Adhyaya 197
In this adhyāya, Īśvara instructs Devī on a pilgrimage to Jamadagniśvara Śiva, located near Vṛddha-Prabhāsa. The shrine is praised as a remover of all sins (sarva-pāpa-upaśamana), established by the sage Jamadagni, and it is said that mere darśana—beholding the Lord—releases one from the “three debts” (ṛṇa-traya) spoken of in Purāṇic ethics. The chapter then points to a particular water-site called Nidhāna-vāpī, enjoining ritual bathing (snāna) and worship (pūjā) to gain prosperity (dhana) and the fulfillment of desired aims. Its name and renown are explained through an ancient account in which the Pāṇḍavas recovered a hidden treasure (nidhāna) there, so that the place is celebrated as “venerated by the three worlds.” In the closing phalāśruti, bathing at this tīrtha is said to turn misfortune into good fortune and to grant one’s wishes, reaffirming the sacred itinerary’s theme of place-based ritual efficacy.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि जमदग्नीश्वरं शिवम् । वृद्धप्रभाससामीप्ये नातिदूरे व्यवस्थितम्
Īśvara said: “Then, O great Goddess, one should go to Jamadagnīśvara Śiva, situated not far away, near Vṛddha-Prabhāsa.”
Verse 2
सर्वपापोपशमनं स्थापितं जमदग्निना । तं दृष्ट्वा मानवो देवि मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात्
O Goddess, Jamadagni established that liṅga/temple as the queller of all sins; whoever beholds it is also released from the threefold debt.
Verse 3
स्नात्वा निधानवाप्यां च संपूज्य प्राप्नुयाद्धनम् । निधानं पांडवैर्लब्धं तत्र स्थाने पुरा प्रिये
And having bathed in the Treasure-Well (Nidhāna-vāpī) and worshipped in due form, one may obtain wealth. O beloved, in that very place long ago the Pāṇḍavas found a treasure.
Verse 4
निधानेनैव सा ख्याता वापी त्रैलोक्यवंदिता
Because of that treasure (nidhāna), that sacred step-well became renowned, praised and revered throughout the three worlds.
Verse 5
तस्यां स्नात्वा महादेवि दुर्भगा सुभगा भवेत् । लभते वाञ्छितान्कामानिति प्रोक्तं मया तव
O Great Goddess, by bathing there even the unfortunate becomes fortunate, and one attains the wishes one longs for—thus have I declared it to you.
Verse 197
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशातिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये जमदग्नीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तनवत्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the revered Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the Ekāśīti-sāhasrī Saṃhitā, within the seventh division, the Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa, under the first section, the Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya, concludes the chapter entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Jamadagnīśvara,” being Chapter 197.