Adhyaya 142
In this chapter, Īśvara speaks to Devī and points to an eminent liṅga named Citreśvara, described as lying by a local marker at a distance of seven bow-lengths, on the āgneya (southeast) side. He praises it as mahāprabhāva, of great potency, and explicitly declares it sarva-pātaka-nāśana, the destroyer of all sins. Worship (pūjā) of Citreśvara is taught as a protective observance: the devotee is freed from fear of naraka. Sin is further portrayed as something Citra (Citreśvara) can “wipe clean” (mārjayati), indicating that sustained devotion functions as purification. Īśvara concludes by urging wholehearted worship of Citreśa, with a phalaśruti that even one burdened with sin does not behold naraka.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि चित्रेश्वर मनुत्तमम् । धनुषां सप्तके तस्य स्थितमाग्नेयदक्षिणे
Īśvara said: “Then, O Great Goddess, one should go to the supremely excellent Citreśvara. It is situated seven bow-lengths away, to the south-east.”
Verse 2
लिंगं महाप्रभावं हि सर्वपातकनाशनम् । तत्र चित्रेश्वरं पूज्य नरकान्न भवेद्भयम्
That liṅga is indeed of great power, destroying all sins. Having worshipped Citreśvara there, one need not fear hell.
Verse 3
पटस्थितं तस्य पापं चित्रो मार्जयति प्रिये । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन चित्रेशं पूजयेत्सदा । यः स्यात्पापयुतो वापि नरकं नैव पश्यति
O beloved, Citra wipes away his sin as though it were merely painted on a cloth. Therefore, with every effort one should always worship Citreśa. Even a person burdened with sin does not behold hell.
Verse 142
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये चित्रेश्वर माहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्विचत्वारिंशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the 142nd chapter, entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Citreśvara,” in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, within the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya section.