The Maiden's Various Pilgrimages and the Birth of Jambavati

Verse 1 (garuda.2.76.1)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । सा गता स्नातुकामाथ नन्दां पापनिवारिणीम् । पप्रच्छ तं गुरुं विप्रं विनयावनता सुधीः

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca sā gatā snātukāmātha nandāṁ pāpanivāriṇīm papraccha taṁ guruṁ vipraṁ vinayāvanatā sudhīḥ

Shri Krishna said: She then went, desiring to bathe, to the Nanda river, remover of sin; that wise woman, bowed in humility, asked the brahmin guru—

Verse 2 (garuda.2.76.2)

किन्नामेयं नदी विप्र किं कार्यं चात्र मे वद । जैगीषव्यस्त्वेवमुक्तो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

kinnāmeyaṁ nadī vipra kiṁ kāryaṁ cātra me vada jaigīṣavyastvevamukto vākyametaduvāca ha

'O brahmin, what is this river's name? And what should I do here — tell me.' Thus addressed, Jaigishavya spoke these words.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.76.3)

जैगीषव्य उवाच । शृणु भद्रे प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् । इयं नदी महाभागे सदा पापविनाशिनी

jaigīṣavya uvāca śṛṇu bhadre pravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam iyaṁ nadī mahābhāge sadā pāpavināśinī

Jaigishavya said: Listen, O gracious one, I shall tell you its sin-destroying greatness; this river, O greatly fortunate one, is ever the destroyer of sin.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.76.4)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापौघो यत्र स्नानेन नश्यति । प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते ह्यत्र स्नानं कर्तुं समुद्यतैः

brahmahatyādipāpaugho yatra snānena naśyati pratyakṣaṁ dṛśyate hyatra snānaṁ kartuṁ samudyataiḥ

Here the mass of sins, beginning with brahminicide, is destroyed by bathing; this is directly visible to those who undertake to bathe here.

Verse 5 (garuda.2.76.5)

जलं चाशुभ्ररूपेण पापैश्च परिदृश्यते । यावच्छुभ्रोदकं देवि तावत्सनानं च कारयेत्

jalaṁ cāśubhrarūpeṇa pāpaiśca paridṛśyate yāvacchubhrodakaṁ devi tāvatsanānaṁ ca kārayet

The water appears discolored by the very sins washed off; O goddess, one should continue bathing until the water becomes clear.

Verse 6 (garuda.2.76.6)

यावच्छुभ्रोदकं नैव तावत्पापं न नश्यति । शुद्धोदके समायाते पापं नष्टमिति ध्रुवम्

yāvacchubhrodakaṁ naiva tāvatpāpaṁ na naśyati śuddhodake samāyāte pāpaṁ naṣṭamiti dhruvam

As long as the water is not clear, sin is not yet destroyed; once the water becomes pure, sin is certainly destroyed.

Verse 7 (garuda.2.76.7)

कलावित्थं विशालाक्षि महिमा दृश्यते भुवि । अत्र स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं दातव्यं दान मुत्तमम् । ततश्च ज्ञानमासाद्य विविष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

kalāvitthaṁ viśālākṣi mahimā dṛśyate bhuvi atra snānaṁ prakartavyaṁ dātavyaṁ dāna muttamam tataśca jñānamāsādya viviṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Thus, O wide-eyed one, this greatness is visible on earth even in the Kali age; one should bathe here and give the finest gifts; thereafter, attaining knowledge, one goes to Vishnu's realm.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.76.8)

गुरुस्त्रीगमनाच्चन्द्र अहल्यायां गतो हरिः । सुरापानाच्च शुक्रस्तु सुवर्णहरणाद्बलिः

gurustrīgamanāccandra ahalyāyāṁ gato hariḥ surāpānācca śukrastu suvarṇaharaṇādbaliḥ

Here the Moon was freed from the sin of approaching his guru's wife; Indra, from his sin regarding Ahalya; Shukra, from drinking liquor; Bali, from the theft of gold—

Verse 9 (garuda.2.76.9)

ब्रह्महत्यायाश्च रुद्रो नागो दत्तापहारकः । सूतस्य हननाद्रामो निर्मुक्तो ह्यत्र भामिनि

brahmahatyāyāśca rudro nāgo dattāpahārakaḥ sūtasya hananādrāmo nirmukto hyatra bhāmini

—Rudra, from the sin of brahminicide; the serpent, a thief who stole what was given; and Rama, from the killing of a charioteer's son — all were freed here, O radiant one.

