The Origin of Mamuhrada (Mudgala's Lake)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.419.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ तीर्थं पापप्रणाशनम् । मामुह्रदमिति ख्यातं तस्मिन्पर्वतरोधसि

pulastya uvāca | tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha tīrthaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam | māmuhradamiti khyātaṁ tasminparvatarodhasi

Pulastya said: Then, O best of kings, one should go to the sin-destroying ford known as Mamuhrada, on that mountain's slope.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.419.2)

तत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्छ्रद्धावान्सुसमाहितः । मुच्यते पातकैर्घोरैः पूर्वजन्मकृतैरपि

tatra snāto naraḥ samyakchraddhāvānsusamāhitaḥ | mucyate pātakairghoraiḥ pūrvajanmakṛtairapi

A man who, faithful and composed, bathes there duly, is freed even from terrible sins committed in previous births.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.419.3)

तस्य पश्चिमदिग्भागे लिंगमस्ति महीपते । सर्वकामप्रदं नृणां स्थापितं मुद्गलेन तु

tasya paścimadigbhāge liṅgamasti mahīpate | sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇāṁ sthāpitaṁ mudgalena tu

To its western side, O king, there is a linga, granting all desires to men, established by the sage Mudgala.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.419.4)

स्नात्वा मामुह्रदे पुण्ये यस्तल्लिंगं च पश्यति । शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां फाल्गुने मासि मानवः । स प्राप्नोति परं श्रेयः सर्वतीर्थेषु दुर्लभम्

snātvā māmuhrade puṇye yastalliṅgaṁ ca paśyati | śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ phālgune māsi mānavaḥ | sa prāpnoti paraṁ śreyaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu durlabham

Whatever man, having bathed in the sacred Mamuhrada, beholds that linga on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight in the month of Phalguna, attains the supreme good, rare even among all the sacred fords.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.419.5)

यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं दक्षिणां मूर्तिमाश्रितः । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ dakṣiṇāṁ mūrtimāśritaḥ | pitarastasya tṛpyanti yāvadābhūtasamplavam

He who performs the shraddha rite there, taking refuge in the Dakshinamurti form of Shiva, his forefathers remain satisfied until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.419.6)

तत्र दानं प्रशंसंति नीवाराणां महर्षयः । शाकमूलादिभिः श्राद्धं पितॄणां तुष्टिदं नृप

tatra dānaṁ praśaṁsanti nīvārāṇāṁ maharṣayaḥ | śākamūlādibhiḥ śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ tuṣṭidaṁ nṛpa

There the great sages praise the gift of wild rice, O king; and the shraddha performed with greens, roots and the like gives satisfaction to the forefathers.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.419.7)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ मामुह्रदमिति विभो कथं नामाऽभवत्पुरा । मुद्गलस्याश्रमं ब्रूहि मम सर्वं विधानतः

yayātiruvāca | māmuhradamiti vibho kathaṁ nāmā'bhavatpurā | mudgalasyāśramaṁ brūhi mama sarvaṁ vidhānataḥ

Yayati said: O lord, how did the name Mamuhrada come about of old? Tell me of Mudgala's hermitage, everything in due order.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.419.8)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ तत्रस्थस्य पुरा राजन्मुद्गलस्य महात्मनः । विमानं वरमादाय देवदूतः समागतः

pulastya uvāca | tatrasthasya purā rājanmudgalasya mahātmanaḥ | vimānaṁ varamādāya devadūtaḥ samāgataḥ

Pulastya said: Of old, O king, to that great soul Mudgala dwelling there, a divine messenger came, bringing an excellent celestial chariot.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.419.9)

सोऽब्रवीद्देवराज्ञाहं प्रेषितो मुनिसत्तम । तवार्थायाऽऽरुहैनं त्वं विमानं गम्यतां दिवि

so'bravīddevarājñāhaṁ preṣito munisattama | tavārthāyāruhainaṁ tvaṁ vimānaṁ gamyatāṁ divi

He said: "O best of sages, I have been sent by the king of gods for your sake — mount this chariot; go to heaven."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.419.10)

॥ मुद्गल उवाच ॥ स्वर्गस्य ये गुणा दूत ये च दोषाः प्रकीर्तिताः । तान्मे वद करिष्येऽहं श्रुत्वा वै यत्क्षमं भवेत्

mudgala uvāca | svargasya ye guṇā dūta ye ca doṣāḥ prakīrtitāḥ | tānme vada kariṣye'haṁ śrutvā vai yatkṣamaṁ bhavet

Mudgala said: O messenger, the merits of heaven, and likewise its declared faults — tell me of these; having heard, I shall do whatever is fitting.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.419.11)

ब्रूहि तान्सकलान्दूत त्वागमिष्याम्यहं ततः

brūhi tānsakalāndūta tvāgamiṣyāmyahaṁ tataḥ

Tell me all of them, O messenger; then I shall come.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.419.12)

॥ देवदूत उवाच ॥ अलमेतेन दर्पेण क्रियतां शक्रजल्पितम् । पुण्यैः स्वकैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ समागच्छेरिदं ततः

devadūta uvāca | alametena darpeṇa kriyatāṁ śakrajalpitam | puṇyaiḥ svakairdvijaśreṣṭha samāgaccheridaṁ tataḥ

The divine messenger said: "Enough of this pride — do as Indra has bidden! O best of brahmins, it is by your own merits that you have come to this state; so come now."

Verse 13 (skanda.7.419.13)

॥ मुद्गल उवाच ॥ अश्रुतैस्तैर्न गच्छेऽहमेतन्मे हृदि निश्चितम् । करिष्येऽहं तपो भूरि पूजयिष्ये महेश्वरम्

mudgala uvāca | aśrutaistairna gacche'hametanme hṛdi niścitam | kariṣye'haṁ tapo bhūri pūjayiṣye maheśvaram

Mudgala said: "Without hearing them, I shall not go — this is fixed in my heart. I shall perform abundant austerity; I shall worship Maheshvara."

Verse 14 (skanda.7.419.14)

॥ दूत उवाच ॥ न शक्तः स्वर्गुणान्वक्तुमपि वर्षशतैरपि । संक्षेपात्कथयिष्यामि यदि ते निश्चयः परः

dūta uvāca | na śaktaḥ svarguṇānvaktumapi varṣaśatairapi | saṁkṣepātkathayiṣyāmi yadi te niścayaḥ paraḥ

The messenger said: "I am not able to tell the merits of heaven even in hundreds of years; I shall tell them in brief, if your resolve is firm."

Verse 15 (skanda.7.419.15)

नंदनादीनि रम्याणि तत्र देववनानि च । अनन्यसदृशा भोगाः सदा तृप्तिर्द्विजोत्तम

nandanādīni ramyāṇi tatra devavanāni ca | ananyasadṛśā bhogāḥ sadā tṛptirdvijottama

"There are the lovely divine groves such as Nandana; incomparable pleasures, O best of brahmins, and constant satisfaction."

Verse 16 (skanda.7.419.16)

बुभुक्षा नैव तृष्णा च निद्रालस्ये न च प्रभो । रंभाद्यप्सरसो मुख्या गंधर्वास्तुंबरादयः । रमयंति नरं तत्र गीतैर्नृत्यैरनेकशः

bubhukṣā naiva tṛṣṇā ca nidrālasye na ca prabho | rambhādyapsaraso mukhyā gandharvāstumburādayaḥ | ramayanti naraṁ tatra gītairnṛtyairanekaśaḥ

"There is no hunger nor thirst there, no sleep nor sloth, O lord. Chief apsarases headed by Rambha, and gandharvas such as Tumburu, delight a man there with countless songs and dances."

Verse 17 (skanda.7.419.17)

एवं च वसते तत्र जनः स्वर्गे तपोधन । यावत्पुण्यक्षयस्तावत्पश्चात्पातमवाप्नुयात्

evaṁ ca vasate tatra janaḥ svarge tapodhana | yāvatpuṇyakṣayastāvatpaścātpātamavāpnuyāt

"Thus, O rich in austerity, a person dwells in heaven; but once his merit is exhausted, he thereafter attains a fall."

Verse 18 (skanda.7.419.18)

एक एव मुने दोषः स्वर्लोके प्रतिभाति मे । स एव पतनाख्यस्तु स्वर्गिणां च भयावहः

eka eva mune doṣaḥ svarloke pratibhāti me | sa eva patanākhyastu svargiṇāṁ ca bhayāvahaḥ

"O sage, to me only one fault appears in the heavenly world — and that, called 'falling', is a terror to the denizens of heaven."

Verse 19 (skanda.7.419.19)

न पुण्यं लभते तत्र कर्तुं विप्र कथंचन । कर्मभूमिरियं ब्रह्मन्भोगभूमिस्तु सा स्मृता

na puṇyaṁ labhate tatra kartuṁ vipra kathaṁcana | karmabhūmiriyaṁ brahmanbhogabhūmistu sā smṛtā

"There, O brahmin, one cannot by any means perform further merit. This earth is called the field of action, O Brahmin; that heaven is remembered as the field of enjoyment."

Verse 20 (skanda.7.419.20)

यदत्र क्रियते कर्म शुभं तत्रोप भुज्यते । तथा दृष्ट्वा विमानस्थान्भूरिधर्मादिसंयुतान्

yadatra kriyate karma śubhaṁ tatropa bhujyate | tathā dṛṣṭvā vimānasthānbhūridharmādisaṁyutān

"Whatever auspicious deed is done here on earth is enjoyed there. And thus, seeing those seated in celestial chariots, endowed with abundant merit and the rest —"

Verse 21 (skanda.7.419.21)

बहुतेजोन्वितान्स्वर्गे ह्यल्पपुण्यो द्विजोत्तम । पश्चात्तापजदुःखेन स्वर्गस्थो दुःखितः सदा

bahutejonvitānsvarge hyalpapuṇyo dvijottama | paścāttāpajaduḥkhena svargastho duḥkhitaḥ sadā

"— endowed with great splendour, in heaven, O best of brahmins, a man of little merit, while dwelling in heaven, is ever pained by the sorrow born of remorse."

Verse 22 (skanda.7.419.22)

न मया सुकृतं भूरि कृतं मर्त्त्ये कथंचन

na mayā sukṛtaṁ bhūri kṛtaṁ marttye kathaṁcana

"[He thinks:] 'By no means did I perform much merit while on earth.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.7.419.23)

तथा च पतमानांश्च दृष्ट्वा चान्यान्सहस्रशः । आत्मनश्च महद्दुःखं जायते च तदद्भुतम्

tathā ca patamānāṁśca dṛṣṭvā cānyānsahasraśaḥ | ātmanaśca mahadduḥkhaṁ jāyate ca tadadbhutam

"And likewise, seeing thousands of others falling, a great and astonishing sorrow arises in himself too."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.419.24)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गुणदोषसमुद्भवम् । स्वर्गसंचेष्टितं ब्रह्मन्कुरुष्व यदभीप्सितम्

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ guṇadoṣasamudbhavam | svargasaṁceṣṭitaṁ brahmankuruṣva yadabhīpsitam

"All this, arising from the merits and faults of heaven, has been told to you. O Brahmin, having thus learned the workings of heaven, now do as you wish."

Verse 25 (skanda.7.419.25)

॥ मुद्गल उवाच ॥ पतनस्य भयं यत्र पुण्यहानिर्न वर्द्धनम् । तेन स्वर्गेण मे दूत नैव कार्यं कथंचन

mudgala uvāca | patanasya bhayaṁ yatra puṇyahānirna varddhanam | tena svargeṇa me dūta naiva kāryaṁ kathaṁcana

Mudgala said: "Where there is fear of falling, where merit only declines and does not grow — with such a heaven, O messenger, I have by no means any use."

Verse 26 (skanda.7.419.26)

वाच्यस्त्वया ममादेशाद्देवराजः स्फुटं वचः । क्षम्यतामपराधो मे न स्वर्गाय स्पृहा मम

vācyastvayā mamādeśāddevarājaḥ sphuṭaṁ vacaḥ | kṣamyatāmaparādho me na svargāya spṛhā mama

"By you, at my bidding, let these clear words be said to the king of gods: 'Let my offence be forgiven; I have no longing for heaven.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.7.419.27)

तत्कर्माऽहं करिष्यामि येन नो पतनाद्भयम् । साधयिष्यामि तान्लोकान्ये सदा पातवर्जिताः

tatkarmā'haṁ kariṣyāmi yena no patanādbhayam | sādhayiṣyāmi tānlokānye sadā pātavarjitāḥ

"I shall do such deeds by which there is no fear of falling for us; I shall attain those worlds which are ever free from falling."

Verse 28 (skanda.7.419.28)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ मुद्गलः स्वर्गनिःस्पृहः । स्थितस्तत्रैव निरतः शिवध्यानपरायणः

pulastya uvāca | evamuktvā nṛpaśreṣṭha mudgalaḥ svarganiḥspṛhaḥ | sthitastatraiva nirataḥ śivadhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

Pulastya said: Having spoken thus, O best of kings, Mudgala, free of longing for heaven, remained right there, devoted, given over to meditation on Shiva.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.419.29)

श्रुत्वा दूतोऽपि शक्रस्य तस्य वाक्यं सविस्तरम् । कथयामास शक्रस्य तं भूयः सोऽभ्यभाषत

śrutvā dūto'pi śakrasya tasya vākyaṁ savistaram | kathayāmāsa śakrasya taṁ bhūyaḥ so'bhyabhāṣata

Having heard his words in full, Indra's messenger too went and related them to Indra; he spoke to him once more.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.419.30)

देवदूताप्रमाणं च विमानं हि त्वया कृतम् । न कृतं केन चित्पूर्वं न करिष्यति कश्चन

devadūtāpramāṇaṁ ca vimānaṁ hi tvayā kṛtam | na kṛtaṁ kena citpūrvaṁ na kariṣyati kaścana

"O king of gods, that immeasurable chariot which was made by you — such as none has ever made before, nor shall anyone make hereafter —"

Verse 31 (skanda.7.419.31)

तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं गत्वा बलादानय तं मुनिम् । आनयस्वान्यथा शापं तव दास्याम्यसंशयम्

tasmāttatra drutaṁ gatvā balādānaya taṁ munim | ānayasvānyathā śāpaṁ tava dāsyāmyasaṁśayam

"— was thus spurned. Therefore go there quickly and forcibly bring that sage. Bring him, or else I shall certainly give you a curse."

Verse 32 (skanda.7.419.32)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ शक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदूते भयान्वितः । प्रस्थितः सत्वरं तत्र मुद्गलो यत्र तिष्ठति

pulastya uvāca | śakrasya vacanaṁ śrutvā devadūte bhayānvitaḥ | prasthitaḥ satvaraṁ tatra mudgalo yatra tiṣṭhati

Pulastya said: Having heard Indra's words, the divine messenger, filled with fear, set out swiftly to where Mudgala was staying.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.419.33)

मुद्गलोऽपि विमानस्थं पुनर्दृष्ट्वा समागतम् । मामुह्रदे प्रविश्याथ वारयामास तं तदा

mudgalo'pi vimānasthaṁ punardṛṣṭvā samāgatam | māmuhrade praviśyātha vārayāmāsa taṁ tadā

Mudgala too, seeing him arrive again seated in the chariot, then entered Mamuhrada and thereupon warded him off.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.419.34)

स तस्य वचनेनैव स्तंभितो लिखितो यथा । चलितुं नैव शक्नोति प्रभावात्तस्य सन्मुनेः

sa tasya vacanenaiva staṁbhito likhito yathā | calituṁ naiva śaknoti prabhāvāttasya sanmuneḥ

By his mere word alone that messenger was paralysed, as if drawn in a picture; by the power of that virtuous sage he was quite unable to move.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.419.35)

चिरकालगतं ज्ञात्वा दूतं तु त्रिदशाधिपः । स्वयं तत्राययौ कोपादारुह्यैरावणं गजम्

cirakālagataṁ jñātvā dūtaṁ tu tridaśādhipaḥ | svayaṁ tatrāyayau kopādāruhyairāvaṇaṁ gajam

Knowing that the messenger had been gone a long time, the lord of the thirty gods himself came there in anger, mounted on the elephant Airavata.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.419.36)

अथ दृष्ट्वा तदा दूतं स्तंभितं मुद्गलेन तु । वधार्थं तूद्यतस्तस्य स वज्रं भ्रामयंस्तदा

atha dṛṣṭvā tadā dūtaṁ staṁbhitaṁ mudgalena tu | vadhārthaṁ tūdyatastasya sa vajraṁ bhrāmayaṁstadā

Then, seeing the messenger paralysed by Mudgala, he, making ready to slay him, brandished his thunderbolt.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.419.37)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु उत्पातास्तत्र दारुणाः । अपसव्यं मृगाश्चक्रुः पशवः पक्षिणश्च ये । तान्दृष्ट्वा चिन्तयामास मुद्गलो विस्मयान्वितः

etasminneva kāle tu utpātāstatra dāruṇāḥ | apasavyaṁ mṛgāścakruḥ paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaśca ye | tāndṛṣṭvā cintayāmāsa mudgalo vismayānvitaḥ

