Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 65
SkP-RK 65.1
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: नर्मदायाम्यभागे तु तीर्थं पापप्रणाशनम् । माण्डव्यस्याश्रमं पुण्यं सिद्धगन्धर्वसेवितम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: narmadāyāmyabhāge tu tīrthaṃ pāpapraṇāśanam / māṇḍavyasyāśramaṃ puṇyaṃ siddhagandharvasevitam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: On the southern side of the Narmadā there is a sacred ford that destroys sins — the holy hermitage of Māṇḍavya, frequented by Siddhas and Gandharvas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.2
विभाण्डकश् च गार्ग्यश् च ऋष्यशृङ्गादयस् तथा । तस्मिन् सहस्रसंख्याता मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
vibhāṇḍakaś ca gārgyaś ca ṛṣyaśṛṅgādayas tathā / tasmin sahasrasaṃkhyātā munayaḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ
Vibhāṇḍaka and Gārgya, and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and the rest — in that place a thousand in number were the sages of praised (strict) vows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.3
अशोकवनिकां राजन् छृणु साम्प्रतमुत्तमम् । तत्र सन्निहितो देव उमया सहितो हरः
aśokavanikāṃ rājan chṛṇu sāmpratamuttamam / tatra sannihito deva umayā sahito haraḥ
Hear now, O king, of the excellent Aśoka grove; there the god Hara is present together with Umā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.4
आविष्टश् चाश्रमे तत्र विशोको विमलः शिवः । विशोकया सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा नर्मदा यत्र सङ्गता
āviṣṭaś cāśrame tatra viśoko vimalaḥ śivaḥ / viśokayā saricchreṣṭhā narmadā yatra saṅgatā
And Śiva, sorrowless and stainless, has taken up residence in the hermitage there, where the Narmadā, best of rivers, is joined with the Viśokā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.5
तत्र स्नाता दिवं यान्ति ये मृता न पुनर्भवाः । अशोकेश्वरलिङ्गम् च प्रत्यक्षं सिद्धिशङ्करम्
tatra snātā divaṃ yānti ye mṛtā na punarbhavāḥ / aśokeśvaraliṅgam ca pratyakṣaṃ siddhiśaṅkaram
Those who have bathed there go to heaven; those who die (there) are not born again. And the Aśokeśvara liṅga is manifest there, making success and welfare.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.6
शापभ्रष्टा द्विजास् तत्र नारदेन विमोचिताः । तस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यात् मोदन्ते दिवि देवताः
śāpabhraṣṭā dvijās tatra nāradena vimocitāḥ / tasya tīrthasya māhātmyāt modante divi devatāḥ
There brahmins who had fallen through a curse were released by Nārada; by the greatness of that tīrtha the gods rejoice in heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.7
नानावृक्षफलैः पुष्पैः सर्वकामसमन्वितैः । नाना पक्षिगणैर्जुष्टं नानावृक्षनिषेवितम्
nānāvṛkṣaphalaiḥ puṣpaiḥ sarvakāmasamanvitaiḥ / nānā pakṣigaṇairjuṣṭaṃ nānāvṛkṣaniṣevitam
(It is) frequented by flocks of many kinds of birds and resorted to by many kinds of trees, with the fruits and flowers of many trees, furnished with everything one could wish.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.8
सिद्धविद्याधरैर् यक्षैर् गन्धर्वैः किन्नरैस् तथा । वेणुवीणानिनादेन शङ्खवादित्रनिःस्वनैः
siddhavidyādharair yakṣair gandharvaiḥ kinnarais tathā / veṇuvīṇāninādena śaṅkhavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ
With Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras, with the sounding of flutes and lutes, with the blare of conches and (other) instruments—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.9
शोभते सर्वदा राजन् नर्मदा विन्ध्यसङ्गमः । अशोका देवता यत्र ब्रह्मशक्रपुरोगमाः
śobhate sarvadā rājan narmadā vindhyasaṅgamaḥ / aśokā devatā yatra brahmaśakrapurogamāḥ
—the confluence of the Narmadā with the Vindhya (river) is always resplendent, O king, where the sorrowless gods, led by Brahmā and Śakra, (dwell).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.10
विश्वेदेवाश्रमं तद्धि सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम् । विश्वायाश् च तथा पुत्रा विश्वेदेवाः प्रकीर्तिताः
viśvedevāśramaṃ taddhi sarvadevanamaskṛtam / viśvāyāś ca tathā putrā viśvedevāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
For that is the hermitage of the Viśvedevas, saluted by all the gods; and the sons of Viśvā are likewise proclaimed to be the Viśvedevas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.11
अशोकवनिकायां च जनयामास कश्यपः । वैवस्वते ऽन्तरे प्राप्ते त्रेतायां नरसत्तम
aśokavanikāyāṃ ca janayāmāsa kaśyapaḥ / vaivasvate 'ntare prāpte tretāyāṃ narasattama
And in the aśoka grove Kaśyapa begot (them), when the Vaivasvata period had come, in the Tretā age, O best of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.12
पञ्चायुतानि तानि तीर्थानि निवसन्ति शुभानि च । तत्र सिद्धा च सावित्री देवमातादितिस् तथा
pañcāyutāni tāni tīrthāni nivasanti śubhāni ca / tatra siddhā ca sāvitrī devamātāditis tathā
— tr. refused: cyber
SkP-RK 65.13
देवयानी तथेन्द्राणी रोहिणी संभरायणी । दाक्षायणी लोकवन्द्या लोपामुद्रा महायशा
devayānī tathendrāṇī rohiṇī saṃbharāyaṇī / dākṣāyaṇī lokavandyā lopāmudrā mahāyaśā
Devayānī, and Indrāṇī, Rohiṇī, Saṃbharāyaṇī, Dākṣāyaṇī who is honoured by the world, and Lopāmudrā of great fame,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.14
रत्नावली सूर्यभार्या ध्रुवा तारा गणेश्वरी । अशोकास् तेन विहितास् तत्रस्थाः शतसंख्यकाः
ratnāvalī sūryabhāryā dhruvā tārā gaṇeśvarī / aśokās tena vihitās tatrasthāḥ śatasaṃkhyakāḥ
Ratnāvalī, the Sun's wife, Dhruvā, Tārā, Gaṇeśvarī — the aśoka trees were set out there by him, a hundred in number.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.15
अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यान् मुच्यते किल्बिषान् नरः । शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्याम् आश्विने मासि भारत
asya tīrthasya māhātmyān mucyate kilbiṣān naraḥ / śuklapakṣe caturdaśyām āśvine māsi bhārata
By the greatness of this sacred ford a man is freed from sin, (bathing) on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight in the month of Āśvina, O Bhārata.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.16
अपुत्रिणी तथा बन्ध्या दुर्भगा भर्तृवर्जिता । पञ्चरत्नफलैः स्नाता दिव्यकुम्भैः समर्चयेत्
aputriṇī tathā bandhyā durbhagā bhartṛvarjitā / pañcaratnaphalaiḥ snātā divyakumbhaiḥ samarcayet
A woman without sons, likewise a barren one, an unfortunate one, one abandoned by her husband — having bathed with the five gems and fruits, let her worship (the deity) with divine water-jars.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.17
सहस्रजन्म सा भूयः पुत्रिणी सुभगा भवेत् । अशोकवनिका क्षेत्रे तत्र गौर्या वरः कृतः
sahasrajanma sā bhūyaḥ putriṇī subhagā bhavet / aśokavanikā kṣetre tatra gauryā varaḥ kṛtaḥ
For a thousand births thereafter she becomes a mother of sons and fortunate. (The grove called) Aśokavanikā — there in that place Gaurī's boon was granted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.18
यस्मिन् वहति सा देवी नर्मदा सप्तकल्पगा । तत्रेष्टं धर्मराजेन वरुणेन महात्मना
yasmin vahati sā devī narmadā saptakalpagā / tatreṣṭaṃ dharmarājena varuṇena mahātmanā
Where that goddess Narmadā flows, who has run through seven aeons, there sacrifice was performed by Dharmarāja (Yama) and by the great-souled Varuṇa,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.19
नैरृत्येन तथान्यैश् च लोकपालैर् यथा विधि । प्रत्यक्षो हव्यवाहश् च लोकपालानुपागतः
nairṛtyena tathānyaiś ca lokapālair yathā vidhi / pratyakṣo havyavāhaś ca lokapālānupāgataḥ
and by the lord of the southwest (Nirṛti) and likewise by the other guardians of the world according to rule; and the bearer of oblations (Fire) became visible, having come to the world-guardians.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.20
अत्रिर् मरीचिः कश्यपश् चक्रुस् तत्र मखोत्तमम् । अन्यक्षेत्राच् छतगुणा तत्र दानादिका क्रिया
atrir marīciḥ kaśyapaś cakrus tatra makhottamam / anyakṣetrāc chataguṇā tatra dānādikā kriyā
Atri, Marīci and Kaśyapa performed the highest sacrifice there; there the rite of giving and the rest is a hundredfold (greater) than in another holy place.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.21
वाराणसी कुरुक्षेत्रं गया वै नैमिषं तथा । मायापुरी पुष्करं च प्रयागः शशिभूषणम्
vārāṇasī kurukṣetraṃ gayā vai naimiṣaṃ tathā / māyāpurī puṣkaraṃ ca prayāgaḥ śaśibhūṣaṇam
Vārāṇasī, Kurukṣetra, Gayā, and likewise Naimiṣa, Māyāpurī, Puṣkara, and Prayāga, (and) the Moon-crested one (Śiva's shrine) —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.22
काश्यपी सर्वतीर्थानि यत्र तिष्ठति कल्पगा । अशोकवनिकायास् तु नान्यत् तीर्थं समं विदुः
kāśyapī sarvatīrthāni yatra tiṣṭhati kalpagā / aśokavanikāyās tu nānyat tīrthaṃ samaṃ viduḥ
the Kāśyapī and all the holy places, where the aeon-flowing (river) abides: yet they know no other holy place equal to Aśokavanikā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.23
इष्टं यत्र पुरा राजन् हयमेधं मखोत्तमम् । ब्रह्मणा मोचिताः पूर्वं विप्राः कौलेययोनितः
iṣṭaṃ yatra purā rājan hayamedhaṃ makhottamam / brahmaṇā mocitāḥ pūrvaṃ viprāḥ kauleyayonitaḥ
Where, O king, the horse sacrifice, the highest of rites, was performed long ago, (and) where formerly brahmins were released by Brahmā from birth in a dog's womb.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.24
युधिष्ठिर उवाच: हयमेधमखेनेष्टं कथं तात स्वयम्भुवा
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: hayamedhamakheneṣṭaṃ kathaṃ tāta svayambhuvā
Yudhiṣṭhira said: How, father, was sacrifice performed with the horse-sacrifice rite by the Self-existent one?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.25
कथं च मोचिता विप्राः पूर्वं कौलेययोनितः । को वा राजा पुरा ब्रह्मन् देवराजसमो ऽभवत्
kathaṃ ca mocitā viprāḥ pūrvaṃ kauleyayonitaḥ / ko vā rājā purā brahman devarājasamo 'bhavat
And how were the brahmins formerly released from birth in a dog's womb? And who, O brahmin, was the king of old who became the equal of the king of the gods?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.26
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: शृणु राजन् महाभाग समाख्यानं पुरातनम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: śṛṇu rājan mahābhāga samākhyānaṃ purātanam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Hear, O greatly fortunate king, the ancient tale.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.27
अशोकवनिका तीर्थं कल्पगा तटमाश्रितम् । न जानन्ति महामूढा मनुजाः पापमोहिताः
aśokavanikā tīrthaṃ kalpagā taṭamāśritam / na jānanti mahāmūḍhā manujāḥ pāpamohitāḥ
Aśokavanikā, the holy place resting on the bank of the aeon-flowing (river) — greatly deluded men, bewildered by sin, do not know it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.28
गुप्ताद् गुप्ततरं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् । विशोकेश्वरलिङ्गं तु तस्मिन् परमसिद्धिदम्
guptād guptataraṃ tīrthaṃ sarvatīrthottamottamam / viśokeśvaraliṅgaṃ tu tasmin paramasiddhidam
It is a holy place more hidden than the hidden, the very best of all holy places; and in it is the liṅga of Viśokeśvara, bestowing the highest attainment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.29
पूज्यते सिद्धगन्धर्वैर् न तत् पश्यन्ति मानुषाः । दर्शनात् स्पर्शनात् तस्य ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति
pūjyate siddhagandharvair na tat paśyanti mānuṣāḥ / darśanāt sparśanāt tasya brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati
It is worshipped by Siddhas and Gandharvas; humans do not see it. By seeing it, by touching it, one removes even the killing of a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.30
स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे प्राप्ते आदिकल्पे कृते युगे । रविश् चन्द्रो महाराज चक्रवर्ती महायशाः
svāyambhuve 'ntare prāpte ādikalpe kṛte yuge / raviś candro mahārāja cakravartī mahāyaśāḥ
When the Svāyambhuva interval had come, in the first aeon, in the Kṛta age, (there was) Raviścandra, O great king, a universal emperor of great fame,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.31
सोमवंशे जनिं प्राप्तः काञ्चीपुरपतिस् तथा । शशास पृथिवीं सर्वां यथा शक्रस् त्रिविष्टपम्
somavaṃśe janiṃ prāptaḥ kāñcīpurapatis tathā / śaśāsa pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ yathā śakras triviṣṭapam
born in the lunar line, and lord of the city of Kāñcī; he ruled the whole earth as Śakra rules heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.32
गतस् तु पृथिवीपालो नानावृक्षसमाकुलम् । नानापक्षिगणैर्जुष्टं नानामुनिनिषेवतम्
gatas tu pṛthivīpālo nānāvṛkṣasamākulam / nānāpakṣigaṇairjuṣṭaṃ nānāmuniniṣevatam
And that protector of the earth went to (a place) crowded with many kinds of trees, frequented by many flocks of birds, resorted to by many sages,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.33
यत्रागस्त्येश्वरं नाम शम्भोरायतनं शुभम् । सेव्यते मुनिभिः सर्वैर् अगस्त्याद् यैस् तपोधनैः
yatrāgastyeśvaraṃ nāma śambhorāyatanaṃ śubham / sevyate munibhiḥ sarvair agastyād yais tapodhanaiḥ
where the auspicious shrine of Śambhu named Agastyeśvara is attended by all the sages, rich in austerity, beginning with Agastya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.34
राहुसूर्यसमायोगे रविश्चन्द्रो नृपोत्तमः । सप्तकल्पवहा यत्र शैलश्चामरकण्टकः
rāhusūryasamāyoge raviścandro nṛpottamaḥ / saptakalpavahā yatra śailaścāmarakaṇṭakaḥ
At the conjunction of Rāhu and the sun, Raviścandra, best of kings, (went) where the seven-aeon-flowing (river) is, and the mountain Amarakaṇṭaka,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.35
हस्त्यश्वरथपादातैः सकोशबलवाहनैः । तपस्यन्तं महात्मानं मुनिसङ्घैः समावृतम्
hastyaśvarathapādātaiḥ sakośabalavāhanaiḥ / tapasyantaṃ mahātmānaṃ munisaṅghaiḥ samāvṛtam
with elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers, with treasury, army and conveyances, (he approached) the great-souled one practising austerity, surrounded by throngs of sages,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.36
मैत्रावरुणिकं नाम ज्वलन्तमिति पावकम् । तेषां मध्ये समुत्थाय शाण्डिल्यश् च महातपाः
maitrāvaruṇikaṃ nāma jvalantamiti pāvakam / teṣāṃ madhye samutthāya śāṇḍilyaś ca mahātapāḥ
(the fire) named Maitrāvaruṇika, that fire blazing (there); and from the midst of them arose Śāṇḍilya of great austerity,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.37
उरसा पृथिवीं गत्वा सो ऽगस्तिं परिपृच्छति । रविश्चन्द्रो महातेजाः समायातस् तवाश्रमम्
urasā pṛthivīṃ gatvā so 'gastiṃ paripṛcchati / raviścandro mahātejāḥ samāyātas tavāśramam
Having touched the earth with his chest (in prostration), he asks Agastya: "Raviścandra of great splendour has come to your hermitage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.38
पुरोहितो ऽहम् अस्यास्मि जानीहि त्वं तपोनिधे । त्वत् पादार्चनम् आकाङ्क्षी मन्यसे चेद् अनुग्रहः
purohito 'ham asyāsmi jānīhi tvaṃ taponidhe / tvat pādārcanam ākāṅkṣī manyase ced anugrahaḥ
Know, O treasury of austerity, that I am his household priest. He desires the worship of your feet, if you think it a favour (to grant)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.39
अगस्त्य उवाच: आगच्छतु नृपश्रेष्ठः शीघ्रं सिंहासने स्थितः । आगतस् तद् अनुज्ञातः पादौ जग्राह तस्य च
agastya uvāca: āgacchatu nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ śīghraṃ siṃhāsane sthitaḥ / āgatas tad anujñātaḥ pādau jagrāha tasya ca
Agastya said: Let the best of kings come at once. Seated on his lion-throne (and) permitted by that (word), he came and clasped his feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.40
अर्घपाद्यैश् च सम्पूज्य पप्रच्छ कुशलं मुनिः । कुशलं ते महाभाग सान्तः पुरपरिच्छदः
arghapādyaiś ca sampūjya papraccha kuśalaṃ muniḥ / kuśalaṃ te mahābhāga sāntaḥ puraparicchadaḥ
And having honoured (him) with water for the guest and for the feet, the sage asked after his welfare: "Is it well with you, greatly fortunate one, together with your women's quarters and retinue?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.41
उवाच वचनं राजा मुनीन्द्रं प्रति भारत । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म राज्यं जीवनम् एव च
uvāca vacanaṃ rājā munīndraṃ prati bhārata / adya me saphalaṃ janma rājyaṃ jīvanam eva ca
The king spoke these words to the lord of sages, O Bhārata: "Today my birth has borne fruit, and my kingdom and my very life;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.42
मुक्तश् च किल्बिषाद् अस्मात् त्वात्पादाम्बुजदर्शनात् । सर्वत्र कल्पगा पुण्या सर्वतीर्थमयी शुभा
muktaś ca kilbiṣād asmāt tvātpādāmbujadarśanāt / sarvatra kalpagā puṇyā sarvatīrthamayī śubhā
and I am freed from this sin by the sight of your lotus-feet. Everywhere (she is) auspicious, flowing through the aeons, holy, made of all sacred fords—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.43
कस्मिन् स्थाने यजे यज्ञं शंस मे मुनिसत्तम । यथा संसिद्ध्यते यज्ञः सुराणां तृप्तिर् अक्षया
kasmin sthāne yaje yajñaṃ śaṃsa me munisattama / yathā saṃsiddhyate yajñaḥ surāṇāṃ tṛptir akṣayā
In what place should I offer sacrifice? Tell me, best of sages, so that the sacrifice may be accomplished and the satisfaction of the gods be unfailing."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.44
अगस्त्य उवाच: शृणु राजन् महाभाग कथ्यमानं निबोध च
agastya uvāca: śṛṇu rājan mahābhāga kathyamānaṃ nibodha ca
Agastya said: Listen, greatly fortunate king, and attend to what is being told.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.45
शिवेन कथितं पूर्वं पार्वत्याः षण्मुखस्य च । ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिदेवानामन्येषां च दिवौकसाम्
śivena kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ pārvatyāḥ ṣaṇmukhasya ca / brahmaviṣṇvādidevānāmanyeṣāṃ ca divaukasām
It was told formerly by Śiva to Pārvatī and to the six-faced one, to Brahmā, Viṣṇu and the other gods, and to the other dwellers in heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 65.46
मया तत्र श्रुतं राजन् मार्कण्डेन चिरायुषा । तत्ते ऽहं कथयिष्यामि मेकलातीर्थसम्भवम्
mayā tatra śrutaṃ rājan mārkaṇḍena cirāyuṣā / tatte 'haṃ kathayiṣyāmi mekalātīrthasambhavam
There I heard it, O king, (as did) Mārkaṇḍa of long life; that I shall tell you—the origin of the Mekalā ford.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 65.47
शृणुध्वं मुनयः सर्वे यत् प्रष्टव्यावतारणम् । कस्य शक्तिर् महाराज वर्जयित्वा महेश्वरम्
śṛṇudhvaṃ munayaḥ sarve yat praṣṭavyāvatāraṇam / kasya śaktir mahārāja varjayitvā maheśvaram
Listen, all you sages, to this setting forth of what should be asked. Who has the power (to tell it), great king, apart from Maheśvara?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain