The Greatness of Maheshvara's Linga and the Glory of the Gift of Roasted Barley

Verse 1 (skanda.7.423.1)

॥ ययातिरुवाच ॥ यत्त्वया कीर्तितं ब्रह्मन्पूर्वं देवैः प्रसादितः । लिंगं संस्थापयामास स्थिररूपो महेश्वरः

yayātiruvāca | yattvayā kīrtitaṁ brahmanpūrvaṁ devaiḥ prasāditaḥ | liṅgaṁ saṁsthāpayāmāsa sthirarūpo maheśvaraḥ

Yayati said: O Brahmin, that which you related earlier — that Maheshvara, propitiated by the gods, established the linga in an immovable form —

Verse 2 (skanda.7.423.2)

कस्मात्तत्पातितं लिंगं वालखिल्यैर्महात्मभिः । कस्मात्तत्राचलो जातो देवदेवो महेश्वरः

kasmāttatpātitaṁ liṅgaṁ vālakhilyairmahātmabhiḥ | kasmāttatrācalo jāto devadevo maheśvaraḥ

— why was that linga cast down by the great-souled Valakhilyas? And why did the god of gods, Maheshvara, become immovable there?

Verse 3 (skanda.7.423.3)

एतन्मे कौतुकं सर्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि । तस्मिन्दृष्टे च किं पुण्यं नराणां तत्र जायते

etanme kautukaṁ sarvaṁ yathāvadvaktumarhasi | tasmindṛṣṭe ca kiṁ puṇyaṁ narāṇāṁ tatra jāyate

All this is my curiosity; you should tell it as it truly happened. And what merit accrues to men there upon seeing it?

Verse 4 (skanda.7.423.4)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ महेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यं शृणु पार्थिवसत्तम । अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि पूर्ववृत्तं कथांतरम्

pulastya uvāca | maheśvarasya māhātmyaṁ śṛṇu pārthivasattama | atra te kīrtayiṣyāmi pūrvavṛttaṁ kathāntaram

Pulastya said: Listen, O best of kings, to the greatness of Maheshvara; here I shall relate to you a tale of what happened long ago.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.423.5)

यदा पञ्चत्वमापन्ना सती सत्यपराक्रमा । अपमानेन दक्षस्य यज्ञे न च निमंत्रिता

yadā pañcatvamāpannā satī satyaparākramā | apamānena dakṣasya yajñe na ca nimantritā

When Sati, of true valour, met her death, insulted, not invited to Daksha's sacrifice —

Verse 6 (skanda.7.423.6)

तदा कामो द्रुतं गृह्य पुष्पचापं तमभ्यगात् । कन्दर्प्पं सहसा दृष्ट्वा सन्धितेषुं सुदुर्जयम्

tadā kāmo drutaṁ gṛhya puṣpacāpaṁ tamabhyagāt | kandarppaṁ sahasā dṛṣṭvā sandhiteṣuṁ sudurjayam

— then Kama, swiftly taking up his flower-bow, approached him. Suddenly seeing Kandarpa, invincible, with arrow notched —

Verse 7 (skanda.7.423.7)

आपतन्तं भयात्तस्य प्रणष्टस्त्रिपुरांतकः । स तदा भ्रममाणश्च इतश्चेतश्च पार्थिव

āpatantaṁ bhayāttasya praṇaṣṭastripurāntakaḥ | sa tadā bhramamāṇaśca itaścetaśca pārthiva

— advancing upon him, out of fear of him the destroyer of Tripura fled. Then, O king, wandering here and there —

Verse 8 (skanda.7.423.8)

वालखिल्याश्रमं प्राप्तः पुण्यं सद्वृक्षशोभितम् । स तत्र भगवांस्तेषां दारैर्दृष्टः सुरूपवान्

vālakhilyāśramaṁ prāptaḥ puṇyaṁ sadvṛkṣaśobhitam | sa tatra bhagavāṁsteṣāṁ dāraidṛṣṭaḥ surūpavān

— reached the sacred hermitage of the Valakhilyas, adorned with fine trees. There that Lord, of beautiful form, was seen by their wives.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.423.9)

दिग्वासाः सुप्रियालापस्ततस्ताः काममोहिताः । त्यक्त्वा पुत्रगृहाद्यं च सर्वास्तत्पृष्ठसंस्थिताः । बभूवुश्चानिशं राजन्मां भजस्वेति चाब्रुवन्

digvāsāḥ supriyālāpastatastāḥ kāmamohitāḥ | tyaktvā putragṛhādyaṁ ca sarvāstatpṛṣṭhasaṁsthitāḥ | babhūvuścāniśaṁ rājanmāṁ bhajasveti cābruvan

He was sky-clad, of most pleasing speech; then, deluded by desire, all of them, abandoning sons, home, and all else, came to stand behind him, and, O king, continually said, "Enjoy me."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.423.10)

चक्रुरालिंगनं काश्चिच्चुम्बनं च तथापराः । अन्यास्तस्य हि लिंगं तत्स्पृशंति च मुहुर्मुहुः

cakrurāliṅganaṁ kāściccumbanaṁ ca tathāparāḥ | anyāstasya hi liṅgaṁ tatspṛśanti ca muhurmuhuḥ

Some embraced him, and others kissed him; and others still touched his linga again and again.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.423.11)

स चापि भगवाञ्छम्भुर्निष्कामः परमेश्वरः । जगद्व्याप्तिं समाश्रित्य सर्वप्राणिषु वर्तते

sa cāpi bhagavāñchambhurniṣkāmaḥ parameśvaraḥ | jagadvyāptiṁ samāśritya sarvaprāṇiṣu vartate

And that Lord Shambhu too, desireless, the supreme God, abiding through his all-pervasiveness in the world, dwells within all beings.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.423.12)

स चापि भगवाच्छंभुस्तासां सरति प्राङ्मुखः । भ्रांतस्तत्राश्रमे तेषां दारान्कामेन पीडयन्

sa cāpi bhagavācchambhustāsāṁ sarati prāṅmukhaḥ | bhrāntastatrāśrame teṣāṁ dārānkāmena pīḍayan

And that Lord Shambhu too moved before them, facing forward; wandering there in the hermitage, seeming to afflict their wives with desire.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.423.13)

अथ ते मुनयो दृष्ट्वा विकृतिं दारसंभवाम् । अजानन्तो महादेवं रुष्टास्तस्य महात्मनः

atha te munayo dṛṣṭvā vikṛtiṁ dārasaṁbhavām | ajānanto mahādevaṁ ruṣṭāstasya mahātmanaḥ

Then those sages, seeing the change come upon their wives, not recognizing that great soul as Mahadeva, grew angry at him.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.423.14)

ददुः शापं सुसंतप्ताः कलत्रार्थे परंतप । पततां पततां लिङ्गमेतत्ते पापकृत्तम

daduḥ śāpaṁ susaṁtaptāḥ kalatrārthe parantapa | patatāṁ patatāṁ liṅgametatte pāpakṛttama

Greatly incensed for their wives' sake, O scorcher of foes, they gave a curse: "Let this linga of yours, O worst of sinners, fall and fall again!"

Verse 15 (skanda.7.423.15)

विडम्बयसि नो दारानजस्रं चास्य दर्शनात् । ततश्चैवापतल्लिंगं तत्क्षणात्तत्पुरद्विषः

viḍambayasi no dārānajasraṁ cāsya darśanāt | tataścaivāpatalliṅgaṁ tatkṣaṇāttatpuradviṣaḥ

"You constantly mock our wives by the mere sight of it." And thereupon, that very instant, the linga of the destroyer of Tripura fell.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.423.16)

ब्रह्मवाक्येन राजर्षे चकम्पे वसुधा ततः । शीर्णानि गिरिशृंगाणि चुक्षुभुर्मकरालयाः

brahmavākyena rājarṣe cakampe vasudhā tataḥ | śīrṇāni giriśṛṅgāṇi cukṣubhurmakarālayāḥ

O royal sage, by that brahmin-curse the earth then trembled; mountain peaks crumbled, and the oceans were agitated.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.423.17)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे भयत्रस्ता नराधिप । अकाले प्रलयं मत्वा त्रैलोक्ये पर्यवस्थितम्