Verse 10 (garuda.2.76.10)

नानेन सदृशं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति । स्नानं कुरु महाभागे तेन सिद्धिं ह्यवाप्स्यसि

nānena sadṛśaṁ tīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati snānaṁ kuru mahābhāge tena siddhiṁ hyavāpsyasi

No sacred ford equal to this has ever existed, nor shall exist; bathe here, O greatly fortunate one, and you shall thereby attain accomplishment.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.76.11)

जैगीषव्येण मुनिना पित्रा सह च कन्यका । स्नानं चकार विधिवदुदतिष्ठच्च भामिनि

jaigīṣavyeṇa muninā pitrā saha ca kanyakā snānaṁ cakāra vidhivadudatiṣṭhacca bhāmini

Together with the sage Jaigishavya and her father, the maiden duly bathed there, and then, O radiant one, arose.

Verse 12 (garuda.2.76.12)

यावच्च पौरुषं सूक्तं तावत्कालं हि तिष्ठति । पश्चाज्जप्त्वा महामन्त्रं वेङ्कटेशाभिधं परम्

yāvacca pauruṣaṁ sūktaṁ tāvatkālaṁ hi tiṣṭhati paścājjaptvā mahāmantraṁ veṅkaṭeśābhidhaṁ param

For as long as it takes to recite the Purusha-sukta, one should remain in the water; afterward, having recited the great, supreme mantra named after Venkatesha—

Verse 13 (garuda.2.76.13)

द्विजातीन्प्रीणयित्वा सा वस्त्रद्रव्यादिभूषणैः । तस्माच्च प्रययौ देवी कमारीतीर्थमुत्तमम्

dvijātīnprīṇayitvā sā vastradravyādibhūṣaṇaiḥ tasmācca prayayau devī kamārītīrthamuttamam

—having pleased the brahmins with garments, goods, and ornaments, the goddess then departed for the excellent Kumari-tirtha.

Verse 14 (garuda.2.76.14)

कुमारीमहिमानं च श्रुत्वा स्नानं चकार सा । पुनरावृत्य सा देवी ह्यन्तरा विरजानदीम्

kumārīmahimānaṁ ca śrutvā snānaṁ cakāra sā punarāvṛtya sā devī hyantarā virajānadīm

Having heard the greatness of Kumari-tirtha, she bathed there; and, returning, the goddess then came upon the Viraja river within the region—

Verse 15 (garuda.2.76.15)

दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ सा देवी जैगीषव्यं गुरुं प्रभुम् । किं संज्ञिकेयं विप्रेन्द्र किं कार्यं ह्यत्र मे वद

dṛṣṭvā papraccha sā devī jaigīṣavyaṁ guruṁ prabhum kiṁ saṁjñikeyaṁ viprendra kiṁ kāryaṁ hyatra me vada

—and, having seen it, the goddess asked her lord and guru Jaigishavya: 'O best of brahmins, what is this called? And what should I do here?'

Verse 16 (garuda.2.76.16)

जैगीषव्यः पृष्ट एव मुवाच करुणानिधिः । इयं भागीरथी कन्ये आयाति ह्यन्तरेण तु

jaigīṣavyaḥ pṛṣṭa eva muvāca karuṇānidhiḥ iyaṁ bhāgīrathī kanye āyāti hyantareṇa tu

Thus asked, Jaigishavya, the treasury of compassion, said: 'This, O maiden, is indeed the Bhagirathi, flowing here in a hidden, subterranean course.'

Verse 17 (garuda.2.76.17)

अतः सा प्रोच्यते ह्यन्तर्गङ्गेति परमर्षिभिः । कन्ये त्वस्यास्तु सलिलं श्रीनिनिवासप्रियं सदा

ataḥ sā procyate hyantargaṅgeti paramarṣibhiḥ kanye tvasyāstu salilaṁ śrīninivāsapriyaṁ sadā

'Hence the great sages call it Antar-Ganga. O maiden, its water is ever dear to Shrinivasa.'

Verse 18 (garuda.2.76.18)

अत्र स्नानं यः करोति स याति परमां गतिम् । स्नानं चकार सा कन्या जले परमपावने

atra snānaṁ yaḥ karoti sa yāti paramāṁ gatim snānaṁ cakāra sā kanyā jale paramapāvane

'Whoever bathes here attains the supreme destiny.' The maiden bathed in that most purifying water.

Verse 19 (garuda.2.76.19)

दानादिकं तथा ज्ञात्वा जजाप परमं मनुम् । श्रीनिवाससमीपं तु पुनरागत्य भामिनी

dānādikaṁ tathā jñātvā jajāpa paramaṁ manum śrīnivāsasamīpaṁ tu punarāgatya bhāminī

Having also learned of the prescribed donations and the rest, she recited the supreme mantra; and the radiant woman then returned again to the vicinity of Shrinivasa.

Verse 20 (garuda.2.76.20)

अङ्गप्रदक्षिणं चक्रे भक्त्या वेङ्कटनायकम् । ब्राह्मणादीन्प्रीणयित्वा वस्त्रगन्धादिभूषणैः

aṅgapradakṣiṇaṁ cakre bhaktyā veṅkaṭanāyakam brāhmaṇādīnprīṇayitvā vastragandhādibhūṣaṇaiḥ

She performed circumambulation of her own body before Venkata-nayaka with devotion, and pleased the brahmins and others with garments, fragrances, and ornaments.

Verse 21 (garuda.2.76.21)

पुनः परदिने प्रातः स्वामिपुष्करिणीजले । स्नानं कृत्वा महाभागा ययौ तुंबुरुसंज्ञिकाम्

punaḥ paradine prātaḥ svāmipuṣkariṇījale snānaṁ kṛtvā mahābhāgā yayau tuṁburusaṁjñikām

Again, the next day, at dawn, having bathed in the waters of the Svami-Pushkarini, the greatly fortunate one went to the place called Tumburu.

Verse 22 (garuda.2.76.22)

पप्रच्छ तं गुरुं देवी नाथं किन्नामिका त्वयम् । जैगीषव्य उवाच । इयं तुंबरुकाभिज्ञा नारी वै वरवर्णिनी

papraccha taṁ guruṁ devī nāthaṁ kinnāmikā tvayam jaigīṣavya uvāca iyaṁ tuṁbarukābhijñā nārī vai varavarṇinī

The goddess asked her lord and guru: 'What is this called?' Jaigishavya said: 'This is known as Tumburuka; a woman, indeed, of excellent hue.'

Verse 23 (garuda.2.76.23)

पुरा तुं बुरुणा साकं नारदस्तपसि स्थितः । अत्र प्रादुरभूद्विष्णुर्नारदस्य हिताय च

purā tuṁ buruṇā sākaṁ nāradastapasi sthitaḥ atra prādurabhūdviṣṇurnāradasya hitāya ca

'Formerly Narada, together with Tumburu, remained here in austerity; here Vishnu appeared, for Narada's benefit.'

Verse 24 (garuda.2.76.24)

स्नानं यः कुरुते ह्यत्र स याति परमां गतिम् । अत्र स्नानं मनुष्याणां सर्वेषां दुर्लभं कलौ

snānaṁ yaḥ kurute hyatra sa yāti paramāṁ gatim atra snānaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ durlabhaṁ kalau

'Whoever bathes here attains the supreme destiny; a bath here is rare for all humans in the Kali age.'

Verse 25 (garuda.2.76.25)

अत्र स्नानं मनुष्याणां नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च दत्त्वा दानान्यकेशः

atra snānaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ nālpasya tapasaḥ phalam tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca dattvā dānānyakeśaḥ

'A bath here for humans is not the fruit of slight austerity.' Having bathed and drunk there, and having given gifts, the unbraided one—

Verse 26 (garuda.2.76.26)

पुनरागत्य सा देवी श्रीनिवासं ननाम ह । तस्मिमन्दिने ब्राह्मणांश्च तर्पयामास भमिनि

punarāgatya sā devī śrīnivāsaṁ nanāma ha tasmimandine brāhmaṇāṁśca tarpayāmāsa bhamini

—the goddess then returned again and bowed to Shrinivasa; on that day, O radiant one, she satisfied the brahmins.

Verse 27 (garuda.2.76.27)

स्वामिपुष्करिणीं प्राप्य दीपान्प्राज्वालयत्सती । सोपानेषु महाभागा दीपावलिभिरञ्जसा । प्रीणयामास देवेशं श्रीनिवासं जगद्गुरुम्

svāmipuṣkariṇīṁ prāpya dīpānprājvālayatsatī sopāneṣu mahābhāgā dīpāvalibhirañjasā prīṇayāmāsa deveśaṁ śrīnivāsaṁ jagadgurum

Having reached the Svami-Pushkarini, that virtuous woman lit lamps; the greatly fortunate one, with rows of lamps upon the steps, thereby pleased the Lord of gods, Shrinivasa, guru of the universe.

Verse 28 (garuda.2.76.28)

पुनः परदिने प्राप्ते शक्रतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । कपिलाख्योर्ध्वदेशे तु तत्तीर्थं पावनं स्मृतम्

punaḥ paradine prāpte śakratīrthamanuttamam kapilākhyordhvadeśe tu tattīrthaṁ pāvanaṁ smṛtam

Again, on the next day, she went to the peerless Shakra-tirtha; that purifying ford is remembered as lying above the place called Kapila.

Verse 29 (garuda.2.76.29)

तत्र स्नात्वा महाभागा तदूर्ध्वं स्नापयेत्स्वयम् । विष्वसेनसरस्तत्र सर्वपापविनाशनम्

tatra snātvā mahābhāgā tadūrdhvaṁ snāpayetsvayam viṣvasenasarastatra sarvapāpavināśanam

Having bathed there, the greatly fortunate one bathed further above as well; there lies the Vishvaksena lake, destroyer of all sin.

Verse 30 (garuda.2.76.30)

तत ऊर्ध्वं महाभागा ययौ तत्र ददर्श सा । पञ्चायुधानां तीर्थानि तेषु स्नानं चकार सा

tata ūrdhvaṁ mahābhāgā yayau tatra dadarśa sā pañcāyudhānāṁ tīrthāni teṣu snānaṁ cakāra sā

Further above, the greatly fortunate one went, and there she beheld the sacred fords of the five weapons of Vishnu; she bathed in them.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.76.31)

तदूर्ध्वं चाग्निकुण्डं स्याद्दुरारोहं ततोग्रतः । तस्योपरि ब्रह्मतीर्थं ब्रह्महत्याविमोचनम्

tadūrdhvaṁ cāgnikuṇḍaṁ syāddurārohaṁ tatogrataḥ tasyopari brahmatīrthaṁ brahmahatyāvimocanam

Further above lies the Agni-kunda, difficult to ascend beyond that point; above it is Brahma-tirtha, which releases one from the sin of brahminicide.

Verse 32 (garuda.2.76.32)

सप्तर्षीणां तदूर्ध्वं तु पुण्यतीर्थं च सत्फलम् । दशाधिकफलं तेषा तीर्थानामुत्तरोत्तरम्

saptarṣīṇāṁ tadūrdhvaṁ tu puṇyatīrthaṁ ca satphalam daśādhikaphalaṁ teṣā tīrthānāmuttarottaram

Above that is the meritorious ford of the Seven Sages, of true fruit; each successive ford above yields tenfold greater fruit than the one below.

Verse 33 (garuda.2.76.33)

एतेषां चैव माहात्म्यं को वा वक्तुमिहार्हति । ऋषितीर्थेषु सा कन्या चचार तप उत्तमम्

eteṣāṁ caiva māhātmyaṁ ko vā vaktumihārhati ṛṣitīrtheṣu sā kanyā cacāra tapa uttamam

Who indeed is capable of describing the full greatness of these? At the sages' fords, that maiden performed the most excellent austerity.

