Skanda Purana

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं मंदाकिन्यां तथा भवेत्

Whatever merit exists at all sacred waters, so too is found at Maṇḍākinī.

दानं कोटिगुणं ज्ञेयं मंदाकिन्यां न संशयः

Know that giving in charity at Maṇḍākinī yields a ten-million-fold reward, without doubt.

घृतधेनुं च कार्तिक्यां माघ्यां तिलमयीं तथा

A cow made of ghee in Kārtikā, and one made of sesame in Māgha likewise,

वाचिकं मानसं पापं कर्मजं यच्च दुष्कृ तम् ।। विनश्येत्किल्बिषं सर्वं मंदाकिन्यास्तु दर्शनात्

Sin arising from speech, mind, or action, and whatever is most wicked— all impurity is destroyed merely by seeing Maṇḍākinī.

मंदाकिनीसमं तीर्थं पृथिव्यां नैव दृश्यते

No sacred place on earth is seen to equal Maṇḍākinī.

मंदाकिन्यां तु यः स्नानं कृत्वा श्राद्धं प्रदास्यति

Whoever, after bathing in Maṇḍākinī, offers śrāddha,

पितामहं तु यो भक्त्या नित्यं पश्यति मानवः 5.1.26.

And whoever, with devotion, always beholds the grandfather,

युज्यते नात्र संदेहः सत्यमेतत्तपोधनाः

There is no doubt about this; it is true, O ascetics.

तेनैवोन्मत्तवेषेण ऊर्ध्वशेषो महेश्वरः

With that very mad appearance, Maheśvara remained upright.

ते ब्राह्मणाः शपंति स्म निन्दां कुर्वंति चापरे

Those Brāhmaṇas cursed him, and others spoke reproach.

लोष्ठैर्लगुडकैश्चा न्ये घ्नंति तं बलगर्विताः

Proud of their strength, they struck him with clods and sticks.

पृच्छंति व्रतचर्यां वै केन व्रतं च दर्शितम्

They questioned about the observance of vows, asking by whom the vow was shown.

ब्रह्मणा चेदृशी चर्या विष्णुना वा कृता स्वयम्

Whether such conduct was performed by Brahmā or by Viṣṇu himself.

मा विडम्बय देवेशं वध्यो हि नस्त्वमद्य वै

Do not mock the Lord of gods; today, you are indeed condemned to death by us.

स्मितं कृत्वाऽब्रवीत्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणान्परमेश्वरः

With a smile, the supreme Lord addressed all the Brahmins.

यूयं कारुणिकाः सर्वे मैत्रभावे व्यवस्थिताः

All of you are compassionate, established in the spirit of friendship.

मायया तस्य देवस्य मोहितास्ते द्विजातयः 5.1.26.

Those twice-born were deluded by the illusion of that god.

ताड्यमानस्तु तैर्विप्रैः परं कोपमुपागमत्

Struck by those Brahmins, he became extremely angry.

ऊर्ध्वजूटाः सलगुडाः परदारोपजीविनः

With hair tied up, carrying clubs, living off others' wives,

न पुत्रे पितृ वित्तं च विद्या वापि भविष्यति

Neither sons, nor fathers' wealth, nor knowledge will remain with them.

रौद्रां भिक्षां तु भिक्षंतः परपिंडोपजीविनः

Begging fiercely, subsisting on the food of others,

यैश्च तत्र कृता विप्रैर्हन्यमाने कृपा मयि

And those Brahmins who showed compassion to me while I was being struck,

कुलोत्पन्नाश्च वै नार्यो भविष्यंति वरान्मम

Women born in noble families will become my favorites.

ततो द्विजा गते देवे मत्वा तं शंकरं विभुम्

Then, when the twice-born departed, considering that lord to be Śaṅkara,

स्नात्वा सरसि रुद्रस्य जपतः शतरुद्रियम्

Having bathed in Rudra's lake, they recited the Śatarudriya hymn.

अनृतं न मया प्रोक्तं स्वैरेष्वेपि कुतः सुखम्

I have not spoken falsehood; how can there be happiness even among the self-willed?

शांता दांताश्च ये विप्रा भक्तिमंतो मयि स्थिताः 5.1.26.

Those Brahmins who are peaceful, self-controlled, and devoted to me,

अग्निहोत्ररता ये च भक्तिमंतो जनार्दने

And those who are devoted to Janārdana, engaged in Agnihotra rituals,

नाशुभं विद्यते तेषां येषां सख्ये स्थिता मतिः

No misfortune befalls those whose minds are established in friendship.