The Description of Shivaloka and the Conclusion of the Purana

Verse 1 (skanda.8.183.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । सत्यस्य महतश्चैव जनस्य तपसस्तथा । भव्यभूतभवानां च सप्तानामूर्घ्वतः स्थितः

sanatkumāra uvāca | satyasya mahataścaiva janasya tapasastathā | bhavyabhūtabhavānāṁ ca saptānāmūrghvataḥ sthitaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Above the seven worlds - Satya, Mahat, Jana, and Tapas, and Bhavya, Bhuta, and Bhava -

Verse 2 (skanda.8.183.2)

लोको भगवतः शम्भोर्यत्रास्ते सकलः शिवः । नासौ तर्कविनिर्देश्यो लोकास्तस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठिताः

loko bhagavataḥ śambhoryatrāste sakalaḥ śivaḥ | nāsau tarkavinirdeśyo lokāstasmin pratiṣṭhitāḥ

is the world of the Blessed Shambhu, where the Whole, Shiva, dwells; it is not to be indicated by mere logic - the worlds are established within it.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.183.3)

ऊर्ध्वं तिर्यगधस्ताच्च लोकास्तद्विनिबन्धनाः । ब्रह्माण्डं सकलं तस्मिञ्छिवलोके प्रतिष्ठितम्

ūrdhvaṁ tiryagadhastācca lokāstadvinibandhanāḥ | brahmāṇḍaṁ sakalaṁ tasmiñchivaloke pratiṣṭhitam

Above, across, and below, the worlds are bound to it; the entire universe is established within that world of Shiva.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.183.4)

नासौ नश्यति संहारे ध्रुवः स्थाणुः सुरालयः । यत्राहं सनकाद्याश्च ब्रह्मा चैव पितामहः

nāsau naśyati saṁhāre dhruvaḥ sthāṇuḥ surālayaḥ | yatrāhaṁ sanakādyāśca brahmā caiva pitāmahaḥ

It does not perish at the dissolution; eternal, fixed, the abode of the gods - where I, and Sanaka and the rest, and Brahma, the Grandfather too,

Verse 5 (skanda.8.183.5)

बालखिल्यपुरोगाश्च सिद्धाश्च कपिलादयः । शिवयोगपरिप्राप्त्या सत्वादिगुणवर्जिताः

bālakhilyapurogāśca siddhāśca kapilādayaḥ | śivayogapariprāptyā satvādiguṇavarjitāḥ

and those headed by the Balakhilyas, and the accomplished ones, Kapila and the rest, having attained union with Shiva through yoga, freed from sattva and the other qualities,

Verse 6 (skanda.8.183.6)

तिष्ठामो निर्वृता व्यास सेवमानास्तमीश्वरम् । परमाणुरसावीशो भावगम्यो मनीषिणाम्

tiṣṭhāmo nirvṛtā vyāsa sevamānāstamīśvaram | paramāṇurasāvīśo bhāvagamyo manīṣiṇām

dwell, at peace, O Vyasa, serving that Ishvara. He, the Lord, is an atom, attainable by the wise only through feeling.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.183.7)

परमैश्वर्यसंयुक्तस्तत्रास्ते विग्रहेश्वरः । क्षमा सत्यं धृतिश्चैव तपो वैराग्यमेव च

paramaiśvaryasaṁyuktastatrāste vigraheśvaraḥ | kṣamā satyaṁ dhṛtiścaiva tapo vairāgyameva ca

Endowed with supreme majesty, the Lord of embodied form abides there; forbearance, truth, steadfastness, austerity, and dispassion as well,

Verse 8 (skanda.8.183.8)

स्रष्टृत्वं ज्ञानवैराग्यादात्मबोधो महेशता । नित्यमेतानि तिष्ठन्ति तस्मिन्देवे महेश्वरे

sraṣṭṛtvaṁ jñānavairāgyādātmabodho maheśatā | nityametāni tiṣṭhanti tasmindeve maheśvare

the power of creation, born of knowledge and dispassion, Self-realization, and the state of Maheshvara - these ever abide in that god, Maheshvara.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.183.9)

योगवह्निरसावात्मा ब्रह्मसृक्परमेश्वरः । साकल्यान्मूर्त्तिमास्थाय करोति जगतः स्थितिम्

yogavahnirasāvātmā brahmasṛkparameśvaraḥ | sākalyānmūrttimāsthāya karoti jagataḥ sthitim

He, that Self, the fire of yoga, the source of Brahman, the Supreme Lord, having assumed a bodily form through his wholeness, maintains the order of the world.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.183.10)

अष्टमं ध्रुवमध्येयमक्षरं मुक्तिकारणम् । मायाधाम तदीशस्य जगत्संहारहेतुमत्

aṣṭamaṁ dhruvamadhyeyamakṣaraṁ muktikāraṇam | māyādhāma tadīśasya jagatsaṁhārahetumat

That eighth, fixed, meditable, imperishable thing, the cause of liberation - the very seat of Maya belonging to that Lord, the cause of the world's dissolution -

Verse 11 (skanda.8.183.11)

ऊर्ध्वतो ब्रह्मलोकस्य योजनानां महात्मनः । विंशतीनान्तु कोटीनां पुरं स्थाणोः समास्थितम्

ūrdhvato brahmalokasya yojanānāṁ mahātmanaḥ | viṁśatīnāntu koṭīnāṁ puraṁ sthāṇoḥ samāsthitam

above the world of Brahma, at a distance of twenty crore yojanas of that great soul, stands the city of Sthanu.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.183.12)

एतावानूर्ध्वसञ्चारो गत्यन्तश्च ततः स्मृतः । असंख्याताः पुरे तस्मिन्नित्याः सूक्ष्मास्तथाव्ययाः

etāvānūrdhvasañcāro gatyantaśca tataḥ smṛtaḥ | asaṁkhyātāḥ pure tasminnityāḥ sūkṣmāstathāvyayāḥ

This much is remembered as the extent of the upward journey, and the limit of the soul's course thereafter; in that city are innumerable, eternal, subtle, and likewise imperishable

Verse 13 (skanda.8.183.13)

ज्ञानाधिकारधर्मिण्यः शैवीप्रकृतयः स्थिताः । याभ्यो जज्ञे महेशानौ ब्रह्मविष्णू प्रजापती

jñānādhikāradharmiṇyaḥ śaivīprakṛtayaḥ sthitāḥ | yābhyo jajñe maheśānau brahmaviṣṇū prajāpatī

Shaiva Prakritis established, possessing the quality of authority over knowledge, from whom the two great lords, Brahma and Vishnu, Lords of Creatures, were born.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.183.14)

ताभ्यां प्रकृतिभूताभ्यां स्रष्टृत्वं परमं ददौ । अक्षयो विमलः सूक्ष्मो निष्कलः सकलोपि च

tābhyāṁ prakṛtibhūtābhyāṁ sraṣṭṛtvaṁ paramaṁ dadau | akṣayo vimalaḥ sūkṣmo niṣkalaḥ sakalopi ca

To those two, who had become manifestations of Prakriti, he gave the supreme power of creation - imperishable, stainless, subtle, formless, and yet formed too,

Verse 15 (skanda.8.183.15)

स्थिरे मूर्ते परे दिव्ये परमाणुपदे स्थितः । मनसः प्राक्तमस्यादौ तत्तेजःसंप्रकाशनम्

sthire mūrte pare divye paramāṇupade sthitaḥ | manasaḥ prāktamasyādau tattejaḥsaṁprakāśanam

fixed, embodied, supreme, divine, established in the state of the primal atom - before the mind, at the very beginning of this creation, came the manifestation of that splendor,

Verse 16 (skanda.8.183.16)

यदासीद्धैममण्डन्तु लौकिकं त्वापवर्गिकम् । महत्तत् सर्वतो नित्यमीश्वरात्तदभूत्तदा

yadāsīddhaimamaṇḍantu laukikaṁ tvāpavargikam | mahattat sarvato nityamīśvarāttadabhūttadā

when there was that golden Egg, both worldly and liberating; that Great One, ever, from every side, then came into being from the Lord.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.183.17)

तस्माद्बीजस्य निर्भेदः क्षेत्रज्ञः स विभुः स्मृतः । प्रकृतिर्वैष्णवी प्रोक्ता सा च तस्माद्विनिर्गता

tasmādbījasya nirbhedaḥ kṣetrajñaḥ sa vibhuḥ smṛtaḥ | prakṛtirvaiṣṇavī proktā sā ca tasmādvinirgatā

From that, the undivided seed - he is remembered as the Knower of the Field, the all-pervading one; and Prakriti, called Vaishnavi, issued forth from that very source,

Verse 18 (skanda.8.183.18)

सुरासुरादिसृष्ट्यर्थं ब्रह्मत्वं पुनरास्थिता । अण्डस्य भेदतः पद्मब्रह्मणः शंकरात्मनः । ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्ताच्च पुरं तेजोमयं महत्

surāsurādisṛṣṭyarthaṁ brahmatvaṁ punarāsthitā | aṇḍasya bhedataḥ padmabrahmaṇaḥ śaṁkarātmanaḥ | brahmalokapurastācca puraṁ tejomayaṁ mahat

for the purpose of creating gods, asuras, and the rest, established again in the state of Brahma; from the splitting of that lotus-egg, of Brahman's own nature, of Shankara's own nature - beyond the city that is the world of Brahma, was that great, splendor-filled city.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.183.19)

