa yamena varuṇena ca| ūcuścaiva tato devā liṁgaṁ saṁpūjya bhaktitaḥ

and also by Indra, Kubera, Yama, and Varuna; then the gods, having worshipped the linga with devotion, said —

Verse 40 (skanda.7.187.40)

अद्यप्रभृति रुद्रस्य लिंगं संपूज्य भक्तितः। भविष्यामो न संदेहस्तथा पितृगणाश्च ये

adyaprabhṛti rudrasya liṁgaṁ saṁpūjya bhaktitaḥ| bhaviṣyāmo na saṁdehastathā pitṛgaṇāśca ye

'From today onward, we shall be those who devotedly worship this linga of Rudra — there is no doubt of it — as will the hosts of ancestors.'

Verse 41 (skanda.7.187.41)

य एनं पूजयिष्यंति भक्तियुक्ताश्च मानवाः। यास्यंति ते सुरावासं सशरीरा नरोत्तमाः

ya enaṁ pūjayiṣyaṁti bhaktiyuktāśca mānavāḥ| yāsyaṁti te surāvāsaṁ saśarīrā narottamāḥ

Those human beings, endowed with devotion, who shall worship this — those best of men shall go to the abode of the gods even with their bodies.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.187.42)

अत्रैव प्रथमं लिंगं यतोऽस्माभिः प्रतिष्ठितम्। प्रभासं नाम चास्यापि प्रभासेति भविष्यति

atraiva prathamaṁ liṁgaṁ yato'smābhiḥ pratiṣṭhitam| prabhāsaṁ nāma cāsyāpi prabhāseti bhaviṣyati

Since it is here that this first linga has been established by us, its name too shall be Prabhasa.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.187.43)

एवमुक्त्वा गताः सर्वे त्रिदिवं सुरसत्तमाः। तं दृष्ट्वा त्रिदिवं यान्ति भूयांसः प्राणिनो भुवि

evamuktvā gatāḥ sarve tridivaṁ surasattamāḥ| taṁ dṛṣṭvā tridivaṁ yānti bhūyāṁsaḥ prāṇino bhuvi

Having said this, all the best of gods went to heaven. Having seen it, many living beings on earth too began going to heaven.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.187.44)

ततस्त्रिविष्टपं व्याप्तं बहुभिः प्राणिभिः प्रिये। तद्दृष्ट्वा त्रिदिवं व्याप्तं सहस्राक्षः सुदुःखितः

tatastriviṣṭapaṁ vyāptaṁ bahubhiḥ prāṇibhiḥ priye| taddṛṣṭvā tridivaṁ vyāptaṁ sahasrākṣaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ

O beloved, then heaven became crowded with many beings. Seeing heaven so filled, the thousand-eyed Indra became greatly distressed.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.187.45)

ज्ञात्वा लिंगप्रभावं तु ततश्चागत्य भूतलम्। वज्रेणाच्छादयामास समंतात्स वरानने

jñātvā liṁgaprabhāvaṁ tu tataścāgatya bhūtalam| vajreṇācchādayāmāsa samaṁtātsa varānane

O fair-faced one, then, learning the power of the linga, he came down to earth and covered it entirely with his thunderbolt.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.187.46)

ततः प्रभृति नो देवि स्वर्गं गच्छंति मानवाः। इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तः प्रभासस्य महोदयः। सर्वपापोपशमनः सर्वकामफलं प्रदः

tataḥ prabhṛti no devi svargaṁ gacchaṁti mānavāḥ| iti saṁkṣepataḥ proktaḥ prabhāsasya mahodayaḥ| sarvapāpopaśamanaḥ sarvakāmaphalaṁ pradaḥ

From that time onward, O goddess, human beings no longer go to heaven bodily, as before. Thus has been told in brief this great glory of Prabhasa's origin, which quells all sins and bestows the fruit of every desire.