The Glory of Kapiladhara-Kapileshvara and the Rite of the Kapila-Shashthi Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.7.343.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि कपिलेश्वरमुत्तमम्। शीराभूषणपूर्वेण कोटितीर्थाच्च पश्चिमे

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi kapileśvaram uttamam| śīrābhūṣaṇapūrveṇa koṭitīrthācca paścime

Ishvara said: O Great Goddess, one should then go to the excellent Kapileshvara, east of Shirabhushana and west of Kotitirtha.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.343.2)

जरद्गवेशाद्दक्षिणे समुद्रोत्तरतस्तथा। एतद्वै कापिलं क्षेत्रं नापुण्यैः प्राप्यते नरैः

jaradgaveśād dakṣiṇe samudrottaratastathā| etadvai kāpilaṁ kṣetraṁ nāpuṇyaiḥ prāpyate naraiḥ

South of Jaradgavesha and north of the ocean — this Kapila-kshetra (field of Kapila) is not attained by men lacking merit.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.343.3)

कपिलेन पुरा देवि यत्र तप्तं तपो महत्। वर्षाणामयुतं साग्रं प्रतिष्ठाप्य महेश्वरम्

kapilena purā devi yatra taptaṁ tapo mahat| varṣāṇām ayutaṁ sāgraṁ pratiṣṭhāpya maheśvaram

O Goddess, this is where Kapila, in ancient times, established Maheshvara and performed great austerity for more than ten thousand years.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.343.4)

समाहूता तत्र देवी कपिलधारा महानदी। समुद्रमध्ये साऽद्यापि पुण्यवद्भिः प्रदृश्यते

samāhūtā tatra devī kapiladhārā mahānadī| samudramadhye sā'dyāpi puṇyavadbhiḥ pradṛśyate

There the great river-goddess Kapiladhara was summoned; even today she is seen amid the ocean by those of merit.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.343.5)

तत्र स्नात्वा महादेवि कपिलाषष्ठ्यां विशेषतः। कपिलां दापयेत्तत्र गोकोटिफलभाग्भवेत्

tatra snātvā mahādevi kapilāṣaṣṭhyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| kapilāṁ dāpayet tatra gokoṭiphalabhāgbhavet

O Great Goddess, having bathed there — especially on Kapila-Shashthi — one should give a tawny (kapila) cow in gift there; he thereby becomes partaker of the merit of a crore of cows.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.343.6)

सर्वेषां चैव पापानां प्रायश्चित्तमिदं स्मृतम्। कपिलेश्वरं तु संपूज्य कन्याकोटिफलं लभेत्

sarveṣāṁ caiva pāpānāṁ prāyaścittam idaṁ smṛtam| kapileśvaraṁ tu saṁpūjya kanyākoṭiphalaṁ labhet

This is known as the atonement for all sins. Having duly worshipped Kapileshvara, one obtains the merit of giving a crore of maidens in marriage.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.343.7)

देव्युवाच। आश्चर्यं मम देवेश कपिलषष्ठ्या महेश्वर। विधानं श्रोतुमिच्छामि दानमन्त्रादि पूर्वकम्

devyuvāca| āścaryaṁ mama deveśa kapilaṣaṣṭhyā maheśvara| vidhānaṁ śrotum icchāmi dānamantrādi pūrvakam

The Goddess said: O Lord of gods, Maheshvara, this Kapila-Shashthi is a wonder to me. I wish to hear its rite in full, together with the gift-mantras and the rest.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.343.8)

ईश्वर उवाच। जन्मजीवितमध्ये तु यद्येका लभ्यते नरैः। संयोगयुक्ता सा षष्ठी तत्किं देवि ब्रवीम्यहम्

īśvara uvāca| janmajīvitamadhye tu yadyekā labhyate naraiḥ| saṁyogayuktā sā ṣaṣṭhī tat kiṁ devi bravīmyaham

Ishvara said: If even once in the span of a man's birth and life such a Shashthi, joined with the right conjunction, is obtained — O Goddess, what more need I say of it?

Verse 9 (skanda.7.343.9)

प्रौष्ठपद्यसिते पक्षे षष्ठ्यामंगारको यदि। व्यतीपातश्च रोहिण्यां सा षष्ठी कपिला स्मृता

prauṣṭhapadyasite pakṣe ṣaṣṭhyāmaṁgārako yadi| vyatīpātaśca rohiṇyāṁ sā ṣaṣṭhī kapilā smṛtā

In the bright fortnight of Proshthapada (Bhadrapada), if Tuesday falls on the sixth (Shashthi), together with the Vyatipata yoga in the Rohini nakshatra — that Shashthi is known as Kapila.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.343.10)

तत्र क्षेत्रे नरः स्नात्वा अथवार्कस्थले शुभे। मृदा शुक्ल तिलैश्चैव कपिलासंगमे शुभे

tatra kṣetre naraḥ snātvā athavārkasthale śubhe| mṛdā śukla tilaiścaiva kapilāsaṁgame śubhe

A man, having bathed there in that field — or at the auspicious Arka-sthala, at the auspicious confluence of the Kapila [river], with white clay and sesame —

Verse 11 (skanda.7.343.11)

कृतस्नानजपः पश्चात्सूर्यायार्घ्यं निवेदयेत्। रक्तचंदनतोयेन करवीरयुतेन च। कृत्वार्घपात्रं शिरसि मंत्रेणानेन दापयेत्

kṛtasnānajapaḥ paścāt sūryāyārghyaṁ nivedayet| raktacandanatoyena karavīrayutena ca| kṛtvārghapātraṁ śirasi mantreṇānena dāpayet

— having finished bathing and recitation, one should then offer arghya to the Sun, with water of red sandalwood mixed with karavira (oleander); having made the arghya-vessel, one should offer it above the head with this mantra.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.343.12)

नमस्त्रैलोक्यनाथाय उद्भासितजगत्त्रय। वेदरश्मे नमस्तुभ्यं गृहाणार्घ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते

namastrailokyanāthāya udbhāsitajagattraya| vedaraśme namastubhyaṁ gṛhāṇārghyaṁ namo'stu te

Salutation to the Lord of the three worlds, who has illumined the three worlds! Salutation to you, O ray of the Veda! Accept this arghya; salutation to you!

Verse 13 (skanda.7.343.13)

सूर्यं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य संपूज्य कपिलेश्वरम्। उपलिप्ते शुभे देशे पुष्पाक्षतविभूषिते

sūryaṁ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya saṁpūjya kapileśvaram| upalipte śubhe deśe puṣpākṣatavibhūṣite

Having circumambulated the Sun and duly worshipped Kapileshvara, in an auspicious spot plastered [with cow-dung] and adorned with flowers and unbroken rice —

Verse 14 (skanda.7.343.14)

स्थापयेदव्रणं कुम्भं चन्दनोदकपूरितम्। पंचरत्नसमायुक्तं दूर्वापुष्पाक्षतान्वितम्

sthāpayed avraṇaṁ kumbhaṁ candanodakapūritam| pañcaratnasamāyuktaṁ dūrvāpuṣpākṣatānvitam

one should set up a flawless pot filled with sandalwood-water, endowed with the five gems, and accompanied by durva grass, flowers, and unbroken rice.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.343.15)

रक्तवस्त्रयुगच्छन्नं ताम्रपात्रेण संयुतम्। रथो रुक्मफलस्यैव एकचित्रविचित्रितः

raktavastrayugacchannaṁ tāmrapātreṇa saṁyutam| ratho rukmaphalasyaiva ekacitravicitritaḥ

covered with a pair of red garments and furnished with a copper vessel; let the chariot [pedestal] of the golden disc be decorated with a single unified design.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.343.16)

सौवर्णपलसंयुक्तां मूर्तिं सूर्यस्य कारयेत्। कुंभस्योपरि संस्थाप्य गंधपुष्पैः समर्चयेत्

sauvarṇapalasaṁyuktāṁ mūrtiṁ sūryasya kārayet| kumbhasyopari saṁsthāpya gandhapuṣpaiḥ samarcayet

One should have an image of the Sun made of a pala's weight of gold; having set it atop the pot, one should worship it with scent and flowers.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.343.17)

कपिलेश्वरसान्निध्ये मण्डपे होमसंस्कृते। आदित्यं पूजयेद्देवं नामभिः स्वैर्यथोदितैः

kapileśvarasānnidhye maṇḍape homasaṁskṛte| ādityaṁ pūjayeddevaṁ nāmabhiḥ svairyathoditaiḥ

In the presence of Kapileshvara, in a pavilion consecrated with fire-offerings, one should worship God Aditya with his own names as duly enjoined.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.343.18)

आदित्यभास्कर रवे भानो स्वयं दिवाकर। प्रभाकर नमस्तुभ्यं ससारान्मां समुद्धर

ādityabhāskara rave bhāno svayaṁ divākara| prabhākara namastubhyaṁ sasārānmāṁ samuddhara

O Aditya, Bhaskara, Ravi, Bhanu, self-manifest Divakara! O Prabhakara, salutation to you — deliver me from this worldly ocean (samsara)!

Verse 19 (skanda.7.343.19)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदो यस्मात्तस्माच्छांतिं प्रयच्छ नः

bhuktimuktiprado yasmāttasmācchāntiṁ prayaccha naḥ

Since you are the giver of enjoyment and liberation, therefore grant us peace.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.343.20)

प्रार्थनामन्त्रः। नमोनमस्ते वरद ऋक्सामयजुषांपते। नमोऽस्तुविश्वरूपाय विश्वधाम्ने नमोऽस्तु ते

prārthanāmantraḥ| namo namaste varada ṛksāmayajuṣāṁpate| namo'stu viśvarūpāya viśvadhāmne namo'stu te

[The Prayer-mantra:] Salutation, salutation again to you, O boon-giver, Lord of the Rik, Sama and Yajus! Salutation to you of universal form; salutation to you, abode of the universe!

Verse 21 (skanda.7.343.21)

अमृतं देवि ते क्षीरं पवित्रमिह पुष्टिदम्। त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रमुच्यंते मनुजाः सर्वपातकैः

amṛtaṁ devi te kṣīraṁ pavitramiha puṣṭidam| tvatprasādātpramucyante manujāḥ sarvapātakaiḥ

O Goddess, your milk is like nectar, pure, and nourishing here. By your grace, men are released from all sins.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.343.22)

ब्रह्मणोत्पादिते देवि वह्निकुण्डान्महाप्रभे। नमस्ते कपिले पुण्ये सर्वदेवनमस्कृते

brahmaṇotpādite devi vahnikuṇḍānmahāprabhe| namaste kapile puṇye sarvadevanamaskṛte

O Goddess, born from Brahma's greatly radiant fire-pit — salutation to you, O sacred Kapila, worshipped by all the gods!

Verse 23 (skanda.7.343.23)

सर्वदेवमये देवि सर्वतीर्थमये शुभे। दातारं पूजयानं मां ब्रह्मलोकं नय स्वयम्

sarvadevamaye devi sarvatīrthamaye śubhe| dātāraṁ pūjayānaṁ māṁ brahmalokaṁ naya svayam

O Goddess, embodiment of all gods, embodiment of all sacred waters, O auspicious one — lead me, the donor and worshipper, yourself to the world of Brahma.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.343.24)

पूजामंत्रः। एवं संपूज्य कपिलां कुम्भस्थं च दिवाकरम्। ब्राह्मणे वेदविदुष उभयं प्रतिपादयेत्

pūjāmantraḥ| evaṁ saṁpūjya kapilāṁ kumbhasthaṁ ca divākaram| brāhmaṇe vedaviduṣa ubhayaṁ pratipādayet

[The Worship-mantra:] Having thus duly worshipped Kapila and the Sun seated upon the pot, one should give both over to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.343.25)

व्यासाय सूर्यभक्ताय मंत्रेणानेन दापयेत्

vyāsāya sūryabhaktāya mantreṇānena dāpayet

One should present the gift, with this mantra, to a Vyasa (a learned Brahmin) devoted to the Sun.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.343.26)

दिव्यमूर्त्तिर्जगच्चक्षुर्द्वादशात्मा दिवाकरः। कपिलासहितो देवो मम मुक्तिं प्रयच्छतु

divyamūrtirjagaccakṣurdvādaśātmā divākaraḥ| kapilāsahito devo mama muktiṁ prayacchatu

Divakara, of divine form, the eye of the world, twelvefold in nature — may that God, together with Kapila, grant me liberation.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.343.27)

यस्मात्त्वं कपिले पुण्या सर्वलोकस्य पावनी। प्रदत्ता सह सूर्येण मम मुक्तिप्रदा भव

yasmāttvaṁ kapile puṇyā sarvalokasya pāvanī| pradattā saha sūryeṇa mama muktipradā bhava

Since you, O Kapila, being sacred and the purifier of all worlds, are given together with the Sun — become the bestower of liberation upon me.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.343.28)

पलेन दक्षिणा कार्या तदर्धार्धेन वा पुनः। शक्तितो दक्षिणायुक्तां तां धेनुं प्रतिपादयेत्

palena dakṣiṇā kāryā tadardhārdhena vā punaḥ| śaktito dakṣiṇāyuktāṁ tāṁ dhenuṁ pratipādayet

A sacrificial fee of one pala [of gold] should be given, or half of that, or a quarter; according to one's means, one should present that cow together with the fee.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.343.29)

योऽनेन विधिना कुर्यात्षष्ठीं कपिलसंज्ञिताम्। सोऽश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

yo'nena vidhinā kuryāt ṣaṣṭhīṁ kapilasaṁjñitām| so'śvamedhasahasrasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

Whoever performs the Shashthi called Kapila by this rite — that man obtains the fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.343.30)

यत्फलं सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वदानेषु यत्फलम्। तत्फलं सर्वमाप्नोति यः षष्ठीं कपिलां चरेत्

yatphalaṁ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvadāneṣu yatphalam| tatphalaṁ sarvamāpnoti yaḥ ṣaṣṭhīṁ kapilāṁ caret

Whatever merit lies in all the sacred fords, and whatever merit lies in all forms of gift-giving — all that merit is obtained by one who observes the Kapila-Shashthi.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.343.31)

कपिलाकोटिसहस्राणि कपिलाकोटिशतानि च। सूर्यपर्वणि यद्दत्त्वा तत्फलं कोटिशो भवेत्

kapilākoṭisahasrāṇi kapilākoṭiśatāni ca| sūryaparvaṇi yaddattvā tatphalaṁ koṭiśo bhavet

Whatever fruit accrues from giving thousands of crores and hundreds of crores of Kapila cows on a solar festival day — that fruit becomes multiplied a crore-fold [through this vow].

Verse 32 (skanda.7.343.32)

कोटिगोरोम संख्यानि वर्षाणि वरवर्णिनि। तावत्स वसते स्वर्गे यः षष्ठीं कपिलां चरेत्

koṭigoroma saṁkhyāni varṣāṇi varavarṇini| tāvat sa vasate svarge yaḥ ṣaṣṭhīṁ kapilāṁ caret

O fair one, for as many years as there are hairs on a crore of cows, so long does he dwell in heaven who observes the Kapila-Shashthi.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.343.33)

ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतो वापि यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम्। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति इत्याह कपिलो मुनिः

jñānato'jñānato vāpi yatpāpaṁ pūrvasaṁcitam| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti ityāha kapilo muniḥ

Whatever sin, previously accumulated, whether knowingly or unknowingly — all of it is destroyed; so spoke the sage Kapila.