यत् स्थानं विग्रहेशस्य ईश्वरस्य परात्मनः । नाम्ना शिवपुरं व्यास गतिरीश्वरयोगिनाम्

yat sthānaṁ vigraheśasya īśvarasya parātmanaḥ | nāmnā śivapuraṁ vyāsa gatirīśvarayoginām

The abode of the Lord of embodied form, of Ishvara, the Supreme Self - by name, Shivapura, O Vyasa, the destination of the yogins devoted to the Lord.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.183.20)

शतं शतसहस्राणां योजनानां तदुच्यते । महीमण्डलसंस्थानं तन्मध्ये विस्तृतं स्मृतम्

śataṁ śatasahasrāṇāṁ yojanānāṁ taducyate | mahīmaṇḍalasaṁsthānaṁ tanmadhye vistṛtaṁ smṛtam

It is said to measure a hundred hundred-thousand yojanas; its dimensions, spread across the earth's disk, are said to be vast within it.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.183.21)

स्फुरदादित्यरूपेण वह्नेरधिकतेजसा । महता हैमजातेन प्राकारेण सुवेष्टितम्

sphuradādityarūpeṇa vahneradhikatejasā | mahatā haimajātena prākāreṇa suveṣṭitam

Gleaming with the form of the sun, of splendor exceeding fire, it is well enclosed by a great, golden rampart,

Verse 22 (skanda.8.183.22)

चतुर्भिर्हेमजैर्द्वारैर्मणिमुक्ताविभूषितैः । शोभितं तत्पुरं रम्यं शुशुभे सिद्धसेवितम्

caturbhirhemajairdvārairmaṇimuktāvibhūṣitaiḥ | śobhitaṁ tatpuraṁ ramyaṁ śuśubhe siddhasevitam

adorned with four golden gates, ornamented with gems and pearls; that delightful city, thus adorned, shone forth, served by the accomplished ones.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.183.23)

जरामृत्युश्रमव्याधिकोपमोहमदादयः । न क्रमन्त्यशुभास्तस्मिन् भावाः शिवपुरे मुने

jarāmṛtyuśramavyādhikopamohamadādayaḥ | na kramantyaśubhāstasmin bhāvāḥ śivapure mune

Old age, death, weariness, disease, wrath, delusion, and intoxication and the rest - these inauspicious states do not enter into that Shivapura, O sage.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.183.24)

शतं शतसहस्राणां योजनानां यथादिशम् । तत् पुरं वृषभाङ्कस्य सर्वव्यापि समृद्धिमत्

śataṁ śatasahasrāṇāṁ yojanānāṁ yathādiśam | tat puraṁ vṛṣabhāṅkasya sarvavyāpi samṛddhimat

It measures a hundred hundred-thousand yojanas in every direction; that city of the bull-emblemed one is all-pervading, filled with prosperity.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.183.25)

दिव्या मारकती भूमिः स्पर्शमात्रसुखावहा । वैदूर्यमणिकल्पानि बालार्कसदृशानि च

divyā mārakatī bhūmiḥ sparśamātrasukhāvahā | vaidūryamaṇikalpāni bālārkasadṛśāni ca

Its divine ground is of emerald, bringing happiness by mere touch; there are lotus-pools resembling beryl, and some like the newly-risen sun,

Verse 26 (skanda.8.183.26)

क्वचिद्रक्तानि पद्मानि क्वचिच्छ्वेतानि रेजिरे । महाह्रदप्रमाणानि नालैर्वैदूर्यसन्निभैः

kvacidraktāni padmāni kvacicchvetāni rejire | mahāhradapramāṇāni nālairvaidūryasannibhaiḥ

and here and there red lotuses, and here and there white ones, shone forth, of the size of great lakes, with stalks resembling beryl,

Verse 27 (skanda.8.183.27)

गन्धवन्ति महार्हाणि विन्यस्तानि महीतले । इन्द्रनीलनिकाशानि महामणिनिभानि च

gandhavanti mahārhāṇi vinyastāni mahītale | indranīlanikāśāni mahāmaṇinibhāni ca

fragrant, most precious, set upon the ground - some resembling sapphire, and some like great gems,

Verse 28 (skanda.8.183.28)

कचित् कृष्णार्धरक्तानि दिव्यगन्धवहानि च । तत्र उत्पलानि समन्ततः

kacit kṛṣṇārdharaktāni divyagandhavahāni ca | tatra utpalāni samantataḥ

and some dark, tinged with red, exhaling divine fragrance; there, blue lotuses bloomed on every side.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.183.29)

