Skandapurana 1.2.6

English (machine translation) 1.2.6

Language: English

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"I will explain today in detail the expiation of great sins

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for all [people]; listen carefully, adopting a faithful mindset.

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A killer of a brahmin, having reached the Crimson Mountain, bathed in the Khaḍgatīrtha,

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reciting the five-syllable mantra, wearing holy ash and rudrākṣa beads,

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having fasted, and worshiping the Supreme Lord with purity,

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should feed brahmins for a year, eating alms, with his senses restrained.

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He should perform special worship and service to the God with devotion.

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Completely freed from [the sin of] killing a brahmin, he is glorified in the world of Brahmā.

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Even a liquor drinker, residing for one year in the sacred field of Aruṇa,

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having observed proper conduct as before and thus worshiping Maheśvara,

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should bathe the God with milk while reciting the Śatarudrīya."

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he is swiftly freed from the sin born of drinking liquor. (6)

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One who commits the theft of gold, [if] in the sacred field of Śoṇa, having worshipped Hara with bilva leaves

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and fed the learned brahmins, is freed from that formidable sin. (7)

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One who has engaged in sexual relations with his guru's wife, going to Aruṇācala under [the constellation] Kṛttikā,

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becoming an observer of vows as before, by means of a thousand lamps, (8)

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having worshipped Śrī Śoṇācalaśaṃkara for three months,

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should bestow an adorned maiden upon a wise brahmin. (9)

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He should constantly repeat the six-syllabled mantra; thereby he is freed from sin,

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and he dwells in the world of Śiva until the dissolution of worldly existence, without a doubt. (10)

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And one who violates another man's wife, with restrained senses in this sacred field,

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worshipping Aruṇaśaṃkara with fresh flowers for one month, (11)

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should bestow wealth upon a devotee of Maheśvara according to his capacity.

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At that very moment, he will be thoroughly freed from that sin. (12)

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Even a poisoner, having observed vows in the sacred field of Aruṇa as previously described,

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offering a gift of milk to the god, is freed from fault. (13)

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Even a slanderer, observing vows in the sacred field of Aruṇa and devoted to the Vedas,

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should instruct the foremost twice-born; then he becomes free of blemish. (14)

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Even an arsonist, observing vows as before in the sacred field of Aruṇa for three months,

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should build and offer a house to a devotee of Śiva for the pacification of that sin. (15)

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One who reviles dharma, dwelling as a vrati in the sacred field of Śoṇa for a year,

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should perform charitable distributions of food and the like to the best of his capacity for the pacification of sin. (16)

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One who is malicious towards his father, remaining unwearied in the sacred field of Aruṇa for a month,

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should give cows by the thousands to the Lord of the Mountain and to the twice-born. (17)

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Having fed many twice-born at the times of planetary eclipses,

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he should release a dark-colored bull; thereby he is freed from that sin. (18)

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Even a murderer of a woman or a murderer of a child, having arrived at the sacred field of Śoṇa,

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should give sesame seeds to the twice-born on a vyatīpāta day for the destruction of wicked deeds. (19)

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One who has committed secret sins, with restrained senses in this sacred field of Śoṇa,

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should make secret donations; he will indeed become cleansed of defilement. (20)

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One who speaks falsehood, dwelling as a vrati in the sacred field of Aruṇa for six months,

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becomes free of blemish through the recitation of the hymn to the Lord of Śoṇācala. (21)

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One who damages wells and the like, having reached the sacred field of Śoṇa with devotion,

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should dig reservoirs there; he will certainly become free from sin. (22)

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One who usurps land should grant fertile land yielding great fruit to the god;

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one who ruins an orchard should offer an excellent garden to Him. (23)

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One who usurps a house should construct a new temple for the god;

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released from that sin, he attains intimate union with Śiva. (24)

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One who is treacherous to others, dwelling in the sacred field of Śoṇa and gratifying

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the devotees of Maheśvara with riches, undoubtedly attains the higher worlds. (25)

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One who eats the flesh of beasts and the like, observing vows in the sacred field of Śoṇa for three fortnights,

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should delight the Lord of Aruṇa with charming offerings. (26)

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Resounding three times, 'O Lord of Śoṇācala!', he becomes sinless.

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Dwelling in the sacred field of Aruṇa, he should worship Aruṇeśvara. (27)

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One desiring liberation should devoutly recite the mantra of Aruṇeśvara.

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Whatever [desire] is wished for by him, by circumambulating (28)

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the mountain of Aruṇa on foot, that auspicious thing is easily obtained.

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Upon sneezing, slipping, in great peril, upon seeing bad dreams, (29)

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and also in the height of joy, 'Aruṇaśaṃkara' should be uttered by the wise.

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Even one fallen from their caste and stage of life, or even one intent on hostility to Śiva, (30)

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dwelling for three days in the sacred field of Aruṇa, is freed from sins.

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This earthly world of Śiva is the crown of the three Vedas embodied. (31)

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This mountain of Aruṇa is indeed the Kailāsa of the South.

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In other sacred fields of the perfected, accomplishments come to men through austerities; (32)

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in this [field], through mere remembrance—consider the relative superiority!

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Whatever [merit of] action men [obtain] at Gaṅgā, at Prayāga, at Kāśī, at Puṣkara, (33)

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and at the Bridge [of Rāma], greater than that is [the merit] in the sacred field of Śoṇa.

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A wise man should perform the Agniṣṭoma, the Vājapeya, the Vairāja, the Sarvatomukha, (34)

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the Rājasūya, and the Aśvamedha on Śoṇācala.

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Whatever [fasting] a man fasts for a single day in the sacred field of Aruṇa, (35)

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that becomes [equal to] a hundred Cāndrāyaṇa penances accompanied by ten thousand Sāṃtapanas.

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Even the sixteen great gifts, in the presence of the sacred field of Aruṇa,

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when performed, yield twice the fruit taught in the scriptures.

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Having thus heard from the mouth of Nandikeśvara the remedy for hell, the sage's son then praised him and requested:

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"Speak of the order of worship according to days, seasons, years, and so forth."

Thus ends the sixth chapter, named 'Description of the Atonement that Removes Sin', in the second half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya, in the first [part], the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skandapurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit