The Glory of Prachi Sarasvati and Mankishvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.270.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि यत्र प्राची सरस्वती। तत्र स्थाने स्थितं लिंगं मंकीश्वरमिति श्रुतम्॥

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchet mahādevi yatra prācī sarasvatī| tatra sthāne sthitaṁ liṅgaṁ maṅkīśvaramiti śrutam||

Ishvara said: Thereafter, O Mahadevi, one should go to where the Prachi Sarasvati flows. The linga situated at that place is known by the name Mankishvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.270.2)

तस्योत्पत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपातकनाशिनीम्। शृणु देवि महाभागे ह्याश्चर्यं यदभूत्पुरा॥

tasyotpattiṁ pravakṣyāmi sarvapātakanāśinīm| śṛṇu devi mahābhāge hyāścaryaṁ yadabhūtpurā||

I shall now relate the story of its origin, which destroys all sins. O most fortunate Goddess, hear that wondrous event which took place long ago.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.270.3)

ऋषिर्मंकणको नाम स तेपे परमं तपः। प्राचीमेत्य यताहारो नित्यं स्वाध्यायतत्परः॥

ṛṣirmaṅkaṇako nāma sa tepe paramaṁ tapaḥ| prācīmetya yatāhāro nityaṁ svādhyāyatatparaḥ||

There was a sage named Mankanaka, who, coming to the Prachi (Sarasvati), practiced supreme austerity, keeping his diet restrained and remaining constantly devoted to the recitation of scripture.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.270.4)

बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तस्यातीतानि भामिनि। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य विद्धादस्य वरानने॥

bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi tasyātītāni bhāmini| kasyacittvatha kālasya viddhādasya varānane||

O fair lady, many thousand years passed for him. O fair-faced one, at a certain time he was pierced by something.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.270.5)

कराच्छाकरसो जातः कुशाग्रेणेति नः श्रुतम्। स तं दृष्ट्वा महाश्चर्यं विस्मयं परमं गतः॥

karācchākaraso jātaḥ kuśāgreṇeti naḥ śrutam| sa taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāścaryaṁ vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ||

We have heard that, pricked by the tip of a kusha blade, a green vegetal sap flowed from his hand. Seeing this great wonder, he was filled with the utmost astonishment.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.270.6)

मेने सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तो हर्षान्नृत्यमथाकरोत्। तस्मिन्संनृत्यमाने च जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्॥

mene siddhiṁ parāṁ prāpto harṣānnṛtyamathākarot| tasminsaṁnṛtyamāne ca jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam||

He concluded that he had attained supreme accomplishment, and, overjoyed, began to dance. As he danced, the entire world of moving and unmoving things,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.270.7)

अनर्त्तत वरारोहे प्रभावात्तस्य वै मुनेः। ततो देवा महेंद्राद्या ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरस्सराः। ऊचुस्त्रिपुरहंतारं नायं नृत्येत्तथा कुरु॥

anarttata varārohe prabhāvāttasya vai muneḥ| tato devā mahendrādyā brahmaviṣṇupurassarāḥ| ūcustripurahaṁtāraṁ nāyaṁ nṛtyettathā kuru||

O fair-hipped one, began, by the power of that sage, to dance as well. Then the gods, headed by Indra along with Brahma and Vishnu, went to the destroyer of Tripura and said, "Make it so that he does not dance like this."

Verse 8 (skanda.7.270.8)

चलिताः पर्वताः स्थानात्क्षुभितो मकरालयः। धरणी खण्डशो देव वृक्षाश्च निधनं गताः॥

calitāḥ parvatāḥ sthānātkṣubhito makarālayaḥ| dharaṇī khaṇḍaśo deva vṛkṣāśca nidhanaṁ gatāḥ||

"The mountains have shaken from their places, the ocean has become agitated; O god, the earth is breaking into fragments, and the trees are perishing."

Verse 9 (skanda.7.270.9)

उत्पथाश्च महानद्यो ग्रहा उन्मार्गसंस्थिताः। त्रैलोक्यं व्याकुलीभूतं यावत्प्राप्नोति संक्षयम्॥

utpathāśca mahānadyo grahā unmārgasaṁsthitāḥ| trailokyaṁ vyākulībhūtaṁ yāvatprāpnoti saṁkṣayam||

"Great rivers have left their courses, and the planets have strayed from their orbits. The three worlds are thrown into confusion and are on the verge of destruction."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.270.10)

तावन्निवारयस्वैनं नान्यः शक्तो निवारणे॥

tāvannivārayasvainaṁ nānyaḥ śakto nivāraṇe||

"So you alone must restrain him — none other is capable of restraining him."

