Skandapurana 1.3.3

English (machine translation) 1.3.3

Language: English

1.3.3.1

Lomaśa said: / When Viṣṇu had departed, then all the gods, along with the ṛṣis, / and all those who subsist on sacrifices, were utterly conquered by the gaṇas.

1.3.3.2

And he struck down Bhṛgu; the plucking of his beard was done. / And he pulled out the teeth of Pūṣan, causing monstrous deformities.

1.3.3.3

Svadhā was desecrated there, and the ṛṣis were mocked. / Filled with anger, they rained feces upon the sacrificial fire of the canopy.

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Then the gaṇas, filled with wrath, performed unspeakable acts. / Dakṣa went inside the sacrificial enclosure out of immense fear.

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Knowing that he was hiding, [Vīrabhadra], filled with anger, brought him out. / Grasping him by the cheeks, he struck his head with a sword.

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Thinking that head to be impenetrable, the glorious Vīrabhadra / pressed down on his shoulder with his feet and squeezed his neck then.

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And as the neck was being torn open, the head of the evil-minded / Dakṣa was then severed by the wise Vīrabhadra. / That head was well-offered into the blazing sacrificial pit […]

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And the other ṛṣis, gods, ancestors, yakṣas, and rākṣasas, / all harassed by the gaṇas, fled intent on running away.

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All the hosts of the moon and sun, the planets, constellations, and stars— / all of them were indeed displaced, harassed by the gaṇas as well.

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Afflicted by grief for his son, Brahmā went to Satyaloka. / Undisturbed, he reflected: "What duty must be done today?"

1.3.3.11

With an anguished mind, the Grandfather found no peace, / knowing with great effort all the misdeeds of that sinner [Dakṣa].

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He made up his mind to go toward Mount Kailāsa. / Mounted on a swan, possessing great splendor, accompanied by all the gods,

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Having entered that best of mountains, he beheld Sadāśiva, / Rudra dwelling in solitude, accompanied by Śailāda.

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wearing matted locks, endowed with glory, and unapproachable even by the limbs of the Veda. / Seeing him in such a state, Brahmā became overwhelmed with distress.

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He fell to the ground like a staff, resolved to beg forgiveness. / Touching his lotus feet with the tips of his four crowns, / he began to sing the praises of Śiva, the Supreme Self.

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Brahmā said: / Homage to Rudra, the peaceful one, the Brahman, the Supreme Self! / For you are the creator of the creators of the universe, the supporter, the great-grandfather.

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Homage to Rudra, the great one, the blue-throated one, the ordainer, / the universe itself, the seed of the universe, the cause of joy to the world.

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You are the syllable Oṃ, you are the vaṣaṭ-call, the instigator of all undertakings. / You are the sacrifice, you are the sacrificial act, and the promoter of sacrifices.

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You alone are the protector of all performers of sacrifice. / You are the refuge, O Mahādeva, of all living beings, O Lord! / Protect, protect [me], O Mahādeva, afflicted by grief for my son!

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Mahādeva said: / Listen attentively to my words, O Grandfather! / This disruption of Dakṣa’s sacrifice was never caused by me.

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By his own action Dakṣa was slain, O Brahmā, there is no doubt.

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An action causing distress to others should never be done. / O highest Lord, whatever is done to others will happen to oneself.

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Having spoken thus, Rudra, accompanied by Brahmā and the gods, / went to the sacred ford Kanakhala, to the sacrificial enclosure of Prajāpati [Dakṣa].

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Then Rudra saw what had been done by Vīrabhadra: / Svāhā, Svadhā, and likewise Pūṣan, and Bhṛgu, the best of the wise,

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and all the other seers, and the ancestors likewise, / and the many other yakṣas, gandharvas, and kinnaras there,

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were torn apart, stripped of hair, and some were dead on the field of battle.

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Seeing that Śambhu had arrived, Vīrabhadra, together with the gaṇas, / prostrated himself like a staff and stood before Sadāśiva.

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Seeing Vīrabhadra of great might standing before him, / Rudra laughed and spoke these words: “What is this that has been done, O hero?

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Bring Dakṣa quickly, by whom such a deed was done / in an extraordinary sacrifice, my dear, and whose fruit is of such a kind!”

1.3.3.30

Thus addressed by Śaṃkara, Vīrabhadra, with haste, / brought the headless trunk and cast it down before Śambhu.

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Then high-minded Vīrabhadra was asked by Śaṃkara himself: / “By whom was the head of this wicked Dakṣa taken away?

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Even though he was deceitful, O hero, I shall now give him life.” / Thus addressed by Śaṃkara, Vīrabhadra spoke again:

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“The head was offered by me into the fire at that very time, O Śaṃkara! / What remains, O Śambhu, is the head of the sacrificial animal with a deformed face.”

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Knowing this, Rudra then placed upon the headless trunk / the deformed, bearded, and terrifying head of the sacrificial animal.

1.3.3.35

Dakṣa obtained life by the grace of Śaṃkara. / Then, seeing Rudra before him, Dakṣa, filled with shame, / bowed down and praised Śaṃkara, the benefactor of the world.

Dakṣa said: / I bow to the boon-giving God, the most choice; I bow to the eternal Lord of the gods. / I bow to Hara, the supreme master and Lord of the gods; I bow to Śambhu, the sole friend of the universe.

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I bow to the Lord of the universe whose form is the universe, the eternal Brahman whose form is one’s own Self. / I bow to the All, the source of one's own being; to the highest, the most choice, I am bowed down.

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Lomaśa said: / Praised by Dakṣa, Rudra laughed and spoke in secret:

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Hara said: / Four kinds of virtuous men constantly worship me: / the afflicted, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the man of knowledge, O best of the twice-born.

1.3.3.40

Therefore, all who possess knowledge are dear to me; there is no doubt in this. / For those who strive to attain me without knowledge are childish fools.

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You indeed wish to cross over cyclic existence merely by action.

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Neither by the Vedas, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices, nor ever by austerity / can foolish men enslaved by actions reach me.

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Therefore, devoted to knowledge, perform action with composure. / Becoming equal in pleasure and pain, be constantly happy.

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Lomaśa said: / Having thus instructed Dakṣa and established him there, / that Śambhu, the supreme lord, Rudra, departed for his own mountain.

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All the great seers as well, Bhṛgu and the others, were comforted and enlightened / by Brahmā, and in an instant they became possessors of knowledge.

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The grandfather Brahmā then went to his own abode.

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Dakṣa too, by his word alone, attained supreme enlightenment. / Intent on meditating upon Śiva, the high-minded one performed austerity.

1.3.3.48

Therefore, the blessed Lord Śiva should be served with every effort.

1.3.3.49

Those men who sweep the courtyard of Śiva / indeed attain the city of Śiva and become praised by the world.

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Those who offer a mirror of great brilliance to Śiva, / those men shall become attendants before Śiva.

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Those who offer flywhisks to the God of gods, the wielder of the trident, / will be fanned with flywhisks in the three worlds.

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The men who offer the gift of a lamp in the temple of Mahādeva / will become full of splendor, illuminating the three worlds.

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Those who indeed offer incense to Śiva, the Supreme Self, / will become renowned and deliver both their maternal and paternal families.

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Those men who offer food offerings with devotion before Hari-Hara / obtain the fruit of a sacrifice with every grain of rice.

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And the best of men who repair a broken temple of Śiva / obtain double the fruit; there is no doubt in this.

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Those who construct a new one, either with bricks or with stone, / rejoice in heaven as long as their spotless / fame remains on earth, O best of the twice-born; [no] doubt should be entertained.

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And those brahmins, great in wisdom, who cause a multi-storied temple / of Śiva to be built, attain the supreme goal.

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And those who clean and whitewash Hara's temple, / whether their own or made by another, they too attain the supreme state. 5.58

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Indeed, those meritorious men who offer a canopy / deliver their entire lineage and go, moreover, to Śiva's realm. 5.59

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And those who hang a resonant bell in Śiva's temple / will become radiant and renowned in the three worlds. 5.60

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Whether rich or poor, one who beholds [him] / once, twice, or thrice a day, is happily freed from suffering. 5.61

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Or the faithful person who worships Śiva, the Supreme Self, / delivers ten million ancestors and rejoices with Śiva. 5.62

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In this very connection they cite this ancient history, / the conversation between Indradyumna's son and the great-souled Yama. 5.63

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Long ago, in the Kṛta age, there was a king named Indrasena, / the ruler of Pratiṣṭhāna, a warrior who was ever fond of hunting. 5.64

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Hostile to brahmins, always cruel, always gratifying only his own belly, / that villain constantly sustained his own life through the lives of others. 5.65

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Excessively addicted to other men's wives, covetous of others' wealth, / brahmins were killed by him, and he incessantly drank liquor. 5.66

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He frequently violated his guru's bed and was ever a thief of gold; / all the followers of that evil-minded king were just like him. 5.67

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In this manner that evil-natured man ruled his kingdom in various ways. / Then, in the course of long time, the wicked-minded man met his death. 5.68

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Then, that evil-natured Indrasena was carried off by Yama's attendants; / the stained king then arrived before Yama. 5.69

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There he was seen by Yama, standing in front—that Indrasena; / standing up [in reverence], Yama bowed his head to Śiva. 5.70

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Yama, the best among upholders of dharma, rebuked his messengers; / having freed Candrasena who was bound with nooses, the King of Dharma said: 5.71

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“Go to the most sacred realms, and enjoy them, O best of kings, / as long as Indra remains in heaven and the sun in the vault of the sky, 5.72

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and as long as the five elements endure, so long be happy! / You are a doer of good deeds, O great king, and ever a devotee of Śiva.” 5.73

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Hearing Yama's words, Indrasena replied: / “I do not know Śiva, for I was only fond of the hunt.” 5.74

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Hearing those words of his, Yama spoke [this] reply: / “'Bring [it]!' (āhara), 'Strike!' (prahara)—this was constantly spoken by you. 5.75

1.3.3.76

By the fruition of that deed you are forever purified, O courteous one; / therefore, go to Mount Kailāsa, to Śaṃkara.” 5.76

1.3.3.77

While the great-souled Yama was speaking thus, / those messengers of Śiva arrived, mounted on bulls and of great splendor. 5.77

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Blue-throated, ten-armed, five-faced, three-eyed, / wearing matted hair and earrings, their crests marked by the moon. 5.78

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Seeing them, Yama, the best among upholders of dharma, rose up at once, / and then honored them all, who resembled Mahendra. 5.79

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Immediately they all said to Yama, son of Vivasvat: / “Indrasena of boundless splendor has arrived here, O fortunate one, / who constantly uttered the name of the great-souled Rudra.” 5.80

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Having heard their words and being honored by Yama, / Indrasena, seated in an aerial chariot, was sent to the abode of Śiva. 5.81

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Brought then by those supreme, best attendants, / Indrasena of boundless splendor was beheld by Śambhu. 5.82

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Rising, Rudra approached and embraced the king; / seating Indrasena on half of his throne, he then said to him: 5.83

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“What shall be given, O best of kings? I grant what you desire.” / Hearing those words of the Great Lord, the king then, / shedding tears of joy, could say nothing out of love. 5.84

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Then he was made an attendant by the great-souled Great Lord, / known by the name Caṇḍa, and the dear friend of Muṇḍa. 5.85

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By merely uttering the name of Rudra, the Supreme Self, / even that most sinful king Indrasena attained perfection. 5.86

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Indeed, by the syllables “ra” and “ha”, the names of Śambhu and the Discus-wielder, / many mortals have been protected by Śiva, the Supreme Self. 5.87

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No god higher than the Great Lord is seen in the three worlds; / therefore, Sadāśiva must be worshipped with every effort. 5.88

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Worshipped with leaves, flowers, or fruits, or ever with pure water, / [or] with oleanders, Śaṃkara becomes the granter of boons. 5.89

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Ten times superior to oleander is the arka flower. / This whole universe of mobile and immobile beings is brought forth by holy ash and the rest; 5.90

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therefore one should always wear that which belongs to Śiva's courtyard. / Next, hear the merit of the tripuṇḍra, O best of brahmins! 5.91

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It takes away all sin; hear of that merit, O best of brahmins! / A certain thief, a great sinner, was slain by the king's emissaries. 5.92

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A dog came to eat him and stood upon his head; / ash clinging between its claws [fell] upon that very sinner, 5.93

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and dropped onto his forehead in the imprint of a tripuṇḍra mark, / clinging merely to his body devoid of consciousness. 5.94

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Then that thief was immediately taken to Kailāsa by Rudra's emissaries. / Who indeed is able to describe the excellence of the greatness of holy ash? 5.95

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Men of meritorious deeds whose bodies are adorned with holy ash, / on whose mouth is the five-syllable mantra—they are Rudras; of this there is no doubt. 5.96

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Those who have masses of matted hair, and those adorned with rudrākṣas, / they are indeed Rudras in human form; of this there is no doubt. 5.97

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Therefore, Sadāśiva should be worshipped constantly by men / in the morning, at noon, and especially at the evening twilight. 5.98

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By the darśana of Śambhu in the morning, the sin of the night is removed; / by the darśana of Śambhu at noon, the sin accumulated by mortals over seven lifetimes / is destroyed; [the darśana] at night is beyond reckoning. 5.99

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The two-syllabled name “Śiva” destroys great sins; / by those men from whose mouth it issues, this universe is sustained. 5.100

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The kettle-drum set up in the courtyard of Śiva's temple by men of meritorious deeds— / by its sound indeed people devoted to sin are purified; / even heretics of false doctrine go to the highest state. 5.101

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And with the hide of whatever animal the drum, mṛdaṅga, muraja, and the like / are bound and set up by men in Śiva's temple, / that animal attains Śiva's presence; of this there is no doubt. 5.102

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Therefore, stringed, percussion, solid, and wind instruments, / precious chowries, couches, and beds, 5.103

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and ballads, histories, singing according to rule, / theatrical disguises, and the like, which are dear to Śambhu, one should arrange. 5.104

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Having arranged these, even sinners go to the world of Śiva— / to say nothing of the righteous, great-souled men skilled in the worship of Śiva. 5.105

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And those who, devoted to the worship of Śiva received from the mouth of a guru, / view the universe with resolute mind as the form of Śiva, 5.106

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men of proper conduct with a right intellect, adhering to the classes and stages of life— / brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, and other men— 5.107

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even an outcaste becomes most distinguished and dearer to Śambhu. / All this universe, moving and unmoving, is presided over by Śambhu. 5.108

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Therefore, everything is to be known as especially filled with Śiva / through the Vedas, Purāṇas, treatises, and also the Upaniṣads. 5.109

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Śambhu is to be known through various Āgamas; of this there is no doubt. / Śiva is always to be worshipped by those without desires and those with desires. 5.110

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Lomaśa said: / I shall relate an ancient narrative, an ancient history: / Formerly a vaiśya named Nandī lived in the city of Avantī. 5.111

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Devoted to meditation on Śiva, he performed the worship of Śiva; / he worshipped daily a single liṅga located in a forest of austerity. 5.112

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Rising at dawn every day, dear to Śiva, / Nandī was exceedingly devoted to the worship of the liṅga. 5.113

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He bathed the liṅga with the five nectars strictly as prescribed, / always surrounded by brahmins who had crossed to the end of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. 5.114

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He engaged in the worship of the liṅga in accordance with the scriptural injunctions. / Then, having bathed it, with flowers possessing various wonders, 5.115

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and constantly with pearls, sapphires, hessonites, / cat's-eyes, blue gems, and rubies, he worshipped it. 5.116

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Thus the fortunate Nandī worshipped for many years / that liṅga standing in a secluded place, with various offerings. 5.117

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One day, a hunter addicted to the chase, a slayer of living beings, / devoid of discrimination, always delighting in hunting, 5.118

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a sinner of sinful conduct, was wandering in a mountain cave / crowded with many wild beasts, killing here and there. 5.119

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While wandering thus, this hunter, a slayer of living beings, / arrived by chance at the place where the liṅga was well worshipped. 5.120

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Looking for water, severely tormented by thirst, / he quickly saw a lake in the forest and entered the water. 5.121

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Having placed all his game and gear on the bank, the wicked-minded one, / having rinsed and spat from his mouth, drank water, and came out. 5.122

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He saw before him a temple of Śiva adorned with many wonders; / the liṅga was seen well-worshipped with various gems separately. 5.123

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Observing the liṅga in that manner, when he took hold of the worship, / all the gems were scattered here and there. 5.124

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The ceremonial bath of that liṅga was performed with a mouthful of water; / with one hand he offered bilva leaves for the sake of worship, 5.125

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and with his second hand he offered venison. / Prostrating like a staff, he made a resolve in his mind: 5.126

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"From this day onward I shall indeed perform worship with effort. / You are my master, and from this day onward I am your devotee, O Śaṅkara!" 5.127

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Having thus bound himself to this rule, the hunter went home. / Nandī saw all that [done] here and there by the hunter. 5.128

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Nandī became filled with anxiety: "What fault has occurred in me today? / The obstacles that are spoken of for one devoted to Śiva's worship— / those very obstacles have arrived through the reversal of my fortune!" 5.129

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Reflecting thus for a long time, having washed the temple of Śiva, / Nandī went to his own home by the way he had come. 5.130

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Then, having approached the disheartened Nandī, the family priest / addressed words to him: "Why are you disheartened?" 5.131

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Then Nandī spoke these words to the family priest: 5.132

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"Today, O brahmin, impure matter was seen by me in the presence of Śiva; / by whom this was caused to be done there, I do not know at all." 5.133

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Then the priest spoke these words to Nandī at that time: / "He by whom the rich worship with gems and the like was disturbed there— / he is surely a fool, dull-witted regarding what should and should not be done. 5.134

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Therefore, no anxiety should be had by you, not even a particle, O master! / In the morning, go to that temple of Śiva along with me. 5.135

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For the sake of watching for the villain, I shall arrange that matter." / Having heard this statement of his priest, 5.136

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Nandī stayed in his own house during the night with an aching heart. / When that night had passed, having summoned the priest, 5.137

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Nandī went to the temple of Śiva together with that great-souled man. / Then was seen what had been done on the previous day by that wicked one. 5.138

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Having performed proper worship with equipment of various gems, / consisting of the five articles of worship and likewise elevenfold, 5.139

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having praised the Lord of the Mountain with many hymns along with the brahmins, / two watches of the day had passed as Nandī was praising [him]. 5.140

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Then indeed came one like Mahākāla in form, possessing great strength, / resembling Death, exceedingly fierce, bow in hand, full of prowess. 5.141

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Seeing him, terrified with fear, Nandī wept; / and the priest also immediately became terrified with fear. 5.142

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By the hunter, [the worship] was performed there without hesitation, just as before: / kicking away that worship with the forepart of his foot, he offered a bilva leaf. 5.143

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And having given him a ceremonial bath with water from his mouthful, / the Kirāta offered that flesh as a food offering to Śiva.

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Falling flat on the ground like a staff, he got up and went to his own house. / Having seen that great wonder, [Nandī] indeed reflected for a long time.

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Then, together with his priest, Nandī, his mind agitated, / had many brahmins who were expounders of the Vedas summoned.

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Having reported to them all that was done by the Kirāta, [he said:] / “What should be done now, O brahmins? Tell me the truth!”

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Then, having deliberated all together in accordance with the Dharmaśāstras, / all the brahmins then spoke to Nandī, who was extremely anxious:

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“This obstacle has arisen, difficult to avert even by the gods; / therefore, bring the liṅga to your own house, O best of Vaiśyas!”

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Agreeing, Nandī then uprooted the Śiva[-liṅga], / brought it to his own house, and installed it according to the rules.

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Having made a golden pedestal adorned with the nine jewels, / he then worshipped [it] with many services.

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Then, on the next day, the Kirāta came to the temple of Śiva; / when he looked, he did not see the liṅga of Īśa.

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Abandoning silence, he immediately cried out, saying this: / “O Śambhu, where have you gone? Reveal yourself today!

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If you are not seen by me, I will give up my body today! / O Śambhu, O Lord of the universe, O destroyer of Tripura, O Lord!

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O Rudra, O Mahādeva, show yourself by your own will!”

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Thus rebuked with words reproachful yet sweet, Sadāśiva [remained hidden]; / then that heroic Kirāta with [violent] outbursts tore open his own belly,

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and having quickly pierced his arms, he struck [his chest] and spoke with rage: / “O Śambhu, show yourself! Where will you go, abandoning me?”

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So saying, having pulled out his entrails and cut away his flesh from all sides, / the Kirāta suddenly hurled [them] into that pit with his own hand.

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Having composed his heart, he indeed bathed in that lake; / bringing water and a bilva leaf in the same way, in great haste,

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he worshipped [the pit] in the proper manner and fell flat like a staff on the earth.

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Then, while the Kirāta stood absorbed in meditation in the presence of Śiva, / Rudra appeared, surrounded by his pramathas,

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fair as camphor, radiant, with matted hair and the crescent moon on his crest. / Taking him by the hand, Rudra spoke, comforting him:

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“O hero, O very wise one, you are my devotee, O noble-minded one! / Choose a boon conducive to your welfare, whatever great thing you desire!”

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Thus addressed by Rudra, Mahākāla, filled with joy, / fell flat like a staff upon the ground, endowed with supreme devotion.

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Then he spoke to Rudra: “I pray for a boon: / I am your servant, O Rudra, and you are my master, without doubt.

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Grant devotion to one whose mind understands this, in birth after birth! / You are my mother, and you are my father, and you are indeed my kinsman and my friend.

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You are the guru, you are the great mantra, you are always to be known through mantra; / therefore, there is nothing else other than you in the three worlds.”

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Hearing the desireless words of the Kirāta, Bhava then / granted him leadership among his attendants and the status of doorkeeper.

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Then the three worlds were made to resound with the sound of the ḍamaru, / with the booming resonance of the kettle-drum, and with the blare of conches.

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Then kettledrums sounded, and drums by the thousands. / Hearing that sound, Nandī went swiftly in astonishment

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to the penance-grove where Śiva was present, surrounded by the pramathas. / And there the Kirāta was seen by Nandī with great [wonder].

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Filled with wonder, Nandī spoke a humble word, / wishing to praise the Kirāta with supreme concentration:

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“Śambhu has been brought here by you; you are a devotee, O scorcher of foes! / You are a devotee, and I have arrived here; introduce me to Śaṃkara!”

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Hearing his word, the Kirāta, acting swiftly, / took Nandī by the hand and approached Śaṃkara.

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Laughing, the blessed Lord Rudra said these words to the Kirāta: / “Who is this that has been brought by you here into the presence of the gaṇas?”

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The Kirāta said: / Śaṃkara, the source of auspiciousness to the world, was addressed by the Kirāta: / “O God, he is your devotee always, indeed devoted to your worship.

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Every day, with gems and rubies, and with various kinds of flowers, / and even with his life and wealth, you have been worshipped [by him], there is no doubt.

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Therefore, recognize my friend Nandī, O you who are affectionate to your devotees!”

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Mahādeva said: / “I do not know Nandī, attended by the Vaiśyas, O fortunate one! / You are my devotee and my friend, O Mahākāla, O high-minded one!

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Those who are free from limiting conditions, and who are also resolute— / they are my very dear devotees; they are distinguished, the best of men.

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For I am a devotee of yours, dear child, and he is a doer of what is pleasing to me.” / Both of them were accepted by Śambhu into the status of his attendants.

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Then many aerial chariots of great radiance arrived there; / that best of Vaiśyas was redeemed by that best of Kirātas, who possessed great brilliance.

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They reached Mount Kailāsa by means of very swift aerial chariots; / they attained conformity of form with Īśvara, the Great Soul.

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Then, being accompanied by Śiva, they were greeted with the waving of lights by Girijā. / Then the goddess, who walks like an elephant, spoke this, laughing:

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“Just as you are, Mahādeva, so are these two, there is no doubt; / in appearance, in gait, and in cheerful disposition, they are well worshipped.

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By me you alone were served, without a doubt.” / Hearing that word of the Goddess, both the Kirāta and the Vaiśya,

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immediately turning their faces away as Śaṃkara was looking on, [said:] / “May we two be pitied by you, O three-eyed Lord!

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Standing constantly at your door, may we remain [your servants]! Homage, homage to you!”

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Understanding the disposition of both, the lord Bhava smiled and said: / 'Through your supreme devotion, let your desire be fulfilled.' 5.189

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From that time forward, O brahmins, those two became doorkeepers, / stationed at the door of Śiva, beholding Śiva at midday. 5.190

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One was Nandī, and [the other] Mahākāla—these two were dear to Śiva. / Filled with joy, they said: 'Sadāśiva is one alone.' 5.191

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Raising one finger, Mahādeva spoke; / likewise Nandī spoke this, raising two of his fingers. 5.192

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Endowed with such gestures, the two stand at the door of the great-souled Śaṃkara. / O fortunate ones, let these seers indeed hear! 5.193

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In ancient times, the eternal dharma of Śiva was proclaimed by Śailāda / out of compassion for all living beings whose souls have committed evil deeds, O brahmins. 5.194

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Even those who are sinners, most unrighteous, blind, mute, and lame, / base-born, wicked-souled, and even dog-cookers among men— 5.195

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whatever sorts they may be, if they are guided by devotion to Śiva, / they too attain the presence of the god of gods, the bearer of the trident. 5.196

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Those wise ones who worship a liṅga made of sand / go to the realm of Rudra; no doubt should be entertained in this matter. 5.197

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Thus ends the fifth chapter, entitled 'Description of the Māhātmya of Devotion to Śiva', in the Śivaśāstra of the Kedārakhaṇḍa in the first [part], the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses. 5.

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit