The Description of the Sages and Hosts of Gods Dwelling in the Field

Verse 1 (skanda.7.5.1)

सूत उवाच। इत्येवमुक्ते विप्रेंद्रा शंकरेण महात्मना। पुनः पप्रच्छ सा देवी हर्षसंपूर्णमानसा

sūta uvāca| ityevamukte viprendrā śaṁkareṇa mahātmanā| punaḥ papraccha sā devī harṣasaṁpūrṇamānasā

Suta said: O foremost of brahmins, when the great soul Shankara had thus spoken, the Goddess, her mind filled with joy, again asked a question.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.5.2)

देव्युवाच। देवदेव जगन्नाथ सर्वप्राणहिताय वै। प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वद मे प्रभो

devyuvāca| devadeva jagannātha sarvaprāṇahitāya vai| prabhāsakṣetramāhātmyaṁ vistarādvada me prabho

The Goddess said: O God of gods, Lord of the world, for the welfare of all living beings, O Master, tell me at length the glory of the Prabhasa field.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.5.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। अन्यद्दृष्टांतरूपं ते कथयामि यशस्विनि। येन सृष्टं महादेवि क्षेत्रमेतन्मम प्रियम्

īśvara uvāca| anyaddṛṣṭāṁtarūpaṁ te kathayāmi yaśasvini| yena sṛṣṭaṁ mahādevi kṣetrametanmama priyam

Ishvara said: O renowned one, I shall tell you another illustration, by which, O great Goddess, this field so dear to me was fashioned.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.5.4)

या गतिर्ध्यायतां नित्यं निःसंगानां च योगिनाम्। सैवं संत्यजतां प्राणान्प्रभासे तु परा गतिः

yā gatirdhyāyatāṁ nityaṁ niḥsaṁgānāṁ ca yoginām| saivaṁ saṁtyajatāṁ prāṇānprabhāse tu parā gatiḥ

Whatever goal is attained by those who meditate constantly, by yogis free of attachment — that very same is the supreme goal of those who give up their lives in Prabhasa.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.5.5)

अनेककल्पस्थायी च मार्कंडेयो महातपाः। सोऽपि देवं विरूपाक्षं प्रभासे तु सदाऽर्चति

anekakalpasthāyī ca mārkaṁḍeyo mahātapāḥ| so'pi devaṁ virūpākṣaṁ prabhāse tu sadā'rcati

Markandeya, of great austerity, who lives on through many kalpas, he too ever worships the god Virupaksha in Prabhasa.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.5.6)

अटित्वा सर्वतीर्थानि प्रभासं नैव मुंचति। दुर्वासाश्च महातेजा लिंगस्याराधनोद्यतः। न मुंचति क्षणं देवि तत्क्षेत्रं शशिमौलिनः

aṭitvā sarvatīrthāni prabhāsaṁ naiva muṁcati| durvāsāśca mahātejā liṁgasyārādhanodyataḥ| na muṁcati kṣaṇaṁ devi tatkṣetraṁ śaśimaulinaḥ

Having wandered through all the tirthas, he does not abandon Prabhasa; and the radiant Durvasa too, devoted to the worship of the linga, O Goddess, does not leave that field of the moon-crested Shiva even for an instant.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.5.7)

भरद्वाजो मरीचिश्च मुनिश्चोद्दालकस्तथा। क्रतुश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च कश्यपो भृगुरेव च

bharadvājo marīciśca muniścoddālakastathā| kratuścaiva vasiṣṭhaśca kaśyapo bhṛgureva ca

Bharadvaja and Marichi, the sage Uddalaka, Kratu, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, and Bhrigu,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.5.8)

दक्षश्चैव तु सावर्णिर्यमश्चांगिरसस्तथा। शुको विभांडकश्चैव ऋष्यशृंगोऽथ गोभिलः

dakṣaścaiva tu sāvarṇiryamaścāṁgirasastathā| śuko vibhāṁḍakaścaiva ṛṣyaśṛṁgo'tha gobhilaḥ

Daksha, Savarni, Yama, Angiras, Shuka, Vibhandaka, Rishyashringa, and Gobhila,

Verse 9 (skanda.7.5.9)

गौतमश्च ऋचीकश्च अगस्त्यः शौनको महान्। नारदो जमदग्निश्च विश्वामित्रोऽथ लोमशः

gautamaśca ṛcīkaśca agastyaḥ śaunako mahān| nārado jamadagniśca viśvāmitro'tha lomaśaḥ

Gautama and Richika, the great Agastya, Narada, Jamadagni, Vishvamitra, and Lomasha,

Verse 10 (skanda.7.5.10)

अन्ये च ऋषयश्चैव दिव्या देवर्षयस्तथा। न मुंचंति महाक्षेत्रं लिंगस्याराधनोद्यताः

anye ca ṛṣayaścaiva divyā devarṣayastathā| na muṁcaṁti mahākṣetraṁ liṁgasyārādhanodyatāḥ

and other sages, along with the divine celestial seers, devoted to the worship of the linga, do not abandon this great field.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.5.11)

अहं तत्रैव तिष्ठामि लिंगाराधनतत्परः। न मुंचामि महाक्षेत्रं सत्यंसत्यं वरानने

ahaṁ tatraiva tiṣṭhāmi liṁgārādhanatatparaḥ| na muṁcāmi mahākṣetraṁ satyaṁsatyaṁ varānane

I myself abide there, devoted to the worship of the linga; truly, truly, O fair-faced one, I do not abandon this great field.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.5.12)

सर्वतीर्थानि देवेशि मया दृष्टानि भूतले। प्रभासेन समं क्षेत्रं नैव दृष्टं कदाचन

sarvatīrthāni deveśi mayā dṛṣṭāni bhūtale| prabhāsena samaṁ kṣetraṁ naiva dṛṣṭaṁ kadācana

O Mistress of the gods, I have beheld all the tirthas upon the earth, yet never have I seen a field equal to Prabhasa.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.5.13)

देवि षष्टिसहस्राणि याज्ञवल्क्यपुरस्कृताः। जपं कुर्वंति रुद्राणां चन्द्रभागां व्यवस्थिताः

devi ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi yājñavalkyapuraskṛtāḥ| japaṁ kurvaṁti rudrāṇāṁ caṁdrabhāgāṁ vyavasthitāḥ

O Goddess, sixty thousand sages, with Yajnavalkya at their head, abide on the banks of the Chandrabhaga and recite the mantras of the Rudras.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.5.14)

चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि ऋषीणामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। देविकातटमाश्रित्य जपंति शतरुद्रियम्

catvāriṁśatsahasrāṇi ṛṣīṇāmūrddhvaretasām| devikātaṭamāśritya japaṁti śatarudriyam

Forty thousand sages of unspent seed, resorting to the bank of the Devika, recite the Shatarudriya.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.5.15)

कोटयश्चैव पंचाशन्मुनीनामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। उमापतिं समासाद्य लिंगं तत्रैव संस्थितम्

koṭayaścaiva paṁcāśanmunīnāmūrddhvaretasām| umāpatiṁ samāsādya liṁgaṁ tatraiva saṁsthitam

Fifty crore sages of unspent seed, having approached the linga of Uma's Lord established right there, abide there.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.5.16)

रुद्राणां कोटि जाप्यं तु कृतं तत्रैव तैः पुरा। कोटिस्तत्रैव संसिद्धास्तस्मिंल्लिंगे न संशयः

rudrāṇāṁ koṭi jāpyaṁ tu kṛtaṁ tatraiva taiḥ purā| koṭistatraiva saṁsiddhāstasmilliṁge na saṁśayaḥ

By them, of old, a crore repetitions of the Rudra mantra were made right there; and a crore attained perfection right there, in that very linga — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.5.17)

शतं चैव सहस्राणां देवेशं शशिभूषणम्। पूजयंति महासिद्धा मम क्षेत्रनिषेविणः

śataṁ caiva sahasrāṇāṁ deveśaṁ śaśibhūṣaṇam| pūjayaṁti mahāsiddhā mama kṣetraniṣeviṇaḥ

A hundred thousand great siddhas who resort to my field worship the moon-crested Lord of gods.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.5.18)

वेदांतेषु च यत्प्रोक्तं फलं चैव महर्षिभिः। तत्फलं सकलं तत्र चंद्रभूषणदर्शनात्

vedāṁteṣu ca yatproktaṁ phalaṁ caiva maharṣibhiḥ| tatphalaṁ sakalaṁ tatra caṁdrabhūṣaṇadarśanāt

Whatever fruit is declared by the great sages in the Vedanta, that entire fruit is obtained there by the mere sight of the moon-crested one.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.5.19)

अग्नितीर्थे ऋषीणां तु कोटिः साग्रा स्थिता शुभे। रुद्रेश्वरे स्मृतं लक्षं कंपर्द्दीशे तथैव च

agnitīrthe ṛṣīṇāṁ tu koṭiḥ sāgrā sthitā śubhe| rudreśvare smṛtaṁ lakṣaṁ kaṁpardīśe tathaiva ca

O auspicious one, at the Agni-tirtha more than a crore sages abide; at Rudreshvara a hundred thousand are remembered, and likewise at Kapardishvara.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.5.20)

रत्नेश्वरे सहस्रं तु ऋषीणामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। अर्कस्थले महापुण्ये कोटिः साग्रा स्थिता शुभे

ratneśvare sahasraṁ tu ṛṣīṇāmūrddhvaretasām| arkasthale mahāpuṇye koṭiḥ sāgrā sthitā śubhe

At Ratneshvara a thousand sages of unspent seed abide; O auspicious one, at the greatly meritorious Arkasthala more than a crore abide.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.5.21)

षष्टिश्चैव सहस्राणि तत्र सिद्धेश्वरे स्थिताः। सप्त चैव सहस्राणि मार्कंडेये तु संस्थिताः

ṣaṣṭiścaiva sahasrāṇi tatra siddheśvare sthitāḥ| sapta caiva sahasrāṇi mārkaṁḍeye tu saṁsthitāḥ

At Siddheshvara sixty thousand abide, and at Markandeya, seven thousand are established.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.5.22)

सरस्वत्यां ब्रह्मकुण्डेऽसंख्याता मुनयः स्मृताः। दशार्बुदसहस्राणि कोटित्रितयमेव च

sarasvatyāṁ brahmakuṇḍe'saṁkhyātā munayaḥ smṛtāḥ| daśārbudasahasrāṇi koṭitritayameva ca

At the Brahmakunda on the Sarasvati, countless sages are remembered — ten thousand times a hundred million, and three crore besides.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.5.23)

ऋषयस्तत्र तिष्ठंति यत्र प्राची सरस्वती। ब्रह्महत्या गता यत्र शंकरस्य च तत्क्षणात्

ṛṣayastatra tiṣṭhaṁti yatra prācī sarasvatī| brahmahatyā gatā yatra śaṁkarasya ca tatkṣaṇāt

The sages abide where the Prachi Sarasvati flows; there, in that very instant, Shankara's guilt of brahmin-slaying departed,

Verse 24 (skanda.7.5.24)

कायः सुवर्णतां प्राप कपालं पतितं करात्। ज्ञात्वैवं शंकिना पूर्वं कृतं तत्र महातपः

kāyaḥ suvarṇatāṁ prāpa kapālaṁ patitaṁ karāt| jñātvaivaṁ śaṁkinā pūrvaṁ kṛtaṁ tatra mahātapaḥ

his body attained a golden hue, and the skull-cup fell from his hand; knowing this, one apprehensive of sin once performed great austerity there.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.5.25)

तुष्टः श्रीशंकरो देवो लिंग वासवरेण तु। कोटियज्ञफलं स्नाने प्राच्यां लिंगस्य पूजने

tuṣṭaḥ śrīśaṁkaro devo liṁga vāsavareṇa tu| koṭiyajñaphalaṁ snāne prācyāṁ liṁgasya pūjane

Being pleased, the blessed god Shankara granted the boon of dwelling in the linga; bathing in the Prachi and worshipping the linga there bestows the fruit of a crore sacrifices.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.5.26)

पिंडे गयाशतगुणममासोमयुते दिने। भूतायां पिंडदस्तत्र कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत्

piṁḍe gayāśataguṇamamāsomayute dine| bhūtāyāṁ piṁḍadastatra kulakoṭiṁ samuddharet

Offering the funeral cake at Bhuta on a new-moon day that falls on a Monday bestows a hundred times the merit of the offering at Gaya, and the one who offers it there delivers a crore of his ancestral line.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.5.27)

ये चात्र मलनाशाय निमङ्क्ष्यंति च मानवाः। दशगोदानजं पुण्यं तेषामपि भविष्यति

ye cātra malanāśāya nimaṁkṣyaṁti ca mānavāḥ| daśagodānajaṁ puṇyaṁ teṣāmapi bhaviṣyati

Whatever humans immerse themselves there to wash away impurity, to them too shall come the merit of the gift of ten cows.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.5.28)

पादेन वा क्रीडमाना जलं लिप्संति ये नरा। तेषामपि श्राद्धफलं विधिवत्संभविष्यति। तत्र लिंगानि पूज्यानि शूलभेदादिकानि तु

pādena vā krīḍamānā jalaṁ lipsaṁti ye narā| teṣāmapi śrāddhaphalaṁ vidhivatsaṁbhaviṣyati| tatra liṁgāni pūjyāni śūlabhedādikāni tu

Even those men who, merely at play, touch that water with a foot, shall obtain the fruit of a duly performed shraddha rite; there the lingas beginning with Shulabheda are to be worshipped.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.5.29)

एवं विकल्प्य लिंगानि अश्वमेध फलानि तु। दर्शनेनापि सर्वेषां स्पर्शाद्धि द्विगुणं फलम्

evaṁ vikalpya liṁgāni aśvamedha phalāni tu| darśanenāpi sarveṣāṁ sparśāddhi dviguṇaṁ phalam

Thus, by the mere sight of these various lingas, the fruit of the horse-sacrifice is obtained; and by touching them, that fruit becomes twofold.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.5.30)

एवं तुष्टो जगन्नाथः स्थितः प्राचीवने ध्रुवम्। मनोऽपि ये करिष्यंति स्नानदानेषु का कथा

evaṁ tuṣṭo jagannāthaḥ sthitaḥ prācīvane dhruvam| mano'pi ye kariṣyaṁti snānadāneṣu kā kathā

Thus pleased, the Lord of the world surely abides in Prachivana; and what need to speak of those who actually bathe and give gifts, when even those who merely resolve to do so in their minds are blessed.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.5.31)

तेषां तुष्टो जगन्नाथः शंकरो नीललोहितः। त्रिंशत्कोटिगणस्तत्र प्राचीं रक्षंति सर्वतः

teṣāṁ tuṣṭo jagannāthaḥ śaṁkaro nīlalohitaḥ| triṁśatkoṭigaṇastatra prācīṁ rakṣaṁti sarvataḥ

Pleased with them, the Lord of the world, Shankara of the blue-red hue, dwells there; and thirty crore ganas guard the Prachi on every side.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.5.32)

महापापसमाचारः पापिष्ठो वाऽति किल्बिषी। घुणाक्षरमिव प्राणान्प्राच्यां मुक्त्वा शिवं व्रजेत्

mahāpāpasamācāraḥ pāpiṣṭho vā'ti kilbiṣī| ghuṇākṣaramiva prāṇānprācyāṁ muktvā śivaṁ vrajet

Even one of the conduct of great sin, exceedingly wicked, or steeped in transgression — like the chance formation of letters by a wood-worm's boring — giving up his life at the Prachi, attains Shiva.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.5.33)

दधिकंबलदानं तु तत्र देयं द्विजोत्तमे। कथितं पापशमनं सारात्सारतरं ध्रुवम्

dadhikaṁbaladānaṁ tu tatra deyaṁ dvijottame| kathitaṁ pāpaśamanaṁ sārātsārataraṁ dhruvam

There, the gift of a curd-blanket should be given to an excellent brahmin; this is declared to be an atonement for sin, more essential than the essence itself, without doubt.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.5.34)

अधुना संप्रवक्ष्यामि हिरण्याश्च महोदयम्। दुर्वाससा तपस्तप्तं तत्र सूर्यः प्रतिष्ठितः

adhunā saṁpravakṣyāmi hiraṇyāśca mahodayam| durvāsasā tapastaptaṁ tatra sūryaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Now I shall tell of Hiranya, a place of great renown; there, austerity having been performed by Durvasa, the Sun became established.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.5.35)

कोटिरेका तु तत्रैव ऋषीणामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वानामधिको बलरूपधृक्

koṭirekā tu tatraiva ṛṣīṇāmūrddhvaretasām| caturviṁśatitattvānāmadhiko balarūpadhṛk

There, right there, abide one crore sages of unspent seed; and there, bearing a form mightier than the twenty-four principles, stands the Sun.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.5.36)

यत्र तिष्ठति देवेशि भृगुकोटिसमन्वितः। अन्यत्र ब्राह्मणानां तु कोट्या यच्च फलं लभेत्

yatra tiṣṭhati deveśi bhṛgukoṭisamanvitaḥ| anyatra brāhmaṇānāṁ tu koṭyā yacca phalaṁ labhet

O Mistress of the gods, where he abides together with a crore of Bhrigus — whatever fruit is elsewhere obtained by feeding a crore of brahmins,

Verse 37 (skanda.7.5.37)

ब्रह्मस्थाने तथैकेन भोजितेन तु तत्फलम्। एवं ज्ञात्वा महादेवि तत्र तिष्ठामि निर्वृतः

brahmasthāne tathaikena bhojitena tu tatphalam| evaṁ jñātvā mahādevi tatra tiṣṭhāmi nirvṛtaḥ

that same fruit is obtained at Brahmasthana by feeding just a single brahmin; knowing this, O great Goddess, I dwell there content,

Verse 38 (skanda.7.5.38)

कोटिर्भिर्देवऋषिभिर्देवैः सह समावृतः। तीर्थानि तत्र तिष्ठंति अंतर्भूतानि वै कलौ

koṭirbhirdevaṛṣibhirdevaiḥ saha samāvṛtaḥ| tīrthāni tatra tiṣṭhaṁti aṁtarbhūtāni vai kalau

surrounded by crores of celestial seers and gods; in the Kali age, the tirthas there remain established, though hidden from view.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.5.39)

तत्र क्षेत्रे महारम्ये यत्र सोमेश्वरः स्थितः। मम देवि गणौ द्वौ तु विभ्रमः संभ्रमः परः

tatra kṣetre mahāramye yatra someśvaraḥ sthitaḥ| mama devi gaṇau dvau tu vibhramaḥ saṁbhramaḥ paraḥ

In that most delightful field where Someshvara abides, O Goddess, I have two ganas — Vibhrama and the supreme Sambhrama,

Verse 40 (skanda.7.5.40)

तौ चात्र क्षेत्रसंस्थानां लोकानां भ्रमविभ्रमैः। योजयंति सदा चित्तं विकल्पानैक्यसंकुलम्

tau cātra kṣetrasaṁsthānāṁ lokānāṁ bhramavibhramaiḥ| yojayaṁti sadā cittaṁ vikalpānaikyasaṁkulam

and these two constantly entangle the minds of those dwelling in this field, through confusion and illusion, in a welter of conflicting doubts — bewildering those unfit for the field's grace.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.5.41)

विनायकोपसर्गाश्च दश दोषास्तथा परे। एवं क्षेत्रं तु रक्षंति पापिनां दुष्टचेतसाम्

vināyakopasargāśca daśa doṣāstathā pare| evaṁ kṣetraṁ tu rakṣaṁti pāpināṁ duṣṭacetasām

The afflictions sent by Vinayaka, and the other ten faults as well — thus they guard the field against sinners and those of wicked mind.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.5.42)

दंडपाणिं तु ये भक्त्या पश्यंतीह नरोत्तमाः। न तेषां जायते विघ्नं तत्र क्षेत्रनिवासिनाम्

daṁḍapāṇiṁ tu ye bhaktyā paśyaṁtīha narottamāḥ| na teṣāṁ jāyate vighnaṁ tatra kṣetranivāsinām

Those excellent men who behold Dandapani here with devotion — no obstacle arises for them among the dwellers of the field.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.5.43)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा वै वर्णसंकराः। अकामा वा सकामा वा प्रभासे ये मृताः शुभे

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā vai varṇasaṁkarāḥ| akāmā vā sakāmā vā prabhāse ye mṛtāḥ śubhe

Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras, or those of mixed castes, whether without desire or with desire, whoever dies in this auspicious Prabhasa,

Verse 44 (skanda.7.5.44)

चंद्रार्द्धमौलिनः सर्वे ललाटाक्षा वृषध्वजाः। शिवे मम पुरे दिव्ये जायंते तत्र मानवाः

caṁdrārddhamaulinaḥ sarve lalāṭākṣā vṛṣadhvajāḥ| śive mama pure divye jāyaṁte tatra mānavāḥ

all such men are born in my divine city of Shiva, bearing the crescent moon, the eye upon the forehead, and the bull-emblem.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.5.45)

यस्तत्र वसते विप्रः संयतात्मा समाहितः। त्रिकालमपि भुंजानो वायुभक्षसमो भवेत्

yastatra vasate vipraḥ saṁyatātmā samāhitaḥ| trikālamapi bhuṁjāno vāyubhakṣasamo bhavet

The brahmin who dwells there with a disciplined self and composed mind becomes, even while eating thrice a day, equal to one who subsists on air alone.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.5.46)

मेरोः शक्या गुणा वक्तुं द्वीपानां च गुणास्तथा। समुद्राणां च सर्वेषां शक्या वक्तुं गुणाः प्रिये

meroḥ śakyā guṇā vaktuṁ dvīpānāṁ ca guṇāstathā| samudrāṇāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ śakyā vaktuṁ guṇāḥ priye

O beloved, the virtues of Meru can be told, and the virtues of the continents too, and the virtues of all the oceans as well, O dear one, can be told,

Verse 47 (skanda.7.5.47)

आदिदेवस्य देवेशि महेशस्य महाप्रभोः। शक्या नैव गुणा वक्तुं वर्षाकोटिशतैरपि

ādidevasya deveśi maheśasya mahāprabhoḥ| śakyā naiva guṇā vaktuṁ varṣākoṭiśatairapi

but, O Mistress of the gods, the virtues of Mahesha, the primal god and great Lord, cannot be told even in a hundred crore years.