The Question of Sri Hari's Sojourn in the Field of Prabhasa

Verse 1 (skanda.7.9.1)

देव्युवाच। दिव्यं तेजो नमस्यामि यन्मे दृष्टं पुरातने। कालाग्निरुद्रमध्यस्थं प्रभासे शंकरोद्भवम्

devyuvāca| divyaṁ tejo namasyāmi yanme dṛṣṭaṁ purātane| kālāgnirudramadhyasthaṁ prabhāse śaṁkarodbhavam

The Goddess said: I bow to that divine radiance which I beheld of old, abiding in the midst of Kālāgnirudra, born of Śaṅkara in Prabhāsa.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.9.2)

यो वेदसंघैर्ऋषिभिः पुराणैर्वेदोक्तयोगैरपि इज्यमानः। तं देवदेवं शरणं व्रजामि सोमेश्वरं पापविनाशहेतुम्

yo vedasaṁghairṛṣibhiḥ purāṇairvedoktayogairapi ijyamānaḥ| taṁ devadevaṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi someśvaraṁ pāpavināśahetum

He who is worshipped by the assemblies of Vedas, by sages, by the Purāṇas, and even by the Vedic yogas — to that God of gods, Someśvara, cause of the destruction of sin, I go for refuge.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.9.3)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ भक्तानुग्रहकारक। संशयो हृदि मे कश्चित्तं भवाञ्छेत्तुमर्हति

devadeva jagannātha bhaktānugrahakāraka| saṁśayo hṛdi me kaścittaṁ bhavāñchettumarhati

O God of gods, O Lord of the universe, O bestower of grace on devotees, some doubt lies in my heart; you alone are fit to dispel it.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.9.4)

ईश्वर उवाच। कः संशयः समुत्पन्नस्तव देवि यशस्विनि। तन्मे कथय कल्याणि तत्सर्वं कथयाम्यहम्

īśvara uvāca| kaḥ saṁśayaḥ samutpannastava devi yaśasvini| tanme kathaya kalyāṇi tatsarvaṁ kathayāmyaham

Īśvara said: What doubt has arisen in you, O glorious Goddess? Tell it to me, O auspicious one; I shall explain all of it.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.9.5)

देव्युवाच। यदि त्वं च महादेवो मुण्डमाला कथं कृता। अनादि निधनो धाता सृष्टिसंहारकारकः

devyuvāca| yadi tvaṁ ca mahādevo muṇḍamālā kathaṁ kṛtā| anādi nidhano dhātā sṛṣṭisaṁhārakārakaḥ

The Goddess said: If you are the great god, why do you wear a garland of skulls? Without beginning or end, the ordainer, the maker and unmaker of creation — how is this so?

Verse 6 (skanda.7.9.6)

ततो विहस्य देवेशः शंकरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अनेकमुण्डकोटीभिर्या मे माला विराजते

tato vihasya deveśaḥ śaṁkaro vākyamabravīt| anekamuṇḍakoṭībhiryā me mālā virājate

Then the Lord of gods, Śaṅkara, smiling, spoke these words: 'This garland of mine, adorned with many tens of millions of skulls—'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.9.7)

नारायण सहस्राणां ब्रह्मणामयुतस्य च। कृता शिरःकरोटीभिरनादिनिधना ततः

nārāyaṇa sahasrāṇāṁ brahmaṇāmayutasya ca| kṛtā śiraḥkaroṭībhiranādinidhanā tataḥ

is made from the skull-crowns of a thousand Nārāyaṇas and ten thousand Brahmās, and is thus itself without beginning or end.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.9.8)

अन्यो विष्णुश्च भवति अन्यो ब्रह्मा भवत्यपि। कल्पे कल्पे मया सृष्टः कल्पे विष्णुः प्रजापतिः

anyo viṣṇuśca bhavati anyo brahmā bhavatyapi| kalpe kalpe mayā sṛṣṭaḥ kalpe viṣṇuḥ prajāpatiḥ

In each kalpa a different Viṣṇu comes to be, and a different Brahmā as well; in kalpa after kalpa, Viṣṇu and the Prajāpati are created by me.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.9.9)

अहमेवंविधो देवि क्षेत्रे प्राभासिके स्थितः। कालाग्निलिंगमूले तु मुंडमालाविभूषितः

ahamevaṁvidho devi kṣetre prābhāsike sthitaḥ| kālāgniliṁgamūle tu muṁḍamālāvibhūṣitaḥ

O Goddess, in this very form I abide in the Prābhāsika field, adorned with the garland of skulls at the base of the Kālāgni liṅga.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.9.10)

अक्षसूत्रधरः शान्त आदिमध्यांतवर्जितः। पद्मासनस्थो वरदो हिमकुन्देन्दुसन्निभः

akṣasūtradharaḥ śānta ādimadhyāṁtavarjitaḥ| padmāsanastho varado himakundendusannibhaḥ

Holding a rosary of prayer beads, tranquil, free of beginning, middle, and end, seated in the lotus posture, granting boons, resembling snow, the kunda flower, and the moon in whiteness.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.9.11)

मम वामे स्थितो विष्णुर्दक्षिणे च पितामहः। जठरे चतुरो वेदाः हृदये ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्

mama vāme sthito viṣṇurdakṣiṇe ca pitāmahaḥ| jaṭhare caturo vedāḥ hṛdaye brahma śāśvatam

On my left stands Viṣṇu, on my right the Grandsire Brahmā; in my belly the four Vedas, and in my heart the eternal Brahman.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.9.12)

अग्निः सोमश्च सूर्यश्च लोचनेषु व्यवस्थिताः

agniḥ somaśca sūryaśca locaneṣu vyavasthitāḥ

Fire, the Moon, and the Sun are established in my eyes.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.9.13)

एवंविधो महादेवि प्रभासे संव्यवस्थितः। आप्यतत्त्वात्समानीते मा ते भूत्संशयः क्वचित्

evaṁvidho mahādevi prabhāse saṁvyavasthitaḥ| āpyatattvātsamānīte mā te bhūtsaṁśayaḥ kvacit

In this very form, O great Goddess, I remain established in Prabhāsa, brought together with the principle of water; let no doubt ever arise in you about this.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.9.14)

एवमुक्ता तदा देवी हर्षगद्गदया गिरा। तुष्टाव देवदेवेशं भक्त्या परमया युता

evamuktā tadā devī harṣagadgadayā girā| tuṣṭāva devadeveśaṁ bhaktyā paramayā yutā

Thus addressed, the Goddess then, her voice choked with joy, praised the God of gods, filled with supreme devotion.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.9.15)

देव्युवाच। जय देव महादेव सर्वभावन ईश्वर। नमस्तेऽस्तु सुरेशाय परमेशाय वै नमः

devyuvāca| jaya deva mahādeva sarvabhāvana īśvara| namaste'stu sureśāya parameśāya vai namaḥ

The Goddess said: Victory to you, O great God, O lord who fashions all existence. Salutation to you, sovereign of the gods, salutation to the supreme Lord.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.9.16)

अनादिसृष्टिकर्त्रे च नमः सर्वगताय च। सर्वस्थाय नमस्तुभ्यं धाम्नां धाम्ने नमोऽस्तु ते

anādisṛṣṭikartre ca namaḥ sarvagatāya ca| sarvasthāya namastubhyaṁ dhāmnāṁ dhāmne namo'stu te

Salutation to the beginningless creator, salutation to the all-pervading one. Salutation to you who dwell in all things, salutation to you, the splendor of splendors.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.9.17)

षडंताय नमस्तुभ्यं द्वादशान्ताय ते नमः। हंसभेद नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं च मोक्षद

ṣaḍaṁtāya namastubhyaṁ dvādaśāntāya te namaḥ| haṁsabheda namastubhyaṁ namastubhyaṁ ca mokṣada

Salutation to you of the sixfold end, salutation to you of the twelvefold end. Salutation to you, piercer of the Haṁsa, and salutation to you, giver of liberation.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.9.18)

इति स्तुतस्तदा देव्या प्रचलच्चन्द्रशेखरः। ततस्तुष्टस्तु भगवानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

iti stutastadā devyā pracalaccandraśekharaḥ| tatastuṣṭastu bhagavānidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Thus praised by the Goddess, Candraśekhara trembled with delight. Then, well pleased, the Lord spoke these words.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.9.19)

ईश्वर उवाच। साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञे तुष्टोऽहं व्रियतां वरः

īśvara uvāca| sādhusādhu mahāprājñe tuṣṭo'haṁ vriyatāṁ varaḥ

Īśvara said: Well done, well done, O greatly wise one! I am pleased; choose a boon.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.9.20)

