The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Dashashvamedha which is chapter 17 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the seventeenth chapter of the Avantikshetra-mahatmya of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 17 - The Greatness of Daśāśvamedha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Note: As in the Kāśī Khaṇḍa, a Daśāśvamedha Tīrtha is claimed in the Āvantya-Khaṇḍa. It appears that the name ‘Daśāśvamedha’ is popular in Purāṇas as a Sthala Purāṇa like Karavīra Māhātmya claims one at Kolhapur.
Sanatkumāra said:
1. By taking the holy bath in Daśāśvamedhika and visiting Lord Maheśvara, a man obtains the merit of ten horse-sacrifices.
2-4. The merit of ten horse-sacrifices has been obtained through the holy plunge here by Manu, the leader of men, King Yayāti, Raghu, Uśanas, the great sage Lomaśa, Atri, Bhṛgu, the intelligent Dattātreya, the meritorious Purūravas, Nahuṣa and Nala.
Towards the end of Dvāpara, King Bāṣkali too obtained it, O excellent Brāhmaṇa Vyāsa.
5-8. The Liṅga, dark in colour, should be adored always with devotion. By visiting and touching the Lord, one attains the benefit mentioned above.
The devotee should sincerely adore the Lord on the eighth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra and make a gift of a horse of good quality and beauty. The devotee is honoured in Śivaloka for as many thousand years as there are hairs counted on its body. Coming down from Śivaloka he becomes an emperor on the earth.