Adhyaya 164
Īśvara speaks to Devī, directing her to go eastward to the revered sacred spot called Aśvineśvara, said to lie “within five bows” in measured distance. Worship there is praised as pacifying great accumulations of sin (mahāpāpaugha-śamana) and granting all desired aims (sarva-kāma-da). A strong healing theme is introduced: the darśana of the liṅga is declared to quell every disease (sarva-roga-praśamana), making the place a great remedy for those afflicted by illness. The chapter also heightens its value through a calendrical note—darśana on the second lunar day (dvitīyā) of the month of Māgha is said to be difficult to obtain, and thus especially auspicious. In conclusion, the text identifies a liṅga-dvaya, two liṅgas established by the “Sun’s son” (Sūrya-putra). A self-restrained, disciplined person (saṃyata-ātmā) is advised to undertake the darśana on that very day, uniting devotion, sacred timing, and ethical self-control in a single pilgrimage instruction.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि तस्मात्पूर्वेण संस्थितम् । महापापौघशमनं पूजितं सर्वकामदम्
Īśvara said: Then, O Great Goddess, one should go to what lies to the east of that place; worshipped by devotees, it quells vast floods of sin and grants every desired aim.
Verse 2
अश्विनेश्वरनामानं धनुषां पंचके स्थितम् । सर्वरोगप्रशमनं दृष्टं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
It is called Aśvineśvara, situated at a distance of five dhanuṣ (bow-lengths). Its very sight removes all diseases and accomplishes every purpose.
Verse 3
ये केचिद्रोगिणो लोके तेषां तद्भेषजं महत् । माघमासे द्वितीयायां दर्शनं तस्य दुर्लभम्
For all the sick who dwell in the world, it is a mighty medicine. Yet to obtain its darśana on the second lunar day of the month of Māgha is rare indeed.
Verse 4
तस्मात्पश्येच्च तद्भक्त्या यदि श्रेयोऽभिकांक्षितम् । महापापौघशमनं पूजितं सर्वकामदम्
Therefore, if one longs for true welfare, one should behold it with devotion. When worshipped, it calms the great torrents of sin and bestows every desired boon.
Verse 5
इति लिङ्गद्वयं देवि सूर्यपुत्रप्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्मिन्नेव दिने पश्येत्संयतात्मा नरोत्तमः
Thus, O Goddess, this pair of liṅgas was established by the son of the Sun. On that very day, the best of men—self-controlled—should go and behold them.
Verse 164
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्येऽश्विनेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुःषष्ट्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the holy Skanda Mahāpurāṇa—within the eighty-one-thousand-verse Saṃhitā— in the seventh, the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, in the first subdivision, the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, concludes the chapter entitled “The Account of the Greatness of Aśvineśvara,” being Chapter 164.