देव्युवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश वरार्हा यदि वाप्यहम्। प्रभास क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं पुनर्विस्तरतो वद

devyuvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa varārhā yadi vāpyaham| prabhāsa kṣetramāhātmyaṁ punarvistarato vada

The Goddess said: If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, and if I am indeed worthy of a boon, then tell again, in full detail, the glory of the field of Prabhāsa.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.9.21)

भूतेश भगवान्विष्णुर्दैत्यानामन्तकाग्रणीः। स कस्माद्द्वारकां हित्वा प्रभासक्षेत्रमाश्रितः

bhūteśa bhagavānviṣṇurdaityānāmantakāgraṇīḥ| sa kasmāddvārakāṁ hitvā prabhāsakṣetramāśritaḥ

O Lord of beings, why did the blessed Viṣṇu, foremost among slayers of demons, abandon Dvārakā and take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 22 (skanda.7.9.22)

षष्टि तीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोटिशतानि च। द्वारकामध्यसंस्थानि कथं न्यक्कृतवान्हरिः

ṣaṣṭi tīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭiśatāni ca| dvārakāmadhyasaṁsthāni kathaṁ nyakkṛtavānhariḥ

Sixty thousand sacred fords, and six thousand million more, established within Dvārakā itself — why did Hari disregard them?

Verse 23 (skanda.7.9.23)

अमरैरावृतां पुण्यां पुण्यकृद्भिर्निषेविताम्। एवं तां द्वारकां त्यक्त्वा प्रभासं कथमागतः

amarairāvṛtāṁ puṇyāṁ puṇyakṛdbhirniṣevitām| evaṁ tāṁ dvārakāṁ tyaktvā prabhāsaṁ kathamāgataḥ

How, having abandoned that Dvārakā — holy, surrounded by immortals, attended by the meritorious — did he come to Prabhāsa?

Verse 24 (skanda.7.9.24)

देवमानुषयोर्नेता द्योभुवोः प्रभवो हरिः। किमर्थं द्वारकां त्यक्त्वा प्रभासे निधनं गतः

devamānuṣayornetā dyobhuvoḥ prabhavo hariḥ| kimarthaṁ dvārakāṁ tyaktvā prabhāse nidhanaṁ gataḥ

Hari, leader of gods and men, source of heaven and earth — for what reason, abandoning Dvārakā, did he meet his end in Prabhāsa?

Verse 25 (skanda.7.9.25)

यश्चक्रं वर्त्तयत्येको मानुषाणां मनोमयम्। प्रभासे स कथं कालं चक्रे चक्रभृतां वरः

yaścakraṁ varttayatyeko mānuṣāṇāṁ manomayam| prabhāse sa kathaṁ kālaṁ cakre cakrabhṛtāṁ varaḥ

He who alone turns the mind-wheel of humankind — how did he, the best of wheel-bearers, become subject to time's cycle in Prabhāsa?

Verse 26 (skanda.7.9.26)

गोपायनं यः कुरुते जगतः सार्वलौकिकम्। स कथं भगवान्विष्णुः प्रभासक्षेत्रमाश्रितः

gopāyanaṁ yaḥ kurute jagataḥ sārvalaukikam| sa kathaṁ bhagavānviṣṇuḥ prabhāsakṣetramāśritaḥ

He who provides universal protection for the whole world — how did the blessed Viṣṇu come to take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 27 (skanda.7.9.27)

योंतकाले जलं पीत्वा कृत्वा तोयमयं वपुः। लोकमेकार्णवं चक्रे दृष्ट्या दृष्टेन चात्मना

yoṁtakāle jalaṁ pītvā kṛtvā toyamayaṁ vapuḥ| lokamekārṇavaṁ cakre dṛṣṭyā dṛṣṭena cātmanā

He who, at the time of dissolution, drank up the waters, making his body of water, and by his gaze and his visible self turned the world into a single ocean.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.9.28)

स कथं पञ्चतां प्राप प्रभासे पार्वतीपते। यः पुराणे पुराणात्मा वाराहं वपुरास्थितः

sa kathaṁ pañcatāṁ prāpa prabhāse pārvatīpate| yaḥ purāṇe purāṇātmā vārāhaṁ vapurāsthitaḥ

O Lord of Pārvatī, how did he meet death in Prabhāsa — he who, in ancient time, being the primeval self, assumed the form of the boar?