Verse 11 (skanda.7.270.11)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय गत्वा तस्य समीपतः। द्विजरूपं समास्थाय तमृषिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

sa tatheti pratijñāya gatvā tasya samīpataḥ| dvijarūpaṁ samāsthāya tamṛṣiṁ vākyamabravīt||

He (Shiva), promising "So be it," assumed the form of a brahmin, went near that sage, and spoke these words to him.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.270.12)

को हर्षविषयः कस्मात्त्वयैतन्नृत्यते द्विज। तस्मात्कार्यं वदाशु त्वं परं कौतूहलं द्विजः॥

ko harṣaviṣayaḥ kasmāttvayaitannṛtyate dvija| tasmātkāryaṁ vadāśu tvaṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ dvijaḥ||

"O brahmin, what is the cause of your joy, and why are you dancing thus? O brahmin, tell me quickly the reason — I am filled with great curiosity."

Verse 13 (skanda.7.270.13)

ऋषिरुवाच। किं न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्कराच्छाकरसं च्युतम्। अत एव हि मे नृत्यं सिद्धोऽहं नात्र संशयः॥

ṛṣiruvāca| kiṁ na paśyasi me brahmankarācchākarasaṁ cyutam| ata eva hi me nṛtyaṁ siddho'haṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ||

The sage said: "O brahmin, do you not see this vegetal sap flowing from my hand? It is for this very reason that I am dancing; I have become accomplished — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 14 (skanda.7.270.14)

ईश्वर उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवांस्त्रिपुरांतकः। अंगुष्ठं ताडयामास अंगुल्यग्रेण भामिनि॥

īśvara uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhagavāṁstripurāṁtakaḥ| aṅguṣṭhaṁ tāḍayāmāsa aṅgulyagreṇa bhāmini||

Ishvara said: Hearing his words, the blessed destroyer of Tripura, O fair lady, struck his own thumb with the tip of his finger.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.270.15)

ततो विनिर्गतं भस्म तत्क्षणाद्धिमपांडुरम्। अथाब्रवीत्प्रहस्यैनं भगवान्भूतभावनः॥

tato vinirgataṁ bhasma tatkṣaṇāddhimapāṇḍuram| athābravītprahasyainaṁ bhagavānbhūtabhāvanaḥ||

At that instant, ash as white as snow issued forth from his thumb. Then the blessed Lord, the source of all beings, said to him, laughing —

Verse 16 (skanda.7.270.16)

पश्य मेंऽगुष्ठतो ब्रह्मन्भूरि भस्म विनिर्गतम्। न नृत्येऽहं न मे हर्षस्तथापि मुनिसत्तम॥

paśya meṁ'guṣṭhato brahmanbhūri bhasma vinirgatam| na nṛtye'haṁ na me harṣastathāpi munisattama||

"O brahmin, see — abundant ash too has come forth from my thumb, yet, O foremost of sages, I neither dance nor feel any elation over it."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.270.17)

तद्दृष्ट्वा सुमहाश्चर्यं विस्मयं परमं गतः। अब्रवीत्प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा हर्षगद्गदया गिरा॥

taddṛṣṭvā sumahāścaryaṁ vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ| abravītprāṅjalirbhūtvā harṣagadgadayā girā||

Seeing that extraordinary wonder, the sage was struck with the utmost astonishment, and, with joined palms, spoke in a voice choked with joy —

Verse 18 (skanda.7.270.18)

नान्यं देवमहं मन्ये त्वां मुक्त्वा वृषभध्वजम्। नान्यस्य विद्यते शक्तिरीदृशी धरणीतले॥

nānyaṁ devamahaṁ manye tvāṁ muktvā vṛṣabhadhvajam| nānyasya vidyate śaktirīdṛśī dharaṇītale||

"O Bull-bannered one, I regard no other god besides you. On this earth, no one else possesses such power as this."

Verse 19 (skanda.7.270.19)

भगवानुवाच। ज्ञातोऽस्मि मुनिशार्दूल त्वया वेदविदां वर। वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यन्मनसेप्सितम्॥

bhagavānuvāca| jñāto'smi muniśārdūla tvayā vedavidāṁ vara| varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te nityaṁ yanmanasepsitam||

The Lord said: "O foremost of sages, O best among those learned in the Vedas, you have recognized me. May you prosper; ask for whatever boon your heart has always desired."

