The Glory of Pandaveshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.86.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। तस्यास्तु दक्षिणे भागे स्थितं लिंगं महाप्रभम्। पांडवेश्वरनामाढ्यं पंचभिः स्थापितं क्रमात्

īśvara uvāca| tasyāstu dakṣiṇe bhāge sthitaṁ liṅgaṁ mahāprabham| pāṇḍaveśvaranāmāḍhyaṁ pañcabhiḥ sthāpitaṁ kramāt

Ishvara said: To the south of that (Sannihita) stands a Linga of immense radiance, named Pandaveshvara, established in due order by the five Pandavas.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.86.2)

गुप्तचर्यां यदा याताः पांडवा वनवासिनः। तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन प्रभासं क्षेत्रमागताः

guptacaryāṁ yadā yātāḥ pāṇḍavā vanavāsinaḥ| tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāgatāḥ

When the forest-dwelling Pandavas had gone about in secret conduct, they came to the sacred field of Prabhasa in the course of a pilgrimage to the tirthas.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.86.3)

तस्मिन्काले महादेवि सं प्राप्ते सोमपर्वणि। स्थापयामासुस्ते सर्वे लिंगं संनिहिता तटे

tasminkāle mahādevi saṁ prāpte somaparvaṇi| sthāpayāmāsuste sarve liṅgaṁ saṁnihitā taṭe

At that time, O great Goddess, when the Soma-parvan had arrived, all of them established the Linga on the bank of the Sannihita.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.86.4)

मार्कण्डप्रमुखान्कृत्वा ऋत्विजो ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्। वेदोक्तैः कारयामासुरभिषेकं वृषान्ददुः

mārkaṇḍapramukhānkṛtvā ṛtvijo brāhmaṇottamān| vedoktaiḥ kārayāmāsurabhiṣekaṁ vṛṣāndaduḥ

Making Markanda and other foremost brahmins their officiating priests, they had the consecration performed with Vedic rites, and gave bulls as gifts.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.86.5)

ततः प्रसन्ना ऋषयो मार्कंडप्रमुखाः प्रिये। प्रतिष्ठितस्य लिंगस्य पांडवैर्वरवर्णिनि

tataḥ prasannā ṛṣayo mārkaṇḍapramukhāḥ priye| pratiṣṭhitasya liṅgasya pāṇḍavairvaravarṇini

Then, O beloved, O fair one, the sages headed by Markanda became pleased at the Linga established by the Pandavas.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.86.6)

ऋषय ऊचुः। ये चैतत्पूजयिष्यंति लिंगं पांडवपूजितम्। ते वै पूज्या भविष्यंति देवदानवरक्षसाम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| ye caitatpūjayiṣyanti liṅgaṁ pāṇḍavapūjitam| te vai pūjyā bhaviṣyanti devadānavarakṣasām

The sages said: Those who shall worship this Linga worshipped by the Pandavas shall themselves become worthy of worship by gods, danavas, and rakshasas.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.86.7)

अश्वमेधफलं तेषां सम्यक्छ्रद्धार्चनेन वै। भविष्यति न संदेहो ह्यस्मद्वाक्यप्रभावतः

aśvamedhaphalaṁ teṣāṁ samyakchraddhārcanena vai| bhaviṣyati na saṁdeho hyasmadvākyaprabhāvataḥ

By worshipping with proper faith, they shall surely obtain the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice — there is no doubt, by the power of our word.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.86.8)

स्नात्वा संनिहिताकुंडे योऽर्चयेत्पांडवेश्वरम्। माघे मासि समग्रे तु स साक्षात्पुरुषोत्तमः

snātvā saṁnihitākuṇḍe yo'rcayetpāṇḍaveśvaram| māghe māsi samagre tu sa sākṣātpuruṣottamaḥ

He who, having bathed in the Sannihita-kunda, worships Pandaveshvara throughout the entire month of Magha, becomes verily Purushottama, the Supreme Being himself.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.86.9)

दर्शनेनापि तस्यापि पापं याति सहस्रधा। विष्णुरूपो हि स प्रोक्तो नात्र कार्या विचारणा

darśanenāpi tasyāpi pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā| viṣṇurūpo hi sa prokto nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Even by merely beholding him, sin departs a thousandfold; he is indeed declared to be a form of Vishnu — of this there should be no doubt.