Verse 29 (skanda.7.9.29)

उद्दधार महीं कृत्स्नां सशैलवनकाननाम्। स कथं त्यक्तवान्गात्रं प्रभासे पापनाशने

uddadhāra mahīṁ kṛtsnāṁ saśailavanakānanām| sa kathaṁ tyaktavāngātraṁ prabhāse pāpanāśane

He who lifted up the entire earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves — how did he abandon his body in sin-destroying Prabhāsa?

Verse 30 (skanda.7.9.30)

येन सिंहं वपुः कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुर्हतः। स कथं देवदेवेशः प्रभासं क्षेत्रमाश्रितः

yena siṁhaṁ vapuḥ kṛtvā hiraṇyakaśipurhataḥ| sa kathaṁ devadeveśaḥ prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāśritaḥ

He who, taking a lion's form, slew Hiraṇyakaśipu — how did that God of gods come to take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 31 (skanda.7.9.31)

सहस्रचरणं देवं सहस्राक्षं महाप्रभम्। सहस्रशिरसं वेदा यमाहुर्वै युगेयुगे

sahasracaraṇaṁ devaṁ sahasrākṣaṁ mahāprabham| sahasraśirasaṁ vedā yamāhurvai yugeyuge

He whom the Vedas, age after age, call the god of a thousand feet, a thousand eyes, of great splendor, with a thousand heads.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.9.32)

तत्याज स कथं देवः प्रभासे स्वं कलेवरम्। नाभ्यरण्यां समुद्भूतं यस्य पैतामहं गृहम्

tatyāja sa kathaṁ devaḥ prabhāse svaṁ kalevaram| nābhyaraṇyāṁ samudbhūtaṁ yasya paitāmahaṁ gṛham

How did that god abandon his own body in Prabhāsa — he in whose navel-forest grew the dwelling of the Grandsire?

Verse 33 (skanda.7.9.33)

एकार्णवगते लोके तत्पंकजमपंकजम्। येनोद्धृतं क्षणेनैव प्रभासस्थः स किं हरिः

ekārṇavagate loke tatpaṁkajamapaṁkajam| yenoddhṛtaṁ kṣaṇenaiva prabhāsasthaḥ sa kiṁ hariḥ

When the world had become a single ocean, he who in an instant raised up that mud-free lotus — is it that same Hari who now dwells in Prabhāsa?

Verse 34 (skanda.7.9.34)

उत्तरांशे समुद्रस्य क्षीरोदस्या मृतोदधेः। यः शेते शाश्वतं योगमास्थाय परवीरहा। स कथं त्यक्तवान्देहं प्रभासे परमेश्वरः

uttarāṁśe samudrasya kṣīrodasyā mṛtodadheḥ| yaḥ śete śāśvataṁ yogamāsthāya paravīrahā| sa kathaṁ tyaktavāndehaṁ prabhāse parameśvaraḥ

He who, at the northern reach of the Ocean of Milk, the nectarous deep, lies established in eternal yoga, the slayer of great enemies — how did that supreme Lord abandon his body in Prabhāsa?

Verse 35 (skanda.7.9.35)

हव्यादान्यः सुरांश्चक्रे कव्यादांश्च पितॄ नपि। स कथं देवदेवेशः प्रभासं क्षेत्रमाश्रितः

havyādānyaḥ surāṁścakre kavyādāṁśca pitṝ napi| sa kathaṁ devadeveśaḥ prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāśritaḥ

He who made the gods eaters of oblations and the ancestors eaters of ancestral offerings — how did that God of gods take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 36 (skanda.7.9.36)

युगानुरूपं यः कृत्वा रूपं लोकहिताय वै। धर्ममुद्धरते देवः स कथं क्षेत्रमाश्रितः

yugānurūpaṁ yaḥ kṛtvā rūpaṁ lokahitāya vai| dharmamuddharate devaḥ sa kathaṁ kṣetramāśritaḥ

He who, assuming a form suited to each age, for the good of the world, upholds Dharma — how did that god take refuge in this field?

Verse 37 (skanda.7.9.37)

त्रयो वर्णास्त्रयो लोकास्त्रैविद्यं पाठकास्त्रयः। त्रैकाल्यं त्रीणि कर्माणि त्रयो देवास्त्रयो गुणाः। सृष्टं येन पुरा देवः स कथं क्षेत्रमाश्रितः

trayo varṇāstrayo lokāstraividyaṁ pāṭhakāstrayaḥ| traikālyaṁ trīṇi karmāṇi trayo devāstrayo guṇāḥ| sṛṣṭaṁ yena purā devaḥ sa kathaṁ kṣetramāśritaḥ

The three social orders, the three worlds, the threefold Vedic learning, the three reciters, the three times, the three actions, the three gods, and the three guṇas — that god by whom all these were once created, how did he take refuge in this field?

Verse 38 (skanda.7.9.38)

या गतिर्द्धर्मयुक्तानामगतिः पापकर्मिणाम्। चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य प्रभवश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षिता

yā gatirddharmayuktānāmagatiḥ pāpakarmiṇām| cāturvarṇyasya prabhavaścāturvarṇyasya rakṣitā

He who is the goal of the righteous and the non-goal of sinners, who is the source of the four social orders and their protector.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.9.39)

चातुर्विद्यस्य यो वेत्ता चातुराश्रम्यसंस्थितः। कस्मात्स द्वारकां हित्वा प्रभासे पंचतां गतः

cāturvidyasya yo vettā cāturāśramyasaṁsthitaḥ| kasmātsa dvārakāṁ hitvā prabhāse pañcatāṁ gataḥ

He who knows the fourfold learning and abides in the four stages of life — why, forsaking Dvārakā, did he meet death in Prabhāsa?

Verse 40 (skanda.7.9.40)

दिगंतरं नभोभूमिरापो वायुर्विभावसुः। चंद्रसूर्यद्वयं ज्योतिर्युगेशः क्षणदातनुः

digaṁtaraṁ nabhobhūmirāpo vāyurvibhāvasuḥ| caṁdrasūryadvayaṁ jyotiryugeśaḥ kṣaṇadātanuḥ

He who is the space between the quarters, the sky, the earth, the waters, the wind, and fire, who is both luminaries the moon and sun, the lord of the ages, whose very body is the night.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.9.41)

यः परं श्रूयते ज्योतिर्यः परं श्रूयते तपः। यः परं परतः प्रोक्तः परं यः परमात्मवान्

yaḥ paraṁ śrūyate jyotiryaḥ paraṁ śrūyate tapaḥ| yaḥ paraṁ parataḥ proktaḥ paraṁ yaḥ paramātmavān

He who is heard of as the supreme light, who is heard of as the supreme austerity, who is declared supreme beyond the supreme, who possesses the supreme nature of the highest self.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.9.42)

आदित्यादिश्च यो दिव्यो यश्च दैत्यांतको विभुः। स कथं देवकीसूनुः प्रभासे सिद्धिमीयिवान्

ādityādiśca yo divyo yaśca daityāṁtako vibhuḥ| sa kathaṁ devakīsūnuḥ prabhāse siddhimīyivān

He who is divine, the source of the Ādityas, and the all-pervading destroyer of demons — how did that son of Devakī attain his final passing in Prabhāsa?

Verse 43 (skanda.7.9.43)

युगांते चांतको यश्च यश्च लोकांतकांतकः। सेतुर्यो लोकसत्तानां मेध्यो यो मेध्यकर्मणाम्

yugāṁte cāṁtako yaśca yaśca lokāṁtakāṁtakaḥ| seturyo lokasattānāṁ medhyo yo medhyakarmaṇām

He who is the ender at the end of the age, and the ender even of the ender of worlds, who is the bridge for all living beings, who is purity itself in sacred rites.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.9.44)

वेत्ता यो वेदविदुषां प्रभुर्यः प्रभवात्मनाम्। सोमभूतस्तु भूतानामग्निभूतोऽग्निवर्त्मनाम्

vettā yo vedaviduṣāṁ prabhuryaḥ prabhavātmanām| somabhūtastu bhūtānāmagnibhūto'gnivartmanām

He who is the knower among those who know the Veda, the lord of self-empowered souls, who is soma to living beings and fire to those who follow the path of fire.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.9.45)

मनुष्याणां मनोभूतस्तपोभूतस्तपस्विनाम्। विनयो नयभूतानां तेजस्तेजस्विनामपि

manuṣyāṇāṁ manobhūtastapobhūtastapasvinām| vinayo nayabhūtānāṁ tejastejasvināmapi

He who is the mind of men, the austerity of ascetics, the humility of the disciplined, and the splendor even of the splendid.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.9.46)

विग्रहो विग्रहाणां यो गतिर्गतिमतामपि। स कथं द्वारकां हित्वा प्रभासक्षेत्रमाश्रितः

vigraho vigrahāṇāṁ yo gatirgatimatāmapi| sa kathaṁ dvārakāṁ hitvā prabhāsakṣetramāśritaḥ

He who is the very form of conflict among conflicts, and the very movement among those that move — how, forsaking Dvārakā, did he take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 47 (skanda.7.9.47)

आकाशप्रभवो वायुर्वायुप्राणो हुताशनः। देवा हुताशनप्राणाः प्राणोऽग्नेर्मधुसूदनः। सकथं पद्मजप्राणः प्रभासं क्षेत्रमाश्रितः

ākāśaprabhavo vāyurvāyuprāṇo hutāśanaḥ| devā hutāśanaprāṇāḥ prāṇo'gnermadhusūdanaḥ| sakathaṁ padmajaprāṇaḥ prabhāsaṁ kṣetramāśritaḥ

From space arises wind, wind is the breath of fire, the gods draw their life-breath from fire, and Madhusūdana himself is the breath of fire. How did he, who is the very breath of the lotus-born Brahmā, come to take refuge in the field of Prabhāsa?

Verse 48 (skanda.7.9.48)

सूत उवाच। इति प्रोक्तस्तदा देव्या शंकरो लोकशंकरः। उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं पार्वतीं द्विजसत्तमाः

sūta uvāca| iti proktastadā devyā śaṁkaro lokaśaṁkaraḥ| uvāca prahasanvākyaṁ pārvatīṁ dvijasattamāḥ

Suta said: O best of twice-born, thus addressed by the Goddess, Śaṅkara, benefactor of the world, spoke these words to Pārvatī, smiling.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.9.49)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रभासक्षेत्रविस्तरम्। रहस्यं सर्वपापघ्नं देवानामपि दुर्ल्लभम्

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi prabhāsakṣetravistaram| rahasyaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ devānāmapi durllabham

Īśvara said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall tell you in full about the field of Prabhāsa — a secret that destroys all sin, hard to attain even for the gods.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.9.50)

देवि क्षेत्राण्यनेकानि पृथिव्यां संति भामिनि। तीर्थानि कोटिसंख्यानि प्रभावस्तेषु संख्यया

devi kṣetrāṇyanekāni pṛthivyāṁ saṁti bhāmini| tīrthāni koṭisaṁkhyāni prabhāvasteṣu saṁkhyayā

O Goddess, O radiant one, there are many sacred fields on earth, tens of millions of sacred fords, and their power is measured accordingly.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.9.51)

असंख्येय प्रभावं हि प्रभासं परिकीर्तितम्। ब्रह्मतत्त्वं विष्णुतत्त्वं रौद्रतत्त्वं तथैव च

asaṁkhyeya prabhāvaṁ hi prabhāsaṁ parikīrtitam| brahmatattvaṁ viṣṇutattvaṁ raudratattvaṁ tathaiva ca

But Prabhāsa is proclaimed to be of immeasurable power. The principle of Brahmā, the principle of Viṣṇu, and the principle of Rudra — these three.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.9.52)

तत्र भूयः समायोगो दुर्ल्लभोऽन्येषु पार्वति। प्रभासे देवदेवेशि तत्त्वानां त्रितयं स्थितम्

tatra bhūyaḥ samāyogo durllabho'nyeṣu pārvati| prabhāse devadeveśi tattvānāṁ tritayaṁ sthitam

The coming together of these, O Pārvatī, is exceedingly rare elsewhere; but in Prabhāsa, O sovereign of the gods, this triad of principles abides together.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.9.53)

चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वैश्च ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। बालरूपी च नाम्नां च तत्र स्थाने स्थितः स्वयम्

caturviṁśatitattvaiśca brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| bālarūpī ca nāmnāṁ ca tatra sthāne sthitaḥ svayam

Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, together with the twenty-four principles, himself abides in that place in the form of a child.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.9.54)

पंचविशतितत्त्वानाम धिपो देवताग्रणीः। तस्मिन्स्थाने स्थितः साक्षाद्दैत्यानामंतकः शुभे

paṁcaviśatitattvānāmadhipo devatāgraṇīḥ| tasminsthāne sthitaḥ sākṣāddaityānāmaṁtakaḥ śubhe

O auspicious one, the lord of the twenty-five principles, foremost among the gods, the ender of demons, abides visibly in that very place.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.9.55)

अहं देवि त्वया सार्द्धं षट्त्रिंशत्तत्त्वसंयुतः। निवसामि महाभागे प्रभासे पापनाशने

ahaṁ devi tvayā sārddhaṁ ṣaṭtriṁśattattvasaṁyutaḥ| nivasāmi mahābhāge prabhāse pāpanāśane

I myself, O Goddess, endowed with the thirty-six principles, dwell together with you, O most fortunate one, in sin-destroying Prabhāsa.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.9.56)

एवं तत्त्वमयं क्षेत्रं सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम्। प्रभासमेव जानीहि मा कार्षीः संशयं क्वचित्

evaṁ tattvamayaṁ kṣetraṁ sarvatīrthamayaṁ śubham| prabhāsameva jānīhi mā kārṣīḥ saṁśayaṁ kvacit

Know, then, that this field, composed of all principles, composed of all sacred fords, this auspicious place, is Prabhāsa itself; entertain no doubt about this anywhere.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.9.57)

अपि कीटपतंगा ये म्रियंते तत्र ये नराः। तेऽपि यांति परं स्थानं नात्र कार्या विचारणा

api kīṭapataṁgā ye mriyaṁte tatra ye narāḥ| te'pi yāṁti paraṁ sthānaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Even the worms and moths, and whatever men die there, attain the supreme abode; no further reflection need be made on this.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.9.58)

स्त्रियो म्लेच्छाश्च शूद्राश्च पशवः पक्षिणो मृगाः। प्रभासे तु मृता देवि शिवलोकं व्रजंति ते

striyo mlecchāśca śūdrāśca paśavaḥ pakṣiṇo mṛgāḥ| prabhāse tu mṛtā devi śivalokaṁ vrajaṁti te

Women, outcastes, śūdras, beasts, birds, and deer — O Goddess, dying in Prabhāsa, they go to the world of Śiva.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.9.59)

कामक्रोधेन ये बद्धा लोभेन च वशीकृताः। अज्ञानतिमिराक्रांता मायातत्त्वे च संस्थिताः

kāmakrodhena ye baddhā lobhena ca vaśīkṛtāḥ| ajñānatimirākrāṁtā māyātattve ca saṁsthitāḥ

Those bound by desire and anger, subjugated by greed, overwhelmed by the darkness of ignorance, established in the principle of illusion.

Verse 60 (skanda.7.9.60)

कालपाशेन ये बद्धास्तृष्णाजालेन मोहिताः। अधर्मनिरता ये च ये च तिष्ठंति पापिनः

kālapāśena ye baddhāstṛṣṇājālena mohitāḥ| adharmaniratā ye ca ye ca tiṣṭhaṁti pāpinaḥ

those bound by the noose of time, deluded by the net of craving, devoted to unrighteousness, and those who remain sinners.

Verse 61 (skanda.7.9.61)

ब्रह्मघ्नाश्च कृतघ्नाश्च ये चान्ये गुरुतल्पगाः। महापातकिनश्चापि ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्

brahmaghnāśca kṛtaghnāśca ye cānye gurutalpagāḥ| mahāpātakinaścāpi te yāṁti paramāṁ gatim

Killers of brāhmaṇas, ingrates, violators of the teacher's bed, and other great sinners too — they attain the supreme goal there.

Verse 62 (skanda.7.9.62)

मातृहंता नरो यस्तु पितृहंता तथैव च। ते सर्वे मुक्तिमायांति किं पुनः शुभकारिणः

mātṛhaṁtā naro yastu pitṛhaṁtā tathaiva ca| te sarve muktimāyāṁti kiṁ punaḥ śubhakāriṇaḥ

The man who is a matricide, and likewise he who is a patricide — even all of them attain liberation there; what then need be said of those who do good?

Verse 63 (skanda.7.9.63)

इति ज्ञात्वा महादेवि दैत्यानामंतको हरिः। प्रभासक्षेत्रमासाद्य त्यक्तवान्स्वं कलेवरम्

iti jñātvā mahādevi daityānāmaṁtako hariḥ| prabhāsakṣetramāsādya tyaktavānsvaṁ kalevaram

Knowing this, O great Goddess, Hari, the ender of demons, came to the field of Prabhāsa and gave up his own body.