The Glory of Karkotaka-Arka and Hatakeshvara (with the tale of Agastya and the Kalakeya Danavas)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.346.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। तस्मादाग्नेयदिग्भागे स्थितः कर्कोटको रविः। पूर्वकल्पे महादेवि स्मृतः कर्कोटकान्वितः

īśvara uvāca| tasmādāgneyadigbhāge sthitaḥ karkoṭako raviḥ| pūrvakalpe mahādevi smṛtaḥ karkoṭakānvitaḥ

Ishvara said: To the southeast of that place stands Karkotaka-Ravi (the Sun linked with the serpent Karkotaka). O Great Goddess, in a former kalpa he is remembered as joined with Karkotaka.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.346.2)

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण प्रीताः स्युः सर्वदेवताः। सप्तम्यां रविवारेण धूप गंधानुलेपनैः। पूजयेद्यो विधानेन मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

tasya darśanamātreṇa prītāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ| saptamyāṁ ravivāreṇa dhūpa gandhānulepanaiḥ| pūjayedyo vidhānena mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

By the mere sight of him, all the deities become pleased. Whoever worships him according to rule, on the seventh lunar day (saptami) falling on a Sunday, with incense, fragrance and unguents, is released from all sins.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.346.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि लिंगं वै हाटकेश्वरम्। नलेश्वरात्पूर्वभागे शतधन्वंतरद्वये

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi liṅgaṁ vai hāṭakeśvaram| naleśvarāt pūrvabhāge śatadhanvantaradvaye

Ishvara said: O Great Goddess, one should then go to the linga known as Hatakeshvara, situated in the eastern part, at a distance of two hundred bow-lengths from Naleshvara.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.346.4)

अगस्त्याम्रवनंनाम तत्र स्थाने तु संस्थितम्। चिंतामणेस्तु पूर्वेण ईशाने त्रिशतंधनुः। तत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तमगस्त्येन महात्मना

agastyāmravanaṁ nāma tatra sthāne tu saṁsthitam| cintāmaṇestu pūrveṇa īśāne triśataṁ dhanuḥ| tatra pūrvaṁ tapastaptam agastyena mahātmanā

Known as Agastyamra-vana ('Agastya's Mango Grove'), that place is situated there — to the east of Chintamani, in the northeast quarter, three hundred bow-lengths away. There, in ancient times, the great sage Agastya performed austerities.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.346.5)

देव्युवाच। कस्मिन्काले महादेव सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

devyuvāca| kasmin kāle mahādeva sarvaṁ vistarato vada

The Goddess said: O Mahadeva, at what time did this occur? Tell me everything in detail.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.346.6)

ईश्वर उवाच। पुरा दैत्यगणा रौद्रा बभूवुर्वरवर्णिनि। कालकेया इति ख्यातास्त्रैलोक्योच्छेदकारकाः

īśvara uvāca| purā daityagaṇā raudrā babhūvurvaravarṇini| kālakeyā iti khyātāstrailokyocchedakārakāḥ

Ishvara said: O fair one, in ancient times there arose fierce hordes of daityas known as the Kalakeyas, destroyers of the three worlds.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.346.7)

अथ ते निहताः सर्वे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। दैत्यसूदननाम्ना तु प्रभासक्षेत्रवासिना

atha te nihatāḥ sarve viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā| daityasūdananāmnā tu prabhāsakṣetravāsinā

Then all of them were slain by the mighty Vishnu, who dwells in the Prabhasa field under the name Daityasudana (Slayer of Daityas).

Verse 8 (skanda.7.346.8)

कृत्वा व्याघ्रस्य रूपं तु नाम्ना चक्रमुखीति च। हता वै तेन रूपेण ततोऽभूद्दैत्यसूदनः

kṛtvā vyāghrasya rūpaṁ tu nāmnā cakramukhīti ca| hatā vai tena rūpeṇa tato'bhūddaityasūdanaḥ

Taking the form of a tiger, called by the name Chakramukhi, he slew them in that form; thereafter he became known as Daityasudana.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.346.9)

हतशेषाः समुद्रांते प्रविष्टा भयविह्वलाः। ततस्ते मंत्रयामासुः पीड्यंते देवताः कथम्

hataśeṣāḥ samudrānte praviṣṭā bhayavihvalāḥ| tataste mantrayāmāsuḥ pīḍyante devatāḥ katham

The survivors of the slaughter, overcome with fear, entered the edge of the ocean. Then they deliberated: 'How shall we afflict the gods?'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.346.10)

हन्यंतां धर्मिणो येऽत्र विद्यंते धरणीतले। तपःस्वाध्यायनिरता यज्ञदानरताश्च ये

hanyantāṁ dharmiṇo ye'tra vidyante dharaṇītale| tapaḥsvādhyāyaniratā yajñadānaratāśca ye

'Let the righteous who exist here on the surface of the earth be slain — those devoted to austerity and Vedic study, and those intent on sacrifice and charity.'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.346.11)

अथ ते समयं कृत्वा रात्रौ निष्क्रम्य सागरात्। निर्जघ्नुस्तापसांस्तत्र यज्ञदानरतान्प्रिये

atha te samayaṁ kṛtvā rātrau niṣkramya sāgarāt| nirjaghnustāpasāṁstatra yajñadānaratānpriye

Then, having made this compact, they emerged from the ocean at night and slaughtered the ascetics there who were engaged in sacrifice and gift-giving, O beloved.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.346.12)

प्रभासे तु महादेवि तत्र द्वादशयोजने। वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे तत्र महर्षीणां महात्मनाम्

prabhāse tu mahādevi tatra dvādaśayojane| vasiṣṭhasyāśrame tatra maharṣīṇāṁ mahātmanām

In Prabhasa, O Great Goddess, twelve yojanas from there, in the hermitage of Vasishtha, dwelt great-souled sages.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.346.13)

भक्षितानि सहस्राणि पंच सप्त च तापसान्। शतानि पंच रैभ्यस्य विश्वामित्रस्य षोडश

bhakṣitāni sahasrāṇi pañca sapta ca tāpasān| śatāni pañca raibhyasya viśvāmitrasya ṣoḍaśa

Ascetics were devoured — five thousand seven hundred in all; five hundred of Raibhya's hermitage, sixteen of Vishvamitra's,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.346.14)

च्यवनस्य च सप्तैव जाबालेर्द्विशतं मुनेः। वालखिल्याश्रमे पुण्ये षट्छतानि दुरात्मभिः

cyavanasya ca saptaiva jābāler dviśataṁ muneḥ| vālakhilyāśrame puṇye ṣaṭchatāni durātmabhiḥ

seven of Chyavana's, two hundred of the sage Jabali's; six hundred were devoured by those wicked ones in the sacred hermitage of the Valakhilyas.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.346.15)

यत्र क्वचिद्भवेद्यज्ञस्तत्र गत्वा निशागमे। यज्ञदानसमायुक्तानृत्विजो भक्षयंति च

yatra kvacid bhaved yajñastatra gatvā niśāgame| yajñadānasamāyuktānṛtvijo bhakṣayanti ca

Wherever a sacrifice was taking place, they would go there at nightfall and devour the officiating priests engaged in the sacrifice and its gifts.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.346.16)

ततो भयाकुलाः सर्वे बभूवुर्जगती तले। न च कश्चिद्विजानाति दैत्यानां तु विचेष्टितम्

tato bhayākulāḥ sarve babhūvurjagatī tale| na ca kaścidvijānāti daityānāṁ tu viceṣṭitam

Then all upon the earth became overwhelmed with fear, and no one could discern what mischief the daityas were doing.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.346.17)

रात्रौ स्वपंति मुनयः सुखशय्यागताश्च ते। प्रभाते त्वध्वरे तेषामस्थिसंघाश्च केवलम्

rātrau svapanti munayaḥ sukhaśayyāgatāśca te| prabhāte tvadhvare teṣām asthisaṁghāśca kevalam

At night the sages slept, having retired to comfortable beds; but at dawn, at their sacrificial ground, only heaps of bones remained.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.346.18)

ततो धर्मक्रियास्त्यक्ता भूतले सर्वमानवैः। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं भूतलं समपद्यत

tato dharmakriyāstyaktā bhūtale sarvamānavaiḥ| niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāraṁ bhūtalaṁ samapadyata

Then all religious observances were abandoned by all people on earth; the earth became bereft of Vedic recitation and ritual oblation.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.346.19)

अथान्ये तापसा रात्रौ संयुताश्च धृतायुधाः। अथोच्छेदं गते धर्मे पीडितास्त्रिदिवौकसः

athānye tāpasā rātrau saṁyutāśca dhṛtāyudhāḥ| athocchedaṁ gate dharme pīḍitāstridivaukasaḥ

Then other ascetics banded together at night, bearing weapons; and as righteousness came to be destroyed, even the dwellers of heaven grew distressed.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.346.20)

किमेतदिति जल्पंतो ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः। भगवंस्तापसाः सर्वे तथा ये ज्ञानशीलिनः

kimetaditi jalpanto brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ| bhagavaṁstāpasāḥ sarve tathā ye jñānaśīlinaḥ

Saying, 'What is this?', all the ascetics, as well as those devoted to knowledge, took refuge with Brahma: 'O Lord —'

Verse 21 (skanda.7.346.21)

भक्ष्यन्ते केनचिद्रात्रौ मृत्युमेव प्रयान्ति च। नष्टधर्मक्रियाः सर्वे भूतले प्रपितामह

bhakṣyante kenacidrātrau mṛtyumeva prayānti ca| naṣṭadharmakriyāḥ sarve bhūtale prapitāmaha

'— we are being devoured at night by someone and go straight to death; O Great-grandfather, all religious observance on earth has been destroyed.'

Verse 22 (skanda.7.346.22)

यो धर्ममाचरेदह्नि स रात्रौ मृत्युमेति च। न स्वाध्यायवषट्कारं समस्ते भूतले विभो

yo dharmamācaredahni sa rātrau mṛtyumeti ca| na svādhyāyavaṣaṭkāraṁ samaste bhūtale vibho

'Whoever practices righteousness by day meets death by night; O Mighty One, nowhere on the entire earth does Vedic study or ritual oblation remain.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.346.23)

धर्माभावाद्वयं सर्वे संदेहं परमं गताः। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ध्यात्वा देवः पितामहः। अब्रवीत्त्रिदशान्सर्वान्सन्देहं परमं गतान्

dharmābhāvādvayaṁ sarve saṁdehaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ| teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dhyātvā devaḥ pitāmahaḥ| abravīttridaśānsarvānsandehaṁ paramaṁ gatān

'— because of the disappearance of dharma, all of us have fallen into utmost doubt and dismay.' Having heard their words and reflected upon them, the god Pitamaha [Brahma] spoke to all the gods, who had fallen into that utmost doubt.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.346.24)

कालेया इति विख्याता दानवा रौद्रकारिणः। ते समुद्रं समासाद्य तापसान्भक्षयंति च

kāleyā iti vikhyātā dānavā raudrakāriṇaḥ| te samudraṁ samāsādya tāpasānbhakṣayanti ca

'The danavas known as the Kaleyas, doers of fierce deeds, have taken refuge in the ocean and are devouring the ascetics.'

Verse 25 (skanda.7.346.25)

युष्माकं च विनाशाय ते न शक्या निषूदितुम्। यतध्वमेषां नाशाय नो चेन्नाशो भविष्यति

yuṣmākaṁ ca vināśāya te na śakyā niṣūditum| yatadhvameṣāṁ nāśāya no cennāśo bhaviṣyati

'They aim at your destruction as well, and cannot easily be slain. Strive for their destruction — otherwise your own ruin shall follow.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.346.26)

व्रजध्वं भूतले शीघ्रमगस्त्यो यत्र तिष्ठति। व्रतचर्यारतो नित्यं प्रभासे क्षेत्र उत्तमे

vrajadhvaṁ bhūtale śīghramagastyo yatra tiṣṭhati| vratacaryārato nityaṁ prabhāse kṣetra uttame

'Go quickly to the earth, to where Agastya dwells — ever devoted to the practice of vows, in the excellent field of Prabhasa.'

Verse 27 (skanda.7.346.27)

स शक्तः सागरं पातुं मित्रावरुणसंभवः। प्रसाद्यश्च स युष्माभिः समुद्रं पिब सत्तम

sa śaktaḥ sāgaraṁ pātuṁ mitrāvaruṇasaṁbhavaḥ| prasādyaśca sa yuṣmābhiḥ samudraṁ piba sattama

'He, born of Mitra and Varuna, is capable of drinking up the ocean. Propitiate him and say: O best of sages, drink up the ocean.'

Verse 28 (skanda.7.346.28)

ततस्तथा कृते तेन ते सर्वे दानवाधमाः। वध्या युष्माकं भविष्यंति एवं च त्रिदिवेश्वराः

tatastathā kṛte tena te sarve dānavādhamāḥ| vadhyā yuṣmākaṁ bhaviṣyanti evaṁ ca tridiveśvarāḥ

'Then, once that is done by him, all those vile danavas shall become slayable by you' — thus Brahma spoke to the lords of heaven.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.346.29)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा। प्रभासं क्षेत्रमासाद्य अगस्त्यं शरणं गताः

īśvara uvāca| evamuktāḥ surāḥ sarve brahmaṇā lokakāriṇā| prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāsādya agastyaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

Ishvara said: Thus addressed by Brahma, maker of the worlds, all the gods went to the field of Prabhasa and took refuge with Agastya.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.346.30)

देवा ऊचुः। रक्षरक्ष द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्रैलोक्यं संशयं गतम्। कालकेयैः प्रतिध्वस्तं समुद्रं समुपाश्रितैः

devā ūcuḥ| rakṣarakṣa dvijaśreṣṭha trailokyaṁ saṁśayaṁ gatam| kālakeyaiḥ pratidhvastaṁ samudraṁ samupāśritaiḥ

The gods said: 'Protect us, protect us, O best of Brahmins! The three worlds have fallen into peril, overwhelmed by the Kalakeyas who have taken shelter in the ocean.'

Verse 31 (skanda.7.346.31)

तं शोषय द्विजश्रेष्ठ हितार्थं त्रिदिवौकसाम्। नान्यः शक्तः पुमान्कश्चित्कर्तुमीदृक्क्रिया विभो

taṁ śoṣaya dvijaśreṣṭha hitārthaṁ tridivaukasām| nānyaḥ śaktaḥ pumān kaścit kartumīdṛkkriyā vibho

'Dry up that ocean, O best of Brahmins, for the good of the dwellers of heaven; no other man, O Mighty One, is capable of such a deed.'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.346.32)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवमुक्तः सुरगणैरगस्त्यो मुनिपुङ्गवः। जगाम त्रिदशैः सार्धं समुद्रं प्रति हर्षितः

īśvara uvāca| evamuktaḥ suragaṇairagastyo munipuṅgavaḥ| jagāma tridaśaiḥ sārdhaṁ samudraṁ prati harṣitaḥ

Ishvara said: Thus addressed by the hosts of gods, Agastya, the foremost of sages, went joyfully with the celestials toward the ocean.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.346.33)

गीयमानस्तु गंधर्वैः स्तूयमानस्तु किन्नरैः। श्लाघ्यमानस्तु विबुधैर्वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

gīyamānastu gandharvaiḥ stūyamānastu kinnaraiḥ| ślāghyamānastu vibudhairvākyametaduvāca ha

While being sung of by the Gandharvas, praised by the Kinnaras, and extolled by the wise, he spoke these words:

Verse 34 (skanda.7.346.34)

एष त्रैलोक्यरक्षार्थं शोषयामि महार्णवम्। द्रक्ष्यध्वं कौतुकं देवाः समीनमकरैर्महत्

eṣa trailokyarakṣārthaṁ śoṣayāmi mahārṇavam| drakṣyadhvaṁ kautukaṁ devāḥ samīnamakarairmahat

'Behold, for the protection of the three worlds, I shall dry up this great ocean. You gods shall witness this great marvel, fish, crocodiles and all.'

Verse 35 (skanda.7.346.35)

एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो ह्यगस्त्यो भगवान्मुनिः। गंडूषमकरोत्सर्वं सागरं सरितांपतिम्

evamuktvā dvijaśreṣṭho hyagastyo bhagavānmuniḥ| gaṇḍūṣamakarotsarvaṁ sāgaraṁ saritāṁpatim

Having spoken thus, the venerable sage Agastya, best of Brahmins, swallowed the entire ocean, lord of rivers, in a single mouthful.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.346.36)

पीते तत्र महासिन्धावगस्त्येन महात्मना। दानवा भयसंत्रस्ता इतश्चेतश्च बभ्रमुः

pīte tatra mahāsindhāvagastyena mahātmanā| dānavā bhayasaṁtrastā itaścetaśca babhramuḥ

When the great ocean was thus drunk up by the great-souled Agastya, the danavas, terror-stricken, wandered helplessly here and there.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.346.37)

वध्यमानाः सुरैस्तत्र शस्त्रैः सुनिशितैस्तथा। कांतारमन्ये गच्छंतः पलायनपरायणा

vadhyamānāḥ suraistatra śastraiḥ suniśitaistathā| kāntāramanye gacchantaḥ palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ

Being slaughtered there by the gods with exceedingly sharp weapons, some of them, bent solely on escape, fled toward the wilderness.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.346.38)

हतभूयेषु दैत्येषु विदार्य धरणीतलम्। पातालं विविशुस्तूर्णं रुधिरेण परिप्लुताः

hatabhūyeṣu daityeṣu vidārya dharaṇītalam| pātālaṁ viviśustūrṇaṁ rudhireṇa pariplutāḥ

When most of the daityas had been slain, the survivors tore open the surface of the earth and, drenched in blood, quickly entered the netherworld (Patala).

Verse 39 (skanda.7.346.39)

अथोचुस्त्रिदशा हृष्टा अगस्त्यं मुनिसत्तमम्। सिद्धं नो वांछितं सर्वं पूर्यतां सागरः पुनः

athocustridaśā hṛṣṭā agastyaṁ munisattamam| siddhaṁ no vāñchitaṁ sarvaṁ pūryatāṁ sāgaraḥ punaḥ

Then the delighted gods said to Agastya, the foremost of sages: 'All that we wished for has been accomplished — let the ocean be filled again.'

Verse 40 (skanda.7.346.40)

अगस्त्य उवाच। जीर्णं तोयं मया देवास्तथैवामेध्यतां गतम्। उत्पत्स्यति रघूणां हि कुले नृपतिसत्तमः

agastya uvāca| jīrṇaṁ toyaṁ mayā devāstathaivāmedhyatāṁ gatam| utpatsyati raghūṇāṁ hi kule nṛpatisattamaḥ

Agastya said: 'O gods, the water has been digested within me, and moreover has turned impure. There shall be born, in the lineage of the Raghus, a most excellent king —'

Verse 41 (skanda.7.346.41)

भगीरथेति विख्यातः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। स ज्ञातिकारणादेव गंगां तत्रानयिष्यति

bhagīratheti vikhyātaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṁ varaḥ| sa jñātikāraṇādeva gaṅgāṁ tatrānayiṣyati

'— renowned by the name Bhagiratha, foremost among all wielders of weapons; he, for the sake of his kinsmen alone, shall bring the Ganga down there.'

Verse 42 (skanda.7.346.42)

ब्रह्मलोकात्सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां तया पूर्णो भविष्यति। एवमुक्त्वा सुरैः सार्द्धं स्वस्थानं चागमन्मुनिः

brahmalokāt saricchreṣṭhāṁ tayā pūrṇo bhaviṣyati| evamuktvā suraiḥ sārdhaṁ svasthānaṁ cāgamanmuniḥ

'By her, the most excellent of rivers descending from the world of Brahma, the ocean shall become full again.' Having said this, the sage went, together with the gods, to his own abode.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.346.43)

ततः स्वमाश्रमं प्राप्तं देवा वाक्यमथाबुवन्। अनेन कर्मणा ब्रह्मन्परितुष्टा वयं मुने

tataḥ svamāśramaṁ prāptaṁ devā vākyamathābruvan| anena karmaṇā brahmanparituṣṭā vayaṁ mune

Then, when he had reached his own hermitage, the gods spoke these words: 'By this deed, O Brahmin sage, we are wholly gratified.'

Verse 44 (skanda.7.346.44)

किं कुर्मो ब्रूहि तेऽभीष्टं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

kiṁ kurmo brūhi te'bhīṣṭaṁ yadyapi syātsudurlabham

'What shall we do for you? Tell us your desire, even if it be exceedingly hard to attain.'

Verse 45 (skanda.7.346.45)

अगस्त्य उवाच। यावद्ब्रह्मसहस्राणि पंचविंशतिकोटयः। वैमानिको भविष्यामि दक्षिणांबरमूर्द्धनि

agastya uvāca| yāvad brahmasahasrāṇi pañcaviṁśatikoṭayaḥ| vaimāniko bhaviṣyāmi dakṣiṇāmbaramūrdhani

Agastya said: 'For as long as twenty-five crore thousands of years of Brahma, I shall remain enthroned in a celestial chariot at the summit of the southern sky.'

Verse 46 (skanda.7.346.46)

अत्रागत्य नरो यस्तु ममाश्रमपदे शुभे। हाटकेश्वरसांनिध्ये प्रभासक्षेत्र उत्तमे

atrāgatya naro yastu mamāśramapade śubhe| hāṭakeśvarasānnidhye prabhāsakṣetra uttame

'Whatever man comes here, to my sacred hermitage-ground, near Hatakeshvara, in the excellent field of Prabhasa —'

Verse 47 (skanda.7.346.47)

स्नानमाचरते सम्यक्स यातु परमां गतिम्। पातालादवतीर्णं तं लिंगरूपं महेश्वरम्

snānamācarate samyaksa yātu paramāṁ gatim| pātālādavatīrṇaṁ taṁ liṅgarūpaṁ maheśvaram

'— and performs a proper bath, let him attain the supreme state. That Maheshvara in the form of a linga, who has descended from the netherworld —'

Verse 48 (skanda.7.346.48)

मया तपः प्रभावेन स्थापितं यः प्रपूजयेत्। दिनेदिने भवेत्तस्य गोशतस्य फलं ध्रुवम्

mayā tapaḥ prabhāveṇa sthāpitaṁ yaḥ prapūjayet| dine dine bhavettasya gośatasya phalaṁ dhruvam

'— which I established by the power of my austerity — whoever worships it shall surely obtain, day after day, the fruit of giving a hundred cows.'

Verse 49 (skanda.7.346.49)

लोपामुद्रासहायं मां यो मर्त्यः संप्रपूजयेत्। अर्घ्यं दद्याद्विधानेन काश पुष्पैः समाहितः

lopāmudrāsahāyaṁ māṁ yo martyaḥ saṁprapūjayet| arghyaṁ dadyādvidhānena kāśa puṣpaiḥ samāhitaḥ

'Whatever mortal duly worships me together with Lopamudra, and, with a composed mind, offers arghya according to rule with kasha grass and flowers —'

Verse 50 (skanda.7.346.50)

प्राप्ते शरदि काले च स यातु परमां गतिम्। लोपामुद्रासहायं मां हाटकेश्वरसंयुतम्

prāpte śaradi kāle ca sa yātu paramāṁ gatim| lopāmudrāsahāyaṁ māṁ hāṭakeśvarasaṁyutam

'— when the autumn season arrives, let him attain the supreme state, union with me, accompanied by Lopamudra and joined with Hatakeshvara.'

Verse 51 (skanda.7.346.51)

अयने चोत्तरे पूज्य गोलक्ष फलमाप्नुयात्। यः श्राद्धं कुरुते चात्र अयने चोत्तरे द्विजः। भूयात्तस्य फलं कृत्स्नं गयाश्राद्धस्य सत्तमाः

ayane cottare pūjya golakṣa phalamāpnuyāt| yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute cātra ayane cottare dvijaḥ| bhūyāttasya phalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ gayāśrāddhasya sattamāḥ

'Having worshipped during the northern solstice (Uttarayana), he obtains the fruit of a hundred thousand cows given in gift. Whatever Brahmin performs the ancestral rite here during the northern solstice — for him, O worthy ones, the entire fruit of the shraddha performed at Gaya shall accrue.'

Verse 52 (skanda.7.346.52)

ईश्वर उवाच। बाढमित्येव ते चोक्त्वा सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः। स्वस्थानं तु गताः सर्वे संहृष्टमनसस्तदा

īśvara uvāca| bāḍhamityeva te coktvā sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ| svasthānaṁ tu gatāḥ sarve saṁhṛṣṭamanasastadā

Ishvara said: Saying 'So be it,' all the gods, together with Vasava (Indra), then went, their hearts filled with joy, each to his own abode.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.346.53)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्राप्ते शरदि मानवः। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमं गत्वा हाटकेशं प्रपूजयेत्

tasmāt sarvaprayatnena prāpte śaradi mānavaḥ| agastyasyāśramaṁ gatvā hāṭakeśaṁ prapūjayet

Therefore, with every effort, when autumn comes, a man should go to the hermitage of Agastya and duly worship Hatakesha.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.346.54)

अगस्त्येश्वरनामानं कल्पलिंगं सुरप्रियम्। यश्चैतच्छुणुयाद्भक्त्या ऋषेस्तस्य विचेष्टितम्। अहोरात्रकृतात्पापात्तत्क्षणा देव मुच्यते

agastyeśvaranāmānaṁ kalpaliṅgaṁ surapriyam| yaścaitacchṛṇuyādbhaktyā ṛṣestasya viceṣṭitam| ahorātrakṛtātpāpāttatkṣaṇā deva mucyate

That kalpa-linga, named Agastyeshvara, is beloved of the gods. Whoever hears this account of the sage's deeds with devotion is instantly released from the sin accumulated in a day and a night.