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve bhayatrastā narādhipa | akāle pralayaṁ matvā trailokye paryavasthitam

Then, O lord of men, all the hosts of gods, terror-struck, believing an untimely dissolution had come upon the three worlds —

Verse 18 (skanda.7.423.18)

तत पितामहं जग्मु स्तस्मै सर्वं न्यवेदयन् । प्रलयस्येव चिह्नानि दृश्यन्ते परमेश्वर

tata pitāmahaṁ jagmu stasmai sarvaṁ nyavedayan | pralayasyeva cihnāni dṛśyante parameśvara

— went to the grandfather Brahma and reported everything to him: "O supreme lord, signs as of dissolution are being seen!"

Verse 19 (skanda.7.423.19)

किं निमित्तं सुरश्रेष्ठ न जानीमो वयं प्रभो । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चिरं ध्यात्वा पितामहः

kiṁ nimittaṁ suraśreṣṭha na jānīmo vayaṁ prabho | teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā ciraṁ dhyātvā pitāmahaḥ

"For what cause, O foremost of gods, we do not know, O lord." Hearing their words, the grandfather, meditating for a long while —

Verse 20 (skanda.7.423.20)

अब्रवीत्पातितं लिंगं वालखिल्यैः पिनाकिनः । तेनैते दारुणोत्पाताः संजाता भयसूचकाः

abravītpātitaṁ liṅgaṁ vālakhilyaiḥ pinākinaḥ | tenaite dāruṇotpātāḥ saṁjātā bhayasūcakāḥ

— then said: "Pinaki's linga has been cast down by the Valakhilyas; because of that, these terrible portents indicating fear have arisen."

Verse 21 (skanda.7.423.21)

तस्मान्मया समायुक्ताः सर्वे तत्र दिवौकसः । व्रजंतु येन तल्लिंगं स्थाने संस्थापयेच्छिवः

tasmānmayā samāyuktāḥ sarve tatra divaukasaḥ | vrajantu yena talliṅgaṁ sthāne saṁsthāpayecchivaḥ

"Therefore, all of you gods, together with me, should go there, so that Shiva may re-establish that linga in its place."

Verse 22 (skanda.7.423.22)

यावन्नो जायते लोके प्रलयोऽकालसंभवः । एवं संमंत्र्य ते सर्वे ततोऽर्बुदमुपाययुः

yāvanno jāyate loke pralayo'kālasaṁbhavaḥ | evaṁ saṁmantrya te sarve tato'rbudamupāyayuḥ

"— before an untimely dissolution occurs in the world." Having thus deliberated, all of them then went to Arbuda.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.423.23)

वालखिल्याश्रमे यत्र तल्लिंगं निपपात ह । तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः सूक्तैर्वेदोक्तैर्विनयान्विताः

vālakhilyāśrame yatra talliṅgaṁ nipapāta ha | tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ sūktairvedoktairvinayānvitāḥ

There, where that linga had fallen, in the hermitage of the Valakhilyas, they, humbly, praised it with various hymns declared in the Vedas.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.423.24)

॥ देवा ऊचुः ॥ नमस्ते देवदेवेश भक्तानां चाभयंकर । नमस्ते सर्ववासाय सर्वयज्ञमयाय च

devā ūcuḥ | namaste devadeveśa bhaktānāṁ cābhayaṁkara | namaste sarvavāsāya sarvayajñamayāya ca

The gods said: Salutations to you, O lord of the gods of gods, giver of fearlessness to devotees! Salutations to you, the abode of all, and the embodiment of all sacrifices!

Verse 25 (skanda.7.423.25)

सर्वेश्वराय देवाय परमज्योतिषे नमः । नमः स्फुटतरज्ञानगम्याय वेधसे

sarveśvarāya devāya paramajyotiṣe namaḥ | namaḥ sphuṭatarajñānagamyāya vedhase

Salutations to the god who is lord of all, the supreme light! Salutations to the creator, attainable by the clearest knowledge!

Verse 26 (skanda.7.423.26)

त्र्यंबकाय च भीमाय पिनाकवरपाणये । त्वयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव

tryambakāya ca bhīmāya pinākavarapāṇaye | tvayi sarvamidaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇigaṇā iva

To the three-eyed one, the fearsome one, bearer of the excellent Pinaka bow — in you this whole universe is strung, like a row of gems on a thread.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.423.27)

संसारे विबुधश्रेष्ठ जगत्स्थावरजंगमम् । न तदस्ति त्रिलोकेऽस्मिन्सुसूक्ष्ममपि शंकर । यत्त्वया न प्रभो व्याप्तं सृष्टिसंहारकारणात्

saṁsāre vibudhaśreṣṭha jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam | na tadasti triloke'sminsusūkṣmamapi śaṅkara | yattvayā na prabho vyāptaṁ sṛṣṭisaṁhārakāraṇāt

O foremost of the wise, in this world of moving and unmoving beings, there is nothing, however subtle, in these three worlds, O Shankara, O lord, that is not pervaded by you, the cause of creation and destruction.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.423.28)

पृथिव्यादीनि भूतानि त्वया सृष्टानि कामतः । यास्यंति तानि भूयोऽपि तव काये जगत्पते

pṛthivyādīni bhūtāni tvayā sṛṣṭāni kāmataḥ | yāsyanti tāni bhūyo'pi tava kāye jagatpate

The elements, beginning with earth, created by you at will — they shall again go back, O lord of the world, into your body.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.423.29)

प्रसीद भगवंस्तस्माल्लिंगमेतत्सुरेश्वर । स्थाने स्थापय भद्रं ते यावन्न स्यात्प्रजाक्षयः

prasīda bhagavaṁstasmālliṅgametatsureśvara | sthāne sthāpaya bhadraṁ te yāvanna syātprajākṣayaḥ

Therefore be gracious, O Lord; O lord of gods, establish this linga in its place — blessings on you — before there is destruction of creatures.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.423.30)

॥ श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ निर्विकारस्य मल्लिंगं वालखिल्यैः प्रपातितम् । कथं भूयः प्रगृह्णामि यावच्छुद्धिर्न जायते

śrībhagavānuvāca | nirvikārasya malliṅgaṁ vālakhilyaiḥ prapātitam | kathaṁ bhūyaḥ pragṛhṇāmi yāvacchuddhirna jāyate

Sri Bhagavan said: "My linga, though changeless, was cast down by the Valakhilyas. How shall I take it up again, until purification takes place?"

Verse 31 (skanda.7.423.31)

शक्तोऽहं वालखिल्यानां निग्रहं कर्त्तुमञ्जसा । किन्तु मे ब्राह्मणा मान्याः पूज्याश्च सुरसत्तमाः

śakto'haṁ vālakhilyānāṁ nigrahaṁ karttumañjasā | kintu me brāhmaṇā mānyāḥ pūjyāśca surasattamāḥ

"I am able easily to chastise the Valakhilyas; but, O foremost of gods, brahmins are to be honoured and worshipped by me."

Verse 32 (skanda.7.423.32)

अचलं लिंगमेतद्धि नोद्धर्त्तुं शक्यते विभो । एक एवात्र निर्दिष्ट उपायो नापरः स्मृतः

acalaṁ liṅgametaddhi noddharttuṁ śakyate vibho | eka evātra nirdiṣṭa upāyo nāparaḥ smṛtaḥ

"O lord, this linga is now immovable, indeed it cannot be lifted. Only one remedy is indicated here; no other is remembered."

Verse 33 (skanda.7.423.33)

यदि मे त्वं पुरा लिंगं पूजयेथाः पितामह । ततो देवगणाः सर्वे ततो विप्रास्ततोऽपरे

yadi me tvaṁ purā liṅgaṁ pūjayethāḥ pitāmaha | tato devagaṇāḥ sarve tato viprāstato'pare

"If you, O grandfather, first worship my linga, then all the hosts of gods, then the brahmins, then all others —"

Verse 34 (skanda.7.423.34)

ततो नौ शांतिमागच्छेज्जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्

tato nau śāntimāgacchejjagatsthāvarajaṅgamam

"— then peace shall come for the world of moving and unmoving beings, and for the two of us."

Verse 35 (skanda.7.423.35)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्तः स भगवाञ्छंकरेण नृपोत्तम । ततस्तं पूजयामास ब्रह्मा पूर्वं सुभक्तितः

pulastya uvāca | evamuktaḥ sa bhagavāñchaṅkareṇa nṛpottama | tatastaṁ pūjayāmāsa brahmā pūrvaṁ subhaktitaḥ

Pulastya said: O best of kings, thus addressed by Shankara, Brahma then worshipped it first, with great devotion.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.423.36)

ब्रह्मणोऽनन्तरं विष्णुस्ततः शक्र स्ततोऽपरे । वालखिल्यादयो विप्रा मन्त्रैश्च शतरुद्रियैः

brahmaṇo'nantaraṁ viṣṇustataḥ śakra stato'pare | vālakhilyādayo viprā mantraiśca śatarudriyaiḥ

After Brahma, Vishnu, then Indra, then the others; and the brahmins headed by the Valakhilyas, with the hymns of the Shatarudriya.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.423.37)

ततस्ते दारुणोत्पाता उपशांताश्च तत्क्षणात् । अभवत्सुमुखो लोको वृत्तो गन्धवहो मृदुः

tataste dāruṇotpātā upaśāntāśca tatkṣaṇāt | abhavatsumukho loko vṛtto gandhavaho mṛduḥ

Then those terrible portents were at once pacified; the world became fair-faced, and the wind blew round, gentle.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.423.38)

अथोवाच महादेवः सर्वांस्तांस्त्रिदशालयान् । वृणुध्वं सुवरं सर्वे मत्तो यन्मनसीप्सितम्

athovāca mahādevaḥ sarvāṁstāṁstridaśālayān | vṛṇudhvaṁ suvaraṁ sarve matto yanmanasīpsitam

Then Mahadeva said to all those celestial dwellers: "All of you choose an excellent boon from me, whatever is desired in your hearts."

Verse 39 (skanda.7.423.39)

॥ देवा ऊचुः ॥ तव लिंगस्य संस्पर्शादपि पापकृतो नराः । स्वर्गं यास्यंति देवेश नाशं यास्यति किल्बिषम् । व्रतदानानि सर्वाणि तीर्थयात्रायुतानि च

devā ūcuḥ | tava liṅgasya saṁsparśādapi pāpakṛto narāḥ | svargaṁ yāsyanti deveśa nāśaṁ yāsyati kilbiṣam | vratadānāni sarvāṇi tīrthayātrāyutāni ca

The gods said: "O lord of gods, merely by touching your linga, even men who have done evil shall go to heaven; their sin shall come to ruin — equal to all vows, gifts, and thousands of pilgrimages."

Verse 40 (skanda.7.423.40)

तस्माद्वज्रेण देवेन्द्रस्तवैतल्लिंगमुत्तमम् । छादयिष्यति सर्वत्र यदि त्वं मन्यसे प्रभो

tasmādvajreṇa devendrastavaitalliṅgamuttamam | chādayiṣyati sarvatra yadi tvaṁ manyase prabho

"Therefore, O lord, if you approve, Indra shall cover this excellent linga of yours entirely with the thunderbolt."

Verse 41 (skanda.7.423.41)

॥ श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ अभिप्रायो ममाप्येष वर्तते हृदि पद्मज । एवं करोतु देवेन्द्रः सर्वधर्मविवृद्धये

śrībhagavānuvāca | abhiprāyo mamāpyeṣa vartate hṛdi padmaja | evaṁ karotu devendraḥ sarvadharmavivṛddhaye

Sri Bhagavan said: "This very intention resides also in my own heart, O lotus-born one. Let Indra do so, for the increase of all dharma."

Verse 42 (skanda.7.423.42)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततः संछादयामास वज्रेण त्रिदशाधिपः । तल्लिंगं सर्वमर्त्यानां यथाऽदृश्यं व्यजायत

pulastya uvāca | tataḥ saṁchādayāmāsa vajreṇa tridaśādhipaḥ | talliṅgaṁ sarvamartyānāṁ yathā'dṛśyaṁ vyajāyata

Pulastya said: Then the lord of the thirty gods covered that linga with the thunderbolt, so that it became invisible to all mortals.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.423.43)

अद्यापि वज्रसंस्पर्शात्तत्सान्निध्यं गतो नरः । आजन्ममरणात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

adyāpi vajrasaṁsparśāttatsānnidhyaṁ gato naraḥ | ājanmamaraṇātpāpānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Even today, through contact with that thunderbolt, a man who has come into its presence is freed from sins committed from birth to death — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.423.44)

माहात्म्यं कीर्तितं यस्मात्तल्लिंगे शंकरेण तु । वस्त्रेणाच्छादितं चैव शक्रेणैव धरातले

māhātmyaṁ kīrtitaṁ yasmāttalliṅge śaṅkareṇa tu | vastreṇācchāditaṁ caiva śakreṇaiva dharātale

Since this greatness was proclaimed by Shankara concerning that linga, and it was covered as with a cloth, by Indra himself, on earth —

Verse 45 (skanda.7.423.45)

ततःप्रभृति लिंगस्य मर्त्त्ये पूजा व्यजायत । पुरासीच्छंकरः पूज्यो यथान्ये त्रिदशालयाः

tataḥprabhṛti liṅgasya marttye pūjā vyajāyata | purāsīcchaṅkaraḥ pūjyo yathānye tridaśālayāḥ

— from then on, the worship of the linga arose among mortals; formerly Shankara was worshipped just as the other celestial dwellers were.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.423.46)

एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तमर्बुदे पर्वतोत्तमे । लिंगस्य पतनात्पूजां यन्मां त्वं परि पृच्छसि

evametatpurāvṛttamarbude parvatottame | liṅgasya patanātpūjāṁ yanmāṁ tvaṁ pari pṛcchasi

Thus this event occurred of old on the supreme mountain Arbuda, concerning which you have asked me about the worship arising from the linga's fall.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.423.47)

फाल्गुनान्तचतुर्द्दश्यां नैवेद्यं नूतनैर्यवैः । यो ददात्यचलेशाय स भूयो नेह जायते

phālgunāntacaturddaśyāṁ naivedyaṁ nūtanairyavaiḥ | yo dadātyacaleśāya sa bhūyo neha jāyate

He who, on the last fourteenth of Phalguna, offers naivedya with new barley to Acaleshvara, is not born again here.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.423.48)

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्यस्तु भक्त्या तस्मिन्नवैर्यवैः । यवसंख्याप्रमाणानि युगानि दिवि मोदते

brāhmaṇānbhojayedyastu bhaktyā tasminnavairyavaiḥ | yavasaṁkhyāpramāṇāni yugāni divi modate

He who devotedly feeds brahmins there with new barley rejoices in heaven for as many ages as there are grains of barley.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.423.49)

तत्र दानं प्रशंसन्ति सक्तूनां मुनिसत्तमाः । नूतनानां महाराज यतः प्रोक्तं पुरारिणा

tatra dānaṁ praśaṁsanti saktūnāṁ munisattamāḥ | nūtanānāṁ mahārāja yataḥ proktaṁ purāriṇā

There the foremost sages praise the gift of fresh roasted-barley flour, O great king, for it was thus declared by the destroyer of Tripura.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.423.50)

किं दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः किं यज्ञैश्च सुविस्तरैः । किं तीर्थैर्विविधैहोमैस्तपोभिः किं च कष्टदैः

kiṁ dānairvividhairdattaiḥ kiṁ yajñaiśca suvistaraiḥ | kiṁ tīrthairvividhairhomaistapobhiḥ kiṁ ca kaṣṭadaiḥ

What use are various gifts given? What use are elaborate sacrifices? What use are various pilgrimages, fire-offerings, and painful austerities?

Verse 51 (skanda.7.423.51)

फाल्गुनान्तचतुर्द्दश्यां सुमहेश्वरसन्निधौ । धर्माण्येतानि सर्वाणि कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्

phālgunāntacaturddaśyāṁ sumaheśvarasannidhau | dharmāṇyetāni sarvāṇi kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

All these religious acts do not equal a sixteenth part of the merit of the saktu-gift given on the last fourteenth of Phalguna, in the presence of the great Maheshvara.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.423.52)

शृणु राजन्पुरा वृत्तं तत्राश्चर्यं यदुत्तमम् । कश्चित्पापसमाचारः कुष्ठी क्षामतनुर्नरः

śṛṇu rājanpurā vṛttaṁ tatrāścaryaṁ yaduttamam | kaścitpāpasamācāraḥ kuṣṭhī kṣāmatanurnaraḥ

O king, listen to that most wondrous thing that happened there of old. There was a certain man of sinful conduct, a leper, emaciated of body —

Verse 53 (skanda.7.423.53)

भिक्षार्थमागतस्तत्र लोकैरन्यैः समन्वितः । तेन भिक्षार्जितं तत्र सक्तूनां कुडवं नृप

bhikṣārthamāgatastatra lokairanyaiḥ samanvitaḥ | tena bhikṣārjitaṁ tatra saktūnāṁ kuḍavaṁ nṛpa

— who came there begging alms, together with other people. O king, a kudava (a measure) of roasted-barley flour was gained there by him through begging.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.423.54)

ततो रोग परिक्लेशाद्भोजनं न चकार सः । दाघार्दितो जले तस्मिन्स्नातो भक्तिविवर्जितः । सक्तून्कृत्वोपधाने तान्स च सुप्तो निशागमे

tato roga parikleśādbhojanaṁ na cakāra saḥ | dāghārdito jale tasminsnāto bhaktivivarjitaḥ | saktūnkṛtvopadhāne tānsa ca supto niśāgame

Then, from the distress of his disease, he did not eat; tormented by fever, he bathed in that water, devoid of devotion; making that flour his pillow, he fell asleep as night came on.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.423.55)

ततो निद्राभिभूतस्य सारमेयो जहार च । भक्षयामास युक्तोऽन्यैः सारमेयैर्बुभुक्षितः

tato nidrābhibhūtasya sārameyo jahāra ca | bhakṣayāmāsa yukto'nyaiḥ sārameyairbubhukṣitaḥ

Then, while he was overcome by sleep, a dog stole it, and, joined by other hungry dogs, devoured it.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.423.56)

अथासौ विस्मयाद्राजन्पंचत्वं समुपस्थितः । ततो जातिस्मरो जातो विदर्भाधिपतेर्गृहे

athāsau vismayādrājanpañcatvaṁ samupasthitaḥ | tato jātismaro jāto vidarbhādhipatergṛhe

Then, O king, out of shock, he met his death; thereafter, remembering his previous births, he was born in the house of the lord of Vidarbha.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.423.57)

भीमोनाम नृपश्रेष्ठ दमयन्तीपिता हि यः । तं प्रभावं हि विज्ञाय सक्तूनां तत्र पर्वते

bhīmonāma nṛpaśreṣṭha damayantīpitā hi yaḥ | taṁ prabhāvaṁ hi vijñāya saktūnāṁ tatra parvate

O best of kings, he became the one named Bhima, who indeed was Damayanti's father. Having come to know the power of that saktu-offering on that mountain —

Verse 58 (skanda.7.423.58)

फाल्गुनांतचतुर्दश्यां वर्षे वर्षे जगाम सः । कृत्वा चैवोपवासं तु रात्रौ जागरणं तथा

phālgunāntacaturdaśyāṁ varṣe varṣe jagāma saḥ | kṛtvā caivopavāsaṁ tu rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ tathā

— he went there year after year, on the last fourteenth of Phalguna, having observed a fast, and likewise keeping vigil through the night.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.423.59)

अचलेश्वरसान्निध्ये ददौ सक्तूंस्ततो बहून् । सहिरण्यान्द्विजेन्द्राणां पशुपक्षिमृगेषु च

acaleśvarasānnidhye dadau saktūṁstato bahūn | sahiraṇyāndvijendrāṇāṁ paśupakṣimṛgeṣu ca

In the presence of Acaleshvara he then gave abundant roasted-barley flour, along with gold, to the foremost brahmins, and to cattle, birds, and deer.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.423.60)

अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे गालवप्रमुखा नृप । पप्रच्छुः कौतुकाविष्टाः सक्तुदानकृते नृपम्

atha te munayaḥ sarve gālavapramukhā nṛpa | papracchuḥ kautukāviṣṭāḥ saktudānakṛte nṛpam

Then, O king, all those sages, headed by Galava, filled with curiosity, questioned the king concerning his gift of saktu.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.423.61)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ हस्त्वश्वरथदानानां शक्तिरस्ति तवाद्भुता । कस्मात्सक्तून्प्रमुक्त्वा त्वं नान्यद्दातुमिहेच्छसि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | hastvaśvarathadānānāṁ śaktirasti tavādbhutā | kasmātsaktūnpramuktvā tvaṁ nānyaddātumihecchasi

The sages said: "You have wondrous power to give elephants, horses, and chariots. Why do you wish to give nothing else here, apart from saktu?"

Verse 62 (skanda.7.423.62)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ अथाऽसौ कथयामास पूर्वमेतत्समुद्भवम् । सक्तुदानस्य माहात्म्यं मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्

pulastya uvāca | athā'sau kathayāmāsa pūrvametatsamudbhavam | saktudānasya māhātmyaṁ munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām

Pulastya said: Then he related to those purified-souled sages this earlier origin, the greatness of the gift of saktu.

Verse 63 (skanda.7.423.63)

पूर्वं भक्त्या विहीनस्य शुना वै सक्तवो हृताः । तत्प्रभावादियं प्राप्तिर्मम जाता द्विजोत्तमाः

pūrvaṁ bhaktyā vihīnasya śunā vai saktavo hṛtāḥ | tatprabhāvādiyaṁ prāptirmama jātā dvijottamāḥ

"Formerly, when I was devoid of devotion, my saktu was stolen by a dog; by the power of that alone, O best of brahmins, this attainment of mine has come about."

Verse 64 (skanda.7.423.64)

सांप्रतं भक्तिदत्तानां किं स्याज्जानामि नो फलम् । एतस्मात्कारणाद्दानं सक्तूनां प्रकरोम्यहम् । तीर्थेऽस्मिन्भक्तिसंयुक्तः सत्येनात्मानमालभे

sāṁprataṁ bhaktidattānāṁ kiṁ syājjānāmi no phalam | etasmātkāraṇāddānaṁ saktūnāṁ prakaromyaham | tīrthe'sminbhaktisaṁyuktaḥ satyenātmānamālabhe

"Now, of what is given with devotion, what the fruit would be, I do not know. For this reason I make the gift of saktu; devoted, at this ford, I bind myself by this truth."

Verse 65 (skanda.7.423.65)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततस्ते मुनयो हृष्टाः साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन् । चक्रुश्चैवात्मशक्त्या ते सक्तूनां दानमुत्तमम्

pulastya uvāca | tataste munayo hṛṣṭāḥ sādhusādhviti cābruvan | cakruścaivātmaśaktyā te saktūnāṁ dānamuttamam

Pulastya said: Then those sages, delighted, said, "Well said, well said!" And they too, according to their own ability, made the excellent gift of saktu.

Verse 66 (skanda.7.423.66)

एष प्रभावो राजर्षे सक्तुदानस्य कीर्त्तितः । महेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यं सत्यं चापि प्रकीर्त्तितम्

eṣa prabhāvo rājarṣe saktudānasya kīrttitaḥ | maheśvarasya māhātmyaṁ satyaṁ cāpi prakīrttitam

O royal sage, this power of the gift of saktu has been declared; and the greatness of Maheshvara has thereby been truly proclaimed.

Verse 67 (skanda.7.423.67)

यश्चैतच्छृणुयाद्भक्त्या कथ्यमानं द्विजाननात् । अहोरात्र कृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

yaścaitacchṛṇuyādbhaktyā kathyamānaṁ dvijānanāt | ahorātra kṛtātpāpānmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever devotedly listens to this being told from a brahmin's mouth is freed from sins committed day and night — of this there is no doubt.