Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 40

SkP-RK 40.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच: मनसा चिन्तितं यच्च तद् एव समुपस्थितम् । लक्षणं सूत्रयागस्य पर्वतस्य तु वेष्टनम्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: manasā cintitaṃ yacca tad eva samupasthitam / lakṣaṇaṃ sūtrayāgasya parvatasya tu veṣṭanam

Yudhiṣṭhira said: What was thought of in the mind, that very thing has come to pass. (Tell me) the characteristics of the thread-sacrifice and the encircling of the mountain,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.2

कस्मिन् काले प्रकर्तव्यं विधानां विधिपूर्वकम् । त्वम् एव वेत्सि सर्वं वै विदितं कुरु साम्प्रतम्

kasmin kāle prakartavyaṃ vidhānāṃ vidhipūrvakam / tvam eva vetsi sarvaṃ vai viditaṃ kuru sāmpratam

at what time it is to be performed, the observances according to rule. You alone know everything; make it known now.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.3

येन देवाः सगन्धर्वा मानुषाः पापयोनयः । तत्र यागप्रभावेण दिवि देवत्वम् आगताः

yena devāḥ sagandharvā mānuṣāḥ pāpayonayaḥ / tatra yāgaprabhāveṇa divi devatvam āgatāḥ

by which gods together with gandharvas, and men of sinful birth, there by the power of the sacrifice attained godhood in heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.4

मार्कण्डेय उवाच: श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल सूत्रयागस्य लक्षणम् । चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे तु षडशीतिमुखे तथा

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: śrūyatāṃ rājaśārdūla sūtrayāgasya lakṣaṇam / candrasūryoparāge tu ṣaḍaśītimukhe tathā

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Hear, tiger among kings, the characteristics of the thread-sacrifice: at an eclipse of the moon or the sun, and likewise at the ṣaḍaśīti-mukha,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.7

युगादौ विषुवे चैव व्यतीपाते च संक्रमे । कार्त्तिक्यां च तथा माघ्यां वैशाख्यां चैव भारत ॥ र्क्स्_४०।५ ॥ सूर्योपरागतुल्यायां षष्ठ्यां हि कपिलस्य तु ॥ र्क्स्_४०।६ ॥ वैशाखमासस्य तु या तृतीया नवम्यथोर्जस्य च शुक्लपक्षे । माघे त्वमा चैव नभस्यकृष्णा त्रयोदशी चेति युगादयस् तथा

yugādau viṣuve caiva vyatīpāte ca saṃkrame / kārttikyāṃ ca tathā māghyāṃ vaiśākhyāṃ caiva bhārata // rks_40.5 // sūryoparāgatulyāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhyāṃ hi kapilasya tu // rks_40.6 // vaiśākhamāsasya tu yā tṛtīyā navamyathorjasya ca śuklapakṣe / māghe tvamā caiva nabhasyakṛṣṇā trayodaśī ceti yugādayas tathā

at the beginning of a yuga, at an equinox, at a vyatīpāta and at a solstitial/zodiacal transit, and on the full moon of Kārttika, of Māgha, and of Vaiśākha, O Bhārata; and on the sixth of Kapila, which is equal to a solar eclipse; and the third of the month Vaiśākha, and the ninth of Ūrja (Kārttika) in the bright fortnight, the new-moon in Māgha, and the dark thirteenth of Nabhasya (Bhādrapada) — these are the yuga-beginnings.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SkP-RK 40.8

पर्वस्वेतेषु कौन्तेय सूत्रयागं तु कारयेत् । अनन्तफलसंयुक्तं शिवेन कथितं पुरा

parvasveteṣu kaunteya sūtrayāgaṃ tu kārayet / anantaphalasaṃyuktaṃ śivena kathitaṃ purā

On these festival days, son of Kuntī, one should have the thread-sacrifice performed; it is joined with endless fruit, and was declared of old by Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.9

सूत्रेण वेष्टयेद् यस् तु पर्वतं शिवसन्निभम् । उमया सहितं देवं गणेशेन तथैव च

sūtreṇa veṣṭayed yas tu parvataṃ śivasannibham / umayā sahitaṃ devaṃ gaṇeśena tathaiva ca

Whoever encircles with thread the mountain that resembles Śiva — the god together with Umā and likewise with Gaṇeśa —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.10

तावद् युगसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । पुत्रिणी भर्तृसंयुक्ता नारी तद्वेष्टिनी भवेत्

tāvad yugasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate / putriṇī bhartṛsaṃyuktā nārī tadveṣṭinī bhavet

for that many thousands of yugas he is honoured in the world of heaven; a woman who encircles it becomes possessed of sons and united with her husband.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.11

कौशेयं पट्टसूत्रं च कार्पासं च महीपते । नवतन्तुं च यः कुर्याद् दश द्वादशतन्तुकम्

kauśeyaṃ paṭṭasūtraṃ ca kārpāsaṃ ca mahīpate / navatantuṃ ca yaḥ kuryād daśa dvādaśatantukam

Silk, woven-cloth thread, and cotton, O lord of the earth — whoever makes it of nine strands, of ten or of twelve strands,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.12

अष्टादश महाराज चतुर्विंशति वा क्रमात् । क्षालयेत् कोटितीर्थे तु गन्धधूपेन वासयेत्

aṣṭādaśa mahārāja caturviṃśati vā kramāt / kṣālayet koṭitīrthe tu gandhadhūpena vāsayet

of eighteen, great king, or of twenty-four in order, he should wash it in the Koṭi-tīrtha and perfume it with scent and incense.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.13

बध्नीयात् पुष्पमालां च दीपमालां च बोधयेत् । रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा ॐकारे विधिपूर्वकम्

badhnīyāt puṣpamālāṃ ca dīpamālāṃ ca bodhayet / rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kṛtvā oṃkāre vidhipūrvakam

(He) should tie on a garland of flowers and should kindle a row of lamps; keeping vigil at night before Oṃkāra according to the prescribed rule—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.14

शिवध्यानपरो भूत्वा निराहारो निशां नयेत् । प्रभाते चोत्सवं कुर्याद् ॐकाराभ्यर्चनं तथा

śivadhyānaparo bhūtvā nirāhāro niśāṃ nayet / prabhāte cotsavaṃ kuryād oṃkārābhyarcanaṃ tathā

—intent on meditation on Śiva, fasting, he should pass the night; and at dawn he should hold a festival and likewise the worship of Oṃkāra.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.15

न्यग्रोधे बन्धयेत् सूत्रं समाधिस्थो नरेश्वर । कोटितीर्थं ततो गच्छेत् सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम्

nyagrodhe bandhayet sūtraṃ samādhistho nareśvara / koṭitīrthaṃ tato gacchet sarvatīrthamayaṃ śubham

He should bind a thread on the banyan tree, remaining in concentration, O lord of men; then he should go to Koṭitīrtha, the auspicious (place) that comprises all sacred fords.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.16

ऋणमोक्षं पापनाशं नरकेश्वरम् उत्तमम् । गन्धर्वेश्वरलिङ्गं तु गच्छेत् परमशोभनम्

ṛṇamokṣaṃ pāpanāśaṃ narakeśvaram uttamam / gandharveśvaraliṅgaṃ tu gacchet paramaśobhanam

(Then he should go to) Ṛṇamokṣa, Pāpanāśa, and the excellent Narakeśvara; and he should go to the exceedingly beautiful Gandharveśvara liṅga,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.17

अदृश्यं सर्वभूतानां नागकन्याभिरर्च्यते । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् गान्धर्वं लोकमाप्नुयात्

adṛśyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ nāgakanyābhirarcyate / tatra snātvā naro rājan gāndharvaṃ lokamāpnuyāt

which is invisible to all beings and is worshipped by the serpent maidens. Having bathed there, O king, a man would attain the world of the gandharvas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.18

ततो गच्छेन् नृपश्रेष्ठ अङ्गारेश्वरम् उत्तमम् । दर्शनात् तस्य लिङ्गस्य गाणपत्यम् अवाप्यते

tato gacchen nṛpaśreṣṭha aṅgāreśvaram uttamam / darśanāt tasya liṅgasya gāṇapatyam avāpyate

Then, O best of kings, he should go to the excellent Aṅgāreśvara; by the sight of that liṅga the state of being (lord) of Gaṇas is obtained.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.19

अङ्गारेण तपस्तप्तं दिव्यं वर्षशतं तथा । ग्रहत्वमगमत् सो ऽपि तीर्थस्य ऽस्य प्रभावतः

aṅgāreṇa tapastaptaṃ divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ tathā / grahatvamagamat so 'pi tīrthasya 'sya prabhāvataḥ

By Aṅgāra austerity was performed for a hundred divine years, and he too attained the status of a planet through the power of this sacred ford.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.20

ब्रह्मावर्तं ततो गच्छेत् सर्वतीर्थम् अयं शुभम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् छिवलोकम् अवाप्नुयात्

brahmāvartaṃ tato gacchet sarvatīrtham ayaṃ śubham / tatra snātvā naro rājan chivalokam avāpnuyāt

Then he should go to Brahmāvarta, the auspicious (place) that comprises all fords; having bathed there, O king, a man would attain the world of Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.21

तिलोदकप्रदानेन पितॄणां परमा गतिः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु तपस् तेपे सुदुष्करम्

tilodakapradānena pitṝṇāṃ paramā gatiḥ / divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu tapas tepe suduṣkaram

By the offering of sesame and water there is the highest course for the ancestors. For a thousand divine years he practised very difficult austerity—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.22

ब्रह्मा चैव पुराकल्पे लोकानुग्रहकारकः । लिङ्गं मध्येश्वरं नाम जलमध्ये व्यवस्थितम्

brahmā caiva purākalpe lokānugrahakārakaḥ / liṅgaṃ madhyeśvaraṃ nāma jalamadhye vyavasthitam

—namely Brahmā, in a former age, acting for the favour of the worlds. The liṅga named Madhyeśvara is established in the midst of the water,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.23

पूज्यते नागकन्याभिर् न तत् पश्यन्ति मानवाः । दारुकेश्वरलिङ्गं तु सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

pūjyate nāgakanyābhir na tat paśyanti mānavāḥ / dārukeśvaraliṅgaṃ tu sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

and it is worshipped by the serpent maidens; human beings do not see it. But the Dārukeśvara liṅga destroys all sins;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.24

अर्चनात् तस्य देवस्य नरो विद्याधरो भवेत् । भृगुलिङ्गं ततो गच्छेद् भैरवो यत्र संस्थितः

arcanāt tasya devasya naro vidyādharo bhavet / bhṛguliṅgaṃ tato gacched bhairavo yatra saṃsthitaḥ

from the worship of that god a man becomes a Vidyādhara. Then he should go to the Bhṛgu liṅga, where Bhairava is established.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.25

भृगुं गत्वा नरश्रेष्ठ मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया । जालेश्वरं ततो गच्छेत् पर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्

bhṛguṃ gatvā naraśreṣṭha mucyate brahmahatyayā / jāleśvaraṃ tato gacchet parvatīrthottamottamam

Having gone to Bhṛgu, O best of men, one is freed from the killing of a brahmin. Then he should go to Jāleśvara, the very best of mountain fords.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.26

स्नानमात्रो नरस् तत्र स भवे न पुनर् भवेत् । तिलोदकप्रदानेन पितॄणाम् अक्षया गतिः

snānamātro naras tatra sa bhave na punar bhavet / tilodakapradānena pitṝṇām akṣayā gatiḥ

A man there merely by bathing would not be born again in existence; by the offering of sesame and water there is an imperishable course for the ancestors.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.27

भैरवं रूपमास्थाय बाणस्य च पुरत्रयम् । पातितं जलमध्ये तु नर्मदाया हरेण वै

bhairavaṃ rūpamāsthāya bāṇasya ca puratrayam / pātitaṃ jalamadhye tu narmadāyā hareṇa vai

Assuming the form of Bhairava, the triple city of Bāṇa was indeed cast down by Hara into the midst of the water of the Narmadā,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.28

ज्वलत्पाशुपतास्त्रेण तत्रैव तद् अनन्तरम् । तद् अस्त्रसङ्गमाच् छीघ्रं पातालाच् चोत्थितं ततः

jvalatpāśupatāstreṇa tatraiva tad anantaram / tad astrasaṅgamāc chīghraṃ pātālāc cotthitaṃ tataḥ

with the blazing Pāśupata weapon, right there; and immediately after that, by the contact of that weapon, it swiftly rose up from the netherworld.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.29

लिङ्गं जालेश्वरं नाम ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । कोटितीर्थं ततो गच्छेत् स्नात्वा च विधिपूर्वकम्

liṅgaṃ jāleśvaraṃ nāma brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati / koṭitīrthaṃ tato gacchet snātvā ca vidhipūrvakam

The liṅga named Jāleśvara removes the guilt of killing a brahmin. Then he should go to Koṭitīrtha and, having bathed according to rule,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.30

वलक्षं बन्धयेत् सूत्रम् ॐकारस्य तु भारत । ॐकारं च समभ्यर्च्य दीपमालां च बोधयेत्

valakṣaṃ bandhayet sūtram oṃkārasya tu bhārata / oṃkāraṃ ca samabhyarcya dīpamālāṃ ca bodhayet

he should bind a white thread on Oṃkāra, O Bhārata; and having duly worshipped Oṃkāra, he should kindle a row of lamps.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.31

सफलः सूत्रयागस् तु त्वत्प्रसादान् महेश्वर । यतींश् च भोजयेत् तत्र दद्याच् छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम्

saphalaḥ sūtrayāgas tu tvatprasādān maheśvara / yatīṃś ca bhojayet tatra dadyāc chaktyā ca dakṣiṇām

"By your grace, O Maheśvara, the thread-offering is fruitful." And he should feed ascetics there and give a gift according to his ability.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.32

सार्द्धं च बन्धुभृत्यैश् च पारणं क्रियते नृप । यः शारीरेण कष्टेन पर्यटेच् छिवपर्वतम्

sārddhaṃ ca bandhubhṛtyaiś ca pāraṇaṃ kriyate nṛpa / yaḥ śārīreṇa kaṣṭena paryaṭec chivaparvatam

And together with kinsmen and servants the breaking of the fast is performed, O king. Whoever, with bodily hardship, circumambulates the mountain of Śiva—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.33

पदे पदे यज्ञफल तस्य स्याच् छङ्करो ऽब्रवीत् । पुरा देवगणैः सर्वैः सिद्धगन्धर्वकिन्नरैः

pade pade yajñaphala tasya syāc chaṅkaro 'bravīt / purā devagaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ siddhagandharvakinnaraiḥ

At every step there would be for him the fruit of a sacrifice — so Śaṅkara said. Formerly, by all the hosts of gods, by Siddhas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.34

विद्याधरैस् तथा यक्षैर् असुरैर् दैत्यदानवैः । चन्द्रादित्यग्रहैश् चैव नक्षत्रध्रुवमण्डलैः

vidyādharais tathā yakṣair asurair daityadānavaiḥ / candrādityagrahaiś caiva nakṣatradhruvamaṇḍalaiḥ

and by Vidyādharas, by Yakṣas, by Asuras, Daityas and Dānavas, and by the moon, the sun and the planets, and by the circles of the lunar mansions and the pole star,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.35

विश्वेदेवैश् च साध्यैश् च मरुद्भिर् वसुभिस् तथा । देवराजेन चेन्द्राण्या सावित्र्या चैव भारत

viśvedevaiś ca sādhyaiś ca marudbhir vasubhis tathā / devarājena cendrāṇyā sāvitryā caiva bhārata

And by the Viśvedevas and the Sādhyas, by the Maruts and likewise the Vasus, and by the king of the gods and by Indrāṇī and by Sāvitrī too, O Bhārata —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.36

अरुन्धत्या सरस्वत्या गायत्र्या स च पर्वतः । सूत्रेण वेष्टितो भक्त्या फलं प्राप्तं शिवोदितम्

arundhatyā sarasvatyā gāyatryā sa ca parvataḥ / sūtreṇa veṣṭito bhaktyā phalaṃ prāptaṃ śivoditam

and by Arundhatī, Sarasvatī, and Gāyatrī, that mountain was encircled with a thread in devotion, and the reward declared by Śiva was obtained.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.37

अहल्या मेनका रम्भा घृताची चोर्वशी तथा । तिलोत्तमा तथा चान्या सरितः सागराश् च वै

ahalyā menakā rambhā ghṛtācī corvaśī tathā / tilottamā tathā cānyā saritaḥ sāgarāś ca vai

Ahalyā, Menakā, Rambhā, Ghṛtācī and Urvaśī likewise, Tilottamā too, and others as well, the rivers and the seas—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SkP-RK 40.38

वेष्टनात् पर्वतस्यास्य दिग्देवत्वमवाप्तवान् । यावच् चन्द्रश् च सूर्यश् च यावत् तिष्ठति मेदिनी

veṣṭanāt parvatasyāsya digdevatvamavāptavān / yāvac candraś ca sūryaś ca yāvat tiṣṭhati medinī

—by encircling this mountain (he) obtained the status of a deity of the (cardinal) directions; as long as the moon and the sun (endure), as long as the earth stands.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition