Adhyaya 322
This chapter is cast as a theological discourse in which Īśvara tells Mahādevī of a southern sacred site called “Durgāditya,” renowned as a remover of all sins. Its origin-legend is then related: when Durgā, the destroyer of suffering, was herself seized by distress, she propitiated Sūrya through prolonged tapas to obtain relief. After long austerities, Divākara, the Sun-god, grants her an audience and offers a boon. Durgā asks for the destruction of her suffering, and Sūrya gives a prophetic assurance that, before long, Bhagavān Tripurāntaka (Śiva) will establish an excellent liṅga in a lofty, auspicious place. He further declares that at this locale his name will be “Durgāditya,” and then disappears. The chapter ends with a practical observance: worship Durgāditya on Saptamī when it falls on a Sunday. The phalaśruti states that through this worship all afflictions subside, and various skin diseases—including kuṣṭha—are alleviated.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि तस्य दक्षिणसंस्थितम् । दुर्गादित्येतिनामानं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Īśvara said: “Then, O Great Goddess, one should go to the place situated to the south of that spot, known as Durgāditya—the destroyer of all sins.”
Verse 2
यदा दुःखमनुप्राप्ता दुर्गा दुःखविनाशिनी । सूर्यमाराधयामास तदा दुःखविनुत्तये
When distress overtook her, Durgā—the destroyer of suffering—then worshipped the Sun (Sūrya) so that that suffering might be removed.
Verse 3
ततः कालेन बहुना तस्यास्तुष्टो दिवाकरः । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं दुर्गां देवो महाप्रभाम् । वरं वरय देवेशि तपसा तुष्टवानहम्
After a long time, the Sun (Divākara) was pleased with her and spoke sweetly to the radiant Goddess Durgā: “Choose a boon, O Queen of the Gods; I am satisfied by your austerity.”
Verse 4
दुर्गोवाच । यदि तुष्टो दिवानाथ दुःखसंघं विनाशय
Durgā said: “If you are pleased, O Lord of the Day, destroy the multitude of sufferings.”
Verse 5
सूर्य उवाच । अचिरेणैव कालेन भगवांस्त्रिपुरांतकः । संप्राप्स्यत्युत्तमं लिंगमुन्नते स्थान उत्तमे
The Sun said: “In a short time, the Blessed One—Tripurāntaka (Śiva)—will obtain a supreme liṅga at the exalted, excellent place.”
Verse 6
दुर्गादित्येति मे नाम इह देवि भविष्यति । एवमुक्त्वा महादेवि तत्रैवान्तर्दधे रविः । सप्तम्यां रविवारेण दुर्गादित्यं प्रपूजयेत्
“Here, O Goddess, my name shall be ‘Durgāditya.’” Having spoken thus, O Great Goddess, the Sun disappeared right there. One should worship Durgāditya on Saptamī (the seventh lunar day), on a Sunday.
Verse 7
तस्य दुःखानि सर्वाणि कुष्ठानि विविधानि च । विलयं यांति देवेशि दुर्गादित्यप्रपूजनात्
O Queen of the Gods, all his sufferings—and even various skin diseases (kuṣṭha)—go to dissolution through the worship of Durgāditya.
Verse 322
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसा हरुयां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये दुर्गादित्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वाविंशत्युत्तरत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa—within the Saṃhitā of eighty-one thousand ślokas—concludes the three-hundred-and-twenty-second chapter in the seventh book, the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, in the Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya, titled “The Description of the Greatness of Durgāditya.”