The Glory of the Linga of Shukra (Venus)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.48.1)

॥ ईश्वर उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि लिंगं शुक्रप्रतिष्ठितम्॥ सर्वपापहरं देवि विभूतीश्वरपश्चिमे

|| īśvara uvāca || tato gacchenmahādevi liṁgaṁ śukrapratiṣṭhitam|| sarvapāpaharaṁ devi vibhūtīśvarapaścime

Ishvara said: "Then one should go, O great goddess, to the linga established by Shukra, remover of all sins, O goddess, to the west of Vibhutishvara."

Verse 2 (skanda.7.48.2)

नातिदूरे स्थितं तत्र स्वयं शुक्रेण निर्मितम्॥ यत्र संजीवनीं प्राप्तो विद्यां रुद्रप्रभावतः

nātidūre sthitaṁ tatra svayaṁ śukreṇa nirmitam|| yatra saṁjīvanīṁ prāpto vidyāṁ rudraprabhāvataḥ

Situated there, not far away, made by Shukra himself, where he obtained the Sanjivani vidya through Rudra's power.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.48.3)

संतप्य तु महाघोरं तपोवर्षसहस्रकम् ॥ संप्रसाद्य विरूपाक्षं योऽवाप ग्रहतां सुधीः

saṁtapya tu mahāghoraṁ tapovarṣasahasrakam || saṁprasādya virūpākṣaṁ yo'vāpa grahatāṁ sudhīḥ

Having performed most terrible austerity for a thousand years, and having propitiated Virupaksha (Shiva), that wise one obtained the status of a planet.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.48.4)

ग्रस्तेन शंभुना येन देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ तत्रोदरगतेनैव तपस्तप्तं सुदुष्करम्

grastena śaṁbhunā yena devakāryārthasiddhaye || tatrodaragatenaiva tapastaptaṁ suduṣkaram

By him, swallowed by Shambhu for the sake of accomplishing the gods' purpose, most difficult austerity was performed right there, in his belly.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.48.5)

वर्षाणामयुतं साग्रं तुष्टिं नीतो महेश्वरः ॥ निष्कासितस्ततः शीघ्रं शुक्र मार्गेण शंभुना

varṣāṇāmayutaṁ sāgraṁ tuṣṭiṁ nīto maheśvaraḥ || niṣkāsitastataḥ śīghraṁ śukra mārgeṇa śaṁbhunā

For a little more than ten thousand years, Maheshvara was brought to satisfaction; then he was swiftly expelled by Shambhu through the seminal channel.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.48.6)

ततः शुक्रेति नामाभूद्भार्गवस्य महात्मनः ॥ तदाराधयते लिंगं यः कृत्वा निश्चलं मनः

tataḥ śukreti nāmābhūdbhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ || tadārādhayate liṁgaṁ yaḥ kṛtvā niścalaṁ manaḥ

From that, the name "Shukra" came about for that great-souled Bhargava. Whoever, having made his mind steadfast, worships that linga—

Verse 7 (skanda.7.48.7)

मृत्युंजयं जपेल्लक्षं स समीहितमाप्नुयात्

mṛtyuṁjayaṁ japellakṣaṁ sa samīhitamāpnuyāt

"—and recites the Mrityunjaya mantra one lakh times, obtains his desired object."

Verse 8 (skanda.7.48.8)

तं दृष्ट्वा त्वथवा स्पृष्ट्वा जन्मादिमरणान्तकात्॥ मुच्यते पातकान्मृत्योः प्रसादात्तस्य भामिनि

taṁ dṛṣṭvā tvathavā spṛṣṭvā janmādimaraṇāntakāt|| mucyate pātakānmṛtyoḥ prasādāttasya bhāmini

Having beheld it, or touched it, one is freed, O fair lady, by its grace, from the sins extending from birth up to death, and from death itself.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.48.9)

मृतसंजीवनार्थं यदैश्वर्यमणिमादिकम्॥ प्राप्नुयान्नात्र संदेहो यस्य भक्तिः सुनिश्चला

mṛtasaṁjīvanārthaṁ yadaiśvaryamaṇimādikam|| prāpnuyānnātra saṁdeho yasya bhaktiḥ suniścalā

One whose devotion is unwavering obtains the supernatural powers such as Anima, along with the power of reviving the dead — there is no doubt about this.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.48.10)

पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य देवं शुकप्रतिष्ठितम्॥ सुगन्धपुष्पैः संपूज्य शौक्रीं पीडां स नाप्नुयात्

paṁcāmṛtena saṁsnāpya devaṁ śukapratiṣṭhitam|| sugandhapuṣpaiḥ saṁpūjya śaukrīṁ pīḍāṁ sa nāpnuyāt

Having bathed the god established by Shukra with the five nectars, and worshipped him with fragrant flowers, one does not obtain the affliction caused by Shukra (Venus).

Verse 11 (skanda.7.48.11)

इति सर्वं समासेन माहात्म्यं शुक्रदैवतम् ॥ कथितं तव सुश्रोणि श्रुतं पापभयापहम्

iti sarvaṁ samāsena māhātmyaṁ śukradaivatam || kathitaṁ tava suśroṇi śrutaṁ pāpabhayāpaham

Thus, in brief, the entire greatness relating to the deity Shukra has been told to you, O fair-hipped one; when heard, it removes the fear of sin.