Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 56
SkP-RK 56.1
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: माहिष्मत्याः पश्चिमे वै तीर्थं पापहरं परम् । अशोकवनिका नाम सर्वशोकविनाशनम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: māhiṣmatyāḥ paścime vai tīrthaṃ pāpaharaṃ param / aśokavanikā nāma sarvaśokavināśanam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: To the west of Māhiṣmatī there is a supreme, sin-removing sacred ford named Aśokavanikā, which destroys all sorrow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.2
स्नात्वा तत्रार्चयेद् गौरीं यथा विभवविस्तरैः । मातङ्गस्याश्रम तद्वत् सिद्धगन्धर्वसेवितम्
snātvā tatrārcayed gaurīṃ yathā vibhavavistaraiḥ / mātaṅgasyāśrama tadvat siddhagandharvasevitam
Having bathed there, one should worship Gaurī according to the extent of one's means; likewise (there is) the hermitage of Mātaṅga, frequented by Siddhas and Gandharvas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.3
शुक्लकृष्णातृतीयायां गन्धधूपविलेपनैः । उपहारैर् अनेकैश् च दीपमालाप्रबोधनैः
śuklakṛṣṇātṛtīyāyāṃ gandhadhūpavilepanaiḥ / upahārair anekaiś ca dīpamālāprabodhanaiḥ
On the third day of the bright and of the dark (fortnight), with perfumes, incense and unguents, with many offerings, and with the kindling of rows of lamps—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.4
तत्र या पूजयेन् नारी गौरीं भक्तिसमन्विता । रूपसौभाग्यसम्पन्नं लभते सत्पतिं तु सा
tatra yā pūjayen nārī gaurīṃ bhaktisamanvitā / rūpasaubhāgyasampannaṃ labhate satpatiṃ tu sā
—the woman who, filled with devotion, worships Gaurī there obtains a good husband endowed with beauty and good fortune.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.5
कार्त्तिक्यां तु गतप्राणा मोदमाना तु संयता । अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यात् प्राप्ता माहेश्वरं पुरम्
kārttikyāṃ tu gataprāṇā modamānā tu saṃyatā / asya tīrthasya māhātmyāt prāptā māheśvaraṃ puram
And a woman who, self-restrained and rejoicing, has died on the full-moon day of Kārttika has attained, through the greatness of this ford, the city of Maheśvara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.6
मातङ्गो नाम देवर्षिः पुराकल्पे युधिष्ठिर । नर्मदातीरमाश्रित्य तपस् तेपे सुदुष्करम्
mātaṅgo nāma devarṣiḥ purākalpe yudhiṣṭhira / narmadātīramāśritya tapas tepe suduṣkaram
There was a divine sage named Mātaṅga, O Yudhiṣṭhira, in a former aeon, who, resorting to the bank of the Narmadā, practised most difficult austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.7
पुरा जन्मनिषादः स जातिं स्मरति पूर्विकाम् । अघमर्षणदेशस्थः सर्वधर्म बुबोध च
purā janmaniṣādaḥ sa jātiṃ smarati pūrvikām / aghamarṣaṇadeśasthaḥ sarvadharma bubodha ca
In a former birth he was a Niṣāda; he remembers his earlier caste. Dwelling in the region of Aghamarṣaṇa, he came to understand all dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.8
महर्षीणां प्रसङ्गेन नर्मदादर्शनेन च । पापबुद्धिं परित्यज्य धर्मबुद्धिं चकार सः
maharṣīṇāṃ prasaṅgena narmadādarśanena ca / pāpabuddhiṃ parityajya dharmabuddhiṃ cakāra saḥ
Through association with the great sages and through the sight of the Narmadā, he abandoned his sinful mind and made his mind (turn) to dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.9
निर्विण्णो ऽहं च भिक्षुश् चाधुना श्वपचयोनिषु । एवम् उक्त्वा ततो राजन्न् अशोकवनिकां गतः
nirviṇṇo 'haṃ ca bhikṣuś cādhunā śvapacayoniṣu / evam uktvā tato rājann aśokavanikāṃ gataḥ
“I am world-weary, and now a beggar, (born) among the wombs of dog-cookers.” Having said this, O king, he then went to Aśokavanikā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 56.10
जटावल्कलधारी च कन्दमूलफलाशनः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु शिवाराधनतत्परः
jaṭāvalkaladhārī ca kandamūlaphalāśanaḥ / divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu śivārādhanatatparaḥ
Wearing matted hair and bark garments, eating bulbs, roots and fruits, for a thousand divine years (he remained) intent upon the worship of Śiva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.11
शिवध्यानपरः सो ऽभूद् उग्रे तपसि संस्थितः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं हि तथा तस्य तपस्यतः
śivadhyānaparaḥ so 'bhūd ugre tapasi saṃsthitaḥ / divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi tathā tasya tapasyataḥ
He was absorbed in meditation on Śiva, established in fierce austerity; and as he thus performed austerities for a thousand divine years—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.12
एकाशीतिसहस्राणि जटाग्रेभ्यो विनिःस्मृताः । स्वयं पतन्ति विविधा नर्मदातोयम् अध्यतः
ekāśītisahasrāṇi jaṭāgrebhyo viniḥsmṛtāḥ / svayaṃ patanti vividhā narmadātoyam adhyataḥ
eighty-one thousand (drops), of many kinds, issued forth from the tips of his matted locks and fell of themselves into the midst of the Narmadā's water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 56.13
तत्क्षणाद् यक्षिणीरूपा अनन्ताश् चाप्रमाणिकाः । श्यामवर्णाः सुतेजः काः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः
tatkṣaṇād yakṣiṇīrūpā anantāś cāpramāṇikāḥ / śyāmavarṇāḥ sutejaḥ kāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ
In that instant (they became) beings in the form of yakṣiṇīs, endless and immeasurable, dark in colour, of great splendour, adorned with every ornament.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.14
यक्षलोकं व्रजन्त्य् आशु तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । मन्त्रयन्त्रविहीनो ऽपि शिवभक्तिपरायणः
yakṣalokaṃ vrajanty āśu tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ / mantrayantravihīno 'pi śivabhaktiparāyaṇaḥ
By the power of this holy ford they go swiftly to the world of the yakṣas; even one destitute of mantra and yantra, if he is devoted wholly to Śiva—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.15
षडक्षरम् इमं मन्त्रं हृदि चक्रे दिवानिशम् । ॐनमः शिवाय इति सर्वमन्त्रोत्तमोत्तमम्
ṣaḍakṣaram imaṃ mantraṃ hṛdi cakre divāniśam / oṃnamaḥ śivāya iti sarvamantrottamottamam
(if) he set this six-syllabled mantra in his heart day and night—"oṃ namaḥ śivāya," the best of the best of all mantras.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.16
तस्य भक्तिं परां ज्ञात्वा देवदेव उमापतिः । प्रत्यक्षरूपो भगवान् छूलपाणिः समागतः
tasya bhaktiṃ parāṃ jñātvā devadeva umāpatiḥ / pratyakṣarūpo bhagavān chūlapāṇiḥ samāgataḥ
Knowing his supreme devotion, the God of gods, the lord of Umā, the Blessed One bearing the trident, came in visible form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.17
उवाच वचनं देवो मातङ्गं प्रति भारत । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते ध्यानेनानेन सुव्रत
uvāca vacanaṃ devo mātaṅgaṃ prati bhārata / varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te dhyānenānena suvrata
The god spoke a word to Mātaṅga, O Bhārata: "Choose a boon—blessings on you—by reason of this meditation, O you of good vows."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.18
मातङ्ग उवाच: यदि तुष्टो ऽसि देवेश वरं दातुम् इहेच्छसि । मातङ्गनाम्ना विख्यातिं तीर्थम् एतत् प्रयातु वै
mātaṅga uvāca: yadi tuṣṭo 'si deveśa varaṃ dātum ihecchasi / mātaṅganāmnā vikhyātiṃ tīrtham etat prayātu vai
Mātaṅga said: If you are pleased, O lord of gods, and wish to grant a boon here, let this holy ford become renowned by the name Mātaṅga.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.19
चाण्डालाः श्वपचाश् चैव पापयोनिगता ऽपि । जपादि रहिताश् चापि मुच्यन्ते ऽत्रापि किल्बिषात्
cāṇḍālāḥ śvapacāś caiva pāpayonigatā 'pi / japādi rahitāś cāpi mucyante 'trāpi kilbiṣāt
Let caṇḍālas and dog-cookers, and even those born in a sinful womb, and even those devoid of recitation and the rest, be freed from their sin here as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.20
मातङ्गनामलिङ्गं तु नर्मदातीरम् आश्रितम् । स्नात्वा यो ऽत्रार्चयेत् तस्य भवेद् बन्धविमोक्षणम्
mātaṅganāmaliṅgaṃ tu narmadātīram āśritam / snātvā yo 'trārcayet tasya bhaved bandhavimokṣaṇam
And whoever, having bathed, should worship here the liṅga named Mātaṅga, which rests on the bank of the Narmadā—for him let there be release from bondage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.21
इदं वरम् अहं मन्ये त्वत्प्रसादात् महेश्वर । तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्य् उवाच शिवापतिः
idaṃ varam ahaṃ manye tvatprasādāt maheśvara / tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā praty uvāca śivāpatiḥ
This is the boon I ask, by your grace, O Maheśvara. Hearing that speech of his, the husband of Śivā replied:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.22
एवम् भवतु तत्सर्वं मत्प्रसादान् न संशय । एवम् उक्त्वा ययौ देव कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम्
evam bhavatu tatsarvaṃ matprasādān na saṃśaya / evam uktvā yayau deva kailāsaṃ parvatottamam
"Let it all be so by my grace; have no doubt." Having spoken thus, the god went to Kailāsa, best of mountains.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.23
वरं सम्प्राप्य मातङ्ग उमामाहेश्वरं पुरम् । कामिकं यानम् आरूढः सर्वाभरणभूषित
varaṃ samprāpya mātaṅga umāmāheśvaraṃ puram / kāmikaṃ yānam ārūḍhaḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣita
Having obtained the boon, Mātaṅga, adorned with every ornament, mounted a vehicle that went at will (and set out for) the city of Umā and Maheśvara,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.24
जगामाशु चिरं भोक्तुं भोगान् स्नानप्रभावतः । या चैत्रमासे ऽमावास्या कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी
jagāmāśu ciraṃ bhoktuṃ bhogān snānaprabhāvataḥ / yā caitramāse 'māvāsyā kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī
and went swiftly, to enjoy pleasures for a long time by the power of the bathing. That new-moon day in the month of Caitra, the fourteenth of the dark fortnight—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.25
तस्यां तत्र हुतं दत्तम् अनन्तफलम् अश्नुते । तिलोदकप्रदानेन पापयोनिगता ऽपि
tasyāṃ tatra hutaṃ dattam anantaphalam aśnute / tilodakapradānena pāpayonigatā 'pi
on that day whatever is offered in fire or given there yields endless fruit; even those born in a sinful womb, by the gift of sesame and water (are released).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.26
सक्त्वाढ्यगुडपिण्डेन पितॄन् मोदयते तु यः । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यन्ति यावदिन्द्राश् चतुर्दश
saktvāḍhyaguḍapiṇḍena pitṝn modayate tu yaḥ / pitarastasya tṛpyanti yāvadindrāś caturdaśa
And whoever gladdens the ancestors with a ball of barley-meal rich with molasses—his ancestors are satisfied for as long as fourteen Indras (endure).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.27
तिलतण्डुलमिश्रं यः कुर्याल् लिङ्गस्य पूजनम् । सो ऽपि वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते
tilataṇḍulamiśraṃ yaḥ kuryāl liṅgasya pūjanam / so 'pi varṣasahasrāṇi śivaloke mahīyate
Whoever performs worship of the liṅga with (offerings) mixed of sesame and rice—he too is honoured in Śiva's world for thousands of years.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.28
अशोकवनिका नाम मातङ्गं तीर्थम् उच्यते । रेवाया उत्तरे कूले कथितं तव भारत
aśokavanikā nāma mātaṅgaṃ tīrtham ucyate / revāyā uttare kūle kathitaṃ tava bhārata
The Mātaṅga ford is called Aśokavanikā; it has been told to you, O Bhārata, (as lying) on the northern bank of the Revā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.29
अथान्यत् कथयिष्यामि याम्यभागे व्यवस्थितम् । तीर्थं मृगवनं नाम सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
athānyat kathayiṣyāmi yāmyabhāge vyavasthitam / tīrthaṃ mṛgavanaṃ nāma sarvapāpapraṇāśanam
Now I shall tell of another, situated on the southern side: the ford named Mṛgavana, destroyer of all sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.30
तत्र स्नात्वा ऽर्चयेद् विष्णुं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । एकादश्यां महाराज निराहारो निशां नयेत्
tatra snātvā 'rcayed viṣṇuṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam / ekādaśyāṃ mahārāja nirāhāro niśāṃ nayet
Having bathed there, one should worship Viṣṇu, bearer of conch, discus and mace; on the eleventh day, O great king, one should pass the night without food.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.31
हरिं मृगवने तत्र गन्धपुष्पैश् च पूजयेत् । एकस्मिन् भोजिते विप्रे लक्षं भवतु भोजितम्
hariṃ mṛgavane tatra gandhapuṣpaiś ca pūjayet / ekasmin bhojite vipre lakṣaṃ bhavatu bhojitam
There in Mṛgavana one should worship Hari with perfumes and flowers; when a single brahmin has been fed, let it be (as if) a hundred thousand had been fed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.32
तिलोदकप्रदानेन पितॄणां वैष्णवं पदम् । तत्रैव सन्निविष्टं तु वाराहं तीर्थमुत्तमम्
tilodakapradānena pitṝṇāṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ padam / tatraiva sanniviṣṭaṃ tu vārāhaṃ tīrthamuttamam
By the offering of sesame and water (there comes) for the ancestors the state of Viṣṇu. And situated in that very place is the excellent Vārāha tīrtha,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.33
यत्र वाराहरूपेण धरा चैव समुद्धृता । विश्वरूपं तथा चान्यद्धरिणामिततेजसा
yatra vārāharūpeṇa dharā caiva samuddhṛtā / viśvarūpaṃ tathā cānyaddhariṇāmitatejasā
where, in the boar's form, the earth was lifted up; and another there too, the Viśvarūpa, (established) by Hari of immeasurable brilliance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 56.34
पतिव्रता च नारी वै तथा मासोपवासिनी । तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन लोकं प्राप्नोति वैष्णवम्
pativratā ca nārī vai tathā māsopavāsinī / tatra snātvā vidhānena lokaṃ prāpnoti vaiṣṇavam
And a woman devoted to her husband, and likewise one who fasts for a month—bathing there according to the rule, she attains the world of Viṣṇu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition