The Glory of Mahodaya

Verse 1 (skanda.7.327.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो महोदयं गच्छेत्तस्मादीशानसंस्थितम्

īśvara uvāca| tato mahodayaṁ gacchettasmādīśānasaṁsthitam

Ishvara said: Then one should go to Mahodaya, situated to the northeast of that place.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.327.2)

विधिना तत्र यः स्नाति तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः। प्रतिग्रहकृताद्दोषान्न भयं तस्य विद्यते

vidhinā tatra yaḥ snāti tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ| pratigrahakṛtāddoṣānna bhayaṁ tasya vidyate

He who bathes there according to rule and offers tarpana to the ancestral deities — for him there is no fear from the faults incurred by accepting gifts.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.327.3)

महोदयं महानन्ददायकं च द्विजन्मनाम्। प्रतिग्रहप्रसक्तानां विषयासक्तचेतसाम्। तेषामपि ददेन्मुक्तिं तेन ख्यातं महोदयम्

mahodayaṁ mahānandadāyakaṁ ca dvijanmanām| pratigrahaprasaktānāṁ viṣayāsaktacetasām| teṣāmapi dadenmuktiṁ tena khyātaṁ mahodayam

Mahodaya bestows great joy upon the twice-born; even upon those attached to accepting gifts and whose minds cling to sense-objects, it bestows liberation — hence it is renowned as Mahodaya.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.327.4)

तस्य वै रक्षणार्थाय महाकालस्य चोत्तरे। नियुक्ताश्च महादेवि मातरस्तत्र संस्थिताः। तस्मिन्स्नात्वा नरः पूर्वं मातॄस्ताश्च प्रपूजयेत्

tasya vai rakṣaṇārthāya mahākālasya cottare| niyuktāśca mahādevi mātarastatra saṁsthitāḥ| tasminsnātvā naraḥ pūrvaṁ mātṝstāśca prapūjayet

For its protection, O great Goddess, the Mother-goddesses are appointed and stationed to the north of Mahakala; a man, having bathed there, should first worship those Mothers.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.327.5)

एवं देवि मया ख्यातं महोदयमहोदयम्। सर्वपापहरं नृणामभिषेकाच्च मुक्तिदम्

evaṁ devi mayā khyātaṁ mahodayamahodayam| sarvapāpaharaṁ nṛṇāmabhiṣekācca muktidam

Thus, O Devi, I have described Mahodaya to you, which removes all sins of men and grants liberation through ritual bathing.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.327.6)

अर्धक्रोशे च तत्तीर्थं समंतात्परिमंडलम्। एतन्मध्यं महासारं सदैव मुनिवल्लभम्

ardhakrośe ca tattīrthaṁ samaṁtātparimaṁḍalam| etanmadhyaṁ mahāsāraṁ sadaiva munivallabham

That tirtha extends half a krosha all around in a circle; its inner core is of the greatest essence, and is ever dear to the sages.