The Conclusion of the Entire Skanda Mahapurana and the Honoring of Suta

Verse 1 (skanda.7.491.1)

सूत उवाच । एतत्पुराणमखिलं पुरा स्कन्देन भाषितम् । भृगवे ब्रह्मपुत्राय तस्माल्लेभे तथांऽगिराः ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca | etatpurāṇamakhilaṁ purā skandena bhāṣitam | bhṛgave brahmaputrāya tasmāllebhe tathāṁgiraḥ || 1 ||

Suta said: This entire Purana was declared of old by Skanda to Bhrigu, the son of Brahma, and from him it was obtained by Angiras.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.491.2)

ततश्च च्यवनः प्राप ऋचीकश्च ततो मुनिः । एवं परंपरा प्राप्तं सर्वेषु भुवनेष्वपि ॥ २ ॥

tataśca cyavanaḥ prāpa ṛcīkaśca tato muniḥ | evaṁ paraṁparā prāptaṁ sarveṣu bhuvaneṣvapi || 2 ||

Then Chyavana obtained it, and from him the sage Richika. Thus it has come down by tradition throughout all the worlds.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.491.3)

स्कान्दं पुराणमेतच्च कुमारेण पुरोद्धृतम् । यः शृणोति सतां मध्ये नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते ॥ ३ ॥

skāndaṁ purāṇametacca kumāreṇa puroddhṛtam | yaḥ śṛṇoti satāṁ madhye naraḥ pāpādvimucyate || 3 ||

This Skanda Purana was of old brought forth by Kumara (Skanda). Whoever hears it in the company of the righteous is freed from sin.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.491.4)

इदं पुराणमायुष्यं चतुर्वर्णसुखप्रदम् । निर्मितं षण्मुखेनेह नियतं सुमहात्मना ॥ ४ ॥

idaṁ purāṇamāyuṣyaṁ caturvarṇasukhapradam | nirmitaṁ ṣaṇmukheneha niyataṁ sumahātmanā || 4 ||

This life-giving Purana bestows happiness upon all four varnas; it was, indeed, composed here by the greatly noble Shanmukha (the six-faced Skanda).

Verse 5 (skanda.7.491.5)

एवमेतत्समाख्यातमाख्यानं भद्रमस्तु वः ॥ ५ ॥

evametatsamākhyātamākhyānaṁ bhadramastu vaḥ || 5 ||

Thus has this narrative been told; may blessing be upon you.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.491.6)

मण्डितं सप्तभिः खण्डैः स्कान्दं यः शृणुयान्नरः । न तस्य पुण्यसंख्यानं कर्तुं शक्येत केनचित् ॥ ६ ॥

maṇḍitaṁ saptabhiḥ khaṇḍaiḥ skāndaṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyānnaraḥ | na tasya puṇyasaṁkhyānaṁ kartuṁ śakyeta kenacit || 6 ||

Whoever hears this Skanda Purana, adorned with its seven Khandas — the reckoning of his merit cannot be accomplished by anyone.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.491.7)

य इदं धर्ममाहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छति । स्वर्गलोके वसेत्तावद्यावदक्षरसंख्यया ॥ ७ ॥

ya idaṁ dharmamāhātmyaṁ brāhmaṇāya prayacchati | svargaloke vasettāvadyāvadakṣarasaṁkhyayā || 7 ||

Whoever gives this glory of dharma to a brahmin dwells in the heavenly world for as many periods as there are syllables in it.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.491.8)

यथा हि वर्षतो धारा यथा वा दिवि तारकाः । गंगायां सिकता यद्वत्तद्वत्संख्या न विद्यते ॥ ८ ॥

yathā hi varṣato dhārā yathā vā divi tārakāḥ | gaṁgāyāṁ sikatā yadvattadvatsaṁkhyā na vidyate || 8 ||

As the streams of rain cannot be counted, as the stars in the sky cannot be counted, as the grains of sand in the Ganga cannot be counted — so too the fruit of this cannot be reckoned.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.491.9)

यो नरः शृणुयाद्भक्त्या दिनानि च कियन्ति वै । सर्वार्थसिद्धो भवति य एतत्पठते नरः ॥ ९ ॥

yo naraḥ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā dināni ca kiyanti vai | sarvārthasiddho bhavati ya etatpaṭhate naraḥ || 9 ||

Whatever man hears this with devotion, for however many days, and whatever man recites it, becomes accomplished in all his aims.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.491.10)

पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रान्धनार्थी लभते धनम् । लभते पतिकामा या पतिं कन्या मनोरमम् ॥ १० ॥

putrārthī labhate putrāndhanārthī labhate dhanam | labhate patikāmā yā patiṁ kanyā manoramam || 10 ||

One who desires a son obtains a son; one who desires wealth obtains wealth; and a maiden who desires a husband obtains a delightful husband.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.491.11)

समागमं लभन्ते च बान्धवाश्च प्रवासिभिः । स्कान्दं पुराणं श्रुत्वा तु पुमानाप्नोति वाञ्छितम् ॥ ११ ॥

samāgamaṁ labhante ca bāndhavāśca pravāsibhiḥ | skāndaṁ purāṇaṁ śrutvā tu pumānāpnoti vāñchitam || 11 ||

Reunion with kinsmen who have gone abroad is also obtained. Having heard the Skanda Purana, a man obtains his heart's desire.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.491.12)

शृण्वतः पठतश्चैव सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् ॥ १२ ॥

śṛṇvataḥ paṭhataścaiva sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām || 12 ||

For both the hearer and the reciter, it is the fulfiller of all the desires of men.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.491.13)

पुण्यं श्रुत्वा पुराणं वै दीर्घमायुश्च विन्दति । महीं विजयते राजा शत्रूंश्चाप्यधितिष्ठति ॥ १३ ॥

puṇyaṁ śrutvā purāṇaṁ vai dīrghamāyuśca vindati | mahīṁ vijayate rājā śatrūṁścāpyadhitiṣṭhati || 13 ||

Having heard this sacred Purana, one obtains a long life. A king conquers the earth and gains mastery over his enemies too.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.491.14)

वेदविच्च भविद्विप्रः क्षत्रियो राज्यमाप्नुयात् । धनं धान्यं तथा वैश्यः शूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १४ ॥

vedavicca bhaviddvipraḥ kṣatriyo rājyamāpnuyāt | dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ tathā vaiśyaḥ śūdraḥ sukhamavāpnuyāt || 14 ||

A brahmin becomes learned in the Vedas; a kshatriya obtains a kingdom; a vaishya obtains wealth and grain; and a shudra obtains happiness.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.491.15)

अध्यायमेकं शृणुयाच्छ्लोकं श्लोकार्धमेव वा । यः श्लोकपादं शृणुयाद्विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥ १५ ॥

adhyāyamekaṁ śṛṇuyācchlokaṁ ślokārdhameva vā | yaḥ ślokapādaṁ śṛṇuyādviṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati || 15 ||

Whoever hears even a single chapter, or a verse, or even half a verse — whoever hears even a quarter-verse goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.491.16)

श्रुत्वा पुराणमेतद्धि वाचकं यस्तु पूजयेत् । तेन ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्चैव प्रपूजितः ॥ १६ ॥

śrutvā purāṇametaddhi vācakaṁ yastu pūjayet | tena brahmā ca viṣṇuśca rudraścaiva prapūjitaḥ || 16 ||

Having heard this Purana, whoever worships its reciter thereby worships Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra as well.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.491.17)

एकमप्यक्षरं यस्तु गुरुः शिष्ये निवेदयेत् । पृथिव्यां नास्ति तद्द्रव्यं यद्दत्त्वा ह्यनृणी भवेत् ॥ १७ ॥

ekamapyakṣaraṁ yastu guruḥ śiṣye nivedayet | pṛthivyāṁ nāsti taddravyaṁ yaddattvā hyanṛṇī bhavet || 17 ||

For even a single syllable that a teacher imparts to a disciple, there exists no object on earth by giving which the disciple could become free of that debt.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.491.18)

अतः संपूजनीयस्तु व्यासः शास्त्रोपदेशकः । गोभू हिरण्यवस्त्राद्यैर्भोजनैः सार्वकामिकैः ॥ १८ ॥

ataḥ saṁpūjanīyastu vyāsaḥ śāstropadeśakaḥ | gobhū hiraṇyavastrādyairbhojanaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ || 18 ||

Therefore Vyasa, the expounder of the scripture, should be worshipped with cows, land, gold, garments and the like, and with foods fulfilling every desire.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.491.19)

य एवं भक्तियुक्तस्तु श्रुत्वा शास्त्रमनुत्तमम् । पूजयेदुपदेष्टारं स शैवं पदमाप्नुयात् ॥ १९ ॥

ya evaṁ bhaktiyuktastu śrutvā śāstramanuttamam | pūjayedupadeṣṭāraṁ sa śaivaṁ padamāpnuyāt || 19 ||

Whoever, thus filled with devotion, having heard this most excellent scripture, worships his instructor, attains the abode of Shiva.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.491.20)

पुराणश्रवणादेव अनेकभवसंचितम् । पापं प्रशममायाति सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत् ॥ २० ॥

purāṇaśravaṇādeva anekabhavasaṁcitam | pāpaṁ praśamamāyāti sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet || 20 ||

By merely hearing this Purana, sin accumulated over many births is pacified, and one obtains the fruit of all sacred fords.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.491.21)

अमृतेनोदरस्थेन म्रियन्ते सर्वदेवताः । कण्ठस्थितविषेणापि यो जीवति स पातु वः ॥ २१ ॥

amṛtenodarasthena mriyante sarvadevatāḥ | kaṇṭhasthitaviṣeṇāpi yo jīvati sa pātu vaḥ || 21 ||

Even with nectar dwelling in the belly, all the gods can die; but he who lives on though bearing poison in his throat — may that one, Shiva, protect you.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.491.22)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वोपरते सूते शौनकादि महर्षयः । संपूज्य विधिवत्सूतं प्रशस्याथाभ्यनन्दयन् ॥ २२ ॥

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvoparate sūte śaunakādi maharṣayaḥ | saṁpūjya vidhivatsūtaṁ praśasyāthābhyanandayan || 22 ||

Vyasa said: Having said this, when Suta fell silent, the great sages headed by Shaunaka, duly worshipping Suta, praised and honored him.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.491.23)

ऋषय ऊचुः । कथितो भवता सर्गः प्रतिसर्गस्तथैव च । वंशानुवंशचरितं पुराणानामनुक्रमः ॥ २३ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kathito bhavatā sargaḥ pratisargastathaiva ca | vaṁśānuvaṁśacaritaṁ purāṇānāmanukramaḥ || 23 ||

The sages said: You have narrated the creation, the re-creation, the histories of dynasties after dynasties, and the sequence of the Puranas.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.491.24)

मन्वन्तरप्रमाणं च ब्रह्माण्डस्य च विस्तरः । ज्योतिश्चक्रस्वरूपं च यथावदनुवर्णितम् ॥ २४ ॥

manvaṁtarapramāṇaṁ ca brahmāṇḍasya ca vistaraḥ | jyotiścakrasvarūpaṁ ca yathāvadanuvarṇitam || 24 ||

The measure of the Manvantaras, the extent of the universe, and the nature of the wheel of the luminaries have also been duly described by you.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.491.25)

धन्याः स्म कृतकृत्याः स्म वयं तव मुखाम्बुजात् । स्कान्दं महापुराण हि श्रुत्वा सूतातिहर्षिताः ॥ २५ ॥

dhanyāḥ sma kṛtakṛtyāḥ sma vayaṁ tava mukhāmbujāt | skāndaṁ mahāpurāṇa hi śrutvā sūtātiharṣitāḥ || 25 ||

O Suta, we are blessed, we are fulfilled, that we have heard this great Skanda Purana from your lotus mouth; we are exceedingly delighted.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.491.26)

वयं महर्षयो विप्राः प्रदद्मोऽद्य तवाऽऽशिषः । व्यासशिष्य महाप्राज्ञ चिरं जीव सुखी भव ॥ २६ ॥

vayaṁ maharṣayo viprāḥ pradadmo'dya tavāśiṣaḥ | vyāsaśiṣya mahāprājña ciraṁ jīva sukhī bhava || 26 ||

We, the great sage-brahmins, today bestow our blessings upon you — O disciple of Vyasa, O greatly wise one, live long, be happy.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.491.27)

इति दत्त्वाऽऽशिषस्तस्मै दत्त्वा वासोविभूषणम् । विसृज्य लोमशं सूतं यज्ञकर्माण्यथाचरन् ॥ २७ ॥

iti dattvāśiṣastasmai dattvā vāsovibhūṣaṇam | visṛjya lomaśaṁ sūtaṁ yajñakarmāṇyathācaran || 27 ||

Thus, having given him their blessings, and having given him garments and ornaments, and having taken leave of Lomasha Suta, they then resumed their sacrificial rites.