प्रवहन्ति महानद्यो यास्तस्मिन्नमृतोदकम् । पुरे भगवतः शम्भोः पाराशर्य निबोध ताः

pravahanti mahānadyo yāstasminnamṛtodakam | pure bhagavataḥ śambhoḥ pārāśarya nibodha tāḥ

Great rivers flow, whose waters, in that place, are nectar; hear now, O son of Parashara, of those rivers in the city of the blessed Shambhu:

Verse 30 (skanda.8.183.30)

वरदा च वरेण्या च वरेशा वरवर्णिनी । वाराही वारिभद्रा च वरा चैव महापगाः

varadā ca vareṇyā ca vareśā varavarṇinī | vārāhī vāribhadrā ca varā caiva mahāpagāḥ

Varada, and Varenya, Varesha, Varavarnini, Varahi, Varibhadra, and Vara too - these great rivers,

Verse 31 (skanda.8.183.31)

नानाकुसुमसंमिश्रं ता वहन्ति जलामृतम् । न देवा न मुनीन्द्राश्च नासुराः पितरो न च

nānākusumasaṁmiśraṁ tā vahanti jalāmṛtam | na devā na munīndrāśca nāsurāḥ pitaro na ca

mingled with manifold flowers, carry that nectarous water. Neither the gods, nor the foremost of sages, nor the asuras, nor the ancestors,

Verse 32 (skanda.8.183.32)

न चैवान्ये समर्थाः स्युर्ज्ञातुं तत्पुरमद्भुतम् । अन्तर्मनसि बुद्धा ये सर्वतो भक्तिभाविताः । शिवैकमनसो व्यास तस्मिन्मोदन्ति ते नराः

na caivānye samarthāḥ syurjñātuṁ tatpuramadbhutam | antarmanasi buddhā ye sarvato bhaktibhāvitāḥ | śivaikamanaso vyāsa tasminmodanti te narāḥ

nor indeed any others, are able to know that wondrous city; only those men, awakened in their inmost mind, wholly filled with devotion, single-minded toward Shiva, O Vyasa, rejoice therein.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.183.33)

तस्य मध्ये पुरेन्द्रस्य सूर्यज्वलनवर्चसः । मेरुशृङ्गप्रतीकाशो दिग्भद्रस्तपनप्रभः

tasya madhye purendrasya sūryajvalanavarcasaḥ | meruśṛṅgapratīkāśo digbhadrastapanaprabhaḥ

In the midst of that foremost of cities, of the splendor of the blazing sun, resembling the peak of Meru, auspicious in every direction, radiant as the sun,

Verse 34 (skanda.8.183.34)

प्रासादो लक्षपादस्तु कामगः कनकामयः । अनिरीक्ष्यैर्महारत्नैः समन्तात् परिशोभितम्

prāsādo lakṣapādastu kāmagaḥ kanakāmayaḥ | anirīkṣyairmahāratnaiḥ samantāt pariśobhitam

is the palace, a hundred thousand cubits on each side, moving at will, made of gold, adorned all about with dazzling great gems,

Verse 35 (skanda.8.183.35)

वैदूर्यैर्व्योमसंकाशैः स्फाटिकैश्चन्द्रसप्रभैः । प्रवालैरर्कसंकाशैरिन्द्रनीलमयैः परैः

vaidūryairvyomasaṁkāśaiḥ sphāṭikaiścandrasaprabhaiḥ | pravālairarkasaṁkāśairindranīlamayaiḥ paraiḥ

with beryls resembling the sky, crystals bright as the moon, corals resembling the sun, and other precious stones set with sapphires,

Verse 36 (skanda.8.183.36)

शशिरश्मिप्रकाशाभिः क्वचिदर्कांशुरूपिभिः । शोभितं तत्पताकाभिर्विरराज सुखानिलम्

śaśiraśmiprakāśābhiḥ kvacidarkāṁśurūpibhiḥ | śobhitaṁ tatpatākābhirvirarāja sukhānilam

adorned with banners bright as moonbeams, and some in the form of sun-rays, it shone forth, with a pleasant breeze about it.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.183.37)

सर्वर्तुकुसुमैश्चित्रैरिच्छारत्नफलैरपि । शुशुभे तत्पुरं कीर्णं पादपैर्गिरिसन्निभैः

sarvartukusumaiścitrairicchāratnaphalairapi | śuśubhe tatpuraṁ kīrṇaṁ pādapairgirisannibhaiḥ

Adorned with the wondrous flowers of every season, and with wish-fulfilling gem-fruits as well, that city shone, thronged with trees resembling mountains.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.183.38)

महीध्राणां यथा मेरुस्सर्वेषां प्रवरो महान् । तथैव तत्पुरं रेजे सर्वलोकोपरि स्थितम्

mahīdhrāṇāṁ yathā merussarveṣāṁ pravaro mahān | tathaiva tatpuraṁ reje sarvalokopari sthitam

As Meru is the greatest and foremost of all mountains, so too that city shone, situated above all the worlds.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.183.39)

तत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षान्महाभूतपतिर्हरः । सदास्ते सहितः पत्न्या षड्विंशः परमेश्वरः

tatra viśveśvaraḥ sākṣānmahābhūtapatirharaḥ | sadāste sahitaḥ patnyā ṣaḍviṁśaḥ parameśvaraḥ

There, Vishveshvara himself, in person, the lord of the great elements, Hara, ever abides, together with his consort - the Twenty-Sixth, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.183.40)

लक्ष्मीर्मेधा धृतिश्चैव ह्रीः श्रीः किर्त्तिः सरस्वती । उमया सहितास्तत्र मोदन्ते लोकमातरः

lakṣmīrmedhā dhṛtiścaiva hrīḥ śrīḥ kirttiḥ sarasvatī | umayā sahitāstatra modante lokamātaraḥ

Lakshmi, Medha, Dhriti, and likewise Hri, Shri, Kirti, and Sarasvati - the Mothers of the world, together with Uma, rejoice there.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.183.41)

शिवभावर्पितात्मानो ये नरा रुद्रतत्पराः । यत्र तत्र मृता वत्स तेषां तत्रास्पदं स्मृतम

śivabhāvarpitātmāno ye narā rudratatparāḥ | yatra tatra mṛtā vatsa teṣāṁ tatrāspadaṁ smṛtama

Those men whose souls are devoted to the state of Shiva, intent upon Rudra, wherever they may die, my child - for them an abode there is declared.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.183.42)

ये च माहेश्वरा व्यास तिष्ठन्ते शङ्करालये । मुनयः शङ्करं भक्तास्तान् शृणुष्व समाहितः

ye ca māheśvarā vyāsa tiṣṭhante śaṅkarālaye | munayaḥ śaṅkaraṁ bhaktāstān śṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ

And, O Vyasa, listen with attention to those Maheshvara sages, devotees of Shankara, who dwell in Shankara's abode:

Verse 43 (skanda.8.183.43)

अहं सनन्दनश्चैव सनकः ससनातनः । ऋभुर्ब्रह्मा सुरज्येष्ठो नरनारायणावपि

ahaṁ sanandanaścaiva sanakaḥ sasanātanaḥ | ṛbhurbrahmā surajyeṣṭho naranārāyaṇāvapi

I myself, and Sanandana, and Sanaka, together with Sanatana, Ribhu, Brahma, foremost among the gods, and Nara and Narayana too,

Verse 44 (skanda.8.183.44)

शिष्यः सिद्धः पञ्चशिखस्तथा । मुनिर्हयशिरा यश्च यज्ञवल्कादयस्तथा

śiṣyaḥ siddhaḥ pañcaśikhastathā | munirhayaśirā yaśca yajñavalkādayastathā

[the teacher lost in the source] and his disciple, the accomplished Panchashikha, likewise the sage Hayashiras, and Yajnavalkya and the rest,

Verse 45 (skanda.8.183.45)

त्र्यक्षाः शङ्करवर्ष्माणः परमैश्वर्यसंयुताः । तिष्ठन्तीश्वरमूलस्था गुणातीता मुमुक्षवः

tryakṣāḥ śaṅkaravarṣmāṇaḥ paramaiśvaryasaṁyutāḥ | tiṣṭhantīśvaramūlasthā guṇātītā mumukṣavaḥ

three-eyed, of Shankara's own bodily form, endowed with supreme majesty, stand rooted in the Lord, beyond the qualities, seekers of liberation.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.183.46)

उत्पन्ने जगतो नाशे महाप्रलयसंज्ञके । ईश्वरं ते समाविश्य प्राप्नुवन्त्यपवर्गिकम्

utpanne jagato nāśe mahāpralayasaṁjñake | īśvaraṁ te samāviśya prāpnuvantyapavargikam

When the destruction of the world arises, called the great dissolution, entering into the Lord, they attain the state beyond return.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.183.47)

यैश्च दृष्टानि विप्रेन्द्र शिवलिङ्गानि तानि तु । केदारो मध्यमश्चैव गिरीशश्च महालये

yaiśca dṛṣṭāni viprendra śivaliṅgāni tāni tu | kedāro madhyamaścaiva girīśaśca mahālaye

And those Shiva-lingas which they beheld, O best of brahmins - Kedara, and Madhyama, and Girisha at Mahalaya,

Verse 48 (skanda.8.183.48)

चतुःशृङ्गेश्वरो देवः श्रीगिरौ च महेश्वरः । कारोहणो च देवेशो गङ्गाद्वारे च शङ्करः । भद्रेशश्च महादेवः शंकुकर्णेश्वरस्तथा

catuḥśṛṅgeśvaro devaḥ śrīgirau ca maheśvaraḥ | kārohaṇo ca deveśo gaṅgādvāre ca śaṅkaraḥ | bhadreśaśca mahādevaḥ śaṁkukarṇeśvarastathā

the god Chaturshringeshvara, and Maheshvara at Shrigiri, and the Lord of gods Karohana, and Shankara at Gangadvara, and Bhadresha, Mahadeva, and likewise Shankukarneshvara,

Verse 49 (skanda.8.183.49)

महाकालेश्वरश्चैव गोकर्णे च तथा ह्युभौ । अविमुक्तेश्वरश्चैव यानि चान्यानि भूतले

mahākāleśvaraścaiva gokarṇe ca tathā hyubhau | avimukteśvaraścaiva yāni cānyāni bhūtale

and Mahakaleshvara, and both of them at Gokarna, and Avimukteshvara too, and whatever others there are upon the earth -

Verse 50 (skanda.8.183.50)

तेपि यान्ति मृता व्यास तत्पुरं गिरिजापतेः । योगः पाशुपतो यश्च मया ते परिकीर्त्तितः

tepi yānti mṛtā vyāsa tatpuraṁ girijāpateḥ | yogaḥ pāśupato yaśca mayā te parikīrttitaḥ

these too, O Vyasa, upon death, go to that city of Girija's Lord; and this Pashupata yoga, which has been declared to you by me,

Verse 51 (skanda.8.183.51)

व्रतं पाशुपतं प्राप्य सोपि तत्र प्रवर्तते । भक्तिर्येषां भवे नित्यं कृतार्थास्ते नरोत्तमाः

vrataṁ pāśupataṁ prāpya sopi tatra pravartate | bhaktiryeṣāṁ bhave nityaṁ kṛtārthāste narottamāḥ

having attained the Pashupata vow, that too takes effect there; those whose devotion to Bhava is constant - those foremost of men are fulfilled.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.183.52)

मृताः शिवपुरे व्यास त्र्यक्षाः पट्टिशपाणयः । नन्दीशस्कन्दसंकाशा योगैश्वर्यबलान्विताः

mṛtāḥ śivapure vyāsa tryakṣāḥ paṭṭiśapāṇayaḥ | nandīśaskandasaṁkāśā yogaiśvaryabalānvitāḥ

Dying in Shivapura, O Vyasa, three-eyed, spears in hand, resembling Nandisha and Skanda, endowed with yogic majesty and power,

Verse 53 (skanda.8.183.53)

रुद्रा भवन्ति ते व्यास सदा शंकरपार्श्वगाः । एष ते कथितः सर्वो योगो माहेश्वरः परः

rudrā bhavanti te vyāsa sadā śaṁkarapārśvagāḥ | eṣa te kathitaḥ sarvo yogo māheśvaraḥ paraḥ

they become Rudras, O Vyasa, ever at Shankara's side. This is that entire supreme Maheshvara yoga, declared to you.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.183.54)

सकलं निष्कलं चैव ज्ञात्वैवं परमीश्वरम् । सर्वबन्धविनिर्मुक्तः परं मोक्षमवाप्स्यसि

sakalaṁ niṣkalaṁ caiva jñātvaivaṁ paramīśvaram | sarvabandhavinirmuktaḥ paraṁ mokṣamavāpsyasi

Knowing thus this Supreme Lord, both the formed and the formless, freed from every bondage, you shall attain the supreme liberation,

Verse 55 (skanda.8.183.55)

भविष्यसि च योगात्मा ज्ञानस्यास्य प्रभावतः । जगात्स्थितिकरो योगी स्मार्त्तधर्मप्रवर्तकः

bhaviṣyasi ca yogātmā jñānasyāsya prabhāvataḥ | jagātsthitikaro yogī smārttadharmapravartakaḥ

and, through the power of this knowledge, you shall become one whose very self is yoga - a yogin who sustains the world, a promoter of the customary dharma.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.183.56)

ज्ञानशक्त्या स्मृ ब्रह्माण्डोद्भकारणे । स्थितिधर्मनिबोधार्थं पुराणानि करिष्यसि

jñānaśaktyā smṛ brahmāṇḍodbhakāraṇe | sthitidharmanibodhārthaṁ purāṇāni kariṣyasi

Through the power of knowledge [a portion of the text is lost here] in the matter of the origin of the universe, for the sake of making known the order of dharma, you shall compose the Puranas.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.183.57)

यज्ञधर्मप्रचारार्थ वेदं स्वायम्भुवस्मृतम् । विज्ञानात् त्वमनुस्मृत्य चतुर्धा विकरिष्यसि

yajñadharmapracārārtha vedaṁ svāyambhuvasmṛtam | vijñānāt tvamanusmṛtya caturdhā vikariṣyasi

For the propagation of the dharma of sacrifice, the Veda remembered as Svayambhuva, recalling it through your discernment, you shall divide into four.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.183.58)

मन्वन्तरमिदं कृत्स्नं वैवस्वतमनिन्दितम् । लोकस्थितिकरा धर्मा वेदस्मृतिपुरोगमाः

manvantaramidaṁ kṛtsnaṁ vaivasvatamaninditam | lokasthitikarā dharmā vedasmṛtipurogamāḥ

This entire, blameless Manvantara of Vaivasvata - the dharmas that sustain the worlds, headed by the Veda and the Smritis,

Verse 59 (skanda.8.183.59)

त्वत्कृताः प्रचरिष्यन्ति तीर्थकृत् त्वं भविष्यसि । भस्मव्रतं च संप्राप्य पशुपाशविमोचनम्

tvatkṛtāḥ pracariṣyanti tīrthakṛt tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi | bhasmavrataṁ ca saṁprāpya paśupāśavimocanam

composed by you, shall spread abroad; you shall become a maker of holy places. And, having attained the ash-vow, the release from the bonds of the beast,

Verse 60 (skanda.8.183.60)

शांकरज्ञानसंपन्न ईश्वरे लयमाप्स्यसि । एवमुक्तः स विप्रेन्द्रो हृष्टसर्वतनूरुहः

śāṁkarajñānasaṁpanna īśvare layamāpsyasi | evamuktaḥ sa viprendro hṛṣṭasarvatanūruhaḥ

endowed with Shaiva knowledge, you shall attain dissolution in the Lord. Thus addressed, that best of brahmins, every hair on his body thrilling with joy,

Verse 61 (skanda.8.183.61)

उपसद्य मुनीन्द्रं तं भस्मसंस्कारमाप्तवान् । तत्क्षणाच्चास्य योगोसौ प्रादुर्भूतो महामुनेः

upasadya munīndraṁ taṁ bhasmasaṁskāramāptavān | tatkṣaṇāccāsya yogosau prādurbhūto mahāmuneḥ

approaching that lord of sages, received the sacrament of ash; and at that very instant, this yoga arose within that great sage.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.183.62)

अभिवाद्य गुरुं व्यासो ब्रह्मसूनुं महौजसम् । शर्वायतनवीक्षार्थं विचचार महीतले

abhivādya guruṁ vyāso brahmasūnuṁ mahaujasam | śarvāyatanavīkṣārthaṁ vicacāra mahītale

Having saluted his guru, the son of Brahma, of great splendor, Vyasa wandered over the earth to behold the abodes of Sharva.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.183.63)

वायुरुवाच एवं सनत्कुमारस्तु पृष्टो व्यासेन धीमता । मुनीन्द्रः कथयामास पुराणं स्कन्दसंभवम्

vāyuruvāca evaṁ sanatkumārastu pṛṣṭo vyāsena dhīmatā | munīndraḥ kathayāmāsa purāṇaṁ skandasaṁbhavam

Vayu said: Thus, questioned by the wise Vyasa, that lord of sages, Sanatkumara, related this Purana, born of Skanda's own origin,

Verse 64 (skanda.8.183.64)

सर्वागमसमायुक्तं मन्वन्तरजगत्स्थितिम् । शिवयोगोद्भवं ध्यानं सर्वज्ञानार्णवं महत्

sarvāgamasamāyuktaṁ manvantarajagatsthitim | śivayogodbhavaṁ dhyānaṁ sarvajñānārṇavaṁ mahat

joined with all the scriptures, telling of the order of the world through the ages, the meditation born of Shiva-yoga, the great ocean of all knowledge.

Verse 65 (skanda.8.183.65)

तस्माद्यूयमपि ज्ञात्वा व्रतं पाशुपतं द्विजाः । अभ्यस्य शांकरं योगमीश्वरे लयमाप्नुत

tasmādyūyamapi jñātvā vrataṁ pāśupataṁ dvijāḥ | abhyasya śāṁkaraṁ yogamīśvare layamāpnuta

Therefore you too, having understood this, O twice-born, having practiced the Pashupata vow, and the Shaiva yoga, attain dissolution in the Lord.

Verse 66 (skanda.8.183.66)

इममागममन्विष्य व्यासोसौ मुनिपुङ्गवः । वेदार्थस्मृतिसंबद्धा विद्याश्चके महामुनिः

imamāgamamanviṣya vyāsosau munipuṅgavaḥ | vedārthasmṛtisaṁbaddhā vidyāścake mahāmuniḥ

Having sought out this scripture, that Vyasa, foremost of sages, composed the sciences connected with the meaning of the Veda and the Smritis, that great sage.

Verse 67 (skanda.8.183.67)

अतो विनिर्गता धर्मा योगविद्यास्तथैव च । पुराणं प्रथमं प्राहुराद्यं नन्दीश्वरो द्विजाः

ato vinirgatā dharmā yogavidyāstathaiva ca | purāṇaṁ prathamaṁ prāhurādyaṁ nandīśvaro dvijāḥ

From this issued forth the dharmas, and likewise the sciences of yoga; they call this the very first Purana, primal, O brahmins.

Verse 68 (skanda.8.183.68)

ख्यातो य इमं वेत्ति तत्त्वतः । त्रिवर्गः प्राप्यते तेन मुक्तिरेतेन जायते

khyāto ya imaṁ vetti tattvataḥ | trivargaḥ prāpyate tena muktiretena jāyate

Renowned, whoever knows this in truth, by him the threefold aim of life is attained, and liberation is born through this.

Verse 69 (skanda.8.183.69)

आयुः प्रवर्द्धतेनेन सर्वमेतेन लभ्यते । कृत्स्नस्य जगतो विप्रा आदिकर्ता यथा हरः

āyuḥ pravarddhatenena sarvametena labhyate | kṛtsnasya jagato viprā ādikartā yathā haraḥ

Lifespan is increased by this, everything is obtained by this; as Hara is the primal maker of the entire world, O brahmins,

Verse 70 (skanda.8.183.70)

तथा सर्वपुराणानां पुराणोयं परः स्मृतः । अधीतो यैरयं विप्रैस्तत्प

tathā sarvapurāṇānāṁ purāṇoyaṁ paraḥ smṛtaḥ | adhīto yairayaṁ vipraistatpa

so too this Purana is remembered as supreme among all the Puranas. Those brahmins by whom this has been studied, they [a portion of the text is lost here] ...

Verse 71 (skanda.8.183.71)

सायुज्यं शृणुयाद्विभोः

sāyujyaṁ śṛṇuyādvibhoḥ

...[the beginning of this verse is lost] ...should hear of union with the Lord.

Verse 72 (skanda.8.183.72)

सेवनाद्योगसंसिद्धिं मोक्षं च परमं लभेत् । आद्यं पुण्यमुमापतेर्द्विजवृषाः स्तोत्रानुवादं परं देव्याश्चापि महाप्रभावकथनं सर्वागमैरंन्वितम् । स्कन्दस्योद्भवविक्रमै प्नुयुः

sevanādyogasaṁsiddhiṁ mokṣaṁ ca paramaṁ labhet | ādyaṁ puṇyamumāpaterdvijavṛṣāḥ stotrānuvādaṁ paraṁ devyāścāpi mahāprabhāvakathanaṁ sarvāgamairaṁnvitam | skandasyodbhavavikramai pnuyuḥ

through devoted service they attain the accomplishment of yoga and supreme liberation. This primal, holy, supreme recitation of hymns to Uma's Lord, O foremost of brahmins, and the account of the Goddess's great power too, joined with all the scriptures - the tale of Skanda's origin and valor [a portion of the text is lost here] ...they attain [the remainder of this verse is lost].

Verse 73 (skanda.8.183.73)

नागेन्द्रैरसुरेन्द्रयक्षविबुधैः सिद्धैर्द्विजेन्द्रैरपि शम्भावर्पितसर्वभावहृदयैर्यैयैरयं सेवितः । सर्वे ते ज्वलदर्कवह्निवपुषस्त्र्यक्षाः शशाङ्कत्विषः देवास्यानुचरा बभुर्गणवरा

nāgendrairasurendrayakṣavibudhaiḥ siddhairdvijendrairapi śambhāvarpitasarvabhāvahṛdayairyaiyairayaṁ sevitaḥ | sarve te jvaladarkavahnivapuṣastryakṣāḥ śaśāṅkatviṣaḥ devāsyānucarā babhurgaṇavarā

Served by the lords of serpents, the lords of asuras, yakshas, the wise, siddhas, and the foremost of the twice-born too, by whomsoever, their hearts wholly given over to Shambhu - all of them, their bodies blazing like the sun and fire, three-eyed, of the hue of the moon, became the attendants of that god, the foremost of the ganas... [the remainder of this verse, and the text that followed, is lost].