The Glory of Krishna-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.418.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ कृष्णतीर्थं ततो गच्छेत्कृष्णस्य दयितं सदा । यत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं स्वयं विष्णुर्महीपते

pulastya uvāca | kṛṣṇatīrthaṁ tato gacchetkṛṣṇasya dayitaṁ sadā | yatra sannihito nityaṁ svayaṁ viṣṇurmahīpate

Pulastya said: Then one should go to Krishna-tirtha, ever dear to Krishna, where, O king, Vishnu himself is eternally present.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.418.2)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ कृष्णतीर्थं कथं तत्र जातं ब्राह्मणसत्तम । कस्मिन्काले मुने ब्रूहि सर्वं विस्तरतो मम

yayātiruvāca | kṛṣṇatīrthaṁ kathaṁ tatra jātaṁ brāhmaṇasattama | kasminkāle mune brūhi sarvaṁ vistarato mama

Yayati said: O best of brahmins, how did Krishna-tirtha come to be there, and at what time, O sage? Tell me everything in detail.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.418.3)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे घोरे नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे । चंद्रार्कपवने नष्टे ज्योतिषि प्रलयं गते

pulastya uvāca | tasminnekārṇave ghore naṣṭe sthāvarajaṅgame | candrārkapavane naṣṭe jyotiṣi pralayaṁ gate

Pulastya said: When there was that terrible single ocean, when moving and unmoving beings had perished, when moon, sun and wind had perished, when the heavenly bodies had gone to dissolution —

Verse 4 (skanda.7.418.4)

ततो युगसहस्रांते विबुद्धः कमलासनः । एकाकी चिंतयामास कथं सृष्टिर्भवेदिति

tato yugasahasrānte vibuddhaḥ kamalāsanaḥ | ekākī cintayāmāsa kathaṁ sṛṣṭirbhavediti

— then, at the end of a thousand yugas, the lotus-seated one (Brahma) awoke; alone, he pondered how creation should come about.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.418.5)

भ्रमंश्चापि चतुर्वक्त्रो यावत्पश्यति दूरतः । चतुर्भुजं विशालाक्षं पुरुषं पुरतः स्थितम्

bhramaṁścāpi caturvaktro yāvatpaśyati dūrataḥ | caturbhujaṁ viśālākṣaṁ puruṣaṁ purataḥ sthitam

And as the four-faced one wandered about, he suddenly saw from afar a four-armed, wide-eyed being standing before him.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.418.6)

तं चोवाच चतुर्वक्त्रः कस्त्वं केन विनिर्मितः । किमर्थमिह संप्राप्तः सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

taṁ covāca caturvaktraḥ kastvaṁ kena vinirmitaḥ | kimarthamiha saṁprāptaḥ sarvaṁ vistarato vada

The four-faced one said to him: "Who are you? By whom were you made? Why have you come here? Tell me everything in detail."

Verse 7 (skanda.7.418.7)

तमुवाचाथ गोविंदः प्रहसञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा

tamuvācātha govindaḥ prahasañchlakṣṇayā girā

Then Govinda, smiling, spoke to him in a gentle voice.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.418.8)

अहमाद्यः पुमानेको मया सृष्टो भवानपि । स्रष्टुमिच्छामि भूयोऽपि भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम्

ahamādyaḥ pumāneko mayā sṛṣṭo bhavānapi | sraṣṭumicchāmi bhūyo'pi bhūtagrāmaṁ caturvidham

"I am the primeval, sole Person; you too were created by me. I wish to create once more the fourfold host of beings."

Verse 9 (skanda.7.418.9)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रुद्धो देवः पितामहः । अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं भर्त्सयंश्च पुनःपुनः

pulastya uvāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kruddho devaḥ pitāmahaḥ | abravītparuṣaṁ vākyaṁ bhartsayaṁśca punaḥpunaḥ

Pulastya said: Hearing his words, the god, the grandfather, grew angry; he spoke harsh words, rebuking him again and again.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.418.10)

सृष्टस्त्वं हि मया मूढ प्रथमोऽहमसंशयम् । त्वादृशानां सहस्राणि करिष्येऽहमसंशयम्

sṛṣṭastvaṁ hi mayā mūḍha prathamo'hamasaṁśayam | tvādṛśānāṁ sahasrāṇi kariṣye'hamasaṁśayam

"O fool, you were created by me; I am indeed the first one, without doubt. I shall create thousands like you, without doubt."

Verse 11 (skanda.7.418.11)

एवं विवदमानौ तौ मिथो राजन्महाद्युती । स्पर्धया रोषताम्राक्षौ युयुधाते परस्परम्

evaṁ vivadamānau tau mitho rājanmahādyutī | spardhayā roṣatāmrākṣau yuyudhāte parasparam

Thus, O king, those two of great splendour, quarrelling with each other, their eyes red with rage out of rivalry, fought one another.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.418.12)

मुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिश्चैव नखैर्दंतैर्विकर्षणैः । एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु तयोर्युद्धमवर्त्तत

muṣṭibhirbāhubhiścaiva nakhairdantairvikarṣaṇaiḥ | evaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu tayoryuddhamavartata

With fists and arms, with nails and teeth and grappling — thus their battle continued for a thousand years.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.418.13)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तयोर्मध्ये नृपोत्तम । प्रादुर्भूतं महालिंगं दिव्यं तेजोमयं शुभम्

tato varṣasahasrānte tayormadhye nṛpottama | prādurbhūtaṁ mahāliṅgaṁ divyaṁ tejomayaṁ śubham

Then, O best of kings, at the end of a thousand years, between the two of them there appeared a great linga, divine, luminous, and auspicious.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.418.14)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी । युद्धाद्ब्रह्मन्निवर्तस्व त्वं च विष्णो ममाज्ञया

etasminneva kāle tu vāguvācāśarīriṇī | yuddhādbrahmannivartasva tvaṁ ca viṣṇo mamājñayā

At that very moment a bodiless voice spoke: "Cease from battle, O Brahma, and you too, O Vishnu, by my command."

Verse 15 (skanda.7.418.15)

एतन्माहेश्वरं लिंगं योऽस्य चांते गमिष्यति । स ज्येष्ठः स विभुः कर्त्ता युवयोर्नात्र संशयः

etanmāheśvaraṁ liṅgaṁ yo'sya cānte gamiṣyati | sa jyeṣṭhaḥ sa vibhuḥ karttā yuvayornātra saṁśayaḥ

"This is the linga of Maheshvara. Whichever of you two reaches its end — he is the elder, he is the lord and maker; of this there is no doubt."

Verse 16 (skanda.7.418.16)

अधोभागं व्रजत्वेक एकश्चोर्द्ध्वं ममाज्ञया । तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्वरो ब्रह्मा व्योममार्गं समाश्रितः

adhobhāgaṁ vrajatveka ekaścordhvaṁ mamājñayā | tacchrutvā satvaro brahmā vyomamārgaṁ samāśritaḥ

"Let one of you go downward and the other upward, by my command." Hearing this, Brahma swiftly took to the path of the sky.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.418.17)

विदार्य वसुधां कृष्णोऽप्यधस्तात्सत्वरं गतः । स भित्त्वा सप्तपातालानधो यावत्प्रयाति च । तावत्कालाग्निरुद्रस्तु दृष्टस्तेन महात्मना

vidārya vasudhāṁ kṛṣṇo'pyadhastātsatvaraṁ gataḥ | sa bhittvā saptapātālānadho yāvatprayāti ca | tāvatkālāgnirudrastu dṛṣṭastena mahātmanā

Krishna too, splitting open the earth, swiftly went downward. Piercing through the seven nether worlds, as that great soul went further down, he beheld Kalagni-Rudra.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.418.18)

गंतुमिच्छंस्ततोऽधस्ताद्यावद्वेगं करोति सः । तावत्तस्यार्चिभिर्दग्धः कृष्णत्वं समपद्यत

gantumicchaṁstato'dhastādyāvadvegaṁ karoti saḥ | tāvattasyārcibhirdagdhaḥ kṛṣṇatvaṁ samapadyata

As he wished to go further down and quickened his pace, he was scorched by that one's flames and thereby took on a dark hue.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.418.19)

ततो मूर्छाभिसंतप्तो दह्यमानोऽद्भुताग्निना । निवर्त्य सहसा विष्णुर्वैलक्ष्यं परमं गतः

tato mūrcchābhisaṁtapto dahyamāno'dbhutāgninā | nivartya sahasā viṣṇurvailakṣyaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Then, overcome and scorched by that astonishing fire, Vishnu suddenly turned back and fell into utter bewilderment.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.418.20)

तथा लिंगं समासाद्य भक्त्या पूजा कृता ततः । वेदोक्तैः परमैः सूक्ष्मैः स्तुतिं चक्रे महीपते

tathā liṅgaṁ samāsādya bhaktyā pūjā kṛtā tataḥ | vedoktaiḥ paramaiḥ sūkṣmaiḥ stutiṁ cakre mahīpate

Then, reaching the linga, he worshipped it with devotion; O king, he offered praise with the supreme, subtle hymns declared in the Vedas.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.418.21)

ब्रह्माऽपि व्योममार्गेण गतो हंसविमानतः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु तस्यांतं नाभ्यपद्यत

brahmā'pi vyomamārgeṇa gato haṁsavimānataḥ | divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu tasyāntaṁ nābhyapadyata

Brahma too went by the path of the sky on his swan-borne chariot; yet for a thousand divine years he could not reach its end.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.418.22)

ततो वर्षसहस्रांते केतकीं सोऽप्यपश्यत । आयांतीं व्योममार्गेण तया पृष्टश्चतुर्मुखः

tato varṣasahasrānte ketakīṁ so'pyapaśyat | āyāntīṁ vyomamārgeṇa tayā pṛṣṭaścaturmukhaḥ

Then, at the end of a thousand years, he saw a ketaki flower coming along the path of the sky; the four-faced one was questioned by it.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.418.23)

क्व त्वया गम्यते ब्रह्मन्निरालंबे महापथि । शून्ये तत्त्वं समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि मे

kva tvayā gamyate brahmannirālambe mahāpathi | śūnye tattvaṁ samācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

"Where are you going, O Brahma, on this great, unsupported, empty path? Tell me the truth of it — I am filled with great curiosity."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.418.24)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ मम स्पर्धा समुत्पन्ना विष्णुना सह शोभने । लिंगस्यास्य हि पर्यंतं यो लभिष्यति चावयोः

brahmovāca | mama spardhā samutpannā viṣṇunā saha śobhane | liṅgasyāsya hi paryantaṁ yo labhiṣyati cāvayoḥ

Brahma said: "O fair one, a rivalry has arisen between me and Vishnu — as to which of us two will reach the end of this linga —"

Verse 25 (skanda.7.418.25)

स ज्यायानितरो हीनो ह्येतदुक्तं पिनाकिना । प्रस्थितोऽहं ततश्चोर्द्ध्वमधोमार्गं गतो हरिः

sa jyāyānitaro hīno hyetaduktaṁ pinākinā | prasthito'haṁ tataścordhvamadhomārgaṁ gato hariḥ

"— he is the greater, the other the lesser: thus it was declared by the wielder of the Pinaka. I set out upward from there, while Hari went by the downward path."

Verse 26 (skanda.7.418.26)

लब्ध्वा लिंगस्य पर्यंतं यास्यामि क्षितिमंडले । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तत्पुष्पमभ्यभाषत

labdhvā liṅgasya paryantaṁ yāsyāmi kṣitimaṇḍale | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tatpuṣpamabhyabhāṣata

"Having attained the end of the linga, I shall go back to the earth." Hearing his words, that flower spoke to him.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.418.27)

व्यर्थश्रमोऽसि लोकेश नांतो लिंगस्य विद्यते । चतुर्युगसहस्राणां कोटिरेका पितामह

vyarthaśramo'si lokeśa nānto liṅgasya vidyate | caturyugasahasrāṇāṁ koṭirekā pitāmaha

"O lord of the world, your effort is in vain — there is no end to this linga! O grandfather, for a hundred million cycles of the four ages —"

Verse 28 (skanda.7.418.28)

लिंगमूर्ध्नः पतंत्या मे कालो जातो महाद्युते । तथापि क्षिति पृष्ठं तु न प्राप्तास्मि कथंचन

liṅgamūrdhnaḥ patantyā me kālo jāto mahādyute | tathāpi kṣiti pṛṣṭhaṁ tu na prāptāsmi kathaṁcana

"— O greatly splendid one, it is that long since I have been falling from the top of the linga, and yet I have by no means reached the earth's surface."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.418.29)

यावत्कालेन हंसस्ते योजनं संप्रगच्छति । तावत्कालेन गच्छामि योजनानामहं शतम्

yāvatkālena haṁsaste yojanaṁ saṁpragacchati | tāvatkālena gacchāmi yojanānāmahaṁ śatam

"In the time it takes your swan to travel one yojana, I travel a hundred yojanas."

Verse 30 (skanda.7.418.30)

तस्मान्निवर्तनं युक्तं मम वाक्येन ते विभो । दर्शयित्वा च मां विष्णोर्ज्येष्ठत्वं व्रज सांप्रतम्

tasmānnivartanaṁ yuktaṁ mama vākyena te vibho | darśayitvā ca māṁ viṣṇorjyeṣṭhatvaṁ vraja sāṁpratam

"Therefore, O lord, on my word it is right that you turn back. Having shown me as witness, go now at once and acknowledge Vishnu's seniority."

Verse 31 (skanda.7.418.31)

ततो हृष्टमना भूत्वा गृहीत्वा तां चतुर्मुखः । पुनर्वर्षसहस्रांते भूमिपृष्ठमुपागतः । दर्शयामास तां विष्णोरेषा लिंगस्य मूर्धतः

tato hṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā gṛhītvā tāṁ caturmukhaḥ | punarvarṣasahasrānte bhūmipṛṣṭhamupāgataḥ | darśayāmāsa tāṁ viṣṇoreṣā liṅgasya mūrdhataḥ

Then the four-faced one, becoming glad at heart, took her with him; again, at the end of a thousand years, he arrived at the earth's surface and showed her to Vishnu: "This one fell from the very summit of the linga."

Verse 32 (skanda.7.418.32)

मयाऽऽनीता शुभा माला लब्धश्चांतं चतुर्भुज । त्वया लब्धो न चासत्यं वद मे पुरुषोत्तम

mayānītā śubhā mālā labdhaścāntaṁ caturbhuja | tvayā labdho na cāsatyaṁ vada me puruṣottama

"This auspicious garland has been brought by me, and I have reached the end. O four-armed Supreme Person, tell me truly — did you reach it, or not?"

Verse 33 (skanda.7.418.33)

॥ विष्णुरुवाच ॥ अनंतस्याप्रमेयस्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । नाहं शक्तः परं पारं गंतुं ब्रह्मन्कथंचन

viṣṇuruvāca | anantasyāprameyasya devadevasya śūlinaḥ | nāhaṁ śaktaḥ paraṁ pāraṁ gantuṁ brahmankathaṁcana

Vishnu said: "Of that endless, immeasurable god of gods, the trident-bearer — I was by no means able to reach the far shore, O Brahma."

Verse 34 (skanda.7.418.34)

यदि त्वयाऽस्य पर्यंतो लब्धो ब्रह्मन्कथंचन । तत्ते तुष्टिं गतो नूनं देवदेवो महेश्वरः

yadi tvayā'sya paryanto labdho brahmankathaṁcana | tatte tuṣṭiṁ gato nūnaṁ devadevo maheśvaraḥ

"If you have somehow, O Brahma, attained its end, then surely the god of gods, Maheshvara, is pleased with you."

Verse 35 (skanda.7.418.35)

नान्यथा चास्य पर्यंतो दृश्यते केन चित्क्वचित् । तस्माज्ज्येष्ठो भवाञ्छ्रेष्ठः कनिष्ठोऽहमसंशयम्

nānyathā cāsya paryanto dṛśyate kena citkvacit | tasmājjyeṣṭho bhavāñchreṣṭhaḥ kaniṣṭho'hamasaṁśayam

"Otherwise its end is nowhere seen by anyone at all. Therefore you are the elder, the greater; I am the younger — without doubt."

Verse 36 (skanda.7.418.36)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भगवान्वृषभध्वजः । कोपं चक्रे महाराज ब्रह्माणं प्रति तत्क्षणात्

pulastya uvāca | etasminneva kāle tu bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | kopaṁ cakre mahārāja brahmāṇaṁ prati tatkṣaṇāt

Pulastya said: At that very moment, the Lord bearing the bull-banner grew instantly angry with Brahma, O great king.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.418.37)

अथाह दर्शनं गत्वा धिग्धिग्व्यर्थप्रजल्पक । मिथ्या प्रजल्पमानेन किमिदं साहसं कृतम्

athāha darśanaṁ gatvā dhigdhigvyarthaprajalpaka | mithyā prajalpamānena kimidaṁ sāhasaṁ kṛtam

Then, appearing before him, he said: "Shame, shame on you, vain babbler! By speaking falsely, what is this rash act you have committed?"

Verse 38 (skanda.7.418.38)

यस्मात्त्वया मृषा प्रोक्तं मम पर्यंतदर्शनम् । तस्मात्त्वं सर्ववर्णानां पूजार्हो न भविष्यसि

yasmāttvayā mṛṣā proktaṁ mama paryantadarśanam | tasmāttvaṁ sarvavarṇānāṁ pūjārho na bhaviṣyasi

"Because you have falsely claimed to have seen my end, therefore you shall not be worthy of worship among all the varnas."

Verse 39 (skanda.7.418.39)

ये च त्वां पूजयिष्यंति मानवा मोह संयुताः । ते कृच्छ्रं परमं प्राप्य नाशं यास्यंति कृत्स्नशः

ye ca tvāṁ pūjayiṣyanti mānavā moha saṁyutāḥ | te kṛcchraṁ paramaṁ prāpya nāśaṁ yāsyanti kṛtsnaśaḥ

"And those deluded men who shall worship you will attain the utmost hardship and go entirely to ruin."

Verse 40 (skanda.7.418.40)

केतक्या च तथा प्रोक्तं यस्मात्तस्मात्सुदुष्टया । अस्या हि स्पर्शनाल्लोकः श्वपाकत्वं प्रयास्यति

ketakyā ca tathā proktaṁ yasmāttasmātsuduṣṭayā | asyā hi sparśanāllokaḥ śvapākatvaṁ prayāsyati

"And because that most wicked ketaki flower likewise spoke falsely in support — because of her, people shall become outcastes merely by touching her."

Verse 41 (skanda.7.418.41)

एवं शापो तयोर्दत्त्वा देवः प्रोवाच केशवम् । प्रसन्नवदनो भूत्वा तदा तुष्टो महेश्वरः

evaṁ śāpo tayordattvā devaḥ provāca keśavam | prasannavadano bhūtvā tadā tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ

Having thus given a curse to the two of them, the god then spoke to Keshava; Maheshvara, his face gladdened, was then pleased.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.418.42)

॥ भगवानुवाच ॥ वासुदेव महाबाहो तुष्टस्तेऽहं महामते । सत्यसंभाषणादेव वरं वरय सुव्रत

bhagavānuvāca | vāsudeva mahābāho tuṣṭaste'haṁ mahāmate | satyasaṁbhāṣaṇādeva varaṁ varaya suvrata

The Lord said: "O mighty-armed Vasudeva, O great-minded one, I am pleased with you for your truthful speech alone. O one of good vows, choose a boon."

Verse 43 (skanda.7.418.43)

॥ श्रीवासुदेव उवाच ॥ एष एव वरः श्लाघ्यो यत्त्वं तुष्टो महेश्वरः । न चापुण्यवतां देव त्वं तुष्टिमधिगच्छसि । अवश्यं यदि मे देयो वरो देवेश्वर त्वया

śrīvāsudeva uvāca | eṣa eva varaḥ ślāghyo yattvaṁ tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ | na cāpuṇyavatāṁ deva tvaṁ tuṣṭimadhigacchasi | avaśyaṁ yadi me deyo varo deveśvara tvayā

Sri Vasudeva said: "This alone is the praiseworthy boon — that you, Maheshvara, are pleased; for you, O god, are not pleased with those devoid of merit. Yet, O lord of gods, if a boon must indeed be given to me by you —"

Verse 44 (skanda.7.418.44)

लिंगमेतदनंताख्यं लघुतां नय मा चिरम् । येन सृष्टिर्भवेल्लोके व्याप्तं विश्वमनेन तु

liṅgametadanantākhyaṁ laghutāṁ naya mā ciram | yena sṛṣṭirbhavelloke vyāptaṁ viśvamanena tu

"— then, without delay, bring this endless linga to a small size, so that creation may take place in the world, for the universe is now pervaded by it."

Verse 45 (skanda.7.418.45)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततः संक्षिप्य तल्लिंगं लघु कृत्वा महेश्वरः । अब्रवीत्केशवं भूयः शृणु वाक्यमिदं हरे

pulastya uvāca | tataḥ saṁkṣipya talliṅgaṁ laghu kṛtvā maheśvaraḥ | abravītkeśavaṁ bhūyaḥ śṛṇu vākyamidaṁ hare

Pulastya said: Then, contracting that linga and making it small, Maheshvara again said to Keshava: "Listen to this word, O Hari."

Verse 46 (skanda.7.418.46)

एतन्मेध्यतमे देशे लिंगं स्थापय मे हरे । पूजय त्वं विधानेन परं श्रेयः प्रपत्स्यसे

etanmedhyatame deśe liṅgaṁ sthāpaya me hare | pūjaya tvaṁ vidhānena paraṁ śreyaḥ prapatsyase

"Establish this linga of mine, O Hari, in the most sacred place, and worship it according to rule; you shall attain the highest good."

Verse 47 (skanda.7.418.47)

मम तेजोविनिर्दग्धः कृष्णत्वं हि यतो गतः । कृष्ण एव ततो नाम लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यति

mama tejovinirdagdhaḥ kṛṣṇatvaṁ hi yato gataḥ | kṛṣṇa eva tato nāma loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati

"Since, scorched by my splendour, you have attained a dark hue, therefore by the name Krishna you shall attain fame in the world."

Verse 48 (skanda.7.418.48)

कृष्णकृष्णेति ते नाम प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः । कीर्तयिष्यति यो भक्त्या स याति परमां गतिम्

kṛṣṇakṛṣṇeti te nāma prātarutthāya mānavaḥ | kīrtayiṣyati yo bhaktyā sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

"Whatever man, rising in the morning, devotedly chants your name, 'Krishna, Krishna', attains the supreme state."

Verse 49 (skanda.7.418.49)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा तमीशानस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत । वासुदेवोऽपि तल्लिंगं गृहीत्वाऽर्बुदपर्वते । निर्झरे स्थापयामास सुपुण्ये विमलोदके

pulastya uvāca | evamuktvā tamīśānastatraivāntaradhīyata | vāsudevo'pi talliṅgaṁ gṛhītvā'rbudaparvate | nirjhare sthāpayāmāsa supuṇye vimalodake

Pulastya said: Having spoken thus, Ishana vanished right there. Vasudeva too, taking that linga, established it on Mount Arbuda, in a most sacred mountain-spring of pure water.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.418.50)

कृष्णतीर्थं ततो जातं नाम्ना हि धरणीतले । शृणु पार्थिवशार्दूल तत्र स्नातस्य यत्फलम्

kṛṣṇatīrthaṁ tato jātaṁ nāmnā hi dharaṇītale | śṛṇu pārthivaśārdūla tatra snātasya yatphalam

From then on, by that name, 'Krishna-tirtha' came into being on earth. Listen, O tiger among kings, to the fruit of bathing there.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.418.51)

स्नात्वा कृष्णह्रदे पुण्ये तल्लिंगं पश्यते तु यः । सर्वतीर्थोद्भवं श्रेयः स मर्त्त्यो लभतेऽखिलम्

snātvā kṛṣṇahrade puṇye talliṅgaṁ paśyate tu yaḥ | sarvatīrthodbhavaṁ śreyaḥ sa marttyo labhate'khilam

Whoever, having bathed in the sacred Krishna-lake, beholds that linga, that mortal obtains all the merit arising from all the sacred fords.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.418.52)

तथा च सर्वदानानां निष्कामः प्राप्नुयात्फलम् । सकामोऽपि फलं चेष्टं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्ल्लभम्

tathā ca sarvadānānāṁ niṣkāmaḥ prāpnuyātphalam | sakāmo'pi phalaṁ ceṣṭaṁ yadyapi syātsudurlabham

And likewise, one free of desire obtains the fruit of all gifts, while one who acts with desire obtains the desired fruit, however hard it may be to attain.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.418.53)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । य इच्छेच्छाश्वतं श्रेयो नात्र कार्या विचारणा

tasmātsarvaprayatnena snānaṁ tatra samācaret | ya icchecchāśvataṁ śreyo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Therefore one who desires eternal good should, with all effort, bathe there; there should be no hesitation in this.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.418.54)

एकादश्यां महाराज निराहारो जितेन्द्रियः । यस्तत्र जागरं कृत्वा लिंगस्याग्रे सुभक्तितः

ekādaśyāṁ mahārāja nirāhāro jitendriyaḥ | yastatra jāgaraṁ kṛtvā liṅgasyāgre subhaktitaḥ

O great king, whoever, fasting and with senses controlled, keeps vigil there before the linga, with true devotion, on the eleventh tithi —

Verse 55 (skanda.7.418.55)

प्रभाते कुरुते श्राद्धं यस्तु श्रद्धासमन्वितः । पितृन्संतारयेत्सर्वान्पूर्वजैः सह धर्मवित्

prabhāte kurute śrāddhaṁ yastu śraddhāsamanvitaḥ | pitṛnsaṁtārayetsarvānpūrvajaiḥ saha dharmavit

— and who, full of faith, performs the shraddha rite at dawn, that knower of dharma delivers all his forefathers together with their ancestors.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.418.56)

तिलान्कृष्णान्नरस्तत्र ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददाति यः । ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैः स मर्त्त्यो मुच्यते ध्रुवम्

tilānkṛṣṇānnarastatra brāhmaṇebhyo dadāti yaḥ | brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpaiḥ sa marttyo mucyate dhruvam

Whatever man gives black sesame seeds to brahmins there is certainly freed from sins such as the killing of a brahmin.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.418.57)

दर्शनादेव राजेन्द्र कृष्णतीर्थस्य मानवः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा

darśanādeva rājendra kṛṣṇatīrthasya mānavaḥ | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

O lord of kings, merely by the sight of Krishna-tirtha a man is freed from all sins; there should be no hesitation about this.