The Glory of All Tirthas

Verse 1 (garuda.1.81.1)

सूत उवाच । सर्वतीर्थानि वक्ष्यामि गङ्गा तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमा । सर्वत्र सुलभा गङ्गात्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा

sūta uvāca sarvatīrthāni vakṣyāmi gaṅgā tīrthottamottamā sarvatra sulabhā gaṅgātriṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā

Suta said: I shall now declare all the sacred fords (tirthas); among them the Ganga is the most excellent of all. The Ganga is easily accessible everywhere, yet in three places she is hard to attain.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.81.2)

गङ्गाद्वारे प्रयागे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे । प्रयागं परमं तीर्थं मृतानां भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्

gaṅgādvāre prayāge ca gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgame prayāgaṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ mṛtānāṁ bhuktimuktidam

At Gangadwara, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of the Ganga with the sea — of these, Prayaga is the supreme tirtha, granting both enjoyment and liberation to the departed.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.81.3)

सेवनात्कृतपिण्डानां पापजित्कामदं नृणाम् । वाराणसी परं तीर्थं विश्वेशो यत्र केशवः

sevanātkṛtapiṇḍānāṁ pāpajitkāmadaṁ nṛṇām vārāṇasī paraṁ tīrthaṁ viśveśo yatra keśavaḥ

By the offering of ancestral rice-balls there, sin is conquered and the desires of men fulfilled. Varanasi is a supreme tirtha, where Vishveshvara himself is Keshava.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.81.4)

कुरुक्षेत्रं परं तीर्थं दानाद्यैर्भुक्तिमुक्तिदम् । प्रभासं परं तीर्थं सोमनाथो हि तत्र च

kurukṣetraṁ paraṁ tīrthaṁ dānādyairbhuktimuktidam prabhāsaṁ paraṁ tīrthaṁ somanātho hi tatra ca

Kurukshetra is a supreme tirtha, granting both enjoyment and liberation through gifts and the like; Prabhasa is a supreme tirtha, where Somanatha himself resides.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.81.5)

द्वारका च पुरी रम्या भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिका । प्राची सरस्वती पुण्या सप्तसारस्वतं परम्

dvārakā ca purī ramyā bhuktimuktipradāyikā prācī sarasvatī puṇyā saptasārasvataṁ param

Dvaraka, that beautiful city, bestows both enjoyment and liberation; the sacred Prachi Sarasvati and the tirtha of Saptasarasvata are supreme.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.81.6)

केदारं सर्वपापघ्नं स (श) म्भलग्राम उत्तमः । नरनारायणं तीर्थं मुक्त्यै वदरिकाश्रमः

kedāraṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ sa (śa) mbhalagrāma uttamaḥ naranārāyaṇaṁ tīrthaṁ muktyai vadarikāśramaḥ

Kedara destroys all sin, and Shambhala-grama is excellent; Naranarayana is a tirtha, and Badarikashrama grants liberation.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.81.7)

श्वेतद्वीपं पुरी माया नैमिषं पुष्करं परम् । अयोध्यां चार्घ्यतीर्थं तु चित्रकूटं च गोमती

śvetadvīpaṁ purī māyā naimiṣaṁ puṣkaraṁ param ayodhyāṁ cārghyatīrthaṁ tu citrakūṭaṁ ca gomatī

Shvetadvipa, Mayapuri, Naimisha, and supreme Pushkara; Ayodhya, the tirtha worthy of offerings, and Chitrakuta and the Gomati —

Verse 8 (garuda.1.81.8)

वैनायकं महीतीर्थं रामगिर्य्याश्रमं परम् । काञ्चीपुरी तुङ्गभद्रा श्रीशैलं सेतुबन्धनम्

vaināyakaṁ mahītīrthaṁ rāmagiryyāśramaṁ param kāñcīpurī tuṅgabhadrā śrīśailaṁ setubandhanam

Vainayaka is a great tirtha on earth, and the Ramagirya-ashrama is supreme; Kanchipuri, the Tungabhadra, Shrishaila, and Setubandhana —

Verse 9 (garuda.1.81.9)

रामेश्वरं परं तीर्थं कार्त्तिकेयं तथोत्तमम् । भृगुतुङ्गं कामतीर्थं तीर्थं चामरकंटकम्

rāmeśvaraṁ paraṁ tīrthaṁ kārttikeyaṁ tathottamam bhṛgutuṅgaṁ kāmatīrthaṁ tīrthaṁ cāmarakaṁṭakam

Rameshvara is a supreme tirtha, and the Karttikeya shrine is likewise excellent; Bhrigutunga, Kamatirtha, and the tirtha of Amarakantaka —

Verse 10 (garuda.1.81.10)

उज्जयिन्यां महाकालः कुब्जके श्रीधरो हरिः । कुब्जाम्रकं महातीर्थं कालसर्पिश्च कामदम्

ujjayinyāṁ mahākālaḥ kubjake śrīdharo hariḥ kubjāmrakaṁ mahātīrthaṁ kālasarpiśca kāmadam

At Ujjayini is Mahakala; at Kubjaka, Shridhara Hari; Kubjamraka is a great tirtha, and Kalasarpi grants desires.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.81.11)

महाकेशी च कावेरी चन्द्रभागा विपाशया । एकाम्रं च तथा तीर्थं ब्रह्मेशं देवकोटकम्

mahākeśī ca kāverī candrabhāgā vipāśayā ekāmraṁ ca tathā tīrthaṁ brahmeśaṁ devakoṭakam

Mahakeshi, the Kaveri, the Chandrabhaga, and the Vipasha river; the tirtha of Ekamra, and likewise the tirtha of Brahmesha at Devakotaka —

Verse 12 (garuda.1.81.12)

मथुरा च पुरी रम्या शोणश्चैव महानदः । जम्बूसरो महातीर्थं तानि तीर्थानि विद्धि च

mathurā ca purī ramyā śoṇaścaiva mahānadaḥ jambūsaro mahātīrthaṁ tāni tīrthāni viddhi ca

Mathura, that beautiful city, and the great river Shona; Jambusara is a great tirtha — know all these to be tirthas.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.81.13)

सूर्य्यः शिवो गणो देवी हरिर्यत्र च तिष्ठति । एतेषु च यथान्येषु स्नानं दानं जपस्तपः

sūryyaḥ śivo gaṇo devī hariryatra ca tiṣṭhati eteṣu ca yathānyeṣu snānaṁ dānaṁ japastapaḥ

Where the Sun, Shiva, Ganesha, the Goddess, and Hari reside — in these and other such places, bathing, giving, japa, and austerity,

Verse 14 (garuda.1.81.14)

पूजा श्राद्धं पिण्डदानं सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम् । शालग्रामं सर्वदं स्यात्तीर्थं पशुपतेः परम्

pūjā śrāddhaṁ piṇḍadānaṁ sarvaṁ bhavati cākṣayam śālagrāmaṁ sarvadaṁ syāttīrthaṁ paśupateḥ param

worship, shraddha, and the offering of pinda — all become imperishable in their fruit there. Shalagrama is the tirtha that grants everything, the supreme tirtha of Pashupati.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.81.15)

कोकामुखं च वाराहं भा (भु) ण्डीरं स्वामिसंज्ञकम् । लो (मो) हदण्डे महाविष्णुर्मन्दारे मधुसूदनः

kokāmukhaṁ ca vārāhaṁ bhā (bhu) ṇḍīraṁ svāmisaṁjñakam lo (mo) hadaṇḍe mahāviṣṇurmandāre madhusūdanaḥ

Kokamukha, Varaha, and the tirtha of Bhandira called Svami; at Lohadanda is Mahavishnu, at Mandara, Madhusudana.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.81.16)

कामरूपं महातीर्थं कामाख्या (क्षा) यत्र तिष्ठति । पुण्ड्रवर्द्धनकं तीर्थं कार्त्तिकेयश्च यत्र च

kāmarūpaṁ mahātīrthaṁ kāmākhyā (kṣā) yatra tiṣṭhati puṇḍravarddhanakaṁ tīrthaṁ kārttikeyaśca yatra ca

Kamarupa is a great tirtha, where the goddess Kamakhya resides; Pundravardhana is a tirtha, where Karttikeya also dwells.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.81.17)

विरजस्तु महातीर्थं तीर्थं श्रीपुरुषोत्तमम् । महेन्द्रपर्वतस्तीर्थं कावेरी च नदी परा

virajastu mahātīrthaṁ tīrthaṁ śrīpuruṣottamam mahendraparvatastīrthaṁ kāverī ca nadī parā

Viraja is a great tirtha, as is the tirtha of Shri Purushottama (Puri); Mount Mahendra is a tirtha, and so is the excellent river Kaveri.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.81.18)

गोदावरी महातीर्थं पयोष्णी वरदा नदी । विन्ध्यः पापहरं तीर्थं नर्मदाभेद उत्तमः

godāvarī mahātīrthaṁ payoṣṇī varadā nadī vindhyaḥ pāpaharaṁ tīrthaṁ narmadābheda uttamaḥ

The Godavari is a great tirtha, as are the Payoshni and Varada rivers; the Vindhya is a sin-removing tirtha, and Narmada-bheda is excellent.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.81.19)

गोकर्णं परमं तीर्थं तीर्थं माहिष्मती पुरी । कालञ्जरं महीतीर्थं शुक्लतीर्थमनुत्तमम्

gokarṇaṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthaṁ māhiṣmatī purī kālañjaraṁ mahītīrthaṁ śuklatīrthamanuttamam

Gokarna is a supreme tirtha, and so is the city of Mahishmati; Kalanjara is a great tirtha on earth, and Shukla-tirtha is unsurpassed.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.81.20)

कृते शौचे मुक्तिदं च शार्ङ्गधारी तदन्तिके । विरजं सर्वदं तीर्थं स्वर्णाक्षं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

kṛte śauce muktidaṁ ca śārṅgadhārī tadantike virajaṁ sarvadaṁ tīrthaṁ svarṇākṣaṁ tīrthamuttamam

Once purified, it grants liberation, and Sharngadhari (Vishnu) is nearby; Viraja is a tirtha granting everything, and Svarnaksha is a supreme tirtha.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.81.21)

नन्दितीर्थं मुक्तिदं च कोटितीर्थफलप्रदम् । नासिक्यं च महातीर्थं गोवर्द्धनमतः परम्

nanditīrthaṁ muktidaṁ ca koṭitīrthaphalapradam nāsikyaṁ ca mahātīrthaṁ govarddhanamataḥ param

Nanditirtha grants liberation, and bestows the fruit of ten million tirthas; Nasikya is a great tirtha, and beyond it lies Govardhana.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.81.22)

कृष्णवेणीं भीमरथीं गण्डकीं या त्विरावती । तीर्थं बिन्दुसरः पुण्यं विष्णुपादोदकं परम्

kṛṣṇaveṇīṁ bhīmarathīṁ gaṇḍakīṁ yā tvirāvatī tīrthaṁ bindusaraḥ puṇyaṁ viṣṇupādodakaṁ param

The Krishnaveni, the Bhimarathi, the Gandaki, and the Iravati river; the tirtha of Bindusaras is sacred, and Vishnupadodaka is supreme.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.81.23)

ब्रह्मध्यानं परं तीर्थं तीर्थमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः । दमस्तीर्थं तु परमं भवशुद्धिः परं तथा

brahmadhyānaṁ paraṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthamindriyanigrahaḥ damastīrthaṁ tu paramaṁ bhavaśuddhiḥ paraṁ tathā

Meditation on Brahman is a supreme tirtha, and the mastery of the senses is a tirtha; self-restraint is a supreme tirtha, and so too is purity of heart.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.81.24)

ज्ञानह्रदे ध्यानजले रागद्वेषमलापहे । यः स्नाति मानसे तीर्थे स याति परमां गतिम्

jñānahrade dhyānajale rāgadveṣamalāpahe yaḥ snāti mānase tīrthe sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

In the lake of knowledge, in the water of meditation, which washes away the stain of attachment and aversion — he who bathes in that tirtha of the mind attains the supreme goal.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.81.25)

इदं तीर्थमिदं नेति ये नरा भेददर्शिनः । तेषां विधीयते तीर्थगमनं तत्फलं च यत्

idaṁ tīrthamidaṁ neti ye narā bhedadarśinaḥ teṣāṁ vidhīyate tīrthagamanaṁ tatphalaṁ ca yat

Only for those men who, seeing difference, say 'this is a tirtha, this is not' — for them alone is the going to a tirtha, and its fruit, ordained.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.81.26)

सर्वं ब्रह्मेतियोऽवेति नातीर्थं तस्य किञ्चन । एतेषु स्नानदानानि श्राद्धं पिण्डमथाक्षयम्

sarvaṁ brahmetiyo'veti nātīrthaṁ tasya kiñcana eteṣu snānadānāni śrāddhaṁ piṇḍamathākṣayam

But for one who knows that all is Brahman, nothing is not a tirtha for him. In all these, bathing, gifts, shraddha, and pinda-offerings become imperishable.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.81.27)

सर्वा नद्यः सर्वशैलाः तीर्थं देवादिसेवितम् । श्रीरङ्गं च हरेस्तीर्थं तापी श्रेष्ठा महानदी

sarvā nadyaḥ sarvaśailāḥ tīrthaṁ devādisevitam śrīraṅgaṁ ca harestīrthaṁ tāpī śreṣṭhā mahānadī

All rivers and all mountains are tirthas, honored by the gods and others; Shrirangam is a tirtha of Hari, and the great river Tapi is excellent.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.81.28)

सप्तगोदावरं तीर्थं तीर्थं कोणगिरिः परम् । महालक्ष्मीर्यत्र देवी प्रणीता परमा नदी

saptagodāvaraṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthaṁ koṇagiriḥ param mahālakṣmīryatra devī praṇītā paramā nadī

Sapta-Godavara is a tirtha, and the tirtha of Konagiri is supreme; where the goddess Mahalakshmi resides, and the supreme river Praneeta flows.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.81.29)

सह्याद्रौ देवदेवेश एकवीरः सुरेश्वरी । गङ्गाद्वारे कुशावर्त्ते विन्ध्यके नीलपर्वते स्नात्वा कनखले तीर्थे स भवेन्न पुनर्भवे ।

sahyādrau devadeveśa ekavīraḥ sureśvarī gaṅgādvāre kuśāvartte vindhyake nīlaparvate snātvā kanakhale tīrthe sa bhavenna punarbhave

On the Sahyadri mountain dwell Devadevesha, Ekavira, and Sureshvari; at Gangadwara, at Kushavarta, at Vindhyaka, at Nilaparvata —

Verse 30 (garuda.1.81.30)

सूत उवाच । एतान्यन्यानि तीर्थानि स्नानाद्यैः सर्वदानि हि

sūta uvāca etānyanyāni tīrthāni snānādyaiḥ sarvadāni hi

By bathing at the tirtha of Kanakhala, one is not born again. — Suta said — These and other tirthas, through bathing and the like, grant all fruits —

Verse 31 (garuda.1.81.31)

श्रुत्वाऽब्रवीद्धरेर्ब्रह्मा व्यासं दक्षादिसंयुतम् । एतान्युक्त्वा च तीर्थानि पुनस्तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् । गयाख्यं प्राह सर्वेषामक्षयं ब्रह्मलोकदम्

śrutvā'bravīddharerbrahmā vyāsaṁ dakṣādisaṁyutam etānyuktvā ca tīrthāni punastīrthottamottamam gayākhyaṁ prāha sarveṣāmakṣayaṁ brahmalokadam

Having heard this, Brahma, together with Daksha and the others, spoke to Vyasa — and having thus told of these tirthas, he further declared the most excellent of all, the imperishable tirtha named Gaya, which bestows the world of Brahma.