Verse 20 (skanda.7.270.20)

ऋषिरुवाच। प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य नृत्येन महता विभो। यथा न स्यात्तपोहानिस्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्॥

ṛṣiruvāca| prasādāddevadevasya nṛtyena mahatā vibho| yathā na syāttapohānistathā nītirvidhīyatām||

The sage said: "O mighty one, by the grace of the God of gods, through this great dance of mine, let such a remedy be ordained that there be no loss of my austerity."

Verse 21 (skanda.7.270.21)

शंभुरुवाच। तपस्ते वर्द्धतां विप्र मत्प्रसादात्सहस्रधा। प्राचीमन्विह वत्स्यामि त्वया सार्द्धमहं सदा॥

śaṁbhuruvāca| tapaste varddhatāṁ vipra matprasādātsahasradhā| prācīmanviha vatsyāmi tvayā sārddhamahaṁ sadā||

Shambhu said: "O brahmin, by my grace your austerity shall increase a thousandfold. I shall dwell here forever, along the Prachi (Sarasvati), together with you."

Verse 22 (skanda.7.270.22)

सरस्वती महापुण्या क्षेत्रे चास्मिन्विशेषतः। सरस्वत्युत्तरे तीरे यस्त्यजेदात्मनस्तनुम्॥

sarasvatī mahāpuṇyā kṣetre cāsminviśeṣataḥ| sarasvatyuttare tīre yastyajedātmanastanum||

"The Sarasvati is exceedingly meritorious, especially in this sacred field. Whoever gives up his body on the northern bank of the Sarasvati,"

Verse 23 (skanda.7.270.23)

प्राचीने ह्यृषिशार्दूल न चेहागच्छते पुनः। आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोति पुष्कलम्॥

prācīne hyṛṣiśārdūla na cehāgacchate punaḥ| āpluto vājimedhasya phalaṁ prāpnoti puṣkalam||

"O foremost of sages, one who dies at the Prachi does not return again to this world. One who bathes there obtains the abundant fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.270.24)

नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च शोषयन्देहमात्मनः। जलाहारा वायुभक्षाः पर्णाहाराश्च तापसाः। तथा च स्थंडिलशया ये चान्ये नियताः पृथक्॥

niyamaiścopavāsaiśca śoṣayandehamātmanaḥ| jalāhārā vāyubhakṣāḥ parṇāhārāśca tāpasāḥ| tathā ca sthaṇḍilaśayā ye cānye niyatāḥ pṛthak||

Ascetics who wither their bodies through vows and fasts, who live on water alone, who subsist on air, who eat only leaves, as well as those who sleep upon the bare ground and observe various other disciplines,

Verse 25 (skanda.7.270.25)

ये स्नानमाचरिष्यंति तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नियमान्विताः। ते यांति परमां सिद्धिं ब्रह्मणः परमं पदम्॥

ye snānamācariṣyaṁti tīrthe'sminniyamānvitāḥ| te yāṁti paramāṁ siddhiṁ brahmaṇaḥ paramaṁ padam||

— those who, observing their vows, bathe at this tirtha attain the highest accomplishment, the supreme abode of Brahman.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.270.26)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यो दानं त्रुटिमात्रं च कांचनम्। ददाति द्विजमुख्याय मेरुतुल्यं भवेत्फलम्॥

asmiṁstīrthe tu yo dānaṁ truṭimātraṁ ca kāṁcanam| dadāti dvijamukhyāya merutulyaṁ bhavetphalam||

Whoever gives even the smallest amount of gold in charity at this tirtha to a foremost brahmin obtains merit equal in magnitude to Mount Meru.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.270.27)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु ये श्राद्धं करिष्यंतीह मानवाः। एकविंशत्कुलोपेताः स्वर्गं यास्यंति ते ध्रुवम्॥

asmiṁstīrthe tu ye śrāddhaṁ kariṣyaṁtīha mānavāḥ| ekaviṁśatkulopetāḥ svargaṁ yāsyaṁti te dhruvam||

Whatever men perform the shraddha rite at this tirtha shall, together with twenty-one generations of their family, surely go to heaven.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.270.28)

पितॄणां वल्लभं तीर्थं पिंडेनैकेन तर्पिताः। ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यंति सुपुत्रेणेह तारिताः॥

pitṝṇāṁ vallabhaṁ tīrthaṁ piṇḍenaikena tarpitāḥ| brahmalokaṁ gamiṣyaṁti suputreṇeha tāritāḥ||

This tirtha is beloved of the ancestors. Satisfied by even a single pinda-offering, the ancestors go to the world of Brahma, thus delivered here by a worthy son.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.270.29)

भूयश्चान्नं प्रयच्छंति मोक्षमार्गं व्रजंति ते॥

bhūyaścānnaṁ prayacchaṁti mokṣamārgaṁ vrajaṁti te||

Those who, moreover, give food there proceed upon the path to liberation.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.270.30)

अत्र ये शुभकर्माणः प्रभासस्थां सरस्वतीम्। पश्यंति तेपि यास्यंति स्वर्गलोकं द्विजोत्तमाः॥

atra ye śubhakarmāṇaḥ prabhāsasthāṁ sarasvatīm| paśyaṁti tepi yāsyaṁti svargalokaṁ dvijottamāḥ||

Here, those excellent brahmins of virtuous deeds who behold the Sarasvati as she abides in Prabhasa also attain the world of heaven.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.270.31)

ये पुनस्तत्र भावेन नराः स्नानपरायणाः। ब्रह्मलोकं समासाद्य ते रमिष्यंति सर्वदा॥

ye punastatra bhāvena narāḥ snānaparāyaṇāḥ| brahmalokaṁ samāsādya te ramiṣyaṁti sarvadā||

And those men who, with sincere devotion, are devoted to bathing there attain the world of Brahma and rejoice there forever.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.270.32)

दधि प्रदद्याद्योऽपीह ब्राह्मणाय मनोरमम्। सोऽप्यग्निलोकमासाद्य भुंक्ते भोगान्सुशोभनान्॥

dadhi pradadyādyo'pīha brāhmaṇāya manoramam| so'pyagnilokamāsādya bhuṅkte bhogānsuśobhanān||

Whoever gives delightful curd here to a brahmin attains the world of Agni and enjoys splendid pleasures.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.270.33)

ऊर्णाप्रावरणं योऽपि भक्त्या दद्याद्द्विजोत्तमे। सोऽपि याति परां सिद्धिं मर्त्यैरन्यैः सुदुर्लभाम्॥

ūrṇāprāvaraṇaṁ yo'pi bhaktyā dadyāddvijottame| so'pi yāti parāṁ siddhiṁ martyairanyaiḥ sudurlabhām||

Whoever devotedly gives a woolen garment to a foremost brahmin also attains that supreme accomplishment which is exceedingly rare for other mortals.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.270.34)

ये चात्र मलनाशाय विशेयुर्मानवा जलम्। गोप्रदानफलं तेषां सुखेन फलमादिशेत्॥

ye cātra malanāśāya viśeyurmānavā jalam| gopradānaphalaṁ teṣāṁ sukhena phalamādiśet||

Those men who enter the water here for the removal of their impurity are readily granted the merit equal to the gift of a cow.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.270.35)

भावेन हि नरः कश्चित्तत्र स्नानं समाचरेत्। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते॥

bhāvena hi naraḥ kaścittatra snānaṁ samācaret| sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇuloke mahīyate||

Whatever man bathes there with genuine devotion is freed from all sin and is exalted in the world of Vishnu.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.270.36)

तर्पणात्पिंडदानाच्च नरकेष्वपि संस्थिताः। स्वर्गं प्रयांति पितरः सुपुत्रेणेह तारिताः॥

tarpaṇātpiṇḍadānācca narakeṣvapi saṁsthitāḥ| svargaṁ prayāṁti pitaraḥ suputreṇeha tāritāḥ||

Through libation and pinda-offering, even ancestors dwelling in hell go to heaven, thus delivered here by a worthy son.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.270.37)

ते लभंतेऽक्षयांल्लोकान्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वीशशब्दितान्। भूयस्त्वन्नं प्रयच्छन्ति मोक्षमार्गं लभंति ते॥

te labhaṁte'kṣayāṁllokānbrahmaviṣṇvīśaśabditān| bhūyastvannaṁ prayacchanti mokṣamārgaṁ labhaṁti te||

They attain the imperishable worlds spoken of as those of Brahma, Vishnu, and Ishvara. Those who, moreover, give food attain the path to liberation.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.270.38)