At that very moment terrible portents occurred there — deer, beasts, and birds all circled about inauspiciously. Seeing these, Mudgala, filled with wonder, pondered.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.419.38)

अथ दृष्ट्वांबरगतं वज्रोद्यतकरं हरिम् । स्तंभयामास तं सद्यो दृष्टिपातेन मुद्गलः

atha dṛṣṭvāmbaragataṁ vajrodyatakaraṁ harim | staṁbhayāmāsa taṁ sadyo dṛṣṭipātena mudgalaḥ

Then, seeing Indra in the sky with his hand raised holding the thunderbolt, Mudgala instantly paralysed him with a mere glance.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.419.39)

तत्र शक्रः स्तुतिं चक्रे भग्नोत्साहो नृपोत्तम । मुञ्च मां ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ यास्यामि त्रिदशालयम्

tatra śakraḥ stutiṁ cakre bhagnotsāho nṛpottama | muñca māṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha yāsyāmi tridaśālayam

There Indra, O best of kings, his ardour broken, offered praise: "Release me, O best of brahmins; I shall go to the abode of the gods."

Verse 40 (skanda.7.419.40)

स्वर्गे वा यदि वा मर्त्त्ये तिष्ठ त्वं स्वेच्छया द्विज । मया कृतः समुद्योगो हितार्थं ते मुने ह्ययम्

svarge vā yadi vā marttye tiṣṭha tvaṁ svecchayā dvija | mayā kṛtaḥ samudyogo hitārthaṁ te mune hyayam

"Whether in heaven or on earth, remain as you please, O brahmin. This effort was made by me, O sage, only for your benefit."

Verse 41 (skanda.7.419.41)

वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो मनसि स्थितः । तं ते सर्वं प्रदास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्

varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te nityaṁ yo manasi sthitaḥ | taṁ te sarvaṁ pradāsyāmi yadyapi syātsudurlabham

"Choose a boon — blessings on you — whatever is ever fixed in your mind; that I shall grant you entirely, even if it be most hard to attain."

Verse 42 (skanda.7.419.42)

॥ मुद्गल उवाच ॥ एष एव वरः श्लाघ्यो यत्त्वं दृष्टः सुरेश्वर । दर्शनं ते सहस्राक्ष स्वप्नेष्वपि सुदुर्लभम्

mudgala uvāca | eṣa eva varaḥ ślāghyo yattvaṁ dṛṣṭaḥ sureśvara | darśanaṁ te sahasrākṣa svapneṣvapi sudurlabham

Mudgala said: "This alone is the praiseworthy boon — that I have seen you, O lord of gods. O thousand-eyed one, your sight is most hard to attain even in dreams."

Verse 43 (skanda.7.419.43)

अवश्यं यदि मे देयो वरो वृत्रनिषूदन । त्वत्प्रसादेन मे मोक्षो जायतां शीघ्रमेव हि

avaśyaṁ yadi me deyo varo vṛtraniṣūdana | tvatprasādena me mokṣo jāyatāṁ śīghrameva hi

"Yet, O slayer of Vritra, if a boon must indeed be given to me — let liberation come to me swiftly, by your grace."

Verse 44 (skanda.7.419.44)

मा मु ह्रदं समागत्य दूतः प्रोक्तो मया यतः । ततो मामुह्रदमिति ख्यातिं यातु धरातले

mā mu hradaṁ samāgatya dūtaḥ prokto mayā yataḥ | tato māmuhradamiti khyātiṁ yātu dharātale

"And since, when the messenger came to this lake, I said to him 'Mā, Mu' — Do not, O Mu(dgala) — therefore let it become known on earth by the name Mamuhrada."

Verse 45 (skanda.7.419.45)

तीर्थमेतत्सहस्राक्ष सर्व पापप्रणाशनम् । अत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांतु त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वर

tīrthametatsahasrākṣa sarva pāpapraṇāśanam | atra snātvā divaṁ yāntu tvatprasādātsureśvara

"O thousand-eyed one, let this ford destroy all sins; having bathed here, O lord of gods, let people go to heaven by your grace."

Verse 46 (skanda.7.419.46)

पिंडदानात्परां प्रीतिं लभंतां पितरोऽत्र हि

piṇḍadānātparāṁ prītiṁ labhantāṁ pitaro'tra hi

"And may the forefathers here attain the highest satisfaction through the offering of the pinda."

Verse 47 (skanda.7.419.47)

॥ इन्द्र उवाच ॥ मामुह्रदमिति ख्यातं तीर्थमेतद्भविष्यति । वरिष्ठं नात्र सन्देहो मत्प्रसादाद्विजोत्तम

indra uvāca | māmuhradamiti khyātaṁ tīrthametadbhaviṣyati | variṣṭhaṁ nātra sandeho matprasādādvijottama

Indra said: "This ford shall become known by the name Mamuhrada, and by my grace shall be the most excellent — of this there is no doubt, O best of brahmins."

Verse 48 (skanda.7.419.48)

अत्र ये फाल्गुने मासि पौर्णमास्यां समाहिताः । करिष्यंति पुनः स्नानं ते यास्यंति परां गतिम्

atra ye phālgune māsi paurṇamāsyāṁ samāhitāḥ | kariṣyanti punaḥ snānaṁ te yāsyanti parāṁ gatim

"Those who, composed in mind, bathe here again on the full moon of the month of Phalguna, shall attain the supreme state."

Verse 49 (skanda.7.419.49)

पिंडदानाद्गयातुल्यं लप्स्यंते फलमुत्तमम् । पुण्यदानफलं चात्र संख्याहीनं द्विजोत्तम

piṇḍadānādgayātulyaṁ lapsyante phalamuttamam | puṇyadānaphalaṁ cātra saṁkhyāhīnaṁ dvijottama

"Through the offering of the pinda they shall obtain the excellent fruit equal to that of Gaya; and here, O best of brahmins, the fruit of meritorious giving is beyond counting."

Verse 50 (skanda.7.419.50)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा ययौ स्वर्गं दूतमादाय वज्रभृत् । मुद्गलोऽपि परं ब्रह्म चिंतयन्ह्यनिशं ततः

pulastya uvāca | evamuktvā yayau svargaṁ dūtamādāya vajrabhṛt | mudgalo'pi paraṁ brahma cintayanhyaniśaṁ tataḥ

Pulastya said: Having said this, the wielder of the thunderbolt went to heaven, taking his messenger; and Mudgala too, from then on, meditated unceasingly on the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.419.51)

शुक्लध्यानपरो भूत्वा मोक्षं प्राप्तस्ततोऽक्षयम्

śukladhyānaparo bhūtvā mokṣaṁ prāptastato'kṣayam

Becoming devoted to pure meditation, he then attained imperishable liberation.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.419.52)

अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता नारदेन महात्मना । बहुविप्रसमवाये पर्वतेऽस्मिन्महीपते

atra gāthā purā gītā nāradena mahātmanā | bahuviprasamavāye parvate'sminmahīpate

O king, on this matter a verse was formerly sung by the great sage Narada, in an assembly of many brahmins on this very mountain.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.419.53)

मामु ह्रदे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा तं मुद्गलेश्वरम् । इह भुक्त्वाऽखिलान्कामानन्ते मुक्तिमवाप्स्यति । एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्मामुह्रदमिति स्मृतम्

māmu hrade naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā taṁ mudgaleśvaram | iha bhuktvā'khilānkāmānante muktimavāpsyati | etasmātkāraṇādrājanmāmuhradamiti smṛtam

"A man who bathes in Mamuhrada and beholds Mudgaleshvara, enjoying all desires here, attains liberation in the end." For this reason, O king, it is remembered as Mamuhrada.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.419.54)

तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां प्रवरं लोकविश्रुतम् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्

tattīrthaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ pravaraṁ lokaviśrutam | tasmātsarvaprayatnena snānaṁ tatra samācaret

That ford is the foremost of all fords, renowned in the world; therefore one should, with all effort, bathe there.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.419.55)

मोक्षकामो विशेषेण य इच्छेत्परमं पदम् । चण्डिकाश्रममासाद्य किं पुनः परितप्यते

mokṣakāmo viśeṣeṇa ya icchetparamaṁ padam | caṇḍikāśramamāsādya kiṁ punaḥ paritapyate

He who, desiring liberation especially, wishes for the supreme state — having reached the hermitage of Chandika, what further need has he to be distressed?