Verse 34 (garuda.2.76.34)

ममावतारपर्यन्तं चरित्वा तप उत्तमम् । योगधारण या देहं त्यक्त्वा जांबवतो गृहे

mamāvatāraparyantaṁ caritvā tapa uttamam yogadhāraṇa yā dehaṁ tyaktvā jāṁbavato gṛhe

Having performed excellent austerity right up until my own incarnation, and, through the discipline of yoga, having relinquished her body — in the house of Jambavan—

Verse 35 (garuda.2.76.35)

जाता जांबवती नाम ववृधे तस्य वेश्मनि । तस्याः पिता जांबवान्स समादात्कन्यकां तदा । रुक्म्या अनं तरा सैषा मम भार्या खगेश्वर

jātā jāṁbavatī nāma vavṛdhe tasya veśmani tasyāḥ pitā jāṁbavānsa samādātkanyakāṁ tadā rukmyā anaṁ tarā saiṣā mama bhāryā khageśvara

—she was born, named Jambavati, and grew up in his household; her father Jambavan then gave that maiden away; she became my wife immediately after Rukmini, O lord of birds.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.76.36)

इदं हि परमाख्यानं वेङ्कटाद्रेर्महागिरेः । को वा वर्णयितुं शक्तो मदन्यः पुरुषो भुवि

idaṁ hi paramākhyānaṁ veṅkaṭādrermahāgireḥ ko vā varṇayituṁ śakto madanyaḥ puruṣo bhuvi

This indeed is the supreme narrative of Venkatadri, the great mountain; what person on earth, other than myself, is capable of fully describing it?

Verse 37 (garuda.2.76.37)

वेङ्कटेशस्य नैवेद्यं सदा लक्ष्मीः करोति वै । ब्रह्मा पूजयते नित्यमेवं शास्त्रस्य निर्णयः

veṅkaṭeśasya naivedyaṁ sadā lakṣmīḥ karoti vai brahmā pūjayate nityamevaṁ śāstrasya nirṇayaḥ

Lakshmi herself ever prepares Venkatesha's food-offering; Brahma ever performs his worship — such is the determination of the scriptures.

Verse 38 (garuda.2.76.38)

नैवेद्यभक्षिणां पुंसामुपहासं न कारयेत् । स्वस्य प्राशस्त्यभावे तु नैवेद्यादि गुडादिकम् । ग्राह्यमेव न संदेहो अन्यथा नारकी भवेत्

naivedyabhakṣiṇāṁ puṁsāmupahāsaṁ na kārayet svasya prāśastyabhāve tu naivedyādi guḍādikam grāhyameva na saṁdeho anyathā nārakī bhavet

One should never mock men who partake of the sacred food-offering; even if one is not of excellent standing oneself, one should certainly accept the offered food and jaggery — of this there is no doubt; otherwise one becomes bound for hell.

Verse 39 (garuda.2.76.39)

श्रीनिवासात्परो देवो न भूतो न भविष्यति । स्वयं च पाचयित्वात्वं घृतपक्वादिकं तथा । श्रीनिवासस्य नैवेद्यं दत्त्वा भोजनमाचरेत्

śrīnivāsātparo devo na bhūto na bhaviṣyati svayaṁ ca pācayitvātvaṁ ghṛtapakvādikaṁ tathā śrīnivāsasya naivedyaṁ dattvā bhojanamācaret

No god greater than Shrinivasa has ever existed, nor shall exist; having yourself cooked ghee-fried foods and the like, having offered them as food to Shrinivasa, one should then partake of the meal.

Verse 40 (garuda.2.76.40)

इदं तु परमं गोप्यं तवोक्तं च खगेश्वर । न कस्यापि च वक्तव्यं गोप्यत्वात्खगसत्तम । इतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तारतम्यं शृणु प्रभो

idaṁ tu paramaṁ gopyaṁ tavoktaṁ ca khageśvara na kasyāpi ca vaktavyaṁ gopyatvātkhagasattama itaḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi tāratamyaṁ śṛṇu prabho

This most secret matter has been told to you, O lord of birds; it should not be told to anyone else, being secret, O best of birds. Beyond this, I shall now speak of the gradation of souls — listen, O mighty one.