स्वर्गनिश्रेणिसंभूता प्रभासे तु सरस्वती। नापुण्यवद्भिः संप्राप्तुं पुंभिः शक्या महानदी॥

svarganiśreṇisaṁbhūtā prabhāse tu sarasvatī| nāpuṇyavadbhiḥ saṁprāptuṁ puṁbhiḥ śakyā mahānadī||

This Sarasvati at Prabhasa is like a stairway to heaven. Men devoid of merit are unable to attain this great river.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.270.39)

प्राची सरस्वती चैव अन्यत्रैव तु दुर्लभा। विशेषेण कुरुक्षेत्रे प्रभासे पुष्करे तथा॥

prācī sarasvatī caiva anyatraiva tu durlabhā| viśeṣeṇa kurukṣetre prabhāse puṣkare tathā||

The Prachi Sarasvati is rare elsewhere; it is accessible especially at Kurukshetra, Prabhasa, and Pushkara.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.270.40)

प्राचीं सरस्वतीं प्राप्य योऽन्यत्तीर्थं हि मार्गते। स करस्थं समुत्सृज्य कूर्परेण समाचरेत्॥

prācīṁ sarasvatīṁ prāpya yo'nyattīrthaṁ hi mārgate| sa karasthaṁ samutsṛjya kūrpareṇa samācaret||

Whoever, having attained the Prachi Sarasvati, still seeks out another tirtha, acts as one who abandons what is already in his hand and tries instead to grasp it with his elbow.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.270.41)

कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां स्नानं च विहितं सदा। पिण्याकेंगुदकेनापि पिंडं तत्र ददाति यः। पितॄणामक्षयं भूयात्पितृलोकं स गच्छति॥

kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ snānaṁ ca vihitaṁ sadā| piṇyākeṅgudakenāpi piṇḍaṁ tatra dadāti yaḥ| pitṝṇāmakṣayaṁ bhūyātpitṛlokaṁ sa gacchati||

Bathing there on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight is always enjoined. Whoever offers there a pinda made even of oil-cake or of ingudi fruit brings imperishable satisfaction to the ancestors, and he himself goes to the world of the ancestors.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.270.42)

सरस्वतीवाससमा कुतो रतिः सरस्वतीवाससमाः कुतो गुणाः। सरस्वतीं प्राप्य गता दिवं नराः पुनः स्मरिष्यंति नदीं सरस्वतीम्॥

sarasvatīvāsasamā kuto ratiḥ sarasvatīvāsasamāḥ kuto guṇāḥ| sarasvatīṁ prāpya gatā divaṁ narāḥ punaḥ smariṣyaṁti nadīṁ sarasvatīm||

Where else is there delight equal to dwelling by the Sarasvati? Where else are there merits equal to dwelling by the Sarasvati? Even men who, having attained the Sarasvati, have gone to heaven, shall again and again remember this river Sarasvati.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.270.43)

ईश्वर उवाच। उक्त्वैवं भगवान्देवस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत। सांनिध्यमकरोत्तत्र ततःप्रभृति शंकरः॥

īśvara uvāca| uktvaivaṁ bhagavāndevastatraivāṁtaradhīyata| sāṁnidhyamakarottatra tataḥprabhṛti śaṁkaraḥ||

Ishvara said: Having said this, the blessed Lord vanished there itself. From that time on, Shankara has maintained his presence there.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.270.44)

अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। स्नेहार्द्रेण च चित्तेन धर्मपुत्रं प्रति प्रिये॥

atra gāthā purā gītā viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā| snehārdreṇa ca cittena dharmaputraṁ prati priye||

O beloved, on this subject there is a verse which, long ago, the mighty Vishnu, his heart moist with affection, spoke to the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira).

Verse 45 (skanda.7.270.45)

मा गंगां व्रज कौंतेय मा प्रयागं च पुष्करम्। तत्र गच्छ कुरुश्रेष्ठ यत्र प्राची सरस्वती॥

mā gaṅgāṁ vraja kauṁteya mā prayāgaṁ ca puṣkaram| tatra gaccha kuruśreṣṭha yatra prācī sarasvatī||

"O son of Kunti, do not go to the Ganga, nor to Prayaga or Pushkara. O best of the Kurus, go instead to where the Prachi Sarasvati flows."

Verse 46 (skanda.7.270.46)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। माहात्म्यं च सरस्वत्या भूयः किं श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yanmāṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi| māhātmyaṁ ca sarasvatyā bhūyaḥ kiṁ śrotumicchasi||

O Goddess, all that you asked of me I have now related to you, along with the glory of the Sarasvati. What more do you now wish to hear?