ब्रूहि मे भगवन्सम्यग्यदि तेऽस्ति दया मयि
O venerable one, if you have any compassion for me, please tell me truly.
तिस्रो भार्याः कथं विप्र पश्यामि पृथिवीतले कथं समागमो भूयो भविष्यति मया सह
How can I, O brahmin, see my three wives upon the earth? How will I be united with them again?
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विप्रेणोक्तं वरानने
Hearing his words, the brahmin spoke to the beautiful-faced one.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तीर्थवरे लिंगं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
In that field, at the excellent holy place, there is a liṅga that fulfills all desires.
शिप्रायास्तु तटे रम्ये पुण्ये ब्रह्मेशपश्चिमे
On the beautiful and sacred bank of the Śiprā, to the west of Brahmeśa.
कल्पस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सत्वरो नृपसत्तमः
Hearing the words of Kalpa, the best of kings quickly set out.
सांतःपुरपरीवारो महाकालवनं गतः
With his harem and attendants, he went to the great Kāla forest.
तत्र स्नात्वा जले पुण्ये शिप्रायाश्चाशुसिद्धिदे 5.2.70.
There, bathing in the sacred waters of the Śiprā, which swiftly grant success—
पूजयामास रत्नैश्च दिव्यैर्वस्त्रैः सुभूषणैः
He worshipped with jewels, divine garments, and splendid ornaments.
मुक्ताफलैः सुतारैश्च जलधाराभिरेव च
With radiant pearls, pure streams of water, and other offerings.
शुश्राव श्रोत्रपीयूषं गीतं देवगृहे शुभे प्रियामपश्यत्तत्रस्थां लावण्यललनावधिम्
He heard song, sweet as nectar to the ears, in the auspicious temple of the gods, and there he saw his beloved, the very limit of graceful women.
तां दृष्ट्वा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनस्तन्मयोऽभवत्
Seeing her, his eyes widened in astonishment, and he became wholly absorbed in her.
ज्ञात्वा मे सैव पत्नीयं दृष्टा देवप्रसादतः
Knowing, 'She is indeed my wife, seen by the grace of the gods.'
क्षिप्रं पुलिकिता तस्या विरराज कुचस्थली
At once, her breast shone, thrilled with delight.
विश्वावसोः सिद्धपतेः सुतैषा प्राणवल्लभा
She is the beloved daughter of Viśvāvasu, lord of the Siddhas.
आनीता ते मया पत्नी हत्वा तं राक्षसाधि पम्
I have brought your wife to you, having slain that lord of rākṣasas.
इत्युक्तोऽसौ गतो देवि लब्ध्वा भार्यां प्रियां तदा
Thus addressed, O goddess, he departed, having then regained his beloved wife.
आराधितो नरेंद्रेण दुर्द्धर्षेण महात्मना त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातो वांछितार्थफल प्रदः ।। 5.2.70.
Worshipped by the indomitable, great-souled king, he is renowned in the three worlds as the bestower of the fruits of desired aims.
ये पश्यंति विशालाक्षि दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरसंज्ञकम्
Those who behold, O wide-eyed one, the linga named Durddharṣeśvara—
संक्रांतौ रविवारे च ग्रहणे चंद्र सूर्ययोः ते प्रयांति विमानेन मदीयं स्थानमुत्तमम्
at the time of the sun's transit, on a Sunday, or during an eclipse of the moon or sun— they ascend in a celestial chariot to my supreme abode.
पापाचाराश्च ये जीवा दुष्कर्मनिरता नराः
Even those living beings of sinful conduct, men devoted to wicked deeds,
दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्सद्यो नामसंकीर्तनादपि
by seeing, touching, or even by uttering the name— instantly—
कृतघ्नो निंदको दुष्टः पापकर्मा दुरात्मवान् मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरदर्शनात्
the ungrateful, the slanderer, the wicked, the evil-doer, the malevolent— all are freed from every sin by beholding Durddharṣeśvara.
अयने विषुवे चैव संप्राप्ते सोमपर्वणि गंगायास्त्रिगुणं पुण्यं जायते नात्र संशयः
At the solstice, the equinox, or when the Soma festival arrives, the merit gained there becomes threefold that of the Ganga— of this there is no doubt.
तत्र यद्दीयते दानं तस्य संख्या न विद्यते
There, whatever gift is given, its measure cannot be reckoned.
कल्पकोटिसहस्रं तु मत्पुरे पूजितो वसेत्
Having worshipped in my city, one dwells for a thousand crores of aeons.
अधृष्यः शत्रुवर्गेण फलं प्राप्नोति चाक्षयम्
He becomes unassailable by enemies and attains inexhaustible reward.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः 5.2.70.
Thus, O goddess, I have told you this power, destroyer of sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिंगमाहात्म्य उमामहेश्वरसंवादे दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventieth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Durddharṣeśvara,' in the dialogue of Uma and Maheshvara, in the section on the eighty-four lingas, in the Avanti Khanda of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
अद्वितीयं विजानीहि महापातकनाशनम्
Know it to be unique, the destroyer of great sins.