Skandapurana 4.53
English (machine translation) 4.53
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4.53.1
Agasti spoke:
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An unprecedented tale of Brahmā has been told, O best of the knowers of Brahman!
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What did Śambhu do next, while Brahmā remained there? (1)
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Skanda spoke:
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Listen, O highly fortunate Agastya, while Brahmā remained in Kāśī,
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Giriśa reflected, his mind intensely anxious: (2)
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'Such a city as that Kāśī is, a ground of enchantment,
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no such place has surely ever been seen anywhere by me! (3)
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Whoever goes to that city remains right there;
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those unconnected with yoga became followers of yoga when united with Kāśī. (4)
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Even the thousand-rayed sun, reaching [there], quickly became completely ineffective.
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Even Brahmā, skilled in ritual injunctions, did not come near me!' (5)
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Reflecting thus, the Lord of the gods summoned his attendants in great numbers
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and sent them forth: 'O you, go swiftly to the city of Vārāṇasī! (6)
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What are the yoginīs doing? What is that sun doing?
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Go with haste and find out: and what is Brahmā doing?' (7)
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He then dispatched them by name, preceded by great respect:
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'Śaṅkukarṇa, Mahākāla, Ghaṭākarṇa, Mahodara, (8)
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Somanandin, Nandiṣeṇa, Kāla, Piṅgala, Kukkuṭa,
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Kuṇḍodara, Mayūrākṣa, Bāṇa, Gokarṇa, Tāraka, (9)
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Tilaparṇa, Smṛlakarṇa, Dṛmiciṇḍa, Prabhāmaya,
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Sukeśa, Vindate, Chāga, Kapardin, Piṅgalākṣaka, (10)
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Vīrabhadra, the one called Kirāta, Caturmukha, Nikumbhaka,
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Pañcākṣa, the one called Bhārabhūta, Tryakṣa, Kṣemaka, Lāṅgalin, (11)
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Virādha, Sumukha, Āṣāḍha—you are my sons,
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just as are these two, Skanda and Heramba, and just as is this Naigameya, (12)
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just as are Śākha and Viśākha, and just as are these two, Nandin and Bhṛṅgin.
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While you are present, endowed with great valour, (13)
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I know nothing of what is happening in Kāśī, nor of King Divodāsa,
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nor of the yoginīs, the sun, and Brahmā. Therefore, go, you two from among you, (14)
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Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla, who make even Death tremble!
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Go endowed with swiftness to learn news of Vārāṇasī.' (15)
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Having made their vow, those two swiftly reached the city of Vārāṇasī.
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Forgetting the word of Śambhu, Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla— (16)
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just as a wise man seeing a magician's illusion in this world
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succumbs to bewilderment in an instant, even so did those two upon seeing Kāśī. (17)
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Ah, the majesty of delusion! Ah, the reversal of fortune,
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since the unwise, having reached Kāśī, the heap of nirvāṇa, go elsewhere! (18)
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By those by whom this Kāśī, the ground of great blessings, has been abandoned,
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liberation, even though attained in the palm of their hands, has departed on all sides. (19)
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Where a mere bath is superior to all concluding sacrifice ablutions,
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even with heated waters—who would abandon that Kāśī? (20)
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Where, by the offering of a single flower upon the head of a Śiva-liṅga,
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the merit of ten gold coins is obtained—who would abandon that Kāśī? (21)
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Where, even by a single prostration like a staff before Śiva,
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they declare Indra's station to be trifling—who would relinquish that Kāśī? (22)
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Where, having fed merely a single twice-born man to his heart's content,
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the merit is greater than that of a Vājapeya sacrifice—who would relinquish that Kāśī? (23)
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Where, having given a single cow according to the rules to a brahmin,
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one obtains the merit of ten thousand cows—what wise person would abandon that Kāśī? (24)
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Where, having consecrated a single liṅga, it is as if the entire three worlds
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have been established—who would abandon that Kāśī? (25)
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Having resolved thus, establishing two merit-bestowing liṅgas,
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the two took up residence right there, and do not leave Kāśī even today. (26)
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Having seen the liṅga Śaṅkukarṇeśvara, worshipped by the attendant Śaṅkukarṇa,
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a creature is never born again in the womb of a mother. (27)
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In the north-west direction from Viśveśa, a man having worshipped Śaṅkukarṇeśvara
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would not enter into the terrible ocean of saṃsāra in this world. (28)
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The liṅga Mahākāleśvara, worshipped by the attendant Mahākāla,
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And having worshipped, bowed to, and praised [it], whence could there be any fear of Death? .. 29 ..
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Skanda said:
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When Śaṅkukarṇa and Mahākāla were delayed for a long time,
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the all-knowing Lord, understanding [this], then spoke to two other gaṇas: .. 4.2.53.30 ..
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“Ghaṇṭākarṇa, come here! O wise Mahodara!
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Go both of you swiftly to Kāśī to find out the doings there.” .. 31 ..
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Thus addressed, the two gaṇas went to the great city of Kāśī,
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and turning away, they have not returned anywhere even today, but have remained right there. .. 32 ..
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Ghaṇṭākarṇa, the best of gaṇas, having properly installed
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the liṅga Ghaṇṭākarṇeśvara in Kāśī, was himself blissfully content right there. .. 33 ..
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Having established a reservoir right there for the purpose of the ceremonial bath of the liṅga,
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he would not leave Kāśī even today, meditating indeed upon the liṅga in the very same way. .. 34 ..
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Mahodara too, devoted to meditation on Śiva to the east of it,
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would meditate even today upon the liṅga Mahodareśvara, O pot-born [Agastya]! .. 35 ..
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Having seen Mahodareśvara in Vārāṇasī, O best of the twice-born,
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one will never indeed enter a mother's belly-cave again. .. 36 ..
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Having bathed in the pool of Ghaṇṭākarṇa and seen the all-pervading Vyāseśvara,
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even if one dies anywhere at all, it is as if he died in Vārāṇasī. .. 37 ..
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Having performed a śrāddha according to rule at the great sacred ford Ghaṇṭākarṇa,
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one can deliver seven ancestors, even if they have fallen into an evil state. .. 38 ..
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Having plunged even today into that pool, whoever becomes attentive for a moment,
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he hears the ringing sounds of the bells during the great worship of Viśveśvara. .. 39 ..
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The ancestors say: “In Kāśī, in the pure water of Ghaṇṭākarṇa,
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may someone be born in our lineage who is a giver of even sesamum-water!” .. 4.2.53.40 ..
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Sages whose descendants have performed water-rites at Kāśī in the great pool of Ghaṇṭākarṇa,
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have attained supreme perfection, O pot-born [Agastya]! .. 41 ..
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Skanda said:
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When the gaṇa Ghaṇṭākarṇa had gone and Mahodara had departed,
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the enemy of Smara marvelled, shaking his head again and again. .. 42 ..
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And Hara said in his mind, smiling again and again:
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“O Kāśī, you are the lore of great delusion; I fully comprehend you. .. 43 ..
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Those who know the ancient lore praise you as dispelling great delusion;
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they do not know Kāśī thus: this is the land of great delusion! .. 44 ..
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I will send everyone; you will delude them.
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Thus I know well, O Kāśī, that you are an herb of delusion. .. 45 ..
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Even so, I will send as much retinue as I have;
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the wise do not cease from effort in an action that is to be accomplished. .. 46 ..
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No cessation of effort should be made by the discerning in any task;
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even adverse fate would be worn down by one's constant exertion. .. 47 ..
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The cool-rayed [moon] and the hot-rayed [sun], though seized by Svarbhānu in the courtyard of the sky,
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even today do not abandon their course, exerting their effort to advance. .. 48 ..
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On the one hand, fate repeatedly destroys undertakings through adversity;
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on the other hand, the things to be done here will succeed through great effort. .. 49 ..
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Fate is declared to be action done in a previous life, nothing else;
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in counteracting that, effort must be made by the wise man himself. .. 4.2.53.50 ..
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Food placed in a dish by fate would not enter the mouth on its own;
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and by the effort of the hand and the mouth, it can enter the belly-cave.” .. 51 ..
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Thus affirming effort, which is certain to conquer fate, the Lord
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again sent five gaṇas of great swiftness: .. 52 ..
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Somanandī, Nandiṣeṇa, Kāla, Piṅgala, and Kukkuṭa.
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Even today they do not return from Kāśī, as if they were living-dead. .. 53 ..
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They too, having installed liṅgas under their own names desiring Śambhu's satisfaction,
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remained in Kāśī, the birthplace of universal liberation. .. 54 ..
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Having seen the supreme liṅga Somanandīśvara in the Nandavana,
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a devoted man would attain supreme bliss in the realm of Soma. .. 55 ..
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Then, having seen Nandiṣeṇeśvara to the north of it, a man,
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obtaining an army of bliss, would conquer even Death in an instant. .. 56 ..
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Having bowed to the great liṅga Kāleśvara to the northwest of the Gaṅgā,
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one would never be bound by the noose of Death. .. 57 ..
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Having worshipped Piṅgaleśvara a little to the north of Kāleśa,
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he obtains the tawny knowledge by which he attains identity with him.
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Those who show devotion here to the liṅga Kukkuṭeśvara,
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which has the form of a hen's egg, do not enter a womb [again].
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Skanda said:
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When even the five Gaṇas, led by Somanandin, O sage,
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had reached Ānandakānana and stayed there, Sthāṇu said:
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"If properly considered, this is indeed my own task:
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even under this pretext, let these followers of mine remain there.
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When the Pramathas have entered, though great in magical power,
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I myself have entered Vārāṇasī, without doubt.
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In due course I will send whatever retinue is mine;
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when all of them have gone there, then I too shall go."
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Having so resolved in his heart, the trident-bearing God of gods
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then dispatched a group of four Gaṇas among the Pramathas:
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Kuṇḍodara, Mayūra by name, Bāṇa, and Gokarṇa.
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Resorting to the power of māyā, the Gaṇas entered Kāśī.
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Though having tried a hundred means to cause confusion to Divodāsa, / when not even one proved capable, they remained right there.
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"By what action is the Lord pleased when there are a hundred transgressions?"
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Reflecting thus, they performed the supreme worship of the liṅga:
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"When a single liṅga belonging to Śambhu is properly worshipped here according to the rules,
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the Three-eyed Lord forgives a hundred transgressions and grants liberation.
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Śambhu is not so pleased by sacrifices, gifts, austerities, and observances,
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as he is pleased when a liṅga is worshipped once according to the rules.
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One who knows the rules for worshipping the liṅga and is ever devoted to worshipping the liṅga
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is to be regarded as the Three-eyed Lord himself, even though manifest as a two-eyed human.
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Not by the gift of a hundred cows, nor by the gift of a hundred [pieces of] gold,
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is that fruit obtained by men which comes from worshipping the liṅga even once.
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Not by sacrifices such as the horse sacrifice is that fruit obtained
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which mortals obtain through daily worship of the liṅga.
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He who, having bathed [the liṅga] according to rule, drinks thrice
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the water from the ceremonial bath of the liṅga—his threefold sin is swiftly destroyed here.
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He who sprinkles the water from the ceremonial bath of the liṅga upon his head—
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the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā belongs to him; he becomes free from sin.
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He who, seeing a liṅga that has been worshipped, bows down even once,
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doubt arises regarding his being bound again in a body.
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He who installs a liṅga with devotion is freed from the sin committed in seven births,
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of this there is no doubt; purified, he shares in heaven."
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Having considered thus, the Gaṇas, in order to pacify their betrayal of their master,
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installed liṅgas in Kāśī that shatter even great sins.
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Beholding the liṅga Kuṇḍodareśvara near Lolārka,
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one is freed from all sins and glorified in Śiva's world.
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To the west of the liṅga Kuṇḍodareśvara, on the bank of the Asi,
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having worshipped Mayūreśvara, one does not enter a womb.
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And to the west of Mayūreśa is the great liṅga Bāṇeśvara;
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merely by its darśana, one is freed from all sins.
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Having worshipped the great liṅga Gokarṇeśa at the western gate
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of the inner sanctuary in Kāśī, one is not overcome by obstacles.
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For a devotee of Gokarṇeśvara, at the time of death,
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no loss of knowledge occurs wherever he meets his end.
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Skanda said:
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As these four Gaṇas were delaying, the Lord of Gaṇas
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extolled the glory and majesty of that Kāśī:
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"By Vaiṣṇava māyā, by which the whole universe is deluded here,
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this Kāśī is certainly that [māyā] embodied, the sole enchantress of the world!
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Abandoning brothers, wives, son, field, house, and wealth,
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and even embracing death, all people serve Kāśī.
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Where there is not the slightest fear even of death in Kāśī,
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why should the Gaṇas dwelling there fear even me?
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Where death is auspicious, where sacred ash is ornament,
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where a loincloth is silk—to what can Kāśī be compared?"
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Where the beautiful maiden of final liberation chooses a beggar or a prince,
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a brahmin or an outcaste, whose ornament is the final end.
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Where creatures, dying and attaining the state of liberation,
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are not equalled by even a fraction of a crore by the gods, Indra and the rest.
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In which Kāśī a creature who has died is revered with great effort
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by Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and the others, their hands folded upon their heads.
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Where, in Kāśī, even in being a corpse a creature does not contract impurity;
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therefore I myself personally touch his ear.
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The virtuous person who murmurs 'Kāśī, Kāśī' twice or thrice
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is purer than all purifying things and great.
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He by whom Kāśī is meditated upon in the heart, by whom Kāśī is served here,
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by him am I meditated upon in the heart; by him am I served always.
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Whatever creature serves Kāśī with an unwavering mind,
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him do I always hold in my heart with special care.
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Even if unable to dwell there himself, one should settle an inhabitant of the sacred ford;
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even if only one, at some expense, he surely shares in the fruit of dwelling there.
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Those steadfast ones who dwell in Kāśī, resolved to remain until death,
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are to be known as liberated while living; they alone are venerable and worshipful.
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Reflecting thus repeatedly upon the virtues of Vārāṇasī, Sthāṇu,
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summoning other gaṇas, dispatched them with affection:
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“Tāraka, come forward! Go, you of pure mind,
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit